Youve finished a lovely dinner together, enjoyed a bottle of wine, and now youre walking through the restaurants parking lot with your date, Maggie, who last week won her black belt in karate.

Suddenly a big man, cursing, clearly intoxicated, and fist raised, lurches toward you from the shadows. Do you 1. duck behind Maggie, who is smaller than you but trained in hand-to-hand combat or 2. step in front to protect her?

When I used to put this question to my male students, they might shift uncomfortably at their desks, but none of them ever voted to push Maggie toward the attacker. They gave numerous reasonsKarate is overrated, The dude might be armed, and Maggies too smallbut always one or two of them would blurt out, Guys just dont do that sort of thing.

Guys dont do that sort of thing.

Lost Knights?

Eleanor of Aquitaine (11221204), who by the standards of her time was a feminist, helped devise the idea of a gentleman-knight, a standard of ideal conduct soon planted throughout Europe by troubadours. For 35 generations, this code of chivalry regarding women and how men should treat them was a given of Western civilization. It evolved, becoming more refined and attuned to changing times and circumstances, but the essentials of the code remained.

A woman who acted like a lady while passing through Texas on her way to California in 1880, for example, was treated as such by the roughnecks and cowboys she met along the way.

In our own time, this long-practiced etiquette has taken some hits. Our postmodernist society has declared chivalry dead, and some have locked the white knight in the dungeon of his castle. Offer a seat on a bus to a woman, and you may be called a misogynist. Compliment a co-worker on her appearance, and you may well find yourself in a meeting with the HR department, facing termination from your job. Many colleges and universities have issued exacting and specific guidelines regarding relationships between males and females, reducing the sweet calculus of romance to joyless elementary school arithmetic.

Is Chivalry Dead?

Google that question, and youll discover a battlefield of opinions. Some feminists contend that once-common gentlemanly actspulling out a chair in the restaurant for your date, opening the door of the car, paying the tab at the wine bardemean women, making them appear the weaker sex, reinforcing the view that women need men to help them.

In opposition, Suzanne Venker writes that chivalry is dead because women killed it, but then defends chivalry and urges women to bring it back if they wish to encourage the making of mature, respectful, marriage-minded men.

She adds: Women have the power to turn it all aroundbecause they are the relationship navigators. Men only changed because women did. Thats because men are born to please women. Modern women dont know this, for theyve been conditioned to think of men as oppressors  Instead, embrace chivalry. Praise chivalry. Praise men, for Gods sakes!

Venker may be correct that only women, as did Eleanor of Aquitaine, can produce an etiquette between the sexes that will give us more mature and responsible men and women. If we wish to see such a restoration, however, we men also must do our part. Here are some tips gleaned from living, conversations, movies, and books that have helped me along the bumpy path of relationships with the opposite sex.

Respect

We can win the love, friendship, and trust of women with one simple tool: listening.

To many women, menand I very much include myselfare often obtuse creatures when it comes to communication. Sam listens to Martha complaining about her workday and immediately offers suggestions as to how to improve the situation, unaware that Martha doesnt want solutions, but just wants Sam to listen to her. In a situation taken from real lifeI have changed the namesSteve wonders aloud to his wife of 30 years whether theyre too old to go on celebrating Valentines Day. Here, I will leave the conclusion to that conversation to my readers imagination.

Long ago, my wife and I were meeting with a real-estate agent in the kitchen of our bed-and-breakfast to put the place on the market. I knew Kris was reluctant to sell, but thought she and I had come to an agreement. She was standing beside me, but when the agent handed me a pen to sign the papers permitting him to show the property, I realized I was suddenly alone. I went to the living room, found Kris weeping by the fireplace, returned to the kitchen, and said to the agent, I dont think well be selling the house any time soon.

What Kris and I experienced was, as the line from the movie Cool Hand Luke goes, failure to communicate.

When Kris and I were engaged, we met an elderly couple in a German language class at our local community college. When they learned of our engagement, they expressed their delight, and the husband leaned toward me to say, 43 years married, he said. And you know why? Respect.

Listen, truly listen, and you show respect.

Sense and Sensitivity

Many women want their male companions to express your feelings. We men are often awkward about doing sofew of us would ever press our male friends to let it all hang outand when we do enter into the auditorium of emotions we hem and haw, tongue-tied and inept as a shy schoolboy required to give a speech to his classmates.

We fear saying the wrong thing, we can scarcely keep up with the thoughts and nimble speech of this woman we love, and we frequently find ourselves with words in our head that we somehow cant push to our tongues.

But there is an antidote to our awkward, tumbledown speech: Sincerity.

In the film Kate and Leopold, the sophisticated English gentleman Leopold (Hugh Jackman) offers these words to a young American friend Charlie, who is pursuing a woman: Everything plays a farce to you. Women respond to sincerity. This requires pulling ones tongue from ones cheek. No one wants to be romanced by a buffoon.

Sincerity, not adept speech, wins the hearts of most women.

Mysteries and Manners

Sigmund Freud once asked, What does a woman want?

The question is absurd on two levels. First, it lumps together more than half the worlds population, asking them what they want. Secondand this is from my own experiencewomen want from a relationship what men want: respect, love, affection, a listening heart, and a companion.

Yet mysteries and differences also abound.

Playwrights, poets, and novelists have celebrated those mysteries and differences throughout our history. The Greek playwrights, Chaucers pilgrims, Shakespeares characters, Jane Austens brilliant portraits of men and women all reveal the conundrums existing between male and female that postmodernism can never erase.

Some men and women I know, puzzled by the behavior or opinions of the opposite sex, become frustrated. They ask, as Professor Higgins did in My Fair Lady, Why cant a woman be more like a man? and vice-versa. As for me, however, I delight in these enigmas, preferring in this case mystery to dissection.

Accept the mystery, or better still find joy and amusement in the gulf between women and us, practice manners, and enjoy the ride.

A Final Note

When we treat the women in our lifefamily, friends, strangers, and that one we lovelike ladies, we not only transform ourselves into gentlemen, we also help shore up and repair the walls of our broken civilization. We bring a dash of civility and grace into a world much in need of both.

Of course, we must always remember and practice the most basic way we men can honor the ladies in our lives.

In a song from the play Camelot, Arthur remembers asking Merlin, How to handle a woman? Merlin responds by advising his young charge that the way to handle a woman is to love her  simply love her  merely love her  love her  love her.

Guys do that sort of thing.

Jeff Minick has four children and a growing platoon of grandchildren. For 20 years, he taught history, literature, and Latin to seminars of homeschooling students in Asheville, N.C. Today, he lives and writes in Front Royal, Va. See JeffMinick.com to follow his blog.
KENOSHA  Former Kenosha Alderman Kevin Mathewson, the self-appointed leader of the Kenosha Guard militia group, is being sued along with Facebook and Kyle Rittenhouse in the aftermath of shootings that left two protesters dead.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court Tuesday, names Mathewson and the Kenosha Guard, Facebook, the right-wing group the Boogaloo Bois and Ryan Balch, a member of the Boogaloo Bois who said he was in Kenosha along with Rittenhouse before the shootings.

The suits plaintiffs include Hannah Gittings, the life partner of Silver Lake resident Anthony Huber, one of the two men killed by Rittenhouse. They also include a Milwaukee woman who said she was harassed and threatened by militia members at the protests, and Kenosha residents Christopher McNeal and Nathan Peet.

According to the suit, Peet witnessed Hubers killing and attempted to help him as he died. McNeal, according to the suit, was threatened at gunpoint at the protest.

The suit, using Reconstruction-era amendments that bar people from conspiring for the purpose of depriving people of equal protection under laws, alleges Mathewson and militia members conspired to deprive people of their constitutional rights with the help of Facebook.

The suit includes Facebook posts by Mathewson as administrator of the Kenosha Guard Facebook page asking patriots to come to Kenosha to take up arms and defend our city from evil thugs on Aug. 25 and Aug. 26.

These call to arms, as one might infer, are not met with the responsible consideration of concerned citizens, but by violent, racist rhetoric in which militia members promise to shoot protesters, their desire to literally kill people displayed for all to see, the suit alleges.

Screen shot exhibits

The suit includes screenshots of comments on the Kenosha Militia page like I fully plan to kill looters and rioters tonight and now its time to switch to real bullets and use hollow points, they expand on contact.

Another commenter on the page states armed and ready. Shoot to kill tonight.

Another stated Leave a pile of them and burn the bodies, thatll make them open their eyes.

The violent threats are not disavowed by the administrators of these Facebook sites who proclaim themselves, as in the case with Defendant Kevin Mathewson, to be the commander of the Kenosha Guard; rather, they are adopted through likes and shares as well as promoted to elected officials and law enforcement as emblematic of their militias strength.

Mathewson posted a letter to Kenosha Police Chief Daniel Miskinis, stating that he was mobilizing the Kenosha Guard and had 3,000 people who said they would attend and be posted in Uptown, downtown, and the entrances to other neighborhoods.

The Kenosha Guards call for militia members was publicized by right-wing media including the website InfoWars.

That night, 17-year-old Rittenhouse of Antioch, Ill., came to the city as a self-appointed militia member. During the night, Rittenhouse shot three people, killing 26-year-old Huber and 36-year-old Kenosha resident Joseph Rosenbaum. He has since been charged with multiple counts of homicide and attempted homicide. His attorneys say he was defending himself when he shot the men, and the teenager has been celebrated as a hero by some gun rights advocates.

Social media called out

Facebook received more than 400 complaints and flags about the Kenosha Guard site and event page with the reporters expressing that they were deeply concerned that the Kenosha Guard was going out that night looking to intimidate and injure people protesting the shooting of Jacob Blake, the lawsuit states. In other words, Facebook received more than 400 warnings that what did happen was going to occur.

According to the suit, 66% of the violation of community standards reports Facebook received the day Mathewson posted the Kenosha Guard event were about Mathewsons page.

Days later, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg issued a public apology, saying it was an operational mistake that the Kenosha Guard page was not removed. The page, and Mathewsons personal page, have since been taken down.

Mathewson has said in interviews after the shootings that he stands by his decision to put out a call for militia members. He has said he did not know Rittenhouse and that he had not interacted with him that night.

Facebook claimed there were no direct links between his accounts and the Kenosha Guard page. However, common sense  and likely, further discovery  counsels that Rittenhouse would not have known about or traveled to Kenosha but for the Call to Arms having been widely publicized, the lawsuit states.

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Vice President Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia yesterday inaugurated the newly created Oti Regional House of Chiefs and Northern Regional House of Chiefs.

The inauguration ceremonies were held separately in Dambai and Tamale to usher in new eras following the creation of six new regions in the country.

While the Oti Regional House of Chiefs was newly created as a result of the creation of the new region from the Volta Region, the Northern Regional House of Chiefs was reconstituted due to the creation of two regions Savannah and North East regions.

Speaking at both events, the Vice-President said the paramount objective in the creation of additional regions is to quicken the process of developing every part of the country.

This change has also affected the structure and management of chieftaincy institutions, and as a result, we have to form new regional houses of chiefs, particularly in our new regions, he stated.

The Vice-President recalled the historical role the chieftaincy institution played in the liberation of the country, adding that traditional rulers have continued to play immense roles in the development of the country.

Chiefs and traditional authority played very significant roles in our liberation efforts. We can recall the contribution of very important chiefs who stood to protect our land and natural resources, who championed our rights and liberties and were in the forefront in spearheading our social economic, cultural and political charge.

Without the active involvement of our chiefs, perhaps the cause of our economic and political roadmap would have taken a different character. I pay homage to them, he disclosed.

Dr. Bawumia stressed that the Akufo-Addo administration recognises the important roles traditional rulers have to play in the country, saying, Government recognises that in order to ensure the success of the programme of social and economic transformation that was put before the Ghanaian people, it is important that we bring the traditional role of our chiefs into the modern, constitutional set-up, under which we govern our country.

As a start, we made a pledge in the NPP's 2016 manifesto to increase the monthly allowances paid to chiefs, and the quarterly budgetary support to the traditional councils and houses of chiefs. This, we have done, by a hundred per cent (100%).

Government has also assisted the National House of Chiefs with GH3.5 million for the completion of its new headquarters office complex in Kumasi. Government is also committed to assisting the National House of Chiefs to moving speedily on finishing work on the codification of the traditional norms and rules that have guided our communities throughout the ages, he added.

All the chiefs commended the government for the effort towards the development of the country.

Regional Reorganisation Minister Dan Botwe and Chieftaincy & Culture Minister Kofi Dzamesi were there to support the programmes.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, September 23, 2020 08:22 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c468de62 1 City Bekasi,West-Java,factory-worker,factory,COVID-19-cluster,COVID-19,pandemic,Epson,coronavirus Free

The Bekasi COVID-19 task force has reported that 869 factory workers have tested positive for COVID-19 since the start of the outbreak.

Task force member Alamsyah said confirmed cases had been detected in 46 companies following contract-tracing in the area.

The largest industrial COVID-19 infection cluster in the region emerged in a factory owned by Japan-based technology company PT Epson Indonesia.

[Epson] is the largest cluster, considering that its a large company with more than 13,000 employees, Alamsyah said on Tuesday as quoted by tribunnews.com.

He said 369 of the 4,000 samples taken at the factory had been COVID-19 positive.

The factories of South Korea-based electronics firm PT LG Electronics Indonesia and Japan-based manufacturer PT NOK Indonesia were the sources of other significant clusters with 242 cases and 150 cases, respectively.

North Cikarang, South Cikarang, West Cikarang, and Cibitung are home to the largest industrial clusters.

The transmission area is between the factories and the workers residences. Local Puskesmas [community health centers] continue to trace those who have had contact [with people found to have the virus], Alamsyah said.

He urged companies to strictly supervise employees compliance with health protocols, both in and outside of the workplace.

[Transmission] needs to be controlled to prevent carriers from spreading the virus in the workplace, Alamsyah added.

Bekasi Private Hospital Association head Eko Nugroho previously said the region was running out of available intensive care facilities at its COVID-19 referral hospitals.

He said 48 of the 57 ICU beds in the city were occupied as of Sept. 15 as the number of COVID-19 patients who needed intensive care, including those who required ventilators, was fluctuating.

As of Tuesday, the region had reported 1,483 confirmed COVID-19 cases. (rfa)
Siemens Digital Industries Software announced that Music Tribe, a multi-national leader for professional audio products and musical instruments, has selected solutions from the Xcelerator portfolio as the cornerstone for its digitalization initiatives, and as the technology to power a new smart factory in Malaysia. Music Tribe plans to deploy product lifecycle management (PLM) and manufacturing execution system (MES) software from Siemens to deliver a better customer experience using digitalization.

We are proud to announce our collaboration with Siemens to implement an advanced design and manufacturing environment based on digital twin technology, said Uli Behringer, CEO of Music Tribe. Using solutions from the Xcelerator portfolio can not only enable Music Tribe to revolutionize its design processes, but also power our new digital and full automated factory in Penang, Malaysia, all for the benefit of our customers.

Across industries, customers are continuing to look for smarter and more personalized products. Music Tribe has chosen Siemens personalized, adaptive and modern services to enable the creation and use of a comprehensive digital twin, which can allow them to realize the dream of digitalizing their customer-obsessed culture and the goal of achieving lot size 1 manufacturing. Using Siemens solutions, Music Tribe can better meet the needs of their customers and deliver a unique personal experience with their products, including audio mixers, amplifiers and other high-end audio equipment.

Music Tribe is a strong leader in their industry, and Siemens is proud to have been selected to support its enterprise-wide standardization and scalability strategies, said Alex Teo, Vice President, South East Asia at Siemens Digital Industries Software. Making the strategic decision to move forward with a clear digital transformation strategy to achieve Music Tribes goal towards Customer Obsession can position Music Tribe as a strong industry player set up to meet the competitive market of tomorrow.

Music Tribe is a multi-national leader for professional audio products and musical instruments with operations in the UK, Denmark, Sweden, Canada, Germany, Japan, China and the Philippines. The companys brand portfolio includes brands such as Behringer, Midas, Klark Teknik, Lab Gruppen, Lake, Tannoy, Turbosound, TC Electronic, TC Helicon, Bugera, Coolaudio and Auratone.
President Tsai Ing-wen of of Taiwan has been named by Time Magazine as one of the 100 most influential people of 2020 for her insistence that the democratic island's 23 million people have no interest in being ruled by China.



"President Tsai Ing-wen is a signal lamp casting out Chinas looming shadow, conveying to the world that Taiwan will not acquiesce to the Chinese Communist Party," Republican Senator Ted Cruz wrote in his description of Tsai on the magazine's website.



He said that while Taiwan lies just 100 miles off the coast of China, Tsai has managed to carve out her own path, neither losing her way politically, nor being drawn into Beijing's rhetoric.



Taiwan still bears the official name of the 1911 Republic of China after Kuomintang forces occupied the island at the end of World War II.



A part of Japanese territory for the first half of the 20th century, the island has never been ruled by the Chinese Communist Party, nor has it ever formed part of the People's Republic of China.



"Freedom is its North Star," Cruz wrote of Taiwan under Tsai's presidency. "When cynics said Taiwan was too small and too isolated to stand up against Chinas regional ambitions, President Tsai stood tall."



He added: "China is the worlds largest communist regime, and this self-made woman is determined to resist it. She does not cower."



'Cool head in a time of crisis'



Yu Mei-nu, a former lawmaker for Tsai's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), said Tsai has the ability to keep a cool head amid rising tensions in the region, with China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) making a string of incursions into Taiwanese airspace and holding large-scale military exercises in the water nearby in recent weeks.



"She has made the international community sit up and take notice of Taiwan, diplomatically speaking," Yu said. "Taiwan is now in the best period in his history, although it is also a time of crisis."



"China insists on taking the most extreme approach, and keeps testing our limits," Yu said. "At the same time, it is also testing those of the United States."



Cross-Strait Policy Association researcher Chang Yu-Shau said Tsai's response to Chinese president Xi Jinping's insistence that the island "unify" with China in January 2019 had earned her a place in the list of prominent world leaders.



"President Tsai showed just how tough she is in the wake of Xi's speech last year, and how strong Taiwan can be faced with China's might," Chang told RFA. "There was also her support for the Hong Kong [protesters]."



"But the most crucial thing has been her handling of the coronavirus pandemic, to the extent that Taiwan became a model for the rest of the world," he said. "That's when we made a huge impression on the rest of the world, which recognized us for it."



Reported by Hwang Chun-mei for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by the Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
20 Celebrities You Had No Idea Dropped Out of College, From Tom Hanks to Oprah (Photos)

Now that its May, college seniors are gearing up for graduation. But success doesnt always need a college degree. Here are 20 celebrities that ditched collegiate life to follow their ambitions.

Ryan Seacrest

Americas favorite broadcaster started out at the University of Georgia, but dropped out to move to California.

Oprah Winfrey

Yeah, youd better believe it. Tennessee State University drop out Oprah left before graduation to pursue broadcasting gigs already lined up.

Ellen Degeneres

Talk show sweetheart Ellen left University of New Orleans early and held a string of odd-jobs before making her comedic debut.

Tom Hanks

Hanks left Sacramento State University to intern at the Great Lakes Theater Festival in Cleveland, Ohio.

Brad Pitt

Brad Pitt went to school to be a journalist, but left University of Missouri early to head to California.

Jessica Biel

The actress left Tufts University to play the role of Erin the 2003 remake of Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

Zooey Deschanel

Deschanel left Northwestern University before graduating to pursue acting full-time.

Ben Stiller

Ben Stiller left UCLA, where he was studying film, to move back to New York to actually act.

Matthew Morrison

Morrison left NYU Tisch School of the Arts to perform on Broadway.

Ashton Kutcher

Kutcher was going to studying biochemical engineering at the University of Iowa, but he dropped out to pursue modeling and then acting.

Lady Gaga

The pop star studied music at NYUs Tisch School of the Arts, but then withdrew her sophomore year to focus more on her music career.

Madonna

The pop icon attended the University of Michigan on a dance scholarship, but dropped out her sophomore year when she left to Manhattan to further pursue a career in dance.

Amanda Seyfried

Seyfried enrolled at Fordham University in 2003, but after being offered her role in Mean Girls, she chose not to attend.

Kanye West

West attended both Chicagos American Academy of Art and Chicago State Universitywhere he studied Englishbut at 20, he dropped out to make more time for his music work.

Story continues

Alicia Keys

At just 16-years-old, the singer left Columbia University for a music deal with Columbia Records.

Jake Gyllenhaal

Like Keys, Gyllenhaal attended Columbia University, but left to completely focus on acting.

Anne Hathaway

Anne Hathaway dropped out of both Vassar and New York University, but shortly after, The Princess Diaries, the movie for which she missed her first college semester, was released.

John Mayer

Mayer attended the Berklee College of Music, but left and moved to Atlanta with fellow musician Clay Cook. Together, they formed a two-man band, Lo-Fi Masters. A couple years after they split, Mayer released his debut album Room for Squares.

Rachael Ray

Celebrity chef Ray went to Pace University to earn a degree in literature and communications, but soon dropped out. Shortly after, she was recruited to be a food buyer for a gourmet market in Albany.

Eddie Murphy

Comic legend Eddie Murphy dropped out of New Yorks Nassau Community College. Not long after, he landed a spot on the Saturday Night Live cast and became the shows breakout star.

Read original story 20 Celebrities You Had No Idea Dropped Out of College, From Tom Hanks to Oprah (Photos) At TheWrap
Canada is jumping into the electric vehicle market with both feet, and that sure seems like it will be a great thing for labour, investment and the environment.

But that will only be the case if it comes with some solid, strategic thinking and a financial commitment for government, the private sector and labour to follow through.

Ford Motor Co. and its main union in Canada, Unifor, announced on Tuesday they have a tentative three-year agreement that includes a $2 billion investment to mass produce electric vehicles and their batteries in Canada  a first for us.

The federal and provincial governments are working behind the scenes and sources say they aim to come up with about 30 per cent of that funding  well over $500 million. Thats higher than the traditional 20 per cent that comes from governments in deals like this, and its an aggressive decision by them to place their bets on electric vehicle manufacturing.

I think this is a quantum shift, said a jubilant Unifor president Jerry Dias after negotiating late into the night to square away details with Ford.

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, he said.

Over the last several months, those walls have really been torn down.

For Dias, obviously the top goal is saving his workers jobs. Unifor represents 6,300 Ford workers in Canada, 3,400 of whom are at the plant in Oakville. The investment to retool the plant and set up shop to produce five electric vehicles and their batteries will save about 3,000 of those jobs, Dias said Tuesday. The other workers will retire. Diass top goal has been met, and now hell take the case to the other Big Three automakers.

The Canadian auto industry now has a chance to save itself, and pivot towards a growing global market of electric vehicles, replacing traditional production over the coming years.

But mere replacement is not the economic growth the federal government has in mind.

Its goals go much further than that. It sees the Ford investment as the first step toward rebuilding a major part of Ontarios economy, where the auto sector once flourished but now struggles.

It envisions other big automakers quickly following Fords lead and switching to EV production, and its ready to come to the table to support those investments too.

It sees mining companies ramping up production of nickel and metals required to make the batteries that run electric vehicles, spreading the growth around the country. It sees the auto-parts sector embracing EV technology, making it better and becoming more and more competitive around the world.

Research and development, investment and jobs galore, and soon.

With Canadas natural resources and skilled workforce providing a competitive advantage, we absolutely must support the development of the next generation of battery supply chains, right here in Canada, Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains wrote last week in Policy Options magazine.

On the environment, the government is equally ambitious. Canadians want to buy electric vehicles to help reduce emissions, but they cant find enough EV cars to meet demand. Canadian production can help on that front  as long as those new cars have the plug-in infrastructure across the country to help them drive long distances.

Canadas auto sector could become part of the global solution rather than the problem with emissions. Thats the vision.

Canada now has an opportunity to invest in electrification and drive a green recovery to help achieve our climate change goals, Bains said.

Its ambitious, but it needs considerably more detail and money to become a real plan, and theres certainly no guarantee of success.

Richard Florizone, who heads the International Institute for Sustainable Development, is from Saskatchewan, and he explains it this way: Canada is good at producing wheat, but it doesnt mean we export lots of delicious bread.

Just because we have natural resources doesnt mean we have battery potential, he said.

Florizone was part of a green recovery task force that has recommended the federal government plow public money into electric vehicle production to get in sync with the rest of the world and its demand for low-carbon production.

Other countries are piling into the EV manufacturing sector too, and if Canada wants to be competitive and reap the emissions benefits by producing EVs at home for domestic buyers and export alike, government needs to be a full player, he says.

The Ontario governments proportion of the financing for the Ford deal is still up for negotiation. Premier Doug Ford (no relation) has signalled his government will be a full participant.

If the bets the federal government is placing right now in the Oakville plant are going to manifest in sustainable growth for all, Ottawa needs not just Ontario but industry, labour and a lot of good ideas to have a hope of making the vision happen.

Government insiders are convinced the ideas and money will come, and fast. Its an ambitious bet.

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Linkedin News Desk (Reuters) London, United Kingdom  Wed, September 23, 2020 09:37 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c4693d58 2 News Airlines,travel,flight,coronavirus,COVID-19,pandemic,airways Free

The airline industry is never going to get back to the way it was before coronavirus, warned the former chief executive of British Airways-owner IAG , adding it will be smaller but more efficient in the future.

"It's never going to get back to the way it was," Willie Walsh, who retired as IAG CEO earlier this month, said in an online interview with Eurocontrol.

Looking five years ahead, Walsh forecast it would be a smaller industry and there would be fewer players. Most of the consolidation would initially come through failures, he said, as he also predicted COVID-19 would make airlines more resilient.

"Most airlines are restructuring in a very positive way: they're going to be more efficient and the cost base will be more variable, they'll be able to respond to crises going forward," he said.

Looking at the next few months though, he said it would be "very, very tough". Flight data shows that a hoped-for recovery in air travel in Europe has gone into reverse.

Eurocontrol, Europe's organization for the safety of air navigation, said that European airlines such as British Airways and Ryanair had shown traffic declines of 4% over the last two weeks.

But striking a positive note, Walsh said that airlines should take comfort from the fact that there was still demand for travel.

"People are comfortable getting on-board. What they're uncomfortable about is the uncertainty as to whether they're going to have to quarantine when they get to their destination or when they return from their destination. That's really what's undermining customer confidence," he said.

After 41 years in the airline industry, former pilot Walsh 58, was CEO of IAG from 2011 when it was founded. He handed the reins to Spanish insider Luis Gallego on Sept. 8.

"I've surprised myself at how easy it has been to adapt to retirement," Walsh said when asked about the last few weeks.
ELKHORN, Neb., Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Fat Brain Toys, one of the nation's leading independent toy companies, today announced the selection of the top eight entries of their 2020 Kidventor Contest. The Kidventor Contest invites children ages six to thirteen to submit toy or game ideas for the chance to have their concept sold around the world.

The top entries include a spiraling Ball Launcher Challenge, a zip-line-building game called Bear Blast Off, a throw-and-catch toy called WingIt inspired by maple seeds, a mechanical jump rope called Solo Rope, a bouncy ball trick-shot challenge called Bouncy Bricks, a leaf blower turned playful science experiment called Breeze Blaster, an accessory for turning any plush toy into a baby doll called Bundle of Toy, and a unique game called Sew Fast where players race to sew different patterns.

From now until September 30th, the public is encouraged to vote for their favorite invention in order to choose the Top 3 Finalists, each of whom will receive a special Fat Brain Toys prize pack. Then, the judges will deliberate and choose the ultimate winner, which will be announced on October 6th.

Vote here: https://www.fatbraintoys.com/kidventor.cfm

"The big idea that I hope this contest reinforces for kids is that dreams CAN become reality," explained Mark Carson, President and Co-Founder of Fat Brain Toys. "Door Pong was imagined in 2017 by our first Kidventor, Alex Xiong, and remains one of our best selling products today."

The winner of the Kidventor Contest will receive a $2,500 scholarship, a license agreement that offers ongoing royalties, $500 in toys from Fat Brain Toys, as well as round-trip airfare and hotel accommodations for two to attend the 2021 American International Toy Fair in New York City (pending potential COVID-19 restrictions) where their invention will be showcased before thousands of retail buyers from around the world.

This year's panel of judges includes Co-Host of NPR's Wow In The World Podcast Mindy Thomas, President of the Parents' Choice Foundation Claire Green, and Fat Brain Toys Co-Founders Karen Carson and Mark Carson. Each has a unique and seasoned understanding of what makes a great toy and what will be most enjoyable and beneficial for kids.

For young inventors who still have a toy or game idea they think could win, Fat Brain Toys is planning on hosting another Kidventor Challenge next year.

About Fat Brain Toys

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The expression "Who dies for fascism, dies for Armenia" is too dangerous, Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament Sahiba Gafarova said, Trend reports.

Gafarova made the remark during her official visit to Russia at the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of Russia.

Speaking about the fact that a monument to the fascist Garegin Nzhdeh was erected in the center of Yerevan, the speaker of the Azerbaijani parliament stressed that some countries, wishing to rewrite history, are trying to heroize Nazi collaborators, erect monuments to them, which causes fair anger and condemnation by the international community.

Russia, not remaining on the sidelines, also expressed its attitude to this, becoming the initiator of the discussions and adoption of a resolution in the UN on the fight against the heroization of Nazism. But we see that a number of states, for example, Armenia, dont recognize the UNs decisions and other influential international organizations. How else the erection of a six-meter monument to the fascist Garegin Nzhdeh in the center of Yerevan can be explained? After all, the "Who dies for fascism, dies for Armenia" expression belongs to Armenia. I think that Armenias actions must not remain unnoticed, and an adequate response must be given, said Gafarova.

Since September 21, the parliamentary delegation of Azerbaijan, headed by Speaker of the Parliament of Azerbaijan Sahiba Gafarova, is on an official visit in Russia.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 15:49:17|Editor: huaxia

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CAIRO, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Egypt recorded early on Wednesday 113 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the country's total infections to 102,254, said the Health Ministry.

The ministry's spokesman Khaled Megahed said in a statement that 19 more patients died from the novel coronavirus, raising the death toll to 5,806.

Meanwhile, 811 others were cured and discharged from hospitals, increasing the total recoveries to 91,143.

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
Boris Johnson will announce a raft of new coronavirus restrictions at 8pm on Tuesday evening, following grave warnings from his scientific advisers that the UK could see up to 50,000 new infections per day if the spread of Covid-19 is not brought under control soon.

The prime minister has repeatedly said he wants to avoid putting the country under a second national lockdown, telling MPs last week that a full-scale lockdown like the one imposed in March would be disastrous for the economy.

But the UK is facing an inevitable second wave of coronavirus, with new figures showing infections could be doubling every week. The UKs Covid-19 alert level has been moved to 4, which means transmission is high or rising exponentially.

What restrictions will be updated?

Last week, the government imposed its rule of six restriction, which bars gatherings of more than six people from meeting indoors or outdoors.

Restrictions on gatherings will remain in place, and will also apply to weddings. Mr Johnson will announce that the number of people permitted to attend weddings will be reduced from 30 to 15.

On Monday night, a curfew was announced for pubs, bars and restaurants in England, which will have to close by 10pm every night from Thursday to minimise the opportunities for people to breach social distancing rules.

Cabinet minister Michael Gove told BBC Breakfast there was evidence that an earlier closing time for venues had a beneficial effect on the spread of the virus in areas where the restriction already applies, such as Bolton.

The hospitality sector will now be restricted by law to table service only.

What other restrictions will be announced?

Mr Johnson will reverse the governments push for workers to return to the office, and will instead urge people to work from home if they are able to this evening.

This comes just weeks after office employees were encouraged to go back to the office and populate city centres again amid fears these areas were turning into ghost towns and commuter-reliant on office workers were struggling.

Mr Johnson will announce further delays to trials of spectators returning to professional sporting events, which were due to begin on 1 October.

Penalties for breaking the rules will also be increased, and the prime minister confirmed during a speech in Parliament on Tuesday afternoon that the new restrictions will remain in place for six months.

What about face coverings?

Face coverings are currently mandatory in shops, supermarkets and on public transport, but Mr Johnson will also announce further rules to make them compulsory in taxis.

Ride-hailing companies such as Uber and Bolt already require passengers to wear face masks while inside drivers vehicles.
Pam Bondi, the former Florida attorney general and a prominent surrogate for President Donald Trump's campaign, on Tuesday defended Kyle Rittenhouse  the 17-year-old charged in the shooting deaths of two people in Kenosha, Wisconsin  as "a little boy out there trying to protect his community."

Rittenhouse of Antioch, Illinois, is facing six charges, including one count of first-degree intentional homicide in connection with the shootings of three people, two of whom were killed. The shooting happened after 11 p.m. Aug. 25 during the third night of protests after a Kenosha police officer shot Jacob Blake seven times in the back.

Bondi told FOX News' Hannity how that prosecutors have been too hasty to charge Rittenhouse, who had come to Kenosha armed with an assault-style rifle during demonstrations against police brutality.

Pam Bondi, former Florida Attorney General, accused President Trump's opponent of nepotism, with Biden's son Hunter and Ukraine as an example.

"There were bullets flying everywhere. Other people were firing, This kid was trying to help people. Were there people killed? Absolutely," said Bondi, who has been active within the Trump campaign and spoke at the Republican National Convention last month.

"You've got a little boy out there trying to protect his community," she said. "Should he have been out there with a gun? No. But should he have been charged with murder? We just don't know yet."

Rittenhouse's lawyers argue the teenager was acting in self defense and his prosecution has become a rallying cry for pro-gun groups who emphasize the constitutional right to bear arms.

He is being charged as an adult in Wisconsin and would face life in prison if convicted of the most serious charge.

Bondi' comments drew sharp fire on social media from critics who accused her of fanning Trump's frequent and misplaced rhetoric about lawlessness in cities, especially those run by Democrats such as Kenosha.

More: 'That's the shooter': Witnesses describe the night Kyle Rittenhouse opened fire in Kenosha

Story continues

"It's a war zone out there," she told Hannity. "What' it's coming to in these liberal cities when teenagers have to go out there to try to provide aid to other people who are getting injured by these rioters."

Bondi served as Florida's top prosecutor from 2011 to 2019.

More: Dallas school district investigating after teacher listed Kenosha shooter Kyle Rittenhouse as 'hero'

Critics on social media accused her of having a double standard when it came to another 17-year-old: Trayvon Martin, a Black youth who was shot and killed on Feb. 26, 2012 while walking back from a convenience store in Sanford, Florida, in a case that helped spur a national debate on racial justice.

Though Martin's shooter, George Zimmerman, was acquitted of second-degree murder charges thanks to the state's Stand Your Ground law, Bondi had helped select the special prosecutor in the case and defended the decision to press charges.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pam Bondi calls Rittenhouse 'a little boy' trying to protect community
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 23)  Tourists from areas under general community quarantine will be allowed to enter Boracay Island starting October 1, but they will be required to follow health protocols, officials said Wednesday.

This development came as a result of a special meeting convened by the principals of the Boracay Inter-agency Task Force led by its Chairperson Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu and Co-Vice Chairpersons, Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Ano and Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, with the Province of Aklan Governor Florencio Miraflores on 22 September, the Department of Tourism said in a statement.

However, the Malay local government is still awaiting formal approval by the country's coronavirus task force of their recommendation to open the doors of the Western Visayas island to more visitors, Acting Mayor Frolibar Bautista told CNN Philippines in an interview.

Visitors must have a negative result on a PCR, or polymerase chain reaction test, 48 to 72 hours prior to their travel to the famous tourist destination, the DOT said.

Tourism Undersecretary Benito Bengzon said visitors must have pre-arranged reservations.

Pag nasa isla na sila, kailangan silang sumunod doon sa health and safety guidelines na na-develop ng Department of Tourism, Bengzon stressed in a briefing.

[Translation: Once they set foot on the island, they must follow the health and safety guidelines developed by the Department of Tourism.]

Bautista said nearly 200 establishments have also been given authority to operate.

"Almost 195 accommodation establishments were given certificate authority to operate which comprise more than 4,000 rooms," he told CNN Philippines' News Night.

Well-prepared

In the same briefing, Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano said Boracay Island is well-prepared to accept more tourists, noting that safety protocols have already been put in place.

Ano said there is an isolation facility on the island and those suspected or confirmed to have the infectious disease will have to leave the place and be brought to Kalibo town proper in Aklan province. A COVID-19 laboratory is also operational at the Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital in Kalibo.

Currently, only tourists from Western Visayas, composed of the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental, can visit the tourist attraction.

In another conference, Carlito Galvez, Chief Implementer of the National Task Force Against COVID-19, said Bohol and Palawan also have potential to reopen doors to tourists soon. Bohol especially is "prepared", Galvez said after officials inspected the area, adding that it could see limited local tourism returning by mid-October.

CNN Philippines' Jun Tariman contributed to this report.
By Express News Service

BENGALURU: The Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Aikya Horata Samithi on Tuesday have called for a Karnataka bandh on Friday (September 25) against the Farm Bills and said that over 50 organisations have extended their support.This comes in the backdrop of the ongoing sit-in protest by farmers in Bengaluru since Monday against the passage of the Centres contentious farm bills in Parliament and the states Land Reforms Amendment Act which was tabled in the Assembly on Tuesday.

The protests will continue till Saturday when the monsoon session of the Karnataka Legislature will end.

Dalit organisations, labour unions, private taxi owners association, lorry owners association and auto unions in Bengaluru have come in their support and backed the bandh call. Speaking to the media, the farmer leaders said the bandh was a stern warning to the Central and State governments. They claimed that the Karnataka Truck Owners Association confirmed their support and trucks wont ply on the bandh day. All national highways and state highways will remain closed. They said auto rickshaws and cabs will be off the roads.

Since the government is not taking it seriously, we want the larger public, trade unions, opposition parties and other labour unions to support us in our fight, said one of the farmer leaders. On Tuesday, Opposition leader Siddaramaiah and Congress State chief D K Shivakumar, JDS leaders H D Revanna and Basavaraj Horatti visited Freedom Park where the farmers are on a protest to extend their support.G C Byyareddy, convener, All India Kisan Co-ordination Committee, said, The farmers have been asked to close all highways across the state on September 25 and a huge protest will be held at Mysuru Bank Circle in Bengaluru. Students, workers unions and dalits are participating.

V Gayatri, core comittee member of Aikya Horata Samithi, said that the protest is not motivated by any political party and 29 organisations including dalit and women units are protesting against the bills. While the bills, which the Central government claims will help small and marginal farmers get competitive prices for their produce, the Karnataka governments Land Reforms Amendment Act allows non-agriculturists to purchase agriculture lands and the APMC Act amendment allows private players to directly purchase produce from farmers. Both have been attacked by farmers and opposition leaders as anti-farmer and anti-worker.

WATCH | Explained: What are the new Agri Bills and why farmers are unhappy
Eric Trump - who serves as executive vice president of the Trump Organisation - gave a "false" explanation about why he failed to appear for a deposition investigating the family business, New York's attorney general said in court papers on Tuesday.

The state is probing the president's business for improperly inflating the value of Mr Trump's assets on financial statements in order to secure loans and obtain economic and tax benefits.

Eric, the president's third child and second son, had been called upon to give testimony in the investigation, after New York took action to enforce a raft of subpoenas. Mr Trump's lawyers said their client had adjourned the deposition to get certain assurances first.

But New York attorney general Letitia James dismissed that claim, saying that the assertion was "false". Mr Trump gave his categorical refusal to appear through a July 27 letter from his lawyer, she said.

Earlier this month, Mr Trump said in a court filling issued through his lawyers that he would be willing to comply with the subpoena - but only after November's election.

The lawyers argued Eric Trumps extreme travel schedule related to his fathers reelection campaign prevented him from testifying sooner in the civil probe.

They also wanted to avoid the use of his deposition attendance for political purposes.

Attorney general James, a Democrat, hit back at the scheduling claims and warned Mr Trump he was not above the law.

"We wont allow any entity or individual to dictate how our investigation will proceed or allow anyone to evade a lawful subpoena," she said in a statement. "No one is above the law, period.

Attorney general James sought court intervention after Mr Trump's lawyers abruptly canceled an interview with investigators that had been planned for late July.

The civil investigation was launched in 2019 after the president's longtime personal lawyer Michael Cohen told Congress that he had repeatedly inflated the value of his assets to obtain more favorable terms for loans and insurance coverage.

Additional reporting by Associated Press
Tragic Find in Search for Missing Victorian Teen

Teenager William Wall has been found dead a day after going missing in Victorian bushland not far from his home.

Almost 36 hours after the 14-year-old embarked on his daily outing near Yarra Junction, east of Melbourne, tragic news swept across the community on Sept. 23 afternoon.

Police can confirm the sad news that 14-year-old William Wall has been located deceased, a statement read.

His death is not being treated as suspicious.

We can confirm the sad news that 14-year-old William Wall has been located deceased in Yarra Junction. His death is not being treated as suspicious and police will prepare a report for the Coroner. We would like to thank the media and all those involved in the search. pic.twitter.com/GIHpaq1DqH  Victoria Police (@VictoriaPolice) September 23, 2020

William left his Launching Place home before 7 a.m. on Sept. 22 to go for his daily walk or run in the Yarra Ranges.

The teenager, who had high-functioning autism, told his family he would be gone for 15 minutes but didnt return. He was not carrying his mobile phone.

His disappearance sparked an air and ground search involving about 100 emergency personnel.

Temperatures dipped to single digits overnight and there was rain in the area William went missing. Police had urged locals to check their homes and outbuildings.

Williams father made an emotional plea earlier on Sept. 23.

Just come homewe want you home.

Wall said William loved exercise and could easily run for 20 kilometres.

William had two older brothers, Jake and Harrison, and a younger sister, Sophie. Family members were involved in the search.

Crews had concentrated on a network of walking trails which covered difficult terrain.

Williams death comes three months after a teenage boy with non-verbal autism was rescued after two nights in freezing bushland near Mt Disappointment.

William Callaghan, 14, was found by local bushman Ben Gibbs. He was suffering exposure and minor injuries but was otherwise well.
Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. In congruence with this saying by Martin Luther King Jr., we the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) residents in New Mexico write to call attention to the never-ending atrocities against the IPOB of Biafra as well as Christians in Nigeria.

The level of insecurity to human lives and properties has gone beyond control over the last five years as Nigeria has become an abattoir where innocent people are massacred on a daily basis without any government interest to bring the perpetrators to book. The scale and horror of atrocities seen in Nigeria and mostly targeted against Biafrans and Christians is staggering. A litany of reports of murders, rapes, mutilations and kidnapping of innocent citizens decorate the pages of Nigeria dailies. Meanwhile, the complicit president Muhammadu Buhari-led government, which clearly has an agenda of Islamization of Nigeria, has continued to look the other way as the country turns into a killing field of defenseless Christians and Biafrans.

As I write, the deadly Fulani herders  a group the 2019 Global Terrorism Index estimates to be deadlier than the dreaded Boko Haram  aided by the Nigeria government have invaded the eastern and southern parts of the country, the Biafran region inhabited by Christians, and systematically are carrying out their planned jihad against the indigenous people. The complicity of the Nigerian government in these violations of human rights cannot be mistaken. There are hundreds of (pieces of) evidence that the Nigerian government through her military and police aid the atrocities against innocent citizens.

It is on record that on Aug. 8, 2012, the current governor of Kaduna State in Nigeria, Nasir El-Rufai, went on national television to boast that he paid foreign Fulani pastoralists to stop the killing in Kaduna. It is equally on record that the Buhari-led government recently celebrated and compensated, with N20,000 each, 602 rehabilitated  whatever that means  Boko Haram terrorists who since 2009 have killed over 50,000 civilians and displaced nearly 3 million Nigerians and reintegrated them into the community amidst the same people they raped and mutilated. What responsible government could be more sympathetic about the well-being of ex-terrorists than millions of jobless youths? These and other numerous incidents clearly indicate the Nigerian government is aware of the root of these genocidal activities.

Amnesty Internationals 2019 report Nigeria: Human Rights Agenda, is essentially a 20-page indictment of human rights violations by State and non-State actors with an emphasis on the state security forces. The government has not, does not and will never investigate and prosecute these allegations. This has been ongoing for years and the world has remained silent.

The principle of self-determination is prominently embodied in Article 1 of the Charter of the United Nations: All peoples have the right to self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development. The Indigenous People of Biafra have for several years now been calling on the international community to attend to their request for self-actualization. As concerned citizens, and members of the Biafran-American communities, we write to draw your attention to this ongoing genocide against Biafrans and Christians in Nigeria because we believe that when the United States speaks, the world listens.

We urge President Donald Trump and his administration to swiftly intervene in the ongoing ethnic cleansing by the Nigerian government and to recognize the Republic of Biafra as an independent sovereign nation under God. The United States is part and parcel of our one great hope for a peaceful and free world. A stable Biafra is in the best interest of the international community, and the national interest of the United States in particular.

We are nothing without each other.
OAK ISLAND  Tropical Storm Beta was pounding the Houston area when William White awoke at 6 a.m. Tuesday some 60 miles east in Chambers County and got ready to check on the neighborhoods around him.

White knew the devastation past storms caused. Imelda. Harvey. Ike. Now he wanted to see for himself how the roads here looked and whether anyone needed help as Tropical Storm Beta, ever so slowly, drifted this way.

He was well-prepared to do it. White, 21, graduated from high school in Pearland, then moved to his grandfathers weekend home in a community called Double Bayou (pronounced by some as double bay-oh) near Trinity Bay.

The young man had wanted to get out of Houston, and his grandfathers side of the family was from this spot, a historically Black community. Here people refer to Anahuac, home to some 2,000 people, as the city. Baytown is the big city.

White appreciated feeling like everyone knew everyone  and the car that they drove.

While still a high school student, White joined the Oak Island-Double Bayou Volunteer Fire Department. (Attending their annual turkey shoot fundraiser hooked him; hes studying now to be a paramedic.) Ahead of Beta, he parked one of their high-water vehicles at his home.

Living in low-lying Double Bayou  or the nearby communities of Oak Island and Smith Point  came with inevitable risk, after all. A flood from a hurricane as early as 1915 caused severe hardships, according to the Texas State Historical Association.

Storm season every year now seemed to White to be worse. He cleared away debris after Hurricane Harvey. He coordinated rescues during Tropical Storm Imelda. He grew wary as Betas tidal rise again pushed water over roads.

What he saw Tuesday morning remained just that  water over roads  but he found it hard to gauge whether more flooding was coming.

I was just praying it wasnt going to hit, which it looks like its still hitting, he said at the fire station. Its been devastating year after year.

The day before, White and other volunteers checked all three high-water vehicles. Unlike staying up drinking coffee on the porch when Hurricane Laura struck to the east, White ate a dinner of coubion from his uncle and fell asleep as Beta struck to the west.

Now he climbed into his Ram pick-up to grab a strawberry lemonade from the First Baptist Church Outreach Center coffee shop in Anahuac. Bumper stickers on his truck commemorated a local paramedic and child who recently died.

Jana Crawford, who runs the coffee shop, hugged Whites head after he told her what he wanted and sat. He wore his volunteer fire department T-shirt. A poster advertising this years turkey shoot hung on the wall.

White is among those who keep a weekly coffee shop tab, enjoying how it serves as a gathering place. But he didnt stay long. He briefly told her and the others what he was up to before heading out.

Ill be back in a little bit! he said, planning to return with lunch from the Crawfish Place.

Trust me, Ill be here, Crawford said.

White drove south to Smith Point. The sun was trying to push through in some spots, while dark clouds loomed in others. The occasional drizzle fell. He hoped any heavier rain would come the next day, instead of overnight.

County officials would be monitoring the weakened storm as it moved their way, expecting it to arrive mid-day the next day. County spokeswoman Samantha Humphrey hoped it would prove another near miss.

In Oak Island, a community White visited, 17-year-old Anna Cao and her family  who had evacuated during Laura  were staying this time in their home. She and some of her neighbors expected their yards to flood. Anna thought she might still have school the next day. Her dad, a fisherman who immigrated from Vietnam, hadnt gone out at 4:30 a.m. as usual but cooked a few fillets.

At the Smiths Point Volunteer Fire Department, White aired one of the high-water vehicles tires and hoisted himself inside. He passed cars parked at the slightly higher Jeris Seafood lot. (This community is known for the annual oyster fry.)

At the Smiths Point Volunteer Fire Department, White aired the high-water vehicles tire and hoisted himself inside. He passed cars parked at the slightly higher Jeris Seafood lot. (This community is known for the annual oyster fry.)

White pushed the gas pedal with hip waders as he steered at 11 mph onto flooded Texaco Road, one of some dozen submerged roads in the county.

Woo, he said, moving the wheel, as he felt for where the ditch met the pavement.

He photographed one house on his cell phone to send the woman who lived there. Water lapped at the stilts that held up others. The pole of a bird house rose from one flooded yard.

Literally the bay has taken this over, White said, reaching a point in the road where he felt he could safely go no farther. He turned around, and water pushed against the truck.

Hoo, he said, looking down out the open window. Here we go with this high water again.

Emily Foxhall is the Texas Storyteller for the Houston Chronicle. Read her on our free site, chron.com, and on our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com. | emily.foxhall@chron.com | Twitter: emfoxhall

emily.foxhall@chron.com
Proscribed secessionist group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has declared October 1, 2020, as sit-at-home across the Southeast.

The group said the decision followed credible intelligence alleging terrorist groups plan to slaughter people of the region who intend to celebrate Independence Day.

PREMIUM TIMES could not independently verify the authenticity of the groups claim.

In a statement by the Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB said its members would join its Yoruba counterparts agitating for Oduduwa Republic, in public protests, to mark the day.

The pro-Biafran group stressed that a complete and total lockdown of Biafraland and other terror ravaged areas of the Middle Belt come October 2020 was sacrosanct, irreversible and non-negotiable.

It enjoined all Biafrans and every conscious Nigerian to boycott every government organised ceremony designed to eulogise Nigeria.

The statement partly reads: We the global movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by our great Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, wish to announce to all Biafrans, friends of Biafra and lovers of freedom all over the world that Biafrans across the globe shall observe a sit-at-home in Biafraland and where permissible in the diaspora, join our Yoruba brethren agitating for Oduduwa Republic, in public protests to mark the October 1, 2020.

We therefore, enjoin all Biafrans and every conscious Nigerian, especially those ethnic nationalities reeling from the triple double blow of state sponsored terrorism, bad governance and economic annihilation, to boycott every government organised ceremony designed to eulogise the failure that Nigeria has become.

This is the time to let the world know how disastrously intolerable human existence is in Nigeria today.

If you want to see an end to terrorism and organised mediocrity, now is the time to register your anger by ensuring that you and your household sit-at-home on October 1, 2020. Do not risk the life and well-being of your children by allowing them to gather in groups in the open where terrorists may find it easier to blow them up or kidnap them.

There is credible intelligence that terrorist groups are planning to slaughter our children should they venture out to celebrate or March on October 1st.

This order is to highlight our position and resolve as Biafrans that we are no longer interested in propping up a crumbling terrorist state.

ALSO READ: Ohaneze grieves killing of IPOB members

The leadership of this great movement in conjunction with supporters of Biafra freedom across the globe have concluded every arrangement to let the whole world know and understand that we are no longer part of this shambolic monument to terrorism and failure.

As this long-expired man-made contraption marks her abused independence on October 1st this year, we IPOB will appropriately declare our intention towards the full and irreversible restoration of Biafra sovereignty and independence for all oppressed ethnic groups in Nigeria.

Complete and total lockdown of Biafraland and other terror ravaged areas of the Middle Belt come 1st of October 2020 is sacrosanct, irreversible and non-negotiable! Mr Powerful said.
A Tibetan officer in the NYPD who has admirable performance and fast-rising in ranks has been accused of foreign espionage by authorities. He used his position in the NYPD to gain access to information that is confidential. He now faces a criminal charge.

Sources say that he shares information in the community affairs unit to access and give details of operations. It was added to the criminal complaint.

Identified as Baimadajie Angwang, 33, he was apprehended last Monday said the US Attorney's office for the Eastern District of New York. Prosecutors in the Federal court have arraigned him on charges as a foreign agent, who did not inform American officials. Other felonies include wire fraud and untrue statements that were the official complaint against him, reported CNN.

Such was the gravity of the offense that he was accused of blocking an official proceeding. According to the prosecutors, he provided false information on the national security clearance form. Or he obtained information access through pretenses intentionally.

The attorney of the accused was asked to comment on the charges that Angwang was facing. His attorney said on Monday will be his first court appearance.

Sources mention that the suspect first joined the department as an officer in the NYPD's community affairs unit based in Queens. For now, till charges are cleared, he is suspended till further notice. Whether he is suspended with pay, is not yet confirmed.

Unsealing the complaint on Monday it read that he used his position as a member of the NYPD to give access to Chinese Consuls through official invitations to NYPD events. Another is charged since he can access confidential info on the NYPD operations and internal affairs.

Also read: Chinese Consulate in Houston Closed After Suspicions of Harboring Spies

In 2013, he served in the Marine Corps in Afghanistan, which was indicated in service records. From 2014 on, he was an official army reservist, and his rank is a staff sergeant specializing in civil affairs. More detail in the complaint against him mentions, his job in the army reserve includes the operations and tactical deployment of all civil affairs teams. He is a holder of a secret level security clearance too.

The officer in the complaint was subject to the command and control of Chinese officials to monitor, the activities of Ethnic Tibetans in NYC. Another job is to scout more spies connected to key positions to harvest information, mentioned Daily News.

Key charges posed against Angwang by the prosecutor is from 2018, where he kept an open line of communication with two consulate officers in New York. It is alleged that he received orders and reported what happened. One of his contacts is referred to as Boss, who is not identified.

The officer comes on a cultural exchange visa, and stayed longer but got asylum in the U.S. because he was tortured and arrested in the PRC. Him being Tibetan was the reason for his oppression in China. He became a U.S. citizen soon after, noted New Indian Express.

One Allegation is the accused had a conversation in a 2018 call with a Consul official, saying something about recruiting in the NYPD.

Charges against the officer and the involvement of the Chinese consulate was answered last Tuesday, saying that they did nothing illegal. The prosecutors alleged that Angwang and his spouse got transfers from the Bank of China (BoC) totaling $120,000. This was the main proof he is a mole agent for the CCP, cited the Guardian.

Related article: Chinese Diplomats Banned From Travel in the U.S. Without Clearance

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Health Minister Robin Swann has said coronavirus is "gaining momentum" in Northern Ireland as he announced new restrictions will soon be put in place for visits to hospitals and other healthcare settings.

Mr Swann said new guidance will soon see visits to healthcare facilities restricted to one visit by one family member once a week, with flexibility for end-of-life care, maternity services and paediatric services.

The health minister said he is eager to avoid visitor restrictions in care homes around Northern Ireland.

It comes as chief medical officer Dr Michael McBride said it is inevitable that challenges will increase as we enter the winter months and warned that there is still a possibility cases could increase to 500 a day.

"It doesn't have to be like that, but it is dependent on what we all do now," he said.

Mr Swann said he recently met with a family who were bereaved during an outbreak at Craigavon Area hospital.

"What happened at Craigavon Area Hospital and Daisy Hill Hospital shows the cruelty of the virus," he said.

Dr Guduru Gopal Rao, a microbiologist in London North West University NHS Trust, will lead the independent investigation into the review involving deaths of patients in the Southern Trust, he said.

Read More

It comes as a further 220 people in Northern Ireland have tested positive for coronavirus, the Department of Health has confirmed.

This brings the total number of cases since the outbreak began to 9,761. Some 1,078 cases have been reported in the last seven days alone.

No further deaths have been reported leaving the toll at 577.

There are 41 Covid patients in hospitals across Northern Ireland, with six patients in intensive care.

A total of 27 care homes are also dealing with outbreaks of the virus.

Read More

Here's how Wednesday unfolded:
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Check out the latest coronavirus news, read updates on fall elections and the Supreme Court, and see more stories trending online today.

Top Stories

Schumer invokes two-hour rule to block Senate committee hearings (CBS News)

Trump airs thinking on Supreme Court seat (Boston Globe)

Biden calls demand for list of Supreme Court nominees inappropriate (NY Post)

Cindy McCain Endorses Biden, Citing Trumps Disparagement of Troops (NY Times)

Younger voters warm up to Biden in new poll (NBC News)

Moderator Chris Wallace releases topics for first presidential debate in Cleveland (cleveland.com)

House passes short-term funding bill to keep government running (NPR)

Beta dumped on Houston after sparing the worst coastal areas feared (Houston Chronicle)

Coronavirus news

As nation surpasses 200,000 deaths, Trump keeps downplaying coronavirus (ABC News)

Chelsea Clinton: Trump isnt building public confidence in a vaccine (The Hill)

Trump: U.N. must hold China accountable for pandemic (Politico)

Trump says U.S. will remain open as UK imposes coronavirus restrictions (CNBC)

Johnson & Johnsons coronavirus vaccine is fourth to begin Phase 3 trials in the United States (CNN)

Halloween activities from low to high coronavirus risk, according to the CDC; Trick or treating? High risk (OregonLive)

Many parents are hesitant to give their kids a Covid-19 vaccine. What if schools require it? (NBC)

Read complete prior coronavirus coverage.

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Federal government executes former U.S. soldier who said witchcraft drove him to kill nurse (CBS)
One of the major international labour issues Ghana and other African countries are battling with is the many reported cases of abuse of domestic migrant workers in the Middle East and Gulf countries.

Some returnees have recounted horrifying stories of how their employers sometimes subjected them to inhumane treatments after confiscating their passports so that they will not leave.



The common excuse they give is that they have bought them from their agents, who are often Africans as well.



Naa (not her real name) narrated how she was made to sleep in the kitchen and made to work from 3 a.m. to 12 midnight on a daily basis. She sometimes survived on a few slices of bread for the whole day.



Margaret Annor, another returnee, also told the story of how her employers husband molested her almost on a daily basis and threatened to kill her if she reported to anyone outside the home.





She said: What hurt me most was that his wife was away and always referred to me as a slave and so I had to succumb to their orders regardless. I was helpless because they had seized my passport, she narrated.



Others told of how they were made to satisfy the sexual demands of their employers and animals, went for days without food and beaten, among other abuses. These are but a few of the ordeals Ghanaian and African migrants looking for domestic work go through in their search for greener pastures.



Such stories have been highlighted by a number of migration studies conducted by institutions such as the International Migration Organisation (IOM) and the School of Migration Studies of the University of Ghana, Legon, the media, and civil society organizations (CSOs).



Ratify ILO CI189

To prevent such harrowing stories, stakeholders are calling for the ratification of international protocols that bar such inhuman practices and treatments meted out to migrants. One of such migration advocates, Princess Asie Ocansey, who has been working towards the well-being of domestic migrant workers and other stakeholders since 2012, has called on the government to ratify the International Labour Organisations (ILOs) Convention 189 and 190 to facilitate the protection of migrant workers.



The Convention 189 advocates a set of standards regarding the recruitment and placement of domestic workers, both internally and internationally. Among the rights that the convention seeks to protect are rights to a written contract, days off, a decent working environment, regularly paid wages, rights to join labour unions and non-discriminatory practices.



Ghana has not yet ratified both conventions but lobbying by CSOs and organised labour are underway to expedite the ratification process.



In a recent pre-launch webinar on her new book titled "Deadly Work or Decent Work?, Princess Asie Ocansey, said Ghanaian and other African domestic migrant workers in Gulf countries deserved to be treated with dignity regardless of any circumstance.



Some international migration advocates and influential figures also made presentations during the webinar. She said considering the current situation of maltreatment and abuse meted out to the domestic African workers, it had become more critical than ever for governments, particularly, the Ghanaian government, to ratify the ILO Convention.



Princess Asie Ocansey, who is also a member of the African Union (AU) Labour Migration Advisory Committee and Founder of the Nekotech Centre for Labour Migration Diplomacy, stated: We invite all stakeholders and media houses to heavily support the promotion of C189 and cause President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of Ghana to ratify C189 before elections this year.



The book also has a subtitle: SOS! Africa-Middle East Domestic Workers Migration Process. She said it was an urgent call to action for all African leaders to address the increasingly deadly work experience for African domestic women workers in the Middle East to make a shift to decent work. The book is a go-to guide that demystifies the good, the bad and the deadly migrant hiring systems in the Middle-East, Princess Asie Ocansey said.



Highlights

It advocates the creation of a dedicated multilateral platform, known as the SOS! Africa-Middle East Domestic Workers Migration Process, with a roadmap and 10 culturally illuminated keys for a paradigm-shift from deadly to decent work, for the benefit of the African member states, the Middle Eastern countries, as well as the migrant domestic women workers.



The book also highlights violent experiences of the most vulnerable migrant workers: women domestic workers, whose plights have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 era.



The book has a COVID-19 training manual and certification programme to ensure that all African domestic women workers were certified and sensitised to soft and hard skills before going to work in the Middle East on decent work systems.



"This is a call from God to the world to save these young women and to put a stop to this deadly practice immediately! Young African women need decent work and proper training, not deadly work," Princess Asie Ocansey said.



The Host of the USA popular radio show "Thriving Entrepreneur", Mr Steve Kidd, said: "These girls are just simply trying to provide for their families and the atrocities some of them are facing is the worst kind of indecency and something we all need to stand up for."



Honours

The event was also used to honour the efforts of Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Mr Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, for donating over $200,000 to bring back some stranded Ghanaian domestic workers in the Middle-East.



The Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Ms Abike Dabiri Erewa, was also commended for bringing back home some Nigerian women who were stranded in the Middle East.



The event was co-chaired by the Founder and President of the Worldwide Miracle Outreach, UK, Rev. Dr Lawrence Tetteh, and the Director of the Centre for Migration Studies at the University of Ghana, Professor Joseph Teye, while migration expert and member of the AU Labour Migration Committee, Ms Lucy Daxbacher, moderated.

Source: Graphiconline.com









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And it is all thanks to recent introductions such as the K5 sedan , or the fact that certain regions love the compact Seltos or the massive Telluride (brother to the equally successful Hyundai Palisade). We are talking about the U.S. market, of course, and Kia is looking to solidify its presence in the highly disputedarea with the fourth generation of the Sorento.Arriving as a 2021 model year, the all-new Sorento has a known design  after all, its been in production in European guise for a few weeks already. As such, we can focus on the U.S.-market specifics without further delay, with the automaker already announcing late-year availability (but without pricing details just yet). The company is manufacturing the new generation in West Point, Georgia, together with the K5 and Telluride.For America, Kia is offering the 2021 Sorento in five different grades: LX, S, EX, SX, and SX-Prestige. The automaker will make the new SUV available with both front- and all-wheel drive, along with three initial powertrains  the plug-in hybrid option is being postponed for the 2022 model year.In its base configuration, customers can choose the 2021 Sorento with a 2.5-liter GDI 4-cylinder making 191 hp and 182 lb. ft. (247 Nm), mated to an 8-speed auto transmission andor. More interesting, though, are the other two engine choices.One is a new 2.5-Turbo option with 281 horsepower and 311 lb. ft. that arrives with a segment-exclusive 8-speed wet-clutch DCT, while the other is an equally new Turbo-Hybrid delivering 227-horsepower and an estimated fuel economy of 37 mpg (combined). The upcomingoption will up the ante to 261 hp while also offering up to 30 miles (48 km) of fully electric driving.Also new is the arrival of an X-Line trim dedicated to enhancing off-road capabilities. It can be had in the SX-Prestige AWD guise and brings to the table a one-inch (25.4 mm) lift to a more capable 8.3-inch (211 mm) ride height, a center locking differential and downhill descent control, as well as unique design elements.
The leader of the Coalition of Independent Presidential Aspirants (CIPA), Kofi Koranteng, has pledged to prioritize issues of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) if elected president of the republic in the December 2020 polls.

The aspiring presidential candidate promised to mount a desk at the presidency to be responsible for issues of NCDs, explaining that the move will help his government to support to address issues of Non-Communicable Diseases in the country.

Koranteng made the promise when a team from the Ghana NCD Alliance (GhNCDA) presented to him a copy of the Ghana NCDs Manifesto aimed at ensuring that all political leaders increasingly recognize and prioritize NCDs prevention, treatment, care and support as a development issue in the 21st century as well as invest adequately towards strengthening healthcare systems to address the health burden associated with NCDs.

Issues of NCDs are big passion for me so I will provide an office at the presidency for the Alliance to help address NCDs issues, it is a promise and I will do it," he stated.

The presidential aspirant also assured that when elected into office, he will amend the National Health Insurance Act to allow children under 5 years and adults who are 50 years and over to undergo regular medical checkups at no cost to them.

"NHIS will be upgraded to allow children under 5years and over 50years to undertake a free three-month regular medical checkups," he promised, adding that "We will fund these activities by judiciously applying and protecting the national resources to ensure that there is enough to tackle NCD issues".

Presenting the document, the leader of the team and Chairman of the Media Alliance in Tobacco Control and Health (MATCOH), Jeorge Wilson Kingson, said, NCDs are the most pressing public health challenges facing the current generations and possibly future generation if measures are not taken to address them now.

It is one of the reasons why we are meeting you to draw the needed attention to the urgency of the situation, he noted.

He stated that the document was developed together with experts after analyzing and studying the needs, challenges, and priorities of people living with NCDs in the areas of cost of treatment, care services alongside financial risk protection across the continuum of care, unavailability and challenges faced in accessing the National Health Insurance Scheme, among others.

These make it practically impossible for people living with NCDs to access quality healthcare for a wide group of disease conditions for the poorest and most vulnerable populations at all levels, as well as achievement of the primary healthcare for all, Kingson emphasized.

Emerging evidence from the Covid-19 pandemic clearly suggests that people living with NCDs and other chronic conditions such as diabetes, cancer, hypertension, stroke, chronic respiratory diseases among others are at a higher risk of becoming severely ill, getting long term complications or dying from the Covid-19.

The pandemic has exposed the weak health systems and lack of structures in emergency situations and the inability of the world leaders including Ghana to invest in prevention and control of NCDs. These gaps are enough to call for a total reform in strengthening our health system to avert future occurrences.

Globally, NCDs kill 41 million people and in Ghana, it kills 94,400 annually representing 43% of all mortality, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) NCD Progress Report. Many are dying and suffering due to health system failure, stigmatization, and high cost of treatment and care services, lack of affordable medicine and treatment options and community support, and access to facilities etc.

NCDs cut across every facet of the Ghanaian economy and by extension global economies, thus the need to prioritize NCDs in all decision-making beyond health and enact policies across all sectors to play a key role in the wellbeing of the over 30 million Ghanaians.
Recent developments have brought to light serious issues with regards to the lack of financial oversight and controls in place at the corporation, including concerns with how MES handles expense reimbursements, salaries, and bonuses, and their long-standing practice of paying generous severance packages to departing executive directors, Hogan  who strongly denies approving McGraths payments  said in a statement.
A black man has filed a $2.5 million claim against the Arizona city of Tempe, saying a 'hyperaggresive' police officer held him at gunpoint while looking for a white suspect at a hotel where he worked.

The claim - a precursor to a lawsuit - was filed on Wednesday by hotel employee Trevonyae Cumpian stemming from his August 29 detention by Tempe police Officer Ronald Kerzaya, the Arizona Republic reported.

Body-camera footage showed Kerzaya responded to a 911 call at the Hawthorn Suites hotel where management said there was a man with a gun. Kerzaya was initially without backup, and a manager told him that the armed man was white.

The manager, watching surveillance cameras, told Kerzaya that the gunman was headed for a particular exit, and the cop rushed outside and waited by the exterior door.

Trevonyae Cumpian, 28, filed a $2.5M claim against Tempe on Wednesday

The incident occurred at the the Hawthorn Suites hotel in Tempe on August 29, when management called 911 to report a man roaming the building with a gun

While guarding the exit door, the footage shows, Kerzaya held Cumpian, who works as a front-desk employee, at gunpoint despite Cumpian not matching the suspect description.

Kerzaya would not lower his gun until he confirmed the man was a hotel employee, which took about two minutes.

He then can be seen pointing his weapon at three others as he searches for the suspect, who was not found.

The claim calls for Kerzaya, who has been moved to an administrative role pending an investigation, to be terminated due to his 'blatant and continual abusiveness toward black men.'

At a news conference Wednesday, Cumpian said he was racially profiled by Kerzaya.

'Once things became hostile and he said I fit the description and had me get down to my knees with the gun on me, all I could think about was my daughter, my family, and my life flashed before my eyes,' Cumpian said. 'I thought I was going to die.'

The manager (above), watching surveillance cameras, told Officer Kerzaya that the gunman was headed for a particular exit, and the cop rushed outside and waited by the exterior door

When Cumpian exited the door that Kerzaya was guarding, Kerzaya ordered him to put his hands up. Cumpian is black, and the suspect description was of a white male

Cumpian complained that he was a hotel employee and told Kerzaya to stop pointing his gun at him, which seemed to enrage Kerzaya who told him to stop talking back

Nikki Ripley, a spokeswoman for the city, said the city hasn't yet received Cumpian's claim.

Benjamin Crump, one of Cumpian's attorneys, said his client deescalated the situation, while Kerzaya seemed to do the opposite.

The police department previously said its initial review shows the encounter wasn't handled with the professionalism or respect expected of its officers. An internal investigation is being conducted.

Kerzaya and the department came under fire for a 2019 incident in which Kerzaya used a stun gun on Ivaughn Oakry, who was holding his 1-year-old child in his own home.

The claim involving Cumpian seeks $2.5 million for emotional trauma and related therapy.

Kerzaya held Cumpian at gunpoint for about two minutes, until he confirmed that he was actually a hotel employee

Once confirming Cumpian's identity, Kerzaya told him to leave the area and wait in the lobby

The claim also alleges a cover-up by the department to keep Kerzaya's past conduct quiet.

The attorneys said officials attempted to avoid providing the officer's badge number and, when they did, they provided Kerzaya's middle name of Aaron, instead of Ronald.

They later provided his full name and Cumpian quickly discovered Kerzaya was at the center of an excessive-force lawsuit filed by Oakry.

The department stood by Kerzaya and the other officers involved following the incident with Oakry.

An investigation determined their actions were within policy and Kerzaya underwent mandatory re-training in contact communication, defense tactics and enhanced de-escalation techniques.
By Foo Yun Chee

BRUSSELS, Sept 23 (Reuters) - The world's biggest shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries Holdings Co Ltd is discussing concessions with EU antitrust regulators to allay concerns over its $1.8 billion bid for rival Daewoo, people familiar with the matter said.

The deal, in part a response to overcapacity in the sector, would reinforce the South Korean company's top position with a 21% market share, and comes as rivals in China and Singapore make inroads.

The European Commission, which opened a full-scale investigation into the deal last December on concerns it could inflate prices and reduce competition in cargo shipbuilding, declined to comment.

Hyundai was not immediately available for comment, while Daewoo declined to comment.

Hyundai may face less onerous concessions after the EU competition enforcer dropped its concerns regarding the impact of the deal on the markets for large container ships, oil tankers and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carriers.

It is now focusing solely on liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, one of the people said, which are used to transport LNG between Europe and the Middle East and North Africa.

EU regulators typically favour asset sales or the transfer of technologies or contracts to rivals to address competition concerns.

The Commission temporarily halted its probe on July 13, the third time it has done so. The previous two delays were due to the coronavirus crisis and also to it waiting for the companies to provide data.

Much of the EU's internal and external freight trade goes by sea, with European shipping companies major customers of Hyundai and Daewoo. (Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Additional reporting by Heekyong Yang in Seoul; Editing by Jason Neely and Jan Harvey)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, September 23, 2020 16:15 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46b1b53 1 News eiger,mountaineer,outdoor-activities,outdoor-sports Free

Indonesian outdoor equipment brand Eiger Adventure has advised consumers against any hiking trips amid the ongoing pandemic.

After months of closure, some reopened mountain trails have been flooded with hikers. In August, hundreds of visitors flocked to Mount Lawu in Magetan, East Java, where management was overwhelmed in controlling the crowds. In the same month, more than 15,000 hikers swamped Mount Bawakaraeng in Gowa regency, South Sulawesi, to celebrate Independence Day. Mount Gede in West Java also saw a spike in the number of travelers visiting the area in September, prompting management to close the hiking trails again.

Galih Donikara, a senior mountaineer who is also part of the EIGER Adventure Service Team (EAST), shared his views in a statement. For the time being, we have to play safe. Stay active by doing small simulations around the house or small hills in a remote area. Do it during weekdays so you can avoid crowds and go only with small groups, he said.

Our common goal in hiking is to get healthy, and we don't want to bring diseases back home. Remember, the point of hiking is to come home safely.

Read also: More visitors now allowed at Mount Bromo

Based on his most recent hike on Mount Ciremai, West Java, to check whether or not health protocol was applied, Kang Bongkeng from EAST shared his suggestions for hikers as well as mountain management.

Officials need to be consistent and assertive in keeping the hikers disciplined. Deploy patrols to make sure health protocols are heeded. There should be limits to the number of hikers and hiking trails. Finally, hikers should arrange excursion times in an efficient manner, he said. (gis/wng)
During an election rally speech in the battleground State of Pennsylvania, US President Donald Trump urged his supporters not to call the virus behind the Covid-19 pandemic, coronavirus, saying the name sounds like a "beautiful place" in Italy.

Follow live updates on the Covid-19 pandemic here

He lashed out at China for not stopping the Covid-19 pandemic that has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives globally, as he yet again used the term "China virus".

Addressing a packed election rally in the battle ground state of Pennsylvania, Trump told his supporters on Tuesday that if re-elected, over the next four years, his administration would make America a manufacturing superpower of the world and will end the reliance of US on China once and for all.

Describing the Nov. 3 election as a "matter of economic survival", Trump said that the country was doing great on the economic front before the plague was unleashed on the United States, and blamed China for it.

"You had the greatest year you have ever had last year, and you were really on your way - we were very, very sadly disturbed by what happened with China. They let the plague out. They shouldn't have done it," he said.

"We built the greatest economy in the history of the world. And right now, we're doing it again, he asserted, amidst applause from his supporters.

"It's the China virus. It's not the coronavirus," Trump said. "Corona sounds like a place in Italy, a beautiful place. It's corona? No. It's the China virus. They don't want to say it. You know, the radical left, they don't want to say it."

The US President has referred to the novel coronavirus as Chinas virus before as well.

In his speech on the eve of the Republican National Convention in August, Trump said: "I am pleased to make a truly historic announcement in our battle against the China virus that will save countless lives".

In March, he had said that China is responsible for the spread of the novel coronavirus and termed Covid-19 as the "Chinese virus".

The virus that first emerged in China's Wuhan city in the Hubei province in December 2019 has claimed 968,726 lives and infected 31,483,011 people globally. The US is the worst-affected country, according to the Johns Hopkins University coronavirus tracker.

Coronavirus Worldometer | 15 countries with the highest number of cases, deaths due to the Covid-19 pandemic

"Do you ever notice they're always going after Russia? Look, nobody's been tougher on Russia than me. But you have Russia, Russia, Russia. I say what about China? They never want to mention it. You know, they got little deals going on, Trump alleged.

"But coronavirus, doesn't it sound like Italy, a beautiful villa, you have a beautiful corona. No, it's the China virus. They should have stopped it," he said.

To fight the virus, Trump said that his administration had launched the largest national mobilisation since World War II.

"We did an incredible, we did an A-plus job, except we did a "D" job in terms of public relations, explaining it, because we were too busy doing it. But the fact is they wouldn't have written it anyway," Trump said.

He claimed that his Democratic rival Joe Biden had championed every globalist betrayal of Pennsylvania for a half a century.

"He was a cheerleader for the worst trade deal ever made by any country, NAFTA, and China's entry into the World Trade Organization, which built China like a rocket ship," he said.

"They were flatlined for many, many decades, and then right through the roof. That was a Biden approval too. These disasters ripped out one-third of your state's manufacturing jobs. You know what happened. Biden shouldn't be asking for your vote. He should be begging for your forgiveness. He did a terrible job," Trump said.

He said that now the Democrat Party was pledging to rejoin the disastrous Paris Climate Accord.

"You want to spend a lot of money for nothing, eviscerating your state's economy," he told his supporters. "You will spend USD 1 trillion. And what it is really, it takes away your power. It takes away your energy. You'll be closing your plants and factories all over the place."

"I withdrew from the catastrophe because I was elected to fight for Pittsburgh, not for Paris," Trump said. "This election is a choice between Pennsylvania and China. If Biden wins, China wins. When we win, Pennsylvania wins and America wins."
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Linkedin Dian Septiari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, September 23, 2020 16:33 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46b3b4d 1 World UNGA,vaccine-diplomacy,accessibility,Jokowi,COVAX-Facility,multilateralism Free

President Joko Jokowi Widodo has called for equal access to future vaccines and has urged countries to work together and set aside rivalries to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic in his first-ever address to the United Nations General Assembly.

World leaders have submitted prerecorded messages to be played at the annual assembly, which began on Tuesday, as confirmed infections worldwide have surpassed 31.7 million and more than 975,000 people have died, according to Worldometer.

The president urged nations to cooperate and promoted a win-win approach to tackling both the health and socioeconomic effects of the pandemic.

A vaccine will be a game changer in the war against the pandemic. We need to work together to ensure that all countries have equal access to a safe vaccine at affordable prices, the President said in his statement to the assembly, which aired on Wednesday morning Jakarta time.

The message echoed concerns expressed by other countries at the assembly. Many nations sought assurances from superpowers that they would commit to keeping access to future vaccines open, fearing rising vaccine nationalism.

Read also: Indonesia calls for strengthened multilateral institutions as UN turns 75

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said the UN was working to ensure that treatments and therapies remained global public goods and that future vaccines would be 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.

More than 170 candidate vaccines for COVID-19 are being tested worldwide, but only 9 have reached phase 3 safety trials. Most of them are being developed by American and Chinese vaccine producers.

In his address, United States President Donald Trump provided little assurance about future vaccines while blaming China for the pandemic and calling on the UN to hold Beijing accountable for its actions.

Thanks to our efforts, three vaccines are in the final stage of clinical trials. We are mass producing them in advance so they can be delivered immediately upon arrival. We will distribute a vaccine, Trump claimed in his address. We will defeat the virus. We will end the pandemic, and we will enter a new era of unprecedented prosperity, cooperation and peace.

Chinese President Xi Jinping said his country was also developing several COVID-19 vaccines that were in phase 3 clinical trials.

"When their development is complete and they are ready for use, these vaccines will be made a global public good and will be provided to other developing countries on a priority basis," Xi said in prerecorded remarks.

While the vaccine race has accentuated geopolitical rivalries, such as between the US and China, there is no guarantee that any of the vaccine candidates will be safe and effective for widespread use.

Read also: At UN, Trump demands action against China over virus, Xi urges cooperation

On Monday, World Health Organization director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus appealed to countries to use the COVAX Facility, saying it would enable a globally coordinated rollout for the greatest possible impact and ensure that the race for vaccines was a collaboration, not a contest.

We have no guarantee that any single vaccine now in development will work. The more candidates we test, the higher the chance we will have a safe and efficacious vaccine, he said, according to a recording on UNTV.

The fastest route to ending the pandemic and accelerating the global economic recovery is to ensure that some people are vaccinated in all countries, not all people in some countries.

COVAX is a global COVID-19 vaccine allocation plan that aims to help purchase and fairly distribute a future vaccine.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi recently said the government was employing bilateral and multilateral methods to secure potential future vaccine supplies. She noted that Indonesia was trying to balance efforts to gain early access to possible vaccines with contributions to the availability of a global vaccine.

Bilaterally, Indonesia has secured massive supplies of candidate vaccines from producers from China and the United Arab Emirates. At the same time, it is participating in the COVAX Facility.

The initiative is led by the WHO, vaccine alliance GAVI, and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI).

We are one of the countries categorized in COVAX 92, which [means we] have been promised access to vaccines for 20 percent of Indonesia's population, [] that means we will get about 106-107 million additional doses because each person gets two injections, Retno told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

Additionally, Indonesia is seeking cooperation with the CEPI, which is currently conducting due diligence on state pharmaceuticals firm PT Bio Farma.

If due diligence results are good and Bio Farma is trusted to manufacture a global vaccine, it means it will open the door for Bio Farma to enter the world network, the minister said in an exclusive interview.

And this is also an entry point for Indonesia to contribute to the supply of world vaccines.

Indonesia is hoping to contribute its own candidate vaccine, called the Merah Putih, which is still in the exploratory stage.

Once we have developed our own vaccine  I cant say when, probably in 2021 or 2022  we also want to contribute, Retno said.
With a strong reputation as one of Vancouvers most sought-after mortgage professionals, McKay Wood, senior mortgage broker and partner at MortgagePal, brings with him a honed sense of steering a venture through a high-volume industry.

Woods multi-year streak of success and consistency is in stark contrast with how he got into mortgages to begin with.

I went through a mid-life crisis, Wood said. I was the owner of some tour companies in Vancouver, and I got out of that business. I transitioned to a profession where I could essentially control my own destiny without having the overhead like in the bus companies. I wanted to write my own cheques, so to speak. The more control I have on how I work, the better I do.
A psychologist who saw each member of the Edwards family in the midst of their Family Court dispute in 2017 has told an inquest she informed the children's lawyer she suspected John Edwards was a potentially dangerous narcissist, and that she personally feared retribution from him.

The psychologist told the inquest into the deaths of Jack, Jennifer and John on Wednesday she believed the children's accounts of Edwards' violence, but the children both confided in her that the court-appointed independent children's lawyer, Debbie Morton, didn't listen to them.

Pictured are Jennifer and Jack Edwards, who were shot by their father, and their mother Olga (centre), who later took her own life.

The psychologist, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said Ms Morton had told her on June 13 that Jack and Jennifer's mother Olga "presented as a hard nosed bitch in court"  an opinion that she said she "wouldn't have agreed with".

She said that, on the same day, she had a session with John Edwards in which "it became apparent that John was lying" in response to allegations of violence levelled against him.
The pandemic has caused a 20 per cent slump in the number of NCEA credits schools have reported to the Qualifications Authority.

The authority says schools are cancelling or deferring some assessments and principals told RNZ they hoped their students would catch up before the end of the year.

The Qualifications Authority's deputy chief executive, assessment, Kristine Kilkelly, says it expected a drop in reported results.

"The reduction in reporting appears to be mainly due to schools reducing and deferring their assessment programmes to later in the year in response to the disruptions from COVID-19, in line with the advice provided to schools in May and June.

"We expect the number of results reported to increase over the next two months, as assessment is completed prior to examinations."

The chairperson of the PPTA's Principals Council, James Morris says 20 per cent is in line with what he has been hearing from other principals and he expect that figure to reduce by the end of the year.

"It will be interesting to see the final tallies, how much lower they are. I know, with the fact there's been the extension of when the exams take place, there's going to be a little bit more time at the other end for some catch-ups as well. So what I'm hearing is that there will be probably a greater amount of later credits going in."

Morris says schools are focusing on students who planned to leave school at the end of the year because returning students can catch up next year if necessary.

"One of the benefits of NCEA is that even if students aren't able to achieve it at the end of one year, they can always pick up the credits in the following year I think a lot of schools have been really focusing on enabling the students who are leavers, so those who are possibly leaving at the end of level two but in particular level three, just making sure that they within this year will have the credits that they need for UE and level three as well."

Students lost five-and-a-half weeks of classroom time to the national lockdown and those in Auckland lost a further two-and-a-half weeks in the city's level three lockdown.

The principal of Mangere College in Auckland, Tom Webb, says despite the disruption, the school's Year 13s are only slightly behind last year's rate of achievement, while other students have recorded about the same number of credits as last year.

"What we found, particularly coming out of the first lockdown is students being really engaged as they came back to school, really missing the time away from school and just wanting to get stuck in."

Webb says students have been a bit slower to return to classes following Auckland's level 3 lockdown, but they are showing the same motivation to do well.

He says the decline in results reported to NZQA might reflect a delay in reporting from schools rather than an actual decline in achievement.

He says his students' results are even better once learning recognition credits are added.

The principal of Albany Senior High School, Claire Amos, says her students have largely caught up after being behind.

"When we came out of the second lockdown it did look a little bit dire, it looked like we were really, really well behind because I think for a lot of students and a lot of teachers they were just about to do all their catch-ups from the first lockdown and then we headed into the second lockdown.," she said.

"But what we've actually found now is that with a real sense of flexibility being encouraged we're back to where we would be about this time of year already, so in a sense we've caught up."

Amos says the Qualifications Authority has encouraged schools to be more creative about how they gathered evidence that students have demonstrated the knowledge and skills required for achieving their NCEA standards.

"It was definitely a move towards that idea of gathering of evidence of learning rather than the traditional assessment events or tasks.

"It's actually encouraged our staff to approach NCEA in exactly the creative ways that we should have been doing all along."

Amos says with the addition of learning recognition credits, the school's students could end up achieving more credits than in previous years.

-RNZ/John Gerritsen.
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The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriffs Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by reporter Mitchell Kukulka.

Thursday, Sept. 17

8:59 p.m.  Deputies responded to a car-deer crash in Larkin Township.

8:34 p.m.  A deputy was dispatched to an Urgent Care for a dog bite that occurred in East Lansing. A 58-year-old Midland woman reported a dog belonging to her 26-year-old son attacked her while she was visiting him. An isolation notice was mailed to the son. The deputy did make contact with the son and advised him of the isolation notice and the isolation requirement.

8:22 p.m.  Deputies responded to car-deer crash in Lincoln Township.

7:59 p.m.  Deputies were dispatched to a Warren Township gas station in reference to a possible domestic assault between a 23-year-old woman and her 24-year-old boyfriend. The incident stemmed from another assault at a Warren Township residence involving several people. A report will be forwarded to the Midland County Prosecuting Attorney's Office for review. The 24-year-old victim did not have any injuries from the domestic.

7:50 p.m.  Deputies responded to a vehicle crash in Jerome Township.

6:49 p.m.  Deputies responded to a car-deer crash in Jasper Township.

5:47 p.m.  A deputy assisted Midland Police with a crash within city limits.

5:02 p.m.  Officers responded to a vehicle crash causing injuries in the area of Lyon Road and Jefferson Avenue.

9:45 a.m.  Officers responded to a vehicle crash causing injuries in the 3100 block of Jefferson Avenue.

9:08 a.m.  A 17-year-old called 9-1-1 stating his 62-year-old grandfather assaulted him. Deputies responded and spoke with both parties, who allege that they were both assaulted. Both were separated for the day.

9:06 a.m.  A deputy was dispatched to the area of West Shaffer Road near North Alamando Road for a report of a vehicle crash. The deputy was advised to cancel before he arrived, as the Coleman Police Department took the crash report.

8:48 a.m.  A deputy was dispatched to a City of Midland business to complete a report for a car-deer crash that occurred in Jerome Township.

7:57 a.m.  Deputies were dispatched to Mills Township for a car-deer crash.

1:59 a.m.  Officers responded to a report of an intoxicated driver in the area of West Buttles Street and Jerome Street.

12:41 a.m.  A Homer Township resident reported hearing a single gunshot and requested the area be checked. The caller did not know which direction the shot came from. A deputy checked the neighborhood and did not locate anyone or hear any other loud noises.
By Express News Service

KOLKATA: The sleuths of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday raided at 15 places in Kolkata and the districts bordering Bangladesh in connection with a cattle smuggling case in which a BSF commandant has been held accused.

The central agency claimed to have come across leads showing the involvement of a section of customs officers posted in the districts.

One of the 12 CBI teams, which carried out the raids, searched and sealed the Salt Lake residence of Satish Kumar, the BSF commandant presently posted in Jharkhand.

CBI sources said the agency came to know about the allegations against Kumar in 2018 following which it conducted an inquiry. "The finding corroborated the allegation and we registered a case against Kumar and three cattle traders on last September 21," said a BSF official.

From December 19, 2015, to April 22, 2017, Kumar was posted as commandant of 36 Battalion in Malda district which was having four companies of BSF personnel deployed in Murshidabad and two companies in Malda.

"It is alleged that during Kumars tenure, more than 20,000 cows were seized by the BSF before they could be smuggled to Bangladesh. No one was caught by the BSF and surprisingly, no vehicle in which the cows were being transported was seized," said the CBI official.

The seizure lists were prepared arbitrarily categorizing the breed and size of the seized cows with an intention to reduce the upset price during auctions, the CBI investigation revealed.

"Within 24 hours of the seizure, the cows were auctioned with the help of the nearest customs office. Only the three accused traders -- Mohammad Enamul, Mohammad Anarul, and Golam Mustafa -- were allowed to buy the cattle at very lower prices during the auction. After showing the papers that the auctioned cattle to have been disposed of at local markets, the same were illegally smuggled to Bangladesh," said another CBI officer.

The investigating officers came to know that Enamul used to pay Rs 2,000 per cattle to BSF officials and Rs 500 to the customs officials concerned. "Besides, the customs officials used to take a bribe of 10 per cent of the auction price from bidders like Enamul and others," he said.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT / ACCESSWIRE / September 23, 2020 / ?????Leading provider of search and text analytics solutions, ayfie (OSL:AYFIE-ME) is very excited to announce the support of its next-generation linguistic-based platform for RelativityOne during Relativity Fest this year. Since the launch of RelativityOne, ayfie's customers and partners have asked to not only be compatible with Relativity Server, but also RelativityOne.

?RelativityOne is a secure and easy-to-run cloud e-discovery platform that can be scaled or extended to meet the needs of any litigation or investigation. Integrations and products from partners like ayfie are found in the Relativity App Hub, where users can pick and choose solutions to solved data challenges in e-discovery or beyond.

"The compatibility with RelativityOne is a huge advantage, not just for us, but more so for our customers. The increasing demands of our customers' clients to move data into the cloud to benefit from certifications, data security and hardware management, can now be answered with ayfie's full set of features," said Johannes Stiehler, ayfie's CEO. "Any workflows related to personally identifiable information (PII), such as Data Subject Access Requests or Data Breach Notifications, can efficiently and securely be processed within RelativityOne."

?ayfie combines linguistic knowledge and modern artificial intelligence to power high-quality interpretations of unstructured data. With a clear focus on detecting PII and other sensitive data across multiple languages, ayfie offers a unique framework to comply with ever-growing privacy regulations - now seamlessly integrated with RelativityOne's new Aero UI.

"We are happy to announce the launch of our solution within RelativityOne during this year's virtual Relativity Fest. Especially the expansion of RelativityOne into additional countries in Europe offers very exciting opportunities," added Stiehler.

As mentioned above, ayfie is participating in the 11th annual Relativity Fest, a free virtual event taking place from Sept. 21-23, 2020.

About ayfie - ayfie (ayfie.com) offers search and text analytics solutions that bring structure to unstructured data. Its products combine artificial intelligence with deep expertise in linguistics, computational linguistics and computer science to extract meaning from text. Professionals across all industries use ayfie's powerful text analytics engine to efficiently detect personally identifiable information, reveal critical insights, conduct smart searches and power security practice workflows.

The company is headquartered in Oslo, Norway with offices in the US, UK, Germany and Sweden.

Learn more at www.ayfie.com or follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Media Contact:

Florian Lohmeier

Email: pr@ayfie.com??

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SOURCE: ayfie Group AS

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/607257/ayfie-Announces-Compatibility-With-RelativityOne-at-Relativity-Fest
Ketu North Constituency in the Volta Region to be blessed with its first-ever university in the next John Dramani Mahama administration.

The university, which will be known as University of Agriculture and Agribusiness (UAA); will be a transformation of the already existing Ohawu Agriculture College, which is located at Ohawu in the Ketu North Municipality.

The NDC, in their 2020 manifesto which is dubbed; "The Peoples' Manifesto" promised to upgrade the famous Ohawu Agriculture College into a full degree-awarding public university if it win the upcoming December 7 general elections.

This is captured on 'Page 40. 6.9.7. b' of the NDC manifesto.

Speaking to GhanaVanguard in an exclusive phone interview on Wednesday September 23, the Volta Region Communications Officer of the NDC, Mr Kafui Agbleze revealed that the purpose for the establishment of the new university is to add value to the agriculture produce.

"The purpose of the establishment of the agriculture university and agribusiness is mainly to ensure that a lot of value is added to our agriculture in the country," he stated.

Mr Agbleze added that the university will be a fully-fledged one that will award academic certificates such as bachelors, masters and even doctoral degrees in agricultural-related programs.

"Definitely it is going to be a fully-fledged university that will concentrate on agric, just as we have UHAS that is focused on the health aspect, we have the University of Energy and Natural Resources focusing on energy and natural resources, so, this university will focusing on agriculture to be awarding agric related degrees, to the Masters and even the PhD levels," he stressed.

Agbleze argues that Ghana is not robust in terms of adding value to its agricultural produce hence the need for the agriculture focused university to boost researches that will help in changing the narrative.

This, according to Mr Agbleze, will create more agribusinesses for farmers to earn better living.

"...and Ghana is not that robust in terms of value addition to its products. So when we have the agribusiness or the university located here, it implies that there will be transfer of technology, there will be a lot of research that will be done in the university in order to also make sure data is transfered to our farmers and we will earn a lot of revenue," Mr. Agbleze noted.

Already, Volta Region, which is a stronghold of the opposition NDC has two public universities; University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) and Ho Technical University (HTU).

Source:
The government of Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi is treating the Baath Party archives that supposedly arrived in Iraq in late August with complete confidentiality.

Despite media reports Aug. 31 about the arrival in Baghdad of tons of documents relating to one of the darkest periods in the history of Iraq, the Iraqi government has yet to issue an official statement announcing their fate or how it will be dealing with the papers.

Hisham Daoud, one of the governments most prominent advisers and sometimes its media spokesperson, told Al-Monitor, I, unfortunately, do not have any information about this dossier.

Daoud referred Al-Monitor to the Iraqi Embassy in Washington or to one of the Washington-based researchers who previously worked on the Baath archive. He also suggested asking the Ministry of Culture about the documents.

For his part, Iraqi Minister of Culture Hassan Nadhim did not respond to the two letters sent by Al-Monitor inquiring about the documents.

Iraq's Foreign Ministry official spokesman Ahmed al-Sahaf did not have any answers regarding the documents either, and he rushed to suggest resorting to Kadhimi's media office for information about the subject.

The tons of documents pertaining to the Baath Party, which ruled Iraq with an iron fist for nearly three decades, garnered great interest from Kadhimi, who worked for many years at the Iraqi Memory Foundation led by Iraqi writer Kanan Makiya. The foundation seeks to instill in all Iraqis memories of the Baath Party's crimes.

Kadhimi participated with Makiya in the process of having the Baath dossiers sent to the United States following the overthrow of Saddam Hussein.

A source close to the prime ministers office told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that there are various and complex documents containing internal reports on the activities of the Baath Party. These documents also contain reports on the movements of citizens and the fate of a large number of those who disappeared during the Baath era.

The source said there are documents that talk about the Shiite religious institutions," adding, The documents probably contain the names of a number of politicians or people who dealt with the Baath regime and are currently involved in political work.

There have been concerns over the possible use of such documents to politically liquidate a number of officials or pursue political blackmail.

Such concerns were fueled by the possibility of such documents leading to a political and social crisis, especially if they disclose information related to the fate of thousands of people who disappeared during the Baath era and reveal some individuals involvement in harming them by ratting them out to the Hussein regime.

The Hoover Institute at Stanford University in the United States, which obtained the documents in 2005, established an electronic copy of the documents and published many of them on its website.

The National Commission for Accountability and Justice in Iraq is the main institution responsible for intellectually, administratively, politically, culturally and economically dismantling the Baath Party system in Iraqi society, state institutions and civil society institutions.

It is also responsible for compensating the victims of the previous regime, as per its law approved in 2008.

Similar to other officials, Basem al-Badri, the head of the commission, did not get information from Kadhimis office about the arrival or fate of the documents.

There might be new documents, Badri said. But I do not think that such documents would make a big difference in holding those involved with the Baath regime to account because we have a large and basic database that has already been examined, he added.

The law of the National Commission for Accountability and Justice stipulates the establishment of an archive that includes the files of the Baath Party and the former regime.

This same archive is supposed to contain documents coming from the United States, but Badri attributes the failure to establish the archive to this date to Iraq's security and political instability.

As a result, the government will keep the documents for itself. A source close to Kadhimis office said, There is a building being prepared in the Baladiyat area (east of Baghdad) for the archives to be kept there. But, the source added, We still do not know if the building has been completed.

Frankly, there is no clear plan, he said.

The source also indicated there are concerns over the loyalists (pro-Iran armed factions) being exposed to the archive.

They (the loyalists) have a crisis of revenge for the archive, as the archive contains sensitive information revealing their cooperation and ways of dealing with the Baath regime before pledging allegiance to the pro-Iranian regime after 2003.

Al-Monitor contacted more than four parliamentarians and four government officials to obtain information about the archives return, but they all either lack information about the documents and their arrival or have tried to dodge Al-Monitors calls and messages.

Salim Hamza, a member of the Parliamentary Legal Committee, did not have any information about the documents. I will ask the speaker of parliament about these archives, he said.

The Baath archive is very important for the future of Iraq, especially with the emergence of new generations filled with nostalgia for Husseins regime. The absence of a plan to reveal the Baath archive and unveil its practices toward Iraqis will exacerbate this nostalgia.
As of August 26th, 2021 Yahoo India will no longer be publishing content. Your Yahoo Account Mail and Search experiences will not be affected in any way and will operate as usual. We thank you for your support and readership. For more information on Yahoo India, please visit the FAQ
By PTI

MUMBAI: Actor Ayushmann Khurrana, who has been voted as one of the most influential people in the world by TIME magazine in its top 100 list on Wednesday, said he has always aimed to bring a positive change in society through cinema.

The 36-year-old actor has come a long way from being a contestant on a reality show to an RJ to a VJ, followed by hosting popular television shows.

Having made his acting debut in Bollywood in 2012 with "Vicky Donor", Khurrana has made a niche for himself with social entertainers including "Dum Laga Ke Haisha", "Bareilly Ki Barfi", "Shubh Mangal Saavdhan", "Badhaai Ho", "Article 15", among others.

ALSO READ | Ayushmann Khurrana starts physical transformation to play cross-functional athlete for next film

The National Award winner is among the five Indians who have featured on this list.

Others are Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sundar Pichai CEO of Google, London-based Indian-origin doctor Ravindra Gupta, who found a cure for AIDS and Bilkis - Dadi of Shaheen Bagh, a Delhi neighbourhood that became the epicentre of the anti-CAA protests.

Khurrana is the youngest Indian to be featured in this year's TIME Magazine.

The "Andhadhun" star said he is humbled with the recognition bestowed on him.

"As an artiste, I have only looked to contribute towards bringing a positive change in society through cinema and this moment is a huge validation of my belief system and my journey," he said in a statement.

Khurrana said he believes cinema has the power to bring about change by triggering the right conversations among people in society.

"Hopefully, through my content choices, I have been able to contribute towards my country and countrymen," he added.

Khurrana's colleague Deepika Padukone has written a short article in the magazine, appreciating his talent.

On the work front, Khurrana will be reuniting with his "Article 15" director Anubhav Sinha on a new project.

The actor will soon begin shooting for Abhishek Kapoor's next in which he plays a cross-functional athlete.
Some chieftains of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State have accused the governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, of causing division within the party in Oyo State.

The accusation against Mr Fayemi, the Nigerian Governors Forum chairperson, is coming days after some party stakeholders in Ekiti State alleged that he supported Godwin Obaseki, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the just-concluded Edo State elections.

Mr Fayemi did not respond to all enquiries seeking his reactions to the allegations.

The former deputy chairman of APC in Oyo State, Isiaka Alimi, in a statement to PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday, said the party was gradually returning to peace after the Abuja peace meeting but Mr Fayemis attempt to hand over the partys leadership to Adebayo Alao-Akala, Teslim Folarin, and Fatai Buhari, who are former PDP members, will cause harm to the party.

At a meeting between Mr Fayemi and the contending factions of the party in the state on Sunday, the governor reportedly prevailed on them to defer to Mr Alao-Akala, a former governor of the state, as the leader of the party.

There is no provision for the position of leader in the constitution of APC, the statement by Mr Alimi said.

How can you impose an illegality on a political party? Where there is no governor, the party chairman is the leader of the party. We are suspicious of the secret agenda that is driving this imposition of a leader. It is illegal and will only make the case of the party worse. Let Otunba Akala be the leader of the people coming with him into the party. He cannot be the leader to the people he met in the party.

He was a PDP governor, not a progressives governor. Since 2007, we have defeated him at every election in 2011, 2015 and 2019. So what is he bringing that qualifies him to be a leader? They only want to hijack the APC for the PDP. The attempt to hand over the APC to conservative elements will not work. Unfortunately,it has only worsened the crisis in the state chapter of APC, he said.

Also, the Unity Forum of the party in Oyo State rejected the announcement by Mr Fayemi that Mr Alao-Akala is a leader of the party in the state.

In a statement jointly signed by four of its leaders namely, Senator Soji Akanbi, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin, Senator Ayoade Adeseun, and Adebayo Shittu, the forum said Mr Fayemi only proposed the composition of an advisory council of elders with Mr Alao-Akala as chairperson.

When attempts were made by some contributors that Otunba Akala be made the leader of the party in the state, this was vehemently opposed on two grounds: One, that the constitution of APC does not make a provision for a leader. Second, that given the recent experience of the party with dictatorial leadership, the council of elders should provide collegiate advisory leadership for the party instead of creating another possible dictator.

The opinion was so overwhelming that in his closing remarks, Otunba Akala angrily rejected the offer to be chair of a council of elders. He said he was only ready to be leader of the party.

Mr Fayemi spokesperson, Yinka Oyebode did not respond to PREMIUM TIMES calls and text messages seeking the response of the governor to accusations levied against him.
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Hall, Render, Killian, Heath & Lyman , the nation's largest health care-focused law firm, is pleased to announce the relaunch of its consulting arm, Hall Render Advisory Services (HRAS) with a new website hallrenderAS.com.

Hall Render Advisory Services is a national consultancy that combines the breadth and depth of the Hall Render legal team with specialized consulting expertise in health care for matters related to information technology best practices, mergers and acquisitions, compliance, Medicare reclassification, real estate and construction and payment and reimbursement.

With years of extensive experience, our consultants provide time-tested knowledge of the complex, highly regulated health care landscape and specific insights and recommendations to further your business objectives. The group's growing network of health care clients encompasses a wide variety of entities, including hospitals and hospital systems, community hospitals, long-term care facilities, large medical groups and solo practice physicians.

HRAS's team of consultants includes seasoned health care leaders that provide client-side perspective, an average of more than 20 years of experience each and innovative solutions for solving clients' challenges. HRAS consultants assist health care organizations with a variety of strategic and educational initiatives, including:



About Hall Render Advisory Services

Hall Render Advisory Services is the consulting arm of Hall, Render, Killian, Heath & Lyman, the largest health care-focused law firm in the country. Our team of consultants assist health care organizations with a variety of educational, operational and strategic initiatives, including Medicare reclassification, payment and reimbursement consulting, information technology, compliance consulting and real estate consulting. Learn more at https://hallrenderas.com/ .

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle want Joe Biden to become the next President of the United States.

They haven't actually said that in so many words.

But it's very obvious from a video message they released last night via Time magazine which way they want the result of the election to go and it's not in Donald Trump's direction.

Meghan, a US citizen and well-known Trump-hater (she's called him 'divisive' and a 'misogynist' and once told me herself how much she loathed him) said: 'We're just six weeks out from Election Day and today is National Voter Registration Day. Every four years we are told the same thing, that this is the most important election of our lifetime. But this one is.'

She added: 'When we vote, our values are put into action and our voices are heard. Your voice is a reminder that you matter, because you do, and you deserve to be heard.'

Scroll down for video

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have spoken out about the upcoming U.S. election, in a stark break with British tradition that prohibits royal involvement in politics

Harry, after saying he cant vote in the States and, like other royals, doesnt vote in UK elections, urged Americans to vote and said: 'As we approach this November, it's vital that we reject hate speech, misinformation and online negativity. When the bad outweighs the good, for many, whether we realize it or not, it erodes our ability to have compassion and our ability to put ourself in someone else's shoes. Because when one person buys into negativity online, the effects are felt exponentially. It's time to not only reflect, but act.'

Although they never mentioned Biden's name, it is crystal clear whose side they're on and it's not the guy sitting in the White House tweeting hateful disingenuous rhetoric 24/7.

By expressing themselves in such a brazenly partisan manner, they've crossed a massive line which should now have serious consequences for the couple who specialize in wanting their royal cake and the freedom to eat it.

The Royals don't do politics.

Not publicly, anyway.

It's one of the cast-iron rules of being a member of the Royal Family - that you don't spout off your own political opinions for public consumption because it would damage the integrity of the Monarchy.

In the video Meghan said: 'When we vote, our values are put into action and our voices are heard. Your voice is a reminder that you matter, because you do, and you deserve to be heard'

On the Queen's official website, it states: 'As Head of State, The Queen has to remain strictly neutral with respect to political matters.'

This is because Her Majesty has to deal with governments of all political persuasion, both at home and abroad, and must be seen to be scrupulously impartial to them all.

Queen Elizabeth II has protected this neutrality ferociously during her 65-year reign, never once telling us a political opinion or identifying with any ideology.

Of course, that doesn't mean she has no opinions.

In her private weekly meeting with the 14 British Prime Ministers who've served under her, she regularly tells them exactly she thinks.

But she never expresses those views in public.

Let alone interferes in the politics of another country that isnt even a member of her beloved Commonwealth.

It's a rule that other members of the Royal Family have generally assiduously followed, knowing that to publicly declare any kind of partisan views would make the Queen's life extremely difficult.

But it appears Meghan and Harry didn't get the memo.

Or rather, they got it - but they don't want to abide by it.

Queen Elizabeth II has protected this neutrality ferociously during her 65-year reign, never once telling us a political opinion or identifying with any ideology. She is pictured with Trump in June 2019 during his state visit

The royal rules, as they've made repeatedly clear, just aren't for them which is why they quit the Royal Family in a blaze of self-aggrandising publicity at the start of this year to 'find freedom'.

Only, they didn't really quit the Royal Family at all.

They just quit the boring bits, like having to turn up to an old people's care home on a wet winter Wednesday.

However, they kept many of their royal titles, probably a lot more than anyone realizes.

Harry, for instance, remains a prince of the United Kingdom, His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales, the Duke of Sussex, the Earl of Dumbarton and Baron Kilkeel.

Meghan, meanwhile, remains a princess of the United Kingdom, Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Sussex, Countess of Dumbarton and Baroness Kilkeel.

They're very proud of these titles.

Indeed, their website 'sussexroyal.com', is entitled: 'The official website of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.'

For all their constant talk of 'equality', they deliberately brand themselves as royals, perhaps the most elitist, unequal, privileged group of human beings on earth.

And they do that because it makes them massively more commercially attractive to the likes of Netflix who just shelled out a rumored $150 million to have them produce woke documentaries.

Markle has made her position on the 2020 election clear in a number of appearances in recent weeks, expressing enthusiasm for the Democratic ticket

But keeping the royal titles prohibits them from sticking their noses into the political trough as they've now done.

Especially Harry, who is a UK citizen and sixth in line to the throne of the British Monarchy.

In other words, it's possible  albeit thankfully very unlikely  that he might one day be King.

To spell out how this could happen in brutally simplistic hypothetical terms: if the Queen, Prince Charles, Prince William and William's three children are all killed in a terror attack, we automatically get King Harry.

So, everything he does and says could carry enormous significance if he was one day the Monarch.

Yet here he is, the Queen's grandson, telling Americans to vote against President Trump  the man to whom the Queen afforded an official state visit to the UK last year.

Harry's comments have already gone down like a cup of cold vomit with Trump supporters who think he should keep his royal hooter out of their election.

And I don't blame them for feeling angry.

Many British people like me are angry too.

It's frankly outrageous for two members of the Royal Family to abuse their positions and embarrass their country in such a shameless way.

And I would say exactly the same if they suggested a preference for Trump over Biden.

As I've said many times, Meghan and Harry can do and say what the hell they like so long as they're not living off British taxpayer money or trading off their royal titles.

Several weeks ago, they announced they will now be financially independent which if true, is good long overdue news.

But they cannot stay royals and take political sides in the way they're now doing.

On their website, the Sussexes proclaim: 'As they move to become members of the Royal Family, with financial independence, their commitment to The Monarch is resolute, and they aim to continue to fly the flag for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, as called upon.'

Fine words, but how do they sit with them now deliberately sparking a political firestorm by directing US voters how to vote in an election?

Their typically self-interested intervention has damaged the Royal Family's reputation for neutrality, and this self-evidently makes the Queen's life more difficult.

It also makes a mockery of the Sussexes' stated motivation for quitting royal duty, which, as their website details, was to 'live a more independent life as a family, by removing the supposed 'public interest' justification for media intrusion into their lives'.

There can be no bigger 'public interest' justification for media intrusion than two high profile royals trying to influence the result of an election.

And they're not 'independent' at all, they're still royals with royal titles that bring them huge earning power.

The bottom line is this: if they don't want to play by the royal rules, then they should give up all their royal titles.

Of course, this is about as likely as them stopping lecturing us all about equality from their $15 million Californian mansion.

So, Meghan and Harry have now left the Queen with no choice: she must strip them of their titles before they do even further damage.

The integrity and neutrality of the Monarchy demands it.
Imperial Valley News Center

Presidential Message on American Business Womens Day

Washington, DC - On American Business Womens Day, we celebrate the bold and brilliant women who continue to transform the landscape of our Nations businesses for the better. Americas workforce is strengthened by the talents and contributions of these exceptional mothers, daughters, and sisters who serve as business owners, entrepreneurs, visionaries, and leaders. Today, we recognize these role models for paving the way for women of future generations to succeed while inspiring others to do the same.

When women are economically empowered, they reinvest in their families and communities, creating a multiplier effect that spurs economic growth and strengthens the very fabric of our Nation. Last year, the unemployment rate for women reached its lowest level since 1953, and for the first time in the history of our Nation, women made up a majority of the labor force. Today, a record number of women are leading Fortune 500 companies, and countless more own their own businesses, generating more than a trillion dollars in revenue each year. As our country continues its economic comeback from the coronavirus pandemic, these female-led businesses are critical to rebuilding communities by creating jobs for millions of Americans, while also providing essential services to affected areas.

Since taking office, my Administration has fought to expand opportunities for women in business, ensuring that our country is the best place to simultaneously conduct commerce and raise a family. In the United States, approximately two-thirds of mothers with children under age 6 work and provide financially for their family. My Administration has charted a new course that both promotes strong families and addresses the individual needs of women in the workplace. As the largest employer in the United States, I fought to provide 12 weeks of paid parental leave to Federal employees, and I doubled the Child Tax Credit, reaching 40 million American families. Most recently, I pressed for $3.5 billion in coronavirus relief funding to provide American families with greater access to childcare during these unprecedented times. These aggressive actions are integral to keeping talented mothers who want to work in the labor force.

This American Business Womens Day, we recommit to ensuring that our economy is a place where all women can thrive. We must continue to empower and to promote women in the workplace, because investing in women, is investing in a future of economic growth and prosperity for all.


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Tom Cruise (Credit: AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Tom Cruise will be heading to the heavens to make the first action movie to be shot in space in October, 2021.

An under-the-radar tweet from the Space Shuttle Almanac, which emerged last weekend, appears to confirm that Cruise will be travelling with director Doug Liman on Elon Musk's SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule.

Read more: Tom Cruises most dangerous stunts

They will head to the International Space Station with the veteran NASA pilot Michael Lopez-Alegria at the helm.

According to the tweet, which lists the passenger manifest on the flight, there is still a spare seat on the mission.

So its confirmed that @CommanderMLA is flying the @Axiom_Space @SpaceX #CrewDragon tourist mission with Director @DougLiman & Tom Cruise. One seat still to be filled. They are to launch in October, 2021. pic.twitter.com/dn6SLvCOGz  Space Shuttle Almanac (@ShuttleAlmanac) September 19, 2020

NASA confirmed in May this year that Cruise would be heading to space to make a movie with Bourne Identity filmmaker Liman.

We need popular media to inspire a new generation of engineers and scientists to make @NASA's ambitious plans a reality, said NASA administrator Jim Bridestine.

NASA is excited to work with @TomCruise on a film aboard the @Space_Station! We need popular media to inspire a new generation of engineers and scientists to make @NASAs ambitious plans a reality. pic.twitter.com/CaPwfXtfUv  Jim Bridenstine (@JimBridenstine) May 5, 2020

Little is known about the nature of the movie as yet, though the scale of it likely to be pretty limited in terms of crew.

Story continues

However, it is thought that Liman, who has worked with Cruise on movies including Edge of Tomorrow and American Made, has penned a draft screenplay for the project.

Tom Cruise with Doug Liman and producer Erwin Stoff (Credit: YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP via Getty Images)

The Crew Dragon made history on 30 May this year, blasting into space in a partnership between NASA and Musk's SpaceX, ferrying astronauts to the ISS.

Cruise, meanwhile, is currently back to filming the latest in the Mission: Impossible movie series with Christopher McQuarrie, after the production was curtailed by the coronavirus lockdown back in March.

Returning to the action sequel's set, he filmed a death-defying motorbike stunt in Norway earlier this month, launching from a ramp from the top of a mountain into a valley before parachuting to safety.
BROOKLYN, N.Y., Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- John A. Ashkar, MD, is being recognized by Continental Who's Who as a Top Pulmonologist in acknowledgment for his commitment to field of Medicine specializing in and Critical Care with JA Personal Medical Care.

JA Personal Medical Care is a private medical practice that specializes in Pulmonary Critical Care, Pulmonary Disease and Sleep Medicine with 3 physicians on staff. One physician is one of the country's top rated doctors in pulmonary medicine for 25 years, Dr. John A. Ashkar working with JA Personal Medical Care for the past 15 years.



In his 25 years, Dr. Ashkar is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Pulmonologist, critical care and sleep medicine. He is proficient in Lung Disease, works primarily in the ICU with privileges at NYU Brooklyn, New York, Community Hospital and Maimonides Hospital with honors as Most Compassionate Doctor and with the American Registry.



He gained the knowledge necessary for his career in medicine; Dr. Ashkar attended medical school at Damascus University receiving his Medical Degree in 1996. He completed his residency with the Lutheran Medical Center in 2002 following his Fellowship with Down State University in 2004, and 2005. To this day he is a Fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians and a Fellow American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected]

SOURCE Continental Who's Who

Related Links

http://www.continentalwhoswho.com


(Photo : Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images) BERLIN, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 24: A no entry symbol hangs on an opened gate next to the Facebook logo at the Facebook Innovation Hub on February 24, 2016 in Berlin, Germany. The Facebook Innovation Hub is a temporary exhibition space where the company is showcasing some of its newest technologies and projects.

(Photo : Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images) BERLIN, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 24: A photographer snaps a photo of the Facebook logo at the Facebook Innovation Hub on February 24, 2016 in Berlin, Germany. The Facebook Innovation Hub is a temporary exhibition space where the company is showcasing some of its newest technologies and projects.



Facebook found fake pages and accounts from China and claims that they're trying to interrupt the United States 2020 election and other countries' political activities. The social media platform said that it had already removed the small network of fake accounts and pages.

Also Read: Amid COVID and Election 2020: How Facebook Removes Misinformation

Facebook explained that the fake accounts that originated from China not only focused on the United States. In fact, the U.S. was just a small piece of the overall activity. The company added that these fake pages are mainly targeting Southeast Asia, including the Philippines.

Also Read: Facebook's Intelligent Bot Will Hunt Down Breeding Ground for Misinformation-No More Health Advice and Violent Groups

The accounts posted material in the United States, both against and supporting presidential candidates such as Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg, and the current President Donald Trump. Although the fake pages came from China, Facebook did not directly link them to the Chinese government.

The social media platform said that the illegal network people tried to hide their identity and location using virtual private systems and other methods. On Tuesday, Sept. 22, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Homeland Security warned that cyber attackers and foreign actors were likely to spread misinformation regarding the election results.

The security agencies said that cybercriminals would most likely discredit the election process through fake websites and social media content.

United States officials warned about other countries' that could disrupt the 2020 U.S. election

In August, the U.S. intelligence officials warned that other countries' efforts, such as China, Iran, and Russia, could be made to interfere in the 2020 election. William Evanina, the country's chief counterintelligence official, said that officials found out that Beijing considers Trump as unpredictable and wants the U.S. president to lose against Biden.

The August public assessment explained that China had been expanding its influence operations ahead of the 2020 election. It was also stated the country wants to shape the policy environment in the U.S. and had been weighing the cons and pros of taking more aggressive action.

For more news updates about Facebook, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Also Read: TikTok Flexes Removal Of 104 Million Videos, But It Is Only 1% of Its Total Content

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Giuliano J. de Leon

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The event reignited a controversy that has been brewing since Pompeo created the commission chaired by Mary Ann Glendon, who was Pompeos professor and mentor when he attended Harvard Law School. Glendon is the author of a book on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was hammered together under the leadership of Eleanor Roosevelt in the aftermath of the Holocaust and World War II.
At least eleven police officers have been injured by a 'corrosive substance' during a drugs raid in north London.

Officers had attended an industrial estate in Barnet to execute a drugs warrant today when several were 'injured by a suspected corrosive substance,' the Metropolitan Police said.

Witnesses reported hearing a 'loud bang' before 'hundreds' of officers flooded the area, alongside scores of paramedics and fire crews.

Eleven officers were rushed to hospital for treatment after coming into contact with the substance, but none of their injuries are thought to be life-threatening.

Several men who were arrested on suspicion of drugs offences were also taken to hospital after suffering injuries 'related to the substance,' police said.

At least 10 officers have been injured by a suspected corrosive substance during a drugs raid in north London. Pictured: The scene today

Officers attended an industrial area in Barnet to execute a drugs warrant at around 2pm today when several were 'injured by a suspected corrosive substance,' the Metropolitan Police said

A force spokesperson added: 'We await an assessment of the extent of these injuries.

'However none are believed to be in a life-threatening condition. A number of males were arrested on suspicion of drug offences at this stage.

'They have been taken to hospital having also suffered injuries related to the substance. Their conditions are not believed to be life-threatening.'

One witness told MailOnline she saw police officers 'being showered down' by firemen following the incident.

'I just heard a bang and then saw hundreds of emergency services,' she said. 'The fireman then told us we had to get away and we saw police officers being showered down.'

Witnesses reported hearing a 'loud bang' before 'hundreds' of officers flooded the area, alongside scores of paramedics and fire crews. Pictured: The scene

One woman reported seeing 'police officers being showered down' by firemen following the incident

Police officers are seen at the scene after officers were injured in north London today

The road by the industrial estate in Barnet was closed off while officers investigated the situation

Officers are seen running down the street in Barnet today after policemen were injured during a drugs raid

Locals talk to police officers at the scene in Barnet today where at least ten officers were injured in an 'acid attack'

She added the area had been 'cordoned off' with more police officers 'turning up constantly.'

Footage from the scene captured multiple ambulance and fire engines at the scene, alongside numerous patrol cars and what appeared to be armed officers.

Scotland Yard confirmed London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade are also in attendance at the ongoing incident.

'Full enquiries into the exact circumstances continue,' a statement added.

'The Met's Directorate of Professional Standards have been informed as is routine.'
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 15:51:30|Editor: huaxia

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HANGZHOU, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Police have busted a tomb-raiding gang in east China's Zhejiang Province for stealing bricks from an ancient tomb.

Police have apprehended 21 suspects and confiscated more than 10,000 ancient bricks, including some belonging to the Wei, Jin, and Southern and Northern dynasties (220-589). Of the suspects, 17 have been transferred for prosecution on suspicion of illegally excavating and robbing ancient cultural sites or ancient tombs, according to the public security bureau of the city of Shaoxing.

In January, police received a report about an orchard having been dug up. After an initial investigation, they concluded that the orchard was the site of an ancient tomb prohibited from being excavated. Police also found a number of holes in the vicinity, possibly dug by the tomb-raiders.

Police later found that one of the suspects surnamed Fang contacted an acquaintance from his hometown in Zhejiang in early 2019. They recruited a group of migrant workers from southwest China's Guizhou Province and organized them to steal the bricks from Zhejiang tombs.

In May, police caught 19 suspects in a crackdown in Zhejiang and detained two others outside the province. Before they were caught, the gang had already raided more than 40 tombs in Zhejiang and raked in about 1 million yuan (about 147,200 U.S. dollars) in illegal proceeds by selling the ancient bricks. Enditem
There is a certain joy in watching a quotable film  in hearing a line and instantly knowing youll be reciting it later on repeat. In this way  and countless others  GoodFellas was a cinematic gift.

Martin Scorceses 1990 movie about mobsters in Brooklyn is a certified classic. Its nuanced plot and incisive commentary on the American Dream helped form the blueprint for mob movies to follow  one that were still reaping the benefits of today.

The film is politically serious and fiendishly funny in equal measure; it is harrowingly violent in one scene and a laugh-out-loud riot in the next.

And while, sure, the success of GoodFellas cant be boiled down to a handful of memorable quotes, Joe Pescis one-liners and Ray Liottas narration certainly help make the film the cult favourite it continues to be.

Thirty years on (the film celebrates its US release anniversary on 19 September), we take a look at some of the movies best lines  in no particular order.

1) Im funny how? Like a clown? Do I amuse you?  Tommy DeVito

Tommy DeVito is responsible for some of the films most memorable and violent scenes

Joe Pesci could have won his Oscar for supporting actor based on this scene alone. The actors mercurial character had audiences on edge with his unhinged response to Henry casually calling him funny. In a 2015 interview, Liotta revealed that the scene was heavily inspired by a real-life story from Pescis youth and that his iconic co-star even improvised the indelible moment.

2) F*** you, pay me.  Henry Hill

Henry Hill was a real-life notorious gangster who betrayed the Mafia and inspired a Scorsese film

Henry, played by Liotta, is explaining the simple rules of borrowing money from the mob. Business bad? F*** you, pay me. Oh, you had a fire? F*** you, pay me. Place got hit by lightning, huh? F*** you, pay me. This one might be the films most widely recited line: catchy, expletive and straight to the point.

3) I like this one. One dog goes one way, the other dog goes the other."  Tommy DeVito

It might not be one of Tommys classics, but this unexpected appraisal of his mothers painting is undeniably one of the best lines in the film. Tommy makes the quaint remark when he, Henry and Jimmy visit his mothers house (played by Scorceses real life mother) for an impromptu breakfast after beating Billy Batts to within an inch of his life. The sweet, homely moment jars brilliantly with the fact that Batts is bleeding out in the trunk of Tommys car parked right outside. DeVito might be a vicious killer, but hes also a doting son  and an art critic too.

4) We always called each other Goodfellas.  Henry Hill

A scene from Goodfellas, the film that immortalised the crime (Wa (Warner Bros)

Theres something uncanny about hearing a films title spoken in the movie  kind of like an aha moment that you smile to yourself about. Henry bigs up the name as a sign of loyalty between the gang members (Like youd say to somebody: Youre gonna like this guy, hes all right. Hes a goodfella. Hes one of us.) His naive explanation is tragically timed with Tommys impending execution: youre only a good fella until youre not.

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5) Why dont you go f*** yourself, Tommy?  Spider

Spider made his mark standing up to big dog Tommy DeVito

This moment provoked a collective gasp in the cinema. Spiders bold words come after Tommy shoots him in the foot for fetching drinks too slowly, and then proceeds to mock him for complaining about it. A low-level wiseguy like Spider standing up to a big dog (and bonafide psychopath) like Tommy is a battle akin to David and Goliath. Only in this case, Goliath triumphs. The brave words are Spiders last, but so goes the brutal world of GoodFellas.

6) I got to admit the truth. It turned me on.  Karen

Lorraine Bracco gave a brilliant performance as Karen

Lorraine Bracco is astounding as Henrys girlfriend-then-wife Karen, not least because she exemplifies the audiences initial fascination with the mob lifestyle  glitzy and exciting as it appears on the surface. I know there are women, like my best friends, who would have gotten out of there the minute their boyfriend gave them a gun to hide. But I didnt. I got to admit the truth. It turned me on.

7) Im gonna go get the papers, get the papers."  Jimmy Two-Times

Ray Liotta as Henry Hill in GoodFellas'

Playful nicknames for terrifying mobsters is a beloved trope of gangster movies, and the explanation behind Jimmy Two-Times doesnt disappoint. As Henry makes his way through the wonderfully kitsch Bamboo Lounge, he introduces viewers to the Cicero crew including Jimmy: There was Jimmy Two-Times, who got that nickname because he said everything twice. The innocuous explanation is quickly followed up by Jimmy himself saying the famous words. For a film abundant in bloody violence, GoodFellas is not short on humour.

8) Never rat on your friends and always keep your mouth shut.  Jimmy Conway

DeNiro acted as Jimmy Conway, Henrys mentor and friend

Jimmy Conway may not be one of the films central characters, but his impact on Henrys character development is huge. After a young Henry testifies without revealing the mobs secrets, Jimmy congratulates him on having learnt the two greatest thing in life. Of course, this sentiment unravels slowly throughout the film until Henrys final flip to the FBI.

Does watching gangster-style movies such as Goodfellas make crime more or less attractive? (Rex)

9) Jimmy was the kind of guy who rooted for the bad guy in movies.  Henry Hill

Despite offering an unfiltered look at the mobs brutal lifestyles and callous behaviour, the film had us cheering for its villains. This tongue-in-cheek remark may as well have been Scorcese winking at us through the screen.

10) Now go home and get your f****ing shine box.  Billy Batts

Joe Pesci took home an Oscar for his performance as the volatile Tommy DeVito

The insult is slung by Billy Batts, newly released from prison, at Tommy  alluding to his childhood days of shoe shining. While Batts claims hes just busting balls, little does he know hes just signed his own death warrant. The pivotal scene also marks a crux in the movie where things start taking a turn for the worse.

11) I got to have it. Its my lucky hat. I never fly without it.  Lois the babysitter

Its one of many great sequences in the film: Henry is coked-up, cooking dinner and organising a huge drug deal when Lois, their babysitter turned drug carrier, interrupts the grand plan by demanding that she gets her lucky hat before transporting the drugs. After a heated exchange between an erratic Henry and a dead-pan Lois, he agrees to drive to her house and retrieve the hat  of course, hes arrested on the way.

12) As far back as I can remember I wanted to be a gangster  Henry Hill

Goodfellas set the blueprint for mob movies to follow

The films iconic opening line is spoken by Henry as hes stuffing a body in the trunk of his car, his face lit up by its red rear lights. The introduction is a classic How did we get here? set-up, which might feel trite now but one that never gets old in GoodFellas, no matter how many times you watch it.
T okyo Game Show is taking place this week, bringing us a host of presentations from SEGA, Square Enix, Capcom and more.

This year TGS will be taking place digitally, but that won't change its format of showcasing the biggest upcoming announcements and games from Japanese publishers.

Nintendo, or rather, Koei Tecmo, is also set to make an appearance to shed more light on its Breath of the Wild prequel Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, while Capcom has designated a slot to Monster Hunter: Rise and Resident Evil Village.

Square Enix will be there to show off more from the upcoming Nier games, so it, unfortunately, won't be about Final Fantasy XVI.

Since there's a lot being shown, with plenty of room for some unannounced titles, you'll want to keep on top of the schedule when the show begins this week.

TGS 2020 start date and how to watch

Tokyo Game Show 2020 will be taking place entirely online this year.

The opening ceremony is set to begin at 12pm BST, Thursday, September 24 and will run until Sunday 27 September.

On the first day of the show, there will be livestreams from Xbox, Square Enix and Lightning Games.

You can watch everything directly from the official TGS YouTube channel, which will broadcast the entire show live.

We understand that the presentations will either be in English or have an English-language translation.

Which developers will be present and when do they start?

TGS will play host to multiple game studios from Xbox to Square to Capcom to Cygames and more.

Each one has a designated slot when it will be going live to show us all the new things in development.

Bear in mind that there are other presentations taking place, but below we are just going to list the major developers to watch out for.

Thursday, September 24

Microsoft Japan

Xbox is going to be kicking off the event during TGS opening night show.

At the moment there's no information about what Xbox will be showing off, but it must be good to be headlining the whole show.

Time: 1pm BST

Where to watch: TGS YouTube

Square Enix

Square will have its slot on Thursday directly after Xbox. While there might be a special surprise look at more Final Fantasy XVI, which was recently announced, this presentation is focused on the Nier franchise.

There will also be segments dedicated to the Brave Exvius mobile game, the new Marvel's Avengers, and Dragon Quest: The Adventures of Dai.

Time: 2pm BST

Where to watch: TGS YouTube

Friday, September 25

SEGA / Atlus

Dare we dream that Atlus could announce a new Persona game here? It is unlikely considering P5 Royal came out this year and the gap between games is always substantial, but we will forever hold out hope.

Atlus is going show off the Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne HD Remaster coming to Switch with a live gameplay demonstration by director Kazuyuki Yamai.

Other reports indicate that there will be a segment dedicated to Persona 5 Scramble: The Phantom Strikers which might mean we will get a release date for the west since the title is currently only available in Asia.

SEGA could use the show to build hype around the impending Yakuza: Like a Dragon, otherwise, the next biggest game from them is Puyo Puyo Tetris 2.

Time: 12pm BST

Where to watch: TGS YouTube

Capcom

Capcom is going to show off extended looks at Monster Hunter: Rise, Monster Hunter: Stories 2 and Resident Evil Village.

Rise is the next Monster Hunter game coming to the Switch, which looks like it will be a step back from World, opting for the original playstyle with some nifty improvements.

Resident Evil Village probably has more hype than Monster Hunter (tragically), but an extensive look, perhaps even a fixed release date, would be expected to come from TGS.

Time: 2pm BST

Where to watch: TGS YouTube

Saturday, September 26

Cygames

Cygames will show off a Special Sneak Peek of Shadowverse: Champions Battle, which is a Switch exclusive.

The Japanese studio is also responsible for the Granblue Fantasy franchise, and its currently working on its next big title, Granblue Fantasy: Relink. Maybe, if we're really lucky, there will be a mention of this upcoming RPG.

If you haven't heard of Granblue Fantasy, check out this trailer below to get an idea

Time: 10am BST

Where to watch: TGS YouTube

Konami

This is the first of two Konami shows and this one might be dedicated to new announcements.

We know that the second show will be all about Momotaro Dentetsu: Showa Heisei Reiwa mo Teiban, which is a railway sim, so perhaps we can expect some new reveals or just a general update during the first presentation.

Time: 12pm BST

Where to watch: TGS YouTube

Koei Tecmo

This will be a big show to watch as it will give us an extended look at Nintendo's new Legend of Zelda spinoff Hyrule Warriors: The Age of Calamity.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity will be released in November / Nintendo / Koei Tecmo

Koei is also the developer of Dynasty Warriors and will be hosting a show the next day dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the series.

Time: 1pm BST

Where to watch: TGS YouTube

Sunday, September 27

Koei Tecmo

As mentioned, Sunday's show from Koei will be a celebration of the 20th anniversary of Dynasty Warriors, a legendary hack-and-slash franchise set in China during the Three Kingdoms period.

Perhaps we'll get a new Dynasty Warriors game announced, or maybe it will just be a celebration of the entire series which essentially created a genre.

Time: 7am BST

Where to watch: TGS YouTube

Konami

As mentioned above, this show will be dedicated to Momotaro Dentetsu: Showa, Heisei, Reiwa mo Teiban!

This game sees players become the president of a railroad company. Your simple goal is to purchase properties across Japan to earn a bunch of money.

Time: 8am BST

Where to watch: TGS YouTube

Bandai Namco

Bandai will be showing more gameplay from its titles Scarlet Nexus and Sword Art Online.

Time: 9am BST

Where to watch: TGS YouTube

Make sure you tune in and keep up to date, there's sure to be plenty of excellent announcements and extended gameplay looks coming from in the next few days.
"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
By PTI

LUCKNOW: The Allahabad High Court has dismissed a plea to rename itself ether as Prayagraj High Court or the Uttar Pradesh High Court.

A Lucknow bench of the high court dismissed the lawsuit, filed in the form a Public Interest Litigation, terming it as a "publicity stunt litigation".

The petition filed by advocate Ashok Pandey was dismissed by a bench of justices PK Jaiswal and D K Singh.

The petitioner had raised the plea to rename the high court on the ground that the state government rechristened Allahabad district as Prayagraj on October 16, 2018.

In its recent order, the bench said renaming its name is within the powers of the Legislature under the Constitutional scheme and hence it cannot interfere in the issue.

The high court, however, restrained itself from imposing cost on the petitioner for filing unnecessary petition, saying the petitioner was a practising lawyer of the court.
(TNS) - With positive COVID-19 cases surging in college communities across the state, Gov. Tony Evers has extended the statewide mask mandate through late November.Evers announced on Tuesday the new mask mandate  along with the governor's third public health emergency  in an effort to control the spread of COVID-19. Positive cases had started 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 campus.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."The order goes into effect immediately and remains in place for 60 days or until a superseding order is passed.Under the order, everyone age 5 and older must wear a face covering when indoors or in any enclosed space open to the public including outdoor bars and restaurants, public transit and outdoor park structures. The order does not apply to people in their private residences. Face coverings are strongly recommended in all other settings where people may come in contact with others, including outdoors when maintaining physical distance is not possible. A violation of the order would not bring any criminal penalties but could result in a $200 fine.The state order supersedes any less-restrictive local mask order but allows local entities to enforce more restrictive rules.Public Health Madison and Dane County spokeswoman Sarah Mattes said the state order doesn't change anything in Dane County, where the existing local order is more restrictive.GOP pushbackState Republicans, who criticized Evers' previous public health emergency and mask mandate, also pushed back against the latest order.Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, described Evers' latest order as "moot, illegal, invalid, and almost assuredly headed for litigation.Governor Evers disregard for the state constitution and the role of the three branches of government is mind-boggling," Fitzgerald said in a statement. "The Governors order is not valid and is not worth the paper its printed on."Fitzgerald came short of calling on the Legislature to convene to strike down the order on Tuesday, as he did less than 24 hours after Evers' first mask mandate. Senate Republicans claimed this summer they had enough votes to overrule the governor's order, but never formally convened on the matter. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, said in July he anticipated a legal challenge from citizen groups, but did not call for legislative action.Vos did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.Evers' second public health emergency already faces a legal challenge from the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (WILL), which alleges the governor cannot unilaterally extend a public health emergency or declare multiple emergencies in response to the same crisis. The group did not seek an immediate injunction to stop enforcement of the governors mask mandate.Governor Evers and his team believe the presence of COVID-19 supersedes the rule of law and our state constitution," Rick Esenberg, WILL president and general counsel, said in a statement. "They are wrong. Letting this gross abuse of power stand is not an option."Officials with WILL said attorney's are reviewing the current order and need to discuss the matter with clients before any further decisions are made on the lawsuit.However, Sen. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, said a court challenge could take weeks or months to reach a final solution and called on legislative leaders to act now."Assembly Speaker Robin Vos has enabled the continuing illegal conduct of Governor Evers in issuing repeated emergency declarations and a failed statewide mask mandate," Nass said in a statement. "The Legislature has the constitutional and statutory authority to call an extraordinary session and put an end to the improper actions of the Governor."The state Legislature has met only once since the pandemic began to take up COVID-19-related legislation back in April.Rising casesAs of Monday, more than 102,000 Wisconsinites had tested positive for COVID-19 and 1,244 people had died as a result of the respiratory disease, according to the state Department of Health Services. The seven-day average of newly reported cases reached 1,792 on Monday.In a statement on Tuesday, Evers' administration noted the state is now experiencing "experiencing unprecedented, near-exponential growth of the COVID-19 pandemic."The current surge among young people is concerning, but it is important to remember that this increase in cases is not confined to college campuses, DHS Secretary Andrea Palm said in a statement. Students come to these campuses from across the state, and we worry about the effect their return from an area with a high infection rate could have on their home communities. That is why it is imperative we take action to curb transmission now  to protect residents of Wisconsin in every corner of the state.The University of Wisconsin Board of Regents in July also began requiring students and faculty to wear face coverings in classrooms and other indoor public spaces on campuses.Earlier this month, UW-Madison moved all classes online for at least two weeks and quarantined two of its largest dorms after the city-county health department identified at least 46 separate outbreaks tied to UW-Madison.What's more, university leaders said they are cautiously optimistic the latest data that shows the seven-day average positivity rate of students tested on-campus is 5.7%, down from a high of 10.4% on Sept. 13. The number of new cases has declined each of the past five days, according to UW-Madisons data dashboard.UW System President Tommy Thompson said in a statement on Tuesday that the university is "effectively managing situations as they arise.""We have been working to create a culture of responsibility among our students, including a mandate to wear masks, while pursuing more aggressive actions as necessary," Thompson said in a statement. "Higher education is essential, and we are gratified to see students responding and cases decreasing on several campuses.Last week, Evers hinted at the possibility of extending the statewide mask mandate, which he called an "important piece of the puzzle" to mitigate the spread of the disease.The Evers administrations stay-at-home order, issued by Palm in March, was struck down on procedural grounds, with the state Supreme Court saying the Legislature needed to have a say in any long-term COVID-19 regulations.After saying multiple times that the court's order prevented him from implementing a mask order, Evers in July declared a new public health emergency and a separate order requiring masks. Both orders are set to expire Sept. 28.State Journal reporter David Wahlberg contributed to this report.2020 The Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, Wis.)Visit The Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, Wis.) at www.wisconsinstatejournal.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Q: How do I tell or know if my wifes slowly poisoning me?

Shes 25 years younger and has a boyfriend in another country, but the pandemic kept them apart.

We married five years ago and have a four-year-old daughter.

Neither of us has the financial ability to move, and Im reluctant to do so because of our child.

My wifes depressed if not psychotic. She doesnt believe in counselling and we have no family or friends nearby.

A colleague whos familiar with my circumstances has suggested that she might be poisoning me.

She cooks all my meals and uses many strange (to me) spices and herbs. Shes very knowledgeable about poisonous plants.

She knows or thinks, that because of our age difference, my death wouldnt appear suspicious even though Im in great health.

Even if I were to ask my doctor (and I cant do that in person because of the pandemic), what would the lab look for in my system?

Im putting any unusual health problems down to stress and isolation even though were in a good-sized city.

What are your suggestions?

Suspicious Food

A: If you seriously believe that you may be being poisoned, call the poison control centre in your city or province and describe any actual symptoms that are worrying you.

A friends suggestion carries no weight. What matters is whether youre actually experiencing any unusual changes in your digestion, or any other health indicators.

Also, describe which substances/liquids may be the origin of the poisons.

Meanwhile, on one hand, you say youre in great health. Then, a paragraph later, you speak of unusual health problems. Which is it?

If youre truly concerned, call your doctor. Depending on where you live, some family doctors are seeing patients in person.

Its then up to the professional to check your general health and to decide what a lab should test regarding whether there are actual poisons in your system.

However, if your wife has actually said that death at your age wouldnt appear suspicious, you should go to the police with your fears.

Whatever is going on, its also time to make sure your child is safe in this situation.

In Canada, as example, Ontarios Poison Centre has a Toronto-based 24-hour toll-free information number  with information and advice about potential or real exposures to poisonous substances: 416-813-5900.

If your call is urgent or you need immediate assistance, dial 911 instead. Or call 1-800-268-9017 to describe the plants/herbs that worry you, to a poison specialist.

Feedback: Regarding the woman whos considering ending a long friendship due to differing opinion on the pandemic which she considers a conspiracy to control people (Sept. 3):

Reader: Id like to pose a question: Why is it that decent, considerate folks (myself included) dont reply when friends try to cram their opinions down their throats?

I would be one of those folks, and have often debated with myself if Im not valuing the friendships enough to fight for them.

For example, I could say, You are entitled to your opinions, but I disagree. If we can agree to disagree lets move onto another topic for the sake of our friendship.

Ellie: The original letter-writer waited 15 years to even consider speaking up, because there were other aspects to the friendship she enjoyed.

Some call it a live and let live attitude, but there are times when your personal beliefs and values just cant let you take it any longer.

Ellies tip of the day

Reach out for the help you need immediately. Living with suspicions and fears is harmful to everyone.
American philanthropist, author, advocate, and socialite Jean Shafiroff hosted a fundraiser for the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation or SASF.

The special event was held at NAIA Restaurant at the Capri Hotel in Southampton, New York.

Animal shelter fundraiser

The fundraiser was held to celebrate the animal shelter in the community and to thank them for all of their hard work for homeless animals.

The funds that were raised from the event, along with SASF's Match Your Gift program, supported the foundation which was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The annual Unconditional Love Gala was canceled, and the fundraiser was an effective substitute.

The event helped raise $40, 150 which will be matched by Southampton Animal Shelter's Match your Gift program to bring it to a total of $80, 300.

Also Read: Man's Best Friend: 6 Effective Tips to Help Your Dog Live Longer

Notable attendees of the fundraising event included: host Jean Shafiroff; Junior Chairs: Katie McEntee, and Nathania Nisonson; committee members Antonella Bertello, Kingsley Crawford, Missy Hargraves, and Randi Schatz.

Also present in the event were board members Beau Hulse, Clifton and Raya Knight, Martin Shafiroff, John Bradham, and Sean Deneny; guests Ingrid Arneberg, Pamela Dove, Jesse Smith, Mar and William Morosse, Adela Nino, Lieba Nesis, Nicole Salami, Cheri Kaufman, Chris Arlotta, Deanna Pasarelli, Ruth Miller, Maria Fishel, Greg D'Elia; and NYS Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright and her husband Jay Hershenson.

The Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation would like to extend their gratitude to Jean Shafiroff for hosting and organizing the event; Micheal Pitsinos owner of NAIA restaurant, the Capri Hotel, and auctioneer Bill McCuddy who donated his services to be auctioneer to raise funds.

The 11th Annual Unconditional Love Gala hosted by the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation may have been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but SASF is still raising funds and awareness for homeless animals.

SASF relies heavily on the funds generated by the annual gala to care for their rescued animals. While the foundation remains committed to saving the lives of homeless pets, the reduction in funding will have an effect on the mission of SASF.

SASF take in community pets, and they also partner up with other rescues, such as those located in Long Islands and areas in the South including Puerto Rico. Their mission is to save animals that need help, shelter, food and proper care.

Match Your Gift program

As of 2019, SASF gave homes for over 800 animals and provided the community with resources like the Wellness Clinic, Advo-Cats Program, low-cost mobile clinic and other outreach programs. These types of services help pet owners to keep their pets healthy.

During these difficult times, SASF will keep providing the community with these resources to ensure the health and the safety of the animals. The foundation is determined to continue its mission and to provide care for every animal.

All donations up to $!50,000 will be matched with SASF's Introducing Match Your Gift program. The foundation is asking their family and friends to give what you can to help them.

SASF announced a few generous donors who offered to match donations up to $150,000. If you give $500, their shelter pets get $1000. This will help increase their goal and help them reach $500,000 fast.

No goal is too big if the community works together. A difference can be made, and the lives of animals can be saved.

Related Article: More People Want Pets, But Why is America's Shelter Always Full?

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Chirag Nimbre (25) was asked to pay Rs 9,500 to fix the tyre of his bike, which developed around 60 punctures due to the dismal road conditions. After a long negotiation, he paid Rs 6,500 to the roadside mechanic.

Nimbre, a resident of Thane, was travelling to meet his family and friends in Pune. By the time he reached Talegaon, near Pune, Nimbre realised that his bike had received multiple punctures. He stopped by a roadside mechanic instead of taking his vehicle to a garage.

"As I was moving closer to Pune, I realised that there's something wrong with my vehicle as I had trouble riding on. At this point, I came across a small garage setup at Talegaon where I thought I would get it repaired without wasting much time and stopped there," reported Mumbai Mirror quoting Nimbre.

The mechanic then tried to convince him to change the bike's tyre for around Rs 8,500. But, Nimbre asked the mechanic to fix the damaged tyre and get the punctures fixed as it was the more economical solution.

"After fixing the tyre, the mechanic claimed that there were around 60 punctures. He then first asked me to pay Rs 9,500 for the work done. After negotiating for a long time, he finally agreed to take Rs 6,500. I tried convincing him that I would get him all the material that was used and he should just take his labour charges but he refused. He didn't listen to me and two more people stepped in and started raising their voice, creating an uncomfortable situation, after which I paid the money and left," he added.

Since Nimbre was in a hurry and didn't spot a cop nearby, he didn't complain at that time.

Nilesh Bokephode, Sub-inspector, Talegaon police station, said, "The incident hadn't been brought to our notice. However, we will check with the traffic cops stationed on that stretch and ask the mechanics to regulate the prices. People should come forward and complain about these things."

Another commuter, Suhail Khan, alleged that a big racket is unfolding in the area. Even when there is one puncture, mechanics claim there are several and fleece travellers of their money.

Also Read: RIL signed 18 deals worth Rs 1.9 lakh cr since COVID-19 outbreak in India

Also Read: Are Airtel, Voda Idea postpaid customers paying more than Reliance Jio users?

Also Read: Monsoon session: 10 days, 25 bills passed
US President Donald Trump has hit out at China for not stopping the COVID-19 pandemic that has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives globally, as he yet again used the term "China virus" and urged his supporters not to call it coronavirus, saying the name sounds like a "beautiful place" in Italy.

Addressing a packed election rally in the battle ground State of Pennsylvania, Trump told his supporters on Tuesday that if re-elected, over the next four years, his administration will make America a manufacturing superpower of the world and will end US' reliance on China once and for all.

Describing the November 3 election as a "matter of economic survival", Trump said that the country was doing great on economic front before the plague was unleashed on the United States, and blamed China for it. "You had the greatest year you have ever had last year, and you were really on your way - we were very, very sadly disturbed by what happened with China. They let the plague out. They shouldn't have done it," he said.

Also read: UN 75th anniversary: Trump demands action against China over COVID-19; Xi Jinping calls for cooperation

"We built the greatest economy in the history of the world. And right now we're doing it again, he asserted, amidst an applause from his supporters. "It's the China virus. It's not the coronavirus. Corona sounds like a place in Italy, a beautiful place. It's corona? No. It's the China virus. They don't want to say it. You know, the radical left, they don't want to say it," Trump said.

The US President has called the novel coronavirus as China's virus before as well. In his speech on the eve of the Republican National Convention in August, Trump said: "I am pleased to make a truly historic announcement in our battle against the China virus that will save countless lives".

In March, he had said that China is responsible for the spread of the novel coronavirus and called the COVID-19 as the "Chinese virus". The virus that first emerged in China's Wuhan city in the Hubei province in December 2019 has claimed 968,726 lives and infected 31,483,011 people globally. The US is the worst affected country, according to the Johns Hopkins University coronavirus tracker.

Also read: Chinese tycoon Ren Zhiqiang jailed for 18 years for criticising Xi Jinping's COVID-19 response

"Do you ever notice they're always going after Russia? Look, nobody's been tougher on Russia than me. But you have Russia, Russia, Russia. I say what about China? They never want to mention it. You know, they got little deals going on, Trump alleged. "But coronavirus, doesn't it sound like Italy, a beautiful villa, you have a beautiful corona. No, it's the China virus. They should have stopped it," he said.

To fight the virus, Trump said that his administration had launched the largest national mobilisation since World War II. "We did an incredible, we did an A-plus job, except we did a "D" job in terms of public relations, explaining it, because we were too busy doing it. But the fact is they wouldn't have written it anyway," Trump said.

He claimed that his Democratic rival Joe Biden championed every globalist betrayal of Pennsylvania for a half a century. "He was a cheerleader for the worst trade deal ever made by any country, NAFTA and China's entry into the World Trade Organization, which built the China like a rocket ship," he said.

Also read: Americans have to 'make this China virus go away' and it's happening: Donald Trump

"They were flatlined for many, many decades, and then right through the roof. That was a Biden approval to. These disasters ripped out one-third of your state's manufacturing jobs. You know what happened. Biden shouldn't be asking for your vote. He should be begging for your forgiveness. He did a terrible job," Trump said.

He said now the Democrat Party was pledging to rejoin the disastrous Paris Climate Accord. "You want to spend a lot of money for nothing, eviscerating your state's economy. You will spend USD 1 trillion. And what it is really, it takes away your power. It takes away your energy. You'll be closing your plants and factories all over the place," he told his supporters.

"I withdrew from the catastrophe because I was elected to fight for Pittsburgh, not for Paris. This election is a choice between Pennsylvania and China. If Biden wins, China wins. When we win, Pennsylvania wins and America wins," Trump said.
She always shows off her sartorial prowess when she hits the town.

And Hailey Bieber looked sensational when she made her way to a meeting in Los Angeles, California, on Tuesday.

The model, 23, put on a very leggy display as she dressed up in an oversized black jacket and shorts for the appointment.

Legs for days! Hailey Bieber put on a VERY leggy display in an oversized black blazer and shorts as she headed to a meeting in Los Angeles on Tuesday

Hailey boosted her height in a pair of heavy-duty black boots that accentuated her slender legs, while she finished off her look with a simple black top.

Her brunette locks were brushed into a sleek, straight style, and she used a light palette of make-up for the occasion.

The model kept safe amid the coronavirus crisis by wearing a black face mask, and she accessorised with an array of silver necklaces.

Stunning: Hailey's brunette locks were brushed into a sleek, straight style, and she kept safe amid the coronavirus crisis by wearing a black face mask

On Tuesday, the Arizona-raised beauty and her gal pals worked on their rope technique under the guidance of fitness trainer Kevin Mejia at West Hollywood gym, Dogpound.

Bieber has to maintain a taut body in order to front fashion campaigns like Versace's 'Dylan Turquoise Pour Femme' fragrance, which was shot in June on a remote island off the coast of Sardinia.

The bareMinerals partner - who boasts 35.3M social media followers - made sure to Instastory footage of herself and husband, Grammy winner Justin Bieber, cuddling their Yorkshire Terrier Oscar.

The Biebers are gearing up to celebrate their official second wedding anniversary on September 30 following an informal picnic on September 13 to celebrate the day they got their marriage license in New York.

Keeping fit: Earlier in the day, the beauty and her gal pals worked on their rope technique under the guidance of fitness trainer Kevin Mejia at West Hollywood gym, Dogpound

The Christian couple - who met at the 26-year-old pop star's 2009 concert meet-and-greet - are now moving into the $25.8M seven-bedroom Beverly Park mansion they bought in August.

Last Friday, Justin debuted the wholesome music video for his new song Holy featuring Chance The Rapper, which references his whirlwind romance with Hailey.

'Running to the altar like a track star / Can't wait another second / 'Cause the way you hold me, hold me, hold me, hold me, hold me / Feels so holy,' Bieber sang.

'They say we're too young and / The pimps and the players say, "Don't go crushin" / Wise men say fools rush in / But I don't know.'

Party time! The Biebers are gearing up to celebrate their official second wedding anniversary following an informal picnic (pictured) to celebrate the day they got their marriage license
Several large companies have been subject to huge data breaches this year. Credit: Getty.

Which? is calling for tougher penalties on firms that fail to prevent data breaches as new research reveals the huge financial loss for consumers.

When data breaches occur following a cyberattack, stolen information such as passwords or credit card and bank details can be sold onto fraudsters.

A survey of Which? members revealed 46% of people whose data was stolen by hackers following a breach at a large company went on to experience fraud.

One British Airways customer, had his trip of a lifetime ruined when he became one of the 500,000 customers whose names, email addresses and card details were stolen by cybercriminals.

When he arrived for his holiday in Thailand he found that RBS (RBS.L) had frozen his account, saying there had been a lot of suspicious activity including someone attempting to take 15,000 ($9,139) from his account, and Nationwide had also blocked his debit card.

READ MORE: EasyJet hack: Millions of customers hit in 'sophisticated' cyber-attack

Several large companies have been subject to huge data breaches this year.

EasyJet (EZJ.L) told around nine million customers that their data had been compromised in a breach whilst Marriott also hit the headlines for losing around 5.2 million peoples contact and personal information  its second data breach in three years.

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) announced its intention to fine BA 183m ($233m) for its 2018 breach and Marriott (MAR) just under 100m for losing around 339 million guests records. But the deadlines to issue the fines were extended and both companies are expected to appeal. The IAG Group (IAG.L), which owns BA, released a report in June, estimating the fine would be 22m (20m).

Which? is calling for the ICO to issue intended fines when organisations breach data protection law.

Jenny Ross, Which? Money editor, said: We need the ICO to be a regulator with teeth that is prepared to step in and issue fines in the event of companies breaking data protection laws, to ensure more businesses better protect consumers from data breaches.

Consumers should also have a much clearer route to redress when they suffer the financial and emotional toll of data breaches  and thats why the government must allow for an opt-out collective redress regime that deals with mass data breaches.
(Natural News) If we still lived in colonial times, the modern Democratic Party would be viewed with as much bile and venom as our founders viewed the English crown, because King George was the same kind of authoritarian who ruled and lorded over his subjects instead of governing via the will of the people.

Democrats reaction to President Donald Trumps decision to name a successor to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg before the Nov. 3 election, and the GOP-controlled Senates intention to give its advice and consent in approving the nominee, proves the point: The Democratic Party doesnt want to govern, it wants to rule. And they dont care if the have to blow up our system of government in order to gain power.

As we reported last week:

We already know Democrats and their Marxist Leftist cadres in the Deep State have been trying to depose Trump since he was elected. They cant do to him what they did to John F. Kennedy and his brother, Robert Kennedy; times are much different now. The Trump-supporting public would no doubt go to war over the assassination of their president. So the deep state has had to work behind the scenes to fabricate events  the fake Russian collusion scandal; the phony impeachment; the endless accusations of scandal and malfeasance  and continually accusing Trump of being an authoritarian when, in fact, its the Democrat Left that is planning a violent revolution.

Thats whats going on with the lawsuits and the ballot-stuffing. But theres more: Once Dems steal power, they have no intention of ever giving it up again.

How is that possible? Because once they lay claim to the House, the Senate, and the White House, theyre going to do away with all impediments that risk them losing power.

The one area where the Marxist left believes it can guarantee perpetual power is through the undermining of the Constitution via the federal court system. In addition to naming left-wing activist judges to the federal bench, Democrats are now openly plotting to greatly expand the Supreme Court with scores more activists  young ones who, with their lifetime appointments, will circumvent our founding document for decades to come.

NewsBusters noted:

On Monday, NBCs Today show brought on former Obama administration hack Neal Katyal (who was neutrally labeled an NBC News legal analyst) to argue that Republicans were trying to break the Supreme Court by nominating a replacement for the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg. He even claimed Democrats would be well within their rights to pack the high court after the GOP had cheated and stolen seats.

Did you catch that? By fulfilling their constitutional obligation, Republicans and President Trump are stealing Supreme Court seats (even though majorities of voters in the several states elected more Republicans to the Senate than Democrats  thats stealing a high court seat to these power-mad lunatics). Worse, Katyal then justifies blowing up the system based on his false narrative and straw man argument.

Professor Katyal, what does all of this, this fight and how Democrats might respond, mean for the institution of the court, kind of that last institution that is somewhat removed from politics? co-host Savannah Guthrie asked in an obviously teed-up question. (Related: Hillary Clinton orders Joe Biden not to concede the election to President Trump under ANY circumstances  even if Biden loses.)

After he falsely claimed that Justice Ginsburgs passing away is itself just so damaging to the Supreme Court, Katyal turned his attention to the GOP.

I mean it is crazy that just because the Republicans are afraid they cant win the presidential election that theyre willing to try and break the Supreme Court in the process, he said.

Huh? Theres no evidence that Republicans dont think theyre going to win elections (and the presidency). In fact, Trump and Republicans are going to fill Ginsburgs seat precisely because they are convinced Democrats are going to try to steal congressional seats  and maybe even the presidency itself.

Where do you think all of these court cases the Biden and Trump camps are going to bring will eventually wind up?

The Supreme Court. And a 4-4 tie is not an option.

So Trump and the GOP have no choice  they have to fill Ginsburgs seat. The survival of our republic may well depend on it.

Sources include:

NewsBusters.org

UnfilteredPatriot.com

NaturalNews.com
SAGINAW, MI - A Saginaw County teen is preparing to make history by completing a task that used to be reserved as an honor for boys.

Kylie Kienitz of St. Charles is completing a special project to earn the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout as a part of the newly rebranded Boy Scouts of America program, which now offers co-ed programs under the name Scouts BSA'. A junior at Hemlock High School, Kienitz is in Life Scout Troop 366 and Crew 7342 of Saginaw.

The Saginaw County Board of Commissioners' gave its blessing during the Tuesday, Sept. 22 meeting for the Eagle Scout candidates plan to place a special monument at the Saginaw County Governmental Center grounds to honor first responders.

Commissioner Cheryl Hadsall emphasized how big of a deal Eagle Scout projects are, noting that she has presided over multiple previous Eagle Scout ceremonies in the past.

Im going to help this girl do whatever she needs to do because this is very important for us in Saginaw County and I love what shes doing, said Hadsall.

The monument will contain personalized bricks that can be purchased to honor of present and past first responders of Saginaw County. The first 130 bricks sold by Kienitz will be encased in a 5 x 8 shadowbox monument to create a U.S. flag design, while the remaining personalized bricks will be used to build a walkway or wall as a part of the display.

Each brick is being sold for $40 and can be customized with information such as the name and unit number of any first responder with a connection to Saginaw County, past or present.

For Kienitzs project, the term first responder pertains to a variety of occupations, including EMS personnel, nurses, firefighters, police officers, and those in the military, corrections and dispatch.

Saginaw County William Federspiel expressed appreciation and gratitude for Kienitzs project and her decision to support first responders through the monument.

The fact that were talking about first responders and supporting present and past first responders in Saginaw County - it really means a lot to me and my staff...We are just thrilled to have this young lady choose a project that supports first responders," he said.

If Kienitz completes her project successfully, she has the chance to be written into Saginaw County history as its first female Eagle Scout.

Kylie will be the first female Eagle Scout awardee for Saginaw County upon completion of this particular project. What a notable accomplishment," Board Chair Michael Webster said.

Kienitz has been in Crew 7342 for four years - three of which she served as the president. She recently obtained the ranking of Life Scout this year and will be able to officially Eagle as soon as her requirements are done.

Getting to this point was no walk in the park. According to Kienitz, theres a set of requirements that each Scout has to complete per rank that increase in intensity.

For each rank you have a certain number of requirements, some are easier than others, some arent. As you go through it itll get harder and harder," she said.

Her time with the Scouts has been important as she looks to the future.

For me it gives me that one up, being Hey, this girl knows a lot because shes done a lot, and itll look good on a lot of my applications and records," she said.

After her time with the scouts, Kienitz said that she is looking to enter into a career path involving the military, particularly in the military police.

For now, the plan is to focus on getting her project done so that she can obtain the Eagle Scout designation. Plus, shes on a bit of a time crunch for her project - Kienitz is trying to beat Michigans season change and is hoping to get the project done before winter.

Im hopefully trying to get it done before snowfall, but if not, just as soon as I can," she said.

Those interested in purchasing a brick to honor a first responder are asked to contact either Kienitz or her mother Christie at kyliekienitz@gmail.com or christiekienitz@gmail.com, or via phone at 989-445-0302 or 517-404-2664. The deadline for ordering bricks for Kienitzs project is currently Oct. 9.

Related news:

Bay City Commission considers Neighborhood Enterprise Zone for North Grant Street area

Tax requests for Bay County Library System, Delta College on November 2020 ballot

Saginaw Sheriffs Office gives county officials a use of force demonstration

Saginaw City Council adopts restrictions on outdoor marijuana and tobacco use
Your wait for the next iPhone may just be over as the release date and pre-order details for the iPhone 12 have just leaked. Many people were expecting Apple to launch a new iPhone at their event last week, however it was already confirmed prior to the event that the phones were delayed this year. But now that we know when the phone will launch, the wait doesnt seem too long.



According to AppleInsider, who claims to have been contacted by someone working for a carrier in the Netherlands, says the iPhone 12 will launch on Tuesday, October 13th. The new launch date for the iPhone lines up with previous rumours by various sources including that from Jon Prosser in early August.

 unsplash

Apple usually hosts their launch events on a Tuesday and the same source claims pre-orders for the phone will start the following Friday i.e. October 16th. A leak from Jon Prosser in August also suggested that the iPhone 12 event would be held in the week of October 12th and that units will start shipping to customers in the week of October 19th.



Another leak by MacRumors reveals British carrier EE is already getting prepared to launch the 5G iPhone 12 in the market. In a presentation to employees, British Telecom CEO Marc Allegra said the new iPhone is just days away. Apples own Eddy Cue, SVP of Internet Software and Services also made a cameo during the presentation and congratulated EE on being the first carrier to offer bundle plans for the upcoming phones.

 Youtube_EverythingApplePro

Apple is expected to launch four new phones this year, one of them being called the iPhone 12 Mini according to reports. The company is expected to launch a 5.4-inch model and a 6.1-inch iPhone 12 model too. Apple will also launch two other models i.e. the 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Pro and a 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max.



All four phones are expected to be powered by Apples newest A14 Bionic chipset and will also sport an OLED display. The phones are expected to have multiple camera systems while the Pro model will have an additional LiDAR sensor for better augmented-reality and photography capabilities.

The phones are likely to have a telephoto lens as well, however rumours of the Pro model having 120Hz displays have been refuted. However, knowing Apple, you never know what the company may launch as a feature until the last minute.

Source: AppleInsider, MacRumors
Los Angeles, Sep 23 : Actress Liv Tyler will not be returning in the second season of her drama series, 9-1-1: Lone Star, reportedly due to uncertainty regarding international travel owing to the ongoing pandemic.

Tyler is the original female lead actor of "9-1-1: Lone Star" with a multi-year contract, but she asked producers to let her go after season one, due to safety concerns regarding travel, reports ew.com.

The actress who played Emergency Medical Services Paramedic Captain Michelle Blake, lives in London with her family, and flew back and forth to Los Angeles where "9-1-1: Lone Star" was shot.

"What a thrill it was having a movie star of Liv Tyler's stature to help us launch the first season of '9-1-1: Lone Star'," showrunner Tim Minear said.

"We loved working with Liv and will be forever indebted to her for her haunting, powerful portrayal of Michelle Blake. While we were able to tell a complete chapter in Michelle's story, as with Connie Britton on our mothership, we also feel like there are more stories to be told. The door here will always be open for a return," added Minear.

The original series "9-1-1" faced a similar exit when Britton left after the first season.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Demonstrators in Louisville, Kentucky, were seen riding atop Louisville Metro Police Department cruisers during protests following a grand jurys decision to indict only one of three officers involved in the shooting death of Breonna Taylor.

Former Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) officer Brett Hankison was charged with three counts of wanton endangerment in the first degree; his bond was set at $15,000. Hankison was fired from the police force on June 23 for his role in the shooting death of Taylor. Two other officers who fired their weapons while trying to serve a search warrant on Taylors apartment in the early hours of March 13, were not charged.

A state of emergency was declared on Monday in preparation for Wednesdays grand jury announcement, reports said. A curfew was also imposed.

Other footage from the protest shows officers in riot gear arresting protesters. One woman can be heard telling an officer dont touch me.

According to reports from the scene, police announced the demonstration an unlawful assembly shortly after it began, and threatened protesters with chemical agents and arrests." Credit: Brendan Gutenschwager via Storyful
As of 5 October, Canal 22 Internacional will begin to air a TV block of one hour with a curated selection of programmes from France 24 ranging from newscasts, magazines, reports and talk shows offering viewers a wide range of programming that includes culture, fashion, environmental issues, sports, the economy, science and technology. France 24s newsroom is supported by a network of 160 correspondents and Canal 22 stressed that programming will cover current international and Latin American issues, such as migration and gender equality.Among individual programme that will be broadcast will Escala en Paris, a weekly broadcast made in collaboration with Radio France Internationale (RFI), featuring celebrities and figures from the world of art, science, politics and sports, a cultural bridge between Paris and Latin America; Moda, showing fashion shows and catwalks of haute couture; Esto es Francia, highlighting French savoir-faire by visiting the most prestigious locations, traditions and cuisine; and Revista digital which will take a look into the universe of Internet and social networks.Commenting on the deal, Orissa Castellanos, director of Canal 22 Internacional said, This collaborative initiative will allow us to amplify other voices and offer our audience different cultural experiences, through new narratives that will refresh our programmatic schedule.Alvaro Sierra, director of France 24 in Spanish added: The newsroom of France 24 in Spanish, based on the experience of our channels in French, English and Arabic, has always had the goal of submitting contextual information and quality televised content that will enable our Latin American and Spanish-speaking viewers from other countries to delve deeply into all facets of current affairs from every corner of the world. We are happy with this agreement between France 24 in Spanish and Canal 22 Internacional, a channel that shares our values, and that will allow us to approach the Mexican and Latin American public living in the United States with a relevant, analytical and inclusive offering.
Juliette Greco, the singing muse of bohemian postwar Paris who became the grande dame of chanson francaise and an internationally known actress, died on Wednesday at her home near Saint-Tropez. She was 93.

Her family announced the death in a statement sent to the news agency Agence France-Presse.

For almost seven decades, Ms. Greco was a loyal practitioner of the musical tradition known as chanson francaise, a specific storytelling genre of popular music. The songs are like little plays, she told The New York Times in 1999, adding: Theyre typically French. Were a people who express our love in songs, our anger in songs, even our revolution in songs.

She was the darling of critics, as well as of the intellectuals whose world she inhabited. Ms. Grecos ultimate rave review came from a friend, the Existentialist philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre, who said simply, Greco has a million poems in her voice.

Her signature hits included Sous le Ciel de Paris (Under Paris Skies), Les Feuilles Mortes (which English speakers know as Autumn Leaves), Deshabillez-Moi (Undress Me), Jolie Mome (Pretty Kid) and Je Suis Comme Je Suis (I Am What I Am).
US President has hit out at for not stopping the COVID-19 pandemic that has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives globally, as he yet again used the term " virus" and urged his supporters not to call it coronavirus, saying the name sounds like a "beautiful place" in

Addressing a packed election rally in the battle ground State of Pennsylvania, Trump told his supporters on Tuesday that if re-elected, over the next four years, his administration will make America a manufacturing superpower of the world and will end US' reliance on once and for all.

Describing the November 3 election as a "matter of economic survival", Trump said that the country was doing great on economic front before the plague was unleashed on the United States, and blamed China for it.

"You had the greatest year you have ever had last year, and you were really on your way - we were very, very sadly disturbed by what happened with China. They let the plague out. They shouldn't have done it," he said.

"We built the greatest economy in the history of the world. And right now we're doing it again, he asserted, amidst an applause from his supporters.

"It's the China virus. It's not the Corona sounds like a place in Italy, a beautiful place. It's corona? No. It's the China virus. They don't want to say it. You know, the radical left, they don't want to say it," Trump said.

The US President has called the novel as China's virus before as well.

In his speech on the eve of the Republican National Convention in August, Trump said: "I am pleased to make a truly historic announcement in our battle against the China virus that will save countless lives".

In March, he had said that China is responsible for the spread of the novel and called the COVID-19 as the "Chinese virus".

The virus that first emerged in China's Wuhan city in the Hubei province in December 2019 has claimed 968,726 lives and infected 31,483,011 people globally. The US is the worst affected country, according to the Johns Hopkins University coronavirus tracker.

"Do you ever notice they're always going after Russia? Look, nobody's been tougher on Russia than me. But you have Russia, Russia, Russia. I say what about China? They never want to mention it. You know, they got little deals going on, Trump alleged.

"But coronavirus, doesn't it sound like Italy, a beautiful villa, you have a beautiful corona. No, it's the China virus. They should have stopped it," he said.

To fight the virus, Trump said that his administration had launched the largest national mobilisation since World War II.

"We did an incredible, we did an A-plus job, except we did a "D" job in terms of public relations, explaining it, because we were too busy doing it. But the fact is they wouldn't have written it anyway," Trump said.

He claimed that his Democratic rival Joe Biden championed every globalist betrayal of Pennsylvania for a half a century.

"He was a cheerleader for the worst trade deal ever made by any country, NAFTA and China's entry into the World Trade Organization, which built the China like a rocket ship," he said.

"They were flatlined for many, many decades, and then right through the roof. That was a Biden approval to. These disasters ripped out one-third of your state's manufacturing jobs. You know what happened. Biden shouldn't be asking for your vote. He should be begging for your forgiveness. He did a terrible job," Trump said.

He said now the Democrat Party was pledging to rejoin the disastrous Paris Climate Accord



"You want to spend a lot of money for nothing, eviscerating your state's economy. You will spend USD 1 trillion. And what it is really, it takes away your power. It takes away your energy. You'll be closing your plants and factories all over the place," he told his supporters.

"I withdrew from the catastrophe because I was elected to fight for Pittsburgh, not for Paris. This election is a choice between Pennsylvania and China. If Biden wins, China wins. When we win, Pennsylvania wins and America wins," Trump 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.)
In recent months it has become popular to proclaim that an anti-science climate has taken over the United States, but is there any truth to these claims?

You dont have to look hard to find headlines and media pundits declaring the end of rationality as America has apparently fallen prey to anti-science rhetoric. In this worldview, Americans are now overwhelmingly stupid and incapable of understanding scientific concepts or interpreting scientific research. Recently, these alarmists point to the resistance to the mainstream COVID-19 narrative as the latest in the anti-science trend. Prior to covid, vaccine hesitancy was seen as the main driver of this anti-science sentiment.

How much truth can be found when investigating these claims? Is America really in the throes of an anti-science infodemic? What does it even mean to be anti-science? Finally, if an anti-science mentality is indeed growing in popularity, why?

When I search Anti-Science America the results produce the following headlines:

-Anti-Science Attitudes are Killing Americans

-How Do We Reverse the Tide of an Anti-Science America?

-Anthony Fauci warns of anti-science bias being a problem

-Years of anti-science sentiment has left America in a terrifying predicament

I also found the paper, Combating antiscience: Are we preparing for the 2020s?, by Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine and Professor of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology & Microbiology at Baylor College of Medicine. He is also Director of the Texas Childrens Hospital Center for Vaccine Development.

I loosely define an antiscience movement as an organized and funded rejection of science and scientific principles and methods in factor of alternative views, often linked to the targeting or harassment of individual scientists, Hotez writes.

Hotezs definition describes a very specific group that he says is organized and funded that rejects the scientific method and principles. This group, apparently, also likes to harass scientists. Wikipedia defines anti-science as a philosophy or way of understanding the world that rejects science and the scientific method. Further, wiki says science deniers do not accept science as an objective method that can generate universal knowledge.

So, according to Dr. Peter Hotez and Wikipedia (sourced from media reports and research), to be considered anti-science one would need to reject the scientific method and principles, and science altogether. Also, rejecting objective knowledge and harassing scientists is a must.

Vaccine Hesitancy Is Not Inherently Anti-Science

Unfortunately, there is a problem with this narrative. For example, over the years all the individuals I have interviewed who reject or question vaccines do not reject science or the scientific method. In fact, these parents and activists who have been labeled anti-vaxx are often some of the most well-researched and up to date individuals. Sure, this group is capable of confirmation bias and baseless speculation like any other, but in general this community tends to adamantly support the scientific method and the scientists who raise legitimate questions about the safety of vaccinations.

One of the scientists revered by the vaccine skeptic community is Dr. William Thompson. Thompson was a senior scientist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and had been with the agency since 1998. In August 2014, Dr. Thompson released a statement, in response to media coverage, that he and co-authors from a 2004 article published in the journal Pediatrics omitted important information from a study on the link between vaccines and autism. Thompson admitted that the CDC did in fact intentionally omit data that demonstrated a connection between an increased risk of autism in African American males who were giving the MMR vaccine before 36 months of age.

Subsequently, Congressman William Posey was provided hundreds of thousands of documents in relation to the investigation into Dr. Thompson. A year later, Posey took to the floor of the House to discuss Dr. William Thompson and his documents. In August 2014 Dr. William Thompson a senior scientist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention worked with a whistleblower attorney to provide my office with documents related to a 2004 CDC study that examined the possibility of a relationship between mumps, measles, rubella vaccines and autism, Posey stated.

Congressman Posey went on to quote a statement from Dr. Thompson that was provided to his office:

All the authors and I met and decided sometime between August and September 02 not to report any race effects for the paper. Sometime soon after the meeting we decided to exclude reporting any race effects, the co-authors scheduled a meeting to destroy documents related to the study. The remaining four co-authors all met and brought a big garbage can into the meeting room and reviewed and went through all the hard copy documents that we had thought we should discard and put them in a huge garbage can. However, because I assumed it was illegal and would violate both FOIA and DOJ requests, I kept hard copies of all documents in my office, and I retained all associated computer files. I believe we intentionally withheld controversial findings from the final draft of the Pediatrics paper.

Unfortunately, in the 5 years since Congressman Poseys statements, there has been no call from Congress to investigate the claims of Dr. William Thompson. The only people who are even calling attention to this testimony are the anti-science anti-vaxxers. The rest of the corporate media and scientific community seem unaware or uninterested in an honest investigation into Dr. Thompsons statements.

It is this silence on stories like the CDC whistleblower which encourages everyday Americans to go from generally trusting of the government and scientific and medical establishment to staying up all night watching documentaries and researching medical papers. For many, its not about being anti-science so much as being skeptical of corporate science and mainstream reporting (or lack of) on topics that do not fit a predetermined narrative.

The Publics Ignorance Feeds the Corporate Science Machine

One example is the topic of water fluoridation. For years, anyone who chose to write about or talk about potential harmful effects of public water fluoridation programs has been derided as a tin-foil hat wearing wackjob. As a journalist, reporting on the problems associated with water fluoridation is a shortcut to losing credibility in the eyes of the mainstream journalism cartel.

Regardless of the push back, the facts are the facts. Water fluoridation has proven to be detrimental to human health in high enough doses. This is a non-controversial fact. Or it should be. Unfortunately, the lack of reporting from the corporate media and a lack of education in public schooling means that the average American is woefully ignorant on the topic. Even worse, some people have been propagandized to think there is nothing wrong with water fluoridation and that only anti-science conspiracy theorists believe so.

This crowd is likely not familiar with the recent federal lawsuit unfolding in response to numerous studies detailing the neurotoxicant effects of fluoride. Beginning in June, attorneys representing the Fluoride Action Network and other advocacy groups battled attorneys representing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The plaintiffs argued that water fluoridation violated the Toxic Substances Abuse Act because fluoride has been found to cause a number of health issues at the levels allowed by the U.S. government.

During this trial, Danish environmental epidemiologist Dr. Phillip Grandjean, known for his work on the neurotoxicity of mercury, stated that he had been threatened or coerced by a colleague at the Harvard Dental School after one of his studies concluded that fluoride was a neurotoxin. When Department of Justice lawyer Debra Carfora asked Grandjean about a statement he signed downplaying the significance of the results, Grandjean stated that the Harvard press department put the statement together and added his name to it. The statement said the researchers still agreed with the CDC position that water fluoridation is safe. Dr. Grandjean did not elaborate upon who threatened him or how often such threats may happen in his field. He also stated that the fluoride lobby infiltrated a World Health Organization committee seeking to exclude any mention of harmful effects of fluoride.

On the specific harmful effects of fluoride, Dr. Grandjean stated in his deposition that, the weight of epidemiological evidence leaves no reasonable doubt that developmental neurotoxicity is a serious human health risk associated with elevated fluoride exposure. Dr. Grandjean has also stated that efforts to control human fluoride exposure need to focus on pregnant women and small children. (For more on the #FluorideTrial read this)

Despite this respected and credentialed scientists admission that he had been threatened for reporting on the effects of fluoride  as well as his work explaining the serious neurotoxicity associated with fluoride  the media continues to label opponents of water fluoridation as conspiracy theorists. And, as a result of the lack of reporting, most Americans continue to parrot the same erroneous line of thinking.

Again, it is the silence from the media and the attacking or labeling of anyone who questions this narrative that is driving people towards skepticism of official proclamations from men and women in lab coats. For better or worse, the more the mainstream world ignores the science that doesnt fit their narrative, the more Americans question the validity of corporate journalism and the scientific community.

Are COVID-Deniers Anti-Science?

Of course, the anti-science label has been used to describe the critics of the COVID-19 response and recovery efforts. TLAV has extensively documented problems with the COVID-19 case numbers, the PCR test, the lockdowns, and the masks. I wont rehash what we have already covered, but its clear that the skeptics of the WHO, the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Public Health England and other international health organizations are not simply anti-science.

If anything, vaccine skeptics, water fluoridation opponents, and COVID-19 truthers (for lack of a better term) are pushing for more science, not less. Additionally, many of the biggest critics of the COVID-19 lockdowns, masks, etc are scientists themselves. These individuals work at universities, write for medical and scientific journals, and respect the scientific method. Surely, they cannot be dismissed as anti-science yahoos.

A 2017 blog on Scientific American pointed to some of the problems with the label anti-science. Peoples relationship with science is much more complex and nuanced than pro-science or anti-science. We need to correct some of the misconceptions we have and show that what is often labeled as anti-science or science denial is often better understood as isolated incidents of motivated bias, the blog states.

While the blog pushes vaccine skeptics as examples of people who are simply falling prey to bias, it does illustrate the fact that not everyone who questions conclusions made by scientific journals or organizations is against science or the scientific method. Many of the people I have interviewed who question vaccines, water fluoridation, and COVID-19 embrace science and the scientific method. What they question is corporate-funded science, conflicts of interest, and scientism  an almost religious reverence for science which views the field as incapable of corruption.

So if the people being labeled anti-science are the ones actually calling for more science, what does this say about the crowd that is warning of an anti-science infodemic? It appears that the detractors  the ones making the accusations of wrongthink  are the real anti-science crowd.
Police are looking for a man accused of beating his pregnant girlfriend to death over the weekend at their Greater Inwood apartment and then telling her 8-year-old son not to wake her as he fled.

Investigators found blood-spattered walls and floors throughout the apartment Saturday in the 5500 block of De Soto Street after neighbors reported the gruesome find. The child was unable to wake his mother that morning and asked two neighbors to help him, according to court records.

Firefighters found the woman, identified as 27-year-old Ashley Garcia, lying in bed with what appeared to be blunt force trauma to her head. She had been dead for several hours, Houston police investigators wrote in charging papers.

Police said they now believe 23-year-old Alexis Armando Rojas-Mendez is responsible for her death. He was charged Sunday with murder but has not been apprehended.

The child identified Rojas-Mendez as his father, according to court documents.

The boy told police that his father had warned him Friday night not to wake his mother and that he had to go to work. When he returned, they would be going on a trip far away, the man said, according to the child.

The neighbors who found Garcia recalled hearing an argument in the apartment just before midnight.

Another resident in the apartment complex told investigators he saw a man beating a woman in the parking lot and trying to force her and a boy into a vehicle. He hit the woman with a cell phone and dragged her up upstairs to their apartment, police said.

He could hear what sounded like pounding noises coming from inside the apartment, investigators detailed in court documents.

During the investigation, Rojas-Mendezs sister arrived at the crime scene and told police that he contacted her around 4:45 a.m. Saturday asking for money. He sounded stressed, she said, court documents state.

He already owed her $800, she said, but wanted more so he could go work a job out of town. She refused, investigators continued.

Authorities said they believe Rojas-Mendez may be trying to flee the country.

Garcias sister also stopped by the De Soto investigation and told police that the child had seen Rojas-Mendez hitting his mother in the stomach with what appeared to be a steel-toed work boot.

Police did not immediately provide a photo of Rojas-Mendez.

nicole.hensley@chron.com
To be eligible, the businesses must be for-profit, have 20 or fewer employees and prove sales dropped by more than 20% during any month from March to July, compared with February. If the business received federal funding in the past, the applicant must demonstrate they will use this grant for different expenses. Finally, the business cannot have an IRS tax lien or other judgment, and the owners and partners cannot be in the process of bankruptcy.
White House coronavirus advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci told Congress on Wednesday "it might take some time" for FDA-approved inoculations for Covid-19 to become available because of the "rigorous clinical testing required" to develop a safe and effective vaccine.

Still, he added, there is "growing optimism" that scientists will find one or more safe and effective vaccines by the end of the year or early 2021 and the U.S. could have enough vaccine doses by April.

President Donald Trump has insisted that the U.S. could have a safe and effective vaccine by the end of October and have enough vaccine doses to inoculate every American by April. The president's comments have been at odds with his own health officials and have fueled concerns that politics, not science, will influence the vaccine approval process.

On Wednesday, Fauci shared a similar timeline for when vaccine doses could be available to all Americans, saying vaccine doses will be rolled out over the coming months and the U.S. should have 700 million doses by April.

"In November you'll probably be maybe 50 million doses available. By December maybe another 100-plus million. And then you get into January and February. By the time you get to April, it'll be a total of about 700 million," he told a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing. "They will be rolling in as the months go by and by the time you get to maybe the third or fourth month of 2021, then you'll have doses for everyone."

Fauci has previously said there is "no guarantee" that scientists will find a safe and effective vaccine. If they do find one, he has said the U.S. can start thinking about getting back to some form of normality" toward "the middle to end of 2021."

In prepared remarks for delivery at the hearing, Fauci also touted vaccines by Moderna, Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson, which announced earlier in the day that it began a phase three trial testing of its vaccine. J&J is the fourth drugmaker backed by the Trump administration's Covid-19 vaccine program Operation Warp Speed to enter late-stage testing, behind Moderna, Pfizer and AstraZeneca.

Fauci said a fifth vaccine, by Novavax, is expected to begin a late-stage testing in October.

"A safe and effective vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 will be essential to stopping the spread of infection, reducing rates of morbidity and mortality, and preventing future outbreaks," the director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said.

At a Senate hearing last week, the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said he expects vaccinations to begin in November or December, but in limited quantities with those most in need getting the first doses, such as health-care workers and the elderly. The CDC director, Dr. Robert Redfield, said it will take about "six to nine months" to get the entire American public vaccinated and that the U.S. would be able to resume "regular life" by the third quarter of next year.

In his remarks scheduled for Wednesday's hearing, Redfield said the agency continues to work to prepare public and private health systems to deliver a safe and effective vaccine if and when one is available.

He said the CDC is working closely with the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, an outside group of medical and public health experts who develop recommendations on the use of vaccines in the United States. The committee is scheduled to hold a meeting on vaccines in October.

Redfield promised Congress that any CDC recommendation about who should get a vaccine and when will be "grounded in guidance from the country's foremost experts on immunization science."

He said some some state and local health departments have already built infrastructure that would address vaccine response needs. In Chicago, for example, health officials developed an app to communicate directly with residents who may be positive with the virus, he said. The app has since been adapted and now allows users to register to receive a vaccine once one becomes available, he added.

While it remains unclear how long the pandemic will last, Covid-19 "activity will likely continue for some time," Redfield said.

He urged Americans to get a flu vaccine as the circulation of the coronavirus and influenza "could place a tremendous burden on the health care system."
FILE PHOTO: An AH-1 Cobra helicopter fires during the live-fire, anti-landing Han Kuang military exercise, which simulates an enemy invasion, in Taichung

By Yimou Lee

TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan said on Monday its armed forces have the right to self-defence and counterattack amid "harassment and threats", in an apparent warning to China, which last week sent numerous jets across the mid-line of the sensitive Taiwan Strait.

Tensions have sharply spiked in recent months between Taipei and Beijing, which claims democratically-run Taiwan as its own territory, to be taken by force if needed.

Chinese aircraft crossed the mid-line to enter the island's air defence identification zone on Friday and Saturday, prompting Taiwan to scramble jets to intercept them, and President Tsai Ing-wen to call China a threat to the region.

Taiwan's defence ministry said it had "clearly defined" procedures for a first response amid "high frequency of harassment and threats from the enemy's warships and aircraft this year".

It said Taiwan had the right to "self-defence and to counterattack" and followed the guideline of "no escalation of conflict and no triggering incidents".

Taiwan would not provoke, but it was also "not afraid of the enemy", it added.

MID-LINE "DOES NOT EXIST"

Taiwanese and Chinese combat aircraft normally observe the mid-line of the Taiwan Strait and do not cross it, although there is no official agreement between Taipei and Beijing on doing so, and the rule is observed unofficially.

"Taiwan is an inseparable part of Chinese territory," Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told reporters in Beijing. "The so-called mid-line of the Strait does not exist."

Since 2016 Taiwan has reported only five Chinese incursions across the line, including the two last week.

Late on Monday, Taiwan's Defence Ministry reported two Chinese anti-submarine aircraft had flown into Taiwan's air defence identification zone - but not over the mid-line - to the island's southwest, and were warned away by Taiwanese fighters.

Story continues

The drills came as Beijing expressed anger at the visit of a senior U.S. official to Taipei.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday accused Beijing of bluster when asked about the Chinese activity.

A senior Trump administration official on Monday said the Chinese aircraft movements were "consistent with past Chinese behavior" during heightened tensions and appeared more a reaction to Taiwan domestic politics. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Washington did not believe China was seeking to escalate into a military confrontation.

On Monday, the official China Daily newspaper said the United States was trying to use Taiwan to contain China but nobody should underestimate its determination to assert its sovereignty over the island.

"The U.S. administration should not be blinkered in its desperation to contain the peaceful rise of China and indulge in the U.S. addiction to its hegemony," it said in an editorial.

China has been angered by stepped-up U.S. support for Taiwan, including two visits by top officials, one in August by Health Secretary Alex Azar and the other last week by Keith Krach, undersecretary of state for economic affairs.

The United States, which has no diplomatic ties with the island but is its strongest backer, also plans new arms sales to Taiwan.

(Reporting by Yimou Lee; Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard, Gabriel Crossly in Beijing, Matt Spetalnick in Washington; Editing by Robert Birsel, Clarence Fernandez and Gareth Jones)
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Linkedin Sausan Atika (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, September 23, 2020 14:11 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46a7a46 1 City dki-jakarta,water-access,tap-water,management-shakeup,PAM-Jaya,Aetra-Air,Palyja Free

In February last year, Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan announced that his administration would gradually take over the citys water management from the private operators that have operated in the capital for more than 20 years.

More than a year after the announcement at City Hall, Jakartas residents remain in the dark about the progress of the public takeover, sparking outcry from civil society groups that are demanding greater transparency.

An alliance of Jakarta Residents Opposed to the Privatization of Water, consisting of 15 civil society organizations and more than 20 individual stakeholders, demanded Anies fulfill his promise to grant Jakartans their right to clean and potable water.

We urge the governor to [...] terminate and not extend cooperation with and take over Jakartas water management from private firms to prevent further losses to the state and the public, the signatories wrote in a recent open letter to the city administration.

They also demanded that the policymaking process concerning the citys tap water be transparent, participative and non-discriminative".

The topic of privatization has reemerged over recent concerns the city administration is ready to award the private operators another extension to manage the citys water, flying in the face of previous commitments.

Anies established a Water Management Team in August 2018 that was tasked with following up a Supreme Court ruling from 2017 in favor of a group of Jakarta residents fighting against tap water privatization in the capital.

[Hand washing to counter COVID-19 still a luxury for Indonesias urban poor::https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2020/03/24/hand-washing-to-counter-covid-19-still-a-luxury-for-indonesias-urban-poor.html]

The former education and culture minister announced the ad hoc teams recommendations last February, including suggestions to terminate the contracts with PT Aetra Air Jakarta and PT PAM Lyonnaise Jaya (Palyja) through a civil lawsuit.

After the experts reported their recommendations, the team was declared inactive. Anies then assigned the president director of city-owned PAM Jaya, Priyatno Bambang Hernowo, to formulate a heads of agreement (HoA) to be adopted in contracts with Aetra and Palyja for the takeover.

The resulting HoA document was signed by PAM Jaya and Aetra in April last year  announced in a written statement released by the former, with due diligence to be carried out soon after and with the expectation of completion within six months. Meanwhile, PAM Jaya and Palyja are still in discussions over their HoA, Hernowo said.

However, the lack of updates has members of the antiprivatization alliance concerned.

We expect [the administration to] provide regular updates on the progress of the takeover [] and to ask for feedback from the public, especially from the plaintiffs," Nelson Nikodemus, a public lawyer from the Jakarta Legal Aid Foundation (LBH Jakarta)  one of the organizations that signed the open letter  told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

Jakarta Ombudsman head Teguh Nugroho expressed a similar sentiment, deploring the lack of updates after April of last year, noting that Aetra and Palyja had both failed to reach their target for tap water service coverage. The firms have only increased coverage by 18.5 percent since 1998.

Jakarta aims to have 82 percent coverage by 2023, roughly 19 percent higher than the current level of 63 percent.

Read also: From colonial rule to Jokowi administration, clean water is still not for all

The takeover process has dragged on due to the lack of guidance the city administration has provided to PAM Jaya since last year, which resulted in a loss of momentum in regaining public control of water management when the COVID-19 outbreak hit, Teguh said.

The pandemic has been a blessing in disguise for the private companies. The administration was financially capable of taking over water management before the outbreak, but now it is experiencing thinning cash flow due to the pandemic, he said.

Meanwhile, PAM Jaya's Hernowo defended the process, saying the public had been involved in focus group discussions and hearings with the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK), the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the Development Finance Comptroller (BPKP) when the Water Management Team was drafting its recommendations.

He also said PAM Jaya was working with several institutions in the takeover process.

PAM Jaya took the civil lawsuit route for the takeover, which involves hiring an independent consultant to confirm financial due diligence with the partner [Aetra], requesting legal assistance from the Jakarta Prosecutors Office and asking for a review of the due diligence results with the BPKP, Hernowo told the Post on Tuesday.

He said the company would inform the public of any progress.

When asked about the possibility of extending cooperation with private operators, Hernowo refused to disclose details of the ongoing discussions, saying only that no conclusion had been reached.

The process is still ongoing, so I cant disclose it. But we are talking within the framework of reaching the ultimate goal, that is, how Jakartas residents can get access to clean water, and also what we have to do to ensure compliance with existing regulations and the principles of fairness, he said.

LBH Jakartas Nelson was doubtful there would be updates about the takeover, owing to the continued lack of transparency. He demanded the Jakarta administration stick to its original goal: terminating cooperation with private companies in the management of the citys tap water.

Progress should be made in line with the recommendations of the Water Management Team. If the city administration doesnt adhere to these recommendations, then whats the point of deploying a team of professionals [hired] using the city budget? he said.
3 The inhabitants of Petropavlovka are followers of Vissarion (pictured here in 2010), born as Sergei Torop in 1961. The former traffic policeman claims to have had a revelation that he was the second coming of Jesus Christ in the summer of 1990 and founded the Church of the Last Testament soon afterward.




Revenue decreased by 11.6pc to 1.6bn at agri-services firm Origin

Agri-services firm Origin Enterprises has seen its profit before tax fall 49.5pc to 39m in the 12 months to July 31.

Revenue decreased by 11.6pc to 1.6bn, according to full year results for the year ended 31 July 2020.

In what CEO Sean Coyle said was a challenging year for the group, Origin was impacted by prolonged unseasonal weather conditions, particularly in the UK and Ireland.

This bad weather reduced demand for agronomy services and crop input investment spend.

Operating profit in the two countries was down 61pc year-on-year to 23.3m.

In Continental Europe operating profit fell by 2.3pc in constant currency to 13.2m.

The Covid-19 pandemic presented further operational challenges for the business, Mr Coyle added.

Despite the fall in revenue and profits, Origin delivered free cash flow of 64.3m, a working capital inflow of 30.3m and reduced its net debt to 53.2m.

The company said it performed strongly in Latin America, delivering underlying volume and revenue growth.

Financial Year 2020 was defined by extreme weather challenges, with the wettest autumn winter planting season in 30 years, followed by extremely dry conditions in the third quarter, which persisted into June, further lowering the intensity of crop input investment spend, Mr Coyle said.

Given the extreme nature of these weather conditions, we would expect crop plantings to normalise in Financial Year 2021, which will increase market demand for agronomy services and crop inputs and return the group to growth, he added.

Origin has previously said it was suspending its final dividend in respect of financial year 2020.

In June Origin announced that CEO Tom OMahony is leaving the group after 35 years to be succeed by Mr Coyle.

Origin today announced the appointment of TJ Kelly as its new CFO. Mr Kelly, who will join the company by March next year, is currently CFO and an executive director of Hostelworld Group.

Prior to that, he worked in the United States and Ireland with Glanbia for 12 years.

At Hostelworld, Mr Kelly will be succeed by Caroline Sherry, who is currently the companys financial controller.
POINT PLEASANT BORO  Point Pleasant Boro schools are taking steps to boost mental health services in the district amid the COVID-19 crisis.

The steps come after the Murphy administration acknowledged that it has slashed money for services that provided on-site counseling services across New Jersey.

Superintendent Vincent Smith said the district has partnered with the YMCA to provide counseling services to students in January and February during the school day.

"This is great partnership with the YMCA," Smith said. "We're looking to invest in our students who have been tough times over the last six or seven months."



Gov. Phil Murphy, facing a strong public outcry, said he's looking to restore a New Jersey school mental health program that was cut despite many children suffering from the effects of the coronavirus crisis.

Murphy said he's planning to meet with lawmakers to discuss restoring the School Based Youth Services Program, which has been operating as a grant-funded program in schools across the state since 1987.

The program is set to be eliminated in New Jersey's nine-month fiscal year 2021 budget by Oct. 1. Read more: NJ Cut Of Student Mental Health Program Amid COVID Sparks Outcry

Murphy said if the state can find some revenue source that would sustain the service and similar programs, "then I would love to see them conceptually back in the budget that we finally agree upon."

"But these are incredibly challenging times and we're doing everything we can to balance a whole range of interests," Murphy said.

Murphy said he and the state Legislature will negotiate a new budget over the next few weeks and, "God willing, assuming we can find the revenues, that's something that's a high priority." Read more: Gov. Murphy: More Taxes, Funds Needed In NJ Budget Amid COVID-19

The state Department of Children and Families confirmed to Patch that the Office of School Linked Services and several of its programs, including the School Based Youth Services Program, will cease to exist after Sept. 30.



Story continues

The office had a budget of $15 million in fiscal year 2020, state officials said. That funding is being shifted to the department's Children's System of Care, but most of its programs and staff are being eliminated, a department spokeswoman confirmed.

Sen. Michael Testa, R-Cape May, called for restoring to the program, noting that many children need help coping with the stresses of lockdowns, uncertainty with school and the many other challenges that have resulted from COVID-19.

"That's why it was so utterly shocking that Governor Murphy would propose slashing budget funding for critically important mental health support programs for kids exactly when they need extra help," he said. "Thankfully, the governor's mistake is not something that should be difficult to fix."

This article originally appeared on the Point Pleasant Patch
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 17:45:51|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday will attend a United Nations Security Council conference on safeguarding international peace and security and global governance in the post-COVID-19 era, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Wednesday.

Wang, as the special envoy of Chinese President Xi Jinping, will attend the meeting via video link, spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a daily news briefing. Enditem
Will schools in Maharashtra reopen next week amid rising Omicron cases? Proposal sent to CM

Schools in Mumbai to reopen with rest of Maharashtra on Monday

Mumbai rains: Five teams of NDRF on standby, says Maharashtra Minister Vijay Wadettiwar

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

Mumbai, Sep 23: Five teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are on standby in view of heavy rains that have lashed Mumbai, Thane and Palghar districts and caused water-logging in many areas, Maharashtra Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Vijay Wadettiwar said on Wednesday.

Mumbai and neighbouring areas received intense spells of rain since Tuesday night, leaving many parts of the metropolis in waist deep water and disrupting rail and road traffic. Wadettiwar said in a statement that heavy rains caused flood-like situation in many places, adding that Disaster Management department is keeping a close watch on the situation.

Mumbai rains: Suburbs get over 280 mm rain in 24 hours; IMD warns of 'very intense rainfall

He appealed to people to stay indoors in view of flooding in many areas in Mumbai and other places.

"Since last night, Mumbai, Thane and Palghar districts have been witnessing very heavy rains, due to which there is flood-like situation in many places. Five teams of NDRF are on stand by to assist local administration," the minister said.

Mumbai received one of the highest showers in the last 24 hours of this monsoon season and more rainfall is likely in the city and suburbs on Wednesday, as per India Meteorology Department (IMD).

Only Sushant took drugs, Rhea claims in latest plea | Oneindia News
Who knew Chaucerian scholars kept up with current affairs? In my day on the Hyde Park campus, the U. of C.s English professors were among the most traditional of a highly traditional faculty. Had they heard the phrase corrupting the youth, their association would have been to Socrates. Such allegations got him the death penalty in 399 B.C.
PSNI officers have been patrolling the student area of Belfast known as the Holyland (Liam McBurney/PA)

A young man has racked up fines of 240 after being served with four Covid notices in south Belfast on Tuesday.

Police said he "continued to disregard" their advice as they again were forced to act on Holyland gatherings and house parties.

"People need to stop this behaviour," said Chief Inspector Gavin Kirkpatrick.

It comes as Economy Minister Diane Dodds revealed 27 students had been sanctioned by Queen's University.

Police said a total of 40 Covid notices, 12 prohibition notices and three Community Resolution Notices were issued on Tuesday through to the early hours of Wednesday morning as part of the ongoing operation to address antisocial and criminal activity in the area.

It brings to 237 the total number of Covid notices served over the past week, along with 42 prohibition notices and 14 Community Resolution Notices.

Students have also been asked to "think carefully" about whether they should go home at weekends amid coronavirus fears this winter.

Chief Scientific Adviser Professor Ian Young warned Northern Ireland could be recording 600 new coronavirus infections a day in a month's time.

Read More

Professor Young said he was advising students not to travel home from university at weekend unless it is absolutely necessary.

"I would ask students to think carefully about whether they need to go home at weekends and whether that's the best thing to do," he told BBC NI's Nolan radio programme.

"If you go home at the weekend to see your family, please be especially careful with anyone who is older or vulnerable, not to go too near them."

Read More

Chief Inspector Gavin Kirkpatrick said one young male received his first notice just after 4.30pm on Tuesday.

"Unfortunately, this male continued to disregard advice throughout the evening and was issued with additional Covid notices, resulting in a fine of 240," he said.

"Once again, last night through to the early hours of this morning, police, council officers and university representatives engaged with large numbers of people attending parties and gathering on the street at various locations," he said.

It is unacceptable that some people are still disregarding the Health Protection Regulations, putting themselves, their families and the local community at risk.

"Our operation will continue over the coming days and we will continue to work alongside council officers and University representatives to offer advice and guidance. Police officers will continue to issue notices as required until people take responsibility for their actions."

Meanwhile, Economy Minister Diane Dodds has told the Economy Committee that 27 students so far have been suspended from Queen's University Belfast for up to two weeks for breaching coronavirus guidelines.

She issued a warning to students to "obey the rules" or risk harming their future career prospects.

Read More

On Tuesday, Queen's University Belfast confirmed to the Belfast Telegraph a number of students have been suspended from their courses for a period of two weeks following the Holyland disorder.

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."

Ulster University and Belfast Met have been asked if they have issued sanctions. They have so far not responded.
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An Akure Magistrate Court in Ondo State has remanded seven suspected political thugs allegedly caught with firearms last Saturday.

The police had arrested the suspects in a Toyota Sienna vehicle, branded with the logo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the picture of its governorship candidate, Eyitayo Jegede.

The state police spokesperson, Tee- Leo Ikoro, said the suspects were arrested with locally-made guns at Ifon, Ose Local Government Area of the state.

Both the PDP and the APC had long distanced their parties from the thugs.

On Monday, the Director of Public Prosecution, Grace Olowoporoku, arraigned the thugs in court.

She told the court that they committed an offense of felony contrary to and punishable under section 3 (1) of the robbery and firearms (Special Provisions) Act Cap R11 Vol. 14 Law of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

According to The Nation Newspaper, Mrs Olowoporoku prayed the court to remand the suspects in the Nigeria Correctional Service Centre since it lacked jurisdiction to entertain the case.

The magistrate, Tope Aladejana, however, ordered that the suspected thugs be remanded at the Nigeria Correctional Service Centre, Olokuta Akure to enable the police conclude investigations into the incident.

She also adjourned to October 22 for hearing on the matter.

The Ondo State governorship election is expected to come up on October 10 with 17 political parties putting up candidates.
Cindy McCain, wife of the late Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) stands on the sidelines before the game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Washington Redskins at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., on Sept. 9, 2018. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Cindy McCain, Wife of Late Sen. John McCain, Endorses Joe Biden

Cindy McCain, the widow of late Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), announced her endorsement for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden on Tuesday.

Joe and I dont always agree on the issues, she wrote in a string of Twitter posts. But he is a good and honest man. He will lead us with dignity.

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 continued.

John McCains son and Bidens eldest son served overseas.

McCains son, Jack McCain, was a Navy helicopter pilot and was deployed to Afghanistan between 2018 and 2019. Bidens eldest son, Beau Biden, was deployed to Iraq in 2009 when he was a major in the Delaware Army National Guard. Beau Biden died from cancer in 2015.

The widow of the late senator said she is still a Republican, but an American foremost.

Cindy McCain appears to have changed her stance on the November election. In April 2019, she said in a statement that she has no intention of getting involved in presidential politics.

Biden told reporters earlier Tuesday that Cindy McCain would endorse him.

Presidential candidate and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) waves as he stands with his wife Cindy at the Nashua Crowne Plaza in Nashua, N.H., on Jan. 8, 2008 (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Maybe I shouldnt say it but Im about to go on one of these Zooms with John McCains wife, who is first time ever is endorsing me because of what he [Trump] talks about with my son and Johns who are heroes, who served their country, the former vice president told reporters, referring to a recent anonymously sourced report by The Atlantic that claimed that President Donald Trump made disparaging remarks about Americans who died in wars.

Trump vehemently denied the report, calling it a disgrace and fake news.

If they really exist, if people really exist that would have said that, theyre low lives and theyre liars. And I would be willing to swear on anything that I never said that about our fallen heroes, Trump said. There is nobody that respects them more.

The report was also widely contradicted by dozens of Trump administration officials and former officials including Trumps allies and fouls.

John Bolton, the former national security adviser who has feuded with Trump after he was fired by the president, also refuted the Atlantic story as simply false.

I dont know who told the author that, but that was false, he said during an interview with Fox News The Story.

Biden and McCain were long-time colleagues in the Senate and the Bidens and the McCains have been family friends for years. Cindy McCains backing could give Biden a boost in Arizona, a state that McCain represented in Congress for 35 years.

Trump said Wednesday in a response on Twitter: I hardly know Cindy McCain other than having put her on a Committee at her husbands request. Joe Biden was John McCains lapdog. So many BAD decisions on Endless Wars & the V.A., which I brought from a horror show to HIGH APPROVAL. Never a fan of John. Cindy can have Sleepy Joe!

McCain, who ran for president in 2008, and Trump have had a tense relationship during and after the 2016 election.

John McCain didnt support Trump in the 2016 presidential election, citing his comments about women, and he cast a critical vote to overthrow Trumps efforts to repeal former President Barrack Obamas health care law.

Trump wasnt invited to John McCains funeral in 2018.

Isabel van Brugen, Zachary Stieber, and The Associated Press contributed to the report.
Autistic teenager William Wall has been found dead, 32 hours after he went missing in dense bushland outside Melbourne.

The 14-year-old went out for his daily jog along the Yarra Ranges' Warburton Trail at 6.45am on Tuesday, promising his family he would be back in 15 minutes.

But he never returned to his home in Launching Place.

Victoria Police confirmed his body had been found in Yarra Junction during the second day of the search on Wednesday afternoon.

William's disappearance sparked an air and ground search involving about 100 personnel from Victoria Police and the State Emergency Service.

But police were still keen to enforce Melbourne's stage four coronavirus restrictions, which includes staying within a five kilometre radius from home.

William's two older brothers and friends, who spent Tuesday night with rescuers looking for him on dirt bikes were stopped from continuing their search the next day.

'We've been told by all the police, saying we're not allowed to help because we're beyond the five kilometre radius, which is going to put more of a delay in finding him,' his older brother Harrison told Seven News.

William Wall (Pictured), 14, was found dead at Yarra Junction, Melbourne on Wednesday, 32 hours after going missing on his daily jog on Tuesday

William's distraught father Shane (pictured) struggled to fight back tears as he thanked volunteers, police, the SES and family members who had been searching all night

William's older brother Harrison Wall (pictured) was stopped by police from continuing the search due to Melbourne's strict stage four lockdown restrictions

Family friend Flynn Cousens added: 'I'd rather go outside the five kilometre radius and find him than stick to five kilometres and let him stay out there another night.'

It's understood William's body was found in bushland at the end of a residential street less than two kilometres from his home.

His death is not being treated as suspicious and police will prepare a report for the Coroner.

William's family gathered at the blocked off road near where his body was found.

Distraught rescuers and locals were also seen consoling each other at the scene.

Family friend Tyson Truscott said the Walls would be shattered by the tragedy.

He was a great kid. There is nothing bad about him. He loved going for runs, he went flat out, he told the Herald Sun.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison described the outcome as very sad news.

'My heart goes out to Williams family and loved ones. Thank you to all those who were involved in the search,' he tweeted on Wednesday night.

Federal health minister Greg Hunt added: ' So deeply sorry to hear of the loss of William Wall. Just a terrible, terrible loss of a beautiful young life. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, his friends and the Yarra Ranges community.'

Friends console each other at the scene after police confirmed William's body had been found

Distraught rescuers console each other after William Wall's body was found on Wednesday

The search entered its second day on Wednesday after rescue crews spent overnight searching the area after temperatures plummeted to 7C.

Locals fumed after being advised to keep an eye out for William, but not to breach Melbourne's stage four COVID-19 restrictions by limiting outdoor time to two hours and staying within the five kilometre radius from home.

'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 read on Tuesday night.

'We want to say a big thank you however, for the all the offers we have received.'

Police later claimed their position had nothing to do with lockdown.

'This is not to do with COVID,' local police commander Inspector Jason Goddard told reporters.

'We don't want to bring this into a COVID conversation. What we are doing is focusing our search on Will.

'If the resourcing we have on the ground here and deployed today is not adequate we will ask for more resources.'

Locals vented their anger at police during a tense meeting.

'If that my kid out there, I would want every person on the ground out there, just having a look,' one resident said.

An ambulance leaves the street in Yarra Junction where William's body was found

Distraught rescuers at the scene comfort each other after the search came to a tragic end

Bush Search and Rescue Victoria volunteers are pictured outside Warburton Police station ahead of the search, hours before William was found dead

SES personnel depart the Warburton Police state ahead of the search for missing autistic boy William Wall, who was later found dead

William's distraught father Shane struggled to fight back tears as he thanked volunteers, police, the SES and family members who had been searching all night.

'I just want everyone to be safe,' he told reporters on Wednesday afternoon, hours before police confirmed his son had been found dead.

'I never want to be in this situation but the people around here are fantastic. I mean, I've been in the valley for a long time and come from overseas but this has just blown me away.'

'Actual support from local people, the Facebook community and the noticeboards and that, fantastic. Top notch and the police and SES, again, it has been great.'

'I have hardly spoken to my wife much but they are liaising with them to look after her and I'm out helping where I can.'

At the time, he was still hopeful William would be found alive, adding his son was 'pretty hardcore' and knew the area well.

Police advised volunteers to stay home instead of search for William, saying: 'At this stage we do not require any assistance from the public'

William's dad Shane Wall fought back tears during a press conference on Wednesday, several hours before the search for his son came to a tragic end

Mr Wall said his 'energetic, very athletic' son loved exercise and had dreams of joining the police force or the army when he got older.

William had a younger sister, Sophie, and two older brothers Jake and Harrison, who joined the search effort on Tuesday night.

Searchers had been concentrating on the Warburton Rail Trail and the O'Shannassy Aqueduct Trail, 16km from William's home, after police received a reported sighting of an 'upset male' in the area on Tuesday.

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.
The Silicon Valley Chapter of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) publicly announced today that its own Chairman and President, Greg Deeds, will again Chair the National Drone Safety Awareness Week (DSAW), now established to be an annual industry event.

Mr. Deeds is the founder of Technology Exploration Group, Inc., an award winning Silicon Valley based company that designs and engineers Platform as a Service (PaaS) technologies and consulting across a variety of industries, including aviation and drone technologies. In its role as a member of Steering and the Communications Chair for the FAAs Unmanned Aircraft Safety Team (UAST), Technology Exploration Group will again lead the effort along side FAA staff and stakeholders.

Last year the FAA, in concert with industry stakeholders from the UAST, launched this effort and the inaugural event was a huge success, bringing together industry stakeholders from across the United States. Last years Drone Safety Awareness Week Voluntary Tracking Tool (VTT), developed by Technology Exploration Group, registered 128 events in 50 states, DC and Puerto Rico with over two million social media impressions reported. Stakeholders range from commercial entities, to universities and even programs aimed at early STEM education. The UAST is one of four FAA safety teams in the United States. It was formed as an industry / government partnership in 2016 under the direction of then FAA Administrator Michael Huerta.

Silicon Valley AUVSI is an award winning California non-profit corporation focused on professional development and education. The organization produces a variety of workshops, competitions, and large scale events focused on delivering outstanding value to its members.

National Drone Safety Awareness Week will kick-off the week of November 16, 2020 and conclude November 22, 2020. Each day will focus on safety focused topics, including topics ranging from safety for recreational pilots and professional 107 pilots to how to start a public safety drone program for your organization. Everyone is encouraged to participate, and the process is fairly simple. To view DSAW 2020 topics and for more information, or to register an event for Drone Safety Awareness Week, please visit DroneSafetyAwarenessWeek.com today.

Press Contacts:

Forbes Best

Press@TechnologyExplorationGroup.com
Saturday's (Sept. 26) card at Freehold Raceway is headlined by two divisions of the Homegrown for three-year-old pacers. The race drew a total of 13 entries which were subsequently split by sex.

The division for colts and geldings features a field of five, and will go as the fourth race. All five competed in the New Jersey Sire Stakes-Standardbred Development final last Saturday, which was won by 26-1 long shot Rockin The Gates. He will seek to continue his good form from the outside post for trainer Steve LeBlanc and driver Pat Berry.

JK Lucky Charms sought a sweep of the series last week, but couldn't get to the lead from an outside post and ended up losing by less than a length. He has post position one in the Homegrown, so he shouldn't have much trouble getting an ideal trip. Todd McCarthy drives for trainer Brett Pelling.

Level Up, Force N Fury and Rock N Teen round out the field.

A field of eight fillies will square off in the sixth race. JK Finendandy figures to once again be the favourite, coming off a big win in the NJSS-SDF final. She will leave from post position five for trainer Jenn Bongiorno and driver Joe Bongiorno.

Tony Alagna sends a pair of entrants. Caviart Heather hit the board in every leg of the series, but did not win. She will look to rebound from post position seven with Jason Bartlett in the sulky. Her stablemate, Libspeak, will start from post position four with driver Todd McCarthy.

Make A Scene, American In London, Ready Set Rock, Fit G and Run Deo Run complete the field.

The card also features the Renaissance final for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings, programmed as the seventh race. King James Express looks like the one to beat, coming off a win in the New York Sire Stakes final at Yonkers Raceway. He will start from post position two for trainer Mark Harder and driver Jason Bartlett.

Captain Fancy, Not Today, Solid Alibi and Fika Time complete the ensemble.

The first race on the card is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. EDT.

(Freehold Raceway)
HEALTH Minister Stephen Donnelly has been accused of allowing the Government to continue to dodge its responsibilities to those impacted by the State's use of a vaccine which was not fully trialed.

Sufferers Of Unique Narcolepsy Disorder (SOUND) hit out after Mr Donnelly failed to accept an invitation to urgently meet with the group over the Pandemrix vaccine controversy, which has been ongoing for over a decade.

SOUND had written to Mr Donnelly seeking an urgent meeting in a bid to discuss how the State could provide a long-sought pathway through life for the children and young adults with the conditions - without each having to be continually assessed on an individual basis for critical support.

Read More

But in their response, Mr Donnellys office did not acknowledge the meeting request - and insisted everything possible was being done to help those affected.

The main priority is to ensure the health needs and social care supports of those affected by Narcolepsy following pandemic vaccination continues to be appropriately addressed.

Last July, Mr Donnelly ruled out personally intervening to seek a broad negotiated settlement of the 100-plus cases facing Ireland over the Pandemrix vaccine and its links to the sleep disorder narcolepsy.

Mr Donnelly insisted that he has no legal authority to direct the State Claims Agency (SCA) as to how the cases should be handled - despite admitting that the legal costs involved in the first High Court test case were more than 6.3m.

"The management of litigation against the State by persons alleging narcolepsy and/or cataplexy following the receipt of the H1N1 vaccine, Pandemrix, is delegated to the SCA," he said.

"I do not have any legal authority to direct the agency to deal in any particular way with a claim which falls to the SCA to manage."

The first test case was settled by the SCA in the High Court last year - and another major case is due before the High Court in November.

It was confirmed the costs in the first action was 6.3m - and that does not include either the State agencies bill or the legal costs for the vaccine manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline, which the State are also liable for.

Legal costs are now under adjudication.

Ireland offered GSK a full indemnity to rush Pandemrix supplies into service - with the vaccine not having fully completed trials.

Families involved in the narcolepsy controversy have repeatedly urged health chiefs to learn the lessons involved.

They stressed that vaccines should be properly and fully tested before being introduced into public health systems.

Health groups warned that the lessons of the Swine Flu controversy need to be learned for the current Covid-19 pandemic.

SOUND stressed that it is not anti-vaccination and said ongoing High Court proceedings taken by its 100 members are not its primary focus, as those proceedings are between the individuals affected and the State.

The group pleaded for the State to stop shirking its responsibilities and honour its commitment to those impacted by the vaccine.

The State claims to have provided the necessary support to the children and young people affected, but, in fact, all it has actually done is allow them access to existing, often unsuitable, supports, SOUND Secretary Tadgh Kennedy said.

SOUND is seeking life-long living supports as each sufferer enters each new phase of their lives, and portable supports when sufferers are travelling or working abroad, as well as consistent updates on all relevant information.

According to Sound, Mr Donnelly is failing in his obligations to those whose lives have been devastated by Pandemrix.

SOUND is still forced to lobby on an individual basis for access to these supports on behalf of each family and is very disappointed the Minister did not accede to our request to meet him to discuss this, Mr Kennedy said.
NPPs NASARA Coordinator, Abdul Aziz Haruna Futa says the idea of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to build over 300 morgues in the Zongo communities across the country is unreasonable.



He claims the NDC has no love for the Zongo communities after questioning their reason for not picking a Muslim as their running mate over the years.



NDCs flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, has said he will construct more morgues  not less than 300  in Zongo Communities if he comes to power again.



According to him, these structures are part of mediation programmes the NDC plans for Zongo Communities across the country.



Mr. Mahama said the funeral homes will help contain the stress in handling the dead in Zongo Communities.



But Abdul Aziz in an interview with NEAT FMs morning show Ghana Montie kicked against the decision.



Mortuaries are not what the Zongo communities want. They deserve a running mate, he said







Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Express News Service

BENGALURU: A whopping 39,330 aspirants took up exams in connection with 174 vacancies at the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) for its Phase-II projects still await the selection list. It has been 16 months since the marks they scored were made public but there is no word on the appointments yet.

Three separate exams, all multiple-choice questions conducted by the Karnataka Exam Authority, were held in February 26-27, 2019, for three cadres - 21 Junior Engineer (JE) vacancies, 19 Section Engineers (SE) and 134 Maintainers. While 18,530 aspirants appeared for Maintainer post, 11,300 opted for SE posts and 9,500 for JE posts. Candidates have been desperately waiting for months to know their fate.

One of them who figured among the top scorers in the exam told TNIE, I am taking up numerous exams. I have scored really high and deserve to have a job now. Along with thousands of others, I am hoping and praying that BMRCL announces our appointments. The marks we scored are still available on the KEA website. Why is it taking them so long to make the selection? he posed.

He explained that they had made repeated requests to BMRCL in this connection. We also met the Chief Secretary last year and asked him to help us out. Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah too has highlighted our plight to BMRCL last month. Unfortunately, nothing is happening, the candidate added. Another candidate alleged that BMRCL is totally non-responsive to their calls and messages.

Atleast earlier, they used to keep assuring us that it will happen soon and give us some hope. Now, no one responds to us at all, he said. With the Corona epidemic ravaging job opportunities across the country, aspirants who have done well in the exams are hoping they get the call. It was a recruitment call only for Kannadigas. Many have now left the State in search of opportunities elsewhere. Myself and friends I know are desperate to join BMRCL, another aspirant said.

With the first stretch of Phase-II scheduled for opening in November, why are they not hiring us atleast now, he queried. Candidates have been bombarding Twitter tagging every top official and Minister for the last few months hoping to get some response. BMRCL Managing Director Ajay Seth and Chief Public Relations Officer B L Yashwanth Chavan reserved comments on the issue.
CHICAGO, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The insurance industry spends a significant amount of manual effort, time and money analyzing PDF and Excel loss runs that are in nonstandard, carrier-specific, unstructured document formats. The CogniSure patent pending algorithms extract data with high accuracy levels and normalize to a common loss run format. It further converts this data into actionable insights that can be a valuable input into the risk management decision-making process. CogniSure has trained the top 25 carrier loss run formats and expects to have the top 100 insurance carrier loss runs trained in the platform by the end of 2020. The CogniSure AI LossRun Insights platform is currently being piloted by commercial insurance carriers, brokers/MGAs, and lenders.

"CogniSure is changing the way insurance agents and brokers look at loss runs, literally. The CogniSure platform is one of the easiest and most intuitive products in the insurtech arena that I have come across in quite some time, and it will drive significant efficiencies and meaningful cost savings for our firm. No longer do we need to go through hundreds of claims on a PDF document to develop a loss summary."

- Mark Ware, Senior Vice President, IMA Financial Group, Inc.

"Data has long been an important, yet challenging, component of the insurance industry. Loss run data is critical but has proven to be difficult to harness. We are thrilled that CogniSure is working hard to solve this challenge for the industry."

- Seth Hausman, Managing Director, Kraus-Anderson Risk Innovation

"We are excited to partner with CogniSure and their loss run analytical insights solution. The historical loss profiles and trending reports that take our teams hours to prepare are generated in seconds. We also see it as a valuable sales tool as producers are able to provide real-time feedback relating to loss prevention strategies. It's fantastic to see AI starting to have a tangible and material impact on sales and productivity."

- John R. Prichard, Jr. Executive Vice President, Heffernan Insurance Brokers

"CogniSure's ability to quickly map and normalize loss data from multiple carriers is a game-changer. In an industry with very little data standardization, CogniSure provides producers and account teams with

the ability to deliver insights into customer loss information that was previously too difficult to make use of in an efficient manner."

- Mike McIntire, CTO, Graham Company

"Historically, collecting and analyzing data has been an important but challenging and time-consuming process for our team members, often taking hours to prepare accurate loss run reports. CogniSure's platform will be an enormous improvement by easily and efficiently converting carrier data into well- organized summaries for clients. We are excited to see the progress CogniSure has made and can't wait to see the results of our pilot program."

- Brett Tiagwad, VP, Conner Strong & Buckelew

"It has been energizing to see the progress the CogniSure team has made during their journey as a part of our BrokerTech Ventures Accelerator. We could not be more pleased with the traction that CogniSure is seeing with our BTV Agencies, Carrier Partners, and the broader insurance industry. We look forward to being a part of their continued success and evolution with the launch of LossRun Insights."

- Susan Hatten, COO, BrokerTech Ventures

"We are very thankful for all our customers' support and excited about the opportunity to enhance the loss run review process."

- Sai Raman Founder & CEO, CogniSure, Inc.

About CogniSure AI

The CogniSure AI Platform unlocks insights trapped in unstructured documents such as loss runs, submissions, quotes and policies. Its deep learning algorithms accurately extract, validate and analyze data from these documents to create new growth opportunities, develop risk insights, reduce costs, and help customers prevent losses. Learn more at www.CogniSure.ai or [email protected].

Media inquiries can be directed to Katy McBride at [email protected].

SOURCE CogniSure, Inc.
Chinese People's Liberation Army held combat exercises over the Taiwan Strait

Taiwan's defence ministry said two bombers and 16 fighter jets were spotted

It came as US official Keith Krach held talks with Taiwanese ministers on Friday

China flew 18 warplanes over the Taiwan Strait in an unusually large show of force today during a US envoy's visit to the island.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army staged combat exercises over the strait in the second round of war games this month as the Trump administration increases its support for Taiwan.

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The island's defence ministry said two bombers and 16 fighter jets from China's Eastern Theatre Command had crossed into Taiwan's air defence zone on Friday.

'Those who play with fire are bound to get burned,' Chinese defence ministry spokesman Ren Guoqiang told reporters in Beijing.

The warning came as US official Keith Krach held talks with Taiwanese ministers on Friday, becoming the highest-ranking State Department official in 40 years to visit the island which China regards as its own renegade territory.

An image released by Taiwan's defence ministry shows a Chinese H-6 bomber flying near the Taiwanese 'air defence identification zone' today in a show of force by Beijing

A map released by Taiwanese officials showing the routes of Chinese PLA (People's Liberation Army) aircraft which crossed into the air defence zone that surrounds the island

Krach also met with business leaders over lunch and was due to dine with President Tsai Ing-wen later on Friday.

China cut contacts with Taiwan's government following Ms Tsai's 2016 election, but she was re-elected by a wide margin earlier this year.

Ren called the drills a 'legitimate and necessary action taken in response to the current situation across the Taiwan Straits to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity'.

'Recently, the US and [Taiwan's ruling] Democratic Progressive Party authorities have stepped up their collusion and frequently stir up troubles,' Ren told reporters.

'Whether it is using Taiwan to contain China or relying on foreign powers to threaten others, it is wishful thinking and is destined to be a dead end.'

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In a brief message, the Eastern Theatre Command said the exercises involved naval and air force units in the Taiwan Strait aimed at testing their joint operations capacity.

China's foreign ministry also defended the move, with spokesman Wang Wenbin saying it has the 'firm will, full confidence and sufficient ability to thwart all external interference and separatist actions by Taiwan independence forces'.

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Beijing views Taiwan as part of its own territory and strongly opposes any type of formal interaction between other countries and the self-ruled island democracy.

Mr Krach's trip follows an August visit by US health secretary Alex Azar, the highest-level Cabinet official to visit since America switched its formal relations from Taiwan to Beijing in 1979.

It is one of a series of moves by the Trump administration to strengthen relations with Taiwan, including stepped-up arms sales and support for the island's participation in international forums.

US envoy Keith Krach (at the front of the line, wearing a mask) arrives at the Sungshan airport in Taipei on Thursday

Before Mr Krach's arrival, the US ambassador to the United Nations, Kelly Craft, had lunch with Taiwan's top official in New York.

On Saturday, the last day of his visit, Mr Krach will also attend a memorial service for former President Lee Teng-hui, who led the island's transition to democracy and died at age 97 in July.

Analysts say the Chinese military response is a clear message to the US to stop what it is doing, after taking similar actions when the health secretary visited in August.

'I think the Chinese are using this tool to try and stop the kind-of diplomatic relationship between the US and Taiwan. It's very clear from them,' said Alfred Wu, associate professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore.

Tensions between Washington and Beijing have already reached high levels as the governments spar over the coronavirus pandemic, trade, technology, Hong Kong and the South China Sea.

Last week, Taiwan said Chinese warplanes entered its airspace over two daysduring large-scale war games that it called a 'serious provocation'.

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Such actions by the Chinese military threaten the entire region, it said, calling on the international community to respond.

Despite the frequency of the exercises, analysts said it does not mean imminent war.

'The signal from Beijing is very, very clear, but does that mean a prelude to war? No, far from it,' said Chong-Pin Lin, a former deputy defence minister in Taiwan.
BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - German stocks rose on Wednesday to extend gains from the previous session after Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell reiterated the Fed's commitment to helping the economy through the coronavirus pandemic and pressed Congress for more aid. Powell will make a second appearance in DC later today. The benchmark DAX jumped 214 points, or 1.7 percent, to 12,808 after rising 0.4 percent on Tuesday. Automakers BMW, Daimler and Volkswagen rallied 2-3 percent after French rival Peugeot said it would buy back 10 million of its own shares from Dongfeng Motors. Sportswear brand Puma surged 6 percent and Adidas added 6.5 percent after Nike Inc easily beat analysts' estimates for quarterly revenue and profit. Siemens AG gained 1.4 percent after extending its strategic partnership with Atos for five years in the areas of services modernization and digitalization, data driven digital, cloud transformation and cybersecurity. In economic releases, German consumer confidence is set to rise slightly in October, survey data from the market researcher GfK showed. The forward-looking consumer sentiment index rose to -1.6 in October from -1.7 in September. Despite rising infection figures and the increasing fear of tighter restrictions caused by the pandemic, the consumer climate has stabilized, Rolf Burkl, GfK consumer expert said. Germany's private sector continued to expand in September, albeit at a slower pace, survey results from IHS Markit showed. The composite output index dropped more-than-expected to 53.7 in September from 54.4 in August, driven by a sharp rise in manufacturing output. The expected reading was 54.1. The flash services Purchasing Managers' Index fell to 49.1 from 52.5 a month ago, while the manufacturing PMI rose to a 26-month high of 56.6 from 52.2 in August. 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.
NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --





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The global seed treatment market is estimated to be valued at USD 6.4 billion in 2020 and is projected to reach USD 11.3 billion by 2025, recording a CAGR of 12.1%. Factors such as the growing demand for hybrid seeds, high-efficiency chemicals, the adoption of new technology and sustainable agriculture and increasing environmental concerns, are projected to drive the growth of this market.



The seed protection segment is projected to be the largest segment, by function, in the seed treatment market during the forecast period.

Seed protection chemicals have been used since a long time to control pest and diseases.Insecticide seed treatments are frequently formulated with a combination of two seed treatment chemicals.



Seed treatment fungicides are also used to protect crops against seed-borne and soil-borne pathogens, especially against rhizoctonia spp. and fusarium spp. The ability of seeds to resist pests has allowed farmers to increase their crop output. Seed treatment is considered a safer alternative to reduce the investment risks of farmers on crop inputs such as agrochemicals.



The cereals & grains segment is projected to account for the largest market during the forecast period.

By crop type, the seed treatment market is segmented into cereals & grains, oilseeds & pulses, fruits & vegetables, turf & ornamentals, and other segments.The dominance of the cereals & grains segment is attributed to the increasing consumption of agrochemicals for these crops, particularly in the Asian and North American countries.



Developed countries such as the US focus on feed, and the use of improved conventional technology, such as hybrids, and biotechnology applications are expected to increase substantially. Asia Pacific accounted for the largest share in the seed treatment market for the cereals & grains segment, majorly due to the high production of crops, including corn, wheat, and rice, in the US, China, India, and Japan.

The North America market is estimated to account for the largest market share due to the commercialization of pesticides in the region.



North America has traditionally been a prominent consumer of seed treatment products.However, in recent years, regulatory frameworks set by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), and the USDA have become highly stringent regarding the registration and commercialization of pesticides, leading to the growth of the seed treatment market in North America.



Several reasons are driving the seed treatment market in this region, such as the ready provision of a substantial amount of additional subsidies by the US government. The region has a presence of a few main players such as Monsanto (US), DuPont (US), Syngenta (Switzerland), and Dow AgroSciences (US), which contribute to more than half of the North American market.



Break-up of Primaries

 By Company Type: Tier 60%, Tier 30%,and Tier 10%

 By Designation:C-level -40%,Director level - 30%, and Others*-30%

 By Region:Asia Pacific -35%, North America -20%, Europe -30%, Rest of the World (RoW)**-15%

*Others include sales managers, marketing managers, and product managers.

**RoW include the UAE and Nigeria.



Leading players profiled in this report

 BASF SE (Germany),

 Bayer AG (Germany),

 Novozymes A/S (Denmark),

 Syngenta AG (Switzerland),

 CortevaAgriscience (US),

 FMC Corporation (US),

 Adama Ltd (Israel),

 Croda International (UK),

 UPL Ltd (India)

 Nufarm (Australia),

 EastMan Chemicals (US),

 Germains Seed Technology (UK),

 Precision Laboratories, LLC (US),

 Globachem (Belgium),

 Rhizobacter (Argentina),

 Valent USA (US)

 VerdesianLifescience (US),

 Plant Health Care (US),

 Bioworks (US),

 Certis Europe (US),

 Advanced biological marketing (US)



Research Coverage

This report segments the seed treatment market on the basis of crop type, technology, type, form, application method, and region. In terms of insights, this research report focuses on various levels of analysescompetitive landscape, end-use analysis, and company profileswhich together comprise and discuss the basic views on the emerging & high-growth segments of the seed treatment market, the high-growth regions, countries, government initiatives, market disruption, drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges.



Reasons to buy this report

 To get a comprehensive overview of the seed treatment market

 To gain wide-ranging information about the top players in this industry, their product portfolios, and key strategies adopted by them

 To gain insights about the major countries/regions, in which the seed treatment market is flourishing



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ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



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T he UK tech industry is welcoming a new player to the scene: its first official union.

Called the United Tech and Allied Workers (UTAW), the union is a branch of the Communication Workers Union (CWU), which says it will represent and fight for workers interests in the tech industry.

Anyone who develops or deploys tech is welcome to join, as well as general workers for tech companies, whether they are a developer, project manager, courier or warehouse assistant. A spokesperson for the branch told Wired that workers from companies including Asos, Google, Monzo and Deliveroo are planning to join.

These tech sector workers are leading the way as a new generations realise the value of collectivising struggle and begging to self-organise to build industrial strength, and we are delighted they believe the CWU is the best union to help them achieve this, said CWUs head of recruitment and organising Ray Ellis.

The idea for the union started percolating two years ago with the Google walkouts, which saw the tech giants staff across the globe, including London, protest against claims of sexual harassment and systemic racism at the company.

Helping to unionise those involved with the gig economy-side of the industry could have massive implications for the companies in the sector, such as Deliveroo and Amazon. The e-commerce giant has attempted to crack down on efforts to unionise in the past, however. Yet the UTAW isnt just for gig economy workers, but anyone in tech sector, says general secretary Dave Ward.

Its indicative of our unions outstanding reputation in the trade union movement and our innovative communications approach that these self-organised workplace leaders have specifically approached us as the union they want to join and work with to recruit and organise in the sector. They align themselves with our radical, outward-looking model of trade unionism and were equally enthusiastic about adding this new dimension to the CWUs industrial agenda."

The moves to unionise represent a broader shift in tech workers who want to better the industry and hold the companies they work for accountable, says Sam Franklin, CEO of Otta, a tech recruitment platform. It's not surprising to see big tech workers unionising to hold their employers to account. Job seekers tell us they want to work for companies that are benefiting society. They strive to work for companies with a strong mission and strong values, and dismiss employers with questionable business goals. There has never been more focus on better working conditions, enduring efforts to increase diversity and inclusion, and much more, he said.
P olice are searching for four men after a teenage boy was stabbed outside a pub in north London.

Officers were called just before midnight on Saturday, July 11 by ambulance workers after the teen was knifed in the chest outside the Mossy Well pub in Muswell Hill Place.

The boy had been involved in an "altercation" with a group of men, police said, after which he was knifed.

The victim was rushed to hospital. His injuries were not considered life-changing and he was later sent home.

The Mossy Well pub, near where the attack happened / Google Maps

No arrests have been made so far. Officers have now released CCTV footage and images of the four men they want to speak to in connection with the attack.

Detective Constable James Green, investigating, said: The victim became involved in an altercation with a group of males near the Mossy Well pub in Muswell Hill when he was set about and attacked.

But for the speed and skill of emergency services workers, this incident could have had a very different outcome.

"I am urging any members of the public who recognise any of these males to make contact with us immediately.

Officers are encouraging anyone who has any information regarding the attack to call them on 101 quoting reference 9656/11Jul. Alternatively tweet @MetCC or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Members of a rescue crew stand with a whale on a sand bar near Strahan, Australia on Sept. 22, 2020. (Brodie Weeding/Pool Photo via AP)

Nearly 500 Pilot Whales Stranded in Australia; 380 Dead

HOBART, AustraliaMore pilot whales were found stranded in Australia on Wednesday, raising the estimated total to nearly 500, including 380 that have died, in the largest mass stranding ever recorded in the country.

Authorities had already been working to rescue survivors among an estimated 270 whales found Monday on a beach and two sand bars near the remote coastal town of Strahan on the southern island state of Tasmania.

Another 200 stranded whales were spotted from a helicopter on Wednesday less than 10 kilometers (6 miles) to the south, Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service Manager Nic Deka said.

All 200 had been confirmed dead by late afternoon.

They were among 380 whales that had died overall, 30 that were alive but stranded and 50 that had been rescued since Tuesday, Deka said.

Well continue to work to free as many of the animals as we can, he said. Well continue working for as long as there are live animals.

In this image made from aerial video shows numerous stranded whales along the coastline on Sept. 23, 2020, near the remote west coast town of Strahan on the island state of Tasmania, Australia. (Australian Broadcast Corporation via AP)

A member of a rescue crew stands with a whale on a sand bar near Strahan, Australia on Sept. 22, 2020. (Brodie Weeding/Pool Photo via AP)

About 30 whales in the original stranding were moved from the sandbars to open ocean on Tuesday, but several got stranded again.

About a third of the first group had died by Monday evening.

Tasmania is the only part of Australia prone to mass strandings, although they occasionally occur on the Australian mainland.

Australias largest mass stranding had previously been 320 pilot whales near the Western Australia state town of Dunsborough in 1996.

The latest stranding is the first involving more than 50 whales in Tasmania since 2009.

Marine Conservation Program wildlife biologist Kris Carlyon said the latest mass stranding was the biggest in Australia in terms of numbers stranded and died.

In this image made from aerial video shows numerous stranded whales along the coastline on Sept. 23, 2020, near the remote west coast town of Strahan on the island state of Tasmania, Australia. (Australian Broadcast Corporation via AP)

Why the whales ran aground is a mystery. The pod may have been drawn into the coast to feed or by the misadventure of one or two whales, which led to the rest of the pod following, Carlyon said.

Its really likely this was the one stranding event of a big group. This would have been one big group offshore, he said.

Marine scientist Vanessa Pirotta said there were a number of potential reasons why whales might become beached, including navigational errors.

They do have a very strong social system, these animals are closely bonded and thats why we have seen so many in this case unfortunately in this situation, Pirotta said.

And rescuing them doesnt always work because they are wanting to return back to the pod, they might hear the acoustics for the vocalizations of the sounds that the others are making, or theyre just disoriented and in this case extremely stressed, and just probably so fatigued that they in some cases dont know where they are, she added.

In neighboring New Zealand, more than 600 pilot whales washed up on the South Island at Farewell Spit in 2017, with more than 350 dying.
Alexei Navalny posted the first picture of himself after leaving hospital on his Instagram account on Wednesday - Navalny social media via Reuters

Opposition leader Alexei Navalny is "free to return" to Russia after he was discharged from a German hospital following weeks in a coma, the Kremlin said on Wednesday.

After being taken to intensive care for a nerve agent poisoning in August, Mr Navalny has now recovered enough to be released from inpatient care, the Charite hospital in Berlin said in a statement on Wednesday.

German doctors also mentioned for the first time that they now believe that complete recovery is possible for the Russian opposition leader while adding that it was too early to talk about potential long-term damage to his health from the poisoning.

Asked about the opposition leader's potential return, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian news agencies on Wednesday that there were no obstacles for Mr Navalny to go back to Russia.

"In terms of his return to Moscow, he is free to do it at any moment like any other Russian citizen," Mr Peskov said.

Mr Navalny earlier on Wednesday posted the first photograph of himself out of the hospital on his Instagram account.

Pictured on a bench in the woods, a visibly frail Mr Navalny said that the first thing he asked his family to do after leaving hospital was to take me somewhere with trees.

That day has come - hurrah! - and doctors at the hospital have decided after 32 days that my recovery now requires a normal life instead of inpatient care, the Russian politician wrote.

Alexei Navalny revealed last weekend that he was finally learning to walk again - Navalny Instagram via AP

His spokesman Kira Yarmysh told the Telegraph that Mr Navalny is staying in Germany for the time being for rehabilitation before his planned return to Russia.

The 44-year old opposition leader fell suddenly ill on a plane from Siberia to Moscow in late August and spent two days in a Siberian hospital before the medication evacuation to Germany.

Several European laboratories have independently confirmed that Mr Navalny was poisoned with the Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok, which was used in the 2018 attack on former Soviet spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter.

Story continues

Mr Navalny in his Instagram post on Wednesday described his immediate plans as walk, spend time with my family, do physiotherapy every day, possibly a rehabilitation centre.

Opposition activists have staged a protest in Alexei Navalny's support outside the Russian embassy in Berlin - Clemens Bilan/EPA-EFE

The Russian politician, who started walking again only a few days ago, has yet to work on his balance, movement and muscle memory and regain control of my fingers. He thanked the German doctors for their incredible work.

Mr Navalny, who originally came to prominence as an anti-corruption activist, spearheaded massive anti-Kremlin protests in 2011 and has since built an impressive network of allies and supporters across Russia.

After winning more than a quarter of votes in the 2013 Moscow mayoral elections, he mounted a presidential campaign ahead of the 2018 elections only to be barred from running because of two suspended sentences against him.

His campaign has galvanised opposition supporters across the country in the most tangible threat to President Putins rule.

Most recently, candidates endorsed by Mr Navalnys movement won a sizable number of seats in several regional parliaments, shattering the years-long dominance of the ruling pro-Kremlin party.

Russian government officials have gone back and forth, either denying that he ever was poisoned or insisting that it was only after he was evacuated to Germany that the traces of poison was found in his body.

The French newspaper Le Monde in a rare leak published on Tuesday cited unnamed sources saying that Mr Putin told French President Emmanuel Macron in a recent phone call that Mr Navalny may have poisoned himself.

The opposition leader responded by a pity Instagram post: I cooked up Novichok in the kitchen, took a sip from the bottle on the plane and fell into a coma, he said.

Putin is hard to fool. In the end, I spent 18 days in a coma like an idiot but never achieved my goal.

Mr Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, confirmed on Wednesday that the two leaders discussed Mr Navalny but insisted that the French newspaper was imprecise in its wording of the remarks made by the Russian leader.

Although Russia never launched a criminal investigation into the poisoning, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Tuesday accused Mr Navalnys associates of tampering with evidence by removing items from his hotel room shortly after he got sick.

Mr Navalnys team revealed last week that traces of Novichok were found on the water bottles they had taken from his room and sent to Germany for tests.
Shimla, Sep 23 : A 54-year-old woman Covid-19 patient allegedly committed suicide in the state-run hospital in the Himachal Pradesh capital on Wednesday, the police said.

She had tested positive on September 18 and was undergoing treatment in the Dayal Upadhyay Hospital. She belonged to Chopal in Shimla district.

Deputy Commissioner Amit Kashyap said the woman committed suicide by hanging herself in the balcony outside the Covid ward.

"A magisterial probe has been ordered into the circumstances that led her to commit suicide in the hospital," he told the media.
Read the introduction to this essay by Education Week staff writer Corey Mitchell, Are Strained Police Relations With Black Teens a Solvable Problem? 

Policing in America has roots in the slave patrols designed to end resistance or uprisings within the slave community. I acknowledge this history so you can understand the inherent fear Black people already have toward the police. We can recognize the connection between Nat Turner and George Floyd, who were killed 189 years apart, both by a racist system.

This summer, I participated in Word Is Bond s Rising Leaders program, which empowers young Black men through leadership development, critical dialogue with police, and education. That experience has only strengthened my stance on the need for police abolition. None of the officers I interacted with, some of whom even policed my own neighborhood, had grown up or lived in north Portland, Ore. So how could they fully understand the people who live here? And they arent contributing members of the community here, because they spend their paychecks elsewhere.

I wish things could be different. I wish I could wake up and not hear about another police shooting of a Black person. I wish my Black brothers and sisters wouldnt live in fear of being stopped or approached by police, not knowing whether they would see their family again. I wish there wouldnt be another Tamir Rice or Breonna Taylor. That doesnt stop until we abolish the police as we know it.

I am a Zambian-born Congolese immigrant who came to the United States at a young age. My beginning struggle here in the States was of assimilating to white American culture and being proud of my Black, African history. While this pride took me a while, I still didnt fully understand another journey I would embark on: fighting for all Black lives of the African diaspora.

I was 8 years old when Trayvon Martin was killed. My parents, new to the American experience, began to teach themselves about police and vigilante violence toward Black people. And thats when we had the talk.

For me, that talk was a series of spontaneous comments when I would leave the house or plan to do something. Maybe you shouldnt wear all black. Come home before the lights get on. Dont run in the dark. Put these on to look better. This talk that Black parents have with their kids regarding law enforcement is a battle that the Black community will never win. Regardless if we try to look as tranquilizing as possible, our melanin is considered just cause for us to be feared.

In addition to participating in Rising Leaders this summer, I began organizing protests alongside my twin brother, Asukulu. It has been an eye-opening experience for me. I learned even more about the racist history of Oregon, the failures in the education system that make Black students feel uncomfortable in our skin, and my citys underfunding of the communities that need it and overfunding of the police.

I understand now, more than ever, the need to abolish the police. For many Black and brown communities, the police have never been a source of protection or safety. We need to reimagine what that looks like in 2020. Maybe that is community members coming together forming defense teams in which communities look after their own. Abolishing the police for me means having communities decide how they will protect themselves.

Those decisions must extend to young people and to the school resource officers who overpolice Black and brown students today. We can only create safe spaces for students to learn with the full removal of SROs in schools and greater investments in counselors and therapists.

The Black community has been overpoliced, beaten, and killed by those called to protect and serve. I am happy that the world has now woken up to the violence that Black people are facing, but this has been the struggle we have been facing for centuries. Your ignorance and silence has come at the cost of our lives. Now you, the reader, must be willing and ready to listen and act on the vision of Black youths, and especially the Black young women who are often silenced. Generation Zmy generationis the future, and we are taking a firm stance against racism of any shape, kind, or form.

One of the ways in which I cope is through spoken-word poetry. Being a poet has been difficult since George Floyd and Breonna Taylor were killed, yet the raw feelings and emotions Ive been able to capture when I write have been special. This poem Im introducing is called The SyStEm"; it was created because of the systematic racism that continues to hold Black people down. I reference George Floyd because this is when the world awakened to what we Black people have been going through for the last 400 years.

The SyStEm

My heart dropped.

8 minutes 46 seconds seemed like hours

have you ever wondered what it feels like to be still?

nothing moving but tears trickling down your face which even your hands cant truly erase

theyre engrained

cycles of trauma keep us fiending I wish they knew the way we were screaming

heart pounding

skin bleeding

heart rate speeding

my will to live receding

And they tell me to breathe

these tears trickle down my face and my hands cant even erase

theyre engrained

Its the system.

Maybe just act like you missed em
Just because a business does not make any money, does not mean that the stock will go down. For example, biotech and mining exploration companies often lose money for years before finding success with a new treatment or mineral discovery. Nonetheless, only a fool would ignore the risk that a loss making company burns through its cash too quickly.

So should Strike Energy (ASX:STX) shareholders be worried about its cash burn? In this article, we define cash burn as its annual (negative) free cash flow, which is the amount of money a company spends each year to fund its growth. We'll start by comparing its cash burn with its cash reserves in order to calculate its cash runway.

Check out our latest analysis for Strike Energy

Does Strike Energy Have A Long Cash Runway?

A company's cash runway is the amount of time it would take to burn through its cash reserves at its current cash burn rate. When Strike Energy last reported its balance sheet in June 2020, it had zero debt and cash worth AU$22m. Importantly, its cash burn was AU$20m over the trailing twelve months. That means it had a cash runway of around 13 months as of June 2020. While that cash runway isn't too concerning, sensible holders would be peering into the distance, and considering what happens if the company runs out of cash. The image below shows how its cash balance has been changing over the last few years.

How Is Strike Energy's Cash Burn Changing Over Time?

Strike Energy didn't record any revenue over the last year, indicating that it's an early stage company still developing its business. So while we can't look to sales to understand growth, we can look at how the cash burn is changing to understand how expenditure is trending over time. Over the last year its cash burn actually increased by 11%, which suggests that management are increasing investment in future growth, but not too quickly. However, the company's true cash runway will therefore be shorter than suggested above, if spending continues to increase. While the past is always worth studying, it is the future that matters most of all. So you might want to take a peek at how much the company is expected to grow in the next few years.

Story continues

How Hard Would It Be For Strike Energy To Raise More Cash For Growth?

While Strike Energy does have a solid cash runway, its cash burn trajectory may have some shareholders thinking ahead to when the company may need to raise more cash. Issuing new shares, or taking on debt, are the most common ways for a listed company to raise more money for its business. Commonly, a business will sell new shares in itself to raise cash and drive growth. By looking at a company's cash burn relative to its market capitalisation, we gain insight on how much shareholders would be diluted if the company needed to raise enough cash to cover another year's cash burn.

Strike Energy has a market capitalisation of AU$456m and burnt through AU$20m last year, which is 4.3% of the company's market value. Given that is a rather small percentage, it would probably be really easy for the company to fund another year's growth by issuing some new shares to investors, or even by taking out a loan.

So, Should We Worry About Strike Energy's Cash Burn?

On this analysis of Strike Energy's cash burn, we think its cash burn relative to its market cap was reassuring, while its increasing cash burn has us a bit worried. Cash burning companies are always on the riskier side of things, but after considering all of the factors discussed in this short piece, we're not too worried about its rate of cash burn. Taking an in-depth view of risks, we've identified 2 warning signs for Strike Energy that you should be aware of before investing.

Of course Strike Energy may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of companies boasting high return on equity, or this list of stocks that insiders are buying.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.



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On September 23, 1972, forty-eight years ago today, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos issued Proclamation 1081, imposing martial law on the country. Using its dictatorial powers, Marcos oversaw a brutal crackdown on the working masses of the Philippines. He used his military dictatorship to remain in power until 1986, when a mass movement ousted him and a section of the military and Washington withdrew their support for his rule.

Martial law was not a surprise. Although the date of its imposition was unexpected, everyone in Philippine politics had been openly discussing its likelihood since the beginning of 1970. Protests denouncing the threat of martial law had repeatedly shaken Manila over the previous two years. The ruling elite discussed it in the legislature, and major daily papers published statements advocating or denouncing it.

The framework for military dictatorship in the Philippines had been erected by the United States, which enshrined the presidential power of martial law in the Constitution of its former colony, prior to granting independence. A number of prior presidents had threatened to impose military ruleending elections, closing the legislature, and suspending the writ of habeas corpus. None, however, had succeeded.

Marcos discussing the declaration.

What distinguished Marcos imposition of military rule from the attempts of his predecessors was the global crisis of capitalism in the late 1960s and early 1970s, that produced conditions of mass upheaval and revolutionary situations internationally. The demonstrations and strikes in the Philippines paralleled similar events throughout the world.

The response of the ruling elite was to turn to dictatorial forms of rule. Marcos proclamation was part of a rising tide of global authoritarianism. The elite opponents of Marcos fought to secure the reins of the coming dictatorship for themselves; they did not fight to defend democracy. There was unanimity in the entire ruling class that dictatorship was necessary to prevent the emergence of a revolutionary struggle for power by the Filipino working class and oppressed masses.

Marcos had the military stage bombings throughout Manila in 1971-72, to provide a pretext for his declaration. At the beginning of 1972, he met with Indonesian dictator Suharto, who had risen to power in the genocidal crushing of the mass Indonesian Communist Party in 1965-66, to discuss the tactics of establishing military rule.

Marcos began convening regular meetings of a cabal of ten military leaders and two civilians to arrange the details of martial law. This council became known as the Rolex Twelve, because Marcos gave each of them a Rolex watch after he had established his dictatorship.

On September 22, Marcos Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile staged an attack on his own motorcade. We know that the attack was staged because Enrile himself confessed to it in an interview with the New York Times in 1986. Seizing on this final pretext, Marcos signed Proclamation 1081 and imposed martial law on the morning of September 23. Because of a superstitious predilection for multiples of the number seven, he backdated the declaration to September 21, thus rendering the official date for the declaration of martial law a historical falsehood.

The declaration signature.

Marcos shut down all of the press, television and radio networks. He suspended the writ of habeas corpus and used the powers of martial law to carry out mass arrests. His bourgeois opponents were released within weeks and either went into exile abroad, or embraced the dictatorship. Only two members of the elite opposition remained in prison: Jose Diokno and Ninoy Aquino.

The elite opposition to Marcos had centered around Ninoy Aquino, who had sought to use the mass unrest of the time to remove Marcos from office and install himself in power. Aquino met with several CIA operatives of the US embassy in the weeks leading up to Marcos declaration, and told them that he was thinking of attempting to seize power, with the assistance of the Stalinist Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). But he assured them that if he succeeded he intended to impose martial law and stage public executions by firing squad. There was no section of the elite opposition that defended democracy.

The brutal weight of military rule was brought to bear upon the working masses of the Philippines. Marcos banned strikes and arrested, without charge, anyone suspected of being a dissident. The military began carrying out the torture and murder of working and impoverished Filipinos on an industrial scale.

Between 1972 and 1977, sixty thousand Filipinos were arrested for political reasons. A new word entered the Filipino vocabulary, salvage. The brutal verb described how the military would disappear individuals, torture and murder them, and then toss their corpses into vacant lots or drop them by the side of the road. Thousands were salvaged under Marcos reign of terror.

The police beat protestors huddled in a jeepney for safety, January 26 1970.

The criminals responsible for these acts have suffered no consequences. Enrile, who oversaw the apparatus of torture and murder, was made Defense Minister by Cory Aquino, when she replaced Marcos in 1986. He went on to become senate president. While Ferdinand Marcos died in exile, the elite has rehabilitated his family. His widow Imelda still goes on shopping sprees and her children occupy positions of political power. President Rodrigo Duterte, on taking office, arranged for Ferdinand Marcos to receive a state burial in the Libingan ng mga Bayani, the national cemetery of heroes.

A central role in facilitating the imposition of martial law was played by two rival Stalinist Communist parties, the Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas (PKP) and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). Dr. Joseph Scalice, in his UC Berkeley PhD dissertation, Crisis of Revolutionary Leadership: Martial Law and the Communist Parties of the Philippines, 1957-1974, has demonstrated, in copious detail, how these parties subordinated the mass movement to rival factions of the elite who were vying for dictatorship.

The two parties shared the political program of Stalinism. They both insisted that the tasks of the revolution were not yet socialist but were national and democratic in character. On these grounds they argued that there was a progressive section of the capitalist class and the task of workers and peasants was to ally with this progressive section of the national bourgeoisie.

The parties were split, however, along the lines of the Sino-Soviet dispute and were oriented to rival factions of the elite. The older party, the PKP, followed the line of Moscow, and established ties with Marcos, supporting his imposition of martial law. In 1965, prior to the split in the PKP, the party had endorsed Marcos for president. A key role in his endorsement was played by Jose Maria Sison, who would later found the CPP. Sison instructed workers, youths, and peasants to support Marcos in the election, on the grounds that Marcos would keep the Philippines out of Americas war in Vietnam. One week after the election, Marcos told the Washington Post that he planned to send troops.

On the basis of the partys support, leading members and fellow travellers of the PKP were given salaried positions in the Marcos administration. One of their fellow travellers ghost-wrote Todays Revolution: Democracy, which served as Marcos ideological justification for military rule. Other sections of the party secretly assisted the military in conducting its bombings throughout Manila.

When martial law was imposed, the party moved within days to support the dictatorship. A section of the partys youth opposed this and broke away from the PKP. The PKP systematically murdered these oppositionists, labelling them Trotskyites, in order to consolidate its support for the dictatorship.

The PKP shot around seventy of its own members in early 1973, then staged a congress, which endorsed martial law on the grounds that it was assisting the rapid achievement of national industrialization. All members of the party were obligated to declare agreement with this statement in order to maintain their membership. The party officially endorsed the president at a public press conference in 1974, and its leading members took up positions in the ministries of labor and foreign affairs. Others were given commissions in military intelligence to assist with the suppression of the CPP.

The police arrive to disperse protestors, 1970.

The CPP, founded at the end of 1968, followed the political line of Beijing, which used the armed struggle in the countryside and the rhetoric of cultural revolution to channel mass unrest behind the conspiring sections of the elite. Aquino assisted in the founding of the CPP, arranging for Sison to meet with a group of peasant guerrillas who were operating on Aquinos sugar plantation. The meeting arranged by Aquino led to the founding of the CPPs New Peoples Army in 1969.

The CPP, through a vast network of front organizations, most prominently the Kabataang Makabayan (KM, Nationalist Youth), channeled the unrest of the early 1970s behind Aquino and the Liberal Party. They campaigned for the Liberal Party slate in the 1971 election. The entire mass movement of the time, driven into the streets by the skyrocketing cost of living and the threat of martial law, was diverted behind these rival aspirants for dictatorship.

When Marcos imposed martial law, the elite opposition acquiesced, and the movement, which had been subordinated to their leadership, died. The CPPs Stalinist opposition to the independence of the working class and the program of socialism was the decisive historical factor in Marcos successful imposition of military rule.

Joma Sison and the leadership of the Kabataang Makabayan (March 1968). In less than a year they would found the CPP. Sison is in front and center.

Dr. Scalices recent lecture, First as Tragedy, Second as Farce: Marcos, Duterte and the Communist Parties of the Philippines, exposed this history of the CPP and demonstrated that there was a programmatic continuity between their facilitation of dictatorship in the early 1970s, and their enthusiastic support for Duterte in 2016, as a left president of socialist orientation.

Sison and the CPP have attacked Dr. Scalice with lies and slanders, calling him a paid agent of the CIA. On the anniversary of martial law, the party is trotting out the same potted histories of the 1960s and 70s they have delivered for years, in which they claim to have been the revolutionary opposition to dictatorship. They have not responded to a single substantive point raised in Dr. Scalices historical lecture. They cannot. Every damning word of it is true.

Rodrigo Duterte, a fascistic thug at the helm of the state, is consciously drawing on the playbook of Ferdinand Marcos. His moves toward the imposition of dictatorship are far advanced. The CPP supported him as he took office. As they did in the 1970s, they are now attempting to channel mass unrest behind the elite opposition. Sison is appealing to patriotic and pro-US sections of the military brass to withdraw support from Duterte and support the installation of his political rival Vice President Leni Robredo, a leading member of the opposition Liberal Party.

The lessons of Marcos imposition of dictatorship, forty-eight years ago, are clear and they are a warning to the international working class. The only way forward in the fight against the rising tide of global authoritarianism is the political independence of the working class from every section of the capitalist class and their headlong rush to dictatorship. Such independence can only be achieved if workers adopt a program based on their own class interests, which is the fight for international socialist revolution. This is the program of the world Trotskyist movement, the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI), which has fought against every Stalinist betrayal of the working class.
The social media monopoly Facebook is preparing to take exceptional measures including aggressive action to restrict the circulation of content on its network if the 2020 US elections on November 3 result in chaos or violence.

In an interview with Facebook Vice President of Global Affairs and Communications Nick Clegg, the Financial Times reported that the social media corporation had drawn up plans for handling a range of outcomes including widespread civic unrest or other unprecedented political dilemmas during the counting of in-person and mail-in ballots.

Clegg told FT, There are some break-glass options available to us if there really is an extremely chaotic and, worse still, violent set of circumstances. Although he did not reveal any details about Facebooks planned responses, Clegg referenced the actions taken by the worlds number one social media platform previously in countries where social unrest erupted.

Nick Clegg (Credit: Wikimedia Commons/Moritz Hager)

Clegg said, 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 [again], adding that the company had taken pretty exceptional measures to significantly restrict the circulation of content on our platform. FT said Clegg was referring to the actions taken by Facebook to reduce the content reach of malicious actors and repeated rule breakers during recent periods of unrest in Sri Lanka and Myanmar.

The Right Honorable Sir Nick Clegg is a leading political figure in the UK. He was the Deputy Prime Minister under Prime Minister David Cameron (2010-2015) and leader of the Liberal Democrats from 2007-2015. He was hired by Facebook in October 2018 as a lobbyist and chief international public relations officer.

While the FT report emphasized concerns about how President Trump would use social media to interfere in the process of the elections or contest the results or call for violent protest, potentially triggering a constitutional crisis, the real fear for Facebook and Clegg is that there will be a mass response to the election crisis that will move outside of the US two-party political establishment.

Significantly, FT says, Facebook has been exploring how to handle about 70 different potential scenarios, according to a person familiar with the situation, with staff including world-class military scenario planners. In other words, Facebook is collaborating with military-intelligence and bracing for the eruption of mass social unrest in the US during the 2020 elections.

Clegg also said that any extraordinary measures taken by Facebook will fall to a team of top executives including himself and chief operating officer Sheryl Sandbergwith chief executive Mark Zuckerberg holding the right to overrule positions. He said, Weve slightly reorganized things such that we have a fairly tight arrangement by which decisions are taken at different levels [depending on] the gravity of the controversy attached.

If true, the description by Clegg makes clear that decisions to utilize the unprecedented power of Facebook political censorship are in the hands of a relatively small number of corporate executives. Clegg added that Facebook was committing a significant amount of resources at its Election Operations Center and voter information hub.

Facebook has launched an infrastructure within their platform that they have characterized as the largest voting information campaign in American history. At the top of the priority list of this information campaign is election security and fighting interference which includes teams of more than 35,000 people.

Facebook says it is increasing its coordination with law enforcement agencies like the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security, and with state officials, civil society groups, and other technology companies. In explaining how they will prevent election interference, Facebook states that its security teams will identify suspicious activity and take down coordinated networks of inauthentic accounts, Pages and Groups that seek to manipulate public debate.

It should be pointed out that Facebooks election information infrastructure has been built in collaboration with the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC). BPC is a Washington, D.C. think tank founded in 2007 by former leading US political figures Howard Baker and Bob Dole (Republicans) and Tom Daschle and George Mitchell (Democrats) to preserve and defend the US two-party system amid growing conflict within the political establishment.

Meanwhile, the FBI is spreading its own misinformation in advance of the elections. In a Public Service Announcement on Tuesday, the FBI said that foreign actors and cybercriminals could create new websites, change existing websites, and create or share corresponding social media content to spread false information in an attempt to discredit the electoral process and undermine confidence in US democratic institutions.

The latest news about Facebooks censorship plans for the US elections confirms the warnings issued previously by the World Socialist Web Site about the meaning of the ongoing collaboration of the tech giants with the intelligence state during both the pandemic and on election security. The secret meetings being held with White House officials and federal police and intelligence agencies were preparing the censorship regime that is now at least partially being made public.

Going back to 2016, there has been a steady stream of unproven allegations of foreign interference by the Russians, the Iranians and the Chinese in the US elections. In reality, the threat to US democratic institutions comes from the Trump administration and the refusal of the Democrats to do anything about it. Additionally, the confidence of the public in these institutions is being undermined each day by the grotesque social inequality between the super-rich who control the Democrats and Republicans and the millions of working people facing a dismal reality under the capitalist system.

The degree of emergency censorship planning by Facebookin concert with police agencies and the surveillance stateis a measure of the awareness within ruling circles of the potential for an eruption of mass struggles by the working class and youth in the US after what will be on election day nearly nine months of economic and social crisis triggered by the coronavirus pandemic.

The ruling establishment is well aware that social media platforms such as Facebook are being utilized to organize the mass protests across the country against police violence as well as the growing opposition within the working class to returning to work and school under the unsafe health conditions of the pandemic. Above all, the censorship efforts are aimed at preventing the socialist political analysis and program of the World Socialist Web Site from reaching the working class under conditions of mass protests and a constitutional crisis in November.

While the open threats by Donald Trump to discredit or outright reject the results of the election and refuse to leave office should be taken seriously, workers and young people cannot place an ounce of confidence in the campaign of Biden-Harris or the Democratic Party to defend the constitution or uphold democratic forms of rule in the US. The working class must intervene independently of both parties of the corporate and financial elite, take matters into its own hands and fight for the program of revolutionary socialism represented only by the SEP in the 2020 elections with its candidates Joseph Kishore for US President and Norissa Santa Cruz for US Vice President.
A stunning castle-like home has hit the market boasting incredible medieval features which take you back in time.

The castle, known as Touchwood, was built by history-obsessed Englishman in Repton, a small town in northern New South Wales.

The builder was a skilled stonemason and the unique property was handcrafted from stone, brick and local timbers over three years.

Known as Touchwood, the castle is situated at 90 Tuckers Rock Road, Repton, a small town in New South Wales

The home's kitchen and living room area are open plan with a handmade fireplace perfect for cooler days and nights

Sitting on a 6,000sqm block, the one-of-a-kind home contains three bedrooms in the main building, some connected by gangways.

A beautiful kitchen and living room designed in an open plan with a fireplace ready to be lit during the cooler days and nights.

There are also two bathrooms and two car spaces.

Inside, the designer ensured Touchwood resembled homes back from the medieval times.

With spiral staircases, glass stained windows and even suits of armour propped up inside the home giving it that castle feel.

The current laundry was also previously used as a forge for sword making.

Outside there is a huge verandah which boasts stunning views of the surrounding forest and ocean.

Sitting on a massive 6000sqm, the one-of-a-kind home contains three bedrooms in the main building making it simply perfect for a couple ready to start a family

The property has gained a lot of attention since it hit the market and is selling for $985,000

The backyard is private and big enough to plant flowers or fruits and vegetables, or a swimming pool.

Separate to the main structure is a two-storey turret which can be used as a bedroom, home office, studio or Airbnb.

Selling agent Peter Stone said the property has gained a lot of attention since it hit the market.

'It gets a lot of intrigue but it will suit a very selective buyer,' Mr Stone told realestate.com.au.

'Buyers at inspections have liked that it is really unusual  it is also has a great veranda, ocean glimpses and an excellent fireplace. It gets very warm in winter.'

The home is on sale for $985,000.
STAMFORD  The state Division of Public Defender Services is sending a team of newly minted attorneys and law school graduates to the Stamford courthouse on Wednesday to sign up new clients, whose court appearances have been delayed by the pandemic.

Attorney Douglas Ovian, Supervisory Assistant Public Defender for the Public Defender Community Outreach Program, said the team will be in front of the Stamford courthouse from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Ovian said the appearance is one of 13 such visits the team is making to each one of the states Judicial District courthouses by the end of the month.

While any defendants from around the state are welcome to sign up for representation, the Stamford courthouse now has sole responsibility for criminal cases originating in Greenwich, Stamford, Darien, New Canaan, Norwalk, Westport, Wilton and Easton.

Ovian said the open air sign-ups at the courthouses was the idea of Chief Public Defender Christine Rapillo and Deputy Chief Public Defender John Day, as a way for defendants, who have not yet been given easy access to a public defender, to make an application for representation.

Many defendants in custody, those facing serious charges or those unable to make bond, have already had public defenders assigned to them at their arraignments, providing they qualified for those services, Ovian said.

But over the past six months, as courthouses were closed, many defendants were given arraignment dates well into the future. Those are now beginning to come due, so the sign-up effort is being made to give those defendants an opportunity  in an open air setting  to avail themselves of a public defender, Ovian said.

The courthouses lead public defender, Barry Butler, said he was appreciative of the help.

Because so many of the people who were arrested had their cases continued due to the pandemic, many have still not been arraigned. And this is an effort to lessen the burden on the criminal court personnel when everyone shows up for their next court date, Butler said. The chiefs office in Hartford is being creative and came up with solutions to assist these indigent individuals.

Those without dependents must make less than $24,280 to qualify for public defender services. With three dependents, a defendant must make less than $50,200, according to state guidelines.

Ovian said there will be at least one more opportunity in October to sign up for a public defender at the Stamford courthouse. But defendants may go to other courthouses to put in their applications, he said.

After Wednesday the team will be at the Waterbury Courthouse on Thursday, Sept. 24, Rockville on Friday, Sept. 25, New Britian on Sept. 29 and Danielson on Sept. 30.

jnickerson@stamfordadvocate.com
China Sharply Expands Mass Labor Program in Tibet

BEIJINGChina is pushing growing numbers of Tibetan rural laborers 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 labor.

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 expansion of an initiative designed to provide loyal workers for Chinese industry.

A notice posted to the website of Tibets regional government website last month said over half a million people were trained as part of the project in the first seven months of 2020around 15 percent of the regions population. Of this total, almost 50,000 have been transferred into jobs within Tibet, and several thousand have been sent to other parts of China. Many end up in low paid work, including textile manufacturing, construction and agriculture.

This is now, in my opinion, the strongest, most clear and targeted attack on traditional Tibetan livelihoods that we have seen almost since the Cultural Revolution of 1966 to 1976, said Adrian Zenz, an independent Tibet and Xinjiang researcher, who compiled the core findings about the program. These are detailed in a report released this week by the Jamestown Foundation, a Washington, D.C.-based institute that focuses on policy issues of strategic importance to the U.S. Its a coercive lifestyle change from nomadism and farming to wage labor.

Reuters corroborated Zenzs findings and found additional policy documents, company reports, procurement filings and state media reports that describe the program.

In a statement to Reuters, Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly denied the involvement of forced labor, and said China is a country with rule of law and that workers are voluntary and properly compensated.

What these people with ulterior motives are calling forced labor simply does not exist. We hope the international community will distinguish right from wrong, respect facts, and not be fooled by lies, it said.

Moving surplus rural labor into industry is a key part of Chinas drive to boost the economy and reduce poverty. But in areas like Xinjiang and Tibet, with large ethnic populations and a history of unrest, rights groups say the programs include an outsized emphasis on ideological training. And the government quotas and military-style management, they say, suggest the transfers have coercive elements.

China seized control of Tibet after Chinese troops entered the region in 1950, in what Beijing calls a peaceful liberation. Tibet has since become one of the most restricted and sensitive areas in the country.

The Tibetan program is expanding as international pressure is growing over similar projects in Xinjiang, some of which have been linked to mass detention centers. A United Nations report has estimated that around one million people in Xinjiang, mostly ethnic Uighurs, were detained in camps and subjected to ideological education. China initially denied the existence of the camps, but has since said they are vocational and education centers, and that all the people have graduated.

Reuters was unable to ascertain the conditions of the transferred Tibetan workers. Foreign journalists are not permitted to enter the region, and other foreign citizens are only permitted on government-approved tours.

In recent years, Xinjiang and Tibet have been the target of harsh policies in pursuit of what Chinese authorities call stability maintenance. These policies are broadly aimed at quelling dissent, unrest or separatism and include restricting the travel of ethnic citizens to other parts of China and abroad, and tightening control over religious activities.

In August, President Xi Jinping said China will again step up efforts against separatism in Tibet, where ethnic Tibetans make up around 90 percent of the population, according to census data. Critics, spearheaded by Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, accuse the Chinese authorities of carrying out cultural genocide in the region. The 85-year-old Nobel Laureate has been based in Dharamsala, India, since he fled China in 1959 following a failed uprising against Chinese authorities.

Eliminate Lazy People

While there has been some evidence of military-style training and labor transfers in Tibet in the past, this new, enlarged program represents the first on a mass scale and the first to openly set quotas for transfers outside the region.

A key element, described in multiple regional policy documents, involves sending officials into villages and townships to gather data on rural laborers and conduct education activities, aimed at building loyalty.

State media described one such operation in villages near the Tibetan capital, Lhasa. Officials carried out over a thousand anti-separatism education sessions, according to the state media report, allowing the people of all ethnic groups to feel the care and concern of the Party Central Committee, referring to Chinas ruling Communist Party.

The report said the sessions included songs, dances and sketches in easy to understand language. Such education work took place prior to the rollout of the wider transfers this year.

The model is similar to Xinjiang, and researchers say a key link between the two is the former Tibet Communist Party Secretary Chen Quanguo, who took over the same post in Xinjiang in 2016 and spearheaded the development of Xinjiangs camp system. The Xinjiang local government, where Chen remains Party boss, did not respond to a request for comment.

In Tibet, he was doing a slightly lower level, under the radar, version of what was implemented in Xinjiang, said Allen Carlson, Associate Professor in Cornell Universitys Government Department.

Around 70 percent of Tibets population is classified as rural, according to 2018 figures from Chinas National Bureau of Statistics. This includes a large proportion of subsistence farmers, posing a challenge for Chinas poverty alleviation program, which measures its success on levels of basic income. China has pledged to eradicate rural poverty in the country by the end of 2020.

In order to cope with the increasing downward economic pressure on the employment income of rural workers, we will now increase the intensity of precision skills training  and carry out organized and large-scale transfer of employment across provinces, regions and cities, said a working plan released by Tibets Human Resources and Social Security Department in July. The plan included 2020 quotas for the program in different areas.

Some of the policy documents and state media reports reviewed by Reuters make reference to unspecified punishments for officials who fail to meet their quotas. One prefecture-level implementation plan called for strict reward and punishment measures for officials.

As in Xinjiang, private intermediaries, such as agents and companies, that organize transfers can receive subsidies set at 500 yuan ($74) for each laborer moved out of the region and 300 yuan ($44) for those placed within Tibet, according to regional and prefecture level notices.

Officials have previously said that labor transfer programs in other parts of China are voluntary, and many of the Tibetan government documents also mention mechanisms to ensure laborers rights, but they dont provide details. Advocates, rights groups and researchers say its unlikely laborers are able to decline work placements, though they acknowledge that some may be voluntary.

These recent announcements dramatically and dangerously expand these programs, including thought training with the governments coordination, and represent a dangerous escalation, said Matteo Mecacci, president of U.S. based advocacy group, the International Campaign for Tibet.

The government documents reviewed by Reuters put a strong emphasis on ideological education to correct the thinking concepts of laborers. There is the assertion that minorities are low in discipline, that their minds must be changed, that they must be convinced to participate, said Zenz, the Tibet-Xinjiang researcher based in Minnesota.

One policy document, posted on the website of the Nagqu City government in Tibets east in December 2018, reveals early goals for the plan and sheds light on the approach. It describes how officials visited villages to collect data on 57,800 laborers. Their aim was to tackle cant do, dont want to do and dont dare to do attitudes toward work, the document says. It calls for unspecified measures to effectively eliminate lazy people.'

A report released in January by the Tibetan arm of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference, a high-profile advisory body to the government, describes internal discussions on strategies to tackle the mental poverty of rural laborers, including sending teams of officials into villages to carry out education and guide the masses to create a happy life with their hardworking hands.

Military Drills and Uniforms

Rural workers who are moved into vocational training centers receive ideological educationwhat China calls military-style training  according to multiple Tibetan regional and district-level policy documents describing the program in late 2019 and 2020. The training emphasises strict discipline, and participants are required to perform military drills and dress in uniforms.

It is not clear what proportion of participants in the labor transfer program undergo such military-style training. But policy documents from Ngari, Xigatze and Shannan, three districts which account for around a third of Tibets population, call for the vigorous promotion of military-style training. Region-wide policy notices also make reference to this training method.

Small-scale versions of similar military-style training initiatives have existed in the region for over a decade, but construction of new facilities increased sharply in 2016, and recent policy documents call for more investment in such sites. A review of satellite imagery and documents relating to over a dozen facilities in different districts in Tibet shows that some are built near to or within existing vocational centers.

The policy documents describe a teaching program that combines skills education, legal education and gratitude education, designed to boost loyalty to the Party.

James Leibold, professor at Australias La Trobe University who specializes in Tibet and Xinjiang, says there are different levels of military-style training, with some less restrictive than others, but that there is a focus on conformity.

Tibetans are seen as lazy, backward, slow or dirty, and so what they want to do is to get them marching to the same beat  Thats a big part of this type of military-style education.

In eastern Tibets Chamdo district, where some of the earliest military-style training programs emerged, state media images from 2016 show laborers lining up in drill formation in military fatigues. In images published by state media in July this year, waitresses in military clothing are seen training at a vocational facility in the same district. Pictures posted online from the Chamdo Golden Sunshine Vocational Training School show rows of basic white shed-like accommodation with blue roofs. In one image, banners hanging on the wall behind a row of graduates say the labor transfer project is overseen by the local Human Resources and Social Security Department.

The vocational skills learned by trainees include textiles, construction, agriculture and ethnic handicrafts. One vocational center describes elements of training including Mandarin language, legal training and political education. A separate regional policy document says the goal is to gradually realize the transition from I must work to I want to work.'

Regional and prefecture-level policy documents place an emphasis on training batches of workers for specific companies or projects. Rights groups say this on-demand approach increases the likelihood that the programs are coercive.

Supply Chain

Workers transferred under the programs can be difficult to trace, particularly those sent to other parts of China. In similar mass transfers of Uighur people from Xinjiang, workers were discovered in the supply chains of 83 global brands, according to a report released by the The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI).

Researchers and rights groups say transfers from these regions pose a challenge because without access they cant assess whether the practice constitutes forced labor, and transferred workers often work alongside non-transferred counterparts.

Tibetan state media reports in July say that in 2020 some of the workers transferred outside of Tibet were sent to construction projects in Qinghai and Sichuan. Others transferred within Tibet were trained in textiles, security and agricultural production work.

Regional Tibetan government policy notices and prefecture implementation plans provide local government offices with quotas for 2020, including for Tibetan workers sent to other parts of China. Larger districts are expected to supply more workers to other areas of the country1,000 from the Tibetan capital Lhasa, 1,400 from Xigaze, and 800 from Shannan.

Reuters reviewed policy notices put out by Tibet and a dozen other provinces that have accepted Tibetan laborers. These documents reveal that workers are often moved in groups and stay in collective accommodation.

Local government documents inside Tibet and in three other provinces say workers remain in centralised accommodation after they are transferred, separated from other workers and under supervision. One state media document, describing a transfer within the region, referred to it as a point to point nanny service.

The Tibetan Human Resources and Social Security Department noted in July that people are grouped into teams of 10 to 30. They travel with team leaders and are managed by employment liaison services. The department said the groups are tightly managed, especially when moving outside Tibet, where the liaison officers are responsible for carrying out further education activities and reducing homesickness complexes. It said the government is responsible for caring for left-behind women, children and the elderly.

By Cate Cadell
The Conroy Martinez Group, a global public relations, marketing and social media firm is celebrating its 30th year in business as a Miami based PR firm, a unique testament to longevity in a transient world.

Awards and achievements, success for our clients and longevity, expertise and building relationships  these are the necessary qualities that have allowed The Conroy Martinez Group to mark their 30th year, Ms. Conroy said.

The agency has worked with such blue-chip clients as: Bacardi, Taubman, Coca Cola, NFL, Cirque du Soleil, Hilton, United Healthcare, the American Red Cross and many more. The Conroy Martinez Group (CMG) provides public relations, social media, marketing, and digital advertising to English and Spanish speaking regional, national and international audiences in the U.S. and Latin America.

In 1990, C.L. Conroy, President and CEO started Conroy Communications, Inc. Her first intern was Jorge Martinez who was a senior at the University of Miami. In 2001, the firm was renamed The Conroy Martinez Group to reflect their partnership.

One of the secrets of CMGs development was the focus of the principles working closely with the C-Suite to help them reach their business goals, Mr. Martinez said. The firms targeted industries include: Banking, Tourism, Health Care, Real Estate, Retail/Shopping Centers and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) campaigns. CMG has always prided itself on client retention. While the industry average for retaining a client is less than three years, CMGs average is 10 years, according to Ms. Conroy.

The firm has been a part of the Public Relations Global Network for almost 10 years. PRGN has 50 owner-run, and independent agencies around the world. These are located throughout the U.S., Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia.

We decided strategically to grow our company with more national and international clients. So, it was a natural fit to join PRGN 10 years ago, said Conroy. Our clients were asking for a more global reach and we wanted to provide it. So now our biggest clients are focused on Latin America and the U.S., both nationally and internationally.

Globally recognized, the agency has been on the list of top 25 PR agencies in South Florida and has won many international and national awards for its strategic and integrated PR and Marketing campaigns. The awards include: PR News, Bulldog Reporter, Public Relations Global Network awards, Agency of the Year award by the Latin Builders Association, and many more.


NASA's Mars 2020 Perseverance rover has a challenging road ahead: After having to make it through the harrowing entry, descent, and landing phase of the mission on Feb. 18, 2021, it will begin searching for traces of microscopic life from billions of years back.

That's why it's packing PIXL, a precision X-ray device powered by artificial intelligence (AI).



Short for Planetary Instrument for X-ray Lithochemistry, PIXL is a lunchbox-size instrument located on the end of Perseverance's 7-foot-long (2-meter-long) robotic arm. The rover's most important samples will be collected by a coring drill on the end of the arm, then stashed in metal tubes that Perseverance will deposit on the surface for return to Earth by a future mission.



Nearly every mission that has successfully landed on Mars, from the Viking landers to the Curiosity rover, has included an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer of some kind. One major way PIXL differs from its predecessors is in its ability to scan rock using a powerful, finely-focused X-ray beam to discover where - and in what quantity - chemicals are distributed across the surface.



"PIXL's X-ray beam is so narrow that it can pinpoint features as small as a grain of salt. That allows us to very accurately tie chemicals we detect to specific textures in a rock," said Abigail Allwood, PIXL's principal investigator at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California.



Rock textures will be an essential clue when deciding which samples are worth returning to Earth. On our planet, distinctively warped rocks called stromatolites were made from ancient layers of bacteria, and they are just one example of fossilized ancient life that scientists will be looking for.



An AI-Powered Night Owl



To help find the best targets, PIXL relies on more than a precision X-ray beam alone. It also needs a hexapod - a device featuring six mechanical legs connecting PIXL to the robotic arm and guided by artificial intelligence to get the most accurate aim. After the rover's arm is placed close to an interesting rock, PIXL uses a camera and laser to calculate its distance. Then those legs make tiny movements - on the order of just 100 microns, or about twice the width of a human hair - so the device can scan the target, mapping the chemicals found within a postage stamp-size area.



"The hexapod figures out on its own how to point and extend its legs even closer to a rock target," Allwood said. "It's kind of like a little robot who has made itself at home on the end of the rover's arm."



Then PIXL measures X-rays in 10-second bursts from a single point on a rock before the instrument tilts 100 microns and takes another measurement. To produce one of those postage stamp-size chemical maps, it may need to do this thousands of times over the course of as many as eight or nine hours.



That timeframe is partly what makes PIXL's microscopic adjustments so critical: The temperature on Mars changes by more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) over the course of a day, causing the metal on Perseverance's robotic arm to expand and contract by as much as a half-inch (13 millimeters). To minimize the thermal contractions PIXL has to contend with, the instrument will conduct its science after the Sun sets.



"PIXL is a night owl," Allwood said. "The temperature is more stable at night, and that also lets us work at a time when there's less activity on the rover."



X-rays for Art and Science



Long before X-ray fluorescence got to Mars, it was used by geologists and metallurgists to identify materials. It eventually became a standard museum technique for discovering the origins of paintings or detecting counterfeits.



"If you know that an artist typically used a certain titanium white with a unique chemical signature of heavy metals, this evidence might help authenticate a painting," said Chris Heirwegh, an X-ray fluorescence expert on the PIXL team at JPL. "Or you can determine if a particular kind of paint originated in Italy rather than France, linking it to a specific artistic group from the time period."



For astrobiologists, X-ray fluorescence is a way to read stories left by the ancient past. Allwood used it to determine that stromatolite rocks found in her native country of Australia are some of the oldest microbial fossils on Earth, dating back 3.5 billion years. Mapping out the chemistry in rock textures with PIXL will offer scientists clues to interpret whether a sample could be a fossilized microbe.



More About the Mission



A key objective for Perseverance's mission on Mars is astrobiology, including the search for signs of ancient microbial life. The rover will also characterize the planet's climate and geology, pave the way for human exploration of the Red Planet, and be the first planetary mission to collect and cache Martian rock and regolith (broken rock and dust). Subsequent missions, currently under consideration by NASA in cooperation with the European Space Agency, would send spacecraft to Mars to collect these cached samples from the surface and return them to Earth for in-depth analysis.



The Mars 2020 mission is part of a larger program that includes missions to the Moon as a way to prepare for human exploration of the Red Planet. Charged with returning astronauts to the Moon by 2024, NASA will establish a sustained human presence on and around the Moon by 2028 through NASA's Artemis lunar exploration plans.

JPL, which is managed for NASA by Caltech in Pasadena, California, built and manages operations of the Perseverance and Curiosity rovers.

Learn more about the Mars 2020 mission at: https://www.nasa.gov/perseverance

Please follow Astrobiology on Twitter.
A person holds a sign ahead of President Donald Trump's scheduled visit to an Owens and Minor warehouse in Allentown, Pa., Thursday, May 14, 2020. Read more

On primary election day 2016, I got an eye-opening lesson about the Trump phenomenon in Pennsylvania. As a local Republican committeeman, I regularly provide transportation to the polls for those who need it. That day, an elderly woman asked me for a ride to her polling place.

I was happy to accommodate her because I had an ulterior motive: I was on the ballot for delegate to the Republican National Convention, and I needed her vote. Early that morning, I dutifully drove her to cast her ballot, then thanked her for making the effort to get to the polls and voting for me. Oh, I couldnt vote for you this time, she replied. As she delivered the bad news, she clutched a small piece of paper. It contained the Trump-endorsed slate of delegate candidates. My name wasnt one of them.

That evening, I got more lessons. Donald Trump won every Pennsylvania county, something that had never been done in a contested primary. From the big cities through suburban neighborhoods to rural areas where the deer outnumber humans, Trump won them all. His delegate candidates followed in his wake, winning improbable victories everywhere.

 READ MORE: Republicans are trying to survive an anti-Trump wave in the Philly suburbs: A lot of Democrats vote for me

Trump beat the conservative wing of the GOP represented by Ted Cruz, and the moderate wing led by John Kasich. He beat them everywhere, and he beat them soundly. When the general election campaign got underway, Pennsylvania Democrats and the media talked up their vaunted Blue Wall. Anchored by the Keystone State, the wall ran across the Rust Belt, carrying with it enough electoral votes to guarantee Hillary Clintons election.

On Election Day, that Blue Wall collapsed like a bad souffle. Trump won virtually every state along it  flipping Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, and Wisconsin, and taking the electoral votes that put him in the White House. Four years later, Democrats, buoyed by electoral successes in the 2018 midterms, are talking about their wall again. But the bricks look as loosely cemented today as they were in 2016.

Few disagree that Pennsylvanias 20 electoral votes will be crucial to the 2020 outcome, and Republicans havent fared too well through the years in the Keystone State. Trumps 2016 victory there was the first by a GOP presidential standard-bearer in almost 30 years.

Pennsylvania Democrats have outnumbered Republicans by more than one million registrants for most of these years  but thats starting to change.

 READ MORE: Pennsylvanias impact on 2020 election comes down to Luzerne vs. Chester Counties | Opinion

Since Trumps 2016 Pennsylvania win, Republicans have narrowed the registration gap statewide by almost 150,000. Much of those gains have come in areas that had been reliably blue. National media often overlook the shift of working-class Democrats to the Trump coalition, a development thats key to understanding whats going on in Pennsylvania.

While the Philly suburbs have trended bluer for decades, the other corner of the state has emerged in recent years as red and getting redder. Trump has accelerated the trend in southwestern Pennsylvania. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris declared war on coal and natural gas, which would cost the commonwealth hundreds of thousands of high-paying jobs, is driving union households into the Trump column.

The same shift is taking place in northeast Pennsylvania, especially in Luzerne County, once considered safely Democrat, but now swinging for Trump. Just a stones throw from Bidens birthplace, the county went for Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012  but Trump carried it in 2016, and since then the trends have continued moving his way. The countys Democratic state senator switched his registration to independent and now caucuses with the GOP. Republicans took the majority on the county council and dramatically increased their registration.

Trumps stunning Pennsylvania victory in 2016 came by a razor-thin margin, and it figures to be a squeaker again this year. But voter passion and energy are on Trumps side. Driving down the backroads of Pennsylvania, one sees reminders of Trumps drawing power. Spray-painted on plywood and splashed onto cardboard with tempera paint is a simple message:

T-R-U-M-P. Thousands of Trump campaign signs are planted on suburban lawns.

A mid-August poll by Muhlenberg College showed Biden holding a four-point lead in Pennsylvania; a more recent CNBC poll had Bidens lead at three. Thats essentially a margin-of-error race. But theres a lot underneath the surface of those numbers.

First, Trump always outperforms the polls. He will do so in Pennsylvania again.

 READ MORE: Biden is beating Trump big in Pennsylvania. Will anything change that?

Second, the enthusiasm gap is wide and growing. Trumps voters will turn out, just as they did in this years primary, when Pennsylvania Republicans showed up in force, even though there were no statewide contests on their ballots. They wanted to vote for Trump. This year, its Trump voters, not Democrats, who are marking days off their calendars leading up to Election Day.

Third, the Philadelphia suburbs may not go as far left as Biden believes. Violent crime and urban riots are worrying suburbanites, especially women, who have wavered on Trump. Likewise, Bidens proposed huge tax increases would hit suburban pocketbooks hard.

Finally, presidential elections usually show a significant swing after Labor Day  and the trend right now is running in Trumps direction. It will be an all-out battle in the Keystone State. Memo to the Biden campaign: I know a lady in central Pennsylvania you can cross off your list.

Charlie Gerow is a Republican strategist and CEO of Quantum Communications in Harrisburg. A version of this piece originally appeared on RealClear Politics.
President Trump on Tuesday again told his supporters at a rally that it was a 'beautiful sight' to see MSNBC reporter Ali Velshi get struck by a projectile while covering protests in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Appearing at a rally in Moon Township, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday, the president praised police officers for roughing up journalists covering riots and protests.

'Remember that beautiful sight? The street was a mess,' Trump said.

'That idiot reporter from CNN got hit with a canister of tear gas. And he went down. 'I've been hit. I've been hit.'

President Trump on Tuesday once again celebrated the fact that MSNBC journalist Ali Velshi (right) was shot with a rubber bullet while covering protests in Minneapolis in June

'He's been hit.'

The president incorrectly noted that Velshi worked for CNN. His comments on Tuesday drew roars of applause and laughter from his supporters.

Trump also praised police for manhandling journalists during protests.

'Sometimes they grab. They grab one guy,' the president said, before mockingly saying: 'I'm a reporter. I'm a reporter.'

'Get out of here,' Trump said.

'They threw him aside like he was a little bag of popcorn.

'Honestly, when you watch the crap that we have all had to take so long.

'When you see it, it is actually a beautiful sight.'

Last week, Trump said it a 'beautiful thing' when Velshi was struck by a rubber bullet during a protest in Minnesota.

Floyd died under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer on May 25. In the days following his death, protests erupted across the US and eventually the world.

Trump (seen above in Minnesota on Friday) said last week that it was a 'beautiful thing' when Velshi was struck by a rubber bullet

On May 30, Velshi was covering a peaceful protest when he was injured by police.

During Trump's Friday night rally, he brought up Velshi's injury while speaking to a crowd in Minnesota.

'I remember this guy Velshi. He got hit on the knee with a canister of tear gas and he went down. He was down. 'My knee, my knee,' Trump mistakenly recalled.

Velshi was actually struck by a rubber bullet and not a canister as Trump claimed.

Trump continued: 'These guys didn't care. They moved him aside and they just walked right through. It was like the most beautiful thing.'

'It's called law and order,' Trump said to the cheering crowd.

The next day, Velshi tweeted about Trump's remarks and questioned the president about what his injury had to do with law and order

Velshi was covering a protest in Minneapolis (pictured on May 29) when he was struck by the rubber bullet

The next day, Velshi tweeted about Trump's remarks and questioned the president about what his injury had to do with law and order.

'So, @realDonaldTrump, you call my getting hit by authorities in Minneapolis on 5/30/20 (by a rubber bullet, btw, not a tear gas cannister) a 'beautiful thing' called 'law and order'. What law did I break while covering an entirely peaceful (yes, entirely peaceful) march?'

In a statement, MSNBC slammed Trump for his comments about Velshi.

'Freedom of the press is a pillar of our democracy,' the statement reads.

'When the president mocks a journalist for the injury he sustained while putting himself in harm's way to inform the public, he endangers thousands of other journalists and undermines our freedoms,' the statement continued.

During the rally, Trump then took aim at Rep Ilhan Omar, who is Muslim American.

He asked the crowd if they were 'having a good time with your refugees'.

'How the hell did she win?' Trump asked.

He then claimed that Minneapolis would've been destroyed had he not called in the National Guard.

'You wouldn't have Minneapolis,' Trump said.

Trump also predicted victory in Minnesota in November despite the state's long history of backing Democratic candidates.

'Forty-six days from now we're going to win Minnesota and we're going to win four more years in the White House,' Trump told thousands of supporters at the regional airport in Bemidji.

Since narrowly losing Minnesota in 2016, Trump has emphasized the state in hopes that a victory this year could offset losses in other states.

He has visited regularly and kept a close eye on issues of particular importance to rural corners of the state.

He's reversed an Obama administration policy prohibiting the development of copper-nickel mining and has bailed out soybean, corn and other farmers who have been hurt by trade clashes with China.
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.
In Louisville, Kentucky, the City has reached a settlement in the wrongful death lawsuit rising from the no-knock raid on Breonna Taylor's apartment. Breonna's boyfriend thought the raid was a home invasion. An exchange of gunfire through the door resulted in Breonna being killed on 13 March of this year.

(edit) the shots which killed Breonna were fired inside the apartment. Only one shot was fired by Breonna's boyfriend. Several shots were fired from outside the apartment to inside, but did not hit anyone)

The City will pay 12 million dollars and require reforms of police procedure.

Promiscuous use of no-knock warrants is incompatible with a legally armed society and the Second Amendment.

Louisville has mandated the use of body cameras in police raids, in response to Breonna's death. .....
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MONTREALIcon Male, the gay studio that's part of the Mile High Media family, and director Chi Chi LaRue have released the new DVD Uncle Randy, a fauxcest feature starring Logan Stevens and Zayne Roman. The movie is available now.

Written by Taylor Saracen, Uncle Randy is a tale of a youthful nephew who has come of age and is now looking at his step-uncle in a different way, according to a synopsis provided by the company. The cast includes Skyy Knox, Seth Santoro, Jack Andy, Casey Everett, Michael Jackman, Ian Frost and Nick Fitt.

Mile High Media Vice President Jon Blitt said, With a talented cast led by Logan Stevens as Uncle Randy, Chi Chi delivers with an action-packed release that is highlighted by great performances.

According to the company, Uncle Randy tells the story of Everett, who while growing up always looked up to his Uncle Randy. But now that he is older, he looks at him very differently after hooking up with himand everybody knows it, especially Randys two stepbrothers Knox and Roman. They want all the details of the hookup and once they get them, a no-holes-barred three-way of horny stepbrothers ensues.

The movie features four hardcore sex scenes shot in 4K ultra HD along with animated chapter index, a photo gallery and more.

The latest Icon Male trailers can be seen on IconMale.com.

For Icon Male sales and distribution, contact [email protected] .

For the latest news and BTS previews, follow Icon Male on Twitter.
President Trump gets a lot of heat for his answers to questions. Much of the criticism is appropriate, some of it is mock outrage, but one way or the other, Trump does answer the questions.

In fact, he answers hundreds more questions than his opponent. COVID has been devastating for the country, but its been a boon for Joe Biden, who has undeniably lost a step or three and does not do well with sustained exposure. Since the former vice president is rarely made available for questioning, youd think he would answer the questions that he faces on those few occasions. Youd also think that, when he declines to answer legitimate, important questions, that would be a big deal.

But he doesnt answer key questions. And his media friends calculate that if they give you the inside scoop on the amazingly deft political strategy behind not answering questions, youll be so wowed you wont notice that the answers are what matter.

There is no bigger issue in the 2020 campaign than whether, if they take the White House and the Senate, Democrats would eliminate the filibuster. Expanding and packing the Supreme Court would be a direct result of this, and a radical one. But it is only one of a plethora of radical steps that would follow  expanding and packing the lower federal courts, statehood for the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, single-payer healthcare, elements of the Green New Deal, a massive bailout for mismanaged blue states, breaking up and regulating into submission private businesses, hamstringing the nations police forces, gutting the Second Amendment, sweeping immigration amnesty, and so on.

Yet when asked Monday about whether he supported calls by many Democrats to repeal the filibuster and expand, then pack, the Supreme Court, Biden refused to answer the question.

Ever since Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away on Friday, Democrats have turned up the volume on packing the Supreme Court with progressive firebrands. But dont kid yourself: Many Democrats were calling for this long before last week; there was saber-rattling about it during both the Gorsuch and (especially) the Kavanaugh confirmations. The fact that the president and Senate Republicans are fully within their constitutional authority to nominate and confirm a new justice has the Left unhinged, but this is not a new threat.

Story continues

Unlike the aggressive progressives who will be ruling the roost if Biden is elected, the candidate is not talking.

Bidens rationale for not answering the court-packing question was ludicrous. He acknowledged the question was legitimate (gee, thanks), but then babbled that hed remain mum because President Trump always tries to shift the focus and never wants to talk about the issue at hand. He always tries to change the subject. Biden added that if he answered the question, then the whole debate  presumably, he meant his nationally-televised debate with Trump a week from today  is going to be about what Biden said or didnt say.

Of course, this is not a matter of changing the subject. This is the subject.

Tellingly, the woman who asked the question did not allude to the president. The premise of the question was: Assume Trump has lost and Biden is now president; would he support adding seats to the Supreme Court? Obviously that would require eliminating the filibuster and enacting legislation, after which Biden and Senate Democrats would conveyor-belt confirm a slew of nominees.

Furthermore, note that Bidens demurral was not a matter of his getting flustered or feebly deflecting a question because he forgot what he wanted to say. This was the implementation of a considered plan.

The Washington Post, which is as well wired into the Biden campaign as any media organ, reports that the campaign expressed particular annoyance at Democratic Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts for raising court packing. Markey had publicly stated that, if Republicans fill the current vacancy with a Trump nominee, then Democrats must abolish the filibuster and expand the Supreme Court if they retake the Senate. Biden and his minions were said to be fuming because they are trying to stress less polarizing issues. As one anonymous adviser put it, People in your own party shouldnt cause you problems 44 days out.

In other words: If we tell the saps what were planning to do, they wont let us do it.

This explains why, though Democrats talk nonstop about the list of potential Supreme Court nominees President Trump has, with justifiable pride, made public, Biden will not make any Democratic list public. He wont even tell us whom hed appoint to the seat Democrats are desperate to prevent Trump from filling.

This is not a matter of some Democratic fear that Biden is not up to the task of parrying tough questions. It is the intimate Democratic understanding that Bidens answers to the tough questions would be deeply disturbing to voters. The answers, moreover, will demonstrate that Bidens campaign labeling  Good Ol Joe, the moderate who can keep the socialist revolutionaries at bay  is false advertising.

Yes, if the former vice president answers the question about ending the filibuster and packing the High Court, Trump and the rest of us will surely be pointing out, non-stop, what Biden said or didnt say. But that is because he is running for president. If he is elected, what he says, what he does, and whom he puts on the Supreme Court will affect, profoundly, the way we live and are governed. Thats a reason to make him tell us now, not let him play hide-the-radicalism and then spring it on us after Election Day.

Next Tuesdays moderator, Fox Newss Chris Wallace, is extraordinarily good at getting responses, or otherwise making the true meaning behind a non-response palpable. I doubt he will take Joe Bidens Im not going to answer for an answer. Neither should anyone else.

More from National Review
Tata Motors Ltd, Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd, Renault India, Nissan India, Groupe PSA and Royal Enfield are among passenger vehicle and two-wheeler makers in India who have deferred new product launches to 2021 as they battle weak demand and disruptions in global supply chains due to the Covid-19 pandemic, said four people aware of the developments.

While most of the planned launches of passenger vehicles have been deferred by at least six months, those of two-wheelers have been put off by at least a quarter, the people cited above said, seeking anonymity.

For instance, Tata Motors has delayed the introduction of its compact sport-utility vehicle (SUV) codenamed HBX from the ongoing second quarter to the March quarter. Renault India was also expected to join the compact SUV bandwagon this year but has decided to defer the launch of its vehicle to 2021. Alliance partner Nissan has also delayed the launch of its compact SUV Magnite to the March quarter from this festival season.

Meanwhile, Mumbai-based M&M has rolled over the introduction of its next-generation Scorpio and XUV500 SUV models to next year due to supply-chain issues. One of the products will be launched in the June quarter and the next in the September quarter, said the first person mentioned above.

Groupe PSA had planned to mark its re-entry into the Indian market with the Citroen C5 Aircross SUV in September. The French automaker has since postponed the launch to the March quarter, according to a company statement.

Automakers are concerned that weak consumer sentiment amid widespread job losses and pay cuts in a contracting economy could potentially hit vehicle demand. Shortage of skilled workers at both vendors and original equipment manufacturers as well as the impact on parts imports is also hampering production.

Consumer and business confidence are at the lowest. Seeing the uncertainty, most OEMs have delayed model launches by up to 4-8 months. Launches involve huge investments and, thus, OEMs may prefer to wait for the right time to maximize returns on investment, said Puneet Gupta, associate director, IHS Markit.
A 54-year-old woman, diagnosed with coronavirus infection, hung herself in the isolation ward of Deen Dayal Upadhaya Hospital here on Wednesday.

This is the first case in the state where a Covid patient has committed suicide in a hospital, police said.

A resident of Chaupal in Shimla district, she tested positive for Covid-19 on September 18, after which she was referred to the hospital and admitted to the isolation ward, police said. The victim, a widow, hung herself from a balcony of the hospital with a dupatta (scarf) around 12.05am and was found dead by hospital staff who informed the police and her son.

Her son said she was suffering from hypertension and frequent headaches, for which she was being treated at Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla. He said he did not suspect foul play. However, he said the staff had been negligent and demanded that an FIR be registered against the hospital.

My mother was killed due to negligence. No doctors had attended her since her hospitalisation on September 18. The staff had refused to attend her in the isolation ward saying they cannot use a personal protective equipment (PPE) kit for a single patient. She was traumatised with the treatment meted out to her by hospital staff, he said.

Negligence allegations grow shriller

Multiple patients and their family members have levelled allegations of negligence against different hospitals in the state since the outbreak of the virus. A Covid patient who was hospitalised at Indira Gandhi Medical College died after he took a fall on September 10.

His family members had alleged that the patient had been neglected. Not just laymen but politicians have also complained that the staff were negligent.

Himachal Pradesh jal shakti minister Mahender Singh Thakur, a senior minister in the state cabinet, had left IGMC alleging the staff were negligent after he had tested positive.

If you need support or know someone who does, please reach out to your nearest mental health specialist. You can reach Mental Health and Rehabilitation Centre, Boileauganj, Shimla, at 0177-2633601 or visit www.hhmhrshimla.org.
BRASILIA: Brazils government said on Tuesday it disagrees with claims that a European Union-Mercosur trade deal would increase destruction in the Amazon rainforest and criticized French concerns about an agreement as protectionist."

In a joint note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Agriculture, Brazil took issue with a report on deforestation used by the French government last week to oppose the current version of the EU-Mercosur trade deal.

The report, which Brazil said was commissioned by the French government, reveals the real protectionist concerns of those who commissioned it when dealing with the agricultural concessions made by the EU to Mercosur," Brazils note said.

Brazils statement came after Augusto Heleno, a national security adviser to President Jair Bolsonaro, told local radio station Bandeirantes the country could retaliate with its own trade blocks against countries that boycotted Brazilian goods on environmental grounds.

A trade deal would instead, according to the Brazilian statement, reinforce multilateral commitments and best practices on the environment.

The EU has been holding talks with the Mercosur group of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, the worlds fourth-largest trade bloc. One worry has been the impact of the future deal on forests and the climate.

Bolsonaro has been under international scrutiny for his environmental policies. Earlier on Tuesday, he defended his environmental record at 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
The state education department on Tuesday allowed reopening of all government and private schools from September 28 for students of Class 9 to 12 seeking academic guidance on voluntary basis with a written consent of guardians.

Principal secretary of education department Sanjay Kumar said, We have decided to allow reopening of schools in a phased-manner from September 28. Schools will be allowed to call 50% of teaching and non-teaching staff and 30% students.

School management will have to ensure enforcement of Covid-19 norms. Wearing face mask, thermal screening at entrance gate and distant seating arrangement are mandatory. Students will have to carry personal hand sanitizer and water bottle. School management will have to ensure no exchange of articles among students, Kumar added.

Education department has clarified that the schools outside containment zones will resume and students and staff members living outside containment zones will be allowed to attend the school.

Accordingly, the city-schools are gearing up for the reopening under a new normal. Many schools have decided to reopen after September 30 as their schools have been made exam centre for conducting on-going compartmental exam of CBSE.

CBSEs city coordinator Rajiv Ranjan Sinha said schools have welcomed the decision. He said, School premises will be sanitised every day. Guardians will be responsible for picking and dropping of their wards.

Similarly, Bishop Scott Boys School is also gearing up for reopening. Schools vice-principal Ashfaque Iqbal said, We have made provision for taking virtual consent of guardians via google forms while students have been advised to carry written consent on the day of reopening. We have planned for calling students by preparing subject-wise roster.

On the basis of virtual interaction with parents, we have analysed that a good percentage of students, especially those who are supposed to take board exam next year, are willing to visit school for academic guidance, he added.

Meanwhile, reopening decision has evoked mixed response among parents. Sunita Singh, whose daughter studies in Class 10, said, Online classes are not as effective as physical classroom and coaching institutes are also closed. Academic performance of students is likely to get hampered in the absence of proper guidance.

As per MHA guidelines, all schools, colleges and coaching institutes in the state will remain closed for regular operation till September 30.
Puma Energy Distribution Ghana Ltd.one of the leading Oil Marketing Companies (OMC) in Ghana has been assessed and certified as meeting all the ISO requirements under the satisfactory surveillance audits of SGS Ghana.



This oil marketing company has been awarded ISO 9001:2015 (Quality Management Systems), 1SO 14001:2015 (Environmental Management Systems), and ISO 45001:2018 (Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems).



This makes Puma Energy the first oil marketing company to be certified in all three major standards in Ghana



The International Organization (ISO) is an independent, non-governmental, globally recognized network that develops standards and guides to ensure the quality, safety, and efficiency of products, services, and systems.



At a ceremony held last week, the General Manager of Puma Energy, Mr. Henry Osei, expressed his excitement at this feat saying, The certification is a firm attestation of our companys strong systems and a reaffirmation of all the processes that Puma Energy has across all it's business to business sites, business units, and functions. He stressed that Puma Energy embarked on the journey for ISO certification to carry out one of their biggest values; to lead by example and to express to the rest of the market that their processes are tried and tested and will stand the test of time internationally and locally.



Mr. Osei was optimistic that the certification would place Puma Energy on a new pedestal to deliver customer value in their quest to create customer advantage in the market. We are convinced that we wont achieve this feat and fall below; we are going to work with our consultants and with the rest of the team to ensure that Puma Energy continues to deliver value, he stated.



Mr. Kiki Gyan, Regional Managing Director of SGS Ghana  a leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company, during the presentation, congratulated Puma Energy for setting the pace. He stated that the three certifications prove that Puma Energy has an effective system in place and is committed to ensuring continuous improvement in its integrated management processes.



He added that the three certifications would enable Puma Energy to continually promote a safe and healthy working environment by providing a framework that allows the organisation to identify and reduce their occupational health and safety risks, reduce potential accidents, aid legislative compliance, and improve overall performance.



Mr Gyan explained, the commitment by Puma Energy to comply with the environmental standards will support in the reduction of the environmental impact of its daily operations

The ceremony ended with SGS Ghana awarding Puma Energy Ghana with the three ISO certifications for the delivery of petroleum products to customers: airlines, retail and business-to-business sites.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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IMC has now completed shipments of its branded flower products to four of the Company's ten distribution partners, marking IMC's official brand launch in Germany

Three additional purchase commitments executed with German distributors

IMC now has binding purchase commitments for 1,615kg of medical cannabis

* Currency is in CAD$ unless specified otherwise

TORONTO, GLIL YAM, Israel and BAD OLDESLOE, Germany, Sept. 23, 2020 /CNW/ - IM Cannabis Corp. (the "Company" or "IMC") (CSE: IMCC), a multi-country operator in the medical cannabis sector with operations in Israel and across Europe, is pleased to announce the official launch of the IMC brand in Germany. The Company is also announcing three new purchase commitments signed by its German subsidiary, Adjupharm GmbH ("Adjupharm").

"The IMC brand has established a reputation for quality, consistency and purity in Israel for over a decade, and we are thrilled to bring this brand into Germany - Europe's largest market. Through continued execution forming our international network of suppliers and distribution partners, we are building the foundation for IMC as a global brand. As adoption of medical cannabis by patients and physicians grows in our core markets, the outlook for IMC has never been stronger," said Oren Shuster, CEO of IMC.

"The IMC team has done an excellent job securing distribution agreements with ten medical cannabis distributors in Germany. These partnerships will complement our internal sales team to maximize brand awareness among the medical community and leverage the reputation we have built in Israel. We continue to work very quickly to add to our product line and develop our distribution network to seize the significant market opportunity in the German market," said Richard Balla, CEO of Adjupharm.

Launch of the IMC Brand in Germany

Four distribution partners have now received shipments from IMC. The first IMC-branded product available to customers was the High THC T20/1 medical cannabis flower. As the pace of imports increases, the Company will be releasing additional flower SKUs.

IMC products are currently available to every pharmacy in Germany that is licensed to distribute narcotics and many pharmacies have placed orders with inventory on hand. In addition to sales through its distribution partners, Adjupharm has established a call center and a direct sales team to educate physicians on IMC-branded products.

New Purchase Commitments

Adjupharm has also received additional binding purchase commitments from three of its ten distribution partners in Germany. Through Adjupharm, IMC now has binding purchase commitments for the sale of a total of 1,615kg of medical cannabis in Germany under the IMC brand.

About IM Cannabis Corp.

IMC (CSE: IMCC) is a multi-country operator (MCO) in the medical cannabis sector headquartered in Israel and with operations across Europe. Over the past decade, IMC has built its brand as a provider of premium medical cannabis products in the Israeli market. The Company has also expanded its business to offer intellectual property related services to the medical cannabis industry based on proprietary processes and technologies it developed for the production of medical cannabis.

In Europe, IMC operates through a German-based subsidiary and EU-GMP certified medical cannabis distributor - Adjupharm. IMC's European presence is also augmented by strategic alliances with various pan-European EU-GMP cultivators and distributors with the objective of capitalizing on the increased demand for medical cannabis products and bringing the IMC brand and its product portfolio to European patients.

As one of the world's medical cannabis pioneers, IMC partners with renowned academic institutions and scientists as well as allocates resources and investments for the development of innovative technologies to improve the lives and medical cannabis therapies outcomes of patients around the world.

Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "likely" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. Forward-looking information in this press release includes statements increasing adoption of medical cannabis in the Company's core markets, the Company adding additional flower SKUs, the timing and size of future imports into Germany, the strategic business plans of the Company and the expected delivery volumes under all previously announced sales and distributions agreements in Germany.

Forward-looking information is based on assumptions that may prove to be incorrect, including but not limited to the ability of the Company to execute its business plan, the continued growth of the medical cannabis market in the countries in which the Company operates or intends to operate, the Company maintaining "de facto" control over Focus Medical Herbs Ltd. ("Focus Medical") in accordance with IFRS 10, Focus Medical maintaining its existing Israeli cultivation license and the expected decriminalization of cannabis in Israel. The Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable in the circumstances. However, forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Such risks include, without limitation: the ability of the Company to comply with applicable government regulations in a highly regulated industry; unexpected changes in governmental policies and regulations affecting the production, distribution, manufacture or use of medical cannabis in Israel, Germany, Portugal, Greece or any other foreign jurisdictions in which the Company operates or intends to operate; any failure of the Company to maintain "de facto" control over Focus Medical in accordance with IFRS 10; the Company and Focus Medical having to rely on third party cannabis producers to supply the Company and Focus Medical with product to successfully fulfill previously announced sales agreements and purchase commitments; the risk that regulatory authorities in Israel may view the Company as the deemed owner of more than 5% of Focus Medical in contravention to Israeli rules restricting the ownership of Israeli cannabis cultivators and thereby jeopardizing Focus Medical's cannabis cultivation license; unexpected disruptions to the operations and businesses of the Company and/or Focus Medical as a result of the COVID-19 global pandemic or other disease outbreaks including in the event that Focus Medical were to lose its designation as an essential service in the State of Israel during the current COVID-19 outbreak; any unexpected failure of Focus Medical to renew its cultivation license with the Israeli Ministry of Health; reliance on management; inconsistent public opinion and perception regarding the use of cannabis; engaging in activities considered illegal under US federal law; political instability and conflict in the Middle East; adverse market conditions; the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; currency fluctuations; competition; and loss of key management and/or employees.

The forward-looking information contained herein are current as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, the Company does not have any obligation to advise any person if it becomes aware of any inaccuracy in or omission from any forward-looking information, nor does it intend, or assume any obligation, to update or revise such forward-looking information to reflect new events or circumstances. Any and all forward-looking information included in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement, and except as otherwise indicated, are made as of the date of this press release.

SOURCE IM Cannabis Corp.

For further information: Oren Shuster, Chief Executive Officer, +972-77-3603504, [email protected]; Marc Charbin, Investor Relations, +1 416-467-5229, [email protected]; Gal Wilder, Media Relations, +1 647-259-3261, [email protected]
The Russian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday called on the Gulf of Guinea countries to consolidate efforts to fight piracy in the region

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 23rd September, 2020) The Russian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday called on the Gulf of Guinea countries to consolidate efforts to fight piracy in the region.

According to the ministry, two Russian nationals were captured by pirates during a raid on refrigerator cargo ship Water Phoenix on September 8 in the gulf.

"The seafaring in this area of the Atlantic has become extremely dangerous and poses a real threat to the lives of those who work as crew members of the vessels that make voyages in this region. We are calling on all involved sides, authorities and security agencies of the Gulf of Guinea states to consolidate efforts to take effective preventive measures and combat piracy," the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry mentioned that 27 Russian sailors had been kidnapped within the last year and a half, and 22 of them had been released. Meanwhile, three sailors from cargo ship Rio Mitong and research vessel Djibloho are still being held captive.

In recent years the Gulf of Guinea has emerged as a hotspot of pirate activities, where over 90 percent of reported kidnappings at sea in 2019 took place, per the international Chamber of Commerce.
By Sudipto Ganguly

(Reuters) - Simona Halep is heavily favoured to add a second French Open title to her Grand Slam cabinet, brimming with confidence on the back of a 14-match winning streak and fighting fit having skipped the U.S. hardcourt season due to COVID-19.

The Romanian world number two won in Dubai before the professional season was suspended in early March, and added claycourt titles in Prague and Rome ahead of the Paris Grand Slam, which starts on Sunday having been rescheduled from May.

Due to concerns over travelling during the pandemic, she skipped the U.S. Open, opting to stay in Europe and prepare for Roland Garros, where she won her first Slam in 2018.

The former top-ranked player feels the decision leaves her better placed, both physically and mentally, to challenge for her third Slam title overall.

"It is different (this year). It is true that I am fresher," Halep told reporters after her Rome win.

"Of course I did work hard at home but I didn't have many matches, so my body is not that used ... And with these matches (I won) here I also feel confident. So it's a better chance."

An aggressive baseliner with excellent court coverage, Halep last lost in the semi-finals of this year's Australian Open to Spaniard Garbine Muguruza.

Brightening her chances further, the women's singles field in Paris will be missing defending champion and world number one Ash Barty of Australia, who opted against travelling, and U.S. Open champion Naomi Osaka, who suffered a hamstring injury in New York.

The tag of bookies' clear favourite - emphatically endorsed for Paris by Czech world number four Karolina Pliskova - has not always sat well with Halep.

Before tasting success at Roland Garros two years ago she had lost three Grand Slam finals, including in 2017 at the same venue, when Latvian Jelena Ostapenko unexpectedly came from behind against a strangely subdued Halep to take her only Slam title to date.

Story continues

The Romanian is determined to put no extra pressure on herself at this year's event, which she described as "just another tournament".

"I've played really well this year with three titles already. I've played so much on clay, so I feel confident ..." she said.

"I'll just be happy to take positives from this tournament and go there smiling ... and try to win every match I play. Every match is a battle, I am ready for it."

She says a lengthy lockdown, which she spent at home in Romania, has made her mentally stronger and she feels she is more mature since the professional circuit restarted in August.

For Pliskova, who lost to Halep in the Rome final, the Romanian will certainly be the one to beat. "The way she's played... of course, she's gonna be the most favourite from the women's tournament," the Czech said.

(Reporting by Sudipto Ganguly in Mumbai; editing by John Stonestreet)
ARCHIVED - Over 500 irregular immigrants reached Spain on Tuesday on western Mediterranean Route



The Region of Murcia, Canary and Balearic Islands, Andalucia and Alicante Province received dozens of boats

This year the number of migrations to Spain has been lower than normal, due principally to the restrictions caused by Covid-19, but in recent weeks there has been an upsurge in activity with calmer weather bringing increased numbers of migrants, and organised criminal gangs taking advantage of the inability of Spain to currently repatriate migrants to bring increased numbers of economic migrants into Spain, principally from Algeria.

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. The Canary Islands migrants tend to be Magrebi, the Andalucian coast is generally a mixture of both and in Alicante the arrivals are generally Algerians.



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 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.

Social media keyboard wizards tend to vociferously demand justification of the word irregular; basically these migrants are either legally refugees or they are illegal economic migrants; there isnt a third option.

The figures:

Region of Murcia

First wave: 13 pateras totalling 170 migrants, all Algerian.

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





Second wave, Tuesday morning/lunchtime: 55 migrants, 5 boats, all Algerian:

Vessel No. 1, Intercepted 10 miles south of Mount Cenizas with 10 male immigrants.



Vessel No. 2, Intercepted 15 nautical miles south of Monte Cenizas with 12 male immigrants on board



Vessel No. 3, Intercepted 17 miles south of Monte Cenizas with 10 immigrants, all males



Vessel No. 4, Intercepted 17 miles south of Monte Cenizas with 10 immigrants, all males



Vessel No. 5. Intercepted in Cabo Cope with 13 male immigrants



Total; 5 boats, 55 immigrants.



All were of Algerian nationality and all were in apparently good health.

In the last 10 days a total of 629 Algerian migrants have entered Spain through Murcia.

Balearic and Canary Islands:

164 migrants were intercepted after reaching the coasts of the Balearic Islands on Monday evening/Tuesday morning with 11 boats located:



A French Navy ship rescued four patera-type vessels with 55 occupants at midnight about 60 miles south of Cap de ses Salines (Mallorca). Salvamento Maritimo mobilized with the Salvamar Acrux, based in Puerto Portals, and the ship Marta Mata, based in Ibiza, and went to the rescue point to transfer the migrants to the port of Palma at dawn.



A second French ship, a frigate, rescued three other boats in the same area with 40 occupants and has also transferred them to the port of Palma.



At midnight, the Guardia Civil from the Formentera post intercepted nine occupants of a boat, all of them men and of Algerian origin.



The Guardia Civil also located a boat in the Cala Llombards area, in Santanyi, with five migrants, and in the Colonia de Sant Jordi the agents intercepted another nine occupants, although later they found another ten more - four in Campos and six in Santanyi.

Canary Islands:

In Gran Canaria a Maritime Rescue boat rescued a total of five boats with 68 migrants on Monday night. After being rescued, the irregular immigrants were transferred to the Arguineguin dock.



Andalucia

Salvamento Maritimo and Guardia Civil rescued 64 men of Maghreb origin who were traveling aboard four boats in the Alboran Sea, 25 nautical miles southeast of Cabo de Gata, in Almeria.



Salvamar Spica rescued two groups of 15 people from each boat while the Civil Guard patrol boat intercepted two other boats with 15 and 19 people on board.



Salvamento Maritimo rescued a total of 16 people aboard four boats in the surroundings of Gibraltar and Bolonia, in Cadiz, actions coordinated by the Tarifa Coordination Center ( Cadiz).



Alicante Province, Valencia region

Finally, in Alicante, a dinghy with seven people was located this Tuesday around 7.30 am in Cala Moraig in Benitatxell (Alicante). In this instance, those aboard called the coastguard when they were 3 nautical miles from Benidorm. Click for more info

All of these new arrivals will be covid tested; positives will be hospitalised, close contacts quarantined. Due to the current border situation, it is impossible to repatriate the remainder, who will be released within 72 hours providing they are not covid positive as Spain has no legal remit to detain them if they cant be repatriated.



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
Updated: 5.30pm

An adviser to the World Health Organisation has said Ireland should allow Covid-19 to spread in a "controlled" way among people under 60.

Johan Giesecke, Sweden's former chief epidemiologist and a member of the WHO's strategic and technical advisory group for infectious hazards, made the comments at the Oireachtas coronavirus committee on Wednesday morning.

Several medical experts are appearing before the committee, which is examining options for eliminating community transmission of Covid-19.

Mr Giesecke said the Government should allow a controlled spread of the virus among people under 60 and concentrate on protecting the old and frail, with frequent tests of staff and residents in care homes.

JtuZF

Following Mr Giesecke's comments, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said he does not support a herd immunity approach to dealing with the virus.

I dont believe in the herd immunity approach... and those who advocated it early on in my view, didnt fully realise the impact of this virus on people and on peoples health," he said.

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"Even if you survive it can be very damaging it seems to lungs and to peoples health over the medium term  some people, not all people.

Mr Giesecke also said the Government should not build its Covid strategy around a possible vaccine.

He said there could be a long wait for immunisation and it may not be effective for those who need it most.

Addressing the committee on Wednesday morning, Dr Giesecke has said his countrys soft lockdown worked because the country trusted its people.

Dr Giesecke said people are not stupid and will respond if told how to protect themselves.

He said schools must remain open and he pointed out that there was no difference between infections among schoolchildren in Sweden, where schools were kept open, and in neighbouring Finland which closed its schools.

Dr Giesecke said Covid-19 constituted a threat to democracy in many countries with some politicians acquiring extra powers that they might not relinquish.

Dr Martin Daly, a former president of the Irish Medical Organisation, disagreed with the approach.

Speaking to Newstalk, he said: "In my view, it is a social experiment as it runs the risk of spreading to our vulnerable groups. Because even with the best will in the world, it will take a certain degree of discipline to protect our vulnerable groups.

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"I still think we should follow the current NPHET [National Public Health Emergency Team] advice," he said.

Later on Wednesday, the president of the Irish Society of Clinical Microbiology, Kirsten Schaffer, will tell the committee that Ireland should also stop aiming for Covid-free status or even for levels as low as in July at the end of lockdown.

The economic and social impact would be devastating, she is expected to say.

Lockdown success

The chair of the Oireachtas Covid-19 Committee, Independent TD Michael McNamara said one of the questions to be answered at the meeting is the measure of success of restrictions and lockdowns.

Mr McNamara told RTE radios Morning Ireland the key question was what had been achieved by lockdown and what was the measure of success.

The recent restrictions in Offaly and Kildare appeared to have temporarily suppressed the virus, but numbers were rising again. Was there something else that needed to be done, he asked.

Mr Giesecke's advice to allow a controlled spread among younger people raised the question if the vulnerable should be shielded while the remainder of the population was allowed to move more freely, said Mr McNamara.

Many people over the age of 70 would not be prepared to do that, he said, so was it down to a matter of personal choice.

This comes after Dr Ronan Glynn, the acting chief medical officer, warned that Covid-19 is spreading "disproportionately" among younger people.

The latest figures from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre show 40 per cent of cases in the last two months have been in people aged between 15 and 34.

Another 334 cases of the virus were reported across the country on Tuesday.

NPHET will consider whether to recommend further restrictions at a meeting on Thursday. Up to eight counties are in danger of moving to Level 3 restrictions, the same level in force in Dublin.

Additional reporting: Vivienne Clarke
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday accused China of trying to foment unrest in the United States through its criticism of racism.

Pompeo, known for his hawkish views on China, went on the attack on Beijing in an unusual address to state lawmakers in Wisconsin, a crucial swing state in November elections.

The Chinese Communist Party "thinks it can drown out American cries for accountability with shouts of racism," Pompeo told lawmakers from his Republican Party inside the state Capitol in Madison.

"It wants to foment the kind of strife we've seen in Minneapolis, and Portland and here in Kenosha," he said, referring to three cities that have seen protests over racism in recent months.

"That's disgusting. We can't let that happen," he said.

As evidence of China's intentions, Pompeo pointed to a letter from a Chinese diplomat to a lawmaker from Wisconsin.

The letter said that Beijing was "firmly opposed to racial discrimination and xenophobia" against the Chinese community over the coronavirus.

"America's righteous anger at the CCP over its handling of the coronavirus has nothing to do with race and everything to do with citizens dead, children kept from school and jobs lost," Pompeo said.

"The CCP knows this."

President Donald Trump has alarmed not only China but many Asian Americans by referring to the "China virus," a term that health experts call stigmatizing.

The United States frequently assails China's human rights record including over its incarceration, according to witnesses and activists, of more than one million Uighurs and other Turkic-speaking Muslims in the western region of Xinjiang.

China's official media eagerly returned criticism after the May killing of African American George Floyd by Minneapolis police, which has sparked global protest and renewed attention to racism.

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British website Inkifi analyzed 75 cities worldwide to rank the most creative ones, considering a selection of inspirational factors in the realms of art, music, architecture The City of Light clearly leads the pack, outshining London and New York.

According to Inkifi, culture buffs should travel to Paris, the city that counts the highest concentration of theaters and historical monuments per square miles.

Paris is also a street art city. Instagrammers have posted over 824,000 street art images taken in Paris, one of the key areas of The Worlds Most Creative Cities ranking.

The second and third most creative cities are respectively Barcelona and Dublin, with 38.03 and 31.82 out of 100, while Paris boasts an 80.92% overall score.

Barcelona ranks high thanks to its concentration of historical monuments and statues, while Dublin counts over 30 comedy clubs.

London ranks fourth, however, it remains a European favorite destination for drama lovers, since it counts over 200 theater halls.

Tel Aviv, New York and Milan also rank high in The Worlds Most Creative Cities."

The Big Apple is the top American city for cultural events and the leading spot worldwide for the number of hometown music artists. It precedes Los Angeles (8th), Miami (9th), San Francisco (12th), Chicago (13th) and Orlando (18th).

To establish this ranking, Inkifi assembled data from various sources such as YouGov, Instagram, Ahrefs, TripAdvisor and Euromonitor.

Here are the 10 most creative cities worldwide:

1- Paris

2 - Barcelona

3 - Dublin

4 - London

5 - Tel-Aviv

6 - New York

7 - Milan

8 - Los Angeles

9 - Miami

10 - Porto
THE US aerospace giant due to buy Bombardier in Northern Ireland has said the deal is now looking uncertain as the impact of Covid-19 continues to weigh on the industry.

The collapse of the deal would be a major blow to the economy in NI - which Economy Minister Diane Dodds has said is in a perilous state.

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Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita was to close the $0.5bn deal to buy Bombardier, which has up to 3,000 staff here, at the end of next month.

But Spirit, which relies on stricken manufacturers like Boeing for its business, said it can no longer give assurances that the deal will go through.

The development was first reported by industry website FlightGlobal.

A spokesman at Bombardier's headquarters in Montreal, Canada, said: "One should not draw premature conclusions about the future of the discussions. It is true that there are still closing conditions to be met to complete the transaction but weve been saying for the last couple of weeks that parties are working to resolve them over the fall, which is exactly what we are doing."

Since the pandemic the industry worldwide has been hit by bans on foreign travel which have led to the grounding of aircraft and a collapse in demand for new craft. The boss of manufacturer Airbus has also warned that its in danger of collapse.

In a regulatory filing yesterday, Spirit said that there can be no assurances that conditions will be in place to go ahead with the deal.

The Bombardier deals conditions, some of which remain outstanding, include terms related to material adverse change to the Bombardier commercial aerospace businesses.

Other conditions relate to legal impediments and third-party consents, says Spirits regulatory filing.

The first and deputy first minister last week called for Prime Minister Boris Johnson to set up a taskforce to protect the aerospace sector.

Around 2,000 manufacturing and aviation-related jobs have been lost in Northern Ireland since the start of the year, with 600 jobs already lost so far this year in Bombardier. Aircraft seat manufacturers Thompson Aero in Portadown and Collins Aerospace in Kilkeel have also cut jobs.

Meanwhile, the chief executive of European manufacturer Airbus has warned that the company is in danger of collapse.

According to The Times, chief executive Guillaume Faruy told the French media: The crisis is existential. Our life as a business is potentially at risk if we dont take the right measures.

Airbus makes the A220, the narrow-bodied passenger jet which started out as Bombardiers C-Series. The wings of the A220 are made in Belfast.
WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 23rd September, 2020) A US grand jury has indicted a Mexican oil trader for allegedly paying $870,000 in bribes in a $300 million international bribery and money laundering conspiracy involving corrupt payments to Ecuadorian officials, the Department of Justice said in a press release.

"A Federal grand jury in the Eastern District of New York today returned an indictment against a trader at the US subsidiary of a multinational oil distributor and trading company for his alleged participation in a five-year bribery and money laundering scheme involving corrupt payments to Ecuadorian officials," the release said on Tuesday.

As alleged in court documents, between 2015 and 2020, Javier Aguilar and others participated in a conspiracy to pay and conceal bribes to then-Ecuadorian officials, including at Empresa Publica de Hidrocarburos del Ecuador (Petroecuador) to obtain business for a $300 million contract to purchase fuel oil, the release said.

"According to the allegations, during the scheme, Aguilar and his co-conspirators caused the payment of approximately $870,000 in bribes that they had promised to then-Ecuadorian officials," the Justice Department said.

The two-count indictment charges Aguilar, 46, a citizen of Mexico and resident of the United States, with conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

From: Martin Sieff - martinsieff1@gmail.com
Nepal under KP Oli Sharma government is fast turning into a hub to stage operation by the State Security Bureau of China, Beijings intelligence army, and North Korean cyber and money laundering operations, official sources said. North Korean hackers who target banking systems and steal critical technology are suspected to be working for Chinese intelligence to target Indian systems, officials said.

Officials pointed to hacking attempts by injecting special computer program like Icebug, Hidden Lynx (a professional advanced persistent threat using the program), and APT-12 into Indian systems. The Chinese and North Korean hackers are also engaged in spying against India operating from Nepal for quite a long time. These hackers are also engaged for cybercrime and hacking into bank cash machines in Nepal too.

In 2019, the Nepal Police detained 122 Chinese nationals, who entered the country on tourist visas, for carrying hacking attempts. Evidence suggests that North Korean groups have been found to be directly working for the North Korean Directorate General of Military Intelligence, which is also known as the Lazarus group or Hidden Cobra.

Lazarus, a North Korea-sponsored hacking group, hatched a plot to launch mass-scale phishing attacks through fake emails designed as COVID-19 relief efforts. The target of phishing attack are countries like US, UK, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea and India, where the respective governments extended stimulus payments to deal with COVID-19 pandemic.

These phishing emails are designed to drive recipients to fake websites where they will be deceived into divulging personal and financial information, said a security research firm, CYFIRMA, which has exposed the Lazarus Groups plans.

According to a report published in Nepali media a few months ago, also highlighted the fact, how a group of North Korean nationals operating illegal hacking from the busiest neighbourhood in the capital city of Kathmandu shows Nepals homeland security could be in threat. It signifies an alarming crisis of Nepals security in compliance with its commitment to international forums like the UN. It the situation persists, it wont be long before Nepal is branded a criminal hub.

According to the website, a group of North Korean hackers has remained surreptitiously active in operating cyber espionage from Apartment No 16 A of the Harmony Housing at Tokha, especially targeting banking and financial institutions across the world. The report further mentions that the gang took resort in Harmony Housing in collaboration with some Nepali nationals. The principal objective was found to be targeting banks, financial institutions, and organizations as well as retrieving sensitive information from different intelligent organizations. They supplied this data, facts, and information back to the North Korean government which is under crippling economic sanctions.

US Government agencies also have sounded an alert of activities of North Korean hackers group is carrying out a sophisticated cyber-enabled attack on ATM to rob banks and other financial institutions in the world. Most of these North Korean national operating from Nepal are posing a great security threat to India. The main motive of this North Korean hackers groups to collect money for the North Korean regime.

In an alert issued by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Treasury, FBI, and USCYBERCOM said, The The North Korean hackers' group BeagleBoyz have resumed their ATM cash-out campaigns that they have been conducting since 2015 with remarkable success. Money stolen by the cybercrime group is used by the North Korean regime to develop UN-prohibited nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.
Top US infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci said no one has seen the coronavirus vaccine data yet, despite President Donald Trump asserting that the US will have one "very soon."

Fauci told The Daily Beast in an interview that only one person has access to the data, at this stage of development, who will assess the data and determine whether the vaccine is ready for production or needs to undergo more testing.

"These are blind placebo-controlled trials. The only ones who see the data intermittently is the safety data monitoring board. a single unblinded statistician," Fauci told The Daily Beast. "Those data are not public data, no one can know what those data show."

"That person looks at the data and says, 'OK, let's keep the trial going, we don't have enough data to make a decision.' Or that person can look at the data and say, 'You know, there really is a very strong signal of efficacy, let's make it known,'" he continued.

That would mean that Trump himself hasn't even seen the vaccine data, though he told reporters last week, "We essentially have it."

The president has stepped back from his assertion that the vaccine would be made available as soon as October of this year, instead saying that it would be distributed likely around April 2021.

The infectious disease expert told The Daily Beast that the efficacy of a vaccine could be determined by November or December of this year, but it won't necessarily be ready for distribution at that time as well.

Even if a coronavirus vaccine were to be distributed, there is the added task of whether or not Americans would choose to be vaccinated.

Fauci described the "lack of trust in a vaccine" as "multifaceted," a characteristic that is further complicated by the mixed messaging coming out of the federal government.

"Even if there weren't any mixed signals coming out of the government, there still would be a bit of an anti-vaxx feeling," Fauci told The Daily Beast. "You superimpose a part of that... the kind of mixed signals that are coming out of different agencies, people read that in the newspaper, whether it's real or not, and they get concerned... can you believe what the government says?
Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 23 : After facing the heat from the media in various high profile cases, the ruling Pinarayi Vijayan government decided at a state cabinet meeting on Wednesday to take action against the mediapersons.

Advice was sought from the legal authorities on the way forward and it has been decided to take legal action under the CrPC, said sources.

The Vijayan government faced flak after a fire broke out in the General Administration Department (GAD) in the state Secretariat last month. As the news of the fire spread, top leaders of the Congress and the BJP arrived outside the Secretariat and a tiff broke out between the security personnel and the leaders as no one was allowed inside the Secretariat.

The entire opposition alleged that crucial files pertaining to the now infamous gold smuggling case were destroyed and the fire was set deliberately to destroy evidence.

The media also had a field day latching on to the opposition allegations.

On Tuesday, Vijayan said there were two separate teams probing the incident and one of them had submitted its report while the report of the other team was awaited.

According to the legal advice that the Vijayan government has reportedly received, the government can proceed with criminal defamation suits and can also approach the Press Council of India.

Reacting to the news, Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala said if this happens it would not be acceptable in a country where freedom of press prevails.

"This is sheer intolerance and nothing else. Will anyone forget the travails that the previous Oommen Chandy government faced. If this government goes ahead with it, it would be the first time that a government here will be doing this," said Chennithala.

Vijayan became the first Chief Minister of Kerala to have cancelled the weekly cabinet media briefing after he assumed office in May 2016. He has also asked the media not to come looking for television bytes while he was on the move. He has made it very clear that the Chief Minister would speak only when he wants to and not when the media wants it.

Vijayan had lost his temper at the media earlier also. He had said, "Kadeku Purethu" (get out) when television cameramen were taking shots of a meeting which was about to begin between him and the leaders of the BJP/RSS that was held in the state capital at a hotel in August 2017.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
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.
Airports, Hotels, and Railways Look to Autonomous, Disinfection Robots to Reinforce Safety, Peace of Mind and Support Travel Industry Recovery

With the latest forecast by the U.S. Travel Association by Tourism Economics predicting $505 billion in losses globally through the end of 2020, UVD Robots announced its autonomous disinfecting robot is being increasingly deployed within hotels, railways, and airports across the globe. UVD Robots' mobile, fully autonomous robot integrates UVC light and a large number of disinfection-specialized apps to disinfect against viruses and bacteria not only on surfaces, but the air as well, providing a fully comprehensive infection control and prevention solution.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200923005109/en/

"Right now it's critical for the hospitality industry to not only enhance how we protect travelers, but also provide them with reassurance that we're taking every possible step from check-in to check-out," said Trish Berry, General Manager, YOTEL Boston. An extension of YOTEL's operation SmartStay safety measures, the UVD Robot, named 'Vi-YO-Let', will offer an even deeper level of disinfection throughout high-touch public spaces and select cabins at YOTEL Boston. Photo credit: YOTEL Boston.

"As the travel and hospitality industry looks to bring travelers back, they are working to meet new and heightened expectations for safety and cleanliness in order to build trust," said Per Juul Nielsen, CEO of UVD Robots. "Because our UVD Robots are simple, safe and effective, we are working with an increasing number of hotels, airports, railways and others to bring hospital-grade disinfection solutions to these facilities. We couldn't be more thrilled than to play a role in the recovery of this industry."

Hotels

In early September, YOTEL Boston, a hotel featuring 326 cabins located in Boston's Seaport District, announced it would implement the UVD Robots technology. Beginning September 15, 2020, select cabins within YOTEL are being cleaned by the UVD Robots when vacant, while all high-touch public spaces are also being disinfected upon closing.

"YOTEL Boston is honored to implement the UVD Robot technology, offering guests an even deeper level of disinfection throughout public spaces and selected cabins," said Trish Berry, General Manager, YOTEL Boston. "Right now it's critical for the hospitality industry to not only enhance how we protect travelers, but also provide them with reassurance that we're taking every possible step from check-in to check-out. Our partnership with UVD Robots is an extension of the YOTEL signature hi-tech, lo-touch customer experience and the operation SmartStay protocols we've established to deliver every type of guest with exactly what they need to feel safe throughout their travels."

The autonomous disinfection robots are also in use in Europe's hotel industry, e.g. at the Clarion Hotel Congress Copenhagen Airport applying UVD Robots to disinfect conference rooms and public areas.

"It's a very exciting opportunity for us to explore the use of UVD Robots. I'm amazed to see robots now move from mowing your lawn and vacuuming your house to handling disinfection," explained the General Manager Jesper Olesen, who also highlights this as a competitive differentiator. "We see hospital-grade disinfection as an important part of our new value proposition when communicating to guests why they should choose our hotel."

Airports and train stations

Last week, The Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) became one of the first airports in the U.S. to use a UVD Robot. UVD Robots were used to disinfect bathrooms, baggage claim areas, passenger checkpoints, TSA areas, and more after hours.

"Grand Rapids airport chose to use UVD Robots due to the autonomous ability of the product allowing GRR to be on the forefront of UVC Technology," explained Timothy Haizlip, C.M., Maintenance Director of Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority. "UVC technology creates a safer environment for our travelers and is in alignment with our 'Fly Safe, Fly Ford' Campaign."

Additionally, as part of its "Fly Safe" campaign addressing Covid-19, UVD Robots has been operational at Heathrow Airport in London for more than two months. "We've received an excellent response on the robots' performance there," says Heath Williams, CEO and Founder of Nordic Eye Sales Accelerator, UVD Robots' sales partner in the UK, who is also working with St. Pancras International railway station in London, which will be receiving UVD Robots in the coming days, and planning to deploy them to disinfect washrooms at the stations.

Several additional projects are also currently being carried out in the travel industry within the Middle East, including the Hamad International Airport in Qatar.

About UVD Robots Blue Ocean Robotics

UVD Robots is a subsidiary of one of the world's leading groups in the development of professional service robots, Blue Ocean Robotics, that also includes subsidiaries like GoBe Robots, PTR Robots and Mink Robots. Blue Ocean Robotics is headquartered in Europe's "robot capital" Odense in Denmark, where the group develops, produces and sells professional service robots primarily in healthcare, hospitality, construction, and agriculture. The robots are developed from problem, idea and design over development, commercialization and all the way to scale up. Each robot is organized in its own subsidiary-venture company, making Blue Ocean Robotics the world's first Robot Venture Factory.

Link to Press Kit

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200923005109/en/

Contacts:

Company Contact

Merima Cikotic

Blue Ocean Robotics

E: mc@blue-ocean-robotics.com

T: +45 7199 5606

Media contact

Mette McCall

McCall Media

E: mette@mccallmedia.net

T: +1 415-800-3517
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Linkedin Rizki Fachriansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, September 23, 2020 15:24 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46acf97 1 Business food-estate,Jokowi,Central-Kalimantan,North-Sumatra,food-resilience,COVID-19,pandemic,Prabowo-Subianto,food-security,FAO Free

The government has determined that the countrys food estate will be primarily developed in Central Kalimantan and North Sumatra, bringing the program closer to fruition amid concerns over a food crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

President Joko Jokowi Widodo revealed on Wednesday that the development of the food estate in Kapuas regency and Pulau Pisau regency, Central Kalimantan and in Humbang Hasundutan regency, North Sumatra was already under way.

In addition, the government had started the early stages of food estate development in several other provinces, such as Papua, East Nusa Tenggara and South Sumatra, he said.

There has been progress in the field, despite a number of issues that immediately need to be resolved, such as matters related to land ownership in the food estate area, the President said, adding that he would discuss land ownership issues with the Agrarian and Spatial Planning Ministry.

Read also: Prabowo to oversee development of food estate program, Jokowi says

He went on to say that the government had formulated a master plan for the program, given that a unified development scheme was crucial to account for irrigated and non-irrigated lands in each food estate site.

[] there are 148,000 hectares of irrigated land in Central Kalimantan that will be used to plant rice paddies and 622,000 ha of non-irrigated land in the region developed for cassava, corn and cattle, Jokowi said.

Furthermore, infrastructure development was already under way in the regions  including the construction of roads  to accommodate access for vehicles and heavy equipment, he added.

Jokowi appointed Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto to lead the development of the national food estate program because food resilience falls within the domain of national defense.

He said the program was meant as an anticipatory measure amid concerns over a global food crisis due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, as predicted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Toyota is the newest partner in the Swiss Re platform that provides a risk score on vehicles so insurers can develop premiums that reflect new safety features.

Through this partnership with Toyota Insurance Services (TIS)/Toyota Insurance Management Europe, Swiss Re will extend its ADAS (Advanced Drivers Assistance Systems) risk score to Toyota and Lexus vehicles. As a result, primary insurers will be able to offer preferential rates to owners of ADAS-equipped Toyota and Lexus cars.

Advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) support drivers in avoiding accidents. Insurers face the challenge of knowing which ADAS features are installed in a vehicle, what their impact on safety is, and to what extent drivers use them.

Swiss Re Risk Scoring System Aims to Reward Safe Cars with Lower Premiums A car owner should be able to pay lower insurance premiums for driving a car with safety features, such as automated braking that stops the car when the driver is distracted or lane keep assist systems that help prevent a collision if a car enters a drivers blind spot. Unfortunately, premiums dont always match safety performance. Enter the team at Swiss Re P&C Solutions, which is assessing vehicle safety features with its Automated Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) Risk Score, so safe cars can be rewarded with lower premiums.

The ADAS risk score was launched by Swiss Re and BMW Group in 2019 with the aim of solving this issue and developing a vehicle-specific insurance rating that primary insurers worldwide can use to calculate insurance premiums, taking safety-relevant driver assistance systems into account.

The rollout of these risk scores is planned to start in 2021 and will initially focus on European countries.

Swiss Re said it intends to integrate other major car brands into the ADAS platform, hoping it can create an industry standard.

We have always aimed to use the data on repairs and, more recently, telematics driving data, to help improve the safety performance of Toyota and Lexus cars and its drivers. This partnership with Swiss Re takes that mission a step further, enabling our customers to benefit from optimised insurance premiums that reflect the safety improvements it will deliver, as well as contribute to reducing the overall cost of ownership for Toyota and Lexus customers, said Michael Kainzbauer, CEO Toyota Insurance Services.

By giving customers another incentive to purchase advanced driving assistance systems, we indirectly contribute to reducing accidents. This completely fits with our vision to make the world more resilient, commented Jason Richards, head of Swiss Res casualty underwriting reinsurance.

Toyota Insurance Management Solutions is an independent licensed insurance agency and an affiliate of Toyota Financial Services. Nationwide, Safeco, Travelers and National General are among its insurance carrier partners.

Topics Auto Europe Swiss Re
New Delhi, Sep 23 : Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Wednesday said Haryana has performed "outstandingly" in COVID-19 management, however the officials need to be cautious owing to the upcoming festive season.

The Union Home Secretary was holding a review meeting to tackle the COVID-19 crisis in the National Capital Region (NCR).

In the meeting, Haryana Chief Secretary Keshni Anand Arora apprised that the Haryana government is closely monitoring the cases of coronavirus.

She specified that the state has been emphasising on RT-PCR testing and rapid antigen testing to deal with the corona crisis, as a result of which the condition of the districts falling under the NCR is improving.

She said the ratio of RT-PCR testing and rapid antigen testing in the state is 65:35. All corona symptomatic patients are undergoing RT-PCR testing.

The state has focussed on contact tracing and clinical management, besides conducting several public awareness activities and providing testing facilities for COVID-19 management.

Keshni said active contact tracing within a span of 72 hours is being done through a special cell in the districts.

She said that the state is ensuring strict adherence of social distancing norms, wearing of masks along with compliance of standard operating procedures.

She said that due to increase in economic activities, return of labourers and farmer agitation in the state, cases of coronavirus are expected to rise.

She added the condition of patients with home isolation is also being continuously monitored.

Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Rajeev Arora said the rate of testing in the state is 68,244 per million, while the rate of testing in districts falling in the NCR of the state is 1,04,423 per million.

Likewise, in the NCR the positivity rate of corona cases is 6.31 and the recovery rate is 84.52 per cent, while the fatality rate of corona infected patients is 0.91 per cent.

It was also informed at the meeting that door-to-door surveys are being meticulously conducted to control the spread of corona along with surveillance by mobile health teams.

Sharing the steps taken to augment sample testing, he said that the number of flu clinics have been increased other than engaging Ayush doctors for collecting samples of patients.

He said that a protocol has been developed according to which the patients with mild symptoms shall remain in home isolation, while the health of such patients is being monitored by the department on the phone and by teams visiting the patients on every alternate day.

Moreover, oxygen cylinder facility is being provided along with other facilities in medical colleges and Covid Care Centres.

A weekly strategy is being prepared to deal with cases of coronavirus.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
A man was shot and killed by San Antonio police Tuesday night during a confrontation at an apartment complex on the West Side, according to a police report.

The Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office identified the man as 44-year-old Victor Sanchez.

Just before 11 p.m., officers responded to a burglary in progress at an apartment in the 5600 block of Culebra Road but there appeared to be no one in the residence when they arrived and no signs of forced entry, so they returned to their police vehicles, SAPD Police Chief William McManus said.

ALSO READ: 1 officer indicted in Breonna Taylor case; not for her death

While in their vehicle, they heard gunshots coming from the apartment and returned to hear a woman and children inside the residence crying and yelling.

According to McManus, the officers still could not get into the apartment and were planning a forced entry through the door when a woman and five children  all between the ages of 1 and 12  came running out of the apartment. McManus said Sanchez remained in the apartment with a gun, and officers attempted to talk with him from the doorway, trying to convince Sanchez to drop the handgun.

Sanchez allegedly retreated into the apartment and said he had a rifle, threatening to shoot, according to the report. Sanchez then walked back into the hallway with the handgun. "The suspect raised his right arm pointing the firearm directly at the officers. Six officers fired at the suspect who was struck multiple times," the report states.

Officers attempted lifesaving measures until paramedics arrived and transported Sanchez to the hospital, where he later died.

The six officers have been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation.

Sanchez is the ninth person to be fatally shot by SAPD this year, with an additional two people killed while in police custody. This latest shooting comes a week after SAPD officers shot and killed 55-year-old Darrell Zemault Sr. in his front yard while police were executing a warrant.

Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news and general assignment reporter for MySA.com | taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | @TaylorPettaway
- President Akufo-Addo paid a working visit to the ECOWAS commission in Abuja, Nigeria

- His visit was to familiarise with was to enable him interact with the management and staff of Community Institutions

- He visited the commission on Monday, September 21, 2020

Our manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo who also doubles as the chairman of the Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS), has since his election into his new office kept up with the good work.

On Monday, September 21, 2020, he paid a working visit to the headquarters of the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja, in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In a Facebook post sighted by YEN.com.gh, the president noted that the visit was to enable him interact with the management and staff of Community Institutions on the collective agenda on integration and development of the West African Region.

Akufo-Addo pays working visit to ECOWAS commission in Abuja; photos drop Source: Facebook (President Akufo-Addo)

Source: UGC

His visit to the commission in Abuja was captured in colorful images.

READ ALSO: Lovely photos drop as Akufo-Addo chairs first ECOWAS consultative meeting

His visit to the ECOWAS commission has drawn several reactions from Ghanaians

Shiloh Hillton believes the president will make a difference in ECOWAS.

My president I believe in you, I know you'll make a difference in ECOWAS. I have never placed high expectation on any leader than you, so far you haven't disappointed me yet. God bless you

Uxio Anold Huntington simple admired the president's work.

Excellent work as a great leader. I salute you workaholic chairman

Dwamena Hanson believes president Akufo-Addo's leadership will bring about great change in the ECOWAS.

Great development. With the outstanding hope that your salient Leadership acumen will bring a great change to ECOWAS. Best wishes Sir. CONGRATULATIONS.

Dramani Ransford Awini was of the view that the president ignored the fact that it was Kwame Nkrumah's birthday.

Maybe we should remind you that today is Kwame Nkrumah day. A true African and the greatest Ghanaian politician ever. We shouldn't be made to feel like the day was maintained as a public holiday for no reason.

Not for you to take a holiday but to give recognition and reverence to those who paved the way.... Thank you.

Joseph Bagah Kaakono thinks the president did not care about Nkrumah's birthday.

So you never know today is Nkrumah's birthday? Ignoring him just to post about ECOWAS wouldn't change anything, perhaps you will never be remembered as such

READ ALSO: Election 2020: Out of 55 seats lost in 2016 NDC has already won 47  Haruna Iddrisu

YEN.com.gh earlier reported that Akufo-Addo held his first meeting as the chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

On Tuesday, September 15, 2020, he held a consultative meeting on the political situation in Mali to help finality to the deliberations on Mali Present at the meeting were Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS.

In a Facebook sighted by YEN.com.gh, president Akufo-Addo shared lovely photos from the colorful meeting.

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
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- I am saddened to learn of the death of Rick Case and I extend my deepest condolences to his wife Rita and their three children. Rick was a leader in the auto world and had an exceptional ability to communicate a wonderful mix of vision and compassion. Many know Rick as an exceptional car dealer, and he certainly was that, but he was also a pillar of his communitycontributing generously to numerous local charities. On behalf of myself and the entire Hyundai team, we will miss Rick and his indelible spirit. His legacy will continue to inspire Hyundai and our industry for many years to come.

SOURCE Hyundai Motor America

Related Links

www.hyundainews.com


President Trump speaks as he views construction during a visit to Shell's soon-to-be completed Pennsylvania Petrochemicals Complex in Monaca, Penn., in August. (Susan Walsh/AP)

When a major airline stopped using this city's airport as a global hub in 2004, a billion-dollar renovation project that was supposed to breathe life into the regional economy became a suffocating financial burden, and local leaders stopped looking to the sky for salvation.

Instead, they looked beneath their feet.

Hydraulic fracturing of vast stores of natural gas under Pittsburgh International Airport and thousands of surrounding acres not only bailed out an airport skidding toward default, it touched off a boom that has generated jobs and shaped the economy of southwestern Pennsylvania for two decades.

Now, the future of that boom could shape the presidential race.

Television commentary about the presidential race may focus on the future of the Supreme Court and other national questions, but in the states that will actually decide the election, local issues often matter more. In this corner of America, that means fracking.

Voters whose economic well-being depends on extracting natural gas are extremely skeptical of any politician who would inhibit it. President Trump is doing everything he can to exploit those worries, taking aim at Joe Bidens plan to rapidly phase out fossil-fuel power plants to brand the Democrat as a threat to the regions energy boom.

Biden doesnt support a ban on fracking on private property, where all the fracking happens in Pennsylvania. But he does want to stop the procedure on federal lands, which would have more impact in the West and be a blow to the broader industry. Bidens running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris, has been a vocal proponent of outlawing fracking altogether, which California Gov. Gavin Newsom has now proposed as statewide policy.

Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden speaks during a campaign rally at Eakins Oval in Philadelphia. (Matt Rourke/AP)

Biden's nuanced position has created tension in both directions: Even as Trump falsely accuses him of wanting to ban fracking, climate activists during the primaries attacked him for not going further. Some activists continue to press the Democrats to adopt more sweeping climate policies, regardless of the political risk.

Story continues

That frustrates some Democratic leaders here, including Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, who backs a gradual transition to renewable energy.

Denying climate science is lunacy, Fetterman said. But to pretend we can windmill and solar panel our entire nations infrastructure is disingenuous and ignores reality, too. He pointed to a recent fracking moratorium in California at the same time the state continued to rely on electricity generated with natural gas produced by fracking elsewhere.

That doesnt make you an eco-warrior, it makes you a hypocrite, Fetterman said.

Trump's attacks are putting the areas Democratic leaders on edge as they scramble to help Biden cling to a modest lead in a state that he badly needs to win.

Fracking really saved us, said Rich Fitzgerald, a Biden supporter and the county executive for Allegheny County, which includes Pittsburgh, as he lead a reporter on a tour of the area by the airport. A lifelong resident of the region, Fitzgerald lived through the tough decades starting in the 1980s when the steel mills closed, and the lack of jobs triggered a mass out-migration of young workers.

There were no opportunities, Fitzgerald said. Fracking changed everything. I mean literally. It brought tons of wealth into the community. We actually had people coming here from other places.

Not just to work in natural gas. The flow of wealth from the industry positioned the region to make infrastructure investments that attracted technology innovators and drew big corporations like Amazon, Uber and Dicks Sporting Goods to build and expand campuses in the area.

Allegheny County executive Rich Fitzgerald. (Seema Mehta/Los Angeles Times)

Fitzgerald has implored the former vice president to keep hammering home the point that Biden made explicitly during a recent speech in Pittsburgh: That he has no plans to ban fracking in Pennsylvania.

He needs to continue doing it, he said.

Trump's unexpected victory in 2016 depended heavily on a big win in southwestern Pennsylvania. Biden has helped Democrats gain ground since then. The outcome in the state may hinge on whether he can hold onto it.

One reason Biden has the lead in the state right now is because Trump is not winning southwest Pennsylvania by nearly as much as he did in 2016, said G. Terry Madonna, director of the Franklin and Marshall College Poll of the state. But it is hard to say how much voters trust Biden on this issue.

The politics of the issue are complex. Statewide, voters are evenly split on a fracking ban, and Bidens robust climate-action plan has helped energize voters he needs in the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh metropolitan areas. The key for Biden, party strategists believe, is to maintain a carefully balanced approach, even if that frustrates activists on both sides.

Many top Democrats in Pennsylvania were relieved when Biden, a native of Scranton, won the nomination. He was one of the few Democratic contenders who did not champion a national fracking ban. His close ties to unions are helping Democrats rebuild some of the coalitions Trump managed to erode. Biden regularly ventures into rural areas that local leaders say Hillary Clinton avoided in 2016.

We used to call him Pennsylvanias third senator because of his growing up in Scranton and Delaware being right next door, and he just has a natural affinity for what our western Pennsylvania values are, said Fitzgerald.

But the challenge Biden continues to face is clear while talking to voters near a sprawling construction site 20 miles north of the airport, close to the banks of the Ohio River. The multi-billion-dollar Royal Dutch Shell petrochemical plant being built there will produce 1.6-million metric tons of plastic pellets annually for such things as cellphone cases and food packaging. The plastics are made with a byproduct of the fracking process.

Construction of the plant has created more than 8,000 well-paying construction trade jobs.

Ron Richardson (Seema Mehta/Los Angeles Times)

Bless it, they need the jobs here, said Ron Richardson, a 58-year-old lifelong Democrat who plans to vote for Trump. Richardson is not impressed by Bidens support for the plant and his vows not to ban fracking.

Why did Biden all of a sudden start saying he likes it and everything? Richardson said of fracking. He did nothing but talk bad about it...Now, all of the sudden its getting closer to the deadline, his attitude on a lot of things has changed. And I am a Democrat.

The Trump campaign and his allies are working tirelessly to seed such skepticism.

"Dont forget, I am not the candidate  that said, 'We are not going to have fracking, we are going to ban fracking,'" Trump said at a rally outside Pittsburgh on Tuesday night, alluding to a gaffe Biden made during a primary debate that he later walked back. "Then all of a sudden, he said, 'Maybe I will have some fracking.' And you know that won't last because the radical left won't let them get away with it. I am all for fracking."

Industry leaders remain uneasy with Bidens agenda, which may help amplify Trump's allegations.

We dont get a very warm feeling from the former vice president when he says he wants to ban hydraulic fracturing on federal land and eliminate all fossil fuel use by 2035, said David Spigelmyer, president of the Marcellus Shale Coalition.

He has a vice presidential nominee who has absolutely said she would ban it. He has placed folks on his energy policy team who are hugely against our industry without knowing what it provides to the public.

Spigelmyer said he was hopeful that Biden would address these issues at a major fracking-industry conference next week. But Monday the Biden team relayed the news that the vice president wont be attending the conference, which Trump headlined last year.

Trumps failure to make good on some key promises, such as reviving the region's coal and steel industries, are helping Biden here. But if there is one political tactic the president is skilled at, it is creating confusion and doubt.

And this region, where people have grown accustomed to living in fear of economic collapse, is particularly vulnerable to that, said Veronica Coptis, executive director of the Center for Coalfield Justice, which advocates for southwest Pennsylvania residents dealing with the environmental damage caused by coal and gas extraction.

"When we're getting feedback, she said, we hear uncertainty from people on whether they can trust the information they are being bombarded with from both parties.

Mehta reported from Pittsburgh and Halper reported from Washington. Times staff writer Anna Phillips contributed to this report from Washington.
The chief investment officer of Australia's newest biotech fund says capital is flowing into healthcare sector in the face of the pandemic and investors are keen to buy in despite the current recession.

Matt McNamara, who spent 14 years managing $200 million at Melbourne's Bioscience Managers, is now heading up Horizon 3 Biotech, a fund aiming to launch with up to $80 million to invest in a broad range of local and international life sciences businesses.

The race for a successful coronavirus vaccine has put biotech investing front and centre, but concerns about access to capital remain. Credit:AAP

The operation has a $10 million cornerstone investment from Chinese biotech investor Jian Sun, who also sits on the Horizon 3's board. Its team will spend the rest of the year raising additional cash from sophisticated investors, family offices and superannuation.

Local investors have warned Australia's biotechnology sector could face a serious crunch in the coming months as the recession makes private investors rethink their asset allocations towards less risky pursuits.
In its first report back to creditors, administrators Deloitte say they have uncovered a "significant co-mingling of funds" within company bank accounts here and globally.

That has prompted a warning for Kiwi travellers considering using agents not registered with the industry association.

That has prompted a warning for Kiwi travellers considering using agents not registered with the industry association.

Abbey L'Estrange missed out on a three-month trip of a lifetime when Covid-19 shut borders around the world.

But to make it worse, she has now lost $10,000 due to STA Travel's nosedive into insolvency.

Travellers like Abbey, who deposited thousands of dollars for their overseas trips, could be forgiven for thinking those funds were going towards their dream getaways.

But sources inside STA have told Radio New Zealand that was not always the case, and customers' funds were instead often syphoned off to pay for company expenses.

Those claims are confirmed in a just-released report by administrators Deloitte, obtained by Radio New Zealand.

It states that money held by STA - in the form of customers' deposits for trips, as well as refunds paid back by providers like airlines for trips that never happened - has been squandered elsewhere.

"Was money received by STA relating to client refunds and deposits used for operating expenses, such as staff wages, PAYE and rent? We are still working through that but it would appear the answer to that question is yes," administrator and Deloitte's national head of restructuring services David Webb says.

With his colleague Colin Owens, he has been investigating the cause and fallout of STA Travel NZ's closure, which was proceeded by the failure of Swiss-based parent company STA Travel Holdings AG.

He says many out-of-pocket STA customers believe their deposits and refunds were held in a trust account by STA Travel NZ.

"The monies were not held in a trust account," David says.

Instead, they were held in a so-called client fund account.

The administrators' investigations have found that funds in that account were forwarded to STA international entities for supplier payments.

Funds were also funnelled into STA Travel NZ's operating account, and from there used to pay for company expenses.

As to whether it was legal, David says he would not comment, but repeated that the monies were not held in a trust account.

"There's not actual law saying that the travel agents have to hold the money in a trust fund, it's not like a real estate agent or anything like that," University of Auckland associate professor in commercial law Alex Sims told Radio New Zealand.

However, David says the issue of agencies not using customers' funds to pay for their travel had caused issues in the past.

The practice raised eyebrows for the liquidator investigating the affairs of Auckland's Guru Travel, when it failed last year.

"The liquidator actually said they thought it was irregular that it wasn't being held. So it may be a thing that's done in the industry, but it doesn't actually mean to say they legally have to."

In the Deloitte report to creditors, David and Colins say they have faced difficulties accessing records for the company.

STA Travel NZ's downfall has prompted David to give a word of warning for New Zealand travellers.

"It's really important that when people are booking with travel agencies that they are, particularly here in New Zealand, registered with TAANZ  the Travel Agents Association of NZ  but also where possible, booking on credit cards which give you the ability for further insurance."

But that word of warning's no help for customers already stung by the STA mess, like Abbey.

"It's been pretty stressful. $10,000 is a lot of money to lose," she says.

And it only gets worse for creditors of STA Travel NZ, with losses now totalling $11.1 million and counting.

STA Travel's global management has not replied to requests for comment, and STA Travel's New Zealand former general manager has directed questions to administrators.

-RNZ
KARACHI, Pakistan  Eight years after Pakistans worst industrial fire killed 264 people and injured 60 others at a garment factory in the countrys largest city, a court has sentenced two men to hang for arson.

But for distraught families of the victims, justice was long delayed, and the verdict on Tuesday fell short.

It came after years of hearings and testimony from at least 400 witnesses. The slow pace of the trial frustrated victims families, who accused the police of failing to properly investigate and charge the real culprits.

Saeeda Khatoon, 50, whose 18-year-old son was killed in the 2012 fire at the complex owned by Ali Enterprises, said that the factorys owners were equally responsible for the blaze because of lax safety standards.
New Delhi: The COVID-19 Pandemic has rendered lakhs of people jobless while lakhs of others are managing with pay cuts and several others are on furlough.

It is in this backdrop that the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has extended an earlier scheme providing relief to those ESI members who lost their job.

The ESIC has extended the period of the Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana (ABVKY) to 30th June, 2021. It may be noted that the ESI Corporation had launched the scheme Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana in 2018. The Scheme was made effective from July 01, 2018 on pilot basis for a period of two years initially, which now stands extended for one more year.

Under the scheme incase the Insured Person (IP) is rendered unemployed, it provides relief to the extent of 25% of the average per day earning during the previous four contribution periods (total earning during the four contribution period/730) to be paid up to maximum 90 days of unemployment once in lifetime of the IP on submission of claim in form of an Affidavit.

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The Relief under ABVKY shall be paid/ payable by Branch Office to IPs directly in their bank account only.

The Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana was launched under the following salient features:

The Insured Person should have been rendered unemployed during the period the relief is claimed. The Insured Person should have been in insurable employment for a minimum period of two years.

He/she should have contributed not less than 78 days during each of the preceding four contribution periods. The contribution in respect of him should have been paid or payable by the employer.

The contingency of the unemployment should not have been as a result of any punishment for misconduct or superannuation or voluntary retirement.

Aadhaar and Bank Account of the Insured Person should be linked with insured person data base.

In case the IP is working for more than one employers and is covered under the ESI scheme he will be considered unemployed only in case he is rendered unemployed with all employers.

The IP will be eligible for Medical benefit as provided under the Act for the period he is availing this relief.

The claim for Relief under ABVKY may be submitted by the claimant any time after rendering unemployed, but not later than one year from the date of unemployment to the appropriate Branch Office in form of affidavit in prescribed Form. No prospective claim i.e. claim for relief under ABVKY for any future period will be allowed.

The IP is required to submit his/her claim online through the ESIC Portal.
Syed Suhail Syed Zin, who was granted a stay of execution from the death penalty on 22 September 2020. (PHOTO: Facebook)

SINGAPORE  The Court of Appeal has called on Tuesday (22 September) for further submissions to be made in the case of a convicted drug trafficker, based on allegations about differential treatment as well as a breach of client-solicitor privilege.

Syed Suhail Syed Zin, 44, has also been granted a stay of execution by the Singapore High Court, as he was originally scheduled to be executed last Friday.

He had earlier filed an application to the High Court for permission to commence judicial review proceedings against the Singapore Prison Service (SPS), to stay the execution of his sentence.

The application was dismissed by Justice See Kee Oon last Thursday, and the appeal was heard by the Court of Appeal on Tuesday. Parties have been directed to file further submissions, and will return to the Court of Appeal on a date to be fixed after 6 October.

Syed Suhail was arrested in 2011 and convicted in December 2015 of a capital charge of possessing at least 38.8 grams of diamorphine or heroin for trafficking. The Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal in October 2018.

Allegations of differential treatment in judicial execution

During Tuesdays hearing, defence lawyer M Ravi alleged that differential treatment has been applied between foreigners and Singaporeans in the scheduling of Syed Suhails judicial execution.

He contended that executions are not being carried out in the same order that the death sentences were meted out, saying that his client was scheduled to be hanged ahead of those who were sentenced before him.

He argued that this violates Syed Suhails Constitutional right to equal treatment under Article 12, as differential treatment has been applied between foreigners and Singaporeans in the scheduling of his judicial execution.

In response, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said in a media release on Tuesday that it denies all allegations of discrimination or impropriety in the scheduling of judicial executions.

All prisoners sentenced to capital punishment are accorded due process according to the law. A judicial execution will only be scheduled after an inmate has exhausted all legal channels for appeal and clemency, regardless of whether the prisoner is a Singaporean or a foreigner, the ministry said.

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MHA added that it will address the baseless allegations comprehensively before the next hearing date.

During the Court of Appeal hearing, Deputy Chief Prosecutor Francis Ng slammed the allegations, saying they were of a most serious and scandalous nature being used to denigrate the head of state. He also called Ravi's applications frivolous and vexatious.

After hearing arguments from both sides, Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, along with appeal judges Judith Prakash and Andrew Phang, ordered parties to file submissions on three points.

First, whether a prisoner awaiting capital punishment has a legitimate expectation that the date on which his punishment is carried out will not result in his being treated differently from other prisoners who are similarly situated.

Second, does the answer to the first question differ if prisoners who are Singaporean are treated differently from those who are not citizens. And third, if there are considerations in respect of the second question that could justify differential treatment. This is in relation to Article 12, which guarantees equality before the law and equal protection of the law to all persons.

Allegation of breach of client-solicitor privilege

The Court of Appeal also heard allegations by Ravi about a breach of client-solicitor privilege, with the lawyer saying that the SPS had given private letters from his client to the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) in 2018. He wanted the entire AGC team to be disqualified, as it had read privileged communications by Syed to his then-lawyer and to his uncle.

The alleged breach was raised on Monday by human rights coalition Community Action Network, who called it deeply alarming.

In response, Deputy Chief Prosecutor Ng said that the AGC came into possession of the letters in the course of preparing documents related to the discharge of Syed's then-lawyer Ramesh Tiwary.

The letters were not used in AGC's response, said Ng, adding that he had not personally seen any of the letters.

The SPS also clarified the circumstances surrounding the letter, saying that there was no legal prohibition against extending letters written by a convicted drug trafficker to AGC.

During a hearing before the Court of Appeal on 3 May 2018, Syed Suhail informed the Court that he wished to introduce evidence from his uncle for the purposes of the appeal, having given the Court various reasons during the trial for not calling his uncle as a defence witness, it said in a media release.

The hearing was then adjourned for parties to look into this request and the Court of Appeal allowed the AGC to file a response if it thought that Syed Suhail was abusing the process of the Court.

In the preparation of its response, AGC approached SPS to check whether Syed Suhail had expressed any prior intention to call his uncle as a witness. SPSs checks revealed that Syed Suhail had informed the Superintendent of his intention to call his uncle as a defence witness. He had also written four letters to his uncle.

In this context, SPS extended a copy of these letters, and one letter to his then-counsel, to the AGC on 10 May 2018 and 7 June 2018. At that time, there was no legal prohibition in the Prisons Act or Regulations against doing so.

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Mahebourg is a picturesque village on the southeast coast of Mauritius. Its shores are usually buzzing with fishers in the morning, chatting while disembarking their catch from pirogues, or peppered with families or friends sat together playing cards and dominoes. But then tragedy struck, devastating this community of 15,000 people.

In late July, MV Wakashio, a 300-metre long bulk carrier carrying 4,000 tons of oil, crashed into fragile coral reefs a few kilometres from Mahebourg. Just under two weeks later, oil started spilling into the turquoise lagoons, turning the sea and the shores black.

The local economy depends on fishers, says Brummell Laurent, owner of a local shop that sells fishing gears. Its the fishers who buy from the local shops. Everyone here is linked to them. If they fall, the whole community falls  it breaks the entire link.
Watch: Sturgeon announces record positive Covid test numbers

A total of 486 people have tested positive for coronavirus in Scotland in the past 24 hours  the highest number of cases the country has recorded in a single day.

Speaking at the Scottish governments daily briefing, Nicola Sturgeon said two more people had also died with COVID-19, bringing the total number of fatalities to 2,508.

The first minister said the numbers were a real cause of concern.

Some 25,495 people have now tested positive in Scotland.

Scotland has recorded the highest number of daily coronavirus cases since the pandemic began. (Getty)

Sturgeon has banned households across Scotland from visiting each other from Wednesday  a rule that goes further than any of the new measures in England announced by Boris Johnson.

She cited data suggesting the ban  which already applied in the west of Scotland  had reduced the spread of the virus, and that extending it to the rest of the country could reduce transmission.

Of the new cases, 224 are in Greater Glasgow and Clyde, 107 are in Lanarkshire and 57 are in Lothian.

Watch: What are the rules on household visits in Scotland?

There are 83 people in hospital confirmed to have the virus, up by 10 in 24 hours.

Of these patients, 10 were said to be in intensive care  no change on Tuesday.

The number of cases at the start of the pandemic could have been significantly higher, but many may have not been caught because the level of testing was much lower.

Of the new cases, 224 are in Greater Glasgow and Clyde. (Getty)

Sturgeon warned students returning to university they had an increased risk of transmitting the virus and they should follow rules, including self-isolation, if required to.

She said the government would strengthen its guidance if necessary.

Sturgeon said: "But  and this is in no way shape or form the fault of students, and I want to be very clear about that  but we do know that student life, the characteristics of student life present risks of transmitting the virus."

The first minister said authorities needed to do everything they could to mitigate against those risks while allowing, as far as possible, students to have the experience of college and university.

Story continues

Watch: Nicola Sturgeon believes Englands restrictions will not be sufficient

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Barack Obama released a video on Twitter urging followers to vote for Joe Biden to ensure America's democracy endures.

To campaign for former vice president on National Voter Registration Day, Mr Obama said the stakes of the 2020 election are much bigger than "Joe or the man he is running to replace".

"What's at stake is whether or not our democracy endures," Obama said in the video. "And the folks in power are hoping that you stay at home."

It is a repeat message from Mr Obamas speech at the Democratic National Convention, where he said that man Mr Biden is trying to replace, Donald Trump, was a threat to democracy and rule of law.

No one, including the president, is above the law, Mr Obama said on the convention's third night.

"Embrace your own responsibility as citizens  to make sure that the basic tenets of our democracy endure Because thats whats at stake right now. Our democracy, he continued.

Mr Trump responded to Mr Obama's DNC speech on Twitter, saying "he spied on my campaign and got caught!"

The president repeated that response at a campaign rally in Ohio on Monday, where he accused Mr Biden of treason and issued a veiled threat of legal action against the previous administration.

You know they spied on my campaign, we caught em. And by the way, thats Biden thats Obama. They spied on my campaign, its never happened before, its treason, Mr Trump said.

[James] Comey and all the sleaze bags, they spied on my campaign and we caught em. Lets now see what happens, I stay out of it, I just stay, Im trying like hell to just stay out of it. I dont have to actually but its better if I do I think.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 07:11:08|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday slammed the Trump administration's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and urged the Republicans to support the House Democrats' 3-trillion-U.S.-dollar relief bill to blunt the economic fallout.

"Republicans must accept the gravity of this crisis & vote on the science-based strategy in the #HeroesAct, which passed the House more than four months ago," Pelosi said in a tweet, referring to the 3-trillion-dollar relief bill drafted by House Democrats.

In a statement issued after the country surpassed the grim milestone of 200,000 COVID-19 deaths, Pelosi said the horrific human toll of this deadly virus is all the more wrenching for its senselessness, but "it did not have to be this way."

The California Democrat criticized the administration's handling of the crisis, saying that President Donald Trump's contempt for science, governance and the American people's health has led to an historic national tragedy.

House Democrats unveiled a 3-trillion-dollar relief proposal in May, which didn't gain support from Republicans. Senate Republicans put forward a 1-trillion-dollar package in late July, and failed to advance a slimmed-down proposal earlier this month.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, has repeatedly lashed out at Pelosi, blaming the Democratic leader for the lack of progress on the new round of COVID-19 relief.

"Even Speaker Pelosi's own House Democrats are sick of her blocking COVID-19 relief. But she insists anything short of her multi-trillion wish list would make Democrats 'a cheap date.' What a joke," McConnell said in a tweet last week.

"People are hurting. They need help. Not the Speaker's pointless political games," said McConnell.

Pelosi, however, said in the statement "either Republicans do not understand the gravity of the situation or do not care about the needs of America's working families." She previously said the Republicans' slimmed-down proposal doesn't come close to addressing the problems.

At a hearing before the House Committee on Financial Services, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in his testimony that the administration continues to try to work with Congress and is ready to reach a bipartisan COVID-19 relief agreement, noting that a "targeted" package is still needed. Enditem
As more and more first responders and industrial workers use mobile devices in the field, the need to stay connected  especially in demanding and sometimes comms-denied environments  becomes even more critical. Both of goTenna's professional radio device models  goTenna Pro and goTenna Pro X  pair with the Sonim XP8 Android smartphone via Bluetooth LE or USB tether. The Pro X device model specifically offers compatibility with leading third-party apps, such as the Team Awareness Kit for Android ( ATAK or CivTAK ) for real-time situational awareness and collaboration. The goTenna radio devices are available as standalone units and as a part of ruggedized Deployment Kits , which store, configure, and charge up to 30 units.

"Sonim field engineers trialed goTenna Pro across North America, and the feedback is overwhelmingly positive. The application is intuitive, off-grid messaging and location sharing is quick and easy, and most importantly, the solution is affordable," said John Graff, CMO, Sonim Technologies. "We are thrilled the Sonim XP8 now enables off-grid communications for our heroes in the military, first responders and industrial workers."

Key features of a paired goTenna Pro radio device and Sonim's XP8 handset include:

Durable: Sonim's high power 4900mAh battery charges Pro or Pro X devices paired to the handset via USB tether for multiple shifts

Sonim's high power 4900mAh battery charges Pro or Pro X devices paired to the handset via USB tether for multiple shifts Programmable: goTenna's software development kit (SDK) supports custom and third-party applications for low-bandwidth data transmissions

goTenna's (SDK) supports custom and third-party applications for low-bandwidth data transmissions Readily Available: The solution is available via leading Sonim resellers in the U.S. and Canada , and goTenna resellers in over 75 countries

goTenna Pro and Pro X devices meet Sonim's ultra-rugged, IP-68 performance standards, and contain Intrinsically Safe Class I and II, Division 2 Class III, Divisions 1 and 2 certifications. It is a dual band with up to 5W VHF/UHF output and enables mesh networking with a six hop limit per unit.

Like Sonim XP8 handsets, goTenna Pro and Pro X devices meet the demands of austere operating environments. Colorado's wildland firefighting crews use goTenna to maintain visibility and safety of individual firefighters when cell towers are down, and the Mesa County Search and Rescue Ground Team relies on goTenna to coordinate searches for missing persons in mountainous terrain.

Sonim and goTenna recently appeared at the 2020 International Wireless Communications Expo for a panel session entitled "Bring the Network with You: Deployable Networks and Off Network Communications." To listen to the full conversation, click here.

For more information, visit Sonim Accessories and goTenna Pro .

About Sonim

Sonim Technologies is a leading U.S. provider of ultra-rugged mobility solutions designed specifically for task workers physically engaged in their work environments, often in mission-critical roles. The Sonim solution includes ultra-rugged mobile phones, a suite of industrial-grade accessories, and data and workflow applications which are collectively designed to increase worker productivity, communication and safety on the job site. Please visit https://sonimtech.com/ .

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Roman Kemp has revealed that he was dumped by an ex-girlfriend after she accused him of cheating with his Capital FM co-host Vick Hope.

The DJ admitted that his former partner saw snaps of him helping to fix Vick's dress on a red carpet three years ago, and ended their relationship after becoming convinced that he was being unfaithful.

In July Roman split from his girlfriend Anne-Sophie Flury after three years together, with sources claiming their relationship went downhill after being 'unable to make things work' during lockdown.

That's not right! Roman Kemp has revealed that he was dumped by an ex-girlfriend after she accused him of cheating with his Capital FM co-host Vick Hope

Roman - who was not dating Anne-Sophie at the time - told Metro: 'We had to go to the MTV EMAs Vick and I, and on the red carpet, Vick's dress completely fell open.'

'Obviously I've seen it, so I've run over and helped her out, done up the back again. So that's what all the photos that ended up in the newspaper were, just me helping Vick do her dress up again.

'The girlfriend I had at the time, the Greek girlfriend who had no idea what I do or my relationships with anyone, saw this photo, flipped out and then didn't really like me again.'

Not true! The DJ revealed his former partner wrongfully thought he'd been unfaithful after he was spotted helping to fix Vick's dress at the 2018 EMA's (pictured)

Vick and Roman insisted they've been nothing more than close friends over three years of working together on Capital FM, before she quit the breakfast show earleir this year.

It comes after Roman was reported to have enjoyed a successful and 'tipsy' date at London's Soho House, according to The Sun on Sunday.

A mutual friend told the publication: 'They have known each other through the party circuit for a few years, but nothing has ever happened before.

'Roman's always thought she was beautiful, and decided to pluck up the courage to ask her out.'

Hilarious: Both Roman and Vick laughed off claims they'd had an affair, insisting they're nothing more than close friends (pictured with Capital FM co-host Sonny Jay)

Speaking about their successful date, the source claimed they kissed and said: 'They had a really fun, very tipsy date and have been in touch every day since.'

The I'm A Celeb host and his neuroscientist girlfriend Anne-Sophie split up in July, after three years together.

The couple only moved in together in January but things went downhill during lockdown and they 'weren't able to make things work'.

Roman met the Swiss scientist on Tinder - and he is said to already back on dating apps to take his mind off the split.

Over: In July Roman split from his girlfriend Anne-Sophie Flury after three years together (pictured in March 2020)

A source told The Sun: 'Roman loved Sophie and things had been going really well for them.

'But being in lockdown is tough for any couple and they just werent able to make things work, which has been upsetting and tough for them both.

'His pals have encouraged him to move on and have got him on [dating app] Raya, which is packed with attractive and creative women.'

The couple had seemed inseparable- even co-owning a pet dog together, called Luna.
Now, a team of appointed special prosecutors is trying to prove Jackie Wilsons guilt without his tainted confession, relying instead on decades-old transcripts of previous testimony and a handful of live witnesses. The effort makes Wilson a rarity in 2020: someone still facing criminal peril after a judge has found he was mistreated by the late Burge, whose conduct resulted in defendant after defendant walking out of jails and prisons to freedom after successfully claiming they were tortured.
(Newser)  President Trump held yet another campaign rally Tuesday night, this time in Pennsylvania, and he took the chance to hurl new, unprovoked criticism at one of his frequent targets: Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar. "She's telling us how to run our country," Trump complained to the not-socially-distanced crowd gathered in a hangar at Pittsburgh International Airport, per Business Insider. "How did you do where you came from? How was your country doing?" Omar didn't wait long to hit back. "Firstly, this is my country & I am a member of the House that impeached you," she responded on Twitter. Omar, who became an American citizen in 2000, at the age of 17, then reminded Trump she'd left her first home in Somalia, caught up in civil war, when she was just 8. "An 8-year-old doesn't run a country even though you run our country like one," she added.

story continues below

Per Newsweek, Trump also continued his attacks against journalists, addressing when reporters are removed from live broadcasts by cops. "They grabbed one guy ... They threw him aside like he was a little bag of popcorn," he said. "Honestly, when you watch the crap that we've all had to take so long ... it's actually a beautiful sight." Trump also touched upon his upcoming Supreme Court nominee ("they're brilliant, great scholars," he said of his potential picks); claimed he'd done "more in 47 months than [Joe Biden] did in 47 years"; and railed against Pennsylvania's pandemic response, reports the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "Your governor hasn't been so great, you know?" he said. Earlier that day, Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald had shaken his head at the fact that Trump chose to hold a rally in the first place, citing his state's continued push to beat back the pandemic. "I wish he would just do a virtual eventthe responsible way to do it," he said. (Read more Ilhan Omar stories.)
There's a lot of uncertainty around Huawei with the ban in place, which doesn't allow US companies, or those who use US hardware and software to trade with the company. But there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel because people familiar with the matter say that Intel has received license to deal with Huawei.

As you might know companies can apply for a license and the US government will decide which companies can do business with Huawei. Nothing is official yet, but Intel is probably in the clear while other companies are still waiting for an approval. Huawei has officially confirmed that Qualcomm is waiting for license and as soon as it does, the Chinese firm will start sourcing its SoCs from it since it can't use its in-house Kirin chips no more.

This doesn't come as a surprise since Qualcomm has been in talks with the US government for quite some time now. Various reports suggest that AMD has applied for more than one license so it can sell its chips to more than one Chinese firm and we are pretty sure that Huawei is on the list.

Source 1 * Source 2
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 18:25:34|Editor: huaxia

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CHANGSHA, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese consumers are expected to gain access to genuine European specialties such as Irish whiskey, Bayerisches Bier, Prosciutto di Parma in a more reliable way from next year, thanks to the signing of a China-EU agreement on product origins.

The bilateral agreement on geographical indications (GI) signed on Sept. 14 is aimed at protecting each side's 275 varieties of specialties, including wine, tea, agricultural products and food.

GI is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation embedded to that origin. The agreement is expected to prevent counterfeiting of GI and enable consumers on both sides to buy authentic, high-quality imported products.

"With GI signs, you can buy European products in China without worrying if they are counterfeits," said Zhou Taoyu from Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province. Zhou graduated from a French university.

The French champagne that Zhou wanted to buy is made in a champagne producing region of France, with specific varieties of grapes and precise methods.

Chinese consumers have a great demand for food and wine produced in Europe. In the first half of 2020, China-EU agricultural trade volume reached 14.39 billion U.S. dollars, up 12.8 percent over the same period last year. In addition, China imported 10.56 billion U.S. dollars worth of agricultural products from the EU in the period, up 27.8 percent year on year, according to the China customs.

According to the agreement, Chinese products also have the right to use the official certification mark of the EU, making it easier for Chinese companies to export products to Europe.

The first 100 Chinese GI products in the agreement come from 27 provinces in China, and they will enter the European market from the beginning of 2021.

Anhua dark tea, one of the Chinese geographical indications, is a specialty product of Anhua County in Hunan Province.

Wang Kai, deputy general manager of Hunan Provincial Baishaxi Tea Industry Co., Ltd., said the unique geographical environment and superb tea-production technology have made Anhua dark tea famous all over the world. In the 20th century, the black tea from the Baishaxi tea factory was sold to Russia, Britain, and Germany.

"The inclusion of Anhua black tea in the agreement is conducive to enhancing its popularity in Europe, allowing more European consumers to understand Chinese tea culture," Wang said. "The GI agreement provides a strong guarantee in the market of the EU, and with official support, we have greater confidence and motivation to promote the trade."

Zhu Danpeng, a Chinese food industry analyst, pointed out that the signing of this agreement can promote mutually beneficial cooperation between China and the EU, strengthen intellectual property protection and safeguard the interests of companies from both sides.

More importantly, the agreement can meet the needs of Chinese and European consumers for high-quality products, and enhance global awareness of Chinese brands, Zhu added. Enditem
The cast of The Many Saints of Newark," the forthcoming Sopranos" prequel movie, celebrated a wrap on the film in 2019.

Or did they?

Actors have been seen working on the film once again in New York and are slated to film at a New Jersey bakery this week.

The movie, originally scheduled to premiere Sept. 25, was postponed to March 12, 2021 after the COVID-19 outbreak.

If the Sopranos believe in anything, its that family comes first, the films star, Michael Gandolfini, posted on Instagram in April. Few more months of waiting to make sure you and yours are safe.

Scenes, including some depicting the Newark riots of 1967  also known as the Newark Rebellion  were filmed all over New Jersey in the spring of 2019, in cities and towns including Newark, Paterson and Bloomfield.

Now it looks like the delay has allowed for some additional work to be completed on the film, written by Sopranos creator David Chase and Lawrence Konner and directed by Alan Taylor. A Bloomfield bakery says the production is headed there Wednesday.

Michael Gandolfini plays a young Tony Soprano in the "Sopranos" prequel film "The Many Saints of Newark."Dimitrios Kambouris | Getty Images

Rombiolo Bakery Cafe, an Argentinian and Uruguayan bakery and coffee shop on Broughton Avenue, says the production is set to film scenes for The Many Saints of Newark" at the bakery while the business remains open. The bakery notified customers on Facebook Tuesday night, sharing a poster for the film.

Michael Gandolfini  son of Sopranos" star James Gandolfini, who died in 2013  plays a young Tony Soprano in the movie, which sees Soprano in his teen years. He filmed at another Bloomfield location that played a crucial role in The Sopranos  Holstens Brookdale Confectionery  in May of 2019. The ice cream parlor was the last place Sopranos fans saw Tony Soprano when the show cut to black in the 2007 series finale.

Though Gandolfini, 21, and his co-stars celebrated a wrap on Many Saints of Newark in June 2019, he was seen filming a fight scene in the Bronx as Tony this past March.

Corey Stoll, who plays a young Uncle Junior in The Many Saints of Newark, was also seen wearing Juniors thick-rimmed glasses and newsboy cap (and a plaid robe) Friday in New York.

 Tomorrow Rombiolo is turning into a movie set   Rose City Pictures Inc are going to be shooting "The Many Saints of Newark " on our location We are still going to be OPEN . Posted by Rombiolo Bakery Cafe on Tuesday, September 22, 2020

Alessandro Nivola plays Dickie Moltisanti, father of Christopher Moltisanti in the film (Moltisanti means many saints in Italian, hence the movies title), who serves as a mentor to young Tony.

Actress Vera Farmiga, who spent her younger years going to school in Newark (and Flemington), plays Tonys mother, Livia Soprano. Jon Bernthal (The Punisher) is rumored to be playing Giovanni Frances Johnny Boy Soprano, Tonys father. (Joseph Siravo and Laila Robins played Tonys parents during flashbacks in the original series, while Nancy Marchand played Livia in the HBO series.)

In addition to Gandolfini, Farmiga, Bernthal and Stoll, the film stars Leslie Odom Jr. (Hamilton), John Magaro (David Chases Not Fade Away), Unions own Ray Liotta, a Newark native, Billy Magnussen (Aladdin) and Italian actress Michela De Rossi, a Hollywood newcomer.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com.
Kept apart by a devastating pandemic and dispersed across the globe, world leaders convened electronically for an unprecedented high-level meeting, where the UN 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.Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks from the podium during the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York. The UN's first virtual meeting of world leaders started Tuesday with pre-recorded speeches from some of the planet's biggest powers, kept at home by the coronavirus pandemic that will likely be a dominant theme at their video gathering this year. (Eskinder Debebe/UN via AP)
NEW DELHI : The government needs to cap the merchant discount rate on all types of debit and pre-paid cards at a lower rate of 0.6% of the transaction value with a view to end distortions in the card payment ecosystem and promote digital transactions, suggested a study.

The study done by the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay further suggested that there could be an upper ceiling of 150 for a prescribed merchant discount rate (MDR) of 0.6%.

"To encourage digital payments where cash is a strong alternative, for small and medium merchants accepting POS based payments, and having annual turnover of at most 2 crore, the MDR for all types of debit and pre-paid cards, for transactions up to 2,000, could be fixed with a cap of 0.25%, while for transactions exceeding 2,000, the cap could be 0.6%," it said.

Currently, for businesses with annual turnover of 20 lakh or more, the debit card MDR is capped at 0.9% of the transaction value or 1,000, whichever is lower.

To maintain parity, alongside the revision of MDR caps, the extant mandates that currently promote excessive free cash withdrawals should be revised, it said.

It is to be noted that to promote small ticket debit card merchant transactions up to 2,000, the government during 2018 and 2019 made MDR zero for the merchants, and provided banks a monetary support, towards MDR at the rate of 0.4%.

In contrast, effective January 1, 2020, the government made MDR zero for every transaction using RuPay debit cards alone.

Neither merchants nor the government paid the banks any MDR for such merchant transactions. However, banks were allowed to impose MDR on the merchants for every transaction using mastercard/VISA debit cards, it said.

The study also made a strong case for removing Goods and Services Tax (GST) on POS machines with the overall objective of enhancing infrastructure for digital transactions.

The discriminatory approach adopted by the card payment networks to supervise their own 'no surcharge rule;, for credit cards, needs to be addressed by regulator RBI, it said.

RBI needs to promote static Bharat QR with caution because of its associated shortcomings of the usage of expensive credit/debit cards. Separating out BHIM-UPI QR embedded in static Bharat QR could mitigate possible negative sentiments towards QR codes, it said.

The regulator should consider using the Payments Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF) to promote BHIM-UPI or similar payment products, it said, adding, RBI and the government should consider promoting extensive radio and television awareness campaigns for the mobile based BHIM-UPI or similar payment products.

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Aurora Iacomi arrives at Inner London Crown Court for sentencing after she admitted putting cleaning fluid into her supervisor's coffee flask. (PA)

A train station worker who spiked her supervisors coffee with cleaning detergent has been jailed for 10 months.

Aurora Iacomi, 31, poured the liquid into Angelina Raychinovas flask while it sat in the staff room at Fenchurch Street station in London on 22 April.

The pair had been involved in an ongoing disagreement at the time of the incident.

The victim drank from the flask after the detergent had been added, but then spat it out.

A court heard how Iacomi, a cleaner, tried to justify her actions as a prank intended to annoy her victim, who had left her feeling humiliated through a telling off.

But at a sentencing hearing at Inner London Crown Court, Judge Benedict Kelleher said Iacomi was motivated by revenge and had not taken care to know the level of risk her actions entailed.

He handed her a 10-month sentence for one count of administering a noxious substance with intent to injure, aggrieve or annoy.

Aurora Iacomi pleaded guilty to a charge of administering a poison with intent to injure, aggrieve, or annoy. (PA)

Iacomi, who has no previous convictions and was supported by her sister at court, had pleaded guilty to the charge at an earlier hearing at Woolwich Crown Court on 22 May.

Prosecutor Philip Allman told the court there had been a history of work-related tension between Iacomi and her colleague.

He also said Ms Raychinova had previous issues with one colleague, this defendant.

Iacomi, originally from Romania but now living in Ilford, east London, told police she was having trouble with Ms Raychinova and had been subject to an internal disciplinary hearing at her company.

She explained that she was not very fond of Ms Raychinova, Allman said.

He said the substance dropped into the drink was Graffi Green, which was cleaning liquid to remove graffiti.

Antony Lane, defending, said: This was an ongoing disagreement between her and her supervisor.

When she went into the staff room she saw the complainant with a flask of coffee.

Aurora Iacomi poured the liquid into her bosss flask while it sat in the staff room at Fenchurch Street station in London. (Getty)

It was an opportunistic decision to pour something in. The intention was to ruin her coffee, nothing more.

Story continues

Ms Raychinova did not describe any injuries other than an initial burning sensation before she spat the liquid out, Lane said.

Sentencing, Judge Kelleher said it was clear from the case that Iacomi felt unfairly treated by her victim and wanted revenge.

He said Iacomis actions were premeditated and intended to cause some harm because of a grudge she held.

The judge highlighted that Iacomi did not know the level of risk she was exposing Ms Raychinova to.

The prosecution chose not to pursue a charge of administering poison or noxious substance so as to endanger life, to which Iacomi entered a not guilty plea.

Watch: Here are some of the most important moments from the COVID-19 briefing
A tool that Facebook says can help state officials monitor voting misinformation doesnt give users a complete picture of Facebook activity, according to a report from the Tech Transparency Project (TTP). CrowdTangle, the tool in question, cant monitor content from private groups or most individual users, and therefore may not be as effective for spotting voter interference.

Facebook reached out to state officials last October and again this March encouraging them to use the content monitoring system to catch voter suppression efforts. In a presentation last year, Facebook reps assured state officials that the minute they flagged voter interference, Facebook would review it as quickly as humanly possible.

The report notes that Eric Covey, chief of staff for Vermonts secretary of state, reached out to Facebook asking why CrowdTangle couldnt monitor public posts from individual users, since they are the main source of voter misinformation. Khalid Pagan, a Facebook government and politics outreach manager, responded that such monitoring wasnt possible because of privacy concerns.

In addition to individual user profiles, CrowdTangles other major blindspots include private Facebook groups and Instagram accounts with fewer than 75,000 followers, Bloomberg reports. Facebook itself has seemed to acknowledge that CrowdTangle falls short, as the companys head of News Feed John Hegeman tweeted in July that the tools insights dont represent what most people see on Facebook.

Facebook said in a statement that while the company enables state officials to flag content they consider voter interference, it doesnt rely on them in its efforts against voter misinformation. CrowdTangle is meant to track influential, public accounts and groups, the statement said.

There is no silver bullet to combating misinformation, which is why we're taking a multi-pronged approach that includes a global fact-checking program and ongoing work with state election authorities to fight voter suppression, Facebook spokeswoman Mari Melguizo said. Weve also set up a dedicated reporting channel for state election authorities to report suspicious claims about voting and polling conditions to us directly.
LOGAN, Utah, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Utah State University (USU), the only public land-grant university in Utah and one of the state's largest universities, today announced the launch of an ambitious new admissions policy that will expand college access through providing additional academic support for students who do not meet basic admissions requirements. Through a partnership with StraighterLine, the Earned Admission program will guarantee entrance to USU for new freshmen who complete a sequence of three affordable, self-paced courses to develop foundational skills for success in college.

"In this moment of profound economic uncertainty for the country, expanding college access is an economic imperative for our state and an essential component of our public land-grant mission," said Janet Anderson, associate vice president of academic and instructional services at Utah State University. "This bold new approach to admissions is about closing gaps in academic preparation and helping more high school graduates develop the essential academic skills they need to thrive in higher education."

A 2018 report from policy think tank Third Way found that academic preparation through rigorous high school coursework is one of the strongest predictors of college completion, but every year, over one million students start college underprepared for the rigor of college-level learning and require remediation. Only 35% of students who take remedial coursework after starting at a four-year college or university end up completing a bachelor's degree in six years, compared to 56% of students who begin by taking college-level coursework.

Earned Admission provides an alternative pathway to college access through self-paced, faculty-reviewed courses in English, math and study skills designed to provide high school graduates with foundational skills to succeed in college. Students can take the courses, which are priced at $125 a month, at any time.

USU will offer guaranteed admission for the spring 2021 semester to all students who complete the courses by December 1, 2020. The university is currently piloting the program with incoming freshmen, with plans to expand to other groups who may have been affected by the pandemic, such as stop-outs and working adults.

"Mastery of a few key academic skills can be the deciding factor for whether or not incoming students are prepared for a successful college start. This work is about boosting access by helping to identify and close those gaps," said Burck Smith, StraighterLine's founder and CEO. "Utah State has an ambitious vision for dramatically expanding college access to more residents of Utah, and this new approach reflects its deep commitment to increasing college access and success."

Students interested in learning about Earned Admission can visit https://www.usu.edu/admissions/apply/earned-admission .

About Utah State:

Since its founding in 1888, Utah State University has evolved from a small-town college tucked away in the Northern Utah mountains to a thriving, multi-campus research university respected around the world. Students can choose from an array of academic and social opportunities at a university known throughout the world for its intellectual and technological leadership.

About StraighterLine:

StraighterLine is a student success company and the category creator for providing scalable solutions to deliver affordable, effective and accelerated learning pathways to formal degree programs and widely recognized industry credentials. The StraighterLine platform supports over 35,000 new students a year, including directly through the straighterline.com website as well as through the company's growing network of university and employer relationships.

Visit https://www.straighterline.com or https://partners.straighterline.com for more information.

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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.
(TNS)  Washington state lawmakers seem to agree that when it comes to policing, some changes need to be made. But when it comes to solutions, even researchers dont know the answer.In a House Public Safety Committee hearing Tuesday, legislators heard from researchers in policing policy and practices to try to better inform their legislative proposals as discussions move forward involving police reform.We want to make sure were not just doing what sounds good or feels good, committee chairman Rep. Roger Goodman, D-Kirkland, said.Policing is a difficult problem for academics who study crime, policing and discrimination, said Jennifer Doleac, associate professor of economics at Texas A&M University, especially as there is little data available. The reality is we dont know yet what the solutions to these problems might be, she said.Lawmakers have an idea of what proposed legislation will look like in the January session. One of the first initiatives they are looking into is the decertification process if an officer shows repeated misconduct.Decertification is actually quite rare in Washington, Goodman said.When it comes to misconduct, legislators are looking at requirements for law enforcement officers to report and intervene when they see misconduct of others.Lawmakers also are looking at changing tactics, Goodman said, such as banning or limiting the use of chokeholds, tear gas, no-knock warrants, and military vehicles and weapons.Researchers pointed to the state government as an entity that could provide more data regarding policing.Felipe Goncalves, assistant professor of economics at the University of California, Los Angeles, said researchers have to be able to measure properly, and that starts with having information available.Goodman said lawmakers are working to create two databases that track the use of force and disciplinary actions. These databases would be readily available to the public, he said.Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson released a report to the Legislature in June listing police reform recommendations, including the creation of a public website that would have information on incidents of deadly force. The list also included a state-level audit of the use-of-force data and a requirement of other armed professionals, such as security guards, to report the use of deadly force to the Department of Licensing, which would post the information online.If theres any legislation thats on a fast track, its the deadly force data-collection bill, Goodman said at the time.Each presenter pointed to research that could help lawmakers in their proposed policies moving forward. When it comes to diversity in law enforcement, Doleac said when police officers look like their communities, more people trust them.Doleac also pointed to outcomes from body cameras worn by officers. She said research shows no benefits from body cameras, possibly because officers bad behavior might be subconscious or might go unpunished.While there is a lot of data on the behavior of people who are policed, there is little systemic data on what police actually do day-to-day, said Emily Owens, a professor in the Department of Criminology, Law and Society and the Department of Economics at the University of California, Irvine.Without data on what police officers actually do, we can do things that feel right to us, Owens said, but we dont know if theyll make a difference.Owens said crime rates cannot be the only way to judge the effectiveness of policing. She wants to push for more measurements of what police do every day, not just use of force incidents.Governments try to make policies that do more good than bad, Owens said. When it comes to policing, governments need to look at both the costs and the benefits of increased policing.For example, a state government has the ability to write rules that change police behaviors, Owens said, but the rules cannot perpetuate the cycle of criminal justice that just leads to more criminal justice.Bias in the criminal justice system doesnt start and end with police, she said.Phillip Atiba Goff, professor of African American studies and psychology at Yale University and co-founder of the Center for Policing Equity, said one of the biggest problems with policing is the growing burden on law enforcement officers to act as the only public good in certain communities. When communities with underfunded resources call 911, a police officer often shows up regardless of the issue, he said.He said governments should be thinking about how to give communities resources so they dont have to call the police for every problem.A badge and a gun cant solve homelessness, he said. A roof would.Researchers dont have all the answers, Goff said, but they are good with uncertainty. He called for evidence-based steps, which he said would allow both sides of the aisle to agree on reform.With that, you can start to move in the direction that everybody wants to be in, he said.Despite the many unanswered questions, researchers and legislators agreed that now is the time to try new reforms.We should be aiming to fail fast, rather than not fail at all, Doleac said.Laurel Demkovich's reporting foris funded in part by Report for America and by members of the Spokane community. This story can be republished by other organizations for free under a Creative Commons license. For more information on this, please contact our newspapers managing editor.
Asda has confirmed it is introducing 1,000 new Covid-19 marshals in the entrances to its supermarkets.

Representatives for the supermarket have confirmed to The Independent that shoppers can expect to see these new additions in stores from next week.

Marshals will be there to ensure customers wear masks correctly, as well as follow the wider, stricter government coronavirus guidelines.

They will also be installed in the aisles of larger Asda stores, and are expected to be able to help shoppers with safety questions and to reiterate government guidelines.

If customers are not wearing masks in store, marshals will advise them to buy a pack of disposable masks and pay for them as part of their shopping trip.

Asda employees in England, Wales and Scotland will also be required to wear a face covering at all times while working, unless they have a medical exemption, in line with the recent guidance changes announced this week.

Extra hand sanitiser stations will be provided in stores, as well as protective coatings on all basket and trolley handles.

(Getty Images)

"These additional measures will make our stores an even safer place to shop and work during the coming months," Anthony Hemmerdinger, chief operating officer at Asda, says.

"We know that safety remains a key priority for our customers and we will continue to do all we can to keep them and our colleagues safe in store, as we have since the start of the pandemic.

Morrisons has also announced that it will reinstate marshals on the doors of its 494 supermarkets.

Shoppers have been urged to remain calm in the nations supermarkets amid fears of a return to the panic buying seen in the days approaching the UKs March lockdown.

A spree of panic-buying in the early stages of the nations outbreak saw some forced to turn to foodbanks after being unable to get the essentials they needed to get by.

Despite scenes at some stores, supermarket giants Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's, Lidl and Aldi said they had "good availability" on Monday and have not experienced any shortages yet.

Tescos online capacity has almost doubled from 600,000 weekly delivery slots in March, to 1.5 million in September.
Safelight announces new executive director

A social worker and chief strategy officer from South Carolina has been hired as executive director of Safelight, the domestic abuse shelter.

Safelight board President Paul Tobias announced that the organization has hired Lauren Wilkie for the top job, replacing John Lauterbach, who retired last month after serving as executive director for the past 2 years.

"When John shared his plans with the Safelight board to retire, we immediately began the search for a new executive director," Tobias said. "We are excited to share that the search has been successful and started with us this week. Lauren has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the non-profit world as she specializes in community and organizational change through program revitalization to help programs reach their maximum potential."

Wilkie comes to Hendersonville from Columbia, South Carolina, where she was chief strategy officer for a company that helps nonprofits with finances, human relations, fundraising events, grant writing and staff training. After receiving a bachelor's degree in psychology and management from Francis Marion University in 2006, she earned a master's degree in social work from the University of South Carolina in 2009.

Wilkie has been a key player for education and advocacy by directing and developing programs for almost two decades for diverse populations, according to her Linked-In profile. She volunteers with a variety of groups, including Women in Philanthropy, South Carolina Women in Leadership, the League of Women Voters and as a Guardian ad Litem. In 2020 the National Association of Social Workers recognized her as social worker of the year in South Carolina.

"We look forward to continuing to grow Safelights role as a resource for survivors of interpersonal violence, sexual assault and child abuse," Tobias said.
Travellers arriving at Helsinkis airport are being offered a voluntary coronavirus test that takes 10 seconds, with no uncomfortable nasal swab needed. And the test is done by a dog.

A couple of coronavirus-sniffing canines began work at the Finnish airport Wednesday as part of a pilot program that aims to detect infections using the sweat collected on wipes from arriving passengers.

Over the past months, international airports have brought in various methods to detect the virus in travellers, including saliva screenings, temperature checks and nasal swabs. But researchers in Finland say that using dogs could prove cheaper, faster and more effective.

After passengers arriving from abroad have collected their luggage, they are invited to wipe their necks to collect sweat samples and leave the wipes in a box. Behind a wall, a dog trainer puts the box beside cans containing different scents, and a dog gets to work.

The dogs can detect a coronavirus-infected patient in 10 seconds, and the entire process takes a minute to complete, researchers say. If the dog signals a positive result, the passenger is directed to the airports health centre for a free virus test.

Why dogs?

Dogs have a particularly sharp sense of smell and have long been used in airports to sniff out bombs, drugs and other contraband in luggage.

They have also been able to detect illnesses such as cancer and malaria. So in the middle of a pandemic, training dogs to detect COVID-19 became an obvious choice, said Anna Hielm-Bjorkman, a researcher at the University of Helsinki who is monitoring the trial.

And they seem to be doing the job, she said. In the first stage of the trial, the dogs could sniff out the virus in a person who is asymptomatic, or before the symptoms appear. They detected it at an earlier stage than a PCR test, the most widely used diagnostic tool for the new coronavirus.

In July, researchers at the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover in Germany also found that with a week of training, dogs were able to distinguish saliva samples of people infected with the coronavirus from noninfected samples with a 94 per cent success rate.

Dogs seem to not be easily infected with the coronavirus, although they appear to have been in a few instances. Other animals like cats appear to be much more susceptible. There is no evidence that dogs develop any symptoms or that they can pass the virus on to people or other animals.

How do they do it?

The sniffer dogs, who are trained to recognize the viruss scent, detect it by smelling urine or sweat samples, according to the University of Helsinkis veterinary faculty.

Hielm-Bjorkman said she and her team had trained the dogs by making a specific sound as soon as the dogs indicate a positive sample  and yes, a treat, too, she said. When the dogs smell a negative sample, nothing happens, and they move on to the next.

Wise Nose, a Finnish organization that specializes in scent detection, partnered with the faculty to train 16 dogs, four of which are starting work at the airport this week. Six are still in training, and the others were unable to work in a noisy environment.

All dogs can be trained to smell the coronavirus, but they are individuals, and not all of them can work in an airport, said Virpi Perala, a representative of Evidensia, a network of hospitals and veterinary clinics that funded the trials first stage.

Does this mean the coronavirus has a scent?

This is what researchers believe. But what exactly the dogs detect when they sniff out the virus is the million-dollar question, Hielm-Bjorkman said.

We know how dogs detect it  by smell  but we have no clue what they detect yet, she said. If we find this out, we can train thousands of dogs across the world.

U.S. scientists are investigating whether an infected person secretes a chemical that dogs can smell. And a French study published in June found very high evidence that the odour of an infected persons sweat was different in a way that dogs could sense.

Could this become a thing?

The pilot program in Finland is the first to be used at an airport. Susanna Paavilainen, managing director of Wise Nose, said she aimed to have 10 dogs working at the airport by the end of November, and Hielm-Bjorkman of the University of Helsinki said she would collect data until the end of the year.

More such programs could also be on the way. In recent months, trials conducted in Britain, France, Germany and the United States have assessed how dogs could detect the coronavirus.

In Finland, researchers say that if the pilot programs prove effective, dogs could be used in retirement homes to screen residents or in hospitals to avoid unnecessary quarantines for health care professionals.

But scaling up such programs could be tricky: Dogs need to be trained and then assisted by their trainers once they can work outside laboratories.

At the Helsinki airport, two dogs worked simultaneously Wednesday while two others rested.

Hielm-Bjorkman acknowledged that the resources were modest  at least for now. The program will try to assess how long dogs can work in a day and whether the same animals can be used to detect substances like drugs.

Perala, of the Evidensia network, said that Finland would need 700 to 1,000 coronavirus-sniffing dogs to cover schools, malls and retirement homes but that more trained animals  and trainers  would be required for even broader coverage.

We could keep our country open if we had enough dogs, she said.
AMG

A lot of incredible European cars useengines. They now power Aston Martin's V8 cars. And without German engineering and craftsmanship, we might not have the incredible Pagani brand either. Each V12 is special, put together by hand by a skilled technician who signs it.Technically, they're not the same as the ones that go into the Mercedes models, like the defunct S 65 AMG . Company founder Horacio Pagani said in the past that his powertrain of choice was picked to honor his hometown hero, Juan Manuel Fangio. The legendary F1 driver helped with early development and testing before passing in 1995.In any case, the rendering below by YouTube artist TheSketchMonkey tries to transform the features of the Huayra into a front-engined car. It's a popular theme that occurred after the C8 Corvette turned the world upside down with its budget supercar looks.What needs to happen here is that the cabin has to migrate further back, right over the axle. Meanwhile, the nose will grow to accommodate the V12 engine. Thankfully, unlike a Lamborghini , Pagani's car is defined by long, flowing lines instead of straight angles which are more difficult to photoshop.Although super GTs are still popular, they are often seen as less exotic. And if Horacio had shaped his cars in this way, they'd be mistaken for re-badged Mercedes models. People like to make fun of things they can't afford.The Huayra came out in 2012. It had a body sculpted by the wind and mirrors inspired by a woman's eyes. In 2017, production switched to the roadster and the more exotic BC.
Victoria's emergency response boss wanted the Australian Defence Force to intervene to stop cruise ships from docking in Melbourne.

Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp pushed to get a navy blockade to ensure cruise ships would not enter Port Phillip Bay.

The exchange was revealed during the state's inquiry into the botched hotel quarantine on Tuesday, where audio recordings of State Control Centre meetings were shown from March 27 and 28.

Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp pushed to get a navy blockade to ensure cruise ships would not enter Port Phillip Bay

The exchange was revealed during the state's inquiry into the botched hotel quarantine on Tuesday, where audio recordings of State Control Centre meetings were shown from March 27 and 28

On March 27 Mr Crisp was told that two cruise ships were preparing to dock in Melbourne and reacted strongly, the Herald Sun reported.

'It's where we night need a bit more help from the ADF, we need a navy blockade so the ships can't get close to Victoria,' he said.

An unnamed person said the ships were going to arrive at Station Pier in the coming days to resupply before then heading to the United States.

Mr Crisp dropped the issue after saying it was 'very useful' and the meetings continued to set up the mandatory 14-day quarantine period with less than 36 hours notice.

There was confusion in the State Control Meetings about whether state or commonwealth laws were going to be used to enforce the quarantine.

In a recording from March 28, Mr Crisp said: 'The control agency is the Department of Health and Human Services for this operation'.

However on Tuesday DHHS secretary Kym Peake claimed her department did not hold full responsibility.

Ms Peake also told the inquiry she did not know who decided to hire private security for the hotel quarantine.

DISCUSSION ABOUT NAVY SHIPS DURING THE STATE CONTROL MEETING ON MARCH 27 Andrew Crisp: Are we expecting cruise ships? I didn't think we were. Claire Febey: While we have been on the call, I'm getting advice from team members who are looking into this (who) tell me that there are two cruise ships that want to refuel, restock and change crew  I need to get some more detail but I just think that's something we need to consider and plan for. Mr Crisp: No, no, definitely, if that's possibly going to happen. It's where we might need a bit more help from the ADF, we need a Navy blockade so the ships can't get close to Victoria. Unnamed: So there's two ships coming into Melbourne to Station Pier, one tomorrow morning and one Sunday morning. They're coming in purely to resupply with fuel, water and food. One of the ships is taking two US passengers on and they're heading out again. There is no change of crew, no one is getting off, it's simply just to refuel and go. And these are two of the ships that were off the coast of Western Australia. They have got American tourists on board, they can't fly and they have to travel by sea to get home to North America. Mr Crisp: That's very useful. Advertisement

Premier Daniel Andrews has been slammed for his handling of the coronavirus crisis

Government officials were hesitant about hiring private security personnel to man the hotels 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 the inquiry 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.

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.

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'

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.

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 and Mr 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.

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.

The inquiry is working through evidence to establish if and how the quarantine program failed Victorians

The virus escaped several hotels after security guards unknowingly contracted the virus and spread it throughout their communities

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.
Accenture, a leading global professional services company, has announced the formation of Accenture Cloud First with a $3 billion investment over three years to help clients across all industries rapidly become cloud first businesses and accelerate their digital transformation.



Karthik Narain will lead Accenture Cloud First and join the Global Management Committee, effective October 1. Narain most recently served as the lead for Accenture Technology in North America, helping guide Global 2000 brands in using the power of the cloud and other technologies to transform their businesses.



Accenture is recognized as a leading partner to the worlds major cloud providers. With approximately $11 billion in cloud revenue in its fiscal year 2019, Accentures leadership spans from Software as a Servicedelivered through the companys Intelligent Platform Servicesto its migration, infrastructure and application cloud services. More than 100,000 Accenture cloud professionals help clients shape, move, build and operate their businesses in the cloud and realize the clouds business value, speed, cost, talent and innovation benefits.



Covid-19 has created a new inflection point that requires every company to dramatically accelerate the move to the cloud as a foundation for digital transformation to build the resilience, new experiences and products, trust, speed and structural cost reduction that the ongoing health, economic and societal crisis demandsand that a better future for all requires, said Julie Sweet, chief executive officer, Accenture.



Accenture Cloud First and our substantial investment demonstrate our commitment to delivering greater value to our clients when they need it most. Digital transformation requires cloud at scale, and post-Covid leadership requires that every business become a cloud first business.



Accenture Cloud First is a new multi-service group of 70,000 cloud professionals that brings together the full power and breadth of Accentures industry and technology capabilities, ecosystem partnerships, and deep commitment to learning and upskilling clients employees and to responsible business, with the singular focus of enabling organizations to move to the cloud with greater speed and achieve greater value for all their stakeholders at this critical time.



Specifically, this new group integrates the companys wide-ranging cloud expertise, including cloud migration, infrastructure, and application services and ecosystem partnerships; deep industry and cross-industry insights, data and Applied Intelligence capabilities.



Accenture Cloud First also combines world-class learning and talent development expertise; deep experience in cloud change management; and cloud-ready operating models with a commitment to responsible business by designwith security, data privacy, responsible use of artificial intelligence, sustainability and ethics and compliance built into the fundamental changes Accenture helps companies achieve.



Accentures $3 billion investment will be used to continue advancingoften together with its cloud and broader technology ecosystem partnersindustry roadmaps, data models, and solutions; cloud AI data and AI architectures; integrated full-stack infrastructure and applications capabilities; cloud tools, assets, and automation to drive lower unit cost and innovation; and research and development in edge computing and related cloud technologies.



Cloud is the most disruptive and value-creating technology of our timeit is the foundation for the digital transformation that is driving profound changes in how businesses operate, compete and create value for all their stakeholders, said Paul Daugherty, group chief executive, Accenture Technology.



With most businesses currently at only about 20% in the cloud, moving to 80% or more rapidly and cost effectively is a massive change that requires a bold new model. Accenture Cloud First, along with our $3 billion investment and our market-leading Software as a Service capabilities in Intelligent Platform Services, ensures that we provide our clients with value, speed and innovation in every part of their cloud journey.



The acceleration to new levels of digital performance by companies requires a transformation of talent across the enterprise to achieve truly new ways of competing, operating and serving customers, said Annette Rippert, group chief executive, Accenture Strategy and Consulting.



We believe that helping our clients purposefully build the core skills they need and quickly adopt new ways of working is essential to achieve value moving to the cloud. Accenture Cloud First brings our strong capabilities in driving change and developing talent not only for our clients but also for Accenturewe are already 95% in the cloud, and in FY19, we invested $1 billion in developing our people.



Todays announcement comes as worldwide demand for cloud computing has skyrocketed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. According to Gartner, the worldwide public cloud services market is forecast to grow 6.3% in 2020 to total $257.9 billion, up from $242.7 billion in 2019.



When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, there were a few initial hiccups but cloud ultimately delivered exactly what it was supposed to, said Sid Nag, research vice president at Gartner. It responded to increased demand and catered to customers preference of elastic, pay-as-you-go consumption models.  TradeArabia News Service
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 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 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. (Associated Press)

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Trump bashes China at UN amid warnings against a world divided by two superpowers (ABC News)

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FBI warns disinformation campaigns may target 2020 election results (NBC News)

U.S. charges New York City police officer with acting as illegal agent of China (Reuters)

Gov. Pritzker puts Illinois National Guard in a state of readiness ahead of Kentucky announcement in Breonna Taylor case (Chicago Tribune)

About 9 million people are likely to miss out on a $1,200 coronavirus stimulus check because of a lack of updated government records (Business Insider)

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Regulatory News:

Air Liquide (Paris:AI) China will invest around 60 million euros to build an Air Separation Unit (ASU) in the Lingang Economic District, Tianjin Port Free Trade Zone. Air Liquide has been supplying industrial gases to this major Chinese industrial basin for more than 25 years, and already operates 7 production facilities there.

With an oxygen production capacity of more than 2,000 tons per day, this ASU will notably allow Air Liquide to support the growth of the chemical and steel industries in the Tianjin basin, secured by a new long term supply agreement with a major customer.

Air Liquide will build, own and operate this new ASU, which has been designed leveraging the Group's latest state-of-the-art technology, for a low carbon and energy efficient production of oxygen, nitrogen and argon. This facility will also incorporate a dedicated capacity to support small-and-medium sized customers of liquid and packaged gases, including local hospitals requiring high-purity medical gases. It is planned to be operational in 2022.

Air Liquide China operates seven ASUs in Tianjin, as well as a network of multi-sourced pipelines that deliver oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen to adjacent customers.

Francois Abrial, member of the Air Liquide Group's Executive Committee supervising Asia Pacific, said: "One of the most important industrial cities in the country and the largest port in Northern China, Tianjin is a key basin for Air Liquide in China. This new investment in the 8th ASU built and operated by Air Liquide in Tianjin since 1995 clearly demonstrates our commitment to the long-term partnership we have built with our customers there. It also shows our confidence in the sustained growth of the Chinese industry towards cleaner, more efficient ways of producing."

Air Liquide in China

Air Liquide in China operates nearly 100 plants and employs close to 5,000 employees today. With a strong presence in the key coastal industrial areas, Air Liquide is now expanding into the center, south and west. Its main business activities include industrial and medical gas operations, home health service, Engineering Construction (designing, manufacturing and installing air separation units/hydrogen facilities), as well as Innovation activities.

A world leader in gases, technologies and services for Industry and Health, Air Liquide is present in 80 countries with approximately 67,000 employees and serves more than 3.7 million customers and patients. Oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen are essential small molecules for life, matter and energy. They embody Air Liquide's scientific territory and have been at the core of the company's activities since its creation in 1902.

Air Liquide's ambition is to be a leader in its industry, deliver long term performance and contribute to sustainability. The company's customer-centric transformation strategy aims at profitable, regular and responsible growth over the long term. It relies on operational excellence, selective investments, open innovation and a network organization implemented by the Group worldwide. Through the commitment and inventiveness of its people, Air Liquide leverages energy and environment transition, changes in healthcare and digitization, and delivers greater value to all its stakeholders.

Air Liquide's revenue amounted to 22 billion euros in 2019 and its solutions that protect life and the environment represented more than 40% of sales. Air Liquide is listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange (compartment A) and belongs to the CAC 40, EURO STOXX 50 and FTSE4Good indexes.

www.airliquide.com

Follow us on Twitter @airliquidegroup

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200922006115/en/

Contacts:

Corporate Communications

media@airliquide.com

Investor Relations

IRTeam@airliquide.com

Air Liquide China Communications

honglin.zhang@airliquide.com

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New York Citys MTA began fining transit riders $50 if they refuse to wear a mask on the agencys buses and trains last week to reduce spread of the coronavirus. Will NJ Transit follow that example?

The MTA policy isnt as draconian as it sounds. Riders who arent wearing a mask or wearing one thats pulled down off their nose and mouth are given a warning to mask up. Theyll even be offered a free mask from the MTAs mask force if they dont have one as of last Thursday, the MTA had distributed 180,000 free masks.

Only the most unrepentant rider will be issued a fine for not covering their face to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.

MTA police and reassigned Bridge and Tunnel officers had 1,077 encounters this past weekend with riders who were asked to adjust their masks to fully cover both mouth and nose, said Aaron Donovan, an MTA spokesman. The vast majority complied, he said.

We have distributed 1,231 masks to customers who were not wearing one, he said. Weve also issued one summons.

I have an idea. Similar to quiet car. A car dedicated to wearing a mask. I was on the train yesterday. In every single car, there was at least one to several people NOT wearing masks. I never saw a conductor to complain. Obviously this is not being enforced. Thx!  Karen Clark (@Geezmarge) September 18, 2020

Enforcement of Gov. Phil Murphys April 13 executive order requiring riders to wear facial coverings on mass transit has been a sticky point for both passengers and employees. NJ Transit officials said the agency plans to stick with the approach theyve been using.

At this time the strategy being utilized by the New Jersey Transit Police Department is focused on education to gain compliance and they have been largely successful with that, said Jim Smith, an NJ Transit spokesman. Overall, we have seen the vast majority of customers voluntarily complying with the Governors Executive order.

But the power to issue a summons is there, he said.

The New Jersey Transit Police Department can issue appropriate summonses for those who refuse to comply, Smith said. We have seen the overwhelming majority of customers complying.

Theres a security guard on the NJ transit doing mask checks. His nose is outside the mask. #fail  Allison Dorothy (@DottieVengeance) September 21, 2020

NJ Transit also has free masks available at Customer Service offices in major terminals and NJ Transit Police officers carry extra masks to resolve issues, Smith said.

Similar to what the Port Authority has done at Newark Airport, NJ Transit introduced PPE vending machines on a pilot basis at Newark Penn Station and Hoboken Terminal. Additional machines scheduled to be deployed at several stations in the coming weeks, he said.

Unions representing front line rail employees said their members are caught in the middle when it comes to enforcement, enduring verbal abuse and in the extreme cases, assault. Some commuters have suggested NJ Transit police should be tasked with routinely patrolling trains and buses to enforce mask requirements.

@NJTransitPolice @NJTRANSIT_HBLR @GovMurphy @njdotcom where are the transit police? Who is enforcing the mask mandate? Open the state and let people get sick, that seems to be the theme. What do you do governor? pic.twitter.com/2wCdKCWBoX  Marcelo Origami (@proustiano) September 15, 2020

Transit agencies have generally taken a gentle approach to enforcing mask wearing requirements in the tri-state region, preferring to hand an offender a free mask and a gentle reminder than a summons.

Philadelphias South Eastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority officials said that agency had an 81% compliance rate in July by using education and advertising campaigns. SEPTA officials arrived at that number through video surveillance and only counted passengers who wore a mask over their nose and mouth.

Port Authority of New York and New Jersey officials also have used mask giveaways and a very intense education campaign on the PATH rail system and Port Authority Bus Terminals in midtown Manhattan and at the George Washington Bridge.

Weve been proactive in our efforts to educate and communicate the requirement to wear a face covering while on our system through extensive signage, announcements and social media, Smith said.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com.
The talk, being held tomorrow at 9:45am, features a range of industry leaders who will be examining what the final months of negotiations will mean for the insurance market.

Among these is Roy White (pictured), chairman, UK & Ireland, Marsh JLT Specialty, who spoke with Insurance Business in the run-up to Airmic Fest to highlight that, as talks continue, there will somewhat inevitably be further moments of tension which will make insurance consumers nervous as to what Brexit will mean for them. The best-case scenario is that the process will be smooth and a deal will be struck, he said, but he believes preparations for a difficult exit must be put in place.

Read more: Marsh reveals mid-year political risk map for 2020

Intermediaries and the insurers are doing all that they possibly can to make the transition from the historical arrangements to the new ones as smooth as possible, he said. Its all about making it as seamless and as painless for our clients and the insureds as it can be. That has involved quite a lot of work on the part of brokers such as us, and insurance companies in structuring their organisations and putting the appropriate governance in place to minimise that impact.

And I think that I speak for insurers as well as brokers in saying that were trying to make this as smooth as possible. We dont want any intrusiveness on what is already a challenging time for clients The insurance industry has a responsibility to not be a problem in what is already a complicated situation.

As a broker, Marshs key focus has been on maintaining access for its clients to the insurance solutions that exist in the UK insurance market, White said, and in making this transition a seamless experience. Clients need to have continued access to the expertise of colleagues, whether that is insurers or brokers, who can give them industry insights, products and technical knowledge. It may seem an old-fashioned subject, but relationships are as important as ever, and Marsh is often dealing with very long-term relationships when it comes to its European clients and European offices.

I think we have to prepare for there to be no agreement that gives any form of support to the insurance solutions, he said. I think we are preparing for a no deal. We are structuring our offerings and our approach on the basis that we will lose passporting rights at the end of the year and that there will not be a fix that will replicate that in any trade agreement, if a trade agreement is put in place. And I think that caution has been proved justified by the current dramas.

[These] has been a reminder of how fractious the negotiations could be in the final days and weeks. And its a reminder that there may not be a trade deal, which weve been factoring in for a good period of time. We not only didnt necessarily expect a trade deal, we were also fully factoring that any trade deal would not preserve the passporting rights by which intermediaries have historically serviced European clients.

As a business which gives its clients advice regarding risk management, it was only appropriate that Marsh also managed its own risks appropriately, White noted, and that it demonstrated resilience during these difficult times. Forward planning cannot be underestimated in terms of importance. Whether its as dramatic as Brexit, or as challenging as the COVID crisis, the necessity is to model for every scenario and to make sure there is ample time for thoughts, challenges and reflection.

There have been numerous warnings of the need to prepare for Brexit, he said, with so many cliff edge moments when it looked like the UK might have left the union abruptly. And the transition period gave everybody more time to prepare, which Marsh has used to examine the legislative and regulatory environment, and thus realise the amount of planning and preparation needed.

Read more: Marsh on a year of change and opportunity

We will be governed by the insurance distribution directive as we are now after the end of the year, White said. And while that does lay down some good guidance and guidelines, it also needs to be interpreted. And we have to be careful to interpret that in a way thats conservative, cautious and ensures that we continue to be able to trade in a regulated fashion. We understood that this was a complex subject that needs a lot of preparation, as weve thrown a lot of resources and thought at this for a number of years now.

Among the core solutions being implemented by the organisation is the activation of its own restructuring through the creation of branches of European entities, starting from the first of October 2019. In Marsh, there are two branches  a UK branch of its Belgian business and a UK branch of its Irish business. While there was no active need for these branches to be triggered until the end of the year when the UK leaves the EU, White said, this was another form of early preparation.

We felt that we needed it to be healthy, to have a period in which we could operate as if we were outside of the EU, testing the operational resilience of our new models, spotting any glitches etc, he said. So, the first of October is the trigger date for our branches. Our reinsurance intermediary arm Guy Carpenter is a third branch so there has been a lot of preparation for this.

All of the immense work that the business has been doing to prepare for Brexit has been with the transition experience of its customers in mind, he said, and ideally the only real changes they will see may be in the branding of the paperwork they receive. Speaking with clients consistently through this time and bringing them along on the journey, in terms of what to expect, has been essential. They are facing a lot of distractions and crises of their own right now, and are looking to insurers and brokers not to make this an added burden.

[Tomorrows] Airmic session will be interesting for us as well, he said, because it will give us some sense as to the wider insurance communitys preparedness. Now, our sense is that we are in good shape as an insurance community. But the nature of the questions from the Airmic members, will give us a sense as to whether they feel as comfortable as they need to feel about the level of preparation for whats coming in just a few months.
ZAMBOANGA CITY  Eight villages in the southern Philippine province of Sulu are now free from the influence of the pro-ISIS group Abu Sayyaf...
An official health advice pamphlet issued during the Great Plague of London has been unearthed - and it is strikingly similar to today's government coronavirus restrictions.

The 10 page self-help document was produced by the Royal College of Physicians to combat the bubonic plague sweeping through the capital in 1665.

Entitled 'Certain Necessary Directions for the Cure of the Plague', it outlines a variety of ways to manage its deadly spread.

An official health advice pamphlet issued during the Great Plague of London of 1665 has been unearthed - and it is strikingly similar to today's government coronavirus guidance.

It has eerie echoes of the advice issued by Boris Johnson to curb the spread of coronavirus, including encouraging people to avoid crowded places and the need for quarantine

What is the bubonic plague? Bubonic plague is the most common form of plague and is spread by the bite of an infected flea. The infection spreads to immune glands called lymph nodes, causing them to become swollen and painful and may progress to open sores. Human-to-human transmission of bubonic plague is rare and it's usually caught from animals. If plague infects the lungs  either by the bubonic form progression through the body or by catching the infection from an infected patient or animal's breath  it is called pneumonic plague. Source: World Health Organization Advertisement

People are told to avoid crowded places and not to swap clothes to 'prevent propagating the infection from place to place'.

To stop disease being brought in from abroad, they suggest a strict 40 day quarantine where traders would have to stay on their ships.

One section reads: 'Prohibiting persons and goods coming from foreign countries and places infected, to be landed for 40 days, is most rational, for preventing the bringing in of the contagion from such places.'

The pamphlet calls on people travelling across the country to carry a 'certificate of health' and for regular street cleans to take place.

It also offers a range of possible plague remedies targeted at the 'richer sort' involving perfumes and fig medicines.

The pamphlet has echoes of the advice issued out by the current Government and Prime Minister Boris Johnson in a bid to curb the spread of coronavirus.

The latest 'rule of six' is a measure designed to prevent people from gathering in crowds.

People travelling from certain countries are also required to quarantine when they arrive in the UK.

If they fail to do so they could be fined up to 10,000.

The pamphlet is being sold by a private collector with London based Forum Auctions where it is expected to fetch 800.

Max Hasler, specialist at Forum Auctions, said: 'You could describe this as one of the earliest government health pamphlets.

'The fascinating thing is that the instructions given in the pamphlet are eerily similar to today's advice.

The 10 page self-help document was produced by the Royal College of Physicians to combat the bubonic plague sweeping through the capital

Entitled 'Certain Necessary Directions for the Cure of the Plague', it outlines a variety of ways to manage its deadly spread. People are told to avoid crowded places and not to swap clothes to 'prevent propagating the infection from place to place'

To stop disease being brought in from abroad, they suggest a strict 40 day quarantine where traders would have to stay on their ships

The pamphlet also offers a range of possible plague remedies targeted at the 'richer sort' involving perfumes and fig medicines

'People were told not to go into closed spaces or swap clothes amongst other pieces of advice.

'While they only had a rudimentary grasp of how plagues worked, they wanted to produce as much information as they could to help the public.

'Free copies were handed out by local government officials to spread the message.'

The Great Plague, lasting from 1665 to 1666, was the last major epidemic of the bubonic plague to occur in England

The pamphlet is being sold with London based Forum Auctions who expect it to fetch 800

The Great Plague, lasting from 1665 to 1666, was the last major epidemic of the bubonic plague to occur in England.

It killed an estimated 100,000 people, almost a quarter of London's population, in 18 months.

Currently, Brits returning from abroad are required to quarantine for 14 days to guard against spreading the coronavirus.

The sale takes place on Thursday.
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...
Here Olivia shares why she is going through with a risky pregnancy at 48

At the age of 48, most mothers are starting to look forward to the day their children fly the nest. Not me. Im five months pregnant and, instead, keenly anticipating the joys of babyhood, first steps, toddler groups and all those years of doing the school run.

I shall be almost 60 by the time my son leaves junior school, and my partner, now 59, will be 70. Plenty of people think thats too old, of course, and some have told us so to our faces.

But for us this baby is nothing short of a miracle. When I run my hands over my growing bump I honestly feel like the luckiest woman in the world to be pregnant at all.

Olivia Buxton (pictured) reveals why she has chosen to risk a pregnancy at 48 after losing twins with Downs syndrome

For, just over 18 months ago, I found myself in a clinic in South-West London making the agonising decision to terminate an identical twin pregnancy. In an extraordinarily rare case, doctors discovered that both of our babies had Downs syndrome and, with other highly complex problems, were very unlikely to survive.

Only one in a million pregnancies result in identical twins with Downs  and the older the mother the higher the risk.

The moment I heard was a huge shock on many levels and the week between discovering how poorly they were and the termination itself was the hardest of my life.

And so, when I discovered I was pregnant again, one question consumed my every waking thought was this child healthy or would my partner Perry and I have to make yet another utterly heart-breaking decision?

Happily expecting: Olivia and her partner Perry Joseph who have five daughters between them

We didnt set out to have a baby together. Both divorcees, we only met 18 months before the little blue line appeared. Between us, we already have five daughters, aged between ten and 26, and adding to our brood was not high on our agenda.

Perry is in the process of setting up a new business, and as a self-employed journalist, my focus was on my career too. Besides, both of us were under the impression that conception at our age would be almost impossible.

While we were dating, Id merrily thrown caution to the wind, convinced that in my late 40s I could at last afford to be carefree about contraception. It was in October 2018 that I realised how wrong Id been.

Yet I was thrilled with the news. Ive always loved babies and so has Perry  the pregnancy was a surprise, but a very welcome one.

In October 2018 Olivia discovered that she was pregnant. Pictured on her 48th birthday

Even at my age, then 46, the 12-week ultrasound scan should have been routine. But I dont think Ive ever been through quite such a mix of emotions.

To be told you are pregnant with identical twins  girls!  is itself a life-changing moment. Then I saw the sonographers sober expression and I realised it did not match the joy I felt.

The scan showed an increased thickness on the back of the babies necks and unformed belly buttons, both signs of a chromosomal disorder. Deep down, I knew how bad this might be, but with Perry, I made light of it, clinging to hope like a life-raft. These scans arent always right, after all.

Immediately I was referred for a CVS (chorionic villus sampling) test to find out what exactly, if anything, was wrong with my babies. Feeling a little squeamish, I looked away while a needle was inserted through my stomach in order to take a cell sample from my placenta.

It took seven days for the results to come back and though I tried to distract myself with work, Perry and I thought and talked of little else.

The mother had not been on contraception believing that she wouldn't get pregnant easily in her late 40s

When the call came confirming Downs syndrome, I went into a kind of denial, if Im honest. It seemed too cruel.

Convinced thered been a mistake, I sought a second opinion and booked a private appointment and ultrasound scan at The Fetal Medicine Centre on Londons Harley Street.

After a detailed scan  the twins were nearly 15 weeks by then  Professor Kypros Nicolaides could clearly see they had Downs syndrome, and not only that.

One was so poorly, he explained, it looked like she might not survive much longer. When she died, it could cause the other twin to be brain damaged, so the surviving twin would be born severely handicapped.

The pair did not set out to have a baby together at first, both having had children in previous marriages. However Olivia unexpectedly fell pregnant

As he spoke, it was as though the room shrunk around us and the walls moved inwards to crush me.

I was well aware that while many mothers go on to have beautiful Downs syndrome children who lead happy and healthy lives, this would not be the case in my instance.

I wanted these girls so much and yet for their sake  and for the emotional well-being of our other children  we knew we couldnt continue the pregnancy.

It was a shattering decision and for a week I barely slept. Why had I been blessed with a twin pregnancy for it then to be abnormal? I was so exhausted and emotional I couldnt make sense of it.

And yet with hindsight, of course, though identical twins with Downs are incredibly rare, my chances of having a baby with a chromosomal problem of some kind was reasonably high.

The risk rises sharply after the age of 35: one in 20 pregnancies in those over 45 result in a baby with Downs syndrome compared to one in 1,250 in a 25-year-old woman.

It was the end of January 2019 and I was looking visibly pregnant when I arrived at the clinic in Twickenham for the termination. We wanted to get inside as quickly as possible but pro-life campaigners stood in our way.

There were about a dozen in total, some gathered on the opposite pavement and a couple hanging directly outside the entrance to the pathway that led up to the clinic door.

One sign, which read Love them both, meaning mum and baby, caught my eye and made me shudder. Another protester waved rosary beads in Perrys face as we tried to walk through the entrance and shouted: Choose life! Perry quite rightly snapped: You have no idea why we are here.

After the operation, I felt utterly bereft. For months my mood was unstable, either flat and drained of all feeling or intensely emotional. Its possible the twin pregnancy generated more hormonal instability, but I was also warned by doctors that after the termination, I could go hurtling into the menopause. I started to have hot flushes and began taking anti-anxiety medication.

Months later, as I began to come out of the fog of depression, Perry and I sat down for a heart-to-heart and decided we could never go through something like that again.

Christmas came and went, and we told one another how lucky we were to have each other. We didnt need a baby to complete our relationship.

And yet deep down I think part of me still wanted it. Irrational as it sounds given the statistics and my age, unconsciously I hadnt given up the desire for another baby. I decided not to take the pill because it gave me mood swings, convincing myself I had every menopausal symptom in the book and did not need to bother.

When I started to experience fatigue in May this year, I squashed a little joyful voice at the back of my mind. Lockdown was to blame I told myself  with exercise and normal sleep patterns out the window, everyone was feeling tired. Yes, my period was more than a week late, but that was surely stress or the perimenopause.

A few weeks later, I was in Poundland buying some snacks for my daughters when I saw a 1 pregnancy test. Almost without thinking, I grabbed it off the shelf and hid it in my basket.

Back at home, I sat on the edge of the bath for ages gazing at the faint double line that appeared on the stick.

It was my partner Perrys 59th birthday, and I was worried about telling him because of what wed agreed.

Yet as soon as I uttered the words, Ive got something to tell you, he turned around, beamed, and said: Youre pregnant . . . but I already knew that. He had clocked that my period was late and despite everything wed discussed, he couldnt be happier.

But was the baby healthy?

I was seven weeks pregnant. The thought of waiting another four weeks to get an ultrasound on the NHS was unbearable, so instead we found a private midwife who organised for me to have something called the Panorama test, which checks for all chromosomal disorders at nine weeks. She arrived at my house in full PPE kit to take two vials of blood and then sent them by FedEx to a laboratory in California.

Keen to take my mind off the impending results, I went away to Cornwall with my two girls.

Three days into our July holiday, an email landed with the results. It took hours for me to muster the courage to open that email, but when I did and registered the words low risk against all the possible chromosomal disorders including Downs syndrome, my heart leapt.

I rang Perry and both of us shouted: Yes, yes, yes! down the phone to one another.

Further down the email, I saw that the sex was male. While we love our five daughters, Perry and I secretly longed for a boy.

The baby is due on January 29 and even though older mothers are at a higher risk of developing high blood pressure and diabetes, I am fine so far.

Yes, my bump feels much heavier this time around and I dont feel as agile as I did in my two full-term pregnancies with my biological daughters Ella, now 13, and Amalie, ten.

But, having done it twice, I dont feel nervous about the impending prospect of labour either (though Perry is 6 ft 3 in so I am a bit apprehensive about how big the baby might get).

My two girls are very excited about the pregnancy and cant wait to meet their baby brother. Amalie keeps kissing my baby bump before her bed-time.

To those people  including my own parents  who say were too old to be buying nappies again, that the risks are too great, I reply that Perry and I have more than enough love for another child. Were still energetic and were full of experience.

Indeed several older mums of teens have confessed theyd love another baby. One even confided she and her husband had been trying for baby number three for the whole of her 40s. It had never happened for them and she envied me my luck.

After all weve been through, I couldnt agree more.
Police will patrol the Kent border to turn away lorries without an access permit in a bid to ease Brexit border chaos, it has been revealed.

Michael Gove said officers will use automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras and other means to block drivers  in what will be seen as an internal border in the UK.

The move would try to ensure constituents are not inconvenienced, he told MPs, after warning of 7,000-long lorry queues and two-day delays to cross the Channel.

But Labour accused him of planning to arrest British truckers, while furious hauliers said they were being lined up to take the blame for the looming disruption.

Under questioning, Mr Gove twice refused to reveal how many of his promised 50,000 customs agents  to help businesses prepare for a mountain of new red tape  have been recruited.

And he declined to say whether a new IT system will be operational in January, with just 100 days until the end of the transition period.

The Cabinet Office minister was setting out a new worst case scenario, which acknowledges 70 per cent of trucks may not be ready for new checks to cross the Channel.

Damian Green, the former deputy prime minister and a Kent MP, warned the threat of 7,000-strong lorry queues would send a chill through local people.

In reply, Mr Gove said: We want to make sure that people use a relatively simple process in order to get what will become known as a Kent Access Permit, which means that they can then proceed smoothly through Kent, because they do have the material required.

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

If they don't have the material required, then it will be the case that through policing, ANPR cameras and other means, well do our very best to ensure that his constituents are not inconvenienced.

Rachel Reeves, the shadow Cabinet Office minister, attacked the announcement, saying: It is incredible that ministers are only now admitting to their plans to arrest British truckers for entering Kent without new travel passports.

With just over three months to go, how are businesses meant to prepare amid this Conservative carnival of incompetence?

The Food and Drink Federation warned that 7,000-long lorry queues would mean fruit and vegetables will not arrive fit for human consumption.

And the haulage group Logistics UK also hit back at Mr Gove, saying it was his responsibility to give firms the details of and access to promised new IT systems.

Logistics UK has long warned government of the potential for border delays after the UK leaves the EU, and while there is still time to put mitigations in place to avoid them, it will be a huge challenge for government and industry to achieve, it said.

Asked, repeatedly, how many customs agents are in place, Mr Gove claimed: I cannot precisely state at any given time in a dynamic market how many people are doing exactly what job.

He added: What I can state is that the 80m that weve made available has not yet been fully drawn down.

But any company that is in this area will know that come 1 January there will be an increased opportunity for their work, so this is an opportunity to expand and the government stands ready to help that.

Meanwhile, MPs have raised fears about the safe operation of the Channel Tunnel from January, accusing the government of failing to make preparations.

France and the UK were expected to negotiate changes needed because of Brexit  but ministers have yet to put forward a new safety framework, they say.

If a deal is not struck by the end of the transition period, in little more than three months time, the legal status of a treaty dating back to 1986 is uncertain.

This will raise concerns about the safe operation of the tunnel after 31 December, given that most EU law will no longer apply in the UK, the report by the Commons European Scrutiny Committee warned.

If there are disputes, France will be able to take unilateral action to regain control of its section of the tunnel, it suggested.
MANAGUA, Nicaragua - Nicaraguas governing party is pushing a bill that would require people, businesses and non-governmental groups that receive money from outside the country to register as foreign agents, saying it is an attempt to prevent foreign interference.

The Sandinista Front of President Daniel Ortega controls 70 of the 91 seats in the National Assembly.

Once registered as a foreign agent, individuals or organizations would have to abstain from intervening in activities or areas of domestic politics. Those found in violation could face seizure of their assets.

Juan Sebastian Chamorro, executive director of the Civic Alliance opposition group, said the proposed legislation is unconstitutional. Deep down its aim is to repress the Nicaraguan opposition, he said.

The proposal also raised concern among independent media outlets and human rights organizations, many of which depend on foreign financial support.

The law would exempt Nicaraguans receiving remittances from relatives living abroad and foreigners living in Nicaragua receiving pensions from outside the country, as well as local branches of foreign companies and investors.

Ortega has blamed big anti-government protests that broke out in April 2018 on foreign interference. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights says more than 300 people died after the government violently repressed those demonstrations.

Nicaraguas next presidential elections are scheduled for November 2021.
Union Minister of State for Railways Suresh Angadi passed away due to Covid-19 infection on Wednesday, two weeks after being diagnosed with COVID-19, AIIMS top official said.

On 11 September, the 65-year-old minister had confirmed his diagnosis and said that he was doing fine and taking the advice of doctors.

Angadi breathed his last in AIIMS Delhi. He is the first Union minister from Narendra Modi's Cabinet and the second parliament member to have succumbed to Covid-19 from Karnataka. Earlier, BJP MP from the state Ashok Gasti had passed away due to the virus infection.

At least six MLAs and three MPs have earlier succumbed to it. Former President Pranab Mukherjee, who died on August 31, was also diagnosed as Covid positive.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to offer condolences. He said that Angadi "was a dedicated MP and effective Minister, admired across the spectrum. His demise is saddening."

Shri Suresh Angadi was an exceptional Karyakarta, who worked hard to make the Party strong in Karnataka. He was a dedicated MP and effective Minister, admired across the spectrum. His demise is saddening. My thoughts are with his family and friends in this sad hour. Om Shanti. pic.twitter.com/2QDHQe0Pmj  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 23, 2020

The Ministry of Home Affairs declared that due to the sad demise of Suresh Angadi, Minister of State for Railways, it has been decided that the national flag will be flown half mast on 24 September 2020 in all Government offices in Delhi where it is usually flown.

Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said on the micro-blogging website, "Deeply anguished at the unfortunate demise of Suresh Angadi ji. He was like my brother. Words fall short to describe his commitment & dedication towards the people. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends in this hour of need. Om Shanti".

President Ram Nath Kovind also expressed his shock at the untimely demise of the Minister.

"Shocked to know the passing away of Shri Suresh Angadi, Union Minister of State of Railways. An amiable leader Shri Angadi worked tirelessly for the people of his constituency, Belagavi and Karnataka," he posted on Twitter.

Shocked to know the passing away of Shri Suresh Angadi, Union Minister of State of Railways. An amiable leader Shri Angadi worked tirelessly for the people of his constituency, Belagavi and Karnataka.  President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) September 23, 2020

Condoling his death, Karnataka BJP MP Rajeev Chandrashekhar tweeted, "Tragic terrible sad news of Karnataka BJP leader and minister Suresh Angadi passing away."

Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad offered condolences on the minister's death.

"Deeply saddened to hear about the untimely demise of Sh Suresh Angadi, MoS Railways who succumbed to COVID. Heartfelt condolences to his family. I pray to Almighty that his soul rests in peace," he posted on Twitter.

Angadi was a Lok Sabha MP from Belagavi constituency in Karnataka became seriously ill and was hospitalised a week ago. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.

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ST. CLAIR COUNTY, MI -- A man has been arraigned on multiple felony charges in connection with the fatal shooting of his 11-year-old stepson during a youth hunt in St. Clair County.

John R. Varndell Jr., 40, of Fort Wayne, Indiana was arraigned Sept. 16 in 72nd District Court on single charges of involuntary manslaughter, felon in possession of ammunition, felon in possession of a firearm, and two felony firearms charges.

Officers with the Clay Township Police Department responded around 8 p.m. Sept. 13 for a 911 call to the 6300 block of Benoit Road for a hunting accident with one person unresponsive.

When they arrived at the scene, officers found the boy, whose name police have not released, being attended to by his family.

Boy, 11, shot and killed during youth deer hunt in St. Clair County, police say

Officers and Clay Township firefighters immediately began CPR on the boy.

As they attended to the boy, officers heard a gunshot in the area. Police said the boys mother accidentally shot herself in the hand as she attempted to unload a weapon. She is expected to be OK.

Police said the boy and his family were in the woods looking for deer. Witnesses told investigators they heard gunshots and then noticed the boy on the ground with an injury.

The boy was hit by a round fired by his stepfather, police said.

The youth was taken to McLaren Macomb hospital for additional treatment, but later died from his injuries.

St. Clair County Chief Public Defender Michael G. Boucher could not immediately be reached for comment.

A $500,000 cash/surety bond was set for Varndell, per district court records.

Hes due back in court Sept. 30.

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Welcome Guest! You Are Here:
Lets say you go home for the holidays. Anythings possible, who knows. Its a wild world. Lets say you get there and someone starts laying on you that trip about how Q Continuum said mail-in voting was orchestrated by satanic cables from Anarchist HQ. Lets say you overhear something more down-to-earth, like how if mail-in voting happens, billions of people will vote illegally even more people than live in the country, which is how youll know.

Maybe youll want to speak up and say, hey I know something about this topic, except then maybe you realize you dont actually know much, but you know something aint right with this talk and maybe its probably good to have a functioning Postal Service and maybe people should be able to vote. In such situations (who can say how often these things happen), you might wish to have a little information at the ready, to educate yourself and share with others.





You might share information about how mail-in voting has been around since 1775. It has worked pretty well at scale since about 150,000 of the 1 million Union soldiers were able to vote absentee in the 1864 presidential election in what became the first widespread use of non-in person voting in American history, Alex Seitz-Wald explains at NBC News. Since the federal government has managed to make mail-in voting work for soldiers serving away from home for over 150 years, its now easier in some ways for a Marine in Afghanistan to vote than it is for an American stuck at home during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Some part of the military has been voting absentee since the American Revolution, Donald Inbody, former Navy Captain turned political science professor at Texas State University, tells NBC News. Inbody refers to one of the first documented instances, when Continental Army soldiers voted in a town meeting by proxy in New Hampshire. But history is complicated, and mail-in voting has worked just fine so shut up needs some nuance.

In the very same election in which 150,000 Union soldiers mailed their ballots, Lincoln urged Sherman to send troops stationed in Democratic-controlled Indianawhich had banned absentee votingback to their home states so that they could vote. The practice has always had its vocal critics and suffered accusations of fraud from all sides, though little evidence seems to have emerged. Absentee voting helped win the Civil War, Blake Stilwell argues at Military.com, in spite of a conspiracy theory alleging fraud that might have unseated Lincoln.

There are several remnants from the time of careful record-keeping, like the pre-printed envelope above that contained a tally sheet of votes from the soldiers of Highland County the Field Hospital 2nd Division 23rd Army Corps, notes the Smithsonian National Postal Museum. (The drawing at the top shows Pennsylvania soldiers voting in 1864.) And this is all fascinating stuff. But soldiers are actually absent, which is why they vote absentee, right? I mean, if youre at home, why cant you just go to the polling place in the global pandemic in your city that closed all the polling places?

Its true that civilian mail-in voting often works differently from military absentee voting. While every state offers some version, some restrict it to voters temporarily out of state or suffering an illness. Currently, only 30 states have adopted no-excuse absentee balloting, which allows anyone to request an absentee ballot, Nina Strochlic reports at National Geographic. State laws vary further among those 30.

In 2000, for example, Oregon became the first state to switch to fully vote-by-mail elections. Things have rapidly changed, however. In the face of the coronavirus pandemic, voters in every state but Mississippi and Texas were allowed to vote by mail or by absentee ballot in this years primaries. If you live in the U.S. (or outside it) and dont know what happened next bless you. It involves defunding the post office instead of the police.

Voting by mail has expanded to meet major crises throughout history, says Alex Keyssar, history professor at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. Thats the logical trajectory and we are not in normal times. If a highly infectious disease that has killed at least 200,000 Americans on top of ongoing voter suppression and an election security crisis and massive civil unrest and economic turmoil arent reasons enough to expand the vote-by-mail franchise to every state, I couldnt say what is.

Should only soldiers have the ability to vote easily? I imagine someone might say YES, loudly over the centerpiece, because voting is a privilege not a right!

You, empowered purveyor of accurate information, understander of absentee voting history, change-maker, will pull out your pocket Constitution and ask someone to find the word privilege in amendments that start with The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State, etc. Thatll show em. But if the gambit fails to impress, youve still got a better understanding of why voting by mail may not be one of the signs of the end times.

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Josh Jones is a writer and musician based in Durham, NC. Follow him at @jdmagness
As more than 126,000 vote-by-mail ballots are on their way to voters, she said she will not be surprised if as many as a third of the ballots cast are done that way. People can continue to apply for those ballots until Oct. 29.
The Ontario governments back-to-school plan is morally unconscionable and even dangerous, the provinces teachers unions are arguing in an appeal now before the labour relations board.

The Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation noted in its filing that at the time it was writing its appeal, Premier Doug Ford had just limited social gathering sizes to 10 indoors and 25 outside across the province because COVID-19 cases continue to rise. And yet the (ministry of education) has maintained normal indoor class sizes of between 20 and 35 or more across most of Ontario.

The OSSTF also said that student cohorts remain at 100 under the return-to-school guide even as social bubbles are maintained at 10. In respect of our children and their teachers and other education workers, the Crown offers protection to them which is manifestly less than for the rest of us.

This is morally unconscionable and legally wrong.

The labour board appeal was launched by the high school teachers union, as well as the Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens (AEFO), the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario and the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association, which collectively represent more than 190,000 teachers and support staff.

The case was filed before school began and continues this week, dealing with a preliminary claim by the Crown that the Ontario Labour Relations Board does not have any authority to hear an appeal because no health and safety orders were issued.

The unions argue that the government has not taken every reasonable precaution to protect workers in schools and failed to adequately respond to their concerns, and is violating the workplace health and safety act.

By reopening schools without having put in place appropriate measures that offer significant protections in this regard, the (government) endangered the health and safety of all workers in significant and imminent danger in the education sector, the AEFO said in its arguments.

The unions are proposing class sizes of 15 to 20 children in order to maintain two-metre distancing, which currently is not happening in many schools, as well as minimum ventilation standards to address the risk of airborne transmission, masking for all students as well as better busing safety.

The OSSTF said that by raising concerns about school reopening, the definition of an order has been met and the four unions can therefore bring these appeals to the board.

In the legislature on Tuesday, Education Minister Stephen Lecce defended the governments plan, saying $1.4 billion is being spent to keep every school safe in the province of Ontario  funds that include provincial and federal monies, as well as boards own reserves for hiring teachers, custodians, cleaning supplies and purchasing personal protective equipment.

What we are doing in every board in this province, urban and rural, is providing our school boards with more funding to reduce classroom sizes, he said. Our aim is to ensure the layers of prevention are in place to ensure every school is as safe as we can make it as we respond to COVID-19.

But NDP education critic Marit Stiles noted that despite more than 50 new COVID-19 cases in schools, boards continue to collapse classes and make them larger due to insufficient funding for more teachers.

A parent from Collingwood called me (Monday) to share that in their school  and theres so many like this  four kindergarten classes of 20 have been collapsed into three classes of 26. Will the minister stop trying to sell us a bill of goods and start taking action to ensure the safer, smaller classes? she asked.

Torontos public and Catholic school board are among those in which funds for additional staff are being directed to neighbourhoods with higher numbers of COVID-19 cases. Large urban boards also have high school classes of about 15 students, who attend in person half the time and learn online the rest.

However, the largest classes are kindergarten and grades 4 through 8, where parents have reported as many as 30 students in the room.

Lecce said the province has provided funding to school boards to ensure that these classes are safe. Were doing everything we can, supported and endorsed by the chief medical officer of health of this province.

He said some 1,3000 additional caretakers are also being hired.
Senate Republicans, led by Sens. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), on Wednesday released an interim report on their probe into Joe Biden and his son's dealings in Ukraine.

Why it matters: The report's rushed release ahead of the presidential election is certainly timed to damage Biden, amplifying bipartisan concern that the investigation was meant to target the former vice president's electoral chances.

The Senate Homeland Security Committee and GOP staff for the Senate Finance Committee investigated Hunter Biden's work for Ukrainian gas company Burisma at a time when Joe Biden was leading the Obama administration's Ukraine policy.

The state of play: The report ultimately fails to support one of Republicans' top claims about the Burisma affair  that, as vice president, Joe Biden fought for the ouster of Ukraine's top prosecutor, Viktor Shokin, to protect Burisma and his son from scrutiny on corruption issues.

In fact, European countries and international bodies had contemporaneously accused Shokin of failing to pursue corruption, including in the Burisma case, and wanted him fired.

The report also leans on a statement from senior U.S. diplomat George Kent that Hunter Biden's work in Ukraine was "very awkward"  a sentiment he already expressed last year during President Trump's impeachment hearings.

Kent also told impeachment investigators that Joe Biden had done nothing wrong with his Ukraine work.

The other side: Biden campaign spokesman Andrew Bates said that Johnson's investigation served to "subsidize a foreign attack against the sovereignty of our elections with taxpayer dollars  an attack founded on a long-disproven, hardcore right-wing conspiracy theory."

Democrats have called the probe a "fishing expedition" intended to damage Biden ahead of the election, while intelligence officials have warned that some of the sources Johnson relied on may be laundering Russian disinformation.

Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) said last week that the investigation had the "earmarks of a political exercise." He added, "Its not the legitimate role of government, for Congress or for taxpayer expense, to be used in an effort to damage political opponents."

The bottom line, via Politico's Andrew Desiderio and Kyle Cheney: The report "is largely a compilation of previously public information  some of it rehashed anew by witnesses who already testified during the Houses impeachment inquiry last year  as well as news articles and strongly worded insinuations with little evidence to back them up."

Read the report.
Jordan has been watching moves to normalize ties between Gulf states and Israel with concern as the Arab consensus has crumbled around conditioning the recognition of Israel to its withdrawal from Palestinian territories occupied in 1967 and the creation of a Palestinian state.

US President Donald Trump has stated that "seven or eight" states may soon follow suit in normalizing ties with Israel. Jordan declined a White House invitation to attend the Sept. 15 ceremony in which the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain signed historic agreements recognizing Israel.

Jordan has reacted to the latest developments by reiterating Amman's position on the Palestinian question. On Sept. 17, Prime Minister Omar Razzaz told a local radio station that there will be no lasting and comprehensive peace while Israel continues to take unilateral steps that undermine the Palestinian peoples legitimate right to an independent state with east Jerusalem as its capital. He added that Jordan wants to maintain a united Arab stance on this issue.

While ordinary Jordanians were quick to denounce the White House event on social media, calling the step taken by the UAE and Bahrain a betrayal, local news outlets avoided any mention of the ceremony. All eyes are now on Saudi Arabia, whose official position continues to back the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative. There has not been any public contact between Amman and Riyadh since the UAE declared its readiness to normalize ties with Israel last month. A reliable source told Al-Monitor that Jordan had informed the UAE of its decision not to attend the White House ceremony and that Abu Dhabi understood Ammans delicate position.

The source also said that Jordan is frustrated with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas refusal to engage the Trump administration and his lack of a strategy in dealing with a series of setbacks that began with Trumps 2017 decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israels capital. Jordan cannot afford to wait much longer for Abbas to change his mind and it must consider its interests in the wider region, the source said.

Jordan was among a majority of Arab countries that voted against a Palestinian proposal presented at the Arab League on Sept. 16 condemning the US-brokered deal between the UAE and Israel.

Against a changing geopolitical terrain, Jordan is trying to adapt pragmatically to the reality that Arab consensus on the Palestinian issue may be breaking up. For decades Jordan, which signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1994, positioned itself as a buffer between Israel and the Gulf states. Its unique ties to the Palestinians played a pivotal role in sustaining its commitment to the two-state solution, especially under Trumps presidency. King Abdullah was quick to reject Trumps recognition of Jerusalem as Israels capital and to lead efforts to salvage UNRWA, the UN body responsible for the welfare of millions of Palestinian refugees. Amman ignored Trumps peace plan that was unveiled last January while continuing to defend the two-state solution.

Jordan had relied on Gulf financial aid for decades, but with the sharp drop in oil prices and the dire effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on regional economies, the flow of aid has dried up. And with Jordan and some Gulf countries parting ways on the Palestinian question, Amman finds itself walking a tightrope. It knows that it cannot abandon its commitment to the two-state solution, but it also realizes that it cannot afford to let the issues affect its close relations with the Gulf states, where tens of thousands of expatriate Jordanians live and work.

In dealing with new regional dynamics, Jordan, which is facing unprecedented economic challenges, is trying to build an economic alliance with Egypt and Iraq. But with both countries facing their own enormous political and economic difficulties, that alliance is unlikely to deliver dividends anytime soon. Unlike Abdullah, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi publicly welcomed the recent normalization deals.

Jordan is also careful not to antagonize the United States, its primary political, economic and military backer. Ironically, while Israel is celebrating normalization with two Gulf countries, its peace with Jordan remains frigid at best, with Abdullah not hiding his suspicions of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus intentions of changing the status quo of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalems Old City, over which the Jordanian monarch holds a special role as custodian.

Professor of political science at the University of Jordan Hassan Barrari told Al-Monitor that the recent normalization agreements present a series of strategic challenges for Jordan. For one, these agreements will not stop Netanyahus annexation plans, nor do they end the conflict with the Palestinians along the two-state solution, which is an existential issue for Jordan, he said. Jordan has lost its role as a gateway to any Israel-Gulf security and economic arrangements, while the decades-old Arab solidarity with the Palestinians is wavering. Moreover, Jordan fears that its role over Jerusalem holy places may be compromised as the UAE will now fly Muslim pilgrims directly to Israel and bypassing Jordan, Barrari added.

Lets also consider that the demise of the two-state solution, which Israel rejects, endangers Jordans security and stability, which means that even though we have a peace treaty with Israel, future confrontations between the two cannot be discounted, he said.
Kim Cattrall has spoken about her long-running feud with her Sex and the City co-star Sarah Jessica Parker.

The actress, 64, admitted she doesn't have 'any regrets' over her 2018 Instagram post in which she infamously slammed Parker for what some saw as insincere condolences following the death of Kim's brother Chris.

Reluctant to delve deep into the topic, the Mannequin star told the Los Angeles Times on Monday, 'Everything is on Google, so I encourage you to Google it, about anything that Ive said [about Sarah].'

Maintaining the rage: Kim Cattrall has spoken about her long-running feud with her Sex and the City co-star Sarah Jessica Parker. She's seen here in June 2019

Kim continued, 'I feel that that was then, and when I look at whats going on around me, I just dont have any regrets.'

The Big Trouble in Little China star took aim at Parker in February 2018, after the Divorce actress publicly commiserated over the death of Kim's brother.

'My Mom asked me today When will that @sarahjessicaparker, that hypocrite, leave you alone?' Cattrall wrote on Instagram at the time.

'Let me make this VERY clear. (If I havent already) You are not my family. You are not my friend. So Im writing to tell you one last time to stop exploiting our tragedy in order to restore your nice girl persona' she concluded the savage takedown.

Rival: The actress, 64, admitted she doesn't have 'any regrets' over her 2018 Instagram post in which she infamously slammed Parker [seen here in 2019] for what some saw as insincere condolences following the death of Kim's brother Chris

Strained: Reluctant to delve deep into the topic, the Mannequin star told the Los Angeles Times on Monday, 'Everything is on Google, so I encourage you to Google it, about anything that Ive said [about Sarah]'

In 2017, Cattrall told Piers Morgan that Parker 'could have been nicer' to her during their time on the Sex and the City TV series and two subsequent movies.

'I dont know what her issue is, I never have,' concluded the actress.

Rumors of jealousy and infighting on the set of the long-running HBO series have circulated for years, long after the show's 2004 finale.

It's on: The Big Trouble in Little China star took aim at Parker in February 2018, after the Divorce actress publicly commiserated over the death of Kim's brother

Sequel: In 2017, Cattrall told Piers Morgan that Parker 'could have been nicer' to her during their time on the Sex and the City TV series and two subsequent movies. Seen here in 2010's SATC2

Meanwhile, Cattrall seems to be a smitten kitten when it comes to her relationship of four years.

Speaking to People magazine on Friday Kim gushed over her boyfriend Russell Thomas in a way that would have left Samantha Jones shaking.

Though fairly private about their relationship, Kim who has not been seriously linked to anyone since her marriage to ended in 2004, said Russell 'was worth waiting for.'

True love: Kim opened up to PEOPLE about her relationship of four years to Russell Thomas. The Sex And The City actress and her beau both share British ties and currently reside together in Vancouver

Cattrall first met her match when she met Thomas in 2016 while he was working at the BBC.

Kim who was born in Liverpool immediately felt at ease around Russell who was from Kent, England through their shared UK ties.

'It's just so easy...I'm very comfortable around him' she says. At the beginning it seems as if the couple both acted on gut instinct.

Kim invited Russell to her house in Canada on the pretense that they 'kind of liked each other and [they] kept in touch' though they did not know each other very well.

Though the couple had only hung out a few times and shared a handful of meals together Russell took Kim up on her offer and ended up moving internationally to nurture their relationship.

Sparks flying: Cattrall said though she and Thomas had only shared a few meals together she could tell they 'kind of liked each other and kept in touch' prompting Kim to invite him to her home in Vancouver

'He came and we got along great, and we've been together ever since' said Kim.

She added, 'He's a firecracker and he's got a wicked sense of humor. And he's easy on the eyes!'

At the start of quarantine the couple relocated full time back to Vancouver though she still has a place in NYC.

'From the beginning, [Russ] and I felt like we needed to get out of town, so we came up to my house in Canada' she said.

Cattrall who was raised in Vancouver though born in England felt the need to go back to her roots.

Rooted: Kim and Russell were both born in England which gave them a level of commonality and made her feel very at ease around him

'The mountains, the orcas, when I was a teenager I didn't appreciate it. But now, they're bringing me back.'

Cattrall who catapulted to fame after her portrayal of sex-crazed Samantha Jones on HBO's Sex And The City has been married three times over the years.

Though nothing stuck in the long run, Kim feels like she has finally found her person.

She is not shy on social media, sharing photos of the two living their most loved-up life and exuding utter happiness.

'I love him...and he was worth waiting for' she gushed.

Samantha: Kim's notorious sex-loving character Samantha Jones was not much for relationships though it seems as if Kim has finally found her match after four years of dating

Since setting up shop in Canada it seems as if the relationship continues to go from strength to strength even taking pride in little things like morning routines.

The British rooted pair start their day in a very English way - with a cup of tea together in the morning and after lunch. 'It's hot water over a tea bag, with milk, no sugar and exactly the right temperature.'

Cattrall was wed to Canadian writer Larry Davis from 1977 to 1979. The marriage was annulled.

She was also married to German architect Andre J. Lyson from 1982 to 1989, during which time she learned to speak German fluently.

Her third marriage was to sound designer Mark Levinson from 1998 to 2004. She blames the collapse of that marriage on the success of Sex and the City as she was absent from home so much.
September 23 : Sanjay Leela Bhansalis Gangubai Kathiawadi starring Alia Bhatt is among the many big-budget projects that have suffered amid lockdown. While the film was slated to be wrapped up by May this year, the shoot was cancelled for an unknown period due to the lockdown. The director had also reportedly asked for the demolition of the film sets. Later, post lockdown, Gangubai Kathiawadi was likely to be the first film to go on floors in Mumbai, which did not happen.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali is now keen to get back to work, and has held several meetings with his leading lady Alia. Although the set was not demolished, it was partly damaged due to monsoon. According to a Mid-Day report, Sanjay has decided to resume shoot from October despite the fact that it would be difficult to shoot a period film amidst such restrictions and guidelines due to the pandemic.

The report also suggests that the solo scenes of Alia Bhatt and the scenes that require fewer people will be shot in the Mumbai studio. Some cheat shots will also be taken, which will be later corrected at the VFX stage, adds the report. Being a perfectionist, Sanjay doesn't want to compromise on the scale of the movie, and will shoot the scenes later that need grandeur. The team is currently working on the set, fixing the damaged portions, and sanitising it before the actors start shoot in October. However, the exact dates of the schedule have not yet been finalised.

Written by Utkarshini Vashishtha and produced by Bhansali and Jayantilal Gada, Gangubai Kathiawadi is a biographical crime film based on a chapter of Hussain Zaidi's book Mafia Queens of Mumbai. It revolves around Gangubai Kothewali, the madam of a brothel in Kamathipura. Earlier, the film was scheduled to be released on September 11, 2020.
Like so many stuck at home these days, I sincerely miss travel. For the past several months, Ive dreamt of visiting a city outside of the Bay Area, hoping to immerse myself in a new setting. Among the places I have missed most has been, without a doubt, New York City.

The last time I visited Manhattan was a few years ago, and each time Ive gone, its been one food adventure after another. So after months of feeling restless, I decided if I couldnt be in New York physically, I could at least sample it from afar. For me, that meant one thing: ordering a large shipment of bagels.

When I discovered the roster of East Coast restaurants available on online marketplace GoldBelly, I knew that I couldnt turn away without ordering from two New York City institutions: H&H Bagels and Kossars Bagels and Bialys.

I had many options to choose from, but I decided on Kossars and H&H for a couple of reasons. First, it was the notoriety. For the uninitiated, Kossars has been around since 1936 and is known for its old-world baking style that includes bialys, a Jewish Polish bread. Similarly, H&H Bagels has been a New York fixture since 1972 and has famously been cited on Seinfeld and Sex and the City, among others.

After a couple of colleagues recommended them separately, I knew I had found the right ones. The next thing was the price. One of the things I wanted to keep in mind was selecting an option that included free shipping (in the case of another New York shop, shipping was $55 alone) that didn't require ordering an insane amount of bagels.

ALSO: Oakland's Beauty's Bagel Shop taken over by Wise Sons

For $44, Kossars let me select four of 12 flavors, while H&H Bagels let me pick two of 11 different varieties priced at $49. I made sure to pick plain and sesame bagels from both shops, plus everything and onion bagels at Kossars. Two dozen bagels later, I was looking at a grand total of $93.

Susana Guerrero/ SFGATE

Let me be frank. I didnt set out to prove that New York bagels are better than the slew of options around the Bay Area. Bagel purists will argue that you cant find decent bagels anywhere outside New York, but many local shops are up for the challenge. Saul's Restaurant and Delicatessen recently began to debut fresh bagels on its menu, while the popular Midnite Bagel pays homage to the region by offering sourdough options.

My primary mission was to re-create the moment I was first introduced to the New York City bagel scene.

Five years ago, I visited New York one particularly snowy winter to attend a job fair that was ultimately canceled after the city suspended subway service in preparation for what it believed would be the worst blizzard in its history. Maybe it was naivete, but I decided that not even a snowstorm would get in the way of having a decent meal, so I put on my snow boots and headed to the decades-old Russ & Daughter for lunch.

It was just four blocks, but it felt like an expedition getting there as shards of snow kept stinging my eyes, but finally, I got my hands on a coveted warm lox bagel and took my first bite. As my entry point into bagel culture, I was hooked. Since then, Ive tried Ess-a-Bagel and even that rainbow bagel from Brooklyns The Bagel Store, which proclaims itself as, The Bagel That Broke The Internet.

Back in the Bay Area, what I most wanted to know was whether trying NYC bagels in the comfort of my own home would give me the feeling I had so many years ago. Would they taste just as good here?

A couple of days later, the shipment arrived on my doorstep in two separate packages. It took no time to unbox and prepare a decadent sandwich with lox, cream cheese, red onion, and capers (items not included in the shipment). After I finished, I can attest that both lived up to the hype.

Despite the cross-country trek, each bagel preserved its freshness much to my surprise. Sure, they didnt compare to a freshly-baked bagel, but I was amazed to find that both options still had a soft interior and crunchy crust once toasted. They certainly werent the average store-bought bagel that tasted like cardboard.

ALSO: Goldbelly delivers from iconic restaurants around the U.S. to your door

Everyone says its the New York water and theres no arguing on that, Sharon Bain, manager at Kossars, said with a laugh over the phone. We cannot fight that New York water does it for us. It's like San Franciscos sourdough. Every region has its own special something.

While there is some truth to the long-standing adage that New York bagels are great due to city tap water, it certainly isnt the definitive reason for why they have the it factor. The American Chemical Society points out that low levels of calcium and magnesium in New York City water can make bagels softer, but the effect is only minor. What makes a bigger difference is the rest time between boiling.

The skilled bakers at Kossars hand roll bagels each day and then place them into a fridge to rest overnight. The following morning, each bagel is tossed into a kettle of boiling New York water, and then bake to perfection. Bain shared that orders made on GoldBelly are prepared at Kossars as soon as it is placed.

We bake what we ship and that's prepared separately from our in-store bagels, Bain said. You have that attention to quality that we're looking to maintain as with everything else that we do.

Its no different at H&H Bagels. Darin Dolfi, director of wholesale operations at H&H Bagels, shared that once orders are placed, the company prepare them on-site and ship overnight.

Dolfi said that H&H Bagels use five ingredients for its dough that, once formed, is placed in a proof box to activate the yeast. The dough is stored in a refrigerator to ferment for 24 hours before its baked the following day.

When we put them into the hot water, it gives [the bagels] that nice crusty exterior and shiny coat, Dolfi said. Once they come out the kettle, we put them in cold water so that the bakers can actually handle them. Then we put them on a burlap board and right into the oven.

Courtesy of H&H Bagel's

When I received the shipment, I offered some to an SFGATE colleague who grew up on the East Coast. He happens to be a bagel aficionado and even makes his own bagels right at home. Days later, he confirmed that Kossar's and H&H were "really solid bagels" and were also pretty dense, which is a great thing to have.

Visually, H&H Bagels were slightly thinner compared to the rounder ones at Kossars. Thats due in part because H&H uses a uniform machine to shape the bagels after the dough is formed and cut by hand. My colleague pointed out that he preferred Kossars bagels for the crunchier crust and homemade taste. Though, he added that the toppings served on H&H bagels stayed in place better.

If you make an order online and have them shipped cross country like me, Dolfi suggests storing the bagels in the freezer for up to a year if you dont plan to eat them right away. He also clarified that theres no need to pre-slice them before storing in the freezer  a common debate I kept coming across.

There's nothing wrong with that at all, we just like to optimize the freshness, Dolfi said. So, the best way is to just store as a whole and when you're ready, pull them out of the freezer, [let them thaw], and then toast to your liking.

When it came to asking about the most popular schmear, Dolfi and Bain agreed that the traditional plain, veggie and scallion schmears were top choices at both H&H Bagels and Kossars. Despite Kossars traditional background, Bain said that it also dabbles with a variety of jalapeno caper, garlic thyme, and everything bagel cream cheese options.

Each bagel stood out in its own right. For me, the marker of a great bagel is if it has a discernible softness, and these bagels absolutely did. Also, theres something wonderful about trying a product from a business that's been around for decades. But I wanted to know why Dolfi and Bain believed New York bagels were so iconic.

I think for us, what makes our bagels really just known is that we've been around for over 50 years. We make our bagels for the same love and care that we have made since 1972, Dolfi said.

Besides the New York City water, Bain thinks that NYC bagels are a thing of legend. She said that the indicator of a great product has been all the compliments Kossar's has received through the years.

Ruwan J. on Yelp

I'll tell you, not a single day goes by without a customer telling you, I was here when I was a kid or I was here 40 years ago. said Bain.

The popularity of the two institutions even inspired Emily Winston to open Boichik Bagels in Berkeley last year after moving from the East Coast. In 2019, Winston told SFGATE that she wanted to re-create bagels from her childhood and that after H&H Bagels closed its original location in 2011, she made it her personal mission to re-create that bagel from memory.

Upon opening the shop, the menu also included a bialy fashioned after Kossars very own, Eater wrote.

Before I got off the phone with Bain and Dolfi, I asked if either had tried bagels around the Bay Area, but both admitted that they hadn't. After a short pause, Bain said that now that I had presented this to her, she would make an effort to try one soon.

It's the weirdest thing, I've never stopped to have a bagel in California, Bain shared. So, I've got to try one now.

Never before have I eaten so many bagels in such a short amount of time. After some minor skepticism, I found that having bagels shipped from New York was well worth the investment. Initially, I thought they would lose their luster given the 2,000-plus mile journey to my doorstep, but the bagels were much fresher than I imagined. Also, having access to New York food amid a global pandemic made it even more worthwhile.

Up until recently, Californians were not allowed to visit New York without first being required to self-quarantine for 14 days. Thats no longer the case after California was removed from New Yorks COVID-19 travel advisory list.

And thats great news for me. I, for one, look forward to visiting New York sometime soon with the intention to have Kossars and H&H Bagels once more  this time not from a box shipped across the country.

H&H Bagels has two New York City locations at 1551 Second Ave. and 526 Columbus Ave. Kossars Bagels and Bialys is located at 367 Grand St. in New York, N.Y.

Susana Guerrero is an SFGATE digital reporter. Email: Susana.Guerrero@sfgate.com | Twitter: @SusyGuerrero3
Bombay HC declares holiday due to heavy rains; No bail plea hearing for Rhea, brother today

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Mumbai, Sep 22: The Bombay High Court on Wednesday suspended its hearings scheduled for the day, including all virtual hearings, in view of the heavy rainfall in the city and suburbs.

The bail pleas filed by actress Rhea Chakraborty and her brother Showik Chakraborty, both arrested in a drugs case related to the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, were to be heard on Wednesday by a single bench of Justice Sarang Kotwal through video-conferencing.

Drugs probe by NCB: Rhea, her brother Showik Chakraborty file bail plea in Bombay HC

Besides, a division bench led by Justice S J Kathawalla was scheduled to hear actress Kangana Ranaut's plea against the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation over the demolition of a part of her bungalow in Pali Hill area here.

As per the communication issued by the high court registrar, these cases and other matters scheduled during the day will be taken up by the benches concerned on Thursday. Heavy showers overnight and early Wednesday morning caused water-logging at many places in Mumbai, disrupting rail and road traffic, officials said.

Rhea Chakraborty and her brother Showik Chakraborty, both arrested by the NCB which is probing drugs angle in actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death case, on Tuesday filed an application in the Bombay High Court seeking bail.

However, the hearing has been postponed.'' Today's board to be taken up tomorrow,'' Satish Maneshinde, Rhea's lawyer said.

Court extends Rhea Chakraborty's judicial remand till Oct 6

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.

Bengaluru drug case: Lookout notice issued against ex-minister's son Aditya Alva

The special court on Tuesday extended her judicial custody till October 6. Showik Chakraborty was arrested by the NCB on September 5 along with Rajput's 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, Rajput's 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.

Only Sushant took drugs, Rhea claims in latest plea | Oneindia News

Further hearing on their pleas is scheduled for September 29. While rejecting Rhea Chakraborty's 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 Showik's 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.
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A university in China has been slammed by angered netizens as homophobic after branding homosexuality as unnatural and a psychological disorder in its health textbook.

Huaiyin Normal University in east Chinas Jiangsu province made the statement in a Health Education Handbook which were given out to all of its first-year new students, according to Chinese media.

The textbook also claims that gay people bring instability to society and they have shorter life expectancy than normal people because they are against the law of nature.

Huaiyin Normal University in east Chinas Jiangsu province made the statement in a Health Education Handbook which were given out to all of its first-year new students, according to Chinese media. The picture shows a group of students studying at the Jiangsu university

The Jiangsu university came under fierce backlash after anonymous students shared pictures of the 'homophobic' health handbook on Chinese Twitter-like Weibo on Monday

The Jiangsu university came under fierce backlash after anonymous students shared pictures of the health handbook on Chinese Twitter-like Weibo on Monday.

A screenshot shows part of the textbook content in which it claimed homosexuality is unnatural and against the law of nature.

Gay people are against the law of nature. They have personality defects and unstable emotions, [they are] more likely to commit suicide and harm others as a result of adverse consequences, the page read.

[They] cause instability in society. In one hand, it would cause conflicts because of the rejections and disapprovals from normal groups; in another hand, gay people would instigate and seduce normal people, causing threats to normal people.

The so-called health handbook also said gay people have shorter life expectancy because homosexuality is a psychological disorder that damages ones nerve system.

Gay people are more likely to use drugs because they cannot fit in nature and therefore they are easy to get lonely. They couldnt resist the temptation of drugs, it continued.

A screenshot shows part of the textbook content in which it claimed homosexuality is unnatural and against the law of nature. The university told Chinese media it had asked students to return the health handbooks and planned to revise the content again

Chinese authorities removed homosexuality from its list of diseases in the Chinese Classification of Mental Disorders, a national clinical guide, in 2001. The file photo taken on July 1, 2000 shows gay rights activists displaying a rainbow flag in Hong Kong

The widely-shared screenshots sparked a heated discussion on Chinese social media, with many web users blasting the university homophobic.

One commenter wrote: Are you serious? Its 2020 already. This is pure discrimination.

Another one said: I cant imagine a university with a group of highly educated people would say such ignorant words. I feel sick.

But other Chinese commenters appeared to agree with the universitys statements.

One of them said: Whats wrong with discriminating gay people? Arent we supposed to do that? Are we supposed to encourage and praise them?

Another replied: Isnt homosexuality a mental disorder? Doesnt make it right just because its legal in Western countries. They also legalised marijuana.

A university in China has been slammed by angered netizens as homophobic after branding homosexuality as unnatural and a psychological disorder in its health textbook. The file photo shows students sitting in the dining hall at Huazhong University of Science and Technology

A spokesperson from the university confirmed the incident with Shanghai-based news outlet The Paper, saying that they had asked students to return the textbooks.

[We] will appoint health workers to review the content again, to look through all of it again, and will delete the inappropriate sections, the staff member said.

The news comes after another Chinese university's guidelines warning women students not to wear 'revealing' clothes on campus 'to prevent arousing temptation' have whipped up online fury in the socially conservative country.

The recommendations were included in a 50-point safety guide issued by Guangxi University, which also urged women to avoid going out alone.

'Do not wear clothing and skirts that are overly revealing, low-cut, exposing your waist, or showing your back, so as to prevent arousing temptation,' the advisory note for new female students read.

Chinese authorities removed homosexuality from its list of diseases in the Chinese Classification of Mental Disorders, a national clinical guide, in 2001.

But the LGBT community continue to face strong social stigma. Stories of families enrolling relatives in treatments seeking to change their sexual orientation also remain common.
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In his address to the nation, the Prime Minister saluted the corona warriors -- the health workers, who passionately treated the patients and saw to medical care, and the police personnel, who not only, at the risk to their lives, worked round the clock to enforce lockdowns and ensure public safety but also did yeoman's service by cooking and distributing food and medicines among the poor and needy.

The entire nation, at the clarion call of the Prime Minister, resonated, in unison, by clapping and, later, lighting of lamps, to applaud these warriors. The defence forces, too, placed wreaths at the National Police Memorial to honour the gallant police personnel.

Such was the nation's resounding gratitude to the police personnel for braving the journey to protect and care for citizens. Our police leaders led ably with unflinching resolve and determination, adapted deftly to different situations, performed with dependable precision and well avoided any "analysis paralysis". Not only did they protect the public, but also took measures to preserve their own force by staggering deployment, utilising a percentage of the workforce at a time and improvising other measures.

Despite this there were many cases of infections in the police, due to exposure while enforcing social distancing, protecting frontline workers and hospitals, dealing with the migrant crisis and policing in congested localities, market places, slums and containment zones. Hence police leaders, in their own way, ensured awareness, in their respective forces, about the virus, took measures to build immunity, enforced standard operating procedures on internal health management and on preventive steps like adopting physical distancing in barracks, enforcing cleanliness and hygiene practices, executed quarantine protocols and protocols for police station visitors, arrest and seizure, handling of dead bodies (for road traffic accidents or unnatural deaths), inquest, post-mortem and duty deployment, be it while enforcing law and order, crowd control, 'naka' checking, patrolling or performing VIP or traffic duties.

In the Central Armed Police Forces, all the Composite Hospitals were admitting and treating Covid patients. The ITBP started the first quarantine facility, near Chawala in Delhi, where all passengers arriving by international flights, were sent for quarantine, and also set up a 10,000 bedded Covid hospital in Delhi. Tele-medicine services were being provided, information was being disseminated through different online platforms and protocols were instituted for regular health checkups by all the forces. Organizations also carried out training without disruption by insulating trainees and instructors from external exposure.

Preparedness training was also extended to the families of police personnel who were also educated about safety norms. Essential items were being supplied at their doorstep. Wellness centres were set up in police colonies. Procedures were formulated for sanitization of offices, Police Stations, armouries and vehicles. Those above a certain age were asked to work from or remain at home. The 14-day quarantine rule, after returning from leave, was strictly followed. Covid helplines were set up. There was regular communication with affected personnel to reduce occupational stress and improve motivation. Some leaders took more innovative steps to keep their personnel safe and infuse confidence and a high morale.

Police personnel have braved the frontline without reserve, compromising their own safety to care for others. They have exemplified true courage; one that is not made solely of brutal force, but one that is born of and sustained by, the synergy of head, heart and hand and the firm resolve of virtue and reason. They have been executing their duties with aplomb and serving the public with exemplary grit, fortitude and composure during this pandemic.

It is these indomitable police efforts for the society which has, today, brought the police and public together in the enduring effort for safety in this most trying, challenging and unprecedented catastrophe -- the Covid-19 pandemic. Perhaps, the congruence of people and their caretakers is one silver lining of this dark menacing cloud. It was community policing at its best, and was also in tune with Prime Minister Modi's vision of a peoples' police -- a police of the people and for the people.

(The writer is a former Director General ITBP. His views are personal)
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had released the insurance amounts to these farmers a couple of days ago.

Bhopal: Prime Ministers Crop Insurance scheme has come as a cruel joke for several farmers in Madhya Pradesh as a few of them have received as low as Rs 1 as relief for damage to their yields.

Kaushalya Devi of Satornia village under Sehore district and Pooranlal of Gondhana village under Betul district have received Rs one as compensation for damage to their crops in 2019 under the scheme. They were among 22 lakh beneficiaries in MP under the scheme.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had released the insurance amounts to these farmers a couple of days ago.

Similarly, Mulia Bai of Shyampur village under Sehore district has received Rs 4 as relief for crop damage she had suffered in 2019, while Puspa Bai of Chhapri village under the same district got Rs 7.

Radhashyam, Bholaram, Mangilal and Amit Parmar of Sehore district have received Rs 16, Rs 18 , Rs 18 and Rs 23 respectively as relief under the scheme, according to executive president of Madhya Pradesh unit of Kisan Congress Kedar Serohi.

"There are thousands of farmers in the state whose insurance amounts were less than Rs 100," Serohi said.

"We are compiling data on the farmers who have received ridiculously meager amounts under the scheme so that we can take up their cases with the government," he added.

A senior officer in the state agriculture department told The Asian Age on the condition of anonymity that a directive has been issued by the government to insurance companies concerned to probe into such cases.

"The issue has come to the notice of the state government. The state agriculture department has asked the insurance company to probe the matter," he added.

Meanwhile, Chouhan has indicated that plans are afoot to fix a minimum honourable amount under the scheme to avoid such embarrassing situations.
The state said about 1,700 ballots had been returned with incomplete witness information, making it the most common reason that ballots werent accepted.

The lawsuit was bankrolled in part by the National Redistricting Foundation, a Democratic group whose parent committee is led by former Attorney General Eric Holder.

Another absentee ballot lawsuit that was filed said voters with missing witness information were being treated differently than those who simply failed to sign the envelope containing their completed ballot. They could sign an affidavit. Now under Tuesday's settlement, those with missing witness information also can correct the issue by signing an affidavit.

The agreement with the North Carolina Alliance also says county board officials will now accept absentee ballots received through Nov. 12, as long as they were postmarked or turned in by Election Day. The previous rules had limited their receipt through Nov. 6.

And county election boards will make it easier for people to turn in their absentee ballots or those of a relative at early in-person voting sites across the state when they open in mid-October. They won't have to fill out a voting log, but rather an election worker will do it for them.
Chennai, Sep 23 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami on Wednesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reconstitute the expert committee set up by the Ministry of Culture to study the origin and evolution of Indian culture during the past 12 millennia.

The Central government-led committee will also study Indian culture's interface with other cultures.

In a letter to Modi which was released to the media here, Palaniswami welcomed the move to set up the expert committee, adding that its composition is a matter of deep concern.

"The said committee has no representative from any of the Southern states, especially from Tamil Nadu which has a glorious past and was home to one of the oldest civilizations, viz. Dravidian civilization -- a living and thriving culture in the South of India," Palaniswami said.

"The recent archaeological excavations in Keezhadi and other parts of Tamil Nadu reveal that the world reputed Sangam era can now be dated back to as early as 6th century BCE. This places Tamil culture and language as one of the oldest surviving heritages in the world," Palaniswami added.

Palaniswami also pointed to Modi's visit to Mahabalipuram last year and his observation of the timeless monuments and glorious legacy of Tamil heritage.

"You will therefore, agree with me that any chronicle of Indian history and culture would be grossly incomplete without giving its rightful place to Tamil culture and language," Palaniswami said.

Given this background, it was surprising that the Ministry of Culture has chosen to ignore experts from Tamil Nadu while setting up the committee, the Chief Minister added.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
The number of Covid-19 cases in the city rose 104%, to 40,957 (September 1-22) from 20,031 (August 1-22), according to the state health department data. The number of deaths in this period in September dropped to 862, compared to 990 from August 1-22.

Civic authorities claim the spike in the number of cases is owing to increased testing and unlocking. The daily cases also started to increase owing to festivals in August. The daily testing in August was between 7,000 and 9,000. However, in September, the daily testing is between 10,000 and 15,000.

According to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporations (BMC) data, on August 1, five months after the first case was reported in Mumbai, the number of tests was over five lakh.

However, the number of tests rose to over 10 lakh by September 22. This also means the testing doubled in the period of around 50 days.

HT reported on September 21 that in the past 31 days, the city has recorded case fatality rate (CFR) of 2.2% (1,115 deaths and 51,617 cases), which has helped bring down Mumbais overall CFR from 5.5% to 4.5% between August 20 and September 20. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) attributed this dip in CFR to weekly monitoring at private and municipal hospitals as part of its Mission Save Lives launched in June. CFR is deaths due to Covid-19 as a per cent of the total cases reported.

BMC chief Iqbal Singh Chahal on September 6 told HT: For the next 30 days, the civic body expects to detect daily around 2,000 cases as it aims to increase daily testing to around 12,000-14,000 tests.

Chahal had added the capacity is to conduct around 15,000 tests, and we are planning to optimise testing. So far, over 10.22 lakh tests have been conducted in the city, with overall positivity rate of 18.22%.

Dr Siddarth Paliwal, a city-based private health consultant, said, It is a good sign that the number of deaths has come down despite the number of cases going up drastically. This is because of early testing or detection of possible Covid-19 patients. Also, availability of drugs to stabilise several critical patients has also helped bring down the mortality rate.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the city reported 2,360 cases taking the tally to 190,264 and 49 deaths taking the toll to 8,604. A total of 154,088 patients have recovered. The citys recovery rate is 80.98%. The city has 27,186 active cases and the fatality rate is 4.52%. Dharavi recorded 22 new cases, taking its tally to 3,087.
Kremlin critic Aleksei Navalny has been discharged from the Berlin hospital where he was being treated for what Germany has said is a case of poisoning with a Soviet-style nerve agent.

The 44-year-old anti-corruption campaigner posted on social media a picture of himself sitting on a park bench in the German capital after being released, adding that while he still doesnt have full use of his left hand, he has started learning how to regain his balance by standing on one leg.

Hours later, Moscow denied that Russia or the Soviet Union had ever developed or made the family of nerve agents at the center of the international findings, Novichok, despite decades of overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

Navalny fell violently ill aboard a Moscow-bound flight on August 20 originating in the Siberian city of Tomsk, where he was carrying out his latest investigation into state corruption. Days later, he was airlifted to Berlin for treatment.

The first time they put me in front of a mirror after 24 days in intensive care (of which 16 were in a coma), a character from the movie 'The Lord of the Rings' looked back at me and I can tell you, it was not an elf at all, Navalny said in the post.

I was terribly upset: I thought that I would never be discharged. But the doctors continued to do their miracle, he added.

Navalny said he will continue to do physiotherapy, while doctors from the Charite hospital in Berlin said in a statement on September 23 that based on his progress and current condition, physicians believe that a complete recovery is possible.

"However, it remains too early to gauge the potential long-term effects of his severe poisoning," the statement cautioned.

German authorities have said tests in Germany, France, and Sweden have determined Navalny was poisoned by a chemical agent from the Novichok group of bioweapons.

Infographic: A Timeline Of Russian Poisoning Cases

German authorities have said tests in Germany, France, and Sweden have determined Navalny was poisoned with a chemical agent from the Novichok group.

French President Emmanuel Macron on September 22 demanded a "swift and flawless" explanation from Moscow for the poisoning during his speech to the 75th-annual United Nations General Assembly.

Several other countries in the West have also demanded an explanation from Russia, but Moscow has declined to open an investigation so far, saying it has yet to see evidence of a crime.

The Russian Foreign Ministry, which has accused the West of a "disinformation" campaign in the case, said on September 23 that its pre-investigative probe of the case cannot be completed without data from Berlin.

It also said there cannot be any "Russian trace" of evidence.

It also claimed -- improbably -- that the Novichok nerve agent was never developed or produced in either Russia or the Soviet Union.

They are banned under the Chemical Weapons Convention of 1997 and have never been shown to have been used on the battlefield.

But they were used in the 2018 poisoning of a former Soviet intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter by suspected Russian agents in Salisbury, England.

Their development has been attributed to the Soviet State Scientific Institute of Organic Chemistry and Technology, which was jointly run by the Soviet military and the KGB, during the 1970s and 1980s.

In addition to foreign intelligence agencies, Russian scientists in the past have come forward to discuss Novichok's development.

Separately, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov repeated its demand to see evidence collected by the Germans.

"We aren't inclined to reject anything, we only want to be certain and understand what's going on, so as to compare. In order to compare, be

convinced, and understand, we need to have information, which we, unfortunately, are currently being denied," Peskov said.

Russia's permanent representative to the Organization for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Aleksandr Shulgin, said on September 23 that Moscow had sent a note to Germany's mission to the OPCW demanding information on the Navalny case.

The Kremlin, which also has denied any involvement in the attack, said the anti-corruption crusader is free to return to Russia whenever he pleases.

Peskov also addressed a recent article in the French newspaper Le Monde, saying the report that President Vladimir Putin told his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, in a recent conversation that perhaps Navalny had poisoned himself had many inaccuracies.

He did, however, confirm that the Navalny case was discussed between the two leaders.

Navalny was medically airlifted to Germany at the request of his wife following a medical tussle with Russian doctors who said he was too sick to travel.

He emerged earlier this month from a medically induced coma as his condition slowly improved.

German doctors say the military-grade nerve agent Novichok was found both inside his body and on his skin.

Navalny said in a post on his website on September 21 that the 30-day deadline for Russian police to conduct their pre-investigative check into what he called his attempted murder by poisoning has expired. He demanded that the Russian side return articles of clothing taken when he was hospitalized there.

Experts say the clothes he had on could help any investigation into the poisoning.

Navalny's team has said a water bottle removed from his hotel room in the city of Tomsk after he fell ill had been taken to Germany and found to contain traces of the nerve agent.

Peskov has said that is "absurd."

Navalny was attacked with a green dye by unknown assailants in Russia in 2017, leaving him with permanent damage to his vision.

Two years later, he suddenly fell ill while in Russian detention with what Russian doctors said was a severe allergic reaction but which he and his team insisted was an intentional poisoning. That case still has not been solved.

With reporting by Interfax and TASS
Airlines have pleaded for Covid-19 tests to be rolled out at airports so that the industry can begin to recover.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said pre-departure tests for all passengers would be the only way to replace the uncertain and fast-changing quarantine systems that have put people off travelling this summer.

And Tui, the world's biggest holiday group, also piled pressure on governments to introduce testing as it said summer bookings fell 83 per cent.

The International Air Transport Association said pre-departure tests for all passengers would be the only way to replace the uncertain and fast-changing quarantine systems

The company called for a 'regional risk assessment policy being applied by each government rather than a blanket travel policy'.

Tui has cut its winter schedule by a further 20 per cent to around 40 per cent of last year's capacity because of the 'continuous changes in travel advice'.

Industry leaders, airlines and airports have warned the global economy will nosedive until quarantines can be scrapped and passengers can move smoothly through borders.

Experts say quarantine rules for travellers to Britain are costing the tourism industry alone 650million a week.

IATA head Alexandre de Juniac demanded rapid and affordable tests that can be administered by a non-medical professional.

De Juniac said: 'We don't see any solution that would be less challenging or more effective.'

It is thought tests that cost a few pounds each could be available within weeks.

Failure to set up a testing regime could also cost more jobs in an industry battered by the Covid crisis. Tui yesterday said it would axe 8,000 jobs as it scrambles to cut costs.

And Airbus boss Guillaume Faury warned the plane maker's 'life as a business is at risk' because of coronavirus.

It has announced it would lay off more than 10 per cent of its global workforce, some 15,000 employees. About 1,700 jobs in the UK will go out of 13,500.

Although it wanted to avoid compulsory redundancies, Faury has said these might now be necessary, particularly in France and Germany.

Faury told a French radio station: 'The crisis is existential. Our life as a business is potentially at risk if we don't take the right measures.

And Willie Walsh, the former boss of British Airways-owner IAG, said the airline industry is never going to get back to the way it was before Covid.

He said that in around five years' time it would be a smaller sector, with fewer airlines, but more efficient.

Walsh said: 'It's never going to go back to the way it was.'
Vietnam goes 20 days without community COVID-19 infections

Vietnam marked 20 days with no community COVID-19 infections on Tuesday evening.

FiveCOVID-19 patients at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Ha Noiwere given the all-clear on Tuesday.

Since the first case was detected back in January, there have been 1,069 infections nationwide. Of those, 947 people have made a full recovery and 35 fatalities have been recorded.

Also on Tuesday, 10 people were given the all-clear after beating coronavirus.

Five from these are at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Dong Anh District, Hanoi, three from Tay Ninh General Hospital, one from Quang Nam Province and one from Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province.

Three are members of the same family, who were treated at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases, the grandfather, the mother and a two-year-old baby boy.

Patient 793 was the one in the most critical condition when hospitalised on August 14. He had to be supported by the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machine.

Patient 1045, who was 72 years old, was also in serious condition in hospital. He had difficulties breathing and was put on ventilator. He also had pre-existing diseases like benign prostate enlargement and degenerative spine. After being treated for eight days, his condition improved and was put off the ventilator of September 14.

In the new phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in Viet Nam (since July 25), the north recorded four cases of COVID-19 with critical conditions. Up to date, three of these four cases have recovered. The other one is in stable conditions and clear of all symptoms.

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 Viet Nam 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.

Final COVID-19 case in Da Nang makes full recovery

The Hoa Vang field hospital in the central city of Da Nang discharged its final novel coronavirus (COVID-19) patient on September 23 after the local resident successfully made a full recovery from the disease.



The citys final case was a 56-year-old man from Thanh Binh ward of Hai Chau district in Da Nang.

He had spent a total of 36 days receiving treatment at the Hoa Vang field hospital where he tested positive for COVID-19 a total of 19 times.

Since undergoing treatment at the field hospital, the patient has since tested negative for the SARS-CoV-2 virus three times.

Upon his release from Hoa Vang field hospital, he will be placed into a quarantine facility for a period of 14 days in line with regulations relating to COVID-19 prevention and control.

Ngo Thi Kim Yen, director of the Da Nang Health Department, said that following the release of the man there is currently no positive COVID-19 patients in the city.

At present, Da Nang has gone a period of 24 days with no fresh COVID-19 cases.

US magazine highlights Vietnams social solidarity in COVID-19 fight

CounterPunch, a US magazine, has recently run an article highlighting the strength of social solidarity in the fight against COVID-19 in Vietnam.

Vietnam acted quickly and decisively to contain the COVID-19 pandemic by closing its borders, prohibiting flights from other countries, no longer issuing visas to foreign nationals, contact tracing, quarantine, and a short-lived nationwide shutdown, the article said.

Government actions would have been diluted, however, if the people had not cooperated by wearing face masks, observing social distancing and, at one point, only leaving their homes for essentials.

Vietnam is well-positioned with a younger generation that is more individualistic than that of its parents because of their countrys integration into the global community, the Internet, and the fact that they are growing up in a time of peace, yet still possesses a strong sense of solidarity (mutual support within a group) and identification with the collective, which is heightened in times of crisis.

COVID-19 was presented and understood as an invisible enemy against which the people had to unite. This solidarity ensures that most people will behave in an empathetic and compassionate manner when need be.

The article cited a British Council New Generation Vietnam survey as saying that 72 percent of respondents believe their country will be better off in 15 years than it was before 2019, which reflects the well-documented optimism of the Vietnamese people.

Their concerns and suggestions focus on corruption, political engagement, environmental protection, gender equality, and improving the economy and entrepreneurship.

Vietnam has no new COVID-19 cases early Sept 23

Vietnam logged no new COVID-19 cases within the past 12 hours as of 6 a.m on September 23, according to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.

The country has recorded 1,068 coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 infections so far. Of the total, 691 were locally-transmitted cases, including 551 linked with Da Nang city since the latest coronavirus wave hit the locality on July 25.

As many as 980 patients have recovered while 35 have died from complications related to the disease. Most of the fatalities were the elderly with serious underlying health conditions.

Among the patients still under treatment, 11 have tested negative for the virus once, 2 twice and 12 thrice.

There are 20,872 people having close contact with confirmed cases or coming from the pandemic-hit regions under quarantine at present, including 355 in hospitals, 12,932 in other quarantine sites, and 7,585 at home or accommodation facilities.

As the COVID-19 pandemic can return at any time, the Ministry of Health recommended people wear face masks in crowded places, and wash hands with soap or hand sanitiser regularly.

COVID-19: A foreigner tests positive after leaving HCM City

A Sri Lankan citizen was diagnosed with the SARS-CoV-2 virus after leaving Ho Chi Minh City for his hometown, according to HCM City authorities.

The Sri Lankan citizen left Vietnam on September 12 and the patient had tested negative before departure, Bui Thi Ngoc Hieu, vice chairwoman of HCM Citys District administration.

However, the HCM City Centre for Disease Prevention and Control was notified on September 18 that the Sri Lankan citizen contracted the virus upon returning to the hometown.

The District 7 administration scrambled to cordon off the hotel where the Sri Lankan citizen had stayed before departure.

A total of 15 hotel staff and managers were said to have come into direct and indirect contact with the foreigner. One of them was transferred to a concentrated quarantine facility, and the other 14 were quarantined for medical observation at home.

Epidemiologists said they had disinfected the hotel and nearby houses.

The same day, HCM City authorities also reported a relapse case in the locality. The 27-year-old Chinese citizen illegally entered Vietnam and tested positive in a concentrated quarantine facility.

The Chinese man had been discharged from hospital recently after making a full recovery from the disease. However, he was confirmed to have contracted the virus again during his stay under medical surveillance.

HCM City has recorded no new locally transmitted coronavirus cases for the past 54 consecutive days. The city has been isolating nearly 1,000 people for medical observation, including 452 foreign experts and workers.

Health Ministry, medical experts discuss NCD treatment amid COVID-19

A virtual forum focusing on treatment for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the new normal took place on September 22.

Titled Digital Remedies for Healthcare in the New Normal Strengthening NCD care, the event was held by the Ministry of Health together with the British Embassy in Vietnam, the UK-ASEAN Business Council and the ASEAN Business Advisory Council.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Truong Son said that Vietnam has been able to bring COVID-19 under control as the country has no locally-transmitted cases to report for the past 20 days.

However, scientific evidence and reality in Vietnam show that COVID-19 poses higher risks to the elderly and people with NCDs, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer and end-stage renal failure.

The medical system is bearing the brunt of both communicable and non communicable diseases, he pointed out.

Vietnam has rolled out some measures to battle the pandemic and NCDs at the same time, such as building recommendations for the elderly and people suffering from chronic diseases, as well as providing remote health checkups and treatment, among others.

Medical experts at the forum discussed digital remedies for healthcare in the new normal, impact of COVID-19 on NCD treatment in the region, along with solutions to respond to such diseases and the role of digital technologies in healthcare.

NCDs have been on the rise as they are the cause for 71 percent of deaths across the globe. The burden of health and costs has been more severe to the vulnerable in the context of COVID-19.

Over 220 Vietnamese citizens flown home from Japan

Over 220 Vietnamese citizens were flown home from Japan on a repatriation flight of Vietjet Air on September 22 as a joint effort of competent authorities of both nations.

The passengers included children under 18, the elderly, people with illnesses, pregnant women, workers whose contracts have expired, students without accommodation due to dormitory closure and those in difficult circumstances.

The Vietnamese Embassy in Japan sent staff to help the citizens with pre-departure procedures at the airport.

Security, safety and hygiene measures were rigorously taken during the flight to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Upon their arrival at Da Nang International Airport in the central city of the same name, all the crew members and passengers were given medical checkups and put under quarantine in line with regulations.

In the time to come, more repatriation flights will be arranged to bring Vietnamese citizens home, depending on their demand and domestic quarantine capacity.

Vietnam presents 100,000 face masks to Israel

Vietnamese mask manufacturer PSD on September 22 handed over 100,000 medical face masks to the Embassy of Israel in Vietnam to help Israeli people tackle COVID-19.

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.

Indonesia records highest daily COVID-19 death toll

Indonesia reported 160 deaths due to COVID-19 on September 22, the highest death toll in a single day so far, raising the total to 9,837.

The country has the second highest number of deaths from the coronavirus pandemic in Asia, only after India.

The same day, 4,071 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in the country, bringing the national count to 252,923.

Meanwhile, the total cases of COVID-19 in the Philippines reached 291,789 after 1,635 new cases were recorded on September 22, the lowest daily number for the past fortnight.

COVID-19 fatalities in the country rose to 5,049 with 50 additional deaths on September 22.

President Rodrigo Duterte declared the Government will do everything possible to stop the spread of the pandemic until a vaccine is available. He also called on citizens to continue follow medical instructions on disease prevention, such as wearing a facemask and keeping a distance from others at public places.

Australian newspaper details Vietnamese efforts to stamp out COVID-19 twice

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has published an article highlighting the nations fast, efficient, and cost-effective response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) which has helped to return the lives of Vietnamese citizens back to normal.



The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) highlights Vietnam's COVID-19 containment efforts

Like many countries worldwide, a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country and gained some traction. Despite this, the Australian media outlet judges Vietnamese efforts to have been successful in limiting the spread of the virus to many other localities.

The article notes that the nations first COVID-19 death occurred on July 31 when a 70-year-old man passed away with the virus in Da Nang.

This came just six days after a new cluster of cases were detected at a local hospital, with the outbreak growing to more than 550 cases, around half of the countrys total cases since the start of the pandemic.

"The lockdown was a lot stricter than last time and the response on our street was good, they found a case and quickly locked it down," Jos Aguiar, an Australian national working for a Vietnamese property company in Da Nang, told ABC.

According to Guy Thwaites, director of the Ho Chi Minh City-based Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, the nation has experience in dealing with infectious diseases as it has been hit by many outbreaks of viral infections over the past 20 years.

"This hasn't been a high-tech response, it's been a very rapid and very well organised response," he said.

"Whole households went into one sample," Thwaites said, adding that communities or neighbourhoods with known cases were targeted first.

"In that way they were able to test the equivalent of around 100,000 people through around 20,000 tests. This allowed them to save a lot of time and money," Thwaites added.

The article explains that whilst tourists are unable to enter the country at present, efforts to repatriate Vietnamese citizens and highly-skilled foreign workers or investors have been made the priority.

Despite this, it is believed that the economic fallout of COVID-19 will not be as punishing for the nation as it is compared to regional neighbours.

"Vietnam is still expected to be one of the few countries that will continue to grow in 2020, while the rest of the world is being projected to enter into recession," according to international consultancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Furthermore, the Asian Development Bank projects that the Vietnamese economy will grow by 1.8% this year, making it one of the only South-East Asian economies not to contract.

Hai Duong records one COVID-19 relapse case

A 34-year-old man from the northern province of Hai Duong who had previously been discharged from hospital for a period of 20 days after recovering from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has once again tested positive for the virus.

The patient is confirmed to have been an F1 case related to a COVID-19 outbreak that occurred at a restaurant on Ngo Quyen street in the city of Hai Duong.

The man had originally been diagnosed with the SARS-CoV-2 virus on August 17 before being admitted to the Hai Duong Hospital for Tropical Diseases.

After recording four consecutive negative tests for the virus, he was subsequently released from hospital on September 1 before undergoing a period of isolation at his home in Hai Duong.

Upon the conclusion of the 14-day isolation period implemented in line with the Health Ministrys regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control, samples were taken from the patient on September 20 for the RT-PCR test, with his results once again coming back positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Due to fears regarding the threat of possible local transmission, authorities have acted to swiftly to lock down his home, whilst also continuing to conduct tests on individuals who had come into close contact with the patient.
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) - He's not recognized as a head of state by the country he'd be visiting. His diplomatic immunity is granted by the United Nations, not an unfriendly American administration that could decide to pick him up on drug-trafficking charges if he sets foot in the United States. Then theres the $15 million U.S. bounty for information leading to his arrest.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has good reason not to travel to New York for the annual United Nations gathering of world leaders. But this years virtual U.N. General Assembly format means he can be heard without having to come to New York - or risk an uprising back home if he left the country.

Instead, Maduro will speak from the comfort of the presidential palace, renewing his place on the international stage after missing out on last years event.

"This opens up an opportunity that Maduro doesnt usually have," Venezuelan analyst Luis Vicente Leon said. "On a net scale, he comes out winning."

He's not alone. A virtual General Assembly knows no national borders, incurs no travel expenses and allows even the most cautious, prickly or paranoid leaders to have their say without leaving their at-home security bubbles.

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte spoke to the General Assembly for the first time in his four years in office. Saudi Arabias King Salmans speech marks only the second time in more than six decades that a sitting monarch from the kingdom addresses the gathering. And Tanzanias populist president, who rarely leaves the country, will get his 15 minutes, too.

In this photo provided by the 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 planet's biggest powers, kept at home by the coronavirus pandemic that will likely be a dominant theme at their video gathering this year. (Eskinder Debebe/UN via AP)

Whether a short online speech will give them a leg up at home remains to be seen. After months of lockdown, much of the world is effectively Zoomed out. But these leaders' voices will almost certainly travel farther than in years past. The opposite is true for their opposition foes, who generally rely on side events to get their message out as leaders came together in New York.

"The virtual speeches do give an opening," said Shannon ONeil, a vice president at the Council on Foreign Relations, said as the assembly got underway. "But the virtual format puts them on the same platform as your regular Zoom, too."

Venezuelas situation is a case in point: The nation is in the midst of a power tug of war between Maduro and U.S.-backed opposition leader Juan Guaido. Last year, both men sent representatives who carefully avoided crossing paths at the U.N.. While Vice President Delcy Rodriguez got the main stage, the opposition commanded a powerful presence on the sidelines. U.S. President Donald Trump personally hosted one of four high-level meetings on the countrys crisis.

This year, Maduro will give his country's official address and Guaido will deliver online remarks on a separate platform. His aides will attend some side U.N. events - none of which are specifically about Venezuela. The lack of face-to-face meetings is expected to make things more complicated for the opposition, which has been losing momentum over the last year.

"Without a doubt this format makes it much more difficult to focus just on Venezuela," said Miguel Pizarro, who represents the oppositions humanitarian efforts in Washington.

The opposition's lessened visibility also packs an emotional punch.

"I think in general for Venezuelans every time that Maduro talks trying to represent us all, its an insult," the exiled Venezuelan lawmaker said.

But the online speech also is unlikely to win Maduro any new friends.

A recent United Nations Human Rights Council report accuses Maduros government of committing crimes against humanity, including grisly cases of torture and killings supposedly carried out by security forces. Their method: electric shocks, genital mutilation, asphyxiation and more. The allegations are likely to be brought up repeatedly at the virtual assembly.

"I dont believe he is going to have any added benefit," said retired U.S. Ambassador Nicholas Burns, a professor at the Harvard Kennedy School. "If he is speaking on Zoom it might as well attract additional criticism."

All leaders making an appearance on the U.N. screen could see diminished returns.

"Most of the leaders are going to see this as a purely domestic exercise," said Philip Alston, a law professor at New York University. "That is always the case to some extent, but given there is no opportunity for photo ops, for meetings with other presidents and so on, the only real value is getting speech out there which restates certain positions for domestic consumption."

Duterte used the platform Tuesday to defend his drug crackdown that has left more than 5,700 mostly poor people dead. Tanzanias John Magufuli will speak as he seeks a second term in an election next month in which opposition leaders say theyve faced government obstruction at every turn. And King Salmans speech will be the first since his brother addressed the General Assembly in 1957. The 84-year-old monarch has generally relied on his foreign minister.

In a short speech Monday to commemorate the U.N.s 75th year, Maduro came out guns blazing, charging that the world is facing a critical choice between a multipolar world and one dominated by imperialism.

"A world of diversity, peace and cooperation versus a world of hegemony," he said, speaking before a giant portrait of liberation hero Simon Bolivar.

As his speech was broadcast on Maduros Facebook feed, some chimed in congratulating the "comrade" while others blasted him for appearing at all.

"Thank you, Mr. President, for your work in destroying the country," one man wrote.

Fanny Gonzalez, 60, watched the feed from her mobile phone. Though a proud Maduro supporter, shes watched her two adult children leave the country in recent years, joining an estimated 5 million compatriots who have decided to seek a future abroad. Electricity and water outages are frequent. Government boxes of food are slower to arrive.

Still, she said it made her proud to watch him from the apartment she credits the late Hugo Chavezs socialist revolution with providing her.

"Many thought he wouldnt survive," she said. "But he keeps moving forward."

__

Associated Press writers Aya Batrawy in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Cara Anna in Johannesburg contributed to this report.
The governing New Patriotic Party's United States of America Columbus chapter has held its maiden town hall meeting via the virtual platform.

Mrs Obaa Yaa Amponsah Frimpong NPP-USA Chairperson who delivered the opening remarks, thanked all and sundry for making time out of their busy schedules to be part of the town hall meeting.

She admonishes members to put in their best in retaining the NPP in power to continue with the monumental strides the government is doing in taking Ghana to the next level in terms of development.

In her opening remarks, she stated, "as we go back to Ghana to campaign for the party to retain power let's try and sell the message of hope and also be guided by the strides the government has chalked in just four years."

The program was an initiative of the Columbus chapter executives with Rev. Samuel Sarkodee as Columbus Chapter Chairman.

The town hall event had Mr Danny Opoku Antwi as the Chairman of the planning committee, Oheneyere Lydia P. Harris Frimpong Ababio in charge of Communication and Nana Andoh Oppong the Organizer for the virtual town hall meeting.

The Deputy Education Minister and Member of Parliament for Bosomtwe constituency Dr.Yaw Osei Adutwum delivered the keynote address.

His address touched on the government flagship program the Free SHS.

The deputy minister in his opening remarks thanked the president and his vice for the unprecedented opportunities his government has given to the diasporan community to serve in his government.

He recounted how he met President Akufo-Addo who was then as a candidate in California. He indicated the president lauded him for establishing schools in the US to educate Americans. The president after meeting, invited him to come and help in his new free SHS policy he wanted to implement which led to him to come home and contested the Bosomtwe seat.

Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum recounted how Ghana was richer than South Korea during the early days of the country's independence.

"Comparing Ghana to South Korea today and you realise the gap is so wide. The per capita income of Ghana in 1960 to that of South Korea stood at $189 and $158 respectively. The gross tertiary educational ratio of Ghana today stands at 17% for every 100 you meet and South Korea stands at 94% for every 100. In the 21 st century you cannot transform a country without education, so the best policy initiative for any government to have brought to his people was the free SHS policy which is the conduit for tertiary education the NPP government led by the Nana Akufo-Addo initiated."

The Deputy Minister added that the worst thing to ever happen to Ghana is reversing the progress (the free SHS policy).

He therefore called on Ghanaians to retain the NPP government to continue with the policy.

The Managing Director of State Housing Company Mr Kwabena Ampofo Appiah spoke on housing deficits the country is currently facing and reiterated the housing projects across the 16 regions of the country which some have been completed and others at various stages of completion.

The MD added that his outfit was at an advanced stage in the establishment of rental assistance program, the national housing program and mortgage finance company to help in the housing growth of the country with more expected in 2021 and beyond as captured in the NPP's manifesto.

The MD was also optimistic the national housing bill will be passed by the Parliament of Ghana before they go on recess in order to start the national housing authority going into 2021.

According to him, the State Housing Company is also opened to partners either foreign or local for quality delivery in the housing sector.

NPP-USA Columbus Chapter executives extended their heart felt appreciation to all participants who blessed the program with their presence by taking valuable time from their busy schedule to be part of the occasion. Special recognition went to the planning committee, Branch Executives, chapter chairpersons from the various chapters, and NPP-USA Steering Committee for their hard work and unalloyed support.

Some Special thanks were extended in no particular order to Mr John Awuni (Kessben Fm), Mrs Obaa Yaa Amponsah Frimpong (NPP-USA Chairperson) Hon. Akwasi Konadu, (NPP Parliamentary Candidate for Manhyia North Constituency) Fatimatu Abubakar, (Deputy Communication Director at the Jubilee House) Hon. Sam Pyne,(Ashanti Regional Secretary), Kofi Tonto(Head of Information and Public Affairs, Ghana Embassy, Washington DC), Roni Nicol(Deputy M.D State Housing Company), Mr. Kwabena Ampofo Appiah (Managing Director, State Housing Company), Hon. Ali Maiga (Dormaa West MP), Hon. Francisca Oteng Mensah(Kwabre East MP) Hon. Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum( Deputy Minister of Education and MP for Bosomtwe Constituency), and His Excellency Atta Boafo Daniel Kingsley (Ghana Ambassador to the Republic of Congo Or Congo-Bra) for their inspiration. All other mentioned and non-mentioned dignitaries were duly appreciated.

Last but not least a rallying call from Miss Sandra Okyere the youth Organizer (Columbus Chapter) She said "Lets all go out to spread the word to enable our families make informed decisions by voting massively for His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and all NPP Parliamentary Candidates."

Finally Mr Prince Ampem Darko, 1st Vice Chairman of NPP-USA Columbus Chapter and Member of Western North Campaign team Moderated the town hall program.
Two evil brothers who made 1,000 a day using women as 'slaves' in a drug trafficking racket from a vulnerable victim's home have each been jailed for more than seven years.

Smirking Sulman Khan, 26, and 24-year old sibling Zafran set up base in one woman's house after exploiting her mental health difficulties to ply her with free crack cocaine.

The victim, 47, known as Shelley tried to get herself free from the brothers but was warned she, her pets and her family would be harmed if she failed to cooperate - and was told: 'We control you.'

Two other women including Sulman's girlfriend were also forced to help cook and pack drugs for the gang and act as his chauffeur. The Khans were arrested last June after a raid on their homes following a police operation into their activities.

It emerged the pair had a run a drugs hotline in Rochdale, Greater Manchester which fielded a daily average of 223 calls or text messages over one eight day period and Sulman boasted of having access to machine guns.

Both siblings were on licence having been freed from prison early last year over previous jail terms for drug dealing.

At Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, Zafran, from Rochdale and Sulman of Oldham admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine between August last year and June this year. Each were jailed for seven and a half years.

Smirking Sulman Khan, pictured, boasted of having access to machine guns during the drug-dealing operation

The pair are thought to have been out of prison for just a few weeks when resuming their drug dealing activities. Sulman was in charge of the packing of the drugs whilst Zafran would usually collect the narcotics from his older brother for onward supply on the streets.

Sulman recruited two teenagers aged 18 and 19 who would help him with the packaging, drive him around and alert him to the presence of police. They would also deliver dirty money from drug sales and bags for drugs.

Eventually Sulman and Zafran began moving their operation into the home of Shelley who lives in Syke near Rochdale in a criminal process known as 'Cuckoo-ing.'

Jon Close prosecuting said Shelley who had a history of drug misuse was given free cocaine then given further complimentary samples on a regular basis on condition the Khan's drugs operation was based at her home.

The brothers then 'systematically took over her address' and even obtained their own door keys for the house.

Mr Close added: 'Sulman brought crack cocaine to her home, would store drugs paraphernalia in her wardrobe and cook and bag up drugs in her kitchen. Once the drugs were bagged up up, Zafran would collect them.

'Both brothers would let themselves into Shelley's home and do this three or four times a week with the amount of drugs being prepared increasing in size as time went on.'

Shelley tried to get rid the dealers by offering them money and her bank card but they refused saying: 'We don't want your money - we want to control you.' They also threatened to damage her home, harm her dogs and made threatens towards her father and daughter.

Officers spotted Zaran driving his VW Gold in the area but had tried to give chase but he managed to shake them off. He and his brother were detained two days later at their respective homes and both gave no comment interviews.

Police recovered a mobile phone from Sulman's girlfriend Dana Pickering-Raczycki then 19 and found 2,000 messages on it relating to her contact with him.

Zafran Khan, pictured, and his brother warned a vulnerable victim that she, her pets and her family would be harmed if she failed to cooperate - telling her: 'We control you'

In various messages she said she did not want 'anything to do with his dirty money' but he called 'paranoid' and a 'grass' and said he access to a machine gun.

The court heard in April 2018 Sulman had been jailed for three years for supplying heroin and cocaine whilst Zafran had been given 32 months for being concerned in drug supply. Both had other previous convictions including dishonesty and perverting justice.

Sentencing Judge John Potter told them: 'Cuckooing required the remorseless exploitation of Shelley who had mental health difficulties and who was a drug user. You told her she need not pay for those drugs providing she allow you to control and organise your drug dealing activities from her address. You thus exerted control over her life, exploiting her and her home for your own selfish gain.

'Crack cocaine was brought to the house three to four time a week whilst scales bags and other items were stored at the property and the drugs would be bagged up in the kitchen ready for delivery.

'Control was maintained over Shelley by various means including the acquisition of her bank card, threats being made to harm her and her pets, damage to he property and implied threats to safety of her extended family.

'This was a sophisticated drug dealing operation which was no doubt designed to generated very significant profits running into many thousands of pounds. I accept there is no evidence as to lifestyle offending however both of you must have had expectation of substantial financial gain.

'This trade is one in which both of you are most familiar. You are professional drug dealers peddling harmful substances in your community which results in misery and chaos not only for those who use drugs but also for those from whom they steal to buy drugs.

'Your actions, gentlemen, are inspired by greed, selfishness and a ruthless willingness to exploit others.'

Pickering-Raczycki, now 20, of Wardle, near Rochdale admitted participating in a criminal enterprise and was was given 12 months jail suspended for two years. She was also ordered to complete 150 hours unpaid work and abide by a 9pm to 7am curfew.
Another 561 acres of forest in the heart of the Pennsylvania Elk Range has been brought into the vast public land bank.

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy recently conveyed the forestland in Benezette Township, Elk County, to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources as an addition to Moshannon State Forest.

In addition to protecting forest habitat for elk and other wildlife the tract protects the scenic views along Route 555 between Medix Run and Benezette.

The property includes approximately a half-mile of forested riparian frontage along the Bennett Branch Sinnemahoning Creek.

It also is located within a WPC-designated priority forest patch with many intact forestlands, including Moshannon and Elk state forests.

The forests are designated Important Bird Areas by the Audubon Society to help conserve bird habitat and populations.

Also, the conservancys Dr. Colson E. Blakeslee Memorial Recreation Area, which hosts a mature floodplain forest and provides public access to the creek for fishing, is nearby.

Protecting land in the Bennett Branch Valley corridor has been a priority for the conservancy for more than a decade, said Tom Saunders, president and CEO of the conservancy. In 2008, we purchased Bennett Branch Forest and added 3,932 acres to Moshannon State Forest. Since then, we protected four other properties in the corridor, including land that is now WPCs Doc Blakeslee Memorial Recreation Area. Our watershed conservation program is doing large-scale abandoned mine drainage work on Cherry Run, a tributary to Bennett Branch. And this acquisition is a key addition in the corridor.

If youre planning to visit the Pennsylvania Elk Range, you can find places to stay here: https://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/usa/pennsylvania/elk-county

The most recent tract brings the conservancy to 8,382 acres that have been acquired for protection in the Bennett Branch Valley corridor.

Saunders recalled that former conservancy board member Doc Blakeslee always stressed that once Bennett Branch began to be cleaned up from mine impacts, it would be important to acquire land for public protection and access along the stream and in the valley.

The addition brings Moshannon State Forest to nearly 190,600 acres that span Clearfield, Elk and Centre counties. Since 1983, WPC has acquired and transferred more than 5,000 acres to DCNR for Moshannon State Forest.

A private nonprofit conservation organization founded in 1932, WPC has helped to establish 11 state parks, conserved more than a quarter million acres of natural lands and protected or restored more than 3,000 miles of rivers and streams.

Contact Marcus Schneck at mschneck@pennlive.com.
(JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.) Missouri First Lady Teresa Parson has tested positive for COVID-19, according to reporting from Missourinet.

Parson is quarantining at home after testing positive for COVID-19 with a rapid test. Missourinet also reports the First Lady is awaiting results from a PCR test to confirm the positive diagnosis.

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services director Dr. Randall Williams will hold a press conference at 4 p.m. Wednesday with an update on Governor Parson and First Lady Parson. The press conference will be shown on Governor Mike Parson's Facebook page.
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, 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.
The Police arrested three members of the Coalition of Aggrieved Gold Coast Fund Management (GCFM) now Black Shield Capital Management including its Secretary, when they attempted to present a petition to the Official Liquidator.

The Police blocked the road in front of the Registrar General's Department, where the aggrieved customers gathered to present the petition to Mrs Jemima Oware, the Registrar General and also the Official Liquidator.

Led by Assistant Commissioner of Police Kwasi Ofori, the police dispersed the demonstrators with a light detector, arresting some in the process, while others ran away.

ACP Ofori told the Ghana News Agency that the leadership of the Coalition did not notify the Police of their petition presentation.

He said it was the responsibility of all Ghanaians to respect the Public Order Act, (ACT 491) and that notifying the Police of such events was compulsory.

The Act 491 (1), states that any person who desires to hold any special event within the meaning of this Act in any public place shall notify the police of his intention not less than 5 days before the date of the special event.

It also indicates that the notification shall be in writing and signed by or on behalf of the organizers of the special event and shall specify, the place and hour of the special event, the nature of the special event, the time of commencement, the proposed route and destination, if any and proposed time of closure of the event.

He said the notification should be submitted to a police officer not below the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police or other police officer responsible for the nearest police station to the location of the proposed special event.

He said the leadership of the Coalition had violated the Public Order Act.

He said the arrested individuals would be handed over to the CID for further action and investigation.

ACP Ofori cautioned groups and individuals who intended to organize future demonstrations or present petitions to make sure they followed the Public Order Act.

Mr Charles Nyame, the Public Relations Officer of GCFM, condemned the arrest of his colleagues, indicating that they were not demonstrating but rather presenting a petition.

He said they were just victims of the financial clean up exercise, saying we fall under Securities and Exchange Commission and have filed our claims waiting for payment, but they came out to announce that payment would be done today excluding us, which we would not accept.

He said they presented a letter to the Registrar General, the official liquidator, about their visit to present the petition today and she accepted and replied to the letter, so we were only expecting her to come for it.

Regional leaders have come all the way to support the presentation. Our only issue is for us to be included so that we would receive our monies, he said.

Earlier, when the Ghana News Agency got to the front of the Registrar General's Department, customers were seen sleeping on mats, resting their heads on pillows.

Some also displayed placards with inscriptions including: No Funds, No Vote, Mr President your financial Clean-up has turned us into beggars and Mr President we are dying.

---GNA
SPRINGFIELD  Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) announced Tuesday that 471 Local Education Agencies (LEAs) will receive $80,092,677 to help close the digital divide among Illinois students.

Funding for the Digital Equity Formula Grant comes from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The CARES Act directs federal funding to governors and State Education Agencies to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

View the list of grantees and award amounts at www.isbe.net/Documents/FY21-Digital-Equity-Allocations-WEB.pdf.

School districts in Madison County include:

 Safe School Madison Regional Office of Education

 Triad CUSD 2

 Bethalto CUSD 8

 Granite City CUSP 9

 Collinsville CUSD 10

 Alton CUSD 11

 Madison CUSD 12

 East Alton SD 13

 East Alton-Wood CHSD 14

 Wood River-Hartford ESD 15

With this commitment of $80 million in funding to closing the digital divide, we are building on the same goals weve pushed since the beginning of my administration, creating a pipeline of high-quality learning from cradle to career, Pritzker said. Throughout this crisis, I have been so impressed to see all the creative ways superintendents and teachers adapted to the pandemic, a spirit of ingenuity that stretched up into our higher education institutions, too. This pandemic has heightened every inequality and injustice in our nation and our educators are on the frontlines of seeing our young people through this moment.

Closing the digital divide has been a priority for the agency since March, when the pandemic forced schools statewide to suddenly shift to remote learning, said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Carmen I. Ayala. We saw in the spring that many schools did not have the technology or internet access necessary to connect students and teachers in real-time and to facilitate meaningful remote instruction. We have learned and prepared a lot since the spring, and we are excited to provide our highest-need schools the Digital Equity Formula Grant to strengthen their digital infrastructure this fall and for years to come.

More than 1.2 million students are starting the 2020-21 school year with remote learning in place and approximately 528,000 are learning in a blended or hybrid environment, comprising nearly 92 percent of all students in Illinois. The Digital Equity Formula Grant will help ensure students have the technology they need to access robust and equitable learning opportunities this fall.

The Digital Equity Formula Grant allocates funding to the highest-need LEAs in the state  those school districts, state-authorized charter schools, university lab schools, and alternative and safe school programs administered by Regional Offices of Education with an Evidence-Based Funding Final Percent of Adequacy of 70 percent or lower in fiscal year 2020 or FY 2021.

Many school districts have already purchased devices and expanded connectivity since the pandemic began. LEAs may use the grant to purchase additional devices and connectivity or to cover purchases made since March 13, 2020. LEAs will receive reimbursement after submitting an approvable application and at least quarterly expenditure reports.

Find additional information about COVID-19 and education at www.isbe.net/covid19.
Abu Dhabi-based Apex National Investment, a major investment company, and the Sheba Medical Center, the largest hospital facility in Israel, have signed an agreement to collaborate on healthcare technology and innovative solutions.



The agreement was virtually signed by Apex National Investment Chairman Khalifa Yousef Khouri and Professor Yitshak Kreiss, Director-General of the Sheba Medical Center.



The signing took place at an online ceremony hosted in Abu Dhabi in the presence of key personnel, VIPs and dignitaries from both sides, and was also witnessed by John Rakolta Jr., the Ambassador of the US in the UAE.



According to the terms of the agreement, the two parties will be cooperating on a series of key medical challenges, including the battle against COVID-19, medical education and research, medical tourism, and the future of hospital care.



A key part of the agreement will be a collaborative project known as the Gulf Initiative, based on Sheba Medical Centers ARC (Accelerate, Redesign, Collaborate) model to incorporate innovation into medical centres and new digital health technologies into the healthcare ecosystem.



Apex and ARC plan to gather healthcare data from the UAE, Israel, and other partners through ARCs big data and computational capabilities, and then integrate international technologies with partners and customers via specially created tailored programs.



Professor Kreiss said that the hospital was proud to be the first Israeli hospital to sign such an historic agreement with a renowned company in the UAE. He went on to say that he believed the agreement will change the dynamics of healthcare and innovation in the UAE, and act as an indication of peace and prosperity in the Gulf region and beyond, where, he added, hope knows no boundaries.



Apex National Investment is an Abu Dhabi-based investment company specializing in the field of public investments, including the healthcare sector, with a dedicated focus on establishing field hospitals at maximum speed and equipping them with the necessary high-standard equipment.



Newsweek magazine recently named the Sheba Medical Center among the 10 best hospitals in the world for the second consecutive year.  TradeArabia News Service
A 30-year-old Armagh mushroom picker has been fined for an act of voyeurism at a Newry shopping centre.

Enyo Enev, from Newtownhamilton, pleaded guilty to recording a mother and her daughter in the female toilets of Buttercrane shopping centre on February 26.

Newry Magistrates Court heard the defendant had followed the women into the toilets and recorded them separately on his phone in cubicles either side of him.

The prosecution stated members of the security team of the shopping centre had detained the accused after concerns were raised.

The PSNI arrived at Buttercrane and seized the defendants mobile phone.

Both women made statements to the police, said the prosecution.

The females stated that they saw the camera rolling and were in fear that the images would be sent to someone else, added the solicitor.

During police interview, Enev admitted to being in the womens toilets, but denied recording the women or getting any sexual gratification from an act of voyeurism.

The defence said his client had recently become a father three weeks before the offences.

He says he has no idea what came over him, said the defence solicitor.

He followed the women into the toilets.

He was in a cubicle with the women either side of him.

He placed the phone under the cubicles.

He is utterly ashamed of himself.

I hope he has learned a lesson, added the barrister.

District judge Eamonn King commended the quick thinking of the female injured parties in apprehending the accused.

He may have no excuse for his actions, but there will be consequences, said Mr King.

Enev was fined a total of 500 and an offenders levy.
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  State epidemiologists are closely tracking an increase in how quickly COVID-19 is spreading in New Mexico  an uptick possibly set in motion by travel and social gatherings over Labor Day weekend.

The spread rate of the disease reached 1.11 on Sunday, meaning each person infected will, on average, spread it to 1.11 other people, according to statistical modeling by the state Department of Health. Thats the highest rate of spread since early July. The states target is 1.05 or less.

But the states daily case totals remain fairly low, suggesting even some growth wont push the state out of compliance with more of its reopening criteria. New Mexico has averaged about 124 new cases a day over the past week, well within the target of 168 or fewer cases a day.

Were watching it really closely, Human Services Secretary David Scrase said of the increase in the transmission rate, and were hoping New Mexicans will continue to mask up.

In a public briefing Tuesday, Scrase said state health officials have expected to see some increase in disease spread as restaurants reopened to indoor dining  at just partial capacity  and other restrictions were relaxed a few weeks ago. The hope is that it will plateau at an acceptable level.

We knew it was going to go up, Scrase said. The question is, whats it going to do in the next week or two? If it continues to go up, were going to have to think about how to respond to that.

Its a little too early, he said, to say whether the start of the school year has contributed to the increase. Most school districts have opted to stick with remote learning for now.

But travel and gatherings over Labor Day weekend, Scrase said, are a likely factor. An increasing share of people who tested positive for COVID-19 in late August and early September reported having traveled, attended a gathering or visited restaurants or breweries.

People moving around and interacting person-to-person leads to more transmission, acting State Epidemiologist Chad Smelser said.

Theres no easy answer, he said, about when it would be appropriate to reimpose more restrictions.

New Mexico reported 110 new cases of the disease Tuesday, led by 21 cases in Bernalillo County, the states most populous county.

But the southeastern part of the state is experiencing the fastest growth in new cases, according to state data released Tuesday.

State officials on Tuesday also reported three virus deaths  a woman in her 70s and two men in their 90s.

The statewide death toll now stands at 854 since March.

Scrase and Smelser also said that the Department of Healths coronavirus website  cv.nmhealth.org  now includes much more detailed information about the pandemics impact on New Mexicans health. The state is posting weekly reports under the link to epidemiology reports in the purple banner at the top of the page.

Among the findings:

 Heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure are the three most common underlying conditions in people whose deaths are related to COVID-19. Other common conditions include chronic lung or kidney disease and obesity.

 The highest mortality rates are among those ages 65 and older, men and Native Americans.

 Native Americans once made up the largest share of New Mexicos coronavirus cases, but Hispanic and white residents now make up a higher percentage of cases.
Midland bars, which have been shut down for about six months, have started to reopen with the help of food trucks. But this lifeline comes with a cost.

Owners can reopen their business if they receive a food and beverage license, which costs $776 -- an initial fee of $200 and surcharges of $576 for a two-year period, according to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission website.

Erica Mann, owner of the Blue Door, has applied for the second license but doesnt understand why the bar industry is unable to operate and is being monitored when no other industry is during this time.

More Information The Bar announced on Facebook that the establishment will be reopening on Oct. 1 at 11 a.m. See More Collapse

In general, the industry is being decimated, she said. Im seeing people like bar owners in Texas having to close their bars. I see it two to three times a week, and its getting worse right now.

Mann said she doesnt know how many Midland bar owners have had to close their doors, but she has watched friends across the state making tough calls. She said the supply of the Paycheck Protection Program funds has been exhausted and many owners have spent their savings. Many who applied for loans have been turned down because banks dont want to lend money to small business owners who are unable to operate, she said.

Mann said Gov. Greg Abbotts inability to give bars a deadline for reopening has been one of the hardest parts. She said his announcement on Thursday was disappointing because other types of businesses were able to open to greater capacity, while bars remain closed.

Mann said she applied for the food and beverage license in order to reopen the Blue Door.

We have never minded having to elevate our game and doing things differently in order to be safe, she said. We should be allowed to operate ... in that safe manner. If he (Abbott) wants to penalize businesses who arent following the guidelines, I have no issue with that.

It is kind of kicking people financially while theyre down because the rules for operation (for restaurants) have not changed; in fact, they have loosened from 50 to 75 percent capacity, she said.

In order to participate in that loosening of restrictions, we have to pay, which is very difficult for some bar owners who havent had income for six months, minus three weeks.

Bars in Texas were allowed to reopen in June; three weeks later Abbott shut them down again when the number of coronavirus cases spiked.

The Blue Door will be able to reopen with the help of Tkilaz Mexican Restaurant, which is located in the same shopping complex, Mann said. The bar offered food from Tkilaz when it reopened in June. Mann said not every bar owner can find a food truck to park on site, and some locations arent food-truck friendly because of lease regulations.

Tall City Brewing Co. General Manager Jeff Thomas said his business received a food and beverage license. The bar filed for the license on Aug. 26 and received it on Sept. 10. The brewery reopened Sept. 11 with food trucks on site during operating hours.

We had about six to eight food trucks in rotation before this, so it hasnt been an issue, he said.

Tall City has several new things brewing because of the forced time off, Thomas said. The brewery introduced the Peach Wheat beer when it reopened and will be setting up for Oktoberfest, Halloween and its one-year anniversary in November. Thomas said patrons know the protocol, and the brewery hasnt had any issues since reopening.

We are trying to be open as normal as we can during this time, he said. Patrons were thrilled that we were open and happy to come back to their spot.

The Buffalo Nickel general manager Michael Mielnik said the bar is searching for a food truck that will park outside the downtown business when it reopens.

He said being a bar manager is very stressful and confusing during this time.

It feels like almost everyday something new is coming up or we have a new obstacle to overcome, he said. A lot of it is playing catch-up right now.  We are trying to do whats best for the bar at this point.

He said the coronavirus pandemic and oil taking a downturn has left the bar in a bad position staff wise. About five bartenders left because they moved or found another job.

I have two remaining staff, and basically its going to have to be a re-grand opening whenever we do open up because were going to have to train staff, he said. With the uncertainty of when we are going to open makes it even harder to hire and train staff.
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.
By PTI

AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat government has opposed Congress leader Hardik Patel's application filed in a sessions court here seeking temporary suspension of his bail condition that restricts him from leaving the state.

Patel, who is the working president of the Gujarat Congress unit, was arrested in January this year for failing to appear before the trial court in a 2015 sedition case.

He was later granted bail by additional sessions judge B J Ganatra with a condition that he needs to seek prior approval of the court before leaving the state.

Patel last week moved the plea before judge Ganatra, seeking suspension of the bail condition for 12 weeks on the ground that he has to frequently travel outside Gujarat to fulfil his obligation as the state Congress working president.

Patel also said he needs to brief his lawyers in the Supreme Court regarding four cases filed by him in the apex court that are likely to be listed soon.

However, the investigating officer in the case, cyber crime police inspector R J Chaudhary, moved an application in the sessions court on Tuesday, opposing Patel's plea on various grounds.

In his application, Chaudhary said Patel has breached bail conditions imposed by the Gujarat High Court and trial court on several occasions, has not informed the police about the change in his address, and has remained absent from hearing in the sedition case on 61 occasions, among others.

The sessions court had earlier rejected his plea seeking modification of the same bail condition.

Patel was arrested by Ahmedabad crime branch in January after he skipped several court proceedings in the sedition case.

The Ahmedabad crime branch had booked Patel in a case of sedition in connection with the violence which broke out in many parts of Gujarat following a rally for Patidar quota here on August 25, 2015.

Patel had led the agitation for quota for the Patidar/Patel community.

The Gujarat High Court granted him bail in that case in July 2016.

In November 2018, the trial court framed charges against him and others.

Patel joined the Congress ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
In first such moves to bring down tensions in eastern Ladakh, India and China on Tuesday agreed to stop sending more troops to the frontline, refrain from unilaterally changing the situation on the ground and avoid taking any actions that may further complicate matters.

The announcement of the decisions was made by the Indian and Chinese army in a joint statement, a day after the sixth round of Corps commander-level talks that lasted for 14-hours, in what is seen as an attempt to create an environment to resolve the over four-month long border standoff.

However, there appeared to be no forward movement in disengagement of troops from the multiple friction points on the Line of Actual Control(LAC).

The statement said the two militaries also agreed to strengthen communication on the ground, avoid misunderstandings and misjudgments and earnestly implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries.

In the statement, it was mentioned that the two sides also agreed to take practical measures to properly solve problems on the ground, and jointly safeguard peace and tranquillity in the border areas. They also resolved to hold the 7th round of military commander talks as soon as possible.

The announcement of a slew of decisions was made in identical statements released by the Indian and Chinese army in Delhi and Beijing simultaneously.

"The two sides had candid and in-depth exchange of views on stabilising the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the India-China border areas," said the statement released by the Indian Army.

"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, 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," it said about the Corps commander talks.

It is for the first time that the armies of the two countries have announced specific measures to ease tensions in eastern after the face-off erupted in the Himalayan region in early May.

Since then, they have rushed thousands of troops and heavy weaponry to almost all the sensitive areas along the LAC.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, meanwhile, said China will continue to narrow the differences and resolve disputes with others through negotiations, in comments that came against the backdrop of the standoff.

Addressing the general debate of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly, he said, "We will continue to narrow differences and resolve disputes with others through dialogue and negotiation."



"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," Xi said in a pre-recorded video message to the UN meeting.

The situation in escalated manifold after 20 Indian soldiers were killed in violent clashes in Galwan Valley on June 15. The Chinese side too suffered casualties, but it is yet to divulge the details.

The situation further deteriorated following at least three attempts by the soldiers of the Chinese People's Liberation Army(PLA) to "intimidate" Indian troops along the northern and southern bank of Pangong lake area in the last three weeks where even shots were fired in the air for the first time at the LAC in 45 years.

As the tensions escalated further, the foreign ministers of the two countries held talks on the sidelines of a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meet in Moscow on September 10 where they reached a five-point agreement to defuse the situation in eastern Ladakh.

The agreement was the basis for the Monday talks which was also attended for the first time by a joint secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs(MEA).

The agreement aimed at ending the tense standoff 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 LAC.

On the Corps commander talks, government sources earlier in the day said a common assessment that emerged was there should not be any further escalation in tensions as the situation had deteriorated in the Chushul sector following three incidents of shots being fired in the air.

The sources said the Chinese side insisted on withdrawal of Indian troops from the strategic heights around the southern bank of Pangong lake but the Indian delegation clearly conveyed that China's PLA first vacate the areas from Finger 4 to Finger 8. The mountain spurs in the area are referred to as Fingers.

They said there was a shared view that disengagement of troops was necessary to bring down the tensions and both sides should continue the diplomatic and military talks to finalise the broad contours.

At the talks, the Indian side pressed for an early and complete disengagement of Chinese troops from all the friction points and insisted it was for China to take the first steps to de-escalate the situation, government sources said.

It is learnt that the Indian delegation also insisted on a time-bound implementation of the five-point agreement reached in Moscow.

Monday's talks began at around 9 am in Moldo on the Chinese side of the LAC across India's Chushul sector in eastern Ladakh and ended at 11 PM.

The two sides also mentioned the harsh winter in the Ladakh region beginning October when temperatures fall upto minus 25 degree Celsius and oxygen becomes scarce, the sources said.

The Indian delegation was headed by Lt Gen Harinder Singh, the commander of the Leh-based 14 Corps of the Indian Army.

It also comprised MEA Joint Secretary Naveen Srivastava, who has been engaged in diplomatic talks with China on the border row under the framework of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on border affairs.

The team also included Lt Gen PGK Menon, who is expected to succeed Singh as the commander of the 14 Corps next month.

At the previous five rounds of Corps commander-level talks, the Indian side insisted on complete disengagement of Chinese troops at the earliest, and immediate restoration of status quo ante in all areas of eastern Ladakh prior to April.

The fifth round of talks on August 2 lasted for nearly 11 hours while the fourth round went on for nearly 15 hours on July 14.

The situation in eastern Ladakh deteriorated after China unsuccessfully attempted to occupy Indian territory in the southern bank of Pangong Lake on the intervening night of August 29 and 30.

On September 7, the Chinese troops again made an unsuccessful bid to close in on the Indian position and even fired shots in the air in the Mukhpari area of Rezang-La ridgeline on the southern bank of Pangong lake.

As Jaishankar and Wang were set to hold talks in Moscow, Chinese soldiers fired a barrage of "warning shots" in the air on the North Bank of Pangong lake to "intimidate" the Indian troops, Indian Army sources had said.

India occupied a number of strategic heights on the southern bank of Pangong lake and strengthened its presence in Finger 2 and Finger 3 areas in the region to thwart any Chinese actions. China has been occupying the areas between Finger 4 and Finger 8.

(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.)
Senior NSW Nationals intervened to block social media circulation of a Sydney Morning Herald article that questioned the eligibility of a party candidate to stand in the 2019 state election and raised issues of branch stacking.

The unusual intervention involved Gurmesh Singh, who won the Coffs Harbour seat at that election, Andrew Fraser, the NSW party chairman and predecessor in the seat, and state director Joe Lundy.

NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro (left) with Coffs Harbour Nationals MP Gurmesh Singh (centre) and Nationals chairman and former Coffs Harbour MP Andrew Fraser during last year's election campaign. Credit:Louise Kennerley

The three contacted Rob Trezise, the administrator of the Coffs Coast Independent News, a Facebook-hosted site that counts 3100 followers.

Mr Trezise told the Herald he had posted the article  which described how one of the two Nationals branches in Mr Singh's electorate had been stacked with new members and then dissolved  about 7.10am on Sunday morning. Within 11 minutes, he was contacted by Mr Singh via Facebook's Messenger service.
HELSINKI and MANCHESTER, England, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Naveo Commerce has today launched as a new company, following the merger of operations between Digital Goodie and Maginus. Naveo Commerce, a cloud-based SaaS solution, will operate as a unique end-to-end eCommerce, OMS and Fulfilment technology provider for retail, SMBs and Enterprise across all vertical markets. The Maginus partnership with Magento and Episerver will continue as a core consulting arm sitting under the Naveo Commerce brand.

Irwin Kramer, Chairman of the Board stated, "Naveo Commerce now offers a unique end-to-end eCommerce solution for next-generation retailers and distributors. We are helping our clients tackle the rapid changes in consumer behavior and providing them with the tools and advice needed to exponentially grow their businesses and better engage digital customers."

The combined capabilities and technologies of the two companies  Headless Commerce, Order Management, In-store Picking , Fulfilment and Consultancy  makes Naveo Commerce a compelling proposition for retailers of all sizes looking to both capitalise on, and effectively manage, the significant growth in online groceries and shopping, to deliver a superior digital customer experience and remain competitive.

"Today marks a pivotal moment for the company," said Moris Chemtov, Global CEO, Naveo Commerce. "We are delighted to introduce our new company to the market and help retailers of all sizes achieve and further accelerate their digital transformation goals. COVID-19 has changed the retail landscape forever, and retailers and their supply chains across the globe have been impacted as a result. The current upward trajectory in online shopping shows no signs of abating, it is therefore crucial to address key industry challenges such as more efficiently managing increased order volumes, and implement technologies which are not only able to manage supply and demand, but provide the flexibility required to succeed in today's complex retail environment. What's even more exciting for the industry is that Naveo Commerce provides all the operational support many have been yearning for, all under one corporate umbrella."

Naveo Commerce operates internationally and is already working with major retailers in the UK, Nordics, Central and Eastern Europe. Its native cloud-based solution is particularly attractive to customers like Finland's largest retailer S Group and The Co-op, since it enables a speedier implementation that is quicker than industry averages; spelling an end to long, cumbersome commerce installations, and providing a unique end-to-end digital experience.

Chris Conway, Head of Digital at The Co-op, a Naveo Commerce customer, commented: "The Co-op is traditionally a bricks-and-mortar retailer, with us only launching online operations and home delivery relatively recently. No one can dispute the growth of online retail and its importance, especially since the pandemic, and we therefore required an agile solution which could easily adapt as required and enable our business to meet changing consumer demands. Naveo Commerce is able to provide this, and now with the increased back-end capability, it will help boost digital operations as required."

Louis Hernandez Jr, CEO and Managing Director of Black Dragon Capital commented: "The eCommerce sector was already growing at a fast pace, but the pandemic has drastically accelerated consumer adoption and permanently disrupted global commerce. Traditional companies are scrambling to adopt new digital business models to survive, and online sellers are trying to improve their customer experience by overinvesting in digital platforms and supply chain management tools. Naveo Commerce, with its consolidated product offering and proven experience, will certainly take advantage of the new market opportunities and continue to strengthen its leadership role."

For more information about Naveo Commerce, please click here [https://www.naveocommerce.com]

Contact Amanda Mulquiney for Naveo Commerce press inquiries or interviews:

[email protected]

+44 161 9463885

+44 7966 648737

About Naveo Commerce

Naveo Commerce is an international end-to-end eCommerce, OMS and Fulfilment technology company helping SMBs and Enterprise across all retail segments to manage and grow their business online. The company was founded in 2020 following the merger of Digital Goodie and Maginus, unifying cloud-based Headless Commerce expertise, Order Management Systems and Fulfilment solutions to establish one of the only companies globally to be able to offer entire end-to-end commerce support to retailers. The Maginus partnership with Magento and Episerver continues to operate as part of a consulting arm sitting under the Naveo Commerce brand. The company is financially backed by Black Dragon Capital.

SOURCE Naveo Commerce

Related Links

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FRIENDSWOOD  After heavy rains from Tropical Storm Beta pushed northeast away from Friendswood, Linda Davis decided to go for a bike ride through the neighborhood on Tuesday afternoon, pedaling through a flooded residential street too deep for most SUVs to push through.

Davis moved to the neighborhood in 2017 from Ohio, eight months before Hurricane Harvey dumped over 4 feet of rain in the region. In just three years, she has seen more flooding than she did most of her life living in the Midwest.

We did not get flooded from Harvey, so were lucky, Davis said. I can handle the heat but the (storms) are still pretty nerve-racking.

Friendswood saw nearly 10 inches of rain over a 48-hour period from Beta, rendering many streets impassable including major thoroughfares that crossed over Clear Creek, which rose so much that it crested over the bank and on to the roads. Many vehicles had to turn around, while other motorists plowed right through.

Hunter and Emily Hill took a walk down a residential street adjacent to Clear Creek, warning vehicles not to go any farther after seeing one car stall out in the deep water.

Top of the bank is 18 feet, were sitting at 23 feet now, and Harvey was 27 feet to give you an idea, Hunter Hill said. He gestured to the houses on the street facing the creek, I personally think those houses are gonna flood.

Patricia McCaffety has lived in one of those creek-adjacent houses since 1972. She can recount every flooding event in the neighborhood during that time period  four, by her count  and two of which, Beta and Harvey, happened in the last four years.

McCaffety walked to her backyard, which had become one with Clear Creek, pushing right up against her back porch, with nary a blade of grass visible beneath the dark, murky water.

Were a little bit higher as you can see than some of the houses, we built it up over the years, McCaffety said. She pointed to a vacant lot next door to her house which had been converted to a detention pond. There were two houses there. When you see vacant lots on the street, thats because they entered a FEMA buyout.

Several blocks away, Valerie Smith and her husband joined their neighbor, Apryl Sandoval, in gawking and recording videos of cars trying to make it through a severely flooded intersection that bisected Clear Creek.

Smith has lived in Friendswood, located about 20 miles southeast of downtwon Houston, for eight years and has come to accept flooded streets as a way of life in the Houston region. Her home took on 6 inches of water during Harvey.

I know that Houston floods, its one of the risks of living here, Smith said. We just stay prepared. We have flood insurance this time around. Didnt have it during Harvey.

Sandoval has walked the neighborhood enough over the years to know where the consistent flooding spots are. Indeed, roads dip at random places and the elevations of houses vary, even on a single residential block.

Just depends on where the rain bands are, Sandoval said, joking that after Harvey we were saying, the builders must have been high on something. The elevation is very different house to house.

nick.powell@chron.com
Praising Joe Biden as a longtime family friend and an ally to military families like hers, Cindy McCain, the woman Republicans wanted to make first lady in 2008, is endorsing the Democratic presidential nominee.

McCain on Tuesday avoided directly criticizing President Donald Trump, who had a stormy rivalry with her husband, the late Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., that lingered even after his death in 2018.

Her endorsement comes just weeks before Arizonans are set to begin voting and after anonymous sources claimed to The Atlantic that Trump ridiculed McCain and others in the military throughout his term in office.

McCain declined to speak about the impact she believes Trump would have on the nation, and globally, should he win a second term.

Instead, she told The Arizona Republic in an interview Tuesday that her endorsement is in part attributable to the character she sees in Biden, a longtime friend of the family who, like her, is a parent to troops who have served the United States in the military.

The decision, she said, was not about honoring her husband's legacy. This was about her.

"I'm like everybody else: I like a good leader and I feel like right now the president doesn't have my back, he doesn't take a stand on things that are really important and we have a time of crisis," Cindy McCain said. "I'm worried that this could go further than it should. My point in getting on board with Joe is that he's proven  he's been there. I've known him for 40 years. I know his character and his leadership and his honor and his integrity and those things are very important to me."

McCain said she will remain a registered Republican. She said Biden practices the kind of bipartisan politics her husband did: "Joe shares our values and our concerns and he cares about us. I'm a mother, I'm a business owner, I'm the mother of two military men and I want someone that understands me and understands what's going on and knows what it takes to really make the tough decisions."

Story continues

McCain had been thinking about the decision to endorse Biden for some time. She said he did not ask for her endorsement but was "excited" when she told him of her decision a few weeks ago.

FILE - The late Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz, receives the Liberty Medal from Chair of the National Constitution Center's Board of Trustees, former Vice President Joe Biden, in Philadelphia, on Oct. 16, 2017. McCain's wife Cindy McCain, announced Sept. 22, 2020, she endorses Biden, the Democrat nominee, for 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, noting 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."

McCains endorsement, which she announced from her home in Phoenix, comes as Biden is leading polls nationally and more narrowly in Arizona, which is expected to be a critical battleground for the White House.

Biden announced the endorsement earlier in the day, telling reporters she was backing him because of The Atlantic's article.

"Maybe I shouldnt 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 Johns who are heroes, who served their country, you know he said theyre losers, theyre suckers," Biden said Tuesday at a fundraiser.

McCain has resisted injecting herself in partisan politics, largely avoiding the controversies that involved Trump and her husband since Trump first entered presidential politics. She has throughout her public life advocated less-partisan causes, such as ending human trafficking and aid to third-world countries.

McCains voice could help Democrats reach undecided independent voters and Republicans uneasy with Trump, the kind who for more than three decades supported John McCain.

Cindy McCain talks about her husband, Sen. John McCain, almost a year after his death from her home in Phoenix on Aug. 19, 2019.

McCain said she hopes her endorsement gives voters the courage to cross party lines, particularly women.

"It is OK to look outside the box, it is OK to cross a party line and vote for someone else that's perhaps not of your party but is perhaps a better candidate," she said. "I hope I have an impact, I hope what I'm doing is important and I just hope that Joe wins."

McCains endorsement comes weeks after she appeared in a video played during the Democratic National Convention that paid tribute to her husband and the long friendship he and Biden maintained in Washington. That video, overlaid with photos and footage of the two men, sought to remind America of the type of bipartisanship and collegiality that once defined Washington. It stopped short of an endorsement of Biden.

The McCain-Biden friendship extended from politics to their home life, where the families celebrated milestones, hosted family get-togethers and, at the end of McCains life at the family home in Cornville, reflected on their adventures of days past.

McCain joins more than 100 former staffers and campaign workers of her late husband to endorse Bidens bid.

McCain, along with her daughter, TV commentator Meghan McCain, have been at times outspoken critics against Trump, whose feud with the late senator dates to 2015, when Trump launched his first presidential bid. The McCain women occasionally speak out against Trump, but these days, tend to only speak out in such a forceful manner when he re-airs his grievances.

McCain did not weigh in on Arizonas closely watched U.S. Senate special election, where two well-funded candidates are vying to fill the remainder of her husbands term.

Sen. Martha McSally, R-Ariz., who lost her 2018 race for the states other Senate seat, is facing an aggressive challenge by Democratic Senate candidate Mark Kelly, a retired NASA astronaut and husband of former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz.

Kelly is scheduled to appear on ABCs The View, with Meghan and other co-hosts on Wednesday.

Cindy McCain told The Republic she would not be getting involved in Arizona politics this cycle or that particular race.

Have news to share about Arizona's U.S. senators or national politics? Reach the reporter on Twitter and Facebook. Contact her at yvonne.wingett@arizonarepublic.com and 602-444-4712.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Cindy McCain, John McCain's widow, endorses Joe Biden in 2020 election
In The Dual State: A contribution to the Theory of Dictatorship, first published in 1941 after its author fled Germany, Ernst Fraenkel developed a theory based on his experience as an attorney in the Berlin Court of Appeals in Nazi Germany between 1933 and 1938. He was a witness to the decay of the German legal system after the passage of the Reichstag Fire Decree and Enabling Act, which gave the prerogative state" powers that were used to override the normative State", as the usual rights were denied to those defined by the state as its enemies, such as communists, liberals, even conservatives, and of course Jews. The latters personal status was restricted under the Nuremberg laws. This was after they were left a limited sphere in the countrys economic system. By 1936, the Reich Supreme Court had declared them legally dead".

The major difference between dictatorships and democracies is the latters inflexible implementation of the rule of law. In a democracy, everybody is equal in the eyes of the law. The law is codified and not arbitrary, applied equally in each case, without exception, and has the mandate of the governed. This is usually in the form of a constitution, with laws enacted by democratically-elected legislatures consistent with it. There are institutions at arms length from the state, most notably the judiciary, to uphold laws.

Distinguishing dictatorships from democracies in the 20th century was easy. The latter had constitutions in place based on Enlightenment principles such as individual liberty, equality before the law, humanism, reason, and secularism informed by religious universalism. Periodic elections were held based on universal franchise, and the laws made in compliance with the constitution were enforced by the state, with anomalies and disputes resolved through an independent judicial system. Dictators overthrew such constitutions and imposed draconian laws without the sanction of popular will, centralizing power in their own hands. Several right- and left-wing dictatorships, including that in the former Soviet Union, used such means. Yet, dictators could also be elected through the ballot box, which they subsequently suspended, abolished or subordinated to their will. The Emergency of the 1970s in India bore some characteristics of this, though Adolf Hitlers power-grab was by far the most egregious example; he never intended to adhere to the Weimar Constitution at all.

Does that mean that there is no place for the rule of law in dictatorships?

It is extremely difficult to organize society or a production process where there is no underlying consensus and trust among stakeholders on the predictability of outcomes if these vary from case to case. It would be impossible to run a capitalist system in such circumstances, or to maintain social order, if there are no rules for private and intangible property, entrepreneurial freedom, sanctity of contracts, unfair competition, labour employment, etc. The special provisions or new laws brought in by 20th century dictators curtailed individual liberties in the political domain. The laws relating to civil society remained mostly in place, with arbitrary exceptions in a few cases where the state used its specially acquired overriding powers.

Fraenkels theory of dictatorships and the dual state has resonance in current times. According to him, there existed a dual state under dictatorships, comprising both a normative and prerogative state. Germany had one of the best legal systems in Europe, and the normative state continued to function in day-to-day transactions even under Nazi rule. The prerogative state, on the other hand, was that governmental system that exercises unlimited arbitrariness and violence unchecked by any legal guarantees". Both existed simultaneously.

In the 21st century, it has technically become harder to tell democracies apart from populist dictatorships. Having learnt the 20th century lesson that overthrowing constitutional and legal structures loses the regime legitimacy, with their power proving pyrrhic and short-lived, the latter have kept formal legal structures in place, including constitutions, laws, extant institutions, universal adult franchise and the judiciary. Instead, they use the popular mandate and their cult status to buttress their power, even though they might surreptitiously tamper with electoral processes. They are akin to what another political theorist, Carl Schmitt, described as sovereign dictators" in his 1921 classic Die Diktator. Since the state and its allied pressure groups are able to bend institutions, even though they do not always get their way, the picture gets muddied. A straightforward application of Fraenkels theory falls short, as there are no special prerogative provisions.

Modern dictatorships solidify their hold on power not through special laws, but by leveraging their executive authority under extant laws to capture legal and other civil society institutions. They appoint minions to key positions, and through them use legitimate institutions to enforce the will of the prerogative state. The normative state functions normally in most cases. But by controlling the outcomes of only a few cases, the prerogative state captures all state power. Populist dictatorships have proliferated across the worlds democracies, from Latin America to Eastern Europe and Asia, even as cult-based rightist parties have gained sway in the US and Western Europe. Whether they will prove more durable than dictatorships of 20th century remains to be seen.

Alok Sheel is RBI chair professor in macroeconomics, ICRIER

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 00:14:17|Editor: huaxia

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KHARTOUM, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Sudan's Sovereign Council on Wednesday said the talks between Sudan and the United States, hosted by the United Arab Emirates, were "serious and frank."

"The talks discussed a number of issues of mutual concern, top of them removing Sudan from the list of states sponsoring terrorism and other restrictions imposed by the United States on Sudanese citizens," the council said in a statement.

"The talks also reviewed a number of regional issues, including the future of the Arab-Israeli peace that leads to stability in the region and preserves the right of the Palestinians in establishing their state according to the vision of the two-state solution, besides the role which Sudan is expected to play to achieve this peace," it noted.

According to the statement, the Sudanese delegation is expected to submit the outcomes of the talks to the transitional government bodies to discuss and reach a common vision.

Chairman of Sudan's Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah al-Burhan returned to capital Khartoum on Wednesday after leading the Sudanese delegation to the talks that lasted for three days.

Since the ouster of former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir in April 2019, rapprochement between Khartoum and Washington has speeded up despite the outstanding issues.

The United States started imposing economic sanctions on Sudan in 1997 and has been listing it as one of the countries sponsoring terrorism since 1993.

In 2017, Washington decided to lift its economic sanctions on Sudan, but kept it on the terror sponsors list. Enditem
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, PhD, 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. 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." Jochen Reiser, MD, PhD, the Ralph C Brown MD professor and chairperson of Rush's Department of Internal Medicine

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."
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. 23, 2020

A federal judge rejects the governors request for a stay on a pandemic restrictions ruling. Pennsylvania Senator Pat Toomey announces his plans to vote on President Trumps replacement for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Pennsylvania launches its own website to replace Healthcare.gov. Pennsylvania city announces plans for a reverse holiday parade.

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.
WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump said Wednesday he wants a nine-member Supreme Court as soon as possible in case the justices have to decide cases challenging the results of his own presidential election.

"I think this will end up in the Supreme Court, and I think it's very important that we have nine Justices," Trump told reporters after discussing election issues with a group of Republican state attorneys general.

Having a ninth justice avoids the prospect of a tie vote in an election case, Trump said: I think having a 4-4 situation is not a good situation."

Political opponents said Trump wants an ally on the Supreme Court to increase the chances that any disputes would be decided in his favor. "Donald Trump knows the only way he remains president is by stealing the election," tweeted The Lincoln Project, an organization that produces anti-Trump commercials.

Other legal analysts said the process should not be rushed so close to a tense and tight election.

"Supreme Court justices serve for life and make decisions that impact every American," said a statement from the League of Women Voters. "They require a thorough vetting process that is transparent to the American people. Such a process would be undermined if rushed through."

More: President Donald Trump to announce Supreme Court nominee to fill Ruth Bader Ginsburg's seat on Saturday

More: Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg to lie in state at US Capitol Friday after two days at Supreme Court

Trump said he plans to announce his nominee to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg at 5 p.m. ET on Saturday. He also repeated that he expects the Republican-run Senate to confirm his nominee by Election Day on Nov. 3.

"I think we should go very quickly," Trump said. "You see the Republicans are very united."

Despite protests from Democrats, Trump and the Republicans are moving forward with a turbo-charged fight over the Supreme Court, this one in the final six weeks of a presidential election.

Story continues

The GOP sees it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to cement conservative dominance over the nation's highest court for decades. If Trump's nominee is confirmed, conservatives would have a 6-3 advantage over the court's progressive members.

Democrats said the Republicans are seeking to rush through a nominee in the heat of a presidential election, something they blocked President Barack Obama from doing in 2016 after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia.

Trump "shouldnt even be nominating a replacement to Justice Ginsburgs seat so close to an election," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee that will hold hearings on the nominee.

This entire process is a charade," she said.

More: A 'superhero' who 'never quit': Justice Ginsburg returns to Supreme Court for final time

More: Trump, Democrats thrust Supreme Court fight forward as a central issue in November election

President Donald Trump speaks during a news briefing at the White House, Thursday, July 2, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Trump and aides have argued for days that one of the reasons to proceed is to make sure the court has full membership by the end of the year  partly because of the prospect of election lawsuits.

"You're going to need nine justices up there," Trump told reporters on Tuesday.

Hours later, Vice President Mike Pence told the Fox Business Network that the prospect of a Supreme Court fight over the election is a reason the Senate should confirm a new justice before Nov. 3.

With all of the talk about universal, unsolicited mail-in ballots, where we have states around the country that are now extending the deadline, there is a possibility that election issues could be coming before the Supreme Court in the days after the election, Pence said. And all the more reason why we should have nine justices on the Supreme Court to be able to resolve any issues that may arise.

Trump has blasted mail-voting throughout the campaign, warning without evidence that it is more fraudulent that voting in-person person. His position shifted in recent months to single out "universal" mail-voting as posing the biggest danger for voter fraud and threat to democracy.

But only nine states and the District of Columbia are holding universal mail-in elections in which ballots are automatically mailed unsolicited to all registered voters without needing to first request one. Five of those states planned to hold all-mail elections even before the pandemic and only one of those states  Nevada  is considered a battleground in the race for president.

A federal judge on Monday dismissed a lawsuit from the Trump campaign that sought to overturn Nevadas vote-by-mail law, ruling that the campaign lacked standing.

Rather than universal mail-voting, voters in swing states like Florida, Arizona, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin have the option of requesting mail-ballots. Because of the pandemic, states have received a record number of requests dominated by Democratic voters. Mail-voting in several states is already underway.

Anticipating a contested election, Democratic operatives have warned of a "red mirage" on election night as in-person election results  expected to favor Trump and perhaps show him ahead in many states  are initially reported before a record volume of absentee ballots that could skew toward Biden are counted in the days that follow.

On Wednesday, Trump described mail-in voting plans as a "scam" that "will be before the United States Supreme Court."

Saturday's announcement of a new Supreme Court pick comes just three days before the first presidential debate between Trump and Democrat Joe Biden.

In seeking to fill the new vacancy, Trump interviewed one of the leading candidates on Monday, Indiana-based appeals court judge Amy Coney Barrett.

Aides are also planning a meeting with another top contender, Florida-based appeals court judge Barbara Lagoa.

Other candidates include Allison Rushing, an appeals court judge from North Carolina; Kate Todd, who works in the White House counsel's office; and Joan Larsen, an appeals court judge from Michigan.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump: Need to fill Supreme Court seat 'quickly' because of election
(Adds detail, background)

OSLO, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Some 113 Norwegian offshore oil

workers plan to go on strike from Sept. 30 onwards if annual pay

negotiations with employers fail, the Safe trade union said on

Wednesday.

Initially, 88 of the union's members at Equinor's

Johan Sverdrup field, the largest oil producing field in western

Europe, and 25 at ConocoPhillips's Ekofisk Lima

platform, would go on strike, Safe said.

Two other unions, Industri Energi and Lederne, have also

said they will join a strike if talks fail.

Norway exports more than four million barrels of oil

equivalent per day, half in the form of crude and other liquids

and half from natural gas, making it a major global energy

supplier.

Norwegian oil firms and unions failed to reach agreement

during preliminary bargaining on Sept. 7-8, and will be subject

to mandatory state-led mediation on Sept. 28-29 in a bid to

prevent a strike.

While it was not immediately clear how much of the country's

output could be cut in the event of a strike, past disputes have

typically led to a reduction in output of around 10%, with a

primary focus on oil rather than gas.

The unions are negotiating on behalf of a combined 7,300

workers, while the Norwegian Oil and Gas Association (NOG)

represents oil firms.

The NOG, which speaks for the industry during wage

negotiations, did not immediately respond to a Reuters request

for comment.

If Norway's state-appointed mediator is unable to broker a

deal, union members will be eligible to go on strike and the

dispute could be escalated to include more workers in the

following days.

Unions have not publicly released details of their demands.

(Reporting by Nerijus Adomaitis, writing by Terje Solsvik.

Editing by Jane Merriman and Elaine Hardcastle)
A 27-year-old man is fighting for his life after he was shot on the street outside a primary school just as children were about to finish lessons.

Police officers and paramedics were called at 3.24pm today to the scene near St James' Primary School in Bermondsey, south London.

The man was rushed to hospital by an air ambulance and is suffering from 'life-threatening injuries'.

A primary school in Bermondsey has been cordoned off after a 27-year-old man was shot on the street outside just as children were about to finish lessons

A police spokesman said: 'Police were called at 15:24hrs to Alexis Street, near St James' Primary School, SE16, following reports gunshots were heard.

'Officers attended, along with London Ambulance Service [LAS], and found a man, aged 27, with a gunshot wound.

'He was taken to hospital and his injuries are being treated as life-threatening/changing at this time. Nobody else was injured.

'A cordon remains in place at the scene.

'No arrests; enquiries into the circumstances continue.'

The London Air Ambulance was called to the shooting, and was forced to land in nearby Lucey Way.

A spokesperson for the air ambulance said: 'Our advanced trauma team was dispatched via aircraft by London Ambulance Service at 15.31 today to reports of a shooting in the Southwark Park Road area.

'After treatment on scene the patient was transferred by land to a major trauma hospital accompanied by London's Air Ambulance.'
- A lady firefighter recently had Facebook buzzing with her unrivaled beauty

- The young woman took to the popular ImStaying Facebook group to celebrate her 10 years of service

- Facebook users were left speechless by how beautiful she is

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It is not every day one gets to see a female firefighter.

And even rarer when the sight is that of a very beautiful female firefighter.

READ ALSO: Maria actress Bridget Shighadi aka Sofia, baby daddy Nick Mutuma serve couple goals in cute photo

Neo is a beautiful firefighter. Photo: Facebook/Thee real Neo

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Honest woman praised after returning lost wallet to its owner

However, anything is possible in South Africa as TUKO.co.ke recently learnt.

The aforementioned was recently proven to be so true by one hot female firefighter.

The cute firefighter identified as Thee Real Neo took to the popular feel-good Facebook group ImStaying to celebrate serving as a firefighter 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 have just begun... Tough and fierce as I look forward to serve my country during level 1.#BeSafeAlways#ImStaying," she wrote.

Her touching caption was also accompanied by a stunning selfie of herself.

While many appreciated her role in the South African fire department, most of them were floored by her beauty.

READ ALSO: Serge Aurier: Brother of Spurs star Christopher shot dead in France

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: Pretty Mutave, muigizaji maarufu wa kipindi cha Maza na Aziza aaga dunia

TUKO.co.ke's South Africa's sister site Briefly.co.za had earlier reported about an absolutely stunning lady who took to social media to share her amazing Zulu heritage.

Samy Mofokeng took to the Facebook group, #ImStaying to share the gorgeous images of her in her traditional attire.

Samy shared three images and has received over 6,000 reactions and almost 600 comments from Stayers.

She started the caption of the post by saying:

"Hi stayers, I'm a proud Zulu girl."

"As we all know that September marks the annual Heritage Month in South Africa and what makes it more special is the fact that we're a rainbow nation... What is your culture/heritage?"

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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
By Trend

Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Baku-Supsa oil pipelines, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline has strongly contributed to pan-European energy security and beyond, Bulgarian MEP Ilhan Kyuchyuk told Trend.

Kyuchyuk noted that Azerbaijan contributes to the energy security of Europe as one of its reliable strategic partners in the field of energy.

It is important to see that this cooperation still in the stage of further development. Southern Gas Corridor which is one of the largest energy infrastructure projects in the world, will help increase European energy security by bringing Caspian gas resources to markets in Europe for the very first time. This project fits well within modern energy architecture of Europe with its potential to further extension towards Western Balkans, as well as support for the clean energy transition of the region, he said.

Talking overall relations between Azerbaijan and Bulgaria Kyuchyuk noted that countries have a long history of good cooperation and partnership, including on parliamentary level.

Your country is an important ally of Bulgaria and we have the potential to cooperate in many areas such as energy, tourism, agriculture, education and culture, which will be beneficial for both Bulgaria, Azerbaijan and the EU. This what I am trying to do as a member of the European Parliament. In recent years, I have been working to comprehensively improve and strengthen bilateral relations between the Parliament of Azerbaijan and the European Parliament because the cooperation between these two institutions will be crucial for future political association and economic integration, he said.

--

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has been sworn in for a new term in an unannounced inauguration after six weeks of mass protests against his election victory.

The ceremony was conducted earlier today in Minsk with several hundred top government officials present, according to reports.

The 66-year-old placed his right hand on a copy of the constitution and swore the oath of office in front of several hundred top government officials, news agency Belta said.

'The day of assuming the post of the president is the day of our victory, convincing and fateful,' he said at the ceremony.

'We were not just electing the president of the country - we were defending our values, our peaceful life, sovereignty and independence.'

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko (pictured) has been sworn in for a new term in an unannounced inauguration after six weeks of mass protests against his election victory

The 66-year-old placed his right hand on a copy of the constitution and swore the oath of office in front of several hundred top government officials

He added that the country needed safety and consensus 'on the brink of a global crisis' in an apparent reference to the COVID-19 pandemic.

'I cannot, I have no right to abandon the Belarusians,' he said.

The inauguration, which would normally be publicised in advance as a major state occasion, follows a disputed election on August 9.

Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994 and will now begin his sixth term, claimed a landslide victory with the opposition accusing him of massive vote-rigging.

But Belarus, an ex-Soviet nation of 9.5 million, is facing the prospect of US and European Union sanctions over the disputed election after it was followed by a crackdown by Lukashenko's security forces against opposition protests demanding his resignation.

United Nations human rights investigator Anais Marin said last week that more than 10,000 people had been 'abusively arrested' since the election with more than 500 reports of torture and thousands 'savagely beaten'.

Belarus authorities have previously said the police are humane and professional but have declined to comment on specific allegations of abuses.

Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994 and will now begin his sixth term (pictured at today's inauguration), claimed a landslide victory with the opposition accusing him of massive vote-rigging

An opposition politician, Pavel Latushko, said the swearing-in was like a secret 'thieves' meeting'.

'Where are the jubilant citizens? Where is the diplomatic corps?' he posted on social media.

'It is obvious that Alexander Lukashenko is exclusively the president of the OMON (riot police) and a handful of lying officials.'

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius said on Twitter: 'Such a farce. Forget elections... His illegitimacy is a fact with all the consequences that this entails'.

Belarus is crucial to Russia as a buffer state against NATO and a conduit for Russian exports of oil and gas to Moscow (Lukashenko pictured alongside Vladimir Putin Putin last week)

Belarus is crucial to Russia as a buffer state against NATO and a conduit for Russian exports of oil and gas to Moscow.

At a summit last week, Vladimir Putin granted Lukashenko a $1.5billion loan, and the two countries are holding 'Slavic Brotherhood' defence exercises in Belarus.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the swearing-in was 'absolutely the sovereign decision of the Belarusian leadership'.

Asked if Putin was invited, he said it looked as though the presence of foreign leaders had not been envisaged.
The network discovered by Facebook included 155 accounts, 11 pages, nine groups and six Instagram accounts. Posting in Chinese and English, the group largely pushed stories of interest to overseas Filipino workers

Washington: Facebook has detected limited Chinese operations intended to both help and hurt President Donald Trumps reelection 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 Trumps repeated contention that China is intervening in the election to support former vice-president Joe Biden, the Democratic candidate. While the intelligence community has assessed that China opposes Trumps reelection, 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 centred on the Philippines, some was more directly relevant to American politics.

Facebook said it was removing the accounts for violating its policy against inauthentic behaviour. 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.

Facebook security first detected the new activity and shared the information with US government officials. US technology companies as well as intelligence agencies have shown more willingness this year to release information about foreign influence operations, having been criticised by lawmakers for being too cautious in 2016.

While the Chinese-created network gained more than 133,000 followers, Facebook said it had received little attention in the United States, with fewer than 3,000 US-based accounts following it. The group posted information both for and against Trump and Biden.

They were focused on driving division, said Nathaniel Gleicher, the head of security at Facebook. The engagement with the US was both nascent and limited. It was both supportive and critical of the major political candidates in the US.

Facebook does not release the number of page views, or impressions, that various posts receive. However, based on how the site works, users would have been unlikely to see a post unless they followed the Chinese group or its pages.

Gleicher said that Facebook had detected no other Chinese activity on its platform.

With the US, the goal appeared to be audience-building, said Ben Nimmo, whose firm, Graphika, worked with Facebook to release a report about the Chinese campaign. Nimmo said they had named the new Chinese operation Naval Gazing because of its largely maritime focus.

The group became active in late 2016, first posting about Chinese military activity, according to Graphikas report. In 2018, the campaign broadened its topics to the South China Sea, posting details about U.S. ship movements and Chinese military achievements. In recent years, the US Navy has conducted so-called freedom of navigation operations, devised to challenge Chinas territorial claims over its artificial islands.

The more US politics-focused activity did not begin until April 2019, when the group created a Facebook page in favour of the former Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg. The page was unsuccessful and followed by only two or three people.

In recent months, the group created Facebook fan pages for both Trump and Biden and posted content that was focused on drawing attention, rather than advocating on behalf of a particular candidate, Nimmo said.

An assessment issued last month by US intelligence agencies found that China favoured Biden but had not yet taken significant steps to try to influence the national election, focusing its efforts on state and local politicians. Intelligence officials cautioned that the Facebook findings, representing activities on one platform by a small group, should be judged carefully.

US intelligence agencies stand by their assessment that China, finding Trump mercurial and unpredictable, favours his defeat.

Despite Beijings distaste for Trump and his trade war, the Chinese governments views on Biden are complicated. Biden has vowed a harder line on Chinas oppression of ethnic minorities and moves to strip Hong Kong of its autonomy. And Chinese leaders believe Biden is more likely to be able to rally other nations to pressure China.

Current and former officials have said that to an extent, China is copying the Russian interference playbook from 2016. And like Russia in the last election, even though China has a preference for Biden, it is trying to obscure its efforts by conducting operations to sow division and chaos by playing all sides of an issue.

US officials see the activity on Facebook as relatively minor. China, according to two USofficials, has not yet decided whether to try to influence the election in November in any substantial way.

Microsoft has also reported observing Chinese activity aimed at gathering information about the presidential campaign. Last week, the company reported efforts by China to hack into Bidens campaign and American think tanks. US intelligence officials have said that China may have been looking for opposition research critical of Trump, and the targeting of Bidens campaign does not undermine the governments assessment that China opposes Trump.

The company also briefed Congress before its announcement on Tuesday.

The network discovered by Facebook included 155 accounts, 11 pages, nine groups and six Instagram accounts. Posting in Chinese and English, the group largely pushed stories of interest to overseas Filipino workers, as well as content that was supportive of President Rodrigo Dutertes campaign for reelection in the Philippines.

Facebook also announced the removal of a coordinated campaign operating on behalf of a government entity in the Philippines. That campaign, which included 57 Facebook accounts, 31 pages and 20 Instagram accounts, was followed by about 276,000 people, largely in the Philippines.

Although the people behind this activity attempted to conceal their identities, our investigation found links to Philippine military and Philippine police, Facebook wrote in its report. The activity was brought to their attention by civil society groups and Rappler, an independent news organisation in the Philippines that the Duterte government has targeted.

Adam Goldman, Sheera Frenkel and Julian E Barnes c.2020 The New York Times Company
You are here: China

Northeast China's Songhua River saw its second flood of the year on Tuesday in its upper reaches following continuous rainfall and upstream runoffs.

At 1:05 p.m., the water level of the Harbin hydrometric station in Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang Province, rose to the warning line of 118.3 meters.

The Heilongjiang hydrology and water resources center issued a yellow alert for floods at 2:00 p.m., warning of possible floods at the Harbin section of the Songhua River.

China has a four-tier, color-coded warning system for flooding, with red representing the most severe, followed by orange, yellow, and blue.
Arab leaders voiced fears Wednesday before the United Nations of new conflict in the region as tensions soar between Iran and the United States.

The annual extravaganza of international diplomacy at the UN General Assembly has been turned into a virtual affair this year, with leaders sending in recorded speeches due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Two days after US President Donald Trump ramped up pressure on Iran in a widely contested move, the leaders of Iraq and Saudi Arabia voiced concerns about the region.

"We do not want Iraq to become a sort of playground for other forces that will kill each other on our territory," President Barham Saleh said in his address.

"We have witnessed enough wars and enough attacks on our sovereignty," he said.

Iraq has attempted a delicate balancing act between neighboring Iran, which shares the Shiite faith of the majority in its Arab neighbor, and the United States, which invaded and toppled dictator Saddam Hussein in 2003.

President Donald Trump in January ordered a drone strike in Baghdad that killed Iran's most prominent general, Qasem Soleimani, as well as an Iraqi Shiite paramilitary leader, raising calls in Baghdad for the expulsion of US forces.

Trump rejected the calls for a withdrawal but this month ordered a sharp cutback of troops in Iraq as part of his election promise to stop "endless" wars.

Mask-clad schoolchildren sit in Tehran in September 2020 before a billboard featuring the image of late general Qasem Soleimani /  AFP/File

Saleh hinted at frustration in Iraq with "anarchic" groups, whose rocket fire on US forces had prompted the drone strike.

"Weapons must remain in the hands of Iraqi state institutions," Saleh said.

He also vowed to tackle rampant corruption, a key priority for Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi, who came to power after sweeping nationwide protests.

- Saudis criticize Iran -

Saudi King Salman, seen here chairing a meeting in July 2020, has criticized Iran before the United Nations /  SPA/AFP/File

Trump has vowed to squeeze Iran, imposing sweeping economic sanctions and leaving a 2015 nuclear accord that was negotiated by his predecessor Barack Obama.

On Monday, Trump said he was enforcing "UN" sanctions for Iranian violations of an arms embargo -- despite wide skepticism at the world body that the United States has such authority.

Saudi Arabia's King Salman used his address to voice concern about Iran and pointed to drone attacks last year on the kingdom's oil fields, which Washington says were carried out by Tehran in violation of the arms embargo.

"The kingdom's hands were extended to Iran in peace with a positive and open attitude over the past decades, but to no avail," Salman said.

"The kingdom welcomed the international efforts to deal with Iran's nuclear program, but time and again, the entire world witnessed how the Iranian regime exploited these efforts in order to intensify its expansionist activities," he said, accusing Iran of "terrorism."

Saudi Arabia has been engaged in a bloody campaign against Iranian-backed Huthi rebels in Yemen, where multiple air strikes have killed civilians and contributed to a humanitarian crisis.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, speaking to the United Nations on Monday, pointed to Saudi Arabia as he denounced the unsuccessful US efforts to extend an arms embargo on Tehran.

"They have sold hundreds of billions of dollars of weapons to their clients turning our region into a powder keg," Rouhani said.

"Yet they try in vain to deprive Iran of its minimum defense requirements."

- Hopes in Afghanistan -

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has renewed calls for a global halt to conflicts so the world can confront Covid-19, which has claimed more than 970,000 lives.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, seen here in August 2020, has voiced guarded hopes over talks with the Taliban /  Press Office of President of Afghanistan/AFP/File

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani voiced guarded hopes for negotiations that his government has opened with the Taliban to end two decades of war.

"In those talks the Afghan people have a clear and urgent priority -- a ceasefire," Ghani said.

"An urgent end to the violence will, more than anything else, give us a chance to progress."

France seized on the UN General Assembly to drum up international support to form a government in Lebanon, which remains at an impasse nearly two months after a massive blast at the Beirut port.

But pro-Iran Shiite militant groups Hezbollah and Amal are insisting on the finance ministry, a prize opposed by the United States and Saudi Arabia.
JK Rowling is embroiled in yet another transphobia row after she directed fans to a website selling badges and stickers saying 'transwomen are men'.

The author, 55, appeared to take aim at her critics yesterday, tweeting a photograph of herself wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the slogan: 'This witch doesn't burn'.

She followed up her message with a link to the Wild Womyn Workshop, writing: 'If you are (or know) a witch who wants one of these, don't buy from cynical chancers.'

Furious critics were quick to point out that the website sells a series of other items they deemed 'transphobic', with users sharing images of badges reading 'f*** your pronouns' and 'trans activism is misogyny'.

Wild Womyn Workshop, which has a category dedicated to 'gender critical' items, also sells a badge reading 'dead men don't rape' alongside stickers stating 'trans-ideology erases women.'

JK Rowling is embroiled in yet another transphobia row after she directed fans to a website selling 'offensive' badges and stickers saying 'transwomen are men'

Social media users accused Rowling of promoting transphobia by sharing the link, with one writing: 'How about considering supporting trans-inclusive organisations instead of incredibly transphobic ones?

'Every time I think you can't be a worse TERF, you somehow do. The bar is literally so low.'

Others branded the Harry Potter author a TERF - a slur meaning a trans exclusionary radical feminist - while urging Rowling to 'understand the damage and hatefulness you have caused a group of people.'

Another critic added: 'Coming out being transphobic proudly now... wow... I hope one day you understand the damage and hatefulness you are continuously causing a group of people when you could have used your influence and money to help people.

'You honestly should be ashamed.'

A third added: 'Words cannot express how disappointed I am in you.'

The author, 55, appeared to take aim at her critics yesterday, tweeting a photograph of herself wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the slogan: 'This witch doesn't burn'

Furious critics were quick to point out that the website sells a series of other items they deemed 'transphobic', with users sharing images of badges reading 'dead men don't rape'

Other products at the store read 'f*** your pronouns' (pictured), causing fury to erupt over the author's tweet

Responding to the criticism, Angela Wild, who runs Wild Womyn Workshop, told MailOnline: 'Men are not women. No-one can change sex.

'These simple statements are now considered "transphobic" and controversial. If some people are offended by my products because they are triggered by biological reality I am sorry for them but it has got nothing to do with me.

'Don't like my products? Don't buy them. It's not unlawful to tell the truth.'

Ms Wild, a self-proclaimed lesbian feminist, is a co-founder of the anti-trans, lesbian separatist group Get the L Out, which staged a demonstration at London Pride in 2018.

The author's latest row comes just a week after furious backlash erupted over her newest novel, in which a male serial killer dresses as a woman to slay his victims.

Troubled Blood - written under Rowling's pseudonym Robert Galbraith - follows detective Cormoran Strike as he uncovers what happened to missing GP Margot Bamborough.

Social media users accused Rowling of promoting transphobia by sharing the link

He fears she fell victim to Dennis Creed, who has been dubbed a 'transvestite serial killer' for murdering his victims while wearing female clothing.

An early review of the 900-page book by The Daily Telegraph - in which the critic states the book's 'moral seems to be: never trust a man in a dress' - sparked immediate backlash online.

Furious readers rushed to Twitter to share their thoughts, making #RIPJKRowling trend in the UK.

Others said the book - which had not been released at the time - is not transphobic at all and over-eager detractors should read it before jumping to conclusions.

The author's latest row comes just a week after furious backlash erupted over her newest novel Troubled Blood

Observer journalist Nick Cohen wrote: 'I've read the latest Strike novel, and the claim it's anti-trans is total sh***.

'I can't tell you why it is total sh*** without giving away the ending. So until you read it yourself, which you should, you will just have to trust me: this is total sh***.'

A Twitter user called Steve replied stating: 'But when you combine it with all the negative stereotyping she's done about trans women, it shows a clear pattern.

'It's not anti-trans as such but it does play into the fears that trans women are cis males looking to spy on women.'

Cohen replied: 'Read the bloody book why don't you?'

In June, the Harry Potter author hit headlines after she mocked an online article using the words 'people who menstruate' instead of 'women'.

She was hit by what she described as 'relentless attacks' after she wrote: 'I'm sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?'

Furious readers rushed to Twitter to share their thoughts, making #RIPJKRowling trend in the UK.

JK Rowling pictured with Rupert Grint, Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson in 2001

The acclaimed novelist then penned a deeply personal essay to address the controversy, revealing she was sexually assaulted in her 20s and saying she still feels the scars of 'domestic violence' in her first marriage.

Rowling's remarks sparked backlash from a range of stars including actors Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe and Eddie Redmayne.

But Robbie Coltrane - who played Rubeus Hagrid in the Harry Potter films - told the Radio Times: 'I don't think what she said was offensive really.

'I don't know why but there's a whole Twitter generation of people who hang around waiting to be offended.

He added: 'That's me talking like a grumpy old man, but you just think, "Oh, get over yourself".'

A representative for Rowling declined to comment on the latest row.
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The global automotive over the air updates market is expected to exhibit a strong 15% CAGR over the forecast period from 2018 to 2025, according to the latest research report from Market Research Future (MRFR). The global automotive over the air updates market is analyzed fully in the report, which takes a look at the comprehensive performance figures of the market over the last few years to present a detailed review of the markets key drivers, leading players, and dominant segments.

ALSO READ:

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/automotive-electronic-control-unit-market-2020-size-trends-investments-share-key-players-merger-acquisition-growth-factors-regional-analysis-and-industry-forecast-to-2023-2020-09-02

The automotive over the air updates market has rapidly risen in stature to become a key component of the global automotive industry over the last few years. The growing use of electronics in vehicles and the growing demand for automated electronic monitoring of the vehicle have led to a growing demand from the global automotive over the air updates market. The growing demand for autonomous and connected vehicles is likely to be a key driver for the global automotive over the air updates market over the forecast period, as autonomous and connected cars rely heavily on their software programming to ensure steady performance and safety of the cars occupants.

On the other hand, the difficulties in building a suitable software architecture for over the air updates in the automotive sector have held the market back. The risk of cybercrimes through automotive software systems is also quite high, which is likely to be a key restraint for the global automotive over the air updates market over the forecast period. Developing secure architecture of automotive over the air updates is likely to be a key avenue for players in the global automotive over the air updates market over the forecast period.

Competitive Analysis:

Leading players in the global automotive over the air updates market include Infineon Technologies AG, Garmin Ltd., Denso Corporation, Continental AG, Airbiquity Inc., Microsoft Corporation, NVIDIA Corporation, Delphi Automotive, Robert Bosch GmbH, and HARMAN International.

In May 2019, General Motors announced that it is working on building a comprehensive software platform for its cars that can be regularly updated over the air. GMs platform is expected to be incorporated into their automobiles by 2023.

Segmentation:

The global automotive over the air updates market is segmented on the basis of technology, application, propulsion, vehicle type, and region.

On the basis of technology, the global automotive over the air updates market is segmented into firmware over-the-air technology (FOTA) and software over-the-air technology (SOTA).

On the basis of application, the global automotive over the air updates market is segmented into electronic control unit (ECU), infotainment, safety & security, telematics control unit (TCU), and others.

On the basis of propulsion, the market is segmented into ICE and electric vehicles. The electric vehicles segment is further sub-segmented into battery electric vehicles (BEV), hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV).

On the basis of vehicle type, the global automotive over the air updates market is segmented into passenger cars and commercial vehicles.

Regional Analysis:

Asia Pacific is expected to dominate the global automotive over the air updates market over the forecast period due to the growing automotive industry in the region. The growing demand for automotive electronics in the region is also likely to be a key driver for the automotive over the air updates market in the region over the forecast period, as the growing disposable income of consumers in this region has driven the demand for premium facilities in automobiles, including advanced automotive electronics and telematics.

Moreover, the increasing demand for electric vehicles in China is also likely to be a major driver for the automotive over the air updates market in Asia Pacific over the forecast period. China has been a leader in developing electric vehicle technology in recent years, leading to growing demand for advanced software support for automotive operations.

North America and Europe are also likely to be major players in the global automotive over the air updates market over the forecast period due to the presence of several leading market players in the region.

FOR MORE DETAILS 

https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/automotive-over-the-air-updates-market-7606
A Birmingham mother is behind bars, accused of burning the dead body of her infant child in a diaper bag.

The Jefferson County District Attorneys Office and Birmingham police have charged 27-year-old Jasilyn Shebreit Hughes of southwest Birmingham with abuse of corpse. She was taken into custody early Sunday and booked into the Jefferson County Jail on the Class C felony charge.

Under Alabama law, a person commits the crime of abuse of a corpse if he or she knowingly treats a human corpse in a way that would outrage ordinary family sensibilities.

According to charging documents and authorities, Hughes on April 1 placed the body of her daughter Jahzara Harris - who was about 4 months old - into a diaper bag, placed that bag into a trash bag, set fire to the bags and then put the remains in an alley with the trash.

It is not clear how the child died and Hughes has not been charged with any crimes accusing her of causing the childs death.

A family member later notified authorities, which launched the investigation. That probe is still ongoing and no additional details are being released at this time.

Hughes remains held in the Jefferson County Jail on $250,000 bond.
With more families, rescue groups and shelters requesting financial assistance than ever before, the Bow Wow Buddies Foundation has experienced an over 80% increase in grant applications this year. To help raise funds in a safe, virtual format, the Foundation has launched a 10-week walking challenge in partnership with WoofTrax , a free smartphone app that helps animal nonprofits earn donations by logging walks in the App and through challenges like "Step Up For Pups."

Through November 19, pet parents across North America are invited to join "Step Up For Pups" in the WoofTrax App to help save the life of a dog in need and win prizes by simply walking their own four-legged friend. Dog lovers can sign up for the challenge through WoofTrax, wherein participants are able to log their dog walks and be entered to win prizes. Participants who log 20 dog walks, that are a quarter of a mile or more in length, during the 10-week challenge period will be entered to win the grand prize: a $500 donation to the shelter or rescue of their choice, or a 20-Pack of Day Care at their local Camp Bow Wow.

Participants can increase their chance of winning and lend a paw to dogs in need by donating $5, or more, to the "Step Up For Pups" challenge. Also announced weekly, challengers who log three or more walks a week are entered to win fun prizes for themselves or their furry loved ones from sponsors including Rise Brewing Co., Nancy's Pampered Pet Treats, Applaws Taste Toppers, Fur Pete's Sake Apparel, K Squared Artisan Boutique, Art From Energy, Tall Tails and more.

"The Bow Wow Buddies Foundation has always been rooted in our commitment to support the health and happiness of dogs across the country," said Julie Turner, President of Camp Bow Wow. "With the influx of applications we received this year, we wanted to create a safe, but fun, fundraising format that allows us all to step up together and give sick and injured dogs a second chance at life."

Since 2015, the Bow Wow Buddies Foundation's mission has been to provide financial assistance for dogs in need of emergency, life-saving medical care. Over the past five years, the Foundation has acted as a lifeline to offset the high cost of emergency veterinary care for pet parents, rescue groups and shelters, and has helped save over 500 dogs with more than $600,000 awarded in grants.

To make a donation to the "Step Up For Pups" challenge, please visit https://givebutter.com/stepupforpups. To learn more about the Bow Wow Buddies Foundation, or apply for a grant, please visit www.bowwowbuddies.com. For more information about Camp Bow Wow, to find a location near you, or to become a franchise owner, please visit campbowwow.com .

About The Bow Wow Buddies Foundation

When the going gets ruff, the Bow Wow Buddies Foundation helps support the health and happiness of our four-legged friends to keep them in their forever homes. The Bow Wow Buddies Foundation provides grants of up to $2,500 for individuals, shelters, and rescue groups across North America who cannot afford necessary medical care for a particular dog. Individuals may apply for a grant when they are struggling to cover the cost of their dog's veterinary care, and a shelter or rescue group may apply for a grant for a dog who is awaiting adoption pending veterinary care. The Bow Wow Buddies Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. To learn more, make a donation, or apply for a Bow Wow Buddies Foundation grant, please visit www.bowwowbuddies.com.

About Camp Bow Wow:

In 20 years, Camp Bow Wow, the largest pet care franchise, has sold more than 240 franchises in 42 states and Canada. The company is a $140+ million-dollar brand, with over 180 open locations and more than 50 in the process of opening across North America. For 10 consecutive years, the company has been ranked in Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 list. The Camp concept provides the highest levels of fun, safety and service for its Campers, and peace of mind for their parents. Dogs romp together in an open-play environment and pricing is all-inclusive. The Westminster, Colorado-based company started franchising in 2003, and today over 70% of franchises have women in ownership positions. In addition to day care and overnight Camp, the company also offers grooming services and a rewards-based dog training program. The Camp Bow Wow brand family also includes The Bow Wow Buddies Foundation , a non-profit organization dedicated to providing urgent medical care funds to dogs who are either homeless or whose parents cannot afford to pay their veterinary bills. Since September 2017, Camp Bow Wow is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mars, Incorporated.

SOURCE Camp Bow Wow

Related Links

http://www.campbowwow.com


People pay respects as Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg lies in repose in front of the Supreme Court in Washington on Sept. 23, 2020. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Hundreds Come to Pay Respects to the Late Justice Ginsburg

Hundreds of people came to the Supreme Court to pay respects to the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Mourners lined up outside the white marble building in Washington, where her flag-draped casket was placed after a private ceremony at the courts Great Hall.

Her voice in court and in our conference room was soft, but when she spoke, people listened, said Chief Justice John Roberts during his speech at the Sept. 23 ceremony, after three days of tributes to Ginsburg, who passed less than six weeks after her 87th birthday.

In the 1950s, Ginsburg was one of the first women to attend Harvard Law School. When her husband got a job in New York, she transferred to Columbia Law School and graduated at the top of her class. Yet she was only offered a position of legal secretary due to skepticism about women in more senior legal positions at the time.

During her time at the American Civil Liberties Union in the 1970s, she argued against many statutes that favored either men or women, and successfully had them repealed as unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause.

She was appointed to the District of Columbia appeals court in 1980 by President Jimmy Carter and to the Supreme Court in 1993 by President Bill Clinton.

The oldest member of the court, she battled health problems in her last years, including cancer and broken bones.

Mind Like a Steel Trap

Ginsburg was tough, brave, a fighter, a winner but also thoughtful, careful, compassionate, honest, Roberts said.

Despite her liberal leanings, she earned respect on both sides of the aisle.

She was brilliant, said Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who argued nine cases before the justice during his time as Texas Solicitor General.

She was very prim and proper. She had a personality almost of a librarian, he said during his Sept. 22 podcast.

Her questions were always careful and incisive.

She was a dangerous questioner, Cruz said.

Ginsburg on Sept. 25 will become the first woman to lie in state in the U.S. Capitol when her casket is placed in National Statuary Hall.

The Capitol held a similar ceremony for civil-rights pioneer Rosa Parks in 2005, but she lay in honor, as she didnt hold government or military office.

Due to the pandemic, the Capitol ceremony will be limited to invited guests only, and at the courthouse, social distancing and face coverings will be required.

Dozens of her former clerks stood at attention when the casket arrived at the courthouse.

On a personal level, she was such an amazing person. She had a mind like a steel trap, said Jill Alexander, 59, whose husband served as a clerk for Ginsburg when she was an appeals court judge.

Ginsburgs casket rested on the Lincoln catafalque, a pine board platform draped in black cloth that was used to support President Abraham Lincolns casket when he lay in state in the Capitols Rotunda after his assassination in 1865.

With the courthouse closed to the public, the justices are due to hear oral arguments by teleconference next month. Ginsburgs courtroom chair and the bench in front of it were draped with black wool crepe to mark the occasion, a tradition that dates back at least to 1873. A black drape also hung over the courtroom doors.

Public viewing runs until 10 p.m. on Sept. 23 and between 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. on Sept. 24. A private interment service is planned for next week at Arlington National Cemetery. Ginsburgs husband, Martin Ginsburg, was buried there in 2010.

President Donald Trump will pay his respects to the late justice on Sept. 24 at the Supreme Court, deputy press secretary Judd Deere said on Sept. 23.

Filling the Vacancy

Trump said he will announce on Sept. 26 his pick to fill Ginsburgs seat. Senate GOP leaders have indicated they will have the votes to confirm the new justice, though several Republicans are expected to dissent.

Ginsburg refused to retire when Democrats held the presidency from 2009 to 2017. Initially, she said President Barack Obama couldnt appoint someone like her. Later, she pointed to the Republican-held Senate as a likely obstacle to Obama getting his most preferred pick.

Senate Republicans in 2016 refused to consider Obamas nominee for another vacancy, a seat that ultimately went to Trump nominee Neil Gorsuch.

With worries of states being ill-prepared for the expected massive volume of mail-in voting this year, some media and politicians are already bracing Americans for the prospect of a delayed and even disputed election.

It may be up to the Supreme Court to ultimately resolve any legal disputes over the election results.

If this seat is not filled by election day, we would have eight justices on the court, Cruz said. If the Supreme Court deadlocks 44, it cant reach a decision.  We could end up with conflicting decisions from conflicting circuit courts, and if theres no Supreme Court, you cant resolve those conflicts. And we can easily find ourselves in the midst of a constitutional crisis with this election taking days, and then weeks, and then months with no resolution.

Epoch Times reporter Zachary Stieber, Reuters, and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Last year, Trump complained that he hadnt been properly thanked for her husbands funeral.

The widow of late U.S. Senator John McCain has endorsed Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election.

Theres only one candidate in this race who stands up for our values as a nation, and that is Joe Biden, Cindy McCain wrote in a tweet.

Cindy McCain, who has endorsed Joe Biden for president, speaks during last Aprils 10th Anniversary Women In The World Summit at Lincoln Center in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

McCain wrote that her late husband, who died of brain cancer in 2018, lived by a code: country first. She wrote that while her family is Republican, they are Americans foremost.

Joe and I dont always agree on the issues, and I know he and John certainly had some passionate arguments, but he is a good and honest man, she tweeted. He will lead us with dignity.

Read More: Former President Barack Obama delivers touching eulogy to late Senator John McCain

McCain wrote that Biden will be a great leader of the military because he knows what it is like to send a child off to fight.

Bidens son, Beau, served as an officer in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate Generals Corps.

Her husband was a decorated war veteran, and three of her children have served in the military. John McCain volunteered for combat duty during the Vietnam War and spent 5-1/2 years as a prisoner of war after being shot down during a bombing run over North Vietnam.

President Donald Trump famously slammed John McCain in 2015 during his run for the presidency. He said that McCain was not a war hero.

He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who werent captured, Trump said.

Read More: John McCain says U.S. leadership was better under Obama

Biden embraced the endorsement, saying that McCain is endorsing him because of the comments that the president allegedly made about Americans in the military who died at war, calling them losers and suckers. He has denied the claims.

The endorsement is not entirely unexpected. Last year, Trump complained that he hadnt been properly thanked for the longtime senators services: I gave him the kind of funeral that he wanted. Which, as president, I had to approve. I dont care about this  I didnt get a thank you. Thats OK. We sent him on the way, but I wasnt a fan of John McCain.

Story continues

Meghan McCain, the senators daughter and co-host of The View, has not announced her endorsement.

Have you subscribed to theGrios Dear Culture podcast? Download our newest episodes now!

The post Cindy McCain endorses Biden: He is a good and honest man appeared first on TheGrio.
Months after a renewed surge of protests against police brutality, calls to "defund the police" are reverberating through cities across the nation. Activists in Charleston formalized their demands on Wednesday.

The newly formed Charleston People's Budget Coalition demanded the city reallocate $5 million from the Charleston Police Department to other public services in 2021, targeting historically marginalized communities.

Doing so would be a step toward reversing a system that's prone to targeting Black residents, the coalition argues, while investing to halt the systemic inequalities that fuel crime.

For years, Charleston police have focused on community-oriented policing, having officers build relationships and set up events in the neighborhoods they patrol.

The department earmarked over $46,000 of its $53 million budget for the community outreach general fund in 2020, pledging to expand school and camp programming and set up citizen listening events. It also commissioned an independent racial bias audit, and this year hired a new director to implement the study's recommendations.

But, the coalition argues, that money could be better spent by city departments that address underlying inequality.

Instead of extra officers to police busy streets, the coalition wants better sidewalk infrastructure to protect cyclists and pedestrians, whose fatalities reached a new peak in 2019, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. More affordable housing could cut loitering more effectively than criminal charges for the homeless, the coalition argues. And the low-level crimes and accidents that keep officers busy could be mitigated through the work of other departments, so a smaller police force could focus on violent crimes.

"The city of Charleston has one of the finest police departments in the country, and we're not going to defund it," Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg said. "In short, we're investing in better policing and a stronger community at the same time, and that's a win-win for all of us."

The city is working on several public infrastructure projects in which funding comes from outside the budget, including a $50 million affordable housing fund, a $22 million bridge for bikers and pedestrians to cross the Ashley River and $150 million in flood-mitigation projects.

"It's good to be in a state and a city that values the police," Chief Luther Reynolds said at a budget meeting on Wednesday. "The police are not the solution to everything, and I think that's a challenge that's coming to us from a lot of different places that I welcome. ... We have finite resources and we have to do the best we can."

African Americans perspective of public safety doesn't necessarily mean the same thing it does in the lives of others, said Dot Scott, Charleston Branch NAACP President. "Rethinking the budget around public safety would and should also require rethinking the value of all residents and their contributions, past and present, in making this beautiful city what it is today. To do less maintains the status of partially separate and absolutely not equal.

The call comes as the city prepares for a $42 million decrease in revenues caused by the coronavirus pandemic, and after police increased patrols on the peninsula following a fatal downtown shooting and several weeks of protests.

Councilman Harry Griffin said it's the worst possible time for a demand he wouldn't support any year. The majority of police funding goes to salary and insurance costs, he said, so cutting spending would require slicing jobs.

And while the department gets nearly a quarter of the city's formal budget funds, Griffin said, resources for other programs such as affordable housing come from grants and businesses.

"The city has taken steps over the past several years to reckon with its history and demonstrate a concern for racial justice, and we must follow these gestures with concrete actions that will reduce harms enacted on Black people in our community," said Emily Walter of the ACLU of South Carolina. "This campaign in Charleston is a first step in our broader work to build a safe and just South Carolina that invests in its people."

The coalition includes the ACLU of South Carolina, Black Liberation Fund, Black Lives Matter Charleston, Charleston Black Pride, Charleston Democratic Socialists of America, Community First Land Trust, JC & Associates LLC, Lowcountry Action Committee, Lowcountry Alliance for Model Communities, the Charleston Activist Network's Tamika Gadsden, NAACP Charleston and We Are Family.
Two persons have been grabbed for possessing 24 sachets of substances suspected to be Indian hemp at Shell Signboard, near Spintex in Accra.

They have been remanded into police custody by an Accra Circuit Court.

Patrick Owusu, a tiler, and Edward Okoe, a businessman, have been charged with unlawful possession of narcotic drugs.

They were said to have in their possession some 50 pieces of toffee allegedly laced with substances suspected to be Indian hemp.

Okoe claimed he used the substances to treat asthma.

The court, presided over by Mrs Susana Eduful, preserved their pleas pending further investigations into the matter.

The accused persons are expected to reappear on October 6.

Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Emmanuel Agyei, who held brief, said the complainants were police officers.

He said on September 14, this year, at about 1730 hours, the police had information that the accused persons, who operated a shop at Shell Signboard off the Spintex Road, were peddling in narcotic drugs.

Prosecution said the Spintex District Police Command mobilised a team of policemen who went to the shop and retrieved a quantity of dried leaves and 24 sachets of similar substances suspected to be narcotics, as well the 50 pieces of toffees alleged to be laced with narcotic drugs.

During investigations, the accused persons claimed ownership of the substances, he said, and that the exhibits had been forwarded to the Forensic laboratory for analysis.

---GNA
New Delhi, Sep 24 : Expressing her concern over the plight of Ramgarh Dam during Zero Hour in the Parliament, MP Diya Kumari said that the Ramgarh Dam which was recognised as the only source of drinking water in Jaipur and the surrounding area has dried up.

There was a time when the dam had 64-feet of water and in 1982, the rowing events of the Asian Games also happened here. But after this, due to the negligence of the administration, the number of encroachments started to increase in the catchment area of the dam and the water stopped coming in. Today the situation is such, that there is not even a single drop of water here, she said on Wednesday.

Diya Kumari further said that due to this dam drying up, Jaipur city with a population of lakhs is craving for water today. Efforts are being made by many NGOs, public representatives and the media to revive the dam. Adopting self-cognizance, the Rajasthan High Court has asked the administration to take action into this matter many times and also appointed a Nodal Officer for the same. However, till now no effective action has been taken in this regard.

The MP said "I would like to call out to the people of Jaipur and reach the Minister of Jal Shakti with my words to protect the Ramgarh Dam which is known as the lifeline and heritage of Jaipur. Necessary action should be taken to revive the dam once again."
The main entrance of SsangYong Motor Company in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province. Korea Times file



By Kim Yoo-chul



The Korea Development Bank (KDB), the major creditor of the ailing Korean automaker SsangYong, plans to offer the company "some financial help," after U.S.-based automobile distributor HAAH Automotive Holdings clarified its intention to acquire its managerial rights.



According to sources at investment banks here, HAAH recently delivered its detailed acquisition plans for SsangYong.



HAAH requested that SsangYong creditors, including the state-run bank, extend maturing debts and reset the stakeholder position to give it control before it makes an investment.



"If these conditions are met, then HAAH told SsangYong that it would invest up to 300 billion won," a source involved with the issue said. "In HAAH's proposal for SsangYong was a request for creditors to delay any announcement of an event of default (EOD) until the normalization of SsangYong's business operations."



An EOD is a condition specified in loan agreements that triggers a demand of payment by a lender and the start of default proceedings. The most common cause of default is the failure to make required payments on time. Mahindra & Mahindra, the main shareholder of SsangYong with 75 percent, is on track to review HAAH's proposal.



Given HAAH's "unconfirmed financing" ability and the suggestion that it isn't a "binding offer," some observers have questioned the validity of the proposal. However, the KDB plans to provide some financial assistance to SsangYong.



"The KDB-led creditors' financial help to SsangYong won't be that much as SsangYong still has to present specifics for a plan for survival," one banking source said.



KDB chief Lee Dong-gull earlier told reporters that SsangYong "should find new and substantial businesses." Mahindra has already approached the KDB to arrange funding for its Korean subsidiary.



While there is some speculation that Chinese automobile company Chery is hoping to control the Korean carmaker through HAAH acquiring a controlling stake, HAAH told The Korea Times recently that Chery has no ownership of HAAH.



"HAAH does have a technical cooperation agreement with Chery but it does not involve any ownership," HAAH Vice President Chris Hosford recently told the newspaper.


Topa Insurance Company (Topa), a leading specialty property-casualty insurer, and Hippo Enterprises Inc. (Hippo), a technology-driven homeowners insurtech, today announced their mutual decision to transition their partnership. This move supports Topas strategy to devote more effort and resources to commercial line products, shifting away from personal line products. Following the transition, Hippo customer policies with Topa will be underwritten by Spinnaker Insurance Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hippo, without any interruption in service or coverage. Spinnaker is a national property and casualty insurer licensed in 50 states and rated A- (Excellent) by A.M. Best Company.

Hippo has been an excellent partner to Topa, and we have been very pleased with the growth of the business we have written together over the past three years, said Topas President and CEO Michael Day. The transition provides mutual benefit as we increase our focus on commercial line products where we see significant opportunities.

Hippo has partnered with Topa since 2017 to provide home insurance products, which are now available in eight western states. The strength of the partnership has allowed both companies to build their core businesses over the last three years, supporting the national expansion of Hippos insurance business available in 31 states currently.

Topa has been instrumental in advancing the growth of our business to reach more homeowners, said Rick McCathron, President of Hippo. Hippos focused on providing our customers with the best possible experience through insurance products, smart home devices, and home services. Were looking forward to offering our existing customers access to the same great Hippo products underwritten by Spinnaker Insurance Company.

Topa, an A- (Excellent) A.M. Best-rated property and casualty insurance carrier, admitted in 22 states, will continue to offer its commercial auto, commercial package, and other casualty products through wholesale brokers and managing general agents (MGAs). In addition, Topa is one of the leading insurers in the cannabis industry, currently writing in 22 states, with plans to continue to grow and expand its cannabis-related presence and products into additional states. Topas writings are supported by both Topas strong capital base and a panel of highly-rated reinsurance partners.

Hippo will continue to operate as an MGA with its premiums underwritten by Spinnaker Insurance and is in the final stages of discussions with additional carriers to continue to drive its growth across the country. The company plans to accelerate its geographical expansion to be available to consumers in 11 additional states by June 2021.

About Topa Insurance Company (Topa)

Topa Insurance Company, the largest of the wholly owned subsidiaries of Topa Insurance Group, a boutique insurance holding company based in Calabasas, CA. Topa provides insurance products through the wholesale markets. Other subsidiaries include Dorchester Insurance Company (USVI), NevPac Reinsurance (BVI), and Topa Insurance Services (USVI). Topa Insurance Group is focused on underwriting profit, operational excellence and agility for continuous growth. For more information, please visit http://www.topa-ins.com.

About Hippo

Hippo is on a mission to transform home insurance for the modern household. The company brings homeowners closer to a modern home insurance experience with an efficient online purchase experience using trusted data sources, a smart home device kit included with eligible policies and more available coverage for possessions like appliances, electronics and home offices. Hippo Insurance Services is part of Hippos family of companies that brings together home wellness and home insurance for todays homeowners. Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, with insurance products available to over 70 percent of homeowners in the U.S., Hippo Insurance Services is a licensed property casualty insurance agent with products underwritten by various insurance companies. For more information, including licensing information, visit http://www.hippo.com.
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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Paris, France  Wed, September 23, 2020 11:07 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c469c4ba 2 Entertainment Cuties,Netflix,film,France,children,Republican,Maimouna-Doucoure,united-states Free

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.

Read also: Republicans turn 'Cuties' film furor into election prop

"The controversy thus organized 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 Laura Stoutingburg and her family, Halloween has always been a monthlong celebration of corn mazes, pumpkin patches and, of course, trick-or-treating in their suburban Denver neighborhood.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced the mother of two to change their plans.

"Traditional trick-or-treating house to house does not feel like a smart choice to me this year," Stoutingburg said.

Families across the nation are haunted by the same dilemma: How can they safely keep the pandemic from overshadowing Halloween? Can families trick-or-treat and go to haunted houses, or should they opt for lower-risk activities at home?

Health experts say families should err on the side of caution when it comes to trick-or-treating and other traditional fall activities. Much depends on each family's comfort with taking risks and ensuring they adhere to safety standards and common sense, they said. Masks should be worn by all, even if not part of a costume.

"My kids love going to the farm  to go pumpkin-picking, apple-picking and all those things we do in the fall," said Dr. Aaron Milstone, a professor of pediatrics and an associate epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. But, he added, "if you show up at the pumpkin patch and its packed with people, that's not the right time for you to be there."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released Halloween guidelines that warn against high-risk activities like traditional trick-or-treating, haunted houses and costume parties, as well as hay and tractor rides, among other things. The federal agency is also clear on the need for social distancing, mask-wearing and hand-washing to continue.

Many parents are coming up with creative alternatives for Halloween night. For Stoutingburg, 30, that means hosting a small sleepover with relatives that features pumpkin-carving, cupcake-decorating and a scavenger hunt.

Jody Allard and her family also will forgo their usual tricks and treats. Allard, 42, lives in Seattle and has a rare genetic disease putting her at higher risk for COVID-19. The mother of seven said her family will make new traditions this year.

"Were going to make a bunch of different fun foods from the Halloween shows they like to watch on the Food Network, and were going to watch kid-friendly Halloween movies," Allard said.

In Lancaster, Pennsylvania, 44-year-old writer Jamie Beth Cohen's daughter came up with the idea that she and her brother dress up in costumes and trick-or-treat inside their own home, with their parents behind the doors of various rooms, waiting with candy.

"Shes excited to wear a costume without a jacket and get lots of the kind of candy she likes," Cohen said.

Maya Brown-Zimmerman and her family of six never miss out on trick-or-treating in Cleveland. But they will this year, with Brown-Zimmerman, 35, at higher risk for COVID-19 because of multiple lung diseases. Instead, her family will use their costume money on new Halloween decor, and her four kids, ages 3 to 11, will search for candy at home.

"Ill hide eggs of candy in the front yard for my little kids," she said. "After they go to bed, the older kids will have a hunt for eggs in the dark in our backyard with flashlights."

For families still hoping to trick-or-treat this year, though, what can be done to stay as safe as possible?

The Harvard Global Health Institute created a website to help parents assess their risk level for Halloween activities with a color-coded map of county COVID data. It shows which counties are "lower-risk" zones for COVID (green and yellow), where parents might feel more comfortable allowing their children to trick-or-treat, and which are higher-risk areas (orange and red), where online parties and very small gatherings are recommended instead.

Milstone said families should think less in terms of green versus red zones and more in terms of staying safe no matter what, especially considering asymptomatic carriers.

"Rather than people getting a false sense of security that 'My area is a low-risk area, so I'm just gonna go and do whatever,' I would say ideally everyone practices the same safe things," he said.

Dr. Heather Isaacson, a pediatrician with UCHealth in Longmont, Colorado, said masks must be worn by all and has a simple suggestion for the reluctant: "Decorate those masks and incorporate them into the costumes."

People who hand out candy also should wear masks, added Dr. Alok Patel, a pediatrician and co-host of the "Nova" and PBS Digital Studios show "Parentalogic." If trick-or-treaters see candy-givers without masks, he suggested wishing them a "Happy Halloween" and passing them by for the next home.

"If people are outside serving candy without a mask, consider the added risk of potential respiratory droplets flying around, including in the candy bowl," said Patel.

When it comes to handing out candy, it's a good idea to maintain as much distance as possible.

"Think outside of the box with ideas like a reverse trick-or-treating, where kids stay home and dress up and neighbors do a parade and throw candy," said Isaacson. She also recommended creating individual goody bags in place of bowls of treats.

"You could go all out and make candy chutes or a giant spider web with candy trapped in it. In some ways, the physically distanced candy-delivery ideas sound more fun," said Patel.

As for the candy itself, Milstone isn't as concerned about wrappers as about hand-washing. The primary message is, "Don't let your kid eat candy with dirty hands," he said. That means no eating candy until they're able to get home to wash properly.

While you could technically sanitize wrappers, said Dr. Rita Nasseri, a Los Angeles physician and mother of three, "the safest solution is to buy your own candy and give your children that as a treat."

As for teens, who may want more independence, Dr. Sam Dominguez, a pediatrician specializing in infectious diseases and medical director of the microbiology lab at Children's Hospital Colorado, recommended that small groups of friends get together outside and carve pumpkins or watch a projected movie  while wearing masks, of course.

Nasseri advised something similar, adding that food served buffet-style and communal candy should be avoided.

In Boone County, Missouri, currently experiencing a rapid uptick in COVID-19 cases, Karina Koji said her family will stay home on Halloween night. They plan to dress up in costumes and face masks and give out bags of individually wrapped candies. They'll also leave candy bags in the driveway for anyone who doesn't feel comfortable coming up to the door.

"We shouldnt let the pandemic take Halloween from us," said Koji, 45. "Weve all had to give up so much. Its entirely possible to celebrate this fun holiday while staying healthy and keeping ourselves and others safe."
At the peak of the lockdown, passenger numbers at Dublin, Cork, Shannon and Ireland West-Knock airports had collapsed by 95pc. Photo: Steve Humphreys

The Oireachtas will hold an emergency meeting to discuss a support package for Ireland's aviation industry, which has been devastated by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Transport Committee chair Senator Kieran O'Donnell has been asked to convene the special meeting amid mounting alarm at the impact of the crisis on airports and airlines.

At the peak of the lockdown, passenger numbers at Dublin, Cork, Shannon and Ireland West-Knock airports had collapsed by 95pc.

Ireland West-Knock Airport chair Arthur French said the pandemic had had "a devastating effect" on the facility with a massive cost-cutting programme implemented and a 50pc reduction in its workforce.

"We now need urgent Government intervention," he warned.

Aer Lingus and Ryanair have both slated the Government's failure to rapidly adopt the EU's "traffic light" strategy for helping the aviation sector recover.

While the Government plans to adopt the system - colour-coded red, orange and green - from October, carriers argued that using Ireland's alternative Green List system, which now includes only seven countries, until then will inflict further damage on the sector.

Five of the seven have imposed travel restrictions including pre-travel Covid-19 tests and self-isolation periods.

Both airlines and airports have pleaded for a State support package for the industry which some experts warned will not return to 2019 operating levels for another four years.

Senator Jerry Buttimer has sought an urgent hearing on what can be done to support the crippled sector.

"I especially think there should be urgent discussion on the future of all State airports arising out of the Covid-19 pandemic," he said.

"Given plummeting travel figures, job losses, accumulation of losses by Dublin Airport Authority along with potential base closures by Ryanair and Aer Lingus, I believe this meeting should be a priority."

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Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown features in and as Enola Holmes in the Netflix film  an adaptation of Nancy Springer's The Case of the Missing Marquess  along with Henry Cavill as Sherlock Holmes, Sam Claflin as Mycroft Holmes and Helena Bonham Carter as Eudoria Holmes.

"I would very much like to know why my mother named me 'Enola,' which, backwards, spells alone," says Enola Holmes in the opening lines of The Case of the Missing Marquess, the first instalment in Nancy Springer's Enola Holmes mysteries.

And with that, we enter into the world of a fourteen-year-old Enola, who lives with her mother Lady Eudoria at their family's country estate, Ferndell Hall, near Kineford village in England. For her siblings, she has Sherlock Holmes, the world-renowned 'consulting detective', and Mycroft Holmes, a government official  both twenty and twenty-seven years older to her respectively. Both her brothers have lived in London for most of Enola's life, thus, it has been just her and her mother living by themselves. But on her fourteenth birthday, Enola realises her mother is missing, and she embarks on a journey to London in search of her. She must find her, on her own, alone.

*

Springer's first Enola Holmes book released in 2006 and it was followed by another five  The Case of the Left-Handed Lady (2007), The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets (2008), The Case of the Peculiar Pink Fan (2008), The Case of the Cryptic Crinoline (2009), and finally, The Case of the Gypsy Goodbye (2010). This award-winning author, currently based in Florida Panhandle, has more than fifty novels to her credit including the Book of Isle fantasy series, the Tales of Rowan Hood series and an array of titles in the magical realism, science fiction, contemporary young adult genres.

In her career spanning four decades, Springer has been honoured with several awards and accolades such as the Tiptree Award in 1995 for her novel Larque on the Wing (1994). In the same year she was also chosen for the Edgar Award for Best Young Adult Mystery for another of her 1994 novel, Toughing It. In 1996, she won the Edgar Award for Best Juvenile Mystery for Looking for Jamie Bridge. She also received nominations for the same award in 2007 and 2010 for her Enola Holmes outings, The Case of the Missing Marquess and The Case of the Gypsy Goodbye respectively.

*

Now, a Netflix screen adaptation of The Case of the Missing Marquess is all set for release. Titled Enola Holmes, the film features Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown in the titular role along with Henry Cavill as Sherlock Holmes, Sam Claflin as Mycroft Holmes and Helena Bonham Carter as Eudoria Holmes. The Netflix film is being helmed by Harry Bradbeer, known for his direction in award-winning shows like Fleabag and Killing Eve. The screenplay has been drafted by the noted British screenwriter and playwright Jack Thorne who has previously written for shows such as The Fades, This is England '88 and National Treasure; films like A Long Way Down, Wonder and The Aeronauts, and acclaimed theatre productions such as The Solid Life of Sugar Water, Hope and most notably Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

Ahead of the release of the Netflix film, Nancy Springer spoke to Firstpost in an exclusive email interaction. Edited excerpts below:

***

When and how did the idea of a character like Enola Holmes occur to you? Were there any inspirations?

No one who asks this question expects the true answer: I developed the idea in response to an editor's request. Michael Green of Philomel Books, with whom I had a long time working relationship, who was very astute about what might sell, telephoned one day and asked me to write something set in deepest, darkest London at the time of Jack the Ripper. Actually, he said, Id ask you to write about Jack the Ripper, but somebody else is already doing that.

I had never written historical fiction before, but I respected this editors judgment. So I thought about other books I had done for him. I am Mordred: A Tale of Camelot and I am Morgan Le Fay  both Arthurian  and I had read lots about King Arthur and his Round Table as a child. Rowan Hood, daughter of Robin Hood, and I had read my mother's Robin Hood book when I was little. What had I read in childhood about deepest, darkest London at the time of Jack the Ripper?

I had read  and reread so often I had memorised  my mother's Sir Arthur Conan Doyle collection. So  Sherlock Holmes?

Could I give Sherlock Holmes a daughter, as I had Robin Hood? No. Absolutely not; Holmes is such a thoroughgoing bachelor  so I envisioned a sister for him, and somehow I knew at once that her name would be Enola.

What were the challenges in coming up with a premise that draws so much from the world of one of the most celebrated fictional characters of all time? What are the major similarities and deviations from Conan Doyle's world?

My first challenge was to get my dates straight. I consulted The Annotated Sherlock Holmes by William Baring-Gould and discovered to my relief that Conan Doyle himself had fudged dates so badly that I could do no worse, and yes, Sherlock Holmes was in business at the time of Jack the Ripper and I could place my story in the late 1880s. The much larger, ongoing challenge, of course, was research and getting my facts straight. And writing in Enola's voice  although I enjoyed using the language of the period, and did not have too much difficulty, because I was raised to speak grammatically and was well versed with Victorian literature.

I do not think I deviated much from Conan Doyle's world, although I did decide Enola would solve no murders; her destiny was to be a perditorian, a finder of the lost.

In the initial stories in the series, Enola's relationship with her brothers  Sherlock and Mycroft  seems rather tensed which gradually gets better. At some points, one often thinks the brothers are almost antagonists. Is it just a narrative device or is there a statement that you wanted to make?

It was not so much a narrative device as a simple fact: in the Victorian world, women were regarded as insignificant. Conan Doyle may not have been a total misogynist; he might have been merely as short-sighted as other male writers of his generation  but for whatever reason, he created Sherlock Holmes to be almost entirely ignorant of what went on regarding the female half of Englands population.

Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes fail to understand the cruelty of corsets. They fail to track their runaways because they do not realise what can be stored in a bustle. They are unaware of the language of flowers and for that reason cannot crack a simple code between Enola and her mother. Sherlock is ignorant of the languages of fans, sealing-wax, dangling handkerchiefs and much else that coming up with ideas for these books was, as Holmes would say to Watson, "so absurdly simple". Of course, there was friction between the brothers and their sister. I was telling a story more than making a statement, but the story was about how Victorian women managed to outwit the males who attempted to run their lives.

In the world of mystery fiction, which is largely dominated by a male-centric narrative, where do you think characters like Enola stand?

All fiction was dominated by male-centric narrative until recently, so characters like Enola must struggle against the weight of hundreds of years of tradition. Luckily, it is not difficult for them to do so. Female-centric fiction seems to strike most readers as fresh, new and delightful.

How did you build the character of Enola with every book? Unlike Doyle's Sherlock, your Enola matures and develops into a more layered personality as we proceed with every story.

I must admit, when I first started writing the Enola Holmes books, I intended to write many of them, each much like the others. I did not want Enola to change, but she insisted! You know how characters, come alive, stand up on the page and defy the author? This is a sure sign that a book in progress is going to be good. Enola herself insisted on character arc, growing closer to her brothers and resolving her conflict with them. I hated to have to stop after six books, but Enola rules.

Enola comes across as a very contemporary character for the Victorian era. How did you strike that balance of creating a strong feminist character in an era where feminism was fairly uncommon?

I did not have to worry about striking any balance; I myself am out of balance with society and always have been. Novelists are uncommon. I guess in my own way I am a strong feminist character. I just wrote from the heart. I never mean to challenge or preach; I just am.

One of the most remarkable aspects of Enola is her relationship with her mother. Having these two strong women living an almost clandestine existence yet doing extraordinary things is such a refreshing change. Could you talk about how you developed this relationship in the series?

Enola's relationship with her mother very much echoes my childhood relationship with my own mother, who was a professional artist. Not that I was strong; I was a satellite orbiting my mom at a discreet distance. The way Enola's mother abandons her is a sad reflection of how my mom was often absent even when she was physically present. But yes, we did some extraordinary things together, such as removing snakes from the basement or going fishing and catching turtles instead of fish. Also, during the conformity of the 1950s, my mother set me a good example; she left the dirty dishes in the sink and did her art instead.

How did the whole Netflix screen adaptation thing happen? How was the experience of seeing Enola translate from word to screen? Are you also collaborating on the screenplay as well?

The whole movie thing happened because Paige Brown read the Enola Holmes books and recommended them to her sister Millie Bobby Brown, and MBB determined to make a movie from them. Although only a young teenager, she was the driving force, and in a few years she produced and starred in Enola Holmes, a feature film under the banner of Legendary Studios.

Netflix became involved only because the COVID-19 pandemic closed the movie theatres; I am lucky and delighted the movie was picked up by Netflix. I had very little to do with the process of making the movie, although I did see the scripts and also a few days of the filming. The script changed so much during filming that I soon realised my suggestions were obsolete before they left my mouth, and the creative dynamics of the movie-making process absolutely thrilled me.

The first book in the series came out in 2006 and you continued writing until 2010. Any reason in particular why you didn't continue the series further? Or can we expect a few more adventures of Enola Holmes in the coming years?

As I already explained, Enola simply finished reconciling with her brothers and finding her mother. However, there is a possibility of a book or two in which she partners with Sherlock.

Lastly, as a writer what has been your biggest takeaway from the world of Enola Holmes?

The popularity of the books and the devotion of Enola's fans. I had published forty-some novels previously, many quite good, but thanks to Enola Holmes I am now truly basking in the warmth of the love of the reading public. Life is good.

***

 Enola Holmes premieres on Netflix on 23 September.
Motorola has launched the Moto e7 Plus in India. The smartphone adds to the e Series lineup and brings a 48MP dual camera setup to the under-10k segment. The Moto e7 Plus will go on sale exclusively on Flipkart starting 30th September, 12 noon onwards.

Motorola has launched the Moto E7 Plus in India, expanding the companys lineup of budget smartphones, where it has been largely focusing in India. The latest entrant plans to shake things up a little by bringing back the 48MP camera to the under-10k segment, but will that be enough?

Experience the #UltimateCamera of the #motoe7plus having 48MP f/1.7 dual camera with Night Vision, Snapdragon 460 with 4GB RAM, 5000 mAh battery, 6.5" HD+ display, Stock Android experience & more. Available for 9,499 from 30th Sep, 12PM on @flipkart! https://t.co/FArWJUM04B pic.twitter.com/z5U8CmjnEL  Motorola India (@motorolaindia) September 23, 2020

Heres what the specs have to say 

Moto E7 Plus hardware specs and features

The Moto E7 Plus runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 460 SoC and rocks 4GB RAM and 64GB storage which again can be expandable to up to 512GB via microSD carad. The smartphone features a 6.5-inch HD+ display with 20:9 aspect ratio. Motorola promises a whole weekend without worrying about charging with a 5,000mAh battery. Theres a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor embedded in the signature Batwing logo, and the smartphone is even made water-repellent and splash-proof. The e7 Plus also rocks a dedicated Google Assistant button on the side.

The Moto E7 Plus runs on stock Android 10 along with some Moto actions and gestures. Moto promises two years of security updates to the smartphone.

The camera is where the e7 Plus focuses on. The smartphone rocks a 48MP dual camera stack, much like what the Moto One Vision (review) came with previously. The 48MP camera performs quad-pixel binning and is aided by an f/1.7 aperture lens. It also has a dedicated Night Mode, along with digital zoom, hyperlapse and slo-mo video (120FPS), along with some AI-enabled features like smile shutter, smart composition, portrait mode, spot colour and more. Theres a secondary depth sensor while on the front, theres an 8MP selfie shooter.

Moto E7 Plus pricing and availability

Motorola said the e7 Plus is completely Made-in-India and will be offered in Misty Blue and Twilight Orange variants. Its priced at Rs 9,499 and will go on sale exclusively on Flipkart starting September 30, 12 noon onwards.

Moto E7 Plus competition and rivals

The Moto E7 Plus competes in a fiercely fought market where even a difference of Rs 500 make a big difference. As such, the Moto E7 Plus competes with the Xiaomi Redmi 9 Prime, the Realme Narzo 10A, and the Realme C12. And while the Moto e7 Power does have an advantage here with a new Snapdragon chipset and a 48MP primary camera, the display is where it may falter.
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.
A recent simulation by a Japanese supercomputer named Fugaku has claimed that plastic face shields are ineffective in curbing the spread of coronavirus COVID-19 as they are almost totally ineffective at trapping respiratory aerosols.

Fugaku, which is the worlds fastest supercomputer, created a simulation to detect that almost 100% of airborne droplets of less than 5 micrometres in size escaped through plastic face shields which are often used by people to check the spread of coronavirus.

One micrometre is one millionth of a metre.

According to Riken, a research institute in Japanese city of Kobe, nearly 50% of larger droplets measuring 50 micrometres found their way into the air, .

As several countries across the globe are now opening up their economies after imposing lockdown to curb coronavirus, face shields are being commonly used by people who are in direct contact with the public, such as shops and beauty salons.

Makoto Tsubokura, team leader at Rikens centre for computational science, told Guardian that face shields should not be used as an alternative to masks.

Judging from the results of the simulation, unfortunately the effectiveness of face guards in preventing droplets from spreading from an infected persons mouth is limited compared with masks, Tsubokura told the Guardian.

This is especially true for small droplets of less than 20 micrometres, he added.

According to Tsubokura, nearly 100% of the much smaller aerosol particles escaped through the gap between the face and the face shield. At the same time, it somehow works for the droplets larger than 50 micrometres, he noted.

Fugaku also found that face masks made using non-woven fabric are more effective at curbing the spread of coronavirus via airborne droplets than those made of cotton and polyester.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 21)  There is no need to file diplomatic protests against other claimants in the South China Sea that don't have an active conflict with the Philippines, Foreign Affairs Teodoro "Teddy Boy" Locsin Jr. said Monday.

Locsin was asked during a House budget hearing by Deputy Speaker Luis Raymond LRay Villafuerte if -- just like what the Department of Foreign Affairs did with China -- he plans to file a diplomatic protest against Vietnam, Taiwan and Malaysia for occupying maritime features in the South China Sea.

I dont think we have active conflicts with Malaysia, Vietnam, and Taiwan. So, theres no need for diplomatic protest, Locsin said.

The Philippines last month filed a diplomatic protest against China after the Chinese Coast Guard's "illegal" confiscation in May of fish aggregating devices from Filipino fishermen near Bajo de Masinloc. Also known as Scarborough Shoal, the area is located some 120 nautical miles off Zambales, and is claimed by the Philippines to be within its 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone.

Since China claims all of the South China Sea with the nine-dash line, and they move around with their vessels. So, from time to time, when they break into our territory, we shoot a diplomatic protest, Locsin said.

According to the secretary, 54 diplomatic protests have been filed against China and 42 have already been answered.

Aside from the Philippines and China, the other claimants in the South China Sea are Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam.

In 2016, an international tribunal in The Hague largely favored the Philippines in its case against China, invalidating Beijing's sweeping claims in the South China Sea based on its nine-dash line stake. China has ignored the ruling.
Anu Kuruvila By

Express News Service

KOCHI: Earlier this month, the Central government came out with Ease of Doing Business ranking of states, where Kerala slipped to 28th rank from 21st. Yet another report on the best startup ecosystem in the country, the States Startup Ranking 2019, saw Kerala ranked alongside Karnataka as the top performer in the category!

This might come across as an irony. While one list says Kerala is among the worst hosts for business, the other claims it has one of the most nurturing ecosystems for promoting entrepreneurship via startups. Kerala being ranked alongside Karnataka and Bengaluru, regarded as Indias Silicon Valley, for the second year in a row is the icing on the cake.

How is it possible for one of the worst business environments in the country to have the best ecosystems for startup ventures?

There is a story behind why startups Kerala have won laurels for innovation recently. Last month, Cherthala-based Techgentsia Software Technologies Pvt Ltds product Vconsol, an indigenous video conferencing solution, was declared the winner of the Central governments Innovation Challenge for Development of Video Conferencing Solution.

Similarly, in July, The Aditya, Indias first solar-powered ferry boat by Kerala startup NavAlt Solar, received a global honour  the Gustave Trouve Award, the worlds only international awards exclusively for electric boats.

Saji Gopinath deserves most of the credit for facilitating all this. Sajis team has been spearheading it all since he took over as the CEO of Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) in 2017. He stepped down from the post a few days ago after a memorable stint. Alongside Ashok Kurian Panjikaran, head, business development of KSUM, Saji was named Startup Champions of the State.

The number of startups is doubling every year and Kerala startups today account for around 10 per cent of DPIIT (Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade)-registered startups in India. Many of them have been recognised globally for their unique products and have established businesses even outside India, he says.

According to him, some of Keralas incubators like Bionest and Maker Village placed themselves as industry leaders by winning national honours both for incubation as well as for the companies they helped make.

Its reckoned Kerala has a total of 2,900 startups that collectively sourced external funding of Rs 1,500 crore since 2016, a figure that is seemingly low. Robin Alex Panicker, chief product officer of Finotes, who is also a keen observer of the startup sector in the state, explains why Kerala is ranked at the bottom in 'ease of doing' business' while faring at the top in the startup sector.

It is easier to set up a software company in Kerala than a chicken farm. This also explains the wide variation in the two rankings, he says.

"What's pulling down the industries' in Kerala is not the workers, but the officers from panchayat level to upwards, who have a hostile attitude towards industries and entrepreneurs," adds Panicker. On the other hand, startup entrepreneurs require a minimum number of permissions to set up their ventures. "Moreover, the startups get various timely information and handholding from KSUM from time to time."

To Kerala's advantage, right now, technology startups are more important than chicken farms as the force multiplier is higher for the latter in terms of jobs and wealth creation. "Since data connectivity, human resource and electricity are vital for technological startups, there is a huge scope for them in Kerala." When compared to other startups, these are more compact, he adds.

Panicker points out Kerala's startup ecosystem has also come a long way in terms of funding. Today it is possible to sell software products all over the world while sitting in Kerala. Also, compared to other states, we can make world-class software with very little investment here, he says.

Shifting base?

It is normal for startups from Kerala to want to relocate to Tier one and two cities like Bengaluru or Mumbai once it grows in size. This may be because it is easier to get funding and customers in big cities where most of the angel investors, venture capital funds and private equity investors are based.Panicker says, though some Kerala startups have expanded or relocated to the big metros, the trend is reversing now.

With many Malayalis coming back and investing in startups, this trend is visible even in major incubation hubs like Kozhikode, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram. Even in smaller towns, it is no different. For example, Techgensia, the Alappuzha-based tech-startup.

Ground-level upliftment is key

Still, Kerala has a long way to go, he reckons. Red-tapism and the attitude of the officials right from the panchayat to the bureaucratic level may need some correction. S R Nair, startup mentor, points out that some of the biggest startups in the country, like Byjus founded by Byju Raveendran (valued at $5.4 billion or Rs 38,500 crore), ID Fresh Food (P C Mustafa) and Big Basket (Hari Nair), did not germinate in Kerala. All three are Malayalis, but they set shop outside Kerala, he said.

With all due credit to the founders, this makes us wonder why a great number of startups in Kerala still do not attract the funding from angel investors and VCs. Kerala startups must get into the radar of big investors, which it hasnt until now, says Nair. For example, I know two fintech startups in Kochi with excellent business propositions. Had they been in Mumbai or Bengaluru, they would have been up there by now. In spite of the great value they deliver, they still await scale-up funds, he says.

According to Nair, it is not always the business model that helps them with this. Instead, networking, good mentors and positive PR are crucial to the success of a startup. Also, startup founders hold a false pride which makes them possessive and unwilling to share. The result? They stay in cocoons, forever, he says.
Pune: Maharashtra BJP leader Pravin Darekar on Wednesday said that actor Kangana Ranaut is not above law and NCB should conduct probe if she had said that she was a drug-addict". If Kangana has said she was a drug addict then the NCB (Narcotics Control Bureau) should probe. Law is equal for all in our country," the Leader of Opposition in the state Legislative Council told reporters here.

The NCB is probing the alleged Bollywood-drugs nexus and had arrested actress Rhea Chakraborty, who was booked by the Bihar police for allegedly abetting suicide of her actor boyfriend Sushant Singh Rajput. The CBI is probing that case. In Mumbai, the NCB has summoned actors Deepika Padukone, Shraddha Kapoor, Sara Ali Khan and Rakul Preet Singh among others for questioning.

The Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra government had earlier this month ordered a probe by Mumbai police into allegations by actor Shekhar Sumans son Adhyayan Suman that Ranaut took drugs. Darekar said no one will support if new and budding actors in film industry are falling prey to drugs.

Shouldnt we take precautions if actors in one of the biggest film industries in the world are getting addicted (to drugs)?" he questioned. Darekar said there should not be any problem if NCB summons any person who is consuming drugs for investigation.

The BJP leader also slammed the Shiv Sena-led Mumbai civic body for water-logging on Wednesday due to heavy rains. They had time of seven to eight months to fix the chronic water-logging spots. There is no dearth of funds; required machinery is also availableBut despite all these things, if Mumbai is going under water, what have you done by being in the power in the BMC for the last 40 years?" he asked.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 00:17:31|Editor: huaxia

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HARARE, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Preparations for the opening of Zimbabwe's first traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and acupuncture clinic at the country's largest referral hospital are at an advanced stage, with all medical equipment already in place.

Speaking at a media tour of the clinic at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare on Wednesday, Jiang Zhichao, Founder and Director of Zimbabwe-China TCM and Acupuncture Center said the facility has already made full preparations and will be open for the public before the end of this month.

"It has started with the training of 15 local medical staff and they will begin their formal treatment of their patients, including local patients," he said.

The center will also house Zimbabwe's largest TCM training school and research center.

"Apart from diagnosis and treatment of patients, the Ministry of Health of Zimbabwe and the China-Zimbabwe TCM have agreed to take the center as the largest Chinese medicine training school in Zimbabwe," he said.

Jiang said TCM played a critical role in China's fight against COVID-19, adding that the inclusion of TCM knowledge in Zimbabwe's medical practice will be of practical importance.

"Zimbabwe has a good medical system. If TCM technology can be fully introduced and promoted in Zimbabwe, I think it will help enhance Zimbabwe's fight against COVID-19 and provide future services of the health of Zimbabwean people," said Jiang.

The first patient to receive an acupuncture treatment procedure at the clinic, Marlon Mpundu, expressed confidence in TCM.

"This was my first time for this treatment. I had a neck problem but after this treatment now I am feeling ok," Mpundu said.

The establishment of TCM center followed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between China and Zimbabwe on cooperation in the field of TCM and acupuncture.

China has recently stepped up its efforts in capacitating Zimbabwe's health delivery system and enhancing its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic by providing various donations of medical supplies. Enditem
Katie Price was spotted heading to a London studio on Wednesday, as she recorded new tracks in a bid to relaunch her music career.

The glamour model, 42, got a helping hand from her boyfriend Carl Woods as he pushed her along in a wheelchair, a requirement since she broke her feet in an accident while on holiday in Turkey over the summer.

Mother-of-five Katie appeared to be in an upbeat mood as she prepared for her day or recording inside the Soho building.

Studio: Katie Price was spotted heading to a London studio on Wednesday, as she recorded new tracks in a bid to relaunch her music career. Pictured with boyfriend Carl Woods

She looked casually cool for the outing, sporting a baggy plain white top, which she teamed with cropped jeans.

Wearing her ombre tresses in a long sleek blowout, the TV personality highlighted her famous looks with a generous palette of makeup.

Hunky Carl appeared to coordinate with his girlfriend, donning a white T-shirt and faded jeans, which he teamed with box fresh white running shoes.

Singing: Once inside the studio, Katie was seen singing away as she stood in a recording booth

Thumbs up: She turned to give a thumbs up to the sound engineer as the session progressed

She means business: The TV personality appeared focused as she sat through her session

Once inside the studio, Katie was seen singing away as she stood in a recording booth.

In May of last year, Katie was seen showing off her vocal talents during a raucous appearance at the G-A-Y Porn Idol night at Heaven nightclub in London.

There she sang a version of A Whole New World, which she first dueted with her ex husband Peter Andre in 2006.

Over the years, Katie has made several bids to top the charts, with the most recent being a track named I Got U, which she released in 2017.

Helping hand: The glamour model, 42, got a helping hand from her boyfriend Carl Woods as he pushed her along in a wheelchair, a requirement since she broke her feet in an accident

Casually cool: The glamour model looked casually cool for the outing, sporting a baggy plain white top, which she teamed with cropped jeans

Golden locks: Wearing her ombre tresses in a long sleek blowout, the TV personality highlighted her famous looks with a generous palette of makeup

Katie even debuted the track during a Loose Women appearance which received mixed reviews from fans.

In 2005, Katie also vied for a place in the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest while sporting a pink PVC catsuit while pregnant.

In 2009, an unedited version of Katie and Peter's version of a Whole New World was leaked, showing Katie's vocals without auto-tune.

Before this she released club anthem Free To Love Again, which hit the charts in 2010 and also performed duets with her ex husband Peter.

Coordinated: Hunky Carl appeared to coordinate with his girlfriend, donning a white T-shirt and faded jeans, which he teamed with box fresh white running shoes

Vocal talents: In May of last year, Katie was seen showing off her vocal talents during a raucous appearance at the G-A-Y Porn Idol night at Heaven nightclub in London

Bids: Over the years, Katie has made several bids to top the charts, with the most recent being a track named I Got U, which she released in 2017

Meanwhile, Katie recently hit back at wheelchair users who criticised her for voicing concerns over her boyfriend Carl Woods fancying her while she is in a wheelchair - as she hit back saying: 'I'm allowed to be insecure'.

Katie was opting for comfort for the outing as she donned a white tee and leggings and zipped along with her youngest kids, who she shares with Kieran Hayler.

The star is mother to Harvey, 18, with ex Dwight Yorke, Junior, 15, and Princess, 13, with former husband Peter Andre, and Jett, seven, and Bunny, six with Kieran Hayler.

Katie has been dating Carl for a matter of months but has frequently professed her love for the hunk, who had a fleeting appearance on the ITV2 show.

Eurovision: In 2005, Katie also vied for a place in the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest while sporting a pink PVC catsuit while pregnant

Club anthem: Before this, she released club anthem Free To Love Again, which hit the charts in 2010 and also performed duets with her ex husband Peter

After voicing her concerns over the passion in their romance and her mobility issues, Katie has now revealed she has received backlash.

She told New! Magazine: 'I've had a lot of abuse from people in wheelchairs because I said I felt like Carl wouldn't fancy me in a wheelchair.

'I'm not saying people who are in wheelchairs shouldn't be fancied. I'm saying, I'm in a new relationship and he met me how I was before so why should he fancy me like this? I'm allowed to feel insecure!'

Her chat comes after she was left 'horrified' after her 'mucky mansion' caught fire on Monday night - after a blaze caused by candles damaged the same property in 2018.

Music career: It had long been rumoured for that Katie had planned to revive her music career

In her element: The mother-of-five looked to be in her element as she got stuck into the session

Leeping busy: The recording sessions have kept the star busy as she recovers from her injuries

The fire brigade were called to the former glamour model's house in West Sussex after neighbours raised the alarm.

The side of the 1.3 million home appeared to go up in flames after a caretaker built a bonfire right next to the side of her property, reports The Sun.

The mother-of-five is currently living in a rented 4,250 per month six-bedroom property in Surrey, just minutes away from ex-husband Peter Andre's home while her dilapidated 'mucky mansion' is renovated

A source told the publication: 'Katie was horrified when she was called about the fire - apparently the caretaker built a huge fire right next to the house, and when it went up the side of the house was covered in flames.

'It was a huge fire - a neighbour called the fire brigade thinking the house was burning down. It was put out in the end but you could see the smoke billowing across the road. She says the house is cursed.'
Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Tuesday said the Ayushman Bharat 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 Ayushman Bharat 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.

Also read: Rural India ill prepared to handle rising COVID-19 cases, says survey

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.

Also read: No ICU beds for COVID-19 patients without connections, finds survey

"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 Ayushman Bharat 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.

Also read: Rs 65,560 crore to fight future pandemics! Centre to invest in research, healthcare

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.
Flight

New Delhi: Saudi Arabia has banned flights to and from India from Tuesday amid a surge in coronavirus cases, according to an official document.

In a circular issued on Tuesday, Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said it was "suspending travel to and from the following countries: (India, Brazil and Argentina) including any person who has been in any of the mentioned countries above in the last 14 days prior to their arrival to the Kingdom".

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Flight

However, it excluded "passengers who have official government invitations.

The GACA circular titled: Suspension of travel to countries where the Covid-19 virus has outbreak was marked to all the airlines and chartered flight companies operating at the Saudi Arabia's airports.

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Five days back, Air India Express had said the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) suspended its flights for 24 hours for bringing two passengers with Covid-positive certificates on August 28 and September 4.

FlightScheduled international passenger flights have been suspended in India since March 23 due to the outbreak. However, special international flights have been operating between India and Saudi Arabia since May 6 under the Vande Bharat mission.

After one-day suspension for bringing passengers with Covid-positive certificates, Air India Express resumed its Dubai flights on Saturday.

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According to rules of the UAE government, every passenger travelling from India is required to bring an original Covid-negative certificate of an RT-PCR test done within 96 hours prior to the journey.

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Hong Kong has banned Air India flights from Sunday to October 3 after a few passengers on its flight on Friday tested positive for Covid-19 post arrival, a senior government official said on Sunday.

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Passengers from India can arrive in Hong Kong only if they have a Covid-19 negative certificate from a test done within 72 hours prior to the journey, according to rules issued by the Hong Kong government in July.
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. 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." Brian Garibaldi, M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

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.
New Delhi:

Delhi Police and paramilitary personnel will keep a tight vigil on Republic Day in the national capital on Thursday with an eye on the movement of animals as intelligence inputs claim that they might be used as suicide bombers by terror groups. Delhi Police was sent a special advisory on Wednesday informing them that terror groups might use animals to target crowded areas like important installations, railway stations, etc, to create a panic situation.

While the Delhi Police was earlier issued an advisory stating that terror groups might use new techniques, they received a special advisory warning of this kind of an attack on Wednesday. The advisory has been issued by Special Cell of Delhi Police and has asked personnel to keep a track of stolen pets since terror groups might have stolen them to carry out terror strikes.

Also Read: 68th Republic Day: Dubai's iconic Burj Khalifa glows with Indian National flag colours

Special arrangements have been made at the historic Rajpath where President Pranab Mukherjee, who is the supreme commander of armed forces, will be witnessing the nations military might that will be on display. The entire Central and New Delhi region will have nearly 60,000 security personnel drawn from Delhi Police and Central security forces guarding every nook and corner.

Also Read: President's speech on eve of Republic Day: Pranab Mukherjee backs demonetisation, simultaneous polls and debate on electoral reforms

Muksh Kumar Meena, special commissioner of police, New Delhi range said, There is foolproof security in place. Senior officers of Delhi Police will be patrolling the area while borders have been sealed. 

In view of recent intelligence inputs that terror groups like LeT might be planning to use helicopter charter services and charter flights to launch attack through air, Delhi Police along with other security agencies are keeping a tight vigil.Police is using counter-drone technology to thwart any attack or identify any suspicious flying object, a senior police officer said.

Also Read: Republic Day parade: Delhi under tight security cover, emphasis on neutralising air-borne threats

Apart from this, security personnel will be stationed atop tall buildings with anti-aircraft guns. CCTV cameras have been installed and a special control room has been set up where the feed will be monitored by Delhi Police and paramilitary personnel, the officer said.The advisory that has been issued to security agencies states that it is imperative for the security forces to be familiar with the range of threats for devising appropriate counter means since the use of conventional weapons by the terrorist and criminal groups is a part of an ongoing process to develop new techniques and tactics.

Security forces have also been asked to ensure that proper frisking and checking of police personnel and other personnel is carried out since there is a possibility that terrorists may disguise themselves as security personnel.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
A 10-storey condo building near the west harbour rail line on MacNab Street North has the approval of the citys planning committee.

The developers shaved three storeys from the original plan and reduced the unit count to 89 from 100 after city officials asked for changes last year.

The owners of 282 MacNab St. N., St. Jean Properties Inc. and Durand Development Corporation, also increased setbacks and parking to 66 spots from 51.

Were happy to see this, particularly at this time, Coun. Jason Farr said Tuesday.

A rendering of the 10-storey condo building to be built on MacNab Street North. McCallumSather

The development near the West Harbour GO station and CN Rail line will bring jobs and residents to the downtown during the economic slowdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.

But a neighbouring church congregation that dates to 1916 hasnt offered its blessing.

People are ready for a public protest, taking into consideration that they are not being listened to, Rev. Lucian Puscariu of the Holy Resurrection Romanian Orthodox Church wrote in a letter to city officials.

In separate letters, Puscariu and Nick Bunu, president of the parish council, say theyre concerned excavation will damage the old church.

They also predict scarce parking during religious functions and worry the church bells will bother future residents.

I think they would have preferred townhouses, to which I said theres no way we can do that, Farr said.

Architect Drew Hauser of McCallumSather told the committee the parking ratio was dramatically improved through the revised plan.

He questioned bells being a problem for 282 MacNab residents, noting people already live within earshot of other churches and other noises downtown. So people that are living in this type of density and urban environment, I think theyre very well aware of where theyre moving to.

Fellow architect William Neal said the effect of noise and vibrations on the church is a huge consideration that will be addressed in the process ahead. The city has standards for all of that.

Tuesdays approval of land-use changes to allow the mid-rise comes with conditions, including consultation with CN and Metrolinx on noise levels.

Hauser said those studies were submitted. The hope is start construction in spring.

The committees decision still needs a final nod from council.

Read more about:
The government, benefiting from the complete absence of opposition parties, on Tuesday got Parliament to pass a rash of bills that are set to transform the farming, labour and social security landscape when they become laws.

A total of seven bills were passed in the Rajya Sabha and at least four in the Lok Sabha, amid an Opposition boycott of proceedings in protest at the governments refusal to allow parliamentary scrutiny of two controversial farm bills passed on Sunday and the suspension of eight lawmakers for unruly behaviour" on the same day.

Among the watershed bills passed unopposed on Tuesday was the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020 which removes controls on the holding and supply of key farm produce such as cereals, pulses, oilseeds, edible oils, onion and potatoes. The government says dropping these items from the list of highly regulated essential commodities will free up the market, ensure supplies for exports, boost investments in agriculture and raise prices.

But Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh has threatened to challenge the act in court, saying it puts the interests of big corporates above those of farmers.

The Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2020, decriminalizes company law offences and allows direct foreign listing of companies.

The Code On Social Security, the Industrial Relations Code, and the Occupational Safety, Health And Working Conditions Code are three labour codes that the government says are aimed at social security, industrial relations and occupational safety, with an eye on labour reforms and ease of doing business.

Trade unions have criticized the industrial relations code for allowing companies with 300 or more employees to fire workers without government permission.

All bills sailed through in Parliament, with only lawmakers from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, its partners in the National Democratic Alliance and some other like-minded parties, such as the Biju Janata Dal and YSRCP, in attendance.

The controversy over the suspension of eight Rajya Sabha members heated up with the Congress announcing that the Opposition will boycott the session till the Centre tables a new farm bill. Rajya Sabha chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu refused to revoke the suspension, saying that the MPs had publicly defended their actions. I am not happy with the suspensions; they are our members. Action is taken against their conduct, there is nothing personal", Naidu said adding that deputy chairman Harivansh on Sunday had urged protesting lawmakers to return to their seats.

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said the boycott will continue until the Centre agreed to three conditions: Government should bring a new bill to ensure private players do not buy below MSP. Second, announced MSP should be in line with Swaminathan formula. Third, no agency should buy below MSP."

In the Lok Sabha, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said opposition MPs were boycotting the House in support of the suspended lawmakers. Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party, Left parties, and Nationalist Congress Party also joined the boycott call.

anuja@livemint.com

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India could soon find itself on the horns, lets make that needles, of a dilemma as it sets out to buy the millions of syringes it will need for the coronavirus vaccine. More than half the auto disposable syringes bought by the government  300 million syringes per annum  for mass immunisation programmes for other diseases are imported from China because they are inexpensive.

For the rest, Indian firms are forced to match the low price but many of them fail to pick up the orders, which then go back to the lowest bidder. These syringes, which ensure single use ...
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. After an early first surge, Florida reduced restrictions and has since experienced a long and steep second surge." Nick James, Study Author, American Institute of Physics

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.
Unguwan Gankon, August 18, 2020. After she was forced to strip, pregnant Hanatu Kefas, with her three-year-old girl, was locked up in a piggery and made to roll on the stinking floor, with a ruthless gunman barking out commands.

He now told me to drop my baby on the floor and I dropped my baby on the floor, began Mrs Kefas, recalling her ordeal to PREMIUM TIMES. He now told me to undress and start rolling on the ground, with this animal, pig, and I started rolling on the floor.

She was not raped that day as she feared. But that severely distressing experience and the emotional shock caused by the killing of her husband, Maliki Kefas, the same moment, left her with traumas, which she is being helped to deal with at a local public clinic in Zonkwa, Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

While she was being humiliated in the piggery, her husband was shot dead by another gunman and she heard his dying moans. I could not go out (of the piggery), she recalls, her eyes swollen with tears.

The gunmen, suspected to be Fulani attackers on a reprisal mission, invaded Unguwan Gankon, a Kataf village, that August evening, in return for an earlier killing of their kinsman, a distraught Mrs Kefas said. In truth, one of them had earlier been killed by our people, she said. But I dont know who killed him because I was just coming from Kaduna.

In the reprisal attack that led to the killing of Mr Kefas, the gunmen did not target women, but only men, who they suspected killed their kinsman. Two other persons were killed at Unguwan Gankon that day, Mrs Kefas said.

That attack is just another bloody incident in the intractable conflicts that have for long defined Southern Kaduna, which, eco-climatically, is part of the Middle Belt, a sub-humid transition zone between Nigerias semi-arid north and humid south.

It is about indigene-settler dichotomy

Southern Kaduna is ethnically plural, comprising predominantly Christian groups  among them, Kataf, Adara, Takad, Fantswam, Ikulu, Chawai, Ham  who form the majority on the one hand, and on the other hand, Muslim Hausa/Fulani, whom the former commonly regard as settlers and usurpers.

However, the current Nasir El-Rufai administration in the state is insisting on common citizenship and urging residents and visitors to eschew actions capable of fueling the age-long indigene-settler divide that has often triggered violence in the state.

There are non-Hausa/Fulani indigenes of Southern Kaduna who are Muslims. A former military governor of the state, Usman Muazu, is an ethnic Ham and Muslim. Also, the current Deputy Governor, Hadiza Balarabe, is an ethnic Numana (from Sanga Local Government Area) and Muslim. However, the majority of Southern Kaduna groups, apart from the Hausa/Fulani, are predominantly Christians.

The Hausa trace their presence in Southern Kaduna back centuries, possibly 1650, when their forebears started settling at Zangon Kataf as a resting place or a trading post, according to a historical account given by Kataf witnesses before the Cudjoe Commission of 1992 and referenced by an Ahmed Makarfi-era panel report of July 2001.

Apart from the itinerant Fulani pastoralists who exploit the area seasonally, the Hausa/Fulani community would not accept they are not indigenous to where they have lived for centuries. But the other groups, whether Kataf or Fantswam, would disagree. Let us respect one another and accept this place does not belong to you, one local Christian leader and ethnic Kataf, Gambo Waziri, told PREMIUM TIMES.

Yes, it is about indigene-settler dichotomy. If I have lived in Enugu for 300 years, it doesnt mean the land belongs to me, Mr Waziri, who coordinates a displaced persons camp at Zonkwa, making a similar argument as such given during a group interview with ethnic Fantswam leaders in Zikpak, Kafanchan.

Indigeneship is strong, territorial and genealogical, said Luka Binniyat, the spokesperson for Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU). We have no problem with Hausa/Fulani, who have settled (in Southern Kaduna) but they are not natives, not indigenes and they have no land. Land is everything.

Mr Binniyat, a journalist, is currently being prosecuted by the state government for a piece of fake news he wrote for Vanguard Newspaper, which allegedly inspired a cycle of killings.

Our land is our ancestral inheritance, said Saidu Umaru, an ethnic Fantswam leader and district head of Zikpak, Kafanchan, in Jemaa LGA, echoing Mr Binniyat and several other Christian natives.

Mr Binniyat alleged a grand plan to annihilate our people and take over our land and blamed Mr El-Rufai for taking side with the Hausa/Fulani. By his actions and utterances, he is culpable. His actions and utterances are emboldening the Fulani, he said.

Muyiwa Adekeye, spokesperson for the Governor, however, said, what is cast as bias is basically that this man (Mr El-Rufai) has refused to be boxed to drop his insistence on equal rights and citizenship. Some people want a focus on indigeneity instead of citizenship but we cant condone that in the 21st century.

The issue (indigene-settler dichotomy) echoed loudly in virtually all Local Government Areas, found the August 2015 Martin Agwai report on steps to stamp out Southern Kaduna attacks. Cases bordering on this issue include denial of admission into schools, indigene certificate, and scholarship.

The violent attacks are an expression of this problem and that of land ownership as well as self-determination struggles, which are at the roots of the mutual distrust, hatred and tension between the two groups, a PREMIUM TIMES reporter found as he travelled around Southern Kaduna for days.

Gaining rare access to the tensed landscape, our investigation included on-the-ground reporting in villages across the area, extensive review and analysis of reports of government panels and graphic pictures obtained from communities and security sources, and interviews with officials, victims, locals and leaders representing both sides.

The attacks are targeted, having to do with values and resources such as land, self-determination struggles, political power, religion, manipulation of information and mutual hatred, our analysis of scores of incidents from security records and complementary interviews show. But there also non-discriminatory attacks, which have to do with pure criminalities, including kidnapping and banditry.

The narratives baffle me

Until now, accounts of the violence have been dominantly a single perpetrator-victim narrative. However, PREMIUM TIMES found that both sides have suffered human and material losses over the years and are equally engaging in targeted attacks on one another, creating a cycle of reprisals.

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The killings are usually reprisals, commented the police commissioner in Kaduna State, Umar Muri, in an interview with PREMIUM TIMES. When one man is killed, his people assume it his neighbour. Instead of reporting, they take the laws into their hands.

On September 3, this year, Christian and Muslim leaders signed up for an inter-faith peace initiative inaugurated by Mr El-Rufai at the Government House in Kaduna. At that event, one of the series of recent peace-building efforts, an official presented details of the attacks since last year, evoking horror as photographs upon photographs of brutally murdered human beings were shown. Eyes reddened and emotions soared as images of the horrific killings hit those at the venue.

The narratives baffle me, said Timothy Yahaya, the Bishop of Kaduna Diocese of Anglican Church, commenting after the presentation, which provided cases to build evidence against one-sided aggression construction. We tend to take sides. It is like this war has been focused on one group. We must correct this narrative.

Adding an emphasis, another cleric, Matthew Ndagoso, Arch Bishop of Kaduna Catholic Diocese, said if everybody puts the blame on just the other side, nothing will change.

PREMIUM TIMES witnessed the September 3 programme as a participant-observer. A similar presentation was said to have been made to the national leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria. Two CAN leaders did not comment for this report when contacted.

Also speaking at the programme, the Chief Iman of Kafanchan Central Mosque, Mohammed Kassim, said, Christians and Muslims must be on the same page, citing Quranic verses to stress the imperative of common understanding and peaceful co-existence.

Kafanchan is one of the earliest trouble spots in Southern Kaduna, with purely religious mayhem that later spread to other parts of the state in 1987. According to the 2015 Martin Agwai report, that marked the genesis of violence as a method of expressing grievances triggered by religious differences.

While the troubles in Southern Kaduna are chiefly rooted in land disputes and the related indigene-settler issue, Islam and Christian religions as well as ethnic divisions provide the main lines of division and dominant instrumentalities of mobilisation.

Endless reprisals

In one case, a Fulani settlement at Iburu, Kajuru LGA, another hot flashpoint, where the 1980 Kasuwan Magani violence happened, was attacked on March 26, 2020, by some youths, whom the Fulani alleged were of ethnic Adara stock, leaving over two dozen persons dead and a number of others injured.

PREMIUM TIMES collected horrific pictures of decapitated bodies, including those of children and women. The community released 29 names of persons said to have been killed.

But findings, based on interviews with security and community sources, showed the March 26 attack was in return for a wave of violence the Fulani had allegedly perpetrated against Adara communities between March 23 and 25, killing nine persons at Gidin Dutse, Kujeni, and Bakira villages.

Then, more grisly crimes, between April 25 and June 3 followed. From records obtained from security and government sources, 11 attacks at Gonan Rogo, Makyali, Ungwan Rana, Idazau, Ungwan Araha, Ungwan Dantata, Agwala Dutse, Tudu Doka Avong and Ungwan Magayaki left at least 70 fatalities on their trails. This newspaper is in possession of the names and grisly pictures of those felled in the attacks.

Some of these pictures captured mass graves and disembowelled and savagely hacked men, women and children, mostly ethnic Adara. In one of the attacks, that of May 30, the Fulani suffered losses  their settlements were razed at Agwala Dutse but there was no fatality. That was a sequel to the March 23 attack on Fulani homes after they allegedly killed one person at Gidan Dutse.

The attacks have precipitated humanitarian emergency, forcibly uprooting people, possibly in thousands, from their villages. Surviving Christian Kataf victims of the recent attacks across Zangon Kataf LGA, are now in an ECWA school, converted to a displaced persons camp, in Zonkwa, which the coordinator, Mr Waziri, a cleric, said registered 3,455 IDPs, 90 per cent of them Kataf.

Only about 100 people remained in the camp when PREMIUM TIMES visited, but a divisional secretary of the Red Cross in Zangon Kataf, Joseph Ishaya, confirmed 3,455 IDPs were registered and also that another camp opened in Kamoru, also in Zangon Kataf, for Hausa-Fulani displaced persons from Lisuru and Boto villages.

The Kamoru camp only opened for three days in August and had more than 200 persons from 38 households, Mr Ishaya said, corroborated by a spokesperson for the Hausa-Fulani community.

Mrs Kefas, dehumanised and widowed following the August Unguwan Gankon attack, is one of the displaced persons but she had to be transferred to the clinic to help deal with the trauma she is experiencing.

This is genocide

Around the same time Unguwan Gankon was attacked, a wave of violence swept through other Kataf villages, including Kibori, Kurmin Masara and Unguwan Doka, now laid in ruins, after days of assaults by people the surviving victims called Fulani, some of whom they could identify by names.

Patience Peter, a teen girl, was thought dead after her Kurmin Masara village was attacked by gunmen, who shot her thrice. It was when soldiers were packing dead bodies that they discovered she was still breathing and took her to hospital, Patiences mother said.

She said 20 persons were killed, including her father-in-law who could not flee the attack as he was aged and suffering from chronic liver disease. Another person in the community, Jeremiah Gandu, whose expansive modern home was burnt, said 14 persons were killed.

At Kibori, which was attacked in the late hours of August 5 just before Kurmin Masara, PREMIUM TIMES saw relics of razed houses and the villagers said seven persons were killed by assailants they said were Fulani.

This is genocide, I dont have doubts, said Mr Waziri, the Zonkwa camp coordinator, blaming the Hausa-Fulani, whom in a separate interview, SOKAPUs spokesperson, Mr Binniyat, accused of a campaign that perfectly fits genocide and ethnic cleansing.

Who is ethnic cleansing who? queried Ahmad Yandeh, Southern Kaduna Muslims leader, in an interview for this report. All the sides have suffered losses. All have suffered carnage. All have killed. All groups go on reprisals.

While Mr Waziri and Mr Binniyat, respectively, said I dont know if any Fulani was killed and our people have the right to self-defence when asked if the attacks on the Kataf villages were unprovoked, most locals, who survived the attacks, categorically denied any earlier anti-Hausa/Fulani offensive.

These claims, however, are contradicted in essential parts by PREMIUM TIMES findings.

Tensions that started simmering on June 5, 2020, over a land matter that has been contentious since 1992 between the Hausa and Kataf, blew into full troubles on June 11 with the recovery of the mutilated body of a young man, Yusuf Magaji, who had been missing since the previous day.

The June 5 clash had caused three persons  Jerry James, Maniru Danladi, and Gadaffi Mohammed  injuries and led to the razing of a Fulani settlement belonging to one Alhaji Shagari at Tunkunre village, multiple sources, including witnesses and security agents said.

Mr Magaji, whose apparent murder triggered the latest wave of violence in Zangon Kataf, was ethnic Chawai in the neighbouring Kauru LGA, but resident in Zangon Kataf. He had gone to his farm, the subject of contention, on June 10, but gone missing. With the recovery of his body on the bank of a river at Bakin Kogi in his native Kauru LGA, Kataf and Chawai youth from Zangon Kataf and Kauru LGAs blocked the road on two ends and embarked on a deadly violent campaign, multiple witnesses, including a Chawai district head, said.

A combined team of Operation Yaki and Operation Safe Haven operatives deployed to end the road blockade, mounted by weapon-wielding youth as pictures and interviews showed, caused 14 persons bullet wounds, according to one account, and caused the death of one Chawai man, identified as Bamaiyi Peter.

Some Kataf and Chawai youth crossed into our own kingdom to destroy Fulani rugas, the Chawai district head, Joshua Ahmadu, said. No killing. But in Zangon Kataf, the Hausa-Fulani also suffered human losses in addition to having vehicles and Fulani settlements destroyed.

In a group interview with Hausa leaders in Zangon, they said they lost three persons, namely Adamu Barinje, Shehu Ahmadu, and Hassan Yahaya. They provided two graphic photographs describing the apparent murder of Mr Barinje on his farm and burnt remains said to be of Mr Ahmadu in a vehicle set ablaze during the roadblock at Unguwan Wakili.

They surrounded Zangon and attempted to banish us but luckily the security intervened, Siraju Yakubu, the Wakilin Hausawa, said They started burning Fulani huts, forcing them to flee. Over one thousand Fulani refugees came to Zango for refuge. They killed so many Fulani.

The Hausa leaders during the interview said they feared a repeat of the May 1992 violence following which they exhibited a list of 1,528 killed persons before the Rahila Cudjoe Commission.

But SOKAPUs Mr Binniyat rejected the two Cudjoe reports and said: they started the attack. They have guts. They are the minority. Yes, they are still bitter about 1992 because they are shocked that those they had regarded as slaves could resist them and cause them losses. We reject any demand to go back to the 1992 issue, he said.

But for the Hausa leaders interviewed for this report, every conversation about resolving the Southern Kaduna crisis must start with addressing their 1992 losses.

Back to 2020. A review of names and photographs disclosed by the Hausa-Fulani community and security and government sources suggested that at least 12 Fulani may have died in the violence of June 11 and 12. Not less than 36 Fulani homes were also razed at Gidan Zaki, Zarkwai, Takanai, Kigudu, Makwakwu, Bakin Kogi, Shilliam, Gidan Gata, Gidan Avong, and Gora villages.

They (Kataf) claimed that we killed the boy (Yusuf Magaji) without any investigation, said Mr Yakubu. They mounted roadblock and because of one person they killed many people and destroyed houses.

Unrestrained vindictive violence

The Chawai chief in Kauru LGA, Mr Ahmadu, said having realised the participation of his youth in the violence targeting the Fulani, we reached out to the Fulani for reconciliation and even paid them for compensation. So, they did not attack us.

The pastoral Fulani are often reputed for their capacity to effectively mobilise for attacks and counter-attacks, especially reprisals when wronged, one senior security official at Zangang in Kaura LGA explained, agreeing to speak only without his name published.

That was what manifested when assailants, whom locals, government and security authorities reported to be Fulani, started attacking Kataf people in their villages, starting on July 10 from Chibob where seven persons were killed and July 11 in Sabon Kaura, where another 13 were murdered. Photographs taken after the attack and shared with PREMIUM TIMES show at least two children killed, and one of them was buried in one grave with an elderly woman.

And by August when other villages such as Kibori and Kurmin Masara, among others, were attacked, suspected Fulani armed men may have killed many in counter-attacks, an analysis of records disclosed by surviving victims, security and government sources showed, far more than what they had suffered in June from suspected Kataf youth.

But amid the reprisals they were accused of, the Fulani were also recording losses in suspected Kataf counter attacks. For instance, after the attacks on Chibob and Sabon Kaura on July 10 and 11, Fulani settlements at Kiffin in Kauru LGA and Mashau in Zango Kataf were attacked resulting in the deaths of an eight-year-old boy Usama Abubakar and a man Umaru Dada, on July 11 and 13 respectively.

A score of houses and a motorcycle were also said to have been burnt at Kiffin. PREMIUM TIMES obtained photographs depicting remains of the two victims, brutalised and blood-drenched.

Also, after Gora Gan was attacked on July 20 with 11 Kataf killed and photographs showing about six bodies in a shallow grave, soldiers on July 21 recovered at Fari village in Kauru LGA three bodies of Fulani pastoralists, one of them said to be seven-year-old Mujahid Musa, who had his head and genitals severed. The severed parts were placed beside his remains, according to a photograph shared PREMIUM TIMES.

At the same time, similar violence was playing out in other places across Southern Kaduna. It was the arrival of a combined team of military, police and civil defence operatives in the vastly grassy ethnic Takad village of Zangang in Kaura LGA that inspired a return to that slumbering village, near Plateau State in August.

Attacks by people, whom the villagers and security operatives described as Fulani pastoralists, had forced villagers to flee and sought refuge in neighbouring Manchok. The villages only school, only clinic and nearly all houses were razed and 11 persons, all men, were said to have been killed.

We have never fought back and we always seek peace with them, one villager, a man, who did not agree to be identified by name, said. But as it happened in other places, the attacks were provoked, two security authorities separately said, narrating two incidents that may have triggered the Fulani reprisals.

One, a truck of woods with two Fulani and a Marwa in it passing through Zangang was attacked in March and the three persons were killed. Two, a pastoralist was killed and his cows rustled by suspected Takad villagers. Two photographs obtained by PREMIUM TIMES capture the killings of two pastoralists in the second attack said to have happened March 29.

We are on the ground, both sides are involved, one security source, a military officer deployed to Zangang, said. None will tell you the truth. But both sides must accept each other and come together.

Need for land has increased

The 19th century Othman Dan Fodio Jihad may have helped clear the way for the expansion of the Fulani pastoralists into the Middle Belt, including Southern Kaduna, for seasonal exploitation of the vast grasses but some also made the area permanent homes, a review of widely cited British Anthropologist Roger Blenchs work on pastoralism in Nigeria suggests. Interviews and Blenchs work show the earliest relationship between the Fulani pastoralists and the indigenous farming communities was harmonious, marked, for instance, by the exchange of dung and cereals.

But that changed with population growth and increased need for land for expanding crop farming, causing competition  now commonly violent  for resources. This competition is worsened by ethnoreligious differences and enduring history of distrust, being an effect of the 19th-century Jihad, which makes other ethnic groups, including those in Southern Kaduna, remain fearful and suspicious of an alleged Fulani domination and expansionist ambition.

But regardless of the framing, neither the pastoralists nor the farmers are concerned by any religion; it is always about survival and resources.

The need for land has increased unlike before when the land was freely available for grazing and they (Fulani) should leave us with our land, said Nicholas Billie, a Fantswam community leader, echoing an apparent common resolve to resist the Fulani pastoralists. Mr Billis community, Zikpak was on July 24 attacked by people suspected to be Fulani. 10 persons died in that attack.

Eighty-year old Waje Daruna, the Dakaci Galadinma of Dangoma, a community of Fulani, whom the Zikpak community accused of the July 24 attack, rejected the claim his group is not indigenous to Southern Kaduna, saying, we have been here for over 500 years.

He said his community had recently lost seven persons including our secretary, blaming the Fantswan. Asked if that caused the Fulani to attack Zikpak on July 24, he said, well, maybe we are annoyed. Two people were killed in the same area in 1992, and seven recently. Enough is enough.

He also mentioned the 2011 post-presidential election violence in Southern Kaduna, which the Human Rights Watch said led to the death of more than 500 persons, majority of which were Hausa/Fulani Muslims.

In Zangon Kataf LGA, the Kataf said in 1920 when Southern Kaduna was still a district under the Zazzau Emirate, the then head, Jaafar Isiyaku, confiscated their farmlands and gave them to his Hausa kins. When the Hausa exited the town following the two 1992 violent incidents, the Kataf took over the controversial farmlands, the July 2001 Ahmad Makarfi-era panel reported.

But on August 11 1995, according to the July 2001 panel report, the states then military administrator, Jaafaru Isa, brokered a peace deal in the town. The deal, according to the report, resolved that the farmlands be returned to the Hausa community, while the cropped areas be enumerated and valued with a view to compensating the original owners (Hausa/Fulani) (and) the Atyap (Kataf) owners would be allowed to nurture their crops to maturity and vacate the farms thereafter.

But successive administrations have not settled the said compensation, just as the agreed payments for parcels of land acquired for the buffer zone separating the Hausa/Fulani community living in Zangon Urban and their neighbouring Kataf villages, namely Magamiya, Kibori, Unguwan, Unguwan Wakili.

Struggles by both sides to possess the controversial farmlands continue till the present day, causing the June dispute that precipitated the latest rounds of violence in Zangon Kataf. Similarly, the Martin Agwai report documents the bitterness of the landowners who have received no compensation after their land was converted into grazing reserves and pasture reserves as provided in the Grazing Reserve Law and the Grazing Reserve Regulations, 1987.

The incumbent El-Rufai administration has set up a White Paper committee on the Rahila Cudjoe reports of 1992 and Usman Muazu report of March 1995. The Rahila Cudjoe committee was inaugurated following the February and May 1992 Zangon Kataf violence.

Soft peace efforts

The historic government failure to resolve land matters, ensure the defined property rights and stop the pastoralists from treating land as a common resource and deep-seated animosities rooted in the era Southern Kaduna was under the Zazzau Emirate and the past large-scale killings, whose perpetrators are yet to be punished, have combined to create an atmosphere of intolerance, tension and mutual hatred.

There is now heavy-armed response to the troubles, with the presence of Operation Safe Haven, Operation Yaki and the pouring in of Special Forces, the latest effort to contain violence in the area.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt the state government is bankrolling the sustenance of these deployments, a commitment, which Mr ElRufai, during the launch of the September 3 inter-faith peace initiative, said was affecting his governments fiscal capacity for human and infrastructural development.

But armed response is not enough. Soft approaches that would see interests of the communities converge towards peaceful co-existence, to forget the past wrongs and resolve to live together is also important, as is the governments readiness to create a system that guarantees justice, inclusion and defined property rights.

No matter the efforts of the security agencies and the government, the communities have to be one and embrace peace and report matters to the police and live within the law, the police commissioner, Mr Muri said. If the reprisals continue, there wont be peace.

Apart from the September 3 launch of the inter-faith peace initiative, facilitated by the Kaduna Peace Commission, there have been two peace pacts committed to by warring communities in Zangon Kataf and Jemaa LGAs.

How far these efforts go in enthroning peace in Kaduna remains to be seen, peace advocates say.
by Melani Manel Perera

Founded in 1820 in France, the association arrived in the country in 1862. For Archbishop Fernando, it enriched the local Church. The Sisters focus on education, the care of poor children, empowering women and the fight against cancer. Its members emulate the simplicity of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

Colombo (Asia News)  The Holy Family celebrated the closing of the jubilee for its 200th anniversary with a ceremony last Saturday in the presence of 1,200 members, including Bishop Emmanuel Fernando of Mannar, as well as several priests from the provinces of Colombo and Jaffna.

The Association of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Bordeaux was founded in France on 20 May 1820. Since then, it has opened chapters in 13 other countries. At present, it has 1,474 members, including 480 apostolic and nine contemplative Sisters in Sri Lanka.

The first nuns arrived in the country in 1862 and began their mission in the Diocese of Jaffna. Sister Jesmin Fernando, provincial of the capital area, explains that the local association is divided into two provinces  Colombo and Jaffna  and has 86 communities working in all of the island nations 12 dioceses.

We have created a new community in Malawi, one of the poorest countries in the world, Sister Jesmin explained. The climate is scorching hot and there is no water. Even basic necessities are difficult to find, but we persevere.

All these efforts are geared towards keeping alive the founders dream, Fr Pierre-Bienvenu Noailles, who saw the Holy Family as "a large tree, with green branches, flowers and fruits in all seasons, birds of all colours and species with their own song, forming a single voice, in perfect harmony.

The jubilee celebration was preceded by three years of preparations: 2017 was dedicated to giving thanks to God for all the blessings received, 2018 to deepening ones spirituality, and last year to sharing the fruits of the missionary community.

In his homily, during the thanksgiving Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu, Bishop Fernando said that he greatly appreciated all the services offered by the Holy Family to the Church and the people of Sri Lanka.

"For a long time, in many domains, such as education, care for poor and abandoned children and empowering women, you Sisters and other members of your community have enriched the Church in a very admirable way, the bishop said.

The five "souls" of the Holy Family  apostolic Sisters, contemplative Sisters, consecrated secular women, lay associates, and priest associates  are also involved with other issues, such as the fight against cancer, carrying out awareness campaigns on prevention, and coming together to support the poor and the marginalised.

The members of the association say they are very happy with their experience because they are called to emulate the simplicity of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Their mission is to seek God in everything.

The Sisters are always close to everyone, in sadness and happiness, said Chamudi Fernando, Holy Family national youth coordinator, speaking to AsiaNews. They appreciate people's values, and respect others differences. Since my school days I have enjoyed their support.
The last three months has seen a global movement built up a momentum against the indiscriminate extra legal killings of black Americans by the police.

These series of worldwide advocacy campaigns were engineered by a notable campaign platform aptly called Black Lives Matter.

The protests that began in the United States for about three months have become a global thematic area of public communication and conversations to such a constructive dimension that it will somehow define the outcome of the November 2020 presidential election in the United States of America between President Donald John Trump and his rival Joe Biden.

The irony is that both the Republicans and the Democrats have showcased their strategies for compelling the police in the different states of the United States of America to behave in a much more professional manner and to carry out their law enforcement jobs without some racial profiling of blacks.

This worldwide campaign called Black Lives Matter reached a peak with extra judicial execution of a Blackman known as George Floyd.

We visited the website of the British Broadcasting Corporation for a timeline of black deaths called by police.

The BBC rightly began by stating the obvious that the waves of protests in the US over the killing in police custody of George Floyd are the latest outpourings of anger that have erupted after the deaths of black Americans.

Here's a timeline of some of the major incidents from 2014 onwards.

17 July 2014: Eric Garner: Eric Garner died after he was wrestled to the ground by a New York police officer on suspicion of illegally selling cigarettes.

While in a choke hold, Mr Garner uttered the words "I can't breathe" 11 times.

The incident - filmed by a bystander - led to protests across the country. The police officer involved was later fired, but was never prosecuted.

It came a year after the Black Lives Matter movement emerged in response to the acquittal of the man who killed teenager Trayvon Martin in Florida.

9 August 2014: Michael Brown: Michael Brown, 18, was killed by a police officer, in Ferguson, Missouri, who was responding to reports that Brown - who was not armed - had stolen a box of cigars.

The exact circumstances of the encounter are disputed, but Brown was shot six times, according to autopsy reports.

The officer involved later resigned from the force, but was not prosecuted.

The incident led to multiple waves of protests and civil unrest in Ferguson, boosting the Black Lives Matter movement further.

22 November 2014: Tamir Rice: Tamir Rice, a boy of 12, was shot dead in Cleveland, Ohio by a police officer after reports of a male who was "probably a juvenile" pointing a gun that was "probably fake" at passersby.

Police claimed that they told Rice to drop the weapon - but instead of dropping it he pointed it at police.

The police confirmed that the gun was a toy after Rice had been shot dead.

There were no prosecutions after this case. The police officer involved was sacked three years later for lying on his job application form.

4 April 2015: Walter Scott: Walter Scott was shot in the back five times by a white police officer, who was later fired and eventually sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Mr Scott had been pulled over for having a defective light on his car in North Charleston, South Carolina, and ran away from the police officer after a brief scuffle.

The killing sparked protests in North Charleston, with chants of "No justice, no peace".

5 July 2016: Alton Sterling: Alton Sterling's death led to days of protests in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Mr Sterling was killed after police responded to reports of a disturbance outside a shop.

The incident was caught on mobile phone footage and spread online.

The two officers involved did not face criminal charges, but one was dismissed and the other suspended from the police.

6 July 2016: Philando Castile: Philando Castile was killed while out driving with his girlfriend in St Paul, Minnesota.

He was pulled over by the police during a routine check, and told them he was licensed to carry a weapon, and had one in his possession.

I lost my best friend in a police shooting

He was shot as he was reaching for his licence, according to his girlfriend.

She live-streamed the encounter on FaceBook. The officer involved was cleared of murder charges.

Then came 18 March 2018: Stephon Clark: Stephon Clark died after being shot at least seven times in Sacramento, California, by police who were investigating a break-in.

The district attorney said that the police had not committed a crime, as the officers said they feared for their lives believing Mr Clark was armed.

Only a mobile phone was found at the scene.

The release of a police video of the incident sparked major protests in the city.

13 March 2020: Breonna Taylor: Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old emergency medical technician was shot eight times when officers raided her apartment in Louisville, Kentucky.

The police were executing a search warrant as part of a drugs raid, but no drugs were found.

How Breonna Taylor became a rallying cry at protests

Louisville police said they returned fire after one officer was shot and wounded in the incident.

The family has filed a lawsuit which says that Ms Taylor's partner fired in self-defence because the police did not identify themselves, and he believed they were being burgled.

One policemen involved has been fired and two others put on administrative leave.

25 May 2020: George Floyd: George Floyd died after being arrested in Minneapolis, and held down by police officers, one of whom had his knee on Mr Floyd's neck.

He pleaded that he couldn't breathe.

Protests broke out in cities across the US, and there were demonstrations in other parts of the world.

One officer has been charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter, and three others will face charges of aiding and abetting murder. The historical context established aforementioned, has demonstrated that the PERVASSIVE affliction of White police killing black youths has indeed reached a climax with the murder of George Floyd.

THESE opening narratives about killings by police of mainly Black youths, will then logically usher us into the all important interrogatory on the relevance of law enforcement agency so we can then narrow it down to the necessity for compelling the police to be lawful just as this will then logically take us to our central theme which is on the Nigerian police force and the trajectories of extralegal killings.

F. Schiliro, and K-K. CHOO did a piece the Role of mobile devices in enhancing the policing system to improve efficiency and effectiveness."

In that piece they stated as follows: "Law enforcement agencies respond to, detect and prevent crime. Within this perspective, it is recognised that police officers played a significant role in adapting and responding to unexpected or unknown situations, as well as recognised situations, such as theft or domestic dispute.

It is not in doubt that the policing institution is strategic to the overall objectives of maintaining law and order. Maintenance of law and order defines a Sovereign State.

It follows therefore that ''he who comes to equity must do so with clean hands.

In this sense it is important that those who make up the components of the policing institutions of any nation must be persons who must institutionally abide by the rule of law and comply with extant professional ethnics binding them as officers of the law. Officers of the law are actually subject to the law because only the law rules and not brute force employed by the officer. In a democracy MIGHT IS NOT ALWAYS RIGHT BUT ONLY THE RULE OF LAW GOVERNS.

It is from this perspective that the campaign against police excessive deployment of crude force and brutality in the United States America as it concerns the extreme use of lethal force against blacks attracted global acclaim.

It is therefore shocking that whereas some persons in Nigeria of Nigerian origin who out of passionate dislike for these practices of police extra legal killings of blacks in the Diaspora, staged a protest to the Abuja embassy of the United States of America, these crowds of people have failed to enact the same passionate public protests against the persistent killings of Nigerian citizens by the police of Nigeria.

The Nigeria police force has gained notoriety as a killer squad and day in, day out, the bad eggs amongst the police force of Nigeria keep painting Nigeria bad in the eyes of the world going by the extremely high statistics of killings of innocent Nigerians and even persons said to be in conflict with the law. The police in Nigeria have killed many innocent people over demands for bribes by these rogue police operatives that are as low as N100 which is not up to $1USD. In Abuja, a bunch of policemen killed 7 persons who were traders in Apo Abuja but the Abuja High Court made caricature of the rule of law by failing to sanction these killers in Police uniform and it is this sort of impunity that has permeated the policing system to an extent that innocent detainees are routinely killed and the killers rather than get arrested and punished are actually promoted and transferred.

The constitution in section 33(1) makes it unlawful for the police to shoot and kill unarmed persons even if they are crime suspects.

The constitution of Nigeria is not adversarial but is such that states that everyone is innocent in the eye of the law until such a person has been convicted by a competent court of law in line with section 6 of the supreme law of the land.

The above and a plethora of other key legal provisions absolutely delegitimizes the application of torture and extra legal executions of suspects by police but sadly, these unlawful tactics have continued and these laws that seek to preserve the sanctity of human life have continued to be flouted and disrespected with impunity by the police in Nigeria.

Unfortunately Nigeria has no professional and an effective institutional mechanism for fishing out these killer policemen.

The Police Service Commission (PSC) is not efficient and professionally committed to this key task but is only available for promotions of police operatives.

The country's National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has also not made use of her new found operational independence to prosecute these killer police operatives but is more interested in dishing out press statements.

The following is a pathetic narrative about how the special Anti-Robbery squad of the police killed a young girl in Abuja after they illegally arrested her in lieu of her boyfriend who is the actual suspect the police went to arrest but did not see him in his house.

In a petition titled: "RE: Alleged sexual assault, Assault and murder of Ifeoma Stella Agugu by Officers of special Anti Robbery squad who are still at large" some lawyers narrated this pathetic story of murder in the police station.

The lawyers wroye as follows: "The Above subject matter refers, we are solicitors to the Abuja family of Miss Stella Ifeoma (hereinafter referred to as Our client  ), and in whose instructions we write.

Sir, it is our clients instruction that Ifeoma was arrested and whisked away in lieu of her Fiance (Mr. Afam Ugwunwa) at wumba Village, Lokogoma, Abuja on 10th September, 2020 at about 5.00pm by men of special Anti Robbery squad (SARS) operatives whose identity we dont know yet at the time of instruction, Sir, Ifeoma died in custody the day following. The picture of the deceased shortly before her arrest and death is attached herewith as annexure A.

Sir, according to our clients instructions, the SARS operatives invaded the deceased fiances apartment at wumba Village, lokogoma, Abuja at about 5.00pm in search of Mr. Afam ugwunwa Who was not present, They therefore arrested the deceased in lieu . According to residents and eye witnesses, Ifeoma was whisked away by the operatives same evening in a healthy state.

On 15th September, 2020 information reached the family that Ifeoma Stella Abugu is dead and her body lying with gwagwalada specialist hospital. Meanwhile our clients have gone to SARS office guzape , Abuja and made sensitive findings including that the officers who carried out the arrest were on illegal duty ; the matter has been transferred to Apo police division headed by DPO Usman for preliminary investigations ; and investigative police officer ( IPO ) Inspector Bulus is also investigating the matter currently". This sort of murder take place every given day in Nigeria and due to impunity, the practice has continued and may not stop unless Nigerians in their millions should organise and carry out massive demonstrations for at least two weeks to drum up the fact that NIGERIAN LIVES MATTER AND TO DEMAND AN END TO POLICE KILLINGS.. Nigeria needs to set up an agency made up of independent experts to conduct and review police and other security forces use of lethal weapon at all times and to have power to prosecute and jail police killer officers.

It is noteworthy to observe that the killing tendencies of the police operatives in Nigeria has even attracted the attention of the United Nations to an extent that the UN called for urgent action to end violence in Nigeria.

UN special reporter says deadly attacks rocking Nigeria could have a ripple effect throughout the region.

The United Nations special reporter on extrajudicial killings condemned rising violence across Nigeria and a "lack of accountability" for perpetrators. How her, her report basically focused on terrorism but the terrorism of the police against the citizens got some mention.

Agnes Callamard, speaking at a news conference recently in Nigeria's capital, said the country needed urgent action to end the "pressure cooker" of violence that has claimed thousands of lives.

Nigeria is currently facing multiple conflicts, from attacks by the armed group Boko Haram to fighting between nomadic herders and farmers.

"The overall situation that I encountered in Nigeria gives rise to extreme concern .... The warning signs are flashing bright red: increased numbers of attacks and killings over the last five years with a few notable exceptions," Callamard said at a news conference.

"If ignored its ripple effect will spread throughout the sub-region given the country's important role in the continent."

She condemned police and military "brutality" across the country, and a "generalised system of impunity".

"The time is now to prioritise the rule of law and to make it part and parcel of the Nigerian system," especially for those living in extreme poverty, she said.

Cheta Nwanze, an analyst at SBM Intelligence, told Al-Jazeera: "In almost two decades of Boko Haram's existence, I can't recall any of the financial backers who has ever been brought to trial ... We've not had a single high-level conviction of a Boko Haram member."

The United Nations estimates more than 27,000 people have been killed and an estimated two million others displaced in Nigeria's northeast alone because of Boko Haram.

Callamard spent months in Nigeria and investigated the scope of violence in the country. She has also assessed measures adopted by the government to tackle the killings.

"Nigeria is a pressure cooker of internal conflict. The absence of accountability is on such a scale that pretending this is not a crisis will be a major mistake," said Callamard.

"The increased number of people living in absolute poverty, climate change and desertification, and the increased proliferation of weapons, altogether, these is reinforcing a localised system of violence," she added.

The UN special reporter also examined safeguards over the use of the death penalty and laws applied by Islamic courts.

"I have also considered security repression against Shia Muslims, the indigenous people of Biafra, and against Ogoni people," Callamard said.

She noted there had been key decisions made by courts but added, "These are not being implemented. I am hoping that the government will hear my call and demand that court orders are implemented".

The Nigerian State must as a matter of urgency address on a huge scale the unprecedented waves of police brutality and assassination of suspects in custody.

*EMMANUEL ONWUBIKO is head of the HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) and [email protected] www..huriwanigeria.com , www.emmanuelonwubiko.com ; [email protected] .
Several seats on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors are up for grabs this November amid one of the most tumultuous times in city history.

Twenty-two candidates, four of whom are incumbents, are vying for the six open seats, though one is uncontested. Mayor London Breed is currently outnumbered by supervisors who dont align with her politically, and the election could have a profound impact on whether she will have more allies or adversaries on the board.

Many of the candidates have similar platforms of cleaning up the citys dirty streets, addressing the record unemployment caused by the pandemic and making it easier for businesses to operate in the city. But they diverge over how San Francisco should address its crippling housing crisis  the common thread in many of the citys woes.

Political lines have long been drawn in San Francisco over housing: Those who would oppose projects that are not 100% affordable vs. those who insist market-rate housing is crucial to bring down the overall price of housing and fund affordable units.

Those who would bristle at the idea of a taller, denser city vs. those who want to bring multi-family buildings into mostly single-family neighborhoods.

Those who say neighborhoods should determine how much and what kind of housing they get vs. those who say the system gives too much power to a few neighbors to block housing thats needed for the greater good.

The Board of Supervisors is currently dominated by those who prefer buildings made up of 100% affordable housing and want to maintain neighborhood control over housing, even if that slows down the process. Though, there have been some exceptions. What is even considered affordable ranges widely to serve a variety of low- and middle-income residents, between those with no income to those who make 120% of the areas median income.

Its an age-old debate in the city, but one that has taken on new meaning and urgency this year as the pandemic widens the gaping disparity between the rich and the poor. According to the planning department, of the 19,718 net new units of housing that have been built over the past five years, 23% have been affordable.

The Chronicle asked all the candidates in the five contested elections  Supervisor Hillary Ronen of District 9 has no opponents  where they stand on three housing-related questions, regarding affordability requirements, density and bureaucracy. Heres a summary of their answers by district.

District One

For years, politicians and activists around San Francisco have called for more housing in the Richmond District, a working-class neighborhood largely made up of renters and single-family homes. The last few supervisors of this district, which includes north of the Panhandle as well as the Richmond, have maintained that all new housing must be affordable.

But the area has seen few new units of housing over the past five years  184 units, 31 of which are affordable, according to the planning department.

Connie Chan, a longtime public servant endorsed by outgoing Supervisor Sandra Lee Fewer, agrees with her predecessors in that affordable housing must be prioritized. She supports building higher and denser in major transit corridors  like Geary Boulevard  but only if the additional units are affordable for low- and middle-income residents.

She called affordable housing San Franciscos greatest need and said that building more market-rate housing does not necessarily make housing more affordable in general.

In contrast, Marjan Philhour, a former top aide to Mayor London Breed, said the only way out of San Franciscos current housing crisis is to build more homes for all income levels. She would support higher and denser projects along transit corridors. She is also the only candidate in the race to support Breeds plan to streamline approvals for housing projects that are either 100% affordable or exceed 25% affordability requirements.

For the last 20 years every District One Supervisor has told us that we should only build 100% affordable housing, and weve seen the disastrous results, she said. We have to move past this shortsighted approach because the results speak for themselves.

Similarly, David Lee, a professor at San Francisco State University, and another candidate, Andrew Majalya, said they would allow market-rate units in new projects.

Sherman DSilva, a manager at Shermsonia Cleaners, said he would support market-rate housing, as long as each new building was 30% affordable, higher than current requirements. Small business owner Veronica Shinzato said she would focus her energy on legalizing more accessory dwelling units, which are garages and in-law units that can be made into homes. Amanda Inocencio, another candidate, could not be reached for comment.

District Three

District Three is a diverse collection of neighborhoods that includes North Beach, Telegraph Hill, Chinatown, the Financial District and Nob Hill. It is the densest district in the city, which has seen the addition of 598 housing units over the past five years, 218 of which have been affordable, according to the planning department.

Current Supervisor Aaron Peskin has presided over the district for three full terms, the first two of which were from 2001 to 2009. While he is often considered a firebrand progressive, he has fallen on both sides of the housing debate.

He supported the Eastern Neighborhoods Plan in 2009, which rezoned 20% of the city  but not in his district  for higher growth. In 2016, he spearheaded a ballot measure in 2016 with former Supervisor Jane Kim to raise the affordability requirements in new projects to 25%. More recently, he also supported a project outside his district at Balboa Reservoir that was 50% affordable housing.

On the other end, he was instrumental in killing a plan to raise height limits on the waterfront in 2013, opposed a state bill that would have allowed for denser housing along transit corridors and also opposed the mayors 2019 proposal to streamline housing projects that meet zoning requirements.

Danny Sauter, president of North Beach Neighbors and a newcomer in San Francisco politics, offers a different approach: More housing of all kinds. He said he would prioritize market-rate housing that funds affordable housing, and units for middle-income families and workers.

There is no reasonable path to solving our housing crisis unless we allow market-rate housing to be built, said Sauter, who is endorsed by the pro-housing group Yes in My Backyard.

A third candidate, Spencer Simonsen, who works for tech company GoGo Technologies, said he would not support market-rate homes if they were solely housing and investment property for millionaires or billionaires. He also said he would support updating the citys current zoning laws to allow for more density and taller buildings, and the mayors proposal to streamline approval for market rate housing.

A fourth candidate, Stephen Lulu Schwartz, said, We need a serious long-range plan that supports all housing needs.

District Five

This race is basically a repeat of last year  except, this time, Supervisor Dean Preston is the incumbent and former Supervisor Vallie Brown is the challenger.

When it comes to housing, the two offer a sharp contrast. Preston, who beat Brown last year by a slim margin, prefers that only 100% affordable housing is built in his district. He would support building higher, denser and market-rate housing only if the city demands more community benefits in exchange.

As for 100% affordable projects, upzone away! he said.

He authored Novembers Proposition I, a transfer tax that could generate an average of $196 million annually, which he said could fund affordable housing production. If passed, the money will go into the general fund, which means its not guaranteed to go toward affordable housing production  though the Board of Supervisors passed a non-binding resolution that said the money generated from the tax would be used only for affordable housing to help people who couldnt pay rent due to COVID-19.

Daniel Landry, former president of the Fillmore nonprofit the New Community Leadership Foundation, said he does not support building any market-rate housing.

Brown, on the other hand, said the city absolutely needs more housing at all levels. To build more affordable housing, she suggested the city increase inclusionary rates in private developments, and expand a city program that buys rental buildings where the tenants are at risk of displacement to keep people in their homes.

She also supported the mayors initiative to streamline housing production when she was on the board in 2019, and said she still supports it today. Preston does not.

A fourth candidate, Nomvula OMeara, did not respond to a request for comment.

District Seven

This battle to replace termed out Board of Supervisors President Norman Yee is perhaps the most contentious race this year. District Seven, which includes neighborhoods like Parkmerced, Parkside, Forest Hill and West Portal, is mostly made up of homeowners and families. It has seen the addition of 341 housing units over the past five years, 90 of which have been affordable.

Vilaska Nguyen, a San Francisco public defender, said killing all market-rate housing is not the solution to the citys crisis. But, he said, one of the only ways for San Francisco to stabilize the rental market is to build city-owned housing  an expensive plan that would likely cost the city billions of dollars and require substantial rezoning. He said he would not support rezoning the entire city, as San Francisco wouldn't be San Francisco without the distinctive architectural character of our neighborhoods.

If elected, he said he would work on a 50-year municipal housing plan.

On the other end of the housing debate are Myrna Melgar, former president of the Planning Commission; Joel Engardio, vice president of Stop Crime SF; and Ben Matranga, a small business owner, who said they would support mixed-income housing. They all also said they would support allowing taller and denser housing along transit corridors.

Putting five stories of housing along West Portal Avenue, Ocean Avenue and Taraval in District Seven would solve all those problems without harming single-family neighborhoods or west side character, Engardio said.

Emily Murase, a former school board member, and Stephen Martin-Pinto both said they would also support a mix of market-rate and affordable housing. Ken Piper, on the other hand, said he is not in favor of any housing in D7 that is solely affordable.

District 11

This district, which includes the Outer Mission and the Excelsior, has seen the addition of 140 housing units over the past five years, 33 of which are affordable.

When it comes to building more, the two main competitors  current Supervisor Ahsha Safai and former Supervisor John Avalos  have different views.

Safai believes in a balance of affordable and market-rate housing. He helped create Home-SF, a program that grants more density in exchange for more affordable or below-market-rate units. The supervisor also helped update the citys inclusionary housing policy, which asks private developers to set aside a certain percentage of their units as below-market-rate or affordable.

Meanwhile, Avalos said he would push for 100% affordable housing in the district. He also said he would accept more density only if it were affordable.

Avalos, who was supervisor for two terms from 2009 to 2017, said the city could scale up its affordable housing investments through a public bank, which currently does not exist.

A third candidate in this race, Marcelo Colussi, could not be reached for comment.

Trisha Thadani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tthadani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @TrishaThadani
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By PTI

NEW DELHI: Minister of State for Railways Suresh Angadi died of COVID-19 on Wednesday, becoming the first union minister to succumb to the deadly virus.

The 65-year-old BJP MP passed away around 8 pm at the AIIMS trauma centre which has been converted into a dedicated COVID-19 facility, sources at the hospital said.

He is survived by his wife and two daughters.

A fourth-term parliamentarian from Belagavi in Karnataka, Angadi had on September 11 announced on Twitter that he had contracted the disease and had requested all those who came in close contact with him in the previous days to monitor their health and get tested in case of any symptoms.

He is the first Union minister to have died of coronavirus.

Shocked to know the passing away of Shri Suresh Angadi, Union Minister of State of Railways. An amiable leader Shri Angadi worked tirelessly for the people of his constituency, Belagavi and Karnataka.  President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) September 23, 2020

At least six MLAs and three MPs have earlier succumbed to it.

Former president Pranab Mukherjee, who died on August 31, was also diagnosed as COVID-19 positive.

India's COVID-19 count on Wednesday stood at 45,62,415, including 9,43,480 active cases, 35,42,664 recoveries and 76,271 deaths.

President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several Union ministers and BJP leaders condoled the death of Angadi.

The national flag will be flown at half mast on Thursday in all government offices in Delhi, the home ministry said.

Saddened by the unfortunate demise of Minister of State for Railways Shri. Suresh Angadi. He was always concerned about the development of our State.



My condolences to his family members and well-wishers. pic.twitter.com/TyHqredBIJ  Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) September 23, 2020

Born on June 1, 1955 in a Lingayat family to Somawwa and Channabasappa Angadi in Koppa village in Belagavi, Angadi graduated from SSS Samiti College of Commerce in the same district.

He did his law graduation from Raja Lakhamgouda Law College in Belagavi.

A businessman by profession, Angadi got a major break in his political career when he was appointed as BJP vice president in Belagavi in 1996, and worked his way up in the party.

He was elected MP in the Lok Sabha election in 2004, and again in 2009.

He was elected for a third term in 2014, when the BJP came to power at the Centre, and for a fourth term in the general election last year, after which he was made Union Minister of State for Railways.

As the junior Railway Minister, Angadi was soft spoken but stern while responding to media queries on various aspects of the national transporters performance.

He was always armed with facts and figures of projects that were underway while addressing the media.

Deeply pained to learn about the passing away of MoS Railways and senior BJP leader from Karnataka, Shri Suresh Angadi ji. He will always be remembered for his selfless service to the nation and party. My deepest condolences are with his family. Om Shanti Shanti Shanti  Amit Shah (@AmitShah) September 23, 2020

Angadi was instrumental in pushing through the long pending Bengaluru suburban rail service.

The Rs 15,990 crore project aims to connect 148.

17km of the city through four corridors and has a 2025 deadline.

"Shocked to know the passing away of Shri Suresh Angadi, Union Minister of State of Railways.

An amiable leader Shri Angadi worked tirelessly for the people of his constituency, Belagavi and Karnataka," tweeted Kovind.

"Shri Suresh Angadi was an exceptional Karyakarta, who worked hard to make the Party strong in Karnataka. He was a dedicated MP and effective Minister, admired across the spectrum. His demise is saddening. My thoughts are with his family and friends in this sad hour. Om Shanti," Modi said on Twitter.t diligence and compassion. My thoughts and Prayers are with his family and followers," he tweeted.

Shri Suresh Angadi was an exceptional Karyakarta, who worked hard to make the Party strong in Karnataka. He was a dedicated MP and effective Minister, admired across the spectrum. His demise is saddening. My thoughts are with his family and friends in this sad hour. Om Shanti. pic.twitter.com/2QDHQe0Pmj  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 23, 2020

Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed grief over the demise of Angadi and said he will always be remembered for his selfless service to the nation and the BJP.

BJP president JP Nadda described him as a leader who dedicated his life to the organisation.

"Extremely saddened by the passing away of Central Minister Shri Suresh Angadi Ji. He was a remarkable leader who dedicated all his life for organisation and went on to serve society with utmos

Union minister for state railways @SureshAngadi_ passed away at Delhi . He was admitted at AIIMS two weeks back.@NewIndianXpress @santwana99 @Lolita_TNIE pic.twitter.com/lRodbDBodT  TNIE Karnataka (@XpressBengaluru) September 23, 2020

Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said on the micro-blogging website, "Deeply anguished at the unfortunate demise of Suresh Angadi ji. He was like my brother. Words fall short to describe his commitment & dedication towards the people. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends in this hour of need. Om Shanti".

Former prime minister and JDS chief HD Deve Gowda expressed his sadness over the demise and tweeted that Angadi was like a "younger brother".

I am shocked and deeply saddened by the demise of Union Minister of State for Railways and four-term MP from Belagavi Shri. Suresh Angadi @SureshAngadi_ .

He was like a younger brother to me. I feel terrible losing him. This is an unbearable loss to our nation.

1/2  H D Devegowda (@H_D_Devegowda) September 23, 2020

Rajya Sabha member Rajeev Chandrasekhar also termed the death as a "tragic, terrible, and sad news".

"Shocked & Saddened by news of my MoS colleague, Shri Suresh Angadi ji's passing away. It is an unfathomable loss to the Government, people of Karnataka & the Party. His selfless service during COVID19 is still vivid before our eyes. My condolences to his family," tweeted Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy.

Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said he was shocked to learn about Angadi's demise.

He remembered Angadi as a "polite, gentle and popular leader" and said his death is a "great loss not only to the party, the state but also to the entire country".
Strong increase in revenues, growth of EOSedge sales, improvement in the cost structure and strengthened cash position

Regulatory News:

EOS imaging (Euronext, FR0011191766 EOSI PEA-PME eligible) (Paris:EOSI), a leader in 2D/3D orthopedic medical imaging and software solutions for 3D anatomical modeling and surgical planning, today announces its unaudited consolidated results for the first half of 2020 ended 30 June 2020.

FIRST SEMESTER 2020 HIGHLIGHTS

H1 2020 net revenues of 9.8m (+63%), fueled by increased equipment sales and a continued growth in maintenance revenue

Growing adoption of EOSedge and first commercial installations in Europe and in the U.S.

Decreased operational expenses (-16.5%) thanks to structural reductions in costs and added tactical savings realized during the pandemic

Strong reduction in net loss at 4.9m, halved vs. H1 2019

Cash position strengthened from 8.2m on December 31, 2019 to 9.9m as of June 30, 2020, as the Company continues to take advantage of its new business cycle

Mike Lobinsky, CEO of EOS imaging, comments: "The first half of 2020 was marked by the COVID-19 pandemic which temporarily impacted the Company's momentum. However, we are pleased with the restart of system installations end of the first semester and the growing interest and adoption of our new EOSedge system. The growth in maintenance revenues fuels our recurring revenues which we continue to develop. These favorable trends helped deliver a strong reduction in net loss. In addition, the change to our new commercial cycle continues to contribute to the reduction of our working capital leading to a strengthened cash position. This, paired with the structural transformational efforts we've made, allows us to plan for the future with greater confidence and visibility."

H1 2020 FINANCIAL RESULTS

Half year revenues of 9.8 million Equipment sales amounted to 3.6m, of which: 5.7m from the sales of 12 units in H1 2020 vs. 0.8m in H1 2019 (which had been impacted by the implementation of the new commercial cycle) 1 -2.2m from provisions on aged receivables 2 5.8m of maintenance revenues, up +24% compared with H1 2019, thanks to the continued growth of the install base. These revenues are not impacted by the pandemic as they come from annual contracts. 0.4m of Consumables and Advanced Orthopedic Services, (-0.1 vs. H1 2019) due to the temporary delays of elective surgeries during the global pandemic.



In the first half of 2020, EOS imaging booked a total of 10 equipment orders for a total value of 5.0m. This compares to 30 orders for a total value of 12.8m in H1 2019. Equipment orders were slowed by the restricted access of sales representatives to hospitals during the lock-down and by the postponement of investment decisions by EOS' customers in a context of uncertainty.

The significant increase in average selling price is driven by the new platform, EOSedge, which represented 60% of orders in H1 2020 and 86% of the orders in the countries where EOSedge is registered.

The order book value was 13.7m at the end of the first semester compared to 14.4m at the end of December 2019.

H1 2020 orders and revenues by product line

Equipment orders Unaudited including forex impact m As of June 30 Q2 2020 Q2 2019 H1 2020 H1 2019 Equipment orders received (over the period) 2.00 6.57 4.97 12.82 Equipment order book (end of period) 13.69 12.05 13.69 12.05 Revenues Unaudited including forex impact3 m As of June 30 Q2 2020 Q2 2019 H1 2020 H1 2019 Equipment 2.83 0.72 3.56 0.77 Maintenance 3.04 2.45 5.76 4.66 Consumables and associated services 0.14 0.26 0.47 0.57 Total revenues 6.01 3.42 9.78 6.00

H1 2020 revenues by region

Revenues Unaudited including forex impact3 m As of June 30 Q2 2020 Q2 2019 H1 2020 H1 2019 EMEA 2.03 1.66 3.75 2.92 APAC 1.32 0.18 1.96 0.35 NAM 2.65 1.58 4.05 2.74 LATAM 0.01 0.00 0.02 0.00 Total revenues 6.01 3.42 9.78 6.00

H1 2020 Gross margin of 5.5m

The gross margin stood at 5.5m in H1 2020 (56.7% of sales) compared with 3.0m in H1 2019 (50.5% of sales). The improvement of the gross margin as a percentage of sales is due to the reduction of the number of maintenance interventions during the lock-down while associated revenues were not affected.

Other income

1.3m other income consist in 0.7m from subventions and grants on R&D (vs. 0.9m in H1 2019, which reflected the higher R&D spend ahead EOSedge launch), and exceptional goverment support measures for COVID-19, composed of US Paycheck Protection Program forgiveness, French partial unemployment and other countries' support for a total of 0.6m.

Decrease in Operating Expenses and strong reduction in Net Loss

Operating expenses totaled 11.0m in the first half of 2020, a decrease of 16.5% compared to the first half of 2019. During the pandemic, several expenses were reduced such as cancelled trade shows in line with the rest of the industry. Travel and marketing event expenses were thus lowered by more than one million euros. On a more structural level, the company has suspended its recruitment and significantly reduced the number of external contractors.

As a result of higher sales, improved gross margin rate, and lower operating expenses, the Operating Loss for the first half was -4.1m in 2020, compared with -9.1m in H1 2019.

The Financial Result was -0.8m at June 30, 2020, versus -0.9m at June 30, 2019.

All in all, Net Loss was -4.9m in the first half of 2020 versus -10.0m in the first half of 2019.

30 June 2020 cash position strengthened to 9.9m

As of end-June 2020, EOS imaging's cash position totaled 9.9m, compared to 8.2m at 31 December 2019. The increase in cash continues to be the result of the gradual and structural reduction in operating working capital thanks to the change in the commercial cycle.

Trade receivables, which amounted to 17.7m at the end of December 2019, decreased by 3.8m to 13.9m at the end of H1 2020. Furthermore, deposits on customer orders increased by 2.2m4 vs. Dec. 2019 thanks to the implementation of improved payment terms.

In addition, the Company has made good use of applicable Covid-19 measures to help alleviate the short-term cash pressure:

Shifting the payment of employer social charges (0.9m);

- Accelerating payments of research tax credits (1.9m);

- Obtaining partly forgivable loans in the U.S. (USD 816k) and in Canada (CAD 40k);

In total, the company has increased its cash position by 1.7m over H1 2020.

EOS imaging will continue to reduce its opperationnal working capital and carefully manage its expenses and investments while it monitors the market evolution. EOS currently has cash visibility over 2021 and has additional financing opportunities options such as the France State Sponsored Loan (PGE).

Consolidated income statement

Income statement Unaudited5  millions

As of June 30 HY

2020 HY

2019 Net sales 9.78 6.00 Other income 1.29 1.00 Total Revenues 11.07 7.01 Direct cost of sales -4.24 -2.97 Gross margin (excl.other income) 5.55 3.03 as a of net sales 56.7% 50.5% Indirect cost of production and services -2.06 -2.03 Research Development costs -2.58 -2.29 of which amortization -0.55 -0.42 Sales Marketing expenses -3.22 -5.32 Regulatory expenses -0.33 -0.44 Administrative costs -2.75 -2.59 Total operating expenses excluding share-based payments -10.94 -12.68 Share-based payments -0.02 -0,44 Total operating expenses -10.96 -13.12 Operating profit/loss -4.13 -9.07 Financial income/loss -0.79 -0.90 Net profit/loss -4.92 -9.97

COVID-19 update and outlook

As it did for many companies, the COVID-19 pandemic impacted EOS imaging in the first half of 2020.

During this time, EOS management continued to monitor closely the situation and made timely decisions to ensure the safety of employees and customers while continuing to meet the needs of hospitals and caregivers.

The company benefitted from Government programs, designed to provide support during the pandemic.

EOS imaging implemented a cost management plan in H1 which the company intends to continue, sustainably lowering expenses and contributing to the good management of cash.

During the lock-down EOS Marketing and Sales teams made full use of digital technologies to engage with their customers. The Sales team have regained access to their customers and congresses have resumed virtually. Therefore, the Sales and Marketing activities continue to generate leads and grow the sales pipeline, leveraging the unique benefits of the new EOSedge platform.

Next financial press release: 2020 third quarter revenues, on October 14, 2020

ABOUT EOS imaging

EOS imaging is a global medical device company that designs, develops and markets innovative, low dose 2D/3D full body and weight-bearing imaging, rapid 3D modeling of EOS patient X-ray images, web-based patient-specific surgical planning, and integration of surgical plan into the operating room that collectively bridge the entire spectrum of care from imaging to post-operative assessment capabilities for orthopedic surgery. With a primary focus on hips, knees, and spine, EOS imaging is targeting a $2 billion annual market opportunity. EOS imaging has over 350 system installations in more than 40 countries generating more than 1 million patient exams annually. EOS imaging has corporate locations in U.S., France, Canada, Germany, and Singapore, with more than 165 employees. For additional information, please visit www.eos-imaging.com.

EOS imaging is listed on Compartment C of Euronext Paris

ISIN: FR0011191766 Ticker: EOSI

APPENDIX

Cash flow

Cash Flow Unaudited5  millions

As of June 30 HY

2020 FY

2019 Net income -4.92 -9.97 Restatement of non-cash items 1.3 1.21 Restatement of cash items -0.07 -0.01 Change in inventories and work-in-progress -0.89 -5.80 Change in trade receivables 3.79 12.28 Change in other current assets 1.69 -2.27 Change in trade payables -0.30 -1.50 Change in other current liabilities 2.65 -3.00 Change in operating WCR 6.94 -0.29 Net cash flow from operating activities 3.26 -9.05 Net cash flow from investment activities -1.77 -1.51 Net free cash flow 1.49 -10.56 Net cash flow from financing activities 0.24 -0.50 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period 9.89 8.69

Balance Sheet

Balance Sheet Unaudited5  millions

As of June 30 HY

2020 FY

2019 Intangible assets 14.02 13.62 Rights of use 4.25 4.39 Tangible assets 1.87 2.07 Inventories and work in progress 14.40 13.51 Trade receivables 13.91 17.70 Other current assets 3.72 5.41 Cash and cash equivalents 9.89 8.19 Total Assets 62.06 64.88 Total equity 7.21 12.08 Financial liabilities 25.63 24.65 Lease liabilities 4.33 4.44 Provisions 0.91 1.14 Trade payables 3.62 3.97 Other current liabilities 20.36 18.60 Total Liabilities 62.06 64.88

1 In order to better meet customer expectations and improve its working capital, EOS imaging made a change in its commercial cycle at the beginning of 2019 by organizing the delivery of EOS systems at the start of the installation phase, and no longer just after receiving the equipment order. Therefore, (i) new received orders build an order book and (ii) sales are recorded according to the pace of delivery of the EOS systems. As installations usually take place 3 to 12 months after the order, a similar lag occurs on deliveries. While 2019 equipment revenues were temporarily impacted by the transition phase, this evolution leads to improvements in production and logistics management and helps reduce working capital requirements.

2ovisions for risks and returns on aged receivables were adjusted vs prior Revenue communication on July 21st (-2.2m vs -0.9m)

3 including forex impact of +0.1m

4 Accounted in other liabilities

5 Audit procedures have been performed on consolidated half year accounts, but audit reports have yet to be issued

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200923005765/en/

Contacts:

EOS imaging

Valerie Worrall

CFO

investors@eos-imaging.com

(+33) 1 55 25 60 60

NewCap

Investor Relations

Thomas Grojean

eos-imaging@newcap.eu

+33 1 44 71 94 94

FP2COM

Press Relations

Florence Portejoie

fportejoie@fp2com.fr

(+33) 6 07 76 82 83
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 21:16:55|Editor: huaxia

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by Keren Setton

JERUSALEM, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli cabinet convened to discuss harsher lockdown measures as the country's COVID-19 cases surpassed 200,000 on Wednesday.

The meeting came as Israelis celebrate a month of holidays marking the new year. Six months after the first lockdown, people are told again to tone down their festivities.

The streets of Jerusalem's city center are empty at a time which is usually one of the busiest of the year. Last week, the education system was shut down and many businesses closed or reduced their occupancy.

Since the beginning of the outbreak of the virus in March, over 200,000 Israelis have contracted the virus and more than 1,300 have died.

Last week Jews began one-month festivities with Rosh Ha Shana, the Jewish new year. Israelis were told to stay home and mark the holiday with their nuclear family and not host large feasts as is custom. Prayers in synagogues were scaled down.

For many it was somber holiday.

"I have very hard feelings. For me the holidays are the most important thing. Even though I am not religious, to be at home and not to go to the synagogue, it is very difficult," said Edmond Yamin, a resident of Jerusalem.

"It's not the same experience as it used to be with everyone out in the streets. It's a little sad," said Ross Levy who was passing by the empty city center.

Many people, however, have accepted that the country should take more measures in order to curb the pandemic, even at the price of holiday cheer.

"We've been prepared. It's been going on for months so it's just a continuity of events," said Natali Sherman on her way to work, "We accept it because we understand there is a good reason for all of that." Enditem
Donald Trump mocked MSNBC anchor Ali Velshi and other members of the media during his rally Tuesday, claiming 'it was a beautiful sight' to see police target reporters.

Although he did not mention Velshi by name, the comments appeared to be a continuation of his attacks during another rally over the weekend where he falsely said Velshi was 'hit in the knee with a canister of tear gas.'

'Remember that beautiful sight? The street was a mess,' Trump said during his rally Tuesday in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

'That idiot reporter from CNN got hit with a canister of tear gas,' Trump said, as the rally crowd laughed, falsely identifying Velshi's employer as CNN. 'And he went down. 'I've been hit. I've been hit.' He's been hit.'

Donald Trump said Tuesday at his Pennsylvania rally that 'it was a beautiful sight' to see police target reporters as they covered protests and riots

He specifically called out MSNBC reporter Ali Velshi who was struck by a rubber bullet as he covered unrest following the death of George Floyd

CNN is one of the outlets Trump most often criticizes and uses during his attacks on media at rallies  and appears to be the one that gets the most reaction out of his loyalist crowds.

Velshi was actually struck by a rubber bullet in June while he was covering unrest following the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police.

During Tuesday's rally in Moon Township, Trump also lambasted another unnamed reporter.

'Sometimes they grab. They grab one guy. 'I'm a reporter. I'm a reporter.' Get out of here. They threw him aside like he was a little bag of popcorn,' Trump said of the unidentified reporters who was targeted by police while covering nationwide Black Lives Matter protests and riots.

'Honestly, when you watch the crap that we have all had to take so long. When you see it, it is actually a beautiful sight,' The president said.

Some of Velshi's fellow MSNBC hosts defended him, including 'Morning Joe' hosts Willie Geist, Joe Scarborough and his wife and co-host Mika Brzezinksi.

'Remember that beautiful sight? The street was a mess. That idiot reporter from CNN got hit with a canister of tear gas,' Trump said as the crowd laughed and cheered

The comments were similar to those made about Velshi during a Saturday Minnesota rally, which fellow MSNBC host Joe Scarborough defended

Velshi thanked his colleagues for defending him and the First Amendment

'Thanks @morningmika, @JoeNBC & @WillieGeist for your words in support of me but, more importantly, for the 1st Amendment,' Velshi tweeted Wednesday morning.

Trump's comments Tuesday were similar to those made at his rally in Bemidji, Minnesota on Saturday.

'I remember this guy Velshi, he got hit on the knee with a canister of tear gas. And he went down,' Trump said as the crowd cheered and laughed. 'He was down. 'My knee, my knee.' Nobody cared. These guys didn't care. They moved him aside, and they just walked right through.'

MSNBC issued a response: 'Freedom of the press is a pillar of our democracy. When the president mocks a journalist for the injury he sustained while putting himself in harm's way to inform the public, he endangers thousands of other journalists and undermines our freedoms.'
JENNINGS, LA / ACCESSWIRE / September 23, 2020 / JD Bancshares, Inc. (OTCQX:JDVB) Dan L. Donald, Jr., Chairman of the Board of Directors of JD Bancshares, Inc., announced that at its regularly scheduled meeting on September 22, 2020, the Board voted to pay a cash dividend in the amount of $0.59 per share on October 9, 2020 to the shareholders of record on October 2, 2020.

The future impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and Hurricane Laura, has created some uncertainty in what has typically been a very stable quarterly earnings pattern for JDVB. During these uncertain times, it becomes even more important that your Company ensure appropriate levels of capital are maintained. Therefore, we will review the timing and level of future quarterly cash dividend declarations.

About JD Bancshares, Inc.

JD Bancshares, Inc. is the bank holding company of JD Bank, a state chartered bank headquartered in Jennings, Louisiana. JD Bank has been serving the citizens of southwest Louisiana since 1947 and offers a variety of personal and commercial lending and deposit products through both physical and digital delivery channels. The Bank also offers both trust and investment services. JD Bank operates through 22 full service branch offices located along the Interstate 10 corridor from Lake Charles to Lafayette, Louisiana. JD Bancshares, Inc. may be accessed on its website at www.jdbank.com/investor relations.

JD Bancshares, Inc. (OTCQX: JDVB) trades on the OTCQX Best Market. Companies meet high financial standards, follow best practice corporate governance, demonstrate compliance with U.S. securities laws, and have a professional third-party sponsor introduction. Investors can find current financial disclosure and Real-Time Level 2 quotes for the Company on www.otcmarkets.com.

For more information contact:

JD Bancshares, Inc.

Bruce Elder (CEO) (337-246-5399)

Paul Brummett (CFO) (337-824-1422)

Website: www.jdbank.com

SOURCE: JD Bancshares, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/607431/JD-Bancshares-Inc-Declares-Cash-Dividend
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Snowy Chan, Tel: +852 2584 4537, Email: snowy.sn.chan@hktdc.org Agnes Wat, Tel: +852 2584 4554, Email: agnes.ky.wat@hktdc.org

HONG KONG, Sept 23, 2020 - (ACN Newswire) - Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and sponsored by Create Hong Kong (CreateHK) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the CENTRESTAGE fashion extravaganza entered its fifth year in 2020, with six virtual runway shows presented online from 17 to 19 September. Combining traditional fashion shows with computer-generated imagery, these unique showcases drew the attention of fashion lovers and media from around the world, allowing Hong Kong and Asian designers to gain exposure and expand their networks amid the COVID-19 pandemic.The six virtual runway shows included "Fashion Hong Kong", "Next in Cheongsam", "FASHIONALLY #15", "Taipei in Style", "Hong Kong en Vogue" and the final of the Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers' Contest (YDC) 2020, all of which can now be viewed on the CENTRESTAGE website. The site also features fashion images highlighting the new collections of local designers.Fashion Hong KongThe opening show ran with a "Space Odyssey" theme, featuring eight homegrown design units all of which have taken part in New York or London Fashion Week events.https://centrestage2020.hktdc.com/en/phygital-runway/fashion-hong-kong/FASHIONALLY COLLECTION #15The "Impossible Stage" themed fashion show showcased brand new collections from nine previous YDC contestants.https://centrestage2020.hktdc.com/en/phygital-runway/fashionally-collection-15Designers' Collection Show: Next in Cheongsamhttps://centrestage2020.hktdc.com/en/phygital-runway/next-in-cheongsam/Designers' Collection Show: Taipei in Stylehttps://centrestage2020.hktdc.com/en/phygital-runway/taipei-in-style/Designers' Collection Show: Hong Kong en Voguehttps://centrestage2020.hktdc.com/en/phygital-runway/hong-kong-en-vogue/More photos are available at http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/en/pressrelease/detail/20206/Websites- CENTRESTAGE: www.centrestage.com.hk- Fashion Hong Kong: www.fashionhongkong.com- Hong Kong Young Fashion Designer's Contest (YDC): www.fashionally.com- CENTRESTAGE in Town: https://centrestage.com.hk/en/event/centrestageintown/index.php*Disclaimer: The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region provides funding support to the project only, and does not otherwise take part in the project. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in these materials/events (or by members of the project team) are those of the project organizers only and do not reflect the views of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Communications and Creative Industries Branch of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, Create Hong Kong, the CreateSmart Initiative Secretariat or the CreateSmart Initiative Vetting Committee.About Create Hong KongCreate Hong Kong (CreateHK) is a dedicated agency set up by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR Government) in June 2009. It is under the Communications and Creative Industries Branch of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau and dedicated to spearheading the development of creative industries in Hong Kong. Its strategic foci are nurturing talent and facilitating start-ups, exploring markets, and promoting Hong Kong as Asia's creative capital and fostering a creative atmosphere in the community. CreateHK sponsors the CENTRESTAGE since 2019 to promote Hong Kong's fashion design. Website: www.creathek.gov.hk.About HKTDCThe Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via trade publications, research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedInSource: HKTDCContact:Copyright 2020 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept.23

By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend:

The value of trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Belgium amounted to $230.6 million over the first seven months of 2020, compared to $184.1 million during the same period of 2019, Trend reports with reference to Kazakhstans Statistics Committee.

The share of Belgium in the total value of Kazakhstans trade turnover stood at 0.5 percent during the reporting period compared to 0.3 percent during the same period of 2019.

Kazakhstans export to Belgium amounted to $167.7 million over the period from January through July 2020, compared to $106.4 million during the same period of 2019

Belgiums share in the total volume of Kazakhstans export amounted to 0.6 percent during the reporting period of 2020 compared to 0.3 percent during the same period of 2019.

In turn, Kazakhstans imports from Belgium amounted to nearly $62.9 million over the reporting period, compared to $77.7 million during the same period of 2019.

Belgiums share in the total volume of Kazakhstans import amounted to 0.3 percent during the reporting period of 2020 compared to 0.4 percent during the same period of 2019.

The total volume of Kazakhstans trade turnover amounted to $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, main articles of Kazakhstan and Belgium trade turnover were food products, agricultural products, as well as products of the chemical industry.

---

Follow the author on twitter: @nargiz_sadikh
California is a mess; no secret there. But the degree of decline that befalls it, and the quickness with which that decline is moving, seems to be largely ignored, particularly by Californians themselves. The nation's most populous state, and arguably its most naturally beautiful, is falling apart virtually everywhere we look. Yet state and local governments not only insist on moving forward with leftist policies, but continually double down by moving even farther left, and the state's voters return them to office with ever-increasing electoral margins. California's current approach to virtually all aspects of society  the economy, environment, legal system and culture  is unsustainable, and the time for reckoning is rapidly approaching.

The current crisis in California that is getting the most national attention is the plague of wildfires throughout much of the northern part of the state. Such fires have ravaged the area for millennia, long before the presence of any European settlers, but that has not stopped California leftists and their media from pointing fingers at climate change and President Trump. Avoiding responsibility for a crisis by blaming anyone and anything with even a remote chance of culpability is the California way  which leads to a failure to develop real solutions. None of California's leaders, least of all Democratic governor Gavin Newsom, have accepted any responsibility for the government's role in the fires. Evidence clearly shows that the decision by the state to revive "fire suppression" efforts, a practice that essentially delays the inevitable and results in even larger wildfires (and was mostly discontinued in the 1960s), has been a major contributor to the magnitude of this year's fires. But has the government of California even paused to reconsider the strategy? Sadly, no.

Wildfires, unfortunately, are among the least of California's woes. Homelessness in the state has become a major problem, and one that is having a significant impact on the quality of life for taxpayers. According to a San Francisco Chronicle article published last December, "[w]hile the latest counts compiled by the federal government show that America's homeless population is growing again after more than a decade of declines, the entire national increase and more can be attributed to California alone." In other words, homelessness continues to be on the decline in the U.S. if we exclude California. So how does California plan on addressing the problem? A bill passed by the state's Legislature earlier this month will empower Governor Newsom to appoint a "Homelessness Czar." Government actions, including regulations which aggressively target landlords and programs that provide handouts enticing the homeless to settle in the state, have perpetuated the homeless situation, but more taxpayer dollars and government interference is always the solution for California. Got a problem? Throw money at it, and let the government make it worse.

With increasing homelessness, a soft approach to criminal prosecution, and the ongoing embracing of illegal immigration, violent crimes are increasing after having seen a reduction the past few years. According to The Trace, "homicides are sharply up this year" in California as a whole, and cities such as Oakland, with a 26% increase, have seen a significant increase in the number of murders. With the jump in violent crimes, what steps has California's government taken to reduce certain crimes? They recently passed the controversial bill S.B. 145, which will ultimately end up reducing accountability and sentences for adults who sexually assault children as young as 14. What a brilliant idea. Apparently, California's leadership believes that the pedophile community had been treated unfairly.

In spite of an abundance of bad news items hitting California on a regular basis, the most ominous challenge is undoubtedly the fiscal time bomb that looms, and whose ticking grows louder by the day. Already one of the highest taxed states in the U.S., California had a reported government debt of over $1.5 trillion as of 2017  long before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and an amount that has surely increased dramatically since. Undeterred, on September 2, state lawmakers sent a budget to Governor Newsom calling for $600 million in spending increases and a reduction in state revenue with the extension of earned income tax credits for immigrants and illegal aliens. Balance sheet be damned, California must cater to illegal aliens.

Increasing spending and decreasing revenue is a lousy recipe for getting one's fiscal house in order  particularly one that is already a disaster. The state government appears to be counting on an eventual federal bailout from its financial predicament, but that help is not going to happen, nor should it.

California industries have recognized the signals and are taking action. High-profile companies and leaders have announced their plans to leave the state or have openly proclaimed their considerations for the idea. Media outlet The Daily Wire, with co-owner Ben Shapiro, recently announced its plan to move to Nashville; podcast giant Joe Rogan is taking his ball and moving to Texas; and Elon Musk is moving Tesla's headquarters out-of-state, and possibly manufacturing operations as well. Other businesses will surely follow, as the hostility toward industry through taxes and oppressive regulations continues unimpeded. State lawmakers are not intimidated by the idea of losing millions of dollars in revenue and have recently taken the bold step of adding a layer of government regulations to existing and would-be businesses. Another bill recently passed by the state legislature will "mandate ethnic, racial or LGBT diversity on corporate boards"  more government intervention in the private sector in the name of virtue and another assault on the philosophy of meritocracy.

California has some of the most appealing weather in the world, but pleasant weather goes only so far. Residents enjoy the state's natural wonders such as the lovely Napa Valley, Yosemite National Park, and the glorious pacific coast highway, but they have been choosing to leave anyway at an increasing rate in a phenomenon that is being called "The California Exodus." The state population decreased by almost 200,000 in 2018, and over 28,000 left the San Francisco Bay area alone in a single quarter last year. Inevitably, the question that Californians have to consider is this: while it may be bad now, is there a chance it is going to get better?

California, the bluest of blue states, has rising crime and homelessness. California has fearsome wildfires and rolling electrical blackouts due to government mismanagement of its forests and energy systems. California has an ever-increasing budget deficit with no end in sight. Yet California's tone-deaf politicians continue to enjoy immense support from their oblivious electorate. Many residents cherish the song lyric that laments, "Going to California with an aching in my heart." Unfortunately, the time has come for many to recognize reality, and to leave California with a similar aching. California is decaying before our eyes, and it is not going to get better.

P.F. Whalen is a conservative blogger at TheBlueStateConservative.com. His work has appeared in multiple publications, including American Thinker, the Western Journal, and Human Events. Follow him on Twitter at @pf_whalen.

Image: Bureau of Land Management via Flickr, CC BY 2.0.
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.
Dijon Kizzee could have survived if he was given medical attention but instead officers kept shooting him according to the independent autopsy

An autopsy has revealed that a L.A. man was shot about 15 times by police last month. The family of 29-year-old Dijon Kizzee commissioned an independent autopsy which declared the young man may have not attempted to aim a gun at police as previously claimed.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the autopsy also exposed that police were still firing their gun after the victim was on the ground and could have survived if given medical attention.

What this shows is he was alive and breathing and writhing in pain when the officers continued to stay away, said the family attorney, Carl Douglas, at a press conference on Tuesday. When they got a shield first, and they had a shield walking up to the man while he was writhing in pain. All too often, law enforcement officers misinterpret writhing in pain as some sort of act of resistance.

Read More: California mom in viral video alleges police harassment during sons traffic stop

Dr. John Hiserodt, who conducted the autopsy, concluded that Kizzee bled to death after blood filled his lungs. Douglas presented the statement.

The deputies who fired their weapons, called for back-up, and spent several critical minutes waiting for back-up to arrive, while Dijon was bleeding to death in the street, the statement read. The independent autopsy supports my contention that this shooting was an execution, plain and simple.

As previously reported by theGrio, Kizzee was shot in South LA in Budlong Ave. and 110th in August. He was riding his bike on the wrong side of the street when two deputies from South L.A. stopped him. Kizzee dropped his bike to run and as one of the deputies caught up to him, there was allegedly a struggle and Kizzee dropped a weapon.

Read More: California mom in viral video alleges police harassment during sons traffic stop

Story continues

(Credit: Dijon Kizzee family)

Capt. Kent Wegener claimed Kizzee, bends over, reaches, picks up the gun and is shot as he stands with the gun in hand.

He added, You will see that the deputy struggling with Kizzee does not arm himself until Kizzee bends down to pick up the gun he dropped.

But the Captains story differed from witnesses who say deputies did not try to deescalate the situation and that Kizzee was shot with nothing in his hands. The sheriffs office also had conflicting stories. First they said the shooting happened when the gun hit the ground but reneged that statement to say they began shooting at him because Kizzee made a motion for the gun.

His family attended Tuesdays press conference with face masks that read Justice for Dijon Kizzee.

Have you subscribed to theGrios podcast Dear Culture? Download our newest episodes now!

The post Independent autopsy finds Dijon Kizzee shot 15 times by LA deputies appeared first on TheGrio.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 04:20:10|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Wednesday asked for international efforts to help Lebanon advance in political, economic and security fields.

The Aug. 4 massive blast in the port of Beirut has brought about tremendous pain to the Lebanese people. The aftermath of the blast, COVID-19 and regional instability are posing severe challenges to Lebanon's socio-economic development, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations.

In his remarks to a virtual ministerial meeting of the International Support Group for Lebanon, Zhang called for efforts to create favorable conditions for Lebanon's political process.

The international community should create a good atmosphere for inclusive dialogue, and respect Lebanon's sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence. The International Support Group should be postured in an impartial and balanced manner and play a constructive role, he said.

Zhang asked for efforts to boost Lebanon's economic development and improve livelihood. The international community should honor its commitments to provide assistance to Lebanon in its endeavors to reconstruct and to fight COVID-19.

He also called for support for Lebanon's efforts to maintain national security and stability. Lasting peace and stability in Lebanon needs a stable environment, he said, adding that China asks relevant parties to respect Security Council resolutions and Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and refrain from acts that will escalate the situation.

Zhang said China has always supported Lebanon in its efforts to safeguard sovereignty and security and promote social and economic development. China is willing to work with the International Support Group to contribute to Lebanon's reconstruction, peace and stability, and development.

Wednesday's meeting was co-chaired by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian. The International Support Group for Lebanon brings together Britain, China, France, Germany, Italy, Russia and the United States, together with the United Nations, the European Union and the Arab League. Enditem
ATLANTA, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- King & Spalding, an international law firm founded in Atlanta, announced today that it is joining the Executive Council of Georgia Tech's Business Analytics Center at Scheller College of Business.

"Partnering with Georgia Tech, one of the country's top business analytics programs, reflects another milestone in the long history between King & Spalding and Georgia Tech and our collective commitment in helping companies meet their strategic business objectives," said Spencer Johnson, the King & Spalding partner overseeing collaboration between the firm and Georgia Tech. "Partnering with Georgia Tech to uncover insights in our data will create greater efficiencies and potentially innovative processes for the clients we serve."

King & Spalding joins other global industry leaders including Coca-Cola, The Home Depot, AT&T, NCR, UPS, and thyssenkrupp Elevator on the BAC's Executive Council.

"We are excited to welcome a world-renowned law firm and cornerstone of Atlanta's business and legal community," said Dr. Sri Narasimhan, Gregory J. Owens Professor of IT Management and Faculty Co-Director of the Business Analytics Center. "Already a leader in technology, King & Spalding's strategic investment in business analytics demonstrates that digital transformation can have great depth and impact beyond pure technology companies."

As a member of the Executive Council, King & Spalding will work closely with Georgia Tech's world class faculty and outstanding students to solve business analytics challenges, recruit the next generation of analytics-enabled leaders, and accelerate the continued advancement of innovative business analytics tools, techniques and best solutions.

"Next generation innovation is top of mind of King & Spalding  we are investing a significant amount of our time, energy and resources on innovating for the benefit of our firm, our clients and our people," said Josh Kamin, Managing Partner of King & Spalding's Atlanta office. "We are honored to join the Executive Council with like-minded thought leaders, and really excited for what is to come from this collaboration."

Georgia Tech's Scheller College of Business undergraduate and graduate business analytics programs were both recently recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top three graduate programs in business analytics in the nation. Among their many kudos, King & Spalding was honored in August 2020 as the Georgia Legal Awards Law Firm of the Year.

"As one of the largest and most successful law firms in the world, King & Spalding is also one of the technology leaders in their industry," added Keith Werle, Managing Director of the Business Analytics Center. "With their world class technology center here in Midtown, they already have a deep relationship with Georgia Tech, employing many Yellow Jackets in the development and support of their technology operations. With this new collaboration, we look forward to deepening that relationship and helping them get even greater value out of their technology and analytic investment  with the ultimate goal of helping them better serve the needs of both their firm and their clients."

The Business Analytics Center and King & Spalding have already begun moving forward with the partnership and have identified several real-world data challenges for Georgia Tech students and faculty to tackle and contribute thought-leading research and business analytic insights.

About King & Spalding

Celebrating more than 130 years of service, King & Spalding is an international law firm that represents a broad array of clients, including half of the Fortune Global 100, with 1,200 lawyers in 22 offices in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The firm has handled matters in over 160 countries on six continents and is consistently recognized for the results it obtains, uncompromising commitment to quality, and dedication to understanding the business and culture of its clients. More information is available at www.kslaw.com.

About the Business Analytics Center at Georgia Tech

The Business Analytics Center (BAC) serves as a platform for collaboration--bringing together industry leaders, Georgia Tech's world-class interdisciplinary faculty, and top business analytics students to build better analytics teams. The BAC acts as a catalyst to leverage thought leadership, research and industry partnerships to prepare and inspire the next generation of business analytics leaders. More information can be found at www.scheller.gatech.edu/centers-initiatives/business-analytics-center/index.html

About Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business

Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business is located in Atlanta, home to 17 of the nation's Fortune 500 companies, and is strategically centered in the world-renowned Technology Square district. This positioning at the intersection of business and technology provides students with an unparalleled opportunity to learn in one of the nation's premier high-tech business centers. The College offers globally-recognized, highly-ranked business programs including full-time, evening, and executive MBA degrees, undergraduate and Ph.D. degrees, and executive education programs. Interdisciplinary centers and programs encourage collaboration in research, teaching, and experiential learning within Georgia Tech in some of today's most sought-after arenas including sustainability, business analytics, leadership, ethics, innovation, entrepreneurship, supply chain, international business, and more. Information can be found at www.scheller.gatech.edu

SOURCE King & Spalding

Related Links

http://www.kslaw.com


Two people were injured after a fight led to a shooting during renewed unrest in Portland on Tuesday, after months-long demonstrations were halted due to wildfires.

Portland police said in a statement that officers responded to the 4400 block of Northeast Glisan Street around 10.30pm.

The incident occurred during a demonstration of about 75 people who gathered at Laurelhurst Park and marched to the Penumbra Kelly Building on East Burnside Street. Demonstrations resumed over the weekend after a brief hiatus due to wildfire smoke.

Witnesses told police that there had been an altercation between two people, which then led to one of the individuals firing a gun at the other.

Two people were injured after a fight led to a shooting during renewed unrest in Portland on Tuesday after demonstrations were halted due to wildfires. This image shows the handgun that was found at the scene of the shooting on Tuesday

The two individuals, who have not been named, were a part of the demonstration outside of the Penumbra Kelly Building. Authorities warned protesters not to enter or remain on the building's property otherwise they could be arrested

Authorities said the person was struck by the gunfire and paramedics took both people to a local hospital.

Both subjects sustained serious but non-life threatening injuries. A nearby business was also hit with gunfire, police said in the statement. Police are still investigating what led up to the fight.

The two individuals, who have not been named, were a part of the demonstration outside of the Penumbra Kelly Building.

Police warned protesters Tuesday night not to enter or remain upon the property or walkways and that failure to adhere would result in either an arrest or citation.

Shortly after the warning, a 'commercial grade firework' was thrown towards the property by someone in the group, police said.

Demonstrations (pictured on September 19) in Portland resumed over the weekend after a brief hiatus due to wildfire smoke

Protesters set an American flag on fire in the street during a protest on September 19

The firework landed near several police cars parked in the lot.

At around 12.18am demonstrators entered onto the property of the Penumbra Kelly Building and were arrested.

Police identified three people who were arrested during the demonstration Tuesday night.

Laura Sutton, 33, Tracy Lynn Molina, 47, and Simona Arteaga, 39, were all arrested, police said. They were charged with interfering with a peace officer.

By 1am the group mostly dispersed into the neighborhood.

Police are asking if anyone has any information regarding the shooting to contact investigators at 503-823-3333.
Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, Vice-Presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has appealed to constituents of Assin residents in the Central Region to vote massively for John Dramani Mahama in the upcoming December polls for rapid socio-economic development because ...he is a man of his word.



She said the former President is a man who promises and delivers thus should be given the chance to serve in the interest of the people.



Prof. Opoku-Algyemang made the appeal at a mini durbar at Assin Andoe, as part of her six-day campaign tour of the Central Cegion.



John Mahama is a man of his word. When he makes a promise, he keeps it. He promised better roads and he delivered."



"He promised schools and he delivered. He promised to improve healthcare infrastructure and he delivered. The facts are clear for all to see. John Mahama delivers," she stated.



The former Minister of Education expressed the commitment of the next NDC administration to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in the country and called for the support of all.



Ghanaian children are full of talent and potential. They deserve better access to education. The NDC has a plan to invest $10 billion into infrastructure and this would include more schools, she added.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Washington, DC - Remarks by President Trump to the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly:

PRESIDENT TRUMP: It is my profound honor to address the United Nations General Assembly.

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.

In the United States, we launched the most aggressive mobilization since the Second World War. We rapidly produced a record supply of ventilators, creating a surplus that allowed us to share them with friends and partners all around the globe. We pioneered life-saving treatments, reducing our fatality rate 85 percent since April.

Thanks to our efforts, three vaccines are in the final stage of clinical trials. We are mass-producing them in advance so they can be delivered immediately upon arrival.

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.

As we pursue this bright future, we must hold accountable the nation which unleashed this plague onto the world: China.

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.

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.

In addition, every year, 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. Chinas carbon emissions are nearly twice what the U.S. has, and its rising fast. By contrast, after I withdrew from the one-sided Paris Climate Accord, last year America 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.

If the United Nations is to be an effective organization, it must focus on the real problems of the world. This includes terrorism, the oppression of women, forced labor, drug trafficking, human and sex trafficking, religious persecution, and the ethnic cleansing of religious minorities.

America will always be a leader in human rights. My administration is advancing religious liberty, opportunity for women, the decriminalization of homosexuality, combatting human trafficking, and protecting unborn children.

We also know that American prosperity is the bedrock of freedom and security all over the world. In three short years, we built the greatest economy in history, and we are quickly doing it again. 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 its not even close.

We stood up to decades of Chinas trade abuses. We revitalized the NATO Alliance, where other countries are now paying a much more fair share. We forged historic partnerships with Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador to stop human smuggling. We are standing with the people of Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela in their righteous struggle for freedom.

We withdrew from the terrible Iran Nuclear Deal and imposed crippling sanctions on the worlds leading state sponsor of terror. We obliterated the ISIS caliphate 100 percent; killed its founder and leader, al-Baghdadi; and eliminated the worlds top terrorist, Qasem Soleimani.

This month, we achieved a peace deal between Serbia and Kosovo. We reached a landmark breakthrough with two peace deals in the Middle East, after decades of no progress. Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain all signed a historic peace agreement in the White House, with many other Middle Eastern countries to come. They are coming fast, and they know its great for them and its great for the world.

These groundbreaking peace deals are the dawn of the new Middle East. By taking a different approach, we have achieved different outcomes  far superior outcomes. We took an approach, and the approach worked. We intend to deliver more peace agreements shortly, and I have never been more optimistic for the future of the region. There is no blood in the sand. Those days are, hopefully, over.

As we speak, the United States is also working to end the war in Afghanistan, and we are bringing our troops home. America is fulfilling our destiny as peacemaker, but it is peace through strength. We are stronger now than ever before. Our weapons are at an advanced level like weve never had before  like, frankly, weve never even thought of having before. And I only pray to God that we never have to use them.

For decades, the same tired voices proposed the same failed solutions, pursuing global ambitions at the expense of their own people. But only when you take care of your own citizens will you find a true basis for cooperation. 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 okay  thats what you should be doing.

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  and frankly, hopefully, in the history of the world.

Thank you. God bless you all. God bless America. And God bless the United Nations.
New Delhi, Sep 23 : Chinese short video-making app TikTok purged more than 104.5 million videos from its platform in the first half of this year (the pre-ban period) for violating its community guidelines and majority were from India at 37.68 million.

At second place was the US, where the app has just averted the ban with Oracle-Walmart coming to its rescue, with 9.82 million videos that were removed in H12020, according to TikTok's latest transparency report.

The total number accounts for less than 1 per cent of all the videos uploaded on TikTok.

Before the India ban, TikTok had nearly 200 million users in the country, nearly the double from its US market.

Apart from India and the US, the highest numbers of videos were removed from Pakistan, Brazil and the UK at 6.45 million, 5.53 million, and 2.95 million, respectively.

Some 96.4 per cent of the videos were identified and removed before users reported them, while 90.3 per cent were removed before they clocked any views, reports ZDNet.

The majority, at 30.9% were removed for containing nudity and sexual activities, while 22.3% were taken out for violating minor safety and 19.6% were removed for containing illegal activities and regulated goods.

Apart from India and the US, the highest numbers of videos also were removed from Pakistan, Brazil, and the UK at 6.45 million, 5.53 million, and 2.95 million, respectively.

TikTok said it also received legal requests from governments and law enforcement agencies as well as IP (intellectual property) rights holders to restrict or remove certain content.

In a separate statement, TikTok said its interim head Vanessa Pappas has sent a letter to the heads of nine social and content platforms, proposing a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at encouraging companies to warn one another of violent, graphic content on their own platforms.
New Delhi, Sep 23 : India's private airlines on Wednesday told the Supreme Court it should not be mandatory to refund the passengers, as their revenues have dropped sharply, and many customers have accepted their offer.

Senior advocate Arvind Datar, appearing for GoAir, submitted before a bench comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan, R. Subhash Reddy and M.R. Shah that the airline is on the verge of collapsing, therefore it should not be mandatory to refund the passengers.

"We need to have funds at our disposal to pay," he said, informing the top court that profits have been reduced drastically as an impact of the lockdown and insisted that it is a matter of collapse for the airlines, and there are nearly 30,000 to 40,000 employees in this sector.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has filed an affidavit in the top court, stating that people who had booked air tickets during the lockdown are entitled to immediate refunds, and 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.

Senior advocate Pinaki Misra, representing Air Vistara and AirAsia, said the DGCA's approach is 'one size glove fits all' and the aviation regulator cannot say the airlines must refund.

Misra argued that if passengers have happily accepted the airlines' offer, then how can they be compelled to pay a refund.

"I cannot pay 9 percent interest on the refund amount, and if this continues, then airlines may need a moratorium," he submitted.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Ministry of Civil Aviation and DGCA, explained the refund scheme to the bench and submitted that airlines are bound by the the Centre's proposal.

He insisted the Centre has taken the interests of both passengers and airlines into consideration, and that it was the best the Centre could do.

The bench said that it is only concerned with refunds and non-refunds of money for tickets booked during the lockdown period.

The top court was hearing a plea filed by NGO 'Pravasi Legal Cell', through advocate Jose Abraham, which has raised the issue of refund on air tickets during the lockdown period.

The bench asked the Centre to clarify by Friday the modalities of air tickets refund to the passengers and travel agents against the backdrop of cancellation of flights during the lockdown period.

The bench then queried Mehta on the refunds to a travel agent, who has already paid to the airlines for the tickets booked. Mehta said he will file another affidavit by September 25.
Ringleader Nguyen Khanh (R) (Source: VNA)

HCM City - The Peoples Court of HCM City on September 22 handed down severe sentences to 20 criminals, most of whom are members of the reactionary organisation Trieu dai Viet (Viet Dynasty), found guilty of terrorism to oppose the peoples administration and illegally manufacturing, storing and trading explosives.



The jury said the acts of the defendants were extremely serious, as they caused social danger and directly violated national security as well as the legal rights and interests of people and society. Two people were injured and property damaged by their acts.



Nguyen Khanh, the ringleader, was sentenced to 20 years in prison after being found guilty of terrorism to oppose the peoples administration and four years in prison for illegally manufacturing, storing and trading explosives.



Sixteen others found guilty of terrorism to oppose the peoples administration were sentenced to terms of between three and 18 years.



They will continue to be placed under surveillance for two to five years after completing their sentences.



For illegally manufacturing, storing and trading explosives, two other defendants were given sentences of two years imprisonment and the last, two and a half years behind bars.



Khanh and three other defendants must also pay nearly 350 million VND (15,000 USD) in compensation to the police in Ward 12 in HCM Citys Tan Binh district as well as cover the treatment costs of the two injured persons.



According to the jury, the case was a violation of national security committed by Trieu dai Viet that commits 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 station of the police in 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 with 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 office of the police 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 office of the police 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.
54 Citation Laureates named by the Institute for Scientific Information have gone on to receive a Nobel Prize

24 new Citation Laureates named, from six countries (USA, Canada, Germany, Japan, South Korea and United Kingdom)

LONDON, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Clarivate Plc (NYSE:CCC), a global leader in providing trusted information and insights to accelerate the pace of innovation, today named 24 world-class researchers from six countries as Citation Laureates. These are researchers whose work is deemed to be 'of Nobel class', as demonstrated by analysis carried out by the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI).

Each year since 2002, ISI analysts have drawn on Web of Science publication and citation data to identify influential researchers in the research areas recognized by Nobel Prizes: Physiology or Medicine, Physics, Chemistry and Economics. Out of some 50 million articles and proceedings indexed in the Web of Science since 1970, only 5,700 (or .01%) have been cited 2,000 or more times. It is from the authors of this group of papers that Citation Laureates are identified and selected. They are individuals whose research reports are highly cited and whose contributions to science have been extremely influential, even transformative.

In early October 2020, the Nobel Assembly will vote to confer science's highest honor. Whilst this annual rite inspires worldwide speculation, Clarivate is the only organization to use quantitative data in addition to qualitative assessment to provide valuable insights about who may be chosen. To date, 54 Citation Laureates listed in the Hall of Citation Laureates have gone on to receive a Nobel Prize.

Joel Haspel SVP Strategy, Science, Clarivate said: "This year's Laureates have advanced humanity's understanding of topics as varied as the gender pay gap, nanocrystals and how galaxies are formed. They have pushed the boundaries of clinical care with advances in personalized medicine and vaccine development. We are delighted to recognize and celebrate their immense achievements, demonstrating that their citation tallies reflect their influence on their colleagues, disciplines and the wider world."

David Pendlebury, Senior Citation Analyst at the Institute for Scientific Information at Clarivate said: "To be cited 2,000 times or more is a rarity. Authors of very highly cited papers are usually members of national academies of sciences, hold senior appointments in universities and other research institutes, and have received many top international prizes in their fields. Indeed, some of them have helped to shape their fields of study. Some of these 'scientific elites' go on to receive Nobel honors, demonstrating each year the association between citations in the literature, influence through a research community, and peer judgement."

This year 19 of the 24 honorees are based at leading academic institutions in the United States; others hail from Canada, Germany, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom.

The 2020 Citation Laureates are:

Physiology or Medicine Pamela J. Bjorkman, David Baltimore Professor of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA USA, and Jack L. Strominger, Higgins Research Professor of Biochemistry, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA USA For determining the structure and function of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins, a landmark discovery in molecular immunology that has contributed to drug and vaccine development Yusuke Nakamura, Director, Cancer Precision Medicine Center, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo, JAPAN; Emeritus Professor, University of Tokyo, Tokyo JAPAN; and, Emeritus Professor, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL USA. For pioneering research developing and applying genetic polymorphic markers and for contributions to genome-wide association studies, both heralding personalized approaches to cancer treatment Huda Y. Zoghbi, Professor, Departments of Pediatrics, Molecular and Human Genetics, Neurology and Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA and Founding director, Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX USA; also, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator. For discoveries on the pathogenesis of neurological disorders including the genetic origins of Rett syndrome Physics Thomas L. Carroll, Research Physicist, Center for Computational Materials Science, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC USA, and Louis M. Pecora, Research Physicist, Magnetic Materials and Nonlinear Dynamics, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC USA For research in nonlinear dynamics including synchronization of chaotic systems Hongjie Dai, J.G. Jackson & C.J. Wood Professor of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA USA, and Alex Zettl, Professor of Physics at the University of California at Berkeley, and Senior Faculty Scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA USA For fabrication and novel applications of carbon and boron nitride nanotubes Carlos S. Frenk, Director of the Institute for Computational Cosmology, and Ogden Professor of Fundamental Physics, Durham University, Durham, UK, and Julio F. Navarro, Lansdowne Science Professor, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC CANADA, and Simon D.M. White, former Director, Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics, Garching, GERMANY For their fundamental studies of galaxy formation and evolution, cosmic structure, and dark matter halos Chemistry Moungi G. Bawendi, Lester Wolfe Professor of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA USA and Christopher B. Murray, Richard Perry University Professor of Chemistry and Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA USA and Taeghwan Hyeon, SNU Distinguished Professor, Seoul National University, Seoul SOUTH KOREA; also Director of Center for Nanoparticle Research of Institute for Basic Science For synthesis of nanocrystals with precise attributes for a wide range of applications in physical, biological, and medical systems Stephen L. Buchwald, Camille Dreyfus Professor of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA USA, And John F. Hartwig, Henry Rapoport Chair in Organic Chemistry, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA USA For contributions to organometallic chemistry, notably the BuchwaldHartwig amination which forms carbonnitrogen bonds through palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions of amines with aryl halides Makoto Fujita, Distinguished Professor, Division of Advanced Molecular Science, Institute for Molecular Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo JAPAN For advances in supramolecular chemistry through self-assembly strategies that take inspiration from nature itself Economics David A. Dickey, William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC USA, And Wayne A. Fuller, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Iowa State University, Ames, IA USA, And Pierre Perron, Professor of Economics, Boston University, Boston, MA USA Dickey and Fuller for statistical tests of a unit root in time-series analysis and Perron for the statistical analysis of non-stationary time series Claudia Goldin, Henry Lee Professor of Economics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA USA For contributions to labor economics, especially her analysis of women and the gender pay gap Steven T. Berry, David Swensen Professor of Economics and Jeffrey Talpins Faculty Director of the Tobin Center for Economic Policy, Yale University, New Haven, CT USA, and James A. Levinsohn, Director of the Jackson Institute for Global Affairs, Charles W. Goodyear Professor in Global Affairs, and Professor of Economics and Management, Yale University, New Haven, CT USA, and Ariel Pakes, Thomas Professor of Economics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA USA For their BLP random coefficients logit model for demand estimation

Commenting on his appointment as a Citation Laureate, Pierre Perron, Professor of Economics, Boston University said: "It is the best honor I could have hoped for. The reason I am so grateful is that it is based on facts: citations, impact on the profession... To me this is what is important as an econometrician, producing work that is useful for applications. Not publishing overly technical papers that appeal to only a few. I am a proletarian at heart! In that sense, it is much more rewarding than elections to elite societies. I decided early on that I would have my own research agenda, working mostly with PhD students. It worked well and I am proud of the work, its impact on the profession and on all the students I worked with."

To learn more about the methodology of the list and view our Hall of Citation Laureates, please visit our website here.

ENDS

David Pendlebury, Senior Citation Analyst at the Institute for Scientific Information at Clarivate is available for interview.

Media Contact

Rebecca Krahenbuhl

[email protected]

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.

About the Institute for Scientific Information

The Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) at Clarivate has pioneered the organization of the world's research information for more than half a century. Today it remains committed to promoting integrity in research whilst improving the retrieval, interpretation and utility of scientific information. It maintains the knowledge corpus upon which the Web of Science index and related information and analytical content and services are built and disseminates that knowledge externally through events, conferences and publications whilst conducting primary research to sustain, extend and improve the knowledge base. For more information, please visit https://clarivate.com/webofsciencegroup/solutions/isi-institute-for-scientific-information/

SOURCE Clarivate Plc
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.
Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, the running mate of the Presidential Candidate of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), has described her nomination as a call to duty for all women to ensure she succeeded.



She has, therefore, implored Ghanaian women to rise above partisan politics and to consider her capabilities to pursue pragmatic policies to redeem the nation.



They should, therefore, rally behind her for victory for the NDC in the December polls.



Prof Opoku-Agyemang, who was interacting with identifiable women groups and traders at Efutu and Abura Market as part of her six-day tour to the Central Region, commended the NDC for the bold decision to settle on her as the running mate.



John Mahama and the NDC have given due recognition to women and show that we are very special and important, she added.



Prof Opoku-Agyemang said women had been elevated and accorded the rightful recognition in the political space with her nomination.



If you call a woman, you have called the whole family. This indeed is a call for all of us, children, young and old, everyone inclusive. It is a wake-up call for all of us to be united and help change the face of development in this Country, she said.



She reassured Ghanaians, particularly women, that their hopes would be translated into productive activities to the benefit of everyone if given the nod.



Prof Opoku-Agyemang called on political parties to be development driven and desist from the politics of insult, division and discrimination, which retard growth and development.



She said the NDCs Peoples Manifesto was very inclusive and recognised the challenges of every Ghanaian and had outlined solutions to them.



Prof Opoku-Ayemang also interacted with the Ewe community at Duakor, fishermen and fishmongers in Elmina and Brofoyedur in Cape Coast and traders and commercial drivers at Abura on the first day of her tour.



She received a rousing welcome at all the places visited amid singing, drumming and cheering from party sympathizers, who were full of optimism that Prof Opoku-Agyemang could help the party win the December 7 general 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.

Featured Video
Talks with Reynolds and McElhenney will continue after Wrexham Supporters Trust Board members voted overwhelmingly in favour of that happening at a special general meeting.

The vote led to the club revealing the identity of the two proposed bidders  Deadpool star Reynolds and American actor, director, producer and screenwriter McElhenny, who is best known as the creator of Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

Reynolds, who has varied business interests, took to Twitter on Wednesday night to reply to a 2012 tweet that stated: You never know when Ryan Reynolds is going to turn up in Wrexham.

He told his 16.5million Twitter followers: Yep, you never know.

Wrexham director Spencer Harris, who is also a director of the Supporters Trust, told the PA news agency of the proposed Hollywood investment: Its still at the stage where we have to finalise the deal and bring it back to the members at a second AGM.

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But I would like to think that Rob and Ryan think Wrexham is an attractive prospect with fantastic potential.

SGM | Name of potential investors revealed following vote.



More here  https://t.co/Hi26BlfoKl



 #WxmAFC pic.twitter.com/Ec5zdu4oeQ  Wrexham AFC (@Wrexham_AFC) September 23, 2020

People with the professionalism of Rob and Ryan do not come around very often and news of their interest is quite exciting for the supporters Im sure.

They are very driven individuals and very successful people in their industry.

But from our discussions I can say they are both down to earth and want what is best for the club.

Harris said he had spoken to the two Hollywood stars on a Zoom call on Wednesday night after the AGM backed the club to hold further investment talks.



People with the professonalism of Rob and Ryan do not come around very often and news of their interest is quite exciting for the supporters I'm sure.

He said contact had originally been made with representatives of the two actors before McElhenny and Reynolds had personally spoken to Wrexham officials.

Im sure people will consider it a remarkable story, Harris said. But I would ask for people to give us time to complete the story.

Hopefully we can bring another amazing chapter to the history of what is the third oldest professional club in the world and the oldest professional club in Wales.

A Wrexham Supporters Trust Board statement said: As confirmed this morning, 97.5 per cent of voters (1,223 members) voted in favour of the resolution.

As a result, talks with the proposed bidders will now continue and we are in a position to confirm the two people interested in investing in Wrexham AFC.

In due course, Mr McElhenney and Mr Reynolds will put forward their vision for Wrexham AFC and proposal for members to vote on at a second special general meeting.
Commercial Water Heaters Market Research Report by Type (Electric, Gas, Heat Pump, Hybrid, and Oil), by Liter (1,000-3,000 Liters, 3,000-4,000 Liters, 500-1,000 Liters, Above 4,000 Liters, and Below 500 Liters), by Rated Capacity - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19

New York, Sept. 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Commercial Water Heaters Market Research Report by Type, by Liter, by Rated Capacity - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05973344/?utm_source=GNW



The Global Commercial Water Heaters Market is expected to grow from USD 5,765.91 Million in 2019 to USD 8,319.63 Million by the end of 2025 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 6.30%.



Market Segmentation & Coverage:

This research report categorizes the Commercial Water Heaters to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets:



Based on Type, the Commercial Water Heaters Market studied across Electric, Gas, Heat Pump, Hybrid, Oil, and Solar.



Based on Liter, the Commercial Water Heaters Market studied across 1,000-3,000 Liters, 3,000-4,000 Liters, 500-1,000 Liters, Above 4,000 Liters, and Below 500 Liters.



Based on Rated Capacity, the Commercial Water Heaters Market studied across 10?50Kw, 150?300Kw, 50?150Kw, Above 300Kw, and Up to 10Kw.



Based on Geography, the Commercial Water Heaters 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 Commercial Water Heaters Market including A.O. Smith Corporation, American Water Heaters, Ariston Thermo Group, Bock Water Heaters, Inc., Bosch Industries, Bradford White, Daikin Industries, Ltd., Danfoss A/S, Giant Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Jinyi Solar Water Heater, Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning, Midea Group, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Nibe Energy Systems, PVI Industries, Rheem Manufacturing Company, Rinnai Corporation, Solahart, Stiebel Eltron, Vaillant Group, and Viessmann Group.



FPNV Positioning Matrix:

The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Commercial Water Heaters 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 Commercial Water Heaters Market?

2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Commercial Water Heaters Market during the forecast period?

3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Commercial Water Heaters Market?

4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Commercial Water Heaters Market?

5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Commercial Water Heaters Market?

6. What are the modes and strategic moves considered suitable for entering the Global Commercial Water Heaters Market?

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05973344/?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.



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CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001




Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden announced on Tuesday during a virtual fundraiser that Cindy McCain, the widow of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), will endorse him.

Biden said McCain decided to make her support public after The Atlantic and other news organizations reported that President Trump called U.S. soldiers who died in combat "suckers" and "losers;" Trump has denied making these comments. Prior to McCain's death in 2018, Trump declared he was "no hero," saying of the former Vietnam prisoner of war, "I like people who weren't captured."

Biden and McCain served together in the Senate, and during August's Democratic National Convention, Cindy McCain made an appearance, discussing their friendship. She won't be the only person close to McCain to throw their support behind Biden  last month, dozens of former McCain staffers, including many who worked on his failed 2008 presidential bid, signed a letter saying they are backing Biden. Arizona is a crucial battleground state, and pundits note that her endorsement could give Biden an edge with undecided independent voters.

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


Virus Outbreak Spain

Local police stops a vehicle at a checkpoint in Madrid, Spain, on, Sept. 21, 2020. Credit - Bernat ArmangueAP

A resurgence in COVID-19 cases has gripped countries across Europe, leaving politicians grappling with how to curb the spread of the virus. Governments are now strengthening regulations around mask-wearing, limiting the number of people that can gather in public spaces, and honing in on areas with particularly high numbers of cases.

This week, Europe experienced a record high number of new coronavirus cases reaching 71,365 on Sept. 21, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. More than half of European countries have reported a greater than 10% increase in the past two weeks, Hans Kluge, the World Health Organizations regional director for Europe said at a briefing.

Even countries that had largely avoided the first coronavirus wavesuch as Czech Republicare now seeing surges. Stricter regulations to try and curb the spread of the virus could remain in place for the entire winter. In the United Kingdom, for example, where case rates are doubling by the week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced new restrictions yesterday that could last six months, warning that the country is at a perilous turning point.

Many of the new restrictions, however, look different to those imposed at the beginning of the pandemic. Rather than implementing uniform, nationwide regulations, many countries are now opting for more localized approaches.

Why are governments in Europe locking down by region?

Countries are wary of nationwide lockdowns that would have crippling impacts on their economies. Local restrictions allow governments to curb the spread of the virus while keeping parts of the countryand the economyopen. But restrictions are also different this time because the nature of the pandemic itself has changed. New infection clusters appear to be linked to younger people, who are less likely to die of the virus. The result is that this latest surge of cases has so far been less deadly than the first back in March and less burdensome to healthcare services.

Story continues

Even if the number of cases are high, the impact in terms of hospitalization and deaths is very different [compared to March], says Dr Jacobo Mendioroz, the director and coordinator of the committee responding to coronavirus in Catalonia. Rather than calling for stay-at-home orders, many new restrictions target bars, restaurants or other public venues that young people may be more likely to frequent.

But the new restrictions could change if older people begin falling ill in greater numbers. Already, there has been a significant increase in the number of older people testing positive for the virus in France and Spain over the past two weeks, leading to upticks in hospital admissions. Rising case numbers threaten to overrun hospitals and health care services if not managed carefully. We are not in the situation we were in March yet, says Dominique Costalgliola, a member of the French Academy of Science and the vice-dean of research for the faculty of medicine at the Sorbonne University.

Here is how four European countries are responding to the recent surge of coronavirus cases:

Spain

Elders wearing face masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus sit on a park in Madrid, Spain, on Sept. 23, 2020. Bernat ArmangueAP

Spain has been facing a resurgence of COVID-19 cases since July and has the highest infection rate in Europe. Over the past two weeks, 122,000 new COVID-19 cases have been reported, with close to a third of cases occurring in Madrid, the countrys capital. The total number of confirmed cases now stands at more than 640,000 and hospitals are reaching their maximum capacity.

On Sept. 18, Isabel Diaz Ayuso, the president of the Madrid region, announced a partial lockdown of the 37 most affected parts of the region, which came into effect on Monday. The measureswhich affect close to 850,000 people, many of whom live in the poorest parts of the cityrequire individuals to provide justification for trips out of their neighborhoods and has limited the number of people allowed in restaurants or retail establishments.

The news of the lockdown sparked protests in Madrid, where hundreds gathered on Sept. 20. The groups that organized the protests said in a statement that the government has done little to protect vulnerable people in the city and have instead opted for stigmatisation, exclusion and territorial discrimination.

France

On Sept. 19, 13,498 new cases were reported, the highest number since the pandemic began in March. Since then, daily cases have risen to more than 13,000. The cumulative number of COVID-19 cases is now at 453,763 and continues to rise. It has the second highest number of total cases in Europe, after Spain.

Technicians prepare to collect nasal swab samples for at a COVID-19 testing centre in Bayonne, France, on Sept. 22, 2020. Bob EdmeAP

The government has delegated the task of implementing new regulations to regional authorities. Prime Minister Jean Castex said that a nationwide lockdown would have unnecessary economic repercussions.

In Paris, Marseille and Bordeaux, all major hotspots for the virus, authorities have implemented local measures to curb the spread. In Bordeaux and Marseille dancing has been banned at bars and weddings and local companies have been asked to make their employees work from home if possible. In Marseille and Paris, the sale and consumption of alcohol on the streets after 8p.m. has been banned. Wearing a face mask in public is now mandatory across Paris and many of its surrounding areas. Riot police units have been deployed to enforce these measures.

However, despite the new restrictions, the government announced on Sept. 20 that quarantine rules in elementary schools would be relaxed, amid evidence that children pose a small risk for the transmission of COVID-19. Schools will now only shut if a minimum of three students test positive for the virus.

Ireland

Ireland is facing a rise in COVID-19 cases, particularly in Dublin, the countrys capital. On Sept. 22, 188 new daily cases were reported by the National Public Health Emergency Team, 76 of which are in Dublin. Ireland has logged 33,121 COVID-19 cases, in a country of 4.6 million.

The government introduced a new plan for Living With Covid with five different levels. Dublin has been placed under level 3 restrictions, while the rest of the country is at level 2. Under level 2, schools, restaurants and pubs remain open but there are limitations on the number of people that can gather in private and public spaces. In Dublin, indoor social gatherings have been limited to visitors from only one other household and cannot exceed six people. All museums and other cultural attractions have been closed. Restaurants, cafes and pubs can only stay open for take-away services or for outdoor dining. Everyone has been asked to work from home if possible.

At a COVID-19 briefing on Sept. 21, Liz Canavan, the assistant secretary general at the Department of Taoiseach (the Irishs Prime Ministers office), said there was now worrying trends in most areas, making it possible that restrictions in Dublin could be extended to other parts of the country.

Germany

Young women wearing face masks as they walk trough downtown Munich, Germany on Sept. 22, 2020. Matthias SchraderAP

Germany has one of the most effective test, track and tracing systems in the world for COVID-19. And while the country is faring better than others in Europe, Germany is nevertheless seeing a rise in cases, with 1,345 new cases reported on September 20. German Health Minister Jens Spahn has said that surges in infection rates in neighboring countries have affectedand would inevitably continue to affectGermany, given travel between countries in the European Union.

In the southern state of Bavaria, the most affected part of the country, the government implemented new measures on Sept. 22, including a five-person (or two-household) limit on social gatherings, a ban on alcohol consumption in public places, and a curfew on restaurants. These are the toughest restrictions Germany has seen since it began relaxing measures back in May
A Lebanon chiropractor is accused of assaulting patients, police announced Tuesday.

Bruce Ioli, 66, is charged with three counts of indecent assault, according to police.

The investigation into Ioli is focused on three assaults occurring between Aug. 1, 2019, and June 19, 2020, at his office in the 900 block of Cornwall Road, police said.

Three women reported indecent contact while he was working as their chiropractor, police said.

The women ranged in ages from 22 to 28, police said.

Court dockets detailing the charges were not available Tuesday.

Iolis website for his chiropractic practice is offline.

Anyone with information on Ioli and his conduct is asked to contact Sgt. Keith Uhrich with the Lebanon City Police Department at 717-272-6611.

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Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has been sworn in for a sixth term at a secret ceremony held with no prior announcement, the Belta state news agency reported Wednesday.

Alexander Lukashenko has taken office as President of Belarus. The inauguration ceremony is taking place in these minutes in the Palace of Independence, the news agency reported.

Earlier independent news agencies reported that streets were closed as Lukashenkos motorcade raced through the capital Minsk.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) workers along with a group of farmers held a tractor rally from Sidhwan Bet to Badowal on Wednesday. The protest was against the passing of new agriculture reform bills in the Parliament.

The rally was led by Dakha legislator Manpreet Singh Ayali and traversed from Sidhwan Bet to Savadi and Mullanpur to reach Badowal. Farmers drove their tractors holding black flags and shouting slogans demanding the NDA government revoke the Bills immediately or be ready for an even more intense agitation.

Addressing the farmers at Savadhi Anaj mandi, Manpreet Ayali said the SAD had been taking up the need for revocation of the agriculture ordinances immediately after they came into being following apprehensions expressed by farmers as well as party workers. He said it was unfortunate that the BJP did not take the farmers and SAD into confidence while framing the agriculture ordinances. He said the Centre also failed to allay the apprehensions of farmers and did not secure the MSP regime by making its continuation a part of the bills. It is due to this that Harsimrat Kaur Badal resigned from the Parliament, he said while adding that the move had been taken in the interest of the farming community.

Ayali also took a dig at chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh for betraying farmers. He said that the CM had earlier backstabbed farmers by making false vows in the name of the holy Gutka Sahib and Dasam Pitah. Now, he is trying to deceive farmers yet again by becoming a part of the high-powered committee constituted to frame the farm bills. Farmers have seen through this sham and now only trust the SAD to secure justice for them, he added.

The Dakha legislator also announced on the occasion that he was first and foremost a farmer. I have been protesting against the farm bills ever since they came into being. I will not hesitate to make any sacrifice for the cause of farmers if need be. I will always stand with farmers and their cause, he said.

The SAD leader appealed to party workers to participate wholeheartedly in the chakka jam on Thursday to force the Centre to revoke the anti-farmer agriculture bills.
The Delhi government has asked people living in the national capital to get high security registration plates (HSRP) and colour-coded stickers affixed on their vehicles registered before April 2019. Colour-coded stickers will be used to identify the type of fuel used by a vehicle. Those which run on petrol and CNG are given light blue-coloured stickers, while vehicles that use diesel get orange-coloured stickers. These stickers carry details like registration number, the registering authority, a laser-branded PIN, and engine and chassis numbers of the vehicle.

On the other hand, a chromium-based hologram, on the HSRP number plates both at the front and back, is done by hot stamping. Apart from this, laser branding of a permanent identification number is required on the plates.

As the Delhi government has said that it would soon start checking to see if a vehicle is complying with the directive or not, many vehicle owners must be worrying about the process to get colour-coded stickers and HSRP.

Here is how you can get these two affixed on your vehicle:

Step 1: You will have to visit the Delhi governments transport department website to check the list of 236 authorised vehicle dealers. Check which dealer is located nearest to your residence.

Step 2: Now, to book an appointment with your nearest dealer, visit this website. On the site, there are two options  one for private vehicles, those with white number plates, and the other for commercial vehicles, those with yellow number plates.

Step 3: Provide model of your vehicle and choose Delhi as location. After this step, select your nearest dealer. Then, enter all the required information related to you and your vehicle.

Step 4: Post this step, you will receive an OTP on your registered contact number. Type that OTP in the provided space. Following this you will be able to select a date and time to visit the dealer.

Step 5: You will also be required to pay a fee before your appointment is confirmed. Once payment is successfully made, you will receive a confirmation through email or SMS. From that dealer, you can get HSRP and a colour-coded sticker affixed on your vehicle.
Indian Americans raised $3.3 million on a single night for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, a possible record, and pressed his campaign to moderate its positions on Kashmir and the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, as also to add an agenda for the Hindu community on its web platform.

Around $2mn was written in by big donors and $1.3mn came in from smaller donors, said Ramesh Kapur, a member of the Biden-Harris National Finance Committee 2020, who participated in Tuesday nights fundraiser, adding he believed this was a record amount raised by the community at any single-night fundraiser.

Biden acknowledged that he knew and understood this was because of Kamala Harris, his Indian-American nominee for vice president, Kapur said.

The main virtual fundraiser, which followed Bidens interaction with a handful of Indian Americans such as Kapur, was attended by over 200 people and headlined by Vivek Murthy, the former US surgeon general, who is among those the community is pushing for a cabinet position in a possible Biden administration. He introduced the former vice-president, recalling how he had helped with his rocky confirmation hearing process in the Republican-controlled US Senate.

Some Indian Americans who wanted to do more than just write cheques also took the opportunity to press the former vice-president on his campaigns position on Kashmir, CAA and the lack of equal treatment of Hindus, who dont have a dedicated section on the campaign platforms section titled Joes Vision.

There are various segments in that section of the website, which also explains Bidens agenda for communities including Indian Americans, Muslims, Jews and catholic Christians.

The segment on Muslim Americans says, In Kashmir, the Indian government should take all necessary steps to restore rights for all the people of Kashmir. Restrictions on dissent, such as preventing peaceful protests or shutting or slowing down the Internet, weaken democracy.

Joe Biden has been disappointed by the measures that the government of India has taken with the implementation and aftermath of the National Register of Citizens in Assam and the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Act into law. These measures are inconsistent with the countrys long tradition of secularism and with sustaining a multi-ethnic and multi-religious.

Many in the Indian American community have called this an egregious overreach by the Biden campaign, amounting to interference in the internal affairs of another country. Even Democrats such as Sunil Puri, an Illinois businessman, were irked and have publicly and privately pushed the campaign to moderate its position.

Joe do you even know that youre making all these comments about (article) 370 and Kashmir, Puri said recounting his remarks to the former vice-president. And if you do, its a complicated situation. And before we jump in and make comments about what are other countrys internal affairs, (we should understand) we wouldnt want India to tell us what to do.

Puri, who was on the White House presidential commission on Asian Americans during President Barack Obamas tenure, also said he cautioned Biden against taking the Indian American community for granted, citing a recent poll in which Bidens support among Indian Americans is 65%, down from 77% in 2016 had backed Hillary Clinton, the then Democratic nominee.

The poll of the Indian American community by Indiaspora-AAPI Data showed that while Bidens support in the community has fallen compared to Clintons, President Donald Trumps has gone up from 16% in 2016 to 28%. This shift has been attributed by some to the Biden campaigns positions on Kashmir and CAA, among other things.

We have the Christian page, we have the Muslim page, but we dont have a Hindu page, Kapur said, recounting his remarks to the former vice-president at the fund-raiser, adding Biden asked him to call him.

The Indian American community, which has 1.8 million eligible voters, is being wooed aggressively by both Biden and Trump campaigns, especially in the battleground states that will determine the presidential election on the basis of electoral college seats, not the popular vote.

While most of them lean Democratic and will vote for Biden, according to the Indiaspora-AAPI poll, they feel aggrieved by on account of the Kashmir and CAA positions; enough to not be allayed by the campaigns expansive programme for Indian Americans and Bidens repeated assurances that relations with India will get high priority in his administration.

Even at the Tuesday fundraisers, he repeatedly expressed concern over Chinese aggression along the border with India. He brought it twice and on his own said Puri.
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Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 16:57:27|Editor: huaxia

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TEHRAN, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The navy of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) on Wednesday received 188 new combat drones and helicopters, Tasnim news agency reported.

Among the naval drones, there are new unmanned aircraft capable of taking aerial images of fixed and mobile naval targets in combat operations.

Another drone that joined the IRGC navy's fleet was Mohajer-6, an all-weather pilotless aircraft with a range of 200 km, and it has been designed to carry a payload of four missiles.

Also, three Sepehr, Shahab-2, and Hodhod-4 vertical take-off and landing drones were delivered to the IRGC on the same day.

Other new military hardware include two amphibious helicopters and four combat choppers armed with missiles.

"All the IRGC navy operations are now carried out with homegrown drones," Ali Reza Tangsiri, the IRGC navy commander, said at a ceremony in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas. Enditem
In first such moves to bring down tensions in eastern Ladakh, India and China on Tuesday agreed to stop sending more troops to the frontline, refrain from unilaterally changing the situation on the ground and avoid taking any actions that may further complicate matters.

The announcement of the decisions was made by the Indian and Chinese army in a joint statement, a day after the sixth round of Corps commander-level talks that lasted for 14-hours, in what is seen as an attempt to create an environment to resolve the over four-month long border standoff.

However, there appeared to be no forward movement in disengagement of troops from the multiple friction points on the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The statement said the two militaries also agreed to strengthen communication on the ground, avoid misunderstandings and misjudgments and earnestly implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries.

In the statement, it was mentioned that the two sides also agreed to take practical measures to properly solve problems on the ground, and jointly safeguard peace and tranquillity in the border areas. They also resolved to hold the 7th round of military commander talks as soon as possible.

The announcement of a slew of decisions was made in identical statements released by the Indian and Chinese army in Delhi and Beijing simultaneously. "The two sides had candid and in-depth exchange of views on stabilising the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the India-China border areas," said the statement released by the Indian Army.

"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, 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," it said about the Corps commander talks.

It is for the first time that the armies of the two countries have announced specific measures to ease tensions in eastern Ladakh after the face-off erupted in the Himalayan region in early May. Since then, they have rushed thousands of troops and heavy weaponry to almost all the sensitive areas along the LAC. Chinese President Xi Jinping, meanwhile, said China will continue to narrow the differences and resolve disputes with others through negotiations, in comments that came against the backdrop of the Ladakh standoff.

Addressing the general debate of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly, he said, "We will continue to narrow differences and resolve disputes with others through dialogue and negotiation." "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," Xi said in a pre-recorded video message to the UN meeting.

The situation in Ladakh escalated manifold after 20 Indian soldiers were killed in violent clashes in Galwan Valley on June 15. The Chinese side too suffered casualties, but it is yet to divulge the details. The situation further deteriorated following at least three attempts by the soldiers of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) to "intimidate" Indian troops along the northern and southern bank of Pangong lake area in the last three weeks where even shots were fired in the air for the first time at the LAC in 45 years.

As the tensions escalated further, the foreign ministers of the two countries held talks on the sidelines of a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meet in Moscow on September 10 where they reached a five-point agreement to defuse the situation in eastern Ladakh.

The agreement was the basis for the Monday talks which was also attended for the first time by a joint secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs(MEA). The agreement aimed at ending the tense standoff 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 LAC.

On the Corps commander talks, government sources earlier in the day said a common assessment that emerged was there should not be any further escalation in tensions as the situation had deteriorated in the Chushul sector following three incidents of shots being fired in the air.

The sources said the Chinese side insisted on withdrawal of Indian troops from the strategic heights around the southern bank of Pangong lake but the Indian delegation clearly conveyed that China's PLA first vacate the areas from Finger 4 to Finger 8. The mountain spurs in the area are referred to as Fingers.

They said there was a shared view that disengagement of troops was necessary to bring down the tensions and both sides should continue the diplomatic and military talks to finalise the broad contours. At the talks, the Indian side pressed for an early and complete disengagement of Chinese troops from all the friction points and insisted it was for China to take the first steps to de-escalate the situation, government sources said.

It is learnt that the Indian delegation also insisted on a time-bound implementation of the five-point agreement reached in Moscow. Monday's talks began at around 9 am in Moldo on the Chinese side of the LAC across India's Chushul sector in eastern Ladakh and ended at 11 PM.

The two sides also mentioned the harsh winter in the Ladakh region beginning October when temperatures fall upto minus 25 degree Celsius and oxygen becomes scarce, the sources said. The Indian delegation was headed by Lt Gen Harinder Singh, the commander of the Leh-based 14 Corps of the Indian Army. It also comprised MEA Joint Secretary Naveen Srivastava, who has been engaged in diplomatic talks with China on the border row under the framework of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on border affairs.

The team also included Lt Gen PGK Menon, who is expected to succeed Singh as the commander of the 14 Corps next month. At the previous five rounds of Corps commander-level talks, the Indian side insisted on complete disengagement of Chinese troops at the earliest, and immediate restoration of status quo ante in all areas of eastern Ladakh prior to April.

The fifth round of talks on August 2 lasted for nearly 11 hours while the fourth round went on for nearly 15 hours on July 14. The situation in eastern Ladakh deteriorated after China unsuccessfully attempted to occupy Indian territory in the southern bank of Pangong Lake on the intervening night of August 29 and 30. On September 7, the Chinese troops again made an unsuccessful bid to close in on the Indian position and even fired shots in the air in the Mukhpari area of Rezang-La ridgeline on the southern bank of Pangong lake.

As Jaishankar and Wang were set to hold talks in Moscow, Chinese soldiers fired a barrage of "warning shots" in the air on the North Bank of Pangong lake to "intimidate" the Indian troops, Indian Army sources had said. India occupied a number of strategic heights on the southern bank of Pangong lake and strengthened its presence in Finger 2 and Finger 3 areas in the region to thwart any Chinese actions. China has been occupying the areas between Finger 4 and Finger 8.

Also read: India's digital strike on China: After Chinese apps' ban, govt trains guns on fintech firms

Also read: India-China military talks on Ladakh lasts 14 hrs; more negotiations ahead
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and other top officials attended the event, the report reads.

In Mykolaiv and Kherson regions, Ukrainian and British airborne assault brigades practiced storming settlements, seizing a bridgehead, and crossing water barriers, during the United Efforts 2020 exercise.

That's according to the Ukrainian Armed Forces' press service.

"Today, September 23, in Mykolaiv and Kherson regions, the strategic command and staff exercise Joint Effort 2020 moved to its practical stage. This was the brigade exercises of a separate mechanized brigade and tactical exercises with the corresponding units of a separate airborne assault brigade of the Airborne Assault Force Ukraine and the 16 Air Assault Brigade of the British Army," the message says.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and other top officials attended the event, the report reads.

In Mykolaiv region, the troops practiced the assault on populated areas, an offensive on the move on unprepared defenses, an attack on the enemy's front edge, and a battle for mastering company strongholds in the first position. Tactical airborne assault troops from a separate mechanized brigade were also involved.

In Kherson region, airborne assault units of Ukraine and UK jointly trained in seizing a bridgehead and crossing a water barrier on all types of landing craft and across a pontoon bridge.

Read alsoU.S. warplanes fly over Ukraine in show of support (Photo, video)

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Ruslan Khomchak, emphasized that the Joint Effort 2020 strategic command-staff exercise is unique in terms of its scope, composition of forces and means, and involvement of partners.

The commander says this is a vivid demonstration of compatibility between the forces and assets of Ukraine's Army, other components of defense forces, and NATO armies.

"Ukraine is the only country in modern Europe that has a successful experience in countering Russia's armed aggression. This became possible including thanks to the help of our partners. Support and solidarity with our state of the entire civilized world is extremely important, because the Ukrainian Army protects not only Ukraine, but also Europe," Khomchak emphasized.

Joint Effort 2020: background
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer took aim at the Prime Minister today, accusing him of pretending there was no problem with the coronavirus test and trace programme and blaming it for new lockdown measures.

In a rather subdued Prime Minister's Questions they faced off over the under-performing programme which has been the focus of much criticism in recent months.

During the set-piece exchange, Boris Johnson defended the head of NHS Test and Trace, Baroness Dido Harding, and said the UK is testing 'more people than any other European country'.

But opening their Commons exchange, Sir Keir questioned why the Prime Minister said yesterday the Test and Trace system has 'very little or nothing' to do with the spread or the transmission of Covid-19, after previously hailing it as a game-changer.

Sir Keir said: 'Both positions cannot be right', adding: 'Pretending there isn't a problem is part of the problem, Prime Minister.'

The Opposition leader latched on to comments made by Mr Johnson in the Commons yesterday where he said the test and trace system has 'very little or nothing' to do with the spread or the transmission of Covid-19.

Mr Johnson said 'continual attacks by the Opposition on Dido Harding in particular are unseemly and unjustified'

'Is the explanation from the PM that we haven't got enough capacity because nobody could have expected the rise in demand? That's the Dido Harding defence - or is it we've got all the capacity we need, it just that people are being unreasonable in asking for tests? That's the (Matt) Hancock defence. So which is it?'

Mr Johnson replied: 'I must say that the continual attacks by the Opposition on Dido Harding in particular are unseemly and unjustified.'

He added: 'Testing more people than any other European country... we're going to go up 500,000 tests by the end of October.'

He accused the Opposition leader of failing to support the Government's plans saying: 'What I frankly want to hear is more of the spirit of togetherness than we had yesterday.'

The Prime Minister said the Government will introduce 'further creative and imaginative schemes to keep our economy moving'.

Sir Keir Starmer asked why business support was not announced at the same time as greater Covid-19 restrictions on Tuesday.

Boris Johnson replied: 'Let's be in absolutely no doubt that the work that this Government has done to protect the economy of this country, to support the jobs of 12 million people through the furlough scheme, enabled expenditure of about 160 billion has been unexampled anywhere else in the world.

Baroness Harding faced a grilling from MPs on Thursday, telling them nobody was 'expecting' to see the 'really sizeable increase in demand,' for testing when schools returned

'And I think he should pay tribute to the Chancellor and his work and we will go forward with further creative and imaginative schemes to keep our economy moving.'

Baroness Harding faced a grilling from MPs on Thursday, telling them nobody was 'expecting' to see the 'really sizeable increase in demand,' for testing, that has caused chaos at test centres across the country in recent weeks.

The Government's testing tsar said the current daily capacity of 240,000 had been put in place 'based on SAGE modelling for what we should be preparing for for the autumn'. Sage members later hit back, saying she had been given clear advice.

Meanwhile, she revealed that demand for Covid tests is currently up to four times greater than the system's capacity.

However, while some centres are stretched to the limit trying to deliver, others remain empty, with one worker even pictured falling asleep on the job at a site in Heathrow.

There have been numerous reports of staff at deserted walk-in testing centres turning people away if they didn't have an appointment or weren't showing obvious coronavirus symptoms.
Carson, while speaking to reporters Tuesday at Plymouth Place retirement community in Des Moines, gave his assurance that Americans will be able to trust a COVID-19 vaccine approved by Trump and his administration.

These things have to go through rigorous trials. They have to go through safety testing, efficacy testing, phase one, phase two, phase three trials. Theres no way to shortcut. There are boxes that have to be checked at each (phased) of the trial, and if you dont check the box, it doesnt move on to the next stage, Carson said. So that is not something that people need to be concerned about.

Carson, who ran for president during the 2016 Republican primary, also recommended the COVID-19 vaccine to anyone who may be hesitant to get it once it becomes available.

I would say, Would you rather continue with COVID-19 controlling your life? Or would you like to get to the other side of this and move on? Carson said. It is true that with viral infections of this type, they do have a natural course. And, you know, given a long enough period of time, it would on its own go away. But obviously we dont want to wait that long. We want to encourage it to move along.
Why work from home when you can work from Westport?

That's the question being asked by one four-star hotel, with a new deal designed to tempt remote workers to the Wild Atlantic Way.

Hotel Westport's 'Work from Westport' package includes five nights' B&B, dinner on two evenings and access to a shared digital hub with socially distanced workstations, high speed Wi-Fi, shared printer and scanner and a coffee machine from 350 per person sharing, or 450 for a single room.

Guests can upgrade to private office space connecting to a bedroom from 450pps, or 525 for a single. Shorter packages are available, too.

We understand that working from home every day can be wearing and become repetitive, and we are excited to offer a safe and work-friendly experience," said Barry O'Connor, the hotel's Chief Executive.

The packages are designed "to combine work and wellness" he added, with guests getting access to the hotel's 400-acre estate, pool and leisure centre.

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It comes as the coronavirus pandemic sees millions of office workers all over the world either required or opting to work remotely.

Since last Friday, Dubliners are advised to "work from home unless absolutely necessary to attend in person" under Level 3 of the Government's Plan for Living with Covid-19.

As occupancy rates plummet, hotels have also been looking at ways to get creative - including offering vacant rooms as office spaces.

In Co Meath, for example, Dunboyne Castle has been renting bedrooms as workspaces from 35 per day, providing guests with Wi-Fi, a desk and a private bathroom.

Before the pandemic, many hotels had been evolving their lobby spaces to accommodate both leisure and working guests, who could often be spotted hunched over laptops or fielding calls through headphones.

Others had been exploring daytime rental of rooms as offices.

Global chain TFE offers "day use" rooms in Sydney from $75, for example, including full use of facilities like pools from 9am to 5pm.

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In Downtown LA, Hotel Figuera is similarly offering suites as part of its "Fig Work Perks' programme. They can be rented from nine-to-five with parking, Wi-Fi, printing and hotel amenities included from around $140.

Global usage of apps like Daycation and sites like DayBreakHotels.com and DayUse.com is also up with 'daycations' a growing travel trend.

Many may now see an opportunity to further target local workers looking to improve their work/life balance, or who just want somewhere to "go to work" after months at home.

"A change of scene and no interruptions," as author Zoe Miller tweeted of Dunboyne Castle's offer this summer. "Much needed after the last few (cabin fever) months."

Or what about remote working in the winter sun?

Lanzarote Retreats, which manages villas, cottages and apartments in the Canary Islands, is offering long stays for remote workers from 1,000 per month for two sharing.

"Fibre Optic broadband, sunshine and a sea view," they say. "Work-life balance doesnt get any better."

In attracting workers for office space, of course, hotels also boost the chances of spend on things like lunches, coffees, spa treatments or other amenities.

By the sounds of it, Hotel Westport is already thinking that way.

"Book a massage during your lunch break or enjoy special post-work perks such as a walk on the beautiful 400-acre estate, hire a bike for the evening or do a yoga class at the Yoga Root to unwind," it says.

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M inisters have warned of 7,000 long truck queues in Kent after the Brexit transition period ends.

Exporters to the EU face heavy queues and two day delays to trade, the government has warned in a leaked letter.

Imports will also be disrupted in January, according to a letter from cabinet minister Michael Gove to the freight industry.

Gove, responsible for no-deal planning, has written to logistics groups with the Governments reasonable worst-case scenario planning.

He is due to outline the scenario work in the Commons today.

It comes as the European Unions chief negotiator Michel Barnier prepares to travel to London for further informal talks with his counterpart Lord Frost as efforts continue to strike a post-Brexit trade deal.

The transition period, which kept the UK aligned to the EUs single market and customs union rules to allow trade to flow smoothly after Brexit, expires at the end of the year unless both sides agree to an extension - something Boris Johnson has ruled out.

The Cabinet Office document states that, in its reasonable worst-case scenario, between 30-50% of trucks crossing the Channel will not be ready for the new regulations coming into force on January 1 2021, while a lack of capacity to hold unready trucks at French ports could reduce the flow of traffic across the strait to 60-80% of normal levels.

This could lead to maximum queues of 7,000 port bound trucks in Kent and associated maximum delays of up to two days, the documents said.

Gove will outline the scenerios to the Commons today / Jeremy Selwyn

Such delays could be in place for at least three months, hauliers have been warned, as alternative routes are sought and supply chains get to grips with the new systems and requirements.

In his letter, Gove said: Irrespective of the outcome of negotiations between the UK and EU, traders will face new customs controls and processes.

Simply put, if traders, both in the UK and EU, have not completed the right paperwork, their goods will be stopped when entering the EU and disruption will occur.

It is essential that traders act now and get ready for new formalities.

But sector chiefs have accused the Government of failing to do enough in recent weeks over the threat of post-Brexit border delays.

Logistics UK, formerly the Freight Transport Association, was seething last week after being told the Governments Smart Freight system - designed to reduce the risk of cargo delays once Britain is outside of EU rules - would still be in testing mode in January when British exports face new border regulations.

The Road Haulage Association (RHA), meanwhile, said their meeting on Thursday with Gove had fallen far short of our expectations.

Responding to the worst-case scenario document, RHA chief executive Richard Burnett said: Weve been consistently warning the Government that there will be delays at ports but theyre just not engaging with industry on coming up with solutions.

Traders need 50,000 more customs intermediaries to handle the mountain of new paperwork after transition but Government support to recruit and train those extra people is woefully inadequate.

The answers to the questions that we raised in our letter to Mr Gove and subsequent roundtable meeting last Thursday still remain unanswered  and our concern continues to grow.

A Government spokesman said: With just 100 days to go until the end of the transition period its vital that businesses prepare now for new rules that will come into force at the end of the year, so that they can hit the ground running on January 1 2021 and seize new opportunities.

As a responsible Government we continue to make extensive preparations for a wide range of scenarios, including the reasonable worst case.

This is not a forecast or prediction of what will happen but rather a stretching scenario.
Taliban militants and delegates appointed by the Afghan government are meeting in Qatar in an attempt to end decades of war that have torn Afghanistan apart and left it reliant on foreign aid.

And as the sheen of the opening ceremony begins to fade, the huge task remains of resolving one of the worlds deadliest conflicts.

NBC News has spoken to Taliban commanders, an Afghan government negotiator and a former high-level diplomat to find out what barriers could prevent the cycle of conflict being broken.

The two sides are currently discussing rules and procedure for talks and it remains unclear when they will move on to the more substantive issues in the peace talks.

But despite cautious positivity from some analysts, even in this early phase the two sides have expressed clashing visions of how Afghanistan should be governed.

Image: A burqa-clad woman stands near a young girl among households' debris after a flash flood affected the area at Sayrah-e-Hopiyan in Charikar, Afghanistan (Wakil Kohsar / AFP - Getty Images)

A transition of power?

If the Taliban insist on the installation of an interim government that would remove the current administration in Kabul, that could spell trouble.

A Taliban commander in Helmand province told NBC News that the group would push to replace President Ashraf Ghanis government with an interim one and that it would refuse to work with the current Afghan leaders. It remains unclear whether this view reflects that of the Taliban political leadership, but it is indicative of a wider rejection of the U.S.-backed government in Kabul.

The commander, like other Taliban leaders quoted in this article, spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the media.

Traditionally, the Taliban have refused to recognize the government's legitimacy and have referred to Ghani as a puppet.

Ghani, meanwhile, has been careful not to make promises when asked whether he would step aside to make way for an interim government if requested by the Taliban and Washington.

I serve at will of the Afghan people, not to the will of the Taliban, he told a virtual conference in June when questioned by a journalist, adding that the key issue was not the president, but the republic.

Story continues

He said any discussion of an interim government was premature, adding that former President Najibullah, who was killed before his body was hanged near the presidential palace in Kabul when the Taliban militants swept into the capital in 1996, made the mistake of his life by announcing he would resign.

Image: Afghan Taliban militants and villagers attend a gathering as they celebrate the peace deal and their victory in the Afghan conflict on U.S. in Afghanistan (Noorullah Shirzada / AFP - Getty Images file)

A permanent, comprehensive cease-fire

From our point of view, of course, the cease-fire is the most important thing, Fatima Gailani, a member of Afghanistans peace negotiating team, said. This was the request of the people of Afghanistan.

A cease-fire, she said, would help both sides trust each other and allow the people of Afghanistan on either side of the conflict to breathe.

However, three Taliban commanders and one member of the Taliban negotiating team in Doha said they were not in favor of a cease-fire until there was significant progress in the peace talks, or even until a peace deal was agreed upon.

That indicates how far the two sides could be in agreeing to even a temporary halt in the fighting  and a reluctance from the Taliban to give up its most powerful bargaining chip.

If we stop fighting, then what does there remain to talk about, the member of the Taliban negotiating team in Doha said.

But as the conflict drags, more civilian lives become data points in this devastating conflict. Between 2009 and 2019, more than 100,000 casualties were recorded in Afghanistan, according to United Nations estimates.

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Johnny Walsh, a former U.S. diplomat and senior adviser on the Afghan peace process at the State Department, said it was somewhat plausible that narrow cease-fires could happen in the near term as a confidence building measure.

But he said the Taliban considered an indefinite and comprehensive end to the violence to be one of their biggest concessions, so they would be reluctant to agree to it right away.

When asked about the Talibans perspective, Gailani said she was expressing the hope of the Afghan negotiating team that there would be a cease-fire first.

Now when the negotiations start, then lets see what will come or maybe a combination of both at the same time.

Image: Qatar's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on the sidelines of the opening ceremony of the Afghan negotiations (AFP - Getty Images)

A future Afghanistan

There is one fundamental hurdle for any negotiation over what the country should look like: the Taliban do not support democracy, according to a Taliban commander in Ghazni province.

We would follow the emirate system, he said, referring to a state ruled by an emir, a Muslim ruler.

Only religious scholars would give their opinion to choose members for the supreme council. The supreme council would then devise strategies to run the country as per Islamic Sharia, he said, referring to Islamic law as derived from the Koran.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement Tuesday that an Islamic system has its own definition and structure, adding that at least two members of the Kabul delegation were unable to understand and recognize that due to their lack of command of Islamic studies and history. He gave few further details.

According to Walsh, the senior Taliban leadership has backed away from publicly calling for an emirate and say broadly that there should be a more Islamic system. It's unclear how they define this and whether privately they still envisage Afghanistan as an emirate.

Taliban figures often say democracy is not inherently contrary to Islam, but say they are negative about the 2004 constitution because they were excluded from its creation, which they say happened under the shadow of B-52 bombers, according to Walsh.

Theyre insinuating that Western powers dictated this constitution, he added.

The 2004 constitution, which enshrines the state as an Islamic republic, was ratified after the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, which toppled the Taliban.

The International Crisis Group, an organization that works to prevent wars, has reported that Taliban members are divided over the democracy question.

On the other hand, Kabul is broadly expected to push to maintain the status quo.

Ghani told a virtual conference organized by the Atlantic Council and the United States Institute of Peace in June, that the Afghan side had gathered a consensus around two fundamental notions.

One is the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan as a sovereign, democratic, and united republic, he said. And second, citizens. The rights and obligations that bind us together are those of citizenship.

Image: (Hussein Sayed / AP)

Womens rights

Gailani said the delegates appointed by the Afghan government had been given a specific demand from Afghan women that they did not want to compromise on their rights to education, work and political participation.

This is a message that we have to bring with sincerity, and as strongly as it came to us it has to be expressed on the negotiating table, she said.

Between 1996 and 2001, the Taliban ruled Afghanistan with a hard-line interpretation of Islamic law under which most women were barred from attending school, holding jobs or even leaving their homes without male escorts.

The Taliban have since indicated they will adopt a less draconian stance toward women and girls than before but have offered scant details.

The commander from Helmand province said that the Taliban would protect women's rights under Islamic Sharia law. He did not elaborate on what this meant for women but said the governance system would be different from that in Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Saphora Smith reported from London and Mushtaq Yusufzai from Peshawar, Pakistan.
The deal will run through 2028.

Samsung Biologics and the U.K.'s AstraZeneca have announced a long-term global supply agreement valued at nearly US$331 million.

Samsung Biologics will take on large-scale commercial production of drugs to support AstraZeneca's biologics therapies.

The value of the deal could reach almost $550 million if demand increases, allowing AstraZeneca to expand its manufacturing capabilities into Asia.
Rep. Ilhan Omar is a self-described democratic socialist who has made a name for herself as one the farthest-left voices in the House of Representatives. So, its little surprise that the Democratic congresswoman from Minnesota has become a lightning rod for conservative criticism. A lot of it is well-deserved  but too often, the conservative critiques of Omar have strayed into disgraceful, xenophobic territory.

President Trump is the latest high-profile Republican to cross this line. He once again resorted to immoral and bigoted attacks on the congresswoman during a Tuesday evening campaign rally in Pennsylvania.

How about Omar of Minnesota? he asked, with the crowd booing in response. Were gonna win the state of Minnesota because of her.

Shes telling us how to run our country, Trump continued. How did you do where you came from? How is your country doing?

Firstly, this is my country and I am a member of the House that impeached you, Omar responded in a tweet. Secondly, I fled civil war when I was 8. An 8-year-old doesnt run a country even though you run our country like one.

As a staunch fiscal and constitutional conservative, its a rare day that I say this  but Ilhan Omar is absolutely right. President Trumps attack is off-base from the very beginning.

The president frames our country in contrast to Ilhan Omar, but the congresswoman is a naturalized American citizen. Factually and morally speaking, she is just as much an American as Trumps own wife, First Lady Melania Trump. Yet Trump is essentially suggesting that Omar isnt really an American, a charge rife with bigotry that he certainly wouldnt have made of a white, native-born Democratic foe. She might have horrible political views from a conservative perspective, but that doesnt make Omar any less our fellow American.

It gets worse, though.

When the president goes on to blame Omar for the abysmal state of life in Somalia, a war-torn developing country, he enters truly ridiculous territory. Omar was a child refugee. She has zero moral culpability for how Somalias government has failed, unless you think she should have led a revolution before learning algebra.

The presidents deeply flawed criticism of Omar does so much more harm than good for the conservative movement. By dallying in xenophobic attacks, Trump feeds into the flawed narrative that all Republicans are racist and xenophobic. And by indulging in cheap ad-hominem jibes, Trump discredits the many valid and substantive critiques the right can make of the congresswoman.

Omar supports left-wing socialist ideas such as government-run healthcare via Medicare for All. Omars plan would throw 250 million people off of their private health insurance whether they like it or not, require more than doubling federal taxes, and harm the USs world-leading rates of medical innovation. So, too, Omar backs the Green New Deal, a left-wing policy package that would cost an astounding amount  between $51 trillion and $93 trillion  over a decade and sharply raise energy costs for low-income Americans.

Moreover, Omar has made criticisms of Israel that some have called antisemitic, smeared millions of law-abiding members of the National Rifle Association as being pro mass murder, and mocked the violent assault of Republican Sen. Rand Paul.

All of this is fair game for conservative criticism. Conservatives: Have a field day with the far-left congresswoman on the merits of her radical economic ideas and many controversial political stances.

But the kind of openly xenophobic and factually distorted attacks President Trump keeps launching which target Ilhan Omars identity as an immigrant really should be considered off-limits. Conservatives, we can do much better.

Brad Polumbo (@Brad_Polumbo) is a conservative American political journalist based in Washington, D.C. and host of the Breaking Boundaries podcast
An Uber-Lyft driver queues up alongside taxicab drivers at LAX. California voters are mixed on Proposition 22, a ballot measure that would allow app-based ride-hailing and delivery companies to treat their workers as independent contractors. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Despite amassing the largest campaign war chest in California history, Uber, Lyft and other app-based companies are in danger of coming up short with voters on a ballot measure that would allow them to again classify their workers as independent contractors, a new statewide poll shows.

The UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll shows that 39% of the 5,900 likely voters surveyed from Sept. 9-15 would side with the companies and vote yes on Proposition 22, compared with 36% who said they would vote no and 25% still undecided. The poll's margin of error is plus or minus two points.

With just over 40 days left before the November election, pollster Mark DiCamillo says Uber, Lyft, Instacart, Postmates and DoorDash  which have collectively put an unprecedented $180 million into their campaign  have a long way to go to earn more than 50% of the vote, a necessary threshold for a ballot measure to pass.

"So, it's a tall order for the yes side, but with the resources they have and the fact that voters really haven't come to judgment...it's still open," DiCamillo said. "I think it's anybody's guess right now."

Proposition 22 is the app-based companies' answer to the hotly debated Assembly Bill 5, a 2019 law that requires dozens of industries to classify their workers as employees instead of independent contractors and provide them with job protections. The law sought to clarify a 2018 California Supreme Court ruling that imposed a new test to determine employment status.

Labor unions argue that Uber, Lyft and other companies had been skirting the law and AB 5 was necessary to require the businesses to appropriately classify nearly 500,000 workers in California that state audits found have been improperly treated as independent contractors. AB 5 gives them access to workers' compensation, family leave, minimum wage, vacation, sick leave and other benefits.

Proposition 22 is an attempt by the app-based companies to buy their way out of the state law and the new poll shows it isn't working, opponents say.

Story continues

"After spending record-shattering amounts on TV, radio, and every other platform imaginable and available starting in July, I guess more isn't always better," said Gale Kaufman, chief consultant for the labor-funded opposition campaign. "When you've got the measure they have, a measure that rips basic benefits and protections away from their workers, even they can't hide that."

The app-based companies have long argued that AB 5 would upend their business model and tried to convince the California Legislature to carve out an exemption that would have allowed them to continue to treat their workers as independent contractors. But as AB 5 moved through the Legislature and talks with labor unions came to a halt last year, the companies turned their attention to the 2020 ballot.

Ballot measure contests often favor the campaign with the most money to pay for ads on television, streaming services, radio, mail and other mediums to reach voters.

It's not unusual in California for companies to launch an initiative as a method of convincing their opponents in the Legislature to give them what they want  or risk having to wage an expensive ballot measure campaign.

Uber, Lyft and DoorDash appeared to use the tactic in August 2019, when they committed $90 million to seek an exemption to AB 5 through the ballot initiative process. At the time, Uber's chief legal officer Tony West described the ballot initiative as a last resort while the app-based companies continued to pursue legislative relief, which never materialized.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB 5 into law one year ago, saying it will help reduce worker misclassification  workers being wrongly classified as independent contractors rather than employees, which erodes basic worker protections like the minimum wage, paid sick days and health insurance benefits."

But the state alleged in a May lawsuit that Uber and Lyft have continued to flout the law and treat their drivers as independent contractors. As the court process plays out, Uber and Lyft have threatened to temporarily shut down their operations in California.

Proposition 22 qualified for the November ballot in May and so far Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, Instacart and Postmates are the only companies that have contributed money to the yes campaign, including $70 million on Sept. 4 to bring the total to more than $180 million.

The measure would put in place the exemption to AB 5 that the app-based ride-hailing and delivery companies have been seeking. Provisions in the proposal would also give some limited benefits to qualifying workers, including 120% of the local minimum wage for hours that they are driving, but not those spent waiting for riders or orders, according to an analysis by the independent Legislative Analyst's Office.

Most workers are part time, but those who work more than 15 hours a week  a total also calculated by hours driving and not including hours between orders or rides  would be eligible for a stipend for health insurance.

The companies argue that their drivers want the flexibility that working as independent contractors provides. They say drivers work for multiple app-based companies at one time and choose their own hours, which they would no longer be allowed to do unless the companies are exempt from AB 5.

"As voters learn more about Prop. 22 and the benefits provided to both drivers and customers, we are seeing growing support across the political spectrum," said Geoff Vetter, a spokesman for the "Yes on 22" campaign. "Prop. 22 provides that independence to drivers, along with historic new benefits like a minimum earnings guarantee and healthcare, and will save hundreds of thousands of ride-share and delivery jobs and the services millions rely on."

Although app-based companies pushing the measure are blanketing television, streaming services and radio with advertisements featuring drivers in support of Proposition 22, many workers also rallied in support of AB 5 and oppose the ballot measure.

Labor unions, led by the Service Employees International Union, United Food and Commercial Workers and the Teamsters Union, have raised about $10 million for their opposition campaign.

With a built-in pool of union workers to conduct phone banks and knock on doors, organized labor in California can typically put up a good fight against campaigns with more money. But the pandemic has made it harder to gather union workers together to make hundreds or thousands of calls to potential voters and created new concerns about door-to-door contacts.

Despite the potential of being outspent 18 to 1, labor hopes the title and summary of the ballot measure, which explicitly notes that app-based transportation and delivery companies would be exempt from providing employee benefits, is a boon to their cause.

"Voters are smart and when they see and understand who is behind this and what their motivations are, they immediately get this is about corporations who want to buy themselves a law to keep exploiting their workers," said Mike Roth, a spokesman for the "No on Prop 22" campaign.

The Berkeley poll found a few key differences among likely voters, with 42% of Democrats opposing Proposition 22 compared with 53% of Republicans who support it and many still undecided.

Opinions seemed to track with political leanings across California. Opposition is the highest in the Bay Area, where 42% of voters are against exempting app-based companies from having to treat their workers as employees. In Orange County, 46% of likely voters support the measure.

Younger voters were more inclined to oppose Proposition 22, while older voters were more likely to show support.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Election officials in the battleground state of North Carolina on Tuesday said they will count any absentee ballots that arrive up to nine days after the Nov. 3 presidential election, as long as they are postmarked by Election Day.

The agreement, which would resolve a Democratic-backed lawsuit if approved by a judge, is the latest legal development extending the deadline in various states amid concerns that mail delivery slowdowns could delay the arrival of ballots.

Courts in Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania - all states expected to be critical to the November contest between Republican President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden - have ordered officials this month to accept late-arriving ballots, in each case over Republican objections.

Republican legislative leaders in Pennsylvania said in a court filing on Tuesday they plan to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to overrule the state Supreme Courts decision.

The request could be the first high-profile election dispute to arrive at the U.S. high court after the death last week of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the liberal stalwart whose passing has sparked an intense struggle in Washington over Trumps intention to replace her ahead of the election.

In a statement, a Trump campaign spokeswoman, Samantha Zager, called the North Carolina agreement a scam," noting the majority of the elections board is comprised of Democratic members.

The board chairman, Damon Circosta, said in a statement that the five-member board, including Republicans, agreed to the changes unanimously.

Meanwhile, Maines top court paved the way on Tuesday for the state to become the first U.S. state to ask voters to rank their choices for president.

Under ranked-choice voting," voters will be asked to list Trump, Biden and the three other minor-party presidential candidates appearing on Maine ballots in order of preference, rather than simply choosing one.

If no one wins a majority on the first count, voters who backed losing candidates are assigned to their second choices until one candidate has a majority.

That reduces the likelihood that a spoiler" third-party candidate would siphon votes away from either Trump or Biden.

Maines Supreme Judicial Court essentially let stand a decision blocking a referendum that could have prevented ranked-choice voting. The states Democratic secretary of state said the Republican-supported ballot measure did not have enough signatures.

The state used the ranked-choice system, adopted after a series of close three-way governors races, in the 2018 congressional elections.

The state is competitive but offers just four of the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the presidency.

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
Retrospect, a StorCentric company, today announced the general availability (GA) release of Retrospect Backup 17.5, which includes new cloud storage provider certifications and platform updates for Apple macOS, as well as performance enhancements to Retrospect Management Console. The enhancements ensure customers around the world can leverage the latest Apple technology and utilize an ever-growing number of cloud providers for off-site data protection.

Product Enhancements

Retrospect Backup 17.5 for Windows and Mac and Retrospect Management Console include the following new features:



Amazon S3 Virtual-Host Path Support: Retrospect 17.5 is now certified for Amazon S3's new bucket URL style, requiring virtual-host paths as of September 30, 2020. Retrospect continues to support Amazon S3's original path-style URLs without any additional configuration. Existing customers do not need to update their settings.

Cloud Certifications: Retrospect 17.5 is now certified for Alibaba Cloud, Webair, and Backblaze B2's S3 API.

macOS Big Sur Support: Retrospect 17.5 is now certified for Apple's latest macOS version: Big Sur, due out soon.

Apple Silicon Support: Retrospect 17.5 is now certified for Apple Silicon, the new chipset from Apple.

Improved Performance: Retrospect Management Console is now significantly faster and can handle larger Retrospect instances, making it the easiest way to monitor and manage a large backup infrastructure.

We understand that businesses require support for the latest platforms on day one, said JG Heithcock, GM of Retrospect. Consequently, we remain fiercely committed to delivering just that. He continued, With this announcement, Retrospect continues to be at the forefront of delivering the most comprehensive platform and cloud storage provider support, which now includes macOS Big Sur and Apple Silicon, as well as dozens of cloud storage providers. This provides our customers with greatest freedom and flexibility to choose the solution that can best meet their IT, business, and budgetary requirements.

Availability

Retrospect 17.5 for Windows and Mac is now generally available (GA) and free to customers who have Retrospect 17. Retrospect is available in six languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, and Japanese.

About Retrospect

Retrospect is dedicated to providing reliable backup and recovery tools for professionals and small-to-midsize businesses with Retrospect Backup and Retrospect Virtual, covering physical servers and endpoints, virtual environments, and business applications. With three decades of field-tested expertise and millions of users worldwide, Retrospect meets the needs of organizations that require the highest level of recoverability. Retrospect is a proud member of the StorCentric family of brands. For additional information, please visit: https://www.retrospect.com/.

About StorCentric

StorCentric provides world-class and award-winning storage solutions for prosumers, SMBs and enterprise customers. Between its Drobo, Nexsan, Retrospect and Vexata divisions, the company has shipped over 1M storage solutions and has won over 100 awards for technology innovation and service excellence. StorCentric innovation is centered around customers and their specific data requirements, and delivers quality solutions with unprecedented management ease and capabilities, data protection, performance and scalability. For further information, please visit: http://www.storcentric.com.
Mike Pompeo defends being vocal about his evangelical faith: 'I think it's important' Im an evangelical Christian and I believe Jesus Christ is my Savior

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Secretary of State Mike Pompeo defended being outspoken about his evangelical faith as he spoke before an annual gathering of conservative Christian voters Tuesday night, saying that religion drives how people think about the world and their families.

Pompeo, a former congressman and CIA director, sat down with Family Research Council President Tony Perkins for a video interview that aired during the first night of FRCs annual Values Voter Summit, an event that traditionally takes place in-person in the nations capital but this year is being held online because of the pandemic.

The 56-year-old, who has often been vocal about his faith and spoken about his Christian identity in speeches overseas and at some prominent American evangelical churches, was offered the chance to defend his action of putting his faith out in the forefront despite criticism from some atheists and secularists.

People appreciate knowing who you are, that you are authentic and that you dont hide the things that drive you, the central underpinnings of who you are, Pompeo said.

For me, I am an evangelical Christian and I believe Jesus Christ is my Savior. I think when I meet with counterparts, whether they are from an Arab state that is a majority-Muslim country or in Israel, a predominantly Jewish country, I think they appreciate people who are consistent and know where you are coming from. We all have different ideas. Those three religions have some centrality. They come from Abrahamic faiths. But they appreciate that.

Earlier this month, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice criticized Pompeo for being an overtly religious secretary of state" after he gave a video speech played during the Republican National Convention that he recorded while he was in Jerusalem. Rice claimed that it was "problematic" because hes "supposed to represent all of America" and its religions.

While speaking with Perkins, Pompeo referenced a speech he gave when he went to Cairo, Egypt, last year. He talked about being an evangelical Christian and how were all children of Abraham.

I still get notes to this day from people all around the world [who say that] for you to stand in Cairo and talk about your being an evangelical Christian but recognizing that the people in Egypt were predominantly from a different religion, but you could find places where you could work together and make life better for people of both countries, Pompeo said.

I think that is the way diplomacy is best conducted when people are honest about who they are, what drives them. ... I swore an oath to the U.S. Constitution  but the person I am is important for people to understand.

Pompeo shot down the notion that the faith of diplomats should be put on the back burner.

Perkins, one of the nations leading Christian conservative activists and a commissioner on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, noted that 80% of the world is religious in orientation who make decisions based upon those deeply held beliefs.

Too often in the West, we have held to this secular mindset that religion has to be pushed out when the world makes decisions based upon their faith, Perkins added. So as a believer who believes that faith is real and it affects peoples lives, I think it gives you an advantage in diplomacy.

Pompeo responded by saying that this type of mentality exists in many countries.

When you cant talk about it or you push it to the background or you push it aside or pretend it is not part of the process of analysis, you are taking away one of the fundamental elements of human nature, Pompeo reasoned.

We are all made in the image of God. That drives how people think about their lives, their families, all the things that matter and that we hold most dear. I think it is important.

The secretary added that the Trump administration has worked hard to maximize religious freedom for every human being all across the world.

There were days I wish we did better, as you know from serving on the commission, Pompeo admitted. There are lots of places in the world where religious freedom is not available. That saddens me and drives me every day to work to help my team to improve the lives of those people and give them more space to exercise their conscience rights.

On Sunday, the former congressional representative from Kansas spoke at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, pastored by Jack Graham. While there, Pompeo called on Americans to keep faith in the public square.

Faith in the public square is not only lawful but righteous. This faith is not only powerful, but required by the American tradition, the secretary said, quoting George Washingtons farewell address: Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable support.

In October 2019, Pompeo also received criticism after he spoke at the American Association of Christian Counselors World Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, about what it's like to be a Christian leader, saying that he draws on the wisdom of God to help him be a force for good in the life of human beings.



Pompeo has spoken multiple times at the FRC Values Voter Summit over the years, going back to his days as a congressman. President Donald Trump is among many other notable politicians and speakers expected to speak at the summit this week.
Georgi | Rosenberg Charlie and Sarah are native to the Pittsburgh region, and together bring to the team not only a substantive local client base, but also sales experience in the legal industry that is international in scope.

Planet Depos, LLC, a global court reporting company providing best-in-class court reporting and litigation technology services, announces two important additions to its sales team. Charlie Georgi and Sarah Rosenberg, both based in Pittsburgh, have joined the company as Account Executives. Each is responsible for demonstrating the scope of services and solutions available to litigation teams from the inception of a case through trial, including remote deposition technology in widespread use since the onset of the Pandemic.

We are very fortunate to find two seasoned account executives to fortify the Planet Depos brand in the Pittsburgh market and beyond, said Jennifer Parratt, Director of Sales. Charlie and Sarah are native to the Pittsburgh region, and together bring to the team not only a substantive local client base, but also sales experience in the legal industry that is international in scope.

A 2004 graduate of California University of Pennsylvania, Charlie Georgi brings 16 years of sales experience to the Planet Depos team, beginning with 10 years as an account executive with KDKA-TV, the CBS affiliate in Pittsburgh; followed by 5 years as Senior Client Development Consultant at Thomson Reuters, as well as Regional Sales Manager at its Findlaw division.

Its Planet Depos credo to Make it Happen every day for its clients that instantly resonated with me, remarked Georgi. Ive been waiting for the opportunity to be part of an established market leader in the litigation technology space where employee, contractor, and client expectations are always met with an impressive sense of urgency and extraordinary execution.

Sarah Rosenberg graduated from Chatham University in 2011 with a bachelors degree in Marketing and Public Relations. Prior to joining Planet Depos, she was employed for 8 years as the Director of Client Relations for BigSquare, a business intelligence software provider exclusively for law firms, with concentration on C-Level partners at top 250 firms in the U.S. and overseas. Sarah joins the PD team with a focus on inside sales.

Having spent 8-plus years supporting some of the industrys best law firms, I couldnt be happier to join an organization that shares my philosophy of providing excellent customer service and cutting-edge technology, commented Rosenberg. Together we will demonstrate that technology empowers a more efficient and streamlined litigation process.

About Planet Depos

Headquartered in Washington, DC, Planet Depos, is the only international court reporting agency led by court reporters and world-renowned industry experts. Planet Depos provides court reporting and legal technology solutions throughout the United States and abroad to international law firms, worldwide corporations, and government entities. The Company has extensive experience reporting complex matters around the globe, including arbitrations, trials and depositions. A forward-thinking company, Planet Depos is conversant with the latest technologies and works closely with clients to implement case-winning tools.

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One of those issues was U.S. foreign policy. Mr. Zeese and Flowers were among dozens of activists who occupied the Venezuelan Embassy in Washington in April 2019 to protest the Trump administrations recognition of opposition leader Juan Guaido as the interim president of Venezuela, instead of Nicolas Maduro, the left-wing authoritarian head of state whose reelection victory in the 2018 presidential election faced international scrutiny for voting irregularities. Guaido had been recognized by the United States and about 50 other countrys as Venezuelas interim president.
Chennai, Sep 23 : A Personal Assistant of Tamil Nadu's Animal Husbandry Minister Udumalai K Radhakrishnan was allegedly kidnapped on Wednesday but released later on by his abductors, following which a probe has been launched.

Police said Karnan was abducted at knifepoint by four persons from Udumalai in Tiruppur district.

After Karnan was driven off in a car by his abductors, police launched a probe and began vehicle-checking drive. Later, the abductors dropped Karan a few km from his office and sped away.

The Tiruppur police is questioning Karnan to get clues to the incident.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 23)  President Rodrigo Duterte emphasized before the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) the need for equal access to COVID-19 vaccines among countries in the world.

"When the world finds that vaccine, access to it must not be denied nor withheld. It should be made available to all, rich and poor nations alike, as a matter of policy," Duterte said in his pre-recorded speech aired during the 75th UNGA on Wednesday (Philippine time).

Despite the ongoing race by rich countries in developing a COVID-19 vaccine, the President said it must be considered a "global public good" without compromising its safety and effectiveness.

"Ensuring universal access to anti COVID-19 technologies and products is pivotal in the global pandemic recovery," he said.

The President also thanked frontliners and healthcare professionals who risked their lives to defeat the pandemic. He also expressed his condolences to families in the world who lost a loved one due to the virus.

Duterte added the COVID-19 pandemic brought an "unfamiliar" global landscape which became the biggest test for the UN and the world since the World War II.

"COVID-19 knows no border. It knows no nationality. It knows no race. It knows no gender. It knows no age. It knows no creed," Duterte explained.

He pointed out the world's future depends on how countries will address the medical crisis that has infected over 31 million people and killed around 966,000 lives worldwide.

"While each nation has its own strategy in fighting the pandemic, what the world needs are coordinated international plans and efforts to pursue a common purpose," said Duterte.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said as the pandemic bared the world's fragilities on social structures, countries around the world must forge solidarity in solving the virus.

"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," he said.

Duterte welcomed the launch of the UN COVID Response and Recovery Fund, aimed at helping countries economically affected by the pandemic.

The Philippines now has 291,789 confirmed COVID-19 cases, along with 56,097 active infections. The country's new cases dipped to 1,635 on Tuesday after two weeks of reporting over 3,000 new infections daily.

Some 5,049 persons have died and 230,643 individuals recovered from COVID-19 in the country.
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.
Camper fire claims the life of two people in Marshall County
Dont Even Say It

By Jennifer Waddle

The man who hates and divorces his wife, says the Lord, the God of Israel, does violence to the one he should protect, says the Lord Almighty. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful. - Malachi 2:16

The way we speak to our spouses matters. Its not only what we say, but how we say it. Many deep wounds are caused by angry words, spoken in the heat of an argument, or careless words spoken in jest. And there is one word, in particular, that continues to sting, long after it is mentioned. Not only does it hurt, it leaves a wounding impression on both the mind and the heart. The word is divorce.

Unfortunately, divorce has become a byword, thrown around in everyday conversations and talked about almost constantly in our society. But it is a word that is far more divisive and destructive than couples realize.

You see, once divorce is mentioned, it opens an unwanted door that may be hard to close. Its as if saying it aloud gives couples permission to start entertaining the thought. And eventually, the thought may become an irreversible action.

There is a difference between discussing serious issuesones that could lead to separationand instantly concluding that divorce is the answer. In Malachi 2:16, the Lord has some outspoken words about divorce. He likens it to violence and hate.

While there are Biblical reasons for divorce, our humanistic reasons are often shallow excuses to escape a relationship in which we no longer want to be committed.





My encouragement to married couples, who have mentioned divorce openly, is to make a pact to stop using the word immediately. Seek wise counsel, by finding an older married couple who can mentor you, pray with you, and hopefully lead you towards healing and restoration.

Instead of carelessly tossing around the idea of divorce, discuss your real-life issues in light of Gods Word, and in deep respect of Gods view marriage. Commit to finding solutions for your problems instead of seeking ways to avoid them. Resolve to let your words be a healing balm instead of a slow-dripping poison.

Our words matter. What we say can either wound or mend. Determine to build up your spouse with life-giving affirmations and leave the word divorce out of your discussions altogether.

Gracious God, today I thank You for my spouse. I ask for forgiveness for the words and thoughts that have not been affirming. I pray for healing words to come out of my mouthwords that build up and do not tear down. Please protect my marriage from the pull of the world. Help us to look to You for guidance and keep our commitment to each other without wavering. I ask that You will walk us through every trial with wisdom and grace.

In Jesus name, I pray,

Amen.

Jennifer Waddle considers herself a Kansas girl, married to a Colorado hunk, with a heart to encourage women everywhere. She is the author of several books, including Prayer WORRIER: Turning Every Worry into Powerful Prayer, and is a regular contributor for LifeWay, Crosswalk, Abide, and Christians Care International. Jennifers online ministry is EncouragementMama.com where you can find her books and sign up for her weekly post, Discouragement Doesnt Win. She resides with her family near the foothills of the Rocky Mountainsher favorite place on earth.

Related Resource: Listen to our new, FREE podcast on marriage: Team Us. The best marriages have a teamwork mentality. Find practical, realistic ideas for strengthening your marriage. Listen to all of our episodes for free on LifeAudio.com or in your favorite podcast app!




After moving ahead with plans to create a province in disputed Gilgit Baltistan (GB) despite Indias strong protests, Pakistan is planning to hold general elections for its legislative assembly on November 15, local media reported on Wednesday.

New Delhi considers GB a part of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and has consistently opposed changes made in the disputed region by Islamabad.

A summary regarding the assembly election has been approved by President Arif Alvi and sent to Prime Minister Imran Khan for the final go-ahead, reports said. Analysts have said that once the elections are held, the government will move towards making GB a full province.

The election date was announced after a meeting on Tuesday between opposition parliamentary leaders and the army high command, in which Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa and Inter-Services Intelligence director general Lt Gen Faiz Hameed discussed the prospects of giving GB the status of a province.

Leader of the opposition in parliament Shehbaz Sharif, along with his party colleagues Khawaja Asif and Ahsan Iqbal, attended the meeting on behalf of the PML-N while the PPP was represented by party chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and senator Sherry Rehman. With all stakeholders on board, the process to make GB a full province within the Pakistan federation has been started, said an observer.

Earlier this month, the minister for Kashmir and GB affairs, Ali Amin Gandapur had announced that the government had decided in principle to elevate GB to the status of a full-fledged province with all constitutional rights, including representation in parliament. He told a delegation of visiting journalists from GB at a meeting in Islamabad that Khan would visit the region and make a formal announcement in this regard.

Gandapur had also clarified that after the grant of constitutional rights, the subsidy and tax exemption on wheat given to the region would not be withdrawn.

New Delhi had conveyed to Pakistan several times that the entire union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, including the areas of Gilgit and Baltistan, are an integral part of India by virtue of its fully legal and irrevocable accession.

In May, the external affairs ministry said Pakistan or its judiciary had no locus standi on territories illegally and forcibly occupied by it and rejected attempts to bring material changes in Pakistan-occupied areas of the Indian territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Instead, Pakistan should immediately vacate all areas under its illegal occupation, the ministry had said.

(With inputs from Agencies)
The Pentagon has reallocated most of its pandemic funds to defense contractors for jet engine parts, body armor, dress uniforms, and other military needs.

The CARES Act passed by Congress in March provided the Department of Defense $1 billion to prevent and prepare for the coronavirus pandemic. However, reports said hundreds of millions of the funding was instead redirected for military supplies in the weeks that followed.

The Washington Post said that this was a change from the intent of Congress.

Meanwhile, health officials are still requesting funding for pandemic response. This includes $6 billion for states to make vaccines available when developed and address a shortage in N95 masks for hospitals.

The Pentagon has also requested that $11 billion be given in a potential new stimulus bill discussed by Congress.

Congress instructed that the $1 billion in the CARES Act should go to Defense Production Act (DPA) efforts, which allow President Donald Trump to direct U.S. companies to manufacture necessary products, such as personal protective equipment.

Months after the funding was allocated, department lawyers concluded the funds could be used for defense production, including projects that had little to do with responding to the pandemic, as per the Post.

Smaller firms got more than a third of the funding for less than $5 million, while many large companies received hundreds of millions of dollars.

According to a report, at least 10 of the about 30 defense contractors also received money from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

Spokesperson for the Department of Defense Jessica Maxwell said the DPA funding and the PPP are not "in conflict or duplicative."

Maxwell noted that the CARES Act did not restrict the funding to medical resources, and certain defense spending was "appropriate as long as they addressed COVID related impacts in the industrial base."

"The law set forth no limitation requiring use only in the medical supply industrial base," she said in a report. Maxwell further noted that the pandemic urged needed action to sustain and strengthen essential domestic industrial base capabilities.

The undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, Ellen Lord, also defended the actions.

Lord said they are thankful the Congress provided authorities and resources that enabled the executive branch to invest in domestic production of critical medical resources, as well as protect key defense capabilities from the consequences of the pandemic.

Lord noted that "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."

Lawmakers are still struggling to reach an agreement on how to provide more relief aid to millions of Americans who need it.

Senate Republicans tried to get a smaller stimulus bill earlier this month. However, the second stimulus bill did not include the second round of $1,200 stimulus checks. The Senate's version of the second stimulus bill failed to get 60 votes to push ahead.

Want to read more? Give these a read!
A screen showing a tracking mode from a Huawei device during the Huawei developer conference at the Huawei Campus in Dongguan, Guangdong province, China, on Aug. 10, 2019. (Fred Dufour/AFP via Getty Images)

AI, 5G, and How Algorithms Could Cost You More Than Your Money

News Analysis

Data is todays oil, and China is todays Saudi Arabia, Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) expert Kai-fu Lee said in 2018.

In commercial terms, the beneficiaries of all this data are Baidu, Alibaba, and TencentChinas equivalents of Google, Amazon, and Facebookwho feed it into a massive AI platform that powers algorithms to keep customers coming back for more, says national security expert and retired U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Robert Spalding.

But in societal terms, the same data can also be harnessed to influence more than just spending choices.

Those same algorithms that get people to keep coming back to buy are the same algorithms that can be used to get them to like the Chinese Communist Party [CCP], Spalding, the author of Stealth War: How China Took Over While America Slept, told The Epoch Times.

Its a very powerful way of influencing people. Amazon Prime, they know how to get you to buy more stuff, so that same psychology is how they [the CCP] get you to like them more or at least like their narrative more.

Global Domination

As the CCP seeks to expand its influence outside China, understanding how Westerners think is of great value. By harvesting data, the CCP can learn how to systematically incentivise [you] when you are a good citizen and disincentivise when you are a bad citizen, Spalding said.

This idea forms the basis of Chinas social credit system, which Samantha Hoffman of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute describes as the use of big-data collection and analysis to monitor, shape, and rate behavior via economic and social processes.

For the system to function, it must provide punishments for acting outside set behavioral boundaries and benefits to incentivise people and entities to voluntarily conform, or at least make participation the only rational choice, Hoffman wrote in a 2018 report titled Technology-enhanced authoritarian control with global consequences.

A screen shows visitors being filmed by artificial intelligence security cameras with facial recognition technology at the 14th China International Exhibition on Public Safety and Security at the China International Exhibition Centre in Beijing on Oct. 24, 2018. (Nicolas Asfouri/AFP/Getty Images)

So, think of it this way, Spalding said. Say, for instance, youre on WeChat in Chinayou say Xi Jinping is great, Xi Jinping has wonderful ideas, and then you notice that the more you do that, the cheaper your products are  the cheaper your airline tickets are, the cheaper your shoes are, and then if you criticise, the more expensive the price.

It is a powerful form of coercion to toe the party line.

The personal social credit system is still in development, with various pilot programmes around China, but it has the potential, together with Chinas mass surveillance system dubbed Skynet, to monitor and rank citizens behaviour.

Its 1984 come to life, Spalding said, referring to George Orwells dystopian novel about a totalitarian regime that monitors its citizens day and night to ensure conformity to the party ideology.

[The system] doesnt stop at Chinas borders. Social credit regulations are already being used to force businesses to change their language to accommodate the political demands of the Chinese Communist Party, Hoffman wrote.

As businesses continue to comply, the acceptance of the CCPs claims will eventually become an automatic decision and hence a norm that interferes with the sovereignty of other nations. For members of the public on the receiving end of such changes, the CCPs narrative becomes the dominant truth, and alternative views and evidence are marginalised.

The logo of the Chinese instant messaging application WeChat on the screen of a tablet, on July 24, 2019. (Martin Bureau/AFP/Getty Images)

The Chinese regime bans nearly all international social media and communications platforms, encouraging the development instead of homegrown equivalents such as WeChat (the Chinese answer to Facebook and more). WeChat use is almost compulsory in China, as services such as banking, travel, shopping, and communication are all integrated into the app.

As the apps use expands outside of China, so does the surveillance and potential for influence.

Privacy and Security Fears

Spaldings observations come amid increasing scrutiny in the West over privacy and security fears connected to Chinese apps such as TikTok, the popular short video app used by millions thats owned by Beijing-based Internet giant ByteDance Technology Co.

TikTok, like all other Chinese companies, is compelled by Chinese security laws to cooperate with intelligence agencies when asked, one of the reasons the United States considers Chinese communications apps a national security risk.

Cybersecurity experts have also warned that TikTok cant be trusted.

Mark Grabowski, an associate professor specializing in cyber law and digital ethics at Adelphi University, has described TikTok as Chinese government malware masquerading as a social media app.

While the companys data server is in the United States, cybersecurity firm Penetrum found (pdf) that the app is substantially linked with Chinese servers.

A woman walks past the headquarters of ByteDance, the parent company of video-sharing app TikTok, in Beijing on Sept. 16, 2020. (Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images)

Though TikTok has denied the data harvesting claims and sought to distance itself from its Beijing owner, the United States is now so concerned about TikToks security risks that in August it gave ByteDance an ultimatumeither sell TikToks U.S. operations to an American company or be banned in the United States.

Just before the ban was due to come into effect on Sept. 20, President Donald Trump agreed to a partnership deal between ByteDance, Oracle, and Walmart.

TikTok hasnt yet elicited such a response in Europe. The company said in early August that it will set up its first European data centre in Ireland.

Manipulation

Curtis Ellis, policy director with non-profit America First Policies, warned in August during an American Thought Leaders interview about TikToks data harvesting potential.

TikTok is a data collection entity, a data collection app thats disguised as a social mediait collects username information, the IP address of your telephone, of every computer on your WiFi network, he said.

All this data could be fed into AI systems to understand how people behave right down to predicting how they think. With that knowledge, it may be possible to influence peoples behaviour, often without them even realizing its happening.

Far beyond simply data collectionits a persuasion device, Ellis said. It uses artificial intelligence to feed videos, selected curated videos, to the users so you are being fed videos onto your device that are being selected by algorithms written by the Chinese Communist Party.

On July 28, six U.S. senators wrote to U.S. government security officials expressing concern that TikTok may open the door for the Chinese regime to conduct influence operations and sway U.S. elections.

The CCP devotes significant resources to conduct information operations overseas and propagate its narratives, the senators noted.

Artificial Intelligence

A major problem is that China is already advanced in its AI capability, Spalding said.

This is seen in China via state-linked and state-subsidised technology companies such as Baidu, Alibaba, and Tencentthe owner of WeChat. Theres also increasingly widespread installation of facial recognition cameras. This technology means that, in the future, your phone wouldnt even need to be involved in detailed surveillance, Spalding said.

In this smart city scenario, Spalding describes how you could just leave your house, say the word Uber, the cameras pick up your face, read your lips, and your taxi arrives. In this way, your every move is tracked and can be used against you as an individual and against society as a whole.

All that data being collected and making your life more convenient is again how they [the CCP] understand who you are as a person, what your belief system is, who you interact with, Spalding said.

Huang Yongzhen, CEO of Watrix, demonstrates the use of his firms gait recognition software at his companys offices in Beijing on Oct. 31, 2018. Already used by police on the streets of Beijing and Shanghai, gait recognition is part of a major push to develop artificial-intelligence and data-driven surveillance across China, raising concern about how far the technology will go. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)

Once they have an idea who you are, then they can begin to build that into the algorithms for the commerce that is coming on board.

Your access to basic services such as health care, government, and transport services could then depend upon your citizen score.

This is what they [the CCP] seek to export, and they export it through their global economics relationships with other corporate clients, other corporations outside their borders, Spalding said.

First its bring your AI research centres to China and once our AI is better than yours, once we can compete with you in the market because we are going to be subsidised [by the Chinese state], youll first start to partner, then after partnering we slowly begin to take you over.

Eventually, Baidu will buy Google, Tencent will buy Facebook  Alibaba will buy Amazon, Spalding said.

5G and the Surveillance State

The CCP is heavily invested in developing and deploying 5G mobile networks in countries around the world through its Belt and Road Initiative and Digital Silk Road.

5G will enable much greater integration of technologythe internet of thingswhere all sorts of electronic items, from toothbrushes to driverless cars, are connected to the internet and can communicate with each other. And they all produce collectible data.

This network makes it increasingly difficult to escape your every movement and action from being logged.

Thats the terrible thing, right? Spalding said. Today, you can throw your phone away [to avoid being tracked]. But when 5G is built, that millions of devices connected per square mile means wherever you go, youll get tracked, because its not your phone anymore, its the city built around youits meant to track you.

Theres nothing you can do then.

Perhaps offering some hope, he doesnt see this happening in Western countries for 10 years because of the infrastructure needed.

But almost at this stage is Xinjiang, an autonomous region in northwest China. Xinjiang and its population of ethnic Uyghur people have become a testing ground for this kind of high-tech surveillance state, wrote Ross Andersen, a deputy editor of The Atlantic.

A Uyghur woman (C) going through an entrance to a bazaar in Hotan, in Chinas northwest Xinjiang region, on May 31, 2019. (Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images)

Andersen described a situation where cameras are positioned every few blocks, and there are multiple checkpoints, each recording citizens movements. If you want to leave the city, you must pass through another face and ID scan. Compulsory phone apps monitor online activity, including purchases and conversations. Compulsory health checks take blood and DNA samples. Voices are recorded.

Even electricity use is monitored to detect unauthorised residents. Staying off social media can also arouse suspicion.

As AI improves and databases grow, this sort of checking on citizens could be easily automated, Andersen explained.

Toward a Solution

Hoffman suggested Western countries review research collaborations with China and the export of Western technology to make sure it isnt used in the development of surveillance systems. The use of strict data protection laws that adequately address privacy and govern how personal data can be exported and used overseas could also counter the CCPs actions.

But if the system that carries the data is compromised, even these measures might be useless.

Spalding described British Prime Minister Boris Johnsons decision in July to ban and then remove Huaweis 5G equipment from the UK network over the next seven years as a very positive decision.

However, even if Huawei isnt permitted further input into infrastructure, there are still software insecurities, leaving any 5G network open to potential exploitation.

A crew works on a cell tower to update it to handle the new 5G network in Orem, Utah, on Dec. 10, 2019. (George Frey/AFP via Getty Images)

The only way to protect democratic populations from the CCPs potential spying is to provide a completely new solution, Spalding said.

That solution and the way forward is the provision of an alternative and very secure 5G network, which builds in data privacy for end-users and therefore protections from the danger of subversion or control by the CCP, he says.

People can then, if they wish, choose that alternative for themselves.

We have to take control of our own destiny as free people, he said.

We cant allow corporate relationships with the Chinese or government political relationships with the Chinese Communist Party or the financial institutions to affect our democracies. We have to take charge of our destiny.

Kat Piper, Lily Zhou, Eva Fu, and Cathy He contributed to this report
The first woman fighter pilot of the Rafale squadron Golden Arrows, Flight Lieutenant Shivangi Singh was commissioned into the Indian Air Force (IAF) in the year 2017 as part of the second batch of female fighter pilots. Since her commissioning, Singh has been flying MiG-21 Bisons. Hailing from Varanasi, she is presently on her way to becoming to a formal part of the 17 Squadron, Golden Arrows in Ambala, and is undergoing her conversion training, reported India Today.

After the training, she will be converting from the IAFs oldest jet, the MiG-21, to the newest Rafale. Singhs course-mate and fellow woman fighter pilot Flt Lt Pratibha is also reportedly flying Su-30 MKI kegs currently.

Singh has been selected to join the freshly-inducted Rafale fighter fleet as one of its crew flying the multi-role air dominance aircraft. She has reportedly flown alongside Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, the IAF pilot who was held captive in Pakistan after shooting down a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) fighter on February 27 last year.

Having dreamed of becoming a pilot from a very yoing age, Singh proceeded for training at the Air Force Academy in 2016 after completing her education from Banaras Hindu University (BHU). While studying at the University, she was a part of the 7 UP Air Squadron in the National Cadet Corps.

Her arrival into the Golden Arrows squadron comes at a particularly significant time when the Rafale jets are in a high-tempo work up mode to fully operationalised.
By Trend

Azerbaijan no doubt is a very tolerant country, Mayor of Israels Tirat Carmel city, Arye Tal told Trend.

Recalling his recent visit to Azerbaijan Tal noted the hospitability of locals.

The citizens of Azerbaijan are the people that believe in kindness, they are the people that will give you such a warm welcome that you feel you are at home, Tal said.

No doubt, Tal noted that this is the result of Azerbaijans policy of tolerance.

This country is one of the most tolerant and the way people here welcome you, are kind to you shows it. You dont find this in many other countries. One can say that Azerbaijan is one of the best places, the people here are open-minded, open to new ideas, open to the establishment of good relations with citizens of a lot of countries, he said.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
The number of new active COVID-19 cases in publicly funded schools across the province has jumped by another 30 per cent from the previous day to a total of 180.

In its latest data released Wednesday morning, the province reported 42 more school-related cases  21 more students were infected for a total of 77; five more staff members for a total of 38 and 16 more individuals who werent identified for a total of 65.

There are 153 schools with an active case, which the province notes is 3.17 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.

Premier Doug Ford told reporters Wednesday that he wouldnt hesitate to shut down all the schools again if needed like he did back in March, pointing out that he was the first in Canada to do so.

Ford said everything is on the table but the system is working.

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.

For instance, the Toronto District School Board reported on its website late Tuesday that a student at Harbord Collegiate Institute has tested positive but that case isnt reflected in the latest provincial numbers.

Epidemiologists have told the Star 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 335 new cases of COVID-19 overall on Wednesday. Locally, there were 102 new cases in Toronto with 79 in Peel and 65 in Ottawa.

Dr. Ashleigh Tuite, an epidemiologist with the University of Torontos Dalla Lana School of Public Health, told the Star on Wednesday that the number of cases in schools were expected. The challenge now, she said, is with the delays in getting tested because of long lines at testing centres.

Theres a lot of uncertainty and anxiety right now because if your child has symptoms you cant go to school, Tuite said.

You also know if you want to get them tested, theres a chance youre going to be waiting in line for a long period of time or you might not even be able to get tested on the day that you need to.

Despite the long delays for testing, Tuite urged parents not to send their kids to school if they do have symptoms.

This is a bumpy start to the school year (but) parents and kids need to be patient as much as possible and adhere to the public health recommendations, Tuite said.

Ontarios current school COVID-19 screening checklist includes: fever, chills, cough thats new and worsening, shortness of breath, sore throat, runny nose, congested nose, headache, pink eyes, digestive issues, fatigue and sluggishness.

The TDSB updates its information on current COVID-19 cases 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.

Positive cases at private schools arent included in the daily provincial numbers. On Monday, two students at the York School tested positive for COVID-19 as well as a faculty member at Branksome Hall, according to notices put out by the school.

With files from Breanna Xavier-Carter
KYODO NEWS - Sep 23, 2020 - 19:00 | All, World, Japan

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi plans to visit Germany and France from the end of this month to early October to strengthen cooperation in promoting stability in the Indo-Pacific region amid China's rising assertiveness, government sources said Wednesday.

In his first overseas trip since Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga took office Sept. 16, Motegi is expected to hold talks with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas and French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian, the sources said.

Motegi hopes to emphasize Tokyo's desire to work with the two countries toward a free and open Indo-Pacific region, a concept aimed at safeguarding the maritime commons in the region based on the rule of law, democracy and freedom of navigation, they said.

With his European counterparts, Motegi seeks to share Japan's concerns about China's pushing of territorial claims in the South and East China seas with military and paramilitary activities, they said.

Motegi may also discuss with respective ministers ways to relax restrictions on travel between their countries imposed because of the coronavirus pandemic, they said.

In a further easing of its border controls, Japan is considering allowing entry of foreign nationals planning long-term stays of three months or longer from Oct. 1 at the earliest, sources with knowledge of the plans said Wednesday.

Motegi's most recent overseas trip was his four-nation tour to Papua New Guinea, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar in August.

Related coverage:

Japan ready to become permanent U.N. Security Council member: Motegi

Japan to send investigation team to Mauritius over oil leak

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The call for South Africans to support local brands has been amplified in 2020, with the dire need to restore the country's economy and replace the jobs lost during the Covid-19 lockdown.

Leigh Tobin

Could you tell us what inspired the Best Little Guide, and what drove its evolution from a simple listing page on Alphabet Social to a fully-fledged online platform?

The Best Little Guide idea was also born out of a personal frustration I had with wanting to support local but not knowing all the options that were out there, or where to find them.

Are there specific requirements that need to be met by the brands featured in the guide?

I love that there are profiles on each of the brands that appear on the platform. Why did you believe these stories were important to convey?

Can you speak to the importance of supporting small, local brands right now, and the far-reaching impact this has on SA and its people?

With Best LIttle Guide, we are trying to encourage people to be more conscious of shopping local when they decide to buy something. And never has this been more crucial than right now, in our post-pandemic world when so many people are struggling to get by.

Name some of your personal favourite local brands and tell us what you love about them.

What is your ultimate vision for the Best Little Guide?

As a seasoned marketer, any growth hacks or top tips you can offer small, local businesses hoping to survive and thrive during this uncertain time?

Always keep learning, adapting and trying new things! And expand your marketing knowledge.

Small businesses have faced the worst of these challenges, so to help drive support for them Leigh Tobin and her team at marketing consultancy Alphabet Social developed the Best Little Guide (BLG), a handy new online platform to help consumers easily discover locally-made products and services.The guide showcases a wide range of small local businesses across categories including fashion, home and decor, fitness and lifestyle, food and beauty. It also features a Stories tab, which profiles the talented people behind the brands listed on the platform.BLG began as a simple listing page on Alphabet Socials website, but has quickly evolved into a portal with over 500 small South African brands and businesses. The goal is to make it easier than ever to find and support small business, by bringing them all together under one curated virtual roof.Here, Tobin shares more on the idea behind Best Little Guide and the importance of supporting small local businesses in 2020.During my day job I run a digital marketing consultancy called Alphabet Social , where I work primarily with female small business owners to help them grow their business online. Through my courses and workshops, I met and encountered many wonderful business owners.Then, when Covid-19 hit I felt really helpless and wanted to do something to support all the small businesses that were being impacted. I got to work just listing all the businesses I knew on my existing website and sharing it with my email list and on social. The response was amazing!So, Best Little Guide was the solution to this problem  for local businesses to be all in one place, under one virtual roof, thereby making it easier for consumers to discover and support local.They need to be proudly South African brands and businesses and generally small in that they have a turnover of less than R10m per annum. It also has to be easy for users to shop from these brands either via a website or physical store presence.This is the best part! The stories behind the businesses bring to life the real people you are supporting when you support a small, local business. We want to add a human face to these brands so that when people shop local, they make the connection  shopping local improves peoples lives through job creation and opportunity!There is often so much creativity and thought that goes into the process. If we only focus on the finished product, so much beauty will be missed.Recently I shared a post on social media that said Not supporting local is a crime. The post went viral, as I really think it struck a chord with our local businesses who are working so hard to create jobs and opportunities for people and who are frustrated at trying to convince fellow South Africans to shop local.Often this needs some explaining as people dont usually link shopping local with crime. But the unemployment rate in South Africa is sky-high. So too, is the crime rate. The two are intrinsically linked and while we don't have the power to change government policy (until an election), we DO have purchasing power; and that power is BIG. The more we choose to use that power to support big corporates and mass-market products, the more we basically fuel the unemployment rate and thereby the crime rate. Why? Because small businesses are the job creators and lifeblood of an economy. So many people are in a position to be positively influenced by the choice to support local. The far reaching benefits are often beyond comprehension and dont always cross our minds when we are standing in the grocery aisle choosing what to buy for dinner.Oh this is such a tough question! Its like asking to pick your favourite child! Id need a whole hour (or more realistically, a day) to chat about my favourite local brands - I think thats why the Best Little Guide has categories as it makes it easier to navigate through your faves.BUT to be fair, Im going to list the 3 brands Ive shopped from in the past month: Good To Gather for their incredible food boxes that are created with the utmost care and attention to detail, all sourced from local suppliers and farmers so the positive benefits are expanded into other small businesses too, which I love. Its delivered every Friday morning and really gets my weekend off to the best start - especially the home-baked tea cake by Jess! Hannah Lavery for her beautiful clothing. I recently purchased a pair of her leather shoes that are just the most comfortable shoes Ive ever worn! Bena Woman - I wouldnt have survived lockdown without Xans amazing track sets! They make lounging at home SO comfy and come in an array of cool colours. Matter of Fakt jewellery - I recently purchased a gorgeous set of earrings from Mary-Anne at Matter of Fakt - all hand forged in Cape Town and inspired by the ocean and sandy beaches!See thats four! I cant help myself!When anyone in South Africa wants to buy something, I want them to think of going to Best Little Guide to find it. If you are buying a gift, looking for a wedding ring or shopping around for some clothing, I want people to see BLG as their destination for supporting local. I want it to be South Africas go-to platform, the Google, for finding and supporting local brands and learning about the people behind them.Ultimately, I want Best Little Guide to benefit as many small businesses as possible through story-telling, awareness and marketing.Its all good and well having a wonderful product or service, but if you dont know how to find the right market for it or tell the story in a way your audience cares about, then its going to be tough to drive sales. Digital marketing makes it easier than ever to build a following and build a connection with an audience to ultimately drive sales.Ive actually created a course recently that does just that - empowers small business owners with the knowledge to grow their business using social media. Giving small businesses the tools to succeed online is something I am very passionate about! Digital is a great democratiser. You can be Coca-Cola or a corner shop, and both have access to over 2 billion people on Facebook and 1 billion on Instagram.The world is your oyster! Go and get em!
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." Dr. Judith Cook, Professor of Psychiatry, UIC College of Medicine

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 medial schools in helping emerging physicians work with the social determinants of health," Cook said.
Banjul, Gambia (PANA) - Gambian President, Adama Barrow, has said no single country, big or small, can unilaterally tackle the countless challenges confronting the world today.

He said: In spite of the bottlenecks, the last 75 years were marked by dramatic advances in Science and Technology, particularly in Information Technology, which continues to generate further advances in many other disciplines, he said in a statement marking the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations.

In statement, made available to PANA on Tuesday, he said this is an outcome of globalisation and international cooperation.

According to him, looking back, the United Nations promoted and supported the decolonisation agenda, resulting in its growth from 51 founding Member States to 193 today. This is a remarkable milestone achievement, which highlights the consolidation of global governance.

He also said the Gambia took the decision to join the UN in 1965 in support of the collective search for solutions to global challenges through diplomacy, international legitimacy and respect for International Law.

Today, the world has become a global village, and it is reasonable to conclude that multilateralism and international diplomacy contributed to this development.

As our interdependence continues to grow, multilateralism will continue to be strengthened. This is more so, as nations continue to develop and new global powers emerge, he said.

President Barrow calls for redoubling efforts to solve all threats to global peace, security and development and not allow the gains made in the promotion and protection of human rights to slip away.

Conflict resolution and management should continue to be a priority at the UN. Terrorism, State insecurity, climate change, nuclear non-proliferation, socio-economic inequalities and disease will continue to confront the international community, he said.

He pointed out that it is only through collective action, global solidarity and international cooperation that we can tackle them.

President Barrow stated that the global outbreak of COVID-19 underscores the importance of multilateralism, international solidarity and cooperation in the search for lasting solutions to such threats.

We hope that, at the appropriate moment, we will collectively review our response to the pandemic and draw useful lessons.

"The urgency now is to help all nations to save lives, recover from the economic downturn and improve the lives of all, he said.

He also said another major threat to international peace is the erratic outbreak of wars that destabilise countries and regions, while he called for efforts to address this phenomenon urgently, strive to resolve the on-going conflicts around the world and prevent their recurrence.

The future of the UN and its continued relevance will depend on reforms that adapt it to our ever-changing global circumstances and realities. Essentially, our strength and success as a global family is determined by how much the UN protects and supports small and weak members, and how effectively we react to every crisis that erupts, he pointed out.

-0- PANA MSS/VAO 22Sept2020
WASHINGTON, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Beginning this week, plasma from whole blood and platelet donations made through the American Red Cross that test positive for COVID-19 antibodies may now help coronavirus patients in need of convalescent plasma transfusions. This new opportunity to help meet the needs of COVID-19 patients is especially critical as infectious disease experts express concern about a potential second wave of cases in the fall.

In April, the Red Cross began collecting COVID-19 convalescent plasma from previously diagnosed individuals, which could only give at one of approximately 170 Red Cross blood donation centers across the country. Convalescent plasma contains COVID-19 antibodies that may help the most critical patients actively fighting this virus. Now, whole blood and platelet donations made at any Red Cross blood drive or blood donation center may be helpful in this effort.

The Red Cross encourages eligible individuals to give blood as we come together to help patients in need. To schedule an appointment to donate, individuals may use the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS.

"With only 2% of the U.S. population testing positive for COVID-19, finding eligible convalescent plasma donors to help patients is a little like finding a needle in a haystack," says Dr. Pampee Young, chief medical officer, American Red Cross. "Being able to use the plasma from all blood donations that test positive for COVID-19 antibodies is a game changer in helping to build a readily available supply of convalescent plasma to ensure patients have access to all treatment options available to help them recover from this terrible virus."

On Sept. 21, the Red Cross began secondary testing of donations that come back positive to confirm COVID-19 antibody test results. This enables the Red Cross to then potentially use the plasma from those donations to aid coronavirus patients. These tests are also critical in helping to identify individuals who have COVID-19 antibodies and may qualify as convalescent plasma donors for future donation.

RED CROSS ANTIBODY TESTING COVID-19 antibody test results will be available to donors within one to two weeks in the Red Cross Blood Donor App or donor portal at RedCrossBlood.org. Antibody testing may indicate if the donor's immune system has produced antibodies to this coronavirus, regardless of whether an individual experienced COVID-19 symptoms. A positive antibody test result does not confirm infection or immunity. The Red Cross is not testing donors to diagnose illness, referred to as a diagnostic test.

The Red Cross hopes that COVID-19 antibody testing will help provide our valued donors insight into whether they may have been exposed to this coronavirus. Between June 15 and September 12, the Red Cross tested more than 1.2 million donations in 44 states. Of the donations we tested approximately 2.0% showed positive for COVID-19 antibodies.

CONVALESCENT PLASMA DONORS The Red Cross has a critical need for eligible COVID-19 survivors to sign-up to give convalescent plasma. With each donation these plasma donors have the ability to help as many as four patients recover from the virus. Additionally, eligible donors may now give with the Red Cross every seven days enabling them to help more COVID-19 patients as we approach the fall and winter months.

COVID-19 BLOOD DONATION SAFETY Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions  including temperature checks, social distancing and face coverings for donors and staff  have been implemented to help protect the health of all those in attendance. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive and are required to wear a face covering or mask while at the drive, in alignment with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention public guidance.

About blood donation All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver's license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

SOURCE American Red Cross

Related Links

www.redcross.org


M G Chetan By

Express News Service

BENGALURU: Shoaib, the terror suspect arrested in the 2008 Bengaluru serial blasts case by the Anti-Terrorist Cell (ATC) police of the Central Crime Branch (CCB), had allegedly fled the country soon after the incident and was hiding in West Asia.A senior police officer said that Shoaib hailed from Pappinisseri Town in Kannur district of Kerala and was an associate of Thadiyantavide Naseer, an alleged operative of Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist outfit. Shoaib had played an active role in the serial blasts and had escaped soon after the incident to West Asia.

His role in the case had surfaced in 2009 and the teams had visited his house in Pappinisseri and met his mother. By that time, he had already fled the country, the officer said.We had arrested Saleem, another accused in the case, in October 2018 with the help of inputs from central agencies. During the same time, the agencies had traced Shoaibs movements to a country in West Asia. His phone interceptions had revealed that he was planning to return to India soon. If he had not changed the plans, he would have been arrested by the end of 2018 or early 2019, the officer added.

It is alleged that Shoaib had actively taken part in the conspiracy meetings to plan the serial blasts and also in the execution.Meanwhile, the ATC police have taken Shoaib, arrested at Thiruvananthapuram airport on Monday, into police custody. Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Sandeep Patil said that the role of Shoaib needs to be thoroughly investigated.

He was absconding for 12 years and we had issued a Red Corner Notice against him in October last year, following information from central agencies. The ATC team had camped in Thiruvananthapuram for the past few days upon receiving information from agencies that he would be coming back, Patil said. He added that 22 of the 32 accused in the case have been arrested so far.
RTHK: Pompeo: China stirring up trouble in US

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday accused China of trying to foment unrest in the United States through its criticism of racism.

Pompeo, known for his hawkish views on China, went on the attack on Beijing in an unusual address to state lawmakers in Wisconsin, a crucial swing state in November elections.

The Chinese Communist Party "thinks it can drown out American cries for accountability with shouts of racism," Pompeo told lawmakers from his Republican Party inside the state Capitol in Madison.

"It wants to foment the kind of strife we've seen in Minneapolis, and Portland and here in Kenosha," he said, referring to three cities that have seen protests over racism in recent months.

"That's disgusting. We can't let that happen," he said.

As evidence of China's intentions, Pompeo pointed to a letter from a Chinese diplomat to a lawmaker from Wisconsin.

The letter said that Beijing was "firmly opposed to racial discrimination and xenophobia" against the Chinese community over the coronavirus.

"America's righteous anger at the CCP over its handling of the coronavirus has nothing to do with race and everything to do with citizens dead, children kept from school and jobs lost," Pompeo said. "The CCP knows this."

President Trump has alarmed not only China but many Asian Americans by referring to the "China virus," a term that health experts call stigmatizing.

The United States frequently assails China's human rights record including over its incarceration, according to witnesses and activists, of more than one million Uighurs and other Turkic-speaking Muslims in the western region of Xinjiang.

China's official media eagerly returned criticism after the May killing of African American George Floyd by Minneapolis police, which has sparked global protest and renewed attention to racism. (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2020-09-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- TrippBio is a new biotechnology company launching a crowdfunding investment opportunity to develop a groundbreaking treatment for COVID-19. TrippBio has a repurposed Food and Drug Administration (FDA) drug (TD213) that demonstrated high efficacy in eliminating COVID-19 in preliminary testing. Public support is needed to commence clinical trials and prepare for commercialization.

Mankind cannot afford to wait for new drugs to be developed for diseases like COVID-19. That is why TrippBio is focused on innovative applications of existing drugs to prevent and treat rogue viruses, starting with SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19. The company is founded on the scientific research of Ralph Tripp, Ph.D. Georgia Research Alliance chair and professor at the University of Georgia. TrippBio has signed an exclusive intellectual property license agreement with the nonprofit University of Georgia Research Foundation that covers certain research related to the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. We have discovered that an existing drug can prevent the host cell from assembling SARS-CoV-2 and dampen hyper-inflammation and severe respiratory symptoms. "TD213 has a dual mechanism that blocks virus replication, and reduces the negative consequences of infection," explains Dr. Tripp. TrippBio will pursue a rapid development path for TD213 while proving efficacy against COVID-19 and decreasing the inflammatory response to the virus.

Research results demonstrate that TD213 could prevent and lessen disease severity of COVID-19 by decreasing virus replication. Laboratory studies show TD213 can decrease the viral load by 90%. Philip Young, President and CEO of TrippBio notes that, "We want to rapidly move into clinical trials to determine the efficacy of TD213 in treating COVID-19 patients. To make this a reality, we need the support of the public."

TrippBio is a SpinUp Campus company. SpinUp Campus focuses on connecting university scientists with public investors to transform significant research into viable businesses. SpinUp Campus CEO and Founder, Billy Meadow, states "I believe in TrippBio; together we are committed to combating COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. Our operating team has decades of success combining business, commercial and scientific brilliance. TrippBio has a powerful opportunity to bring life-saving treatments to patients worldwide."

TrippBio will use the capital from equity crowdfunding to fund clinical trials needed to seek FDA approval.

Crowdfunding allows the public an opportunity to invest in TrippBio HERE.

CONTACT: [email protected]

SOURCE TrippBio
Former MSNBC host Donny Deutsch compared President Trump to Adolf Hitler on Wednesday and accused Jewish supporters of the president of walking like a lemming off a cliff.

In an appearance on MSNBCs Morning Joe, Deutsch compared Trumps latest campaign rally in Moon Township, Pa. to a rally from the early 30s saying there was not one person of color anywhere.

Deutsch, whose show on the liberal network ended last year, noted that former Homeland Security secretary Jeh Johnson had previously compared Trump to Hitler and said that while such comparisons should be made with caution, he felt that in this case, it was an apt comparison.

But what was going on in the early 30s Germany? Basically you had a destruction of belief in the free press, you had blurring between the executive branch and the Justice Department, you have creating an other, whether its Muslims, whether its Mexicans, whether its congressmen who werent born in this country, and then you have the destruction of free elections, he said.

He continued: And were here and what is the difference between Adolph Hitler and Donald Trump? Im not saying there is a Holocaust but when you look at the tactics, that is where we are right now.

Deutsch, who is Jewish, went on to attack Jewish Trump supporters, asking How dare you?

With what our people have gone through in history, and you see a man who is a dictator, and once you give a man absolute power hes possible of anything, and if you are a Jew in this country and you are supporting Donald Trump, you are not looking back at our history and you are blind and you are walking like a lemming off a cliff. It is time to wake up! he said.

He finished, saying, This is where we are. There is no difference from what Donald Trump is preaching, from what Adolf Hitler preached in the early 30s. Lets just say it once and for all.

The comments are not the first time Deutsch has invoked the Holocaust in talking about Trump. In 2018, he called Trump voters Nazis, saying, If you vote for Trump, then you, the voter  you, not Donald Trump  are standing at the border like Nazis going, You here. You here, referencing what guards at Nazi extermination camps would say as they sent Jews to gas chambers or to work the barracks.

Story continues

While Trump has not responded to Deutschs latest attack, the president had harsh words for the former MSNBC host in 2019, calling him a total loser

When he makes statements about me, they are made up, he knows nothing! he tweeted then.

Trumps support in the Jewish community has grown since the 2016 election, when exit polls showed Trump winning just 24 percent of Jewish voters, according to a Pew Research Center analysis.

In recent polling by the Jewish Electorate Institute, Trump garnered support from 30 percent of Jewish supporters, while 67 percent of Jewish voters expressed support for Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.

More from National Review
Australia's surprising number one holiday hotspot has been revealed as COVID-19 border closures cause holidaymakers to focus on domestic destinations.

Broome may not be the first place in mind when thinking of a tropical paradise - but pristine white sandy beaches and warm blue water is exactly what the location offers.

Australians are booking tickets to the remote town on Western Australia's north coast in droves with Broome topping the list of flight bookings for 2021, according to new research by Skyscanner.

Broome in WA (pictured) may not be the first the first place in mind when thinking of a tropical paradise - but that is what the location offers

The white sandy beaches of remote Broome have been called among the best in Australia

Travel review site TripAdvisor also recently found in a survey that Broome was the most popular holiday destination for Australians looking to get away after experiencing months of lockdowns and travel bans.

Personal assistant Joelle Matier, 22, and Johnathan Dean, 24, from Perth decided to head to Broome for a six-day break together after they both could no longer go on their international trips.

'It's so beautiful, clean, pristine. The temperature is amazing and the beaches are amazing  I would definitely come back,' Ms Matier told The Australian from Cable Beach on Tuesday.

While the visit was Ms Matier's first to the area, Mr Dean, a PhD student, said he remembered the location from a trip ten years ago and while there may not be the buzz of places like America, the beach were among the best in the world.

The federal government banned international travel in mid-March to stem the spread of coronavirus, with the ban then extended earlier in September until the end of this year.

Western Australia's north (pictured) is one of the few areas where Australia's rugged outback reaches the coast

Beach horse and camel treks are a popular activity for hoiidaymakers in Broome (pictured)

Australian state border restrictions Victoria: Completely open, but other states are banning residents from going there NSW: Border with Victoria is closed but others are open without restriction Queensland: Open to everywhere but Victoria, NSW, and the ACT Northern Territory: Open to everywhere but Victoria and Sydney, which must do hotel quarantine South Australia: Closed to Victoria, NSW arrivals must self-isolate, rest are open Tasmania: Closed to Victoria, everywhere else must do hotel quarantine Western Australia: Closed to everywhere without an exemption Advertisement

Australians returning to the country have also been subject to 14-days of hotel quarantine and associated flight caps which have left thousands stranded overseas struggling to get flights home.

Varying state border closures have also been in place throughout the year with Western Australia currently closed to all states.

The flight booking data, however, shows Australians are betting that state borders will be open and at least some international destinations will be full steam ahead next year.

Filling out the top four destinations booked in September for travel next year along with Broome were London, Tokyo, and Kuala Lumpur.

Tourist accomodation in scenic Australian areas has been steadily being booked up as travellers who would usually head overseas shift their attention to exploring our own coasts, national parks, and world famous outback.

'Many of our WA visitors to Broome are new, in that they would usually be visiting Europe, North America or high-end Bali [instead] they are discovering the charms of Broome for the first time.' Natasha Mahar, chief executive of Australia's North West Tourism said.

Broome's Bali Hai resort and spa owner Andy Guidera said his occupancy rates for September to November were the best in 20 years, while Seashells Broome owner Deb Williams agreed.

'We have seen a huge increase in occupancy from September into 2021, which is really promising,' Ms Williams said.
The International Space Station. NASA

NASA says "an unknown piece of space debris" flew uncomfortably close the International Space Station on Tuesday.

The debris, which was predicted to zip past the ISS at 6:21 p.m. ET, would have come within 1.39 kilometers (0.86 mile) of the station.

However, mission controllers fired the engine of an attached Russian cargo spaceship to move the orbiting laboratory out of the way.

The threat of space debris has grown in recent decades more satellites launch, countries test space weaponry, and dead or disabled spacecraft crash into each other.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

A "piece of unknown space debris" passed within several kilometers of the International Space Station on Tuesday night, NASA said in a blog post.

Engineers predicted the mystery hunk of space junk would zip by the space station at about 6:21 p.m. ET at a distance of just 1.39 kilometers, or less than 0.9 miles away. That's an extremely close shave for objects moving at about 17,500 mph, or more than 10 times faster than a speeding bullet.

Though a miss was forecast, NASA acted out of "an abundance of caution" to avoid a collision with the football field-size facility by conducting an avoidance maneuver.

During the operation, the three Expedition 63 crew members who live aboard the station  astronaut Chris Cassidy and cosmonauts Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner  sealed themselves inside a Soyuz spaceship attached to the ISS. In the unlikely event that debris actually struck the station, this would have improved their chances of escape.

Then, starting around 5:19 p.m., Mission Control fired the thrusters of a Russian cargo spaceship for 150 seconds to boost the larger orbiting laboratory complex that it was attached to out of harm's way.

Such drastic maneuvers are standard protocol if there's a greater than 1-in-10,000 chance of collision, according to NASA.

Shortly afterward, crew members left their Soyuz "safe haven," tweeted NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine.

Story continues

The more objects we launch into orbit, the worse our space junk problem gets

Space junk has been a problem for the ISS for years. The station has executed at least 29 avoidance maneuvers since 1999, though near-misses are becoming more common.

"The @Space_Station has maneuvered 3 times in 2020 to avoid debris. In the last 2 weeks, there have been 3 high concern potential conjunctions," Bridenstine said in another tweet. "Debris is getting worse!"

Even small pieces of junk are a major threat; a hit by a 10-centimeter sphere of aluminum would be akin to detonating 15 pounds of TNT, NASA senior scientist Jack Bacon told Wired in 2010.

And in Earth's orbit right now, millions of pieces of space junk are flying around at similar speeds, including more than 650,000 objects that are softball- to fingernail-sized, as Business Insider previously reported.

That number is only expected to increase as the US and other nations enter a new era of commercial space travel and satellite use. Of the nearly ten thousand satellites humans have put into orbit since the 1950s, about 70% of them are destroyed, disabled, or dead, according to The New Yorker. Sometimes a dead satellite can collide with another dead satellite, or a functional one, generating enormous new clouds of debris.

Additionally, the US, Russia, and India in recent years have tested anti-satellite weapons that launch a "kill vehicle" (essentially a large bullet) on a large missile to obliterate in-orbit spacecraft, spreading countless pieces of debris in the process.

An illustration of space debris around Earth. NASA

If enough debris is made, the expanding chaos could trigger what's called the Kessler Syndrome, in which so much junk is flying around the planet that launching almost anything into space would be too risky.

Essentially, we could trap ourselves in our own junk, as Donald J. Kessler, the astrophysicist behind the Kessler Syndrome theory, has said.

"We are entering a new era of debris control," he wrote in 2009. "An era that will be dominated by a slowly increasing number of random catastrophic collisions."

For now, the US military-run Space Surveillance Network (SSN) and its partners are monitoring as many objects in space as it can  plus all potential space collisions. The network documents hundreds of thousands of possible conjunctions (or near-misses) each year, notifying satellite operators  and agencies like NASA  as far ahead of time as possible to avoid a hit.

In 2020, the US Department of Commerce's Office of Space Commerce has sought $15 million in additional funds for its budget next year, to increase efforts to monitor and remove space debris from orbit. Those funds have not yet been approved, as Bridenstine noted after the ISS avoidance maneuver.

"Time for Congress to provide @CommerceGov with the $15 mil requested by @POTUS for the Office of Space Commerce," he tweeted.

Dave Mosher contributed reporting.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Dublin, Sept. 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "North America Aircraft MRO Market - Growth, Trends, and Forecasts (2020 - 2025)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The North America aircraft MRO market is expected to exhibit a CAGR of more than 4% during the forecast period (2020 - 2025).



North America has the largest fleet of commercial, general, and military aircraft in the world and they require regular MRO services for operational availability. The presence of several aircraft OEMs in the United States makes the region the highest aircraft producer globally. Several contracts and agreements are regularly signed between aircraft MRO service providers and airlines, defense agencies, etc. with the introduction and procurement of new aircraft. The aforementioned factors are giving a significant boost to the market in North America.



Implementation of stringent safety standards and the introduction of new laws by legislative authorities are also propelling the market growth for aircraft MRO services in the region. In November 2019, Safe Aircraft Maintenance Standards Act was introduced that presents new conditions for FAA regarding inspection and overlooking of non-United States aircraft repair stations. The act also requires airlines to upload their heavy maintenance information on FAA database. The act also aims at creating unified maintenance standards for United States aircraft both inside and outside the country. In February 2020, Restoring Aviation Accountability Act was introduced with the aim of improving FAA's certification process and restoring public's faith in United States aviation industry.



The North America region has one of the most ageing military aircraft fleet in the world which necessitates significant demand for MRO activities. Also, as the armed forces are opting for new aircraft to expand their fleet size, it is further generating demand for MRO activities.



Key Market Trends



Military Aviation Segment to Exhibit the Highest Growth Rate



The mission ready capability of the United States Air Force fleet has dropped from nearly 78% in 2012 to below 70% in 2018. The United States fleet of military aviation includes aircraft such as B1-Lancer, B-52 Stratofortress, etc. that has completed the operational service of more than 45 years. As of December 2019, the 76th Aircraft Maintenance Group and B-1 Systems Program Office were nearing the completion of structural repair and maintenance works on B-1 Lancer aircraft that would increase the service life of the bomber. The United States Air Force wants to use the B1-Lancer aircraft for 20 more years till 2040.



In 2019, the United States Air Force issued a proposal request for the replacement of B-52's TF33 engines with more fuel-efficient and easy to maintain engines. Canada is also struggling with the aging fleet of its CF-18 fighter aircraft that has reached an age of more than 33 years. In January 2020, the Canadian government announced its plan to invest USD 800 million on advanced upgrades and maintenance of CF-18 fighter aircraft.



Some aircraft in the Royal Canadian Air Force is too old to be upgraded with the latest equipment to comply with the latest air traffic and aviation rules. In 2019, Canada made a deal with the United States to continue the operation of its very old Challenger VIP transport jets in the regional airspace despite not being equipped with latest air traffic control equipment. The aforementioned instances are propelling the demand for MRO services from the military aviation segment.



Competitive Landscape



The aircraft MRO market in North America is fragmented. Some of the prominent players in this market are Lockheed Martin Corporation, General Electric Company, The Boeing Company, Rolls Royce PLC, and Collins Aerospace among others. The region is marked by the presence of several foreign MRO service providers as well.



MRO service providers are increasing focus on IT and technological developments to increase their efficiency and reduce the time consumed on MRO activities. The main revenue generation strategy of aircraft MRO market players is to win long-term contracts from armed forces, airlines, and freight carriers.



Companies Mentioned

Story continues

ST Engineering

Delta TechOps (Delta Air Lines, Inc)

Collins Aerospace (Raytheon Technologies Corporation)

General Electric Company

Safran SA

Rolls Royce PLC

Honeywell International Inc.

Lockheed Martin Corporation

The Boeing Company

Textron Inc.

IAG Aero Group

Lufthansa Technik AG (Lufthansa Group)

AAR Corp

StandardAero

MTU Aero Engines North America Inc. (MTU Aero Engines)

GKN Aerospace Services Limited

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Back in August 2020 I had the opportunity to give a keynote presentation "virtually" to staff at Snohomish County Public Utility District (PUD) Their Safety Day event is held annually, but because of the coronavirus pandemic, it was a virtual event. You can watch my presentation here: " No One Is Coming to Help ."My emphasis on this aspect is the belief by average citizens that they will be able to call 911 and first responders will arrive to help them. It is true for everyday emergencies, but not for large-scale disasters like earthquakes and hurricanes. I point out that this is especially true for earthquakes, which I call "Come as you are disasters!" FEMA and the full gamut of federal resources are not going to be pre-staged for that event. It will take many days for them to gear up and then arrive in the disaster zone, with the logistics of moving people, supplies and equipment being hindered by a damaged transportation system.Note that Washington state and Oregon's standard for individual and family preparedness is not three days, but two weeks!
Deputy Minister of Public Health in Peru, Luis Suarez on September 22 warned about a second wave of the novel coronavirus outbreak. He urged that the public should not let down the guard. According to a tally by the John Hopkins University, Peru has a total number of 776,546 coronavirus cases with 31,586 fatalities.

Read: Peru's President Visits COVID-19 Vaccine Lab

Peru to experience a second wave

Suarez said that the surge of cases in Spain, Belgium and Italy should serve as a wake up call for countries in Latin America. According to the reports by ANI, 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. He further added, We cannot assure you that the same will not happen in Peru or other countries in the Americas. According to reports by the health ministry, 622,418 former patients have recovered from the deadly disease.

Read: Peru's President Faces Impeachment Vote

Few days back, Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra visited the Research Centre of the Cayetano Heredia University to monitor the progress by Peruvian and Chinese scientists in advanced clinical trials of a potential vaccine against the novel coronavirus. He praised the work done by the scientists as a part of their collaboration. The current trial is in phase 3 and it involves the vaccination of volunteers who will be examined to see if it works. Side effects of the vaccine will also be monitored. The trial will include a total of 6,000 people between the age group of 18 and 75. Out of the 6,000, about 2,000 will receive a Wuhan strain, 2,000 a Beijing strain, and the remainder a saline water placebo. According to the reports by AP, Vizcarra said, With the result of this last phase 3 we can begin with the next (phase), which is delivering the vaccine to all the population.

Read: Peru's President Survives Impeachment In Congress

Also Read: New Political Turmoil Hits Peru With Dicey Impeachment Vote

(Image Credits: Unsplash)
Ghulam Nabi Azad to meet President Kovind in evening over farm Bills, suspension of MPs, reports PTI

MPs of Opposition parties march in Parliament premises in protest over farm bills

TMC and TRS MPs protest in front of Gandhi statue in Parliament

'Many past anomalies had to be corrected': Union minister Jitendra Singh on Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Bill 2020

India's imports from China during April-July dropped to US$ 16.60 billions: Piyush Goyal

There was no divison of votes, no voice voting: Ghulam Nabi Azad on farm bills debate

A view of the Lok Sabha during ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament, in New Delhi. (LSTV/PTI Photo)

Members of the opposition continued to boycott Parliament proceedings over the suspension of eight Rajya Sabha MPs and Centres refusal to accept their demand for withdrawing of the farm bills passed earlier.

Both, the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were not left with any option but to hurriedly pass important bills in Parliament.

The Rajya Sabha has been adjourned sine die. The Monsoon Session, that was scheduled to go on till October 1st, was cut short in the wake of Covid-19 crisis.

Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad will meet President Ram Nath Kovind at 5 pm on Wednesday over the farm Bills and the suspension of the eight MPs, news agency PTI said.

Meanwhile, The Lower House will meet at 6pm on Wednesday and is likely to cut short the session, people familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity. The National Education Policy, underachievement of TB elimination program, domestic violence amid the Covid-19 pandemic are some of the topics that will be likely discussed.
The same media outlets that have obsessively covered the Trump familys overseas business dealings have all but ignored a Senate report released Wednesday that details what appears to be a vast influence peddling network established by Hunter Biden while his father was serving as vice president.

The report  released Wednesday by the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and Finance committees  is based on reviews of over 45,000 pages of Obama administration records and eight witness interviews with current and former U.S. officials. It lays out a web of foreign business dealings pursued by Hunter Biden in concert with politically connected businessmen in China, Kazakhstan, and Russia over the course of his fathers tenure as vice president.

In just one example of the brazen way in which the younger Biden apparently leveraged his family name, Elena Baturina, the wife of the former mayor of Moscow who was fired in 2010 over corruption allegations, wired him and his business partner Devon Archer $3.5 million as part of a consultancy agreement.

Baturina became Russias first female billionaire after her plastics company received a series of lucrative public contracts with the city of Moscow while her husband was mayor. A 2010 cable published by Wikileaks reveals that contacts told the U.S. embassy in Moscow that Baturina definitely has links to the criminal world, and particularly to the Solntsevo criminal group (widely regarded by Russian law enforcement as one of the most powerful organized crime groups in Russia).

Rather than reporting on what amounts to evidence of Bidens ties to a corrupt Putin ally, CNN, Politico, the New York Times, and the Washington Post elected to cast the Senate report as nothing more than a cynical partisan attempt to hurt Joe Bidens electoral prospects months ahead of the November election.

CNNs lede states that Senate Republicans on Wednesday issued a partisan report attacking Vice President Joe Bidens son Hunter Biden over his role on the board of a Ukrainian energy company but says little about the former vice president beyond the long-known potential conflict of interest issues that arose because of Hunters position.

Story continues

But according to Peter Schweizer, president of the Government Accountability Institute, the details involving Baturina are a huge development.

We saw in court documents a possible link between Elena Baturina, the Russian-organized crime-linked oligarch, and some of Hunter Bidens businesses, but it could never be confirmed, Schweizer told National Review. We now have confirmation of $3.5 million being transferred to Hunters business by Baturina.

In addition to the initial $3.5 million consultancy payment from Baturina, Biden also made millions by partnering with wealthy CCP and PLA-connected Chinese businessmen to solicit Chinese investment in foreign ventures. All told, the report found that Biden made in excess of $4 million in questionable financial transactions with well-connected foreign nationals.

In its coverage, Politico mentions lengthy passages detailing Hunter Bidens financial connections to foreign nationals, but caveats that charge by quoting Democrats who called Johnson and Grassleys apparent review of Treasury records grossly irresponsible.

Schweizer, however, said that the fact that these were transactions that were apparently causing red flags with Treasury was noteworthy. I dont know exactly why they were causing red flags, but that in and of itself, I think, is an important revelation, he stated.

The Times emphasized that the findings did not reflect poorly on Joe Biden, who ran foreign relations for the Obama administration with Ukraine while his son was working for Burisma, with its headline reading Republican Inquiry Finds No Evidence of Wrongdoing by Biden.

The Post framed its coverage on the reports failure to demonstrate that Hunter Bidens Ukraine dealings changed the administrations policy toward Ukraine  a curious angle considering the report itself details how nothing was done to end the apparent conflict of interest, despite two State Department officials expressing their concerns about the arrangement to Bidens office.

One official, Amos Hochstein, testified that in October 2015, he warned then-Vice President Joe Biden that his sons role at Burisma enabled Russian disinformation efforts and risked undermining U.S. policy in Ukraine.

And neither paper mentioned that former Secretary of State John Kerry was warned by his stepson, a former business partner of Biden, about the Burisma board position, according to testimony and evidence provided by the committee.

David Wade, Kerrys former chief of staff, testified that he made Kerry aware of his stepson Chris Heinzs concerns on May 14, 2014, and that Kerrys responded by saying he was comfortable answering a press question if he got it. Emails from that same day also show David Thorne, a senior adviser to then-Secretary Kerry, revealing that he had sent media clips about Hunter Biden and Burisma to Kerry.

In 2019, Kerry was asked about whether he had any knowledge of Hunter Bidens Burisma role while he served as Secretary of State. I had no knowledge about any of that. None. No, Kerry responded.

Kerrys apparent duplicity was also left out of the reports published by Politico, CNN, the New York Times, and the Washington Post.

The outlets similarly ignored an explosive detail in the report about payments Hunter made to Ukrainian and Russian nationals living in the U.S. that appear to be related to an Eastern European prostitution or human trafficking ring.

More from National Review
The new site offers a user-friendly experience with improved navigation and functionality, while exploring the vast portfolio of Valcors products and services.

Valcor Engineering Corporation, an industry leader in the design and manufacture of fluid control components and subsystems, clutches, brakes & OBIGGS systems, is proud to announce the launch of its newly redesigned website at http://www.valcor.com. The new site offers a user-friendly experience with improved navigation and functionality, while exploring the vast portfolio of Valcors products and services.

Our Customer Service pages include direct-dial phone numbers and email addresses to put you in contact with the right person to assist you. Contacting an engineer to discuss a new or existing application is as simple as the click of a button. Newly formatted data sheets include more application information, making it easier to understand the capabilities and potential uses of our products. The expanded About Us provides more history on the founding and growth of our company.

We have extensively updated our website so that our existing customers and new potential customers can learn more about our capabilities and contact us if they need additional information, stated Leo Loiacono, VP, Business & Product Development.

Valcors new website will be updated on a regular basis with news, new product launches, application stories, corporate milestones, and more. Visitors are encouraged to explore the website and sign up for email updates.

About Valcor

Valcor Engineering Corporation (http://www.valcor.com), founded in 1951, designs and manufactures solenoid valves and other fluid control components, as well as subsystems, clutches, brakes and OBIGGS systems for critical applications in Missiles, Space, Aircraft , nuclear, medical, industrial and scientific industries. Headquartered in Springfield, New Jersey, Valcors world-class staff of engineers, designers, and technical support personnel utilize fully equipped, modern test facilities to test the most precise and exacting standards.

With a library of more than 18,000 designs, Valcors design team can modify existing technology to suit practically every hard to handle application. Valcor specializes in custom applications and can create an entirely new product to meet your needs.
Staff members [activities/nursing] were present in the area but did not redirect the residents to replace their masks or to social distance, until the surveyors intervened. The licensed practical nurse [LPN] #1 stated there were both Covid-19 positive and negative residents in the lounge area at this time.

Dementia patients on the fourth floor were able to independently move and wander throughout the entire fourth floor where there was a mix of Covid-19 positive residents and virus-free residents, the inspection stated.

On April 25, a housekeeper told an inspector she changed her gloves after entering residents rooms but not her gown. She said, We only get one gown per shift because there aren't enough gowns to go around.

Humboldt House Administrator Michelle Hardy said in a statement that all state and federal guidelines were followed there.

In the midst of this pandemic, a new on-site survey was developed for nursing homes for authorities to review infection control procedures dealing with Covid-19.

This was not an effort to assist the nursing homes in this new situation but an effort to once again put regulatory ramifications and fines to the nursing home industry.
Last week was a typical one for Chicago. The weekly shooting gallery was about normal for the third week of September  100 people shot, 14 homicides and 86 wounded -- on the downtown streets. But there was one shooting that stood out. A United States Postal Service letter carrier was shot four times when she got in the crosshairs of a drive-by shooting and now the USPS is on the brink of demanding those who live in grisly neighborhoods will be required to pick up their mail at area post offices. Home delivery has gotten too dangerous, the mail carriers say.

Now aint this a crispy pickle. The post office is the only Federal agency that is allowed to have a union.

Therefore, when the National Association of Letter Carriers strongly endorsed the candidacy of Democrat Joe Biden, it became the only Federal agency to legally be enabled to endorse a politician.

But  whats this?  the admittedly biased letter carriers are the ones who will deliver the millions of mail ballots across the country. Me thinks any fox would revel in such a tempting approach on a hen house.

The COVID flu withstanding, I think mail-in ballots are as just as big a sign of trouble. I see 100 percent of the most ardent COVID watchers stand in grocery lines, walk through hospitals, and enjoy freedom of unrestricted movement all day and night. Our children pack the schools. People clamor to worship with their friends, but you are trying to convince me that early voting, in person ballot drop-offs, rigid distancing rules at the polls and a bevy of other protections are too dangerous? Its ridiculous.

But in America today we are presented with the absurd and led to believe it is normal. There is empirical evidence 100 human beings were shot last week in Chicago. For the month of September -- this just in 21 days -- we have had 286 people shot and 59 killed. Thats over two needless deaths every day.

Homicides in Chicago in this year of wrath are up over 50 percent. Murders are already more than in all of 2019 and just this past Saturday and Sunday  last weekend  37 wounded, 10 of them killed. The huge percent is black-on-black, which the liberal media cannot blame on Trump, so it is a non-story. But as the true Americans wear face masks and wash our hands with regularity, within the city limits of Chicago since Jan. 1 of this year, there have been 3,096 people shot, 579 of them fatally.

If you were a letter carrier in Chicago, that is frightening. No wonder Mack Julion, president of the Chicago union chapter, decreed on Friday: Any letter carrier who does not feel safe  are not to deliver mail and customers will have to pick up their mail. We are not going to have another situation where the letter carrier is shot down.

The letter carrier, still in critical condition, was shot at 11:35 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 10. The next day another letter carrier was shot with a paint gun. Thats not funny, said Julion. These are federal employees  our members at work trying to do their job, trying to support their families, trying to support the communities.

So, forget the noble mantra  Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds. Bullets from relatively unchallenged thugs speak far louder while the voices of Black Lives Matter, Mayor Lori Lightfoot and other liberals are quiet. Mayor Lightfoot reportedly forced some of the citys aldermen not to take part in a Back The Blue rally last weekend and there are reports of over 900 vacancies on the Chicago police force.

The Chicago Fire Department is also woefully understaffed but this from Mayor Lightfoot: Everyone has to contribute to the sacrifices that are gonna be made as a result of the massive budget deficit that we have for next year.

She added, When youre staring down the barrel of a $1.2 billion deficit for next year on top of an $800 million shortfall for this year, weve gotta look at a variety of options.  Of course, were looking at vacancies. The taxpayers would expect us to look at every tool in our tool box.  A lot of tough, hard, painful choices are gonna have to be made, she said.

Im sure a great number of the 3,096 people who have now been shot in Chicago will agree, this despite the 579 who no longer have a voice in the matter.

* * *

WHY DO THE POLICE CONTINUE TO HARASS PEOPLE?

(From the Internet: Author unknown)

Recently, the Chula Vista, California Police Department ran an e-mail forum (a question and answer exchange) with the topic being, "Community Policing."

One of the civilian e-mail participants posed the following question, "I would like to know how it is possible for police officers to continually harass people and get away with it?"

From the "other side" (the law enforcement side) Sgt. Bennett, obviously a cop with a sense of humor replied:

"First of all, let me tell you this...it's not easy. In Chula Vista, we average one cop for every 600 people. Only about 60 percent of those cops are on general duty (or what you might refer to as "patrol") where we do most of our harassing. The rest are in non-harassing departments that do not allow them contact with the day to day innocents. At any given moment, only one-fifth of the 60 percent patrolers are on duty and available for harassing people while the rest are off duty.

So roughly, one cop is responsible for harassing about 5,000 residents. When you toss in the commercial business, and tourist locations that attract people from other areas, sometimes you have a situation where a single cop is responsible for harassing 10,000 or more people a day.

Now, your average 10-hour shift runs 36,000 seconds long. This gives a cop one second to harass a person, and then only three-fourths of a second to eat a donut AND then find a new person to harass. This is not an easy task. To be honest, most cops are not up to this challenge day in and day out. It is just too tiring. What we do is utilize some tools to help us narrow down those people which we can realistically harass.

The tools available to us are as follows:

PHONE: People will call us up and point out things that cause us to focus on a person for special harassment. "My neighbor is beating his wife" is a code phrase used often. This means we'll come out and give somebody some special harassment.

Another popular one: "There's a guy breaking into a house." The harassment team is then put into action.

CARS: We have special cops assigned to harass people who drive. They like to harass the drivers of fast cars, cars with no insurance or no driver's licenses and the like. It's lots of fun when you pick them out of traffic for nothing more obvious than running a red light. Sometimes you get to really heap the harassment on when you find they have drugs in the car, they are drunk, or have an outstanding warrant on file.

RUNNERS: Some people take off running just at the sight of a police officer. Nothing is quite as satisfying as running after them like a beagle on the scent of a bunny. When you catch them you can harass them for hours.

STATUTES: When we don't have PHONES or CARS and have nothing better to do, there are actually books that give us ideas for reasons to harass folks. They are called "Statutes": Criminal Codes, Motor Vehicle Codes, etc...

They all spell out all sorts of things for which you can really mess with people. After you read the statute, you can just drive around for a while until you find someone violating one of these listed offenses and harass them. Just last week I saw a guy trying to steal a car. Well, there's this book we have that says that's not allowed.

That meant I got permission to harass this guy. It's a really cool system that we've set up, and it works pretty well. We seem to have a never-ending supply of folks to harass. And we get away with it. Why? Because for the good citizens who pay the tab, we try to keep the streets safe for them, and they pay us to "harass" some people.

Next time you are in my town, give me the old "single finger wave." That's another one of those codes. It means, "You can't harass me." It's one of our favorites. For those who do have, or have had a close association in the Law Enforcement industry, I am sure that this will have a special meaning."

royexum@aol.com
City police are asking local parents to talk to their children about safety after a teen snuck into the scene of a recent fire.

Police were called Tuesday night by a security team at the TVM Mansions fire scene at Hunter and Park streets to investigate a report of a 13-year-old who had entered the fire-damaged structure.

The teen was not located but a door was found and secured.

Police strongly urge the public to remain away from the fragile structure as it is extremely unsafe, states a police press release. When police officers and firefighters have to re-enter the unsafe structure to look for curious individuals, it puts them at a very high risk for injury.
India recorded 83,347 fresh Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the total tally to 56,46,010. The number of recoveries reached 45,87,613 while deaths cross 90,000 mark to reach 90,020.

India is now testing more than 12 lakh people for Covid-19 daily, the latest data released by the Union health ministry has revealed. More than 6.5 crore tests have so far been completed in the country. The improvement in the testing rate is leading to early identification of positive cases which, in turn, will reduce the positivity rate in future, the ministry said.

Indias share in global Covid-19 recoveries is 19.5%, the Union health ministry said on Tuesday as the country recorded over 100,000 (101,468) recoveries from the disease, for the first time, on Monday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet the chief ministers of seven states that are majorly contributing to the Covid-19 caseload of the country, including Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Punjab.

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.

Delhi, on the other hand, has recorded 3,816 fresh cases on Tuesday, taking the tally to over 2.53 lakh, while the death count climbed to 5,051.
Bord na Mona said it plans to raise 1.6bn in order to fund a series climate action projects across its 200,000-acre landholding.

The semi-State company is shifting from its peat-based energy-generation towards renewable sources. It has six projects in planning and construction phase with another six to follow before 2030. The company is currently generating 10% of Irish renewable electricity and is aiming to achieve a 300% increase in its renewable energy output in this decade.

Bord na Mona said they are looking at different options to raise the funds but the sale of green bonds is understood to be one of those options.

We have already discerned a strong appetite from investors for the major renewable projects that we are developing

The funding and investment announcement follows the companys recent success in the first competitive auction under the Governments new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (Ress-1). Two Bord na Mona wind energy projects were successful in their bids, winning 158MW total capacity in the auction representing 25% of the total capacity awarded.

Tom Donnellan, Bord na Mona chief executive, said their purpose is to help Ireland become carbon neutral by 2050 and said they will be generating enough renewable energy to supply nearly a third of all Irish homes by 2030.

He said: "We are committed to delivering this major pipeline of critical climate action projects. Bord na Mona has a national and business imperative to use our land and other assets to develop these projects. We have already discerned a strong appetite from investors for the major renewable projects that we are developing.

The company has appointed Goodbody Corporate Finance to manage the fundraising for a series of largescale climate action projects, including wind and solar energy infrastructure developments for delivery in this decade.

Last week the European Commission proposed cutting 55% of Europes emissions by 2030, up from its previous goal of 40%, and said it would use hundreds of billions of euros worth of green bonds to help fund the target. The European Commission funding plan will make 225bn available for climate action projects across the Union.
Villagers in southern Tajikistan say they were ordered to donate money to their local authorities to buy carpets, flowers, and street billboards ahead of President Emomali Rahmons visit to their region on September 23.

Several residents of the Vakhsh district told RFE/RL that officials have been going door to door in recent days asking people to make financial contributions for the red-carpet welcome.

Jumagul Ashurova, a resident of the Ittifoq village in Vakhsh, said she was told to contribute at least 20 somoni, about $2, an amount many impoverished villagers cant afford. Tajik village teachers make about $50 to $100 a month.

I have eight children and we barely make ends meet. Instead of helping us, the authorities are asking us to give them money, Ashurova said on September 22.

Several other Vakhsh residents confirmed Ashurovas account. They said that more well-to-do people and local businesses were told to contribute greater amounts.

But Qosim Davlatov, the head of the Vahdat village, rejected claims that authorities have asked money from ordinary people.

We collected some money to buy flowers to plant around the fountain in the main square, but we got that money from businesses, such as gas stations, shops, and farming groups, Davlatov said. Where else can we get the money from? he added.

Rahmon is visiting Vakhsh as part of his annual tour of the Khatlon Province that began on September 22.

During Rahmon's trips to provinces, local governments usually throw extravagant welcome ceremonies, laying carpets along his way, hanging large billboards with the presidents portraits, and organizing parades with children reading poems for him.

Such events have been considerably scaled down due to the COVID-19 pandemic in recent months.
In the meantime, employers have evolved from facing a ton of uncertainty around how they would continue to operate in the midst of the pandemic, to now understanding the importance of implementing social distancing measures and other safety protocols in the workplace. That is what Ive seen has been the biggest impact, is how people are organizing their workforces in the field, said Kevin Clary (pictured above), vice president of risk management at Amerisure.

Some industries have clearly been more impacted from a workers comp perspective than others. Construction, which is one of Amerisures areas of specialty, was one that, for the most part, continued to keep operations going during state-mandated lockdowns. Construction never really stopped, especially in the southern states, noted Clary. Were in Michigan and we were probably one of the more stringent locked down states  and even here, construction stayed essential.

Nonetheless, construction businesses were still impacted by the pandemic because some workers were not able to perform their job duties during the shutdowns, or managers had to reduce their workforces to meet social distancing requirements. These shifts have introduced new exposures into the fold since some employees are doing different tasks compared to before the global crisis hit.

Read more: How to Go Back Safely once COVID-19 restrictions are lifted

The manufacturing industry experienced similar changes to exposures as some companies switched the types of products they were making, such as producing hand sanitizer and personal protective equipment. Again, explained Clary, this created new workers compensation-related hazards because the core operations changed, as did employees potentially new responsibilities.

However, the main industry in which Amerisure saw a lot of workers compensation claims activity during the past six months has been healthcare, namely operations like senior care nursing homes and rehabilitation centers.

Early on, we saw a significant influx of COVID-related claims, from the last half of April into the beginning of May, and since then, things have levelled out, said Steve Donnelly (pictured below), chief claims officer at Amerisure. In August, weve seen a 15-20% decrease in our COVID-related claim counts.

There were a few reasons for the initial spike in claims, the first being that a lot of claims were reported with occurrences from prior months, noted Donnelly, and people slowly became aware of the fact that there was insurance coverage for COVID incidents, especially as 14 states took steps to extend workers compensation coverage to include COVID-19 as a work-related illness.

For Amerisure, close to 100% of the claims during the pandemics initial outbreak in the US came from the healthcare space. Now, Amerisure is seeing a broader spectrum of professions reporting COVID claims, including construction. Meanwhile, on the non-COVID claims side, the insurer saw a significant dip in auto, general liability, and non-COVID workers compensation claims when the country shut down. This claims activity has just started to return to normal.

These notable trends have differed between states in which Amerisure provides workers compensation. Explained Donnelly, The vast majority of our claims early on were in Illinois and Michigan, and those are the two states that were probably hit the hardest in our footprint. It evolved to where we started seeing quite a bit of new claims later on in Georgia, and now, were seeing more COVID-19 related claims in Florida than anywhere else.

The impacts of the coronavirus on workers compensation are far from over as some states continue to battle the spread of the virus, and insurance coverage likewise wont be left untouched.

The downturn in payrolls in different classes of business have certainly affected our clientele and  for the calendar year 2020 will have some premium effects, said Charles Caldwell, CEO of Midlands Management, which focuses on excess workers comp.

From his perspective, the hospitality industry, and particularly hotels and restaurants, has been the most affected as a result of the crisis. The shutdown of those industries has had dramatic effects on the restaurants, noted Caldwell. In places like New York, with the inside dining [partly] shut down, [this will have] a dramatic effect on payrolls  and there might be some independent restaurants that wont reopen at all.

Read more: Reopening the restaurant sector  a legal perspective

To assist workers compensation clients through this tough time, its all hands on deck for insurers operating in this space.

Weve been really supportive, and are working with our clients to make sure that were providing the best advice we can as far as risk management, said Caldwell, and when they do report claims, that were helping to make sure that those claims are being handled [effectively].
Today we'll do a simple run through of a valuation method used to estimate the attractiveness of Starpharma Holdings Limited (ASX:SPL) as an investment opportunity by estimating the company's future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. Our analysis will employ the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Models like these may appear beyond the comprehension of a lay person, but they're fairly easy to follow.

Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you.

Check out our latest analysis for Starpharma Holdings

The model

We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, 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 (A$, Millions) -AU$14.0m AU$26.0m AU$12.0m AU$24.5m AU$33.7m AU$42.9m AU$51.3m AU$58.8m AU$65.1m AU$70.5m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ 37.81% Est @ 27.14% Est @ 19.68% Est @ 14.45% Est @ 10.79% Est @ 8.23% Present Value (A$, Millions) Discounted @ 7.1% -AU$13.1 AU$22.7 AU$9.8 AU$18.6 AU$24.0 AU$28.5 AU$31.8 AU$34.0 AU$35.2 AU$35.6

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = AU$227m

Story continues

We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 2.3%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 7.1%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2030  (1 + g)  (r  g) = AU$70m (1 + 2.3%)  (7.1% 2.3%) = AU$1.5b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= AU$1.5b ( 1 + 7.1%)10= AU$757m

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is AU$984m. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of AU$1.6, the company appears quite good value at a 39% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind.

dcf

Important assumptions

The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Starpharma Holdings as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 7.1%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.800. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

Looking Ahead:

Whilst important, the DCF calculation shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. 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. Why is the intrinsic value higher than the current share price? For Starpharma Holdings, there are three further factors you should look at:

Risks: For instance, we've identified 2 warning signs for Starpharma Holdings that you should be aware of. Future Earnings: How does SPL'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 Australian stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.



Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com.
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)

Trump to Sign Executive Order to Protect Babies That Survive Abortion

President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he plans to sign an executive order aimed at mandating medical care is provided to babies that survive abortion.

We believe in the joy of family, the blessing of freedom, and the dignity of work. And the eternal truth that every child, born and unborn, is made in the holy image of God, Trump said in a pre-recorded announcement shown at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast.

I will always protect the vital role of religion and prayer in American society, and I will always defend the sacred right to life, he added.

Today, I am announcing that I will be signing the Born-Alive Executive Order to ensure that all precious babies born aliveno matter their circumstancesreceive the medical care that they deserve! This is our sacrosanct moral duty.

The text of the executive order wasnt immediately available.

The Susan B. Anthony List, a nonprofit that seeks to reduce abortion in the United States, praised Trump after the announcement.

What a contrast with Joe Biden who picked as his running mate Kamala Harris who voted NO on the #BornAlive act which would ensure equal medical care for all infants born alive, the group said in a statement on Twitter.

The Biden campaign didnt respond to a request for comment.

Congressional Republicans have tried repeatedly, but unsuccessfully, to pass the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which would require medical workers who are present at the birth of a child who survives abortion to provide the same level of medical care they give to children born normally.

Democratic presidential nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden speaks during a campaign speech in Manitowoc, Wis., Sept. 21, 2020. (Mark Makela/Reuters)

The act would also require medical workers to report violations to law enforcement authorities and penalize the killing of a born-alive child through fines or up to five years in prison.

Mothers of the children would be immune from prosecution or civil action.

Trump also said at the breakfast his administration was increasing federal funding for the neonatal research to ensure that every child has the very best to thrive and to grow.

And Trump told attendees that America is a strong nation because of Catholics and all people of faith.

Trump earlier this month said he would work to fully defund Planned Parenthood and other groups that supply abortions if he wins a second term.

Trump described himself as the most pro-life president in our nations history.

In response, Planned Parenthood Votes characterized the pro-life movement as the anti-abortion movement and called Trumps promise one that would attack access to abortion.

Jenny Lawson, the executive director of Planned Parenthood Votes, said in the statement, If it wasnt clear before, its crystal clear now: A second Trump term would mean four more years of relentless, withering attacks on reproductive health care, including access to safe, legal abortion.

Mimi Nguyen Ly contributed to this report.
An Oregon pilot battling blazes died in an air tanker crash near Emmett, Idaho Tuesday.

Ricky Fulton of Ontario was piloting a T-857 single engine air tanker while fighting a fire when the plane crashed Tuesday night. Firefighters rendered aid to Fulton and called for helicopter transport.

Fulton was working as a contractor for the Bureau of Land Management Fire and Aviation at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise at the time.

We offer our sincere condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of the pilot lost in this tragic accident, said Tanya Thrift, acting Boise district manager with the Bureau of Land Management. This reminds us of the inherent risks involved in wildland firefighting and the gratitude we owe to the courageous and committed men and women who serve willingly to protect lives, property, and natural resources.

The exact cause of the crash has not been determined. The Department of Interior Office of Aviation Services, the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating.

Fulton was fighting the Schill fire, which burned 30 acres. It began at approximately 4:30 p.m. Tuesday and was contained within six hours.

-- K. Rambo

krambo@oregonian.com

@k_rambo_
By Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: UDF convener Benny Behanan has written a letter to CPM general secretary Sitram Yechury urging him to remove Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan from office.

He maintained that since the Chief Minister's Office has come under a cloud of smoke, it is inappropriate for Pinarayi to continue in office. It should be recalled that Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala too had shot off a similar letter to Yechury last month with the same request.

Behanan highlighted that the allegations against the CMO are serious, with a few officials being summoned by the National Investigation Agency. He said the CMO cannot run away from the allegations and Pinarayi should step down and cooperate with the probe.

"Apart from higher education minister K T Jaleel, a few more ministers children have also come under a cloud of smoke. Those CPM leaders and ministers who have brought shame to the party should not be allowed to remain in office. It should be recalled that CPM leaders are known for their fight against corruption," said Behanan in the letter.
AUSTIN, Texas - A state historical review panel voted overwhelmingly Tuesday against relocating a monument to the 200 Alamo defenders killed by the Mexican army in 1836.

The killings during the war for Texas independence gave birth to a rallying cry used during the eventual defeat of the Mexican forces.

The Texas Historical Commission voted on Tuesday 12-2 to reject a proposal by the city of San Antonio to repair and relocate the Alamo Cenotaph that has stood since 1939 in Alamo Plaza. Planners of a $450 million Alamo renovation project had wanted to move it about 500 feet to the south.

A commission advisory board had endorsed the relocation proposal by a 6-3 vote earlier Tuesday. However, Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick spoke out forcefully against the proposal, saying it would erase history.

The 58-foot-tall marble slab has been a focal feature of Alamo Plaza in downtown San Antonio since 1939.

The Alamo Defender Descendants Association is fighting to keep the Cenotaph within the area once surrounded by the Alamos walls. It hopes to have the monument declared a cemetery in the hope of stopping the move.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 06:15:48|Editor: huaxia

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RAMALLAH, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Ishtaye announced late on Wednesday that the dialogue between leaders of Hamas and Fatah in Turkey is "encouraging."

Ishtaye said in a press statement that the meetings between the two movements focused on "agreeing on holding the Palestinian general elections," adding that "the atmosphere gives rise to hope."

He went on saying that "there is hope for reaching the desired results by completing reconciliation and turning the page on division."

Ishtaye said that his government is "ready to fulfill all the requirements for the success of these elections as a gateway to renewing democratic life and solidifying the wall of national unity."

"The national unity will give the Palestinian people more immunity to the face of the serious risks that threaten the presence of the Palestinian cause," said Ishtaye.

Leaders of the two rival movements, Fatah and Hamas, began two days ago bilateral meetings in Istanbul in Turkey. Enditem
The U.S. marked a bleak milestone Tuesday, surpassing 200,000 deaths attributed to the coronavirus. But as case counts rise in several states and fears mount over a coming surge, infection and mortality rates have leveled off in California and the Bay Area.

Public health officials and experts attribute the states relative success to widespread adoption of mask-wearing protocols, along with improved testing and the shifting demographic of those infected. Smoky skies from chronic wildfires also have kept people inside and likely stemmed the spread of disease in recent weeks.

Simple acts make a big difference, said Mark Ghaly, secretary of California Health and Human Services, during his weekly COVID-19 briefing.

With flu season ahead, coupled with an expected fall uptick in coronavirus cases, the state and region both hope to successfully balance the concerns of public health with the pressures of reopening the economy and resuming some semblance of normal life.

The states numbers are clearly trending downward. California recorded 2,760 new coronavirus cases Tuesday, according to state officials, after averaging 3,474 cases a day over the past seven days.

Over the past 14 days, the percentage of people testing positive has averaged 3.0% statewide, continuing a downward trend and well below the goal of staying under 8%. Hospitalization rates declined 23%, while ICU rates plummeted 25%.

Even though the Bay Area is expected to reach 100,000 cases Wednesday, the number of new cases has steadily declined since mid-August. About 3,700 cases have been reported each of the past two weeks, which is about half the number of cases reported on average per week just one month ago.

The average number of deaths per 100,000 in California, over the past five weeks shows an overall decline, barring a slight increase in the Bay Area over the past three weeks due to a reporting lag from Alameda County.

Due to the encouraging data, the state is amending county economic reopening guidelines using Californias new color-coded tier system. Locally, Alameda, San Mateo and Solano counties advanced to a less-restrictive tier Tuesday, joining Napa, Marin and Santa Clara counties on the precipice of opening more businesses.

We had counties move from all of the different tiers into a less-restrictive tier this week and we anticipate that we may see more of that even next week, said Ghaly.

Sonoma and Contra Costa counties are the only two Bay Area counties remaining in the lowest tier of progress.

In an encouraging sign, public health officials have not observed an anticipated spike in new cases after Labor Day, as some worried would happen.

As a preventive measure, some beaches and parks scattered around the Bay Area were closed over the long weekend as officials tried to discourage the large gatherings that led to spikes following both Memorial Day and the Fourth of July.

But its likely that the triple-digit temperatures and three major wildfires in the region also helped curb the spread of the virus leading to the latest tally, as people were forced to stay home, and many businesses shuttered because of the toxic smoke and ash that covered the skies throughout Northern California.

Monica Gandhi, an infectious disease expert at UCSF, attributes the declining rate of hospitalizations in the Bay Area to increased testing and the shifting demographic of COVID cases, as more younger people who are infected have better outcomes.

She said the regions acceptance of masking guidelines is also a factor in the improving numbers.

All the places with masking have had so much better success, Gandhi said. Population-level masking is a powerful pillar of pandemic control.

The widespread use of face coverings may also play a role in reducing the severity of the disease for those who are infected, she said, by containing the amount of SARS-CoV-2 viral particles that are floating around in the air.

The fact that were wearing masks is undoubtedly the good thing, said Michael Lin, associate professor of bioengineering at Stanford. Before masks were recommended, there was this steady plateau of new cases that would not go away. Its because of mask-wearing that we're seeing case rates drop.

State officials are hopeful that improved COVID-19 testing turnaround times will help propel the downward trend in cases.

Laboratories statewide are recording results within two days 90% of the time, Dr. Erica Pan, deputy director of the state Department of Public Health Center for Infectious Diseases, told a virtual news conference.

Good news all around but, really, a reminder that despite seeing a steady downward trajectory, that we cannot drop our guard, Ghaly said.

Aidin Vaziri is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: avaziri@sfchronicle.com
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 15:47:34|Editor: huaxia

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KUNDUZ, Afghanistan, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- At least seven security force members and four militants were killed and 14 people wounded in fresh clashes in two Afghan provinces on Tuesday night, a local officials confirmed on Wednesday.

In northern Kunduz province, five security forces and four militants were killed and eight soldiers and four militants wounded after security forces responded to Taliban militants who stormed security checkpoints in two localities in Imam Sahib district, bordering Tajikistan, district chief Mahbubullah Sayyedi told Xinhua.

The clashes ended early Wednesday morning in the district where local villagers claimed militants overrun one national army's checkpoint following the fighting.

Taliban militants also attacked eastern outskirts of provincial capital Kunduz city, in an effort to consolidate their position along key roads in the area.

Furthermore, two Afghan Local Police officers were killed and others wounded in a similar incident in Pashtum Zarghun district, in the southeastern of Herat city, capital of western Herat province, provincial police spokesman, Jilani Farhad, told Xinhua.

Violence lingers in the war-torn country even as peace talks between an Afghan government delegation and Taliban representatives are being held in Doha, capital of Gulf state of Qatar.

The Taliban militants have been trying to overrun small towns or districts across Afghanistan and consolidate their position amid the talks. Enditem
As the Afghan peace process faces stalemate, the Special US Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation said that the level of violation is unacceptably high with the possibility of further setbacks during talks. The spotlight from the peace talks has faded after the lavish opening ceremony on September 12 as the Afghan government and the Taliban continue to disagree on even basic issues.

By any measure, current levels of violence are too high, special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad told a Congressional hearing.

The intra-Afghan negotiations kicked off in Doha under the chairmanship of the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs. While the Taliban has pledged to respect womens rights, reports suggest that many of the educated women remain sceptical. Democrats asked Khalilzad whether the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan under the peace deal could end education for Afghan girls.

I want to assure the Afghan women that we will be with them, the special envoy said.

Read: US Special Representative Khalilzad Reaffirms UNSC's Commitment to Peace In Afghanistan

Read: Afghanistan: Airstrikes On Taliban Base In Kunduz District Leads To 30 Civilian Casualties

During the opening ceremony, the head of Afghanistans peace council, Abdullah Abdullah, had thanked the Taliban for showing willingness to negotiate to end 19 years of war. The Afghan government's top negotiator said they could strike a peace deal to put an end to the decades of conflict if warring parties come together.

While we have reasons to be hopeful, we are under no illusions about the challenges ahead. ... We expect that there will be setbacks and obstacles, Khalilzad told the House.

Questions over prisoners' release

Ahead of the peace talks, Khalilzad told a press briefing that the people of Afghanistan demand an end to the war and the United States support them in that effort. The US media questioned the Afghan governments decision, under the peace deal, to release prisoners convicted of deadly attacks on international troops. Citing the joint statement, Khalilzad said that difficult decisions had to be made as a confidence-building measure in order to achieve a great objective.

Read: Afghanistan Leader Mohammed Haneef Atmar Thanks India For Its Commitment To Afghan Peace

Read: Trump Partnered With Taliban Ahead Of Afghan Peace Talks, Claims Ex-security Adviser
Though Tom Holland can currently be seen starring across Robert Pattinson, Sebastian Stan, and Bill Skarsgard in Devil All the Time, he is best known for his ongoing portrayal of Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Peter Parker first appeared in the MCU via Captain America: Civil War, teaming up with mentor and eventual father figure Tony Stark.

Actor Tom Holland attends the press conference for Spider-Man: Far From Home | Han Myung-Gu/WireImage

Tony Stark and Spidey boast quite the intimate dynamic, and Holland has grown to see Robert Downey Jr. as a mentor in real life. However, Holland wouldnt choose to be stuck on a desert island with the man behind the billionaire philanthropist.

During an interview with BBC Radio 1, in which Holland answered questions from young fans, the Spider-Man star revealed the Avengers he would choose to be stuck on a desert island with. Who would be the most helpful?

If MCU star Tom Holland was stuck on a desert island with an Avenger, he would want Chris Hemsworth

Holland explained to a young fan why Chris Hemsworth would make an excellent companion on a desert island. He said, cause he lives in Australia, and he seems like he can handle desert island stuff. The interviewer sought further explanation, asking about shelters and fishing. Holland noted that he wouldnt have to do any of that stuff, since Hemsworth would just take control.

RELATED: Tom Holland Compares His MCU Costume Journey to Robert Downey Jr.s

Holland then went on to ponder whom he would choose as his second, and he struggled to come up with an answer, noting that Hemsworth ticks all the boxes. However, he eventually decided that Dave Bautista, who plays Drax the Destroyer in the MCU, would make a strong addition to the team.

Why Tom Holland would add Dave Bautista, Drax the Destroyer, to the mix

Holland explained that Bautista is just a great guy, and that he would have the help of two beasts with Bautista and Hemsworth. And, as he said, two strong and ultra-competent individuals are better than one.

RELATED: MCU Star Tom Holland Says, No One Gives Me Notes Like My Mom Does

While Holland seemed to believe that Hemsworth would suffice as a solo assistant to his desert island voyage, Dave Bautista would bring a little more muscle. Sorry to all the Stark fans out there hoping he would have picked RDJ. Unfortunately, Downeys famous brunches likely wouldnt come in handy trapped on an island without access to a grocery store.
A Vietnamese delegation attended the 61st series of meetings of the Assemblies of the Member States of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) that kicked off in Geneva, Switzerland, on September 21.

Vietnamese Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai speaks at the opening session of the 61st series of meetings of the Assemblies of the Member States of WIPO on September 21 (Photo: VNA)





This is the first time the annual meeting series has been held both virtually and in person. It is also the last of its kind in the term of incumbent WIPO Director General Francis Gurry.



Its opening ceremony was attended by about 750 delegates from 135 WIPO member states, observer states, inter-governmental organisations, and non-governmental organisations.



In his opening remarks, Director General Francis Gurry reported on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic while warning that the diminished state of multilateralism poses a major challenge to the world.



He said technological progress has connected humanity in never-before-seen ways, but has been accompanied by increasing signs of closure, including protectionism.



Gurry noted that the pandemic has yet to adversely affect the financial position of WIPO, which funds its activities primarily through the provision of global IP services, but that close attention has to be paid to the evolving global economic situation.



For his part, newly appointed WIPO General Director Daren Tang acknowledged member states support for him to serve in this post and committed to close cooperation with them in the time ahead.



Tang, who was Chief Executive of the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore, will begin his six-year term on October 1.



Representing ASEAN countries to deliver the blocs joint remarks, Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai, head of Vietnams permanent mission to the United Nations, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and other international organisations in Geneva, said while responding to COVID-19 and promoting post-pandemic recovery, ASEAN countries have been prioritising digital transformation and innovation, setting up electronic systems for registration and reception of intellectual property (IP) dossiers to improve IP authorities efficiency, and maximising teleworking methods to ensure the timely and quality provision of IP services for relevant parties.



She also informed participants about ASEANs IP-related achievements this year, including its members innovation index, engagement in some international IP agreements, and regional cooperation with WIPO.



ASEAN countries appreciated Director General Gurrys leadership and substantial contributions to WIPO during his two tenures (12 years), Mai said, adding that they believe the newly appointed Director General will lead the organisation to obtain great achievements in the time to come.



Speaking on behalf of Vietnam at the opening ceremony, the ambassador highlighted some of the countrys attainments in the field of IP since the beginning of 2020, including the growth of applications for the protection of IP rights, an increase in protection certificates of industrial property rights, and the start of implementation of the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Deposit of Industrial Designs.



Vietnam has been effectively carrying out the National IP Strategy and most of WIPO-funded projects, with a focus on digital transformation, innovation and response to the pandemic, she noted.



The diplomat also stressed the countrys wish and belief that WIPO will continue making progress in enhancing the system of IP rules and ensuring balance between promoting innovation and implementing the WIPO development programme for the sake of all member states.



The agenda of the 61st meeting series is shortened compared to those in previous years due to the COVID-19 impact. It is scheduled to wrap up on September 25. VNA
The teenager who was charged with stabbing Barnard student Tessa Majors to death in Manhattan reportedly confessed to his jailed father in a wiretapped phone call - as he faces another indictment in a separate violent robbery.

Rashaun Weaver, 15, is charged as an adult with murder and robbery in the December 11 slaying of 18-year-old Majors in upper Manhattan's Morningside Park, just blocks from the Barnard campus.

Now, police sources tell the New York Post that Weaver confessed to the brutal murder in a phone conversation with his father Clifford Weaver, who was behind bars upstate at the time on a parole violation.

'The defendant stated in substance that he was in the park and tried to take the girl's phone and 'she was hanging onto her phone' and that he hit her with a knife,' said court papers, describing the conversation.

Rashaun Weaver, 15, (left) is charged as an adult with murder and robbery in the December 11 slaying of 18-year-old Barnard student Tessa Majors (right) in Manhattan's Morningside Park

The elder Weaver has a long history of convictions on robbery and drug charges, and was incarcerated at Mohawk Correctional Facility at the time of the phone call.

Meanwhile, a grand jury has unsealed an indictment against Rashaun Weaver in a separate violent robbery, which police say he committed while on the run from cops as a suspect in Majors' murder.

According to the indictment, Weaver and his associate Keith Bonds, 14, beat and robbed a man on Valentine's Day in East Harlem.

The alleged victim was lured to 65 East 112th Street with the offer to buy a cellphone from Bonds, but was instead viciously beaten and robbed, according to the indictment.

Weaver, wearing a black ski mask, distracted the victim by asking him if he had any weed, before Weaver, Bonds, and two unidentified accomplices jumped the man and robbed him of $130, his cellphone and his shoes, prosecutors say,

At the time, he had already been questioned by police in Majors' death but released without charges.

Police tape is seen at the scene on the stairs in Morningside Park the day after the murder

Majors, who played in a rock band and aspired to study journalism, was stabbed as she walked through the park in the early evening

Cops later launched a manhunt for Weaver once a warrant for his arrest was obtained, and he was arrested just hours after the Valentine's Day mugging.

Weaver and his alleged accomplice in Majors' murder, Luchiano Lewis, have pleaded not guilty in the case.

A 13-year-old was also charged, but his name has not been released because he was tried as a juvenile. In June, he was sentenced to six months in juvenile detention after pleading guilty to robbery.

Majors, who played in a rock band and aspired to study journalism, was stabbed as she walked through the park in the early evening.

She staggered up a flight of stairs to street level and collapsed. She was pronounced dead at a hospital.

Prosecutors say Majors fought back against her attackers and DNA recovered from her fingernails matched Weaver's DNA.

Majors' murder shocked the student bodies at nearby Barnard and Columbia University

Weaver has also been charged with robbing another person in the park just four days before Majors' murder.

Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman's high-powered attorney, Jeffrey Lichtman, has agreed to take on Weaver's defense for free.

Asked about the existence of the taped confession by the Post, Lichtman said: 'I don't discuss the evidence at this point of the case, but regardless, it doesn't change the fact he was a 14-year-old boy charged with crimes that the state is now looking to put him in jail potentially for life.'

Weaver is being held without bail in a juvenile facility. He is next due in court on November 12 for a pre-trial conference.
WASHINGTON  Mourners spanning multiple generations gathered Wednesday to honor Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a feminist icon who garnered a devoted following of admirers, as she was honored at the Supreme Court.

Members of the public gathered to honor the liberal justice, viewing her casket as it sat at the top of the front steps of the Supreme Court.

Many of the mourners were women and young girls. Ginsburg became a role model after she broke down gender barriers and promoted equality throughout her life.

"Thank you RBG for everything from a queer American," said a sign held up by one woman.

Some people wore masks that said "vote," encouraging people to participate in November's election. Others wore shirts that said, "Notorious RBG," with an illustration of Ginsburg in a crown, a reference to the '90s gangsta rapper the Notorious B.I.G.

Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton were in attendance. Bill Clinton nominated Ginsburg to the Supreme Court in 1993.

Ginsburg died Friday at the age of 87 at her home in Washington, D.C., after complications from pancreatic cancer.

She was the second woman appointed to the high court and served for more than 27 years.

Since her death, large crowds have visited the Supreme Court to memorialize Ginsburg with photos, flowers, candles and messages thanking her for fighting for gender equality and paving the way for women and girls.

Her casket arrived at the high court just before 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. Ginsburgs former law clerks served honorary pallbearers and lined the front steps as her casket arrived. Supreme Court police officers served as pallbearers, which the court announced earlier this week.

Her family, close friends and members of the court attended a private ceremony inside the court. Ginsburgs seat and the bench in front of it have been draped with black wool crepe. A black drape has been hung over the courtroom doors, the court said.

Story continues

"It has been said that Ruth wanted to be an opera virtuoso, but became a rock star instead," Chief Justice John Roberts said in his eulogy. "But she chose the law. Subjected to discrimination in law school and the job market because she was a woman, Ruth would grow to become a leading advocate fighting such discrimination in court. She was not an opera star, but she found her stage right behind me, in our courtroom. There she won famous victories that helped move our nation closer to equal justice under law, to the extent that women are now a majority in the law schools, not simply a handful."

Roberts referenced a famous photo of Ginsburg and the late Justice Antonin Scalia, who died in 2016, riding atop an elephant in India.

"It captured so much of Ruth," he said. "There she was, doing something totally unexpected, just as she had in law school, where she was not only one of the few women, but a new mother to boot. And in the photograph she's riding with a dear friend, a friend with totally divergent views. There is no indication in the photo that either was poised to push the other off."

Rabbi Lauren Holtzblatt of the Conservative Jewish synagogue Adas Israel in Washington, D.C., read aloud prayers from the Torah in Hebrew and said, "To be born into a world that does not see you, that does not believe in your potential, that does not give you a path for opportunity, or a clear path for education, and despite this to be able to see beyond the world you are in to imagine that something can be different, that is the job of a prophet. And it is the rare prophet who not only imagines a new world, but also makes that new world a reality in her lifetime. This was the brilliance and vision of justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg."

Following the ceremony, Ginsburg's casket was moved under the portico on the top of the front steps to the Supreme Court building where she will lie in repose for two days so that the public viewing can take place outdoors due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Ginsburgs casket will be placed on the Lincoln Catafalque, which Congress loaned to the court for the ceremony. It was a platform built in 1865 to support the casket of President Abraham Lincoln when he lay in state in the Capitol Rotunda.

The public will be allowed to pay their respects between 11 a.m. and 10 p.m. Wednesday and between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. on Thursday.

President Donald Trump, meanwhile, will pay his respects to the late justice Thursday at the Supreme Court, deputy White House press secretary Judd Deere said.

On Friday, Ginsburgs casket will be moved to the U.S. Capitol building for another ceremony, and she will be the first woman to ever lie in state. A private interment service will be held at Arlington National Cemetery next week, the court said.

Trump said at a Friday news conference that he will be nominating one of five women during he said he was considering for Ginsburg's seat. The announcement will come Saturday in the White House Rose Garden, he said.

"it's time for a woman to be chosen with everything that's happened and with Justice Ginsburg's passing," he said.
The Harrisburg City Council will consider a revised plan on Tuesday night of Harrisburg University of Science and Technologys future 11-story building at the corner of Third and Chestnuts Streets in Harrisburg.

When it was first proposed, a 36-story building was planned. Last year, Harrisburg City Council approved a 17-story tower with a hotel. But when plans for the hotel were scrapped, the school had to go back to the drawing board as the design of the building needed adjusted, according to Diane Tokarsky, an attorney with McNees Wallace & Nurick and legal counsel for Harrisburg University.

The new academic tower is expected to accommodate at least 1,000 new students in nursing, pharmaceutical sciences and other allied health programs.

The facility will include approximately, 165,000 square feet of finished educational space and 40,000 square feet of unfinished shell space. The building will have student service offices and spaces, advanced manufacturing educational and experiential spaces, health sciences educational and experiential spaces, interactive media educational and production spaces as well as general purpose education offices and facilities.

The health sciences portion of the building will include approximately 85,000 square feet of space. There will be four simulation laboratories, eight science laboratories, four skills laboratories, three computational laboratories, six specialty classrooms and three multi-purpose classrooms focused on health sciences. The school said that simulation laboratories will allow students to practice in surgery, pediatric, emergency care, cardiac care and general hospital settings. This portion of the building will also include specific nursing and pharmacy skill areas as well as chemistry, biology, anatomy, physiology and pharmaceutical science laboratories.

The advanced manufacturing portion of the building will include approximately 45,000 square feet of space. There will be six laboratories, two computational labs and three multipurpose classrooms focused on manufacturing. The manufacturing area will include a variety of machines and robots including water jet cutting machines, laser cutting and welding machines, three-axis milling machines, five-axis milling machines, CNC (computer numerical control) machines, compliance robots, 3D printers, testing and measurement equipment and several 3D modelling and simulation software platforms.

Finally, the facility will include 35,000 square feet of space, which will be shared by multiple university programs and will include a 150-person multi-tiered amphitheater, interactive media laboratories and student tutoring spaces.

A groundbreaking was held for the building last June.

The school had purchased several buildings at the corner of Chestnut and Thirds Streets and those buildings have been demolished and sitework had been performed. But, with new plans for the building and COVID-19, the building is scheduled to be completed in 2023 a year later than previously announced.

The project is expected to cost Harrisburg University a projected $100 million.

The City of Harrisburg will host a townhall with Harrisburg University and Baltimore-based Whiting- Turner, the contractor for the project, via Zoom at 5:30 p.m. Monday. The link for the meeting can be found at www.harrisburgpa.gov/HUtownhall.

Tokarsky said that the townhall will allow the community to learn about the project as well as job opportunities.

This is an opportunity reacquaint people with the new project and what it is going to consist of, she said.

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The Thai government is well aware of the power of MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) as an engine for economic recovery and income generation, and is extending high level of policy support to secure the wellbeing and resilience of Thailand's domestic MICE industry. Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Anutin Charnvirakul, gave this reassurance during his keynote address at 'Thailand MICE United', a MICE industry event held in Bangkok on September 2, 2020.

The full-day event saw a turnout of 1,240 delegates at Royal Paragon Hall and another 4,778 via Facebook live. The response reflected the keen desire of Thailand's diverse MICE stakeholders to stand together to move the industry beyond COVID-19. Domestic MICE took centre stage.

Mr Anutin said: "We encourage every sector of our economy to hold its domestic meetings and trade shows in Thailand. This will help distribute income regionally and accelerate economic recovery. Now is the time for our public and private sectors to join forces and elevate MICE to become an even greater economic contributor to Thailand."

A key component of 'Thailand MICE United' was the MICE Mart, which served a total of 360 pre-schedule appointments between 132 MICE suppliers from across the country and 305 buyers under enhanced health and safety measures.

Other than the MICE Mart and Mr Anutin's address, the event also featured a seminar on how COVID-19 has reshaped client demand, a showcase of new technologies, and a dialogue on new meeting standards in the face of COVID-19.

A highlight was the launch of two new MICE cities  Songkhla in the south and Nakhon Ratchasima in the northeast. Having met the criteria for infrastructure, accessibility, range of delegate activities, and image, these two cities now join Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Phuket and Khon Kaen as top-tier destinations to receive enhanced marketing and support.

TCEB's support for domestic MICE is headlined by a subsidy of up to 30,000 Baht per event. For international MICE, there are four targetted campaigns: 'Ease Up' for meetings and incentives; 'Convene Plus' for conventions; 'Re-Energize Exhibition' for trade shows; and 'Thailand Power-Up' for mega events and festivals.

TCEB President Mr Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya said: "The groundwork we have laid will position Thailand for a robust recovery in domestic MICE. TCEB's incentive schemes, together with the government's strong policy support, our resourceful and dedicated MICE entrepreneurs, and the debut of Songkhla and Nakhon Ratchasima as our newest MICE cities will recast Thailand as a high-value, high-trust destination with richly-differentiated products. TCEB is committed to creating a favourable environment for our MICE entrepreneurs to excel, and help them deliver outstanding experiences for clients."

The strong turnout at 'Thailand MICE United' was the clearest signal yet of the readiness of Thailand's MICE industry to bounce back from the challenges wrought by COVID-19. The event was also a reaffirmation of TCEB's close partnership with the government in ensuring steady, holistic support for the industry.

SOURCE Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB)

Related Links

http://www.tceb.or.th


LONDON, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Fintech business lender MarketFinance has been awarded a 10m grant from the Capability and Innovation Fund (CIF), announced today by Banking Competition Remedies Ltd (BCR). The grant will be used to bring more choice and competition to the business lending industry

MarketFinance, a household name in the UK business community, has provided over 3b in invoice finance and business loans to thousands of UK businesses since 2011. They were accredited to lend under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS), providing term loans from 50,001 to 150,000 and revolving credit facilities from 50,001 to 5 million to UK SMEs.

Anil Stocker, CEO of MarketFinance commented: "We are delighted to receive this award. We will provide more businesses with a unique digital offering that allows them to get on with the day-to-day running of their businesses, giving value back to customers and bringing some much needed competition to the business lending market."

As part of the commitments in securing the grant funding, MarketFinance will extend their services to sole traders for the first time, reaching over 3.5m business owners. The fintech business lender will also provide more finance options and create a range of new partnerships with banks, fintechs and technology companies to deliver and enhance the experience of businesses.

Anil Stocker added: "This is a difficult time for UK businesses who are desperately trying to find the right finance to keep their doors open. We know that customers find it hard to manage multiple finance products across multiple providers; it's why many stay with the incumbent banks. We will deliver a solution that radically reduces the complexity of managing finances for our customers, combining the product sophistication of a large lender, with the user-friendliness of a fintech."

Anil Stocker continued: "We know smaller SMEs and sole traders make up more than 90% of companies in the UK, yet they are at the greatest borrowing disadvantage. Our risk models are much better at understanding and serving these businesses than those of conventional lenders. It is our ambition to get 1b out to thousands of underserved SMEs in the next few years.

"We will match this 10m grant with money from our own funds to deliver this future vision. But, we can't do it alone. We will be reaching out to a broad spectrum of partners who share our vision and ambition to deliver these goals. Our partnerships with Ebury, Barclays and Xero are testament to this. They are driven by agile people who deeply care and want to make a difference. We look forward to meeting more like-minded partners that will join us in this mission."

Richard Anderson, Chair of BCR, said: "We know that the winners and all SMEs in general face challenging times as we head towards winter with both the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting economic challenges ahead. For that reason, it has been exciting to see a very wide range of innovative approaches from so many applicants to supporting all sizes of SMEs in their banking needs. It has been difficult to narrow the awards down to a small number of outstanding winners and BCR looks forward to monitoring progress as they implement their programmes."

MarketFinance business highlights (2019/20):

Updated brand name from MarketInvoice to MarketFinance to reflect launch of multi-product offering

Secured 56m Series B round (debt and equity funding), attracting new investors Barclays and Santander

Strengthened leadership team with a new CFO, CRO and CTO

Accredited as a CBILS lender for term loans and revolving credit facilities

In response to COVID-19 impact, launched a Furlough Advance product to ease cash flow pressure on businesses as they wait to be paid from HMRC

Notes to the Editor

For further information please contact the MarketFinance press office: Bilal Mahmood on [email protected] or +44 (0) 20 3640 7759 and +44 (0) 771 400 7257.

About MarketFinance

MarketFinance is a business finance company with offices in London and Manchester. The online platform enables businesses to access a range of flexible finance solutions - quickly and easily. This smart technology is backed by help from real people so business owners can save time and focus on growing their business.

Since 2011, MarketFinance has advanced over 3 billion to companies across a range of sizes and sectors, providing working capital and finance for everything from paying staff and suppliers to launching new products or services and accelerating growth.

MarketFinance is backed by Barclays, Santander InnoVentures, European venture capital fund Northzone (invested in Klarna, iZettle and Trustpilot), and private equity group MCI Capital (also invested in iZettle, Azimo and Gett).

Further information visit: www.marketfinance.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

SOURCE MarketFinance
The Duke of Sussex has urged people in the US to reject hate speech and vote in the countrys upcoming presidential election.

The royal and wife Meghan appeared in a live video apparently from their California home as part of the Time 100, a list compiled by the magazine to celebrate the worlds most influential people.

As we approach this November, its vital that we reject hate speech, misinformation and online negativity, Harry said as he sat on a bench alongside the duchess.

He also reminded Americans to be discerning in terms of the content they consume online.

Harry said: When the bad outweighs the good, for many, whether we realise it or not, it erodes our ability to have compassion and our ability to put ourself in someone elses shoes.

Because when one person buys into negativity online, the effects are felt exponentially. Its time to not only reflect, but act.

The 36-year-old mentioned that he would not be voting in the election due to his lack of US citizenship, adding he had not voted in UK elections throughout his life.

The duchess, who mocked then-Republican candidate Donald Trump during a 2016 television appearance, said in the video the November poll was the most important election of our lifetime.

Your voice is a reminder that you matter, because you do and you deserve to be heard The Duchess of Sussex

When we vote, our values are put into action and our voices are heard. Your voice is a reminder that you matter, because you do and you deserve to be heard, she said.

Video of the Day

Meghan has made it clear she supports Mr Trumps opponent Joe Biden, telling lawyer and feminist activist Gloria Steinem last month she was so excited to see fellow biracial woman Kamala Harris selected as the Democrats running mate.

The couple relocated to the US after stepping down as working royals in March for financial and personal freedom.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Restaurant owners prep for the return of indoor dining on Sept. 30. While 25% is not the ideal capacity at which to start, in restaurant owners' eyes, the states published guidelines offer a formal launch point after six months of closure. The Staten Island Chamber of Commerce offered a webinar on Monday to suss out the implications of a 16-page schematic that runs the gamut of rules from air filtration to movement and commerce.

No other industry has had to contend with more requirements and regulations than the restaurant and hospitality industry, said Linda Baran, the Chambers president. For answers and navigation of what the Chamber called a laundry list of rules, the business advocacy group called upon NYC Hospitality Alliance head Andrew Rigie and Richard Frazer, partner and co-head of the Restaurant, Food & Beverage Group at Pryor Cashman.
BRUSSELS  One of President Trumps most outspoken ambassadors has found himself in a new controversy after co-hosting a fund-raiser for a populist far-right Dutch political party in the American Embassy in the Netherlands. The act appears to breach diplomatic protocol because of its involvement with domestic politics in the host nation.

The ambassador, Pete Hoekstra  whose 2017 appointment to the role drew criticism over his earlier remarks that the Netherlands had no-go zones of Muslim-ruled enclaves  hosted a party at the embassy on Sept. 10 along with the Forum for Democracy Party, a group that is euroskeptic, identitarian and highly critical of the impact of Islam on European and Dutch society.

A native of the Netherlands, Mr. Hoekstra, 66, has both amused and annoyed many in the country with comments that align with the views of the Forum for Democracy. A conservative former Republican congressman from Michigan who helped found the Tea Party caucus, he was appointed ambassador to the Netherlands by President Trump.

To host a political fund-raiser would, on its face, be interference in domestic politics and a violation of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
Fujifilm Holdings Corp said on Wednesday a late-stage study of its antiviral drug Avigan showed it reduced recovery times for COVID-19 patients with non-severe symptoms, boosting expectations for regulatory approval in Japan.

The Phase 3 clinical study of 156 patients in Japan showed that those treated with Avigan improved after 11.9 days, versus 14.7 days for a placebo group. Results of the study, conducted by subsidiary Fujifilm Toyama Chemical, were statistically significant, the company said in a release.

The announcement sent Fujifilm shares up more than 4% in Tokyo to their highest level in four months.

Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had touted Avigan's potential as Japan's contribution to a global race for coronavirus treatments, aiming for domestic approval in May.

The government called on Fujifilm to triple national stockpiles of Avigan, approved in 2014 as an emergency flu treatment, and pledged to donate it to countries on request.

But a lack of patients in Japan hampered clinical testing. In July, researchers at Fujita Health University said their Avigan study failed to reach statistically significant results.

In its statement, Fujifilm said it would perform further analysis of the trial data and seek to file for approval of Avigan for use in COVID-19 as early as October.

This week, the Nikkei newspaper cited ministry sources as saying approval could be granted within a month of receiving such a request.

In July, Fujifilm sold its global rights to Avigan to India's Dr Reddy's Laboratories. Already available generically in many countries under the name favipiravir, the drug has been approved to treat COVID-19 in India and Russia.

Avigan acts on the RNA of viruses, inhibiting their ability to replicate. It is the subject of dozens of trials worldwide, but concerns remain over birth defects it caused in animal studies.

Dr Reddy's shares were 0.7% higher at 0430 GMT.

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The future of the State's Low Pay Commission is in doubt after the Irish Congress of Trade Unions has said it will withdraw from it.

ICTU says it decided to pull out after it became clear other members of the commission were not prepared to increase the national minimum wage beyond 1%.

The minimum wage hourly rate is currently 10.10.

ICTU General Secretary Patricia King said on RTE's Morning Ireland that other members of the commission were not prepared to propose an increase in the national minimum wage for 2021 beyond 1%.

Ms King said her organisation: "could not in conscience be party to any recommendation that did not afford the lowest-paid workers in the Republic of Ireland an increase in excess of 2%, similar to other sectors in our economy".

Ms King said: "If we have learned anything as a society in this pandemic it is that we must value work and those who carry it out. We must make work pay.

"The lowest paid in our society suffered disproportionately during the last recession and we won't be party to a process that leaves them behind.

"Therefore it is with regret, but with clarity that we can no longer be part of this Low Pay Commission.

"There can be no going back to the old ways, where the lowest paid are left behind. We will continue to campaign through other fora for a just increase."

The commission was set up five years ago to make recommendations to ministers on lower-paid workers' wages.

But its existence is now in serious doubt after the Irish Congress of Trade Unions announced it was withdrawing.
Manu Pineda, a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) and head of international relations for the Communist Party of Spain (PCE). (People's Daily Online Photo)

The European Union (EU) should reconsider its relationship with China, and see China as a partner instead of regarding it as a rival as US President Trump has done, a Member of the European Parliament said in a recent exclusive interview with Peoples Daily Online.

It is entirely possible for China and the EU to establish relations based on mutual respect, mutual trust and common interests, said Manu Pineda, a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) and head of international relations for the Communist Party of Spain (PCE).

Noting that he has been working to promote Spains participation in the Belt and Road Initiative in the PCE, the European Parliament and Spains Council of Ministers, Pineda hopes that other European countries that have not yet joined the initiative would understand the significance of doing so.

Sharing his views of China, Pineda said that the founding of the Peoples Republic of China in 1949 is regarded as one of the most significant events of the 20th century.

The countrys development, increasingly important role in international affairs and efforts to promote social development and safeguard world peace, as well as the significant role of the Communist Party of China as the worlds largest political party, have made China an important example of the communist parties, progressive and left-wing political forces across the world, Pineda added.

Since his election as head of the PCEs international relations, he has been following Chinas development and progress closely.

With regard to the European Parliaments resolution on the Hong Kong issue, he said the EU would once again be in the shadows of the US due to the decision.

Sharing that the EU must get rid of the ongoing lies directly fabricated by the US government, Pineda added that it must also, based on a decisive and comprehensive analysis, firmly say no to the right-wing forces in the US and their attempts to stir up trouble between the two countries.

Its a shame that the EU has made a resolution on the Hong Kong issue on the grounds of so-called Chinas forced suppression of riots in Hong Kong regardless of human rights, Pineda said, adding that he voted against it and once again condemned some MEPs lies and dishonest political propaganda during the discussion of the resolution.

Fortunately, the EU knows that its relationship with China is vital to the Eurozone, so it doesnt support the US China policy as some US allies have done by using sanctions against China.

Gone is the United States hegemony in a multi-polar world, he said, suggesting that the EU must decide whether to follow the Trump administrations intention to return to the Cold War strategy, or remain independent and safeguard the worlds peace and progress of all mankind.

Pineda agreed with the idea that the socialist market economy system with Chinese characteristics has been proven effective in promoting the healthy development of China and the world economy.

China has successfully established powerful state-owned enterprises, and the country has developed itself and modernized its cities, some of which are models for the world.

While improving the living standards of 1.4 billion people, China has also paid more attention to environmental protection and risks of climate change, suggesting that its really important for the EU and Spain to own strong, state-owned enterprises to ensure the well-being of the people.

I think Spain and the EU need a new development model that avoids the fragility and injustice of capitalism and moves toward socialism, he said, noting that the US governments threat to impose travel restrictions on members of the Communist Party of China, as well as their families, is completely groundless.

Nowadays, the US government only complicates the international situation and destroys international treaties that bring stability to the world.

The US arbitrarily uses the pretext of defense of democracy to justify the coups it has promoted, the wars and military invasions it has led, and the sanctions it has imposed, shamelessly violating international law, explaining that these actions have been causing misery to other countries in the world, Pineda explained.

As he stated, hundreds of thousands of people lost their lives in over 30 wars the US has participated in. As a result, more than 30 million people have become refugees over the past 20 years. In sharp contrast, during the same years China has not participated in any war but has been working hard to promote world peace and coordinate development.

The solidarity and mutual assistance between China and other countries during the COVID-19 pandemic should not be ignored.

While fighting the pandemic at home, China has provided medical assistance, masks, medical equipment and testing reagents for many countries including Italy, the Netherlands and the UK without hesitation and has dispatched medical teams to these countries, Pineda said, adding that this demonstrates Chinas international responsibility as a socialist country.

China has also provided medical assistance for Spain. Unlike the attitudes of other governments, the Chinese government has always put peoples health and well-being first, shared information in a timely manner and worked hard to overcome the pandemic.

There is no doubt that people from all countries will remember Chinas support and its immeasurable contribution to the global response to the pandemic.

Pineda wishes China a greater success in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and praises Chinas poverty alleviation efforts.

In the past few decades, nearly 800 million Chinese people have been lifted out of poverty. This speaks volumes about Chinas great achievements in poverty alleviation work. This is the largest poverty reduction campaign in the world, and it has achieved great success.

Speaking to the EU and Spain, Pineda believes they should continue to expose the sanctions imposed by the US merely to maintain its own dominance and contain Chinas economic growth.
The European Union has unveiled a new migration pact intended to share the responsibility for asylum seekers more evenly among member states.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the measure would strike a "reasonable balance" with all member sharing the "benefits" and "burdens" of the migration crisis.

Under the new pact, countries who do not wish to volunteer to house more migrants can instead contribute by taking charge of sending those who do not qualify for asylum back to their homelands.

Also included in the pact is an integrated border procedure that would involve pre-entry screening for those crossing the EUs external borders.

Von der Leyen said it wasn't a question of "whether" EU states should contribute but "how". More efficient procedures aim to lay out clearer responsibilities and restore trust between member states.

While most arrivals land in Italy and Greece, who are the the frontline of the migration crisis, other EU countries such as Austria, Poland and Hungary have refused to share the load through mandatory quotas.

France pushes for solidarity

Earlier Wednesday, Frances Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin called for more "European solidarity" in the handling of asylum applications. "The migration question can only be settled at the European level, the minister told France Inter.

EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, told Euronews the new policy had the potential to bridge differences between member states over migration.

But the plan is likely to face a tough reception, with many countries still insisting they will not take charge of large numbers of refugees on their home soil.

"It won't work like this," Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz told AFP this week, rejecting the idea of mandatory quotas for refugees for all EU countries. "We find that the distribution in Europe (of asylum seekers) has failed, and many states reject this.
 Introducing new partnership with SkyNRG, pioneer and global leader in sustainable aviation fuel



 Success of itscurrent sustainability plan, which has seen 80% of Members join plan to reduce carbon footprint

 Technology-led optimization, reducing fuel consumption by an average of 8% per flightsince January 2020



LONDON, Sept. 23, 2020, pioneer and global leader for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

The SAF industry has made advancements since its inception, yet the availability of sustainable fuels for jet airplanes is still limited due to financial, technical, and regulatory reasons. With air travel centered around hubs and the 20 busiest airports in the world handling nearly one-fifth of all air passenger traffic, this should make it easier for the new energy source to be fully adopted by operators*. However, a decade after their introduction, there are only a few hubs globally where sustainable biojet fuel is available and it still only accounts for less than 0.1% of total aviation fuel consumption.

As a fundamental step to further increase sustainability, VistaJet has signed a new partnership with SkyNRG, offering all VistaJet customers around the world access to sustainable aviation fuel. This will promote substantial reductions in aviation carbon emissions, and increase stable demand and availability around the world. Partnering with SkyNRG will offer VistaJet customers the most sustainable, cost-effective and scalable solution to decarbonize their flights, while helping to grow adoption across the entire industry.

As a core component of the Sustainability in Aviationprogram, VistaJet undertook a greenhouse gas, an award-winning project developer and global provider of climate action solutions. To coincide with Climate Week NYC, VistaJet provides its first progress update on its eight pillars of sustainability, and key findings are as follows:

VistaJet's Carbon Offset Program - Since introducing the Sustainability in Aviation pledge, 80% of VistaJet Members have opted in to compensate for their fuel use-related emissions by investing in certified carbon credits around the world. This meaningful step has allowed VistaJet, with the help of South Pole, to already offset almost 100,000 tons of CO2 (tCO2)** on behalf of its customers - equivalent to over 21,600 passenger vehicles driven for one year or over 12.7 billion smartphones charged***. Additionally, through the EU ETS, emissions of all flights between European countries will be offset by April 2021, which between January to August 2020 totals 21,500 tCO2. Sustainable Aviation Fuel - The VistaJet brand's main emission source is aviation fuel, representing 89%of the total GHG emissions and comprising emissions from the production, processing, delivery and combustion of aviation fuel. While offsetting indirectly reduces carbon footprint, using a fuel with a lower carbon intensity would significantly and directly reduce the industry's emissions - in its neat form the use of SAF can reduce carbon emissions by up to 85% compared to conventional jet fuel. VistaJet's innovative new plan will secure SAF availability for its customers globally - sourced and delivered by SkyNRG from World Energy's refinery - supporting fast adoption of this crucially important energy solution. Most Technologically Advanced Aircraft - VistaJet's shared fleet model means less aircraft being produced and enables higher utilization of each existing jet. VistaJet's global infrastructure also allows for a reduction in repositioning flights. Additionally, the company's young fleet benefits from the latest technology for the most efficient flying and secures better fuel burn than older aircraft. Its new Global 7500 fleet is the most technologically advanced aircraft available today. The aircraft was manufactured with design for the environment in mind, including its new GE Passport engines that produce less noise and fuel consumption of approximately 2.5 litres per functional unit - and even lower for some longer-range missions. Its high-speed transonic wing cuts down on drag, further reducing fuel burn and emissions. Fuel Consumption Reduction Technology - VistaJet Ltd launched a comprehensive program to automate flight optimization and global fleet management. Through investment in AI and machine-learning technology, the company is working on predictive route algorithms to minimize ferry flights and reduce fuel consumption. To date, using the FLIGHTKEYS 5D flight management system, the company has been able optimize route, level and speed to reduce fuel consumption by 8% per flight. The heightened system automation allows VistaJet dispatchers to increase efficiency in flight re-planning, while 3D optimization in congested airspace minimized the possibility of slot issues and delays. Fuel Efficient Booking System - Booking with at least one week's notice helps to further improve fleet management, reducing unnecessary fuel burn. For VistaJet Members, the early booking program can mean a discount on their rates and is available as an option for new contracts. Customers who are more flexible on departure city airport selection have already helped to reduce movement around London airports by 20% in 2019, cutting several tons of CO2. Partnering with Leaders in Sustainability - VistaJet partners with carbon neutral companies wherever possible and has implemented new requirements for all purchasing partners, including sustainability accreditation for third parties across all departments in the business. Additionally, over 100 onboard stock vendors have been contacted to introduce more sustainable products. Sustainable In-Flight Products - VistaJet has removed over 90% of single-use items across its fleet and replaced items on board with sustainable alternatives. Examples of these include packaging products using starch that fully biodegrades in one year, replacing plastic toothbrushes with those made of bamboo, sourcing low-impact detergents and cleaning products, and switching to beauty products packaged in glass. This is in addition to serving meals on porcelain and crystalware, available onboard for many years. Moving to Renewable Electricity On-the-Ground - The extensive company audit enabled VistaJet to identify the carbon footprint of its operations and offices worldwide in order to define further GHG reduction opportunities and priorities. Electricity consumption represents 24% of the total emissions for VistaJet offices specifically. To decrease these levels, VistaJet has adopted electricity supplied from renewable sources for two of its largest offices and is assessing solutions for the others. Further schemes such as cycle to work and flexible locationworking are being rolled out to decrease employee emissions.

Next Steps for the Industry: VistaJet's Call to Action

Although private aviation plays a relatively limited role in the global landscape of carbon emissions, producing around 0.04%**** of all human-induced CO2 emissions, demand for mobility is increasing, despite a decline in passenger demand this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

While the aviation industry has started discussing on multiple fronts with regulators, leaders in aviation cannot wait and must lead the way by investing in all available, robust solutions to drive the transition to zero carbon. VistaJet has dedicated itself to reducing its environmental footprint and affect positive change through innovation. Thomas Flohr, Founder and Chairman of VistaJet, said "VistaJet is committed to making aviation better. Today, this means changing the way we operate, to benefit not only our customers, but the whole global community. In this spirit, I hope our private aviation partners and peers will do the same, working collaboratively to bring change faster, as this is the only way for the fragmented industry to take full responsibility for the long-term health of the planet. In addition to adhering to market-based measures and improving existing infrastructure, enhancing operational procedures and developing new technological innovations is crucial. We are positive about the future, and we believe together we can transform business aviation for the long-term good."

Information

Jennifer Farquhar | VistaJet | press@vistajet.com

Notes for Editors

For more information on VistaJet's sustainability promise, its priority to reduce its carbon footprint meaningfully and fast, and to download the Sustainability in Aviation whitepaper, visit vistajet.com/sustainability.

* https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/08/carbon-neutral-flying/

** Between 1 January 2020 and 30 June 2020

*** https://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gas-equivalencies-calculator

**** The global aviation industry produces around 2% of the world's total human-induced CO2 emissions. Private aviation's current share of the aviation industry's global carbon footprint is 2% - so 0.04% of the total emissions.

About VistaJet

VistaJet is the first and only global business aviation company. On its fleet of over 70 silver and red business jets, VistaJet has flown corporations, governments and private clients to 187 countries, covering 96% of the world. Founded in 2004, the company pioneered an innovative business model where customers have access to an entire fleet whilst paying only for the hours they fly, free of the responsibilities and asset risks linked to aircraft ownership. VistaJet's signature Program membership offers customers a bespoke subscription of flight hours on its fleet of mid and long-range jets, to fly them anytime, anywhere.



VistaJet is part of Vista Global Holding - the world's first private aviation ecosystem, integrating a unique portfolio of companies offering asset-light solutions to cover all key aspects of business aviation. More VistaJet information and news at vistajet.com

VistaJet Limited is a European air carrier that operates 9H registered aircraft under its Maltese Air Operator Certificate No. MT-17 and is incorporated in Malta under Company Number C 55231. VistaJet and its subsidiaries are not U.S. direct carriers. VistaJet-owned and U.S. registered aircraft are operated by properly licensed U.S. air carriers, including XOJET Aviation LLC.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/54939574-b614-46db-89c2-c7e033d7c6a5
Jack Mas Ant Group Co. is aiming to raise $17.5 billion in its Hong Kong share sale and wont seek to lock in cornerstone investors, confident there will be plenty of demand for one of the largest equity deals in the financial hub, according to people familiar with the matter.

The fintech giant has assessed investor interest, betting it can pull off the Hong Kong portion of the initial public offering without cornerstone investors that are often needed for large deals, according to the people. Ant is leaning toward inviting these big investors for the Shanghai sale to mitigate price fluctuations, the people said, asking not to be identified because the matter is private.

The Hangzhou-based firm is planning to issue new stock equal to about 11% to 15% of the shares outstanding and split the float evenly between Hong Kong and Shanghai, the people added. Ant is mulling what could be the worlds largest IPO, seeking to raise about $35 billion in the dual listing at a valuation of about $250 billion, people familiar have said.

View Full Image Graphic: Bloomberg

Plans are still under discussion and could change. Ant declined to comment in an emailed statement.

Cornerstone investors, more common in Hong Kong than in other markets, are usually large institutions that agree to hold the shares for about six months in exchange for a sizable allocation. While the investments boost confidence in the listing company, theyve been criticized for draining liquidity from the market. Companies that chose to break with the tradition have been burned in the past including Budweiser Brewing Co. APAC Ltd.

Ant currently has about 27 billion shares outstanding. Its also planning to issue about 6% of its shares, on top of the new float, to help redeem stock for early C-round international investors that couldnt invest directly in the onshore entity, according to its prospectus.

For Ants Shanghai sale, five companies have agreed to subscribe to the listing via new mutual funds, Ant said in a filing Tuesday. The funds will seek to raise $1.8 billion each, capping Ants shares to 10% of the underlying fund assets.

If markets are favorable, Ants IPO may top Saudi Aramcos record $29 billion sale. Ant could exceed Bank of America Corp.s market capitalization, and be more than twice the size of Citigroup Inc. Among U.S. banks, only JPMorgan Chase & Co. is bigger at almost $290 billion.

Ant received a nod from regulators in Shanghai on Friday to proceed with its share sale. Its also seeking a listing hearing with the Hong Kong stock exchange Thursday, and could list as soon as October, people familiar said.

Ant generated 72.5 billion yuan ($10.7 billion) in revenue in the first half of 2020, after full-year sales of 120.6 billion yuan in 2019, it said. The firm posted a 21.1 billion yuan profit in the first half of this year.

Ant, which grew out of the Alipay payments app, now gets the bulk of its revenue from providing quick consumer loans, fueling Chinas spending. It also runs an insurance business and offers money market funds, on top of credit scoring and technological services for the finance industry.

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Despite the challenges facing the food and beverage industry as a result of Covid-19, Andrew Flanagan, founder of health food restaurant Poke Co, recently opened his fourth store.

I discovered that poke has all the flavours we love in sushi, rediscovered in a unique, spontaneous and convenient way. I realised that it was missing from the seafood scene in Cape Town and felt it was an opportunity that I couldnt miss out on!

Andrew Flanagan

Congrats on opening a fourth store. What have been some of the challenges of opening a new store during the lockdown restrictions?

How can the government and the general public help get the restaurant industry back on their feet?

How has Poke Co navigated the Covid-19 crisis? We always have a sound understanding of our financial position and a projection on future cash flows. This enabled us to plan and streamline where possible. We came up with innovative ideas to generate new revenue streams that were importantly aligned with our core offering. We refrained from looking for short-term wins but rather focused on ideas which we can still deliver on post-Covid. Namely, our own delivery and loyalty app and our at-home Poke DIY kits. We also increased our online presence and focused heavily on pleasing our delivery customers. What would be your advice to other local eateries trying to recover and reopen?

What is the core ethos behind the Poke Co brand?

What would you say are the next foodie trends?

What's next for Poke Co?

The newest addition to the Poke Co family opened in Claremont on 14 August 2020.Flanagans idea to open a specialised poke bar in Cape Town was first sparked while travelling in 2015.In 2017, Flanagan opened a delivery-only kitchen and, in 2018, his first customer-facing eatery was launched.We got in touch with Flanagan to chat about the companys recent innovations, health food trends and how Poke Co stayed afloat during the lockdown.The largest challenge was all the uncertainty. Not knowing what level we would be on, which regulations would apply and if customers would feel comfortable visiting us. The uncertainty made planning difficult - from the shop fit through to the opening day. We had to adapt daily to the ever-changing climate.The power of word-of-mouth can calm what once was a very fear-driven environment. If you have come out and supported your local businesses, had a good experience and felt safe, tell your friends, post on social media and help spread some positivity, it will go a long way.The same can happen from the top, if they are happy with the rules and regulation they have set and businesses comply, they should be encouraging people to get out and together we can change the course of the economy.I think Covid has caused everyone to refocus; identify what you do well and deliver on those core values or products.We have a simple vision; to do good to your taste buds, your body, the community and the environment.I think the fast-casual dining trend will continue, with a focus on healthy eating, using locally produced products and making use of all the available new technology in the restaurant space.In the short term, getting all the existing stores cash positive and in the medium- to long-term, we plan on opening more stores around the country.
gwyneth paltrow and chris martin co-parenting

Ian Gavan; Toni Anne Barson, Getty Images

Conscious uncoupling isnt always as blissful as it seems, according to Gwyneth Paltrow. The actor/Goop guru/poster child of amicable divorce appeared on the September 22nd episode of The Drew Barrymore Show to debunk some misconceptions we may have had about her relationship with her ex-husband, Chris Martinspecifically, how challenging it can be to co-parent their two children, 16-year-old Apple and 14-year-old Moses.

In the interview, Barrymore (who shares two children with her ex-husband, Will Kopelman) mentioned that one of the difficulties of divorce is the fear that parents will get it wrong for our kids. Paltrow agreed, according to Buzzfeed News, adding, Youre ending a marriage, but youre still in a family. Thats how it will be forever. [But] some days its not as good as it looks, you know? We also have good days and bad days.

But key to overcoming co-parenting challenges, Paltrow says, is driving toward the same purpose of unity and love and really whats best for them.

We have this idea that just because we break up, we can't love the things about the person anymore that we loved, and that's not true.

Earlier in the interview, Paltrow offered some advice (and hope) for people who are currently in the midst of divorce, either with or without children. I think it can be done, Paltrow said of an amicable divorce. In a way my divorce, and my relationship with Chris now, is better than our marriage was.

Paltrow and Martin divorced (or consciously uncoupled) in 2016, after 12 years of marriage. The two were able to navigate their divorce in part through the help of a doctor who gave us a rubric for how to do it, Paltrow told Barrymore.

You have to have radical accountability, she shared. You have to know that every relationship is 50-50, no matter how you think you were wronged or how badly you perceive the other person, or whatever the case may be. If you are brave enough to take responsibility for your half and really look at your own garbage and your own trauma, and how its presenting in the world and in your relationship, then theres really somewhere to go and something to learn and something to heal.

Story continues

You are also holding the other person in this sphere of humanity. We are all part good and part bad. It's not binarywe are all gray area. We all are trying our best.

But she and Martin were also clear that they would put [their children] first, despite how challenging it can be to overlook their own issues with each other.

I really wanted my kids to not be traumatized, if it were possible. Chris and I committed to putting them first. That's harder than it looks because some days you really don't want to be with the person that you are getting divorced from. But if you're committed to having family dinner, then you do it."

She continued, "You take a deep breath and you look the person in the eye and you remember your pact and you smile and you hug and you make a joke, and you recommit to this new relationship that you are trying to foster."

Leave it to Gwyneth Paltrow to make it look easy to be compassionate toward your ex. Well have what shes having.
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death Friday helped prompt a surge in voter registration, according to voting groups.

Since then, these organizations have seen a wave of engagement that carried through to National Voter Registration Day, which was Tuesday, as early voting gets underway ahead of Election Day on Nov. 3.

"I do think that the passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg has galvanized eligible voters, in particular, who understand the role of the Supreme Court and are concerned about the future of civil rights," Carolyn DeWitt, president of Rock the Vote, told CNBC on Tuesday.

Vote.org, a nonpartisan nonprofit that allows people to register through its website, processed more than 40,000 new voter registrations on Saturday and Sunday, a 68% increase from the prior weekend, according to its spokesman. The website saw more than 35,000 mail ballot requests on Saturday and Sunday, a 42% increase from a week earlier.

On National Voter Registration Day, Vote.org processed over 74,000 new voter registrations and 41,000 mail-in ballot requests. After the story was first published, the group later provided CNBC with their key final data points for what turned out to be a historic day. In the full 24 hours of National Voter Registration Day, Vote.org registered 135,000 new voters. That's double their voter registration day success during the 2018 elections.

Just over 62% of those they helped register were female. Those who registered the most through Vote.org were between the ages of 25 and 34. Close to 25% were between the ages of 18 and 24.

Many states are cutting back on restrictions for voting by mail this year, due to the spread of the coronavirus. Data from Johns Hopkins University shows that Covid-19 has killed more than 200,000 people in the U.S.

DeWitt tweeted that Rock the Vote saw a wave of traffic to its website on National Voter Registration Day. The group's spokeswoman told CNBC that it had its biggest day for general website traffic so far in 2020, surpassing Super Tuesday in March. Rock the Vote and other groups had a similar surge in the wake of George Floyd's death.

President Donald Trump plans to select a nominee to replace Ginsburg on Saturday. Senate Republicans appear to have enough votes to call for a vote in the coming weeks.

Democratic voters have largely shown their enthusiasm for the coming election with their increase in campaign contributions. They raised at least $100 million in the days following Ginsburg's death, according to data from ActBlue. A Morning Consult poll shows a rise in importance of the Supreme Court for Democratic voters following Ginsburg's death. Only 48% of Democrats surveyed said they looked at the Supreme Court as a "very important" issue prior to her death, compared with 60% afterward. About 54% of Republicans that were polled say that the court is a "very important" issue for them.

Vote.org initially said they had over 254,000 registration verifications on Tuesday. They ended up conducting over 470,000 verifications, twice as much as they did two years ago, they later explained to CNBC. In the days following Ginsburg's death, it had more than 135,000 registration verifications, a 118% increase from the prior weekend.

When We All Vote, an organization co-chaired by Michelle Obama, has seen 82,000 voters starting or completing the process of registering to vote since the weekend, according to the group's spokeswoman.

Vote Save America, a voter registration initiative launched by political media group Crooked Media, also had record success. The media company was founded by three alumni of President Barack Obama's administration: Jon Favreau, Obama's head speechwriter; Jon Lovett, a comedian and a fellow Obama administration speechwriter, and Tommy Vietor, a former White House national security spokesman.

E.J. Baker, a senior manager at Crooked Media, said that Vote Save America saw 3,400 new voter registrations between Friday and Sunday, five times the number it did the previous weekend. The site also saw 16,000 people verify they are registered to vote.

"We do actively encourage people to make sure their registration is up to date and that they haven't been removed from the rolls for whatever reason, so we see a lot of traffic to our verification tool to make sure there aren't any issues or surprises when they go vote," Baker told CNBC.

Vote Save America worked in tandem with NextGen America, a progressive nonprofit funded by Democratic billionaire Tom Steyer, on National Voter Registration Day to encourage young people to register.

Ben Wessel, an executive director at NextGen, told CNBC that on Tuesday the group estimated it helped over 4,700 people either register or update their voter registration records. Wessel says that "across the 15 hours of work we were doing, that's basically one new voter registered (or updating their voter address) every 12 seconds."

The group focused its efforts on potential voters between the ages of 18 and 35 in the key states of Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Maine, Nevada and Iowa.

While Wessel couldn't link its success directly to Ginsburg's death, the group had new volunteers who he said were reaching out to friends and family because of her death. "I think that'll keep up over the next 41 days," he added.
KURAYOSHI, Japan, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- On September 16th, the results of the "Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2021" was announced. "Single Malt Whisky The Matsui Mizunara Single Cask -Cask#318-" from the Kurayoshi Distillery, was chosen as "Best Japanese Single Cask Of The Year 2021" by Jim Murray for his Whisky Bible 2021.

This international whisky competition is organized by one of the most renowned whisky journalists, Jim Murray, who is described as "The man who has visited more distilleries globally than any person". Only the finest whiskies in each category are awarded. 2021 marks the 18th publication and this year, more than 30 countries and over 4500 brands were submitted to be judged by Jim Murray. The book is named "Whisky Bible, it is described as:

"This is the most comprehensive, internationally influential and thoroughly researched guide to all the world's whiskies. In terms of whisky, this is the gospel"

(About the author https://www.whiskybible.com/about/)

With his superbly unique expressions in his tasting notes, the Whisky Bible has become an event where the international spirits industry pays close attention.

Excerpts from the tasting notes

? "a nose to melt a thousand hearts So softand has the magical ability to allow both the oak and the malt itself to express themselves individually and then together."

? "The most Japanese of Japanese malts with its own unique signature."

? "The most complex whisky I have sampled this year so far (and this is number 1,058 - and took me over 90 minutes to nose and taste!) - and a definite contender for World Whisky of the Year."

This award-winning Japanese whisky "Matsui Mizunara Single Cask" is matured and bottled from one single Japanese Mizunara oak barrel, which makes this significantly rare.

It scheduled to go on sale as a limited release with limited quantity. More information will be announced on our official website and social media accounts.

Official Website: https://matsuiwhisky.com/

Facebook: Matsui Whisky

Instagram: matsuiwhisky

Twitter: matsuiwhisky

LINE@: matsuiwhisky

Weibo: https://weibo.com/p/1006067400753801/home?from=page_100606&mod=TAB&is_all=1place

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1279772/matsui_mizunara_single_cask.jpg
MODENA, Italy, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Carandini, an Italian Balsamic Vinegar of Modena producer since 1641, and premium condiment and dressing company, is expanding its product line into the United States. A Balsamic Vinegar of Modena (Emilio), Sweet White Vinegar (Bianca) and Italian Cheese Dressing are among the new authentically Italian domestic offerings.

Now available in nearly 500 Whole Foods stores nationwide, Carandini's genuine vinegars and dressings boast first-class resources and techniques that meet the strict standards of producing quality vinegar-based products.

Carandini products now found on shelves in the U.S. include:

Emilio Silver Balsamic Vinegar of Modena PGI - $10.99 MSRP

A premier high-density Balsamic Vinegar of Modena that contains 60% grape must and strikes a balance between sweet and sour. The versatile ingredient pairs well with sweet and savory dishes while exuding a perfectly mahogany color and a rich perfume. Emilio Silver is a perfect companion for vegetables, meat, cheese, fish, ice cream and fruit.

Bianca Sweet White Vinegar - $10.99 MSRP

Delicate and sweet, this sweet white vinegar contains 80% grape must and is used in dishes that require the preservation of the natural color of foods. The high-density Bianca can be used to dress many different meals or as a base to an array of vinaigrettes to enrich and bring out true flavors of a dish. Perfect to add to beef and fish tartare, savoy cabbage, and a variety of other meats, vegetables and fruits.

Italian Cheese Dressing with Sweet White Vinegar & Parmigiano Reggiano PDO - $5.99 MSRP

Approved by the prestigious Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium, this is a Carandini-patented recipe that celebrates the excellence of the Emilia Romagna region. Pair it with dishes like a salad, french fries, risotto and fish.

With production taking place in Modena, a city in Italy's Emilia-Romagna region that is home to the traditional methods of formulating true balsamic vinegar, Carandini carries the prestigious Protected Geographical Indication* (PGI) on their Emilio Silver Balsamic Vinegar of Modena.

"The precise standards that are met during our production process are what make our vinegars stand out high above the rest," says Stefano Bellei, CEO, Carandini. "We are honored to bring the tastes of our Italian home to the United States and look forward to seeing how our new customers apply our vinegars to their cooking creations."

True Balsamic Vinegar of Modena begins with specific grapes grown in Modena, Italy picked at the peak of ripeness that are then crushed, pressed and put through an evaporator before being mixed with an exclusive recipe of wine vinegar. Once mixed, the flavors come together as they mature in select wood barrels in a controlled environment before being analyzed and approved for bottling.

Learn more about Carandini's Modenese Tale of Taste at www.carandinius.com.

About Carandini

Since 1641 Carandini has perfected the production of authentic Balsamic Vinegar of Modena. As a family-owned company that has been passed down from generation to generation, Carandini uses age-old expertise combined with cutting-edge technology to bring the finest Balsamic Vinegar of Modena and condiments to tables around the world. From selecting the best ingredients to overseeing the ripening and aging cycles, each phase of production is strictly monitored to guarantees a product of the very highest quality. Visit www.carandinius.com to learn more and follow Carandini on Instagram (@carandinius), Pinterest (CarandiniUS) and Facebook (CarandiniOfficial) for vinegar education and inspiration.

*PGI-Analytical characteristics: density at 20C not less than 1.06 for the refined product, actual alcohol strength not more than 1.5%, total acidity not less than 6%, total sulphur dioxide: not more than 100 mg/l, minimum dry extract content: 30 g per liter, reducing sugars: not less than 110 g/l Organoleptic properties: clarity: clear and bright, colour: deep brown, aroma: persistent, delicate and slightly acidic with woody overtones, taste: bitter-sweet, balanced Geographical Area: 'Aceto Balsamico di Modena' must be produced within the provinces of Modena and Reggio Emilia.

2009 Official Journal of the European Union L 175/9

SOURCE Carandini

Related Links

http://www.carandinius.com


Emmanuel Owusu Bonsu, known, in music circles as Wanlov the Kubolor, has said that he will not endorse any political party.

He said this on Citi TV's lifestyle variety show, Upside Down on Saturday when he was asked whether he will support any political party ahead of the upcoming polls.

Never! I'm not interested in that kind of change, he retorted.

A number of celebrities throw their weight behind political parties during election seasons.

The music producer on Upside Down was worried about the level of violence in Ghanas political system, especially as the election beckons.

Im worried. It just seems to be getting more and more aggressive, he lamented.

He expressed worry over people engaging in all manner of activities in their quest to win power.

Wanlov the Kubolor is widely acclaimed for his debut album 'Green Card' released in late 2007 when he returned to Ghana after 7 years of his stay in the United State of America.

He has songs such as Kokonsa, Human Being, African Gypsy, Smallest Time, among others.

Click below to watch his full interview on Citi TVs Upside Down.

 citinewsroom
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 23:49:55|Editor: huaxia

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BAGHDAD, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi Health Ministry on Wednesday reported 5,055 new COVID-19 cases, the highest since the outbreak of the disease in the country, raising the tally to 332,635.

The ministry also confirmed 72 new deaths from the infectious disease, taking the death toll to 8,754. Meanwhile, 3,231 more patients recovered from the disease, bringing the total number of recoveries to 264,988.

Meanwhile, the Iraqi Health Minister Hassan al-Tamimi told the official Iraqi News Agency (INA) that "the recovery rate during the past days has reached 80 percent of the total infections which is better than the past months."

Al-Tamimi attributed the latest increase in COVID-19 recoveries to the increase of the capabilities of the health institutions in dealing with the disease, INA said.

"Iraq is one of the first countries who joined the international vaccine alliance, and when a new vaccine is approved by the World Health Organization, Iraq will receive a sufficient amount of the vaccine that will cover 20 percent of the total population," INA quoted al-Tamimi as saying.

Iraq has taken a series of measures to contain the pandemic since February when the first coronavirus case appeared in the country.

China has been helping Iraq fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

From March 7 to April 26, a Chinese team of seven medical experts spent 50 days in Iraq to help contain the disease, during which they helped build a PCR lab and install an advanced CT scanner in Baghdad.

Since March 7, China has also sent three batches of medical aid to Iraq. Enditem
WASHINGTON  The House approved a stopgap spending bill after Democratic congressional leaders and the Trump administration reached a deal on Tuesday to avert a government shutdown next week and extend funding through Dec. 11, agreeing to include tens of billions of dollars in additional relief for struggling farmers and for nutritional assistance.

With Congress unable to reach agreement on the dozen annual spending bills required to keep the government funded when the new fiscal year begins on Oct. 1, the legislation would still need the support of both the Senate and President Trump in order to become law and avoid a shutdown. The House cleared the two-thirds threshold needed to approve the measure, 359 to 57. One Democrat, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, voted present.

The measure had been mired in a dispute between Democrats and the White House over Mr. Trumps demand to include tens of billions to extend the borrowing limit of the Commodity Credit Corporation, which provides loans to farmers and which some Democrats feared Mr. Trump was using as a personal piggy bank to curry favor with a politically crucial bloc of voters and reward other powerful constituencies.

Having failed to strike an agreement on Friday, Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California and Steven Mnuchin, the Treasury secretary, revived negotiations and ultimately agreed to include the agricultural funding with a provision that it could not be used for payments to fossil fuel importers and refiners. They also agreed to include nearly $8 billion in nutrition assistance for schoolchildren and families demanded by Ms. Pelosi.
Water on exoplanet cloud tops could be found with hi-tech instrumentation

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

This story has been published on: 2020-09-22. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
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The global electric toothbrush market is growing rapidly over the past couple of years. The market growth attributes to the rising popularity of automatic toothbrushes due to the convenience they offer over manual toothbrushes, such as a timer and pressure sensors. Moreover, the increasing advances in its functionalities of the electric toothbrush accelerate the growth of the market.

According to Market Research Future (MRFR), the global Electric Toothbrush Industry valuation is estimated to reach USD 5,852.2 MN by 2024, registering 7.46% CAGR throughout the assessment period (2019-2024). The widespread awareness regarding oral hygiene is a key tailwind for the growth of the market. Besides, the rising adoption of proper oral care routines is fueling the growth of the electric toothbrush market.

The changing consumer demand encourages market players to focus on R&D to launch new & innovative products that can meet the dynamic needs of the consumers, such as teeth whitening and tooth sensitivity, etc. Thus, the rising health consciousness, along with technological advancements in the healthcare industry, is driving the growth of the global electric toothbrush market.

Conversely, factors such as the lack of product awareness and high costs of electric toothbrushes as compared to conventional toothbrushes are expected to impede the growth of the market during the forecast period. Nevertheless, expected technological advances would not only bring the required expertise in the market but also reduce the cost of the electric toothbrush.

Global Electric Toothbrush Market  Segments

MRFR has segmented the report into three market dynamics;

By Product Type : Rechargeable and Battery-operated.

By End User : Adults and Children.

By Regions : North America, Europe, APAC, and Rest-of-the-World.

Get a FREE Sample Copy of Report: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/7983

Electric Toothbrush Market  Regional Analysis

Europe dominates the global electric toothbrush market in terms of value and volume. The largest market share attributes to the huge uptake of electric toothbrushes across the region and increasing per capita expenses on wellness. The burgeoning electric devices industry, especially in the UK and Germany, is contributing to the regional market growth. Germany is estimated to account for the largest market share during the forecast period. In 2018, the European electric toothbrush market accounted for 40.51% of the total market share, which is expected to appreciate further during the forecast period.

North America accounts for the second-largest share in the global electric toothbrush market. The expansion of product portfolios by the key manufacturers is one of the significant factors driving the regional market growth. Also, the region is a hub for advanced technologies and has a well-developed infrastructure that demonstrates a huge potential for revenue generation for the electric & electronics market. The US and Canada account for major contributors to the growth of the regional market. The North American electric toothbrush market is projected to exhibit a moderate growth rate during the forecast period.

The electric toothbrush market in the Asia Pacific region is growing briskly due to the boom in the manufacturing industries in the region. Besides, factors such as the increasing per capita disposable incomes and the increasing emphasis on the adoption of energy-efficient electric devices drive the growth of the electric toothbrush market in the region. The APAC electric toothbrush market is projected to exhibit 8.12% CAGR during the forecast period.

Global Electric Toothbrush Market  Competitive Analysis

Highly competitive, the electric toothbrush market appears fragmented due to the presence of several well-established players. To gain a larger competitive share, players incorporate strategies such as mergers & acquisitions, collaborations, expansion, and product & technology launch. Players invest emphasis on new product development initiatives substantially and to expand their global footprint. The market is anticipated to witness relentless innovations and product developments, which would, in turn, result in intensifying the market competition among the automotive lighting manufacturers.

Major Players

Players leading the global electric toothbrush market include The Procter & Gamble Company (US), Koninklijke Philips N.V. (Netherlands), Panasonic Corporation (Japan), Colgate-Palmolive Company (US), OMRON Corporation (Japan), Foreo AB (Sweden), Smilex (US), Pursonic, LLC (US), Kolibree SAS (France), Lion Corporation (Japan), Conair Corporation (US), and Wellness Oral Care (US), among others.

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Industry/ Innovation/ Related News:

April 21, 2020 ---- Nubia Technology (China), a smartphone manufacturer, launched its two new products, including Neo Smart Sonic electric toothbrush and toothbrush sterilizer. The Nubia Electric Toothbrush has a sleek design, which includes a tiny brush head that can penetrate all aspects of the mouth. Alongside a wide handle that makes keeping a firm grip easier, the electric toothbrush has a stand that doubles as the wireless charging base.

April 18, 2020 ---- Philips Healthcare/ Koninklijke Philips N.V. (Netherlands), a multinational health technology company, confirmed that it is to witness modest growth despite virus disruption. From the electric toothbrush to hospital scanners, the maker scrapped its previous growth records by 4-6%. The company said it is also observing comparable sales growth and a 100 basis point improvement in operating profit margin, as the disruption from the health crisis hit first-quarter results. Further, it says that sales & profit margins could rise even further if the coronavirus pandemic eases soon.

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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OTTAWA (dpa-AFX) - Electric and gas utility Fortis Inc. (FTS.TO) announced Wednesday its new five-year capital investment plan of $19.6 billion for the period 2021 to 2025, up $800 million from the prior year's plan. The five-year capital plan includes investments of $5.1 billion at ITC for electric transmission infrastructure, $4.4 billion in natural gas and electric infrastructure at FortisBC, $3.8 billion in transmission, distribution and generation infrastructure at UNS Energy in Arizona. Consolidated rate base is projected to increase from $30.2 billion in 2020 to $36.4 billion in 2023 and $40.3 billion in 2025, translating into three and five-year compound annual growth rates of 6.5% and 6.0%, respectively. The Board also declared a 5.8% higher common share dividend of $0.505 per share on the issued and outstanding fully paid common shares of the Corporation, payable on December 1, 2020 to the common Shareholders of Record at the close of business on November 18, 2020. In addition, the Corporation has extended its targeted average annual dividend per common share growth of approximately 6% to 2025 based on a 2020 annualized dividend of $1.91. Effective December 1, 2020, the 2% discount offered on common share issuances under the dividend reinvestment plan will be reinstated. 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.
A Mercer County grand jury on Tuesday indicted a state corrections officer on charges that he accepted bribes to smuggle drugs and other contraband into New Jersey State Prison, authorities said.

Officer Jamaine Russell, 27, of Deptford, and his alleged accomplice, Debra Rayner, 34, of Mullica Hill, are charged with one count each of second-degree official misconduct, second-degree bribery and third-degree financial facilitation of criminal activity, according to Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri.

Russell, a state corrections employee since 2016, allegedly used his position as a jailer to accept cash bribes.

In exchange, he brought drugs and other contraband into the Trenton prison from October 2018 through November 2019, according to the indictment.

Raynor, who is not a corrections employee, was indicted as Russells accomplice because she promoted and facilitated the commission of the crimes, Onofrio alleged in a statement.

Russell and Rayner were charged in November 2019 following an investigation by the New Jersey Department of Corrections Special Investigations Division, Onofrio said.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Actor Rhea Chakraborty has moved the Bombay High Court on Wednesday after her bail plea was rejected in the special NDPS court on Tuesday and an extension of another 14 days of custody until October 6 was granted to her. In her petition to the High court, Rhea, through her lawyer Satish Maneshinde, has claimed innocence in the drug case for which she has been arrested and stated that she "has not committed any crime whatsoever".

Rhea has also stated in her plea that the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) is deliberately trying to invoke strict charges against her and her family adding that she has been subjected to a "witch-hunt" by the NCB and three other investigative agencies including the Mumbai Police, Central Bureau Of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Further, Rhea, the prime accused in the case officially registered by the CBI, also said in her bail plea that the judicial custody has taken a "severe toll on her mental health and well being" and that any further extension is likely to worsen her mental health.

Her bail plea was scheduled to be heard by a single bench presided over by Justice Sarang Kotwal on Wednesday. However, since the High Court suspended the day's hearings owing to heavy rains in the city, the plea is likely to be heard on Thursday.

Chakraborty further said in her plea that late actor Sushant Singh Rajput had been in the habit of consuming drugs, particularly, "ganja" since even before she got into a relationship with him. While she would sometimes procure drugs for him in "small quantities", and would also "occasionally pay for them herself," she was in no way a part of any drug syndicate. Chakraborty has been booked by the NCB on several charges, including financing illicit trafficking of drugs under Section 27-A of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance (NDPS) Act.

Read | After Rhea cracking, NCB summons Shruti Modi & Jaya Saha in Sushant case drugs angle probe

The actor said she has been wrongly booked under the NDPS Act Section 27-A which puts a bar on granting bail to the accused by claiming that no drugs were seized from her possession. Chakraborty said some others accused in the case had faced identical allegations, but they had not been booked under the stringent Section 27-A. She also said that at best, she can be accused of having procured drugs in small amounts for her boyfriend. However, she was trying her best to wean Rajput off his habit of consuming drugs, the actress said.

Read | In Sushant case, Rhea Chakraborty's custody extended till October 6; she'll move Bombay HC

Besides, if Rajput was alive today, he would have been charged merely for the consumption of drugs and would have invited a maximum sentence of just one year, while she has been charged under sections imposing a maximum sentence of up to 20 years, Chakraborty said in the plea. On a similar argument last week on the other pleas, Justice Kotwal pointed out that the NDPS Act adopts an "empathetic approach" towards the drug addict with a view towards his rehabilitation.

Read | Rhea Chakraborty's lawyer fires 'not justice for Sushant' remark as Bihar DGP gets VRS

However, the Act aims at ending all illicit trafficking of drugs and therefore, carries stringent punishment for those involved in the procurement, financing, and production of drugs. Earlier this month, a special NDPS court in the city rejected the bail pleas of the actress and her brother Showik Chakraborty, saying if let out on bail, they might tamper with the evidence. The actor is currently lodged in the Byculla women's prison in the city. The bail plea hearing on Tuesday resulted in a setback for Rhea, her brother Showik and the others as the special NDPS court extended their judicial custody for 14 days till October 6.

This comes after Rhea Chakraborty had cracked before the NCB's questioning after earlier claiming that she had never used drugs, and doubling back on her submission from even before that wherein she had allegedly admitted to drug peddling charges.

Read | Mumbai Rains also rain on Rhea's bail plea; NCB issues statement; Madhu Mantena arrives

(With PTI inputs)

Get the latest entertainment news from India & around the world. Now follow your favourite television celebs and telly updates. Republic World is your one-stop destination for trending Bollywood news. Tune in today to stay updated with all the latest news and headlines from the world of entertainment.
Before the coronavirus, drag queens and kings lip-synced their way across the jewel-box stage at Oasis, a San Francisco cabaret, and performed parodies of shows like Sex and the City and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, to the delight of packed houses of tourists and locals.

All that ended when the pandemic forced Oasis to close, and its owner, DArcy Drollinger, furloughed his entire staff. Drollinger used federal relief money to bring back a few workers, but he knew he needed to have more money coming in to keep paying his rent and support his employees.

Then he had an idea: If people couldnt come to see drag, why not bring drag to the people?

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

In June, he asked his drag performers to dust off their wigs and their heels for a service, now offered twice a week, in which a drag queen or king delivers dinner, drinks and a curbside performance for around $100. He called it Meals on Heels.

Its been such an amazing thing for the community, said Drollinger, who is working with a San Francisco catering company, Martha Avenue. People have been so isolated and living on Zoom or their phones and their computers, and to have that interaction and to see someone perform in the flesh has been so great for morale.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Thats how David Landis, the chief executive of a public relations firm, found himself watching a drag performer named Polly Poptart, who lip-synced Defying Gravity from the musical Wicked and lines from the movie Mean Girls as she delivered dinner to his house in June. She strutted up and down the steeply sloped sidewalk outside his home in the Pacific Heights neighborhood, slid down his banister and even did a back flip  in heels, of course  Landis recalled.

The performance, he said, lifted him out of a pandemic funk.

Ive kind of been a little depressed about this whole COVID thing, he said, but the mini drag show just brightened my spirits.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Courtney Merrell, who has been to Oasis many times, said she was impressed with how well CaseFaace, the drag performer who delivered her dinner to her home in the Lower Haight, adapted to the sidewalk setting. It was a windy day in June, but the queen figured out where the wind was coming from and she would turn into it so it became her wind machine, Merrell said.

Performing on the street presented a new challenge for the drag queens, who tend to wear stiletto heels, elaborate outfits and big, colorful wigs.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Its definitely hard to perform here in San Francisco on the sidewalk because we have a lot of hills, said Amoura Teese, a drag performer whose given name is Ryan Maldonado. I was definitely performing on driveways that were at a 45-degree angle. The unorthodox setting introduced a fun element to the performance, they added.

Some performers were skeptical at first.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Most of us are used to being on a stage and having lighting and all the sound and stuff, so the thought of being out in the literal street running around in heels, especially in the hills of San Francisco, was a little bit daunting, said Blake Mitchell, who performs in drag as Mary Lou Pearl. But getting to do this and reconnect with people through drag was actually really great for me, too. It was great to see how much joy it brought to people.

He added that it was also heartening to have young children watch, as thats not an audience that frequents Oasis.

Having grown up in a pretty conservative environment in Georgia, in the South, its just really special to me to see different models of inclusion and people accepting queer identities in that way, he said. I think Oasis has, in many ways, become a family that has done that for me.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Thats why Mitchell decided to donate his earnings from the deliveries to Oasis to help the club stay open.

Merrell, an executive assistant at Eventbrite, the online ticketing company, hopes her support will have the same effect.

I just feel such a sense of vitality around not just, like, Oh, this is light and sweet and fun, she said, but Im also grateful that performers are getting a stage even if its not their usual stage, and I want to support that.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Its this support that keeps Drollinger going, despite the challenge of keeping his business open during a pandemic. Word began to spread after Landis reviewed Meals on Heels in The San Francisco Bay Times in June, and after ABC7-TV reported on it last month, and now there is more demand for the service than Oasis can keep up with. The income has allowed Drollinger to bring back a rotating roster of about 40 drag performers as well as a few additional employees.

Now that the Oasis rooftop is open, he has also entered into partnerships with three nearby restaurants in San Franciscos SoMa neighborhood to serve food there. Such arrangements, he said, are crucial to the citys economic recovery.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

I feel like in this time when everyone  small businesses  are struggling, we have to help each other or no ones going to stay afloat, he said.

There are still days when he feels like giving up. But people like Mitchell and others who support Meals on Heels or send him donations through Venmo to show support keep him going.

Now Im not just doing it for myself, he said. Im doing it for all these other people who really care.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
The dispute dates back to the 1950s. Skirmishes were reported after India granted the Dalai Lama asylum following an uprising against Chinese rule in Tibet in 1959. War broke out three years later after China objected to India establishing outposts along the effective boundary, established by the British in 1914, between the Tibetan region and Northeast India. The current Line of Actual Control that forms the ambiguous border partially adheres to the British-drawn boundaries. Clashes were also reported in 1967 and again in 1987 in whats sometimes referred to as the loudspeaker war -- no bullets were fired and soldiers simply kept shouting at each other via loudspeakers. Relations improved as the two governments signed five treaties between 1993 and 2013 and -- with economic growth racing ahead in both countries -- China became Indias largest trading partner. The border remained mostly calm through 2017, when troops faced off for several months at Doklam, a plateau near the Indian border that is claimed by both China and Bhutan. The clashes are mostly seasonal, given the harsh winter conditions.
A number of protesters, including youths, chanted slogans against the encroachment and demanded that the Chinese leave Nepal's territory immediately and respect the bilateral border treaty.

Kathmandu, Sep 23 (IANS) A spontaneous protest erupted in front of the Chinese Embassy in national capital Kathmandu on Wednesday afternoon over the encroachment of Nepalese territory by the China in western-northern part of Humla district.

Some young protesters carried placards that asked China to back off.

Later, police dispersed the protesters who also demanded reopening of two border points between Nepal and China that were shut 10 months ago.

Tatopani in Sindhupalchok district and Rasuwagadhi in Rasuwa district have been shut, due to which imported goods and stuff worth billions of rupees coming in from China are stuck there.

On Wednesday, the Nepalese media had widely reported the construction of 11 cemented buildings in the Himalayan nation's territory by Chinese security forces in a remote area of Humla district.

However, the Chinese Embassy maintained that the said buildings were verified to be on the Chinese side of the China-Nepal border and asked Nepal side to reverify its position.

The occupied area is remote from Nepal's district headquarters concerned, difficult to reach, barren, unused and treacherous, but the Chinese can easily cross over due to close proximity and easy road access to it.

--IANS

giri/tsb
In this April 5, 2017, photo, Regina Barzilay, a professor in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, poses at MIT in Cambridge, Mass. The world's biggest AI society awarded Barzilay its top prize on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020. MIT said Barzilay is a breast cancer survivor whose 2014 diagnosis led her to shift her machine-learning work to creating systems for drug development and early cancer diagnosis. (Jonathan Wiggs/The Boston Globe via AP)

A Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor using computer science to detect cancer and discover new drugs has won a new $1 million award for artificial intelligence.

The world's biggest AI society awarded its top prize Wednesday to Regina Barzilay, a professor at MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory.

MIT says Barzilay is a breast cancer survivor whose 2014 diagnosis led her to shift her AI work to creating systems for drug development and early cancer diagnosis.

Her early diagnosis tool has been tested in multiple hospitals, including Boston's Massachusetts General Hospital and others in Taiwan and Sweden.

She's the inaugural winner of the new annual award given by the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence and funded by Chinese online education company Squirrel AI.

It's meant to elevate AI advancements to the level of a Nobel Prize or computer science's Turing Award, while also highlighting AI research that benefits society.

In this April 3, 2017 file photo, students walk past the "Great Dome" atop Building 10 on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology campus in Cambridge, Mass. The world's biggest AI society awarded its top prize Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020, to Regina Barzilay, a professor at MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. MIT says Barzilay is a breast cancer survivor whose 2014 diagnosis led her to shift her machine-learning work to creating systems for drug development and early cancer diagnosis. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)

 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
The $30 million taxpayers shelled out for a dairy farm next to the Western Sydney airport was the highest valuation of the property, but the federal government leased it back to the former owners at the lowest valuation of just $1 million.

The minister who oversaw the 2018 purchase of the land, dubbed the Leppington Triangle, has pleaded ignorance over the $29.8 million price paid in a deal excoriated by the Auditor-General.

Minister Paul Fletcher says his department kept him in the dark over the $30 million price tag for a piece of land taxpayers bought near the Western Sydney Airport. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Infrastructure Department officials didn't tell Paul Fletcher, who was urban infrastructure minister at the time, the sale price for the 12 hectares of land. The Commonwealth valued it at just $3 million less than a year after the purchase.

The land was owned by Liberal Party donors Tony and Ron Perich's Leppington Pastoral Company.
Megan @theestallion rode the beat like Id never heard anybody ride the beat in a long timeand Im a hip-hop head. There was something about this woman. Once you discover her, you become a fan, @tarajiphenson writes #TIME100 https://t.co/LcLolXIpAI pic.twitter.com/7YzFeyq2fM  TIME (@TIME) September 23, 2020

Introducing the 2020 #TIME100 featuring the pioneers, artists, leaders, icons and titans who have had the most impact this year https://t.co/FA12jF1B2P  TIME (@TIME) September 23, 2020

Proud, humbled, and honored to be part of this group. Always trying to keep it  and use our voice to influence positive change in the world. THIS IS THE TIME. #TIME100 @TIME https://t.co/93mjn5ms4g pic.twitter.com/3h1VaB9B67  Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) September 23, 2020

Denzel Washington on @michaelb4jordan: "He's the next generation, and it's good to know we're in good hands" #TIME100 https://t.co/JuBVms1LbI  TIME (@TIME) September 23, 2020

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex: "Congratulations to this year's transformative leaders and change makers. You work tirelessly to create a better world, a better global community for all of us" #TIME100 https://t.co/3aojLBhOVu pic.twitter.com/aqOkVUNFBX  TIME (@TIME) September 23, 2020

Happening now: Jennifer Hudson (@IAMJHUD) performs Evil on @ABCNetwork.



Here's why the artist is one of the most influential people of 2020, according to @maryjblige #TIME100 https://t.co/h8RnoaiC4q  TIME (@TIME) September 23, 2020

Ali Wong is on @TIME's list of the 100 most influential people of 2020 #TIME100 https://t.co/JtLyjMxspo  Lily rush (@Lilyrus68172845) September 23, 2020

Michaela Coel is on @TIME's list of the 100 most influential people of 2020 #TIME100 https://t.co/gxrfmcH2EU  Lily rush (@Lilyrus68172845) September 23, 2020

Phoebe Waller-Bridge is on @TIME's list of the 100 most influential people of 2020 #TIME100 https://t.co/PObryjXBuv  Lily rush (@Lilyrus68172845) September 23, 2020

Bong Joon Ho is on @TIME's list of the 100 most influential people of 2020 #TIME100 https://t.co/LgI3qTUGHy  Lily rush (@Lilyrus68172845) September 23, 2020

Source: https://twitter.com/ABCNetwork/status/1308594893032357888 Source: https://twitter.com/TIME/status/1308588115230109696 Source: https://twitter.com/TIME/status/1308587675394420738 Source: https://twitter.com/itsgabrielleu/status/1308592369596428291 Source: https://twitter.com/TIME/status/1308592619824578560 Source: https://twitter.com/TIME/status/1308597792185765888 Source: https://twitter.com/TIME/status/1308592999157432325 Source: https://twitter.com/TIME/status/1308593948181565441 Source: https://twitter.com/updatesweeknduk/status/1308591357154529280 Source: https://twitter.com/ABCNetwork/status/1308599352839950336 Source: https://twitter.com/TIME/status/1308605219828371456 Source: https://twitter.com/Lilyrus68172845/status/1308652416980725761 Source: https://twitter.com/Lilyrus68172845/status/1308652976110796801 Source: https://twitter.com/Lilyrus68172845/status/1308652844971630592 Source: https://twitter.com/Lilyrus68172845/status/1308653164757946368 Source: https://twitter.com/TIME/status/1308617084360781825 Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/CFdvG0dH0BU/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are urging Americans to vote and make their voices heard on their first primetime TV.

The two appeared on ABC Tuesday night to celebrate TIME magazine's annual list of the world's most influential people.

The two former royals have made many virtual appearances amid the pandemic, but the TIME100 special appearance will be their first joint television appearance since stepping away from royal life.

Meghan said on the special that only six weeks left before the election, and "today is Voter Registration Day."

"Every four years, we're told, 'This is the most important election of our lifetime.' But this one is." Meghan said in a report.

Meghan noted that when people vote, "our values are put into action, and our voices are heard."

Harry also made a nonpartisan appeal to be careful about how they engage with each other online in the run-up to the Nov. 3 election. Harry said it is vital that people reject hate speech, misinformation, and online negativity.

He added that "what we consume, what we are exposed to, and what we engage with online, has a real effect on all of us."

Both Meghan and Harry were named as TIME's most influential people of 2018. Last year, TIME recognized the couple in their list of the 25 Most Influential People on the Internet.

Meghan also honored those "who gave us courage this year," such as scientists, researchers, and medical professionals, who are all leading the fight against the current pandemic.

The couple moved to Los Angeles with their one-year-old son Archie in March after stepping down from their royal positions. They recently bought a home in Santa Barbara.

The couple is now starting their behind-the-scenes careers in the TV industry after sealing a multi-year deal with Netflix.

"Our lives, both independent of each other, and as a couple have allowed us to understand the power of the human spirit: of courage, resilience, and the need for connection," the couple said in a statement they released.

Meghan and Harry also said that their focus would be on creating content that informs and gives hope. The couple added that as new parents, making inspirational family programming is also important to them as much as powerful storytelling through a truthful and relatable lens.

Meanwhile, Meghan earlier received a backlash after her recent remarks on the U.S. elections. Critics said that the Queen should strip Meghan off her royal title.

British broadcaster Piers Morgan said they could not remain as royals and speak about foreign elections in such a "brazenly partisan way."

This was in line with Meghan's participation in an online event called "When All Women Vote," with aims to urge all women to exercise their right to vote in the upcoming elections.

While she did not endorse a candidate, she said, "we all know what's at stake this year." Royal protocols dictate that the royal family members should refrain at all costs from making political comments in any way.

Check these out:

You'll Never Guess What Meghan Markle's Favorite Country Is

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P ubs, cafes, restaurants and casinos in Wales must operate as table service only and close from 10pm, First Minister Mark Drakeford has announced.

Off-licences including supermarkets will also be stopped from selling alcohol at the same time as part of the measures, which come into force at 6pm on Thursday.

It comes after similar measures were announced in England and Scotland earlier on Tuesday.

Mr Drakeford confirmed the measures as part of a televised address on Tuesday evening.

He earlier told the Welsh Parliament that he would be encouraging people in Wales to only make essential journeys.

He said reducing the amount of journeys and meetings with others resulted in less danger being posed to people.

In the televised address, Mr Drakeford said rising cases of coronavirus infections were being seen in different parts of Wales, with people being admitted to hospital with serious illnesses because of this deadly virus.

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

On Tuesday, Public Health Wales said a further 281 positive cases of Covid-19 were recorded  the highest daily figure since April 17.

In the weeks and months ahead of us, there is a very real possibility that we could see the virus regain a foothold in our local communities, towns and cities, Mr Drakeford said.

Now none of us wants to see that happen again. 2020 has been an incredibly difficult year. We have all sacrificed so much.

Families have lost loved ones. People have lost jobs and livelihoods. This is a highly infectious virus. We cannot let it take a hold of our lives again. We have come too far to let that happen.

During a Cobra meeting on Tuesday morning, the leaders of the four UK nations agreed to take coordinated action to stop the spread of the virus.

Further restrictions have been announced in Wales / PA

Mr Drakeford said some of those measures being introduced elsewhere were already in force in Wales, such as working from home where possible.

Only six people are able to meet indoors and must be part of a single extended household.

Face coverings must be worn on public transport, in shops and in enclosed public spaces across Wales.

And please think carefully about making journeys  only travel when you need to do so, Mr Drakeford said.

The fewer people we meet, and the fewer journeys we make, the safer we all are.

Covid-19 signage opposite Caerphilly castle advises on social distancing as the county borough in south Wales is to be placed under a local lockdown / PA

A 500 payment to support people on low incomes who are asked to self-isolate will be provided, he confirmed.

According to real estate adviser Altus Group, 3,118 pubs in Wales will be affected by the curfew.

Six areas of south Wales  Caerphilly county borough, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil, Newport and Blaenau Gwent  are under stricter restrictions as part of local lockdowns.

Under the measures, people must not enter or leave the areas without a reasonable excuse.

They are only able to meet outdoors and must not meet members of their extended households indoors.

Further restrictions have been announced in Wales / PA

Adam Price, the leader of Plaid Cymru, called for further measures on pubs in areas subjected to local lockdown restrictions.

In those areas, we should also restrict the sales of alcohol from off licences at 6pm and either close pubs indoors completely or close pubs that dont serve food like theyve done in Ireland, Mr Price said.

Crucially, these steps must be backed up by sector-specific financial support to affected businesses.

Mr Price also called for a ban on non-essential travel from lockdown areas in the rest of the UK into Wales, as well as Covid-free areas and areas of low community transmission that would be exempt from nationwide changes.

Andrew RT Davies MS, shadow health minister for the Welsh Conservatives, said any restrictions had to be proportionate and have time limits.

However, its time to consider hyperlocal lockdowns based on the best available data  which means that the Test, Track, and Protect scheme must be equally hyper-accurate  so that as little of Wales and its economy as possible is closed, even temporarily, Mr Davies said.

Safeguarding lives as well as livelihoods, and sheltering the economy, must remain the priorities.

Of the new positive cases on Tuesday, 77 were in Rhondda Cynon Taf, 34 were in Bridgend, 30 were in Cardiff, 28 were in Swansea and 20 were in Merthyr Tydfil.

A series of measures have been introduced in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan to stem a sudden increase in cases across the two counties, local authorities said.

These include indoor visits to care homes and hospitals being limited to essential visits only and increased engagement with businesses on their responsibility to ensure social distancing is followed.

Higher education and further education sectors will strengthen messages to students on the importance of complying with regulations.

The importance of social distancing and not mixing with people indoors will also be communicated in the areas.

No further deaths were reported on Tuesday, with the total number of deaths in Wales since the beginning of the pandemic remaining at 1,603.
Walmart will be hiring 20,000 seasonal staff members to prepare for an expected surge in online shopping ahead of the holidays in the US. This will be Walmart's first large seasonal hiring in five years.

A variety of positions are available, the company said, such as order fillers and power equipment operators. Starting hourly pay will range from $15.75 to $23.75 based on location, position, and schedule.

The world's largest e-commerce giant said that employment will begin immediately upon hiring and continue through January 1. However, Walmart said many seasonal workers will have a chance to convert to regular employment. According to cnbc.com, Walmart said it will stretch Black Friday sales throughout the holiday season.

Walmart has filled more than 500,000 new jobs since March this year across its stores and supply chain to meet the demand during the coronavirus pandemic.

Walmart is anticipating trends that began during the pandemic to continue over the shopping season. For instance, it said, people's holiday wish lists may reflect their new and simpler routines. They may ask for items like exercise equipment since they aren't going to the gym.

Other companies that are also preparing for the online shopping rush in America are--FedEx, Flowers.com and Michaels. FedEx will hire 70,000 workers and Flowers.com will add 10,000 staff. Amazon is yet to announce its holiday plan.

Also read: Bharat Biotech signs pact with Washington University School of Medicine for COVID-19 vaccine

Also read: AGR dues: First instalment of Rs 18,000 crore paid, next tranche due in FY22, Airtel tells govt
Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) is widely considered to be the world's most important international wine competition, making this recognition yet another big win for Oregon's burgeoning luxury wine industry. With an elite international panel of judges, the DWWA began the painstaking task of evaluating over 16,500 wines from 56 countries in August. Over the course of 28 consecutive days, 118 expert wine judges, including 37 Masters of Wine and nine Master Sommeliers, bestowed the honor of most awarded winery to Domaine Serene.

"Ken and I are thrilled that Domaine Serene has received such incredible recognition across the board. To be the most awarded winery in the world at the DWWA is a testament to the quality of our vineyards and to the talent, hard work and dedication of our team," said Grace Evenstad, Co-Founder and Owner of Domaine Serene. "To receive 'Best in Show' for our Mark Bradford Vineyard Pinot Noir is especially gratifying. We named the vineyard after our son, Mark Bradford Evenstad, and it was the first vineyard that we ever planted at Domaine Serene almost thirty years ago. Planting its high elevation slopes and west facing aspect went against advice from the local vintners, yet we knew it had the potential to make world-class wine and so we planted it anyway. It has always been one of my favorite wines and I have long appreciated the power, structure, and longevity of our Mark Bradford Pinot Noirs. We are thrilled that it has received such critical acclaim at such an important competition."

"In its 17th year, the DWWA is the world's largest and most influential wine competition. Judged by the top wine experts from around the globe, the DWWA is trusted internationally for its rigorous blind judging process and regional experts," said Bree Stock, Master of Wine and Education Manager of the Oregon Wine Board. "It's an enormous feat for a region like Oregon, that represents a fraction of US global exports, to receive 'Best in Show' along with the breadth of medals in such a prestigious competition. This award raises the profile and awareness of our region's wines not only to Decanters' highly informed consumer audience, but also to the global wine experts on the judging panel. Congratulations Domaine Serene."

Domaine Serene took home a total of 23 medals from the elite London-based contest. In addition to being awarded 'Best in Show', the winery earned four Gold Medals for the 2016 'Aspect' Pinot Noir, 2017 Clos de Lune Vineyard Chardonnay, and 2016 Etoile Vineyard Chardonnay, each earning 96 points, with its 2016 Two Barns Vineyard Pinot Noir, earning 95 points. The Dundee Hills winery also brought home 17 Silver medals and one Bronze medal, more details can be found here. Domaine Serene wines have now earned 95 points and above by major critics an astounding 115 times! This is in addition to being awarded #1 Ranked Pinot Noir in the World by Wine Spectator in 2013 and in 2016 #1 Pinot Noir in the World by Decanter and #1 White Wine in the World by Wine Spectator, for its 'Evenstad Reserve' Chardonnay. This universal acclaim from an array of critics solidifies Domaine Serene as America's Most Acclaimed Winery.



"We are humbled by this great honor and thank our members, distributors and customers supporting our pursuit of quality over the years. To celebrate these awards, we are making some of the medalists available for tasting at our winery Clubhouse in the Dundee Hills and at the Domaine Serene Wine Lounge in Lake Oswego. We are also opening up our wine library to new and existing wine club members so that they can share in the enjoyment of these cherished wines in their homes." said Ryan Harris, Domaine Serene President.

For more information, to visit our locations or to join the wine club or mailing list, please visit www.DomaineSerene.com or call 503-864-4600 and follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.

About Domaine Serene

The Evenstads settled in the Northern Willamette Valley in 1989. Their spirit and passion to produce wines that rival the great wines of Burgundy led them to purchase and plant a hilltop estate that had just been logged in the now famous Dundee Hills.

Today, Domaine Serene produces wines from six individual vineyard estates, planted exclusively to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. In Oregon, the Evenstads own nearly 1,000 total acres of land in the hills of Yamhill County, with 275 acres planted to vine.

Working every job in the winery for many years, Grace and Ken Evenstad built Domaine Serene from the ground up with a focus on producing high quality wines through innovation and a focus on excellence. The Evenstads have gained a true appreciation for the attention to detail required to make exceptional wines.

In 2015, Ken and Grace Evenstad fulfilled a lifelong dream of producing wine in Burgundy, France by acquiring Chateau de la Cree, the respected wine estate located in the birthplace of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay: the renowned Cote d'Or. They own 25 acres of prime vineyards in Pommard, Volnay, Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet, Santenay and Maranges. This made them the first Oregon-based vintners to own land and produce wines in Burgundy.

In just under three decades, the Evenstads have propelled Domaine Serene onto the global stage as one of the world's most acclaimed and respected wineries. Domaine Serene's wines represent the achievement that is possible in Oregon, one of the finest regions in the world for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.



CONTACT:

Anna Parry

Domaine Serene Winery

6555 NE Hilltop Lane

Dayton, OR 97114

(503) 864-4600

[email protected]

www.DomaineSerene.com

SOURCE Domaine Serene

Related Links

http://www.DomaineSerene.com


Bay Area researchers who had been poised to start enrolling patients in a coronavirus vaccine trial have suspended those plans after the vaccine developers and federal regulators halted the trial in the United States over safety concerns.

Phase 3 trials for the vaccine, made by the drug company AstraZeneca and Oxford University  considered one of the front-runners in the race for a vaccine  were temporarily halted worldwide Sept. 6 after a participant in the United Kingdom developed a neurological illness. The trials, which are being conducted in a number of countries, resumed shortly after in Britain, South Africa and Brazil. But the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not allowed the study to restart in the United States.

It is unclear if, or when, the FDA may decide whether to resume the U.S. portion of the trial. Neither the FDA nor AstraZeneca would say why other countries have resumed the trials and the U.S. has not, each directing the question at the other. An FDA spokeswoman said the agency cannot comment on the status of an investigational new drug application. AstraZeneca said it is working with the FDA and the agency will decide when the U.S. trial can resume.

The development comes at a time of heightened concerns that federal coronavirus polices are becoming increasingly politicized as the national election nears. From the appointment of controversial scientist Scott Atlas to the presidential coronavirus taskforce, to the inconsistent messaging around mask and testing guidance from the CDC, public health experts are increasingly concerned that decisions that should be driven purely by science are now influenced by political motives. In this case, FDA prudence could be perceived as a positive.

There is heightened interest and scrutiny about COVID vaccines, so from a public perspective I can see how an event such as this could raise some concern, said Dr. Bali Pulendran, an immunologist at Stanford Health Care. But, essentially, all the appropriate steps are being taken. The FDA is doing a thorough investigation and the trial is being halted for that purpose. ... Im glad it was early on and the trial was halted as we find out whats going on with this.

AstraZeneca has paused and restarted its global trials twice, each time after a U.K. participant developed an unexplained neurological illness. One participant developed symptoms of transverse myelitis, a rare and serious condition involving inflammation of the spinal cord. The condition was divulged in a July information sheet, a document given to potential participants to inform them of possible risks. It is unclear if the problem was caused by the vaccine, or if they developed independently.

Experts say it is not uncommon in large clinical trials for some participants to experience an adverse event, or harmful reaction, after receiving an experimental vaccine or medicine. It is also not unusual for regulators in one country to pause and resume a trial there, while regulators in another country continue putting it on hold while they investigate safety concerns. In a way, they said, it is reassuring regulators are taking seriously their role to closely examine safety. It may just be a matter of time before the FDA allows the trials to resume here.

This is good news in the sense that it indicates the system is working, said Dr. Richard Feachem, a professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at UCSF. There was an adverse event, the trial was halted, the case was investigated. The U.K. regulator said continue, carry on. The U.S. regulators are still investigating. So this is routine.

Siphiwe Sibeko / Associated Press

Two San Francisco sites were planning to begin enrollment for the trial: Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Bridge HIV, a research unit within the San Francisco Department of Public Health. Each planned to enroll 250 participants. Both have put their participation on hold until the FDA decides it is safe to proceed. Neither San Francisco site had enrolled any patients at the time the U.S. trials were halted.

We hope to have more information soon, said a statement from the San Francisco COVID Command Center. Safety is our number one priority and we will not be moving forward with next steps until we have approval from the U.S. FDA and Data and Safety Monitoring Board to proceed.

The Data and Safety Monitoring Board is an independent panel of experts that reviews data from clinical trials for safety. The board includes experts in the field that do not have ties with the drugs sponsors.

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.

Sutter East Bay AIDS Center, part of Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Oakland, was also considering enrolling 500 patients in the trial. The center has not yet enrolled participants and is awaiting information from the FDA and AstraZeneca about efforts to resume the U.S. trial before finalizing its decision on whether to participate, a Sutter official said.

The trial was slated to enroll 30,000 people across 80 U.S. sites. At the time the U.S. trials were paused, the vaccine had been administered to some patients at other U.S. sites, but not at the San Francisco sites.

The AstraZeneca vaccine is one of 10 vaccines that are in Phase 3 trials globally, the last stage before the FDA can consider whether it is safe and effective for widespread use. Phase 3 trials are when vaccines get tested on tens of thousands of people  compared to the dozens or hundreds of people during Phases 1 and 2. Johnson & Johnson, Moderna and Pfizer are also developing vaccines that are in Phase 3.

Bay Area participants are being recruited in at least two other Phase 3 vaccine trials. Pfizer, which is partnering with German company BioNTech, last month began enrolling Kaiser Permanente members in Northern California. And Johnson & Johnson on Wednesday announced plans to enroll patients for its Phase 3 trial, including at two Bay Area sites  Stanford University Medical Center in Palo Alto and the VA Medical Center in San Francisco. Stanford and the VA are tentatively scheduled to begin enrollment Sept. 30 and Oct. 19, respectively, according to Johnson & Johnson.

Catherine Ho is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Cat_Ho
A 26-year-old Oregonian initially identified as the states youngest COVID-19 fatality tested negative for coronavirus during a specialized screening by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, state officials and family members said Tuesday.

Matthew Stephen Irvin died July 10 at his apartment in Yamhill County after a sudden and severe illness. Irvin visited the hospital before his death and tested negative for coronavirus.
Summer temperatures have returned to central Pennsylvania, just a week after residents were celebrating 60-degree weather that seemed to signal the start of jacket season.

The National Weather Service is calling for highs near 80 from Wednesday through at least Saturday. Each day is expected to be sunny and dry, with only a 40% chance of showers Sunday afternoon and night.

Although Wednesday is supposed to be warm and sunny, up to 20-mph wind gusts are also in the forecast.

It appears temperatures will not be dropping back into the 60s any time soon. Early forecasts for next week predict highs will hover in the low to upper 70s through at least Tuesday.

Today

Sunny, with a high near 81. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low around 54.

Thursday

Partly sunny, with a high near 80.

Thursday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 56.

Friday

Sunny, with a high near 81.

Friday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 56.

Saturday

Partly sunny, with a high near 80.

Saturday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 61.
SHOTLIST MUSIC SOURCE: AUDIO NETWORKRESTRICTIONS: NO RESALE 1WT2E3LESBOS ISLAND, GREECEAUGUST 27, 2020SOURCE: AFPTV Location: Moria camp, Lesbos, Greece Once a sprawling camp home to more than 12,000 asylum seekers, 8PN4T7LESBOS ISLAND, GREECESEPTEMBER 10, 2020SOURCE: AFPTV today it lies destroyed 8PL7AGLESBOS ISLAND, GREECESEPTEMBER 9, 2020SOURCE: AFPTV 1. SOUNDBITE 1 - Cornille Ndama, Migrant from Democratic Republic of the Congo (male, English, 21 sec):"For now, we lost everything. As I am here I am left like this. I have nothing, nothing with me and yet we dont know where we are going to sleep. Our house is vanished, our food is vanished, everything. Our money is gone. We dont know what is going to happen. " 1X32SPLESBOS, GREECESEPTEMBER 9, 2020SOURCE: AFPTV A fire that broke out at the camp on the night of 8 September has left thousands homeless Greek authorities say the fire was started by a group of migrants to blackmail the government into moving people out of the island faster Moria was intended to accommodate no more than 2,770 people But had quickly grown to over 4 times its original capacity, 1KU3FNLESBOS ISLAND, GREECESEPTEMBER 29, 2019SOURCE: AFPTV becoming the largest in Europe Sometimes migrants were trapped in Moria for years Frequent fires, prostitution, sexual assault, disappearances of minors, drug traffickingFights That was the order of the day in Moria 1PX7GZMORIA CAMP, GREECE16 MARCH 2020SOURCE: AFP For years, NGOs denounced the situation in the camp 18A44CMORIA, GREECE5 AUGUST 2018SOURCE: AFP calling it "a disgrace for the whole of Europe 1JW64IMORIA, GREECE31 AUGUST 2019SOURCE: AFP Dozens of people were stabbed in the camp, 1KT4DUMYTILENE, GREECE29 SEPTEMBER 2019SOURCE: AFP 1KX1D4LESBOS, GREECE1 OCTOBER 2019SOURCE: AFP burnt to death in their tents or committed suicide VID919374_ENSKALA SYKAMIAS, LESBOS, GREECE. 31 OCTOBER 2015SOURCE: AFPTV But the situation five years ago had been very different When migrants first started arriving in large numbers, Lesbos was seen as the island of solidarity Locals came to the aid of dinghy boats loaded with men, women and children fleeing war and poverty and NGOs descended en masse to lend a helping hand VID821504_ENLESBOS, GREECE. 18 NOVEMBER 2015.SOURCE: AFP The Greek islands took in thousands from across the Middle East, Africa and Asia VID824794_ENLESBOS, GREECE 26 NOVEMBER 2015SOURCE: AFP The explosive numbers forced the European Union to take action In 2016 they struck a deal with Turkey VID871833_ENDIKILI, TURKEY4 APRIL 2016SOURCE: AFPTV aimed at stopping the flow coming from the Turkish coast and to send back the Syrians for whom Turkey was considered a "safe country" V021_GREECEMIGRANTCAMPLOCATOR1109VGRX_ZZLESBOS ISLAND, GREECELOCATOR MAP 1HO5QCLESBOS ISLAND, GREECEJUNE 19, 2019SOURCE: PORTUGUESE MARITIME POLICERESTRICTIONS:NO RESALE But many since then have still made the journey, adding numbers to the already stretched camps 1WX5WALESBOS ISLAND, GREECEMARCH 2, 2020SOURCE: AFPTV Slowly tensions at the camp and between migrants and locals in Lesbos have grown 1WT2E3LESBOS ISLAND, GREECEAUGUST 27, 2020SOURCE: AFPTV 1PI7P9LESBOS ISLAND, GREECEMARCH 2, 2020SOURCE: AFPTV15. SOUNDBITE 1 - Giannis Palassis , Retired fisherman (male, 76 years old, Modern Greek, 19 sec):"The situation is out of control. I am afraid the community is indignant.(..) 16. SOUNDBITE 2 - Giannis Palassis , Retired fisherman (male, 76 years old, Modern Greek, 15 sec):"The island cannot take this any longer. Will they [the migrants] become more than us? I dont understand this, we are suffering too, how are we going to live on the island?" 8PV44BLESBOS ISLAND, GREECESEPTEMBER 13, 2020SOURCE: AFPTV Although Moria is no more, 8PW4D8LESBOS ISLAND, GREECESEPTEMBER 13, 2020SOURCE: AFPTV a new camp has been set up in Lesbos to house the thousands of migrants sleeping rough since the fire 8PZ4LDLESBOS ISLAND, GREECESEPTEMBER 15, 2020SOURCE: AFPTV An unpopular option for many 28. SOUNDBITE 1 - Vany Bikembo, from Kinshasa (male, 25 years old, French, 15 sec):"Over there, it's hell number 2. I was already in prison, because Moria is a prison. So I came here I see people, cars entering  No, I don't want to, I won't go there" In light of the situation, the UN refugee agency has urged Greece to speed up asylum processes for the migrants on the island 8Q223NLESBOS ISLAND, GREECESEPTEMBER 15, 2020SOURCE: AFPTV 8PW4D8LESBOS ISLAND, GREECESEPTEMBER 13, 2020SOURCE: AFPTV While Greece is appealing to the EU for support 12. SONORE 4 - Notis Mitarachi, Ministre grec de la Migration (homme, English, 25 sec) :"We had our fair share. The islands had their fair share. Today, the European Union needs to demonstrate that it can both find solutions for the common problems and also provide tangible solidarity to the frontline states." 8Q38G8BRUSSELS, BELGIUMSEPTEMBER 16, 2020SOURCE: EBSRESTRICTIONS:NO RESALE A call that seems to have been heard in Brussels EU chief Ursula von der Leyen has announced changes migration policies 12. SOUNDBITE 5 - Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission President (female, English, 24 sec):"We will ensure a closer link between asylum and return. We have to make a clear distinction between those who have the right to stay and those who do not. We will take action to fight smugglers, strengthen external borders, deepen external partnerships and create legal pathways." 8Q78A7LESBOS ISLAND, GREECESEPTEMBER 17, 2020SOURCE: AFPTV And for the migrants and Lesbos change cant come soon enough
She recently opened up about how she was bullied as a child during a recent appearance on her Heart FM radio show.

And Kelly Brook was spotted arriving to offer more candid insights about her life on Wednesday, as she was seen strolling to Global studios in central London.

The TV and radio presenter, 40, nailed autumn chic in a cosy cream jumper with balloon-stye sleeves, teamed with a pair of skinny blue jeans.

Arrival: Kelly Brook was spotted arriving to offer more candid insights about her life on Wednesday, as she was seen strolling to Global studios in central London

Kelly kept her look casual with a pair of cream and grey Nike Daybreak trainers, while also accessorising with a gold chain necklace.

The media personality wore her brunette locks wore her locks in a loose natural style and enhanced her pretty features with soft touches of make-up.

She carried her essentials in a black padded handbag with gold chain strap.

Stylish: The TV and radio presenter, 40, nailed autumn chic in a cosy cream jumper with balloon-stye sleeves, teamed with a pair of skinny blue jeans

During the show, Kelly revealed that she was dubbed 'Smelly Parsnips' by cruel classmates during her school years.

She said on Heart FM: 'My real name is Kelly Parsons and they used to call me Smelly Parsnips because it rhymes.

'Imagine sending that email, saying "You know, I've met this Prince, so can you just stop calling me Smelly Parsnips."

Low-key: Kelly kept her look casual with a pair of cream and grey trainers, while also accessorising with a gold chain necklace

Kelly revealed that she had to ask others to stop using the nickname once she began dating.

The 40-year-old is currently dating Jeremy Parisi after they began dating in 2015.

In July, Kelly claimed that sex gets better with age and said her longterm love, 35, Jeremy is a big fan of her curves.

Speaking on Vicky Pattison's The Secret To... podcast, she said: 'My boyfriend is 35 and he is Italian, so, you know, he likes a nice large curvy woman so that's always a good thing! I think your sex life gets better as you get older!

'You get confident! You are not so hung up on stuff. You know what you enjoy. You know what you like, so you are not as scared to tell them.

'When you're young you don't tell them. They are like 'is that nice?' or whatever and you're like 'yeah!' When you're older you are gonna make sure you get what you want!'
After months of wrangling over the future of TikTok, last weekend president Donald Trump signalled that a deal to allow the viral video app to keep operating in the US was closer than ever. A tie-up to hand Oracle and Walmart a stake in a new "TikTok Global" business was in the process of being finalised. Under the proposed agreement, Trump said, Oracle could receive oversight of TikTok's US data, the company could be based in America and security would be "100 per cent". It was a deal which had received Trump's blessing.

There was, however, one surprising addition to the deal. At a rally in North Carolina on Saturday (US time), Trump said he had asked the companies to "do me a favour". He had asked them if they could "put up $US5 billion ($7.1 billion) into a fund for education, so we can educate people as to the real history of our country - the real history, not the fake history... That's their contribution that I've been asking for".

Trump has further complicated what is already an unorthodox deal. Credit:AP

So far, much appears still up in the air. In recent days, Oracle and TikTok's Chinese owner ByteDance have issued conflicting statements over how the deal would be structured, with the latter claiming it would retain majority ownership of the new TikTok Global business, while Oracle stated it would be buying into a new mainly US-owned company.

In an editorial on Monday, Beijing-backed newspaper Global Times said China was unlikely to approve the agreement that appeared to be on the table, saying the terms showed "Washington's bullying style and hooligan logic". What's more, detail on how the new education fund would fit into the deal has been scarce. On the one hand, ByteDance said it had no knowledge of the fund prior to Trump's comments over the weekend.
South-east Queensland is expected to sweat through a week of warmer temperatures before a windy weekend and return to cooler spring days, after areas of the state's west were drenched at the weekend.

Though some regions notched up rainfall of more than 100 millimetres, the downpours have barely reached the coast, with isolated showers and storms dropping less than a third of that on the Sunshine Coast.

Fire bans are in place for most of the state's south into and beyond the weekend, when the dry and gusty change blows in.

The Bureau of Meteorology recorded a minimum temperature of 8 degrees above average in the south-east on Wednesday morning, with daytime maximums forecast to sit between 2 and 5 degrees higher than normal after a warm start to the week.
Schools around the world adapting to the new realities that have resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic. Uncertainty is widespread as officials from K-12 through higher education work hard to keep students, educators, and staff safe, while providing the best possible learning environments.

Theres a lot of flux around how and where education will take place this fall and beyond. However, one constant is that technology will play a central role in any and all eventual scenarios.

We reached out to technology influencers and experts to explore some of the challenges, options, and strategies under consideration for education IT decision-makers. With a focus on decisions around critical infrastructure components like data management, networking and security, we asked:

What are some strategies and tactics IT leaders in education should take to cope with this uncertainty?

A Time for Leadership

Our experts offered a diverse menu of ideas, but one theme stands out: the IT community needs to lead this effort.

IT leaders need to build strategies around resilience, reliability, speed and flexibility to enable non disrupted learning experience, says Helen Yu, Founder and CEO of Tigon Advisory Corp. First, build a more resilient and reliable infrastructure. This encompasses a mission-critical operation support plan, authorized personnel to monitor and automate daily route tasks and performance monitoring.

Second, establish a scalable architecture. Complement public cloud with multi-cloud solutions, which could protect against on-premises workload capacity shortage.

Third, create a workforce resilience community. This allows IT leaders to provide guidelines and offers a platform to share best practices.

Adds technology writer Will Kelly, Its up to school IT leaders to get in front of COVID-19 uncertainties by being proactive and cognizant of their technology and budget options and uncertainties. COVID-19 is also a time to review their institutions service provider relationships. Its also time to review their outsourced platforms and infrastructure.

Audrey DeSisto, CEO, Founder of Digital Marketing Stream, offers a pro-active idea. I feel one way to tackle this would be to set up a CIO/CISO school advisory board, she says. Most professionals in the industry would be happy to assist the schools. These leaders would understand how to assess the current state of infrastructure and produce a risk management plan quickly. The board could get to work on the plan, and management could assign qualified people to research grants and budget.The response early on to the pandemic offers valuable experience, says Anna Frazzetto, CDTO & President, Technology Solutions. Lessons learned from the rush to remote learning earlier this year need to be applied to educations IT strategy this fall, she says.

Security at the forefront

Information Security and data privacy have consistently remained among the paramount concerns of education and IT leaders.[1] Openness and collaboration have guided network design and strategy. The new normal is stressing these systems, challenging IT leaders to find a secure equilibrium.

At the top of any IT leaders strategy should be security, says Jones Baraza, Director of SwiftIntellect and CyberSwiftIntellect.

Christopher Wessells, a Senior Higher Education Strategist at Dell Technologies and former university CIO, states: For higher education institutions built on a culture of open networks that encourage collaboration and transparency, the challenge of addressing cybersecurity is intensifying. Its a delicate balance between access and protection. The diversity of devices, complexity of networks, expanding amount of data and information stored on-premise, in home devices, and in multiple cloud solutions only makes securing that data even more challenging.

With the pandemic, threats have become more sophisticated, which magnifies the challenge for educational IT teams to protect personal information, ensure privacy exists, and safeguard sensitive institutional data and assets.

Security has consistently been a leading priority for IT leaders in education. But in the months since COVID-19 hit, security attacks have escalated. In IDGs CSO-COVID study (March 2020) 61% of security pros expressed greater concern about attacks targeting folks at home.

Tricia A. Howard, Marketing Manager at HolistiCyber, points out that education is a special use case. Since education has a unique challenge of needing to foster a more open environment than a typical enterprise, security can get become an afterthought  which can actually end up being more expensive in the long run. This can open you up to vulnerabilities that you didnt have previously. Bring in a third party to assess your new additions or modifications to the environment: one who makes pragmatic, prioritized security suggestions. The ROI of security goes beyond mitigating the cost of a breach: it can save a lot of valuable time for your already full plates.

Says Frazzetto, From a networking perspective, all parties need to be provided remote access that has the proper security and firewalls in place. IT leaders in education should approach data management the same way they would if they were a business: only certain people have access to certain materials. This allows teachers to share information with each other and gives the principal the access to supervise the process.

Says Wessells, A modern Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solution has become even more important with the shift to remote work, teaching and learning. Consider new threats like fileless attacks that rely on trusted and installed software, which circumvent firewalls and traditional AV solutions.

Over-Communicate

Clarity and quality of communication has always been an important part of the CIOs role at universities and in school districts. In todays dynamic environment, communication is critical. For Mark Thiele, CEO & Founder at Edgevana Inc., communication is a crucial part of any COVID-19 coping plan.

Clear and well distributed communication plans are a minimum. Whether its administrators working with teachers or teachers maintaining consistency with students and parents, communication plans are vital, he says.

Tech leaders mid-pandemic need to make sure their focus stays proactive and not reactive, says Paige Francis, VP of IT/CIO at University of Tulsa. She adds that purchases must be deployable, long-term and sustainable, and urges tech leaders to stick to a roadmap ensuring youre deploying solutions in a highly intentional, prioritized fashion.

Above all, Francis says Consistent and trusted communication remains at an all-time high  we dont know whats coming, we anticipate much continuing to be different, the only thing we can guarantee is that no matter what the world throws at us, we will be present and support through it.

The Technology Angle

As for specific technologies that will play key roles, influencers cited cloud, emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and virtual reality, and automation. First of all, Infrastructure needs to be agile and integrative, future-proof and scalable, said University of Tulsas Francis.

Jonathan Reichental, CEO, professor, and author, points to the cloud. Rapidly move as many services as possible to the cloud, he says. Embrace XaaS (everything-as-a-service). Implement robust cloud cybersecurity.

Enable technology solution strategies that make the business of educating and learning as easy as using Google to search or eBay to buy, says Mark Thiele. Also, automate and simplify IT solution management so that people arent the gating factor to delivering and supporting solutions.

Wessells highlights the need to think strategically about cloud strategy. Modern applications and services that support the business and academic aspects of institutions still depend on an agile and robust infrastructure that typically run in a hybrid or multi-cloud operating model. Our team at Dell Technologies is focused on providing our customers with flexibility and control with a consistent cloud experience, regardless of whether you are leveraging a public or private cloud environment.

A Position of Power

We can be certain that the disruption from COVID-19 to education is far from over. Seventy-three percent of information security professionals reported that the impact of this pandemic will alter the way their businesses evaluate risk for at least the next five years, according to IDGs Security COVID study.

If any good is to come out of this, its perhaps summed up by Peter B. Nichol, Head of IT Portfolio Management for R&D at Regeneron Pharmaceutical.

COVID-19 has introduced challenges that educational leaders never had to face, he says. It required new leadership, different tactics, greater empathy, and a renewed awareness of when to invest or divest initiatives that only weeks earlier were critical. IT educational leaders are in a powerful place to balance people, planet and profit while driving their educational mission.

The impact of these technology changes today to manage the COVID response will have an impact for years to come. New infrastructure will be in place and will act as a catalyst for change and how students experience education and engage in learning well into the future.

Indeed, with the pandemic of 2020, the landscape of education has changed, and these changes will have an impact on how students engage with learning for years to come. It has resulted in an elevation in the IT leadership role, necessitated clear and proactive communication, and amplified the requirement for agile and robust technology infrastructure solutions in a cloud-native world that support modern applications and services for academic communities.

[1] EDUCAUSE Top 10 Issues List (2017 through 2020)
The Seattle City Council will reduce the state police department's budget and allocate some money to fund community programs.

The move was made after the City Council voted on Tuesday evening to override Mayor Jenny Durkan's vetoes of adjustments to this year's budget.

The council's proposals approved last month were backed by demonstrators who have protested in the city for months. The protests were due to the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Durkan and former police Chief Carmen Best both strongly opposed these protests.

Council President M. Lorena Gonzalez said that divestment from a broken policing model is not the right thing to do. Gonzalez said she believes it is the needed course of action.

"We cannot look away from this, and we can no longer accept the status quo if we truly believe that Black lives matter," Gonzalez said in a report.

The mayor said she disagreed with losing officers and plan to take officers off a team that removes camps of people experiencing homelessness.

She also said that the Seattle City Council did not discuss their plans with her or the police chief before taking action. However, at least one council member said on Tuesday that the police chief had been consulted.

Best is the city's first Black female police chief. She is officially retired earlier this month amid the issue over proposed police cuts and the department's response to protests.

Legislation passed by the Seattle City Council will cut less than $4 million of the department's $400 million annual budget this year. The exact number of officers to be cut was not clear. Council members suggested it would total to several dozen. Seattle now has around 1,400 police officers.

The proposed reductions fell far short calls from protesters for a 50 percent cut to the department. Some members of the council described the cuts as "down payment" on future reductions.

The majority of people spoke during the public comment period on Tuesday, urging the council to overturn Durkan's vetoes. Many people told the council that "if Black lives matter, prove it." Members of business groups were among those who spoke in favor of upholding the veto.

As U.S. attorney in Seattle, Durkan pushed a Justice Department investigation that found officers too quick to use force. It led to a 2012 consent decree with the federal government.

A review by an independent monitor saw that changes made under the decree have decreased how often police use force. However, critics have said that the department's actions during recent protests show not enough progress has been made.

Councilmember Dan Strauss said police had utilized excessive and indiscriminate force against Seattle residents, who are exercising their First Amendment rights.

Strauss noted that these prompted the council to make the budget changes. Strauss added that the changes proposed in the 2020 budget are not radical or earth-shattering.

"They are reasonable and responsible first steps in a long process to re-envision the way we handle public safety," Strauss noted in a report.

Check these out:

Police Declare Riot, Make Arrests at Seattle Protest

Two Women Hurt as Car Drives Through Seattle Protest Crowd



Seattle Protest Causes Store Damages, Officer Injuries; Police Claim Precinct Fire
CMU-Q Starts Semester with Record Enrollment

September 23, 2020

Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q), a Qatar Foundation partner university, started the fall 2020 semester with its highest enrollment numbers since opening its doors in 2004. There are 124 first-year students enrolled at CMU-Q representing 34 nationalities.

The CMU-Q student body is composed of 442 students representing 52 nations. More than 900 alumni have graduated from the Doha campus.

"The first-year students started university during a pandemic," said Michael Trick, dean of CMU-Q. "They are resilient and our community has come together to ensure that they are prepared, and feel supported in their academics and throughout their student experience."

Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar offers five programs: biological sciences, business administration, computational biology, computer science and information systems.
BSP supremo Mayawati Wednesday hit out at the government as well as the Opposition for the ruckus and chaos during the ongoing Monsoon Session, saying their conduct has harmed the dignity of Parliament and the Constitution.

In a tweet in Hindi, she said Although Parliament is called the temple of democracy, its dignity has been shredded many times. Even during the ongoing Parliament session, the functioning of the government and the behaviour of Opposition in the House are embarrassing for the dignity of Parliament, Constitution and democracy. Very sad!

Mayawatis reaction came in the wake of eight Rajya Sabha Opposition members being suspended from the House on Monday for the ruckus during the passage of two key farm Bills a day earlier. The government had brought a motion for their suspension which was passed by the House by voice vote.

The Opposition has been alleging the government did not follow proper procedures during passage of the Bills and didnt allow division of votes as it lacked numbers. The suspended MPs sat on an overnight dharna on the Parliament complex which they ended after the Opposition decided to boycott Lok Sabha proceedings in solidarity.
Costco pulls Palmetto Cheese from shelves after founder calls Black Lives Matter terror organization

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Retail giant Costco Wholesale has reportedly removed Palmetto Cheese products from its shelves after Brian Henry, founder of the pimento cheese company and mayor of Pawleys Island, South Carolina, branded Black Lives Matter a terror organization.

Costco has not yet released an official statement on the removal of the pimento cheese products cited by USA Today. But the Post and Courier, which broke the story, captured a photo of a sign from Costco in Myrtle Beach explaining that the cheese was "discontinued" and would "not be re-ordered."

"Over 120 Costco's throughout the US are no longer carrying this item," the sign noted.

Henry also told the publication that his product was in the process of being removed from shelves.

The controversy stems from a public Facebook post made by Henry on Aug. 25 in which he said he was sickened by the senseless killings of Nicholas Wall, 45, and his stepdaughter, Laura Ashley Anderson, 21, by a black man that has since been identified as Ty Sheem Walters III.

"2 innocent people murdered. Not 2 thugs or people wanted on multiple warrants. 2 white people defenselessly gunned down by a black man," Henry wrote in the since-deleted post. "So why do we stand by and allow BLM to lawlessly destroy great American cities and threaten their citizens on a daily basis ... This BLM and Antifa movement must be treated like the terror organizations they are."

Henry, according to News for Georgetown and Beyond, argued that there would be no national outrage over the killings because the victims are white and the shooter is black. He also noted in a statement that he was a friend of the shooting victims family.

My wife and I know the family of the victims. I was deeply saddened and angered by the gruesome nature of the killing and felt grieved for the family and this community," he said. "I typically refrain from social media because of my position as an elected official. But, in this case, I felt compelled to pour out my heart to this family and release some of the emotion I felt, so I drafted a post on Facebook."

Georgetown resident Jacqueline Williams told GAB News that the difference between the white shooting victims and black victims of police shootings is justice.

I commend our sheriffs office on apprehending him so he can have his day in court. That is something a lot of black men and black women never get to do, Williams said. We are all outraged by what happed [in Georgetown]. All of our hearts are broken.

On Sept. 3, at a press conference at the Pawleys Island Sea View Inn, which he and his wife, Sassy, own and operate, Henry apologized for the comments after some soul-searching and a series of meetings with local faith leaders.

I am profoundly sorry to those I offended with my post last week. My comments were hurtful and insensitive, Henry said. "I spent that past 10 days listening and learning. The conversations Ive had with friends, our staff, the community and faith-based leaders provided me with a deeper understanding of racial inequality and the importance of diversity sensitivity, which is very much needed to heal Pawleys Island, Georgetown and our country."
Ginsberg will lie in repose for two days at the court where she served 27 for years and where she argued six cases for gender equality in the 1970s

The occassion will also bring together the eight remaining justices for the first time since the building was closed in March

Ruth Bader Ginsberg's former colleagues, family, close friends and the public will have a chance to pass her casket at the Supreme Court today and tomorrow

Thousands of people are expected to pay their respects at the Supreme Court to the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the women's rights champion, leader of the court's liberal bloc and feminist icon who died last week.

Even with the court closed to the public because of the coronavirus pandemic and Washington already consumed with talk of Ginsburg's replacement, the justice's former colleagues, family, close friends and the public will have the chance Wednesday and Thursday to pass by the casket of the second woman to serve on the Supreme Court.

The sad occasion is expected to bring together the remaining eight justices for the first time since the building was closed in March and they resorted to meetings by telephone.

Ginsburg will lie in repose for two days at the court where she served for 27 years and, before that, argued six cases for gender equality in the 1970s.

A memorial to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg outside the Harvard Law School library at Langdell Hall, on the campus of Harvard University, in Cambridge

Socially-distant chairs sit on a plaza outside the Supreme Court on Capitol Hill in Washington as preparations take place for a private ceremony and public viewing

The Bench at the Supreme Court is draped to mark the death of Ruth Bader Ginsberg ahead of her lying in repose this week

Following a private ceremony Wednesday in the court's Great Hall, her casket will be moved outside the building to the top of the court's front steps so that public mourners can pay their respects in line with public health guidance for the pandemic.

Since her death Friday evening, people have been leaving flowers, notes, placards and all manner of Ginsburg paraphernalia outside the court in tribute to the woman who became known in her final years as the "Notorious RBG." Court workers cleared away the items and cleaned the court plaza and sidewalk in advance of Wednesday's ceremony.

Following past practice at the tradition-laden court, Ginsburg's casket is expected to arrive just before 9.30am Wednesday, the court said. Supreme Court police will carry it up the court steps, which will be lined former Ginsburg law clerks serving as honorary pallbearers.

Flowers lie outside the Supreme Court ahead of a service for Ruth Bader Ginsberg

Officials stand on the Supreme Court steps on Capitol Hill in Washingtoas preparations take place for a private ceremony

Chief Justice John Roberts and the other justices will be in the Great Hall when the casket arrives and is placed on the Lincoln Catafalque, the platform on which President Abraham Lincolns coffin rested in the Capitol rotunda in 1865. A 2016 portrait of Ginsburg by artist Constance P. Beaty will be displayed nearby.

It's unclear whether President Donald Trump would visit the court before he leaves town Wednesday afternoon, though he did pay respects when Justice John Paul Stevens died last year and President Barack Obama visited the court after Justice Antonin Scalia's death in 2016.

The entrance to the courtroom, along with Ginsburg's chair and place on the bench next to Roberts, have been draped in black, a longstanding court custom. These visual signs of mourning, which in years past have reinforced the sense of loss, will largely go unseen this year. The court begins its new term October 5, but the justices will not be in the courtroom and instead will hear arguments by phone.

Flowers and notes are placed at a memorial outside the Supreme Court

After the private ceremony inside the court, Ginsburg's casket will be on public view from 11am to 10pm Wednesday and 9am to 10pm Thursday.

On Friday, Ginsburg will lie in state at the Capitol, the first woman to do so and only the second Supreme Court justice after William Howard Taft. Taft had also been president. Rosa Parks, a private citizen as opposed to a government official, is the only woman who has lain in honor at the Capitol.

Ginsburg will be buried beside her husband, Martin, in a private ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery next week. Martin Ginsburg died in 2010. She is survived by a son and a daughter, four grandchildren, two step-grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

Ginsburg's death from cancer at age 87 has added another layer of tumult to an already chaotic election year. Trump and Senate Republicans are plowing ahead with plans to have a new justice on the bench, perhaps before the Nov. 3 election.

Only Chief Justice Roger Taney, who died in October 1864, died closer to a presidential election. Lincoln waited until December to nominate his replacement, Salmon Chase, who was confirmed the same day.

When Scalia, Ginsburg's closest friend on the court, died unexpectedly in 2016, Republicans refused to act on President Barack Obama's high-court nomination of Judge Merrick Garland.
Strong cash position at 27.4m at the end of August 2020 thanks to a sharp reduction in cash burn, 4.7m in H1 2020 vs. 14.6m in H1 2019 (-68%)

Installed base of nearly 170 AUTONOM SHUTTLE vehicles, up +26% vs. H1 2019

Interest in autonomous shuttles reinforced by the health crisis, H1 2020 revenues of 4.7 million and additional projects won; continued growth in the Services business (+34%), or 33% of half-year revenues

Continued growth in R&D expenses (+13%) to boost technology development;

34% reduction in other costs (general expenses, sales and marketing expenses)

34% reduction in other costs (general expenses, sales and marketing expenses) Launch of the Level 4 Autonomous experiment program (safety driver outside the shuttle) representing the first worldwide deployment of the new version of the vehicle "Autonomous Shuttle Evo"

Management team strengthened: Olivier Le Cornec (Technology), Pierre Lahutte (Strategy Development), Benoit Jacheet (Finance)

Conference call September 23, 2020 at 6 pm CEST

France: +33 1 72 72 74 03; Royaume-Uni: +44 20 7194 3759; Etats-Unis: +1 646 722 4916

Code: 530 214 73#

Regulatory News:

Navya (Paris:NAVYA) (FR0013018041- NAVYA), a leading company in autonomous driving systems, announces its results for the first half of 2020.

Etienne Hermite, Chief Executive Officer of Navya comments:  The first half of 2020 was characterized by the COVID-19 crisis. Many experiments around the world were interrupted for a few weeks. They were generally able to resume without difficulty once the lockdown was over. The health situation provided an opportunity to highlight new use cases, such as the fully autonomous transport of COVID tests to the Mayo Clinic in Florida. We were also able to work on the development of an experiment in Chateauroux (in collaboration with Keolis) in a fully autonomous environment, with the safety driver outside of the vehicle. At the same time, we decided to significantly reduce overhead costs and increase our investments in R&D, which create significant technological value. This has enabled us to reduce our cash consumption by 68%. With a strengthened cash position, Navya will continue to achieve technological and time-to-market milestones for its autonomous driving systems in the coming months .

In thousands H1 2020 H1 2019 Sales 4,711 6,150 Production costs (5,315) (7,021) Gross margin (604) (870) R&D (4,762) (4,214) Sales Marketing expenses (1,917) (2,824) General Admin. expenses (2,986) (4,616) Operating profit loss (10,771) (13,183) Financial result (529) (631) Net profit loss (11,300) (13,813) Cash position 23,281 19,668

Sales activity and financial results for the first half of 2020

In the first half of 2020, Navya generated revenues of 4.7 million, down 23% compared to the first half of 2019. Health crisis has led to some postponements of experiments, mainly for operational reasons (impossibility to implement projects). H1 2020 revenues from Vehicle Sales stood at 3.1m, down 37% vs. H1 2019, while Services continued to grow (+34% vs. H1 2019) and now account for 1.6m, or 33% of revenues for the half year.

This increase in Services is the result of the growth in the installed base and Navya's desire to focus its business model on the delivery of a range of services around the autonomous vehicle. With 10 vehicles sold during the first half of 2020, the installed base of AUTONOM SHUTTLE now stands at 169 shuttles, an increase of +26% compared to the end of June 2019.

Sales and marketing expenses and general and administrative expenses decreased respectively by 32% and 35%. This control results from Navya's decision to focus investments in R&D, which increased by 13% during the period. Quarter after quarter, Navya continues to invest in the development of its technology, which is the Company's strategic priority, in order to become the benchmark player in the supply of autonomous driving systems for specialized vehicles on the first and last mile.

Over the past six months, cash consumption has decreased significantly to 4.7 million, a decrease of 68% compared to the same period in 2019.

All in all, operating profit and net profit improved by 2.4 million and 2.5 million respectively to (10.8) million and (11.3) million.

Strengthening of the financial structure: cash position of 27.4 million at the end of August 2020

In January 2020, Navya received the prize money of 1.9 million for the awards received in October 2019 as part of the "Dubai World Challenge for Self-Driving Transport". As a reminder, the Company had won two of the three Awards, for "Best Endurance Reliability" and "Best Consumer Experience", against 16 competitors.

In February 2020, Navya announced the subscription by ESMO Corporation of the remaining 10 ORNANE (bonds repayable in cash and/or into new and/or existing shares) for an amount of 10 million, the proceeds of which will be used to strengthen Navya's R&D activities.

At June 30, 2020, the Company had a cash balance of 23.3 million, compared to 19.0 million at the end of 2019.

Finally, at the beginning of September, Navya announced that it had obtained a 4.5 million credit agreement, guaranteed by the French State. With this loan, the Company's available cash amounts to 27.4 million as of August 31, 2020.

H1 2020 highlights and events since the end of June

Sales of AUTONOM SHUTTLE vehicles for open road deployments in Europe (Germany) and Asia (Japan, South Korea);

Reinforcement of the Management Committee with three strategic appointments: Olivier Le Cornec as Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Benoit Jacheet as Chief Financial Officer (CFO), and Pierre Lahutte as Chief Strategy Development Office;

Launch of a program to experiment level 4 fully autonomous shuttle service (real autonomy without a safety driver in the vehicle), at the National Sport Shooting Centre (NSSC) in Chateauroux, France, in partnership with Keolis;

This service also marks the very first worldwide deployment of the "Autonomous Shuttle Evo" vehicle, the result of six years of experimentation and deployments in 22 countries around the world;

Launch of an experiment in the Drome, France, the first autonomous mobility service outside urban areas.

Outlook

Over the next six months, the development of the technology of Navya solutions will continue to focus the essential resources of the Company. Technological breakthroughs will be progressively rolled out through experiments with shuttles and logistics tractors.

At the same time, Navya is working to extend its network of distribution partners and to pave the way for the industrialization of its solutions in order to accelerate the market launch of level 4 autonomous driving systems.

First-half 2020 consolidated accounts and H1 2020 financial report have been approved by the Board of Directors, and were reviewed by the Supervisory Board on September 22, 2020.

The H1 2020 financial report will be available before September, 30 at:

www.navya-corp.com/fr/investisseurs/information-reglementee/documentation.

This report includes:

H1 2020 activity report;

Summarized H1 consolidated accounts to June 30, 2020;

Auditors' report on H1 2020 financial information;

Statement from the certifying officer regarding the H1 financial report.

About Navya

Navya is a leading French name in the autonomous driving systems. With 280 employees in France (Paris and Lyon) and in the United States (Michigan), Navya aims at becoming the leading player for the supply of autonomous driving systems for passenger and goods transport. Since 2015, Navya has been the first to market and put into service autonomous mobility solutions. The Autonom Shuttle, main development axis, was launched in September 2015 and nearly 160 units have been sold as of 31 December 2019, notably in the United States, France, Germany, Switzerland, Japan and Australia. The Autonom Tract is dedicated to goods transport. Created in 2014 with the support of Robolution Capital, investment fund managed by 360 Capital Partners, his reference shareholder, Navya's shareholders also include the Gravitation fund and Paris Region Venture Fund (Region Ile-de-France) managed by Cap Decisif Management as well as Valeo and Keolis groups.

Navya is listed on the Euronext regulated market in Paris (ISIN code: FR0013018041- Navya).

For more information visit: www.navya.tech/en

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200923005741/en/

Contacts:

Navya

Marketing Communication

communication@navya.tech

Benoit Jacheet

CFO

finance@navya.tech

NewCap

Investor relations

Thomas Grojean

Nicolas Fossiez

navya@newcap.eu

+33 (0)1 44 71 94 94

NewCap

Media relations

Nicolas Merigeau

navya@newcap.eu

+33 (0)1 44 71 94 98
President Donald Trump and former vice president Joe Biden are locked in close races in Florida and Arizona, according to a pair of Washington Post-ABC News polls in two Sun Belt battlegrounds the president won in 2016 that are crucial to his hopes for reelection in November.

In Florida, likely voters split 51% for Trump to 47% for Biden, while registered voters split 47% for Trump to 48% for Biden. In Arizona, Trump's margin is even smaller at 49% to Biden's 48% among likely voters. Among Arizona's registered voters, Trump is at 47% and Biden at 49%. All these differences are within the polls' margins of sampling error.

The findings in the two surveys are better for the president than other polls conducted in the two states recently by other organizations. The Post's average of polls this month shows Biden with a two-point advantage in Florida and a six-point margin in Arizona.

Overall, the surveys illustrate that the national economy, despite its weakened state, remains Trump's strongest issue, and it is helping him overcome voters' disapproval of his handling of the coronavirus outbreak.

The poll also shows a close Senate race in Arizona, with Democratic nominee Mark Kelly at 49% to Republican Sen. Martha McSally's 48% among likely voters. Kelly has a five-point edge among registered voters, 50% 45%. There appear to be few crossover voters, with only 4% of likely voters who back Trump or Biden indicating they would flip to the opposite party in the Senate race.

Among the handful of battleground states, none is more important to the president than Florida, where a loss to Biden would cripple his chances of winning reelection and open up multiple avenues for the Democratic nominee to win an electoral college majority. Trump won the state by just over one percentage point in 2016, and both sides, and their allies, are throwing as many resources as possible into the competition there.

Democrats see Arizona, which has voted for a Democratic presidential nominee only once since 1952, as a prime target to convert. A Biden victory there could offset a possible loss in Wisconsin, as the two states' electoral votes are almost equal. Wisconsin and two other Rust Belt states, Michigan and Pennsylvania, flipped to Trump in 2016 despite usually siding with Democrats, and both campaigns have targeted those states this year.

In Florida and Arizona, the Latino vote will play a significant role in determining the winner, although the makeup of that vote is more varied in Florida than in Arizona.

In Florida, the Latino vote splits 52% for Biden and 39% for Trump, among registered voters, an advantage that doesn't reach statistical significance because of a small sample size. Biden has struggled among some Latino voters, and his campaign has put renewed emphasis on reaching them. In 2016, Hillary Clinton carried Florida's Latino vote by 62% to 35%.

In Arizona, Biden leads Trump among Latinos by 61% to 34% among registered voters. Four years ago, Clinton carried the Latino vote there by 61% to 31%, according to network exit polls.

The number of Latino likely voters in the two polls is not big enough to break out a separate, statistically reliable finding on the competition between Trump and Biden.

Among White voters, Trump's candidacy is receiving a boost from those without college degrees. He leads Biden by 30 points (64% to 34%) among these voters in Florida and by 28 points (62% to 34%) in Arizona. A narrowing of that advantage in Rust Belt states has helped Biden.

White college graduates hold differing views in the two state polls, favoring Biden by a 15-point margin in Arizona (57% to Trump's 42%), while in Florida, Trump holds a 10-point edge among White college graduates.

Older voters make up another crucial constituency in both states. In Florida, Trump has a slight advantage over Biden (52% to 44%) among likely voters 65 and older, but that is not as large as his 17-point margin against Clinton in 2016. Meanwhile, in Arizona, Trump edges Biden 54% to 44% among seniors, about the same as his margin over Clinton in the state.

As in many polls, more Trump supporters than Biden supporters express enthusiasm for their vote. About 2 in 3 Trump supporters in both states say they are "very enthusiastic" about their backing of the president. That compares with 59% of Biden supporters in Florida and 45% of his supporters in Arizona who express that same kind of enthusiasm in their vote for Biden.

The president's overall approval rating is identical in both states, with 47% of registered voters saying they approve of the job he is doing and 51% disapproving. Intensity runs against Trump, with 45% of Florida voters strongly disapproving of him while 35% strongly approve, with a similar pattern in Arizona.

On the economy, however, his numbers are net positive: 57% approving to 42% disapproving in Arizona; 54% approving and 44% disapproving in Florida. Trump's positive numbers contrast to the assessment of the national economy by Florida and Arizona voters, where majorities say the economy is either "not so good" or "poor."

The president's campaign had begun to pivot toward an economic message in recent weeks before the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Friday put the high court into the middle of the campaign debate. These polls were already in the field when Justice Ginsburg died.

The economy ranks as the single most important issue for voters in Arizona and Florida, with the coronavirus second. Closely ranked behind those two in both places are crime and safety, equal treatment of racial groups and health care. Voters most concerned about the economy overwhelmingly support Trump, while those who cite the coronavirus as the single most important issue overwhelmingly back Biden.

Concerning which candidate could better handle specific issues, Trump has an advantage on the economy, leading Biden by 11 points in Florida (52% to 41%) and 15 points in Arizona (56% to 41%). Biden's strongest issue is which candidate would better handle "equal treatment of racial groups," leading Trump by 11 points in Florida and by nine points in Arizona.

On the topic of whether they support or oppose recent protests against police treatment of Black people, 51% of Florida voters and 52% of Arizona voters say they support them.

Majorities of registered voters in both states (57%) say they are either "very" or "somewhat worried" that they or someone in their family might contract the coronavirus,with 7% in each state saying a family member has caught the virus. Asked to evaluate Trump's handling of the coronavirus pandemic, 54% of Arizona voters and 52% of Florida voters say they disapprove.

Voters in these states are more divided on which candidate would better handle the coronavirus outbreak in the future, with Biden ahead, 48% to 43%, in Florida and also ahead, 49% to 45%, in Arizona,although neither margin is statistically significant. Biden also has narrow edges in both states on health care and "discouraging violence at political protests," while Trump has a slight edge on "crime and safety" in both states.

An identical majority of Trump's supporters in each state (56%) say the economy is the single most important issue, and about a quarter name crime and safety. About a third of Biden supporters in each state cite the coronavirus as the most important issue in their vote, and about a quarter name equal treatment of racial groups.

Trump is narrowly judged the stronger leader in both states. Biden is seen as more honest and trustworthy and as better understanding the problems "of people like you," but by small margins.

A majority of Florida and Arizona voters (56% and 64%, respectively) say they plan to cast their votes before Election Day. Nearly 4 in 10 Florida voters and 1 in 3 Arizona voters say they will vote on Election Day. In the 2016 general election, more than 6 in 10 voters in both states voted early.

In Florida, 29% say they will vote by mail, 20% say they plan to vote early at a polling location and 7% say they will drop off their ballot at a designated location.

In Arizona, 49% say they will use the mail to vote, and 11% say they will drop a ballot off at a drop box. Just 3% say they will vote early in person.

These Washington Post-ABC News polls were conducted by telephone Sept. 15-20, 2020, among a random sample of 765 registered voters in Florida, including 613 likely voters, and a random sample of 701 registered voters in Arizona, including 579 likely voters. Roughly 8 in 10 respondents in both states were reached on cellphones, with the remainder reached on landlines. The margin of sampling error for results among registered voters is plus or minus four percentage points in Florida and 4.5 points in Arizona. Among likely voters, the error margin is 4.5 points in both states.

- - -

The Washington Post's Alauna Safarpour contributed to this report.
Post-Stabilisation Announcement

23.09.2020

Not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States or any jurisdiction in which such distribution would be unlawful.

Berlin Hyp AG / ISIN: DE000BHY0GX9



Stabilisation Notice

Further to the pre-stabilisation period announcement dated August, 25th 2020, Landesbank Baden-Wurttemberg (contact: Oliver Franke; telephone: +49 711 127 28338) hereby gives notice that no stabilisation (within the meaning of Art. 3.2 (d) of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU/596/2014) or the rules of the Financial Conduct Authority) was undertaken by the Stabilising Manager(s) named below in relation to the offer of the following securities.

Issuer: Berlin Hyp AG (A+ by Fitch, Aa2 by Moodys) Guarantor (if any): N/A Aggregate nominal amount:  500.000.000 Description: 0,01 per cent due September 2030, Green Mortgage Covered Bond (the "Notes"), Regulated Market of the Berlin Stock Exchange, Luxembourg Stock Exchange Stabilisation Manager(s) Credit Agricole CIB, DZ Bank, HSBC, JP Morgan, Landesbank Baden-Wurttemberg Offer price: 101.329%

This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute an invitation or offer to underwrite, subscribe for or otherwise acquire or dispose of any securities of the Issuer in any jurisdiction.

This announcement is not an offer of securities for sale into the United States. The securities referred to above have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration. There has not been and will not be a public offer of the securities in the United States.
Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles speaks to the media during a press conference in Brisbane, Australia, on June 30, 2020. (AAP Image/Glenn Hunt)

Army Used in Political Attack Says Queensland Minister

Queenslands health minister has accused the federal government of using the army in a political attack on the state government after it was announced that Australian Defence Force (ADF) support at the border checkpoints would wind up from Oct. 1.

Steven Miles, Queenslands health minister, said the withdrawal of Defence support was disappointing and would make the job of police even harder.

Theres no secret I think that the prime minister doesnt like our strong border protections, but they have kept Queenslanders safe, he told reporters on Sept. 23.

I really dont think the Defence force should be used as a bargaining chip in what is an ongoing political attack from the federal government on the state government. Our policies have worked, and they should back off, he went on to say.

Minister for Health Greg Hunt addresses a press conference in the Main Committee Room at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia on April 8, 2020. (Sam Mooy/Getty Images)

Greg Hunt, the federal health minister, says the armed forces will continue to assist in other ways around the country, including with contact tracing and hotel quarantiningthe latter a decision that was welcomed by Miles.

This was a time-limited approach, and as Queensland begins to lift its border restrictions I think thats great news for New South Wales, its great news for Queensland, its great news for Australia, Hunt told Nines Today program.

Hunt denied the decision was payback against the states Labor government designed to coincide with a predicted surge in cross-border traffic expected now that Queenslands border bubble will be extended 100km into New South Walesopening the border to over 150,000 more people.

No, this was the agreement that was reached in August, and well continue to provide the support, Hunt responded.

Where states and territories have needed support, we have provided that support and our defence force has worked incredibly well.

A Queensland police officer moves a stop sign at a vehicle checkpoint on the Pacific Highway on the Queensland  New South Wales border, in Brisbane on April 15, 2020. (Patrick Hamilton/AFP via Getty Images)

A Defence spokesperson told The Epoch Times that it agreed on Aug. 7 to provide support at Queenslands border checkpoints until Sept. 30 and will now prioritise supporting mandatory quarantine efforts while also preparing for the high-risk weather season.

With processes along borders well-established for a number of months, Queensland authorities were advised on 11 September they will need to transition ADF support on borders to alternative arrangements when the current agreement with Defence expires on 30 September, the spokesperson said.

Commander of the Defence COVID-19 Taskforce Lieutenant General John Frewen also briefed National Cabinet on current ADF COVID-19 support to the states and territories and the need for Defence to begin prioritising preparations for the high-risk weather season.

Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers said police officers would need to be hauled in to fill the positions.

The federal government and the military have given us the reason that they are so short-staffed and under-resourced that they arent able to assist any longer, Leavers told the Courier-Mail.

What good is having the military and the ADF when they dont seem to be able to do two things at once? It all sounds really bizarre from the federal government.

The state health minister echoed this, saying: It will mean extra work for our police. It will mean more shifts, more overtime, more police allocated to that task.

More than 300 soldiers will continue to oversee quarantine hotels in Queensland.
A new study estimates that more than a third of Kiwi toddlers and a fifth of preschoolers are not getting the recommended amount of sleep.

The Massey University research examined parent-reported sleep patterns for pre-school children in the Growing Up in New Zealand study to gather information about sleep duration and quality.

The research, funded through the Ministry of Social Developments Children and Families Research Fund and carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, was used to estimate how many pre-school children are meeting Ministry of Health sleep guidelines.

Principal Investigator Leigh Signal, says poor sleep health is a major issue and modelling shows that a significant proportion of toddlers and pre-schoolers may not be getting enough sleep.

Sleep is vital for childrens healthy growth and development. If children are not getting enough sleep it can have implications for their health, including impacts on immune response, body mass, emotional regulation and learning.

Until this point, weve had limited data on how long New Zealand toddlers and pre-schoolers are sleeping and what factors may be impacting their sleep, so this is a really important study.

The research compared childrens sleep duration with the Ministry of Health guidelines for pre-school sleep which are based on the United States National Sleep Foundation guidelines.

These state that toddlers should get between 11 to 14 hours sleep per day, while pre-schoolers should get between 10 to 13 hours sleep per day.

The study found that in the Growing Up in New Zealand cohort:

At 24-months: 17 per cent of children did not meet the sleep guidelines, with nearly 12 per cent not getting enough sleep and just over 5 per cent getting too much sleep. Girls; Maori, Pacific and Asian children; those living in more deprived areas; and those living in areas with heavy traffic were all more likely to experience shorter sleep durations and more night waking.

At 45-months: 9 per cent of children did not meet the sleep guidelines, with just over 6 per cent getting too little sleep and around 3 per cent getting too much sleep. Girls; Maori, Pacific and Asian children; and children who spent more time on visual media were more likely to experience shorter sleep and wake at night.



Researcher and lead author, Dr Dee Muller, says when this information is statistically modeled for the New Zealand population as a whole it shows that a third of toddlers and a fifth of pre-schoolers may not be getting the recommended amount of sleep.

study clearly shows that certain children are at risk of sub-optimal sleep durations and more disturbed sleep. It highlights the importance for all families to have access to relevant sleep information, advice and support, as well as sufficient financial and material resources.

She says there was a clear impact on sleep for children living in material hardship or in more deprived areas.

This may be due to less sleep-conducive environments such as household crowding, or bedrooms that are too cold, noisy or light. These are factors that can be addressed as part of a holistic approach to improving overall living conditions for children in New Zealand.

Dee says urban environments were also identified as being less conducive to sleep for many children. She says this is likely to be because there is more noise, light and heavy traffic.

The research also found an association between poor quality sleep and the use of visual media, such as television, computers and tablets for older pre-schoolers.

Greater use of visual media was associated with more night wakings which suggests that visual media may not only reduce the opportunity for sleep but may also disrupt sleep quality, perhaps due to the content viewed.

The research shows that the sleep health of young children in New Zealand is an important issue that needs to be addressed, says Dee.

We need to continue research in this area to better understand the barriers that are preventing our youngest children getting sufficient, good quality sleep.

She says further areas to explore include examining different sleep patterns between girls and boys and between ethnicities, as well as the factors which influence sleep in childhood.

It is vital that we tackle the root societal causes for why some groups of children in New Zealand are unfairly disadvantaged when it comes to sleep health.

The Growing Up in New Zealand study presents a valuable opportunity to explore the duration and nature of sleep throughout childhood and the long-term implications this may have for health and wellbeing, says Dee.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 23)  Former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales on Wednesday criticized her successor's recent decision to restrict access to government officials' statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth or SALNs, stressing its importance as an evidence against erring public servants.

"Testimonial evidence is not the only evidence to build up a case," Morales said in a statement, noting that documents like SALNs and bank records, as well as physical and circumstantial evidence can be used in investigations.

Morales was reacting to Ombudsman Samuel Martires' statement Tuesday before a House panel that SALNs were being "weaponized" and used against enemies in politics. He also revealed that he has stopped the conduct of lifestyle checks since assuming office, claiming that a government official with "distorted values or priorities" and lives beyond his means cannot immediately be accused of committing a corrupt act.

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.

Morales also stressed that abolishing the Office of the Ombudsman will "only open floodgates to corruption," after Martires noted that they have not been making significant progress in certain investigations, with witnesses refusing to come forward and offer evidence.

"To abolish the office will open the floodgates to the commission of more corrupt activities. Allegedly, the policy is to dismiss complaints," Morales said.

The Office of the Ombudsman is mandated to check on public officials accused of crimes, especially graft and corruption.

In June, Martires has issued Office Circular 13 directing graft investigation and prosecution officers and assistant special prosecutors to review their cases before the lower courts and the Sandiganbayan and determine which can be recommended for withdrawal if the case cannot successfully proceed to trial due to lack of evidence, the witnesses can no longer be located, the accused has already been administratively penalized, or when the prosecution's evidence does not strongly support its position.

During Tuesday's House hearing, Martires reasoned that there were questionable and "illogical" provisions under Republic Act 6713, also known as the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, which requires public officials and employees to file a SALN.

Senator Leila de Lima on Wednesday called Martires' recent pronouncements as "the very antithesis of the Office of the Ombudsman."

In a radio interview, Senator Franklin Drilon urged Martires to submit his proposed amendments to the law "to strengthen the principle of transparency."

On the other hand, Malacanang expressed support for Martires' directive.

"We respect the decision of the Ombudsman," Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque told CNN Philippines' The Source. " I think what he considers as more important would be the enforcement of the anti-money laundering law, because that's really the best way to determine if one's income as a government employee can justify his assets that are hidden."

CNN Philippines Senior Correspondent AC Nicholls contributed to this report.
Phuket Immigration assures all visa extensions at least 30 days

PHUKET: Phuket Immigration Deputy Chief Lt Col Udom Thongchin has assured that foreigners who have successfully applied for extensions to their permits-to-stay will be granted at least 30 days stay starting from this Sunday (Sept 27).



By The Phuket News

Wednesday 23 September 2020, 08:01PM

A woman at the Phuket Immigration Office in Phuket Town picks up an application form to extend her stay in Thailand on Monday (Sept 21). Photo: Tanyaluk Sakoot

The confirmation came today after a reader of The Phuket News confirmed that on having an application successfully accepted by Phuket Immigration on Monday (Sept 21), the immigration officer stamped an extension to stay until only Oct 5  an extension of only 15 days.

Under the current visa amnesty, which is set to expire this Saturday (Sept 26), the Immigration Bureau in Bangkok has announced "No matter when you came to extend your visa, the permission date of all visa types will start counting from September 27, 2020.

Lt Col Udom today repeated that this does apply to extensions being granted through Phuket Immigration  regardless of the date stamped in the passport.

The stamp in the passport is to indicate when the foreigner is to return to the Phuket Immigration Office in order to have the 30-day extension approved, Lt Col Udom told The Phuket News today.

All applications that have been successfully accepted will be granted an extra 30 days stay, and the extension will start from Sept 27, he said.

Lt Col Udom said that Phuket Immigration is not empowered to issue any extensions to permits-to-stay at this time. Instead, applications must be forwarded to the Immigration Bureau regional headquarters in Hat Yai, Songkhla province.

This is due to clear instructions we have received from Bangkok, he said.

We have no choice in the matter, he added.

Lt Col Udom also confirmed that any visa extensions granted during the visa amnesty would come into effect from Sunday (Sept 27), in line with the announcement made by the Immigration Bureau headquarters in Bangkok.

"No matter when you came to extend your visa, the permission date of all visa types will start counting from September 27, 2020, he said, repeating the announcement from Bangkok.

Lt Col Udom also confirmed that the visa extensions coming into effect on Sept 27 did apply to all visa types.

This includes all one-year extensions for non-immigrant visas issued during the amnesty for visas such as a Business visa, Education visa, Non-imm O visa and Retirement visa, he said.

However, Lt Col Udom expressed his concerns about this policy decision. I am seriously concerned that come Sept 27 next year, all the one-year permits to stay will expire on the same date, and possibly cause another big rush on applications from foreigners to extend their one-year permits to stay all at the same time, he said.

Likewise, he has similar concerns about all 30-day extensions granted coming into effect on Sunday, meaning that all 30-day extensions granted will also all expire on the same day 30 days later  Oct 27.

However, any foreigners whose permits-to-stay remain expired from Sunday onwards will incur the standard penalties of B500 a day fine. Also, any foreigners caught overstaying in the country by more than 90 days may face being blacklisted.

Pol Col Pakpong Sai-ubol, deputy spokesman of the Immigration Bureau, has also warned that offenders would also be deported to their countries of origin.

The main Phuket Immigration Office in Phuket Town has this week been overwhelmed with foreigners applying to extend their stays in Thailand.

Lt Col Udom noted on Monday that the Phuket Immigration Office is currently processing some 190 applications a day.

In order to help cope with the workload, Phuket Immirgation officers are starting work early, he said.

Also, the Phuket Immigration Office in Phuket Town will be open all day Saturday (Sept 26) in order to process any last-minute applications, he added.

"If anyone has a problem in applying for an extension, or understanding the process of them being issued an extension to stay, please come to the Phuket Immigration Office so we can explain," he said

Phuket Immigration Deputy Chief Col Nareuwat Putthawiro last week confirmed that any foreigners staying on tourist visas will be granted 30 days extension, but they must present a letter from their home countrys embassy supporting their application.

Immigration Bureau Deputy Commander Maj Gen Pornchai Khuntee also confirmed at a press conference in Bangkok early this month that such tourists still staying in the country will be able to apply for repeated extensions to stay, without any limit on the number of extensions granted.
The Director of Election of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Evans Nimako says the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has been making baseless allegations about the voters register which is currently being exhibited by the Electoral Commission (EC).

To him, the NDC from day one made it clear they were against the compilation of a new voters register and so they [NDC] are not expected to change from that position.



Reacting to allegations by the NDC that there were many reports of voter register challenges in the ongoing voter register exhibition which has culminated in its flagbearer, Mr John Dramani Mahama to cut short his tour of the Bono Region to pay attention to the reports, Mr Nimako said, I think the major issue is that he [Mahama] has run out of resources and he is lacking message to convince the good people in that region.



Mr Nimako who was reacting in a radio interview on Accra based Citi FM monitored by Graphic Online on Tuesday evening [September 22, 2020] said, the NDC can go ahead with their continuous allegations, for me, they are baseless, they have no merit and we shouldnt give it that attention."



He said the NDC prior to the compilation of a new voters register had a position against the exercise, they never supported it, so we are aware that their position will not change.



Response to allegations of omissions



He explained that the EC was exhibiting the register in line with the law so that if there were errors such as omissions and mistakes they can be corrected.



He said for the NPP, it was going according to the dictates of the law and has tasked its membership to go out in their numbers and check their names in the exhibited register and the law allows that corrections can be made to details of a voter and where your name is not found, you can cause it to be inserted unto the electoral roll and so for us this process is ongoing and we are monitoring it as such.



We know that for this process, registered voters are supposed to visit registration centres and crosscheck their details. Where there are problems, they can cause the changes to be corrected and whatsoever, and we know that the law must apply.



Responding to allegations by the opposition NDC that it has many reports indicating that huge figures of names are missing from the register, Mr Nimako said the NPP has not received any such information of huge omissions: So far our [NPP] agents have not reported to us any such incident.



As we speak, from Agotime Ziope, which has a total of 69 polling stations, with 29,078 registered voters, we have a total of 44 names on the multiple list and a total of 116 on the exception list. Weve asked our agents in all the centres to furnish us with details of the contents in all the register and so we are monitoring the whole process, he said.



Weve heard the NDC making the usual allegation, and that they are entitled to, but for us as New Patriotic Party, it is the C.I. 91, C.I. 127 and the 1992 Constitution that is what we are applying to monitor this process.



I only heard the Ashaiman Parliamentary candidate [for NDC - Ernest Norgbey] and Member of Parliament complain that his name was missing from the register and what is expected is that, youd have filled an inclusion form and the correction will be effected but I also read the response of the Electoral Commission that, that was never the case and so I think that at this stage, it is the corrections and inclusions and exclusions that has to be made.



He said some people were challenged during the registration exercise, people made triple and double registrations and that has been reported and these things were put on the exception list, and if it is agreed, we will go back to the registration centre or now the exhibition centre, and cause what has to be done as the law stipulate and so I have heard Mr Mahama saying he is cutting short his campaign tour to come back to Accra.



The NDC can go ahead with their continuous allegations, for me they are baseless, they have no merit and we should give it that attention, Mr Nimako insisted.



Announcing why he was cutting short his campaign tour in the Bono Region on Tuesday [September 22, 2020], former President John Dramani Mahama said the opposition National Democratic Congress was not comfortable with the processes leading to Election 2020.



"As things are going, we are not comfortable with the process leading to the election and we call on international community to take an interest in what is happening in Ghana."



"We want electoral observers to come long in advance, international election observers must be deployed long in advance to supervise the electoral process going into the election," he said.



Mr Mahama said he was cutting short his campaign tour of the area and to return to Accra to pay attention to reports of voter register challenges in the ongoing voter register exhibition.



The former President who is seeking re-election explained that the move was 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."



Mr Mahama said the Electoral Commissions ongoing voter register 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 December 7, 2020 elections.



He said 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 [NDC] 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.

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
As public health officials raise alarms about surging coronavirus cases among young people, new research suggests that Americans under 25 are most likely to believe virus-related misinformation about the severity of the disease and how it originated.

In a survey of 21,196 people in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, researchers identified a clear generational divide. Respondents 18 to 24 had an 18 percent probability of believing a false claim, compared with 9 percent for those over 65, according to the study, conducted by researchers from Harvard University, Rutgers University, Northeastern University and Northwestern University.
India's coronavirus case count on Wednesday surged to 56,46,010 with 83,347 more testing positive since 8 am on Tuesday while the toll climbed to 90,020 with 1,085 more fatalities, according to the Union health ministry

As India's coronavirus case count crossed 56 lakh on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that only 60 high caseload districts across seven states were a cause of concern.

The prime minister made the remarks during a virtual meeting with the chief minister and representatives of seven worst-affected states, which was also attended by Union Health Minister Harsh Vardha and Home Minister Amit Shah.

MoS Railways Suresh Angadi dies of COVID-19

Minister of State for Railways and Karnataka BJP MP Suresh Angadi passed away at the AIIMS Trauma Centre in Delhi, days after he tested positive for COVID-19.

A fourth-term MP from Belagavi, Angadi is the first Union minister to have died of coronavirus. At least six MLAs and three MPs have earlier succumbed to it. Former President Pranab Mukherjee, who died on 31 August, was also diagnosed COVID-19 positive.

Angadi had on 11 September announced on the microblogging site Twitter that he had tested positive for the disease. The MP had requested all those who came in close contact with him over the last few days to monitor their health and get tested in case of any symptoms.

Condolences poured in from political leaders, including from Modi, who remembered Anagadi as an" exceptional Karyakarta, dedicated MP and an effective minister".

Shri Suresh Angadi was an exceptional Karyakarta, who worked hard to make the Party strong in Karnataka. He was a dedicated MP and effective Minister, admired across the spectrum. His demise is saddening. My thoughts are with his family and friends in this sad hour. Om Shanti. pic.twitter.com/2QDHQe0Pmj  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 23, 2020

India reports 83,347 new cases, 1,085 deaths in 24 hrs

India's coronavirus case count on Wednesday surged to 56,46,010 with 83,347 more testing positive since 8 am on Tuesday while the toll climbed to 90,020 with 1,085 more fatalities, according to the Union health ministry. The COVID-19 casefatality rate dropped to 1.59 percent.

The ministry's data also showed that the national recovery rate stood at 81.25 percent, with 89,746 more recuperating from the viral infection.

The total number of recoveries in the country has reached 45,87,613 and there are now 9,68,377active cases, comprising 17.15 percent of the total caseload, the data showed.

An official statement of 22 September said that more than 63 percent of the active cases in the country were concentrated in seven states  Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Punjab. These states also accounted for 65.5 percent of the total confirmed cases and 77 percent of the total COVID-19 fatalities, the statement had said.

Focus on micro-containment zones, PM tells states

During a review meeting attended by the chief ministers and health ministers of these seven states, the prime minister suggested that micro-containment zones were the way forward, as this strategy would help not only in curbing infections but also enable states to carry on normal activities.

Modi stressed that the nationwide lockdown had been very beneficial and asked the states to proceed full steam with the opening up of economic activities.

The prime minister asked the states to seriously reconsider the strategy of imposing lockdown for a day or two, asking if this is what created difficulties in the resumption of economic activities.

Several states, including West Bengal and Punjab, have from time to time imposed localised lockdowns of varying duration to contain the spread of the infection.

The prime minister told states to further enhance their focus on effective testing, tracing, treatment, and surveillance. Pitching for the need for effective messaging, Modi said that most COVID-19 patients did not show any symptoms and this caused people to wonder if testing was wrong. Clear messaging is also necessary as some people even underestimate the seriousness of the disease.

Modi also suggested to the chief ministers to draft a one-week programme to interact directly with officials in a few blocks of the 60 districts worst affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

The Centre told Karnataka to concentrate more on nine districts where the most number of COVID-19 deaths have been recorded, even as the state said an increase in the number of tests was helping it to bring down positivity and case fatality rates steadily.

A statement by the Karnataka Chief Minister's Office said the Centre stated that Karnataka has been conducting tests in a scientific way, and asked it to increase surveillance and RT-PCR tests threefold.

Amid apprehensions over shortage of medical oxygen due to rising cases, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh urged the prime minister to direct for urgent steps to be taken to ensure an adequate supply of medical oxygen from other states.

The chief minister also sought Rs 200 crore that the state government had requested as the next tranche of the central aid in the fight against the disease.

Modi expressed confidence that Punjab will be able to reduce the positivity rate to less than 5 per cent and bring down the coronavirus fatality rate, a statement said.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said he was confident that the recently launched "My family, My responsibility" campaign would strengthen the fight against COVID-19 in the state which has recorded more than 12 lakh cases so far.

Thackeray told the prime minister his government was in the process of setting up tele-ICU system and post COVID care centres in rural areas of Maharashtra.

Modi suggested appointing dedicated teams for 20 districts which have a high prevalence of COVID-19, a statement released by the CMO said. "If the virus spread is controlled in these 20 districts, the national figure would see an impact," the statement quoted Modi as saying.

The prime minister also stressed on the importance of wearing masks and said that it has to be ensured that medicines move unhindered from one state to another.

CSIR to collaborate with Mylan

In another development, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) said it will collaborate with Mylan Laboratories Limited to identify potential therapies for COVID-19.

A series of clinical trials will be conducted towards new and innovative solutions to manage the COVID-19 pandemic in India as part of this collaboration.

The first of the clinical trials to be rolled out is a multiple-arm phase 3 study that will be conducted in adult patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 at risk of complications, it said.

The application for clinical trials has been submitted to the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for regulatory approval.

Bharat Bitotech signs deal with Washington University

Bharat Biotech inked a licensing agreement with Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, US for a novel "chimp-adenovirus", single-dose intranasal vaccine for COVID-19.

According to a press release issued by the Hydeabad-based vaccine maker, Bharat Biotech owns the rights to distribute the vaccine in all markets except the US, Japan and Europe.

While the Phase I trial will take place in St Louis University's Vaccine and Treatment Evaluation Unit, Bharat Biotech, upon obtaining the required regulatory approval, will pursue further stages of clinical trials in India and undertake large scale manufacture of the vaccine at its GMP facility in Genome Valley, it said.

The company envisions to scale up this vaccine to one billion doses, translating to an equal number of individuals vaccinated under a single dose regimen.

An intranasal vaccine will not only be simple to administer but will also reduce the use of medical consumables such as needles, syringes, etc., thus significantly impacting the overall cost of a vaccination drive, it said.

With inputs from PTI
While platforms like WhatsApp offer a richer and more immersive experience, SMS will remain an important technology in South Africa for years to come.

This is according to Clickatell Chief Product and Technology Officer Jeppe Dorff.

As companies mature the way they interact with their customers, there will continue to be a need to provide time-sensitive information to customers, explained Dorff.

Not only is SMS a highly reliable and high-quality channel that is global in reach, it provides a perfect customer engagement channel for the billions of people around the world that do not have easy or cost-effective access to mobile data.

Dorff explained that SMS makes it easy to send messages across national borders without users needing the same app or anything other than a functional, SMS-enabled mobile phone.

For this reason, SMS is experiencing a renaissance and Dorff said growth rates remain high globally.

Therefore, the business model is still attractive to mobile networks and offers a great opportunity for them to bundle and continue to provide seamless interoperability between mobile operators around the globe and their collective customers, said Dorff.

RCS will not kill SMS  Mobile networks

While Rich Communications Service (RCS) has replaced Short Message Service (SMS) in countries like the United States, South African mobile networks told MyBroadband that they do not see the same happening in South Africa any time soon.

Telkom said that while fewer people are sending SMSes to each other, businesses and organisations are sending more SMSes than ever before.

The SMS life-cycle has been stretched due to increased demand from the banking sector and OTT vendors, which are largely in favour of using SMS as a default channel for two-Factor authentication; alerts and reminders, said Telkom.

Vodacom believes that there is a place in the South African market for both offerings to exist.

Vodacom has operated an RCS enabled service for a few years already and will continue to support its evolution into a Universal Profile as more device manufacturers come on board, said Vodacom.

There is still a significant number of customers that are on feature phones and those who are not using Android smartphone devices, added Cell C.

It, therefore, believes that the biggest barrier to RCS locally is the availability of smartphones.

There is also the issue of cross-network adoption, as customers prefer services they can use across all networks, it said.

The benefits of messaging in business

While SMS is still going strong, messaging platforms like WhatsApp also offer a variety of benefits for most users.

New technologies like WhatsApp and others provide a richer and more immersive experience for end customers, whether it is adding imagery, files, or voice notes to the channels, Dorff explained.

As part of the customer engagement lifecycle, delivery of those capabilities are increasingly important on these ideal customer engagement channels for customers.

Dorff said that the way new channels and messaging is evolving means that businesses can create deeper relationships with their customers.

This extends across providing in-depth product information, issue resolution, and upgrading or buying products.

That whole lifecycle can be facilitated on messaging platforms, and Clickatell has seen a surge in interest from businesses wanting to create a better, more cost-effective, and closer relationship with their customers, said Dorff.
Twenty people have been sentenced to between two and 24 years in prison for roles in the 2018 bombing of a police station in Ho Chi Minh City.

The Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Court announced the punishment for the defendants at the end of a two-day trial on Tuesday.

Nguyen Khanh, 59, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for terrorism against the peoples administration and another four years for illegally manufacturing, storing, and trading explosives.

The remaining 19 defendants received between two to 18 years behind bars for similar offenses.

After completing their jail terms, they will be required to undergo a probation period of three to five years.

According to the jury, an organization named Trieu Dai Viet (Viet Dynasty) was established by a man named Ngo Hung, who lives abroad.

Hung often colluded with other reactionaries in order to overthrow the Vietnamese government, sponsored terrorism, and enticed people to join the illegal activities.

In March 2018, Hung and other overseas suspects wired over VND140 million (US$6,000) to Khanh to buy gunpowder.

Others were tasked with making bombs and explosives for the groups terror activities.

At 9:00 am on June 20, 2018, the group members planted two bombs at the headquarters of the police unit in Ward 12, Tan Binh District and activated them with a remote detonator.

The blast injured two officers and caused more than VND380 million ($16,390) in damages.

The court stated that the defendants criminal acts posed danger to the society, destroyed many assets, and harmed the health and lives of officers and the people.

The judges found that this was an organized crime and the defendants had be sternly punished to prevent similar offenses and ensure safety for the society.

A defendant in the 2018 bombing of a police station in Ho Chi Minh City is escorted to the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Court on September 22, 2020. Photo: H.H. / Tuoi Tre

Aside from their prison terms, Khanh and two other accessories, Vu Hoang Nam and Duong Khac Minh, were also ordered to pay over VND349 million ($15,000) as compensation for the damage done at the police station and nearly VND15 million ($642) to the two victims.

At the trial, Khanh claimed he had followed Hungs directions just to earn money to put bread on the table for his family, and that he had no intention to go against the state.

Trieu Dai Viet also asked him and other suspects in Vietnam to recruit as many people as possible, Khanh continued.

To pocket more money, the man falsely reported to the organization that he had convinced 24 people to join them.

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Tropical storm Beta has caused severe flooding in Houston as it weakened into a tropical depression on September 22 bringing incessant rains, flooding streets, and forcing emergency workers to rescue dozens of people. The heavy rains submerged the roads, swamping cars, blocking highways, and forced to shut schools, offices, and energy shipping ports. The National Hurricane Center has predicted as much as 6 to 12 inches of rain in the middle and upper Texas coast, with some regions getting as much as 20 inches.

READ: US: Tropical Storm Beta Makes Landfall On Texas Coast

Tropical Depression #Beta remains a significant flood risk for portions of Texas and Louisiana today. The Tuesday 10 AM CDT Key Messages are below. The latest NHC advisory is at https://t.co/tW4KeFW0gB, and your local forecast is at https://t.co/SiZo8ohZMN pic.twitter.com/1ZpED1CriH  National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 22, 2020

NHC issues warning

The National Hurricane center has issued a warning saying that significant flash and urban flooding will continue for the middle and upper Texas coast today. It added that the slow-motion of Beta will continue to produce a long duration rainfall event from the middle Texas coast to southern Louisiana. It further added that flash, urban and minor to isolated moderate river flooding is likely to occur. The periods of rainfall will spread east into the Lower Mississippi Valley and portions of the south east through the end of the week.

READ: US: Tropical Storm Beta Floods Houston Streets

The weather department said that persistent onshore flow will continue to result in above normal high tides, and coastal flooding over the next few days will be slow to recede. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner was reported to have appealed the local residents to stay home and warned not to drive through the high waters. The highway cameras around the city are showing roads underwater, and several suburban school districts closed campuses. Houston has also asked all city employees not designated as essential workers to stay home. Beta is the third named storm in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico in less than a month, following Hurricanes Laura and Sally which has wreaked havoc.

READ: Tropical Storm Beta Forecast To Make Landfall Monday

Here are the Key Messages for Hurricane #Teddy for Tuesday late morning. The latest NHC advisory is at https://t.co/tW4KeFW0gB, and the latest Canadian information from @ECCC_CHC is at https://t.co/7OGkgVSNg3 pic.twitter.com/W8BxOwKVfX  National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 22, 2020

The forecasters are closely monitoring another tropical storm Teddy which is expected to transition to a powerful post tropical cyclone as it moves near the portions of Atlantic Canada late today through Thursday. The large swells produced by Teddy are expected to affect portions of Bermuda, the Leeward islands, the Greater Antilles, the Bahamas, the east coast of US and Atlantic Canada in the next few days. The swells are expected to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions, said NHC.

READ: Tropical Storm Beta Approaches Texas And Louisiana

Image: AP
James Madison Hwy. near Lee Hwy., 2:24 p.m. Sept. 10. A male driver got into an altercation with a 16-year-old female acquaintance. He struck her in the head while holding his cellphone. When the female attempted to exit the vehicle, the man grabbed her arm and held her inside. She was able to escape the vehicle, and the man fled.
The Quran has emerged as a hot debating point in Kerala. It was KT Jaleel, the minister who is in the dock for bypassing protocols while accepting food kits and religious texts from the United Arab Emirates Consulate in Kerala, who first resorted to using the Quran as a shield. Now, with the minister facing the heat to resign as an investigation is on to ascertain the presence of contraband in the consignment, the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) leaders have replicated the tactic in unison.

No less than Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has been at the vanguard of using the argument as he demanded to know why even the Indian Union Muslim League would want to attack Jaleel over the issue  a remark clearly laced with communal overtones. If anyone thought it was a slip of the tongue, Communist Party of India (Marxist) State Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnans article in party mouthpiece Deshabhimani, where he elaborated on the argument dubbing the protests by the Opposition as an anti-Quran agitation, proved it is a strategy.

The CPI(M) has often played the minority card in Kerala with success. It was only recently that Balakrishnan attacked Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala dubbing him a Sarsanghchalak in Congress. Apart from the minority angle, it was the CPI(M)s idea of changing the political discourse, with the CPI(M)-led Let Democratic Front (LDF) government increasingly coming under pressure in the aftermath of the gold-smuggling scam. However, that move boomeranged when it was revealed that Politburo member S Ramachandran Pillai was a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Shikshak in his youth before he joined the communist party.

With the synchronised move to dub protests against Jaleel as an affront to Quran and, by extension, against Muslims, the CPI(M) has once again invoked its time-tested strategy. What they seem to be not have realised is the effect such a short-sighted tactic would have on Keralas polity, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) bound to reap the dividend of any majority consolidation in response to it.

In fact, post the CPI(M)s mishandling of the Sabarimala verdict, the BJP has managed to engineer cracks even in the Lefts rock-solid constituency of Ezhavas. The Nairs have by and large made its preference for the BJP amply clear of late, as reflected in BJPs increasing vote shares in the last decade. To offset the loss of its Hindu vote base, the CPI(M) had been attempting to lure sections of the minority vote-bank of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF).

After initially being at the receiving end of a coalition of caste and communal forces that pulled down the first communist government in 1959, it was EMS Namboodiripad who took the initiative to form a seven-party rainbow coalition in the 1967 assembly election, and allocate Cabinet portfolios to the IUML, which was till then kept away from the power structure. In 1969, EMS also carved out the Muslim-majority Malappuram district to appease the IUML, despite opposition from widely-respected figures such as Kerala Gandhi K Kelappan against the move on account of its communal undertones.

Come 1987, however, the CPI(M) adopted the opposite strategy  consolidation of majority votes  after being out of power for nearly two decades, but for a brief interregnum. EMS cleverly couched it as a principle-based politics to give it an ideological spin, and it was preceded by the ouster of the partys rising star MV Raghavan, ostensibly for advocating alliances with the IUML and the Kerala Congress (a party that predominantly caters to the Christian community in central Kerala). It was also followed by the Shah Bano verdict and the Congress lame response to it, which rendered the atmosphere in favour of the Left for majority consolidation. Within five years the CPI(M) would do a volte-face.

In the 1990s and 2000s, a desperate CPI(M) entered into tactical electoral understandings with parties and leaders with extreme ideological moorings, including the Peoples Democratic Partys (PDPs) Abdul Nazar Mahdani. However, none of these previous dalliances have been as brazen or blatantly communal in its vocabulary as the present instance.

If the CPI(M) feels such a strategy could help them breach the IUML fortress of Malappuram, it would also conversely aid the rise of the BJP, whose cadre have been working tirelessly on the ground to woo voters despite the odds being stacked against them.

It is one thing to shield Jaleel but, to use the Quran as a shield in the face of serious allegations will only result in communalising the issue, and making the BJPs job easier in further polarising the electorate in Kerala.
M ichael Gove today warned of significant change and challenge when Brexit is finally completed in 100 days  including a risk of queues of 7,000 lorries stretching across Kent.

The nightmare prospect of two-day delays lasting for months through key ports such as Dover horrified freight firms and sparked fresh fears that some goods could run short in the New Year.

There are now just 100 days to go until the UK leaves the single market and the customs union, Mr Gove was expected to tell MPs.

This will be a moment of great opportunity  but also of significant change and challenge. Its vital that we all take the steps required to grasp those opportunities and meet and master those challenges.

Mr Gove, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, was setting out to Parliament this afternoon the reasonable worst case scenario in which drivers and firms would not be ready for new paperwork at the borders, causing severe blockages.

Michael Gove / AFP via Getty Images

Officials stressed it was not a prediction but an example of what could happen if businesses do not prepare for extra paperwork when Britain leaves the delay-free trading system governed by European Union rules.

Attempts to negotiate a trade deal that would reduce the risk of delays were continuing this week, despite the arguments over the Governments apparent threat to break international law if they collapse. In a potential olive branch, ministers may delay the final stages of the Internal Market Bill until after a summit with EU leaders on October 15 where a deal could be decided.

The EUs chief negotiator Michel Barnier is preparing to travel to London for further informal talks with his counterpart Lord Frost in an effort to reach an agreement, which has stalled due to disputes on state aid and fishing rights.

A leaked letter from Mr Gove, who is in charge of no-deal planning, revealed the potential scale of the delays when EU rules cease to apply from January 1. In the worst case, between 30 and 50 per cent of trucks would not have the correct paperwork, and a lack of capacity to hold unready trucks at French ports could choke the flow of traffic across the strait to 60 to 80 per cent of normal levels.

This could lead to maximum queues of 7,000 port-bound trucks in Kent and associated maximum delays of up to two days, the documents said.

Such delays could carry on for at least three months, hauliers were warned.

Freight sector leaders accused ministers of failing to do enough to ease concerns. The Road Haulage Association said its meeting with Mr Gove had fallen far short of our expectations. RHA chief executive Richard Burnett said: Weve been consistently warning the Government that there will be delays at ports but theyre just not engaging with industry on coming up with solutions.

Logistics UK, formerly the Freight Transport Association, was seething last week after being told the Governments Smart Freight system  designed to reduce the risk of cargo delays  would still be in testing mode in January.

A Government spokesman said: As a responsible Government we continue to make extensive preparations for a wide range of scenarios, including the reasonable worst case. Think tank UK in a Changing Europe said failure to reach a trade deal with the EU could hit Britains economy three times harder in the long term than Covid. Queues at the border, shortages of fresh food and medicine as well as hassle travelling to the continent are also possible.
Dian Yulia Novi, seen here in Jakarta on Dec. 11, 2016, is in an Indonesian prison following her conviction on charges linked to a failed suicide bombing.

Indonesia needs to add female prison case officers whose focus is helping inmates move away from militant groups as the number of women jailed has increased dramatically in the past few years, according to a new report by a conflict resolution think-tank.

Since 2018, Indonesian police have arrested more than two dozen female supporters of the militant group known as Islamic State (IS), according to a report released earlier this week by the Jakarta-based Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict (IPAC). Only four women had been imprisoned on terrorism charges in Indonesia before the declaration of IS in June 2014.

Indonesia has managed a rising number of women extremists in prison reasonably well, but the need for more women-specific protocols and more recognition of the work of female case officers (wali) is increasingly apparent, IPAC said.

As of this month, 39 women are awaiting trial or serving sentences for terrorism-related offenses in prisons and detention center nationwide, the report said. Of those inmates, 25 had been taken into custody since May 2018.

Indonesian authorities should ensure that wali are included in discussions of changes to prison procedures, have access to assessment reports of the prisoner in their charge and are encouraged to share experiences with each other and with the broader counter-extremism community, the report said. Those who succeed in helping inmates disengaged from violent groups should be given opportunities for promotion and pay raises.

Its the personal interactions with prison staff and fellow inmates, more than any specific programs that can be key to moderating behavior, IPAC analyst Dyah Kartika said in a statement accompanying the report.

Officials at the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) and the director general of corrections at the Law and Human Rights Ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the IPAC report.

In June, BNPT director Boy Rafli Amar said militant groups recruited women in an effort to elude authorities because they were seen as less of a threat.

Those involved are generally housewives and ordinary women, Boy said in an online discussion. They were exposed to radicalism because of propaganda, on social media and from their husbands.

Walis role

One woman in custody, Dian Yuliana Novi, a would-be suicide bomber, was sentenced to 7 years for a failed attempt outside the presidential palace in 2016.

Her walis initiative to help care for her infant son in prison and encourage other inmates to support her has been credited with moderating Dians radical views, according to IPAC. Indonesia allows female inmates to keep their infants until they turn 2 years old.

I said, if you do not follow the prison regulation, do not ask me for help! It was me who took care of her child and facilitated a video call with her family, the prison officer was quoted as saying.

Thats the trick. She is close to me and one other prison officer. She only trusts me. She always asks me for help, the officer said.

In another case, a wali at a prison in Lampung province on Sumatra Island helped the inmate in her charge, Nurhasanah, who as sentenced to six years in prison for her role in a failed July 2018 bomb attack on a police station in Indramayu regency in West Java. Nurhasanahs husband, Galuh, was shot and killed by police.

The officer discovered that Nurhasanah was a skilled seamstress, so she got her involved in the prison workplace where she sews COVID-19 masks. Nurhasanah sewed red and white masks  the color of Indonesias flag  to sell to visitors to mark the nations Independence Day on Aug. 17.

The officer also assisted Nurhasanah in making video calls to her parents.

The IPAC report said facilitating communication with families could prevent inmates from becoming dependent on extremist organizations.

In several of the cases described in this report, carefully supervised communication, especially with parents, was helpful in terms of moderating womens views, but contacts with radical spouses produced setbacks, it said.

IPAC said Indonesia could be faced with the need for many more female case officers, adding they were more important than religious training.

The role of the wali will also be critical if and when Indonesian women begin returning from camps in Syria  indeed, the absence of any effective rehabilitation programs prepared in Indonesia for the hundreds of Indonesian women and children held there has been one (of many) factors making Indonesian officials reluctant to consider bringing them back, it said.

The kindness shown by prison staff and interaction with parents (as long as they themselves are not extremist) are far more important in changing attitudes. Women extremist prisoners did not find the material provided by the Ministry of Religion of much value, nor did they have much interest in the occasional visits by religious teachers sent by the government.

The Indonesian women and children have been held in the Syrian camps following the defeat of IS militants in their last stronghold in that nation in March 2019.

Women in militant organizations

Analysts have said that women play important roles in militant organizations in the country.

In 2018, two families, including women and their children carried out a coordinated bomb attack on churches and police headquarters in Surabaya, the countrys second largest city, killing themselves and 15 bystanders.

Authorities blamed the attack on Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD), an Indonesian militant network affiliated with IS.

Philippine authorities, meanwhile, blamed an Indonesian couple for carrying out an attack in January 2019 on a church the town of Jolo, killing at least 23 people.
Kim Haas (right) with chef Selvin Brown in the Limon, Costa Rica, episode of "Afro-Latino Travels with Kim Haas," which is airing on PBS stations this month. It can be seen at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23, on NJTV 23. Read more

The global pandemic has put a crimp in many peoples travel plans, but for Kim Haas, who grew up in West Mount Airy, its also meant that her fledgling travel show so far has only two episodes.

Afro-Latino Travels with Kim Haas made its debut this month on a number of PBS stations nationally as a two-episode special that highlights the contributions of Black people to the culture and history of Costa Rica. At 8 p.m. Wednesday, PBSs NJTV 23 will air the second episode.

Set in Limon, a city on the Caribbean coast where Jamaican-born political activist and entrepreneur Marcus Garvey once lived, it explores, among other things, the role Black people played in the construction of the countrys railroad.

In August, we were supposed to shoot in Brazil  Salvador, which is considered the capital of Afro-Brazilian culture and were talking about filming as well in Rio de Janeiro, but Brazils been hit really hard by the virus, Haas said in a phone interview on Monday.

A former marketing director for Telemundos Philadelphia station who now runs her own communications firm in North Jersey, Haas is fluent in Italian as well as Spanish. The daughter of Rose and Spencer Lewis graduated from Philadelphia High School for Girls and majored in Spanish at the University of Pittsburgh, earning her masters in Spanish from La Salle University.

Studying in Spain during her junior year of college and learning about the Middle Passage, in which Africans were forcibly taken to the West Indies, ignited her interest in the role that enslaved people and their descendants played in the development of Latin America, she said.

Haas, who is Black, is not as far as I know of Latin descent herself, but shes eager to correct what she believes to be common misconceptions about the countries shell feature in the show. For instance, many people dont know that there are Black people in Costa Rica, she said. People think about Cuba and Brazil almost automatically as having very strong African roots. But countries like Costa Rica, and Mexico, and Uruguay ... [and] Peru have Black communities and always have.

She also decried what she said was a serious lack of representation of Afro-Latinos on Spanish-language television," adding, When you travel to Latin America, there are an awful lot of people who look like me. And their contributions are integral to the development of so many countries.

Haas is a fan of the late writer, chef, and travel-show host Anthony Bourdain. He went to places like the Congo. He went to Salvador [Brazil] ... so he featured Black people. And I really appreciated that about his show  that he didnt just do Europe, she said.

As a producer herself, shes also impressed by his shows' production values. I just would watch and like, wow, how did they do that? You know, really loving how they just put together a show, she said.

Starting a travel show from scratch, you just put one foot in front of the other, she said, noting that for PBS, producers have to come up with the funding.

Costa Ricas tourism board provided in-kind services  including travel and hotel  and a grant from the Ford Foundation helped fund postproduction costs, she said.

Where would Haas herself book a trip to first the minute theres a vaccine?

She paused. It would probably be a tie, she said, between Salvador de Bahia [Brazil] and Santiago de Cuba. Though shes been to Havana twice, shes never made it to Santiago, Cubas second-largest city. Its considered the capital of Afro-Cuban culture. And so rich in music.

Afro-Latino Travels with Kim Haas. 8 p.m. Wednesday, NJTV 23.
Ive been paying a lot more attention to the Fargo Forum these days. Thats what happens when you have a kid attending school at NDSU in a state that is the hottest hotspot for COVID-19 in the United States.

At any rate, my morning read landed on this story from todays Forum: Report says North Dakota ranks high in the nation for COVID-related conspiracy theories.

Great. As if things werent bad enough. Please adjust your tinfoil hat for the rest of tonights newsletter opening commentary.

According to a data analysis of keyword searches from MedicareAdvantage.com, the state just south of us ranks fifth in the land for buying into coronavirus conspiracy theories. Turns out, North Dakotas preferred explanation for the global pandemic is, wait for it, the "Bill Gates conspiracy theory."

For those of you whove been paying more attention to social distancing, hand washing and mask wearing, theres apparently a few too many who subscribe to the view that Microsoft Man either started the covonavirus or is using the pandemic to implant microchips into our bodies.

If only it was so simple.

Im not sure why suspicious minds choose to focus on imagined threats rather than the one in our midst that science has documented. Maybe its easier to blame Bill Gates or 5G towers or whatever other hokum is ricocheting around the web than to face the truth of this pandemic  and maybe don a mask.

But the facts as released today from the North Dakota Department of Health is that the state added 287 more positive tests to set a new high for active cases at 3,210. By comparison, Manitoba added just 22 new positive tests to push the provinces active case count to 363. Random thought: could anyone in the conspiracy theory camp please explain why Bill Gates favours Manitoba more than North Dakota?

At this point in the pandemic, what North Dakota  and all of us, for that matter  needs is less noise and nonsense. The virus is already spreading fast enough without viral disinformation campaigns making things much worse.

 Paul Samyn, Winnipeg Free Press editor

THE LATEST NUMBERS

Note: Manitoba and Canada figures may not match due to differences in data sources.

THE LATEST IN MANITOBA

 Manitoba has recorded two more deaths due to COVID-19, bringing the provincial total so far to 18. The two who succumbed to the virus are a man in his 80s from Southern Health and a woman in her 80s from Prairie Mountain Health. Public health officials reported 22 new cases of the novel coronavirus in the province on Monday, including 16 in Winnipeg health region. The current five-day test positivity rate is 1.8 per cent. There are 363 active cases of the virus in Manitoba.

THE LATEST ELSEWHERE

 The White House is urging U.S. governors to put politics aside and help the Trump administration promote future coronavirus vaccines as safe and effective. "What we dont want is people undermining confidence in the process," U.S. Vice-President Mike Pence said in a private call with governors, the audio of which was obtained by The Associated Press. U.S. President Trump has escalated his promise for a coronavirus vaccine before election day on Nov. 3. Democrats, independents and even some Republicans do not trust the administration to produce a safe and effective vaccine on such an aggressive timeline. The vice-president stressed that no corners would be cut in approving a vaccine and said his request for support was apolitical. "Im leaving the politics outside of the room here," Pence said.

 The World Health Organization and partners said countries comprising more than 60 per cent of the worlds population have signed up to its international initiative to buy coronavirus vaccines. Numerous countries that have signed their own bilateral deals with vaccine makers have declined to participate or to use the facility to secure their own vaccines, including China, France, Germany, Russia, and the United States. WHO is hoping that any vaccine used globally might be at least 70 per cent effective, but that a vaccine with 50 per cent efficacy would also be considered.

 Greek authorities have announced a new record high for daily confirmed COVID-19 infections, which hit 453 over the past 24 hours, many from a pre-existing outbreak at a camp for asylum-seekers on the eastern island of Lesbos. The new infections include 184 among migrants and refugees moved to a new camp on Lesbos after the overcrowded Moria facility that housed about 12,500 people was burnt down. Greek authorities say the fire was started by residents angry at a lockdown order after 35 COVID-19 cases were recorded at Moria.

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.

 Britains chief medical officers have raised the nations official COVID-19 alert level, meaning the virus is in general circulation and transmission is high. The chief medical officers of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland say cases are rising "rapidly and probably exponentially." They say they are acting on the advice of the Joint Biosecurity Center and raising the level from three to four, its highest level. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to announce further curbs to slow the spread of the virus on Tuesday.

 The Norwegian capital of Oslo on Monday banned crowds of more than 10 people in private homes after a spike in cases and "strongly urged" people to wear face masks when travelling on public transportations amid strike among bus drivers. "The situation in Oslo is serious. This development must be stopped, and we have to do it now," mayor Raymond Johansen said.

 French health authorities have started opening new testing centres in the Paris region to try to reduce queues and delays as the number of virus infections is steadily increasing in the country. In total, 20 new testing centres were scheduled to open in the French capital and its suburbs this week. In Paris on Monday, some testing centres were warning people results could take up to seven or ten days.

QUOTE, UNQUOTE

'The fastest route to ending the pandemic and accelerating the global economic response is to ensure some people are vaccinated in all countries, not that all people are vaccinated in some countries'

 WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus Tedros appeals for co-operation in efforts to produce a vaccine for COVID-19

LOCAL NEWS

NATIONAL NEWS

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

COVID-19 BASICS
Chinese virologist, Li-Meng Yan, has spoke up once again further re-affirming her claim that China had manufactured Covid-19 in a Wuhan lab.

Yan, Chinese virologist who has allegedly fled China, had publicly claimed that she has proof that the SARS-Covid-2 virus is in fact man-made in a Wuhan lab.

Now, in a recent interview with WION, she said that the Chinese government was aware of the spread of COVID-19 and the World Health Organization was very much part of the cover up.

The Wuhan wet market, which has been considered the starting point of the virus is is just a smokescreen from the Chinese Communist Party," said Yan.

RELATED NEWS Virologist Who Fled Hong Kong for US Claims China Covered up Coronavirus Spread: Report

She also claimed that the Chinese government is trying to tarnish her reputation through social media, and is conducting cyber-attacks on her to intimidate her family in China.

Yans Twitter account was also recently suspended. A message on her Twitter page now reads: Account suspended. Twitter suspends accounts which violate the Twitter Rules.

Earlier, in May, Twitter had started flagging her tweets with disputed claims on coronavirus.

Also Read: Twitter Suspends Account of Chinese Virologist Who Claimed Covid-19 Was Man-Made in Wuhan Labratory

Earlier, Yan had stated that while working at Hong Kongs School of Public Health, her supervisor first asked her to investigate a new SARS-like" virus in Wuhan on December 31 - but that her efforts were later stifled.

She said she reported back that cases appeared to be rising exponentially but was told to keep silent and be careful."

We will get in trouble and well be disappeared," is what was allegedly told to her.

She also said she has proof that the virus came from a virology lab in the city and not from the wet-food market.

Also Read: Chinese Virologist Claims She Has Proof the Covid-19 Virus Was Made in Wuhan Laboratory

The genome sequence is like a human fingerprint," she says in the video released on YouTube.

Based on this you can identify these things. I will [use this] evidence to tell people why this has come from the lab in China, why they are the ones who made it," she adds. Anyone, even if you have no biology knowledge, will be able to read it, and check and identify and verify it yourself."

She added that the Chinese authorities began to discredit her even before she fled the country. They deleted all my information and also they told people to spread rumours about me," she said.

The Chinese National Health Commission, World Health Organisation and University Of Hong Kong disputed her claims.
Starting college for the first time is an exciting and expensive time for everyone. This year, it's also going to be very strange. Gone is the fun of 'Freshers Week', giant lecture halls and close work/study groups. Instead, you might be "in college" from your bedroom.

While this certainly cuts down on some costs, there are others that remain high. Here are some tips to help you navigate the financials.

Susi

You may have received a college offer unexpectedly, or perhaps your family circumstances changed during Covid and there's no longer the money for you to take up your place, especially if it means living away from home.

The Students Universal Support Scheme (Susi) is still open for applicants. The early-bird deadline has passed, but they will take submissions for the next couple of months.

It provides valuable grants toward the Student Contribution (50pc or 100pc) and a Maintenance grant if you live more than 45km from your chosen college.

This is a monthly amount which is there to help with transport, accommodation and other things. While it won't cover all your costs, many students can find it's the difference between being able to take up their place, and not.

For the year that's in it, Susi says that while applications for the 2020/21 academic year will be assessed on the household's gross income from all sources for 2019, "If the applicant or any party to their application, e.g. a parent, experiences a negative change in income which is likely to last for the duration of the course or the foreseeable future, they can apply to be assessed under change of circumstances whereby the income reference period for the application will be 2020", which is good news.

So the message is: if you feel you need the financial help, don't delay. You're better off applying and being refused than wondering. The criteria are far more generous than, say, social welfare means tests, so the family income can be in the mid-50,000s and a student could still qualify for some grant aid.

Accommodation

The good news during 2020 - and there has been little enough of it - is that Covid-19 has had the consequence of flattening the rental market. With Airbnbs all but disappeared, many landlords have returned properties to the longer term market. Some hotels are even offering rack rates for students, including the Radisson, St Helen's, near UCD. That college has also lowered its own campus rates, alongside DCU, UCC and UL.

Student specific accommodation (SSA) housing does not have to abide by all of the Rent Tenancies Board rules.

As such, students who often get a bad rep as tenants, can be favoured by landlords, as they don't have to give them Part IV rights (the right to remain as a tenant for 5.5 years, once you are there six months).

Because they can release the lease at any stage, with less notice, they may prefer to let to a student as a result.

Rents averaging 1,735pm (Dublin) and 1,199 (Cork) in February were in negative year-on-year territory by June. The new Residential Tenancies and Valuation Act, which came into force on August 1, means evictions for rent arrears are re-commencing, following the Covid emergency measures which banned them. That will free up properties over the next few months.

When looking at accommodation, here's some budget advice:

 Ask if you can lease for nine academic months, rather than a full calendar year;

 Don't be afraid to haggle over the rent;

 Don't be hoodwinked into giving more than one month's deposit;

 'Key' money is illegal. You shouldn't have to pay more than a deposit to secure;

 Have your references, pay slips and bank statements lined up. Your landlord will want evidence you're a good bet;

 View properties with your parents, if possible. The landlord/agent will want to know there's a fall-back if you skip your rent.

Banking

By now, you probably have a bank account.

All retail banks offer free banking, with no account maintenance or transaction charges, to students. This typically means until someone is 23, but you may have to show you're still in full-time education.

It doesn't really matter where you have an account, however, setting up a savings or deposit account alongside it is vital.

This is free and allows you to put by money for your rent and other essentials so you don't spend it by, er, accident in the student bar.

If you're running direct debits off your account, banks charge a hefty fee if one is bounced or missed. Always make sure the correct amount is in your account to cover outgoings and know the dates they occur.

Many students like Revolut for its bill sharing options; it's instant and easy to move money around. While the account is 'free' (the card costs 6), this is only for cash withdrawals up to 200 per month. Over that you'll pay an expensive 2pc, so make sure you use it wisely.

Gadget/laptop insurance

Although prices have dropped significantly over the years, and you can get a really good tablet or notebook for under 500, you'll be out and about far more and there's an increased chance of it being damaged, lost or nicked.

Warranties from gadget shops are very expensive, with a raft of terms and conditions before you can make a claim.

Cost the premium out over three years, not just per month to see what you're really paying - it could be 40pc of the item's cost, which is crazy. Then compare separate gadget insurance (gadgetinsurance.com from 7.99pm) to see if it's any cheaper. It will be priced specifically by model.

Phone plans

Locking into a 12- or 24-month plan can be better value than Pay As You Go.

The 'youth' network from Three mobile under the '48' brand is offering, for 7.99pm 100gb data, calls, texts and 10gb roaming (if you ever get to use it again), for signups before November 10.

A nice feature is that customers can share, swap or donate some of their data each month.

GoMo won the Switcher.ie Best SIM-only mobile award for 2020 and has unlimited minutes, texts and data for 12.99 per month on a rolling 30-day contract.
Two weeks after the Indian Air Force (IAF) formally inducted five of the 36 Rafale jets ordered from France under a Rs 59,000-crore deal, the countrys top auditor on Wednesday said that the planes maker Dassault Aviation and weapons-supplier MBDA have not confirmed the transfer of technology (ToT) to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which was part of the contract.

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), in a detailed report tabled in Parliament, doubted if the ToT for a key engine would even take place, and pointed out that several offset contracts built into multiple defence deals have not yielded the desired results.

The critical observations were part of CAGs scrutiny of the status of a raft of offset contracts  including the September 2016 Rafale deal  between 2005 and 2018.

Indias offset policy stipulates that in all capital purchases above Rs 300 crore, the foreign vendor has to invest at least 30% of the value of the purchase in the country to boost indigenous capabilities. In the case of the Rafale deal this was 50%.

According to the CAG report, the defence ministry stated as recently as October 2019 (the first Rafale was handed over in France on October 8, 2019) that the vendors had not yet been able to confirm their capability for technology transfer.

In the offset contract relating to 36 Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA), the vendors M/s Dassault Aviation and M/s MBDA initially proposed (September 2015) to discharge 30% of their offset obligation by offering high technology to DRDO.

The DRDO wanted to obtain Technical Assistance for the indigenous development of engine (Kaveri) for the Light Combat Aircraft. Till date the Vendor has not confirmed the transfer of this technology, said the report.

HT has reviewed parts of report and a press release issued by CAG.

CAG also said that DRDO should identify the right technologies for transfer, while sharply criticising foreign vendors who made several offset commitments to qualify for a contract but were later not earnest about fulfilling their commitments.

Foreign vendors have to select Indian firms as their offset partners to fulfil their obligations.

To be sure, in case of the Rafale deal, the DRDOs offset share worked out to 30%, while 20% has been allocated to the private sector, including Dassault Reliance Aerospace Ltd (DRAL) -- Dassaults joint venture (JV) with Anil Ambanis Reliance Group. CAG did not pick any loopholes as far as the 20% allocation to the private sector, and asked the defence ministry to get more details about its progress.

The report said the defence ministry stated in October 2019 that the vendors had not been able to confirm their capability to carry out the requisite upgradation.

Thus, it is not clear if even this technology transfer (for engine) will take place, and there is need for the MoD/DRDO to identify and acquire the right technologies in order to comply with the directions of Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) given in September 2016, the report said.

The defence ministry and DRDO declined to comment on the matter. The response to an e-mail sent to Dassault Aviation was awaited when this report was filed.

However, French industry officials said they had given a detailed list of 10 to 15 technologies that could be transferred to the DRDO and the ball was in the latters court.

The officials said that the offset obligations as part of the 36 jet deal were progressing as per the timeline in the case of the private sector JV (with Anil Ambanis Reliance Group) despite the challenges posed by Covid-19.

The DRDO has to figure out what technologies it wants to take and can absorb, the officials said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

In the case of private offset partners, CAG said since the discharge period had started  September 23, 2019, to September 23, 2020  the defence ministry needs to get the details of the specific products/services being offered for discharge of offset, to monitor and ensure that the objectives of the offset are achieved.

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India said that the aim of the offset policy was to develop the Indian defence sector to achieve self-reliance and cut dependence on imports.

However, the audit found that the several vendors were not discharging their obligations as per their commitments.

From 2005 till March 2018, 46 offset contracts had been signed with foreign vendors, valued at 66,427 crore. Under these contracts, by December 2018, 19,223 crore worth of offsets should have been discharged by the vendors. However, the offsets claimed to have been discharged by them was only 11,396 crore, which was only 59% of the commitment. Further, only 48% (5,457 crore) of these offset claims submitted by the vendors were accepted by the ministry. The rest were largely rejected as they were not compliant to the contractual conditions and the Defence Procurement Procedure, CAG noted.

The auditor said the remaining offset commitments of about 55,000 crore would be due to be completed by 2024.

The rate at which the foreign vendors have been fulfilling their offset commitments was about 1,300 crore per year. Given this situation, fulfilling the commitment of 55,000 crore by the vendors in the next six years (CAG observation is of 2018) remains a major challenge, the report said.

CAG said there were no effective means of penalising the vendors on account of failure to meet the offset commitments.

Experts said discharge of offsets by vendors was unsatisfactory and some changes were necessary.

Inter-government agreements and foreign military sales have to be brought under the purview of offsets, said Lieutenant General Subrata Saha (retd), a member of the National Security Advisory Board and a former army deputy chief.

In 2016 with some deft application of policy, offset was associated with the ultra-light howitzer (ULH) procurement from the US. The number of industries that have successfully discharged offsets are very limited. The major issue here is the fact that we have not mapped industries working in defence sector and their capabilities. The number of MSMEs engaged in defence quoted by different agencies widely vary. Proper mapping of defence industries will help in utilising the offset facility much better, said Saha, who was closely associated with defence procurement as the deputy chief.

He said ToT must be given the highest priority with due incentives.

In addition to tightening the avenues for discharging offset, with the aim of improving Indias defence industrial capability, there has to be simplification of process as the multiplicity of agencies involved and sequential process takes too long, Saha added.

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) governments decision to enter a $8.7 billion government-to-government deal with France to buy 36 Rafale warplanes made by Dassault was announced in April 2015, with an agreement signed a little over a year later.

This replaced a previous United Progressive Alliance regime decision to buy 126 Rafale aircraft, 108 of which were to be made in India by the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.

Congress alleged that the new deal entailed buying the fighter jets at a higher price. The government denied this, and the Supreme Court said in a judgment that the deal did not require scrutiny.

The deal also become controversial on account of the fact that one of the offset deals signed by Dassault was with the Reliance Group of Anil Ambani.

The Congress claimed that the earlier deal was scrapped and a new one signed to provide Ambani this opportunity for an offset deal. Both the government and Reliance have repeatedly denied this.

As mentioned above, the problems flagged by CAG are not this part of the offset deal. A February 2019CAG report said the deal to buy the jets was kosher and cheaper than that was being negotiated by the UPA government.

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Tattoos aren't illegal in Japan, but the social stigma against them is severely strong.

Associated with yakuza and crime, tattoos can get individuals  guests from overseas or not  barred from certain establishments such as hot springs, gyms, swimming pools, and even beaches.

Tattoo artists also face the burden of this stigma, and in the case of one tattoo artist from Osaka, Taiki Masuda, tattooing without a medical license led to a 150,000 yen fine (US$1,433).

His case was moved to Japan's Supreme Court in 2017, and after nearly three years the country's highest court has made its decision: tattoo artists are no longer required to obtain medical licenses to practice their art.

The Supreme Court's logic for their ruling was that tattooing isn't a medical practice, and is not something exclusively practiced by doctors, thus the law forbidding tattoo artists without a medical license from their craft lost its legal grounding.

For Taiki, who is also part of Save Tattooing, an advocacy group created to support the country's 3,000 tattoo artisans, the ruling is certainly a win. But what exactly makes this ruling so important for tattoo artists in Japan?

In many countries, such as South Korea and now previously Japan, tattoo artists were legally barred from their craft if they didn't obtain a medical license. Basically, you had to become a doctor to be a tattoo artist. Otherwise, if you were a tattoo artist in Japan caught without a medical license, you could be fined up to 1 million yen ($9,563) and/or receive up to three years of jail time.

The main logic behind this law was that since tattoo artists have to use a needle to tattoo their customers, they need to go to medical school first to learn how to handle a needle properly.

Considering how tattoo artists who simply want to make body art without ties to the yakuza already have a hard time getting a steady flow of clients due to social stigma, the law necessitating a medical license acts more as a deterrent than an actual measure for safety and hygiene practices, given the burgeoning costs of medical school as well as the time and labor needed to graduate.
By 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.

--

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Covid-19 restrictions on care homes could mean the elderly don't see their family for a year, a leading charity has warned.

Age UK is worried about the powers given to local health bosses to impose blanket bans on visits, a move to prevent Britain's most vulnerable residents catching the coronavirus.

Although virus control is important, the charity said visiting restrictions undermine the danger of lack of social contact with loved ones.

It warned a number of care home residents have already died prematurely because they 'have gone downhill fast' as a result of being cut off from their loved ones. Experts have previously warned isolation can lead to the deterioration of conditions such as dementia.

Age UK's warning came after Boris Johnson yesterday announced new restrictions in England in response to rising numbers of coronavirus cases.

He said if the situation does not improve, the measures could last for more than six months to March  a year after the initial lockdown when care homes first shut their doors.

Most care homes in the UK were given the green light to open again in the summer, after the outbreak was restrained.

But since infection rates have gone up again, many are not risking the virus entering and wreaking havoc like it did in March and April, and have reintroduced visiting bans to the dismay of families.

Covid-19 restrictions on care homes could mean the elderly don't see their family for a year, Age UK has warned (stock)

Caroline Abrahams, the charity director at Age UK, told The Telegraph restrictions could leave elderly care home residents alone for a year.

She said: 'Given where we are now with Covid-19, we worry that more and more care homes will now shut their doors to visitors, either off their own bat or because their local director of public health instructs them to do so.

'It is crucial that we protect care home residents from the risk of infection, but that's only one of the two enormous risks that have to be managed here.

CARE HOMES HAVING TO WAIT 15 DAYS FOR COVID TEST RESULTS Care homes are having to wait up to 15 days for Covid test results, the Daily Mail can reveal. Managers say the system is so 'shambolic' they fear further fatal outbreaks. With Health Secretary Matt Hancock warning that a virus 'tipping point' is approaching, the care bosses demanded a much quicker turnaround. The Mail spoke to 19 providers which together run 393 homes. Staff or residents tested positive at a third of the chains over the past fortnight and in most cases results came late. Nine said they had to throw away tests after couriers did not turn up on time. One had to ditch 250 swabs in a week. Homes need quick results if they are to halt an outbreak. Several providers had to wait as long as 15 days and in some cases heard nothing back from laboratories. Results should be processed within 24 hours but the supposedly 'world- beating' system has been overwhelmed. Nadra Ahmed, who is executive chairman of the National Care Association, said the testing chaos was 'one of the Government's greatest failings'. She added: 'I can't believe they didn't envisage that there would be an increase in demand for tests and results in a timely manner as lockdown was eased. 'We can't deal with a postcode lottery at this critical time. As it stands, it is utterly chaotic, shambolic and a disgrace.' Advertisement

'The other is the risk of undermining older people's mental and physical health by cutting them off from those they love for a long time.

'There is ample evidence from the pandemic to date that, in these circumstances, many care home residents have gone downhill fast and a number have died prematurely without ever seeing their families and friends again.'

Under the social care winter plan, which came out last week, local directors of public health were given the authority to close care homes if the spread of coronavirus is rising in the community.

Ms Abrahams said: 'We are firmly of the view that there is no place for blanket bans when it comes to care home visiting.

'Getting the balance right between infection control on the one hand and protecting residents' mental and physical health on the other is challenging, but some care homes are showing that it really can be done.'

Already, hundreds of large care home operators in England have taken extra steps to protect their residents just a couple of months after they were given the go-ahead to reopen at the end of July, when cases of Covid-19 in the UK were at record lows.

Wales allowed visits from late August, and Scotland and Northern Ireland from early July.

Some care homes had to shut to visitors in line with local lockdowns ordered by the Government.

Parts of North West England, West Midlands, West Yorkshire, Leicester, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are currently under tighter Covid-19 rules.

The aim is to avoid families bringing the coronavirus into the home and reaching the most vulnerable people of society. The elderly are far more likely to die of the coronavirus if they catch it.

Already 15,000 people have died of confirmed or suspected Covid-19 in care home in England and Wales, figures collected by the Office for National Statistics show. And at least 10,000 more died unexpectedly from other causes.

Care UK and HC One, two of the largest national operators, have already closed dozens of homes to visitors, having re-opened them over the summer.

Care homes were shut for at least four months during lockdown, which is feared to have already had a huge impact on elderly residents.

The lack of social contact caused dementia patients' health to rapidly deteriorate as they felt confused, isolated and abandoned.

But with a long winter ahead, and a toughening of Covid-19 restrictions announced by the Prime Minister yesterday, things don't look set to improve.

Last week the government announced its Adult Social Care Winter Plan to curb the spread of the coronavirus in care settings.

It came after calls for a clear plan to be laid out for winter following the shambolic handling of the care home crisis in the 'first wave' of the pandemic.

The plan included free PPE for care home staff and a 546million Infection Control Fund.

But charities poked holes in the plans, with the Alzheimer's Society requesting for free PPE to also be given to relatives so they can visit the elderly.

A statement from the charity said: 'With care homes across the country once again closing their doors, we must make sure people with dementia are not cut off from vital visits from their loved ones.

'Were urging the Government to prioritise providing PPE and repeated, regular testing for both care home staff and for family carers.

'Where this isnt possible, steps must be put in place to ensure regular contact can continue between residents and their loved ones.'
On Wednesday, Pakistan President Arif Alvi approved elections to be conducted for the Legislative Assembly of illegally occupied Gilgit Baltistan on November 15. This is seen as an outcome of a meeting held recently at the Pakistan Army's Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi. Government representatives and opposition leaders such as PML(N)'s Shehbaz Sharif, Khawaja Asif, Ahsan Iqbal and PPP's Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Sherry Rehman participated in discussions with the military high command, including Pakistani Army chief General Qamar Bajwa and ISI DG Lt. Gen. Faiz Hameed.

As per local media reports, there was also a consensus in the meeting on making GB a full province of Pakistan. This echoes the sentiment expressed by Pakistan's Kashmir and GB Affairs Minister Ali Amin Gandapur who informed the Parliament that Imran Khan is likely to make a formal announcement on his visit to GB. This development comes despite India's consistent stance that Pakistan must vacate all illegally occupied areas of Jammu and Kashmir, including Gilgit Baltistan.

Read: India Shames 'nation Bereft Of Milestones' Pakistan After Imran Doesn't Spare UN 75 Meet

Opposition slams military's interference

However, this latest move orchestrated by Pakistan's military establishment came in for criticism from key opposition leader Maryam Nawaz Sharif. Speaking to the media in Islamabad, the PML(N) vice president maintained that GB was a political issue that should be handled by elected representatives. Questioning the military's right to take such decisions, she stressed that Parliament was the sole competent forum to decide on the GB issue.

Key opposition leader Maryam Nawaz remarked, "I don't know where dinner was held or not. The meeting was called on the Gilgit Baltistan issue. Gilgit Baltistan is a political issue. It is an issue that has to be dealt with by government representatives. Such decisions have to be taken in Parliament and not GHQ. I don't know whether Nawaz Sharif was aware of this meeting or not. (The military) should not call the political leaders for such an issue. And neither should the political leaders have gone. Who wants to discuss it can come to the Parliament."

Read: Pakistan's Opposition Unites To Demand Imran Khan's Resignation; Goes To War With Pak Army

Nawaz Sharif launches scathing attack

Earlier on September 20, Maryam Nawaz's father and former Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif exposed the military establishment's complete interference in the democratic process. Addressing a conference of opposition parties in Islamabad via video conferencing, he lamented that the sanctity of people's vote has been always trampled upon by the Pakistani Army. To buttress his point, the PML(N) leader highlighted that not a single PM has been allowed to complete the 5-year tenure in Pakistan's history.

Launching a scathing attack on the military, Sharif indicated that the former ran a "parallel government" which was more powerful than the democratically elected government. He described this phenomenon as a "state above the state". According to him, the root cause of Pakistan's problems was the military's refusal to accept the writ of the elected representatives and the existence of a parallel government.

Read: PoK Activist Raises 'Merge Gilgit-Baltistan With India' Demand At UNHRC As Imran Plots
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 12:04:48|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday that the current crisis of globalization can't be solved through turning to nationalism, and advocated the building of a new era of globalization that is fairer, balanced and sustainable.

Globalization is being challenged because of the financial crisis, the transformations in the world, the return of people's national consciences, and ultimately because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Macron said in his video remarks to the general debate of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

"We can see it clearly, the risk is to respond to this crisis of globalization by a nationalist withdrawal, by the violence of populism, rather extremes, and by the return of powers," Macron said, noting that protectionism would be dangerous.

The French president said it's undeniable that globalization in recent years has brought progress and prosperity for the global population, and it's essential that the governments take into account of the new realities and make joint efforts to build a new era of globalization.

"We must together lay the foundations for a fairer, more balanced, more equitable, more sustainable globalization," Macron said, noting that the fight against inequality should be at the heart of the new globalization.

In his nearly 50-minute speech, the French president championed multilateralism, noting that the reconstruction of the foundations of the international order requires the establishment of functional international cooperation based on clear rules, defined and respected by all.

"Multilateralism is not just an act of faith, it is an operational necessity," Macron said.

The French president also voiced concerns over the issue of climate change, noting that in December, it will be five years since the Paris Agreement was signed, but the objectives that were set collectively will not be achieved.

Macron said he would like France to mark the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement by once again mobilizing the international community so that "each of us can look at where we are on our commitments." Enditem
Iran President Hassan Rouhani used the killing of George Floyd under US police custody to outline the United State's policies towards Iran, including very harsh sanctions. While speaking at the 75th General Assembly of the United Nations (UNGA) he said, "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. "

Future U.S administrations need to understand that the resilient Iranian nation will not surrender.  Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) September 22, 2020

Rouhani said that the footage broadcast of George Floyd and US police is similar to Iran's own experience. "For decades, the valiant Iranian nation has paid a similarly high price for its quest for freedom and liberation from domination and despotism," he added.

READ | Iran: Nuclear Deal With World Powers Worth Preserving

Rouhani: Iran is grappling with harsh sanctions

Rouhani while addressing UNGA said that among all the countries of the world, Iran has suffered the most due to COVID-19 because rather than receiving global support during the pandemic, it is struggling with harshest sanctions imposed by the US. His comments came a day after the United States issues new sanctions on Iran officials after UN's sanctions on Tehran were rejected over the weekend. Taking to Twitter, Rouhani wrote that the nation which is currently battling occupation, genocide, discrimination, etc should not be slammed with such sanctions.

READ | Russia Vows To Develop Military Cooperation With Iran After UN Arms Embargo Expiry

Such a nation does not deserve sanctions. Battling occupation, genocide, discrimination should not be sanctioned. Combatting extremism should not be rewarded with assassination. The response to peace is not war. False pretenses are not criterions, deeds are.  Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) September 22, 2020

A new order was issued a few days ago after the United States said that it unilaterally reimposed UN sanctions on Iran which were lifted under the Iran nuclear deal. However, the decision of the US was rejected by the other members of the UN Security Council. The members said that Washington does not have the legal authority to reimpose sanctions after it had pulled out from the agreement.

READ | Russia Hopes No Visa Issues Trouble Diplomats Headed To United States For 75th UNGA Meet

"All of us across the globe are experiencing difficult times during the pandemic. However, my nation, the resilient people of Iran, instead of enjoying global partnership and cooperation, is grappling with the harshest sanctions in history imposed in blatant and gross violation of the Charter of the United Nations, international agreements and Security Council Resolution 2231," Hassan Rouhani said.

READ | Iran President Rouhani Vows 'crushing Response' To US After Sanction Declaration

Killing of George Floyd

George Floyd, an unarmed and handcuffed man, died on May 25 after US police officer Derek Chauvin used his knee to pin him down to the ground for over 9 minutes. Floyd's death resulted in widespread protests in the country against the US police's brutalities. Rouhani while highlighting this incident at UNGA and said that Iran does not deserve harsh sanctions as it was the first country to stand with the people and government of Kuwait against Saddam (Hussein) and also foiled his dream of dominating all his former Arab allies.

"Such a nation does not deserve sanctions. The response to peace is not war. The reward for combatting extremism is not assassination. The reaction to the choice of people through the ballot box in Iran, Iraq and Lebanon is not outside agitation and support for non-democratic processes and street riots," he said.

READ | Fireworks Likely At UNGA As Trump & Xi Jinping To Address Assembly Just Minutes Apart
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.
Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha will meet President at 5 pm on Wednesday over the farm Bills and the suspension of the eight MPs, sources said.

"The President has given us time and the LoP in Rajya Sabha will meet him at 5 pm," a senior Opposition leader told PTI.

Around 16 Opposition parties had submitted a memorandum to the President on these issues.

Earlier, it was decided that due to the COVID 19 pandemic, only five representatives of Opposition parties -- Congress, TMC, SP, TRS and DMK -- will attend the meeting, depending on their strength in

However, the TMC requested their spot be given to a smaller party, saying the fight against the farm Bills was a united effort and did not depend on the number of MPs of a particular party in the House.

It was then decided that a representative from either the Shiv Sena or the NCP will join the delegation.

However, during a meeting of Opposition Rajya Sabha MPs on Wednesday, it was decided that only the Leader of Opposition will attend the meeting, sources said.

The Opposition parties were unanimous that they did not want to leave any party out, but they also wanted to follow all COVID-19 protocols, they added.

When asked about the TMC's willingness to accommodate a smaller party in its place, its Rajya Sabha leader Derek O'Brien said, All Opposition parties have been working hard unitedly to fight for farmers, workers and for saving democracy. The suggestion is a small gesture of solidarity from the Trinamool. It's not just about numbers in It's the spirit



Opposition RS MPs are set to protest against the farm Bills and the suspension of MPs this afternoon as well, while the Opposition leaders in the Lok Sabha are planning to meet at 2 pm to decide on a dharna, sources 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 Minnesota representative and member of The Squad has been an American citizen for 20 years.

At a campaign rally in Pennsylvania Tuesday, President Donald Trump attacked Rep. Ilhan Omar, asking rhetorically of her, How is your country doing?

The congresswoman responded later the same day on Twitter, saying, Firstly, this is my country & I am a member of the House that impeached you.

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) listens as she receives an endorsement from Valerie Castile, mother of Philando Castile, during a press conference last month in St. Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

Secondly, I fled civil war when I was 8, she continued. An 8-year-old doesnt run a country even though you run our country like one.

The Minnesota representative has been an American citizen for 20 years.

The comments were the latest attack on Omar and other members of The Squad, which includes Omar and her congressional colleagues, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.)

Read More: Trump mocks Rep. Ilhan Omar in speech before Jewish Republican Group

Were going win the state of Minnesota because of her, they say, Trump said of Omar. Shes telling us how to run our country. How did you do where you came from?

The inflammatory remarks were well-received by Trumps crowd of faithful supporters, who cheered.

In a second tweet, Omar said, These cult-like rallies have me wondering one thing: and added a GIF from the movie Mean Girls, which read, Why are you so obsessed with me?

Read More: Crowd chants fill that seat at Ohio rally as Trump reaffirms court plans

While Trump vowed that he would win Minnesota, recent polls show otherwise. Democratic nominee Joe Biden is leading in the state by 10 percentage points.

The president also attacked Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, implying that she isnt intelligent. He said that she wasnt a good student and that she isnt a good anything, but shes got a good line of crap.

We dont need socialists, he said, and we dont need communists telling us how to run our country.

Story continues

Read More: Rep. Ilhan Omar defeats Democratic primary challenger

In 2019, the president tweeted that the four progressive representatives should go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came. All four women are U.S. citizens, and only Omar was born outside of the United States.

Have you subscribed to theGrios Dear Culture podcast? Download our newest episodes now!

The post Omar responds to Trumps rally attacks: This is my country appeared first on TheGrio.
Signs have been posted in the Eldridge Creek area warning hunters, hikers and mountain bikers that a wounded bear may be roaming the region. However, some tactics that can prevent such encounters  such as talking loudly to avoid surprising a bear and staying on trails  are not likely to be used by hunters who are trying to sneak up on game animals like elk.

Last year, FWP reported 18 encounters between grizzlies and recreationists in southwest Montana. In those 18 encounters, five people were injured and two adult bears were killed. Another grizzly that was injured by a hunter who shot at it was never found.

Like last year, we have seen a lot of bear activity this fall, Jacobsen said.

The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, which includes portions of Montana, Wyoming and Idaho, contains an estimated 750 grizzly bears. During the fall, bears are actively searching for food to put on weight before going into hibernation, a hunger phase known as hyperphagia.

In July, the Jackson Hole News & Guide reported that wildlife officials in the GYE had already tallied seven grizzly bear encounters resulting in injuries, up from the previous high mark of three injuries in the first half of 2007.
And its vaccine has potentially big advantages over some competitors. It uses a technology that has a long safety record in vaccines against other diseases. Its vaccine could require just one shot instead of two. And unlike other vaccine candidates, it does not have to be kept frozen as it is delivered to hospitals and other places where it will be given to patients, simplifying the logistics of hundreds of millions of doses.

Big news, Mr. Trump tweeted about the trial on Wednesday morning. @FDA must move quickly!

The president has repeatedly claimed that a vaccine will be ready before Election Day, and has urged federal regulators to act quickly to approve one, raising fears that they will bow to the pressure and rush their vetting process. The federal governments Operation Warp Speed program has invested more than $10 billion in private companies coronavirus vaccines to date, including about $1.5 billion to Johnson & Johnson.

Facing criticism over secrecy, several companies  including Johnson & Johnson on Wednesday  have taken the rare step of releasing the detailed blueprints of their trials, which are typically considered proprietary. And the F.D.A. is expected this week to release stricter guidelines outlining the criteria it will use to vet clinical trial data.

We need multiple vaccines to work, said Dr. Dan Barouch, a virologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center who led the development of the technology used in Johnson & Johnsons trial. There are seven billion people in the world, and no single vaccine supplier will be able to manufacture at that scale.

Johnson & Johnsons advanced trial, known as a Phase 3 trial, started on Monday. At a news conference, Dr. Paul Stoffels, the companys chief scientific officer, said the company might be able to determine by the end of the year if the vaccine is safe and effective.

Johnson & Johnson has begun manufacturing the vaccine on an industrial scale to build up a supply that can be released immediately if the vaccine is authorized, Dr. Stoffels said in an interview on Wednesday. He expected to have tens of millions of doses ready by the end of the year. Then we can ramp up to many more batches, he said.

Johnson & Johnsons vaccine uses an adenovirus to carry a gene from the coronavirus into human cells. The cell then produces coronavirus proteins, but not the coronavirus itself. These proteins can potentially prime the immune system to fight off a later infection by the virus.
OPECs 60th birthday should have been reason for celebration, but its largest producer Saudi Arabia is increasingly putting its own interests before the cartels objectives and has put the very existence of OPEC at stake on a number of occasions

Founded 60 years ago this month by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) originated from a solid base of sensible values centred upon providing a collective voice for oil producers that were being exploited by the Seven Sisters group of international oil companies. Its stated mission was to: Co-ordinate and unify the petroleum policies of its member countries and ensure the stabilization of oil markets, in order to secure an efficient, economic and regular supply of petroleum to consumers, a steady income to producers, and a fair return on capital for those investing in the petroleum industry. For nearly 55 years it was broadly able to achieve these aims, buoyed by its members accounting for around 40 per cent of the worlds crude oil output and about 60 per cent of the total petroleum traded internationally. In 2014, though, OPECs de facto leader, Saudi Arabia placed its own interests above those of its fellow OPEC members, since which time the Kingdom has betrayed the group on two more notable occasions and jeopardised its very existence.

Prior to 2014, OPEC had managed to turn the tables on the Seven Sisters group of major oil companies, comprising the Anglo-Persian Oil Company (now BP) and Royal Dutch Shell (RDS), plus three iterations of Standard Oil (Standard Oil of California, Standard Oil of New Jersey, and Standard Oil Company of New York), plus Gulf Oil, and Texaco. At one point, these seven companies controlled at least 85 per cent of the worlds petroleum reserves, having often paid the host countries a minimal percentage of the resulting sales profits in return. This compensation model dated from the first major oil discovery (the Masjed Soleiman field) made by a modern foreign oil company (the Anglo-Persian Oil Company) operating in the Middle East (modern-day Iran). Irans 16 per cent share of the profits from its oil before 1951 (when the Iranian parliament voted to nationalise the British company due to its paltry payout) looked positively generous when compared to Standard Oils payment of US$275,000 in April 1933 (equivalent to around US$6 million in 2020) to Saudi Arabia to secure the exclusive rights to drill across the entire country. As a portent of the geopolitics of the global oil market to come, the then-Prime Minister of Iran, Mohammad Mosaddegh, was removed in 1953 by a military coup  Operation Ajax - organised jointly between the U.K.s Secret Intelligence Service and the U.S.s Central Intelligence Agency after he had nationalised the Anglo-Persian Oil Companys local infrastructure assets, and renamed it the National Iranian Oil Company. After the formation of OPEC, though, the influence of the Seven Sisters began to markedly decline. Related: Colombias Security Crisis Deals Another Blow To Its Oil Industry

The real turning point for OPEC as an international commercial and geopolitical force came in October 1973 when OPEC members plus Egypt, Syria and Tunisia began an embargo on oil exports to the U.S., the U.K., Japan, Canada and the Netherlands in response to the U.S.s ongoing supply of arms to Israel in the Yom Kippur War. The spike in oil prices was exacerbated by incremental cuts to oil production by OPEC members over the period and, taken together, by the end of the embargo in March 1974, the price of oil had risen from around USD3 per barrel to nearly USD11 per barrel and then it trended higher again. This in turn stoked the fire of a global economic slowdown, especially felt in the West. In the process, the balance of power between the big developed market-consumers of oil and the big emerging market-producers of oil had shifted, as highlighted by the Saudi Minister of Oil and Mineral Reserves at the time, Sheikh Ahmed Zaki Yamani.

In 2014, though, at a series of high-profile meetings with bankers and fund managers in New York and London, various senior Saudi officials made it clear that, regardless of the economic and financial consequences to its fellow OPEC members, the Kingdom would instruct them to massively overproduce crude oil in order to crash oil prices in order to destroy the then-nascent U.S. shale oil sector. For the U.S., the instigation of this oil price war by the Saudis was an unforgivable betrayal of the trust in Saudi Arabia that had been implicit in the deal agreed in 1945 between the then-U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Saudi King at the time, Abdulaziz. This deal had been that the U.S. would guarantee the security both of the ruling House of Saud and, by extension, Saudi Arabia, in exchange for which the U.S. would receive all of the oil supplies it needed for as long as Saudi had oil in place. After some initial success  the U.S. oil rig count in January/February 2015 saw its biggest period-on-period fall since 1991  the Saudis found by 2016 that all that they had done was help to shape a much more cost-efficient U.S. shale oil sector that could survive above US$35 per barrel of WTI, compared to pre-2014 estimates of a US$75+ per barrel. In the process, according to the IEA, OPEC member states had collectively lost at least US$450 billion in revenues.

By the time that the next oil price war rolled around earlier this year, instigated again by the Saudis with exactly the same strategy as the war of 2014-2016 (crude oil overproduction to crash oil prices) and exactly the same objective (to destroy or disable the U.S. shale oil sector) the U.S. was in no mood to  as one senior source close to the Presidential Administration told OilPrice.com at the time  put up with any more crap from the Saudis. In the run-up to the March 2020 oil price war, U.S. President Donald Trump had already repeatedly warned the Saudis that the U.S. would not accept any actions that would undermine either its economy or the continued development of its shale oil sector. At a 2018 speech before the U.N. General Assembly, he stated: OPEC and OPEC nations are, as usual, ripping off the rest of the world, and I dont like it. Nobody should like it, he said, and shortly afterwards he underlined at a rally in Southaven, Mississippi, in October 2018: I said, King were protecting you. You might not be there for two weeks without us. Finally, on 2 April, after the Saudis had further destroyed the finances of its fellow OPEC members, Trump telephoned Saudi Arabias de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and directly told him that unless OPEC started cutting oil production he would be powerless to stop lawmakers from passing legislation to withdraw U.S. troops from the Kingdom. Related: Why Russia Is Pushing Unneeded Nuclear Power Plants On Egypt

Worse, though, is on the horizon for Saudi Arabia and OPEC. The U.S. has been so enraged by the Saudis trying to destroy its geopolitically and economically crucial shale oil sector yet again that any further moves by Saudi and OPEC to either push prices up over the US$80 per barrel of Brent level (regarded as economically harmful to the U.S.) or to below US$40 per barrel of Brent (seen as damaging for the U.S. shale oil sector) is highly likely to result in the passing of the No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels Bill (NOPEC). A version of the NOPEC bill managed to pass both houses of Congress in 2007 before it was shelved after President George W. Bush said he would veto the legislation. However, in February 2019, the U.S. House Judiciary Committee passed the NOPEC Act, which cleared the way for a vote on the Bill before the full House of Representatives. On the same day, Democrats Patrick Leahy and Amy Klobuchar and  most remarkably  two Republicans, Chuck Grassley and Mike Lee, introduced the NOPEC Bill to the Senate. It was only the intervention of Trump at that time that stopped the Bill being voted into law.

This Bill makes it illegal to artificially cap oil (and gas) production or to set prices, which is a corollary function of OPEC, and it removes the sovereign immunity that presently exists in U.S. courts for OPEC as a group and for its individual member states. This would leave Saudi Arabia open to being sued under existing U.S. anti-trust legislation, with its total liability being its estimated US$1 trillion of investments in the U.S. alone, and to all other OPEC member facing the same legal action. It would also mean the end of OPEC in any meaningful form.

By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine president got rare praises Wednesday from his key critics for invoking before the United Nations a 2016 arbitration ruling that invalidated Chinas vast territorial claims in the South China Sea, in a surprise move that will likely pique Beijing.

President Rodrigo Duterte made one of his strongest defences of the Philippine victory in the arbitration case in his first address before the annual U.N. General Assembly where world leaders spoke mostly in prerecorded videos due to the pandemic. China has long refused to bring the issue to any international arena.

Duterte, who has nurtured close ties with China since taking office in mid-2016, has long been criticized for refusing to immediately and forcefully demand Chinese compliance with the ruling by a U.N.-backed tribunal. It found Chinas claims on virtually the entire South China Sea on historical grounds inconsistent with international maritime law.

China refused to take part in the arbitration, which was initiated by Dutertes predecessor, and has dismissed the ruling as a sham. Beijing prefers direct negotiations with each of its rival claimant states and has vehemently refused to have the long-raging disputes internationalized for fears the United States and its allies would find a way to intervene.

Duterte welcomed the increasing number of countries that have expressed support for the ruling, which he said stood for the triumph of reason over rashness, of law over disorder, of amity over ambition.

The award is now part of international law, beyond compromise and beyond the reach of passing governments to dilute, diminish or abandon, Duterte said, without naming China. We firmly reject attempts to undermine it.

Chinese officials did not immediately issue any reaction.

Albert del Rosario, a former Philippine foreign secretary who brought the disputes with China to international arbitration, said he was heartened by Dutertes move. By underscoring the decision before the annual U.N. gathering of world leaders, Duterte has acted more faithfully to our constitution, which mandates him and our military to secure our countrys sovereignty and protect our lands and seas, del Rosario said.

He urged the Duterte administration to secure the backing of more countries so the ruling could be raised more emphatically in next years U.N. General Assembly.

Antonio Carpio, a retired Philippine Supreme Court justice who helped in the arbitration case, commended Duterte and hoped that this is the policy that the Duterte administration will implement across all levels in protecting Philippine maritime rights and seeking international support to enforce the ruling.

Mr. Rodrigo Dutertes 360-degree turn ... is a big victory for international law and Philippine sovereignty against his own defeatist policy on China, former human rights chief Etta Rosales said, adding the president succumbed to pressure for him to uphold international law.

Duterte also defended his deadly anti-drug crackdown and played down criticism from human rights advocates in his speech. He has previously harshly criticized the U.N. for raising alarm over his campaign against illegal drugs and threatened to withdraw the Philippines from the world body, which he says his government now values for its role in fighting the global coronavirus pandemic.
The top public safety official in Massachusetts announced Wednesday that he is stepping down.

Thomas Turco, who served as secretary of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) in Massachusetts for the past two years, announced to staff he will retire by the end of the year.

Turco did not specify the reason for his retirement but noted it followed many long discussions with my family.

After more than 30 years of public service, and following many long discussions with my family, I recently made the decision to retire at the end of this year, he wrote in an email to staff Wednesday. While I greatly look forward to spending much more time with my wife and children in the years to come, there is one thing I will greatly miss: the opportunity to lead a staff of such talented public safety professionals, who have risen to meet unprecedented challenges on behalf of the people we serve.

EOPSS, which had an annual budget of $1.268 billion in 2020, is the umbrella office for several state agencies. Among them are Massachusetts State Police, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) and the Massachusetts Department of Correction (DOC).

During Turcos two-year tenure as the head of EOPSS, a sexual assault kit tracking system and a statewide arrest statistics website were launched, and procedural changes to state police in the wake of the departments overtime scandal were launched.

The state police reforms included a body camera pilot program and a new tracking technology for cruisers as well as time and attendance audits.

A landmark 2018 criminal justice bill that changed the way bail fines and fees are levied was also signed into law by Gov. Charlie Baker while Turco lead EOPSS.

The EOPSS secretary, who holds a masters degree in criminal justice administration from Western New England College and is a graduate of the Florida Commission on Criminal Justice Standards and Training Academy, started his career as a probation officer at the Florida Department of Correction in 1988.

Since then, he has gone on to serve in multiple high-level roles in the Massachusetts criminal justice system, serving as chief probation officer of Worcester Superior Court starting in 2003 and as undersecretary of criminal justice in EOPSS beginning in 2015.

As chief probation officer of Worcester Superior Court, Turco oversaw the operations of the probation department for all of Worcester County. He also developed and implemented policies set by the state and collaborated with community organizations with the aim of promoting crime prevention and remediation.

In his appointed role as EOPSS undersecretary of criminal justice, Turco provided direction to the Massachusetts Department of Correction, where, only year later, he would serve as commissioner of the agency, overseeing 16 correction facilities, around 8,500 inmates and roughly 4,500 employees.

Two years after Baker tapped Turco to head DOC, the governor introduced Turco as the incoming EOPSS secretary.

Under his leadership of the public safety office, officials pointed out, a new Westfield facility for the state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner was set up, text-to-911 services were expanded to include all of Massachusetts and funding was obtained for a prison parent initiative at DOC.

While Turco lead the public safety office, care at the Massachusetts Alcohol and Substance Abuse Center (MASAC) in Plymouth was also transitioned from correction officers to medical staff exclusively, and EOPSS contributed to what officials called a first-of-its-kind report about suicides among correction officers.

A partnership between the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services and district attorneys to tackle human trafficking in Central and Western Massachusetts was created during Turcos tenure at EOPSS as well.

More recently, EOPSS set up free COVID testing centers for first responders and essential workers and created a mortuary services staging area in Fitchburg.

During my first year as Secretary of Public Safety and Security, I had the chance to witness many of you hard at work long after the business day ended. In many cases, we spoke and met on weekends and holidays," Turco wrote in his email to employees. Your dedication, commitment, and professionalism impressed me then, but I could not possibly be more proud of you than I have been over the past six months.

Turco told his staff he will support the Baker administration as they identify and select the next EOPSS secretary.

I will impress upon that person the remarkable skills, talents, and passion that mark the EOPSS team, he said.

MassLive reporter Steph Solis contributed to this report.
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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Royal LePage, the largest real estate company in Canada, has partnered with Inside Real Estate to provide a powerful new technology platform to their 18,000+ agents spanning 600+ locations across Canada. The rlpSPHERE platform, powered by kvCORE, provides a fully integrated, state-of-the-art tech ecosystem enabling Royal LePage brokers, agents and teams to manage and grow their business from one single platform.

rlpSPHERE, an enterprise deployment of the highly sought after kvCORE Platform, includes extensive customization and Canadianization, creating a powerful all-in-one solution uniquely tailored to the needs of the Royal LePage network. Known for its robust lead generation, fully integrated brokerage platform & intelligent automation capabilities, the kvCORE Platform is deeply integrated into Royal LePages internal systems providing a seamless experience for brokers, agents and teams to run every aspect of their business.

Royal LePage is known as Canadas tech-forward real estate company, said Carolyn Cheng, COO, Royal LePage. The launch of rlpSPHERE provides our network with the most modern, data-driven real estate productivity tools available, giving our brokers, agents and teams a substantial competitive advantage to grow and manage their businesses in todays high-tech world. Through our partnership with Inside Real Estate, were creating a digital ecosystem that positions us well today and will also grow with us in a rapidly changing environment in the future.

rlpSPHERE, which began rolling out to Royal LePages network this spring, includes cutting edge productivity tools in a bilingual, mobile ready environment. Standout features include:



Fully customizable brokerage, team and agent websites with the latest consumer search options including polygon map search, search by school catchment area, filtering by lifestyle data, search by travel time as well as recommended listings based on your search criteria.

A robust lead gen engine featuring unlimited custom landing pages and IDX squeeze pages as well as built-in paid Google and Facebook advertising options via an integrated Marketplace.

Intelligent, customizable lead routing and accountability options at the brokerage and team levels to optimize lead conversion.

A smart, AI-powered CRM and app with dynamic lead follow up and automated nurturing campaigns to engage more leads and sphere of influence contacts.

Integrated and branded digital, print and social media marketing templates and options.

Flexible, customization options at the brand, brokerage, agent and team levels including lead routing, smart numbers, listing marketing, etc.

The rlpSPHERE platform also empowers Royal LePages top teams with a robust sub-account structure allowing them to operate with full flexibility. The CORE Team Add-On accounts are uniquely suited to top teams providing custom website branding opportunities, full database ownership and privacy, independent lead routing and more.

Were honored to be the long-term technology partner powering Canadas leading real estate brand, said Joe Skousen, President of Inside Real Estate. Working with the talented and forward-thinking leadership team at Royal LePage to successfully customize our kvCORE platform has been incredibly rewarding. Its provided us another great opportunity to demonstrate not only the robust capabilities but also the flexibility of our platform. Were thrilled to see the successful launch of rlpSPHERE to Royal LePage brokers, teams and agents and to see the results its having on their business first hand.

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About Inside Real Estate:

Inside Real Estate is a fast growing, independently-owned real estate software firm that serves as a trusted technology partner to over 200,000 top brokerages, agents and teams. Their flagship product, kvCORE Platform, is the most modern and comprehensive solution in the industry known for delivering profitable growth at every level of a brokerage organization. Built on a modern, scalable and flexible architecture, kvCORE enables every brokerage to create their own unique technology ecosystem through custom branding, robust integrations and high-quality add-on solutions. With an accomplished leadership team and over 200 employees, Inside Real Estate brings the resources, scale and vision to deliver ongoing innovation and success to their growing customer base. Visit insiderealestate.com to learn more.

About Royal LePage:

Serving Canadians since 1913, Royal LePage is the countrys leading provider of services to real estate brokerages, with a network of approximately 18,000 real estate professionals in over 600 locations nationwide. Royal LePage is the only Canadian real estate company to have its own charitable foundation, the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation, dedicated to supporting womens and childrens shelters and educational programs aimed at ending domestic violence. Royal LePage is a Bridgemarq Real Estate Services Inc. company, a TSX-listed corporation trading under the symbol TSX:BRE. For more information, please visit royallepage.ca.


Portland has denied a permit to the far-right group Proud Boys for a planned rally Saturday in Delta Park, finding that the groups estimated crowd of 10,000 people exceeds public safety measures in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

The group, which has gained national attention for its heated rhetoric and marches that often devolve into violence, originally planned to hold the rally in downtowns Terry Schrunk Plaza. The change to the North Portland venue was made, the group said in a statement last week, to accommodate  a battalion of patriots who are ready to exercise their constitutionally protected right to assemble.

But the citys Park & Recreation Bureau, in consultation with Mayor Ted Wheeler, found that the groups large crowd estimate ran counter to safeguards necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19, according to city officials.

The city found the described event would not comply with Oregon Health Authority guidelines regarding the number of people allowed in gatherings under Oregon Gov. Kate Browns emergency orders and cant be conducted with proper physical distancing, according to Commissioner Amanda Fritz, who oversees the Parks Bureau.

We must all do our part to fight the spread of COVID-19 in our community and keep ourselves and each other safe," Fritz said in a statement. "Events like this are not welcome and are not allowed.

Mayor Ted Wheeler, who also serves as police commissioner, on Wednesday called the Proud Boys' plan to assemble at Delta Park an insult," noting that the location is the historic Vanport City, which was created as temporary housing for shipworkers and ended up home to many Black residents who were kept out of Portland because of racist real estate practices.

Intentional or not, these groups choosing Delta Park for this event is an insult, Wheeler said. "While espousing patriotism and a commitment to peaceful protest, some in these groups and many who associate with them embody and empower racism, intolerance and hate. Those are not Portland values, and they are not welcome. Hate has no home in Portland. Violence has no home in Portland. Anyone intending to intimidate, create fear, commit violence, or spread hate is not welcome here.''

Counter protesters are planning a simultaneous gathering about four miles away at Peninsula Park on Saturday, from noon until 3 p.m.

Tim Crail, Fritzs chief of staff, said he did not know of any other applications for permits received by the city stemming from the 100-plus consecutive nights of social justice protests that have occurred in the city since shortly after the May 25 death of George Floyd, the Black man who died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes.

Mark Ross, a spokesman for the Parks Bureau, said the bureau would not grant a permit for a gathering of more than 50 people under the states current COVID-19 safety guidelines. Yet the bureau also doesnt do enforcement, Ross said.

Enrique Tarrio, international chair of the Proud Boys, said by phone Wednesday afternoon before boarding a plane in Miami that he submitted the permit application to the city of Portland as a courtesy, but didnt expect the city to grant it.

The application said the anticipated crowd would be 10,000 people, with another 10,000 supporters for a total assembly of about 20,000 people, according to the permit application obtained by The Oregonian/OregonLive through a public records request.

On Wednesday, though, Tarrio said he expected more like 800 to 2,000 people might attend the groups Saturday End Domestic Terrorism, demonstration.

He said hes holding the rally in Portland to demonstrate against the violence thats been allowed to occur nightly in the city. He also referenced the Aug. 29 fatal shooting of Patriot Prayer supporter Aaron Jay Danielson, a 39-year-old who police say was gunned down in downtown Portland after a pro-Trump car caravan wound through the city. Police say Michael Reinoehl, 48, a self-described antifascist who said he provided security for Black Lives Matter protests, targeted and gunned down Danielson. Reinoehl was later shot and killed by officers in Washington as they moved in to arrest him.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly seized on images of property damage and fires set during some nightly demonstrations in Portland to bolster his claims that cities led by Democrats have descended into chaos.

Demonstrations have turned violent on some nights, with members of the crowd lobbing fireworks, rocks or other objects at officers stationed outside either police precincts or federal buildings, such as the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office in Southwest Portland. Those actions have resulted in officers firing tear gas or impact munitions to disperse crowds, and led to multiple lawsuits against federal officers and the city of Portland. On Sept. 10, Portlands mayor barred Portland police from using tear gas during protests.

I have no respect for Ted Wheeler, and I dont intend to respect his wishes that were not welcome in his city, Tarrio said. The main reason were protesting is him.

The groups application said its supporters will gather from noon to 4 p.m. to rally against what they termed antifa terrorists.

We the PEOPLE are tired of incompetent city leadership who neuters police and allows violent gangs of rioting felons to run the streets, burn buildings, throw molotov cocktails/rocks/fireworks/concrete and assault people with impunity, the application reads.

Counter-protesters are not planning to confront the right-wing rallygoers directly as theyve routinely done during past demonstrations in Portland. Instead, they are organizing a simultaneous gathering at a different park.

We always show up to counter hate groups, said Effie Baum, an organizer with Popular Mobilization, or PopMob. But we dont have to let them dictate the terms of that engagement.

Portland Jobs with Justice, Rose City Antifa and the Portland Democratic Socialists of America are among the other left-wing groups participating in the Peninsula Park event.

Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell, Wheeler and other community leaders have urged calm and have been working with police and other law enforcement agencies to prepare a plan for police enforcement Saturday. Yet Oregon State Police and the Multnomah County Sheriffs Office have expressed reluctance to assist with crowd control in the city, considering the mayors ban on Portland police use of tear gas.

Due to the heightened rhetoric and many recent events where crimes occurred, we are developing a thorough plan to do everything possible to keep everyone safe," Lovell said in a statement this week. "It is crucial for anyone who plans to attend to refrain from engaging in criminal activity, report dangerous or criminal conduct to the police, and adhere to lawful orders given by public safety officials.''

Proud Boys are planning a rally at noon at Delta Park. Counter protests are planning a demonstration at Peninsula Park at the same time.

Wheeler, joined Wednesday by the other members of Portlands City Council, asked the community to stand together and say, Hate is not welcome here.

Lets not give them the attention or perhaps even the fight that theyre looking for, Fritz said at the council meeting.

Later Wednesday, Fritz said that as a retired nurse, shes particularly concerned about the states COVID-19 response, and would not grant a permit for any gathering or rally that draws more than 50 people.

Asked about the nightly mass demonstrations that have occurred in the citys downtown and elsewhere since late May, Fritz said, Theres a difference between being asked and denying, and not being asked (for a permit).

If the Proud Boys gather at Delta Park, she said, They will be breaking the law," but she said she wasnt prepared to discuss what measures would be taken.

Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty said she didnt want the city to allow the far-right groups into the city.

Thats what theyre about. Theyre about spreading fear, division and hate, and we as Portlanders will not tolerate that, Hardesty said.

So if youre listening, right-wing radicals who think youre going to come here and just have fun beating up on liberals, we are drawing a line in the sand. Youre not welcome. We dont want you. And, if you come, were going to do everything in our power to make sure you dont get into the city of Portland.

Commissioner Chloe Eudaly asked counter-protesters to stay away from the right-wing extremists and deny them what they want  an audience.

This is a publicity stunt. Portland is in the public eye. The president is waiting for footage to bolster his claims of anarchy and of Democratic ineptitude. ... Dont let them use Portland as a backdrop for Trumps re-election."

Eudaly said there are other ways to show up and make a difference and work on meaningful police accountability and other social justice reforms.

Also Wednesday, the Legislatures Black, Indigenous and People of Color Caucus issued a statement that called for counter-demonstrators to stay away from the Proud Boys planned rally.

We are calling on Oregonians who share our goal of ending police brutality and racial injustice to avoid the main demonstration. As we have seen time and again, the hate groups that have organized these rallies are often heavily armed and intend to commit acts of violence. They also use these rallies to drain our resources and gather material to recruit others. Lets not empower them with our presence.

The Caucus' statement added, "The Proud Boys and Patriot Prayer are here to bring violence and spread hate. But we know their agenda and our community will not stand for violence or hate. We will not be intimidated or silenced, but we also will not allow these individuals to sow the chaos and destruction they so desperately seek.

In its permit application, when asked to describe procedures for crowd control and internal security, Proud Boys wrote: Will have volunteers ensuring people remain in control, non inflammatory and focused on our event. We will allow police to enter as needed if there is an issue.

Oregon State Police Supt. Travis Hampton wrote to Portland police that the agency, busy responding to wildfires in the state, has serious reservations about helping with crowd control since the city police agencys use of tear gas is barred.

The state police will offer uniform patrol coverage to aid Portland police in interdicting the criminal element'' before they arrive at events and maintain a mobile response for anticipated flash points, Hampton wrote to the bureau. " We will also make available, if you request, specialized vehicles and armor to aid in officer rescue and the transport of personnel."

Popular Mobilization, or PopMob, activists also are working to raise donations for the Oregon Justice Resource Center, as a response to the Proud Boys' planned assembly. For every person who shows up to join the Proud Boys in their attack on our community and values, we are collecting pledges to counter their hate with support for these vital local efforts, the group said in a news release this week.

The Police Bureau said its crowd liaison team is working to help event organizers plan safe events. Liaison officers may be contacted at: PPBLiaison@portlandoregon.gov or through the teams Twitter account: @PPBLiaison.

Oregonian Staff Writer Shane Dixon Kavanaugh contributed to this story.

-- Maxine Bernstein

Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212

Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian

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Tania Franco Klein, born in 1990 in Mexico City, photographs isolation, psychological destabilization and other disorders most people dont want to talk about. Instead of sweeping such negative emotions under the rug, Franco Klein prefers to show them in all their colorful glory, preferably in large format prints on the wall of a gallery. As a Canson Infinity Ambassador, she talks about experimentation with lighting, her favorite Canson Infinity papers and how they facilitate turning her vision into a physical embodiment of her art.



Tania Franco Kleins work has been exhibited across Europe, USA, and Mexico, including international fairs such as Photo Basel, Photo London, and during the Los Angeles Month of Photography. She lives in Mexico City and Los Angeles.



Millennial tension as a contemporary condition

Philosopher Byung-Chul Han says that we live in an era of exhaustion and fatigue, caused by an incessant compulsion to perform. We have left behind the immunological era, and now experience the neuronal era characterized by neuropsychiatric diseases such as depression, attention deficit, hyperactivity and bipolar disorders.





All rights reserved  Tania Franco Klein



Tania Franco Kleins autobiographical photography explores this burnout culture by taking topics of disconnection in everyday life, both within ourselves and others. She also investigates the different scenarios or social practices that lead to the emotions created by this disconnection. She creates tableaux, which consists of constructing sets, altering existing locations and staging scenes. As a starting point, these scenes are created by using the psychological states of what her characters are experiencing.



The characters in my photographs have the constant need to escape, to always look outside, says Tania. My characters find themselves almost anonymous, melting in places, vanishing into them, constantly looking for any possibility of escape. They find themselves alone, desperate and exhausted. Constantly in an odd line between trying and feeling defeated.
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.

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
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services wants to collect biometric data from legal immigrants and their U.S. citizen sponsors. (Cortesia / HODELETE 30)

You might think that the massive collection of biometric data from legal immigrants seeking or holding green cards, as well as from some of their U.S. citizen sponsors, would be a bridge too far even for the Trump administration. But when it comes to intrusive immigration policy, no bridge is too far for this crew.

The Department of Homeland Security, through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, proposed new rules this month that would let the department collect DNA, iris scans, voice prints and photos to feed facial recognition programs from anyone seeking or holding a green card. At the moment, that group consists of more than 12 million people who are already lawful permanent residents of the United States.

But the government doesnt want to stop there. According to the proposed rule, the government also is considering collecting that biometric data from U.S. citizens who have sponsored an immigrant, most often through family reunification. DHS proposes that any applicant, petitioner, sponsor, beneficiary, or individual filing or associated with a benefit or other request, including U.S. citizens and without regard to age, must appear for biometrics collection unless the government decides its not necessary. There may be limited circumstances where biometric collection would be unnecessary or duplicative. Thats not a very big carve-out.

The blowback from immigration and privacy advocates was swift. Collecting a massive database of genetic blueprints wont make us safer, said Andrea Flores, deputy director of immigration policy for the American Civil Liberties Union. It will simply make it easier for the government to surveil and target our communities and to bring us closer to a dystopian nightmare. Ur Jaddou, former USCIS chief counsel during the Obama administration, told Buzzfeed News: It is stunning. What is the reason for this? What is the problem they are trying to solve?

The reason, according to USCIS, is the government wants tools to better verify the identity of immigrants, although it has not made the case that it is having a problem doing that now. And given the pretexts President Trump has offered for other immigration crackdowns  forcing asylum seekers to wait in Mexico for processing; separating children from parents as a deterrent to others; banning entry by people from predominately Muslim countries  this administration does not have a well of credibility to draw from.

Story continues

Yes, the government has a responsibility to vet the identities and backgrounds of people seeking to immigrate; it currently relies primarily on fingerprints, photographs and documents. It also has begun using DNA tests to verify the familial connections of people seeking asylum, and is collecting DNA from all detained immigrants to check against criminal databases. The broad contours included in these new proposed rules would amount to an audacious violation of privacy of people who have permission to be here. And that violation would explode into unconscionable overreach if the government starts amassing a biometrics database on citizens who support legal immigrants in their quest for permanent residency.

Trump has overseen one of the darkest chapters in the nations approach to immigration, on par with the 19th century laws that barred Chinese immigrants outright and later laws that favored arrivals from predominately white Western and Northern European countries. Remember, Trump launched his campaign in 2015 with a speech denouncing immigrants from Mexico in crass and offensive terms. It's been downhill ever since, including his broad denigration of people from shithole countries in Africa and Central America.

Trumps done all this with, at a minimum, the tacit support of mainstream Republican lawmakers like Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield, who have been largely silent in the face of the presidents inhumane acts and blatantly racist statements. So its probably asking too much that the political party that purportedly believes in a smaller, less intrusive government might stand up against Trumps efforts to create a database of personal biometric data for the sole purpose of identifying people who are complying with federal immigration law. But its not too much to hope that voters will add this bit of overreach to the bill of particulars they consult as they look at their November ballots.
Facebook has said it will stop operating in Europe because of the actions of regulators. As reported by Vice, Facebook has made a strong threat in order to try and force European regulators to give way over the transfer of data.

This is not the first time Facebook has tried to take action in Europe to influence its policy decisions. Back in July, it flipped the script and sued the EU over data requests. Back in 2019, a report revealed the extent of how large Facebooks anti-privacy lobbying effort in Europe.

If Facebook was to follow through with this threat it would pull its services from over 400 million users on the continent. This all comes about after the EU looks to tighten up on Facebooks ability to transfer data across the Atlantic.

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Facebook threatens to pull its European operations

In a court filing, Facebook has said that a decision by Irelands Data Protection Commission (DPC) would force the company to pull its European operations. This would leave over 400 million users without access to Facebook or Instagram.

Yvonne Cunnane, who is Facebook Irelands head of data protection and associate general counsel, was the individual to make the statement. It read it is not clear to [Facebook] how, in those circumstances, it could continue to provide the Facebook and Instagram services in the EU.

This all comes back to a preliminary order to stop the data transfer of European customers to servers in the U.S. The reason for the order was due to concerns over U.S. government surveillance of users data.

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Facebook then hit back by filing a lawsuit over Irish DPCs ban. It has now gone further by leveling accusations about the Irish data-protection commissioner. These include a lack of fairness and also a bias in singling out Facebook.

Facebook raises fairness issues over DPC ban

Cunnane has pointed out that Facebook only got given three weeks to respond to the decision. She describes the period as manifestly inadequate.

She also raises concerns about the fact that the decision was made solely by Helen Dixon, Irelands data protection commissioner. Cunnane then raised concerns that [Facebook] is not being treated equally.

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The DPC has refused to comment on the issue. Facebook has said that they are not trying to threaten the EU. However, the company points out that they rely on data transfers between the EU and the US.

Facebooks challenge on the ban has been allowed which has delayed it for now. The main issue Facebook has with the decision made by regulators in Europe is that it would fundamentally affect their business model.

Facebook relies on the fast and easy transfer of data across the globe. That allows them to quickly target users with ads.

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However, privacy experts believe that this threat is little more than an empty promise. So do not expect Facebook to leave the European market as that is very unlikely. However, the whole legal situation does raise a lot of issues with the way data is transferred across the world.
The stakes on Election Day are huge, and voters on both sides will want some indication that night of how the race is trending. The networks plan to use exit polls, which this year will include telephone sampling that captures absentee voters. There are two polling consortia: the National Election Pool, used by ABC, CBS, CNN and NBC; and VoteCast, used by Fox News and the Associated Press. Competing narratives shouldnt be a danger here. Two high-quality surveys are better than one, argued Scott Clement, the polling director at The Post, who has used both.
| By Laura Lee

A black drape hangs over the courtroom door at the Supreme Court as mourners gather on the hallowed steps to pay respects to the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died Sept. 18 due to complications of metastatic pancreatic cancer. She was 87 years old.

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (right) with Doris Patz at the opening of the Nathan Patz Law Center in 2002. Photo credit: Bill McAllen

The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) is also honoring the trailblazing justice, who was the second woman appointed to the court and served more than 27 years.

In a letter to the Maryland law community, Dean Donald B. Tobin, JD, said the late justice was a historic legal figure who made lifelong contributions to womens rights and gender equality.

Lawyers and law students will study her decisions and the cases she litigated for decades, and her work both as a litigator and jurist laid the groundwork for a more just and equitable society, he said.

The justice had a special connection to the law school that began when she attended the opening of the Nathan Patz Law Center in 2002. She also was celebrated in the opera Scalia/Ginsburg written by Maryland Carey Law alum Derrick Wang 13. The opera was inspired by the opinions of Ginsburg and Scalia and the deep friendship that existed between them despite differences in their judicial philosophies.

UMB President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS, echoed Tobins sentiments in a statement that called the justice a transformative figure who dismantled systemic biases against women.

Whether it was fighting for equal rights to enter a contract, or recognizing a womans right to maintain employment and have children, Justice Ginsburg fought for gender equality and dignity, said Jarrell.

Maryland Carey Law Associate Professor Natalie Ram, JD, who clerked for Justice Stephen Breyer during the October 2010 Supreme Court term, said she grew up in Ginsburgs America. She has really touched the fabric of what it means to be an American woman. You just can't overstate that, said Ram.

Rams recollections were part of a Law School community forum convened to celebrate the life and legacy of the late justice. In addition to Ram, Professors Michael Greenberger, JD; Paula Monopoli, JD; Robert Percival, JD, MA; Mark Graber, JD, PhD; and former Dean Karen Rothenberg, JD, shared personal stories about the justice and her opinions.

Ram recalled sitting in the justices chambers during an annual tea she hosted for clerks and being starstruck. I remember sitting at tea with her and feeling really keenly aware that I was sitting with a living legend.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg will lie in repose at the Supreme Court of the United States on Wednesday, Sept. 23, and Thursday, Sept. 24. On Friday, Sept. 25, she will be the first woman to lie in state in the U.S. Capitol  an honor befitting her pioneering advocacy of womens rights.
CURVE LAKE  Residents of Curve Lake First Nation now have a new tower thats expected to boost cellular reception and eventually provide better Wi-Fi connectivity.

The 90-metre temporary signal boosting Bell tower will give residents better reception in well-known dead-zone areas throughout the community.

Bell is planning a community consultation about the cell tower within the next few weeks.

The cell tower is something the community desperately needs, according to Chief Emily Whetung.

This project is to the benefit all of our members and every possible precaution and consideration is taken into account for health and safety, Whetung wrote in a letter sent to the community.

The upcoming community consultation will provide information to determine if the site selected will be the permanent location for the tower. Currently Curve Lake First Nation administration has selected a 450-square-metre area located at the waste transfer station situated in the middle of the community.

Even though the temporary tower is up, there will still be a community consultation, Whetung stated.

Community members have been concerned about lack of reception and poor quality of calls in Curve Lake and see better reception and Wi-Fi for students as a plus.

Curve Lake stands to earn just a little more than $14,000 per year with the cell tower project, which would then be used to aid with operational costs of the waste transfer station and lands department within the First Nation, according to Curve Lake band council meeting minutes from July 16.

The project is due for completion in the fall.

Bell must follow all CTRC regulations for consultation, including directly informing residents within 270 metres of the tower.

The project would begin providing there are no concerns, at which time the agreement then would be up for final approval, band council was told on July 16.

Our legal team is reviewing the agreement with Bell and has forwarded their recommendations back, Whetung said.
China sets 2060 goal to go carbon neutral

WORLD: Chinese President Xi Jinping vowed yesterday (Sept 22) that the worlds largest greenhouse gas polluter will peak emissions in 2030 and go carbon neutral by 2060, in what environmentalists hailed as a major step forward.

Chineseenvironmentpollution

By AFP

Wednesday 23 September 2020, 09:14AM

Chinese President Xi Jinping appears on an outdoor screen in Beijing as he speaks by video link at the United Nations General Assembly. Photo: AFP.

The goals were the most concrete yet announced by China, which accounts for one quarter of the planets 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 Londons Grantham Institute, called Xis pledge unexpected and eye-opening.

All in all, Chinas 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.
Safety Rings have been put in place on Sentosas beaches, indicating spots where small groups of up to five may gather. (PHOTO: Sentosa)

SINGAPORE  Members of the public who wish to visit Sentosas beaches (Tanjong, Palawan and Siloso) during peak periods (weekends and public holidays) will soon be required to book their entry into the beaches prior to visiting, as part of efforts to enhance guest experience and safety. The enforcement of this safety measure will take effect from 17 October 2020.

The reservation-only entry into the beaches is aimed at facilitating safety management measures as well as reducing queues and waiting time to enter the beaches, as crowds and queues have been observed forming during peak periods.

The beach entry booking system will be trialled for an initial period of three months, during which Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) will monitor guest behaviour and feedback, regularly review the reservation and redemption process and make adjustments where necessary.

In addition, Safety Rings have been put in place on Sentosas beaches, indicating spots where small groups of up to five may gather. When using these Safety Rings, which are demarcated by rope squares in the sand, groups should keep within the allocated space and observe a minimum safe distance of one metre from other groups and guests.

Beach reservation and entry process

In line with the safe distancing measures, Tanjong, Palawan and Siloso beaches have been segmented into a total of seven zones, each with a capacity limit ranging between 100 and 350.

Key things to note while making reservations:

Bookings are to be made via www.sentosa.com.sg/beachreservations. Guests may pre-book their entry up to seven days before their intended beach visits, subject to capacity limits. For its initial roll-out, the reservation system will begin accepting bookings from 10 October 2020, for visits commencing from 17 October 2020. Guests may choose from two time slots to visit: Morning (8am  1pm), or afternoon (2pm  7pm). Guests may make reservations for up to five persons in each booking. Upon successful booking, guests will receive an email confirming their selected beach zone and time slot. On the day of the visit, guests should approach the Beach Entry Kiosk of their selected zone, and present their confirmation email for verification. Guests may access the selected beach zone anytime during the reserved time slot. Upon successful verification of the booking by staff at the Beach Entry Kiosk, guests will be issued with wristbands for admission into the beach zone. Guests will be required to leave the beaches at the end of their selected time slots, or at any time prior at their convenience. Guests who decide to change their plans after making a booking are reminded to cancel their reservations and give up their slots to other guests.

Story continues

On weekdays, guests may enter the beaches without a reservation, subject to the capacity limits. Guests should also note that Sentosas beaches will be closed between 7pm and 8am daily.

(PHOTO: Sentosa)

Reservation of beach game courts

A total of 15 beach courts across Tanjong, Palawan and Siloso beaches will be made available for booking, for guests who wish to play court-based games such as beach volleyball.

The booking process for beach game courts are similar to that for general beach entry. Guests who have booked beach courts are not required to make another booking for beach entry.

For the safety of guests, only up to five persons are permitted to play in each court-based game. There should be no intermingling between groups of players or cross-court games.

Guests strongly encouraged to make prior reservations at other offerings

Guests who wish to visit other offerings in Sentosa such as food and beverage establishments and attractions are also strongly encouraged to make prior reservations, and pre-purchase tickets online where appropriate, before arriving. This will reduce queuing time for guests and enhance safe distancing.

Guests may make their reservations with the respective establishments directly or via their booking platforms.

Palawan Beach Zones. (PHOTO: Sentosa)

Siloso Beach Zones. (PHOTO: Sentosa)

Tanjong Beach Beach Zones. (PHOTO: Sentosa)

For more information, go to www.sentosa.com.sg/beachreservations
Thursday's attack on Health Minister Jenny Mikakos by a health union accusing her of "breathtaking incompetence" and demanding her sacking has been dismissed by the powerful nurses' union as an internal Labor factional hit.

Health Workers Union secretary Diana Asmar has written to Premier Daniel Andrews calling for the removal of Ms Mikakos over her handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and a dispute over the privatisation of a hospital in Melbourne's south-east.

Health Workers Union is calling on Daniel Andrews to sack Health Minister Jenny Mikakos. Credit:Joe Armao

In her letter, which went public as Ms Mikakos prepared to appear on Thursday morning at the inquiry into the government's ill-fated hotel quarantine program, Ms Asmar accuses the minister of "arrogance and pomposity" and says the HWU will campaign against Labor at the 2022 state election.
Over the past five years, the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation has expanded its reach from a small room in Chancellors Hall at the University of Manitoba to an internationally recognized example of leadership in reconciliation.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/9/2020 (486 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Over the past five years, the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation has expanded its reach from a small room in Chancellors Hall at the University of Manitoba to an internationally recognized example of leadership in reconciliation.

Pursuing its mandate to preserve the legacy of the residential school system in Canadas history, the NCTR released a five-year report Tuesday, highlighting its accomplishments from 2014 to 2019, and looking ahead to its lasting future.

"The fact that we have an NCTR is an accomplishment in and of itself, and I think what the report speaks to is a lot of the hard work thats been happening by a really dedicated and passionate team, oftentimes behind the scenes," said director Ry Moran, who has headed up the centre since its beginnings in 2014.

The team has grown to 20 staff, and has expanded  through its many partnerships  onto an international stage. The NCTR has welcomed groups from Mali, Ivory Coast, Taiwan, and Norway to learn from one another and exchange knowledge in the pursuit of reconciliation and justice.

On the home front, the centre was recognized as a Canada Memory of the World by the Canadian advisory committee for UNESCO in 2019.

"Weve had really an incredible diversity of groups from around the world come and learn from what were doing, what we did at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (of Canada), and the path that were continuing to walk," Moran said in an interview Tuesday.

"That reflects how important this conversation of truth and reconciliation is, not only on a national basis, but also on an international basis  the pursuit of human rights, of justice and equality, of fairness is an issue that is present in many nations."

Moran said the collection of knowledge gathered by the NCTR has been a large part of the centres success in recent years, in particular the ability to repatriate residential school records to families and survivors.

Education sits at the centre of the NCTR mandate, and making the broad collection of information available to filmmakers, journalists and other storytellers has helped to "better understand who Canada is," Moran said.

In 2018, the centre worked to help publish the Indigenous Peoples Atlas, an educational resource now available in every school in Alberta. In 2019, it launched the National Student Memorial Register: an online resource which maintains an active list of the names of children who never returned home from residential schools.

Looking ahead, Moran acknowledged the centre still has work to do, and plans to pursue its mandate for education long into the future.

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On Sept. 30, the centre will hold one of the largest educational events on truth and reconciliation in the countrys history, with a live educational session scheduled to be broadcast to more than 300,000 students grades 5 to 12 from coast to coast, and aired on national news networks.

The program will reflect storytelling from Indigenous Peoples in all corners of the nation, Moran said. "What were trying to do as a nation is overcome a great series of biases, prejudices, racism and ignorance towards Indigenous Peoples." Ultimately, Moran said, the centre hopes to build a permanent home in Winnipeg, on the banks of the Red River, that will be reflective of the centres mandate, the public nature of the work, and provide space for "dialogue, events and education."

Though Moran himself will no longer lead the NCTR as of Oct. 1, and the centre will be on the hunt for a new leader at its helm, he encouraged all Canadians to think of what a lasting future for the centre could look like.

"What kind of gathering space can we create and how can we build that together so that we as a city, we as a province and we as country say very clearly and very loudly that this is essential, it is permanent, and that the conversation of truth and reconciliation will be continuing for decades to come," Moran said.

julia-simone.rutgers@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jsrutgers
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Advancement at last client ventures, for example, family unit cleansers, individual consideration, and others in the created and the creating economies helps the development of the market. Besides, low costs and simple accessibility of surfactants because of innovatively propelled procedures and business plausibility are the components anticipated to fuel the development of the surfactants showcase. Be that as it may, unpredictability in costs of crude materials, for example, ethylene, benzene and n-paraffin controls the market development. On the other hand, the expansion in worldwide interest for individual consideration items, for example, shampoos, skincare moisturizers and different style gives development chances to the surfactants market. Personal care is a noteworthy application for surfactants, as they are one of the vital fixings required in healthy skin, hair care, balms, gels, creams, and other corrective items. The business is developing quickly as close to home consideration items have appeal among clients. The expansion in spending on better close to home consideration items is driving the surfactants advertise. Additionally, the retail division is getting composed in rising economies, for example, China, India, and Brazil which is likewise assisting individual consideration industry with flourishing. The business is constantly developing to consent to changing purchaser inclinations. Prior cleansers and shampoos were the real application regions of surfactants in this industry. Nonetheless, the utilization of surfactants in different restorative items, for example, chilly creams and salves is likewise picking up energy, along these lines driving the market. The developing spotlight on ""green science"" by numerous organizations to take care of the demand for eco-accommodating items from purchasers has taken the individual consideration industry to another measurement. These components emphatically impact the utilization of surfactants in the business. Global Surfacant Market report includes different applications such as Anionic Surfactants, Non-Ionic Surfactants, Cationic Surfactants and Amphoteric Surfactants.

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More Info of Impact Covid19 @ https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/covid-19-analysis/9314
Two soldiers and a policeman have been killed by gunmen in Abia State.

The soldiers attached to 14 Brigade headquarters, Ohafia were shot dead on Sunday at Owaza in Ukwa West council area of the state.

Their rifles were reportedly taken away by their killers, The Nation learnt on Monday.

A military source confirmed the incident on Monday, adding that another soldier was wounded and has been hospitalised.

The policeman, said to be an inspector, was reportedly killed when a large number of armed men attacked a checkpoint in Aba, the states commercial nerve.

Two of the attackers were killed, it was said.

Two policemean with severe machete wounds were being treated in hospital, The Nation gathered.

Police spokesman Geoffrey Ogbonna confirmed the attack on the policemen, adding that a suspect has been arrested as investigation continued.

In a statement, Information Commissioner John Okiyi said Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has directed security agencies in the state to ensure that perpetrators of the attacks are apprehended immediately and the stolen weapons recovered.



Source: https://thenationonlineng.net/gunmen-kill-two-soldiers-policeman-in-abia/
[September 23, 2020] The UK to Lead the Flash Storage Market in Europe Sydney, Sept. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of Paul Budde Communications focus report on UK outlines the major developments and key aspects in the telecoms markets. Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/UK-Data-Center-Market-Investment-Analysis-and-Growth-Opportunities-2020-2025 The data center market in UK dominates the IT Infrastructure spend in Europe. Increasing investments in technologies such as AI, IoT, and 5G applications will continue to grow the market revenue in the UK. The IoT spending in the country was estimated to be over $25 billion by 2025. Hybrid storage arrays and all-flash storage systems will witness a YoY growth at over 20% during the forecast period. Growing investments in startups using big data analytics and IoT applications is expected to increase the demand for all-flash storage by 2025. Brexit has brought uncertainties among cloud providers in terms of storage and retrieval of customer data. European companies that are associated with the UK data center market are migrating workloads to the UK, the Netherlands, France, and other EU countries. In 2020, the increase in cloud services demand has led to the launch of 10 new services, such as, cybersecurity by Microsoft in the UK. Also, AWS and Microsoft Azure are the dominant players in the UK cloud market. What is the Impact of the Current COVID-19 Pandemic in the UK Market? Non-essential construction projects have been brought to a halt to avoid the spread of the virus. The pandemic has already postponed the construction of facilities and halted the ongoing construction of facilities in the UK. In May 2020, around 85% of the construction inustries have opened. The impact of COVID-19 on the data center market in UK is moderate. However, COVID-19 will have a high impact on upcoming projects. What are the Key Factors Attracting Investment in the UK? The increase in cloud adoption will boost the investments in the data center market in UK. The cloud adoption among the UK enterprises is over 50% with a minimum of one service. In February 2020, Google announced the migration of the UK user data related to services such as Gmail, YouTube, and Android Play Store from Ireland to the US to avoid post Brexit legal risks. In 2020, the increase in cloud services demand will lead to the launch of 10 new services (such as cybersecurity) by Microsoft in the UK. What Business Intelligence does this Report Provide? The report provides the UK 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 data center market in UK is included in the report. Furthermore, the report also includes a detailed analysis of the colocation industry, and retail & wholesale colocation pricing in the UK. A detailed study of the existing market landscape, an in-depth industry analysis, and insightful predictions about the UK data center market size during 2020-2025, is included in this report. The report further categorizes the data center market in UK into multiple segments and sub-segments with sizing and forecast. The report also profiles prominent investors, construction contractors, and infrastructure vendors in the data center market in UK. Key Developments The demand for edge data centers is growing with the implementation of commercial 5G networks in the UK.

The UK government dedicated nearly $80 million to create industries that enable the use of 5G services.

Increasing investments in technology such as AI, IoT, and 5G applications will continue to drive the revenue of the server segment in the country.

VRLA UPS systems are dominating the market with an adoption rate of more than 85%. However, it is estimated that lithium-ion UPS systems will replace VRLA UPS systems.

Intelligent PDUs dominate the market because of the need to run a sustainable environment, which consumes low power.

Data center operators are expected to adopt evaporative and economizer-based cooling solutions. However, the UK region is witnessing the adoption of liquid immersion cooling solutions. Key Companies Mentioned in this Report Include IT Infrastructure Providers  Atos, Arista, Broadcom, Cisco, Dell Technologies, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Huawei, IBM, Lenovo, NetApp Construction Contractors  Arup, Bouygues Construction, RED Engineering, Mentor Construction, Mountfield Group plc, Infiniti, 2bm, Structure Tone, ARC:MC, Mercury Engineering, Natta, Hurley Palmer Flatt, Skanska, ISG plc, Sudlows Support Infrastructure Providers  ABB, Caterpillar, Climaveneta, Cummins, KINOLT (Euro-Diesel), Eaton, Legrand, Mitsubishi Electric, MTU Onsite Energy, Socomec, KOHLER SDMO, Rittal, Schneider Electric, Riello UPS, Stulz, Vertiv Data Center Investors - Athena Vaults, China Mobile International, Colt DCS, CyrusOne, Digital Realty (Interxion), Equinix , Iron Mountain, Netwise, NTT Global Data Centers, VIRTUS Data Centre (STT GDC)

Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/UK-Data-Center-Market-Investment-Analysis-and-Growth-Opportunities-2020-2025 Nicolas Bombourg nbombourg@budde.com.au Europe Office +44 207 097 1241 Oceania Office +61 280 767 665

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Telugu Desam Party (TDP) along with devotees held protest demonstrations at different places demanding Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy to sign the mandatory 'declaration' before entry into Tirumala temple today.

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) along with devotees held protest demonstrations at different places demanding Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy to sign the mandatory declaration before entry into Tirumala temple today.

The TDP leaders urged the CM to uphold the traditions of the temple by declaring his faith in the deity. Former President Abdul Kalam also signed the declaration. There were many instances of non-Hindu visitors having signed the declaration before taking darshan at TTD temple.

The Opposition leaders were carrying out a parallel agitation demanding the YSRCP Government to take action against the culprits involved in attacks on temples. They blamed the Governments negligence for the chariot burning incidents at Antarvedi and Konda Bitragunta, and the mysterious missing of three lions at Vijayawada Kanaka Durga Temple. Scores of attacks took place on the temples in the past 100 days but the Government was standing like a silent spectator.

Though the police made preventive arrests in Chittoor district and in Tirupati town, the TDP leaders came out and registered their protest against the YSRCP leaders for asking for the removal of declaration. Former Minister N Amaranath Reddy and other leaders were placed under house arrest during the day.

Also read: Monsoon session: Rajya Sabha adjourns sine die; Opposition leaders meet Prez Kovind over farm bill

Also read: Amid Farm bills row, HD Deve Gowda says parliament cant run on emotions; urges BJP-Cong to sit together for peoples interest

Former Minister Kalva Srinivasulu and former MLA Prabhakar Chowdary wrote a letter to TTD Executive Officer to take declaration from the Chief Minister in accordance with the temple rules.

Holding placards and raising slogans, the TDP leaders and activists held a protest programme in front of the Varadarajula Swamy Temple in Tirupati. They demanded that the CM should come along with his spouse to present the sacred silken robes to the Tirumala deity.

At a protest at Rajahmundry, the TDP leaders asserted that if Jagan Reddy would not like to give his declaration, he should not come for the darshan. Some other Minister having faith in the deity may be deputed to take part in the Brahmotsavam celebrations.

The TDP protests were organised in Tirupati town, Visakhapatnam, Nandigama, Nellimarla, Rajahmundry and other places in the State. Telugu Mahila President V Anitha said that the Chief Minister should demonstration his respect for the temple by signing the declaration before entry into the premises. The CM should set an ideal example for others to preserve and uphold the long-standing conventions at the temples.

Also read: India is proud, Rajnath Singh congratulates DRDO for successfully test firing Laser-guided ATGM
The Vice-Presidential Candidate of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has put on hold her campaign in the Central Region.

Her decision comes a few days after the party's Flagbearer, John Mahama suspended his four-day campaign tour of the Bono Region over the alleged missing names in the voters register.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang did not state what necessitated the suspension of her campaign in the region she hails from.

She, however, clarified that the decision was taken in consultation with the Flagbearer of the party.

Effective close of day today, the running mate will suspend her campaign tour of the Central Region. There are a number of reasons for that. However, it is a national decision taken in consultation with the Flagbearer who has also suspended his campaign activities effective today. Details will be given tomorrow by the Flagbearer and the party a statement signed by Mawuena Trebarh, Spokesperson and Head of Communications for the running mate said.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang was expected to embark on a six-day campaign tour of the Central Region.

She was visiting the region after touring eight other regions where she propagated the NDC's manifesto.

---Daily Guide
(ST. JOSEPH, Mo.) The conversation continues to protect minors in St. Joseph who are undergoing conversion therapy.

"No one admits to practicing it because it's controversial," Michael Jasper Vice-Chair of the Human Rights Commission said.

The Human Rights Commission drafted a proposal that would ban the controversial therapy in St. Joseph.

The discussion started months ago, but the coronavirus put the conversation on hold.

"The Human Rights Commission was created to advise the city council and to educate them where we can. The conversion ban therapy is kind of a pet project for us for some time, because it's so damaging, Jasper said.

According to the 'Human Rights Campaign' website, conversion therapy is a dangerous practice that targets LGTBQ youth and seeks to change their sexual or gender identities.

The commission in St. Joseph says this is nothing new in the professional world.

"The American Psychiatric Association, the American Medical Association, and countless other organizations, which, I'm sure we'll get into in work sessions and all, all of those organizations say that it doesn't work and that it's damaging, Jasper said.

If it were to pass, the ban would not include religious institutions, but would affect licensed counselors and therapists.

"You know it has no impact whatsoever on a pastor or church representative doing counseling, which of course is common practice, it does not affect that, Jasper said. The only time it would affect them would be if say, you have a pastor who is also a licensed counselor or psychologist, they would have to abide by the ordinance."

St. Joseph could become the fourth city in Missouri if the city passes the ban.

Kansas City, Columbia and St. Louis has already taken the steps to ban the practice on young children in Missouri.

"You know, at the end of the day, it's child abuse, Jasper said. If a person who is an adult decides to have that kind of therapy and feels like, you know, it would benefit them, you know, that's their choice; adults can do whatever they want. But, minors are at the mercy of their parents or guardians. We believe that the city has a responsibilty to protect them from child abuse."

The ban was originally presented to the city council back in March.

The conversation will continue at the next Human Rights Commission meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 20 at City Hall.
An international team of archaeologists from University College London, the Cyprus Institute and the University of Cambridge has analyzed finds from the 11th-century CE archaeological site of Chahak in southern Iran and found evidence for the intentional and regular addition of the chromium mineral chromite to the crucible charge, resulting in steel containing around 1 wt% chromium.

For more than a century, evidence for the production of crucible steel in Central and Southern Asia, prior to the European Industrial Revolution, has fascinated and challenged material scientists, historians and archaeologists.

At the same time, chromium-alloyed stainless steel was developed in the early 20th century, building upon 19th century experiments with low chromium steel.

Our research provides the first evidence of the deliberate addition of a chromium mineral within steel production. We believe this was a Persian phenomenon, said lead author Dr. Rahil Alipour, a researcher in the Institute of Archaeology at University College London.

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 artifacts 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 CE as a once famous steel production center, and is the only known archaeological site within Irans 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 Kitab al-Jamahir fi Marifah al-Jawahir (The Book Most Comprehensive in Knowledge on Precious Stones, 10th-11th-century CE) written by the Persian polymath Abu-Rayhan Biruni, was of particular importance to the scientists given it provided the only known crucible steel making recipe.

Dr. Alipour and colleagues argue that the mysterious compound rusakhtaj from Birunis recipe refers to the mineral chromite.

They also used radiocarbon dating of a number of charcoal pieces retrieved from within a crucible slag and a smithing slag found at the archaeological site of Chahak in southern Iran to date the industry to the 11th to 12th century CE.

Crucially, scanning electron microscopy technique enabled them to identify remains of chromite.

They also detected 1-2 wt% 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.

In a 13th century Persian manuscript, Chahak steel was noted for its fine and exquisite patterns, but its swords were also brittle, hence they lost their market value, said Professor Thilo Rehren, an archaeologist in the Institute of Archaeology at University College London and the Cyprus Institute.

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 (around 1 wt%) steel.

The process of identification can be quite long and complicated and this is for several reasons, said Professor Marcos Martinon-Torres, an archaeologist in the Department of Archaeology at the University of Cambridge.

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.

The findings were published online in the Journal of Archaeological Science.

_____

Rahil Alipour et al. Chromium crucible steel was first made in Persia. Journal of Archaeological Science, published online September 23, 2020; doi: 10.1016/j.jas.2020.105224
Here are the APs latest coverage plans, top stories and promotable content. All times EDT. For up-to-the minute information on APs coverage, visit Coverage Plan at https://newsroom ap.org.



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GERMANY-RUSSIA-NAVALNY  Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny released from German hospital after poisoning treatment. SENT: 190 words, photo.



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LEBANON-AP-PHOTO-SYRIAN-FAMILY  An image captured by an Associated Press photographer showing a dust-covered girl carried against a mans shoulder, a gash bleeding from her forehead, has come to symbolize the devastation of the Aug. 4 blast at the Beirut port. The explosion took 193 lives and wounded 6,500. Among the dead are at least 43 Syrians, plunging a war-weary community into further misery. The story behind the photo reflects the particular pain of Syrian refugee families in Lebanon, which is now home to about a million Syrians. By Zeina Karam and Hassan Ammar. SENT: 1,360 words, photos. An abridged version of 1,000 words is also available.

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VIRUS OUTBREAK-MILESTONE-POLITICS  The Trump administration has prioritized politics over science at key moments over the past six months, refusing to follow expert advice that might have contained the spread of the novel coronavirus. President Donald Trump and his people have routinely dismissed experts assessments and have tried to muzzle scientists who dispute the administrations rosy spin. By Jason Dearen. SENT: 1,870 words, photos. An abridged version of 950 words is also available.

Find more coverage on the 2020 U.S. Elections featured topic page on APNewsroom

SUPREME COURT-GINSBURG MEMORIAL  Thousands of people are expected to pay their respects at the Supreme Court to the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the womens rights champion, leader of the courts liberal bloc and feminist icon who died last week. By Mark Sherman. SENT: 670 words, photos. UPCOMING: Events begin around 9:30 a.m.

SUPREME COURT-PICKING A JUSTICE  Trump is flying by the seat of his pants with his frequent public deliberations on replacing Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court, a process thats moving at warp speed. By Aamer Madhani, Jessica Gresko and Steve Peoples. SENT: 1,170 words, photos. With SUPREME COURT-VACANCY  Senate GOP plans vote on Trumps court pick before election; SUPREME COURT-CHANGES  Some Democrats, not yet Biden, talk of expanding Supreme Court.

UN-GENERAL-ASSEMBLY-PANDEMIC SPEAKERS  For some world leaders the pandemic brings an opportunity. This years virtual U.N. gathering means those who generally wouldnt appear before the world body will have a chance to address the globe. Venezuelas Nicolas Maduro, Saudi Arabias 84-year-old King Salman and Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte are all scheduled to speak. By Christine Armario. SENT: 1,030 words, photo.

UN-GENERAL-ASSEMBLY-TELLING-COVIDS-STORY  The subject: coronavirus. The status: urgent. The solutions: as diverse as the nations they lead. With the 75th annual U.N. General Assembly reduced to recorded speeches because of the pandemic, leaders are using this week as an opportunity to depict the pandemic from the vantage points of their nations and themselves  and present their visions of efforts to fight the virus and advocate what they believe must be done. By Peter Prengaman. SENT: 1,110 words, photos.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-SIERRA LEONE-DOCTORS MISSION  Dr. Mamadu Baldeh cant forget the 18-year-old who came into his hospital with COVID-19, gasping for air until the day he died. This suffering was all too real for Baldeh, who battles asthma just as that young man did. At the time, Baldeh, 32, was the only physician treating COVID-19 patients at Sierra Leones main public hospital. By Carley Petesch. SENT: 790 words, photos.

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A separate wire advisory has moved detailing our complete coronavirus coverage.

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BRITAIN-US-ISLAMIC STATE  Britain turns over evidence to U.S. in IS Beatles" case. SENT: 240 words.

BLACK RUNNER ASSAULTED  Recorded attack on Black runner in New York is charged as a hate crime. SENT: 250 words, video.

JOSHUA TREE-ENDANGERED SPECIES  California accepts petition to protect western Joshua tree. SENT: 480 words, photos.

PENCE-PLANE  Vice President Mike Pences jet returns to airport after hitting bird on takeoff. SENT: 90 words, photos, video.

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WASHINGTON/2020 ELECTION

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CONGRESS-GOVERNMENT-FUNDING  Democrats and Republicans in a bitterly divided U.S. House vote to take a government shutdown off the table this fall, giving a big, bipartisan vote to a temporary government-wide funding bill. SENT: 940 words, photos.

ELECTION 2020-BIDEN-ALWAYS LATE  Joe Bidens tardiness on the campaign trail is becoming more conspicuous. SENT: 1,060 words, photo.

ELECTION 2020-MESSAGING  The fight to fill a suddenly vacant Supreme Court seat has become an afterthought for Biden, but not for Trump. SENT: 830 words, photos.

CANDIDATE-FORUM  Republican U.S. Senate candidate Lauren Witzke defends a controversial meme in a Facebook post by her campaign after the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. SENT: 550 words.

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NATIONAL

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FEDERAL EXECUTIONS  The U.S. government executed a former soldier who said an obsession with witchcraft led him to kill a Georgia nurse he believed had put a spell on him. By Legal Affairs Writer Michael Tarm. SENT: 1,000 words, photos.

SEATTLE-POLICE-BUDGET  Seattle will reduce the police departments budget and reallocate some money to community programs after the City Council voted to override Mayor Jenny Durkans vetoes of adjustments to this years budget. SENT: 470 words, photo.

CALIFORNIA-DEPUTIES-FATAL-SHOOTING  A Black man shot and killed by Los Angeles County sheriffs deputies wasnt holding a gun when they opened fire, attorneys for his family say, contradicting a claim that he had picked up a dropped weapon during a struggle. SENT: 600 words, photos.

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INTERNATIONAL

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AUSTRALIA-STRANDED-WHALES  More pilot whales were found stranded in Australia, raising the estimated total to nearly 500, including 380 that have died, in the largest mass stranding ever recorded in the country. SENT: 450 words, photos.

MALAYSIA-POLITICS  Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim says he has secured a majority in Parliament to form a new government that is strong, stable and formidable. SENT: 370 words, photos.

KOREAS-MISSING-OFFICIAL  A South Korean official who disappeared off a government ship near the disputed sea boundary with North Korea this week may be in North Korea, South Koreas Defense Ministry says. SENT: 270 words.



BUSINESS/ECONOMY



FINANCIAL MARKETS  Markets were mixed in Asia as investors kept a wary eye on how the coronavirus pandemic will affect the economic outlook. By Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach. SENT: 630 words, photos.

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HOW TO REACH US

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At the Nerve Center, Jerome Minerva can be reached at 800-845-8450 (ext. 1600). For photos, Wally Santana (ext. 1900). For graphics and interactives, Dien Magno (ext. 7636). Expanded AP content can be obtained from http://newsroom.ap.org. For access to AP Newsroom and other technical issues, contact apcustomersupport(at)ap.org or call 877-836-9477.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size When Australians think about our Pacific Island neighbours, we picture pristine beaches, verdant jungles and delicious fresh seafood. At least, that's the cliche. But in a year in which a global pandemic has killed nearly a million people, the deaths of two people  Newcastle man Trent Lee, 40, and British national Luke Atkinson, 57 in a bomb blast captured headlines and left many shocked. Lee and Atkinson were working for Norwegian People's Aid, an organisation that operates in 19 countries to remove undetonated wartime explosives. How on Earth was a piece of unexploded ordnance (known as UXO) from World War II discovered in suburban Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands  75 years after the war ended? Was this unusual? And what is being done about this lethal legacy? During World War II, soldiers fire a camouflaged gun during a barrage in the Solomon Islands. Credit:Getty Images Why are there bombs in the Pacific? The challenges posed by anti-personnel and anti-tank landmines left behind after a war are relatively well known. Iraq, Afghanistan, Cambodia, Angola and Vietnam are among 10 countries estimated to have the worst contamination of landmines (defined as more than 100 square kilometres of land), according to the 2019 Landmine Monitor report.

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In total, an estimated 59 countries around the world have some level of landmine contamination and tens of millions of the deadly devices remain in the ground and active. Right on Australia's doorstep, a similarly sinister problem exists with unexploded ordnance and dumped munitions  bombs, artillery shells, hand grenades, some land mines and more  scattered across nine islands in the Pacific. The three worst-affected nations are Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Palau but the danger is also present in the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Tuvalu, Nauru, Kiribati and Vanuatu. There are no reliable estimates about what exactly was left behind in the Pacific islands by the United States, its allies including Australia, and Japan during World War II. Fierce, bloody battles were fought between the Japanese forces that had occupied places such as the Solomon Islands and Palau  as well as troops that had landed on PNG  and the US, Australia and other allies before Japan's eventual surrender in September 1945. Pushing back the Japanese advance meant fighting in the hills around Honiara, the Solomons' capital, battling through the fortified caves and bunkers of Peleliu, an island that is part of the Republic of Palau, and scrapping for airports and other strategic assets.

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Loading It also meant raining down thousands of tonnes of bombs and other munitions on some of the islands  some of which failed to explode and which remain in place. Troops also set up supply depots for fuel, weapons, munitions and more on other islands such as Espiritu Santo and Efate, Vanuatu. While the victorious American forces were supposed to "properly" dispose of all that unused UXO by taking it miles out to sea and dumping it in the water, in practice that didn't always happen. Sometimes the unused ordnance was just left behind or dumped in waters close to shore. It wasn't just weapons that were dumped, either. Off the coast of Espiritu Santo, a place dubbed "Million Dollar Point" is the final resting place for millions of dollars worth of trucks, bulldozers, jeeps, forklifts and even cases of Coca-Cola, according to the US-based Cabinet magazine. Camouflaged by the jungle and protected by sand bags, a Marine crew loads ammunition in the Solomon Islands, 1942. Credit:Getty Images What's the scale of the problem? John Rodsted, a Griffith University adjunct professor and former photojournalist who works for Safe Ground, an NGO that documents explosive remnants and how they impact communities in the Pacific, says it's difficult to estimate the exact amount of UXO left behind but "it's many millions of tonnes, but no one knows how big".

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"Vanuatu had four or five million tonnes dumped in its harbour." Australian National University military historian John Blaxland says the volume of dangerous, degrading munitions is "massive". Across the Pacific and elsewhere, people routinely die when they pick up something interesting they find from World War II. Military historian John Blaxland "As time goes on, as corrosion makes these pieces of ordnance more vulnerable, the challenges relating to their safe disposal grows. Across the Pacific and elsewhere, people routinely die when they pick up something interesting they find from World War II," he says. A thousand-pound US bomb pulled out of a lagoon on the southern tip of Peleliu, part of the Republic of Palau. This bomb was one of 40 found in the lagoon, a popular diving site with tourists. Credit:John Rodsted Marcus Fielding, a former Australian Army engineer deployed to Afghanistan and Pakistan in the early 1990s to train locals in how to dispose of unexploded ordnance, says "there is no effective way to estimate how big the problem is". "If you asked me about my degree of confidence on the estimated number of land mines [that still need to be disposed of], Id say 'low'. If you ask for an explosive ordnance figure  it would be impossible."

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In the Pacific during World War II, Fielding says, there wasn't a large use of land mines "but when you have two armies fighting each other you get a lot of ordnance that is stockpiled and then the end of the war is declared  and what you find in places like the Solomons [is] you get piles of ammunition left behind". Nearly 200 depth charges were discovered in the cargo hold of a Japanese shipwreck in Koror harbour, Palau. The charges are still in situ underwater today. Its estimated that if they were to detonate, the destruction radius would be two kilometres and the shockwave radius would be eight kilometres. Credit:Miriam Deprez Blaxland says Australia, through the Defence Force specialists, has been working with these Pacific states for decades to tackle the problem by running training programs for locals and clearing operations. He breaks down the problem into two parts. There are ones you have to treat carefully, place detonation material around them and blow them up. John Blaxland "There are bombs that are in good enough condition that they can be physically defused. And then there are ones you have to treat carefully, place detonation material around them and blow them up." Operation Render Safe is the Australian Defence Force's initiative to safely dispose of World War II-era explosive remnants, run at the request of Pacific governments. It began in 2009, and though hamstrung by COVID-19 travel restrictions at present, Defence is planning activities for 2021.

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The International Space Station was forced to make an emergency manoeuvre to avoid hitting a piece of a 2018 Japanese rocket, NASA confirmed.

Russian and US-based flight controllers on Earth worked together during a two-and-a-half minutes operation to adjust the station's orbit to avoid the collision.

Astronauts on the ISS - two Russians and an American - relocated to another area of the station to be near the Soyuz capsule in case evacuation was necessary.

The astronauts were able to return to their normal activities after the procedure, and the piece of debris passed within about a mile of the station.

The International Space Station - seen here on August 26, 2020 - performed a manoeuvre on September 22, 2020 to ensure it gets out of the way of a piece of space debris

The scrap was from a 2018 Japanese rocket that broke up into 77 different pieces last year, astronomer Jonathan McDowell said on Twitter.

'Manoeuvre Burn complete. The astronauts are coming out of safe haven,' NASA chief Jim Bridenstine said on Twitter after the event.

Bridenstine joined calls for better management of space junk in the future.

The ISS usually orbits 260 miles above the Earth, at a speed of about 17,000 miles per hour and at that velocity even a small object could cause serious damage.

The type of manoeuvre carried out to avoid the Japanese rocket fragment necessary on a regular basis due to the number of pieces of debris surrounding Earth.

NASA said 25 such manoeuvres had occurred between 1999 and 2018 but so far in 2020 there have already been three, according to Bridenstine.

The operations could become even more frequent as Earth's orbit becomes littered with pieces of satellites, rockets and other objects launched into space.

Accidental or deliberate collisions, including anti-satellite missile launches by India in 2019 and China in 2007, can break objects apart even further.

It is believed there are around 160million pieces of debris floating around Earth, trapped in our planet's gravity and travelling at 18,000mph.

Accidental or deliberate collisions, including anti-satellite missile launches by India in 2019 and China in 2007, can break objects apart even further

Of these, almost one million are believed to be larger than 0.4inches. If one of these were to collide with a satellite the damage would be devastating.

'Debris is getting worse! Time for Congress to provide @CommerceGov with the $15 mil requested by @POTUS for the Office of Space Commerce,' Bridenstine tweeted.

The Office of Space Commerce is a civilian organisation that supporters want to take over the surveillance of space junk, a job currently occupied by the military.

Astronomers are concerned that high-value craft in low-Earth orbit, such as the International Space Station (ISS), could be destroyed by a rogue piece of debris.

Currently, there is no way of accurately monitoring and tracking small pieces of debris which could be hurtling towards a multi-million pound satellite.
Its time for Hamilton city councillors to take a field trip.

They need to walk out of city hall, head a couple of blocks east on Main Street and spend some time in the John Sopinka Courthouse.

Because if they do that, they might just learn a thing or two about decorum.

Unless you live under a rock  or have become so disgusted you cant bear to pay attention anymore  you will know that some of our elected officials seem to have lost their minds.

Their bad behaviour has become so obnoxious and toxic that even Im writing about it. Me. The court columnist.

Recently I tweeted: You know, Im so grateful that I just cover murder trials and not city hall.

And its true.

Though the stakes are much higher in a murder trial than, say, a debate over SoBi bicycles, court manages not to devolve into a cesspool of ranting, raving and personal jibes.

Recently, Coun. Terry Whitehead was kicked out of a virtual meeting about the traffic calming of Aberdeen Avenue. His antics were that bad. Afterward he said: You cant expect politicians to be teetotallers. Weve got a huge responsibility and Im trying to fight the fight ...

You dont have to be a jerk to fight the fight. Not even when justice and lives hang in the balance.

Decorum and etiquette is paramount in a courtroom. It isnt just encouraged. It is insisted upon.

Not because the court is enslaved to tradition. Rather because nonsense is distracting. Solemnity is called for when serious, contentious and emotional issues are being decided. The process deserves to be respected. Reasoned arguments should always be more effective than bullying. And if youre going to make grown-up decisions, you should act like a grown-up.

If Hamilton councillors were to sit in on the Ontario Court of Justice or Superior Court of Justice, they might pick up some habits worthy of their council chambers, or at the very least, adopt the spirit of courtroom decorum:

When a judge enters the courtroom everyone rises to their feet to show respect. A judge is always addressed as Your Honour. A justice of the peace is Your Worship.

Opposing counsel is referred to as my friend  even if they are not.

Lawyers stand to address the court and if one lawyer is on their feet, all the others must be seated. Listening. Politely.

There is no grimacing or eye-rolling by lawyers or judges or court staff. No whispering. No interrupting at all unless it is a bona fide objection. And unless you wish shame upon yourself, your phone will be shut off. Completely.

Witnesses are addressed as mister or miss.

Members of the public who wish to see justice done have every right to be in an open courtroom and are treated respectfully because they, too, are participants in the process.

Proper dress must be worn by lawyers. Business attire in OCJ. Robes in SCJ. No jeans. No shorts. No flip-flops.

All court staff are to be treated professionally.

Always be on time. Which means, be early.

Being a city councillor is not an easy job. I couldnt do it.

But I expect my elected officials to be professional and respectful while performing the job I am paying them to do.

See you in court.
More in What you need to know for Wednesday, September 23 (12 of 23)
KN95 masks for sale at a face mask vending machine during the coronavirus pandemic in New York City on May 29, 2020. (Cindy Ord/Getty Images)

Up to 70 Percent of KN95 Masks From China Dont Meet US Health Standards, Study Says

Up to 70 percent of KN95 masks imported from China dont meet U.S. health standards and could endanger health care workers and patients, an independent medical product evaluation found.

As the name suggests, KN95 masks should be capable of filtering out 95 percent of hazardous particles in the air. The masks, which arent officially certified by U.S. authorities, are the Chinese version of the N95 model.

But recent testing determined that among almost 200 KN95 masks imported from China, 60 to 70 percent of them are significantly inferior and dont live up to the packaging claims.

The analysis sampled 15 Chinese manufacturers that supply major U.S. hospitals and health systems, according to Pennsylvania-based ECRI, a patient safety advocacy group that released the findings on Sept. 22. The lapse in quality prompted the ECRI to issue a hazard alert (.pdf).

Such alerts are usually reserved for situations when health care professionals need to be informed immediately, ECRI President and CEO Marcus Schabacker told The Epoch Times in an interview.

ECRI began testing the masks in April at the request of hospitals that have started sourcing from these Chinese suppliers, Schabacker said.

Thousands of manufacturing startups have sprung up in China to serve as conduits for medical supplieswhich were in dire shortage in the wake of the pandemic. Chinese KN95 masks have been among the most prevalent goods imported to the United States, the institute said.

There are currently around 35,000 mask suppliers in China, according to Schabackers estimates.

Were finding that many arent safe and effective against the spread of COVID-19, said Schabacker in a statement. He added that health care providers need to do more due diligence before purchasing masks that arent made or certified in America.

As a second defect, the Chinese masks ECRI tested all have ear loop straps rather than the head or neck band design that could seal the mask more tightly against the faceas required by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the U.S. federal agency overseeing workplace safety.

The institute suggested that healthcare workers use NIOSH-certified respirators, and only use KN95s or other alternatives as a last resort. These masks can still offer a higher level of protection than surgical or cloth masks, and might be suitable for medical staff not involved with high-risk proceduressuch as intubation, suction of airways, or swabbing of patients, Schabacker said.

While Chinese quality standards for such masks are essentially the same as those in the United States, there is no guarantee that what you buy will meet KN95 filtration requirements, the alert says.

It cautioned that one cannot judge the authenticity of a respirator by its appearance, labeling, or packaging. Some imported respirators, despite being labeled with the same model names, have a slightly different look and perform significantly differently in filtration testing, it said.

To ensure the quality of mask purchases, ECRI recommended that buyers request a test report about the mask performance for review, request samples for testing to verify its filtration efficiency, and check the strap area and conduct tests to ensure a proper fit.

A paramedic with Anne Arundel County Fire Department tests his N-95 mask at the start of his 24-hour shift in Glen Burnie, Md., on April 09, 2020. (Alex Edelman/AFP via Getty Images)

U.S. federal authorities have previously cracked down on faulty Chinese medical gear.

Most recently, custom officers in Chicago in September seized a half-million counterfeit N95 masks shipped from Chinas Shenzhen city. The officers had sent 30 masks from the shipment for testing, and 10 percent turned out to be substandard.

In June, prosecutors charged a Chinese mask producer for exporting more than 140,000 defective models advertised as KN95. The masks only filtered 22 percent of small particles, according to the Department of Justice.

In the same month, another Chinese manufacturer was charged with selling 495,200 low-quality masks to the United States, which acting FBI-Newark Special Agent in Charge Douglas Korneski said shows a blatant disregard for the safety of American citizens.

In May, the Food and Drug Administration banned 65 Chinese mask-makers from exporting to the United States because their products didnt meet filtration standards, cutting the number of U.S.-authorized Chinese manufacturers to 14.

Defective Chinese medical gear has drawn complaints from other countries, the most recent being Sweden.

To ensure critical supplies are readily available at home, Schabacker said, the United States needs to produce more or secure goods from trustworthy manufacturers around the world.
CARSON CITY, Nev., Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Nevada Department of Education (NDE), in partnership with THT Health, (formerly known as Teachers Health Trust) announced the Taskforce Initiative for Educator Safety and Screening, or T.I.E.S, to promote the health and safety of staff, students, families, and communities by preventing the introduction and spread of COVID-19 in Nevada's schools.

T.I.E.S. was designed in collaboration with district leaders, teacher representatives, and health professionals, and is a free COVID-19 testing program for participating educators, administrators, bus drivers, and school staff. Originally conceptualized to serve Clark County School District, the fifth largest district in the nation, NDE partnered with THT Health to expand T.I.E.S. to serve educators and staff throughout Nevada's 17 school districts and public charter schools. Funding for the T.I.E.S. testing program was made possible by a State allocation of $13.2 million in federal CARES Act funding.

The self-monitoring and testing program will be administered through a mobile app, powered by emocha Health (a leading health screening mobile application originated at Johns Hopkins University), to help assess COVID-19 related health risks, track symptoms, and communicate with appropriate State and district entities on matters related to the virus. The T.I.E.S. program will screen and evaluate for potential COVID-19 exposure, infection, or risk with the support of infectious disease experts, physician leaders, public health experts, and leading pathology experts. The aggressive timeline for implementation will begin this month with systematic outreach to all teachers, staff, and bus drivers encouraging them to enroll using the emocha Health mobile app.

"On behalf of Nevada's educators, administrators, and staff, I want to thank Governor Sisolak and the Legislature for their investment in this tremendous resource," said Jhone Ebert, State Superintendent of Public Instruction. "We are so pleased that all of our school staff, including bus drivers, administrative support, and others, have access to these preventative services to help keep our schools and communities healthy."

T.I.E.S. will help ensure that educators, staff, students, and their families have confidence that systems are in place to prevent and track exposure in our schools. "We know that the creation of an affordable, value-based health care program such as this one is a tremendous commitment, but when sheltering in place became real last March, we committed and proactively began working with our local leaders, including the Nevada Department of Education, University Medical Center of Southern Nevada, the Nevada Association of School Superintendents, and our healthcare partners to develop a testing program and related services to support teachers and school staff," said Michael Skolnik, Chief Executive Officer of THT Health. "We are grateful for the partnership of NDE and for the State's investment in this timely and critical need."

With an unknown timeline for a safe and scientifically accepted COVID-19 vaccine, the T.I.E.S. coalition will continue to monitor and assess active COVID-19 exposure, infection, partial immunity, or assumed risk based on symptoms. T.I.E.S. will work collaboratively with State and local governments to update and modify the testing and screening approach to take full advantage of proven and innovative methods as they become available.

For updated information about Nevada T.I.E.S., visit www.nevadaties.org, or email questions to [email protected].

About T.I.E.S., a Taskforce Initiative for Educator Safety & Screening Coalition:

T.I.E.S. is a coalition of partners to support Nevada schools in safer reopening. T.I.E.S. (Taskforce Initiative for Educator Safety and Screening) is a program developed and administered by THT Health to facilitate school reopening, COVID-19 testing, and symptoms monitoring through a comprehensive, evidence-based, and agile approach. Our goal is to m inimize risk and keep educators, staff, bus drivers, and students as safe as possible throughout the state of Nevada.

About THT Health:

THT Health is the health plan for all teachers and licensed professionals of the Clark County School District in Southern Nevada. Established in 1983 and servicing 40,000-plus lives, THT Health's transformed mission focuses on delivering the best healthcare at affordable costs to a deserving community. In 2019, under new leadership, THT Health reinvented the entire organization and health plan by focusing on providing genuine care, transparency and optimal health outcomes for the members we serve. Learn more: www.ththealth.org.

Media Contacts:

T.I.E.S.

Jennifer Bradley, JB Public Relations

[email protected] 702.234.9385

Department of Education

Terri Hendry

[email protected]

775.687.9201

SOURCE THT Health
Anti-money laundering authorities in the United States have been keeping tabs on the operations of a top Nigerian oil company, Oando PLC, because of the companys alleged ties with convicted former governor of Delta State, James Ibori.

The revelation is contained in leaked documents, otherwise known as #FinCEN Files, which are reports of suspicious transactions filed by banks with the U.S Department of Treasurys Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).

#FinCEN Files, a new global investigation by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, BuzzFeed and 108 media partners across the world, including PREMIUM TIMES, 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, including those from PREMIUM TIMES, in 88 countries.

The files included a large number of suspicious-activity reports, SARs, filed by banks and other financial institutions to the US Government as required by the Bank Secrecy Act., with the total amount in suspicious transactions reported being $2 trillion ($2,099584,477,415.49). PREMIUM TIMES is the only Nigerian publications with access to the documents.

In the case of Oando, it was the alleged link with Mr Ibori that triggered the flagging of the companys transactions as suspicious.

Mr Ibori pleaded guilty to fraud and money-laundering charges in 2012 in a London court. He was sentenced to 13 years in jail and has since been released.

He is believed to have laundered more than N12.5 billion (50 million), stolen from the treasury of Delta State, a largely rich but impoverished Nigerian oil-rich state, during his tenure as governor.

Oando, which is into oil and gas, is listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.

Oando has repeatedly claimed that Mr Iboris stake in the company is insignificant.

But British prosecutors, pushing for the confiscation of Mr Iboris assets, said the former governor told a Swiss private bank in 2004 that he owns up to 30 per cent of Oando.

In May 2015, three years after Mr Iboris conviction, Deutsche Bank, a multinational correspondent bank to Oandos Nigerian bankers, made discreet filings on Oando to the U.S anti-money laundering agency, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).

FinCEN, according to the filings, which was made under Suspicious Activities Report (SAR), was notified of Oandos involvement in an international wire transfer of over $31million in 64 transactions between January and February 2015.

The filings mentioned Nigerian companies and banks, and their foreign counterparts in Africa, America, and Europe that were involved in the transactions. They included Stanbic Bank Nigeria Ltd, First Bank of Nigeria PLC, Access Bank Plc, and First City Monument Bank.

Aside from Oando, some of the other companies in Nigeria that were involved in the transactions are Badagry Port Development Limited (also owned by Wale Tinubu, the group managing director of Oando) Ebony Oil And Gas Ltd (a Ghanaian company trading in crude oil and refined petroleum products), Gaslink Nigeria Ltd (a company partly owned by Wale Tinubus Oando Gas & Power Limited), Intels Nig Ltd (owned by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Gabriele Volpi and a few others), and Liberty Trust Ltd (a company also owned by Wale Tinubu).

From 02/13/2015 to 03/27/2015, Oando PLC received three (3) transactions, totalling $6,008,855 from a single originator, Badagry Port Development Limited, Deutsche Bank informed FinCEN.

From 02/09/2015 to 04/08/2015, Oando PLC sent six (6) transactions, totalling $5,143,980 to a single beneficiary, Springcreek (Capital) Limited.

From 02/11/2015 to 03/18/2015, Oando PLC sent three (3) transactions, totalling $4,400,000 to a single beneficiary, Digital Convergence Limited.

Twenty-five (25) transactions were conducted in large round dollar amounts, ranging from $4,000 to $3,000,000.

No information regarding the commercial purpose of these transactions was found in the transaction detail or through independent research, Deutsche Bank added in the filings.

Springcreek (Capital) Limited is owned by Akinwale Akinbola, a credit Portfolio analyst at Ecobank, and Olatilewa Akinbola, the CEO of Kiddies Creek Limited, which both of them also co-owned.





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Digital Convergence Limited is a Lagos-based company owned by a certain Olasubomi Odunsi and his immediate family members.

The reasons for the fund transfers are unknown. Deutsche Bank said it reported the transactions to the U.S authorities because of Mr Iboris ties with Oando.

Stanbic Bank Nigeria, however, in its response to an investigative inquiry from Deutsche Bank, said the identified Oandos transactions were not suspicious in any way.

Stanbic Bank said it was untrue and unproven that the convicted former governor, Mr Ibori hid some of his assets in Oando. The bank said Oando specifically and categorically denied the allegation.

The bank said, In 2002, a series of foreign exchange transactions occurred between Ocean and Oil Services Limited and a third party.

Funds were transferred from the Ocean & Oil entitys bank accounts into an account named Servette at PKB Bank. We understand that the Bank later transferred the funds from the Servette account to another account in the name of Stanhope.

At the time the transaction occurred, we understand and believe that Ocean & Oil Services had no way of determining that James Ibori was a party to the transaction or that the Servette account was for the benefit of James Ibori. The Servette account was later discovered to be linked to James Ibori. At the date of the transactions in 2002, Ocean & Oil Services Limited had not yet been acquired by the Oando Group.

In a 2013 statement after the Metropolitan Police linked it with Mr Ibori, Oando defended itself, saying Mr Iboris shareholding of the Company at the time was approximately 400 shares.

We also presented evidence that the transfers of money to Ocean and Oil Services Ltd to an Ibori controlled company was as a result of legitimate foreign exchange transactions and without any knowledge at the time that the Company was related to Ibori, the company said. Furthermore, there was no evidence of any transfer from Oando PLC to the Ibori controlled company.
LUCKNOW: Webley & Scott (W&S), the iconic British firearms manufacturing company, will soon set up its gun production unit in Uttar Pradesh.

According to reports, Webley & Scotts new unit will be set up in the Hardoi district and it will become functional from November. This will also be the first foreign company to manufacture firearms in India.

Webley & Scott, which armed the Allied forces during the two World Wars and produced weapons for at least 15 countries, will now mark its presence in the Indian subcontinent with the new unit in Sandila (Hardoi), barely 30 km from Lucknow.

The handgun manufacturing giant has joined hands with Lucknow-based Sial Manufacturers Pvt Ltd for the project and will begin operations with the production of revolvers. The new unit will manufacture its .32 revolver in the first phase.

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Joginder Pal Singh Sial of Sial Manufacturers, the all-India distributor of W&S products, said, "The government`s support and the Centre`s Make in India policy helped the project take final shape."

He further said, "The cost of the .32 revolver will be Rs 1.6 lakh. We will give stiff competition to the arms manufactured by ordnance factories. People will now get world-class weapons at their doorsteps."

According to the government spokesman, John Bright, the co-owner of Webley & Scott has said that they would later manufacture pistols, airguns, shotgun and ammunition as well.

"We decided to invest in India and in the state of Uttar Pradesh keeping in view the vast market potential. The idea to expand our business got shape after discussions with the Sial family in 2018. We entered a new joint venture for the manufacture of firearms and airguns in India for the Indian domestic market. We got the licence to manufacture firearms in India in 2019," said Bright in a statement.

He said the original design of the Mark IV .32 pistol of 1899 would be used to cater to the Indian market in the first phase.
Acclaim offers a sample of recent honors for Emory faculty and staff. Listings may include awards and prizes; election to boards and societies; and similarly notable accomplishments in the wider community. Acclaim is published monthly in Emory Report. To suggest items for the October column, please email your submission by Sept. 30.

Emory faculty and staff are frequently recognized for their work locally, nationally and internationally. The following is a sampling of recent accolades, including awards for outstanding service and inclusion in Best American Poetry.

Honors highlighted in this column:

Bradley named distinguished professor

Jeffrey Bradley was celebrated as the James W. Keller Distinguished Professor in Radiation Oncology on Aug. 31. The virtual ceremony included remarks from Bradley as well as Jan Love, interim provost and executive vice president for academic affairs; Deborah Watkins Bruner, senior vice president for research; Walter J. Curran, Jr., executive director of Winship Cancer Institute; and James W. Keller.

Bradley is professor and executive vice chair in the Department of Radiation Oncology. The endowed professorship was established in 2007 with a generous gift from the Emory Department of Radiation Oncology and a number of patients and family members of James W. Keller, MD, for whom the professorship is named.

Read more here.

Chandler recognized by National Black Nurses Association

Rasheeta Chandler received the National Black Nurses Association Nurse Researcher of the Year Award for 2020. This award recognizes a nurse researcher who has completed an outstanding study and who has excellent potential to implement a program of research that contributes to the well-being and health care of minorities.

Chandler is an assistant professor in Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing.

Work by Christle and Schiff included in Best American Poetry

Poems by Heather Christle (The Waking Life) and Robyn Schiff (American Cockroach) were included in the 2020 edition of Best American Poetry.

Since 1988, the Best American Poetry anthology series has been recognized as a mainstay of the poetry publication world. Each volume in the series presents some of the years most remarkable poems and poets.

Christle is assistant professor of English creative writing in the Department of English. Schiff is professor of English and creative writing.

New lectureship honors DeLong

Mahlon DeLong, W.P. Timmie Professor of Neurology, is being honored with a newly created endowed lectureship to serve as a lasting tribute to his long and successful career. The Mahlon DeLong Lectureship in Neurology is funded by families of former patients along with former neurology residents and fellows.

Prior to his recent retirement, DeLong co-founded and co-directed the Emory Neuromodulation and Technology Innovation Center, which fosters innovative technologies for treating neurological and psychiatric disorders. DeLongs extraordinary contributions over the course of his career earned him the Lasker-DeBakey Award, the Taubman Prize and the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences, three highly coveted honors in science. He served as scientific director of the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation and is the former director of American Parkinson Disease Center for Advanced Research at Emory.

The new lectureship will ensure that Emory faculty and staff continue to learn from thought leaders who, like DeLong, are physician-scientists of international acclaim.

Gavin honored with Endocrine Society 2021 Laureate Award

James R. Gavin has been honored with the Outstanding Mentor Award, part of the Endocrine Societys 2021 Laureate Awards. The award recognizes commitment to mentoring and a significant positive impact on mentees education and career.

Gavin is clinical professor of medicine at the Emory University School of Medicine and the Indiana University School of Medicine. Hes also CEO and chief medical officer of Healing Our Village, which specializes in advocacy, education, disease management and outreach for health care professionals and minority communities.

Gavin has served as a direct mentor to more than 50 early stage physician-scientists and has touched the careers of countless others through his leadership of both the Howard Hughes Medical Institute-National Institutes of Health Medical Research Scholars Program and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Harold Amos Medical Faculty Development Program (AMFDP). Through AMFDP, he has contributed to the career development of over 300 minority physician-scientists.

Faculty honored as American Academy of Nursing Fellows

Nine Emory faculty were chosen to join the American Academy of Nursings 2020 Class of Fellows: Brenda Baker, Susan Brasher, Carolyn Clevenger, Erin Ferranti, Linda Grabbe, Ursula Kelly, Victoria Pak, Samuel Shartar and Weihua Zhang. Inductees will be recognized for their significant contributions to health and health care at the Academys annual conference, taking place virtually in October.

Nurses receive oncology nursing awards

Omoye Ehizuelen, Cara DeBenedictis and Laura German Horne of Wiinship Cancer Institute have been named as the 2020 recipients of the Sabrina Williams Oncology Nursing Education Award and the Katie Ferraris Taylor Oncology Nursing Fund Award. Each award was established by the families of Winship patients to help Winship nurses pursue educational and career goals.

Read more here.
Legendary Nigerian musician, Sunday Adegeye, popularly known as King Sunny Ade (KSA) has turned 74.

With a meritorious music career that spans 53 years, his Juju music is characterised by the brilliant talking drum among other instruments, poetic lyrics and praise signs.

In commemoration of his birthday, PREMIUM TIMES is beaming the spotlight on his international recognitions and feats.

Sunny Ade released his first worldwide record, Juju Music, in 1982 after he got signed onto Island Records after the death of Bob Marley.

The release propelled him, his brand, and Juju music into the international limelight.

His next album, Synchro System, released in 1983 further fuelled the fire of his international growth.

It earned him his first Grammy Award nomination in the ethnic/traditional folk recording category, making him Nigerias first-ever Nigerian Grammy award nominee.

Even though his journey with Island Records was short, his brief spell with them brought him to the attention of other world music acts.

In 1987, he returned to the international music scene after a record of a live concert he had in Seattle was released by Rykodisc, an American record label.

One of his albums, Odu, released in 1988, was a collection of Yoruba songs and earned him his second Grammy nomination.

In 2008, he was given an award for his outstanding contribution to world music at the International Reggae and World Music Awards held at the Appollo Theatre in Harlem, New York.

In 2009, Sunny Ade was inducted into the Afro-pop Hall of Fame, at the Brooklyn African Festival in the United States where he dedicated the award to the late Michael Jackson.

In 2016 he became a recipient of the AFRIMA award and in the same year, he was inducted into Hard Rock Cafe hall of fame.

Billboard feats

So far, only five Nigerian albums have charted on the Billboard 200.

Two of them are Sunny Ades albums, two others are Burna Boys new album, Twice as Tall and his African Giant and the last one is Wizkids Sound from the Other Side.

The Billboard 200 is a record chart and it comprises the 200 most popular music albums and EPs in the United States each week.

It is published weekly by Billboard magazine and it reflects the popularity of an artiste or groups of artistes.

When Sunny Ades 1982 album, Juju Music peaked at #111 on the billboard charts, the The New York Times described it as the weeks Best New Dance Music

On September 24, 1983, his 1983 album, Syncro System peaked at #91 on the billboard 200 chart. It remained on the chart for 10 weeks. The album was re-released in 1990 with a different spelling of Synchro System.

In the same week, his other album, Juju Music, was at No. 116 on the charts. The following week, the album then climbed another nine places to chart at No. 98 on the Billboard 200.

Background

Sunny Ade was born on September 22, 1946, in Osogbo to a royal family from Akure, Ondo State. He left grammar school in Ondo for Lagos where he started his musical career.

His career began with Moses Olaiyas highlife band, Federal Rhythm Dandies. He left to form a new Juju band, The Green Spots, in 1967. His band name changed several times over the years.

He later founded the King Sunny Ade Foundation, an organisation that includes a performing arts center, a state of the art recording studio, and housing for young musicians.

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In March 2017, he was appointed ambassador for the Change Begins With Me campaign by Lai Mohammed, the Nigerian information minister.
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Linkedin Ardila Syakriah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, September 23, 2020 18:47 485 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46bc80b 1 National #COVID19,COVID-19,COVID-19-Indonesian-patients,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,Indonesia,#Indonesia,COVID-19-long-haulers,#COVID-19-long-haulers,#health,brain-fog,COVID-19-patient,COVID-19-survivors,#COVID-19-survivors,#COVID-19-patients Free

In Indonesia, government officials would boast about the country's COVID-19 recovery rate as they try to suppress the rising number of deaths.

But missing from the conversations are COVID-19 survivors who have to live with symptoms long after being cleared of the coronavirus infection. They are known as COVID-19 long-haulers.

Clinical pathology professor Aryati from Surabaya, one of the epicenters of the outbreak in Indonesia, has been dealing with infectious diseases for decades. But what she has been experiencing since she tested positive for COVID-19 in late May remains a mystery even to her.

Aryati, who chairs the Association of Indonesia's Clinical Pathology and Laboratory Medicine specialists (PDS PatKLIn), tested negative in mid-July, but her chest pains stayed until mid-August. A doctor ran a cardiac CT scan on her and said it was myocarditis  an inflammation of the heart muscle often found among COVID-19 patients  and would take time to heal.

But until now she gets tired easily. Long meetings that she could handle before the infection she now finds overwhelming.

She said her brain was "cloudy and unclear" and she tended to forget things easily after surviving COVID-19. She also suffered from hair loss and found it hard to sleep  none of which she had experienced before, she said.

"I've come to a point where I thought of taking leave from work," Aryati told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

But as her expertise has become even more essential now, she simply could not afford it. She has been among the experts the government regularly consults regarding COVID-19 and has many students under her care.

With her work requiring great focus, Aryati said her persistent health problems had taken a toll on her productivity.

"It's extremely disturbing, I hope to get back to my previous condition," she said.

Read also: COVID-19: Why are some people experiencing long-term fatigue?

Eight months into the pandemic, much is left to be learned about COVID-19, including its long-term effects and how it affects survivors' quality of life.

The World Health Organization, in its Sept. 9 update, said that, while people typically recovered from COVID-19 within two to six weeks, for some, symptoms might linger or recur for weeks or months following the initial recovery, even among those with mild cases.

Looking into other coronavirus infections, the agency cited a study showing that with the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) that emerged in 2003, there was a persistent and significant impairment of exercise capacity and health status in SARS survivors over 24 months. Another study revealed that 40 percent of people recovering from SARS still had chronic fatigue symptoms 3.5 years after being diagnosed.

The WHO said COVID-19 might increase the risk of long-term health problems, as it could affect not only the lungs, but also the heart, brain and the nervous system  resulting in, for example, anosmia, or the loss of the sense of smell, and cognitive impairment in terms of memory and concentration, musculoskeletal and mental health.

An Italian study published in July on JAMA Network Open, part of the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that 87.4 percent of 143 patients who had recovered from COVID-19 reported persistence of at least one symptom, particularly fatigue and dyspnea, or shortness of breath.

A German study published also in July on the same platform found that 78 percent of 100 recovered patients had heart abnormalities in a median of 71 days after testing positive, regardless of preexisting conditions, COVID-19 severity or cardiac symptoms.

Read also: 160 deaths in one day: Indonesia sets bleak virus record

A study by the United States' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) carried out on 274 people 14 to 21 days after their positive test results found that symptoms that might persist include fatigue, cough, congestion or shortness of breath, loss of taste or smell, headache, body aches, diarrhea, nausea, chest or abdominal pain and confusion.

The survey found that 35 percent of the respondents had not returned to their usual state of health at the time of the interview, including young people with no underlying conditions.

A 36-year-old COVID-19 survivor who wishes to be identified as Juno is still taking medicines for his palpitations, or heart pounding, after having tested negative for the virus in May. His chest pains come and go.

Up until July, he sometimes suffered from pain in various parts of his body. Also up until then, he said he was feeling very weak and experiencing "brain fog". One time, he said, he found himself trying to send a message that did "not make any sense" on WhatsApp  among other symptoms.

Juno went to several doctors, who ran tests on him but appeared to be just as clueless about his condition. Some deemed it psychosomatic and another referred him to a psychiatrist, he said.

Juno highlighted the need for long-haulers like him to have a support system that would allow them to be honest about their symptoms.

He sought this from international support groups online, and in late August, he, alongside many others globally, spoke with WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus regarding their conditions.

"We demanded three Rs: recognition  we want acceptance that we exist and are not making things up , rehabilitation  the medical world must build a system for post-COVID-19 treatment  and research  this must be carried out continuously," Juno said.

He recently established a support group for Indonesian long-haulers on Facebook.

Saartje Hersefin, 79, who had been hospitalized for almost a month until she tested negative in late July, is still suffering from anosmia. Saartje has hypertension, diabetes and heart disease, and her COVID-19 symptoms back then were fever and gastric pain, with white spots discovered on her lung images.

I'm worried about not being able to smell fire or gas leaks, she said.

Read also: Indonesia's latest official COVID-19 figures

Lung specialist Erlina Burhan said the receptors the novel coronavirus targeted were found in many organs, and these damaged organs could take a long time to heal, even after patients no longer have the virus. How long the healing process takes would depend on how severe and broad the damage was, she said.

She said that, even if much was still unknown about the virus, it was about time the discussion on COVID-19 went beyond transmission, symptoms and therapy to the long-term effects of the disease.

"There are still so many questions to be answered. What's important is not to get ourselves into these unanswered questions, because it'll only put us at a disadvantage for a long time," internist Erni Juwita Nelwan said. "People need to know that, even with the majority of cases going to recover, there's this condition in which a portion of the people is not going to be that lucky."
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
More than 7,000 words and many aspirational commitments later, Canadians finally have a full list of pretty much everything the federal government wants to do.

What the throne speech left us waiting a bit longer for, however, was the when and the how of Canadas economic recovery from COVID-19.

The ingredients are all there, but now it matters deeply how the government prioritizes them.

Its like making a good batch of pancake batter: first you put in the dry ingredients, then you add the wet ingredients, and then you stir just a bit  so the pancakes turn out light and fluffy instead of hard and flat.

If we want to get to the low-carbon future, the just transition, the highly skilled workforce and the comfortable middle-class jobs, we first have to kick the pandemic out the door.

The throne speech made that point a few times.

Effectively dealing with the health crisis is the best thing we can do for the economy, Governor General Julie Payette said near the beginning, going on to reiterate that point here and there throughout the one-hour speech.

The federal Liberals should enlarge the font on that sentence, print it out and hang it on the fridge. Its easy to forget the basics when theyre mixed in with so many other ambitions for the future and yet-to-be-kept promises from the past.

In fact, they should also print out a comment made earlier in the day by Canadas chief public health officer.

Canada is at a crossroads with the COVID-19 epidemic trajectory, Dr. Theresa Tam said.

At the current rate of growth, our epidemiological analysis and modelling studies indicate that unless public health and individual protective measures are strengthened and we work together to slow the spread of the virus, the situation is on track for a big resurgence in a number of provinces.

Those are ominous words for anyone hoping for an economic recovery. As the first wave taught us, theres no point in even talking about creating a million jobs or daycare spots if we arent allowed to leave the house or mingle.

So the very first ingredient for a recovery, and perhaps the most concrete commitment made in the throne speech, is to beef up testing capacity. If we know who has the virus, public health authorities have a hope of containing its spread, bus drivers will know who to let on the bus, restaurants will know who to let in.

The federal government will be there to help the provinces increase their testing capacity. Canadians should not be waiting in line for hours to get a test, Payette said, stating the obvious.

The government committed to pushing for fast approval for new types of testing, and deploying the tests across the country, going as far as to create a testing assistance response team to zoom into areas where COVID-19 is spiking.

On the business side, it promised direct aid to companies that have temporarily shut down because of local outbreaks. For the economy as a whole, they extended the wage subsidy all the way out to next summer  a crucial signal of certainty for businesses scrambling to stay afloat.

And for families pulling their hair out trying to get back to work while dealing on-again, off-again with kids at home, theres a commitment to push for the creation of more child-care spots.

But will those key ingredients form the basis of an economic recovery? The Canadian Chamber of Commerce sees a scattered list of worthwhile measures that need to be strung together into a coherent national strategy, ensuring that businesses and workers alike can coexist with the virus until we get a vaccine.

Were going to have to live with this killer in our midst, said chamber president Perrin Beatty.

We know from the first save that the virus thrives in close quarters  long-term-care homes, meat-packing plants, migrant workers residences.

While the throne speech mentioned some of those people in passing, theres no obvious plan to ensure the pandemic doesnt side-swipe their crowded spaces once again. Add to the mix, we now have kids in the classroom with the windows about to close to keep out the winter.

We know  and the government tacitly recognizes  that countries that control the pandemic efficiently will recover faster. Its true around the world. Capital Economics notes that in South Asia, for example, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will see mild recessions this year and have had mild experiences with coronavirus. India, on track to have the highest number of cases in the world, is set to see its economy contract by 10 per cent.

Here in Canada, the immediate lockdown hurt our economy deeply. But it allowed us to reopen gently over the summer and see our job market start to recover more quickly than in the United States, where the COVID cases remained high. In Canada, 63 per cent of the jobs have returned, compared to 48 per cent in the United States.

A speech from the throne is meant to lay out a vision, not an action plan. But as the government moves from the abstract to the concrete in the hopes of guiding the economy into a recovery, lets hope it follows its own recipe and gets the ingredients in the right order.

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The future of our hospitality industry "remains on a knife-edge", according to an industry expert as the Executive is expected to make an announcement on curfews this week.

A 10pm closing time is to be introduced in England from next Monday.

The announcement came as drink-only pubs here are set to reopen their doors for the first time in six months.

Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill said the idea of introducing a curfew on licensed premises was "pertinent" and that the Executive would make a decision tomorrow.

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She admitted this would be a challenge for the industry, but that we were still facing "extreme times".

There are fears that if a similar measure is introduced it could be counter-productive to the Executive's efforts to curb the rising number of Covid-19 cases.

Stephen Magorrian, managing director of the Horatio Group, which runs four pubs across Belfast and north Down, warned that a 10pm closing time would cost the industry hundreds of thousands of pounds at a time when businesses were trying desperately to get back on their feet.

He said that stringent restrictions on trading could lead to further job losses in the sector.

"It does look like there's a strong possibility some sort of curfew will be brought in," he added.

Read More

"But I would have real concerns over the time of 10pm if Northern Ireland was to follow the lead of England. We have to remember we're on an island. The time in the south of Ireland is 11.30pm, and to me that works - 10pm is too early."

Mr Magorrian heads up the operation that runs Horatio Todd's and The Northern Whig in Belfast, plus Molly Brown's in Newtownards and Denvir's in Downpatrick,

"I can see that could create issues," he said. "There would be nothing to stop people leaving the bars and calling into an off-licence before going to a house. Is that not what we're trying to prevent?

"We know things have to change and we won't be going back to the way we were before March, but we need to be certain whatever measures are put in place are not counter-productive." He said all the efforts to kick-start the hospitality industry could be undone if the wrong decision was made.

Read More

"Forget pubs and look at restaurants," he said.

"If there's a 10pm curfew it's going to be a race against time to get people served and off the premises in time.

"We'll be rushing people out, otherwise we would be a target for trigger happy officials.

"We're still getting used to the new way the world is working, but the industry needs to protect jobs.

"Thankfully we managed to get our business up and running in July and we have not lost any jobs.

"But the fact that some of those jobs could go can't be ruled out.

"That extra hour in the evening might not seem like much, but across all the bars and restaurants it amounts to an awful lot of custom, which the industry needs right now to stay afloat."

While many pubs get ready to throw open their doors for the first time in six months today, there are still some that will remain closed.

Venues which rely on live music, like the Duke of York in Belfast, one of several in the city owned by Willie Jack, will bide their time until the situation becomes clearer on what will and won't be allowed.

With First Minister Arlene Foster warning this week that a return to lockdown cannot be ruled out, the owner of one west Belfast pub that will reopen says the industry will not be able to survive another lockdown.

Gerard Keenan of Dan's Bar on the Springfield Road said that while there is relief at finally being able to welcome customers back, it's tempered by fears that the lifting of restrictions might not last.

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"We're getting there slowly but surely, but we are being wary of any future restrictions that are going to be put in place," he said.

"There's a concern over closing times, we're not sure what they are going to be yet. Today there's just relief that we can get the doors open.

"It's been six long months and we need this to stick. There's no way we can go back to a lockdown situation.

"It's already been so hard to stay afloat and we'll have to limit the customers to 40, so that will limit our business.

"But the customers will be made aware from the outset that unless they follow the guidelines then pubs like this might not be here in the future.

"I can't even bring myself to think about another lockdown."
American researchers measured the levels of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) genetic material in waste and sewage water. The researchers from Yale University provided an outline of the spread of the infection in the community. Their study titled, Measurement of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater tracks community infection dynamics, is published in the latest issue of the journal Nature Biotechnology.

What was this study about?

Globally, over 31.44 million have been infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Of these, over 967,000 have lost their lives. The virus is highly infectious and spreads rapidly within the community.

At present, all public health organizations and governments are attempting to contain the spread of the infection within the community by adopting several measures to break the chain of its transmission. To monitor the spread of the infection among populations, testing symptomatic individuals is the crucial measure, the authors wrote. The tests measure the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA and keep a count of the positive cases around the world.

Scenario in the United States

In the USA and several other nations, the spread of infection is outpacing testing capacity, and the testing system is missing many asymptomatic individuals, the researchers wrote. Further, the symptoms may take up to 2 weeks to appear. The time between the appearance of symptoms and testing could result in further spread.

Sewage monitoring

Due to the problems with testing systems, an alternative to measuring the spread of the disease in the community could be monitoring sewage systems. Authors write that monitoring the sewage in a communitys collection or treatment system could help detect disease prevalence at community levels and has been shown to be useful in the surveillance of the polio virus. They speculate that similar benefits may be seen with surveillance of COVID-19 because stool of COVID-19 patients carry SARS-CoV-2 RNA, and it is seen in raw wastewater. In regions with higher SARS-CoV-2 RNA levels in raw wastewater the cases of COVID-19 cases are also higher.

The researchers wrote that there is no concrete evidence that shows the utility of wastewater SARS-CoV-2 concentrations in tracking the progression of COVID-19 infections. This study was conducted to check if the viral RNA concentrations in wastewater could be correlated with hospitalization data in a metropolitan region in the USA over a period of around ten weeks, which marked the first wave of the SARS-CoV-2 infection pandemic.

What was done?

The researchers explained that the raw wastewater is usually discharged into the treatment facilities where solids are settled and collected into a matrix called primary sewage sludge. The researchers analyzed this primary sludge. The sludge contains several viruses, including the coronavirus.

Samples of the sludge were collected between March 19, 2020, and June 1, 2020, in the New Haven, Connecticut, metropolitan area. The wastewater treatment facility served nearly 200,000 residents. From the sludge, the team quantitatively compared SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations (measured with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction qRTPCR) with the 4 reported measures of the outbreak. For measuring the outbreak, four parameters are usually reported, they wrote. These are:

SARS-CoV-2 positive test results by date of specimen collection.

The percentage of positive SARS-CoV-2 test results (test positivity) by date of specimen collection.

The number of local hospital admissions of patients with COVID-19.

SARS-CoV-2 positive test results by reporting date.

Virus RNA copies ranged from 1.7  103 ml1 to 4.6  105 ml1 of primary sludge, they wrote. Concentration threshold (Ct) values were below 40, and 97 percent of the samples had Ct value less than 38.

What was found?

The results revealed that all the five measures  four parameters of reporting and the measure of viral RNA in primary sludge during the more than the 10 weeks of the study, rose and fell. The sludge results rose in the first week (March 1925, 2020), which was not corroborated with reported testing or hospital admissions data. Overall the lag between sludge positivity and case rise was around 0 to 2 days, they noted. Results showed the lag periods as follows:

Sludge positivity rose 02 days ahead of SARS-CoV-2 positive test results by date of specimen collection

Sludge positivity rose 02 days ahead of the percentage of positive tests by date of specimen collection

Sludge positivity rose 14 days ahead of local hospital admissions

Sludge positivity rose 68 days ahead of SARS-CoV-2 positive test results by reporting date

Conclusions and implications

Jordan Peccia, the Thomas E. Golden, Jr. Professor of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, lead author of the study said, If you take our smoothed curve for SARS-CoV-2 RNA in sewage sludge and overlay it on the smoothed curves from testing, the trends are very similar - but were 5 to 7 days ahead of it... So not only can we use the sewage sludge virus curve to do some forms of epidemiology, but it's also a significant leading indicator.

The authors of the study wrote in conclusion, Our data show the utility of viral RNA monitoring in municipal wastewater for SARS-CoV-2 infection surveillance at a population-wide level. They suggested this as a measure of community spread in populations facing a delay in specimen collection and the reporting of test results. Immediate measurement of the wastewater viral RNA samples can provide considerable advance notice of infection dynamics, they wrote.
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Are enrolled in a full-time degree programme for the duration of the internship in a field or discipline related to the work of the OECD;

in a field or discipline related to the work of the OECD; Are available for a minimum internship duration of one month;

Have an excellent command of one of the two official languages of the OECD (English and French) and working knowledge of, or willingness to learn the other. Knowledge of other languages used at the OECD would be an advantage;

Possess solid quantitative and IT skills;

Demonstrate excellent drafting and communication skills;

Are capable of working in multicultural and international team environment.



The majority of internships are based in Paris, France. Internships are primarily allocated to OECD member country nationals, while also open to non-OECD Member country nationals for specific programmes and projects across OECD affiliated bodies and agencies (e.g. International Tax Forum, ITF, NEA).



Successful candidates will carry out research and provide support to Policy Analysts in one of the following areas (please note that the list is non-exhaustive):

Artificial Intelligence

Bribery and corruption

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For internships in the corporate functions, successful candidates will be involved in one of the following areas:

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Examples of work entrusted to interns include:

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Participating in meetings and seminars;

Liaising and building networks with officials in national administrations, researchers, other international organisations and member country Delegations;

Contributing to the organisation of events, communication, planning and evaluation.
The way Paul Schroeder Rodriguez and his colleagues see it, language is not just a vocabulary test.

"Its a living organism that reflects richness and diversity,'' said Rodriguez, an Amherst College Spanish professor who is on leave until July of 2021, but who has helped developed the innovative linguistics program in his four years at the college.

Language is flexible. Words are specific to specific place due to landscape, culture and history.

For as long as Spanish has been taught in American schools, debate has ensued over how to do it properly. The traditional form was Iberian Spanish, which was spoken on the Iberian Peninsula, where Spain in located.

References to this version as proper Spanish" cast an unfavorable light on variations spoken in Central and South America, and in the United States.

Modern Spanish professors such as Rodriguez dont treat the versions in the Americas as slang by comparison to the Iberian style - or worse, as an unsophisticated version of the purer form. They see it as vibrantly reflective of different, creative and distinctive cultures within the Spanish-speaking world, whether that might mean Bolivia, Peru, Puerto Rico or elsewhere.

"We want them to learn different dialects, verb forms and expressions. The spoken and written word does not have to conform to Spain Spanish,'' Amherst College department head Sara Brenneis said.

The Amherst College curriculum binds the language with the culture. Rodriguez said he is fortunate that this transition was already underway when he arrived four years ago.

The Iberian version is not neglected. Some professors did their training in Spain. Whats different is the absence of a demand for conformity to a single style.

Brenneis said she does not teach accents. "I love hearing the different accents of the students,'' she said.

Those accents range from staccato in Spain to what Rodriguez described as a singing Caribbean version. The classroom is not limited to students of Hispanic or Latino background.

"There are (still) a lot of heritage speakers, but Spanish has become so visible, useful and important in our country. Its applicable in any field, no matter what (other pursuit) you pair it with,' Brenneis said.

The Latino population is such a growing and important part of American culture. We look for the best way to adjust to it, Rodriguez said.

Remote education has altered the presentation, but Rodriguez said the department was doing a good deal of interfacing, even before the virus.

"It isnt just doing a paper, its an interactive medium. Twenty percent of our grade is to conduct certain interviews that push the student to elaborate more,'' he said.

Rodriguez thinks its important for students to not only know how to speak Spanish, but to take pride in the culture the language represents.

"We have an advanced class we call Owning My Bilingual Self. A lot of kids grew up being made fun of, or punished, because they were told they didnt know how to speak Spanish,'' he said.

The (emphasis) on Spain alienated a lot of Latinos. How do you undo that?

Rodriguez said the variety of dialects within Spanish culture does not pose an obstacle for students. Whatever differences exist between Caribbean and Argentine Spanish, as one example, can be navigated smoothly.

Fluency does not require separate learning of multiple variations. Brenneis said the varied styles are taught "organically.''

"Most variations are not syntactic. Most people will know the difference. If you learn, youll understand every Spanish-speaking (variation) in the world,'' Rodriguez said.

Coronavirus has put a halt to course-related students trips, but plans are to renew them in the forseeable future. In January, two months before the pandemic, the class traveled to Puerto Rico for a language-learning trip that also included immersion in social justice and climate change.

One class project during the COVID-19 period was to translate a book of one of the Puerto Rican locations visited in January. Plans are being made to visit the California Central Valley for study of the lives and religious practices of migrant workers.

Even before the pandemic, the department had begun adopting a new, completely online textbook.

To those reimagining the teaching of language, words are not merely subject matter for a multiple-choice test on words, phrases and punctuation. They unlock the doors to human communication.

"This approach makes it easier for Spanish-speaking students to communicate. It facilitates their personal growth as well, Rodriguez said.

"Weve been making a large structural shift over a period of years,'' Brenneis said. What were doing is more toward the natural trend (of elevated Spanish visibility). We decided it was time.
Humanity is not essential for the survival of the universe, says physicist Stephen Hawking.

Professor Hawking, the author of the best-selling A Brief History of Time, cautioned that the human race will not survive another millennium if the greenhouse effect becomes irreversible.

Hawking is calling for stronger public reaction and is urging people to look after the planet.

"We are just a chemical scum on a minor planet," he said.

He is also warning that a nuclear calamity could be triggered by an accident or by terrorists capturing nuclear weapons.

"We now have good evidence that the world is getting warmer. I'm worried that the greenhouse may become irreversible and the atmosphere might become like that of Venus, raining boiling sulphuric acid," Hawking said .

"Russia and the United States are no longer so trigger happy, but they still have enough bombs to destroy everyone on the planet," Professor Hawking told a press conference in Bombay, India's financial and film capital, where he attended a week-long international scientific conference.

"Nuclear war is a danger we would have rather forgotten," he said and added that the risk increased with more countries acquiring nuclear weapons. Suppose there's an accident or terrorists get hold of them," he said.

In May 1998, India and Pakistan conducted a series of nuclear tests, joining the United States, Russia, Britain, France and China as the only countries that have openly declared their nuclear weapons status.

Hawking is in Bombay for a conference on the string theory - the so-called Theory of Everything - that the British physicist and others feel could provide answers to conflicting theories on the origin and fate of the universe.
An under trial lodged at Goas central jail accused of raping a 42-year-old British woman has gone missing, leading to speculation that he has escaped even as jail officials are scratching their heads over his disappearance without leaving a trace.

Ramchandran Yellappa, was arrested for allegedly raping the British national at Canacona in South Goa in 2018 and is currently on trial in the case.

Jail authorities said that an examination of CCTV footage showed that Yellappa didnt exit through the main gate, which is the only way in and out of the complex either through jumping over it or going right through it for an errand that are sometimes given to prisoners lodged as part of their daily chores.

Instead, it is being considered that he could be hiding within the complex or could have somehow scaled the high walls that surround the jail complex.

We are on the lookout for him, the search is on. He hasnt left through the main gate, so we believe that he could be within the complex itself, an official at the jail, said.

Also Read: Goa to approach SC to modify Tarun Tejpal trial timelines in view of Covid-19

If true, this would not be the first time when Yellappa has escaped from custody while under trial. In June last year, while being produced before a court, he removed the glass panels covering the ventilator in the toilet inside the court complex and escaped. He was later arrested.

In December 2018, a 42-year old British woman was allegedly raped and robbed on her way back from the railway station at Goas southernmost tehsil of Canacona. The Goa police managed to arrest the attacker identified as Yellappa the same day.

Also Read: One dead as heavy rain batters Goa

The womans complaint revealed she was waylaid and attacked by a man she could not identify, who raped her and then stole her belongings, robbing her of Rs 20,000.

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Percorso: ANSA Bulgaria > No more entry ban in Italy from people coming from Serbia

No more entry ban in Italy from people coming from Serbia Authorities removed quarantine obligation for Bulgaria

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 22 SET - Through an ordinance signed on Wednesday, the Italian ministry of Health, Roberto Speranza, has removed the entry ban in Italy for people who, in the previous 14 days, have resided in or transited through Serbia. With the same ordinance, Italian authorities have removed the quarantine obligation for people coming to Italy from Bulgaria. (ANSA).





 Copyright ANSA - All rights reserved
New Delhi: One of the most popular Bhojpuri actresses turned television star Monalisa is a social media queen - all thanks to her interesting posts. The stunner regularly updates her account and posts pictures/videos for fans.

Recently, she upped the hotness quotient with black denim shorts and stylish vibrant top. Take a look:

Monalisa has a massive 3.6 million fan base on Instagram alone. The actress has had the opportunity of working with almost all the Bhojpuri big shots in her movie career. In 'Nazar', she played an evil force named Mohana. And received immense adulation for her work on TV.

Monalisa was seen this year in 'Nazar 2' as Madhulika Chaudhary. She sure knows how to keep her social media fam happy and smiling.

The sensational star was seen as a popular contestant in the reality show 'Bigg Boss 10' and in fact, got married to her then-boyfriend Vikrant Singh inside the BB 10 house.
Parliament on Wednesday passed the three labour code bills  the Occupational Safety, Health And Working Conditions Code, 2020; the Industrial Relations Code, 2020; and the Code on Social Security, 2020  merging 24 central labour laws in a major boost to labour reforms. The National Democratic Alliance government has now merged 29 central laws into four codes. In August 2019, Parliament had passed the first of the codes, the Wage Code.

The Industrial Relations Code, 2020, bring new rules for hiring and firing of labour in mid-sized and large industries, making retrenchment easier. This effectively brings the north American hire-and-fire model to the Indian hinterland economy in the hope that businesses recoup and add more jobs on a net basis, said labour economist KR Shyam of XLRI, Jamshedpur.

How will the three codes impact workers?

The reforms allow industries flexibility in hiring and retrenchment. They will make industrial strikes more difficult by clamping new conditions and also expand the social security net for both formal and informal workers.

What are the changes in hiring-firing rules?

Under the Industrial Relation Code, the government has allowed companies with up to 300 workers to fire workers or shut plants without the prior approval of the government. Hitherto, prior approval had been required. Firms with more than 300 workers need to still apply for approval. However, if the authorities do not respond to their request, the retrenchment proposal will be deemed to be approved. Earlier labour laws required a 30- to 90-day notice period before retrenching workmen, which is a class of mainly shop floor workers. In the case of manufacturing units, plantations, and mines with 100 or more workmen, lay-offs also required government approval. To be sure, 90% of Indias workforce, which is employed in the informal sector, wont be affected by these changes.

Whats the economic rationale for this?

Economists have long argued that Indias outdated labour laws need change. Stringent hiring-firing rules applied to firms with over 100 employees, making it virtually impossible to lay off workers. This adversely acted as an incentive for smaller firms to stay small so they could escape the rules. According to the World Bank, with less restrictive laws, India could approximately add on an annual basis 2.8 million more good quality formal sector jobs.

How does it affect workers right to strike?

The Industrial Relation Code lays down new conditions on the right of workers to go on strike. Unions will now have to give 60 days strike notice. If proceedings are pending before a labour tribunal or the National Industrial Tribunal, workers cannot go on a strike for 60 days after they are concluded. These conditions apply to all industries. Earlier, workers could go on strike by giving between two weeks and six weeks of notice. Flash strikes are now outlawed.

What are the new workplace safety rules?

The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020, amends laws regulating occupational safety, health and working conditions of employees. The code empowers a state government to exempt any new factory from the provisions of the Code to create more economic activity and jobs. It fixes the maximum daily work limit at eight hours a day. Women will be entitled to be employed in all establishments for all types of work and in case they are required to work in hazardous or dangerous operations, the government may require the employer to have adequate safeguards in place prior to employment.

Has the social safety net widened?

Yes. The Code on Social Security, 2020 promises universal social security for the first time, including for both organised and informal workers as well as gig and platform workers. The government, the code states, shall formulate and notify, from time to time, suitable welfare schemes, including schemes relating to provident fund; employment injury benefit; housing; educational schemes for children; skill upgradation of workers; funeral assistance; and old age homes. The government can tap corporate social responsibility funds (within the meaning of the Companies Act, 2013) or any other such source as may be specified in the scheme. The social security code lays down the setting up of a National Social Security Board to recommend to the central government suitable schemes for unorganised workers.

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If it walks like a duck... Here's a simple question most five year olds can answer: "What is a bank?" It seems simple, but can you answer it? Yes, it's pretty obvious if a company has the word "bank" in its name, but what about folks like PayPal and Square, and, and, and...? Are they banks? Does it matter?

It turns out that it matters a lot  at least to quite a few government folks. The problem is that in our modern world of online financial services  referred to as "fintech"  defining a bank has a special set of problems. Mired in archaic notions of what constitutes banking, a fierce battle is being waged not only to define a bank, but to regulate all who dare look like any part of the historical image of a bank.

A few years ago, the comptroller of the currency was worried about the ever-expanding role that fintechs were assuming. So, like all good regulators, these ones explored how to get at the companies leading the way  the "Special Purpose Banking Charter." Essentially, it's a National Bank charter for entities that aren't really banks  eh, but sorta are. Rather than requiring a laundry list of services be provided to be a bank, it requires only one from the list.

It was sold to the industry as a solution for nationwide companies like PayPal and Western Union to get one national license and be regulated by just one government agency, rather than by fifty individual state financial services departments. Sounds good, but why should we be suspicious of a government agency that says it's here to help? Exactly!

Right on cue, enter the New York State Department of Financial Services. That agency went after the comptroller by promptly suing in federal court. Its argument against a national charter system  other than the unstated one of collecting about $100 million last year in fees assessed on financial licensees in the Empire State  was essentially that it usurped states' rights. You see, a national charter exempts institutions from state banking regulations like usury ceilings and predatory lending laws and the like, while substituting often more business-friendly "one size fits all" comptroller rules.

The case is complex. It hinges on a pile of legal mumbo-jumbo, and it even drags in the National Bank Act, claiming that to be a bank, and thus to get a banking charter, an entity has to accept deposits. Well, it turns out the court agreed with New York and ruled against the comptroller. Now, as with all good government litigants, the case is on appeal. Of course it is! In the meantime, the comptroller has attempted to defend its position publicly by arguing that in the 19th century, most banks did not accept deposits, so that shouldn't be a requirement. Note: In the 19th century, banks did accept slaves as property collateral for loans. Perhaps the comptroller would have more success with an argument based in the internet age, or at least within the last 200 years!

If you are keeping score, it's time for another player on the field. While New York and the comptroller are fighting it out in the courts, the Conference of State Bank Supervisors  a chummy club that has only fifty members comprising the bank commissioners from their respective states  released an agreement to jointly regulate fintech. Their argument is that it accomplishes the comptroller's power-grab for a standardized national system of regulations to ease the burden on industry, while maintaining states' rights. Wow!

In the meantime, a person can open a PayPal account, have his paycheck automatically deposited to it, receive "pass-thru" FDIC insurance on the balance, make withdrawals and purchases with a PayPal MasterCard, and transfer the money to pretty much anyone in the world. And if he operates a business, he can also process credit and debit card transactions and even get a loan to tide himself over. If it walks like a duck...

Kevin Cochrane is a former senior national banking executive and teaches business and economics at Colorado Mesa University.
With the nomination process open for the upcoming Brandon School Division byelections for its board of trustees, two men have declared their candidacy for the upcoming race.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/9/2020 (486 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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With the nomination process open for the upcoming Brandon School Division byelections for its board of trustees, two men have declared their candidacy for the upcoming race.

Over the last year, trustees Kevan Sumner, Stephen Montague and Peter Bartlette have resigned, leaving only six of nine seats filled on the board of trustees.

Brandon Sun Jason Gobeil leaves the Brandon Urban Aboriginal Peoples Council to join the Dakota Ojibway Child and Family Services as program coordinator of the the Ohitika/Ogichidaa Warrior Mens Program. (Michele LeTourneau/The Brandon Sun)

Byelections to fill Sumner and Montagues spots were cancelled earlier in the year due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. With Bartlette leaving as of Sept. 30, the decision was made to run byelections for all three spots in November.

After leaving his position at the Brandon Aboriginal Peoples Council to join Dakota Ojibwe Child and Family Services as program co-ordinator for its Ohitika/Ogichidaa Warrior Mens Program last month, Jason Gobeil told the Sun on Tuesday that he plans on dropping off his nomination paperwork on Thursday.

"Its always been an interest of mine," he said. He added that he had considered running in the last round of school board elections, but ended up deciding that it wasnt the right time.

Brock McEwing is running for the Brandon School Division board of trustees. (File)

Asked what he would bring to the table as a trustee, Gobeil said his knowledge of Indigenous learning strategies would be an asset, as well as his investment in the division as a parent of children currently attending local schools as well as a graduate. He also spoke of bringing compassion to the role, which he said is often overlooked when thinking and planning strategically.

"Right now, especially as were looking at COVID and working through a pandemic, this has really offered us a chance to work outside traditional rhythms," he said. "As a parent, we really have to look at the preparedness of our division moving forward and I believe weve got a great system in place. I applaud our educators and administrators for what theyve done to date in ensuring that protocols are meeting the measurements of safety."

He also praised the division under the leadership of current Supt. Marc Casavant, saying the BSD has "taken formidable steps forward in all areas of development" during his tenure.

As for if theres anything hed like to improve if he joined the board, Gobeil said that the pandemic is a bad time to have gaps in learning support and that remote learning is something the school division makes sure it gets right.

Also throwing his name in the ring is Brock McEwing, a member of the City of Brandons age-friendly committee and the board of the Brandon General Museum and Archives. McEwing unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Glen Parker in the Riverview ward during the last city council elections and is trying his hand once again at municipal politics.

McEwing said he has already collected the 25 signatures needed to run in the race and dropped off his paperwork at Brandon City Hall on Monday. After losing the last election he contested, McEwing said he looked for other ways to serve his community, which is why he volunteered with the age-friendly committee and the museum.

After Bartlette announced his departure, McEwing believed it was the right time to step forward as a candidate. Like Gobeil, McEwing said hed bring the perspective of a parent of kids in the division to the role of trustee.

"Having parental perspective on the Brandon School Divisions board of trustees would be a great asset," he said. "Ive got three kids in school in Grade 7, 10 and 11. Even prior to COVID, at one point in time when they were a bit younger, I homeschooled my children, so I see the balance of home life and school life is something were already accustomed to. I know others might be still adjusting to that and Id like to be a part of helping others adjust to the life thats ahead of them."

If elected, McEwing said his first priority would be to getting grounded on the process of how the board works and what the pressing issues facing the board are. He also said he would have a fiscally responsible approach to his work.

Nominations are still open until Friday for anyone else wanting to run for the board of trustees. Paperwork can be acquired by reaching out to the City of Brandons senior election official, Danniele Carriere, by phone at 204-729-2236 or email at brandonvotes@brandon.ca.

Candidates must drop their paperwork off at the Brandon Votes office on the second floor of city hall at 410 Ninth St. by 5 p.m. on Friday. Incorrect information about where to drop off nomination paperwork appeared in Tuesdays edition of the Sun.

 cslark@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @ColinSlark
Facilio, a leading AI-driven property operations platform with a major presence in the region, has announced that it has been chosen by ICD Brookfield Place (ICDBP) to optimise building performance and deliver real-time operational intelligence.

ICDBP is a joint venture between Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD) and Brookfield Properties, one of Dubais premier lifestyle and business destinations.

With over four acres of curated dining, retail, and community space, alongside 990,000 sq ft of Grade A office space in the heart of Dubais Commercial Business District, ICDBP sets the benchmark in addressing the changing wellbeing, environmental and productivity needs of todays workforce.

ICDBP selected Facilio after an extensive process to support this objective. Facilios cloud platform will allow ICDBP to:

*Gain real-time insights into building performance

*Control spaces, equipment, and multiple building systems remotely from a single pane of glass

*Exceed sustainability goals by leveraging embedded AI capabilities

*Automate operations and equipment maintenance

*Introduce new experiences for tenants

ICD Brookfield CEO Rob Devereux said: "We needed a scalable and flexible solution to unify all of our disparate building systems and Facilios thought leadership and innovative product portfolio stood out clearly and aligned well with our vision."

"As we look forward to launching the workplace of the future, we are proud to work with a partner like Facilio," stated Devereux.

Facilio CEO Prabhu Ramachandran said the company was designed mainly to help the real estate industry transition away from reactive and inefficient operations to a proactive, data-driven model.

Headquartered in New York City, US, with offices in Padova (Italy), Dubai (UAE), Chennai (India) and Singapore, Facilio is a global company backed by leading investors including Accel Partners and Tiger Global Management.

"As ICDBP welcomes new tenants, we are confident that our collaboration will enrich occupant experience and transform how buildings are managed," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Mistakes of 2021 being repeated; unnecessary medication, tests should be avoided: Doctors tells Centre

Will schools in Maharashtra reopen next week amid rising Omicron cases? Proposal sent to CM

Schools in Mumbai to reopen with rest of Maharashtra on Monday

Massive fire breaks out at Mumbai high-rise; 6 dead, several injured

Actor Poonam Pandey's husband gets bail in assault case

India

pti-Madhuri Adnal

Panaji, Sep 23: A Goa court granted conditional bail to film producer Sam Bombay, who was arrested for allegedly molesting, threatening and assaulting his actor wife Poonam Pandey, police said on Wednesday.

Judicial magistrate first class Shanoor Audi granted bail to Sam on Tuesday evening on surety of Rs 20,000, an official said.

Man attempts sexual assault on American woman in Tamil Nadu

Only Sushant took drugs, Rhea claims in latest plea | Oneindia News

Pandey had filed a police complaint late on Monday night claiming that her husband had molested her and threatened her with dire consequences after assaulting her, he said.

The couple are in Canacona village of South Goa for a film shoot. Sam has been asked to report to Canacona police station for four days starting Wednesday and also not to interfere with witnesses.
Cancer campaigner Melanie Kennedy has been remembered as a "fantastic advocate" after losing her battle with the disease.

She passed away aged 43 - six years after being diagnosed with terminal breast cancer.

The Bangor woman's death was announced yesterday by her mother Christine.

She said on social media: "It is with much heartbreak that I need to let her friends know, our precious wee warrior passed away peacefully at 2 o'clock this morning. Heaven has gained an angel and we are bereft.

"Our beautiful, brave, funny, inspirational and much-loved daughter has gone to be with the angels tonight, Melanie Kennedy, a warrior till the end. Fly high our precious darling."

Read More

Melanie, a mother-of-two, began campaigning for access to lifesaving treatment when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014 and told she had five years to live. She was diagnosed six months after her second son was born.

Expand Close Melanie Kennedy on Christmas Day with sons Josh and AJ / Facebook

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Whatsapp Melanie Kennedy on Christmas Day with sons Josh and AJ

The disease had developed during her pregnancy but was not detected straight away. She had a mastectomy as well as chemotherapy and radiotherapy and was initially optimistic about her prospects.

After her earlier treatment stopped working, Melanie became aware of a potentially-effective drug Kadcyla, which was available on the NHS in Scotland but could only be accessed privately in Northern Ireland at a cost of 20,000. Melanie's campaign for access to the drug brought her to prominence, and in July her efforts led to Kadcyla being made available here.

She had hoped the medication - generally only considered life-lengthening, not a cure - would allow her to spend more time with her sons Josh and AJ.

In April 2018 she was told that she was free of the disease. She described that year as "phenomenal". However, the cancer returned and she sadly died on Tuesday morning.

Melanie ran the Northern Ireland Cancer Advocacy Movement, which provides support for other cancer sufferers.

On its Facebook page, the NI Cancer Advocacy Movement posted: "It is with immeasurable grief we confirm that our beloved founder Melanie has passed away after her long battle."

Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw tweeted: "So saddened to hear of the passing of Melanie Kennedy "Cancer Warrior". She was such a formidable person and the best craic!"

The National Autistic Society Newtownards Branch also paid tribute. The organisation posted on social media: "Everyone at Nas Newtownards are deeply saddened by the loss of one of our amazing Autism mums Melanie Kennedy.

"She was a true warrior fighting for support for our children, always happy to lend a hand at any of our events and campaigning for and helping many people.

"She will be greatly missed by us all. Her two beautiful boys and her entire family circle are in our thought always."

Scores of people paid their tributes as news spread across social media. Marie Foy of Cancer Focus said: "She was a fantastic advocate for equal access to cancer drugs and helped Cancer Focus NI with our campaign. The charity's thoughts are with her family and friends at this time."
New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday (September 23, 2020) carried out searches in connection with a cattle smuggling case involving a Border Security Force (BSF) commandant and three others.

The searches were conducted across 13 locations in Kolkata and Murshidabad in West Bengal, Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh, Amritsar in Punjab and Raipur in Chhattisgarh in connection with a cattle smuggling case on the Indo-Bangla border.

The CBI had registered a case on September 21, 2020, against the then BSF commandant of 36 Battalion of BSF - Satish Kumar.

Besides Kumar, three others - Md Enamul Haq, Anarul Sheikh and Mohammed Golam Mustafa were also booked.

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Kumar is now posted in BSF unit at Raipur.

The preliminary enquiry conducted by the CBI revealed that during Kumars tenure as Commandant of 36 Battalion in Malda district of West Bengal between December 2015 and April 2017, more than 20,000 cattle were seized during a smuggling bid.

"The cattle were auctioned within 24 hours of being seized and seizure lists were made arbitrarily categorising the breed and size of seized animals with an intention to reduce the upset price of the cattle during auctions. In lieu of that favour, Md Enamul Haque used to pay Rs 2,000 per cattle to BSF officials and Rs 500 to concerned customs officials," the FIR by CBI read.
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen on September 22 visited a military base in Penghu days after China ventured across the median line of the Formosa Strait, popularly known as the Taiwan Strait. During the visit to Penghu, Tsai said that Taiwan has the "ability" to safeguard its territory. Tsai further commended the Taiwanese Air Force for performing their duties and taking responsibility amid increasing provocations from China's People Liberation Army (PLA), whose action, she said, is disturbing the peace in the area.

Read: Taiwan Military Warns China Of 'counterattacks' After PLA Crossed Median Line Yet Again

Chinese violations

The Chinese Army on September 18 and 19 sent 37 fighter jets, including H-K bombers across the median line of the Taiwan Strait as a top United States diplomat visiting the self-governed island. China claims Taiwan as its own territory and has on several occasions expressed its willingness to annex Taiwan by force using its military might. Beijing sees growing relations between the United States and Taiwan as a threat to its influence in the region and asks Washington to adhere to the 'One China' policy.

Read: Taiwan Slams China For Sending 'death Threats' After US Official's Visit

The United States supplies the island nation with arms and weapons and also conducts its own military drills to supposedly keep the status quo maintained, which in turn upsets the draconian Chinese Communist government. Taiwan Air Force last month had intercepted Chinese jets during the visit of US Health Secretary Alex Azar, who became the first top US official to visit the disputed island nation in the past 40 years.

Read: China's 'double Standards' Exposed As It Threatens Taiwan While Claiming 'peace In DNA'

According to the US Department of Defence, China had not crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait for two decades from 1999 to 2019. However, last year in March, Beijing for the first time in many years maneuvered across the line and since then there have been multiple instances of such violations by the Communist State.

Read: China Crosses Median Line In Taiwan Strait During US Envoy's Visit To Island

(With inputs from ANI)


BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept.23

Trend:

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov received the Ambassador of Portugal to Azerbaijan Paula Leal da Silva on September 22, 2020, in connection with the termination of her diplomatic tenure in the country, Trend reports referring to the ministry.

As reported, the Honorary Consul of Portugal to Azerbaijan Murad Rahimov also took part in the meeting.

Bayramov highly appreciated the activities of the Portuguese ambassador, who contributed to developing relations between the two countries.

The minister noted available opportunities to expand relations between Azerbaijan and Portugal in bilateral and multilateral frameworks and stressed the importance of continuing the practice of conducting political consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs.

Leal da Silva congratulated Bayramov on his appointment as the Minister of Foreign Affairs on behalf of her Government.

The ambassador noted that she had spared no effort in further developing the relations during her tenure in Azerbaijan, and also expressed gratitude for the assistance extended to her to fulfill her diplomatic mission.

The foreign minister informed the ambassador on the protracted Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno Karabakh conflict, its grave consequences, and tensions observed in the region.

He noted that the provocative and subversive activities of the Armenian government damaged the process of settling the conflict via negotiations, and stressed the importance of showing a resolute position on this issue and sending unequivocal messages to the aggressor state Armenia by the international community.

The ambassador emphasized that her country holds an unequivocal position and fully supports the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

The parties also touched upon the global health crisis, stressing the importance of international solidarity and cooperation in this regard.

Pointing out the proposal of Azerbaijans president to hold a special session of the UN General Assembly at the level of heads of state and government via video conference to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, Leal da Silva noted that the initiative is fully supported by her government.

The sides also exchanged views on the other issues of mutual interest.
Only two families have received aid in the five months since state officials established a program to help those struggling to pay rent during the pandemic, leaving a backlog of nearly 7,400 applications and growing frustration about the slow pace of the approval process.

Nearly 30,000 people have applied for the program, a number that has been whittled down to 7,375 through the pre-approval process. But with too-few housing counselors to handle the thousands of applications and a burdensome list of documents required for each case, little progress has been made getting people their money.

On Tuesday evening, a spokesman for Gov. Ned Lamont said 40 additional families will receive aid by the end of this week.

This snails pace is upsetting legislators and housing advocates, who are disappointed the Connecticut Department of Housing devised a program with so much red tape.

This backlog is causing families to be harmed, said state Sen. Saud Anwar, D-South Windsor, the co-chairman of the legislatures Housing Committee. There is a supply and demand inequality that is going on. If there is a surge of applications, then we need to put more personnel and resources into helping these families. We should take care of the vulnerable first, and I am not seeing that from the administration.

Applicants are being asked to provide an unreasonable amount of documentation, Anwar said, partly to guard against fraud and partly to prevent the state from spending more than the $20 million it has allocated for the program. Although 7,400 people were pre-approved for the program, the state only has enough funding to provide $4,000 to roughly 5,000 households.

So far, 1,700 families have been referred to housing counselors to process their applications and another 1,100 referrals are expected to happen later this week. The remaining applications are put into a lottery to determine who will get a counselor next.

Erin Kemple, executive director of the Connecticut Fair Housing Center, a civil rights organization whose attorneys represent those struggling with housing insecurity, said she is appalled by how the program is operating.

To receive help, applicants must provide documentation that verifies their 2019 income, as well as income during May, June, July this year that shows a reduction of pay. They also must have documentation from a landlord that specified how much rent is unpaid, and a promise that $4,000 will erase any outstanding debt. Getting all of this paperwork has proven challenging since some landlords are either not interested in participating in the program or are non-responsive.

Kemple said while the states rental assistance program slowly shells out aid, her organization is receiving calls from those who are being pressured by their landlords to move out because they are behind on their rent. There are state and federal eviction protections in place, but Kemple said that hasnt stopped some landlords from negotiating with tenants to leave.

They want their rent and they wont accept that their tenant is waiting to hear if they will get rental assistance from the state, said Kemple. I am appalled with this program.

Its not quite clear just how many people need aid.

People seeking to apply for the aid initially faced a busy signal or a long wait to get through, and the program stopped taking applications Aug. 28, just six weeks after opening.

A survey of landlords in late May conducted by the governors office concluded that, without intervention, state eviction rates were likely to jump from 4% in the typical year to 7% this year.

Twenty percent of tenants in Connecticut are behind on rent, the U.S. Census Bureau reported Sept. 9. Women, Black and Hispanic people, and those living in the states largest cities are disproportionately affected by this economic downturn and the resulting housing crisis. Renters typically earn less than half that of homeowners.

Anwar and eight other Democratic state senators wrote Gov. Ned Lamont, a Democrat, on Friday to plead that he bolster this program. They also pointed pointed out several nearby states that have spent considerably more on rental assistance programs than Connecticut.

This program has been a lifeline for tenants struggling to pay rent and for landlords struggling to make mortgage payments. There is an active need for further funding for rental assistance and landlord support, the group wrote. The urgency with which our residents need these programs is clear; the backlog that resulted from the number of applications to [the program] required DOH to pause intake since Friday, August 28th. 

Lamonts spokesman, Max Reiss, said the administration is working to speed up the process and intends to put more money into the program so it can reopen the hotline.

The State is committed to reopening the program; however, the Department of Housing [is] currently dealing with the backlog of requests, and putting systems in place to hopefully streamline and simplify the process when the program reopens. We do not yet have a firm date, said Reiss. The State is prepared to commit additional resources to the program, and a determination is being made between [the governors budget office] and DOH as to what that figure will be.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 03:15:22|Editor: huaxia

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Video: The General Debate of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly opens on Sept. 22, 2020 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." (Xinhua)



"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."



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."

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)

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."

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. (Rick Bajornas/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

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.

United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (front) addresses the General Debate of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York on Sept. 22, 2020. (Eskinder Debebe/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

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."

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)

"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. 
T he 2020 budget has been cancelled to allow the Chancellor Rishi Sunak to focus on his winter economic plans to replace the furlough scheme, it is understood.

A source close to the Treasury said: No-one wanted to be in this situation but we need to respond to it.

The Chancellor has shown he has been creative in the past and we hope that people will trust us to continue in that vein.

"Giving people reassurance and businesses the help they need to get through this is uppermost in his mind.

No specific date had been set but it was expected to take place in November.

The Treasury said in a statement: "As we heard this week, now is not the right time to outline long-term plans - people want to see us focused on the here and now.

"So we are confirming today that there will be no Budget this autumn."

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

It comes after Mr Sunak announced he would update MPs on plans to continue protecting jobs on Thursday after Boris Johnson announced new coronavirus restrictions which could last for up to six months.

The Chancellor said: As our response to coronavirus adapts, tomorrow afternoon I will update the House of Commons on our plans to continue protecting jobs through the winter.

Mr Sunak is said to be weighing up a new scheme as part of a wider emergency support programme as pressure mounts on the Government to help businesses survive a second wave of coronavirus.

The mooted plans would reportedly see the Government and firms share the cost of topping up wages for employees only able to work part-time due to the pandemic.

Calls have ramped up for a new lifeline for firms after Boris Johnson announced six months of tougher restrictions that threaten the economic recovery, as fears also grow of mass unemployment once the furlough scheme ends on October 31.

Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey said on Tuesday it was time to stop and rethink the furlough scheme in favour of a targeted approach.

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The Trades Union Congress (TUC), which outlined its furlough replacement proposal last month, said the Government must fast-track a new plan to protect jobs.

TUC general secretary Frances OGrady said: We have published detailed proposals for a new short-time working and upskilling scheme.

With the right approach we can stop mass unemployment scarring millions.

My message to ministers is clear: lets get around the table and fast-track a new plan.

Coronavirus in numbers: UK coronavirus cases at 409,729

Mr Sunak has pledged to be creative and is understood to be weighing up a number of possible measures to subsidise workers wages, having consulted unions and business groups.

It is thought he postponed an announcement due on Wednesday to extend emergency loan schemes in favour of a bigger support package.

One option reportedly being considered is a scheme similar to Germanys highly-praised Kurzarbeit, or shorter work-time policy, under which firms can radically cut working hours in economic downturns with the state replacing part of their lost income.

Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak leave Downing Street and head for a Cabinet meeting (file photo) / Jeremy Selwyn

The TUC has proposed a similar scheme that would see workers receive 80% of their salary for the hours they are not in work.

Companies would get a 70 per cent subsidy from the Government, provided they bring back every worker on the scheme for a minimum proportion of their normal working hours.

Another proposal put forward by the CBI business group would see subsidies for firms that can offer staff at last 50 per cent of their normal hours, with the cost for non-working hours shared equally by the company, the Treasury and the employee.

The Treasury declined to comment, while Number 10 also refused to be drawn on Mr Sunaks plans.

The Prime Ministers official spokesman told reporters: We have always said that we keep our support under review and that it will be adapted as the circumstances evolve.

The furlough scheme has cost the Government 39.3 billion to date, with 3.9 billion between August 16 and September 20 alone, according to the latest figures.

More than 13 billion has been handed to firms and workers through five different Government support schemes in the last month.
Green Packet Bhd is collaborating with ICT solution provider, MMAG Holdings Bhd, to establish a digital salary payment system for the latters migrant workers. Through the partnership, Green Packet will provide the use of its KiplePay e-wallet and Visa prepaid card to MMANTAP Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of MMAG, so that the company can digitally pay and manage the salaries of its workers.

This move came following MMANTAPs recent appointment as an agency to recruit, supply, and manage an estimated 2,000 foreign workers for China Communications Construction (ECRL) Sdn Bhd, involving the East Coast Rail Line (ECRL) megaproject. The partnership between Green Packet and MMAG is also spurred by the governments decision to make it mandatory for the salaries of foreign workers to be credited into an e-wallet or a bank account.

In a statement, Green Packet said that its KiplePay e-wallet will reduce the costs and risks associated with cash handling for salary disbursement. The e-wallet also supports electronic know-your-customer (eKYC) technology, a paperless security and verification technology used to confirm the identity of customers for digital transactions. This ensures that the foreign workers are digitally onboarded with full security.

Additionally, the KiplePay e-wallet comes equipped with a variety of functions that foreign workers can use for their daily and financial needs. These include e-remittance, e-commerce, and e-services, such as mobile reloads and bill payments. On top of that, Green Packet will also issue Visa prepaid cards to the foreign workers, providing them with access to merchants and ATMs globally.

The chief executive officer of KiplePay Sdn Bhd (subsidiary of Green Packet), Kay Tan emphasised that digital payments of salary goes beyond providing convenience to employers; it also assures foreign workers that their salaries can now be easily presented, kept, and utilised.

Green Packet and MMAGs newly signed agreement currently has a two-year tenure, and will be renewed for successive periods of one year each. Sources have said, however, that the digital salary payment system may be extended to the 2.5 million foreign workers that are managed by MMANTAP.

With this system in place, MMAG will propose to implement the same for all foreign workers, currently estimated at 2 million, in Malaysia as this will help eradicate social issues and crime relating to the presence of illegal foreign workers, said the source.

Green Packet is not the only company to have ventured into providing digital salary payment services for foreign workers. Earlier this year, InstaPay Technologies has also partnered with Mastercard to launch an e-wallet for migrant workers.

(Source: Green Packet, The Star)

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The general debate of the 75th UN General Assembly opened Tuesday, with leaders of many countries giving video speeches. Among them, the address by US President Donald Trump is probably the one with the most personal characteristics. He used the discriminatory phrase "China virus" in his speech, and spent a large part of it attacking China in all aspects - from the epidemic fight, to ecology, and to fishery. Did this US president come to the UN for a quarrel?

Listening carefully to what Trump said, people will find that his audience is not the international community represented by the UN, but American voters that he is most anxious to persuade. His remarks demanding that China be held accountable for the epidemic were too vulgar on the UN stage, and full of loopholes. His speech sounded like nothing but a farce to the diplomats. But the US president keen on reelection doesn't care how the outside world reacts to his speech. The words he used are those most likely to fool the American public. For Trump, the significance of the UN stage is that it can be used in his reelection campaign.

About the same time he delivered the video address, the COVID-19 death toll in the US was surpassing 200,000. Of course, Trump didn't mention this, but boasted that three US vaccines are in Phase-III trials, the last stage in vaccine development and testing. To summarize his speech, he showed off his governing achievements, while covering up his administration's severe dereliction of duty and failure to fight the epidemic by launching attacks on China. He also diluted the international community's dissatisfaction with the US' infamous record, such as withdrawing from the Paris Agreement.

The US is the biggest destroyer of the existing international system and rules, as seen from Trump's rude UN speech. Washington talked about world peace, but it has created unprecedented tensions in major power relations since the end of the Cold War, and is undisguised in its attempt to lead China-US relations into a new cold war. Sound relations between major powers are the cornerstone of world peace.

Trump's speech jeopardized the atmosphere of this UN General Assembly, and threw the assembly's theme astray. His hysterical attack on China violated the diplomatic etiquette a top leader is supposed to have. This means Washington elites do not take the UN into consideration and pay no heed to diplomacy. They believe power is everything. They want the agenda of the international community to serve US politics, and the UN General Assembly be turned into Trump's presidential campaign.

The US is in a period when its global image has fallen to its lowest. When Trump appeared in the video, many people probably thought of the top ranking of the US in terms of those infected with and died from the novel coronavirus. This is the most notable label the US has now.

Moreover, racial conflicts in the US are raging. Partisan fights have resulted in social division. The US is becoming bossier and bossier. This is the general impression people have of today's US.

China stresses "doing its own things well." In fact, the US should take this as its motto too. The US has performed so poorly in handling domestic affairs that reforms could barely be advanced. It has to pass the buck to digest the domestic anger. This is the sign of stagnation and the decline of a major power. It's hoped the US government will not go further in this direction, which will only end up deceiving itself.
Mumbai, Sep 23 : The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has barred Dewan Housing Finance Corp Ltd's (DHFL) promoters, the Wadhawans, from accessing the securities market and dealing in securities, for norm violations and fraudulent transactions.

The regulator has also restrained them from associating, as directors or promoters, with any listed public company and any public company which intends to raise money from the public or any intermediary registered with it.

The promoters are Kapil Wadhawan, Dheeraj Wadhawan, Rakesh Kumar Wadhawan, Sarang Wadhawan, Aruna Wadhawan, Malti Wadhawan, Anu S. Wadhawan, Pooja D. Wadhawan, Wadhawan Holding Pvt Ltd, Wadhawan Consolidated Holding Pvt Ltd, Wadhawan Retail Venture Pvt Ltd and Wadhawan Global Capital Ltd (formerly known as Wadhawan Housing Pvt Ltd).

SEBI had issued show-cause notices to all the promoters as to why suitable prohibitions under Sections 11(4) and 11B of the SEBI Act including the directions for restraining or prohibiting them from accessing the securities market and buying should not be imposed against them.

The Wadhawans need to file their respective replies with SEBI within 21 days from the date of receipt of the interim order-cum-show cause notice.

As DHFL is currently under insolvency, the SEBI order said: "This order is without prejudice to Direction(s) or Order that may be passed by the NCLT during the corporate insolvency resolution process of the Company under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016."
Iran has announced that it will bolster its defences in Syria, as part of its plans to provide the regions countries with military assistance writes Al-Masdar.

Iranian army spokesman Abu Fadl Shikaraji, said that Syria has asked the Islamic Republic to strengthen its defenses.

Shikaraji explained in a press statement on Tuesday, that Tehran is sending military experts and advisors to Yemen, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon, adding that Iran does not have regular military forces in those countries.

The economic conditions do not allow us to give everything to our allies for free, and they sometimes buy some things from us, the spokesman said.

The spokesman pointed out that Irans role in the countries of the region is advisory and moral,, adding, We do not plan to have a permanent military presence in any of the regions countries.

He explained that, the axis of resistance countries have armies and armed forces, and we only provide them with military advice. We transferred our expertise to countries such as Yemen, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon, to provide advisory assistance, because it is the armies of those countries and their peoples who stand in the face of the enemy.

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.
Insurance fraud seems like it might be an easy thing to do. Insurance companies are often so huge, one wonders how they might not even notic...
WASHINGTON - She had taught them something about persistence, so the loyal admirers of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg arrived at the Supreme Court nearly 12 hours before her body. Four of them stayed the night, and a dozen arrived before dawn. They came from Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, Vermont and Louisiana. Lawyers. A counselor. A Coast Guard officer. A single mom.

They watched as a black hearse arrived at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, and from it emerged Ginsburg's casket draped in an American flag. It was carried slowly up the steps, between dozens of the justice's former law clerks, and inside the court, where a private ceremony was set to begin.

Outside, the crowds waited for the moment soon to come: when the casket would reemerge, and those in line would be allowed to pass it from a distance.

The first from the public to do so would be Mary and Vicki Migues-Jordan, who'd been waiting since 9:45 p.m. Tuesday night, when they opened their camp chairs, wrapped themselves in blankets, and settled in for hours of little sleep and long talks about what this woman had meant to them.

"When I first saw her, I remember thinking, 'they're going to chew her up and spit her out,' " Mary Migues-Jordan said. "But she was this tiny little thing who took over a room when she walked in."

As an attorney, Mary Migues-Jordan, 55, tried to emulate Ginsburg's ability to make every word count. She had a Ginsburg action figure and a sweatshirt with her face on it. But to her, there was so much more to the justice than the "notorious" version that decorated totebags. The couple were reminded of that this summer, when the Court ruled that the 1964 Civil Rights Act protects gay, lesbian and transgender employees from discrimination based on sex. Their own son did not understand what the big deal was.

"The big deal is yesterday I could have been fired because of who I love, and it's 2020," Mary said.

3 1 of 3 Washington Post photo by Matt McClain Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Washington Post photo by Jessica Contrera Show More Show Less 3 of 3





Second in the line were Doug Smith, 53, and his daughter, a 21-year-old college senior, sitting on plastic chairs and wrapping themselves in blankets on the dark sidewalk. They had spent the entire night on street, arriving at about 10 p.m. the night before, after driving about four hours from Pittsburgh.

"The impact she's had on my wife and my daughters, there's just no way to envision what their lives would be like without the work of Justice Ginsburg," he said. "I could not not be here. I had to come down and pay my respects."

As soon as he saw the Supreme Court's announcement about the week's memorial services, Smith had texted his wife and daughters: "I'm going to D.C. Does anyone want to go with me?"

His older daughter, who was doing homework at the time, immediately responded that she would go with him, even though her college's coronavirus restrictions prohibited her from leaving her campus. She declined to give her name because if her university found out she was off campus, she could lose her housing.

"I knew if it came down to it, I could stare down the university and say, 'This is where my values stand,' " she said.

The higher the sun rose, the longer the line grew. Ginsburg began lying "in repose" about 11 a.m. Wednesday, after a private ceremony in the court. The casket will remain outside for two 11-hour days, allowing thousands to come pay their respects by walking across the plateau near the bottom of the steps.

On Friday, the casket will be taken across the street to the Capitol's National Statuary Hall, where an invitation-only memorial will be held and where she will lie "in state" atop the catafalque, built for President Abraham Lincoln's casket in 1865. She will be the first woman in history to receive the honor. (Civil rights icon Rosa Parks was given a "lying in honor" tribute in Statuary Hall in 2005.) No Supreme Court justice has done the same since president-turned-chief-justice William Howard Taft in 1930.

All week, babies in strollers, girls in pigtails and women in tears have been appearing at the court to mourn their legal heroine. They brought so many daisies, roses and sunflowers that huge swaths of sidewalks were barely visible. They dressed their dogs in lace collars. They left photos of themselves on their wedding days, wives kissing wives.

The posters they placed near the steps were marked with colorful declarations: "Rest in power;" "It's up to us now;" "Little woman, big ovaries." One poster bore a message to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., beside the phone number from the movie "Ghostbusters": "For when she haunts you."

In preparation for the official memorial, the tributes were cleared from the sidewalks, the petals swept away. After being screened by the architect of the Capitol, which maintains the grounds around the court, the memorabilia will be handed over to the Supreme Court's curator.

Fences were erected, blocking the public from coming near the court. But women still came, stuffing flowers into the fence hinges.

"Right here's a good spot," said 5-year-old Annika Fjellstedt, as she placed a coloring book onto the sidewalk Tuesday night. The image featured Ginsburg, whom she'd dressed in a neon orange robe. The justice was riding on a unicorn, the reins in her hands.

Ginsburg's near-mythical status was the subject of much debate in the days following her death; the oodles of praise brought reminders of the decisions and comments that did not always align with the image of her as a hero to the left, including calling Colin Kaepernick's decision to kneel during the national anthem "dumb" and "disrespectful."

But the lines of mostly White women were focused Wednesday as much on the future as they were on the past.

"We are either going to have to stand up and fight as hard as she would, or we are going to see everything that we value and love fall," said Brenda Siegel, 43, a single mom who drove in from Vermont, where she recently ran for lieutenant governor.

She knew that in a few days, President Donald Trump is expected to announce a conservative nominee to replace Ginsburg. And she knew Democrats were almost certainly powerless to stop it.

The woman chosen to take Ginsburg's seat is among the legions of female jurists for whom she paved the way. Ginsburg, who was asked to justify why she'd taken a man's spot at Harvard University's law school and had trouble finding a job after she graduated, spent decades fighting for gender equality before 1993, when she became the second woman to ascend to the nation's highest court.

But those on the shortlist would play a different role on the court than the liberal justice. Trump's nominee probably will give the court a 6-3 conservative majority capable of transforming the nation's legal landscape Ginsburg helped usher, both in her time on the high court and as a pioneering lawyer.

"It's unfortunate that this country had burdened her with so much," said Robin Jones, 46, a university administrator from Blacksburg, Va., who stood in the third group in line before dawn.

Her longtime friend Kelly Deutermann, 38, who had come with her, said "it was non-negotiable to be here."

"She has provided the foundation for literally everything I can do in this country," said Deutermann, who works as a Coast Guard officer. Her profession, she said, would have been out of reach if it had not been for Ginsburg's work. Her husband, who has been the "primary parent" for their children for the past eight years, stayed home watching the kids.

"We wouldn't have a world like that without RBG," she said.

Judi LeCompte, 62, watched the Supreme Court from across the street with her 11-year old granddaughter, Gianna, who days ago said she did not know who Ginsburg was. That was enough to motivate LeCompte to be here, and make sure her granddaughter came too.

As they waited, LeCompte explained to her granddaughter how Ginsburg graduated at the top of her class and still had trouble finding a job at a law firm, how she began her career at a time when wives were expected to take care of the children and cook for their husbands.

"Justice Ginsburg's husband said no, you want to become a lawyer? Go become a lawyer," LeCompte told her granddaughter. "And he stood beside her every step of the way."

While Gianna was learning about Ginsburg for the first time, 10-year-old Averie Hyde was near the front of the line, soon to be one of the first to say goodbye to the justice. She and her mother, 33-year-old Cathleen Hyde, were wearing matching lace collar shirts.

They booked their flights from Baton Rouge, La., the day after Ginsburg's death, hoping there would be a memorial service in the District of Columbia this week.

"She was just cool," Averie said, wearing a rainbow LGBTQ pride hat. Her mom hoped saying goodbye to Ginsburg would give them both a sense of peace and closure.

"It's kind of the last opportunity to pay that respect," she said. "I just hope it can be an opportunity for that, to make it about her and not the politics."
Manitoba recorded its highest COVID-19 case count of the month Wednesday, and Winnipeg continued to be the province's hot spot.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/9/2020 (485 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitoba recorded its highest COVID-19 case count of the month Wednesday, and Winnipeg continued to be the province's hot spot.

Health officials reported 42 new cases of the novel coronavirus provincewide, with 30 in the Manitoba capital.

Winnipeg now has 335 of the province's 418 active cases of COVID-19. The city has been behind a recent surge that has seen Manitoba record 175 cases in the past six days and 464 since the beginning of the month.

The current five-day test positivity rate in Manitoba rose to 2.2 per cent Wednesday from 1.8 per cent the day before. An additional 1,703 laboratory tests were completed Tuesday.

While the operator of the Parkview Place Care Centre personal care home reported Tuesday that one of its residents had died of COVID-19, the province made no mention of it in its media bulletin Wednesday. A spokeswoman said the province would not make an announcement until investigations were completed. The official death count remains at 18.

There were 11 Manitobans in hospital Wednesday with COVID-19, including five in intensive care.

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.

Notifications have gone out regarding a confirmed case at the elementary school in the town of Gladstone on Sept. 8-10 and Sept. 14; a case at St. Maurice School on Pembina Highway on Sept. 17 and 18; and a case at Emerson School in Winnipeg on Sept. 16 and 17.

Red River College's Notre Dame campus closed one classroom for deep cleaning and disinfection after a community member tested positive for COVID-19, the school said in a statement Wednesday. The individual was asymptomatic while on campus, and public health has deemed the situation low risk.

Officials are also advising of possible exposures to the coronavirus at the following locations:

 Earls St. Vital, 1215 St. Mary's Rd., Sept. 15, from 5:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.;

 Local Public Eatery, 274 Garry St., Sept. 15 and 16;

 Wee Johnny's Irish Pub, 177 McDermot Ave., Sept. 15, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. for trivia night;

 Leopold's Tavern, 414 Academy Rd., Sept. 15 from 9:30 to 1:30 a.m.

It was the second possible exposure at Local Public Eatery, which was previously closed after exposures on Sept. 11 and 12.

Meanwhile, the outbreak at Rideau Park Personal Care Home has been declared over. The site is now rated caution (yellow) rather than critical (red) on the province's pandemic response system.

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca
GALESBURG, Ill., Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The COVID-19 pandemic forced K-12 schools to not only close their doors suddenly and unexpectedly, but to keep them closed for an unusually long period of time. Due to the prolonged shutdown, stagnant water left sitting in the pipes and plumbing systems of school buildings now poses a great threat of Legionella bacteria growth which can cause Legionnaires' disease, a type of severe pneumonia that can lead to death. Though there is always a risk of Legionella in stagnant water systems, schools may be at a much higher risk now due to the several months-long closures and continued low-occupancy which may allow for higher concentrations of Legionella to develop.

As schools across the country work to reopen, Intellihot , a leading commercial tankless water heating manufacturer, implores K-12 school administrators to take preventative health and safety measures such as proactively flushing all piping and water-using devices and to consider long-term solutions like tankless hot water heaters in order to minimize the risk of Legionnaires' disease and other waterborne hazards and diseases.

In just the past 30 days, Legionella has already been found in at least 10 schools in multiple towns in Ohio and Pennsylvania and experts predict there will be more. A report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine titled Management of Legionella in Water Systems , estimates that about 52,000 to 70,000 Americans suffer from Legionnaires' disease each year. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (C.D.C.), in the United States, the rate of reported cases of Legionnaires' disease has grown by nearly nine times since 2000. Dr. Andrew Whelton, an associate professor of civil, engineering and environmental and ecological engineering at Purdue University, has studied the implications of water stagnation in school plumbing systems and has been vocal about the action school administrators and public health officials should take to reduce the risk for widespread disease before students, teachers and staff return to school.

"Widespread building shutdowns brought on by COVID-19 are unprecedented. Buildings aren't designed for these shutdowns, and water needs to stay moving to prevent bacteria and metal from concentrating in the pipes. Students and staff could be at risk of serious health issues if pipes aren't properly flushed before they return," said Whelton. "Even when schools reopen, fewer people in the buildings means lower water use. Problems need to be avoided with operating buildings at low occupancy, too."

The most common form of Legionella transmission occurs by breathing in contaminated water droplets or mist from sources such as drinking fountains, sinks and showers. Legionnaires' disease cannot be spread from human-to-human contact and the majority of cases can be successfully cured with antibiotics. However, because Legionnaires' disease shows similar respiratory signs and symptoms as COVID-19, there are additional concerns that those with Legionnaires' disease may be misdiagnosed with COVID-19 and thus, left untreated.

The traditional water heating systems used by many schools today are outdated, unreliable and require huge storage tanks that can grow and amplify Legionella and other microbial hazards such as leaching metals. Water safety must be examined before schools reopen and tankless water heating systems should be evaluated as a long-term solution to mitigate the risk of Legionella.

Designed for schools, hotels and other large facilities, Intellihot's groundbreaking commercial tankless water heaters are able to heat unlimited amounts of water on demand without the need to store any water which significantly reduces the risk of Legionella. The compact, floor-mounted units are drop-in-ready, fit existing water and gas connections, eliminate the need to re-pipe, and require very little installation time. Intellihot tankless systems also eliminate waste and environmental impact, and cut down greenhouse emissions by over 40%.

Intellihot commercial tankless water heaters power K-12 schools, educational institutions and Ivy-league universities around the country.

"Legionnaires' disease is very preventable. With a few simple steps and inexpensive precautions, school administrators can reduce the risk," said Sri Deivasigamani, co-founder and CEO of Intellihot. "If you haven't already considered a tankless water heating system as part of your school's water management plan, now is the time to do so. In addition to health and safety benefits, Intellihot tankless units save money, improve your school's carbon footprint and can be quickly installed before occupants return."

Though there are currently no government or industry standards for schools to safely reopen and to return plumbing to normal use following the extended closures, the C.D.C. has published voluntary guidelines to aid building owners and property managers aiming to prevent Legionella from spreading as facilities reopen.

About Intellihot, Inc.

Founded in 2009 in Peoria, Illinois, Intellihot is a clean technology, IoT company with a mission to do more with less and to create intelligent energy transformations. Today, Intellihot builds IoT devices and commercial tankless water heaters that help their customers cut energy costs and eliminate downtime. With customers like Abigail Adams Middle School, Levi's Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers, 340 on the Park, Chicago's second tallest residential building, Costco and Marriott International, Intellihot is working towards a waste-free future in schools, homes, businesses and facilities across the planet. Learn more at www.intellihot.com .

SOURCE Intellihot
A protestor marches by a police line in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, - JEFF DEAN/ AFP

Hours after a grand jury brought no charges against Louisville police for the killing of Breonna Taylor and protesters took to the streets, two police officers were shot on Wednesday night during demonstrations expressing anger over the deaths of black people at the hands of police.

One suspect is in custody. Police Chief Robert Schroeder said one officer was alert and stable and the other officer was in surgery and stable. He said the officers had gone to an area in the city to investigate reports of shots fired when they were hit by gunfire.

The city of Louisville erupted in fresh protests after the grand jury in Kentucky declined to charge police officers with the killing of Ms Taylor, whose death has become a rallying cry against racism across the US and the world.

Only one of the three officers involved in the fatal shooting of black emergency medical worker Ms Taylor was indicted on a lower criminal charge of wanton endangerment.

Police officers march through Jefferson Square Park in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, on September 23, 2020 - JEFF DEAN/ AFP

Ms Taylor, 26, was shot multiple times by plainclothes officers who entered her home after midnight using a "no-knock" warrant that allowed them to enter without warning during a drugs investigation on March 13.

The warrant used to raid her home was connected to a suspect - her ex-boyfriend - who did not live there, and no drugs were found inside.

Former police officer Brett Hankison, who fired a number of the shots, was on Wednesday charged with three counts of wanton endangerment in the first degree, after it was determined he had shot into neighbouring flats.

The charge carries a penalty of one to five years in prison. The judge set a $15,000 (12,000) cash bond.

The two other officers involved in the incident were not charged.

Daniel Cameron, Kentuckys Attorney General, said the pair - Sgt. Johnathan Mattingly and Officer Myles Cosgrove - were justified in their use of force as they fired in self-defence after Ms Taylors boyfriend fired a shot.

Story continues

This is a gutwrenching, emotional case, Mr Cameron said. I understand the publics desire for answers.

Theres nothing I can do to take away the heartache (...) but what I can provide today are the facts.

A woman reacts to news in the Breonna Taylor shooting - AP

Asked for his response, Donald Trump declined to comment on the case but argued he had done more for the black community than anyone since Abraham Lincoln.

Louisvilles mayor declared a state of emergency and a 9pm curfew, fearing civil unrest.

Protesters in Louisville and across the country have demanded justice for Ms Taylor and other black people killed by police in recent months. A 911 call of her killing that was released in late May sparked demonstrations across the city and coincided with the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis that galvanised nationwide rallies.

Ms Taylors family, and several prominent African American celebrities including Oprah and Beyonce, had joined those urging that the officers be charged with her murder.

Breonna Taylor posing during a graduation ceremony in Louisville Kentucky. - AFP

Is that it? one demonstrator in downtown Louisville shouted after the decision was read. What the hell, shouted another.

Tamika Mallory told a crowd gathered: We have a responsibility to the rest of this nation and for generations to come that we conduct ourselves, not peacefully, but non-violently, so the story that comes out of here is that we are not the murderers, we are not the looters, we are not the burners. They did it to us and we are only responding.

Al Sharpton, the prominent civil rights leader, called the charges grossly insufficient.

Ben Crump, the Taylor family's lawyer, tweeted: "Jefferson County Grand Jury indicts former ofc. Brett Hankison with 3 counts of Wanton Endangerment in 1st Degree for bullets that went into other apartments but NOTHING for the murder of Breonna Taylor. This is outrageous and offensive!

"If Brett Hankison's behavior was wanton endangerment to people in neighboring apartments, then it should have been wanton endangerment in Breonna Taylor's apartment too. In fact, it should have been ruled wanton murder."

Mr Hankison was fired from the city's police department on June 23. A termination letter sent to him by Robert Schroeder, the interim Louisville Police Chief, said the white officer had violated procedures by showing "extreme indifference to the value of human life" when he "wantonly and blindly" shot 10 rounds of gunfire into Ms Taylor's apartment in March.

People react after a decision in the criminal case against police officers involved in the death of Breonna Taylor, who was shot dead by police in her apartment, in Louisville - Reuters

Sgt. Mattingly, Officer Cosgrove and the detective who sought the warrant, Joshua Jaynes, were placed on administrative reassignment after the shooting.

Kenneth Walker, Ms Taylor's boyfriend, opened fire when police burst in, hitting Officer Mattingly.

Walker was charged with attempted murder of a police officer, but prosecutors later dropped the charge. He told police he heard knocking but did not know who was coming into the home and fired in self-defense.

Earlier this month the city settled a lawsuit against the three officers brought by Tamika Palmer, Ms Taylor's mother, agreeing to pay her $12 million and enact police reforms.

The city of Louisville has introduced a number of reforms in policing since the March killing, including banning the use of no-knock warrants.
Ben & Jerrys unveiled a new visual and virtual art installation at the companys Waterbury, Vt. factory on Sept. 22, National Voter Registration Day. Based upon the autobiographical graphic novel works of civil rights activist John Lewis, The Long March combines various media that highlights the importance of supporting racial justice.

We had the honor and blessing of hosting John Lewis and his co-author, Andrew Aydin, here at Ben & Jerrys last fall to share their #1 New York Times bestseller, proclaimed the brands CEO, Matthew McCarthy. We are honored and fortunate now to share the congressmans legacy with our fans and the world by featuring The Long March.

Congressman Lewis was born to sharecroppers in Troy, Al., during the forties. He spent nearly his whole life dedicated to the civil rights movement, organizing sit-in demonstrations and participating in Freedom Rides. During his time in Congress, Lewis served as a member of the Congressional Black Caucus and remained a staunch advocate of racial justice. He passed away this July.

Ever since we churned our first batch of ice cream, weve used our business to support justice and equality, says Ben & Jerrys website of the exhibit. And throughout our journey, weve taken inspiration from the heroes of the civil rights movementheroes like Congressman John Lewis, who dedicated his life to a vision of democracy where every citizen is represented.

Friendly reminder that @Benandjerrys has a flavor called Justice ReMixd the flavor and action campaign dedicated to criminal justice reform. : @mnmtwinz/IG pic.twitter.com/zqYbHyThxG  First We Feast (@firstwefeast) June 11, 2020

Indeed, this isnt Ben & Jerrys first foray into politics. Last fall, the company released a flavor called Justice ReMixd which intended to bring light the need for criminal justice reform within the United States. Politics aside, some people may just get Justice ReMixd for its flavor alonethe ice cream is a swirl of cinnamon and chocolate, complete with bites of cinnamon bun dough and spicy fudge brownies. A percentage of the proceeds from the flavor go to the Advancement Project National Office, a civil rights group dedicated to fighting for justice for all despite race or wealth.

Ben & Jerrys customers also have the opportunity to register to vote at their website here.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburgs death leaves an opening in the courts four-strong liberal bloc, which could be filled by Donald Trump and the Republican Senate majority. Democrats and womens rights advocates are once again sounding the alarm about the damage that could be wrought by a 6-3 conservative majority in the Supreme Court.

Partisanship and heated political rhetoric have accompanied nearly every Supreme Court confirmation since the Senates 1987 vote to reject Judge  and Watergate villain  Robert Bork, concealing what legal experts and political insiders say is a pattern of Trump nominees declining to support one of the highest courts bedrock civil rights rulings.

The Supreme Court first affirmed a womans right to terminate a pregnancy in the 1973 case Roe v. Wade. Ever since then, Republicans and their religious fundamentalist allies have made packing the judiciary with like-minded jurists a high priority. They have redoubled their efforts in the 18 years since George H W Bush appointee David Souter joined Justices Anthony Kennedy and Sandra Day OConnor in upholding Roes essential holding in Planned Parenthood v. Casey.

However, many legal experts and Washington veterans fear that discussions about abortion could be obscuring Trump nominees hostility to another landmark civil rights case: Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka.

In the 1954 case, the court issued a unanimous opinion  authored by then-Chief Justice Earl Warren  declaring that in the field of public education, the doctrine of separate but equal has no place.

In the years since, those nominated for the federal judiciary have frequently been asked their opinion of the Brown case. When the current Chief Justice John G Roberts testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee at his 2005 confirmation hearing, he responded to a question as to whether Warrens opinion in Brown was the correct one with just two words: I do.

And during his contentious appearance before the committee in late 2018, then-Judge Brett Kavanaugh said the ruling  which is considered such an important milestone in American history that it is routinely taught to school children  represented the single greatest moment in Supreme Court history.

Yet despite the cases status as a turning point towards equality in the canons of American constitutional jurisprudence, a significant number of nominees put forth by President Trump have refused to say whether they believe those nine justices who declared that Black children cannot be forced to attend separate schools from white children had come to the right decision.

As of last spring, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights found that nearly 30 Trump nominees for both trial and appellate-level courts had declined to state that Browns holding was the correct one, and frequently claimed that they did so because it would not be the place of a lower-court judge to evaluate a decision of the Supreme Court.

During a hearing to determine whether the Senate Judiciary Committee would vote in favor of Kenneth K Lees nomination to an open seat on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)  who has frequently put forth the question of Brown to nominees  expressed frustration with the trend.

I am just at a loss to understand why no nominee is agreeing to answer the question and how every nominee is using almost exactly the same language to avoid answering it, and I think it is unfortunate because I think we ought to have free and open answers particularly on that kind of moral as well as legal question, he said.

After now-Judge Wendy Vitter also refused to answer the question, Blumenthal offered his theory as to why this was so in a speech from the Senate floor: The reason for giving such an answer is that Ms Vitter and the vast majority of President Trump's nominees do not really think that a lot of Supreme Court precedent is correct, and they would be perfectly happy for reversals.

Vitter and most of the nominees in question have claimed their reticence on Brown simply follows the precedent set by the late Justice Ginsburg during her own 1993 hearing, when she declined to answer questions on matters that could come before the court.

But Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington Executive Director Noah Bookbinder, who from 2005 to 2013 served as Chief Counsel for Criminal Justice to the Senate Judiciary Committee, said none of the five Supreme Court nominees whose nominations he worked onincluding those of Justices Roberts, Alito, Sotomayor, Kagan, plus the failed bid of Bush White House Counsel Harriet Miershad any trouble affirming Brown.

I think people can argue there are certainly cases that are going through the system about affirmative action-type programs and about considering race in admissions, he said. But that is far removed from whether you can have segregated schools, andany nominee shouldfeel a legal and moral obligation to affirm that, as a constitutional principle, segregation is not permitted.

Bookbinder went on to say, I sort of understand the reason for caution, but I think its actually distressing that nominees apparently feel that even basic principles of equality and integration are in their minds up in the air enough that they don't want to opine on them.

Another veteran observer of the judicial confirmation process, Harvard Law School Emeritus Professor Laurence Tribe, said the trend of judicial nominees refusing to endorse Brown is both unprecedented and troubling because of what it could signal about those jurists views on other significant constitutional questions.

No federal court nominee, other than these Trump nominees, in the 66 years since 1954 of whom Im aware  and certainly none who was confirmed  has declined to endorse that landmark ruling as correctly decided, Tribe said. That Trump nominees have routinely done so is simply jaw-dropping, and its a short step from that refusal to an insistence on being agnostic about whether the Bill of Rights binds the states by virtue of the 14th Amendment or whether the Equal Protection Clause applies to women.

Michael Steele, the former GOP chairman and Marylands first African-American Lieutenant Governor, suggested in a phone interview that Trump nominees silence on Brown v. Board of Education leaves open the possibility that the President is deliberately nominating judges who are at least tacitly in favor of rolling back many civil rights protections.

If you can't tell me that Brown v. Board of Education was decided correctly, that our public schools should, as institutions of learning, be desegregated, then you're telling me that the status quo prior to Brown wasthe way to go, he said.

For Bookbinder, Trump nominees refusal to affirm Brown raises the disturbing possibility that conservatives could begin a concerted effort to chip away at the cases central holding in the same manner as theyve done with Roe and Casey.

I don't want to go so far as to say that I expect people to bring cases trying to challenge Brown, and I hope that we are not anywhere near that place, he said. But it does worry me as to whether it suggests an openness to litigation that gets closer to the kinds of principles that underlie Brown v Board of Education, even if not going right there.

Steele, who is also an advisor to The Lincoln Project, also said the trend should set off alarm bells about the potential of a campaign to undermine Brown in the same manner conservatives used to mount successful assault on the Voting Rights Act in Shelby County v. Holder.

Given the Supreme Court decision on the Voting Rights Act, it does raise a flag that there may be some cases that pop up that would test the proposition of Brown, he said, though he later added that he did not know what kind of case could be set up to do so.

Instead, Steele opined that the hostility to such a landmark civil rights ruling could spring from the mind of the President himself: Theres no doubt that Trump lives in an idealized world of the 1950s that has become an infection [among Republicans]which, by the way, is a bunch of crap, he said. But there seems to be this view that's out there that somehow, you know, that decision [Brown] disrupted the natural order of things, and they want to recorrect that. I dont understand where its coming from, and we have to be alert as to how it may manifest itself in the court system and the judicial system.

Stevens, whose book It Was All a Lie charges that the GOP has been infected with racism for decades, agreed.

It's just all part of this effort to stop time, to go back to some mythical Shangri-La, he said.
A prominent Indian-origin Oxford University academic leads a group of over 30 academics who have expressed their doubts over the government's localised and national lockdown approach to tackling a second wave of the pandemic.

Professor Sunetra Gupta, Professor of Theoretical Epidemiology at the University of Oxford, co-authored a letter addressed to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Chancellor Rishi Sunak and the Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland this week as a "constructive input" into the government's policy response to the rising number of infections.

The Gupta-led group recommends more targeted measures that protect the groups most vulnerable to the deadly virus.

"In summary, our view is that the existing policy path is inconsistent with the known risk-profile of COVID-19 and should be reconsidered, notes the open letter.

"Instead, more targeted measures that protect the most vulnerable from COVID, whilst not adversely impacting those not at risk, are more supportable Such targeted measures should be explored as a matter of urgency, as the logical cornerstone of our future strategy," the group says.

They argue that because 89 per cent of COVID-19 deaths are in the over 65 group and are also concentrated in people with pre-existing medical conditions, these are the groups at which interventions should be targeted.

"This large variation in risk by age and health status suggests that the harm caused by uniform policies (that apply to all persons) will outweigh the benefits," the letter reads, warning that the effect on cancer treatment is especially acute, with people delaying or missing screenings, tests, or treatments.

However, Gupta's team goes head to head with a contrary scientific point of view put forward in an open letter by Trisha Greenhalgh, Chair of Primary Care Health Aciences at Oxford University, signed by Edinburgh-based Indian-origin academic Devi Sridhar, Chair of Global Public Health, Edinburgh Medical School, among 23 other academics.

"We strongly support your continuing 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," reads the letter addressed to the CMOs.

"Society is an open system. To cut a cohort of vulnerable' people off from non-vulnerable' or less vulnerable' is likely to prove practically impossible, especially for disadvantaged groups The goal of herd immunity' rests on the unproven assumption that re-infection will not occur. We simply do not know whether immunity will wane over months or years in those who have had COVID-19," they write.

Their letter, published in the British Medical Journal', says that the may have to move flexibly between levels of restriction rather than either full lockdown or release, depending on how well the virus is controlled.

They also flag that measures that would help control the virus while also promoting economic recovery include making face coverings mandatory in crowded indoor spaces, improving ventilation in schools and workplaces, continuing to require social distancing, and discouraging large indoor gatherings.

The face off within the scientific community comes as Johnson laid out a new set of restrictions to come in force from Thursday, which once again requires people to work from home where possible and for hospitality businesses to bring down their shutters hours earlier in the evening.

Plans for a further easing up for sporting and exhibition venues, scheduled for next month, have also been halted as part of the tougher measures to be enforced via fines between 100 pounds and 10,000 pounds.

Johnson has told Parliament that the country should expect the restrictions to remain in place for around six months.

"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," warns Prof. Gupta's group in their letter.

On the other hand, the group backed by Prof. Sridhar, notes: "Despite claims to the contrary from some quarters, there are no examples of a segmentation-and-shielding policy having worked in any country."



The two sets of open letters indicate a growing split across the over tackling the second wave of the pandemic, with rival camps divided between strict lockdowns and greater freedom on people's movements and businesses. It comes as the R number, or the rate at which the infection is transmitted, remains above the preferred mark of one and the UK's death toll from the deadly virus edges towards 42,000.

(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.)


TwentyFour Income Fund Limited

(a closed-ended investment companyincorporated in Guernsey with registration number 56128)

LEI Number: 549300CCEV00IH2SU369

(The "Company")

23 September 2020

RESULT OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

At the Annual General Meeting of the Company held today, all Resolutions set out in the Annual General Meeting Notice sent to Shareholders dated 24 August 2020 were duly passed.

Whilst receiving a majority of votes for, 22.44% of votes were cast against Resolution 15. In accordance with the Code of Corporate Governance, the Board will consult with shareholders to determine the reasons for voting against the Resolution.

Details of the proxy voting results which should be read along side the Notice are noted below:

Ordinary Resolution For Discretion

(voted in favour) Against Abstain 1 315,640,514 0 22,900 0 2 315,608,906 0 54,507 0 3 315,494,810 0 66,226 102,378 4 315,545,953 0 91,440 26,020 5 315,568,640 0 82,395 12,378 6 315,633,931 0 25,971 3,512 7 315,633,931 0 25,971 3,512 8 315,633,931 0 25,971 3,512 9 315,656,831 0 3,071 3,512 10 315,584,887 0 78,526 0 11 315,645,420 0 7,864 10,130 12 315,645,420 0 7,864 10,130 13 271,476,064 0 44,177,219 10,130 Extraordinary

Resolution For Discretion

(voted in favour) Against Abstain 14 315,579,730 0 73,554 10,130 15 244,821,123 0 70,837,445 4,845

Note -A vote withheld is not a vote in law and has not been counted in the votes for and against a resolution.

The Extraordinary Resolutions were as follows:

Extraordinary Resolution 14

That, in substitution of all existing powers (but in addition to any power conferred on them by ordinary resolutions 11 and 12 above), the Directors be and are authorised generally and unconditionally in accordance with Article 6.7 of the Articles to exercise all powers of the Company to issue equity securities (as defined in Article 6.1.1(a)) for cash as if the members' pre-emption rights contained in Article 6.2 of the Articles did not apply to any such issue pursuant to the general authority conferred on them by the ordinary resolutions 10 and 11 above (as varied from time to time by the Company in general meeting):

a) pursuant to an offer of equity securities open for acceptance for a period fixed by the Directors where the equity securities respectively attributable to the interests of holders of Ordinary Shares are proportionate (as nearly as may be) to the respective numbers of Ordinary Shares held by them but subject to such exclusions or other arrangements in connection with the issue as the Directors may consider necessary, appropriate or expedient to deal with equity securities representing fractional entitlements or to deal with legal or practical problems arising in any overseas territory, the requirements of any regulatory body or stock exchange, or any other matter whatsoever; and

b) provided that (otherwise than pursuant to sub-paragraph (a) above) this power shall be limited to the allotment of equity securities up to an aggregate nominal value equal to 10 per cent. of the total number of shares in issue in the Company at the date of the passing of this extraordinary resolution, and provided further that (i) the number of equity securities to which this power applies shall be reduced from time to time by the number of treasury shares which are sold pursuant to any power conferred on the Directors by ordinary resolution 10 above and (ii) no issue of equity securities shall be made under this power which would result in Ordinary Shares being issued at a price which is less than the net asset value per Ordinary Share as at the latest practicable date before such allotment of equity securities as determined by the Directors in their reasonable discretion, and such power hereby conferred shall expire on whichever is the earlier of: (i) the conclusion of the annual general meeting of the Company to be held in 2021; or (ii) the date 15 months after the date on which this extraordinary resolution is passed (unless renewed, varied or revoked by the Company prior to that date) save that the Company may, before such expiry, make offers or agreements which would or might require equity securities to be issued after such expiry and the Directors may issue equity securities in pursuance to such offers or agreements as if the authority conferred hereby had not expired.

Extraordinary Resolution 15

That, conditional on extraordinary resolution 14 above having been passed, in substitution of all existing powers (but in addition to any power conferred on them by ordinary resolutions 11 and 12 and in addition to and without prejudice to the power granted by extraordinary resolution 14 above), the Directors be and are authorised generally and unconditionally in accordance with Article 6.7 of the Articles to exercise all powers of the Company to issue equity securities (as defined in Article 6.1.1(a)) for cash as if the members' pre-emption rights contained in Article 6.2 of the Articles did not apply to any such issue pursuant to the general authority conferred on them by the ordinary resolutions 10 and 11 above (as varied from time to time by the Company in general meeting):

a) pursuant to an offer of equity securities open for acceptance for a period fixed by the Directors where the equity securities respectively attributable to the interests of holders of Ordinary Shares are proportionate (as nearly as may be) to the respective numbers of Ordinary Shares held by them but subject to such exclusions or other arrangements in connection with the issue as the Directors may consider necessary, appropriate or expedient to deal with equity securities representing fractional entitlements or to deal with legal or practical problems arising in any overseas territory, the requirements of any regulatory body or stock exchange, or any other matter whatsoever; and

b) provided that (otherwise than pursuant to sub-paragraph (a) above) this power shall be limited to the allotment of equity securities up to an aggregate nominal value equal to 10 per cent. of the total number of shares in issue in the Company at the date of the passing of this extraordinary resolution, and provided further that no issue of equity securities shall be made under this power which would result in Ordinary Shares being issued at a price which is less than the net asset value per Ordinary Share as at the latest practicable date before such allotment of equity securities as determined by the Directors in their reasonable discretion, and such power hereby conferred shall expire on whichever is the earlier of: (i) the conclusion of the annual general meeting of the Company to be held in 2021; or (ii) the date 15 months after the date on which this extraordinary resolution is passed (unless renewed, varied or revoked by the Company prior to that date) save that the Company may, before such expiry, make offers or agreements which would or might require equity securities to be issued after such expiry and the Directors may issue equity securities in pursuance to such offers or agreements as if the authority conferred hereby had not expired.



Enquiries:

Northern Trust International Fund Administration Services (Guernsey) Limited

The Company Secretary

Trafalgar Court

Les Banques

St Peter Port

Guernsey

GY1 3QL



Tel: 01481 745001



END


The 360 shows you diverse perspectives on the days top stories and debates.

Whats happening

The focus of the presidential race, which for months had largely been defined by the coronavirus pandemic and ongoing protests in U.S. cities, suddenly veered into new territory following the death of liberal Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Friday.

During the past few days, all eyes have shifted to the impending political fight in the Senate over the confirmation of President Trumps nominee to replace Ginsburg. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said he intends to move forward with the process, with the goal of having the new justice confirmed before Democrats potentially take over control of the Senate in January. Two GOP senators have said they oppose filling the seat before the election, but Republican leadership has expressed confidence they have enough votes to confirm the eventual nominee.

Replacing Ginsburg with a conservative justice in the vein of Trumps two previous nominees, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, would represent one of the most significant ideological shifts for the court in modern American history, legal scholars say. A potential 6-3 conservative majority could lead to major changes in a long list of laws regarding significant issues  including abortion, voting rights, environmental protections, LGBTQ rights, gun control and health care.

Why theres debate

Theres little doubt that the unexpected vacancy on the Supreme Court has upended the campaign. There is disagreement, however, on which party will benefit from the sudden emergence of a Supreme Court fight less than two months before Election Day.

Some pundits say the situation provides a boost to Trump. The president has trailed Joe Biden by a significant margin through most of the race, largely because of public disapproval of his response to the coronavirus pandemic and Black Lives Matter protests. The confirmation battle pushes those issues off the front page and allows Trump to focus on a fight hes much more comfortable having, experts say. A vacancy on the court could help persuade socially conservative voters who have drifted away from Trump over the past four years to rally behind him as they did in 2016. A strong conservative majority could also benefit Trump if the court is asked to rule on a possible contested election.

Story continues

Others argue that Biden and his fellow Democrats will benefit more from a high-profile confirmation battle. Left-leaning campaign funds saw an unprecedented wave of donations in the hours after news of Ginsburgs death broke. The importance of the court will boost enthusiasm across the diverse Democratic base and could persuade progressive voters who are skeptical of Biden to back him.

The issue could also help Democrats in their effort to take back control of the Senate. The confirmation presents a tricky political choice for incumbent GOP senators in tough reelection races. Supporting the nomination could alienate swing voters in their state, especially suburban voters who worry a new conservative justice would pose a threat to abortion rights and the Affordable Care Act. On the other hand, voting against the nominee would likely anger the GOP base. A late shift with either group could mean the difference in which party holds the Senate in 2021.

Whats next

Trump said he plans to announce his nominee later this week, likely on Saturday. Its unclear at the moment whether Republicans intend to complete the confirmation process before the election on Nov. 3 or whether they will opt to do so during the lame duck session between November and January.

Perspectives

Advantage for Republicans

Social conservatives will rally for the chance to deal a blow to abortion rights

With anti-abortion rights sentiment an anchor of the Republican base, the coming weeks may help Trump shore up evangelical and conservative Christian support before November 3.  Joseph Stepansky, Al Jazeera

Court fights in the past have boosted conservative enthusiasm

The make up of the Supreme Court motivates voters of both parties, but if 2016 is any guide, it motivates Republican voters more.  Brian Bennett and Tessa Berenson, Time

The court fight pushes issues that were hurting Trump out of the news

The vacancy hands Trump an unexpected opportunity to fire up his voters and shift the narrative of the election away from his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and its subsequent economic fallout.  David Jackson, John Fritze and Michael Collins, USA Today

The vacancy helps Trump remind conservatives of the importance of the White House

The calculus for Trump is clear. After struggling deep into this election cycle, he needs to remind his base that he is their champion on social issues, such as abortion, LGBTQ rights, and other key decisions that lie with the high court. And as the two most recent nomination processes have shown, Trump and Senate Republicans are more than capable of seating justices favored by conservatives.  Katelyn Burns, Vox

The GOP base may rally to defend Republican control of the Senate

Some hopeful Republicans believe that the Supreme Court nomination will help nationalize the Senate elections, and in a way that will help flagging incumbents.  Bill Powell, Newsweek

A conservative Supreme Court could favor Trump in election court cases

With scores of court challenges underway across the country seeking or opposing coronavirus-related changes to voting procedures, the change in the ideological balance of the high court could affect the outcome of such fights  even if a new justice doesnt take the bench until after the election.  Josh Gerstein, Politico

Advantage for Democrats

Abortion emerging as a key election issue is bad for Trump

The Supreme Court battle could backfire on the President. It could boost liberal turnout among voters who fear, for example, that the new conservative majority will seek to limit or even outlaw the right to an abortion. A prolonged fight over this issue ahead of the election may further weaken Trump's already compromised position among suburban women voters.  Stephen Collinson, CNN

The vacancy may persuade progressives to reluctantly back Biden

In 2016, many Republicans said they held their noses and voted for Trump because they were worried about the Supreme Court. Four years later, unenthusiastic Democrats may do the same with Joe Biden.  Jared Mondschein, Conversation

What happened with Kavanaugh's confirmation could indicate how elections go this time

In 2018, many pundits believed that the emotional battle over Justice Brett Kavanaughs nomination to the Supreme Court would rally outraged conservatives to turn out in the midterm elections. Instead, there was a blue wave. And if the early fundraising numbers are any indicator, there may just be too much on the line for Democrats this year for Trump to overcome.  Katelyn Burns, Vox

Trumps coronavirus failures are more important than a Supreme Court seat

I dont think the message of forget the pandemic and that you lost your job, we need to get Trumps nominee on the court is a winning message as compared to 'remember, because of Trumps mismanagement of the coronavirus, you lost your job and your life is now upside down and all he thinks is important is getting another justice on the court.  Political analyst Rick Tyler to USA Today

The confirmation vote is a no-win situation for swing-state Republican senators

The death of Ginsburg on Friday also creates a sudden and unexpected minefield for Republicans in the U.S. Senate, who are at risk of losing their narrow majority in the November election.  Scott Shafer, KQED

The flood of donations allows Democrats to step up their campaign spending

The ultimate impact on the election wont be known until November, but in the meantime, its given a lot of Democrats a lot more money to spend between now and then.  Ben Jacobs, New York

Is there a topic youd like to see covered in The 360? Send your suggestions to the360@yahoonews.com.

Read more 360s

Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photos: Getty Images)
The UT administration has started the process of appointing a concessionaire for implementing the Affordable Rental Housing Complexes (ARHC) scheme in the city.

The State-Level Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee (SLSMC), formed under the Prime Minister Awas Yojana (PMAY), will decide the tendering process and other modalities for appointing the concessionaire in its meeting scheduled for September 29.

Under the ARHC scheme, the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) will rent out 2,500 small flats in Maloya to migrant labourers and urban poor. The scheme is to be implemented through the concessionaire.

The concessionaire will rent out the accommodations, collect monthly rentals, and also maintain the premises on behalf of administration. He will be appointed through a transparent bidding process as per the guidelines of the scheme issued by the Union ministry of housing and urban affairs (MHUA), said UT adviser Manoj Parida, who is also chairman of the SLSMC.

CHB is the state-level nodal agency and the CHB secretary is the nodal officer. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) will be signed between Chandigarh administration and MHUA for providing the rental housing.

Need for scheme felt during pandemic

The scheme was launched after the country witnessed reverse migration due to the pandemic, to provide ease of living and planned housing at affordable rent to migrant labourers and urban poor, who otherwise stayed in slums, informal settlements or unauthorised colonies.

The scheme will be implemented by utilising existing vacant government houses through public-private partnership or by construction, operation and maintenance by public/private entities on their own vacant land.

The complexes will be a mix of single and double bedroom dwelling units and dormitories of four to six beds constituting all common facilities that will be exclusively used for rental housing.

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William Barr: We indicted someone in Texas, 1,700 ballots collected from people who could vote, he made them out and voted for the person he wanted to.

PolitiFacts ruling: False

Heres why: Attorney General William Barr made the case that voting by mail is fraught with the risk of fraud and coercion.

As an example of such problems, he pointed to a case in Texas.

We indicted someone in Texas, 1,700 ballots collected from people who could vote, he made them out and voted for the person he wanted to, Barr said in an interview on CNN on Sept. 2.

More Information PolitiFact is a fact-checking project to help you sort out fact from fiction in politics. Truth-O-Meter ratings are determined by a panel of three editors. The burden of proof is on the speaker, and PolitiFact rates statements based on the information known at the time the statement is made. See More Collapse

The U.S. Justice Department has already walked back this claim, but social media posts continue to echo the attorney generals inaccurate statement.

One, from Sept. 17, attributes to Barr a paraphrased statement of what he actually said: In Texas, we arrested one man who filled out 1,700 ballots. Thats what happens with mail-in ballots. - AG Barr.

ELECTION 2020: In Barr, Trump has powerful ally for challenging mail voting

The Justice Department did not immediately respond to our email about Barrs statement.

But heres what we know from media reports.

The Justice Department did not indict someone in Texas for casting 1,700 ballots. A spokesperson for the department told the Washington Post that prior to his CNN interview, Barr was provided a memo prepared within the department that contained an inaccurate summary about the case which he relied upon when using the case as an example.

In 2017, prosecutors in Dallas County, in Texas, investigated suspected mail-in voter fraud after receiving a tip that voters who had not requested mail ballots received notices that they would receive them, according to the Washington Post.

TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox

The name Jose Rodriguez appeared on about 700 ballots, indicating that this person helped fill them out. Andy Chatham, who was the assistant district attorney on the case at the time, said that when investigators approached the voters who were said to have cast the ballots, the voters generally said the ballots were legitimate and cast for the candidate they supported, the Post reported.

We didnt find any evidence of widespread voter fraud, and instead the ballots that were returned were consistent with the voters choice, the paper quotes Chatham as saying.

Ultimately, one suspect was arrested in the case  Miguel Hernandez, who pleaded guilty to forging a womans signature on a mail-in ballot in a Dallas County municipal election, the Dallas Morning News reported. Elderly voters had alleged that someone forged their signatures on mail-in ballots in a 2017 Dallas City Council race.

He violated the law but not for voting, Chatham told ABC News. It was for procuring mail-in ballots under false pretenses.

Mike Snipes, another prosecutor, said investigators initially suspected that there were potentially 1,700 fraudulent ballots, but we did not uncover that, at all, the Post quotes him as saying. We actually thought there was voter fraud initially and we couldnt find it except that little tiny case.

Our ruling

Barr said that the Justice Department indicted someone in Texas for casting 1,700 fraudulent mail-in ballots in Texas.

Prosecutors investigated about 700 ballots  not 1,700  for possible fraud.

But investigators never found evidence of widespread fraud, and the ballots under scrutiny were cast in favor of the candidates the voter supported.

Everyone who voted in it, their vote counted, Chatham told the Morning News. They werent disenfranchised, and we made sure of this.

We rate Barrs claim False.
PODGORICA, Montenegro - Lawmakers from three political parties in Montenegro asserted their new combined power as a majority in parliament Wednesday to oust the party that has governed the Balkan country for some 30 years.

The pro-Western Democratic Party of Socialists won the most votes in the countrys Aug. 30 parliamentary election, but a coalition of three other parties formerly in opposition together garnered 41 of the 81 seats.

As parliament convened for the first time since the election, the new coalition voted a speaker into office and said they had agreed on who will become Montenegros next prime minister.

There have been fears that the new government could push Montenegro off its pro-Western course because it includes parties advocating closer ties with traditional allies Serbia and Russia. But leaders have pledged to strengthen ties with NATO and speed up the reforms needed to join the European Union.

Montenegro, a small Adriatic Sea nation of 620,000 people, has been a key Western ally in the Balkans under the Democratic Party of Socialists leadership. However, the party has faced allegations of rampant corruption and links to organized crime.

The leaders of the three-party coalition have also pledged to change a disputed law on religious freedoms that sparked months of protests led by the influential Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro and gave the opposition a boost ahead of the election.

If confirmed by lawmakers, the new coalition government will take power as coronavirus cases surge in Montenegro after a failed tourism season which is expected to seriously hit the countrys already weak economy.

The DPS party led Montenegro to independence from Serbia in 2006 and into NATO in 2017, defying strong opposition from Russia.
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has drawn flak and ridicule from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for saying that she is willing to implement the Prime Minister Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme for farmers and the Ayushman Bharat Yojana healthcare scheme if the funds are transferred to her government for disbursement.

Banerjee said this in her letters to Union health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan and Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar on September 9.

Under these schemes, the Centre transfers money directly to bank accounts of beneficiaries.

Banerjees letters 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 the Parliament.

Banerjee also said in her letter to Dr Harsh Vardhan that the Centre would have to bear 100 per cent cost of the Ayushman Bharat Yojana since the state government spends a huge amount of money on free treatment at government hospitals and an insurance cover for treatment of critical diseases at private hospitals.

BJP leaders and even governor Jagdeep Dhankhar have said that if the funds were directly given to the state there could be misappropriation.

The chief minister wants the money so that it can be pocketed to fight the coming assembly polls. Relief funds given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi after Cyclone Amphan was misappropriated by TMC leaders, BJP state president Dilip Ghosh said in Delhi.

Amit Malviya, head of the BJPs national information technology cell, taunted Banerjee and her nephew, Lok Sabha member Abhisek Banerjee, by referring to them as Pishi (aunt) and Bhaipo (nephew) in his tweet on Wednesday.

Under pressure, Mamata Banerjee writes to Centre, says WB ready to disburse PM Kisan Samman Nidhi provided money is transferred to the state government. Pishi, heard of DBT? No Bhaipo in between, no cut money either. Money will go directly to farmers and not to TMC workers, wrote Malviya.

In West Bengal, the term cut money is synonymous with bribe or commission.

In his tweet, Governor Dhankhar also talked of corruption and asked why the chief minister wants to be an intermediary.

Hallmark of #PM-KISAN is transparent direct transfer of fund to farmer without intermediary and cut. Government @MamataOfficial wants to be its agent intermediary. For what! OMG- fishing for opportunity #MAP. Glaring injustice and corruption #AmphanRelief and PDS an open secret, Dhankhar tweeted, tagging the chief minister.

The TMC reacted by saying that Banerjee asked for the funds purely to uphold the spirit of the countrys federal structure.

The allegations being made by the BJP are baseless. The chief minister wants to uphold the spirit of federalism. In any scheme, the beneficiary should get the money from the state government. Direct transfer to bank accounts of beneficiaries will help the BJP create a political influence. This cannot be allowed, said TMC Lok Sabha member and spokesperson Saugata Roy.

If the Centre intends to give the money let it do so through the state. That would be subscribing to the federal structure laid down by the Constitution, said Roy.

The Bengal unit of the BJP on Wednesday even started posting on its social media page short videos to target the chief minister. Made with selected clippings from televised footage, the videos showed Banerjee expressing her apprehension about the plight farmers might face because of the new bills and the Prime Minister dismissing her charges.
Carbon and metal particles from road traffic have been found in the placentas of pregnant women for the first time, a shocking new study reveals.

UK scientists have found the first evidence that carbon-based particles and metals including silicon, phosphorus and chromium enter the placenta, which is critical to provide nutrients to growing babies in the womb.

Inhaled particulate matter from air pollution is moving from mothers' lungs to the blood stream and is taken up by important cells in the placenta and other distant organs.

Particle pollution exposure has been linked to irregular heartbeat, decreased lung function, increased respiratory symptoms and difficulty breathing.

Experts say the tiny particles are likely to be adversely affecting the hearts and brains of unborn babies in London, where pollution levels have breached legal limits, although they say more research is needed to confirm this.

Electron microscopy images of placental cells from different participants, showing black particles (indicated by red arrows) from inhaled particulate matter

'Our work has shown that potentially toxic, metal-rich nanoparticles from air pollution can be transported to the brain, the heart, and, now, the placenta,' said Professor Barbara Maher at Lancaster University.

'It's highly unlikely that such particles, having gained access to the placenta, wouldn't affect the foetus.

'It's essential that exposure to particulate air pollution  especially to ultra-fine pollution particles like these  is reduced, and urgently.'

Professor Maher said theres already evidence of low birth weight in babies born to mothers living in areas with high concentrations of PM2.5  particles 2.5 micrometres and under in diameter.

'Its unlikely that the incursion of pollution nanoparticles into the amniotic fluid and the fetal bloodstream is going to be anything other than damaging to the developing foetus,' she told MailOnline.

'We see impacts of nanoparticles on the hearts and brains of infants and young people in high-pollution areas, so logic suggests that similar impacts would be incurred in the womb, depending on the dose the mother, and thence the baby, during pregnancy.

'Theres work going on at present to investigate exactly these very important questions.'

Healthy non-smoking pregnant women were recruited from the Royal London Hospital. All participants lived in London, with 10 residing in Tower Hamlets borough. Urban Londoners are exposed to high and unsafe levels of air pollution

WHAT IS THE PLACENTA? The placenta is an organ that develops in the uterus during pregnancy to provides oxygen and nutrients to a growing baby and removes waste products from a baby's blood. The placenta attaches to the wall of the uterus, and your baby's umbilical cord arises from it. The organ is usually attached to the top, side, front or back of the uterus. Advertisement

Placentas from 15 consenting healthy women living in London were donated to the study following the births of their children at the Royal London Hospital.

Pollution exposure was determined in 13 of the women, all of whom had exposure above the annual mean WHO limit for particulate matter.

This is set at 20 microgram per cubic metre (g/m3) for PM10  particulate matter 10 micrometers and smaller in diameter  and 10 g/m3 for PM2.5  2.5 micrometres and under in diameter.

The cells in the placentas were analysed using several techniques including light and electron microscopy, X-rays and magnetic analyses.

Horrifyingly, the team found black particles closely resembling particulate matter from pollution in placental cells from all 15 women.

These black participles appeared in an average of 1 per cent of the cells that were analysed.

'We have thought for a while that maternal inhalation could potentially result in pollution particles travelling to the placenta once inhaled,' said co-author Dr Lisa Miyashita from Queen Mary University of London.

Carbon and metal air pollution nanoparticles in human placental cells, revealed by electron microscopy

'However, there are many defence mechanisms in the lung that prevent foreign particles from travelling elsewhere, so it was surprising to identify these particles in the placental cells from all 15 of our participants.'

The majority of particles found in the placental cells were carbon-based, but researchers also found trace amounts of metals including silicon, phosphorus, calcium, iron and chromium, and more rarely, titanium, cobalt, zinc and cerium.

Analysis suggested that they mostly came from traffic-related sources, such as fossil fuel combustion in engines and tyre friction against brakes and the road.

Industrial sources, such as coal-burning power plants, usually contribute to airborne carbon, metal and magnetite-rich nanoparticles in the air.

Top: Particles (indicated by red arrows) interacting with placental cells. Bottom: Nanoparticle clusters containing calcium and iron (B and C)

However, urban Londoners are unlikely to be exposed to this source since the nearest active coal-burning power stations are in Nottinghamshire and North Yorkshire.

It's also possible that nanoparticles generated inside the home, such as from open fires, cooking and cigarettes, may be a source too.

The human placenta, and hence probably the fetus, appears to be 'a target' for such particles, the team say.

A limitation of the study is that the women's actual levels of exposure to pollution were measured, although they did live in a high-pollution city, and no placentas from women who did not live in high pollution areas were examined.

'The significance of these findings is therefore unclear,' said Professor Marian Knight at the Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, who was not involved with the study.

Professor Andrew Shennan from Kings College London claimed it 'remains uncertain' if these particles cause harm to a baby.

'There is no direct evidence of harm to the baby after many years of pregnant women exposed to air pollution, but other research has linked air pollution to early birth,' he said.

'This is an important area to continue study.'

The study has been published in Science of the Total Environment.
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Mostly cloudy skies. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High 29F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy. Snow likely late. Low 19F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 70%. Snowfall around one inch.
Two men wanted for sexual offenses have been arrested as they tried to enter the country via the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge, according to federal authorities.

The first case unfolded on Sunday, when a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer referred Sotero Campos Jr., a 20-year-old U.S. citizen, for secondary inspection.
(CNN)  NASA has big plans for 2024.

The space agency said that in four years, it plans to land the first woman ever on the Moon and the first man since 1972 through its Artemis program.

The program calls for $28 billion in funding through 2025 for Phase 1, NASA said in its news release.

Artemis is named after the Greek goddess of the moon and twin sister of Apollo. NASA's Apollo 11 mission succeeded in landing the first humans on the moon on July 20, 1969.

Only 12 humans, all male, have ever walked on the moon and they were all American, according to Bettina Inclan, NASA Communications Director. All 12 men were Americans.

"The last person walked on the Moon in 1972," Inclan told CNN in a statement. "No woman has ever walked on the lunar surface."

In December 2017, President Donald Trump signed Space Policy Directive 1, which called for NASA to send humans to the Moon for the first time since 1972 for "long-term exploration and use" and missions to other planets.

NASA said it hopes that more exploration of the moon will help the US establish a strategic presence in space and grow their international partnerships.

One billion dollars of the budget will go directly to the development of a commercial human lunar system that will take humans to the moon's surface, NASA said.

An allotment of $651 million will be used to support the Orion Spacecraft and the rocket that Boeing is building for the moon mission -- called the Space Launch System or SLS. NASA has already spent at least $11.9 billion on the SLS, which was supposed to be ready by December 2017.

The spacecraft is complete, NASA said, and the core stage and four attached rockets are undergoing final tests in preparation for a "critical hot fire test this fall."

NASA's Artemis I mission is on track to launch in 2021 with two test flights around the Moon without astronauts. However, NASA plans to send robots using commercial delivery services to "send dozens of new science investigations and technology demonstrations" to the Moon twice in 2021.

Artemis II is set to launch in 2023 with astronauts on board in preparation to have Artemis III bring astronauts back to the surface of the Moon.

The astronauts will be fitted with modern spacesuits that allow for greater flexibility and movement than the spacesuits used by other Apollo-era astronauts, and they will be tasked with collecting samples and conducting a "range of science experiments over the course of nearly seven days."

The Artemis program will search for and potentially extract resources such as water that can be converted into other usable resources such as oxygen and fuel, and NASA hopes to develop new mobility capabilities that will allow astronauts to explore new regions of the Moon.

This story was first published on CNN.com NASA outlines $28 billion plan to land the first woman on the Moon by 2024
Queensland is now the sole Australian state to not extend its ban on evicting residential tenants during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a new open letter signed by almost 40 peak bodies, unions and frontline community organisations urging the government to do so.

A number of these had already warned of a "perfect storm" looming for renters when the freeze on evicting those whose incomes were affected by the virus lifts on September 29, as federal income supports also ease.

The Northern Territory is the only other Australian jurisdiction without a residential eviction freeze in place beyond the end of September. Credit:Glenn Hunt

Announcing the move last week, Housing Minister Mick de Brenni said the moratorium was important when "movement in Queensland was much more restricted" but the state's economy had fared "better" than others.

An extension of the eviction freeze for commercial tenants until December 31 was described as a "shot in the arm" for jobs by Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath.
THE Galway father and son who located two missing paddleboarders off the Aran islands last month have recorded another rescue.

Patrick and Morgan Oliver pulled a man from the river Corrib this morning after he was spotted in the water by a pedestrian shortly after 9am.

The father and son located the man off Nimmos pier, and he was taken by ambulance to University Hospital, Galway.

Read More

We were just going fishing around 9am and one of the Galway RNLI lifeboat crew told us there was a man in the water, so we headed out and located him off Nimmos pier, Patrick Oliver said.

He was conscious, and the jacket he was wearing kept his head above water, so we brought him up to the Claddagh quay, he said.

Members of the Galway Fire Swift rescue service assisted, and the Galway RNLI lifeboat was also preparing to launch. The man was taken by ambulance to University Hospital, Galway.

The man was spotted in the water close to the Spanish Arch in Galway town by a passer-by at around 9am this morning, according to Mike Swan, Operations Manager at the Galway station.

The Fire Brigade entered the water and they extracted the man halfway down the river.

It was a passerby who spotted him in the water, called 999 and got through to the marine rescue, he told Independent.ie.

Rescue services were alerted and the Galway RNLI lifeboat launched from Galway docks within minutes.

The Galway lifeboat remained on standby during the operation and the man was rushed to University Hospital Galway.

The deputy launch authority on the Galway Lifeboat Barry Heskin said: The quick response of the pedestrian was crucial in activating the rescue services to get to the man in time.

Last month, the Olivers located cousins Sara Feeney (23) and Ellen Glynn (17) several miles south of the Aran island of Inis Oirr, some 15 hours after north-easterly winds had swept their paddleboards from Furbo beach out to sea.

The cousins, who were wearing lifejackets and had strapped their boards together, had been clinging to floats attached to crab pots. They have praised the Olivers and all involved in their safe rescue.

Ellen paid tribute to the Olivers and said she didnt believe shed have survived on her own as the girls survived all night at sea by tying their paddle boards together.

After the rescue, Ellen said: "There was a helicopter and two boats looking for us, and we could see them, and we were screaming, but they just missed us. But we figured in the morning they would find us.

As the hours passed by Ellen and Sarah feared nobody was looking for them in the right place.

Ellen said: "We thought it was five o'clock in the evening, and we hadn't seen a single boat out. But it was only about 12. Then we got home, and the whole county (of Galway) and Clare was out looking for us. It was crazy," she added.

"Thank you so much to everyone. I'm just so happy and thankful.

Throughout their 15-hour ordeal, the girls survived wild seas, freezing cold, thunder, lightning and torrential rain much of it in the pitch-black darkness of Galway Bay.

Shortly after noon the following day and as all hopes were fading, the cousins were plucked from the sea by Patrick and his son Morgan.

Mr Oliver used his master knowledge of the sea, currents and the prevailing winds to correctly pinpoint the pair's trajectory. The distance travelled by the cousins across Galway Bay, outwards towards the Atlantic, was further than anyone apart than Mr Oliver had estimated.

Three Coast Guard helicopters from Shannon, Sligo and Waterford, two RNLI lifeboats from Aran and Galway, the Doolin and Costello Bay Coast Guard units, Civil Defence and a number of local fishing vessels and leisure craft combed Galway Bay through the night and into the morning.

The Coast Guard last month confirmed a review into the incident was "ongoing", and was "in common with all Coast Guard search and rescue interventions". The Marine Casualty Investigation Board is not conducting an inquiry.
Sir Patrick Vallance and Professor Chris Whitty asked for help to 'calm down' angry academics after facing backlash over the controversial 'herd immunity' approach that was discussed in March, emails show.

The top experts, who've been steering Britain through the Covid-19 crisis, were hounded by fellow scientists for comments they made about the controversial tactic at the start of the pandemic.

On at least three occasions, Sir Patrick Vallance, England's chief scientific adviser, said the aim is to 'build up some degree of herd immunity'  when a disease runs out of room and can no longer spread because enough of the population have been exposed to it.

The comments sparked a furore because it signalled the Government was prepared to allow millions people to get infected and inevitably die in order to successfully achieve the strategy.

No 10 was even forced to deny herd immunity was the strategy after Boris Johnson's chief aide Dominic Cummings reportedly confirmed the plan at a private event back in February, allegedly saying it was 'too bad' if it meant 'some pensioners die'.

Emails obtained by the BBC reveal the panic among top advisers in reaction to the outpouring of criticism. In one email sent to a colleague in March, Sir Patrick said: 'Anything you can do to calm our academic friends down over herd immunity would be greatly appreciated.'

Professor Whitty, England's chief medical officer, also raged in emails that he was 'misinterpreted' after an unnamed senior politician claimed they had conversations in January that 'were absolutely focused on herd immunity'.

While the majority of scientists have shied away from publicly endorsing herd immunity as a viable strategy, some believe it is the only route out of the current crisis without a vaccine.

Health chiefs in Sweden, one of the only countries to remain open throughout the pandemic and avoid using a crude lockdown, say the tactic has worked for them, which has allowed people to keep their freedoms.

Sir Patrick Vallance and Professor Chris Whitty faced backlash over the 'herd immunity' strategy in March and asked for help to 'calm down' angry academics, emails show

A group of more than 500 academics published a joint letter to the Government warning that 'going for 'herd immunity' at this point does not seem a viable option. Sir Patrick discussed this letter in emails and told a colleague, 'anything you can do to calm our academic friends down over herd immunity would be greatly appreciated'

In April Professor Whitty discussed an 'annoying' claim that he had spoken with an unnamed senior politician who says the conversation was 'absolutely focused on herd immunity'

There is speculation London already has some form of protection against the virus because it has not experienced a spike in cases recently, unlike other parts of England where the majority of people are considered to still susceptible to the virus.

It took longer for the coronavirus to spread to the North West before lockdown, but was already rampant in London. The former is now experiencing a significant rise in Covid-19 cases, with millions of residents hit by local lockdown rules.

WHAT DID THE TOP GOVERNMENT SCIENTISTS SAY ABOUT HERD IMMUNITY? Herd immunity was first publicly mentioned by Dr David Halpern, chief executive of the government-owned Behavioural Insights Team, known as the 'nudge unit', and a member of SAGE. Dr Halpern said people in care homes and others who are less likely to survive the disease may be kept apart from the wider population until herd immunity has been established. He told the BBC at the time: 'There's going to be a point, assuming the epidemic flows and grows as it will do, where you want to cocoon, to protect those at-risk groups so they don't catch the disease. 'By the time they come out of their cocooning, herd immunity has been achieved in the rest of the population.' The chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said at a press conference on March 12, designed to inform the public on the impending Covid-19 crisis: 'Our aim is not to stop everyone getting it, you can't do that. And it's not desirable, because you want to get some immunity in the population. We need to have immunity to protect ourselves from this in the future.' On March 13, Sir Patrick Vallance said: 'Our aim is to try and reduce the peak - not suppress it completely, also because most people get a mild illness, to build up some degree of herd immunity whilst protecting the most vulnerable.' He spoke on Sky News later that day about not suppressing the virus completely, to help avoid 'a second peak,' and also to 'allow enough of us who are going to get mild illness to become immune to this'. When asked how much of the British population would need to contract the virus for herd immunity to become effective, he calmly replied 'probably around 60%'. With an approximate 1% case fatality rate, the interviewer responded, that would mean 'an awful lot of people dying'. In one email from April, Professor Chris Whitty confers with colleagues about a report in the Times newspaper - in which an unnamed senior politician says he had conversations with Prof Whitty in January that 'were absolutely focused on herd immunity'. He said he had been misinterpreted. In a Channel 4 documentary aired in June, Italy's deputy health minister claimed Boris Johnson had told Italy that he wanted to pursue it. The Cabinet Office denied the claims made in the documentary and said: 'The Government has been very clear that herd immunity has never been our policy or goal.' Advertisement

Herd immunity was first publicly mentioned by Dr David Halpern, chief executive of the government-owned Behavioural Insights Team, known as the 'nudge unit', and a member of SAGE.

Dr Halpern said people in care homes and others who are less likely to survive the disease may be kept apart from the wider population until herd immunity has been established.

He told the BBC at the time: 'There's going to be a point, assuming the epidemic flows and grows as it will do, where you want to cocoon, to protect those at-risk groups so they don't catch the disease.

'By the time they come out of their cocooning, herd immunity has been achieved in the rest of the population.'

A day later, Sir Patrick Vallance echoed the comments at the first Downing Street press conference on Covid-19.

He said on March 12: 'Our aim is not to stop everyone getting it, you can't do that. And it's not desirable, because you want to get some immunity in the population. We need to have immunity to protect ourselves from this in the future.'

The next day, on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Sir Patrick added: 'Our aim is to try and reduce the peak - not suppress it completely, also because most people get a mild illness, to build up some degree of herd immunity whilst protecting the most vulnerable.'

He spoke on Sky News later that day about not suppressing the virus completely, to help avoid 'a second peak,' and also to 'allow enough of us who are going to get mild illness to become immune to this'.

When asked how much of the British population would need to contract the virus for herd immunity to become effective, he calmly replied 'probably around 60 per cent'  the equivalent of around 40million people.

But theoretically it would mean around 240,000 Britons would die, given that the virus is estimated to kill around 0.6 per cent of everyone it infects.

The day after Sir Patrick's interview, a group of more than 500 academics published a joint letter to the Government warning that 'going for 'herd immunity' at this point does not seem a viable option, as this will put the NHS at an even stronger level of stress, risking many more lives than necessary'.

It also criticised the lack of social distancing restrictions imposed by the government, as the theory of herd immunity appeared to explain the government's reluctance to order a lockdown.

A separate letter by the British Society for Immunology said that it had 'significant questions about [the UK's] strategy'.

On March 22, Number 10's chief aide Dominic Cummings was quoted in the Sunday Times at a private event back in February, outlining the Government's strategy as 'herd immunity, protect the economy, and if that means some pensioners die, too bad'.

A Downing Street spokesman vehemently denied Mr Cummings made the comments, describing the Timess report as a 'highly defamatory fabrication'.

Emails obtained by the BBC via a Freedom of Information Act request now reveal the fall-out of the comments made by the Government's advisers.

The material consists of every email sent by Sir Patrick and Professor Whitty from the start of February to the start of June, containing the words 'herd immunity'.

After the letter backed by hundreds of scientists, Sir Vallance spoke of his concerns in an email to Sir Mark Walport, the UK's former chief scientific adviser.

He said the response should be 'herd immunity is not the strategy. The strategy is 'to flatten the curve and to shield the elderly As we do this we will see immunity in the community grow'.

In response to an email titled 'Covid-19 and herd immunity', from an academic, he writes brusquely 'No it is NOT the plan'. He does not, however, explain his previous references to herd immunity

The emails obtained by the BBC consist of every email sent by Sir Patrick and Professor Whitty from the start of February to the start of June, containing the words 'herd immunity'. Pictured is an example of a conversation

Professor Whitty said the situation where herd immunity would be aimed for would be with a vaccine

Professor Whitty also said: 'The statement that it was government policy deliberately to go for herd immunity is simply wrong'

Expert claims Sweden now has 'herd immunity' against coronavirus 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. 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. '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. Advertisement

In response to an email titled 'Covid-19 and herd immunity', from an academic, he writes brusquely 'No it is NOT the plan'. He does not, however, explain his previous references to herd immunity.

On the same weekend, he writes to a colleague, 'anything you can do to calm our academic friends down over herd immunity would be greatly appreciated'.

The emails reveal herd immunity was under discussion as early as January.

An unnamed senior politician says he had conversations with Professor Whitty in January that 'were absolutely focused on herd immunity', The Times reported.

Professor Whitty discussed this 'annoying' claim with colleagues in April, and complained he had been misrepresented by a 'conveniently unnamed' minister.

He stated he never thought herd immunity 'was actually a sensible aim of policy', but suggesting the concept was talked about when answering 'questions put to me by ministers'.

In another email to the president of the Faculty of Public Health, which sets standards for health professionals, who had raised questions about the lack of testing, Professor Whitty insisted 'the government had never pursued a 'herd immunity strategy'''.

The BBC said a government spokesman said the emails 'make clear herd immunity has never been a policy aim' - an response that has repeatedly put forward.

Although a contentious issue, herd immunity is indeed backed by some scientists who argue it is a better way out of this crisis than crippling lockdowns.

There is no indication that any country in the world has developed herd immunity yet, based on antibody studies, and the World Health Organization has said 'we're nowhere close'.

Data on antibodies  substances made by the immune system in response to an infection  is deemed the most accurate way of working out how widespread coronavirus is in the UK.

This is because hundreds of thousands of infected people were not tested during the height of the crisis, either because of a lack of swabs or because they never had any of the tell-tale symptoms.

Counting how many people who have coronavirus antibodies is, therefore, the most accurate way of calculating how much of the population has already been infected.

But research has suggested that antibodies decline three months after infection  meaning only a fraction of true cases during the peak of the crisis in March and April may have been spotted. And some people may never develop antibodies at all, so the true number of cases will always be a mystery.

In places severely battered by the disease, infectious disease specialists have speculated that there is some level of protection.

Many scientists are convinced London has a layer of protection that has stopped it from experiencing the second 'wave' seen in other parts of England.

Professor Anthony Brookes, Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, told MailOnline: 'We haven't got a second wave in London. It's apparent in the Government data. It's only outside London, especially in the North.

WHAT IS HERD IMMUNITY AND WHICH COUNTRIES ARE PURSUING IT? Herd immunity is a situation in which a population of people is protected from a disease because so many of them are unaffected by it - because they've already had it or have been vaccinated - that it cannot spread. To cause an outbreak a disease-causing bacteria or virus must have a continuous supply of potential victims who are not immune to it. Immunity is when your body knows exactly how to fight off a certain type of infection because it has encountered it before, either by having the illness in the past or through a vaccine. When a virus or bacteria enters the body the immune system creates substances called antibodies, which are designed to destroy one specific type of bug. When these have been created once, some of them remain in the body and the body also remembers how to make them again. Antibodies - alongside T cells - provide long-term protection, or immunity, against an illness. If nobody is immune to an illness  as was the case at the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak  it can spread like wildfire. However, if, for example, half of people have developed immunity  from a past infection or a vaccine  there are only half as many people the illness can spread to. As more and more people become immune the bug finds it harder and harder to spread until its pool of victims becomes so small it can no longer spread at all. The threshold for herd immunity is different for various illnesses, depending on how contagious they are  for measles, around 95 per cent of people must be vaccinated to it spreading. For polio, which is less contagious, the threshold is about 80-85 per cent, according to the Oxford Vaccine Group. WHICH COUNTRIES ARE PURSUING HERD IMMUNITY? Herd immunity is considered a controversial route for getting out of the pandemic because it gives a message of encouraging the spread of the virus, rather than containing it. When UK Government scientists discussed it in the early days of the pandemic, it was met with criticism and therein swept under the carpet. The Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said at a press conference on March 12, designed to inform the public on the impending Covid-19 crisis: 'Our aim is not to stop everyone getting it, you can't do that. And it's not desirable, because you want to get some immunity in the population. We need to have immunity to protect ourselves from this in the future.' Sir Patrick has since apologised for the comments and said he didn't mean that was the government's plan. In a Channel 4 documentary aired in June, Italy's deputy health minister claimed Boris Johnson had told Italy that he wanted to pursue it. The Cabinet Office denied the claims made in the documentary and said: 'The Government has been very clear that herd immunity has never been our policy or goal.' Meanwhile, unlike most European nations, Sweden never imposed a lockdown and kept schools for under-16s, cafes, bars, restaurants and most businesses open. Masks have been recommended only for healthcare personnel. Sweden only introduced a handful of restrictions, including banning mass gatherings and encouraging people to work and study from home. Dr Anders Tegnell, who has guided the nation through the pandemic without calling for a lockdown, claimed on July 21 that Sweden's strategy for slowing the epidemic, which has been widely questioned abroad, was working. Dr Tegnell, who previously said the 'world went mad' with coronavirus lockdowns, said a rapid slowdown in the spread of the virus indicated very strongly that Sweden had reached relatively widespread immunity. 'The epidemic is now being slowed down, in a way that I think few of us would have believed a week or so ago,' he said. 'It really is yet another sign that the Swedish strategy is working.' At the time Sweden's death toll was 5,646 which has now reached 5,787. But when compared relative to population size, it has far outstripped those of its Nordic neighbours. Advertisement

'How can that be happening? It's not a distortion of increased testing. It has to be because in London they've got essentially herd immunity and now it is stopping this second wave.

'It [the virus] never spread that much in the north before lockdown, so they haven't had a chance to get herd immunity yet. That's why they are seeing this 'second wave'  although it is not that.'

Pockets of New York and India may already be immune to the life-threatening disease, and evidence is mounting that Sweden has beaten the coronavirus epidemic with herd immunity rather than lockdowns.

The country decided to use only a handful of restrictions, including banning mass gatherings and encouraging people to work and study from home.

Dr Anders Tegnell, who has guided the nation through the pandemic without calling for a lockdown, claimed on July 21: 'The epidemic is now being slowed down, in a way that I think few of us would have believed a week or so ago.

'It really is yet another sign that the Swedish strategy is working.'

And Kim Sneppen, professor of biocomplexity at the Niels Bohr Institute in Copenhagen and renowned expert on the spread of disease, told Denmark's Politiken newspaper this week: '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. Perhaps, the epidemic is over there.'

Scientific consensus says herd immunity  when a disease can no longer spread because enough of the population has been exposed to it  will kick in when around 60 to 70 per cent have had the virus, scientifically called SARS-CoV-2.

To reach that, it would be devastating and cause millions of deaths, which is why No 10 was keen to avert attention away from the strategy in March.

Jeremy Hunt, chairman of the health select committee, said of the herd immunity concept: 'The cost in terms of lives lost would be catastrophic irrespective of the longer-term merits of herd immunity.'

And scientists still do not have any firm proof as to how long immunity actually lasts once a person has fought off Covid-19, therefore its possible they can get re-infected anyway.

Some research has suggested the herd immunity threshold could actually be as low as 10 per cent, if it spreads more rampantly among the most socially active. This is because they are into contact with others more regularly and are, therefore, more likely to spread the illness.

If a vaccine was developed it would need 60-70 per cent coverage to work  but this threshold could be significantly lower for natural immunity.

Sir Patrick warned this week that the 'vast majority' of Britain is still susceptible to catching Covid-19 because immunity is so low.

Government advisors believe that no more than 8 per cent of the population have developed neutralizing antibodies against the coronavirus.

Eight per cent of Britain  home to around 66.65million people  equates to around 5.3million people but Sir Patrick said the figure was closer to 3million.

The rate could actually be even higher in London and other cities, saying as many as 17 per cent of people living in the capital may have already had the illness.

Sir Patrick said these higher rates could mean the disease spreads slower in highly-populated areas in a second wave.

In a stark warning, Sir Patrick said: 'It means the vast majority of us are not protected in any way and are susceptible to this disease.'

Professor Brookes said: 'When Vallance said the vast majority of people are still vulnerable, that is totally unjustifiable.'

That's because it is known that antibodies can wane over time - research by King's College London in July found immunity to Covid-19 might be lost within months -therefore antibody testing will not flag everyone who has ever had the disease.

Sir Vallance admitted the 8 per cent was likely an underestimate, and said there may be 'other forms of protection' in the immune system.

Scientists say immunity in the UK is likely to be far higher than what Government antibody testing shows because it doesn't account for T-cells - crucial white blood cells which can't be detected by the 'have you had it' antibody tests.

They are also made in response to the infection and top immunologists have said the infection-fighting cells are typically more durable and long lasting than antibodies.

Survivors of SARS  a closely-related coronavirus  still having crucial T cells 17 years after they were first infected.

Other scientific studies have shown people who have had a common cold in the past two years have T cells that show 'cross-reactive protection' against Covid-19.

It means the true proportion of the population who is protected against the disease is a mystery.

Boris Johnson rows back on his top scientist's dire prediction of 50,000 cases a day in October and admits outbreak may only be doubling every 20 days, not every week

Coronavirus cases in the UK could be taking as long as 20 days to double in number, Boris Johnson admitted today as he rowed back from startling claims made by his top scientist only yesterday.

Sir Patrick Vallance warned the doubling time had dropped to just one week, during a televised address to the nation. And he made the terrifying prediction that the UK could be on course to hit 50,000 cases per day by mid-October, unless the outbreak is brought under control.

But Mr Johnson today appeared to undermine the pair as he stood in front of the House of Commons to unveil a wave of new measures designed to stop the spread of the disease, including making the Army available to help police enforce stringent new coronavirus rules.

The Prime Minister, who warned 'this is the moment when we must act', told MPs the figure was  ambiguously  somewhere between one and three weeks. Sir Patrick didn't confess the range could be up to twenty days yesterday, and at the peak of Britain's first wave, the doubling time of cases was just three days.

Experts lashed out at the 'implausible' claim, insisting there was simply no scientific basis for the extraordinary number of infections Sir Patrick had warned about. The stark prediction saw the chief scientific adviser and his colleague, chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty , dubbed Professor Gloom and Dr Doom.

Data based on diagnosed cases now suggest the outbreak is taking two weeks to double, rising from an average of 1,022 infections a day on August 22 to 2,032 on September 7 to 3,929 yesterday. Spain and France, whose outbreaks the UK is feared to be on par with, have yet to get anywhere close to the dreaded 50,000 cases a day mark.

One expert, Professor David Paton, said data had been presented unfairly to the public and demanded: 'If they've got an explanation [for why the data was presented like that], then let's hear it.' Other critics accused Number 10 of deliberately trying to 'scare' people and Piers Morgan urged No 10 to tell the British public how they arrived at 50,000.

And Hugh Pennington, an emeritus microbiologist at University of Aberdeen, told MailOnline: 'I think it was almost designed to scare us (the graph), it certainly wasn't a scientifically accurate model. It wasn't a model of anything. It didn't take into account we are doing a lot. I was annoyed because they were naughty doing that.'

It comes as the UK statistics regulator today revealed it has had to 'step in' seven times during the pandemic to alert Government departments to 'transgressions' when ministers have quoted data that is not then quickly made available to the public.

The head of the Office for Statistics Regulation described such incidents as 'disappointing' and said the principle of ensuring such data is published must be 'more strongly embedded'. Giving an example, he said he had to contact the Department of Health when a figure for the distance people were travelling to get a Covid-19 test was quoted 'quite widely in the public domain, but the underlying data weren't available'.

Experts threw cold water on the dramatic graph presented by Sir Patrick and Professor Whitty, saying it was 'implausible' that case numbers would outstrip France and Spain by so much

Prime Minister Boris Johnson today announced a tightening of lockdown rules, including a requirement for pubs and restaurants to shut at 10pm, which he said could last for another six months

As he unveiled his raft of new measures today, Mr Johnson said in Parliament: 'I'm sorry to say that as in Spain, France and many other countries we have reached a perilous turning point.

'A month ago, on average, around a thousand people across the UK were testing positive for coronavirus every day. The latest figure has almost quadrupled to 3,929.

'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.'

The 3,929 figure the PM referred to is the average number of coronavirus cases diagnosed each day in the week leading up to yesterday, September 21. That has almost doubled from 2,032 on August 22, suggesting a doubling time of two weeks.

However, testing is still only expected to be diagnosing around half of the true number of Covid-19 cases. The Office for National Statistics estimates that 6,000 people per day are catching the virus in England and Wales, a figure which almost doubled from September 3 to 10. But the estimate was before the 'Rule of Six' officially kicked in, meaning the measure could have helped to slow the speed at which the outbreak is growing.

The most recent published estimates of the epidemic doubling time  a measure of how fast cases are growing  put it at between seven and 17 days.

Sir Patrick stressed yesterday that his sobering scenario of 500,000 cases a day was based on a lot of unknowns. And he said it was 'not a prediction'

The REACT mass testing study, carried out by Imperial College London in conjunction with the Government, predicted on September 11 that it could be as fast as one week (7.7 days) based on test results from between August 22 and September 7.

Using longer term data from tests dating back to July 24, a more conservative estimate was made of a doubling time of 17 days  two-and-a-half weeks.

Sir Patrick Vallance and Professor Chris Whitty, holding a one-off televised briefing together yesterday, warned the public about the worst case scenario.

The chief scientific adviser said: 'If that [rise in cases] continues unabated and this grows, doubling every seven days, then what you see, of course, let's say there were 5,000 today, it would be 10,000 next week, 20,000 the week after, 40,000 the week after, and you can see that by mid-October, if that continued, you would end up with something like 50,000 cases in the middle of October, per day.'

The doomsday prediction was met by outrage in the scientific community, with critics accusing the advisers of 'scaring people' and touting 'implausible' numbers.

Professor David Paton, an industrial economist at the University of Nottingham, said he was 'shocked' at the way the chief scientists presented infections data.

Reeling against yesterday's presentation he said in a blog today: 'Chris Whitty and Patrick Vallance are eminent scientists and it is inconceivable that they did not know what they were doing in the briefing.

'On one level, they have accomplished their aim: the media is dutifully reporting the frightening '50,000 cases by 13th October' figure and the groundwork has been prepared for the PM's speech telling us what new restrictions he will be imposing on the country.

'However, the price of politicising statistics is that you risk undermining public trust in government science.

'If that is the long term effect of yesterday's briefing, I wonder if Professor Whitty and Sir Patrick will continue to think it was a price worth paying.'

Professor Paton pointed out that top officials and politicians have warned that the UK is likely following what is happening in France and Spain.

Those nations have recorded a significant rise in daily infections in recent weeks, and hospitalisations and deaths have gone up alongside them.

But they are nowhere near 50,000 per day  with an average 11,105 cases per day in Spain and 10,116 in France.

'Of course, no-one knows with absolute certainty what will happen to cases in the UK over the next few weeks,' Professor Paton added.

'Indicating the likely number of cases if the UK followed Spain or France would not have been an unreasonable approach for Chris Whitty and Patrick Vallance to take.

'So why didn't they? The obvious suspicion is that 7,000-10,000 cases per day by mid-October might just not have been scary enough for people to accept imminent new restrictions on their way of life.'

Professor Pennington told MailOnline the claims of 50,000 cases a day 'were not predictions', adding: 'They are just a back of an envelope calculation based on if the virus was to double every seven days. It isn't going to do that because the virus doesn't behave that way, and that was a worst case scenario if we did nothing.

'But we are doing a hell of a lot, even before today, wearing masks and those things.'

He added that the government was 'naughty' for talking about 'these horrendous figures' and using the graphs to illustrate how the outbreak could spiral out of control.

Professor Pennington said: 'If they want to scare people, I wouldn't have gone about it that way. I would have spoken about how serious the disease is.

'We've seen pictures of people in intensive care, especially of doctors. I would've scared people with that because it's a genuine problem.

'They were talking about what might happen if we went down the Spanish or French route. But they are not having the same increase of cases in that graph anyway.

'I'm not sure who they were really addressing with their televised briefing. Obviously the public, but I suspect they were trying got also get the politicians to do something.

'I suppose they felt they haven't got their message across. But today what has been proposed is not a circuit breaker, or travel restrictions. So the response is quite muted. It's basically getting what people should be doing anyway.'

He added: 'The virus in the UK, it's active in Glasgow, North West and North East England, Birmingham and the South West. But in the South of England it's reasonably quite quiet.'

Professor Paul Hunter, a a medical expert 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.'

Professor Anthony Brookes, an expert in genomics at the University of Leicester, added: 'Nothing they said was a lie. But they selectively presented things, and did not show the full picture.

'They said it wasn't a prediction. But look up a 'prediction'  if you say cases are 'doubling, doubling, doubling, and this is what you get' - it is a prediction.

'I think it was and distorted unbalanced view of reality. I can't say anything was technically wrong  cases have been increasing, and if you have doubling you will get those numbers. But it is selective view of things.'

'Modelling is using guestimates and trying to predict the future. They want to prepare for what is coming down the road. But models are not data. They should be a way to try and replicate what was happened in the past and try and go forward.

'The alternative is to try and go away form models and use real life, empirical data patterns  the real, factual unquestionable data. What's happened in the past six months in the UK? And what has happened in other countries? I can't see any empirical data that suggests 50,000 cases by mid-October.

'The government are only relying on the numbers of positive cases. If you look at number of tests, you can make the case they have grown. 'Exponential growth' is too far  but it is a notable increase. That was last month and the first week of this month.

'Since then, it's carried on flat. There was a couple weeks it shot up, and then it's gone flat. They haven't spoken about this in their data.'

He added: 'There is an increase in percentage of [proportion of positive] tests. But it seems to have been a 2-week event that has flattened now.

'Twice over the summer we have seen exactly this. You ease up on lockdown. The rate goes up and then plateaus again. This is what it looks like to me. Given all of that  this recent concern about a second wave, it's just unfounded.

The University of Buckingham's Professor Karol Sikora, who has regularly been critical of the Government's coronavirus response, said: 'They're so negative. The graph for the worst case scenario, for 50,000 cases a day by next month, it's just scaring people.'

And Steve Brown, a self-employed consultant with 20 years of experience in statistical modelling, specialising in transport, told MailOnline: '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.'

Mr Brown said it was possible advisers were 'deliberately playing up the worst case'.

Dr Joshua Moon, a global health researcher at the 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.'
U.S. Border Patrol agents rescued three people from the Rio Grande after they tried to enter the country illegally, authorities said.

A U.S. Department of Defense helicopter observed several individuals in the river near Slaughter Park during the early morning hours of Tuesday.

Agents assigned to the marine unit observed the group abandon the illegal entry attempt. As the group was returning to Mexico, three individuals began struggling to stay afloat and began to submerge underwater, according to Border Patrol.

The vessel commander maneuvered the boat close to the trio so crew members could pull the individuals out of the water and onto the vessel. All were determined to be Mexican citizens without immigration documents. Laredo South Station agents took them over for processing.

Authorities said that if it wasnt for the agents intervention, the outcome couldve been tragic.

Whether saving people from dehydration in remote and desolate areas, from locked cargo containers, or from drowning in the Rio Grande River, Border Patrol agents continue to save lives on a daily basis. This rescue is another reminder that attempting to enter the (United States) illegally is dangerous and is not worth someone losing their life, said Laredo Sector Chief Patrol Agent Matthew J. Hudak.

The Laredo Sector Border Patrol warns against the dangers of crossing illegally into the United States and furthering entry through dangerous and hazardous means.
Around a ton of cocaine has been discovered concealed within shipments of fruit at the Kent port.

The class A drugs, which have a street value of approximately 100 million, were discovered in pallets which had arrived into the Port of Dover on a vessel from South America on Tuesday morning.

The 'huge seizure' will now take away a 'valuable commodity that would have been sold to fund further serious and organised criminality', the National Crime Agency (NCA) said.

Following the joint operation by the NCA and Police Scotland Organised Crime Partnership, two men have been arrested on suspicion of importing class A drugs.

Around a ton of cocaine was discovered in pallets which had arrived into Dover on a vessel from South America on Tuesday morning

The 40-year-old from Brentwood, Essex, and the 64-year-old from central Glasgow were questioned before being released under investigation.

The investigation, which is linked to Operation Venetic, has so far seen hundreds of arrests across the UK following the infiltration of an encrypted communications platform.

NCA director of investigations Nikki Holland said: 'This is a huge seizure of class A drugs, made as a result of some excellent joint working between the NCA and Police Scotland under the Organised Crime Partnership (Scotland), and our Border Force colleagues.

'This operation has prevented a large amount of cocaine from making it on to our streets, we estimate that once adulterated and sold it could have had a street value of up to 100 million.

'So in making this seizure we have taken away a valuable commodity that would have been sold to fund further serious and organised criminality.

'Our investigation into this attempted importation is continuing.'

Meanwhile Angela McLaren, assistant chief constable organised crime, counter terrorism and intelligence, said: 'This seizure is undoubtedly a massive setback for serious and organised criminals.

The discovery was made following a joint operation by the NCA and Police Scotland Organised Crime

The NCA said the class A drug were found by the team concealed within fruit at the port of Dover

'This operation and our other recent successes underline our unwavering commitment to working with partners, including the NCA, Border Force and SOC Taskforce, to disrupt this sort of criminality.

'Working together we will relentlessly pursue those who seek to bring misery to our communities whether they are in Scotland or elsewhere in the world.'

Searches have been carried out in Glasgow and Essex as the investigation continues, the NCA said.

The Organised Crime Partnership (Scotland) is a covert investigation team comprising of officers and staff from Police Scotland and the NCA.
According to the Board, in the History-I subject, topics like Early Vedic Period, Later Vedic Period, and Science and Technology in the chapter-II (Indus Valley Civilization & Vedic Culture) have been removed

Keeping in view the CBSE's 30% syllabus reduction directive and the loss of four months of classes due to the COVID-19 lockdown, the Telangana State Board of Intermediate Education (TSBIE) on Tuesday, made recommendations to reduce 30 percent syllabus for Humanities & Languages. The TSBIE informed that this reduction is only for this academic year 2O2O-21, for the Intermediate Public Examination (I.P.E.) March 2021 & Intermediate Public Advanced Supplementary Examination (I.P.A.S.E) May, 2021 only.

The government has further informed that the Final examination, IPE March 2021 & IPASE 2020-21 will be based on the 7O percent of the syllabus. The details of the reduced 30% and the remaining 70 percent syllabus of all the subjects of Intermediate Education are available on the official website of the TSBIE: tsbie.cgg.gov.in.



According to the Board, in the History-I subject, topics like Early Vedic Period, Later Vedic Period, and Science and Technology in the chapter-II (Indus Valley Civilization & Vedic Culture) have been removed.

Likewise, in History-II subject, topics including Language and Literature, Art and Architecture in unit-II (Age of Satavahanas), Economy, Society, Religion, Education, Language and Literature, and Art & Architecture in unit-III (Post Satavahana Period), Post Kakatiya Period in unit-IV (Age of Kakatiyas), and Mughal Interregnum (1687-1724 CE) in unit-V (Qutub Shahis), Quit India Movement in unit-IX (Freedom Movement in Hyderabad State), Telangana Praja Samithi, Eight Point Formula in unit-X (Separate Telangana State Movement-Early Phase), Non-Cooperation Movements in unit-XI (Separate Telangana State Movement-Later Phase) and Popular Jataras in unit-XII (Fairs and Festivals of Telangana) have been deleted.

Other than this, topics like Liberalism, Individualism, Communism have also been removed from the Political Science subject for Intermediate first year.

Furthermore, it is informed that the syllabus of Intermediate second year subjects of History, Economics, Political Science (Civics), Geography, Public Administration, Commerce & Accountancy, and for Intermediate First year syllabus of Telugu (Second Language) has been revised separately, and the textbooks for the same are available.
In this file photo taken on April 28, 2020, pedestrians wear face masks as they walk past HSBC signage outside a branch of the bank in Hong Kong. Shares in Hong Kong banking giant HSBC plunged to a 25-year low September 21, 2020 on fears it could be added to a Chinese list of firms deemed a threat to national security and following news it had been accused of allowing fraudulent activity to go unpunished.(Anthony WALLACE / AFP)

An investigation by Buzzfeed News and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) alleges that potentially dubious transfers worth about $2.0 trillion took place at a host of banks between 1999 and 2017.

Five banks -- JPMorgan Chase, HSBC, Standard Chartered, Deutsche Bank, and Bank of New York Mellon -- were specifically accused of continuing to move assets of alleged criminals, even after being fined for earlier failures to stem flows of dirty money.

In New York, JPMorgan fell 3.1 percent following a bruising sessions for other large banks named in the report.

In Frankfurt, Deutsche Bank's stock gave up 8.8 percent while Standard Chartered, another bank named in the international probe, was down by 5.8 percent in London.

Earlier in Hong Kong, HSBC shares fell to their lowest level in 25 years, closing with a loss of 5.3 percent.

In addition to being named in the investigation, a report said HSBC might be on Beijing's "unreliable entity list" as part of a tit-for-tat stand-off with several western countries.

The Dutch bank ING was also named in the probe, and its shares fell by 9.3 percent in Amsterdam.

Dutch media reported that an ING subsidiary in Poland had helped clients get suspect funds out of Russia for several years.

"Profits from deadly drug wars, fortunes embezzled from developing countries, and hard-earned savings stolen in a Ponzi scheme were all allowed to flow into and out of these financial institutions, despite warnings from the banks' own employees," the investigation found.

It was led by more than 100 international media outlets from 88 different countries and is based on over 2,000 suspicious activity reports (SARs) submitted to the US Treasury Department's financial law enforcement agency, FinCEN, by banks.

That said, "SARs are not crime or fraud reports, or evidence of wrongdoing, but alerts to potential instances of economic crime," noted UK Finance, a sector lobby group, in a statement sent to AFP.

"Law enforcement may sometimes request firms keep a client relationship ongoing to support further investigations," the group added.

Greg Baer, president of the Bank Policy Institute, a Washington lobbying and research organization, offered a similar defense.

"Clearly, there is more to this story, but unfortunately the reporting failed to unearth it, and the banks are legally prohibited from telling their side," Baer said on Twitter.

- 'Hollow' banking safeguards? -

In its introduction to the report, BuzzFeed News nonetheless said: "These documents, compiled by banks, shared with the government, but kept from public view, expose the hollowness of banking safeguards, and the ease with which criminals have exploited them."

HSBC told the investigation team it has always met its legal duties on reporting suspicious activities.

A bank statement said it had been overhauling its ability to combat financial crime and underscored that "HSBC is a much safer institution than it was in 2012," when it signed an accord with the US Justice Department on the issue.

A Deutsche Bank statement said the transactions in question were "well known to our regulators" and added that it invested "billions of dollars to more effectively support authorities in this effort."

The bank was "very focused on meeting our responsibilities and obligations," the statement said.

ING said it had stopped working with one of the suspected enterprises in 2018 and was preparing to cut off relations with a second.

JPMorgan said it has employed "thousands" of employees and invested "hundreds of millions of dollars" to combat illicit activity.

"We have played a leadership role in anti-money laundering reform that will modernize how the government and law enforcement combat money laundering, terrorism financing and other financial crimes," the bank said in a statement.
Job Title: WASH

Specialist

Organization: United

Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF)

Duty Station: Kampala,

Uganda

About US:

The United Nations

Childrens Fund (UNICEF) is mandated by the UN general assembly to advocate for

the protection of childrens rights, to help meet their basic needs and expand

their opportunities to reach their full potential. Together with our partners,

we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into

practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and

excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.

Key Duties and Responsibilities: Under the direct supervision of the WASH

Manager the UN WASH Specialist will undertake the following tasks:

Provide technical

support to UNICEF Kampala office to manage the KOICA funded WASH in School

programme in Karamoja effectively and efficiently. Specifically,



school Infrastructure in a timely and quality manner; Support the WASH Unit to undertake procurement for the WASH inschool Infrastructure in a timely and quality manner;



including monitoring and reviewing budgets for the programme; Collect and prepare WASH in school programme reports for the donorincluding monitoring and reviewing budgets for the programme;



the Uganda programme team and Korean counterparts; Co-ordinate and support exchange visits and learning events betweenthe Uganda programme team and Korean counterparts;



region; Conduct regular field monitoring visit to project sites in Karamojaregion;



WASH in schools that could be used for the visibility for the program Assist in the preparation of technical documents relevant for theWASH in schools that could be used for the visibility for the program

Coordination with UNICEF Uganda Office and KOICA Office in Kampala.



capacities related to WASH in schools. Provide technical support to the Moroto Zonal Office to developcapacities related to WASH in schools.



information required for effective implementation of the KOICA funded WASH

in schools programme; Ensure the availability of accurate, complete and up-to-dateinformation required for effective implementation of the KOICA funded WASHin schools programme;



colleagues, Education, Health, Nutrition and Local Government to identify

priority needs and appropriate strategies; Participate in inter-sectoral collaboration with other programmecolleagues, Education, Health, Nutrition and Local Government to identifypriority needs and appropriate strategies;



field. Undertake support supervision of the programme activities in thefield.



hygiene programme in Karamoja region. Support the implementation of a comprehensive water, Sanitation andhygiene programme in Karamoja region.



implementation of the WASH in schools interventions with focus on

adolescent and disability aspects of WASH programming; Strengthen the knowledge of WASH teams by providing support toimplementation of the WASH in schools interventions with focus onadolescent and disability aspects of WASH programming;



evidence-based approaches and implementation follow-up. Assist in enhancing programme efficiency and effectiveness throughevidence-based approaches and implementation follow-up.



management. Document results and best-practices and enhance knowledgemanagement.



implementation and promote knowledge sharing among counterparts and WASH

stakeholders; Document results and lessons learned from WASH programmeimplementation and promote knowledge sharing among counterparts and WASHstakeholders;



outcomes during fundraising, scoping, development and implementation

phases of WASH initiatives. Participate in preparation and delivery of WASH in Schools technicaloutcomes during fundraising, scoping, development and implementationphases of WASH initiatives.



invitational training in Korea, and reporting in Korean. Provide support to KOICA and UNICEF to manage the local training,invitational training in Korea, and reporting in Korean.



Republic of Korea including support to KOICA to select training

institution for the training, support to needs assessment to training

participants and documentation, technical support to the selected training

institution for developing training curriculum and implementation based on

consultation with KOICA and UNICEF, and any other necessary duties; Prepare necessary procedure for the invitational training inRepublic of Korea including support to KOICA to select traininginstitution for the training, support to needs assessment to trainingparticipants and documentation, technical support to the selected traininginstitution for developing training curriculum and implementation based onconsultation with KOICA and UNICEF, and any other necessary duties;



of work plan, performance indicators, budget execution and etc. for the

KOICA funded WASH in School programme in Karamoja Write a monthly report including in Korean, which includes progressof work plan, performance indicators, budget execution and etc. for theKOICA funded WASH in School programme in Karamoja

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:



WASH Specialist job opportunity should hold a Masters degree or

equivalent in Civil engineering,

Water and environmental management, Public health, Social sciences,

Political science or other WASH related field. The ideal candidate for the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF)WASH Specialist job opportunity should hold a Masters degree orequivalent in Civil engineering,Water and environmental management, Public health, Social sciences,Political science or other WASH related field.



national and international levels in programme management, monitoring and

evaluation. At least five years of demonstrated experience in WASH sector atnational and international levels in programme management, monitoring andevaluation.



situations; Knowledge of policies and program management in post crisissituations;



understanding and managing projects/programmes with multiple donor

partners; Experience working within a UN agency and experience in orunderstanding and managing projects/programmes with multiple donorpartners;



and human rights in designing and implementing related projects including

monitoring and reporting on these cross-cutting themes and SDGs; Experience in mainstreaming gender equality, conflict sensitivityand human rights in designing and implementing related projects includingmonitoring and reporting on these cross-cutting themes and SDGs;



and Hygiene. Knowledge of latest development in the field of Water, Sanitationand Hygiene.

Analytical, negotiating, communication and advocacy skills.

Drive for results.

Knowledge of computer management and applications.

Ability to work in an international and multicultural environment.



and evaluation, planning, evaluation, statistics and/or research

methodologies is required; Demonstrated interest in Results Based Management (RBM), monitoringand evaluation, planning, evaluation, statistics and/or researchmethodologies is required;

Competencies values:

Commitment and Motivation, Commitment to Continuous Learning,

Communication, Ethics and Values, Integrity, Knowledge Sharing, Planning

and Organizing, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity, Self-Management,

Technological Awareness, Working in Teams Accountability, Adaptability and Flexibility, Client Orientation,Commitment and Motivation, Commitment to Continuous Learning,Communication, Ethics and Values, Integrity, Knowledge Sharing, Planningand Organizing, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity, Self-Management,Technological Awareness, Working in Teams

Language skills:

Level  Fluent. Korean(Mandatory), Level  Fluent English(Mandatory),Level  Fluent. Korean(Mandatory), Level  Fluent



sanitation and environmental engineering Area of expertise: Development programme management, Water,sanitation and environmental engineering

NB:

The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment

process (Application, interview meeting, processing, or training). The United

Nations does not concern itself with information on applicants bank accounts.

How to Apply:

All suitably

qualified and interested candidates desiring to serve the United Nations in the

aforementioned capacity should express their interest by visiting the UN

recruitment website and clicking Apply Now.

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








Shiv Sena leader and former mayor of Kalyan Dombivli municipal corporation, Rajendra Deolekar, 54, succumbed to Covid-19 on Tuesday night. He was hospitalized for the last few days and had been recently brought to Mumbai for intensive care after deterioration in his health.

Deolekar, a sitting corporator of Milind Nagar and Gholap Nagar in Kalyan West, is survived by his wife and two daughters.

This is a huge loss to us; Deolekar worked on the ground level, was a learned councillor and did a lot of work for the city during his mayoral tenure as well. We have been losing many party workers who were working continuously during the pandemic; these are Covid martyrs. Deolekars demise is a huge loss for the city, we had personally visited him in the hospital a few days ago and were hoping he would get better soon, said Shrikant Shinde, Shiv Sena MP from Kalyan Constituency.

Also Read: Maharashtras Covid-19 case tally rises to 1,242,770, toll stands at 33,407

In April, two people were booked for spreading rumours about Deolekars illness at Khadakpada Police station in Kalyan.
The governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, on Tuesday, paid a visit to the State House in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

The governor had a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari and his Chief of Staff, Ibrahim Gambari, this paper learnt.

After the meeting, Mr AbdulRazaq said he commended the President for his swift actions and efforts towards mitigating the effects of the COVID 19 pandemic and reviving the economy through the approval of the Economic Sustainability Plan.

Amongst other things, the governor requested that Kwara State be part of the first beneficiaries of road construction and rehabilitation and support to MSMEs.

He also begged Mr Buhari to ensure that special consideration be made for Kwara in the additional one million households set to benefit from Federal Cash Transfer.

Read the first full statement below

SUMMARY OF MY MEETING WITH HIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI TODAY SEPTEMBER 22ND, 2020

1. I commended His Excellency, Mr. President, for his swift actions and efforts towards mitigating the effects of the COVID 19 pandemic and reviving the economy through the approval of the Economic Sustainability Plan.

2. I appealed to Mr. President to continue to support our administration in delivering socio-economic development to the people of Kwara State.

3. We wished for Kwara State to be part of the first beneficiaries of road construction and rehabilitation, support to MSMEs, land development for agricultural purposes, mass housing and rural electrification; which are approved initiatives under the COVID 19 intervention programmes.

4. In the social sector, I informed His Excellency that we have since set up our own Social Investment Programme which mirrors the National Social Investment Programme. So far, we have disbursed loans to 21,623 petty traders, 15,000 transport workers, trained 3,100 youth on digital skills, and about to commence the training of 10,000 more. I requested Mr. President to please ensure that special consideration be made for Kwara in the additional 1 million households who are set to benefit from Federal Cash Transfer.

5. Still in the social sector, His Excellency is aware that Kwara State ranks amongst the poorest states with Open Defecation practices in Nigeria. Our administration has built a few public lavatories across the State and invested in provision of potable water. However, Federal Governments support is required to obtain more impactful result. As such, we wish for Kwara State to be among the first States to benefit from the COVID 19 intervention programmes in the WASH sector.

6. Kwara State has not accessed UBEC grant since 2013 after the State was blacklisted following certain malplractices. Our administration paid the fine of N450million and has since commenced the process to access the grant from 2013  2019. Given the economic realities now, it is difficult for the State to obtain the N7.150bn counterpart funding required to access the grant. We requested for Mr President to kindly consider a waiver for this requirement, as is being pushed by the Nigerian Governors Forum.

7. More urgently, I informed Mr President about the recent flooding and rainstorms in many parts of the state. Without doubt, the State has been affected by disasters including fire outbreaks, floods and destruction caused by heavy rainstorms. The latest disaster happened following last Saturdays heavy rains which affected Ilorin East, Ilorin West, Ilorin South, Patigi, Edu, Moro, Kaiama, Ifelodun, Baruten, Asa, Isin and Irepodun LGAs, amongst others. From the first assessment, over 15,000 households across 357 communities were affected and 13 deaths as well as N10billion in losses to farmers and damage of buildings were recorded. I beseeched Mr President that it would be highly appreciated if relief materials could be provided. Specifically, I said we would appreciate food items as well as housing materials such as bundles of zinc, packs of roofing nails, mattresses and beddings for our people as the number of IDPs is expected to rise.

8. Kwara State is interested in participating in the implementation of the pilot phase of the NLTP. So far, 200,000 ha of grazing reserves have been allocated to the programme, counterpart funding has been set aside in our 2020 budget, sensitization of communities, farmers and pastoralists has been undertaken and data collection and needs assessment were concluded. We solicit for His Excellencys intervention for a prompt FEC approval and for the inclusion of Kwara State in the pilot phase.

ALSO READ:

9. I also solicited for His Excellencys intervention on the matter of the sale of Bacita Sugar Company. I reminded His Excellency that AMCON sold the company over a year ago. However, the buyer only paid 10% of the total amount which leaves the sale uncompleted. This has resulted in 100 thousand people, mostly out grower farmers, losing their jobs. His Excellency may kindly consider directing AMCON to put the company back for sale in order to quickly conclude the process.

10. As regards Presidential Order 7, Kwara State has applied to be a beneficiary of the Road Tax Fund. If approved, three major roads will be constructed, contributing to the infrastructural development and ease of doing business in the State. We requested for His Excellencys kind and prompt approval of the request.

11. The approved FGs 2020 budget has provisions for major roads dualization in Kwara State. They include: Ilorin  Jebba; Wawa  Kaiama; and Ilorin  Igbeti bridge. We solicited for His Excellencys intervention in ensuring these projects are promptly funded.

12. His Excellency has recently graciously approved a N10bn irrigation scheme for Shonga. However, the project is yet to be funded. I therefore requested for His Excellencys intervention in ensuring that the project is given special attention and adequate funding very soon.

13. His Excellency is aware of the 132 KVA power project which covers from Kainji Niger State to Iseyin Oyo with a substation in Kaiama, Kwara State. We kindly requested that His Excellency direct the Transmission Company of Nigeria to execute a 33KVA from Kaiama to Kosubosu. This will also supply Baruten LGA and will go a long way in providing electricity in these LGAs of Kwara North which have been ignored for long.
New Delhi: Computer Age Management Services (CAMS) initial public offering (IPO) on the primary market will close on September 23.

CAMS, which acts as a registrar and transfer agent (RTA) for mutual funds is targeting to raise Rs 2,240 crore from investors.

The company's chief executive Anuj Kumar said NSE decided to sell its entire holding in the company after capital markets watchdog Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) directing the top equity bourse to pare its holding in the company, PTI said.

Live TV

Here is all you need to know about the CAMS IPO

The offer will see sale of 1,82,46,600 equity shares or 37.4 per cent stake by NSE Investments



NSE Investments is the subsidiary of National Stock Exchange (NSE).



The entire quantum of shares being sold to investors is NSE's holding.



There will not be any new issue of shares which may see money coming into the company.



The issue will open on September 21 and close of September 23.



Anchor investors' portion will open on September 18.



Half of the issue is reserved for qualified institutional buyers.



35 percent is reserved to retail investors, 15 per cent to non-institutional bidders.



1.82 lakh shares are reserved for employees, who will get the shares at a 10 per cent discount.



The price band has been set at between Rs 1,229-1,230 per share.



Company will raise Rs 2,242 crore at the upper end of the band.



The issue is being managed by Kotak Mahindra Capital Co Ltd, HDFC Bank Ltd, ICICI Securities Ltd and Nomura Financial Advisory and Securities (India) Pvt Ltd.

CAMS is a technology-driven financial infrastructure and services provider to mutual funds and other financial institutions. Headquartered in Chennai, CAMS is co-owned by NSE Investments, Warburg Pincus, Faering Capital ACSYS Investments and HDFC Group.
57% of Working Parents Fear Pandemic Could Hurt Them at Work

Working parents arent just concerned about how their children will continue their education during the pandemic  many are also worried about their jobs.

More than half of working parents  57%  believe that they are at a disadvantage during the pandemic and will be the first group to be negatively impacted by employer decisions, according to a survey by Catalyst, a think tank focused on womens workplace issues, and media organization CNBC.

Many also believe that their employers have, for the most part, been unresponsive to the needs of working parents during the pandemic.

Schools turned upside-down

The pandemic has created many challenges for parents of school-age children. Though 66% of parents said their childrens school is currently open or planning to reopen for in-person classes, the same percentage  66%  also say they are keeping their kids home for complete virtual learning. In fact, only 20% of parents plan to have their children do all of their learning in-person, while 57% said they are either against the idea of sending their children back into the classroom or are unsure about it.

Meanwhile, consumers have been worried throughout the pandemic about the economy in general and their own employment outlook specifically. Working parents appear to be particularly concerned, with 41% saying they have less job security today than they did before the pandemic began. Even more troubling, the survey found that 38% are afraid they may be penalized by their employer because they are working parents.

While some employees in recent months have expressed less satisfaction with their benefits packages since the pandemic began, many working parents appear afraid to ask for more. More than a third  39%  said they fear theyll be laid off if they ask for help. On top of that, 42% said they thought their job would be at risk if they took advantage of the child care offerings or benefits that were already being provided through the workplace.

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Some parents have even resorted to hiding their caregiving struggles from their employers, with 41% of working mothers and 36% of working fathers admitting to doing this.

Employees feel unsupported

Many survey respondents also pointed out that their employers have done little to show concern for the working parents they employ.

Overall, women appear to feel less supported than men. Nearly half  49%  of working mothers said they dont know of any plans by their employer to help workers with child care. More than a third of working fathers  39%  were also unaware of such efforts.

When it comes to other employer benefits, employees did acknowledge that their employer has stepped up in some ways. Again, however, men appear more likely to find such support than women:

49% of men and 37% of women said their employer has been proactive about enhancing benefits since the pandemic began

26% of men and 16% of women said their employer is providing the option of paid leave

17% of men and 10% of women said their employer is offering additional personal time off

Still, a notable 30% of working mothers and 20% of working fathers said their company has not been proactive at all about helping employees during the pandemic.

Methodology: Catalyst commissioned research and analytics firm Edelman Intelligence to survey 1,000 working parents (700 women and 300 men) with children between the ages of 5 and 18. Of the survey sample, 93% work full time and 7% work part time for companies with 500 or more employees.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  With Halloween right around the corner, masks may be in the spotlight more than ever. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention want to make it clear  a regular mask that comes with a Halloween costume is not suitable protection against COVID-19.

Do not use a costume mask (such as for Halloween) as a substitute for a cloth mask unless it is made of two or more layers of breathable fabric that covers your mouth and nose and doesnt leave gaps around your face, the CDCs website reads.

Do not wear a costume mask over a cloth mask because it can be dangerous if the costume mask makes it hard to breathe. Instead, consider using a Halloween-themed cloth mask.

The CDCs website also offers guidance for social distancing and low-risk ways to celebrate the holidays. The list of higher risk activities to be avoided include (via cdc.gov):

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 judgment 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

The Ohio Department of Health last week offered its own guidelines for celebrating Halloween. Trick-or-treating is up to individual communities and parents, while the state suggests drive-through or drive-in trick-or-treating events that are socially distanced. The state also advises against haunted houses and hayrides.
Storms have popped up in this record-breaking hurricane season at such a breakneck pace that forecasters ran out of names and were forced to move on the Greek alphabet. But one of the storms with a traditional name  Paulette  has come back to life more than a week after it hit Bermuda.

Paulette, which made landfall on Sept. 14 in Bermuda as a hurricane, regenerated near the Azores Tuesday, the National Hurricane Center said. Now a tropical storm, Paulette was expected to become a post-tropical remnant low in the next day or so.

The National Weather Service said on Twitter: "Because 2020, we now have Zombie Tropical Storms. Welcome back to the land of the living, Tropical Storm Paulette."

As Paulette was weakening, Hurricane Teddy was moving toward Canada, with a predicted landfall in Nova Scotia early Wednesday before heading into Newfoundland on Wednesday night, forecasters said. The large and powerful storm was causing dangerous rip currents along the U.S. East Coast, the hurricane center said.

Teddy was about 300 miles south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Tuesday afternoon with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph. It was expected to weaken through Wednesday, but forecasters said it would likely be a strong, post-tropical cyclone when it moves in and over Nova Scotia.

The most obvious contributing factor for such an active season is water temperatures being near historic levels in the Tropical Atlantic, which can act like high-octane fuel to power hurricanes.

This satellite image provided by the NOAA shows five tropical cyclones churning in the Atlantic basin at 5:20 p.m. GMT on Monday, Sept. 14, 2020. The storms, from left, are Hurricane Sally over the Gulf of Mexico, Hurricane Paulette over Bermuda, the remnants of Tropical Storm Rene, and Tropical Storms Teddy and Vicky. / Credit: AP

Meanwhile, the remnants of Tropical Storm Beta left large portions of Houston underwater. Cars and trucks stranded on roads-turned-rivers. What remains of Beta was hugging the coast late Tuesday and was expected to lash southeast Texas. Flood advisories are posted along a 500-mile stretch of the Gulf Coast from near Corpus Christi, Texas, all the way to New Orleans.

This storm is barely moving; it's been raining non-stop since late Monday. And Houston  which floods even during a moderate rain  cannot absorb all this water.

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More than 100 high-water rescues have taken place in Houston as the now-tropical depression barely budges.

"Let's hope and pray that this system will start moving at a quicker pace to the east and will get out of here," Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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American pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson announced it has begun Phase 3 trials of a coronavirus vaccine after promising signs in earlier phases of development. The companys vaccine candidate is the fourth potential vaccine to go into the crucial third phase of testing in the U.S., but, if successful, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine would carry significant benefits over the other treatments currently being tested. The biggest advantage is that it would only require a single jab, rather than a repeat visit to the doctor for multiple injections over several weeks, and it could be stored more easily, as it only requires refrigeration-level storage to be kept up to three months. The other front-runners need to be frozen in order to be stored long term.

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Phase 3 trials greatly expand the pool of participants to gauge a drugs effectivenesscomparing it with a placeboafter the preliminary phases explore whether there is any glaring safety issue in a far smaller sample of volunteers. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine candidate prompted the body to produce an encouraging level of antibodies, which, if effective, would then be expected to ward off the virus. The J&J vaccine is the second to use a viral-vector approach, taking a harmless virus and inserting into it a gene that contains the blueprint for a distinctive part of the novel coronavirus, the Washington Post notes. In a monkey study published in Nature in July, [the J&J vaccine candidate] showed [its] approach successfully taught the immune system to protect against a real infection.

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Now comes the international trial, which aims to involve 60,000 participants from the U.S., as well as from a handful of countries in the AmericasArgentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peruand South Africa. The number of participants in the trial is higher than normal Phase 3 trials, which could help the company accrue enough data on the drug to determine its safety and efficacy more quickly in order to get it to market faster.

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The simplified logistics of a single-dose vaccine that is easily stored and administered will be of paramount importance as the country and the world embark on a mass vaccination campaign once vaccinations become available. Simply producing enough doses will be a mammoth undertaking, though the U.S. has already invested billions to secure doses of a variety of vaccine candidates whether or not they ultimately work or ever get used. The aim is to speed up the process by underwriting different leading pharma companies vaccination development, essentially writing off the loses of companies failed attempts to incentivize lots of drugmakers to take lots of shots at a vaccine. The U.S. government has, for instance, already invested $1.5 billion in Johnson & Johnsons vaccination drive and secured 100 million doses.

At a news conference on Tuesday, Dr. Paul Stoffels, chief scientific officer of Johnson & Johnson, said the company could determine by the end of the year whether the drug is safe and effective, and that the company plans on manufacturing 1 billion doses next year. The race to create a vaccine is not a zero-sum game, however, and the thinking in the public health world is that multiple vaccines, using different types of designs to combat the virus in different types of people, will be required to vaccinate billions of people to sufficiently suppress the virus.
Dr. John Eibner writes in response to harassment of elder statesman and journalist by security services and murder of Paramount Chief by unknown assailants.

Christian Solidarity International (CSI) is calling on Nigerias president, Muhammadu Buhari, to protect victims of atrocity crimes and human rights defenders at a time of rising violence against Christians in the countrys Middle Belt region.

In his letter dated 23 September, Dr. John Eibner, the International President of Christian Solidarity International, referred President Buhari to the cases of Mr. Masara Kim, a journalist in Plateau State, and Dr. Obadiah Mailafia, the former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and a prominent figure in his native Kaduna State.

Mr. Kim was summoned for interrogation by the Department of State Services on 21 September after publishing an article about the plans of Fulani militia leaders for further attacks on Christian farming communities in the region. Dr. Mailafia has been summoned for interrogation four times and received numerous credible death threats, since a radio interview he gave on 10 August, in which he exposed the political project behind the campaign of Fulani attacks in the Middle Belt. Out of fear for his life, he has been forced to take extraordinary security measures to protect himself and his family.

Eibner also drew the Nigerian presidents attention to the shooting and hacking to death two days ago of Paramount Chief Da Bulus Chuwang Gyang by unidentified assassins. The Chief was renowned for leading his communitys resistance to the atrocity crimes exposed by Dr. Mailafia and Mr. Kim.

It is clear, Mr. President, Eibner wrote, that certain elements in the security services are intent on suppressing human rights defenders who speak the truth about the crisis in the Middle Belt, and discouraging others from coming forward and speaking out.

Dr. Eibner praised the fundamental freedoms contained in the Nigerian Constitution, stating they are the best guarantees for social harmony in a country as complexly multi-religious and multi-ethnic as Nigeria  an aspiration that CSI shares with the wonderful people of Nigeria regardless of their religious and ethnic identities.

Dr. Eibner referred in his letter to CSIs  Genocide Warning  for Nigeria, to the recent report  Nigeria: Genocide Unfolding?  by the UK All Party Parliamentary Group on International Freedom of Religion or Belief; and to the International Criminal Courts current investigation of crimes against humanity in Nigeria, including those that may have been committed by both state and non-state actors.

This month, President Buhari himself revealed that US President Donald Trump directly accused him in April 2018 of killing Christians. Buhari defended himself by referring to the sectarian-based murders as merely the product of local herder versus farmer disputes.

In conclusion Eibner expressed the hope that the Nigerian Presidency will use its authority to protect the fundamental rights of human rights defenders and civil society actors in the Middle Belt, in particular Dr. Obadiah Mailafia and Mr. Masara Kim.

Christian Solidarity International is an international human rights organization campaigning for religious liberty and human dignity. It has been providing material aid to Nigerians affected by terrorist violence since 2013, and manages a website devoted to the Nigerian conflict  www.nigeria-report.org .

Contact: Morven McLean, [email protected]

Christian Solidarity International (CSI) is a Christian human rights organization promoting religious liberty and human dignity.

To receive no further media releases from CSI, please contact: [email protected]
P ret A Manger's founder has accused Boris Johnson of "nonsense leadership" during the coronavirus pandemic.

Restaurateur Julian Metcalfe said the Government's Covid-19 restrictions, which could last for six months" are having a "devastating" impact on people's lives and livelihoods.

The Prime Minister announced a 10pm curfew for pubs and restaurants on Tuesday plus a call for office staff to work from home if possible.

Mr Metcalfe said people's lives and jobs are at risk while the Government is just bickering, arguing and not agreeing on what to do.

He told BBC Radio 4s World at One programme: The repercussions of this six months is going to be devastating to so many people, to local councils, to industry, to people all over our country, just devastating.

We have just not begun to touch the seriousness of this.

A staff member at a Pret a Manger in London. / AFP via Getty Images

He believes the Chancellor is looking to replace the furlough scheme which helps protect jobs but stated the nation cannot continue borrowing and going into debt.

Mr Metcalfe told the programme: What we need is the Government, particularly our Prime Minister, this man sitting down with his Union Jack talking utter nonsense, thats where we need leadership.

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

"What I would advise our Prime Minister to do, number one is get aligned with his team.

Mr Metcalfe said that Itsu is now running with around half of its original 1,400 staff during the pandemic, but the wider concern must be for the wellbeing of the nation.

He said that clarity is needed from the Government, which should also share information and behave in a responsible way.

Mr Metcalfe told the programme: To turn to an entire nation and say stay at home for six months and to spout off some Churchillian nonsense about well make it through, its just terribly unhelpful to this country.

Speak to people in the local councils  devoid of income.

On the likelihood of a company like Itsu still surviving in a years time, Mr Metcalfe said it may or it may not, but I honestly dont think that it important right now.
New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted citizens on 68th Republic Day on Thursday. PM Modi, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and other dignitaries witnessed the ceremonial Republic Day celebrations, including parade by security personnel from both India and United Arab Emirates besides display of theme-based tableaux and air show, at Rajpath in New Delhi.

India displayed its military might and the Republic Day ceremony was attended by a number of dignitaries who witnessed the playing of National Anthem followed by Parade, Tableaux, Bravery Awards for children.

With PTI Inputs

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept.23

By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend:

The value of trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Italy amounted to $4.6 billion over the first seven months of 2020, compared to $5.6 billion during the same period of 2019, Trend reports with reference to Kazakhstans Statistics Committee.

The share of Italy in the total value of Kazakhstans trade turnover stood at 9.5 percent during the reporting period compared to 10.4 percent during the same period of 2019.

Kazakhstans export to Italy amounted to $4.1 billion over the period from January through July 2020, compared to $4.7 billion during the same period of 2019

Italys share in the total volume of Kazakhstans export amounted to 14.4 percent during the reporting period of 2020 compared to 14.3 percent during the same period of 2019.

In turn, Kazakhstans imports from Italy amounted to nearly $500.7 million over the reporting period, compared to $955.7 million during the same period of 2019.

Italys share in the total volume of Kazakhstans import amounted to 2.5 percent during the reporting period of 2020 compared to 4.4 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, main articles of Kazakhstan and Italy trade turnover were food products, agricultural products, as well as products of the chemical industry.

---

Follow the author on twitter: @nargiz_sadikh
Wells Fargo Chief Executive Officer Charles Scharf has apologized for making insensitive remarks around race and diversity, seeking to quell a row over his references to a shortage of talent among minority groups.

Reuters reported on Tuesday that Scharf had exasperated some Black employees in a Zoom meeting this summer when he reiterated that the bank had trouble reaching diversity goals because there were not enough qualified minority candidates.

He also made the assertion in a company-wide memo on 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.

"There are many talented diverse individuals working at Wells Fargo and throughout the financial services industry and I never meant to imply otherwise," Scharf said in a statement on Wednesday.

"Across the industry, we have not done enough to improve diversity, especially at senior leadership levels."

The remarks on a shortage of candidates were widely criticized after the Reuters report was published on Tuesday.

"Perhaps it's the CEO of Wells Fargo who lacks the talent to recruit Black workers," U.S. Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said in a tweet.

Scharf listed a handful of appointments the bank has made recently as evidence of its commitment to diversity and went on to lay out details of the steps it was taking to recruit more from minorities.

As the head of the largest U.S. bank by number of employees, he has pledged to double the number of Black leaders over five years and tied executive compensation to reaching diversity goals.

He has also told hiring managers to consider diverse candidates for high-paying roles that are vacant and to ensure diversity on interview teams.

"Anyone who's open to re-evaluating their position, their perspective and taking into consideration a new set of facts, you have to give him the benefit of the doubt," said Teri McClure, a former executive with United Parcel Service Inc who had been among those criticizing Scharf on Tuesday.

"The Wells Fargo team should use that as an opportunity to move forward," she added.

Since Scharf joined the bank a little less than a year ago, it has added two Black executives to its operating committee - Lester Owens as head of operations and Ather Williams as head of strategy, digital and innovation.

"There is no question Wells Fargo has to make meaningful progress to increase diverse representation," Scharf said on Wednesday.
STRANEK-AFRICA has said despite the unjustifiable attack on them by Special Prosecutor (SP) Martin Amidu, the group remains purposeful in its fight against corruption in the country.

This follows the Special Prosecutors description of the groups petition to investigate details of the Agyapa Royalties deal, as opportunistic and populist.

Reacting to the Special Prosecutor in a statement issued on Wednesday, 23 September 2020 and co-signed by Executive Director of STRANEK-AFRICA, Nii Tettey Tetteh and Director of Policy and Policy Affairs, Emmanuel Osei, the group, for of all, thanked the OSP for bringing to its notice that its office has started investigations into the Agyapa deal and that it has written to Parliament to furnish it with the relevant documents.

It, however, indicated that it finds it petty of a Special Prosecutor to describe a petition sent to you in good faith and in the interest of the people of Ghana, as an opportunistic and populist enterprise.

It is difficult to understand the depth of your anger at an organisation petitioning your office to investigate what seems to be a deal fraught with illegality, secrecy and conflict of interest issues.

If nothing at all, our petition should give you a sense of direction as to the kind of questions that Ghanaians want answers to.

The statement continued: Your description of our letter as containing mere 'speculations without more' leads us to believe that you have pre-judged the matter or that you have pre-conceived notions prior to the conclusion of your investigative process.

That is very disappointing for someone occupying your honourable office and raises major issues about your fitness to investigate the matter at hand.

The group also reminded Mr Amidu of its duty, as citizens of Ghana, to assist in fighting corruption and protecting the public purse.

It empahsised: STRANEK-Africa is not in any form of competition with you to take credit for any processes as childishly captured in your response, neither do we intend to start one.

We will continue to go high when you go low.

The fight against corruption cannot be a one-man affair. It requires a collective effort, the group said.

STRANEK-AFRICA further noted that the fight against corruption requires a collective effort.

As a public accountability civil society organisation, we remain resolute in the face of your unwarranted attack.

It added: We are all involved in building our nation.

Meanwhile, Ghanaian law professor, Kweku Asare, has said the Special Prosecutor (SP) must, regardless of how useless it finds leads and information provided to his office by informants and members of the general public, avoid criticising them so as not to dissuade others who may possess information relevant to his office from volunteer same.

Prof Asare, popularly known as 'Azar', in a statement on Tuesday, 22 September 2020, noted that: A good prosecutor should always welcome leads, information or complaints from the public, even if it turns out that they are not helpful, useful or redundant.

This is because a prosecutor cannot or does not expect the public to know what information he has or does not have on crimes that have been or about to be committed.

Prof Asare further stated that: A prosecutor should not reveal its sources to the public. Nor should a prosecutor publicly slam an informant for providing information that turns out to be unhelpful. Doing so only freezes others who may have relevant information.

According to the lawyer, this is the reason he finds Mr Amidus latest epistle lambasting and shaming Mr Tetteh of Stranek for allegedly petitioning his office to investigate the Agyapa deal to be astonishing.

He indicated that: In the said epistle, the SP accuses the petitioner of being opportunistic and populist. I demur.

Rather, I think the SPs actions, obviously calculated to shame the petitioner, will have the negative effect of stopping others from filing such petitions or providing leads to the SP that may turn out to be very relevant.

Prof Asare added: There is corruption everywhere. The SP must welcome petitions, even if they turn out to be redundant, do more prosecutions and write fewer epistles.

In his response to the group, Mr Amidu said STRANEK-AFRICA's petition was geared toward taking credit for processes that have already commenced independently by its office.

According to the Office of the SP, the Agyapa Royalties Agreements and related issues have been matters of public interest since they were approved.

The SP stated that: It is a notorious matter of public knowledge and notice that this office on 10 September 2020, invoked its mandate pursuant to Sections 2(1), 29, and 73 of Act 959 and Regulations 31(1) and (2) of L.I. 2374 to examine any issues arising therefrom.

The letter continued: It is further in the public domain that Parliament and other public institutions have already responded to this offices request for information and documents.

It added: Your letter, 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 legal basis for this office to commit further resources to your request from the public purse.

In STRANEKs petition, the group said: 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 have characterised the Agyapa Royalties deal of the ruling government.

This follows the widespread traction the deal has gained in both traditional and social media.

It continued: It will be recalled that last year, the Minerals Income Investment Fund Act, 2018 (Act 978) was passed, which created a Minerals Income Investment Fund into which a percentage of the annual revenues of the mining companies will be paid to Government as royalties.

The government subsequently amended Act 978 to ensure that Special Purpose Vehicles established by the Fund get unrestricted independence.

It said on Friday, 14 August 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 the government, and the deal is structured such that it can run in perpetuity, the petition said.

Agyapa Royalties Ltd. was incorporated as an offshore company in a tax haven island in the United Kingdom called Jersey (Channel Islands).

The SPV is wholly government-owned but 49% of the shares will be sold to private individuals, so that eventually, the SPV will be 51% government-owned and 49% private-owned.

The SPV will trade shares on the Ghana Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange for the private market.

According to STRANEK-AFRICA, the agreements for this deal were indecently rushed through the parliamentary approval process, adding: Requests by the Minority for certain important details such as the prospectus, details of incorporation and justification of usage of a tax haven, for effective scrutiny were not heeded by the ruling government and the majority side of Parliament.

Requests that parliament be furnished with periodic reports on the activities of the Special Purpose Vehicle for accountability and transparency were also rejected.

Requests by the Alliance of Civil Society Organisations working on Extractives, Anti-Corruption and Good Governance for a full complement of data and assumptions used in governments valuation of the royalties being traded did not receive any consideration.

It is imperative that the Agyapa Royalties deal be thoroughly and immediately investigated by your office: The Special Purpose Vehicle lacks transparency as it was incorporated in a tax haven causing matters of corporate governance to be clouded in secrecy and making it difficult to provide proper oversight of the company. Mortgaging Ghanas future mineral royalties in perpetuity runs contrary to the interest of the people of Ghana and Ghana stands to lose billions of dollars in revenue as a consequence of this deal. The deal is intended to monetise gold royalties to fund the budget and ought.

---classfm
HARRISBURG  The number of teachers who retired in Pennsylvania during the first eight days of September has skyrocketed.

From 2020, 252 teachers retired in the Commonwealth, as reported by the Public School Employees Retirement System (PSERS). This represents an increase of more than 183 percent compared that same week the previous year.

In 2018, 49 teachers retired during this same eight-day period, equivalent to a decrease of 414 percent compared to the first eight days of this September.

I have to caution that Pennsylvania law and PSERS policy do not require public school employees to provide a reason for their retirement, said Steve Esack, press secretary for the Public School Employees Retirement System on Tuesday. So we cant draw definitive conclusions from the numbers.

He said that the numbers reflect retirement applications received and then entered into the PSERS system.

They do not reflect the actual month someone officially retired from their job, Esack said.

In Downingtown, 11 teachers retired at the end of the 2019-20 academic year, according to Kimberlee Gardner, assistant human resources director for the Downingtown Area School District.

To our knowledge, none of those retirements were related to COVID, Gardner said on Monday.

She said the district requires teachers to provide 60 days notice for retirement. She noted PSERS determines their retirement benefits dependent upon age and their years of service within the state.

At the end of the school year, our retirement numbers were actually low. We have had some unexpected retirements at the start of the school year and we continue to get inquiries. We have also seen more inquiries on working virtually, Gardner said.

While the pandemic has changed the mode of how we deliver instruction, it hasnt changed our goals. Our goals are to foster our students learning and growth and to keep them safe. In this online model, we are doing just that, said Jennifer Shealy, director of communications for the Downingtown Area School District.

There are 989 teachers at Downingtown schools, home to 12,958 enrolled students, as of press time, according to the district.

Our students are logging online every day, learning new material, and finding their personal successes, Shealy said. While we are all looking forward to the time when we can be back in our buildings, we need to make sure we are taking measured, deliberate steps in order to keep our students and staff safe.

There are approximately 121,000 teachers in Pennsylvania, said Eric Levis, press secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Education, on Monday.

In both private and public schools, Levis said the Commonwealth is home to about 1.7 million students.

As of now, approximately 25 percent of schools  traditional public, charters, career and technical education centers  that have submitted health and safety plans are planning full in-person instruction; 44 percent are planning blended/hybrid; and 31 percent are planning full remote.

He added, Keep in mind that these plans will change as conditions change in the communities.

As for the impact of the pandemic on education in Pennsylvania, Levis praised the states educators.

Schools across the state did an outstanding job of serving their students during the unprecedented school closures in the 2019-20 school year, Levis said.

He said the administration of Gov. Tom Wolf began issuing guidance to school districts on June 3, to help school leaders prepare for the upcoming school year. As the school year approached, the Departments of Education and Health issued more detailed guidance focused on specific aspects of school, including health and safety, social and emotional learning, and providing academic opportunities to students in-person, virtually, and through a hybrid approach.

All of our education communities remain focused on the health and safety of students, while offering educational opportunity, Levis said. We expect that we will be dealing with COVID for at least some part of the upcoming school year. PDE will continue to help schools navigate those challenges and help schools safely provide instruction to students as they progress.

What we have found is that educators are going above and beyond for their students, whether they are teaching in person or remotely, said Chris Lilienthal, assistant director of communications for the Pennsylvania State Education Association, on Sept. 15. The pandemic has taken a toll on all of us, and educators are making special efforts to check in with students and their families, to make sure they are OK. The mental health of students is incredibly important.

Lilienthal said educators do feel stretched thin. It is important to make sure that they have adequate time to prepare lessons and collaborate with each other. In many ways, they have had to reinvent classes they taught in-person for years for it to make sense in a remote setting.

Lilienthal said a top priority is to keep students, staff, and their families safe and healthy. Were focused on it every day  and we have been from the beginning.

Wolf ordered all schools in Pennsylvania to close statewide on March 13, the same day President Donald Trump declared a national emergency in wake of COVID-19 arriving in America from Asia and whilst novel coronavirus began killing elderly people in Italy at a rapid pace.

Since then, Lilienthal said that Pennsylvanias teachers have upped their online game, finding innovative ways to connect with and teach students.

He said educators worked very hard over the summer to prep new types of lessons, to improve their online and remote classes, and to think through the challenges of teaching amid a pandemic.

The pandemic has impacted all of us but especially Pennsylvanias educators and students, Lilienthal stated. The vast majority of school districts are offering students some type of virtual schooling option, whether its all-virtual, a hybrid program, or an optional virtual program.

Educators do want to be in the classroom with students, Lilienthal said. They understand the value of learning hands-on in a collaborative classroom setting.
New updates on a possible stimulus package were updated on Sept. 27, 2020.

Lawmakers in Washington, D.C. still havent come to an agreement about a new round of stimulus checks, even though both sides claim to support the idea.

By all accounts, its not looking good.

The White House still supports new individual stimulus payments to Americans, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Tuesday.

The president and I remain committed to providing support for American workers and businesses, Mnuchin said. I believe a targeted package is still needed and the administration is ready to reach a bipartisan agreement.

While Democrats and Republicans agree in principle on a new round of $1,200 stimulus checks, the two sides are at a standstill on other parts of a relief package, including aid to states, small businesses and schools.

Theyre $1 trillion apart on how large the package should be.

More stimulus is needed to help an economic recovery, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell told the House Financial Services Committee on Tuesday.

Both employment and overall economic activity, however, remain well below their pre-pandemic levels, and the path ahead continues to be highly uncertain, Powell said. The downturn has not fallen equally on all Americans. Those least able to bear the burden have been the most affected.

Democrats criticized an earlier failed stimulus package pushed by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, in part because it excluded individual stimulus payments.

The economic impact payments must be made because the rent must be paid, Rep. Al Green (D-Tx.) said at the hearing. If we do not do this, we will put persons at risk of being evicted at a time when we are having a pandemic that is still taking lives in this country.

House Democrats passed a larger stimulus package back in March, but Republicans called it dead on arrival.

Now with the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the fight to follow over a replacement, many think it could be impossible for Congress to agree on a new relief package before the election.

Meanwhile, a report from the Government Accountability Office said the Treasury Department and the IRS should do more to get funding to those who havent yet received the first round of stimulus checks from the CARES Act.

The IRS is sending special letters this week to nearly 9 million people who may be eligible for a payment.

The letters urge recipients to use the Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info tool on the IRS' website before Oct. 15 to register for a payment, which would be sent by the end of the year.

More than 200,000 of the letters will be sent to New Jerseyans.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Karin Price Mueller may be reached at KPriceMueller@NJAdvanceMedia.com.
Bug enters juniper tree roots, it starves them of nutrients and turns them bronze

spreads through trees whose berries used to make gin

Gin in the UK is now under threat

It is a trendy tipple which has seen sales soar in recent years.

But now UK gin is under threat  from a bug which attacks juniper trees.

The fungus-like pathogen spreads through the trees whose berries are used to make gin.

British gin sales reached a new record in 2019, with 83million bottles worth more than 2.6billion sold. The industry notched up a further 672million of exports.

However, scientists have warned of the threat posed by the Phytophthora austrocedri pathogen  thought to have been introduced to the UK in the 1990s.

UK gin is under threat from the fungus-like Phytophthora austrocedri pathogen which spreads through juniper trees whose berries are used to make gin. (Stock image)

Once it enters the roots of juniper trees, it starves them of nutrients, turning them bronze and potentially killing them in months. The trees are already under threat from loss of habitat.

Experts from Forest Research, Exeter University and Scotland's Rural College have voiced their fears. Dr Sarah Green, of Forest Research, part of the Forestry Commission, said UK gin had become 'very fashionable'.

But she added: 'This British gin market could be under threat from...Phytophthora austrocedri.

'We are also very worried about juniper trees because they are one of only three conifer species native to the UK.'

The pathogen is said to be an 'aggressive tree-killer' which lives in soil and thrives in water-logged conditions.

British gin sales reached a new record in 2019, with 83million bottles worth more than 2.6billion sold. (Stock image)

In the worst-affected areas 50 to 60 per cent of trees can be wiped out. It is thought to have been introduced to many woodlands by well-meaning conservationists trying to increase juniper numbers by planting nursery specimens in the wild.

In nurseries, the junipers can become infected with the pathogen from imported plants.

Most juniper berries come from Scotland, which is home to 70 per cent of the trees. However, in a ray of hope, researchers have found that some trees appear to be resistant to the pathogen, which cannot spread through their roots.
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Michael Gove today revealed lorry drivers will need permits to access Kent or face police action as part of a Government plan to avoid post-Brexit border gridlock.

The Minister for the Cabinet Office this afternoon outlined the Government's 'reasonable worst-case scenario planning assumptions' for what could happen at the border when the Brexit transition period comes to an end in January.

He said that if large numbers of businesses are not prepared for new EU export paperwork then it could result in a queue of 7,000 lorries in Dover.

But he insisted it was not a prediction or a forecast but what could happen if preparations are not made and 'if our neighbours decline to be pragmatic'.

Michael Gove today revealed lorry drivers will need a permit to access Kent under post-Brexit border arrangements

Mr Gove said work is ongoing to prevent such a scenario as he was told by Tory former Cabinet minister Damian Green that it would 'send a chill' through people who live in the south east of England.

Mr Gove said he hoped proposals to introduce a 'Kent access permit' would prevent such gridlock.

Speaking in the Commons, Mr Gove said: 'That system has been developed, it's being shared with business and we want to make sure that people use a relatively simple process in order to get what will become known as a 'Kent-access permit', which means that they can then proceed smoothly through Kent because they do have the material required.

'If they don't have the material required then it'll be the case that through policing, ANPR (automatic number-plate recognition) cameras and other means that we'll do our very best to ensure his constituents are not inconvenienced.'

Mr Green, the MP for Ashford, had told Mr Gove: 'The prospect of 7,000 trucks queuing to cross the Channel will send a chill through my constituents because we know what effect that has on all the roads in Kent and it's disastrous.'

Labour former minister Kevin Brennan also told the Commons: '7,000 HGVs parked end-to-end would stretch from this building to Dover. That's the scale of the problem the Secretary of State is setting out.

'Where are the 29 extra lorry parks going to be? His statement seems to be all about passing the blame on to business for the chaos being caused by his Government.'

Mr Gove denied this was the case and highlighted sites in Kent and at other locations where money has been invested.

He said: 'Should there be specific areas of traffic management in Kent that we need to deal with, steps have been taken with the Kent Resilience Forum to do just that.'

Mr Gove's 'reasonable worst-case scenario' was based on a significant number of businesses not being prepared for new border arrangements next year.

He said: 'The scenario builds on an estimate that only 50 per cent to 70 per cent of large businesses and just 20 per cent to 40 per cent of small and medium-size enterprises would be ready for the strict application of new EU requirements.

Mr Gove said that under a 'reasonable worst-case scenario' border chaos could result in a queue of 7,000 HGVs in south east England

'In those circumstances that could mean between only 30 per cent and 60 per cent of laden HGVs would arrive at the border with the necessary formalities completed for the goods on board.

'They'd therefore be turned back by the French border authorities, clogging the Dover to Calais crossing.'

Mr Gove said this could lead to queues of 'up to 7,000 HGVs in Kent', adding: 'These queues and associated disruption and delay would of course subside as unready businesses who had their goods turned back at the French border would not want to repeat the experience.

'But it is clearly far better that everyone is aware now of what is needed to prepare rather than to face additional disruption next year.'
A total of about 39 million people have already visited the virtual voting information centres on Facebook and Instagram. (Representative Image | AFP)

New York: Facebook is launching a new initiative this week to encourage Americans to vote in the upcoming presidential election, the latest effort by the social network to prove it is a responsible player on the internet.

The tech titan will kick off Monday a massive campaign encouraging people to visit its virtual voting information centers where they can look up how to register to vote, how to vote by mail or how to volunteer to work at polling stations on Election Day.

The marketing campaign will be broadcast on major US television and radio channels, as well as online news outlets.

Since Saturday, Facebook has shared similar information on its app, as well as the apps for Instagram and Messenger, both of which it owns.

The Silicon Valley giant is also planning to stream an hour-long program Tuesday called Vote-A-Thon 2020. The special will feature celebrities and public figures and will urge people to register and vote.

Facebook estimated that it has already helped 2.5 million people register to vote.

We have more work to do to reach our goal of helping more than 4 million people register this year, but were pleased with the progress were making to help people use their voices to vote, Facebook said in a statement.

A total of about 39 million people have already visited the virtual voting information centres on Facebook and Instagram.

With this latest push, Facebook is seeking to show that it is no longer a means of massive disinformation as it was ahead of major votes in 2016, notably the US presidential election and the Brexit referendum in the United Kingdom.

Both polls were plagued by disguised disinformation campaigns mainly orchestrated out of Russia.

For instance, Facebook announced at the start of September that no new political ads would be shared on its platform in the week leading up to the US presidential election on November 3.

Like other internet giants, over the past few months Facebook has increased its number of reports about thwarted cyber attacks and dismantled disinformation operations.

Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter.
Google is hosting an online event on September 30 where we can expect the Google Pixel 5 launch alongside new Chromecast and Nest audio devices. Ahead of the Google event, Pixel 5 specifications have been leaked.

Google Pixel 5 specifications (leaked)

Leaked Google Pixel 5 specs suggest that the Android flagship smartphone from Google will be a premium mid-range offering. The Google Pixel 5 specifications leaked by WinFuture reveal that the smartphone will sport a 6-inch 90Hz display and have a 432PPI with a 19.5:9 aspect ratio. The screen will also come with a layer of Gorilla Glass 6.

Like the Pixel 4a, Google Pixel 5 will have thin bezels and a hole-punch cutout on the upper left corner of the screen. The phone is said to be made of 100 percent recycled aluminium and will have an IP68 certification for water and dust resistance.

Under the hood, Google Pixel 5 will have a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G processor for 5G connectivity, coupled with 8GB RAM and 128GB memory. The Pixel 5 will also launch a 4,080mAh battery that supports wireless charging with a reverse-power capability.

In terms of optics, Pixel 5 will sport a dual-camera setup on the back with a 12.2MP main camera and a 16MP wide-angle camera has a 107-degree FOV with f/2.2. This camera setup will support 4K 60FPS and 1080p 240FPS video recording. For selfies, there will be an 8MP front camera.

Pixel 5 is likely to run on Android 11 out-of-the-box.

The pricing details will be unveiled at the Google Pixel 5 launch event. Google has confirmed that the Pixel 5 will not launch in India
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Each day, RTL reaches over 300,000 people in Luxembourg.

Today TNS-ILRES published the latest figures of the plurimedia study carried out between September 2019 and June 2020 (including the Corona period in spring 2020). The plurimedia study was conducted among 4,000 residents aged 15 and over.

Key figures about the study in Luxembourg

RTL is the country's leading media brand: every day, RTL (Radio, TV and digital platforms) reaches 307,300 residents. A new record for RTL!

During a one week period RTL Tele Letzebuerg* is the media which achieves the best coverage rate (54.9%), ahead of RTL.lu (52.8%) and RTL Radio Letzebuerg (50.9)%.

Altogether the RTL media account for 78.5% of Luxembourg's population each week, which means we reach some 413,100 people in all.

RTL.lu (including RTL Today & RTL 5minutes.lu) attracts 187,900 users per day (35.7% of the pop. 15+). This score makes it the most popular media in Luxembourg (based on daily coverage).

RTL Tele Letzebuerg* is by far the most watched TV channel in Luxembourg: its programs are enjoyed by 153,000 viewers every day.

RTL Radio Letzebuerg confirms its position as the leading radio station in Luxembourg. The generalist station's audience share reached 34.8% among the 15+ population.

The whole team of RTL Luxembourg thanks you for your continued trust.

* Including "RTL ZWEE and RTL TV via Internet.
Veolia, a leading designer and provider of water, waste and energy management solutions, said it has secured a major contract from Baladna, Qatars leading dairy producer, to upgrade the existing wastewater treatment facility at its cow farm located in Al Khor, north of Doha.

A global leader in optimised resource management, Veolia said the contract was awarded by Baladna to Veolia Water Technologies Qatar.

Baladnas cow farm is one of the biggest in the GCC with its barn and milk parlour flushing area generating around 6,000 cu m of wastewater per day.

As part of the wastewater treatment plant upgrade, Veolia modified and optimised the treatment performance of the existing lagoons and provided a complementary biological process to meet the treated effluent quality necessary for reuse.

The treated water can now be reused for irrigation within the farm and, following further treatment by reverse osmosis, to spray and cool the cows during hot summer months.

An audit and analytical monitoring of the site prior to the works showed that the existing wastewater lagoon arrangement had hydraulic issues which resulted in relatively poor performance, said the French water management specialist.

The existing lagoons were also operated without any aeration, contrary to the initial design.

Through the upgrade of the existing lagoon system, Veolia optimised its process performance to meet Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and Total Suspended Solids (TSS) removal between 80% to 92%, it stated.

Veolia Water Technologies Middle East CEO Thierry Froment said: "Baladna is actively participating in the Qatar National Food Security Program (QNFSP)."

"We are immensely proud to assist them in achieving their ambition to grow their business and help them do so in a more sustainable way through water reuse," stated Froment.

According to him, Veolia's proprietary technologies will allow an increase in the treatment capacity of the plant and enable the treated wastewater to be reused for the sites purposes.

To further treat the effluent, a two-stage AnoxKaldnes Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) process was provided with complete sieve and aeration grid arrangement.

The MBBR process uses microorganisms for biological treatment of wastewater and allows for high treatment capacity in a small footprint, he added.

On its tie-up with Veolia, Baladna Managing Director Ramez Al Khayyat said: "Our commitment to sustainability is to create a long-lasting difference in Qatar."

"The holistic approach to reuse treated wastewater is a key development for our companys sustainable goals, and we are enthusiastic to be at the tip of technological breakthrough for the best interest of our products and consumers," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
NEW YORK: The Metropolitan Opera will skip an entire season for the first time in its nearly 140-year history and intends to return from the pandemic layoff next September with the companys first presentation of a Black composer, Terence Blanchards Fire Shut Up in My Bones.

This season was to have started this week, but the company announced June 1 it had pushed back opening night until Dec. 31. In all, 218 performances of 23 operas were lost, raising total cancellations to 276 since the 2019-20 season was cut short by the novel coronavirus on March 12. The orchestras international tour next June also was wiped out.

Met General Manager Peter Gelb said additional losses projected at $54 million raise the total for the company to $154 million since the pandemic started. I think that all of the performing arts in New York are in the same boat, he said.

Fire Shut Up in My Bones a jazz work that premiered at the Opera Theater of Saint Louis in June 2019, is to open Sept. 27, 2021, starting a season that extends to June 11, 2022, and includes six new productions.

In the midst of this pause, weve had tragedies, not only with the COVID deaths but obviously with the police brutality and everything thats been going on, and its given us time to sit back and reflect, the 62-year-old Blanchard said Tuesday from his childhood home in New Orleans. And a lot of people are starting to really come to terms with issues that theyre avoided or issues that they dont have time to deal with. A lot of people are really starting to open their eyes to some things.

This is a telling moment in our country when we have all of these institutions that are trying to create awareness and trying to move the needle, and its really going to come down, obviously, to legislation and see what happens there.

The Met will also present three new contemporary works in a season for the first time since 1928-29, including Matthew Aucoins Eurydice, which debuted at the LA Opera last February; and Brett Deans Hamlet, which premiered at Britains Glyndebourne Festival in June 2017.

Fire Shut Up in My Bones features a libretto by Kasi Lemmons based on a memoir of The New York Times columnist Charles Blow that includes themes of molestation and sexual identify.

Fire Shut Up in My Bones stars Angel Blue, Latonia Moore and Will Liverman and be conducted by Yannick Nzet-Sguin, who was to have started his first fully scheduled season as Met music director in 2020-21. James Robinson and Camille A. Brown direct.

The earliest we thought we could schedule it was in the 23-24 season, Gelb said. Given the huge upheaval and social change that is taking place in America right now, it seemed wholly appropriate that when we come back after missing an entire season we should open with this opera.

The Met also added three Black composers, Valerie Coleman, Jessie Montgomery and Joel Thompson, to its commissioning program with Lincoln Center Theater and hired Rashid Johnson, a Black American visual artist, to create large-scale artworks for display inside the house during the 2021-22 season.

Tickets for 2021-22 will go on sale Oct. 12 and Gelb hopes people will role over their tickets from 2020-21 rather than seek refunds. He also hopes for early negotiations to revise contracts that expire next summer with The American Guild of Musical Artists, which represents the chorus, and Local 802 of the American Federation of Musicians, which represents the orchestra.

The Met intends to shorten some of its presentations when it returns and start more performances at 7 p.m.

We cant resume performing until the pandemic is over with a vaccine thats widely available and herd immunity having been achieved, and even then the audience is going to return slowly, Gelb said. One of the things that we have to mind going forward is a way with our unionized employees, new economic arrangements that the company can afford going forward."

Eurydice stars Erin Morley in a Mary Zimmerman staging conducted by Nzet-Sguin that opens Nov. 23, 2021. Hamlet stars Allan Clayton, Brenda Rae and Rod Gilfry in a Neil Armfield staging that opens May 13, 2022.

Nzet-Sguin conducts five productions, including the Met premiere of the French five-act version of Verdis Don Carlos in a David McVicar staging starring Gnther Groissbck and Sonya Yoncheva that opens Feb. 28, 2022.

Bart Shers staging of Verdis Rigoletto, which opened in Berlin in June 2019, starts Dec. 31, 2021, with Quinn Kelsey. A Simon Stone staging of Donizettis Lucia di Lammermoor begins April 23, 2022, with Nadine Sierra and Javier Camarena. A Verdi Requiem marks the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
He started his new role as co-host of Studio 10 alongside Sarah Harris last Monday.

And on Wednesday, Tristan MacManus admitted his job 'has been a bit difficult to get used to' because only recently he was working as a landscaper.

The Irish dancer, 38, told The Kyle and Jackie O Show: 'It has been a bit difficult to get used to... I was labouring and now I have a suit on and I'm getting paid well.'

'Now I have a suit on!' New Studio 10 host Tristan MacManus (pictured) has revealed he was working as a labourer in the months before landing his role on the breakfast show

The husband of Australian actress Tahyna Tozzi explained that he'd turned to labouring in March after the coronavirus pandemic left him without work.

'I'd been breaking my a**e for the last couple months landscaping when my work got cancelled,' he said.

The Dancing with the Stars judge made his debut on Studio 10 last Monday, less than a week after former co-host Joe Hildebrand revealed he was leaving the show.

From shrubs to suits: Tristan (pictured with his co-host Sarah Harris) told The Kyle and Jackie O Show on Wednesday that his role 'has been a bit difficult to get used to' because only recently he was working as a landscaper

Joe's position on the morning talk show had been up in the air ever since Channel 10 announced its latest round of redundancies last month.

But many viewers have criticised the revamped version and are now calling for Joe, 44, to return to breakfast program alongside Sarah.

'I think this is the death of Studio 10. I don't find that MacManus bloke very appealing it's actually very boring,' one person tweeted last week.

Replacement: The Dancing with the Stars judge made his debut on Studio 10 last Monday, less than a week after former co-host Joe Hildebrand (pictured) revealed he was leaving the show

'I'm not watching Studio 10 without Joe,' another commented, while a third viewer added: 'Joe we need you back on Studio 10 pronto.'

Channel 10 also reportedly made the decision to disable comments on the show's social media accounts after viewers criticised the new format.

According to TV Blackbox, hundreds of negative comments were deleted from Studio 10's Instagram and Facebook pages last Monday.
Figure 1

Concession with central caldera shaped area and old workings

Concession with central caldera shaped area and old workings

TORONTO, Sept. 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Q-Gold Resources Ltd (TSXV: QGR) (Q-Gold or the Company) is pleased to announce its 2020-2021 exploration program at its newly-acquired option at the Surupana property (the Surupana Property) in the silver-rich Altiplano region of southern Peru in the Puno province near Lake Titicaca. The Surupana Property houses an estimated twelve historical mine workings, which were focused on high-grade silver, copper and lead mineralisation.



The region of the Altiplano host several mines and exploration projects targeting porphyries and epithermal vein deposits as well as skarn and carbon-replacement deposits. The Surupana Property is approximately 50 km south of Minsurs San Rafael Tin mine.

This exploration program will integrate historical data and previous sampling exercises to focus on historical anomalies. These will be tested by soil sampling and positive results by additional geophysics such as Induced Polarity surveys (IP Surveys). The resulting targets will eventually be drill tested.

The Surupana Property provides Q-Gold investors with exposure to a second precious metal and jurisdiction. With historical vein mining and soil sampling indicating the existence of high-grade silver veins, this property presents an attractive silver option to Q-Gold investors, comments Evan Veryard, Chief Executive Officer of Q-Gold. This exploration program will confirm the Surupana Propertys potential and generate meaningful results to guide future exploration.

About the Surupana Exploration Program

The objective of this exploration program is to extend the companys understanding of the Surupana Property, identify anomalies and confirm targets, and conduct an initial drill campaign to confirm the mineralization and grades around the projects main Surupana Bowl Zone.

The mineralisation of the Altiplano region is historically described by epithermal veins, and on the Surupana Property more specifically, intermediate sulphidation veins. Previous rock sampling indicated a uniform soil geochemistry with moderate Silver and Copper values (0.9-15 ppm Ag, 68-2,500 ppm Cu) dispersed across the entire 950m x 850m area suggesting the potential for a silver and base metal bulk-tonnage exploration target.

Story continues

The Surupana Property exploration program will be executed in three phases:

1. Soil Sampling Campaign



Previous reconnaissance rock sampling in the historical underground drifts revealed silver values with highlights between 1,050 g/t to 3,400 g/t. These underground drifts are described as consisting of 3 levels with a total of 300 m of drifts pursuing a vertically dipping vein structure.

The above results were indicative of a silver and base metal bulk-tonnage exploration target as noted above. The initial soil sampling campaign on surface will consequently concentrate on the central area which form a caldera shape and contains the historical workings (Fig. 1). Geological mapping will precede the soil sampling to avoid missing narrow veins with a large sampling grid.

A US$ 250,000 geological mapping and sampling program with 25 m stations will be implemented across this historical area to confirm these findings and locate the actual mineralised veins. Further, there are extensive areas of untested rock alteration and surface gossans that will be included in this sampling exercise.

Figure 1: Concession with central caldera shaped area and old workings

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4a7892d5-e01a-4d8f-b64f-9a2169ca6bcd

2. IP Geophysics



A IP geophysics survey will be conducted over the resulting soil geochemistry anomalies and the caldera area to further refine the target zones. Based on the expected depth penetration, a 50 m or 100 m line spacing will be selected, and with the goal of covering 4 square kilometres. The initial estimated budget for this IP Survey is approximately US$ 100,000.

3. Inaugural Drill Campaign



Once the soil sampling and the IP survey have defined the targets, these will be followed up with diamond drilling to better define the 3D continuity of the geological model with respect to the subtleties of epithermal veins, which are commonly thickening and thinning along strike and dip. We also aim at a first estimate of grade and potential tonnage.

About the Surupana Property

The Surupana Property consists of 3,306 hectares covering the historical Surupana Silver Mining Camp, located in central Puno province of southern Peru. The projects main Surupana Bowl Zone reports an estimated twelve ancient mine workings, where sporadic small-scale surface pitting & underground mining, carried out during the 1960s to late 1970s focused on high-grade silver, copper and lead mineralization.

Of particular note is the small past producing Supay Huasi Silver mine, where three short horizontal adits exploited a metre-scale vertical structure where a chip sample with a value of 3,400 g/t Ag over a width of 0.4 m was reported.

The Surupana Property is favorably located with paved and dirt road access; a national airport 100 km south at Juliaca (population: 270,000); and 830 km south east of Lima. It is proximal to Bear Creek Minings Corani bulk tonnage Silver-Lead-Zinc development stage project (90 km northwest) and Minsurs San Rafael high-grade Tin Mine (50 km northwest).

Qualified Persons

The scientific and technical information contained in this press release has been reviewed, prepared and approved by Dr. Andreas Rompel, PhD, Pr. Sci. Nat. (400274/04), FSAIMM, Vice President Exploration of Q-Gold, who is a "Qualified Person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101").

About Q-Gold Resources Ltd.

Q-Gold is a publicly traded Canada-based mineral exploration company targeting high-grade gold and silver discoveries in multiple jurisdictions. Q-Gold is currently exploring for gold at the past-producing Foley Gold Mine in Mine Centre, Ontario and for silver at the Surupana Property in the silver-rich altiplano region of Peru.

For further information, contact:

Evan Veryard

Chief Executive Officer

+1 416 571 9037

evan.veryard@qgoldresources.com

Website: www.qgoldresurces.com

Cautionary Notes

Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding the Companys work plans, the Companys exploration plans and budgets for the Surupana Property and the Companys 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. In particular, the company cautions that the completion of the proposed acquisitions cannot be predicted with certainty, and that there can be no assurance at this time that the proposed acquisitions will be completed in the manner noted above or at all. These forward-looking statements reflect management's current views and are based on certain expectations, estimates and assumptions which may prove to be incorrect. A number of risks and uncertainties could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, as well as other factors beyond the Company's control. The Company does not undertake to update any forward looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.




Companies must be prepared for delays, Mr Gove said - PA

Ministers have warned of 7,000 truck-long queues in Kent after the Brexit transition period ends as a worst-case scenario if hauliers fail to prepare for changes to customs rules.

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Michael Gove, responsible for no-deal planning, has written to logistics groups with the Government's "reasonable worst-case scenario" planning, which warns of possible two-day delays for cargo travelling to France in January.

Mr Gove is due to outline the scenario work, which the Cabinet Office stressed is not a forecast, in the Commons on Wednesday.

It comes as the European Union's chief negotiator Michel Barnier prepares to travel to London for further informal talks with his counterpart Lord Frost as efforts continue to strike a post-Brexit trade deal.

But in the document sent to logistics associations, which has been seen by Press Association, Mr Gove warned that changes were coming with or without a deal.

Michael Gove is in charge of no-deal planning - GETTY IMAGES

The transition period, which kept the UK aligned to the EU's single market and customs union rules to allow trade to flow smoothly after Brexit, expires at the end of the year unless both sides agree to an extension - something Boris Johnson has ruled out.

The Cabinet Office document states that, in its reasonable worst-case scenario, between 30-50 per cent of trucks crossing the Channel will not be ready for the new regulations coming into force on January 1 2021, while a "lack of capacity to hold unready trucks at French ports" could reduce the flow of traffic across the strait to 60-80 per cent of normal levels.

"This could lead to maximum queues of 7,000 port bound trucks in Kent and associated maximum delays of up to two days," the documents said.

Such delays could be in place for at least three months, hauliers have been warned, as alternative routes are sought and supply chains get to grips with the new systems and requirements.

In his letter, Mr Gove said: "Irrespective of the outcome of negotiations between the UK and EU, traders will face new customs controls and processes.

Story continues

"Simply put, if traders, both in the UK and EU, have not completed the right paperwork, their goods will be stopped when entering the EU and disruption will occur.

"It is essential that traders act now and get ready for new formalities."

But sector chiefs have accused the Government of failing to do enough in recent weeks over the threat of post-Brexit border delays.

Logistics UK, formerly the Freight Transport Association, was seething last week after being told the Government's Smart Freight system - designed to reduce the risk of cargo delays once Britain is outside of EU rules - would still be in testing mode in January when British exports face new border regulations.

The Road Haulage Association (RHA), meanwhile, said their meeting on Thursday with Mr Gove had fallen "far short of our expectations".

Responding to the worst-case scenario document, RHA chief executive Richard Burnett said: "We've been consistently warning the Government that there will be delays at ports but they're just not engaging with industry on coming up with solutions.

"Traders need 50,000 more customs intermediaries to handle the mountain of new paperwork after transition but Government support to recruit and train those extra people is woefully inadequate.

"The answers to the questions that we raised in our letter to Mr Gove and subsequent roundtable meeting last Thursday still remain unanswered - and our concern continues to grow."

A UK Government spokesman said: "With just 100 days to go until the end of the transition period it's vital that businesses prepare now for new rules that will come into force at the end of the year, so that they can hit the ground running on January 1 2021 and seize new opportunities.

"As a responsible Government we continue to make extensive preparations for a wide range of scenarios, including the reasonable worst case.

"This is not a forecast or prediction of what will happen but rather a stretching scenario."
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Sunny skies this morning will become overcast during the afternoon. High 38F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low around 20F. SW winds shifting to NW at 10 to 20 mph.
LANSING -- State lawmakers are exploring a new task force aimed at combating flooding and soil erosion, a problem that Michigan has been experiencing most recently with Great Lakes water levels hitting record heights this past spring and summer.

But flooding in Michigan isnt a new problem, nor is it limited to the Great Lakes coastline, said bill sponsor, Rep. Jack OMalley, R-Lake Ann.

Flooding to Michigan is like hurricanes to Florida, earthquakes to California. They happen," he said during a Sept. 23 committee hearing on House Bill 5485. Its not if, its when.

Related: Chronic flooding plagues Michigan inland lakes

The task force would have to, among other things, conduct a review of weather data as it relates to previous flooding events in Michigan and the response by lakeshore counties and communities, to address and mitigate flooding events and soil erosion. It would also have to work with residents and professionals from surrounding Great Lakes states to learn how they have responded to flooding events and soil erosion. And every year prepare a report for the state House and Senate with recommendations for legislation related to the environment, water, and natural resources.

The state Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) isnt on board with the plan. Thats in part because the administration opposes councils and boards created by the Legislature instead of the executive branch, said Travis Boeskool, department analyst for EGLE.

Director of Water Resources for EGLE, Teresa Seidel, said the department has been working and devoting resources to the issue, including issuing approximately 2,500 permits for work along the Great Lakes shoreline and more than 1,000 permits on inland waterways. On average, she said, the department issues about 500 permits for this type of work.

[We] generally agree that better decision making and planning will be critical to ensuring that Michigan is better prepared in the next high water emergency, she said. So even though EGLE does not support the bill well be working collaboratively with the stakeholders in the coming months and years to assure better outcomes when it does.

Seidel said the state also has a coastal management unit that works with communities because a lot of changes have to happen around local planning and zoning issues.

Michigans shorelines have been feeling the impacts of a high Great Lakes levels and flooding on inland lakes. The lakes have flooded city streets, washed out state highways, inundated sewer systems, reconfigured state parks, erased beaches, eroded bluffs from underneath homes and turned seawall construction into a booming business.

While levels on Lakes Michigan and Huron have already peaked for the year, the threat of beach erosion along the shoreline will continue. According to federal and local officials, fall storms will have the potential to eat away at the shore up and down Michigans west coast because of the high water level that broke records earlier this year.

The latest six-month forecast published in August by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers estimates water levels will continue to decline throughout the fall and winter, as is usual for the lakes during those seasons.

Still, water levels are expected to measure about 2.5 feet higher than the long-term average throughout the next six months, according to the forecasts middle trend line.

You have a leaky roof. When it rains, you should fix it, but when its not raining, you dont think about it, so you dont get your up roof fixed, said OMalley in an analogy about Michigans flooding and erosion problem.

Then it rains, you remember Oh gosh, we have a leaky roof. Michigan has had high water situations. Currently. 1920. Weve had them back in 86. Weve had them in 73. Weve had them in 52, and weve had them in 1930. Weve had a leaky roof, but the state never really looks at it.

The task force would consist of 11 members appointed by the governor and include members of various departments like the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) as well as county, city, and township representatives for areas on the Great Lakes. All members would serve without compensation.

Each member of the task force would have to have education or experience in at least one of the following areas: emergency management for Michigan; road erosion management or prevention; Great Lakes management or conservation; water management, coastal, environmental, water resources, or structural engineering; or land use or zoning.

The point of the task force is to focus on the long term, and thats something the state needs, said Rep. Sara Cambensy D-Marquette.

This is going to be something the state of Michigan just cannot simply manage, she said. And I think getting ahead of it earlier, is better, and I would just again ask that the department, just think long term on this because I really think we need help.

More From MLive:

Michigan House moves to lift ticket scalping ban

MichMash: President Trumps uneven track record with the Great Lakes has environmentalists worried

Trump casts self as Great Lakes champion, but his policies may do lasting damage

Michigan dam break shows need to plan for changing climate

Flood insurance: Can you get it now and how does it work?

Shoreline towns struggle to survive high water

1, 2, 3 punch of rain overwhelms soggy Michigan
"In this unique time, being flexible with schedules and offering other non-traditional benefits in addition to a healthy company culture goes a long way." - Express CEO Bill Stoller

Compared to 2019, little more than half of U.S. hiring decision-makers (52%) expect wages to increase in the last quarter of 2020 at their companies, according to a new survey from The Harris Poll commissioned by Express Employment Professionals.

This is a steep decline from PayScales 2020 Compensation Best Practices Survey (conducted from November 2019 to January 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the U.S.) in which 82% of respondents gave base pay increases in 2019 and 85% planned to give base pay increases in 2020.

Among those hiring decision-makers who expect wages to increase, around half say the increases will be performance-based (53%) or standard cost of living (51%), while 36% say the increased wages will be market pay rates.

As states continue to relax COVID-19 restrictions, Express experts say the demand for labor, particularly in manufacturing, is indeed driving pay rate increases and retention bonuses.

The wage increases in our area are all driven by supply and demand, said Jan Riggins, general manager of two Fort Worth, Texas, Express franchises. Companies simply cannot fill their positions with wages that are not competitive in our current market.

In Andover, Massachusetts, Express franchise owner John Dickey says theres a major shortage of industrial workers for manufacturing and warehouses in his market.

Businesses are not only raising the base hourly wage but paying combat bonuses to keep people on the job, he said. If a company hasnt raised its pay rate, it will struggle to find workers in todays market.

Regarding traditional benefit offerings such as medical insurance and 401K matching, one-third of U.S. hiring decision-makers (33%) expect their companys benefits to increase this year and more than half (53%) expect these to hold consistent from 2019. Only 10% of U.S. hiring decision-makers expect their companys benefit offerings to decrease.

Entering the last, and usually busiest, part of the year, Riggins expects some companies to increase benefits simply due to the tight labor market and increased competition.

Ive also seen more remote work opportunities than ever before, she added.

David Robb, Director of Operations at the Grand Rapids, Michigan, Express franchise says he expects companies to either keep benefits the same or decrease them due to the financial hardships of the year. However, clients are offering more flexible benefits to accommodate situations that may arise at home due to the pandemic.

For more professional positions, many companies are still working from home and new team members are even starting off working at home, he said. Companies are also providing more flexibility than ever before as kids start returning to school, or in many cases, participate in virtual learning at home.

While wages and benefits are incredibly important for recruiting and retention, Express CEO Bill Stoller says employees often stay at companies for the full employment experience.

Even when money is tight, employees need to know their efforts are appreciated, he said. In this unique time, being flexible with schedules and offering other non-traditional benefits in addition to a healthy company culture goes a long way.

Survey Methodology

The survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Express Employment Professionals between April 21 and May 6, 2020, among 1,005 U.S. hiring decision-makers (defined as adults ages 18+ in the U.S. who are employed full-time or self-employed or have been laid off, furloughed, or given a zero hour schedule in the past 60 days but worked full-time or were self-employed full-time prior, work at companies with more than 1 employee, and have full/significant involvement in hiring decisions at their company). Data were weighted where necessary by company size to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population.

If you would like to arrange for an interview with Bill Stoller to discuss this topic, please contact Sheena Karami, Director of Corporate Communications and PR, at (405) 717-5966.

About Bill Stoller

William H. "Bill" Stoller is chairman and chief executive officer of Express Employment Professionals. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, the international staffing company has more than 825 franchises in the U.S., Canada and South Africa, and beginning in 2020 will expand to Australia and New Zealand. Since its inception, Express has put more than 8 million people to work worldwide.

About Express Employment Professionals

At Express Employment Professionals, were in the business of people. From job seekers to client companies, Express helps people thrive and businesses grow. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, OK, our international network of franchises offers localized staffing solutions to the communities they serve, employing 552,000 people across North America in 2019. For more information, visit http://www.ExpressPros.com.
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
The agency's poor track record in convictions is the only light at the end of a rather long tunnel for the couple, notes Shyamal Majumdar.

IMAGE: Former ICICI Bank CEO Chanda Kochhar and her husband Deepak Kochhar arrive at the Enforcement Directorate office in New Delhi in connection with an alleged bank loan fraud and money laundering case probe. Photograph: ANI Photo

After reluctantly resigning from ICICI Bank in October 2018, Chanda Kochhar would often tell the rapidly dwindling number of people who still met her that she had a problem with the mindset of Indians towards professionally successful couples.

Nobody, she would say, seemed to believe that a wife or a husband could keep the sensitive details of their professional work secret from each other.

The hint was loud and clear: She and her husband never discussed business and had no clue of each other's commercial decisions.

Essentially, she was trying to rubbish the quid pro quo theory when Videocon Industries owner Venugopal Dhoot invested in her husband's firm, NuPower, through his firm Supreme Energy.

The Enforcement Directorate obviously thinks Kochhar's 'professional secrecy' story is bogus.

The duo not only kept close track of each other's business dealings; they were illegal beneficiaries, too, via alleged cheating and criminal conspiracy, the ED has alleged.

The recent arrest of Deepak Kochhar and his subsequent remand was the culmination of the investigating agency lodging a case of money laundering against the Kochhars and Dhoot to probe alleged irregularities and corrupt practices in sanctioning of Rs 1,875 crore loans by ICICI Bank to the corporate group.

The ED has also alleged that the ownership of NuPower and Supreme Energy changed hands through a complex web of shared transactions between Deepak Kochhar and Dhoot.

Despite the strong accusations, the Kochhars's best hope of getting out of this mess is the ED itself. It's a massive irony, but the agency's poor track record in convictions is the only light at the end of a rather long tunnel for the couple.

Consider the evidence: Under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the agency has managed only 15 convictions in the past 14 years, which is barely one conviction every year since it got the mandate for investigations under the PMLA in 2005.

While the inordinate delays in the judiciary system is part of the problem, that alone can't explain the abysmal track record of one of the country's premier agencies.

A large number of ED's decisions have been struck down by the PMLA tribunal itself.

The latest evidence of this was ED's decision to attach Nirav Modi's properties which were mortgaged/hypothecated with a consortium of banks led by ICICI Bank. Ordering release of the properties, the tribunal in September last year slammed the ED for 'inadequate investigation' into the case.

The tribunal also termed the ED decision a 'mala fide afterthought and desperate attempt to improve its case' at the appellate stage.

Criticising the ED's argument, the tribunal said 'reason to believe cannot be subjective satisfaction of the officer concerned. It is not an arbitrary power which can be mechanically exercised'.

Two years before that, the then revenue secretary Hasmukh Adhia had also expressed concern over the 'very poor' conviction rate in money-laundering cases. The ED's job, he said, was not only to file prosecution complaints but also to improve the conviction rate drastically.

One of the valid reasons for this sorry state of affairs is of course the staff shortage at ED. The staff strength is less than half the sanctioned capacity.

For example, in the money laundering case against Karnataka Congress leader D K Shivakumar, the ED law officer did not appear in the Delhi high court to argue against his bail plea. When asked by the court, the law officer's colleague said he was busy in a district court and would take some time, riling the judge.

But staff shortage is just one part of the problem. Given the increasing complexity of economic crimes, the quality of manpower is another serious issue. After all, decoding a money trail is the job of specialists.

Also, the agency needs to improve its infrastructure capacity. ED has less than 50 offices across the country, while the Central Bureau of Investigation has more than 100 offices.

That's surprising, considering that the Modi government has widened the ED's ambit. It has entrusted the agency to enforce the new Fugitive Economic Offenders law, 2018, which gives it powers to confiscate property both within and outside India of fugitive economic offenders -- whether or not the properties have been purchased from proceeds of crime.

It also covers a wide array of white collar offences that can lead to an individual being classified as an economic offender.

The current government has also introduced a special incentive allowance -- a long pending demand of the agency's officials to bring them on a par with their counterparts in the CBI.

Many observers say the ED has improved its performance in the recent past in terms of the variety of the cases it has started handling. But no such 'variety' will inspire confidence till the conviction rate improves.

Just high profile arrests, subsequent bails, and then a prolonged period of inactivity after the TV cameras switch off have become too repetitive, strengthening the chorus of witch-hunting against the agency.

ED has to show more closures of the cases to prove that it means business.

Till that happens, the Kochhars can live on hope.
By Akbar Mammadov

President Ilham Aliyev has described Ukraine as Azerbaijans strategic partner in a phone conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky on September 22, the presidents website has reported.

During the phone conversation initiated by Zelensky, the presidents underlined the two countries support to each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Aliyev informed his Ukrainian counterpart of Armenia's military provocation against Azerbaijan.

Zelensky reminded Aliyev that Azerbaijan was identified as Ukraine's strategic partner according to the country's new National Security Strategy.

The presidents also spoke about expanding cooperation between the two countries in the fields of energy, transport, investment, aviation, agriculture, tourism, humanitarian and sports. They spoke about the measures taken in Ukraine and Azerbaijan to combat the pandemic.

On September 15, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree to endorse the National Security Strategy of the country. The strategy included Azerbaijan in the list of strategic partner states for Ukraine. According to the document, Turkey, Georgia and Lithuania are also strategic partners for Ukraine.

Following this, on September 17, Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry said Azerbaijan firmly supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders. Kyiv had also voiced support to Baku over Armenias cross-border military provocation near Azerbaijans Tovuz region that killed 12 Azerbaijani servicemen and a civilian.

Azerbaijans support for Ukraine is not new. On 28 July, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry expressed its firm support for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. It was said in the statement that "Azerbaijan takes note of the agreement of July 22, 2020, reached by the Trilateral Contact Group."

It should be noted that Azerbaijan backed Ukraine over Russias annexation in 2014 of the Ukrainian region of Crimea.

The two countries are also economic partners. Ukraine is Azerbaijans second-largest trade partner among CIS countries, with a trade turnover worth $555 million during the reporting period.

---

Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Their hopes for a return to work dashed by Texas Gov. Greg Abbotts latest phased reopening, bar owners and employees have been left to wonder: Why is a bar that gets more than half its revenue from food -- and therefore is allowed to operate lawfully -- automatically safer than a bar that doesnt?



According to one local expert, that's not necessarily true.



Many factors play into the risk level associated with visiting a restaurant or a bar-turned-restaurant during the pandemic, said Sujata Sirsat, a scientist and assistant professor in the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management at the University of Houston. And all should be taken into consideration when assessing how safe it is.

'BLOOD IN THE WATER': Squeezed by shutdowns, Houstons bar owners are on the rocks

It depends on what else they are doing, Sirsat said. Are they following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines? Are they providing masks for their employees?



In making his announcement last week, Abbott cited warnings from the nations top infectious disease experts that bars are super-spreaders of COVID and provide an ideal environment for the highly-contagious virus to easily be contracted.

But hitting the states reopening benchmark  at least 50 percent of gross receipts from selling food  does not by itself reduce the primary risk factors associated with bars, Sirsat said.



With or without expansive food service, consumption of alcohol can lower inhibitions and lead patrons to be forgetful of social distancing, personal hygiene and wearing masks, Sirsat said. Singing, dancing and loudly talking are synonymous with bars and can also increase the risk of exposure to the virus, which is spread by large respiratory droplets.

TRACKING CORONAVIRUS: Interactive maps, charts show spread of COVID-19 across Houston, rest of Texas

Studies have linked establishments that serve food and beverages to increased risk of the virus, like this recent study from the CDC which found COVID-positive adults were twice as likely to have reported eating out than those who tested negative. The CDC offers an exhaustive list of best practices for bars and restaurants that employees, employers and patrons alike should check a business is following.

"There needs to be a mindset change, Sirsat said, and an understanding that (congregating) can enhance the risk of you transmitting the virus or getting sick from it.



The danger lies in assuming that just because an establishment has reopened, it is safe. Prospective patrons should consider personal responsibility first, Sirsat said: If they live with a high-risk individual, such as an elderly person or someone with preexisting conditions, going out for drinks with friends may not be the best choice right now, whether light appetizers are served or not.

The other thing to think about is to identify what practices this particular business is following, Sirsat said. Gauge whether they are providing employees with PPE (personal protection equipment). And are they cognizant of maintaining distancing?

As for eating and drinking establishments that boast expansive outdoor seating and space, such as breweries and wineries, Sirsat cautions against a false sense of immunity.

MORNING REPORT: Get the top stories on HoustonChronicle.com sent directly to your inbox

In general, the consensus is that outdoor transmission is lower, she said. However, I dont think this can be taken as a free-for-all where you congregate outdoors and dont wear masks.

One of the biggest challenges with this particular virus is the amount of asymptomatic transmission. There is no one measure that is most effective, that is a silver bullet. It is going to be a combination of all of these best practices that can help us mitigate the spread.

Sirsat said anyone who is itching to enjoy a cocktail and support a local business should take all the precautions they can before doing so. Otherwise, she said, You might be risking someones life.

rebecca.hennes@chron.com
Luis Suarez arriving at Atletico Madrid from Barcelona brings goals, in fact it's worth noting that he has massively outperformed Alvaro Morata over the course of their respective careers.

Morata has talent, everybody recognises that, but he has never been able to forge a position for himself as the go-to centre forward at any of his previous clubs, there is always a tinge of doubt over the Spaniard and this manifests itself when he misses a golden chance.

Diego Simeone has been desperate to add a world class forward to replace Antoine Griezmann, and he thought he had it with Diego Costa, but the Spaniard's second spell with Los Colchoneros hasn't lived up to expectations.

Morata did well for a time, but nothing more, and the pressure on Joao Felix heading into the 2019/20 was simply unfair.

In Suarez's six seasons with Barcelona he has scored 198 goals, which is more than Morata has managed in his entire time as a professional with the Spaniard boasting a far less clinical 116.

Suarez played just 283 matches to reach that figure, whilst Morata has played 339 over the course of his professional career, although the Uruguayan has generally played in a more creative team at the Camp Nou.

It's not even the case that Suarez is greedy either, because he has added 74 assists during his Blaugrana career and Morata has only managed 40 as a professional.

Simeone is getting a total upgrade at a key position and it's one he's been desperate for, especially over the last 12 months.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / September 23, 2020 / Blue Lagoon Resources Inc. (the "Company") (CSE:BLLG)(FSE:7BL)(OTCQB:BLAGF) is pleased to announce that, in addition to its ongoing current drill program, the Company has started work on the amendments required pursuant to its mining permit on its Dome Mountain Gold Project ("Dome Mountain").

Dome Mountain, an all year road-accessible project located a short 50-minute drive from Smithers B.C., holds both an Environmental Management Act Permit (EMA) and a Mining Permit providing for up to 75,000 tonnes production annually. In addition, the property has 15 known high grade gold veins (see the Company's news release dated May 4, 2020) with nearly 90% of the 11,290 hectare property yet to be explored.

"From the very beginning when we started to consider acquiring the Dome Mountain Gold Mine, our due diligence confirmed that there were two key opportunities with this project. Firstly, an opportunity to explore and define the 15 known high-grade gold-silver veins on the property; and secondly, the potential to advance the Dome Mountain mine by completing the required amendment work under the existing mining permits," said Rana Vig, President and CEO of Blue Lagoon Resources. "Having recently raised more than $7.5 million and managing the company to ensure that it's debt free, I'm very pleased that the Company is in a great position to pursue both of these opportunities in an unprecedented gold market," he added.

KEY AMENDMENTS REQUIRED AND IN PROGRESS

The following three key tasks (amendments) must be completed by the Company as the next steps to meet permit conditions:

Completion of the Water Treatment Plant ("WTP") and water chemistry trials.

Completion of the Ground Control Management Plan.

Update the Reclamation and Closure plan.

The Company will evaluate a production decision once all permit requirements are in place. Any production decision in advance of obtaining a feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability of the project is associated with increased uncertainty and risk of failure.

AGREEMENT WITH LEADING WATER TREATMENT

TECHNOLOGY COMPANY SIGNED

An agreement with Muddy River Technologies of Delta B.C., an innovative water technology company led by Dr. Rob Stephenson, one of the leading experts in the field, has been signed and the work required on completing the existing Water Treatment Plant has begun. The full scope of work on the project will take approximately 16 weeks and includes the following:

Site visit and collection and analysis of surface water (completed). Full scale test equipment preparation. Full scale test equipment installation and modification of existing Water Treatment Plant. Full scale testing and report; regulatory approval to proceed with permanent upgrade. Permanent upgrade equipment installation, training and routine WTP operations.

AGREEMENT FOR GROUND CONTROL

MANAGEMENT PLAN SIGNED

An agreement for the Ground Control Management Plan has been signed with Smithers, B.C. based Cobra Mining, a local firm familiar with the Dome Mountain project. The scope of work includes underground work consisting of bolting on 650m of drift from the portal to the face on the 1270 level and installation of a secondary emergency egress from the 1270 level to the 1370 level.

Cobra Mining has worked on the Dome Mountain Gold Mine in the past and is currently at the mine site with their team and work on the underground bolting has started.

The Company expects this portion of the amendment work to be completed in the next 90 days or less.

AGREEMENT WITH GLOBALLY BASED ERM SIGNED

The Company has chosen, and executed an agreement with ERM Consultants Canada, a part of the ERM Group Inc., a leading global provider with a footprint in 40 countries and territories, that specializes in environmental, health, safety, risk, social consulting and sustainability services. ERM will fulfil one of the key amendment requirements to update and complete the five-year Reclamation and Closure Plan and will update the following existing plans:

Environmental Monitoring and Surveillance Plan

Erosion and Sediment Control Plan

Water Management Plan

Sediment Handling Plan

Sludge Management Plan

ML/ARD Management Plan

Bat Management Plan

Invasive Plant Management Plan

The Company expects this portion of the amendment work to be completed in the next 20 weeks.

ON GOING SITE ACTIVITY AT DOME MOUNTAIN

The Dome Mountain Mine site is a decidedly active project at this time.

Activity on the property at this time is as follows:

Planned 2800 Meter drilling continues, with first results expected on or before September 30, 2020.

All heavy mining equipment has been removed from the underground tunnel and is currently undergoing maintenance and inspection and being readied for use.

Underground bolting work has started and is expected to be completed in the next 90 days.

Electrical systems are undergoing inspection, and where necessary, upgrading is taking place on power generators, mine fans, and panels.

All fuel tanks have been inspected and filled.

Water samples have been collected and sent to the appropriate lab for analysis and recording.

Keeping with health & safety standards, an Emergency Transport Vehicle has been purchased to be available at the mine site 24/7.

All communication protocols have been re-assessed and reviewed. Upgrading, where necessary, has been commissioned.

The scientific and technical data contained in this news release was approved by William Cronk, P.Geo., a qualified person as defined in NI 43-101 and a consultant to the Company.

For further information, please contact:

Rana Vig

President and Chief Executive Officer Telephone: 604-218-4766

Email: rana@ranavig.com

The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that Blue Lagoon Resources Inc. (the "Company") expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include results of exploration activities that may not show quality and quantity necessary for upgrading mineralization classification or for further exploration and exploitation of minerals deposits, market prices, and continued availability of capital and financing, permitting and other approvals, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

SOURCE: Blue Lagoon Resources Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/607436/Blue-Lagoon-Moves-Forward-with-Mining-Permit-Amendment-Process-on-its-Dome-Mountain-Gold-Project--Exploration-Drilling-Continues
New Delhi:

A team of scientists comprising British and Czech researchers claimed to have developed world's most powerful 1,000-watt 'super laser.' They said they have successfully tested the super laser and claim that it is 10 times more powerful than any other of its kind on the Earth.

The "high peak power laser" boasts a 1,000-watt average power output, which is a benchmark of sustained, high-energy pulses.

The super laser has potential in engineering, for hardening metal surfaces, processing semiconductors and micro-machining material.

Britain's Central Laser Facility (CLF) and HiLASE (High average power pulsed laser), a Czech state research and development project developed the device.

"It is a world record which is important," CLF director John Collier told AFP.

"It is good for putting things on the map, but the more important point is that the underlying technology that has been developed here is going to transform the application of these high power, high energy lasers," Collier added.

The laser is named 'Bivoj' after a mythical Czech strongman. The Bivoj is "10 times as powerful" as any other of its kind currently in use, HiLASE physicist Martin Divoky told AFP at the testing facility in Dolni Brezany near Prague.

On December 16, Bivoj broke the "magical barrier" of 1,000 watts in output, setting a world record for lasers of its type, HiLASE director Tomas Mocek told AFP.

"It's a huge step forward, like an Olympic victory," he added.

The laser weighs around 20 tonnes and costs 44 million euros ($48 million). According to the CLF and HiLASE specialists, it will be used in the aeronautics, automotive and power sectors.

Bivoj was fundamentally different from so-called peak power lasers, Mocek told AFP. There are two behemoths of this kind -- the one-petawatt Texas Petawatt Laser in Austin and the two-petawatt Laser for Fast Ignition Experiments (LFEX) in Osaka, Japan. One petawatt equals one million billion watts.

Those lasers "have a very high peak power, but they can only reach it several times a day," Mocek said.

"They do not have so-called 'average power'. This is a combination of the repetition rate and the energy. Our laser has the highest average power, which is important. The repetition rate in Osaka and Austin is significantly lower."

Its creators say they hope to explore the laser's potential during tests planned at the Dolni Brezany facility later this month.

Mocek told AFP that there are also plans to commercialise the laser in the second half of the year.

For all the Latest Science News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Islamabad, Sep 23 : One of the three men allegedly involved in kidnapping and gang-raping a 22-year-old woman gave her "an influential" person's phone number to contact if she needed a job, police said on Wednesday, while quoting the survivor's statement.

According to a senior police officer, the woman said the alleged rapist, while dropping her back, gave her a mobile phone number, offering her a job for Rs 30,000 a month if she needed employment, Geo TV reported.

Police said on Wednesday that the investigation into the mobile number has been completed and the contact is of "an influential person". However, the probe revealed it was not used at the crime scene.

The day-to-day activities of the said influential person were also checked but no evidence was found of the man's involvement in the incident, authorities added, noting that the data of his children was also being vetted.

In addition, police carried out a raid on Tuesday night at a flat in Clifton after the survivor indicated that it may be connected to the crime. However, none of the suspects involved could be arrested, they said, adding that the residents in the nearby apartments were also being questioned.

So far, one of the three suspects involved in the alleged gang-rape incident has been identified based on the information provided by the woman.

A day prior, three men in a black Toyota Vigo had abducted the young woman around 9.30 p.m. as she waited for a bus to go home in the city's upscale area, Clifton. Two of them repeatedly gang-raped her while the third facilitated the abuse.

Police came to know about the incident after the woman's sister narrated the ordeal to Helpline 15 on Tuesday afternoon. They have recorded her statement and initiated further investigation.

The survivor told the police that she was taken to a flat where the suspects subjected her to sexual violence, following which they left her in a semi-conscious state at the same spot from where they kidnapped her.

"The men in a black Vigo took me to the third floor of a building and raped me after picking me from near Abdullah Shah Ghazi's shrine," a senior police officer said, while quoting the survivor. "They then dropped me outside the mall in Clifton." She filed a report a day after the incident and was sent to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) where initial reports confirmed the assault.

A first information report (FIR) was lodged against the three accused, police said. A DNA test of the woman was conducted, police said, adding that she and her family do not want to be named.

"The woman has identified influential suspects (...) They will be caught soon," police said.

The police chief for South Zone, Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) Javed Akbar Riaz,said that the authorities "have identified the suspects".

"We are working on the victim's version. We have deployed our resources to arrest the suspects and to pursue the investigation on merit," Riaz said, adding that women officers were attached to the case due to its sensitivity.

The assistant superintendent of police (ASP) at the Clifton station, Zahida Perveen, said Karachi's authorities were "also trying to obtain the CCTV footage from both the spots - from where she was picked and dropped".
Samsung isnt expected to release its S21 series until February but the first details about the phones are already coming in. Earlier this month we saw a post about the S21 and S21+ batteries and now we have more details for the former as its was spotted in a Safety Korea listing bearing the same EB-BG996ABY model number.



Samsung Galaxy S21+ battery and certification

We also have a picture of the actual cell this time which reveals a typical capacity of 4,800 mAh. Previously we knew the 4,660 mAh rated capacity from 3C certification. The new listing also confirms Chinese manufacturer Ningde Amperex Technology will provide the batteries for the upcoming Galaxy S-series phones.

Source (in Korean) | Via
ALLENDALE, NJ., USA, MUNICH, Germany, and YOKOHAMA, Japan, September 23, 2020 / B3C newswire / -- The regenerative medicine business of Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd. (Hitachi Chemical) announces that, effective today, it has adopted the name Minaris Regenerative Medicine to represent its global contract development and manufacturing services business for the cell and gene therapy industry.

By working and using the single name Minaris Regenerative Medicine, we will strengthen our brand perception and recognition as a unified, global CDMO, intensify our cooperation with and further expand our integrated services for our clients, said Kazuchika Furuishi, PhD, Corporate Officer and General Manager, Regenerative Medicine Business Sector of Hitachi Chemical and CEO of Minaris Regenerative Medicine, LLC. With this change, we advance our support of the gene and cell therapy industry in developing and providing life-saving advanced therapeutics to patients in need.

Minaris is derived from the Japanese word "mirai" which means future and the English word "miracle". The name stands for the companys commitment to constantly push the boundaries of what is possible and provide future miracles to patients. The vision of Minaris Regenerative Medicine is creating future cell therapy miracles together and its mission is to commit our experience to our clients, by providing global manufacturing services, development solutions, and technologies for cell and gene therapies to improve societys well-being.

The wholly-owned regional subsidiary companies and entities within Minaris Regenerative Medicine, encompassing a global footprint of over 200,000 square feet and employee base of over 500, have adopted the same name:

North America: Hitachi Chemical Advanced Therapeutics Solutions, LLC is renamed Minaris Regenerative Medicine, LLC, effective today

Europe: apceth Biopharma GmbH is renamed Minaris Regenerative Medicine GmbH, effective today

Asia: Hitachi Chemicals Yokohama regenerative medicine facility adopted the use of Minaris Regenerative Medicine as its brand name

Hitachi Chemical, the parent company of Minaris Regenerative Medicine, will be renamed Showa Denko Materials, Co., Ltd. on October 1, 2020 as previously announced.

About Minaris Regenerative Medicine

Minaris Regenerative Medicine is a global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) for cell and gene therapies. We offer our clients high value clinical and commercial manufacturing services, development solutions, and technologies. We are pioneers in the field with more than 20 years experience providing outstanding quality and reliability. Our facilities in the US, Europe, and Asia allow us to supply patients worldwide with life-changing therapies.

Contact

Minaris Regenerative Medicine GmbH

Luc St-Onge, Ph.D.

Global Head of Sales and Marketing

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

+49 (0)89 700 9608-0

Keywords: Humans; Regenerative Medicine; Genetic Therapy; Europe; Asia; Industry

Published by B3C newswire


Courtesy photo /U.S. Border Patrol

Federal and local authorities freed multiple people who were found locked inside a travel trailer in San Ygnacio in Zapata County, according to the U.S. Border Patrol.

The incident occurred late in the afternoon of Monday, when agents from the Zapata Station followed foot signs from the Rio Grande to a travel trailer parked not far from the border.
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Linkedin Lisa Richwine (Reuters) Los Angeles, United States  Wed, September 23, 2020 17:08 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46b651c 2 News Disney,california,Disney-California,Disneyland,coronavirus,COVID-19 Free

Walt Disney Co urged California officials on Tuesday to let the company reopen the Disneyland theme park, which remains shuttered six months after closing down to help curb the spread of coronavirus.

With approval from local authorities, Disney has reopened its parks in Shanghai, Paris and Florida with limited attendance, face mask requirements and other measures to prevent COVID-19 infections. Hong Kong Disneyland is set to reopen on Friday.

Disney parks officials, in a video briefing for reporters on Tuesday, said their safeguards had been successful and were given high marks by guests in customer surveys. The video included footage of families and employees throughout various parks wearing masks, keeping their distance on rides and saying they felt safe and enjoyed their visit.

Josh D'Amaro, chairman of Disney parks, experiences and products, urged California officials to provide "fair and equitable guidelines" to allow Disneyland in Anaheim, California, to reopen.

"As you can see from this discussion today, we're ready," D'Amaro said. "And more importantly, it's time."

Read also: Disneyland and California theme parks push for reopening

The state currently ranks coronavirus levels in the Orange County, where Disneyland is located, as "substantial," the second-highest category.

D'Amaro urged state officials to consider the economic repercussions of keeping Disneyland closed. The resort supported nearly 80,000 jobs in the region when it was open.

"The longer we wait, the more devastating the impact will be on Orange County and the tens of thousands of people who rely on us for employment," he said.

"With the right guidelines and our years of operations experience, I'm confident that we can restart and get people back to work," he added.

Representatives for California Governor Gavin Newsom did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
HOUSTON, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Weatherford International plc (OTC Pink: WFTLF) announced it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Safe Influx, the world's only provider of Automated Well Control technology. Under the MoU, the companies will cooperate globally to focus on revolutionising well integrity during the construction phase by bringing to market the first ever integration of Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD) solutions and Automated Well Control technology.

"This unprecedented collaboration will leverage digitalization and automation to enable operators to achieve more from their projects in the safest way possible, while having the confidence their wells will be drilled and constructed with the highest level of integrity available in the market today," said Kevin Fisher, Vice President of Managed Pressure Drilling, Weatherford.

As part of the MoU, Safe Influx will combine its Automated Well Control technology with Weatherford's comprehensive portfolio of MPD products and services. This industry first integrated offering will automate the mitigation of drilling hazards, while drilling in the most efficient manner possible. This cooperation creates market-expansion opportunities, allowing both companies to expand their capabilities and resources.

"Safe Influx Automated Well Control technology has a revolutionary role in the Managed Pressure and conventional drilling markets by dramatically reducing our industry's exposure to human factors," said Bryan Atchison, Co-founder and Managing Director, Safe Influx.

Weatherford is a global pioneer and market leader in MPD technologies and solutions. The Weatherford MPD portfolio includes Rotating Control Devices, Automated Pressure Pro and Victus Intelligent MPD systems.

"Working as one team, and leveraging Weatherford's global MPD leadership, Safe Influx will unlock the full potential of Managed Pressure Drilling," notes Phil Hassard, Co-founder and Technical Director, Safe Influx.

About Safe Influx

Safe Influx is the world's only provider of Automated Well Control technology. The field-proven system is designed to detect an influx, take control of the rig equipment and shut-in the well while drilling. For more information, visit www.safeinflux.com.

About Weatherford

Weatherford is a leading wellbore and production solutions company. Operating in more than 80 countries, the Company answers the challenges of the energy industry with its global talent network of approximately 19,000 team members and 600 locations, which include service, research and development, training, and manufacturing facilities. Visit weatherford.com for more information or connect on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube.

Contact:

Christopher Wailes

+1.832.851.8308

Director, Global Media Engagement

SOURCE Weatherford International plc

Related Links

http://www.weatherford.com


OYO crossed the 50 million app downloads mark today, with India leading with the most downloads followed by Indonesia, Malaysia, the USA, and Brazil. OYO came into existence in 2013 and has now become a truly Indian brand that put itself on the global map.

Here is some more interesting trivia on OYOs app downloads milestone:

In 2020, on average, the company witnessed 32 app installs per minute

Across India, the top five cities with the most downloads include New Delhi, Pune, Kolkata, Lucknow and Hyderabad

The app data reveals that Delhi ranked as the city with the most active consumer base in India

This year, January saw the most downloads globally, indicating travellers aspirations for the holiday season, prior to the pandemic

The OYO app is available in 9 languages across the world, including English, Hindi, Portuguese, Spanish, Bahasa, Arabic, Japanese, and Vietnamese.

Commenting on the milestone, Rohit Kapoor, CEO, India & South Asia, OYO said, We, at OYO, truly believe that the pandemic has transformed us for the better, as it forced us to think ahead of time, re-tool and introduce several initiatives to cope with the new normal. We have directed our efforts in continuously innovating ways to ensure the best customer experiences, be it rolling out Yo! Help, our realtime assistant, or partnering with Unilever to enhance our Sanitised Stays initiative.

There couldnt have been a better time for us to have hit the 50 million app downloads mark this year. Were thrilled and humbled at the same time. Since Unlock 3.0, OYO has managed to reach 30% of the pre-COVID occupancy levels with bookings led by millennials and small and mid-sized businesses across 20+ states and UTs. This is a positive sign showcasing consumer intent to travel again. It is also a testament to OYOs resilience, ability to adapt, and most importantly, our strengthening consumer confidence. We stand ready to welcome everyone who is looking for quality accommodation at affordable prices, making it accessible to one and all. In the past six years and especially this year, weve worked across the length and breadth of the product to ensure that we become a truly customer-obsessed organisation that cares about delivering the best experiences to our guests every step of the way.

OYO rolled out several initiatives to ensure the health and safety of its guests with the introduction of Sanitised Stays, thereby implementing minimal touch policies, enabling digital payments, contactless check-ins, and check-outs. OYO also joined forces with Unilever, the global consumer goods company, to further enhance its sanitisation efforts across OYOs properties. Unilevers R&D team is also working with OYO to co-create Standard Operating Procedures for cleaning to maximise the positive effects of its products. OYO properties where these operating procedures are used will display a tag on booking pages to show Unilever products have been used in cleaning services. This global partnership began in India and is scheduled to go live across Indonesia, Vietnam, the US, LATAM, and Europe.

Recently, understanding that during such times, when the world is adapting to newer ways of living alongside the virus, through digital and tech-based solutions, OYO launched Yo! Help, a 24*7 real-time chat assistant for guests with a valid booking across its hotels and homes globally. Through this technology, the hospitality chain is set to enable seamless experiences throughout the consumer journey, right from the post-booking to post-checkout or cancellation phases.

Read more news about (internet advertising India, internet advertising, advertising India, digital advertising India, media advertising India)
Mumbai, Sep 23 : In a shocking incident, two security guards trapped in a flooded lift in a Mumbai building drowned while struggling to open its door, a police official said here on Wednesday.

The security guards had gone to the waterlogged basement of Nathani Residency building in Agripada to restore water supply to the complex around 8 a.m. but were caught in the rising water level.

In a bid to escape, they got into the building lift and closed its door, but the flooded lift failed to start and even the door failed to reopen, said Agripada Police Station Senior Police Inspector Savlaram Agavane.

They pressed the alarm, after which some building residents rushed down to save them, but could not reach them due to increased water-logging, Agavane said.

By the time the fire brigade personnel reached the spot and managed to cut the lift roof, the two watchmen had died. They were identified as Jamir Ahmed Sohanan, 32, and Shehzad S Memon, the latter living in the nearby Dongri area.

Mumbai and the entire Konkan district comprising Sindhudurg, Ratnagiri, Raigad, Thane and Palghar have been inundated by a record downpour since September 22-23 night, paralysing normal life.
New Delhi: The All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) has approved the inclusion of Geospatial subject in the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) and National Eligibility Test (NET) examination. This was approved on the recommendation of the National Geospatial Task Force Report 2013 under the Chairmanship of former ISRO Chairman, K Kasturirangan.

Students competing for the popular NET for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and lectureship in Indian universities and colleges, including IITs and NITs and GATE for JRF in CSIR laboratories, can now opt for Geospatial as a subject.

Department of Science and Technology (DST) as an organisation and many professionals have highlighted the need for Geospatial subject especially in GATE and NET examination at different forums.

The step will benefit the increasing number of students who are taking up geospatial as a subject at different levels and help in the evolution of Geospatial Ecosystem in the country.

The Natural Resources Data Management System (NRDMS) under DST is an interdisciplinary research programme which promoted R&D in emerging areas of geospatial science, technology, and its applications to area-specific problems. Over the years, it has successfully demonstrated utilities of geospatial technologies in decision making and developed capacity for geospatial data and information management at state, district, and local levels at pilot scale.

Now, it is evolving into National Geospatial Programme for catalyzing the national geospatial ecosystem and promoting geospatial science and technology solutions, capacity building, entrepreneurship, and international cooperation for sustainable sociology-economic development at all levels of governance and also stressing on including geospatial subject at different levels.

"Geospatial science and technology is a rapidly evolving subject that forms the backbone of a plethora of planning, development and governance activities with unprecedented opportunities both in the government and private sectors," said Prof Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, DST.

"Swamitva, a recent scheme launched by the Prime Minister is a good example to map rural inhabited lands using drones and latest survey methods. The scheme among other things will streamline planning, revenue collection and property rights and thus have a huge positive impact on securing loans by the owners and dispute resolution related to properties," added Prof Sharma.
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People walk on an empty First Avenue near the United Nations headquarters in New York on September 9, 2020.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday urged the world to prevent a Cold War between the United States and China and halt conflicts so it can focus on the Covid-19 pandemic.

"We must do everything to avoid a new Cold War," Guterres said in an address as he opened an almost entirely virtual UN General Assembly.

"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," he said, without saying the United States and China by name.

Tensions have soared between the United States and China in recent months, with President Donald Trump blaming Beijing for the Covid-19 pandemic that has claimed some 950,000 lives around the world and cast a shadow over his reelection bid.

Guterres has campaigned for an end to all violent conflicts as the world instead focuses on stopping the disease.

He pointed to some partial successes including ceasefires declared in Cameroon, Colombia and Cameroon.

He pressed for a universal ceasefire by the end of the year.

"I appeal for a stepped-up international effort -- led by the Security Council -- to achieve a global ceasefire by the end of this year," Guterres said.

"We have 100 days. The clock is ticking."

Guterres also offered open criticism of right-wing movements in the face of the coronavirus.

"Populism and nationalism have failed. Those approaches to contain the virus have often made things manifestly worse. "

prh-sct/ec
NASA's Terra satellite passed over post-tropical storm Paulette after it had transitioned for a second time. Using infrared imagery, Terra found no strong storms remained.

Paulette has had quite a history. Paulette formed in the Central Atlantic Ocean on Sept. 6 as Tropical Depression Seventeen and became a tropical storm the next day. Paulette became a hurricane on Sept. 12. As a hurricane, Paulette's eye passed directly over Bermuda, then weakened and became a post-tropical cyclone on Sept. 16 in the North Atlantic Ocean when it was located 450 miles (725 km) east-southeast of Cape Race Newfoundland, Canada. A Post-Tropical Storm is a generic term for a former tropical cyclone that no longer possesses sufficient tropical characteristics to be considered a tropical cyclone. Then on Sept. 22, the remnants of Paulette organized and re-formed into a tropical storm. Only to devolve again to a post-tropical storm later that day.

At 11 p.m. EDT on Sept. 22 (0300 UTC on Sept. 23), Dan Brown, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, Senior Hurricane Specialist at NOAA's National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla. noted, "Paulette had been devoid of deep convection since early Tuesday and the shallow convection mentioned in the previous advisory has also waned. Therefore, Paulette has again become a post-tropical cyclone."

NASA's Terra Satellite Examines Paulette

NASA's Terra satellite uses infrared light to analyze the strength of storms by providing temperature information about the system's clouds. The strongest thunderstorms that reach high into the atmosphere have the coldest cloud top temperatures.

On Sept. 23 at 8:45 a.m. EDT (1245 UTC), the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer or MODIS instrument that flies aboard NASA's Terra satellite gathered infrared data on Paulette. There were no strong storms on the infrared MODIS imagery. The imagery found only one small area of convection where cloud top temperatures are as cold as minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 45.5 Celsius).

Final Status of Paulette

The last public advisory issued by the National Hurricane Center on Paulette was posted on Sept. 22 at 11 p.m. EDT (0300 UTC). At that time, the center of Post-Tropical Cyclone Paulette was located near latitude 34.8 degrees north and longitude 20.0 degrees west. That is about 445 miles (720 km) east-southeast of the Azores Islands. The Azores Islands are a Portuguese archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean. They are located about 930 miles (1,500 km) from Lisbon, Portugal.

Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph (65 kph) with higher gusts. Slow weakening is forecast. The post-tropical cyclone was moving toward the east near 12 mph (19 kph). An eastward to east-northeastward motion is forecast through midday Wednesday. A decrease in the forward motion along with turns to the southeast then south are expected late Wednesday through Thursday. A west-southwestward motion is forecast to begin by late this week.

Paulette's Final Forecast

Post-tropical cyclone Paulette is expected to become a remnant low later today, Sept. 23.

###

NASA Researches Tropical Cyclones

Hurricanes/tropical cyclones are the most powerful weather events on Earth. NASA's expertise in space and scientific exploration contributes to essential services provided to the American people by other federal agencies, such as hurricane weather forecasting.

For more than five decades, NASA has used the vantage point of space to understand and explore our home planet, improve lives and safeguard our future. NASA brings together technology, science, and unique global Earth observations to provide societal benefits and strengthen our nation. Advancing knowledge of our home planet contributes directly to America's leadership in space and scientific exploration.

For updated forecasts. visit: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov

By Rob Gutro

NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Reece Hawkins' pregnant fiancee London Goheen lashed out at her Instagram followers this week, after they trolled her over a picture of her thumbs.

On Monday, the 22-year-old model shared photos of herself to Instagram showing off her baby bump, when fans accused her of Photoshopping the images because her fingers looked long.

London hit back on her Instagram story, saying: 'The internet is f**king wild and I'm sick of it.'

Can YOU spot what's wrong with this picture? On Monday, Reece Hawkins' pregnant fiancee London Goheen furiously hit back after she was cruelly trolled by followers over a body part

'Y'all are making me feel bad about a body part I haven't touched?' London wrote.

'Accusing me of Photoshopping my belly just cause my finger looks long?'

She then went on to say that she is a 'pretty long limb person.'

Did you see it? The 22-year-old model shared photos of herself to Instagram showing off her baby bump, when fans accused her of Photoshopping the images because her fingers looked long

Over it: London hit back on her Instagram story, saying: 'The internet is f**king wild and I'm sick of it'

She added: 'Next time I'll be sure to make sure I look absolutely perfect so no one can attack me for my fingers. Geez. The internet is f**king wild and I'm sick of it.'

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.

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.'

Backlash: It comes after she was slammed for charging her followers to see photos of her baby bump on OnlyFans

'What the f**k': London copped backlash on social media after revealing she was going to be charging people $14.99 per month on the subscription service

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!!'

In a statement to Daily Mail Australia earlier this month, London defended her decision to show off her baby bump on OnlyFans.

Defending herself: In a statement to Daily Mail Australia earlier this month, London defended her decision to show off her baby bump on OnlyFans. Pictured with Reece

'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.
As many as 1.25 crore candidates have enrolled in various courses of SWAYAM, choosing from over 2,867 courses in more than 135 universities across the country.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) on behalf of the Ministry of Education, Government of India, has released the admit card for SWAYAM Exam 2020.

Candidates who have applied for the examination must download the admit card by visiting the official site of SWAYAM at swayam.gov.in.

According to Hindustan Times, the examination has now been scheduled to take place on 29 and 30 September.

The examination is being organised for any eligible candidate (students/ working professionals/ life long learners) who wishes to seek admission in non-technology undergraduate, postgraduate MOOC courses.

Follow these steps to download the SWAYAM exam 2020 admit card:

Step 1: Visit the official site of SWAYAM at swayam.gov.in

Step 2: Click on the link that says: Admit Card SWAYAM examination 29- 30 Sep 2020 on the homepage

Step 3: you will be directed to a new page where you would be asked to fill in details

Step 4: Login to your SWAYAM account by entering your official email ID and clicking on Submit

Step 5: Your hall ticket for the exam will be available on the site

Step 6: View, download and take a print out of the document

Here is the direct link to download the SWAYAM SEPTEMBER Exam Admit Card 2020

The exam was scheduled to be conducted on 15 and 16 September but the dates were pushed back due to the pandemic. The University Grants Commission (UGC) informed applicants of the change in schedule via an official notice.

The report added that as many as 1.25 crore candidates have enrolled in various courses of SWAYAM, choosing from over 2,867 courses in more than 135 universities across the country.
Serbia: remittances decrease by almost 19% On the contrary positive results in Kosovo during pandemic

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, 23 SET - In the first seven months of 2020, remittances decreased by almost 19% in Serbia, according to data from the Serbian central bank, the specialized portal SeeNews reported. From January to July, foreign remittances to Serbia amounted to 1,6 billion euro. In 2018 and in 2019, remittances to Serbia reached approximately 3.5 billion euro per year, SeeNews recalled. Remittances in nearby Kosovo were instead up in the first seven months of the year and reached 526 million euro, 46 more than in 2019, authorities in Pristina recently said.



Last April, the World Bank warned that the pandemic could have a significant negative impact on economies and societies in the Balkans as well due to the fall in remittances from abroad. The Bank predicted a 20% decline in global remittances caused by the economic crisis induced by the coronavirus pandemic. According to World Bank data, remittances contributed to approximately 15.5% of the GDP in Kosovo in 2018, 10.7% in Montenegro, 10.5% in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 9.6% in Albania and 8,5% in Serbia (8.5%). (ANSA).





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The open-ended nature of Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister's business trip to Ottawa raises questions about its aims and its cost-effectiveness, NDP Leader Wab Kinew says.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 22/9/2020 (486 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The open-ended nature of Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister's business trip to Ottawa raises questions about its aims and its cost-effectiveness, NDP Leader Wab Kinew says.

On Monday, Pallister revealed he arrived at the nation's capital Sept. 15, and had not yet set a departure date.

While he had scheduled a face-to-face meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the session Monday wound up being conducted via teleconference at the last minute, due to COVID-19 concerns.

"During a pandemic, I think it's important for the person who makes the decisions about public health and health care in Manitoba to be in the province," Kinew told reporters Tuesday.

"I have to question why Manitoba taxpayers are footing the bill for Mr. Pallister to take Zoom calls in an Ottawa hotel room. It doesn't seem like a good use of resources to me."

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Kinew said the premier could have conducted much of the trip's business from Manitoba. The fact he hadn't set a return date by Monday showed "a lack of foresight in terms of what his trip actually meant to accomplish," he said.

"I think anyone who heard Mr. Pallister asking for health-care money, when we know that they (Manitoba Progressive Conservatives) always underspend their health-care budget here in Manitoba, would have questioned the validity of this trip in the first place," the Opposition leader said.

Pallister's staff did not provide an itinerary for meetings to be held Tuesday in Ottawa. Late in the day, a spokesman said in an email the premier intended to be home to take in the virtual Council of the Federation (premiers) meetings set to begin Thursday.

Blake Robert, a spokesman for Pallister, said Kinew's "flippant and inaccurate comments demonstrate his lack of real-world experience and desperation for media attention."

Robert said the bulk of the premier's meetings in Ottawa were conducted in-person, "and the move to virtual meetings with federal officials was a last-minute request, which Manitoba accommodated and took part in from the Council of the Federation offices in downtown Ottawa."

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca
Focusing on developing and commercializing oncology and autoimmune drugs with the mission of benefiting patients in China and gradually patients globally

HONG KONG, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- JHBP (CY) Holdings Limited ("Genor Biopharma" or the "Company"; stock code: 6998.HK), a commercial-ready biopharmaceutical company focusing on developing and commercializing oncology and autoimmune drugs, announced the proposed listing of its shares on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited ("SEHK") today.

Genor Biopharma plans to offer an aggregate of 119,881,000 Offer Shares under the Global Offering (subject to the Over-allotment Option), consisting of 107,892,000 International Placing Shares (subject to the Over-allotment Option and adjustment) and 11,989,000 Hong Kong Offer Shares (subject to adjustment), at a price range between HK$20.30 and HK$24.00 per Offer Share.

The public offering will open at 9:00 a.m. on 23 September 2020 and close at 12:00 noon on 28 September 2020 in Hong Kong. Dealings in shares on SEHK are expected to commence on 7 October 2020, with the stock code 6998 in board lots of 500 shares each.

Goldman Sachs (Asia) L.L.C., J.P. Morgan Securities (Far East) Limited and Jefferies Hong Kong Limited are the Joint Sponsors, Goldman Sachs (Asia) L.L.C., J.P. Morgan Securities (Asia Pacific) Limited and Jefferies Hong Kong Limited are the Joint Global Coordinators, Goldman Sachs (Asia) L.L.C., J.P. Morgan Securities (Asia Pacific) Limited (in relation to the Hong Kong Public Offering), J.P. Morgan Securities plc (in relation to the International Offering), Jefferies Hong Kong Limited, CMB International Capital Limited, China Renaissance Securities, Haitong International Securities Company Limited and Macquarie Capital Limited are the Joint Bookrunners and Joint Lead Managers; Futu Securities International (Hong Kong) Limited and US Tiger Securities Inc. are the Joint Lead Managers.

Dr. ZHOU Joe Xin Hua, Executive Director, President and Chief Scientist of JHBP (CY) Holdings Limited, said, "The mission of Genor Biopharma is to become a biopharmaceutical engine in discovery, research, development, manufacturing and commercialization of innovative therapeutics initially for patients in China and gradually for patients globally. Since our inception in 2007, we have strategically focused on major therapeutic areas with substantial unmet medical needs in oncology, autoimmune and other chronic diseases. We currently have 17 clinical trials ongoing in Asia, with one new drug application (NDA) filed under priority review with the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) while two NDAs expected to be filed with the NMPA and four investigational new drug applications (INDs) to be filed with the NMPA and the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in the next 12 to 18 months. Looking forward, we will rapidly advance our late-stage drug assets towards commercialization, continue developing our early-stage innovative drug pipeline, continue executing immune-oncology combination strategy focusing on the Cancer Immunity Cycle, further explore collaboration opportunities to complement our portfolio management strategy, constantly upgrade our manufacturing facilities to support our upcoming and expanding pipeline and continue strengthening our commercialization capabilities. We believe that through the above strategies, we can achieve the Company's mission and bring maximum returns to the Company's shareholders."
Haq was identified as a suspect in the sale of illegal guns in Aurora, and as part of the investigation allegedly sold nine guns to one person on three occasions between Sept. 13, 2019, and Oct. 11, 2019, the release said.
The deputy governor of Ondo State, Agboola Ajayi, has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of attacking his campaign secretariat.

The candidate of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), made this allegation in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday by Kola Ademujimi, the director general of the Agbo/Gboye campaign organisation.

He said the political thugs loyal to the APC, who were five in number, according to security personnel attached to the secretariat, destroyed Mr Ajayis billboards and other valuables at the premises on Tuesday night at Ile-Oluji.

He also said the suspected thugs shot sporadically into the air to scare the security guards from challenging them.

Akeredolus thugs are threatening the lives and properties of members of ZLP and those of other parties in various parts of the state.

They destroyed chairs, tables and inflicted injuries on our supporters at their ward meeting in Ile-Oluji yesterday. They also destroyed Agboola Ajayis s billboards at our campaign office in Akure. They destroyed our flags and posters in Idanre during Aketi/APC s campaign tour of Idanre yesterday.

They attacked leaders of another party during their local government meeting in Owo yesterday. I think they are out to cause mayhem even before the October governorship election in Ondo State.

ALSO READ:

He called on security agencies to live up to their expectations before the opposition parties are forced to act in self defence.

The spokesperson of Mr Akeredolus campaign and commissioner for information, Donald Ojogo, denied the allegations when speaking with PREMIUM TIMES.

They are only crying foul play, he said.
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ST. LOUIS (AP)  A British man who was part of a hacking collective called The Dark Overlord was sentenced Monday to five years in prison for helping the group steal information from several companies in the U.S., including Missouri, Illinois and Georgia.

Nathan Francis Wyatt, 39, was sentenced after he pleaded guilty in federal court in St. Louis to conspiring to commit aggravated identity theft and computer fraud. He was also ordered to pay about $1.5 million in restitution.





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VANCOUVER, B.C., Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Fintel Connect, the leading affiliate marketing platform for the financial industry, is proud to have been named a top ten affiliate marketing software vendor by 360Quadrants. Fintel was also recognized as an Innovator by 360Quadrants, due to its substantial product innovations and unique industry focus.

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'Not everybody gets the opportunity of having a working desk inside a helicopter from where you can control torpedoes and weapons.'

IMAGE: Sub Lieutenant Riti Singh, left and Sub Lieutenant Kumudini Tyagi, the first women airborne tacticians who will operate from deck of warships, after they passed out of Indian Navy's Observer Course, at the Indian Navy's Southern Naval Command, Kochi. All Photographs: INDIAN NAVY

Sub Lieutenant Kumudini Tyagi and Sub Lieutenant Riti Singh will be the first women officers deployed on Indian Navy warships.

Rediff.com's Archana Masih spoke to the trendsetting naval officers.

In the last couple of days, Pravesh Kumar Tyagi has received 20 to 30 phone calls from strangers congratulating him for his daughter's landmark achievement.

"I'm amazed and overwhelmed. It's all because of my daughter," he says over the phone from Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.

"She has made me famous."

Sub Lieutenant Kumudini Tyagi and Sub Lieutenant Riti Singh are trendsetting naval officers who will be the first women observers or airborne technicians/specialists operating from helicopters deployed on Indian Navy warships.

IMAGE: Sub Lieutenant Kumudini Tyagi being presented the 'Wings' by Rear Admiral Anthony George on graduating as an 'Observer' at a ceremony held on September 21 at the INS Garuda in Kochi.

The officers have undergone rigorous training over the past year and received their wings last week. On completion of the next level of training on a specific helicopter, the duo will operate from a warship in a year's time.

"It is exciting and a great responsibility because not everybody gets to make history at such a young age."

"Not everybody gets the opportunity of having their working desk inside a helicopter and controlling torpedoes and weapons," says Sub Lieutenant Riti Singh, daughter of a former naval officer who comes from a family that has served the armed forces for four generations.

Her grandfather served as a signals officer in the Indian Army.

"The family is excited about the sea posting because there is nothing like being at sea. She will be posted in a combat role, which is an additional feather in the cap," says father Commander S K Singh, a retired naval officer settled in Hyderabad.

IMAGE: Sub Lieutenant Kumudini Tyagi.

Sub Lieutenants Tyagi and Singh were commissioned in the Navy in 2018. Their tasks will include detecting hostile submarines and ships through the helicopter's on board sensors and provide precise locations to the pilots in the cockpit to fire weapons.

"Observers are the eyes and ears of a fleet. We will be operating sonars, radars, sonics and carrying out combat roles," explains Sub Lieutenant Kumudini Tyagi, who hails from a purely civilian background. Her father runs a security agency and brother has cleared the Combined Defence Services exam as he aims for a career in the armed forces.

Sub Lieutenant Tyagi had resolved to join the Indian Navy after Lieutenant Kiran Shekhawat's tragic death in a crash during a night sortie in Goa in 2015.

"Her martyrdom really pinched my heart and I thought I too must do something meaningful in the service of the nation," she says over the phone from the naval base in Kochi.

"The understanding of the Indian Navy is not very clear in north India compared to the south," says Sub Lieutenant Tyagi who grew up in Ghaziabad, far from the sea, but had set her heart on a seafaring career.

"Many confuse the Indian Navy with merchant navy and I hope I have helped in clearing that doubt from many minds."

IMAGE: Sub Lieutenant Riti Singh being presented the 'Wings' by Rear Admiral Anthony George on graduating as an 'Observer' at a ceremony held on September 21 at the INS Garuda in Kochi.

Sub Lieutenant Riti Singh grew up hearing fauji stories from the veterans in her own family.

"Hearing their inspiring stories, this is what I wanted to be and where I wanted to go and I am proud of wearing the naval uniform today," says the officer with a degree in computer science.

"Those who come from an armed forces background are known as the children of officers, but after being selected in the Indian Navy, I went from being an officer's kid to somebody who is serving this nation."

Looking at the media coverage they have received in the past two days, she says, "I think my dad will be known by my name. The tables have turned!"

"As a fourth generation officer, Riti takes the family legacy forward," adds Commander Singh, "Their confidence level to take on the challenge is remarkable. We wish them -'Happy hunting and safe landings.'"

The Indian Navy has steadily enhanced the role of women officers over the years. Last year, Sub Lieutenant Shivangi became the first woman pilot in the Indian Navy.

IMAGE: Sub Lieutenant Riti Singh.

Though women officers served as observers on fixed wing aircraft that took off and returned to naval bases on land, this will be the first time they will operate from warships deployed in the high seas.

The accommodation for crew on a warship is compact and catered for an all-male crew up till now. This will change and the navy will require to provide separate bathrooms and lodging for lady officers.

"The ships that we are building, including aircraft carriers have separate provisions for women and male officers," clarifies Sub Lieutenant Singh.

"Logistically, we are going to be absolutely fine on board Indian naval ships. That is just a misconception that people outside have."

Debunking notions of sexism that arose from the recent film on former Indian Air Force helicopter pilot Gunjan Saxena, she says all officers receive the same training at the Indian Naval Academy and also undergo the ragda.

"As soon as we don the uniform, we're all equal. The gender does not define you," emphasises Sub Lieutenant Riti Singh.

Encouraged by the enormous support received from family, friends and the Indian Navy, the young officers are looking forward to completing their training on helicopters and take on tasks that will be entrusted upon them in the days ahead.

"This is an achievement for the whole nation," says Sub Lieutenant Tyagi's father as he hopes to see his daughter early next year.

"Being the first in any domain is challenging, but I am sure they will perform to the best of their capacity," says Sub Lieutenant Singh's father.

"The best wishes of the country are always with them."

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
At the same time, the foreign minister says Ukraine has never interfered in internal affairs of the neighboring state.

Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba says Ukraine does not recognize Alexandr Lukashenko a legitimate head of Belarus following the latter's inauguration.

"Taking into account the election campaign & what followed, today's 'inauguration' of [Aleksandr] Lukashenko does not mean his recognition as a legitimate head of Belarusian state," Kuleba tweeted on Wednesday, September 23.

The top diplomat adds that "Ukraine has never interfered in internal affairs of Belarus & will always support the Belarusian people."

The statement comes following what appears to be a behind-the-doors inauguration of Alexander Lukashenko held in Minsk earlier today with no public attendance or international guests invited.

Ukraine has never interfered in internal affairs of Belarus & will always support the Belarusian people. Taking into account the election campaign & what followed, todays inauguration of Lukashenko does not mean his recognition as a legitimate head of Belarusian state.  Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) September 23, 2020

The secret ceremony was widely ridiculed in Belarus and many took to the streets to express discontent before law enforcers cracked down on protesters.

Earlier, the European Union and a number of western powers said they did not recognize Lukashenko a legitimate president of Belarus amid allegations of a rigged vote count in the presidential election held August 9.

Belarus election: Reactions
Novartis Gene Therapies to initiate new pivotal confirmatory study to evaluate use of AVXS-101 intrathecal (IT) formulation in older patients with SMA to further support registration



Basel, September23, 2020- Novartis Gene Therapies recently received feedback from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) following their review of data from the STRONG study of the intrathecal (IT) formulation of AVXS-101 in older patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The FDA has acknowledged the potential of AVXS-101 IT in this patient population and recommends a pivotal confirmatory study to supplement the existing STRONG data and further support the regulatory submission for AVXS-101 IT.

This guidance provides clarity on the path to registration for AVXS-101 IT. Trial design and other details are being evaluated and a comprehensive update on the overall Novartis SMA clinical development program will be provided at a future time following further discussions with health authorities. This request for a study is unrelated to the partial clinical hold on AVXS-101 IT, and the new study will not be initiated in the US until the hold has been lifted by the FDA. Novartis Gene Therapies remains confident in the overall benefit-risk profile for patients on treatment. This does not impact marketed Zolgensma (onasemnogene abeparvovec) and the company continues to advance its regulatory filings and intravenous clinical studies.

Novartis Gene Therapies reaffirms its commitment to the SMA community and to pursuing solutions for patients with all types of SMA, including older children and adults. All patients deserve a gene therapy designed to address the genetic root cause of their disease with a single dose.

Zolgensma is approved in the US, Japan and, most recently, Brazil, for patients with SMA under the age of two. Zolgensma also continues to have a strong launch in Europe where it is approved for babies and young children with a clinical diagnosis of SMA Type 1 or SMA with up to three copies of the SMN2 gene, with dosing guidance provided up to 21 kg. More than 600 patients have benefited from Zolgensma, including through clinical trials, commercially and through the managed access program. This number is expected to continue to grow as this transformative gene therapy is approved in additional markets and as the company pursues additional studies to fully explore the impact of Zolgensma across a broad population of patients with SMA.

The company's commitment to SMA extends beyond gene therapy to branaplam (LMI070), an oral, once-weekly RNA splicing modulator also currently under development, to expand the treatment options for SMA patients.



About Zolgensma (onasemnogeneabeparvovec)

Zolgensma is designed to address the genetic root cause of SMA by providing a functional copy of the human SMN gene to halt disease progression through sustained SMN protein expression with a single, one-time IV infusion. Zolgensma was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in May 2019 and represents the first approved therapeutic in the company's proprietary platform to treat rare, monogenic diseases using gene therapy. In addition to the US, Zolgensma is approved in Japan, Europe and Brazil. More than 600 patients have been treated with Zolgensma, including clinical trials, commercially and through the managed access program. Novartis Gene Therapies is pursuing registration in close to three dozen countries with regulatory decisions anticipated in Switzerland, Canada, Israel, Australia, and South Korea in late-2020 or early 2021.

About Spinal Muscular Atrophy

SMA is the leading genetic cause of infant death. If left untreated, SMA Type 1 leads to death or the need for permanent ventilation by the age of two in more than 90% of cases.

SMA is a rare, genetic neuromuscular disease caused by a lack of a functional SMN1 gene, resulting in the rapid and irreversible loss of motor neurons, affecting muscle functions, including breathing, swallowing and basic movement. It is imperative to diagnose SMA and begin treatment, including proactive supportive care, as early as possible to halt irreversible motor neuron loss and disease progression. This is especially critical in SMA Type 1, where motor neuron degeneration starts before birth and escalates quickly. Loss of motor neurons cannot be reversed, so SMA patients with symptoms at the time of treatment will likely require some supportive respiratory, nutritional and/or musculoskeletal care to maximize functional abilities. More than 30% of patients with SMA Type 2 will die by age 25.

About Novartis Gene Therapies

Novartis Gene Therapies (formerly AveXis) is reimagining medicine to transform the lives of people living with rare genetic diseases. Utilizing cutting-edge technology, we are turning promising gene therapies into proven treatments, beginning with our transformative gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). This therapy is now approved in the US, Japan, Europe and Brazil, and additional registrations are being pursued in close to three dozen countries, with regulatory decisions anticipated in Switzerland, Canada, Israel, Australia, Argentina and South Korea in late 2020 or early 2021. Our robust AAV-based pipeline is advancing treatments for Rett syndrome; a genetic form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) caused by mutations in the superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) gene; and Friedreich's ataxia. We are powered by the world's largest gene therapy manufacturing footprint of more than one million square feet, enabling us to bring these therapies to patients around the world at quality and scale.

Disclaimer

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by words such as "to initiate," "to evaluate," "to further support," "potential," "recommends," "to supplement," "being evaluated," "will," "to advance," "could," "anticipated," "remains," "continues," "to advance," "reaffirms," "commitment," "to pursuing," "to address," "explore," "investigational," "launch," "under development," or similar terms, or by express or implied discussions regarding potential marketing approvals, new indications or labeling for AVXS-101 IT, Zolgensma and branaplam, or regarding potential future revenues from AVXS-101 IT, Zolgensma and branaplam. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations regarding future events, and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. There can be no guarantee that AVXS-101 IT or branaplam will be submitted or approved for sale in any market, or at any particular time. Neither can there be any guarantee that Zolgensma will be submitted or approved for sale or for any additional indications or labeling in any market, or at any particular time. Nor can there be any guarantee that AVXS-101 IT, Zolgensma or branaplam will be commercially successful in the future. In particular, our expectations regarding such products could be affected by, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including clinical trial results and additional analysis of existing clinical data; regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; global trends toward health care cost containment, including government, payor and general public pricing and reimbursement pressures and requirements for increased pricing transparency; our ability to obtain or maintain proprietary intellectual property protection; the particular prescribing preferences of physicians and patients; general political, economic and business conditions, including the effects of and efforts to mitigate pandemic diseases such as COVID-19; safety, quality, data integrity or manufacturing issues; potential or actual data security and data privacy breaches, or disruptions of our information technology systems, and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG's current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About Novartis

Novartis is reimagining medicine to improve and extend people's lives. As a leading global medicines company, we use innovative science and digital technologies to create transformative treatments in areas of great medical need. In our quest to find new medicines, we consistently rank among the world's top companies investing in research and development. Novartis products reach nearly 800 million people globally and we are finding innovative ways to expand access to our latest treatments. About 109,000 people of more than 140 nationalities work at Novartis around the world. Find out more at https://www.novartis.com (https://www.novartis.com).

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Mali's first president Modibo Keita roused citizens to push the country forward when he took office in 1960, after decades of French rule, and precipitated a time many remember as one of industry and hope.

But 60 years on, the optimism of the post-independence era has given way to chronic instability in Mali, which is plagued by corruption, poverty and a lethal jihadist conflict.

Modibo Keita's remaining family members, who are nostalgic for his time in office, assiduously keep the ex-president's memory alive.

"He is the father of independence, he is the national father, he is the father of all Malians," says the ex-president's daughter Hatouma Keita, from the family home in the capital Bamako's old quarter.

She has hung a flag from her Bamako home as well as placards bearing her father's image for the country's independence day celebrations on Tuesday. Curious passersby stop to take a look.

After he came to power on September 22, 1960, Keita made his mark by pursuing socialist policies and large development projects.

Modibo Keita's remaining family members are nostalgic for his time in office. By MICHELE CATTANI (AFP)

"Tomatoes, soldiers' boots, milk, matches, textiles, everything used to be made here," says Maimouna Diakite, Keita's adopted daughter.

Keita's government was not devoid of criticism at the time, however, and his economic policies provoked a strong backlash.

The president was overthrown in 1968 by Moussa Traore, a young army lieutenant, and he died in detention in 1977.

Traore -- who himself died last week, aged 83 -- went on to rule Mali with an iron fist for 22 years, a time during which few mentioned Keita, Diakite said, and many of the former president's family members fled.

But Keita's memory began to creep back into the public consciousness after the military toppled Traore in 1991.

Governments constructed a memorial in his honour, and named an airport and stadium after him.

'Above others'

Fatoumata Keita Diallo, the former leader's elderly third wife, says that the ex-president was "above others" politically.

"We need to find another Modibo Keita now, but you won't find one," Diallo said, alluding to Mali's latest political crisis.

A clutch of young officers overthrew president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in a military coup on August 18, after months of protests against him in the country.

A soldier prepares to play in a parade for a ceremony to mark the 60th anniversary of Mali's independence in Bamako on Tuesday. By MICHELE CATTANI (AFP)

Those protests were in part generated by Mali's inability to quell a brutal Islamist insurgency which first emerged in 2012, and has since spread to neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso.

Mali is less hopeful today than when Keita took office 60 years ago.

"All Malians must consider themselves as mobilised for the construction of the republic of Mali, homeland of all those who are firmly committed to the achievement of independence and African unity," he said at the time.

For his adopted daughter Diakite, the achievement of that ambition lies in doubt.

"Are we even independent today?" she asks.
Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray is likely to raise the issue of the lack of the Centres support to fight the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak during the virtual meeting convened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday.

The PM will hold a virtual meeting with the CMs and health ministers of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Punjab, the seven states that have the maximum case load, and discuss their preparedness and response.

Also read: Should we cheer the fall in Indias Covid-19 cases?

Maharashtra accounts for 22.34% of the countrys total Covid-19 cases and 37.56% of the fatalities. The state has recorded 1,242,770 cases and 33,407 fatalities since the outbreak was first reported in March.

State officials said the Union governments help is needed since Maharashtra is still the epicentre of the viral outbreak in the country. Officials said that the CM is expected to raise the issue of the Centres lack of support. From September 1, the Centre has stopped providing PPE and test kits, N-95 masks, ventillators, etc. The CM will take up the issue and seek an extension of the Central governments support, an official said.

State minister for health and family welfare Rajesh Tope is also banking on the Centres help.We will need the Centres support in these matters. It will be discussed at the meeting.

Officials said the lack of Centres assistance has added to the states financial burden. The Centre is yet to pay the compensation for the Goods and Services Tax (GST) to the state. On top of that, it has stopped providing assistance to battle the outbreak. How can the state function when there is no end to the Covid-19 pandemic? asked an official, requesting anonymity.

Maharashtra on Tuesday reported 18,390 fresh cases, as the tally rose to 1,242,770.

The state surpassed 6,000,000 tests after 105,026 swab samples were tested in the past 24 hours. Mumbai reported 1,628 new cases to push its tally to 187,904. It also reported 50 deaths, as the toll rose to 8,555.

At present, Maharashtra has 272,410 active cases. On Tuesday, the state reported 392 fresh Covid-19-related deaths, and the toll climbed to 33,407.

Tuesday was the fifth consecutive day when Maharashtras recoveries exceeded the number of fresh cases. On Tuesday, the state reported 20,206 recoveries, and the tally rose to 936,554. The states recovery rate has also improved to 75.36%.

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GRAND RAPIDS, MI  A judge dismissed a lawsuit this week by a Grand Valley State University students family who alleged police failed to protect her before she was shot and killed by her ex-boyfriend in a murder-suicide.

Rosemarie Reilly, 21, was killed Nov. 6, 2016, by Jeremy Kelley, 21, at her friends home on Lake Drive SE in Eastown.

In the middle of the night, Kelley dragged her out by her hair. He shot her with a 9mm Beretta pistol when she tried to go back inside. He then shot himself.

Reillys mother, Pamela Reilly, filed a federal lawsuit against campus police officers, Ottawa County sheriffs deputies and the county, and Kelleys late father, Sean Kelley, a Bloomfield Township police officer who had talked to police about his son.

The mother contended that police knew the ex-boyfriend had a gun and failed to protect her daughter despite repeated reports of stalking, assaults and threats.

Defendants knew of Jeremys propensity for violence yet did nothing to protect Rosemarie Reilly. The risk that Jeremy was out of control and dangerous to Rosemarie Reilly was obvious and known by defendants, the lawsuit said.

U.S. District Judge Janet Neff in Grand Rapids dismissed the lawsuit Monday, Sept. 21 against all defendants, including sheriffs Deputy Brandon Tubergen, Sgt. Chris Dills, Sgt. Dennis Luce, GVSU director of public safety Brandon DeHaan and GVSU officer Collin Wallace.

The lawsuit alleged wrongful death and violations of the 14th Amendment protections for due process and to be free from dangers created by the state.

The United States Supreme Court has instructed that even in the face of undeniably tragic and calamitous circumstances, [a]s a general matter, ... a States failure to protect an individual against private violence simply does not constitute a violation of the Due Process Clause, Neff wrote in a 21-page opinion.

She said the plaintiffs had a high bar to show that Reilly was safer before police took any action. The judge noted that before Reilly contacted police, Kelley had attempted suicide, stalked and harassed her so much that she moved out of their home and assaulted her several times, once breaking her nose.

He had called her 43 times over four days, ending Oct. 11, 2016. That day, he held a gun to his head after he could not find her. The next day, he jumped in front of her car, pounded on the window and head-butted her car. He put a gun against her head that day and threatened to kill her, the lawsuit said.

Reilly then contacted GVSU police who helped her with a no-trespassing order and contacted the Sheriffs Department to provide her with paperwork for a personal-protection order. Police later mailed a warrant to Kelley for stalking.

A sheriffs deputy told Kelley to leave Rosemarie alone, the lawsuit said. She was told to file a complaint over Kelley holding a gun to her head.

The judge said the actions did not increase danger to Reilly. She said that a ruling by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati required the plaintiffs to 'point to conduct which either created or increased the risk of harm, and show not only that (she) could have been saved, but also that (she) was safer before the state action than (she) was after it.'

The judge also rejected claims that the officers were the proximate cause of Reillys death, which is required under the states wrongful death statute.

The cause of Reillys death was clearly Jeremys conduct, not any alleged actions or inactions by the Defendants," she wrote.

Read more:

Family of murder-suicide victim, GVSU student says police failed to protect

Young woman stalked by ex-boyfriend before murder-suicide: court records

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Former President John Dramani Mahama has once again jabbed government over its plan to ban the importation of salvaged cars and those older than ten years into Ghana.

The Akufo-Addo government introduced the Customs Amendment Act to ban the importation of such vehicles in a bid to encourage private firms to build car assembly plants in the country.

Government set the date for the implementation of the law on November 1, 2020, but has suspended it following agitation from local automobile dealers.

Mr. Mahama who has been against the introduction of the assembly plants say the move is not any better alternative to the importation of salvaged vehicles.

At a meeting with members of the Association of Garages as part of a campaign tour to Sunyani in the Bono Region, the opposition leader dismissively likened the vehicles to be assembled by automobile giant -Volkswagen in Ghana to beetle cars popularly referred in local parlance as aptr (frog) car.

Listen to the full audio here:

 citinewsroom
CAIRO  Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has recently toned down his rhethoric on Egypt. In a press statement on Sept. 18, carried by Al-Arabiya website, he was quoted saying, We have no objection to holding meetings with the Egyptian authorities.

He continued, Holding intelligence meetings with Egypt is a different matter, and it is possible, but the agreement they made with Greece saddened us.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias had signed 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.

This comes as the eastern Mediterranean region experiences rising tension. 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 headed by Fayez al-Sarraj.

Erdogan's openness to dialogue came after Sarraj announced Sept. 16 his intention to resign from his post. He claimed his government has not been operating in a normal environment since its formation, and "has faced internal and external plots.

Egypt has yet to issue any official comment on the Turkish president's statements of Ankara's desire for dialogue with Egypt.

In this context, Tarek Fahmy, professor of political science at Cairo University, told Al-Monitor, A dialogue between Egypt and Turkey requires Ankara to examine all outstanding issues between the two countries as one package. This includes Turkeys relationship with the Muslim Brotherhood, Turkish media platforms hostile to Egypt and the Turkish authorities interventions in Libya and the eastern Mediterranean. But Turkey wants to deal with all these issues separately.

He added, Bilateral relations will only be improved if all pending issues are discussed. Otherwise, Egypt will not accept entering into a dialogue. Therefore, Turkey should stop its interference in the region and build more trustworthy relations at the regional level and with Egypt.

Hours after Erdogans statements, Egypt responded to statements made by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu regarding the Egyptian political developments since the June 30 Revolution. Spokesman of Egypts Foreign Ministry Ahmed Hafez labeled Cavusoglus statements as negative. He pointed out that Turkeys insistence on speaking about Egypt in this negative tone reveals contradiction and lack of credibility regarding its claims to create an appropriate climate for relations based on respect and abidance by international legitimacy.

Rakha Hassan, a member of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs, told Al-Monitor that opening an Egyptian-Turkish dialogue requires Ankara to stop its interference in Egyptian internal affairs. Turkey should stop harboring fugitives sentenced for terrorist crimes in Egypt, and Turkish media platforms should refrain from posting hostile and defamatory content about Egypt, he said.

Hassan said that actions speak louder than words, adding, Turkey always expresses its desire to open a dialogue to ease the tensions ratcheting up in the eastern Mediterranean region. But this is not enough. There are other thorny issues between the two countries.

He noted, however, that the ball now is in Turkeys court. If Turkey is serious about opening a comprehensive dialogue, then Egypt will have no objection to this, he said.

On Sept. 9, Shoukry told the Arab Ministerial Committee on Turkish Interventions in Arab Countries headed by Egypt that blatant Turkish practices and interventions in multiple Arab countries are the most significant emerging threats to Arab national security. The committee met within the framework of the 154th ordinary session of the Arab League Council. Shoukry underscored the need for a firm unified Arab policy to ward off Turkeys interference.

Earlier on June 20, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said his country has a legitimate right to intervene in neighboring Libya. His statements were made after inspecting military units at an air base near the border with Libya. Any direct intervention from the Egyptian state has now acquired international legitimacy, Sisi said.

On July 17, Erdogan had denounced Egypts support to strongman Khalifa Hifter leading the Tobruk-based Libyan National Army. Egypt's steps [in Libya]  especially their standing next to putschist Hifter  shows that they are in an illegal process, Erdogan said, according to Turkeys pro-government Daily Sabah newspaper.

In a press statement to Al-Masry Al-Youm Sept. 19, former Foreign Minister Mohammed al-Orabi said Erdogan's recent statements aim to ease regional and international pressure on him. He argued that the Turkish president has recently crossed some red lines when he imagined that he could alone draw state borders and occupy countries. Orabi added that Erdogan and his policies cannot be trusted and precaution is required when dealing with him.
1. November is a long time from now and no one knows if the same protocols will be in place.

2. Have you looked at the list of approved labs at visitjamaica.com?

3. You do not have to test at a lab. You need to find a testing site that uses an accredited lab to process their tests.

4. Have you tried your physicians office or a local urgent care?

5. Keep watching for changing protocols at visitjamaica.com

Edited: 1 year ago
Thousands of people of mixed Sudanese-South Sudanese origin are at risk of statelessness in Sudan, because of gender discriminatory nationality laws that deny mothers the right to confer nationality on their children. Sudanese mother of five Hanan Jaber Abdallah only gained nationality for her five children after an eight-year struggle.  UNHCR/Mohamed Elfatih Elnaiem

NEW YORK, NY  Today, at a high level event during the 75th Annual UN General Assembly, UN Women, the UN Development Programme, UNHCR, and the Global Campaign for Equal Nationality Rights called for reform of nationality laws that discriminate on the basis of gender. Currently, 25 countries retain nationality laws that deny women the right to confer citizenship on their children on an equal basis with men. More than fifty countries have nationality laws with gender-discriminatory provisions, with most denying women the same right as men to pass nationality to a noncitizen spouse.

Gender discrimination in nationality laws undermines womens equal citizenship and results in wide-ranging rights violations and hardships for affected families, including obstacles to accessing education, healthcare, employment, family unity, freedom of movement, inheritance and property rights, said Global Campaign for Equal Nationality Rights Manager Catherine Harrington.

Research shows that gender discrimination in nationality laws is also a primary cause of statelessness, which affects millions of people globally, and is also linked with gender-based violence. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, gender discrimination in nationality laws is exacerbating the vulnerability of affected families.

Todays event was timed with both 75th anniversary of the U.N. and the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action  a groundbreaking agreement by all members of the UN to eliminate discrimination against women. During todays event, panelists underscored that gender-equal nationality laws are essential to achieving gender equality, sustainable development, and security.

Eliminating gender discrimination in nationality laws is a peace and security imperative, as well as a human rights and development issue. Putting an end to gender discrimination in nationality laws would have profound impacts on hundreds of thousands of lives through, for example, improved access to education, health care, identity documents, employment and inheritance, as well as the reduction of statelessness, conflict, and forced displacement globally, said UN Women Deputy Executive Director Anita Bhatia.

Minsters of Justice Pholile Shakantu and Kokouvi Agbetomy, representing Eswatini and Togo respectively, discussed their countries current efforts to advance nationality law reforms to uphold gender equality. The Government of Eswatini and a number of others pledged reform at a High-Level Segment on Statelessness that UNHCR hosted last year to help advance the #IBelong Campaign to End Statelessness.

A young Nepali activist, Neha Gurung, shared the impact of statelessness on her life, as a result of her mothers inability to confer nationality on her child at birth, and called for all countries to enshrine equal nationality rights for women and men in law.

Historically common in many countries, the number of States with gender discriminatory nationality laws continues to decrease and momentum for gender-equal nationality rights is building in countries where such legislation persists.

Gender-equal nationality laws are not only fundamental to womens equal citizenship, but support childrens rights, families wellbeing, and sustainable development, thereby benefitting society as a whole, said Harrington, Now is the time to end gender discrimination in nationality laws  a harmful, man-made problem  once and for all.
- The ancient walls of Benin have been said to be a strong pointer to the fact that Africans were advanced in knowledge before modern civilisation

- The walls all came down during the 1897 expedition sponsored by the British, a thing that almost erased that rich historical era

- However, there are still places in the Benin Kingdom like the house in Obasagbon, that has features of that ancient period

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Emerging facts by The African History have shown the Benin Kingdom, one of the oldest cities in Africa, as one of the wonders of the world before the modern age.

Briefly.co.za learnt that the same media said that the wall of the kingdom was razed during the 1897 expedition, adding that the act really affected the history of Benin and the proof that there were African civilisations before modernism.

Longer than China Wall

For more than four centuries, the walls were a fortress as it protected the people of Edo and their civilization. Quoting Fred Pearce of New Scientist, it said that the walls were four times longer than Chinas Great Wall.

In all, they are four times longer than Chinas Great Wall and have absorbed a hundred times more content than the Great Cheops Pyramid. It took an estimated 150 million hours of digging to create and is possibly the planets largest single archaeological phenomenon, he said.

Made it into Guinness Book of Records

Fred went ahead to say that the Guinness Book of Records (1974 edition) described the Benin walls as the largest earthworks in the world carried out before the mechanical age.

The captain of the Portuguese ship, Lourenco Pinto, in 1691 was also amazed by it all as he commended the height of the structure.

A collage of the pictures showing the wall. Photo source: The African History

Source: UGC

They all came crumbling down

The loss of the history of the wall started in the 15th century, a thing that was made worse by border conflicts and the expedition in the 1980s by the British that completely ruined the city.

After that horrible incident, no effort was made towards restoring the walls of the city. An architecture that bears proof of the formidable wall is a house in Obasagbon bearing features of the ancient city.

Meanwhile, it was earlier reported that when it comes to culture and tradition in Nigeria, the Benin people and their institutions remain one of the best as the indigenes grow up knowing every 'commandment' whether written or handed down by elders.

The Benin monarch, being the chief custodian of the traditions, is also well-revered with most of his utterances seen and taken as law.

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Source: Briefly News
- A group of youths has come up with a brilliant idea to save Nairobians from the tension of walking around the CBD in fear of being robbed

-Through their Shikilia store, they provide storage services at a fee where one can store his/her luggage and fetch it later

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Walking in the Central Business District (CBD) of Kenya's capital city Nairobi can be challenging at times due to the dense population and traffic snarl-ups.

With this in mind, securing one's belongings becomes a priority to avoid being robbed.

READ ALSO: Kisumu woman claims lover reported her to police for 'eating' his KSh 2,000 fare

A group of youths has since come up with a brilliant idea to save Nairobians from the tension of walking around the CBD in fear of being robbed. Photo: NTV

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Stop copying me: Alfred Mutua accuses Musalia Mudavadi of stealing his political strategies

A group of youths has since come up with a brilliant idea to save Nairobians from the tension of walking around the CBD with their expensive or bulky belongings in fear of being robbed.

Through their Shikilia store, they provide storage services at a fee where one can store his/her luggage and fetch it later.

Through there Shikilia store, they provide storage services at a fee where one can store his/her luggage and fetch it later. Photo: Business Daily

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Machachari actor Baha romantically gushes over lover's beauty: "Msupa"

Speaking to NTV on Wednesday, September 23, John Kihara, a worker at the store, said their idea was informed by an increase in the number of theft cases during the coronavirus pandemic period

"You might not be able to walk with your laptop in some part of town because it will be stolen, this kind of serveice is helping members of public keep their goods safe," said Kihara.

Necessity is the mother of inventions, as earlier reported by TUKO.co.ke, a class three pupil from Bungoma identified as Stephen determined to curb the spread of COVID-19 disease worked with his father to design and introduce an innovative hand washing system.

The station is hands-free and just by the press of the foot pedal, a user is able to dispense soap and clean water. The station also has a basin and the wastewater disposal system. Photo: NTV

Source: UGC

This was after the Class Three pupil was bothered with people sharing bar soaps placed outside shops to wash their hands noting the disease would still spread.

The station is hands-free and just by the press of the foot pedal, a user is able to dispense soap and clean water. The station also has a basin and the wastewater disposal system.

Stephen's father believed that even if his son does not succeed in his academics, he is convinced his creativity and talent can be manipulated to enable him to make it in life.

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My mother abandoned me with two holes in my heart | Tuko TV

Source: TUKO.co.ke
Exclusive focus on innovative drug-development companies

Global investment scope with a primary focus on Switzerland and Europe

Team with deep expertise in investing, company building, and drug development

First seven investments completed

ST. PETER PORT, Guernsey and KUSNACHT/ZURICH, Switzerland, September 23, 2020 / B3C newswire / -- Pureos Bioventures, a newly formed venture capital firm, advised by Bellevue Asset Management, announced the closing of its first fund BB Pureos Bioventures LP (Pureos) with committed capital of USD 170 million. Pureos will exclusively invest in innovative private drug development companies with an emphasis on novel biological drugs and emerging modalities such as nucleic acid, cell, and gene therapies. The funds portfolio companies are built on scientific excellence with strong teams to develop therapies across a broad indication spectrum including oncology, immunology, ophthalmology, rare diseases, and neuroscience. The fund invests globally, with a primary focus on Switzerland and Europe. The Pureos team consists of experienced venture capitalists, biotech entrepreneurs, and drug developers.

For its first fund, Pureos is building a balanced portfolio of 15-20 pre-clinical and clinical-stage companies. Its initial investments include Alentis Therapeutics AG, AM-Pharma BV, Eyevensys SAS, Imcheck Therapeutics SAS, Lava Therapeutics BV, NovaGo Therapeutics AG and Vico Therapeutics BV. Company building is an important part of Pureos. It is a Partner of BaseLaunch, a start-up accelerator in Basel and together with a team of Entrepreneurs-in-Residence, Pureos is working on translating ground-breaking science into novel companies.

Founding partners Klaus Breiner, Dominik Escher, and Martin Munchbach stated: We are extremely pleased with the successful closing of our first fund. This would not have been possible without the trust and support of our investors to whom we are tremendously thankful. With the entrusted monies, we want to build and support great teams developing innovative therapeutics for devastating diseases that make a true difference for patients.

The supporters of the first Pureos fund include strategic limited partners, such as pharmaceutical and biotech companies as well as a large contract manufacturer, and family offices, institutional investors, and fund-of-funds.

About Pureos Bioventures

Pureos Bioventures is a newly formed venture capital fund, advised by Bellevue Asset Management. Pureos invests exclusively in private innovative drug development companies, with a special emphasis on the next generation of biological drugs and drug formats. The funds portfolio companies are built on scientific excellence to develop therapies across a broad indication spectrum including oncology, immunology, ophthalmology, rare diseases, and neuroscience. Pureos has built a team with deep investment, operating, and clinical expertise, that strives to impact patients lives by advancing innovative treatments for devastating diseases.

Contacts

Pureos

Dr. Klaus Breiner

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Dr. Dominik Escher

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Dr. Anja Harmeier

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Dr. Martin Munchbach

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Bellevue

Tanja Chicherio

+41 44 267 67 00

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Disclaimer

The state of the origin of BB Pureos Bioventures L.P. (the Fund) is Guernsey.

For Switzerland: The Representative in Switzerland is ACOLIN Fund Services AG, Leutschenbachstrasse 50, CH-8050 Zurich, whilst the Paying Agent is Quintet Private Bank (Schweiz) AG, Bahnhofstrasse 13, 8001 Zurich, Switzerland. In Switzerland, the Fund documents may only be distributed to qualified investors within the meaning of Art. 10 Para. 3, 3bis, and 3ter CISA. In respect of the units distributed in or from Switzerland, the place of jurisdiction is Guernsey. The basic documents of the Fund as well as the annual and the quarter-annual reports may be obtained free of charge at the registered office of the Swiss Representative.

Keywords: Investments; Financial Management; Capital Financing; Biotechnology; Commerce; Europe; Switzerland

Published by B3C newswire


Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa has fronted Pakistans exercise to create a province in disputed Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) in the occupied Northern Areas, holding a quiet meeting with the countrys politicians on the topic before a minister went public with Islamabads plans last week. But the army, people familiar with the matter said, isnt driving the creation of the fifth province alone.

A 39-year-old has also been hard at work. Moeed W Yusuf.

Yusuf, Special Assistant to Prime Minister Imran Khan on National Security Division and Strategic Planning, has been a principal player in Islamabads decision to revoke the notional autonomy granted to Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and incorporate the disputed region as one of Pakistans five provinces, Pakistan watchers in New Delhi said, describing Pakistans young National Security Adviser as one of the projects key driving forces.

Gilgit-Baltistans assimilation into the Islamic Republic works well with China that has poured billions of dollars - even if much of it is a loan - into the China Pakistan Economic Corridor to build an alternative supply route to the choked, and vulnerable Malacca Strait, the main shipping channel between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. The army has scaled up its presence in the GB region over the years to secure the CPEC that has faced some opposition from locals over concerns that it destroys the environment, culture and social fabric without much benefit to the people.

The effort to change Gilgit-Baltistans disputed status also fits in well with Moeed Yusufs long-standing project to turn the Line of Control with India into an International Border. Back in 2009 when he was still an academic and building his ties to the establishment in Pakistan and the United States, Moeed Yusuf had advocated converting the LoC into the IB, with both sides maintaining sovereign control over the respective parts of Jammu and Kashmir.

A Pakistan watcher said Moeed Yusuf explored the possibility of formalising the LoC as the border between the two countries nearly a decade later when he visited New Delhi in 2018. By then, he had entrenched himself in the establishment in Washington via the US Institute of Peace and worked closely with the Pakistan Army and the Inter-Services Intelligence., he said.

Yusuf had cultivated an image of being an advocate of Indo-Pak peace and resolution of the Kashmir issue at USIP. He did run into a bit of a controversy at USIP months before Imran Khan picked him as his special adviser in December 2019 when objections were raised about the public-funded institution becoming a venue of choice for hosting Pakistani officials at events reserved for select invitees. One South Asia expert Dr Christine Fair also alleged that Yusuf had been sharing sensitive information with Pakistani agencies using his position and access within the USIP.

Moeed Yusuf is said to have continued to speak about his ideas on Indo-Pak relations after he joined Imran Khans team as well and plugged the agenda with General Bajwa and other top military officers.

In his new role in Imran Khans team, his understanding and familiarity with the American system helped to position him as the main strategic thinker for the Pakistani leadership, particularly on dealing with the US Administration, Congress, bureaucracy and the think-tanks.

Not much is known about his views on Pakistans support of terrorism to achieve political and diplomatic ends, particularly in Kashmir. Indian counter-terror officials said they had not heard of any instance where Moeed Yusuf had spoken of ending the establishments support to terrorists operating in India.

What we do know is that he did come up with the idea that Pakistan should not seek mediation on Kashmir over concerns that Islamabad could be placed in an awkward position if the US came up with a unilateral proposal, akin to Donald Trumps Middle East Plan, a senior Indian official said. This idea, however, did not find any support within the military and the foreign office.

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The U.S. Department of Labor on Tuesday said it would soon propose a rule that could make it easier to classify workers as independent contractors rather than employees, a major issue for the gig economy and other industries that use contractors to contain costs.

During a phone call with reporters, senior department officials said the rule, if adopted, would provide courts with a cleaner and easier-to-use process than the complex multi-factor test currently applied in lawsuits alleging workers have been misclassified.

Independent contractors are not entitled to many of the legal protections afforded to employees, such as minimum wage and overtime pay. Employees can cost companies up to 40% more than contractors, according to several studies.

The labor department will publish a formal proposal by next week, the officials said, and adopt a final rule by the end of the year.

Under the proposal, a worker would be considered a companys employee if he or she is economically dependent on the company for work. But a worker who operates an independent business and has opportunities for profit or loss would be deemed an independent contractor.

The proposal comes as Uber Technologies Inc and other gig economy firms are challenging a California law adopted last year that makes it more difficult to treat workers as independent contractors..

Uber and courier service Postmates Inc. have filed a lawsuit claiming the law is unconstitutional. The companies also have launched a campaign to urge California voters to approve a ballot referendum in November that would exempt app-based services from the scope of the law.

The upcoming proposal by the labor department would not override stricter state laws. But it would likely make it more difficult for workers to bring nationwide class-action lawsuits claiming they have been misclassified as independent contractors.

(Reporting by Daniel Wiessner in Albany, New York Editing by Marguerita Choy)

Topics Contractors
~Government yield huge savings with cuts in phone bills.~

PHILIPSBURG:---Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion announced on Wednesday at the Council of Ministers press briefing that discussions with the Dutch Government regarding the funding for the SSRP and the conditions that the Dutch imposed on St. Maarten.

Irion said on Tuesday a meeting was held with the CFT and the government were informed that the cuts they made are not being recognized as cuts instead they must dig deep into the salaries of civil servants as requested by the Dutch Government. The Minister of Finance explained that the cuts made on the phone bills and the uniforms for civil servants are not recognized because these benefits are not listed in the contracts of the civil servants.

Irion said that the goalposts are constantly being moved by the Dutch Government and when they confront the CFT about their advises the CFT would tell the St. Maarten Government that they have to follow the demands of the Kingdom Council of Ministers while the Kingdom Council of Ministers oftentimes say they are following the advice given by the CFT.

The Minister of Finance said the government managed to save a huge amount of money annually with its cuts on phone bills. The breakdown of the annual costs for telephone use:

Irion said the government is now working on cuts for the use of gas bonds which will soon go into effect.

Meanwhile, businesses that are interested in the SSRP support for the month of July can apply now through the SSRP portal.
Suspected terrorists killed a Block Development Council chairman at Khag in central Kashmirs Budgam district on Wednesday evening. Officials said that unidentified gunmen attacked Bupinder Singh at a time when he was not accompanied by his personnel security officers (PSOs).

Singh later succumbed to his injuries. Singh left his two PSOs at Khag police station and left ancestral home alone, Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar said.

Condemning the killing, BJP state spokesperson Altaf Thakur said, Singh was an independent chairman and was killed at Khag. Our party condemns the killing. Since June five BJP leaders including two sarpanches have been killed in different parts of Kashmir.
Farm sector reforms such as amending the Essential Commodities Act, liberalising the provisions of the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee Acts and contract farming etc. have been debated for decades. After these reforms have been shaped into law, farmers are on the war path in several states to oppose them. Many opposition parties have come out in support of farmers and are demanding withdrawal of these steps.

The agriculture produce market regulation scheme has had a long history. It all started in the British period with the Berar Cotton and Grain Market act of 1887 in the Hyderabad Residency. This law marked the beginning of the agriculture marketing scene in the country which got support of the Royal Commission on Agriculture 1928 that recommended establishment of regulated markets and establishment of market yards. Later, the Government of India prepared a model bill and circulated it to all the states in 1938 but nothing much happened before Independence.

Once India gained freedom, most of the states during the sixties and seventies enacted the agriculture produce marketing laws. Over a period of time, several limitations and constraints of the present agricultural marketing system such as lack of sufficient markets and inadequate marketing infrastructure, high incidence of market fee/charges and lack of competition with a long chain of intermediaries became apparent. Accordingly, the Union agriculture ministry formulated a Model APMC Act/Rules on agricultural marketing in consultation with the state governments and circulated it to them for adoption in 2003 and 2007 respectively. Several States initiated steps to amend their APMC Acts/Rules, but there was variation in adoption of the contents and coverage of reforms to the APMC Acts/Rules across the States/UTs. Further, as per government of India documents, during discussions and consultations at various levels, there was a persistent demand for expediting reforms in agricultural marketing in order to facilitate private sector investment in this important area. To suggest measures to overcome the farm sector marketing issues, the UPA Government set up an empowered committee of state ministers in-charge of agricultural marketing on 2 March 2010 to persuade various States/UTs to implement the reforms in agriculture marketing through adoption of Model APMC Act and the Rules.

The committee submitted its interim report in 2011 to the then Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar and the final report in January 2013, recommending reforms in agriculture marketing to ensure barrier-free marketing of the produce by farmers and participation of private players along with promoting contract farming. The three farm bills are along the lines recommended by this committee of state ministers in-charge of agriculture marketing.

Undoubtedly, nobody can oppose the idea that the farmers should have complete freedom to sell their produce to any one who offers them the highest price and they should not be compelled to sell their produce only in the designated mandi. Similarly, the one nation one market concept is an ideal, which needs to be pursued and implemented per se. The concept of contract farming is in vogue in cane-growing areas for decades so we have the experience to weigh the pros and cons of this initiative and ensure putting in place such a mechanism which can rule out any possibility of farmers being cheated or taken for a ride by private players.

But the distinction between the agriculture produce market and all other product markets has to be kept in mind while carrying out market reforms. It is to be understood that the agri-produce marketing is different from the marketing of manufactured commodities because of the special characteristics like perishability of the products and seasonality of production since they cannot be produced throughout the year. In the harvest season, prices have to fall due to demand and supply mismatch unlike the supply of manufactured products whose production can be adjusted as per demand .With the varying supply, the demand remaining almost constant, the prices of agricultural products crash during the harvest season. This is where the support of the government through minimum support price becomes extremely crucial to prevent distress sale of farm produce. So any kind of market reform and opening up of markets to private players has to be accompanied by effective implementation and continuation of minimum support price scheme for all kinds of agri-products. Looking at the prevailing scenario, no government can dare withdraw the MSP scheme. Hence, farmers need not worry on this count. The PM has also made it clear that the MSP scheme will continue.

But these legislations are not going to solve all other problems ailing the farm sector. The government has to take steps to urgently fix the problem of supply of uncertified and poor quality seeds, overuse of chemical fertilizers, corruption in fertilizer subsidy regime, dwindling irrigation potential across the country, lack of proper extension services, wide spread corruption in food crop procurement and storage operations, lack of cold chain facilities, shortages in storage capacity, lack of agro-based industries and fixing of remunerative procurement prices etc. Since nearly 60% of our population is dependent on agriculture, the time has come to turn the nations focus towards them. No empty promises but sincere actions are the need of the hour.

(VS Pandey is a former IAS officer. He retired as secretary, department of fertilisers in the Government of India)
LISBON, Portugal, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Hovione today announced the signing of a partnership agreement with Ligand to significantly ramp up the production output of Captisol. Captisol, a Ligand product, is a chemically modified cyclodextrin proven to improve the solubility and stability of drugs. It is used in the formulation of Gilead's COVID-19 treatment Veklury (remdesivir). Hovione is the sole producer of this key enabling excipient.

The COVID-19 pandemic has to date killed one million people; studies show that in the next 3 months cumulative deaths may more than double.

"To meet Captisol demand associated with Veklury, Hovione will soon be producing per month the quantity it usually produces in one year. This sudden spike in demand has required unique mobilization efforts across the Hovione network to secure additional raw material supply, execute major capital expenditure projects at our sites, maximize operational efficiency, hire additional talent and identify external partners to expand our overall capacity. The pharmaceutical supply chain is working together in an unprecedented fashion to treat patients and save lives. Hovione is privileged to be part of this truly global response," said Jean-Luc Herbeaux, Chief Operating Officer.

"Ligand values its longstanding partnership with Hovione," said Matt Foehr, President and Chief Operating Officer of Ligand. "Their excellent customer service, global commitment to quality and high pharmaceutical standards make them an ideal partner for Captisol, a critical component for a number of life-saving medicines. We commend them for responsibly and efficiently partnering with Ligand to manage the scale up and expansion of their operations to contribute to global health during the pandemic."

About Captisol

Ligand's Captisol technology is a patent protected, uniquely modified cyclodextrin, with a chemical structure that was rationally designed to enable the creation of new products by significantly improving solubility, stability, bioavailability and dosing of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). It uses a green manufacturing process that uses water as process solvent.

About Veklury (remdesivir)

Gilead Sciences' Veklury is an investigational nucleotide analog with broad-spectrum antiviral activity both in vitro and in vivo in animal models against multiple emerging viral pathogens. Multiple ongoing international Phase 3 clinical trials are evaluating the safety and efficacy of Veklury for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection, the virus that causes COVID-19, in different patient populations, formulations, and in combination with other therapies. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) enabling use of the investigational antiviral Veklury to treat all hospitalized patients with COVID-19, in addition to the previous authorization for patients hospitalized with severe COVID-19.

About Hovione

Hovione is an international company with over 60 years of experience as a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) and is currently a fully integrated supplier offering services for drug substance, drug product intermediate and drug product. With four FDA inspected sites in the USA, China, Ireland and Portugal and development laboratories in Lisbon, Portugal and New Jersey, USA, the company provides branded pharmaceutical customers services for the development and compliant manufacture of innovative drugs including highly potent compounds. For generic pharmaceutical customers the company offers niche API products. Hovione also provides proprietary product development and licensing opportunities for drug products. In the inhalation area, Hovione is the only independent company offering a complete range of services. Please visit www.hovione.com

Contact

Isabel Pina.

Director External Communications

[email protected]

Tel: +351 21 982 9362

+351 91 750 7462

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PIGEON  Although the issue of who can set cremation fees has been laid to rest by Tuscola Countys legal counsel, some Huron County funeral home owners are preparing to also challenge the fee.

The law firm of Braun Kendrick asserted to the Michigan Institute of Forensic Science and Medicine that Tuscola County has the right to set the cremation fee charged by the medical examiners office.

The issue in Tuscola County was MIFSM changing the charge for a cremation from $10 to $63 without notice, and keeping the funds charged for the permits.

According to James Childs, who owns Champagne Funeral Chapel in Pigeon, funeral home owners in Huron County are also planning to challenge MIFSM on cremation fees.

We let Tuscola County lead the way to trying to get the issue resolved," said Childs, who has owned the funeral home in Pigeon for 16 years. "We wanted to see how they resolved it and then bring it up in Huron County.

Childs has a copy of Braun Kendricks letter that acknowledged Tuscola County commissioners have the exclusive authority over the fee charged for cremation permits, and that MIFSM must cease and desist changing the increase and cremations fees and send the fee to the county treasurer, who will then forwarded them to MIFSM.

I gave that letter to Commissioner Steve Vaughan last week," Childs said. "We wanted him to review it, and then reach out to him to talk about what I should do."

Vaughan is the commissioner for District 4, which covers the townships of Chandler, Colfax, Meade, Oliver, and the village of Elkton.

MIFSM signed a contract with the county and then immediately stopped following the terms of the contact by raising the rates and keeping the funds, Childs said. It makes me wonder what other things they are not going to do correctly.

Funeral homes in Huron County, like Tuscola County, were not notified in advance of the cremation permit fee increase. Huron Countys charge for a cremation fee permit had been $35 at the time commissioners contracted with MIFSM.

Initially, we just ate the cost difference because we didnt know anything about it," Childs said. "The funerals were done and over and had been paid. Then, we got notice of the fee change. In going forward we had been passing on the additional cost ($28) to the family.

He estimated his funeral home has had 25 cremation permits issued.

All of this could have been prevented with better communication had MIFSM let us know they had raised prices, would have been helpful, he said.

Childs noted he is unsure when the issue will go before the Huron County commissioners, but the plan is to make them aware of it and to address the matter like Tuscola did.

During discussions, Doctor David Stockman, who is the CEO of MIFSM, contends the company has the right to cover its costs, and that it provided an invaluable service at a cost savings to counties.

The issue of the arbitrary fee charge was brought to Tuscola commissioners' attention by Mark Ransford, of Ransford-Collon Funeral Home, who was the spokesperson for Tuscolas funeral homes.

Ransford pointed out Tuscola County, as well as the other counties that contracted with MIFSM, abdicated their responsibility to a private sector entity. In doing that, it combined two different philosophies of free-market and government, which gave a private enterprise the ability to choose the best of both.

The county advocated a fundamental responsibility they have by subcontracting it to a group that they have little or no control over or understanding of, Ransford explained. Im not calling into question MIFSMs ethics. This comes down to a bad contract, and maybe a miss-placed idea.

About a year ago, MIFSM, which was the brainchild of Doctors Russell Bush and Stockman  who had been Tuscola Countys medical examiners, formed the central location for forensic science and medicine rather than each county operating its own.

MIFSM is a private, full service regional medical examiner system based at 614 Johnson St., Saginaw. So far 10 counties  including Huron and Tuscola  have contracted for their services.

Because of the consolidation of services into one entity, there are now 23 investigators, two pathologists, four medical examiners, and an in-house toxicology lab in Saginaw.
A Federal Court judge has blasted acting Immigration Minister Alan Tudge for leaving a man in immigration detention after he was granted a protection visa, in the latest in a series of excoriating decisions about the federal government's immigration policy.

In a decision on Wednesday, Justice Geoffrey Flick said Mr Tudge had "unlawfully deprived a person of his liberty" and his "conduct exposes him to both civil and potentially criminal sanctions, not limited to a proceeding for contempt".

Acting Immigration Minister Alan Tudge has been blasted by a Federal Court judge. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

"In the absence of explanation, the Minister has engaged in conduct which can only be described as criminal," Justice Flick said.

Lawyers for Mr Tudge had asked the Federal Court to quash a decision of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal in March this year to grant a protection visa to a citizen of Afghanistan.
New coronavirus restrictions do not go far enough, scientists warn

Boris Johnsons latest measures aimed at curbing the spread of Covid-19 do not go far enough to slow the rapid resurgence of the virus, experts have warned.

Closing pubs and restaurants at 10pm and reducing the size of wedding parties would not be sufficient, scientists said following the Prime Minister's announcement of new rules last night.

Under the new rules, businesses will face 10,000 fines or closure for failing to comply with coronavirus rules, and people risk 200 penalties for failing to wear masks or breaching the rule of six.

The military could also be used to free up police officers to tackle coronavirus rule-breakers.

No-deal Brexit could hit economy three times harder than Covid-19, think tank warns

Britains failure to reach an agreement with the EU in post-Brexit trade talks could hit the economy three times harder than coronavirus, a think tank has warned.

Queues at the border, shortages of fresh food and medicine as well as more "hassle" travelling to the continent are also possible, it said.

A report by the UK in a Changing Europe group, based on modelling with the London School of Economics, said the impacts of coronavirus may mitigate or obscure the impact of a no-deal exit.

But it warned that not forming an agreement with Brussels would have a significant impact in the long term.

Most people with coronavirus develop symptoms, experts say

Most people with coronavirus have symptoms but asymptomatic cases may make up around 20 per cent of infections, a new study suggests.

Researchers analysed 79 studies with 6,616 participants to determine the proportion of Covid-19 sufferers who did not develop signs.

Published in PLOS Medicine, the research showed that there is a full spectrum of reactions to the strain including asymptomatic, mild, viral pneumonia, respiratory distress syndrome, and death.

China pledges to become carbon neutral by 2060

China, the world's worst polluter, has pledged to become carbon neutral before 2060 in a move that could prove to be a major step forward for the global climate fight.

The country also said it would scale up its efforts under the global Paris Agreement on climate change, with an aim to have its carbon dioxide emissions peak before 2030.

In a statement to United National General Assembly, the Chinese President Xi Jinping said the Covid-19 crisis reminded the world that humankind should launch a green revolution.

Great British Bake Offs Sura tearful after knocking Daves cakes to the floor

The opening episode of The Great British Bake Off certainly didnt disappoint when it came to drama.

Things went seriously awry during the first technical challenge of the hit baking contests eleventh series, when the 12 hopefuls were asked to make a set of pineapple upside down cakes to impress judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith.

31-year-old pharmacy worker Sura accidentally sent four of her fellow hopeful Daves pineapple upside down cakes toppling to the ground when she tried to swat a rogue fly out of the way.

She ended up bumping into Dave, causing his creations to fall onto the floor of the tent in dramatic fashion.

On this day...

480 BC: The Greeks defeated the Persians at the Battle of Salamis to halt their advance into Europe.

1846: The German astronomer Johann Galle and his assistant Heinrich d'Arrest discovered Neptune.

1848: Chewing-gum was first commercially produced by John Curtis on a stove in his home in Bangor, Maine, and sold as State Of Maine Pure Spruce Gum.

1889: Wilkie Collins, English novelist and pioneer of detective fiction (The Woman In White, The Moonstone), died in London.

1912: The first Keystone Cops film was released in America by Mack Sennett, called Cohen Collects A Debt.

1939: Sigmund Freud, Austrian psychiatrist and founder of psychoanalysis, died in Hampstead, aged 83.

1964: The first performance of Fiddler On The Roof took place in New York with Zero Mostel singing If I Were A Rich Man.

1973: Juan Peron was re-elected president of Argentina after being ousted almost 18 years earlier.

1974: The BBC Ceefax teletext service began, the world's first.
Mumbai, Sep 23 : Actor Ranveer Singh has pledged to constantly work with the deaf community, and he says his biggest dream is to help secure a better future for the community in India.

International Week of the Deaf commenced on September 21, and the community worldwide also celebrates International Sign Language Day on Wednesday. To commemorate the occasion, Ranveer released two sign language videos intended to increase awareness about Indian Sign Language (ISL). Ranveer has been campaigning to make ISL the 23rd official language of India.

"I want to elevate the experience of music for the deaf community. This is my pledge. Our biggest dream today is to help secure a better future for the deaf community in India, and we can only ask for this through our art," Ranveer said.

He urged everyone for supporting the community.

"But to make this a reality, we need your support. I urge my fellow Indians to support this cause and fight for a brighter future for our deaf brothers and sisters," the actor said.

Through his independent music label IncInk, the actor has released "Shwapon", a collaboration between SlowCheeta and Bengali folk artist Dipannita Acharya, and "Mehfil-E-HipHop" by four artistes -- Kaam Bhaari, Spitfire, SlowCheeta and Devil The Rhymer -- to promote this awareness initiative in India.

"At IncInk, the engagement of music for all is a priority. I forward parts of myself that go beyond being a performer here. The experience of music has shaped me as a person. Music has given me strength through struggles, and given me power to propel myself towards achievement," he said.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
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
- Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye has said that the nurses demands would soon be resolved

- The deputy minister of health pleaded with the nurses to return to their posts

- Dr Okoe-Boye is hopeful that the concerns tabled by the nurses will be resolved within 48 hours

Our manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

Install our latest app for Android and read the best news about Ghana

The recently appointed deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye, has revealed that the demands made by the nurses would soon be resolved.

He has urged them to return to their various work stations after they embarked on a nationwide strike over poor conditions of service.

According to him, the government has taken their concerns into consideration and has begun fulfilling some of them in the meantime.

Government will hopefully resolve nurses demands in 48 hours  Okoe-Boye Source: myjoyonline.com

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Kennedy Osei, Kwadwo Safo and 4 other sons of filthy rich men in Ghana

Speaking in an interview with JoyNews, Dr. Okoe-Boye said even though not every item on their check list has been approved, with time all their needs will be met.

Dr. Okoe-Boye is hopeful that the concerns tabled by the nurses will be resolved within 48 hours.

He added that the government has no intention of fighting the nurses on their demands.

READ ALSO: Tragedy strikes as 2 people on Okada die after falling off Mallam Junction overhead

Meanwhile, on Monday, September 21, 2020, nurses went on a strike over what they said was the poor conditions of service suffered by members of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA).

Speaking at a news conference, monitored by YEN.com.gh on TV3 Thursday, September 17, 2020, the president of the GRNMA, Mrs. Perpetual Ofori Ampofoh lamented how their employer (the government) was not forthcoming with the provision of personal protective equipment(PPEs), non-payment of some allowances and other essential benefits.

The striking groups include the GRNMA, Ghana Physicians Assistants Association and Ghana Association of Registered Anaesthetists among others.

READ ALSO: Nurses, other health workers threaten strike over poor conditions of service

"Akufo-Addo deserves more than 8 years" - Ghanaian woman commends | #Yencomgh

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Source: YEN.com.gh
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in Wisconsin on Monday (AFP via Getty Images)

Cindy McCain, the widow of Republican Senator and former GOP presidential candidate John McCain, will endorse Joe Biden in the 2020 race, the candidate announced.

With his campaign underway, the Democratic presidential candidate has been targeted in a disinformation campaign supported by Russian president Vladimir Putin, according to US intelligence agencies as reported by several news outlets.

A top-secret Central Intelligence Agency assessment has claimed that the Russian leader is directing Ukrainian lawmaker Andriy Derkach to dissemenate damaging information about Mr Biden through lobbyists, Congress, the media and contacts close to Donald Trump.

The former vice president has meanwhile refused to be drawn on whether, as president, he would simply create more positions for judges in the US Supreme Court to neutralise the effect of Donald Trumps rush to push through a replacement for the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

The president and Mr Biden are set to face off in their first scheduled debate on 29 September in Ohio.

Moderator Chris Wallace will discuss with the candidates the future if the Supreme Court, the Covid-29 response, the economy, race and violence in our cities and election integrity.

Vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris is preparing for her own debate with Mike Pence by tapping former candidate Pete Buttigieg to play the VP in mock debates, Bloomberg has reported.

Those candidates are set to debate on 7 October at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. USA Todays Washington bureau chief Susan Page will moderate.

Follow live coverage as it happened

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Cindy McCain endorses Biden for president in rebuke of Trump

Court packing: What it is, how it affects the Supreme Court, and whether Joe Biden wants to do it

CIA found Russia president Vladimir Putin probably directing campaign against Biden, claims report

First Trump-Biden debate topics released, including Supreme Court, coronavirus and race
We are proud to empower businesses to deliver engaging and compelling email experiences on a massive scale. - Matt Harris, co-founder and CEO, Dyspatch.

Dyspatch, a leading Email Production Platform, today announced that it has been selected as the winner of the Email Marketing Innovation Award in the third annual MarTech Breakthrough Awards program conducted by MarTech Breakthrough, a leading market intelligence organization that recognizes the top companies, technologies and products in the global marketing, sales and advertising technology industry today.

Dyspatch helps businesses scale by streamlining their entire email creation process that fosters collaboration, and also includes approval workflows and a robust drag and drop email builder. With the Dyspatch email builder, teams can easily build emails with a library of pre-tested, on brand email blocks without needing to code. Teams can build interactive, responsive email templates in minutes and send them through their existing ESP using Dyspatchs integrations. Dyspatch also announced this year that they now support AMP for Email, which is already helping their customers reach new email engagement and conversion heights through advanced interactive, dynamic email elements.

By making it easy to build engaging emails with a drag and drop modular system and built-in collaboration and approval features, Dyspatch can cut email production time down by 70-90%, allowing businesses to focus more on strategy and less on implementation.

Businesses have moved from impersonal, mass emails to more personalized methods of email marketing in order to create deeper audience engagement which builds brand trust and increases revenue. We have now taken that even one step further by giving our users the ability to easily build AMP emails for a higher level of personalization that is proven to drive ROI, said Matt Harris, co-founder and CEO, Dyspatch. We are proud to empower businesses to deliver engaging and compelling email experiences on a massive scale.

The mission of the MarTech Breakthrough Awards is to honor excellence and recognize the innovation, hard work and success in a range of marketing, sales and advertising technology related categories, including marketing automation, market research and customer experience, AdTech, SalesTech, marketing analytics, content and social marketing, mobile marketing and many more. This years program attracted more than 2,750 nominations from over 15 different countries throughout the world.

Dyspatch is changing the way businesses do email and we are thrilled to congratulate them for winning our Email Marketing Innovation Award for the 2020 MarTech Breakthrough Awards program said James Johnson, Managing Director at MarTech Breakthrough.By streamlining the entire email creation process through significantly reducing the time and resources required to implement marketing and transactional email campaigns, Dyspatch is delivering a breakthrough email production platform.

####

About Dyspatch

Dyspatch is an Email Production Platform that helps organizations create and change marketing, transactional and triggered emails faster, by centralizing template creation, approval, and publishing processes. The powerful API, visual editor, and built-in device testing allow for cutting-edge email strategy and execution while helping establish consistency in both branding and legal compliance across multiple teams. The company has been helping leading brands, including Microsoft, Autodesk, and Zillow craft exceptional email experiences since 2013. To learn more about Dyspatch, visit dyspatch.io.

About MarTech Breakthrough

Part of Tech Breakthrough, a leading market intelligence and recognition platform for global technology innovation and leadership, the MarTech Breakthrough Awards program is devoted to honoring excellence in marketing, ad and sales technology companies, products and people. The MarTech Breakthrough Awards provide a platform for public recognition around the achievements of breakthrough marketing technology companies and products in categories including marketing automation, AdTech, SalesTech, marketing analytics, CRM, content and social marketing, website, SEM, mobile marketing and more. For more information, visit MarTechBreakthrough.com.
With the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a forceful, liberal feminist, Senate Democrats are the only thing standing between President Donald Trump and the appointment of a conservative justice to replace her  which could tip the balance on the court in favor of repealing the landmark abortion rights decision Roe v. Wade. This will put a spotlight on New Yorks senior U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer  the Senate minority leader and, like Ginsburg, a native Brooklynite  who will presumably lead his partys efforts to block Trumps nominee.

The situation is similar to when, in February 2016, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia died. With 11 months until the next president would be inaugurated, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell argued that it would be unfair to allow then-President Barack Obama to fill the empty seat with the District of Columbia Circuit Judge Merrick Garland with a presidential election so near.

Now, with a presidential election just two months away, McConnell has changed his stance from 2016 and made it clear that the same rules would not apply this time around  now that there is a member of his own party in the White House.

Here is what Schumer could do to prevent the filling of the vacant seat by Republicans, or what he could do next year if he is unable to stop them now.

Why is a Republican-seated justice so threatening now?

Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court case in 1973 which legalized abortion, has been undermined by several states with a Republican majority who have passed bills strictly limiting access to abortion, along with conservatives who have attempted to dismantle the case in court. With five conservative judges on the Supreme Court, adding a sixth would all but guarantee Roe could be overturned. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez spoke at a press conference on Monday, noting the stakes of this vacancy for womens reproductive rights, labor laws and health care. Additionally, McConnell and other Republican senators have created a dangerous precedent in the nominations of Supreme Court justices by blocking the Garland seat and reversing themselves this election year. This could undermine the courts legitimacy and create chaos in how Supreme Court seats are filled. Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, said the attempt at filling the vacant seat so close to an election is dangerous. We are unaware of any moment in history in which Congress confirmed a nominee to the Supreme Court while voters were actively casting ballots in the general election, Clarke said. This is an unprecedented politicization of a Court vacancy that stands to cause permanent damage to the integrity of the Court.

Can Democrats filibuster the nomination?

No. In 2017 McConnell abolished the filibuster for Supreme Court nominations, during the nomination of Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch. Democrats stalled the vote for Gorsuch by prolonging the debate for his nomination with a filibuster and, in retaliation, McConnell made it a rule that only a simple majority is needed to end debate on a Supreme Court nomination. By doing this, McConnell made the confirmation of Supreme Court justices substantially easier.

How many Republicans does Schumer need to side with the Democrats?

With just 47 Democrats in the Senate, Schumer would need four Republicans to vote against the nominee  assuming Schumer keeps all of his own members in line. Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins from Maine have both publicly announced that whoever is elected on Nov. 3 should fill the vacant seat. Democrats hoped to pick off Sens. Lamar Alexander from Tennessee and Chuck Grassley of Iowa, but both have decided to support a vote on Trumps nominee. Sen. Mitt Romney, who voted for Trumps impeachment, announced he is sticking with the Republicans as well. Other Republicans are waiting to announce their stance on the issue, but unless Schumer can get two additional Republicans on his side, there is little hope for the left.

Could an impeachment of Attorney General William Barr be a possible stalling tactic?

Democrats in Congress have been calling for an impeachment probe of U.S. Attorney General William Barr since June. Barr is said to have interfered with the legal investigation of foreign intervention during the 2016 presidential election and has undermined New York prosecutors. However, some legal experts find it unlikely that Barr can be impeached because not enough evidence has been shown to make a case against him. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, chair of the House Democratic Caucus, who represents Brooklyn, said that he was focusing on the election, not the impeachment. At the moment we're looking forward toward the election, Jeffries said. And the American people will ultimately make the decision as to whether Trump and his corrupt administration should be held accountable." On the other hand, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi stated, we have our options when asked about a possible impeachment to delay the nomination.

Will the threat of the Democrats power next year be enough?

With the upcoming election, Democrats may gain control of the presidency and the Senate and retain their majority in the House of Representatives. With that power, Schumer has declared that nothing is off the table for next year, if Republicans were to go through with their nomination. Although he doesnt have a vote, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler has considerable sway over the votes of senators. Nadler tweeted that, if McConnell and the Republicans were to fill the seat, Nadler would support the addition of more justices to the Supreme Court. The removal of filibusters has also been widely discussed, which would allow Democrats to pass legislation with a simple majority. Another proposed tactic is the addition of the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico as states. This action would give the Democrats more senators, since largely left-leaning people reside in those locations. Some conservatives have already threatened the Democrats in return. Mark R. Levin, a conservative radio talk show host, tweeted that Republicans would seek their own revenge by using the Democrats new rules against them, threatening to add even more judges to the Supreme Court and add American Samoa as a state. Additionally, if Schumer cant garner the support of his fellow Democrats, he cant threaten any retribution. One prominent Democrat, Sen. Dianne Feinstein from California, has already said she would not be participating in the abolition of filibusters. "I don't believe in doing that, Feinstein said. I think the filibuster serves a purpose. It is not often used, it's often less used now than when I first came, and I think it's part of the Senate that differentiates itself.
Opening three decades ago as a street-food shop on the pavement of Nguyen Sieu street, Mrs. Bui Thi Hues snail vermicelli restaurant today still retain its original flavor. Each day the small restaurant serves around 500 customers.

As a familiar dish of Hanoians, snail vermicelli is favored by many people for its rustic and simple taste. However, to enjoy a delicious bowl of snail vermicelli with traditional flavors, gourmets usually visit Mrs. Hues restaurant on Nguyen Sieu Street. They come here to taste the sweet aroma of consomme, the soft white noodles and the flavor of perilla, green onions, spicy chili, and a few pieces of tomatoes.

Mrs. Hue said she has been selling snail vermicelli for 33 years and her restaurant has customers who have come here for nearly 30 years. Hue was born in Hanois neighboring province of Hung Yen. When she was young, she worked for a snail vermicelli restaurant run by an old lady in Hang Giay Street. The lady taught her how to cook snail vermicelli.

After the old lady died, Hue became a snail vermicelli vendor. She walked around the Hanoi Old Quarter with two loads on her shoulders. At that time, Hue only sold cold snail vermicelli. Her loads included a basket of vermicelli, a bowl of snails and a pot of sauce that was mixed from snail broth, simmering, and vinegar and chili. At that time, a bowl of snail vermicelli cost only VND20,000. Each day she sold about 100-200 bowls.

"Later when I got old, my children told me to stop being a vendor. After 20 years walking around with my snail vermicelli loads, I decided to rent a small shop on Nguyen Sieu Street.

Since opening this restaurant, Hue's snail vermicelli has become more and more popular. Besides cold snail vermicelli, she also serves hot snail vermicelli, with prices ranging from VND30,000 to VND40,000 a bowl.

Hue said she has to get up at 3am to prepare ingredients. At 5am, she and her children travel dozens of kilometers from Hung Yen to Hanoi to carry bowls, broth, noodles, snails ... to the restaurant. The restaurant opens from 6 am to 2 pm. After closing the restaurant, she drives back to her home in Hung Yen to prepare ingredients for the next day.

There are countless vermicelli shops in Hanoi but Hue's restaurant is the most crowded one. She sells about 100kg of snails a day, or about 300-500 bowls of vermicelli. The restaurant is usually overcrowded during weekends. On these days, she sells out 500 bowls of vermicelli within only two hours.

Hues small restaurant is a familiar address of not only Vietnamese but also foreign visitors.

Mrs. Hue said she has been selling snail vermicelli for 33 years and her restaurant has customers who have come here for nearly 30 years.

Snail pies

Snails

Each day the small restaurant serves around 500 customers.

Nhat Thanh

Vietnamese food: Grilled chicken feet You have probably eaten chicken drumsticks or hotwings but what about chicken feet?
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.
Rallying from a seven-week low in the prior session, natural gas futures rose more than 15% on Wednesday afternoon as the demand outlook for natural gas improves.

At 1:16 p.m. EDT, front-month natural gas futures rose by $0.270 to $2.104up from its $1.845 open. Buyers will no doubt have their eye on that $2 threshold.

According to Refinitiv data, U.S. production of natural gas was on track to fall to its lowest in two years on Wednesday, to 83.8 bcfd.

On top of that, according to the same Refinitiv data, U.S. pipeline exports to Mexico were on track to reach 6.0 bcfd this month, compared to 5.9 bcfd last month. Total demand, including exports, is expected to reach 84.4 bcfd next week, from 82.0 bcfd this week.

Further bullish signals were sent to the market after Tropical Storm Beta came and went, leaving vessels free nowat least in some areas--to dock in the Gulf of Mexico, which has seen its fair share of disruptions this hurricane season. Some LNG facilities still remain shut-in as Beta moves its way through Texas after weakening to a post-tropical cyclone.

LNG feedgas, too, averaged 5.4 bcfd so far this monththe most since May and the second increase in a row.

At 1:28 p.m. EDT, Henry Hub spot prices were $2.107, up $0.273, or 14.89% on the day.

The U.S. government storage report for Thursday is expected to show another bang-up number for the week ending September 18, with gas in storage possibly exceeding 4.0 trillion cubic feeta high figure that would be hundreds of billions of cubic feet above year-ago levels and hundreds of billions of cubic feet above the five-year average.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Patna, Sep 24 : Former Bihar Chief Minister and Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) chief Jitan Ram Manjhi on Wednesday admitted that job scarcity was a major issue in the poll-bound state and held the 15-year Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) rule between 1990 and 2005 responsible for the same.

Jobs have become a major issue in the state ahead of the Assembly elections scheduled later this year with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar claiming that about 10 lakh youth have been provided employment under the MGNREGA scheme, including 2.9 lakh people who returned to the state during the pandemic.

Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi has repeatedly claimed that around six lakh recruitments have been made during the 13-year NDA rule, in reply to RJD leader Tejaswi Yadav's claim that 4.5 lakh posts were lying vacant in different state government departments.

Talking exclusively to IANS, Manjhi said that there were no jobs in the state when Bihar was ruled by Lalu Prasad and later his wife Rabri Devi, but now industries have started to come up ever since Nitish Kumar took over as the Chief Minister of Bihar.

"I want to ask them (RJD leaders) to give details of how many industries were established during their tenure. If at all industries were set up, they invested paltry amounts. If there was a proposal of Rs 100 crore, investment worth only Rs 10 crore was made. The RJD didn't create any infrastructure like road connectivity in rural areas, markets etc. There was complete lawlessness during the RJD regime," Manjhi said.

"Industrialists didn't want to come to Bihar during RJD's tenure, and many even migrated from Bihar during that period due the prevailing 'Jungle Raj'. Many people left Bihar for other states in search of jobs then. The RJD doesn't have any right to blame others. But the situation is improving now," Manjhi said.

"I have no problem with any of the alliance partners in the NDA. The inclusion of my party in NDA happened with the reference of Nitish Kumar and our coordination with the JDU and the BJP is smooth," he said.

On seat sharing for the Assembly polls, Manjhi said: "We are waiting for the settlement of seats between the JDU and the BJP first before putting forward our demand. I am expecting that the settlement would take place within a day or two."

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
The 2020 season is one to forget for Boston Red Sox left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez. But when he can start looking forward to 2021 remains to be seen.

Rodriguez is missing all of this year after suffering from a coronavirus-induced heart condition. The Red Sox hope he can resume working out soon so he can prepare for next season, but Rodriguezs timeline remains unclear.

Introducing Yankees Insider: Get exclusive news, behind-the-scenes observations and the ability to text message directly with beat writers

Theyre still evaluating that, manager Ron Roenicke said, per the Boston Globe. It may still be weeks away  I dont think theres anything that you can really say specifically that everything is a go. Its not there yet. ... We plan on him having a good offseason, building back up, being ready to go next year. Hopefully thats still the case. I havent heard anything otherwise.

The Red Sox had counted on Rodriguez to anchor the clubs rotation in 2020 after ace Chris Sale went down with Tommy John surgery. Instead, Boston has completely collapsed, and owns the second-worst record in the American League (21-34).

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Last year, Rodriguez won a career-high 19 games and finished in sixth place for American League Cy Young Award voting.

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Remarks:

Correction of name of space object Express-A No.4 (international designator 2002-029A)
We've lost count of how many times insiders have accumulated shares in a company that goes on to improve markedly. The flip side of that is that there are more than a few examples of insiders dumping stock prior to a period of weak performance. So shareholders might well want to know whether insiders have been buying or selling shares in Kin and Carta plc (LON:KCT).

Do Insider Transactions Matter?

Most investors know that it is quite permissible for company leaders, such as directors of the board, to buy and sell stock in the company. However, most countries require that the company discloses such transactions to the market.

Insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing. But it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing. For example, a Harvard University study found that 'insider purchases earn abnormal returns of more than 6% per year'.

See our latest analysis for Kin and Carta

Kin and Carta Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

The CEO & Executive Director John Schwan made the biggest insider purchase in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for UK200k worth of shares at a price of UK0.89 each. That means that even when the share price was higher than UK0.66 (the recent price), an insider wanted to purchase shares. Their view may have changed since then, but at least it shows they felt optimistic at the time. In our view, the price an insider pays for shares is very important. Generally speaking, it catches our eye when insiders have purchased shares at above current prices, as it suggests they believed the shares were worth buying, even at a higher price.

While Kin and Carta insiders bought shares during the last year, they didn't sell. You can see the insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below!

Story continues

There are always plenty of stocks that insiders are buying. So if that suits your style you could check each stock one by one or you could take a look at this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them).

Insider Ownership of Kin and Carta

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. Our data indicates that Kin and Carta insiders own about UK5.4m worth of shares (which is 4.9% of the company). Overall, this level of ownership isn't that impressive, but it's certainly better than nothing!

So What Does This Data Suggest About Kin and Carta Insiders?

It doesn't really mean much that no insider has traded Kin and Carta shares in the last quarter. But insiders have shown more of an appetite for the stock, over the last year. The transactions are fine but it'd be more encouraging if Kin and Carta insiders bought more shares in the company. So these insider transactions can help us build a thesis about the stock, but it's also worthwhile knowing the risks facing this company. Case in point: We've spotted 2 warning signs for Kin and Carta 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.
I was supposed to take a cruise in Egypt and then fly to Israel. In light of the pandemic, the new plan is to fly from Miami and spend 8 full days in Israel prior to flying to Cairo. However, the big concern myself and my traveling have is whether we will have any problems entering Cairo after we get off of the plane. Some websites say there is a risk the government workers at the airport won't allow us in. American Express Travel recommended flying from Israel and having a connecting flight in Jordan and then traveling to Cairo. I didn't even mention my concern to the person. He simply came up with the idea on his own.

It is my understanding that there is a nonstop flight from Israel to Cairo but prior to paying for the Egyptian cruise I want to make sure I won't have a problem entering Cairo.

Does anyone think I have to goto the trouble of taking the stopping flight or will I be fine if I fly non-stop from Israel to Egypt?
A vehicle that may be carrying intercontinental ballistic missile has been spotted at a parade training ground in Pyongyang suburbs amid signs of preparation for celebratory parade on October 10, a US-based think-tank said. The ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) was founded on October 10, 1945, and North Korean troops are preparing for a military parade to mark the 75th anniversary of the party.

38 North, a program of the Stimson Center dedicated to analysing events in and around North Korea, released satellite imagery of Mirim Parade Training Ground on September 22. The analysts said that the shape and size of the vehicle suggests a transporter-erector-launcher (TEL) for a large missile. However, they also added that it could be a towed mobile-erector-launcher (MEL) with its truck-tractor attached, citing insufficient imagery resolution.

While imagery resolution is insufficient to determine exactly what the vehicle is, relative size and shape suggests that it may be a transporter-erector-launcher (TEL) for a large missile, the group said.

They acknowledged that the vehicle could be something else but added that it seems unlikely in this particular location and circumstance. The Mirim facility has regularly been used as a rehearsal location for parades but the rehearsals, according to 38 North, started slightly later when compared to previous years, possibly because of COVID-19 measures and weather constraints.

Read: North Korea Satellite Images Show Military Parade Preparations Despite COVID-19 Scare

Read: Kim Jong-un's Sister Wants North Korea's Kids To Spend 90 Mins Daily Learning About Him

Parade rehearsal

The group had earlier reported the gathering of hundreds of vehicles and thousands of troops ahead of the major military parade. The think-tank had released satellite imagery which showed the formation of troops and vehicles at the Mirim Parade Training Ground and a replica of Kim II Sung Square, where the actual parade will take place.

North Koreas Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un remained absent from commemorations of his grandfathers birth anniversary which triggered speculations around unusual break away from traditions. While Kims absence from April celebrations triggered speculations around his health, experts will be closely watching the October parade after fresh rumours.

Read: North Korea Planning To Perform Underwater Ballistic Missile Test: Seoul Official

Read: North Korea's Kim Jong Un Praises Army For Rebuilding Typhoon-hit Area: Report
nTIDE's experts take a closer look at factors underlying fluctuations in the unemployment numbers for people with and without disabilities

East Hanover, NJ. September 22, 2020. While the number of unemployed people with disabilities has slowly declined since May 2020, there is more to this picture. "Looking at August's numbers, we are also seeing a substantial decline in the unemployed who are waiting to be recalled from temporary layoff or furlough," says economist Andrew Houtenville, PhD, research director of the University of New Hampshire Institute on Disability. "Approximately 2 out of 3 unemployed persons with disabilities are no longer on furlough. They are actively looking for work. This shift toward looking for work may be a sign that recovery is slowing," he cautions. "Will this shift continue? We need to follow these numbers closely. The longer the effects of the pandemic persist, the more likely we are to see this shift continue."

Dr. Houtenville emphasizes that regional differences in economic recovery are causing marked variation in the employment picture across the U.S. "Recovery is hindered by closures due to COVID-19 outbreaks," he adds.

Impact on employment for people with disabilities is an ongoing concern. One strategy for preventing permanent job losses is to focus efforts on helping furloughed workers return to their jobs, according to John O'Neill, PhD, director of the Center for Employment and Disability Research at Kessler Foundation.

"At Job Path, a disability service provider in New York City, for example, the staff is laser-focused on helping furloughed workers return to their jobs." As a result, there have been relatively few permanent layoffs for the people with developmental disabilities in Job Path's supported employment program. "Staff are also spending a lot of time connecting with employers, encouraging them to maintain their commitment to hiring workers with disabilities," reports Dr. O'Neill, "and gaining insight into how customized employment can help meet the needs of the workplaces of the future."

###

Interested in trends on disability employment? Concerned about the impact of COVID-19 on employment? Contact Carolann Murphy to arrange an interview with our experts: cmurphy@kesslerfoundation.org.

Register for our next nTIDE Jobs Report on October 2, 2020 at https://researchondisability.org/home/ntide .
Appointment

23 September 2020

Travelport has appointed Jennifer Catto as Chief Marketing Officer.

With two decades of leadership experience at both fast-growth and established companies, Jennifer worked most recently as Chief Marketing Officer at Telaria, a data-driven software platform designed to monetize and manage premium video inventory.

Prior to Telaria, Jennifer was Senior Vice President of Integrated Marketing at Evolve Media, a premium publisher of lifestyle content.

Jennifer has also worked at SAY Media, Conde Nast, and Travelocity.

Jennifer is based in New York and reports directly to Greg Webb, Chief Executive Officer. She has also joined the company's Senior Leadership Team.

Jennifer is a graduate of Middlebury College in Vermont, United States, and is proficient in Italian, Spanish, French and Swahili.
The hottest filly on Canada's eastern seaboard will again take a step up in competition, as Temagami Seelster will be looking to extend her win streak to six on Thursday evening (Sept. 24) at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

The 12-dash Thursday presentation has a 6 p.m. opening post time, and the featured $2,300 pace will line up for Race 11.

Temagami Seelster will start from Post 3 in the compact field of five with Brodie MacPhee at the controls again this week for trainer Tom Weatherbie and Nova Scotia owners David Mercer, Wayne McGean and Joseph Lewis. The three-year-old Sunshine Beach filly won her fifth consecutive race last week in Charlottetown. Her main rivals will be to her outside on Thursday evening. Better Be In Love will have Jason Hughes back in the bike for trainer Brendan Mullen from Post 4, while 2017 Atlantic Triple Crown winner Filly Forty Seven will start from Post 5 for trainer/driver Marc Campbell.

Peter MacPhee in the 'Post Time Picks' has Temagami Seelster on top in the evening feature. Temagami Seelster fired off the wings and never looked back winning her fifth in a row on PEI. Has to move up and there is speed to her inside, but were confident Brodie maps out a trip and gets her to the wire first.

Other entries in the pacing feature are Lean On Who (to be driven by Gilles Barrieau) and Southwind Ion (David Dowling).

The 'top trot' of the night will line up for Race 8, which will feature a $2,150 purse. Labero has been installed as the morning line choice and will start from Post 5 with Dowling driving for trainer Randy Van Meer and owner Donna Van Meer of Bowmanville, Ont. The six-year-old son of Kadabra has recorded six top-three finishes this season from 12 starts; and in his latest outing he produced a third-place finish behind Mile Hill Willie and Hop Up while being race-timed in 1:58.3. Those two foes will be absent on Thursday evening, but Labero will have to contend with past Open class winner Majian Tango (Jim Ripley) from Post 5 and Maritime Champion Windmeredontuworry (Adam Merner) from Post 6. Newcomer Cheeky Little Minx will start from Post 2 for trainer/driver Barrieau after coming to P.E.I. from the New York racing circuit.

For race programs and more, head to Redshores.ca and wager online at HPIBet.com.

To view the harness racing entries for Thursday at the CDP, click the following link: Thursday Entries - Charlottetown Driving Park.

(Red Shores)
By Express News Service

JAGATSINGHPUR: Family members of a youth, who died in Naugaon community health centre (CHC) on Monday night, abandoned his body at the hospital suspecting Covid-19 to be the reason of his death.

One Rajesh Das (26) of Sutura village within Naugaon police limits was suffering from fever and cold. Despite taking medicines, the fever didnt subside. When his condition worsened, family members admitted him to the local CHC on Monday night.

The doctor in CHC started his treatment but a few hours after his admission, Das breathed his last.

Following his death, other patients left the ward in fear of coronavirus. Family members of Das also tried to flee suspecting his death due to Covid-19. Though the hospital authorities tried to convince Das family members, they refused to receive his body.

Das body was left unattended in the CHC for more than 10 hours as his family members had left the hospital. Finding no other options, CHC authorities handed over the body to the administration. Members of An NGO later cremated Das on Tuesday.

Medical officer of Naugaon CHC Sangram Keshari Mohanty said the hospital authorities had asked Das family members to conduct his Covid-19 test. But the patient died a few hours after admission. A preliminary diagnosis revealed that he was suffering from anaemia.

We tried to persuade the patients family members to receive his body, they refused. We handed over the body to administration and members of a social organization performed the last rites of the patient, he added.
Empty streets of the city are seen in Melbourne, Australia, on July 27, 2020. (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

15 New Cases, 5 Virus Deaths in Victoria

Victoria has had another five COVID-19 deaths, taking the state toll to 771 and the national figure to 859, as new cases dropped to 15.

The 14-day new case average for Melbourne also dropped below 30 to 29.4, while it is down to 1.1 for regional areas.

There was also good news on cases with an unknown source over 14 days, with that figure dropping to 41 in Melbourne.

There are none in regional Victoria.

Authorities want Melbournes new case average between 30 and 50 before they consider easing restrictions next Monday.

But aged care remains a key issue for Victoria in its second wave.

Of Tuesdays 28 new cases, 24 were linked to 11 separate aged care facilities.

Those cases included aged care residents, staff and their close contacts.

It prompted Health Minister Jenny Mikakos to rebuke AdventCare Whitehorse in Nunawading after its staff were filmed last week dancing and mingling with residents without masks.

Mikakos noted aged care workplaces made up 73 percent of active healthcare staff infections, which numbered 74 on Sept. 22.

Whether its pyjama parties or this, its really just not good enough, she tweeted.

The state government unveiled a $30 million package on Sept. 22 to upgrade 50 public sector aged care services across Melbourne and regional areas.

Active aged care cases in the state peaked at 2075 on Aug. 16 but have now dropped to 328.

That figure must sit between 30 and 50 for authorities to consider a further easing of Melbournes strict stage four lockdown provisions Sept. 28.

Premier Daniel Andrews said no final decision would be taken until the weekend, with any confirmation likely to come on Sept. 27.

Meanwhile, the premier also announced three of Melbournes five contact tracing hubs would open in the next few days.

Western Health (west), Austin Health (northeast) and Monash Health (southeast) will lead the hubs, which were announced on Sept. 8.

Andrews said Monash Health had already done amazing work managing the Casey cluster linked to seven households in Melbournes outer southeast.

There have been no new cases in that cluster of 43 for two straight days.
SACRAMENTO  California will ban the sale of new gasoline-powered cars to combat climate change starting in 2035, a move that could help reshape the nations automobile market and its output of greenhouse gases.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order Wednesday mandating that all new passenger vehicles sold in California in 15 years be zero-emission  a category that includes battery-powered electric cars and those that run on hydrogen fuel cells. The order directs the California Air Resources Board to develop a plan for ensuring an increasing number of new vehicles sold in the state leading up to 2035 will be zero-emission.

Older gasoline-powered cars would still be allowed on the road after 2035 and people could sell them on the used-car market, Newsom said.

Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

By issuing the order, Newsom circumvents a potentially bruising battle over the future of gas-powered vehicles in the Legislature, where similar proposals have died in recent years amid oil industry opposition. But it also raises the stakes in a legal fight with the Trump administration over the extent of Californias authority to regulate tailpipe emissions of greenhouse gases. The White House has already signaled that it will fight the plan.

If you want to reduce asthma, if you want to mitigate the rise of sea level, if you want to mitigate the loss of ice sheets around the globe, then this is a policy for other states to follow, Newsom said during a news conference outside the California state fairgrounds, where he signed the executive order on the hood of a red, electric Ford Mustang.

The transportation sector is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in California, accounting for more than 40% of its planet-warming gases in 2017, the most recent year for which data are available. Transportation emissions have stubbornly grown in recent years, even as the state dramatically reduced its output overall. California officials estimate that requiring all new passenger cars and trucks to be zero-emission would reduce total greenhouse gas emissions by more than a third.

The order could influence not just the kind of cars available in California, but also in the rest of the United States. California is by far the countrys largest vehicle market by state, and makers are reluctant to tailor one fleet for it and a second for the rest of the nation.

The Trump administration immediately criticized Newsoms order. White House spokesman Judd Deere called the 2035 target a job killer, though it was unclear if the administration would take legal action.

They want the government to dictate every aspect of every Americans life, and the lengths to which they will go to destroy jobs and raise costs on the consumer is alarming, Deere said in an email. President Trump wont stand for it.

Several of the nations largest automakers, including GM and Fiat Chrysler, referred questions to an industry lobby. The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, a trade association, said Newsoms order wont increase consumer demand for electric cars without more robust rebates for buyers.

Fewer than 6% of cars sold in California last year were zero-emission vehicles. Electric cars are typically thousands of dollars more expensive than comparable gas-powered models, though Newsom said advances in battery technology would gradually bring down the price of electric vehicles.

Neither mandates nor bans build successful markets, John Bozzella, president of the automotive industry group, said in a statement. Much more needs to be done for California to reach its goals.

The state budget for the current year cuts nearly all funding for rebates for electric-car buyers. On Wednesday, Newsom noted that the state is struggling with a record budget shortfall, though he suggested new incentives for buyers are likely to come in his January budget proposal.

Newsoms vision faces another practical hurdle: Californias electric-vehicle charging infrastructure has major gaps. If nothing changes, the state could have about 81,600 fewer public and shared charging ports than it needs by 2025, according to the California Energy Commission.

Clean-car advocates say that could limit the states ability to transition away from gas-powered vehicles. Newsoms order calls on the Air Resources Board and other state entities to accelerate deployment of charging stations.

The governors announcement follows similar pledges by countries including the United Kingdom and France to transition entirely to sales of new zero-emissions vehicles over the coming decades.

The sales ban will include hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles, which still use some gasoline or diesel in addition to electricity and make up more than half the new green cars currently sold in the state. Mary Nichols, chair of the Air Resources Board, said that electric vehicle technology is advancing quickly and that Californias 2035 target will push the industry to adapt even faster.

We see this 15-year period as one during which, by the end of it, people will recognize that, yes, they can find a full zero-emission vehicle that meets all of their needs, she said.

For weeks, as large swaths of California have burned in a record wildfire season, Newsom has sounded the alarm on the climate damn emergency that is contributing to more severe fires, and has said the state must move more swiftly to combat it.

But he has been criticized by environmentalists who say he has failed to back up his rhetoric. Activists are particularly incensed that his administration has not limited oil and gas drilling. Instead, it issued more new permits in the first half of 2020 than over the same six months of 2019.

Some environmentalists reacted with skepticism Wednesday to Newsoms executive order because it did not deal with oil production.

It leaves out the other half of the equation. No climate policy can succeed unless it limits the amount of fossil fuels that are produced, said Kassie Siegel, director of the Center for Biological Diversitys Climate Law Institute. The center announced this week its intent to sue California over well permits that it says have been issued without proper environmental review.

Siegel said the ban on new gas-powered vehicles is a necessary step, but a target date of 2035 is still too slow to get California to its goal of carbon neutrality by 2045.

Delia Ridge Creamer, an organizer for Sunrise Bay Area, an advocacy group, said Newsom should immediately stop issuing permits that allow companies to drill new oil and gas wells.

Its a grand show, Ridge Creamer said. But if you look at the actual executive order, it doesnt meet the scale of the moment.

Newsom said his order would accelerate Californias transition away from fossil fuels. He said he would ask the Legislature to pass a law ending the issuance by 2024 of new permits for hydraulic fracturing, the natural gas extraction method also known as fracking, which releases large amounts of carbon dioxide and another greenhouse gas, methane.

Earlier this summer, California adopted a first-in-the-nation requirement that would mandate that automakers begin selling zero-emission big rigs starting in 2024 and would force most new trucks to go emissions-free by 2035.

Newsom has also struck deals with five car companies  BMW, Ford, Honda, Volkswagen and Volvo  to boost the fuel efficiency of their new models above federal targets.

After Newsom announced an agreement with the first four automakers last summer, the Trump administration moved to revoke a waiver that has given the state the ability under the Clean Air Act to set stricter emissions standards on vehicles for nearly five decades. California immediately filed suit to retain the waiver.

If the courts side with the federal government, California would lose the authority it has relied on for many of its leading climate policies, including Newsoms latest executive order banning the sale of new gas-powered vehicles after 2035.

The governor said he nevertheless opted not to pursue the ban through the Legislature because this moment demands leadership and demands movement.

Democratic lawmakers largely praised Newsoms order, but some Republicans, who make up a superminority of both houses, slammed him for circumventing the legislative process. Senate Republican leader Shannon Grove of Bakersfield, a major oil-producing region of the state, said Newsoms extremist policies would destroy jobs, further strain the states electric grid and drive up energy costs for millions of Californians already living in poverty.

Alexei Koseff and Dustin Gardiner are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: alexei.koseff@sfchronicle.com, dustin.gardiner@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @akoseff, @dustingardiner
Frances president wants to expand paternity leave to one month  and require fathers to take time off with their newborns

President Emmanuel Macron announced the plan on Instagram before visiting a child-care facility on Wednesday.

When a baby arrives in the world, there is no reason it should be only the mom who takes care of it. Its important to have greater equality in sharing responsibilities, Macron said, noting the importance of the intimate" moments early in a child's life.

Currently fathers or other partners in France can take up to 14 days off work after the birth of a child. Macron's government wants to expand that to 28 days, with daily allowances paid by the French state health insurance system  and to make it obligatory for at least a week.

New French mothers are entitled to at least 16 weeks of leave for a first child with daily allowances from the state. From the third child onward, they are allowed 26 weeks. In all cases, they must take at least eight weeks.

Several European countries have more extensive parental benefits than France, though obligatory maternity or paternity leave is unusual.

Seeing men pushing strollers is a common sight in Sweden, where new parents are entitled to 480 days of paid leave, and each parent has the exclusive right to 90 of those days. Other European countries have a similar system where partners can share parental leave.
Opposition parties on Wednesday requested President Ram Nath Kovind to withhold his assent for the contentious farm bills, alleging that the government had undermined rules, regulations and procedures in pushing the bill through the Rajya Sabha on Sunday.

The Constitution of India was torn to shreds in the temple of democracy by the government, leader of the Opposition in the RS, Ghulam Nabi Azad, said.

On behalf of 18 opposition parties, the senior Congress leader met the President and told him that the passage of the farm bills in the Rajya Sabha was unconstitutional, and that he should return the bills without signing them.

The parties included the Congress, Trinamool Congress, Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Rashtriya Janata Dal, Aam Aadmi Party , Samajwadi Party, Nationalist Congress Party, Indian Union Muslim League, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Telangana Rashtra Samithi, the Shiv Sena, and six others.

Two of the three bills were passed through a voice vote amid opposition protests, with members storming the well of the House and rushing towards deputy chairman Harivansh, who was presiding over the proceedings. They alleged that the bills, which they said would benefit corporate houses and not farmers, should have been sent to a select committee, and that their demand for a division of votes was rejected.

Eight members were suspended for the remainder of the session. Most of the other opposition parties also boycotted the rest of the session in both Houses. The third bill was passed on Tuesday, when the Opposition boycotted the session, which ended on Wednesday, eight days ahead of schedule, amid the Covid-19.

The bills -- the Farmers 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 -- have been passed by both Houses of Parliament and await Presidential assent to become law.

Azad told reporters after meeting Kovind that the government should have consulted all the political parties and farmer unions and leaders before introducing the farm bills in Parliament.

The government has crossed all the limits. The Constitution of India was torn to shreds in the temple of democracy. All the rules, regulations and procedures were undermined during the passage of the bills in the Rajya Sabha. We have told the President that these bills have been passed unconstitutionally, he said.

A Congress functionary said leaders of the 18 parties met twice during the day to chalk out their future course of action on the farmers issue. It was after the first meeting that the leaders decided to call on the President, this person added on condition of anonymity.

The parties also requested Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu to revoke the suspension of the eight members, but the government insisted that they first apologise for their conduct.

The standoff between the government and the Opposition over the farm bills has escalated with both sides taking a hardline on the issue. While the Congress has decided to hit the streets across the country from Thursday, other regional opposition parties are planning campaigns in their respective states.

Oppositions parties also marched from from Gandhi statue to Ambedkar statue in Parliament complex protesting the anti-Farmers, anti-Workers Bills.

Opposition leaders also wrote to Naidu urging him not to pass the three labour codes in the Upper House in the absence of opposition parties. It will be a blot on democracy if bills are passed unilaterally, they wrote.

The Rajya Sabha passed the three labour codes on Wednesday before adjourning sine die.

Hailing the passage of key labour bills, prime minister Narendra Modi said, Long due and much awaited Labour reforms have been passed by Parliament. The reforms will ensure well-being of our industrious workers and give a boost to economic growth.

The Lok Sabha was also later adjourned amid boycott by the opposition. Though Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi returned from the US on Tuesday, a party leader said they did not attend the LS on Wednesday in view of the Covid protocols.

(With inputs from agencies)
Billionaire pedophile Jeffrey Epstein's flight logs on his aircraft, including his infamous "Lolita Express" jet, have been subpoenaed.

This order to name the people who wrote his aircraft has sparked fear among those who partied with him and visited his island.

Epstein's logbook

The Attorney General in the US Virgin Islands, where the billionaire had a home and is said to have carried out many of his crimes against children, has demanded to see the logs which document the passengers on his aircraft. The logs on his four helicopters and three plans span from 1998 until 2019.

Attorney General Denise George has filed a lawsuit against his estate alleging 22 accounts, including human trafficking, aggravated rape, child abuse, neglect, forced labor and prostitution, according to The Mirror.

Attorney General George is also requesting to see any reports of suspicious conduct and personal notes made by the pilots of Epstein's aircraft.

Also Read: Revealing Photos Show Bill Clinton Leaning Back, Grinning While Jeffrey Epstein Victim Massages Him

The subpoena demands the names and the full details of those who worked for the pilots, interacted with Epstein, and passengers who traveled with him.

Pilot David Rodgers has previously revealed logs from 2009, which showed Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew, actor Kevin Spacey and supermodel Naomi Campbell. It is not suggested that they were aware of what Epstein had been doing.

A source stated that the records that have been subpoenaed would make the ones that the witness provide as just the tip of the iceberg. The subpoena is said to be causing panic among many of the rich and famous.

According to the lawyers of the victims, the logs released in 2009 did not include the flights of chief pilot Larry Visoki who had flown Epstein for more than 25 years.

Witnesses on Epstein's crimes

A celebrity chef has been questioned by detectives 20 years after he worked for Epstein, prompting renewed calls for Prince Andrew to talk to the FBI.

The 51-year-old chef, Adam Perry Lang, opened the Barbecoa restaurant with Jamie Oliver in London in 2010. He worked for Epstein between 1999 to 2003.

Lang is now fully cooperating with the FBI investigation into allegations of sexual abuse by depraved Epstein, according to the Daily Mirror.

Attorney Arick Fudali, who represents the victims, heaped pressure on Prince Andrew, who has been accused of stonewalling detectives.

Attorney Fudali said that he hopes that the subpoena will inspire other witnesses to come forward and to help shed some light on Epstein's dark scheme.

Lang catered for the Duke of York, who is now 60 years old, and flew with him in a private jet on two occasions, once in February 1999 and in May 2000.

Sources said that Lang holds information on what took place. They will get as much detail as possible that will shape any interview they may one day have with the duke.

Lang came forward after Virginia Giuffre, a victim of Epstein, wrote to ask him to be the hero. He is described as a decent man by the victims, according to Daily Mail.

Lang's lawyer, Atty. Lawrence Lustberg, confirmed that the chef was helping the FBI. He previously denied being aware of any depraved behavior during his four-year term as Epstein's chef.

Related Article: Jefferey Epstein Scandal: Will Ghislaine Maxwell Start Giving Names to Save Herself?

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A Goa court granted conditional bail to film producer Sam Bombay, who was arrested for allegedly molesting, threatening and assaulting his actor wife Poonam Pandey, police said on Wednesday. Judicial magistrate Shanoor Audi granted bail to Sam on Tuesday evening on surety of Rs 20,000, an official said.

Pandey had filed a police complaint late on Monday night claiming that her husband had molested her and threatened her with dire consequences after assaulting her, he said. The couple was in Canacona village of South Goa for a film shoot. Sam has been asked to report to Canacona police station for four days starting Wednesday and also not to interfere with witnesses.

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, according to PTI. She was subjected to mandatory medical tests, he added.

When Spotboye contacted Pandey, she refused to comment. I am not in the right state of mind. I will talk to you soon and answer all the queries, she said.

Poonam and Sam, who were in a live-in relationship for around two years, got married at their home in Bandra, with only their close friends and family members in attendance. Sharing a picture from their wedding, she wrote on Instagram, Heres looking forward to seven lifetimes with you.
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.
Corruption watchdog officials escorted a government staffer into State Parliament on Wednesday to remove a hard drive she had been secretly storing, despite being instructed by a former NSW MP to make it disappear.

Secretary for the NSW government whip, Rebecca Cartwright, on Wednesday gave unheard evidence that she was asked by MP Daryl Maguire to arrange for the device to be "lost in the post".

Rebecca Cartwright leaves ICAC after giving evidence of a hidden hard drive belonging to former Wagga Wagga MP Daryl Maguire. Credit:Nick Moir

The Independent Commission Against Corruption is investigating whether Mr Maguire misused his parliamentary office for his own financial interests as the silent director of G8wayinternational Pty Ltd.

ICAC has heard Mr Maguire used his Parliament House office as an office for G8wayinternational, which connected business interests from Australia with others in China for a commission.
A man convicted of killing two German tourists in 1988 in Coos Bay died in custody Monday.

Jeffrey R. Williams, 59, passed away in the infirmary while on end of life care, according to the Oregon Department of Corrections. Williams was one of 29 people on death row in Oregon and was being held at the Oregon State Penitentiary.

The department of corrections did not disclose Williams' cause of death. He had been in custody since May 1989.

Oregon State Police have been notified of Williams' death, which is standard procedure for in-custody deaths.

-- K. Rambo

krambo@oregonian.com

@k_rambo_
PARIS  The Eiffel Tower was briefly evacuated on Wednesday after the police in Paris received a phone call suggesting there was a bomb at the monument, but officers inspecting the site did not find anything suspicious.

The monument was fully evacuated shortly after midday as a precautionary measure after the police received the anonymous call, the company that runs the Eiffel Tower said in a statement. Police also cordoned off an area around the tower.

The site reopened two hours later after the police had carried out checks in and around the monument. The Paris police confirmed that officers did not find anything suspicious, but declined to provide more details about the anonymous call.
Inside Chinas Xinyang Prison: Abuse and Forced Labor

Xinyang Prison is described as the worst prison in Chinas Henan Province. A human rights activist shared his fathers story with The Epoch Times, a former inmate who experienced and witnessed various abuses in the prison.

Xing Jian is a human rights activist from Henan and currently lives in New Zealand. His father, Xing Wangli, told him that abuse is rampant in Xinyang Prison.

My father looked like an old man when he got out of prison. It was hell, Xing Jian said.

Xing Wangli is a petitioner and a native of Henan. In February 2018, he was sentenced to two years and three months for picking quarrels and provoking trouble, a vague charge often used to detain dissidents in China, after he went to a hospital in Beijing for treatment. Petitioners who go to Beijing (for various reasons) are usually arrested and detained by authorities. He spent more than a year in Xinyang Prison. He was released on May 26 this year.

Xing Jian said the inmates in Xinyang Prison are treated like slaves and are forced to work more than ten hours a day. The prison guards often beat them up, causing severe injuries. Petitioners get tortured and are banned from communicating with families and the outside world; while corrupt local Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials who serve time in the same prison get special treatment and enjoy privileges because of their wealth and connections.

Former CCP Officials Get Special Treatment in Jail

Xing Jian said that Xinyang Prison is the worst prison in Henan Province. Inmates are forced to work 13 hours a day, seven days a week, and without taking a day off.

Xinyang Prison is also known as May 1 Farm (May 1 is Labor Day or May Day celebrated in socialist/communist countries, including China). There is a saying in Chinas prison system: I would rather have a lifelong sentence than spend a day in May 1 [Farm]. Xing revealed that the prisoners there have heavy labor tasks. Those who fail to meet their quota are beaten with a leather stick by the prison guards, while being pinned down by other inmates. When the local procuratorate does an inspection, the prison puts on a show, lying to the inspectors that the prisoners only work for eight hours. The inmates are pressured to keep silent about the abuses, otherwise they would be punished.

Chinas prison economy has been providing big business for the Chinese regime for decades, supported by free and/or very cheap labor. According to the data provided by the Ministry of Justice, compared with 1984, in 2001 the total output value of prison enterprises nationwide increased from 2.77 billion yuan (1984) to 11.72 billion yuan, an increase of more than four times; fixed assets increased from 3.4 billion yuan to 11.6 billion yuan.

According to a 2019 report by the World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (WOIPFG), there are at least 681 state-owned prison slave labor enterprises in 30 provinces, cities, and regions in China.

The CCP took advantage of the pandemic to exert its influence and make huge profits through Chinese companies that use prison slave labor to produce masks and export them to the rest of the world.

Chinas prison system has long been criticized by the international community. U.S. lawmakers have called for a boycott of Chinas prison slave labor products and have proposed bans on companies that use forced labor in Chinese prisons and concentration camps. Since 2019, the Trump administration has imposed restrictions on such products and companies.

The average prisoners are forced into slave labor in Xinyang Prison and are often starvedthey dont get proper nutrition, such as meat. In contrast, the prisoners who have connections, such as former local officials who were jailed for corruption, are well-fed and enjoy other privileges. They can avoid doing any work by bribing the prison guards. In some cases, they pay the prison 12,000 yuan ($1,762) per year for a job title that doesnt require them to do any work. For example, prisoners in the education zone do nothing but use the on-duty monitoring computer to play games.

Xing Jian gave two examples of former officials from Henan who received special treatment in prisonLi Xinzhong, former head of Zhengyang county in Zhumadian city; and Lian Ziheng, secretary of the Sanmenxia Municipal CCP Committee.

According to mainland Chinese media reports, Li Zhongxin was Henans former deputy bureau director. In February 2016, he served as secretary of the Party Working Committee of Zhumadian Urban-rural Integration Demonstration Zone, ranking at the deputy bureau director level. Li was dismissed in 2018 and on Oct. 22 that same year, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison for accepting bribes.

According to Xing Jian and his father, these sacked officials dont do any work in prison, and their sentences are reduced quickly. The prison guards treat them well, and their family members can send them food, as well as cigarettes and alcohol. They can use prison guards phones to make calls; while the other inmates are denied the right to make any phone calls.

Petitioners Suffer Abuse in Prison

Xing Jian learned that while Xing Wangli was serving his sentence in Xinyang Prison, he witnessed that many prisoners were beaten and severely injured. One inmate was beaten until he lost his eyesight, and another suffered a broken arm.

One inmate named Sun Yiliang, a petitioner who was serving a long sentence, often got beat up in prison. He told Xing Wangli that he wanted to die because of the abuse. Xing Wangli wrote to the warden on Suns behalf, pleading for help. The prison responded by threatening Sun. Xing Jian said that his father also asked him to let the outside world know about Suns situation.

Another petitioner, named Ding Jun, was also beaten and tortured frequently in the prison.

A veteran of Chinas Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), Chen Youhong, also suffered abuse. According to a situation report that circulated on Chinese social media, Chen was framed and sentenced to 12 years in prison for robbery. On Aug. 13, 2016, while serving his sentence in Xinyang Prison, he was beaten up by a guard, named Run Haihong, and became disabled. During a visit, Chens family members noticed that he could not raise his arm. The family petitioned multiple times for Chen to get medical treatment, but their requests have been ignored by the prison.

Xing Wangli suffered serious injury after being beaten by police. In 2016, while serving time at the Xixian Detention Center in Xi county, Shanxi Province, he was beaten with a blunt instrument which fractured his skullhe was in a coma for more than 20 days. Xing was forced to do labor despite his injury.

While Xing Wangli was in Xinyang Prison, he was cut off from his family and the outside world. On one occasion, he was allowed to send a message to his family via a fellow inmate, who was about to be released from prison and was from Xings hometown. Before Xing was released from prison in May, a guard, surnamed Wu, slapped him, then told him to stand in the lobby for a long time, and fed him only one steamed bun for the whole day.

The Henan police also broke into Xing Wanglis home and took more than 30,000 yuan ($4,400) in cash, a desktop computer, a laptop, and two digital cameras. However, the items were not returned after Xing was released from prison.

Xing Jian believes that his father is not guilty of any crimes even though he was sentenced three times. They have filed complaints to fight the charges but have not received a response from the authorities.

Xing Jian stated that officials in Henan are corrupt and they protect each other. They use mobs to suppress petitioners and dissidents, and collude with criminals for financial gain.

The official slogans fighting criminals and eliminating evil are all fake, Xing Jian said. The real criminals are at largethe CCP authorities, the prosecutorate, and law enforcement are the biggest criminal gang.

Li Xinan contributed to this report.
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador - A 29-year-old woman who suffered an apparent miscarriage but was convicted of aggravated homicide under El Salvadors strict anti-abortion laws was released from prison Wednesday.

Cindy Erazo had served six years of a 10-year sentence before a judge granted her conditional release. The law allows for such releases after more than half a sentence has been served. She was originally sentenced to 30 years in prison, but that sentence was later reduced.

In 2011, Erazo experienced a miscarriage in a shopping mall bathroom on the outskirts of the capital. She was taken to a hospital where authorities accused her of attempting to abort the fetus.

Human rights groups say at least 18 innocent women are currently in prison for similar cases in El Salvador. Those groups argued that there was never any evidence Erazo had tried to abort her pregnancy or in any way harm the fetus.

Paula Avila Guillen, executive director of the Center for Womens Equality, said, Cindys case brought international attention to the horrible reality of the extreme prohibition on abortion in El Salvador and the insidious culture of persecuting innocent women that it perpetuates.

Salvadoran law criminalizes all abortions and subjects women as well as doctors to prosecution.
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.
New Delhi, Sep 23 : The suspended MPs who are going back to their states after the Upper House adjourned sine die on Wednesday promised to scale up their protest when they reach their home states.

"Yes, our suspension was a murder of democracy. But the bigger issue at hand is the anti-farmer agri bills passed by the Centre. The merit of this issue has reached another level. Protests and agitations will spread across states, districts, fields and farmlands of India," TMC MP Dola Sen told IANS. She was one among the 8 Rajya Sabha members who was suspended for creating a ruckus in the Rajya Sabha on Sunday.

The CPI-M's Elamaram Karim, another suspended MP who hails from the Left ruled Kerala, said "The undemocratic behaviour and anti-people policies of the Modi government will be exposed in public." Karim, who was part of the unprecedented overnight sit-in protest in front of Parliament's iconic Gandhi statue, said that the "fight" is far from over and will intensify in the coming days.

The TMC's Derek O'Brien who has made his Twitter DP scream "You can suspend me, you cannot silence me" has already spoken to his party leader Mamata Banerjee about the developments in Delhi and the party is preparing to stage elaborate protests in West Bengal, where it is in power. Banerjee said that the fight will continue against the "fascist government in Parliament and on the streets". O'Brien and Sen are both likely to take the lead along with Banerjee.

Another suspended MP, AAP's Sanjay Singh who earlier accepted that he broke a microphone in the House, is upping the ante in UP. The Delhi based party which is making a foray in Uttar Pradesh under the leadership of Singh, has now confirmed that the AAP will throw its weight behind the farmers stir in the state on September 25.

Rajiv Satav who was recently in the news for reportedly challenging party seniors in favour of Rahul Gandhi said the protests ahead will be two- pronged -- through parliamentary means and street agitations. He too was among the 8 MPs suspended following Sunday's ruckus. "Sansad se sadak tak ye ladai ladi jayegi," he says.

In Maharashtra, where he hails from and where the Congress is in power along with the NCP and the Shiv Sena, Sharad Pawar's NCP is believed to be drawing up a plan for an agitation.

Dola Sen gives the macro picture when she says, "The matter has reached another level now. When senior leaders like Sharad Pawar fast and Ghulam Nabi Azad protests, it's a sign that there will be many farmers protests in state after state, across the country." With the Indian Youth Congress protesting in Haryana's Panipat on Wednesday, another tractor rally near Ambala being stopped earlier and many more planned in the coming days, the Centre has a lot on its plate.
This piece was published in partnership with the Marshall Project, a nonprofit news organization covering the U.S. criminal justice system. Sign up for their newsletters, or follow them on Facebook or Twitter.

With unprecedented protests around race and policing dominating the news all summer, it was all but certain criminal justice would emerge as a key issue in 2020s presidential campaign. The question was how the political messaging would play out. Would Joe Biden and Kamala Harris cast themselves as the torch-bearers for a new mainstream acceptance of Black Lives Matter? Would Donald Trumpwho has flirted with branding himself a criminal justice reformerreturn to the tropes of American carnage that characterized his 2016 run?

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To understand how Republicans and Democrats are using criminal justice issues to reach voters, the Marshall Project analyzed hundreds of thousands of political campaign advertisements on Facebook from December 2019 to this month. Arguably the most powerful political messaging platform in history, Facebook allows candidates to microtarget tailored messages to demographic groups and even to individual voters by name. Probing that data lets us see how candidates reach voters, with a level of detail that earlier generations of strategists and political pundits could only dream of.

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Our analysis found that of the $82 million Trumps reelection campaign has spent on Facebook ads this year, $6.6 million paid for ads about crime and policinga top focus of his Facebook campaign. Almost all of it came since George Floyd was killed by police in Minneapolis in May. More than one-third of those ad buys were aimed at key battleground states and many sought to persuade specific undecided voters, and married women in particular. The Biden campaign? It didnt spend a cent on criminal justice ads on Facebook until late August, choosing instead to focus on the COVID-19 pandemic and economic recovery. Yet Biden had, during the Democratic primaries, articulated a more progressive criminal justice platform than any of his partys recent nominees.

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After being hammered by Trump and other Republicans as a puppet of antifa and the radical left, in recent weeks Biden has begun to shift his strategy, making some mention of criminal justice issues in ads on television and social media.

Examining the candidates Facebook ads, we can see these shifts in tactics and how the campaigns have changed their thinking about what voters want to hear about criminal justice in the final weeks before Election Day.

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Trumps message on criminal justice began with a focus on reform. Last December, his campaign ran ads featuring the First Step Act, the criminal justice reform bill he signed in 2018, boasting that the president was helping prisoners gain a new lease on life and is making America safer.

Then in May, for three days before Memorial Daywhen George Floyd would die on a Minneapolis streetTrump spent more than $175,000 on ads criticizing Biden for his role in policies like the 1994 crime bill: Mass incarceration has put hundreds of thousands behind bars for minor offenses.

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Its not clear who those ads were meant to reach as they sought to capitalize on Bidens If you have a problem figuring out whether youre for me or Trump, then you aint Black quote in a May interview. They disappeared quickly as protests against police brutality began in cities across the country.

By early July, as the protests continued, the Trump campaign had decisively shifted its tone. In one ad, a 911 call is picked up by an answering machine that says, You have reached the 911 police emergency line. Due to defunding of the police department, were sorry but no one is here to take your call. If youre calling to report a rape, please press 1.

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Around that same time, Bidens Facebook ads focused on praising essential workers dealing with the coronavirus pandemic and on vague messages of national unity.

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You wouldnt have seen any of these ads if you live in a state like California or Oklahoma that is considered a firm lock for one party. Bidens were shown in a narrow group of swing states, including Arizona, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. The Trump campaign paid Facebook about $1.5 million to show its 911 ads only to people in a slightly wider list of battleground states that included Ohio and Texas. Since June, Trumps campaign has spent about $2.6 million on criminal justicerelated ads targeted to battleground states.

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You wouldnt have seen any of these ads if you live in a state like California or Oklahoma.

In the battleground states, these persuasive ads are not aimed at every voter. The power of Facebook for campaigns is that it allows them to show ads directly to the specific voters they think are most likely to be on the fence. The Trump campaign asked Facebook to show its 911 ad to at least two separate groups of people: first, to married womenthe suburban housewives Trump has said he hopes to reachand, second, to people specified by their name or phone number on a spreadsheet the campaign uploaded to Facebook.There are two main kinds of political ads on Facebook: ones intended to win votes and ones intended to encourage donations. That Trumps 911 ad was presented to users in toss-up states suggests the goal was to persuade people to change their minds, according to digital political strategists. When either campaign wants to raise money, they show ads to their own supporters in uncontested states like deep blue New York where theyd be unlikely to pick up additional electoral votes.

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Facebook doesnt publish information on its ads target audiences. However, it does describe to individuals why they were shown a particular ad. The more than 7,000 participants in the Ad Observer project share this information automatically as they use the platform with New York Universitys Online Political Transparency Project, which allows us to conduct this granular level of analysis. (Reporter Jeremy B. Merrill also contributes data analysis and software engineering to the Online Political Transparency Project.)

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The Facebook ads give a strong signal of where campaigns are spending their money, what theyre saying, and who theyre paying to reach, but they do not make up the whole campaign. Even though Facebook is more transparent than other platforms, we only have that information for the small portion of ads spotted by Ad Observers participants. A candidate may also have a different strategy to reach voters with television, radio, or other online platforms.

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Looking back at Trumps early attempts to define his campaign message on criminal justice, Facebook data doesnt indicate who he was aiming to reach with his First Step Act and mass incarceration ads. They could have been intended to persuade Black voters or to reassure whites whom the campaign was trying to convince of a softer tone on racial issues. The Trump campaign didnt respond to questions about any of these advertisements or its strategy.

Campaigns have to walk a delicate line with persuasive ads: They want to hammer swing voters with the right message again and again. At the same time, they risk showing the wrong message to the wrong undecided voters and pushing them to other candidates. In contrast, fundraising ads are aimed at candidates core supporters, so they often focus on partisan slogans and political celebrities.

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Since Trumps ads in May blaming Biden for mass incarceration, his campaign has spent relatively little to tout his reform agenda to swing state voters. A set of fundraising ads listing policy achievements for Black Americans included,  President Trump is working to reform our criminal justice system. Those ads, however, were shown nationwide, including California and New York, and promised a 300% Match of donations, signalling that they werent meant to persuade new voters. The $300,000 these ads cost was a tiny fraction of the roughly $6.6 million the Trump campaign spent on ads about crime and policing into mid-September.

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Neither donors nor undecided voters were the apparent target of $20,000 worth of similar ads, which touted Trumps support for equality for ALL Americans, criminal justice reform and increased funding for historically Black colleges and universities. The ads were targeted only to people in D.C., which has three electoral votes that have never gone to a Republican.

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Over the course of the campaign, Trump has sought to paint the Biden campaign as both soft and too tough on crime. But at least on paper, Biden is running on the most progressive criminal justice platform from a presidential hopeful in a generationand maybe ever. Hes pledged to end the use of private prisons, called the cash bail system a modern-day debtors prison, and has expressed support for a national standard on police use of force. By adding Kamala Harris to the ticket, the pair ostensibly shifted even further to the left, with the California senator having come out in favor of marijuana legalization and ending mandatory minimum sentencing. (They have said in no uncertain terms, however, they do not support defunding the police.)

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The Democratic tickets ads on Facebook dont mention any of that, and the Biden campaign didnt respond to questions about its messaging. Facebooks microtargeting capabilities would let the campaign show moderate voters a message about Bidens long legislative history as a tough-on-crime, law and order Democrat or Harris background as a prosecutor, first as a district attorney and then as California attorney general. It would also allow the campaign to shield that message from progressives for whom Harris record has generated opprobrium from the left.

Instead, the Biden/Harris campaign has focused on gauzy ads about uniting the country and grim ones about the federal governments coronavirus response. Of the $55 million Bidens campaign has spent on Facebook this year, a paltry $8,000 has gone to ads specifically about criminal justice that were shown to users in only two states.

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In the days after George Floyds death, the Biden campaign eschewed an opening to talk to moderate voters about its criminal justice platform. His ad that came closest to addressing policing or crime started June 3, saying, As Trump fans the flames of white supremacy and hatred in our country, every last one of us shares a responsibility to stand up and pursue justice with every ounce of our being. Because this ad, which Bidens campaign paid $50,000 to run, did not mention policing, violence, protests or crime, our analysis did not count it among his criminal justice messages.

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These ads were targeted to liberals nationwide, rather than to swing states, according to Ad Observer data. The ads solicited sign-ups for a petitionsuggesting that they were meant to collect the email addresses of people who already support Bidennot to convince those on the fence.

Another similarly anodyne ad sent to users across the country said, Its time for equal opportunity, equal rights, and equal justice.

In late August, the Biden campaign began to address crime and policing more directly. In an ad responding to the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Biden said protesting brutality is a right and absolutely necessary. Reacting to Trumps claim that he supports riots, Biden continued, burning down communities is not protest, its needless violence, violence that endangers lives violence that guts businesses and shutters business that serve the community.

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That ad, and a counterpart, were shown only to Facebook users in Wisconsin and neighboring Minnesota.

A TV ad announced by the Biden campaign called for conditioning federal funding for local police on their adoption of a new national standard on use of force and for reining in qualified immunity. But that ad doesnt appear to have run on Facebook.

The Trump campaign is famed for the data analysis that backs its online advertising. So Trump may be sticking to his law and order message because he thinks its reaching voters he needs to win.

When you have something thats working, you run it until it stops working, Eric Wilson, a Republican digital strategist, said.

But whats working for Trump may not be the criminal justice angle, per se. Indeed, even after Trumps deluge of criminal justice ads, recent polls show most Americans think Biden will do a better job with criminal justice issues than Trump.

Broadly, Donald Trump isnt running a law and order campaign, said Annie Levene, a Democratic digital strategist. Hes running ads that are inflammatory and race-baiting, because he knows that sowing fear and division is the only way he can win.

The Biden campaign, meanwhile, has been praised by pundits since the primaries for sticking to a strategy focused to woo the voters that they need to win. Strategists believe that the coronavirus, and not criminal justice, will get Biden the votes he needs on Election Day. Thats a winning issue for the Biden campaign, people care about opening up the country safely and protecting people from getting sick, Levene said. Biden is focusing on his plan for that.
Saudi Arabia's 90th National Day celebrations started a few days earlier for travellers at Dubai International Airport (DXB) with the resumption of scheduled flights between Dubai and multiple cities across Saudi Arabia on September 20.

Saudi Arabia was DXB's second largest destination country by passenger volume in 2019, which totalled 6.3 million.

Saudi Arabia's national carrier Saudia resumed services on Sunday (September 20) with a total of five daily flights from DXB to Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam, while more services by other carriers are planned over the coming days and weeks.

The celebration of the National Day, which falls on September 23, reflects the deep socio-cultural ties between the UAE and Saudi Arabia, which go beyond trade, commerce and air connectivity, said a DXB statement.
She's expecting her second child with screenwriter Jamie Linden.

And it's clear that Rachel McAdams has nailed maternity chic.

The actress, 41, was spotted running some errands in Los Angeles on Tuesday wearing a pretty smock blouse and blue skinny jeans.

Maternity chic: Rachel McAdams, who is expecting her second child, ran errands in LA on Tuesday looking lovely in a pretty smock blouse and blue skinny jeans

The star of The Notebook and Spotlight added a loose-fitting tailored jacket and stepped out in leather sandals with buckles.

Her long hair was loose and she covered up with a black cloth face mask.

McAdams gave birth to her first child, a boy, in April 2018.

Linden, 40, whom she's been dating since 2016, is best known for writing the screenplays for 2006 movie We Are Marshall and 2010's Dear John.

Lovely look: The actress, 41, added a loose-fitting tailored jacket and stepped out in leather sandals with buckles. Her long hair was loose and she covered up with a black cloth face mask

Parents: McAdams gave birth to her first child, a boy, in April 2018. She shares her children with screenwriter Jamie Linden, 40, whom she's been dating since 2016

Back in November 2018, McAdams described motherhood as 'the greatest thing that's ever happened to me.'

In an interview with Britain's The Sunday Times, she explained people had told her her life wouldn't be her own anymore after having a child.

She said: 'I had 39 years of me, I was sick of me, I was so happy to put the focus on some other person.'

The Canadian actress added: 'I waited a long time.... And I didn't want to do it before it was the right time.'
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 22:41:24|Editor: huaxia

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Huang Kunming, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, holds talks with Myanmar Minister of Information Pe Myint via video link in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 23, 2020. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

BEIJING, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Huang Kunming, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Wednesday held talks with Myanmar Minister of Information Pe Myint via video link.

Noting that this year marks the 70th anniversary of China-Myanmar diplomatic ties, Huang, also head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, called for building a China-Myanmar community with a shared future upon implementing the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries.

Huang urged the two departments to deepen the sharing of governance experience and strengthen cooperation in the fields of publicity and culture.

Pe Myint expressed Myanmar's readiness to draw on China's experience in development and governance, and promote better development of bilateral relations. Enditem
By 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 us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
U.S. President Donald Trump announced new sanctions related to Cuba on Wednesday that will prohibit Americans from staying at properties owned by the Cuban government as well as the import of Cuban cigars and liquor.
A single mother who became a millionaire through thrifty budgeting has saved $5,200 in a year by cutting the cost of her grocery bills.

Frugality has always been part of life for Serina Bird, who started working in a discount supermarket at the age of 15 and immediately set about saving at least 10 percent of her wages each week.

Almost 32 years later, the 47-year-old mum-of-two has a net worth of $1million including four investment properties which she hopes will help double her fortune in the near future.

But the public sector worker, who lives near the centre of Canberra, saves most by making small tweaks to her everyday budget - like banking $5,200 over the past 12 months by slashing her expenditure on food from $150 to just $50 a week.

To keep costs low, she follows four simple steps: plan meals for the week ahead, write a list before going to the supermarket, cook dinners in bulk once a month and swap takeaways for 'Fridge Fridays' to use up leftovers you'd otherwise throw out.

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Single mum-of-two turned self-made millionaire Serina Bird, who saved $5,200 in a year by slashing her grocery bill from $150 to $50 per week

In a blog post for Australia's Best Recipes, Ms Bird said she sees the $100 she saves every week as a 'grocery savings payrise' which is more lucrative than a salary increase because it's tax-free.

The spendthrift, who is the author of best-selling money guide 'The Joyful Frugalista', invests steadily accumulated savings like these into shares or a superannuation fund in preparation for retirement.

Ms Bird's $50 shopping bill is all the more impressive given the average food spend for Australian households, which was roughly $152 a week in 2019 according to the annual Food Waste Report from Rabobank.

'On the outside, I don't look like a millionaire, but real millionaires don't always look like millionaires,' Ms Bird previously told Daily Mail Australia.

Serina (pictured) has famously cut her grocery bill to just $50 per week by doing an inventory, writing a meal plan and always having a cash kitty

How Serina keeps her bill at $50 * Makes an inventory: Start by using up what you have before you start buying new items. Serina found when she added up all of the items in her pantry she had $100 worth of food. Make meals from this and quit overbuying. * Writes a meal plan: Many budget-savvy people swear by meal plans for their success. Serina wrote out what she planned to eat each evening, factoring in whenever she might have to eat out. * Always uses a shopping list: In the same way, the 46-year-old said she always used a list so she knew what she was buying and wasn't sidetracked. * Makes a cash kitty: Serina said she finds she spends less when she spends in cash instead of with a credit or debit card. If she underspent, she would add the leftover cash to the following week's $50. If she overspent, that would get compensated. * Buys less meat (and cheaper cuts): Buy less meat for both your wallet and your health, and use cuts of meat that are cheaper, like tough cuts of red meat, which work well if slow cooked or marinated. Chicken drumsticks and wings are a good choice. * Chooses supermarkets carefully: Choose which supermarket will give you the best value. Serina loves ALDI and Asian supermarkets for value. * Ditches the shopping trolley: The shopping trolley is dangerous because you can lose track of how much you're spending and how much you have. Using a basket is far better. Advertisement

1. Plan meals for the week ahead

Preparation is the key to Ms Bird's financial success, with meal plans that factor in occasions and socialising written for the week ahead.

'You might not stick to the plan exactly, but it means you more likely to feel in control and prepared,' she said.

2. Never leave the house without a shopping list

Writing a list before every supermarket trip stops you from getting sidetracked by special offers and discounts on items she doesn't really need, Ms Bird said.

Her best advice is to use up whatever is in the pantry before filling it with more.

On one occasion, Ms Bird added up 'leftover' items and found she had $100 worth of usable food.

This approach has helped her to cut down on waste and discretionary expenditure.

Writing a list before every supermarket trip stops you from getting sidetracked by special offers and discounts on items she doesn't really need (stock image)

3. Meal prep once a month

Ms Bird cooks a batch of meals in bulk once a month for her family to eat in case of emergencies.

'It's so much quicker and easier to pull out of the freezer than ordering home delivery,' she said.

'You could even batch cook with friends to make it a social event.'

Meal prepping is a clever way to cut costs on groceries; South Australian chef Stacey Randall makes these 25 hearty dinners in bulk once a month at a cost of $110 - just $4.40 a meal

4. Swap takeaways for 'Fridge Fridays'

Rather than indulging in pricey takeaways at the weekend, Ms Bird suggests 'Fridge Fridays' to use up the food you would otherwise throw out.

The self-professed 'queen of leftovers' said her family often make pizzas with creative toppings - but her two sons aren't always as keen as her husband, Neil.

'Honesty disclaimer: my kids don't go in for innovative, but hubby and I are always up for interesting combinations,' she said.
Late actor Sushant Singh Rajputs sister Shweta Singh Kirti has shared a picture from his hard training regime before he started shooting for his 2018 movie, Kedarnath. Shweta said that Sushant gave his 100% to whatever he did.

Shwetas post is a collage of two pictures. One shows Sushant on a treadmill, carrying a heavy weight on his back and the other is a still from Kedarnath, in which he is seen carrying a woman on his back. Sushant played a porter in Kedarnath.

Whatever he (Bhai) did, he gave his 100%. Now the justice and the revolution too will be 100%. Faith #JusticeforSushantSingRajput, Shweta wrote in her caption. Sushants fans also wrote about the actor in the comments. Sushant Singh Rajput is not just a person anymore, he is a movement! A movement which symbolizes peoples fight for justice! A movement which is teaching people to stand up for whats right, to speak up against wrong & injustice! Justice for our hero, wrote one fan. He was fully dedicated and determined thats why we all loved him (loves him) i have never seen such a actor in my life and never will. He was just too good for this cruel world ! He deserved better. LOVE YOU SUSHANT, wrote another.

Kedarnath was directed by Abhishek Kapoor and also marked the acting debut of Sara Ali Khan. It was based on the 2013 floods in Uttarakhand that killed almost 700 people with more than 3000 still missing.

Also read | Irrfan Khans son Babil shares heartfelt note for mom Sutapa Sikdar: Nothing left for me to live now but you and Ayaan

Sushant died on June 14 in his Bandra house. The actors death was followed by an investigation by Mumbai Police, and later the Centra Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED). A month after his death, Sushants father filed an FIR against his girlfriend, actor Rhea Chakraborty accusing her of abetment to suicide. She was arrested by the NCB earlier this month for alleged connection to a drug syndicate.

Now, reportedly the National Investigative Agency (NIA) is also going to join the probe. 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.

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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."

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
On Tuesday, the tally of Covid-19 cases in India crossed 5.6 million. Maharashtras tally rose to 1.24 million with a third of the infections reported among rural populations. Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have also reported an uptick in cases in rural areas. The states represent a nationwide trend of the pandemic shifting to the rural areas where health systems are weak and human resources are stretched or missing altogether. This leaves the sick with no option but to seek treatment in cities, where the strain on the health care system is beginning to show. Testing is still concentrated in urban and peri-urban areas. Testing in rural areas remains below the national average of 46,440 tests per million, which may lead to undetected and asymptomatic spread in the young, mobile rural demographic, and, in turn, bring the infection back to cities.

Meeting the challenge of containing the spread in rural areas is a monumental task. Of the little over 1.2 million allopathic doctors registered with the Medical Council of India (June 30), around a million are available for active service. This puts the doctor-population ratio at 1:1,343 for a population of 1.35 billion, against the World Health Organization-recommended 1:1,000. With most tertiary care hospitals situated in cities, at least 90% doctors live and work urban areas, home to 40% of the population.

Prime Minister Narendra Modis review of the Covid-19 situation with the chief ministers of seven states that account for 63% of the countrys cases focused on scaling up testing and containment in rural India ahead of the last phase of unlocking on September 30. To win the war against the pandemic, battles have to be fought and won on every front.
Elon Musk at Tesla's 2020 annual meeting on Tuesday. Tesla

Tesla's delayed shareholder meeting and "Battery Day" kicked off on Tuesday afternoon outside the company's Fremont, California, factory.

Following a short formal portion of the meeting, CEO Elon Musk gave a review of the company's progress over the past year with heavy emphasis on software and manufacturing.

Musk touted new battery improvements that could make manufacturing cheaper and provide more power.

He also announced a yet-to-be-named future Tesla car that will be priced at $25,000 and a $140,000 "Plaid" version of its Model S.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Elon Musk and other Tesla executives held an unusual outdoor version of the company's annual shareholder meeting and a "Battery Day" presentation on Tuesday afternoon in Fremont, California.

Among the touted advancements in power technology and manufacturing, Musk announced a yet-to-be-named $25,000 Tesla car was in the works thanks to the cost savings in battery production that will touch all of the company's products.

A $140,000 "Plaid" edition of the Tesla Model S was also announced, with preorders open now.

An unusual setting amid pandemic restrictions

The delayed event had severe attendance restrictions in place because of the COVID-19 pandemic. A few randomly selected shareholder attendees watched the proceedings from long rows of parked Tesla cars. Those attending the event responded with honks instead of applause.

Tesla's vice president of legal, Al Prescott, presided over the business portion of the annual meeting. Investors voted on seven proposals, including the election of three directors, executive compensation, and the ratification of its outside accounting auditor. Four other proposals, including one about Tesla's forced-arbitration policies, are not expected to pass and were opposed by the company's board of directors.

Tesla

The formal stockholders meeting was quickly followed by a year in review by Musk. He touted Tesla's sales growth this year as it scaled up a new factory in China, as well as new improvements to Autopilot, its driver-assistance software.

Story continues

A beta version of the software's "full self-driving" capabilities will be released soon, Musk said. "It took us quite a while" to rewrite the entire code base, he said, adding, "It's awesome."

Musk also touted improvements to Tesla's manufacturing ability, a theme he's said previously is underappreciated by many people: "The difficultly of designing the machine that makes the machine is vastly harder than the machine itself," he said.

Shares of Tesla sank about 4% to about $408 in after-hours trading during the event after previously declining 5% in trading on Tuesday.

The main event: Updates on Tesla's battery technology

Tesla's highly anticipated Battery Day presentation kicked off about 2:40 p.m. local time, with Drew Baglino, the senior vice president of power train and energy engineering, joining Musk on stage.

"The three parts of a sustainable-energy future are sustainable-energy generation, storage, and electric vehicles," Musk said. "So we intend to play a significant role in all three."

But to get there, the world needs to produce 10 terawatt-hours' worth of energy per year, Musk said. That's 100 times more than Tesla's current production level.

"Today's batteries can't scale fast enough. They're just too small," Musk said. For electric cars to continue their growth against their gas-powered counterparts, they'll need to continue to get cheaper, he added. That's where Tesla's plan to halve the cost of producing every kilowatt-hour with continuous cylindrical cells, as opposed to those with tabs, comes in.

Tesla/Youtube

The new battery architecture can result in five times more energy, a 16% range increase, with six times the power output, Musk said, adding that production was already beginning at a pilot plant. At the same time, costs can be reduced.

"It will take about a year to reach the 10-gigawatt-hour capacity," with help coming from a recent acquisition, he said. The next goal is to improve manufacturing processes to the point where assembly lines are continuously moving.

By 2030, when all the innovations are complete, Tesla said it would be able to produce 3 terawatt-hours of energy every year.

On the chemistry front, Tesla said it acquired a 10,000-acre mining site to produce even more of battery components in-house.

"There really is enough lithium in Nevada alone too electrify the entire US fleet," Baglino said.

And when it comes time to put the batteries in cars, Tesla has built a massive new casting machine to integrate the battery's components within the car, much like a plane's fuel tanks are integrated into the wing instead of separate parts. This lowers overall mass and number of parts, while improving the car's structural integrity, Musk said.

A $25,000 car is in the works

When all is said and done, Tesla said the improvements in battery chemistry and manufacturing would help it sell a car for $25,000.

"About three years from now, we're confident we can make a very compelling $25,000 electric vehicle that's also fully autonomous," Musk said.

For years, he's discussed bringing down the cost of electric vehicles as a way to decrease the world's carbon output, and the milestone would reflect a massive achievement on Tesla's part.

Musk said the $25,000 car has yet to be given an official name.

Model S 'Plaid'

Musk touted a "Plaid" version of Tesla's Model S during the event. The $140,000 1,100-horsepower behemoth will have the "quickest 0 to 60 mph and quarter-mile acceleration of any production car ever" and recently clocked 1:30.3 at Laguna Seca raceway, he said. Preorders are already open on Tesla's website.

Additional reporting by Isabella Jibilian, Barbara Smith, and Evan Sully.

Watch a replay of the event below:

Read the original article on Business Insider
Lawyers defending the Andrews government against a court challenge to Victoria's coronavirus curfew have said they intend to withhold key documents that reveal why a senior health official made the call to extend the restriction.

Supreme Court judge Tim Ginnane gave the government until 2pm on Wednesday to decide whether it would claim public interest immunity to conceal files and advice that Victoria's Deputy Public Health Commander Michelle Giles consulted before making the decision to extend the curfew on September 13.

Restaurant owner Michelle Loielo with Liberal MP Edward O'Donohue. Credit:Facebook

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.

The case is due to begin on Monday and is scheduled for two days of argument.
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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.
Labor has renewed calls to treat violent right-wing extremists in the same way as members of Islamic State and other terrorist organisations.

Australia's domestic spy agency has revealed an alarming rise in the number of right-wing individuals and groups under its watch.

Up to 40 per cent of ASIO's counter-terrorism work is concentrated on thwarting the far-right threat.

Labor's home affairs spokeswoman Kristina Keneally said ASIO had repeatedly warned of the real and growing threat right-wing extremists posed to Australia

ASIO has revealed an alarming rise in the number of right-wing individuals and groups under its watch. Up to 40 per cent of ASIO's counter-terrorism work is concentrated on thwarting the far-right threat

This represents a significant jump over the past four years.

Right-wing extremists are also using the coronavirus crisis and radicalisation techniques pioneered by Islamic State to recruit new members.

And yet Australia is still the odd one out among its intelligence-sharing partners in not officially proscribing any right-wing group as a terrorist organisation.

Putting an organisation on the terror list serves as a public warning and unlocks a suite of potential offences.

People can be targeted for helping groups recruit or train new members, providing support or funding, or aiding their illegal activities.

Labor's home affairs spokeswoman Kristina Keneally said ASIO had repeatedly warned of the real and growing threat right-wing extremists posed to Australia.

'But the Morrison government is failing to take action,' she told AAP on Wednesday.

Ms Keneally has accused the Morrison (prime minister pictured) government of 'failing to take action' when it comes to threat right-wing extremists

'Almost half of ASIO's counter-terrorism work is focused on right-wing extremists but the government has failed to proscribe any right-wing extremist groups here - or those overseas with links to Australia - as terrorist organisations.

'We cannot be left in a situation where a right-wing extremist turns their vile ideas into a dangerous, violent terror attack because the government failed to take action.'

Australia is the only country inside the Five Eyes intelligence network - which includes the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand - not to have labelled any right-wing extremists as terrorists.
Firing a fresh salvo at Congress on Wednesday, Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut questioned the ongoing protests against her in the country and said it must have been a case of mistaken identity. Am I some minister or a great opposition leader? Who they think I am? this is rather flattering, the embattled actor wrote on Twitter after Punjab Congress burnt the effigies of Kangana for disrespecting farmers by labelling them terrorists.

First congress in Maharashtra threatened me and beat my posters with chappals now congress in Punjab burning my effigies, seems like a clear case of mistaken identity. Am I some minister or a great opposition leader? Who they think I am? This is rather flattering  @INCIndia https://t.co/uHEAPRN6l0  Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) September 23, 2020

First congress in Maharashtra threatened me and beat my posters with chappals now congress in Punjab burning my effigies, seems like a clear case of mistaken identity, the actor wrote.

The protests came after the actor allegedly equated the protesting farmers with terrorists.

People who spread misinformation and rumours about CAA that caused riots are the same people who are now spreading misinformations about Farmers bill and causing terror in the nation, they are terrorists. You very well know what I said but simply like to spread misinformation, the actor had tweeted earlier.

Alongside, Kangana is engaged in a tussle with the Shiv Sena government in Maharashtra after an allegedly illegal portion of her Mumbai office was razed on September 9.

The Bombay high court on Tuesday asked actor Kangana Ranaut to implead Shiv Sena chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut in her petition for threatening her with Ukhad diya  the title of an article in Sena mouthpiece Saamana.
From todays Down in Alabama podcast:

Alabama is all set to institute its second phase of the states gas-tax increase beginning Oct. 1.

The first phase came way back on Sept. 1, 2019, which was about 37 years ago as best I can tell.

On the podcast well give a few more details about how much the gas tax will grown -- and when.

Well also talk about the people who still havent yet received a stimulus check and what the IRS (what would we do without 'em?) is doing to try to rectify that situation.

And well talk about a couple of musicians with Alabama ties who were inducted into the Mississippi Songwriters Hall of Fame -- Mac McAnally and Jimmy Buffett.

The Down in Alabama podcast is short and free. Listen to it by clicking on the player above or subscribe by looking for Down in Alabama on the device of your choosing. Get this and other AL.com newsletters here.

Click here for the Spotify podcast page

Click here for the Alexa skill page on Amazon

Click here for the iTunes podcast page

Click here for the Stitcher podcast page
Islamabad: Pakistan Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa and ISI boss Lt Gen Faiz Hameed held a secret meeting with the key Opposition leaders just days before a multi-party conference, said reports on Wednesday.

During the secret meeting, the two top-ranking officials asked the opposition leaders to refrain from dragging the military's name into their political differences with Prime Minister Imran Khan.

According to The Dawn, Bajwa and Hameed held the meeting on September 16 in which about 15 politicians, including Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, were present.

According to the Dawn report, the details of the closely guarded meeting were not publicly disclosed.

Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid, while confirming the meeting and its participants, said it was held to discuss the impending changes in the constitutional status of Gilgit-Baltistan - a move opposed by India.

Live TV

However, the Opposition used this opportunity to flag its concerns about other issues, especially the military's alleged interference in politics and allegations of persecution of its leaders on the pretext of accountability.

Rashid was one of the ministers who attended the meeting, the report said.

Political observers linked the timing of the meeting and its disclosure with the Opposition's multi-party conference held here on Sunday in which former prime minister Nawaz Sharif bitterly criticised the Army, saying there was a state above the state in the country.

Criticism by other Opposition leaders, in comparison to Sharif's remarks, was relatively subtle. Sharif is currently in London for medical treatment.

Sharif, 70, the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) supremo, has been living in London since November last year after the Lahore High Court granted him permission to go abroad for four weeks for treatment.

Despite the meeting with the Army chief, a 26-point declaration issued at the end of the Opposition meeting later, however, contained assertions about ending establishment's interference in politics and no role of armed forces and intelligence agencies in future elections.

Following the multi-party conference, the major Opposition parties demanded Prime Minister Khan's immediate resignation and launched an alliance to hold a countrywide protest movement to oust his government.

Gen Bajwa clearly told the participants of the meeting that the Army was not in any manner linked to the political processes and had no involvement in matters concerning election reforms and accountability, the report said.

He said the military only responds to calls for assistance by the elected civilian government and it would continue doing so irrespective of who is in the office. He also conveyed that no one would be allowed to create chaos in the country, it said.

During the meeting, the allegations of a political witch-hunt in the name of accountability was raised by the PML-N. Bajwa said that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chief and election commissioner were picked up by political leaders represented in Parliament, therefore they needed to be careful in choosing them.

Importantly, Gen Bajwa had met PM Imran Khan on Monday but the Prime Ministers Office did not issue any statement about the meeting.
More than a dozen universities across the US have already canceled next year's spring break in an effort to limit reckless party trips from spawning coronavirus outbreaks.

University of Michigan, Purdue, Ohio State, University of Florida and Carnegie Mellon are among the growing list of schools that have already changed their 2021 schedules to eliminate the week-long break midway though the spring semester.

The changes came after dozens of students were suspected of bringing coronavirus back to campus following ill-advised spring break getaways as the pandemic took hold in March and April.

While administrators look for creative solutions to avoid the same trend next spring, a number of schools are already struggling to contain campus outbreaks as students continue to defy restrictions on social gatherings.

More than a dozen universities around the US have already canceled next year's spring break in an effort to limit reckless party trips from spawning coronavirus outbreaks (file photo)

In the absence of a spring break, some schools have added single 'break days' throughout the spring semester to give students and faculty a chance to unwind.

Eliminating the break also means that the semester can start later or end earlier, shortening the amount of time students spend on campus.

WHERE IS SPRING BREAK CANCELED? University of Tennessee University of Florida Baylor University Texas Christian University Kansas State University University of Kentucky Iowa State University University of Iowa University of Northern Iowa Carnegie Mellon University Ohio State University University of Michigan University of Wisconsin, Madison Purdue University Advertisement

For example, Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh - which is allowing students to choose how many classes they attend online versus in person - pushed back the start of its spring semester to February 1 and added five 'break days' in lieu of its usual 'Spring Carnival'.

The University of Michigan followed suit last week as it removed the spring recess from academic calendars across all three of its campuses.

Officials said the change would 'mitigate the possible risks associated with campus community members who may have traveled during the middle of the semester'.

At least four other schools in the Big Ten conference also canceled their breaks, including Purdue, Ohio State, University of Iowa and University of Wisconsin at Madison.

In the south, Baylor University, Texas Christian University, University of Tennessee and University of Kentucky have removed their spring breaks as well.

Concerns of outbreaks stemming from recess trips were bolstered by a recent study from Ball State and Vanderbilt University which found a link between student travel and increased coronavirus rates in counties with colleges.

Researchers in that study analyzed GPS smartphone data from more than seven million college students and determined that counties with more early spring break students had higher confirmed case growth rates than counties with fewer of those students.

The increase in case growth rates peaked two weeks after students returned to campus, the study found.

The changes came after dozens of students were suspected of bringing coronavirus back to campus following ill-advised spring break getaways as the pandemic took hold in March and April. Pictured: Spring breakers crowd a beach in Miami back in March

Some critics have expressed doubts over how effective canceling spring break will be as many schools are already experiencing major outbreaks just from holding in-person classes.

An alarming new study released Tuesday found that reopening college and university campuses for in-person instruction during late summer could be associated with more than 3,000 additional cases of COVID-19 per day in the US in recent weeks.

The findings call into question the practicality of face-to-face classes during the COVID-19 pandemic, and are important as colleges and universities plan their spring 2020 semesters, said researchers from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Indiana University, the University of Washington and Davidson College.

The findings are yet to be peer reviewed and have not yet been published online.

To track COVID-19 cases and study their association with students attending classes at college campuses, the team used location data from a database of cellphone users who agreed to share information. The information was gathered from July 15 to September 13.

They also looked at COVID-19 infection rates in counties with campuses, before and after colleges reopened and students arrived.

The researchers noted significant increases in counties where colleges had reopened for face-to-face instruction, especially in and around campuses with students who came from areas with higher incidences of COVID-19.

'We are able to predict between 1,000 and 5,000 additional cases a day due to colleges reopening for face-to-face instruction, with our best estimate being somewhere around 3,219 cases a day,' said Ana Bento, a co-author of the study, from Indiana University's School of Public Health.

The study did not go into how many COVID-19 cases were 'imported' - or from students who arrived on campuses - and how many were local transmissions.

The team also pointed out that asymptomatic cases may not have been caught unless testing was done on campuses regardless of symptoms, and that the study did not look at measures taken by individual colleges.

As of Tuesday evening more than 6.89 million coronavirus cases have been confirmed in teh US and 200,786 people have died.
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The B-17 Flying Fortress crashed into the Eyjafjallajokull glacier in Iceland

Bomber's 10 crew survived the accident during a re-fuelling on Sept. 16, 1944

The warplane was on its way to England when it was caught in a down-draught

Ice swallowed it up but it has now re-appeared in the open air due to melting

A US WWII bomber has emerged from a melting glacier in Iceland 76 years after it crashed on it way to England.

The B-17 Flying Fortress bomber flew into the Eyjafjallajokull glacier in southern Iceland on September 16, 1944.

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Miraculously all of its 10 crew members survived but the wreckage was abandoned and was swallowed up by the glacier.

Today, with global warming stripping the land of ice, the war plane has re-appeared, mangled and torn but still able to provide a fascinating glimpse into the past.

The B-17 Flying Fortress bomber flew into the Eyjafjallajokull glacier in southern Iceland on September 16, 1944.

The B-17 Flying Fortress bomber flew into the Eyjafjallajokull glacier in southern Iceland on September 16, 1944.

Locals examine the wreckage on the melted glacier in the south of Iceland

A B-17 Flying Fortress over Houston, Texas, in October 2011

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The B-17 Flying Fortress bomber flew into the Eyjafjallajokull glacier in southern Iceland on September 16, 1944

Locals such as the former mayor of Isafjorour, Guomundur Gunnarsson, see the wreck as a tourist attraction and have rejected calls to clean it up.

An experienced hiker, Gunnarsson said: 'Ever since I heard about the wreck, I've been restless. I found the story compelling, and once I told my friends about it, they became restless too.'

They hiked to the American wreck last week to inspect the area and take photos which were later shared on social media.

Aviation fans will remember the name Eyjafjallajokull, for the site of the glacier is the same as the location of the volcano which erupted in 2010, sending out a cloud of ash which brought European air travel to its knees.

In 1996, the US Air Force finally revealed details behind the 1944 crash.

The US bomber was on it was to England after landing at Keflavik Airport to refuel.

However, the weather conditions were poor in Iceland and the bomber was caught in a down-draught before crashing into the ice cap.

Fortunately, the plane landed on soft snow and kept sliding along its fuselage until coming to an abrupt stop at a snow bank.

One of the plane's wings was ripped off and the engines caught fire.

The US bomber was on it was to England after landing at Keflavik Airport to refuel.

The US bomber was on it was to England after landing at Keflavik Airport to refuel.

Locals such as the former mayor of Isafjorour, Guomundur Gunnarsson, see the wreck as a tourist attraction and have rejected calls to clean it up.

One of the aircraft's wheels and another part of its motor are strewn across the Icelandic mountainside

Some crew members were thrown into the snow through tears in the fuselage while those left on board managed to escape the plane before it caught ablaze.

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The American servicemen had no idea where they were and could not send an SOS to the US Air Force.

They decided to leave the glacier after two days and headed into a valley where they were helped by farmers in the area of Fljotshlio.

The US authorities carried out two expeditions to the glacier by the end of that month.

The first made it to the plane wreck and managed to retrieve some items from it. However, the second group had to turn back without reaching the site.

Over time, the glacier swallowed the plane, but it is now slowly coming back to view due to melting caused by global warming.
A large blue shark has died after it became stranded in a river in the north-central Vietnamese province of Quang Tri.

The blue shark, weighing about 200 kilograms and measuring 2.5 meters in length, was found stranded in Ben Hai River about one kilometer from its estuary in Vinh Giang Commune, located in Quang Tris Vinh Linh District, at around 10:00 pm on Tuesday.

The shark was still alive but very weak when it was found.

Local fishermen found a hook in the large fishs mouth after bringing it ashore.

The shark died shortly afterward.

It took local people about one hour to take the body of the dead fish to Tung Luat Village for its burial.

It was reported that the same fate had previously met another blue shark in the locality.

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New rules designed to protect residents of regionally operated long term care homes from COVID-19 may do little to identify cases and prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus among the elderly, says Niagaras top public health official.

Dr. Mustafa Hirji, Niagaras acting medical officer of health, said the new requirement of a resident of a Niagara Region home to be isolated for 72 hours after an outing and then be tested for COVID-19 has the potential to miss cases and increases the risk of the virus spreading among residents.

This is not something I would endorse, said Hirji in a Wednesday interview of the rules that will come into effect Thursday. Seventy-two hours may not be long enough for a test to be effective.

In a letter sent to the family of residents, first reported Wednesday by CKTB 610 AM, a person at a regional home who leaves for a day trip will be isolated for three days upon their return. This includes visits with family, meals out, shopping or any trip off the homes property.

After that 72 hours, that resident will be tested and will not be allowed out of isolation until a negative test result comes back.

In the letter, the Region is asking families not to take their loved ones on outings while COVID-19 cases are rising elsewhere in Ontario.

The regional director of senior services, Henri Koning was not immediately available for an interview. In an emailed statement, she said the Region is constantly surveying the environment to ensure that we are taking the necessary risk mitigation measures to support continued safety of residents in our homes, and that their additional protocols are consistent with infection prevention and control measures.

The issue with the new plan, Hirji said, is that it ignores how COVID-19 testing works and as a consequence, may fail to identify cases in the homes.

Currently, the test for COVID-19  called a PCR test  identifies the genetic material of the novel coronavirus in a sample. If the level of that material reaches a certain threshold, the person is found to be positive for COVID-19. Although there have been a small number of false negatives, and some positive tests recalled by a lab early in the pandemic, the tests are very accurate, Hirji said.

However, for the PCR test to be effective, there has to be enough of the virus in a person for it to be detectable. If an infected person is tested too soon, or tested if they are not showing symptoms, the test will likely come back negative.

Hirji highlighted two cases confirmed Tuesday that showed how tests done at the wrong time can miss an infection.

In one case, a persons employer had their staff tested when another worker was found to have COVID-19. But the test was taken before anyone had symptoms.

So the test came back negative. But the day this person got their result, they started to exhibit symptoms. They were retested which came back positive, Hirji said.

In the other case, an employer is having workers tested every two weeks. One employee tested negative, but during that two-week span developed symptoms.

Hirji, who did not decide or advise on the regional long term care home policy, said non-symptomatic testing carries some risks:

They can miss an infection and a person could then end up exposing others to the virus and can also overwhelm laboratories with tests that wont actually produce helpful results.

Ontario is currently experiencing a backlog in processing COVID-19 tests. While the provincial government is focused on reducing wait times to get a COVID-19 test, lab capacity hasnt expanded to meet the rising demand.

That is why the testing is most effective when a person has symptoms, Hirji said. It is hard to make a general statement because everyone will show symptoms at different times. It could be two days, it could be two weeks. Around 50 per cent of the time seven-to-eight days is enough for a person to show symptoms and have enough virus in their symptoms to be detected in the test.

This is why Hirji is skeptical about so-called rapid antigen tests that purport to be able to produce a result in 20 minutes. These tests, which are being examined by Health Canada, could drastically speed up the detection of cases if they work. However, Hirji said they are far less accurate than the current PCR testing.

Some of them are only 10 per cent accurate. On the high end, they are only about 60 per cent accurate, Hirji said. That is not accurate enough to be useful.

Nevertheless, Hirji said when a long term care resident, a member of a more vulnerable population, ventures out, they are at more risk of exposure to the virus. Given the extreme toll the first wave of COVID-19 had on Ontario long term care homes, it will be important to take steps to prevent the virus from spreading in those homes. But those measures have to be rooted in science, he said.

The majority of Niagaras 64 known COVID-19 related deaths were long term residents.

Hirji said while Niagaras case count remains relatively low  there was only one confirmed case identified Wednesday  the virus is surging in the neighbour communities of Hamilton, Halton, Peel and Toronto.

He recommended Niagara residents avoid outings like shopping or eating out in those communities until the surge is over. Visiting family in their homes in those communities may be safer, he said.

There are currently two Niagara long term care homes with COVID-19 outbreaks  Pioneer Elder Care in St. Catharines, which is privately run, and the regionally operated Deer Park Villa in Grimsby.

The number of cases at each home has not been disclosed. However, the health department can declare an outbreak in a home with a single case.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 02:26:16|Editor: huaxia

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HELSINKI, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The defence ministers of Finland, Norway and Sweden signed a joint Statement of Intent (SOI) when convening in Lakselv, Norway on Wednesday, announcing wider military cooperation, according to the Finnish Ministry of Defence.

Signed by the ministers Antti Kaikkonen of Finland, Frank Bakke-Jensen of Norway and Peter Hultqvist of Sweden, the SOI defined the level of the joint aims of the three countries. It outlined the common ambition of the three countries as "to be able and ready to conduct operations in crisis and conflict if so decided."

"In order to improve our interoperability and readiness to give military support between us, we will undertake the necessary preparations, aiming at enhancing our defence capability and serve as a deterrent from aggression," the SOI noted.

The SOI noted that it is not "a legally binding commitment under national or international law" and does not "substitute for or invalidate any existing defence agreements, arrangements or memoranda of understanding among the participants."

Finnish Defence Minister Kaikkonen noted in the press release that the defence cooperation between the three countries supports the aims of the wider Nordic Defence Cooperation (NORDEFCO) to work together in the conditions "of conflict, a crisis or peace."

NORDEFCO is a collaboration among the Nordic countries in the area of defense. Its five members are Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden.

Kaikkonen said that the cooperation between the three complements the current cooperation between Finland and Sweden, and the bilateral cooperation between Finland and Norway.

Kaikkonen told the Finnish News Agency STT that the trilateral agreement does not change the relationship of Finland or Sweden to NATO. Finland and Sweden are enhanced cooperation partners of NATO, while Norway is a member. Enditem
RICHMOND, Va. - A Massachusetts man charged with killing an Appalachian Trail hiker and attacking another with a hunting knife in Virginia plans to use an insanity defence at his trial.

James Jordan of West Yarmouth, Massachusetts, is scheduled to go on trial in January in the 2019 killing of Ronald Sanchez Jr., 43, of Oklahoma City, and the wounding of a female hiker.

Jordans attorneys filed a notice in federal court this week saying they intend to use an insanity defence.

Jordan, 31, has a history of mental illness. He was originally declared incompetent to stand trial, but a judge in June found that he is now competent and the case against him can move forward.

In heavily redacted documents filed in court Monday, Jordans lawyers do not go into detail about the insanity defence, but note that forensic psychologists at the University of Virginias Institute of Law, Psychiatry, and Public Policy wrote in a July 2019 report that Jordans psychotic symptoms were severe enough to undermine his ability to participate in his legal proceedings.

Jordans lawyers asked that if prosecutors want to conduct a mental evaluation of Jordan that they do it at the regional jail in Abingdon, Virginia, where hes currently being held. They asked that he not be transferred to another facility for the evaluation, noting the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and possible exposure to the virus if hes moved.

Jordans lawyers and a spokesman for the U.S. Attorneys Office declined to comment on the plan to use an insanity defence.

In the weeks before Sanchez was killed in May 2019, hikers on the trail had complained to authorities in southwestern Virginia and in Tennessee about Jordan threatening them.

Jordan, who used the trail nickname of Sovereign, was arrested in Tennessee in April 2019 after some hikers reported him, but he was released after pleading guilty to possession of marijuana and other minor charges.

On the weekend of the killing, Jordan threatened four hikers, an FBI agent wrote in an affidavit filed in court.

Two of the hikers were chased by Jordan as they tried to leave their campsite, but managed to escape, authorities said.

Sanchez and a female hiker also ran to get away from Jordan, but he caught Sanchez first and stabbed him until he collapsed, the FBI agent wrote. Jordan then stabbed the woman repeatedly, investigators said. She fell to the ground and played dead, and Jordan then left to find his dog, the agent wrote. Jordan was later arrested.
The Russian leader of an influential religious sect who claims to be Jesus has been arrested in the depths of Siberia, police say.

Sergei Torop, who is known to his followers as Vissarion, was arrested alongside two of his aides.

Russia's Investigations Committee alleges the group caused emotional and physical harm to their followers and extorted money.

The three men stand accused of establishing a religious association whose activities involve violence against individuals and of inflicting grievous bodily harm to two or more people, a spokesperson for the committee said, according to state media.

The 59-year-old cult leader was detained by security forces following a special operation on Tuesday that saw helicopters and armed officers surround the sects communes in a remote region of Siberia.

The men could face up to 12 years in prison if found guilty, according to the RIA news agency.

Mr Torop founded the Church of the Last Testament in Siberia's Krasnoyarsk region following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. He claims to have been reborn in 1990 as a reincarnation of Jesus Christ.

The former traffic police officer has amassed thousands of followers, some of whom are said to believe him to be a returned Christ.

The sects followers established a settlement called the City of the Sun, in Kuraga region of Siberia in 1995. Hundreds of other believers reside in other settlements in the region.

Followers of the sect  known as Vissarionites  are not allowed to smoke, drink or use money, and are expected to live frugally. They also abstain from consuming meat, coffee, tea, sugar and other products.

Mr Torops religious beliefs combine elements of the Russian Orthodox Church with preparations for the apocalypse. According to local media, Mr Torop once claimed that Jesus was watching over his disciples from an orbit close to Earth and that the Virgin Mary was running Russia.

The Church of the Last Testament has international reach  in 2000, the Russian ministry of justice said the sect had some 10,000 followers around the world.
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.
The National Education Union (NEU) has offered continued collaboration and support for the Johnson governments herd immunity programme.

Millions of teachers and students have been forced to confront the devastating consequences of the full reopening of schools from September 1. There has been a massive surge in coronavirus outbreaks, with 1,700 schools recording infections. Many have been forced to close, fully or partially. Teachers have already begun to be hospitalised and teachers mental health is now recorded as the most compromised of any profession.

Warnings have been issued by Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer, that the virus is spiralling out of control with 50,000 daily infections predicted in the next four weeks and Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced a raft of ineffectual measures to suppress the pandemic. The death rate could rise to 200 a day by November.

Mary Bousted at a Policy Exchange think tank event in 2013 (Credit: Policy Exchange)

How has the largest teaching union in all of Europe responded? Despite growing opposition by its members, it has not raised a single demand on the government to protect its members. Instead it insists that the Tories must act now and fondly hopes that this hated government will be able to get this situation under control quickly.

The NEU letter sent on September 20 to Johnson, which was made public in a break with the unions normal practice of behind the scenes discussions, takes a solemn tone.

The issues raised in this letter are so serious and pressing that we are making its contents public, the NEU writes. The serious situation does not reference any concerns regarding the impact of schools in accelerating the circulation of the virus, or on the risks that are posed for the health of staff or children. The unions concerns focus on the catastrophic failure of the test, track and trace system in undermining its support for the full reopening of schools, which the NEU has desperately tried to sell to its membership.

The letter states, As the testing regime buckles under the strain of demand, staff and pupils cannot get tested, or get results, and schools cannot deal with outbreaks or sustain full opening if people are unnecessarily isolating.

The NEU fully accepts the governments insistence that schools must not close under any circumstances and explains, in introducing the letter, With lockdowns likely but further school closure ruled out by the Government, todays letter calls for the testing regime to be significantly and urgently increased for schools.

The government has unofficially responded by announcing that teachers will be fifth in the order of priority for testing, but children will not be tested as a priority. This is under conditions where the Office for National Statistics has established, In recent weeks, there has been clear evidence of an increase in the number of people testing positive for COVID-19 aged 2 to 11 years, 17 to 24 years and 25 to 34 years.

The NEUs letter continues with a warning to Johnson that despite its own best efforts, they may not be able to control the anger that will emerge: He (Johnson) must not take the continued support of schools for granted.

The letter attempts to distance the NEU from the fallout of the governments disastrous policy, but the situation facing education staff and pupils is the direct product of the criminal role it and other unions have played in demobilising and suppressing opposition to the governments agenda of subordinating the health needs of society to the profit drive of the major corporations.

From the outset of the pandemic, the NEU have blocked all moves to combat the deadly consequences of the governments handling of the virus. Their central demand has been for the Tories to work with the unions on their back to work/back to school drive.

The closure of schools on March 20 was an outcome of mass opposition among teachers and parents through the launching of petitions and in direct opposition to the unions. On March 16one week before lockdownMary Bousted, NEU joint general secretary, endorsed the governments insistence on keeping schools open, because, They are a major public service. For children on free school meals, they are a place where children get fed. Having your child at school allows parents to work.

Even as the UKs COVID death toll was rising exponentially to levels among the highest in the world, in May the NEU welcomed government plans to reopen schools, especially, [Education Minister Gavin] Williamsons statement that his door is open for discussions with the union.

At the end of August, the NEU junked its 5 tests for the safe reopening of schools, which included the R rate being below 1, test, track and trace being fully operational, social distancing in place and the protection of vulnerable staff. Not one of these measures was in place then and is not in place now. The NEU now accepts that while it isnt safe for schools to reopen based on their criteria, they wont challenge the government.

There is a growing recognition among teachers that the unions are accomplices in the crimes being committed. The response on social media to the unions letter reveals the chasm between the union and its members. Some of the many responses on the NEUs own Twitter page included Ann who said: Given over 50s high risk & in Sweden its proven teaching in a primary school increases risk by 70%, will education unions insist over 50s are shielded in the event of 2nd lockdown? Lives are at risk, currently unacceptable situation. Schools arent safe.

Allison said, This is not good enough. Boris and his cronies have ignored your letters this whole time and vilified teachers for not sacrificing themselves like martyrs. Now is the time for strike action. Send out the ballots now! But instead this spineless union and criminally negligent government will force teachers into unsafe workplaces with 50k infections a day by 13 Oct.

Great the NEU have written another letter. What about taking action? Teachers are being treated as minions and told to do as whatever they are asked, regardless of the science which says its unsafe. What about health and safety at work? Why are you leaving it to individuals, asked another teacher?

Kers commented: You set out 5 tests, track and trace was one of them. That hasnt been met. Yet we dont act.

Rachel writes, None of the five tests have been met, weve just been thrown into the lions den; and to use Boris Johnsons famous words back in March some of you may die. So comforting!

Educators must draw critical lessons from their experience with the trade unions. The opposition and anger that exists cannot find expression through these bureaucratic and privileged organisations. The necessary measures to protect teachers, pupils and their families will not come about due to the actions of the unions. Left in their hands the only result will be a massive increase in deaths.

The Socialist Equality Party has launched the educators independent rank-and-file safety committee to provide an alternative means of struggle. The fight against the pandemic must be taken out of the hands of the ruling elite and their accomplices in the Labour and trade union bureaucracy.

We call for the immediate closure of all schools. The virus is spiralling out of control and lives are at stake. All teaching must revert to online. All the necessary resources must be provided for this.

To participate in the next meeting of the Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee, this Saturday, 2pm click here.
The American flag is flown at half-staff at the U.S. Capitol on Sept. 21, 2020. (Stefani Reynolds/Getty Images)

Poll: 59 Percent Think Election Winner Should Appoint Ginsburg Replacement

Nearly three out of five Americans think the winner of the presidential election on Nov. 3 should appoint the justice to fill the Supreme Court seat vacated by the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, according to a CNN poll (pdf).

The survey, conducted days after Ginsburgs passing, found that 59 percent of 901 respondents believed that the winner of the election should make the appointment, while 41 percent said that President Donald Trump should make the appointment now.

Ginsburg died on Sept. 18 after a years-long battle with cancer. She was considered the leader of the liberal side of the Supreme Court bench. A conservative appointment by Trump, if confirmed by the U.S. Senate, could shift the court to a conservative supermajority for decades.

The small sample size in the survey resulted in a larger-than-usual margin of error of 4 percent, leaving open the possibility that the actual situation is closer to the national polling on questions about the electoral prospect of Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden.

The results were inverted when the same question was asked in March 2016, right after President Barack Obama appointed Judge Merrick Garland to fill the seat vacated by the late Justice Antonin Scalia. At the time, 57 percent said Obama should make the appointment and 40 percent said the choice should be up to the winner of the election.

Views on who should appoint the justice are split among hyper-partisan lines, according to the new poll. Nearly every Democrat surveyed (97 percent) said that the election winner should make the appointment. Meanwhile, only 17 percent of Republicans thought the same.

Six out of 10 respondents who identified as independents and members of other parties favored the election winner to make the choice. Independents and members of other parties made up 45 percent of the sample size.

The disparity was similar among ideological lines with 91 percent of liberals saying the next president should make the appointment compared to 27 percent of conservatives and 63 percent of moderates who shared the same view.

Trump has said he intends to nominate a woman to fill the vacant seat during an event at 5 p.m. on Saturday. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell signaled that the nominee put forth by the president will get a vote on the Senate floor. Republicans appear to have the votes needed for confirmation.

More than one in three respondents (34 percent) said that the Supreme Court is too conservative, the highest percentage recorded in seven polls dating back to 1993. Roughly one in five respondents (22 percent) said the court was too liberal, matching the lows recorded in 2001 and 1993.
Researchers from six countries in the Americas explored bromeliad microcosms, showing how drought and flood affect the functioning of aquatic ecosystems, especially at the bottom of the food chain

To understand how climate change may affect different ecosystems, 27 researchers from Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, French Guiana and Puerto Rico, among other countries, conducted experiments in seven different locations involving the aquatic environment in the tank (centrally-located water-holding cup) of bromeliads, a habitat for insect larvae and other small organisms.

They discovered that, in contrast with what might be thought, the smallest organisms at the bottom of the food chain suffer the most from rainfall instability, one of the expected effects of climate change, rather than the large organisms at the top. The study was supported by Sao Paulo Research Foundation - FAPESP, and the findings are published in Nature Communications.

According to ecologist Gustavo Quevedo Romero, first author of the article and a professor in the Animal Biology Department at the University of Campinas's Biology Institute (IB-UNICAMP) in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, multiple-site studies designed to understand how climate change may affect ecosystems are rare. This type of approach is necessary to achieve a better understanding of how each geographic region and ecosystem will be affected. The findings from the experiments with bromeliads contradict those of much previous ecological research focusing on climate change and species resilience.

"We manipulated the quantity and frequency of rainfall in the microcosms [in the bromeliad tank] according to climate change models for the decades ahead. In the same experiment, we created both drought and flood conditions, as well as an index of hydrological stability in each bromeliad. The sample, therefore, included bromeliads with more stable hydrological conditions, in which water volume varied little over time, and others with more unstable conditions," Romero said. "We found that hydrological instability affected smaller organisms negatively. The largest amounts of these were found in microcosms with more stable conditions. The largest predators were found in bromeliads exposed to the worst periods of drought."

The scientific literature suggests larger animals suffer most from climate changes, especially because they have less room to forage. "But we showed that in this case the bottom of the food chain may be more sensitive, and changes there can modify the trophic levels above," he said.

The researchers were surprised to find a single consistent pattern of susceptibility to climate change across all seven study sites despite local variations: predators always benefited from drier conditions, while small organisms were adversely affected in small environments and favored in larger environments with more rainfall. "Our study sites included Santa Fe, Argentina, which is arid, and locations in Costa Rica and French Guiana where drought is unusual, and the pattern was the same," he said.

Other results were also geographically consistent. "The predator biomass to prey biomass ratio, or the biomass pyramid representing the amount of potential food available for each trophic level in an ecosystem, was the same in all plants in all study sites and consistent throughout the geographical space regardless of species pool and the degree to which the organisms were drought-adapted," he said.

Instability

The study shows that climate change causes instability in food webs, especially when it is associated with drought. "More predators in a bromeliad with less water intensify the top-down predation effect on prey communities. This destabilizes the food web and may lead to local extinction of both predator and prey species," Romero said. In sum, although predators benefit in the smaller habitats caused by drought, these environments are more unstable and more vulnerable to extinction and ecosystem collapse.

The study methodology classified the fauna inhabiting bromeliad aquatic ecosystems into apex (top) predators, mesopredators (mid-ranking predators), and detritivores (small animals that feed on dead organic material, especially plant detritus). "We saw no impact of climate change on mesopredators, which were not affected by the treatments we administered," Romero said. In the bromeliad microcosm analyzed, mid-ranking predators were represented by small insect larvae that feed on other small organisms and are generally considered opportunistic species.

Like detritivores, filter feeders are small organisms. These are aquatic animals that feed on particles or other small organisms strained out of water and circulated through their system. Both of these groups benefited from steady hydrological conditions but were adversely affected by unstable conditions and exceptionally heavy rainfall.

"For example, heavy downpours in lakes and in bromeliad tanks lead to overflowing and loss of microorganisms and other nutrients via flushing," Romero said. "We showed in other studies that flushing and flooding can lead to significant losses of bacteria, microinvertebrates, and nutrients such as nitrate and phosphate."

Microcosm

Bromeliads, Romero explained, are natural environments in which scientists are able to explore various aspects of ecosystems, thanks to their small size and the ease with which they can be handled, as well as the fact that the results obtained in them can often be extrapolated for larger systems such as lakes or lagoons. Studies conducted in these larger environments tend to produce similar results to those performed in the bromeliad microcosm.

"Bromeliads are found throughout the Neotropics, and although their tanks are small environments a forest bromeliad community can accumulate as much as 50,000 liters of water per hectare, serving as a water source for birds, mammals and other terrestrial animals, and as an entire ecosystem for organisms that live in aquatic environments," he said.

This aquatic environment, mainly inhabited by small insects and crustaceans, is what the researchers explored. "The apex predators, especially dragonfly larvae, are larger animals, while the detritivores are tiny insects like mosquitoes and midges," he explained. "The apex predators feed on these smaller organisms, which feed on particles in suspension and detritus that falls from trees."

Common protocol

The research group, which also included scientists from France, Canada, the US, and the UK, held two meetings to decide on the experiment design. The same protocol was implemented at all seven study sites. At each site, they selected 30 bromeliads with more than 100?ml of tank capacity so that they could be colonized by the large predators. The species were the most common locally, as each region's bromeliad community comprises different species.

The 210 plants were washed and disinfected to remove all detritus and macroorganisms, as well as microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. "We cleaned the bromeliads out very thoroughly so as to start from scratch," Romero said. "To initiate colonies and communities in the experimental ecosystems, we evenly divided the previously removed fine and coarse detritus among the 30 plants and stocked each bromeliad with the same community in terms of invertebrate families and functional groups. We then took them back into the field and installed them under individual transparent plastic shelters to ensure that the results were not affected by rain."

Each site's rainfall regime was simulated in terms of a five-year regional average for volume and frequency. "We manipulated the amount and frequency of rainfall during a two-month period at each site," Romero said. "We had an average for each geographical region. Below that we considered drought, and above it flooding. We manipulated the extremes, drought, and flood. No one had done that previously."

After two months the plants were taken to the laboratory, where the researchers recorded water turbidity (organic and inorganic suspended matter resulting from detritivore activity), a surrogate for total nutrient availability in freshwater ecosystems. They then dissected each bromeliad by removing each leaf, washing it separately in running water, and filtering this water through sieves before analyzing its content.

###

The study was also supported by FAPESP via the project "Global changes and the functioning of ecosystems in phytotelmata", a PhD scholarship , a postdoctoral scholarship, and a research scholarship abroad.

Romero said future research interests include manipulating environmental stressors such as changes in rainfall, warming, and pollution, in various freshwater systems.

About Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP)

The Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) is a public institution with the mission of supporting scientific research in all fields of knowledge by awarding scholarships, fellowships and grants to investigators linked with higher education and research institutions in the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil. FAPESP is aware that the very best research can only be done by working with the best researchers internationally. Therefore, it has established partnerships with funding agencies, higher education, private companies, and research organizations in other countries known for the quality of their research and has been encouraging scientists funded by its grants to further develop their international collaboration. You can learn more about FAPESP at http://www.fapesp.br/en and visit FAPESP news agency at http://www.agencia.fapesp.br/en to keep updated with the latest scientific breakthroughs FAPESP helps achieve through its many programs, awards and research centers. You may also subscribe to FAPESP news agency at http://agencia.fapesp.br/subscribe.
CHEYENNE  After at least one teacher and one student at McCormick Junior High School tested positive for COVID-19 last week, the Cheyenne-Laramie County Health Department is urging continued use of face masks among all students and staff.

Masks, for the time being, are the next best thing to actually having a vaccine, Dr. Stan Hartman, county health officer, told the Laramie County School District 1 Board of Trustees at a meeting Monday night. Right now, having students wearing masks whenever they cannot properly social distance is the key to keeping the schools open.

The school district, which is Wyomings largest, requires that all students and school personnel wear face masks that cover their mouths and noses when it is not possible to remain at least 6 feet apart from others.

Before schools reopened last month, the district made it clear that the majority of schools do not have the capacity to separate classroom desks by 6 feet and that most of the time everyone would need to wear a mask. Students and employees who are not compliant with mask use could face formal disciplinary action.

The utility and effectiveness of masks is so widespread in the medical community that its not even a subject of debate anymore, Hartman said. Unfortunately, it remains a hot-button political issue among some segments of the population.

That was on full display last week, when a group of around 30 Wyomingites gathered in front of the state Capitol to speak out against the mask mandate in schools. Some of those protesters shared anecdotes with the Wyoming Tribune Eagle that wearing a mask all day made their respiratory-compromised children feel sick.

Hartman said Monday, however, that there are very, very few medical conditions that would realistically prevent a person from wearing a face mask in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.

The district this year opened the entirely online Cheyenne Virtual School, which accommodates any children who do not wish to wear masks all day, or who are immunocompromised and concerned about catching the virus.

There is absolutely no doubt that the use of masks are very effective at reducing the transmission and acquisition of this particular disease, Hartman said, explaining how masks are the most effective tool for disrupting the flow of the respiratory disease droplets through the air.

We know that a lot of the people with this disease do not have symptoms, but yet they can spread the infection, he added.

The two confirmed cases of COVID-19 have sent about 100 students at McCormick into a two-week quarantine away from school grounds in an effort to employ contact tracing methods and prevent any further outbreak of the virus.

When we have a situation in a school where someone is COVID-positive  and we have all of our students and teachers masked  how does that influence our plan for quarantining students? Trustee Lynn Storey-Huylar asked.

The mask provides protection for both the giver and the receiver of the communication, Kasey Mullins, nursing director for the local health department, answered. When we do a contact tracing, we talk to the positive individual to find out how close in contact they were, and if they were wearing the mask themselves.

Mullins said that only health care providers  who wear medical-grade personal protective equipment  can receive a quarantine exemption by wearing a mask. Otherwise, anyone who is deemed to have come into close contact with a COVID-positive person  like the 100 McCormick students  must remain quarantined for at least two weeks. That remains in effect even if they receive a negative test result because it can take several days for the virus to develop in a persons body.

While the cloth mask provides a high level of protection, we cant validate the integrity of every cloth mask out there, Mullins said. The goal of quarantine is to hopefully (ensure) that they do not transmit the virus, and that they stay healthy during those 14 days.
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The head of the Quneitra Military Security Division was targeted in an assassination attempt, wounding him and killing his companion reports Nadaa Syria.

A senior officer in the Military Security Division of the Syrian regime was subjected to an assassination attempt on Tuesday at noon, which wounded him and killed his companion.

Media sources reported that unknown persons targeted the head of the Quneitra Military Security Division, Brig. Gen. Ali al-Saleh, on the al-Salam highway near the town of Kanaker between the governorates of Damascus and Quneitra.

Pro-regime sources confirmed that Saleh was wounded and his companion, Muhammad Mahmoud Issa, from the town of al-Madhalla in the Tartous countryside, was killed.

This operation comes after the instabilities that the town of Kanaker, in the western countryside of Damascus, witnessed, including road blocks, the burning of tires and the burning of pictures of Bashar al-Assad, against the backdrop of security branches arresting three women from the town.

The Syrian regimes intelligence responded to these protests by targeting Kanaker with Shilka vehicles and heavy machine guns, in addition to reinforcing their checkpoints at the entrances and exits of the town in preparation for any new unrest.

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.
SARS-CoV-2 is thought to have originated in bats and spread to humans via a yet-to-be identified intermediate mammalian host. Almost two dozen animal species are known to be susceptible to infection, and there have been numerous reports of infected people transmitting the virus to their pet cats and dogs, to farm animals and even to lions and tigers at the Bronx Zoo. Instances of people catching SARS-CoV-2 from animals, however, are extremely rare. At least two people probably caught it from minks -- semi-aquatic, carnivorous mammals raised for their soft pelts -- in the Netherlands, where outbreaks occurred on about a dozen farms. Still, health authorities say theres no evidence that animals play a significant role in spreading the virus, and consider the risk of them doing so to be low.
France is to double paternity leave to nearly a month, Emmanuel Macrons office has announced.

The new 28-day rule falls well short of the nine weeks recommended by a presidential commission set up in November, but brings French law closer in line with more progressive European nations.

Several countries such as Sweden, Norway and Spain, currently offer more generous prospects for new fathers.

While partners in the UK can opt to take shared parental leave of up to 50 weeks, paternity leave is currently 14 days, and fathers are offered either 151.20 per week, or 90 per cent of their average weekly earnings  whichever is lowest.

Time is an essential factor in establishing an important bond between the child and the parents. Currently, this 14-day period is too short," an Elysee official told Agence France-Presse (AFP).

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. 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In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. 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The move was an extremely consensual reform for the president given that 80 per cent of the population is thought to approve of it, the official said.

It is a demonstration of Mr Macrons very strong commitment to fight against the inequalities of destiny at the root, Le Figaro reported an Elysee official as saying.

Paid leave for new fathers in France was last increased to 14 days in 2002, which was considered a progressive move at the time.

Despite the commission by leading psychiatrist Boris Cyrulnik into childrens first 1,000 days of life concluding that fathers be given nine weeks at home, the official told AFP: Doubling is already a fairly significant change in terms of cultural development and for the place of fathers with children.

The reform, which will become partly compulsory by law, will be announced by Mr Macron on Wednesday during a visit to a maternity and child health centre in Essonne, and will come into effect in July. It is expected to cost the state 500m per year.

And in a bid to reduce the disparity between how often paternity leave is currently taken by men with secure and insecure employment  which sits at 80 and 50 per cent respectively, according to the Lycee  a new fine could be levied at companies that fail to give new fathers time off.

The current penalty for firms found to be cheating mothers of maternity leave is 7,500.

The compulsory nature of the reform prompted some criticism, with Julien Damon, an associate professor at the Paris Institute of Political Studies, telling Le Figaro: Giving young dads more time is good. Putting them under house arrest seems more questionable. This could even lead to hidden or black work."

But others called for the government to go further, with former Macron ally and National Assembly social affairs committee member Guillaume Chiche suggesting at least eight weeks of compulsory leave, with the option for an additional month.

While the UK took strides in 2015 to reverse inequalities by establishing the joint parental leave system, research suggests just one per cent of eligible new parents used the scheme in 2017/18.

Furthermore, evidence indicates that only a third in the UK take any paternal leave at all, often considering it an unaffordable luxury.
Mitt Romneys announcement that he will vote on President Trumps nominee to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court based on their qualifications is getting plenty of media attention. But for some reason, Alaskas Lisa Murkowskis much more surprising announcement that she cant rule out voting for a nominee, reversing her position last week that she would not vote on a nominee before Inauguration Day, is getting no MSM attention at all, according to Google:

Google screengrab 0743 AM EDT, 9 23/20

Senator Murkowski told Alaska Public Media yesterday:

I know everybody wants to ask the question, will you confirm the nominee? she said outside the Capitol, as her Republican colleagues were gathering for their weekly policy lunch. We dont have a nominee yet. You and I dont know who that is. And so I cant confirm whether or not I can confirm a nominee when I dont know who the nominee is.

I understand that, while Alaska is a long way from DC and NYC media bases, there is a thing called the internet that should enable the media to catch on.

Mitt Romneys declaration is at least partly understandable in terms of what is widely regarded as the biggest issue in the confirmation of a replacement justice. Romneys Utah constituents are heavily pro-life, as is the Latter Day Saints (Mormon) Church, in which he formerly served as a bishop:

Human life is a sacred gift from God. Elective abortion for personal or social convenience is contrary to the will and the commandments of God. Church members who submit to, perform, encourage, pay for, or arrange for such abortions may lose their membership in the Church.

Senator Murkowskis change in stance is harder to explain, but perhaps she has been pressured by Majority Leader McConnell, or perhaps she is responding to constituents.

It is now clear that, barring unexpected developments, whomever President Trump nominates is going to be confirmed. We can expect Democrats to focus on the Judiciary Committee hearings damaging Senators who vote for confirmation. They are going to try to goad or trap the nominee into supporting things that they think their voters will react strongly to.

This means gang-rape fantasies or charges of secret cannibalism and the like are probably not on the agenda.

The women of The View certainly think the Court is lost and the battle is for control of the Senate. Beth Bauman of TownHall writes:

Joy Behar and Whoopi Goldberg, two co-hosts of "The View," on Tuesday admitted that Democrats have lost Ruth Bader Ginsburg's seat on the Supreme Court. Instead of focusing on trying to change Republicans' mind about pushing through President Donald Trump's nominee, their focus is on this election cycle and the Senate in particular.

You can watch the segment below and savor the schadenfreude:

AirTV screengrab
President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus has been sworn in to his sixth term in office at an inaugural ceremony that was not announced in advance.

It comes amid weeks of huge protests over his re-election, which the opposition says was rigged.

Several European countries used the occasion to reiterate they do not recognise the results of the election and refuse to regard Mr Lukashenko as the legitimate president.

The ceremony was held in front of several hundred dignitaries at the Palace of Independence in the capital of Minsk on Wednesday.

Police and other security forces blocked off parts of the city and public transport was suspended.

Mr Lukashenko, 66, took the oath of office in Belarusian with his right hand on the constitution, while the head of the Central Election Commission handed him the official ID card of the president of Belarus.

The day of assuming the post of the president is the day of our victory, convincing and fateful, he said.

We were not just electing the president of the country  we were defending our values, our peaceful life, sovereignty and independence.

The absence of public involvement in the inauguration only proved that Mr Lukashenko lacked a valid mandate to continue leading the country, according to his political opponents and European officials.

Steffen Seibert, spokesman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel, said: Even after this ceremony today, Mr Lukashenko cannot claim democratic legitimisation, which would be the condition to recognise him as the legitimate president of Belarus.

He added the secrecy surrounding the swearing-in was very telling.

Mr Lukashenko has run Belarus, a former Soviet nation of 9.5 million, with an iron fist for 26 years.

Official results of the countrys August 9 presidential election had him winning 80% of the vote.

His strongest opponent, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, got 10%.

Ms Tsikhanouskaya, who is in exile in neighbouring Lithuania after being forced to leave Belarus, says the outcome was invalid, as have the tens of thousands of her supporters who continue to demand Mr Lukashenkos resignation during more than six weeks of mass protests.

The people havent handed him a new mandate, she said, adding the inauguration was a farce and an attempt by Mr Lukashenko to declare himself legitimate.

I, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, am the only leader that has been elected by the Belarusian people.

And our goal right now is to build the new Belarus together.

The United States and the European Union have questioned the election and criticised the brutal police crackdown on peaceful protesters during the first few days of demonstrations.

The EU is pondering sanctions against top Belarusian officials but failed to agree on imposing them this week.

Protests have rocked the country daily since the election, with the largest rallies in Minsk attracting up to 200,000 people.

In the first three days of protests, police used tear gas, truncheons and rubber bullets to disperse crowds.

Several protesters died, many were injured and more than 7,000 were detained.

The Viasna human rights group said several protesters were detained near the palace on Wednesday, holding banners that read the king has no clothes and victory (will belong to) the people.

Mr Lukashenko has bristled at suggestions of starting a dialogue with the opposition.

Amid international outrage over the violent crackdown on the protests, Belarusian authorities switched to prosecuting top activists.

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.

A prominent council member, Pavel Latushko, compared the inauguration to a gathering of thieves and refused to recognize Mr Lukashenko as president.

For us, the citizens of Belarus, for the international community, he is a nobody, he said.

An unfortunate error of history and a disgrace of the civilised world.

We will never agree with the falsification (of the election) and are demanding a new vote.

We urge everyone to engage in indefinite civil disobedience.
Banking giant Westpac is preparing to pay penalties in excess of $1 billion for its breaches of anti-money laundering laws and for failing to stop child exploitation payments in what is expected to be the largest fine in Australian corporate history.

Directors at the nation's second largest bank held a conference call on Wednesday to discuss a settlement with the financial crimes regulator, the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC), after negotiations intensified in recent weeks.

Westpac could be forced to pay penalties in excess of $1 billion. Credit:Andrew Quilty

Banking industry sources, who requested anonymity because the talks are confidential, told The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald the penalty could reach $1.5 billion and would be announced at a joint press conference in coming days. One source close to the negotiations said the final figure was "not definitely locked in" but talks between the parties had escalated and a settlement was close to being agreed.

"The parties are trying to get it resolved. Im being hopeful its in the next 48 hours, it could be 24, it could be 12, it could be three days" the source said. "My view is its still a moving feast."
New Delhi, Sep 23 : Hollywood star John Cusack says he got closer to knowing and understanding India during his pursuit to understand the world in a better way.

The actor has been vocal about the events, or turmoils, happening in India, and addressed them through social media.

When IANS asked about his understanding of India, Cusack said: "I've been there a few times and I have a great friendship with (author) Arundhati Roy." "(We have done) some activist things (together) and we wrote some essays together about meeting Ed Snowden in Russia with Daniel Ellsberg and her. So I've gotten to know India by going there and through her eyes, which is quite extraordinary. So that's where my interest in India and Kashmir and all those issues came from. (I am) just trying to understand the world," added the actor, who is known for his strong opinions as well ad his acting skills.

Cusack began acting in the eighties, and gained popularity for his roles in "Better Off Dead", "Say Anything...", "Bullets over Broadway", "Grosse Pointe Blank", "Being John Malkovich", "High Fidelity", "1408", "Igor", "2012", "The Raven" and "Serendipity".

Now, he is headed to the digital world with the conspiracy thriller series "Utopia".

The eight-episode series is about saving the world, while trying to find your place in it. It is about a group of comic fans who meet online and bond over their obsession of a seemingly fictional comic called, "Utopia". Inspired by the British series of the same name. The American remake is written by "Gone Girl" author Gillian Flynn, who also serves as showrunner and executive producer.

Reflecting on why it took so long for him to make his digital debut, he said: "I hadn't really been offered anything that I thought was really good, or that I wanted to do." "This was the first thing that came along, that had a great writer, and it was a terrific part. So, it was kind of easy and no brainer for me... Gillian sent me all eight episodes, and I started reading them and it was a real page turn. I think I read the entire eight episodes in one day because I wanted to see what happened next. It was very surprising and terrific writing, and it was nice to be asked by her to do it." The show will premiere on Amazon Prime Video on September 25 in India. It also stars Ashleigh LaThrop, Rainn Wilson, Sasha Lane, Dan Byrd, Jessica Rothe, Desmin Borges, Javon Walton, Farrah Mackenzie, Christopher Denham, and Cory Michael Smith.

(Sugandha Rawal can be contacted at sugandha.r@ians.in)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Plastic face shields allow nearly 100 per cent of tiny airborne droplets released by coronavirus-infected patients to escape through visors, a study has warned.

The alternative to face masks were touted by industry experts as providing adequate protection from the virus.

And the British government has recommended them for hairdressers, barbers, nail technicians and tattooists as a barrier between them and the customer.

But modelling has now cast doubt on claims they work, after a computer simulation revealed almost 100 per cent of airborne droplets smaller than five micrometres in size  released when talking and breathing  escaped through the visor.

And half of larger droplets measuring 50 micrometres in size  given off by coughs and sneezes  found their way into the air, posing a risk to others. One micrometre is one millionth of a metre.

A study has found wearing just a plastic face shield offers next to no protection from coronavirus. Above is a hairdresser wearing one in Northampton, England, on July 4

The Duchess of Cornwall donned just a face shield when she visited a charity training centre in Milton Keynes on September 9

The World Health Organization (WHO) says face shields can help prevent the virus, scientifically called SARS-CoV-2.

But the agency says they only work in combination with other safety measures such as wearing a mask, social distancing, and frequent hand-washing.

Face shields do not completely cover the entirety of the face, leaving room for droplets expelled by the mouth and nose to escape.

Face visors are also worn by doctors, nurses and other hospital workers on the Covid-19 frontline, but with the addition of a fitted surgical face mask.

Makoto Tsubokura, team leader of the study carried out by the Riken Centre in Japan, cautioned against wearing face visors.

He told The Guardian: 'Judging from the results of the simulation, unfortunately the effectiveness of face guards in preventing droplets from spreading from an infected person's mouth is limited compared with masks.

'This is especially true for small droplets of less than 20 micrometres,' he said, and added all of the much smaller droplets also escape.

Professor Tsubokura added: 'At the same time, it somehow works for the droplets larger than 50 micrometres.'

He said that those advised not to wear face masks, such as those with underlying respiratory issues or small children, could wear face shields instead, but only in outdoor or indoor settings that are properly ventilated.

The evidence follows on from research done at Florida Atlantic University's College of Engineering and Computer Science published on September 1, which also found face shields are ineffective in halting the spread of coronavirus.

In the study, published in the journal Physics of Fluids, scientists placed flourescent substances in droplets so that they could monitor their spread. A mannequin was also set up to expel sneeze and cough droplets, with a mixture of distilled water and glycerin to generate a synthetic fog.

A US study showed face shields blocked the initial transmission of particles but that most spread around the sides

Waitrose staff wear face shields at a store in White City, London, on April 15

ARE FACE SHIELDS PROTECTIVE? In a scramble to find ways to protect people from catching the coronavirus, masks, goggles, visors and gloves have all been touted as possible layers of protection. Some people have even been seen with homemade attempts, such as wearing lunchboxes or water bottles over their faces. But do visors work? Some research has shown that people are at risk of becoming more seriously ill with COVID-19 if they receive a larger 'viral load' - the first dose of viruses that they are infected with. Epidemiologist Dr Eli Perencevich and a team of scientists at the University of Iowa said a visor could reduce the amount of virus someone inhaled by up to 92 per cent form 2m away from the source. They said: 'Face shields... should be included as part of strategies to safely and significantly reduce transmission in the community setting.' Dr Robert Glatter, a doctor at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, said that early data was 'promising'. But research carried out before the pandemic does not show any clear benefits of using visors on their own, other scientists say. A study by the US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) done in 2016 found there is no proof to back up claims that face shields work on their own. He said viruses or bacteria could come in through around the edges of the visor and still cause infection  and said they should only be used in addition to other PPE. Lawrence Young, a virologist and oncologist, University of Warwick, told MailOnline: 'I dont know of any systematic studies properly evaluating the benefits of face shields.' He noted an 'interesting' review led by the University of Hong which comprehensively explored the different types of facial protection measures, including masks. The team highlighted the fact that strong evidence is lacking in terms of the effectiveness of face shields against the transmission of viral respiratory diseases'. Writing in the journal Oral Diseases, the team add: 'Because most face shields do not form a tight seal around the side of the face and chin area, they do not offer protection against aerosols leaking in from the margins of the face shields.' Advertisement

Face shields were revealed to drop the initial forward motion of the droplets, but other particles spread around the 'shield' and escaped.

Study co-author, Professor Manhar Dhanak, said: 'From this latest study, we were able to observe that face shields are able to block the initial forward motion of the exhaled jet, however, aerosolised droplets expelled with the jet are able to move around the visor with relative ease.

'Over time, these droplets can disperse over a wide area in both lateral and longitudinal directions, albeit with decreasing droplet concentration.'

Lead author Professor Siddhartha Verma added: 'Face shields have noticeable gaps along the bottom and the sides, and masks with exhalation ports include a one-way valve which restricts airflow when breathing in, but allows free outflow of air.

'The inhaled air gets filtered through the mask material, but exhaled breath passes through the valve unfiltered.'

The research concluded that face shields are not as effective as regular face masks.

The Government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) has also recommended that hairdressers wear face masks rather than face shields as there is 'no evidence' the latter offers protection against Covid-19.

The New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG) and the Environmental and Modelling group (EMG) presented the evidence on July 23, almost three weeks after hairdressers re-opened on July 4.

In order to welcome back clients, hairdressers, barbers, nail technicians and tattooists were told by the government that clear visors would be adequate enough to protect against Covid-19. It is not clear what this guidance was based on.

SAGE said in July face shields are 'likely' to protect the wearer against large droplets  the most common route of Covid-19 transmission  but there is no hard proof that this is the case.

Similarly, there is no evidence  and it is 'unlikely'  that face shields are an effective control against aerosol transmission.

It is currently unclear if the virus is spread through aerosols  which are tiny particles that linger in the air for long periods of time.

But NERVTAG and EMG admitted it is possible airborne transmission plays a part in the spread of the coronavirus, but only in areas that are poorly ventilated.

The paper said: 'Based on the current evidence, it is possible that transmission through aerosols could happen where a person who generates significant amounts of virus is in a poorly ventilated space with others for a significant amount of time.'

The World Health Organization says the virus that causes Covid-19 is primarily transmitted between people through respiratory droplets, which come out of the airways when people breathe.

Droplets, which contain saliva, mucous and other substances from the airways, including viruses, are larger than pure air particles.

After being expelled from the body they travel short distances before falling to the floor, which is why social distancing is so crucial.

The droplets, which can carry viruses, can land directly into another person's nose or mouth if not caught in a tissue. Or, they fall due to gravity and land on surfaces, where it can live for up to three days.

If someone else touches that contaminated surface, the virus can transfer onto their hand and then enter the body and cause infection next time they touch their eyes, nose or mouth.

The World Health Organization changed its own guidelines in July to acknowledge that it 'is possible' to become infected by airborne transmission.

Airborne transmission is different from droplet transmission as it refers to the presence of microbes within droplet nuclei, which are generally considered to be particles less than 5m in diameter.

They can remain in the air for long periods of time, meaning transmission can occur when the contagious person has left the room, and be transmitted to others over distances greater than one metre.
Syracuse, N.Y.  The victim of a shooting on Syracuses West Side has died, police said Tuesday.

Syracuse police identified the victim as Alexander Ruggiero, 26.

Ruggiero was shot and killed at an apartment complex at 105 Herkimer St. on Monday, Sept. 21 just before 11:30 a.m.

Sgt. Matthew Malinowski, a Syracuse police spokesman, said Ruggiero was pronounced dead at the scene Monday.

The killing marks the 26th homicide so far this year in Syracuse.

Police have asked anyone with information about the shooting to call 315-442-5222.
The panel interviewed about a dozen witnesses in the investigation, including Blue Star employees. The panel also interviewed Hochstein and former deputy secretary of state Antony Blinken, both close Biden advisers, as well as two current ambassadors, Geoffrey Pyatt, who previously was the top diplomat in Ukraine, and Bridget Brink, who was previously the deputy assistant secretary of state with responsibility for Ukraine. Kent, former assistant secretary of state Victoria Nuland, former National Security Council Eastern Europe director Liz Zentos, and David Wade, the chief of staff for John F. Kerry when he was secretary of state, also spoke to investigators in the probe.
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President Donald Trump again mocked Joe Biden for wearing a mask and asked a crowd in Pittsburgh why the Democrat would spend 'all that money on the plastic surgery' to cover up his face.

'He feels good about the mask,' Trump riffed. 'I wonder in the debate, it will be him and I on the stage, is he going to walk in with a mask?'

The president had his predominantly mask-less audience in stitches, as he poked fun at Biden for mask-wearing on the same day that marked more than 200,000 Americans dying of COVID-19.

During his hour and a half long appearance, Trump knocked Biden, but also complimented Republican Sen. Mitt Romney, who said earlier Tuesday he would vote for the president's Supreme Court pick during an election year.

'But he was very good today,' Trump said. 'I have to tell you he was good. I was happy. Thank you Mitt.'

President Donald Trump ridiculed Democrat Joe Biden for wearing a mask to prevent the spread of coronavirus, telling a crowd in Pittsburgh he wonders why Biden spent 'all that money on the plastic surgery' and then covers up his face

People listen to US President Donald J. Trump speak during his 'Great American Comeback' campaign event in Moon Township, Pennsylvania

Supporters listen as President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at Atlantic Aviation on September 22 in Moon Township, Pennsylvania

President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at Atlantic Aviation on September 22. Trump won Pennsylvania by less than a percentage point in 2016 and is currently in a tight race with Democratic nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden

U.S. President Donald Trump hugs his granddaughter, Arabella Kushner, following a campaign rally at Pittsburgh International Airport in Pittsburgh on Tuesday night

U.S. President Donald Trump hugs his grandson, Joseph Kushner, following the campaign rally on Tuesday

Trump suggested that Biden's smooth face was due to a little nip-and-tuck and mocked the Democrat for wearing a mask, even laughing about how he let's it 'hang down on his ear'

President Trump complimented Sen. Mitt Romney, who announced Tuesday he would be comfortable voting for Trump's Supreme Court pick during an election year. Two other moderate Republicans have said they believed the vote shouldn't be held before November 3

The same day the U.S. hit more than 200,000 coronavirus deaths, President Trump packed thousands of supporters together at an outdoor rally at the Pittsburgh International Airport

Trump started out the rally by complimenting the Pittsburgh Steelers' back-to-back wins, with the help of their quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who was injured for most of last season.

'Big Ben!' Trump exclaimed.

When he spoke about the coronavirus crisis, he told the crowd that the 'bottom line' was that he saved 'millions of lives,' pointing to the original death toll estimate if the U.S. took zero social distancing precautions. He also said that Biden 'did the worst job in history' dealing with the last pandemic, the swine flu, which globally likely killed the amount of people that COVID-19 did just in the United States.

Trump pretty quickly went after Biden for wearing masks.

Medical experts say masks can prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

'I'll be honest, he feels good about that mask, and that's OK,' Trump said of his rival.

He then paused, waiting to drop his next line.

President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally on Tuesday. He started out the rally by complimenting the Pittsburgh Steelers' back-to-back wins, with the help of their quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who was injured for most of last season

When he spoke about the coronavirus crisis, he told the crowd that the 'bottom line' was that he saved 'millions of lives'

Senior Advisor to the President Jared Kushner, daughter Arabella, son Joseph and, wife and Senior Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump listen to US President Donald Trump speak during a campaign rally at Pittsburgh International Airport

People listen to US President Donald J. Trump speak during his 'Great American Comeback' campaign event in Moon Township, Pennsylvania

A supporter holds a banner prior to US President Donald J. Trump's 'Great American Comeback' campaign event in Moon Township, Pennsylvania

A supporter, wearing a 'Wall Suit' gestures during US President Donald J. Trump's 'Great American Comeback' campaign event in Moon Township, Pennsylvania

'I mean honestly, what the hell did he spend all that money on the plastic surgery if he's going to cover it up with a mask,' Trump said.

The Western Pennsylvania audience cheered.

The president continued down this path, asking his supporters: 'The question is will he leave it on during the debate?'

Biden and Trump are slated to go head-to-head on the presidential debate stage a week from today in Cleveland, Ohio.

'It makes him feel comfortable,' Trump said of mask-wearing, snickering at Biden for sometimes letting his mask 'hang down on his ear.'

President Trump made the comments at a rally Tuesday night in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he also mocked Biden's campaign for calling a 'lid' Tuesday morning, meaning the ex-veep wouldn't be traveling anywhere that day

President Trump claps onstage during his Tuesday night rally in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. There, he mocked Democrat Joe Biden for wearing a mask to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, as medical experts have advised

Mask-less supporters of President Trump gathered at the Pittsburgh International Airport Tuesday night. Trump has been cavalier about his approach to the coronavirus, holding large gatherings of supporters with just 42 days before the election

Joe Biden, on the other hand, has restricted the size of his speeches and events and called for widespread mask-wearing. Trump mocked the former vice-president and accused him of having plastic surgery. Long scars that run down the sides and bottom of Biden's ears could be the result of a facelift, leading plastic surgeons say

Has Joe Biden had plastic surgery? It's long been rumored Joe Biden has had plastic surgery - and leading surgeons say scars that run down the side of his face could be the result of a facelift. Leading surgeons have claimed in the past the former vice pesident has also undergone numerous other cosmetic procedures to improve his appearance, including Botox, hair transplants and dental work. Surgeons say that Biden, 77, began to look noticeably different during the 2008 campaign, and then again shortly before he launched his bid to become the Democratic presidential nominee last year. New York-based cosmetic surgeon Dr. Arthur Perry described the size of the scar as 'incredible' and told the Washington Examiner in an interview last year that they looked 'fairly recent'. He said: 'The scars come too far from his ear. This is very hard to correct.' He added that hair was also protruding from Biden's tragus - the piece of cartilage on the outside of his ear. Perry told the publication that the skin is pulled up to the tragus during surgery, but it looked as though Biden's had been pulled too far up. It's long been rumored Joe Biden has had plastic surgery - and leading surgeons say the long scars that run down the side of his face by his ears could be the result of a facelift Biden is seen left during his second run for president in November 2007. He is seen right in March 2019 Perry noted that hair was protruding from Biden's tragus, the piece of cartilage on the outside of the ear. Typically, the skin of the patient's face is pulled to the edge of the tragus. In Biden's surgery, however, he said the skin was pulled too far up. It is also possible to see two vertical scars along the outside of his ear canal and below the lob. There are also two scars that stretch from behind his ear to his upper neck. Cosmetic surgeons told the Washington Examiner that 'they are as a consequence of a rhyidectomy' - or a facelift. The surgery involves removing excess skin and pulling it to tighten it. Up close, large vertical scars beginning at the top of the outside of his ear canal to roughly a half inch below the lobe can be seen on both sides of the former vice president's face. Separate horizontal scars stretch from behind his ear to his upper neck. Back in 2008, the then-senator from Delaware allegedly altered his hairline, filled in the wrinkles on his face and forehead, and installed dental veneers. 'Without any question Joe Biden had hair transplants,' Dr. Barry Cohen, a Washington, DC-area plastic surgeon, told the Washington Examiner last year. Biden has never confirmed undergoing any of the procedures, nor has he spoken about his appearance publicly. 'In fact, he had bad plugs years ago,' Cohen claimed. 'Subsequently, he filled in his frontal hairline to camouflage the bad 'Barbie dollesque' plugs. 'I suspect he has regular Botox and probably filler. 'If he had a face lift, he needs another.' Advertisement

Trump's personal punch at Biden's looks came as the president has vowed to take the 'gloves off' with just 42 days before the presidential election.

It's long been rumored Joe Biden has had plastic surgery - and leading surgeons say scars that run down the side of his face underneath his ears could be the result of a facelift.

Surgeons say that Biden, 77, began to look noticeably different during the 2008 campaign, and then again shortly before he launched his bid to become the Democratic presidential nominee last year.

New York-based cosmetic surgeon Dr. Arthur Perry described the size of the scar as 'incredible' and told the Washington Examiner in an interview last year that they looked 'fairly recent'.

He said: 'The scars come too far from his ear. This is very hard to correct.'

New York Magazine reported last October that Trump has privately marveled at the 'work' he claims was done on Biden's smooth face, with writer Olivia Nuzzi calling it a 'minor obsession' of the president.

'Those who know him say the president is against plastic surgery (by which I assume they dont mean breast implants) and, especially, bad plastic surgery, and he considers it an all-too-common tragedy when someone has their face inexpertly altered,' she wrote.

For years, however, there's been speculation around Trump's own look.

Controversial journalist Michael Wolff wrote in his first book on the administration that Ivanka Trump, who was on hand in Pittsburgh Tuesday night, would poke fun at her father's 'do and said it was due to 'scalp reduction surgery.'

And the book alleged Trump was no longer a natural blond.

In the opening scene of his niece Mary Trump's unflattering portrayal, the new President Trump shows off his teeth to his family.

'I got my teeth whitened. What do you think?' the president said, according to Mary Trump.

Spokespeople for the Biden campaign did not respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment on whether the former vice president had plastic surgery, as Trump claimed.

The president is taking the chance that he can be cavalier about the virus and still win, while Biden exerts caution - holding small, socially distant events and traveling less often than Trump.

'He's the worst candidate,' Trump uttered. 'You know where he is today?'

'He put out a "lid" today early in the morning, a lid means he's not going to be anywhere today,' Trump explained. 'I'm working my ass off, I'm in Ohio, I'm in Texas, I'm in Florida, I'm in Michigan, I'm in Wisconsin.'

The Biden campaign called a 'lid' for in-person events Tuesday morning, though the ex-vice president participated in two virtual fundraisers, leaking during the second one that he would be receiving Cindy McCain's endorsement. That came via tweet shortly thereafter.

The president also again alleged that his opponent was on drugs.

'This guy doesn't have a clue. He doesn't know where the hell he is. And they'll give him a shot of something,' Trump said. 'What the hell is he taking? And we'd like to ask him and I said that. We want a drug test ... we'll both take it.'

'It wasn't Winston Churchill,' Trump continued, pointing to Biden's final Democratic debate performance against Bernie Sanders in March, which Trump claims was much too improved to be done without substances. 'This wasn't the greatest debate, but he got through, it was fine.'

The ex-veep will travel to North Carolina Wednesday and will likely participate in some sort of memorial service for Ruth Bader Ginsburg later this week.

Trump is holding rallies Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

He'll nominate his Supreme Court pick to fill Ginsburg's seat at 5 p.m. Saturday, directly before leaving for a rally.

'Watch the abuse that she will take,' Trump told his crowd, as he's promised to pick a woman.

But Trump disparaged other women during his time in Pittsburgh, prompting a 'lock her up!' cheer about Hillary Clinton, a throwback from 2016.

He also ripped two of the so-called 'squad' members, saying of Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Somali refugee and American citizen, 'Shes telling us how to run our country. How did you do where you came from?'

He knocked Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and her 'green new deal,' after again going on a tangent about windmills, despite their popularity as an energy resource in Pennsylvania.

'She's not a good student, but she's got a good line of crap,' Trump said of AOC.

The president also laughed about reporters experiencing violence while covering this summer's protests.

Trump misremembered an incident involving MSNBC's Ali Velshi, who was hit by a rubber bullet, as opposed to 'hit with a canister of tear gas,' as the president recalled. 'Remember that beautiful sight?' he said of Velshi being hit.

The president also joyfully recounted a journalist being targeted by police.

'Sometimes they grab. They grab one guy. "I'm a reporter. I'm a reporter." Get out of here. They threw him aside like he was a little bag of popcorn,' Trump said. 'Honestly, when you watch the crap that we have all had to take so long. When you see it it is actually a beautiful sight.'

After the Tuesday night rally, President Trump continued to slam Joe Biden on Twitter writing, 'I did more in 47 months than Joe Biden did in 47 years!'

President Trump shared images of his packed Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania rally on his Twitter account during his trip back. At the rally, he mocked Joe Biden for mask-wearing, while many of his own supporters chose not to wear masks nor social distance to prevent the spread of COVID-19
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz on Wednesday called for a comprehensive solution on Iran and disarming its affiliate Hezbollah in Lebanon, and expressed support for U.S. efforts to start talks between Israel and the Palestinians during his first address to the United Nations General Assembly.

He said Iran has exploited a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers "to intensify its expansionist activities, create its terrorist networks, and use terrorism," adding that this had produced nothing but "chaos, extremism, and sectarianism."

"A comprehensive solution and a firm international position are required," he told the 193-member General Assembly in a video statement, prerecorded due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The United States quit the Iran nuclear pact in 2018 with President Donald Trump dubbing it the "worst deal ever." Washington has since imposed unilateral sanctions and asserts that all countries also have to reinstate U.N. sanctions in an attempt to push the Islamic Republic to negotiate a new deal.

But all the remaining parties to the nuclear deal, including longtime U.S. allies, and 13 of the 15 U.N. Security Council members say the U.S. claim on U.N. sanctions is void and diplomats say few countries are likely to reimpose the measures.

"Our experience with the Iranian regime has taught us that partial solutions and appeasement did not stop its threats to international peace and security," King Salman said.

On attempts to mediate peace between Israel and the Palestinians, the Saudi monarch said a 2002 Arab peace initiative is the basis for a "comprehensive and just solution" ensuring the Palestinians obtain an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

"We support the efforts of the current U.S. administration to achieve peace in the Middle East by bringing the Palestinians and the Israelis to the negotiation table to reach a fair and comprehensive agreement," he said.

Story continues

The king stopped short of endorsing recent U.S.-brokered agreements by the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain to establish ties with Israel. Saudi Arabia has quietly acquiesced to the deals but has signaled it is not ready to take action itself.

Palestinian leaders have condemned the UAE and Bahrain's warming of relations with Israel, describing it as a betrayal of their efforts to win statehood in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.

King Salman also said a deadly blast in Lebanons Beirut port last month occurred as a result of the hegemony of Hezbollah ... over the decision-making process in Lebanon by force of arms.

This terrorist organization must be disarmed, he said.

Authorities have blamed the Aug. 4 blast on a huge stockpile of ammonium nitrate stored for years at the port without safety measures.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols, Marwa Rashad, Ghaida Ghantous, David Brunnstrom and Matt Spetalnick; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
WASHINGTON  A huge international study of a COVID-19 vaccine that aims to work with just one dose is getting underway as top U.S. health officials sought Wednesday to assure a skeptical Congress and public that they can trust any shots the government ultimately approves.

Hopes are high that answers about at least one of several candidates being tested in the U.S. could come by years end, maybe sooner.

We feel cautiously optimistic that we will be able to have a safe and effective vaccine, although there is never a guarantee of that, Dr. Anthony Fauci, infectious disease chief at the National Institutes of Health, told a Senate committee.

President Donald Trump is pushing for a faster timeline, which many experts say is risky and may not allow for adequate testing. On Wednesday he tweeted a link to news about the new Johnson & Johnson vaccine study and said the Food and Drug Administration must move quickly!

President Trump is still trying to sabotage the work of our scientists and public health experts for his own political ends, Sen. Patty Murray, a Democrat from Washington state, said before ticking off examples of pressure on the FDA.

FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn pledged that career scientists, not politicians, will decide whether any coronavirus vaccine meets clearly stated standards that it works and is safe. Vaccine development usually takes years but scientists have been racing to shorten that time, in part by manufacturing doses that will have to be thrown away if studies find they dont work.

Science will guide our decisions. FDA will not permit any pressure from anyone to change that, Hahn said. I will put the interest of the American people above anything else.

FDA has faced criticism for allowing emergency use of some COVID-19 treatments backed by little evidence, but Hahn said if vaccine makers want that faster path to market, additional standards will be coming soon. Vaccines, unlike therapies, are given to healthy people and thus usually require more proof.

But Trump made clear at a Wednesday evening White House news conference that he was skeptical of any regulatory changes that might delay a vaccines authorization, even if those changes are aimed at increasing public trust. Asked about the FDA considering stricter guidelines for emergency approval, Trump suggested the effort was politically-motivated.

I think that was a political move more than anything else, he said, arguing that that the companies testing the vaccines, such as Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson and Moderna, are capable of determining whether they work. I have tremendous trust in these massive companies, he said.

A handful of vaccines already are in final testing in the U.S. and other countries. In one of the largest studies yet, Johnson & Johnson aims to enroll 60,000 volunteers to test its single-dose approach in the U.S., South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru. Other candidates in the U.S. require two shots.

J&Js vaccine is made with slightly different technology than others in late-stage testing, modeled on an Ebola vaccine the company created.

Final-stage testing of one experimental vaccine, made by AstraZeneca and Oxford University, remains on hold in the U.S. as officials examine whether it poses a safety risk.

As for the testing of vaccine candidates, Fauci added: There is no cutting corners.

Beyond vaccines, Trump regularly undercuts confidence in his own public health agencies, such as falsely tweeting about a deep state, or whoever at FDA  and in recent weeks, some political appointees were forced out after allegations they interfered with scientific advice.

Conspiracy theories are sapping the morale of disease fighters working 24/7 at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Robert Redfield, its director, told the Senate committee on health, education, labor and pensions.

Its offensive to me when I hear this type of comment, said Redfield, noting that CDC, like the military, strives to be nonpartisan.

Yet Redfield struggled to defend against criticism that CDC bowed to political pressure with guidelines that discouraged testing of people without COVID-19 symptoms. Asymptomatic people do spread the virus and CDC, under fire, later changed the guidelines wording. Redfield insisted it all amounted to misinterpretation and stressed Wednesday: More tests will actually lead to less cases.

More than 200,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 so far this year, and in many states, infections still are climbing. The U.S. is confirming an average of 41,968 new daily cases, up 13% compared with the average two weeks ago.

Fauci was blunt: More lives could have been saved if everyone in the country better followed recommendations to wear masks, avoid crowds and keep 6 feet apart.

We know some states did a good job. Some states did not so good a job. Some states tried to do a good job but people didnt listen, he said, singling out mask-less crowds in bars. Going forward, we need uniformity throughout the country.

In a testy exchange, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky insisted public health officials were wrong that a lockdown could change the course of the pandemic. A visibly angry Fauci accused the Republican of repeatedly misconstruing his statements.

I dont regret saying that the only way we could have really stopped the explosion of infection was by essentially  I want to say shutting down, he said.

Fauci dismissed Pauls contention that hard-hit New York has become largely immune because so many people were infected: If you believe 22% is herd immunity, I believe youre alone in that.

Fauci also called attention to so-called long-haulers, COVID-19 survivors who continue to struggle with a range of symptoms such as pain, fatigue, even heart damage. He warned much remains unknown about the long-term effects of the virus.

Democrats warned those survivors are at risk of being denied insurance if the Trump administration succeeds in overturning an Obama-era health law that forbids companies from turning down people with pre-existing health problems or charging them more. The death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg means there are no longer five justices on the Supreme Court who have upheld the Affordable Care Act.

We will see rates skyrocket for anybody who has had COVID, predicted Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn.

A vaccine will go a giant step in controlling infection, but Fauci warned people still will need to take those precautions for a while after the first vaccine arrives because it wont change conditions overnight.

Why? Its unusual for a vaccine to be 100% effective. There wont be enough at first for everyone, and even once there is, it will take months to get the shots into the arms of every American who wants one  an effort CDCs Redfield sees stretching into June or July.

Because of the enormous logistical challenges, CDC wants states to get ready now and on Wednesday, announced they would get $200 million to help begin setting up those operations.

We want to do that the instant it is approved. Not the following day but the following moment, Trump said.

___

Neergaard reported from Alexandria, Virginia. AP Writer Linda Johnson contributed from Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania.

___

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.
TikTok has been a true phenomenon in the last couple of years. This app managed to grow immensely fast, and essentially become the most popular app around. Its short-form video format definitely works, and the pandemic only helped the app grow. People were stuck at home, and many of them watched more videos online, including short-form ones that TikTok provides.

Now, in case youre not a fan of TikTok, but you like the general idea, weve put together a list of our favorite TikTok alternatives that are available in the Play Store. Full disclosure, one of them is not in the Play Store, but well talk more about that later on. In any case, there are 9 TikTok app alternatives listed below. Youll find all sorts of different apps included here, as each of them has something special to offer.

These apps are not listed in a specific order, or anything like that. Each of them is good in its own way. Some of them youve heard of, for sure, while others are not that popular. Still, that doesnt mean theyre not worth looking into. Check out the list if youre interested, youll find quite a bit of information down below.

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Top 9 Best TikTok App Alternatives For Android 2021

Below is a quick overview of the top 9 best TikTok app alternatives for Android for 2021, including any download and in-app purchase costs.

Download Cost In-app cost (per item) Instagram Reels  $0.99-$4.99 YouTube (Shorts)   Dumbsmash   byte   Likee  $0.99-$120 Triller  $0.99-$99.99 Facebook  $0.99-$399.99 Firework  $0.99-$9.99 Snapchat  $0.99-$399.99

Top 9 Best TikTok App Alternatives For Android 2021 Downloads

Below is a little more information on each app, a suggestion for the type of user the app is best suited to, and a direct link for easy downloading.

All download links go to the apps Google Play Store listing. Users are always recommended to download apps from Google Play or an authorized app store.

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Best TikTok Android App Alternative For Most Users

Instagram Reels

Price: Free to download

In-app purchases: Yes

Android version: Varies with device

Instagram Reels is probably the best TikTok Android app alternative for most of you. This is actually a feature within the Instagram app, not a separate application and thats a good thing. Instagram already has a gigantic user base, and that gives you a lot of audience if you want to create short video clips. It also gives you plenty of content to look at, as many people are sharing content over Instagram Reels.

This feature allows you to create 15-second clips, and you can adjust the audio speed if you want. You can also add music to your short clips, and all that in combination allows you to create some very creative content. Instagram has been the most popular image-sharing platform for quite some time now, and its doing quite well in the short video department as well.

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Best upcoming TikTok Android app alternative

YouTube (Shorts)

Price: Free to download

In-app purchases: No

Android version: Varies with device

Why do we say upcoming? Well, YouTube Shorts are brand new, and theyre only available in India, at the moment. In fact, this app is still in beta, so its not even stable yet so its more upcoming than current. In any case, Google is also trying to offer its alternative to TikTok by using its most popular video sharing platform, YouTube. Well, its using the YouTube name more than anything else.

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YouTube Shorts allow you to create short 15-second videos, just like Instagram Reels. YouTube Shorts allow you to string multiple videos together, to create a single video of up to 15 seconds. You can also put some music on top of your videos, while you can also control the speed of the video as well, the same as with Instagram Reels. There is also a tool that allows you to add a timer and countdown, if youd like to record hands-free. Unfortunately, an APK for this app is still not available.

Alternatively to YouTube Shorts, you can always use YouTube as your platform for short-video content. People upload longer type videos on YouTube, usually, but the app does not limit you in that way. You can upload short-form clips if you want, and even earn cash via the app at some point.

Download YouTube

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Best TikTok Android app for lip-syncing

Dumbsmash

Price: Free to download

In-app purchases: No

Android version: 5.0+

If you like selecting audio content, and then recording video on top of it, to match that audio, this is the app for you. Dumbsmashs main appeal is the lip-syncing part, thats for sure. This app has been around for quite some time, and yet it never became as popular as TikTok. Well, maybe nows the time for Dumbsmash, itll hardly get a better chance than this. Lip-syncing is its main appeal, but not the only feature it offers.

The apps design is really nice, and the app allows you to make use of stickers, filters, text, and various effects. You can create some truly unique videos using this application. Once you post a video, you can get likes, and comments, like with TikTok as well. This app may not be as well-known as TikTok, but it is somewhat popular as it is. It has over 100 million downloads, and it did start to grow quite a bit since TikToks issues began.

Download Dumbsmash

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Best TikTok Android alternative in form of a reborn Vine app

byte

Price: Free to download

In-app purchases: No

Android version: 5.1+

byte is well, a reborn Vine. You know, the original platform for creating short-form videos. Vine has been quite popular for a while, and then it went away. Well, byte brings it back, in a way. The app does feature some of former Vine stars, such as Lance Stewart, for example. This application allows you to record and upload 16-second videos. Well, they can be shorter, but 16 seconds is the very maximum youll get.

This makes it more similar to Dumbsmash and some other platforms than TikTok, in a way, as TikTok allows you to upload videos of up to 1 minute. The vast majority of TikTok videos are much shorter than that, though, so there you have it. Do note that byte seems to have some issues with app stability, at least based on more recent comments in the Play Store, so its rating is not that high up.

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Best TikTok Android app alternative with YouTube-like appeal

Likee

Price: Free to download

In-app purchases: Yes

Android version: 4.1+

Likee is actually quite a popular application. This app has over half a billion downloads in the Play Store, and people actually seem to love using it. You can think of this app as a hybrid between TikTok and services like YouTube. This app does not limit you to short video clips only, not at all. If youd like to go live, and stream for a longer period of time, Likee wont prevent you from doing that.

In fact, the company behind this app encourages any video length, its up to you. The app also offers some additional tools to make your videos fun. A good example is a hair color changer, which can change your hair color for the duration of the video. The app also allows you to swap your face with celebrities, while various cool special effects are available. Such as Face Cut, Face Morph, Astral Travel, and so on.

Download Likee

Best TikTok Android app alternative for short-form videos

Triller

Price: Free to download

In-app purchases: Yes

Android version: Varies with device

Triller is one of the newer direct TikTok alternatives based in the US. This app is not exactly brand new, but it hasnt exactly been around for long. It is based in Los Angeles, and it managed to rack up quite a few downloads already. The app has been downloaded over 100 million times, for Android alone. Do note that the app does have some issues, though, which is why its rating in the Play Store is not the best.

This app also aims to provide you a platform for short-form videos. Various celebrities have already used the app, including Justin Bieber, Rita Ora, Kevin Hart, and so on. There are over 100 filters for you to use in this app, and you can access the top trending tracks or use your own music for your videos. The UI is trying to stay out of the way as much as possible here, as the focus is on creation. Theres plenty of content to go through in this app.

Download Triller

Best TikTok Android app alternative for various video content

Facebook

Price: Free to download

In-app purchases: Yes

Android version: Varies with device

Facebook may not be the first app you think of when thinking of TikTok alternatives, but it sure is one of those. Facebook videos are extremely popular, and are getting tons of hits. The companys video platform is gigantic, and even though its not limited to short-form videos, nobody is preventing you from creating such videos. There is a whole dedicated section for video content in the Facebook app.

You can easily manage your content via that section, or you can browse for content to watch, its up to you. Once Facebook learns what you like, youll be getting more quality content without even looking for it. This platform also allows you to do longer stuff, if you want. You can even stream some content if thats what youre into, its not a problem.

Download Facebook

Best TikTok Android app alternative for high-quality video content

Firework

Price: Free to download

In-app purchases: Yes

Android version: 5.0+

Firework is somewhat similar to TikTok. This app puts more focus on creating high-quality video content than it does on getting tons of followers. The app has all the regular video-editing tools that you may need. Tools such as crop, trim, and so on. You can even add music on top of your videos if you want. The best of all, its possible to compete for cash prizes via this app.

If you are a creator, and you do create quality content, youll get a chance, for sure. The app will also offer you curated content. That content will be based on your interests, and the type of content youve been checking out on the app. The apps UI is also nicely done, and even though this app is not as popular as some others weve mentioned, its definitely worth a look.

Download Firework

Best TikTok Android app alternative for disappearing videos

Snapchat

Price: Free to download

In-app purchases: Yes

Android version: 4.4+

Snapchat has been utilizing the short-form video formula for a long time. The main difference between this app and most others out there, is that Snapchat videos disappear after a short period of time. Snapchat managed to become extremely popular due to such format, even before TikTok did. So, if you dont mind sending disappearing videos, and plan on checking out the apps content often, Snapchat sure is a great option.

The app had its issues in the past, but its much better now. The company fine-tuned it, and its UI as well. The app is packed with various stickers and effects that you can use, and theyre amongst the best in the business. You can chat with your friends via this app as well, and that goes for video chat as well. Youll also get a curated feed of content on your device constantly, the more you use the app, the better that feed will be, as it will be curated to your preferences.

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By PTI

MUMBAI: Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Wednesday dismissed as laughable the move to make him a party in a plea filed by actor Kangana Ranaut in the Bombay High Court against the city civic body for demolition of portions of her bungalow here.

Backing the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), controlled by the Shiv Sena, over its September 9 action at Ranaut's bungalow in the Pali Hill area, Raut said the civic body has right to demolish an "illegal" construction.

The High Court on Tuesday permitted Ranaut to add Raut, Shiv Sena's chief spokesperson, as a party in her plea against the BMC.

In her plea, Ranaut has urged the HC to declare the demolition of portions of her bungalow as "illegal" and also sought Rs 2 crore in damages from the BMC and its officials.

ALSO READ | 'Show me where I demeaned farmers', asks Kangana as NSUI Punjab burns her effigies

Speaking to a TV channel in New Delhi, the Rajya Sabha MP said, "We respect law and would fight the court battle. Court cases are not new to me."

He said the move to make him a respondent in Ranaut's plea was laughable.

Raut alleged there was a "pre-planned" conspiracy "behind the curtains"to defame Mumbai and Maharashtra, ruled by a Shiv Sena-led coalition.

ALSO READ | HC allows Kangana Ranaut to include Sanjay Raut in plea against BMC

"Those who are speaking against Maharashtra are preparing their political platform. But why should Maharashtra be treated as a doormat?" he asked without naming anybody.

Raut said former Bihar DGP Gupteshwar Pandey, who he claimed, spoke against Mumbai and Maharashtra, is set to be "rewarded" after taking voluntary retirement from service.

Raut said there was no problem if film cities come up in different parts of the country.

"Why malign the Mumbai film industry for that? Drug nexus exists everywhere...not just in Mumbai," he said in the backdrop of the ongoing probe by the NCB in alleged use of narcotics in Bollywood.

The Sena leader said the central government should set up a film city in the Kashmir Valley.
As a vast majority of Catholic and private schools across the state returned to in person learning this semester, two schools decided to start testing teachers and staff weekly for COVID-19. One of the schools is testing both staff and students.

I think just having that assurance, having that knowledge is super beneficial to the school, to our parents and also to our teachers to know that youre in a safe environment and that we know exactly the health of all of our students and staff, said Patrick Boyden, principal at St. Peter School in Cambridge.

Theres a half circle drive where students and their families come through at St. Peter School during designed times for the testing. A check-in station verifies patient information and prints off a label that is placed on the windshield. Then the family pulls around to the front of the drive and a nurse swabs the students through the window.

Its just a few minutes long, totally non-invasive, totally painless, Boyden said. We even had preschool students getting tested, and it was extremely smooth.

Our nearly 100 Catholic schools are following all health protocols as students and faculty return to school. @stpeter_school in Cambridge is going further by implementing their goal of weekly COVID-19 testing of students and faculty. To enroll, call (617) 547-0101. pic.twitter.com/AoqdUlb8WI  Thomas W. Carroll (@BostonCathSupt) September 11, 2020

The Cambridge school started testing staff and students earlier this month. It was able to test 130 out of 180 students during the first round. The school also has 24 staff members.

The other school, South Boston Catholic Academy, will start testing all teachers and staff on Thursday.

The Archdiocese of Boston serves more than 30,000 students in nearly 100 schools and has reopened a majority of them for in-person learning. The Dioceses in Worcester and Springfield are offering in-person options this fall. Public schools in all three cities started the year with remote learning.

The superintendents have said their position is unique compared to public schools, especially when dealing with issues such as space and transportation.

When you are a public school district, you are dealing with a very large volume of students, and a very large volume of facilities. And you have to ensure that you can get the students in and out of those facilities using public transportation and everything else, Daniel Baillargeon, superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Springfield. There are a lot of variables that play into it.

Catholic schools across Massachusetts dont have those same concerns. And theyre unique in being able to offer these tests.

In August, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and the Department of Public Health (DPH) created an option where local school officials could request a state-sponsored mobile rapid response unit to test a group of students and/or staff when a potential cluster of COVID-19 cases has been identified and transmission appears to have occurred within the school, the department said in the guidance.

The testing can help the two schools quickly identify any positive cases and hopefully contain it to that classroom, Boyden said.

For example, he said, if there were a positive test in one grade, then that grade would be sent home for remote learning. But the majority of students could continue with in-person learning.

Because we were able to isolate it identify so quickly, the rest of the school can continue learning in person, he said.

Pope Francis Preparatory School in Springfield switched to remote-only instruction for at least two weeks after a parent alerted the school that their student had tested positive for COVID-19. Contract tracing determined two other youths who associated with that student on non-school teams also tested positive.

Testing all students and staff weekly can get expensive.

The price of COVID-19 testing ranges from one cent to $14,750, with the average being about $103.15, according to the Houston Chronicle.

Both Massachusetts schools have connections to the medical and biotech worlds, the principals said.

The testing will cost about $50 for each individual at St. Peter School.

The school has already raised $50,000 to help cover the costs. Additional expenses will be covered by families.

Costs for South Boston Catholic Academy are currently covered because they are part of a pilot program, said Helenann Civian, principal of the school.

She hopes to continue the testing after the pilot program, possibly even including students. But that will have to involve a bigger plan that includes what payment will look like.

The school has been reimbursing teachers who have gotten the test on their own, sometimes paying $160, Civian said, which is a lot of money for a teacher to be paying. But the large scale testing will also allow them to keep costs lower, she added.

For now, though, she just wants to see how Thursday goes.

Boyden would also like to eventually expand his testing. Currently its just offered for students and staff but offering it to families could be the next steps.

I would love to get everybody tested, he said. I think just overall the public health benefits of widespread testing are just totally apparent.

Civian told the archdiocese she would not open the schools doors if she didnt feel every student and staff member could be safe.

I just feel so this immense responsibility for the safety of every single person in this building, students and staff, she said. So this was another big layer for me.

In addition to deep cleaning protocols, air purifiers in every classroom, hand sanitizer stations, the COVID-19 testing and more, Civian is also providing an option for staff to get flu shots at the school in October.

All children aged 6 months or older attending Massachusetts child care, pre-kindergarten, K-12, colleges and universities are required to get flu shots, state health officials announced in August.

Both principals said they havent heard of any pushback from staff or parents on testing. The feedback theyre getting, they said, has all been positive. And they encourage other schools to do the same.

Pretty much every school in the Boston area could do it, Boyden said, adding that its certainly possible for private schools but could also be done at public and charter schools with the right efforts. Its just the best thing for our students and for our teachers.

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With the nations COVID-19 death toll at 200,000, President Donald Trump is engaged in an ongoing war against his administrations own scientists.

Over the past six months, the Trump administration has prioritized politics over science at key moments, refusing to follow expert advice that might have contained the spread of the novel coronavirus and the disease, COVID-19, it causes. Trump and his people have routinely dismissed experts assessments of the gravity of the pandemic, and of the measures needed to bring it under control. They have tried to muzzle scientists who dispute the administrations rosy spin.

Just last week, Trump described Dr. Robert Redfield a virologist and head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as confused because he said a vaccine was not likely until late 2021. Trump, without evidence, said it could be ready before the election.

While there is no indication that Trumps desperation for a vaccine has affected the science or safety of the process, his insistence that one would be ready before the election is stoking mistrust in the very breakthrough he hopes will help his reelection.

The Trump vs. science dynamic has been evident from the very beginning.

In late January, when the virus first emerged in China, the CDC launched its emergency operations center. What was needed, epidemiologists said, was aggressive public education and contact tracing to identify and isolate the first cases before the disease spread got out of control.

Instead, Trump publicly played down the virus in those crucial first weeks, even though he privately acknowledged the seriousness of the threat.

I wanted to always play it down, the president told journalist Bob Woodward in March.

By mid-March, hospitals in New York and elsewhere were deluged with patients and storing bodies in refrigerated trucks.

On March 31, the nation was still grappling to understand the scope of the pandemic. Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, and Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, stood next to the president to explain jaw-dropping death projections. The doctors said unless the country adopted masks, practiced distancing and kept businesses closed there would be 100,000 to 240,000 deaths.

They stressed that if the U.S. adopted strict measures, the deaths could remain under 100,000.

We would hope that we could keep it under that, Trump said then.

Still, instead of issuing a national mask mandate, the Trump administration within weeks posted its Opening Up America Again plan.

The CDC began developing a thick document of guidelines to help decision-making about reopening. But the White House thought the guidelines too strict. They  would never see the light of day,  CDC scientists were told. The Associated Press would eventually release the 63-page document which offered science-based recommendations for workplaces, day care centers and restaurants.

The predictable happened: Cases surged after communities reopened, and hope for keeping the death toll under 100,000 vanished.

CDC recommendations continued to be routed through the White House task force for vetting before release.

Redfield has been criticized for not being a strong enough defender of the agency, and those who long worked at the CDC hope to see its leadership stand up for science in the face of politics.

Im sure this wont be easy, but its essential to CDCs reputation, said Dr. Sonja Rasmussen, a 20-year CDC veteran and medical professor at the University of Florida. We need a strong and trusted CDC to get ourselves through this pandemic  as well as through the next public health emergency after this one.

Even as Fauci was restricted in his media interactions  his candor did not wear well with the administration  Trump elevated a new public face for his pandemic task force: Dr. Scott Atlas, a Stanford University neurologist with no infectious disease background.

In Atlas, Trump has a doctor who has downplayed the need for students to wear masks or social distance. Atlas has advocated for allowing the virus to run amok to create herd immunity, the idea that community-wide resistance can be built by infecting a large portion of the population. The World Health Organization has discredited the approach as dangerous.

White House officials say Atlas no longer supports it.

As Fauci said in August, there is a fundamental anti-science feeling at a time when some people are pushing back at authority.

At the same time, at least 60 state or local health leaders in 27 states have resigned, retired or been fired since April, according to a review by the AP and Kaiser Health News. Those numbers have doubled since June, when the AP and KHN first started tracking the departures. Many quit after political pressure from public officials, or even violent threats from people angry about mask mandates and closures.

The White House has realized there is a downside to publicly undermining science. Officials recognize voter concerns about speeding the vaccine production timetable as an emerging public health crisis too. They say theyre worried there will be unnecessary deaths and economic impact if Americans are afraid of getting vaccinated, according to two White House officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The administration has ordered a campaign to bolster public confidence in the development process. It would include elevating the profiles of Trump targets like the FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn and the CDCs Redfield.

One person is not on board  Trump. Less than seven weeks from Election Day, he appears driven to say and do what he sees as necessary to secure a second term, whether backed by science and evidence or not.

And despite the grim death toll, the president continues to frame the past six months as a success.

Trump told a raucous Ohio crowd at a rally Monday: Were going to deliver a vaccine before the end of the year. But it could be a lot sooner than that.
Its not right, its not justice, and they know it. Thats why all police vacations were cancelled. Thats why theres already a curfew in Louisville. Thats why even the Illinois National Guard is on standby in Chicago

Im talking, of course, about the Breonna Taylor verdict announced earlier today.

If you somehow dont know, Taylor was an emergency medical worker who was shot to death in her apartment when the police entered her home without knocking. If you somehow havent seen her photo on TV and T-shirts, if you have not heard her name shouted by hurt and hurting men and women in the streets, you should know that she was killed by three police officers who were being investigated for her death.

Today, the Kentucky grand jury came back with an indictment for only one of those under investigation, former officer Brett Hankison, who will be charged with three counts of wanton endangerment. Hankinson, who shot into the apartment 10 times on March 13, will not even face a criminal charge for death.

According to Kentucky law, the use of force by [the officers] was justified to protect themselves, said State Attorney General Daniel Cameron at a news conference. This justification bars us from pursuing criminal charges in Miss Breonna Taylor's death.

When a law is unjust, shouldnt we work to change it? Wasnt the counting of black people as 3/5th of a person a law? Wasnt slavery legal? It took a civil war to move the nation.

Do they want a civil war? Because this is how you get a civil war. This is the catalyst.

The First World War was sparked because of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary. The tensions had been rising, the unrest churning, the kindling gathered.

Hankinson and the other two police involved in the incident that led to Taylors death, Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly and Officer Myles Cosgrove, were placed on administrative leave following the shooting. It wasnt until June 23rd that Hankinson was fired from the department for showing extreme indifference to the value of human life, according to his termination letter.

Its as if they are trying to appease the public with the most minimal of changes: Here, we will place the officers on leave. Not enough? Okay, we will fire one. Not enough? Well, we will give the family some money and stop no-knock warrants. Now please be quiet and continue working frontline jobs during a pandemic that is killing thousands of people every day.

Breonna is only one name in the long list of Black men and women who have been killed by mostly white police officers. Now that every citizen is armed with a camera, most of these atrocities are being recorded and shared on social media, sometimes instantly. No longer is it a he said, she said conversation. Its a clear I cant breathe or a cry for their mama or the face of shocked children in the back of the car.

Breonna  say her name!  is joined by George Floyd as flashpoints in the national movement, the second civil rights movement, when he was killed with a knee on his neck on May 25th in Minneapolis for allegedly using a counterfeit bill. I say allegedly because we will never know if he was guilty. He was never given his day in courtinnocent until proven guilty, remember?and, even if he was guilty, the sentence for being in possession of a counterfeit bill is not death. Its one year in prison and a fine of up to $3,000. Even the worst sentence for resisting arrest is five years in prison and/or $10,000 in fines. Not death. Never death.

We the people  will we go quiet into this good night?

I hope not. Not until officers are held accountable, not until they are charged and convicted and spend time behind bars. Not until police brutality is ripped from the strategic systemic oppression that is written into Americas foundation. We want police to do their jobs, to protect and serve. Everyone.

No justice. No peace.
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday urged the Central government to rethink over its decision to ban the export of onions. He said such a decision will help Pakistan and other countries.

The Maharashtra Congress unit will stage a protest on Wednesday across the state over this decision. Meanwhile, All Bharatiya Kisan Maha Sabha said that the Central government has betrayed the farmers of the country by this move.

The NCP chief met Union commerce minister Piyush Goyal with a demand to reconsider its sudden decision. Pawar informed that Goyal has assured him that the government will rethink the decision if there is consensus among the ministries of commerce, finance, and consumer affairs on the issue.

In a series of tweets, Pawar said that the Central government has abruptly announced a ban on export of onions. This has led to strong reactions from the onion growing belt in Maharashtra. Therefore, the representatives of various political parties contacted and requested him to convey their demands to the Central Government.

To address this issue, I met Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri. Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) today and apprised him of the plight of onion growers. I pointed out to him that these onion growers are mainly small land holders and Jirait farmers (sic), Pawar tweeted.

In another tweet, he said, I also brought to his notice that onions are in good demand internationally & we have been exporting onions consistently. But a sudden decision to this effect by the Central government is a major blow to Indias image as a reliable exporter of onions in the international market (sic).

In the wake of the decision, there is a possibility that India may emerge as an unreliable supplier of the commodity internationally, Pawar said, adding that the move will benefit nations like Pakistan and others.

In another tweet, Pawar said Goyal told him that the proposal to ban the export was moved by the Union Consumer Affairs Ministry based on the rising prices of the commodity.

Amid this, farmers at Lasalgaon in Nashik district, staged a protest on the streets against the ban. Agitations took place in Mungse, Pimpalgaon, Nampur and Umrane markets and protesting farmers stalled auctions underway for some 10,000 quintals that had arrived, and also tried to stop traffic in the vicinity, including on the Mumbai-Agra Highway that skirts past Umrane. The auctions started on Tuesday morning at a price of Rs 2,200 per quintal at Lasalgaon Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC).

Speaking to this newspaper, all India Kisan Sabha Maharashtras general secretary Dr Ajit Navale alleged that owing to the upcoming Bihar election, the farmers are being sidelined. The farmers of Maharashtra and the country have been betrayed by the Central government. The high onion prices are undesirable for any government seeking re-election. The farmers would stage a statewide protest on Wednesday, Navale added.
Union Minister of State for Railways and Karnataka BJP MP Suresh Angadi died on Wednesday a week after being hospitalised for coronavirus.

The 65-year-old passed away at around 8pm at Delhis AIIMS trauma centre, which has been converted into a dedicated COVID-19 facility, said sources at the hospital.

A fourth-term MP from Belagavi, Angadi is the first Union minister to have died of coronavirus. At least six MLAs and three MPs have earlier succumbed to it. Former President Pranab Mukherjee, who died on August 31, was also diagnosed as Covid-19 positive.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said the national flag will be flown at half-mast on Thursday in all government offices in Delhi where it is usually flown.

Angadi had tested positive for the infection two weeks ago on September 11. At the time however, he was asymptomatic and had said he was doing fine". The 65-year old Lok Sabha MP from Belagavi constituency in Karnataka became seriously ill and was hospitalised a week ago. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind condoled the death, with the former describing Angadi as an exceptional Karyakarta, who worked hard to make the party strong in Karnataka".

Shri Suresh Angadi was an exceptional Karyakarta, who worked hard to make the Party strong in Karnataka. He was a dedicated MP and effective Minister, admired across the spectrum. His demise is saddening. My thoughts are with his family and friends in this sad hour. Om Shanti. pic.twitter.com/2QDHQe0Pmj Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 23, 2020

Shocked to know the passing away of Shri Suresh Angadi, Union Minister of State of Railways. An amiable leader Shri Angadi worked tirelessly for the people of his constituency, Belagavi and Karnataka. President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) September 23, 2020

Born on June 1, 1955, in a Lingayat family to Somawwa and Channabasappa Angadi in Koppa village in Belagavi, Angadi graduated from SSS Samiti College of Commerce in the district. He did his law graduation from Raja Lakhamgouda Law College in Belagavi.

A businessman by profession, Angadi got a major break in his political career when he was appointed as BJP vice-president in Belagavi in 1996 and worked his way up in the party. He was elected MP in the Lok Sabha election in 2004 and again in 2009. He was elected for a third term in 2014 when the BJP came to power at the Centre and for a fourth term in the general election last year after which he was made Union Minister of State for Railways.

As the junior Railway Minister, Angadi was soft-spoken but stern while responding to media queries on various aspects of the national transporters performance. He was instrumental in pushing through the long-pending Bengaluru suburban rail service. The Rs 15,990 crore project aims to connect 148.17 km of the city through four corridors and has a 2025 deadline.

Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda said Angadi was like a younger brother" to him.

I am shocked and deeply saddened by the demise of Union Minister of State for Railways and four-term MP from Belagavi Shri. Suresh Angadi @SureshAngadi_ .He was like a younger brother to me. I feel terrible losing him. This is an unbearable loss to our nation.1/2 H D Devegowda (@H_D_Devegowda) September 23, 2020

Karnataka opposition leader Siddaramaiah and state Congress president DK Shivakumar remembered Angadi as an MP who was always concerned about the development of the state. Ramesh Jarkiholi, Water Resources Minister and district in-charge minister of Belagavi, said they worked together for its development. We held regular task force meetings during the pandemic," he said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed grief and said Angadi will always be remembered for his selfless service to the nation and the BJP.

Deeply pained to learn about the passing away of MoS Railways and senior BJP leader from Karnataka, Shri Suresh Angadi ji," Shah said in a tweet. He will always be remembered for his selfless service to the nation and party. My deepest condolences are with his family."

Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said on the micro-blogging website, Deeply anguished at the unfortunate demise of Suresh Angadi ji. He was like my brother. Words fall short to describe his commitment and dedication towards the people. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends in this hour of need."

Party chief JP Nadda and MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar also condoled the death. Tragic terrible sad news of leader and minister Suresh Angadi passing away," he said in a tweet.

He was a remarkable leader who dedicated all his life for organisation and went on to serve society with utmost diligence and compassion," said Nadda in a tweet.

Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said Angadi was a popular leader who was elected four times in a row from Belagavi and was instrumental in bringing many railway projects to the state".

(With inputs from PTI)
The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has on Tuesday September 22, 2020 inaugurated the newly created Oti Region House of Chiefs and the Northern Region House of Chiefs.



The inauguration ceremonies were held separately in Dambai and Tamale respectively to usher in new eras, following the creation of six new regions in the country.



While the Oti Regional House of Chiefs was newly established following the creation of the new region from the Volta Region, the Northern Region House of Chiefs was reconstituted due to the creation of two regions, Savannah and North East Regions, out of it.



Speaking at both events, Vice President Bawumia said the creation of new Regions has changed the administrative boundaries of the country, with the paramount objective to quicken the process of developing every part of the country.



"This change has also affected the structure and management of Chieftaincy institutions, and as a result, we have to form new Regional Houses of Chiefs, particularly in our new Regions," Dr. Bawumia said.



The Vice President recalled the historical role the Chieftaincy institution played in the liberation of the country, adding that traditional rulers have continued to play immense roles in the development of the country in contemporary times.



"Chiefs and traditional authority played very significant roles in our liberation efforts. We can recall the contribution of very important Chiefs who stood to protect our land and natural resources, who championed our rights and liberties and were in the forefront in spearheading our social economic, cultural and political charge."



"Without the active involvement of our chiefs, perhaps the cause of our economic and political roadmap would have taken a different character. I pay homage to them."



"Like all institutions of state, at different periods of our history, some have wondered whether chieftaincy is still relevant to our development. But just as it has been in the past, Chieftaincy will continue to be an indispensable part of our history and development."



"You will continue to be the upholders of our national values and aspirations as a society. So much so that even when our fellow Ghanaians leave our shores, and can be free of the influence of chieftaincy, they create Chiefs and Queen mothers wherever they find themselves."



Dr. Bawumia stressed that the Akufo-Addo government recognizes the important roles traditional rulers have to play in the governance set up of the country, and has thus improved government's support for the Chieftaincy institution since taking office in 2017.



"Government recognizes that, in order to ensure the success of the programme of social and economic transformation that was put before the Ghanaian people, we have to do a lot. It is important that we bring the traditional role of our Chiefs into the modern, constitutional set up, under which we govern our country."



"As a start, we made a pledge, in the NPPs 2016 Manifesto, to increase the monthly allowances paid to Chiefs, and the quarterly budgetary support to the Traditional Councils and Houses of Chiefs. This we have done by a hundred percent (100%)."



"Government has also assisted the National House of Chiefs with three million, five hundred thousand cedis (GH3.5 million) for the completion of its new headquarters office complex in Kumasi."



"Government is also committed to assisting the National House of Chiefs to moving speedily on finishing work on the codification of the traditional norms and rules that have guided our communities throughout the ages.



"The Ministry, in collaboration with the National House of Chiefs, has also begun the process of organizing and using technologies to safeguard the records of the National House of Chiefs, particularly records in the National Register of Chiefs."



Traditional rulers in the newly created Oti Region expressed gratitude to the government for the realization of their dreams of having a region, which they said has given them identity.



In Tamale, the President of the Northern Region House of Chief, Ya Na Abdulai II, said the creation of the new region would deepen decentralization and participatory democracy, which he hoped will ensure equitable distribution of national resources in the new regions.



He highlighted the important role chiefs play in governance, and called on government to allocate more resources to the various house of chiefs in the country for them to play their traditional roles well.



As part of government's effort to support and equip the newly created regional house of chiefs, Vice President Bawumia presented two brand new vehicles to the Oti Regional House of Chiefs and also cut the sod for the construction of a new secretariat for the Oti Regional House of Chiefs.



Similar inauguration ceremonies have been held for the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo Regions.



Last week Vice President Bawumia also inaugurated the reconstituted Western Regional House of Chiefs.



The Vice President will also inaugurate the North East and Savannah Regional House of Chiefs tomorrow Wednesday September 23rd.



Vice President Bawumia was accompanied by the Minister for Regional Reorganization and Development Dan Botwe, Minister Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs Kofi Dzamesi.

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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Mumbai Police have registered an FIR against filmmaker Anurag Kashyap after a female actor accused him of sexual misconduct in 2013, an official said on Wednesday. Anurag has dismissed the allegations as baseless.

The First Information Report (FIR) was registered at Versova police station late Tuesday night after the actor along with her lawyer Nitin Satpute approached the police, the official said.

The FIR was registered under Indian Penal Code Sections 376 (I) (rape), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty,), 341 (wrongful restraint) and 342 (wrongful confinement), the official said, adding that further investigation is underway. Anurag will be called for questioning in connection with the alleged seven-year-old incident, he said.

In her police complaint, the actor alleged that Anurag raped her at a place on Yari Road in Versova in 2013.

The actor and her lawyer earlier approached Oshiwara police station here on Monday, but they were asked to go to the Versova police station as the alleged incident took place under its area of jurisdiction, the official said.

Also read | Irrfan Khans son Babil shares heartfelt note for mom Sutapa Sikdar: Nothing left for me to live now but you and Ayaan

They had approached the Oshiwara police as Anurags office is located in that area. Satpute in a tweet late Tuesday night said, Finally FIR has been lodged against Accused for the offence Rape, Wrongful Restrain, Wrongful Confinement and outraging modesty of woman. On Saturday, the actress took to Twitter, claiming that Kashyap was sexually inappropriate towards her, an allegation the director called baseless.

Anurag called the actors claim an attempt to silence him for his outspoken views.

His lawyer earlier in a tweet said, My client, Anurag Kashyap, has been deeply pained by the false allegations, these are completely false, malicious and dishonest.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
The ministry's spokesman Khaled Megahed said in a statement that 19 more patients died from the novel coronavirus, raising the death toll to 5,806.

Cairo, Sep 23 (IANS) Egypt reported 113 new Covid-19 cases on Wednesday, pushing the country's total tally to 102,254, said the Health Ministry.

Meanwhile, 811 others were cured and discharged from hospitals, increasing the total recoveries to 91,143.

The recovery rate from the coronavirus in the most populous Arab country has reached 87.7 per cent.

Egypt announced its first confirmed Covid case on February 14 and the first death from the viral disease on March 8, Xinhua news agency reported.

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.

--IANS

sdr/
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 23:35:19|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- A senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official has stressed intensifying focused efforts to resolve problems in key industries and sectors to eliminate the breeding ground for criminal syndicates.

Guo Shengkun, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks at a meeting of the leading group for the national crackdown on gangs and organized crime on Tuesday.

Guo, who is also head of the leading group, called for continued efforts and targeted measures to ensure better results in eliminating organized crime.

To curb illegal practices in key fields, mechanisms on judicial functioning and regular supervision should be improved to strengthen the crackdown and address problems related to gang crime, Guo said.

Guo urged improving rolling screening at primary levels in areas with poor public security, while strengthening service management for key groups to prevent them from being involved in crime and from being used by criminal syndicates.

An integrated management system to combat illegal online activities should also be developed, he said.

The country's campaign to combat organized crime and root out local mafia, which was launched in 2018, has entered a crucial stage before wrapping up, Guo said, stressing giving equal importance to both progress and quality, and handling cases strictly according to the law. Enditem
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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Sydney, Australia  Wed, September 23, 2020 08:12 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c468c7fb 2 World Australia,whale,stranded Free

Rescuers raced to save nearly 200 whales stuck in a remote Australian harbor on Tuesday, hoping to minimize the death toll of a mass stranding which had already killed 90.

Officials said at least 25 of the mammals had been freed so far.

A large pod of long-finned pilot whales is currently stuck on a sandbar in Macquarie Harbor, on Tasmania's rugged and sparsely populated west coast, scientists said.

Images from the scene showed a shallow body of water, thick with scores of the large slick-black creatures maneuvering for space, and rescuers wading in as they worked to refloat the whales in deeper passages.

About 60 people -- including volunteers and local fish-farm workers -- are involved in the rescue attempt.

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.

But there were hopes Tuesday that efforts were already paying off, with at least 25 rescued and escorted to open ocean by boats, according to the official leading the operation.

"We have now freed a small number successfully that appear to have stayed out at sea, and are now scaling up that approach," Parks and Wildlife Service manager Nic Deka said.

Though mass whale strandings occur relatively often in Tasmania, such a large group has not been seen in the area for more than a decade.

The animals are only accessible by boat, limiting the number of rescuers who can reach them.

They are battling chilly and rainy conditions as well as the harbors unusual tides, which are dictated by barometric pressure.

"In terms of mass whale strandings in Tasmania, this is up there with the trickiest," Carlyon told reporters in the nearby town of Strahan.

However, Carlyon said many of the partially submerged whales should be able to survive for the several days it would take his team to complete the task, in part due to the inclement weather.

"It's pretty ugly for people on the ground but as far as the whales go its ideal -- it's keeping them wet, it's keeping them cool," he said.

Carlyon said rescuers would still have to "triage" the whales, prioritizing the healthiest and most accessible.

'Notorious whale trap'

Most of a 30-strong group of whales on a nearby beach were found dead Monday, though two were saved and released.

About 60 others on the sandbar are also believed to have since died and Carlyon said it was "inevitable that we've lost more", but a detailed assessment using infrared cameras from the air was planned for Wednesday.

Once the whales are returned to deeper water, Carlyon said, the biggest challenge is herding the social creatures out of the sandbar-riddled harbor -- and hoping they don't swim back to the remaining pod.

Scientists said it was unclear what caused the latest stranding, but Carlyon suggested the pod may have gone off track after feeding close to the shoreline or by following one or two whales that strayed.

Karen Stockin, an expert in marine mammals at New Zealand's Massey University, said Tasmania was a "particular hotspot" for pilot whale stranding in large pods.

"It seems to be a notorious whale trap... you do tend to get these mass stranding events there," she told AFP.

Stockin said that while pilot whales were typically more resilient than other whale species, rescuers faced a race against the clock as the mammals can overheat, their muscles deteriorate and their organs become crushed outside their natural environment.

"Time is never your friend," she said. "So without doubt, the more expedited rescue missions are, the more likely there is an increased [chance] of survival."

Mike Double, the head of the Tasmania-based Australian Marine Mammal Centre, said it was "tragic" that such a massive pod had become stranded, but other whales had previously been saved from the same location.

"The state team responsible for responding are extremely experienced and they'll be absolutely working incredibly hard to get the best possible outcome," he said.

Topics : Australia whale stranded
NSW will allow judges to be suspended from office pending an investigation by the independent Judicial Commission into suspected physical or mental impairment, under new laws supported by all sides of politics.

The circumstances in which a judicial officer in NSW may be suspended from office are limited and include cases in which they have been charged with or convicted of an offence punishable by at least 12 months' imprisonment.

The change allows judicial officers to be suspended from office pending an investigation into a suspected physical or mental impairment. Credit:Michelle Mossop

They may also be suspended if a complaint has been made about them to the independent NSW Judicial Commission, which investigates allegations of judicial misconduct and other matters, or the commission says in a report to Parliament that a matter "could justify" parliament considering their removal from office.

Under the new laws, passed in state Parliament on Wednesday, a judicial officer may also be suspended if the head of jurisdiction  the most senior judge of a court  makes a formal request to the Judicial Commission to investigate a "suspected impairment", defined as a physical or mental impairment affecting their performance in office.
Fayetteville, NC, Sept. 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- African American people have been oppressed for hundreds of years. The effects of slavery and the racial divide can still be felt even by generations born more recently. Naisy Dabar Emiel Oz Ben Emmanuel, the Black Redeem website founder, believes that African Americans deserve reparations and that these should be given as soon as possible.

Socio-political issues need to be handled meticulously while still maintaining a sense of urgency. Aside from that, awareness of the issue must be raised in order to spread the message to a larger group of people. With this in mind, Black Redeem provides a space for people to learn about reparations and how it will affect the lives of African Americans.

Black Redeem provides resources that are essential in spreading awareness for reparations, as well as learning more about it. The website contains various videos and articles from different sources and perspectives to provide people with a wide range of information.

The Black Redeem website is also the central hub for The Harvest Freedom Act, which links to an online petition to expedite the said Act, which aims to pay the poor the money owed to them by the American government after years of oppression they encountered through the racial divide. On the 26th of September, there will be a tribunal with members of Congress. In that meeting, Congress will be presented with a brief that outlines the reparations to be made. People are hopeful that the Harvest Freedom Act will be signed, as it will cost nothing for American taxpayers to implement this Act.

Aside from discussions on reparations, the Black Redeem website is also calling for donations to fund various projects that will significantly benefit African American communities. People who are interested in donating for the cause can do so through the website. Funds from the reparations and donations would be used to establish African American institutions, corrective measures, programs, public work projects, and the building of 88 refuge cities and 40 embassies in each continental state of the United States.

Awareness and funding for these projects will also be obtained from Smooth Puppy Club, a clothing brand under Black Redeem that campaigns for causes that benefit the African American community.

African American people have suffered unnecessarily throughout Americas history. The founder of Black Redeem and various other notable figures believe that it is time for Black Americans to regain their lost wealth.

Naisy Dabar Emiel Oz Ben Emmanuel, the founder of Black Redeem, is active in various efforts that give back to African American communities. He is the founder of the Club of New Jerusalem Foundation (CONUJU, FDN), which provides assistance to the Black Widow Foundation, the homeless, Israelite priests, and the poor. This man holds esteemed positions in various organizations as well. He is a National Councilman for the Buying Back Our Communities movement. At 42 years old, he is the youngest Elder at the Friends of the African Union (F.A.U.), and he is a National Spokesman and High Council Senior Member for the Nation of Yashurun.

More information is available on the Black Redeem website.

Company: Black Redeem

Email: dabar@blackredeem.me

Website: www.blackredeem.me





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Facebook, which has 410 million users in Europe, has said it will have to withdraw its services if the EU completely suspends data transfers to the US. Facebook, in a court filing in Dublin, noted that the decision by Ireland's Data Protection Commission (DPC) would force the company to withdraw services leaving people who use Facebook and Instagram in the lurch.

An affidavit filed by Facebook's Head of Data Protection, Ireland, Yvonne Cunnane, read: "In the event that the Applicant [Facebook] were subject to a complete suspension of the transfer of users' data to the US, as appears to what the DPC proposes, it is not clear to the applicant how, in those circumstances, it could continue to provide the Facebook and Instagram services in the EU." The court filing was first obtained by The Vice.



A Facebook spokesman in a statement said that this does not constitute a threat to withdraw from the EU.



"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 to operate their services," a facebook spokesman said. "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.



Facebook has called out to the DPC saying that there is a lack of fairness and apparent bias in singling out Facebook.

Cunnane points out that Facebook was given only three weeks to respond to the decision, referring to a preliminary order handed to by a European data protection commissioner asking Facebook to stop sending user data to the US. Cunnane called the 3-week period to respond a preliminary order as "manifestly inadequate," adding that Facebook wasn't contacted about the inquiry prior to judgment being handed down.



In July 2020, the European Court of Justice dismantled the 2016 Privacy Shield, saying that EU digital privacy laws were at risk of being violated under the agreement, which allows for data to be transferred, stored, and processed in the United States.

The court had observed that there are not enough safeguards against snooping by US intelligence agencies. A report by The Guardian noted that the ruling of the European Union (CJEU) does not immediately end such transfers, but requires data protection authorities (DPAs) in individual member states to vet the sending of any new data to make sure people's personal information remains protected according to the EU's data protection laws (GDPR).
S everal police officers have been injured by a chemical substance while carrying out a drugs raid in north London.

Met Police officers arrived at an industrial estate in High Barnet just before 2pm on Wednesday to execute a drugs warrant.

The force confirmed that 10 officers came into contact with a "corrosive substance" during the raid in Dale Close.

Injured officers were taken to hospital for treatment but are all said to be in a non-life-threatening condition.

Officers were taken to hospital after getting injured during a drugs raid / @NXTierney

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "We await an assessment of the extent of these injuries. However, none are believed to be in a life-threatening condition.

"We are working to inform their families."

Police closed off Dale Close in Barnet / @NXTierney

A number of people have been arrested on suspicion of drug offences in connection with the incident.

They have also been taken to hospital having suffered injuries related to the substance.

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: Absolutely shocking that a number of Met officers have been taken to hospital with injuries believed to be caused by a corrosive substance.

"This is a stark reminder of the dangers our hardworking officers face every day. On behalf of all Londoners, I wish them a speedy recovery".

Officers remain at the scene and enquiries continue.

The Met's Directorate of Professional Standards has been informed.
Christians in each of these countries are experiencing persecution in different ways.

Vietnam

Australia's Ambassador to Vietnam, Robyn Mudie, will have an important meeting in coming weeks with Communist Party officials in Hanoi, Vietnam, in the hope that religious liberty would be taken seriously. The Vietnamese Church is active in Vietnam, leading the way in relief and development as well as in the promotion of justice and human rights. Christians also seek to worship without persecution.

Vietnam's ethnic minorities, in particular the mostly Christian Hills tribes of the Central Highlands, face especially egregious persecution for the peaceful practice of their religious beliefs. The nature of the persecution includes physical assault, detention, or banishment. Thousands have been refused ID cards, birth certificates and household registration, and rendered stateless simply on account of their Christian faith.

In particular we are asked to pray for two Christians: Nguyen Nang Tinh (45), a Catholic school teacher (music), who was arrested at his home on 29 May 2019, and Protestant Pastor Nguyen Trung Ton (49), an ethnic Kinh who was arrested at his home in Thanh Hoa, on 30 July 2017, for his pro-democracy, human rights and religious liberty advocacy.

Tinh was charged with of making, distributing, and disseminating propaganda against the state for teaching patriotic songs to his students in a lower court in Nghe An province. He went on a hunger strike for 46 days because the authorities refused his request to see a Catholic priest. On Monday 20 April 2020, an appeal court in Nghe An Province upheld the guilty verdict.

Pastor Ton was abducted and severely beaten by Communist Party thugs, leaving him with chronic leg pain from smashed ligaments. He was charged with carrying out activities aimed at overthrowing the Peoples administration under Article 79 of Vietnams penal code. He is currently imprisoned in Gia Trung prison, Gia Lai province, and his legs have never healed because he was deprived of medical care.

Uzbekistan

The concept of religious freedom in Uzbekistan evokes great fear in the government, not without reason. After Uzbekistan declared independence in 1991, a spiritual void was left by decades of enforced, atheistic communism. Islam literally flooded into the largely Russified and secular state. This resulted in an Uzbekistan simmering with revolutionary and jihadist, pro-Caliphate, pro-Sharia fundamentalist Islam.

The President, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, desires to engage and trade with both East and West. While many Uzbeks are excited by Uzbekistan's new openness and growing prosperity, this also requires the President to address the repressive Soviet-inspired 1998 Religion Law.

This law is under review, but the new draft law made public in August would perpetuate repression, because of the governments fear that promoting religious freedom would enable pro-Caliphate fundamentalist Islam to spin out of control.

Uzbekistan announced in April 2020 its candidacy for membership from 2021 of the United Nations Human Rights Council, which oversees the Universal Periodic Review of all UN member states' human rights record.

One of the internationally recognised rights is the ability to exercise freedom of religion or belief without state permission. However, Uzbekistan does not have a good track record about human rights and many provisions of the current and the draft new Religion Law, as well as numerous other laws, contradict Uzbekistan's pledges during its last UPR in 2018.

Pakistan

In Islam, girls may be married once they have attained puberty, and religious identity is inherited from the father. Consequently, the offspring of raped, captive Christian girls are automatically deemed Muslim.

The Islamic clerics who issue fake conversion and marriage certificates, along with the police and judges who ignore or endorse the practice, are complicit in what is nothing other than human trafficking across religious lines. This practice is common particularly in Egypt and Pakistan.

Maira Shahbaz, a Catholic, was 13 years old when allegedly abducted by a wealthy Muslim businessman in 2019 and forcibly married to him. The Faisalabad District and Sessions Court ruled that she be removed and placed in a women and girls refuge. But the Lahore Court overturned that decision and ordered her to be returned to her husband.

Family friend and advocate Lala Robin Daniel said: "With this ruling, no Christian girl in Pakistan is safe."

Let us lift these situations before the Throne of Grace

Let us pray that Almighty God will bless, comfort, sustain and encourage prisoners Nguyen Trung Ton and Nguyen Nang Tinh; may the Lord Jesus Christ bring healing to Pastor Ton's body; may the Spirit lift up Ton and Tinh's heads (Psalm Chapter 3, verse 3) and may the God of justice intervene for Ton, Tinh and all Christians unjustly imprisoned in Vietnam (Amos Chapter 5, verse 24).

May the Lord bless and encourage the church in Vietnam, Uzbekistan and Pakistan, granting wisdom and strength to the leaders and hope and protection for all believers.

May the Spirit of our merciful and gracious God blow through the land of Uzbekistan, restoring true openness and freedom to worship. Let the President and his ministers make wise decisions and overcome fear of repression.

May our Almighty God have mercy on Christians, especially girls and families, in Pakistan. Please pray especially for Prime Minister Imran Khan, who desires reform but faces overwhelming opposition. Pray also for courage for lawyers, politicians and other activists to lead Pakistan to a better path.
Add chicken salad to the list things San Antonians use chamoy to drench over.

H-E-B's lengthy menu of Meal Simple brand products  from chef-prepared dishes to rotisserie chicken  includes chicken salad flavored with the sweet-sour-spicy-salty taste San Antonians can't seem to get enough of.

RELATED: 'Concha La Flor' beer made with real pan dulce returning to San Antonio soon

H-E-B spokeswoman Dya Campos said the option has been on shelves at most locations for a few months. Shopper Stefanie Amezcua, who shared the photo with mySA, says she found the chamoy chicken salad at the 5601 Bandera Road store, which is selling it by the pound for $6.99.

According to the H-E-B website, the chamoy chicken salad sells for $7.20. Ingredients include all the traditional flavors, like white chicken, mayonnaise and red onion. Then comes the twist  chamoy, which is made with water, cane sugar, spices, apricot puree concentrate, tamarindo concentrate, lime juice concentrate and natural flavor.

"Our H-E-B deli and culinary teams are constantly innovating and developing new flavors and products for Texans to enjoy," H-E-B said in a statement. "Like many of our deli and meal simple items, we will introduce new flavors and concepts and rotate items on and off."

The chamoy chicken stirred up some interest on Twitter this week. Some San Antonians seemed hesitant to mix chicken with the multidimensional flavor while others said they've seen firsthand how quickly it sells.

Though chamoy is typically drizzled over fruits and other snacks, redefining the uses of chamoy is nothing new. Online recipe searches prove chamoy has been used as a marinade for some time for things like pork tenderloin and chicken wings. Barbara Sibley of New York Citys La Palapa told Eater in 2017 that she uses chamoy as a glaze for seared and charred duck breast.

Campos said the chamoy chicken salad is one of her "all-time favorites to eat straight out of the container."

Madalyn Mendoza covers news and puro pop culture for MySA.com | mmendoza@mysa.com | @maddyskye
Shortly after imposing a second nationwide lockdown aimed at curbing emergency rates of COVID-19, Israel marked a new daily record of infections on Wednesday.

The Health Ministry announced 6,923 new confirmed cases, topping the previous single-day record of 5,533 cases last week. With more than 200,000 COVID-19 cases since February, Israel now has one of the worlds highest rates of the virus per capita.

Meanwhile, hospitals across the country are filling up. Some health facilities are so overcrowded that new coronavirus patients are forced to wait in ambulances for hours before a bed opens up, Haaretz reports.

On Monday, the Health Ministry ordered all hospitals to suspend elective procedures to make way for an influx of COVID-19 patients. Coronavirus czar Ronni Gamzu required hospitals to open additional virus wards, describing the number of serious cases as an emergency."

Four months after lifting its initial lockdown, Israel entered another lockdown for three weeks beginning Sept. 18. Under the new regulations, schools, malls and stores are closed and most Israelis must stay within 500 meters of their homes.

The countrys coronavirus cabinet is due to announce a tighter round of measures following eight hours of meetings on Tuesday. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is aiming for a broad general closure and significant tightening of restrictions immediately, his office said.

According to The Jerusalem Post, those restrictions could include orders to shut down synagogues and ban demonstrations, as well as scale back work in the private sector.

Trust in Netanyahus handling of the COVID-19 response has plummeted, with ongoing protests demanding he resign over corruption allegations and the state of the economy. A survey conducted by the non-partisan Israel Democracy Institute found that just 27% of Israels trust Netanayhu to oversee the crisis, compared to 57% in April.
A man is in serious, but stable condition following a shooting in the Downsview area on Tuesday night.

Toronto police responded to reports that someone had been shot in the area of Fred Young Drive and Judy Sgro Avenue just before 10 p.m.

Paramedics confirm that the victim was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Police say the two suspects were armed, wearing hoodies and were last seen on Fred Young Drive. A shell casing was also found on scene.

Anyone with information is being asked to contact police.

Breanna Xavier-Carter is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Stars radio room in Toronto. Reach her via email: bxavier@thestar.ca
Donald Trump's economic argument pushes back against Joe Biden's pitch that he can better handle the coronavirus pandemic in Florida and Arizona alike, producing closely divided presidential contests in both states in new ABC News/Washington Post polls.

The critical Arizona Senate race, where the Democrats are pinning their hopes for control of the chamber, is also essentially tied in the new survey there.

See PDF for full results, charts and tables.

Registered voters in Florida split almost precisely evenly for the president, 47%-48%, Trump versus Biden, while it's 51%-47% among those most likely to vote. In Arizona, the presidential race stands at 47%-49% among registered voters and 49%-48% among likely voters. None of these differences is statistically significant.

Ditto for the Arizona Senate contest, where a 50%-45% match among registered voters between Democrat Mark Kelly and incumbent Republican Martha McSally is a still-tighter 49%-48% among likely voters.

The result in Florida befits its swing-state status, with sharp differences across regions and demographic groups. A challenge for Biden is his tepid 13-point lead among Hispanics in the state (using registered voters for an adequate sample size); Hillary Clinton won Florida Hispanics by 27 percentage points in 2016, yet narrowly lost the state. Trump also does better than elsewhere in Florida among college-educated whites -- though far better still with their non-college counterparts.

In Arizona, the closeness of the contest is a different story, given that the state has voted for a Democratic candidate for president just once since 1952 -- in 1996. There, Biden leads 61%-34% among Hispanic registered voters, leads among independents and is stronger than in Florida with college graduates. Trump makes it back by way of an advantage in party loyalty; among Arizona likely voters, Republicans outnumber Democrats by 7 points.

MORE: Close contest in Wisconsin; in Minnesota, not so much: Poll

Story continues

In both states, while Biden is strong among moderates, fewer liberals appear as likely voters compared with the 2016 exit polls. Conservatives account for nearly 4 in 10 voters; liberals, about 2 in 10.

Interviews for this survey, produced for ABC News by Langer Research Associates, were conducted Sept. 15 to 20, overlapping the death of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. There were no significant differences in partisan vote preferences before and after her death.

PHOTO: Democratic presidential nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden disembarks his plane at New Castle Airport upon returning from Wisconsin campaign events, in New Castle, Del., on Sept. 21, 2020. (Mark Makela/Reuters)

Issues

The economy stands out as key to Trump's competitiveness. Even in the midst of a pandemic-fueled recession, registered voters in Florida trust Trump over Biden to handle the economy by 11 points, 52%-41%, and in Arizona by 15 points, 56%-41%. Preference on the economy was more closely divided in ABC News/Washington Post polls in Wisconsin (Trump +5) and Minnesota (Biden +3) last week.

Indeed, Trump has majority approval in both states for his handling of the economy -- 54% among registered voters in Florida and 57% in Arizona. That compares with his approval overall, 47% in both states, and for handling the coronavirus outbreak, 45% in both.

Trump's advantage on the economy compares with a far closer call in trust to handle the pandemic -- Biden +5 points in Florida and +4 in Arizona, neither a statistically significant difference. In Minnesota, Biden led by 22 points in trust to handle the pandemic and led Trump by 16 points in vote preference overall. (Biden was +7 on the pandemic in Wisconsin, where the overall contest was close.)

Trump does less well than he may wish in trust to handle crime and safety; he's just +4 points against Biden on this issue in Florida and Arizona alike, another nonsignificant gap despite Trump's efforts to make it a wedge.

Then again, the division also is close on handling health care, more typically a Democratic strength. It's the economy, moreover, that prevails as the top issue -- 31% in Florida and 33% in Arizona call it the single most important issue in their vote, ahead of the pandemic in both states. More than 8 in 10 economy voters favor Trump, while more than 85% of those most focused on the pandemic favor Biden.

Economy ratings aren't particularly robust; fewer than half in both states, 46% in Florida and 42% in Arizona, rate it positively. The political argument is more about the level of Trump's responsibility for the downturn, and, particularly, who's best suited to move ahead. The question is the same for the pandemic response; as things stand, 57% in both states are worried about catching the coronavirus.

As in the previous states and nationally, views of the economy's condition and worries about catching the virus both independently predict candidate support, even controlling for partisanship, ideology and race/ethnicity. Were either economic or pandemic views to shift in the campaign's closing weeks, the impact could be decisive.

Another issue also divides these electorates: Fifty-one percent in Florida and 52% in Arizona say they support recent protests against police treatment of Black people. That's more than the number who are opposed -- 42% in Florida and 44% in Arizona. Roughly 8 in 10 critics of these protests support Trump; about as many protest supporters favor Biden.

Voting plans

Who shows up, of course, is more decisive than anything, and on this the complexities of a pandemic election are evident. Majorities in Arizona (64%) and Florida (56%) plan to vote early or absentee, not on Election Day; that's much higher than in Wisconsin (44%) or Minnesota (39%). Mail-in voting is especially prevalent in Arizona, where it's more established; in Florida, more plan in-person early voting.

The differences in candidate choice are dramatic. Among likely voters who plan to cast their ballot traditionally -- in person on Election Day -- more than 7 in 10 support Trump. Among the majorities that intend to vote early, 6 in 10 or more support Biden.

Both states typically do have high levels of early and absentee voting. The questions: Can Biden's camp encourage a high enough level of pre-Election Day turnout this year? Will pandemic conditions be such that Trump voters feel adequately secure to vote in person on Election Day? Again, the outcome may hinge on the answers.

Senate

In the equally tight Senate special election in Arizona, Kelly has a 13-point edge among independent likely voters; he also has 53% support from women, while McSally has 54% from men. Kelly prevails among moderates and in the cities -- particularly among urban women, with a 38-point margin versus an even split among urban men.

PHOTO: Sen. Martha McSally, R-Ariz., speaks at a Veterans for Trump campaign rally, Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, in Litchfield Park, Ariz. (Matt York/AP)

McSally, who was appointed to the seat in 2018, leads in the suburbs. She's closely aligned herself with Trump, and wins a nearly unanimous 93% of likely voters who approve of the president's overall job performance. She, like Trump, has a broad advantage among voters prioritizing the economy or crime and safety in their presidential vote.

MORE: On heels of Arizona Senate primary, Republican Martha McSally challenges Democrat Mark Kelly to 7 debates

Both are former military officers -- McSally was an Air Force colonel, Kelly was a Navy captain. McSally leads 56%-42% among likely voters from households with a military member or veteran, a more GOP-leaning population.

Kelly -- like Biden -- is ahead by a wide margin among those who identify the coronavirus outbreak, health care or the equal treatment of racial groups as the most important issue in their vote. Indeed, the Senate race looks much like an analog of the presidential contest. Ninety-four percent of Biden supporters favor Kelly; 93% of Trump's back McSally.

PHOTO: Mark Kelly speaks to the crowd during his campaign event at Tres Leches Cafe in Phoenix, May 30, 2019. (Nick Oza/The Republic via USA Today Network, FILE)

Another similarity: McSally wins 70% support from likely voters who plan to vote in person on Election Day. Among those planning to vote early or absentee, 61% prefer Kelly.

Groups

In the presidential contest, while there's a gender gap in both states, Biden's support from women is comparatively muted -- 52% in Florida and Arizona alike, compared with 60% in Wisconsin and 67% in Minnesota last week. (It was 58% in a national ABCNews/Washington Post poll last month.) That said, for these states, it's about on par; Clinton won 50% of women in Florida and 49% in Arizona in 2016.

Sixty percent of white likely voters in Florida favor Trump, as do 54% in Arizona -- both also similar to 2016. In Florida, beyond his less-than-desired support from Hispanics, 52%, Biden comes back with 86% among Blacks. (Both results are among registered voters for adequate sample sizes.)

Biden is comparatively weak in Florida among college-educated white women. A mainstay for him elsewhere, he wins just 53% in this group, compared with 61% in Arizona, and, last week, two-thirds in Wisconsin and three-quarters in Minnesota. That said, state context is important: Trump won college-educated white women in Florida by a broad 60%-37% four years ago.

The closeness of the race in Florida is underscored by preferences among independent likely voters, often a key swing group: 48% for Biden, 47% for Trump. It's a different story in Arizona, where Biden leads by 19 points among independents. Notable, too, are college-educated likely voters in Arizona; they divided evenly in 2016, but favor Biden by 19 points now. It's close because Trump has a 12-point edge among non-college likely voters, and there are more of them.

In a perhaps surprising result, Biden has shrunk his longstanding enthusiasm gap with Trump in Florida. Seventy-two percent of Trump's supporters in the state say they're very enthusiastic about their choice, as do 67% of Biden's. In Arizona, by contrast, Biden has a 25-point enthusiasm deficit.

Regions

Results range widely across Florida's political geography, from 66% support for Trump in the reliably Republican north and Panhandle to 64% for Biden in Miami and the Keys. Trump is up 15 points in the state's central and Gulf counties (excluding Tampa) and up 12 in the Orlando/Atlantic coast region (where Clinton narrowly won); true to form, it's close in Tampa.

Striking in Arizona is the result in Maricopa County, home to more than half the state's likely voters. In Maricopa's cities, Biden leads 61%-35%; in the county, but outside of its cities, it's a dead even 47%-47%. It's also a near-even race in and around Tucson, which Clinton won in 2016. Those compare with 65% for Trump in the rest of the state.

PHOTO: President Donald Trump greets a crowd during a campaign rally at Smith Reynolds Airport on Sept. 8, 2020, in Winston Salem, N.C. (Sean Rayford/Getty Images)

Attributes

Lastly, reflecting the close race in each of these states, Trump and Biden fare similarly in assessments of their personal attributes. In Florida, they're essentially even on who's more honest and trustworthy and who better understands people's problems. Trump is seen as the stronger leader by a narrow 8 points among registered voters, 51%-43%.

In Arizona, the two candidates are even on who's the stronger leader, and again on who's honest and trustworthy, while Biden has a slight edge, 8 points, on who "better understands the problems of people like you."

Methodology

This ABC News/Washington Post poll was conducted by landline and cellular telephone interviews from Sept. 15 to 20, 2020, in English and Spanish, among random samples of 765 Florida registered voters, including 613 likely voters; and 701 Arizona registered voters, including 579 likely voters. Results have margins of sampling error of 4.0 points among registered voters in Florida and 4.5 points among likely voters there and among registered and likely voters in Arizona, including design effects.

Partisan divisions -- Democrats-Republicans-independents -- are 28%-31%-35% among registered voters and 30%-35%-29% among likely voters in Florida, and 25%-31%-38% among registered voters and 27-34-32% among likely voters in Arizona.

The survey was produced for ABC News by Langer Research Associates, with sampling and data collection by Abt Associates of Rockville, Md. See details on the survey's methodology here.

Trust on the economy bolsters Trump in oh-so-close Florida and Arizona: POLL originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
For a woman who helped so many other women in the US find their voices over the last 27 years, not one could be heard outside the Supreme Court on Wednesday as the black Cadillac hearse carrying Ruth Bader Ginsburgs body rolled up to the curb along First Street in Washington.

The silence of the justices final ascent up those steps  through six columns of the more than 100 men and women who had clerked for her during her famed tenure on the court  was broken only by the shutters of cameras and the ambient hum of construction at the Capitol.

No music, no barking from a marching military color guard.

When the last pallbearer entered the courts Great Hall, finally, a voice.

Are you OK? an older woman asked another woman, a stranger, standing in the mulch along the sidewalk of First Street opposite the Supreme Court.

Hundreds of people had gathered there in the morning to pay their respects even though the makeshift metal barriers blocking their entry wouldnt open for another hour and a half to allow visitors to see Justice Ginsburg lying in repose under the portico at the top of the front steps.

Yes, yes Im fine, the other woman replied. Wearing a pink Planned Parenthood Action Fund T-shirt, she reached under her plastic face shield and dabbed away a tear from her left cheek.

They parted ways.

The hand of God

By 10am, as Justice Ginsburgs colleagues, their families, and former clerks sat through a ceremony in the Great Hall, hundreds of people were waiting in line outside. Dozens had set up lawn chairs around dawn. Some towards the front had camped out overnight.

They came from as far away as Naperville, Illinois, just outside Chicago, and as close as a ruby red rowhouse two blocks away in the elegant neighbourhood surrounding Capitol Hill, all with the same purpose: to celebrate the life and legacy of a 5ft 1in legal giant and, later in life, pop culture icon whose initials had become a three-letter symbol for the fight for womens rights and the greater progressive movement in America.

I felt  it sounds crazy  but almost like the hand of God saying, You gotta go. I just felt very compelled. And so Im here, said Cecelia Ryan, a retired pediatric speech therapist from the greater Chicago area who drove the 12 hours to DC by herself on Tuesday.

From left, Jill Alexander of Rockville, Maryland, Yoni Boch of Washington, DC, and Cecelia Ryan of Naperville, Illinois, struck up an unexpected friendship outside the Supreme Court on Wednesday (Griffin Connolly/The Independent)

For many women outside the Supreme Court on Wednesday, they felt Justice Ginsburgs death on a deeply personal level, even if theyd never actually met her.

Jennifer Pustizzi, an administrative law judge from Mullica Hill, New Jersey, drove down with one of her colleagues to witness the outpouring.

Ginsburg paved the way for us, you know, personally and professionally, Ms Pustizzi said, crediting the justice, the second woman ever confirmed to the court, for normalising the legal profession among women.

Without people like her, I mean, I wouldnt be a judge. I wouldnt be doing what Im doing, Ms Pustizzi said.

Washington elite pay their respects

Chief Justice John Roberts honoured his late colleague as a rock star in a tribute speech shortly before she was laid in repose for public viewing.

Justice Ginsburgs life is one of the many versions of the American dream, Justice Roberts told colleagues and family members gathered in the court's Great Hall.

Among the words that best describe Ruth: tough, brave, a fighter, a winner. But also thoughtful, careful, compassionate, honest.  She will live on in what she did to improve the law and the lives of all of us, and yet still Ruth is gone and we grieve, he said.

The chief justice, who served alongside Justice Ginsburg for 15 years, noted her love of opera and her close friendship with the late Justice Antonin Scalia, a conservative bulwark with a diametrically opposite ideology from her.

Justice Ginsburgs presence commanded those around her.

Her voice in court and in our conference room was soft, but when she spoke, people listened, Chief Justice Roberts said.

Former president Bill Clinton, who nominated Justice Ginsburg in 1993, and his wife, 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, visited the justices flag-draped casket on Wednesday morning.

Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer of New York and Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who both attended the same New York public school as Justice Ginsburg, James Madison High School in Brooklyn, crossed First Street towards the Supreme Court to say their final goodbyes.

Donald Trump plans to stop by the Capitol on Thursday, where she will be lying in state. Despite their myriad ideological differences, Mr Trump in recent days has lauded Justice Ginsburg an amazing woman who led an amazing life.

But he is not honouring her reported dying wish: that she not be replaced until after the inauguration of the next president in January 2021.

Among the leading candidates Mr Trump is considering are the notoriously conservative federal appeals court judges Barbara Lagoa of the 11th Circuit and Amy Coney Barrett of the Seventh Circuit.

Ms Barrett, an ardent Catholic whose appointment liberals fear would pose a substantial threat to womens abortion rights, has visited Mr Trump at the White House twice so far this week.

Friends for life

While debate has continued to rage this week on Capitol Hill surrounding Senate Republicans commitment to seating a replacement for Justice Ginsburg so close to the 2020 presidential election  an election for which millions of Americans have already cast early ballots  there was surprisingly little chatter of that political war across the street at the Supreme Court on Wednesday.

I was here for Obamas inauguration and for the March for Our Lives, and I was in London for the Women's March. And I felt the camaraderie here  not on as big a scale because of social distance  as I did at Obama's inauguration. And Ive missed that so much, said Jill Alexander of nearby Rockville, Maryland, whose husband clerked for Justice Ginsburg when she was on the DC Circuit Court of Appeals in the 1980s.

I know that its a day of mourning, but its also a day of community. And Im really, really happy about that, Ms Alexander said.

For the first time since the spring, people in line for the casket-viewing found themselves talking and sharing their experiences with complete strangers  all masked, most spaced six or more feet apart.

After months of being cooped up in their homes with the same friends and family due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it was, strangely, a relief to be in unfamiliar company, with a deep appreciation for Justice Ginsburgs 27 years on the court being the common social denominator.

I came by myself, and Ive made some fantastic friends, Ms Ryan, the retired speech pathologist from Illinois, said, laughing deeply alongside Ms Alexander.

I feel like were going to be friends for life now, Ms Alexander chimed in.

Wait, you guys didnt know each other before? asked an incredulous man theyd also befriended in line, 46-year-old Yoni Boch of Northwest DC.

No, Ms Alexander said. Its great to be a middle-aged woman. You talk to anyone. I knew itd be nice people here today. And socially distanced people.

The justices death was one of those moments of such gravity, several of the women in line said, that theyll never forget where they were when they first heard of it.

Ms Ryan was having dinner with her husband on the deck at their farm in Wisconsin when he opened up a text message from their son-in-law bearing the news.

I was just sick. Like it was a family loss, Ms Ryan said. I was heartbroken.
(Photo : Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images) MADRID, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 20: Protesters wearing protective masks walk the streets during a demonstration, in the Usera neighborhood, against the measures imposed by the regional government on areas with the most Covid-19 cases on September 20, 2020 in Madrid, Spain. Spain is the midst of a second wave of Covid-19, reporting more than 122,000 new cases in the last two weeks. More than a third are in the Madrid region.

(Photo : Photo by Amir Levy/Getty Images) JERUSALEM, ISRAEL - SEPTEMBER 20: A man smiles as he is detained by police after driving fast toward protesters during a demonstration against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu near a police road stop during a nation lockdown on September 20, 2020 in Jerusalem, Israel. As the country grapples with a surge in Covid-19 cases it has imposed a three-week lockdown that coincides with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year; and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.



A new study claims that young people are more likely to believe COVID-19 misinformation. As public officials warn about the increasing coronavirus cases among young people, a group of researchers suggests that Americans below 25 years old have a higher chance of believing virus-related false information.

Also Read: Whistleblower Dr. Li-Meng Yan's Latest Interview Claims Chinese Government is Trying to Tarnish Her Reputation Through Cyber Attacks

This includes the disease's severity and origin. The new research conducted a survey involving 21,196 people from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The scientists were able to determine a clear generational division.

Also Read: [BREAKING] Coronavirus Is Becoming Stronger: Researchers Discover It's Heat-Resistant and Can Heal Itself

The participants who are 18 to 25 years old had an 18% probability of believing a false coronavirus claim. On the other hand, those above 65 years old had a 9% chance of believing COVID-19 misinformation.

The new study was conducted by researchers from Rutgers University, Harvard University, Northwestern University, and Northeastern University.

The new research contradicts the previous study about older people spreading false news

The new research contradicts a previous study, which stated that older people were more likely to share fake news articles on social media. The paper published in the journal Science Advances explained that fake news had renewed concerns about the effects and prevalence of misinformation in political campaigns.

It focused on examining the individual-level characteristics linked with sharing false articles during the U.S. 2016 presidential campaign. The researchers uniquely link an original survey with the respondents' sharing activities in their Facebook profile data.



The discovered that people above 65 years old were seven times more likely to share false articles than 30 to 44 years old. The fake information mostly came from websites that spread misinformation back in 2016.



On the other hand, the latest study asked the participants to gauge their acceptance of 11 fake claims. These include that COVID-19 came from people who ate bats, that 60 years old people or older are the only ones who could be infected, and that taking antibiotics protects against the viral disease.

For more news updates about studies related to the novel coronavirus, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Also Read: COVID-19 Study Suggests Dengue Fever Antibodies Might Provide Some Protection From Coronavirus

This article is owned by TechTimes,

Written by: Giuliano de Leon.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
SAN ANTONIO, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CPS Energy has been recognized for excellence in serving the community of San Antonio during the COVID-19 public health crisis via its enhanced customer support, billing assistance, safety, and virtual public information programs and communication sessions. The award for this distinction was presented by Zpryme, an Austin-based energy research company, at their virtual 2020 Utility Industry Spotlight Awards. The Utility Industry Spotlight Awards honor companies and individuals who are advancing utility leadership, sustainability, customer service, innovation, research, clean energy, and digital transformation. Zpryme chose CPS Energy for the Community Champion Award from among 150 customers and partners.

"We are proud to be recognized for the actions we have taken to be there for our community during this pandemic," said Rudy Garza, CPS Energy's Chief Customer Engagement Officer. "What is also rewarding is knowing our customers appreciate our proactive efforts to provide them with peace of mind regarding their monthly bills. Our goal is to assure all customers that we are here for them and that their lights will remain on during these challenging times. Our customers remain at the core of our People First philosophy."

Mr. Garza went on to explain, "Understanding the need to address customer concerns, we began a new program to provide helpful information about the support we are offering during the global pandemic. Specifically, we began a new outreach program in June of this year to help customers learn about our assistance programs, and about resources that are available from other organizations that serve Greater San Antonio. Since our outbound-call program began, our highly skilled and passionate Energy Advisors have called more than 24,000 customers. Of those, we have successfully connected with more than 15,000, or 60%, of our customers. We are even more pleased to report that to date, we have assisted 33% of our customers, by creating modified payment plans for each person." Customers who are interested in getting help with their bills can call 210-353-2222 or visit cpsenergy.com/assistance.

"We are grateful to work with customers and partners who are working on solving some of the most complex issues facing the utility and energy industry," said Zpryme CEO and Co-Founder, Jason Rodriguez. "This year more than ever we felt it was important to recognize the important work our customers and partners are doing in their communities and across the globe to help build a more sustainable and inclusive future at such a critical time in history."

CPS Energy also understands that its outreach needs to be pursued in multiple ways. Accordingly, they are increasingly using digital solutions where they can. For example, the company uses Facebook Live as a tool for its People First Community Fairs and Summer Education Series, focusing on the company's assistance programs and cost-saving energy tips. These video presentations can be found on CPS Energy's YouTube page.

These and many other efforts contributed to the recognition by Zpryme. In further acknowledgement of this honor, CPS Energy added that they remain committed to serving and helping their customers and community, 24/7/365.

See Zpryme's original announcement here.

About CPS Energy

Established in 1860, CPS Energy is the nation's largest public power, natural gas, and electric company, providing safe, reliable, and competitively-priced service to 860,934 electric and 358,495 natural gas customers in San Antonio and portions of seven adjoining counties. Our customers' combined energy bills rank among the lowest of the nation's 20 largest cities  while generating $8 billion in revenue for the City of San Antonio for more than seven decades. As a trusted and strong community partner, we continuously focus on job creation, economic development, and educational investment. True to our People First philosophy, we are powered by our skilled workforce, whose commitment to the community is demonstrated through our employees' volunteerism in giving back to our city and programs aimed at bringing value to our customers. CPS Energy is among the top public power wind energy buyers in the nation and number one in Texas for solar generation.

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I wonder if mankind will lay hold of what is just and good while there is still time? Sometimes I am consumed by such thoughts, which lead me to feeling anxious and fearful.

As a means of temporary escape, I reflect on a time that was relatively innocent and carefree from my college days at Prairie View A&M University. These days the school is called an HBCU for Historically Black College or University, however at the time we did not use that reference. We were doing what we thought was necessary to prepare for our futures as other schools were only beginning to open to Black people in the late 1960s and early 70s.

I have come to know something that I never thought about at the time. Many people are placed in our lives for only a season. They unknowingly assist us to another level of life.

Resources were quite scarce for many of us, and I was fortunate enough to receive a small Social Security benefit from my deceased father. Even that wasnt sufficient to stay afloat. I had also been hired at the age of 16 through the job fair held at the Sam Houston Coliseum. The company was Weingartens, a grocery store chain. I was a proud grocery checker, and management was kind enough to allow me to work on the weekends when I returned home.

It was the fall of 1972, my junior year in college, when my dorm mates, Mary Beth and Linda Hutchinson, introduced me to some elder gentlemen that lived off campus in Prairie View. Both of the ladies were familiar with the men, said they were very nice and asked me if I wanted to come along for the ride.

The men appeared to be in their 50s and somewhat disheveled, living in a small house. There was a pot of corn on the cob boiling on the stove top that they readily offered to us. We were always hungry, because the dining hall cuisine was not palatable. However, I didnt understand why there was nothing else other than corn.

We gladly joined in with the one course meal. There were two people that stood out in this group. Mr. LaSands, being average height, very fair skinned with squinted eyes; and Mr. Doug was a tall, dark complexioned man with a very deep voice. They were kind, but I somehow knew that these were educated men regardless of their current circumstances. There was never a time that we visited them that a pot of corn on the cob wasnt boiling.

I discovered that the common denominator in that little house was that they were all alcoholics. That never interfered with them helping us with our personal needs. Mr. LaSands transported us to and from wherever we needed to go, having nothing more than his meager means to sustain himself.

In September of 1973, I returned to Prairie View with a little more independence, having purchased a 1968 white-and-black top Chevy Impala from Uncle Buddys, used car lot on Washington Avenue. I referred to that car as the Ghost. We drove up and down Texas 290 without a care in the world. One day I was stranded off campus near Prarie View as the car would not start, and I called my only hope. Mr. Doug answered the phone. He said Im on my way, but I didnt understand because he had no transportation. How would he jump-start my car? I looked up at some point, and he was walking toward me with cables in his hand. I was really confused. I embarrass so easily and as he began to flag cars, I dropped my head. Finally someone stopped, cables were connected, the engine started and I was on my way. Mr. Doug walked to help me, and it wasnt a short distance. I was so thankful and took him home.

Mr. LaSands came to my home in Houston once after I graduated, and I never saw him again. I wish I could have expressed to all those men how much they meant to me. A close friend, Drucilla Bolden, was taking graduate classes, and I asked her if she could ask around about those guys. She said she was able to find information on Mr. LaSands. He was a senior fellow at Fuller Hall, a mens dormitory. I was so elated because that meant he had risen up from whatever path that led him to alcoholism.

I have learned some powerful lessons walking out this precious thing called life. We dont have the right to ever count anyone out as hopeless or a lost cause while they yet live. Lifes journey is filled with surprising twists, turns and outcomes.

Sometimes when I am alone with nothing but my thoughts, I have wondered why is it that I have come into close relationships with so many broken vessels? Could it be that my own brokenness has helped me to identify and empathize?

I often think about those men. They didnt have very much, but they shared everything they had. Our brief encounter impacted my life in a positive way. Thoughts of helping others is always on the forefront of my mind and for that, I am grateful.

Scott is a retiree of the U.S. Postal Service and a crossing guard at Travis Elementary.
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  The candidates in a high-profile race for the southern-New Mexico-based congressional seat will appear in a KOAT/Journal debate that will air at 4 p.m. Sunday.

It will be the first of several planned debates involving candidates for the states three congressional districts and its open U.S. Senate seat.

Democrat Xochitl Torres Small, the incumbent in the 2nd Congressional District race, and Republican Yvette Herrell have both agreed to participate in the KOAT/Journal debate, which will be conducted virtually.

This years race is a rematch of the 2018 contest between the two candidates, which Torres Small won narrowly after a slew of absentee ballots were counted in Dona Ana County.

Before Torres Smalls victory, the 2nd Congressional District had long been a Republican stronghold; a GOP candidate had held the seat for all but two years since 1981.

With absentee voting statewide scheduled to begin Oct. 6, this years race has already featured negative television ads from outside groups, as well as hard-hitting ads by both of the candidates.

Journal Senior Editor Kent Walz and KOAT-TV anchors Shelly Ribando and Doug Fernandez will moderate.

Dates and times for the KOAT/Journal candidate debates for the 1st and 3rd Congressional District races  along with the race for the open U.S. Senate seat  have not been set, but all candidates have agreed to participate.

Other Albuquerque-area television stations also plan to hold candidate debates before Election Day, Nov. 3.
A diner has slammed Gordon Ramsay's 20 preselected cheese board served at his restaurant in Chelsea as 'insulting' and 'bland.'

Unhappy customer Andrew G posted a scathing review of the Gordon Ramsay Restaurant in London on TripAdvisor after visiting the establishment on Friday night.

He suggested the three Michelin star restaurant, owned by celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, had 'lost its way' and said he would not return until there had been a 'major shake up'.

He also called the 20-a-head pre-selected cheese board 'insulting', saying: 'If the best Gordon Ramsay can come up with is a slice of blue, compt, goats cheese and Normandy cream cheese - all of which were bland and lacking punch - what is the world coming to?'

A diner has slammed Gordon Ramsay's 20 preselected cheese board served at his restaurant in Chelsea as 'insulting' and 'bland'

A disgruntled customer, 'Andrew G, left a scathing review on Trip Advisor of Gordon Ramsay Restaurant in Chelsea, London, after leaving disappointed when he visited on Friday

In his review, Andrew said he had visited the fine dining restaurant several times before and had previously told people it was the best meal he had ever eaten.

But, after his experience last Friday, he said he now feels he cannot recommend it to people after finding there was 'no stand out dish' and that the canapes - which he described as 'verging on boring' were 'something I could have made at home'.

'I sadly feel this restaurant has lost its way - it needs a good look at what its rivals are doing and needs to refresh the menu,' he said.

'Adding a sorrel sauce to the lobster ravioli instead of the perfect shellfish bisque is not exactly cutting-edge.'

The celebrity chef's three Michelin star restaurant was slammed by the diner for its 'insulting' 20-a-head cheese board and the canapes which he said were 'verging on boring'

After visiting several times before and previously calling it the best meal he had ever eaten, Andrew G now says he will not visit Gordon Ramsay Restaurant until there is a 'major shake up'

Disgruntled Andrew did however admit that once the service he received was perfect - once he had asked for the food to be slowed down as it was coming 'thick and fast'.

Three courses at the restaurant are priced at 130 a head, with an addition 8 cost for teas and coffees.

Customers can also purchase experiences for the restraurant, starting at 150 for a three course meal for two and up to 1,000 for a cooking master class in the three Michelin star kitchen.

The latest negative review is the fourth time this month that the celebrity TV chef food has been slammed.

Gordon Ramsay was savaged online over his Sunday lunch (pictured), with diners branding it a 'child's portion' and questioning where the rest of the trimmings are

Gordon Ramsay has branded a fan an 'idiot sandwich' after the chef came under fire for sharing a picture of his lacklustre 19 Full English breakfast. The Scotland-born chef, 53, shared a picture to Twitter earlier this month of his new breakfast dish which will be served as part of his menu at his central London restaurant the Savoy Grill

Gordon Ramsay was also savaged online by a diner who visited one of his London restaurants and was left disappointed with the small steak and chips (pictured), costing 23

Posting on Tripadvisor, Guillaume R left one star for the British chef's York & Albany eatery in Camden earlier this month, alongside a scathing review (above)

Weeks ago, he was criticised online when he shared a photograph of his Sunday lunch on Instagram.

While Gordon labelled the 'sirloin of beef with all the trimmings' 'absolutely stunning', several of his 9.8million followers were left unimpressed by the three baby carrots and roast potatoes offered - with one person asking: 'Where's the rest of it?

He also came under fire with both his 19 Full English Breakfast at the Savoy Grill and the 'tiny' 23 steak and over-salted chips at his York & Albany eatery in Camden, being criticised.
The first CNN Academy in the world has opened its doors for applications for journalists of the future to learn about multiplatform storytelling.

Starting January 2021, the intensive learning programme will offer a full-time five-week course with a combination of online learning sessions and in-person workshops that will take place at CNN at twofour54, a WAM report said.

Over the course of more than ten years since CNN first began broadcasting from Abu Dhabi, now one of its major international hubs, the network has continually expanded its footprint, multilingual content, and programming.

In 2020 and beyond, CNN is building on its commitment to foster the growth of quality journalism through educational and training initiatives designed to equip youth across the region with the latest journalism and broadcasting skills.

Led by a team of experienced journalists, content creators and production specialists from around the world, academy participants will learn important industry skills including broadcast engineering, field production, interview techniques, how CNN gathers information, verifies sources and creates content across all platforms.

Becky Anderson, Managing Editor of CNN Abu Dhabi and Anchor of Connect the World, will lead some of the curriculum and take the academy into CNNs state-of-the-art Abu Dhabi bureau at twofour54.

Going behind the scenes of the regions flagship current affairs show, Connect the World with Becky Anderson, students will gain valuable experience about how the programme and its digital content is produced.

The syllabus will also include insights into CNN Arabic and the local media landscape along with digital storytelling, mobile journalism, photography and post-production. By the end of the course students will have learned a wide range of journalism and production skills and be able to develop a raw story idea into a broadcast-ready short film with accompanying digital and social media content. The best work created by students will be featured on CNNs broadcast channels.

Rani Raad, President of CNN Commercial Worldwide, said, "Some of CNNs most memorable and important journalism has taken place here in the Middle East, a region which has continued to grow in importance to our network through Abu Dhabi being one of our major global hubs and with the growth of CNN Arabic. CNN Academy is our latest commitment to the region as we foster the growth of quality journalism and champion local talent in Abu Dhabi, a place weve called home for almost 11 years."

Anderson said: "CNN Academy Abu Dhabi marks the latest step in CNNs continued support of local learning and development and supplements our internship schemes, community work and partnership with the ZHO around People with Determination. With 40 years of newsgathering and over a decade of producing and broadcasting in the Middle East, CNN is able to offer extensive insights into the culture, economics, innovation and global impact that the region has. Im proud to be involved in encouraging and supporting more upcoming journalists here."

The twofour54 training hub, which houses its Creative Lab and Image Nations Arab Film Studio, will provide facilities and infrastructure including equipment, learning resources, student liaison and outreach along with the graduation ceremony.

Applications for CNN Academy Abu Dhabi are now open to applicants from the UAE and across the region over the age of 21. Entry requirements include a one-minute video demonstrating suitability for the course and a written pitch outlining a story idea for the CNN audience. The closing date to apply is October 31. -- Tradearabia News Service
Thiruvananthapuram, September 23 : The cabinet meeting on Wednesday has reportedly decided to initiate legal action against media houses that allegedly spread misinformation in connection with the fire that broke out at a section of the secretariat complex last month.

The state governments move was prompted by news reports that defamed the government by saying that the fire broke out in the protocol section of the secretariat and that important files pertaining to diplomatic affairs were destroyed in the fire.

The incident had set off a political firestorm in the state with the opposition parties alleging that the government had intentionally set fire to the office section that housed crucial files on transactions with the UAE consulate to destroy evidence related to the gold smuggling case.

The cabinet has reportedly also decided to take legal action against the opposition leaders who fanned the flames by levelling false allegations against the state government in connection with the incident.

Opposition UDF and the BJP had alleged that the fire incident was a deliberate ploy by the state government to destroy crucial evidence to protect minority affairs minister K T Jaleel, who is in the eye of a storm for accepting a consignment from the UAE consulate in violation of diplomatic protocol.

The government plans to take legal recourse under section 199(2) of the code of criminal procedure pertaining to prosecution for defamation against the media houses and the opposition leaders.

The cabinet had reportedly sought the advice of the advocate general on the issue and received the go-ahead to proceed against the media under section 199(2) of the Cr.PC.

A controversy had erupted on August 25 when a fire broke out at the secretariat complex. Leaders of the opposition UDF and the BJP who rushed to the spot alleged sabotage, saying it was suspicious that the fire broke out in the building housing the protocol office at a time when minister K T Jaleel was facing allegations of having aided gold smuggling by accepting a consignment from the UAE consulate and ferrying it to north Kerala in a government vehicle in violation of protocol.
China carried out multiple cyber-attacks between 2007-2018, including a computer network attack against Indian satellite communication in 2017, a news report by US-based China Aerospace Studies Institute (CASI) confirmed.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)'s chief K Sivan stated that cyber-attacks are a constant threat and asserted that Isro's system has not been compromised so far. He added that India has an independent and isolated network that is not connected to the public domain, including the internet, which has kept its system safe.

CASI pointed out that China has several counter-space technologies that are intended to threaten rival space systems from the ground to geosynchronous orbit (GEO), as mentioned in a report in Times of India. For instance, China's counter-space technologies include co-orbital satellites, direct ascent kinetic-kill vehicles (anti-satellite missiles), jammers, and cyber capabilities, CASI added.

In other findings, CASI stated that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) has continued to acquire and develop technologies that China could use to "blind and deafen the enemy".

CASI is a US-based think tank that supports secretary, chiefs of staff, and other senior leaders for the Air and Space Forces. CASI provides expert research and analysis supporting decision and policymakers in the Department of Defence and across the US government.

The daily, citing a 2019 report released by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace said China's A-Sat interceptors have capabilities to hijack the entire system that control spacecraft/satellites.

Multiple insiders from Isro told the daily that they have not been able to pinpoint sources of cyber attacks over the years. They said cyber threats are given but are unable to ascertain who are behind those attacks. An Isro scientist said that they have a system to alert and added, "Chinese may have tried and failed".

Also read: Ladakh border row: India-China refrain from changing status quo; agree to stop sending more troops

Also read: India-China military talks on Ladakh lasts 14 hrs; more negotiations ahead
Scientists have released a shocking computer animation showing Antarctica emerging from under its ice sheet due to melting linked to rising temperatures.

Researchers from the Postdam Institute for Climate Impact Research say the warmer it gets, the faster the ice will melt and could lead to a significant rise in sea levels.

The team haven't put a time scale on their predictions, but some experts suggest the entire continent will be ice-free within 150,000 years if nothing changes.

The shocking video shows the predicted rapid disappearance of the ice sheet as temperatures continue to climb - the higher they rise, the more ice disappears.

Even small rises can have a big impact - but a rise of more than 7.2F over pre-industrial levels - twice the current minimum target - would see a 20ft sea level rise.

This would have a devastating impact on low-lying countries as well as cities like London, Tokyo and New York, the researchers claim.

A recent UN study found the world is not on track to meet the Paris Agreement goal of preventing global average temperatures increasing by 2.7F, claiming there is a one-in-four chance temperatures will exceed that level at least once in the next five years.

Antarctica - Antarctic Peninsula - Palmer Archipelago. If temperatures continue to rise Antarctica could lose all of its ice sheet, revealing the continent underneath

Researchers claim if temperatures increase by about 7.2F Antarctica will lose some of its ice sheet but also lead to global sea levels rising by up to 20ft. Here at about 5F a large proportion of ice has disappeared and sea levels will rise accordingly, experts claim

The disturbing computer animation shows how Antarctica will become green and earthy if it loses its ice sheet - something not seen for millions of years.

For Antarctica to become completely ice free, global temperatures would need to increase over pre-industrial levels by a global average of 23.8F.

The last time they were that hot was during the Cretaceous period more than 100 million years ago.

Andrew Shepherd, Director of the Centre for Polar Observation and Modelling at the University of Leeds, who was not involved in the study, said this was not a scenario we are likely to see any time soon.

'These are long-term predictions of how much ice Antarctica will have lost in perhaps 150,000 years time,' he said.

'Although we wont be around to see it, its a stark warning that the melting cant be reversed unless we can cool our planet to below pre-industrial temperatures. Now is the time to act.'

Researchers from the Postdam Institute for Climate Impact Research say the warmer it gets the faster the ice will melt and could lead to a 20ft rise in sea levels if temperatures pass 7.2F

Global sea levels will rise by about 20ft if the temperature is sustained long enough at 7.2F higher than pre-industrial levels, the researchers warned.

However, if temperatures are sustained at more than 10.8 degrees Fahrenheit above pre-industrial levels then sea levels will rise by 39 feet.

That level of global sea level rise may not happen for millennia, but we are on target for a notable increase within the next 80 years, a recent study found.

Ricarda Winkelmann, a climate scientist involved in the study, said Antarctica holds more than half of the Earth's fresh water, frozen in vast ice sheets.

Ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica are losing mass at the 'worst case scenario' rate predicted by the UN - and could result in sea levels rising by 16 inches by 2100

'As the surrounding ocean water and atmosphere warm due to human greenhouse-gas emissions, the white cap on the South Pole loses mass and eventually becomes unstable,' Winkelmann explained.

Because of the sheer magnitude of Antarctica's potential for sea-level contribution - a 3.6F temperature rise could result in the warming, melting and accelerated ice flow into the ocean. This will lead to a global sea level rise of 8ft from Antarctica alone.

Published in Nature, the researchers state the only way Antarctica could recover and forestall the sea level rise is if we return to pre-industrial processes.

But because that is not feasible or realistic, the hope is that we keep temperatures below 3.6F higher than normal to at least stop things getting worse, the team said.

Anders Levermann, researcher at PIK, said: 'Antarctica is basically our ultimate heritage from an earlier time in Earth's history.'

'It's been around for roughly 34 million years. Now our simulations show that once it's melted, it does not regrow to its initial state even if temperatures eventually drop.

'Indeed, temperatures would have to go back to pre-industrial levels to allow its full recovery - a highly unlikely scenario. What we lose of Antarctica now, is lost forever.'

Co-author Torsten Albrecht said the animation shows how there are different impacts on some parts of Antarctica and difference causes of ice loss.

He said: 'In West Antarctica for instance, the main driver of ice loss is warm ocean water leading to higher melting underneath the ice shelves, which in turn can destabilise the grounded ice sheet.

'That makes glaciers the size of Florida slide into the ocean.

 Slide me  These images show changes in continental ice cover in Antarctica from the current situation of near blanket cover (left) to an almost green continent (right) if temperatures rise by 23.8F

'Once temperatures cross the threshold of six degrees above pre-industrial levels, effects from the ice surface become more dominant.

'As the gigantic mountains of ice slowly sink to lower heights where the air is warmer, this leads to more melt at the ice surface - just as we observe in Greenland.'

Professor Winkelmann said: 'In the end, it is our burning of coal and oil that determines ongoing and future greenhouse-gas emissions and therefore, if and when critical temperature thresholds in Antarctica are crossed.

'And even if the ice loss happens on long time scales, the respective carbon dioxide levels can already be reached in the near future,' Winkelmann said.

'We decide now whether we manage to halt the warming. Antarctica's fate really lies in our hands - and with it that of our cities and cultural sites across the globe.'

Authors say this study is 'another exclamation mark' behind the importance of the Paris climate agreement to keep global temperatures from rising by more than 3.6 degrees F - although the overall goal of the agreement is to keep temperatures from rising by more than 2.7F.

If humanity works together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and keep global temperatures from rising by more than 2.7F (the current goal) then most of Antarctica will remain ice covered

Winkelmann 'If we give up the Paris Agreement, we give up Hamburg, Tokyo and New York', as well as cultural sites like the Sydney Opera House.

Dr Helene Hewitt, a Met Office science fellow and ocean modelling expert, not involved in the study, said sea level rise is one of the greatest societal impacts from climate change.

'Taking urgent measures to curb increasing global temperature will slow the rate of sea level rise, buying more time for millions of at-risk people,' Hewitt said.

'Without urgent mitigation the future for low-lying communities, including some of the world's greatest cities, is even more under threat.'

Ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica are losing mass at the 'worst case scenario' rate predicted by the UN - and could result in sea levels rising by 16 inches by 2100, according to a study by the University of Leeds.

Mass loss from 2007 to 2017 due to melt-water and crumbling ice has matched Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change's (IPCC) most extreme forecasts.

Chris Rapley, Professor of Climate Science, University College London, who wasn't involved in this work, said Antarctica seems disconnected from our daily lives as it is so remote.

'Beyond a certain threshold of warming, massive loss over time will be inevitable and irreversible. We have known this for a while,' Rapley said.

This is the Rothera research station in Antarctica. Authors say this study is 'another exclamation mark' behind the importance of the higher level Paris climate agreement to keep global temperatures below 3.6 degrees F - the overall goal is to keep it below 2.7F

'Even so, the results presented in the paper - and especially the video showing the way in which the ice sheet will disintegrate - are truly shocking.'

He said humanity is transforming the planet and the level of warming humans create will determine inevitable and irreversible consequences in Antarctica.

'The idea that we might really commit future Earth to being ice-free (with all the related consequences) is a truly profound conclusion - one which we have speculated about until now - but which this work, if correct, shows to be real.'

Thomas Slater, an expert in polar observations, not involved in the study, said 'we need a new worst case scenario', adding that the sheets were melting faster than predicted.

Dr Robert Larter, Marine Geoscientist, British Antarctic Survey, also not involved in this research, said at present most ice is lost by calving of icebergs and by melting at the base of glaciers where they flow out over the ocean as ice shelves.

'As temperatures increase it is clear that the extent of surface melting will also increase. Apart from being a direct addition to the ice losses, increased surface melt is also expected to trigger a set of feedback effects,' Larter said.

'Eventually it will impact the stability of ice shelves, compromising or eliminating their buttressing effect on the glaciers flowing into them and thus allowing those glaciers to flow faster and deliver more ice to the ocean.

'Where surface melt drains through a glacier to its bed it can also lubricate sliding of the ice over its bed, further increasing the glacier flow rate.'

The findings of the study linking temperature to Antarctica ice sheet levels have been published in the journal Nature.
BRUSSELS (AP)  The European Union on Monday slapped sanctions on three transport companies for violating the U.N. arms embargo on Libya, including the Turkish shipping firm that operates a vessel at the center of a naval standoff in the Mediterranean Sea between Turkey and France three months ago.

At talks in Brussels, EU foreign ministers also imposed asset freezes and travel bans on two Libyan men accused of human rights abuses such as executions, and of the trafficking, kidnapping, rape and killing of migrants.

A statement said the decision means that a total of 17 people are now banned from entering Europe, while 21 people and 19 entities  usually companies, banks or other organizations  have their assets frozen. EU people and companies are banned from providing them with funds.

The Avrasya Shipping company, which is headquartered in Turkey, 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.

The government in 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's Operation Irini policing the arms embargo on behalf of the United Nations.

Speaking in Cairo earlier this month, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said it is a reality that the arms embargo is not being fully respected. We can say that it is not respected by anyone.

Kazakhstan-based commercial cargo carrier Sigma Airlines was also hit by EU sanctions for the transfer of military material to Libya, while Med Wave Shipping, headquartered in Jordan, was also targeted, in particular a vessel it runs called the Bana.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  Airlines say that the likelihood of in-flight transmission of COVID-19 is low. But long flights can be superspreader events, according to one in a trio of recent studies suggesting that an infected person can spread coronavirus to passengers and crew during long airplane flights.

These papers also showed that that airport screenings, designed to identify people who may have COVID-19, did not work in all cases.

A 10-hour flight from London to Hanoi resulted in 15 people testing positive for COVID-19.

The illness was probably transmitted to two passengers and two crew members on a 15-hour flight from Boston to Hong Kong, and five passengers on international flights to and from Greece probably contracted COVID-19 while on flights with sick people.

Sitting near a COVID-19 positive person or interacting with that person increased the risk for contracting the virus, researchers said.

Here are the main points from each study:

Seat proximity to infected person increases risk

A 10-hour flight from London to Hanoi in March resulted in 15 people testing positive for COVID-19 because they flew with an infected person, suggests a Vietnamese-Australian study published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases.

When 184 crew members and passengers were tested, 15 were positive for COVID-19. Twelve of those had been seated in business class with the infected passenger. Other travelers who became infected sat in economy class and may have had contact with the original infected passenger in the immigration area or baggage claim, researchers said.

Sitting near the ill passenger was strongly tied to higher risk of infection, and temperature and symptom checks at the airport did not stop the infected person from boarding the flight, researchers said.

Probable transmission during long flight from Boston to Hong Kong

COVID-19 was probably transmitted from two passengers to two crew members on a 15-hour flight from Boston to Hong Kong on March 9, according to a study published in Emerging Infectious Diseases. The report was written by scientists in Hong Kong and London.

The four infected people were a married couple in business class and two flight attendants.

Evidence suggests that the married couple were infected in North America and transmitted the virus to the flight attendants, the study said. Contact tracing revealed that one flight attendant served the married couple during the flight.

The couple and flight attendants tested positive for COVID-19 about a week after arriving in Hong Kong.

COVID-19 spreads on international flights

Five passengers on international flights probably contracted COVID-19 while on flights with sick people, according to an epidemiological analysis by researchers in Athens, Greece. The analysis was recently published in Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease.

Researchers performed contact tracing on 2,224 passengers and 110 crew members on 18 international flights to or from Greece between Feb. 26 and March 9.

They identified 21 passengers who later tested positive for COVID-19 and 891 of their close contacts. This was defined as passengers who sat about 6 feet away from an infected passenger for at least 15 minutes, or crew members who were near an infected passenger, the study said.

Of the 891 contact traced cases, 4 passengers and 1 crew member developed COVID-19; they had traveled on the same flight with two COVID-19 cases, the study said.
(Natural News) Artificial intelligence, or AI, has recently taken the labor market by storm. Its cost-efficient and effective at jobs previously held by humans, such as customer service. But it has yet to earn customer trust, suggests a study published in the journal Marketing Science.

Researchers from the U.S. and China examined the responses of customers when faced with AI-controlled chatbots, computer programs that simulate human interaction through voice commands or text chats.

The team found that chatbots outperformed their inexperienced human counterparts when it comes to sales. However, when customers learned that theyre talking to AI, sales dropped by nearly 80 percent.

Customers dont trust AI

Recent statistics on the use of chatbots suggest that AI has saturated ordinary life.

Acquire, a company that provides customer support services to businesses estimated that about 1.4 billion people worldwide use chatbots on a regular basis. According to chatbot company Collect.chat, most users are in the U.S., which contributed to 36 percent of the worlds total users from 2017 to 2019. India came next at 11 percent, followed by Germany and the U.K. at 4 and 3 percent, respectively.

The lure of chatbots stems partly from their convenience and accessibility features. The technology company Drift found that 24 percent of internet users said that the best feature of chatbots is their 24-hour service. Meanwhile, 37 percent of people use chatbots for emergencies while 55 percent expect chatbots to provide instant responses to simple questions.

Businesses spend around $1.3 trillion on customer requests annually. Chatbots can cut those costs by up to 30 percent. In addition, they can help companies save 2.5 billion hours spent on customer service by the end of 2023.

Chatbots offer enhanced technological benefits, reduced customer hassle costs and increased consumer welfare (offering the product at lower cost because bots save money on labor), said Xueming Luo, a co-author of the current study and a professor at Temple University.

However, the study suggests that theres a limit to how far people are willing to take it with chatbots. The researchers studied the responses of over 6,200 customers from a financial service company. The participants were randomly assigned to either humans or chatbots. Those assigned to the latter were informed that theyre talking to a chatbot at the beginning or at the end of a transaction. Some members of the chatbot group were not informed.

The researchers found that chatbots can increase sales by four times more than inexperienced workers. However, purchase rates plummeted by 79.7 percent when the chatbot group were told that theyre talking to a chatbot.

[When] customers know the conversational partner is not a human, they are curt and purchase less because they think the bot is less knowledgeable and less empathetic, said Xueming Luo.

Pitfalls of chatbots

Chatbots solve many of the problems faced by customers related to accessibility and convenience. However, they are also mired with issues.

AI in chatbots is a self-learning machine; it uses feedback and information to continually update what it knows. This process could be time-consuming, costly and risky, as Microsofts Tay illustrated in 2016. Tay was a chatbot developed as an experiment in AI conversational interaction; the more people talk to Tay, the smarter it becomes. But when it was deployed on Twitter, it began parroting offensive slurs. (Related: Now Facebook is planning creepy new artificial intelligence technology.)

Furthermore, some chatbots are fixed, meaning they are capable of answering only the same set of questions. If a customer asks a question thats not in the can, a fixed chatbot can easily get stuck. This can frustrate people and hinder sales.

While todays society has become an increasingly technological one, AI has a long way to go in terms of both public acceptance and good software.

InformationTechnology.news has more on the use of chatbots.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

SmallBizGenius.net

ECommerce-nation.com

TheVerge.com
A billionaire oligarch whose former business partner is behind bars in Russia was killed when he mysteriously walked into the path of a Jaguar before being thrown under another car, a coroner heard.

Dmitry Obretetskiy was walking his dog Oscar when he was knocked down near his home in leafy Oxshott, Surrey.

It was unclear why the successful 39-year-old crossed the road in front of a car, but it was thought he was trying to regain control of his dog or misjudged the timings, a court heard.

The father-of-three was thrown off the bonnet of a luxury Jaguar and into the path of an unsuspecting BMW travelling in the opposite direction and later died of his injuries.

But friends of the billionaire fear Russian President Vladimir Putin could be behind his suspicious death.

Dmitry Obretetskiy was walking his dog Oscar when he was hit by a car near his home if Oxshott, Surrey, on November 25 last year

Emergency services scrambled to the scene (pictured) and found Mr Obretetskiy lying with 'reduced consciousness and a bleeding scalp' before flying him to hospital

The tycoon lived in in Hamilton House (pictured), a 6million property on an exclusive estate in Oxshott. Former England and Chelsea captain John Terry also owns a property nearby

Emergency services scrambled to the scene at 6pm and found Mr Obretetskiy lying with 'reduced consciousness and a bleeding scalp' before flying him to hospital on November 25.

A forensic collision investigator later discovered that the overseas business owner would have seen the headlights of the Jaguar for 11 seconds before the crash.

Detective Constable David Bloomfield said: 'The Jaguar was travelling at 35mph in a 40mph zone.

'Dmitry would have been able to see the lights of the Jaguar 11 seconds before it collided with him.

'There were no vehicle defects and no evidence of third party involvement. It is not known why he moved in front of the Jaguar.

'It is possible that Dmitry had started to crossed to the middle of the road when no one was coming and was waiting for a gap in the traffic but mistimed it.

'It is also possible his dog ran into the road and he was trying to regain control of him.'

The mother of his children, Uliana Mishina rushed the St George's Hospital, Tooting, London, and identified the tycoon following the crash.

She said: 'We were never married, we had been in a relationship since 1997 and we had three children during our time together.'

Obretetsky became an iconic hero with football fans in his homeland during Euro 2008 when he was pictured among a sea of Dutch fans waving a Russian tricolour flag

Obretetsky, a football fan who divided his time between the UK and Russia, is pictured with his son Ilya, who is now 22, at the Brazil World Cup in 2014

After five days in hospital, the billionaire's long-term partner and three children were told about his poor prognosis before he died just after 8pm on November 30 last year.

Dr Jonathan Aron, an intensive care coordinator, confirmed how during his time in the hospital, Mr Obretetskiy remained deeply comatose after fracturing his skull, ribs and parts of his spine.

He added: 'The family explained that Dmitry would have wanted to have become an organ donor but despite this, he rapidly passed away.'

Mr Obretetskiy was reported to have founded a household chemicals retail company and was owner of Magnat Trade Enterprise - official distributor for Mars, Nestle, and Procter & Gamble in Russia - making him billions.

Mr Obretetskiy's son Ilya, understood to be aged 22 years, attended Millfield School and he also had two daughters at school in England.

The assistant coroner for Surrey, Dr Karen Henderson concluded that Dmitry Obretetsky had died in a road traffic collision after suffering a traumatic brain injury and polytrauma.

Sitting in Woking Coroners Court, she said: 'For reasons that remain unclear, Dmitry crossed the road on November 25 2019 and was in a position to have been hit by a car and projected into the path of another car suffering injuries which were not survivable.'

The forensic collision investigator added: 'At approximately 4.40pm, a driver of a Jaguar was driving northbound on the A24 on Warren Lane. At the same time, two further drivers of a BMW and a Tesla were travelling southbound.

'Dmitry was crossing Warren Lane with his dog on the entrance to the free car park entrance in Oxshott. He has collided with the front of off side of the Jaguar and he was projected into the south bound lane and into the path of the BMW.'

The Russian businessman lived in Hamilton House, a 6million property on an exclusive estate in Oxshott. Former England and Chelsea captain John Terry also owns a property nearby.

Reports from Obretetsky's home city of Volgograd reveal he has been in business with a Dmitry Tozik.

Reports from Obretetsky's home city of Volgograd reveal he has been in business with a Dmitry Tozik, who is currently behind bars in Russia after being extradited from Belarus last year

Tozik is currently behind bars in Russia after being extradited from Belarus last year over claims he conned his workers out of 26million roubles (300,000).

Obretetsky and Dmitry Tozik, 44, set up company Evraz-Building in 2008 with another shareholder called Alexander Nabatchikov.

He is charged with non-payment of 26 million roubles (310,000) of wages to 600 workers and the deliberate bankruptcy of another company, Plant of Reinforced Concrete Products and Structures.

However it is not clear that Obretetsky was party to this dispute which involved a different company to the one he shared with Tozik.

Neighbours of Obretetsky's grand Surrey mansion said after the incident that his family had left the property soon after news of his death emerged.

Aleksi Fadejeb, 46, who lives opposite Mr Obretesky said: 'I'm also Russian but didn't know Dmitry that well.

'He regularly walked his dog Oscar and I'd be out with my own dog. We always said hello but it didn't go much beyond that.

'The road Dmitry was trying to cross is very dangerous. I lost my dog there about two weeks ago. I know Dmitry' s family must be devastated by his loss. I've heard they are currently in Russia.'

Neighbour Samantha Statton, 25, who works as a housekeeper in a property close to Mr Obrestesky's residence, said: 'I was trying to get to the station on the day of the accident.

Mr Obretetsky is survived by his wife, son and two daughters Evelina (left) and Tatiana (right), who are active on social media

Obretetsky and his son were regularly pictured together on holidays around the world and at Chelsea matches, a club owned by fellow Russian oligarch, Roman Abramovich

'There were police cars, fire engines and ambulances rushing around so I knew something serious had happened.

'It wasn't until a few days later that we were told that Mr Obretesky had been killed. I didn't know him at all but saw him regularly walking his dog.

'A lot of accidents happen on that road. The traffic moves fast and there's no where safe to cross. The area around there is very popular with dog walkers but they really need to make it safer for people to get across the road.'

Obretetsky made his fortune in Volgograd after the fall of the Soviet Union before moving to Britain with his wife and children.

He founded a household chemicals retail company and was owner of Magnat Trade Enterprise, official distributor for Mars, Nestle, Procter & Gamble in Russia.

Obretetsky became an iconic hero with football fans in his homeland during Euro 2008 when he was pictured among a sea of Dutch fans waving a Russian tricolour flag in a quarter final game when Russia beat Holland 3-1.

Obretetsky's consulting company LLC Advant said: 'We know very little about what happened. Of course, this is a great loss and tragedy for all of us.'

His friend Mr Borovkov said that Obretetsky had created 'one of the most civilised and European-like companies in our country'.

'Dmitry was a man of diverse interests, he did not focus only on business.

'We remember how at the famous quarter-final of the Euro 2008 football tournament he proudly, completely alone in a crowd of Dutch fans, held a large Russian flag with the inscription 'Volgograd'.

'He loved contemporary music - hard rock, was a fan of Ozzy Osbourne.'

He was 'a wonderful friend and colleague, an understanding and friendly person'.

Despite living in Britain - close to several Chelsea stars, according to reports in Moscow - he often visited his homeland.

There had been criticisms of him for his employment methods and a report by Life said: 'After his death, this business empire risks collapsing miserably, leaving thousands of ordinary residents of Volgograd unemployed.'

Obretetsky was married and his son Ilya, now believed to be 22, had attended Millfield School and is a UK citizen. He also had two daughters at school in England.

The incident is the latest in a series of mysterious deaths of prominent Russians in the area, after Badri Patarkatsishvili died at an estate near Leatherhead in 2008, Alexander Peripilichnyy died near Weybridge in 2012 and Boris Berezovsky died near Ascot in 2013.

Unlike those figures, Obretetsky is not known to have expressed any opposition to Putin and experts on the region say oligarchs who become incredibly wealthy in Putin's Russia often have the leader's tacit consent.

But Obretetsky's friend Pavel Borovkov has previously asked whether he was killed on purpose.

He told Life: 'You know, people drive cars very carefully in (Britain). I don't exclude that he was specially knocked down.'
He approached me soon after we made our announcement about five weeks ago, and what he represents is exactly what I had hoped for  a proven experienced editor who wants to apply that experience to the new beginnings of what digital news should be in 2020, Doctor said.
LONDON  Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, appeared in a video encouraging Americans to register to vote, dipping a toe into United States politics in a way royal family members typically avoid.

The video statement, created as part of a Time magazine feature that aired on ABC on Tuesday evening, was hardly partisan by the eras fire-and-brimstone standards. The couple, known formally as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, did not endorse any candidates, and much of the focus was on building compassion and better discussions.

But Meghan, a U.S. citizen who has said she plans to vote in Novembers presidential election, made clear she believed the stakes were high this year.
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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The University of Ghana has granted amnesty to former students of the institution who failed to graduate due to their inability to pass their courses.



According to a statement signed by the Acting Director of Academic Affairs of the university, Mrs Christy Badu, the window of opportunity is opened to students from 2000/2001 academic year.



This dispensation is an opportunity for all affected students to satisfy the necessary requirements to enable them to graduate. This amnesty will be for failed courses starting from the 2000/2001 academic year. The roll out of this amnesty will be for a period of three years, she explained.



The University therefore urging students to register and re-sit the failed courses so they can graduate.



Read full statement below:









Source: graphic.com.gh









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The Department of Justice (DoJ) is asking Congress to adopt a new law that would make Facebook, Google and Twitter liable for the way they moderate content, The Washington Post reports. The legislation would alter the controversial Section 230 so that tech companies would be accountable when they unlawfully censor speech and when they knowingly facilitate criminal activity online.

For too long Section 230 has provided a shield for online platforms to operate with impunity, Attorney General William Barr said in a statement. Ensuring that the internet is a safe, but also vibrant, open and competitive environment is vitally important to America."

Politicians have been poking at Section 230 for months. The DoJ doesnt typically weigh in on legislation, but now, Barr is asking Congress to roll back critical aspects of Section 230. Not only is that unusual, it could add to speculation that some politicians are attempting to bully tech companies into political submission, as Senator Brian Schatz previously put it.

Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers have been looking for ways to alter Section 230 and better regulate Big Tech in general. But President Trump also seems to have a personal vendetta against social media platforms. In addition to accusing Facebook and Twitter of having an anti-conservative bias, Trump criticized Twitter after it flagged and hid one of his tweets for making misleading health claims that could potentially dissuade people from participation in voting. Earlier this year, shortly after Twitter hid another Trump tweet for glorifying violence, the President signed an executive order targeting social media platforms.

Its unclear what the future holds for Section 230, but with a push from Barr and the DoJ, reform could arrive sooner rather than later.
A new musical workshop will take place in October for freshly penned piece PS I'm A Terrible Person.

A dark comedy musical about addiction inspired by true events, the show is produced by Pint of Wine Theatre, and has been created by Francesca Forristal and Jordan Paul Clarke.

The cast for the workshop includes Nicole Raquel Dennis (Dear Even Hansen), Piers Bate (Waitress), Charlotte Vaughan (The Phantom of the Opera), Lewis Cornay (The Book of Mormon), Lottie Johnson (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee) and Forristal as Martha Weiss.

The rest of the cast features David Birch, Ricardo Castro, Matthew Cavendish, India Chadwick, Phoebe Ellabani, Kerri Norville, Bethany Weaver and Natalie Moore Williams.

On the creative team are director Ali James, choreographer Lucie Pankhurst, musical director Joe Bunker, costume designer Zahra Mansouri, sound and video designer Adrian Jeakins, sound designer Max Hunter, illustrator Larisa Bulb (creating innovative projected set design) and lighting designer Francis Clegg.

Two invitation-only performances will be held 22 and 23 October at 7.30pm.

Producer of Pint of Wine Theatre, Blake Klein said: "We are incredibly excited to support the continued development of this bold, new musical. In the current climate, it is as important as ever to support actors, writers, designers and technicians, and we are proud that this workshop will feature artistic collaborations not normally seen in a workshopped musical. We very much look forward to taking this musical to the next stage through this workshop."
The desperate search to find William Wall (pictured) continues after he didn't return home

The emotional father of an autistic boy who went missing in dense bushland has asked locals to leave out protein bars and revealed how to gain his trust.

William Wall, 14, was last seen heading out for his daily jog along the Yarra Ranges' Warburton Trail at 6.45am on Tuesday, promising his family he would be back in 15 minutes.

But he never returned to his home in Launching Place.

More than 24-hours after his disappearance, hundreds of police and State Emergency Service volunteers are still prowling the bush in search of him.

William's distraught father Shane issued an emotional plea and told locals who have offered to help that the high-functioning autistic teen will stay away from junk food.

'He doesn't like junk food, he prefers protein bars and fruit, that type of thing, he would go for that and it would be like catching a rat in a trap, not a problem,' he told reporters on Wednesday.

He advised people to remain calm if they do see William and tell him that his 'mum wants to talk to him'.

Bush Search and Rescue Victoria volunteers prepare to depart the Warburton Police station ahead of the search for missing autistic boy William Wall

William's distraught father Shane issued an emotional plea and told locals who have offered to help that the high-functioning autistic teen will stay away from junk food

'Probably responds a bit better than coming to me in most cases, but just call him Will or William either way - he doesn't respond to Bill,' the distraught father said.

'Just in a calm voice tell him "we have got health food bars for you mate, they're yours, come and get them and we want you home".'

Mr Wall struggled to fight back tears as he thanked volunteers, police, the SES and family members who had been searching all night.

'I just want everyone to be safe,' he said.

'I never want to be in this situation but the people around here are fantastic. I mean, I've been in the valley for a long time and come from overseas but this has just blown me away.'

'Actual support from local people, the Facebook community and the noticeboards and that, fantastic. Top notch and the police and SES, again, it has been great.'

'I have hardly spoken to my wife much but they are liaising with them to look after her and I'm out helping where I can.'

William has a ten-year-old sister named Sophie, and two older brothers Jake, 17, and Harrison, 20, who have been out all night.

With the search taking more than 24-hours, Mr Wall says his son is a 'pretty hardcore' 14-year-old, who usually runs up to 30km.

Mr Wall struggled to fight back tears as he thanked volunteers, police, the SES and family members who had been searching all night

Bush Search and Rescue Victoria volunteers arrive to the Warburton Police state ahead of the search for missing autistic boy William Wall, in the Yarra Ranges, Melbourne

SES personnel depart the Warburton Police state ahead of the search for missing autistic boy William Wall

As the search entered its second day, many locals were left fuming after being advised to keep an eye out for William, but not to breach Victoria's COVID-19 restrictions by limiting outdoor time to two hours.

'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 read.

'We want to say a big thank you however, for the all the offers we have received.'

Inspector Jason Goddard told 3AW they were encouraging residents to keep on the look out while out exercising and to report any sightings to Triple Zero immediately.

'We really do want the local residents within this area to check their backyards and check their structures.'

Local resident Tom Osburg said he was willing to break COVID-19 restrictions to assist in the search.

He believes search parties made up by local volunteers were a valuable resource.

In June, autistic boy William Callaghan, was found by a lone volunteer after he went missing at Mount Disappointment.

Police have advised volunteers to stay home saying: 'At this stage we do not require any assistance from the public'

Volunteer Ben Gibbs was hailed a national Australian hero after finding William Callaghan in think bush near the summit of Mount Disappointment in June

SES personnel prepare for the continued search for missing autistic boy William Wall

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

The autistic non-verbal teenager spent two days in treacherous bushland before being found by volunteer Ben Gibbs.

Mr Osburg said Melburnians should be given an exemption to be able to go and check their holiday homes for William Wall.

'Let people come up, just for a couple of hours from Melbourne, just to check their holiday homes.'

Rescue crews spent Tuesday night searching the area after temperatures plummeted to just 4C.

While William is autistic, he is high-functioning and can communicate verbally.

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.

Warburton local residents are seen returning from searching for missing autistic boy William Wall along the Hennessey Aqueduct trail in the Yarra Ranges
The letter addressed to Trump was intercepted at a facility that processes mail addressed to the president. It tested positive for ricin, the AP reported.

Pascale Ferrier, 53, of Quebec was arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials Sunday at the Peace Bridge, which connects Buffalo, a city in New York state, with Fort Erie in Ontario, Canada, according to U.S. court documents.

The woman accused of sending a ricin-laced letter to U.S. President Donald Trump will appear in court Tuesday, according to law enforcement officials.

Ferrier is also suspected of sending ricin-filled letters to police in Texas, according to a spokesman for the Royal Canadian Mount Police. "We believe a total of six letters were sent: one to the White House and five to Texas," Cpl. Charles Poirier, of the RCMP's Quebec division, told CBC News.

This was not her first brush with authorities, according to an AP report. In March 2019, she was arrested in Mission, Texas, for having a fake driver's license and possessing an unlicensed gun, according to the CBC.

The charges were dismissed, but she did spend 20 days in jail, which is when authorities discovered she had overstayed her visa, the CBC reported. She was then deported back to Canada.

Ricin, a poison found naturally in castor beans, is deadly, with as little as 500 micrograms being lethal. There is no antidote. Ferrier was expected to make her first court appearance Tuesday afternoon in Buffalo.
A Chinese drug trafficker who was captured in Indonesia and is one death row made a daring escape last week.

The inmate went through the sewage system, according to the statement released by the local police on September 21.

Successful escape

Cai Changpan, also known as Cai Ji Fan, was jailed in the Tangerang area on the outskirts of the capital city Jakarta. He was arrested on charges of smuggling methamphetamine.

On September 21, he escaped by digging a hole from his cell into waste pipes and onto a road outside the prison, according to Jakarta police spokesperson Yusri Yunus.

Cai had been planning the escape for approximately five to six months, according to his cellmate. He dug the hole using tools from a construction project in the prison kitchen, as reported by CNA.

According to Indonesia Directorate General of Prisons spokeswoman Rika Aprianti, Cai had timed his escape to the changing of the prison guards.

Also Read: New Dinosaur Species Dated Back to 125 Million Years Discovered in China in Perfect 'Life-like' Postures

Cai had been sentenced to death in 2017 for trafficking 135 kilograms or almost 300 pounds of crystal meth, according to detik.com, an Indonesian news website.

A police investigation found 70 kilograms or 154 pounds of meth hidden in chicken coop cleaner equipment. This is not Cai's first escape, in 2017 he broke out of a police detention center in Jakarta by breaking a hole in a bathroom wall.

Police are now in search of Cai, and is included on their most wanted list.

Death penalty in Indonesia

Indonesia has a very strict law when it comes to drugs. Smugglers who are found guilty are given the death penalty. In 2019, a Frenchman has been sentenced to death for drug trafficking after prosecutors had asked for a 20-year prison term.

The 35-year-old smuggler, Felix Dorfin, was convicted of trafficking about 3 kilograms or 6.6 pounds of various drugs into the Indonesian holiday island of Lombok. He was arrested in September 2019 at the island's airport.

Dorfin was arrested carrying a suitcase that was filled with 3 kilograms of drugs, including amphetamines and ecstasy, after flying into the airport from Singapore, according to BBC.

According to the judge who took his case, Dorfin was involved in an international drug syndicate, and the amount of drugs in his possession is an aggravating factor.

The prosecutors had requested 20 years in jail and a fine of $700,000, or if the fine is not met, an extra year's imprisonment is granted. However, it is common for judges to go beyond what prosecutors require in Indonesia.

A number of foreigners remain on death row in the country, and no one has been executed since 2016. Early 2019, Dorfin escaped from the prison that he was being held in by sawing off the bars on his cell's window and rappelling down with a rope made of a sarong and curtains.

A female police officer was arrested for allegedly helping him escape from jail and giving him the materials that he needed in exchange for money. Dorfin was later recaptured by the authorities who found him hiding in a forest in the north of the island.

Related Article: Boris Johnson on Vacation? Italian Airport Claims PM Enjoyed Perugia, As COVID-19 Cases Rise in UK

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NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- A new study of American consumers' attitudes toward climate change finds that more than two-thirds of respondents (70%) indicate their willingness to give or donate a percentage of their personal income to support the fight against climate change.

Twenty-eight percent indicated they were willing to provide less than 1% of their income; 33% said they would be willing to contribute 1-5% of their income; 6% said they would give between 6-10% of their income; and 3% indicated they would contribute more than 10% of their income. Just under one-third (31%) of those surveyed indicated they were unwilling to give or donate any percentage of their income to support the fight against climate change.

The U.S. findings are part of a series of surveys commissioned by Nexans in the U.S., UK and France, in order to determine public opinion on climate change and related issues in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S. study was conducted online by Researchscape from August 20  24, 2020. It had 1,013 respondents, ages 18 or older, with the results weighted to be representative of the overall population (variables available upon request).

Nexans, is headquartered in Paris with a major offshore wind cable manufacturing facility in Charleston, S.C. and an industrial cable manufacturing facility in El Dorado, Ark. The company is fully committed to fighting climate change and is helping to make sustainable electrification possible. The survey was developed as part of its celebration of the first Climate Day in Paris which included a roundtable event with world-renowned experts, the release of an unprecedented global study by Roland Berger on the challenges raised by the electrification of the world and Nexans' own commitment to be carbon neutral by 2030.

Paying the Tab to Address Climate Change

Participants were given the opportunity to choose from seven multiple responses to the question "How should the fight against climate change be paid for?" The majority (59%) replied it should be paid for by "government incentives for both businesses and consumers." It was followed by "federal, state and/or local taxes" and "conservation programs" (tied at 47%); "business investments" (42%) and "consumer-driven purchases" (33%). Just 9% selected none of the above and 2% selected other.

"Through the organization of this Climate Day, Nexans is asserting itself not only as an actor but also a thought leader of the energy transition for a sustainable electrification of the world. This electrification raises a number of challenges and paradoxes that must be overcome. And it will only happen with the direct involvement of the populations concerned. These surveys provide a better understanding of the level of information and disinformation in public opinion as well as their level of acceptability of these lifestyle changes," said Christopher Guerin, CEO, Nexans.

Among other findings, 44% are dissatisfied with the job that federal and state governments are doing to address climate change, 35% are somewhat satisfied and 21% are either very satisfied or completed satisfied with government's role.

Americans expressed overwhelmingly favorable views of wind and solar renewable energy proposals. Specifically, 85% stated being in favor of wind turbines on land (15% against), 83% in favor of wind turbines off the coast (17% against) and 90% in support of solar panel farms (10% opposed).

Those surveyed were asked about their current and changing priorities towards climate change as influenced by the coronavirus pandemic. Thirty-nine percent indicated that climate change was no more and no less a priority due to the current health emergency; just under a third (31%) indicated that climate change is more of a priority while 30% said it was less of a priority.

In similar research conducted by Nexans in the United Kingdom, nearly two thirds (65.8%) of UK respondents said they would be willing to donate part of their salary to fight climate change. Furthermore, nearly a third (29%) of the UK's consumers believe that combating climate change has become more of a priority in light of the coronavirus pandemic. The UK research was conducted online by Savanta from August 21  24, 2020. A total of 2210 respondents, aged 16 and above, representative of the UK population took part.

We are Nexans.

Our mission is to be the core operational leader in the electrification of the world and lead the charge over the coming decades for clean and circular energy consumption. We believe that electricity will be the most important asset of decarbonization.

About Nexans

Nexans is a key driver for the world's transition to a more connected and sustainable energy future. For over 120 years, the Group has brought energy to life by providing customers with advanced cable technologies for power and data transmission. Today, Nexans goes beyond cables to offer customers a complete service that leverages digital technology to maximize the performance and efficiency of their critical assets. The Group designs solutions and services along the entire value chain in three main business areas: Building & Territories (including utilities and emobility), High Voltage & Projects (covering offshore wind farms, subsea interconnections, land high voltage), and Industry & Solutions (including renewables, transportation, oil and gas, automation, and others).

Corporate Social Responsibility is a guiding principle of Nexans' business activities and internal practices. In 2013 Nexans was the first cable provider to create a Foundation supporting sustainable initiatives bringing access to energy to disadvantaged communities worldwide. The Group's commitment to developing ethical, sustainable and high-quality cables also drives its active involvement within leading industry associations, including Europacable, the NEMA, ICF and CIGRE.

Nexans employs nearly 26,000 people with an industrial footprint in 34 countries and commercial activities worldwide. In 2019, the Group generated 6.7 billion euros in sales.

Nexans is listed on Euronext Paris, compartment A.

For more information, please visit www.nexans.com

SOURCE Nexans North America

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CAIRO - The Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF), which Italy is taking part in alongside five other countries in the area for a regional market, is being transformed into an intergovernmental organization. The move has come amid tensions with Turkey over gas exploration in the area. As announced in a joint statement signed by the other participating member states - Egypt, Cyprus, Greece, Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority - a ceremony was held via teleconference for the signing, which will transform the forum into a regional organization headquartered in Cairo. The statement says that the forum will foster regional stability and create an atmosphere of good neighbourly relations through regional cooperation in the energy sector. "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," the website of the Egyptian daily Al Ahram said, noting that France asked during the meeting to become part of the organization. The framework of the EMGF, once completed, will be sent to the EU to be reviewed and then signed by the founding states, according to a statement on the Egyptian ministry website. Italy was represented in the videoconference by Undersecretary of State for the Ministry of Economic Development Alessandra Todde. At the meeting in Cairo, alongside other diplomatic representatives of the countries involved, was Italian ambassador to Egypt Giampaolo Cantini.
Lucknow, Sep 23 : FIRs have been lodged against IPS officers Ajay Pal Sharma and Himanshu Kumar in Meerut for allegedly lobbying for their transfer and posting. They have been booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The Uttar Pradesh police haS found evidence against the officers in calls and chats from their cell phones.

The names of journalists Chandan Rai, Swapnil Rai and Atul Shukla, allegedly involved in the case, have also been included in the FIRs. All of them are accused of "inducing a government official for corruption".

Three videos of IPS officer and then Noida Police chief, Vaibhav Krishna, chatting with a girl had gone viral on social media platforms a few months back. The officer had called a press conference to "clarify" that the videos were "deliberately morphed" to tarnish his image.

Krishna had also complained to the Deputy General of Police and Chief Secretary (Home), and claimed that he had busted a gang of five journalists involved in lobbying for posting of the then Noida SSP Ajay Pal Sharma, and other officials Sudhir Singh, Rajiv Narayan Mishra, Ganesh Saha and Himanshu Kumar.

Krishna was suspended earlier this year.
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.
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)

Trumps UN Address Contrasts US Environmental Record to Chinas

President Trump exposes China's dismal record on ocean waste, air pollution

In his address to the United Nations on September 22, U.S. President Donald Trump contrasted the United States environmental record with that of the worlds largest polluter, China.

Every year, 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, Trump said.

The President also told the United Nations General Assembly that the world must hold China accountable for their actions that led to the global CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic.

Today, President @realDonaldTrump addressed the United Nations General Assembly by video, where he explained how America is leading the global fight against Coronavirusand urged the world to hold Chinas government accountable for its spread. 1600 Daily: https://t.co/A68ueVC88u pic.twitter.com/zWDLsRjRYm  The White House (@WhiteHouse) September 23, 2020

In the pre-recorded address, the president also reminded the UN General Assembly that Chinas carbon emissions are nearly twice that of the United States, and rising fast. The United Nations states that carbon emissions from the use of fossil fuels are the driving force behind climate conditions the UN says is changing. According to the United Nations, Human-induced climate change is affecting life-sustaining systems, from the top of the mountains to the depths of the oceans.

Despite real GDP growth of 2.3 percent in 2019 and 2.9 percent in 2018, however, the United States still managed to cut carbon emissions. Trump told the UN General Assembly that After I withdrew from the one-sided Paris Climate Accord, last year America reduced its carbon emissions by more than any country in the agreement.

According to the UKs Carbon Brief website, the Paris agreement is based on signatory nations making intended nationally determined contribution (INDCs)which are essentially pledges or statements of intent to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Under its INDC, China pledged to continue to increase carbon dioxide emissions until 2030, with best efforts to peak earlier.

Before Trump announced Americas withdrawal from the accord, however, the United States had pledged to slash between 26 and 28 percent of its 2005-level carbon dioxide emissions by 2025.

In a 2017 statement announcing the withdrawal, the President said that he believed the draconian financial and economic burdens of the Paris Accord would have cost the U.S. economy as much as $3 trillion in GDP and 6.5 million industrial jobs by 2040. Trump said the Accord would have signified a massive redistribution of United States wealth to other countries.

Ignoring China, Criticizing America

In Mondays address to the UN, the president also spoke of certain commentators who he said sought to criticize the United States environmental efforts while paying less attention to Chinese pollution.

Those who attack Americas exceptional environmental record while ignoring Chinas rampant pollution are not interested in the environment, Trump told the UN. They only want to punish America, and I will not stand for it.

EPA Recounts Progress

President Trumps comments on the United States environmental performance were supported by statements from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this week, with the Agency and Administrator Andrew Wheeler recounting a number of key areas of progress.

The U.S. has seen a 12 percent reduction in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions since 2005, the agency wrote on Twitter Monday. Weve also cut our greenhouse gas emissions more than Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and Canada combined. China, meanwhile, has increased their emissions by over 50 percent since 2005.

The EPA noted separately on Twitter that over the last 50 years, air pollution in the United States has decreased by 77 percent, including a 7 percent reduction since 2016.

In a speech to the American Enterprise Institute on Monday, Administrator Wheeler addressed members of the media directly. I would say to the Press: Dont follow a shiny object like climate when more seemingly mundane actions like Superfund clean-ups and Brownfields projects have the ability to benefit far more lives in this country, if proper attention and credit is given to them.

China is not committed to reducing its carbon footprint until 2030 under the Paris Climate Accord, they are the worst environmental polluters in the world and the media buys into this.  EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler (@EPAAWheeler) September 23, 2020

Our environment in the United States, taken as a whole, is much cleaner than other great powers, and cleaner than most of the rich industrialized economies around the world, Wheeler said.
COUNCILLORS have been briefed on plans to sell the site of the old Roxboro swimming pool for the development of a new ambulance station.

Limerick City and County Council bosses are seeking to sell the land near the Maldron Hotel to the HSE which intends developing a new base.

Subject to planning permission, it would see the HSE move its current ambulance base opposite University Hospital Limerick to the southside land. A helipad may also be incorporated in the plans.

It will be a purpose-built facility and will also include an administration and training base, a central switchboard and a national medical directorate office.

The local authority has agreed to sell the land for 254,320 and a final decision will be made at a full meeting of the local authority in November.

Cllr Daniel Butler said it will be very beneficial to have the ambulance base move to the almost six-acre site.

I think its a very positive move. The ambulance centre is currently based in my locality where there is congestion and access to routes is hampered by local traffic. The new location will offer them access to the motorway, to Limerick city and county and the region. It seems a well-thought out plan. You'd comfortably access all parts of the city within 10 minutes and it means a better service for the whole region. It's a good reimagining of that site which has been left idle for years, he added.

If all goes to plan, the HSE will expand University Hospital Limerick to the old ambulance station across the road, which will then connect via an pedestrian bridge to the main hospital building.
The Federal Executive Council has approved $1.95billion for the construction of Kano-Dutse(Jigawa)- Katsina- Jibia  Maradi (Niger Republic) rail line project.

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, made this known when he briefed State House correspondents on the outcome of the council meeting, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, at the Council Chamber, State House, Abuja.

He said the council also approved N3billion for the design, manufacture, supply, testing and commissioning of one railway crane of 150 ton capacity for emergency and recovery of rolling stocks.

This is to sort out situations of accident on the track. It is for a total cost of N3,049,544,000.

Thats the first memo that was approved for the Ministry of Transportation.

The second one is the award of contract for the development of the proposed Kano- Dutsi -Katsina-Jibia to Maradi rail line in Niger Republic and to Dutse, the capital of Jigawa, for a total cost of $1,959,744,723.71, inclusive of 7.5% VAT, he said.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who also addressed the correspondents on the outcome of the meeting, said the council approved the purchase of 1,800 units of laptop computers for computer-based test examinations at three Nigeria Customs Service training schools in Gwagwalada, Lagos and Kano, at the cost of N351million.

He disclosed that the council also approved N197million for the expansion of the Nigeria Customs Services cash managements software in compliance with International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS).

He said the software, when installed, would enhance the efficiency of the Department of Customs.

On behalf of the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, I want to report also that she got two of her memos approved.

One is for the procurement of 1,800 units of laptop computers for training school and computer-based test examinations at three Nigeria Customs Service training schools in Gwagwalada, Lagos and Kano for a sum of N351,540,000, with a completion period of six weeks.

The major advantage of this particular contract is that it saves the department a lot of money in hiring consultants for training and other services.

The Minister also got another approval for N197,843,100 for the expansion of the Nigeria Customs Services cash managements software in compliance with International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS).

Mohammed stated that the council also approved an augmentation of the contract for the construction of Petroleum Technology Development Fund corporate headquarters office in Abuja, at the sum of N3,773,784,399.48, raising the initial approval for the contract to N14billion.

However, the important thing about this particular contract is that the building has since been completed, it has since been in use and we inherited this augmentation from 2012.

But since governance is a continuum, we are honouring the augmentation, but this headquarters building has been completed, the contractors have been magnanimous while all these arguments about the augmentation were going on, they were magnanimous enough to complete the project.

Many international conferences have been held in that building.
Federal unemployment money from President Donald Trumps August executive order has arrived in the bank accounts or mailboxes of about 778,000 Michigan residents so far, per a Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency spokesperson.

The first batch of funds covers the weeks ending in Aug. 1, 8 and 15, with $300 per week for unemployed workers.

The second and final round of funds from the order covers the subsequent three weeks. These $900 payments started going out to unemployed Michigan workers Thursday, Sept. 17, said Lynda Robinson, communications specialist for the UIA.

Most residents eligible for the $900 payments  who have self-certified that theyre out of work due to COVID-19  have received the first round of money, Robinson said.

Anyone receiving at least $100 weekly in state unemployment is eligible, as long as theyre unemployed because of the virus.

The state still estimates about 910,000 Michigan workers are eligible for the funding  theres just a swath of workers who need to answer the self-certification question on their account before they can receive the funds.

U.S. Senate Republicans proposed a $1 trillion COVID-19 aid package that would continue the extra $300-per-week in unemployment money through Dec. 27. The bill was defeated, however, meaning there will be no federal unemployment money for jobless Americans for the week of Sept. 7 and beyond, unless something changes.

Michigan residents are eligible for up to $362 in state unemployment pay.

In past years, Michiganders have been limited to 20 weeks of unemployment pay per year. But in 2020, residents can get 39 weeks of unemployment pay due to a Gov. Gretchen Whitmer executive order and the federal Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program.

COVID-19 PREVENTION TIPS

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus.

Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible.

Use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and carry hand sanitizer with you when you go into places like stores.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has also issued executive orders requiring people to wear face coverings over their mouth and nose while in public indoor and crowded outdoor spaces. See an explanation of what that means here.

Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

For more data on COVID-19 in Michigan, visit https://www.mlive.com/coronavirus/data/.

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Mumbai-based Servify has raised $23 million in its series C round of funding led by existing investor Iron Pillar and a host of other investors.

All the existing investors Blume, Beenext and Tetrao SPF participated in the round along with new investors who joined the cap table Global Alternatives Investor 57 Stars, strategic investors like Sparkle Fund (an investment arm of DMI Finance), SF Roofdeck Capital LLC (Investment arm of Silicon Valley Investment Bank FT Partners), Go Ventures (an investment arm of Go PLC, a Maltese integrated telecommunications company) and Madhu Kela Family Office. Servifys existing Venture Debt provider Trifecta Capital also participated in the round.

Founded in 2015 by Sreevathsa Prabhakar, Servify offers a digital platform to manage after-sales services for large white goods manufacturers. It helps connect customers with brands and keeps track of the service standard offered by these brands to their customers. As Prabhakar said he is trying to make services a revenue opportunity for brands rather than a mere formality. This will help customers get a good service experience and brands can also make money through the process.

Currently, Servify counts brands like Bose, Godrej, Panasonic, Croma and most of the smartphone manufacturers like Nokia, OnePlus, Samsung and others as its clients. While the company is majorly into smartphone and smart device servicing, it will soon foray into consumer durables like refrigerators, television sets and other electronic items as well.

We have raised the funds to push our business into the home appliance segment, expand globally and for working capital to help in business expansion, said Prabhakar, speaking with Moneycontrol. The company has to date raised close to $46 million through three funding rounds.

With most of these manufacturers being global brands, Servify has managed to expand its work outside India too. It has presence in more than 50 countries but runs the operations with a very small team.

Prabhakar pointed out that they have a 350 member team with the largest chunk being in the product and tech space.

Buoyed by the faster rate of digitisation post Covid-19, Servify is seeing rapid scale-up of its business. The company had seen business to a standstill in March and April but has been growing since then. Prabhakar pointed out that they have already quadrupled their revenue in 2020 and is aiming to have a few of the best months of business.

Even pure-play offline brands are looking to partner with us since they want to strengthen their online play, he said.
Two people were killed and seven others sustained injuries when the car in which they were travelling fell into a gorge while negotiating a turn on the Ghat road in Telanganas Nagarkurnool district on Tuesday night, the police said.

The accident occurred at Eegalapenta village in Nallamala hill range on the Telangana side of the Srisailam reservoir at around 9 pm, while the victims were going for a darshan of Lord Mallikarjun Swamy of the famous Srisailam temple located on the Andhra Pradesh side of the reservoir in Kurnool district.

The deceased were identified as Neetu Singh (45) and Raj Kumari Bai (65), who succumbed to injuries while being shifted to a private hospital in Hyderabad in the early hours of Wednesday.

The injured  Namrata Singh, Hemalatha, Anil Singh, Asmith Singh, Dharmik Singh, Dharmesh Singh and Suman Latha, were given first aid at the local hospital being run by the Telangana State Power Generation Corporation (TSGenco) and later shifted to Hyderabad for better treatment.

According to Eegalapenta sub-inspector of police S Pochaiah, three families belonging to Dhoolpet and Mangalhat areas of Hyderabad left in the evening in three different vehicles for a darshan in the Srisailam temple.

The Ghat road on the Nallamala hills near Eegalapenta has steep turns. While the first two vehicles managed to negotiate the turns, the third vehicle, a Toyota Innova, lost control and crashed into a wall, before falling off into a 20-feet gorge, the SI said.

One of the injured managed to come out of the vehicle and alerted his friends in the first two cars. They returned to the accident site and with the help of locals and the police, rescued the victims.

The condition of Neetu Singh and Raj Kumari Bai was critical and they were immediately rushed to Hyderabad, where they were declared brought dead. The other injured were admitted to the local hospital of TSGenco for first aid treatment. They were also taken to Hyderabad later, the police official said.

The bodies have been shifted to the Osmania General Hospital mortuary. We have booked a case of accident and are investigating, Pochaiah said.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Srinivasa Rao Apparasu Srinivasa Rao is Senior Assistant Editor based out of Hyderabad covering developments in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana . He has over three decades of reporting experience. ...view detail
Employers are not trying to make a political statement, but they may be accused of it, said L.J. Tan, chief strategy officer at the Immunization Action Coalition in St. Paul, Minnesota. Theres a lot of autonomy and independence in the U.S., and that creates constant tension with the altruistic goal of trying to protect yourself and those around you.
New Delhi, Sep 23 : The Delhi Police have geared up for 'snap demonstrations' by farmers' bodies, especially in the national capital, amid the ongoing protests against the Centre's farm bills.

The security in the national capital, especially in the border areas, has been tightened and senior Delhi Police officers are themselves monitoring the situation. Section 144 has already been imposed in the New Delhi area.

Snap demonstrations are random unnotified demonstrations that pop up at a particular place.

"We have made ample arrangements in the area and are registering cases under IPC Section 188 and other relevant sections against those found flouting the orders," said Eish Singhal, DCP, New Delhi.

The Delhi Police had earlier said that no demonstrations would be allowed in the national capital till September 30, citing an earlier order of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA).

The missive came as political parties as well as farmers' bodies have intensified their agitation against the three agriculture Bills passed by the Parliament recently.

On Monday, the DDMA had clarified that all social, cultural and political functions involving large gatherings are prohibited in Delhi till September 30.

But despite the orders, the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee held a protest against the farm Bills at Janpath. The police detained over 41 Congress leaders and workers, including state president Anil Kumar, while they were marching towards the Parliament.

After the passing of the farm Bills, opposition MPs staged protest in the Parliament premises, marching from the Gandhi statue to the Ambedkar statue.

The Opposition and the government are on loggerheads ever since the farm Bills were passed amid ruckus in the Upper House of the Parliament.

Meanwhile, the border areas of Delhi, especially the Singhu border and Karnal road, saw massive deployment of police and para military personnel even as the Youth Congress workers and farmers took out a tractor rally on Wednesday. Barricades and water cannons were deployed at strategic locations.
The South Korean automaker is boldly going where no Hyundai has gone before, quickly expanding its N Line quasi-performance roster in a bid to attract even more customers. Its popular Sonata model, now in its eighth generation, is just the latest entry in what looks like a forever-increasing performance-inspired family.

1 photo
By Express News Service

BHUBANESWAR: Amid a spike in coronavirus cases, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC)s failure to inform patients about their test results and address the issues of people in home isolation is worsening the citys COVID management. Patients are getting their test report after 6-7 days in most cases, apart from the anxiety.

An employee working in a State Government Directorate said though he got his RT-PCR test done on September 13 but no one from the BMC informed him about his test report till September 18. It was only when I used my source that I came to know on September 19 that I have tested positive, he said.

The Covid patient also alleged that despite of having comorbidities, none from the civic body inquired about his health. As I am diabetic, my brother later contacted the civic body and one of my relatives from Cuttack intervened after which I was shifted to a private hospital, he said. He said his sons and wife are in isolation after he tested positive. However, they have also not received any call from the civic body.

Besides, some Covid patients in home isolation and paid isolation expressed disappointment over the civic bodys response.With around 70 per cent patients being allowed home isolation, experts said making them aware about handing of the bio-medical waste is also essential which otherwise would make sanitation workers vulnerable to infection. This, however, also remains an area of concern in the city.

Bizarre as it may sound, family members of deceased Covid patients on certain occasions have received calls from the civic body regarding health condition of the patient even after 10 days of death. In one case, kin of a retired doctor with a paramilitary force were enquired about his health by the BMC a good 10 days after he passed away. Later, they received more calls from BMC about condition of the patient in home isolation.

As such lapses raise the question on the management of the COVID situation in the Capital, the BMC officials remained inaccessible for their view on these matters.

Meanwhile, the daily spike of COVID cases, which continues to be over 300 in the city, remains another cause of worry.

345 cases in Capital

As many as 345 more persons were tested positive in the State Capital in the last 24 hours, pushing citys Covid count to 19,243. Seven employees of a Central Government hospital were among the 244 patients who were transmitted the virus locally on the day. The Covid death toll in the city also increased to 69 with one more fatality. BMC officials, however, said the active cases in the city came down to 3,806 as 412 more individuals infected with the virus recovered on the day. The total cases of recovery has also remained more than 15,300, they said.


To ensure your ballot is counted, read these instructions! says the form sent out by the cities of Manassas Park and Alexandria. Except as provided below, the law requires a witness must be present for steps 1 through 3 listed below. Any person can serve as your witness. If you believe you may not safely have a witness present while completing the absentee ballot for the November 3, 2020 election, you are not required to have a witness present for steps 1 through 3 listed below. Accordingly, you may disregard the witness signature line on envelope B if you believe you may not safely have a witness present while completing your ballot.
The Peel school board has publicly apologized to a leader in the Black community and acknowledged that banning him from all of its properties was racist.

In a notice sent out Wednesday, the board said it extends apology to community leader Idris Orughu for acts of discrimination and anti-Black racism.

The board, it added, is taking many steps in its efforts to dismantle anti-Black, African and Caribbean racism and achieve racial equity. One of these important steps is to acknowledge past mistakes to enable reconciliation.

Orughu told the Star in phone interview that he welcomes the apology, and that it tells us that the board is ready and willing to turn a different page.

However, he added, there is still a lot of work to be done ... it will take awhile, and we want to see action. This gesture tells us that the current leadership are willing to hear us, acknowledge the wrong that was done ... and work with the community.

In March, the Peel District School Board  the second largest in the province  issued a trespass notice against Orughu, saying he engaged in disrespectful communication towards members of the board of trustees on Feb. 11, 2020, and made harassing and threatening comments on Feb. 25, 2020 to members of the board of trustees, requiring the intervention of Peel Regional Police.

Orughu said he was not told what he was alleged to have said, or did. Police did not lay any charges, and no one heard any such threats  nor did he make any, Orughu said.

The Peel board has been under provincial supervision since June, after Education Minister Stephen Lecce sent in three investigators to probe allegations of racism and dysfunction.

The reviewers heard accounts of anti-Black and Islamophobic incidents in schools, and found that Black students were suspended at much higher rates than other students for dubious reasons such as wearing a hoodie. Black students were also more likely to be placed in non-university-stream courses and discouraged from post-secondary education, the report found.

The report said senior administrators and trustees knew of the problems, but did not act.

Lecce issued 27 specific orders to the board, then sent in a human rights and employment lawyer to investigate why little progress had been made.

Having lost all confidence, he then appointed Bruce Rodrigues, a former director of education and head of the standardized testing body EQAO, to run the board as a provincial supervisor.

On Wednesday, Rodrigues said the board extends an apology to Mr. Orughu. The issuing of the notice of trespass and contacting the Peel Regional Police were acts of discrimination and anti-Black racism ... (The board) recognizes and apologizes on behalf of senior leadership for the impact of that trespass letter on Mr. Orughus advocacy efforts to change education policies that perpetuate anti-Black racism and oppressive practices.

At Queens Park, Lecce said it was most regrettable the way the Peel board treated Orughu.

To be kicked out, to be targeted for opposition (to anti-Black racism)  is contrary to the values of democracy, decency, and civility, which we need, said Lecce. So I welcome the decision by the board, by the superintendent, to express  a wholehearted apology  to that gentleman.

Lecce said the new leadership is finally addressing the challenges in the provinces second largest school board.

Theres a lot of healing that must be done  to build confidence and rebuild credibility with a variety of affected communities, the Black community most notably, he said.

Orughu and other advocates are now appealing to Lecce to keep Rodrigues in place as supervisor until the next municipal election in 2022, given there is no trust with the current trustees or senior staff and that it will take time to disentangle the harm that has happened.
Since the chaotic Aug. 15 Taliban takeover of Kabul, an already war-devastated economy once kept alive by international donations alone is now
The commission was established by the Government in 2015 to advise and make recommendations to Ministers on the national minimum wage. It has an independent chairman appointed by the Government and involves trade unions, employers and campaign groups.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Ictu) has pulled out because it says it cannot "in good conscience" be part of any recommendation that would fall under that threshold.

The withdrawal on Tuesday evening by Ictu raises questions about its future.

Last year, the Low Pay Commission recommended an increase of 30 cent to the minimum wage for adults, bringing the rate to 10.10 per hour. Earlier this summer, it deferred making a recommendation to the Government on a new rate for the national minimum wage until September.

It is understood there was strong disagreement between members on the issue at the time.

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On Tuesday evening, the general secretary of Ictu Patricia King said: We could not in conscience be party to any recommendation that did not afford the lowest paid workers in the Republic of Ireland an increase in excess of two per cent similar to other sectors in our economy.

Ms King continued: The lowest paid in our society suffered disproportionately during the last recession and we wont be party to a process that leaves them behind.

Therefore it is with regret, but with clarity that we can no longer be part of this Low Pay Commission. There can be no going back to the old ways where the lowest paid are left behind. We will continue to campaign through other fora for a just increase, Ms King said.
Wisconsin Governor Declares Public Health Emergency Over CCP Virus Spread at Colleges

The Democrat governor of Wisconsin declared a new public health emergency in response to a rise in COVID-19 cases across the state that is centered around college campuses, requiring the mandatory use of face coverings.

We need folks to start taking this seriously, and young people especiallyplease stay home as much as you are able, skip heading to the bars, and wear a mask whenever you go out. We need your help to stop the spread of this virus, and we all have to do this together, Gov. Tony Evers said in a statement.

He noted that within the past month, the number of CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus cases surged among younger people. Individuals between the ages of 18 and 24 have a case rate that is five times higher than other groups, according to the governors office.

Wisconsin is now seeing an unprecedented, near-exponential growth of the COVID-19 pandemic, rising to 1,791 on Sept. 21 from 678 new cases on Aug. 31, Evers said. So far, about 104,000 cases of the CCP virus have been reported in the state.

Evers declared an emergency (pdf) that allows the National Guard to assist in the states response to the public health emergency, which includes deploying personnel to help with the Nov. 3 presidential election. It will also direct all state agencies to help when appropriate in dealing with the response to the virus.

The order (pdf) also requires mandatory face coverings on residents who are 5 years old and older when theyre inside a building or in enclosed spaces, until Nov. 21. The previous order on face coverings was slated to expire in the coming days. A violation of the mandate could result in a $200 fine.

Julie Willems Van Dijk, deputy secretary for the state Department of Health Services, told the Wisconsin State Journal that this mandate helps encourage good behavior with facial coverings as we move inside and assures a standard approach across our state.

State Senate Republicans pushed back against the latest order from Evers.

Governor Evers disregard for the state constitution and the role of the three branches of government is mind-boggling, Wisconsin Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said in a statement. The governors order is not valid and is not worth the paper its printed on.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos described the governors order as obviously illegal.

There is already a court challenge and undoubtedly, there will be more, Vos said in the statement. No one branch of government can rule outside the letter of the law and go unchecked, even during a pandemic.

Neither Vos nor Fitzgerald made an attempt to strike down Everss order, however, according to the Journal.
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In a major development, Former Bihar Director General of Police (DGP) IPS officer Gupteshwar Pandey, who stepped down as Bihar police chief on September 22, on Wednesday announced his entry into politics. He added that the final decision of his political future remains with the people of Buxar.

Pandey, who grabbed headlines during the probe in actor Sushant Singh Rajput case, took voluntary retirement from service on September 22. He addressed a press conference on Wednesday saying that he has taken VRS from service and it was his constitutional right to do so. Pandey added that he was being hounded for the past two months and his life was becoming miserable. "I would get thousands of phone calls asking me about my retirement. I was fed up," he noted.

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After the announcement of joining politics, he appealed to the people to rise above caste religion and awaken the spirit of nationalism. Revealing his future strategy on politics on social media, he said, "Taking the message of love above caste religion, I will go among the people. I have decided to enter politics. Now the situation has become such that I should enter politics. The people of Buxar will take the final decision."

"People are upset with my decision to enter public life and I am being accused," he added. Pandey attacked the casteist system asking, "Does a good person have no meaning? Why do people want to get things in the name of caste only?"

"I want to present such an example in a society where people identify a good person and not on the basis of caste. Today people run after people with money power, but good men are not valued," said Pandey.

He revealed that he had a child marriage.

The former DGP is inspired by both England and Japan. Both are developed countries and have presented an excellent example of nationalism. So they are developed, he added.

Pandey said, "Unless the spirit of surrender to the nation is there, the progress of this country is not possible. We will remain as a nation. The people of Buxar will be proud of their son." "I thank Nitish Kumar for giving me the opportunity to serve the public in a post like DGP. All the political parties supported me and I thank them," he added.

Earlier, in the press conference, Pandey said that he decided to fight against Mumbai Police after officers of Bihar Police were mistreated in Mumbai. Pandey stressed that he fought for the prestige of Bihar.

The former Bihar police chief said that his VRS should not be linked to Sushant's case and anyone doing so is committing a mistake. Pandey added that he only wanted to help Sushant's old and ailing father and Supreme Court also supported Bihar Police's decision to file an FIR in Sushant's case.

Pandey said that in his 34-year-long career he has never compromised with any criminals and was involved in over 50 encounters. "I have not joined any political party as of now and I have not taken any decision on it yet. As far as social work is concerned, I can do it without entering politics too," Pandey said.

Pandey, a 1987 batch IPS officer of Bihar cadre, was openly critical of Mumbai Police in the Sushant's death case. He had also sparked a controversy when he said that actor Rhea Chakraborty didnt have the stature to comment on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Notably, in 2014 Pandey had similarly requested for voluntary retirement as he was reportedly taking a plunge into politics and was hoping to get a BJP ticket. However, he did not manage to get a ticket and nine months after taking VRS, Pandey requested the Bihar government to allow him to withdraw his resignation.

His request was accepted by the Nitish Kumar-led government and the top cop joined work again. He became the DGP of Bihar Police just before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
WAYNE, MI  A former city councilman and an alleged accomplice are charged with crimes related to the alleged planting of a gun and fake drugs in a womans car and then attempting to have her pulled over by police, WXYZ Detroit reports.

Former city of Wayne Councilman Christopher James Sanders and Jimmie Lee Chandler were arraigned this week on charges related to the October 2017 incident, the report said.

Sanders allegedly paid Chandler to break into the city employees vehicle to plant a pistol and phony drugs, the report said. After she left work, Chandler then allegedly called 911 to report a road rage incident and identified her vehicle. Police never stopped her. She later found the planted items in her glovebox and reported them to police.

Sanders and Chandler were arraigned Monday on charges of false report of a felony, conspiracy to commit false report of a felony, and attempted false report of a felony, the report said.

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KC SmartPort has announced that Elli Bowen, VP of business development, is a recipient of the 2020 Women in Supply Chain Award from Supply & Demand Chain Executive (S&DCE). "Ellis ability to thoroughly understand the importance of location on e-commerce strategies has led to her success and in turn, the success of our region, said Roger Woody, Bowens nominator for the award.

Today KC SmartPort, a nonprofit economic development organization that works to attract freight-based companies to the Kansas City region and affiliate of the Kansas City Area Development Council (KCADC), announced that Elli Bowen is a recipient of the 2020 Women in Supply Chain award from Supply & Demand Chain Executive (S&DCE).

S&DCE is the only magazine in the supply chain industry that focuses on return on investment (ROI), professional development and change management. The publication introduced the new award category, designed for female leaders in the supply chain space, to celebrate its 20-year anniversary.

As the Vice President of Business Development for KC SmartPort, Bowen works to close supply-chain related deals for the 18-county, two-state Kansas City region. Over the past four years, her projects, including Chewy, Inc., Hostess, Amazon, PAE, Are You Game and American Box, among others, have amounted to $332 million in capital investment, 2,165 jobs, approximately $78 million in payroll and more than 3.5 million square feet of industrial space.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in late-winter 2020, Bowen has worked on 17 freight-based expansion projects, including e-commerce, food production and distribution, and advanced manufacturing, as companies expand to handle increased demand.

In Kansas City, distribution projects are up 25% and manufacturing projects are up 21% from the same time in 2019, according to the Kansas City Area Development Council.

"Supply chains have been buffeted by significant changes in recent years, including the surge in e-commerce. Ellis ability to thoroughly understand the importance of location on e-commerce strategies has led to her success and in turn, the success of our region, said Roger Woody, executive lecturer emeritus of Supply Chain Management at the University of Kansas, and Bowens nominator for the award. In addition to the important role Elli plays professionally, she also works hard to cultivate supply-chain awareness at various levels  from grade school through higher education - helping to strengthen the regions workforce development."

Through Bowens board of directors position on the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP), she also works to grant scholarships for local students to attend supply-chain conferences and further their professional connections. In affiliation with the University of Kansas and Kansas State University, as well as local initiatives such as KC Tech Academy and Skilled KC Technical Institute, Bowen also helps cultivate supply chain opportunities and promotes hands-on experience to aspiring professionals. This includes internships, part-time work, full-time employment, technical certifications, higher education programs and more.

It is essential for women to have a seat at the table as successful companies require diverse leadership teams, says Bowen. As the supply chain industry continues to diversify, it's imperative we all get involved with programs and institutions that are working to attract and train diverse, versatile professionals.

According to S&DCE Editor-in-Chief Marina Mayer, S&DCE received more than 200 entries this year for the new award, which honors female supply chain leaders and executives whose accomplishments, mentorship and examples set a foundation for women at all levels of the supply chain network. The full list of the 2020 Women in Supply Chain winners is available here. This award news will appear in SDCEs September 2020 issue.

About KC SmartPort

KC SmartPort is the authority on logistics opportunities in the 18-county, two-state Kansas City region. A nonprofit economic development organization, KC SmartPort promotes and enhances the Kansas City regions status as a leading North American logistics hub. KC SmartPort is affiliated with the Kansas City Area Development Council, the regional economic development organization for the 18-county Kansas City metro. | KCSmartPort.com

About Greater Kansas City

Home to 2.5 million people, Kansas City is a vibrant metro in the heart of the U.S., known as KC Heartland. KC is a center for leading industries including eCommerce, technology, animal health, entrepreneurship, and is home to a renowned arts community. Visit KC.org and follow @KCHeartland for more details.

About Supply & Demand Chain Executive

Supply & Demand Chain Executive is the executive's user manual for successful supply and demand chain transformation, utilizing hard-hitting analysis, viewpoints and unbiased case studies to steer executives and supply management professionals through the complicated, yet critical, world of supply and demand chain enablement to gain competitive advantage | sdcexec.com
Chief Justice John Roberts honoured his colleague Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg during a tribute speech ahead of her lying in repose on the Supreme Courts steps.

Justice Ginsburgs life is one of the many versions of the American dream," Roberts said in the Great Hall of the Court. "Among the words that best describe Ruth: Tough, brave, a fighter, a winner. But also thoughtful, careful, compassionate, honest."

During the tribute, he also acknowledged Ginsburgs passion for opera music, a passion she shared with Justice Antonin Scalia, who died suddenly in 2016.

It has been said that Ruth wanted to be an opera virtuoso, but became a rock star instead," Roberts said.

[She] was not an opera star but she found her stage, he added, acknowledging the courtroom as Ginsburgs own way to perform.

The Chief Justice served alongside Ginsburg for 15 of her 27-year career on the Supreme Court.

Her voice in court and in our conference room was soft, but when she spoke, people listened," he added.

His powerful tribute on Wednesday morning came after Ginsburgs casket was carried up the steps of the Supreme Court by the high courts police. They carried the casket between rows of more than 100 law clerks to Ginsburg, who stood as honorary pallbearers for their former boss.

In the Great Hall, her casket was placed on the Lincoln Catafalque, the platform on which President Abraham Lincolns coffin rested in the Capitol rotunda in 1865.

The private ceremony included all eight remaining Supreme Court justices, who have not been together since March due to the coronavirus pandemic. Instead, the Supreme Court has held meetings via phone calls.

Family and close friends of Ginsburg were also in attendance.

Following the private ceremony, Ginsburg was placed on the steps of the Supreme Court where she will lie in repose for a public viewing on Wednesday from 11am to 10pm EST and on Thursday from 9am to 10pm.

Past Supreme Court justices have lain in repose for just one day on the steps of the Court, but it was decided to honour Ginsburg with two days given she is the second woman to serve as a justice. The first, Justice Sandra Day OConnor, is still alive.

The popularity of Ginsburg in recent years as a feminist and cultural icon also influenced her lying in repose for two days instead of one, as it was expected for thousands of mourners to file through to pay their respects.

President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton were two individuals who visited Ginsburgs casket on Wednesday on the steps of the Supreme Court. The former president nominated Ginsburg to the Supreme Court in 1993. Mrs Clinton influenced the pick, according to reports.

The White House announced that President Donald Trump was expected to pay his respects on Thursday while Ginsburg lies in repose.

She will then be moved to the US Capitol to lie in state in National Statuary Hall on Friday as the first woman and second Supreme Court justice to receive the honour. Rosa Parks, a private civilian, is the only woman to lie in honour in the US Capitol.

Ginsburg will be buried alongside her husband Martin Ginsburg, who died in 2010, in Arlington National Cemetery next week during a private ceremony with family and close friends.
The role of a housewife in the family is most important and challenging, but least appreciated, the Nagpur bench of the Bombay high court (HC) observed last week reiterating that family members are entitled to compensation on account of death of a homemaker.

Justice Anil Kilor said a housewife holds a family together, as a pillar of support for her husband, a guiding force for her children and a caretaker for senior citizens in a household.

The judge added that a homemaker works round-the-clock, without a day off, but her work goes unacknowledged and is not considered as an occupation because it doesnt fetch a monthly income.

Also read: Bombay high court tells BMC to seal unauthorised Wadala temple, stops its demolition

The court made the observation following an appeal filed by Rambhau Gavai, a resident of Amravati in Maharashtra, and his two sons. They moved HC to challenge a previous order of the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal at Achalpur in Amravati district.

The tribunal had issued an order on February 3, 2007, which had rejected the claim for compensation on account of the death of Gavais wife, Babybai, in a road accident.

The accident had occurred in March 2005 when Babybais vehicle had rammed into a tree at a high speed. Babybai had succumbed to her severe injuries.

The tribunal had dismissed the claim of her husband and the sons primarily on the ground that the deceased was a housewife and not an earning member of the family.

However, the HC reversed the tribunals order, as it was contrary to settled legal principles.

Justice Kilor said it is impossible to count the services rendered by a homemaker and her contributions to the family in monetary terms.

The judge referred to a 2001 judgment of the Supreme Court (SC), which had clearly laid down, the loss to husband and children following the death of a housewife or mother has to be computed by estimating the loss of personal care and attention given by the deceased.

The judge also cited the loss of gratuitous and the multifarious services rendered by a housewife for managing a family.

HC fixed the income of Babybai at 3,000 as a housewife and an additional 3,000 for doubling up as a labourer, and held that her husband and sons were entitled to 8.22 lakh towards compensation for her accidental death.

HC held that since the driver of the vehicle was holding a valid driving licence at the time of the accident, the cars insurer was not liable to pay any compensation.

However, the court directed the insurance company to pay the compensation to the father and the two sons within three months and granted it liberty to recover the amount from the vehicles owner.
Sports

O rganizers of the Kentucky Derby said on Friday that no fans would be allowed to attend the race on September 5 as the novel coronavirus continues to spread in Louisville.



The race, which is usually held on the first Saturday in May, was rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and organizers had planned to welcome a reduced crowd of less than 23,000 spectators to Churchill Downs.



With the current significant increases in COVID-19 cases in Louisville as well as across the region, we needed to again revisit our planning, Churchill Downs Inc. said in a statement.



We have made the difficult decision to hold this years Kentucky Derby on September 5 without fans, the company said.



We deeply regret the disappointment this will bring to our loyal fans, it added.



Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said he backed the decision.



The virus is still aggressively spreading in Kentucky, and the White House has announced that Jefferson County and the City of Louisville are in a red zone based on increases in cases, he said.



This week alone the county had more than 2,300 new cases, he said.

At least 174,266 people have died from the disease across the United States, according to a Reuters tally.



Usually the first leg of U.S. thoroughbred horse racings Triple Crown, this years Kentucky Derby was preceded by the Belmont Stakes in June and will be followed by the Oct. 3 Preakness Stakes.






BEIJING, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Experts worldwide on Tuesday spoke highly of the proposals put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the general debate of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly via video, on global anti-pandemic cooperation and the role of the United Nations in the international system.

Donald Rushambwa, a researcher at the China-Africa Economic and Culture Exchange Research Center, said he fully agrees with the notion of a community with a shared future for mankind.

He said that only when countries around the world stand together as one, help each other, and jointly battle the pandemic, can the human race achieve the final victory in the fight against the virus, adding that China has played an exemplary role in this regard.

Rushambwa also noted that China has actively extended a helping hand to the international community, donated medical supplies to many developing countries, shared anti-epidemic experience, and made indelible contributions to the global anti-pandemic fight.

Mohammad Aqil Nadeem, a Pakistani political analyst, said that China, in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, has shouldered the responsibility as a responsible major country, provided assistance to many countries and international organizations, and played a vital role in the global pandemic fight, which is a vivid demonstration of China's vision of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Saeb Rawashdeh, a political and world news editor at the Jordan Press Foundation, said that President Xi's call for pursuing an innovative, coordinated, green, open, and shared development for all will help provide solutions to global challenges such as the pandemic and climate change, and promote a green recovery of the world economy in the post-COVID-19 era.

Nabil Shaath, an international relations advisor to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said China has, undoubtedly, always upheld multilateralism and safeguarded the right direction of human development.

He added that as the world's largest developing country and a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China is a staunch supporter of the cause of the UN and has always been committed to maintaining the international system with the UN at its core.

The China-proposed new mechanisms and initiatives, with an eye on the common interests of humanity, serve as a supplement and improvement to the current international system, and are aimed at achieving win-win cooperation and common development, said the Palestinian official.
Scientists, industry leaders and Scotlands first minister have criticised Boris Johnsons national 10pm curfew on pubs, bars and restaurants as likely ineffective, dealing a potentially fatal blow to businesses, and paving the way for a surge in raves and house parties.

Warning the country had reached a perilous turning point in its battle with coronavirus, the prime minister brought new nationwide curbs, similar to those seen in local lockdowns, before the Commons on Tuesday.

Among the English restrictions, which Mr Johnson warned will remain in place for perhaps six months, were a reduction in wedding attendees to 15, indoor sport participants to six, and an enforceable order for all pubs, bars and restaurants to shut no later than 10pm.

With the prime minister appearing keen to assuage rising Tory discontent over what some described as his authoritarian governance throughout the crisis, the self-identified libertarian insisted the curfew struck a balance between protecting businesses and public health.

But the Food and Drink Federation warned many pubs and coffee shops will not be able to trade profitably under these new rules and will have to close again", thus dealing a potentially fatal blow" to hospitality manufacturers.

While 175 publicans wrote to Downing Street to oppose the measures, leading trade association UKHospitality branded the curfew another crushing blow for a sector already on its knees, with chief executive Kate Nicholls pointing to government data showing just five per cent of infections outwith home settings are related to hospitality.

Calling the curfew a punch in the stomach, Damien Devine of the Old Red Lion in Londons Angel, London, told The Telegraph that last Saturday some 40 per cent of his daily take came after 10pm.

Explaining the rationale behind the measures, the prime minister said: The evidence shows that the spread of the disease does tend to happen later at night, when more alcohol has been consumed.

But in Scotland, where Nicola Sturgeon also introduced a curfew, the first minister said Mr Johnsons 10pm order would not on its own be sufficient to bring the R number down.

Announcing plans for an additional ban on households mixing indoors, Ms Sturgeon added: A high proportion of new cases come from social interactions inside our homes."

Some scientists concurred that the advancement of last orders could push drinkers into less regulated home settings - which Tory minister Michael Gove endorsed on the BBCs Today programme so long as the rule of six is maintained.

While some people might comply with this latest restriction it is easy to imagine how others will simply adapt or circumvent it, Ian Hamilton, associate professor of addiction at the University of York told The Independent.

"Some people will simply go out earlier while others will move on from the pub at 10pm and go to an indoor setting such as a friends house or party. So if the government's aim is to reduce the rising rate of Covid infections it seems illogical to force people out of pubs which are controlled environments into uncontrolled settings.

Asked whether the curfew would likely see any reduction in binge drinking and levels of drunkenness within pubs which could hamper social distancing efforts, Prof Hamilton cited Royal College research suggesting high-risk drinking doubled during Englands lockdown, adding: I cant see how it would have any impact as all it does is shift where people drink rather than how much.

While some questioned whether the curfew had been found to be successful where imposed in local lockdowns, others warned an earlier closing time runs the risk of compressing activity and having people leave at a single time in larger numbers.

Again, it seems that the messaging surrounding this sort of restriction is confused and the rationale for implementing it has not been made clear," said Dr Stephen Griffin, associate professor in the University of Leeds medicine school, citing Mr Goves comments about home drinking.

 Boris Johnson says UK has higher death rates than Germany because we love freedom

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.

And with the curfew dealing a hammer blow to short-term hopes for clubs to reopen in a socially distanced way, industry figures warned many iconic venues would not survive, while house parties and illegal raves could see an immediate and long-lasting resurgence.

"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," said Night-Time Industries Association chief executive, Michael Kill.

This curfew will lead to the demise of many of our most beloved cultural and entertainment venues, he added.

If the government wants a night time economy post-Covid they need to provide us with urgent financial support or iconic cultural destinations like Ministry of Sound will close forever," said the London venues chair, Lohan Presencer.

We have had zero income since March. Without support raving will return to dangerous, unlicensed venues with huge public order implications and hundreds of thousands of jobs will be lost.

Despite culture secretary Oliver Dowden later clarifying that theatres, cinemas and concert halls would be exempt, by Tuesday evening it was still not clear whether grassroots live music venues would be subject to the curfew - leaving many in the industry panicked.

Alongside calls from Labour for an extension to the furlough scheme, the Federation of Small Businesses, which represents more than 5.8m small businesses in the UK, also called for greater fiscal help for business.

The prime minister hinted that chancellor Rishi Sunak will be applying his imagination and creativity to providing financial support for the affected sectors.

And despite warnings revellers may be pushed underground, some scientists called for a complete closure of pubs and restaurants and for them to be given financial support instead.

The 10pm curfew will likely have little or no impact," said Dr Michael Head, a senior research fellow in global health, at the University of Southampton. "A far better approach would be to shut all pubs and restaurants, and properly compensate businesses and employees for the loss of income.

This would ensure that public health is prioritised, and business and staff are in a stronger economic position when they are allowed to resume.

And Dr David Strain, a senior clinical lecturer at the University of Exeter suggested instead altering the rule of six.

Closing down restaurants and pubs earlier will do little to stave the spread for as long as multiple different households can interchangeably meet up, he said. "The rule of six requires strengthening (or ideally replacing) with a mandate that only a limited and nominated number of individuals can get together at all, and that movement between these groups should only have with a quarantine period in between.

But Dr Julian Tang, honorary associate professor of respiratory sciences at the University of Leicester, said: This seems like a soft restriction, but it is preferable to total local or national lockdowns; and it could have a useful impact - if everyone tries to stick to it - to hopefully reduce the R number.

And Dr Jennifer Cole suggested the measure was meant rather as an incentive for the public to adhere more closely to the rules.

The measure is not managing people's behaviour within these venues so much as managing their behaviour when outside, which will be affected by how drunk or sober they are, said Dr Cole, a biological anthropologist at the Royal Holloway University.

In essence, the government is saying: Stay sober, stay sensible and the venues can stay open - it's a carrot to encourage responsible behaviour.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 01:27:28|Editor: huaxia

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BRUSSELS, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The European Commission on Wednesday launched a fresh bid to improve the way the burden of migration is shared among member states of the European Union (EU) and the mechanism for the return of rejected asylum seekers.

"Migration is complex... We want to live up to our values and at the same time face the challenges of a globalized world," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, acknowledging that the old system Europe used to deal with migration "no longer works."

"It is not a question whether member states should support with solidarity and contributions, but how they should do it," she said when announcing the commission's Package on Migration and Asylum.

"Together we have to show that Europe manages migration in a humane and effective way," she said, adding that the new package offers "the right balance between solidarity and responsibility."

The new pact has been brought forward as Italy, Greece and Malta plead for help from the EU to share the burden of migration. It also comes after a fire ripped through an overcrowded camp on the Greek island of Lesbos, leaving many migrants homeless.

The pact proposes improved cooperation between countries of destination and countries of origin and transit, ensuring effective procedures, successful integration of refugees and return of those who have no right to stay.

European Commission Vice-President for Promoting the European Way of Life, Margaritis Schinas, said the incident in Greece was "a stark reminder that the clock has run out on how long we can live in a house half-built."

"The pact provides the missing pieces of the puzzle for a comprehensive approach to migration," he said. "No one member state experiences migration in the same way and the different and unique challenges faced by all deserve to be recognized, acknowledged and addressed."

Ylva Johansson, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, said the new set of proposals will mean "clear, fair and faster border procedures, so that people do not have to wait in limbo." They will also enhance efforts to find "fast returns, more legal pathways and strong actions to fight human smugglers."

The proposals will now be examined by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU. Enditem
ISTANBUL  New daily coronavirus cases have remained above 1,500 in Turkey through the month of September, prompting officials to consider tighter restrictions to address the public health crisis that has disrupted lives around the world.

In recent weeks, deaths linked to COVID-19 rose to levels not seen since May in Turkey as the nations Health Minister Fahrettin Koca noted Tuesday the number of patients in critical condition has surpassed 1,500. According to data from Johns Hopkins University, Turkey ranks 19th worldwide in recorded cases, currently at 308,069, and 23rd in virus-linked deaths at 7,711.

The news comes after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday the government may need to reintroduce tighter measures to curb the rise in new COVID-19 cases, which increased gradually over summer months after initial curfews and travel bans were lifted in June.

So far, new restrictions have mainly taken the form of fines on individuals and businesses. About 16,500 people were fined a total of $1.3 million over the last month for violating COVID-19 guidelines in the capital city, according to a statement from the Ankara governors office. Starting this week, Erdogan said people found to be breaking COVID-19 rules would also face limits on public services.

Paying the fines imposed following mask and venue inspections is now mandatory to process any request made to a public institution, Erdogan said.

Containing the spread of COVID-19 has been further complicated by efforts to address the educational needs of school-aged children, some of whom returned to classrooms for the first time Monday since public schools were closed in March. Preschoolers and first-graders resumed partial face-to-face courses, while older students continue online lessons from home.

Still, distance learning presented its own challenges when the Turkish Education Ministrys online course portal, known as EBA, crashed on Tuesday. Education officials said Wednesday the crash was the result of a cyber attack, but Turkeys education and science workers union Egitim Sen published a statement Tuesday linking the system failure to high traffic.

In the period since March, no solutions have been produced for the basic problems in distance education, the technical infrastructure of EBA has not been strengthened and the problem of access to distance education has not been solved, Egitim Sen said, adding that people who tested positive for COVID-19 or who had come in contact with patients had attended classes this week in 76 schools across the country.

Many measures have remained in place to reduce the spread of the virus, such as regulations on weddings, restaurants and nightlife venues. Yet members of the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) said more severe interventions may be necessary to reduce the current rate of infection.

"It is predicted that the COVID-19 outbreak will accelerate in the coming autumn, the TTB stated in a report released Monday analyzing the first six months of Turkeys COVID-19 response. Simultaneously, the increase in influenza, especially between October and March, may cause difficulties in diagnosis.

In the report, the TTB said infection rates were rising as a result of an uncontrolled reopening process and that COVID-19 was claiming the life of at least one health worker per day in Turkey.

Current virus hotspots in the nation include major cities such as Istanbul and Ankara, while areas of the Turkeys southeast, which saw dramatic increases in cases last month, have seen a relative decrease in new infection rates, said Dr. Elif Turan, chair of Diyarbakir Medical Chamber.

Turan told Al-Monitor that 350-400 new cases were being recorded per day in Diyarbakir, where she said newly opened intensive care units in regional medical facilities may have helped health workers contain the outbreak.

I can only speculate, but perhaps summer travels ended and more people are staying in place now that its September, said Turan regarding the drop in the southeast.

Still, she said, the pandemic has taken a toll on medical professionals. Since the nations first recorded COVID-19 case on March 11, 791 health workers have tested positive for the virus in Diyarbakir and at least 10 have died after contracting it, Turan said.

As Turkish officials consider new restrictions in the coming weeks, Turan maintained that pandemic councils should include members of non-governmental organizations and medical chamber representatives working at local levels to implement pandemic responses based on regional trends.

If new restrictions were to be imposed, they should be implemented depending on each regions needs, Turan told Al-Monitor. New restrictions should be evaluated carefully.
Tennessees Community Colleges awarded a record number of 15,874 degrees and technical certificates during the 2019-20 academic year  a 44 percent increase from a decade ago. The previous high was 15,240 two years ago.



In addition, the Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology awarded 7,124 diplomas and technical certificates  for a total of 22,998 credentials awarded across the system  according to preliminary data reported Wednesday at the Tennessee Board of Regents quarterly meeting. The board governs the 13 community colleges and 27 TCATs comprising the College System of Tennessee.

The 44 percent increase in community college awards from 2010-2011 to the 2019-20 academic year comes despite a 19 percent decrease in community college enrollment from the same year. The award numbers do not include the thousands of students who successfully transfer to four-year colleges and universities without obtaining a two-year credential.



We are awarding more degrees, in a declining enrollment environment, Chancellor Flora W. Tydings said. We still have considerable work to do in closing the achievement gaps that exist among some of our underrepresented minority students  and thats a major focus across our system.



But overall, we are on track to meet our Drive to 55 awards goals, which were raised even higher for our system a couple of years ago because we were easily exceeding the original goals set for us in 2013, Dr. Tydings said.



The board also received the systems enrollment report for the current fall term. Enrollment at the community colleges totals 78,753  an 11.5 percent decline from fall 2019. The declines reflect a national trend at community colleges in this pandemic year.



At the TCATs, however, preliminary data shows 10,772 students have registered this fall, a 3 percent increase from the same time last fall. (The technical colleges start their fall terms later than the community colleges; their enrollment and awards data are still preliminary.)



Officials said, "The enrollment decline at the community colleges is virtually across the board: enrollment of first-time, full-time freshmen dropped 19 percent (but enrollment of Tennessee Promise students dropped only 6 percent), adults (25 and older) declined 13 percent, and high school students dual-enrolled in college courses declined 9 percent.



"Dual enrollment numbers had been expected to decline even more than they actually did due to many high schools across the state opening their school year with mostly online classes. Despite that, the number of dual enrollment students increased at some community colleges.



"Further research is expected to reveal more reasons for the overall decline, but one possibility for a larger decline in adult enrollment is that many remain at home with children engaged in online learning as a result of the pandemic. According to the 2019 Community College Survey of Student Engagement at TBR colleges, 77 percent of students work while enrolled and 52 percent of students are responsible for the care of dependents. And 28 percent of students said that caring for dependents would make them more likely to withdraw from college."



The board also received an update on apprenticeship programs during a meeting of its Workforce Development Committee on Tuesday. Registered apprenticeship programs, which operate under U.S Department of Labor guidelines, are partnerships with businesses and industries that provide paid employment and workforce training for student employees at the same time. They are a rising component of the systems workforce training mission.



Currently, eight community colleges and eight technical colleges in the system have registered apprenticeship programs, in partnership with 32 employers, with 265 of their employees attending classes and working as active apprentices. Construction is currently the primary sector for apprenticeships; other major ones include information technology, advanced manufacturing, health care, and tourism.



The Board of Regents also approved six new or revised programs at the TCATs, to be more responsive to the needs of students, business and industry. They include:



 A new evening Cosmetology program by TCAT Morristown, to be offered at its Jefferson County Instructional Service Center



 New hybrid (partly online, partly in-person training) programs in Dental Assisting, Industrial Electrical Maintenance, and Surgical Technology at TCAT Murfreesboro.



 A new hybrid Practical Nursing program at TCAT Paris.



 Relocation of the TCAT McMinnvilles Cosmetology program from Coffee County High School to the colleges main campus.



The boards standing committees met Tuesday and the full Board of Regents meeting was Wednesday, all by teleconference due to the pandemic. All the meetings were streamed and are archived on the TBR website at https://www.tbr.edu/board/september-2020-quarterly-meeting. Complete, detailed committee and board agendas, meeting material and reports are also posted at that link.
Pipeline

23 September 2020

Ginger announces the signing of its second hotel in the city of Guwahati. The hotel will be designed around the brand's lean luxe philosophy of offering a vibrant, contemporary and seamless hospitality experience to its guests. The hotel is a fully fitted lease.

The hotel, a Greenfield project, will be located on Rajgarh Road connecting the commercially vibrant Guwahati-Shillong Road and the old town area of Chanmari. The hotel will feature 76 rooms, an all-day restaurant and bar, meeting room, banquet hall and a fitness centre.

Guwahati is the largest metropolis of north eastern India and one of the 98 smart cities under a project embarked on by the Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India. Ginger Hotels was a pioneer in the hospitality industry in North East India, setting up branded hotels in the cities of Guwahati and Agartala over a decade ago.

With the signing of this hotel, Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) will have three hotels in Assam and eight hotels in North East India.
During a session at the UN General Assembly in New York on June 7 morning (local time), Vietnam was nearly unanimously voted as a non-permanent member of the UNSC for the 2020-2021 tenure, winning 192 votes of the total 193 UN member countries. Source: VNA Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, head of the Vietnam Delegation to the United Nations, delivers his speech at the UNSC Briefing on The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, February 11, 2020. Source: VNA
Washington, DC - According to a report, United States President Donald Trump shared to Melania that he might not see her again before attempting to visit the Hermit State of Kim Jong-un in 2017.

Based on the reports of the South Korean state-run Yonhap News Agency and detailed by the new book Rage of Bob Woodward, the United States president was concerned about the idea of whether the leaders of North Korea knew his travel and he Trump also kissed his wife goodbye before leaving her for the said trip.

The people who aboard the Marine One helicopter are witnesses at that time, as the president shared that when he got up this morning, he told Melania and kissed her goodbye as he might not see her again, The Sun reported.

Trump also added during his conversation with Melania, that if something was going to happen to the United States' president, it will be the worst thing that could happen to US as a country in history.

Due to the heavy fog and bad weather during that time, the pilot was forced to turn around the Marine One helicopter and ultimately aborted the trip.

Read also: House Democrats Introduce Spending Bill to Avoid Government Shutdown by Sacrificing Farmers' Aid

After the trip abortion, Trump asked his colleagues if the North Koreans know that he is coming.

Vincent Brooks, a retired general and the then serving commander of Unites States Forces Korea shared to the president that no intelligence indicated North Korea knew about the planned visit.

According to Daily Mail, the unscheduled trip was a part of a 12-day trip in Asia but the time of his travel was not ideal as it is at during the height of tense exchanges between the United States president and Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader.

Aside from the US president, the president of South Korea Moon Jae-in also intended to accompany Trump on his trip which would have been the first joint visit to the Hermit state by presidents of both the US and South Korea.

Despite the doubts, if it will ever be happening, in June of 2019, Donald Trump became the first-ever sitting American president to set foot in the Hermit state in order to meet the nation's leader Kim Jong-un in the DMZ.

The North Korean leader stated to Trump during their first meeting that he never expected to meet the US president in the place.

Woodward also mentioned in his book that he was able to obtain 27 exchanged letters between Kim and Trump.

The book author also reported in his book that the Hermit state leader shared with US President Donald Trump that he thought former President Barack Obama was "an a**hole."

Mr. Trump also recounted to Woodward in an interview that the dictator shared to him that he displayed the head of General Jang Song-thaek, his own uncle after he was killed by a firing squad after the orders of the North Korean leader.

Even before its release, the book of Woodward has already stirred up controversy and created a buzz and set to be released on Tuesday.



Related article: Trump Criticizes President Xi After Allegedly Hiding COVID-19 Information in Cooperation with WHO

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Wins Contiguous New Acreage Creating Super Gas Region

Brisbane, Sep 23, 2020 AEST (ABN Newswire) - State Gas Limited ( ASX:GAS ) has been appointed Preferred Tenderer (on a 100% basis) of substantial new acreage ("PLR 2020-1-5", "Block 5" or "Rolleston-West") in the latest Queensland Government Petroleum Land Release. West of Rolleston in Central Queensland (refer map below*), Block 5 surrounds the northern part of the Company's existing 100% owned PL231, where it is developing the Reid's Dome Gas Project to bring gas to market to meet forecast shortfalls in the east coast domestic gas market.Being contiguous to PL231, Block 5 covers 1,414 km2, an area eight times larger than PL231 (174 square km). The Rolleston-West project contains highly prospective targets for both coal seam gas (CSG) and known conventional gas within the permit area.The Bandanna coal measures, a proven resource for CSG in the region, are extensive across Block 5. The Block also contains the extension of the Reid's Dome Beds which the Company is currently appraising in PL231, and several promising conventional targets identified by historical seismic and drilling.Rolleston-West, like PL231 (Reid's Dome), is not constrained by a domestic market supply condition; gas produced from the Block may be sold to any market, providing further flexibility for State Gas.Being contiguous with PL231, the addition of Rolleston-West will create a super-gas region and enable the Company to integrate activities and undertake a unified development across both areas. Facilities and infrastructure can be shared and optimally located and economies of scale can be obtained.Gas from Rolleston-West and Reid's Dome will be exported through a single pipeline, currently being planned by State Gas. The Company has identified two potential routes for an export pipeline (shown below*), one of which passes through Rolleston-West, and has recently obtained Petroleum Survey Licence 2049 which traverses a major part of the new permit and will enable on-the-ground investigations of both routes (refer map*).State Gas will now proceed to carry out initial works to obtain the environmental and other approvals relevant to the area. Native Title has been extinguished over the vast majority of Rolleston-West, enabling the Company to move quickly to grant of the Authority to Prospect, and subsequently commence works.State Gas Executive Chairman Richard Cottee said that the award of Block 5 was a 'company-maker' for State Gas. "The new acreage has the potential to quadruple the Company's resource position, and the increase in scale will enable efficiencies and optionality in operations, management and marketing."Mr Cottee also noted the significance of both conventional and CSG targets within Rolleston-West, and the absence of restrictions on sale of the gas: "The existence of conventional gas, which can be much more easily turned up or down, alongside the CSG, should enable State Gas to better meet the increasingly volatile demand profile of the Eastern Seaboard gas market, as gas is increasingly used to support renewable generation."Neither PL231 nor Block 5 is subject to domestic marketing conditions. "The gas we produce can be sold to any market. Nothing beats optionality in times of uncertainty", Mr Cottee said.The Company has already received expressions of interest from potential customers, with two major industrial gas consumers formally supporting the Company's bid for the area.Mr Cottee commented on the Queensland Government's petroleum land release program and Federal Government initiatives to promote gas to support the national economy. "This latest petroleum land release is well timed to enable State Gas to contribute meaningfully in a gas-led economic recovery.""The news of the award of Block 5 follows a new record flow rate to the south at Reid's Dome from the Nyanda-4 well during the past weekend, approaching 500 mscf/day after just over eight weeks of de-watering."We are very pleased with both the excellent flow rates we are achieving at our 100%-owned Reid's Dome Gas Project, and that this exceptional new gas acreage extending our project area has been awarded to State Gas during the lead-up to such a critical time for the east coast gas market", Mr Cottee said.*To view tables and figures, please visit:About State Gas Limited

State Gas Limited (ASX:GAS) is a Queensland-based developer of the Reid's Dome gas field, originally discovered during drilling in 1955, located in the Bowen Basin in Central Queensland. State Gas is 100%-owner of the Reid's Dome Gas Project (PL-231) a CSG and conventional gas play, which is well-located 30 kilometres southwest of Rolleston, approximately 50 kilometres from the Queensland Gas Pipeline and interconnected east coast gas network.

Permian coal measures within the Reid's Dome Beds are extensive across the entire permit but the area had not been explored for coal seam gas prior to State Gas' ownership. In late 2018 State Gas drilled the first coal seam gas well in the region (Nyanda-4) into the Reid's Dome Beds and established the potential for a significant coal seam gas project in PL 231. The extension of the coal measures into the northern and central areas of the permit was confirmed in late 2019 by the Company's drilling of Aldinga East-1A (12 km north) and Serocold-1 (6 km to the north of Nyanda-4).

State Gas is also the 100% holder Authority to Prospect 2062 ("Rolleston-West"), a 1,414 km2 permit (eight times larger than PL 231) that is contiguous with the Reid's Dome Gas Project. Rolleston-West contains highly prospective targets for both coal seam gas (CSG) and known conventional gas within the permit area. It is not restricted by domestic gas reservation requirements.

The contiguous areas (Reid's Dome and Rolleston-West), under sole ownership by State Gas, enable integration of activities and a unified super-gasfield development, providing economies of scale, efficient operations, and optionality in marketing.

State Gas is implementing its strategic plan to bring gas to market from Reid's Dome and Rolleston-West to meet near term forecast shortfalls in the east coast domestic gas market. The strategy involves progressing a phased appraisal program in parallel with permitting for an export pipeline and development facilities to facilitate the fastest possible delivery of gas to market. State Gas' current focus has been to confirm the producibility of the gas through production testing of the wells.
On the occasion of World Rhino Day, Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Babul Supriyo on Tuesday congratulated frontline forest staff and officials deployed across the country for working tirelessly to save rhinos and informed that Delhi zoo would be receiving a male Rhino from the Patna zoo soon.

Speaking on the population of Greater one-horned rhinoceros, which reached the brink of extinction by the end of the 20th century with fewer than 200 animals in wild, Supriyo said timely efforts and management by the government of India and state governments had revived its population in the country.

Today, approximately 75 per cent of the entire population of greater one-horned rhinoceros is in Assam, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. A census of rhinoceros is undertaken at the state-level by the respective state governments periodically, he said.

The Minister also thanked the Chief Minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar for accepting the request of Central Zoo Authority towards translocation of an alpha male Rhino from Patna zoo to Delhi zoo.

The World Rhino Day is celebrated every year on September 22 to emphasise the importance of conservation of rhinoceros species. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change celebrated the occasion this year through a virtual conference in which senior officials from the ministry, state forest departments and other organisations like Central Zoo Authority, WWF-India, Aaranayak and UNDP also attended the meeting.
Express Employment Professionals

Wage and Benefits Expectations for 2020

Wage and Benefits Expectations for 2020

Wages Will Hold Steady  at Best



Latest Results from The Harris Poll

TORONTO, Sept. 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Uncertainty about the economy stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic appears to be taking its toll on wage increases. Compared to 2019, fewer than half of Canadian hiring decision-makers (45%) expect wages to increase in 2020, according to a new survey from The Harris Poll commissioned by Express Employment Professionals.

According to the survey, 34% expect no change and 15% expect a decrease in their companys wages. Among those hiring decision-makers who expect wages to increase, the majority say they expect increases will be equivalent to standard cost of living (59%), while fewer report they will be performance based (43%) or market pay rates (28%).

Jessica Culo, Express franchise owner in Edmonton, Alberta, hasnt seen her clients increase or decrease wages, but notes that there is some uncertainty because the economy is still running to a certain extent on government subsidies.

Culo says that once government subsidies, such as the Canadian Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS), come to an end, we will have a better picture of how companies are actually doing.

Bruce Hein, Express franchise owner in Sarnia, Ontario, has seen a similar trend, noting the majority of his clients are keeping wages the same.

For most, Hein says he routinely has conversations with companies about keeping compensation competitive and in line with market conditions, but it is understandable that there are organizations not in a strong position right now.

Hein also notes that even during times of difficulty, wages generally remain steady. If necessary, companies seem more willing to lay off workers or freeze hiring instead of cutting pay.

Brent Pollington, Express franchise owner in Vancouver, British Columbia, sees a willingness among employers to pay higher, more competitive, entry wages because in the Vancouver market, it has always been a challenge for businesses to hire skilled and unskilled workers in the light industrial space.

Story continues

Pollington has not seen pay decreases in his region, however because of demand for work, companies can keep pay rates low while still hiring great people.

We havent seen a decrease in compensation, but we havent seen a need for these businesses to be more competitive, Pollington said.

Regarding traditional benefit offerings (e.g., RRSP, medical), 18% of Canadian hiring decision-makers expect their companys benefits to increase this year and two-thirds (67%) expect these to hold consistent from 2019. Only 11% of Canadian hiring decision-makers expect their companys benefit offerings to decrease.

Culo has not seen companies increasing or adjusting their benefits plans, but she notes one of the biggest perks as a result of the pandemic has been flexibility  mainly due to remote work.

I have talked to many who really enjoy that, Culo said.

Hein doesnt anticipate businesses slashing benefits. He notes that some clients have, and continue to allow, eligible employees to work from home and others have offered pandemic pay to associates to show their appreciation.

Pollington says that one of the most unique benefits being offered might not be perceived as a benefit by employees.

Weve seen almost every employer make changes to their businesses to accommodate the new safety requirements, Pollington said. Many companies are going above and beyond to accommodate their employees and ensure their safety. The results are higher operating costs, potentially decreased productivity, and with a recession to cope with, the employer is not able to pass these additional costs on to the client.

Pollington says that these costs, which are unique benefits to the employee, are perceived as required by the employer as opposed to a benefit to working for a company.

While wages and benefits are incredibly important for recruiting and retention, Express CEO Bill Stoller says employees often stay at companies for the full employment experience.

Even when money is tight, employees need to know their efforts are appreciated, he said. In this unique time, being flexible with schedules and offering other non-traditional benefits in addition to a healthy company culture goes a long way.

Survey Methodology

The survey was conducted online within Canada by The Harris Poll on behalf of Express Employment Professionals between April 21 and May 6, 2020 among 501 Canadian hiring decision-makers (defined as adults ages 18+ in Canada who are employed full-time or self-employed or have been laid off, furloughed, or given a zero hour schedule in the past 60 days but worked full-time or were self-employed full-time prior, work at companies with more than 1 employee, and have full/significant involvement in hiring decisions at their company). Data were weighted where necessary by company size to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population.

If you would like to arrange for an interview to discuss this topic, please contact Adria Minsky at (416) 620-7111 or email adria@mapleleafstrategies.com.

About Bill Stoller

William H. "Bill" Stoller is chairman and chief executive officer of Express Employment Professionals. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, the international staffing company has more than 825 franchises in the U.S., Canada and South Africa, and beginning in 2020 will expand to Australia and New Zealand. Since its inception, Express has put more than 8 million people to work worldwide.

About Express Employment Professionals

At Express Employment Professionals, were in the business of people. From job seekers to client companies, Express helps people thrive and businesses grow. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, OK, our international network of franchises offers localized staffing solutions to the communities they serve, employing 552,000 people across North America in 2019. For more information, visit www.ExpressPros.com .

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/956ce4cf-7b1e-4dfc-aeda-7b8bf4983dac




Various plants and their products are known to contain "bioactive" ingredients that can alleviate human diseases. These "phytocompounds" often contain restorative biological properties such as anti-cancerous, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. Thus, understanding how they interact with the body can lead to potential treatment strategies against major immune disorders.

A team of researchers at Tokyo University of Science, led by Prof Chiharu Nishiyama, has been working this direction for the past several years, to identify novel active components in functional foods and understand their effects on the body. Their efforts have now led to success: In their latest study, published in The FASEB Journal, the scientists identified a polyphenolic compound called "pterostilbene" (PSB) with strong immunosuppressive properties--making it a potential therapeutic option for chronic inflammatory diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This compound is very similar to another phytocompound known to have important medicinal effects, called "resveratrol" (RSV). Dr Takuya Yashiro, corresponding author of this report, explains the idea that prompted their research, "RSV, a polyphenol, was known to have pronounced immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects on animal models of colitis ulcer. Therefore, we investigated the possibility of other compounds structurally similar to RSV as a new type of treatment for IBD."

In patients with IBD, the gastrointestinal tract lining contains long-lasting ulcers caused by chronic inflammation due to an elevated immune response in the body. This involves the excessive production of immune system-related molecules called "cytokines." Moreover, two types of immune cells, "dendritic cells" (DCs) and "T cells," are also involved: at the onset of an immune response, DCs produce inflammatory cytokines and activate T cells to initiate a defense response. These processes together form a complex pathway that result in a "hyper" immune response. Thus, to find an effective compound that can suppress the immune system, it was crucial to test it on this population of immune cells.

Thus, to begin with, the scientists studied the effects of a range of plant-derived compounds on DC-mediated T cell proliferation. Their initial research led them to PSB, which showed stronger immunosuppressive activity than the other candidates. When they dug deeper, they found that PSB treatment prevents T cells from differentiating into Th1 and Th17 (subtypes of T cells that elevate the immune response) while increasing their differentiation into regulatory T cells (another subtype known to inhibit inflammation). They also revealed that PSB treatment inhibits inflammatory cytokine production from DCs by attenuating the DNA-binding activity of a crucial transcription factor PU.1. When they further tested PSB in mice with IBD, they found that oral intake of PSB improved symptoms of IBD. Thus, the study confirmed that PSB is an extremely promising anti-inflammatory agent to fight IBD. Not just this--it is easily absorbed by the body, making it an ideal drug candidate!

Through these findings, the scientists have ushered in new possibilities for the treatment of not just IBD but also other inflammatory disorders. Dr Yashiro concludes, "For disease prevention, it is important to identify the beneficial components in foods and to understand the underlying mechanism by which immune responses and homeostasis are modulated in body. Our findings showed that PSB possesses a strong immunosuppressive property, paving the way for a new, natural treatment for IBD."

###

About The Tokyo University of Science

Tokyo University of Science (TUS) is a well-known and respected university, and the largest science-specialized private research university in Japan, with four campuses in central Tokyo and its suburbs and in Hokkaido. Established in 1881, the university has continually contributed to Japan's development in science through inculcating the love for science in researchers, technicians, and educators.

With a mission of "Creating science and technology for the harmonious development of nature, human beings, and society", TUS has undertaken a wide range of research from basic to applied science. TUS has embraced a multidisciplinary approach to research and undertaken intensive study in some of today's most vital fields. TUS is a meritocracy where the best in science is recognized and nurtured. It is the only private university in Japan that has produced a Nobel Prize winner and the only private university in Asia to produce Nobel Prize winners within the natural sciences field.

Website: https://www.tus.ac.jp/en/mediarelations/

About Dr Takuya Yashiro from Tokyo University of Science

Junior Associate Professor Takuya Yashiro is affiliated with Faculty of Industrial Science and Technology, Department of Biological Science and Technology. He received his PhD from Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the University of Tokyo in 2011. His area of research interest is immunology. He has published 30 research papers in international journals.

About Professor Chiharu Nishiyama from Tokyo University of Science

Professor Chiharu Nishiyama is affiliated with Faculty of Industrial Science and Technology, Department of Biological Science and Technology. She received her postgraduate degree in 1990 from the Division of Agricultural Science at University of Tokyo Graduate School, followed by PhD from the University of Tokyo. Her areas of research interest include applied biochemistry including immunology, allergy, molecular biology, transcription factors, cell development. She has published around 124 research papers in international journals. She also received the prestigious JSBBA Award for Young Scientists in 2005, JSA Award for Young Scientists in 2005, and JAFI Award in 2019.

Funding Information

This work was supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C) (19K05884), Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B) (17K15275), the MEXT-Supported Program for the Strategic Research Foundation at Private Universities (Translational Research Center, Tokyo University of Science), the Tokyo Biochemical Research Foundation, the Tojuro Iijima Foundation for Food Science and Technology , and the Takeda Science Foundation. Takuya Yashiro, first author of this study, was supported by Research Fellowships of the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science for Young Scientists (JSPS Research Fellowships for Young Scientists #10792).
President Donald Trump issued an executive order on Tuesday expanding the ban of using federal money on diversity trainings.

For the new ban, Trump issued an order that said he would ban the military, government contractors and grantees from some diversity training.

Trump's order is an extension of the one from the White House earlier this month. It ordered to stop paying for critical race theory diversity trainings in federal agencies only.

"Today, I've expanded that ban to people and companies that do business with our country," Trump said in a tweet.

The lengthy order said it forbids "divisive concepts" that teach that the U.S. is "fundamentally racist and sexist." It also did not approve of the idea that people bear "responsibility for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex."

It says military men will not face any penalty for refusing to believe such concepts, reported Reuters.

"Americans should be taught to take PRIDE in our Great Country, and if you don't, there's nothing in it for you!" tweeted Trump as the order was issued.

He said these kinds of trainings create "divisive and harmful sex and race-based ideologies."

On September 4, the White House Office of Management and Budget issued a memo before the president's order. It said federal agencies could no longer use taxpayer money for "un-American propaganda sessions."

It cracked down on the topics of critical race theory and white privilege.

OMB Director Russell Vought said the president was made aware of the "millions of dollars" put into such trainings.

He added that the trainings opposed the "fundamental beliefs for which our nation has stood since its inception."

Reexamining America

The order comes amid the controversies in race in the U.S. in recent months. Protests have been held since late May after killings of several Black Americans like the case of George Floyd, among others.

But Trump did not believe systemic racism was one of the problems faced by America.

Last week, he announced plans to create a commission promoting "patriotic education." He dubbed it the 1776. He said the panel will encourage teachers and students to learn about "the miracle of American history."

He said the Democrats and Times' "1619 Project" was not giving a truly accurate picture of the country's history. For him, there was so much emphasis on race and the legacy of slavery under the project.

No Place in Taxpayer Money

The new order took issue with the Treasury Department, said a report from Associated Press. It recently held a seminar arguing that all White people "regardless of how 'woke' they are," contribute to racism.

They also had training materials from Argonne National Laboratories, a federal entity in suburban Chicago. The materials included language that said racism "is interwoven into every fabric of America."

The order listed other examples of federal training that the White House runs contrary to. For the White House, all individuals were created equal and should be allowed equal opportunity under the law.

"Such ideas may be fashionable in the academy," the order said. "But they have no place in programs and activities supported by Federal taxpayer dollars."

Check these out!

First Presidential Debate To Focus on These Six Topics

Trump Plans to Create New 'Patriotic Education' Commission

White House Seeks Ban on 'Anti-American' Federal Diversity Trainings
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 19:47:19|Editor: huaxia

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JERUSALEM, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Israeli archaeologists have discovered an entire inkwell dating to about 2,000 years ago, the Israeli Civil Administration in the West Bank (ICA) said Wednesday.

The inkwell was found in an archaeological site near the Jewish settlements cluster of Gush Etzion.

ICA's spokesman, Roee Salmon, told Xinhua that the inkwell was found under a floor of an ancient Roman building, dating to the Second Jewish Temple period.

The inkwell was made of a flat-bottomed clay cylinder with a round handle and a narrow opening with an inward-sloping rim, through which the ink and pen were inserted.

Salmon noted that the height of the inkwell is about six centimeters and the diameter about four centimeters at the top.

According to the ICA, inkwells from this period are considered a rare find, as so far, similar finds have been found in only 12 sites across the country.

This discovery strengthens the hypothesis that literacy was relatively common among the Jewish population in ancient Israel during the Second Temple period.

The inkwell probably belonged to a writer or merchant, the ICA added.

The works were carried out under the leadership of the ICA, in collaboration with the Herzog Academic College in the West Bank. Enditem
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 23)  Social media giant Facebook has taken steps against hordes of fake accounts tied to China and Philippine state forces that were found spreading misinformation on local politics and critics of the Duterte administration.

"In each case, the people behind this activity coordinated with one another and used fake accounts as a central part of their operations to mislead people about who they are and what they are doing," Facebook head of Security Policy Nathaniel Gleicher said in a statement on Tuesday.

Facebook removed 57 accounts, 31 pages, and 20 Instagram accounts linked to state security forces for fake social media activity. It said accounts connected to the Philippine military and police were found to violate the policy on coordinated inauthentic behavior, with its posts focused on the Filipino audience.

It said the Philippine police- and military-linked accounts used fake profiles to "evade enforcement, post content, comment and manage pages," noting the activity accelerated between 2019 and 2020. These fake accounts delved on military activities against terrorism, the controversial anti-terrorism act, criticism of communism, youth activists and opposition, the Communist Party of the Philippines and its military wing the New Peoples Army, and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines.

Several social media accounts of local police stations and police officers have been under investigation for red-tagging opposition lawmakers and activist leaders. This continued despite the warning of former PNP Chief Archie Gamboa.

Facebook found that the accounts linked to Philippines state forces have spent roughly 53,421 to advertise these fake posts.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines said Facebook has not taken down any of its accounts. AFP spokesperson Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said the military is set to meet with Facebook Philippines policy head on Wednesday, but the meeting scheduled way back is for a different matter. He added the issue will also be raised during the meeting.

"All of them are up and running. The AFP upholds truth and accountability of network and social media account managers as to the contents of postings in our websites, pages, and accounts," he said in a statement.

It has also shut down 155 Facebook accounts, 11 pages, nine groups, and six Instagram accounts originating in China for foreign or government interference in the Philippines. It said clusters of connected activity used fake accounts posing as Filipinos to post, comment, and like posts "particularly about naval activity in the South China Sea."

Facebook also said these accounts posted fervent support for President Rodrigo Duterte and the possible 2022 presidential campaign of his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio. These accounts also criticized online news outfit Rappler, which has been constantly bashed by Duterte and his Cabinet members.

The social media giant in 2019 also took down 200 accounts linked to Nic Gabunada, the man who managed the social media campaign of Duterte when he ran for president in 2016. Reports at the time quoted Gabunada as saying that as a communications person, his accounts were added even without his approval in pages and groups during and after the 2016 election campaign.
University of Sydney staff say they're concerned that a heavy-handed police response to student protests is stifling free speech on campus, as dozens of officers pursued student activists for breaching public health orders during demonstrations on Wednesday.

The student-led protest against university fee hikes and job cuts, which was eventually attended by about 200 people, was deemed unlawful under coronavirus restrictions that prohibit outdoor gatherings of more than 20 people.

The riot squad walks through Victoria Park next to the Sydney University campus. Credit:Rhett Wyman

Police issued 21 penalty infringement notices following the protest, fining the students $1000 each.

But students and staff say the police response is inconsistent with masses of people being permitted on public transport or at sports events. More than 100 University of Sydney staff this week signed an open letter expressing their concern about a "large and overbearing police presence" that had led to students being fined.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Cops investigating an incident in which a gun was fired at a crowd in Granitville arrested two men on weapon charges, and a subsequent raid at one of their homes found a stash of drug-infused candies made to resemble popular childrens sweets, police allege.

The NYPD identified the suspects as Theodore Lettein and Anthony Lista, both 23.

Lettein fired multiple shots from a loaded gun while numerous people were present on a public street near his home on Woodcrest Road in Graniteville on Sept. 10 at about 5:10 p.m., according to police and the criminal complaint. Surveillance video was examined during the investigation, police said.

Police recovered a gun and undisclosed amounts of the sedative alprazolam and cocaine inside a black bag that Lista, of Birch Road in Mariners Harbor, had in his possession at the shots-fired incident, according to Listas complaint.

Little more than 24 hours later, on Sept. 11 at about 6:15 p.m., police, armed with a search warrant, raided the Woodcrest Road home listed by authorities as Letteins residence.

Authorities recovered over three pounds of marijuana and various containers of edible controlled substances, including THC-infused candies resembling Nerds Ropes and Sour Patch sweets, the complaint alleges. THC is a mind-altering ingredient in marijuana.

Multiple other bags of unspecified controlled substances, along with scales and various types of packaging and paraphernalia, were seized, police said. Cops also confiscated a bag of fireworks, 17 Apple Air Pods, a round of ammunition, cash, an LG cell phone and a passport belonging to Lettein, according to the complaint.

Lettein has been charged with criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of a firearm, reckless endangerment, criminal possession of marijuana, criminal use of drug paraphernalia and criminal possession of a controlled substance.

He has been released on his own recognizance and is due back in Criminal Court on Nov. 4, according to public records.

My client completely denies any allegation that he was involved in a shooting of any kind," said Letteins attorney, Mario Gallucci. "I believe law enforcement used the shooting as an excuse to gain entry to his home to find the THC-infused candy and nothing more than that. I plan on contesting the accuracy of the information in the search warrant. Mr. Lettein looks forward to his day in court and his return to his good standing in the community.

In connection with the items found in his black bag on Sept. 10, Lista has been charged criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of a firearm and criminal possession of a controlled substance.

He was not charged in connection with the raid.

Bond has been set at $35,000 for Lista, who is due back in Criminal Court on Dec. 2, according to public records. Listas attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Similar types of THC-laced childrens candies have been found by authorities in incidents in recent months.

In New Jersey in January, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni was joined by law enforcement partners as he unveiled the results of a yearlong investigation that culminated with the states largest drug-related seizure of its kind in a decade, dubbed Operation On The Ropes. The operation secretly infused legitimate candies, such as Nerds Rope and Sour Patch candy brands, with THC, according to information on the Advances sister publication NJ.com.
Premium Times and VOTAC (Voices of the African Continent) announce their strategic alliance for news coverage of African Capital Markets.

With 29 stock exchanges representing 54 countries (markets), a $2.5 trillion of Nominal GDP (2019 estimates), economic growth stabilized at 3.4 per cent in 2019 and expected to hit 3.9 per cent in 2020 and 4.1 per cent in 2021 (AfDB, 2020), the two organisations said.

It is no longer what Africa is today but what it is becoming. By providing a global media platform, Premium Times and VOTAC will offer subject matter experts, industry and market analysts, commentators, investigative and financial news journalists with in-depth knowledge of Africa, guided by professional disciples.

Premium Times is an investigative journalism powerhouse, as evidenced by its coverage of Nigeria, Africas largest GDP, and numerous international awards.

The Premium Times website has a huge audience and is often cited by news outlets on its reporting of events in Nigeria and Africa.

VOTAC is an Integrated Digital Media company, with offerings in Content, Exchange, and Experience.

VOTAC will produce, in collaboration with Premium Times; ACM TODAY (African Capital Market), a financial news programme, live-streamed from studios in San Francisco and Abuja.

ACM TODAY will also be carried on U.S. cable networks reaching 33 million television households; and will be available on local television channels in these U.S. media markets: Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and New York Tri-State Area (New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.).

ACM TODAY is designed to aid innovation, increase foreign direct investment, and economic mobility on the continent.

The programme will ensure transparency in market activities and data and ensure the broadcast standards that consumers of financial news are accustomed to are maintained.

For more than a century, foreign direct investment (FDI) in Africa was almost exclusively focused on the extraction and export of natural resources, the two organizations said. But since the turn of the millennium, the momentum has shifted.

In the past few years, the trend has finally flipped. Global investors now come to Africa for the promise of its people than for its physical properties. Petroleum and mining now count for a minority of long-term capital inflows, with more investors focused on technology, telecommunications, retailing and services.

The extractive industries have accounted for more than half of FDI just once in the past seven years. Africas labour force is projected to be nearly 40 per cent larger by 2030. Africas infrastructure financing needs are estimated to be $130$170 billion a year (EY, 2020).

We are proud of our partnership with VOTAC. The African diaspora is going to play a critical role in Africas civil and economic transformation. Already, Nigerias diaspora remittances are the nations second-largest source of foreign exchange.

Dapo Olorunyomi, Publisher, Premium Times, said of the alliance: In addition to their resources, the diaspora brings their energy, experience, and networks, which combined with the local know-how of domestic institutions is certain to create value on the continent. We already see these positive synergies in our partnership with VOTAC and its proprietor, Abraham Tuyo.

Abraham O. Tuyo, Founder & Interim CEO, VOTAC, said of the partnership: In Premium Times we have a partner with deep roots and history in investigative journalistic excellence. We believe Africa and Africans need to take charge of news reporting economic activities on the continent; Global readership of Premium Times is proof that Africa and Africans produce news stories on par with the rest of the world.

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Premium Times ranks among top newspapers read outside of Africa: a primary source of current affairs and news for foreign missions around the globe. The papers team of investigative journalists have won several national and international awards including a shared Pulitzer (as part of an ICIJ team) and the Global Shining Light Awards.

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Youth redundancy is one of the numerous challenges Governor Bala Mohammed has inherited from the previous government. This challenge has not only become disturbing to His Excellency but to every right-thinking Bauchi citizen.

As the saying goes, An idle mind is a devils workshop. Unemployment is said to be the mother of all types of criminalities such as robbery, kidnapping, stealing, indulgence in drugs, rape among others.

In his determination to end the menace of unemployment in the state, Governor Bala Mohammed has developed some strategies. The Governor had on several occasions met with companies and businessmen within and outside the state.

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Recall that Governor Bala had, in the month of August, visited the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission Headquarters in Abuja. The governors visit, according to his Special Assistant on New Media, Lawal Muazu Bauchi, was in line with the current administrations efforts in reviving business sectors and inviting partners to Bauchi State. During the discussion which focused mainly on Bauchis investment plans, Governor Bala Mohammed sought for the NIPCs support in attracting investors to the state.

Furthermore, the Governor has constituted a panel to fish out ghost workers on the payroll of government. The panel recovered N225.5million and 396 ghost workers had been uncovered in both the state and local governments payrolls.

The move was, however, opposed by those who are benefitting from the inhumane act and some Bauchi citizens who were not well informed on the rescue mission. This had forced the Governor, who has his people at heart, to organize a media parlay where shocking revelations were made during the exclusive discussion.

The secret behind the verification, according to His Excellency, Governor Bala Mohammed, was to dismiss and punish those behind the ugly act so as to serve as a deterrent to others. He added that it would pave a way for employing youths in the state who have been redundant for over five years.

Furthermore, His Excellency, the Executive Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed had recently signed into law, a bill for the Regulation, Control and Management of Traffic in the state and other matter. Seasoned policymakers are expected to be appointed to man the Agency for the Traffic Management with not less than 200 people to be employed on the commencement of operations.

With these developments, we can boldly say Governor Bala means business, and he is ready to eradicate unemployment and poverty as well as insecurity bedeviling Bauchi state.
House Democrats on Wednesday proposed a sweeping bill to curb presidential abuses, a pitch to voters weeks ahead of Election Day as they try to defeat President Donald Trump, capture the Senate from Republicans and keep their House majority.

The legislation, a wide-ranging package of new and revised bills, would limit the president's pardon power, strengthen laws to ban presidents from receiving gifts or payments from foreign governments, better protect independent agency watchdogs and whistleblowers from firing or retribution and require better reporting by campaigns of foreign election interference.

Each of the bill's provisions is a response to actions by Trump or his administration that Democrats see as abuses of presidential power. It builds on an elections and ethics reform package the House passed soon after Democrats reclaimed the majority in 2019.

The sweeping reform package is ``designed to address the president's staggering litany of abuses and ensure they can never happen again by anyone,'' said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who announced the legislation Wednesday along with the heads of seven House committees.

``America has a choice,'' Pelosi added, referring to the legislation but also the upcoming election: ''to repair and strengthen our democracy or to look the other way and enable (Trump's) actions.''

California Rep. Adam Schiff, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee who led Trump's impeachment last year, said the reform package was needed ``to constrain a lawless president`` who has ``shaken and broken guardrails'' in place since the beginning of the republic and strengthened after the Watergate scandal of the 1970s.

``We owe it to the American people to put in place meaningful constraints on power, fix what is broken and ensure there is never again a Richard Nixon or Donald Trump for either party,'' Schiff said.

Since taking office, Trump has placed his own personal and political interests above the national interest ``by protecting and enriching himself, targeting his political opponents, seeking foreign interference in our elections, eroding transparency, seeking to end accountability, and otherwise abusing the power of his office,'' Schiff and other committee chairs said in a joint statement.

The legislation comes as House Democrats have been repeatedly frustrated - including during impeachment - by efforts to gain information from the Trump administration and as officials have faced little consequence for defying subpoenas and ignoring requests and investigations. The bill would also strengthen congressional tools to enforce subpoenas by expediting the judicial process and allowing courts to fine officials who won't comply.

``Congressional subpoenas are not requests that recipients can easily brush aside,'' said Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass., chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. Instead, subpoenas are ''indispensable tools`` needed to hold the executive branch accountable for its actions, Neal and other Democrats said.

``The rule of law applies to every single person'' in the country, ``including the president,'' said Neal, who has tried unsuccessfully to obtain Trump's tax records.

Congress has yet to send to the president any legislation to try to curb foreign election interference after Russia meddled on several fronts in the 2016 presidential contest. Legislation passed by the House on election reform and other issues has been left unconsidered by the Republican-controlled Senate, and Democrats acknowledged there is little chance the new bill will be approved this year.

Schiff called the Senate under Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ``a willing accomplice to many of the president's actions,'' but said the situation may change if Democrat Joe Biden is elected president. Republicans who once imposed constraints on presidential power may support Democratic efforts next year, Schiff said.

``The degradation of our democracy over the past 3 1/2 years is not the work of the president alone,'' Schiff said. ''Donald Trump could not have accomplished what he has in terms of undermining our democracy without the willing help of GOP partners in the Senate.''

In addition to strengthening reporting requirements for campaigns, the bill would clarify and enhance criminal penalties for campaigns that accept foreign information sought or obtained for political advantage.

The election provisions are a response to the Trump campaign's interactions with Russians during the 2016 campaign, including conversations between the president's son, Donald Trump Jr., and intermediaries about information that could incriminate Democrat Hillary Clinton. A report by former special counsel Robert Mueller found multiple contacts between the Trump campaign and Russia, but determined there was insufficient evidence to prove a criminal conspiracy between the two.

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In a new book titled Rebels With A Cause, Famous Dissenters and Why They Are Not Being Heard, the author, Professor T.T Ram Mohan traces the trajectory of famous dissenters like Arundhati Roy, Oliver Stone, Kancha Ilaiah, David Irving, Yanis Varoufakis, U.G. Krishnamurti and John Pilger to depict how, in practice, dissent tends to be severely circumscribed and it is only the celebrity status of these dissenters in some cases that have kept them from being actively harmed.

For instance, Mohan propounds that Arundhati Roy has been nothing but controversial in her decades-long career, taking on the establishment, and always being the mouthpiece of the marginalized. The Indian government, the Indian judiciary, the United States, Israel, large corporates, the mainstream media, Narendra Modi, and many others have earned her scorn. Mohan writes in his book that, Roy wants to set the whole world right. When you make so many enemies, its hard to survive. Roys international stature has spared her the crippling costs that often go with denouncing the high and mighty. But for her celebrity status, she may well have been trampled over long back, perhaps languished in obscurity in an Indian jail."

Roy, who has generally been an active critic of the Hindutva brigade has also not spared the likes of Mahatma Gandhi, and B.R. Ambedkar in the past. In TT Ram Mohans book, the author recalls how Roys introduction to Ambedkars Annihilation of Caste stirred a firestorm. Mohan writes:

In early 2014, Arundhati Roy wrote a lengthy introduction to one of B.R. Ambedkars most powerful works, Annihilation of Caste, published by Navayana, a publishing house in New Delhi. The introduction is not just about the book or even about Ambedkar. A large portion of it is devoted to Gandhi. The Gandhi that Roy portrays is not the champion of the oppressed that we know. He is a spokesman for the haves in society, whether in South Africa or in India. Roys essay takes Gandhi down a peg or two. Much as Roy admires Ambedkar, she doesnt spare him either. She suggests his views on Adivasis are as patronizing as Gandhis on Untouchables. She says Ambedkar saw Adivasis as backward, even savage. The Indian Constitution, of which Ambedkar was the author, allowed the Indian state to appropriate Adivasi homelands, reducing Adivasis to squatters on their own land."

Needless to say that this introduction didnt go down well with many. While Gandhis grandson and noted historian Rajmohan Gandhi claimed that it was aimed at ruining Mahatmas image, Dalits criticized Roy for maligning Ambedkars name. Mohan explains that the reason Annihilation of Caste was revolutionary in its intent was because it propounded that caste cannot be annihilated by abolishing untouchability or through inter-caste marriage or inter-caste dining which were means that many Hindu reformers had urged over the years.

Mohan writes:

Roys lengthy introduction does not say a great deal about Annihilation itself. It talks more about the evolution of the caste system and the predicament of the Untouchables in Hindu society. Untouchables is one of two expressions Ambedkar preferred to use, the other being Depressed Classes. The expression Dalit came into vogue much later. (I use the word Untouchables in this essay only to be true to Ambedkars usage. Roy uses the same expression.) Roy also pits Gandhi against Ambedkar in the battle against the caste system.

Roy sees Gandhi as a defender of the caste system. His campaign against untouchability, she argues, was intended to keep the Untouchables within the Hindu fold without dismantling the caste system itself. Roy dwells at length on how Gandhi frustrated Ambedkars ceaseless efforts to get justice for the Untouchables. Then comes the unkindest cut of all: Gandhis views on caste were consistent with his reactionary views on race while in Africaon both matters, Gandhi was a spokesman for the privileged. I touch upon Gandhis views on race during his stay in Africa a little later.

Roy quotes Gandhi as saying in 1921: I believe that if Hindu Society has been able to stand, it is because it is founded on the caste system . . . To destroy the caste system and adopt the Western European social system means that Hindus must give up the principle of hereditary occupation which is the soul of the caste system. Hereditary principle is an eternal principle. To change it is to create disorder. I have no use for a Brahmin if I cannot call him a Brahmin for my life. It will be chaos if every day a Brahmin is changed into a Shudra and a Shudra is to be changed into a Brahmin."

Again, in 1921, Gandhi wrote in his journal Navjivan: Caste is another name for control. Caste puts a limit on enjoyment. Caste does not allow a person to transgress caste limits in pursuit of his enjoyment. That is the meaning of such caste restrictions as inter-dining and inter-marriage . . . These being my views I am opposed to all those who are out to destroy the Caste System. Gandhi could not have been more explicit in his views on the subject. Roy says that many of Gandhis early interventions in caste conflicts showed that he was interested in abolishing untouchability but not the caste system itself.

Mohan writes that Roy sought to connect Gandhis position on caste with his views on race while in South Africa: in both matters, she contends, Gandhi stood for the privileged minority. In Mohans book, he writes:

Roys account of Gandhis stay in South Africa is something of an eye-opener. This is not the Gandhi story that we grew up with, the story of his heroic struggles in the cause of the oppressed that earned him the title of Mahatma. Roy argues that Gandhis was

a limited battle intended to benefit the better-off Indians in South Africa. In this battle, Gandhi initially tried his best to collaborate with the British Empire in the hope of winning concessions. He showed little interest in the ordinary Indian worker or the black population. Roy believes that Gandhis views on the Blacks in South Africa were downright racist and that his views on race presaged his views on caste.

Gandhi went to South Africa to take up a case for a wealthy Indian merchant. A few months later, there occurred the famous incident in which Gandhi was thrown out of the first-class compartment of a train because it happened to be reserved for Whites. The story we have all been told is that this traumatic incident produced the great awakening in Gandhi about the racist nature of rule by the white man and led to his battles with the British Raj in South Africa and in India.

But that is not Roys understanding of this incident. Her interpretation is explosive:

Gandhi was not offended by racial segregation. He was offended that passenger IndiansIndian merchants who were predominantly Muslim but also privileged-caste Hinduswho had come to South Africa to do business, were being treated on a par with native Black Africans. Gandhis argument was that passenger Indians came to Natal as British subjects and were entitled to equal treatment on the basis of Queen Victorias 1858 proclamation, which asserted the equality of all imperial subjects.

In other words, Gandhi was offended by racism only insofar as it affected a privileged category of Indians. He wasnt troubled by the racism that the white rulers practiced towards the vast majority of people in South Africa.

The following excerpts have been published with permission from Penguin Publishers.
France has signaled its support for a proposal from former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri that seeks to end the gridlock keeping Lebanons sectarian leaders from forming a new government.

The small Mediterranean country has struggled to assemble a Cabinet, in part because the two main Shiite parties, Hezbollah and the Amal bloc, insist on selecting the position of finance minister.

As a compromise, Hariri, the countrys leading Sunni politician, suggested an independent Shiite candidate be appointed finance minister under Lebanons sectarian power-sharing system. It remains to be seen whether Hezbollah and the Amal bloc support Hariris plan. In a possible sign, pro-Hezbollah Lebanese newspaper al-Akhbar described the proposal as not in the interest of the country.

The French Foreign Ministry, however, said it welcomed Hariris proposal, which demonstrates his sense of responsibility and of Lebanons national interest.

This statement represents an opening-up whose importance everyone must appreciate so that a mission government can now be established, the ministry said, adding that France "calls on all Lebanese political leaders to honor the commitments they themselves made to the French president."

Lebanons government resigned days after the massive explosion that tore through Beirut on Aug. 4 and left nearly 200 dead and 6,500 wounded. Within weeks, the president tapped a little-known diplomat, Mustapha Adib, to serve as prime minister-designate.

France is pushing for long-overdue reforms necessary to pull its former colony out of its worst economic crisis since the 1975-1990 Lebanese civil war. During his visit to Lebanon this month, French President Emmanuel Macron was promised by the countrys leaders that they would form a new Cabinet by mid-September.

Having missed the deadline, Paris is now pushing Lebanons leaders to assemble a Cabinet within a reasonable time frame," a French source told Reuters.
Proposals at the federal level and in Springfield would net the average Illinois parent of a student learning remotely more than $20,000 in cash and tax breaks.

A dozen Illinois House Republicans are backing legislation filed earlier this month would provide parents with a child enrolled in virtual learning $5,500 in tax credits for the extra costs associated with the change, daycare, tablets, school supplies, etc.

There has to be some relief for parents that are spending considerably more than they were in their childs last year of education, said Rep. Grant Wehrli, R-Naperville. If parents are forced to pay, in many cases, thousands of dollars more, we certainly need to look at how we can help them from a tax standpoint.

The bill has no Democratic support, possibly because the tax credits could be spent on a non-public education.

U.S. Sen Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, wants a larger federal aid package.

Hawley has yet to file the legislation but said in an announcement that it would grant parents of virtual learners $1,200 in direct cash assistance per month every month through June 2021 to help cover lost work shifts or wages.

I have been calling for assistance for working families since day one and the return of the school year only makes the issue that much more urgent, Hawley said. School closures, disruption of the standard academic calendar, hybrid and distance-learning models, and other changes have forced parents to seek alternative work arrangements or leave the workforce altogether. Since the government has asked them to deal with these realities, it falls on us to help them through it. Working families need relief as soon as possible.
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Two more men have been charged in connection with the double homicide of a Brantford couple in their 60s who were shot in their home in the summer of 2019.

Husband and wife Larry Reynolds, 64, and Lynn VanEvery, 62, were found dead in their Park Road South home shortly before 8 a.m. on July 18 in what police say was a targeted attack.

On Wednesday, Ontario Provincial Police, in a joint investigation with Brantford police, announced they had made two arrests on Sept. 21 and Sept. 22. Both men arrested were already in custody for unrelated charges.

Nathan Lloyd Emlyn Howes, 30, of Brantford, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder. Howes was arrested Monday at the Maplehurst Correctional Complex in Milton.

Malik Mbuyi, 19, of Toronto, is also charged with two counts of first-degree murder. Mbuyi was arrested Tuesday at the Toronto South Detention Centre in Etobicoke.

The arrests come seven months after 22-year-old Kareem Zedan, of Pickering, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths on March 26.

Police could not confirm if there are any outstanding suspects in the case during a news conference Wednesday.

Det. Supt. Tina Chalk of the OPP said the killings were absolutely targeted, but declined to offer specifics on possible motives. Other people were home at the time of the shooting but were not harmed.

When it comes to motive, why did these things happen, who did what and why, all of these things will come out in the court process, Chalk told reporters.

Chalk would not confirm whether the victims and suspects were known to each other.

Reynolds and VanEvery were remembered in an obituary as loving parents. They left behind a daughter and five grandchildren.

The Spectator has been unable to reach family or friends of the victims.

A 42-second surveillance video released by Brantford police shortly after the shooting shows a black car pull up in front of the couples home and a man dressed in black with his face covered run to the front door.

About 16 seconds later, the man reappeared and ran back to the car  where the drivers door had been left flung open  before he fled.

Police say the black, four-door sedan was a Chrysler 300, which was was recovered less than two kilometres from the victims home. Chalk could not say why the vehicle was abandoned.

The surveillance footage shows a second vehicle, another a sedan, leave just seconds before the Chrysler 300.

Chalk said the car, which police believe to be a four-door, dark-coloured Hyundai, remains at large.

A day after the shooting, Brantford police revealed there was a call for a suspicious vehicle in the neighbourhood 51 minutes before the double homicide. A police cruiser was not dispatched to the area.

An internal investigation into the matter concluded in February, Brantford police Chief Robert Davis told reporters. Davis refused to say if the investigation found wrongdoing on the part of police, or if the suspicious vehicle matched the description of the Chrysler 300 or Hyundai seen in front of the victims home.

That matter was investigated as a chiefs complaint and was dealt through internal processes, Davis said. I cannot speak to the specifics of that but it has been dealt with and addressed.

Howes is expected to appear by video in Brantford court Sept. 28.

Mbuyi is expected to appear by video in Brantford court Sept. 25.
Former state Rep. Mike Schofield felt so confident in 2018 that the voters in his northwest Houston suburban district would give him a third term that he left about $140,000 unspent in his campaign account and dedicated much of his time to helping other Republican candidates.

He ended up losing the House District 132 seat to Democrat Gina Calanni by 113 votes in a race that he says he never anticipated to be so close.

Now Schofield is up for a rematch with Calanni. This time, he says, he and other Republicans are ready.

I spent a good chunk of September and October last time trying to get the judges re-elected, Schofield told the Houston Chronicle editorial board as he launched his campaign earlier this year. The first lesson I learned was what they tell you when you get on the plane: Put on your own oxygen mask first. So, I will have a Schofield-centric campaign and we will work to get everybody else across the finish line after we get there.

Democrats emboldened by close races in 2018 and by President Donald Trumps flagging approval in the suburbs have even bigger ambitions in the Houston area in 2020, taking aim at a handful of traditionally bright red districts long thought to be out of reach.

IN-DEPTH: With campaign funds dwindling, Texas House Speaker Bonnen boosted taxpayer-funded salary of aides

Both parties acknowledge the high stakes involved in this years battle for the lower chamber, Democrats only chance to gain leverage before the 2021 legislative session, when lawmakers will redraw the states political maps. Republicans, who also control the Texas Senate and governors mansion, hold an 83-67 advantage in the House after losing 12 seats in 2018.

The Democrats are unlikely to capture a House majority without picking up at least a few seats in the Houston area, party officials and political analysts said. Abhi Rahman, a spokesman for the Texas Democratic Party, said the partys path to the majority runs directly through Houston and the Houston suburbs.

Flipping the Texas House is the top strategic imperative for the Texas Democratic Party, Rahman said in a statement. Texas is changing rapidly and urban areas and suburbs across the state are trending Democratic. Suburbanites are sick of Donald Trumps actions and Republicans inability to manage crisis situations.

Houston Chronicle

Atop the list of Democratic targets is state Rep. Sarah Davis, a moderate Republican who won re-election last cycle by 6 percentage points even as U.S. Senate Democratic nominee Beto ORourke carried her highly educated and affluent Houston district by 21 points. Also in the top tier is House District 138, the west Houston seat where Republican state Rep. Dwayne Bohac is not seeking re-election after he won by 47 votes in 2018.

Republicans, meanwhile, are playing offense in two neighboring west Houston seats that flipped to Democrats in 2018. In the Katy area, Schofield is seeking to reclaim control of House District 132 while next door, Democratic state Rep. Jon Rosenthal is defending his seat against Republican Justin Ray, the former mayor of Jersey Village.

Democrats have placed a handful of other seats in their crosshairs, such as House districts 26 and 28 in Fort Bend County and House District 126 in northwest Harris County.

TRUMP V. BIDEN: Texas shatters voter registration records again as 2020 election draws near

Texas Republican Party Chairman Allen West said he expects GOP candidates will win suburban districts by clearly articulating and delineating the detrimental effects of the progressive socialist lefts vision for Texas and Houston. He cited the Green New Deal resolution and Democrats gun control policies as examples.

The Texas House battlefield is centered almost entirely in the suburbs this year  in Houston and across the state  and recent polling suggests Trumps support has dipped in those areas.

Dave Wasserman, an elections analyst at the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, said a massive suburban defection of white voters with college degrees was behind a Quinnipiac University poll result last month that found Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and Trump were virtually tied in Texas. In the universitys latest Texas poll, Trump held an edge, 50-45.

Trumps struggles in the suburbs are being driven not just by educated white voters, but also by an influx of very dramatic demographic change that is making it harder than ever to assemble a winning coalition without support from racial and ethnic minority voters, said University of Houston political science professor Jeronimo Cortina.

Health care and Trump

Democrats in these suburban districts are largely sticking with what worked in 2018  outrage against Trump and promises of better access to health care. They believe the pandemic has strengthened their appeal on both fronts.

Democrat Ann Johnson, who is running against Davis, says that voters in the districts Bellaire, West University Place and west Houston suburbs are fed up with Republican leaderships response to the pandemic and the health care policy decisions that have left an estimated 18.4 percent of Texans without health insurance, twice the national average. Democrat Hillary Clinton won House District 134 over Trump by 15 percentage points in 2016.

Both Johnson and Davis are campaigning on their support for expanding Medicaid and protecting coverage of pre-existing conditions, though Johnson has cast doubt on Davis health care voting record, noting that she previously opposed the Affordable Care Act, moved to table a Medicaid expansion amendment in 2017 and missed the vote on Medicaid expansion last year. Davis has said she would have supported Medicaid expansion in the 2019 legislative session and that her position on Obamacare has evolved.

Johnson said Davis has won Democratic support in past elections for her support of abortion rights.

They want to show they can support a Republican whos pro-choice and make a statement, Johnson said. But not this cycle, because the statement this cycle is whether or not you want Gov. Abbott to have the House.

IN-DEPTH REPORTING: Planned Parenthood group endorses Sarah Davis, rebuffing activists push to support her Dem opponent

Davis said her path to victory will be paved, as it has been the past four elections, by focusing on the issues that are important to voters regardless of party  namely womens health and public education.

As our State Representative, Ive always worked hard to provide our district with the kind of strong, independent voice that speaks to our shared values and ignores partisan political distractions, Davis said in a statement. Whether you think of yourself as a Republican, a Democrat, an Independent, or something in between, I consider it my duty to represent you at the Texas Legislature.

Another seat Democrats are targeting to flip is in House District 138, where Democrat Akilah Bacy and Republican Lacey Hull are competing. There, Clinton beat Trump by a tenth of a percentage point, 47.6 to 47.5.

Bacy, a former prosecutor, has spoken out against Abbott and Trumps handling of the pandemic.

COVID-19 did not spiral out of control in Texas, she wrote on Twitter in June, arguing that Abbott unleashed it with a full understanding of the consequences. Now, we are all dealing with the consequences of his and the Republican Partys poor, selfish and ineffective leadership.

Abbott has endorsed Hull, a former Republican precinct chair, calling her a proven conservative and tireless defender of Texas values, and in February held a rally for her.

Democrats have for months made Abbotts quick reopening of Texas  and the states corresponding midsummer COVID-19 outbreak  a focal point in their campaigns. Republicans, for their part, have pointed to the states declining hospitalization rate and number of new infections as evidence that Abbotts policies, such as the statewide mask mandate, have been effective. But much will depend on how Texas is faring in October.

GOP looks to rebound in suburbs

Democrats path to a House majority also will narrow significantly if they fail to retain control of the seats they picked up in 2018  including those flipped by Calanni and Rosenthal in west Harris County.

Calanni attributed her close victory last cycle in large part to her commitment to issues that matter to suburban voters: health care and education. Last session, she was a co-author of House Bill 3, the sweeping public education reform bill that changed the way school funding is calculated.

Youre seeing a lot more college-educated people moving out to the suburbs along with a lot of women, single moms like myself, Calanni said. Were wanting to buy a home, we want to have a nice place to raise our family, we want to send them to good schools, and those are all issues that are more Democratic issues. And thats why we flipped those 12 seats in 2018.

Schofield, who is running on his record as Abbotts point man on the Texas voter ID law, known as the toughest in the nation, did not respond to several requests for comment.

In 2016, Trump carried House districts 132 and 138 by 4 percentage points and 2 percentage points, respectively.

Cortina said Republicans may struggle to separate themselves from Trump, which he said would be necessary if the president loses their districts.

Especially on the down-the-ballot races, people might not be very well-informed, and people will tend to generalize: Oh, he or she is a Republican, therefore they must be a Trump supporter, Cortina said.

Ray, the Republican nominee vying to unseat Rosenthal, said he is focusing his campaign on meat-and-potatoes issues: public school funding, public safety and ensuring that residents are not being taxed to death.

When it comes to the presidents policies and the presidents re-election, were going to focus on local issues. Were not going to get pulled into national issues, Ray said. The Democrats will try to nationalize this election, and were not going to do that because thats not what the community needs from their state representative.

Ray argued that Rosenthal has established an overly liberal voting record that contradicts his pledge to represent the district down the middle , pointing to his endorsement from the pro-Bernie Sanders group Our Revolution Texas and a Rice University ranking that placed him as the fifth-most liberal member of the House.

Rosenthal acknowledged that he runs on a bold progressive platform, but he said that has not prevented him from being pragmatic and working with Republican lawmakers, a process he compared to his job as an engineer in the oil and gas industry.

As for the election, Rosenthal said he is cautiously optimistic.

Turnout for presidential elections traditionally favors Democrats, he said. But of course, in the environment were in, kind of all bets are off. Its an uncertain landscape.

jasper.scherer@chron.com

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A man has been charged after allegedly importing illegal firearm parts and drug manufacturing equipment in Bathurst.

In June, Australian Border Force officials intercepted a prohibited consignment from Japan containing a BB gun and pellets. A total of 10 packages were detected, which had arrived either by air cargo or mail, from Hong Kong, China, Germany and Japan between June and September.

NSW Police, Australian Border Force and US Homeland Security began an investigation after receiving information about the alleged importation of firearm parts and drug manufacturing equipment into Australia. Credit:NSW Police

Shortly after, packages destined for Australia were seized in America and US Homeland Security began to investigate. The two agencies and NSW Police began a joint investigation last month.

At 6am on Wednesday, authorities executed a search warrant for a property in Violet Street, in South Bathurst.
HOUSTON, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Insgroup, Inc., the leading closely held insurance brokerage firm in the state of Texas, announced the firm's inclusion on the 2020 Top 100 Brokers of U.S. Business by Business Insurance. An impressive 26.5 percent revenue growth has resulted in Insgroup improving 12 positions to the 87th largest firm in the nation. This marks the second consecutive year Insgroup has earned this distinction, debuting at the 99th ranking in 2019.

Of the growth, Insgroup's President and CEO, Brian Kapiloff, said, "Over the past several years, the firm has continually focused on revenue growth through the development of Risk and Benefit Advisors, unique specialties and niche focused coverage solutions as well as investments in cutting edge technology to assist our teams with providing unparalleled client service."

"Insgroup's commitment to our core values, including Relentless Client Advocacy results in excellent client satisfaction, demonstrated by many clients who choose Insgroup for their Commercial Insurance, Employee Benefits and Personal Insurance needs." Kapiloff continued.

In addition to strong organic growth Insgroup has increased its footprint through two strategic acquisitions in the Dallas area. This commitment to Dallas is key to Insgroup's current and future success and is a blueprint for future merger and acquisition activity.

"We are committed to bringing the benefit of our unique value proposition to new clients by adding top talent where we are today and where we will be in the future," said Ryan Shinkle, Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing.

Consistent growth requires loyal clients and Insgroup's claims advocacy builds loyalty.

"Whether it's advocating for a client throughout the claim process or being proactive with our risk management and safety programs, Insgroup's clients can trust our firm to be a valuable partner for the longevity of their business," said Jill King, Executive Vice President of Claims and Risk Management.

About Insgroup, Inc.

Insgroup, Inc., was founded in 1978 in Houston, Texas, by a group of entrepreneurs committed to providing the security necessary for business owners and individuals to pursue their dreams. Insgroup is the largest closely-held insurance brokerage firm in Texas with nearly 200 colleagues in Houston, Dallas, Addison and Austin. With expertise in Property & Casualty Brokerage, Employee Benefit Consulting, Private Risk Services, and Surety, Insgroup serves clients nationwide and partners with premier national, regional and specialty insurance carriers across the United States. For more information, visit www.insgroup.net.

SOURCE Insgroup, Inc.

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Lara St. John on the balcony of her apartment in New York City in July 21 2019. Read more

A months-long investigation by the law firm Cozen OConnor into horrifying accounts of rape and repeated sexual abuse from violinist Lara St. John while she was a student at the Curtis Institute of Music has found her claims to be credible.

A report by the firm detailing her experience, as well as separate claims of abuse by about two dozen other students over a period of decades, was unanimously accepted Tuesday by the Curtis board.

 READ MORE: Acclaimed violinist Lara St. John says she was abused, silenced as a student at Philadelphia's elite Curtis Institute

Although it acknowledges that Curtis has many safeguards currently in place that are designed to protect its students, the report raises troubling questions about the institutions past in keeping students safe from harm, the board said in a statement Tuesday.

The report was commissioned by Curtis after a July 2019 Inquirer investigation detailed St. Johns claim of rape and sexual abuse by violin professor Jascha Brodsky and repeated instances in which school leaders ignored her accounts, including in 1986, 2013, and 2019. Curtis' initial response to the Inquirer report last year was to ask alumni to refrain from discussing it publicly, a move that enraged many of the schools students and alumni, as well as others.

Cozens report acknowledged a powerful dynamic at play that created an unhealthy climate and had a chilling effect on reporting misconduct: Since students remain at the school at the discretion of their main instrumental teacher, they do not report abuse because of the real threat that one could be dismissed for any reason at any time.

St. John said Tuesday night that she was pleased with the findings of the report, but it took a lot of life-force to make this happen. Not only that, but many newspaper articles and outraged alumni. It took way more than it should have and it shouldnt have taken 35 years. That said, I am glad at last they have admitted their wrongdoing.

Brodsky died in 1997.

Curtis' board statement said the school recognizes and profoundly regrets the incalculable physical and emotional toll that Ms. St. John suffered.  The report makes clear, at multiple points along the road of her harrowing journey, Ms. St. John provided opportunities for Curtis and its leaders to respond meaningfully and provide her with support and a chance to aid in her healing. But in each instance the school fell short."

Curtis president Roberto Diaz and board chair Deborah M. Fretz sent a letter of apology to St. John. Asked whether the report would result in any changes in administrative personnel, Fretz said: We will deal with next steps at later board meetings.

Said Diaz: We wrote to Lara, and I look forward, when she is ready, to reconnecting with her and finding a way forward so she can have, if she would like it, a meaningful relationship with the school. I think that would be a wonderful outcome for her and for us.

Curtis has published the 54-page report [Warning: describes sexual violence] on its website, and its board statement took pains to say that the report was released as written, with no edits or revisions made by the board or anyone else at Curtis.

The school details changes it has made and will make in reporting and dealing with sexual misconduct.

 READ MORE: Curtis Institute of Music response to sexual misconduct claim: Dont talk about it

The report by lawyers Gina Maisto Smith and Leslie Gomez covers much of the same ground as The Inquirers investigation into the events of the 1985-86 school year, when St. John was a 14-year-old student of Brodsky. St. John said that the abuse began with kissing and touching of her breasts and genitals, and culminating in rape. When she rebuffed his advances, Brodsky threatened to have her and her brother, also a Curtis student, expelled from the school.

She reported the abuse to Curtis on multiple occasions between 1986 and 2019, but on each occasion, school leaders ignored her complaints.

The firm interviewed more than 30 people and found that St. John provided a credible account of sexual abuse by Brodsky.

St. John reported the abuse, though not the rape, with Curtis dean Robert Fitzpatrick and director Gary Graffman, and their only action was to move St. John to the studio of another teacher.

Fitzpatrick told the law firm that in hindsight, his response was inadequate and he should have done more. Graffman also acknowledged the disclosure, which he recalled involved inappropriate touching, but said that it was a different era and, had he known the conduct involved rape, he would have responded differently.

 READ MORE: Curtis Institute will review sexual-assault policies after Inquirer story reports abuse

St. John continued over a period of decades to bring the abuse to the attention of the school. On each of those occasions, Curtis missed opportunities either to respond meaningfully to St. John or to demonstrate to St. John that it in fact took her reports seriously," the report says.

Following The Inquirers investigation, Cozen OConnor sought and received substantive information about claimed abuse at Curtis from more than two dozen former students, alumni, and others. They covered decades, from the 1960s to the 2010s, and alleged inappropriate behavior on the part of various faculty and staff members.

Cozen OConnor interviewed one alumna, who attended Curtis from 2007 to 2010, who reported that her teacher was verbally and emotionally abusive to her and others. She said the teacher over-emphasized the importance of sexuality in musical performances as part of his pedagogy, and created a toxic environment and culture of sexualization in his department. She described her experience at Curtis as horrible and said the environment was harmful and significantly worse than at two other institutions where she studied. This teacher is no longer employed at Curtis.

Some of the claims involved emotional or psychological abuse, and some were anonymous or reported by a third party.

Consistent with the scope of our review, we did not reach a determination as to the relative merits or credibility of individual accounts of abuse, the lawyers stated. The reports included varying levels of detail and ability to corroborate the account, especially where the report was anonymous.

However: What emerged was a powerful picture about the power dynamics in the conservatory setting and its impacts on student well-being and educational opportunities.

Curtis said Tuesday that it has and will be taking steps to ensure the welfare of its students. Among them: establishing a Trauma Fund to provide students with access to counseling services with the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (a suggestion St. John had made); engaging an additional outside hotline for students and employees to report sexual abuse; the establishment of a Young Alumni Fund in recognition of the extraordinary courage demonstrated by Lara St. John to support young alumni who may be experiencing obstacles of any kind in the pursuit of their musical careers; and the hiring of a Title IX coordinator.

Curtis board statement said that none of this should have happened to Ms. St. John, and we are profoundly sorry that it did. We are in awe of her courage and spirit, which led to a long-overdue public reckoning about the pain and suffering that she and others endured over a number of decades. For this reckoning, we owe Ms. St. John a debt of thanks, along with the public recognition that as a direct result of her coming forward, Curtis today is far better equipped to protect students against sexual abuse or misconduct.

The Curtis board also thanked reporters Tricia Nadolny and Peter Dobrin and the Philadelphia Inquirer for shining a light on Ms. St. Johns account and prompting the comprehensive inquiry.
Tougher lockdown rules could work, suggests official data showing Glasgow's spike in coronavirus cases was controlled within days of being hit by fresh restrictions.

Residents in the city, home to around 600,000 people, and two neighbouring areas were banned from visiting any other households back at the start of September, in a desperate attempt to curb the spread of Covid-19.

The decision, announced by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, was prompted by figures revealing Glasgow's spiralling outbreak was to blame for nearly a third of new cases in Scotland.

Around 37 people were testing positive for the life-threatening infection each day on September 2, the day when the restrictions came into place.

This had risen six-fold from the middle of August, when an average of six people were being diagnosed each day, and was up massively on the rolling average of just one infection a day in July.

But government statistics show the city's infection curve had started to flatten just five days after the measures were imposed, showing the rolling average had hit 52 on September 7 and has barely risen since.

Figures from Public Health Scotland, the country's health agency which updates Covid-19 data daily, shows a small uptick in cases over the past few days, with the rolling average standing at 64 on September 20.

Fresher data is not yet available because it is based on when samples were taken and not how many were actually registered on any given day. It can take several days for patients to get their results back.

This uptick in the past two weeks is in line with the rest of the UK, which has been blamed on children and adults returning to school and work, and appears to now be dipping again.

Sir Harry Burns, a professor of global public health at the University of Strathclyde, said data shows the lockdown measures in the west of Scotland are working.

Because of this, he supported Ms Sturgeon's decision to impose a blanket ban on social mixing in households from today.

And it's claimed Professor Chris Whitty, England's chief medical officer, is adamant England needs its own household visit ban.

Glasgow's seven-day rolling average of Covid-19 cases (blue line) has flattened since residents were banned from visiting any other households on September 2

A similar pattern was shown in West Dunbartonshire

In East Renfrewshire, cases continued rising (blue line) after restrictions were imposed on September 2. But since then, cases have dropped back down again

Nicola Sturgeon imposed a blanket ban on social mixing in households from today in Scotland

Around 1.7million Scots are now under tougher local restrictions  almost a third (31 per cent) of the country's 5.4million population.

Aberdeen, home to 208,000, had previously been under a strict 'lockdown' from August 5 to August 23, which included the closure of pubs and restaurants, a household mixing ban and a travel restriction of five miles.

Glasgow, West Dunbartonshire and East Renfrewshire were then slapped with new Covid-19 control measures on September 3.

It was expected to be in place for two weeks, however the Scottish Government has not yet lifted them.

Restrictions on visiting other households were applied because 'transmission appears mainly to be happening inside people's homes and between households, rather than in pubs and restaurants', Ms Sturgeon said.

The daily average of cases in Glasgow at the time was 36.6. Cases continued to be diagnosed, reaching an average of 52 five days after the measures were announced.

But then, a week after the restrictions were put in places, cases levelled off at 44.6, suggesting the spike had been stopped in its tracks.

A similar pattern was shown in West Dunbartonshire, home to 89,000 people.

The average went from seven on September 2, to nine on September 6, before levelling off between five and seven cases a day.

It appears both Glasgow and West Dunbartonshire saw a sudden spike in cases again in mid-September. But data from the past two to three days shows this may be resolving.

In East Renfrewshire, around four people a day were testing positive for the coronavirus when the area was put under 'local lockdown'.

This continued to rise sharply, doubling to eight by September 11. But since then, cases have dropped back down to four per day.

Although it is at the same level as when the measures were imposed, the data shows the outcome is still better than what could have been, had the virus been allowed to continue spreading.

On September 7, Ms Sturgeon 'regrettably' extended the measures to East Dunbartonshire and Renfrewshire, home to around 286,000 people, combined.

Both have seen a significant stalling in the spiralling Covid-19 cases.

South Lanarkshire is starting to show improvements, having been added to the list of places in Scotland hit with harder measures on September 12. But North Lanarkshire's cases are still climbing.

East Dunbartonshire seen Covid-19 cases drop (blue line) since restrictions were put in place on September 7 (pictured)

Renfrewshire has seen Covid-19 cases stall (blue line) since restrictions were put in place on September 7 (pictured)

South Lanarkshire is starting to show improvements in Covid-19 cases (blue line), having been added to the list of places in Scotland hit with harder measures on September 12 (pictured)

North Lanarkshire has seen cases dip very slightly (blue line) before rising again after a 'lockdown' was imposed on September 12 (pictured)

Chris Whitty 'tells PM England may need to follow Scotland and ban households mixing indoors' England may need to follow Scotland's lead and ban households from visiting each other, Boris Johnson has been told by his chief medical officer. Chris Whitty, who threatened to break 'unnecessary links between different households' on Monday, is understood to have recommended Nicola Sturgeon's hardline approach to coronavirus to the Prime Minister. England's chief medical officer reportedly believes that further restrictions are inevitable this winter and that draconian new measures  including a 10pm curfew on pubs and restaurants  will not bring the virus under control. The Scottish First Minister claimed that advice from her chief medical officer and national clinical director was that Mr Johnson's programme 'on its own will not be sufficient to bring the R number down'. Chief medical officers from all four home nations met on Monday to agree advice to each of the devolved administrations, according to The Times. It is understood that Prof Whitty concurred with his Scottish counterpart, Gregor Smith. Jonathan Van Tam and Jenny Harries, Prof Whitty's deputies, are thought to believe that the tough new restrictions in England did not go far enough  but accepted that the Prime Minister would have to try less strict measures to save the economy first. A source told the paper the plan was a 'phased approach', adding: 'We're still in early autumn and we shouldn't be optimistic that this won't get worse.' It came as Ms Sturgeon admitted that banning Scots from visiting each other's homes is a 'step backwards' but will stop coronavirus from 'spiralling out of control'. Advertisement

Ms Sturgeon has now taken the Covid-19 response a step further in Scotland, proving to be moving more cautiously than neighboring England once again.

Scots are being barred from visiting other people in their own home  with some exemptions - officially from Friday. But people are being encouraged to comply from today. Ms Sturgeon also confirmed that Scotland would be following England in imposing a 10pm curfew on pubs and restaurants.

It came as part of a package of measures to try to stop coronavirus from 'spiralling out of control' in Scotland.

Sir Harry told BBC Scotland's The Nine: 'I can understand the reasons for the decisions the First Minister has made.

'That's basically because the data on the progress of the partial lockdown in the west of Scotland shows that it's been effective, so she's extending that to the rest of Scotland.

'I don't think we can do this too early, to be honest. I think we were a bit late going into the first lockdown and that may be why we had such significant impact. But I think we are seeing increasing daily cases.

'Initially they highest number of cases were in the 20-40 year olds. We are now beginning to see cases increase in the over 60s and hospitalisations are increasing.

I think if we don't go now, we will see significant numbers of hospitalisation, significant strain on the hospital system again, and significant numbers of deaths.'

Ms Sturgeon accepted the 'tough' new restrictions felt like a 'step backwards', but they had not been introduced lightly.

She also defended her decision to introduce tougher coronavirus restrictions than in England.

The Scottish First Minister insisted the expert advice she received was that a curfew on pubs alone, as is the case in England, would not be sufficient to halt rising case numbers.

She refused to directly criticise UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson for failing to take action to prevent households from mixing indoors, as she has done.

But she did say she believed governments should 'try to co-ordinate as much as possible across the UK'.

Speaking on ITV's Good Morning Britain programme she said Scotland and the UK were in a 'tough spot'.

Warning that 'we are again at a tipping point with Covid', Ms Sturgeon added: 'If we don't act now, urgently and decisively, then we might find Covid running out of control again.

'The judgment I have made, and it is not an easy one, is if we take tough action now we might actually manage to be under these restrictions for a shorter period of time then we would end up being if we delayed that action.

'So these are tough judgments but I think, given the loss of life we know that Covid can result in, the health damage that it does, we've got to be prepared at moments like this, people like me, to take tough decisions and to be prepared to do things even if they are unpopular, for the greater good.

'I can only look at the situation in Scotland and I can only speak for the judgments I am making.

'And my advisers say to me, yes, a curfew on pubs is certainly something that should be done and we have taken that decision, but in and of itself it is not going to be enough to arrest this increase in Covid cases and bring the R number down and bring the epidemic under control again.

'That's why I made the difficult judgment yesterday to go further.'
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit Judge Amy Coney Barrett, a law professor at Notre Dame University, poses in an undated photograph obtained from Notre Dame University, on Sept. 19, 2020. (Matt Cashore/Notre Dame University/Handout via Reuters)

Senators Criticize Anti-Catholic Smears Over Barretts Faith

News stories that have been critical of Judge Amy Coney Barrett, a potential Supreme Court nominee, for her religious beliefs have been replete with smears against the Catholic faith, Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) says.

Barrett, 48, a devout Catholic, serves as a circuit judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit. She is one of the women who President Donald Trump is considering nominating to the Supreme Court vacancy left by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Newsweek and Reuters this week published articles that attempted to link an ecumenical Catholic group that Barrett is reportedly a member of, People of Praise, to The Handmaids Tale, a dystopian story about a religious movement that takes over the government and forces women into subjugation.

Sasse said the articles contain outrageous smears against the judge for merely taking part in a Catholic Bible study and linked the attempt to critique her for her faith with the crusade of former Sen. Joseph McCarthy (R-Wis.) against communists.

These ugly smears against Judge Barrett are a combination of anti-Catholic bigotry and QAnon-level stupidity, Sasse said.

People of Praise is basically a Bible studyand 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.

Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) listens as Christine Blasey Ford testifies during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to be an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States in Washington on Sep. 27, 2018. (Tom Williams/AFP via Getty Images)

Newsweek erroneously reported that Margaret Atwood, the author of The Handmaids Tale, based the religious movement in her book on People of Praise.

The article was later updated to note there was no evidence that that was the case.

Newsweek issued a correction, stating: This articles headline originally stated that People of Praise inspired The Handmaids Tale. The books author, Margaret Atwood, has never specifically mentioned the group as being the inspiration for her work. A New Yorker profile of the author from 2017 mentions a newspaper clipping as part of her research for the book of a different charismatic Catholic group, People of Hope. Newsweek regrets the error.

Newsweek didnt immediately respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment.

Reuters also included Handmaids Tale in its original headline and claimed: Some have likened People of Praise, a self-described charismatic Christian community, to the totalitarian, male-dominated society of Margaret Atwoods novel The Handmaids Tale.'

The article was later edited heavily and the reference to the novel was removed from the headline, as was the referenced statement.

An editors note says a paragraph was corrected to show [the] groups website says it has liberal and conservative members, does not describe itself as ultraconservative.

The Thomson Reuters building in New York City in a 2011 file photograph. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Asked why so much was changed post-publication with little notice about what changed, a Reuters spokesperson told The Epoch Times via email: As we continued to report this story and received comment from a spokesperson from People of Praise, we updated our story to reflect additional information.

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) joined in on the pushback to the targeting of Coney Barretts faith.

Im Catholic, OK. And religion should not enter into it. It sure doesnt with me, Manchin, who opposes filling the vacant Supreme Court seat before the election, said during an appearance on Fox & Friends on Sept. 23.

Its awful to bring in religion. It truly is, he added.

People of Praise spokesman Sean Connolly told The Epoch Times in an email: In suggesting a link between People of Praise and Margaret Atwoods The Handmaids Tale, the burden of proof clearly lies with the news outlet making such a claim.

Bottom line: There has never been any evidence whatsoever to suggest that the People of Praise played a role in inspiring Margaret Atwoods book, he said, adding later that there are no similarities whatsoever between a faith community that recognizes that men and women share a fundamental equality as bearers of Gods image and a fictional dystopia in which women are treated like property.

People of Praise describes itself as a charismatic Christian community that has about 1,700 members in 22 cities across the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean. It was founded in 1971 in South Bend, Indiana.

Jesus desires unity for all people. We live out this unity the best we can, in spite of the divisions within Christianity. We are Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Episcopalians, Methodists, Pentecostals, Presbyterians, and other denominational and nondenominational Christians, the groups site states.

Despite our differences, we are bound together by our Christian baptism. Despite our differences, we worship together. While remaining faithful members of our own churches, we have found a way to live our daily lives together.

Some former members have been critical of the group. Coral Anika Theill, who left the group in 1984, claimed in a blog post that she lived the Handmaids Tale before leaving the group.

I was required to be a helpmeet in a world like the one from Margaret Atwoods dystopian novel The Handmaids Tale,' she wrote, adding that her husband at the time used coercive control, isolation and intimidation tactics to strip me of my personhood, safety, and freedoms as a United States citizen.

Reuters cited Theills tale. In the updated version, it clarified that it couldnt independently verify her account.

A People of Praise spokesman told the outlet when asked about the account that the group follows Christian teachings that men and women share a fundamental equality as bearers of Gods image.

We value independent thinking, he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 21:14:52|Editor: huaxia

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ISTANBUL, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Turkey's biggest city Istanbul on Wednesday obliged citizens to get a "health code" to be able to enter all public institution buildings, a move to curb the fast spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In line with the new rule, people will be allowed to access public offices only after they show the code and prove that they are not infected with the coronavirus.

The code, provided by an e-government portal, also reveals whether citizens have recently contacted an infected person.

Starting from the early hours of the day, local officials have taken additional measures across Istanbul to reduce overcrowding at the gates of the public institutions and assisted citizens on how to get their codes online.

"Our staff has been trying to help those who couldn't download the related mobile application to get their codes," Sefa Demiryurek, district governor of Uskudar on the Asian side of the city, told reporters in front of the government office.

Meanwhile, the Provincial and District Filiation Board meeting was held under the coordination of Istanbul Governor Ali Yerlikaya to discuss and evaluate the existing and possible additional measures to be taken in the megapolis with a population of over 16 million.

Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu said the board prepared an inclusive road map to conduct a comprehensive struggle against the pandemic under the coordination of the governorship.

According to the latest data of the Health Ministry, Istanbul recorded a total of 205 new daily cases in the previous day, indicating an 8.1-percent decrease from the figures on Monday. Enditem
Shweta Singh Kirti, sister of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput on Tuesday, shared an old picture of the actor as he trained hard for his 2018 film Kedarnath. In Kedarnath he played the role of a porter and the film also featured Sara Ali Khan opposite him.

The post is a collage of two pictures of Sushant. In the first one, the actor can be seen working out on a treadmill carrying heavy weights on his shoulder. While the other one is a still from the film. Whatever he (Bhai) did, he gave his 100%. Now the justice and the revolution too will be 100%. Faith #JusticeforSushantSingRajput, Shweta captioned the photo.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shweta Singh kirti (@shwetasinghkirti) on Sep 22, 2020 at 10:29am PDT

Kedarnath, released in 2018 was directed by Abhishek Kapoor. The film was about a love story during the 2013 Uttarakhand floods. Sushant played Mansoor and Sara Ali Khan, who debuted in Bollywood with this film, essayed the role of Mukku.

Meanwhile, the CBI, NCB and ED are investigating the case of Sushant Singh Rajputs demise. As per the latest update, a Mumbai Special Court on Tuesday extended the judicial custody of Bollywood actress Rhea Chakraborty till October 6, who is one of the prime accused in death case related to the actor.

The Chakraborty siblings, along with several others, were arrested in connection with the drug case investigations as part of the probe into the death of the late actor Sushant Singh Rajput. The actress was produced before the Special NDPS Court vide video-conferencing on Tuesday afternoon after her 14-days judicial custody ended.

Shortly afterwards she and her brother Showiks lawyer Satish Maneshinde moved the Bombay High Court for bail. Rhea Chakraborty and Showik Chakraborty have filed a bail application in Bombay High Court. It is coming up for hearing on September 23 before Justice S.V. Kotwal," said Maneshinde.

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) is expected to seek a days custody for Showik Chakraborty later in the day.

(with inputs from IANS)
Bengaluru, Sep 23 : Taiwanese electronics major Acer on Wednesday announced Bollywood actor Sonu Sood, who helped thousands of people during the Covid-19 pandemic, as its brand ambassador in India.

The actor will be seen endorsing the brand's innovative range of products across media platforms for the campaign to talk about Acer's commitment to improving people's lives through technology.

"Our association with Sonu Sood will further reinforce this bond and give our consumers a greater sense of objective on trust, strength, and dependability," Harish Kohli, President, and Managing Director, Acer India, said in a statement.

"We envisage this association will spur demand and excite our consumers," Kohli added.

This association will help Acer India drive awareness of leading India's next generation digital evolution through its cutting-edge innovation and products.

"The company has been committed to improving people's lives through technology over the last 21 years in India and it's a proud moment for me to be part of Acer's journey," Sood said.

According to the company, Acer is aiming to play a key role in the digital transformation in the country.

"Sonu Sood's persona and his contribution to empowering people resonates with Acer India's brand mantra of empowering people through technology," said Sudhir Goel, Chief Business Officer, Acer India.
President Moon delivers a speech at the 75th United Nations General Assembly, Wednesday, Sept. 23. Yonhap



By Do Je-hae



President Moon Jae-in's speech early Wednesday morning at the 75th United Nations General Assembly contained some proposals on engaging North Korea.



Political watchers, however, generally view the proposals, including declaring an end to the 1950-53 Korean War, as unrealistic in the current deadlock in inter-Korean and denuclearization talks.



Moon called for the support of the international community in declaring an official end to the war, which was halted by an armistice, not a peace treaty. He also proposed the establishment of a new network of countries in Northeast Asia, including the two Koreas, China, Japan and Mongolia, to promote cooperation in infectious disease control and the promotion of public health.



A push for a declaration ending the Korean War was one of the highlights of the 2018 Panmunjeom Declaration, the outcome of Moon's first summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. But the move has failed to capture the attention of the relevant parties, particularly with the deadlock in U.S.-North Korea denuclearization talks.



Under these circumstances, Moon's message has been met with the criticism that it lacked basic attention to the realities of U.S.-North Korea, U.S-China and inter-Korean relations. In particular, some experts pointed out that the speech did not contain much that North Korea would want to hear, and that it was unwise to bring up new proposals when there has not been much follow-up on those highlighted in last year's U.N. speech, in which Moon underscored three "principles"  zero tolerance for war, a mutual security guarantee and co-prosperity  for resolving issues related to the Korean War.



"From the North Korean perspective, what they want to hear most is realistic steps toward mutual security, which was highlighted during Moon's U.N. speech last year," Hong Min, director of the North Korea division at the Korea Institute for National Unification, told The Korea Times. "What they want to hear most is for South Korea to suggest military talks to discuss mutual security."



Not only did Moon's message lack any enticing proposals for Pyongyang, some experts see the renewed focus on a declaration ending the war as highly problematic in that the relevant parties  the U.S. and China  are not interested in it at this point, not to mention the North Korea problem in general. U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping did not mention anything about North Korea during their respective speeches at the General Assembly.





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 at U.N. headquarters. AP-Yonhap
Ever since it was released on August 11, Finding Freedom by Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand has attracted much attention. The biography claims to tell the story of Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and it has also been said the couple themselves did not contribute to the book.

Finding Freedom is now being brought up in Harry and Meghans ongoing lawsuit with British newspapers, where Meghans lawyer points out several inaccurate details to debunk the claim that Harry and Meghan provided information to the authors.

Many people believe Prince Harry and Meghan Markle contributed to Finding Freedom

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle biography hits @amazon number one on pre-orders, as Finding Freedom following a weekend of headlines about its contents! Discover more here: https://t.co/2hG4YP8LvT pic.twitter.com/ebYO36GLVH  The Bookseller (@thebookseller) July 27, 2020

RELATED: Why Prince Charles Is Too Afraid to Publicly Support Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, According to Royal Expert

Since the beginning, the Sussexes team has denied Harry and Meghans involvement in writing Finding Freedom. A statement was released in July to USA Today, saying, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were not interviewed and did not contribute to Finding Freedom. This book is based on the authors own experiences as members of the royal press corps and their own independent reporting.

However, many people continue to believe Harry and Meghan did contribute to the book. For example, the book talks about various intimate details relating to the couples relationship, such as what they ate on their first date and what went on during their private trip to Botswana in 2016.

Critics have also pointed out the lack of denouncement or a lawsuit from Harry and Meghan as a clue that they had a hand in Finding Freedom.

Finding Freedom was recently brought up in Prince Harry and Meghan Markles court case

The first of three days of exclusive extracts from Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family https://t.co/0OdVrQ8x8s  The Times (@thetimes) July 25, 2020

RELATED: Fans Believe Prince Harry Failed Meghan Markle In 1 Important Way

In the fall of 2019, Harry and Meghan began suing a few British newspapers for allegedly invading their privacy. Now, Finding Freedom has been brought up in the court case to claim that Harry and Meghan might have permitted details of their lives to be shared with the world.

Yet, Harry and Meghan continue to deny their involvement in the book. According to Town & Country, their legal team said in a court submission that the Sussexes 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.

Meghan Markles lawyer claims Finding Freedom contains inaccurate information about the Sussexes

Meghan Markle | Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

To further help their case, Meghans lawyer, Jenny Afia, also breaks down several details in Finding Freedom. According to court documents, Afia claims many details in the book are either extremely anodyne and/or I understand are the product of creative licence and/or are inaccurate.

For example, Finding Freedom spent many pages talking about Harry and Meghans private trip to Botswana in 2016. The trip took place just several weeks after the two of them began dating. Finding Freedom claims it was where they really got to know each other and made many fond memories.

Yet, as reported by the Daily Mail, Afia alleges not everything in the book is accurate, including the resort where the couple stayed.

Finding Freedom says the pair stayed at the Meno A Kwena safari camp on the edge of Makgadikgadi Pans national park, the Daily Mail wrote. 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.'

Additionally, Afia also provided a long list of other details that are reportedly incorrect, such as those concerning the Sussexes first date, Harrys first meeting with Meghans mother, and how Harry communicated with his dad after his son was born.
Cindy McCain on Tuesday endorsed Democratic nominee Joe Biden for president, a stunning rebuke of President Donald Trump by the widow of the GOP's 2008 nominee.

Trump has had a fraught relationship with members of John McCain's family since he disparaged the Arizona senator during his 2016 campaign. But the McCains have stopped short of endorsing Trump's rivals until now.

"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," McCain tweeted.

"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," she wrote.

Cindy McCain's backing could help Biden appeal to Republicans disaffected with the GOP president and give the former vice president a boost in Arizona, a crucial swing state that McCain represented in Congress for 35 years. He's remained a revered figure since his 2018 death from complications of a brain tumor, particularly with the independent voters whom Biden is courting.

Biden told donors on Tuesday evening that McCain's endorsement was coming "because of what (Trump) talks about how my son and John and others who are heroes, who served their country. You know, he said they're 'losers, suckers.'"

"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," McCain also tweeted on Tuesday.

Biden was referring to comments Trump reportedly made mocking the American war dead. Trump has denied making the remarks, first reported through anonymous sources by The Atlantic, but many of the comments were later confirmed by The Associated Press.

Cindy McCain had not initially been expected to offer an explicit endorsement of Biden, but she had already gone to bat for his presidential run. She lent her voice to a video that aired during the Democratic National Convention and was focused on Biden's close friendship with her late husband.

John McCain was assigned to be a military aide for Biden, then a senator, during an overseas trip, and their families formed an enduring friendship. They later shared a grim bond over glioblastoma, an aggressive cancer that killed Biden's son Beau three years before McCain succumbed to the same disease.

John McCain said in 2016 that he couldn't support Trump or Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016, citing Trump's demeaning comments about women.

"It's not pleasant for me to renounce the nominee of my party," McCain said during a debate as he sought his sixth term in the Senate. "He won the nomination fair and square."

A Navy pilot, John McCain was shot down over North Vietnam in 1967. He was captured, beaten and held prisoner for more than five years, refusing to be released ahead of other American service members.

During his 2016 campaign, Trump said of McCain, "He's not a war hero. He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren't captured." McCain later angered Trump with his dramatic thumbs-down vote against repealing Obama's health care law.

The McCains' daughter Meghan McCain has been outspoken about the pain she feels when the president disparages her father. Biden consoled Meghan McCain on an appearance on "The View" after her father was diagnosed with the cancer that eventually took his life. She has said Biden often reaches out to her to offer support, after losing his own son Beau to the same cancer in 2015.

Trump wasn't invited to John McCain's funeral.
Last week, you might have seen that Informa plc (LON:INF) released its half-year result to the market. The early response was not positive, with shares down 9.7% to UK3.62 in the past week. It was a workmanlike result, with revenues of UK814m coming in 8.2% ahead of expectations, and statutory earnings per share of UK0.18, in line with analyst appraisals. The analysts typically update their forecasts at each earnings report, and we can judge from their estimates whether their view of the company has changed or if there are any new concerns to be aware of. We thought readers would find it interesting to see the analysts latest (statutory) post-earnings forecasts for next year.

Check out our latest analysis for Informa

Taking into account the latest results, the 16 analysts covering Informa provided consensus estimates of UK1.71b revenue in 2020, which would reflect a disturbing 26% decline on its sales over the past 12 months. The loss per share is expected to greatly reduce in the near future, narrowing 36% to UK0.36. Before this earnings announcement, the analysts had been modelling revenues of UK1.86b and losses of UK0.045 per share in 2020. While this year's revenue estimates dropped there was also a loss per share expectations, suggesting the consensus has a bit of a mixed view on the stock.

The consensus price target fell 5.6% to UK5.27, with the analysts clearly concerned about the company following the weaker revenue and earnings outlook. Fixating on a single price target can be unwise though, since the consensus target is effectively the average of analyst price targets. As a result, some investors like to look at the range of estimates to see if there are any diverging opinions on the company's valuation. The most optimistic Informa analyst has a price target of UK6.30 per share, while the most pessimistic values it at UK2.77. Note the wide gap in analyst price targets? This implies to us that there is a fairly broad range of possible scenarios for the underlying business.

Story continues

Another way we can view these estimates is in the context of the bigger picture, such as how the forecasts stack up against past performance, and whether forecasts are more or less bullish relative to other companies in the industry. These estimates imply that sales are expected to slow, with a forecast revenue decline of 26%, a significant reduction from annual growth of 20% over the last five years. By contrast, our data suggests that other companies (with analyst coverage) in the same industry are forecast to see their revenue grow 8.9% annually for the foreseeable future. So although its revenues are forecast to shrink, this cloud does not come with a silver lining - Informa is expected to lag the wider industry.

The Bottom Line

The most important thing to note is the forecast of increased losses next year, suggesting all may not be well at Informa. On the negative side, they also downgraded their revenue estimates, and forecasts imply revenues will perform worse than the wider industry. The consensus price target fell measurably, with the analysts seemingly not reassured by the latest results, leading to a lower estimate of Informa's future valuation.

Keeping that in mind, we still think that the longer term trajectory of the business is much more important for investors to consider. At Simply Wall St, we have a full range of analyst estimates for Informa going out to 2023, and you can see them free on our platform here..

We don't want to rain on the parade too much, but we did also find 3 warning signs for Informa (1 is a bit unpleasant!) that you need to be mindful of.

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 leader in Human Insights surpasses $100M ARR as more organizations recognize the importance of customer empathy as a business differentiator

UserTesting, a leading provider of on-demand human insights, today announced key milestones reached, achieved by enabling organizations to align more closely with their customers during a year of business and social unrest. The company tabulates more than 14,000 studies a month, and with 1,600 studies run to date by organizations directly asking about customer behavior and attitudes related to COVID-19 and social justice. UserTesting attributes its success to the success of its customers and has recently surpassed $100 million in annual recurring revenue, growing rapidly year-over-year, a sign of customer satisfaction and strong demand. Today more than 2,000 organizations in 45 countries use the UserTesting? Human Insight Platform. With the industry's largest and most diverse panel of test participants, UserTesting has also paid out $50 million to panelists across the globe to provide their feedback, insights, and opinions on some of the world's most valuable brand experiences, since 2007.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200923005344/en/

UserTesting Company Milestones (Graphic: Business Wire)

"Now more than ever, companies need to understand rapidly changing consumer sentiment and behaviors. When brands can observe how their customers react to the experiences in front of them, they are able to better understand, predict, and adapt to their needs," said UserTesting CEO Andy MacMillan. "Increasingly, our platform is becoming a cornerstone of some of the most innovative startups, and the world's largest organizations as well. We take pride in exceeding customers' expectations to provide them with real feedback quickly, so they can make more informed business decisions. 2020 has been about empathy and understanding. UserTesting customers know that and are meeting today's challenges as an opportunity to deliver value to their customers."

Key 2020 company highlights include:

International Expansion: UserTesting's European headquarters, based in Edinburgh, Scotland, celebrated its one year anniversary in July. In its first year, the EMEA region has seen an impressive 400 percent growth in its customer base. Additionally, in July UserTesting was pleased to announce the new international expansion by naming GB Kumar the company's first Asia Pacific regional Vice President of Sales. In March, the company acquired Teston, a European provider of multilingual experience testing which has helped to accelerate its growth internationally, with localized customer feedback offerings in Norwegian, Swedish, German, and French.

UserTesting's European headquarters, based in Edinburgh, Scotland, celebrated its one year anniversary in July. In its first year, the EMEA region has seen an impressive 400 percent growth in its customer base. Additionally, in July UserTesting was pleased to announce the new international expansion by naming GB Kumar the company's first Asia Pacific regional Vice President of Sales. In March, the company acquired Teston, a European provider of multilingual experience testing which has helped to accelerate its growth internationally, with localized customer feedback offerings in Norwegian, Swedish, German, and French. Headcount Growth: UserTesting has reached 550 global employees, an increase of 50 percent from this time last year. The rapidly growing EMEA team experienced a 750 percent increase in employee headcount in EMEA, currently with 93 employees throughout the region; while the company has also recently made strategic hires in APAC to support its go-to-market efforts.

UserTesting has reached 550 global employees, an increase of 50 percent from this time last year. The rapidly growing EMEA team experienced a 750 percent increase in employee headcount in EMEA, currently with 93 employees throughout the region; while the company has also recently made strategic hires in APAC to support its go-to-market efforts. Product Innovation: Launched in April, Marketing Insight is a solution designed to help marketers get fast feedback on any campaign, creative, or idea-from existing and prospective customers. Marketers can now get think-aloud video feedback from their target audience or schedule a same day 1:1 Live Conversation with their customer and get fast feedback on any experience.

Launched in April, Marketing Insight is a solution designed to help marketers get fast feedback on any campaign, creative, or idea-from existing and prospective customers. Marketers can now get think-aloud video feedback from their target audience or schedule a same day 1:1 Live Conversation with their customer and get fast feedback on any experience. Funding: In March, UserTesting announced the close of a $100M funding round led by global venture capital and private equity firm Insight Partners, with participation from existing investors Accel, OpenView, and Greenspring.

In March, UserTesting announced the close of a $100M funding round led by global venture capital and private equity firm Insight Partners, with participation from existing investors Accel, OpenView, and Greenspring. Industry Accolades: UserTesting has earned some of the most widely respected corporate growth and workplace awards. Recent accolades include Fortune 100 Best Small and Medium Companies to Work For, Inc. 5000 List, Financial Times The Americas' Fastest Growing Companies, BritishAmerican Business Transatlantic Growth Award, and the San Francisco Business Times Best Places to Work to name a few.

Human Insight World Customer Conference

Be sure to register for Human Insight World (HiWorld20), a free virtual event hosted by UserTesting for all experience professionals across research, design, product, and marketing-taking place October 12-14, 2020. Register today to reserve your seat and hear from industry leaders: Christian Idiodi, Jonah Berger, and Tricia Wang, and practitioners from brands including Alaska Airlines, Capital One, Facebook, GoDaddy, The Home Depot, and more, who are all pioneering the future of CX.

About UserTesting

UserTesting enables every organization to deliver the best customer experience powered by human insight. With UserTesting's on-demand Human Insight Platform, companies across industries make accurate customer-first decisions at every level, at the speed business demands. With UserTesting, product teams, marketers, digital, and customer experience executives, designers and UX researchers confidently and quickly create the right experiences for all target audiences, increasing brand loyalty and revenue. UserTesting has more than 2,000 subscription customers, including more than half of the world's top brands, and has delivered human insights to over 35,000 companies to-date. UserTesting is headquartered in San Francisco, CA. To learn more, visit www.usertesting.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200923005344/en/

Contacts:

UserTesting, Inc.

Chris Halcon

415-699-0553

chalcon@usertesting.com
Turkish president to speak to EU president and NATO chief Diplomacy on eastern Mediterranean continues

(ANSAmed) - ISTANBUL, SEPTEMBER 23 - After a thawing of relations with Greece on Tuesday, with the announcement of ''explorative talks'' to be held soon in Istanbul, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan continues diplomatic contact with the EU and NATO on the tension in the eastern Mediterranean.



On Wednesday afternoon, Erdogan will be speaking in a videoconference with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and then via telephone with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who in recent weeks has been working to avoid a military escalation between Greece and Turkey - both NATO members.



The announcement was by the Turkish presidents' office.



(ANSAmed).




Key appointment forms part of Creavo's strategy to scale the Company

Creavo's Corsens technology developed to improve patient care pathway in cardiac diagnostics

Creavo Medical Technologies Ltd (Creavo), the medical device company developing innovative diagnostics techniques, has announced that it has appointed Martin Frost as Chairman of the Board of Directors. In this role, Martin will drive Creavo's fundraising plans, and guide its strategy to scale the business and commercialise its diagnostic technologies.

Creavo has designed and built a platform device to map and analyse the magnetic fields of the heart. Based on this platform, the Company is developing Corsens, a medical device intended to be used by non-specialist staff to scan patients through clothing, at the point of admission to emergency departments. The non-invasive product has been designed to improve speed and accuracy in the ruling out of potentially life-threatening heart problems, to reduce patient anxiety and save hospitals valuable time and resource.

With over 20 years of industry experience, Martin co-founded CMR Surgical in 2014. As CEO of CMR he was recognised as 'UK Disruptor of the year' in the 2019 Entrepreneur of the Year awards, and 'Executive of the Year' at the 2019 MedTech Insight awards, recognising his success in taking CMR from inception to global commercialisation with its surgical robot, Versius. To scale CMR, Martin raised over 250m, a record for any private European medical devices business. Previously Martin has held several C-suite positions including CEO and CFO of Sagentia, the leading technology development company based in Cambridge, which he listed on the London Stock Exchange. Martin qualified as a Chartered Management Accountant, graduated from Cambridge University, and is Chair of the Peek Vision Foundation.

Martin succeeds Robert Barr who has championed the technology with Creavo founder, Professor Ben Varcoe, since 2009 and has chaired the Board from company inception in 2014. Robert helped to successfully spin out Creavo from the University of Leeds through proof of concept studies to a point where the technology can be deployed into hospital trials.

Martin Frost, Chairman of the Board at Creavo, commented: "I believe that the technology developed by the team at Creavo has the potential to make a substantial difference in emergency medicine, which is an area of urgent unmet clinical need. Creavo has every opportunity to become a significant UK medical devices company and I look forward to working with Steve and the Board on that journey."

Steve Parker, Creavo Medical Technologies' Chief Executive Officer, said: "I am delighted to welcome Martin to Creavo, particularly at a point where we are rapidly progressing towards commercialisation. His considerable experience in successfully growing medical device businesses will make a significant difference and add value to the company and for our shareholders. I would like to thank Robert for his commitment to Creavo and his guidance and support, which has enabled us to get where we are today."

For more information please visit: www.creavomedtech.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200923005392/en/

Contacts:

Lorna Cuddon

Zyme Communications

Tel: +44(0)7811996942

Email: lorna.cuddon@zymecommunications.com
It was a speedy affair to crown a champion on the final day of WCOOP-73-M: $1,050 PLO [6-Max, Main Event] as barely five and a half hours passed to whittle down the 18 survivors out of a field of 788 entries to a winner.

In the end, it was Kahle "ROFLshove" Burns who defeated Guilherme "guilherme12" Decourt in heads-up to claim the lion's share of the $788,000 prize pool.

The Australian poker pro is no stranger to the poker world as the two-time WSOP bracelet winner has over $10,731,557 to his name according to The Hendon Mob and has now add a WCOOP title to his long list of accomplishments, which came with a payday of $133,757.

Final Table ResultsWCOOP-73-M: $1,050 PLO [6-Max, Main Event]

Position Player Country Prize 1 Kahle "ROFLshove" Burns Australia $133,757 2 Guilherme "guilherme12" Decourt Brazil $94,178 3 Ludovic "ludovi333" Geilich United Kingdom $66,311 4 "klem90" Austria $46,690 5 "ZipOHoy" Norway $32,874 6 "fish_san" Japan $23,147

Action Until the Final Table

"Zagalo87" and "beastishngry" came into the final day at the bottom of the chip counts so it was no surprise that they were the first two virtual bodies to drop.

Dimitri "MITS 304" Michaelides made his exit shortly after followed by "NikkooD", who failed to complete his flush draw against "WhatifGod" holding a pair of aces.

Joep "Pappe_Ruk" van den Bijgaart had a rough start into the final day after he picked up a pair of cowboys only to run into "WhatifGod's" pocket aces.

Joep van den Bijgaart

"jokkee_apart" suffered several setbacks early on and their final hand wouldn't be any different. After flopping top two-pair, "jokkee_apart" was looking good to score their much-needed double up until Crema turned a set of aces ending their tournament.

Next to go was "Thomsgen", who got their last chips in good but Burns caught a lucky river sending them to the rail in 12th place.

"Riphraph94" had a disappointing Day 3 after coming into the final day third in chips, they made their exit in 11th place after they held an inferior two-pair against Geilich.

"texasilainen" was the next to fall after their pocket aces were set up by "klem90's" pocket kings.

Thiago Crema

Thiago "KKremate" Crema was the next person that climbed aboard the disappointment train as he went into his final hand second in chips only to call off his stack holding two-pair against Burns who held the nut-straight.

After sending multiple people to the rail, "WhatifGod" took their exit in eighth place after they got their chips in the middle with a gutshot staright draw and was called by Geilich who flopped the goods. "WhatifGod" picked up a diamond draw on the turn but their tournament ended after they bricked the river.

The official final table bubble boy was then Olli "Era_Koira" Ikonen who was wheeled out by the door in seventh place by Burns.

Burns Prevails While Geilich's Heater Comes to an End

Ludovic Geilich

Once the final table was set, Geilich and Burns held more than half of the total chips in play between them and Geilich continued to add chips after he eliminated "fish_san" in sixth place, "ZipOHoy" in fifth place and "klem90" in fourth place.

When three-handed action started, both Geilich and Burns held substantial chip advantages over Decourt but that wouldn't deteriorate him as he doubled-up through each of them, leveling the playing field.

The start of Level 39 saw all three players within a few big blinds but it was Burns and Decourt dominated the action to become the run-away chip leaders. Geilich held on for as long as he could and found a few double-ups until ultimately giving his chips to Decourt.

The heads-up battle saw the both players hold even stacks but it was Burns who established a comfortable lead early on and he never looked back.
After successfully presenting spring and summer 2020 art exhibitions virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of North Georgia (UNG) art galleries will display their fall shows online and in person on UNG's Dahlonega and Gainesville campuses.

"The galleries will be open with social distancing rules in the galleries," said Victoria Cooke, director of art galleries.

She explained the decision to continue in-person shows was to give students the best art experience.

"The main purpose of the gallery is actually teaching students," Cooke said. "They see plenty of works in slides in class. When they can see art in person, they can look at the techniques and see what the artist did on a canvas, print or sculpture. You don't see that in slides in the same way."

Talks from the featured artists, however, will be conducted via Zoom. This will give UNG students direct access to professionals for a designated period of time. Interested students can register by emailing Cooke at Victoria.Cooke@ung.edu.

Professionals slated for the fall 2020 exhibitions include printmakers, painters and sculptures. Many are local, but others are from other states or countries.

Returning for its ninth installment was The Southern Printmaking Biennial in the Bob Owens Art Gallery on UNG's Dahlonega Campus. It was the first exhibition on display in Dahlonega for the 2020-21 academic year.

"We had printmakers from all over the world participating in this annual exhibit," Cooke said. "We had a wide variety of work and techniques."

She explained it was a juried show, which means a juror or panel of jurors selected the exhibition pieces.

"The piece selected best in show will be the juror for the next show," Cooke said.

The first show at the Roy C. Moore Art Gallery will feature printmaker and sculptor Leigh Garcia.

The first show at the Roy C. Moore Art Gallery will feature printmaker and sculptor Leigh Garcia, who has a unique point of view based on her heritage. Cooke said Garcia's mother is a native of Texas and her father is a native of Mexico.

"Her art deals with immigration and identity issues, which speaks to things going on in the country right now," Cooke said.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cooke said she will remain flexible with the other fall exhibitions.
Park officials of Khao Yai National Park just had enough of tourists who leave their litter behind. Park officials recently mailed a boxful of junk back to the rubbish offender.





Return Trash Back

In a Facebook post, Thailand's Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-Archa, Thailand's Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-Archa warned visitors who leave their garbage at the park.

"I will pick up every single piece of your trash, pack them well in a box and mail it to your home as a souvenir," the post said.

The picture also showed a tent full of rubbish, such as discarded plastic bottles and other litter.

The next day, Varawut disclosed that he did what he posted. The post said that the garbage has been packed in a box and ready for sending to the offender.

The post showed a packed box full of trash, ready for shipping with the marked down address of the offender and a note which says, "You have forgotten some of your belongings at the Khao Yai National Park, please let us return these to you.".

Offenders are fined with 500,000 Thai Baht (approximately US $16,000) and may get a prison sentence for up to five years or both.

Varawut said that the offenders would also have a record with the police.

READ: Enjoy a Wild Vacation at Destinations That Bring the Animal Kingdom to You





How They Tracked the Litterbug



The park, which was known for its diverse wildlife and lush forest, has long blamed tourists for leaving their litters behind after a visit to the park, spoiling the place's beauty.

Park authorities tracked the offenders from the accomplished rental equipment forms they signed and a prescription bottle left in the tent.

Park officials also blacklisted the visitor from returning to the park for an overnight visit.

Following this incident, park authorities will require visitors to the park to register their addresses to make it easier to track trash offenders.





READ NEXT: 5 Baby Gorillas Born in Bwindi, Uganda Bringing Joy to Mountain Gorilla Conservation Workers





Khao Yai National Park

The park, which covers 2,168 km2 covering rain/evergreen forests and grassland, is the oldest national park in Thailand and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The park is within the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex and is the refuge of various wildlife.

On July 1, the park reopened to the public after the lockdown brought about by the pandemic but with visitors limited only to 5,000. The lockdown was a refreshing time for the animals there as park authorities report that when the park was closed, elephants were seen returning to their old paths while the Asian black bear and guar also got out of their hiding places and started to venture out.

Meanwhile, the Thai tourism board lauded the efforts of Varawut and the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment. Authorities also stressed that littering poses a danger to wild animals as they tend to eat it while searching for food.

READ NEXT: Red Foxes Invade Habitats of Arctic Foxes Due to Littering





Check out more news and information on Garbage on Nature World News.
A "Peace" Deal Like No Other



Much ado about nothing, but Act 2 is coming up



By Philip Giraldi

September 22, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - It is odd that the White House is gloating over its claimed peace agreement in the Middle East at the same time as one of the signatories is bombing Syria, Lebanon and Gaza. It all suggests that peace in the region will exclude designated enemies and the friends of those enemies, since the ties among the three parties  Israel, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain  is transparently in part an offensive alliance directed against Iran and its friends, to include Syria and Lebanon. A significant amount of the horse trading that preceded the gala signing ceremony in the White House involved who would get what advanced American weapons down the road. The UAE wants F-35 fighter bombers while Israel is already asking for $8 billion for more top-level weapons from the U.S. taxpayer to maintain its qualitative edge over its new found friends.

For the more sagacious readers who chose to ignore what took place, a short recap is in order. Last Tuesday President Trump hosted a White House signing ceremony during which Israel established formal ties with the two Arab states. The agreement was dubbed the Abraham Accord because it purports to build on the foundation provided by the fraternity, as one might put it, of the three Abrahamic religions, namely Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. More specifically, it created the mechanism for diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties between Israel and the two Arab countries. It should be observed that both the UAE and Bahrain are close to being client states of the U.S. Bahrain is in fact the home port of the U.S. Fifth Fleet that operates in the region and it also hosts headquarters of the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT). Both countries have long had de facto semi-secret relations with Israel on security issues and Israelis have been able to travel to them as long as they do not do so on an Israeli passport. And they both also know that the road to improving already good relations with Washington passes through Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu personally attended the ceremony, together with the foreign ministers of the UAE and Bahrain. Trump enthused Were here this afternoon to change the course of history and presented a replica gold key to the White House to Netanyahu. It is not known if the two Arab ministers received anything beyond a dont let the door hit you in the ass on your way out.

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The president observed that the two Arab nations were the third and fourth to normalize relations with Israel, following on Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994, and predicted that five more Arab countries might soon also recognize Israel. Oman and Qatar, which hosts the major U.S. airbase at Al-Udeid, are likely to be next in line as both have close ties to the United States and have never exhibited much hardline anti-Israeli fervor. The claim made before the signing, that Israel would stand down on its plan to annex much of the Palestinian West Bank as a quid pro quo for the agreement was not discussed at all, nor was it part of the document. It is generally believed that Israel will wait until after the U.S. election to make its move.

The Palestinians, who have been on the receiving end of Israeli nation-building were not invited. There were some demonstrations by Palestinians in Gaza and Ramallah denouncing the signing as it took place, together with chanting that Palestine isnt for sale. Indeed, Palestinians are more-or-less invisible in Washington, having had their representational office closed by Trump in 2018 after he had been shown a fabricated video by Netanyahu in which Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas appeared to be calling for the murder of children. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson also viewed the video and informed the president that it was an obvious fabrication, but Trump was convinced by it.

The U.S. media, always inclined to applaud anything that advances Israeli interests, registered its approval of the agreement. And there were calls for awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to Trump for his miraculous achievement, not as ridiculous as it sounds as it is at least as well deserved as the one that was given to Barack Obama. Trump the peacemaker has a nice ring to it, and it quite possibly pay off for the president in terms of votes and political contributions. Indeed, if one looks at the White House ceremony dyspeptically, it becomes clear that the whole event was staged for political purposes to advance GOP interests in the upcoming election. If it changes anything on the ground at all it actually worsens the chances for peace in the region. The UAE and Bahrain are now locked into a unified effort to oppose Iran by military force if necessary, with open support from Israel plus covert aid from Saudi Arabia as well as the full backing of the United States.

One might reasonably argue that the agreement was a win for Israel, the UAE and Bahrain, as they have succeeded in obliging the U.S. to support their own regional security interests for the foreseeable future. The media, defense contractors and politicians bought and paid for by Israel will be able to assert that the U.S. must retain significant forces in the region to defend Israel and friendly Arab states against the largely fictitious Iranian menace. It is unfortunately a major setback for United States efforts to limit its exposure to any and all political developments in an increasingly unstable Middle East. If the White House had really wanted to disengage from the quagmire that it has found itself in, it was an odd way to go about it.

And the Palestinians are left with nowhere to go, the presumption being that with lessening Arab support they will be reduced to begging Israel (and the U.S.) for a deal that will reduce them to the status of helots. That conclusion just might make them desperate and could trigger a new and even more bloody intifada.

The downside of the agreement is already beginning to play out as the United States is preparing to unilaterally impose sanctions on Iran that will include possible seizure of Iranian ships in international waters, while Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has also warned Russia and China against trying to sell weapons to Tehran. One might well ask, how exactly does Pompeo propose to do that? Will he shoot down Russian transport planes or sink Chinese and Russian flagged ships? How does one go from being crazy to being batshit crazy, and what about all those Americans and others who would prefer not to be on the receiving end of a nuclear exchange?

Trita Parsi, who follows the situation in the Middle East closely, has suggested that Pompeo might even be planning an October Surprise, which might amount to some kind of provocation or even a false flag operation that would result in open conflict with Iran with the U.S. arguing that the fighting is both lawful and defensive in nature.

Such as suggestion might be considered insanity, but there are signs that the U.S. in heightening its delegitimization campaign against Iran. Unconfirmable allegations from anonymous U.S. government sources are surfacing about an alleged Iranian plot to kill the U.S. Ambassador in South Africa. And, as of Saturday, Washington is now implementing its new sanctions regime and there is a distinct possibility that an Iranian vessel in the Persian Gulf might be seized, forcing Iran to respond. The U.S. Navy has already intercepted four Greek flagged tankers in the Atlantic Ocean on their way to Venezuela, claiming they were carrying Iranian petroleum products, which were then confiscated. Given the demonstrated propensity to use armed force, anything is possible. The thinking in the White House might be that a containable war against a recognized enemy might be just the ticket to win in November. Of course, once the fighting starts it might not work out that way.
NEW YORK and ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Warburg Pincus, a leading global private equity firm focused on growth investing, today announced that it has agreed to a strategic investment in GA Foods, a leading provider of nutritional meals serving healthcare and senior customers. The growth investment will support future strategic initiatives including continued investments in the healthcare sector and scaling the company's manufacturing and logistics footprint.

Founded in 1973, GA Foods is a specialized maker of highly specified meals serving the unique needs of healthcare members, seniors, children, the military, and for disaster relief efforts. The Company's services include meal design, food preparation & packaging, distribution, and integration with payor & provider systems for both home-delivered and congregate customers. These meals often contribute to these populations avoiding costly nursing home stays and hospital readmissions.

"At GA Foods, we are focused on two things: nourishing those in need and delivering assistance where and when it is needed. We are proud of what we have accomplished over the past four decades and we remain committed to providing nutritional meal solutions," said Ken LoBianco, Co-Founder and CEO, GA Foods. "We look forward to working with Warburg Pincus as we continue to provide innovative solutions for our customers."

"We are excited by this investment and the opportunity it will provide to strengthen and grow our product offering, capabilities and network, enabling us to deliver more meals to more people in need," added Glenn Davenport, President, GA Foods. "Warburg Pincus shares our vision of driving GA Foods to become a leader in healthcare and senior care and we believe the firm is the ideal partner to support us in our next chapter."

"Ken and Glenn have built an exceptional mission-driven, dynamic company serving the nutritional needs of multiple populations across the United States," said Stephanie Geveda, Managing Director, Warburg Pincus. "Warburg Pincus is honored to partner with GA Foods as they embark on this next chapter and we look forward to working with the management team to accelerate the company's growth and address the growing healthcare market opportunity."

Warburg Pincus' investment in GA Foods underscores its long-standing thesis around value-based healthcare and food services, as illustrated by the firm's current and historical investments in Alignment Healthcare, Summit-CityMD, Hygiena, Aramark, Grubhub, Trimark and A Place for Mom.

JMP Securities LLC acted as financial advisor and Burns & Levinson LLP served as legal advisor for GA Foods. Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP served as legal advisor for Warburg Pincus.

About Warburg Pincus

Warburg Pincus LLC is a leading global private equity firm focused on growth investing. The firm has more than $53 billion in private equity assets under management. The firm's active portfolio of more than 185 companies is highly diversified by stage, sector, and geography. Warburg Pincus is an experienced partner to management teams seeking to build durable companies with sustainable value. Founded in 1966, Warburg Pincus has raised 19 private equity funds, which have invested more than $84 billion in over 900 companies in more than 40 countries. The firm is headquartered in New York with offices in Amsterdam, Beijing, Berlin, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Luxembourg, Mumbai, Mauritius, San Francisco, Sao Paulo, Shanghai, and Singapore. For more information please visit www.warburgpincus.com .

About GA Foods

Headquartered in St. Petersburg, Fla., GA Foods has been preparing and delivering meals to older adults since 1973. GA Foods is committed to providing a cost-effective solution for health plans to provide healthy meals for Medicare and Medicaid enrollees. For more information, please visit www.GAFoods.com.

Media Contact:

Kerrie Cohen, Warburg Pincus

[email protected]

SOURCE Warburg Pincus

Related Links

http://www.warburgpincus.com


Syracuse, N.Y.  A federal court has awarded more than $400,000 in legal fees to a woman who said she was coerced into sex by an on-duty Syracuse police officer.

Maleatra Montanez sued the city in 2016, accusing Officer Chester Thompson of using his position to pressure her into sex, and accusing his bosses of ignoring a pattern of similar allegations.

The city settled with Montanez last September on the eve of a trial. The city agreed to pay her $500,000 plus attorneys fees.

A federal court recently determined those fees to be $401,043.79, nearly doubling the cost to taxpayers.

The Common Council will meet Monday to vote on the settlement. City officials have requested issuing bonds to cover the amount.

Thompson was arrested then fired in 2015 for misconduct after he had sexual encounters with at least two women who had called police for help. He pleaded guilty to an official misconduct charge and was given three years probation.

After Montanez sued in civil court, Thompson was arrested again and charged with witness tampering. Montanez said he confronted her in Sylvan Beach and told her to drop the lawsuit.

In addition to Montanez, three other women filed official complaints against Thompson with the police department. Six other women made similar allegations against Thompson in the lawsuit.
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.
Lawmakers are expected to kick out a $62.75 billion state budget for the upcoming fiscal year this week, trimming funding to some state agencies but avoiding cuts to schools.

According to analyses from the nonpartisan House and Senate fiscal agencies, Michigans education budget for K-12 schools, community colleges and universities includes about $17.65 billion, with the School Aid Fund budget coming in at roughly $15.5 billion. The general government budget includes about $45.1 billion to fund other state agencies and programs.

The budget plan made public Wednesday is expected to pass both chambers of the legislature and head to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer this week. Budget negotiations, which typically play out over several months, were condensed considerably this cycle as officials awaited additional clarity on incoming tax revenues.

The final version of the education budget, which is slightly up from last fiscal year and includes a one-time $65 per-pupil increase for K-12 schools, cleared a House and Senate conference committee Wednesday morning and passed the Senate 36-1. Sen. Tom Barrett, R-Charlotte, was the lone no vote on the legislation.

Even as we face a budget shortfall, we have increased funding to our K-12 students, Senate Appropriations Chair Jim Stamas, R-Midland, said on the Senate floor.

Sen. Wayne Schmidt, R-Traverse City, told reporters Wednesday the education budget includes increases for special education spending, at-risk students and mental health funding, which he said are big pluses as schools continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.

Considering the times were in and the economic state that were in, this budget is very good, he said.

The general government spending budget currently remains at the committee level, but is also expected to be acted on Wednesday.

Earlier this year, economists and state budget experts were bracing for a multibillion-dollar budget hole as the COVID-19 pandemic and efforts to limit its spread cut into state tax revenue.

Better-than-expected sales tax revenues and an initial wave of federal aid from the CARES Act meant the states budget situation wasnt as dire as initially predicted, although experts warn the pandemic will likely continue to put pressure on future budget cycles.

Some of the general government budgets spending cuts came out of the Department of Corrections, which anticipates a savings of $12.3 million from the closure of the Detroit Reentry Center and $2.5 million in administrative savings, among other cuts.

Michigans next fiscal year begins Oct. 1, meaning a budget needs to be signed into law by Sept. 30.

Related:

Michigans budget forecast better than predicted, but still clouded by coronavirus pandemic

Michigans budget shortfall likely smaller than expected, but big challenges still loom

Whitmer administration calls for federal funding to help fill Michigans multibillion-dollar budget hole

Coronavirus prompts projected $3.2B drop in Michigan tax revenue, more losses expected

Michigan set to lose billions in tax revenue as coronavirus hits state budgets nationwide

Michigan to lay off 2,900 state employees amid budget woes caused by coronavirus outbreak

Yes, Michigan is in a recession, and a quick recovery is unlikely

When and how will it end? Considering the end-game for Michigans coronavirus crisis
TUESDAY, Sept. 22, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Four in 10 health care workers who test positive for COVID-19 don't have symptoms, which means they could unknowingly spread the disease to co-workers and patients, researchers say.

For the new study, the research team reviewed 97 studies that included more than 230,000 health care workers in 24 countries. Rates of SARS-CoV-2 infection among the health care workers ranged from 7% to 10%.

Of those who tested positive for the virus, 48% were nurses, 25% were doctors and 23% were other health care workers.

According to the report, 43% worked in regular/non-surgical/non-COVID wards during the screening, 24% worked in the operating room, 16% in the emergency room, 9% in intensive care units and 29% worked in other locations.

"Loss of taste and smell (anosmia), fever and muscle pain were identified as the only symptoms significantly associated with SARS-CoV-2 positivity" among health care workers, said study co-author Dr. Taulant Muka. He's a research group leader at the University of Bern Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM), in Switzerland.

Pooled data from 15 studies showed that among health care workers who were positive for SARS-CoV-2, 40% showed no symptoms at diagnosis. One in 20 (5%) of COVID-19-positive health care workers developed severe complications, and one in 200 (0.5%) died.

"Health care workers suffer a significant burden from COVID-19," Muka said.

The findings were scheduled for presentation Wednesday at an online meeting of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. They are also scheduled for publication in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

Study co-author Dr. Oscar Franco, director of the ISPM, said, "Health care workers are at the frontline response to  COVID-19, exposing themselves to a higher risk of acquiring the disease, and subsequently, exposing patients and colleagues."

Because a large number of COVID-19 cases might be missed if screening targets only health care workers with symptoms, universal screening should be the standard, Franco said in a meeting news release.

"While more research is needed to understand specific interventions that can help reduce SARS-CoV-2 infection among health care personnel, it is clear that providing health care workers with adequate personal protective equipment and training is essential," he added.

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on COVID-19.
Tommy DeVito, one of the founding members of iconic doo-wop group The Four Seasons has died from Covid-19. He was 92.

Actor Alfred Nittoli, a friend of DeVitos, posted the news on Facebook. DeVito, a Belleville, N.J., native, had recently been hospitalized after contracting coronavirus.

My dear friend Tommy passed away in Las Vegas at 9:45 last night with deep regret I am writing this sitting in his living room I was informed by his daughter Darcel there will be a service in New Jersey Posted by Alfredo Nittoli on Tuesday, September 22, 2020

DeVito began performing with Newark native Frankie Valli in The Four Lovers and The Variatones in 1954 and founded The Four Seasons in 1960, leading to a decade of chart-topping hits like Big Girls Dont Cry and Sherry. The group inspired the 2005 Broadway musical Jersey Boys which was eventually made into a feature film.

The antagonist of Jersey Boys," in which his debts eventually get the band arrested and led to his leaving the group, he spent most of the rest of his life in Las Vegas  with rumors raging he was exiled there by the mafia because of gambling debts.

Im not proud of what I did, DeVito told NJ.com in 2014. Im not ashamed of it either.

DeVito and the other original Four Seasons members were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. DeVito left the group in 1971 and in 2007 released a solo instrumental album.

Bobby Valli, brother of Frankie, posted about DeVitos passing as well.

MUSIC LEGEND! (ORIGINAL JERSEY BOY) TOMMY DEVITO (R.I.P.). YOU WERE LOVED AND WILL BE MISSED. Posted by Bobby Valli on Tuesday, September 22, 2020

Jeremy Schneider may be reached at jschneider@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.
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
Details added: first version posted on 11:00

BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 23

Trend:

The illegal settlement of Syrian and Lebanese Armenians in occupied Nagorno Karabakh raises concerns, Chairperson of Azerbaijani parliament Sahiba Gafarova said.

Gafarova made the statement during her speech at the plenary session of Federation Council of Russia's Federal Assembly on Sept. 23, Trend reports.

"I cannot but touch upon the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which is the most painful problems of Azerbaijan. A fifth of the Azerbaijani territories - the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts are occupied by Armenia, the chairperson said.

I would like to give a brief outline of the history of Nagorno Karabakh, so that they would have a complete and objective idea of the conflict. On May 14, 1805, in Azerbaijan, in the village of Kurekchay near Ganja, the Kurekchay Treaty was signed on the transfer of the Karabakh Khanate to the Russian Empire, she reminded. The agreement was signed by the Karabakh Khanates ruler Ibrahim Khalil Khan and the General of the Russian Empire Pavel Tsitsianov."

In 1921, the Caucasian Bureau of the Bolshevik Party made the decision to preserve Nagorno Karabakh within Azerbaijan. Pay attention - not "to transfer", as some falsified Armenian sources unreasonably assert, but "to preserve". In 1923, the Azerbaijan SSR adopted a decree on the establishment of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region within Azerbaijan," Gafarova said.

The chairperson also reminded that Armenia has never stopped trying to capture Nagorno Karabakh and that the last time this took place in the 1980s.

During that period, hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis, who had lived on their historical lands for centuries, were expelled from Armenia, and 700,000 Azerbaijanis were expelled from their permanent places of residence in Nagorno Karabakh and seven surrounding districts of Azerbaijan, she noted. As a result of ethnic cleansing among the civilian population, there were numerous casualties, and despite modern international humanitarian law, the demographic situation in the occupied territories has been illegally changed."

Gafarova touched upon the destructive position of Armenia on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the provocation committed by this country on the border with the Tovuz district of Azerbaijan.

"Despite the highest-level adoption of four UN Security Council resolutions on the immediate and unconditional withdrawal Armenian armed formations from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan in 1993, the Armenian side, constantly violating the ceasefire regime, still ignores these resolutions, she stressed. The last provocation was committed by Armenia not in Karabakh, but on the Azerbaijani-Armenian state border.

So, on July 12 this year, settlements in the direction of the Azerbaijani Tovuz district were shelled from artillery installations. As a result, Azerbaijani servicemen and civilians were wounded and killed. All these facts are a gross violation of international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Convention of August 12, 1949 and its Additional Protocol, adopted on June 8, 1977, and are regarded as a war crime, the chairperson pointed out.
Candlewick Press announced that McBratney died Friday at age 77. Additional details were not immediately available. His death comes less than two weeks before the publication of ``Will You Be My Friend?``, a companion to his 1994 classic, which has sold more than 50 million copies and has been translated into 57 languages.

``Sam McBratney was a profoundly lovely human being,`` Karen Lotz, group managing director of Candlewick's parent company Walker Books Group, said in a statement Monday. ``You could recognize his voice in a moment _ he 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.''

McBratney would call his famous book ``a lighthearted little story designed to help a big one and a wee one enjoy the pleasure of being together.`` With illustrations by Anita Jeram, ``Guess How Much I Love You'' tells of older and younger nutbrown hares _ presumed to be father and son _ and their game of one-upmanship as each declares his feelings for the other, with the title a question repeated throughout.

How much does a tiring Little Nutbrown Hare love his father? ``As far as I can reach.'' Big Nutbrown Hare extends his longer arms even wider. The son raises his arms ``as high as I can reach.'' The father's arms go higher, and Little Nutbrown Hare grows sleepier.

``I love you right up to the moon,'' Little Nutbrown Hare finally says, as he falls asleep.

``I love you right up to the moon _ and back,'' his father tells him as he settles Little Nutbrown Hare into a bed of leaves and kisses him goodnight.

McBratney is survived by his wife of 56 years, Marilyn; three children and six grandchildren

A native of Belfast and a graduate of Trinity College in Dublin, McBratney was a history teacher who wrote more than 50 books even though he didn't become a full-time writer until middle age, when he retired from teaching. His other works include the historical novel ``The Chieftain's Daughter,'' ``The Lough Neah Monster'' and ``School Trip to the Stars.''

Many of his books were inspired by his children, grandchildren, history or his local community: His debut novel, ``Mark Time,'' was a pre-adolescent love story set in Northern Ireland. He wrote ``Guess How Much I Love You'' after his publisher suggested he try a picture story.

``I went back to a little fragment of an idea that I had used in an earlier book and I thought I really liked that little episode that would make a lovely picture book,'' he later told readingrockets.org. ``And so I worked that up into a picture book. And I expected that picture book to go like all the others, all the other books, you know, might get five years out of it, might get six, then after that you'll not be able to buy it in the shops anymore, you know.''
Islamabad, Sep 23 : William Todd, the nominated United States Ambassador to Pakistan, has conveyed the Trump administration's expectations stating that "Pakistan must take sustained and irreversible action against terrorism." Addressing his Senate confirmation hearing, Todd said that the US' relations with India should not come at the expense of Pakistan, adding that the US would be willing to "facilitate dialogue between the two countries to bring down tensions in the region." "Our hope is that both countries will take the necessary steps to reduce tensions, and as President Trump has offered, we are prepared to facilitate dialogue if both sides request it," he said.

However, Todd said that if Islamabad wants to reduce regional tensions and rebuild a strong relationship with the US, it needs to act against terrorism on its soil.

"Pakistan has taken important steps towards fulfilling that commitment but needs to continue that work," he said.

Todd also spoke about nuclear security and Pakistan's sensitive situation, vowing to work with Pakistan to "advance shared interests in eliminating terrorism from its territory and advancing security in the region." "Strategic stability and non-proliferation, carrying a clear message on the threat that nuclear weapons pose to the United States, the region, and our allies and partners. Pakistan needs to demonstrate it is prepared to live up to international commitments on weapons of mass destruction," he said.

Todd called on Islamabad to put extreme pressure on militant groups, including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and its affiliate groups, a demand New Delhi has been making since long.

Todd said that peace in Afghanistan is in the US' and Pakistan's best interests.

"Pakistan is an essential regional partner, and this is an opportune moment in our relationship to work together on shared goals. Peace in Afghanistan is in both our countries' best interests and effective US-Pakistani cooperation is essential to achieve that objective." "Pakistan played a critical role in creating the conditions that brought Afghan leaders and the Taliban to the historic start of Afghan peace negotiations. Pakistan has an even more important role to play in supporting efforts towards a negotiated political settlement that ends 40 years of war," he added.

Todd's statements hold great importance as it seconds India's pressing demands on Pakistan and endorses the fact that the US and India are on the same page in their demands to the Imran Khan government.
It is slightly smaller than two one-cent coins stacked on top of each other, is particularly energy-efficient due to its size, requires no maintenance and can be integrated in mobile devices. It is the smallest particle sensor in the world. With this 12 x 9 x 3 millimetre innovation, smartphones, smart watches or fitness wristbands can for the first time measure the quality of the ambient air in real time and sound the alarm in the event of increased fine dust values.

Innovative implementation

The sensor was developed by Paul Maierhofer as part of his dissertation at the Institute of Electrical Measurement and Sensor Systems at Graz University of Technology together with experts from the semiconductor manufacturer ams AG and with researchers from Silicon Austria Labs (SAL). The development was based on well-known methods of conventional measuring instruments as well as modern manufacturing and integration methods, which brought the project team together in an innovation process. The innovation is the miniaturization itself, as Maierhofer explains: "The sensor is right at the limit of what is physically and technically feasible and involves a lot of tricks to function at this size."

Adapting behaviour to ambient air

The immense social benefit of this new innovative particle sensor is obvious. According to a study by the European Environment Agency (EEA), over 400,000 people die prematurely every year in Europe alone as a result of particulate matter pollution. With the help of wearables equipped with the new particle sensor, each and every individual can monitor the ambient air and react immediately in the case of health-endangering fine dust values. "For example, by avoiding particularly polluted routes when jogging or on the daily commute to work," says Alexander Bergmann, head of the Institute of Electrical Measurement and Sensor Systems at TU Graz and doctoral supervisor of Paul Maierhofer.

Improving air quality

Not only in wearables, the sensor can also be integrated in local applications - both in the home and outdoors - and thus provides an unprecedented variety of measured values. Bergmann is convinced that this represents a break from the past in air quality monitoring: "Close-meshed and comprehensive monitoring of air quality has so far failed due to the size, complexity and cost of currently available measuring sensors. Our particle sensor fills a gap here." The data obtained can serve as a basis for further regulatory measures and raise public awareness of the particulate matter problem.

The series production aimed at by semiconductor manufacturer ams is intended to achieve a price that is significantly lower than the currently available sensors.

###

This research is anchored in the Fields of Expertise "Mobility & Production" and "Sustainable Systems", two of five strategic focal areas of Graz University of Technology.

The Institute of Electrical Measurement and Sensor Systems at TU Graz is one of the world's leading institutions in the field of particle measurement. At EU level, researchers from the Institute are involved in the Horizon2020 projects CARES (for more information, see TU Graz News), DownToTen (News report from January 2020) and SENSmat (http://www.sensmat.eu).

About ams AG

ams is an international leader in the development and manufacture of high-performance sensor solutions. The product portfolio includes sensor solutions, sensor ICs as well as interfaces and the associated software for customers in the markets of consumerism, mobile communications, industry, medical technology and automotive engineering.

ams, headquartered in Premstatten/Austria, employs about 9,000 people worldwide and is an important partner for more than 8,000 customers worldwide. ams is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ticker symbol: AMS). Further information about ams, see https://ams.com
India insisted on 'complete disengagement' in all its talks with China on eastern Ladakh row: Govt

Several more round of talks before disengagement along Line of Actual Control

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Sep 23: New Delhi is prepared for a long haul along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh, even as several more rounds of talks are set to take place with China.

A joint statement following the military commander level talks held on Monday said that both sides have agreed not to send more troops to the Ladakh front-line. There is no way for both sides to verify this on the ground as both sides would not share information collected through spatial intelligence, officials tell OneIndia.

India-China talks: There is a silver lining, but issues persist

As of now there is no change in the situation on the ground and the People's Liberation Army are still on the finger four mountains on north Pangong Tso Lake. The Indian Army on the other hand continue to dominate the Rezang La Rechin La Ridgeline on the Line of Actual Control.

There has also been no change in the situation in Gogra-Hot Springs sector. This is because the the PLA have linked the withdrawal there to the Pangong Tso disengagement.

A joint statement issued a day after the military commanders of both sides met on Monday however had not reference to the restoration of status quo ante that existed along the Line of Actual Control before the Chinese unilaterally altered it in April.

Sources in New Delhi said that while the talks remained inconclusive on Monday, the military commanders of both sides are expected to meet again in the next few days.

Although the stalemate continues at the Line of Actual Control, both sides during the talks on Monday agreed that India and China need to completely disengage and ensure peace in the border areas.

The problem, sources familiar with the developments said is the deployment of huge weapons platforms by the People's Liberation Army. The PLA has deployed intermediate-ballistic missiles in occupied Aksai Chin. The PLA had resorted to similar tactics in the South China Sea when it test fired DF-26 and DF-21 D missiles to threaten the US Navy aircraft carriers, Ronald Reagan and Nimitz.

India, China to stop sending more troops to Ladakh frontline

Only Sushant took drugs, Rhea claims in latest plea | Oneindia News

The official cited above said that India is not deterred and will counter the PLA in the worst case scenario. The official also said that there would be at least a few more rounds of talks before the disengagement could take place.
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President Donald Trumps nominee to lead the Department of Homeland Security denied allegations Wednesday that he molded intelligence reports to suit the administration, telling a Senate committee that a recent whistleblower's report is patently false.

Acting Department of Homeland Security Chad Wolf testifying in a wide-ranging Senate confirmation hearing, also rejected a separate allegation that he held back an intelligence report on Russian disinformation that targeted former Vice President Joe Biden

Both issues emerged early in the hearing as the Senate considers a nominee who has been accused of politicizing the third largest department in the federal government and faced criticism over its handling of civil unrest, COVID-19 and immigration.

Rhetoric and political ideology cannot drive intelligence reports and it should not predetermine the actions of any federal department," Sen. Gary Peters, top Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security committee, said at the start of the hearing.

Wolf seems to have solid Republican support on the committee but it is unclear if the full Senate will vote on his confirmation before the Nov. 3 election.

The whistleblower complaint released this month is the subject of a DHS Office of Inspector General investigation. Wolf pushed back hard on claims, which included allegations that he sought to downplay the threat posed by Russia and white supremacists, made by Brian Murphy, who was a senior official with the intelligence division of the agency until the acting secretary reassigned him in early August.

It is patently false. It is a fabrication, completely," Wolf told the committee.

Wolf said Murphy was reassigned because of credible allegations that he had directed the collection of information about U.S. journalists who were covering the deployment by DHS of federal agents to Portland, Oregon, during protests over the summer.

In his whistleblower complaint, Murphy said that, as far as he was aware, the DHS intelligence division never knowingly collected information about journalists though it did track media reports that appeared to include leaked material.

Murphy plans to dispute Wolf's assertion after his legal team gets DHS clearance to review classified information, attorney Mark Zaid said.

We outright challenge Mr. Wolfs testimony and we look forward to the opportunity to provide classified testimony to congressional and OIG oversight authorities to describe details to the contrary," Zaid said in an email.

Wolf was also asked about a report by ABC News that he withheld an intelligence bulletin that warned law enforcement agencies about a Russian disinformation effort to promote false allegations about Biden's mental health.

Wolf said he put a hold on the two-page document in July so that it could be improved with additional context. It was then released in September. Peters questioned why it took that long, only coming out after news coverage that it had been held back. The assistant secretary blamed leadership changes in the intelligence division, alluding to the removal of Murphy.

"The important part is the underlying intelligence did not change," he said.

It's not yet clear when the committee will vote on Wolf, who also drew praise from Republican senators for sending agents to Portland, despite the opposition of local officials, and from members on both sides for the work of the thousands of law enforcement officers who work for DHS.

Wolf also pushed back on a report issued by the Government Accountability Office that found that neither he nor his deputy, Ken Cuccinelli, are legally able to hold their positions because of a violation of the rules of succession, a finding that could jeopardize some agency actions on immigration and other matters.

Wolf noted that DHS lawyers dispute the GAO finding, which he pointed out is non-binding in any case. We will continue to operate as we have, he said.

Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf told Senators at his confirmation hearing that a whistleblowers claims that senior officials meddled with the agencys intelligence division are patently false. He said separate allegations that he held back a report on Russian misinformation targeting former Vice President Joe Biden are also untrue. It was a part of a wide-ranging confirmation hearing for a nominee who has been criticized over his agencys handling of civil unrest, the coronavirus and immigration. Its not yet clear when the Senate will vote on his nomination.
A senior Israeli delegation traveled Wednesday to Bahrain for talks on the drafting of the U.S.-brokered peace treaty between the countries, Israeli officials told me.

The state of play: Both countries need to draft a detailed and comprehensive peace treaty that will have a firm legal status and include side agreements on several fields of bilateral cooperation, according to the officials.

During the talks in Manama, Israeli and Bahraini officials will map the different fields for cooperation to be included in the treaty. Israeli officials tell me they want to use the peace treaty with the UAE as a template for the document with Bahrain.

The big picture: At a ceremony in Washington last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani signed a "declaration of peace"  a symbolic document that spoke in general terms about the establishment of diplomatic relations and cooperation between the countries.

The visit of the Israeli delegation was agreed upon during a phone call on Tuesday between between Netanyahu and Bahraini Crown Prince Salman Bin Hamad bin Issa Al-Khalifa.

The Israeli delegation is headed by the acting director-general of Netanyahu's office Ronen Peretz and the director-general of the foreign ministry Alon Ushpiz. The delegation also includes officials from the national security council and other government ministries.

The Israeli delegation will hold talks with senior Bahraini officials, possibly with the crown prince and foreign minister.

Worth noting: The Israeli delegation travelled on an Israir plane  the first Israeli commercial airliner to land in Bahrain, flying over Saudi airspace.
Tuesday nights torrential rain led to water logging on Mumbais roads and railway tracks. Public transport in the city continued to remain disrupted on Wednesday morning.

Local train services on the central and harbour railways are currently suspended.

Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) has diverted its buses through more than 88 routes in the city.

Train services on the central railway are suspended between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and Thane on the mainline and CSMT and Vashi railway stations on the harbour railway.

Also Read: Water logging in Mumbai: BMC urges residents to stay home

Train services on the Western Railway are suspended between Churchgate and Bandra railway stations.

Local train services are now being operated between Bandra and Dahanu Road railway stations.

Outstation train services are also affected due to the rainfall. Few outstation trains coming towards the city are being cancelled. The Rajdhani Express from New Delhi has been terminated at Andheri railway station, instead of Mumbai Central railway station. Other trains are being terminated at Thane and Kalyan railway stations.

Due to heavy rain and water logging, one outstation train, Manmad-Mumbai-Manmad special, is cancelled; four trains are rescheduledLokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT)-Guwahati special, Mumbai- Bhubaneswar special, CSMT- Bengaluru special and CSMT-Lucknow special, said Shivaji Sutar, chief public relations officer, central railway.

BEST on Wednesday morning diverted its buses due to water logging.

Bus services are being diverted on the Hindmata flyover, Gandhi Market, Sion Road, Malad subway, Shashtri Nagar, Bandra Talkies Wadala Bridge,Milan subway, and Andheri Market subway.
New Delhi, Sep 23 : A week ahead of schedule, the Rajya Sabha is set to adjourn on Wednesday after the government business is complete, considering the safety of parliamentarians in view of the rising number of Covid-19 cases across the country.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs V. Muraleedharan informed the Upper House.

He said, "I have to inform the members that the government has decided to recommend the adjournment of the House sine die today. But some important legislative business passed by the Lok Sabha has to be disposed off before adjournment of the House sine die." The House was witnessing a boycott from the opposition, and the benches were empty even as the government passed Bills in the House on Tuesday.

As all the major Bills, including those replacing ordinances, were passed by both the Houses on Tuesday, political party sources and secretariat officials indicated that both the Houses will curtail their proceedings on Wednesday -- a week before the scheduled conclusion of the session.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla's special announcement to hold the lower House proceedings at 6 p.m. on Wednesday -- three hours later than the scheduled time -- also signalled the plan to cut short the session which was set to conclude on October 1.

"I want to inform the members that the proceedings of the House will begin from 6 p.m. on Wednesday," Birla announced after the House unanimously passed the Jammu and Kashmir Official Language Bill, 2020.

Sources said the Lower House is likely to adjourn its proceedings after taking up a few matters, including Zero hour.
The Rajya Sabha passed three of four new labour laws aimed at making it easier for companies to do business, even as the opposition continued its boycott of Parliament. The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020, the Industrial Relations Code 2020 and the Code on Social Security, 2020, now await President Ram Nath Kovinds signature. The government says the new laws consolidate multiple central and state laws, while the opposition calls them anti-worker. For the rest of the news from India and the world, heres Mint Lite.

Virus wipes out $3.5 trillion in wages

View Full Image The covid-19 pandemic has wiped out $3.5 trillion in earnings for people around the world, the International Labour Organization (ILO) has said

The covid-19 pandemic has wiped out $3.5 trillion in earnings for people around the world, the International Labour Organization (ILO) has said. Income from work declined by an estimated 10.7% in the first three-quarters of 2020 compared with the same period in 2019, the UN body said. The figure does not include income support provided by governments during the pandemic, and is equal to 5.5% of the world GDP for the first three quarters of 2019. The biggest drop in income has been in lower-income nations, such as Bangladesh, Cambodia and Ukraine, where income from work fell 15.1%. ILO said wealthier nations have rolled out support packages, but emerging economies have not had the wherewithal to do the same. Workers in low-income economies have taken the hardest hit. For developing nations to reach the same ratio of support as in high-income ones, a further $982 billion would have to be spent, it said.

Libyas oil return, a global headache

View Full Image After an eight-month blockade triggered by civil war, an oil tanker will load one million barrels of crude at Libyas Marsa el-Hariga terminal this week

After an eight-month blockade triggered by civil war, an oil tanker will load one million barrels of crude at Libyas Marsa el-Hariga terminal this week. The first tanker entered the port on Wednesday. Production in Libya, home to Africas largest oil reserves, plummeted to less than 100,000 barrels a day in January from 1.2 million (about 1% of global production) earlier. Khalifa Haftar, a commander supported by the UAE and Egypt who controls eastern Libya, blockaded energy infrastructure, and has now come to a truce with Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, whose government is recognized by the UN. The two sides have come to an agreement on sharing of export revenue from oil. Goldman Sachs forecasts Libyas output will rise to 550,000 barrels daily by the end of the year. The resumption of Libyas oil industry could put more pressure on oil prices, which are already at a historic low due to the pandemic.

Apple aims for growth in India

View Full Image Call list

Just about 12 years ago, in August 2008, snaking lines formed outside Apple retailers for the launch of the iPhone 3G. Andriod phones debuted later that year. Its hard to imagine queuing for a phone now, as online retailers offer huge discounts on smartphones. It may have been the first on stage but after more than a decade, the iPhones share in Indias smartphone market remains just about 2% while newer players like Xiaomi, which entered India in 2014, hold as much as 30% (see chart). In contrast, it has about 46% of the US smartphone market and 8.5% in China. One reason is the iPhones price in cost-conscious India, and its distribution through third-party retailers. On Wednesday, Apple started selling directly to customers for the first time on its official online store, a year after India relaxed its rule allowing single-brand retailers to set up online and physical stores even if they do not source 30% of goods from India. Apples decision is in line with the 30% growth its seen on online channels in the past year, and the covid crisis keeping consumers at home. From July, the company has started manufacturing, and not just assembling, iPhones in India, in a bid to diversify its supply chain and grow its market. A brick-and-mortar store is expected in 2021.

When will women get their seat?

View Full Image Days after Japans new prime minister appointed just two women to a 21-member cabinet, Kenya is facing a historic decision of possibly dissolving parliament for failing to enact rules on fair gender representation in public bodies

Days after Japans new prime minister appointed just two women to a 21-member cabinet, Kenya is facing a historic decision of possibly dissolving parliament for failing to enact rules on fair gender representation in public bodies. Top judge, Chief Justice David Maraga, advised President Uhuru Kenyatta to dissolve the legislature after receiving six petitions on the matter. Lawmakers were supposed to have implemented the legislation by 2015, five years after Kenya adopted a new constitution, which says no more than two-thirds of members of an elected public body can be of the same gender. Kenyas lower house, or National Assembly, has 349 members, of which 76, or about 22%, are women, while only 21, or 31%, of the 67-member Senate, or upper house, are female. Court rulings since 2012 have directed Parliament to pass legislation to enforce the gender rule or risk being dissolved.

Shaheen Bagh dadi in Time

View Full Image Within days, Bilkis and the other women became a symbol of resistance and hope, and came to be fondly known as the 'Dadis of Shaheen Bagh'

While Delhi braved its coldest winter in over a century last year, Bilkis, 82, sat undeterred, along with many other elderly women, in a tent in the Shaheen Bagh neighbourhood, protesting Prime Minister Narendra Modi governments decision to pass the Citizenship Amendment Act. Within days, Bilkis and the other women became a symbol of resistance and hope, and came to be fondly known as the Dadis of Shaheen Bagh". Recognizing how Bilkis became the voice of the marginalized", Time magazine has included her name in its list of The 100 Most Influential People of 2020", along with Modi, and actor Ayushmann Khurrana. Bilkis and the other protestors spent 101 days at Shaheen Bagh, which gained the reputation of an iconic sit-in site before it was cleared by the police on 24 March in the wake of the pandemic. Others on the list include Alphabets Sundar Pichai and F1 racer Lewis Hamilton.

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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A Birmingham, Ala., mother is behind bars, accused of burning the dead body of her infant child in a diaper bag.

The Jefferson County district attorneys office and Birmingham police have charged 27-year-old Jasilyn Shebreit Hughes of southwest Birmingham with abuse of corpse. She was taken into custody early Sunday and booked into the Jefferson County Jail on the Class C felony charge.

Under Alabama law, a person commits the crime of abuse of a corpse if he or she knowingly treats a human corpse in a way that would outrage ordinary family sensibilities.

According to charging documents and authorities, Hughes on April 1 placed the body of her daughter Jahzara Harris  who was about 4 months old  into a diaper bag, placed that bag into a trash bag, set fire to the bags and then put the remains in an alley with the trash.

It is not clear how the child died and Hughes has not been charged with any crimes accusing her of causing the childs death.

A family member later notified authorities, which launched the investigation. That probe is still ongoing and no additional details are being released at this time.

Hughes remains held in the Jefferson County Jail on $250,000 bond.

More:
Announcing the 2020 Excellence in Institutional Writing Award winners

We are pleased to announce the winners of the 2020 Excellence in Institutional Writing Awards, sponsored by the National Association of Science Writers:

The winner in each category will receive a cash prize of $2,000. Winners will be featured in a video showcase debuting on October 19 as part of ScienceWriters2020 core week.

Hatfield is a science writer in the heliophysics division at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD. Commenting on "A Shot in the Dark," the judges stated: "Rarely do blog posts leave you on the edge of your seat, but that's exactly what Miles Hatfield accomplishes in this eminently readable series. In riveting fashion, he describes the challenging data collection mission of an international group in the Svalbard archipelago, not only giving the reader a deep sense of the mission's high stakes, but also revealing an amazing natural phenomenon that plays out at the poles of our planet without notice to most of the world. Miles executes scenes with suspense; the research group's anticipation and pressure to succeed are palpable. It reads, at times, like science fiction, each section playing out like chapters in a book you don't want to put down. An audio version of the story feels like listening to an audiobook. The animations and video help readers visualize the equipment and the compelling natural landscapes, while also introducing us to the characters who have come to these islands to watch Earth's atmosphere literally drift into space."

Marshall is senior science editor in the Office of Strategic Relations and Communications, University of Colorado Boulder. The judges wrote: "The piece contextualized the findings within the larger 'hygiene hypothesis,' and moved quickly into a clear description of how the 'bacterium, Mycobacterium vaccae, quells stress-related disorders.' The author explained the mechanism behind the stress-busting fat with a vivid metaphor in a single sentence, and kept the reader engaged with a narrative throughline in which microbes are our 'old friends' still here to help us. The author did all that while making this fascinating research accessible to the non-scientific public. The piece was both entertaining and effective--masterfully done!"

Honorable mention in the long-form category went to:

"The Rapunzel Effect," by Paul Hond, Columbia University

"The Forgotten Female: How a Generation of Women Scientists Changed Our View of Evolution," by Kathi Borgmann, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

"A Green Idea to Power Rural Nepal," by Carol Jackson, Emily Hanford, Karen Kemp, and Alison Jones, for the Duke University Sanford School of Policy

In the short-form category, honorable mention went to:

"Cracking How 'Water Bears' Survive the Extremes," by Mario Aguilera, University of California, San Diego

"Earth's Last Magnetic Field Reversal Took Far Longer Than Once Thought," by Eric Hamilton, University of Wisconsin-Madison

###

The judging committee for the long-form entries consisted of Joseph Piergrossi (Technische Universitat Dresden/Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron), Kelly Quigley (Scripps Research), Kelly April Tyrrell (University of Wisconsin-Madison), and Karen McNulty Walsh (Brookhaven National Laboratory). For the short-form entries, the judging committee consisted of Laura Arenschield (The Ohio State University), Miles Hatfield (NASA), and Patricia Koning (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory). The Awards Committee was co-chaired by Alla Katsnelson (freelance) and Jyoti Madhusoodanan (freelance), and the Excellence in Institutional Writing Awards were coordinated by Awards Committee members Barbara Gastel (Texas A&M University) and Jill Sakai (freelance and University of Wisconsin-Madison).

First granted in 2018, the NASW Excellence in Institutional Writing Awards were established to recognize high-caliber publicly accessible science writing produced on behalf of an institution or other non-media organization.

Entries for next year's competition, for material published or broadcast in 2020, are due February 1, 2021. Entry forms will be available at http://www. nasw. org/ excellence in December 2020.

The largest organization devoted to the professional interests of science writers, the National Association of Science Writers fosters the dissemination of accurate information regarding science through all media normally devoted to informing the public. Its 2,500 members include journalists, authors, editors, producers, public information officers, students and people who write and produce material intended to inform the public about science, health, engineering, and technology. For more information, visit http://www. nasw. org or write director@nasw.org.

This story has been published on: 2020-09-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Louisville: Two white policemen who fired into the apartment of Breonna Taylor, a black medical worker, will not be prosecuted for her death because their use of force was justified, and a third was charged with endangering her neighbours, Kentucky's Attorney-General said on Wednesday.

Daniel Cameron announced the Louisville grand jury's decision at a news conference, as protesters against racial injustice and police brutality massed in the streets of Kentucky's largest city, some clashing with police in riot gear.

Police in Louisville stand guard after an officer was shot. Credit:AP

The demonstrations wore on past nightfall in defiance of a 9pm curfew and remained mostly peaceful until several gunshots rang out in the midst of a skirmish between protesters and heavily armed police, sending members of the crowd scurrying for cover.

Two police officers were shot and wounded, Robert Schroeder, interim chief of the Louisville Metropolitan Police Department, told reporters.
BRECKSVILLE, Ohio - Brecksville United Methodist Church will be hosting a blood drive with Vitalant on Sun., Nov. 8 from 9:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Bloodmobiles will be located in the church parking lot and donors are encouraged to make appointments online by visiting Vitalant.org and navigating to the donation portal. Brecksville United Methodist has been working with Vitalant for over a year to help provide lifesaving blood to patients in need around Northeast Ohio.

During the past several months Vitalant has been working tirelessly to maintain an adequate and safe blood supply for hospitals in Northeast Ohio. Additional procedures have been implemented to ensure that all staff and donors remain safe during this unprecedented time. All donors will have their blood tested for COVID-19 antibodies as well throughout the rest of the year. This may determine potential donors who may be eligible for Vitalnts convalescent plasma program, where their donations will be used to help treat COVID-19 patients. For more information about this program, please visit www.vitalant.org/covidFree. Brecksville United Methodist Church is located at 65 Public Square.

Vitalant (Vye-TAL-ent) is the nations second largest community blood service provider, supplying comprehensive transfusion medicine services for nearly 1,000 hospitals and health care partners for patients in need across 40 states. Vitalant inspires local communities to serve the needs of others and transform lives through the selfless act of donating blood. Every day, almost 5,000 blood donations are needed to meet the needs of people throughout the country, and Vitalants 780,000 donors supply 1.8 million donations a year. In addition to blood products, Vitalant offers customers transfusion services, medical consulting, quality guidance, ongoing education, research and more. For more information and to schedule a donation, visit vitalant.org or call 877-258-4825 (877-25VITAL). Join the conversation about impacting the lives of others on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Wave of light: The Pregnancy and Infant Loss (PAIL) Committee, an initiative of First Year Cleveland and the ADAMHS Board of Cuyahoga County, will be hosting a virtual candle lighting ceremony on Oct. 15 from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. Held each year, the global Wave of Light event serves as a time for families who have suffered the loss of a pregnancy or infant to honor and remember those children.

It is our mission to provide hope and healing to those who have experienced miscarriage, stillbirth or infant death, said Tracy Carter, co-chair of the First Year Cleveland Pregnancy and Infant Loss Society. While we cant physically be together for the Wave of Light event this year, we welcome individuals to join us by computer or phone to participate in a ceremony that gives parents and others an opportunity to reflect upon their pregnancy or infant loss.

To register for the event, visit pailconnect.org/events. Families who wish to receive a candle and have their babys name read at the event must register by October 1. For questions or additional information, call 440-212-1860 or email waveoflightevent@gmail.com

PAIL is driven by the voices of a forty-member committee which includes people who have experienced loss, community leaders, government agencies, health care providers, mental health professionals, faith-based institutions and non-profit organizations. We provide support and resources to our community through support groups, grief services, remembrance events, education and wellness events, clinician training and more. For more information regarding PAIL or resources available for families who have suffered pregnancy or infant loss visit pailconnect.org.

Senior snow plowing: The Brecksville Human Services Center offers driveway snow plowing for low income seniors. The program is solely for low income seniors 70 and over who have no one to clear their driveway. All residents must apply regardless of whether you have qualified in the past.

Proof of income is required and the only proof of income document acceptable is an official letter from the Ohio Development Services agency indicating household eligibility for the 2019-2020 or 2020-2021 Home Energy Assistance Program or the Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus. If you have never qualified for HEAP or PIPP before, it is advised that you apply immediately because it takes several months to get qualified. Proof of age is also required.

To qualify for HEAP, total gross annual household income may not exceed $22,330 for a single person household or $30,170 for a two-person household.

To qualify for PIPP, total gross income may not exceed $19, 140 for single person household or $25,860 for a two-person household.

Applications are available at the Human Services Center. Senior snowplowing is just $10 for the entire season.

Senior transportation: Need a ride? Transportation is available for Brecksville residents 60 and over, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cars will take you to a medical appointment anywhere in Cuyahoga County. A van will take you on errands on Tuesdays. An application on file is necessary. Call the Brecksville Human Services Center for more information at 440-526-2499. Thanks to the may volunteer drivers who get our senior to medical appointments.

Read more news from the Sun Star Courier here.

Let the Brecksville, Broadview Heights and North Royalton communities know what is going on with your organization, church, school, business or family. Email me at shirleymac48@att.net.
TEL AVIV, Israel, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- ADAMA Ltd. (the "Company"), leading global crop protection company, today announced it has signed a global partnership with Pessl Instruments, providing ADAMA unlimited access to its vast portfolio of disease models for dozens of key crops around the world.

Pessl, a leader in the development and distribution of hardware and software for smart agriculture applications, develops disease model algorithms based on environmental parameters collected from farmers' cloud-connected weather stations linked to the biology and life cycle of the disease to predict the onset and progression of diseases in crops. Utilizing the Company's digital mobile platforms, ADAMA's customers around the world will be able to access customized insights about the specific diseases to which their crops are most vulnerable to based on local environmental conditions. This will enable more effective and efficient, environmentally conscious application of crop protection solutions.

"Pessl's impressive library of disease models speeds us towards delivering on our goal of providing customized, effective solutions to our customers and significantly increasing the value we bring to farmers by arming them with a tool that supports more timely application of crop inputs," said Georgiana Francescotti, ADAMA's Head of Global AgTech & Digital Services.

"We're delighted that Pessl can help us add a new dimension to the support we provide our customers and look forward to unlocking a better understanding of disease development. This will enable farmers to make timely applications with better efficacy and improved crop yields" added Danny North, ADAMA's Head of Portfolio Strategy at ADAMA.

ADAMA can use the Pessl disease models to deliver pinpointed advice to farmers, allowing them to treat plant diseases earlier in their development and identify the most effective product for each point in the disease cycle. In this way, Pessl increases the efficacy of ADAMA products, increases crop yields, and improves resistance management.

"After expanding our partnership with ADAMA in 2018, we are more than excited to take it another step further. In agriculture, where many factors can drastically impact the end results, it is especially important to constantly develop new solutions that help mitigate these impacts," explains Gottfried Pessl, CEO and founder of Pessl Instruments. "I am confident that connecting our technologically advanced solutions with ADAMA's deep understanding of farmer's needs and impressive portfolio of crop protection solutions, will bring the crop protection to a completely new level in reducing the risk of crop failures from which farmers all over the globe will benefit the most."

About ADAMA

ADAMA Ltd. is a global leader in crop protection, providing solutions to farmers across the world to combat weeds, insects and disease. ADAMA has one of the widest and most diverse portfolios of active ingredients in the world, as well as state-of-the-art R&D, manufacturing and formulation facilities. With a culture that empowers our people to listen to farmers and ideate from the field, ADAMA is uniquely positioned to offer a vast array of distinctive mixtures, formulations and high-quality differentiated products, delivering solutions that meet local farmer and customer needs in over 100 countries globally. For more information, visit us at www.ADAMA.com and follow us on Twitter at @ADAMAAgri.

About Pessl Instruments

For more than 35 years, Pessl Instruments has been offering tools for informed decision making. A complete range of wireless, solar powered monitoring systems which supports almost all communication standards roofed under the METOS brand are available to our clients worldwide. The systems, along with online platform and mobile application Fieldclimate, are applicable in all climate zones and can be used in various industries and for various purposesfrom agriculture, both crop production and animal breeding, to smart cities, research, hydrology, meteorology, flood warning and more.

Over the years, METOS has become a global brand with local support in over 85 countries, and we are proud to say we managed to reach out to every corner of the world. We believe that our durable, highly precise technology and demonstrated support from our trained partners worldwide are the recipe for our global success.

The METOS brand lasts longer, performs better, is easier to use and offers you the lowest total cost of ownership.

ADAMA Contact:

Ben Cohen

Global Investor/Public Relations

[email protected]

Pessl Contact:

Neza RUSTJA

Marketing & PR

[email protected]

SOURCE ADAMA Ltd.
Two people were reportedly detained by police in Washington during a rally for Breonna Taylor on September 22.

The rally in Washington was being held in solidarity with protesters in Louisville, Kentucky, where Taylor was fatally shot by police.

Several police came in bikes aggressively surrounded the two individuals. And blocked anyone from assisting, Black House News told Storyful.

Kentuckys state attorney general was due to announce whether he would charge the officers involved in the fatal Breonna Taylor shooting at an unspecified time during the week.

Six Louisville officers were under investigation for the death of Breonna Taylor, the 26-year-old emergency medical technician fatally shot in her home by LMPD in March 2020.

Officer Brett Hankison was fired on June 23 for his actions during the raid, and the City of Louisville agreed on September 15 to pay Taylors family $12 million and reform police practices as part of a settlement. Credit: Black House News via Storyful
Millions of live wild animals are being legally imported into the UK from hot spots of emerging diseases, risking the spread of lethal viruses, researchers have discovered.

Creatures from bats and parrots to snakes, lizards and rats are brought into the country mostly to be sold as exotic pets, but with some sent to zoos, a study found.

Between 2014 and 2018, more than 3 million wild animals were flown or shipped in from 90 countries, many in regions considered hot spots for new diseases, such as Indonesia, El Salvador, Cameroon, Nicaragua, Singapore, Ghana and Madagascar.

The study, which used figures from the governments Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), found that 2,492,156 amphibians, 578,772 reptiles, 150,638 mammals and 99,111 birds were imported in the five years studied.

Nearly 70 bats were imported from Madagascar and a dozen others from the Czech Republic and Guyana. The species is suspected of being a source of Covid-19 and carries rabies viruses.

Animals including African pygmy hedgehogs, frogs and tortoises are transported to the UK to fuel the cruel trade in exotic pets, according to the report, from charity World Animal Protection.

At least 150,638 mammals, mostly rodents, were brought in from 51 countries. The Czech Republic, Italy and Spain were of particular concern for exporting large numbers to the UK.

The report warns: Unless the nature of wildlife trade shifts considerably, the increasing rate of biotic [organisms] exchange indicates there will be greater opportunities for pathogens to proliferate across the globe.

Wildlife trade is a lethal hotbed of disease, the charity says, because it brings wild animals with immune systems weakened by the stress of captivity and transport into unnatural proximity to other animals and into close contact with people, often in insanitary conditions.

The World Health Organisation says that globally, about a billion cases of illness and millions of deaths occur every year from zoonoses  diseases that spread from animals to humans  and that 75 per cent of emerging zoonotic infectious diseases originate in wild animals.

Diseases may be caused when viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites that wild animals are carrying are introduced into new environments, the researchers said.

Scientists say outbreaks of new diseases with the potential to become pandemics are on the rise, and have become four times as frequent in the past half-century.

Since the 1970s, it is estimated at least three dozen infectious diseases have emerged from human interference with animals, including Sars, Mers, Ebola, bird flu, swine flu and the Zika virus.

The Covid-19 pandemic is widely believed to have originated in these conditions in a market in Wuhan, China, selling wildlife species that would not mix in the wild.

Peter Kemple Hardy, of World Animal Protection, said: This evidence shows that the legal wildlife trade into the UK is causing suffering to millions of animals and risking another public health crisis.

We must not overlook the dangers this poses; harmful and deadly pathogens can be transmitted to humans regardless of a wild animals legal status.

In a post-Covid world, we should demand nothing less than a global and permanent ban on the commercial wildlife trade, to protect wild animals, human health and the planet.

The organisation says the legal wildlife trade dwarfs the illegal trade despite the public health risk.

Other imports included at least 74,829 parrots. Several diseases in humans are linked to birds including histoplasmosis and campylobacteriosis.

The five report authors, three of whom are scientists at Manchester Universitys ecology and environment research centre, highlight how rats may spread leptospirosis and plague, and how a recent case of bubonic plague in Mongolia was thought to have originated from contact with a dead marmot.

The peer-reviewed study was published in the journal Animals.
Congresswoman Ilhan Omar has warned Americans not to trust Donald Trump if he says a coronavirus vaccine is safe, but to rely instead on the word of scientists like Dr Anthony Fauci, the top infectious disease expert in the US government.

I mean, if doctors and scientists like Dr Fauci are taking that vaccine, of course I will take the vaccine. And I know many Americans will, the Minnesota Democrat, who has close ties to the Democratic Socialists of America political organisation, said in an interview with CNN on Wednesday.

But we also know that we can't trust the president and take his word and take a vaccine that might cause harm to us. We know that every single thing he does is geared toward winning an election. That is why he's downplayed this pandemic. That is why he's overseen the deaths of 200,000 Americans, Ms Omar said.

The congresswomans comments on Wednesday were the latest strike in a rhetorical battle between herself and the president that began nearly two years ago.

The president has repeatedly made racist remarks about Ms Omar and three other freshman women of colour in Congress not being from the United States.

Mr Trump renewed that attack against Ms Omar  whose family fled Somalia and found asylum in the US when she was a 13-year-old girl  at a campaign rally in Moon Township, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday.

She's telling us how to run our country. How did you do where you came from? How is your country doing? Mr Trump asked, rhetorically, before throngs of tightly packed supporters, many of whom were not wearing masks.

Ms Omar indicated in her CNN interview on Wednesday that she believes Mr Trump keeps attacking her origins because he knows it plays well politically with his base of loyal supporters.

That's why we are seeing this president sow the seeds of hate. That's why our country is more divided than it's ever been. And that's why we continue to have these conversations about the threats that really exist for our democracy and for our nation's existence, she said.

The congresswoman told The Independent in an exclusive interview earlier this month that she recognises how diametrically opposite her story is from Mr Trumps.

While the president is the white, wealthy son of a New York City real estate mogul, Ms Omar immigrated to the US from a poor country in Africa, and her father worked as a taxi driver.

I happen to embody multiple marginal identities. Im a woman, Im black, Im a refugee, an immigrant, a Muslim and I wear a hijab. And all of those are identities that have been vilified by the right... and weaponised by Donald Trump, she told The Independent.
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After a nearly year-long search, California State University trustees on Wednesday picked Cal State Fresno President Joseph I. Castro as the new chancellor of the 23-campus system.

"I'm excited and honored to be the first California native and first Mexican American to serve as the chancellor of the California State University," Castro said

He's been president of Fresno State since 2013. Castro earned a bachelor's degree from UC Berkeley, and a PhD from Stanford University.

"Like the majority of students we serve at CSU, I was the first in my family to attend and graduate from a university," he said.

Castro is replacing Chancellor Timothy White, who announced his retirement last year. White had been scheduled to step down in July but agreed to stay on longer to help the university system navigate the coronavirus crisis. He takes over the CSU system during one of the most challenging times in higher education in recent memory.

The vast majority of the university's nearly 500,000 students will continue to take classes online for the rest of this academic year. The system's state funding took a $500,000 hit this fiscal year and the pandemic may mean even larger funding cuts next year.

Two Cal State campuses -- Chico State and San Diego State -- have been forced to curtail operations after COVID-19 outbreaks in residence halls. The chancellor's office has issued pandemic recommendations but mostly gives campus presidents autonomy to set policies. The chancellor's office is not keeping a central tally of COVID-19 cases on the campuses, and employees have voiced concerns that the patchwork of protocols are inconsistent.

CSU Chancellor Tim White during the September 23, 2020 trustees' meeting. (screenshot)

These crises threaten improvements to graduation rates that are part of a support program created by outgoing Chancellor White.

Trustees and faculty on the virtual meeting welcomed Castro. White urged Castro to continue improvements to graduation rates and online learning.

The California Faculty Association, CSU's faculty union, shared a list of priorities.

"CFA urges Chancellor-select Castro to take the CSU mission of being the People's University to heart and center decision making on the student perspective and experience," the union said in an email.

The CFA's issued a long to-do list for Castro. A few excerpts:

"Castro should be committed to helping students follow their own paths unfettered by ever-increasing tuition and fees, a lack of classes, overworked faculty without job security, racism, sexism, xenophobia, homophobia, and transphobia on campus, homelessness, food insecurity, and harassment by university police officers."

"Castro should be committed to helping students follow their own paths unfettered by ever-increasing tuition and fees, a lack of classes, overworked faculty without job security, racism, sexism, xenophobia, homophobia, and transphobia on campus, homelessness, food insecurity, and harassment by university police officers." "Protect students' mental health and the rights of undocumented students."

"Protect students' mental health and the rights of undocumented students." "Health and safety must come first. Funding holes should be filled from the CSU's $1.5 billion reserves, not from tuition increases, course reductions, increases to class-sizes, furloughs, or layoffs/job losses that kick workers and their families off their healthcare insurance during a public health emergency."

"Respecting academic freedom, Castro should defend the rights of faculty when they face hateful attacks or say something unpopular."

"Respecting academic freedom, Castro should defend the rights of faculty when they face hateful attacks or say something unpopular." "Guarantee the full and real participation of Ethnic Studies faculty in implementation of Assembly Bill 1460. Do not cut out these dynamic voices and their experience in establishing the nation's first college Ethnic Studies graduation requirement."

Castro's grandparents emigrated from Mexico and worked on the railroads and farms in the San Joaquin Valley a century ago.

Zahraa Khuraibet during the Wednesday's CSU trustees meeting. She's a masters' student at CSU Northridge and president of the California State Students Association. (screenshot)

"His story is the story of many students and the alumni at the CSU, and serves as a great example of the transformation power of higher education in an individual's lives, their family's lives, and the lives of their communities," said Zahraa Khuraibet, a masters' student at CSU Northridge and president of the California State Students Association.

Trustees approved $625,000 yearly pay for Castro. That's $148,000 more than the current chancellor. Yearly stipends will remain the same: $95,000 for housing and $12,000 for a car.
Bringing the power of the sun to Earth requires sound theory, good engineering, and a little finesse. The process entails trapping charged, ultra-hot gas known as plasma so its particles can fuse and release enormous amounts of energy. The most widely used facilities for this process are doughnut-shaped tokamaks that hold plasma in place with strong magnets that are precisely shaped and positioned. But errors in the shaping or placement of these magnets can lead to poor confinement and loss of plasma, shutting down fusion reactions.

Now, an international group of researchers led by physicists at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) has developed a technique that forecasts how tokamaks might respond to these unwanted magnetic errors. These forecasts could help engineers design fusion facilities that efficiently create a virtually inexhaustible supply of safe and clean fusion energy to generate electricity.

Fusion combines light elements in the form of plasma -- the hot, charged state of matter composed of free electrons and atomic nuclei -- and generates massive amounts of energy in the stars. Scientists aim to reproduce and control this process on Earth.

The team formulated a rule known as a scaling law that helps infer the properties of future tokamaks from present devices. The law is derived largely from three years of experiments on the DIII-D National Fusion Facility that General Atomics operates for the DOE in San Diego. Researchers also drew upon a database of error field effects maintained by ITER's International Tokamak Physics Activity group, which coordinates fusion research around the world.

Now data from additional devices with a range of sizes are needed to increase confidence in extrapolating the scaling law to predict how large error fields can be before disrupting in ITER, the multinational tokamak being built in France to demonstrate the viability of fusion energy.

Formation of error fields

Irregularities in the shaping or placement of a tokamak's magnets can produce error fields that trigger a disruption in the plasma, causing it to suddenly escape from the magnetic fields and release lots of energy. "The question is how large an error field ITER can tolerate without disrupting," said Nikolas Logan, PPPL physicist and lead author of a paper reporting the results in Nuclear Fusion. "We want to prevent disruptions in ITER because they could both interfere with fusion reactions and damage the walls."

Since ITER is under construction, the researchers used a mash-up of two computer codes to model the effects of error fields on plasmas for tokamaks in South Korea, China, the United Kingdom, and other countries, strengthening the errors until the plasmas disrupted. The researchers hoped to find patterns allowing them to formulate a simple rule that would help make conjectures about future error field disruptions in tokamaks being built.

The combined codes modeled the plasma more accurately than each individual code could do on its own. The TM1 code developed by Germany's Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics solves equations that model chaotic plasma behavior in cylinder shapes, while the Ideal Perturbed Equilibrium Code (IPEC) code developed at PPPL models plasma in a tokamak shape. "By combining these codes, we were able to simulate a wide range of conditions that could occur in a variety of devices, including ITER," said PPPL physicist Qiming Hu, one of the paper's authors. "It's important to get accurate forecasts for ITER because no current machine is that size."

"This work extends our knowledge of the effects of error fields in fusion devices," said Raffi Nazikian, head of the ITER and Tokamak department at PPPL. "The combination of numerical and experimental analysis provides a compelling basis for assessing the importance of error fields in ITER and future reactors."

Next steps

Logan and Hu hope to gather more information from tokamak experiments to make the scaling law more precise, enabling it to forecast plasma performance in both the core and edge regions of the plasma. "This is not an alarm-bell paper," said Logan. "It just helps physicists and engineers know how carefully they need to consider prospective error fields before putting lots of power into ITER."

Collaborators included researchers from General Atomics, the Institute of Plasma Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Plasma Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Korea's Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, the United Kingdom's Culham Centre of Fusion Energy, Italy's Consorzio RFX, Germany's Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics, and the Plasma Science and Fusion Center at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

###

The research was supported by the DOE's Office of Science (FES), China's National Key RD Program, the Czech Science Foundation, and the European Atomic Energy Community.

PPPL, on Princeton University's Forrestal Campus in Plainsboro, N.J., is devoted to creating new knowledge about the physics of plasmas -- ultra-hot, charged gases -- and to developing practical solutions for the creation of fusion energy. The Laboratory is managed by the University for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science, which is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit https://energy.gov/science

The DIII-D National Fusion Facility is the largest magnetic fusion research facility in the U.S. and has been the site of numerous pioneering contributions to the development of fusion energy science. DIII-D continues the drive toward practical fusion energy with critical research conducted in collaboration with more than 600 scientists representing over 100 institutions worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.ga.com/diii-d.
Anunt de selectare a participantilor si participantelor la cel de-al doilea curs de instruire din cadrul Programului educational pentru dezvoltarea competentelor lucratorilor de tineret
News

Washington, DC - Today, I am taking new actions to restrict Irans 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.

To ensure this cannot happen, I am issuing a new Executive Order, restoring United Nations (UN) sanctions on Iran, and imposing new sanctions and export controls on more than two dozen entities and individuals that support Irans 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. This Executive Order is critical to enforcing the UN arms embargo on Iran. The order will greatly diminish the Iranian regimes 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.

Today, my Administration is also imposing new sanctions and export control measures on 27 entities and individuals connected to Irans proliferation networks. These actions target the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran for its role in Irans nuclear escalation, the Iranian missile organization Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group for facilitating ballistic missile development, and two Iranian entities for their involvement in the transfer and acquisition of conventional arms.

The United States has now restored UN sanctions on Iran. 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 administrations failed nuclear deal from which I 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.

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 United States will not allow the Iranian regime to further advance capabilities to directly threaten and terrorize the rest of the world. My Administration will use every tool at our disposal to stop Irans nuclear, ballistic missile, and conventional weapons pursuits. The Iranian regime must change its behavior if it hopes to provide what the Iranian people so desperately want and deserve: a thriving and prosperous Iran.
Minsk: Belarusian security forces detained protesters and fired water cannon to disperse crowds as thousands took to the streets of Minsk against the abrupt inauguration of veteran President Alexander Lukashenko on Wednesday (Thursday AEST).

Ignoring calls for an end to his 26-year grip on power, Lukashenko was sworn in for a sixth term after an election that the opposition and several foreign governments say was rigged.

Riot police detain a protester during an opposition rally following the presidential inauguration in Minsk, Belarus. Credit:AP

The ceremony would normally have been publicised as a major state occasion but was instead held without warning following Lukashenko's claim of a landslide victory in the August 9 vote.

The former Soviet republic's opposition, which has staged more than six weeks of mass protests demanding his resignation, denounced the inauguration as illegitimate.
Former Bihar DGP Gupteshwar Pandey, who has taken voluntary retirement from service, on Wednesday kept his cards close to the chest,dismissing speculations that his sudden decision to take VRS was prompted by plans to enter electoral politics.

Pandey quit the service five months before his retirement in February 2021.

His request for VRS was approved by Governor Phagu Chauhan, a notification issued by the home department said late Tuesday evening.

After Pandey, Director General of Homeguards and Fire services, Sanjiv Kumar Singhal, has been given additional charge of the DGP.

Pandey, who was appointed as Bihar police chief in January 2019, however expressed distress and indignation over a flurry of recent media reports which had sought to link his outspokenness in the death case to purported political ambitions.

The former DGP had been in the headlines for his stout defence of Nitish Kumar government when it was under attack from the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra for pro-actively taking the actor's death by suicide case following registration of an FIR by his father KK Singh in Patna.

When reminded that the Shiv Sena had attributed his active role in Rajput's death case to his political inclinations, Pandey said "they keep saying many things, I don't give much credence to it."



Pandey said his VRS should not be linked with the Rajput case as the decision has nothing to do with the case.

"I have spent more than three decades in service and nobody can raise a finger on my professional integrity. But, in the recent past, thousands of calls and messages seeking to know when I am entering politics, which party I am planning to join.....left me exasperated", Pandey said.

To a specific query as to whether he would contest Lok Sabha or Assembly polls due in October-November, Pandey shot back "I have not yet said I am going to contest any election".

In reply to another question whether he would contest by- poll from Valmikinagar Parliamentary seat, the ex-DGP said he would contest the "Lok Sabha election" if he considers himself fit and able enough to do so.

Valmikinagar seat fell vacant due to death of sitting member Baidyanath Mahto of JD(U) in February last.

Born in 1961 in Geruabandh village in Buxar,Pandey did his graduation in Sanskrit from Patna University. He also gave his UPSC exam in Sanskrit.

In his first attempt, he managed to clear the UPSC exam. However, he became an IPS in his second attempt in 1987.

"I have neither joined any political party nor I am a political person till now. When I join (party), I will tell all of you Politics is not the only way of serving society. One can work for the society even without joining politics in different ways, he said.

He, however, said "I am now a free citizen of India like you (pointing towards media persons). I am no longer DGP, so no service rules, statute apply to me anymore.Thousands of people are coming from Buxar, Begusarai, Jehanabad, Aurangabad and other districts I will take a decision after talking to them.

Notably, Pandey had taken premature retirement to contest Lok Sabha in 2009, but later the government reinstated him in the police service after nine months of his taking VRS.

As per media reports, Pandey may contest as an NDA candidate from Shahpur assembly constituency in native Buxar or may be fielded as JD(U) candidate for Valmikinagar Lok Sabha by-poll because of his proximity to Kumar, who also heads JD(U).

He is said to have impressed Kumar by launching a movement in support of prohibition which the state government had enforced in the state in April 2016.

Asked to comment on Kumar, the former police chief said "only one thing that I can say about Nitish Kumar jee is that he is a very strict person vis--vis matters relating to administration and policing. He neither tolerates political interference in policing nor does he likes that ruling party leaders or workers interfere in such matters.

After the Supreme Court endorsed the CBI investigation recommended by the Bihar government, Pandey, as police chief, had bragged that Rajput's girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty "does not have the aukat (stature)" to comment on the chief minister.

Pandey Wednesday defended his comment, saying "one who is an accused in the case and named in an FIR for hatching conspiracy to kill has no right to make any comment on any person who is occupying a constitutional post. I had said this in that context only.

The ruling JD(U) chose not to speak anything on Pandeys VRS and his possible future action of contesting Lok Sabha or assembly polls in the state.

JD(U) ally BJP, however, said every one has right to lead a social and political life in a democratic set up.

"Gupteshwar Pandey jee had joined the service on his own sweet will and has opted for VRS too. There is no scope left for political party to make any suggestion in this regard. He has every right to choose a political party or ideology he wants to pursue." state BJP spokesman Nikhil Anand said.
Today

A few clouds early, otherwise mostly sunny. High 44F. Winds light and variable.

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies during the evening will give way to cloudy skies overnight. Low 29F. Winds light and variable.

Tomorrow

Sunshine along with some cloudy intervals. High 43F. Winds light and variable.
In a setback to the Kerala government, a court in Thiruvananthapuram turned down its plea to close the case pertaining to violent incidents in the state assembly in the year 2015, in which two ministers are facing charges for destroying public property. The chief judicial magistrate court has asked all the accused to be present before the court on October 15.

The House witnessed ruckus in March 2015 after Left Democratic Front (LDF) legislators prevented then finance minister K M Mani from presenting the state budget. Angry members snapped mikes, destroyed furniture and damaged lights. In the melee, two legislators had to be hospitalized. The session was being broadcast live when the violent incidents unfolded in the House.

Then Speaker N Sakthan later filed a police complaint against six LDF legislators, two of them-- E P Jayarajan and K T Jaleel-- are ministers in the Pinarayi Vijayan cabinet now. The complaint said property worth Rs 2.5 lakh was damaged in the melee and the accused tried to manhandle treasury bench members. But the case did not make any progress and when the LDF came to power in 2016, the public prosecutor had sought permission to withdraw the case.

The government has invoked the privilege of legislators to justify its decision to withdraw the case but the court rejected it saying privilege was not a licence to carry out violent activities. During a discussion in the assembly last year, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan had said assembly proceedings should not be dragged to courts.

Also Read: Hell breaks loose in Kerala Assembly: 14 pics that tell you everything

But two rights activists, M T Thomas and M Peter, later impleaded in the case saying that law-makers should be role models for others and withdrawing a criminal case against them for destroying assembly property will set a bad precedent.

Counsel for petitioner Ajit Joy, contended that the violence was telecast live and viewed by general public and withdrawing the case will encourage others to commit the same crime and get away easily. He said though the case was posted 15 times between May 2019 and June 2020, the hearing was deliberately delayed at the instance of the prosecution and the accused.

Also Read: 24-yr-old temple employee in Kerala wins Rs 12-cr Onam lottery jackpot

A spokesman of the state government said it will move the high court soon. But the opposition Congress has hailed the verdict. We will ensure a logical conclusion to the case and ensure that erring ones are punished. It will only help increase the dignity of the House, said opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala.

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The Howard Hughes Corp. has informed local municipal utility district officials of a planned commercial and retail development on land the company owns on FM 1488 immediately east of the Del Webb senior living neighborhood on the south side of the road.

However, what exactly will be built there is not known. The company has also asked the local municipal utility district to fund a $400,000 pre-development engineering study.

Lorrie Parise, a spokesperson for the Howard Hughes Corp., confirmed the company own a parcel of land within the boundaries of Montgomery County MUD 47 and on FM 1488 west of Kuykendahl Road. She also said company representatives had met with local officials about the project and said the company had no further comment about the possible development of the land or any other details of proposed construction.

Related: Proposed development changes on Mitchell Island irks Woodlands residents

Parise provided a brief statement from the company that addressed several concerns raised by officials from Montgomery County MUD 47 over a request for $400,000 in funding for a pre-engineering study of the property.

Dan Kolkhorst, vice president of land development for The Woodlands Development Co., which is a subsidiary of the Howard Hughes Corp., visited the MUD board meeting to discuss the property.

The Howard Hughes Corporation owns properties along the commercial corridor of FM 1488 that have yet to be developed. These properties have long been identified for commercial use. These properties are located within the MUD 47 boundaries, and as is typical, the MUD supplies water, sewer, and drainage facilities for properties within its boundaries, unidentified company officials stated in the release. While we do not have any definitive plans to commence development at this time, this request for (engineering study by MUD) is a common step in the early due diligence and planning process. It remains our full intent to elevate the quality of the projects located along FM 1488 as we have for many years in The Woodlands.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Are more changes coming at Howard Hughes Corp.?

MUD presentation

Laura Norton, a member of the MUD 47 governing board, said she and other board members received a presentation from Kolkhorst from Howard Hughes requesting a $400,000 pre-development engineering study. Norton said she opposes paying for the study, even though company officials told the board that the $400,000 would be repaid to the MUD when the entire project is completed and open.

I a not sure exactly where it is, Dan Kolkhost did come to our meeting and he didnt have much information. He did not have a map to show us, Norton explained. If you look at Del Webb, to the east, I think there is land owned by the Howard Hughes Corp. They want to do high density and a strip mall. We have to know where that property (specifically) is.

Infrastructure study

Jim Stinson, general manager of Woodlands Water, which oversees all 10 MUDs in The Woodlands, said the land owned by Howard Hughes under discussion does not have an official address at this time, but it is near the Del Webb community. Stinson said asking for help with the payment of the infrastructure study is common practice in the township.

It is vacant property west of Kuykendahl and on the south side, I dont know that it has an addressit is just vacant property. Right near the entrance to Del Webb. Howard Hughes owns the property and it is just like any development in The Woodlands, Stinson explained. The relationship between the developer and our MUDs is that the developer submits a plan and what their intent is and provides what the expected increase in appraised values is once the development is completed. The MUD at some point makes an agreement to reimburse the developer the cost of the water, wastewater and drainage infrastructure associated with that development. Then the MUD receives the tax benefits from that property to retire that (bond) debt and offset its costs for waste water and drainage services. It is the pattern and sequence that has been followed in The Woodlands (for years).

In the company statement provided by Parise, officials explained their argument that the request for the study was part of the 2019 bond request to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

There may be a misconception that Howard Hughes has requested MUD 47 to fund the companys commercial projects; this is not correct. At no time did the company request the MUD to fund any commercial development, nor would it ever make such a request. The MUD submitted a bond application in May 2019 to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality requesting approval of $6,865,000 in bonds to finance a number of projects, one component of which was the supply of these facilities, the officials stated. Upon confirmation of MUD 47 receiving the bond funds, a representative from Howard Hughes (Kolkhorst) attended the (MUD board) meeting and inquired whether the (MUD) would consider authorization for the engineer to commence design work for a project authorized in the bond issuance.

Development projects

The project is one of several that the Howard Hughes Corp has embarked on in some level over the past several years. Other development in the companys footprint in The Woodlands include plans for 58 homes on Mitchell Island  an increase from the 19 originally slated for the area  as well as possible new amenities and residential developments near The Woodlands Resort.

Related: Howard Hughes puts Woodlands resort expansion on hold

There are also budding developments in the Village of Creekside Park, where new residential and commercial space has been popular. Called Creekside West, the development has a movie theater, new yoga studio and other businesses planned.

The request to fund the $400,000 study is expected to be discussed and possibly voted on by the MUD 47 board during the Oct. 20 meeting.

Norton said she personally prefers that all of the MUD 47 funds from the bond, more than $6.86 million, be used 100 percent for flood mitigation and prevention projects to benefit residents.

jeff.forward@chron.com
If the next month unfolds as the As hope, Tuesday night mightve offered a glimpse of scenarios to come.

Win their first-round playoff series at home and the As could be back at Dodger Stadium in two weeks for the AL Division Series. Advance further and they could see the Dodgers, owners of the majors best record, again in Arlington, Texas.

For now, though, a 7-2 loss simply gave the AL West champion As an up-close look at a National League force with a recent history of deep postseason runs.

The Dodgers hit four home runs, three off right-hander Frankie Montas, raising their majors-leading total to 104 while locking up the NL West title. Rookie right-hander Dustin May, firing 99 mph fastballs, and five relievers held the As to five hits, with Robbie Grossmans solo homer the only one to drive in a run. In a rarity, Gold Glove first baseman Matt Olson committed his first error this year, leading to an unearned run.

They just got (Montas) on the run early, manager Bob Melvin said. Pretty good team and when you make mistakes, theyll make you pay. Theyre pretty good about laying off chase (pitches) and making you throw it over the plate, and they made him pay, unfortunately.

The As have yet to name a rotation for their first-round series, but right now its hard to see Montas as a top-three option. Over his past six starts, Montas has a 10.86 ERA in 24 innings with 10 home runs allowed. Max Muncy hit a two-run homer off Montas in the third inning Tuesday and Chris Taylor and AJ Pollock added solo shots in the fourth. Corey Seager had a first-inning RBI single off Montas and a solo homer off reliever T.J. McFarland.

Tonight was tough, Montas said. Feel like I was throwing strikes and everything I was throwing, it was getting hit. Just one of the tough days.

Montas had a 1.57 ERA with no home runs allowed in his first four starts before missing an outing with back stiffness. He said Tuesday night he is not dealing with lingering discomfort. My body feels good, my arm feels good, he said. Just going through a tough time right now and just trying to get out of it.

Hes just not quite there with his mechanics yet, Melvin said. He started out so strong. Hes throwing the ball where he wants to. Hes getting ahead in the count and his split and his slider were really good. Right now, his splits not as good as it was before and hes centering some sliders. Its not a matter of stuff with him right now. Its just ... probably a little bit of confidence that he cant get on a roll.

Muncys homer followed a two-out bloop single by Seager that fell in front of Mark Canha, who started in center field with Ramon Laureano getting a day off. With the As clinching the division and a first-round home series Monday, Melvin said he wanted to rest Laureano. Canha was making his sixth start this season in center.

They have a lot of guys that take big swings and maybe when youre not out there on a consistent basis, its tough to get a read, Melvin said. But Marks done a nice job for us. ... I dont know if that factored in or not.

The As entered Tuesday as the No. 3 team in the AL standings, a half-game behind the No. 2 seed White Sox. Melvin, though, said he doesnt view playing for a higher seed as a main priority given the depth of the AL field: I think its just as much trying to create a winning atmosphere and making sure everybody has the proper rest.

You may see days off for several guys coming up, Melvin said pregame. Well basically play it day-to-day on what we feel like we need to do.

In this most unusual season, the As clinched their first division title since 2013 while in their Los Angeles-area hotel Monday night and didnt celebrate much as a group because of health protocols. Utilityman Chad Pinder said you could hear some yells down the hallway when the Astros lost at Seattle to seal the West. Melvin said the As held a meeting before Tuesdays game to recognize the division win.

Youve got to celebrate these kinds of things in any way that you can, starter Sean Manaea said, but I feel like weve got a lot more work to do and a lot more celebrating.

Manaea, who started the wild-card loss to Tampa Bay last year, said facing the Dodgers in the final week should be a gauge for the As and himself  hell pitch Wednesday. As of Tuesday, the As had faced two teams with records of .500 or better this season, the Astros and Padres.

Next time we see them might be in the World Series, Manaea said. Theyre not an AL team, so its just different. But theyre just still a very, very good ballclub.

Matt Kawahara covers the As for The San Francisco Chronicle. Email: mkawahara@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @matthewkawahara
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has agreed to jump into the contentious fight over the effort to have Highspire secede from the financially and academically troubled Steelton-Highspire School District.

The justices will consider appeals officials of the Steel-High district and the Middletown Area School District, which might have to absorb Highspire students, filed challenging a decision Commonwealth Court issued in March that moved the dismemberment plan forward.

The Commonwealth Court ruling created and independent school district for Highspire and its 276 students, a preliminary step to a possible merger with the Middletown district. The secession effort has been pursued by the Highspire Education Coalition for six years.

In the Commonwealth Court decision, President Judge Mary Hannah Leavitt overturned a ruling by Dauphin County Judge Andrew H. Dowling that blocked the proposed dissolution of the Steel-High district. Dowling based his decision on a finding by state Education Secretary Pedro Rivera that the dissolution would cause a financial catastrophe for the remains of the Steel-High district, which is already on a state watch list for fiscally distressed districts.

Leavitt found that Rivera shouldnt have given so much weight to finances because the Highspire students would receive a better education at Middletown.

The proposed split would be fiscally disastrous for the Steelton portion of the district. Leavitt noted it would leave the rump district with fewer than 1,000 students and would shift 30 percent of the Steel-High districts property tax income and 40 percent of its earned income tax revenue  a total of around $1.6 million  to Middletown.

The Supreme Court will weigh arguments by Steel-High and Middletown officials that Rivera was justified in giving substantial weight to the catastrophic financial impact Highspires secession would have on the remaining Steelton portion of the district.
President Donald Trump stops and takes questions from reporters on his way to Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on Sept. 22, 2020. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Trump: Supreme Court Vacancy Must Be Filled to Deal With Mail-In Ballot Scam

President Donald Trump told reporters on Tuesday evening that filling the vacant seat on the Supreme Court before the election is essential given the courts role in resolving cases related to mail-in voter fraud.

We need nine justices. You need that. With the unsolicited millions of ballots that theyre sendingits a scam, its a hoax. Everybody knows that. And the Democrats know it better than anybody else, Trump said in response to a reporter who asked if confirming the justice would, as some Democrats said, tear the country apart.

So youre going to need nine justices up there. I think its going to be very important, the president added. Because what theyre doing is a hoax, with the ballots. Theyre sending out tens of millions of ballots, unsolicitednot where theyre being asked, but unsolicited. And thats a hoax, and youre going to need to have nine justices.

During the same exchange with reporters on the South Lawn of the White House, Trump said he intends to announce his nominee at 5 p.m. on Saturday. The president has previously said he intends to pick a woman and has urged Senate Republicans to quickly confirm the nominee.

President Donald Trump boards Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Sept. 22, 2020. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg speaks during a discussion on the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment at Georgetown University Law Center in Washington on Feb. 10, 2020. (Patrick Semansky/AP Photo)

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away on Sept. 18. She was largely considered to be the leader of the liberal side of the bench, making her replacement Trumps most significant Supreme Court nomination to date. The presidents previous appointees to the Supreme Court replaced Republican-appointed justices.

Trump has long lambasted the idea of a mass vote-by-mail election. At least 100 million American voters will automatically receive either ballots or ballot request forms before the election on Nov. 3.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has similarly suggested that the Supreme Court bench needs to be full in the event of election-related legal challenges. The Supreme Court has previously weighed in on a presidential election in 2000 during the recount in the race between George Bush and Al Gore.

So doing it before the election would be a very good thing because youre going to probably see it, because what theyre doing is trying to sow confusion and everything else, Trump said. And, you know, when they talk about Russia, China, and all these others, they will be able to do something here because paper ballots are very simplewhether they counterfeit them, forge them, do whatever you want.

Its a very serious problem, he continued. And the Democrats know what theyre doing is wrong, and all they want to do is go forward with it. So I think youre going to need the nine justices.

Trump also said he has a constitutional obligation to make the appointment.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has said he will move forward with confirming any nominee Trump puts forth.
The premier praised the high turnout by citizens to complete procedures related of reconciliation

Egyptian authorities have received around 2.275 million reconciliation requests for building violations nationwide, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said in a statement on Tuesday, as a six-month deadline for submissions is set to expire by the end of September.

In January, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi ratified a law allowing owners of illegally constructed buildings to settle with the state, with the exception of violations pertaining to safety standards, authorised height or purpose, and historic buildings, among others.

Madbouly praised the high turnout by citizens looking to reconcile, the Cabinets statement said, adding that the premier has continued to supervise developments on the ground concerning solving the long-standing issue of illegal buildings and to ensure all reconciliation procedures are facilitated for citizens.

Madbouly affirmed that the state is keen on ending this issue that has lasted for dozens of years and legalising millions of illegal structures.

Concerning building violations on muddy lands on both sides of the Nile River and its northern branches of Damietta and Rosetta, Minister of Water Resources Mohamed Abdel-Aaty said warnings have been issued to many governorates as the Nile flood this year can inundate some of these lands, the Cabinet statement read.

Madbouly said this precautionary measure has been taken to ensure that citizens inhabiting illegal structures near the Nile are able to take all precautions and be aware of the expected danger.

The government issues early warnings to reduce losses that may happen, even though these citizens are violators and have encroached on the Nile vicinity, but our goal is to protect their lives and properties, the premier added.

Last week, Local Development Minister Mahmoud Shaarawy said that around 320 centres have been designated to receive the reconciliation requests.

The reconciliation fees will be allocated for development in governorates and to upgrade the level of services provided to citizens, Shaarawy said.

Officials have announced a series of discounts on the fees ranging from 20 to 70 percent, depending on the governorate, with Cairo seeing higher discounts.

Discounts ranging from 15 to 25 percent on fees in new cities have also been announced.

Officials have stressed in the past weeks the adoption of resolute measures to stop building violations on agricultural land nationwide.

The country has seen a significant rise in illegal construction since the security vacuum that followed the 2011 uprising, with many people constructing multi-storey buildings without acquiring the necessary permits or complying with engineering safety standards.

It lost up to 400,000 feddans of land between 1980 and 2011, and an additional 90,000 feddans in the past nine years, to building violations and land encroachments.

Unplanned buildings constitute about 50 percent of the urban clusters in villages and cities countrywide, according to officials.

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JAIPUR/BHOPAL: In a tactical move, the Congress has drafted Sachin Pilot, the former rebel leader from Rajasthan, to help the party fight its battle in the crucial Madhya Pradesh Assembly by-elections in BJP strongholds Chambal-Gwalior belt.

The strategist in Kamal Nath, the former chief minister who is also MP Congress chief, has twin-objectives in mind: test Pilots renewed loyalty to the party while taking the fight right into the BJP camp in a region which has a sizeable vote share of the Gujjars, a community Pilot belongs to.

Sources say the MP Congress hopes that the Pilot factor would work on the Gujjar community and wean away some prominent leaders from the BJP, including a former state minister or his son. Pilot will have to campaign against his old friend Jyotiraditya Scindia, who switched to the BJP early this year. However, Pilots exact programme is yet to be chalked out as the Election Commission is still to declare dates for the bypolls, to be held simultaneously with the Bihar Assembly election.

As many as 28 by-elections are due in Madhya Pradesh, and 25 of them are caused by the Scindia camp walking across to the BJP. The Congress is highlighting betrayal of the rebels to woo voters in the region. The Pilot familys association with MP politics isnt new. Sachin ji campaigned in MP in the previous polls and his father Rajesh Pilot had helped the party in the state decades back.

Sachin ji is one of our biggest star campaigners and he will extensively campaign for the party candidates in the entire Gwalior-Chambal region, said MP Congresss spokesperson Bhupendra Gupta. Out of the 28 by-elections, 16 are in the Gwalior-Chambal region. The Gujjars can influence the outcome in more than half-a-dozen seats of Bhind, Morena, Datia and Gwalior districts. The Gwalior-Chambal belt is also the home turf of Jyotiraditya Scindia whose meeting with Sachin Pilot during the recent Rajasthan political crisis had sparked speculation of the former Rajasthan deputy CM joining hands with the BJP.


CHICAGO, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report "Real-Time Location Systems Market (RTLS) with COVID-19 Impact Analysis by Offering (Hardware, Software, Services), Technology, Vertical (Healthcare, Manufacturing, Retail, Education, Govt., Sports), Application/Use case, Geography- Global Forecast to 2025" , published by MarketsandMarkets, the RTLS market is expected to grow from USD 3.4 billion in 2020 to USD 10.3 billion by 2025; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 24.8% from 2020 to 2025. The RTLS market has been witnessing significant growth over the past years, mainly owing to the high adoption of RTLS solutions in the healthcare, manufacturing & automotive, retail, and transportation & logistics verticals, and growing adoption in emerging use cases. However, the COVID-19 outbreak is likely to result in a decline in the growth rate of the RTLS market, especially in 2020 and 2021. This is because organizations in most of the major demand-generating verticals are currently or were non-operational in various countries, thereby negatively impacting the demand for RTLS solutions. Additionally, COVID-19 has also disrupted the supply chain of the RTLS market, which is hindering the manufacturing, distribution, and installation of RTLS solutions.

Ask for PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=1322

Wi-Fi segment to hold the largest share of the RTLS market, by technology, in 2020

Wi-Fi segment will lead the RTLS market, by technology, in terms of size, in 2020. A number of RTLS vendors have been using the existing Wi-Fi infrastructure to lay out RTLS solutions for the purpose of data sharing. This has resulted in the greater use of Wi-Fi technology for RTLS applications, especially in newer verticals and emerging markets.

The market for supply chain management & operational automation/visibility segment to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period

The supply chain management & operational automation/visibility application segment is expected to witness highest growth in the RTLS market during the forecast period. In this segment, RTLS solutions are gaining popularity for locating inventory in warehouses as well as throughout supply chains. RTLS technologies allow better visualization of supply chain dynamics in real time. As companies move toward Industry 4.0, there arises the demand for greater visibility to facilitate faster decision-making. Real-time data of supply chain operations allows quicker response times for any alterations in normal operations.

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North America to hold the largest share of RTLS market by 2020

North America is expected to hold the largest share of the RTLS market by 2020. The US leads the market in North America owing to its well-established economy that encourages government and private investments in new technologies. Europe is expected to account for the second-largest share of the RTLS market during the forecast period. The UK and Germany are significant demand-generating countries for RTLS solutions in this region.

A few key players operating in the Real-Time Location Systems Market are Stanley Black & Decker (US), Zebra Technologies (US), Aruba Networks (US), Impinj (US), Savi Technology (US), TeleTracking Technologies (US), AiRISTA (US), Ubisense Group (UK), Decawave (Ireland), and Litum Technologies (Turkey).

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Asset Management System Market With Covid-19 Impact by Solution (GPS, RFID, RTLS, Barcode), Asset Type (Electronic Assets, Returnable Transport Assets, In-Transit Equipment, Manufacturing Assets, Staff), Industry, Geography - Global Forecast to 2025

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Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model  GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve.

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In March, Taylor was shot and killed by police in Louisville after officers rammed in a door to her apartment to execute a search warrant. Prior to her getting shot, Taylors boyfriend has said, he fired his own gun and shot an officer while mistaking the police as intruders in her unit.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today filed settled charges against Verley Lee "Rocky" Sembritzky, Jr., the promoter of a purported Kenyan desalination plant investment who defrauded American investors out of millions of dollars.

According to the Commission's complaint, Sembritzky, a Houston, Texas resident, told investors that he was building an advanced, eco-friendly desalination plant that would provide clean, low-cost drinking water to Kenyans. According to the complaint, Sembritzky misled investors as to the viability of his desalination process, falsely assuring them that the technology had years of proven operational history. The complaint further alleges that Sembritzky also claimed they would reap outsized returns from sales of the lucrative minerals removed during the desalination process. Sembritsky, according to the complaint, raised approximately $7.2 million from at least 20 investors in the United States between August 2015 and March 2017, directing investors to send their funds to two entities he controlled - Bounty of the Ocean Inc. and Ocean Harvest LLC. The complaint alleges that only $650,000 of the $7.2 million raised made it to the project's bank account. According to the complaint, Sembritzky spent the rest of the money on such personal items as a $2 million condominium for his then-wife, luxury cars, jewelry, and credit card debt.

Without admitting or denying the allegations in the complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Sembritzky consented to an order enjoining him from violating the antifraud provisions of Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 10(b) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, and the registration provisions of Section 5 of the Securities Act. Bounty of the Ocean and Ocean Harvest consented to an order enjoining them from violation Sections 17(a)(1) and (3) of the Securities Act and Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 thereunder. Sembritzky also consented to a permanent conduct-based injunction that prohibits him from directly or indirectly, including but not limited to, through any entity owned or controlled by him, soliciting or accepting funds from any person or entity for any unregistered offering of securities, and to pay a $192,768 civil penalty. Sembritzky, Bounty of the Ocean and Ocean Harvest have each agreed to pay, on a joint and several basis, disgorgement of $6,646,132 with prejudgment interest of $911,521.

The SEC's investigation was conducted by Kimberly Cain and Ty Martinez, with assistance from trial attorney Keefe Bernstein. David Reece and Eric Werner supervised the investigation.
The Delhi High Court was on Wednesday informed that PNB loan scam case accused diamentarian Mehul Choksi left India prior to the registration of a case against him and hence his not being in India should not be read against him.

"Mehul Choksi left India prior to the registration of the FIR by the CBI, and hence his not being in India cannot be read against him," advocate Vijay Aggarwal told a division bench of the high court presided over by Chief Justice D.N. Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan.

The arguments were made while the court was hearing an appeal filed by Choksi challenging a single bench order dismissing his plea seeking the postponement of the release of Netflix original webseries "Bad Boy Billionaires: India".

Aggarwal's submissions came in response to the arguments made by advocates Sanjay K. Kaul and Dayan Krishnan, who are appearing for Netflix. They submitted that Choksi is not entitled to any relief, as he is not a citizen of India since he had forsaken his citizenship, and therefore, he is not entitled to protection of any fundamental right.

The bench said, "The single judge has not closed your (Mehul Choksi) relief. You have the relief of a civil suit but you want to invoke a jurisdiction and for that your conduct and issues are also important."

"You have changed citizenship... you are no more a citizen of India," Justice Jalan said.

Responding to the queries of the court, Aggarwal said that Article 21 of the Constitution did not require Choksi to be an Indian citizen.

Kaul argued that the entire writ petition filed by Choksi was based on a Netflix trailer which did not even mention or refer to him.

"He does not know what his grievance is because the trailer does not mention him at all," said Kaul.

"No writ can be issued in vacuum. There is a red corner notice issued against him... And here he makes an magnanimous offer to join investigation via video conferencing," said Kaul.

Kaul further said that he has watched the said series in question and can assure that it is nothing more than an amalgamation of various interviews of which most are already out in the public domain.

"I have had the privilege of watching the film and I can assure you as an officer of the court that this series is nothing but an amalgamation of interviews, snippets etc. and we have a source chart of the said interviews," Kaul told the division bench.

Meanwhile, Aggarwal argued that if today Netflix is permitted to violate an individual's fundamental rights, then tomorrow it can claim immunity from judicial scrutiny even if it violates the religion or telecasts shows propagating China's stand against India or show any documentary showing a wrong map of India.

"Such can never be the law," he argued.

Aggarwal asked whether even in such circumstance the courts will be without jurisdiction to pass any appropriate direction against unregulated OTT platforms such as Netflix.

The court will now hear the matter next on September 29.
Kia Canada gave Canadian automotive journalists a first look at the 2021 Kia Sorento that will be going on sale later this year.

Michael Kopke, director of marketing with Kia Canada, told journalists that the new Sorento comes with a new design and is based on Kias most advanced platform, making the 2021 Sorento stronger, safer, lighter and more fuel efficient.

The 2021 Sorento will come in six trim levels: LX+, LX Premium, a first ever X-Line, EX, EX+ and SX, all with standard all-wheel drive and third-row seating.

In the United States, Kia is launching a hybrid and plug-in hybrid trims. Canada will see those come sometime next year, as Kopke said Kia Canada wanted to focus on bringing all-wheel drive to the Sorento for Canadians.

This 2021 Sorentos design takes some of its design inspiration from classic SUV designs with smart, sharp, clean lines in order to give it a sportier and modern feel.

On the outside, the 2021 Sorento will have a modernized tiger face with what the carmaker says will be new eyeline details, along with the grille extending into the headlight and hood structure. Standard LED headlamps with optional LED forward lighting will be offered, along with four different alloy wheels, ranging in size from 17 inches to 20 inches.

For the interior, the 2021 Sorento will include satin finishes and available metal texture inlays or open-pore wood inlays. Along with updated interior finishes, the 2021 Sorento will come with a 12.3-inch digital meter cluster, Surround View Monitor using four cameras to give a 360-degree perspective around the vehicle and Blind View Monitor to keep an close eye on adjacent lanes.

So that no one feels they do not have a way to charge or their various devices, up to eight USB ports will be available  depending on the trim level chosen  and drivers will have an option of eight-inch and 10.25-inch infotainment touch screens. UVO Intelligence Link telematics will give drivers a range of connected vehicle features, including Connected Routing to assist in calculating an optimal drive route, up-to-date weather information and new features such as Find My Car with Surround View Monitor and Final Destination Guide to provide walking directions to the drivers destination if the vehicle happens to be parked up to two kilometres away. 2021 Sorento owners will also get Kias fourth-generation Advanced Driver Assistance Systems as well.

Built on the third-generation N3 platform, the new Sorento will be lighter and stronger than previous Sorento models and providing better driving dynamics and less harshness in the drive, along reduced noise vibration and harshness. The two engine options are a 2.5L GDI four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission that puts out 191 hp and 182 lb.-ft. of torque. The other, a 2.5L GDI 4-cylinder Turbo with an eight-speed wet dual-clutch automatic transmission and 281 hp with 311 lb.-ft. of torque, with 3,500 lbs. of towing capacity.
NEW DELHI: The Trump administrations new pick as ambassador to Pakistan William E Todd has said that Islamabad must take "sustained and irreversible" action against terrorism to rebuild a strong relationship with the US as well as reduce regional tensions.

In a statement to the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on Tuesday, Todd said he would actively engage Pakistan on terrorism, strategic stability and non-proliferation if he is confirmed as US ambassador to Islamabad. Todd was addressing the Foreign Relations Committee during his confirmation hearing.

To truly reduce regional tensions, and rebuild a strong relationship with the United States, Pakistan must take sustained and irreversible action against terrorism. Pakistan has suffered terribly itself at the hands of terrorists and has committed publicly to ensure terrorists cannot use Pakistani territory to operate," Todd said in his statement.

Since assuming office, US president Donald Trump has taken an unforgiving stance against Pakistans support to terrorism, freezing critical financial support to the Asian country's military among other measures.

Pakistan has taken important steps toward fulfilling that commitment but needs to continue that work. If confirmed, I will work with Pakistan to advance our shared interest in eliminating terrorism from its territory and advancing security in the region," he said.

Referring to what he described as regional dynamics," Todd said, although we have a strong relationship with India, that does not need to come at the expense of Pakistan."

I believe that under the right conditions, we can have a strong relationship with both countries. Our hope is that both countries will take the necessary steps to reduce tensions, and as President (Donald) Trump has offered, we are prepared to facilitate dialogue if both sides request it," he said.

India accuses Pakistan of supporting terrorism, especially in Jammu and Kashmir. New Delhi has also politely but firmly refused offers of mediation from Trump between the two countries saying that they would deal with issues bilaterally.

Ties between India and Pakistan have been in the deep freeze for months. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Pakistan in 2015 to reset ties but a terrorist attack on the Pathankot air force base within a week of the visit in January 2016, put paid to the effort.

Since India revoked the special status given to Jammu and Kashmir under its constitution in August last year, ties between the two countries have soured further, with Islamabad highlighting what it calls the alleged human rights violations in Kashmir. This was after New Delhi imposed certain strictures over movement of people in the region in the immediate aftermath of the revocation of article 370 of the constitution. India had also cut off communication links and sent extra security forces to the region. Almost all of these steps have been rolled back now but Pakistan has been relentless in its criticism of India especially at the UN.

In his statement, Todd said the US-Pakistan ties were longstanding and important," but also always complicated and sometimes contentious."

We certainly have our differences, but Pakistan is an essential regional partner, and this is an opportune moment in our relationship to work together on shared goals. Peace in Afghanistan is in both our countries best interests, and effective US-Pakistani cooperation is essential to achieve that objective."

Pakistan had played a critical role in creating the conditions that brought Afghan leaders and the Taliban to the historic start of Afghan Peace Negotiations" Todd said adding that Islamabad has an even more important role to play in supporting efforts toward a negotiated political settlement."

He said he would also engage Pakistan on strategic stability and non-proliferation, carrying a clear message on the threat that nuclear weapons pose to the United States, the region, and our allies and partners."

Todd also listed some other priorities that he would focus on if confirmed advancing human rights including freedom of religion and expression in Pakistan and increased bilateral trade and investment.

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Former Bandidos bikie boss will spend a year in jail after threatening police

Brett 'Kaos' Pechey filmed himself next to a shotgun saying 'coppers die today'

A court heard there were genuine fears among West Australian police ranks

An infamous ex-bikie boss will spend a year behind bars after threatening to kill police in a 'bizarre' and 'menacing' meth-fuelled rant.

Former Bandido Brett 'Kaos' Pechey was sentenced in Perth Magistrate's Court on Tuesday over a two-day incident that began on June 24, where he was seen in a video next to a shotgun saying 'coppers die today'.

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The saga began when Pechey 'imitated the cocking' of a long-armed firearm toward two officers who were issuing the face-tattooed 34-year-old with a police order following a domestic violence incident involving his ex-partner.

Pechey (pictured ex-girlfriend Rikki-Louise) will spend a year behind bars after threatening to kill police in a 'bizarre' and 'menacing' meth-fuelled rant

'I'm not here to hurt anyone, if I was you wouldn't know about it. I could just turn up - click, click, boom,' Pechey told the officers, the West Australia reported.

Police were highly concerned by the mock threat and later discovered a video of Pechey sitting in the driver's seat of his Chrysler 300C with a firearm by his side.

'F**king c**t ... die today, coppers die today ... yeah boy, f**king maggots,' Pechey said in the clip.

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The chilling video sparked 'genuine fear' among Western Australian police ranks, the court heard.

Police later tracked down Pechey at a short-term rental in Belmont, east Perth, following house-to-house searches in the area and drone surveillance.

Heavily armed officers from the Tactical Response Group surrounded the property and officers used a loud speaker to demand Pechey come out of the house.

Former Bandidos Brett 'Kaos' Pechey (pictured) was sentenced in Perth Perth Magistrate's Court on Tuesday for a two-day incident that began on June 24

He eventually gave himself up without a fight.

Pechey pleaded guilty to threatening to kill, possessing a firearm in circumstances of aggravation, possessing unlawfully obtained property and multiple police order breaches relating to domestic violence offences.

Defence lawyer Terry Dobson told the court Pechey suffered from schizophrenia and anxiety and that his meth 'binge' was sparked by a relationship breakdown.

Although Mr Dobson said Pechey had used cocaine before, he had not used meth until he moved to Western Australia a few years earlier.

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Pechey had moved to Perth from the Gold Coast with his Instagram-influencer girlfriend Rikki Louise Jones after a string of high-profile offences on the east coast.

The court heard he moved west to get away from the motorcycle club and running into associates and members.

In 2018, the West-End Bandidos sergeant-at-arms barricaded himself inside his property and filmed a stand-off with 26 police officers.

Prior to that, in 2015, when he was the President of the notorious outlaw motorcycle club, he was arrested at Brisbane International Airport after being on the run from Australian authorities in South East Asia for two years over outstanding extortion charges.

Pechey was arrested at Brisbane airport in 2015 on charges of extortion after months on the run in Thailand

Pechey later developed ties with the Sydney-based Brothers 4 Life gang and even converted to Islam.

But despite his lawyer's claims that Pechey is no longer a member of any outlaw motorcycle gangs, police wrote a letter to the court stating they believe he is still a current member.

Mr Dobson argued that if Pechey really wanted to inflict harm or kill police officers, he would not have advertised himself making public threats.

Pechey submitted a letter to the court admitting he had a history of saying dumb things out of hurt or anger and apologised to the officers he had threatened.

Magistrate Gavin MacLean accepted that Pechey was emotionally upset, suffering from mental illness, under the influence of drugs and therefore saying things that he didn't necessarily mean.

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But Magistrate MacLean ruled there was also a 'a menacing aspect' to his offending considering the threats involved firearms.
Libya's National Oil Company resumes output at Zueitina port May soon reopen El-Sharara oil field

(ANSAmed) - TUNIS, SEPTEMBER 23 - The Libyan National Oil Company (NOC) announced that it had resumed production and exports from the Zueitina port and Zueitina Oil Company fields on Tuesday.



The NOC noted that a security assessment of the Zueitina port and oil fields had been conducted and that it had been found that enough of an improvement in the situation as concerns security had been seen to enable it to resume production and exports.



The Zueitina Oil Company is a major supplier of Liquefied Natural Gas and is also an important source for coastal lines, enabling other operator to supply file to power stations north of Benghazi and Zueitina, "alleviating the suffering of the inhabitants of the large city of Benghazi and its suburbs and providing clean natural gas on a regular basis,'' the company said.



The ports of Hariga, Brega, and Zueitina have been classified as safe ports, the NOC said, underscoring that the country's other oil fields an ports are being assessed in terms of security.



Sector experts said that the NOC could soon announce the reopening of the large oil field El-Sharara, once the issue of the presence of Russian Wagner mercenaries inside the facilities is resolved, as the NOC had previously spoken out about.



(ANSAmed).




If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here
Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media

NEW HAVEN  If you heard a particularly loud noise over New Haven Wednesday morning, dont worry, you werent the only one.

An F15 flew over New Haven at approximately 11,000 feet Wednesday, police said, relaying information from Tweed New Haven Airport. The plane, a twin-engine fighter, was not in Tweed airspace, but air traffic controllers were aware of its presence, police said.
The people of Longford are being asked to support an appeal by a consortium of Irish charities who have come together to respond to the coronavirus pandemic amongst some of the worlds poorest people.

Six of Irelands leading international aid agencies are teaming up to respond to the worsening global coronavirus pandemic and to save lives in some of the poorest and most fragile countries.

The agencies have combined forces to form the Irish Emergency Alliance, which will jointly raise money from the Irish public and respond in countries facing rising coronavirus cases and already struggling to cope with the impact of conflict and displacement as well as widespread poverty, increased rates of hunger and poor health care.

The coronavirus appeal will focus on vulnerable communities in Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan, all coping with the impact of widescale conflict, as well as Ethiopia, Kenya, Lebanon and the Rohingya refugee camps of Coxs Bazar in Bangladesh.

These seven countries are home to more than 17 million refugees and displaced people. For people living in refugee camps or slums it is nearly impossible to practice physical distancing, while a lack of soap and water in many homes makes it harder to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Money raised by the Irish Emergency Alliances coronavirus appeal will go towards food, water and medical care as well as providing soap, masks and vital information to prevent the spread of the virus.

The Irish Emergency Alliance is made up of ActionAid, Christian Aid, Plan International, Self Help Africa,Tearfund and World Vision. Between them the aid agencies have programmes in 85 different countries, giving the Irish Emergency Alliance the global presence, expertise and experience required to respond quickly to this and future crises.

Helen Keogh, Chair of the Irish Emergency Alliance, said the unprecedented scale of the global coronavirus pandemic motivated the six charities to come together to help those most in need.

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. In countries without the safety net of furlough schemes, many who lost their jobs during the pandemic are now struggling to feed their families. The situation is even more critical in countries already struggling with the impact of conflict and buckling under the strain of massive refugee and displacement crises, Keogh 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. What is clear is that some of the worlds poorest people are being pushed even further into poverty and disruptions to farming and supply chains risk severe food shortages. By working together, the Irish Emergency Alliance will reach some of the worlds most vulnerable people, giving them the supplies and information they need to keep safe from the virus.

Expressing his support for the Irish Emergency Alliance, Minister of State for Overseas Development Aid and Diaspora, Colm Brophy TD, said:

The coronavirus pandemic is a challenge unlike any other and what will define us is how we as a nation respond. I am proud to see these Irish agencies combining their strengths at this critical time to reach some of the most vulnerable people in the world. I am sure the Irish people will continue their track-record of outstanding generosity even as they overcome difficulties here at home and support the Alliances efforts. Through the Irish Aid programme, I am pleased to say that my Department has already provided the member agencies of the Irish Emergency Alliance over 16m in 2020 to provide humanitarian and development assistance to the worlds most vulnerable communities.

The Irish Emergency Alliance is modelled on similar joint appeal coalitions that operate successfully in the United Kingdom and across many European countries. By working together, the Irish Emergency Alliance can reduce fundraising costs to make donations stretch even further and has pledged to work together in this way in response to future humanitarian crises across the globe.

People in Longford can support the appeal by donating at www.irishemergencyalliance.org or by calling 1 800 939 979 or by texting IEA to 50 300 to give 4.
Thomas Faull/iStockBy KELLY MCCARTHY, ABC News



(NEW YORK) -- The bright orange boxed rice brand officially has a new name: Ben's Original.



After several weeks of listening to consumers, employees and stakeholders, Mars Inc., the parent company of Ben's Original, said in a press release that it understands "the inequities that were associated with the name and face of the Uncle Bens brand and as we announced in June, we have committed to change."



"We will change our name to Bens Original as well as remove the image on our packaging to create more equitable iconography," the release said. "This change signals our ambition to create a more inclusive future while maintaining our commitment to producing the worlds best rice."



Although Mars shared the news on Twitter Wednesday, the social media profile pic of the bowtied Black man on the rice box cover is still unchanged.

We listened. And we learned. Moving forward, Uncle Ben's will be known as Bens Original. Read our full statement to find out more about our brand's new purpose to create opportunities that offer everyone a seat at the table: https://t.co/0tSE0lnMa1 pic.twitter.com/741JQU1qTI  Uncle Ben's USA (@UncleBens) September 23, 2020

Like so many other brands, including Aunt Jemima, Mrs. Butterworth's and Land O'Lakes, the rice maker announced it was time to "evolve the Uncle Bens brand, including its visual brand identity."



In addition to the name and visual changes to the packaging, the brand said it is "taking action to enhance inclusion and equity" with a new purpose to "create opportunities that offer everyone a seat at the table."



Ben's Original has community outreach programs that will "ensure underserved communities have access to the nutritious meals we all deserve."

We have a responsibility to help end racial injustices. Were listening to consumers, especially in the Black community, and our Associates. We dont yet know what the exact changes or timing will be, but we will evolve Uncle Bens visual brand identity. pic.twitter.com/n0e1pZ75OF  Uncle Ben's USA (@UncleBens) June 17, 2020

"We will also help culinary entrepreneurs of all colors get educational opportunities so their ideas and voices can be appreciated by all. This work will begin in the U.S., where we will partner with National Urban League to support aspiring Black chefs through scholarships, and we will then expand our efforts to support other underserved communities around the world," according to the press release.



The brand, based in Greenville, Mississippi, will also "focus on enhancing educational opportunities for more than 7,500 area students, as well as furthering access to fresh foods."



Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Two senior Trump administration officials indicated Tuesday that the Taliban has yet to fully cut ties with al-Qaida, which the Taliban had agreed to do as part of an agreement with the United States.

The Taliban have taken some positive steps, but they have some distance still to go to meet the conditions laid out in Februarys agreement between the U.S. and the Taliban, Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, the United Statess special representative for Afghanistan reconciliation, told Congress on Tuesday.

The agreement commits the Afghan militant group to ensuring that no terrorist group can use Afghanistan as a haven from which to attack the United States or its allies. The Taliban also pledged, as part of the agreement, to not cooperate with any groups that could threaten the U.S. or its allies.

U.S. Special Envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Pressed on the issue by Democrats during a hearing of the House Oversight and Reform Committees national security subcommittee, Khalilzad repeatedly said that that was as much as he could say in this setting, an apparent suggestion that classified intelligence indicated continuing contact between the Taliban and al-Qaida.

The Taliban are so far not fully compliant with respect to their commitments, so we have work to be done there, said David Helvey, the Pentagon official currently performing the duties of the assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific security affairs.

The withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan is conditioned on the Taliban honoring its side of the agreement, said Khalilzad, who served as the lead U.S. negotiator in the Afghanistan peace talks. President Trump has vowed to reduce forces in the country to between 4,000 and 5,000 troops this fall. Khalilzad said the U.S. will assess whether the Taliban is fulfilling its commitments before deciding whether to continue its military withdrawal beyond that.

This is not an agreement based on trust, Khalilzad said, adding that the Taliban recognize that it would not be in their interest to allow any terrorists to operate in Afghanistan. They say they have learned their lesson from the past and that they would not allow terrorists to use their territory against us.

Story continues

Rep. Tom Malinowski, D-N.J. (Stefani Reynolds/Pool/Getty Images)

Asked by New Jersey Democrat Rep. Tom Malinowski whether it would violate the agreement if the Taliban worked with al-Qaida inside Pakistan, rather than in Afghanistan, Khalilzad said that the United States would regard it as a violation, but the agreement is about Afghanistan. That meant, said Malinowski, that the agreement does not preclude them from cooperating with al-Qaida to attack Americans from Pakistan. (In fact, the relevant sentence of the agreement requires the Taliban to instruct their members not to cooperate with groups or individuals threatening the security of the United States and its allies, with no geographical limitations.)

However, Khalilzad said Pakistans leaders had so far been helpful during the peace process and that the United States was optimistic that one outcome of the talks would be an agreement between Afghanistan and Pakistan in which both nations agree that attacks wont be launched from their territory.

Other than the Talibans relations with al-Qaida, the topic most frequently raised by members of Congress was whether any future Afghan government composed in whole or in part by members of the Taliban could be expected to respect the rights of women and girls. The Taliban has a long history of misogynistic violence, including when the group previously ruled Afghanistan, and there is no reference to womens rights in the agreement between the United States and the Taliban.

Khalilzad said that while its up to the Taliban and the government of Afghanistan to negotiate such topics during the intra-Afghan peace talks currently underway in Doha, Qatar, the issue of Afghan womens rights is of the highest importance to the United States and the extent of U.S. financial assistance to Afghanistan in the future will depend on whether those rights and others are protected. The Taliban, he added, have spoken positively on this.

But Malinowski in particular appeared unconvinced, accusing Khalilzad and Helvey of being incredibly naive to take the Taliban at their word.

This is a totalitarian movement that seeks power in Afghanistan  not peace, but power, he said. What youre selling us is not peace, it is a fairy tale to make us feel better about leaving Afghanistan.

_____

Read more from Yahoo News:
With a proud heritage deeply rooted in her tradition, HRH Princess Lamia represents the modern Saudi woman with appreciation of the past, and taking it to build a stronger future. HRH Princess Lamia demonstrates her connection to her work, her culture, nature and her land while representing Maison Chaumet via carefully selected pieces from the jeweller's Josephine collection.

As the first jeweler of the Place Vendome, Maison Chaumet history has been entwined with the History of France ever since its founding in 1780 and its appointment as official jeweller to Empress Josephine.

This collaboration between HRH Princess Lamia and Maison Chaumet comes together to mark the historical occasion in Saudi history: 90 years of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Video - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1280272/Chaumet_Saudi_National_Day.mp4

Related Links

https://www.chaumet.com



SOURCE Chaumet Arabia
A hunter was mauled and killed by a grizzly bear at a national park in southeast Alaska, according to an ABC News report.

The incident occurred on Sept. 20 in the 13.2-million-acre Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, the report said. At the time of the mauling, the hunter and a friend were on a 10-day moose hunt near the Chisana River drainage.

Citing the United States National Park Service, the report said the death is the first known bear mauling fatality recorded at Wrangell-St. Elias, since the parks establishment 40 years ago in 1980. Wrangell-St. Elias is the largest national park in the U.S. - the combined size of Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park, and Switzerland, the report cited.

Information regarding the hunters exact injuries was not disclosed, and no one else was injured in the attack, the ABC News report said.

Citing the National Park Service, the report said the deceased hunters identity is being withheld pending investigation.

A statement by NPS, following the incident said, Visitors are encouraged to be Bear Aware when traveling in the backcountry and take precautions such as carrying bear spray and using Bear Resistant Food Containers, the report cited.

READ MORE:
Regional Express Airlines now wearing REX livery over the ex US Airways Express, Saab 340B at Wagga Wagga Airport on Oct. 30, 2016.

Asian Firm May Fund Rex to Compete With Qantas and Virgin

Regional Express (Rex) is one step closer to servicing Australias lucrative golden triangle market after signing a deal with an Asian firm for $150 million to launch its major city jet operations starting in March 2021.

Rex and PAG Asia Capital (PAG) are in advanced negotiations that could see PAG own 23 percent of Rexs shares if the initial $50 million draw down is converted in December this year, and 48 percent if the total $150 million is drawn down and converted to shares.

The deal is pending PAG due diligence and shareholders and regulatory approval by the Foreign Investment Review Board who are required to review all foreign investment to determine its strategic risks to Australias national interests.

Lim Kim Hai, Rexs executive chairman, said: PAG is a well-respected and highly successful investment group which manages more than US$40 billion on behalf of major global institutional investors. I am encouraged by the progress of Rexs negotiations to date with an investor of PAGs reputation and experience.

Hai said he is confident Rex will successfully launch its domestic city jet operations with PAGs support.

As a well-established carrier with an impeccable track record, I am confident that Rex will deliver to Australians an alternative major city domestic service that is safe, reliable and affordable. Rexs affordable fares will support Australias economic rebuild and recovery efforts, Hai said.

Rex is Australias largest independent regional airline. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the airline moved quickly to take over routes abandoned by the two debt-laden national carriers, Qantas and Virgin, as they struggled to survive amid travel restrictions and border closures.

An aerial view of Rex Airlines aircraft at Sydney Airport on April 22, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

John Sharp, Rexs deputy chairman, told ABC Radio on Sept. 16: Its unfortunate, but economics plays the ultimate judge in these things and if a towns big enough to warrant an air service Rex is willing to provide it.

Sharp said Rex was also looking at providing services to places that would bring no profit as a way of doing its part to help the nation through the pandemic.

We would not be here but for the support provided by the Commonwealth government. There would be no regional airline industry, and so many regional communities would be cut off from their capital cities, Sharp said.

At the onset of the pandemic, the federal government injected funding into the airline industry to keep services operating. Rex Airlines, unlike Qantas and Virgin, was solvent and working at a profit and has weathered the economic downturn caused by the pandemic.

PAGs capital infusion will see the regional airline upgrade its fleet of 60 Saab 340 aircraft servicing 59 destinations to jet aircraft servicing the worlds most profitable domestic flight marketthe golden triangle of Australian capital cities, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney.
The Dail formed its own Low Blow Commission on a day when Micheal Martin came out fighting.

A huge stock of insults were traded at a discount, as if stored up for the long-awaited reopening of hostilities.

Plenty of wet mouths were ready at last, with Covid-inspired self-restraint for politicians apparently at an end.

Read More

Jibes were hurled about like rotting fish, now debate had sunk to a new level  while pay for Dail deputies is going in the other direction.

A TD will soon tuck 98,000 into their handbag or man-bag annually.

Meanwhile, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions has walked out of the Low Pay Commission over a measly 10c-an-hour on the minimum wage.

These two facts collided with each other in political meteorology to create a lightning storm yesterday.

When they go low, we go high, Michelle Obama may say, but none paid attention as the barometer fell precipitously.

A Low Pay Commission that wont deal with low pay. Is this your version of all in it together, warned Mary Lou McDonald.

Micheal wasnt having any of it.

The commission is independent, he said. Mary Lou was trying to pretend it was an arm of Government.

Before she had a chance to raise the raise  thousands extra for TDs  he forced her onto the ropes with a windmilling flurry.

Fundamentally wrong... Extraordinary political charge... To create the impression that Government is out to get people is outrageous.

Then he produced this haymaker: The deputy uses every situation to tell untruths.

Mary Lou was stung, but more arrived: Why does she always distort facts and smear people who are trying their best? She does it all the time.

When she tried to respond on a point of order, he snapped: Not a point of order. An abuse of the House.

She retired, hurt: I do not appreciate being accused of untruths.

It was Micheals moment, but the Shinners swiftly instituted round two.

Wickla warrior John Brady used Mary Lous spare ammunition.

The PUP cut for thousands, but next week deputies get another pay hike, nearly 2,000.

It was a real kick in the gut for ordinary folk.

I, like all Sinn Fein deputies, will not accept that pay hike, he added piously.

He had more to say to the Taoiseach: Theres a perception some politicians are standing on the backs of the low-paid to stick their snouts in the trough.

Would the Taoiseach stop the political pay hike?

He stopped Brady instead: Ive heard before about Sinn Fein members not taking their salaries, that members would only take the average industrial wage.

It was revealed subsequently that some took the full wage  the Exchequer never benefited from it.

Sinn Feins Louise OReilly tried to tag-team: This is not about people who come in here; this is about low earners. Is the Taoiseach saying: Im all right, lads?

Amid uproar, Micheal accused his accusers of browbeating people. shouting, roaring and heckling. You know damn well...

More uproar.

Sinn Fein were very simplistic, very populist  the latter one of the worst things a policy wonk can possibly say.

Its the wealthiest party in this country, the Taoiseach marvelled, still untouched. It draws expenses from Westminster. From the Northern Assembly. It has no shame about how it draws money left, right and centre.

Mr Brady punched back: The Taoiseach playing politics with the hypocrisy of politicians getting a pay hike when others are getting pay cuts.

Micheal the Mauler came again: I have not raised millions of dollars in the United States like the deputys party.

Whew.

One of the Debenhams workers has invited the Taoiseach to go to Blackrock, it emerged later (via Richard Boyd Barrett), and he will buy him lunch in McDonalds there.

The Ceann Comhairle landed a slow-motion jab, the only one to get through all day: If the Taoiseach is going to McDonalds, well have to take a photograph of the event.

Perhaps Micheal is finicky about food  even when eating Shinners for breakfast.
Courtesy

An Austin woman has been arrested after she tried to smuggle a child through the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge, states an arrest affidavit filed on Wednesday.

Tania Garcia arrived at the bridge at about 3:51 a.m. Monday in her privately owned vehicle. She presented her U.S. passport to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer. CBP said a child was traveling with her.
All polling stations with more than 700 names on their voters register will be split into two  A and B  for the December 7 general election, the Electoral Commission (EC) has said.



The decision, it explained, was to ensure that long queues were reduced at those polling stations, which number 6,000.



A Deputy Commissioner of the EC, Dr Bossman Eric Asare, who made this known at the 2020 Star Ghana Foundation 2020 Call Learning Event in Accra yesterday, added that the decision was in line with the COVID-19 safety protocols.



The event was on the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on election programming in the country.



Dr Asare said each polling station would have a COVID-19 ambassador, whose duty would be to ensure that all the COVID-19 safety measures were in place and observed.



He said the voters registration exercise passed without anybody contracting the COVID-19.



Ballot papers



Regarding the printing of ballot papers, the deputy EC chair said the political parties would be involved in the process, as their representatives would be invited to observe the printing process.



The move, he said, was to ensure greater transparency for the elections, as well as prevent rigging.



This is what the commission does and this year we are not going to depart from tradition and best practices. When it comes to the printing of ballot papers, we go to the printing houses with representatives of the political parties. For instance, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) will have their agents at each of the printing houses, he said.



Security measures



Ahead of the elections proper, Dr Asare said, the EC would go to the regions to meet various stakeholders, including youth groups, to educate them on the electoral process.



We are doing whatever it is to deliver credible elections, he said.



On the transfer of votes, he said only students and members of the security agencies would be allowed to transfer their votes.



Final register



Asked when the final register would be ready, he said hopefully as soon as the transfer of votes was done by October 25, 2020, the EC would begin the process for the finalisation of the register.



We are looking at the second week in November and so we are looking around November 10. The C.I. is very clear on how we make the register available to the parties.



It says the commission should give the register to the political parties in the form that will be determined by the commission; that is in the C.I., he said.



Threats



An Assistant Director at the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Dr Imurana Mahammed, indicated that threats by some communities not to vote because of the failure of the government to provide them with certain amenities were a disincentive to the elections.



According to him, that could give rise to vigilantism, since community members might think that electing people into office could not address their problems.



The Executive Secretary of the National Peace Council, Mr George Amoah, said the council had a series of activities to undertake as part of its programme to ensure peaceful elections.



Civil society



The Executive Director of the Star Ghana Foundation, Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko, said the COVID-19 had impacted negatively on civil societys resource mobilisation for election activities.



The Director of Operations of the Ghana Police Service, DCOP (Dr) Sayibu Pabi Gariba, said all election security taskforces that had been set up from the national to the district levels were currently operational.

Source: graphic.com.gh









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LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Sanofi (SNYNF, SNY) and GlaxoSmithKline Plc. (GSK.L, GSK) said that they have signed agreements with the Government of Canada to supply up to 72 million doses of their potential COVID-19 vaccine, beginning in 2021. The companies initiated a Phase 1/2 study on September 3 with a total of 440 subjects being enrolled, and anticipate first results in early December 2020, to support the initiation of a pivotal Phase 3 study before the end of the year. If the data are sufficient for licensure application, the companies plan to request regulatory approval in the first half of 2021. Meanwhile, they are scaling up manufacturing of the antigen and adjuvant respectively with the target of producing up to one billion doses in total per year, globally. On September 18, Sanofi and GSK signed a final agreement with the European Commission to supply European countries with up to 300 million doses from their European industrial network. In July 2020, Sanofi and GSK announced a collaborative effort with the U.S. government to supply up to 100 million doses of their COVID-19 recombinant protein-based vaccine. The U.S. government has a further option to discuss the purchase of up to 500 million doses longer term. The companies also agreed with the UK government to supply up to 60 million doses of recombinant protein-based COVID-19 vaccine. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
The scaffolding is gone and Union Square's Gucci flagship is showing off a decidedly glamorous floor-to-ceiling renovation.

Plus, Noe Valley's new Monastery salon can't wait to lay hands on your sallow skin, Pac Heights welcomes an A.L.C. pop-up, and Heath Ceramics brings joy to the kitchen with a crafted-in-quarantine collection.

Bellissimo! Gucci unveils the months-long reno of its SF store. (Courtesy of Gucci) Yeah, we were significantly bummed last spring when the coronavirus kept Gucci's Cruise 2021 Fashion Show from taking place in SF (for the first time, no less). But the reopening of the brand's Union Square boutique, after a major makeover, has filled up our Gucci tank. The 11,000 square-foot spaceshowcasing men's and women's ready-to-wear, shoes, luggage, handbags, jewelry, watches and eyewearis sumptuous, dramatic and just the right amount of understated. Design-wise, it's a jaw-dropper. Highlighting the authentic architecture of the space, shoppers will find an eclectic mix of hard and soft materials, and a melange of neutral tones with bright pops of furniture (the cherry red upholstery and sage green velvet!). Overall, the decor is a brilliant jumble of traditional and modern, industrial and romantic. Nods to the label's Italian heritage punctuate the multi-level space, which feels much airier and brighter than in pre-renovation days. Even if you're not in the market for luxury designer goodies about now, it's worth taking a (masked) whirl around for the aesthetic beauty alone. Gucci Gucci ooh. // 240 Stockton St. (Union Square), gucci.com

Monastery skincare studio is ready to pamper your punim in Noe Valley. (Courtesy of Monastery) After six months of pandemic living, your skin is probably crying out for a mega dose of TLC. Now that SF has cleared the way for spa and salon openings, a visit to Monastery could be just the salve your stressed-out visage needs. (Facial for one, please.) The spa and luxe botanical skincare line of the same name come from founder and esthetician Athena Hewett. Even though the Noe Valley studio's christening date was much delayedyes, that dang coronavirus againthe products, powered by pure plant-based actives and cutting-edge science, have already gained a following from cool women like Garance Dore and Djuna Bel. The studio itself has a serene, Cali-cool meets modern-Mediterranean vibe; the latter, an ode to Hewett's Greek heritage. There are several The studio itself has a serene, Cali-cool meets modern-Mediterranean vibe; the latter, an ode to Hewett's Greek heritage. There are several facial options and brow/lash treatments on the menu. Also, the strictest safety protocols, including special masks and plexiglass shields , are used during all treatments. Book an appointment online // 4175 24th St. (Noe Valley), monasterymade.com

Praise be! A.L.C. pop-up on Fillmore gives us all the feelsand discounts. (Courtesy of Leap) It feels like forever since we've spied any pop-up shops sprouting around he city. Happily, the just-opened A.L.C. store, featuring 75 percent off (and possibly more), ends the drought. ICMYI: the NYC brand from designer Andrea Lieberman is known for bold prints, modern tailoring and effortless elevated essentials. Think wearable dresses, blouses, blazers, sweaters and accessories. What are you waiting for? Grab a friend, your mask and get shopping. // Monday to Saturday 11am to 7pm, Sunday noon to 6pm; 2011 Fillmore St. (Pacific Heights), @leapretail
New Delhi [India], September 23 (ANI): Parliament can not be run on emotions and both the parties -- and -- should realise that there is a larger interest of farming sector people, which needs to be addressed urgently, said HD Deve Gowda, Former Prime Minister on Wednesday.

In an exclusive interview with ANI, the Janata Dal (Secular) Rajya Sabha MP from Karnataka said, "Both the parties should come to an understanding to run the house and solve the problems of the farming sector."

Deve Gowda suggested to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi that "a permanent Commission be set up to address the grievances of farmers and solve the disputes arising out of their various interaction with the government and agriculture markets."

"I will write to Prime Minister Modi about setting up the Commission and will personally follow it up with him. Prime Minister should not be in hurry to implement these bills because there are widespread ramifications. It is not as Prime Minister thinks that these bills will eliminate middleman, in fact, it will create more intermediaries," he said.

While commenting upon the resignation of Lok Sabha MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal from the Cabinet, Deve Gowda said, "The fact that PM's own cabinet colleague resignation indicates the magnitude of the problem as seen by an ordinary farmer, having come from a farming background it is my feeling too that these bills have to be revisited."

On September 17, Harsimrat had resigned from the Union Cabinet, displaying her opposition to the three Bills.

The parliament recently passed Farmers' and Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill,2020.

(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.)
New Delhi: Shahid Beheshti Port of Chabahar in Iran, constructed by India, has handled 12 lakh tons of cargo and 8200 containers since December 2018, the Ministry of External Affairs has told the lawmakers in Parliament.

It was in the year 2018, an Indian company - India Ports Global took over the operations of the port. The port has played a key role in connecting India with Afghanistan. So far, in this financial year starting April 2020, India has sent 53000 tons of wheat to Afghanistan.

The country is sending 75000 tons of wheat to Afghanistan as part of its COVID-19 support and, 8 consignments have already been shipped via Chabahar Port.

Live TV

The MEA said, in a written response to the Parliament, that, "In the recent past, there has been a rise in transit cargo for Afghanistan through Chabahar...Afghanistans exports to India are also routed via Chabahar Port"

India, as part of a trilateral agreement with Tehran and Kabul, signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 2016 Iran visit,started developing the first phase of the Shahid Beheshti port in Chabahar.

Meanwhile, New Delhi has affirmed that it continues to be part of Chabahar-Zahedan Railway line, that connects the Iran port to the border town of Zahedan on Iran Afghanistan border. The line will further connect India with Afghanistan.

MEA, while responding to another question in the Parliament, said, "The two sides remain engaged on this matter....India and Iran continue to cooperate on developmental projects in Iran, including the Chabahar-Zahedan railway line."

The development of the railway line was also agreed during Indian PM's Iran visit with an MoU being signed between Indian Railways IRCON and Iranian Railways CDTIC --Construction & Development of Transportation Infrastructures Company.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 23)  San Miguel Corporation assured lawmakers that the New Manila International Airport in Bulakan, Bulacan will be secure from threats of flooding and soft ground in light of warnings raised by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Wednesday.

Phivolcs director and Undersecretary Renato Solidum raised concerns the airport location faces a number of geohazards, but SMC said these were factored in as it finalizes the detailed engineering design of the 736-billion project.

"The area is mainly underlain by sand and the water table is very shallow," Solidum said during the Senate hearing on the area's franchise. "This river environment requires special engineering interventions to make buildings and infrastructure resilient to hazards due to earthquake events or to weather-related activities such as heavy rainfall."

Melissa Encanto-Tagarda, head of SMC's government relations unit, said the conglomerate tapped foreign partners deemed experts in airport construction to make sure issues are properly addressed.

These partners are Groupe ADPi, Meinhardt Group and Jacobs  the same companies behind Changi Airport in Singapore, the Atlanta Airport in the United States, and Charles de Gaulle Airport in France.

Encanto-Tagarda expressed confidence that San Miguel would not invest a huge amount if it did not study the proposal and confirm that "this project is viable."

Although located far from the Valley Fault System that bisects Luzon, the area stands on tender ground prone to shaking and liquefaction, or when loose soil near water lose strength, the Phivolcs head pointed out when senators asked for his impact assessment of the project. Flooding remains a huge concern as this part of Bulakan town is known to be easily submerged in water when rains hit.

Nevertheless, Solidum said the project can continue as long there are disaster risk reduction and business continuity protocols in place, alongside the construction of proper drainage systems.

The group Advocates of Science and Technology for the People, or AGHAM, said separately that the entire 2,500-hectare Airport City could be submerged in water if a storm surge hits, and suggested its contractor San Miguel Corporation to consider a different location.

Senators said they expect SMC to address these concerns as it builds the sprawling project.

The conglomerate run by businessman Ramon Ang will build the planned aerocity from scratch, which is eyed to decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport once operational in a few years.

The planned gateway will have four runways for domestic and international flights, which should cater to up to 200 million passengers yearly.

Concerns were also raised regarding potential social and environmental damage, especially the mangrove and fishing areas which will now be converted into industrial land. Some 342 families will also be displaced from two barangays, but the company said relocation sites and jobs will be provided.

SMC will own and operate the new airport for 50 years and will remit revenues to the government once profits are generated. The facility will eventually be turned over to the national government.

The franchise for the SMC Aerocity, which include tax breaks during the construction period, has already been approved by the House of Representatives and is awaiting Senate clearance.
A pub manager has revealed he is struggling to fill job applications as candidates would rather earn money through JobSeeker.

Max Fox-Andrews runs The Windsor Hotel in South Perth in Western Australia and has six job applications he cannot fill.

The hotel is looking to hire bartenders, chefs and waitresses ahead of the busy summer hospitality season.

Mr Fox-Andrews said the pub would normally need to wade through more than 400 applicants for these jobs, but with increased government payments from the coronavirus pandemic, he is struggling for suitors.

Max Fox-Andrews from Perth's Windsor Hotel (pictured) said he is struggling to find staff

'At this time of year we tend to up our staff for the Christmas period and usually we wouldn't have a problem encouraging staff to come and work for us,' he told Sunrise.

'But what we've seen is a decline in applications and a decline in decent staff with experience apply to us. It's been a tough run.'

The Windsor Hotel is among many Australian businesses striving for staff, despite unemployment rates reaching their highest mark since 1998.

The National Skills Commission survey found from 1,100 businesses contacted, 47 per cent were having difficulties finding staff.

Thousands of Australians have been left out of work through COVID-19 and are receiving JobKeeper and JobSeeker payments, which Mr Fox-Andrews believes is preventing people from applying for jobs.

'We are seeing an element of people not wanting to work because the money is slightly better with JobSeeker,' he said.

Mr Fox-Andrews (pictured) hopes the JobSeeker payment reduction will inspire people to start work

Jobseeker payments combined with Newstart has welfare recipients claiming about $1,100 per fortnight from the government.

Mr Fox-Andrews said students who would regularly fill the positions advertised are receiving a better offer by not working.

'Students see sometimes that JobSeeker is a better way of earning more money because they can obviously only do limited shifts,' he said.

The business have been trying several avenues to encourage prospective workers to apply, including a $250 cash bonus for staff who stay in the job for more than three months.

Mr Fox-Andrews hopes the drop in the JobSeeker fortnightly payment from $550 to $250 on Friday will inspire Australians back into the workforce.
As many as 253 personnel of tested positive for COVID-19 while five of them succumbed to the infectious disease in the last 24 hours.

With the latest infections, the total number of cases in the State's force touched 21,827, including 3,435 active cases. So far 18,158 personnel have recovered, while 234 have died, the said in a statement.

As far as actions related to violation of Covid-19 guidelines are concerned, has so far registered 2,67,044 cases under Section 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of Indian Penal Code.

Also, 895 people have been arrested so far since the outbreak of the pandemic in 360 cases of assault on policemen.

Besides, Maharashtra Police has imposed fines worth Rs 26,41,82,564 for violations of COVID-19 guidelines.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
by Shafique Khokhar

The National Commission for Justice and Peace of the Archdiocese of Karachi yesterday held a rally for Peace and a seminar dedicated to this years International Day of Peace. For Fr Saleh Diego, Pakistani society needs tolerance and courage to achieve peace.

Karachi (AsiaNews)  Monday was International Day of Peace, a UN-sponsored celebration held every year around the world to strengthen the idea of peace.

In Pakistan, the National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP) of the Archdiocese of Karachi held a peace rally and a seminar yesterday to mark the occasion, celebrate a day of peace, speak out for peace, and pray for peace in the world and in Pakistan.

Various humanitarian groups, students, lawyers and religious congregations took an active part in the events, aware that it is thanks to peace that our world can become heaven on earth.

The aim was also to raise awareness among participants about the role and duties Pakistanis have to bring peace to their society and country.

Fr Saleh Diego, NCJP director and vicar general of the archdiocese of Karachi, said in his speech that every religion and all prophets bring a message of peace.

Jesus Christ himself gives two commandments: You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind, and You shall love your neighbour as yourself.

Now, if we take into account each other and love each other, if we think about the improvement and prosperity of others, and if we use our energy, our society will prosper and grow.

We must teach our children from the beginning, in schools and madrassas, that they must love each other and create space in their hearts for the religion of others and love humanity. Let us hope that all of us can live in peace; for this reason, we must promote peace and love for our country.

Zahid Farooq, a Christian committed to the defence of human rights, works at the Urban Resource Centre. In his speech, he said our first responsibility is to think about our communities and their well-being. This is certainly a great blessing.

Our people have suffered a lot from COVID-19, heavy rains and heat waves, but the great thing was that we all stood by each other for our safety. We must become the voice of one another. We must build relationships with each other and always think about peace in our families and in society.

Saleem Michael, a Christian lawyer at the Sindh High Court, cited Gandhi, saying that If we act on the basis of the beatitudes of the Bible, there will be peace not only in India and Pakistan, but also throughout the world.

Educating human beings starts from in the home and the main role falls on women who teach their children. For this reason, we must pay attention to them and work for womens rights. Sadly, In Pakistan, our girls are not safe; they are married and forcibly converted and this is increasing every day. We contributed to the creation of Pakistan, but we are not treated as equal citizens. We pray though and work for Pakistans development.

Ms Mehnaz Apa, of the Aurat Foundation, spoke to the audience, saying that at the time of the world wars, women took a stand and said they did not want war but peace.

Women understand and know the value of peace; they fight and work for peace not only in their families but also in the world. Peace is not only the responsibility of the United Nations and our country's leaders; it is also our responsibility as well.

Also yesterday, in the Diocese of Faisalabad, the NCJP-Faisalabad office held a seminar chaired by Bishop Indrias Rehmat. Organised by the diocesan director Fr. Khalid Rashid, it attracted people from different walks of life, including teachers, students and lawyers, as well as community, religious and political leaders.

Participants in the peace seminar pledged to play a role in promoting peace and tolerance in society. A peace candle was lit, a dove was released, and trees were planted as gestures of peace and special prayers were offered for peace in the world.
A young dog who died giving birth had puppies rotting inside her and 'smelt like death' claims a whistleblower who worked at the breeding mill which RSPCA officers have raided multiple times.

The boxer named Strawberry was used for breeding before she was even one year old, according to animal rights group Oscar's Law.

The puppy farm in northern NSW was raided by the RSPCA last Wednesday for the second time since 2015 over allegations of animal cruelty.

It has now been alleged by a previous worker that a boxer named Strawberry (pictured was used for breeding before she was even a year old

A former worker said Strawberry was used for intensive breeding despite her young age before falling ill and dying in February, WA Today reported.

She managed to give birth to three pups which activists believe are now being sold at pet shops in some of the country's wealthiest suburbs while other pups rotted inside of her.

Strawberry was allegedly covered in flies and maggots were found inside of her mouth and vagina.

'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,' the former employee 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.'

The employee claimed dogs were often left in squalid conditions and their pens were often covered in faeces as they were only allowed out for 20 minutes a day.

The woman said two months after Strawberry's death two of her pups were advertised for sale at Claremont Puppies and Pet in Perth, Western Australia.

The woman said two months after Strawberry's death two of her pups were advertised (pictured) for sale at Claremont Puppies and Pet in Perth, Western Australia

Claremont Puppies and Pets owner Victor Finklestein said he visited the Inverell farm every year

Owner Victor Finkelstein didn't deny getting the dogs from the business but denied it should be classified as a puppy farm.

'I deal with this breeder because the conditions are good and they care for their animals,' Mr Finkelstein told Nine News.

'I visit them every year. Their conditions are good. I wouldn't be buying off them if I thought they were a puppy farm.'

A farm in Inverell, NSW, was raided by the RSPCA on allegations of animal cruelty (pictured, dogs at the Inverell farm)

The business, which was charged in 2015, has also been accused of breaching breeding regulations (pictured, a boxer on the farm)

However, he did admit he hadn't been to the business in 18 months.

'I got some boxer puppies but I dont know about the mum; it sounds like a load of c**p,' he told WA Today.

Mr Finklestein said he was aware of the RSPCA raid on the breeder but believed animal activists pushed for the raid so legislation could be pushed through WA Parliament.

There is currently a Dog Amendment (Stop Puppy Farming) Act 2020 being tabled in WA.

It would require breeding records to be kept, stop the sale of dogs in pet shops and force an adoption model.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Claremont Puppies and Pets for comment.
Alexander Lukashenko takes the oath of office as Belarusian President during a swearing-in ceremony in Minsk, on Sept. 23, 2020. (Andrei Stasevich/BelTA/Handout via Reuters

Lukashenko Abruptly Sworn In, Belarus Opposition Calls for More Protests

MINSKIgnoring calls for an end to his 26-year grip on power, President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus was sworn in for a sixth term on Wednesday after an election that the opposition and several foreign governments say was rigged.

The ceremony would normally have been publicized as a major state occasion but was instead held without warning following Lukashenkos claim of a landslide victory in the Aug. 9 election.

Alexander Lukashenko takes the oath of office as Belarusian President during a swearing-in ceremony in Minsk, on Sept. 23, 2020. (Andrei Stasevich/BelTA/Handout via Reuters

The opposition, which has staged more than six weeks of mass protests demanding his resignation, denounced the inauguration as illegitimate and called for more demonstrations on Wednesday evening.

The United States and European Union are drawing up sanctions against officials involved in the election and a subsequent crackdown by the security forces.

The official news agency Belta said Lukashenko placed his right hand on a copy of the constitution and swore the oath of office at a ceremony attended by several hundred people.

Opposition supporters take part in a rally against police brutality following protests to reject the presidential election results in Minsk, on Sept. 13, 2020. (Tut.By/Reuters)

The 66-year-old leader said the country needed safety and consensus on the brink of a global crisis, an apparent reference to the COVID-19 pandemic.

I cannot, I have no right to abandon the Belarusians, he said.

Protesters carrying red-and-white opposition flags began gathering in small groups in the capital, including outside at least three universities, local media footage showed. Calls circulated on social media for mass protests for the evening.

This image made from video shows Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko armed with a Kalashnikov-type rifle near the Palace of Independence in Minsk on Aug. 23, 2020. (State TV and Radio Company of Belarus via AP Photo)

Some chanted Sasha, come out, well congratulate you!, referring to the diminutive form of Lukashenkos first name.

Rumors had swept Minsk that the 66-year-old leader, in power since 1994, was preparing for a snap inauguration ceremony when a motorcade swept through the center of the capital earlier on Wednesday.

An opposition politician, Pavel Latushko, said the swearing-in was like a secret thieves meeting.

Where are the jubilant citizens? Where is the diplomatic corps? he posted on social media. It is obvious that Alexander Lukashenko is exclusively the president of the OMON (riot police) and a handful of lying officials.

Latushko called for an indefinite action of civil disobedience.

A girl covers with an old Belarusian National flag as people stand near the place where Alexander Taraikovsky died amid the clashes protesting the election results, in Minsk, on Aug. 24, 2020. (Dmitri Lovetsky/AP Photo)

Such a Farce

Germany reiterated that it did not recognize Lukashenko as president and called for EU sanctions to be agreed as soon as possible.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius said on Twitter: Such a farce. Forget electionsHis illegitimacy is a fact with all the consequences that this entails.

Lukashenko, taking the oath for a new five-year term, promised to faithfully serve the people of the Republic of Belarus, respect and protect the rights and freedoms of the person and of the citizen and defend the constitution.

Riot police officers detain a protester during a Belarusian opposition supporters rally protesting the official presidential election results in Minsk, on Sept. 13, 2020. (AP Photo)

He has so far withstood the protests with backing from his ally, President Vladimir Putin of Russia.

Despite its population of only 9.5 million, Belarus matters to Russia as a buffer state against NATO and a conduit for Russian exports of oil and gas.

At a summit last week, Putin granted Lukashenko a $1.5 billion loan, and the two countries are holding Slavic Brotherhood defense exercises in Belarus.

As part of those drills, Russian paratroopers parachuted into Belarus on Wednesday.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the swearing-in was absolutely the sovereign decision of the Belarusian leadership. Asked if Putin was invited, he said it looked as though the presence of foreign leaders had not been envisaged.

The United Nations agreed last week to step up monitoring of reported human rights abuses in Belarus. Rights investigator Anais Marin said more than 10,000 people had been abusively arrested since the election, with more than 500 reports of torture and thousands savagely beaten.

Belarus authorities have said the police are humane and professional, and have declined to comment on specific allegations of abuses.

By Andrei Makhovsky
(Natural News) Congress cannot be trusted to take on Big Techs political censorship because Silicon Valley has purchased politicians compliance through lobbying, warned Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), author of Firebrand: Dispatches from the Front Lines of the MAGA Revolution, offering his comments on Tuesdays edition of SiriusXMs Breitbart News Daily with host Alex Marlow.

(Article by Robert Kraychik republished from Breitbart.com)

Congress is not going to rein in Big Tech, because Congress is bought by Big Tech, Gaetz said. There are just simply too many members of the House and Senate who are beholden to Big Tech either because of political donations or because their family members are getting employed by Big Tech.

China similarly procures political influence across America by establishing financial ties  including employment  with the family members of politicians.

What we need is a focus on appointments to the FCC and to the FEC with people who understand the extent to which Big Tech bias is actually election interference and is also a violation of our communication standards and that they wouldnt fall under certain liabilities under the Communications Decency Act, Gaetz said.

Dont count on Congress to ever solve this problem, Gaetz said. We need direct focus on the appointments to these boards, and its why the second term of President Trump is so important, because a lot of these boards have staggered terms.

LISTEN:

Marlow asked about birthright citizenship. He said, Birthright citizenship has always been an absurd premise to me, that the location of a womans anatomy would determine whether or not an entire human being is an American. It makes a zero sense to me. How did it get that way and what can we do to work on that?

Gaetz invited observers to consult the Claremont Institutes analysis of birthright citizenship.

Opposing views of birthright citizenship are reflective of a conflict within the Republican Party, Gaetz said. Are we going to stay with the values of Trump  these America First values, where we hold precious that which is American, where we value it so highly that we wouldnt allow it to be to be diffused or to be in any way neglected? Or are we going to go back to the invade-everywhere, invite-everyone approach of the Bushes and the Cheneys and the Romneys and the Kasichs?

Trump is the front end of the wave, and we need that next generation of leaders ready to step forward and grab that mantle, added Gaetz.

Gaetz described political corruption he observed in Washington, DC.
NORWALK  The East Norwalk transit-oriented development plan has taken another step forward.

The Common Council overwhelmingly approved an amendment to the citys master plan to incorporate the East Norwalk Neighborhood TOD Plan at Tuesday nights meeting, but not before putting their own mark on it.

The plan would allow developments in the new zoning area  which stretches along the East Avenue corridor from I-95 to Gregory Boulevard, and from Winfield Street down to Liberty Square  to build more than two-and-a-half stories or to exceed current density requirements.

In return, developers seeking to take advantage of these new allowances would be required to provide a certain amount of amenities to the city in return, as a part of a point system.

Under the current TOD plan, green building techniques and eco-friendly infrastructure improvements would count toward a developments amenity points. But Councilman Tom Livingston felt the plan should not just incentivize sustainable building, but require it instead.

How should we as a council best make known our strong feelings  and I think they are strong and I think its pretty universal  about incorporating more green building, sustainability factors into the plan itself, Livingston said. It doesnt seem like we should be giving people bonuses for doing what they should already be doing.

Prior to the vote, Councilman David Heuvelman introduced language to the resolution that would strongly recommend the planning and zoning commissions  which will now have the final say on the zoning plan  find ways to include green building techniques, sustainable material use, renewable energy sourcing, energy efficiency standards and affordable housing standards in the plan, not as bonus amenities that earn points, but as baseline standards by which new construction will be held to.

The resolution, including Heuvelmans amendment, passed in a 12-2 vote, with an abstention from Diana Revolus, who was attending her first meeting as a council member.

Councilmen Thomas Keegan and George Theodoridis were the only two to vote against the resolution.

Keegan cited on Tuesday the overwhelming opposition to the plan as the reason he could not vote in its favor.

The citizens of East Norwalk, the people who are going to be dramatically affected by this plan, have all said that they dont want it, and I think its equally important that we as representatives of the people listen to them, Keegan said.

While the plan will now move beyond the reach of the Common Council, Planning and Zoning Director Steve Kleppin reminded residents that the finer details of the plan, namely its proposed changes to height and density requirements in the neighborhood, will still be the subject of much discussion as it goes through the Zoning and Planning commissions.

There are several more steps left in the process and people will have several more bites at the apple, Kleppin said.

The proposal has been met with resistance from East Norwalk residents who oppose the prospect of development ruining the small-town feel of the neighborhood.

Those who live near East Avenue say the plan could exacerbate pre-existing traffic and parking issues in the neighborhood.

Diane Cece, who spoke on behalf of the East Norwalk Neighborhood Association at Tuesdays meeting, said she and her neighbors are concerned the plan, as constructed, could add up to 1,300 new units to area.

Though Kleppin in the past has claimed the city expects developments to only reach about half of the maximum amount allotted under the plan, Cece and other residents remain skeptical.

Its really not of comfort to the residents to have staff say that thats probably not going to come to fruition. The fact of the matter is that it could actually materialize that way. If theres a strong feeling that it wouldnt, or it be the will not to approve special permits that would increase density to that point, then we would argue that you could actually manage that on the front-end by modifying the plan and reducing the density, Cece said.

The plan will head next to the Zoning Commission for approval of the recommendations put forth in the plan.
A Louisville police officer was charged with three counts of "wanton endangerment" on Wednesday in connection with the March shooting of a 26-year-old black woman in the US city.

Judge Annie O'Connell announced the charges brought by a grand jury against Brett Hankison, one of three police officers involved in the fatal shooting.

Her death fueled weeks of anti-racism protests in Louisville, Kentucky, and became a nationwide rallying cry for the Black Lives Matter movement for police reform.

Taylor, an emergency room technician, was shot dead in her apartment when three plainclothes police officers executing a "no knock" search warrant burst in late at night.

Her boyfriend, who was in bed with her, grabbed a gun and exchanged fire with the officers. He later said he thought they were criminals.

The officers, who had not activated their body cameras as required, shot Taylor multiple times, killing her. A police sergeant was wounded.

The city of Louisville settled a wrongful death suit with Taylor's family for $12 million last week.

A state of emergency was declared by the mayor in Louisville, which has a population of 600,000, with much of downtown closed to traffic.

Some downtown business owners boarded up their shops in anticipation of potential unrest sparked by the grand jury decision.

Louisville police chief Robert Schroeder said the authorities would not tolerate any "violence or destruction of property."

"We are prepared to meet any challenge we may face," Schroeder said, calling for demonstrators to protest "peacefully and lawfully."

The civil settlement with Taylor's family reflected the public pressure and emotion surrounding her death, which came about two months before that of George Floyd, a black man who was killed by a white police officer in Minneapolis.

Floyd's death triggered protests across the US against racial injustice and police brutality.

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The path toward an economic recovery is still uncertain, but there are a few key variables to keep an eye on, according to Nick Sly, economist and Denver branch executive for the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.

During a webinar hosted Wednesday by the Economic Forum of Albuquerque, Sly said any economic recovery will be tied inexorably to the path of the pandemic in the near term.

Over the longer term, however, there are a few useful indicators that may determine how long the economic downturn lingers once the virus abates, including how quickly unemployed workers are able to return to their jobs.

If that participation rate starts to pick up relatively rapidly, that would be a good indicator to me that businesses are going to find the workers they need, Sly said.

Sly noted that financial markets, jobless claims and overall business activity have each stabilized after seeing steep declines earlier in the year. Nationwide, the unemployment rate peaked at 14.7% in April, but had dropped to 8.4% by August, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Despite the stabilization, Sly said there are a few long-term potential impacts of the economic downturn to remain wary of, particularly in New Mexico.

Declining tax revenues mean that state and local governments will have less money available, which stands to hurt states like New Mexico that rely heavily on government spending.

Those declines in tax revenue  will be a risk for us to continue monitoring, Sly said.

Sly also said hes concerned consumers may not feel confident enough to return to their pre-virus spending patterns. That, in turn, could create a situation where unemployed workers remain out of work for a long period of time, losing key job skills and becoming less willing to look for a job.

Persistent high unemployment can lead to lasting damage to the economy, Sly said.

For that reason, Sly said re-engaging workers who have lost their jobs is going to be a key priority going forward, particularly in states with a high percentage of workers in service sector jobs.

I think this risk is particularly salient in New Mexico, Sly said.

He added that uncertainty itself is a barrier to economic recovery, as companies become more cautious about re-hiring employees because they dont know what to expect from the path of the virus and, to a lesser extent, the upcoming presidential election.

On the labor side, the uncertainty around the availability and safety of work makes people nervous about returning.

In that sense, the uncertainty  itself is a barrier to the resumption of economic activity, Sly said.
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

When Bernalillo County in April passed its fiscal year 2021 budget, county government was expected to grow  the budget featured dozens of new positions and raised general fund spending by nearly 7%.

But new revenue forecasts have forced a change of plans.

The county commission on Tuesday amended its budget to account for a $24 million shortfall in the general fund  the direct result of the projected revenue losses related to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, according to a county budget memo.

Despite the adjustment, the county does not intend to lay off or furlough any existing workers or to make changes the public would notice, its top finance official said.

We havent cut services or reduced any of our critical services at all, and nor is that the plan. Its always been our priority not to do that or adversely affect employees, Shirley Ragin, deputy county manager for finance, said in an interview.

The budget adjustment assumes $316 million in general fund revenue in the fiscal year that began July 1. Thats compared with the $340 million expected when the commission originally approved the budget on April 14. New Mexico at that time was about a month into the COVID-19 pandemic, and the extent of its financial toll remained unknown. Officials said then they were prepared to make changes later, if necessary.

Now that the county has months of data and economists have had time to study, Ragin said the county is predicting 10% less in gross receipts tax and 5% less in property tax than when it prepared the original budget.

The new budget bridges the gap in a few ways, including lowered personnel costs. Not only has the county delayed hiring the 34 new positions built into the original 2021 budget, it has also frozen over 50 existing positions across county government for at least part of the year. The county is also registering about $5.1 million in general county savings, which Ragin said reflects everything from less employee travel to reduced office supply costs.

Most notably, the county is applying about $14.5 million in unspent funding from the last fiscal year, a carry-over that Ragin said prevented much more significant cuts.

The last fiscal year ended June 30, and the county had at that point largely avoided catastrophic financial losses due to COVID-19. In fact, the county concluded the year with more gross receipts tax  a tax assessed on the sale of nearly every good and service  than it had planned for, in part because the economy had been riding so high just prior to the pandemic, Ragin said, and because the county budgets conservatively.

Two new ordinances

Also on Tuesday, the commission approved two new ordinances: one requiring a community workforce agreement on major county construction projects and another that establishes a Sheriffs Office Advisory and Review Board. Each passed 4-1, with Jim Collie, Debbie OMalley, Charlene Pyskoty and Steven Michael Quezada in favor and Lonnie Talbert opposed.

The community workforce ordinance would ensure union involvement on county public works projects that cost at least $7 million and have workers from at least three crafts.

Contractors selected for the biggest county jobs would have to sign onto a community workforce agreement, also known as a project labor agreement, that mandates a certain level of union worker participation on the job.

Nonunion contractors can still win the projects and bring some of their existing workers into the job, but most workers on the site would have to pay union dues for their time on the project. Nonunion contractors bringing their own personnel would also have to make fringe benefit contributions to the union for those workers unless they already offered them health insurance, vacation and some sort of retirement benefit.

OMalley, who co-sponsored the bill with Collie, said the goal was for all people working on the sites to have benefits such as health insurance, although critics have argued that the ordinance primarily benefits the unions, which only represent a fraction of the states construction workforce.

Quezada  who repeatedly cited his own positive experience as a member of an actors union  successfully sponsored an amendment that raised the threshold for applicable projects to $7 million, up from the originally proposed $5 million. He called it a fair compromise. Officials said Tuesday only three county projects since 2018 have reached that threshold.

Pyskoty asked the county attorney to add language that would ensure the agreements prioritized local workers.

The second new ordinance, meanwhile, will establish a new advisory board for the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office. The county commissioners will appoint the boards nine members, who can investigate BCSO policies and procedures, authorize outside audits of the departments policies or procedures, request information, such as completed internal affairs investigations, and make recommendations to both BCSO and the County Commission.

Collie, who sponsored the ordinance, said it was not intended to oppose the Sheriffs Office but to foster a public dialogue.

What this does is create a place in which the kind of necessary transparency can occur in a public environment, he said.
09/16/2020

Assistant Professor Jane Sancinito joins the department this fall as its new expert in ancient history. Before her arrival in Lowell, she studied at Oxford University as an undergraduate, earned her doctorate in ancient history at the University of Pennsylvania (2018), and taught as a visiting professor of Classics at Oberlin College.



Her research focuses on economic history in the Roman Empire, particularly on the activities of, and stereotypes against, merchants, artisans, and transporters. Besides "Western Civilization I" and surveys of ancient Greece and Rome, at UMass Lowell she will also teach about women in antiquity, ancient piracy, and will introduce a new course, "From Alexander the Great to Cleopatra."
Her acting career never quite reached the heady heights of Hollywood, but Amanda Holden managed to pull off an impressive Sharon Stone impression on Wednesday.

The presenter emulated Stone's notorious interrogation scene from 1992 thriller Basic Instinct once again in a selfie shared with her 1.5 million Instagram followers.

Fortunately mother-of-two Holden, 49, revealed significantly less than the actress's no-holds-barred character Catherine Tramell while striking a coquettish pose at London's Global Radio Studios.

Not bad: Her acting career never quite reached the heady heights of Hollywood, but Amanda Holden managed to pull off an impressive Sharon Stone impression on Wednesday

Holden originally caught the eye earlier that morning after making her way towards the Leicester Square studio in an elegant black wrap dress with a belted waist.

Amanda's breezy outfit ensured she commanded attention, and the presenter responded with a characteristically cheerful smile as she made her way inside.

She added to her look with a pair of highly distinctive backless heels, while a black leather handbag and heavily tinted sunglasses rounded things off.

Here she comes: Holden originally caught the eye earlier that morning after making her way towards the Leicester Square studio in an elegant black wrap dress with a belted waist

Upbeat: Amanda's breezy outfit ensured she commanded attention, and the presenter responded with a characteristically cheerful smile as she made her way inside

Finishing touches: Amanda rounded off her look with a pair of highly distinctive backless heels

It's not the first time Amanda has channelled Sharon's pose.

Just last week she showed off her leggy frame as she sat crossed legged in her desk chair in a green leopard print minidress.

Racy: It's not the first time Amanda has channelled Sharon's pose. Just last week she showed off her leggy frame in a chic green leopard print dress

Fans soon flooded the comments comparing Amanda to the interrogation scene.

One wrote: 'That's a close call', while another added: 'Even sexier than when Sharon Stone did it'.

A third chimed: 'Wow, Sharon Stone, eat your heart out!', a fourth typed: 'Sharon stone attempt? Behave'.

Impressive: One wrote: 'That's a close call', while another added: 'Even sexier than when Sharon Stone did it'

Leggy lady: Amanda playfully spun around in her chair

Another follower wrote: 'Amanda doing her best Sharon Stone number, he, he'.

Amanda had reason to be cheerful after enjoying a romantic weekend away with husband Chris Hughes at Berkshire's sumptuous Cliveden House.

The presenter shared a series of social media updates from the stunning country house as the couple made the most of their time away from London.

Taking to Instagram on Sunday, Amanda said: 'Had the best #romantic #weekend with #Chrispy in this historic and infamous place steeeeped in history.

Good times: Amanda had reason to be cheerful after enjoying a romantic weekend away with husband Chris Hughes at Berkshire's sumptuous Cliveden House

'Thank you to all the staff for looking after us so well... NOT an #ad ( thanks to John on the door for humouring me by taking this pic early this morning)'

Cliveden house is a popular spot for celebs and has hosted an array of famous faces over the years including President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Charlie Chaplin.

The property, once owned by William Waldorf Astor, was also the hotel where Meghan Markle stayed the night before her wedding to Price Harry in 2018.
The United Cadres' Front of Ghana (UCF-GHANA), is in possession of a communication purported to be coming from its branch in the Eastern Region, undersigned by one Daniel Quartey-Papafio (Deputy [Regional] Secretary), as claimed, dated 20/9/2020.

In the said publication, one cadre was described as "Hon. Boasiako [,] the National Cadre in charge of Eastern Region."

The National Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Cadre fraternity wish to state as follows:

That leadership at the National level has not assigned any Cadre to be in charge of the Eastern Region or any other Regions in Ghana. Districts and Regions are governed by District and Regional Executives which are chaired by C hairmen. Nobody at the National level is assigned responsibility over Regions.

3. The letter under reference, captioned "INVITATION LETTER", is inviting Cadres to a so-called lecture on "...Cadre Ideologies..." and that "...there will be inauguration and confirmation of Cadres in the Nkawkaw Municipality..." which is to be performed by Hon. Antwi Boasiako and is to take place tomorrow, September 23, 2020.

4. The IMC of the UCF-GHANA, states categorically/emphatically, that the said function is NOT sanctioned by us.

5. It has come to our attention, that a category of some so-called senior Cadres have formed an 'elite' grouping and arrogated to themselves a power they do NOT have to engage Cadres without the involvement/approval by the IMC.

5. Per this release we urge all Cadres across Ghana to be weary of such characters parading as National officers of the UCF-GHANA.

6. That all sincere and committed cadres of the United Cadres'Front of Ghana in the Eastern Region should disregard the said invitation by these characters who feed on divisions and creating same in our Front.

7. That the IMC is assiduously working to convene a National Delegates Conference to elect substantive National Executive body in the shortest time possible.

Electronically signed

Shine Gaveh (Chairman)

Contacts: Shine Gaveh 0277122442/0246285389

Camillus Maaneriba-Tia Sakzeesi 0266223333/0248433700


By Choi Sung-no





Samsung has not allowed any form of union under its roof for 81 years ever since its establishment. It is Samsung's so-called "No Union" policy. Though it may have been strict and somewhat oppressive to a certain extent, nobody doubts the relation between the absence of a union and Samsung's success today.



However, last December, Samsung had to abandon its long tradition of disallowing unions among its employees and usher in their establishment. It was in response to a court's decision to imprison Samsung Electronics' chairman for disrupting union formation and activities. The course Samsung shall now be traveling on is indeed without precedent for the corporation and its executives.



If Samsung could sustain its business  or did way more than just sustaining it  polishing it to be one of the leading and the most profitable companies in the world, one could question the effectiveness and very necessity of a union. Interesting enough, other prominent players in the business world  such as Amazon, Google and even Apple  pride themselves for the absence of unions. The underlying assumption or belief that the existence of major unions is a necessary condition for the well-being of a company and its workers is worth considering.



The absence of a union is not the only similarity Samsung shares with other successful global businesses. They are all desirable to many young aspiring minds seeking to develop their talents. Without a doubt they do provide the very best welfare and ethical working environments for their employees. It is more than just a huge figure on the workers' paycheck that attracts those with bright minds and in vigorous pursuit of innovation to a business. In fact, they have already achieved the ideal state that every union aims to reach: stability and assurance of a comfortable and thriving working environment. In this context, unions become obsolete. This is the very reason that Samsung and other leading enterprises could entertain their successes without them.



Samsung has already developed a good balance between management and workers for some time. The introduction of unions indeed poses a liability to the status quo. Unions function in Korean society to redeem the rights of workers and have been critical in the process of modernization. Nevertheless, the unions of late have been transformed into something more than they need to be.



The term "labor aristocrats" which is intended to scorn unions demanding far beyond what they deserve is now commonly used by the public. The paralysis of normal and functional businesses and violent protests are no hard feat to observe in today's Korean society. Each and every business is set on a unique corporate culture that has grown and been maintained through the test of time. The external influences of an extreme union movement might just be a wrecking ball that demolishes the achievements so far.



No worker wants their workplace turned into a political battleground. It is optimal for the employees to bring betterment by and for themselves, not an organization with a masked agenda and separate interests. Samsung has been under a virtuous cycle between the employees and company without a union. Employees brought results and advancements for their workplace, while the executives guaranteed a better working environments and welfare for the employees.



The formation of a Samsung employee union might trigger a break in this cycle and set the stage for conflicts and arguments rather than promoting gentle negotiations and a spirit of mutual benefit. An annual labor strike at Hyundai Motors held every August might well be the scene that Samsung will have to experience in the near future.



With more labor-friendly policies backing up strong unions, businesses are pressured to move out of the country in search of freer and more business-friendly environments. It is not only the case of employees who want a better environment. It is a matter of creating free and amicable room for interested parties to form trust between themselves and build towards a mutually beneficial relationship between them. It cannot be forced nor should it be led by any other external influence such as the government or politically-motivated union.



The loss that lack of trust will bring to the market shall be left for the people and employees to deal with. The figure Samsung takes up in the Korean stock market is huge, not to mention the significance it carries as a leading global enterprise. Any damage Samsung sustains from the extremes of unionism will be a fall Korea and its people have to take.



Samsung has managed to overcome many obstacles and dangers wisely and innovatively in the past. Belief that Samsung handles problems and performs administration differently is probably the only account that its stockholders and employees can rely on. Very best hopes are on the new era of Samsung with a union.





Choi Sung-no is president of the Center for Free Enterprise.


LANSING, MI - Who is liable for exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace? A quartet of Michigan bills passed in the House on Wednesday establish civil action standards for a variety of exposure scenarios.

The bills were approved along partisan lines during the Sept. 23 session. The Senate will consider the legislation next.

Rep. Graham Filler, R-DeWitt, sponsored one of the bills to protect small businesses from a flood of frivolous lawsuits while the pandemic already has them struggling.

The mom and pop shops in all of our communities need our help to reopen and stay open, Filler said in a statement. We must have the backs of our small businesses and their employees as they return to work, help families make ends meet and keep food on the tables of our friends and neighbors. Because of the pandemic, many of them are struggling with fewer employees, supply chain problems, razor thin margins, and less customers."

House Bill 6030, sponsored by Rep. Thomas Albert, R-Lowell, would create the COVID-19 Response and Reopening Liability Assurance Act. It would establish hospitalization as a minimum threshold for suing a business that exposed a person to the virus.

It passed 57-49.

COVID-19 has created an unprecedented situation, and our current laws do not do enough to protect employers and employees who have done nothing wrong from those who are looking to turn the pandemic into their own financial gain, Albert said in a statement. An opportunistic attorney can easily pressure someone to settle, regardless of whether they have been negligent, by bringing a class action lawsuit or a flood of individual claims.

The minimum threshold, defined as the minimum medical condition in the bill, refers to:

Hospitalization after a positive test of COVID-19 for at least 24 hours

A coronavirus-related condition that restricts someone from working for at least 14 days (not including a 14-day quarantine after a positive test)

Death

The bill would also protect businesses developing off-brand PPE and other medical equipment, devices or treatment to combat the virus. Liability would kick in if there were substantial evidence the business knew its product was defective and contributed to health damage.

The bill would not open any specific civil action by itself, affect rights outlined in the Workers Disability Compensation Act nor affect civil immunity or liability of any other kind outside COVID-19 exposure.

House bills 6031 and 6101, respectively sponsored by Rep. Tommy Brann, R-Wyoming, and Rep. Wendell Byrd, D-Detroit, would not hold businesses following public health guidelines liable if an employee contracted COVID-19, unless the employer willfully exposed the person to the virus.

The first bill passed 59-47, while the second passed 61-45.

Willful means intentional dismissal or indifference to standards set by the Michigan Operational Health and Safety Administration, Center of Disease Control and Prevention, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services or local health departments, according to the bill.

It does not mention Gov. Gretchen Whitmers executive orders as a standard for businesses to follow.

Related: Northern Michigan orchard lawsuit against Whitmer complains of hypothetical punishment, says AGs office

House Bill 6032, sponsored by Filler, would hold employees liable for showing up to work with symptoms or a positive case of COVID-19 or after close contact with a COVID-positive patient. It also bans businesses from firing an employee for complaining about violating public health protocols and guarantees damages for an adverse firing.

It passed 73-33.

An employee would need to be without a fever for 24 hours before being sent to work. They also would not be allowed to show up for work until 10 days after testing positive.

Should the employee be in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, they need to isolate for 14 days or test negative to return to work. This prohibition doesnt apply to health care workers, first responders, adult or child-care employees or correctional facility staff.

An employee protesting an adverse firing could file in a circuit court and could be awarded at least $5,000 in damages. If a collective bargaining agreement does not comply with these new acts, the liability standards would apply once a union renegotiates or ends its existing agreement.

COVID-19 PREVENTION TIPS:

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus.

Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible.

Use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and carry hand sanitizer with you when you go into places like stores.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has also issued executive orders requiring people to wear face coverings over their mouth and nose while in public indoor and crowded outdoor spaces. See an explanation of what that means here.

Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

For more data on COVID-19 in Michigan, visit https://www.mlive.com/coronavirus/data/.

Read more on MLive:

Coronavirus case levels remain at an elevated plateau, says Michigan epidemiologist

Bill to allow earlier pre-processing of absentee ballots approved by House panel

$15 million for Pure Michigan included in budget plan

Michigan lawmakers poised to approve $62.8B state budget with slight increase in K-12 spending
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 23)  China, South Korea, and Taiwan have agreed to the Philippines request for help in the search for missing Filipino seafarers of Gulf Livestock 1, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said Wednesday.

Bello said he conveyed the request of families of the 36 Filipinos still missing at sea.

I wrote them and asked for their help and they willingly agreed to help even before you asked for it," Bello said. "Were doing it already so hindi problema ang pagtulong sa (help is not a problem in) search and rescue operations.

The vessel disappeared on Sept. 2 in Japanese waters at the height of Typhoon Maysak. A second typhoon interrupted the search.

The Japanese coast guard has rescued three Filipino crew members, but one of them later died. The two survivors returned home on Saturday.

The Philippine government will not send its own coast guard due to the areas logistical concerns and unfamiliarity in the search area.

The ship carried 43 crew members including two Australians and two New Zealanders.
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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...
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.
MAPARASHA HILLS, Kenya, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Thousands of Maasai men clad in red and purple shawls and with their heads coated in red ochre gathered this week for a ceremony that transforms them from Moran (warriors) to Mzee (elders).

Around 15,000 men from all over Kenya and neighbouring Tanzania congregated in Maparasha Hills in Kajiado County, 128 km from Nairobi, to feast on an estimated 3,000 bulls and 30,000 goats and sheep.

The ceremony occurs once every decade at the site, which is surrounded by hills and dotted with acacia trees.

On Wednesday, the men roasted the meat on beds of coal from acacia trees, holding staffs and swords.

"I used to be a Moran, But after this ceremony, I now graduate to be a Mzee (elder)," Stephen Seriamu Sarbabi, a 34-year-old livestock trader, told Reuters.

"I will now be having a lot of responsibilities in the community. I will be chairing some different meetings, I will be consulted," he added.

The arrival of the novel coronavirus in March forced a postponement of the ceremony, which was meant to have been held earlier in the year.

"My role here in this ceremony, is to come and bless my boys to graduate, to another stage of being wazees (elders), and to give them their privileges," Moses Lepunyo ole Purkei, a farmer, community health volunteer and elder, told Reuters.

During the ceremony, the men were accompanied by their wives, who also wore colourful shawls and beads around their necks and sang songs praising and encouraging the incoming group of elders.

There are about 1.2 million Maasai living in Kenya, according to the government statistics office. (Reporting by Thomas Mukoya; Writing by George Obulutsa; Editing by Omar Mohammed and Alexandra Hudson)
U.S. voter registration numbers are up big in some places, but they are down even bigger in others. Where theyre down, the cloud of Covid-19 is clearly the culprit. The threat of catching the highly communicable coronavirus concerns millions, while millions have already caught it  more than 7 million, according to the latest Johns Hopkins data.

Thousands are in treatment or recovery. But being sick and hospitalized doesnt mean you give up your right to vote. How are those voters supposed to exercise their rights?

Stanford Graduate School of Business MBA candidate Ben Ruxin spent the summer helping to answer that question. As the strategy and operations intern at VotER, a nonprofit whose mission is to strengthen healthcare one vote at a time, Ruxin helped hospital patients register to vote in the 2020 presidential election.

Voter registration has gone down as much as 70% in some states, largely due to the pandemic, he says. Healthcare is perfectly positioned to advance democracy and civic participation.

A DRIVE FOR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

Ben Ruxin

VotER aims to bridge the connection between civic engagement and democratic involvement by distributing Healthy Democracy Kits to healthcare providers. The kits include badge backers with a QR code on a lanyard. Patients simply scan the code on their phone, which then leads them to an online landing page where they can register to vote.

The organizations philosophy can be summed up as a belief that empowered voices in communities lead to positive outcomes. Despite many services being transferred to an online format due to the pandemic, doctors, nurses, and social workers are still seeing patients in-person. This, combined with the amount of trust and importance placed in our healthcare system right now, has created an opportunity for healthcare providers to make an impact on voter registration.

Ruxins undergraduate degree in political science and economics from Swarthmore College, in the greater Philadelphia area, and his experience working in management consulting and the nonprofit sector all equipped him with the skills that made him a good candidate to assist the efforts to boost votership in healthcare across the country.

Story continues

The internship with VotER is right in line with his MBA goals, too. Seeking further skills in nonprofit management and social impact, Ruxin chose Stanford GSB for its impressive social innovation track. Upon finding VotER when seeking internship opportunities, he applied to the organization through the Social Management Immersion Fellowship program  which funds internships for small organizations  at Stanfords Center of Social Innovation.

VOTING LIKE OUR HEALTH DEPENDS ON IT

At VotER, Ruxin helped to increase the distribution of Healthy Democracy Kits and gain partners through the launch of the Civic Health Month campaign.

The August campaign encouraged healthcare and democracy organizations to work together at the institutional level to empower healthcare providers to talk to patients about voting. Ruxin, leading the Civic Health Month campaign, helped not only to increase voting registrations but also awareness of the movement nationwide.

Civic Health Months goal was to get as many patients registered to vote as possible. It assisted in the engagement of over 15,000 healthcare professionals and over 90 organizations, including large hospitals and physicians associations. This led to 9,500 registrations and ballot requests in the month of August alone.

Healthcare professionals and organizations that were engaged in Civic Health Month are continuing to help more patients get ready to vote, Ruxin says. They are currently impacting over 400 voters every day.

A PASSION FOR STRATEGY & SOCIAL IMPACT EDUCATION

Ruxin points out that he couldnt have spearheaded the campaign alone; he ran a team of undergraduate interns who worked behind the scenes to write emails, create content, and produce webinars to encourage healthcare professionals to help their patients get ready to vote.

Inspired by the momentum at VotER, Ruxin has decided to stay at the organization on a part-time basis as he begins the fall semester at Stanford. He says he will continue to support the initiative with strategic planning, providing resources to the partners that came on board during Civic Health Month.

Inspired to continue to help create tangible change, Ruxin says he plans to continue working with mission-driven organizations after graduation, following his passion for strategy and social impact education.

DONT MISS: EYES ON A CHANGING WORLD, INDIANA KELLEY STRIVES FOR GREATER DIVERSITY or HOW THIS HARVARD MBA WON NEARLY $1 MILLION IN SCHOLARSHIPS FROM 8 TOP SCHOOLS

The post This Stanford Student Spent His Summer Helping The Hospitalized Register To Vote appeared first on Poets&Quants.
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: 2020-09-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
GARY  Residents of Gary's Aetna neighborhood told police they were asleep when someone fired shots into their home, officials said.

Gary police responded about 5 a.m. Wednesday to the 1100 block of Dekalb Street, where residents were awaken by gunshots, Lt. Dawn Westerfield said.

No one who was inside the home reported seeing an assailant or being injured, Westerfield said.

Police urged anyone with more information to contact Detective Sgt. Douglas Drummond at 219-881-1210. To remain anonymous, call the Gary Police Department's Crime Tip Line at 866-CRIME-GP.

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Sangrur To express political and ideological differences with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government on farm bills that Parliament passed, despite protests from farmers and strong resistance from a number of MPs, opposition parties and farmer outfits in Punjab have coined slogans.

Corporate Bhajao, Kisan Bachao, Stop Killing Farmers and Pind Pind Chon Aai Awaz, Kisan Ghol Zindabad (A voice is resonating every village, long live farmers agitation) are some of the slogans that farm unions are using to highlight their struggle. They are trying to show the power of the masses by romanticising resistance.

The previous United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government started anti-farmer policies and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) followed on its path. Multinational companies see India as a big market and are trying to capture it. We will not allow the government to hand over our land to the corporate sector, said Jagmohan Singh, general secretary, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) (Ekta-Dakaunda).

The Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are terming Prime Minister Narendra Modi as anti-farmer. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), which once backed the NDA government on the issue, but opposed the ordinances in both Houses of Parliament, is inviting people to join the Chakka Jam on September 25.

SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal has coined the slogan, Ikko Naara Kisan Pyara assuring farmers that his party stands by them.

Farmers are SADs priority, along with other sections. Our slogan shows the partys commitment to the farming community. Such slogans emerge from agitations and we will stand by farmers, said SAD senior vice-president, Daljit Singh Cheema.

AAP has been targeting the BJP, SAD, and Congress with its slogan Badal-Captain-Modi, Tino Kisan Virodhi. It is also calling upon the public to burn the effigy of Modi on September 24.

Modi introduced three ordinances and SAD extended its support. The Punjab government was aware about these anti-farmer bills, but did not oppose the ordinances at the high-powered committee on agriculture. If the SAD and the Congress had opposed the move three months ago, these ordinances could not have taken the shape of bills, said Aman Arora, AAP Sunam MLA.

The ruling Congress party in Punjab has been attacking the Centre, while targeting the PM with the slogan Kisan Virodhi Narendra Modi.

Rising above party lines, all Punjabis should oppose these bills. The Punjab CM has already decided to move court, but we will also hold demonstrations, said Dalvir Singh Goldy, Congress Dhuri MLA.
The Union new and renewable energy ministry has given its in-principle approval for Uttar Pradeshs first ultra-mega 1,200MW solar park in Bundelkhand regions Jalaun district.

Officials said the states New and Renewable Development Agency (NEDA) received the approval letter on Monday. ...now necessary action will be taken to set up the park at the earliest, said NEDA director Bhawani Singh Khagrawat.

The Centre has asked the Bundelkhand Saur Urja Ltd, the park developer, to submit a detailed project report at the earliest.

Khagrawat on August 24 wrote a letter to the Centre seeking the sanction for the park over 6,000 acres of land on the directions of state minister Shrikant Sharma.

Jalaun district magistrate Mannan Akhtar on September 4 informed the NEDA that the 6,000 acres of land is largely barren and a committee had been set up to negotiate with farmers and take it on lease for 27 years.

The government is likely to pay a rent of 17,000 per acre annually to the farmers.

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 23) President Rodrigo Duterte was able to assert his consistent stand on the Philippines South China Sea arbitral victory against China when he addressed the United Nations General Assembly for the first time since his tenure, Malacanang said Wednesday.

Speaking to CNN Philippines, his spokesperson Harry Roque denied that the current administration has ever set aside the Philippines arbitral win against the East Asian giant, saying the 2016 ruling is already established as a legal fact recognized by international laws.

He maintained Duterte would have also come up with the same pronouncement if the latter had decided to speak before the 193-member bloc in previous years.

Its the first time that the President spoke in UN General Assembly. So its the first time that the President was able to say what has been his consistent position all along, Roque said in interview with The Source.

We have never changed our position on the arbitral ruling We are not setting it aside. The thing is, you dont set aside a legal fact. Nothing that any other country will do can ever affect the fact that its already there, that theres a ruling on the matter already that forms part of international law, he stressed.

Duterte, in his debut at the global bodys 75th general debate early Wednesday (Philippine time), reaffirmed the arbitral victory on the South China Sea case, adding that the country rejects any attempt to undermine the said award.

Dutertes stance was a welcome development for experts and officials who have long urged him to raise the ruling to the international body. It proves to be a significant step for the Philippines fight to assert its territorial sovereignty, the countrys former ambassador to the UN Lauro Baja Jr. told CNN Philippines separately.

RELATED: Duterte's UN speech on sea row: 'A few years late, but still a significant step'  ex-envoy

Earlier, the Philippines and China previously maintained they will agree to disagree on the decision to make way for cooperation. In September 2019, Duterte also agreed to shelve the ruling to pursue activities with Beijing, including joint oil and gas exploration.

The ruling by the international arbitral tribunal constituted under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea invalidated China's sweeping claims to the South China Sea. It also recognized the Philippines' sovereign rights in areas within its 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone where China has built artificial islands, prohibited Filipino fishermen from fishing, and interfered in petroleum exploration.

Roque, for his part, maintained that military occupation and other related activities currently taking place in the area will not change the fact that the country logged the said victory in the international court.

Even if they resort to the use of force even if they forcibly occupy all the disputed territories, that will have no effect as far as international law is concerned, because military activities and even military occupation will never have any legal effect as far as title is concerned, Roque said.

No resolution in the near future

Meanwhile, Roque admitted that the Philippines may not see a resolution on the sea row in the near future, especially with China repeatedly refusing to acknowledge the landmark decision.

Despite this, the spokesperson said the country will still push through with other activities that strengthen its bilateral relations with China, particularly in investment and trade.

He stressed that the South China Sea issue is not the sum total of the Philippines relationship with the economic powerhouse.

If we cannot resolve territorial issues, then we can put it temporarily on hold, and we will proceed with matters that we can move forward, specifically trade and investment," Roque said.

"It is not the sum total of our bilateral relationship with China, but of course, its important that the President restate a legal fact."
Editors note: This is two of two articles in a series about RiverWatch.

Professor John Griffis, a RiverWatch volunteer citizen scientist since 1998, Professor John Griffis helped his children get their feet wet in biological studies in the creeks of the Fox and Des Plaines rivers watershed in northern Illinois.

Griffis, who is a retired professor, still fills his time as an adjunct at Joliet Junior College (JJC) and still monitors two sites along Lily Cache Creek as part of the RiverWatch program. He first learned of the program, part of National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC), through a co-worker.

A colleague was planning to train for the RiverWatch program and told me about it, Griffis said. I liked the idea of monitoring for pollution levels. I thought that was an important thing that we should be doing, and I had an interest in getting involved with research.

Monitoring trips for the RiverWatch program became a family activity for Griffis and his children, one of whom, Hannah-Beth Griffis, now is a RiverWatch technician.

My kids have always been involved with helping out with my RiverWatch sampling, and I think that was an important part of our father and child relationships, her father said. It probably played a role in all three of them becoming interested in biology. They helped in data collection, things like stream velocity, also picking bugs out. They all probably started helping around age ten or eleven.

All three of Griffis children have gone on to achieve advanced degrees in biology.

I began helping him when I was in middle school, Hannah-Beth Griffis said. I started helping him just by pointing out macroinvertebrates in his samples. When I was old enough, I began to go out into the field and help him collect stream samples.

In jest, John Griffis children like to claim that their father pushed them into biology careers.

It wasnt my intent, at all, for them to necessarily go into biology, he said. Its pretty impressive. Im glad they enjoyed it. They used to come to JJC with me and look at all the specimens, so I guess it did have a big impact on them.

HannahGriffis recalls how, as a child, her father impressed her with his knowledge.

When we went to any place that involved hiking through nature, my dad would just start naming all the plants and animals, she recalled.

I realize he was probably just guessing on some things, but I didnt know that. As a young child, I felt like my dad knew everything.

Her father was just as impressed with his offspring.

They were always so sharp with their observations, he recalled. Sometimes when we were out, they would pick out things that I just didnt see at all. Theyve always had that knack, and that impressed me.

Over the years, he has been able to integrate the work hes done with the RiverWatch program with his teaching at JJC.

We have been utilizing RiverWatch techniques at JJC in an undergraduate research course, he explained, which has led to students presenting and publishing their research findings at the National Conferences of Undergraduate Research.

We like to look at how stream quality varies, using different sampling techniques and within different seasons, time of year. We have also looked at comparisons between sites within the same creek that differ in riparian characteristics. My students and I have been published in the RiverWatch Newsletter a few times.

To learn more about the RiverWatch program, visit www.ngrrec.org/riverwatch.
ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Fortis Inc. has announced the coming retirement of CEO Barry Perry, who will be succeeded by David Hutchens effective Jan. 1.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/9/2020 (485 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Fortis President and CEO Barry Perry is pictured at Fortis Inc.'s headquarters, in St. John's, N.L., on Thursday, October 13, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sue Bailey

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Fortis Inc. has announced the coming retirement of CEO Barry Perry, who will be succeeded by David Hutchens effective Jan. 1.

The company owns a variety of utility businesses across Canada, in parts of the United States and in the Caribbean.

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Hutchens was named chief operating officer at Fortis in January while continuing to serve as chief executive of UNS Energy, a Fortis subsidiary based in Tuscon, Ariz.

He was previously executive vice-president of Fortis's western utility operations, with oversight of FortisBC and FortisAlberta.

Perry has been CEO of Fortis since 2015 and with the company for more than 20 years, a period that included several major acquisitions including electricity transmission company ITC Holdings Corp. in 2016.

The transition was announced as Fortis outlined its five-year capital investment plan, and its intention to have average annual dividend growth of six per cent through 2025.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 23, 2020.

Companies in this story: (TSX:FTS)
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.




(Newser)  Following in the steps of Aunt Jemima and Land O'Lakes, another major brand is about to experience an overhaul. This time around, it's Uncle Ben's rice, which is getting a new name and dropping the picture that has long appeared on the product's packaging. The updated moniker, per CBS News: Ben's Original. Parent company Mars Inc. says the imagery on rice boxes and packets of a Black man (seen both with and without a bow tie over the years) is being nixed after longtime complaints that it's a racial stereotype. "We listened to our associates and our customers and the time is right to make meaningful changes across society," says Mars Food President Fiona Dawson.

story continues below

CNN Business notes the revamped products will still feature the brand's well-known orange packaging with dark blue text. The brand had been named in the 1940s for a supposedly real-life Texas rice farmer, though even the company has acknowledged it doesn't know if an "Uncle Ben" truly existed. The portrait used on the packaging was based on a photo taken of Frank Brown, the head waiter at a posh Chicago restaurant at the time. Per the Wall Street Journal, Mars polled thousands of customers over the summer and found they didn't like the portrait, or the word "uncle" on the packaging, noting that these elements evoked images of servitude. Dawson, who says the company is still working on new artwork to accompany the updated brand name, notes that although not everyone may be happy about the change, "it's about doing the right thing, not the easy thing." (Read more name change stories.)
Hyderabad-based Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) has partnered with the Indian subsidiary of global pharmaceutical company, Mylan, to test combination therapies for coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

The institute had identified first three combination therapies, for Phase 3 clinical trials, based on computational modelling of molecules and laboratory-based data. Another five combinations are also in the works and will be finalised after preliminary data for the same is received.

Mylan is a global company with a big portfolio of antiviral drugs. Some of these drugs, in combination with antibiotics or other medicines, will be used for the first three-arm trial. All the drug combinations that we are working on include either one or two antibiotics in combination with medicines that boost the immunity of the host or make the human cells not receptive to the virus. So, the drug combinations will work both on the virus and the host to produce the best results, said Dr S Chandrashekhar, director, IICT.

He said the first three combinations to be tested will have the antiviral drug Favipiravir, currently in use for treatment of mild to moderate Covid-19 symptoms, antiviral drugs used against Hepatitis C, and antiviral drugs used against HIV.

Some of these antiviral drugs have received a nod for experimental use by the drug controller, but these trials will actually produce data to show how effective the drugs are. And, Mylan, being a big global company, can use the data for global approvals, he said.

The trial sites for the combination therapies are yet to be identified, but the institute hopes to collaborate with hospitals in four to five cities in India.

We are still looking for clinical partners  maybe in Hyderabad, Delhi, and even Kolkata. Anywhere between 100 to 400 patients will be enrolled for the trials, said Dr Chandrashekhar.

Only adult patients with mild to moderate Covid-19 at risk of complications will be enrolled for the trials. The application for conducting the trials has been submitted to the Drug Controller General of India, he said.

The current collaboration with Mylan is a significant milestone during the current Covid-19 pandemic. CSIR {Council of Scientific and Industrial Research} has prioritized conducting clinical trials of well-proven drugs in partnership with industry towards the development of multiple therapeutic options for Covid-19, said Dr Shekhar Mande, director general of CSIR, in a release.

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The four prisoners involved in the jailbreak attempt were killed in the process, a security source said

Three policemen and four prisoners were killed as the four inmates attempted to escape a Cairo prison on Wednesday morning, a security source said.

The security source said the four prisoners, all on death row, attempted to escape Cairos Tora prison, before prison authorities responded to prevent the prison break.

The four prisoners involved in the jailbreak attempt were killed in the process, the source said.

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(CNN)  World leaders gathered virtually Tuesday for this week's United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), with the UN's historic 75th anniversary overshadowed by strongmen leaders, fraying relations and a sense of intensifying international crisis.

The summit was forced online this year due to the pandemic and the 14-day quarantine regulations in New York City.

COVID-19 loomed heavily over the first day of the event. Instead of meeting in person, UN officials, presidents and prime ministers sent pre-recorded speeches to mark the occasion.

US President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, and a suite of strongmen including China's Xi Jinping, Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Brazil's Jair Bolsonaro, and Russia's Vladimir Putin all spoke early on Tuesday.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called the health crisis "our own 1945 moment"  a reference to World War II  and described Covid-19 as "a toxic virus shaking the democratic underpinnings in many countries."

Guterres' remarks touched on rising global poverty and fractured diplomatic relations, and warned of the increasingly bitter standoff between the China and the United States, whose diplomatic relationship he said was 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," he said.

Guterres also suggested a New Global Deal to solve the crisis, built on a multilateral approach.

But Tuesday's session often highlighted a lack of unity between UN members, with tensions particularly apparent between the US and China.

Trump praised his own handling of the pandemic in the US, and touted his role in facilitating peace agreements between the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Israel, saying that more peace agreements would be coming shortly.

He used part of his time to attack China, calling the coronavirus the "China virus" and urging the UN to hold Beijing accountable for the pandemic. He accused Beijing of "allowing flights to leave China and infect the world" and of "virtually controlling" the World Health Organization.

WHO Communications director Gabby Stern responded on Twitter, writing, "@WHO has 194 Member States; no one gov't controls us."

In a direct challenge to multilateralism, the US President also said global leaders should each put their own countries first. "For decades the same tired voices proposed the same failed solutions pursuing global ambitions at the expense of their own people, but only when you take care of your own citizens will you find a true basis for cooperation," Trump said.

He added, "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. That's okay. That's what you should be doing."

Speaking right after President Xi's pre-recorded message, China's UN Ambassador Zhang Jan rejected Trump's "baseless accusations." Later at the Chinese Mission in New York, he described the US handing of the pandemic as "a complete failure" and said that China would formally reply to Trump's accusations later in the week.

Xi, for his part, pointedly expressed his country's commitment to pursuing "open and inclusive development," to building an open world economy, and upholding the multilateral trading regime "with the WTO as the cornerstone."

"We should say no to unilateralism and protectionism," Xi said.

Xi also announced that China aims to see CO2 emissions "peak" before 2030, and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.

In contrast to Trump, Russia's Putin praised the UN, saying that over the decades it had "been ably fulfilling its mission of protecting peace, promoting sustainable development of the peoples and continents and providing assistance in mitigating local crises."

"This enormous potential and expertise of the UN is relevant and serves as a solid basis for moving ahead," he said.

Meanwhile, Brazil's Jair Bolsonaro used his message to accuse foreign agents of overhyping fires in the Amazon. Flames are currently raging in the Amazon for a second consecutive year, and deforestation has increased since Bolsonaro took office.

"We are victims of the most brutal misinformation campaign about the Amazon and the Brazilian wetlands," Bolsonaro said.

Another clash, this time in Europe, took center stage when Turkey's Erdogan spoke. The Turkish leader called for a regional conference to address tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean between Turkey and Greece, and accused Greece of causing problems in the region.

Avoid 'vaccinationalism,' UN pleads

Vaccines were also on several leaders' minds, after Guterres' opening address urged UN member states to avoid nationalism when it comes to curbing the pandemic.

Several leaders touted their country's vaccine candidates as a potential solution.

Putin said the Russian-developed Sputnik V vaccine was "reliable, safe and effective." Moscow drew criticism when it approved Sputnik V earlier this summer before conducting Phase 3 clinical trials.

Ha added that he would be wiling to provide the vaccine to UN staffers. "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," he said.

China's Xi said Beijing's vaccines would be a "global public good" once developed and noted that there were several in Phase 3 clinical trials.

He added that if a vaccine was developed, it would be "provided to other developing countries on a priority basis."

Though national leaders stayed home, the UN's iconic Assembly Hall was not entirely empty this week -- one diplomat per country is allowed to introduce their leader's speech.

On the sidelines, largely virtual meetings will also take place on topics including climate change, biodiversity, and Lebanon.
Riga City, Latvia -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/23/2020 -- Decentralized Finance (DeFi) is one of the most rapidly growing sectors within the crypto space. DeFi is basically a decentralized banking process where cryptocurrency tokens work as money using what we call as decentralized applications (DApps) or smart contracts.



Recently, "Yield-Farming" has been the major buzzword in the entire crypto space and has caught the attention of investors. Yield-Farming is the process wherein the investors can lend their yield-farming cryptocurrency tokens and earn more crypto in the form of interest rewards.



Another popular name for yield-farming is liquidity-mining since the major purpose of the entire ecosystem is to provide more liquidity in the market. Yield-farming allows users to generate passive rewards by just lending their token holdings using different permission-less liquidity protocols.



Yield-farming is somewhat similar to the concept of staking but comes with some complex frameworks in the background. The investors who add funds to the liquidity protocols are called Liquidity Providers (LPs). The LPs are then rewarded for offering their funds through the fees generated by the underlying DeFi protocols.



Connecting With A Wide Range of Liquidity Pools



Yield-Farming.io is one such interesting project that serves as a one-stop destination for investors to choose from a number of pool pairs available on its home page. Yield-farming.io is developed with the aim of having an ecosystem that offers sustainable rewards to investors with very little risk exposure.



The platform provides easy access to different Yield-Farming liquidity pools while reducing any barrier for users to start farming and earning their $YEILD tokens.



The YIELD token has been listed on some of the major data aggregator platforms like CoinMarketcap and CoinGeckco. Among all the available listed pool-pairs available on the Yield-Farming home page, users can move to the respective staking portal. You can learn more about the liquidity mining for YIELD token by following this detailed guide.



What differentiates yield-farming.io from the rest of the peers in this space, is the listing of some 'experimental' pairs which are basically lower-cap coins but have a massive potential. The Yield-Farming platform provides fuel and traction to such newly launched projects and helps them improve their liquidity numbers.



Each of the listed pool pairs on the platform also mentions the Total Value Locked (TVL) that highlights the overall health of the DeFi. The TVL can be measured in BTC, ETH or even USD. The higher value of TVL suggests the more yield-farming going on.



Understanding the Working of Yield-Farming



Yield Farming basically involves two major players  Liquidity Providers (LPs) and Liquidity pools and is closely associated with a model dubbed as the Automated Market Maker (AMM).



Just as the LPs are responsible for providing funds to the liquidity pools that powers a marketplace wherein users can lend, borrow, or exchange the tokens. Using these platforms incurs fees that are given in the form of rewards to the liquidity providers depending on their share to the liquidity pools.



Besides, many of the yield-farming platforms have been competing in terms of the added benefits they have to offer. This could include the distribution of additional governance tokens, the popular trend started by the Compound Finance ecosystem with its COMP tokens.



About Cryptoshib

Criptoshib tries to keep crypto enthusiasts updated with the latest happenings and stories from the crypto world. We try to post stories about projects and people of the crypto and blockchain communities from around the world.



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Boston Mayor Marty Walsh on Wednesday said the city of Boston is very close to moving into the red category on the states coronavirus assessment map.

The state classifies each community according to a three tier system: higher risk (red), moderate risk (yellow), or lower risk (green), which are determined based on the average daily cases per 100,000 residents. Bostons movement toward the red designation means its seen at least eight new cases per 100,000 every day over the last few weeks.

Its not time to panic, but we dont want to go back to a situation where were shutting everything down, Walsh said on Wednesday during a press conference outside City Hall. I think that for the most part that wont happen here; but at the same time, the virus is unpredictable and were taking it one day at a time.

There were 63 new cases on Wednesday, bringing the citys case count to 16,766. There were no new deaths reported among Boston residents, Walsh said.

Since the start of the pandemic, 761 Bostonians have died from COVID-19.

During the week of Sept. 19, the positive test rate in Boston was 2.7%, which was about where it was the prior week, Walsh said. He said the city is experiencing an uptick in hospitalizations.

We are monitoring the situation extremely closely, Walsh said, adding that city officials are working to bring resting and resources to neighborhoods most impacted by the disease.

News of rising infections in Boston come as Gov. Charlie Baker announced that restaurants can expand seating of up to 10 people per table and utilize bar seating beginning on Monday. Bars and nightclubs will still remain closed.

Walsh said the city plans to keep the seating limited to six people per table.

While Boston bordering on high risk territory is of some concern, city officials say theyre going to continue monitoring other metrics, including racial and economic disparities among the infected, to get a sense of what parts of the city are experiencing higher numbers of cases, said Marty Martinez, chief of Health and Human Services for the mayors office.

It forces us to really make sure that were continuing to look at our daily positivity rate, were continuing to look at our hospitalizations and emergency room visits, and were continuing to look at our daily cases as well, Martinez said.

As colleges and universities begin the fall semester, with many returning to on-campus instruction, there are lingering questions about how COVID outbreaks like the one at Boston College may be fueling the rise in cases.

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WESTFIELD  Baystate Noble nurses are calling on the Springfield-based healthcare provider to heed the results of a survey of 460 community members who oppose cuts that would potentially impact patient care.

Massachusetts Nurses Association members gathered at the entrance of the West Silver Street hospital Wednesday and revealed the results of an online survey conducted before and during ongoing contract talks with Baystate Health.

The nurses are decrying the closing of Nobles intensive care unit a year ago and the impending closure of the behavioral health Fowler Unit in Westfield. In addition, the merger of Nobles medical-surgical and telemetry units resulted in a cut of the majority of hospitals 2 North staff.

Baystate has announced plans to partner with Kindred Behavioral Health to build a 120-bed behavioral health hospital, possibly in Holyoke, and merge mental health services provided at Noble, Baystate Wing in Palmer and Baystate Franklin in Greenfield.

The survey revealed that nearly 95% of respondents favor the MNA contract proposal to keep the Fowler Unit from closing; more than 92% support the expansion of the unit; 89% want to see the intensive care unit reopened; 93% support the expansion of the medical-surgical unit at Noble; nearly 97% agree that if Baystate decides to eliminate another noble service deemed essential by the state Department of Public Health it should be kept open; and 97% would stand in support of Noble nurses to improve conditions for staff and patients to protect the hospitals future.

Paul H. Dubin, a Noble registered nurse for 33 years and co-chair of the hospitals MNA chapter, said Noble is not just Westfields community hospital, but also serves surrounding communities such as Southwick and the Hilltowns. The survey provided nurses with the support they need to make their case to those in power, he said.

The numbers are truly encouraging, Dubin said. This is a tight-knit community that respects and responds to our nurses. Were a community hospital right where we need to be. We care about the community and our patients.

Noble nurses will release the survey results during a virtual community forum slated for Oct. 6 in a Zoom-based, online presentation. The forum will feature nurses and community advocates and will provide an opportunity for transparent discussion on how to respond to Baystate managements cuts in staff and services.

Those wishing to participate are asked to sign-up at massnurses.org/NobleForum. State Sen. John Velis, D-Westfield, will host the forum.

The union is also calling on Noble President Ronald Bryant to participate in the Oct. 6 forum and address the growing concerns nurses and community members have about patient care conditions, Dubin said.

Many of us are extremely concerned about the future of Noble Hospital because of Baystates cuts to staffing, its elimination of essential services, our longer ED (emergency department) wait times and excessive boarding, and Baystates plan to close our mental health unit, Dubin said. We want President Bryant to be transparent about his vision for the hospital.

Bryant responded in a written statement that the timing of the forum is "disappointing, adding Baystate Health has been doing everything possible to foster a sense of community and shared purpose across our system and throughout our community.

Divisive measures that do not take into account the complex factors involved in operating a community hospital and regional health system are counterproductive, he stated.

We value input and support from our community and continuously engage with our diverse groups of volunteer community representatives who serve on our boards, committees, and advisory councils at our hospitals and other entities.

Bryant also said that during the COVID-19 pandemic it has been critical to carefully optimize regional resources ranging from trauma and ICU level care at Baystate Medical Center to the local services in community hospitals.

The pandemic reinforced the value of our careful assessment of community health needs and data around usage patterns in the local setting, Bryant said. "Baystate Health continues to be successful in providing the right care at the right time in the right place.

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The global toothpaste market is expected to exhibit a solid 4.8% CAGR over the forecast period from 2018 to 2025, according to the latest research report from Market Research Future (MRFR). The global toothpaste market was valued at USD 15 billion in 2017 and is expected to reach USD 21.6 billion by 2025. By volume, the global toothpaste market is expected to reach 7.8 billion units by 2025, growing from the figure of 5.9 billion in 2017. The Global Toothpaste Industry is profiled in great detail in the research report, providing readers with a comprehensive overview of the market through its historical growth trajectory, present conditions, and future growth prospects. The historical stats of the toothpaste market are detailed in the report, in order to provide readers with a complete overview of the markets historical growth trajectory. The historical stats provided in the report also give analysts a solid platform to base future projections about the market. Based on this platform, future projections for the toothpaste markets growth trajectory over the forecast period are provided in the report. The leading players in the global toothpaste market are also profiled in the report in order to give readers a comprehensive analysis of the leading players in the global toothpaste market. The major drivers and restraints affecting the global toothpaste market are also profiled in the report to provide readers a comprehensive overview of whats making the market tick and what is holding the market back.

Toothpaste is a vital item of daily use for the majority of the worlds population. It helps keep the teeth clean and the mouth healthy. Toothpastes may also provide an antimicrobial function, keeping the mouth clean and free from microbes. The growing urban population around the world is likely to be a major driver for the global toothpaste market over the forecast period, as toothpaste is consumed more in urban areas than in rural areas.

The increasing entry of various flavors in toothpaste products is likely to be a major driver for the global toothpaste market over the forecast period. Manufacturers are increasingly looking to produce toothpastes with attractive flavors that appeal to consumers. In addition, the use of innovative ingredients such as activated charcoal in toothpaste is also likely to be a major driver for the global toothpaste market over the forecast period.

Get a FREE Sample Copy of Report: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/7221

Competitive Leaderboard:

Leading players in the global toothpaste market include Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, GSK plc, Johnson & Johnson Services Inc., Church & Dwight Co. Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Company, Procter & Gamble, Coswell SpA, CCA Industries Inc., The Himalaya Drug Company, Hawley & Hazel (BVI) Co. Ltd., LG Household & Health Care Ltd., D. R. Harris & Co. Ltd., Unilever plc, 3M, and Dabur India Ltd. Many major players in the global toothpaste market are focusing on expensive ad campaigns that familiarize the consumer with their product. This is likely to remain a key trend in the global toothpaste market over the forecast period, as advertising and the consequent increase in brand visibility has emerged as being key to the success of companies in the toothpaste market.

Segmentation:

The global toothpaste market is segmented on the basis of type, distribution channel, and region.

By type, the global toothpaste market is segmented into sensitivity, whitening, smokers, childrens, herbal, and others. The herbal segment is likely to exhibit steady growth over the forecast period, due to the increasing demand from consumers for FMCG products made from natural ingredients. Herbal ingredients also enhance the functionality of toothpaste products, making it an effective anti-microbial agent for the consumers health.

By distribution channel, the global toothpaste market is segmented into store-based and non-store-based. The store-based segment dominates the global toothpaste market.

Access Full Report Details and Order this Premium Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/toothpaste-market-7221

Regional Analysis:

Asia Pacific dominates the global toothpaste market due to the growing consumer population in major economies such as China and India. Increasing awareness about oral health and increasing exposure to international brands are also likely to remain major drivers for the toothpaste market in Asia Pacific over the forecast period.

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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PARMA HEIGHTS, Ohio

Disorderly conduct, Oakwood Road: On Sept. 6, the police were dispatched to an Oakwood Road home after a man was found passed out on the garage floor.

A good Samaritan performed CPR while the mans mother called the police. An arriving officer determined the son was overdosing.

He was successfully revived by paramedics using Narcan. The man was cited for disorderly conduct.

Identity theft, Pearl Road: On Sept. 4, a Pearl Road resident discovered she was billed for a phone account she never created.

There are no suspects. Police are investigating.

Drunken driving, Pearl Road: On Sept. 12, police observed a weaving Mercedes E350 on Pearl Road.

While talking to the driver, who was from Wisconsin, the officer smelled booze.

After failing a field sobriety test, the underage man was arrested for drunken driving. It turned out he had two warrants.

The driver was also cited for not having a drivers license, making an illegal turn and weaving.

Attempted breaking and entering, Pearl Road: On Sept. 12, a Pearl Road business owner called police after discovering someone attempted to break in by kicking in the back door.

The suspect didnt enter the business. There are no suspects. Police are investigating.

Drunken driving, Pearl Road: On Sept. 12, a passerby called police after noticing a man was passed out behind the wheel of a 2010 Nissan Sentra, which was stopped in a Pearl Road intersection.

An arriving officer located the Parma Heights driver. After failing a field sobriety test, the man was arrested for drunken driving.

He was also cited for possession of felony drugs.

Weapon charge, Snow Road: On Sept. 12, police observed on Snow Road a 2013 Ford Fusion that didnt have a license plate light.

The officer also said the driver was acting suspicious. During a search of the Ford, police found a gun. Both the Cleveland driver and passenger were arrested on weapon charges.
A widower who tried to meet new women by placing a lonely hearts advert in the local paper 'was attacked and killed by drug addicts for his PIN number,' a court heard.

John Cornish, 75, died after suffering a cardiac arrest inside his home in Weymouth, Dorset following an 'assault' last September.

The father was found with 42 injuries including shallow stab wounds which suggested he had been 'prodded in the face' with a knife, Winchester Crown Court heard.

Hannah Day, 29, and Aaron Brown, 39, today appeared in court accused of manslaughter and attempted robbery. The pair deny the charges.

Jurors today heard how Mr Cornish had placed an advert in the paper in a bid to find a new partner after feeling 'lonely and vulnerable' when his previous relationship ended.

John Cornish (pictured), 75, died after suffering a cardiac arrest inside his home in Weymouth, Dorset following an 'assault' last September

The father had run a bed and breakfast with his wife until she died in 2002, before entering a relationship with another woman which ended a decade later.

Mr Cornish then met Day, 29, in 2015 who befriended the pensioner before allegedly stealing bank cards from him and making five purchases in May last year.

Day and Brown are also accused of attempting to steal cards and cash from Mr Cornish on September 6.

Speaking in court, Mr Cornish's daughter Beverley explained how she 'saw danger and told him so' after her father befriended the young woman.

She said: 'He explained her [Day's] difficult situation and he felt sorry for her and he said that she was just a young woman that needed some support. I did not necessarily agree with that, I saw danger and I told him so.

The father was found with 42 injuries including shallow stab wounds which suggested he had been 'prodded in the face' with a knife, Winchester Crown Court heard. Pictured: The scene

'I did have concerns that he was being taken advantage of. She would come and make him a cup of tea.

'He thought he was being useful by giving her a bed fro the night or giving her some money for the bus to see her parents. I thought that was OK, but I was a bit worried.'

Ms Cornish told jurors that during the summer of 2019 she noticed a change in her father's demeanour and had become extremely concerned.

Answering questions from prosecutor Matthew Jewell QC, Ms Cornish described how when she visited her father at his home, his phone had been ringing constantly.

Her father had described an occasion where he had come downstairs in the morning to find Day asleep in his house, having 'carded' his front door to gain access without his permission, Ms Cornish told the jury.

Ms Cornish said: 'He felt pressurised to give her money. There had been threats and arguments as to what he could and could not give her.

'He told me that he was very concerned because she was part of a violent group of people.

The father had run a bed and breakfast with his wife until she died in 2002, before entering a relationship with another woman which ended a decade later. Pictured: Police at the scene

'He said that he was quite fearful about opening the door, there had been incidents when Hannah, she had repeatedly asked for money and he felt like a prisoner in his own home.'

The trial, held before High Court judge Mr Justice Garnham, previously heard how Mr Cornish died of a cardiac arrest in the evening of September 6 last year after an 'assault' at his home.

It was alleged that Day, of no fixed address, and Brown, from Weymouth, had caused him 42 injuries, as well as shallow stab injuries which suggested he had been 'prodded in the face' with a knife.

The court previously heard how Mr Cornish reported to police that Day had used his card to steal 21,000 in 2016, the BBC reported.

The woman said she had taken 32,000 with his permission and was not prosecuted.

Day and Brown both deny manslaughter and attempted robbery.

The trial continues.
EU leaders have unveiled new migration rules that they hope will overhaul Europe's failing migration policy and put an end to migrant camps in northern France.

Refugees arriving in the continent will have their biometric data and fingerprints taken and a decision on their future made within three months giving them less time to disappear from the system.

And a new proposed EU border force should see failed applicants detained and returned immediately.

Eurocrats hope these tough new measures will deter many from travelling through the bloc's passport-free Shengen zone and reduce those who head to Calais and Dunkirk in the hope of using it as a springboard to Britain.

For the first time countries can pay for migrants to be removed from Europe instead of taking in refugees.

Under the new plan if a country has a huge influx of migrants and believes it cannot take care of them, it can request the activation of the commission's 'compulsory solidarity mechanism'.





The EU has called for an overhaul of its broken migration system, saying compulsory rules are needed across the bloc to address the crisis after years of division. Pictured a refugee camp in Moria, Lesbos

All states will then be called upon to contribute according to their population numbers and economic strength.

The move is an attempt to create a uniformed policy across the bloc after years of bitter wrangling about the refugee crisis.

But campaigners criticised the plan for appearing to favour hardline Eastern European states.

Ylva Johaansson, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs said: 'There will be quotas, but you can choose whether you will contribute to your quota via relocation, or return sponsorship or a mix of those.'

A country would take financial and political responsibility for ensuring a number of illegal migrants were returned home and have eight months to do it. But if an EU country fails to return migrants to their country of origin within eight months, it must take them in.

Each state would receive 10,000 euros per adult taken in, funded from the bloc's budget.

The pact, backed by Germany, would need all 27 EU members to sign up to it, with member states agreeing to either take in migrants or take charge of sending back those who are refused asylum.

Britain will not be subjected to the proposed changes due to its departure from the EU.

It comes after growing concerns about the current situation, with many refugees making dangerous crossings from the Middle East and Africa into countries which are unwilling to house them.

European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday that the recent fire in the migrant camp on the Greek island Lesbos was 'a stark reminder' of the need to act.

'Migration is complex, the old system to deal with it in Europe no longer works,' von der Leyen said in a statement to the media as the Commission presented a new proposal.

'We need to find sustainable solutions on migration,' she said. 'Moria is a stark reminder,' she said of the Lesbos fire.

Endless rows over where to locate refugees and migrants have caused bad blood between the Mediterranean-shore countries, the reluctant easterners, and the richer northern states where many of the new arrivals aspire to live.

In 2015 more than a million people made it to Europe, overwhelming security and welfare networks, and increasing far-right and anti-EU sentiment.

European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday that the recent fire in the migrant camp on the Greek island Lesbos was 'a stark reminder' of the need to act

'More than 400' migrants overwhelm UK Border Force on one day Migrants escorted by unscrupulous people traffickers set sail from Dunkirk at dawn on Tuesday - 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. 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. Advertisement

But the bloc's top migration official said the crisis was over, with the EU now receiving some 1.5 million net new foreigners coming legally to live and work per year, compared to only 140,000 asylum seekers arriving irregularly.

'We need these people,' said Swedish EU Home Affairs Commissioner, Ylva Johansson. 'Managing migration is not about finding a perfect solution but a solution acceptable to all.'

The executive European Commission's plans to overhaul its defunct system include scratching a rule that the first EU country of arrival be responsible for asylum requests, which put too much burden on Mediterranean nations.

Under the new proposal, those arriving would be assigned to specific countries based on family links, history of education or work, or having a visa issued by a member state.

In the 400-page proposals spanning five different pan-EU laws, Johansson put emphasis on sending back those who fail to win asylum. 'It's necessary to have the acceptance of EU citizens to relocate (host) those who have the right to stay to be able to send back those who are not eligible,' she said.

The plan, sure to stir up heated disputes, would also aim to open up more legal routes for refugees and migrants, and work more closely with countries hosting and managing people before they reach Europe.

It would also put EU countries with external borders under closer monitoring to ensure they do not violate the law after multiple reports of pushbacks in Hungary, Croatia, Greece or Malta.

Under the plan, people rescued in the sea would have to be relocated in the bloc - rather than sent back - and the Commission recommended that member states do not criminalise charities involved in such rescues.

Despite having German Chancellor Angela Merkel as the driving force behind it, the plan faces an uphill battle

At times of regular immigration, all EU states would be obliged to help under the new idea of 'mandatory solidarity' by relocating or returning people, or offering material assistance on the ground in arrival countries.

If, however, a country were falling under major pressure, it could seek to activate a crisis mechanism under which its EU peers would be obliged to take people in or send them back.

The complex system would eventually lead to each EU country having to take in some refugees.

Despite having German Chancellor Angela Merkel as the driving force behind it, the plan faces an uphill battle.

The Commission said all elements should be in place from 2023.

Under the plan, people rescued in the sea would have to be relocated in the bloc - rather than sent back

'My guess is that I will have zero member states saying it's a perfect proposal,' said Johansson. 'But I do hope that I'll also have 27 member states saying it's a balanced approach and let's work on this... It's about realising we have a common problem and we have to manage it together.'

After opening Germany's doors to Syrian refugees back in 2015, Merkel suffered electoral setbacks as the far right surged on anti-immigration sentiment.

But in a sign of the changing mood, German mayors offered this month to take in refugees after an overcrowded camp on the Greek island of Lesbos burnt to the ground. Protesters took to the streets in many German cities chanting 'We have space!'.
New Delhi, Sep 23 : In the wake of passage of three agriculture-related Bills and other proposed legislations, lawmakers of the Congress and other opposition parties on Wednesday continued to protest in the Parliament complex here.

The protesting lawmakers marched from Gandhi's statue to the Dr BR Ambedkar's statue within the premises to register their protest while carrying placards.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh tweeted: "All MPs of the Congress and like-minded parties are marching from the Gandhi statue to the Ambedkar statue in Parliament to protest against anti-farmers and anti-workers Bills rubber-stamped in Parliament in the most undemocratic manner by the Modi government."

Image Source: IANS News

Image Source: IANS News

Earlier, opposition leaders met in the chamber of Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad and decided to continue their protest over the farm Bills.

The opposition and the government is at loggerheads ever since the two farm Bills were passed amid a ruckus in the Upper House on Sunday. The third contentious Bill on essential commodities was passed by the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.

On Sunday, pandemonium broke out in the Upper House as the opposition protested over the two farm Bills. Trinamool MP Derek O'Brien even approached the Chair and tried to snatch a mike while citing the rule book.

Image Source: IANS News

When his objections were overruled, O'Brien allegedly tore the rule book and called the Bills "Kala Kanoon" or black laws. As the aides of the Deputy Chair, tried to shield Harivansh Narayan Singh, many opposition members reached the Well of the House to register their protest.

When the House met on Monday, Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu suspended eight lawmakers -- Derek O'Brien and Dola Sen of the Trinamool Congress, Rajeev Satav, Ripun Bora, and Syed Naseer Hussain of the Congress, Sanjay Singh of Aam Aadmi Party, and KK Ragesh and E Kareem of the CPI-M.

-- Syndicated from IANS
Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer

All Houston Independent School District facilities and offices will remain closed on Wednesday because of Tropical Depression Beta, the district announced late Tuesday.

Facilities are scheduled to reopen on Thursday pending road and weather conditions.
Good morning, Bay Area. Its Wednesday, Sept. 23, and UCs admissions decisions have come under even tighter scrutiny. Heres what you need to know to start your day.

The U.S. marked a bleak milestone Tuesday, surpassing 200,000 deaths attributed to coronavirus. But as case counts rise in several states, infection and mortality rates have leveled off in California and the Bay Area.

Whats working? Public health officials and experts attribute the states relative success to widespread adoption of mask-wearing and improved testing. But smoky skies from chronic wildfires also have kept people inside and likely stemmed the spread of disease in recent weeks.

Read more about where the Bay Area finds itself during a still uncertain new season of the coronavirus pandemic.

 Latest case counts: Our California coronavirus case tracker.

 As counties emerge from lockdown, what each does and doesnt allow.

 Bay Area coronavirus testing sites that dont require a doctors referral.

 New online dashboard tracks which S.F. schools are ready to reopen for in-person learning.

Risky fermentation

Brittany Hosea-Small / Special to The Chronicle

If wines reflect the unique attributes of the year in which they were made, then Californias 2020 vintage may carry the distinctive notes of uncertainty, confusion and chaos.

The immediate issue for the states wine industry is wildfire smoke, which has the ability to imbue wine grapes with irrepressible, unpleasant smoky aromas and flavors. Because of the unusually early timing and large geographic spread of this years wildfires, more California wine grapes are at risk of smoke damage than ever before.

But thats not the only risk, and its adding up to a chaotic harvest season for wine makers  including testing delays that have nothing to do with COVID-19. Read more from Esther Mobley.

Dozens of UC admissions questioned

Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle

A year after a widespread college admissions cheating scandal, Californias independent auditor has found that UC Berkeley  which largely escaped damage in the federal probe  improperly admitted dozens of underqualified, often wealthy students based on insider connections over six years.

The scathing audit offered examples of UC admissions officials giving preference to less qualified students on the basis of a donation by their family, or to family of staff members of the university. Many were improperly admitted as athletes.

Shhhh. You have to keep it a secret, but good news is coming [the applicants] way, a former UC Berkeley admissions director wrote to a former associate dean of students who had asked that an applicant who received the evaluators worst rating be reconsidered.

Read more from reporter Nanette Asimov about UCs response to the audit.

Around the Bay

 On Gov. Newsoms desk: California house cleaners, nannies, caregivers could get new workplace protections.

 Nevermind: Lawrence Berkeley lab reverses decision to scrap diversity initiative following Trump administration order.

 Embarcadero or bust: Plan for 850 homes, floating pool at Piers 30-32 faces  what else?  another waterfront fight.

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.

 From Joe Garofoli: Republicans flip-flop on Supreme Court  will voters buy it?

 Google lawsuit back on: A state appeals court reinstated a lawsuit by current and former Google employees who accuse the tech giant of illegally forbidding them to say anything to the news media or prospective employers about their jobs or working conditions. Speaking of: Ways to securely send us news tips here.

 Flush with politics: S.F. workers who clean up public toilets want places of their own to take a seat.

 A lifetime of change: Chizu Iiyama, Bay Area civil rights activist who was detained in Japanese internment camps, dies at 98.

One story of addiction in San Francisco

Guy Wathen / The Chronicle

At age 23, Will Andrews was adrift in San Francisco, homeless and addicted to powerful opioids. Like so many, he wanted a way out. But he couldnt find one before tragedy struck.

A reporter and photographer got to know Will and his family over four months last year, seeking to document his effort to get clean and regain control of his life. But he was unreachable for weeks at a time. Still, Will and his family hoped his saga would shed light on what can happen when the perils of addiction collide with a system full of cracks.

Read it here.

Fifth & Mission podcast: Reporter Trisha Thadani talks about how she met Will and how his story remains frustratingly common in San Francisco.

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.
Incoming college students have been told that their classes will be delivered online for at least the first semester, if not for a year or more. But what will this mean for freshers and how can they make the most of their experience?

Sinead McCrohan has just finished her final year of business studies at Dublin City University. Last February, she, her classmates, and over 70,000 other students were expecting to have their last few months of lectures with their friends and classmates. In March, lockdown snatched away their last few months of college and forced them into online learning.

It was a big adjustment. "I had to adapt to the reality that I'd be finishing my final year from my kitchen table," McCrohan says. "The lecturers were great in organising extra class time, and group work with our classmates moved online too. In some ways, this worked better because we stopped having to work around everyone's timetable and when they could make it into college in person. The quality of information was just as good but, instead of a lecturer standing in front of us with slides, the slides were online and the lecturer would speak from a box in the corner of the screen."

Whether in work or education, we all have days where we want to stay in bed - especially during the dark days of lockdown - and McCrohan says she was no different. "On the days that I wasn't feeling it and needed a duvet day, I was able to do my college work from bed."

Now working as part of DCU's student recruitment team, McCrohan says that colleges and universities across Ireland are working to ensure that remote learning will be as engaging as possible. "The universities and students' unions are also doing a lot to ensure that there will be lots of opportunity for social engagement, so you can reach out to your classmates through online breakout rooms and chat."

Ultimately, learning online is a different proposition to in-class teaching, but students should not feel daunted, says Professor Mark Brown, head of the National Institute for Digital Learning at Dublin City University.

"Online learning is more self-directed and autonomous, with the learner expected to take more responsibility for their own learning," Brown says. "It means that they have to be organised. A lot of learning already happens outside the classroom, so an online learning experience that is well-designed is not trying to replicate the face-to-face model. Instead, it should create opportunities for learners to engage with each other, ideally through small groups. It can be a lonely experience if you're not proactive in finding fellow classmates, so we want learners organised and connected with their classmates and institution online."

Dr Alison Hood, dean of teaching and learning at Maynooth University, says that blended (or hybrid) learning in third-levels will combine in-person and online elements. "The idea is that the in-person classes maximise the value of things that should be done in the classroom and the online classes address content that can be mastered without having to be physically present."

Of course, not all students will have access to all the technology they need, with reliable broadband a particular issue for some staff and students. Indeed, it's an issue in a household where three or four people might be working or studying at the same time due to pressure on bandwidth. It's an issue that most third-levels are acutely conscious of, but students should immediately inform their lecturers if they're having trouble.

"In order to mitigate against these potential barriers, staff are providing less bandwidth-intensive resources and additional asynchronous materials which do not require access to the internet at specified times," says Hood.

Dr Terry Maguire, director of the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, urges students not to be nervous.

"We know that distance and online learning works best for the student who is realistic about their learning needs, is willing to engage, has clarity around their learning outcomes and is open to asking for and receiving support," she says.

"Institutions know it's not just about lectures and assessments; it's also about creating that sense of belonging within the education community and helping students to develop as people. There has never been more support available to students. Reaching out is not a sign of weakness, it is a sign of strength. Don't let the current context stop you from becoming who you intended to be at the end of your studies."

Free online course

DCU's National Institute for Digital Learning, DCU Students' Union and the Irish Universities Association have put together a new, free online course: A Digital Edge: Essentials for the Online Learner, designed to support students to master how to learn online. See https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/a-digital-edge-essentials-for-the-online-learner
An Iranian fuel tanker has reportedly reached Venezuela and is loading the South American countrys oil for sale abroad, despite continued US efforts to stop such transfers.

The Iran-flagged vessel Honey is currently docked in Venezuela, the financial news outlet Bloomberg reported on Tuesday. It is loading Venezuelan crude oil to be sold in Asia. Last week, the ship, which also goes by the name Horse, unloaded Iranian fuel in Venezuela.

The ship did not use its satellite signal to avoid being detected by the United States, according to Bloomberg. The ship tracking website Marine Traffic reported that the Iranian ship Horse was confirmed as being off the coast of Iran on Sept. 8. The tanker does not list a destination.

In August, the US seized more than a million barrels of Iran oil purportedly heading to Venezuela aboard four ships. The companies responsible for the shipment are now challenging the seizure in US court.

The United States says that Iran is building a nuclear weapon, which Iran denies. Washington maintains harsh sanctions on the Islamic Republic as a result, including on its energy industry. The United States also supports an opposition government in Venezuela and sanctions its fledgling oil sector.

Venezuela once had a thriving oil economy and is a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. However, years of mismanagement and US sanctions have left the industry in bad shape, creating a need for Iranian oil.

Both Iran and Venezuela have difficulties selling their oil internationally due to US pressure, and this has brought the two countries closer in recent years. Iran also sends food to Venezuela.

Recent US sanctions on Iran target Venezuela as well. On Monday, the US announced it designated Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro for allegedly violating a presidential order restricting weapons deals involving Iran.

Iranian fuel deliveries to Venezuela are likely to continue, barring another capture by the United States. Earlier this month, ship tracking data showed an Iranian tanker off the coast of South Africa. This longer route to South America around Africa helps Iran avoid the United States and its allied military presence in the Mediterranean.
Phuket Town joins UNSECOs Global Network of Learning Cities

PHUKET: Phuket Town is one of three cities in Thailand that are now recognised as among the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC) network, the international agency announced today (Sept 23).

Wednesday 23 September 2020, 01:05PM

Phuket Town is now recognised as a member of UNESCOs Global Network of Learning Cities. Photo: Phuket City Municipality

The other two cities recognised for making lifelong learning a reality at local level are Chachoengsao and Chiang Mai, said a release announcing the cities new status.

The cities of Chachoengsao, Chiang Mai and Phuket have been recognised as outstanding examples of how lifelong learning can become a reality at local level, said the release.

They have proven that effective lifelong learning policies and practices can support the development of inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities and contribute to the 2030 Agenda. Todays new members bring the total number of cities within the UNESCO GNLC to 230 in 64 countries, it added.

The vision of Phuket Municipality is A city of sustainable creativity and pleasantness, the release also noted.

All aspects of city development focus on local citizens who are proud of their identities and acknowledge their parts in the development process. The cooperation between the local citizens and municipality members facilitates identifying problems, sharing ideas, and suggesting the best ways to drive the city forward.

The strategy has resulted in praise for Phuket as a good model in many aspects: a cooperative administration with transparency, community management with strong cultural costs, environmental management, and a creative city of gastronomy, it said.

Marking Phuket Towns new status, Phuket CIty Mayor Somjai Suwansupana said, Phuket citizens identities, local wisdom assets, and the charm of multiculturalism are an inspiration to drive Phuket forward to be a creative and sustainable learning city.

The identity of Phuket people is the essential human capital that develops the city from a mining industrial city to a world-known touristic magnet. Phuket citizens enjoy reading and learning and are proud to conserve and inherit their own cultures and traditions.

The UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL), as coordinator of the network, admitted the new members following their nomination by the National Commissions for UNESCO in the concerned countries.

A strong commitment to lifelong learning by the mayor and city administration is a key prerequisite for becoming a learning city. As part of their application process, potential UNESCO GNLC members must demonstrate a clear vision for providing lifelong learning opportunities for everyone in the community.

Once admitted, cities are expected to take part in the activities of the network and to produce a biennial report outlining their achievements as learning cities, the release explained.

The new member cities will be presented in an online event today (Sept 23).

UIL Director David Atchoarena explained, With unprecedented urgency, the COVID-19 pandemic has underlined the necessity to build more resilient education systems for the future. With more than half of humanity living in urban areas, cities must be at the centre of this undertaking.

During the pandemic, UNESCO learning cities from around the world have shown that they are well placed to make lifelong learning a reality, also under harsh conditions, Mr Atchoarena continues. I warmly welcome the cities of Chachoengsao, Chiang Mai and Phuket along with the further new members of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities and very much look forward to working with them on further advancing our goal of ensuring lifelong learning for all.
A Deptford Township police officer who rescued residents during a May apartment fire has received national recognition for his heroism.

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund has named Patrol Lt. David Grogan its August Officer of the Month, citing his bravery, quick action and resourcefulness during the emergency.

Police officers responded May 16 around 4 p.m. to a fire at Inverness Apartments and found a building heavily engulfed in smoke and flames. After learning three residents were trapped in their apartments, they began rescue efforts.

One resident was located and taken to safety by officers, but conditions prevented them from using a stairwell to reach the other two trapped in a unit on the second floor, according to police.

Officer Todd Brown arrived and pulled his patrol car up to their balcony. Grogan climbed on the vehicle to get to the balcony and entered the burning apartment.

He found a woman and brought her out to the balcony, where the officer helped lower her to firefighters. Fire crews rescued the other occupant.

The residents, along with Grogan, were taken to the hospital, where the officer was treated for smoke inhalation.

Grogan, 34, is a Deptford native and has served with the township police department for 13 years.

Lt. Grogan showed a high level of bravery by entering a burning building to rescue two residents, Acting Police Chief Frank Newkirk said. We are extremely proud of Lt. Grogan and the brave actions displayed by his entire platoon.

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund CEO Marcia Ferranto praised Grogan for his actions.

The men and women who serve in law enforcement go to work each day ready to help keep the rest of us safe, no matter what dangers they may face during their day, Ferranto said. Their bravery, like that of Lt. Grogan, makes me proud that we are able to honor their service in some small way.

The memorial fund is a non-profit dedicated to honoring the service and sacrifice of Americas law enforcement officers, according to the organization.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com.
Tropical Storm Noul flooded homes and a temple in Pakse city, Champassak province, Laos. Photo taken between Sept.18-20, 2020.

About a dozen are dead and hundreds displaced in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Noul, which slammed into mainland Southeast Asia last week, sources in the region told RFA.

The storm made landfall in Vietnam Sept. 18, just north of the central coastal city of Danang, raging westward into Laos before mostly dissipating there. Its remnants then barreled over into Thailand, leaving homes and farms flooded and roads buried by mudslides in its wake.

Cambodia was the hardest hit country in the region11 people lost their liveseven though it was not in the storms direct path.

Khun Sokha, a spokesman for Cambodias National Committee for Disaster Management, told RFA that in addition to the 11 deaths, 500 were evacuated in eight different provinces.

The committee released a report Sunday saying the storm had caused damage in Koh Kong, Oddor Meanchey, Pailin, Sihanoukville, Kep, Pursat, Kampot, and Battambang provinces, all in the countrys western half.

The spokesman warned that after the flood, the people would need to prepare for drought because the Mekong Rivers water level has remained low and the dry season is expected to last longer due to climate change.

It is universal, not only in Cambodia. Countries all over the region are facing the same issue, he said.

Moeul Chandara of the Cambodia Youth Network told RFA that for the past 10 years, the effects of natural disasters have been exacerbated by the destruction of forests, increased pollution and the filling-in of natural lakes and reservoirs.

He said that the government usually does not respond to natural disasters well.

Lets look at the facts. We have observed that filling-in lakes has continued under the pretext of development. It has affected many in the cities and the provinces, he said.

Additionally, he said the government is not doing anything about climate change.

Lao road cut off

Just north of Cambodia in southern Laos, the storm left parts of Sekong and Champassak provinces flooded for a period of about three days. A 50-year-old woman in Sekong was reported missing and is believed to be dead.

A woman died in Kalo village. She hasnt been found. Were still looking for her body. She was trying to cross the river, but it grew to be too large, so she couldnt make it to the other side, the resident said, a resident of Sekongs Kaleum district told RFA Tuesday.

The storm also cut off a 100-kilometer (62 mile) stretch of road connecting Kaleum with Dak Cheung district in another part of the province. Landslides buried parts of the road in mud and soil.

The road is badly damaged by the landslides. It is impassible. There is simply too much water, the resident said.

An official from the Sekong administration headquarters told RFA that the province was preparing emergency supplies for flooding victims and was already rebuilding.

We have some food, including rice, ready to be distributed. As for the road, a construction company is repairing it. Right now, cars cannot go through. Just motorcycles and pedestrians can, the official said.

The official explained that the provincial government was still assessing the exact damage.

As Noul dumped its payload on southern Laos, the Xekaman 3 Dam in Sekong began discharging water on Sept. 18, increasing its normal flow of 30 cubic meters (8,000 gallons) per second to 100 (26,400 gallons) per second.

The discharge raised the level of the Xekaman River considerably, and residents downstream began packing so that they could flee to higher ground quickly in the event of flood.

Buddhist temples and banana farms

The Sekong province official said that the dam had safety measures in place.

We received notice from the dam management saying they are monitoring the dam and river water levels very closely, the official said.

A resident downstream in nearby Saravan province told RFA that residents there were also preparing for floods.

The water level of the Xekaman River is rising quickly, but has not reached a dangerous level yet, the resident said.

Another villager said the Xekaman might overflow if the discharge continues.

In nearby Champassak province, several villages in multiple districts were inundated for more than two days.

The water has receded but the damage to our rice paddies is great. Our initial estimate is that tat least 50 hectares (124 acres) of paddy was submerged. Well be able to assess the actual damage when its dry, a village official from the provinces Xanasomboun district told RFA.

A district official told RFA that rice paddies were the only major casualty in Xanasomboun.

Water didnt go into the villages. Homes were not really affected, only the rice paddies were. It was raining so hard that the water couldnt flow away fast enough, the official said.

In Pakse, the capital of Champassak, roads and several Buddhist temples were flooded on Sept. 18.

The tropical storm also destroyed banana farms and homes in Savannakhet province, as well as two granaries and some chickens and ducks on farms in Xieng Khouang province on its way to Thailand.

Noul killed at least one and injured a dozen others in Vietnam before crossing into Laos, state media reported.

Reported by RFAs Lao and Khmer Services. Translated by Max Avary and Samean Yun. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
John Edwards (pictured), 67, killed his daughter Jennifer, 13, and his son Jack, 15, in West Pennant Hills in Sydney's north-west on July 5, 2018

A lawyer acting for two children who were later shot dead by their evil father ignored their claims he had beaten them and labelled their mother a 'hard nosed b****', an inquest has heard.

Edwards, 67, killed his daughter Jennifer, 13, and his son Jack, 15, in West Pennant Hills in Sydney's north-west on July 5, 2018.

Edwards then returned to his rented home in nearby Normanhurst and took his own life just hours after the cowardly attack.

Their murders came after a bitter custody dispute from March 2016 to February 2018 where a number of domestic abuse allegations were levelled at Edwards.

His estranged wife and the children's mother Olga, who won full custody on Valentine's Day 2018, died by suicide five months after the killings.

An inquest into the murders began at the NSW Coroners Court on Monday September 7 and Edwards' violent history was exposed.

On Tuesday, the court heard from a family psychologist who previously advised the children's lawyer she feared Edwards was a dangerous narcissist, The Australian reported.

Edwards' estranged wife and the children's mother Olga, who won full custody on Valentine's Day 2018, died by suicide five months after the killings

The psychologist, who cannot be named for legal reasons, personally feared retribution from Edwards for even making the assessment.

The psychologist saw all members of the family between 2017 and 2018 amid the custody battle.

The two children told the psychologist they did not want to see their dad and detailed horrific living conditions when with their father.

But the children's lawyer told the psychologist that the children's mother Olga presented as a 'hard nosed b**** in court'.

The psychologist told the lawyer she didn't agree with the assessment, before making a note of the comment.

The psychologist felt the lawyer ignored the children's pleas to steer clear of their father.

She said she had been misrepresented in emails claiming the teenagers would be taken from their mother if she didn't facilitate visits with their father.

The psychologist said that both Jack (pictured right) and Jennifer (pictured left) expressed their desire not to see their father in the lead up to their callous murders

'If I didn't feel they were safe enough to be in a joint session, how would I feel they would be safe living with him?' she said.

On one occasion Jack told her his father was often at the tipping point of physical rage.

Edwards had admitted to physical violence against his children including bending fingers back and a 'clip over the ear' but he denied allegations of more severe abuse.

He described Jennifer as his 'perfect little angel' in one session and tried to get Jack to go on a holiday with him before Olga, fearing for her son's safety, intervened.

The inquest continues.

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.
LONDON, Sept 23 (Reuters) - A wanted fugitive whose brother was convicted of a role in a 50 million pound ($64 million) British mortgage scam has had opulent necklaces, gold, silver and diamond-encrusted Rolex watches seized from a safe deposit box.

The UK Serious Fraud Office (SFO) said on Wednesday it had confiscated 500,000 pounds ($638,500) worth of jewellery, including a gold ring emblazoned with the name "Nisar", from the safe deposit box of the former partner of Nisar Afzal.

The SFO said it used a listed asset order, a new tool in its armoury, to seize and forfeit listed assets linked to Afzal, which it believes to be the proceeds of crime.

His former partner had consented to the order, the SFO said.

"This case reinforces our determination to use every tool available to us to prevent those who would bribe, cheat and steal from resting easily on their illicit gains," said Liz Baker, head of the SFO's proceeds of crime and international assistance division.

The latest move on Afzal's assets comes after the SFO last year seized 1.52 million pounds from the sale of two properties in Birmingham, central England, bought by Afzal.

A warrant remains out for his arrest after he fled Britain for Pakistan in the mid-2000s. The SFO alleges he was implicated in a fraud against mortgage lenders, for which his brother, Saghir Afzal, was convicted and jailed in 2011 for 13 years.

Saghir Afzal was sentenced to an additional 10 years for failing to pay a near 30-million-pound confiscation order within six months.

($1 = 0.7831 pounds) (Reporting by Kirstin Ridley Editing by Mark Heinrich)
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.


The Centre has issued notice to Sudarshan News channel, citing a prima facie (at first sight) violation of the programme code for broadcasters after it aired four episodes of a show that targeted Muslims for allegedly infiltrating the administrative and police services of the country.

Solicitor general Tushar Mehta informed the Supreme Court on Wednesday about the notice during the hearing on a public interest litigation that sought restraint to be placed on the show, titled Bindas Bol, whose telecast was blocked by the top court with six episodes remaining to be telecast.

Mehta proposed that the hearing on the PIL be deferred till the Centre takes a decision. The court agreed to the suggestion and directed the Centre to place its decision before the court at the next hearing on October 5.

A three-judge bench headed by justice DY Chandrachud said, We are of the view that since notice to show-cause has been issued (to Sudarshan News), it will be appropriate to list the case on October 5. The notice shall be dealt with in accordance with law and the Centre shall submit the report to this Court indicating the outcome of the notice (issued on September 23).

The bench, also comprising justices Indu Malhotra and KM Joseph, reminded the Centre that the notice had been issued only after the court stayed the airing of the show.

But for the fact that this Court had not intervened, the programme would have been over by now, the bench said.

Mehta replied: My broad proposition is that it will be better if your (Courts) intervention in these matters is the last resort.

The top court had on September 15 stayed the remaining episodes of the show and set out to examine if the channel violated the fundamental rights of persons belonging to the Muslim community by accusing them of infiltrating the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS).

The Court also involved the News Broadcasters Association and Press Council of India to evolve broad standards for television with regard to airing content that offends secularism and religious fraternity.

In its order, the Court stated: Since the notice has been issued during the pendency of these proceedings, further steps in pursuance of the notice to show cause shall be subject to the result of the present proceedings. In the meanwhile, the stay ordered by the court would continue.

The PIL petitioner, Firoz Iqbal Khan, welcomed the Court order. Senior advocate Anoop G Chaudhary, appearing for Khan, said that if the decision by the Centre goes against the petitioner, it can always be challenged in the court proceedings.

The bench asked Mehta if the petitioners could also be heard by the Centre before a decision is taken on the show cause notice.

The law officer refused to accommodate on this request claiming that the notice to the channel was issued under Section 20 of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995 under which any violation of the Programme Code is dealt with.
Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad will meet President Ram Nath Kovind at 5pm on Wednesday to request him, on behalf of 18 political parties, to not give his assent to farm bills passed by the Upper House on Sunday amid a ruckus.

Azad will also apprise the President about the Rajya Sabha passing important legislations in both Houses of Parliament in the absence of Opposition parties, which boycotted the rest of the monsoon session after the government rejected their demands to withdraw the farm bills.

They had also requested Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu to revoke the suspension of eight membersRajeev 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 Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Sanjay Singh of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

Also Read: Rajya Sabha adjourns sine die; second-shortest monsoon session so far

The two agricultural billsthe Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 and the Farming Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020were 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 the eight members.

Parliament on Tuesday also passed the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill.

On Tuesday, Azad had said that the opposition will not end its boycott till the government introduces another bill making it illegal for private players to buy food grains from farmers below the minimum support price (MSP), and making it mandatory for all state agencies to comply by the MSP and fix the procurement price as per the Swaminathan panels recommendations.

Representatives of the Opposition parties met in the Parliament House on Wednesday to chalk out their future strategy. It was decided at the meeting that a delegation will meet the President in a delegation and hand over a memorandum to him, urging him not to give his assent to the farm bills.

Also Read: Claim pro-farmer reforms, but no data on their suicides: TMC attacks Centre

Representatives of the Opposition parties then sought time from the Parliament and were told that only five leaders would be allowed to meet the President in view of the Covid-19 pandemic, a Congress leader said.

He said the leaders of the 18 Opposition parties then decided that only Azad would meet the President on their behalf.

The standoff between the government and the Opposition over the farm bills has escalated with both sides taking a hard stand on the issue. While the Rajya Sabha adjourned sine die on Wednesday afternoon, the Lok Sabha will follow suit in the evening.

While the Congress has decided to hit the streets across the country to protest against the farm bills Thursday onwards, other regional Opposition parties are planning an agitation against the farm bills in their respective states too.

Earlier in the day, Opposition leaders, including Azad, Anand Sharma and Jairam Ramesh (Congress), Derek OBrien of the Trinamool Congress and Samajwadi Party member Jaya Bachchan, took out a protest march from the Mahatma Gandhi statue to the Ambedkar Statue at the Parliament house complex.

The leaders carried placards with messages such as Save Farmers, Save Workers and Save Democracy.

Prior to their protest, the leaders had also written to the Rajya Sabha chairman urging him not to pass the three labour codes in the Upper House in the absence of Opposition parties. It will be a blot on democracy if the bills are passed unilaterally, they wrote in the letter.

Azad later said he would meet the President and tell him that there was no division of votes during the passage of bills in the Rajya Sabha.

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Louisville, Ky.  A Kentucky grand jury on Wednesday indicted a single former police officer for shooting into neighboring apartments but did not move forward with charges against any officers for their role in Breonna Taylors death.

The jury announced that fired Officer Brett Hankison was charged with three counts of wanton endangerment in connection to the police raid of Taylors home on the night of March 13.

Neither the grand jury nor the presiding judge elaborated on the charges.

Immediately after the announcement, people were expressing frustration that the grand jury did not do more.

Justice has NOT been served, tweeted Linda Sarsour of Until Freedom, a group that has pushed for charges in the case. Rise UP. All across this country. Everywhere. Rise up for #BreonnaTaylor.

Protesters have consistently pressured state Attorney General Daniel Cameron to act, and celebrities and pro athletes had joined them in calling on the attorney general to charge the police who shot Taylor. At one point, demonstrators converged on his house and were charged with felonies for trying to intimidate the prosecutor.

A Republican, he is the states first Black state attorney general and a protege of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell who has been tagged by some as his heir apparent. His was also one of 20 names on President Donald Trumps list to fill a future Supreme Court vacancy.

Taylor, an emergency medical worker, was shot multiple times by officers who entered her home using a no-knock warrant during a narcotics investigation. The warrant used to search her home 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 Louisvilles Metro Council.

Camerons office had been receiving materials from the Louisville Police Departments public integrity unit while they tried to determine whether state charges would be brought against the three officers involved, he said.

Before charges were brought, Hankison was fired from the citys police department on June 23. A termination letter sent to him by interim Louisville Police Chief Robert Schroeder said the white officer had violated procedures by showing extreme indifference to the value of human life when he wantonly and blindly shot 10 rounds of gunfire into Taylors apartment in March.

Hankison, Sgt. Johnathan Mattingly, Officer Myles Cosgrove and the detective who sought the warrant, Joshua Jaynes, were placed on administrative reassignment after the shooting.

Taylors boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, opened fire when police burst in, hitting Mattingly. Walker was charged with attempted murder of a police officer, but prosecutors later dropped the charge.

Walker told police he heard knocking but didnt know who was coming into the home and fired in self-defense.

On Sept. 15, the city settled a lawsuit against the three officers brought by Taylors mother, Tamika Palmer, agreeing to pay her $12 million and enact police reforms.

Protesters in Louisville and across the country have demanded justice for Taylor and other Black people killed by police in recent months. The release in late May of a 911 call by Taylors boyfriend marked the beginning of days of protests in Louisville, fueled by her shooting and the violent death of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis on May 25.

Several prominent African American celebrities including Oprah and Beyonce have joined those urging that the officers be charged.
One thing that draws big bucks with big budget productions is not so much the movie itself, but the tie-ins. With established franchises like James Bond, while box-office revenue is still very important, its the advertising where the real money is.Along the years, 007 has been associated with a variety of big names, like Aston Martin ( the ultimate Bond car ), Omega watches, the Walther PPK gun and, more recently, Heineken. Add two more names to that list with the upcoming release: Triumph motorcycles and Nokia. The Nokia partnership was first announced earlier this year.The latest promotional effort combines three of these names, but substitutes James Bond with the rumored replacement for Daniel Craigs 007: agent 00 Nomi, played by Lashana Lynch. Lynch is believed to be taking over from Craig after No Time to Die, which, if true, would make her the first female James Bond in the history of the franchise  and the first black James Bond as well.Given the speculation about her potential role in upcoming films, its no wonder she gets her own ad campaign. Its for the Nokia 8.3 5G and was shot on one such phone, and it features both the Aston Martin DBS Superleggera and a Triumph Thruxton RS motorcycle, according to SWNS Shooting took place at the legendary Pinewood Studios. It saw Lynch briefly reprise her role while celebrity social media phone-ographer (an invented word but apparently a real job) Ben Maclean snapped pics of her on his Nokia phone.The world we live in now means we all have the ultimate gadget in our pockets. Its amazing what smartphones can do nowadays, Lynch said of the shoot. Im excited to be unveiling this new smartphone to celebrate the release of No Time To Die in November, and the Nokia 8.3 5G is proof that Bond gadgets are always ahead of the game.Lynchs comment is standard endorsement for a product she was paid to promote, so theres not really anything earth-shattering about it. But the ad does offer eye candy for motor enthusiasts, so theres that.Whether Lynch will be making for a convincing 00 (let alone a James Bond replacement) remains to be seen in November, for those who dare see the movie in a crowded theater, in the current international context. Based on photos alone, she looks badass on a moto.
Ivory, who serves on the council overseeing the enterprise program, said the coalition plans to do an audit of 10 state agencies  from the Department of Transportation to the Department of Healthcare and Family Services  to look at their media ad budgets and strategies.
India: Hindu extremists kill church planter, dump body in woods

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A church planter in Indias Maharashtra state was brutally killed by Hindu extremists after suffering years of abuse for his Christian faith amid escalating religious intolerance and violence in the country.



Persecution watchdog International Christian Concern reports that on July 10, unknown Hindu extremists murdered Pastor Munsi Thado, 35, and left his body in the forest near Badpari village in the Godcharoli district of Maharashtra state.

The Hindus reportedly dragged the pastor from his home, ignoring his wife Rajinis pleas for his life to be spared.

In the five years preceding his death, Pastor Munsi lived in the forest near Badpari village due to village pressure. Village leaders angered by Munsis evangelistic efforts demanded he recant his Christian faith. When the pastor refused to comply with their demands, he was chased out of the village.

Following his ostracism from his community, Munsi, who was part of a Maoist separatist group prior to his conversion to Christianity, continued to evangelize, leading nearly two dozen families to Christ.

He was killed because of his faith, life, and ministry to the Adivasi people in the area, one of his colleagues told ICC. He led more than 20 families to Christ in the last five years, ever since he was thrown out the village by some Hindu radicals.

India has roughly 66 million Christians out of a total population of approximately 1.36 billion. The country has seen a steady rise in persecution of Christians over the past decade, according to Open Doors USA, which ranks India the 10th most dangerous place to live as a believer.

Open Doors notes that attacks against Christians are often perpetrated by Hindu nationalists, while converts to Christianity from a Hindu background are "especially vulnerable to persecution and are constantly under pressure to return to Hinduism, especially through campaigns known as Ghar Wapsi (home-coming)".

Rights groups claim that since the Bharatiya Janata Party, a Hindu nationalist party, won the general election in 2014, Hindu extremists have targeted Christians with immunity.

According to Persecution Relief, which tracks anti-Christian persecution and harassment in India, crimes against Christians in India increased 60% between 2016 and 2019. The nonprofit found that between January 2016 and June 2020, there were 2,067 crimes inspired by religious intolerance against Christians in India.

Eight out of 29 states in India have passed strict anti-conversion laws to prevent any person from converting or attempting to convert, either directly or otherwise, another person through forcible or fraudulent means, or by allurement or inducement.

Penalties for breaching the laws can range from monetary fines to imprisonment. Rights groups have warned that such laws are often used to discriminate against religious minorities or to justify extrajudicial killing.

Last month, Pastor Prasanna Kumar was attacked and brutally beaten by a mob of radical Hindu nationalists as he returned home from a prayer meeting in Bikampur village, located in the Bareilly district of Uttar Pradesh. The radicals accused the pastor of forcefully converting Hindus to Christianity.

Last week, 14 U.S. Senators signed a letter asking Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to consider the U.S. Commission for International Religious Freedoms recommendation to designate India a Country of Particular Concern.

In the letter, primarily endorsed by the Coalition to Stop Genocide in India, the senators demanded that targeted sanctions be imposed against Indian agencies and officials responsible for escalating religious intolerance and violence.

There is strong bipartisan Congressional support for holding India accountable for its escalating violence against its principal minorities, the Muslims and Christians, the Coalition to Stop Genocide in India explained. The U.S. Government must designate India a CPC.
KEY FACTS 11:16 a.m.: Lab error leads to 34 false positives in Durham

10:35 a.m.: 14 people in Scarborough fined $880 each at noisy party

10:19 a.m. Ontario is reporting 335 new cases

The latest coronavirus news from Canada and around the world Wednesday. This file is no longer updating, please read Thursdays rolling file. Web links to longer stories if available.

7:30 p.m. British Columbia health officials say the number of COVID-19 cases across the province continues to be too high.

Dr. Bonnie Henry and deputy health minister Stephen Brown say in a joint statement that thousands of residents are being forced to deal with the stress of self-isolating as a result of others not following proper COVID-19 safety precautions.

They say everyone needs to follow the proper safety guidelines to ensure businesses and communities can remain open.

B.C. announced 91 new cases on Wednesday for a total of 8,395.

There are 1,376 active cases, with 62 people in hospital and 18 in intensive care.

There have been no new deaths.

Read more here: Thousands dealing with stress of COVID-19 self-isolation, B.C. health officials say

7:18 p.m.: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is promising to do more to help provinces respond to soaring demands for COVID-19 testing but there is still no indication of when the government will approve the tests that can deliver results in mere minutes.

Health Minister Patty Hajdu has said her department isn't satisfied that the testing systems submitted for approval yield accurate enough results.

In Wednesday's throne speech, the government said it is "pursuing every technology and every option for faster tests for Canadians." Once they are approved, the government promises to deploy them quickly, and is creating a "testing assistance response team" in the meantime to help with the insatiable growth in demand.

"Canadians should not be waiting in line for hours to get a test," Gov. Gen. Julie Payette read from the speech Wednesday.

Read more here: Feds promise help for surging COVID-19 test demand but wont OK rapid-test tech yet

6:49 p.m.: The owners of a private long-term care home in suburban Montreal where dozens of residents died during the COVID-19 pandemic in March and April displayed "organizational negligence," according to a new report.

The Quebec government released the report into Residence Herron on Wednesday, as well as a separate report that looked into a public long-term care home north of Montreal where 100 residents died.

In total, 38 people died at Residence Herron between March 26 and April 16, including 23 who died in less than a week between April 5 and 10, the report states.

Commissioned by the provincial government, the investigation concludes that authorities at Herron repeatedly failed to address shortcomings noted in prior inspection reports and in a coroner's report, largely because of vacancies in key posts and a turnover rate that reached 20 per cent a year.

"It is clear with such a turnover of staff, things must continually be redone," the report reads.

The report details the chaos that followed the discovery of a first case of COVID-19 on March 26, and its devastating effects on a residence that was described as ill-prepared to confront a pandemic.

Read more here: Quebec releases scathing reports into long-term-care homes where dozens died

6:30 p.m.: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says families won't likely be able to gather for Thanksgiving, but it's not too late to save Christmas.

In an address to Canadians on the state of the COVID-19 pandemic, he says the actions we take now will determine the course of the virus in Canada through the fall.

He says a second wave is underway in four provinces, with national daily case counts having tripled the last few weeks, and the fall could be much worse than the spring.

He says we got the pandemic under control then and we can do it again if we keep wearing masks, use the government's exposure-alert app and obey other public health instructions.

Read more here: Wont be gathering for Thanksgiving: Trudeau says COVID-19 second wave underway

6:12 p.m. Public Health Ontarios website says its lab is currently unable to access or issue patient test results, citing an unexpected outage.

Some laboratory test reports may be delayed as a result. If you require assistance, please call our Customer Service Centre at 1-877-604-4567 to leave a message or speak to an agent. We are working to get back to normal operations as fast as possible and will post updates here, the site says. We apologize for the inconvenience.

5:30 p.m. Ontarios regional health units are reporting slightly fewer new cases than their recent average on Wednesday, according to the Stars latest count.

As of 5 p.m., the health units were reporting another 373 new confirmed or probable cases, slightly below 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 is now at 403 new cases daily, the first time that rate has been above 400 since late May, and double what the health units were reporting just 10 days ago on Sept. 13.

Ontario last saw such rapid exponential growth before the pandemics first peak in the spring. 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.

Wednesday saw significant case totals reported across the province: Toronto reported 129 new cases; Ottawa reported 65; Peel Region had 62; York Regions added 35; Waterloo Region 17; Middlesex-London 12 and Halton Region 11.

The province has now seen a total of 50,417 confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19, including 2,876 deaths.

Four fatal cases were reported in the last 24 hours. Two in Peel Region and one each in Ottawa and Hamilton.

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 behind weeks behind case jumps.

The province lists 3,652 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.

4:58 p.m. Quebec has begun rolling out a COVID-19 advertising campaign aimed at putting a human face on the deadly virus and reaching those who discount its severity.

The ads  the first of which was released Tuesday night  include testimonials of those impacted directly by COVID-19.

In the first spot, the camera focuses on Francis, a general contractor who recounts spending 45 days in hospital, including 12 in a coma. He underwent a tracheotomy and now breathes through an opening in his neck.

Believe me, he concludes, COVID-19 is serious.

With public health officials saying the province hit hardest by COVID-19 is experiencing a second wave, efforts have intensified to reach a segment of the population that has felt the viruss risk is overhyped.

But some marketing experts do not believe the government is striking the right tone or that the message will reach the right people.

Fear is not a good motivator, said Benoit Duguay, a professor in the Universite du Quebec a Montreals school of management.

Youre going to scare the wrong people. You are going to scare the people who are already scared and the people who are not scared, it will not change their attitude or behaviour in any way, form or fashion.

The other issue is that the recent spike in infections has been most pronounced among younger people, who wont necessarily see themselves in the first advertisement featuring a middle-aged contractor.

2:45 p.m. Prince Edward Island is reporting one new case of COVID-19, for a total of 58 in the province.

Health officials say the new case involves a woman in her 20s who arrived to the Island on Sept. 20 from outside the country.

The province says the woman came to the province for work that is not related to the health-care sector and has been isolating since her arrival, so the risk of transmission is very low.

Officials are asking anyone on flight AC128 from Vancouver to Toronto and flight AC7460 from Toronto to Charlottetown to monitor themselves for symptoms of COVID-19.

2:15 p.m. (updated) The City of Toronto has announced the cancellation of a number of outdoor major events until the end of the year in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19.

This decision follows the cancellation of all such events up to Sept. 30 announced by the City in July. Some City-led and City-permitted outdoor major events have already announced the cancellation of their event this year due to COVID-19 while others, such as the Santa Claus parade, will be announcing alternative plans in the near future.

The Citys Cavalcade of Lights and New Years Eve celebration on Nathan Phillips Square are among the events cancelled.

Events moving online include Nuit Blanche and CIBC Run for the Cure.

Click here for a full list of cancellations.

2 p.m. Manitoba has announced 42 new cases of COVID-19 in the province, saying the number of people testing positive in the capital city continues to surge.

Thirty of the cases are in the Winnipeg health region and the province announced possible exposures at restaurants, bars and during a trivia night at a pub.

The province also announced confirmed cases in three more schools, but said the infections were not acquired in the classroom and the risk for transmission there is low.

There are 11 people in hospital and five are in the intensive care unit.

There have been 1,674 cases in Manitoba and 18 people have died.

1:45 p.m. New Brunswick is reporting one new case of COVID-19 today.

Health officials say the new case is an individual between 60 and 69 years old in the Miramichi region.

They say the case is related to travel from outside of the Atlantic bubble and the individual is self-isolating.

The number of confirmed cases in New Brunswick is 197 and 191 people have recovered, while there have been two deaths and four cases are still considered active.

1:10 p.m. (updated) Premier Doug Ford says up to 60 pharmacies across the province will begin to offer COVID-19 tests starting Friday.

He says the initiative will reduce pressure on the provinces 147 assessment centres, some of which have seen long line-ups in recent weeks.

The pharmacies will only test individuals with no symptoms after they have made an appointment.The testing initiative is the second part of the governments fall pandemic preparedness plan.

Ford also says three Ontario hospitals will begin offering saliva testing.

12:54 p.m. Ontarios education minister says he is considering shortening the list of COVID-19 symptoms that require kids to stay home from school.

Stephen Lecce says he is working with the provinces medical officials to consider possible changes to the list.

British Columbia shortened its list earlier this week by removing 10 symptoms, prompting Ontario to review the data behind that decision.

Officials in B.C. removed symptoms such as a sore throat, runny nose, and headaches from their list.

Ontarios school reopening plan requires parents to screen their children for COVID-19 symptoms and keep them home if they display signs of the virus.

Students are permitted to return to class when they no longer display symptoms.

12:42 p.m. More than 400 schools in Quebec and another 153 in Ontario are reporting at least one case of coronavirus disease.

The figures from the group COVID Ecoles Quebec and the Ontario government come as authorities across Canada battle a second wave of COVID-19.

Data from Ontario show cases among people in their 20s have risen sharply in recent months.

One expert attributes the increase among younger Canadians in part to the reopening of schools and universities.

Several provinces and universities have warned of stiff fines for violating anti-COVID restrictions.

However, Quebec says it will not allow police to enter homes without a warrant to break up gatherings that violate the measures.

In all, COVID has killed about 9,250 people in Canada, as the cumulative case count edged toward the 150,000 mark.

12:35 p.m. Despite the steady rise of COVID-19 cases in a country already hard-hit by the virus, Belgian Prime Minister Sophie Wilmes said Wednesday that mask requirements, some attendance limits and other public health measures will be relaxed as part of a less stringent, long-term coronavirus strategy.

Wilmes said Belgium residents should learn to live with the virus but warned against a widespread slackening of the basic social-distancing rules.

We are in a risk-management phase, she said after a National Security Council meeting. Some rules will be relaxed because they are no longer useful or tenable.

Starting next month, Belgium no longer will require wearing a mask outdoors except in crowded places where social distancing cannot be practiced. The government also is reducing the mandatory quarantine period from 14 days to one week for people with COVID-19 symptoms who eventually test negative for the virus.

While a maximum of 10 guests will remain the rule for private gatherings, parties or weddings hosted by professional organizers wont be subject to the limit.

12:23 p.m. Canadas chief public health officer says the country saw an average of 1,123 new COVID-19 cases each day over the past week, compared to 380 cases reported daily in mid-August.

Dr. Theresa Tam says that increase is cause for real concern as Canada is now on track for what she describes as a big resurgence in several provinces.

Tam says while the new cases continue to be primarily among young adults, the impacts affect the entire population.

Tam did offer one bit of good news as the number of daily laboratory tests conducted the country has increased to almost 70,000 over the past week, with 1.4 per cent of people testing positive for the illness.

12:18 p.m. A Halloween night that falls on both a Saturday and a full moon would normally be ideal for spooky festivities, driving up sales of candy, costumes and decorations.

But with cases of COVID-19 on the rise, experts expect retailers to see soft demand for Halloween supplies as plans are scaled back and trick-or-treating is questioned altogether.

They add that sales related to the spooky celebration may also serve as an indicator for what retailers can expect this Christmas, the largest shopping season of the year.

Farla Efros, president of HRC Retail Advisory, says Halloween is a significant portion of business for many retailers and candy makers.

She says the lack of gatherings, office parties and trick-or-treating could lead to soft sales for retailers from grocers to specialty Halloween pop-up stores.

11:45 a.m. A hospital in Kitchener, Ont., says it has closed its drive-through COVID-19 testing centre for the day over concerns for the safety of its staff and the public.

The Grand River Hospital says vehicles began to line up at 2:30 a.m. Wednesday morning, five hours before opening time.

Spokeswoman Cheryl Evans says that by 7:30 a.m., traffic was backed up on all the nearby side streets and the centre was already at capacity.

She says some people in line were getting impatient and displayed some aggressive behaviours, which contributed to the decision to temporarily shut down.

The hospital says those currently in line will be tested.

The centre is expected to reopen Thursday.

11:16 a.m. The Durham Region Health Department says an error made in a laboratory at the Hospital for Sick Children resulted in 34 people in Durham receiving false positive COVID-19 results this past weekend.

That includes two false positives reported at Durham District School Board schools, one at Pierre Elliott Trudeau P.S. and one at Maple Ridge P.S.

The Maple Ridge result prompted the health department to declare an outbreak at the school on Sept. 19 because it represented a third positive case.

The decision to declare an outbreak has been reversed.

11:15 a.m. The number of new active COVID-19 cases in publicly funded schools across the province has jumped by another 30 per cent to a total of 180.

In its latest data released Wednesday morning, the province reported 42 more school-related cases  21 more students were infected for a total of 77; five more staff members for a total of 38 and 16 more individuals who werent identified for a total of 65.

There are 153 schools with a current case, which the province notes is 3.17 per cent of the 4,828 publicly funded schools.

The Stars Libaan Osman has the story.

11:10 a.m. Quebec is reporting 471 new cases of COVID-19 and four additional deaths attributed to the novel coronavirus.

Health officials said one of the deaths was reported in the past 24 hours while three others occurred between Sept. 16-21.

Hospitalizations increased by ten patients for a total of 178, with 30 of those in intensive care.

The province has now reported 69,088 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 5,809 deaths linked to the virus.

10:55 a.m. Ontario is reporting 335 new cases of COVID-19 today, along with three new deaths related to the virus.

Health Minister Christine Elliott says there are 102 cases reported in Toronto, 79 in Peel Region and 65 in Ottawa.

She says 69 per cent of the new cases are in people under the age of 40.

The province is reporting an additional 258 cases as resolved today.

10:55 a.m. Quebec will not send police into homes without a warrant to break up house parties or private gatherings that dont respect COVID-19 rules.

Public Security Minister Genevieve Guilbault said today the province is not looking at giving police such powers at this time.

On Tuesday, Quebec Health Minister Christian Dube said the government had not ruled out allowing police to intervene without a warrant, but it would be a last resort.

The province is into a second wave of COVID-19 cases with much of the transmission in the community being driven by private events and gatherings.

10:35 a.m. (updated) Toronto police said 14 people in Scarborough were fined $880 each Tuesday night after officers were called for a noisy party in the Kingston Road and St. Clair Avenue East area.

Police said there were about 50 people at the party.

Officers issued 14 provincial offence notices under the Reopening Ontario Act for failure to comply with an order.

Blatant disregard of rules meant to protect us all, said Const. Randall Arsenault in a tweet about the incident.

Police said during their investigation, a man was arrested on an outstanding warrant and transported to Halton police.

The Reopening Ontario Act extended specific emergency orders in the province. The provincial government announced on Sept. 17 that there would be new gathering limits in Toronto to 10 people indoors and 25 outdoors in a bid to curb the increasing spread of COVID-19.

10:19 a.m. Ontario is reporting 335 new cases of COVID-19 Wednesday, along with three new deaths related to the virus.

Health Minister Christine Elliott says there are 102 cases reported in Toronto, 79 in Peel Region and 65 in Ottawa.She says 69 per cent of the new cases are in people under the age of 40. The province is reporting an additional 258 cases as resolved today.

The total number of cases in Ontario now stands at 48,087, which includes 2,835 deaths and 41,600 cases classified as resolved.

The province says it processed 35,436 tests over the previous day, with another 48,079 under investigation.

The latest numbers come as the Progressive Conservative government is expected to reveal another part of its fall pandemic preparedness plan today.

Yesterday Premier Doug Ford announced that the first part of the strategy involved spending $70 million to purchase millions of seasonal flu shots, which he encouraged all residents to get.

Opposition critics slammed the message, saying it wasnt nearly enough to address rising COVID-19 case numbers across the province.

Meanwhile, the government says it will hire 98 new labour inspectors this fall as part of efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in workplaces.

9:43 a.m. After postponing several shows because of the coronavirus pandemic, Elton John is saying hello to the yellow brick road of touring.

The pop icon announced Wednesday that his Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour will return to North America on Jan. 19, 2022, in New Orleans. John also announced rescheduled 2022 dates for Houston, Detroit, New York City, Miami, Toronto and Montreal.

In July John announced new dates in Europe. His global tour will officially return on September 1, 2021 in Berlin.

Ive been enjoying my time at home with the family while the world navigates its way through the COVID pandemic. But, I really miss being on the road and performing for my beloved fans in my Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour, John said. While the scientists are making great progress, we are making big plans for a return to touring that will allow us to ensure the health and safety of everyone.

9:40 a.m. Two oil-rich Arab Gulf states suffered severe economic blows on Wednesday, as a major credit agency downgraded Kuwait for the first time and the United Arab Emirates acknowledged its economy would contract to a level last seen in 2009.

The agency, Moodys Investors Service, cut Kuwaits debt rating and sounded the alarm that its liquid resources are nearing depletion. With the government failing to pass a public debt law, Kuwait has drawn from its reserve fund to keep spending  at a pace that could prove unsustainable. Moodys warned that government gridlock and ineffective debt management would erode Kuwaits financial strength in the years ahead.

Even if Kuwait managed to push through a debt law without a ceiling, Moodys projects that some $90 billion (U.S.) would still be needed to plug the funding gap until 2024. Despite growing liquidity risks, Kuwaits government has not sought access to its sovereign wealth fund, one of the largest in the world, intended as fortune for future generations after the oil runs out.

Meanwhile, the UAEs Central Bank reported the country saw a significant decline in economic activity as a result of its COVID-19 lockdown, one of the strictest in the world. Virus-induced restrictions closed borders, grounded flights, shuttered businesses and disrupted global supply chains  upending the economic foundation of the regions trade, tourism and transportation hub, the banks quarterly review said.

9:39 a.m. French tennis player Benoit Paire was allowed to compete at the Hamburg Open despite twice testing positive for the coronavirus, he said Wednesday.

Paire retired from his opening-round match while trailing Casper Ruud 6-4, 2-0 on Wednesday, but it was unclear why.

Paire withdrew from the U.S. Open after testing positive and spending more than a week in isolation. He then played at the Italian Open last week, losing in the first round.

According to German news agency dpa, Paire said he twice tested positive while in Hamburg but then had a negative test. Paire said he was not sure if he would play at the French Open, which begins Sunday, and would end his season early if he wasnt allowed to compete.

9:07 a.m. Tokyo Olympics officials are proposing that the government relax immigration regulations to allow athletes to enter the country before next years postponed games and train during a 14-day quarantine period, Toshiro Muto, the CEO of the organizing committee said on Wednesday.

We have to consider the uniqueness of the athletes and also their activities, Muto said, speaking in Japanese following a meeting of a task force considering countermeasures against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The International Olympic Committee, Tokyo city and national government officials, and members of the organizing committee are holding virtual meetings on Thursday and Friday focused on finding ways to hold the delayed Olympics during a pandemic.

The organizing committee and the IOC have said for months they are considering many scenarios for how the games can open on July 23, 2021, but have offered nothing specific.

IOC President Thomas Bach, who will address the online meetings on Thursday, has said a vaccine and rapid testing would help, but added there is no silver bullet that will allow the Olympics to automatically happen.

9:03 a.m. Germanys coronavirus tracing app has been used to transmit 1.2 million test results from labs to users during its first 100 days, officials said Wednesday.

The Corona-Warn-App, downloaded more than 18 million times since its launch in June, was touted by the government as a key tool in the countrys effort to contain the spread of the virus.

The app, like others in Europe, has suffered a number of technical hiccups, but Health Minister Jens Spahn insisted it should be considered a success. He noted that most app users can now get their COVID-19 test result sent directly to their smartphones, without having to wait for their doctor to inform them.

The faster transmission of test results makes a huge difference, Spahn said, adding that the tracing of possible contacts is all the more effective the sooner it begins.

Almost 5,000 people with positive test results have so far used the app to warn others they were in close contact with, he said.

8:41 a.m. The International Judo Federation has cancelled an event in Japan because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The IJF had announced a return to international competition after a months-long pause with Grand Slam events in Budapest, Hungary, next month and in Japan in December. They were intended to be part of qualification for the postponed Tokyo Olympics.

The Budapest competition now needs to be confirmed within two weeks pending on a decision from the Hungarian government.

8:29 a.m. 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.

Read the full story from the Stars Tonda MacCharles

8:28 a.m. 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.

Read the full story by the Stars Tonda MacCharles

7:15 a.m. After 27 years of operation, Laser Quest is closing stores across Canada, it said in a statement on Tuesday.

As much as we wanted to re-open, the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting uncertain economic climate have made the continued operation of Laser Quest North America next to impossible, the company said. The laser tag site has often played host to birthday parties and other events in venues across Canada and the U.S.

Over the past 27 years Laser Quest has brought fun to life with countless birthday parties, day camp and youth group events, plus numerous corporate and educational outings.

Though, according to their website, some of their centres will reopen in the future under new leadership.

6:40 a.m. Health authorities in Madrid may extend to more communities the restrictions on movement it imposed on areas of the Spanish capital with high coronavirus infection rates.

About 860,000 Madrid residents already are required to justify trips out of 37 neighbourhoods, mostly working-class areas. People have complained that the restrictions stigmatize the poor.

The regions deputy health chief, Antonio Zapatero, said Wednesday that a decision on additional measures, including possible customer limits in restaurants, would be announced on Friday,

Zapatero said the outbreak situation in the Madrid region, which has a population of 6.6 million, was one of sustained increase.

Madrid had a contagion rate of 772 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in 14 days, nearly three times Spains national average of 287 cases per 100,000.

5:31 a.m. The British government is defending its strategy for combating a second wave of coronavirus infections from criticism that new restrictions didnt go far enough to stop the exponential spread of the virus.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson unveiled a slate of new rules on Tuesday to stem the renewed outbreak, including a 10 p.m. curfew on bars and restaurants, increased use of face masks and again encouraging people to work from home.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told Sky News on Wednesday that the governments approach was focused, balanced and proportionate. He says that if everyone complies with the measures, they will be enough to prevent a second national lockdown ``with all the impact on society and families but also the damage it would do to businesses.

Many health experts said the governments plan wouldnt be enough to stop the rapid spread of COVID-19 infections.

The dean of epidemiology and population health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, John Edmunds, says the government needs to quickly impose much wider restrictions or risk losing control of the virus.

5:28 a.m. India reported more than 83,000 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, showing some decline after reaching a record a week earlier.

The country has now confirmed more than 5.6 million cases. The health ministry also reported 1,085 new fatalities, raising the death toll to 90,020.

India is expected to become the worlds worst-hit country within weeks, surpassing the United States, where nearly 6.9 million people have been infected by the virus.

But the past week has seen some improvement in India, with the numbers dropping after a record 97,894 new cases were reported on Sept. 16.

5:20 a.m. Israel on Wednesday reported a new record level of daily cases of coronavirus, shortly before government officials were to meet to discuss tightening a new nationwide lockdown.

The Health Ministry reported 6,861 new cases Wednesday as a raging outbreak showed no signs of slowing. Israel, a country of some 9 million people, now has one of the worlds highest rates of coronavirus on a per capita basis, and health officials say hospitals are quickly approaching capacity.

The government last week imposed a nationwide lockdown that closed schools, shopping malls, hotels and restaurants. The coronavirus cabinet was meeting later Wednesday to discuss further tightening the restrictions.

Israel won international praise for its handling of the outbreak last spring, moving quickly to seal its borders and impose a lockdown that appeared to contain the virus. But the government reopened the economy too quickly, and a new outbreak has quickly spread throughout the summer. The economy, meanwhile, has not recovered from a serious downturn caused by the first lockdown.

The Health Ministry has instructed hospitals to delay non-essential surgeries and to open additional coronavirus wards as the number of serious cases continues to rise.

5:14 a.m. An Austrian consumer protection group said Wednesday it has filed four civil lawsuits against the countrys government for failing to contain a coronavirus outbreak at an Alpine ski resort during the early phase of the pandemic that has been blamed for thousands of infections around the world.

Peter Kolba, who heads the VSV consumer association, said the four cases involving an Austrian and three Germans  will test the ground for a further 1,000 people who have asked to be represented by the group after falling ill with COVID-19 following a trip to Ischgl in February and March.

The outbreak in Ischgl, a resort in western Austria thats popular with skiers across Europe, is considered one of the earliest superspreader events on the continent.

5:09 a.m. The first day of the B.C. election campaign featured conflicting views on just how well the three parties were getting along in the minority legislature.

NDP Leader John Horgan says he called the election because he feared contempt and acrimony between the parties would divert focus away from the COVID-19 pandemic, making an election necessary.

He also wasnt sure the minority NDP government would be able to pass a budget in February with the prospect of a confidence vote forcing an election.

But Green Leader Sonia Furstenau disputes Horgans take on how things were going, adding she told him as recently as Friday that her party was committed to a stable government.

B.C. Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson, meanwhile, called for three televised debates during the Oct. 24 election campaign so voters can hear what each party has to offer.

5:05 a.m. A promised reset of federal priorities to focus on the COVID-19 pandemic begins today with the Liberal governments speech from the throne. The nearly hour-long speech is expected to address three areas: immediate action to push back against a second wave of the pandemic, supports for those still not back on their feet after the first wave, and how the economy might be further rebuilt once it can stand more on its own.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus plan comes as public health officials are warning the country is but a few house parties away from plunging into a full-blown second wave.

Hes expected to address that potential crisis in a televised address Wednesday night following the throne speech.

4 a.m. Ontario says it will hire 98 new labour inspectors this fall as part of efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in workplaces.

Labour Minister Monte McNaughton says the government will begin to recruit the workers in October.

The hiring blitz will increase the number of government inspectors from 409 to 507 and will cost $11.6 million.

McNaughton says the inspectors will allow the government to respond faster to situations that may arise during the pandemic.

Labour inspectors investigate workplace hazards, injuries, fatalities and work refusals.

Tuesday 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.

Click here to read more COVID-19 coverage from Tuesday.
Vietnamese Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai speaks at the opening session of the 61st series of meetings of the Assemblies of the Member States of WIPO on September 21 (Photo: VNA)

Geneva  A Vietnamese delegation led by Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai attended the 61st series of meetings of the Assemblies of the Member States of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) that kicked off in Geneva, Switzerland, on September 21.



This is the first time the annual meeting series has been held both virtually and in person. It is also the last of its kind in the term of incumbent WIPO Director General Francis Gurry.



Its opening ceremony was attended by about 750 delegates from 135 WIPO member states, observer states, inter-governmental organisations, and non-governmental organisations.



In his opening remarks, Director General Francis Gurry reported on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic while warning that the diminished state of multilateralism poses a major challenge to the world.



He said technological progress has connected humanity in never-before-seen ways, but has been accompanied by increasing signs of closure, including protectionism.



Gurry noted that the pandemic has yet to adversely affect the financial position of WIPO, which funds its activities primarily through the provision of global IP services, but that close attention has to be paid to the evolving global economic situation.



For his part, newly appointed WIPO General Director Daren Tang acknowledged member states support for him to serve in this post and committed to close cooperation with them in the time ahead.



Tang, who was Chief Executive of the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore, will begin his six-year term on October 1.



Representing ASEAN countries to deliver the blocs joint remarks, Ambassador Mai, head of Vietnams permanent mission to the United Nations, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and other international organisations in Geneva, said while responding to COVID-19 and promoting post-pandemic recovery, ASEAN countries have been prioritising digital transformation and innovation, setting up electronic systems for registration and reception of intellectual property (IP) dossiers to improve IP authorities efficiency, and maximising teleworking methods to ensure the timely and quality provision of IP services for relevant parties.



She also informed participants about ASEANs IP-related achievements this year, including its members innovation index, engagement in some international IP agreements, and regional cooperation with WIPO.



ASEAN countries appreciated Director General Gurrys leadership and substantial contributions to WIPO during his two tenures (12 years), Mai said, adding that they believe the newly appointed Director General will lead the organisation to obtain great achievements in the time to come.



Speaking on behalf of Vietnam at the opening ceremony, the ambassador highlighted some of the countrys attainments in the field of IP since the beginning of 2020, including the growth of applications for the protection of IP rights, an increase in protection certificates of industrial property rights, and the start of implementation of the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Deposit of Industrial Designs.



Vietnam has been effectively carrying out the National IP Strategy and most of WIPO-funded projects, with a focus on digital transformation, innovation and response to the pandemic, she noted.



The diplomat also stressed the countrys wish and belief that WIPO will continue making progress in enhancing the system of IP rules and ensuring balance between promoting innovation and implementing the WIPO development programme for the sake of all member states.



The agenda of the 61st meeting series is shortened compared to those in previous years due to the COVID-19 impact. It is scheduled to wrap up on September 25.
The board of the Capital Area Transit System voted Tuesday to reduce the rate at which it taxes property in Baton Rouge and Baker after a parishwide reassessment resulted in increased property values for many residents.

The decision "rolls back" the tax rate from 10.6 mills for both municipalities to 10.060 mills for Baton Rouge and 9.6 mills for Baker. A "mill" is one dollar of tax for every $1,000 in taxable property value.

Board President Mark Bellue said prior to the vote that he hoped the move would generate good will with taxpayers, many of whom are experiencing significant economic hardship as a result of the coronavirus pandemic lockdowns.

The increased property values had originally placed CATS on track to collect as much as $1.1 million in additional revenue if it decided to maintain, or "roll forward," its current tax rate, but the board's decision to forgo those funds won't shortchange the agency's coffers.

CATS is still set to reap tax revenues that are on par with previous years.

This year the assessed value of taxable properties in the parish jumped from $4.47 billion to $4.72 billion, according to Parish Assessor Brian Wilson.

Like all local governments that benefit from property taxes, CATS has to choose whether to reduce tax rates or maintain them at current rates  a decision these taxing agencies address every four years after properties are reassessed.

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Prior to the vote, Creighton Abadie, an attorney for CATS, said the board has the option next year to reverse its decision and increase tax rates, citing opinions from the state's Attorney General and the Louisiana Legislative Auditor.

The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board decided Monday to wait a month before setting property tax values after attorneys for the school system said the decision couldn't be reversed for at least four years.

CATS' Tuesday meeting also featured a protest from members of the Amalgamated Transit Union who demanded better oversight of taxpayer dollars and charged the agency's leadership with mismanagement.

"We just want to make sure that as stewards of the transit system  that the funding is being provided and allocated in places where it should go to enhance the transit system," said Anthony Garland, the international vice president of the ATU.

Amie McNaylor, a spokesperson for CATS, said the agency does not comment on personnel and union matters.

+2 Baton Rouge property tax bills might be going up, without your vote. Here's why. After a recent increase in assessed property values, at least 17 agencies in East Baton Rouge Parish are looking to gain revenue by keeping th
ST. LOUIS  Missouri added a record number of new COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday  83  which state health officials blamed mostly on a delay in death certificate data.

The delay also caused many of 57 deaths to be reported on Tuesday. Most of the deaths actually occurred over the past two months, and some occurred as far back as April, according to Lisa Cox, spokeswoman for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

The new deaths bring the state toll to 1,947 since the start of the pandemic.

Out of the 140 deaths reported Tuesday and Wednesday, 129 were the result of updating cases in the states disease surveillance system with death certificate data, Cox stated in an email.

The newly added deaths came from all over the state, with Kansas City and Jackson County adding more than a dozen deaths each.

We are continuing to work with local public health agencies to update case information when needed, Cox said.

A similar glitch occurred on Sept. 5, when the previous record of new COVID-19 deaths were reported  77. At the time, Cox blamed health department workers having to get used to a new online disease surveillance system.

Over the past few weeks, deaths in Missouri have fluctuated between 1 and 23 deaths per day, data shows. The large outlying numbers and delay in data make it hard to track trends.

Cox said the state goes back and fills in death data using the date the deaths actually occurred, which means the data changes over time.

Its very frustrating, said St. Louis University researcher and sociologist Chris Prener who has been compiling and analyzing state case and death data. Its frustrating for me because its a lingering question, Is this a real trend or is it not?

Also missing in Missouris on-line COVID-19 data is the race makeup of cases. The percentage of cases where the race is unknown was around 16 to 18 percent a couple months ago, Prener said. Now, it is over 60 percent.

Cox did not respond to a question about the missing race information.

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Washington, D.C.--(Newsfile Corp. - September 23, 2020) - The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that it has obtained an asset freeze and other emergency relief to halt a series of microcap market manipulation schemes that defrauded retail investors.

According to the SEC's complaint, from 2013 to 2019, the defendants engaged in various schemes to manipulate microcap stocks and defraud retail investors, obtaining a total of over $6 million in illicit profits.

First, as alleged in the complaint, from at least 2013 to 2017, defendants Ongkaruk Sripetch, Amanda Flores, and Brehnen Knight with assistance on certain occasions from attorney Ashmit Patel orchestrated numerous fraudulent "scalping" schemes. According to the complaint, they purchased stock in over-the-counter issuers through various entities that they controlled, funded promotional campaigns recommending that investors buy those stocks, and then sold the stocks when their price and trading volume were inflated by those same unlawful promotional campaigns. The complaint also alleges that, from 2013 to 2016, Sripetch and Flores along with Dominic Williams and several entities controlled by Sripetch sold over 24 million shares of a microcap issuer they controlled and promoted. According to the complaint, these sales were not registered with the Commission or exempt from registration.

Second, the complaint alleges that in 2016, Sripetch, and Knight engaged in manipulative trading by executing matched trades and wash orders to create a fictitious, attractive price and volume trading history to prime the market in advance of a promotional campaign for a microcap stock.

Third, the complaint alleges that in 2018 and 2019, Sripetch and Knight along with Michael Wexler and Andrew McAlpine, planned and implemented pump-and-dump manipulations of the stock of a microcap issuer controlled by Wexler. According to the complaint, Sripetch and McAlpine were able to sell approximately 340,000 shares before the SEC suspended trading.

"As we alleged in the complaint, the defendants created a sophisticated network that enabled them to engage in multiple fraudulent schemes, making millions of dollars in unlawful profits at the expense of retail investors," said Richard Best, Regional Director of the SEC's New York Regional Office. "Among other things, the emergency relief we obtained will prevent defendants from doing further damage to these investors, and require them to provide an accounting."

The SEC alleges that Flores, Knight, Sripetch, McAlpine, Wexler, and their companies, Adtron Inc., ATG Inc., DOIT Ltd., Doji Capital Inc., King Mutual Solutions Inc., Optimus Prime Financial Inc., Orca Bridge, Redline International, and UAIM Corporation violated the antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws and that Patel aided and abetted certain of those violations. The SEC also alleges that Knight and Sripetch violated the anti-manipulation provisions of the federal securities laws and that Sripetch, Flores, Williams, DOIT, Doji, Optimus, Redline, and UAIM violated the registration provisions of the federal securities laws. The SEC seeks permanent injunctions, disgorgement plus prejudgment interest, civil penalties, and penny stock bars against the individual defendants as well as officer-and-director bars against Knight and Flores.

The Honorable Marilyn L. Huff of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California granted the SEC's request for a temporary restraining order and other emergency relief against defendants Sripetch, Flores, Knight and Patel as well as an asset freeze against Sripetch, Knight and Patel. Judge Huff scheduled a hearing for Oct. 5, 2020.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California yesterday announced criminal charges against Sripetch, Wexler, Patel and McAlpine in a parallel criminal case.

The SEC's investigation was conducted by Kristine M. Zaleskas, and Michael Paley in the New York Regional Office. The litigation will be led by Christopher J. Dunnigan and Ms. Zaleskas. The case is being supervised by Lara S. Mehraban.

The SEC appreciates the assistance of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, and the Alberta Securities Commission.
THE LONG MARCH exhibit was revealed at Ben & Jerry's Waterbury, Vermont factory on National Voter Registration Day, Tuesday, September 22 nd through a virtual celebration. The tribute showcased video highlights of Lewis' life, a tour of the display narrated by MARCH trilogy co-author Andrew Aydin, and a panel of distinguished individuals supporting racial justice through their activism, including Andrew Aydin and Courtland Cox. White House Correspondent and CNN Political Analyst April Ryan moderated the discussion.

"We had the honor and blessing of hosting John Lewis and his co-author, Andrew Aydin, here at Ben & Jerry's last fall to share their #1 New York Times bestseller. We are honored and fortunate now to share the congressman's legacy with our fans and the world by featuring THE LONG MARCH," said Matthew McCarthy, Ben & Jerry's CEO. The ice cream maker had met up with the late Congressman years earlier in Washington to gain his input on the company's racial justice work.

Hero, activist, and human being willing to get in "good trouble" to fight for equality, Congressman John Lewis was laid to rest on July 30th. The man lived a life of service including his role as a United States Representative for Georgia's 5th congressional district from 1987 until his death earlier this summer. As a final act to breathe hope into democracy, Lewis penned an editorial for The New York Times calling on citizens to redeem the soul of America: "Voting and participating in the democratic process are key. The vote is the most powerful nonviolent change agent you have in a democratic society," offered the sage civil rights leader. While many recall Lewis' work as a congressional representative, his work as a member and chairman of the iconic Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee helping to register so many voters in the South is equally legendary.

THE LONG MARCH exhibit is available to view now at https://www.benjerry.com/whats-new/2020/09/the-long-march-exhibit and will be on display physically at Ben & Jerry's Factory Tour in Waterbury, Vermont through summer 2021. Sharing the MARCH trilogy story is a continuation of Ben & Jerry's ongoing commitment to racial justice, including 2020 activities such as a successful criminal justice reform campaign to help close the Workhouse jail in St. Louis, and a national flavor called "Justice ReMix'd" highlighting the need to reform the country's broken penal system. Voter activation is Ben & Jerry's primary Social Mission this fall, and it will focus on supporting communities of color across the United States.

To find more about Ben & Jerry's work on voting, visit www.benjerry.com.

About Ben & Jerry's

As an aspiring social justice company, Ben & Jerry's believes in a greater calling than simply making a profit for selling its goods. The company produces a wide variety of super-premium ice cream, yogurt and sorbet using high-quality ingredients. Ben & Jerry's incorporates its vision of Linked Prosperity into its business practices in a number of ways including a focus on values-led sourcing. In 2015 the company completed its transition to using entirely non-GMO (genetically modified organisms) ingredients by source as well as to fully source Fairtrade-certified ingredients wherever possible, which benefits farmers in developing countries. Ben & Jerry's products are distributed in 35 countries in supermarkets, grocery stores, convenience stores, franchise Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shops, restaurants and other venues. Ben & Jerry's, a Vermont corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Unilever, operates its business on a three-part Mission Statement emphasizing product quality, economic reward and a commitment to the community. Ben & Jerry's became a certified B Corp in 2012. The Ben & Jerry's Foundation's employee-led grant programs totaled $3MM in 2019 to support grassroots organizing for social and environmental justice around the country.

SOURCE Ben & Jerry's

Related Links

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A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
Virus fears stop Indian Sikhs visiting Pakistan site for festival The gurdwara at Kartarpur in Pakistan is so close to the frontier that its white dome and cupolas can be seen from across the border in India

Coronavirus fears meant a historic travel corridor created last year to let Indian Sikhs visit a holy shrine in northeast Pakistan remained closed Tuesday on one of the faith's most sacred days.

Hundreds of Pakistani Sikhs visited the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, a huge temple in Kartarpur marking the grave of Sikhism's founder Guru Nanak, to commemorate the 481st anniversary of his death.

This year would have been the first time Indian Sikhs could have crossed visa-free into Pakistan to mark the anniversary at the site, located just four kilometres (two miles) inside the country, after a special crossing was opened in November 2019.

The creation of the Kartarpur Corridor marked a rare example of cooperation between the nuclear-armed rivals, who have fought three wars since independence from Britain in 1947.

Worshippers sang holy hymns from Sikh scripture, prayed and bowed before the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book.

Some lamented the closing of the new crossing.

"This corridor is not only an opportunity of pilgrimage for our Indian cousins but also an opportunity to come and meet us, which otherwise is quite difficult", said 25-year-old science teacher Komal Mehra.

India, with about 89,000 coronavirus deaths, is the world's third-worst affected country after the United States and Brazil and has imposed a range of travel restrictions.

When Pakistan was carved out of colonial India at the end of British rule in 1947, Kartarpur ended up on the western side of the border, while most of the region's Sikhs remained on the other side.

The gurdwara at Kartarpur is so close to the India-Pakistan frontier that its magnificent white dome and four cupolas can be seen from across the border.

For up to 30 million Sikhs around the world, the shrine is one of their holiest sites.

zz/wat/rma
By PTI

MUMBAI: Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui's estranged wife Aaliya filed a complaint with suburban Versova police here on Wednesday accusing him of rape and cheating, an official said.

Aaliya submitted a written application to the police station in the afternoon, he said.

No First Information Report (FIR) has been registered yet and the police will first verify the complaint, he added.

The actor could not be contacted for comment.

Aaliya had recorded her statement at Budhana police station in Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh last week in another complaint she has filed against Nawazuddin and four members of his family.
Texas highest appellate court on Wednesday resentenced a death row inmate to life in prison because of his intellectual disability.

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals commuted the death sentence of 50-year-old Gilmar Guevara, agreeing with a Harris County courts assessment that the disability made him ineligible for execution, records show.

This is indeed a happy day, said Gretchen Sween, Guevaras attorney. I am hoping to be able to speak to Mr. Guevara via phone soon and get the word to his loved ones in both Houston and far-away rural El Salvador. Mr. Guevara is a man of sincere faith, so I know whom he will be thanking for the chance to embrace his grown children again one day soon after all of these years.

Sween and the Harris County District Attorneys Office agreed that an execution wasnt constitutional in Guevaras case, and struck an agreement in April to recommend a life sentence. State District Judge DaSean Jones agreed with both parties and issued the ultimate recommendation.

Psychiatric experts from both sides agreed that he is intellectually disabled and therefore not eligible for the death penalty; his crimes were horrible and he deserves to spend the rest of his life in prison, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said.

Guevara is the seventh person in Texas to have a death sentence commuted because of intellectual disability since 2017, when inmate Bobby Moores case first went to the U.S. Supreme Court and questioned the way courts determine mental ability, according to the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty.

Executing intellectually disabled defendants has been illegal since a 2002 U.S. Supreme Court decision, but attorneys disagreed over how to interpret the law.

That largely changed in 2019. Moore won his case after 39 years on Texas death row, helping define what constitutes an intellectual disability, and possibly putting the wheels in motion for commutations in local district attorneys offices. Moore was resentenced to life in prison and granted parole in June.

Executive Director Kristin Houle said she feels its notable that local prosecutors backed many of the latest efforts to overturn death sentences involving defendants with intellectual disabilities.

These cases overall reflect the changing death penalty landscape in Texas, she said. This reflects the tremendous turnover weve had with district attorneys in recent years, especially in jurisdictions that have used the death penalty most often.

Guevara will be reprocessed and transferred to another unit in the coming days after spending 19 years awaiting execution for fatally shooting two store clerks during a botched robbery in 2000, according to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. The Texas Tribune first reported his commutation.

He remains convicted in the capital murder of Tae Youk, 48, of South Korea, and Gerardo Yaxon, 21, of Guatemala, at the Town Market in southwest Houston. He confessed to the slayings, but his attorneys argued for years that he had ineffective assistance of counsel at his 2001 trial.

They also contended that his defense at the time didnt present any evidence about his intellectual abilities. Two neuropsychologists since then affirmed his cognitive impairment.

Guevaras problems have been traced to before his birth in El Salvador, his current attorney said in court records. His mother had measles while pregnant, and she drank water and ate fish from a river contaminated with toxins.

The defendant was continually exposed to environmental, emotional and physical trauma throughout his developmental years, and he drank from the river until his teens. He hit his head around age 8, and was exposed to numerous horrific deaths during the civil war in El Salvador.

He didnt begin talking or walking until age 4 and didnt complete the fourth grade, according to the records. And as an adult, Guevara often struggled speaking and had trouble with basic problem solving.

samantha.ketterer@chron.com
Chittoor: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy participates in the Brahmotsavams where he presented silk raiment to the presiding deity of Lord Venkateshwara Swamy, at the Tirupati temple in Tirupati of Chittoor district on Sep 23, 20 Image Source: IANS News

Chittoor: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy participates in the Brahmotsavams where he presented silk raiment to the presiding deity of Lord Venkateshwara Swamy, at the Tirupati temple in Tirupati of Chittoor district on Sep 23, 20 Image Source: IANS News

Amaravati, Sep 23 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy participated in the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Brahmostavams and presented the ceremonial silken raiments to Lord Venkateshwara Swamy on Wednesday.

"Reddy presented ceremonial silken raiments to the deity in Tirumala on behalf of the state government," said an official.

Earlier, the temple priests prepared the chief minister for the commemorative occasion by adorning him in the ceremonial attire and tied a green and gold head gear.

Sporting a shimmering white shirt and lungi, Reddy presented the raiments to the deity in the presence of TTD Chairman Y. V. Subba Reddy and a host of other ministers, officials and dignitaries.

The Chief Minister has also unveiled 2021 TTD diaries and calendars.

TTD printed 15 lakh calendars, 10 lakh diaries and 75,000 table top calendars and others.

Meanwhile, it is not clear if Reddy signed the faith declaration that has been mandatory for non-Hindus at Tirumala.

Reddy's visit and presentation of raiments assumes significance at a time when opposition BJP and TDP parties are accusing him that he is not signing the faith declaration at the temple.

Tirumala Tirupati Devastanams (TTD) chairman Y. V. Subba Reddy said there is no need for Reddy to sign the declaration.

Earlier, the CM's father and former chief minister Late Y. S. Rajasekhar Reddy had also presented silken raiments to the deity, when in office.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister B. S. Yeddiyurappa landed at the Renigunta airport at 8:50 p.m. Yeddiyurappa has arrived in Tirupati to lay the foundation for Karnataka state charities inn in the temple town.
New Delhi:

The 68th Republic Day Parade on Thursday saw the smartly attired soldiers of the Mechanised Infantry regiment march down the Rajpath. The marching contingents of army included horse-mounted columns of the 61st Cavalry, the Mechanised Infantry Regiment, the Bihar Regiment, the 39 Gorkha Training Centre, 58 Gorkha Training Centre, the Madras Engineering Group and Centre and 103 Infantry Battalion (Territorial Army) Sikh Light Infantry.

The Mechanised Infantry Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army which specialises in mechanised warfare. The battalions of the regiment form integral part of the armoured formation in the Indian army.

So here is all you need to know about Indian Army's Mechanised Infantry regiment

Mechanised Infantry

Raised 1979

Role Line Infantry

Regimental Centre Ahmednagar, Maharashtra

Motto Valour & Faith

War Cry Bolo Bharat Mata Ki Jai (Victory to Mother India)

Regimental Insignia A rifle bayonet mounted on a BMP-1, depicting the infantry and mechanised facets of the Regiment

History of the Regiment:

The regiment was raised as a result of a strong need felt by the Indian Army for greater mobility for infantry regiments after the 1965 Indo-Pak War.

General K Sundarji is credited to have envisaged the requirement of having mechanised regiments which could be better equipped to deal with the modern combat doctrine of mechanised warfare.

Initially, some of the older infantry battalions of various regiments were equipped with the BMP-1 armoured personnel carriers. The need for something more concrete and viable was felt along with a need to develop a common philosophy with regards to the type of military doctrine.

This resulted in the raising a totally new arm in the Indian Army, resulting in the various mechanised battalions being brought together under a single cap badge as the Mechanised Infantry Regiment in 1979

Operations:

The Mechanised Infantry Regiment has the distinction of participating in Operation Pawan in Sri Lanka, Operation Rakshak in Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir and Operation Vijay in Jammu & Kashmir.

UN Peacekeeping Missions:

It has also contributed to the UN Peacekeeping Operations in Somalia, Congo, Angola and Sierra Leone. The Regiment has its affiliation to INS Gharial, of the Indian Navy. Gen Sundarji was appointed the first Colonel of the Mechanized Infantry Regiment, the post he held till his retirement.

Battalions of the Mechanised Infantry Regiment

1st Battalion (former 1st Bn, The Madras Regiment)

2nd Battalion (former 1st Bn, Jat Light Infantry)

3rd Battalion (former 1st Bn, 8 Gorkha Rifles)

4th Battalion (former 1st Bn, Sikh Regiment)

5th Battalion (former 14th Bn, Kumaon Regiment)

6th Battalion (former 1st Bn, Garhwal Rifles)

7th Battalion (former 1st Bn, Dogra Regiment8th Battalion (former 7th Bn, Punjab Regiment)

9th Battalion (former 7th Bn, The Grenadiers)

10th Battalion (former 20th Bn, Maratha Light Infantry)

11th Battalion (former 18th Bn, Rajputana Rifles)

12th Battalion (former 8th Battalion, Parachute Regiment, previously 16th Bn, Mahar Regiment)

13th Battalion (former 18th Bn, Rajput Regiment)

14th Battalion (former 16th Bn, Jammu & Kashmir Rifles)

15th Battalion

16th Battalion

17th Battalion

18th Battalion

19th Battalion

20th Battalion

21st Battalion

22nd Battalion

23rd Battalion

24th Battalion (former 20th Bn, Rajput Regiment)

25th Battalion

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
By Ko Hirano, KYODO NEWS - Sep 22, 2020 - 11:30 | World, All, Japan

Some academics in Southeast Asia and the Pacific are hoping that Japan's new prime minister, Yoshihide Suga, will play a leadership role in Indo-Pacific affairs -- just as his predecessor Shinzo Abe did -- especially at a time when the United States and China are engaged in a "new cold war."

They suggest that Suga's government maintain the economic and maritime cooperation central to regional affairs, rather than primarily focusing on security, so as not to exacerbate U.S.-China tensions heightened over situations in the South China Sea, Hong Kong and most recently in Taiwan.

"The region has benefited from a Japan under Mr. Abe that was more proactive and consistent and a trusted partner. Mr. Suga represents continuity and this is reassuring," said Simon Tay, chairman of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs.

Tay was referring to Suga's affirmation during his first phone talks Sunday with U.S. President Donald Trump to advance the two countries' shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific in partnership with Australia, India, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and other countries in the region.

"With the COVID-19 pandemic and Sino-American rivalry emerging, many will appreciate Japan's contributions as part of a wider collective leadership for the region," he said, in reference to the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

The scholars expect Japan to take the lead in influencing China's conduct in line with international law and norms, but recommend that despite the rapid development of missile technology by China and North Korea, Suga not seek to acquire a strike capability against missile sites in other countries or back a NATO-like military alliance in the Indo-Pacific.

Citing concerns that such measures -- even for the purpose of boosting deterrence -- may drag Japan into a regional arms race, Kavi Chongkittavorn, senior fellow for security and international studies at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, said, "ASEAN would like to see Japan as a normal country that is not militarily aggressive."

Calls by some members of Suga's Liberal Democratic Party for Japan to acquire the strike capability as part of its missile defense system "would not augur well in the region which went through the country's militarism during and before World War II," he said.

Tay and Kavi voiced skepticism over a recent call by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun to consider creating a formal alliance akin to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization involving the United States, Japan, Australia and India -- four major Indo-Pacific democracies collectively known as the Quad -- and other partners in a veiled counter to an increasingly assertive China.

"The Trump administration has been bellicose and I hope others in Asia will be firm but not provocative. Firmness will use diplomatic and multilateral methods rather than military," Tay said. "Japan may accept an Indo-Pacific version of NATO, but few others in Asia will."

Kavi said the NATO-like arrangement could strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance, but argued, "Building an anti-China military block in the region is a pipe-dream as it ignores the regional desire to keep in check the U.S.-China strategic competition."

"Such an initiative would further heighten the tension and jeopardize efforts for the much needed economic recovery in the post COVID-19 world," he said.

Underscoring such views, Shiro Armstrong, director of the Australia-Japan Research Center at the Australian National University, suggested Japan continue to put economic cooperation at the center of its regional diplomacy.

Tokyo, for example, could step up the supply of anti-coronavirus face masks and medical equipment, bolster regional supply chains disrupted by the pandemic and promote infrastructure development in developing economies -- measures that could be carried out in coordination with Washington, Beijing and other donors.

"Getting the balance right will be key as strengthening security ties without deeper economic cooperation will exacerbate the negative trend in the region towards enmity instead of creating space for China and the United States to cooperate," Armstrong said.

Armstrong also said that if former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden beats Trump in the Nov. 3 presidential election, Japan, Australia, the 10-member ASEAN and other countries should encourage a Biden administration to cooperate with China in addressing the warming of the Earth.

"Prime Minister Suga will need to work with other countries in Asia to engage the United States in the Indo-Pacific on a constructive agenda. Climate change will be a major agenda item for a Biden presidency," he said.

Once describing global warming as a "hoax" invented by China, Trump, the Republican leader, has effectively pulled the United States out of the Paris Agreement, a 2015 U.N. accord to fight climate change.

Similarly, Kavi said that if the Democrats recapture the White House, "Japan will have a bigger space to initiate its own policies which would be more fitting to the region."

"Mr. Biden will make the U.S. a normal country that can be expected to act certain ways as a superpower, not the kind of unpredictable leadership style of Mr. Trump," he said.

Related coverage:

PM Suga, Trump vow to boost Japan-U.S. security alliance

FOCUS: China expects Japan's next PM to be conciliatory amid U.S. tensions

FOCUS: Japan policy on strike capability could raise tensions in East Asia
(Photo : Bidgee/Wiki Commons) NBN Co fibre optic cable being laid along Tarcutta Street in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales for the National Broadband Network. (Photo : Michael Coghlan /Wiki Commons) A National Broadband Network fibre optic node on a nature strip in Adelaide, showing barrier and installation accessories.

The National Broadband Network's (NBN's) $3.5 billion upgrade will allow six million Australian homes get access to ultra-fast broadband by 2023.

The upgrade would include expansion of the Fibre To The Node (FTTN) system by constructing local fiber networks along street fronts, which would let people to connect their homes directly to the network.

The federal government's current mandatory minimum is 25 Megabits per second, but the upgrade will boost the internet speeds up to 1 Gigabit per second.

"Very importantly, it will be based on the principle of demand," said Communications Minister Paul Fletcher adding that the fiber will only be rolled out on streets and locations where there is a customer order.

The plan will also create about 25,000 jobs in the next two years in the communication industry as well as in engineering, construction, project management, and transportation.

Aside from the local fiber network, the federal government will also have upgrades to 2.5 million premises on the Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) network that will support faster speeds. Also, the Fibre To The Curb (FTTC) network will be upgraded to ensure speeds of 100 Megabits per second are consistently sustained while it will also resolve in-home cabling concerns for households on the FTTN network.

Fletcher said the right time for the network upgrade is now as there is a long-term trend of broadband demand growth, which was highlighted as the world struggles amid COVID-19 pandemic, which altered people's internet usage. Currently, internet demand surged by 80% as more people are forced to work from home, which eventually strained the network performances and slowed internet speeds in some cities.

Thus, it is the best time for NBN Co to invest in Australia's broadband infrastructure to ensure the growing demand for faster speeds is met.

Fletcher said that "the volume rollout is largely complete" in 2020 that would allow up to 11.8 million or 99% of premises around Australia to connect on fast broadband network. Currently, about 7.5 million premises are connected while about 30,000 more are connecting every week.

Meanwhile, Shadow Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said the government has opposed the world class fibre-based broadband and delayed the upgrade for 10 years.





If only they had a Communications Minister telling them so back in 2013. After years of rubbishing Labors plan for the NBN, and wasting billions of taxpayer dollars, the Liberals have finally admitted that fibre to the home is what we needed all along.If only they had a Communications Minister telling them so back in 2013. pic.twitter.com/w4NH9eDAqQ  Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) September 23, 2020

"And all of a sudden it's having this epiphany that somehow this is visionary, it's going to be a driver of jobs," Rowland said.

NBN finances upgrades through private loans

The upgrades are part of NBN's $4.5 billion investment, which was raised through the help of private sector market borrowings, "so it doesn't hit the budget bottom line." Instead of just offering optical fibre cables to businesses and households as promised by the labor government in 2009, fixed wireless, optical fibre, copper wires, HFC, and even satellite networks will be combined to boost the internet speeds across the country.

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann said the government-owned telco would also refinance its existing $19.5 billion loan from the Commonwealth Government in June 30, 2024.

Earlier this week, the federal government announced that it would be invest up to $700 million to make it business-grade fibre services accessible and affordable to greater number of people.

Similarly, regional broadband services will also be enhances through $300 million of partnership between NBN Co and state governments and councils.

Read also: Google Incorrectly Defines Some Apps as Stalkerware; Company Corrects It, Saying the Apps Only Allows Child Monitoring

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Written by CJ Robles

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
DGAP Voting Rights Announcement: Epigenomics AG

Epigenomics AG: Release according to Article 40, Section 1 of the WpHG [the German Securities Trading Act] with the objective of Europe-wide distribution



23.09.2020 / 08:36

Dissemination of a Voting Rights Announcement transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



Epigenomics AG

Geneststrae 5

10829 Berlin

Deutschland



Notification pursuant to Sec. 43 of the German Securities Trading Act



22nd September 2020



Dear Sirs,



Referring to the voting rights notification dated 16/09/2020 notifying that Morgan Stanley, Wilmington, Delaware, USA, has exceeded the threshold of 10% of the voting rights in Epigenomics AG, we hereby make the following notification pursuant to Sec. 43 of the German Securities Trading Act (Wertpapierhandelsgesetz):



1. The acquisition of voting rights resulting in Morgan Stanley exceeding the notification threshold of 10% of the voting rights in Epigenomics AG did not serve the purpose of strategic goals; rather it was made in the context of client facilitation.



2. Morgan Stanley may in the next 12 months acquire further voting rights in Epigenomics AG, in particular in the context of client facilitation.



3. Morgan Stanley does not intend to influence the composition of the management board, supervisory board or any other administrative body of Epigenomics AG.



4. Morgan Stanley does not intend to cause a significant change in the capital structure of Epigenomics AG, in particular not of the ratio between equity and debt financing and the dividend policy.



5. The acquisition of voting rights resulting in Morgan Stanley exceeding the notification threshold of 10% of the voting rights in Epigenomics AG resulted from and/or was made in the context of client facilitation. The acquisition was financed by a combination of external and Morgan Stanley own funds.

23.09.2020 The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.dgap.de


After 20 years without a direct ferry link between Greece and Cyprus, the two countries are set to be reconnected by sea in May 2021

The islands shipping deputy minister, Vassilios Demetriades, has secured permission from the European Commission to provide state aid to revive a service scuppered by budget airlines. Ferry firms have been invited to tender for the route.

The ferry is expected to connect either Larnaca or Limassol in Cyprus with the main Greek port of Piraeus, a suburb of Athens. From Limassol, it would take around 16 hours. The voyage from Larnaca would be two hours longer, compared with 100 minutes for flight from Athens.

An annual subsidy of up to 6m (5.6m) is expected to be paid by the Cypriot government, specifically for passengers rather than freight.

One-way fares are expected to be around 50 (46) in deck class, or 80 (74) including a berth in a cabin  though additional port fees could add 25 (23) to these figures. Cars will be carried at around 75 (69).

Typical one-way air fares, booked two weeks in advance, are around 30 on Wizz Air and 60 on Olympic.

Unlike the multiple daily flights on these airlines, the vessel will sail only once a week in summer and every two weeks through the winter.

The most direct course passes Rhodes Town and it is thought a stop could be made there  adding around two hours to the journey but increasing connection opportunities to the Dodecanese islands and Greece.

The European Commissions competition authorities have concluded that the link will be a general economic interest service and can therefore receive state aid.

Through the 20th century, ferries provided the main links between the two countries. But the shipping companies could not compete against budget airlines and the last ferry sailed between Cyprus and Greece in 2000.

 Climate crisis will dwarf impact of Coronavirus Prince Charles warns

There is a long-established ferry link between Turkey and the self-styled Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, an entity created in 1974 after Turkish forces invaded the island; it is not recognised internationally.

Nicky Gardner, co-editor of Hidden Europe, said: This proposed new link from mainland Greece to Cyprus has been a long time in the making.

I do just wonder if sorting out Cyprus' knotty internal politics might reap rewards in a fine network of ferry routes which promote wider connectivity throughout the eastern Mediterreanean.

Some other ferries subsidised by national governments or the European Union have foundered in recent years  including the link from Rosyth in Scotland to Zeebrugge in Belgium, and across the Bay of Biscay from St-Nazaire in western France to Gijon in northern Spain.
The number of people who are catching Covid-19 and have no idea where they picked it up is rising - increasing the chances of more lockdowns.

There were 334 new cases of the virus reported yesterday and 55 of these could not account for where they caught it, meaning Covid-19 is increasingly hidden and difficult to control.

There were no new deaths from the virus but the numbers admitted to hospital and intensive care are steadily climbing.

However, a new divide has emerged between counties which are on the danger list for possible restrictions and those which so far can breathe easy and allow life to continue in Covid-19's new normal.

Dublin remains the worst hit with 174 new cases reported yesterday in the capital and county.

Read More

Although 30 of the cases were in Cork the main concern is around Kildare where another 30 people tested positive and Donegal which had 18 more cases of Covid-19.

There were also another 10 cases in Louth, one of the counties on the watchlist for possible restrictions.

Acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn yesterday directed a special plea to younger people.

He said that "despite accounting for just a quarter of the population, people aged 15-34 years account for 40pc 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 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 two metres' physical distance, wear a face covering, wash your hands well and often. Together, every safe behaviour counts."

Yesterday's figures show 72pc of cases were in people aged under 45 but that means significant numbers of infected were also in older age groups who are susceptible to the virus.

There were 10 new cases in Galway, six in Clare, six in Mayo, six in Meath, six in Roscommon, six in Waterford, five in Limerick, with the remaining 23 were spread across 11 counties.

HSE chief Paul Reid expressed concern at the rise in hospital admissions among patients with Covid-19.

There are now around 10 people a day being admitted to hospital with the virus.

Two of the recent deaths from the virus were among patients in intensive care and another two in general hospital wards.

Other deaths occurred in the community.

The numbers of Covid-19 patients in hospital remain manageable.

However, there were 94 in a hospital ward yesterday, the highest since early June.

There were 90 the day before. Of these, 16 patients are receiving treatment in intensive care units, down one from the previous day.

The National Public Health Emergency Team will meet tomorrow to review the current trends and it is expected to issue new recommendations.
REYKJAVIK and SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Controlant, the leading provider of real-time temperature monitoring and visibility solutions and services for digitally connected supply chains, is proud to announce that Business Development Director Ada Palmadottir, MPharm, MBA, has received the first-ever Supply & Demand Chain Executive Women in Supply Chain award.

This award is distributed by Supply & Demand Chain Executive, the only magazine in the supply chain industry covering the entire global supply chain that focuses on ROI, professional development, and change management. The publication celebrates its 20 year anniversary with the introduction of a new award designed specifically for women leaders in the supply chain industry. The Women in Supply Chain award honors female supply chain leaders and executives whose accomplishments, mentorship, and examples set a foundation for women in all levels of a company's supply chain network.

"We received over 200 entries for this new award, entries that were submitted from a combination of men and women. This proves that our industry needed an award like this, especially in conjunction with Supply & Demand Chain Executive's 20-year anniversary," says Marina Mayer, editor-in-chief of Supply & Demand Chain Executive and Food Logistics. "According to Gartner's 2020 Women in Supply Chain Survey, 17% of chief supply chain officers are now women  a 6% increase compared to 2019. This award resembles females supporting other female leaders; men supporting their female counterparts. It resembles the future. It represents growth, evolution, and community."

"It is a pleasure to receive this award from Supply & Demand Chain Executive," said Palmadottir. "The supply chain is changing, and all organizations need to empower women to take on leadership roles. Currently, women only represent around 38 percent of employees in the supply chain. However, women can bring unique perspectives to leadership teams, including more collaboration, self-awareness, and empathy within organizations. The women who achieve supply chain leadership roles want to make a difference by improving efficiencies, growing the bottom-line, and building sustainability efforts."

View Supply & Demand Chain Executive's website at www.sdcexec.com for the full list of all of the 2020 Women in Supply Chain winners. The 2020 Women in Supply Chain award will appear in SDCE's September issue.

About Controlant

Controlant's mission is to ensure consumer safety and decrease waste by digitally connecting the global supply chain. The pay-per-shipment, Controlant Cold Chain as a Service (ChaaS) solution provides a single source of truth, consisting of reusable Internet of Things (IoT) data loggers that send mission-critical data and insights in real-time to a cloud-enabled software platform, and cost-reducing operational services. Controlant customers leverage the improved visibility to connect stakeholders, ensure product safety and quality, improve efficiency, and increase revenues.

About Supply & Demand Chain Executive

Supply & Demand Chain Executive is the executive's user manual for successful supply and demand chain transformation, utilizing hard-hitting analysis, viewpoints and unbiased case studies to steer executives and supply management professionals through the complicated, yet critical, world of supply and demand chain enablement to gain competitive advantage. Go to www.SDCExec.com.

Media Contact

Jessie VanderVeen

VP Marketing & Communication

[email protected]

+354 690 5192

SOURCE Controlant

Related Links

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Americas biggest tech companies are in the crosshairs of big government, running a gauntlet of antitrust hearings in which lawmakers criticize their size and success  and the content they allow users to share online. Like all conservatives, I see the bias of Big Tech and want to do something to make it better. But the progressive solutions to the problem being embraced by some conservatives will, like all progressive solutions, give more power to the government and regulate conservatives communication with a broad spectrum of American voters.

Antitrust investigations of tech companies are being driven by actors on both sides of our political divide. Conservatives want to punish the companies for their executives liberal politics and for the way social-media sites moderate conservative content more strictly than progressive posts. You would think Democrats would be rallying around Big Tech for that reason, but they arent. Progressives want to stifle conservative speech on social-media platforms just as theyve attempted to do on college campuses. They blame Big Tech for allowing President Trump to bypass mainstream-media gatekeepers and speak directly to voters, and thus for helping him get elected. Progressives are determined to crack down on social-media platforms and, out of anger, some conservatives are helping them.

The weapon being proposed to do that is a change to our antitrust laws. For decades, our antitrust system has been based on the consumer-welfare standard, which objectively measures whether consumers are benefiting from a companys products and services, even if that company has a large market share. Its obvious that Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google are phenomenal at pleasing consumers; they give us a wider selection of goods, free shipping, innovative devices, and free access to amazingly powerful search, video, and social-media technologies.

Since they cant deny that consumers benefit from the biggest tech companies, congressional Democrats have sought to replace the consumer-welfare standard with a new set of subjective, progressive criteria, under which tech giants would be judged on whether theyre hurting workers, acting fairly, or presenting a danger to democracy. Senator Orrin Hatch famously tagged this the hipster antitrust movement back in 2018, but really, it would be more accurate to call it the gangster-antitrust movement. And yet, over the last two years, more and more folks on the right have embraced it.

Story continues

Why? Republicans have become convinced that Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube are not acting fairly in how they moderate conservative posts versus progressive ones. I share this concern. I get that social-media sites are private businesses, and I want them to support free expression, subject to responsible community standards that are applied equally. But that isnt happening. I hear too many examples of conservative posts that are taken down for language and images no more harsh or misleading than what we see from progressive activists. These companies see conservative values at best as foreign, and at worst as malicious and dangerous, to their progressive ecosystem.

That said, the answer for conservatives should not be to give the government more power to regulate speech. We must stand by our founding constitutional principles and use market-based tactics to secure equal treatment on social media. That means standing for enforcement of laws that are based on objective standards, rather than arbitrary political considerations. Democrats have long aspired to reshape American antitrust law to serve progressive ends and destroy Reagans economic legacy. Republicans should not help them.

As frustrated as we all are about progressive bias in Big Tech, these platforms are still the most effective tool weve ever had to directly connect with swing voters and independents across the country. While we chafe at the moderation of some conservative posts, we have a far bigger voice on social media than we ever had in mainstream media. And while liberals complain about conservative news and views online, the most popular posts on Facebook are from conservative thinkers and outlets. Dennis Pragers videos, which YouTube hosts for free, have over a billion views; the same cannot be said of the front page of the New York Times or MSNBCs Morning Joe.

Using antitrust laws to break up social media would end the surge of conservative content online, returning control of the news cycle to the mainstream media. If that happened, the reelection of Donald Trump  or the election of a future conservative president  would be unimaginable.

Republicans should see Democrats attempts to tear up the tech industry for what they are: a politics of envy, superpowered by a political desire to punish new forms of media that host conservative news and views. We cannot give a future Democratic administration the power to have its way with Americas economy while progressives provide cover by controlling the media narrative.

Instead, Republicans who want to genuinely investigate tech companies on antitrust grounds should pursue those investigations under the existing consumer-welfare standard, wholly apart from Democrats attempts to stifle our electoral prospects. We must stand fast against expanding governments power and stand tall to preserve conservative values and our freedoms.

More from National Review
Inside, the entrance to the courtroom, along with Ginsburgs chair and place on the bench next to Roberts, have been draped in black, a longstanding court custom. These visual signs of mourning, which in years past have reinforced the sense of loss, will largely go unseen this year. The court begins its new term Oct. 5, but the justices will not be in the courtroom and instead will hear arguments by phone.
Bed banks are specialized B2B platforms that contract supply from hotels and accommodations providers and make it available to travel sellers that aggregate travel demand from a variety of sources (smaller OTAs, traditional travel agents, airlines, or tour operators.)

Bed banks have been active players in hotel distribution for over 20 years now. They are not a new business model, but a simple online technology version of the traditional wholesalers of hotel accommodations that have existed for decades before that.

Some argue that the era of bed banks is getting to a close due to shrinkage of the brick-and-mortar distribution marketplace due to consumers shifting to online travel planning and booking (U.S. 30,000 travel agencies 20 years ago vs less than 7,500 today); unstoppable increase of branded vs independent hotels worldwide (major hotel chains do not like and have less need for bed banks). Add to that the increased market power of the OTAs, fueled by the ongoing pandemic and the adoption of online shopping and service consumption even by late adopters.

The question is: what does the future hold for the bed banks sector?
Photo credit: Eikund

From ELLE Decoration

It was a year-long treasure hunt, says Eikund CEO Jrgen Tengesdal, on the furniture companys enterprising beginnings in 2015.

When a conversation between Tengesdal and co-founders Morten Hippe and Frode Tingb raised the question, Why arent heritage Norwegian pieces as renowned as Danish classics?, they decided to create Eikund to help set it right.

We wanted to put our mid-century designs under the spotlight, Tengesdal explains. Most people didnt know that there were any Norwegian designs from that era on the same level as the Danish icons.

Photo credit: ANNA STATHAKI

The trio delved into books and records from the 1950s, seeking out specific pieces (and discovering hidden gems along the way), before tracking down the designers children or grandchildren. Travelling all over Norway, they rifled through long-forgotten drawings in basements and attics of relatives who, in some cases, were unaware of their parents or grandparents design acumen. The families were incredibly positive about bringing these old designs to life, says Tengesdal. If we hadnt gone to meet them, the plans would probably have been thrown away or never found.

Photo credit: Eikund

With around 10 designers on its books, Eikund has a shapely collection of seating and tables, as well as decorative animals by renowned maker Arne Tjomsland. While all of the designers are now deceased, the brand did work with industrial furniture designer Sven Ivar Dysthe on his Era dining chair before he passed away in March, aged 88. Having been told in 1956 that a stackable chair was too modern, he was enthusiastically involved in its revival and was delighted to see the piece finally in production.

Photo credit: Eikund

Today, the furniture is made on the countrys western coast using sustainable oak (eik is Norwegian for oak) and walnut, rather than the less eco-friendly mid-century timbers of choice, teak and palisander. Highlights of the collection include Fredrik A Kaysers 1955 Krysset chair, with its striking cross-shaped legs, and the whimsical Fluffy chair from 1954, also by Kayser, a statement in shaggy wool from wild Norwegian sheep.

Story continues

The brand now has rights to around 50 archive designs and is currently working alongside Studioilse on Pantechnicon, the newly opened Nordic-Japanese fusion shopping and dining destination in London, as well as on projects in the US, Europe and Australia. Thanks to Eikund, Norways timeless pieces are at last getting the global recognition they deserve. Available in the UK at Aram Store.

eikund.com

This article first appeared in ELLE Decoration September 2020



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Johnson & Johnson has begun dosing up to 60,000 volunteers in a study of its COVID-19 vaccine, marking the first big U.S. trial of an inoculation that may work after just one shot.

J&J became the fourth vaccine maker to move its candidate into late-stage human studies in the U.S. If enrollment goes as expected, the trial could yield results as soon as the end of the year, allowing the company to seek emergency authorization early next year, should it prove effective, according to Chief Scientific Officer Paul Stoffels.

A single dose could be a very efficient tool to combat the pandemic as it is faster acting, he said Wednesday in an interview. Animal models and early human studies showed that one shot of its vaccine generated a strong immune response in just 15 days, he said.

The final-stage study will pit the vaccine against a placebo injection, with a goal of showing whether it reduces cases of moderate to severe COVID-19, the most important part of the disease to prevent, Stoffels said. J&J is also looking at whether the shot curbs the viruss spread.

The companys shares rose as much as 2.3% in New York.

The New Brunswick, New Jersey-based company published detailed trial plans on Wednesday. Front-runners Pfizer Inc., Moderna Inc. and AstraZeneca Plc have already done the same in a broader transparency push.

It is likely that multiple COVID-19 vaccine regimens will be required to meet the global need, said Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, in a statement. J&Js vaccine may be especially useful in controlling the pandemic if shown to be protective after a single dose.

The study is nearly two months behind those of Moderna, working with NIAID, and Pfizer, partnered with BioNTech SE, whose final-stage trials started in late July. Pfizer has said it could get efficacy results by the end of October. Those vaccines use two-dose regimens.

J&Js vaccine could offer an advantage in distribution over those inoculations, which require vaccination sites to ensure recipients return for their second dose. The company also said its vaccine can be stored at refrigerator temperatures for three months, far longer than the Pfizer vaccine that requires deep freezing for long-term storage.

In countries where there is less health care infrastructure, it can be much better used at a very large scale, Stoffels told Bloomberg. Single dose, easy to use in the field are the main characteristics that make it different.

The J&J product is made from a cold virus, called an adenovirus, thats modified to make copies of the coronaviruss spike protein, which the pathogen uses to enter cells. The altered virus cant replicate in humans, but it induces an immune response that prepares the body for an actual COVID-19 infection. The vaccine was developed with researchers at Harvard University who have spent years working on the adenovirus vaccine platform, which is also used in J&Js Ebola vaccine.

The health care behemoth is running the study in conjunction with NIAID and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority at sites in the U.S., Brazil, Mexico, South Africa and other countries. It will include significant representation among those over the age of 60, as well as minorities at disproportionate risk of becoming infected, including Black, Hispanic, American Indian and Alaskan Native peoples, according to a statement.

J&J has also agreed to collaborate with the U.K. on a separate phase 3 clinical trial that will test a two-dose regimen of the vaccine in multiple countries, with two months between each dose, according to Stoffels. That booster could be critical to providing long-term protection, he said.

The decision to begin the final-stage trial was based on data from an earlier human study that showed a single shot was safe and stimulated a strong immune response, Stoffels said.

Like other final-stage vaccine trials, J&Js study is monitored by an independent board of doctors and statisticians who wait for a certain number of coronavirus cases to accumulate before looking at the data.

The trial aims to accumulate 154 cases for a final analysis. If the vaccine turns out to be more than 90% effective, the study could produce results after just 20 cases, Stoffels said. He said that scenario is unlikely, though.

J&Js trial appears to have stringent criteria for declaring early success that prevent a readout based on very short-term results in patients with relatively moderate symptoms. Based on discussions with U.S. regulators, the data wont undergo its first analysis until at least half of participants have been vaccinated for two months or more.

The study will also have to accrue at least 5 severe cases for an early readout. And to be considered a success, the absolute number of severe cases needs to be half of that in the placebo group, along with other benchmarks, according to documents posted on J&Js website.

Still, the study will take less time to complete than it would with two doses. Scientists will start counting cases just 15 days after patients get their inoculations or placebo shots.

Despite accelerated timelines, Operation Warp Speed wont cut corners in confirming vaccine safety or efficacy, National Institutes of Health director Francis Collins said on the Tuesday media call. That absolutely will not be allowed to happen, he said.

Stoffels said J&J will continue to clinch new manufacturing partnerships to meet its 1 billion dose production goal for 2021. The company has already kick-started at-risk manufacturing in hopes the shot will prove successful in the clinic.



Robert Langreth and Riley Griffin of Bloomberg News wrote this story.

2020 Bloomberg News

Visit Bloomberg News at www.bloomberg.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Faraz Zaidi performs a western blot analysis to compare different versions of the coronavirus vaccine at the Wistar Institute in Philadelphia in February. Read more

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 Trumps repeated predictions of a coronavirus vaccine by Nov. 3, coupled with the administrations 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.

Its hard to imagine how an [emergency use authorization] could possibly occur before December, said Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia and a member of the FDAs advisory board on vaccines.

 READ MORE: Trump fixates on the promise of a coronavirus vaccine  real or not  as key to reelection bid

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 green light 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 wont 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.

 READ MORE: Will there be a coronavirus vaccine by Nov. 1?

Just last week, concerns about the FDAs 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 rule-making procedures, wont affect the FDAs 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 CDCs regular scientific missives, the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports, if they deviated from the presidents 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.

 READ MORE: The new Vaccine Wars mean the coronavirus casualties wont end | Trudy Rubin

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. AstraZenecas 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. Thats 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 FDAs 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?

 READ MORE: Vaccine CEOs issue safety pledge amid Trumps quest for pre-election approval

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, Azars chief of staff, said the idea the secretary would green light 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, Trumps first FDA commissioner.

The four of us feel this is the time for us to step forward, Califf said. We dont 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 dont get this right, well 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 Universitys 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.
996 NW Scenic Drive, Lake City, Fla. Since joining Engel & Volkers, I am more empowered to compete for and secure listings of this calibre. Engel & Volkers provides a superb collection of systems, tools, and materials that have made it more seamless than ever to strategically position listings such as this.

Engel & Volkers today announced Carrie Cason, License Partner of Engel & Volkers Gainesville has obtained the listing of 996 NW Scenic Lake Drive in Lake City. Listed at $1,250,000, the home is situated within a private, one-of-a-kind cove on Lake Jeffery.

I am really excited to represent this truly rare find, said Cason. We are experiencing a societal shift, where space is the new luxury. The original owner has kept the property in pristine condition, making it the perfect, move-in-ready fit for a family who is looking to escape the city and enjoy a more peaceful living.

Perched on seven acres of private land, the waterfront estate has two dwellings; the main house is nearly 4,400 square feet, offering four bedrooms and four bathrooms and the sizable guest house is 2,735 square feet. The first level of the main house offers an expansive living area with decorative wood flooring, wet bar, custom trim, and custom upgrades throughout the interior and exterior of the home. The open kitchen features a Sub-Zero refrigerator, Thermador cooktop, double oven, all-wood custom 42-inch cabinets, island and breakfast bar. Luscious landscaping surrounds the exterior of the home, featuring three-tier gazebo-style sitting areas, lake-fed waterfalls and a thick green lawn.

Priced $1,250,000, 996 NW Scenic Lake Drive is $1,050,300 above the average price of homes for sale in Lake City. The property is currently the second most expensive listing on the market in Lake City, only surpassed by 234 SW WIndsor Drive, listed at $1,289,000. Nearby 1241 SW Wendy Terrace is the third highest priced listing, offered at $1,100,000.

Since joining Engel & Volkers, I am more empowered to compete for and secure listings of this calibre, said Cason. Engel & Volkers provides a superb collection of systems, tools, and materials that have made it more seamless than ever to strategically position listings such as this. From cutting edge technology, unique digital marketing materials, sophisticated branding, and the companys renowned global and domestic network, the opportunities are truly endless when it comes to getting in front of prospective buyers.

Located in the north-central portion of Florida, Lake City is situated between Jacksonville to the east, Gainesville to the south and Tallahassee to the west. Lake City is known as the Gateway to Florida because of its adjacency to the intersection of Interstate 75 and Interstate 10. Although the area presents a small town charm, Lake City offers a great deal of growth potential with home values on the rise for the past several years. Lake City offers a variety of recreation options from, state parks, historic sites, annual festivals, and a number of art and cultural attractions. Notable residents of Lake City include professional athletes, musicians, politicians, models and historians.

###

Press contact:

Linzee Werkmeister, Director, Public Relations & Franchise Support

Email: Linzee.Werkmeister(at)evrealestate.com

Tel: (239) 348-9000

About Engel & Volkers:

Engel & Volkers is a global luxury real estate brand. Founded in Hamburg, Germany in 1977, Engel & Volkers draws on its rich European history to deliver a fresh approach to luxury real estate in the Americas with a focus on creating a bespoke, white-glove concierge client experience at every stage of the home buying or selling process for todays savvy homeowner. Engel & Volkers currently operates approximately 175 shop locations with more than 4,000 real estate advisors in the Americas, contributing to the brands global network of over 12,000 real estate professionals in more than 30 countries, offering both private and institutional clients a professionally tailored range of luxury services, including real estate, yachting and aviation. Committed to exceptional service, Engel & Volkers supports its advisors with an array of premium quality business services; marketing programs and platforms; as well as access to its global network of real estate professionals, property listings and market data. Each brokerage is independently owned and operated. For more information, visit evrealestate.com.

About Engel & Volkers Florida:

Engel & Volkers Florida is the Master License Partner of the global luxury real estate brand Engel & Volkers in the state of Florida. Recognized for uniquely recruiting, training and equipping some of the top professionals in the real estate industry, Engel & Volkers Floridas exclusive franchise model positions its license partners at the top of the premium market to gain market share and support their bottom line. The company represents franchise locations in: 30A Beaches, Belleair, Boca Raton, Bonita Springs-Estero, Cape Coral, Clermont, Delray Beach, Destin, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers Downtown, Gainesville, Islamorada, Jacksonville, Jacksonville Beach, Jupiter, Leesburg, Madeira Beach, Marco Island, Melbourne Beachside, Melbourne Central, Melbourne Downtown, Miami Coconut Grove, Olde Naples, Orlando Downtown, Orlando-Winter Park, Palm Beach, Palm Coast, St. Augustine, St. Pete, Stuart, Wellington, and Windermere.

Engel & Volkers Florida is continuing to strategically strengthen and expand its presence in premium real estate markets across the state of Florida. If you would like to know more about the Engel & Volkers brand or how to join its global network, which is known for demonstrating competence, exclusivity and passion, feel free to call our corporate office, located at 633 Tamiami Trl N, Suite 201, Naples, FL 34102 USA. Tel: +1 239-348-9000.

For more information about Engel & Volkers Florida, please visit florida.evrealestate.com
Bengaluru, Sep 23 : The Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha on Wednesday called for a statewide shutdown on September 28 in protest against the farm Bills passed in the Parliament.

"A total shutdown ('bandh') will be observed from dawn to dusk on Monday (September 28) across the state in protest against the anti-farmer Bills which the Centre has passed in the Parliament and the bills to amend the APMC Act and the Land Reforms Act by the state government here," Sanga president Kodihalli Chandrashekar told reporters here.

Hundreds of farmers from across the southern state have been staging rallies and sit-in demonstrations at the Freedom's Park in the city centre since Monday to draw the attention of the ruling BJP government as the Monsoon Session of the state legislature began to take up the amendment bills.

"About 30 organisations, including opposition parties, are extending support to our shutdown call, as the changes to the laws will threaten our livelihood," said Chandrashekar.

Though the farmers wanted to proceed to the Vidhana Soudha (state secretariat building) in the city centre where the legislative session is being held, the police prevented them from proceeding from the Freedom Park due to a ban order and heavy security in the city centre.

"We will continue the agitation till the Centre and state government withdraw their bills, which are anti-farmer and anti-people," reiterated Chandrashekar.

Opposition parties, including the Congress, Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S), and Left parties, trade unions, truck owners' associations and auto unions have declared their support to the shutdown call in solidarity with the farmers.

Alleging that amendments to both the acts would benefit more corporates and multinational firms, Chandrashekar said the state and Central governments were taking anti-agriculture and anti-farmer decisions unilaterally.

"The amendments will deprive the farmers from getting better prices for their produce," Chandrashekar claimed.

Defending the amendments, Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa had said earlier that the revised APMC Act would empower the farmers to sell their produce for the best price in the APMC yard or outside it.

"The amended APMC Act will lift restrictions on sale of farm produce and allow farmers to sell their crop in the APMC yard or in private markets where they can get the best price," Yediyurappa said.

Noting that the amended Act would benefit the farmers in improving their income and reduce losses due to market fluctuations, the Chief Minister said the new law would also protect them from volatile market trends.

"It will help farmers in doubling their income, as wished by the Prime Minister," Yediyurappa said.

The amendment will not dilute the powers or the work of APMCs, as all marketing activities will be monitored by the state APMC director.

Clarifying that his government was not removing the APMCs or the Act governing their activities, the Chief Minister said only two sections of the law were being amended to enable farmers sell their produce in markets where they get maximum remuneration.

"The new law will stop exploitation of farmers by market forces, middlemen and commission agents and prevent them from selling their produce in distress when prices fall. They can sell their produce to those who pay them the highest price," Yediyurappa pointed out.

The state cabinet on June 12 agreed to amend the Land Reforms Act to allow all citizens to purchase agricultural lands for farming or growing vegetables and fruits.
Regulatory News:

Shareholders' Meeting on Monday September 21, 2020

Total Gabon's (Paris:EC) Shareholders' Meeting was held today in Libreville, chaired by Mr. Nicolas TERRAZ.

Shareholders approved all resolutions recommended by the Board of Directors, including the approval of the payment of a net dividend of $44.44 per share which amounts to $199.98 million.

A detailed breakdown of the vote tallies will be posted on the Company's website www.total.ga in the coming days.

The Board of Directors in its meeting today approved the modalities of the dividend payment. The $44.44 per share dividend will be paid as from September 25, 2020 in an equivalent amount of 37.70 per share (or its equivalent in CFA Francs), based on the European Central Bank's rate of $1.1787 per on September 21, 2020. The coupon shall be clipped on September 23, 2020.

Payment will be made through the following entities:

In Gabon: Union Gabonaise de Banque (UGB)

In France: BNP Paribas Securities Services acting on behalf of other banks and any financial institution that manages an account.

Total Gabon is owned 58.28% by the Total group, 25% by the Gabonese Republic and 16.72% by private sector investors.

Societe anonyme incorporated in Gabon with a Board of Directors and share capital of $76,500,000

Headquarters: Boulevard Hourcq, Port-Gentil, BP 525, Gabonese Republic

www.total.ga

Registered in Port-Gentil: 2000 B 00011

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200923005756/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact: actionnariat-totalgabon@total.com
The Haryana Police on Wednesday used water cannons at several locations where the protests are being carried out against farm bills recently passed by Parliament.

Several Opposition parties along with farmers have taken to street across the country to protest against the two bills.

In Haryanas Ambala, the police used water cannon against Lok Insaaf Party workers, who were taking out a bike rally from Punjab to Delhi to protest against the farm reform bills. The police resorted to using water cannons after party workers tried to jump over barricades placed at Shambhu village on the inter-state border near Ambala, according to reports.

The police had warned the party workers to not cross the barricades and also denied them permission for movement of large group in the wake of restrictions placed across state over rising Covid-19 cases.

We want to raise our voice against the anti-farmer bills, LIP leader Simarjeet Singh Bains told reporters at the Shambhu border, as quoted by PTI.

Earlier on Wednesday, the police had stopped a tractor rally, which was being carried out by Haryana Youth Congress.

The Rajya Sabha on September 20 passed 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.

During the farm bills debate, the house witnessed a lot of ruckus and uproar as several Opposition parties raised strong objection.

On Tuesday, the Opposition boycotted Parliament over Centres refusal to accept its demand for withdrawal of farm bills. The Congress party has also called for a nationwide agitation on September 24.
In the profusion of dedicated days that punctuate the global calendar, World Maritime Day will be observed on September 24. This has a special resonance for a country like India which despite its vast natural oceanic potential, has often been described as tenaciously sea-blind by way of its policy priorities.

However, to the credit of the Modi government, the maritime sector received rare policy notice literally from day one. In the Presidents address to Parliament in June 2014, the government committed itself to setting up a National Maritime Authority (NMA). This body was envisioned to ensure cohesive policy-making and effective coordination among the state agencies dealing with coastal security and maritime matters.

At one time, more than 19 ministries and departments of the government had a locus in the management of the maritime domain. Given the prickly turf sensitivities in India, the need for a single body that could pull all the threads into a harmonious collective effort needs little reiteration.

Various proposals were mooted to create a professional maritime authority with an apex adviser/coordinator, but this remains a work in progress six years since NMA was first proposed. It is instructive to note that there is an element of continuity in the policy formulation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as a party and that of Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi. The 2014 election manifesto dwells on the pedigree of Indias ship-building in pre-colonial times. In his first three island visits in early 2015, Modi revealed a commendable grasp of the maritime domain and its relevance for India in the 21st century.

In his March 2015 speech at Port Louis, Mauritius, he invoked rich symbolism about India and the ocean when he dwelt on the many opportunities that the Blue Economy (related to the seas) represented and evocatively added: To me the blue chakra or wheel in Indias national flag represents the potential of Blue Revolution or the Ocean Economy. That is how central the ocean economy is to us. And with a trademark flourish, he introduced an appropriate acronym for this collective vision-cum-effort  SAGAR  the Sanskrit word for ocean. Modi outlined his inclusive regional vision as: We seek a future for the Indian Ocean that lives up to the name of SAGAR  Security and Growth for All in the Region.

India has played a significant role in being a modest but prompt security provider in the event of any crisis. This was demonstrated most effectively in December 2004 when a tsunami struck peninsular India and many parts of Southeast Asia and some islands. The Indian Navy was able to reach the most devastated nations to provide immediate succour and this added to Delhis credibility in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

In early September, a major oil spill off the Sri Lankan coast was averted when a very large crude carrier tanker caught fire and timely action by the Indian Navy and Coast Guard who assisted the Sri Lankan military ensured that the fire was doused and the 270,000-tonne tanker towed to safety. Had this fire not been successfully handled by the various units involved, the Indian Ocean would have been dealing with what could have well become a major oil pollution incident that would have ranked with the most serious oil spills globally.

The Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in a gracious tweet thanked the Indian Defence Forces for their efforts in controlling the fires. I greatly appreciate your contribution in conserving marine biodiversity by preventing a disastrous situation out in the ocean.

Earlier in mid-August, an oil spill from a stranded Japanese tanker off the coast of Mauritius saw India sending 30 tonnes of technical equipment and a team of coast guard specialists on board an Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft to help local authorities deal with what could have become a serious environmental crisis.

Security and growth both for India and the littorals of the Indian Ocean region can be enhanced in a visible manner with prudent and technologically-innovative long-term maritime policies. For this goal to be realised, India would have to invest in the oceans in a far more focused manner and here the health of the global oceans is critical.

Thus it is appropriate that the theme chosen by the United Nations for September 24 this year is sustainable shipping for a sustainable planet and preserving the holistic health of the Indian Ocean is of a very critical nature. Experts have warned that the amber lights are already flickering and that the global ocean is now polluted and contaminated beyond repair. Plastic waste is a major threat.

This is a grim diagnosis and will have life-threatening implications across Asia and Africa if, for instance, traditional rain patterns are drastically disturbed. Comprehending sagar in its vast and delicate multi-layered complexity is vital for India. Revisiting NMA of 2014 should be a policy imperative for the government.

C Uday Bhaskar is director, Society for Policy Studies, New Delhi

The views expressed are personal
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 23)  In his first appearance at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly after four years of being the Philippines' head of state, President Rodrigo Duterte assured the international body that the government remains committed in protecting the human rights of its citizens.

"The Philippines will continue to protect the human rights of its people, especially from the scourge of illegal drugs, criminality, and terrorism," Duterte said in his pre-recorded speech aired during the general debate of the 75th UNGA on Wednesday (Philippine time).

Duterte stressed some groups are weaponizing human rights to prey on most vulnerable sectors of society, such as using children as soldiers in conflicts and promoting anti-government propaganda in schools.

"They attempt to discredit the functioning institutions and mechanisms of a democratic country and a popularly elected government which in its last two years, still enjoy the same widespread approval and support," the President added.

Duterte encouraged the UN to engage in a constructive and open dialogue to promote productive international cooperation on human rights.

"But these must be done in full respect of the principles of objectivity, noninterference, non-selectivity and genuine dialogue," Duterte said.

The President emphasized the Philippines is firm on its commitment to fight terrorism and violent extremism by addressing its root causes. He also guaranteed the rebuilding of communities affected by terrorist activities.

"The Marawi siege, where foreign terrorist fighters took part, taught us that an effective legal framework is crucial. Our 2020 Anti-Terrorism Act shores up the legal framework by focusing on both terrorism and the usual reckless response to it," he cited.

Upon his assumption as president in 2016, Duterte repeatedly lashed out at UN for having a critical view of his government's centerpiece program, the war on drugs. He even threatened to leave UN because of the body's opposition to the reported extrajudicial killings in the country brought by the anti-illegal drug war called Oplan Tokhang.

Over the last few years, the UN Human Rights Council had repeatedly called for a probe on the country's bloody war against illegal drugs. The latest was the report filed by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, which found "serious human rights violations" in the anti-illegal drugs war.

Government data show at least 6,600 people have been killed in anti-illegal drug operations since Duterte took office in July 2016. The Philippine Commission on Human Rights and international human rights groups have pegged the deaths at more than 27,000 that are filed by the police as "homicides under investigation."
Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd. (KOSDAQ 046890), a leading global innovator of LED technology, announced that its SunLike Series natural spectrum LEDs, which implement light that closely matches the spectrum of sunlight, has been adopted by German lighting brand Simprolux for its pendant luminaire "ORTUS".

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200923005077/en/

Simprolux's pendant luminaire "ORTUS" designed with SunLike Series natural spectrum LEDs (Photo: Business Wire)

ORTUS is a premium product line that delivers residential lighting for dining table and study or work spaces, combining with Casambi Technologies Oy's state-of-the-art automated wireless Bluetooth. With SunLike Series natural spectrum LEDs, the fixture are designed to bring out the natural color tones of objects achieving a lower blue light peak, similar to the sunlight spectral curve, which enables the reduction of scattered reflection and glare. It also provides healthy and comfortable light, improving the environment for living, reducing eye fatigue, and displaying colors and textures more accurately with CRI 97 and TM30 100.

There has been a significant increase in research activity on the relationship between light and human bio-functions, including a recent scientific study focused on the effects of light spectrum on sleep quality, visual comfort, overall well-being, and daytime alertness; encompassing the interaction of both visual and non-visual light on humans. Based on the results of a comprehensive sleep study conducted by Professor Christian Cajochen and his colleagues at the University of Basel in Switzerland, SunLike Series natural spectrum LEDs have been identified as a key light source for promoting human well-being. The study, published in the Journal of Lighting Research Technology on March 24, 2019, found "evidence that a daylight [natural spectrum] LED solution has beneficial effects on visual comfort, daytime alertness, mood, and sleep intensity in healthy volunteers."

"Seoul Semiconductor's SunLike Series natural spectrum LEDs have three beneficial effects in contrast to conventional LEDs: Better Sleep improvement in sleep quality, Better Eye Health protection from myopia in children; and Better Study support for students' learning and concentration," said Carlo Romiti, Europe sales Vice President of Seoul Semiconductor. "It will enable a new architectural paradigm for human centric lighting for indoor design, with a light source that delivers the spectrum of natural sunlight to provide beneficial effects for human health and well-being," added him.

SunLike Series LEDs are an advanced technology that has achieved the highest level of eye safety certification from the International Commission on Illumination as a safe light source with no photo-biological risks.

Introduced in June 2017, the SunLike Series natural spectrum LEDs are an advanced light source that combine the latest optical and compound semiconductor technology of Seoul Semiconductor with Toshiba Materials' TRI-R technology. TRI-R, supported by Toshiba Materials, finds in the definition "The light closest to the sun for human well-being" its original concept. The sun light spectrum is developed by the same company and can be reproduced by a white LED light source technology. TRI-R is a registered trademark by the Toshiba Materials Co., LTD.

About Seoul Semiconductor

Seoul Semiconductor develops and commercializes LEDs for automotive, general illumination, specialty lighting, and backlighting markets. As the second-largest LED manufacturer globally excluding the captive market, Seoul Semiconductor holds more than 14,000 patents, offers a wide range of technologies, and mass produces innovative LED products such as SunLike delivering the world's best light quality in a next-generation LED enabling human-centric lighting optimized for circadian rhythms; WICOP a simpler structured package-free LED which provides market leading color uniformity and cost savings at the fixture level, providing high lumen density and design flexibility; NanoDriver Series the world's smallest 24W DC LED drivers; Acrich, the world's first high-voltage AC-driven LED technology developed in 2005, including all AC LED-related technologies from chip to module and circuit fabrication, and nPola, a new LED product based on GaN-substrate technology that achieves more than ten times the output of conventional LEDs. UCD constitutes a high color gamut display which delivers more than 90% NTSC. For more information, please visit www.seoulsemicon.com/en.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200923005077/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact:

Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd.

Jeonghee Kim

Tel: +82-70-4391-8311

Email: jeonghee.kim@seoulsemicon.com
Pipeline

23 September 2020

Le Meridien St. Louis Clayton (7730 Bonhomme Ave, St. Louis, MO 63105), has announced an opening date for the reimagined hotel in downtown Clayton, Missouri, located on Bonhomme Ave., just west of Hanley Road. The 268-room hotel will open on Thursday, October 1 after a multi-million dollar, full-scale transformation by Silverwest Hotels. Le Meridien St. Louis Clayton will be a new upscale hotel destination for creative and culturally-minded travelers and locals alike. The hotel features over 17,000 square feet of meeting space, state-of-the-art fitness center with panoramic views of downtown St. Louis, an open-air pool deck on the third floor, a signature bar and restaurant, Cafe La Vie, artwork from over 50 local and nationally acclaimed artists, and more.

Located in the heart of the Clayton Business District, the hotel is within walking distance of top restaurants as well as a short drive or jog to St. Louis' award-winning Forest Park with its free museums and Saint Louis Zoo, Washington University in St. Louis campus and Barnes Jewish Medical Center. Le Meridien St. Louis Clayton has a passion to embrace St. Louis' local culture, specifically in regard to the arts and cuisine.

Designed by globally-recognized firm HOK, the refreshed hotel seamlessly integrates into the welcoming Clayton community, providing guests with the comfort of a home away from home. The contemporary design creates a dramatic, intimate and curated retreat for guests - both inside and out. Exterior work to refresh the 17-story building included new windows throughout the hotel, new facade updates, a redesigned porte cochere entry, and more to give the building a sleeker and more modern feel. In addition to the design, HOK worked with Eaton Fine Art to create a curated art program for the hotel which features over 50 works of art throughout the public spaces and guest rooms. From abstract colorful prints with the neighboring Shaw Park's map grid integrated into the artist's work to photography featuring architecture around St. Louis, Le Meridien St. Louis Clayton's art has thoughtful nods to the community throughout the space.

For the interiors, Le Meridien St. Louis Clayton encourages guests to sip and savor the good life while traveling in glamour, so the refined design highlights St. Louis and its roots as a French city. Upon entering the lobby, check-in desks echo French writing desks, accented by subtly arching standing lamps of blackened steel and polished brass. The lobby also includes the Salon which is a living room, lounge, and informal business hub for guests to gather, filled with mid-century modern furnishings and dramatic and playful artwork.

With 268 guestrooms including 13 suites with enhanced space, the design is reminiscent of a French pied-a-terre apartment, a home away from home with a residential ambience. Room furnishings echo the mid-century modern influence with pops of denim blue color and Hermes orange and floor-to-ceiling windows to take in the views of the Clayton cityscape as well as Shaw Park and downtown St. Louis from the upper floor rooms. Thoughtful design elements help guests unwind, including plush bedding and pillow-top mattress, invigorating Malin + Goetz amenities, and personal in-room Illy coffee and espresso station. Rooms also feature the latest technologies including 55-inch televisions with app streaming and fiber cabled guestrooms.

Additional amenities include the new pool deck on the third floor that immerses guests in the surrounding Clayton cityscape with an expansive terrace. The previously unused 15th floor was converted into a stunning, natural light filled fitness center with expansive views of the St. Louis metropolis, including downtown and the Arch, as well as state-of-the-art fitness equipment, including Peloton bikes. Playful and bold artwork fills the open terrace and fitness center spaces. Cafe Le Vie, the hotel's bar and restaurant, will transition from morning coffee prepared by a master barista to evening cocktails, sharables, and dessert prepared by a first-class food and beverage team. The hotel has also created unique and fun experiences for families and their pets. From a social media moment in front of the "Dog Walker" sculpture to unique in-room amenities, those traveling with children and pets will love celebrating the St. Louis region's park and art scene at Le Meridien St. Louis Clayton.

Le Meridien St. Louis Clayton will also be a destination for meetings and events with an array of spaces and ways to accommodate business meetings, socials functions, weddings and celebrations. With a dedicated Conference Level floor, the hotel can provide distinct areas for meetings with the Pavilion Room conference space, three breakout rooms, and pre-function space. Located on the Lobby Level, two ballrooms, The Forest Park Ballroom and Grand Salle Ballroom, are the hotel's signature ballrooms for hosting elevated banquet and catering events. For executive meetings, the hotel features the area's only boardroom on a guestroom floor allowing for complete exclusivity for attendees, if desired. And the third-floor terrace is the perfect spot for an outdoor cocktail function.
Lobbying records in Washington revealed last week a one-month contract between the government and the Alston & Bird law firm worth $10,000. It was signed on September 15 by Armenian Ambassador to the United States Varuzhan Nersesyan and Bob Dole, a former pro-Armenian U.S. senator who now works as a special counsel at Alston & Bird.

We will assist the Republic of Armenia in its efforts to build on the strategic partnership with the United States in advance of planned diplomatic talks in October of 2020, the 97-year-old Dole said in a letter to Nersesyan.

During the course of this engagement, Alston & Bird will monitor current events relevant to US-Armenia relations and provide strategic counsel with respect to improvement of that relationship, he wrote. These services may include outreach to United States Government officials as well as Members of Congress and their staffs.

The lobbying firm will help Yerevan prepare for the final round of the U.S.-Armenia Strategic Dialogue which will take place in Washington next month. The Armenian delegation is expected to be headed by Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanian.

The format and level of the final meeting is still being discussed, said Armella Shakarian, head of the U.S. and Canada desk at the Armenian Foreign Ministry. It should be ascertained over the next week, she said.

The first session of the strategic dialogue was held in Yerevan in May 2019. Senior U.S. and Armenian officials discussed a wide range of issues and pledged to strive for closer bilateral ties. The two sides held two more sessions via a video link earlier this month.

Shakarian said that the dialogue has widened the scope of issues on the agenda of U.S.-Armenian cooperation. We expect the implementation of more far-reaching projects and the development of economic ties with the United States, she told RFE/RLs Armenian Service.

The official added that defense and security issues are also on the agenda of the dialogue. We are discussing ways of deepening relations in these areas, she said.

U.S. officials promised greater financial assistance to Armenia following the May 2019 talks. Washington increased that assistance by 40 percent, to over $60 million, last year to support the implementation of the Armenian governments ambitious reform agenda.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo praised the governments declared efforts to root out corruption, strengthen the rule of law and improve the domestic business environment when he congratulated Armenia on its Independence Day on Monday.
Disneyland executives are demanding California Governor Gavin Newsom to allow the state's theme parks to reopen.

California theme parks have been closed or only partially open for six months. For Disneyland, failure to reopen could have some devastating impacts, said Fox 11.

In a virtual press conference, Disney parks chairman Josh D'Amaro demanded to reopen and said they have health precautions in place.

They wanted to discuss with state officials the operations of their California theme parks amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We are ready, and more importantly... it is time," said D'Amaro.

In an announcement, Newsom said theme parks in the state would be given reopening guidelines "very, very shortly," reported the Orange County Register. However, there was no timeline given for the release of the guidelines.

The Call to Reopen

Disney is not the only company to call on the governor. Some industry associations and city leaders have also called on Newsom to reopen theme parks.

"We need guidelines that are fair and equitable," said D'Amaro as he stood alone in Disneyland after removing his face covering.

D'Amaro said government officials should treat theme parks like other industries.

"I encourage you to treat theme parks like you would other sectors," he noted. D'Amaro also asked the state to let them open its doors once more in a safe manner.

California Adventure's vice president Patrick Finnegan also echoed D'Amaro's statement. He said guidelines were needed for the attractions to reopen safely.

Once they are allowed to reopen, Disney officials would add various safety measures, said a Los Angeles Times report. Some of the plans include adding hand-washing stations and attendance by reservation only. There were also suggestions to have staff tasked in face-covering enforcement and temperature checks.

The parks will also expand mobile food ordering and put stickers on the ground to remind park-goers to keep their distance from each other.

"We are offering technology solutions that make it easier for our guests to minimize contact and maintain physical distancing," said D'Amaro.

Loss of Jobs amid COVID-19

Some mayors, business owners, and the tourism industry are also urging Newsom to adopt guidelines for theme parks. The state has an economy that relies heavily on tourism.

With the closure of theme parks, it gave a heavy blow to many local businesses. Nearly 80,000 regional jobs are dependent on whether or not Disneyland and other Disney parks open, said D'Amaro.

"The longer we wait, the more devastating the impact will be for Orange County," he said.

The company also pointed out that Walt Disney World in Orlando had successfully reopened its doors to park-goers in July.

Other than that, they also said some notable reopenings abroad. There were successful theme park reopenings in France, Japan, and China.

No COVID-19 outbreaks were reported in other California theme parks like Universal, SeaWorld, Six Flags, and others, said the state health agencies and theme park officials.

Differences in Disney Parks

Some differences have to be noted about the parks in Florida and Anaheim.

Since 2013, the Florida theme park has been offering a Magic Band to guests. It is an electronic wristband that can be used in place for tickets.

The Magic Band can also be used to buy items without coming in contact with a stork worker. It can also be used to open hotel rooms. It offers less contact between people.

The band was not offered in Anaheim. However, Anaheim launched a virtual queuing system last year. They used it for the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge expansion in their park.

Disney representatives said the system could be expanded to other attractions in their park. They will do it to limit the capacity of rides and encourage physical distancing among guests.

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Over two-thirds of female senators in the Seanad have been sexually harassed, the Irish Examiner can reveal.

An anonymous survey carried out by this newspaper, a week after a similar survey of female TDs, received responses from 17 out of 19 female senators.

Of those 17, some 13 female senators have been sexually harassed at some point in their lives, 14 have been subject to a sexist insult or remark from a man while working in politics, and 16 have been abused or 'trolled' with sexist insults on social media.

The stark figures are worse in the Seanad than those in the Dail, which recorded that 12 out of 25 respondents had been sexually harassed.

One elected representative, who has worked in Leinster House for a number of years, said the figures "are the tip of the iceberg".

"I used to get text messages on my outfit, or telling me I was lovely, or 'It was great to see you, nicer to watch you walk away'," she said.

"Here I am, very young, in my dream job in Dail Eireann having to deal with leering men, and you think 'Is this all I am?', afraid of getting into lifts with people.

Read More Third of female TDs sexually harassed

"It took a lot of maturity to get over it. I felt like I lost my voice working in the Dail. I still worry about the clothes I wear.

"When there's too many men, with perceived power, in a bubble that Leinster House is, they think they can act however they want. There's a culture of blind-eyedness and sheep mentality.

"It's a huge problem in all workplaces, maybe it's more pronounced in the Oireachtas, but I think there's a lot to do and it will only change when more women are involved at all levels.

The only solution is to call it out, make it unacceptable.

Cathaoirleach of Seanad Eireann Mark Daly said he will raise these figures at the next meeting of the Houses of Oireachtas Commission.

"These figures are unacceptable in any part of Irish society," he said.

"They show how far a journey we have to travel so that we have an equal society based on openness and respect.

"To ensure that the Dail and Seanad is a workplace based on these principles, the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission published its Dignity and Respect Statement of Principles and Policy last year.

"The Examiner's survey results are a reminder that we need to ensure that everyone in this House and in politics generally lives the principles outlined in our Dignity and Respect Statement  otherwise we are failing women in politics and people in general.

"As a member now of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission, I intend to raise the ongoing implementation of the Dignity and Respect Statement of Principles and Policy at the next meeting of the commission. It is important to ensure that all deputies, senators, and staff are aware of this framework which encourages a culture of openness and respect."
An amateur baker from Northern Ireland has survived the first week of this year's series of The Great British Bake Off.

Portadown man Mark Lutton (32) is among the 12 contestants competing for the title of Britain's best amateur baker, one fewer than the baker's dozen who competed last year.

The eleventh series returned to Channel 4 slightly later than scheduled on Tuesday night to make room for Boris Johnson's televised coronavirus address.

Read More

Now based in Liverpool, Mark fell in love with baking through an Edinburgh pie shop he visited daily while at university.

His cuisine is influenced by Northern Ireland and the flavours of Africa and Asia, where he travels regularly for his work as a project manager for public health research programmes.

Mark and his fellow bakers were selected by April, but Covid-19 restrictions meant the filming schedule had to be rewritten, with the series reaching screens a month later than usual.

The show is normally filmed over three months, largely at weekends. However, this year the producers asked the contestants to take six weeks off work and stay in a secure filming location, Down Hall Hotel in Essex.

Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith returned as judges with comedian Matt Lucas replacing Sandi Toksvig as co-host alongside Noel Fielding.

Making his TV debut, Mark passed the signature challenge with his Turkish Bazaar Inspired Battenberg while his miniature upside-down pineapple cake was ranked highly in the technical.

His showstopper, a 3D spiced ginger cake bust of his celebrity hero Charles Darwin, was branded "lovely" by Leith and "well-baked" by Hollywood, taking him through to Biscuit Week.

Speaking to the BBC ahead of Tuesday night's screening, Mark said he had previously applied for the show once before.

"It's a fairly rigorous audition process. They really want to make sure that you know your stuff about baking and that you're one of the best amateur bakers in the country really."

Mark said among the main challenges faced by producers when trying to film the show during lockdown was defeating the nationwide flour shortage.

"It was a really difficult time but a unique experience definitely and a memorable one as well.

"Both Matt and Noel were fantastic and brilliant at lightening the mood when things got tough.

"They were incredibly supportive both inside and outside the tent and a massive highlight of my experience.

"I really appreciate all the support and messages from everyone across Northern Ireland. It has been really amazing to receive all of those and it's definitely spurring me on," Mark added.

"I'm really excited to see the show going out but there's definitely a level of nerves there too."

Previous Northern Ireland contestants have had mixed fortunes on the programme.

Holywood man Andrew Smyth came second in 2016 while engineer Iain Watters memorably lost his cool after his Baked Alaska melted, causing him to throw it in the bin in a rage.

Dromore woman Imelda McCarron was the first contestant to leave in 2018.
(This September 18 story corrects typo in paragraph 4 from 2017 to 2007.) By Abdi Sheikh MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed has picked political newcomer Mohamed Hussein Roble as prime minister, his office said on Friday, cementing power around the presidency ahead of elections due next year. Roble studied civil engineering and previously worked for the International Labour Organisation, a United Nations agency

(This September 18 story corrects typo in paragraph 4 from 2017 to 2007.)

By Abdi Sheikh

MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed has picked political newcomer Mohamed Hussein Roble as prime minister, his office said on Friday, cementing power around the presidency ahead of elections due next year.

Roble studied civil engineering and previously worked for the International Labour Organisation, a United Nations agency. He replaces Hassan Ali Khaire, who was sacked in July after a power struggle over whether to delay a national election due next year.

Somalia, a Horn of Africa nation that has been riven by civil war since 1991, is coming to a crossroads.

An African Union peacekeeping force set up in 2017 has clawed back control of much of the country from Islamist insurgents, giving space for fragile political institutions to emerge. Young diaspora Somalis are coming home and construction in the capital is booming.

But corruption is endemic, the peacekeepers have begun reducing their presence, and the Islamist al-Shabaab insurgency still mounts deadly attacks on a near-daily basis, even within the capital.

Relations have also been rocky between the federal government and regional states as they quarrel over power and resources.

Mohamed - usually referred to by his nickname of "Farmaajo" - is likely to run for a second term as president when polls are held, competing against at least two other former presidents.

Somalia's international backers had hoped to hold the first one-person, one-vote election since the war began, but it is unclear whether that will be possible.

Previous national elections have consisted of clan delegates choosing members of parliament, who in turn chose a national leader.

(Reporting by Abdi Sheikh; Writing by Duncan Miriri and Katharine Houreld; Editing by Diane Craft and Kevin Liffey)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
The meeting will discuss accelerating the resumption of the process and supporting reaching a comprehensive and fair political settlement in Palestine on the basis of a two-state solution

Egypts Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry will travel to Jordan on Wednesday to participate in a quadripartite meeting on Thursday on Palestine with regional and international counterparts.

According to an official statement, Egypts foreign ministry said the meeting between the Egyptian, Jordanian, German and French foreign ministers will see an exchange of viewpoints on the current status of the peace process in the Middle East.

It will see discussions on means of accelerating the resumption of the process and supporting reaching a comprehensive and fair political settlement in Palestine on the basis of a two-state solution.

Shoukry will also hold during his visit several bilateral meetings with his counterparts on the most salient regional issues, as well as bilateral relations between Egypt and the countries participating in the meeting.

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Google is all set to launch its new Pixel phones, the Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5 in the global event happening at the end of this month. Ahead of the anticipated launch of Pixel 5, a full spec leak has come across. Reported in German by Win Future, the leak reveals the specifications as well as the cost of the Pixel 5 smartphone. The device is likely to feature a 6-inch screen with 1080 x 2340 OLED display and a 90 Hz refresh rate.

Along with HDR support, the product will be protected with Gorilla Glass 6. The fingerprint sensor for the phone has been placed at the back of the phone. In line with previous leaks, the Pixel 5 is set to come with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 765G chipset. This means it would not support mmWave 5G either.

The Pixel 5 will ship 4,080 mAh battery, along with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage. This is the first time for Google to provide an 8 GB RAM variant, as GSMArena points out.

In the camera section, there will be a 12.2 MP main sensor with dual pixel PDAF and 1.4um pixel size, with OIS and EIS. This is followed by an 16 MP ultra wide camera. For selfies, the mid range phone will get an 8 MP camera in the hole-punch.

The leak suggests that the phone will have Android 11 from the start and it will be available in green and black colour. It is expected to start at 629 (approx Rs 54,000) in the Eurozone.

Touted to be the Launch Night In event, Google is most likely going to launch new hardware (including the Pixel 5). Via a tweet, the firm has asked followers to tune in at 11 am PT on 30 September. Tech portal Pocket Now also revealed that Google had sent ahead an invite to major media houses for the online event. The invite mentioned that Google was going to give out details about their latest smart speaker Chromecast, and their new Pixel phones.
Guinean President Alpha Conde has urged his base to rally behind him in next month's election, where he is controversially seeking a third term, referring to a "war" between his government and the embattled opposition.

Voters go to the polls on October 18, where 11 candidates are contesting Conde's leadership of the West African state.

The 82-year-old president is running after pushing through a constitutional referendum this year which reset the two-term presidential limit to zero.

But Conde's recent combative campaign speeches have attracted accusations of stoking ethnic tensions in the polarised nation of some 13 million people.

In one such speech broadcast Tuesday evening, Conde warned that "this election is not just an election, it's as if we were at war".

"The other candidates have formed a bloc to fight me," he said in the Malinke language, referring to an agreement between opposition candidates to highlight credibility issues in the election.

Conde normally speaks French during official national addresses.

On Saturday, Conde also warned voters in a speech not to back an opposition Malinke candidate, for example, arguing that this would amount to a vote for Cellou Dalein Diallo, from the leading opposition party UFDG.

"You haven't forgotten what happened after the death of Sekou Toure," Conde said on Saturday, referring to instability following the death of Guinea's first president in 1984, when looters targeted Malinke homes.

Guinea's politics are mostly drawn along ethnic lines. President Conde's party is largely backed by Malinke people, and the UFDG by Fulani people, although both insist that they are pluralist.

Lawyers for the anti-Conde coalition FNDC warned the International Criminal Court in a letter Tuesday that Conde's statements risked unleashing ethnic violence.

"These statements reflect Mr Alpha Conde's desire to shift the debate to the ethnic arena with the risk of fuelling divisions within the population," the letter said.

Story continues

"These factors make us seriously fear new electoral violence with an ethnic flavour," it added.

- Authoritarian drift -

Conde became Guinea's first democratically-elected president in 2010, and won re-election five years later.

Despite initial hopes of a new political dawn in the country, rights groups have accused the octogenarian leader of drifting into authoritarianism.

His bid to run for a third presidential term has aroused particular criticism.

An anti-Conde coalition called the National Front for the Defence of the Constitution (FNDC) argued that the plan for a new constitution was a Trojan horse to allow Conde to extend his grip in power, for example.

The FNDC led rolling protests against that possibility from October last year, but security forces cracked down and several dozen people were killed in the following months.

Conde went on to win the March 22 referendum -- which had been delayed weeks earlier after observers found 2.5 million unverifiable voter names on the electoral roll -- with 91.59 percent of the vote, according to the official results.

At least 10 people were killed during unrest on polling day, according to the FNDC.

- Electoral roll -

There have also been growing suspicions about the credibility of Guinea's electoral roll -- a perennial source of the contention in the country.

Guinea's electoral authority on September 14 released voter-distribution data which appeared to show anomalies that would benefit Conde.

Some towns in the president's strongholds in the east showed spikes in the number of registered voters.

After opposition criticism, Souleymane Keita, an MP for Conde's RPG party, said that "strong migration" to regions rich in gold and diamonds explained the increase.

On Wednesday, Francis Behanzin, the head of a group of experts from the West Africa bloc ECOWAS sent to audit Guinea's electoral roll, said that it "is of sufficient quality for the next elections".

Some 5.4 million voters are registered for the poll, he added.

bm-sst/eml/spm
"Pasal Kau!" is Adrian Teh's first Malay-language feature directorial effort.

23 Sep - Director and producer Adrian Teh is unperturbed by the fact that his latest movie, "Pasal Kau!", will not be screened in cinemas like initially planned - as the nation is still battling the COVID-19 pandemic - and believes that there is a silver lining to this.

Good news followed suit when he was contacted by popular streaming platform Netflix, who wanted to turn the romantic comedy film into a Netflix original.

"According to initial planning, I had wanted to release the movie in cinemas. But because of COVID-19, the plan had to be momentarily postponed. Even though cinemas have been given the green light to operate, but it must be according to strict Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

"However, I am grateful and happy when Netflix contacted me and offered to screen "Pasal Kau!" as a Netflix original," he said.

He added that this was a very valuable opportunity for him as his movie can now be watched not only by viewers in Malaysia but also in other countries.

Talking more about the movie, Adrian said that the original idea for it was from the lead actor himself, Hairul Azreen.

"The idea for the movie is actually Hairul's. On our flight to Jakarta for the premiere of "Wira" in Indonesia, Hairul gave the idea to me to make a movie based on his experience working as a hotel staff."

After returning to Malaysia, Adrian and a scriptwriter begun working on the script and completed it within only six weeks.

"Pasal Kau!" features almost all the original actors from "Paskal The Movie" and "Wira", plus new addition Janna Nick as one of the main characters.

Adrian's reason for using the same cast is to show a different side of theirs, from acting in action movies to a romantic comedy instead.

Apart from Hairul Azreen and Janna Nick, the movie also stars Namron, Amerul Affendi, Henley Hii, Taufiq Hanafi, Theeban G, Josiah Hogan and more.

"Pasal Kau!" will begin streaming on Netflix from this 1 October.
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.
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Linkedin Editorial Board (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, September 23, 2020 08:15 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c468d637 1 Editorial rainy-season,flooding,#Editorial,natural-disaster,natural-disaster-Indonesia,COVID-19,pandemic Free

In some parts of the country the rainy season seems to have arrived and is causing concern in regions trying to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. Wherever heavy rainfalls result in flooding there are risks of accelerated transmission of the disease, which is why the central and local governments need to take precautions sooner, rather than later.

For flood-prone areas like Jakarta, the rainy season will prove to be a double whammy. Not only will flooding displace many and inflict material losses on the city, but it will also lift the infection curve even higher given that the capital is one the epicenters of the pandemic.

On Tuesday Jakarta set a new record for single-day infections with 1,236, bringing the toll of positive cases to over 65,300. Nationwide, SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, has infected more than 253,000 people, killing over 9,800 of them, since early March.

Heavy rainfalls coupled with overflowing rivers resulting from heavy rain in the upstream inundated some parts of Jakarta on Monday evening. The Meteorology, Geophysics and Climatology Agency has warned the extreme weather will continue for the rest of the week.

Flooding will surely aggravate the pandemic. It is feared shelters for flood victims will create new clusters of virus transmission if physical distancing is not enforced. The chances are that displaced people may find it difficult to comply with the protocols because a shelter may be not spacious enough to accommodate them, unless they can seek refuge in schools or office buildings.

Then the clean water supply may not be sufficient to fulfill the needs of all flood victims. The health protocols require us all to wash our hands frequently, particularly after outdoor activities. Provided the flood victims have enough hand sanitizers available, they should be safe.

But living in shelters may leave the flood victims at risk of various diseases. When they lack sleep, suffer from psychological stress, their physical fitness drops. The weaker their immunity system the more easily the coronavirus infects them. Constant supplies of nutritious food and medicines are therefore essential.

The natural disaster will also expose many other people, such as search and rescue and humanitarian workers and volunteers to the risks of virus transmission. Strict discipline is the only recipe for enabling them to carry out their charitable missions safely.

There is no scientific explanation as to whether floodwater can facilitate virus transmission, but experts agree the virus can survive better in the rainy season than in the dry season. Many had believed the pandemic would subside during summer and the dry season, but such assumptions have been proven wrong.

With more challenges, if not difficulties, on the horizon, local administrations in flood-prone areas have to doubledown on their mitigation efforts. Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan, for example, has ordered the local disaster mitigation agency to prepare shelters while ensuring that health protocols are maintained.

The bumpier road toward ending the pandemic should convince us to stick to the safety rules.
San Diego, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/23/2020 -- Certain directors of Lendlease Group are under investigation over potential breaches of fiduciary duties.



Investors who purchased shares of Lendlease Group (OTC: LLES) have certain options and should contact the Shareholders Foundation at mail@shareholdersfoundation.com or call +1(858) 779 - 1554.



The investigation by a law firm concerns whether certain Lendlease Group directors breached their fiduciary duties and caused damage to the company and its shareholders.



Sydney based Lendlease Group provides property and infrastructure solutions in Australia, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Lendlease Group reported that its Total Revenue rose from over 16.46 billion AUD for the 12 months period that ended on June 30, 2018, to 16.52 billion AUD for the 12 months peridot that ended on June 30, 2019, and that its Net Income over those respective tie periods declined from 792.8 million AUD to 467 million AUD.



On November 9, 2018, Lendlease Group announced that it required a previously unannounced provision of AU$350M due to significant underperformance in its engineering division relating to a number of projects.



Shares of Lendlease Group (OTC: LLES) declined from $15.66 per share in July 2018 to as loa s $5.29 per share in March 2020.



Those who purchased shares of Lendlease Group (OTC: LLES) have certain options and should contact the Shareholders Foundation.



Contact:

Shareholders Foundation, Inc.

Michael Daniels

3111 Camino Del Rio North - Suite 423

92108 San Diego

Phone: +1-(858)-779-1554

Fax: +1-(858)-605-5739

mail@shareholdersfoundation.com



About Shareholders Foundation, Inc.

The Shareholders Foundation, Inc. is a professional portfolio monitoring and settlement claim filing service, , which does research related to shareholder issues and informs investors of securities class actions, settlements, judgments, and other legal related news to the stock/financial market. Shareholders Foundation, Inc. is in contact with a large number of shareholders and offers help, support, and assistance for every shareholder. The Shareholders Foundation, Inc. is not a law firm. Referenced cases, investigation, and/or settlements are not filed/reached and/or related to Shareholders Foundation. The information is provided as a public service. It is not intended as legal advice and should not be relied upon.
The ruling YSR Congress party in Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday questioned the silence of the Supreme Court of India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the allegations against certain judges of the state high court with regard to land dealings in Amaravati.

Briefing the media on the two-day tour of chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy in New Delhi, YSRC Rajya Sabha member Pilli Subhash Chandra Bose said as many as 13 judges of the high court had accepted housing plots from the previous Telugu Desam Party government in 2019.

Describing it as unethical on the part of judges, the YSRC MP said the Supreme Court should have taken suo motu cognizance of the issue and ordered an investigation into it. He reminded that when there were certain allegations against former President of India VV Giri, the Supreme Court had called him for questioning.

When the SC could question the President of India who appoints the judges, why cant it act on the allegations against the state high court judges? Bose asked. Apart from Supreme Court, the Prime Minister also has the responsibility to order an inquiry into the allegations against the judiciary. We dont know why they are silent when the image of the judiciary is being damaged because of some judges, he said.

Stating that it was time for the intellectuals of the country to speak out on the allegations of corruption in the judiciary, the YSRC leader said law could not be different for the police, politicians, common man and judges.

Just because they are judges, they cannot get away without being questioned when there are allegations against them. Our intention is not to denigrate the sanctity of judiciary or question the integrity of judges. If the allegations are proved wrong, it only enhances the prestige of the judiciary, the MP said.

On Jagans two-day visit to Delhi, the YSRC leader said the chief minister had requested the Union home minister to see that the Centre releases the funds to compensate for the revenue deficit of the state. Out of Rs 14,000 crore due to be given to the state towards revenue deficit for 2014-15, the Centre released only Rs 5,000 crore so far, he said.

The chief minister had met Union Jal Shakti minister Gajendra Singh Shekawat and requested that the department release Rs 4,000 crore due to be released to the state towards the Polavaram major irrigation project. The Centre has accepted the revised estimates for the Polavaram project. The chief minister requested that the funds be released as per the revised accounts to complete the project at the earliest, another YSRC MP Mopidevi Venkataramana said.

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[September 23, 2020] Programmatic Pioneers Summit by WBR launches Asian chapter, to begin with free to attend virtual event SINGAPORE, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Programmatic Pioneers, a senior level conference for Programmatic, Marketing, Media, Acquisition, Digital and Advertising executives to unlock the full potential of their programmatic programs, is launching its first event in Asia with WBR Singapore. The conference, Programmatic Pioneers APAC Virtual Summit, will address key challenges surrounding the Asian programmatic advertising market, and will be held digitally with free entry permitted to verified registrants. Programmatic Pioneers APAC Virtual Summit goes live on 7th October 2020 at 10:00 AM UTC+08:00 (Singapore, Malaysia, Hongkong) Having huge turnouts and successful worldwide events year on year, Programmatic Pioneers is now launching its first ever summit catered to Asia, to tackle programmatic challenges and trends in the Asian climate. With COVID-19 placing restrictions on large gatherings and travel that are expected to continue through 2020 and beyond, the summit organisers have opted to launch the event virtually, which will ensure the ease of access and safety of all its attendees. The key theme of the summit is one that is highly relevant to the current climate present in Asia today. The aforementioned COVID-19 pandemic has been a major disruptor not only to businesses, but also to the way of life. As working and living arrangements see drastic shifts even today, consumption habits have changed and advertisers are forced to make the necessary changes in order to retain, attract and convert customers. Programmatic Pioneers APAC Virtual Summit seeks to address these changes during its onine sessions, inviting the biggest brands in the industry to discuss the rising challenges caused by the pandemic. Other topics that are seeing heavy interests include the coming discontinuation of the Chrome cookie, a move that will likely see cookie based advertising disappear in the coming years and has the industry wondering about future of relevant targeted ads. Attendees have much to gain from the high quality discussions and actionable takeaways expected of the summit. To ensure attendees not only receive insights that are relevant but also offered from all possible perspectives, the full day summit has curated a speaker line up that represents the full ecosystem, including Dentsu Aegis Network, Essence, South China Morning Post, and The Trade Desk. "Presenting the summit in a virtual format has its perks," says Suhana Begum, Conference Director of Programmatic Pioneers APAC Virtual Summit. "We want to ensure the event remains easily accessible to the region, and going online seems like the best way to achieve this. The digital format allows more opportunities for attendees to engage in the live Q&As, and audience questions can be properly captured for post session follow ups". Attending the summit is effortless as the event will be hosted on an browser based platform, with no software installations required. Viewers are able to drop in and out of the sessions, and the platform is compatible across all modern desktop or mobile devices. On-demand replays of sessions will also be made available to all registrants of the summit, ensuring that they do not miss out on any key insights even if they are unable to attend the session live. Programmatic Pioneers APAC is a free online event with limited seats, and will take place online on 7th October 2020 at 10:00 AM (UTC+08:00). About Programmatic Pioneers APAC Programmatic Pioneers is for senior level Programmatic, Marketing, Media, Acquisition, Digital and Advertising executives focused on unlocking the full potential of their programmatic programs. The event will have equal representation from brands, agencies, publishers, solution providers and tech. About Worldwide Business Research (WBR) WBR is the world's biggest large-scale conference company and part of the PLS group, one of the world's leading providers of strategic business intelligence with 16 offices worldwide. Our conference divisions consistently out-perform their industry sector competitors on the quality of the events we produce and the relationships we nurture with both delegates and sponsors. Every year over 10,000 senior executives from Fortune 1000 companies attend over 100 annual conferences -- a true "Who's Who" of today's corporate world. From Automotive events in Bucharest to Logistics conferences in Arizona and Finance summits in Hong Kong, WBR is dedicated to exceeding the needs of its customers around the world. For more information please visit www.wbresearch.com PR Newswire is a News Release Distribution Partner of Programmatic Pioneers APAC Virtual Summit SOURCE WBR Singapore

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"Four COVID-19 vaccine candidates are in Phase 3 clinical testing in the United States just over eight months after SARS-CoV-2 was identified," institute director Dr. Anthony Fauci said in a statement.

The trial will enroll up to 60,000 adult volunteers across 215 locations in the U.S. and other countries, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Participants will be randomly selected to receive a dose of the potential vaccine or a placebo, according to details of the trial , which will determine whether the vaccine is safe and effective.

J&J is the fourth drugmaker backed by the Trump administration's Covid-19 vaccine program Operation Warp Speed to enter late-stage testing. The others are Moderna , Pfizer and AstraZeneca .

"This is an unprecedented feat for the scientific community made possible by decades of progress in vaccine technology and a coordinated, strategic approach across government, industry and academia," he said. "It is likely that multiple COVID-19 vaccine regimens will be required to meet the global need. The Janssen candidate has showed promise in early-stage testing and may be especially useful in controlling the pandemic if shown to be protective after a single dose."

J&J, parent company of Janssen, has said it is using the same technologies it used to develop its experimental Ebola vaccine. It involves combing genetic material from the coronavirus with a modified adenovirus that is known to cause common colds in humans.

Preclinical studies have shown J&J's potential Covid-19 vaccine can generate a promising response in nonhuman primates and hamsters.

Paul Stoffels, J&J's chief scientific officer, told reporters on a conference call Tuesday that early-stage trial data, which will be released "imminently," shows the immune response in humans was "comparable to animals, which were protected." He also said the vaccine appeared to be well-tolerated, with symptoms such as fever resolving within 48 hours.

He said it will likely take six weeks to two months to reach 60,000 participants, allowing J&J to recruit a diverse cohort. The trial will include those with and without other ailments associated with an increased risk for progression to severe Covid-19, and will aim to enroll participants in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, South Africa and the United States.

"There are a lot of what we call 'readiness cohorts,' where we have predetermined in high risk areas the specific populations we want to target," he said. "The data teams have been working hard to find out where in the U.S., where in other parts of the world, we can get access to the people and parts of the population at high risk and diverse, which we need to have in the clinical trials."

The development comes as President Donald Trump says the U.S. could find a safe and effective vaccine by the end of October and have enough vaccine doses to inoculate every American by April.

Asked which drugmaker could be the first to win U.S. approval, Trump told "Fox News" on Monday that Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca are progressing well. He added J&J's vaccine will "probably be a little later."

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced on Aug. 5 that it reached a deal with Janssen worth approximately $1 billion for 100 million doses of its vaccine. The deal gives the federal government the option to order an additional 200 million doses, according to the announcement.

The phase three trial will be jointly funded by J&J, the National Institutes of Health and NIAID, Stoffels said Tuesday.

J&J previously said it anticipates possible vaccine batches for a potential emergency use authorization available in early 2021. The company said it has continued the scaling up of its manufacturing capacity and remains on track to meet its goal of providing a billion doses of a vaccine each year.

Public health officials and infectious disease experts say world leaders will need an array of drugs and vaccines to defeat the virus, which emerged less than 10 months ago.
UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for global cooperation to fight the coronavirus pandemic in a video message for the 75th anniversary of the United Nations (UN), CNN reported Monday.

"The COVID-19 pandemic is just one example which shows that global problems call for understanding and cooperation beyond national borders and at all levels," said Merkel.

Noting that those who believe they can go it alone are mistaken, the German chancellor warned that the UN is only as effective as its members are united.

"Our wellbeing is something that we share -- our suffering too. We are one world," said Merkel.

The UN said Monday in a declaration that "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," calling for solidarity to end the pandemic and build resilience against future challenges.
A 'distressed' Dr. Deborah Birx is questioning how long she can remain on the White House's coronavirus taskforce, according to reporting from CNN.

Aides and friends describe Birx as seeing her role as diminished and the situation inside the taskforce as a nightmare.

She considers Dr. Scott Atlas - a later addition to the taskforce - as a bad influence on President Donald Trump, who has returned to the campaign trail and held mass gatherings, while mocking his opponent Joe Biden for wearing a mask.

Dr. Deborah Birx is telling aides and friends that she doesn't know how much longer she can remain on the coronavirus taskforce, according to reporting from CNN

Dr. Deborah Birx (right), who has seldomly been seen at President Donald Trump's (left) side in recent weeks, sees her role as diminished. She's photographed in the Oval here on August 5

Sources told CNN that Dr. Deborah Birx (center right), photographed at an August 27 coronavirus taskforce meeting, has described the situation as nightmarish

Part of the problem, in Dr. Deborah Birx's eyes, is the includsion of Dr. Scott Atlas (pictured) on the taskforce. CNN reported that she's worried he's fed the president inaccurate information on mask-wearing

President Donald Trump, photographed at the White House Wednesday, has resumed holding large rallies and has made fun of his political opponent Joe Biden for wearing a mask practically everywhere he travels

'The president has found somebody who matches what he wants to believe,' a source close to Birx told CNN. 'There is no doubt that she feels that her role is diminished.'

While Birx and Dr. Anthony Fauci, another key member of the coronavirus taskforce, have encouraged Americans to wear masks to prevent further spread of the virus, Birx fears that Atlas has fed Trump misleading information about the efficacy of mask-wearing.

In turn, Trump and top administration officials - like his daughter Ivanka Trump - have largely stopped wearing masks publicly, inspiring Trump supporters to do the same.

CNN reported that an administration official close to the West Wing's coronavirus response confirmed the addition of Atlas has unsettled some of the experts, but spun it as if it were a good thing, saying that Atlas 'shook things up a bit' and brought 'fresh eyes' to the handling of the pandemic.

'He's not been instructed to make friends,' the official told the network.

The Washington Post reported last month that Atlas had been pushing for the U.S. government to embrace a 'herd immunity' strategy, which Trump referred to as 'herd mentality' during his town hall last week with ABC News' George Stephanopoulos.

That strategy would allow businesses and schools to reopen - as Trump has pushed - while letting the virus run its course.

'A lot of people do agree with me,' Trump told Stephanopoulos. 'You look at Scott Atlas. You look at some of the other doctors that are highly - from Stanford. Look at some of the other doctors. They think maybe we could have done that from the beginning.'

Earlier this month, Birx personally denied that the White House was pursuing such a strategy.

'Neither I, nor anybody in the administration, is willing to sacrifice American lives for herd immunity,' she said on September 2 during a trip to Michigan.

Birx has rarely been seen at the president's side in recent weeks, as he's continued to hold 'coronavirus'-themed briefings, but often without cameos from health experts.

The most recent photo of Birx in the Oval Office with Trump was taken on August 5.

She was photographed with Vice President Mike Pence in a taskforce meeting on August 27. She's missing from meeting photographs taken on September 2 - when she was in Michigan - and on September 15.

She traveled with Pence to Arizona on Friday, but his office specifically told reporters on the ground that Birx was 'not participating in today's events.'

Previously, she has been on a road show to be the face on the ground of the administration's coronavirus pandemic response, taking trips to Minnesota, Michigan, Nebraska, Virginia, among other states.

The White House denied that Birx's role has been diminished.

'All of the medical experts in the administration are working together around the clock to carry out the president No. 1 priority: protecting the health and safety of the American people and defeating this virus from China,' White House spokesman Judd Deere told CNN. 'President Trump relies on the advice and counsel of all of his top health officials every day and any suggestion that their role is being diminished is just false.'

Birx did not respond to a request for comment from CNN.

Another source told the network that she likely wouldn't quit.

'She is a good soldier,' the source said. 'I don't think she's going anywhere.'
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Earlier this year, social distancing and the cataclysmic drop in demand for air travel was expected to bring a sharp rise in airfare prices. Flying was going to get expensive  a lot more expensive, according to some. Commercial aviation, the conventional wisdom said, would return to its 1950s roots as a luxury available only to the rich. All that may happen  but not anytime soon, experts say.

Will commercial airfares rise this year?

"I don't think so," said Kent Gourdin, professor and director of the Global Logistics and Transportation Program at the College of Charleston. "Airlines are simply trying to put people into seats." Gourdin said that until the public can travel  not just fly  with confidence again, he believes fare increases are off the table. "Business travel is still down as many firms realize virtual meetings can often yield the same benefits as those held face-to-face, at significantly lower cost," said Gourdin. "Leisure passengers are simply not yet comfortable booking costly trips to popular destinations not knowing what they will find when they arrive."

Airlines are expected to forgo airfare increases to attract passenger demand for the remainder of the year. jun xu | Moment | Getty Images

Dean Headley, co-author of the Airline Quality Rating and an emeritus professor at the W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University, said that while third- and fourth-quarter airfares are "typically" higher than the first half of the year, "these are not typical times." "Airlines sometimes do crazy things that do not seem to make sense," he said, "but this does not seem like the time to raise fares."

Increasing passengers, not prices

Headley said raising fares this year would be counterproductive to increasing the number of passengers on planes. "It would be very difficult for airlines to increase fares for fall travel and still maintain the small volume of passengers they do have flying," he said. "Price is still a big factor in choosing to fly. It certainly is not the primary concern at present, but it will never be far behind."

Raising fares is not some kind of 'break-glass-in-emergency' solution for airlines in the current market. Adam Weiss head of aviation at 777 Partners

Commercial airlines also stand to generate revenue from passengers beyond airfares alone. "More and more airline revenue is made up not of the basic fare but of extra charges," said Adam Weiss, head of aviation at investment firm 777 Partners. "An airline is inclined to offer competitive fare pricing in order to attract more passengers because each passenger is also going to be spending on these extra charges." In addition to airfare, airlines can charge passengers for baggage fees, seat assignments and priority boarding privileges, he said. "Raising fares is not some kind of 'break-glass-in-emergency' solution for airlines in the current market," said Weiss. "Right now, most people do not want to fly."

Will eliminated change fees drive up ticket prices?

In the past month, four major U.S. airlines  Alaska, American, Delta and United  have eliminated many ticketing change fees, a widely-disliked group of charges that brought in more than $2.8 billion to U.S. carriers in 2019, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. But that isn't translating to higher fares to make up the difference, said Gourdin, who noted that other costs have fallen, such as fuel and other operating expenses, due to reduced flight schedules. "A more likely scenario is that more fees will be eliminated in the short term in an effort to draw passengers back," he said. "They can always be reinstated once demand increases."

Has flying become cheaper?

Rather than getting more expensive, some believe commercial airfares may decrease this year.

Given the strong decline in demand, I don't expect airlines to have the market power to raise prices. Kerry Tan associate professor of economics at Loyola University Maryland

That is the position of Kerry Tan, an associate professor of economics at Loyola University Maryland who specializes in the airline industry. "Given the strong decline in demand, I don't expect airlines to have the market power to raise prices," he said. "Instead, I anticipate airlines to offer steep discounts and sales to promote air travel." Tan noted that Southwest Airlines had recently offered one-way flights for as low as $39 out of Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. That's in line with a report published in July by flight alert subscription service Dollar Flight Club. The report says domestic flights within the U.S. are 41% lower on average  and will be throughout 2020  as a result of the global pandemic. International flights from the United States are 35% cheaper than last year. This price drop, the report says, is greater than those that occurred immediately after the 9/11 terrorist attacks (18%) and during the Great Recession (21%).

Looking into 2021 and beyond

Wichita State University's Headley believes fares may increase down the road, starting with the most popular routes. "The most heavily traveled flights with the fullest airplanes will probably see price bumps first," he said. He said reduced flight schedules will result in "a bit of an unknown" regarding pricing, and that fewer flights could eventually result in higher ticket prices too.

A man scans a ticket on a smartphone at an airport check-in counter. Maskot | Maskot | Getty Images
Jitarth Jadeja is a hirsute man in his early thirties, charming and jovial, speaking with equal effusiveness about economics and his baby niece. Hes an atheist, pro-choice and pro-drug decriminalization, who supported Bernie Sanders in the 2016 primary. He doesnt seem like the kind of guy who would be deeply invested in a dangerous far-right conspiracy theory involving baby-eating Democrats and Hollywood actors. But for two and a half years, he says, thats exactly what he was.

Its almost like a drug, he tells Rolling Stone from his parents house in Sydney, Australia. You read a Q drop and he tells you something, and youre like, Whoa dude, thats crazy.a hit of dopamine goes off in your brain, and you have to go in deeper and deeper and deeper in order to get that feeling again. When Q first started posting I felt like, Here is an explanation that, while it doesnt make sense, if it were true explains the situation better than the current explanations Im getting.'

QAnon is a loosely connected system of conspiracy theories and unfounded beliefs spawned by Q, an anonymous on forums like 8chan (now 8kun) claiming to have high-end military clearance within the Trump administration. QAnon adherents believe, among other things, in the existence of a deep state cabal of pedophiles and child traffickers led by prominent liberals like the Clintons, and that President Trump is lying in wait to arrest and execute his enemies.

Recently, QAnon has gotten a great deal of attention in the media due to QAnon-promoting congressional candidates such as Republican nominees Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert, thus bringing the theory mainstream. It has also been linked to violence, such as the 2019 shooting of a Staten Island mob boss by a QAnon supporter and a Texas woman attacking two strangers with her car earlier this year because she believed them to be child traffickers. President Trump has refused to overtly discredit or reject QAnon ideology, to the delight of believers, whose primary goal is to win Trumps attention.

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They desperately need a place to put their anger and a way to make sense of the world. Us versus them, the horrible bad guys, is something they all seem to cling to, says cult expert Diane Benscoter, who has spoken to numerous people whose loved ones are involved in QAnon. The doctrine makes it easy to say, Clearly we have to make a stand against this, and it feels really good to believe youre on the side of righteousness and saving children.

The mainstreaming of QAnon has also led to the advent of subreddits like r/QAnonCasualties and r/ReQuovery, for family members of QAnon believers to discuss the impact the ideology has had on their lives. Former believers whove extricated themselves have also taken to such subreddits to share their own stories, recounting what drew them in and providing tips and resources for those trying to get their family members out.

I was disillusioned with the system, and seeing the system reward corruption, the idea that these people were so corrupt there was nothing they couldnt do wasnt that outlandish to me, says Lem, 26, a computer programmer in Columbus, Ohio.

Like Jadeja, Lem did not identify as conservative, and supported Sanders during the 2016 primary; his disgust with the liberal establishment after having seen Sanders passed over for Hillary Clinton at the 2016 Democratic National Convention is what led him to become obsessed with Pizzagate, the antecedent to QAnon, a conspiracy theory suggesting that Clinton and other Democratic operatives were running a child trafficking ring out of the basement of Comet Ping-Pong Pizza in Washington, D.C.

Anti-Clinton sentiment stoked by vloggers on YouTube set the stage for him to believe even the most outlandish claims proposed by Pizzagaters. It also helped, he says, that he grew up in an extremely religious Christian Baptist family (He says his father is still an ardent QAnon believer). [Growing] up 18 years in that household played a role into my being primed believing something that was outlandish, he says. [The] fact that you can have that kind of faith in certain things leads you to be open into believing certain things without there necessarily being proof.

Another common thread among the stories of former believers on Reddit is a history of mental illness. Jadeja had recently disconnected himself from many of his friends; he was isolated and intensely struggling with depression and undiagnosed bipolar II disorder. Because he was in graduate school, he also had a lot of time on his hands. I was, I guess you could say, a prime candidate for Q to take a hold of me, he says.

Ivan*, 26, who asked to be identified by a pseudonym for fear of getting doxxed, was struggling with anxiety and depression when he stumbled on Pizzagate in the subreddit r/cringeanarchy in 2016, right before Trumps election. Though r/cringeanarchy, which would later be banned, was a haven of far-right edgy content, I was politically illiterate, though alienated and embittered, he recalls. Swapping theories about Pizzagate wasnt about politics. It was about team sports. It was about cheering for this side, for Team Right. Scraping together bits of evidence whole cloth to support Pizzagate was not just fun, it was also empowering at a time when he was desperate to feel some semblance of control.

Ivan was conscious enough of how deranged his views sounded that he instinctively knew not to mention them to others  not, he says, that it would have helped. I distinctly remember that if I read some article about this debunking or fact-checking, I would feel bored. Id feel like, What am I reading here? They are just probably hiding the truth. Its not even worth the attention,' he says. From my own experience, when you get deep enough, any kind of fact-checking, it just flies right through you and you dont really capture the information at all.

Benscoter agrees that fact-checking is essentially useless. As difficult as it may be, she urges, those with loved ones deep into QAnon must refrain. To try to make rational arguments is not going to work because theyre not going to think rationally, she says. You can throw rocks in it and try to make cracks, for instance, by asking the other person to consider the possibility that Q may not be who they claim to be. But arguing with a person who is not operating according to logic or reason just makes them stand firmer, she says.

Instead, she advises people to try to appeal to their loved ones higher selves. People who get involved in extremist mentality are usually really good people who care deeply about wanting to use their life for something bigger than themselves, she says. She urges loved ones of QAnon believers to approach the conversation by saying something like, I know the reason you care so much about this is because youre a good person and I know you want to do right, but just consider the possibility that you are being lied to, or, It would be a shame if you put all this good sincere energy in something that turns out to be a lie. If they dont immediately argue back fervently, if they stop for a moment, that would be a sign of a crack in their belief system, she says. It may take a long time for such cracks to emerge, but without them believers cant do the difficult work of setting off on the process of self-rediscovery and recovery from the false delusion of Q.

It took years for the cracks to emerge for Jadeja, who slowly started to realize that Q drops were laden with logical inconsistencies. A turning point for him was a follower asking Q to get Trump to say the term tippy top as proof of Trumps knowledge of the conspiracy; when Trump did say the phrase during a 2018 Easter egg roll speech, Q believers rejoiced, believing it to be confirmation that Q was real. Jadeja did some research and saw that Trump had said the phrase many times before. Thats when I realized this was all a very slick con, he says.

Today he views the rise of QAnon with abject horror, which is compounded by the fact that hed also managed to rope his own father into the conspiracy. (Like Lem, Jadejas father is still a true believer.) Its gone out of control. And it continues to grow out of control. And theyre not going away. Even if Trump loses, theyre not going to go away, theyll just look at it as part of the conspiracy, he says. He sees speaking out about his own involvement with the cult of QAnon as a form of penance  even as he worries it may be too late to curb its toxic, potentially lethal influence.

Any time you dehumanize any part or segment of the population to such a low level, to the lowest level you can go, people are happy on the opposite side to do the worst against them, he says of QAnon believers views of Trumps enemies. Thats the real danger here  not that [QAnon adherents] will get into the Senate. When you frame your opponents [as subhuman], you wont just watch them burn. Youll be happy about it.

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Tamil Nadu: Chennai fisherman who was stranded off Myanmar coast feared

September 23,2020 | Source: The Times of India

One of the nine fishermen from Kasimedu in Chennai who were stranded in sea off Myanmar coast feared dead after he tried to help fishermen in another boat a few days ago.

The nine fishermen from Kasimedu, who went for fishing on July 23, had been missing for 55 days. They were traced to off Myanmar coast.



The Myanmar government didnt allow the fishermen to enter the country. A team from the central government was trying to bring the fishermen back to the city. Two of the nine fishermen responded to a rescue call from another fishing boat and jumped into the sea to rescue them. However, one of them, identified as Baby, went missing. On information, fishing officials in Myanmar and a police patrol team conducted a search for him in the sea. But they could not find him.
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By BEN FOX

Associated Press

WASHINGTON  A bipartisan bill aimed at keeping goods out of the U.S. that are made with the forced labor of detained ethnic minorities in China passed overwhelmingly Tuesday in the House of Representatives despite concerns about the potential effects on global commerce.

The House voted 406-3 to declare that any goods produced in the vast Xinjiang region of northwestern China are presumptively made with the forced labor of detained Uighurs and other ethnic minorities, and therefore banned from being imported to the U.S.





. . .
Addison Rae is one of the biggest rising stars on TikTok. She is currently the second most-followed person on the platform and is becoming a well-known social media star. Rae has even caught the attention of Kourtney Kardashian, who she has been hanging out with a lot these past few months.

However, a false rumor about Rae recently went viral on the internet, which quickly turned many fans against her. As a result, Rae is now speaking up about this and urging people to not believe everything they see on the internet.

Addison Rae | Rachel Murray/Getty Images for Netflix

A TikTok user claimed to have found Addison Raes voter registration

On Sept. 22, a TikTok user named @tommy.memetastic posted a screenshot of what looks to be Addison Raes voter registration. It belongs to someone named Addison Easterling (Raes full name), who is 15 to 20 years old and registered in Tarzana, California.

The voter registration also claims Addison Easterling is a registered Republican, though it does not specify who she voted for in past elections.

Many fans got angry at Addison Rae for allegedly voting for Donald Trump

RELATED: The TikTok Glitch That Made Influencers Freak Out

Based on these bits of information, many of Raes fans quickly came to the conclusion that she might have voted for Donald Trump in 2016. This did not sit well with her fan base. Raes TikTok and other social media accounts began to get flooded with angry comments about her alleged political affiliation.

According to PopBuzz, one fan said, Not you supporting the man trying to take away your entire career. This was a reference to Trumps famous executive order to ban TikTok from American app stores.

Meanwhile, another person wrote, I will never forgive yall for giving this Trumpie a platform.

Addison Rae calls the voter registration fake

RELATED: TikTok and YouTube Influencers Under Fire for Throwing Parties: Did Any of Them Catch COVID-19?

Rae quickly responds to the social media outrage to set the record straight. Although she is 19 years old, Rae shares she has never registered to vote.

On Instagram, Rae writes, First Im from Louisiana, second Im not even registered to vote and never have been Im actually doing it for the first time with someone important and Im excited to do so. This is fake.

Rae also makes a few posts on Twitter urging people to be careful about believing everything they see on the internet.

Stop spending time bringing others down with untruthful information, she says. Growing up our parents always said dont believe anything you see on the internet yet everyone somehow trusts everything they read on here Remember, you only know the surface of most people.

Some people have also criticized @tommy.memetastic for allegedly making up fake information, but in another video, he claims it is not fake. According to him, this information can be found on Joe Bidens campaign app, Vote Joe. He even shares a video of himself searching for Addison Easterling on the app and another video showing Lil Uzi Verts alleged voter registration.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 09:30:31|Editor: huaxia

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HARARE, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe's largest referral hospital here has established a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) clinic and is applying for an official license to open, according to the country's ministry of health and child care.

Jasper Chimedza, permanent secretary of the ministry, said Tuesday in a memo to the Natural Therapist Council of Zimbabwe, "The clinic is now ready for inspection and licensing."

"We kindly request that you expedite the licensing of the Clinic so that it can be officially opened. We request that the Council license and register practitioners for the clinic too," added Chimedza.

Zimbabwe's Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals has established the TCM clinic following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between China and Zimbabwe on cooperation in the field of TCM and acupuncture. Enditem
Patients at the Ho Municipal Hospital have been directed to go home or seek medical attention in private hospitals due to the industrial action by a segment of health workers.



At the time of visiting, the Ghana News Agency (GNA) observed that patients were not being attended to by the doctors.



Some patients confirmed to the GNA that they were asked to go home on arrival at the hospital.



At the maternity ward, a pregnant patient disclosed that she was told to go home.



I did not sleep the entire night due to pains in my stomach. I begged to be attended to but they failed and asked that I go home because nurses are on strike.



Another patient, who was on admission due to an accident over the weekend, said, Since the strike action, we have been lying here without care, and not knowing whether a doctor or nurse will come around. I pray that the government listens to their demands so they can return.



Some patients also said they were asked to go home and return when the strike was over.



Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), the Allied Associations including the Ghana Physician Assistants Association (GPAA) and Ghana Association of Certified Registered Anesthetists (GACRA) embarked on a strike on Monday to back demands for improved conditions of service.

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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NSW has reported zero locally acquired cases of COVID-19 for the second consecutive day.

Six cases were detected among travellers in hotel quarantine and 16,759 people were tested in the 24 hours to 8pm on Tuesday.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian provides a COVID-19 update at Parliament House in Sydney on Wednesday. Credit:Rhett Wyman

Three COVID-19 patients are in intensive care and one is on a ventilator.

NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said the last day the state had a mystery case with no known links to confirmed cases or clusters was September 7.
Over 40 Petitioners Arrested for Applying for a Demonstration Permit in Beijing

More than 100 petitioners in Beijing went to the citys police headquarters to apply for a demonstration permit on Sept. 21. However, policemen and security guards swarmed in. Over 40 were arrested and detained at a local police substation. So far all of them have been released.

Guo Likun, a petitioner in her 70s, spoke with The Epoch Times. She said the petitioners made the following requests: the Chinese regime must end the illegal seizure of properties for redevelopment, follow the rule of law, and protect human rights. Their protest slogans are maintaining the laws dignity and fighting for civil rights. In addition, they demanded the regime to correct their mistakes, address problems, and to end the atrocities against its people.

Guo said all the petitioners claim that their assets had been stolen by corrupt officials.

More than 100 petitioners filed an application for a demonstration permit at the police headquarters in Beijing, on Sept. 21, 2020. (Photos provided by the interviewees)

We chanted our slogans: Is our government bad? Yes! Is our police evil Yes!

More than 100 petitioners joined us. Around 40 were detained. The rest broke away and escaped. The police claimed that we broke the law and committed a criminal act because we sang a song, namely The Internationale, Guo said.

At 3:00 p.m., they detained us, and we could not go home. We were not allowed to use the bathroom. 19 police vehicles and one bus appeared on the scene. 200 security guards and many policemen surrounded us.

They did a body search. All of us had to take off our socks and loosen our clothing. Then they frisked our bodies, even females private parts were touched with their dirty hands. All our cell phones were seized. We were completely cut off from the outside.

Guo claimed, They interrogated Ms. Zhan Shuqin, a female agent that the CCP [Chinese Communist Party] sent to spy on us. She pretended to be a petitioner. But we kept our distance from her.

The second to be interrogated was Ms. Li Meiqing. During Xi Jinpings visit to the U.S., her younger sister successfully intercepted the vehicle prepared for Xis wife by unexpectedly lying underneath it. The sisters are victims of (the CCPs) forced eviction.

Another local petitioner, Chen Yanhua, spoke with The Epoch Times. She said, We did nothing wrong because the constitution gives citizens the right to hold demonstrations and we applied [for a permit] as required by the law. But they detained us, even seized our IDs. We were speechless. One elderly lady even lost consciousness on site.

According to Article 2 of the Regulation on the Implementation of the Law of the Peoples Republic of China on Assemblies, Processions and Demonstrations, Chinese citizens in the mainland have the right to organize a demonstration and is guaranteed by governments at all levels.

Police Authorities Are Crazy Now

Guo Likun voiced her complaints. We all hate those in power. We are all homeless. I used to be an elite lady. But now Im a beggar. Last Friday, when I was at the national petition center, the police came out and threatened to arrest me. Police authorities are crazy now, and they feel like arresting anyone they come across! In their eyes, were all dissenters, just like Ren Zhiqiang. Ren, an outspoken public figure in China and a critic of the CCPs policies, has recently been sentenced to 18 years in prison.

Guos husband was a former high-ranking officer in the Peoples Liberation Army Navy. But he fell out of favor when he criticized the CCPs response to the Tiananmen Square pro-democracy student protests in 1989, saying were soldiers; we cannot fire at civilians. The authorities illegally seized the couples house and property on July 9, 2015. When they tried to resist, they were severely beaten and Guos husband died from his injuries.
23.09.2020 LISTEN

The opposition National Democratic Congress parliamentary candidate for Jirapa, Cletus Seidu Dapilah has complained about some missing names on the new voters register in the Nandom District of the Upper West Region.

Speaking on Eyewitness News after visiting some voter exhibition centres, Cletus Dapilah stated that, voters in the district are unhappy with the Electoral Commission over the issue.

Names of a lot of voters have been excluded from the register. If you go to a polling station named Sigiri primary school, they registered 697 and only 32 names came when the EC came to do the exhibition. Bare primary school registered 509 and only 63 names appeared on their register. Difiri primary registered 504 people and only 53 appeared for the exhibition and many others. We can only describe this as incompetent on the path of the Electoral Commission, he complained.

The NDCs Jirapa parliamentary candidate observed that voters are getting agitated and I believe by tomorrow, if they [EC] don't get the actual register, a lot of agitations will take place.

He argued that the EC officials within the constituency have no business exhibiting the voters register if they are showcasing a wrong register.

The situation is chaotic and a lot of people here are not happy, Cletus Dapilah said.

Citi FMs Upper West Regional Correspondent, Latif Mahama corroborated the claims by the NDC parliamentary candidate.

He added that as many as 18 areas within the region were affected by the missing names on the voters' register.

 citinewsroom
Gnathomortis stadtmani, the only species of the newly-described mosasaur genus, swam in the seas of North America between 79 and 81 million years ago (Cretaceous period).

The partial skull and skeleton of Gnathomortis stadtmani was discovered in the Mancos Shale of Delta County in western Colorado in 1975.

In 1999, the specimen was assigned to the genus Prognathodon and named Prognathodon stadtmani.

In a new study, Dr. Joshua Lively from the Jackson School of Geosciences at the University of Texas at Austin examined the original specimen and the recently-uncovered portions of the mosasaurs skull roof, jaw, and braincase.

He determined the fossils are not closely related to other species of the genus Prognathodon and needed to be renamed.

The new name, Gnathomortis, is derived from Greek and Latin words for jaws of death, Dr. Lively said.

It was inspired by the incredibly large jaws of this species, which measure 1.2 m (4 feet) in length.

An interesting feature of the mosasaurs jaws is a large depression on their outer surface, similar to that seen in modern lizards, such as the collared lizard (Crotaphytus collaris).

The feature is indicative of large jaw muscles that equipped the marine reptile with a formidable biteforce.

What sets this animal apart from other mosasaurs are features of the quadrate  a bone in the jaw joint that also forms a portion of the ear canal, Dr. Lively said.

In Gnathomortis, this bone exhibits a suite of characteristics that are transitional from earlier mosasaurs, like Clidastes, and later mosasaurs, like Prognathodon.

We now know Gnathomortis swam in the seas of Colorado between 79 and 81 million years ago, or at least 3.5 million years before any species of Prognathodon.

The study was published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.

_____

Joshua R. Lively. Redescription and phylogenetic assessment of Prognathodon stadtmani: implications for Globidensini monophyly and character homology in Mosasaurinae. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, published online September 23, 2020; doi: 10.1080/02724634.2020.1784183
La ministra Pilar Mazzetti, junto a la titular del @MidisPeru, Patricia Donayre, participo en la presentacion del proceso de afiliacion a la intervencion 'Apoyo Temporal para el Fortalecimiento del Desarrollo Infantil' en favor de hogares con ninos menores de dos de edad. pic.twitter.com/Jqrl5ucl0c
South Korean President Moon Jae-in speaks on the occasion of the third anniversary of his inauguration at the presidential Blue House in Seoul on May 10, 2020. (Kim Min-Hee/Pool via Reuters)

South Korean President Calls for End of Korean War

South Korean President Moon Jae-in in a Sept. 22 speech called on world leaders to put a formal end to the 70-year-old Korean War.

Speaking to the United Nations General Assembly Tuesday via video link, Moon argued that bringing a formal end to the 1950-53 conflict would pave the way for the total denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

I hope that the U.N. and the international community provide support so that we can advance into an era of reconciliation and prosperity through the end-of-war declaration, Moon said in an address to the 75th U.N. General Assembly, held in New York.

The two Koreas remain in a technical state of war under an armistice ending the conflict, signed by the North, the United States, and China. In June, solemn ceremonies marked the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of a war that killed and injured millions, and left large parts of the Korean Peninsula in rubble.

In particular, this year marks the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War, Moon said in a prerecorded video message. Time has come to remove the tragedy lingering on the Korean Peninsula. The war must end, completely and for good.

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, Moon said in his keynote address. I believe it begins with declaring an end to the war, an act that can affirm mutual commitments to peace.

North Korea in June threatened to abandon a military agreement aimed at reducing tensions, and censured the South over lack of progress in bilateral cooperation and for failing to stop activists from floating anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border.

The South Korean president is looking to restore nuclear talks that have achieved little since President Donald Trump refused North Korean leader Kim Jong-uns demands for sanctions relief. Moon previously highlighted the urgency of declaring a formal end to the conflict during an 2018 address at the U.N. General Assembly.

The end-of-war declaration will, indeed, open the door to complete denuclearization and permanent peace regime on the Korean Peninsula, Moon said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
By Trend

The illegal settlement of Syrian and Lebanese Armenians in occupied Nagorno Karabakh raises concerns, Chairperson of Azerbaijani parliament Sahiba Gafarova said.

Gafarova made the statement during her speech at the plenary session of Federation Council of Russia's Federal Assembly on Sept. 23, Trend reports.

"I cannot but touch upon the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which is the most painful problems of Azerbaijan. A fifth of the Azerbaijani territories - the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts are occupied by Armenia, the chairperson said.

I would like to give a brief outline of the history of Nagorno Karabakh, so that they would have a complete and objective idea of the conflict. On May 14, 1805, in Azerbaijan, in the village of Kurekchay near Ganja, the Kurekchay Treaty was signed on the transfer of the Karabakh Khanate to the Russian Empire, she reminded. The agreement was signed by the Karabakh Khanates ruler Ibrahim Khalil Khan and the General of the Russian Empire Pavel Tsitsianov."

In 1921, the Caucasian Bureau of the Bolshevik Party made the decision to preserve Nagorno Karabakh within Azerbaijan. Pay attention - not "to transfer", as some falsified Armenian sources unreasonably assert, but "to preserve". In 1923, the Azerbaijan SSR adopted a decree on the establishment of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region within Azerbaijan," Gafarova said.

The chairperson also reminded that Armenia has never stopped trying to capture Nagorno Karabakh and that the last time this took place in the 1980s.

During that period, hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis, who had lived on their historical lands for centuries, were expelled from Armenia, and 700,000 Azerbaijanis were expelled from their permanent places of residence in Nagorno Karabakh and seven surrounding districts of Azerbaijan, she noted. As a result of ethnic cleansing among the civilian population, there were numerous casualties, and despite modern international humanitarian law, the demographic situation in the occupied territories has been illegally changed."

Gafarova touched upon the destructive position of Armenia on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the provocation committed by this country on the border with the Tovuz district of Azerbaijan.

"Despite the highest-level adoption of four UN Security Council resolutions on the immediate and unconditional withdrawal Armenian armed formations from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan in 1993, the Armenian side, constantly violating the ceasefire regime, still ignores these resolutions, she stressed. The last provocation was committed by Armenia not in Karabakh, but on the Azerbaijani-Armenian state border.

So, on July 12 this year, settlements in the direction of the Azerbaijani Tovuz district were shelled from artillery installations. As a result, Azerbaijani servicemen and civilians were wounded and killed. All these facts are a gross violation of international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Convention of August 12, 1949 and its Additional Protocol, adopted on June 8, 1977, and are regarded as a war crime, the chairperson pointed out.

--

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Vietnam is continously developing its tech-focused startup system, Photo: Le Toan

Alibaba Group was last week reported to be in talks about a potential $3 billion investment in Singapores Grab. Since its first investment in Lazada four years ago, this deal might be the biggest bet by the Chinese e-commerce behemoth in the region, Bloomberg reported, and it is placed on the ASEAN tech startup scene.

The growing middle-class, deepening mobile penetration, and the increasingly tech-savvy population are key reasons attracting more and more foreign investors, said Linda Liu, economist at Maybank Kim Eng.

According to the latest report by Singapore-based venture capital firm Cento Ventures, Southeast Asian tech startups raised $5.6 billion in the first half of 2020, down 13 per cent from the year earlier. This is less steep than the 16 per cent drop in India and the 21 per cent decline in the European Union.

In the second quarter, e-commerce startups were the most appealing, attracting $691 million, followed by logistics ($360 million) and fintech ($496 million), according to numbers from DealStreetAsia.

Indonesian e-commerce unicorn Tokopedia was named the largest capital raiser in the region in the second quarter with $500 million from Singapores Temasek Holdings.

Vietnamese e-commerce platform Tiki also secured $130 million from private equity fund Northstar Group.

Since the demand for online shopping has picked up, logistics and delivery companies also received a great deal of attention from investors, as seen in the case of Singapores Ninja Van and Indonesias Kargo Technologies pulling in $279 and $31 million a few months ago. Ride-hailing giant Gojek also wrapped up a $1.2 billion investment in March.

Traveloka, Southeast Asias largest online travel app, has bagged $250 million to bolster operations in these volatile market conditions.

Meanwhile, hefty sums also found their way into fintech as investors still believe in the immense opportunities in this segment. In May, Singapore-backed Validus, the leading financing platform for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), secured more than $14 million in its ongoing Series B+ funding round which was led by Vertex Growth Fund and Kuok Groups Orion Fund.

With the US-China tech war intensifying and tighter scrutiny by the United States and the EU on Chinas tech investments, ASEANs startup scene will likely continue to see healthy flows, especially from China. Increasing appetite from a diverse group of foreign investors, such as those from the US, Japan, South Korea, as well as regional leaders Indonesia and Singapore, will also help buttress growth in ASEAN tech investments, including in Vietnam, Liu added.

For example, in last July, Enterprise Singapore inked a partnership with Singapore-based venture fund Quest Ventures and Vietnamese government-backed Saigon Innovation Hub to expand its Global Innovation Alliance network to Ho Chi Minh City. The partnership will help connect Singaporean and Vietnamese tech startups to set up, test-bed, and commercialise solutions.

Vietnam has the third-largest population in the region and has a sizeable and young consumer base with growing disposable income  70 per cent of the population is under 35 years of age and its emerging middle class is expected to reach 26 per cent of the population by 2026.

Today, only Indonesia, Singapore, and Vietnam in ASEAN are home to companies valued above $500 million, with the likes of VNG, VNPay, and Tiki. Vietnam leapfrogged from the second least active tech startup ecosystem to the third-largest within ASEAN between 2017 and 2019.

Despite the pandemic, investment flows into Vietnams startups were still impressive, retaining its fourth position with $166 million in the first half of 2020, after Indonesia ($2.8 billion), Singapore ($447 million), and Thailand ($176 million).

Besides, the country has been ranked by Euromonitor International second after the US among the worlds most active, dynamic, and potential markets for mergers and acquisitions deals this year.

The increasing number of internet users, rising internet penetration, and steady increase of the share of e-commerce in total retail sales in Vietnam makes it a core and high-potential market for us. Vietnam presents a tremendous opportunity for us to grow and succeed in the digital space, with large marketplaces such as Shopee, Lazada, Tiki, and Sendo  all of whom are our merchant partners  experiencing record-breaking growth in the past year, Jacky Ha, commercial director of ShopBack, Vietnam told VIR.

Apple Thy, country market manager at Traveloka Vietnam, also said, We see various exciting opportunities in Vietnam to expand our business and we will continue to innovate our products and services to cater to the evolving needs of our users as well as look for collaborations with our key stakeholders, especially the government.

Likewise, Swaroop Shah, CEO of Validus Vietnam, said the country is one of their key geographies given its huge untapped market and fragmented competitive landscape. Within its first year of operation, Validus has emerged as the leading SME lending marketplace in Vietnam with zero non-performing loans during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Sha added that the current downturn actually urges the market to rationalise. Most tech startups are focusing on profitability and sustainability, a totally different landscape compared to a few years back when everyone was pushing for growth at any cost. This will eventually provide better value for investment.

Some tech startups even lower their valuation which makes it a good time to invest, given the long-term potential.
By Maria Sheahan

BERLIN (Reuters) - Police searched more than 40 homes and businesses in five German states early on Wednesday as part of an investigation into foreign workers being illegally brought to the country to be exploited in the meatpacking industry.

Police want to question more than 80 foreign workers, mostly from non-European Union eastern European countries, including Ukraine and Belarus, a spokesman for federal police said.

Germany's meatpacking sector has come under fire this year for the widespread use of sub-contracted migrant workers from eastern Europe, as cramped accommodation and poor oversight were blamed for accelerating coronavirus outbreaks.

In response, the German cabinet passed a new law in July compelling meatpackers to employ staff directly in industrial abattoirs rather than sub-contracting.

At the centre of the investigation are two companies, IRC and Berkana, suspected of having brought workers to Germany illegally, possibly using forged documents, for meatpacking jobs, as well as 10 individuals with Russian or eastern European roots, the spokesman said. He did not name the suspects.

During the raids, police seized cash and other valuables worth 1.5 million euros ($1.75 million), the sum they estimate the companies made illicitly by passing on to workers only a fraction of the money meatpackers paid for their services.

"We have a minimum wage in Germany, but we have to assume that foreign workers don't necessarily know that, and that they receive much less than that," the police spokesman said.

IRC Czuprynscy in Poland said it was not possible for the company to send anyone to Germany with forged papers, while declining further comment. Berkana had no immediate comment.

The raids focused on the town of Weissenfels in the eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt, where Germany's largest meatpacker and exporter Toennies has a factory.

A Toennies spokesman said there had been no raids at any of its offices or factories, but he confirmed that Berkana was among its subcontractors.

($1 = 0.8565 euros)

(Additional reporting by Marcin Goclowski and Matthias Inverardi; Writing by Michael Nienaber; Editing by Michelle Martin and Barbara Lewis)
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) walks to the Senate floor on Monday. (Jacquelyn Martin / Associated Press)

What's a worse look for a politician: hypocrisy or extremism?

For Senate Republicans, the risk is that voting on a Supreme Court nominee now will tag them as ends-justify-the-means hypocrites. That's because 4 years ago, they refused even to hold a hearing on President Obama's final Supreme Court nominee, Merrick Garland, proclaiming that confirmation votes shouldn't happen in an election year.

As Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) put it after Obama nominated Garland in March 2016, "Our next election is too soon and the stakes are too high; the American people deserve a role in this process as the next Supreme Court justice will influence the direction of this country for years to come."

President Trump now says he plans to offer his nominee on Saturday, after nine states have already started in-person voting on his reelection bid. But Gardner, like the vast majority of his colleagues, believe it's OK to proceed because the Senate and the White House are controlled by the same party.

This is reminiscent of Jean de La Fontaine's fable of the wolf and the lamb, whose acidic moral was that those with power always make the better argument. History is written by the winners; the rules are set by the majority. There are no principles here beyond the notion that it's important to use the power at one's disposal; in 2016, that meant blocking a vote on Obama's nominee, and in 2020, that means quickly considering Trump's.

(And please  if you're going to play the rule-of-law card that Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah played, that makes what your colleagues did in 2016 only look worse.)

Yet Republicans may also see a chance here to provoke Democrats into threatening a bunch of changes that delight the folks on the left wing but unsettle people in the middle. That would play right into Trump's effort to portray his November opponent  former Vice President Joe Biden  and congressional Democrats as puppets of the most extreme voices in their party.

Story continues

Sure enough, some Democrats and liberal pundits are casually suggesting a cascade of retaliations next year if the current Senate votes to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. These include packing the Supreme Court with four Biden appointees to turn a 6-3 conservative majority into a 7-6 liberal edge; eliminating filibusters in the Senate on legislation, allowing a new Democratic majority to enact whatever it pleases by a simple majority vote; admitting Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico as states, which could add four Democrats to the Senate; and even finding a way to neuter the electoral college so that the presidential nominee who receives the most votes across the country will win the election, significantly increasing the influence of Democratic-dominated California and New York at the expense of a slew of red flyover states.

Many Californians would no doubt consider these proposals sensible and even overdue. The electoral college is profoundly undemocratic; voters in lightly populated states have more sway than voters in densely populated ones. The filibuster is undemocratic too, and has been routinely used in the last couple of decades not just to stop presidents from enacting much of their legislative agendas, but also to thwart action on major, complex issues (see, for example, immigration). And the Americans who live in the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico should be able to decide for themselves whether to opt for statehood.

Plus, there's the whole Garland thing, which has stuck in Democrats' craw like the sting of a sucker punch.

One person's bold change, however, is another person's scary attack on American institutions. It's easy to imagine how ideas like nuking the filibuster and expanding the Supreme Court will play out in Republican campaign advertisements, rallies and on cable news shows: "If you elect Democrats, they will trample on tradition and damage our great American institutions, and for what? Because they want power!"

Whether this line of attack will move many voters is an open question. But remember, Republicans' goal this election is mainly to play defense on behalf of Trump and the Senate GOP majority. And one time-tested way to do that is to make the status quo seem safer than change, typically by making the challengers seem like radicals.

Ginsburg's death left Democrats in a tough spot. With the filibuster removed on presidential nominees (a process started by Democrats in 2013 and completed in 2018 by Republicans), they have no brakes to press on whomever Trump nominates, regardless of how divisive a confirmation at this point would be. That's why a number of analysts (on both sides of the political spectrum) have called on Democrats to up the stakes by making big threats, in the hope of making Senate Republicans blink.

And that may be exactly what Senate Republicans want.
A sign across from a hospital in a neighborhood thanks first responders in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, on Sept. 14, 2020. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Over 200,000 COVID-19 Deaths Reported in the United States

Over 200,000 COVID-19 deaths have been reported in the United States, according to the John Hopkins University.

This comes as the data reported the United States have nearly hit 6.9 million confirmed cases of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, a novel coronavirus from Wuhan, China.

The idea of 200,000 deaths is very sobering, and in some respects, stunning, said Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

President Donald Trump also spoke about the 200,000 death toll, saying, I think its a shame.

I think its a shame. I think if we didnt do it properly and do it right youd have 2.5 million deaths, he told reporters.

President Donald Trump stops and takes questions from reporters on his way to Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, on Sept. 22, 2020. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Its a terrible thing. But had we not closed our country down and reopened, and now were doing well and reopening the stock markets up, all of those things, but I think its a horrible thing, he added.

The White House coronavirus response coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx back in March had projected 100,000 to 200,000 deaths as a best case scenario in the country amid the CCP virus pandemic.

At the time, she told NBC News that if the country took no action on the CCP virus, the number of COVID-19 deaths could be in the worst case scenario range of 1.6-2.2 million. She noted, however, that even if we do things almost perfectly, there could still be up to 200,000 deaths in the United States.

Coronavirus Response Coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx (R) speaks with US President Donald Trump and Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Dr. Anthony Fauci during a Coronavirus Task Force press briefing in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, on March 29, 2020. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany addressed the COVID-19 grim death toll on Tuesday.

We grieve when even one life is lost, she told reporters at the White House. But the fact that we have come nowhere near that number is a testament to this President taking immediate action to shutting down travel from China when the other party, Democrats, were saying that was xenophobic; for shutting down travel for Europe; for developing landmark therapeutics that are working, like remdesivir.

And when you look at the fact that excess mortalityEurope has experienced a 28 percent higher excess mortality rate than the United Statesits a testament to the hard work done by the task force and this President, McEnany added.

She pointed out that the disease COVID-19 has a 0.01 percent mortality rate for people under the age of 18, and that there have been no pediatric deaths in some U.S. states.

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany holds a press briefing at he White House in Washington, on Sept. 22, 2020. (Saul Poeb/AFP via Getty Images)

He [President Trump] said this: You know, in some states, thousands of people[and theyve had] nobody young. Below the age of 18like nobody. They have a strong immune system,' McEnany said, quoting he president.

And that is factually true, she added. You can go to the American Academy of Pediatrics website, the Childrens Hospital Association, and they list out a number of states that have had zero pediatric deaths.

The American Hospital Association, the American Medial Association, and the American Nurses Association on Tuesday issued a joint statement, calling the 200,000 number a somber milestone.

Those lost include mothers and fathers, grandparents, children, teachers, and frontline workers, the statement read. The steps required to stop the spread of this virus should be well known by now, but with more than 6 million COVID-positive Americans, we say again: wear your mask, wash your hands, and practice physical distancing.

Mimi Nguyen Ly contributed to this report.
Juul Labs Inc. has the Mafia to thank for the most potent legal claims accusing the e-cigarette maker of igniting an epidemic of youth nicotine addiction.

The company will try to persuade a federal judge Monday that consumers and school districts cant sue it under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, which has been called the litigation equivalent of a thermonuclear device.

The 1970 law was originally designed to prosecute organized crime but has also been used in civil lawsuits, including against tobacco companies. If Juul fails to get the RICO claims knocked out of the lawsuits at the earliest opportunity, it faces the prospect of being on the hook for triple damages and the plaintiffs attorneys fees, which is likely to put a lot more pressure on the company to settle.

Its a very powerful weapon in plaintiffs arsenal, said Nora Freeman Engstrom, a professor at Stanford Law School. Proving RICO can be challenging, but the payoff can be substantial.

What Bloomberg Intelligence Says Juuls risk in personal injury and government lawsuits over alleged, illegal marketing and shipments could be hundreds of millions of dollars. A dismissal bid is unlikely to be granted. -- Holly Froum, Analyst - Consumer/Industrials Litigation

Juul said it will respond to the RICO allegations through the appropriate legal channels.

We will continue to reset the vapor category in the U.S. and seek to earn the trust of society by working cooperatively with attorneys general, legislators, regulators, public health officials, and other stakeholders to combat underage use and transition adult smokers from combustible cigarettes, the company said in a statement.

Juul, its founders and Altria Group Inc., which owns a 35% stake in Juul, face hundreds of suits that have been consolidated in federal court in San Francisco and in California state court in Los Angeles.

The complaints allege that Juul took a page out of the tobacco industrys play book by creating a highly addictive nicotine product, marketing it as a benign smoking cessation device, and targeting children as a customer base.

To reach the kids, the plaintiffs claim, Juul relied on a diabolical pairing of cigarette company advertising techniques with cutting-edge viral marketing campaigns and social media.

They hired young models and advertised using bright, fun themes, including on media long barred to the cigarette industry, such as billboards, on childrens websites such as Nick Junior and Cartoon Network, and on websites providing games and educational tools to students in middle school and high school, according to the consolidated class-action complaint.

But to turn such allegations into a successful RICO claim is a further step  one that Engstrom says poses a series of daunting hurdles.

Juul denies in court filings there was any illegal enterprise in its business relationships under the meaning of the law, and argues that its alleged misrepresentations about e-cigarettes dont amount to fraudulent racketeering.

Moreover, the company says, the school districts cause-and-effect logic about the harms theyve suffered coping with teen vaping is sketchy  and doesnt account for the actions of other e-cigarette manufacturers.

But even Juuls strongest arguments probably wont kill the RICO claims immediately, according to Sean Andrade, an attorney with Andrade Gonzalez LLP in Los Angeles.

Big Tobacco

The big question is does the court see this as part of the bigger fight against tobacco, Andrade said. If the plaintiffs can get the judge to buy into that, they may have a good chance.

The historical parallels are significant, he said. The federal government successfully sued Philip Morris and other tobacco companies in 1999 for civil RICO violations by alleging a conspiracy to deceive the American public about the dangers of smoking and second-hand smoke as well as the addictiveness of nicotine.

Beyond the financial exposure from RICO claims, theres also a stigma attached to being branded a racketeer, said Joseph Balice, an attorney with Brutzkus Gubner in Los Angeles.

It will be of the utmost importance for the defendant to get it thrown out at the earliest opportunity.

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.
Sweden's lockdown-free coronavirus response is at risk as officials mull 'chain-breaking' localised restrictions amid a spike of cases in Stockholm.

State epidemiologist Anders Tegnell, the herd-immunity architect, expanded on the proposals for the capital after first signalling the shift on Tuesday.

'We are thinking of fairly short restrictions, to break the spread of infection requires perhaps two to three weeks at most,' Tegnell told the Dagens Nyheter newspaper on Wednesday. 'We are still developing the concept, so to say, but something like that.'

Tegnell added: 'The restrictions could be extremely local. It could be about a single workplace or city district: wherever you see a spread and think that there are restrictions that might stop it.'

Sweden's coronavirus cases

Sweden's coronavirus deaths

Sweden's coronavirus deaths per million people compared with the United Kingdom's

Sweden's chief epidemiologist Anders Tegnell (pictured) said new measures for the capital could not be ruled out

The change might prompt critics of the Swedish strategy to claim vindication, but the country's rate of infection (28 per 100,000) is still far below the United Kingdom's (69 per 100,000).

Yesterday, Tegnell suggested that the success in tackling last year's winter flu might have been a factor in its high deaths from coronavirus. The elderly are the most vulnerable to both diseases.

What is 'herd immunity'? Herd immunity is a situation in which a population of people is protected from a disease because so many of them are unaffected by it - because they've already had it or have been vaccinated - that it cannot spread. To cause an outbreak a disease-causing bacteria or virus must have a continuous supply of potential victims who are not immune to it. Immunity is when your body knows exactly how to fight off a certain type of infection because it has encountered it before, either by having the illness in the past or through a vaccine. When a virus or bacteria enters the body the immune system creates substances called antibodies, which are designed to destroy one specific type of bug. When these have been created once, some of them remain in the body and the body also remembers how to make them again. Antibodies - alongside T cells - provide long-term protection, or immunity, against an illness. If nobody is immune to an illness  as was the case at the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak  it can spread like wildfire. But if, for example, half of people have immunity  from a past infection or a vaccine  there are only half as many people the illness can spread to. As more people become immune the bug finds it harder and harder to spread until its pool of victims becomes so small it can no longer spread at all. The threshold for herd immunity is different for various illnesses, depending on contagion. Advertisement

Sweden's strategy emphasising personal responsibility rather than major lockdowns to slow the virus drew fierce criticism as deaths shot up in spring. Critics warned how thousands of patients could die.

Infections dropped significantly in the summer and they had been spared the type of sharp increases in new cases seen in Spain, France and Britain this month.

And the country is currently recording fewer than 200 new cases a day, on average - a figure which has dropped from around 250 last week.

For comparison, the country was recording around 1,000 infections daily during the peak of its crisis in June.

It was also announcing more than 100 deaths a day, during the darkest weeks of the crisis - suggesting tests were only picking up a fraction of the disease, given the virus is estimated to kill around 0.6 per cent of infected patients, many of whom are unaware they have the disease.

Sweden has only recorded 31 deaths throughout the entire month of September, and the daily totals have stayed in single figures since July. Patients can take around 21 days to die of the disease, meaning any true spike in cases is seen in deaths several weeks later.

These figures have bolstered claims that Sweden may have achieved some form of herd immunity through its controversial policy.

'We have seen in Sweden that this has a tendency to hit socially vulnerable areas, and you've got to keep that in mind,' Tegnell said on Wednesday.

'That's why I was a bit doubtful about limiting peoples' movement, because you need to find restrictions which will be accepted by the group you are working with and which work in more ways than just infection control.'

However, Stockholm has suffered a slight spike in cases. The Local reports that the city's test positivity rate  the amount of swabs that come back positive  has jumped from 1.3 per cent to 2.2 per cent. The national average is around 1.5 per cent.

Test positivity rate is a sign that an outbreak is growing, as long as the amount of tests being carried out stays the same.

The increase in new cases cannot solely be explained by increased testing, the Public Health Agency said this week.

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 this week

At the peak of the crisis, Stockholm county was recording around 240 cases a day. This has dropped to below 100 by the start of July but has now started to risen to an average of around 44 - up from 30 a fortnight ago.

Data from Swedish health chiefs show Skane County  on the border of Denmark and a region that has half the population of Stockholm  is recording the most cases each day.

Tegnell told Tuesday's press conference: 'The rolling average has increased somewhat. 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 added: '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.'
(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.
We have been screaming about closing the digital divide for years, calling for more equitable distribution of education resources, and were always told there was no money, Green Lane said. But then the pandemic emergency hits and suddenly there is the money. So, from now on, were not taking no for an answer. We still have an equity gap. And it urgently needs closing. So lets do it and not keep saying there is no money.
Movie fans have long discussed who the main villain is in The Devil Wears Prada. Some will say Miranda Priestly. Others will say its actually Andy's shitty friends in an argument that they think is subversive, as if people havent constantly been pointing that out for the past 14 years.

But me, the humble fasdsr2? I would argue its the movie itself, for lionizing Anna Wintour, and helping her make the transition from a fixture on the fashion scene to the broader pop culture discourse. The movie may expose some of the shitty and unrealistic practices Miranda/Anna engages in, but still helps humanize and glorify her, suggesting that Runway/Vogue would falter without her leadership.

I mean, would Vogue really? How successful has the magazine been because of Annas input? Seems like the magazine has lost relevance? (These are actual questions  if you have thoughts, please sound off in the comments.)

Anyways, without further ado, here is by no means a comprehensive list of shitty things Anna Wintour has done, of which Im sure I missed MANY.



Note: Please dont blame me for the weird sourcing. Many of the primary sources are banned here, so I had to link to tweets about those articles.





1) Her fatphobia

I dont even know where to begin with this. The examples are so numerous, were going to have to start off this list with another list.



Andre Leon Talley, the former American editor-at-large of Vogue and a former confidant of Wintour, flat out told Oprah: Most of the Vogue girls are so thin, tremendously thin, because Miss Anna dont like fat people.

Oprah Winfrey had to drop 20 pounds before she was allowed on the cover of Vogue.

Wintor once called Andre Leon Talley to her office and told him he needed to start working out. He lost weight, but after he gained it back, Wintour staged an intervention in the Vogue conference dining room and told him again he needed to lose weight.

In an interview with 60 minutes, she said she went on a trip to Minnesota, where she could only kindly describe most of the people that [she] saw as little houses."

In the documentary the September Issue, Wintour saw a photo of Jennifer Garner and said she looked pregnant and that they needed to fix her.

She once told a reporter she wouldnt hire a fat person, even if they were a brilliant editor. Its important to me that the people that are working here, particularly in the fashion department, she says, will present themselves in a way that makes sense to the outside world that they work at Vogue.



2) Her classism

Vogue once had a piece about breast cancer, which included an airline stewardess. She didnt want a  god forbid  stewardess in the magazine though, so the magazine had to find a high-flying businesswoman who'd had cancer.

3) Her handling of the Bon Appetit debacle

This summer, Bon Appetit staffer Sohla El-Waylly revealed she was only making $50,000 despite her culinary expertise (!!!), which kicked off an insurrection in the test kitchen over pay disparities within the company. El-Waylly also demanded that EIC Adam Rapoport be fired after a racist photo of him in brownface surfaced, which led to other staffers of color to reveal other instances of him being a racist fuckwit.

Matt Hunziker, a Bon Appetit video editor, vocally supported El-Waylly and other people of color at Bon Appetit.

Wow, what a noble thing to do! says a decent person with a conscience and any semblance of morality. But Anna Wintour, lacking those things, did not.

After Business Insider published a story on Hunziker's suspension, Anna Wintour "assembled a 7 pm Zoom call to tell Bon Appetit staffers to delete any social media posts in support" of him.

4) Her racism

All right, we got another fucking list:



All the top 10 editorial leaders listed on Vogue's masthead were white as of June this year.

It took Vogue 126 years to hire its first black photographer to shoot a cover, about 20 years of which Wintour was the EIC.

Former staffer Shelby Ivey Christie made a thread on twitter detailing her time at Vogue/Conde Nast. She said it was the most challenging + miserable time of my career  The bullying + testing from white counterparts, the completely thankless work, the terrible base pay + the racism was exhausting.

In his book The Chiffon Trenches, Andre Leon Talley said he was brutally fired from his job hosting the Met Gala in favor of a 20-something YouTuber + many, many, many other incidents of cruel behavior from her. Leon Talley has said that: Dame Anna Wintour is a colonial broad, shes a colonial dame, she comes from British, shes part of an environment of colonialism. She is entitled and I do not think she will ever let anything get in the way of her white privilege.



5) Her acceptance of Ivanka Trump

Some people have expressed hope that once Trump is no longer president and Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump leave the White House, the group will be shunned upon their return to New York. In a recent interview, Wintour failed to acknowledge that Melania Trump is the First Lady, as if thats supposed to be a masterclass in shade.

A naive person might think that New Yorks liberal elite is too classy to embrace them back in their arms. After all, many of them are Democrats!

But that is WRONG, WRONG, WRONG. Because at the end of the day, class interests reign supreme, regardless of what Trump has done.

In 2017, Wintour  a Democratic fundraiser  invited editors from Conde Nast's magazine to meet with an undisclosed guest. Lo and behold, it was Ivanka Trump! Editors were taken aback when Ivanka walked in. Wintour introduced her by saying it was "brave" of her to come before the editors. Wintour walked Ivanka around the room to shake everyone's hand.

The message was: Be polite, an editor in the room said.
By Aleksandra Michalska

NEW YORK (Reuters) - South Korean K-pop band BTS delivered a "message of hope" in a pre-recorded video posted by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on Wednesday as part of the 75th U.N. General Assembly.

In the video, the band members shared their own struggles with coronavirus pandemic lockdowns in English and Korean, and encouraged fans to stay positive.

"Let us reimagine our world," said BTS leader RM. "It might feel like it's always night and we'll always be alone, but the night is always darkest before the first light of dawn."

"If our voices can give strength to people, then that's what we want and that's what we'll keep on doing," band member Jungkook said in his native language.

BTS recently became the first Korean act to debut at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 singles chart after their first English-language song, "Dynamite," logged nearly 34 million U.S. streams and 300,000 sales in its first week, the biggest digital sales week for any artist in nearly three years.

UNICEF oversees humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide.

(Reporting by Reuters TV; Writing by Richard Chang; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)
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
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 01:04:42|Editor: huaxia

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DAR ES SALAAM, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- A Tanzanian senior wildlife research scientist said on Wednesday the east African nation has started creating a database for chimpanzees.

"The database for chimpanzees will primarily focus on the animals' population, habitat, ecology and human threats that they face," Edward Kohi, a principal research officer with the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI), told Xinhua by phone.

Kohi, who doubles as TAWIRI's head of wildlife population monitoring, said the database for chimpanzees will largely be useful in the conservation and protection of the endangered rare animals.

"We have already completed population census for the Mahale Mountains National Park in Kigoma region and we are proceeding to other chimpanzee range areas," said Kohi when he was asked to explain progress made toward the implementation of the Tanzania Chimpanzee Conservation Action Plan for 2018-2023.

According to TAWIRI, the country's chimpanzee population is estimated at 2,500, most of which are found outside the protected areas that are under constant pressure from surrounding communities. Enditem
Facebook says it removed a small network of fake accounts and pages that originated in China and focused on influencing the U.S. presidential election in November.

The activity was not directly linked to the Chinese government and gained almost no following, the company said.

Beijing has been expanding its influence operations ahead of the 2020 election but has not mounted an operation on par with Russian operatives in the 2016 presidential election who sought to inflame tensions on hot-button issues such as race and immigration.

Much of the activity identified by Facebook focused on the Philippines. In the U.S., the fake accounts posted content that favoured and opposed Trump and his Democratic challenger Joe Biden as well as Pete Buttigieg.

Facebook said the people behind the network concealed their identity and location using virtual private networks and other methods.

Last week, FBI Director Christopher Wray told House Homeland Security Committee hearing that Russia remains very active in its effort to sow discord and disrupt the vote, primarily by denigrating Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.

U.S. intelligence officials warned last month that China, Russia and Iran would attempt to interfere in the 2020 election. Kremlin-backed forces have been promoting Trumps candidacy on social media and undercutting Bidens.

After Wray warned of Russian election interference last week, Trump called China a FAR greater threat than Russia, Russia, Russia on Twitter.

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RILEIGH BAUTEL NAMED ANCHOR BAY IDOL: In a competition hosted Sept. 12 at New Haven Community Park, four performers vied for the title. To qualify for the event, contests took place at four local restaurants in June. The Village of East Harbor was the sponsor of the final performances, with Kyle Daniel and Janis Leigh (DeGregory) as hosts. Rileigh, 15, of Our Town, performed All I Ask and Cowboy Cassanova. Second place was awarded to Zackary Kane (Karpinsky), 12, singing Stay With Me and Say Amen (Saturday Night). Charity Moore, 36, of New Haven, took third place singing I Will Always Love You and Im Every Woman. Savannah Robbins, 16, of New Haven, was the fourth-place winner, singing Daddys Little Girl and Lets Hear It for the Boy. Congratulations!

SEPT. 25 OUTDOOR VFW EVENING: From 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., food, music and fun are ahead for guests, of which only 100 may attend. Reservations must be made by calling 586-725-7100. Located at 35011 23 Mile Road, Lempke-Blackwell Post 7573 will host live music along with burgers, hot dogs, chips, cookies, drinks and more. The Spooking Sterling Band will perform Good Time Old Rock & Roll. The cost is $15 a person. A night out, at last!

SEPT. 26 POKER RUN: Guest The Saluting Marine, Staff Sgt. Tim Chambers will be there. With proceeds for the Gold Star Family Memorial monument, AMVETS Post 52, 51285 County Line Road, will host the event. Bikes and cars are welcome with the event to end at 5 p.m. Starting at Wolverine Harley-Davidson, Gratiot Ave., Clinton Township, and ending at the post, registration will be from 10:30 a.m. to noon. The fee is $15 for drivers and $10 for passengers. There will be cash prizes, best and worst hand, a Chinese raffle, door prizes and a 50/50 raffle. Food will be served at 6 p.m. for participants only at the post. The AMVETS Post 52 may be reached at 586-725-0865. This is a monumental project that will honor families who have lost loved ones in war. Please be generous, but have fun too!

SEPT. 27 SPECIAL KIDS DAY: A fun day ahead! Our Towns Farmers Market on Washington St. will feature activities just for youngsters from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Among the many activities, the New Baltimore Lions Club will have a trailer on site for children to have their sight tested. Professionals will offer vision tests and provide doctor references if needed. Also on hand will be puppies in training to be seeing eye dogs, a loving display so that visitors may see and enjoy them. Residents have no doubt seen handlers walking around Our Town with older dogs, as it is considered an ideal training area. The New Baltimore Lions Club, and Lions Clubs nationally, are supporters of the Leaders for the Blind program. Want to join the Lions Club? It meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the AMVETS outdoor pavilion, 51285 County Line Road, in Our Town.

PAVERS/BRICKS BOOTH AT FARMERS MARKET SEPT. 27: Another fine project of the New Baltimore Lions Club is providing bricks under Our Towns glorious flag and flagpole at Walter and Mary Burke Park. Forms will be available for bricks with lettering on three lines, fourteen characters each including spaces. The cost is $125 each, offering a historical remembrance or for honoring family, individual or an organization. When finished with the form, take the time to stroll to the park and observe the many placed beneath the flag and pole. Be a part of Our Towns history!

OCT. 3 IC YOUTH GROUP SHINE WALKING: Beginning around 9:30 a.m., the young people will walk four miles and accept donations for the St. Vincent de Paul ministry. Donations may be dropped off at or mailed to the Immaculate Conception Parish office, 9764 Dixie Highway in Ira Township. Walking on Short Cut Road, to Meldrum and the Township Park, circling it many times, back on Short Cut Road and returning to the church is part of the route. For information, please call 586-725-3051, ext.118. Our Town is proud of the high school students and their quest for helping the needy.

HELP THE NEEDY BENEFIT OCT. 3: Little Camilles By the Bay, 51083 Washington St. in Our Town, will host a pumpkin picking bash from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Working with Blankets With Care that aids the needy in Macomb County, there will be food and drinks indoors and outdoors with drink specials the entire time. Choose your favorite pumpkin with a donation of $5 or more. More fun in Our Town.

OCT. 4 CRUISING THE BAY CAR SHOW: Make Car Shows Great Again! is the theme for the event to be taking place at the Anchor Bay Lions Club, 9200 Short Cut Road in Ira Township. One of the last chances this season to cruise M-29 and show off your ride! Register by Sept. 30 by calling John at 313-300-8673 or Rose and Tom at 586-202-8821. The cost is $12 in advance or $15 the day of the show. There will be food, music, raffles and more. Visit anchorbaylions.org. A time to show off your vehicle in the countryside.

OCT. 18 FAMILY FUN DAY IN NEW HAVEN: Haven Place, 48475 Main St., has planned activities for all ages in the outdoors from noon to 3 p.m. A chili cook-off, call 586-484-8540 to enter, where guests will enter the chili tent at $5 each or $20 per family and sample the entries. Voting for a first, second and third place winner is part of the fun, too. There will be pumpkins for sale, pumpkin painting, crafts for children, caramel and candied apples, cider, donuts, raffles, hayrides and a bonfire. Other activities include a pie-eating contest. Call to participate. Visit havenplacein@weebly.com or email havenplaceinc@gmail.com.

GENTLY USED STUFFED ANIMALS COLLECTED: Must be from smoke free homes, the items may be dropped off under the overhang at Haven Place, 48475 Main St. in New Haven.

PASTIES SALES OCT. 23 TO NOV. 3: For the past 23 years, First Congregational Church, 36223 Alfred St. in Our Town, is the place to order and pick up pasties. Famous throughout southeastern Michigan for its delicious pasties, the church will be baking and selling them from Oct. 23 to Nov. 3. Still at the delicious price of $5 each, selling hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily and noon to 3 p.m. Sunday. To place an order, call 586-725-0909, state the number desired, date to be picked up and whether or not they are to be frozen, cooled or hot. Walk-ins are welcome as well. Dinner, for the freezer, deer hunting or just for lunch, the church will be ready to serve hundreds of happy customers. See you there!

STUDENT ALERT! The annual national VFW essay contest, sponsored locally by Lempke-Blackwell Post 7573, has a deadline of Oct. 31. Writing opportunities for middle school and high school, the rewards are great. The category for sixth grade to eighth grade, Patriots Pen, has the essay title What is Patriotism to Me? The category for ninth grade to 12th grade, Voice of Democracy, has the essay title Is This the Country the Founders Envisioned? For details to enter, go to vfw.org, community, youth & education, youth scholarships, Patriots Pen or Voice of Democracy, and perhaps nominate an instructor for the category, Teacher of the Year. The local winning essays will travel to the district level, then to the state and finally, to the national level. The high school national winner will be awarded a $30,000 scholarship. Definitely a worthwhile reward for writing an essay. For further details, contact auxiliary member Sandi VanTiem at 586-725-9554. Work hard and then reap the reward!

NOV. 3 COAT DRIVE: The New Baltimore Lions Club and the New Baltimore Civic Club are joining together to provide free warm garments for those in need. The giveaway will be from 9 a.m. to noon Nov. 3 at the Civic Club, 36551 Main St. Donations of gently used coats, scarves, hats, jackets, hoodies, gloves and mittens are being requested for the drive. Items may be dropped off on the porch at 51145 Clay St. in Our Town. Chairpersons Judy Gable and Karen Lietke are pleased that over 300 items were given out last year. Will the number be greater in 2020?

FROM CHINESE FORTUNE COOKIES: Life is not a mystery to be solved, but a reality to be experienced. The man who rows the boat doesnt have time to rock it.

To report news about your service organization, call Bette Carrothers at 586-725-8051 or email her at wgcmusicbjc@webtv.net.
Trump and Biden set to clash on Supreme Court, five other topics in first debate U.S. President Donald Trump campaigns at Toledo Express Airport in Swanton, Ohio

By Trevor Hunnicutt

(Reuters) - 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.

(Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt in Wilmington, Delaware; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 21:09:22|Editor: huaxia

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SHENZHEN, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Liu Peichao is among millions who have witnessed the speed of Shenzhen's development and benefited from the metropolis' fast-growing, high-tech industry along the central coast of southern China's Guangdong Province.

Liu's tech company now accounts for over 60 percent of the global market for desktop robotic arms, a level of success which would have been unimaginable just five years ago when Liu founded Dobot in Shenzhen.

The city's high level of efficiency has urged him and his partners to tackle the technical difficulties that come with designing high-accuracy, user-friendly and marketable products for the light industry.

"Tech talent from across the country has been pouring into Shenzhen, which is seen as an entrepreneurial city," Liu said. "Its sophisticated supply chain, abundant human resources, and smooth capital flows make our dreams come true."

Growing from a small fishing village into China's high-tech powerhouse, Shenzhen has undergone an earth-shaking transformation over the past four decades.

According to the Shenzhen Association for Science and Technology, the city is now estimated to be home to nearly 2 million scientific and technical workers.

Since it was announced that Shenzhen would be built into a Special Economic Zone in 1980, engineers, scientists, researchers and ambitious entrepreneurs have been settling down in the city. Cutting-edge technologies have now taken root in the city, ranging from 5G to unmanned driving systems, and from artificial intelligence to augmented reality tech.

"Around 80 percent of our employees are research and development (R&D) personnel," said Liu Nianqiu, vice president of DeepRoute, an autonomous-driving startup founded in Shenzhen last year. Liu says the secret to a thriving company lies in its technical staff.

Despite the negative influence of the COVID-19 epidemic, Liu's company will continue to reinforce its R&D department this year to increase the use of self-driving technology in taxis.

Shenzhen's scientific and technological strength mostly relies on enterprises like Liu's. Over 90 percent of R&D institutions in the city are based in enterprises, and 90 percent of R&D funding comes from enterprises.

The latest data indicate that the high-tech industry in Shenzhen created an output value totaling 2.6 trillion yuan (382.7 billion U.S. dollars) in 2019 and that the number of national-level high-tech companies has hit 17,000.

In recent years, a growing number of overseas scientific and technical workers has been flowing into Shenzhen to benefit from the city's abundant job opportunities.

In 2014, it took Zhou Huihui less than two months to decide to return home from abroad and become a researcher at the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Zhou led a team over a five-year study on autism that was published in Nature in 2019, marking a major breakthrough for his team.

Many who arrive in Shenzhen are first impressed by its openness, as the city welcomes global researchers and provides a flexible environment and platform for them, said Zhou. "I received policy support as soon as I decided to return."

Shenzhen is also accelerating innovation in the development of its tech sector's system and mechanism. Laboratories are partnering with prestigious institutions and industry giants across the country, and favorable policies are being pushed forward to attract investors and startups.

Four decades of experience have shown that talent is of the utmost importance to Shenzhen, and the city should explore a more flexible innovation system for global talent to start businesses, said Tao Yitao, director of the China Center for Special Economic Zone Research under Shenzhen University. Enditem
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.

Nevaeh McKenzie reliably attracts crowds to his monthly story hours at Changing Hands Books. Glossy-tressed and thick-lashed, McKenzie (Miss Gay Arizona 2015) reads from books about feelings and inclusion to between 40 and 100 parents and children, sprawled on the floor or perched on folding chairs. Later, McKenzie and the other storytellers--Sophia Sinclair (former empress of the Imperial Court of Arizona, an LGBTQ+ nonprofit) and Gray Matter (the reigning Mister Phoenix Pride)--lead the children in a craft related to compassion and self-confidence.

"It is incredible to see a 10-year-old boy sitting there laughing, crying. And then afterward saying, 'This is the only place I feel safe in the entire world,'" says Gayle Shanks, the store's co-owner.

Drag Queen Story Hour, which Changing Hands introduced in 2019, joins an eclectic lineup of programs that includes story hours for bilingual and deaf children. The 41-employee business hosts 400 book readings and other events each year at its two locations: a flagship store in suburban Tempe, Arizona, and a sleek bookstore-plus-wine-and-coffee-bar in downtown Phoenix. Local high schools, churches, and theaters throw open their doors to accommodate its biggest draws: speakers like President Barack Obama, Madeleine Albright, and Isabel Allende.

The business is also a seedbed for aspiring authors, who can attend a myriad of classes taught by industry professionals on such subjects as, how to write a memoir and how to get published. The popular Mothers Who Write workshop guides students as they wrestle the experience of parenting into prose, culminating in a public presentation. Among the most popular events is a biannual panel featuring three first-time novelists. "In the audience will be a lot of people who have books they would like to publish," says Shanks. "They have a lot of questions about how did it happen?"

And you'd be hard pressed to find a fundraiser without a Changing Hands donation. "We give away gift certificates to organizations every single day," says Shanks. "We never say no."

Changing Hands' contributions to the cultural, political, and civic life of Tempe helped it survive the incursion of chain stores that took down other area bookstores in the 1990s and to achieve pre-Covid-19 sales of around $6 million across its two locations. The business is so valued by locals that real estate agents use proximity to Changing Hands as a selling point. In the mid-'90s, then-Tempe mayor Neil Guiliano called it, "The living room of our community."

Kate Baker, a customer of Changing Hands for decades, often attends events there and particularly loves the debut-author panels. The owners "are wonderful at building relationships" and at rallying other merchants around issues. "They also are incredibly generous," says Baker, who works with several nonprofits. "It is easy to touch Changing Hands' heart."

Buddhism and Barbara Kingsolver

After their students went home in the afternoons, Shanks, Bob Sommer, and Tom Brodersen would sit on the porch of the alternative school where they were first-time teachers, sharing the fantasy of opening an independent bookstore. Then one day in 1974, Brodersen showed up at the apartment shared by Shanks and Sommer (now married) with news. For $500 he had acquired the inventory, shelves, and cash register of Caveat Emptor, a Tempe bookstore that was closing down. "He said, 'Would you guys want to go into business with me?'" recalls Shanks.

The store started as a place where people could trade used books. "We called it Changing Hands because we liked to think of books going from one person to the next, and the ideas going with them," says Shanks. In the tiny former typewriter-repair shop on then-shabby Mill Avenue, a single bookcase held new volumes, carefully chosen from The Whole Earth Catalog. They were titles about politics and environmentalism--subjects the idealistic young founders hoped would open minds and change attitudes.

Seven months after its launch, Changing Hands bought the stock of a local store called Tibetan House, whose owner had moved to India to study with gurus. The meditation groups that had met at Tibetan House made Changing Hands their new home. Shanks and her partners learned about eastern religion and philosophy so they could recommend new titles. Soon the store became a local resource for practitioners of Buddhism and other forms of non-traditional (for Arizona) spirituality, who held book clubs there.

Changing Hands also began staging broader community events. On-their-way-up authors like Barbara Kingsolver and Edward Abbey became friends of the store and held readings in its cramped, 500-foot space. Once a month, local musicians would gather for concerts. "From the beginning we had a very symbiotic relationship with the community," says Shanks. "They learned from us. We learned from them."

The founders were also learning the realities of business. They had launched Changing Hands as a worker collective. But by the time the business reached 11 people, "making decisions by consensus, which is how we ran it, was damn near impossible," says Shanks. Through attrition and the occasional firing, Changing Hands morphed into a traditional corporation. (Brodersen moved away and left the business in 1983. Cindy Dach, a former employee, became a partner in 2007.)

Runaways and rabbis

For Shanks and her partners, community involvement meant more than providing education and entertainment. They also wanted to revitalize the downtown, in decline since malls started colonizing the greater Phoenix area. In the 1980s, distinctive independent businesses sprouted along Mill Avenue, transforming it into a vibrant shopping and dining destination. With its eclectic clientele and myriad events and classes, Changing Hands--which had moved into a larger space--helped lead the way.

But problems arrived with the new bustle. In 1993, Shanks became the first president of the Downtown Tempe Community, a nonprofit she founded with other merchants to improve management and promotion. Among other issues, the district was dealing with a wave of runaways who were sleeping rough and panhandling. Seeking a humane solution, the group worked with police to photograph the children and post pictures on a national bulletin board so parents could find them. It also installed meters to reclaim parking spaces used by students from the nearby university.

Shanks joined the boards of organizations involved in social services, and co-founded Local First Arizona, which supports sustainable economies. "I realized early on that my involvement in those programs and organizations was going to promote my store," says Shanks. "But these were also passions that I had."

By 1998, rents downtown had priced out Changing Hands, which moved to a larger space in the suburbs. Here the owners could accommodate 250 people for events, mounting their bookcases on wheels and rolling them out of the way at show time. Even more starry speakers paraded through, everyone from Hillary Rodham Clinton to Ozzy Osbourne. "David Sedaris stayed until 3 in the morning. He wanted people to tell him jokes," says Shanks. "Our store becomes retail theater sometimes."

It is also, sometimes, political theater. Changing Hands welcomes not only political authors but also forums on subjects like immigration, an Arizona flash point, and private prisons. The owners encourage divergent opinions, respectfully delivered. Shanks calls them "crucial conversations." There have been flare-ups. People have been asked to leave.

Shanks recalls a visit in 2006 by President Jimmy Carter to promote his book Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid, which attracted Jewish and Palestinian protestors to the parking lot. "My husband and I brought them all water, and we had these amazing conversations with them," says Shanks. A rabbi told her he loved the store but had to take a stand. "And I said, 'If you are standing out here in 110-degree weather holding onto your values, then I totally get that.'"

Causes and Covid-19

Changing Hands' community engagement doesn't stop with the owners. The company encourages employees to get involved with causes they believe in. Doing so can help you get hired. Job applicants must submit letters about their volunteer activities and other non-professional pursuits, which matter as much as retail experience. "We used to get letters that were decorated or filled with brochures for organizations they were working at," says Shanks. (With email, of course, the decorations are gone.)

Many employees tutor or work with children's literacy groups, a reflection of Changing Hands' mission to build readers. "If kids read books they become critical thinkers. And if they become critical thinkers, then maybe they can change the world," says Shanks. In addition to abundant children's programming, the store arranges author presentations in schools and consults about books with local teachers and curriculum developers. During Covid, it has collaborated with students at Arizona State University to make free libraries available at locations where children are receiving federal food aid.

Covid has been challenging for Changing Hands, with sales down around 30 percent. Things were better at first, when orders flooded in for care packages of books purchased for relatives and friends in lockdown. Those have tapered off, although book bundles--curated by staff based on customers' tastes and interests--are doing well. Shanks hopes both will pick up for the holidays and is promoting early shopping, to start in October. (About 40 percent of sales--both in volume and revenue--derive from gifts, which are higher margin. Unlike other bookstores, Changing Hands integrates gifts with books on the shelves--displaying a set of mixing bowls next to The Joy of Cooking, for example.)

Susan Southard, for one, plans to continue her long tradition of holiday shopping at Changing Hands. She has a close relationship with the store, where her daughter "practically grew up in the children's department." In 2015, when Changing Hands hosted the launch party for Southard's book, Nagasaki: Life After Nuclear War, the director of marketing arranged for C-SPAN to be there. And Southard's theater company, which focuses on social change, has performed at the store.

"I go to Changing Hands when I am at the end of my ability to write and just need to think and look at the books and hear great writers," says Southard. "It is a place of nourishment and belonging. It is one of my favorite places on the planet."
By Akbar Mammadov

The Youth Union of Azerbaijans ruling party New Azerbaijan Partys (NAP) has condemned Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyans recent provocative statements and Yerevans provocative policies overall.

In a statement issued on September 21, the Union stressed that Armenias provocation is directed against Azerbaijan in the political, military, information and other areas and have increased in intensity recently.

The appeals of Armenian Prime Minister 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 Union said.

The Union reminded the Armenian provocation of July that killed 12 Azerbaijani servicemen and a civilian near the border Tovuz region.

Furthermore, it reminded that Armenia 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, reads the statement.

For this purpose, the settlement of the occupied Azerbaijani territories by mercenaries from Syria, Lebanon, members of ASALA, and other terrorist organizations is being 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 Union stressed.

The statement emphasized that 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 New Azerbaijan Party is always ready to realize any order of Azerbaijans President, the statement concluded.

It should be noted that on September 21, Armenia staged another military provocation on the border, killing a serviceman of the Azerbaijan Army. Junior Sergeant Elshan Mammadov was killed at 09:20 on September 21 in the Tovuz direction on the Armenia-Azerbaijan state border.

Moreover, 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".

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.

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.

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Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Founded in Orlando, FL, Tijuana Flats has primarily been a Florida brand for 25 years, with its bold flavors and broad appeal we believe this brand could be very successful on a national level, said Eric Taylor, Tijuana Flats Vice President of Development.

After a quarter-century of success, Tijuana Flats is expanding its footprint. The Tex-Mex favorite is announcing its return to franchising following a 13-year hiatus from that model.

Mostly based throughout the Southeast, with locations across Florida, Virginia and North Carolina, Tijuana Flats intends to make its national move targeting the eastern part of the United States and Texas.

Founded in Orlando, FL, Tijuana Flats has primarily been a Florida brand for 25 years, with its bold flavors and broad appeal we believe this brand could be very successful on a national level, said Eric Taylor, Tijuana Flats Vice President of Development.

Re-igniting franchising gives Tijuana Flats more options to expand rapidly and take advantage of the growing market for Tex-Mex food. Tijuana Flats serves up its Tex-Mex for All through fresh, innovative food, a world-class hot sauce bar, colorful restaurants and over-the top service.

We would really like see Tijuana Flats grow to its full potential, said Taylor. Its a strong brand that has been mostly corporately owned for all of these years, but we feel like with franchising that we can grow the brand the right way.

In addition to belief in the brand, the optimism is a result of detailed research into real estate opportunities in the restaurant industry, allowing franchisees to confidently join in the growth of a widely celebrated business.

If you are interested in a franchising opportunity, visit https://www.tijuanaflats.com/franchise.

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About Tijuana Flats:

With bold flavors and colorful experiences piled high with big-hearted, over-the-top service, Tijuana Flats has been satisfying peoples cravings for over 25 years. Founded in Winter Park, Fla., The Tex-Mex For All brand has been named to Fast Casual Magazines Top 100 Movers & Shakers list and received the National Restaurant Associations 2018 Restaurant Neighbor Award. For more Information, visit tijuanaflats.com.
A couple who broke into a solicitor's office in Portlaoise appeared in individual video links before the local District Court on Thursday.

Niall Connolly (30) of 38 Higgins Park, Fairgreen, Portlaoise pleaded guilty to the charge of trespass with intent to steal.

Stacey Kelly (23) also of 38 Higgins Park, Fairgreen, Portlaoise also pleaded guilty to trespass with intent to steal.

The court heard that on May 3, 2020 Mr Connolly and Ms Kelly broke into the offices of Midland Legal Solicitors.

They spent eight minutes on the premises. Nothing was taken but 300 worth of damage was done, principally to a window.

Speaking by video link as he is serving a four month sentence, Mr Connolly apologised to the solicitor, Philip Meagher. He said he was under the influence of drugs at the time.

Defending solicitor, Josephine Fitzpatrick said that his release date was due in October. He was a heroin addict who had been taking tablets at the time.

Judge Catherine Staines said that his lodged bail bond of 400 was to go to Philip Meagher.

She sentenced him to five months in prison, backdated to July 27 of this year.

The Judge also directed that Stacey Kelly's bail bond of 90 go to Philip Meagher. She was sentenced to five months in Dochas.

Defending Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said Ms Connolly was in a relationship with Niall Connolly. She was on methadone, and was due for release this November 7.

Ms Kelly also faced a number of other charges including theft of a handbag and iphone from the Bridge House Tullamore on March 30, 2019.

Judge Staines noted that there were numerous charges relating to theft and said that Ms Kelly had had numerous opportunities to deal with her heroin addiction. For the theft of the bag and iphone she received a five month consecutive sentence. The total sentence was backdated to July 7.

For the theft of the iphone Judge Staines ordered 500 compensation from the court poor box to the injured party.
New Iranian Ransomware Groups Detected

Iranian hackers using ransomware and are targeting companies in Russia, India, China, and Japan and two new groups have recently been identified. One highly professional, the other less so.

One new group is deploying Dharma ransomware and based upon on forensic analysis, this is a non-sophisticated, financially-motivated gang that is new to cyber crime and they are going after easy hits, using publicly available tools in their activity.

The second group are elite hackers associated with the Iranian government has been detected attacking the US private and government sector, according to a security alert sent by the FBI.

While the alert, called a Private Industry Notification, didn't identify the hackers by name, sources say that the group is tracked by the larger cyber-security community under code names such as Fox Kitten or Pari site. Fox Kitten primarily operates by attacking high-end and expensive network equipment using exploits for recently disclosed vulnerabilities, before companies had enough time to patch devices.

Due to the nature of the devices they attack, targets primarily include large private corporations and government networks. Once the hackers gain access to a device, they install a web shell or backdoor, transforming the equipment into a gateway into the hacked network.

Amateur Hackers at Work

These threat hackers is not as greedy as they might be and their demand is typically between 1-5 Bitcoin (currently $11,700 - $59,000), which is on the lower range of ransom demand compared to other ransomware operations. They find victims by scanning IP address ranges on the internet for exposed Remote Desktop Connections (DP); their tool of choice for this stage is Massana, an open-source port scanner. Next, they launch a brute-force with Librate, a utility that tries a list of DP passwords in an attempt to find a combo that works. Once in, they sometimes try to elevate privileges by exploiting an old vulnerability in Windows 7 through 10.

Researchers at cyber security company Group-IB learned about this new group in June during an incident response engagement at a company in Russia. Based on forensic artifacts, they determined the attacker to be Persian-speaking newbie hackers.

Supporting this conclusion are clues from the next steps of the attack, which seem to lack the confidence of an actor that knows what to do once after breaching a network.

Further evidence that the operation is the work of a script kiddie from Iran comes from search queries in Persian to find other tools necessary for the attack and from the Persian-language Telegram channels providing them. The number of victims compromised by this threat actor remains unknown, just like the path that led the threat actor to Dharma ransomware-as-a-service (RAAS) operation.

An OPEC error by an Iranian threat actor has laid bare the inner workings of the hacking group by providing a rare insight into the "behind-the-scenes look into their methods."

IBM's X-Force Incident Response Intelligence Services (IRIS) got hold of nearly five hours-worth of video recordings of the state-sponsored group it calls IPTG which is also called Charming Kitten, that it uses to train its operators. Some of the victims in the videos included personal accounts of US and Greek Navy personnel, in addition to unsuccessful phishing attempts directed against US state department officials and an unnamed Iranian-American philanthropist.

Researchers said part of this change may be attributed to the pandemic exposing a number of vulnerable hosts, with many employees working remotely, making an extremely popular attack vector for cyber criminals.

US Dept. Of Justice: MalwareBytes: Threatpost: Hacker News:

Oodaloop: ZDNet: Bleeping Computer:



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The New Generation Of Cyber Security Threats:




A greater risk is that Monte Paschi loses some of the 10 billion euros of legal claims against it, forcing it to set aside more funds and further eroding capital. The pandemic could also lead to a fresh avalanche of bad loans. Should it need to raise more capital, even with the backing of the state, the costs would be prohibitive and eat into already weak profitability. Analysts expect the bank to make just 76 million euros next year, which could be wiped out by higher interest costs.
TDT | Manama

A number of high-profile personalities from around the world will be participating in this years Bahrain Visions Forum: Shared Visions for a Successful Future, to be held under the patronage of His Royal Highness the Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa.

The event, organized annually by HRH the Premiers Court, will be held virtually on September 29, in cooperation with the World Health Organisation (WHO). A group of senior UN and WHO officials will be speaking, under the theme Sustainable Development Goals: Beyond COVID-19 Pandemic.

This years forum coincides with the high-level meetings of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 75), which proves HRH the Prime Ministers keenness to consolidate international efforts in facing various global challenges.

HRH the Premier will address the forum through a message that will highlight his visions on ways to face the pandemics economic, social, and health challenges at the global level. HRH the Prime Minister will also urge the international community to step up sustainable development efforts so that they achieve the goals of growth and progress for peoples and communities.

Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani and Foreign Affairs Ministry undersecretary and Bahrain Centre for Strategic, International and Energy Studies (Derasat) Board of Trustees chairman Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa will participate in the forum, which will also feature UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres, WHO director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and UNESCO director-general Audrey Azoulay, among others.

Keynote speakers in the webinar include 2018 Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr Denis Mukwege, and Special Envoy on Financing the 2030 Agenda Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin. The forum aims to focus on sustainable development goals (SDGs) in the post-pandemic period in order to reach results that would contribute to developing a clear roadmap regarding the necessary measures to build a more flexible, cooperative, and appropriate global system for the post-coronavirus phase.

Since its launch in 2018, the forum has succeeded in attracting high-level participants, including world leaders, heads of governments, and heads of international and regional organizations, in addition to private sector leaders, academia, NGOs, diplomats, intelligentsia, as well as press and media personnel.

It has become an important annual platform for discussing major topics, which reflects the key role Bahrain is playing in addressing pressing global issues. This years edition will discuss common visions that contribute to facing the current global challenges resulting from the pandemic, and ways to mitigate their effects on the international efforts to implement the sustainable development goals agenda.

The Bahrain Visions Forum 2020 also aims to provide a platform for the world to discuss global security and stability after the COVID-19 pandemic, including ways to make sure that the difficulties and challenges imposed by it do not impede countries efforts to achieve SDGs.

The forum will address several topics, including the health systems response to the pandemic and the search for a vaccine, COVID-19 as a catalyst for more peace and security, the global dimension of risks to lives and livelihoods, technology as a tool that brings the world together, incorporating the gender perspective in the strategic thinking for a safer world, and calls to protect the environment in an innovative and unprecedented way.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept.23

By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend:

Azerbaijan no doubt is a very tolerant country, Mayor of Israels Tirat Carmel city, Arye Tal told Trend.

Recalling his recent visit to Azerbaijan Tal noted the hospitability of locals.

The citizens of Azerbaijan are the people that believe in kindness, they are the people that will give you such a warm welcome that you feel you are at home, Tal said.

No doubt, Tal noted that this is the result of Azerbaijans policy of tolerance.

This country is one of the most tolerant and the way people here welcome you, are kind to you shows it. You dont find this in many other countries. One can say that Azerbaijan is one of the best places, the people here are open-minded, open to new ideas, open to the establishment of good relations with citizens of a lot of countries, he said.

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This does not mean the risk of contracting the coronavirus is zero. Poor and inconsistent reporting in many parts of the country means that experts do not yet have a full view of the situation, and most schools have been open for only a few weeks. Its also unclear how closely the incidence of the coronavirus in schools is tied to policies in schools such as mandatory mask-wearing.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk's former chief of staff has been cleared of corruption over the awarding of a taxpayer-funded grant but would have faced disciplinary action had he not already resigned.

David Barbagallo resigned as Ms Palaszczuk's chief of staff in October 2019 after it was revealed a company he part-owned had received a $267,000 taxpayer-funded grant.

Crime and Corruption Commission chair Alan McSporran QC with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk in 2015. Credit:Amy Remeikis

During parliamentary estimates hearings in July last year, it was revealed the state government's Advance Queensland Business Development Fund made a $267,500 co-investment in Fortress Capstone, a company linked to Mr Barbagallo.

The grant was for the development of an app called CruiseTraka.
Hong Kongs Struggle a Lesson for the World: Canada-Led Panel Discussion

Beijings actions in Hong Kong should be concerning for all Canadians, as well as all free peoples, says MP Garnett Genuis, the Conservative shadow minister for Multiculturalism & Canada-China.

Beijings subjugation of Hong Kong by imposing a draconian national security law on the autonomous region has global implications, and represents what is likely to be the most important conflict/contest of the 21st century, Genuis said at a webinar on Sept. 22.

Hong Kong provides the key to the whole world in terms of the challenges and conflicts that now confront us in the 21st century, he said.

What Hong Kong helps us do is understand the nature of the conflict between countries like ours and the PRC.

The Macdonald-Laurier Institute (MLI), an Ottawa-based public policy think tank, hosted the webinar titled Hong KongA Way Forward: How the Free World Will Respond to Beijings Crackdown to discuss how democractic nations should respond to the deteriorating situation in Hong Kong.

Among those on the panel were Dr. Miles Yu, China Policy Adviser to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo; Lord Chris Patten, last Governor of Hong Kong and Chancellor of Oxford University; and Nathan Law, one of Hong Kongs most well-known democracy activists and a founding member of Demosisto, a new pro-democracy political party.

Conservative MP Garnett Genuis at Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Oct. 25, 2018. (Limi Zhou/NTD Television)

The Chinese regime has drawn international condemnation in recent months for imposing the national security law on Hong Kong, effectively ending the one country, two systems arrangement, while arresting protesters en masse. Signed into law on June 30, the legislation stipulates punishment up to life in prison for acts of subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces. It also calls for the creation of a security agency in Hong Kong under the direct control of Beijing.

Beijings actions in Hong Kong should be concerning for all countries, said Genuis, who is also co-chair of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance (IPAC) on China, because of the universal jurisdiction that is claimed through the national security law.

In theory, in addition to the 300,000 Canadians living in Hong Kong, any Canadian who travels to or transits through Hong Kong are at risk of being arbitrarily detained under the law if theyve said or done anything that could anger Beijing, several experts told IPAC last month before the committee was shut down when Parliament was suspended. There is also no certainty as to what would be considered a violation of the law.

Canadian citizens living in Canada report significant intimidation by the government of China and actors who they back when those people are speaking out about issues of justice and human rights and rule of law in Hong Kong, Genuis said.

This raises the very real concern that Canadians, even legislators, could face charges under the national security law, be picked up in Hong Kong or extradited from other countries.

Law said the security law is used as a tool for obvious crackdowns on democracy activists in Hong Kong but also has a subtler aim of censoring democratic institutions that form the cornerstone of civil society.

By having the law in place, a lot of institutions could quote the law to suppress the freedom of expression of the individuals in that institution, he said, citing academic and press freedom as examples.

Mareike Ohlberg co-author of Hidden Hand: Exposing How the Chinese Communist Party Is Reshaping the World, said the legislations Article 38which says the rules also apply to infractions that occur anywhere outside Hong Kong, committed by foreign citizensmeans theoretically every person in every country is affected by this law.

People simply have to understand that what the CCP has done here in Hong Kong should have important lessons for them, she said, adding it should serve as a cautionary tale for governments that seek to engage or negotiate with the Chinese regime.

They have to understand what this step really means.  This really means theyre dealing with someone who is fundamentally untrustworthy and that theyre going to be breaking promises, and even international treatises that theyve made.

Nathan Law, member of the pro-democracy political organization Demosisto, speaks to reporters in Hong Kong on June 19, 2020. (Anthony Wallace/AFP via Getty Images)

Ohlberg said Canadas response to Chinas bad behaviour has been relatively muted so far, noting that business interests and elites who want to look the other way tend to hinder concrete action.

Its just been very convenient in many ways, financially helpful and financially beneficial for people to look the other way and to pretend that this isnt happening as long as it is happening to someone else, she said.

Genius says there are several ways Canada should respond to Beijings aggression in Hong Kong: Protect Canadians through legislation that deals with foreign interference and combats Beijing claim of universal jurisdiction; prioritize justice, human rights and international law in policy; and seek partnerships with like-minded countries to form a unified front against the China threat.

But multilateral collaboration is not an excuse for countries to do nothing and wait for somebody else to act first, he added.

Genius says much of the international dialogue recently has been around the United States versus China but it is really a question of what the government of China is doing versus their own people and versus the rest of the world.

Canada should also work more closely with the United States when values align, he said, noting Canada has appeared more willing to respond in a contrary way to the United States than to China.

It is much wiser for us to take positions that reflect our values and principlesif that leads to difference with the United States so be it, if that leads to alignment with the United States so be it.

Patten said this decade may represent peak China, as the regime is facing increasing challenges and international backlash.

China has awful problems to deal with, whether its drought, whether its demography, whether its debt, and all sorts of other issues as well. And I think whats very important, both in relation to Hong Kong, and in relation to dealing with China as a whole is for liberal democracies to stand up for what we believe in, he said.
An ugly showdown is developing between the US and the rest of the world on US attempts to impose further sanctions on Iran

Despite international calls to reconsider its actions, the US administration has unilaterally slapped additional sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme.

Announcing the sanctions this week, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the UK, France and Germany would be required not just to comply with the sanctions, but also to enforce them, despite their resistance to the US imposition of further sanctions.

Pompeos tone provoked anger in Europe, where he is seen as a symbol of dangerous US policies abroad, according to European diplomats. European leaders have warned the US that its claimed authority to reimpose comprehensive UN-mandated sanctions on Iran is legally void.

In a joint statement, France, Germany and the UK said that Washington did not have the authority to act unilaterally, setting up a major clash that could even lead Washington to take action against its European allies.

Russia also challenged the US move on Tuesday when it announced it would begin military cooperation with Iran once the UN embargo on conventional arms shipments to Iran ends in October.

Deputy Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said that any agreements with Iran would have nothing to do with the unlawful and illegal actions of the US administration, which is trying to intimidate the entire world. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will be meeting his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif in Moscow today to formalise the agreement.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the legal uncertainty surrounding the US claim meant it was not possible to declare that UN sanctions had been reimposed, adding that the UN would not support reimposing sanctions on Iran.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said the so-called snapback sanctions had only happened in the fantastical world of the US administration.

The US move also sets the stage for an ugly showdown at the annual UN General Assembly this week, as the nuclear deal with Iran, signed between the members of the UN Security Council and Germany in 2015, but later withdrawn from by the US, is hanging by a thread.

Iran is not expected to take steps that might lead to the total collapse of the agreement, but in the event of the re-election of US President Donald Trump in Novembers US presidential elections, all scenarios will be possible.

The United States has now restored UN sanctions on Iran, said Trump in a statement issued shortly after he signed an executive order spelling out how the US would enforce the snapback sanctions.

The sanctions include freezes on assets in US jurisdictions, bar Americans from doing business with Iran, and open up foreign governments, companies and individuals to US penalties should they engage with individuals or organisations named under the sanctions.

Speaking to reporters in Washington, Pompeo said the administration was hitting more than two dozen Iranian individuals and institutions with penalties. No matter who you are, if you violate the UN arms embargo on Iran you risk sanctions, he said.

However, nearly all of the targets identified, including the Iranian Defence Ministry, its procurement arm, Irans Atomic Energy Agency, several Iranian scientists and Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, were already subject to sanctions the administration reimposed after Trump withdrew from the nuclear deal in 2018.

Trumps new executive order mainly affects Iranian and foreign entities involved in conventional weapons and ballistic missile activity. A UN arms embargo on Iran is to expire in October under the terms of the nuclear deal, but Pompeo and others insist the snapback has brought forward its termination.

But few UN member states believe the US has the legal standing to reimpose the sanctions because Trump withdrew from the nuclear deal in 2018. The US argues it retains the right to do so as an original participant in the deal and a member of the UN Security Council.

Ali Akbar Salehi, head of Irans nuclear agency, said on Monday that there was a broad agreement in the international community that the nuclear pact should be preserved.

At a conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, Salehi said the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, as the Iran nuclear deal is known, has been caught in a quasi-stalemate situation since the US pulled out.

While insisting it is not pursuing the development of nuclear weapons, Iran has been steadily breaking restrictions on the amount of uranium it can enrich, the purity it can enrich it to, and other limitations.

But Iran has far less enriched uranium and lower-purity uranium than it had before signing the deal, and it has continued to allow international inspectors into its nuclear facilities.

Trumps Democratic Party opponent in the November elections, former US vice-president Joe Biden, has signalled that he would re-join the deal if elected, but he has also said he wants to negotiate tougher terms and expand the agreements mandate to include non-nuclear matters.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that Tehran was open to talks, but only if it was compensated for sanctions that had already been reimposed by the US. He said he would not renegotiate the terms of the 2015 deal, a signature foreign-policy achievement of former US president Barack Obama.

It is up to the United States to prove to the rest of the JCPOA participants, particularly to Iran, that its going to act responsibly, that its not going to make demands outside the scope of the JCPOA, and that its going to basically stop causing damage to Iran, Zarif said at an online event hosted by the US Council on Foreign Relations.

The timing of the new US sanctions puts Iran face to face with conflicting options. If Tehran responds, it may face criticism from its European allies, and if it does not respond, the Iranian leadership could appear weak in front of its regional allies.

Yet, with the US elections approaching, waiting could be the only move Tehran can make on this complex chessboard. If Biden were elected in November, things could improve, said Chris Doyle, director of the London-based Council for Arab-British Understanding (CAABU), in an interview with Al-Ahram Weekly.

But even if Biden were elected, relations with Iran would likely not improve quickly or dramatically within a short period of time.

Biden needs to do something regarding Iran early on his administration because the Iranians are pushing forward with their nuclear activity and he has to demonstrate that he can resolve that issue. The challenge is how to convince the hardliners in Iran to trust any deal with the US after Trump ripped up the nuclear deal, Doyle said.

The crisis with Iran would also not be solved if Trump leaves the White House in November, he said, as the dispute leaves the US at loggerheads with much of the rest of the world.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 24 September, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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A standoff between Phillip Island's iconic fairy penguins and a stubborn mother goose has been captured on camera.

The Live Penguin TV livestream recorded the Cape Barren goose and her two goslings blocking the Penguin Parade pathway on on Sunday night.

Following almost 10 minutes of chest pouting, the defiant mother goose eventually conceded defeat in the stand-off, allowing the rattled penguins to pass in numbers.

Penguins have been a long standing tourist attraction for visitors to Australia (stock image)

The footage then showed a disappointed goose move on, with her two goslings in tow.

Phillip Island Ranger Skye Nichol described the scene as 'quite a stand off.'

'One penguin went to pass and the Mumma Goose said no,' she told the Bass Coast News.

'She was quite fiesty as she was protecting her babies.'

The adorable waddling penguins at Phillip Island have long been a must-see attraction for visitors at one of Australia's premier tourist destinations in Victoria.

From 6.30pm every night (AEST), a livestream of the penguins making their way home from the beach has been a massive hit on Facebook and YouTube.

More than 771,000 viewers tuned in for the online launch back on August 25.
Two Vietnamese cities have joined the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC), along with 53 other cities from 27 countries.

A classroom in Vinh City, Nghe An Province.  VNA/VNS Photo Bich Hue

Vinh City in the central province of Nghe An and Sa Dec City in the southern province of Dong Thap were recognised as outstanding examples of how lifelong learning can become a reality at a local level.

They have proven that effective lifelong learning policies and practices can support the development of inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities.

The UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL), as co-ordinator of the network, admitted the new members following their nomination by the National Commissions for UNESCO in the countries.

A strong commitment to lifelong learning by the city administration is key to becoming a learning city.

As part of their application process, potential UNESCO GNLC members must demonstrate a clear vision for providing lifelong learning opportunities for everyone in the community. Once admitted, cities are expected to take part in the activities of the network and to produce a biennial report outlining their achievements as learning cities.

Within the framework of the strategy for 20192021, the activities of the network focus on seven key priorities: education for sustainable development; equity and inclusion; educational planning, monitoring and evaluation; education for global citizenship; entrepreneurship; learning for health and well-being; and literacy.

The new member cities will be presented in an online event on Wednesday.

UIL Director David Atchoarena said that the COVID-19 pandemic had underlined the necessity to build more resilient education systems for the future.

With more than half of humanity living in urban areas, cities must be at the centre of this undertaking, he said.

During the pandemic, UNESCO learning cities from around the world have shown that they are well placed to make lifelong learning a reality, also under harsh conditions, Atchoarena added.

Vo Thanh Tung, chairman of Sa Dec City Peoples Committee, said Sa Dec becoming a learning city was an urgent requirement, helping the city soon access knowledge economies.

He said the city was envisioned to become a prosperous and sustainable city based on knowledge and learning to create more jobs, increase income and improve the lives of local people.

Tran Ngoc Tu, Chairman of Peoples Committee of Vinh City said that the city is part of Nghe An Province, a land with a long tradition of fondness for learning.

The city's educational network meets the diversified learning and development needs of its inhabitants, he said. VNS

World experts descend on Vietnam for UNESCO education forum The UNESCO Forum for Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship Education is expected to welcome between 300 and 350 delegates from across the world with the event running in Hanoi on July 2-3.
A number of actors in the past few months have tested positive for COVID-19 and have shared their tryst and recovery journey from the dreaded virus. In a similar vein, Mithila Palkar has opened up about her 93-year-old grandfather surviving COVID-19.

For the unversed, the Karwaan actress has been living with her grandparents for the past 17 years and had to go through a gruelling time last month, when her grandpa and a staff member tested positive for coronavirus.

The actress spoke in detail with the Times of India and said, In mid-August, after a gap of five months, one of our house helps went grocery shopping. Usually, I would never allow anyone else to run errands and would do it myself. I used to step out after taking all the precautions, as I have to be very careful with two senior citizens at home. However, this one time, I let the house help venture out. Within five days, the staff member tested positive. After that, we all got tested, and while me, my grandmother and another house help tested negative, my grandpa caught the virus.

She went on to add, I am really happy with BMCs prompt action. The doctor suggested home quarantine for my grandpa, as he is very old. So, while me and my grandmother shifted to my aunts place, the other staff member stayed at a quarantine centre. One of my aunts stayed with my grandpa. Thankfully, after 14 days, he tested negative.

Mithila also stated that she kept checking up on him through video calls and was regularly in touch with the doctor.

ALSO READ: Arjun Kapoor To Donate Plasma For COVID-19 Patients After Recovering From The Virus

ALSO READ: Disha Parmar Tests Positive For COVID-19; Says 'Being Positive Never Was So Awful!'
A woman who went viral for an unflattering mugshot ran a bushfire scam worth tens of thousands of dollars.

Tiffany-Anne Brislane-Brown slammed police for their choice of photo when issuing a warrant for her arrest in Newcastle, 160km north of Sydney, in January.

The 23-year-old has admitted to defrauding a government agency out of $60,000, which was designated for victims impacted by the black summer bushfires.

The mother-of-two is awaiting sentencing over the scam at Silverwater Women's Prison and will return to court later this month.

A woman who went viral for an unflattering 'trailer trash' mugshot ran a bushfire scam worth tens of thousands of dollars

She pleaded guilty to six counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception at Belmont Local Court on Wednesday, reported the Daily Telegraph.

The court heard her elaborate scam involved registering for financial aid through Service New South Wales using a series of emails and phone numbers.

Brislane-Brown manipulated the government to hand over money by claiming she was a small business owner who had been impacted by the bushfires.

Between May and April she lodged 24 applications through the bushfire-COVID-19 $10,000 grant scheme.

The program was designed to help small businesses across the state experiencing declining revenue connected to the fires and coronavirus restrictions.

Tiffany-Anne Brislane-Brown, 23, called out police for their choice of photo when issuing a warrant for her arrest in Newcastle, 160km north of Sydney in January

But an investigation into fraud offences by New South Wales police exposed the 23-year-old's scam earlier this year.

She was arrested on April 30 and charged over unrelated matters before being questioned over the fraud offences.

The court heard a later investigation of her phone records proved she was responsible.

Receipts were also found showing payment to bank accounts of another ten people.

She has now has pleaded guilty to six counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception by scamming money designated for small businesses impacted by the NSW budshfires

The 23-year-old became famous online after calling out police for posting an unflattering mugshot of her on Facebook.

Officers shared the 'most recent image' they had of Tiffany-Anne Brislane, 23, in January as part of a call out by Newcastle City Police for alleged stealing offences.

The image from 2015 shows Brislane with her hair up in a bun, a confused look on her face and a tattoo on her collarbone which reads: 'We don't remember days, we remember moments.'

Police posted the image in the hope it garner information on her whereabouts.

The mother-of-two came across the Facebook post and fired back in the comment section.

The mother-of-two came across the police's Facebook post and fired back at some of the comments (pictured)

'Loving the photo taken how many years ago. Let's calm down on the comments guys it's not everyday I look like trailer trash. Let's just say it wasn't a good angle,' she commented.

Newcastle Police responded: 'Probably time you walk into a police station before we find you.'

'Thanks for the advice like I said youse [sic] will be seeing me bright and early Monday morning with my solicitor. Thanks guys,' she fired back.

She then took to her personal Facebook page where she uploaded an 'actual pic of me'.

'Here's an actual pic of me. Let's take the time to acknowledge this is not my current Newcastle police page photo they've decided to upload from 2015,' she wrote.

'Thanks for the advice like I said youse [sic] will be seeing me bright and early Monday morning with my solicitor. Thanks guys,' she once again responded

Some social media users lashed out at others for their comments.

'For Christ's sake I pray none of you ever have a family member or friend in this situation because most of you are just plain downright nasty,' one person wrote.

'This is someones daughter, sister, loved one. Have a heart please.'
New Delhi, Sep 23 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday raised a red flag about 60 districts of the country spread across seven states, as far as their handling of the current pandemic is concerned.

The PM emphasised upon the need for better communication and staying alert against those spreading rumours.

"There are more than 700 districts in the country.However, only 60 districts in 7 states are a cause of worry," said the Prime Minister.

He suggested the Chief Ministers present in Wednesday's virtual meet to hold a virtual conference with people at the district or the block level for 7 days. "We have to learn from best practices from across states," he added.

Highlighting the importance of communication amid the pandemic, Modi said effective messaging becomes all the more essential because most Covid-19 infections are asymptomatic. "In such a situation, rumours may rise. It might create doubts in people's minds that testing is bad," He said, he also warned against scenarios in which because of lack of communication, people may commit the mistake of underestimating the severity of infection.

Continuing with his thrust on testing and contact-tracing, PM Modi reiterated, "We have to increase our focus on effective testing, tracing, treatment, surveillance as well as clear messaging." He added that states need to work together to see that the supply of life-saving medicines reach from one state to another easily.

Prime Minister Modi chaired a high-level virtual meeting with Chief Ministers & Health Ministers of 7 states and Union territories with high COVID numbers. These states and UTs include Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Punjab.

These account for 65.5 per cent of the total confirmed cases and 77 per cent of the total deaths in India, a statement had said earlier.
The man who recorded video of Eric Garner's chokehold death during his 2014 arrest in Staten Island has been charged with gun possession, just four months after regaining his freedom.

Ramsey Orta, 29, was arrested early Monday morning during a traffic stop in the Willamsburg section of Brooklyn.

According to police, Orta was pulled over at the intersection of South 2nd and Roebling streets at around 2am for driving with overly tinted windows in his car.

Ramsay Orta (left), 29, a friend of Eric Garner (right) who filmed his death during his arrest in 2014, was arrested on Monday on gun charges

When police looked inside Orta's vehicle, they allegedly spotted drugs, reported New York Post.

Officers then asked the driver to step out of the car and searched him, allegedly discovering a 9mm handgun tucked into his waistband.

As a convicted felon with a criminal record that includes more than 30 arrests, Orta is not permitted to possess a gun.

He was arrested on firearms charges. He was also wanted for questioning in connection to a domestic violence case, according to the New York Daily News.

In 2015, Orta was caught in the act by police selling crack, oxycodone, marijuana and heroin in the Staten Island park across the street from where Garner died. He was also arrested in a separate incident after being caught with a gun.

Orta was released from prison on May 28 after serving a four-year sentence for drug and gun convictions.

He was let out of the Franklin Correctional Facility near the Canadian border six weeks early amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Garner, a father of six, was put in a chokehold by officer Daniel Pantaleo. This video shows cops tending to him after he stopped breathing

Orta, pictured with Reverend Al Sharpton during the funeral service for Garner, has claimed his many arrests were in retaliation for filming Garner's death

The 29-year-old has claimed his many arrests were in retaliation for filming the moment his friend, Garner, repeated 'I can't breathe' 11 times while in a chokehold on July 17, 2014 by NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo.

'The cops had been following me every day since Eric died, shining lights in my house every night,' he told The Verge in 2018.

Orta's video showed Pantaleo taking Garner to the ground after he and another officer confronted him over suspicions he was selling loose, untaxed cigarettes outside a Staten Island convenience store.

Orta was released from prison on May 28, after serving a four-year sentence for drug and gun convictions. He was let out of prison near the Canadian border six weeks early amid the coronavirus outbreak

Before Pantaleo grabbed him, Garner is seen on video arguing with the officers, protesting what he considered constant harassment.

The footage sparked outrage and nationwide protests against police brutality.

In December 2014, a Staten Island grand jury refused to indict Pantaleo on criminal charges in Garner's death. He was fired from the force in August 2019.
A familiar face will disappear from the orange boxes of Uncle Bens fast-cooking rice.

Mars Food, which owns the brand with deep roots in Houston, announced Wednesday it will change the name to Bens Original and remove the image of an elderly Black man from the box. The new brand is also partnering with National Urban League to support aspiring Black chefs through a scholarship fund.

Mars first signaled it would evolve the brand in June, following the first waves of protests against racial injustice following the death of George Floyd. Mars joined Pepsi Co., owner of the Aunt Jemima brand, and ConAgra, maker of Mrs. Butterworths, in responding to a broader consumer market awakening to the offense given by images and representations deeply ingrained in the culture.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Houston-based Uncle Bens to evolve its brand after Pepsi ditches Aunt Jemima

Over the last several weeks, we have listened to thousands of consumers, our own associates and other stakeholders from around the world, Fiona Dawson, global president of Mars Food, Multisales and Global Customers, said in a statement. We understand the inequities that were associated with the name and face of the previous brand, and as we announced in June, we have committed to change.

Bens milled rice at a Houston Ship Channel plant for some 53 years before moving its operations to Mississippi in the late 1990s, according to Chronicle archives. The companys headquarters, on Harvey Wilson Drive, stayed behind Houston.

One of the largest rice-producing states in the nation, Texas lore said the name of the business was drawn from an African American farmer known for producing high-quality rice. Slaves were referred to as aunt and uncle, and images like the Uncle Bens and Aunt Jemima characters are said to evoke stereotypes around the happy slave.

This is not the first attempt at repairing the brand. In 2007, the company promoted the fictional Uncle Ben to chairman of the board and gave him an office, which people could take virtual tours of.

The new Bens Original branding will hit grocery store shelves early next year, Mars said.

While implementing an evolution on this scale will be a complex process, there is no better time than right now, Dawson said. We know this is the right thing to do for our brand and business to ensure we create the truly inclusive future that everyone deserves.

amanda.drane@chron.com
Issues Letter to Board Scrutinizing the Suitability of Lead Independent Director Dino Chiesa, Who Called Spruce Point's Research "Baseless" and Retains "the Utmost Confidence in Management"

Highlights That Mr. Chiesa is Chairman of Sienna Senior Living (TSX: SIA), Which the Canadian Press Says is Under Criminal Investigation and Faces Hundreds of Millions in Lawsuits Stemming From COVID-19 Deaths

Questions Mr. Chiesa's Ability to Function as GFL's Lead Independent Director and Serve as a Check on Chairman and CEO Patrick Dovigi While Devoting his "Full Time" to Sienna

Reiterates a Strong Sell Research Opinion and Encourages Investors to Review Spruce Point's 107-Page Report

NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Spruce Point Capital Management, LLC (together with its affiliates, "Spruce Point"), a New York-based investment management firm that focuses on forensic research and short-selling, today issued an open letter to the Board of Directors of GFL Environmental Inc. (NYSE: GFL and GFLU and TSX: GFL) ("GFL" or the "Company"). The letter exposes additional evidence of insufficient and poor corporate governance at GFL, specifically pertaining to Lead Independent Director Dino Chiesa. As a reminder, Spruce Point issued a 107-page report on August 18, 2020 entitled "Green for Life, Red for Losses" that outlines why shares of GFL face 100% downside risk. GFL has still not publicly addressed any of the "inaccuracies" alleged in our report. The full report can be downloaded and viewed at www.sprucepointcap.com.

The full text of the letter is below.

***

September 23, 2020

The Board of Directors

GFL Environmental, Inc.

100 New Park Pl Suite 500

Vaughan, ON L4K 0J3, Canada

Attn: Paolo Notarnicola, Chair of the Nomination, Governance and Compensation Committee

Mr. Notarnicola,

Spruce Point Capital Management, LLC (together with its affiliates, "Spruce Point") continues to believe that GFL Environmental, Inc. ("GFL" or the "Company") is plagued by an array of corporate governance weaknesses, disclosure lapses, financial control and reporting issues, and operational and strategic flaws. With each passing day, we are finding additional evidence in support of our view that the Company's shares are uninvestable for institutions and face 100% downside risk. We are contacting you today because you are the Chair of GFL's Nomination, Governance and Compensation Committee (the "Committee") and presumably understand the importance of having a credible, integrity-rich Lead Independent Director at a company with a combined chairman and chief executive role. In our view, GFL does not currently have one.

In response to Spruce Point's 107-page report issued on the morning of August 18, GFL issued the following statement in the afternoon from Lead Independent Director Dino Chiesa:

"We are very disappointed by the baseless report put out today by Spruce Point Capital [] Spruce Point has never engaged with the company and the report is without merit. We have the support of our shareholders and the utmost confidence in management, who have held themselves to the highest ethical standards. We continue to believe in the strategy of the business and its focus on creating long term shareholder value."

We contend that Mr. Chiesa lacks the ability to make such a declaration and is unfit to serve as a public company director. Mr. Chiesa's current tenure as Chairman of Sienna Senior Living ("Sienna"), which is currently under criminal investigation and faces hundreds of millions of dollars in lawsuits, has become an unmitigated disaster. Sienna's alleged abuse and negligent actions towards senior citizens are believed to have contributed to more than 110 deaths over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The organization's practices have been well chronicled in a report issued by the Canadian Armed Forces, which observed shocking patterns of underfeeding, improper wound care, and general patient negligence at Sienna's Altamont Care Community. An independent report issued on June 16 by Global News reveals that, through June, more COVID-related deaths had occurred at Sienna-owned-or-operated facilities than any other long-term care provider in Ontario, despite Sienna being only the third-largest long-term home operator in the province by facility count. Sienna's disturbingly poor record through the COVID pandemic and reports of mistreatment of its patients during a national health crisis raise serious questions as to Chiesa's ability to oversee any company effectively.

Further, we wonder how Mr. Chiesa had the time and wherewithal to even review Spruce Point's lengthy report on August 18 when he told The Toronto Star in June that he is "working full time trying to straighten out what's going on at Sienna Senior Living." In fact, Sienna's issues have been so enormous and time-consuming that Mr. Chiesa, by his own admission, has been forced to step away from his duties as Chairman of CreateTO to commit his full time and attention to Sienna. If Mr. Chiesa does not have enough time to attend to his duties as a Director of CreateTO, why has he not also stepped away from his identical role at GFL  an aggressively-acquisitive, multinational, multi-billion dollar company whose Board duties are likely at least as time-consuming as CreateTO's? If nothing else, it seems to us that an individual embroiled in a national health scandal and working "full time" to manage a corporate crisis is not best equipped to serve as GFL's Lead Independent Director, especially in the wake of the issues highlighted by Spruce Point pertaining to the Company's acquisitions, financials, and c-level business affiliations. Perhaps having a preoccupied and weak Lead Independent Director has enabled Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Patrick Dovigi to maintain what we believe are highly-questionable connections to individuals with past criminal issues. These connections are outlined on various pages of our report if you and the Board would like to reacquaint yourselves with Mr. Dovigi's network.

As a senior leader at BC Partners, surely you are aware that your own firm touts taking "an active role in improving ESG awareness, performance and compliance in each portfolio company."1 It appears to us that GFL is striking out on all three fronts when it comes to the environment, governance and social stewardship. Perhaps you can use your role on the Committee to assess, acknowledge and address GFL's numerous issues ahead of a potential regulatory action or financial collapse. We believe both outcomes are highly likely on the Company's current trajectory.

Sincerely,

Ben Axler

Founder and Chief Investment Officer

Spruce Point Capital Management

***

Please note that the items summarized in this press release are expanded upon and supported with data, public filings and records, and images in Spruce Point's full report. As a reminder, our full report, along with its investment disclaimers, can be downloaded and viewed at www.sprucepointcap.com.

Spruce Point has a short position in securities tied to GFL and stands to benefit if its share price falls.

About Spruce Point

Spruce Point Capital Management, LLC is a forensic fundamentally-oriented investment manager that focuses on short-selling, value and special situation investment opportunities. Spruce Point Capital Management, LLC is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, CRD number 288248.

Contact

To contact Spruce Point, please reach us online.

1 https://www.bcpartners.com/about/responsibility

SOURCE Spruce Point Capital Management, LLC

Related Links

http://www.sprucepointcap.com


FILE PHOTO: Women look at the giant Olympic rings, which are being temporarily removed for maintenance, at the waterfront area at Odaiba Marine Park in Tokyo

(Reuters) - A consulting firm for Tokyo's Olympic bid committee paid around $370,000 to the son of Lamine Diack, once one of the world's most powerful sports officials, around the time Japan was picked to host the 2020 Games, Kyodo News reported on Monday.

The report comes amid French investigations into the former head of Tokyo's bid committee, Tsunekazu Takeda, for approving around $2 million in payments to Black Tidings, a now-defunct consulting firm in Singapore.

The report said the findings, based on a review of financial documents as well as reporting by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and several media organisations including Kyodo, may shed light on what happened to the $2 million.

Black Tidings made multiple transfers to Diacks son, Papa Massata Diack, including some paid into a personal account and others transferred to his company, the report said. The combined total was around $370,000, it said.

Papa Massata Diack told Kyodo that the payments were not related to the Tokyo Olympics. He declined further comment in an e-mail to Reuters.

French prosecutors had been looking into whether Black Tidings paid the younger Diack to influence the father, who was a member of the International Olympic Committee and believed to control votes among African members.

Takeda resigned last year due to the scandal, admitting to the payments while denying wrongdoing.

The Kyodo report said he denied any knowledge of money transfers from Black Tidings.

"At the time, I did not know anything that happened after (making the payment to the consulting firm)," he said.

Reuters could not immediately contact Takeda for comment.

The older Diack, former head of world athletics' governing body, was convicted in France on Wednesday for corruption in relation to a Russian doping scandal.

The Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics have been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, with the government planning to host the games next year instead.

(Reporting by Ritsuko Ando and Nathan Layne; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
Lee University freshmen and transfer students participated in the annual Deke Day celebration last month to kick off the fall semester.

Since 2003, Lee Universitys Leonard Center has hosted Deke Day during the semesters opening weekend, an opportunity for incoming students to serve at nursing homes and retirement communities. This year, due to COVID-19, students and faculty were unable to enter these facilities.

Because we believe Deke Day matters, we wanted to do something to continue the experience, said Dr. William Lamb, Leonard Center director. After a bit of brainstorming, we decided to go with handwritten cards.

Over 760 new students, along with their peer leaders and professors, met in small groups across campus and wrote letters to Lees partner assisted-living facilities. They were separated according to their Gateway class, a course designed to help acclimate new students to life at Lee. Students wrote 7,947 cards over the course of the day, which were hand delivered, along with a cupcake, to activity directors in 49 nursing facilities across seven different counties. The cards were intended to remind residents that they had not been forgotten during the pandemic, and according to Dr. Lamb, it was a huge success.

It was a success in two specific ways. First, it reminded the residents and staff at these elderly care facilities that they matter to us, and it reminded the college students of the value of the handwritten card. Its kind of a lost, forgotten art, but it is meaningful. There is value in taking a pen in your hand and writing out words that will last for many years. These letters provided a long-term experience that can be read over and over again.

It took four days and over 600 miles for Dr. Lamb and Special Projects Assistant Chase Eaves to deliver the cards to each of the facilities. Among the many responses from staff and residents, Helen Whitener of Life Care Center, Copper Basin, wrote a thank you letter to the Lee students and staff expressing appreciation for their kindness. It was very uplifting and encouraging to see how much people care, she wrote.

Deke Day is the students first introduction to service-learning at Lee University. Deke is derived from diakoneo, a Greek word in the Bible meaning to serve. During a normal semester, hundreds of freshmen students, along with their peer leaders and professors, load onto buses and vans bound for elderly care facilities and retirement communities. In each facility, students interact with residents and, in the process, come to gain a better understanding of the service-learning program and to engage with classmates in a meaningful way.



For more information about Deke Day, visit leeuniversity.edu/service-learning/student-requirements.aspx.








A cast of the mosasaur Gnathomortis stadtmanis bones mounted at Brigham Young Universitys Eyring Science Center in Provo, Utah. Using phylogenetics and other analysis, Utah State University Eastern paleontologist Joshua Lively described and renamed the new genus, which roamed the oceans of North America toward the end of the Age of Dinosaurs. Credit: BYU

Some 92 to 66 million years ago, as the age of dinosaurs waned, giant marine lizards called mosasaurs roamed an ocean that covered North America from Utah to Missouri and Texas to the Yukon. The air-breathing predators were streamlined swimmers that devoured almost everything in their path, including fish, turtles, clams and even smaller mosasaurs.

Coloradoan Gary Thompson discovered mosasaur bones near the Delta County town of Cedaredge in 1975, which the teen reported to his high school science teacher. The specimens made their way to Utah's Brigham Young University, where, in 1999, the creature that left the fossils was named Prognathodon stadtmani.

"I first learned of this discovery while doing background research for my Ph.D.," says newly arrived Utah State University Eastern paleontologist Joshua Lively, who recently took the reins as curator of the Price campus' Prehistoric Museum. "Ultimately, parts of this fossil, which were prepared since the original description in 1999, were important enough to become a chapter in my 2019 doctoral dissertation."

Upon detailed research of the mosasaur's skeleton and a phylogenetic analysis, Lively determined the BYU specimen is not closely related to other species of the genus Prognathodon and needed to be renamed. He reclassified the mosasaur as Gnathomortis stadtmani and reports his findings in the most recent issue of the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.

A model of the mosasaur Gnathomortis skull, top, and the jaw fossils discovered by Colorado teen Gary Thompson in 1975, below, are on display at Brigham Young Universitys Museum of Paleontology in Provo, Utah. Credit: Joshua Lively

His research was funded by the Geological Society of America, the Evolving Earth Foundation, the Texas Academy of Science and the Jackson School of Geosciences at The University of Texas at Austin.

"The new name is derived from Greek and Latin words for 'jaws of death,'" Lively says. "It was inspired by the incredibly large jaws of this specimen, which measure four feet (1.2 meters) in length."

An interesting feature of Gnathomortis' mandibles, he says, is a large depression on their outer surface, similar to that seen in modern lizards, such as the Collared Lizard. The feature is indicative of large jaw muscles that equipped the marine reptile with a formidable biteforce.

Joshua Lively, curator of paleontology at the Utah State University Eastern Prehistoric Museum in Price, describes a new genus of mosasaur, Gnathomortis stadtmani, that roamed the oceans toward the end of the Age of Dinosaurs. Credit: Christopher Henderson

"What sets this animal apart from other mosasaurs are features of the quadratea bone in the jaw joint that also forms a portion of the ear canal," says Lively, who returned to the fossil's Colorado discovery site and determined the age interval of rock, in which the specimen was preserved. "In Gnathomortis, this bone exhibits a suite of characteristics that are transitional from earlier mosasaurs, like Clidastes, and later mosasaurs, like Prognathodon. We now know Gnathomortis swam in the seas of Colorado between 79 and 81 million years ago, or at least 3.5 million years before any species of Prognathodon."

Features of the quadrate  a bone in the jaw joint that also forms a portion of the ear canal  of a mosasaur fossil discovered in Colorado tipped off Utah State University Eastern paleontologist Joshua Lively that the bones, originally identified as Prognathodon stadtmani, were from a different genus of mosasaur. Credit: Joshua Lively

He says fossil enthusiasts can view Gnathomortis' big bite at the BYU Museum of Paleontology in Provo, Utah, and see a cast of the skull at the Pioneer Town Museum in Cedaredge, Colorado. Reconstructions of the full skeleton are on display at the John Wesley Powell River History Museum in Green River, Utah, and in BYU's Eyring Science Center.

"I'm excited to share this story, which represents years of effort by many citizen scientists and scholars, as I kick off my new position at USU Eastern's Prehistoric Museum," Lively says. "It's a reminder of the power of curiosity and exploration by people of all ages and backgrounds."

Explore further First egg from Antarctica is big and might belong to an extinct sea lizard

More information: Lively, J.R. 2020. Redescription and phylogenetic assessment of 'Prognathodon' stadtmani: implications for Globidensini monophyly and character homology in Mosasaurinae. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.108  2724634.2020.1784183 Journal information: Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology Lively, J.R. 2020. Redescription and phylogenetic assessment of 'Prognathodon' stadtmani: implications for Globidensini monophyly and character homology in Mosasaurinae.
New Delhi: Indias imports from China during April-July 2020 decreased to US$ 16.60 billion from US$ 23.45 billion in the corresponding period of the previous year, said Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on the disruption of imports from China due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a written reply in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, Goyal said there were several global and domestic supply-side constraints and also a dip in global demand, adding that some of the items exhibiting a decline in imports include electronic components, telecom instruments, computer hardware, industrial machinery for dairy, electric machinery, residual chemical, and allied products, consumer electronics, electronic instruments, fertilizers, products of iron & steel, etc.

He further said, "To minimise the impact of such disruptions, the government has taken steps to expand domestic capacities and has implemented policies to promote domestic manufacturing through the ease of doing business and Production Linked Incentives (PLIs) in select sectors including mobile phones & electronic components and medical devices & bulk drugs."

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The Commerce and Industry Minister further said that the government has banned certain apps in June 2020 and September 2020 on concerns of security and to ensure the safety and sovereignty of the Indian cyberspace.

He said, "Many apps are available on each of the popular play store namely Google PlayStore and Apple Store including competing apps with similar functionalities."

Piyush Goyal said, "Government of India has also launched Digital India AatmaNirbhar Bharat Innovate Challenge to give a push to Indian App ecosystem through shortlisting of the top Indian Apps that have the potential to become global competitors in their respective categories."

He, however, said that the government has also sensitized stakeholders to source critical imports from diversified sources through the active support of our missions.

The full impact of these measures on the industry will be discernible as the global economy recovers, and revives from the recessionary effects of the pandemic, he added.
Kim Kardashian has been doing her best to hold her family together amid husband Kanye West's ongoing mental health struggles and frequent Twitter firestorms.

But the 39-year-old KKW Beauty took her mind off the chaos by slipping into a head-to-toe Balmain ensemble personally sent to her by the French luxury brand's creative director Olivier Rousteing.

'Balmain Barbie,' wrote Kardashian as she modeled the high fashion fit for her 185million Instagram followers on Tuesday.

Balmain Barbie: On Tuesday, Kim Kardashian slipping into a head-to-toe Balmain ensemble sent to her by the French luxury brand's creative director Olivier Rousteing

Make it fashion: One item that really excited the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star was the Balmain face mask

Before trying the outfit on for size, Kim gave her fans a closer look at the various pieces she was generously gifted.

'Oh my God! Look at this Balmain. Look at this turtleneck with the gloves and the biker shorts and the bag...' she narrated, while panning her camera over the luxury goods.

One item that really excited the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star was the unique Balmain face mask.

'And, you guys, there is a mask! It is so cute,' she exclaimed. She closed out her video by thanking Olivier for the 'amazing' gift.

Model behavior: 'Balmain Barbie,' wrote Kardashian as she modeled the high fashion fit for her 185million Instagram followers

Vintage: Kim explained that the pattern featured on all of the pieces is a vintage 'B' pattern that was created by the brand's founder Pierre Balmain 'years ago'

Moments later, Kim returned to Instagram donning the fashion-forward get-up, which she revealed was from the brand's newest collection.

She explained that the pattern featured on all of the pieces is a vintage 'B' pattern that was created by the brand's founder Pierre Balmain 'years ago.'

Then, panning her camera down, Kim showed how each clothing item flatteringly clung to her curves.

Her lengthy brunette hair was styled into a mod half up, half down 'do that was curled at the ends.

Strike a pose: She posed for a slew of editorial-style photos in the doorway of her massive closet, as well as a solid white couch

Thankful: 'And, you guys, there is a mask! It is so cute,' she exclaimed. She closed out her video by thanking Olivier for the 'amazing' gift

To match her dramatic outfit, Kardashian sported a full-face of makeup, which included a sexy cateye flick, a full brow, plenty of bronzer, and her signature nude lip shade.

The Balmain ensemble included the brand's iconic pointed shoulders and skintight long sleeves.

The arm length gloves amped up the glamour, as did the gold hardware on the outfit's coordinating handbag.

In an Instagram Story video, Kim eagerly placed the Balmain face mask over her made-up face and flashed a peace sign at the camera.

Full glam: To match her dramatic outfit, Kardashian sported a full-face of makeup, which included a sexy cateye flick, a full brow, plenty of bronzer, and her signature nude lip shade

Tutorial: In an Instagram Story video, Kim eagerly placed the Balmain face mask over her made-up face and flashed a peace sign at the camera

She posed for a slew of editorial-style photos in the doorway of her massive closet, as well as a solid white couch.

Shortly after sharing the various photos and videos to her Instagram, some of Kim's closest friends and family took to the comment section to gush over her look.

'Come on Barbie lets go party,' wrote older sister Kourtney, 41, in reference to Kim's 'Balmain Barbie' caption.

The reality star's high fashion display came just days after a source claimed to Us Weekly that she is 'deeply disappointed and sad' about husband Kanye's ongoing mental health struggles.

Figure flattering: Kim showed how each clothing item flatteringly clung to her curves

Distracting herself: The reality star's high fashion display came just days after a source claimed to Us Weekly that she is 'deeply disappointed and sad' about husband Kanye's ongoing mental health struggles

Kim is reportedly worried about the 'vicious cycle' her husband is experiencing, after a series of bizarre Twitter rants and posting a video of him appearing to urinate on one of his Grammys statues.

They went on to say how Kim knows it is difficult for Kanye 'being isolated and alone'.

'Being isolated and alone essentially in his head isn't healthy for Kanye ... She doesn't care about the tweets, that is Kanye being Kanye. The mood swings and the manic episodes that are extremely difficult for Kim to help Kanye cope with.'

Another insider, who spoke to Us Weekly last Wednesday, said that Kim is 'continuing to support' Kanye.

Up close and personal: Before trying on the outfit for size, Kim gave her fans a closer look at the various pieces she was generously sent

Up close and personal: Before trying on the outfit for size, Kim gave her fans a closer look at the various pieces she was generously sent

'Kim is holding onto her marriage with Kanye and knows that he is bipolar and struggling with his mental health and wants to be there for him and help,' the source explained.

Kim is well aware that Kanye often struggles with his mental heath, so the KKW Beauty CEO wants him to know that she is doing her best to empathize.

'She is continuing to support him and does her best to understand him and where he is coming from. She knows he is unconventional and has always known that.'

Despite offering support privately, Kardashian has not publicly commented on her husband's latest antics.

Kim and Kanye, who wed in 2014, share four children, daughters North, seven, and Chicago, two, and sons Saint, five, and Psalm, one.
KYODO NEWS - Sep 23, 2020 - 19:43 | All, Japan

Japan's weather agency warned Wednesday that a typhoon heading toward the eastern part of the country could bring heavy rain and cause landslides and flooding.

Typhoon Dolphin, this year's 12th typhoon, is approaching eastern Japan and forecast to move northward along its Pacific coast, bringing heavy rain to parts of eastern and northeastern regions through Friday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

The typhoon is unlikely to make landfall on eastern Japan as previously feared, but areas affected by it could see tornadoes and thunder, it said.

The government on Wednesday launched a task force at the prime minister's office to gather information in cooperation with ministries and agencies concerned.

Hachiro Okonogi, minister for disaster management, called on local governments to prepare for the smooth evacuation of residents.

As of 6 p.m., the typhoon was located around 70 kilometers southeast of Hachijo Island heading northeast at a speed of about 25 kilometers per hour over the Pacific Ocean.

It had an atmospheric pressure of 985 hectopascals at its center, with a maximum gust speed of 126 kph, according to the agency.

In the 24 hours through 6 p.m. Thursday, rainfall of up to 250 millimeters is forecast for the Izu island chain, up to 200 mm for the Kanto region including Tokyo, and up to 180 mm for the northeastern Tohoku region.
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Watches are vital accessories available with a wide range of functions. The developments in batteries and watch designs are likely to drive its continuous sales. The global watch market report by Market Research Future (MRFR) looks at the latest trends, innovations, and challenges to be faced by industry leaders for the period of 2019 to 2024 (forecast period). The outbreak of the COVID-19 and its impact has been thoroughly analyzed for this period.

Market Scope

The global Watch Industry size can reach a staggering valuation of USD 75.8 billion by 2024. It can exhibit a CAGR of 6.7% during the forecast period. Technological breakthroughs in watches are expected to be the primary driver of the market. For instance, wrist watches provide various functions according to watch size and design. Wrist watches for divers have high water resistance and the presence of various experts in horology is likely to herald a new era in watches. Changing lifestyles of customers and need for personalization are expected to bolster the demand for watches.

The proliferation of the internet and miniaturization of cells and processors can bring forth new avenues to explore in the watch market. Huge need for basic and mid digital watches in Singapore can augur favorably for the market. But availability of counterfeit products and unorganized players can hamper the market growth. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to many potential customers opting for online channels for procurement of watches.

Segmentation

The global watch market has been segmented on the basis of type, category, distribution channel, and end user.

By type, it is segmented into digital watches, analog watches, chronograph watches, smartwatches, and others.

By category, the market is segmented into mechanical watches, quartz watches, and others.

Distribution channels discussed in the market report are divided into store-based and non-store-based. The store-based segment has been further divided into supermarkets and hypermarkets, specialty stores, and others.

End users catered by the global watch market comprise men, women, and unisex.

Get a FREE Sample Copy of Report: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/8027

Regional Analysis

The global watch market has been analyzed for four key regionsNorth America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), and Rest-of-the-World (RoW).

Europe is anticipated to lead in the global watch market due to change in lifestyles of consumers and demand for smartwatches. Preference of luxury watches and rise in online shopping are other growth drivers of the market. The decline in quartz watch sales in France, U.K., and other countries in the region is likely to lead to new manufacturing strategies to revive the particular segment. The rise in disposable income levels of customers can act as a catalyst for growth in the market.

APAC is expected to exhibit a huge growth rate during the forecast period due to rise in expendable income levels of citizens, marketing campaigns, awareness of technology, and the organized retail sector. Sales of mechanical watches in Singapore are likely to pave the way for a niche segment by catering to a younger audience.

Competition Outlook

Financiere Richemont SA, Bucherer AG, Patek Philippe Sa., Samsung Electronics Co., Citizen Watch Co., Ltd., Rolex SA, Titan Ltd., The Swatch Group Ltd., Ralph Lauren Europe Sarl, Apple Inc., LVMH Group, Casio America, Inc., Seiko Watch Corporation, Fossil Group, Inc., and Fortis Watches AG are key players of the global watch market.

Access Full Report Details and Order this Premium Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/watch-market-8027

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:

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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.

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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Medical evidence was produced in Julian Assanges extradition hearing yesterday detailing the terrible harm done to the heroic journalist by a decade of state-orchestrated persecution.

The day was given over to the examination of Professor Michael Kopelman who testified to Assanges mental health. Kopelman is a psychiatrist and Emeritus Professor of Neuropsychiatry at Kings College London. He has given expert evidence in multiple extradition cases on behalf of both the defence and the prosecution. In assessing Assange, he conducted seventeen visits in 2019 and additional visits in 2020, constructed a full family history and a full personal psychiatric history, and carried out interviews with his family and lifelong friends.

His findings constitute a clear bar to Assanges extradition to the United States. Under Section 91 of the UK Extradition Act (2003), extradition is prohibited if the physical or mental condition of the person is such that it would be unjust or oppressive to extradite him.

Under Section 87, extradition is prohibited if it is incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Article 3 of the ECHR states, No one shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Medical evidence speaking to these bars has played a critical role in previous US-UK extradition hearings, for example in the case of Lauri Love. The risk of notoriously poor conditions in US prisons exacerbating mental illness is an important factor.

Assanges case meets these criteria. The details in todays WSWS coverage are being reported consistent with the sensitivity called for by defence lawyer Edward Fitzgerald QC, on behalf of his client. Nonetheless they make overwhelmingly clear the unjust and oppressive treatment to which Assange has already been subjected.

Assange, Kopelman told the court, has experienced periods of serious mental illness in his earlier life. Since being confined to the Ecuadorian Embassy and then Belmarsh maximum security prison, these issues have resurfaced and worsened. Assange has suffered symptoms of severe and recurrent depression. Those symptoms have included loss of sleep, loss of weight, a sense of pre-occupation and helplessness and auditory hallucinations which Kopelman summarised as derogatory and persecutory.

They have also included suicidal preoccupations. Kopelman told the court, There are an abundance of known risk factors in Mr Assanges case and that Assange has made various plans and undergone various preparations. He gave his opinion that there was a very high risk of suicide.

These symptoms and risks, Kopelman explained, are exacerbated by an anxiety disorder and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and by a diagnosis of Aspergers syndrome. Kopelman cited a paper by world-leading autism expert Dr Simon Baron-Cohen which found that the lifetime experience of suicidal thoughts in those with Aspergers was more than nine times higher than in the general population in England.

Explaining the impact of the US governments persecution, Kopelman said, The risk of suicide arises out of the clinical factors of depression and the other diagnoses, but it is the imminence of extradition and/or an actual extradition that will trigger the attempt, in my opinion.

If Assange were to be incarcerated in the US and segregated from other prisoners, Kopelman gave his opinion that the WikiLeaks founder would deteriorate substantially and see an exacerbation of his suicidal ideas. This would amount to psychological harm and severe psychological suffering.

Kopelmans evidence confirms the warnings made since November 2019 by Doctors for Assange, representing hundreds of medical professionals from around the world, that Assange is suffering psychological torture and could die in prison. It underlines in distressing detail UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Nils Melzers comment regarding Assanges treatment that psychological torture is not torture-lite. Psychological torture aims to wreck and destroy the persons personality and identity to make them break.

Assanges year-and-a-half long incarceration at Belmarsh has been designed to achieve this objective. It has profoundly undermined, in numerous ways, his legal right to prepare his defence against extradition. Kopelman reported yesterday that Assange has repeatedly complained that the medication taken for his mental health has caused him difficulty in thinking, in memorising [and] in concentration.

During the mornings cross examination, Kopelman forcefully rebuffed prosecution lawyer James Lewis QCs challenge to his credentials. He said solicitors had called him several times in recent years saying that Lewis himself was keen to have your services in an extradition case.

In the afternoon, cross-examination continued, with Lewis challenging the veracity of Kopelmans diagnosis, and claiming that Assanges appearance was wholly inconsistent with someone who is severely or moderately-severely depressed and with psychotic symptoms.

Kopelman replied, Could we go back a step? Having seen Assange between May 30 and December [2019], I thought he was severely depressed, suicidal and was experiencing hallucinations.

Hes much better now then? Lewis interjected.

Kopelman continued, I have said that in February and March [2020] he had moderately severe depression. Moreover, three eminent psychiatrists who had visited Assange since September 2019Professor Paul Mullin, Dr Quinton Deeley and Professor Seena Fazelhad diagnosed Assange with severe and currently moderate-severe depression.

Responding to Lewiss argument that Assange appeared fully aware of what was going on in court, Kopelman said, Could I say as a professor of neuropsychiatry that I cannot evaluate his mental and cognitive state from whats in here [i.e., in court]. While Assange had interjected at various points during the hearing, that doesnt mean that his cognitive state is normal.

Lewis challenged Kopelmans opinion that Assange was at high risk from suicide if he were imprisoned in the US, asking, if the medical care in the United States of America is sufficient, then the risks you have opined about are greatly reduced if not eliminated?

Kopelman cited reports from the US Department of Justices Inspector General in 2017, the Commission on Constitutional Rights in 2017, and the Marshall Project in 2018, adding, There are many people who say that care is very much sub-optimal, there is a lack of staffing, there are misdiagnoses and a lack of treatment facilities.

Lewiss reply, So, youre now an expert on Americas prisons? captures the tone of the cross-examination.

During re-examination by Edward Fitzgerald QC for the defence, Kopelman said his evaluation of suicide risk was based on the impact of extradition and did not rely on the conditions of detention. The depression, mixing with his anxiety and agitation, predisposes him strongly If extradition were to be imminent or were to happen, that would be the trigger to a suicide attempt.

Fitzgerald asked whether the conditions of isolation in US detention, predicted by many observers, would exacerbate the risk of suicide, with Kopelman replying, It certainly would.

Kopelman said, I have seen him in just relative isolation in Belmarshthat was when he deteriorated I think it was Mr Sickler who says that the isolation he would experience in North America would be far worse than anything he has experienced in the Embassy or in Belmarsh.

Kopelman explained that previous extradition cases, such as Lauri Loves, had heard similar assurances that US prisons were safe. The last case I spoke in, we were being reassured about conditions in the MCC [Metropolitan Correctional Centre]. I gave evidence on about July 25 and about August 25, that was when Jeffrey Epstein hanged himself. So, it just showed that those reassurances were not terribly assuring.

Chelsea Manning had attempted suicide in the very detention centre that Assange would be held, Fitzgerald noted, with Kopelman replying, And that is something that Julian Assange is very aware of. Its something that concerns him a lot He said to me, If Chelsea Manning did this just a few days before a potential release on bail, it just shows how awful the conditions must be.

The hearing continues today.
Sir Ken Robinson, a leading thinker on creativity and innovation, died in August 2020. I never heard about him until after his death. Like Robinson, I have an interest in fostering creativity and innovation in schools. The news of Sir Robinsons death nudged me to do something about the creative thinking project. I started a Facebook page, Creative Africa , that promotes creative intelligence and connects people of like mind. The creative thinking program is not strictly a Nigerian project.

The plan is to extend it to schools in other African countries as time goes on. After reading about Ken Robinsons life, I found his legacy quite inspirational. Sir Robinson was known for so many things, especially a Ted talk where he posed the question: Do Schools Kill Creativity? The talk is the most viewed of all times, with over 65 million viewers.

After listening to his talk, I agreed with Sir Robinson that schools are not doing enough to foster creativity and innovation. Rather than encourage the expression of creative ingenuity, the school system stifles and undermines this skill and competence.

Creativity is one of the most sought after skills by employers. Companies and businesses are always looking for persons that could bring fresh ideas or unorthodox solutions to problems. Businesses want to hire people who are problem solvers, those who would grow, not ground their services and activities. Companies are looking to employ those who would steer their businesses in profitable and productive directions.

Creativity and innovation are a valuable resource in this respect. Thus the inculcation of creative thinking skills should be central to basic education and learning programs. Creative thinking should be infused in all subjects and disciplines. Schools should emphasize creative and innovative techniques starting from the primary level.

Schools should encourage the exercise of divergent and disruptive thinking. From an early age, pupils should learn and be taught to think out of the box.

Unfortunately, this is not the case in many schools in Nigeria and beyond. Rote learning characterizes the primary education system. Children are made to memorize, regurgitate, or reproduce what they have been taught as a demonstration of intelligence. Pupils graduate from schools habitually afraid to think out of the box or to espouse new and different ideas.

While at the primary school level, there is an ample provision for verbal and quantitative reasoning, there is little or no emphasis on creative thinking skills. There is no subject that teaches pupils to create and innovate. So, how do we expect children to become creative company executives or business managers in the future when they are not taught or trained to be innovative? How do we expect these children to create jobs and solve problems facing the country and the world when the school system kills their creative impulses? How can we realize a creative thinking society when we do not have schools that teach creative reasoning skills?

In primary schools, both verbal and quantitative aptitudes are distinct subjects. But this is not the case with creative reasoning. Some schools offer cultural and creative arts. And this subject has very little to do with creative and innovative competences. The notion that associates creativity with cultural dance, music, and art informed this subject.

Creativity is much more than artworks or what artists do. Creative and innovative thinking applies-and ought to apply to all areas of human endeavor.

So to foster creativity in schools, the learning culture must change. The habit of creative reasoning must be cultivated from the primary level. The idea of thinking out of the box must be mainstreamed in the curriculum, as well as in the socialization of children in schools and beyond.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept.16

Trend:

Azerbaijans Defense Minister Colonel-General Zakir Hasanov met with deputy commanders of formations and separate military units, as well as heads of special military educational institutions for ideological work and moral and psychological support at the Training Center of the Armed Forces on September 16, Trend reports citing the press service of the Ministry of Defense.

First, the memory of the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev and the martyrs who died for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan was honored with a minute of silence.

Noting that President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev pays special attention to army building, the defense minister brought to the meeting participants the tasks set for the army by the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.

Touching on the current front line situation, Hasanov ordered to maintain a high level of battle readiness and vigilance of personnel, and also ordered to immediately and decisively suppress possible large-scale provocations of the Armenian armed forces in various directions.

Reminding the confidence of the Azerbaijani army personnel, the minister said that every serviceman, from soldier to general, is ready to execute his sacred duty to liberate the occupied territories.

Speaking about measures for combat training in the army, on providing and equipping units, as well as increasing combat effectiveness, the defense minister gave specific instructions regarding the further strengthening of ideological work and moral and psychological support of personnel for the planned conduct of educational work, and maintaining constant the readiness of troops to perform battle missions.
The Naked City podcast will take a journey into the dark depths of the Australian criminal underworld. In this series you will hear recordings of some of Australia's most dangerous criminals, all of whom have been remarkably frank in their recollections.

Phillip Grant Wilson, was a big man with big ambitions, all of them bad.

The 200-centimetre tall engineer with bizarre Nazi military fantasies planned to invade and dominate the underworld.

He was behind a series of bombings, extortions and armed robberies and he wanted to use drug addicts who owed him money as his dependent foot soldiers.
TikTok asked a US judge on Wednesday to block a Trump administration order that would require Apple Inc and Alphabet Inc's Google to remove the short video-sharing app for new downloads starting on Sunday. A federal judge in San Francisco on Saturday issued a preliminary injunction blocking a similar Commerce Department order from taking effect on Sunday on Tencent Holdings' WeChat app. US officials have expressed serious concerns that the personal data of as many as 100 million Americans that use the app was being passed on to China's Communist Party government. On ...
By Express News Service

VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Tuesday met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and reportedly apprised him of the recent developments in the State, more particularly the confrontation with the judiciary. Jagan Mohan Reddy, in his nearly one-hour-long meeting with the Union Home Minister, enquired about the latters health.

Jagan Mohan Reddy left for Delhi late in the afternoon. He drove to Amit Shahs residence soon after arriving in the national capital and was accompanied by YSRC MPs V Vijayasai Reddy and PV Midhun Reddy. Officials are tight-lipped about what transpired at the meeting.

Speculation is rife that the Chief Minister discussed the recent orders of the Andhra Pradesh High Court on the Amaravati land scam issue, including gagging of the media and the stay on the Cabinet Sub Committee and SIT constituted to look into the alleged irregularites of the previous TDP regime.

The YSRC has been locked in a confrontation with the High Court eversince the latter stayed probe against former Advocate General Dammalapati Srinivas and gagged the media. Party MPs have spoken in Parliament condemning the court orders and demanded CBI probe in the Amaravati land scam and the Fibernet scam.Sources said Jagan raised the issue of the CBI probe and urged Amit Shah to look into it.

The Chief Minister is likely to meet Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Union Jal Shakthi Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. He is likely to fly straight to Tirupati on Wednesday.
By PTI

MUMBAI: Actress Rhea Chakraborty, arrested in a drugs case related to actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death, has said in her bail plea filed in the Bombay High Court that she is innocent and NCB is "deliberately" trying to invoke stringent charges against her and her family.

She also said that she has been subjected to a "witch-hunt".

In her bail application filed in the HC on Tuesday, Chakraborty said she is just 28 years of age, and besides the probe by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), she has been subjected to three more investigations by police and central agencies, and a "simultaneous media trial".

These probes refer to the ones conducted into Rajput's death by the Mumbai Police, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Chakraborty said all of this has taken a "severe toll on her mental health and well being".

Any further custody will worsen her mental health, she said in her plea filed through her counsel Satish Maneshinde.

ALSO READ | Court extends Rhea Chakraborty's judicial remand till October 6

Her bail plea was scheduled to be heard by a single bench presided over by Justice Sarang Kotwal on Wednesday.

However, since the High Court suspended the day's hearings owing to heavy rains in the city, the plea is likely to be heard on Thursday.

Chakraborty further said in her plea that Rajput had been in the habit of consuming drugs, particularly, "ganja" since even before she got into a relationship with him.

While she would sometimes procure drugs for him in "small quantities", and would also "occasionally pay for them herself," she was in no way a part of any drug syndicate.

She also said Rajput was the only one who was consuming the said drugs.

"The applicant (Chakraborty) is innocent and has not committed any crime whatsoever," the plea said.

She also said in her plea that she has been subjected to a "witch-hunt," and after the CBI and the ED failed to gather any evidence against her, the NCB was "brought in to somehow implicate her and her family".

Chakraborty has been booked by the NCB on several charges, including financing illicit trafficking of drugs under Section 27-A of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance (NDPS) Act.

Section-27 A brings along a bar on the grant of bail to an accused.

The actor said she has been wrongly booked under the NDPS Act Section 27-A.

Besides, since no drugs were seized from her possession and since the NCB has managed to seize only 59 grams of drugs from all accused persons, the bar on grant of bail cannot be applied to her, she said in the plea.

The actress said a bar on grant of bail can come into play only if the drugs seized are in commercial quantities.

Last week, a similar argument was made by lawyers of Samuel Miranda and Dipesh Sawant, co-accused in the case, before a bench of Justice Kotwal.

Justice Kotwal had then pointed out that a plain reading of the NDPS Act showed Section 27-A could be imposed irrespective of the quantum of drugs recovered by the NCB.

He had, however, directed Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, who represent the NCB in the high court, to clarify the same on September 29, the next date of hearing on the bail pleas of Miranda and others.

Chakraborty said some others accused in the case had faced identical allegations, but they had not been booked under the stringent Section 27-A.

She also said that at best, she can be accused of having procured drugs in small amounts for her boyfriend.

However, she was trying her best to wean Rajput off his habit of consuming drugs, the actress said.

Besides, if Rajput was alive today, he would have been charged merely for consumption of drugs and would have invited a maximum sentence of just one year, while she has been charged under sections imposing a maximum sentence of up to 20 years, Chakraborty said in the plea.

On a similar argument last week on the other pleas, Justice Kotwal pointed out that the NDPS Act adopts an "empathetic approach" towards the drug addict with view towards his rehabilitation.

However, it aims at ending all illicit trafficking of drugs and therefore, carries stringent punishment for those involved in procurement, financing and production of drugs.

Earlier this month,a special NDPS court in the city rejected the bail pleas of the actress and her brother Showik Chakraborty, saying if let out on bail, they might tamper with the evidence.

The actress is currently lodged in the Byculla women's prison in the city.

Rajput (34) was found hanging in his home in suburban Bandra on June 14.
KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine has begun a large military exercise in response to the Caucasus-2020 drills in neighbouring Russia, aiming to show the preparedness of its army to repel any attack from Russian soil, the Ukrainian military said on Wednesday.

Relations between Russia, which began its strategic command and staff exercises on Monday, and Ukraine - both ex-Soviet republics - soured in 2014 when Moscow annexed the Crimea peninsula from its neighbour.

Around 12,000 servicemen and dozens of armoured vehicles were taking part in the land-based drills, part of broader exercises including naval forces in the Black Sea.

Last week, Ukraine and the United States held joint military exercises a few days after Russia began military drills together with forces in neighbouring Belarus.

(Reporting by Pavel Polityuk; Editing by Mark Heinrich)
In lockstep with the murderous herd immunity policies of the ruling elite around the world, Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley has sent out a thuggish letter pressuring 16 low risk COVID school districts in the state to submit plans to resume in-person schooling.

The letter demands a written response within 10 calendar days of reopening plans consistent with DESEs school reopening guidance that prioritizes a return to in-person school for as many students as possible, safely. Non-compliance will be met with audits, or in other words, a potential loss of state funds.

Riley, on behalf of the state government, is deliberately sending letters to schools that have no way to reopen safely. Many schools which have not opened as of yet are in buildings so old that they cant be updated with necessary HVAC filtering.

DESEs school reopening guidance is a distorted concoction of pseudo-science, lies and feigned concern for student and teacher safety, designed with the goal of allowing in-person instruction in as many districts as possible. These guidelines are part of a broader, global effort to force the economy open, regardless of the human toll. The lies at the heart of this homicidal campaign are that children cant get infected or spread the virus easily.

The DESE guidance, published June 25, justifies reopening based on the needs of students, maintains that there is no substitute for the attention and engagement that is only possible with in-person learning. DESE believe[s] that by following critical health requirements, we can safely return to in-person school. In person learning may be ideal, but it is the life and health of children, teachers and parents for which there is no substitute.

In European countries with policies similar to those of DESE, the lifting of social distancing and the reopening of schools has directly led to a new eruption in cases. In Florida, one of the five states with state-mandated in-person instruction available part-time or full-time for K-12 students, cases have exploded at schools; among school-age children, cases have increased 34 percent since schools reopened in August. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis aggressively pushed for the reopening, even threatening to withhold funding if districts did not allow students back into classrooms.

In similar fashion, the letter is threatening audits, which would allow for state funding to be withheld. The funding schools need to retrofit and resolve safety issues is now being used to intimidate schools that have made the choice to remain remote and save lives. With the insinuating language of a mobster, Riley writes he is concerned that the school committee has voted to keep most students learning remotely for the start of the school year.

He warns explicitly: Please note your response may trigger an audit to assess overall efforts to provide in-person instruction and to ensure your remote learning is consistent with 603 CMR 27.08 [the drive to prioritize in person classes]. DESE recommends remote learning only for municipalities receiving a red designation three weeks in a row on the color-coded metric unless other extenuating circumstances that prevent in-person instruction (emphasis added).

A red community is one that has eight or more positive cases per 100,000 people per day, yellow between four and eight, and green with less than four per day, meaning that a school should be engaging in in-person classes for three potentially explosive weeks of high community transmission before switching to remote learning. This is not a policy to prevent people from getting sick, it is a policy to let the virus spread for weeks while people inevitably become sick and die, and only then make any changes.

Workers and school community members understand that testing data is being manipulated and undercounted in an attempt to cover up the scale of the pandemic and herd people back to school. A teacher who works in one of the 16 districts that received the letter, who wished to remain anonymous, described the discrepancies in the data: I watch the local news each night for numbers. They do a daily average percentage rate. One day this weekend, the state was way up. Later, they didnt bother to report the daily percentage rate, so the average weekly rate looked great! Data can be skewed to make things look peachy.

This is certainly the case. Since private college testing has equaled or even overshadowed state testing, positivity rates have been artificially pushed down. Since students at many schools are being tested every two to three days, the results of testing thousands upon thousands of people who were two days prior negative and asymptomatic, as compared to the normal person tested by the state, most likely symptomatic, increases the relative likelihood that the result is negative. Since schools have been nearly out-testing the state, a false positivity rate has been generated, and is being used as a bulwark to push for reopening despite the rise in case numbers and deaths. In reality, the positivity rate for the first test given per individual has been increasing since the end of August, reaching a recent high of 2.5 percent. The lower and diluted positivity rate has been used by the Boston Globe, Governor Charlie Baker, and the letter sent by Riley, to justify the reopening.

The teacher we spoke with works in a low-income, working class district. When asked how she felt about returning to school, she bluntly stated she was scared shitless. Students, though they try, struggle to distance. We have been verbally told our HVACs are fine, but there has been no official declaration made. The windows in the school only open 3 inches, and kids have to de-mask and eat in classrooms. My requests for plexiglass, N95 masks and temperature checks have all been ignored. I have a disease which affects my pulmonary system. If I get COVID, it wont end well.

Another teacher who also wished to remain anonymous and works in East Longmeadow, an upper-middle-class district, described different conditions. The school board worked extensively over the summer to create painstaking plans with the interest of teachers and students in heart. All matters were considered, down to how students would walk through the halls. I thought we were going to do hybrid. It came as a surprise when we went fully remote.

Both teachers, though, are certain that their districts cannot possibly come up with full-fledged plans in 10 days, especially when they are under the gun. Even in the wealthier district, the school had not yet figured out exactly what to do with the cohort of students who would be online, an obviously crucial part of any hybrid learning scheme. To figure out how to go in person, wed need to stop school for 10 days, and then maybe we could figure it out, the teacher said.

The teacher from East Longmeadow spoke on the hazards of reopening. If we reopen fully in person, the numbers will absolutely go up. The numbers are down in East Longmeadow because were fully remote. With hybrid, it might be ok if the safeguards work, but thats a big if. The experts are all saying things are going to get worse before they get better. If our district forces people back to school, we are going to be part of that problem, and the whole thing will get shut down again. I think we all need to proceed with an abundance of caution.

In a recent study published on Tuesday in the Wall Street Journal, researchers found that an extra 3,200 cases a day occurred in the US that likely wouldnt have happened had colleges and universities stayed online. The opening of elementary and secondary education will undoubtedly add to this number additional thousands of cases per day.

The pressure to reopen said the East Longmeadow teacher, is coming from people who have money. Theyre looking at the schools as childcare. If we can get the kids back to school, we can get the parents back to the workplace. But no ones going into the office in those white-collar jobs, they dont want to get sick!

Putting it succinctly, the teacher from the poorer district described the entire policy of the ruling elite: Money over lives.

Teachers and students must understand that this is not a local phenomenon, nor the result of the personality or compassion or lack thereof of any number of political or union leaders. There is nothing unique to these districts in Massachusetts that precludes this cruel scenario from happening elsewhere. The drive back to school is part of a global process to open the economy at the behest of the financial aristocracy, and to generate the real value behind the trillions of dollars that were produced out of thin air and pumped, not into stopping the virus and funding education for these circumstances, but into the banks, large corporations and stock market.

These policies from above must be fought against to save lives! A class response organized independently from and in opposition to all organs of the ruling class is required. Union bureaucrats have divided working class opposition against the reopening of schools by district and industry and diverted it into the political dead end of Democrat Joe Bidens presidential election campaign.

The Socialist Equality Party is forming rank-and-file safety committees to organize and fight back on behalf of workers, with committees already formed in New York, Los Angeles, Florida and Texas. We urge all teachers, school workers, students and parents in these 16 low-risk school districts in Massachusetts, and in districts across the country, to contact us today.
Mourners Turn Out in Droves to Pay Last Respects to RBG at Public Viewing in Washington D.C.

Mourners Turn Out in Droves to Pay Last Respects to RBG at Public Viewing in Washington D.C.

Thousands gathered in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday to begin paying respects to the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, with some even waiting overnight to say goodbye to the late liberal icon.

Ginsburg, who was the second woman ever named to serve on the Supreme Court and became a celebrated cultural figure in her 80s, died last Friday from complications of metastatic cancer. She was 87.

The justice will lie in repose on the Supreme Court building's top steps for two days, starting Wednesday, before she lie in state inside the U.S. Capitol on Friday, becoming the first woman and first Jewish person in American history to receive the honor.

Tributes have poured in from presidents, her colleagues on the high court bench, celebrities and countless members of the public this week. They continued again Wednesday as mourners came out in droves to remember her impact on the country's ongoing push for justice and equal rights.

ANDREW HARNIK/POOL/AFP via Getty The flag-draped casket of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, carried by Supreme Court police officers, arrives in the Great Hall at the Supreme Court in Washington, DC, on September 23, 2020

"It has been said that Ruth wanted to become an opera virtuoso, but became a rockstar instead," Chief Justice John Roberts said at a private ceremony inside the building's marble Great Hall, referencing Ginsburg's love of theatrical music and her late-life rise as a liberal culture hero known to many as the "Notorious R.B.G."

Chip Somodevilla/Getty

"She was not an opera star, but she found her stage right behind me in our courtroom," Roberts added. "There, she won famous victories that helped move our nation closer to equal justice under law to the extent that women are now a majority in law schools, not simply a handful."

Story continues

Before Ginsburg's casket was carried back out to the front of the building for Wednesday's public viewing, the remaining eight Supreme Court Justices joined her family, close friends and other colleagues for a private ceremony in the building's hall.

Justice Roberts' solemn voice echoed as he called Ginsburg "a star on the bench," where she served for 27 years and contributed 483 majority, concurring and dissenting opinions the Court's leader said Wednesday will "steer the Court for decades."

RELATED: Inside Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Quiet Final Days: 'She Was Making Plans to Live'

ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty

Before then, Rabbi Lauren Holtzblatt memorialized Ginsburg at the private ceremony surrounding her casket, which was covered in honor by an American flag.

More than 100 of the late Justice's former law clerks lined the steps of the Supreme Court building as her casket arrived Wednesday morning, carried by some of the former colleagues.

Mourners showed up with flowers, signs with grieving messages, as well as photographs of the revered Justice.

Some began waiting outside the building on Tuesday night, according to reporters from The Washington Post at the scene as crowds gradually accumulated. Others, as ABC News photographs showed, wore clothing with Ginsburg's revered public image on it.

SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Pallbearers carry late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's casket to the Supreme Court building on Wednesday

Chip Somodevilla/Getty

An outpour of statements have come in this week from both current and former elected officials on both sides of the isle, as Ginsburg has been remembered as a fierce defender of equality, particularly championed for leading the Court towards guaranteeing gender equality and the right for same-sex couples to marry.

"The world is a better place for her having lived in it," Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer wrote in another statement, which included an emotional poem remembering Ginsburg's life and accomplishments.

RELATED: "Fearless Girl" Statue Tributes Ruth Bader Ginsburg

"Fearless Girl" Statue Tributes Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Wall Street's "Fearless Girl" statue is wearing a lace collar in honor of the late Supreme Court Justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died on Friday

President Barack Obama remembered Ginsburg as a warrior for gender equality" in a statement, as well.

Over a long career on both sides of the bench  as a relentless litigator and an incisive jurist  Justice Ginsburg helped us see that discrimination on the basis of sex isnt about an abstract ideal of equality; that it doesnt only harm women; that it has real consequences for all of us, Obama, 59, said. Its about who we are  and who we can be.

RELATED: All the Supreme Court Justices Share Heartfelt Tributes to 'Dear Friend' Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Hundreds of people have already been gathering outside the Supreme Court building over the weekend and again in the days leading up to Ginsburg's scheduled memorial on Wednesday.

Soon after her death last Friday, 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.

I needed to stand in front of this building and say thank you," Laila Chen, a 35-year-old doctor from Manhattan, told PEOPLE outside the Supreme Court building.

Chen had brought along her young daughter Lucy to the site to pay respects to Ginsburg "at the place where she did so much good and changed the world for women and people of color and gay and lesbian citizens."

It felt like I had to be here, to mourn and celebrate her with people who loved and admired her too," Chen said.

Sonal Dutt A young child paying their respects to Ruth Bader Ginsburg outside the Supreme Court last weekend

Others, like Dean Howarth, a 55-year-old teacher from Arlington, Virginia, bursted into tears while speaking to PEOPLE about the late Justice.

She was holding on for us, she never could rest, Howarth said.

RELATED: Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Life in Pictures

Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post/Getty Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

The memorials for Ginsburg have extended far beyond the nation's capital.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo says the late Justice will be honored with a statue in her hometown Brooklyn.

In Chicago, outside of her son Jim Ginsburg's Cedille Records business, flowers and notes with written condolences have been left for the Ginsburg family.

Ginsburg will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery next week, the Supreme Court said.
San Antonio Independent School District graduates admitted to Trinity University will be able to attend the expensive, top-ranked school with no more than $3,500 a year in student loan debt, officials announced Wednesday.

A partnership called the Trinity Community Investment will be a game changer for the districts top students who want to attend a local university but historically have received more generous financial aid packages from prestigious schools outside the state, Superintendent Pedro Martinez said.

One of the big barriers when our students stay local is, a lot of them work, and they have life that competes with their academics. And so to have the opportunity to experience the college experience and stay local  that is a dream for both parents and for students, Martinez said.

Trinity will meet the financial needs of SAISD graduates not covered by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, called FAFSA, capping student loans at $3,500 per year and covering the rest with scholarships and grants, said Justin Doty, Trinitys Dean of Admissions.

The bottom line today is we just want students to know that if they gain admission to Trinity, we will make this a financial reality for them to attend and graduate, Doty said.

Trinitys sticker price of $62,000 includes costs for living on campus, which the university requires of its students, though that requirement is on hold during the coronavirus pandemic, which has emptied dormitories.

Jonathan Hernandez knows many students who could not afford Trinity without significant help  he works with them and was one of them. When he was a Jefferson High School senior, his uncle, a mailman, personally delivered Trinitys acceptance letter to him over the Christmas break heading into 2011.

They celebrated, not sure how Hernandez could afford it. But Trinity covered his tuition with a scholarship. Now back at Jefferson as a college adviser, Hernandez was on hand Wednesday for the virtual event announcing the partnership.to make the university an option for more high-achieving local students.

Ive seen firsthand the needs that our students face on a daily basis, both personally and professionally, Hernandez said.

On ExpressNews.com: A&M San Antonio expands free tuition to high-achieving applicants

About 12 percent of Trinity students typically come from Bexar County, with about 5 percent from SAISD schools, Doty said. Just five SAISD students are in this years freshman class of about 640, he added.

Once the students arrive, they will be closely aligned with advisers tasked with helping them stay on a path to graduate within four years, which contributes to less student loan debt.

Trinity officials hope to eventually expand the partnership to more area school districts but have not developed a timeline yet, Doty said.

Krista Torralva covers several school districts and public universities in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Krista, become a subscriber. Krista.Torralva@express-news.net | Twitter: @KMTorralva
Indianapolis police originally said officers shot a man Sept. 21 at an apartment complex after the man shot at them first, but now police say the man only pointed a gun at officers.

Police responded Sept. 20 to a large disturbance involving a firearm at apartments on the 4500 block of East Pleasant Run Parkway North Drive, according to an incident brief from Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.

When officers arrived, they saw a large active disturbance and encountered an armed suspect who fired an unknown amount of shots at the officers, the brief said. Those officers engaged the suspect returning fire, shooting the suspect.

IMPD sent an updated incident brief the next day, which said Person #1 pointed a weapon at the officers before one officer shot him.

He was taken to a hospital and listed in stable condition.

IMPD did not identify the officer who shot the man but said he is on administrative leave, which is standard procedure for these incidents.

IMPDs Critical Incident Response Team is investigating the shooting, and IMPDs Internal Affairs Unit is investigating whether officers followed department policy. The Marion County Prosecutors Office is involved and will be consulted throughout the process.

IMPDs use-of-force policies, which were updated in July, says officers must use only proportionate force, which is the minimum amount of force that is required, based on the circumstances known to the officer, to achieve the officers legitimate law enforcement objectives.

It also says proportionate force does not necessarily require officers to use the same type or

amount of force as the person. The more immediate the threat and the more likely the threat will result in death or serious physical injury, the greater the level of force may be required to counter it.

Police also found two adult women at the scene with injuries consistent with gunshot wounds. They were taken to a hospital and listed in stable condition.

Police believe the disturbance, which included roughly 20 people, started with a disagreement on social media.
Ottawa, ON, Sept. 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TECHNATION, Canadas leading tech industry association commends the Government of Canadas intention to implement policies in support of the technology industry, as noted in todays Speech from the Throne. TECHNATION has long advocated for these changes and strongly recommends government enact bold public sector policies to stimulate the economy.

Canadas technology sector is poised now to provide innovative tech solutions to the government to deliver on IT commitments made in todays Speech to the Throne.

A number of TECHNATIONs recommendations were addressed in todays Speech, and are a positive step forward. The Government of Canadas commitments include:

Making generational investments in updating outdated IT systems to modernize the way that Government serves Canadians;

Committing to procurement modernization, notably through increasing diversity on procurement;

The implementation of a rural broadband strategy and the acceleration of the Universal Broadband Fund - an important step to ensure that all Canadians are connected and competitive; and

A commitment to supporting the competitiveness and growth of homegrown companies  in particular, supporting Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

However, TECHNATION was disappointed that the Speech from the Throne referenced the tech industry in the context of digital giants. TECHNATION has always advocated for a multilateral approach, embracing the laws already on the books, in creating a fair and equitable taxation system.

Canadas digital economy requires ongoing investment. Disruptive technologies provide opportunities and challenges for Canada and they must be addressed through policies and initiatives  even more important now that the country is dealing with the severe economic impact of a pandemic.

Earlier this week, TECHNATION presented four themes crucial for economic recovery and growth in Canada. They included the following:

Investment in Canadas tech sector is vital for our nations economic recovery. Government must leverage its purchasing power to drive Canadas economic recovery. Canadas digital infrastructure must be a top priority. Government intervention in tech policy must be done with a multilateral approach.

The next step is true collaboration; for industry and government to get serious and work together to deliver high quality services to Canadians and drive economic recovery.

Quotes

Todays Speech from the Throne represents a move in the right direction. Government commitments to generational investments in IT systems, diversity in procurement, and rural broadband are crucial steps in recovering from the impact of COVID-19, Angela Mondou, TECHNATION President and CEO

As the Government provides further detail of its plan, its important to recognize that Canadas technology industry already has innovative, shovel-ready solutions to help drive competitiveness and improved service delivery. We look forward to continuing our work with the Government of Canada to implement policies that support tech companies, from SMEs to large corporations, now and into the future, Angela Mondou, TECHNATION President and CEO

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About TECHNATION

TECHNATION is the industry-government nexus for technology prosperity in Canada. TECHNATION champions technology prosperity from coast to coast to coast by providing advocacy, professional development and networking opportunities across industry and governments at all levels; connecting Canadian scale-ups with global tech leaders; engaging the global supply chain; and filling the technology talent pipeline. TECHNATION has been the authoritative national voice of the $184 billion Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry in Canada for over 60 years. TECHNATION was formerly the Information Technology Association of Canada (ITAC).
The Federal Reserve board voted unanimously Monday to request input on a framework to overhaul the Community Reinvestment Act with the goal of building the foundation for a multi-agency approach to the anti-redlining law.

The Feds advance notice of proposed rulemaking, intended as a prologue to a formal proposal, comes on the heels of a CRA regulation finalized by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency in May, which garnered opposition from community groups and Democrats, as well as skepticism from banks.

Stakeholders have expressed strong support for the CRA and its goals and have called for the banking agencies to work together on a modernization plan, Fed Chair Jerome Powell said in a statement. This proposal is an important step forward in laying a foundation for the agencies to build a shared, modernized CRA framework that has broad support.

CRA is designed to combat discriminatory lending practices against lower-income borrowers  and minorities in particular. Governor Lael Brainard, the Fed boards point person on the law, stressed that more work needs to be done to address racial disparities, despite a number of landmark civil rights statutes.

Even with these critical laws, the legacy of discriminatory lending and systemic inequity in credit access remains in evidence today, Brainard said in a speech to the Urban Institute.

The typically minority neighborhoods demarcated in red in the old color-coded maps tend to be characterized by worse economic performance and opportunity even today, she added. Beyond these specific neighborhoods, research and surveys indicate that there are ongoing racial disparities in access to credit.

In its proposed approach, the central bank would put greater emphasis on encouraging banks to support minority depository institutions, community development financial institutions, women-owned financial institutions and low-income credit unions.

The Fed document touches on many of the same questions as the OCC effort, with some similar concepts of how to answer them, reflecting interagency discussions that were ongoing for more than two years.

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Those include: Should banks get credit for lending to poorer borrowers outside of areas where they have branches? How can the evaluation process be more predictable to encourage a wider range of community development activity?

Acting Comptroller of the Currency Brian Brooks said his agency looks forward to reviewing the comments.

We are encouraged by our fellow regulators joining us in recognizing that we need to act to improve upon a system that was not working and to encourage banks to do more to support the communities they serve, he said in a statement.

We are pleased to see that many of the principles on which we worked together and that the OCC, FDIC, and Federal Reserve agreed upon prior to the finalization of the OCC rule in May will be part of their rulemaking discussion, he added.

The central bank suggests putting in place metrics to more objectively evaluate banks performance, but its approach is more flexible than the OCCs. The metrics would be tailored to local market conditions, including demand and needs, and adjust to structural economic and business cycle changes, according to a Fed staff memo.

Expectations and requirements would vary more by bank size and business model, and it would also have more separation between the tests for retail lending and community development, according to Fed officials. The central bank is also seeking to minimize how much burden its putting on banks to collect more data.

As for banks assessment areas, or the communities where their lending to lower-income borrowers is graded, the Fed would keep the current emphasis on branch locations. But it suggests using a nationwide assessment area for online banks, who are now graded only for activity around where they are physically located.

It also asks for feedback on judging banks based on areas where they have a certain threshold of deposits, though it notes that there isnt sufficiently granular data to do that right now, or a certain threshold of lending.

Beyond that, the ANPR also contemplates designating CRA deserts, which are underserved, where banks might be able to get credit for community development activities outside of their assessment areas.

Many of the places that I have visited, such as in [El Pasos] colonias, the Mississippi Delta, Appalachia and Indian Country, have few bank branches and are located outside of branch-based assessment areas, Brainard said in her speech. Banks need to be confident about receiving CRA credit to seek out activities and investments in these areas.

Like the OCC rule, it would contemplate a nonexhaustive illustrative list of community development activities that would count, as well as crediting a broader scope of services.

National Community Reinvestment Coalition head Jesse Van Tol, whose organization is suing the OCC over its CRA rule, said the Fed doesnt appear to introduce new problems through its approach, in contrast to its fellow regulator.

Also unlike the OCC rule, which had something for everyone to hate, this proposal has something for everyone to like, he added. Thats not to say everyone will love where theyre headed, but for those who dont love it, I expect it to go down like cough syrup as opposed to like a s--- sandwich (the OCC rule).
The chief executive of newly listed lender Plenti has denied any misconduct over receiving government contracts despite an investigation launched by the federal government into alleged improper treatment.

The company floated on the ASX on Wednesday morning under the PLT ticker, but investors punished the company amid suspicions it had won crucial state government contracts thanks to favouritism, and its share price dropped 23 per cent over the course of the day.

Plenti chief executive Daniel Foggo has accused competitors of spreading misinformation. Credit:AWJ

Plenti, formerly known as Ratesetter, was awarded two contracts by the $10 billion Clean Energy Finance Corporation worth a combined $100 million to partner with the NSW and South Australian governments to deliver loans to households wanting to install rooftop and solar batteries.

Competitors in the industry accused the government body of awarding the contracts without a tender process, and Energy Minister Angus Taylor commissioned an independent inquiry into the allegations.
During a week in which COVID-19-related deaths surpassed 200,000 in the United States, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is concerned. He spoke with cofounder of the COVID tracking project at the Atlantic and Atlantic staff writer, Alexis Madrigal, at the virtual Atlantic Festival, about why we should all be worried about a new surgeand what we can do to stop it. Read on, and to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Sure Signs You've Already Had Coronavirus.

1 Dr. Fauci Said Our Situation Right Now Is "Not Good, No Matter How You Slice It"

Emergency medic and doctor moving patient to emergency room in hospital

"Obviously the numbers speak for themselves," he said. After the Northeast was stuck hard, the region "came down to a baseline that is low and stayed low, which is good. They've suffered terribly. But right now they're in a good place," said Fauci. "The situation that we then went into is one that is troublesome." He says some states reopened their economies too soonsomething he admitted we "needed to do" for certain reasons, but "some did not adhere strictly to the guidelines which we put forththe people in the States and in the cities really didn't pay attention, and essentially went around without masks and congregated at bars. And you saw the baseline, which was at about 20,000 cases per day, which is unacceptably high. It went up gradually 30, 40, 50, and actually went up at one point to over 70,000 cases a day. Then as things started to turn around, when people realized that they really needed to do some of the things that we've been saying in a measured way, it came down to around 30 to 40, but right now it's still stuck at between 35 and 40,000 a day. That's not good, no matter how you slice it, that's not good."

2 Dr. Fauci Sees Signs of a New COVID Surge

Pompano Beach Coronavirus (COVID-19) Drive-thru testing spot. Broward Health staff testing (pre screening) people on COVID-19

Dr. Fauci has praised Vermont and the Navajo Nation this week for responding admirably to the rising cases. "There are parts of the country that are doing well. We should make them be the models, but there are othersyou're starting to see an uptick in test positivity. And we know from historical observation retrospectively that when that happens, you're going to have a surge. So as I've said so many times, Alexis, that the fact is that if you do the simple public health measures, universal wearing of masks, physical distancing, avoiding crowds, doing things out to a more than indoors, if possible, and washing your hands: That sounds like it's very simplistic, but we know when we do that consistently, we prevent surges and we turn them around."

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RELATED: COVID Mistakes You Should Never Make

3 Dr. Fauci is Supremely Worried About the Fall and Winter

Portrait of sick young man in blue jacket put on a hood, having a cold, feeling unwell, coughing, wearing medical face mask, outdoors

"The concern I have now," he said, "is that we're entering into the fall and into the winter. And that means there's going to be more indoor things than outdoor things. And going into that situation, I would like to have seen the baseline of where we are, the daily number of infections come way, way down and not be stuck at around 30 to 40,000 per day, which is where it is right now."

4 Dr. Fauci Commented on a "Second Wave"

Doctor wearing protective gloves holding Flatten the Curve chart, sitting at the desk in front of laptop computer

"We continue to talk about the new wave and I keep telling people, that's based on the model of the 1918 pandemic, which had cases in the spring of 1918, and then things essentially disappeared in the summer," he said. "And then when the fall came, we did have a second wave.We've got to get out of the situation we're in right now, which means you don't talk about 'first wave,' 'second wave.' We're looking at 40,000 new cases per day. That's unacceptable. And that's what we've got to get down before we go into the more problematic winter."

RELATED: CDC Says You Can Catch COVID This Way After All

5 How to Avoid COVID-19 Yourself

Happy young woman wearing protective face mask disinfects her hands with alcohol sanitizer while sitting at table in restaurant on summer day.

To keep yourself free from COVID-19, do as Dr. Fauci advises: wear a mask, avoid crowds, wash your hands and don't miss these 35 Places You're Most Likely to Catch COVID.
The Chairman All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker and Extra-Ordinary National Convention Planning Committee, Mala Buni, has met with the partys candidate in the Edo governorship election, Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

Mr Buni, who is also the governor of Yobe, met with Mr Ize-Iyamu in the company of Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi at his Abuja residence on Wednesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was the first outing of the APC candidate after the September 19, Edo governorship election.

NAN gathered that the party leadership persuaded Mr Ize-Iyamu to accept in good faith the outcome of the election which the APC lost to Governor Godwin Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

A source, who preferred to remain anonymous, said the discussion at the meeting centred on the way forward for Mr Ize-Iyamu after the Edo election.

The APC leadership has already congratulated Mr Obaseki, the deputy and the PDP for winning the election.

The APC in the statement signed by Governor Buni, noted the conduct of the election and its outcome, saying it represented a victory for the countrys democracy.

The party said it joined President Muhammadu Buhari, who had earlier congratulated Mr Obaseki for winning the election, to affirm its commitment to free and fair elections.

This, it said, was critical to strengthening the foundation for our political and moral authority.

The party 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.(NAN)
SCHAUMBURG, Ill., Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Zurich North America, a leading provider of insurance products and services to businesses and individuals, was recognized as one of nine winners of the inaugural Pledge to America's Workers Presidential Award in a Washington ceremony today. Zurich was recognized for the Zurich Apprenticeship Program, which provides opportunities to launch a professional career in insurance, IT and more without requiring a four-year college degree.

The Pledge to America's Workers Presidential Awards were presented in a White House ceremony by Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and White House adviser Ivanka Trump. The awards recognize private sector companies and trade associations that are making a major investment in the education and training of American workers.

"The Pledge shines a spotlight on the truly outstanding investment that businesses in the U.S. are making in their workers," Ross said during the ceremony. "The nine Pledge winners are delivering results to their workers. They are real role models."

Zurich North America launched its pioneering professional apprenticeship program in 2016 with the vision of attracting new, diverse talent to the insurance industry while providing a debt-free path to professional careers. Zurich's program has surpassed its initial goals, including a pledge of hiring 100 apprentices by 2020.

This fall Zurich expanded its program from its Chicagoland headquarters to New York City and welcomed its largest, most diverse cohort of apprentices in the five-year history of the program, retrofitting the program to a virtual format because of COVID-19. Zurich also is helping other businesses explore apprenticeship in its role as a co-founder of the Chicago Apprentice Network as well as Insurance Apprenticeship USA. Zurich's was the first insurance apprenticeship program in the United States to be certified by the Department of Labor.

"Zurich's Apprenticeship Program is one way we're expanding career opportunities and developing a diverse, innovative workforce," said Zurich North America CEO Kathleen Savio, who did not attend the ceremony because of companywide pandemic travel restrictions. "We see a growing need for skills-based training and additional pathways to promising careers for Americans representing various backgrounds and experiences. We are proud that Zurich's Apprenticeship Program is empowering potential, and we're honored to be recognized by the inaugural Pledge to America's Workers Presidential Award."

Ross commended the nine Pledge winners for maintaining their investment in their workers during a year of COVID-19.

Many of the challenges of 2020 strengthen the case for apprenticeship.

"To be agile and innovative, businesses need to continually invest in upskilling and reskilling workers as well as creating opportunities for people representing diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives," said Laura Rock, Chief Human Resources Officer for Zurich North America. "Apprenticeships like Zurich's can help create a brighter future for us all."

Other Pledge to America's Workers honorees include Volkswagen Group of America; Textron Inc.; Oberg Industries, LLC.; Northrop Grumman Corporation; the National Retail Federation; Lockheed Martin Corporation; Associated Builders and Contractors, and the American Hotel & Lodging Association.

About Zurich

Zurich North America is one of the largest providers of insurance solutions and services to businesses and individuals. Our customers represent industries ranging from agriculture to technology. Zurich North America is part of Zurich Insurance Group, a leading multi-line insurer that serves its customers in global and local markets. Read more here.

Visit us on social media: LinkedIn and Twitter

SOURCE Zurich North America

Related Links

www.zurichna.com


A man was shot and killed by San Antonio police after officials say the man pointed a gun at officers, marking the second fatal shooting by SAPD in one week.

The Bexar County Medical Examiners Office identified the man as Victor Sanchez, 44.

Officials said the officers went to the apartment complex in the 5600 block of Culebra Road about 11 p.m. Tuesday after someone  its unclear who  called to report a burglary.

When police arrived, no one answered the door and the apartment was dark, San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said at the scene.

According to a preliminary police report, the officers repeatedly knocked on the door and contacted dispatchers, asking them to call back the person who reported the burglary. They also spoke to several residents to ask whether they had seen or heard anything.

Angelic Barron, who had a 1-year-old child with Sanchez, said Sanchez had some mental issues and that he had been struggling after his brother, Ricardo, was killed in 2017.

Now Playing: A man was fatally shot during a confrontation with San Antonio police Tuesday night at an apartment complex on the West Side, Chief William McManus said at the scene. Video: San Antonio Express-News

I loved him a lot, Barron said, speaking from her bullet-riddled apartment Wednesday afternoon. I cared about him. I knew he had some mental issues, but that never stopped me from wanting to be there for him and trying to comfort him.

Barron said she was inside her apartment Tuesday with Sanchez  whom she had known for about three years  when her daughter approached her. Her daughter said Sanchez had heard banging on the front door, and that he was encouraging the girl to call police.

Barron, 29, said she opened the door and looked outside, at which point she saw several police officers in the parking lot.

On ExpressNews.com: New details emerge about fatal shooting of West Side man by San Antonio police

Suddenly, Barron said, she heard a gunshot inside her apartment. She rushed back in and found Sanchez standing inside her childrens room holding a gun.

He said I needed to get out because the cops were going to come in here and probably wanted to shoot, Barron said.

Barron gathered her five children, from 1 to 12 years old. She picked up her youngest and told Sanchez that he should put down his gun and put his hands in the air.

Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News

Again, she said, he encouraged her to leave.

As Barron ran out of the apartment, she passed several police officers, all of whom were carrying shields and long guns. The officers, who had been in their patrol cars outside, returned to the apartment after hearing the shot inside.

According to police, after Barron left the apartment, the officers kept the door open and continued talking to Sanchez. They saw he was carrying a handgun and repeatedly asked him to put it down, the report states.

Sanchez retreated further into the apartment, the report states. He told officers he had a rifle and threatened to shoot, officers later said.

At that point, police said, Sanchez raised his right arm and pointed the gun directly at the officers. Six officers fired, striking Sanchez multiple times.

Barron, who was outside, heard 15 to 20 shots. She said she ran toward her apartment, at which point several officers tackled her and placed her on the ground.

Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News

I said, Leave me alone, Barron said. I need to make sure hes OK.

The officers immediately attempted to perform lifesaving first aid, the report states.

On ExpressNews.com: More details emerge from H-E-B incident where officer stabbed, suspect killed

A few minutes later, Barron said, she saw Sanchez being carried on a stretcher to an ambulance. Barron cried out to Sanchez. Officers told Barron that Sanchez was speaki, and she held out hope that he might be alright.

Several hours later, when Barron was giving a statement at police headquarters, she learned Sanchez had died after being transported to University Hospital.

When she arrived home about 7:15 a.m., the floor was covered in blood, she said. She spent the morning trying to clean it.

Sanchez, who had a lengthy criminal history, was out on bond for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. In that incident, on Nov. 19, 2019, he was accused of pointing a firearm at Barron and threatening her.

Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News

A Bexar County grand jury indicted Sanchez on June 1, and he was arrested on Aug. 21, according to court records.

A judge set his bond at $60,000. He released on bail six days later on Aug. 27 after paying a percentage of his bond through a bail bondsman, the records state.

Prior to that incident, Sanchez had been arrested about eight times since 1995 for a variety of charges, including possession of a controlled substance, aggravated robbery and assault bodily injury married.

He was convicted six times, the records state. Two charges were dismissed.

Sanchez is the ninth person to be fatally shot by SAPD this year, according to police reports filed with the Texas Office of the Attorney General. Two others have died while handcuffed in police custody.

Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News

The shooting Tuesday comes exactly a week after a detective shot and killed 55-year-old Darrell Zemault Sr. in his front yard. Three detectives and two patrol officers went to his house to execute a warrant. According to police, Zemault wrestled with a detective and grabbed his gun that had fallen from its holster onto the ground. The department is conducting separate criminal and administrative investigations, as is customary after a police shooting.

The same procedures are being followed in Tuesdays fatal shooting. All the officers involved were placed on administrative leave in the meantime.

Staff photographer Jerry Lara contributed to this report.

Emilie Eaton is a criminal justice reporter in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Emilie, become a subscriber. eeaton@express-news.net | Twitter: @emilieeaton

Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news and general assignment reporter for MySA.com | taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | Twitter: @TaylorPettaway
This article will reflect on the compensation paid to Randall Stuewe who has served as CEO of Darling Ingredients Inc. (NYSE:DAR) since 2003. This analysis will also look to assess whether the CEO is appropriately paid, considering recent earnings growth and investor returns for Darling Ingredients.

See our latest analysis for Darling Ingredients

How Does Total Compensation For Randall Stuewe Compare With Other Companies In The Industry?

According to our data, Darling Ingredients Inc. has a market capitalization of US$5.5b, and paid its CEO total annual compensation worth US$7.6m over the year to December 2019. Notably, that's an increase of 13% over the year before. We think total compensation is more important but our data shows that the CEO salary is lower, at US$1.2m.

On comparing similar companies from the same industry with market caps ranging from US$4.0b to US$12b, we found that the median CEO total compensation was US$7.8m. From this we gather that Randall Stuewe is paid around the median for CEOs in the industry. Moreover, Randall Stuewe also holds US$31m worth of Darling Ingredients stock directly under their own name, which reveals to us that they have a significant personal stake in the company.

Component 2019 2018 Proportion (2019) Salary US$1.2m US$1.2m 16% Other US$6.4m US$5.6m 84% Total Compensation US$7.6m US$6.8m 100%

On an industry level, around 22% of total compensation represents salary and 78% is other remuneration. It's interesting to note that Darling Ingredients allocates a smaller portion of compensation to salary in comparison to the broader industry. If total compensation is slanted towards non-salary benefits, it indicates that CEO pay is linked to company performance.

Darling Ingredients Inc.'s Growth

Darling Ingredients Inc.'s earnings per share (EPS) grew 71% per year over the last three years. It achieved revenue growth of 2.2% over the last year.

This demonstrates that the company has been improving recently and is good news for the shareholders. It's good to see a bit of revenue growth, as this suggests the business is able to grow sustainably. Historical performance can sometimes be a good indicator on what's coming up next but if you want to peer into the company's future you might be interested in this free visualization of analyst forecasts.

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Has Darling Ingredients Inc. Been A Good Investment?

Most shareholders would probably be pleased with Darling Ingredients Inc. for providing a total return of 97% over three years. As a result, some may believe the CEO should be paid more than is normal for companies of similar size.

To Conclude...

As we touched on above, Darling Ingredients Inc. is currently paying a compensation that's close to the median pay for CEOs of companies belonging to the same industry and with similar market capitalizations. Investors would surely be happy to see that returns have been great, and that EPS is up. So one could argue that CEO compensation is quite modest, if you consider company performance! Stockholders might even be okay with a bump in pay, seeing as how investor returns have been so strong.

CEO compensation is an important area to keep your eyes on, but we've also need to pay attention to other attributes of the company. We did our research and identified 3 warning signs (and 1 which is a bit concerning) in Darling Ingredients we think you should know about.

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking at a different set of stocks. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.



Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com.
Police and protesters converge during a demonstration on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020, in Louisville, Ky. Read more

A Kentucky grand jury on Wednesday indicted a single former police officer for shooting into neighboring apartments, but did not hand up charges against any officers for their alleged roles in the death of Breonna Taylor.

Former Louisville Detective Brett Hankison, fired for his role in the incident, is charged with three counts of wanton endangerment in the first degree, but was not charged directly in Taylors death.

My office is prepared to prove these charges at trial, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron said at an afternoon news conference, adding that if convicted Hankison could serve up to five years for each count.

However, its important to note he is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Two other officers involved in the shooting  Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly and Det. Myles Cosgrove  were not indicted. The FBI is still investigating potential violations of federal law in the case.

Im not surprised, former Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey said on CNN following the announcement. I always thought this was going to be a difficult case once it went beyond the one officer that was firing blindly.

Ben Crump, the attorney for Taylors family, called the decision not to charge Hankison for murder outrageous and offensive.

 READ MORE: Philadelphians protest in the wake of a grand jury ruling in Breonna Taylors death

After the decision protesters gathered in downtown Louisville chanting No justice, no peace! and began marching through the streets. Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer announced a 72-hour curfew effective from 9 p.m. Wednesday. Louisville Metropolitan Police Department interim Chief Robert Schroeder said Kentucky National Guard members would be in the city.

Louisville police said Wednesday night that two police officers had been shot during the protests.

Interim Louisville Police Chief Robert Schroeder said Wednesday night that both officers were in stable condition and a person was in custody.

He says the officers had gone to investigate reports of gunfire when they were shot. He says theyre both expected to recover.

 READ MORE: Two Louisville officers shot amid Breonna Taylor protests in Kentucky

Taylor, an emergency medical worker, was shot multiple times by officers who entered her home using a warrant connected to a suspect, a former boyfriend, who did not live there.

Cameron, who is the states first Black attorney general, said he couldnt discuss the specifics of the case as it makes its way through the legal system. But he did say the other two officers on the scene were justified in their use of force" because Kenneth Walker, Taylors boyfriend, fired first. (Walker was charged with attempted murder of a police officer, but prosecutors later dropped the charge.)

Cameron also said evidence showed the officers knocked before entering and announced they were police officers before the shooting. Walker told police he heard knocking but didnt know who was coming into the home and fired in self-defense.

The warrant was not served as a no-knock warrant, Cameron said. According to Kentucky law, the use of force by (Officers Jonathan) Mattingly and (Myles) Cosgrove was justified to protect themselves. This justification bars us from pursuing criminal charges in Miss Breonna Taylors death.

The use of no-knock warrants has since been banned by Louisvilles Metro Council.

Addressing the disappointment at the lack of criminal charges, Cameron said the facts and evidence in this case were different from other recent incidents involving fatal police shootings.

If we simply act on emotion or outrage, there is no justice, Cameron said. Mob justice is not justice. Justice sought by violence is not justice. It just becomes revenge.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, urged Cameron to post online all the evidence and facts that can be released without affecting the charges filed.

Those that are currently feeling frustration, feeling hurt, they deserve to know more, he said. They deserve to see the facts for themselves. And I believe that the ability to process those facts helps everybody.

Taylors death led to widespread protests across the country, including in Philadelphia, where officials said police will increase their presence Wednesday night in Center City and in commercial districts throughout the city. Drivers should expect some delays around City Hall.

Philadelphia officials said they were aware of one protest planned in Philadelphia on Wednesday evening, though they warned additional demonstrations could develop.

I know that many Philadelphians are feeling disappointed, frustrated, and even outraged, following todays announcement by Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, Mayor Jim Kenney said in a statement. The City of Philadelphia fully supports the First Amendment rights of our residents, but we also want to ensure that any demonstration activity that happens is done in a safe, lawful manner.

Cameron, who is a Republican, is a protege of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell who has been tagged by some as his heir apparent. His was also one of 20 names on President Donald Trumps list to fill a future Supreme Court vacancy.

At a news conference, Trump read a statement from Cameron saying justice is not often easy. He praised both Camerons handling of the case and the governors calling up of the National Guard.

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden told reporters that he didnt have enough information on the decision to comment fully but warned protesters to keep demonstrations peaceful.

 READ MORE: In Breonna Taylor case, limits of law overcome calls for justice

Do not sully her memory or her mothers by engaging in any violence, he said.

Kamala Harris, Bidens running mate and a former prosecutor, also told reporters she hadnt fully read the decision.

But theres no question that Breonna Taylor and her family deserved justice yesterday, today and tomorrow, so Ill review it, she said.

Before charges were brought, Hankison was fired from the citys police department on June 23. A termination letter sent to him by interim Louisville Police Chief Robert Schroeder said the white officer had violated procedures by showing extreme indifference to the value of human life when he wantonly and blindly shot 10 rounds of gunfire into Taylors apartment in March.

Hankison had previously been placed on administrative reassignment, as were Mattingly, Cosgrove and the detective who sought the warrant, Joshua Jaynes.

On Sept. 15, the city settled a lawsuit against the three officers brought by Taylors mother, Tamika Palmer, agreeing to pay her $12 million and enact police reforms.

Protesters in Louisville and across the country have demanded justice for Taylor and other Black people killed by police in recent months. Several prominent African American celebrities including Oprah and Beyonce have joined those urging that the officers be charged.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Time is running out for the Palaszczuk government to finalise a vital Adani royalties deal, with weeks remaining until the government goes into caretaker mode before the state election.

The agreement, which Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk committed to finalising a year ago, must be signed off by the state government and Adani before coal can be exported from the Carmichael mine in the Galilee Basin.

Workers at the Adani Carmichael coal mine this month. Credit:Cameron Laird.

The government was due to sign a deal for royalties from the Carmichael mine by September 29 last year. When that deadline was missed it was extended to November 29, which the government also failed to meet.

An in-principal agreement was put on the table in 2017 which sparked months of infighting within the Labor Party.


These regions  Bay of Plenty, Auckland, Northland, Waikato  collectively grew by 321,400, and are now home to 54 per cent of New Zealands population.



These are the first subnational population estimates to fully incorporate the 2018 Census and 2018 post-enumeration survey (PES) results.

Estimates back to 2013 have now been revised. This is a normal revision that takes place after census and PES results are available. Estimates after 30 June 2018 now use the 2018-base estimated resident population as the starting-point.



"One of the purposes of running a census is to recalibrate national and sub-national population estimates," population insights senior manager Brooke Theyers says.



"The census coverage results from the 2018 PES, also released today, are crucial to ensure the population estimates are the best possible measure of how many people live in every community across New Zealand."



At the national level, the June 2018 population estimates have been revised up 60,000 (1.2 percent). This revision is spread across New Zealand, with estimates for most areas up slightly, and estimates for some areas down slightly.



"The recalibration of the estimates has generally confirmed the subnational trends evident in the initial population estimates."



Auckland region had the largest population growth, increasing by 187,300 people from 1,493,200 in 2013 to 1,680,500 in 2019. This is equivalent to the population of Dunedin and Invercargill cities combined being added to Auckland over six years. Aucklands average population growth rate was 2.0 per cent a year.



Although Auckland has the largest population, other regions have seen faster growth since 2013, Brooke says.



Net migration drove the growth in these regions which reflected the significant contribution of international migration to New Zealands overall population growth.



Bay of Plenty had an average annual growth rate of 2.7 per cent, followed by Northland at 2.4 per cent and Waikato at 2.3 per cent.



Population change is due to both natural increase (births less deaths) and net migration (migrant arrivals less migrant departures).

At the subnational level, net migration includes international migration (movements in and out of New Zealand) and internal migration.
She's set to be extremely busy over the coming months as she has a whopping four directorial projects in the pipeline.

But despite her busy schedule, Olivia Wilde showed no signs of taking it easy as she was spotted with her hands full while out and about in Beverly Hills on Tuesday.

The actress, 36, cut a casual and somewhat windswept figure as she ran errands during a low-key solo outing.

Busy bee: Despite her busy schedule, Olivia Wilde showed no signs of taking it easy as she was spotted with her hands full while out and about in Beverly Hills on Tuesday

The Tron: Legacy star dressed down in a printed white T-shirt, cropped tan trousers and fluffy black sliders as she made her way around the Californian city.

Olivia stayed protected in a blue patterned face mask, while she shielded her eyes with a pair of brown-tinted sunglasses.

The star's brunette tresses swept behind her as she was caught in a gust of wind as she walked.

And the Booksmart director clearly had a busy day ahead as she juggled a blue box, a straw hat and a large black handbag.

Out and about: The actress, 36, cut a casual and somewhat windswept figure as she ran errands during a low-key solo outing

The beauty was without fiance Jason Sudekis, 44, during her outing, while their children, son Otis, six, and daughter Daisy, three, were not present either.

Olivia will no doubt be making the most of any family time as she juggles four major projects.

The Life Itself actress made her directorial debut last year with high school comedy Booksmart and has clearly developed a taste for working behind the camera.

Her next project, Don't Worry, Darling - a psychological thriller about a 1950s housewife - is in pre-production.

Solo outing: The beauty was without fiance Jason Sudekis, 44, during her outing, while their children, son Otis, six, and daughter Daisy, three, were not present either (pictured December 2019)

The film has already generated a lot of buzz, with Harry Styles, Dakota Johnson, Florence Pugh and Chris Pine signed on to star.

Olivia will also direct Perfect, a biopic about gymnast Kerri Strug for Searchlight Pictures and an untitled holiday-comedy film for Universal Pictures.

She was recently announced to direct an upcoming female-led Marvel film for Sony Pictures, which some believe will be a Spider-Woman movie.

No character details have been revealed, but Olivia dropped a hint when she tweeted the news with a spider emoji.
Chad Wolf

Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf testifies during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on Capitol Hill, on February 25, 2020 in Washington, DC. The committee heard testimony on the Trump administration's proposed budget estimates and justification for FY2021 for the Homeland Security Department. Mark Wilson/Getty Images

On Wednesday, September 23  the day of Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf's confirmation hearing in the U.S. Senate  NBC News reported that the consulting firm where his wife, Hope Wolf, is an executive had been awarded more than $6 million in contracts from DHS, according to the federal government website USA Spending.

NBC News' Julia Ainsley reports, "Wolf's wife, Hope Wolf, is vice president of professional staff operations at Berkeley Research Group, a consulting firm. Although the company has a long history of federal contracts, it did not do work for DHS until after Wolf became the (Transportation Security Administration's) chief of staff in 2017. A DHS spokesperson said (Chad) Wolf was not aware of the contracts until he was contacted by the media."

That spokesperson told NBC News, "At no time in any of his positions since joining DHS has Acting Secretary Wolf been involved in awarding any contracts. Even if he were involved with the procurement process for this particular contract, which he was not, he would have had to recuse himself due to even the appearance of impropriety."

But according to Kyle Herrig, founder of the watchdog group Accountable.US, those $6 million worth of contracts may be a conflict of interest. Herrig told NBC News, "After Mr. Wolf joined DHS, it began pumping millions of dollars into his wife's firm, which also happens to be his largest financial asset. The arrangement is highly problematic and warrants congressional scrutiny."

President Donald Trump chose Chad Wolf as acting secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in November 2019 following the departure of former Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen. Before that, Wolf served as Nielsen's chief of staff.

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I saw that they (Nelsons) were basically holding a sign that said 'f the cops' in this little town. Now I dont personally know every cop here, but I know they are small, hometown cops, and they have our back, Haines said by phone Sunday night as he organized with other locals to mount a second protest against Nelson on Tuesday.

The police department has sought to build bridges with minority residents over the past couple of years by enlisting a popular Black pastor and alderman, the Rev. William Phillips, as the departments chaplain.

Newly-tapped Chief Jason White says his 18-member department has worked to develop ties with town residents.

"I think for the most part, Madison is one of the best little towns,'' said White, saying he's trained his officers not to react emotionally to provocations by the Nelsons or other activists.

Local people care about our law enforcement. And our communitys not going to put up with that, Haines said. Enough is enough. Were not playing anymore.

Tuesday saw more unrest

By midday Tuesday, Haines and dozens of other police supporters roared into Madison with engine headers huffing.
NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Smart Gas Meter Market was valued at USD 1.84 billion in 2019 and is expected to reach USD 3.17 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 9.5% over the forecast period 2020 - 2025. Smart meters boost a utility's ability to precisely and timely bill customers for the quantity of gas used. The remote read-capability allows for smaller intervals between billing reads, better business preparation in understanding future revenue streams or for producing a continuous flow of capital. For instance, smart gas meters take readings every half an hour in a day and send it to the supplier.







Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05974120/?utm_source=PRN







Smart meters play a significant role in reducing theft and safeguarding utility revenues, which act as drivers to the market studied. In the case of smart gas meters, loses in most cases, are accounted for theft and leakage. Additional, they can offer readings on gas consumed for every additional hour of usage and the cost associated with it. Smart meters can also reduce labor costs and time as the data provided on smart meters is communicable both ways. These devices also support in-house displays that keep the consumer informed about the energy usage, in real-time. Some smart meters, through mobile app syncing, offer remote access to control and pay bills. The services are also accessible to pay-as-you-use customers who can consume based on prepayment and can recharge without missing the billing dates or overshooting the bills.



A case of Ireland's Plan for smart meter installation by 2024 estimates that, as customers get the smart meters, billings will increase by about EUR 5.50 a year to help fund the project, which is expected to amount to EUR 1.2 billion. The charge is added to a customer's network fee each year, for a period of 20 years. However, it is estimated that the potential savings associated with these meters can aid consumers in reducing their energy costs by around EUR 20 a year, which, on a national level, is a significant saving.



Hence, instead of a physical presence to check the reading on the meter, the data from a smart meter is transmitted to the utility department, which can take action based on the gas being consumed by a user and act accordingly. This reduced dependency on labor and time can save certain costs, indirectly affecting the utility revenue. Similarly, simultaneous replacement of electricity and gas meters reduces the cost of both smart meter (gas and electricity) roll-outs. A shared communication infrastructure of gas and electricity meters is expected to be more economical to the consumer and the utility provider.



The most prominent limitation in the smart metering market is the non-availability of capital funding. Smart systems are comparatively more expensive than the regular metering equipment employed by most of the service providers and users. It has additional cost in enabling communication ability and maintaining the regulatory compliance for such obtained products. These systems utilize digital components and connectivity systems that enable them to operate and transmit data. This increases the cost of the metering equipment.



Moreover, different smart meters are designed with various parameters, based on operational requirements and consumer requirements, and in turn, increasing their costs. Furthermore, smart meters are complicated equipment that need skilled labor to handle and install. All these factors increase the overall cost of the systems, making them more expensive than regular metering systems.



Most of the nations around the world have limited budgets allocated for the deployment of smart systems. Therefore, most of the companies are either opting for different systems, or the cost of installing the systems are being passed on to the consumer. Thus, many users are opting out of the employment of smart meters. Additionally, security concerns related to user data is one of the factors contributing to the slow growth of smart metering systems. Many of the users in European nations have been considering opting out of smart metering systems.



Remote access, data protection, and other concerns are resulting in causing concern among users. Security remains the primary issue with users and companies. Recent data breaches and increasing threats from hacking organizations are affecting the employment of these systems. Thus, high costs and security concerns are restraining the growth of this market.



.



Key Market Trends

The Residential Segment is Expected to Register a Significant Growth



The residential end-user segment is a huge segment for smart gas meters, given the number of households that individually have gas meters installed. For instance, according to the US Census Bureau Survey, revised in November 2018, there are more than 127.5 million family households and 44.5 million non-family households in the United States (as of 2018).



Similar is the case for the household size across different countries in the world, making the residential sector a significant segment, especially in urban areas. Such a vast number of customers who are ready to be served presents a massive potential for the application of smart gas meters in the residential segment of the market. To adopt and make use of smart gas meters, the market needs supporting communication infrastructure to be present to make use of smart meter features.



For instance, the United Kingdom has a Data Communication Company (DCC) to provide a national-level communication channel for the smart meters to communicate with the energy suppliers. In India, Tata Communications, through its public Internet of Things (IoT) network, is providing connectivity to Mahanagar Gas Limited's smart gas meters, which, as of April 2018, plans to set 5,000 gas meters in Mumbai. Tata communications rolled out the LoRaWAN network in 38 cities, which indicates the growth in investment in supporting infrastructure capabilities. It also shows the necessity of the presence of a communication network to enable smart devices adoption.



Geographic Trends



The United States is a relatively matured market in terms of smart gas meter installations, which was driven majorly because of the smart city initiatives. Prominent vendors like Itron, Honeywell, and GE, among others, are increasing their revenues by collaborating with energy companies across Asian regions.



Currently, around 50% to 60% of the installed gas meter base in the United States are automated reading devices. Approximately, 52% of all the new meters sold in 2016 are AMI or AMR solutions. This share is predicted to increase more during the forecast period.



Advanced metering infrastructure includes meters that record and measure electricity usage at hourly intervals, which provide the data to both the customer and utility department at least once a day. AMI installations vary from the basic hourly interval meters to real-time meters that have been equipped with built-in two-way communication, capable of transmitting and recording instantaneous data.



While the change of pace for utilities is now faster than ever across almost all areas of their business, this acceleration is especially evident in their communication needs increasingly specified to support smart grid operation.



Competitive Landscape

The smart gas meters market is highly competitive and consists of several major players. In terms of market share, a few of the major players currently dominate the market. These major players with prominent shares in the market are focusing on expanding their customer base across foreign countries. These companies are leveraging on strategic collaborative initiatives to increase their market share and increase their profitability. The companies operating in the market are also acquiring start-ups working on smart gas meters market technologies to strengthen their product capabilities. In March 2018, Sensus (the Xylem brand) was selected by Nicor Gas, the largest natural gas distribution company in Illinois, as the technology provider for its meter modernization program. The program is one of several investments that Nicor Gas made, in order to modernize and improve its natural gas infrastructure.



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Dozens of Ogun State retirees on Tuesday stormed the streets of Abeokuta to protest over non-payment of their gratuities by the government.

The retirees, under the banner of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), came out with different placards to register their plights.

Some inscriptions on the placards read: Pay our gratuity to provide succour for our jobless children, We say a big no to the killers of pension reform, Gratuities are not meant for burial expenses, and N2 billion annual releases takes 34 years to offer N68billion debt, so a 60 years pensioner will take gratuity at 94 years. Abomination, among others.

Speaking with Journalists, the Chairman of the retirees, Waheed Oloyede, said the pensioners reject the state governments proposal.

It was reported last week that Governor Dapo Abiodun proposed a release of N500 million quarterly to offset outstanding gratuities but the union disagreed, saying it would take 34 years to clear the outstanding N68 billion arrears.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that state workers are being owed gratuities from 2014 to date, while local government retirees are owed from 2011 to date.

The pensioners, however, called for N1 billion monthly release by the government and the immediate implementation of the 33.4 per cent increase in pension.

We demand immediate implementation of the provisions of the circular on 33.4% increase in pension that was issued in 2010. We also demand for Conventional Review/Increase in pension in consonance with the provision of section 210 (3) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

It is unfortunate that salaries and wages had been reviewed severally without pension review. It is very disheartening that majority of pensioners are on N5,000 monthly pension in Ogun State, an amount which is not enough to feed the dogs of an elite in one day. This is the reason we have been calling for pension review /increase in the state.

Mr Abioduns Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Samorin, did not respond to PREMIUM TIMES enquiries since Tuesday. Both telephone calls and text messages were not acknowledged.
House Democrats and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin have reached a deal on stopgap spending to avoid government shutdown Tuesday night.

The stopgap bill will be able to fund the government with a continuing resolution through December 11. It will also avoid a government shutdown.

There could be a government shutdown by October 1 if the bill is not passed.

House Democrats tweaked the stopgap bill to include farm aid ahead of the potential vote on Tuesday evening, said a Fox Business report.

It was something Senate Republicans balked at with the original House bill, which was introduced on Monday.

The first bill did not replenish funds for the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). The CCC ensures continued farm aid payments.

Democratic leaders first planned to vote on Tuesday afternoon despite a lack of support from the GOP. This could have led to a partisan showdown as the current funding is about to expire at the end of the month.

In the end, both parties resumed negotiations and agreed on a bill that addressed both farm aid and nutrition assistance.

Members of the Senate will likely vote on the measure by the end of the week, as said in an ABC News Go report. It is easily expected to pass there.

Then, it can head to President Donald Trump's desk for signing.

Farm Aid in the Stopgap Bill

In their push to include farm aid, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the original bill had a message to farmers: "drop dead." Democrats from farm-country also pushed Pelosi to include the funding in the bill.

In a statement, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that Democrats have agreed to the nearly $8 billion in nutrition assistance for low-income families and children. It was four times what they first asked for, said Politico.

It was part of an exchange for aid for farmers sought by the White House, said The Hill.

Farmers suffer from low commodity prices. They also see the effects of higher tariffs.

Democrats said earlier that including farm aid in the spending bill amounts to a "political slush fund" and softens the current trade policies' blow.

Expanding Coronavirus Relief

The bill expands an expiring program created by a COVID-19 relief law that was in place earlier this year.

It had a year-long extension of a program that lets families with school-aged children to buy groceries during the pandemic. It also gives low-income children who usually get free or reduced school lunches with meals.

Pelosi added that the farm aid also includes some guardrails to ensure that money doesn't bail out oil refiners. Trump also said earlier this week that funds wouldn't flow to the oil industry.

The bill will also give states another year to continue being flexible for requirements for food stamps.

Early this month, both Mnuchin and Pelosi had an 'informal deal' to avoid a government shutdown. Back then, there were no specifics.

But it was clear that both parties did not want to have a government shutdown.

Given the nearness of the November elections, both Democrats and Republicans are strongly incentivized to avoid a government shutdown.

Check these out!

Republicans, Democrats to Strike a Stimulus Deal

Threat of Government Shutdown Arises Due to Failure to Strike a Deal

Mnuchin, Pelosi Reach 'Informal Deal' to Avoid Government Shutdown
I can tell you right now in our races and across the country, the number one issue for so many constituents is still the health crisis, said Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), who leads the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. Theyre going to see an administration completely ignoring the wishes of the American public during an election period for really the purpose of stacking the court, putting somebody on the court thats going to take away their health care.
Israel's Yuval Steinitz was one of seven energy ministers to launch Sept. 22 the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum via videoconference at an event organized by Cairo, the forum's headquarters. The ministers also included Steinitz's Greek, Cypriot, Jordanian, Palestinian and Italian counterparts. The ambassadors of three other countries interested in joining the forum  France as a member state and the United States and the European Union  also participated.

The forum was established by Steinitz and Egyptian Energy Minister Tarek el-Molla as a smaller, informal grouping after Israel and Egypt discovered offshore natural gas fields. The idea was to facilitate talks among Mediterranean countries about exporting natural gas, cooperating on various energy issues and advancing the construction of an undersea pipeline that would transfer the gas to the south of Europe.

The Sept. 22 ceremony marked the formal transformation of the forum into a recognized international, intergovernmental body, with members digitally signing the founding charter of the new organization. The forum, which notably does not include Turkey, is also expected to include various companies and interest groups that will participate in technical meetings on energy.

The joint declaration published at the launch said the new body aims to serve as a platform that brings together gas producers, consumers and transit countries to create a shared vision and establish a structured systematic policy dialogue on natural gas, leading to the development of a sustainable regional gas market and unlocking the full gas resource potential in the region for the benefit and welfare of its people.

Steinitz previously served as Israel's intelligence minister and finance minister. As such, he was in constant contact with his Egyptian counterparts and dealt often with energy issues. His expertise and leadership on energy cooperation with Mediterranean neighbors kept him in the energy minister's post when the Netanyahu-Gantz unity government was formed last year.

Speaking as part of the Sept. 22 event, Steinitz said, The blessing of gas brings regional cooperation with Arab and European countries, the first of its kind in history, including contracts to export $30 billion of blue-and-white gas to Jordan and Egypt, and thats only the beginning. A statement issued by his ministry explained that the signing ceremony ended the first phase of the forum  establishing an initial framework and spirit of cooperation  and a step toward the second phase of working together and implementing a joint program.

Energy cooperation is essential for Israel on several levels. The country expects high revenues as the result of the discovery of the Leviathan and Tamar offshore fields, but also expects to enhance its diplomatic partnership with Greece and Cyprus, and with Egypt. The alliance with Greece and Cyprus has been evolving in recent years to also include military and defense aspects; Turkey sees this as an affront.

With Egypt, energy cooperation is a major element in bilateral ties, qualified for many years as a "cold peace." But while cultural, artistic or civil society cooperation between Israelis and Egyptians is almost nonexistent, energy cooperation is flourishing.
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.
Washington:

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nietos decision to cancel his planned trip to the US next week was mutually agreed upon, US President Donald Trump has said stating that such a meeting would be fruitless unless Mexico is going to treat America fairly.

The President of Mexico and myself have agreed to cancel our planned meeting scheduled for next week, Trump said in his remarks at Republican retreat in Philadelphia.

Unless Mexico is going to treat the US fairly with respect, such a meeting would be fruitless and I want to go in different route. We have no choice, he said.

Border security is a serious, serious national issue and problem. A lack of security poses a substantial threat to the sovereignty and safety of the United States of America and its citizens, Trump said.

Also read: US-Mexico wall dispute escalates, prez Enrique Pena Nieto calls off meet with Donald Trump

Most illegal immigration is coming from our southern border. Ive said many times that the American people will not pay for the wall. Ive made that clear to the government of Mexico, he asserted.

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), he said, has been a terrible deal, a total disaster for the US from its inception, costing us as much as USD 60 billion a year with Mexico alone in trade deficits.

You say, who negotiates these deals? Not to mention, millions of jobs and thousands and thousands of factories and plants closing down all over our country, he said.

On top of that are the trillions of dollars the US taxpayers have spent to pay the costs of illegal immigration. Much of it is then been sent back, and much of it goes back to other countries, and oftentimes because they dont respect us, the other countries will not accept the criminals that we send back to them that are illegally in our country, Trump said.

I promise you, they will start accepting them again, quickly. We are not going to them any longer, he said amidst applause from the audience.

I will not allow the taxpayers or the citizens of the US to pay the costs of this defective transaction, NAFTA, one that should have been renegotiated many years ago except the politicians were too preoccupied to do so. Now these people are not in that category, you understand. This is a different group. I think, Trump said.

Trump said his administration is working on a tax reform bill that will reduce trade deficits, increase American exports and will generate revenue from Mexico that will pay for the wall if the US decides to go that route.

It is time that the American people had a president fighting as hard for its citizens as other countries do for theirs, and thats exactly what Im going to do for you Believe me, he said.

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the line of communication is open with Mexico.

We have been in constant contact with the Mexican government. As you know, Mexican officials were here earlier this week. I think we mutually decided to postpone the meetings but ensure that lines of communications remained open, Spicer said.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
By Express News Service

Covid-19 is like any other crisis, it tests the whole system, says Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi. Often in the news for her run-ins with the Puducherry government, Bedi says she refuses to be an onlooker when people are suffering. She was in conversation with Prabhu Chawla, Editorial Director, The New Indian Express, and senior journalist and author Kaveree Bamzai in TNIE Expressions, a series of live webcasts with people who matter.

I have refused to be an onlooker and played the role of an administrator. I only filled in the gaps as the representative of the government of India here. I have been playing a coordinating, collaborating, facilitating role but with very serious limitations as the Disaster Management Act excludes the Lt-Governor in a direct role. I played an indirect role, certainly, being very careful that things do not slip out of control, said the retired IPS officer while speaking about the Covid-19 situation in Puducherry, which has the highest number of patients per one lakh population in the country.

Speaking about why it is so, Bedi pointed at certain gaps in handling the pandemic. They (government) have heavily delayed equipping of the private medical colleges. We have seven of them, but they were not co-opted well in time to provide their beds. I saw a very big gap between peoples needs and facilities  they were not developing as per the challenges of Covid-19. Thats why I thought we have suffered. Peoples suffering is common suffering and everyone is responsible for mitigation. We have not succeeded to an extent because of the delays.

I couldnt fast forward until the Government of India stepped in. When I saw that we are running out of solutions, I sent an SOS message to the PMs Office, the health minister, ICMR and the home secretary through a tweet... The Centre responded immediately. ICMR and JIPMER teams were put in position and people heaved a sigh of relief, she said. On the lessons learnt from the Covid-19 crisis, Bedi said, It is like any other crisis, it tests the whole system... If you had a good governance system in place, you can rise to the occasion and handle it better.

Prior to the crisis, you had broken down systems. People were also selectively law-abiding. Covid-19 has exposed the deficiencies of the system, particularly healthcare. It also revealed the ways people take instructions. It reveals your giving spirit, your patriotism, the character of people.Asked how people could be convinced to maintain mask discipline and social distancing, the L-G responded that the answer lay in value based education.

Bedi concluded that we should learn from a crisis like the current pandemic. It has left us to recalibrate, taught us all are equal and nobody is more or less. So, rather than lamenting, build on your health and skills. Learn to be law-abiding when you are young, it will help you later. Remain grateful, time is very precious, nothing is permanent. India needs proactive karmayogis to become Aatmanirbhar, she said.
The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) says its promise to facilitate the establishment of morgues across Zongo communities was a demand by residents during the party's consultation with youth groups ahead of the compilation of its manifesto.

The party says key Islamic leaders and scholars have already endorsed the need for separate morgues for their people.

The NDC stated in its 2020 manifesto that it will construct the mortuaries in accordance with Islamic customs and practices and collaborate with the Ministry for Health to set up focal teams responsible for procedures that are compliant with Islamic customs in all state morgues.

But the announcement has been met with varied positions within the political discourse.

Speaking to Citi News, a member of the Zongo Working Committee of NDC, Mustapha Abubakari indicated that the party has other manifesto promises aimed at Zongo development hence comments suggesting the promise is misplaced and one that does not prioritize the real needs of Muslims are baseless.

If you check page 82 of the NDC, you will see a litany of promises and policies that we have rolled out. 21 of them are on education, jobs and so on. But on the issue of morgue, Imams and chiefs gave us this idea and even in 2019, the Vice President of the Sunyani Council of Chiefs made a categorical statement that Muslim morgues are important. We have one of the Islamic scholars saying that Muslim mortuaries are a necessity.

Meanwhile, a member of the Communications Directorate of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Awal Mohammed says the establishment of morgues in Zongo communities is the least of the people's priorities.

We lined up education, health and sanitation, Zongo entrepreneurship. That is why we set up a Zongo Development Fund when we came in. We will have to design policies for people who are living and not dead. That is why we are saying is the least of the priorities of the Zongo people.

---citinewsroom
 Flash

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.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 10:36:03|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- China's General Administration of Customs on Wednesday announced emergency precautionary measures against a Norwegian aquatic product maker after a sample of an imported frozen seafood package tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

Starting from Wednesday, Chinese customs authorities will suspend accepting import applications related to the producer, identified as "GADUS NJORD," for a week.

The coronavirus-positive sample was from a batch of frozen fish, the administration said in a statement on its website. Enditem
Reliance Industries Limited and Reliance Retail Ventures Limited announced on Wednesday that global investment firm KKR will invest 5,550 crore into Reliance Retail, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries. This investment values Reliance Retail at a pre-money equity value of  4.21 lakh crore. KKRs investment will translate into a 1.28% equity stake in RRVL on a fully diluted basis.

This is the second deal by Reliance Retail in two weeks. Earlier this month, private equity giant Silver Lake Partners had said that it will invest 7,500 crore in Reliance Retail for a 1.75% stake.

This marks the second investment by KKR in a subsidiary of Reliance Industries, following a  11,367 crore investment in Jio Platforms announced earlier this year. Founded in 1976, KKR has $222 billion in assets under management as of June 30, 2020.

Reliance Retail claims that the company sees around 640 million footfalls across its nearly 12,000 stores nationwide.

I am pleased to welcome KKR as an investor in Reliance Retail Ventures as we continue our onward march to growing and transforming the Indian Retail ecosystem for the benefit of all Indians. KKR has a proven track record of being a valuable partner to industry-leading franchises and has been committed to India for many years. We look forward to working with KKRs global platform, industry knowledge and operational expertise across our digital services and retail businesses," said Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries.

Morgan Stanley acted as financial advisor to Reliance Retail and Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India LLP acted as financial advisor to KKR for this deal.

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By Naveen Thukral

SINGAPORE, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Chicago soybean futures slid for a third consecutive session on Wednesday, as U.S. harvest was expected to gather pace on the back of dry weather in the weeks ahead, boosting global supplies.

Wheat lost ground after closing higher on Tuesday although strong global demand is likely to keep a floor under the market.

"U.S. harvest is gathering pace but prices are unlikely to decline much as Chinese demand is pretty strong for soybeans and corn," said one Singapore-based grains trader. "Even for wheat, prices of Black Sea wheat being offered in Asia have risen and we don't see a big drop from wheat is being offered now."

The most-active soybean contract on the Chicago Board Of Trade (CBOT) fell 0.2% to $10.17-1/2 a bushel by 0326 GMT.

Corn was down 0.3% at $3.68 a bushel and wheat gave up 0.4% to $5,56 a bushel.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said late on Monday that farmers had completed 6% of the soybean harvest and that the corn harvest was 8% done.

Forecasts called for harvest-friendly weather over the next two weeks.

The USDA confirmed sales of 266,000 tonnes of U.S. soybeans to China and 264,000 tonnes to unknown destinations, marking the 13th consecutive business day of sales to China.

It also reported sales of U.S. corn to China and unknown destinations.

Soybean crushing volumes in Argentina, the world's top exporter of soymeal and soyoil, is set to drop around 9.5% this year, the head of the CIARA-CEC grains exporting chamber told Reuters on Tuesday.

Lower processing will prompt buyers to seek alternative destinations such as the United States and Brazil.

Egypt purchased 405,000 tonnes of Russian wheat at around $256 per tonne, including freight, up about $7 a tonne from what it paid in a similar tender last week.

Commodity funds were net buyers of CBOT wheat and soymeal futures contracts on Tuesday and net sellers of Chicago Board of Trade corn, soybean, soyoil futures contracts, traders said. (Reporting by Naveen Thukral; Editing by Rashmi Aich)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 11:17:33|Editor: huaxia

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CARACAS, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The vice president of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) warned on Tuesday that sectors of the Venezuelan opposition are planning to commit violent acts ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections.

"We want to take all the necessary measures to get to Dec. 6 in peace," said Diosdado Cabello.

On Dec. 6, more than 20 million Venezuelans will cast their vote to choose 277 deputies to the National Assembly for the period of 2021-2026.

At a press conference, the PSUV leader asserted that Venezuelan intelligence agencies have detected movements that indicate intentions to generate violence.

Cabello claimed that among the objectives that certain sectors of the opposition would plan to attack are basic public services and facilities belonging to Petroleos de Venezuela, the state oil company.

For this reason, Cabello instructed all PSUV structures and allied parties to report on "strange movements" observed in the country.

He also urged all parties participating in the parliamentary elections to recognize and respect the decisions made by the National Electoral Council. Enditem
Banjul, Gambia (PANA)  Gambian parliament on Tuesday rejected the Promulgation Bill 2020 on the countrys draft constitution after it was put to vote ahead of the expected referendum slated in January 2021
An unintended byproduct of China copying U.S. technology over the past two decades is that it can no longer hold those companies to ransom, while at the same time it cant simply afford to kick out those it hasnt yet been able to replace with local versions. Blacklisting any of them, however, might make an effective piece of theater, and at little cost if the sacrifices are limited to companies it doesnt really need. Chinas rulers will want to calculate whether theres a pre-election benefit, or if theyd be helping Trump. Even if they wait until after the next president is known, such a move would present a show of strength.
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While staying home is often the best way for older adults to protect themselves from contracting or spreading COVID-19, certain areas of the house can pose other health risks for older adults. For example, frequented areas like the bathroom and bedroom can contain hazards that put an older adult at high risk of a fall.

According to the Center for Disease Control, an older American falls every second of every day  making falls the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries for the aging population. While the instance of falls can increase with age, many slips or trips can be prevented with a watchful eye, inexpensive home modifications and a few practical lifestyle adjustments.

As time goes on, the same place where weve created a lifetime of memories will naturally become more challenging to navigate, said Lakelyn Hogan, gerontologist and caregiver advocate at Home Instead Senior Care. The high risk of falls in the home shouldnt scare us  but rather, empower us to take the right preventative measures to remain independent and safe for years to come.

The National Council on Agings Falls Prevention Awareness Week (Sept. 21-25) is an ideal time to consider the effects of aging and make quick fixes to help reduce pitfalls in the home. Hogan recommends considering these age-friendly modifications to safeguard your space:



Spruce up the bathroom. Slick tile floors and tubs can pose high risk of falls and other accidents. Minimize potential slips in the bathroom by installing grab bars near the shower, tub and toilet. To make bathing easier, consider converting a showerhead to a hand-held version or with a trickle or pause showerhead, or adding a rubber mat or adhesive non-stick decals to the bottom of a tub.

Clean and rearrange. Clutter can make it difficult to get around and locate necessities. Dont just clean around pileseliminate them. Then, organize the house so frequently used items are at waist level, minimizing the need to bend or climb. Consider removing or securing throw rugs. Arrange furniture to make rooms easy to navigate and allow enough space to walk around furniture.

Rethink stairs. A trip up a staircase can be risky for many older adults. Proper handrails are a must where stairs are steep. If stairs become a dumping ground for items such as shoes, dedicate a different space in the house to store loose items. When climbing upstairs begins to feel arduous, consider installing a stair lift or moving a bedroom downstairs to cut down on the number of, and potential for, trips.

Adjust lighting. Inadequate lighting is a safety hazard and high fixtures often pose a problem for older adults who have difficulty changing out burned bulbs. Make sure the home and stairways are well lit and apply high-contrast colored tape to top and bottom of stairs and thresholds. Use a night light and/or leave a light on in the bathroom to reduce the risk of falls in the dark.

Consider adding smart features. A fall can be startling and upsetting, even if it happens in the home. In the event a fall does occur, devices like voice-controlled speakers, wrist detection services or medical alert bracelets can alert your family members or connect you to emergency services. This technology not only adds an extra layer of safety to the home, it can also help you feel more at ease.

Your home should be a safe and comfortable place to spend the golden years. Just like you would block off your schedule for a telehealth appointment or another important commitment, devote time to discussing and implementing changes in your home to reduce risks. Whether these simple fixes can be done in one weekend or over several weeks, consider it all time well spent to safeguard your health and safety for years to come.

For other age-friendly tips for the home and to learn more, visit http://www.HomeYourOwnWay.com. Or, for additional resources to recognize Falls Prevention Awareness Week, visit the National Council on Agings Fall Prevention website.

ABOUT HOME INSTEAD SENIOR CARE

Founded in 1994 in Omaha, Nebraska, the Home Instead Senior Care franchise network provides personalized care, support and education to enhance the lives of aging adults and their families. Today, the network is the world's leading provider of in-home care services for seniors, with more than 1,200 independently owned and operated franchises that provide more than 80 million hours of care annually throughout the United States and 13 other countries. Local Home Instead Senior Care offices employ approximately 90,000 CAREGivers worldwide who provide basic support services that enable seniors to live safely and comfortably in their own homes for as long as possible. Home Instead Senior Care franchise owners partner with clients and their family members to help meet varied individual needs. Services span the care continuum  from providing personal care to specialized Alzheimers care and hospice support. Also available are family caregiver education and support resources.

Visit HomeInstead.com. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.
President Donald Trump's former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski teed off on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after they recorded a video plug urging Americans to register to vote and Harry urged Americans to 'reject hate speech.'

'They made Britain great again by leaving, I hope they do the same for us,' Lewandowski, now a senior 2020 advisor to the Trump campaign, told DailyMail.com Wednesday, in comments after Harry and Meghan's comments in a Time 100 video message made waves on both sides of the Atlantic.

Harry and Meghan, now ensconced in an L.A. mansion as Election Day approaches after relinquishing their royal titles, made their remarks just weeks before the Nov. 3 elections, with Americans in some states are already going to the polls.

'As we approach this November, it's vital that we reject hate speech, misinformation and online negativity,' said Harry  in a line some observers in Britain and the U.S. immediately took to be a plug for Joe Biden and a slap at President Trump.

Said the California-born Markle, 39: 'We're six weeks out from the election, and today is Voter Registration Day. Every four years, we're told the same thing, 'This is the most important election of our lifetime.' But this one is. When we vote, our values are put into action, and our voices are heard.'

Trump campaign spokesman Jason Miller indicated he saw no such preference in Prince Harry's words.

'I'm assuming you're asking me because of Joe Biden's record of hateful and divisive language, particularly toward the African American community?' he responded when asked by DailyMail.com for comment.

Then he wrote: 'I read this as warranted criticism of Joe Biden's racist policies. He's the only person I know of who has spoken at a Klan member's funeral!'  a reference to Biden's eulogy for former the late Senate leader Robert C. Byrd, who was a klan member in West Virginia in the 1940s but later apologized for what he called a 'sad mistake.'

'They made Britain great again by leaving, I hope they do the same for us,' Corey Lewandowski, now a senior 2020 advisor to the Trump campaign, told DailyMail.com

Markle told Marie Claire in August that she intended to vote. 'I know what it's like to have a voice, and also what it's like to feel voiceless,' she said. 'I also know that so many men and women have put their lives on the line for us to be heard. And that opportunity, that fundamental right, is in our ability to exercise our right to vote and to make all of our voices heard.'

Before marrying Harry but after Trump's election, Markle called Trump 'misogynistic' and 'divisive' in a TV appearance.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle 'crossed a line' by speaking out about the US election and 'effectively telling Americans to vote against Trump', royal insiders believe.

The Duke of Sussex told voters to 'reject hate speech' while the Duchess called the presidential race the 'most important election of our lifetime' as the couple urged Americans to register to vote.

Speaking in a Time 100 video message, apparently filmed from their California home, Harry admitted he was not eligible to vote - adding that he had never voted in the UK either where convention dictates that royals keep well clear of politics.

While Harry and Meghan did not name their favored candidate, many viewers thought it 'obvious' they were backing Joe Biden over Donald Trump - although a source close to Harry denied this.

Royal experts told MailOnline that the couple should give up their titles and sever their links to the monarchy for good if they wanted to comment on US politics, while insiders told The Times that palace aides would be concerned about their intervention.

MailOnline editor-at-large Piers Morgan said: 'Prince Harry poking his woke nose into the US election and effectively telling Americans to vote against President Trump is completely unacceptable behaviour for a member of the Royal Family.'

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have spoken out about the upcoming U.S. election, in a stark break with British tradition that prohibits royal involvement in politics

For his part, Harry said: 'As we approach this November, it's vital that we reject hate speech, misinformation and online negativity'

Former Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker, the author of the book And What Do You Do? What The Royal Family Don't Want You To Know, said Harry should not speak out about US politics while he is still a 'representative' of the UK.

'I think it's appropriate for any private citizen to comment on the US election. The problem is that Harry has retained his HRH status and is not a private citizen but still a representative of this country,' Mr Baker told MailOnline.

'He needs to stop trying to have a foot in both camps - royal when it suits him and private when it doesn't.

'Or to turn on its head the old phrase, I agree with what he says but disagree with his right to say it.'

Royal biographer Robert Jobson told MailOnline that it 'may be easier' for Meghan and Harry to give up their royal titles altogether given the 'business and political agenda they appear to want to pursue'.

Mr Jobson, whose latest book is called The Royal Family Operations Manual, said the couple were now 'completely detached' from the British monarchy and would be best off abandoning their titles altogether.

'Meghan, after all, holds American citizenship and has always voted,' he said. 'The business about royals not getting involved in politics is less clear when it comes to Meghan or what the protocol should be in this case.

'But as she is now back living in her country I am sure many would think it wrong that she is not allowed to exercise her democratic right to vote.

'Royals even in this country are entitled to their opinion and, such as the very vocal the Prince of Wales and Prince William voice them, particularly on the environment and the natural world. They see this as leadership.

'The important part is that they are not partisan, as for the monarch or her direct heir to be partisan could cause a constitutional crisis.'

How British royals are expected to keep out of politics Under Britain's constitutional monarchy, powers which theoretically belong to the Queen - such as appointing ministers and approving legislation - are exercised in her name by political leaders. This system means that political decisions are taken by the elected government rather than unelected royals, while keeping the monarchy as a symbol of the British state and its traditions. The royals' political neutrality, which the Queen has scrupulously observed for 68 years, is key to maintaining this balance and to preserving the monarchy's popularity. A YouGov poll earlier this year found majority support among both Conservative and Labour voters as well as Brexiteers and Europhiles for maintaining the British monarchy. The Queen's uncle King Edward VIII had to abdicate in 1936 because the government refused to support his planned marriage to American divorcee Wallis Simpson - fatally compromising his neutrality. While there is no law explicitly preventing the royal family from voting in UK elections, doing so would be an unacceptable breach of protocol. The Queen holds weekly conversations with her prime ministers and she is entitled to 'advise and warn' them when necessary, but the nature of her advice is never made public. Even her guarded comment that voters should 'think very carefully about the future' ahead of the 2014 Scottish independence referendum was seen as an unusual intervention. Prince Charles is known for writing lengthy letters to ministers on policy subjects such as agriculture, some of which were made public in 2015. William and Kate have also spoken out on the environment, launching a prize to tackle climate issues last year. Princess Diana - who like Harry and Meghan became semi-detached from the monarchy - was known for her campaigning on land mines, once allegedly describing the UK government's policy as 'hopeless'. Her involvement sparked criticism from some Conservative MPs, but the Labour government that took office shortly before her death was more favourable to her campaign. Advertisement

Mr Jobson said he was 'increasingly open' to the idea of stripping the Sussexes of their royal titles for their own benefit and that of the royal family.

'Frankly, I think it would be better for Harry to withdraw, along with his son, from the line of succession to avoid further confusion,' he said.

'By saying they are HRHs and the Duke and Duchess, but not allowed to use the titles, just confuses the situation.

'With that issue out of the way, Meghan encouraging people to vote is something that would be praised not criticised.

'She speaks well and has passion for political issues. Without a royal title to hold her back it may set her free to pursue a political career.

'Ditching his title, and that includes 'Prince' would free up Harry too, in the land where he says he is happy and wants to make this life and where titles mean nothing.'

A former palace adviser told The Times that Harry and Meghan's comments were likely to cause 'concern' among royal aides.

'The political arena is very sensitive for all members of the royal family. You cannot have an apolitical institution, which is what a hereditary monarchy is, and have members of the royal family making even slightly political comments,' they said.

'Courtiers would be extremely concerned that if they are going to continue to comment on what could be the most contentious US presidential election in living memory, how difficult could that get?'.

Another source in Palace circles said the couple had 'crossed a line' with their intervention on Tuesday.

Harry and Meghan spoke in a video clip which was broadcast as part of TIME's publication of its annual list of the world's 100 most influential people.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were included in the 2018 list, but not in this year's edition.

'We're just six weeks out from Election Day and today is National Voter Registration Day,' said Markle, 39.

'Every four years we are told the same thing, that this is the most important election of our lifetime. But this one is,' she said.

'When we vote, our values are put into action and our voices are heard. Your voice is a reminder that you matter, because you do and you deserve to be heard.'

For his part, Harry said: 'As we approach this November, it's vital that we reject hate speech, misinformation and online negativity.'

Harry urged Americans to be careful about what kind of content they consume online.

'When the bad outweighs the good, for many, whether we realize it or not, it erodes our ability to have compassion and our ability to put ourself in someone else's shoes. Because when one person buys into negativity online, the effects are felt exponentially. It's time to not only reflect, but act,' he said.

Harry also referenced the fact that, because he is not a U.S. citizen, he will not be able to vote in November.

He added that he had never been able to vote in the UK, despite being theoretically eligible in the last five general elections since he turned 18.

Although British law does not explicitly forbid members of the royal family from voting, the expectation that royals remain apolitical is considered sacrosanct, and in practice they never participate in elections, by voting or otherwise.

But since announcing plans to step down as senior royals in January and moving to North America, Meghan and Harry have quietly expanded their involvement in politics as they forge their own path.

Their comments led to criticism from viewers who saw it as a thinly-veiled plea to make Donald Trump a one-term president.

However, a source close to Harry insisted the Duke was not referring to Trump or any other individual.

'The duke was talking about the tone of debate in the run-up to an election which is already quite febrile,' they said.

'He is not talking about any candidate or specific campaign. He is building on a lot of stuff that he's said before about online communities, how we engage with each other online, rather than specifically making any political points.'

Markle has made her position on the 2020 election clear in a number of appearances in recent weeks, expressing enthusiasm for the Democratic ticket

Harry also appeared to open the door to taking up US citizenship in the future by saying that he was not eligible to vote at 'this' election.

His remark leaves open the possibility that he could seek to vote in a future election in the US, which would likely require him to obtain a 'green card' and stay in America for at least three years.

A source close to Harry declined to comment on whether his words suggested he would be applying for dual citizenship.

'They are not working royals. They are private citizens and it's understandable they want to keep those matters private,' the source said.

Meghan's involvement in the video follows a separate intervention last month in which she urged women to turn out at the election.

The Duchess addressed viewers at the When All Women Vote Couch Party - an online event organized by non-profit organization When We All Vote, which was founded by Michelle Obama.

Speaking directly to the volunteers and workers tuned into the summit, Meghan continued: 'It is fair to say that we are all very grateful for your work because we need it now really more than ever.

'When I think about voting and why this is so exceptionally important for all of us, I would frame it as: We vote to honor those who came before us and to protect those who will come after us because that's what community is all about and that's specifically what this election is all about,' she said.

This week, feminist activist Gloria Steinem revealed that Markle had joined her in cold-calling Americans and urging them to vote.

Steinem told Access Hollywood: '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 I'm Meg' and 'hello I'm Gloria' and 'are you going to vote?' That was her initiative.'

Meghan has also told Steinem she was 'so excited' to see fellow mixed-race woman Kamala Harris nominated for vice president, in another strong hint that she is backing the Democratic ticket.

Last month, Markle (left) joined Gloria Steinem for a 'backyard chat' in which she made it incredibly clear who she plans to vote for come November

Will Prince Harry take US citizenship? He says he won't vote in 'this' election Prince Harry appeared to leave the door open to taking up US citizenship in the future by saying that he would not vote in 'this' presidential election. 'This election, I'm not going to be able to vote here in the US,' the Duke of Sussex said, adding that he had never voted in the UK either. Harry's remark left the possibility open that he might seek to vote in a US election in the future, where royal partisanship would not cause a constitutional crisis as it would in the UK. Meghan and the couple's one-year-old son Archie are both US citizens, but Harry has not announced any plans to take up dual nationality. A source told the Sunday Times earlier this year that Harry had not applied for dual citizenship and was not expected to request a green card in the US. Green cards offer a route to citizenship because the spouse of a US national can apply for naturalisation after being a permanent resident for three years. Harry's current immigration status is unclear but a range of visas are available to UK nationals. Advertisement

Before marrying Prince Harry in 2018, Markle was no stranger to politics, ridiculing then-presidential candidate Donald Trump during a 2016 appearance on The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore.

She said Trump was 'misogynistic and divisive' and indicated her support for Hillary Clinton.

Harry is a friend of former president Barack Obama, interviewing him on a guest-edited episode of BBC Radio 4's Today Programme in 2017.

'Part of my role and part of my job is to shine a spotlight on issues that need that spotlight, whether it's people, whether it's causes, issues, whatever it is,' Harry said at the time.

'So I will continue to play my part in society and do my job to the best of my abilities so that I can wake up in the morning and feel energised.'

Despite the Obama friendship, the couple avoided a constitutional row by inviting neither the Obamas nor the Trumps to their 2018 wedding at Windsor Castle.

Earlier this year, two Russian pranksters said they had duped the Duke of Sussex into criticising Trump in a phone call where they posed as climate activist Greta Thunberg.

'I don't mind saying this to you guys, I think the mere fact that Donald Trump is pushing the coal industry so big in America, he has blood on his hands,' Harry allegedly said.

Buckingham Palace did not confirm or deny the authenticity of the call.

Over the past few weeks, Meghan has taken part in multiple interviews and summits - having reportedly grown 'frustrated' at her inability to get involved in politics while she was working as a senior royal.

Last month, she joined Gloria for a 'backyard chat' in which she made it incredibly clear who she plans to vote for come November, expressing her excitement at seeing a woman of color on the Democratic ticket - Joe Biden's running mate, Kamala Harris - and explaining that the nomination was particularly meaningful to her because she is biracial.

Over the past few months, Markle has moved to become more politically active and taken part in multiple interviews and summits - having reportedly grown 'frustrated' at her inability to get involved in politics while she was working as a senior royal

'I'm so excited to see that kind of representation,' she said. 'You know, for me, being biracial, growing up, whether it was a doll or a person in office, you need to see someone who looks like you in some capacity.

'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 we're starting to break-through in a different way.'

Meanwhile, she has also taken in voter appeals, at which she made a bold plea to women across the US to take part in the 2020 presidential election, speaking out about the need for 'change' at an online voter summit, while telling participants: 'If we aren't part of the solution, we are part of the problem.'

Meghan made her stance on the 2020 presidential race clear when she addressed viewers at the When All Women Vote Couch Party - an online event organized by non-profit organization When We All Vote, which was founded by 'her friend' Michelle Obama.

Appearing as the opening speaker at the summit, Meghan expressed her 'excitement' at taking part, before telling those involved with the organization: 'We need [your work] now more than ever.'

'I'm really thrilled that you asked me to be a part of this,' the mother-of-one began, adding: 'I think this is such an exceptional time [and I am] happy to be here for my friend Michelle Obama's When We All Vote, and to kick off the When All Women Vote Couch Party.'
In a floor speech in July, Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., issued an ultimatum on future Supreme Court fights.

I will vote only for those Supreme Court nominees who have explicitly acknowledged that Roe vs. Wade was wrongly decided, Hawley said. He would require on-the-record evidence that the next Republican nominee understands Roe to be the travesty that it is. Absent that, he said, I will not support the nomination.

The day after Ruth Bader Ginsburg died, Hawley reiterated this commitment and called on his fellow Republican senators to do the same.

Others on the religious right may impose a similar litmus test. Social conservatives felt betrayed when, in June, Neil Gorsuch, Donald Trumps first Supreme Court appointee, wrote in a majority opinion that its illegal under the 1964 Civil Rights Act to fire someone for being gay or transgender.

They were doubly dejected when Chief Justice John Roberts cast the deciding vote in a decision striking down a Louisiana law that would have all but regulated legal abortion out of existence in the state.

At this bleak moment for reproductive rights, a declaration from the nominee might at last end the absurd charade that allows conservative Supreme Court nominees to obscure their opposition to legal abortion. Just over six weeks before the election, it should make clear to everyone what is at stake.

Hawley wants to make sure where they stand, if they disagree with Roe vs. Wade, said Nancy Northup, president of the Center for Reproductive Rights. The 70-plus percent of the American public that supports Roe vs. Wade would like to know that, too.

The custom of nominees concealing their intentions regarding Roe  as well as other issues  began after 1987, when a bipartisan majority of senators rejected President Ronald Reagans Supreme Court nominee Robert Bork. Bork didnt just oppose Roe; during his hearing he discussed his skepticism of the 1965 Supreme Court ruling striking down bans on contraceptives, which established the right to privacy that Roe is based on.

In the wake of Robert Bork, almost every nominee, on the Republican and Democratic side, has been a little more cagey about their views of Roe, said Melissa Murray, a New York University law professor and expert on reproductive rights jurisprudence.

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 vs. 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.

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 7 in 10 oppose seeing Roe overturned. As David Wasserman of the Cook Political Report wrote 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. This time, Trumps nominee might not get away with doing what Brett Kavanaugh reportedly did, telling Collins that Roe is settled law.

That would be for the best. It would actually be more galvanizing for Democrats if the Republicans would just either do what they say they want to do, overturn Roe and face the political backlash that that would engender, said Murray, or have their nominee just say explicitly, I dont believe there is a constitutional right to abortion.

Republicans have supported Trump through nearly four years of stupefying corruption to bring us to this precipice, when states might once again force women to give birth against their will. If Democrats cant force Trumps nominee to be clear about the rights he or she intends to take from us, maybe Hawley can.

@michelleinbklyn
PARIS - Frances defence minister admitted to misleading the nation about virus protections for air force personnel who evacuated French citizens from the Chinese city of Wuhan last winter, and have been suspected of links to Frances first confirmed COVID-19 cluster.

The revelation by Defence Minister Florence Parly to a Senate investigating committee is a further blow to the credibility of French President Emmanuel Macrons centrist government as it battles rebounding infections.

With more than 10% of Frances intensive care units again occupied with COVID-19 patients and cases rising fast among the elderly, the health minister announced the closure of all restaurants, bars and public places in the hard-hit Marseille region and restrictions on gatherings in a dozen other cities. The French military announced Wednesday it is deploying medical teams and equipment to the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe to relieve hospital strain.

Health Minister Olivier Veran stopped short of imposing new lockdowns, stressing the governments mantra that the French need to learn to live with the virus. We are doing everything not to go towards lockdown, he said. But he urged people to resume working from home and stop gathering with groups of family and friends.

In enhanced alert zones, which include Paris as well as other big French cities such as Bordeaux, Lyon and Nice, he said starting Monday meetings in public spaces would be limited to 10 people and bars would have to close at 10 p.m.

With over 31,400 confirmed virus-related deaths, France has the third-highest death toll in Europe after Britain and Italy. France is now reporting about 10,000 new infections a day, and both houses of parliament are investigating the governments handling of the pandemic.

As China locked down the city of Wuhan in January, the French government started repatriation flights for French citizens there. One such flight returned to France from Wuhan on Jan. 31, operated by 18 military personnel based in Creil, in the Oise region north of Paris, the defence minister said.

In February, regional health authorities announced a virus cluster in the Oise region and the first cases in France with no clear link to cases in China or Italy. Within weeks, Frances coronavirus case count had skyrocketed and the nation was in a lockdown.

The defence minister told public broadcaster France-2 in March that all the military personnel on that evacuation flight had been tested and confined upon return. But doubts have since been raised about that version of events.

A senator from the Oise region, Olivier Paccaud, pressed Parly during a hearing Tuesday about exactly what happened with the military personnel at Creil.

Do you maintain that these personnel were tested and confined? Was there not negligence in the way the military personnel were handled on their return from Wuhan? he asked. The residents of the Oise want the truth.

Parly responded: I said something inexact March 4 on France-2.

The crew was subjected to an extremely strict health protocol, but which, in fact, did not include tests, she said.

She said there was probably zero chance that the air base was at fault for the Oise cluster, noting that regional health authorities later found a possible case that dated to Jan. 14, two weeks before the evacuation flight. She insisted that the air force personnel didnt stay in Wuhan and had no direct contact with the evacuated passengers.

Health officials have said the virus was probably circulating widely in France earlier than authorities realized, because of limited testing and little knowledge about COVID-19 early in the year.

But Parlys admission drew new questions about whether the government misled or withheld information from the public as the virus spread the first time around - and whether to trust it as the virus strengthens again.

Veran warned Wednesday that at the current rate of spread, COVID-19 patients will fill 60% of the Paris regions intensive care units within a month. Its crucial, he said, to break the contamination chain, the viral dynamic, before our healthcare system gets to the point of system overload.

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Lucknow, Sep 23 : Chief minister Yogi Adityanath has announced the start of international flights from the Kushinagar airport by Deepawali.

The airport is located about 52 kilometres east of Gorakhpur, the home district of the Chief Minister.

Talking about the strategic importance of the Kushinagar airport, located close to the International Border, the Chief Minister said in a statement, that this entire region is part of the 'Buddha Circuit' and this facility will increase the inflow of foreign tourists.

He said there is an immense potential of tourism in the eastern Uttar Pradesh region and officials have been directed to prepare an action plan in consultation with the public representatives to showcase it as an international tourist hub.

With a growing number of youths from Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh flying to various Gulf countries for employment, this airport would also become handy for them in reaching their destinations.

It may be recalled that the union cabinet in June this year, had decided to recognise Kushinagar as an international airport -- the 29th in the country and fourth in Uttar Pradesh, including the upcoming Jewar airport.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister also announced that his government would celebrate the upcoming centenary of the 1922 Chauri Chaura movement with much fanfare.

The incident involving freedom struggle had taken place at Chauri Chaura in Gorakhpur district on February 4, 1922, when a large group of protesters, participating in the non-cooperation movement, had clashed with police, which had opened fire on them, killing three civilians.

The demonstrators, in retaliation, attacked and set afire the Chauri Chaura police station, killing all its 22 occupants.

Following the violence in Chauri Chaura, Mahatma Gandhi had halted his nationwide non-cooperation movement.

The Chief Minister has also made two crucial announcements while reviewing the developmental projects of the Gorakhpur division, comprising eastern districts of Gorakhpur, Deoria, Kushinagar and Maharajganj.

Yogi Adityanath also directed officials to make an integrated action plan to devise a permanent solution to the nagging flood menace in the eastern part of the state. He asked officials to undertake dredging of rivers in the region to extract dual benefit -- relief from floods and availability of sand which will fetch revenue for the district administration.

He said his government has controlled the Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and Acute Respiratory Syndrome (AES) to a great extent. He also said pure water is the key to effective control over JE and other communicable diseases. "Make a project for house-to-house water supply in every JE-affected village," he said.
Gridlock: UK warns industry to prepare for Brexit or face chaos FILE PHOTO: Vehicles in the port of Dover

By Kate Holton and William James

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain told businesses on Wednesday to prepare for paperwork or face 100 km-long queues of trucks when the country fully leaves the EU next year, prompting accusations that the government was setting up industry to take blame for any chaos from a botched Brexit.

Britain formally left the bloc in January but remains in a status quo transition period that expires at the end of this year.

The government is negotiating new trade rules with the bloc at talks that have been stalled. But Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove told importers and exporters they would have to complete extra trade paperwork whether there is a deal or not.

"The consequences of a lack of business preparedness will be not just economic opportunities missed for those companies who don't prepare, but potentially much wider disruption," Gove told parliament.

Opposition Labour lawmaker Kevin Brennan said: "This statement seems to be all about passing the blame onto business for the chaos being caused by his government."

The country's logistics and freight industry has long complained of a lack of detail from government to prepare.

Dover, in the southeast of England has been Britain's main gateway to Europe since Roman times, and now handles 17 percent of the United Kingdom's goods trade. Up to 10,000 trucks a day pass through with everything from perishable food to medicines.

Under the government's reasonable worst case scenario, up to 70% of trucks travelling to the EU might not be ready for new border controls, leading to queues of around 7,000 lorries and a wait-time of two days to navigate the border.

This disruption would peak in January, with any return to normality dependent on how quickly businesses adapted.

The government said it has worked with industry to build an IT service to enable drivers and hauliers to complete a border readiness check, with only those compliant vehicles allowed to enter the port area.

To avoid clogging the port at Dover, trucks entering the surrounding county of Kent would be required to obtain access permits, Gove said.

(Reporting by Kate Holton, William James, Guy Faulconbridge and Michael Holden, editing by Stephen Addison and Peter Graff)
Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi addressed the 75th session of United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday and underscored his commitment to a Palestinian state.

In a pre-recorded address, El-Sissi called on the international community to "fulfill the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people in an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital."

He also called for international financial support for developing nations to help them combat the coronavirus pandemic.
Kathmandu, Sep 23 : Nepal's Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali on Wednesday said that there is no boundary dispute with China, referring to recent media reports that said China had encroached on Nepalese territory and built 11 buildings in Humla district on the Nepal-China border.

Later in the evening, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also issued a statement and denied any encroachment by the Chinese side. These clarifications came amid media reports that China has unilaterally constructed 11 cemented buildings in Nepalese territory recently and locals of the Lapcha area where the buildings were constructed brought it to the notice of the local Humla district administration and protested the move.

But the Nepal Foreign Ministry said late Wednesday that its attention has been drawn to the media reports about the alleged construction of buildings by China within Nepalese territory between the Nepal-China boundary pillars 11 and 12 at Humla district.

"The Department of Survey, Government of Nepal, based on the official records, reports of the joint field inspection and boundary maps, has verified and confirmed that the said buildings are not located within the Nepalese territory," the statement said.

Earlier on Wednesday, a group of people had protested in front of Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu and chanted slogans against the land encroachment by the Chinese in Humla. The issue of Chinese buildings in question had also surfaced in 2016, the ministry added, an inter-ministerial team after the field inspection had concluded that the said buildings were located approximately one kilometre inside the Chinese territory from the Nepal-China border.

The ministry stated that the boundary between Nepal and China was delineated and demarcated based on the Boundary Treaty and Boundary Protocols signed between the two countries. Nepal and China have always maintained close communication on border matters, it said.

Addressing a press conference Gyawali who is also the spokesperson of Nepal government said that a probe committee comprising officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Land Reform had later shown that the Chinese side had constructed buildings some 1 kilometre away from the Nepal-China border. New buildings were constructed by Chinese authorities for their border security personnel in the same area now.

Gyawali also said that a team led by Chief District Officer (CDO) of Humla district is currently in the Limi village and further details will be available once the team returns to the district headquarters. The Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu also refuted the media reports stating that the buildings mentioned by the media are on the Chinese side and urged the Nepal to verify the construction.
A decade-long campaign to reintroduce small native marsupials to the wilds of NSW has moved a step closer to its goal with the release of 10 greater bilbies to a special feral-free enclosure in the state's far north-west.

The bilbies have been presumed extinct in NSW for more than a century after foxes and cats wiped out the rabbit-sized marsupials. The first of 10 bilbies  five of each sex  have now been released into one of two 2000-hectare feral-free enclosures within the Sturt National Park.

Greater bilbies are being reintroduced to the wild in NSW after being wiped out by feral competitors a century ago.. Photograph taken at the Taronga Zoo. Credit:Rhett Wyman

"Native species never had the chance to develop anti-predator behaviour because it happened so quick," Sarah Legge, a lecturer in behaviour ecology at the Australian National University, said.

In a form of what Professor Legge dubbed "accelerated natural selection", the bilbies will later be released to a much larger so-called Wildlife Training Zone within the national park, where the animals will be exposed to a limited number of cats. Those that learn how to be shy of cats and evade them will survive.
Stepping up the offensive against the government over the passage of farm bills, 18 opposition parties on Wednesday urged President Ram Nath Kovind not to sign the contentious bills and alleged that they were passed 'unconstitutionally' in 'complete disregard' of parliamentary norms.

In a meeting with the President on behalf of these 18 non-National Democratic Alliance parties, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said he has requested the President to return the bills, and only give his assent after they have been passed after following proper rules and procedures.

Narrating the manner in which the two farm bills were passed in Rajya Sabha on Sunday, Azad told the President that the bills were pushed through the House without taking up the five resolutions moved by the opposition MPs and two separate motions demanding the reference of the agriculture marketing related bills to a select or standing committee of Parliament.

"The President gave me a patient hearing and said he would look into the issue," Azad told reporters after the meeting.

The 18 opposition parties have already submitted a memorandum to the President on Monday.

The opposition parties have boycotted Parliament proceedings against alleged violation of procedures by the government while passing the farm bills.

It has laid down three specific conditions to end the boycott -- the government should bring bills to ensure that no private player buys foodgrains from farmers below the minimum support price (MSP), and the central and state governments should ensure procurement above the MSP.

They have also sought fixing of MSP as per recommendations of the Swaminathan report.

Among the parties opposing the bills are -- the Congress, the Communist Party of India-Marxist, the Communist Party of India, the Trinamool Congress, the Nationalist Congress Party, the Samajwadi Party, the Shiv Sena, the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the Telangana Rashtra Samiti, the Aam Aadmi Party, the Indian Union Muslim League, the Kerala Congress-Mani and the Loktantrik Janata Dal.

'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' were passed in Rajya Sabha on Sunday amid the ruckus by some opposition members, who were protesting the passage of these bills, which now await presidential assent.

"The manner in which all limits were crossed and rules, regulations and procedures of the Constitution were thrown to the winds in Parliament, the temple of democracy. We have told the President not to sign the bill.

"The bills are unconstitutional. The President should return them so that fresh discussions can be held and the bills should come through a proper route, so that amendments can be taken up during discussions and voting can be held on the resolutions that the opposition brought," he said.

He said the interests of farmers, who are the backbone of India as they provide foodgrains to the country with their hard labour, should have been taken care before bringing the bills.

"This government should have talked to all political parties and leaders of farmer organisations across the country before bringing a law regarding farmers.

"Unfortunately, the government neither sent this bill to a select committee or a standing committee. Had this been done, this would have been a very good bill and would have benefited the farmers," he said.

Claiming that the numbers were in the favour of the Opposition, Azad said, "Unfortunately, the Rajya Sabha deputy chairman got the bills passed without listening to the voice of the opposition...The opposition is not responsible for the ruckus and the government is responsible for it."

No one was allowed to move the resolutions moved by opposition parties and no division of votes was done, he added.

Eight opposition members were suspended from the house due to their 'unruly behaviour' during the passage of bills, after the government brought a motion which was passed in the Upper House by voice vote.

Following this the opposition parties announced the boycott of the House proceedings.

The Opposition had also brought a resolution of 'no confidence' against Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Harivansh and for his removal from the post, which was rejected by Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu.

The farm bills have triggered widespread protests, especially in states like Punjab and Haryana, where farmers and farmer organisations have taken to the streets while opposing the move.

Earlier in the day, opposition MPs also took out a silent protest march against the farm bills inside Parliament house complex and walked holding placards from Mahatma Gandhi's statue to B R Ambedkar's statue.

The government has claimed that these bills are to ensure that farmers get better prices for their produce without being subject to the regulations of mandis, and agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar has said the MSP mechanism for farmers will continue.

Also, the proposed laws would not encroach upon the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) Acts of the states, and will increase competition and promote private investment which will help in the development of farm infrastructure and generate employment, the minister has said.

The proposed legislations will open more choices for farmers, reduce marketing costs, and help them get better prices, he said.

It will also help farmers of regions with surplus produce to get better prices and consumers in areas with shortages at lower prices, he added.

However, the opposition feels that the states will lose revenue as they will not be able to collect 'mandi fees' if farmers sell their produce outside registered APMC markets.

Farmer organisations and opposition parties allege that the law is framed to suit 'big corporates who seek to dominate the Indian food and agriculture business', and will weaken the negotiating power of farmers. They also feel that big private companies, exporters, wholesalers, and processors may get an edge.
Major Myer shareholder Geoff Wilson says the struggling retailer can further slim down its board, despite moves by chairman Garry Hounsell to remove two of its directors and slash board fees.

The company announced on Wednesday that non-executive directors Lyndsey Cattermole and Julie Ann Morrison would retire by the end of the year following pressure from Mr Wilson, the company's second-largest shareholder.

Myer chairman Garry Hounsell has agreed to cut the company's board by two members and reduce its director fees. Credit:Justin McManus

Myer will not look to replace the directors, reducing its board to five members including chief executive John King and Mr Hounsell. Director fees will also be reduced, with Mr Hounsell's annual base fee lowered to $250,000 and the other non-executive directors' fees dropping to $100,000.

Mr Wilson, who chairs investment firm Wilson Asset Management, sent a letter to Mr Hounsell on Tuesday requesting changes at the board level in order to have Myer's management more accurately reflect its $190 million market capitalisation
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 23

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

Turkey's export of ready-made clothes to Uzbekistan slumped by 50.76 percent from January through August 2020, compared to the same period of 2019, having stood at $5.8 million, the Turkish Ministry of Trade told Trend.

In August 2020, the value of export of Turkish clothes to Uzbekistan plunged by 77.41 percent compared to August 2019, amounting to $410,000, said the ministry.

The export of the Turkish ready-made clothes to the global markets decreased by 12.3 percent from January through August 2020, compared to the same period of 2019, amounting to $10.3 billion.

The ministry noted that the export of ready-made clothes was 10.1 percent of the country's total export during the reporting period.

Turkey exported the ready-made clothes worth $1.5 billion to the international markets in August 2020, which is 10.9 percent more compared to the same month of 2019, the ministry said.

The export of ready-made clothes in August 2020 accounted for 12.4 percent of the country's total export.

Turkey exported the ready-made clothes worth over $16 billion abroad over the past 12 months (from August 2019 through August 2020).

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Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Soon after Bihar Director General of Police (DGP) Gupteshwar Pandeys sudden resignation from his post, there were rumours and speculations of him joining the political ranks in Bihar ahead of Assembly elections. His VRS request was approved by Governor Phagu Chauhan.

Taking the message of love above caste religion, I will go among the people. I have decided to enter politics. Now the situation has become such that I should enter politics. The people of Buxar will take the final decision," he told reporters.

A day before the announcement came, there was already enough buzz about his ambitions. A video of Pandey surfaced on Twitter showing him in his new avtaar. The song defines the former top cop of Bihar as Janta ka Hero and Robinhood Bihar Ke.

Former Bihar DGP #GupteshwarPandey in his new avatar!A music video on him released mins after his VRS was approved calls him Robinhood Bihar ke and Janta ka Hero. pic.twitter.com/XrVNaZHkau  Marya Shakil (@maryashakil) September 23, 2020

Reports of his retirement and taking a poll plunge seem like a deja vu from 2009 when Pandey took voluntary retirement. He reportedly wanted to contest the 2009 General Elections from Buxar on Bharatiya Janata Partys ticket. The plan, however, did not see the light of the day.

READ: Rhea Chakraborty Has No Aukat: Bihar DGP Apologises for Sexist Comment After Outrage

Pandey was lately embroiled in controversies and came to limelight during his involvement in the investigation of actor Sushant Singh Rajputs death. He had made derogatory remarks against actor Rhea Chakraborty. Hours after the Supreme Court last month ordered a CBI probe into Rajputs death, Pandey had said that Chakraborty did not have the aukat" (stature) to comment about Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. He later apologised for his comment after intense backlash.

He even welcomed the arrest of Rhea Chakraborty by the NCB in drug case. We are now waiting for the lifting of the shadow of mystery over Sushant Singh Rajputs tragic death," he had said after Rheas arrest.

Meanwhile, Pandey maintained that he was not joining any political party and as far as social work was concerned, he could do it without entering politics too. He was selected as Bihar DGP in February 2019 out of 12 IPS officers recommended by the state government to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

I have not joined any political party as of now and I have not taken any decision on it yet. As far as social work is concerned, I can do it without entering politics too, he said.

Pandey, who has been an Indian Police Service officer since 1987, has often been making headlines. In December last year, Pandey had taken on those who support criminals of their caste or religion, welcome them with garlands, and then blame police for crime.

The senior police officer has close to seven lakh followers on Facebook where he uploads videos of himself almost every alternate day. Pandey is seen singing songs on Holi, eating dry chapatis with salt and green chillis with villagers, giving personality management tips to the youth and providing guidelines on how to combat coronavirus.
HONG KONG and SHANGHAI, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. (hereafter "Ping An" or the "Group", HKEX: 2318; SSE: 601318) unveiled its healthcare ecosystem strategy and world-leading healthtech achievements at an Investor Day in Shenzhen. Jessica Tan, Co-CEO of Ping An, Fang Weihao, Acting Chairman and CEO of Ping An Good Doctor, Geoff Kau, Co-President of Ping An Smart City and CEO of Ping An Smart Healthcare, and Xie Guotong, Chief Healthcare Scientist of Ping An, delivered keynote presentations.

"The health care ecosystem is one of Ping An Group's long-term core strategies. With more than 20 years of effort and investment in the health care sector, Ping An has developed into a leading health care enterprise in China. We aim to establish strong technological competition entry barriers by building a closed loop ecosystem of health care services. We are committed to supporting the development of a healthy China; improving people's health, seizing market opportunities, and creating greater value," said Ms Tan.

The development of Ping An's healthcare ecosystem is based on three considerations, Ms Tan said. First, the immense healthcare market in China is expected to grow from RMB6 trillion in 2019 to RMB16 trillion in 2030, due to significant demand and a supportive policy and regulatory environment. Second, the Ping An healthcare ecosystem will generate strategic synergies as a comprehensive range of health care services can be provided efficiently and tailored for different segments. This will leverage ecosystem resources, establish technological competition entry barriers, and differentiate the Group's core financial and insurance businesses with tailored life insurance products. Ping An is already a leading health care enterprise in China, with a strong traffic portal, a comprehensive online and offline service network and world-leading healthtech.

Ping An is developing a closed-loop health care ecosystem that includes government, patients, medical service providers, social and commercial health insurers and technology to create a new growth engine for the Group. The Ping An health care ecosystem has a three-pronged strategy: 1) to expand user traffic, managing organizations for the insurers, and empowering service providers to maximize value; 2) to pursue vertical integration through serving the government, harnessing the resources of hospitals, doctors, and pharmaceutical companies, and empowering members of the ecosystem with technology to create competitive barriers; and 3) to create synergies with Ping An's core financial businesses to acquire customers, enhance customer stickiness, and increase average value per customer.

Strategy: Build an ecosystem with enhanced user experiences and technology

The challenge of dealing with the aging population in China has revealed a number of pain points in the health care ecosystem. In response to the national strategy "Healthy China 2030", Ping An has accelerated its development at the frontier of health care and revised its health care ecosystem strategy.

The five components in the strategy of Ping An's health care ecosystem encompass government, patients, medical service providers, social and commercial health insurers and technology. Ping An Smart Healthcare serves the government and offline health care service providers. Ping An Good Doctor focuses on patients and online health care service providers. Ping An Life, Ping An Annuity, Ping An HealthKonnect and Ping An Health serve payers, and Ping An Health Technology Research Institute provides world-class artificial intelligence technology to continuously improve health care service quality and efficiency.

Ping An allocates 1% of its annual operating income to research and development of innovative technologies, and a large portion is invested in healthtech. Ping An Health Technology Research Institute has established one of the world's largest health care databases with the second largest number of healthtech patent applications globally, and technology that has won six international medical imaging competitions. The database covers more than 30,000 diseases, more than 1 billion medical consultation records and over 300 million applications.

"In the past, Ping An's health care segment was divided into a few segments at the corporate level, to specialize in particular areas. Following the restructuring and the upgrade of our health care ecosystem strategy, the segment is now moving towards 'integration and closed loop'. With well-defined roles for each member, we will be able to partner and complement one another in strengthening our ecosystem," Ms Tan said.

Ping An Good Doctor is a pillar of Ping An's health care ecosystem, with a mission to create the largest and most advanced internet health care service platform in China. Since mid-2020, Ping An Good Doctor has been focused on a strategic upgrade, especially online health care services and its integration with offline services. During the Investor Day, Ping An Good Doctor launched its new service brand "Ping An Doctor Home", a professional doctor-patient communication channel.

Ping An Good Doctor provides diagnosis and treatment for over 3,000 common diseases, the largest proprietary doctor service community in China and has also established a huge offline service network. As of June 30, 2020, Ping An Good Doctor had 346 million users, with more than 1,800 medical and nursing practitioners and nearly 10,000 health care experts across the country. It has the largest offline service network, partnering with 110,000 pharmacies, 49,000 clinics and over 2,000 medical examination centres. In the first half of 2020, Ping An Good Doctor's operating income increased by 21% year on year to RMB2.75 billion, of which revenue from online health care surged by 107% to RMB695 million.

Ping An Smart Healthcare, affiliated to Group subsidiary Ping An Smart City, focuses on four core areas to support the rapid development of China's health care system: improving institutional management by empowering health and medical authorities; assisting doctors in diagnosis and treatment; supporting the public health system to manage epidemics and chronic diseases; and facilitating pharmaceutical research. The deployment of its smart image reading system has helped to substantially shorten diagnosis times from 15 minutes to 15 seconds. Currently, Ping An Smart Healthcare services are available in 90 Chinese cities and are expanding in overseas markets, serving a total of 20,000 medical organizations and 450,000 doctors.

Ping An's health care ecosystem plays a key role in growing the Group's core financial business. Between 15% and 20% of Ping An's new financial customers are acquired from the health care ecosystem every year. Contracts per financial customer that use the health care ecosystem services is 3.1, compared to 2.0 for non-users. The assets under management (AUM) of financial customers served by the health care ecosystem is approximately RMB10,000, compared to RMB5,600 for non-users. The synergy between Ping An's health care ecosystem and its core financial business will be further enhanced through products, traffic, services and technology.

Ping An Good Doctor launches "Ping An Doctor Home" for doctors and patients

Ping An Good Doctor launched a new service brand Ping An Doctor Home at the Investor Day. Fang Weihao, Acting Chairman and CEO of Ping An Good Doctor, said that Ping An Doctor Home is a hub for private doctors and family doctors. Ping An Doctor Home will ensure Ping An Good Doctor consolidates its leading position in the sector, spearhead product upgrades and set trends in the industry, and accelerate business development horizontally and vertically.

Ping An Doctor Home will be able to offer a multi-tier membership system for health butler services for individuals and families linking them to doctors covering different services and needs. It will completely upgrade the doctor's workbench helping and empowering doctors in their medical technical and management and promotion needs. The service establishes the world's largest doctor ecosystem by combining the four-tier doctor system of AI doctor assistants, resident corporate doctors, external contracted experts and leading specialists. Doctors will be recommended to patients based on need and work efficiency will be enhanced with the new audio and video consultation functions and the integration of online and offline resources. Ping An Doctor Home will also upgrade insurance coverage, to improve the level of health care security and secure peace of mind of both doctors and patients.

Ping An Doctor Home spearheads Ping An Good Doctor's mission to build a professional doctor-patient communication gateway based on trust, professionalism and convenience, thus creating the largest, most advanced and competitive internet health care platform in China, said Mr Fang.

Smart healthcare empowers government

Ping An Smart Healthcare provides end-to-end solutions for regulatory authorities and the health care ecosystem by supporting the government with management of institutions, doctors, diseases and drugs to drive efficient operation of China's health care system.

Geoff Kau, Co-President of Ping An Smart City and CEO of Ping An Smart Healthcare, said that its technology offerings include: a portal for offline health care services, to improve hospitals' core operations and the AskBob intelligent database, a Bloomberg-like medical database for doctors. Ping An Smart Healthcare services strengthens the public health system to respond to epidemic emergencies, by providing a chronic disease management platform to facilitate early detection, treatment and recovery. The service also supports medical drug development, quality control and centralized procurement.

Mr. Kau said Ping An's smart healthcare business has been expanding rapidly, spanning more than 90 cities in China and Southeast Asia, covering more than 20,000 medical institutions, and serving over 450,000 health care practitioners on nearly 300 million service calls. With Ping An Smart Healthcare, Singapore's Singhealth, American medical cloud computing company Arterys, Romania's Matei Bals Hospital and medical institutions in Indonesia have launched scientific research collaboration to improve the quality and efficiency of their services.

Building A World-Leading Technology Health Care System

Xie Guotong, Chief Healthtech Scientist of Ping An, introduced the Group's world class health care database with five libraries: diseases, health care products, prescription treatment, medical resources and personal health. The disease library contains 100,000 disease concepts and 420,000 disease terminologies. The health care product library contains 180,000 drug manuals and 84,000 Chinese medicine prescriptions. The prescription treatment library contains 150,000 prescription formulas and 30 million medical documents. The medical resource library contains 500,000 Chinese doctors and 2.2 million scientific researchers. The personal health library contains 1 billion diagnoses and information on treatment.

The Company enjoys the technological differentiation with its leading algorithm-training platform. The Company's Saifei platform supports large-scale parallel experiments, which can reduce project workloads by 30% to 50% through intelligent scheduling and allocation of computing resources, increase prediction speed three to six times, accelerate calculations by 100 times, and reduce memory consumption by 23% through intelligent dispatch and allocation of computing resources. The Company's health care algorithm models can effectively boost R&D efficiency by five to eight times.

Dr. Xie said Ping An has developed one of the world's leading intelligent diagnosis assistance platforms. It has developed the world's largest chronic disease management platform and the world's largest health care database. The company has the world's second-largest number of patent applications for health care technology. This knowledge is applied extensively through Ping An's "medical brain" to support artificial intelligence decision-making.

About Ping An Group

Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. ("Ping An") is a world-leading technology-powered retail financial services group. With over 210 million retail customers and 560 million Internet users, Ping An is one of the largest financial services companies in the world.

Ping An has two over-arching strategies, "pan financial assets" and "pan health care", which focus on the provision of financial and health care services through our integrated financial services platform and our five ecosystems of financial services, health care, auto services, real estate services and smart city services. Our "finance + technology" and "finance + ecosystem" strategies aim to provide customers and internet users with innovative and simple products and services using technology. As China's first joint stock insurance company, Ping An is committed to upholding the highest standards of corporate reporting and corporate governance. The Group is listed on the stock exchanges in Hong Kong and Shanghai.

In 2020, Ping An ranked 7th in the Forbes Global 2000 list and ranked 21st in the Fortune Global 500 list. Ping An also ranked 38th in the 2020 WPP Kantar Millward Brown BrandZTM Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands list. For more information, please visit http://www.pingan.cn.

SOURCE Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd.

Related Links

www.pingan.cn


OTTAWA  Premier Brian Pallister is demanding the federal Liberals stop trying to add watered-down language to their two-year-old pledge to help fund flood-prevention channels in the Interlake.

Hey there, time traveller!

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OTTAWA  Premier Brian Pallister is demanding the federal Liberals stop trying to add watered-down language to their two-year-old pledge to help fund flood-prevention channels in the Interlake.

"It's now time for the federal government to demonstrate they want this project to go ahead  and stop demonstrating that they want to delay it, for whatever reason," Pallister told the Free Press.

Back in June 2018, the Trudeau government pledged up to $247.5 million for the Lake St. Martin-Lake Manitoba channels. But the funding agreement remains unsigned 27 months after the announcement.

Internal records suggest thats because Ottawa is trying to loosen its commitment to the deal. The original drafted contract bound the federal government to timelines outlined in the agreement, such as when Ottawa should assess when the province has rectified any issues in getting the project approved.

But over the summer, Ottawa proposed instead having more control over when it must render a decision on issuing funds and when it could cancel the contract.

The new language removes subsections and instead says both parties must "attempt to resolve" issues "in good faith" and "in a timely matter."

That raised red flags for Pallister, who has repeatedly decried the Liberals more burdensome review process.

Ottawa refused Tuesday to issue any clarification on why its trying to change the contract.

The Trudeau and Pallister governments have previously sparred over the project; it sparked a year-long delay in Manitoba accessing its share of a massive federal infrastructure plan until Ottawa agreed to fund the channel separately.

And Pallister repeatedly bemoaned a beefed-up environmental review as having overly strenuous consultation requirements.

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"We're not trying to rush the project, but we're trying to make sure we can get it built," Pallister said. "We're anxious to move it forward; we think its a critical project."

The project will cost a total of $540 million, though the province believes contractors' fees will rise by 10 per cent every six months, starting in November. Manitoba has already spent $103 million in the hopes of getting it built before another destructive flood hits the Interlake.

Pallister raised the project Monday with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and said he was encouraged by a video chat that same day with Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna, who was unavailable Tuesday for an interview.

Instead, her department noted that Indigenous consultations are still ongoing for the projects regulatory review.

"We are unable to disclose further details regarding the Lake Manitoba and Lake St. Martin Channels Project, as this could impact the negotiation process," wrote Lama Khodr, a spokeswoman for Infrastructure Canada.

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 21:10:54|Editor: huaxia

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HANOI, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam reported one new case of COVID-19 on Wednesday, bringing its total confirmed cases to 1,069 with 35 deaths from the disease so far, according to the Ministry of Health.

The new case is a 18-year-old female who has recently returned from abroad and was quarantined upon arrival, said the ministry.

As many as 991 patients in the country have recovered as of Wednesday, while nearly 20,900 people are being quarantined and monitored in the country, the ministry said.

Vietnam has gone through 21 straight days without any COVID-19 cases in the community, according to the ministry.

With the epidemic basically contained in the country, Vietnam's national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines is on a track of recovery with nearly 40,000 passengers on domestic routes carried since the beginning of 2020, an increase of 12 percent compared to the same period last year, daily newspaper Vietnam News reported on Wednesday.

The company is looking to resume international flights in line with the Vietnamese government's directions and approval from foreign authorities, according to the report. Enditem
(Newser)  Beta weakened to a tropical depression Tuesday as it parked itself over the Texas coast, raising concerns of extensive flooding in Houston and areas farther inland. Beta, which made landfall late Monday as a tropical storm just north of Port OConnor, is the first storm named for a Greek letter to make landfall in the continental United States, the AP reports. Forecasters ran out of traditional storm names last week, forcing the use of the Greek alphabet for only the second time since the 1950s. By Tuesday afternoon, Beta was 40 miles north of Port OConnor, Texas, with maximum sustained winds of 30mph, the US National Hurricane Center said. The storm was moving east-northeast at 5mph and was expected to crawl inland along the coast over Texas through Wednesday.

story continues below

The NHC said parts of the Houston area had seen up to 14 inches of rain by Tuesday afternoon. Street flooding was reported in parts of the Houston area. Fire Chief Samuel Pena said first responders had done nearly 100 water rescues on city roadways since Monday evening. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said there were preliminary reports of some home flooding along a creek south of Houston. Hidalgo and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner urged residents to stay home and off the roads. "Your sedan is not a submarine. Your minivan is not magical. So stay off the roads right now," Hidalgo said. Your destination is not worth your life. It's not worth the life of the first responder thats going to have to come and rescue you if you drive into high water and are stuck there."

(Read more tropical storms stories.)
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Desperately, a dad looks for the honest stranger who returned his wallet through his mailbox. According to the Dublin dad, the mysterious woman returned his wallet along with all of its contents.

Because of this, the dad, Dwayne Freeman, is desperate to know who the honest stranger. He says he would love to send her flowers and chocolates. Freeman has a CCTV footage showing the woman returning the wallet through the mailbox.

READ ALSO: Father-to-Be Hits the Jackpot of 1 Million US Dollars in a Scratch-off Game; He Was at Grandma's House When He Won





The honest stranger returns the wallet.

In the CCTV footage that was shared by Freeman, it was seen that the honest stranger comes to the Dublin dad's home and approaches the mailbox.

Reports say that it seems like the honest stranger tracked down the house of the Dublin dad for her to return the wallet. Freeman believes that she found the address in his license that was inside the wallet, and was returned as well.

Freeman shared that the wallet is filled with cash and cards. He said in an interview with Dublin Live that he lost his wallet while he was at the Old County in Crumlin.

READ ALSO: New York Hero Dad Shields Three Children from Gunman, Gets Shot in the Thigh





Dad looks for the honest stranger

Freeman said that he was delighted by the act of kindness of the woman who returned his wallet. He said, "She had the decency to drop it back with everything still in it - including the cash."

READ ALSO: Abandoned Dog Needs a New Family After "Dad Lost Job from COVID"





As the dad looks for the honest stranger, he thought of sharing the CCTV footage. His purpose of sharing the CCTV footage captured in front of his house is to track down who the honest stranger is and to send her some flowers and chocolates as a way to express gratitude.

The Dublin dad also shared that his wife is expected to deliver their second child. That is why the money in the wallet is such a big deal to the family.

While the dad looks for the honest stranger, he continues to believe that the woman's act makes him believe that there are still good people in the world.

READ ALSO: Kids' lemonade stands get support from police and other groups





The mystery woman

In the video that was shared by Freeman, it was seen that the woman is wearing eyeglasses and a grey top. However, aside from these details, the Dublin dad has no idea who the honest stranger is.

That is why when he posted the CCTV footage on social media, he is calling for the help of the public to track down the lady.

He said, "I'd really like to repay this woman with chocs and flowers - if someone knows her could they please mail me her name or telephone number?"

READ ALSO: 60-Year-Old Dad Who Cannot Get Hired Posts Video Doing Push-Ups
The vast majority of Americans, polls reveal, lament the ugliness and incivility that punctuate our politics. The contentiousness, coarseness and divisiveness have spawned widespread apathy, and undermined faith and confidence in our system. Those who continue to participate agree that our nation requires wholesome remedies, sooner rather than later.

While it is unrealistic to expect a standard of decorum that reflects lawn tennis language, it is not too much to expect elements of civility. Consider five modest pledges that citizens can accept to immediately improve the tone and quality of our political dialogue in the weeks that remain.

First, lets agree to stop the practice of political labeling. The practice of endorsing or dismissing an idea merely because it is liberal or conservative is a lazy way of avoiding the work of citizenship, which requires analysis of the merits of laws, policies and programs. In fact, the practice is simplistic, circular and little more than a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Political labeling ignores the fact that views and values are shifting in response to changing circumstances in a fast-paced world in which policy responses to emerging challenges require compromise.

Worse, labeling provides a pass to candidates who learn that they can woo and win an audience vulnerable to descriptions and judgments grounded in ideological characterizations. Voters should expect candidates to explain the reasoning that supports their positions on issues.

Anything less violates a central principle of democracy: Governmental officials are accountable to the electorate. Accordingly, it is the duty of those who seek or hold office to answer questions so that voters are fully informed. The occasional response from a candidate  Im not going to talk about that  does not pass muster in a nation governed by republican principles. Voters questions should be fair, of course, and candidates should patiently and fully explain their positions.

Second, since the quality of civic dialogue in a democracy requires an abiding respect for facts and evidence, lets agree to reject the politics of distortion and demagoguery. Nothing is accomplished through resort to straw man arguments. In addition, fooling people into embracing arguments and positions is a hollow victory. Such fraudulent tactics contradict the premise of winning consent from ones fellow citizens since people who are deceived are hardly consenting to something.

Third, lets agree to avoid the politics of destruction. Politics is not war, and words are not bullets. It is wise to recall that in a democracy, which is fluid and reflective of changing views, that todays opponents may be tomorrows allies. Bad faith and destruction preclude compromise, which is the engine that makes the political system work. We can and should be tough on issues, but tender toward people.

The effort to demonize or destroy those who differ with our views tends to curb interest in politics, undermines political participation and exacerbates voter apathy and cynicism. At a juncture when voter participation is declining, it is important to remember that in a democracy, we seek social conditions that encourage participation and honest give-and-take in the discussion of policies, programs and laws.

Fourth, as we strive for a better, more civil and informed dialogue on the issues of central concern to voters in the forthcoming election, lets avoid the use of terms that are dehumanizing. Lets speak of undocumented immigrants rather than illegals.  That pejorative characterization may appeal to a segment of voters, but it debases their human existence, and ignores the valuable work that they perform and the many contributions that they make to our society, culture and economy.

Fifth, lets ask candidates, and citizens everywhere, to resuscitate the practice of common courtesy and civil tones and refer to others, where appropriate, as Mr. and Ms.

Lets agree that themes of civility and courtesy require of us all a measure of restraint so that we do not misrepresent the views and positions of those whom we oppose. That practice serves only the cause of confusion and deliberate distortion. Rather, let us hear in the public square a fair representation of the views with whom we disagree. What a concept!

If we can implement but a few of these ideas, well all feel better about our politics.

David Adler is president of The Alturas Institute, created to advance American Democracy through promotion of the Constitution, civic education, equal protection and gender equality. Send questions about the Constitution to letters@bismarcktribune.com and he will attempt to answer them in subsequent columns. This "We the People" series is provided by the North Dakota Newspaper Association and Humanities North Dakota.

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The big Brexit row over whether the UK will be able to continue exporting food to the EU unhindered after the transition period appears to be over.

HuffPost UK understands that Michel Barnier told UK negotiators last week that it would have no issue getting the so-called third country listing that gives it the right to automatically export food to the EU after the transition ends on December 31.

Earlier on Wednesday, senior cabinet minister Michael Gove also confirmed there had been progress on the issue.

The topic was the subject of an extraordinary Twitter spat between Barnier and his opposite number, Lord David Frost, earlier this month.

1/7 I would like to make a few comments and state a few facts, in my capacity as the PM's negotiator in the current and last autumn's talks. https://t.co/qJ2hGUf5RM  David Frost (@DavidGHFrost) September 13, 2020

It came after Barnier demanded more clarity from the UK about its biosecurity controls if it wants to get the automatic right to export animal products into the EU when the transition ends and Britain stops following Brussels rules.

The EUs reluctance to grant a listing sparked fears in No.10 that mainland Britain could be blocked from sending animal products to Northern Ireland  because the province will follow EU rules in this area to maintain an invisible border with the Republic, under the terms of the withdrawal agreement negotiated by Boris Johnson.

The prime minister had accused the EU of attempting to impose a food blockade against Northern Ireland, as the row over the law-breaking Internal Market Bill raged last week.

Brussels insisted it was not threatening food supply to Northern Ireland and some EU figures felt the UK had manufactured a row on the issue.

HuffPost UK also understands the EU is waiting to legislation on standards promised by the UK in October before granting the listing.

Continue reading on HuffPost
Facebook Carla Walker

She was 17 years old and dressed for a high school Valentine's dance on the night she was pulled from her boyfriend's car and kidnapped, two days before her strangled and sexually assaulted body was found abandoned in a culvert.

But for 46 years, police in Forth Worth, Texas, could pin no blame in the death of Carla Walker.

That changed on Monday when they arrested 77-year-old Glen Samuel McCurley, and credited advances in genealogy and DNA testing for allegedly connecting him to the crime.

"Thank you, Jesus," Carla's brother, Jim Walker, said Tuesday at a news conference announcing the arrest. "When I was notified, the word that came across my mind was 'finally.' Finally. After 46 years, finally."

McCurley, now jailed on a capital murder charge in Tarrant County on a $100,000 bond, had been an early suspect and questioned in Carla's Feb. 17, 1974, abduction following the dance at Western Hills High School. It was unclear if he'd entered a plea, and an attorney for him was not named in jail records.

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Carla and her boyfriend were parked outside a bowling alley when a man opened the passenger door and pulled her out, telling the boyfriend, "I am going to kill you," and then pistol-whipping him, according to an arrest warrant affidavit, reports WFAA.

The boy passed out. Police on the scene discovered a magazine for a 22-caliber Ruger, and determined that McCurley, a previously convicted car thief who lived about a mile from the bowling alley, had purchased such a gun.

Interviewed in 1974, McCurley said his gun had been stolen while he was fishing, but he didn't report it because he was an ex-con, according to the arrest warrant.

Tarrant County Jail Glen Samuel McCurley

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Police learned McCurley was off work the night of the kidnapping and again the next day, and that his wife was out of town at the time. He denied any involvement.

He never fell off the radar, however. Over the years, detectives ran preserved DNA evidence from the victim's clothing through several databases -- and one genealogy database eventually linked to three brothers with the McCurley surname as possible matches, according to the arrest warrant.

DNA has been around since the mid-'80s but there are continual advances in how they attempt to find that DNA and also how they extract that DNA, said detective Leah Wagner, reports KDFW. So it was these newer processes that enabled us to get a profile.

Police obtained a sample of McCurley's DNA from his trash in July. When it was found to match the DNA on the victim, they questioned him again Sept. 10, when he once more denied involvement but offered a voluntary DNA swab.

Once more, it matched with the DNA found on the victim's clothing.

I would like to sit here and tell you, no, I never gave up hope -- but there were times, there were really dark times, watching the pain of my mom, said Carla's brother Jim, whose parents and another brother died in the interim without ever seeing an arrest.

"We are praying for you; we dont hate you," he said of the suspect and the suspect's family, which includes a wife and two children. "I hope that the City of Fort Worth has prayers for the family. It's not their fault. Well see justice served with prayers and forgiveness."

"We forgive him for what he's done," he told WFAA. "I really hope that one day when I'm in heaven ... I want to see Glen there, too."
 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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BELGRADE - Kosovo prime minister Avdullah Hoti said Wednesday that dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade will have to end with reciprocal recognition and a legally binding final agreement.

Serbian media said Hoti had repeated this position in a videoconference earlier in the day with EU ambassadors meant to update all in involved on the EU-facilitated talks.

The prime minister also urged Brussels to lift visa requirements for Kosovo citizens, saying that this is essential for economic and societal development.

Kosovo citizens are the only ones in the Balkans that still need a visa to enter EU countries.
Gary Gershoff/Getty Images; Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Felicity Jones, RBG

Ruth Bader Ginsburg's remarkable story will be easier to watch thanks to a re-release of the films made about her.

Focus Features and Magnolia Pictures announced the 2018 feature film On the Basis of Sex and the documentary RBG will play again in 1,000 theaters this weekend. The movies will also be available on demand, with all proceeds going to the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, supporting the Women's Rights Project. Ginsburg co-founded the project in 1972.

Ginsburg died at 87 on Sept. 18 due to complications from cancer.

Justice Ginsburg spent her life upholding fairness, the law, and the rights of all Americans. These films highlight only a small portion of her legacy to screen, but her vast impact on our country goes far beyond them. We hope that moviegoers are re-inspired by her passion, her courage and take that back into the world," Focus Features and Magnolia Pictures said in a joint statement.

RELATED: Felicity Jones Honors Ruth Bader Ginsburg After Her Death: She 'Stood for Integrity and Justice'

On the Basis of Sex starred actress Felicity Jones as Ginsburg when she was young lawyer and beginning her fight for equal rights. It also showed the love story between her and her husband Martin (played by Armie Hammer), who supported her along the way.

RBG similarly follows Ginsburg's journey from her Harvard Law studies to her groundbreaking work and later ascending to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Focus Features Armie Hammer and Felicity Jones (as Martin Ginsburg and Ruth Bader Ginsburg)

Jones remembered Ginsburg after her death for her "razor-sharp wit and extraordinary humanity" following the tragic news of her death.

"Ruth Bader Ginsburg gave us hope, a public figure who stood for integrity and justice - a responsibility she did not wear lightly," Jones, 36, said in a statement. "She will be missed not only as a beacon of light in these difficult times but for her razor-sharp wit and extraordinary humanity. She taught us all so much. I will miss her deeply."

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According to a statement released by the Supreme Court on Friday, Ginsburg was surrounded by family when she died at her home in Washington, D.C.

"Our Nation has lost a jurist of historic stature. We at the Supreme Court have lost a cherished colleague," Chief Justice John G. Roberts said in a statement. "Today we mourn, but with confidence that future generations will remember Ruth Bader Ginsburg as we knew her -- a tireless and resolute champion of justice."

Ginsburg, who served on the court for more than 27 years since President Bill Clinton appointed her in 1993, was an icon of the courts liberal wing for her unwavering fight for womens rights and social justice.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the DRDO for the successful test-firing of the Laser-guided Anti Tank Guided Missile from MBT Arjun at KK Ranges.

Laser-guided Anti Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) was successfully test-fired from MBT Arjun Tank at KK Ranges, Armoured Corps Centre and School (ACC&S) Ahmednagar on Tuesday, according to a statement by the Defence Ministry on Wednesday.The ministry said the ATGM successfully defeated a target located at 3 km during the tests. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the DRDO for the successful test-firing of the Laser-guided Anti Tank Guided Missile from MBT Arjun at KK Ranges.

Congratulations to DRDO for successfully conducting test firing of Laser-Guided Anti Tank Guided Missile from MBT Arjun at KK Ranges (ACC&S) in Ahmednagar. India is proud of Team DRDO, which is assiduously working towards reducing import dependency in the near future, Singh tweeted.The missile has been developed by Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE) Pune in association with High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) Pune, and Instruments Research & Development Establishment (IRDE) Dehradun.

Laser-guided ATGMs lock and track the targets with the help of laser designation to ensure precision hit accuracy. The missile employs a tandem HEAT warhead to defeat Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA) protected armoured vehicles. It has been developed with multiple-platform launch capability and is currently undergoing technical evaluation trials from gun of MBT Arjun, stated the release from Defence Ministry.

Congratulations to @DRDO_India for successfully conducting test firing of Laser Guided Anti Tank Guided Missile from MBT Arjun at KK Ranges (ACC&S) in Ahmednagar. India is proud of Team DRDO which is assiduously working towards reducing import dependency in the near future. pic.twitter.com/WuBivV7VYU  Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) September 23, 2020

ALSO READ: YSRCP demands CAT, IIIT at Visakhapatnam: Vijay Sai Reddy says Visakha Cooperative Bank is role model for nation

ALSO READ: DCGIs new guidelines for Covid-19 vaccine: At least 50 per cent efficacy in phase 3 trials
London: A psychiatrist treating Julian Assange has told a British court the WikiLeaks founder had a history of depression and hallucination, and was at high risk of attempting suicide if extradited to the United States to face trial.

Michael Kopelman, emeritus professor of neuropsychiatry at King's College London said he had visited Assange in Belmarsh Prison about 20 times.

"As far as a psychiatrist can say, yes, I considered the risk of suicide should extradition become imminent or actually happen to be very high," he said.

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange leaves in a prison van after appearing in court in January. Credit:PA

"He has made various plans and undergone various preparations such as: he's confessed to the Catholic priest who granted him absolution, he's begun to draft farewell letters to his family and close friends, he's drawn up a will.
The Chancellors emergency decision to cancel the November budget and instead unveil a new winter plan today to preserve jobs and support enterprise is an indication of the grave economic uncertainty this country now faces.

Uncertainty made far worse by the Governments latest measures to contain the pandemic.

Rishi Sunaks surprise autumn package, which comes after his July Plan for Jobs, shows that amid the havoc wreaked by Covid-19 and the Governments cautious response to rising infections, the Chancellor is having to make decisions on the hoof irrespective of their financial and economic consequences.

This shop in Billericay, Essex has closed its doors since the coronavirus pandemic hit

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak (left) and Prime Minister Boris Johnson leave 10 Downing Street, for a Cabinet meeting to be held at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in London, ahead of MPs returning to Westminster after the summer recess

Just a few weeks ago the big debate was about whether the time was right for raising taxes in the budget.

But now, with the new clampdown on the hospitality sector and office working, any plans he had to deal with the ballooning budget deficit and debt have been put on hold until next year.

Sunak is having to reach deep into his bag of tricks to prevent the economy going back into lockdown.

It is the second time in a year that a Chancellor has been forced to postpone the budget.

Last November Sunaks predecessor Sajid Javid called off his plans when Boris Johnson called the December election.

This time, the cause of the postponement is more chilling. The uncertainty caused by the Prime Ministers doom-laden response to the virus this week has sapped business confidence and caused huge sectors of the economy  particularly the hospitality, sport and aerospace industries  to knock on the Treasurys door for help.

A House of Fraser store in Richmond, south west London holds a closing down sale as the cost of the pandemic bites

Without measures from No 11, vast swathes of Britains high streets and city centres, already desolate, risk being boarded up forever.

In making the latest batch of spending decisions, designed to keep the economy running, Sunak and the Treasury will almost be flying blind.

Most government departments still have to submit their budget plans for 2021-22 and these are likely to be outlined in a spending review later in the Autumn.

The tragedy is that there were signs of a strong bounce in the economy in the summer  it recovered almost half the output lost during the first half of the year as we caught a small glimpse of the desired V shaped recovery.

Several businesses are closed along this stretch of the city centre in Leeds

However, the combination of the end of furlough in October and imposition of new lockdown rules will deliver a devastating blow to output and jobs.

Sunak is known to be concerned that if the furlough were kept in place he would be in danger of supporting zombie jobs that will never come back.

But he will also want to avoid a cliff-edge in which millions suddenly find themselves out of work.

The precise direction of the public finances and the outlook for the economy will not be fully revealed until the Office for Budget Responsibility releases its twice yearly forecasts in mid-November.

What we do know, however, even before Sunaks latest expensive package of assistance, is that Britain now faces the worst peacetime budget crisis of modern times.

Closed shop premises on King Street in Manchester city centre. Government borrowing in the current financial year is already projected to reach at least 300billion. Debt levels have reached an alarming 2trillion, which is the equivalent of a whole year of national output pre-Covid

Government borrowing in the current financial year is already projected to reach at least 300billion.

Debt levels have reached an alarming 2trillion, which is the equivalent of a whole year of national output pre-Covid.

The Chancellor has spent 35billion so far on the furlough scheme and will be anxious to make sure the money has not been totally wasted.

One possible way of saving jobs would be to replace it with a German-style support scheme under which employers put people back to work on a part-time basis and the Government makes up the shortfall in wages, allowing the economy to gather momentum.

As the country rides the coronavirus roller-coaster, all the normal rules of predictable economic policymaking have been torn up. The Chancellor is having to adopt a dynamic approach of a kind never seen before.

But whatever happens tomorrow, when the pandemic has passed, Britain will face a massive task in restoring fiscal responsibility and credibility.
ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The annualized turnover rate at both large and small truckload carriers experienced declines of double digit percentage points in the second quarter as the industry was roiled by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The second quarter was a tumultuous one for trucking, and the broader economy, as restrictions imposed to slow the spread of the COVID-19 had significant impacts on the country," said American Trucking Associations Chief Economist Bob Costello said. "The coronavirus had a profound impact on the driver market  particularly in the first part of the second quarter. By the end of the quarter we had begun to see the market tighten again as various restrictions began to be lifted."

In the second quarter, the turnover rate at truckload carriers with more than $30 million in annual revenue fell 12 percentage points to 82%  the lowest level since the end of 2018. The rate at smaller truckload carriers fell ten points to 60%, the lowest level since the final quarter of 2011.

"After steep drops early, the driver market began to normalize toward the end of the quarter," Costello said. "As the economy continues to recover, we should see the market for drivers continue to tighten going forward."

The annualized turnover rate at less-than-truckload carriers was unchanged at 12% during the second quarter.

American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation's freight. Follow ATA on Twitter , Facebook , or at Trucking Moves America Forward .

SOURCE American Trucking Associations

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www.trucking.org


United Methodist regional body supports changing logo, claims its unintentionally racist

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A regional body of the United Methodist Church has voted to approve a petition recommending that the mainline denomination change its insignia, claiming it is racially insensitive.

Delegates at the UMC North Texas Conference approved the petition last Saturday during their business session in a vote of 558 in favor and 176 against.

Sponsored by the Rev. Elden Cowley, the legislative item called on the denomination to create a new insignia to replace the cross and flame logo that has existed since the 1960s.

During the legislative session, which was mostly virtual in nature, one delegate inquired as to whether it would be better to wait until after next years general conference.

At the heart of this query was the expectation many have that the UMC will approve an amicable separation proposal in 2021 to resolve their long-standing debate over LGBT issues.

In response to the question sent online, Cowley said we could wait, but added that he would still feel very confident with moving along with this now.

Cowley lobbied in support of changing the logo in an opinion piece published by UM News back in July, arguing that the insignia was unintentionally racially offensive.

But when I saw the United Methodist Cross and Flame, I didnt think of John Wesleys heart being strangely warmed, I didnt think of the flaming tongues of fire resting on the Apostles in Acts 2, wrote Cowley.

My mind went back to that burning cross I saw on the side of the freeway  a symbol my mother told me was devised to cause fear in black people.

The UMC insignia was created soon after the merger of the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church in 1968, which gave birth to the modern denomination.

The cross represented Jesus, while the two flames symbolized the two churches that merged to form the UMC, as well as the Holy Spirit, alluding to Acts 2 and the event known as Pentecost.

Some have pushed back against Cowleys change proposal, with social media posts arguing that the conference is promoting cancel culture and going down a slippery slope.

Good gracious, the cross offends many Islamic people. We gonna get rid of it? tweeted one critic in response to Cowley's column.
Los Angeles: Filmmaker Ron Howard will be directing a biographical drama film about renowned Chinese pianist Lang Lang. The film is based on the memoir Journey of a Thousand Miles" by Lang and David Ritz, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Howard, a two-time Oscar-winning filmmaker, will also produce the movie in collaboration with Brian Grazer, Karen Lunder, and Stuart Ford. Journey of a Thousand Miles" traces Lang Langs extraordinary life story, from his childhood in the provincial city of Shenyang in Northern China to the peak of the global classic music industry. Along the way, Langs family sacrificed almost everything to help their talented son succeed.

Michelle Mulroney and Kieran Mulroney are adapting the films screenplay from the memoir. Lang Langs story is one of determination, passion, sacrifice, and finding the inner strength to beat the odds. This film is a bridge between two cultures that share universal truths about the gauntlets we face in the pursuit of greatness," Howard and Grazer said.

Kieran and Michele are the ideal storytellers to help bring this story to audiences around the world," they added. Lang, 38, will be executive producing the project alongside Jean-JacquesCesbron, Michele Anthony and David Blackman.

Dream big, work hard and always believe in yourself. This movie, thanks to Ron Howards vision, will inspire young people around the world to follow their dreams and never forget they are one in a million," the pianist said. Meanwhile, filmmaker Lulu Wang of The Farewell" fame questioned Howards decision to helm the movie about a Chinese personality, wondering whether he has the cultural context needed for the project.

As a classically-trained pianist born in China, I believe its impossible to tell Lang Langs story without an intimate understanding of Chinese culture + the impact of the Cultural Revolution on artists & intellectuals + the effects of Western imperialism. Just saying," Wang wrote in a thread on Twitter. The Chinese-born filmmaker, however, made it clear that she has no intention of directing the movie.

I just dont think these are the artists to grapple w/ the cultural specificities of Northeast China where Lang Lang (and my family) are from. Or w/ the cultural aspect of the physical violence in his upbringing," she added. Referring to criticism of Disneys recent remake of Mulan", Wang said, Have we learned NOTHING from Mulan? I havent said anything because yes representation and many people I love are involved, but I just have to. Just HAVE to. Because 2020 man and Im f***ing exhausted." .
It is not uncommon to see companies perform well in the years after insiders buy shares. On the other hand, we'd be remiss not to mention that insider sales have been known to precede tough periods for a business. So we'll take a look at whether insiders have been buying or selling shares in Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated (NYSE:RGA).

Do Insider Transactions Matter?

It is perfectly legal for company insiders, including board members, to buy and sell stock in a company. However, rules govern insider transactions, and certain disclosures are required.

We would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing. But 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'.

Check out our latest analysis for Reinsurance Group of America

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Reinsurance Group of America

In the last twelve months, the biggest single purchase by an insider was when Independent Director Patricia Guinn bought US$289k worth of shares at a price of US$144 per share. That means that an insider was happy to buy shares at above the current price of US$96.90. While their view may have changed since the purchase was made, this does at least suggest they have had confidence in the company's future. To us, it's very important to consider the price insiders pay for shares. As a general rule, we feel more positive about a stock when an insider has bought shares at above current prices, because that suggests they viewed the stock as good value, even at a higher price. Patricia Guinn was the only individual insider to buy during the last year.

You can see the insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below!

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Reinsurance Group of America 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.

Does Reinsurance Group of America Boast High Insider Ownership?

For a common shareholder, it is worth checking how many shares are held by company insiders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. Reinsurance Group of America insiders own about US$34m worth of shares. That equates to 0.5% of the company. We've certainly seen higher levels of insider ownership elsewhere, but these holdings are enough to suggest alignment between insiders and the other shareholders.

What Might The Insider Transactions At Reinsurance Group of America Tell Us?

There haven't been any insider transactions in the last three months -- that doesn't mean much. However, our analysis of transactions over the last year is heartening. Insiders own shares in Reinsurance Group of America and we see no evidence to suggest they are worried about the future. So while it's helpful to know what insiders are doing in terms of buying or selling, it's also helpful to know the risks that a particular company is facing. At Simply Wall St, we found 3 warning signs for Reinsurance Group of America that deserve your attention before buying any shares.

But note: Reinsurance Group of America may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with high ROE 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.
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Linkedin Guy Faulconbridge and Kate Holton (Reuters) London, United Kingdom  Wed, September 23, 2020 09:47 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c4695618 2 World Britain,UK,coronavirus,COVID-19,pandemic,coronavirus-restrictions,work-from-home,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus Free

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told people on Tuesday to work from home where possible and ordered bars and restaurants to close early to tackle a fast-spreading second wave of COVID-19 with new restrictions lasting probably six months.

After scientific warnings that deaths could soar without urgent action, Johnson stopped short of another full lockdown as he did in March, but warned that further measures could come if the disease was not suppressed.

"We reserve the right to deploy greater firepower, with significantly greater restrictions," he told parliament following emergency meetings with ministers and leaders of the United Kingdom's devolved governments.

Just weeks after urging people to start returning to workplaces, Johnson advised office workers to stay at home if they could. He ordered all pubs, bars, restaurants and other hospitality sites to close at 10 p.m. from Thursday with only table service allowed.

"I am sorry this will hurt many businesses just getting back on their feet," he said.

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, but they meant more pain for the world's fifth largest economy.

Masks will be required in more settings, there will be tougher enforcement of rules, and the military could be brought in to help free up the police, Johnson said.

Schools and universities are to stay open.

'Brazen' rule-breakers

Businesses breaking COVID laws face penalties of up to 10,000 pounds ($13,000) or even closure, while individuals may be fined 200 pounds for not wearing a mask when required.

Johnson said it was frustrating for the law-abiding majority to see a few "brazenly defying the rules".

Asked in parliament why Britain's figures were worse than Germany and Italy, Johnson said: "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 ... It is very difficult to ask the British population uniformly to obey guidelines in the way that is necessary."

He was to address the nation at 1900 GMT.

The United Kingdom already has the biggest official COVID-19 death toll in Europe - 41,788 - 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.

Opposition leader Keir Starmer urged the government not to end a furlough scheme at the end of October, accusing it of losing control of the coronavirus crisis.

Scotland will introduce additional nationwide restrictions on household gatherings that go further than Johnson's new rules, its First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said.
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USA/Global: Overhauling U.S. Foreign Policy

AfricaFocus Bulletin

September 23, 2020 (2020-09-23)

(Reposted from sources cited below)

Editor's Note The most consequential election year in most of our lifetimes has featured stark crises unspooling against a backdrop of vigorous activist mobilizations and simmering public outrage. While the first essential step for progressives is to prevent the reelection of President Trump, that will not be enough. We need fundamental change rather than a return to the status quo ante. Climate change, public health, police violence, and the systemic racism manifest in all policy areas are on the November 3 ballot. On these issues and others there is already significant mobilization to hold an incoming Democratic administration accountable. This will not be easy, especially when it comes to foreign policy. The Democratic Party platform says that we cannot simply aspire to restore American leadership. We must reinvent it for a new era. But it fails to question the legitimacy of American preeminence and exceptionalismor, more broadly, the understanding of the world as an arena primarily for competition rather than collaboration. This AfricaFocus Bulletin contains the latest in a series of essays by William Minter and Imani Countess entitled Beyond Eurocentrism and U.S. Exceptionalism. The series began in January 2020. This latest essay was first published in Organizing Upgrade on September 22, 2020. For previous AfricaFocus Bulletins in this series, visit http://www.africafocus.org/usa-2020.php ++++++++++++++++++++++end editor's note+++++++++++++++++

Overhauling U.S. Foreign Policy: Bitter Fights Ahead

by William Minter and Imani Countess*

* Imani Countess is an Open Society Fellow focusing on economic inequality. William Minter is the editor of AfricaFocus Bulletin. This article, which appeared first in Organizing Upgrade on September 22, builds on a multipart essay series entitled Beyond Eurocentrism and U.S. Exceptionalism.

Protest outside the U.S Embassy in Kenya, June 9, 2020. Photo: The Star, Kenya

The most consequential election year in most of our lifetimes has featured stark crises unspooling against a backdrop of vigorous activist mobilizations and simmering public outrage. While the first essential step for progressives is to prevent the reelection of President Trump, that will not be enough. We need fundamental change rather than a return to the status quo ante.

Climate change, public health, police violence, and the systemic racism manifest in all policy areas are on the November 3 ballot. On these issues and others there is already significant mobilization to hold an incoming Democratic administration accountable.

This will not be easy, especially when it comes to foreign policy. The Democratic Party platform says that we cannot simply aspire to restore American leadership. We must reinvent it for a new era. But it fails to question the legitimacy of American preeminence and exceptionalismor, more broadly, the understanding of the world as an arena primarily for competition rather than collaboration.

Challenge Militarism

Despite rising criticism of wasted money and endless wars, in late July significant majorities in the U.S. Congress, including Democrats as well as Republicans, defeated an amendment to cut 10% from the $740.5 billion military budget. The vote was 324 to 93 in the House of Representatives and 77 to 23 in the Senate.

There are critiques across a wide political spectrum of the U.S. military posture, and widely shared uneasiness about endless wars. But there is still no strong antiwar movement with links to progressive movements focused on domestic policy. The default assumption in public debate is that U.S. wars were and still are aimed at protecting the security of the United States. Military spending to defend against adversaries takes priority over spending that would enable the United States to play its part in combating common global threats and investing in human security.

Foreign policy veterans of the Obama-Biden years vary significantly in their views. Some acknowledge that policy cannot just return to the status quo before Trump. Yet even those who are most critical of previous policy still speak of rebuilding the city on a hillthe United States as leader and shining example for the world. Few are willing to engage in fundamental questioning of the U.S. global role.

Andrew Bacevich, a longtime critic of militarism, and others at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft are bringing options for anti-militarist positions into the establishment debate. But more substantive change is only likely to happen with greater pressure from progressive voices that are now largely outside the foreign policy establishment.

To be effective, mobilization must be broad, extending beyond foreign policyfocused constituencies to engage large swathes of the U.S. public. This vast reach marked the movement against the Vietnam War and the solidarity movements with Southern Africa and Central America in the 1970s and 1980s. Those mobilizations, however, were largely driven by external events and nightly news coverage that made the U.S. role impossible to ignore.

Today, as our military engagements drag on with dwindling media attention, there are fewer dramatic headlines to propel global issues into mainstream media and political debate. This makes it difficult, though by no means impossible, to build wider consciousness of global issues.

Forge National-Global Connections

As progressives, we can educate ourselves now to advance a global perspective and help pave the way for lobbying campaigns by progressive organizations seeking to influence a new administration.

As a first step, activists and organizations working primarily on domestic issues and those working on global or foreign policy issues should build closer links of understanding between them, even as they recognize the need to work along parallel tracks. Examples include the recent article by Max Elbaum in Organizing Upgrade, the wide range of organizations involved in the National Priorities Project, and the inclusion of action against militarism among the key demands of the Poor People's Campaign.

We should focus on issues, not on personalities. Defeating Trump is a prerequisite for advancing a progressive agenda, but opportunities for influencing a future Biden administration will depend on the strength of movements that put forth compelling alternative visions on key issues.

We should reinforce the message from climate justice organizations, such as the Sunrise Movement and 350.org, that the Green New Deal must be global. Among the specific implications: multilateral and bilateral collaboration with China is imperative, while a strategic partnership with the oil-rich Gulf autocracies is obsolete.

The Covid-19 pandemic makes clear that action to protect the right to health must be global. Among the specific implications: the United States must not only support the World Health Organization, but must learn from countries as diverse as Cuba, Vietnam, New Zealand, and South Korea, to name only a few.

As indicated by actions around the world in solidarity with #BlackLivesMatter, progressive activists in the United States need to recognize that anti-Black racism is global and not confined to any one country. This racism shows itself in the treatment of Africans and Afro-descendants in a wide range of countries and is reflected in the position of the African continent in the global hierarchy.

Call Attention to Fundamental Parallels

Both domestic law enforcement and the conduct of foreign wars continue to reflect the history of conquest, slavery, and U.S. empire of earlier centuries. The continuing effects of the original sin of slavery are now widely recognized; the effects of our imperial past on indigenous populations and the world receive less attention. Both domestic and global inequalities of all kinds are rooted in the history of conquest and empire as well as of slavery.

Follow the money! In communities around the country, local authorities are being challenged to divest from over-policing and invest in community needs instead. The same scrutiny and demands should apply to the federal budget, redirecting resources away from the military and toward investment in global public goods that advance human security.

It is also essential to address tax injustice by applying higher rates to the ultra-rich and by pursuing the wealth hidden in offshore accounts by corporations and wealthy elites around the world.This loss of capital is particularly acute for African countries, where local elites are conniving with a global network of facilitators to loot the continent. Efforts to curb such looting, by locating and taxing hidden wealth, would free up funds to be invested in Africa's urgent needs. The Stop the Bleeding campaign of African civil society groups, coordinated by Tax Justice Network-Africa, is working toward this aim with support from the Global Alliance for Tax Justice.

Don't Go Along with Foreign Policy Taboos

We should not shy away from confronting tough political issues with alternative frameworks. An area of particular concern, given current political biases among Democratic as well as Republican establishments, is support for justice in Palestine and Israel through global solidarity, including Palestinian, Jewish and other activists in the United States. We also need to mobilize resistance to the bipartisan trend toward a new Cold War with China, and support partnership for justice based on reliable information rather than arrogant unilateral intervention in crises such as those in Venezuela and Ecuador.

Progressives should prioritize support for members of Congress willing to speak out against foreign policy taboos, such as those in the squad, the Congressional Black Caucus, and the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Don't Be Afraid to Dream

To challenge a new Democratic administration and inspire progressive mobilization, we should advance not only practical policy goals but also new visions of mutual cooperation beyond those presently thinkable. One clear albeit difficult example is the case of Cuba, where U.S. policy has been paralyzed for decades by right-wing pressures.

A progressive agenda for U.S.-Cuban relations should begin with the reversal of new restrictive measures imposed by the Trump administration and progress toward full elimination of the trade embargo and travel restrictions that have defined U.S. policy for almost six decades.

A more ambitious goal would be to stress U.S. collaboration with Cuba in promoting global health, as happened in the case of Ebola in West Africa. The United States should be prepared to accept future Cuban offers of assistance with disaster relief and preparedness, an offer that the George W. Bush administration rejected in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina. Most visionary, but also beneficial to both countries, would be for the United States to ask Cuba for technical assistance in developing equitable public health policies in this countryand to pay generously for such assistance. That could promote mutual understanding as well as begin to pay for repairing the damage done over many decades of U.S. intervention in Cuba.

AfricaFocus Bulletin is an independent electronic publication providing reposted commentary and analysis on African issues, with a particular focus on U.S. and international policies. AfricaFocus Bulletin is edited by William Minter. For an archive of previous Bulletins, see http://www.africafocus.org,

Current links to books on AfricaFocus go to the non-profit bookshop.org, which supports independent bookshores and also provides commissions to affiliates such as AfricaFocus.

AfricaFocus Bulletin can be reached at africafocus@igc.org. Please write to this address to suggest material for inclusion. For more information about reposted material, please contact directly the original source mentioned. To subscribe to receive future bulletins by email, click here.
Lynden International provides logistics support for health and humanitarian programs - including Coronavirus research - in many challenging and underdeveloped locations around the world

Lynden International is a logistics partner for rapid response, global projects and health and humanitarian programs in many challenging, underdeveloped corners of the world

Lynden International is a logistics partner for rapid response, global projects and health and humanitarian programs in many challenging, underdeveloped corners of the world

Seattle, Washington, Sept. 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lynden International supports humanitarian, relief and health programs in many challenging, underdeveloped corners of the world. As a global freight forwarder, Lynden serves as a logistics partner for customers by simplifying complex logistics requirements during health crises and natural disasters.

In Seattle, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center works with Lynden to help meet its goals of researching and fighting cancer globally, including low- and middle-income countries, as well as supporting COVID research efforts today. Lynden coordinates and ships materials and supplies to Uganda and other destinations to support the Global Oncology group and laboratories within its research group in Uganda.

Fred Hutch is just one customer of many that Lynden Internationals Global Health and Humanitarian group is attracting during the COVID crisis. This part of our business is growing, and we are receiving praise from our customers, says Lynden International President John Kaloper. We are proud to be associated with these life-saving medical and research groups, and Fred Hutch is a recognized leader in this field.

Lyndens ability to call upon the multimodal capabilities of its sister companies for air, sea or surface transportation allows customers to trim costs, set reliable timetables and budgets and take advantage of knowledgeable, experienced planning resources. Our experience with global transportation and logistics means that we take on the challenges of this type of coordination so U.S. government agencies like FEMA, USAID, multi-national companies, non-profit organizations, and other businesses can concentrate on assisting those in need, Kaloper explains.

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Lyndens recent work includes the shipping and warehousing of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) from China, temperature-controlled shipping of frozen COVID test kits, movement of biological material for use in the search for a Coronavirus vaccine, and handling other fragile and sensitive freight for global customers.

The Lynden family of companies provides transportation and logistics solutions in Alaska, Canada, the Pacific Northwest, Hawaii and around the world. Extensive multi-modal capabilities allow customers to optimize time and money by shipping via air, land or sea, or in any combination. For more than a century, Lynden has been helping customers get the job done. To learn more visit www.lynden.com or follow our pages on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

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CONTACT: Ryan Dixon Lynden (206) 439-1266 rdixon@lynden.com




By PTI

AIZAWL: At least 53 people were taken ill after consuming fermented soyabean here, many of who were admitted to a makeshift health facility amid the COVID-19 pandemic, an official said on Wednesday.

Three people have been admitted to a private hospital, while at least 28 are undergoing treatment at the temporary health facility inside the Presbyterian church hall, he said.

Those who fell ill have complained of severe stomach ache, diarrhoea and fever since Monday evening, the health official said.

"The makeshift hospital was set up at the behest of MLA and state minister Robert Romawia Royte," he said.

The condition of three patients, including a 70-year- old woman, is critical, the official said.

Royte said the health department had to hurriedly set up a temporary health facility as most hospitals have limited number of beds due to the pandemic.

"The medical expense of the patients and nursing service will be borne by me," he said.

State Nodal Officer of Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) Pachuau Lalmalsawma said samples of the soybean have been sent to Aizawl Civil Hospital for examination.
NORTON SHORES, MI  The Mona Shores school board reversed course Monday on its support of the Black Lives Matter movement, suspending a racial equality resolution that sparked heated debate among community members.

Superintendent Bill OBrien recommended the suspension. He asked for the resolution to be temporarily placed on hold until the district creates a committee that will make recommendations related to race and inclusiveness that the entire community can get behind.

The resolution had affirmed the districts commitment to the emotional and physical safety of Black students, acknowledging that Mona Shores must address institutionalized racism in the school and greater community. Read the full statement here.

The intent of the (Black Lives Matter) resolution was to unify, and it was becoming divisive instead, OBrien told MLive Tuesday, Sept. 22. This is not, and must not, be an issue of politics. It is an issue of human rights, including equality, inclusion, acceptance, and equity.

The resolution passed unanimously June 29. For more than a month, Norton Shores residents spent hours during the school boards public comment segments debating whether the resolution incorrectly labeled the city as systemically racist.

Some residents also expressed concern over the school boards alignment with the Black Lives Matter organization.

RELATED: How a school boards Black Lives Matter resolution claiming racist housing policies divided a Michigan community

This work is too important to let politics get in the way, OBrien said. The request of the Board to suspend the resolution is to ensure that the voices of our community, with a particular focus on the voices of our Black and Brown families, are heard loud and clear.

The Black Lives Matter resolution was not on the agenda for the boards Monday, Sept. 21 meeting. OBrien made his recommendation at the end of the meeting, and the suspension was approved in a 4-1 vote.

Trustee Wesley Wilson, who wrote and spearheaded the resolution, opposed the measure. OBrien said Trustees Jay Keessen and Jeanne Cooper-Kuiper were absent.

The Black Lives Matter movement has gained traction since the death of George Floyd triggered protests against systemic racism and police brutality across the country and globe. Floyd, a Black man, died May 25 after a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes.

Proclaiming that Black Lives Matter does not negate our commitment to all of our students, the resolution stated. In fact, we believe that challenging all of our students and colleagues to recognize the innate value of Black lives will help all of our students grow because all lives cannot matter until Black lives do.

Of the 3,937 students enrolled in the district last school year, about 75% are white, 11% Black, and 5.9% Hispanic/Latino, according to state data. Many students come to the district from other cities through schools of choice.

The resolution also claimed the school district has remained predominantly white because of systemic racism in Norton Shores, including endemic racist housing policies, restrictive covenants, and intentional urban planning that prevented people of color from even entering white spaces.

The city of Norton Shores is 91 percent white and 2.8 percent Black, according to recent census data.

Many Norton Shores residents praised the board for approving the resolution, viewing it as an opportunity for growth in the predominantly white city.

Ive read the full resolution and do not believe it is an attack on the taxpayers of the district, but rather is a recognition of the impact of long-term systemic racism and it is well documented, Norton Shores resident Frank Michels previously told MLive.

Other residents said the resolution created more division in the district than existed before, expressing concerns that it wasnt appropriate for the school board to publicly align itself with the Black Lives Matter movement.

BLM is a political organization, Norton Shores resident Michael Poland previously told MLive. I feel it is wrong to bring such politics into the board. I agree that schools should practice equality, and that Mona Shores should be committed to the emotional and physical safety of all students.

In his address to the board Monday, OBrien said he was proud of the Mona Shores Board of Education for supporting a resolution intended to help ensure the conversation and actions continue around race, inclusion, acceptance, equality, and equity.

But he also said he believes the boards good intentions had been hijacked."

I am embarrassed that our Black and brown families have yet another effort to support them misappropriated; that the resolution meant to bring an opportunity to enlighten and unify the district has seemingly been bent to a personal agenda; that deliberate efforts have been made to make this a matter of politics, calling for the use of Board meetings to foster political divisiveness on both sides, he said.

OBrien also chastised Wilson, the resolutions author, for fanning the flames of divisiveness.

I can no longer sit idly by as Trustee Wilson twists the narrative to try to convince people that he is the only one that supported this resolution, he said. The board voted 6-0 to support the resolution, yet Wilson continues to use social media to imply that his colleagues do not support it, nor the spirit or intent of it.

But Wilson told MLive he felt the board has used him as a scapegoat following some public criticism of the resolution.

The board should have stood with me and rejected these racially motivated attacks thrown at my by members of our city government, but instead of standing with me in rejecting these clear and obvious racially and politically motivated attacks on me, they scapegoated me, he told MLive in a statement.

Wilson said he did not agree with the boards decision to suspend the resolution, and said he felt blindsided because the suspension was not an agenda item. He said he continues to support the resolution, as well as the Black Lives Matter movement.

No matter what happens I still believe that Black lives matter," he said. I will never be ashamed of fighting for equality.

The Mona Shores school board voted 6 to 0 in August to censure Wilson for failure to disclose his legal trouble.

Wilson was asked to resign over concerns about a 2018 felony charge for larceny by false pretense. Wilson later pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor larceny, according to 58th District Court officials.

He reportedly did not notify the board of the charges against him and some residents had expressed the legal issues were a matter of concern.

RELATED: Mona Shores school board to ask Gov. Whitmer to oust trustee previously censured

In its censure statement, the board said he harmed public trust in him and that it had "rendered him ineffective as a trustee.'' Wilson faced a felony charge for larceny by false pretense but eventually pleaded no contest to misdemeanor larceny.

Wilson refused to resign and on Sept. 21 the board moved forward with a petition to Gov. Gretchen Whitmers office for his removal from office. If the governor signs off on the petition, the board will have 30 days to seek applicants and fill the open seat.

More on MLive:

Mona Shores school board censures, calls for resignation of trustee over larceny charge

2 Mona Shores students test positive for coronavirus after visiting Western Michigan University

Mona Shores enjoys absolutely amazing new soccer complex, even in defeat
Authorities in North Carolina want some 5,000 supporters of Donald Trump to seek coronavirus tests following his latest campaign rally in Fayetteville.

An estimated 5,600 people attended the US presidents rally on Saturday despite the current pandemic, which has seen almost seven million Americans contract the virus and over 200,000 killed.

Two-thirds of his supporters were reported to have not worn masks, whilst attendees were unable to social distance.

In a statement to the Fayetteville Observer, North Carolinas Department of Health and Human Services said on Monday that large campaign rallies carried public health risks, as local authorities recommended attendees test themselves.

Kelly Haight Connor, a health department spokeswoman, said While activities constituting the exercise of First Amendment rights are exempt from the requirements of the Governors Executive Orders, large gatherings increase the risk of spreading Covid-19.

Praising those who wore masks on Saturday, Cumberland County's public health director, warned that there was accelerated community spread in the area.

Whilst the impact of the Trump campaign rally on Cumberland County will not be seen until a weeks time, Jennifer Green welcomed those who wanted to seek-out coronavirus tests.

She also told the Observer that testing is available for anyone who has attended protests, rallies or other mass gatherings where social distancing was not possible.

We encourage anyone (who has) tested positive after attending the rally to communicate this with our contact tracing team, said Ms Green in a statement.

This will help us to identify any spike in cases as a result of the rally.

It comes more than two months after health officials in Oklahoma said a Trump campaign rally - and his first after the coronavirus hit the United States - had likely contributed to an increase in infections in the state.
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Linkedin Paul Sandle and Ben Dangerfield (Reuters) London, United Kingdom  Wed, September 23, 2020 10:51 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c469ac8f 2 World coronavirus,COVID-19,coronavirus-restrictions,pandemic,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus,UK,Britain,pubs Free

Some pubs and restaurants already reeling from the pandemic face ruin, owners warned on Tuesday, after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered them to close early for the next six months to help curb rapidly rising COVID-19 infections.

Some operators said the new restrictions, which include a ban on serving customers at the bar, could sound the death knell for businesses that were forced to shut for 15 weeks earlier this year.

"We may as well not open some of our bars," said Martin Wolstencroft, CEO of Arc Inspirations, which runs 17 bars and restaurants in northern England. "After 10 o'clock is really when we start making money because that's when we get busier."

"This is going to be the final nail in the coffin for many, many operators," he told BBC radio.

As part of a package of new restrictions, Johnson said all hospitality venues must close at 10 p.m., a peak time for many.

The measures came after scientists warned that deaths from the disease could soar without urgent action. The number of new cases is rising fastest among those aged 20-29, although other, more vulnerable groups, are also at risk.

"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," he said.

Thomas Kidd, director of Adventure Bar Group which has nine outlets in London, said rules were changing too often.

"The constant moving feast makes it very difficult to know what we are planning for ... People don't mind fighting the fight today if they understand where we're working towards."

Pubs not to blame

Tim Martin, chairman of JD Wetherspoon, told Reuters there was no evidence to show the virus was spreading in pubs. Instead, private gatherings were to blame, he said.

Pubs could be kept safe by managers enforcing social distancing, with compliance checked by licensing authorities who had access to closed circuit TV, he added.

According to Martin, more than 800 of his pubs had reported no positive tests for the coronavirus, 40 had one and a handful had more than one, despite about 32 million customer visits in the 10 weeks since July 4.

There had been 66 positive tests for COVID-19 among its 41,564 employees during this time, the company said.

Shares in pubs and restaurant operators, already battered by the impact of COVID-19, fell on Monday as news of the tougher measures trickled through.

Underlining the crisis facing the industry, hotels and restaurants operator Whitbread said on Tuesday it planned to cut up to 6,000 jobs.

Public opinion on whether the measures were necessary or would be effective were mixed.

"I think probably just closing the bars at 10 ultimately won't go far enough and they'll probably need to do a bit more looking at how the curve is going up quite sharply," art director Emma Leaney said.

Wetherspoon's Martin said the government was already losing the country because its rules were over-complicated and the message had changed too much.

"We've adopted a Big Brother approach, we are coming out with more and more regulations because the government wants to be seen to be doing things," he said.

"If you trust people and tell them what's good for them and their colleagues and family they will do it. Threaten people, involve the police, it's just the wrong approach."
ABC NewsBY: BENJAMIN SIEGEL, ABC News



(NEW YORK) -- Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., the Senate Democratic whip, on Wednesday pushed back on calls for Democrats to add more justices to the Supreme Court next year, if they retake the Senate and White House, as retribution for Republicans' plans to fill Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's seat just weeks from the election.



"There's no serious conversation among my colleagues about this prospect. It is speculative, it is in the future, if at all," Durbin, the second-ranking Senate Democrat, told ABC News Chief White House correspondent Jonathan Karl and Political Director Rick Klein on the "Powerhouse Politics" podcast.



"We're focused on the job at hand which is to try to make certain that whoever fills this Supreme Court vacancy is someone who will respect the power of the court when it comes to things as basic as the health care of Americans. So this notion of looking at some structural change in the court I can just say is not a serious topic on Capitol Hill at this moment," Durbin said.







Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., appeared to lock in enough Republican support this week for his plan to advance President Donald Trump's nominee to the Supreme Court through the Senate, with just Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Susan Collins, R-Maine, opposing the push to fill the vacancy so close to the presidential election.



Durbin admitted that Democrats are essentially powerless to stop the confirmation process at this stage, and can do little more than disrupt committee hearings and delay the Senate Judiciary Committee's consideration of a nominee by one week, through procedural tactics.



"We can certainly delay things, but only for limited periods of time," he said. "It is possible ... that some other Republican senators will have second thoughts as this progresses, but at this point it doesn't look very promising."



In the days following Ginsburg's death, Democrats have accused Republicans of hypocrisy, pointing to their refusal to consider Judge Merrick Garland, President Barack Obama's nominee to fill the seat of the late-Justice Antonin Scalia, eight months before the 2016 presidential race.



Republicans have largely rejected that criticism, noting that their party controls the White House and Senate, while Democrats controlled the White House four years ago.



The potential opportunity for Republicans to secure a conservative majority on the Supreme Court for decades has incensed liberals, fueling calls from activists and progressives in Congress for Democrats to radically change the Senate -- through adding representation for the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico and ending the 60-vote filibuster for legislation -- and packing the Supreme Court at the earliest opportunity.



Durbin, who endorsed statehood for Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, said lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have discussed potential changes that would not be as sweeping as eliminating the legislative filibuster -- which requires 60 votes to advance proposals through the chamber, and is one of the key rules differentiating the Senate from the House of Representatives.



"We understand that there are ways to change the rules, one of those is to eliminate filibuster and make the Senate look like the House, but there are lots of gradations and lots of possibilities out there, short of what I just described," he continued. "There's going to be some serious thought about how effective the Senate is and can be under the current rules."



The veteran Illinois lawmaker, who served with both Obama and former Vice President Joe Biden in the Senate, encouraged the Democratic presidential nominee to draw a sharp contrast from Trump on the debate stage next week in their first meeting.



"We have gone through a miserable experience with this president, the current president's personality," Durbin said. "Joe Biden is such a contrast and offers the hope that we can start to bring this country back together again. I hope that's the image that comes through the debate."

Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Official hryvnia remains almost unchanged to U.S. dollar on Sept 23

10:35, 23.09.20 3808

The Ukrainian currency slightly revalued against the euro.
Vice President Mike Pences airplane struck a bird Tuesday upon takeoff from a New Hampshire airport causing the pilot to return to the airport out of caution, the White House said.

Pence was returning to Washington from a campaign event at an airport hangar in nearby Gilford, New Hampshire.

When Air Force Two took off from Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, it struck a bird. A senior administration official, who wasn't authorized to address the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, said the vice president and his entourage were in no danger.
'Amendments in the past have created fear. This will take it further.'

Photograph: Samsul Said/Reuters

The Lok Sabha has approved a bill to amend the Foreign Currency (Regulation) Act, and among the new regulations are making Aadhaar mandatory during registration of an NGO, and capping the use of foreign funds for administrative expenses at 20% as against the present 50%.

It also prohibits the transfer of foreign contribution by one FCRA-registered body to another society which is also registered under the Act.

Further, NGOs will have to open an account with the State Bank of India's Delhi branch to receive funds, and allows the government to permit an NGO to surrender its FCRA registration.

NGOs have widely condemned these changes and said these new restrictions will be a hindrance to their work in civil society.

Henri Tiphagne, lawyer and human rights activist for over two decades and the founder and executive director of the Madurai-based human rights organisation People's Watch, tells A Ganesh Nadar/Rediff.com, "We are not against accountability, we are against discrimination."

Isn't 20% of foreign funds enough for administrative purposes for an NGO?

It is not about 20% of foreign funds that is the problem here. It is about what the government classifies as administrative expenses.

For them it means all salaries, all travel, all telephone expenses and all office expenses of the people working in the NGO.

Suppose I am doing a legal aid programme, I recruit lawyers, I have to pay them. The government includes this in the salary expenses.

Suppose I recruit counsellors to speak to adolescent children, the government includes payment to them in the salary expenses.

Suppose I recruit researchers for a project, I have to pay them salaries too. But the government includes their salary too in the administrative expenses.

That is the problem.

Why are they saying that public servants should not receive funds from overseas?

Many small NGOs have panchayat presidents and ward members as their members. So they will have to be removed from the NGO.

Political parties, including those who are ruling the country, are allowed to receive foreign funds, so why not public servants?

So rich people alone can do community work? A man who was on the board of an NGO has become a public prosecutor. Now he will have to leave the NGO.

If you receive foreign funds, why is there a restriction on transferring a part of it to another person or association? You could be working together on a scheme.

Voluntary work is collaborative work. One organisation cannot work across the country, usually there are collaborations.

Donors give money to Henri (him) to do a programme in 100 districts. I contact small NGOs in the districts to implement the programme. You have to transfer money to them. The donors might not know all of them.

What is the point of this clause that says, 'after a summary inquiry' the government can stop you from utilising the remaining portion of a foreign contribution?

If they want to paralyse me, they can use this on any allegation. The suspension period is for 180 days. They can extend it after that.

What do you think is the overall aim of these amendments?

They want to do away with NGOs.

This is a continuing trend from 2010 that (then home minister) P Chidambaram started. Civil society told him not to do it, but he went ahead with it.

We are trustees of public funds. I am accountable.

We are not against accountability, we are against discrimination.

Companies don't have such rules. The non-profit sector is being pushed into the company mode.

Many members of NGOs have served in the Planning Commission of India, and currently in NITI Aayog.

You have special schemes for businesses, but not for NGOs. We are for accountability and transparency.

Opposition parties are saying that these amendments are a means to target those who speak against the government. Do you agree?

It is not only that, it is targeted at the entire sector. It is our duty and right to protest peacefully.

Amendments in the past have created fear. This will take it further.

No doubt the government will get these amendments passed. Will NGOs challenge them in court, then?

If there is a need it will be challenged.

In 2013 I had challenged three suspensions of my FCRA licence. Finally, the government said we are allowed to function.

We can challenge them on specific issues.

In 2016 my FCRA licence came up for renewal. I did not get it. I went to court. It is still pending.

The charges the government has made against me is that he is communicating with the United Nations, he is communicating with embassies of other countries. He is showing India in a poor light with these funds.

How important are foreign funds? Can our NGOs work only with Indian funds?

Indian funds are important. NGOs can function with Indian funds. But only well established NGOs can get these funds.

Many corporates have their own NGOs. They work in their own locality. Small villages are ignored.

My funds are for human rights education in schools. I have been doing it for 20 years in 20 states. I have done it in 25,000 schools. Who will give me money for this?

I take up cases against police torture across the country. I do it in the courts and in the NHRC. The government doesn't like it. Legal Aid is there in every district. But if they worked I don't need to do it. Which corporate will do that?

I monitor cases of attacks on scheduled castes and scheduled tribe members. Who will finance that? The SC/ST Act says that the government should fund NGOs who are creating awareness.

There are 169 human rights institutions in our country. Should they not be monitored? Which corporate will finance monitoring them?

If the money was available in the country for voluntary work of this sort, we don't need foreign funds.
Air Force Two with Mike Pence onboard was forced to make an emergency landing after a suspected bird strike.

The plane carrying the vice president was forced to return to a New Hampshire airport shortly after taking off for Washington D.C.

The vice president was leaving the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport when the jet hit a bird, according to CNN.

Pence was not hurt.

The vice president and his staff will now reportedly return to Washington D.C on a cargo plane.
We acknowledge receipt of your letter dated September 22, 2020, with reference number, OSP/SCR/2C/46/20 on the above-captioned matter via media.

We would like to thank you for bringing to our notice that your office has started investigations into the Agyapa deal and that you have written to Parliament to furnish you with relevant documents.

We, at STRANEK-AFRICA, find it petty of a Special Prosecutor to describe a petition sent to you in good faith and in the interest of the people of Ghana as an opportunistic and populist enterprise.

It is difficult to understand the depth of your anger at an organisation petitioning your office to investigate what seems to be a deal fraught with illegality, secrecy and conflict of interest issues. If nothing at all, our petition should give you a sense of direction as to the kind of questions that Ghanaians want answers to.

Your description of our letter as containing mere 'speculations without more' leads us to believe that you have prejudged the matter or that you have preconceived notions prior to the conclusion of your investigative process. That is very disappointing for someone occupying your honourable office and raises major issues about your fitness to investigate the matter at hand.

It is our duty as citizens of Ghana to assist in fighting corruption and protecting the public purse. STRANEK-Africa is not in any form of competition with you to take credit for any processes as childishly captured in your response, neither do we intend to start one. We will continue to go high when you go low. The fight against corruption cannot be a one-man affair. It requires a collective effort.

As a public accountability civil society organization, we remain resolute in the face of your unwarranted attack. Kindly be reminded, that we are all involved in building our nation.

Yours in the interest of the nation,

Nii Tettey Tetteh

Executive Director

+233 559 042 914

Emmanuel Osei

Director of Policy and Political Affairs

Cc:
Press Release

September 23, 2020 RICH BILL TO GET INVESTMENTS TO REPLACE THOSE LOST DUE TO COVID PANDEMIC - GORDON With Central Luzon being ideal as the next hub for major trade and investment due to its strategic location as the gateway to Asia, its accessibility to three international airports, expanding infrastructure facilities, and competitive industrial estates and economic zones, Senator Richard J. Gordon on Tuesday conducted a hearing on the bill seeking to create a regional investment and infrastructure hub in Central Luzon. Gordon expressed optimism that Senate Bill No. 1549 or the Regional Investment and Infrastructure Coordinating Hub (RICH) of Central Luzon, once signed into law, would serve as an economic engine of growth for the region as well as promote and encourage entrepreneurships and create various jobs and business opportunities for the Filipino people. "The whole area of Central Luzon will be a mighty place for investment. We could easily give a big contribution to the GDP (Gross National Product) once we generate investment. We revised the bill to give the usual incentive of five percent of the gross and that we will allow the governors and officials of the agencies to look for 200 to 300 hectare areas that they can plan on their own and develop. If this is approved, I am sure we can get the necessary investments in answer to what COVID has destroyed," he said. RICH aims to optimize the use of available infrastructures, natural resources such as idle land, and human resources to encourage foreign and local investments outside the National Capital Region, thereby dispersing industries to the countryside and decongesting Metro Manila. The bill also provides a mechanism for government to attract Foreign Direct Investments in Central Luzon where there is available land for a manufacturing hub. In the 17th Congress, Gordon filed SBN 1235 or the "Regional Investment and Infrastructure Corporation of Central Luzon, which later became substitute bill 1997 or the Regional Investment and Infrastructure Hub of Central Luzon. It was passed by both Houses of Congress but President Duterte vetoed the proposed measure. Gordon pointed out that with investors leaving China following the US-China trade war that erupted and with the Japanese government also providing funds to encourage their manufacturers to shift out of China, an investment hub in Central Luzon would have better chances of getting equal share of investments, along with Vietnam and Indonesia. He added RICH would also address the urgent need for a clear and concrete strategy and roadmap for decongestion and decentralization of development away from the National Capital Region which came with the stark realization forced by the COVID pandemic that highly congested urbanized communities, especially in the NCR, are extremely vulnerable to epidemics and other social problems.
A cachette of more than four dozen anthropoid wooden coffins will soon be unveiled at the Saqqara Necropolis

The Saqqara Necropolis outside Cairo continues to reveal its secrets, with its sands having concealed ancient Egyptian royal and noble tombs for millennia that once belonged to some of Egypts most-distinguished ancient rulers and officials.

Saqqaras most exceptional masterpiece is the funerary complex of the founder of the ancient Egyptian Third-Dynasty king Djoser. The site was exploited as a necropolis from the First Dynasty until the end of the Old Kingdom with periods of abandonment before being developed again during the New Kingdom.

It has been explored for the last 150 years, allowing the discovery of many tombs and pyramids, most of which date from the Old Kingdom. The remains of these make it possible to understand how the people of the time once lived.

Today, the necropolis has been revealing more of its secrets, as excavators have unveiled several important discoveries, among them a Sixth-Dynasty mummification workshop complex including an embalmers cachette of pottery and a 30-metre-deep communal burial shaft with six tombs containing around 54 mummies and skeletons.

They have also uncovered the tomb of the Fifth-Dynasty priest Wahti, a cachette of mummified cats, crocodiles, serpents and scarabs, and the tomb of the Fifth-Dynasty nobleman Khuwy with a well-painted antechamber.

This week, Egyptian archaeologists unearthed a collection of almost 30 intact and sealed anthropoid coffins that were buried inside two-metre-deep burial shafts more than 2,500 years ago. Despite being beneath the sand for millennia, the coffins are very well preserved and still retain their original colours.

The first 13 wooden coffins were found inside an 11-metre-deep burial shaft with two sealed niches. Opening one of them, a collection of smaller artefacts was found, including of statuettes and ushabti figurines. The second collection of coffins was uncovered inside another five-metre-deep burial shaft located adjacent to the first and housing 14 coffins on top of each other.

All the 27 coffins are completely sealed and intact, and excavations have revealed that more coffins will be uncovered at the same location.

It is unclear how many more coffins may be found in the shaft, or whose remains they contain, though archaeologists hope to provide answers during the excavation process, said Mustafa Waziri, secretary-general of Egypts Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), adding that the excavations continued to reveal more discoveries.

It is a very exciting discovery, Khaled El-Enany, minister of tourism and antiquities, told Al-Ahram Weekly, adding that the discovery was the largest number of coffins to be found in one burial site since the discovery of the Al-Assasif cachette in 2019 in Luxor where 30 sealed and intact coffins were unearthed.

El-Enany thanked the excavation workers for operating in difficult conditions while adhering to Covid-19 coronavirus-related safety measures. I think its only the beginning of the new discoveries, El-Enany said, alerting the worlds media to a major new announcement early next month.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 24 September, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Ignoring U.S. War Crimes In Yemen

The longstanding involvement of the United States in the conflict in Yemen is facing renewed scrutiny. On September 16, State Department officials testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee about whether the State Department misled Congress - and the American people - by circumventing controls designed to limit arms sales and ensure congressional oversight.

The crimes occurring in Yemen are serious - and the responsible parties demonstrably unwilling or unable to address them. The most recent report by the United Nations Group of Eminent and International Regional Experts on Yemen described "an acute accountability gap" and recommended that the UN Security Council refer the situation in Yemen to the International Criminal Court.

A State Department Inspector General report found that "the department did not fully assess risks and implement mitigation measures to reduce civilian casualties and legal concerns associated with the transfer" of weapons to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.



Much of the hearing focused on whether the subsequent firing of the inspector general was appropriate. But some members used the opportunity to draw attention to the tens of thousands of civilians who have died since the Saudi-led coalition began an aerial bombardment campaign in Yemen in March 2015.

Media reports have detailed the suppression of an internal State Department analysis that U.S. personnel could be legally liable for war crimes in Yemen because of continued U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia. Some members of Congress raised this during the hearing. The State Department's acting legal adviser acknowledged civilian casualties were a concern, but refused to say whether he believed U.S. personnel could be held culpable for war crimes in Yemen.

The latest revelations are hardly that, though they are painful to read when compiled in such a stark narrative. Back in November 2015, less than a year into the conflict, Human Rights Watch warned that the U.S. might be liable for laws-of-war violations in Yemen. We had examined 10 apparently unlawful airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition that killed at least 309 civilians and wounded more than 414 in the period from April to August 2015.

Saudi Arabia assembled its coalition to support Yemen's government against the Houthi forces who had taken control of part of the country, including the capital. Six years later, the fighting has continued and taken a brutal toll on Yemeni civilians.

Despite U.S. denials, we considered the U.S. to be a party to the conflict because of the direct role U.S. forces played in specific military operations, and that this participation might implicate U.S. forces in violations by coalition forces.

The numbers we put forward in 2015 seem almost quaint now. Nearly six years later, the Armed Conflict and Event Data Project estimates that 112,000 people have died from the hostilities, including 12,000 civilians. Millions more suffer, or have perished, from hunger caused by the Saudi-led coalition's blockade and the Houthis' massive restrictions on aid delivery, a situation that's been exacerbated in recent months by COVID-19..

Human Rights Watch isn't alone in raising concerns about potential U.S. liability for war crimes over the years. In September 2016, Ryan Goodman, a former Defense Department lawyer and New York University professor, laid out the case for legal liability for U.S. personnel in a blog post. Though he took no position on the facts, he concluded that a state assisting another state or a nonstate armed group faced "substantial legal risk that aiding and abetting liability for war crimes would be found under international law even absent any intent or purpose to promote the crimes."

The media have reported that in 2016, a State Department lawyer concluded that Americans could potentially be charged with war crimes for conduct in Yemen, though it has been reported that the letter was never sent to the secretary's office. Its existence, however, was known, and in October 2018, Congressman Ted Lieu wrote to the State Department inquiring about it. The department refused to comment on any specific legal advice that might have been given.

How did we get here? For years, the Defense Department has claimed that U.S. involvement in the war in Yemen saves lives. Congress disagrees. Twice, it has voted to ban weapons sales to Saudi Arabia because of its poor track record on protecting civilians; twice, President Trump has vetoed the ban. Though congressional interest in the ban increased following the murder of U.S. journalist Jamal Khashoggi by the Saudis, war crimes in Yemen remain a key area of congressional concern.

It doesn't help that Defense Department officials have misled Congress about their ability to track and analyze coalition strikes in Yemen. If testimony from officials on September 16 is any indication, near unequivocal support of Saudi Arabia - including continued arms sales - remains a top State Department priority.

What was largely missing from the congressional hearing was a focus on true accountability. The risks of government responsibility for arms sales in the face of mounting evidence of war crimes, or individual criminal liability for aiding and abetting, should be of serious concern to U.S. lawmakers.

But the U.S. government should also be seeking to hold to account those directly responsible for targeting civilians, torturing detainees, enforced disappearances, and other crimes detailed in the Group of Experts report. Instead, the decision to continue to arm Saudi Arabia and look the other way as each school bus, hospital, or wedding party is bombed, may say more about U.S. culpability than any technical argument buried in a State Department legal memo.

-

Previously:

* What If A Drone Strike Hit An American Wedding?

* How Does The U.S. Mark Unidentified Men In Pakistan And Yemen As Drone Targets?

* Does The U.S. Pay Families When Drones Kill Innocent Yemenis?

* The U.S. Media And The 13-Year-Old Yemeni Boy Whom Obama Burned To Death With A Drone.

* Confirmed: American Bombs Killing Civilians In Yemen.

* It's Been Over A Year Since MSNBC Has Mentioned The U.S. War In Yemen.

* The Bomb That Killed 40 Children In Yemen Was U.S.-Made.

* After Netflix Pulls Episode At Saudi Request, Comic Hasan Minhaj Urges Donations For Suffering Yemen.

* A Powerful Reminder That The U.S. Isn't Just Supporting The Saudi War In Yemen, It's Waging It's Own Deadly And Unexplained Drone War.

-

Comments welcome.


Lotfollah Siahkali, the representative of Qazvin to the eleventh Majlis Iranian Parliament, is renowned for not mincing his words.

"I need an SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle) to visit remote rural areas," Siahkali recently asserted, adding, "All legislators at the tenth parliament had SUVs; we should have one, as well."

Speaking to the state-run Iran Labor News Agency (ILNA) on Tuesday, September 22, the fundamentalist MP explained, "If I sell the Dena Plus car allocated to the Majlis deputies, I would not be able to buy an SUV, even with paying an extra four trillion rials (about $95,000)."

The Dena Plus is a home-made luxury car manufactured by Iran Khodro (IKCO) auto company, unveiled in April 2011, though mass production of the car only began in 2015.

IKCO has historically offered the 4-door sedan to the members of the Iranian parliament at half price.

Tehran's representative to the parliament, Rouhollah Izadkhah, previously announced on his Instagram account that each member of Majlis had received a three billion rials (approximately $72,000 )towards an automatic Dena Plus sedan, paying for it in monthly installments for three years before the car deed would be registered as theirs within a year.

Enraged by social media users attacking MPs for receiving various benefits, Siahkali blasted President Hassan Rouhani's administration, claiming, "Instead of exposing the legislators to the public's attacks, the government should provide the deputies with offices, machines and more manpower."

Siahkali also asserted that the MPs' living standard should not be below the district governors' living standard.

Siahkali's remarks are blatantly in contrast with his colleague's (Hossein Ali Haji Deligani), who claimed a day earlier that MPs should receive a "more conventional car," while leaving its ownership to the parliament.

Haji Deligani, an ultra-conservative MP and close ally of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, argued that the reason behind the deputies receiving a car was the "Civil Service Management Law", which "considers the position of Majlis representatives equal to the position of the cabinet Ministers."

Haji Deligani, who is also a member of Iran's powerful Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), claimed that "ministers' privileges are more than what they need, and Majlis should also find a way to grant the lawmakers similar benefits.
In the United States, there are dozens of observed holidays. Some are recognized at a federal level, others at the state level. Some are religious in nature and others political. With so many holidays celebrated by American workers, it can be tough for employers to figure out which holidays they should observe by offering paid time off.

A lot of factors should go into your company's decision of which holidays should be paid days off, such as which ones your employees really want off and how offering them will impact your bottom line.

"Small business owners have to make trade-offs," Karen Williams, a mentor for the nonprofit small business counseling service SCORE, told business.com. "They have to look at their finances to see how much they can afford."

Editor's note: Need employee scheduling software for your business? Fill out the below questionnaire to have our vendor partners contact you with free information.

Types of paid holidays

Before you can put a paid time off (PTO) policy on the books, you have to know which holidays are part of the American work culture to help you determine what's right for your business. [Want help tracking your paid time off? Check out our best time and attendance systems for small businesses.]

Federal holidays

These are days off designated by the federal government, which means, by law, all government agencies and banks have to be closed for the day in observance. It's not illegal for private sector businesses to remain open on public holidays, and companies aren't forced to offer employees paid time off, but the federal government hopes non-government businesses will observe these holidays as well.

There are 10 federal holidays that government agencies and banks close their doors for each year. Many are treated as paid holidays by private and public companies alike.

New Year's Day

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Presidents Day (Washington's Birthday)

Memorial Day

Independence Day (Fourth of July)

Labor Day

Columbus Day

Thanksgiving

Christmas Day

"The federal government sets the standards for part of the workforce and certainly expectations for the rest," said Williams. "For anyone who works in the government or banking space, those holidays are set in stone."

If a holiday falls on a weekend, organizations tend to give employees the Friday before or the following Monday off.

State holidays

In addition to the 10 public holidays, states have the right to institute their own holidays that local government agencies must honor. They vary from one state to the next and, like federal holidays, typically don't have to be followed by the private sector. According to the Employment Law Handbook, there are two exceptions to the rule  Massachusetts and Rhode Island, which require private employers to give employees the day off for a state-designated holiday.

For instance, Connecticut gives workers time off for Lincoln's Birthday, on Feb. 12. In New York, Lincoln's Birthday is a floating holiday for state workers. Meanwhile, in Texas, state employees get time off for Confederate Heroes Day, which falls on Jan. 19, and Texas Independence Day, which occurs on March 2.

"We don't observe state holidays at Zenefits as part of our paid time off policy," said Tracy Cote, chief people officer at Zenefits. "They are common in Canada, where each province observes different holidays."

Floating holidays

These are extra paid days off that employees can take in addition to paid holidays. They can be used for religious holidays, special events or birthdays. Floating holidays are not offered by every organization, but they can be a useful way to avoid conversations about why one holiday is on the calendar and another isn't.

"Everybody celebrates different things, and everybody wants to take time off for different reasons," said Ali Fazal, senior director at human resources company Hibob.

Key takeaway: Federal and state governments have their own sets of paid holidays, and offering floating holidays has become a common practice to make sure employees who celebrate other holidays can take time off for them.

Most common paid holidays in the U.S.

With so many holidays to choose from, most small business owners pick the ones that make the most sense for their employees. To make the selection process a little easier, here's a list of the most common paid holidays in the U.S.

New Year's Day

Easter (not a federal holiday, since it always falls on a Sunday, but some retail and service workers usually have to work on Sundays)

Memorial Day

Independence Day

Labor Day

Thanksgiving Day

The day after Thanksgiving (Black Friday)

Christmas Day

Small business owners don't have to offer all of these holidays to their workers, but Williams said they should consider at least giving employees New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas off.

Key takeaway: Most businesses give employees certain federal holidays off, mainly New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Incorporating holidays into your PTO policy

Small business owners usually can't afford to give employees every federal and state holiday off, but they have to offer a few to lure talent and remain competitive. That's why it's important to create an official holiday PTO policy that considers your business's financial situation and the desires of your workers.

1. Assess your finances.

Before you can choose which holidays to give employees paid time off for, you have to figure out how much you can afford. If your benefits budget is big enough, you may be able to give them all 10 federal holidays. If money is tight, it may be just the main six.

"If the worker won't be there that day, is the business still generating enough revenue to be able to pay the employee?" Williams said employers have to ask themselves. "The business owner has to look at the cash situation versus how they are doing recruiting people."

2. Measure the competition.

Recruitment and retainment can get costly, which is why reducing turnover is so important. When putting together a holiday paid time off policy, you have to be aware of what your competition is doing. If you're not, it may be hard to recruit and retain top talent.

Before choosing the holidays to offer, see what your rivals are doing. At the very least, you want to match them, but if you're looking for an edge, you may want to add an extra holiday to the mix.

3. Poll the employees.

It may be easy to pick some of the most common federal holidays and leave it at that, but a better strategy is to find out what your employees want. You may think giving staff the day off for Christmas is a no-brainer, but if most of your workers don't celebrate the holiday (for cultural or religious reasons, for example), it's a wasted day off.

"There are so many worthy holidays and observances, it can be hard to decide which ones to select," said Cote. "As employers, you also have to consider the needs of the business."

Your employees may prefer to have Martin Luther King Jr. Day off rather than Columbus Day, but you won't know it if you don't ask. For another example, it may be difficult for employees to get to the polling stations on Election Day; by making that a paid day off, you could build goodwill and loyalty among the ranks.

4. Consider the moment in time.

Your holiday PTO policy doesn't have to be set in stone. It can be flexible and everchanging to address the current social climate. For example, in response to the Black Lives Matter movement, Zenefits designated Juneteenth as a permanent paid company holiday starting in 2020. Cote said the company also offers civic and volunteer time off so employees can vote, volunteer, or protest.

"As an employer, it's about doing the right thing and making a difference," Cote said. "In 2020, Black history (Juneteenth) and Election Day are about as important as it gets."

5. Decide whether to stay open.

Just because you offer paid time off for a holiday doesn't mean you can afford to close completely. Offices and banks may be shuttered in observance of Christmas, but a restaurant or bar may remain open. Before you put a holiday on the books, figure out how many employees need to work and how much you'll pay them. If you make Christmas an official holiday but still need staff that day, paying time-and-a-half or double time is a great way to boost goodwill, if your business can afford it.

Key takeaway: Incorporating paid time off for holidays requires upfront work on the business owner's part. You have to see how much PTO you can afford, the impact it will have on productivity and the bottom line, and what your competitors are doing. Equally important is making sure you give employees the holidays off that they observe.
Twenty-six words tucked into a 1996 law overhauling telecommunications have allowed companies like Facebook, Twitter and Google to grow into the giants they are today.

Those are the words President Donald Trump challenged in an executive order Thursday, one that would strip those protections if online platforms engaged in 'editorial decisions' - including, in the president's view, adding a fact-check warning to one of Trump's tweets.

Under the U.S. law, internet companies are generally exempt from liability for the material users post on their networks. Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act - itself part of a broader telecom law - provides a legal 'safe harbor' for internet companies.

But Trump and other politicians argue that Twitter, Facebook and other social media platforms have abused that protection and should lose their immunity - or at least have to earn it by satisfying requirements set by the government.

Section 230 probably can't be easily dismantled. But if it was, the internet as we know it might cease to exist.

Just what is Section 230?

If a news site falsely calls you a swindler, you can sue the publisher for libel. But if someone posts that on Facebook, you can't sue the company - just the person who posted it.

That's thanks to Section 230, which states that 'no provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider.'

That legal phrase shields companies that can host trillions of messages from being sued into oblivion by anyone who feels wronged by something someone else has posted - whether their complaint is legitimate or not.

Section 230 also allows social platforms to moderate their services by removing posts that, for instance, are obscene or violate the services' own standards, so long as they are acting in 'good faith.'

Where did Section 230 come from?

The measure's history dates back to the 1950s, when bookstore owners were being held liable for selling books containing 'obscenity,' which is not protected by the First Amendment. One case eventually made it to the Supreme Court, which held that it created a 'chilling effect' to hold someone liable for someone elses content.

That meant plaintiffs had to prove that bookstore owners knew they were selling obscene books, said Jeff Kosseff, the author of 'The Twenty-Six Words That Created the Internet,' a book about Section 230.

Fast-forward a few decades to when the commercial internet was taking off with services like CompuServe and Prodigy. Both offered online forums, but CompuServe chose not to moderate its, while Prodigy, seeking a family-friendly image, did.

CompuServe was sued over that, and the case was dismissed. Prodigy, however, got in trouble. The judge in their case ruled that 'they exercised editorial control - so you're more like a newspaper than a newsstand,' Kosseff said.

That didn't sit well with politicians, who worried that outcome would discourage newly forming internet companies from moderating at all. And Section 230 was born.

'Today it protects both from liability for user posts as well as liability for any clams for moderating content,' Kosseff said.

What happens if Section 230 is limited or goes away?

'I dont think any of the social media companies would exist in their current forms without Section 230,' Kosseff said. 'They have based their business models on being large platforms for user content.'

There are two possible outcomes. Platforms might get more cautious, as Craigslist did following the 2018 passage of a sex-trafficking law that carved out an exception to Section 230 for material that 'promotes or facilitates prostitution.' Craigslist quickly removed its 'personals' section altogether, which wasn't intended to facilitate sex work. But the company didnt want to take any chances.

This outcome could actually hurt none other than the president himself, who routinely attacks private figures, entertains conspiracy theories and accuses others of crimes.

'If platforms were not immune under the law, then they would not risk the legal liability that could come with hosting Donald Trumps lies, defamation, and threats,' said Kate Ruane, senior legislative counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union.

Another possibility: Facebook, Twitter and other platforms could abandon moderation altogether and let the lower common denominator prevail.

Such unmonitored services could easily end up dominated by trolls, like 8chan, which is infamous for graphic and extremist content, said Santa Clara University law professor Eric Goldman. Undoing Section 230 would be an 'an existential threat to the internet,' he said.

But Goldman doesn't see the White House order as that kind of threat to the internet, saying it's 'political theater' that will appeal to Trump supporters. 'The president can't override Congress,' he said.

ASSOCIATED PRESS
A FARM labourer who assaulted his sister-in-law with a blackthorn stick, causing her harm, and who hit her son when he intervened to help her, received a nine-month sentence at Listowel District Court on Thursday, which the presiding Judge suspended for two years.

The man also received a suspended eight-month sentence for stealing a chequebook, and cashing cheques to a total value of 6,310.50; and a separate suspended eight-month sentence for the theft of a mobile phone and wallet, containing a credit card he used 16 times to make contactless payments.

John Roche, 77 O'Connell's Avenue, Listowel, was before Judge David Waters for the finalisation of his case.

The Court heard that Mr Roche had paid 900 in respect of the loss of the chequebook, but that there was no longer any animosity between him and his former employer; and that he had paid 400 in respect of the debit card he used.

Solicitor Pat Mann said his client was deeply contrite over his actions, explaining that drink had played a large part in his behaviour, but that he stood before the Court as a 'great success story of the system'.

He has not taken a drink in two years and is back living with his family and getting on very well, Mr Mann explained.

Drink had been behind the assault of his sister-in-law, who is a sister of his own wife, the Court heard.

"The sisters didn't get on with each other, but it doesn't help things if someone foolishly goes to remonstrate with somebody with drink on board," Mr Mann said.

Gardai told the Court he had hit his sister-in-law on the arm with the shillelagh as she raised it defensively during the altercation at the door of her home.

"The victims are happy for the court to proceed in their absence," Sgt Kieran O'Connell had informed Judge Waters.

Mr Mann said that his client had stolen the chequebook from his employer over a grievance about pay, but that there was no longer any animosity between the two. "In fact he has done some work for him in recompense."

The theft of the wallet occurred in McMunns, Ballybunion, during the Listowel Races - September 14,2018 - when a man left the items behind on the bar counter. Temptation unfortunately got the better of Mr Roche, Mr Mann told the Court.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- A state senator and the former corporate counsel for Kalamazoo County will square off during the Nov. 3 general election to be the next Kent County Treasurer. State Sen. Peter MacGregor, R-Rockford, and Democrat Beth White will vie for the seat left open by the departure of Republican and current Kent County Treasurer, Ken Parrish, who declined to seek a seventh term. This year, MLive Media Group partnered with the League of Women Voters of Michigan to provide candidate information for readers. Each candidate was asked to outline their stances on a variety of public policy issues. Information on all state and federal races and many of Michigans county and local races will be available at Vote411.org, an online voter guide created by the League of Women Voters. Heres background information on both candidates: MacGregor, 54, is the current state senator representing the 26th District, which encompasses the northern half of Kent County as well as communities on the west side of the county, such as Grandville and portions of Wyoming. The second-term senator was first elected in 2014, after two terms in the state House. He holds of masters of business administration from Michigan State University.

White, 54, is the former corporate counsel of Kalamazoo County. Before that, she worked as a municipal lawyer for the city of Grand Rapids, reaching the rank of deputy city attorney in 2008 and serving as the interim city attorney when Catherine Mish left Grand Rapids City Hall for private practice in 2016. She holds a J.D. degree from Detroit Mercy Law School. White was terminated from her job as corporate counsel in November by the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners. The county claims White did not do her job fast enough. White countered by saying county leaders set unrealistic timelines for some work and accused her of not completing work that she had finished. Related: Kalamazoo County says federal lawsuit from fired lawyer has no merit After she was fired, White filed a federal lawsuit against the county and two of its elected leaders, alleging violations of the Whistleblowers Protection Act, wrongful discharge, breach of contract, and violations of the Open Meetings Act. That suit is ongoing. All responses in the voter guide were submitted directly by the candidate and have not been edited by the League of Women Voters, except for a necessary cut if a reply exceeded character limitations. Spelling and grammar were not corrected. Publication of candidate statements and opinions is solely in the interest of public service and should NOT be considered as an endorsement. The League never supports or opposes any candidates or political parties.

Heres a look at where the candidates stand on some major issues, according to there responses to Vote411.org:

Why are you running for office?

MacGregor:

I have a passion to serve the community I love. With your vote for the next Kent County Treasurer, I can continue to serve our community, where I have run a successful business and raised my family. As part of the Kent County executive team, I want to continue to help our county in areas other than just as the custodian of your tax dollars. My competencies and experience will be helpful with the countys services for children - especially in the foster care and child protection systems. I will continue to help our foster care system focus on outcome-driven programs through innovative community-wide public/private partnerships that I helped develop while in the state legislature. I hope I can earn your vote on November 3.

White:

I am running for Kent County Treasurer because I feel a strong sense of service and commitment to the community. I believe in honesty, transparency, and integrity as a public servant. Although I am not a politician and Ive never run for office, I am a municipal attorney who has represented the interests of Kent County residents for years. I believe its time for every skilled, ethical person to get off the sidelines and participate in our democracy. That is why I am in this race.

What is the greatest challenge facing the office you seek? How will you address it?

White:

If the economy continues to constrict, the greatest challenge facing the Treasurer will be the increased number of tax foreclosed properties coming to tax auction. We need a Treasurer who will work to help people stay in their homes whenever possible. The County is harmed by foreclosures, which can increase homelessness and neighborhood vacancy as well as put pressure on the Countys social services, driving up costs in other ways. As Treasurer, I will work with residents to help taxpayers to stay in their homes for the viability of Kent County. In addition, I will ensure that the foreclosure process is fair and equitable. All residents should have access to information needed to make informed decisions when facing a foreclosure.

MacGregor:

The responsibility of a county treasurer is to be the custodian of all county funds and to invest the countys funds responsibly. The second responsibility is the collection of delinquent taxes. Due to the Pandemic, both residents and businesses are struggling to make ends meet and property taxes are one of the larges expenses they have during these uncertain times. I want to be able to work for those residents who may need a little more time and help to keep their head above water. Continuing fiscal responsibility and helping our taxpayers through these uncertain times will be the greatest challenge for the next county treasurer.

What strategies would you use to remain responsive and accountable to the public between elections?

MacGregor:

I pride myself on an open-door policy. As I have done over the years, I will continue to have monthly office hours in our community. Constituents are, and should be for all elected positions, the number one priority. Listening to the community and following through remains my top priority.

White:

Honesty, transparency, and integrity are core values of mine. As Treasurer, I will inform and educate the public about the activities of my office. For example, I will work with residents facing foreclosure to create a fair and transparent process for navigating the system. If there is a payment plan option available, people need to know how they may be eligible. The law provides other safety valves as well. For instance, there is a poverty exemption for property taxes in Michigan. If your income is very low, the law allows you to apply for an exemption from property taxes. The same is true if you are disabled veteran. You shouldnt need to hire a lawyer to find out these options exist. As Treasurer, I would create a print and online communications strategy to ensure that all county residents eligible for payment plans or exemptions have the information to be able to apply for those programs.

Read more:

Wyoming city councilman, planning commissioner vie for open 8th District seat on Kent County Commission

Three candidates square off in 73rd state House District race

Republican Peter Meijer, Democrat Hillary Scholten seek to replace Justin Amash in Congress
BRUSSELS - The Tourism Task Force of the Committee on Transport and Tourism of the European Parliament warned Wednesday that the tourism sector in the bloc was on the verge of collapse. It noted that the sector employs some 22 million people in Europe and accounts for between 4.3% and 25% of GDP in the various member states. It stressed that hundreds of thousands of SMEs will not survive until the end of the year unless something changes, calling on the European Union to support the sector. Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) called for uniform criteria at the EU level for healthcare testing, travel forms, quarantine standards, and healthcare protocol for public transport and spaces. They also urged actions and assurance for SMEs in the tourism sector and clearer information for travellers, as well as a common EU policy for sustainable tourism.


MONTREAL, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Aero Montreal, Quebec's aerospace cluster, will kick off the International Aerospace Week - Montreal 2020, in collaboration with the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and the Palais des Congres de Montreal.

From December 14 to 17, 2020, Aero Montreal will bring together all the players in the Canadian and international aerospace industry for an unprecedented 100% virtual event. This redesigned format, which emphasizes participant safety and leverages the state-of-the-art expertise of the Palais des Congres de Montreal, will offer a large number of conferences, round tables and virtual business meetings adapted to the different needs of participants from around the world.

Aero Montreal will offer an innovative experience focused on the new realities of the industry. The week will begin with the 7th edition of International Aerospace Innovation Forum, from December 14 to 15, on the theme of "Intelligent Travel Rethought." It will be followed by a day dedicated to Defence and MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) activities and the promotion of the aerospace sector to the next generation of world class workers on December 16, with Vitrine 2020, an activity dedicated to industry talent and human resources issues. Finally, December 17 will be devoted to international meetings and inter-cluster collaboration.

"The context has prompted us to be imaginative and resilient to maintain the momentum of one of the largest global aerospace industry clusters in North America. With this new approach, we will take stock of the industry's challenges and explore its capacity to innovate around the world in a safe and bold way," said Suzanne M. Benoit, President of Aero Montreal.

About Aero Montreal

Created in 2006, Aero Montreal is a strategic think tank that groups all major decision makers in Quebec's aerospace sector, including companies, educational and research institutions, as well as associations and unions.

The activities of Aero Montreal are made possible thanks to the participation of the governments of Canada and Quebec, the Montreal Metropolitan Community, as well as company members of the cluster.

SOURCE Aero Montreal

Related Links

http://www.aeromontreal.ca/


The annual UNICEF Worlds of Influence Report Card, which ranks OECD and European Union countries in terms of child wellbeing, has placed New Zealand near the bottom of the 41 countries surveyed: 38th in terms of child mental health, 33rd in physical health and 23rd in childrens academic and social skills, averaging to an overall ranking of 35th.

New Zealand has the second worst youth suicide rate in the developed world, with 14.9 deaths per 100,000 young people, only behind Lithuania with 18.2 deaths. New Zealand is also second worst for child obesity, with 39 percent of young people overweight or obese. An estimated 35 percent of NZs 15-year-olds lack basic literacy and numeracy.

Overall the United States, Bulgaria and Chile were rated the worst developed countries to be a child.

UNICEF NZ executive director Vivien Maidaborn told Radio NZ the problem was entrenched social inequality. Somehow its alright that some families cant afford homes and are living in motels and emergency housing, she said. Somehow its alright that many of our lower socio-economic families cant access high quality early childhood education.

Maidaborn criticised the governments response to the coronavirus pandemic for focusing on New Zealanders who already have wealth and assets, instead of workers and the unemployed.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has refused to take responsibility for the damning statistics, despite previously claiming her Labour Party-led governments aim was to make New Zealand the best place in the world to be a child. Ardern made herself the Minister for Child Poverty Reduction following the 2017 election.

Ardern said the data used by UNICEF covered the previous 20082017 National Party government and did not take into account her governments $5.5 billion Families Package, which included some welfare increases and tax credits. Ardern said the government had set child poverty reduction targets and improved seven out of nine child poverty measures.

The reality is that the latest data showed only small changes to child poverty levels, within the margin of error. The number of children living in households below the poverty line of 50 percent of the average household income (after housing costs are deducted) dropped just 2 percent from 253,800 in 2018 to 235,400 in mid-2019.

If more up-to-date figures were available, UNICEFs report would undoubtedly be much worse. New Zealands entrenched social crisis has been greatly exacerbated by the governments pro-business response to the pandemic.

The median income has fallen by 7.6 percent in the past year. The number of people receiving an unemployment benefit soared by 53 percent, or 77,000 people, from March 21 to the end of August. The Ministry of Social Development says 16 percent of people could be receiving some form of benefit by January.

Finance Minister Grant Robertson released the governments Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update on September 16, showing that the Treasury expects the global economic impact of the virus to be more severe than expected. It predicts the NZ economy will contract by 3.1 percent this year and 0.5 percent in 2021. Unemployment is projected to rise to a peak of 7.8 percent in 2022, from a low point of 4 percent at the start of 2020.

On September 17, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures showed that New Zealand has officially entered a recession. The countrys GDP fell by an estimated 12.2 percent in the June quarterthe largest drop on record.

The governments economic response has focused on propping up the wealth of businesses and the rich. The government has paid over $13.9 billion in wage subsidies and other support to 400,000 businesses, enabling many to stay profitable amid an economic disaster for the working class. The share market is near an all-time high and house prices rose 3.7 percent between the end of March and the end of July, fuelling a speculative bubble.

The Reserve Bank has allocated $100 billion for quantitative easing: buying bonds from banks to keep them profitable. Reserve Bank governor Adrian Orr has acknowledged that the banks policies are increasing asset values and wealth inequality but says the bank needs to preserve business confidence.

Economic commentator Bernard Hickey has described the countrys economic recovery as K shaped, with homeowners, business owners and the wealthy benefiting from the governments economic response, while the working class faces rising costs and shrinking incomes. Almost by accident, and without debate, Hickey wrote, the Labour-led Government has delivered the biggest shot of cash and monetary support to the wealthy in the history of New Zealand, while giving nothing to the renters, the jobless, students, migrants and the working poor who mostly voted it in.

In fact there is nothing accidental about this. Labour is deliberately avoiding any measure that would reduce inequality or affect the property, stocks or trusts where the super-rich store their wealth. The Ardern government has abandoned its meagre proposals for a capital gains tax and the building of affordable housing.

Labours tax policy for the October 17 election is to reinstate the 1999-2008 Labour governments 39 percent income tax bracket (up from the current 33 percent), now for earnings above $180,000. Labours revenue spokesperson Stuart Nash boasted that the new top rate would still be significantly lower than Australias top income tax rate of 47 percent for income over $A180,000.

The tax policy was lauded by the trade unions, which have collaborated with tens of thousands of redundancies, wage cuts and other attacks. The Public Service Association declared it would shift New Zealand in a more equal direction. E tu union assistant national secretary Annie Newman said Labour is offering excellent policies for workers in New Zealand.

The Green Party, which is part of the coalition government, along with the anti-immigrant NZ First, has proposed a wealth tax of just 1 percent on net wealth over $1 million and 2 percent for wealth over $2 million. The party, which is posturing as a left alternative in the election, has also proposed two new income tax brackets: 37 percent on income above $100,000 and 42 percent on income over $150,000.

The Labour Party has refused to consider even these mild increases, so Green Party leader James Shaw refused to say the policy would be a bottom line in coalition negotiations, only describing it as a top priority.

As in the rest of the world, the wealthy are gorging themselves during an unprecedented crisis, while the working class has to live off dropped crumbs. Regardless of whether New Zealands left capitalist parties or the National Party form the next government, it will continue to oversee widening social inequality and poverty, fuelling a resurgence of struggles by working people.
In a Nigerian state, a new law has come into force that will punish child rapists with castration.

In Nigerias Kaduna, under legislation that the governor of Kaduna state signed on Wednesday, men convicted of raping children under the age 14 will have their testicles surgically removed before being executed, according to The New York Times report. Women will have their fallopian tubes cut out.

Representational Image/AP

Governor Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai said the drastic penalties are required to help further protect children from a serious crime.

Reportedly, there has been a sharp rise in the rape cases in Nigeria during the months of coronavirus restrictions. Womens groups have called for tougher action against rapists, including the death penalty.

Kaduna states new law is the strictest against rape in Nigeria - Africas most populous country.

Also Read: Mexican Gang Unleashes Pit Bull On Alleged Rapist, Dog Bites Off His Penis & Castrates Him

EPA-EFE

Under the new legislation, those convicted of raping people over age 14 also face castration followed by life imprisonment, under the new legislation.

Kaduna state government is the only one in the West African country to adopt such punishment for rape, making it the strictest law against rape in Africas most populous country.

However castration as punishment to rapists is not new to the world.

Also Read: Accused Child Sex Offender Reportedly Castrates Himself In Jail

Representational Image/Reuters

Very recently, even Pakistans Prime Minister Imran Khan suggested that rapists and child molesters be castrated.

According to the report, the minister for womens affairs said last December that two million women and girls were raped in the country each year. Then in June she said that the number of rapes had spiked to three times the typical rate, because women and girls were locked down with their abusers during the coronavirus pandemic.

What do you think of castration as a punishment for rape?
This originally appeared as part of our daily coronavirus newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox.

The whole natural herd immunity thing doesnt make sense.

If youre not familiar with the concept, heres a little primer. The idea is that you let the disease spread around less vulnerable populations (younger people, for example) so that the population builds up a measure of natural immunity against the virus  enough so it cant really spread.

A new study demonstrates that the idea is not based on, you know, science.

Its simply impossible (the study says impractical) if you dont want to kill large groups of older people: Achieving herd immunity while simultaneously maintaining hospital burden at manageable levels requires adaptive fine-tuning of mitigation efforts, in the face of imperfect epidemiological intelligence.

The study suggests that in the United Kingdom, for example, more than 350,000 deaths can be expected before the pandemic is through.

Put simply, a herd immunity strategy would quickly overwhelm hospitals. To do it right, wed need to implement nonlinear social distancing, isolating wide swaths of the population as the disease pops up here and there. You have to keep the transmission rate (R0) low enough to make sure health care resources remain at manageable levels, which the study said is an extremely challenging task.

The opposite is also true. If you maintain social distancing at a fixed level nationwide, hospital capacity would need to be much larger than presently available to achieve herd immunity without exceeding capacity; otherwise, the final outbreak size will be insufficient to achieve herd immunity.

And then, of course, theres the question of whether natural immunity is even something worth achieving: A major unknown remains the nature, duration, and effectiveness of natural immunity.
Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny goes downstairs at Charite hospital in Berlin, in this undated image obtained from social media, on Sept. 19, 2020. (Courtesy of Instagram @NAVALNY/Social Media via Reuters)

Alexei Navalny Released From German Hospital After 32 Days

BERLINThe German hospital treating Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny for poisoning said Wednesday that his condition improved enough for him to be released, and suggested a complete recovery from the nerve agent was possible.

Navalny, 44, spent 32 days in treatment in Berlins Charite hospital, 24 of which were in intensive care, before doctors deemed his condition had improved sufficiently for him to be discharged from acute inpatient care.

The hospital said that based on Navalnys progress, treating physicians believe that complete recovery is possible, but added that it remains too early to gauge the potential long-term effects of his severe poisoning.

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and his wife Yulia pose for a photo on his Instagram account in a hospital in Berlin, on Sept. 21, 2020. (Navalny Instagram via AP)

Navalny, the most visible opponent of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was flown to Germany two days after falling ill on Aug. 20 on a domestic flight in Russia.

German chemical weapons experts have determined he was poisoned with the Soviet-era nerve agent Novichokfindings corroborated by labs in France and Sweden.

During his convalescence, Navalny has in recent days been posting regular photos from the hospital on Instagram, first showing him sitting up in his bed surrounded by his family, then up and about in the building.

This handout photo published by Alexei Navalny on his instagram account, shows himself and his wife Yulia, daughter Daria, and son Zakhar, posing for a photo in a hospital in Berlin, on Sept. 15, 2020. (Navalny Instagram/AP Photo)

In a wry post Tuesday night accompanied by a close-up photo, he scoffed at reported comments by Putin suggesting he might have intentionally taken poison himself.

Good theory, I believe it deserves the most careful attention, Navalny wrote in Russian.

Cooked Novichok in the kitchen. Took a sip from a flask on the plane. Fell into a coma.

He sarcastically said then the ultimate aim of my cunning plan was to die in Siberia, where the cause of death would be lived long enough.

But Putin outmaneuvered me. You cant fool him, Navalny wrote. As a result, I lay in coma for 18 days like a fool, but didnt get my way. The provocation failed!

The nerve agent used in the attack was the same class of Soviet-era agent that Britain said was used on former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury, England, in 2018, and Chancellor Angela Merkel and other world leaders have called for Russia to fully investigate.

Navalny was kept in an induced coma for more than two weeks as he was treated with an antidote. Members of his team accused the Kremlin of involvement in the poisoning, charges that Russian officials have vehemently denied.

Russia has bristled at the demands for an investigation, saying it needs Germany to share medical data or compare notes with the Russian doctors who said they found no trace of poison in his system while he was at a hospital in the Siberian city of Omsk.

Germany has noted that Navalny was in Russian treatment for 48 hours, and that Russia has its own data.

Germany has also enlisted the Hague-based Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons for technical assistance in the case.

Last week, the international agency said its experts had independently collected biomedical samples from Mr Navalny for analysis by OPCW-designated laboratories.

Results have not yet been announced.

The Charite statement was released in consultation with Navalny and his wife, and the hospital would not comment further on whether he would continue to receive outpatient care there.

Navalnys team has said he eventually plans to return to Russia, but had no immediate statement after his release from the hospital.

By David Rising and Daria Litvinova
Former Saudi intelligence chief Prince Turki al-Faisal has questioned President Donald Trump's role in recent peace talks between the United Arab Emirates and Israel.

Speaking to CNBC on Tuesday, Prince Turki said Trump had not been honest on the issue of Palestinian statehood. The prince added that his father, the late King Faisal, who ruled the kingdom in the 1960s and 1970s, would have been disappointed that the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain signed onto the recent accord without a solution for the Palestinians.

"His (King Faisal's) decision to put oil sanctions on the United States after the Americans decided to give more aid to Israel during the Ramadan War [in 1973 was] for the reason to force the United States to be an honest broker between Israel [and] the Arab world," Prince Turki told CNBC's Hadley Gamble in an interview from Jiddah.

"And I must say that President Trump has not been such an honest broker. So yes, I think the late king would have been disappointed."

A spokesperson for the White House wasn't immediately available for comment when contacted by CNBC.

In 1973, King Faisal imposed an oil embargo on the U.S. and other countries that aided Israel during what Israel calls the Yom Kippur War. The king also stressed the need for Israel to withdraw from Arab territories occupied after the 1967 war.
CHICAGO, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In 1873, the founding family behind Hornitos Tequila crossed the border from Mexico to the United States, taking their shot to become the first family to bring tequila to the U.S. market. Years later, that spirit of independence and drive remains alive in thousands of legal immigrants traveling the same path toward citizenship. In honor of its heritage and in response to the current challenges facing immigrant communities, Hornitos Tequila today introduced A Fair Shot, a multi-year initiative developed in collaboration with long-standing partner The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC Institute), as well as We Are All Human (WAAH), to support the immediate and long-term needs of aspiring citizens.

"Whether pushing the boundaries of tequila making or striving toward a goal in life, Hornitos is rooted in the belief that we must take chances for a brighter future," said Rashidi Hodari, Managing Director of Tequila at Beam Suntory. "We recognize the path to citizenship is not an easy one, especially now with COVID-19 putting fundamental needs at risk for many aspiring citizens. A Fair Shot aims to reduce these barriers and renew a spirit of independence, resilience and hope on the journey, including for our extended family and partners in the restaurant and bar industry who seek legal citizenship."

A Fair Shot launches this month as Hispanic Heritage Month begins, with WAAH setting out on a purpose-driven mobile tour to aid immigrant communities in Los Angeles, Houston and Chicago. An Airstream trailer staffed and managed by WAAH, the A Fair Shot mobile tour will provide essentials including personal care items and household supplies, supporting immediate needs of those on the citizenship journey. Further, WAAH will be donating meals to restaurant and bar employees in the surrounding areas, a community that has been severely affected by the COVID-19 climate.

In addition to supporting fundamental, immediate needs through food and essential supplies, A Fair Shot will also provide crucial citizenship information accessible to members of the Spanish-speaking community through the Intro to U.S. Citizenship booklet, developed by LULAC and available directly through the A Fair Shot mobile tour. The booklet is also available for download online at www.lulac.org/afairshot. Hornitos Tequila has been steadfast in its support of aspiring citizens, partnering with LULAC, the oldest and largest Hispanic organization in the United States, on their direct services that support immigrants at various stages of the citizenship process.

"Amidst a global pandemic, we are coming together with Hornitos and We Are All Human in a creative way to truly touch and help our comunidades where it matters most," said Sindy Benavides, LULAC National Chief Executive Officer. "LULAC is proud to be part of this nationwide outreach because it affirms the spirit of anything-is-possible that our Latino men and women carry in their hearts every day as America's essential workers. I can already see the Airstream making stops across the country in vecindades where our people live and work. Providing supplies, information and lots of encouragement will bring countless smiles during these difficult times. We are in this together and the dream of becoming an American citizen is a journey weaved into the very fabric of who we are as a nation. There is no doubt that with A Fair Shot todo es posible."

"We are thrilled and honored to have this opportunity to partner with Hornitos, a brand that shares our values of empowerment and respect of every human," said Claudia Romo Edelman, Founder, We Are All Human. "This much-needed initiative is anticipated to impact more than 120,000 aspiring citizens this year alone and will forever change their lives on the path to achieve equality. With Hornitos' help in providing these vital resources within our community, we are able to further our mission to give all individuals a fair chance to be valued and for their aspirations to be supported, regardless of their background or current status in society."

Supporters can get involved by donating to A Fair Shot at https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/afairshot/. Donations to Hornitos Tequila's A Fair Shot program will assist the tequila brand and its partners, LULAC and WAAH, in positively impacting the lives of immigrant communities around the country.

For more information about LULAC, visit www.lulac.org, follow @LULAC on Twitter and Instagram or like LULAC on Facebook. For more information about We Are All Human, visit www.WeAreAllHuman.org, follow @WAAH_Foundation on Twitter, @weare_allhuman on Instagram or like We Are All Human on Facebook. For more information about Hornitos Tequila, visit www.hornitostequila.com. To track the A Fair Shot mobile tour's journey and see when it will make stops in your neighborhood, follow Hornitos Tequila on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

About Hornitos Tequila

Hornitos Tequila has a history of breaking tradition dating back to 1950 when founder Don Francisco launched the brand in honor of Mexican Independence Day. The Hornitos family of tequilas keeps Don Francisco's legacy alive, using the same high standards to cultivate the best and most flavorful agaves, molding them into premium tequilas that everyone can enjoy. He brought the celebrated spirit to new heights with the agave-robust Reposado, broke the rules to create a crystalline Plata, went above and beyond tequila standards to make an ultra-smooth and aromatic Anejo and pushed the boundaries of tequila innovation with whiskey barrel aged Hornitos Black Barrel Tequila and Hornitos Cristalino.

70 years later, Hornitos inspires its fans to adopt the same boundary-pushing mindset through its "A Shot Worth Taking" campaign that highlights the extraordinary things that can happen when people are willing to take a chance. Since the inception of "A Shot Worth Taking" in 2017, Hornitos has empowered fans to take their shot and provided funds and opportunities to make their aspirations achievable.

About LULAC

Established in 1929, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation's largest and oldest civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 1,000 councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC's programs, services and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting critical needs of today and the future. For more information, visit www.LULAC.org.

About We Are All Human

We Are All Human is a foundation dedicated to advancing the agenda of equity, diversity, and inclusion. Our vision is for every human to value every human. Our mission is to advocate for every human to be respected and empowered by focusing on our common humanity. By focusing on the universal values that make us all human, we can reach common ground, eliminate discrimination and achieve a more equitable society.

Hornitos Tequila, 40% alc./vol.  2020 Sauza Tequila Import Company, Chicago, IL

All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE Hornitos Tequila
I worry about things now that never used to cross my mind.

Truth, for example.

As a person of some age I learned a long time ago that, as Oscar Wilde said, truth is rarely pure and simple.

And I recognize the role of perspective in interpreting the truth. While some people see the glass as half-full and others, half-empty, both are certainly correct. Sadly, the fact that so many see the glass and its contents simply as belonging to themselves and no one else has become the story of our times.

But despite great philosophical discussions and mental masturbation about the existential qualities of truth, most thinkers, great and casual, adhere to the correspondence theory of truth, which tells us that the truth or the lack thereof is governed by how accurately something relates to and corresponds to the world.

A more elegant explanation, a la Thomas Aquinas, would be, Truth is the adequation of things and intellect. Less elegantly, it is what it is.

One of the greatest intellects of our time passed last week and thus we lost one of the noblest arbiters of truth in the history of our country.

Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg devoted the entirety of her life to protecting and clarifying fundamental truths as they relate to human rights in American culture and she relied on the American playbook, the Constitution of the United States, as her guide.

Whether it was privacy, equal pay, or protection of the right to love, do and be, Ginsburg approached these issues and more with bravery and selflessness. From her earliest battles when she first challenged the hegemony of the patriarchy, to the last years of her career when her adversaries grew to include a popular culture characterized by flat-earthers, science deniers and a president who metaphorically writes his own reference books of fact and fiction, Justice Ginsburg championed the sanctity of truth.

But unlike the president and his complicit conspirers who choose to snub or redefine the parts of the Constitution that prove to be obstacles in their quest for personal and corporate domination, Ginsburg treated the constitution as a living entity, deserving of respect, reverence, but mostly, meticulous scrutiny and comprehension.

Ginsburg didnt merely try to change the law, she tried to change the way the Constitution was interpreted via a higher level of Constitutional review. And due to the enormity of her intellect and integrity, she was almost always successful

Cognizant of recent history when the Republican-dominated Senate, led by Mitch McConnell, refused for 293 days to entertain President Obamas nomination of Merrick Garland to associate justice of the Supreme Court, claiming in unprecedented fashion that in an election year the next elected president should fill the vacancy, Justice Ginsburg dictated her dying wish to her granddaughter, just days before her death, saying, My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed.

South Carolinas own senator Lindsay Graham famously said in 2018, If an opening comes in the last year of President Trumps term, and the primary process has started, well wait to the next election.

Iowas senator Chuck Grassley said, A lifetime appointment that could dramatically impact individual freedoms and change the direction of the court for at least a generation is too important to get bogged down in politics. The American people shouldnt be denied a voice.

Just four years ago, Senators Cruz and Rubio, along with more than a half-dozen others agreed, including Mitch McConnell, all of whom have now, in 2020, turned to the American people the other sides of their faces in order to deny the dying wish of one of the most revered jurists of all time.

How incredibly disrespectful it is that the memory of Justice Ginsburg, a giant of jurisprudence and truth, be denigrated by a group of lawmakers who are blatantly and with full knowledge of their actions contradicting their own words in order to push forth a political agenda and placate a would-be dictator intent upon hypnotizing his base by providing them with his own carefully cultivated rendition of truth.

Perhaps they should look to the words of President Lincoln who told us, I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet a national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts.
HAIFA, Israel, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- proteanTecs, a leading developer of Deep Data solutions for electronics' health and performance monitoring, announced today its participation in the International Test Conference (ITC-Asia), co-located with SEMICON Taiwan in Taipei. Alex Burlak, VP Test and Analytics at proteanTecs, will be giving a presentation on September 25th at 11am Taipei Standard Time. To register, visit here.

proteanTecs to present at ITC-Asia 2020

The presentation titled: "Moving Beyond Structural & Functional Testing to Parametric Testing Using Deep Data Analytics" will feature a new approach to gaining data-driven visibility in advanced testing, during IC and system production.

"Manufacturers today are under immense pressure, coping with wider process variation at wafer and die levels, highly advanced designs, and effects of application and system integration", commented Raanan Gewirtzman, proteanTecs' CBO. "Even with the abundance and multiplicity of tests, quality escapes exist. Universal Chip Telemetry (UCT) is needed to support the new testing realm of semiconductors and enables deep data analytics, required for field reliability of mission-critical applications."

About the International Test Conference (ITC-Asia)

With the test technology facing its grand challenges to ensure the quality of ICs and electronic systems incorporating more and more sophisticated manufacturing processes and system integration technologies in various emerging applications such as Internet of Things, cloud computing, automotive electronics, etc., global proliferation and cooperation is increasingly more important. International Test Conference has been a flagship conference in test technology since 1970. With an attempt to stimulate more discussion and interaction between the academia and the industry around the globe, ITC-Asia was initiated and co-located with SEMICON Taiwan in Taipei. Attendee can involve themselves in not only the state-of-the-art test technology trend, but also numerous semiconductor industry forums organized by SEMICON Taiwan.

Register to the event here.

About proteanTecs

proteanTecs develops revolutionary Universal Chip Telemetry for electronic systems throughout their entire lifecycle, increasing their performance and reliability. By applying machine learning to novel data created by chip-embedded Agents, proteanTecs provides meaningful insights and visibility unattainable until today, leading to new levels of quality, reliability and scale. Founded in 2017, the company is headquartered in Israel with offices in New Jersey and California. For more information, visit: www.proteanTecs.com.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1279077/proteanTecs_ITC_Asia_2020.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/844547/proteanTecs_Logo.jpg

Press Contact

Tamar Naishlos, Media Relations

[email protected]

SOURCE proteanTecs
Donald Trump on Wednesday contended Barack Obama and Joe Biden betrayed the Cuban people via their deal with the Castro government as he makes a late push for Latino voters in Florida and other key swing states.

The Obama-Biden administration made a weak, pathetic, one-sided deal with the Castro dictatorship that betrayed the Cuban People and enriched the communist regime. I cancelled the Obama-Biden sellout to the Castro Regime, the president said during an event honoring US military veterans involved in the Bay of Pigs operation. Today, we proclaim that America will never be a socialist country.

The president told invited guests that his administration has done more for Hispanic-Americans than any other chief executive, a claim he makes about every ethnic group and gender.

Mr Trump used the late-morning event ton also announce new sanctions on Cuba, just a few years after the Obama administration moved to build something of a tourism-based partnership with the island country.

The new economic penalties are crafted to prohibit American citizens from lodging at any property that is owned by the countrys government.

The sanctions also will ban the import of all Cuban-made cigars and liquors.

He used the event to also warn the governments of other Central and South American countries that his administration is pushing back on their socialism and communism, and claimed US Democrats want to install that kind of government here.

My administration stands with every citizen of Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela in their fight for liberty, he said in the White Houses East Room. The courageous veterans here today bear witness to how socialism, radical mobs, and violent communists ruin a nation.

He used recent protests, which have at times turned violent, to warn socialism is on the march in America  despite his election foe, Joe Biden, working hard to not get dragged too far left by the progressive wing of that party.

Now, the Democrat Party is unleashing socialist mobs on America," Mr Trump claimed. "Today, we proclaim that America will never be a socialist country.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 12:09:34|Editor: huaxia

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BOGOTA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Colombian President Ivan Duque on Tuesday called for international cooperation to protect his country's environmentally-threatened moorlands, in a speech to the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

"We want to call on all the nations of the planet to protect mountain-top ecosystems. Today I invite you to join us in creating a global strategy for the defense of the moorlands, with which we will guarantee the survival of these ecosystems," said Duque, who addressed the general assembly via a videoconference call from Bogota.

"The moorlands are true factories of drinking water" and supply "the water basins that irrigate a large part" of Colombia's territory, he said, urging the international community "to contribute resources."

"The accelerated loss of biodiversity is currently one of the great global problems. The current situation (due to the COVID-19 pandemic) has shown us the close relationship between human health and the health of ecosystems, whose decline puts our survival as a species at risk," said Duque. Enditem
Mike Bloomberg has found a creative way to support Joe Biden.

Mike Bloomberg is so serious about getting President Donald Trump out of office he has raised millions to do it.

According to The Washington Post, the billionaire recently teamed up with the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, an organization that is run by formally incarcerated individuals dedicated to ending disenfranchisement and discrimination against people with former convictions. Bloomberg raised over $16 million to pay court fees for more than 32,000 Black and Hispanic former felons, which will allow them to vote in the upcoming election. He hopes they will pull the lever in support of Joe Biden during the November election.

(Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)

Read More: Bloomberg to spend at least $100M to help Biden in Florida

Bloomberg released a memo stating this is a more cost effective way to gain votes for Biden instead of trying to persuade folks to support the Democratic nominee.

We have identified a significant vote share that requires a nominal investment, per the memo. The data shows that in Florida, Black voters are a unique universe unlike any other voting bloc, where the Democratic support rate tends to be 90%-95%.

Bloomberg has already dedicated $100 million toward Bidens campaign. But despite his donation and fundraising, The Florida Rights Restoration Coalition remains a bipartisan group and says they do not encourage the votes to go either way.

Read More: Michael Bloomberg donating $100M to historically Black medical schools

NORFOLK, VA  NOVEMBER 25: Newly announced Democratic presidential candidate, former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg speaks during a press conference to discuss his presidential run on November 25, 2019 in Norfolk, Virginia. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Different people may give for different reasons, but we are in this for one reason and that reason is to place people over politics, said Desmond Meade, the groups president. We are concerned with people from all walks of life, from all sorts of politics.

The Florida Rights Restoration Coalition has also helped create policy change. In 2018, the group helped pass a statewide amendment that says former felons can vote. A Bloomberg advisor says he has taken on this initiative for a number of reasons.

Story continues

Mike wanted to get this done for two reasons, says the source who spoke to The Washington Post under anonymity, one, because its the right thing to do for the democracy. The sources continues, And two because it immediately activates tens of thousands of voters who are predisposed to vote for Joe Biden.

The memo from Bloomberg insinuates Florida has already made up its mind in regards to who will get its vote. Bloomberg has his eye on new voters.

We know to win Florida we will need to persuade, motivate and add new votes to the Biden column, per the memo. This means we need to explore all avenues for finding the needed votes when so many votes are already determined.

Have you subscribed to theGrios podcast Dear Culture? Download our newest episodes now!

The post Bloomberg raises $16 million to help ex-felons to vote in Florida appeared first on TheGrio.
US Ambassador to Cambodia W Patrick Murphy (L) and Cambodias Minister of Defense General Tea Banh (R) meet at the Office of the Council of Ministers in the capital Phnom Penh, Sept. 21, 2020.

U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia W. Patrick Murphy has held a rare meeting with Cambodias Minister of Defense General Tea Banh in the wake of sanctions Washington leveled against a Chinese developer operating in the Southeast Asian nation.

The Union Development Group (UDG)which is building the U.S. $3.8 billion-dollar Dara Sakor project including a seaport, resorts, and casinos in Cambodias Koh Kong province was sanctioned by the Treasury Department on Sept. 15 under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act for land grabs, rights abuses, and corruption in the country.

The Department also raised concerns that Beijing may be using the project to secretly build a naval base and airstrip for military use as part of a bid to secure its territorial claims in the disputed waters of the South China Sea.

Tea Banh, who last week said that UDG had been targeted unfairly and is operating in line with Cambodias laws, met with Ambassador Murphy on Monday at the Office of the Council of Ministers in the capital Phnom Penh to hold talks attended by senior officials of both the Defense Ministry and the U.S. Embassy.

In a post to Facebook on Tuesday, the U.S. Embassy said Murphy had a productive meeting with Tea Banh, also Cambodias deputy prime minister, to discuss a range of potential areas of strengthened security cooperation, as well as ongoing efforts to preserve Cambodias sovereignty.

U.S. Embassy spokesperson Arend Zwartjes told RFAs Khmer Service in an email Wednesday that Washington is hopeful that we can find a way to expand military-to-military cooperation as a result of the talks.

Cambodias Defense Ministry abruptly suspended annual Angkor Sentinel joint exercises with the U.S. military in 2017. The government had claimed it was too busy preparing security for commune elections in June 2018 to take part in the exercises, but they have yet to be reestablished.

Observers said at the time that the moves indicated Cambodia was pivoting away from Western influence in favor of better relations with other countries on the rise in Asia, such as China.

In April, Prime Minister Hun Sen said that his government would welcome resumed military drills with the U.S. but urged Washington to stop suggesting that Phnom Penh was responsible for ending the exercises.

The possibility that China could establish a military foothold in Cambodia has long worried Washington. Vice President Mike Pence in 2018 wrote a letter to Hun Sen expressing fears that Cambodia might be planning to host Chinese military equipment at the Ream Naval Base in the coastal city of Sihanoukville, but Hun Sen dismissed the concerns.

Ream base was at the center of controversy last year after The Wall Street Journal in July cited U.S. and allied officials as confirming a secret deal to allow the Chinese to use part of the base for 30 yearswith automatic renewals every 10 years after thatand to post military personnel, store weapons and berth warships.

The reported deal, which would provide China with its first naval staging facility in Southeast Asia and allow it to significantly expand patrols on the South China Sea, was vehemently denied at the time by Hun Sen, who said permitting foreign use of a military base in the country would be in full contradiction to Cambodias constitution.

Cambodia's Dara Sakor airport is shown under construction by China's United Development Group (UDG) in a June 9, 2020 photo. Planet Labs, Inc. Reports dismissed

Cambodias Ministry of Defense posted a statement on its website Tuesday saying Tea Banh reiterated that reports Cambodia will allow a Chinese military presence on its territory are unfounded.

Samdech Tea Banh said that Ream Navy Base is small and shallow and cannot accommodate big ships or big vessels, the statement said, referring to the minister with an honorific title and adding that any development of the site will be for Cambodian naval use only.

However, Tea Banh noted that development at Ream Navy Base had been studied over the last 10 years and upon completion would welcome any ship.

Tea Banh stressed that Cambodias constitution wont allow any foreign military base on Cambodian territory, the statement said.

Related to the U.S. concerns over Ream Navy Base, Tea Banh stressed that it will be solely reserved for Cambodian usage, not for foreign militaries.

Speaking to RFA, political analyst Em Sovannara said Washington routinely brings up the possibility of a foreign navy base to counter Chinese influence in Cambodia and to ensure Hun Sens government honors the countrys constitution.

He said Cambodia should show the world it is impartial and welcome all stakeholders.

Cambodia should show it is not leaning toward any particular powerful nation and should open cooperation to all countries in a gesture of goodwill, he said.

Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
The publicity department for the Grand Circuit has sent out its weekly recap and preview of racing on the Grand Circuit.

This Week: Delaware Grand Circuit, Delaware County Fair, Delaware, Ohio; Caesars Trot, Hoosier Park Pacing Derby, Jennas Beach Boy, Kentuckiana Stallion Management Stakes, Moni Maker, The Elevation and The Madison County, Hoosier Park, Anderson, Ind.; Mohawk Million, Metro, Shes A Great Lady and Milton, Woodbine Mohawk Park, Milton, Ontario; and Kindergarten Series, The Meadowlands, East Rutherford, N.J.

Schedule of Events: Grand Circuit action kicks into full gear on Wednesday (Sept. 23) at Delaware with the $237,725 Jugette for three-year-old filly pacers, two divisions in the $82,200 Buckette for three-year-old filly trotters, the $39,406 Standardbred for two-year-old filly pacers and the $43,506 Standardbred for two-year-old filly trotters. The Thursday (Sept. 24) card at Delaware is highlighted by the $559,000 Little Brown Jug for three-year-olds. Also on tap that day is the $87,500 Miss Versatility final for older trotting mares, the $83,800 Old Oaken Bucket for three-year-old open trotters, the $54,206 Standardbred for two-year-old colt pacers and the $47,006 Standardbred for two-year-old colt trotters.

Grand Circuit racing at Hoosier Park will be held on Friday (Sept. 25) with the $221,000 Kentuckiana Stallion Management stakes for two-year-old filly trotters, the $220,000 Kentuckiana Stallion Management stakes for two-year-old filly pacers, the $150,000 Caesars for Open trotters, the $140,000 Hoosier Park Pacing Derby for Open pacers, the $100,000 Jennas Beach Boy for three-year-old colt pacers, the $105,000 Moni Maker for three-year-old filly trotters, the $120,000 Elevation for two-year-old colt pacers and the $40,000 Madison County for two-year-old colt trotters.

Also on Friday, the Meadowlands Racetrack will host the second leg of the Kindergarten Series for two-year-old pacers and trotters. There will be two $20,000 divisions for all four classes  colt and filly trotters and colt and filly pacers.

Grand Circuit action at Woodbine Mohawk will be held on Saturday (Sept. 26) with the US$1 million Mohawk Million for two-year-old colt trotters, the $720,000 Metro final for two-year-old open pacers, the $455,000 Shes A Great Lady final for two-year-old filly pacers and the $215,000 Milton final for older pacing mares.

Last Time: A scramble finish with multiple breakers saw Chestnut Hill at 60-1 shoot up the rail to a stunning victory in the $560,000 Canadian Trotting Classic on Saturday night (Sept. 19) at Woodbine Mohawk Park. To read a recap and watch teh replay, click here.

Grand Circuit Standings: In 2020, the Grand Circuit leaders in three categories (driver, trainer and owner) will once again be tracked on a points system (20-10-5 for the top three finishers in divisions/finals and 10-5-2 for the top three finishers in eliminations/legs). Winbak Farms is the sponsor for the 2020 Grand Circuit awards.

Here are the leaders following this past weekend:

Drivers: 1. Yannick Gingras  615; 2. Andrew McCarthy  389; 3. Tim Tetrick  306.5; 4. Bob McClure  297; 5. Dexter Dunn  266.

Trainers: 1. Nancy Takter  459.5; 2. Tony Alagna  416; 3. Ron Burke  403; 4. Ake Svanstedt  289; 5. Marcus Melander  263.

Owners: 1. Determination  185; 2. Brad Grant  152.6; 3. S R F Stable  115.3; 4. Caviart Farms  98.6; 5. Crawford Farms Racing  97.3.

Looking Ahead: Grand Circuit action will be taking place next week at Lexingtons historic Red Mile. There will be eight Bluegrass stakes for two- and three-year-olds of both sexes and gaits. Hollywood Dayton Raceway will also be hosting a trio of Grand Circuit events for older Standardbreds  the Dayton Pacing Derby, the Dayton Distaff Derby and the Dayton Trotting Derby.

(With files from the Grand Circuit)
Ranveer Singh released two sign language videos in a bid to raise more awareness in making Indian Sign Language (ISL) the 23rd official language of India.

As the global deaf community celebrates International Sign Language Day on Wednesday, to commemorate the occasion, actor Ranveer Singh released two sign language videos in a bid to raise more awareness in making Indian Sign Language (ISL) the 23rd official language of India.

The 35-year-old actor pledged to constantly work with the deaf community in the country and also urged countrymen to join in. He said he wanted to elevate the experience of music for the deaf community, that was his pledge.

He added, Our biggest dream today is to help secure a better future for the deaf community in India and we can only ask for this through our art. But to make this a reality, we need your support. I urge my fellow Indians to support this cause and fight for a brighter future for our deaf brothers and sisters.

Also read: Ayushmann Khurrana becomes youngest Indian to feature in TIMEs 100 most influential people 2020 list

Also read: Ishaan Khatter, Ananya Pandays Khaali Peeli to release in drive-in theatres of Gurugram, Bengaluru

To promote this awareness in India, the Band Baaja Baaraat actor has released Shwapon, a collaboration between SlowCheeta and Bengali folk artist Dipannita Acharya, and Mehfil-E-HipHop, sung by all four Inc Ink artists Kaam Bhaari, Spitfire, SlowCheeta and Devil The Rhymer.

Ranveer has released these songs through Inc Ink, his independent record label which is a passion project of the superstar. Inc Ink is a platform for brilliantly talented budding artists and its Ranveers dream to provide equal opportunity for all in the music space through his record label.

The Gully Boy actor said, At Inc Ink, the engagement of music for ALL is a priority. I forward parts of myself that go beyond being a performer here. The experience of music has shaped me as a person. Music has given me strength through struggles and given me the power to propel myself towards achievement. I am bound by love and gratitude to engage with the deaf community because I know what music has given me. It is when you dont take something for granted that you appreciate it more. Its a valuable life lesson that I have learned.

The United Nations (UN) declared that starting with 2018, September 23 every year would be officially celebrated as the International Day of Sign Languages all over the world.

In 2019, Inc Ink pledged to align with the deaf community of India and released a song Vartalap in ISL. Ranveer also signed the petition to make ISL an official language and encouraged people and fans to sign the same petition which has now gathered more than 70,000 signatures.

Also read: Huma Qureshi defends Anurag Kashyap after #MeToo allegations
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 21:47:03|Editor: huaxia

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RIGA, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- If all European Union (EU) countries agree on common criteria for travel restrictions to curb the spread of COVID-19, Latvia could be part of such agreement, Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins said on Wednesday.

"If the whole EU can find a common vision, Latvia could agree," Karins said in an interview with LTV public television.

Latvia is ready to work with its EU partners but when deciding on the issue, the highest priority for the Latvian government would be the interests of the country's people, Karins stressed.

He also noted hat the government would take into account the opinion of the epidemiologists when tightening or relaxing the travel restrictions.

Karins said that at the moment there is no united EU position but the health ministers of the member states should make efforts to find a common approach taking into account recommendations of experts of their countries.

The European Commission earlier this month proposed that the member states should agree on common criteria and thresholds for anti-coronavirus travel restrictions. Currently each member introduces restrictions according to its own criteria. Enditem
MADISON, Wis.  In some ways, Wisconsins Mike Gallagher and Californias Ro Khanna make for a political odd couple.

Gallagher is a conservative Republican who represents the Green Bay-anchored 8th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives; Khanna is a progressive Democrat who does the same for the 17th Congressional District in the heart of the Silicon Valley.

And yet, when it comes to the intertwined issues of economic and national security, Gallagher and Khanna are models of what congressional policy debate should look like in an era of partisan divisiveness.

They are the leading House sponsors of The Endless Frontier Act, (H.R. 6978 and S.3832), which would spend up to $100 billion over five years to boost science and technology research, revive American manufacturing and create innovation hubs nationwide.

While much needs to happen before the bill becomes law, it has already sharpened national discussion about U.S. tech and manufacturing primacy in the 21st century.

Both elected in 2016, Gallagher and Khanna met during a freshman orientation meeting in Washington, D.C. They hit it off, not because they agree on every issue, but because theyre passionate about jobs and economic growth and the threats posed by other nations, especially China, to U.S. interests.

It always makes me nervous when Ro starts talking and I find myself vigorously nodding my head, Gallagher joked during a Wednesday webinar on the proposal.

Khanna, Gallagher, UW-Milwaukee Chancellor Mark Mone and Melissa Skala, a researcher in the Morgridge Institute for Research in Madison, talked about the elements of the bill and why its important during the hour-long webinar.

What emerged was a consensus that research and development matters  and it cant all be clustered in a few hotspots.

Its wrong for all of the innovation dollars  to be going to a few places, said Khanna, whose Silicon Valley district is home for some of the nations biggest tech companies and the lions share of U.S. venture capital investment. Still, he thinks his district will be better off in the long run if innovation and production resources are more dispersed  and national security will improve, as well.

Khanna said the bill aims to make sure America leads innovation, and that we dont allow China or other countries to lead. He proceeded to tick off Wisconsin and Midwest resources like a Badger state native, emphasizing manufacturing expertise and the need to preserve middle-class jobs here.

That got no argument from Gallagher, who noted the COVID-19 crisis has exposed how brittle our supply chains are and how dependency on other nations for manufactured goods brings with it a whole set of security problems.

People are waking up to the scale of the challenge we face. Its going to require people to reach across the (partisan) lines, Gallagher said.

The bill would create a new technology directorate within the National Science Foundation to focus on 10 areas viewed as most important to American security and prosperity.

They are: artificial intelligence and machine learning; high-performance computing, semiconductors and advanced computer hardware; quantum computing; robotics, automation and advanced manufacturing; natural and man-made disaster prevention; advanced communications; biotechnology genomics and synthetic biology; advanced energy technology; cybersecurity, data storage and data management; and materials science and engineering.

The act envisions partnerships among universities, government and industry, with 10 interdisciplinary research hubs to transfer science and technology into innovative goods and services while boosting metro, state and regional economies.

Both Mone and Skala addressed the importance of such partnerships, with Skala likening the relationship between research and production as being akin to a mine and a mill.

A mill wont last long if there is no mine, but a mill is required to get the products to the market, Skala said. What I find so powerful about the Endless Frontier Act is that it supports both the mine and the mill to benefit innovation across the spectrum.

That notion of a partnership between research and innovation was echoed by Gallagher, who said the bill can build on Wisconsins fundamental strengths as a state.

I think we need to think hard about how we revitalize and modernize the Wisconsin Idea, and so the Endless Frontier Act would be one part of that. We really have an opportunity right now Wisconsin could position itself, if we got our act together, to be a destination of choice for a lot of top-level talent, he said.

Gallagher, Khanna and others in Congress have outlined a vision through the Endless Frontier Act. Lets see if our fractured political times can bring it into sharper focus.

Tom Still is president of the Wisconsin Technology Council. He can be reached at tstill@wisconsintechnologycouncil.com.

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Up to 2,400 West Side students currently without internet access at home could have it by December under San Antonios Connected Beyond the Classroom program, the citys Office of Innovation said Tuesday.

The effort to bridge the digital divide for students in underserved areas  which became a crisis spawned by the need for remote learning during the coronavirus pandemic  will eventually provide internet access to up to 20,000 students at no cost, Brian Dillard, the citys chief innovation officer, told a City Council committee.

About one-fifth of San Antonio households with children dont have ready access to the internet, a survey conducted earlier this year found. The city invested $27.3 million from its general fund to address the problem as part of its coronavirus resiliency and recovery plan.

On ExpressNews.com: How San Antonio plans to tackle the digital divide, expand broadband internet

After the pandemic forced schoolchildren from their desks to learn through their screens, school districts distributed computers and other devices by the tens of thousands in the weeks before the school year started in August amid uncertainty about the pace and scale of campus reopenings. With significant numbers of students still learning at home, connectivity remains a major stumbling block.

About 81 percent of the city has broadband internet, according to the Digital Inclusion Survey and Assessment, with gaps in access occurring largely within Council Districts 1 through 5. District 5 had the lowest proportion, with access at 62 percent.

The project is working to increase it in 24 neighborhoods in the San Antonio Independent School District, as well as eight in Edgewod ISD, two in Harlandale ISD, three in South San Antonio ISD, four in Southwest ISD, one in Judson ISD, three in North East ISD and five in Northside ISD.

The City of San Antonio is not becoming an internet service provider, but it is building a fiber and wireless infrastructure to provide a private network throughout those neighborhoods, Dillard told the councils Innovation and Technology Committee.

The Office of Innovation will start installing routers and antennas this month until December in six neighborhoods  a 16-square-mile area  on the West Side near Lanier High School to test the program. Installation for the remaining neighborhoods will take place from January to September 2021.

Were not just providing for kids to be able to do fun stuff at home with their computers, right? Or to play with iPads and tablets, District 8 Councilman Manny Pelaez said.

Were, in essence, bringing an essential service to kids who have no access to this, he said. And without the access to that, well, they fall further and further and further into the cracks, making it much more difficult for all of us to pull them out.

Students will log in through their districts network and go through its firewall as if they were using a campus computer.

Though installation and operating costs for the program are covered for a year, a funding source has not been secured for the future. Some funds could come from the city budget to keep internet connectivity going in these homes, Dillard said, but definitely not all of it.

Thats a collective effort, he said, hoping to speak with school districts, public agencies and state and federal entities once the pilot program is complete.

Families wishing to get internet service who may not have the means should contact their school district to be considered for the program, Dillard said.

Liz Hardaway is a staff writer covering San Antonio government and politics. To read more from Liz, become a subscriber. liz.hardaway@hearst.com | Twitter: @liz_hardaway
The Shore School headmaster has blamed a small group of students for promoting illegal and disrespectful year 12 muck-up day activities, saying the plot had cast a shadow over the school's reputation and was not representative of its culture.

Headmaster Timothy Petterson wrote to parents on Wednesday following the emergence of the "Triwizard Shorenament" rule book, publicly revealed by The Sydney Morning Herald, to say the scavenger hunt challenges were illegal and showed a "deeply offensive" attitude.

"This is not who we are as a school," Dr Petterson said.

The scavenger hunt was proposed for Wednesday night. After becoming aware of the document, the school alerted police on Tuesday. The booklet challenged students to earn points via assaults, trespassing, drug-taking and other tasks, including many that were legal and less dangerous.
KALAR, Iraqi Kurdistan  In this southeastern corner of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Iranian influence is clear and of concern to many in the area amid reports of cross-border fraud and smuggling networks.

Dams built by Iran threatening to severely decrease water supplies available for local production may also negatively impact the future of the area.

The Finance Ministry of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) announced earlier this month that a vast smuggling network had been discovered at a border crossing with Iran but did not specify which border crossing.

The crossing referred to was that of Parvizkhan, in the administrative area of Garmiyan in the far southeastern part of Iraqi Kurdistan, officials were quoted by local media outlet Rudaw as saying.

They noted that hundreds of millions of dinars worth of goods had been smuggled and that this had damaged public finance.

At a farm some miles from this border crossing point in mid-September, Al-Monitor could hear several lorries continuing to travel along the road running from Iran to Kalar late into the night. Locals claimed that many of the goods passing through the border crossing unofficially were brought in after dark.

The border is where the largest amount of goods pass into Iraq from Iran, which exported some 1.34 tons of commodities worth $562 million in the first four months of the Iranian year (March 20-July 21), marking a whopping rise of 78% in tonnage and 33% in value, Iranian media reported in August.

In 2017, the Parvizkhan border crossing accounted for over 54% of Irans exports to Iraq. A three-month closing of it, after a referendum was held on independence of Iraqi Kurdistan from the rest of Iraq, resulted in 3,000 jobs lost in the region on the Iranian side of the border, according to one Iranian media outlet, attesting to its importance.

Iraqi Kurdistan has three border crossings with Iran: Haji Omaran in Erbil province, Parvizkhan in the Garmiyan administration area and Bashmakh in Sulaimaniyah province.

Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, who vowed to crack down on corruption as part of his efforts to improve rule of law and the economy in the country after being sworn in on May 7, visited the Mandali border crossing between Iraq and Iran in Diyala province south of Garmiyan on July 11, to kick off a campaign against corruption at customs points in the country.

He said that the government would go after ghosts that cross the border without paying customs duties.

The southeastern part of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq has long had closer ties to Iran than much of the rest of the region, and Iran-linked armed groups continue to operate south of it in Diyala province.

A security officer from the region told Al-Monitor, on condition of anonymity as he had not been authorized to speak to the media, that security in some of the disputed territory between Iraqi Kurdistan and Baghdad-controlled areas south of Garmiyan had improved since Kadhimi took office.

He added that regular forces  the local police, federal police and the army  were now in more control of some areas that had previous been under the sway only of a motley assortment of Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) linked to Iran in varying degrees.

However, he added that there are so many factions inside Khanaquin and the [Iraqi] army is not performing its duties. You still see Hashid Shaabi [the PMU] controlling every section in that area.

He stressed that this is a problem and claimed that whenever there are Iranian borders, the Iranian government will make problems for the commander [in the area].

The security officer said one tactic often used by Iran was saying that there are daily delegations from Iran to Khanaquin, and that there are VIP people coming from Iran to Khanaquin or are on their way to Najaf and Karbala, and that no security force except the Iran-linked PMU are capable of providing protection, thus justifying their continued presence.

And the majority of people around Khanaquin and Jalawla  both Kurds and Arabs  are Shiite, he added, noting that Iran exploits this fact for its own purposes.

Araz Muhamed, a local journalist, told Al-Monitor during an interview Sept. 15 in Kalar that as part of his reporting work he had found evidence of Iranian intelligence cells located in and monitoring the city.

When this journalist accompanied peshmerga forces then stationed in Khanaquin  in an area disputed between Baghdad and the KRG but currently under central government control  to the front line in Jalawla against the Islamic State in September 2014, she was told by one officer that Iranian forces were in the area in small numbers.

However, KRG forces are now stationed only as far south as the Garmiyan administrative region, which includes the Kalar, Kifir and Chamchamal districts.

The location of Garmiyan in a disputed area sometimes leads to issues with registering land deeds, locals told Al-Monitor during a visit to the area. Local residents who own land near the Iranian border said they had been sent back and forth between offices in Sulaimaniyah and Diyala for official paperwork, with public officials claiming on both sides that it was the responsibility of the other administration.

Another key issue that may irreparably damage the local economy near this border in addition to smuggling, if not curbed, are several dams built in recent years on the Iranian side of the border reducing water supply to the region.

Muhamed stressed that the dams and Irans ability to cut off water to the area would become an issue in the coming years and would be detrimental to the local economy on this side of the border, possibly forcing many to move elsewhere.
Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Yaw Buaben Asamoa has appealed to the striking nurses and midwives to resume work.



The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) comprising all public sector nurses, midwives, Physician Assistants (PAs) and Anesthetists (CRAs) have today, September 22 embarked on nationwide strike.



The GRNMA is demanding better conditions of services from the government, hence refusing to comply with an interim injunction by the National Labour Commission (NLC) to restrain them.



The NLC has called on them to pick up their tools but the members of the Association have paid deaf ears to the NLC as they remain on strike.



The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) has also asked the nurses to back down on the strike and go to the negotiation table to have their grievances resolved.



Adding his voice to the calls on the nurses and midwives, Yaw Buaben Asamoa has asked them to be patient with the government and heed the appeals on them to call off the strike and return to the negotiation table.



"It doesn't mean someone hates you. It doesn't mean you don't have the right to go on strike. It doesn't mean you don't have grievances. All we're saying is for you to abide by the Labour Commission's instructions for peace to reign," he stated on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo'.



Mr. Buaben Asamoa added that the government has been charitable to the nurses, midwives and all other health workers, particularly the frontline workers at the forefront of the COVID-19 fight and so expects them to cooperate with the government to arrive at a better decision.



He reminded them of the government's tax waivers and 50% salary increase to them which, to him, should tell the nurses and midwives that the government has their welfare at heart.



"We have been good to you. We've been ably employed you...Be patient; I don't believe that the government that's created jobs for you and paid your allowances will turn to intimidate and sack you. It won't honor the government in anyway," he said.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Dr. Anthony Fauci just blasted Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) for repeatedly "not listening" to health experts during a COVID-19 hearing.

When Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, testified before the Senate on Wednesday, Paul grilled him about whether he has "any second thoughts" about his COVID-19 "mitigation recommendations," with Paul questioning the purpose of coronavirus lockdowns, comparing the United States' approach to Sweden's, and claiming that "mitigation efforts have failed to flatten the curve" and that it's not possible to alter "the course of an infectious disease through crowd control."

Fauci strongly pushed back against Paul's assertions, telling him it's not "appropriate" to compare Sweden to the United States and that he doesn't regret recommending physical distancing to slow the spread of COVID-19. When Paul accused Fauci of "jumping up and down" over New York's handling of the pandemic despite its high number of deaths, Fauci again shot back, saying, "You misconstrued that, senator, and you've done that repetitively in the past."

Paul also claimed that New York has been able to lower its number of COVID-19 cases due to "community immunity," another assertion that Fauci pushed back against.

"I challenge that, senator," Fauci said. "...This happens with Senator Rand all the time. You are not listening to what the director of the CDC said, that in New York, it's about 22 percent. If you believe 22 percent is herd immunity, I believe you're alone in that."

Robert Redfield, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, warned in the hearing that "a majority of our nation, more than 90 percent of the population, remain susceptible" to COVID-19.

Heated exchange between Dr. Fauci and Sen. Rand Paul Youre not listening"https://t.co/bxmCmzZUqp pic.twitter.com/ikWAQsCwmr  Luis Velarde (@luivelarde) September 23, 2020

More stories from theweek.com

America needs to hear the bad news first

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Trump is the only one being honest about the Supreme Court fight


The family lawyer of Mohsen Rouhalamini, a young man killed behind bars during mass demonstrations surrounding the 2009 Iranian presidential election, says the court of appeal has rejected Saeed Mortazavi's statement of defense.

A notorious hardline judge, Mortazavi was Tehran's prosecutor at the time of the uprising. Based on his orders, hundreds were arrested and incarcerated in various prisons, including Kahrizak Detention Center (KDC), 31 kilometers (about nineteen miles) south of Tehran.

During the 2009 uprising, the KDC was set up to suppress protesters. Established in secret, protesters were tortured there under Mortazavi's watch, causing so much catastrophe that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was eventually forced to shut down the killing center.

"But it was only when 24-year-old Mohsen Rouhalamini, the son of a distinguished conservative figure, was named among those killed that the Iranian authorities were forced to respond," The Guardian reported about the prison in July 2010. "Subsequently, two other victims were identified, Amir Javadifar and Mohammad Kamrani,"

The attorney of Rouhalamini's parents, Mir Majid Taheri, told the Iranian Moj News Agency on Sunday that following the trial on August 11, the court of appeal has now announced that Mortazavi's defense "was rejected by the majority of the judges of Branch 8 of Tehran's 1st Criminal Court."

The courts originally sentenced Mortazavi to five years' imprisonment and permanent dismissal from the judiciary, but his sentence was reduced to two years on appeal, with Mortazavi requesting a retrial to protest his losing his job.

After serving one-third of his jail term, Mortazavi was released in September 2019. In another case concerning financial corruption at Social Security Organization, Mortazavi was also sentenced to lashes for "illegal seizure of state property." Still, he was eventually pardoned by Khamenei.

Immediately after being suspended from serving at the judiciary, the hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad appointed him as the head of the Social Security Organization.

However, Mortazavi had already gained fame in the 1990s as the "Butcher of the Press," when in a series of verdicts, he shut down the so-called pro-reform dailies and placed dozens of journalists behind bars.

According to the Iranian judicial law, Mortazavi can appeal to the Supreme Court of Iran within twenty days after the announcement of his new defense's rejection in the court of appeals.








During his visit, Neyra was taken on a tour of the site, where he congratulated Prolima team members for the works they undertake.





At the site, the Metropolitan Municipality of Lima, through Prolima, found the remains of La Soledad's primitive chapel, an underground crypt, the original pebble floor of the small square, and remains of the old parapet or perimeter fence that surrounded the San Francisco Convent.









The findings were made during the implementation of one of the three archaeological research projects carried out at Lima's Historic Center.





According to the municipality, this is a very important event, because this is the first time a discovery like this has been made at Lima's Historic Center in 15 years.





The abovementioned parapet was crowned with 24 crosses made of berenguela stones, which were brought from Bolivia at the end of the 17th century, quite a challenge and achievement at that time. A berenguela is an alabaster or translucent stone.





It should be noted that the discovery was made during the actions carried out as part of the implementation of the Master Plan to Recover the Historic Center of Lima.





The archaeological research project at San Francisco Small Square began in December 2019 but was stopped due to the state of national emergency declared in response to the COVID-19 pandemic





(END) NDP/LIT/RMB/MVB

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NYPD officer, Baimadajie Angwang (pictured), was arrested on Monday for allegedly acting as an illegal agent for China

The New York City police officer who has been accused of acting as an illegal agent for China, reportedly raised suspicions at a Tibetan New Year party last year that was attended by Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Baimadajie Angwang was arrested on Monday at his home in Nassau County, Long Island.

Angwang, who was born in Tibet, an autonomous region of China, has been suspended from the NYPD's 111th precinct in Queens.

The 33-year-old also serves in the US Army Reserve where he holds the rank of staff sergeant. He's stationed at Fort Dix, New Jersey in an Airborne Civil Affairs battalion.

It was revealed later on Tuesday that Angwang raised suspicions of his alleged illegal activity while at a party attended by Ocasio-Cortez in February 2019.

A photo shared by Ocasio-Cortez at the time, shows her sitting next to Angwang and a woman holding a child at a table inside a Woodside, Queens community center.

'Losar Tashi Delek! Spent this morning with our NY-14 Tibetan community to celebrate Lunar New Year,' the congresswoman wrote.

'This little one and I were playing with giving each other Tibetan white scarves, or Khatas, which are auspicious tokens given to honor others on holidays and special occasions. We had so much fun!' she added.

Sonam Gyephel, a former president of the Tibetan Community of NY & NJ, told the New York Post that the group became suspicious of Angwang and 'cut off the relationship' with him after the event.

Gyephel didn't say what exactly alerted members to raise suspicions, but he did say: 'We didn't give any information to him, any documents, nothing.'

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It was revealed later on Tuesday that Angwang raised suspicions of his alleged illegal activity while at a party attended by AOC in February 2019. A photo shared by AOC at the time, shows her sitting with Angwang and a woman holding a child at the Woodside, Queens, event

According to a criminal complaint, Angwang (pictured) was secretly supervised by handlers from the Chinese consulate in New York since at least 2014

Aangwang is being held without bail in federal detention. During a brief hearing held remotely late Monday afternoon, Magistrate Judge Roanne L. Mann read the charges aloud and asked whether Aangwang understood them. '

'Yes, your honor,' he said. Aangwang, who is being represented by defense lawyer John Carman, offered no additional comments. The judge ordered him detained pending a bail hearing that she said will be held in the 'near future'.

According to a criminal complaint, Angwang was secretly supervised by handlers from the Chinese consulate in New York since at least 2014.

Angwang's job was to 'locate potential intelligence sources' and 'identify potential threats' to the People's Republic of China (PRC) in the New York metropolitan area,' court papers say.

Authorities said Angwang, despite being born in Tibet himself and claiming he had been arrested and tortured in China, 'reported to the Consulate on the activities of ethnic Tibetans, and others, in the New York metropolitan area'.

He also was expected to provide consulate officials 'access to senior NYPD officials through invitations to official NYPD events,' they add.

According to the complaint, he allegedly began to devise a plan to 'defraud the US Department of Defense, and to obtain money and property from the US' in May 2019.

The complaint claims that Angwang 'did knowingly act in the United States as an agent of a foreign government' and 'without prior notification to the Attorney General of the United States, as required by law'.

One of the PRC Consular officials at whose direction Angwang acted worked for the China Association for Preservation and Development of Tibetan Culture, a division of the PRC's United Front Work Department, according to investigators.

That department is responsible for neutralizing potential opponents of the PRC and co-opting ethnic Chinese individuals living outside the PRC.

Angwang (left, in October 2018) has been charged with acting as an agent for China without prior notification to the Attorney General, committing wire fraud, making false statements and and obstructing an official proceeding

Following his arrest, China called the allegations 'pure fabrication' that is a part of a US plot to smear Chinese diplomats in the United States.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin on Tuesday said the indictment against Angwang was full of hedging terms such as 'seems' and 'possibly,' giving the appearance that prosecutors were straining to make their case.

'The relevant accusations made by the US side are pure fabrication,' Wang told reporters at a daily briefing.

'The US plot to discredit the Chinese Consulate and personnel in the United States will not succeed.'

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 FBI's New York office, said in a statement Monday.

It was also revealed on Tuesday that Angwang reportedly exaggerated his military service record.

Last November, Angwang was honored during a celebration of veterans held by the Police Benevolent Association.

'The PBA honored its veterans at todays delegates meeting with PO Baimadajie Angwang presenting the colors. PO Angwang is a Sgt. in the USMC and served 1 tour in Iraq and 2 tours in Afghanistan,' a now-deleted post reads, according to the New York Post.

But the USMC confirmed that Angwang only served one tour in Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom between July 2013 and February 2014.

There were no records of a second Afghanistan tour or a tour in Iraq, the USMC told the Post.

Investigators have also charged Angwang with making false statements. As part of his job in the Army Reserve, Angwang holds a 'Secret' level security clearance.

Court documents show that in 2019, Angwang completed and electronically submitted a background investigation form on which he is accused of lying.

Angwang allegedly lied on the form by denying that he had contacts with a foreign government or its consulate.

He is also said to have denied that he had close contacts with foreign nationals, including his family members who live in China, some of whom are affiliated with the People's Liberation Army (PLA).

Angwang's Williston Park home in Long Island has an American flag hanging out the front

News crews set up cameras outside Angwang's home in Long Island on Monday

Investigators detailed Angwang's ties to China, revealing that his father is a retired member of the PLA and a communist party member. His mother is also a member of the communist party and his brother is serving as a reservist in the PLA.

The investigation revealed that Angwang has 'financial ties with his family members' in China. Authorities said Angwang wired $100,000 from a US bank to a PRC bank account in his brother's name.

A month later, Angwang reportedly wired $50,000 from a different US bank account to a PRC account held in the name of another individual.

Authorities said he 'initially traveled to the United States on a cultural exchange visa'.

The complaint claims he 'overstayed a second visa and eventually sought asylum in the United States on he basis that he had allegedly been arrested and tortured' in China.

But according to a detention memo filed on Monday by the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York, an investigation found that 'Angwang has traveled back to the PRC on numerous occasion since his asylum application was granted'.

'These are not the actions of an individual who fears torture or persecution at the hands of the PRC, thus showing that his U.S. citizenship was secured through false pretenses,' the document says.

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'.

Troops sent by China's ruling Communists occupied Tibet in 1950 and Beijing claims the Himalayan region has been Chinese territory for centuries.

Many Tibetans say they were effectively independent for much of that time and accuse China of trying to wipe out Tibet's unique Buddhist culture and language while exploiting its natural resources and encouraging Chinese to move there from other parts of the country.

In a statement, Police Commissioner Dermot Shea, told DailyMail.com: 'As alleged in this federal complaint, Baimadajie Angwang 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.

'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 said Angwang has been suspended without pay.

Acting United States Attorney Seth DuCharme said in a statement: 'The defendant allegedly violated his sworn oath to serve the New York City community and defend the Constitution against all enemies by 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.'

Angwang has been charged with acting as an agent for China without prior notification to the Attorney General, committing wire fraud, making false statements and and obstructing an official proceeding.
Belarusian strongman Alexander Lukashenko was abruptly sworn in for his sixth term as president on Wednesday, as mass protests about his disputed election victory last month continue to roil the country.

In an unannounced ceremony at the Presidential Palace in the country's capital Minsk, around 700 guests looked on as Lukashenko placed his right hand on a copy of the constitution and swore the oath of office, state news agency Belta reported.

There is a lot of pride in Belarusians who have honorably passed the test of strength of, above all, their convictions, Lukashenko, who has maintained his grasp on power in the former Soviet nation for the last 26 years, was quoted as saying by Belta.

This is the day of our collective victory, convincing and fateful. We did not just elect the president of the country - we defended our values, our peaceful life, sovereignty and independence. And in this regard, we still have a lot to do."

The ceremony, which was not aired on state television, took place amid an accumulation of equipment and military personnel in central Minsk, according to a report Wednesday from the Belarusian news agency tut.by. It said the capitals main roadways were also blocked, except for the presidential cortege, which drove to the Palace of Independence, where the ceremony was later held.

It came against the backdrop of mass protests by hundreds of thousands of people about the Aug 9. election result, which continue to take place on a regular basis in cities across the country, including Minsk, every weekend.

The demonstrations were met with a violent crackdown and mass arrests. Many of the detained alleged they had been mistreated in detention  a claim that Lukahenko's government has refrained from directly commenting on.

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Opposition leaders were quick to condemn his inauguration.

Svetlana Tsikhanouskaya, who protesters claim defeated Lukashenko at the polls, said that he was attempting to "recognize himself as legitimate" in a post on the Telegram messaging app.

Story continues

"The people did not give him a new mandate," added the former English teacher, who emerged from obscurity several months ago after her husband was prevented from running and thrown in jail. She has since fled to Lithuania for security reasons.

"This means that his orders to power structures are no longer legitimate and cannot be executed," her message continued. "I, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, am the only leader elected by the Belarusian people. And our task now is to build a new Belarus together."

Image: The motorcade of Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko arrives for his inauguration ceremony at the Palace of the Independence in Minsk, Belarus (Tut.By / AP)

Another opposition figure, Pavel Latushko, who also fled from the country, said that Lukashenko's inauguration resembled a secret thieves meeting.

Where are the jubilant citizens? Where is the diplomatic corps? he posted on social media. It is obvious that Alexander Lukashenko is exclusively the president of the OMON (riot police) and a handful of lying officials.

He also called for a civil show of disobedience.

Lukashenko has dismissed alleged violence towards protesters at the hands of police while accusing protesters of being manipulated by foreign powers.

While trying to stoke fears of NATO build up on the countrys western border, he has looked for support from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who granted Lukashenko a $1.5 billion loan last week.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday that the swearing-in was absolutely the sovereign decision of the Belarusian leadership."

Asked if Putin was invited, he said it looked as though the presence of foreign leaders had not been envisaged.
Just two and a half months after pubs and restaurants began to reopen as the national lockdown measures were relaxed, new restrictions are to come into force as the rate of infection from Covid-19 has increased in the UK.

The prime minister has announced a new 10pm closing time for pubs, bars and restaurants in England, in a move that has angered the hospitality industry, which has already taken a huge hit from the pandemic.

The government has also dropped its efforts to get people back to work in offices, with new guidance again telling people to work from home if they can.

The clampdown on socialising comes after the government's chief scientific and medical advisers painted a grim picture of how there could be 50,000 cases a day by mid-October with a daily death toll of 200 or more by mid-November if the current growth in the rate of infection is not halted.

But will closing at 10pm make a real difference, and how was that particular time selected?

The government is yet to detail the exact reasoning behind the decision, however, similar 10pm closures have been enforced in local lockdowns in other parts of the country, which have been one measure among others deemed successful in reducing rates of infection.

Asked what impact the 10pm closing time would have, Michael Gove said on BBC Radio 4 's Today programme this morning the government was aiming to strike a balance, which takes account of human character.

The 10pm closing time is not the only measure the prime minister will be announcing later, its part of a package of measures, but the evidence is that social mixing can encourage the spread of the virus, he said.

The increase in the spread of the virus will, unchecked, lead to a greater level of hospitalisation and tragically a greater level of deaths.

Mr Gove also confirmed people would be able, as a group of six, to visit the pub and then when it shuts, to go as a group and carry on drinking back at someones house.

It is the case that with the rule of six you can have six people in a social gathering, yes, but the steps we are taking here reflect some of the evidence thats been gathered from those parts of the country where these restrictions have already been put in place in order to ensure that we restrict social mixing.

He also said two couples going out for dinner together was not an unnecessary link between households, because one of the points we made clear was that table service in restaurants can be entirely appropriate.

The restrictions we are putting in place make it clear that there are restrictions which all of us should seek to be putting in place, but overall, when it comes to unnecessary or additional social contact, a balance has to be struck."

He added: Common sense dictates  there are types of social events which would be excessive and risky, but there are other types of social contact which we can appropriately support and allow, and the balance that we strike is one which is informed by scientific evidence, but also takes account of human character.

Some people will argue what we are doing is too restrictive, others will say it is too permissive, but we need to strike an appropriate balance at every point.

Mr Gove also said the government was aiming to support those in the hospitality industry wherever possible.

This is a step which nobody would want to take, but it is proportionate and balanced.

Recommended Long queues pictured outside pub despite social distancing restrictions

Dr Cheryl Walter, a virologist at the University of Hull told The Independent the new restrictions could be an effective method of limiting infections, and that the 10pm rules make sense.

She said: Pubs can present a mixture of increased risks for contracting Covid-19. These include not having to wear a mask, potentially becoming a bit more relaxed and forgetting the social distancing and hand hygiene guidelines, and finally being in an enclosed space where room limits might not be enforced.

I do think this is a good plan and agree the measures need to be balanced with keeping the economy going.

She also suggested that with a rising rate of infection, a so-called circuit breaker national lockdown of 3 weeks should be seriously considered in the next week or so.

Dr Shaun Fitzgerald FREng, a Royal Academy of Engineering Visiting Professor at the University of Cambridge, told The Independent: People are understandably asking what difference closing at 10pm makes. Well, as Professor Whitty said yesterday, the solution to this crisis is a collective effort. It is about what we can all do, and notably what we can do to help protect others.

Closing hospitality at 10pm will likely have some benefit. However, importantly it is a clear sign that things are likely to change unless we can collectively limit our social contacts and heed the hands, face, space and open a window message.

But Dr Stephen Griffin, associate Professor at the School of Medicine at the University of Leeds, said the governments messaging is confused.

He said: The move to limit service in hospitality venues to table service is a sensible precaution as this will limit interactions between households at these establishments. I am less convinced that the 10pm curfew will be effective as it runs the risk of compressing activity and having people leave at a single time in larger numbers. Moreover, Mr Gove intimated on the news this morning that people are welcome to extend their night at friends houses.

Again, it seems that the messaging surrounding this sort of restriction is confused and the rationale for implementing it has not been made clear. 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. The UK population must be brought together to act in unison if we are to avoid an incredibly difficult and disruptive winter as [Covid-19] cases rise again.

Boris Johnson reportedly wanted to shut down the entire hospitality sector after health secretary Matt Hancock and the government's scientists began pushing hard for more draconian measures, The Times reports.

Advisers on the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) were reportedly pushing for temporary closures of pubs and restaurants, the paper said. Sages modelling committee said a simulation of moderate restrictions was not possible. Imposing 10pm closing times on pubs would simply cram drinkers in tighter during shorter opening hours, they said.

However, the prime minister reportedly changed his mind, and a new balance was sought after the chancellor Rishi Sunak, home secretary Priti Patel and business secretary Alok Sharma all warned about the potential impact on the economy.

According to an anonymous senior government source quoted by The Daily Mail, the aim is to cause maximum damage to the R (infection rate) and minimal damage to the economy.

They added: Unless we act now, there will be greater economic damage later on.

The hospitality industry has warned the 10pm closures could take a heavy toll on many businesses.

Kate Nicholls, chief executive of trade body UKHospitality, described the new restrictions as another crushing blow for the industry.

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, she said.

Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night-Time Industries Association, warned the measures could trigger 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.

And following the local lockdowns in the north of England last week, which also implemented the 10pm rule, the Campaign for Real Ale said: Ministers should now provide evidence that curfews and restrictions on who you can go to the pub with will be effective in reducing transmission of Covid-19, as well as emphasising that its still safe to go to the pub with your own household if you follow the rules. Otherwise, we could see a huge financial impact on viable pubs who are already operating under much tighter restrictions than other businesses, with no positive effect on controlling the virus.

The government should also introduce a new financial support package and extend the furlough scheme for affected pubs to help them cope with reduced trade that will come as a result of these restrictions. This is the only way to avoid permanent pub closures and further job losses.

A Number 10 spokesperson 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.

Additional reporting by PA
Washington: Mourners quietly filed past the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's flag-draped coffin outside the white marble court building on Wednesday as the United States began three days of tributes to the liberal icon.

Hundreds of people lined up outside the court for a chance to pay their respects to the pioneering women's rights advocate, who died on Friday at the age of 87. Inside the court, Ginsburg's fellow justices celebrated her life in a private ceremony.

The flag-draped casket of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg arrives at the US Supreme Court. Credit:AP

"Among the words that describe Ruth: Tough. Brave. A fighter. A winner," a red-eyed Chief Justice John Roberts said during a ceremony in the court's Great Hall. "But also: Thoughtful. Careful. Compassionate. Honest.

"Her voice in court and in our conference room was soft. But when she spoke, people listened."
Bujumbura, Burundi (PANA) - Some 287 Burundian refugees were repatriated Wednesday from neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where they had fled the 2015 election violence in their home country, the state-run radio reported
Of the worlds 30 largest airlines by revenue, just four reported profits for the April-June quarter, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis. They are all based in export-heavy South Korea or Taiwan, benefiting from the surge in demand for tech components and electronic gadgets as more people work from home, and for personal protective equipment, much of it produced in Asia. Continuing demand for automobile parts and other Asia-made goods has also helped.

The analysis excluded some major carriers that didnt report recent quarterly earnings.

Industrywide cargo revenue is expected to reach about $111 billion this year, according to the trade group International Air Transport Association. That is only a slight uptick from its pre-pandemic forecast, but the plunge in passenger revenueIATA has slashed its 2020 forecast to $241 billion from an initial $581 billionmeans cargos contribution would represent more than a quarter of total industry revenue, compared with the typical eighth.

For the four airlines that showed a profit in the latest quarterKorean Air Lines Co., Asiana Airlines Inc., China Airlines Ltd. and EVA Airways Corp.cargos share of revenue ranged from 72% at Korean Air to 93% at China Airlines, compared with no more than a third last year.

When the pandemic hit, it wiped out some 40% of the worlds capacity for air cargo carried in the bellies of passenger planes, according to the trade group IATA. Plenty of airlines looked to fill the gap and boost cargo capacity as the pandemic triggered mass layoffs and widespread flight cancellations and led governments to provide more than $120 billion in aid. They are using passenger planes for cargo operations temporarily, stashing freight in overhead bins and buckling it into seats or removing seats altogether. Travelers arent allowed aboard with cargo in the cabin.

The four carriers that showed profits enjoyed gains because they already had sizable cargo fleets. The profit boost came from the low supply of global airfreight capacity that sent the cost of shipping goods on common routes from Asia to the U.S. or Europe soaring; they have increased less going the other way. IATAs latest figures show capacity still about a third below last years levels.

Rates have fallen from recent highs, according to TAC Index, a market researcher, and industry analysts say they should decline further later this yearthough demand for shipping Covid-19 vaccines could disrupt that.

Seoul-based Korean Air recently removed passenger seats on two planes and has plans to soon modify two more, said Eum Jae-dong, the head of the airlines cargo business division. One unexpected benefit: Regulators still treat them as passenger flights, meaning goods can now fly to certain cities, like Yangon, Myanmar, previously difficult to reach for cargo fleets.

They can fly into airports and other destinations where cargo aircraft couldnt go because of airport conditions or the lack of operational equipment," Mr. Eum said.

But their advantage is also their limitation. Under aviation rules, a modified passenger plane cannot make multiple stops as an airfreight plane, according to Kim Yu-hyuk, an analyst at Hanwha Investment & Securities Co. in Seoul. They can make only round trips, as they typically would while carrying passengers.

Routes for airfreight carriers from South Korea and Taiwan typically begin with transporting locally made high-value electronic components to China or Southeast Asia. There, the components are dropped off and the plane picks up finished products to fly to Europe or North America. On the way back home, the planes often carry fresh foods and pharmaceuticals.

U.S. airlines, despite having the federal authority to do so, largely havent removed seats to fly more cargo, partly because most flights are domestic, using narrower-body planes that lack significant cargo capacity, industry experts say.

Still, U.S. carriers started cargo-only flights using just the bellies of their planes at the start of the pandemic and have now flown thousands of them1,200 since February for Delta Air Lines Inc. alone, which now averages about 50 a week, a spokesman said. The airline did remove seats from one Boeing 777-200ER, boosting its cargo capacity by 35%. The plane was first used on Sept. 11 for a cargo charter flight between Mumbai and New York. Delta, which is retiring its 777 fleet, has no current plans to reconfigure more planes, the spokesman said.

Seats have also come out at Air Canadaon three 777-300ERsand European carriers such as International Consolidated Airlines Group SAs British Airways and Deutsche Lufthansa AG. China Southern Airlines Co. reconfigured two Airbus A330 passenger planes. Dubai-based Emirates, which has one of the worlds largest air-cargo fleets, has ripped out economy seats on 10 passenger jets since June.

The airline industry is still bleeding cash by the billions each month," said Tim Clark, president of privately held Emirates, in a written statement. Were taking baby steps on the path to recovery."

The shift to cargo is a stopgap measure, say aviation experts. The core competency for passenger airlines is to serve passengers," said Bijan Vasigh, of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona, Fla., who specializes in airline economics. But about 3 billion fewer passengers are expected to fly this year than last, with airlines reducing available seats by about halfby about two-thirds on international routesaccording to the U.N.-affiliated International Civil Aviation Organization.

Meanwhile, for the April-June quarter Korean Air reported an operating profit of $90 million, hometown rival Asiana Airlines $19 million, Taiwans EVA Airways $6 million and China Airlines, also from Taiwan, $92 millionmore than four times what it had earned a year earlier.

This month, Korean Air deployed its first modified Boeing 777-300ER; removing most of its 291 cabin seats added 10.8 tons of capacity to its previous limit of 22 tons, the airline said. The newly cleared cabin and belly were packed with boxes of automobile parts, garments and electronics devices.

South Korean carriers have a geographical advantage being plugged into a location that produces goods," said Mr. Kim, the Hanwha analyst. The same applies to Taiwanese carriers."

Alison Sider in Chicago and Lekai Liu in Beijing contributed to this article.

Write to Eun-Young Jeong at Eun-Young.Jeong@wsj.com

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Topics
Figure 1

District Map Showing Seven High Potential Marimaca Style Deposit Targets

District Map Showing Seven High Potential Marimaca Style Deposit Targets

Figure 2

Plan View and Sections of New Magnetic Targets along the Naguayan Fault

Plan View and Sections of New Magnetic Targets along the Naguayan Fault

Figure 3

Sections of Mercedes and Cindy Targets Showing Location of Blind Oxide Targets Relative to Magnetic Anomalies

Sections of Mercedes and Cindy Targets Showing Location of Blind Oxide Targets Relative to Magnetic Anomalies

Figure 4

Section of Marimaca Showing Location of Oxide Deposit Relative to Magnetic Anomaly and Regional Structures

Section of Marimaca Showing Location of Oxide Deposit Relative to Magnetic Anomaly and Regional Structures

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Marimaca Copper Corp. (Marimaca Copper or the Company) (TSX: MARI) is pleased to announce the results of a high resolution, drone mounted, magnetic survey (the Survey) in the district surrounding the Companys flagship Marimaca Copper Project (Marimaca or the Project) in Chile. The Survey has identified several large-scale magnetic anomalies which the Company believes are prospective for Marimaca IOCG style deposits. The Company will host a webinar on this release on Monday the 28th of September 2020 at 11am EST (8am Pacific; 4pm UK). Questions can be submitted through the webinar platform, or via email to marimaca@tavistock.co.uk no later than two hours prior to the scheduled start time.



Webinar link details below:

Webinar Link

Highlights

Four large scale magnetic anomalies identified , believe d to be prospective for Marimaca style deposits

 All similar size to or larger than the Marimaca Sulphide Target (175 million m 3 )

All targets are adjacent to key regional structures which are believed to control mineralization at Marimaca

 Regional structures clearly shown in magnetic survey results

 Naguay a n Fault , which control s Marimaca , clearly defined over 6km strike length

 Cross cutting faults, an important mineralization control at Marimaca, noted at all targets

Regional structure identified over 25km

 New ground staked and option agreements executed covering full extent of prospective structures

 Expanded m agnetic surveys planned to identify additional targets for follow-up work

Three smaller targets on new fault structure s , proximal to successful previous shallow scout drilling campaign

Potential for blind copper oxide mineralization beneath shallow gravel, as well as large scale sulphide targets

Cindy , Llanos and Mercedes Targets marked by high - grade , artisanal , copper workings

 A key feature of Marimaca

Improved understanding of Marimaca and its structural controls help to further refine the exploration model to target repetitions of Marimaca IOCG s tyle mineralization

Follow-up work underway including IP surveys, surface geological work and drill hole planning

 Targeting drilling the Marimaca Sulphide Target in early 2021

Story continues

Sergio Rivera, VP Exploration of Marimaca Copper commented:

The clarity of the magnetic anomaly at Marimaca, gave us a clear impetus to expand the size of our survey to identify new targets within our now expanded land package. The results are exceptional. There are several large-scale magnetic anomalies adjacent to the important Naguayan Fault to the north of Marimaca which exhibit similar geometry and spatial relationship with regional structures. Perhaps most exciting is that many of the target areas are covered by gravel, suggesting that any near surface oxide mineralization associated with these magnetic anomalies is likely to be blind.

We believe we have the potential to discover a new copper district in Chile and we are mobilizing geological teams for follow-up work prior to drilling. At the Marimaca Sulphide Target, we will complete an Induced Polarization survey to further define the best locations for drilling. We will also commence surface geological work to help prioritize the new targets identified in the magnetic survey for follow-up work and we look forward to drill testing these as soon as possible.

Figure 1: District Map Showing Seven High Potential Marimaca Style Deposit Targets

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/52a54a0e-f163-414f-9629-5dd2df4ebd36

Expanded Land Position to Control 25km of Prospective Strike

The Company has materially expanded its land position, staking new claims and executing several option agreements over ground along strike to the north and south of the Marimaca deposit. With the execution of these agreements, Marimaca Copper now controls most of the 25km of prospective strike of the main regional structures that are believed to be the main controls for mineralization in the district. Most of the new claim package now controlled by Marimaca Copper were recently staked, but additionally, two new option agreements were executed, the terms of which are:

New Option Agreements :

Signed on 22 July 2020 & 14 August 2020 respectively;

US$10,000 on signing

US$80,000 12 months post signing

US$110,000 24 months post signing

US$300,000 36 months post signing

1.5% NSR royalty with an option to buy back 0.5% for US$500,000 at the Companys option; and

Right of first refusal over any sale of the remaining royalty



Marimaca Copper is now planning to extend the high-resolution drone mounted magnetic survey over the new claims to identify additional targets for follow-up exploration work. It is expected that these surveys will commence in late September or early October and take approximately four weeks to complete with results expected to be available before the end of 2020.

Follow-Up Exploration Work Planned

Follow-up work at the Marimaca Sulphide Target, as defined in the prior magnetic survey (refer release on 14 July 2020), planned to be completed before the end of 2020, will include:

Completion of an Environmental Impact Declaration (DIA) to provide all environmental permits required for drilling, expected in October 2020

Induced Polarization Survey, which is underway

Downhole magnetic susceptibility testing

Drill camp construction and contractor mobilization

Exploration drill hole planning; and

Road and infrastructure construction

The Company is planning to drill the Marimaca Sulphide Target in early 2021.

Follow-up surface work at the new targets to the north of Marimaca - Cindy, Llanos, Mercedes and Emilia - planned to be completed by the end of Q1 2021, will include:

1K Geological Mapping

Rock geochemistry on a 50m x 50m grid spacing

Induced Polarization Surveys

Exploration drill hole planning

Road and infrastructure construction



Follow-up district exploration work:

Expanded high resolution drone mounted magnetic surveys



A Potential New IOCG District

Multiple Large-Scale Sulphide Targets

Magnetic susceptibility work at Marimaca has shown a strong correlation between magnetic response and the primary copper sulphide chalcopyrite. The Company flew a high resolution, drone mounted, magnetic survey at Marimaca, which highlighted a large magnetic anomaly (refer release on 14 July 2020), in the interpreted down dip extension of the Marimaca Oxide Deposit. The success of this exploration work has allowed the Company to develop an exploration model which it believes can target repetitions of Marimacas IOCG style mineralization in its claims package.

The Company completed a broader magnetic survey, extending around the previous survey at Marimaca. The results were excellent and confirmed, in noticeably clear resolution, the Companys geological understanding of the district, but also provided significant further information on local and regional structures, especially the regionally extensive Naguayan and Robles Fault Systems, which extend to the north and to the north-east respectively (refer Figure 1).

Four large scale magnetic anomalies, defining the new Cindy, Llanos, Mercedes and Emilia areas, were identified, which the Company believes are prospective copper exploration targets. All are proximal to historic high-grade artisanal copper workings where chalcopyrite was extracted along with magnetite and, in the case of Mercedes, open pits which exposed some copper oxide mineralization.

Figure 2: Plan View and Sections of New Magnetic Targets along the Naguayan Fault

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a6987a92-66e0-439a-8be8-11ccd87b5a68

The magnetic susceptibility intensity levels, the orientation and geometry of the new magnetic anomalies, and their spatial location relative to the Naguayan Fault, is virtually identical to what is observed in the magnetic anomaly at the Marimaca Sulphide Target. These shared characteristics support the conclusion of the potential for Marimaca style deposits.

Potential Blind Oxide Deposits

Given the similarities between the new magnetic anomalies and Marimaca, there is clearly potential for oxide deposits similar to Marimaca in these new exploration areas. In contrast to Marimaca, there is a prevalence of transported cover in the form of gravels, especially in the valleys to the west of the sulphide targets at Cindy and Mercedes. This means that any geochemical signature of an oxide deposit is likely to be notably reduced or nonexistent and that if an oxide deposit exists in these valleys, it will be a blind deposit. The gravels have also been interpreted in the magnetic survey (refer Figure 2).

Figure 3: Sections of Mercedes and Cindy Targets Showing Location of Blind Oxide Targets

Relative to Magnetic Anomalies

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/83406f5c-bc14-4065-9061-a823c2869974

At Marimaca the oxides were exposed at surface and it, therefore, had a large geochemical signature. Figure 4 shows the location of the Marimaca Oxide Deposit relative to the magnetic anomaly, as well as the orientation and scale of the magnetic anomaly relative to the Naguayan Fault. The similarities, when comparing the anomalies and potential location of the blind oxide targets at both Cindy-Emilia and Mercedes (refer Figure 3) to Marimaca (refer Figure 4), can be clearly seen.

The Company sees potential for shallow oxide deposits in the valleys to the west of the magnetic anomalies at both the Cindy-Emilia and Mercedes targets and is planning follow-up surface geological work to further refine targets for drilling. The discovery of new mineralization that could provide additional oxide resources, within 5km of Marimaca, could materially change the scale and mine life of what is already an outstanding project. Because of their proximity to Marimaca, any new discoveries in these locations could be processed through a centralised SX-EW plant, with potential benefits to both capital and operating costs.

Figure 4: Section of Marimaca Showing Location of Oxide Deposit Relative to Magnetic Anomaly

and Regional Structures

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/550ada60-c24b-4e62-ae8d-a111fac1ac37

HR Magdrone Technical References

The magnetic survey was completed by GFDas Impronta Geofisica, which also completed the first survey at Marimaca. The total surveyed area was 37.5 km2, extending 7.5km north-south and 5km east-west. The survey was completed on 25 metre space east-west oriented lines with control lines oriented north-south every 250 meters. Flight altitudes ranged from 15 meters to 38 meters and averaged 20 meters above ground level. In total, 1,600-line kilometers were completed. A 3-Dimentional magnetic susceptibility model was generated utilising Geosofts Magnetic Inversion Vector software.

Qualified Persons

The technical information in this news release, including the information that relates to geology, drilling and mineralization was prepared under the supervision of, or has been reviewed by Sergio Rivera, Vice President of Exploration, Marimaca Copper Corp, a geologist with more than 36 years of experience and a member of the Colegio de Geologos de Chile and of the Institute of Mining Engineers of Chile, and who is the Qualified Person for the purposes of NI 43-101 responsible for the design and execution of the drilling program.

The Qualified Person for content other than geological information in this news release is Luis Tondo, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Marimaca Copper, a mining engineer with more than 30 years of experience and a Fellow of The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, who is the Qualified Person for the purposes of NI 43-101.

Both QPs confirm that they have visited the Marimaca Project on numerous occasions, are responsible for the information contained in this news release and consent to its publication.

Marimaca Copper and the Marimaca Project

Marimaca is fast becoming recognised as one of the most significant copper discoveries in Chile in recent years as it represents a new type of deposit which challenges accepted exploration wisdom and promises to open up new frontiers for discoveries elsewhere in the country. Marimaca is hosted by intrusive rocks while the numerous manto deposits in the same region are hosted by volcanics. With a lack of new copper exploration discoveries in Chile, and globally, the growing Marimaca resource is a high-profile development project as it is situated in the coastal belt at low elevation close to Antofagasta and Mejillones. This prime location could enable its future development at a relatively modest capital investment as highlighted in the Companys PEA, which was released in early August 2020. Marimaca will benefit from nearby existing infrastructure including roads, powerlines, ports, a sulphuric acid plant, a skilled workforce and seawater.

Contact Information

For further information please visit www.marimaca.com or contact:

Tavistock

+44 (0) 207 920 3150

Jos Simson/Emily Moss

marimaca@tavistock.co.uk

Forward Looking Statements



This news release includes certain forward-looking statements under applicable Canadian securities legislation. These statements relate to future events or the Companys future performance, business prospects or opportunities. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the impact of a rebranding of the Company, the future development and exploration potential of the Marimaca Project. Actual future results may differ materially. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by Marimaca Copper, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: risks related to share price and market conditions, the inherent risks involved in the mining, exploration and development of mineral properties, the uncertainties involved in interpreting drilling results and other geological data, fluctuating metal prices, the possibility of project delays or cost overruns or unanticipated excessive operating costs and expenses, uncertainties related to the necessity of financing, the availability of and costs of financing needed in the future as well as those factors disclosed in the Companys documents filed from time to time with the securities regulators in the Provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Marimaca Copper undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements contained herein whether as a result of new information or future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law.




Fresh facts have emerged on why the management of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Oyo State, on Friday, September 11, terminated the appointment of a chief lecturer and former chairperson of the institutions chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Kelani Ajadi.

Prior to his sack, Mr. Ajadi had been placed on an indefinite suspension since 2019 which lasted 17 months. While on suspension, the lecturer was paid half of his salary.

Investigations by PREMIUM TIMES revealed that Mr. Ajadi, a lecturer at the department of urban and regional planning, faculty of environmental studies, reportedly sexually harassed 31-year-old Modinat Balogun. Ms Balogun was popularly known as Nifemi on the campus.

In some recorded telephone conversations, which went viral in 2019, and which were obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, the lecturer had engaged in altercations with a woman over the sexual harassment allegation.

The woman, known as Mrs Bello, and later found to be the female students aunt, had threatened on the phone to expose the lecturer.

My daughter said you have been sleeping with her, yet you failed her twice. I have almost killed her, and Im coming to the school on Monday to let the whole world know the type of lecturer you are Mrs Bello threatened in the clip.

Meanwhile, in another recording, the same lecturers voice is heard confiding what transpired between him and the female student in a woman who was later identified as Ms Bunmi. The latter is said to be a policewoman reportedly attached to the special investigation bureau located within the police headquarters, Eleyele, in Ibadan.

In the audio recording, the lecturer confided in the policewoman that the female student was her girlfriend but accused her of transferring N100,000 from his account. He sought the assistance of the officer in getting her arrested.

Mr. Ajadi, who did not deny the contents of the audio recordings, told our reporter that his phone was stolen in 2018, and that the contents shared via social media might have been doctored.

According to the polytechnics spokesperson, Adewole Soladoye, the embarrassment the development caused the institution had informed the managements decision to set up both an investigative panel and a disciplinary committee to look into the matter.

This matter had been on for over a year. It took this long so that the truth could be unraveled, and at the end of the day, the lecturer was found guilty, Mr Soladoye told this newspaper on the phone.

Meanwhile, a statement issued by the polytechnics registrar, Modupe Fawale, a copy of which PREMIUM TIMES obtained, noted that a letter announcing the lecturers sack was dated September 15.

According to the registrar, the letter of termination of appointment, which was addressed to Mr Ajadi, had read in part; You will recall that you were engaged in inappropriate behaviour and a poorly managed relationship with your former student. These resulted in embarrassing and tarnishing the image of your employer, The Polytechnic, Ibadan (TPI).

You will also recall your responses and appearances before the investigation panel and senior staff disciplinary committee that looked into the above matters. After a careful consideration of the issues above, the governing council found you guilty as your activities amount to misconduct.

The governing council, therefore, approved the termination of your appointment with effect from Friday, September 11, 2020.

But Mr Ajadi has denied the allegation and vowed to challenge the decision in court. He told this newspaper on the phone that he had already briefed his lawyer.

How it all started

According to the student, her trouble started as soon as Mr Ajadi was appointed her project supervisor in the 2015/2016 academic session. She said even after consenting to his alleged persistent sexual demand, the lecturer allegedly continued to frustrate her, so that our amorous relationship could continue unending.

Having failed to complete her project for about two sessions, Ms Balogun disclosed that the lecturer,again, in 2018 agreed to let her go, as long as I cooperated.

She said; So, one day he helped me to print my questionnaire and said I should bring them to his quarters in the night. But on that day, I went to the hospital for a toothache that was disturbing me and I told him I would not be able to make it on that day, but my lecturer begged me and insisted I should come.

In fact, that night, he came to pick me at the school gate. But the pain persisted and I begged him to just check my work and should allow me to sleep. But in the middle of the night he insisted he must sleep with me.

Ms Balogun disclosed that at a stage he pushed Mr. Kelani to the wall forcefully and she had thought the man had passed out. But as soon as he recovered, he continued to disturb me, begging me to allow him sleep with me.

She said she was shocked at the nonchalant attitude shown by the lecturer concerning her toothache and demanded that he should give her N100,000.

I wanted to use the money to scare him, but surprisingly he agreed to pay. So I gave him my account but because I was using a student account, I couldnt receive up to N100,000, she said.

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As a way out, the student said she insisted the money should be sent to her cousin, Oluwatosin Ayanmos Guaranty Trust Bank account. He said he had sent it but I said there was no way I could confirm from the account owner that night, and that nothing would happen between us until morning when it is confirmed.

She said when the lecturer insisted, she ran out of the room and moved to the sitting room and locked the door against the lecturer.

I slept on the couch in the sitting room that night, but by early in the morning when he was going to the mosque, Mr. Ajadi forced the door open and said I should confirm with the owner of the account before he came back. So he locked the door against me and left for the mosque, she said.

She said she quickly took the backdoor to escape. I quickly ran home in Lagos, and narrated the whole experience. And that was what caused the telephone conversation between my mum and Mr Ajadi.

The police connection

The student said the lecturer lodged a complaint at a police station and the bank was informed of the transaction, leading to Pay no debit (PND) order placed on the account.

She said the account owner could not withdraw below N100,000 from the account. But because we arent interested in the money, we were not bothered.

However, on April 27, 2019, Ms Balogun was arrested in Ibadan allegedly by officers from the special unit at Eleyele, where she said she was remanded till May 2, 2019, when she was charged to court.

In fact, with a single underwear, I had my menstruation for more than two days while I was in their custody. I insisted I did not steal his money and narrated the whole story, but no pity until a Good Samaritan lawyer appeared for me, she said.

ALSO READ:

According to Ms Baloguns lawyer -Ola Adeosun, an Ibadan-based human rights activist, his client was charged before Magistrate Giwa Babalola of Magistrates Court 5, Iyaganku.

The lawyer said; We immediately filed a no case submission in the court because we believed no prima facie case had been established against the student.

He said though the court overruled his submission and advised his client to open defence, the ruling has been appealed at a high court in the city.

Mr Adeosun said the court sat last on February 12, but since the coronavirus outbreak, he said no date has been fixed for the matter.

Management victimising me -Lecturer

In his reaction to the sack, Mr. Ajadi said that he is being victimised by the institutions management over his position as a union leader.

In a telephone interview with our reporter, Mr. Ajadi said that he has documents to back his claim but insisted he could not transmit them to the newspaper electronically.

He said; I cannot tell you that the recordings being circulated are entirely mine. The reason is because I lost my phone in 2018 and I reported at a police station. So by 2019 I was surprised to see the recordings being played around. So, who said they have not doctored it?

He said that his lawyer is already preparing to file the matter in court, saying he will fight the decision to a logical conclusion.

But the polytechnics public relations officer, Mr. Soladoye, said the institution took the step to save its image and assure anyone harassed or molested whether students or staff or any of the members of the community of adequate protection.
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Linkedin Budi Sutrisno (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, September 23, 2020 16:43 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46b4996 1 World Jokowi,UNGA,united-nations-general-assembly,Indonesia,Palestine,United-Nations,New-York-City,multilateralism,international-relations,peace Free

In his first-ever address at the United Nations General Assembly, Indonesian President Joko Jokowi Widodo called on all countries to put an end to global division and rivalries, emphasizing the need for nations to act together in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.

Jokowi said international conflicts had prevented the UN from fully achieving its dream of creating a peaceful, stable and prosperous world  an ambition that the organization had set out to achieve since its establishment 75 years ago.

Our concern grew even deeper during the COVID-19 pandemic. At a time when we ought to unite and work together, what we see, instead, is a deep division and growing rivalries, Jokowi said in his virtual address broadcasted on Tuesday evening New York time, or Wednesday morning Jakarta time.

Jokowi pointed out poverty and hunger as results of conflicts, while highlighting the prevalent neglect of the principles of the UN Charter and international laws, including the respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.

We must unite and always promote a win-win approach that is mutually beneficial in building relations among states.

He asserted that global unity was particularly urgent given the health and socioeconomic impacts brought by the pandemic, which has swept across more than 200 countries and territories to date.

No one is safe until everyone is. If division and rivalries continue to persist, I am concerned that the pillars of stability and sustainable peace will crumble or even be destroyed, Jokowi said.

Read also: Indonesia calls for strengthened multilateral institutions as UN turns 75

Indonesias commitment to world peace

During the largest annual multilateral summit, Jokowi reasserted the Southeast Asian country's commitment to continuously contribute to building world peace, as mandated by Indonesia's own Constitution.

Indonesia would consistently play the role of a "bridge builder" to provide solutions to world issues and promote a spirit of cooperation, he said.

Jokowi also reiterated Indonesias support for Palestine, emphasizing the relevance of the values embedded in the 1955 Bandung Conference, which gave birth to the Bandung Principles of peaceful settlement of disputes, promotion of cooperation and respect for international law.

Palestine is the only country that attended the Bandung Conference but has not enjoyed its independence until now.

He further expressed Indonesia's commitment to maintaining regional peace and stability in Southeast Asia, and to put forward the same spirit in promoting wider collaboration in the Indo-Pacific region through the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific.

Indonesias recommendations to the UN, world countries

With regard to the current global situation, Jokowi urged the UN to continue strengthening reforms, revitalization and efficiency within the body to remain relevant and contributive in keeping with the challenges of the times.

The UN needs to be more responsive and effective in tackling global challenges, and all of us bear the responsibility to further strengthen the UN, he said.

The UN is not a mere building in the city of New York, rather, it represents an ideal and shared commitment of all nations.

Jokowi specifically highlighted the aspect of multilateralism that the UN should pay attention to, as he said it was the only tool that could guarantee equality.

Indonesia has an unwavering faith in the UN and multilateralism, he said, The UN needs to prove that multilateralism delivers, especially during this time of crisis.

Read also: World leaders mark UN at 75, challenged by pandemic and US, China tensions

The President also urged the UN and the world to strengthen collective global leadership.

We are all aware that when it comes to international relations, every country always protects their national interests. However, we must not forget that all of us have the responsibility to contribute to be part of the solution for peace, stability and prosperity of the world, he said.

Moreover, he called for countries around the globe to strengthen cooperation in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic.

All nations must work together to ensure that no country would be left behind in gaining equal access to safe coronavirus vaccines at affordable prices, he said.

Jokowi also urged the world to gradually start revitalizing the economy by tackling the limits to the global supply chain, with prioritization of the health of all world citizens.

A healthy world, productive world needs to be our priority.
Below is the transcript of a CNBC Exclusive interview with Reinhard Ploss, CEO, Infineon. If you choose to use anything, please attribute to CNBC and Tanvir Gill.

Tanvir Gill (TG): Reinhard, first up, with China auto demand picking up for August. What does that mean for your automotive business? Do you see the business bouncing back because that's 20% of your overall sales?

Reinhard Ploss (RP): The business has come back quite strongly in the last month and we see a strengthening across the globe. Of course, China is leading quite significantly the recovery and other areas are strengthening. What we see that some of the governmental programs fostering electromobility are kicking in and we see rising demand also there. On the long term, it has to be botched out, how things are developing. I think in some countries, the recovery will be quite slow, and we will wait for quite some quarters until we are back on the level prior to the pandemic.

TG: Right. What can you share with us about your overall recovery plans because you operate in so many segments? When do you see yourself getting back to pre-pandemic growth levels?

RP: The business model of Infineon is pretty resilient. We are addressing a lot of different markets like energy efficiency, big data and others. During the pandemic, we even have seen additional demand, especially in the data and the communications area. Renewable has been pretty much unchanged. So, here we have not seen such a big drop, which we also could support the continued manufacturing. So the biggest question we have, how the request from the consumers area will be and how the automotive segment will develop. The rest is pretty stable and strong, which I think be reflected in our expectation in the business numbers.

TG: Oh, interesting. Good to know that. There has been a deal that's happened in the vicinity. Do want to get your thoughts in on Nvidia buying ARM Holdings for 40 billion dollars. Now I do know that they're not direct competitors. But even so, do you think that the deal signals more consolidation for the sector.

RP: The semiconductor sector has always been characterized by consolidation. We ourselves just closed the acquisition of Cypress. And I think here this is a signal of ongoing trends. We perceive ARM architecture as very important for the industry. And our interest is that the ARM architecture becomes an open platform to all players in the markets. And we hope that this is considered valid and all the trade ahead of us.

TG: But do you think that their open licensing model is under threat given that Nvidia will be buying them out?

RP: I have no information about this. And I think the logic of ARMs' business and Nvidia's deal should not address this. On the other side, we also see and are exploring ourselves the RISC-V architecture, which is a very open and common platform, and Infineon is very much supporting open platforms where IP is available to everybody. So let's see how things develop. Sometimes these moves can change the overall setup and industry. But we believe that the ARM environment is pretty strong and we are very interested, and we'll have the dialogue with Nvidia being invited to make sure that the interests of the industry are covered. We have heard from others that they are very concerned. For me, I always prefer to have a dialogue and see how the best deal can be made up for the future. And maybe that the ARM architecture might even be propelled by this deal, everything else may be adverse to the business.

TG: Would you be looking at more acquisitions, Reinhard, at this stage given the landscape for the sector to expand your market share as well as expand your client base? And if so, in what areas?

RP: Our strategy always has been that after the acquisition of International Rectifier, which was more an acquisition of scale, the acquisition of Cyprus was an acquisition of scope. Infineon has a very clear strategy moving from the product complete solution. And the acquisition here completed as quite well with microcontrollers and connectivity, which is essential for growing our IoT segment. Currently, we are not pursuing significant M&A as we are in the integration of Cypress, which is a very unique experience considering that we are doing this in a kind of a shut-down environment. But as acquisitions and mergers are part of semiconductor industry, this of course is a consideration of Infineon. But for the moment it is more strengthened us in technology elements. So far new elements and interesting elements come up. Our priority is always that besides M&A, we are able to create and develop new IP ourselves and achieve with this an advantage in the market.

TG: I do understand that both US and China are important markets for you given rising US China tech tensions, where semiconductors have become a key battleground. Do you worry you could be caught in the crosshairs of their respective protectionist policies given now that you own a US domiciled company as well in Cyprus tech?

RP: Well, I think here the constraints are already today, present or have been present before the acquisition of the Cypress company. And because we have to follow all the regulatory approvals on export, which we do very diligently, the geopolitical tension between the two superpowers are a big concern. Because we think we should not focus on countries we should focus on the needs of our global society and requirements. And this needs cooperation. So the tech dispute we have is, let's say, definitely a concern of different reasons. But we are able to cope with it.

TG: You're able to cope with it. But can these tensions, Reinhard, and that's the important one here - can these tensions disrupt the supply chains that you are part of specially in sectors like automotive as well as IoT? I'm given to understand the some of your clients include Huawei and ZTE?

RP: The impression as of today is that the automotive value chain is less affected from this yes of course. You mentioned companies being in automotive, but the majority of the automotive supply chain is yet different than along the incumbent tier one players as the dominant players in this field. So for automotive, we don't expect so much the major focus is around 5G and the data segment therefore, these, also the renewables and the rest we believe that the value chain can cope with it, and where constraints are arising we'll find ways to get it done in an alternative manner. But the residual areas which are effective and will be even more effective from our expectation.

TG: So you do not think at any stage in the future, you could risk being in a position where you could be asked to limit ties with Huawei by US regulators, if not directly then through Cypress Tech?

RP: In general, the export rules already today limit our business with Huawei and ZTE. And this very significantly on the other side, the amount of business there is for the company a limited percentage.

TG: Right now there's a lot of talk about how China is getting more self-reliant by setting up its own domestic supply chains. And I wonder how much of that is a risk for you? How closely are you watching that story? And where do you think China is in that process?

RP: Semiconductors always have been a key element for China and major import element and strategy to become autonomous on the sector always had been present and being followed very strictly. The current dispute, this accelerated very significantly, but we always had it on the screen and had watch points to do. The business of Infineon is around innovation, technical differentiation, complete, solutions, and we believe that this point especially all those things, with the acquisition of Cypress will help us to make our business in China growing successfully. But we always have expected an increasing competition out of China and prepare ourselves for this. So this is nothing new. Justice may be a very soft word for it but significantly accelerated now, and we cope with it. But here Infineon is a global player. We are strong and increasingly strong with our footprint in Japan related to automotive. The acquisition of Cypress has strengthened our position in US. But we also want to be part of the vibrant innovation area in the valley. And this also turns out to be very successful. So for me, it is an ongoing consideration that we strengthen ourselves and focus on our global success space.

TG: Infineon just a few days ago invested more in Malaysia and I wonder is that a conscious diversification strategy across Asia moving away from China to the rest of the region?

RP: We never considered to move away from China. We strengthened our China production, especially as an example for the modules for electromobility, and will continue to do so. Our investments, our manufacturing footprint, and our R&D centers, are very much located in areas where we see high trust version level of IP treatment availability of capable people and a stable social environment. So many years ago, we chose Malaysia in order to have our production there. In Singapore we have revolved our manufacturing to a highly automated run with the support of Singapore government. R&D I think has spread in a global manner, but for Infineon as being very IP conscious, and this is nothing against anybody, it is for Infineon that we are making sure nothing gets lost. The core IP is in countries like Germany, Austria, and others where we can hundred percent trust that IP is treated as we expected. So there is no defocusing on China, we will continue to focus but we also had a manufacturing strategy was around economies of scale. So all our factories should be large and not distributed across the globe.

TG: Right and lastly, Reinhard, through the pandemic, a lot of our lives have moved online and I wonder, what kind of opportunity does that open for you, for your business to explore different segments under IoT?

RP: So in the IoT segment, definitely the current push comes from the demand of connectivity, of server capacity. And this is what we expect also to grow near term. My personal expectation or the expectation of the company is that the human machine interface, the way we interact on a virtual basis will change significantly.

Today's set up is I would say doing its job, but it's pretty cumbersome. I'm very happy to see you smiling at me, but I miss this in a larger audience. So, I want to have ways where we can interact and can show emotions that I can understand and be more dynamic in the interaction. I believe that the new way of working will give us a push in productivity, but we have to address it smartly and the mix between presence and virtual interaction. But very clearly, we expect that human machine interfaces will be the next big thing, we sign all the area of IoT at edge of the cloud at edge performance. So, I think here also this very small AI in the edge will be another driving factor where we are preparing ourselves and are offering solutions to our customers. This is everything to be developed and moving forward.

END

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A small near-Earth asteroid (or NEA) will briefly visit Earth's neighborhood on Thursday, Sept. 24, zooming past at a distance of about 13,000 miles (22,000 kilometers) above our planet's surface.

The asteroid will make its close approach below the ring of geostationary satellites orbiting about 22,000 miles (36,000 km) away from Earth.

Scientists estimate that 2020 SW is roughly 15-30 feet (5-10 meters) in size, based on its brightness - or about the size of a small school bus. Although it's not on an impact trajectory with Earth, if it were, the space rock would almost certainly break up high in the atmosphere, becoming a bright meteor known as a fireball.

"There are a large number of tiny asteroids like this one, and several of them approach our planet as close as this several times every year," said Paul Chodas, director of the Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. "In fact, asteroids of this size impact our atmosphere at an average rate of about once every year or two."

After asteroid 2020 SW was discovered on Sept. 18 by the NASA-funded Catalina Sky Survey in Arizona, follow-up observations confirmed its orbital trajectory to a high precision, ruling out any chance of impact. CNEOS scientists determined that it will make its closest approach at 4:12 a.m. PDT (7:12 a.m. EDT) on Sept. 24 over the Southeastern Pacific Ocean. After Thursday's close approach, the asteroid will continue its journey around the Sun, not returning to Earth's vicinity until 2041, when it will make a much more distant flyby.

In 2005, Congress assigned NASA the goal of finding 90% of the near-Earth asteroids that are about 460 feet (140 meters) or larger in size. These larger asteroids pose a much greater threat if they were to impact, and they can be detected much farther away from Earth, because they're simply much brighter than the small ones. It is thought that there are over 100 million small asteroids like 2020 SW, but they are very hard to discover unless they get very close to Earth.

"The detection capabilities of NASA's asteroid surveys are continually improving, and we should now expect to find asteroids of this size a couple days before they come near our planet," added Chodas.

A division of Caltech in Pasadena, JPL hosts CNEOS for NASA's Near-Earth Object Observations Program in NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office. More information about CNEOS, asteroids and near-Earth objects can be found at: https://cneos.jpl.nasa.gov

For more information about NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/planetarydefense

For asteroid and comet news and updates, follow @AsteroidWatch on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AsteroidWatch

Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 17:58:21|Editor: huaxia

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TEHRAN, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday that the United States has waged an economic war against Iran, official IRNA news agency reported.

"We're in economic war" through U.S. sanctions on Iranian financial, economic and business institutions, Rouhani was quoted as saying.

Iran is grappling with "the harshest sanctions in history imposed in blatant and gross violation of the Charter of the United Nations and international agreements," Rouhani said during his Tuesday's address to the 75th session of the UN General Assembly.

U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew from the Iranian 2015 landmark nuclear deal, internationally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), in May 2018 and unilaterally re-imposed financial and economic sanctions against Iran. Enditem
San Antonios H-E-B yanked a cocktail-mix makers products from store shelves earlier this year after a dispute over their new name.

Be Mixed became Swoon Mixers in Texas on March 1 despite H-E-B objecting to the name change.

H-E-B opposed the switch because it uses the Swoon name on its private-label ice cream, which comes in more than a dozen flavors, from Texas Brownie A La Mode to Lemon Poppy Cake.

H-E-B now is suing New York-based Swoon Brands LLC for trademark infringement in San Antonio federal court, seeking unspecified monetary damages.

The grocery chain also wants the court to order the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to cancel Swoon Brands trademark registration and to reject three pending trademark applications.

On ExpressNews.com: H-E-B ice cream recall creates messy dispute

At H-E-B, we invest heavily in the development of our brands to provide our customers the best quality products, spokeswoman Dya Campos said in an email. As a result, we cannot sit on the sidelines while others use without permission the intellectual property H-E-B and its partners have worked so hard to develop.

We would prefer to not go to court, but H-E-B must act to protect our trademarks and brand, she added.

Calls to Swoon Brands and its trademark attorney were not immediately returned today.

Before H-E-B launched Swoon ice cream in June 2017, it spent years developing and testing products at its San Antonio ice cream plant, according to the lawsuit. The products have tallied millions in units sold and registered consistent sales growth.

The Patent and Trademark Office issued H-E-B a trademark registration for Swoon in the spring of 2018, or nearly two years after the grocer submitted an application.

Swoon Brands LLC predecessor Be Mixed LLC incorporated in 2013, selling sugar-free, zero-calorie cocktail mixers in supermarkets, including H-E-B. Be Mixed was registered as a trademark in January 2018.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio man sues H-E-B after cashier allegedly whacked him with cucumber

A few months after it received the trademark, Be Mixed LLC applied to trademark Swoon.

The Patent and Trademark Office has established 45 classes, or categories, of trademarks that cover all goods and services.

Be Mixed LLCs application covered both Class 30, for staple foods, and Class 32, for light beverages. H-E-Bs trademark covers Class 30.

Swoon Brands had nearly two years during which even a cursory trademark clearance search would have revealed H-E-Bs prior-filed application for the exact same mark covering goods in the same class, and about ten months during which a search would have revealed H-E-Bs ongoing use, the grocer says in its lawsuit.

The rebranded Swoon products were launched around July 2019, the suit says. H-E-B raised its objections a few months later.

When H-E-B first lodged these objections, it had yet to learn an especially troubling fact: Swoon Brands also planned to expand the infringing Swoon mark into Texas retailers, H-E-B says. Be Mixed products were still being sold in Texas, including at H-E-B, at the time.

The cocktail-mix maker incorporated as Swoon Brands LLC in December, records show.

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The two sides spent several months attempting to negotiate a compromise. Even so, H-E-B says Swoon Brands moved forward with its planned expansion in Texas.

H-E-Bs business team received a presentation from Swoon Brands vice president of sales and marketing at the beginning of this year, when it learned the Be Mixed products would transition to Swoon Mixers starting March 1.

Swoon Brands recently expanded its products into beverages with the addition of Swoon Lemonade, H-E-B says.

While Swoon Brands sells its infringing products in other Texas retailers, it no longer sells in H-E-Bs stores, the grocer says in its complaint. For obvious reasons, H-E-B pulled Swoon Brands products from its stores earlier this year.

Since receiving a trademark registration last year for the name Swoon, covering Class 30, Swoon Brands has filed applications to use Swoon Mixers and Swoon Lemonade.

H-E-B argues that Swoon Brands use of Swoon is likely to confuse consumers.

The risk of consumer confusion is especially troubling because, unlike Swoon Brands infringing Swoon products, H-E-Bs Swoon products are not zero-calorie or sugar-substitute products, H-E-B says.

Patrick Danner Patrick Danner covers banking, insurance, business litigation and bankruptcies. To read more from Patrick, become a subscriber. pdanner@express-news.net | Twitter: @AlamoPD
River Bay area, Sept. 13. A man was dragged out of his vehicle, then beaten and assaulted by two males after he attempted to assist a woman with whom the males were arguing. The assailants put the man back in his vehicle, then fled. Two Lexington Park men, 28 and 29, were arrested and charged with attempted murder, first- and second-degree assault, and malicious destruction of property. The injured man was taken to a trauma center in critical condition.
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.

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Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar said, the purpose of labour reforms is to provide a transparent system to suit the changed business environment.

Parliament on Wednesday approved three key labour reform bills that will remove impediments for winding up of companies and allow firing of staff without government permission in firms with up to 300 workers.

Amid boycott by opposition parties including Congress and Left over suspension of eight MPs, Rajya Sabha passed by voice vote the three remaining labour codes on industrial relations, social security and occupational safety.

The three codes were passed by Lok Sabha on Tuesday and these will now be sent to the President for his assent.

Replying to the debate on the three labour reforms bills, Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar said, "The purpose of labour reforms is to provide a transparent system to suit the changed business environment."

The minister also told the House that as many as 16 states have already increased the threshold for closure, lay off and retrenchment in firms with up to 300 workers without government permission.

He maintained that it is not good for employment generation to keep the threshold low at 100 because it discourages employers to recruit more workers than this and they deliberately keep their workers' strength below it.

The minister was of the view that the increase in threshold would result in job creation and encourage employers to hire.

He said these bills would safeguard the interest of workers and provide universal social security to workers by expanding the ambit of Employees' Provident Fund Organisation and Employees' State Corporation of India.

He also said that there would a social security fund to cover around 40 crore unorganised sector workers.

Over 29 labour laws have been merged into four codes and one (Code on Wages Bill, 2019) of them has already been passed, according to the minister.

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 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.

The Code on Wages 2019 was passed by Parliament last year.

The passage of the remaining three codes by Parliament completes government efforts to reform labour laws in the country.
A Shikshamitra was arrested for allegedly raping a six-year-old student inside a primary school in Uttar Pradeshs Meerut district on Tuesday.

Circle officer of Mawana area, Uday Pratap Singh, said that a case of rape has been registered against the accused and appropriate sections of POCSO act will also be invoked.

The girl is a minor, so sections of the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act would also be slapped against him, said Singh.

The accused is a Shikshamitra in a village primary school in Meerut district. The incident came to light after the girl informed her family members, who along with the villagers, rushed to the school and thrashed the accused.

A few people managed to lock the accused inside a classroom and informed police.

Also Read: Gangas water did not improve during lockdown; less flow may have deteriorated quality

Following the information, sub divisional magistrate (SDM) of Mawana, Kamlesh Goel, and circle officer Uday Pratap rushed to the school with police force and convinced the villagers to hand over the accused to the police.

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / September 21, 2020 / Experion Holdings Ltd. (the "Company" or "Experion") (TSXV:EXP)(OTCQB:EXPFF)(FRANKFURT:MB31) is pleased to announce a partnership with Velvet Management Inc. ("Velvet"), to be its national sales and distribution agent for its premium craft cannabis brand, Citizen Stash, to be sold through provincially licensed stores across Canada.

Velvet is a leading full-service cannabis marketing agency with deep industry knowledge, an established sales team in all ten provinces and best in class distribution capabilities. The partnership with Velvet is expected to have substantial impact on the sales of Citizen Stash nationally as it will be the only cannabis brand represented by Velvet in the premium craft market segment.

"Experion is committed to expanding and supporting national distribution for its premium, craft cannabis products," commented Mr. Jarrett Malnarich, Experion's CEO. "Direct relationships with dispensary owners, budtenders, and key retail gatekeepers is a critical part of our branding strategy for Citizen Stash. As we continue to scale nationally, we believe Velvet is the right partner to represent Experion to provincial cannabis boards and retailers as we expand our distribution network across Canada. We also see Velvet playing an essential role in creating and building demand at the consumer level which in turn will drive increased revenues and ultimately profitability for our company."

About Velvet Management Inc.

Velvet Management Inc. is a cannabis agency providing product sales and distribution to provincial cannabis boards and private retailers across Canada. Velvet was created by the largest importer of alcohol in Canada, Groupe Dandurand, responsible for 6.2 million cases or $1.2 billion in retail sales. With the largest wine salesforce in Canada they service over 10,000 retail points. Groupe Dandurand has been in operation since 1968, with 225 employees and with offices in Calgary, Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver. Their performance has won them Supplier/Partner of the Year by the LCBO multiple times.

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About Experion Holdings Ltd.

Experion Holdings Ltd. is the parent company of Experion Biotechnologies Inc., a Health Canada licensed cultivator and processor of Cannabis, based in Mission, BC.

Experion Holdings Ltd. is invested in a portfolio of products to address a wide spectrum of consumer needs' including Adult-use, Wellness and Therapeutic, and Medical products.

Experion trades on the TSX Venture Exchange as a Tier 1 issuer under the symbol "EXP" on the OTCQB Venture under the symbol "EXPFF" and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol "MB31"

For further information, please visit the Company's website www.experionwellness.com or contact Investor Relations, Email: IR@experionwellness.com

Disclosure

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Although the Company believes that such information is reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct.

Forward looking information is typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, forecast, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking information provided by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking information as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to: the state of the financial markets for the Company's equity securities; recent market volatility; the Company's ability to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies; the risks identified in the Filing Statement, and other risks and factors that the Company is unaware of at this time. The reader is referred to the Filing Statement dated September 25, 2017 and/or the most recent annual and interim Management's Discussion and Analysis for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects, copies of which may be accessed through the Company page on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies ofthe TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Experion Holdings Ltd.





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/606846/Experion-Partners-with-Leading-National-Sales-Agency-Velvet-Management




PUBLIC Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath has assured a private meeting of Fianna Fail that the upcoming Budget won't be "slash and burn".

The meeting of Fianna Fail TDs and Senators also heard calls from backbench TDs for cuts to the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) to be reconsidered.

Sources told Independent.ie that Mr McGrath gave an update on Budget preparations.

He said it was being devised against backdrop of uncertainty that he dubbed a "perfect storm".

He offered assurances that it won't be a "slash and burn" Budget.

Read More

In his contribution, Mr McGrath said there will be a focus on delivering on priorities in health, housing, capital expenditure and supports for a no-deal Brexit but also cautioned that the Covid-19 crisis will have a serious impact on expenditure.

Dun Laoghaire TD Cormac Devlin and Carlow-Kilkenny TD John Mr McGuinness made calls for cuts to the PUP to be reconsidered.

The top rate of the PUP was reduced from 350 to 300-per week on September 17.

Fine Gael Minister Heather Humphreys defended the coalition's decision in the Dail this week. She said the payment has to be sustainable as it's being extended into 2021, much longer than the original 12 weeks that had been envisaged when it was introduced for people who lost jobs due to the Covid-19 crisis.

It's understood Mr Devlin referred to the increased restrictions in Dublin in his contribution pointing out that it's hard for job seekers in the capital to secure alternative employment with the enhanced limits on businesses and everyday life.

Mr McGuinness also called for a rethink on the cuts while also speaking of the need for the less well off and elderly to be looked after in the Budget.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin also addressed the meeting.

He claimed Sinn Fein are consistently negative and "cynically exploiting" issues in Dail contributions. His remarks came after a particularly heated clash with Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald in the Dail today.

Mr Martin spoke of the ongoing impact of Covid-19 on the economy and Irish society amid efforts to suppress the virus and the importance of providing supports to badly hit sectors like tourism, hospitality, the arts and sport.

He said planning is ongoing for specific supports to aid recovery in those areas.

Mr Martin said a programme of capital spending will be hugely important for providing jobs and achieving objectives in the Programme for Government.

He also issued fresh warnings about Brexit and the risk that a trade deal won't be reached with the UK by the end of the year.

Supports and investment is to be focused on protecting workers from the dual threats of the pandemic and a no-trade-deal Brexit.

Meanwhile, the Taoiseachs chief economic adviser has said younger and lower-paid workers are bearing the economic burden of pandemic.

In a presentation to the Fianna Fail parliamentary party, economist Professor Alan Ahearne said the Government can minimise the rise in long-term unemployment among this group through education, retraining and upskilling.

He also pointed to labour market activation and strategic, jobs-rich public investment to address the expected rise in unemployment.

He also pointed to labour market activation and strategic, jobs-rich public investment to address the expected rise in unemployment.

He also discussed the role for remote working, digital hubs, and regional clustering in a post Covid society.

He said Brexit will affect regions differently.

Mr Ahearn outlined the Governments short-term plans which are to support the economy through the pandemic and no-deal Brexit and drive a jobs-led, balanced recovery.

He said the long-term plan is for Ireland to transition to a low carbon, knowledge-based, digital economy.

Transition to a low carbon economy will affect nearly all sectors of the economy, he said.

Pandemic has accelerated the move to online and digital services and automation of work.

Our SMEs are underperforming in the areas of R&D and innovation, he added.

He also noted that the countrys population is growing and ageing and this will have implications for housing, pensions and spending on healthcare.

He said there will be lasting changes in sectors most affected by the pandemic such as hospitality, tourism, travel, personal services and retail.

And added that Brexit may have lasting effects on agriculture and agri-food industries.
Selbyville, Delaware, Sept. 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --



Global Market Insights, Inc. has recently added a new report on fuel cell electric vehicle market which estimates the global market valuation for FCEV will cross US$ 14 billion by 2026. The market is projected to witness a high growth owing to stringent fuel economy standards developed by government bodies and regulatory authorities such as the European Union and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The severe impacts on the global economy due to the rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic have hampered the growth of the FCEV market in 2020. Disruptions in business operations and supply chains have adversely affected the R&D and manufacturing operations of market players. Moreover, rising financial insecurities among customers have led to a decline in the demand for FCEVs in the market.

Request for a sample of this research report @ https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/2375

The growth of heavy-duty vehicles in the FCEV market is attributed to the increasing cargo transportation across the globe. Market players are continuously focusing on the development of heavy-duty trucks with fuel cell technology to cater to the growing demand from the market. For instance, in July 2020, Hyundai Motor Company launched Xcient Fuel Cell, which is the industrys first heavy-duty truck based on fuel cell technology.

North America is expected to witness a high growth in the FCEV market due to the presence of supportive fueling and charging infrastructure. Government organizations are undertaking initiatives to boost FCEV adoption by investing in construction of new refueling stations. For instance, in 2017, California Air Resources Board (CARB) announced its plans to develop more than 90 hydrogen stations in the state to drive FCEV market demand.

Leading companies in the FCEV market are focusing on strategic collaborations to gain a competitive edge in the market. For instance, in June 2018, Audi AG and Ballard Power Systems signed a 3.5-year extension contract for the HyMotion program. The HyMotion program incorporates the automotive fuel cell stack development and system design & support activities. The program assists Audi with its small series of fuel cell electric vehicle launches.

Browse key industry insights spread across 235 pages with 394 market data tables & 23 figures & charts from the report, Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) Market Share & Forecast, 2020  2026 in detail along with the table of contents:

https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/fuel-cell-electric-vehicle-market

Some major findings in the FCEV market report include:

Growing concerns and awareness related to the harmful nature of vehicular emissions are supporting the increasing adoption of fuel cell electric vehicles over the forecast period. Supportive government initiatives, such as subsidies on the purchase of these vehicles, are augmenting the market size.

Advancements in the field of fuel cell technology and automation in the production process of these cells are driving their large-scale adoption in passenger and commercial vehicles. Increasing R&D investments by market players for the development of high-performance fuel cells are positively influencing the market growth.

Material handling equipment, such as forklifts and other port vehicles, are witnessing a major shift toward fuel cell technology owing to low noise, reduced operating costs, and low maintenance requirements.

Key players operating in the FCEV market include Meritor, Inc., Ballard Power Cells, US Hybrid, Nuvera, Hydrogenics, Sunrise Power, Dana Limited, Ceres Power Holdings Plc, and Shanghai Shenli Technology Co. Ltd. Vehicle manufacturers include Hyundai, Audi AG, Toyota Motor Corporation, and Volkswagen Group.

Browse complete reports table of contents (ToC): https://www.gminsights.com/toc/detail/fuel-cell-electric-vehicle-market

Partial chapters of report table of contents (TOC):

Chapter 3 Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) Industry Insights

3.1 Industry segmentation

3.2 Impact of analysis of COVID-19 pandemic

3.2.1 Global outlook

3.2.2 Regional impact

3.2.2.1 North America

3.2.2.2 Europe

3.2.2.3 Asia Pacific

3.2.2.4 Latin America

3.2.2.5 MEA

3.2.3 Industry value chain

3.2.3.1 Research and development

3.2.3.2 Manufacturing

3.2.3.3 Marketing

3.2.3.4 Supply

3.2.4 Competitive landscape

3.2.4.1 Strategy

3.2.4.2 Distribution network

3.2.4.3 Business growth

3.3 Industry ecosystem analysis

3.3.1 Component suppliers

3.3.2 Manufacturers

3.3.3 Distribution channel analysis

3.3.3.1 Distributors

3.3.3.2 Dealerships

3.3.3.3 Franchise networks

3.3.4 End-users

3.3.5 Vendor matrix

3.4 Pricing analysis

3.4.1 Regional pricing

3.4.1.1 North America

3.4.1.2 Europe

3.4.1.3 Asia Pacific

3.4.1.4 Latin America

3.4.1.5 Middle East & Africa

3.4.2 Cost structure analysis

3.5 Technology and innovation landscape

3.5.1 Proton Exchange Membrane or Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) Technology

3.5.2 GPS and Navigation

3.5.3 Efficient catalyst material for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC)

3.5.4 Fuel cell technology powered by solid carbon

3.6 Regulatory landscape

3.6.1 International standards

3.6.1.1 ISO 23273:2013(en)Fuel cell road vehicles  Safety specifications  Protection against hydrogen hazards for vehicles fueled with compressed hydrogen

3.6.2 North America

3.6.2.1 U.S.

3.6.2.2 The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (2009)

3.6.2.3 The Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) norms

3.6.2.4 The Clean Air Act

3.6.2.5 Other regulations

3.6.3 Europe

3.6.3.1 EMC (Electromagnetic compatibility) Directive 2004/104/EC

3.6.3.2 Directive 1999/5/EC (the R&TTE Directive)

3.6.3.3 UN Regulation No. 116

3.6.4 Asia Pacific

3.6.4.1 China

3.6.4.2 China IV-V standards

3.6.4.3 Japan

3.6.4.4 Ministry of Environment regulations

3.6.5 Latin America

3.6.5.1 PROCONVE, PROMOT - Brazil

3.6.5.2 The Ministry of Industry, Foreign Trade and Services (MDIC)

3.6.6 Middle East & Africa

3.6.6.1 GCC Standardization Organization (GSO)

3.7 Industry impact forces

3.7.1 Growth drivers

3.7.1.1 Stringent emission regulations in North America

3.7.1.2 Government initiatives for developing FCEV technologies in Europe

3.7.1.3 Increasing adoption of electric vehicles in Asia Pacific

3.7.1.4 Growing preference for low emission mobility solutions in Latin America

3.7.1.5 Economic growth supporting the adoption of electric vehicles in Middle East & Africa

3.7.2 Industry pitfalls & challenges

3.7.2.1 High vehicle cost and lack of hydrogen fueling infrastructure

3.8 Growth potential analysis, 2019

3.9 Porter's analysis

3.9.1 Supplier power

3.9.2 Buyer power

3.9.3 Threat of new entrants

3.9.4 Threat of substitutes

3.9.5 Internal rivalry

3.10 PESTEL analysis

Browse related report:

Battery Electric Vehicles Market Size By Vehicle (Heavy Duty Vehicles, Agriculture, Buses, Port Vehicles/Container Handling Or Transport, Automotive, Class 8/Long Haul) Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook, Growth Potential, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2019  2025

https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/battery-electric-vehicles-bev-market

About Global Market Insights

Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider, offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision-making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.
Recently, Pope Francis met with LGBTQ children and children with autism. While talking to both the groups, he offered them words of encouragement and acceptance within the Catholic Church.

He told the groups that God accepts them just the way they are. This has brought in a lot of appreciation for the Pope from people all over.

According to the Associated Press, he told children with the Austrian group Sonnenschein at the Vatican, God created the world with a great variety of flowers of all different colors. Each flower has its unique beauty. And each one of us is beautiful in the eyes of God, who loves us.

Sonnenschein is a clinic where children with autism can undergo therapy. It means 'Sunshine', reported Vatican News.

Vatican Media

He offered the same words to a group of LGBTQ children and their parents when he met them. He has been known to take this stance ever since he assumed his position in 2013.

According to Jesuit weekly America magazine. he told the group, God loves your children as they are. The church loves your children as they are because they are children of God".

The group is part of an Italian LGBTQ Christian association called Tenda di Gionata.

The group's vice president, Mara Grassi said she gave Pope Francis a book that consisted of the difficult life experiences of parents of LGBTQ children and the ordeal they face within the church. She added that she hoped that a "bridge" will be created for them to feel fully welcomed.

Vatican Media

The pope said, The church does not exclude them because she loves them deeply". He was also reportedly given a rainbow T-shirt that read: 'In love there is no fear.'

His comments were praised on social media by many who appreciated his willingness to speak on such topics.



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Back in 2013, Pope Francis had said that sexual orientation was irrelevant when it came to being a good Catholic. His words were, If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge? The problem is not having this orientation. We must be brothers.
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Linkedin Moch. Fiqih Prawira Adjie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, September 24 2020

The national COVID-19 task force has dismissed a proposal to redefine what constitutes a COVID-19 fatality, after it was suggested that deaths among people with comorbidities should be categorized separately in the official tally.

Previously, East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa had suggested to Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto that COVID-19 deaths among patients with comorbidities  the simultaneous presence of two chronic diseases or conditions in a patient  should be categorized differently from deaths among patients without comorbidities in the death toll.

As of now, the government has no plans to make the change proposed by the East Java governor, task force spokesperson Wiku Adisasmito said in a statement issued on Tuesday.

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Concerned over decrease in the Shakhas or daily congregation due to Covid-19, the RSS in West Bengal is organising E- Shakhas in the state.

In 2019 the number of Shakhas were around 1400 which then decreased to around 1050. Presently the number of Shakhas in Bengal came down to nearly 700, sources said.

Shakhas are the smallest unit of the Sangha. Shakas is composed of Sangha karyakartas (workers), where volunteers meet on a daily basis and participate in prayer and exercise together to remain fit.

As Covid-19 have restrained the outdoor movement of the people, the Bengal unit of the RSS has decided to go for virtual E- Shakhas although the Ministry of Home Affairs have allowed more than 50 people in a gathering from 21 September onwards.

Due to possible administrative issues, we have decided to go for virtual Shakhas. The number of physical Shakhas has come down to nearly 700. If you combine Mandali and Shakhas then the figures are nearly 2400. Our activity has been affected due to Covid-19 and therefore we have decided for E- Shakhas, an active RSS worker said.

According to the organisation it is currently active in around 300 Khanda (blocks) out of 341.

RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat who is presently in Kolkata for a meeting has discussed about the functioning of E-Shakhas and has planned to reach out to more people about its activities.

During his previous visit to Kolkata  Bhagwat had expressed his desire to set up at least one shakha in each of the 341 blocks across West Bengal.

Bhagwat is currently on his fourth visit to Bengal since August 2019 to strengthen the organisation at block level. On his previous visits, he had asked the key Sangha workers in Bengal to reach out to Muslim community and minorities, who strongly believe in Jatiyatabad (nationalism).

RSS has been present in West Bengal since 1939 but unfortunately it failed to expand during the 34 years of Left Front rule.

The extensive social work being carried out by the Sangha karyakartas are not new to the state as Jan Sangh ideologue Shyamaprasad Mukherjee was from the state himself. But the RSS was hardly a noticeable group in Bengal for decades.

Since the end of CPI (M)-led Left Front government in 2011 and the coming of BJP led government in the centre since 2014, RSS has suddenly emerged as a growing force in Bengal.

Bhagwats visit is significant in the context of the upcoming assembly elections in the state in 2021. The ruling party have their eyes fixed over the group which has gained considerable force recently.
Weve all heard about the high-profile cases of COVID-19 infection.

Dozens of workers infected at a Toronto industrial bakery. Cases popping up at the Brass Rail, a downtown strip club. Twenty-three positive tests after weddings in the region.

But behind these examples, provincial data suggests what could be the beginning of Ontarios second wave is being driven by a larger  and perhaps more concerning  category of infections: untraceable community spread.

Ontarios public data on the COVID-19 epidemic includes a case-by-case record of where each patient became infected when the source is known  by travel, by close contact with another person, or in an outbreak, like in a nursing home  and noting when its not known. These unknown cases are listed as having no epidemiological link to another case, which means contact tracers cant pin down where the person caught the disease.

This is what experts refer to as community spread. And its these cases, in particular, that have been spiking since August. Early that month, the province was reporting about 21 community cases a day, or less than 30 per cent of all new infections. As of this week, its more than half; over the past seven days, the data says an average of about 130 Ontarians a day are getting COVID-19 through community spread  the most at any point in the pandemic so far.

This is a problem because when large numbers of cases start appearing from unknown origins, it makes stopping a second wave much more difficult, said Dionne Aleman, an expert in pandemic modelling and an industrial engineering professor at the University of Toronto.

The worst part about community spread of unknown origin is that there is no targeted way to stop it, she said. If we knew for sure the source was large house parties, the city or province could find a way to stop or reduce them, if they really put their minds to it. If we knew for sure the source was restaurants, we could close in-person dining or put further restrictions on distancing and mask usage in restaurants.

Are cases rising because more people are going out to shop, eat and meet with friends since Ontario entered Stage 3? Is it because more young people are mingling now that universities and colleges are back in session? Or have more people simply let their guard down?

Its likely a combination of all of the above, said Ahmed Al-Jaishi, an epidemiologist and PhD candidate in health research methodology at McMaster University.

From the publics perspective, the slow spread of COVID-19 during the summer months gave us the false sense that we contained the virus. As a result, we continue to see many examples of large social gatherings that ignore the three Cs: avoiding crowded spaces, close contact and closed spaces, he said.

Theres also the possibility of untraceable workplace exposure, particularly for those who come into close contact with customers, clients or patients. Many workers are younger than 30 and precariously employed, meaning they may have more than one job in which they interact with the public.

Younger people are over-represented in the recent rise in community spread: Since Sept. 1, 65 per cent of new cases among people aged 20 to 49 have no epidemiological link, according to provincial data.

Identifying the sources of infection for those 20 to 49 years old is incredibly crucial to mitigate the risks of exposure, said Al-Jaishi. Younger age groups are less likely to experience severe symptoms and may less likely get tested. So these individuals can spread the virus without even knowing.

Miriam Mohamadi, a spokesperson for the provincial ministry of health, said some trends emerge when looking at the provincial numbers.

Social events remain an issue. Weddings, house parties and so on contribute to our case numbers. We've also seen a rise in workplace infections, said Mohamadi. However, its important to remember that the point of the no epi-link category is used when we dont have the data on where the cases originated.

In Toronto, new cases in those between the ages of 20 and 39 have been steadily increasing since late July. The age group now makes up most of Torontos cases  54 per cent  compared to 47 per cent last month.

Dr. Vinita Dubey, Torontos associate medical officer of health, said Toronto Public Health tracks cases through careful and detailed investigations, in which a communicable disease investigator interviews the person who tested positive to determine the infection origin and who they could have spread it to.

She noted, however, that because COVID-19 is spread via respiratory droplets, and because it can take up to 14 days to become ill with symptoms, it is often not possible to determine where exactly people acquired it. She said Toronto Public Health has found there has recently been an increase in cases related to larger social gatherings, such as weddings, where public health measures (such as physical distancing and wearing of masks) were not observed. And as businesses reopen and more people reconnect in the city, it is expected that there will be increased COVID-19 activity, she said.

Back in the spring, community-spread cases peaked early in Ontario, before the virus spread to institutional outbreaks in places like long-term-care homes. COVID-19 then spread rapidly in those settings, far outpacing all other sources of transmission and leading to more than 1,800 confirmed deaths.

So far in the fall, Ontario has not yet seen a similar rise in institutional outbreaks.

Dubey said infection prevention and control measures are in place in institutional settings to prevent new outbreaks, but officials still expect some to happen.

In the fall, it is expected that other viruses including COVID-19 will spread, including in institutional settings, she said.

Kenyon Wallace is a Toronto-based investigative reporter for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: @KenyonWallace or reach him via email: kwallace@thestar.ca

Ed Tubb is an assignment editor and a contributor focused on crime and justice for the Star. He is based in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: @edtubb
The President of Iran told this year's United Nations General Assembly that the United States had turned the Middle East into a "powder keg" by selling billions of dollars of weapons to countries in the region.

Much of Hassan Rouhani's speech was aimed at the United States.

"We are not a bargaining chip in US elections and domestic policy. Any U.S. administration after the upcoming elections will have no choice but to surrender to the resilience of the Iranian nation," said Rouhani.

Rouhani also seemed to reference the recent peace deals made between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

"We never ignored occupation, genocide, forced displacement and racism in Palestine. And we never made a deal over the Holy Quds and the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people," said Rouhani.
Paul Archuleta/Getty ImagesEmpire alum Nicole Ari Parker will join the upcoming eighth season of NBCs Chicago P.D. for a major recurring role, according to Deadline.

Parker will play Deputy Superintendent Samatha Miller, "a progressive, ardent proponent of police reform" who wants to help Jason Beghe's Detective Voight -- known for his violent tactics -- as well as his crew, adapt to new police guidelines and protocols.

After new broke, Parker took to Instagram to share excitement about working with her dear friend, actor and director Eriq La Salle.

"So excited to join this amazing cast, playing this timely role and to be directed by my friend the one & only Eriq La Salle," Parker wrote, using the hashtags #InsideTheBlueWall and #ChangeIsGonnaCome.

Like many of today's cop shows, Chicago P.D. is expected to address the topic of police brutality in the aftermath of George Floyds May death at the hands of law enforcement officials, which sparked nationwide protests and conversations about social injustice. Chicago P.D. was created as a spinoff from Chicago Fire and has recently been renewed for three more seasons.

Parker most recently appeared in the last two seasons of Fox's Empire as Giselle Barker.

By Rachel George

Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Juul Labs Inc. has the Mafia to thank for the most potent legal claims accusing the e-cigarette maker of igniting an epidemic of youth nicotine addiction.

The company will try to persuade a federal judge Monday that consumers and school districts cant sue it under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, which has been called the litigation equivalent of a thermonuclear device.

The 1970 law was originally designed to prosecute organized crime but has also been used in civil lawsuits, including against tobacco companies. If Juul fails to get the RICO claims knocked out of the lawsuits at the earliest opportunity, it faces the prospect of being on the hook for triple damages and the plaintiffs attorneys fees, which is likely to put a lot more pressure on the company to settle.

Its a very powerful weapon in plaintiffs arsenal, said Nora Freeman Engstrom, a professor at Stanford Law School. Proving RICO can be challenging, but the payoff can be substantial.

Juul said it will respond to the RICO allegations through the appropriate legal channels.

We will continue to reset the vapor category in the U.S. and seek to earn the trust of society by working cooperatively with attorneys general, legislators, regulators, public health officials, and other stakeholders to combat underage use and transition adult smokers from combustible cigarettes, the company said in a statement.

Juul, its founders and Altria Group Inc., which owns a 35% stake in Juul, face hundreds of suits that have been consolidated in federal court in San Francisco and in California state court in Los Angeles.

The complaints allege that Juul took a page out of the tobacco industrys play book by creating a highly addictive nicotine product, marketing it as a benign smoking cessation device, and targeting children as a customer base.

To reach the kids, the plaintiffs claim, Juul relied on a diabolical pairing of cigarette company advertising techniques with cutting-edge viral marketing campaigns and social media.

They hired young models and advertised using bright, fun themes, including on media long barred to the cigarette industry, such as billboards, on childrens websites such as Nick Junior and Cartoon Network, and on websites providing games and educational tools to students in middle school and high school, according to the consolidated class-action complaint.

But to turn such allegations into a successful RICO claim is a further step  one that Engstrom says poses a series of daunting hurdles.

Juul denies in court filings there was any illegal enterprise in its business relationships under the meaning of the law, and argues that its alleged misrepresentations about e-cigarettes dont amount to fraudulent racketeering.

Moreover, the company says, the school districts cause-and-effect logic about the harms theyve suffered coping with teen vaping is sketchy  and doesnt account for the actions of other e-cigarette manufacturers.

But even Juuls strongest arguments probably wont kill the RICO claims immediately, according to Sean Andrade, an attorney with Andrade Gonzalez LLP in Los Angeles.

Big Tobacco

The big question is does the court see this as part of the bigger fight against tobacco, Andrade said. If the plaintiffs can get the judge to buy into that, they may have a good chance.

The historical parallels are significant, he said. The federal government successfully sued Philip Morris and other tobacco companies in 1999 for civil RICO violations by alleging a conspiracy to deceive the American public about the dangers of smoking and second-hand smoke as well as the addictiveness of nicotine.

Beyond the financial exposure from RICO claims, theres also a stigma attached to being branded a racketeer, said Joseph Balice, an attorney with Brutzkus Gubner in Los Angeles.

It will be of the utmost importance for the defendant to get it thrown out at the earliest opportunity.

Top Photo: A person smokes a Juul Labs Inc. e-cigarette in this arranged photograph taken in the Brooklyn Borough of New York. Photographer: Bloomberg/Bloomberg

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics Lawsuits Fraud
What is more, a fake report about a radioactive leakage accident was posted on a local council's website.

Ukraine has reported a string of cyber attacks on police's websites on Wednesday, September 23.

Read alsoNumber of cyber attacks on Ukraine's government agencies grows by 56% within weekIn particular, a fake report on the death of three soldiers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces was posted on the Lviv region police's website. It is worth noting the Rapid Trident 2020 multinational military drills are currently taking place in Lviv region.

Also, the police in Mykolaiv region reported a cyber attack on their official website, it is temporarily shut down. A local Facebook journalism community said the website had a fake post about a road accident with five deaths.

A similar situation was reported by the police in Kherson region. A fake post about the death of U.S. military advisers appeared on their website. The information has already been refuted.

The press service of the National Police of Ukraine, in turn, said on Facebook that their website had been hacked. It says "in this connection, false information was disseminated on some Internet pages of regional police departments." The website is temporarily shut down.

What is more, a fake report about a radioactive leakage accident at the Rivne nuclear power plant (NPP) was posted on the website of Varash City Council, Rivne region. The information has been refuted both by the city council and the NPP's press service.
Black Lives Matter has been around since 2013. It started as a decentralised organised opposition against police brutality of Black and African American individuals. It recently gained more traction following the death of George Floyd in June 2020 at the hands of a police officer. Since then, America has seen a number of protests and riots break out in various parts of the country.

One of the most protested parts during the whole ordeal was the police system itself, and not individual police officers who may or may not be racist. One of the supporters of Defund the Police campaign is actress Alyssa Milano, who found herself in a little bit of controversy this week.

Dailymail reported that she had called the police when she thought an armed intruder had trespassed on her property. Since she has always taken a stand against police militarisation, and spoken out against police action or responses, Twitter was quick to react and call her a hypocrite.

This was one of her earlier tweets about her #defundthepolice stand:

This is the problem. We've militarized the police. To protect and serve? Please. How many hungry children would the cost of this tank feed? How many community programs would this serve? How many classroom supplies or childcare programs? Mental health services?#DefundPolice https://t.co/eSC0oLecfJ Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) June 19, 2020

It was also reported that more than eight different police officers and even the fire department showed up to her house in Bell Canyon, Southern California on Sunday when she called for help. It was later reported that a teenager was hunting squirrels and the whole debacle was caused.

However, she was trolled for her actions excessively. She took to Twitter to address the media and what she called right-wing trolls about the whole issue. This was her statement in which she said that the police had not initially been called by her but her neighbour who freaked out after spotting a man with a rifle in the vicinity. Later, it turned out that the man was hunting squirrels". He surrendered himself and was charged with no crime.

Apparently, rightwing media & trolls have decided that they should target me because my neighbor called the police after seeing a person dressed in black holding a rifle behind my home where I live with my young children and husband. Here is my statement and what really happened. pic.twitter.com/RwnSd9XCs0 Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) September 22, 2020

She even went as far as to suggest that whole situation was a set-up by right wing supporters so that she would be called out for her police reforms activism.

There were tweets sent out literally while we were in lockdown that make me feel it was all a set up. The disinformation campaign has begun. Vote. #NationalVoterRegistrationDay pic.twitter.com/lXT2BjC4WM Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) September 22, 2020

Some users seemed to agree with her theory.

This is not OK. I would not be surprised at all if it were a set up, because nothing is beneath them. You shouldn't feel unsafe because you are working your heart out for this country. I am very glad this was resolved peacefully and that you and your family are OK. Michele (@michelejalex) September 22, 2020

Others called it drama" and that Alyssa was entirely to blame.

Don't think anyone would agree to dress in black, walk thru woods with a rifle and risk getting caught just to "set up" Milano? Not worth it. Y'all are desperate and drama queens. kate buckley (@buckley_kate) September 23, 2020

Classic deflection & blame; police scanners, people driving by see police presence. Thank God, whomever called 1) they got through & call was received 2) they sent 7 cars & helicopter quickly. Maybe make a donation to police force for massive amount of funds they just wasted? Jenn (@jenniferdcm23) September 22, 2020

Im more surprised that anybody would send 7 cars and a helicopter for something as small as this. In most other places this would have been solved by 1-2 police cars. In Europe its a standing joke about the overkill of cops showing up for anything in American movies. Silly  Daniel/Zovnig/MrKold (@DanielKold) September 23, 2020

According to a report in Evening Express, Alyssa later confirmed that her husband had made a call to the police but justified it as a confirmation call and not a complaint call. She reasoned that they had all seen man dressed in black which was suspicious for a neighborhood like theirs. She insists that a neighbour made the first call, after which she received a call from the police.
SACRAMENTO, Calif., Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Graceada Partners is pleased to announce the acquisition of 2101 Arena Boulevard in Sacramento. This two-story office building is 100 percent occupied by the State of California Department of Business Oversight as their headquarters. The property was purchased for $155 per square foot while comparable fully leased properties are selling in excess of $180 per square foot and replacement cost is over $300 per square foot.

2101 Arena Boulevard in Sacramento 2101 Arena Boulevard in Sacramento

"Our disciplined strategy has yielded another excellent acquisition," said Joe Muratore, CPM, CCIM, Principal with Graceada Partners. "It aligns with Graceada Partners' overall approach of securing high-quality, recession-resistant properties at a fraction of the replacement cost."

The property was built in 1999 and was substantially renovated in 2020 to accommodate the Department of Business Oversight moving their headquarters into the building. The property's previous owner gutted and completely renovated the interior bringing it to current Title 24 standards and contemporary finishes.

It is part of the rapidly growing Sacramento submarket of North Natomas, with a new Centene campus nearby. Centene Corporation, a publicly traded Fortune 100 healthcare enterprise, will create 5,000 new high-wage jobs and build 3,000 new houses in the area.

"With numerous locational advantages and affordable rent compared to downtown Sacramento, The Department of Business Oversight made a wise decision in moving their headquarters," said Ryan Swehla, CCIM, CPM, Principal with Graceada Partners. "We are excited about this new relationship."

This acquisition is an investment from Graceada Partners Fund II.

ABOUT GRACEADA PARTNERS

With a half billion in assets under management, Graceada Partners invests in core value-added real estate by repairing, rebranding, and leasing-up space. They are the market leader specializing in commercial real estate investment in California's fastest growing region, the 7.4 million population Central Valley. Born in 2008 during the heart of the Great Recession, the firm is seasoned experts in times of economic uncertainty.

Graceada's "secret weapon" is the partnership between the firm's principals, a partnership built on 35 years of friendship and mutual respect. This allows them to challenge each other and create an environment that fosters competitiveness and innovation while limiting confirmation bias in investment and market analysis.

The firm is currently raising and investing Graceada Partners Fund II with a minimum return target of 15% IRR. Graceada Partners' historical equity multiple is 2.05.

Learn more at http://www.GraceadaPartners.com .

MEDIA CONTACT

Bob Spoerl

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The billionaire Mistry family, the largest minority shareholder of the Tata group, said it needs to separate its interests after Indias biggest conglomerate took steps to block the familys attempt to borrow money against Tata shares.

Tata Sons Pvt. informed the Supreme Court Tuesday that its open to buying out the 18% stake owned by the Mistry familys cash-strapped Shapoorji Pallonji group if the latter needed to raise money for paying maturing debt. The SP group instead wanted to borrow funds using the shares as collateral, a move Tata considers as potentially risky because the securities may end up falling in the hands of unfriendly investors. The action by Tata Sons to block this crucial fund raise, without any heed for the collateral consequences, is the latest demonstration of their vindictive mind-set, the SP group said in a statement late Tuesday. It is with a heavy heart that the Mistry family believes that a separation of interests would best serve all stakeholder groups.

It didnt specify what any separation would entail.

A representative for Tata Sons declined to comment. The acrimonious divorce between the two groups would end a 70-year partnership that has seen Pallonji Mistry, the 91-year-old patriarch of the family, become a billionaire and help the Tata group swell to a $113 billion software-to-cars empire. The Tata stake accounts for about a third of Pallonjis $22.5 billion wealth, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. His son, Cyrus, has been locked in a bitter legal fight with Tata since he was ousted as chairman of Tata Sons in a 2016 boardroom coup.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday barred the Mistry group from pledging or selling any Tata shares until October 28, when it starts hearing final arguments in the case.

Mistrys empire, which includes real estate, infrastructure and home appliances, was in preliminary discussions to borrow as much as $1 billion by pledging a part of its Tata Sons stake to pay maturing debt after asset sales stalled amid the coronavirus pandemic, Bloomberg News reported in March, citing people familiar with the matter.

The Shapoorji Pallonji group is in a financial mess, said Arun Kejriwal, director at KRIS, an investment advisory firm in Mumbai. This is the first time the group has expressed willingness to sell Tata shares because the water has gone over its head. The best option before the group is to sell the stake to the right suitor to tide over the crisis.

The SP group had 9,280 crore ($1.3 billion) in external debt at its main holding vehicle, Shapoorji Pallonji and Co. Pvt., as of end-February, as per Care Ratings Ltd. The group-wide debt was estimated by the firm to be more than 30,000 crore as of March 2019.
The people of Kilkenny are being asked to support an appeal by a consortium of Irish charities who have come together to respond to the coronavirus pandemic amongst some of the worlds poorest people.

Six of Irelands leading international aid agencies are teaming up to respond to the worsening global coronavirus pandemic and to save lives in some of the poorest and most fragile countries.

The agencies have combined forces to form the Irish Emergency Alliance, which will jointly raise money from the Irish public and respond in countries facing rising coronavirus cases and already struggling to cope with the impact of conflict and displacement as well as widespread poverty, increased rates of hunger and poor health care.

The coronavirus appeal will focus on vulnerable communities in Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan, all coping with the impact of widescale conflict, as well as Ethiopia, Kenya, Lebanon and the Rohingya refugee camps of Coxs Bazar in Bangladesh.

These seven countries are home to more than 17 million refugees and displaced people. For people living in refugee camps or slums it is nearly impossible to practice physical distancing, while a lack of soap and water in many homes makes it harder to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Money raised by the Irish Emergency Alliances coronavirus appeal will go towards food, water and medical care as well as providing soap, masks and vital information to prevent the spread of the virus.

The Irish Emergency Alliance is made up of ActionAid, Christian Aid, Plan International, Self Help Africa,Tearfund and World Vision. Between them the aid agencies have programmes in 85 different countries, giving the Irish Emergency Alliance the global presence, expertise and experience required to respond quickly to this and future crises.

Helen Keogh, Chair of the Irish Emergency Alliance, said the unprecedented scale of the global coronavirus pandemic motivated the six charities to come together to help those most in need.

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. In countries without the safety net of furlough schemes, many who lost their jobs during the pandemic are now struggling to feed their families. The situation is even more critical in countries already struggling with the impact of conflict and buckling under the strain of massive refugee and displacement crises, Keogh 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. What is clear is that some of the worlds poorest people are being pushed even further into poverty and disruptions to farming and supply chains risk severe food shortages. By working together, the Irish Emergency Alliance will reach some of the worlds most vulnerable people, giving them the supplies and information they need to keep safe from the virus.

Expressing his support for the Irish Emergency Alliance, Minister of State for Overseas Development Aid and Diaspora, Colm Brophy TD, said:

The coronavirus pandemic is a challenge unlike any other and what will define us is how we as a nation respond. I am proud to see these Irish agencies combining their strengths at this critical time to reach some of the most vulnerable people in the world. I am sure the Irish people will continue their track-record of outstanding generosity even as they overcome difficulties here at home and support the Alliances efforts. Through the Irish Aid programme, I am pleased to say that my Department has already provided the member agencies of the Irish Emergency Alliance over 16m in 2020 to provide humanitarian and development assistance to the worlds most vulnerable communities.

The Irish Emergency Alliance is modelled on similar joint appeal coalitions that operate successfully in the United Kingdom and across many European countries. By working together, the Irish Emergency Alliance can reduce fundraising costs to make donations stretch even further and has pledged to work together in this way in response to future humanitarian crises across the globe.

People in Kilkenny can support the appeal by donating at www. irishemergencyalliance.org or by calling 1 800 939 979 or by texting IEA to 50 300 to give 4.
A fourth Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating an investigational vaccine for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has begun enrolling adult volunteers. The trial is designed to evaluate if the investigational Janssen COVID-19 vaccine (JNJ-78436725) can prevent symptomatic COVID-19 after a single dose regimen. Up to 60,000 volunteers will be enrolled in the trial at up to nearly 215 clinical research sites in the United States and internationally.

The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson developed the investigational vaccine (also known as Ad.26.COV2.S) and is leading the clinical trial as regulatory sponsor. Janssen, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, are funding the trial.

U.S. and international trial sites part of the NIAID-supported COVID-19 Prevention Network (CoVPN) will participate in the trial. The CoVPN is composed of existing NIAID-supported clinical research networks with infectious disease expertise and designed for rapid and thorough evaluation of vaccine candidates and monoclonal antibodies for the prevention of COVID-19.

"Four COVID-19 vaccine candidates are in Phase 3 clinical testing in the United States just over eight months after SARS-CoV-2 was identified. This is an unprecedented feat for the scientific community made possible by decades of progress in vaccine technology and a coordinated, strategic approach across government, industry and academia," said NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. "It is likely that multiple COVID-19 vaccine regimens will be required to meet the global need. The Janssen candidate has showed promise in early-stage testing and may be especially useful in controlling the pandemic if shown to be protective after a single dose."

The Janssen vaccine candidate is a recombinant vector vaccine that uses a human adenovirus to express the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in cells. Adenoviruses are a group of viruses that cause the common cold. However, the adenovirus vector used in the vaccine candidate has been modified so that it can no longer replicate in humans and cause disease. Janssen uses the same vector in the first dose of its prime-boost vaccine regimen against Ebola virus disease (Ad26.ZEBOV and MVA-BN-Filo) that was recently granted marketing authorization by the European Commission.

Preclinical findings published in Nature show that the investigational Janssen COVID-19 vaccine induced neutralizing antibody responses in rhesus macaques and provided complete or near-complete protection against virus infection in the lungs and nose following SARS-CoV-2 challenge. The safety, reactogenicity and immunogenicity of the investigational vaccine are being evaluated in a Phase 1/2a trial in the United States and Belgium enrolling adult volunteers. Positive interim results from the Phase 1/2a clinical study demonstrated that the safety profile and immunogenicity after a single vaccination were supportive of further development.

"Scientific partners from government, industry and academia are working hand-in-hand to develop safe, effective vaccines to put this pandemic in our rear-view mirror," said NIH Director Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D. "While administrative steps are being streamlined to speed the process, safety and effectiveness measures are just as rigorous than ever."

The Phase 3 trial is being conducted in collaboration with Operation Warp Speed (OWS), a multi-agency collaboration overseen by HHS and the Department of Defense that aims to accelerate the development, manufacturing and distribution of medical countermeasures for COVID-19. OWS and CoVPN also are assisting with additional COVID-19 preventive candidate vaccines, including mRNA-1273, an investigational vaccine co-developed by NIAID and the Cambridge, Massachusetts-based biotechnology company Moderna, Inc., and AZD1222, a vaccine candidate being developed by United Kingdom-based biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca.

"To have just one candidate vaccine in Phase 3 trials less than a year after a virus was first reported would be a remarkable accomplishment; to have four candidates at that stage is extraordinary," said HHS Secretary Alex Azar. "By building a portfolio of candidate vaccines, Operation Warp Speed is maximizing the chances that we will have substantial supplies of a safe and effective vaccine--and maybe multiple vaccine options--by January 2021."

The Accelerating COVID-19 Therapeutic Interventions and Vaccines (ACTIV) public-private partnership helped to ensure the protocols of all NIH- and OWS-supported Phase 3 trials of investigational vaccines use the same assays and are designed to evaluate the same primary objective: whether the vaccine can prevent symptomatic COVID-19. This approach enables transparent evaluation of the relative performance of each vaccine approach across trials.

Paul A. Goepfert, M.D., director of the Alabama Vaccine Research Clinic at the University of Alabama in Birmingham; Beatriz Grinsztejn, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Laboratory of Clinical Research on HIV/AIDS at the Evandro Chagas National Institute of Infectious Diseases-Oswaldo Cruz Foundation in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Glenda E. Gray, M.B.B.Ch., president and chief executive officer of the South African Medical Research Council and co-principal investigator of the HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN), will serve as principal investigators for the Phase 3 trial of the investigational Janssen COVID-19 vaccine.

Volunteers must provide informed consent to participate in the trial. After providing a baseline nasopharyngeal and blood sample, participants will be assigned at random to receive either a single dose of the investigational vaccine or a saline placebo. The trial is blinded, meaning neither investigators nor participants will know who is receiving the investigational vaccine. Participants will be followed closely for safety and will be asked to provide additional blood samples at specified time points after the injection and over two years. Scientists will analyze the blood samples to detect and quantify immune responses to COVID-19. Of note, specialized assays will be used that can distinguish between immunity as a result of natural infection and vaccine-induced immunity.

The trial is designed primarily to determine if the investigational vaccine can prevent moderate to severe COVID-19 after a single dose. It also aims to understand if the vaccine can prevent COVID-19 requiring medical intervention and if the vaccine can prevent milder cases of COVID-19 and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection.

An independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) will provide oversight to ensure the safe and ethical conduct of the study. All Phase 3 clinical trials of candidate vaccines supported through Operation Warp Speed are overseen by a common DSMB developed in consultation with ACTIV.

Adults who are interested in joining this study can visit coronaviruspreventionnetwork.org or ClinicalTrials.gov and search identifier NCT04505722.

###

NIAID conducts and supports research--at NIH, throughout the United States, and worldwide--to study the causes of infectious and immune-mediated diseases, and to develop better means of preventing, diagnosing and treating these illnesses. News releases, fact sheets and other NIAID-related materials are available on the NIAID website.

About the COVID-19 Prevention Network: The COVID-19 Prevention Network (CoVPN) was formed by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the U.S. National Institutes of Health to respond to the global pandemic. Through the CoVPN, NIAID is leveraging the infectious disease expertise of its existing research networks and global partners to address the pressing need for vaccines and antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. CoVPN will work to develop and conduct studies to ensure rapid and thorough evaluation of vaccines and antibodies for the prevention of COVID-19. The CoVPN is headquartered at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. For more information about the CoVPN, visit: coronaviruspreventionnetwork.org.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov.

About HHS, ASPR, and BARDA: HHS works to enhance and protect the health and well-being of all Americans, providing for effective health and human services and fostering advances in medicine, public health, and social services. The mission of ASPR is to save lives and protect Americans from 21st century health security threats. Within ASPR, BARDA invests in the innovation, advanced research and development, acquisition, and manufacturing of medical countermeasures - vaccines, drugs, therapeutics, diagnostic tools, and non-pharmaceutical products needed to combat health security threats. To date, BARDA-supported products have achieved 55 FDA approvals, licensures or clearances. To learn more about federal support for the nationwide COVID-19 response, visit http://www.coronavirus.gov.
Rishi Sunak's November Budget has been postponed until next year - Tolga Akmen/ AFP

Rishi Sunak will on Thursday announce a replacement for the furlough scheme as part of a new economic rescue package to get the country through six more months of Covid restrictions.

A wage subsidy scheme will top up the pay of people who work at least half their normal hours in an attempt to avoid mass redundancies when the furlough scheme ends next month.

Mr Sunak's November Budget has been postponed until next year because of the current financial turmoil that saw markets plunge after new nationwide coronavirus restrictions were imposed this week.

The Treasury said the new bailout plan would be entirely focused on saving jobs, with an extension of business loans expected to be among the measures unveiled.

Companies intending to make people redundant at the end of furlough must give them notice on October 1, meaning Mr Sunak (watch him explaining why furlough would not be extended in the video below) has days to persuade them to keep their staff.

About three million people are still on the scheme, with some business leaders estimating that one third faced redundancy if there was no extra help.

The Chancellor's announcement comes as Boris Johnson faces a growing backlash from his own MPs over his decision to bring in new restrictions, which he warned would last for six months.

At least one minister threatened to resign and up to 50 Tory MPs were said to be ready to withhold support for the Government's legal extension of its lockdown powers, the subject of a vote in Parliament next week.

In an attempt by Downing Street to find an alternative way forward, Anders Tegnell, Sweden's chief epidemiologist, was reportedly consulted by Number 10 on how his country had avoided a second coronavirus outbreak despite shunning a full lockdown.

Meanwhile, the founder of Pret a Manger and the boss of the Itsu restaurant chain warned that the restrictions (watch Boris Johnson addressing the nation about them in the video below) were having a "devastating" impact on lives and livelihoods, adding: "We have just not begun to touch the seriousness of this."

Story continues

Government scientific advisers suggested more stringent measures could be just days away as the number of confirmed daily coronavirus cases leapt to 6,178 on Wednesday  a 25 per cent increase on the previous day and just 23 under the record daily number in May.

Mr Johnson promised that Mr Sunak would introduce "creative and imaginative measures" to help workers and employers through the pandemic but, with businesses facing a bleak winter, the Chancellor was left with no choice but to implement new economic rescue measures.

Mr Sunak is expected to announce that, when furlough ends, it will be replaced with a wage top-up scheme for those able to work at least half their contracted hours. He is studying a model under which employers pay 100 per cent for hours worked, with the Government paying a proportion of the remaining full-time wage.

In one example, the Government and employers would share the cost of paying a worker two thirds of their "missing" wages. Employees would have to work at least half their contracted hours to qualify, and a cap was expected on the maximum top-up available.

In talks with the Treasury, business leaders called for targeted support for the worst-hit sectors, including aerospace, aviation, hospitality and retail, meaning Mr Sunak may limit the help to sectors that need it most.

The furlough scheme will not be extended because the Chancellor was determined that people should no longer be paid for not working, sources said. While the scheme cost about 11 billion a month, a top-up scheme would cost 1 billion a month, according to the Institute for Employment Studies.

A total of 9.6 million people (the graphic below shows the percentage of employees on furlough in different areas) have been furloughed since the start of lockdown in March at a cost of 39.3 billion so far.

November's Budget had been cancelled, the Treasury said, because the public expected the Chancellor to "focus on the here and now". However, a Budget must be held before the end of the financial year, and a spending review will still go ahead in the autumn.

A Treasury source said: "Giving people reassurance and businesses the help they need to get through this is uppermost in his mind."

Mr Sunak has been working on contingency plans for a second rescue package since the summer, but has been determined that extra measures should only support jobs that are sustainable in the long term rather than so-called "zombie" jobs that have become unviable.

Other measures considered by the Chancellor include a cut to employers' NI contributions and a limited extension of the business rates holiday for retail, hospitality and leisure firms.

Government sources said there would be no announcement on financial help for sport at this stage, and there was not expected to be anything extra for theatre and the arts in Thursday's statement.
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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) London, United Kingdom  Wed, September 23, 2020 17:20 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46b856f 2 Science & Tech TikTok,social-media,suicide,content,Britain,China,united-states,Facebook,Instagram,Twitter Free

TikTok on Tuesday proposed an alliance with nine other social media platforms to work collectively and rapidly to remove suicide content, following an incident this month when a man killed himself on Facebook.

The Chinese-owned app said it had set out its proposal in a letter to the chief executives of Facebook, Instagram, Google, YouTube, Twitter, Twitch, Snapchat, Pinterest and Reddit.

TikTok's interim CEO Vanessa Pappas noted that each of the platforms had its own policies to take down harmful content and stop its distribution.

"However, we believe each of our individual efforts to safeguard our own users and the collective community would be boosted significantly through a formal, collaborative approach to early identification and notification amongst industry participants of extremely violent, graphic content, including suicide," she wrote in the letter.

Pappas proposed a meeting of safety officers from each company to work out details of a collective approach, "which we believe will help us all improve safety for our users".

TikTok launched its own investigation after clips of the man's suicide were embedded into otherwise inoffensive videos shared widely on its global platform, which is especially popular with young teens.

The original video came from a Facebook livestream and showed an American man taking his own life, according to a warning TikTok sent to users on September 8.

Read also: TikTok warns parents over suicide video

Mea culpa

The video was uploaded to various social media platforms after a "coordinated attack" by people operating on the dark web, senior TikTok executive Theo Bertram told a British parliamentary hearing on Tuesday.

"Our hearts go out to the victim in this case. But we do believe that we can do things better in the future," said Bertram, who is director of government relations and public policy for the company in Europe.

"We should now establish a partnership around dealing with this kind of content," he said, noting the proposed alliance would build on existing collaboration by the social media firms against material showing sexual abuse of children.

Bertram refused to be drawn on TikTok's travails in the United States, where a deal to restructure the platform involving Oracle and Walmart is in doubt, following threats by President Donald Trump to shut it down.

The executive insisted the platform, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, is free of interference by Beijing, but regretted instances in the past where it has taken down content critical of the communist regime.

Such content included references to the plight of Uighur Muslims in the region of Xinjiang, and to the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989.

"There is no political censorship of any kind," Bertram, a former adviser to British prime ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, told the MPs.

"I accept there are things we've got wrong, but I believe TikTok overwhelmingly is a force for good."
Dawn Wooten, left, one of the nurses at the Irwin County centre, speaks at a rally in Atlanta - AP

Mexico said it is investigating allegations that six of its citizens were sterilised without their consent in a US migrant detention centre.

Campaigners alleged last week that six women were forced to have hysterectomies at the privately-run Irwin County detention centre in Georgia.

Mexico's foreign minister told reporters on Tuesday that the operations would be "unacceptable" and that his officials were investigating the claims.

"We are already in contact with six (Mexican women) who could potentially have been subjected to this type of procedure," Marcelo Ebrard said.

Mexican consular officials were interviewing the women to gather more information, Mr Ebrard said.

Marcelo Ebrard, Mexico's foreign minister, said his office is investigating the allegations - GETTY IMAGES

"If confirmed, it's a major issue and measures must be taken."

The allegations came from a whistleblower, a nurse at the centre, where some detainees are held under Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody.

The nurse alleged that detained women told her they did not fully understand why they had to get a hysterectomy  an operation involving the removal of all or part of the uterus.

"I've had several inmates tell me that they've been to see the doctor and they've had hysterectomies and they don't know why they went," the nurse said.

Project South, the Georgia Detention Watch, the Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights and South Georgia Immigrant Support Network filed a complaint to the US Government on behalf of detained immigrants and the nurse.

US Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal has called for an urgent investigation into allegations that at least 17 women were subjected to unnecessary gynecological procedures that she called "the most abhorrent of human rights violations".
Korean Air is resuming flights from Incheon to the Japanese city of Osaka every Wednesday throughout the month of October, it said Tuesday.

The A330-300 will fly to Osaka from Sept. 30 to Oct. 28, offering 24 business-class seats and 248 economy seats.

Korean Air used to fly to more than a dozen Japanese cities, but Japan in March banned all Korean flights except one a day to Tokyo to prevent the spread of coronavirus.


Iowa Department of Public Safety From left: Cody Johnson, Julia Cox, Roy Lee Garner, and Steven Vogel

Four people have been arrested after a Black man's body was found on fire in a rural ditch in Iowa.

On Tuesday, law enforcement officers arrested four suspects in connection to the killing of Michael Williams, 44, of Grinnell, Iowa, whose body was found burning in a ditch on Wednesday, Sept. 16, according to the Iowa Department of Public Safety.

Steven Vogel was charged with one count of murder in the first degree and abuse of a corpse. Vogel, 31, is being held at the Marshall County Jail, where he was already in custody for unrelated charges.

Julia Cox, 55, and Roy Lee Garner, 57, were charged with one count of abuse of a corpse, destruction of evidence and accessory after the fact. Additionally, Cody Johnson, 29, was charged with abuse of a corpse and accessory after the fact.

Cox, Garner and Johnson are being held at the Poweshiek County jail. It was not immediately clear if the four suspects had attorneys for PEOPLE to reach for comment.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

A Sept. 18 autopsy report from the Office of the State Medical Examiner classified Williams death as a homicide, with a cause of death listed as strangulation.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety believe Williams and Vogel were "known acquaintances who often socialized within the same circle of friends." Officials added that no evidence has led them to believe the crime was "motivated by his race nor that his death was the result of a hate crime."

"The investigation has revealed Mr. Williams was killed on or about September 12, in Grinnell. Mr. Williams body was then wrapped in cloth and plastic, which was secured with rope and tape, then transported to rural Kellogg on September 16, where it was set ablaze," officials said.

Williams' ex-wife, Janalee Boldt, spoke out about his death, telling KCCI that her daughter "will not let me outside in the dark by myself because she's afraid of losing another parent." According to CNN, Williams shared five children with Boldt.
WATERLOO  Black Hawk County officials and residents differed Tuesday night in perspectives about the county attorneys role in prosecuting crimes in ways that disproportionately affect Black residents.

The discussion was part of a forum focused on racial inequity in Black Hawk Countys criminal justice system. The event, held virtually on video platform Zoom, was hosted by advocacy group Iowa Justice Action Network. More than 60 people attended the discussion, including prominent figures such as Waterloo Police Chief Joel Fitzgerald, Sheriff Tony Thompson and Mayor Quentin Hart.

Al Hays, co-chair of Iowa Justice Action Network, said Black Hawk County is second to Polk County in how many Black people it sends to prison. While 9.7% of its population is Black, the Black population makes up about 51% of the Black Hawk Countys prison population, Hays said.

He said part of the reason for the inequity is the discretion of prosecutors, who can decide whether and how to charge people with crimes. Unconscious and conscious bias plays a role in these decisions, Hays said, which contributes to unequal outcomes for people of color.

Chief Public Defender Aaron Hawbaker called the county attorney the chief law enforcement person in the area.

While they dont control who gets arrested, they do control what cases are brought, how theyre brought and what dispositions are offered, if theres any plea bargain, Hawbaker said.

He said he knows other jurisdictions where county attorneys call out unconstitutional stops by police, refusing to file charges. He said prosecutors are empowered to and supposed to use their discretion to guard against injustice.

Thats how you get law enforcement to do right, he said. If they give you tainted or bad evidence, or evidence that was obtained in an unconstitutional manner, then to me, its the duty of the prosecutor to say, I wont do that. I wont file it.

The Rev. Creighton-Smith, of Faith Temple Baptist Church, said the county attorney does not push back against racialized policies.

We have a mindset where officers in our community, in the Cedar Valley, believe that they have a right to stop a person who looks suspicious without there being anything else contributing to that police stop, Creighton-Smith said.

County Attorney Brian Williams called Iowas sentencing structure an absolute joke, adding that his office is looking at ways to dispose of probation violations. He said the effort will cause the prison population to plummet.

Our discretion is not unfettered, Williams said, adding that judges share discretion and victims have certain rights. You dont levy charges against somebody unless you have the proof of it.

He encouraged people to hold prosecutors, police and judges accountable, but said defense attorneys should be added to the list.

We see inadequate representation all the time, and theres a jail across the street here thats full of people, of phone calls that are not being answered, because someone would rather do something else than work with their client, Williams said.

In a breakout session, Hawbaker said that Williams generalization of all defense attorneys is unfair. He said there are 10 people in the local public defenders office who get free calls to the jail. Outside lawyers, who are sometimes contracted for defense work, do not get the same perk.

He said other counties would characterize Black Hawk County as a place where charges are filed, regardless of whether crimes can be proven. He pointed to the first jury trial at the county courthouse during the COVID-19 pandemic. Jurors cleared a Waterloo man of the more serious charges he faced related to an April shooting.

I disagree with Brian that he shouldnt be more reflective on the charging decisions of his office because it didnt have to be charged in that manner, Hawbaker said of the recent trial. And yet it was, and it was tried, and it was tested by 12 people in Black Hawk County, and they couldnt prove it.

Mayor Quentin Hart inquired about the possibility of a statewide report analyzing the Black Hawk County criminal justice system, though no formal discussion or decision occurred.

IJAN plans to host a follow-up discussion Oct. 20 at 6 p.m. on video platform Zoom.

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An employee cleans seats at Galaxy Cinema in Saigon's District 1, May 9, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran.

Local film distributors are calling on movie producers to release new material to counter the post-Covid-19 lull.

Apart from "Rom", winner in the New Current Award category at Busan International Film Festival last year and scheduled for release on September 25, few other movies are expected to attract viewers.

The Vietnamese film industry is facing a golden opportunity ahead of the year-end peak season, with few new foreign blockbusters expected to be released this year, industry insiders said at the "Promote Vietnamese Cinemas in the Post-Covid-19 Era" forum on Monday.

Should movie makers delay their premieres until next year, the deluge of new movies could simply bore audiences in 2021, they said.

"We need films with exceptional storylines to lure audiences back to the cinema," said Ngo Thi Bich Hien, director of domestic cinema chain BHD in HCMC.

Cinema support plays a crucial role in helping producers introduce their new work during this period, Hien added.

Distributors should commit to showing outstanding movies for at least a month, especially during golden hours, Hien mentioned, adding cinema chains could adjust the revenue split with movie makers instead of maintaining the current 45/55 ratio.

But cinemas think the pandemic is not solely to blame for the gloomy industry outlook, instead ascribing the situation to a lack of quality releases.

Nguyen Thi Mai Hoa, chief operation officer of Galaxy cinema chain, mentioned the South Korean zombie film "Peninsula" hit big screens in July when the pandemic was still raging, becoming the highest ever grossing Korean film in Vietnam after raking in VND83 billion ($3.57 million).

In China, many cinemas were closed for six months but when they reopened, their year-on-year revenues increased by 15 percent, according to Nguyen Hoang Hai, a representative from Vietnam's largest cinema chain CJ & CGV.

With a production cost of $80 million, Chinese war-themed movie "The Eight Hundred" has earned more than $400 million, Hai added.

According to CGV, when cinemas reopened after the nationwide social distancing ease in May, revenues only reached 25 percent compared to the same period in 2019.

When the novel coronavirus resurfaced in July, movies like "Rom", "Tiec Trang Mau" (Bloody Moon), and "Chong Nguoi Ta" (Other's Husband), all got postponed.

Film distributors seek fresh blood to revive Vietnam cinema Trailer 'Rom' Trailer of "Rom".

After the social distancing ease, Vietnamese audiences have been wary of returning to the cinema, according to producer Truong Ngoc Anh. As many grew used to streaming movies at home, the number of new screenings dropped from nine in the first three months of 2020, to five in the recent three.

But movie makers believe in the cinema habits of their audience, saying big screens give them a different experience compared to streaming films online.

"Crying, smiling, getting shocked, being happy in the cinema are distinctive emotions. Movie makers and distributors should focus on quality. If a movie is good, moviegoers will flock to it," director Phan Gia Nhat Linh said.
After Phil and Alyson Irwin found out she was pregnant with their second child, they thought "a very big boy" was going to follow their first daughter, Kennedy. But in February 2019, at the 20-week checkup, they learned they were expecting identical twin girls  who were conjoined at the chest.

The odds were at least 1 in 50,000, and with a Google search that night, the parents from Petersburg, Michigan, quickly learned that most conjoined twins are either stillborn or die shortly after birth.

"I had the hardest time wrapping my head around the numbers," Phil Irwin, 32, told TODAY.

Sarabeth and Amelia Irwin before their separation surgery. (Joe Hallisy / Michigan Medicine)

After getting the news, the Irwins were referred to specialists at the University of Michigan, who thought they might be able to help.

"It went from being very devastating to, 'Well, maybe there's a chance,' at least in my head," Phil said. "It felt like no hope to at least a glimmer of hope that things could go well."

Around when Alyson was 25 weeks pregnant, an echocardiogram revealed that separation of their twin daughters would be possible.

"They were able to tell that the hearts were very, very close, but they were separate," Alyson Irwin, 33, told TODAY. "That was the deciding factor for a lot of people. That they had separate hearts, it was a possibility."

Alyson and Phil Irwin with their daughters, twins, Amelia and Sarabeth, and big sister Kennedy who is almost 4. (Joe Hallisy / Michigan Medicine)

Still, it was unclear if the girls would be able to breathe normally, if separated. The Irwins were initially told their daughters might "only be able to survive on a ventilator," Alyson recalled, but then, Dr. George Mychaliska, a fetal and pediatric surgeon at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, said he thought he could help.

"It just felt like the biggest roller coaster," Alyson added. "(It was) like an emotional whiplash day. ... There was a huge possibility of stillbirth or not making it to full term, so for me it was hard to get too excited or too hopeful."

A diagram illustrates how Sarabeth and Amelia were conjoined and separated. (Courtesy Michigan Medicine)

Sarabeth and Amelia Irwin were born via cesarean section in June 2019 with separate hearts and digestive tracts but connected livers. They spent the next 85 days in Mott's intensive care unit, and the separation surgery was scheduled for February 2020. But the girls got sick the week before, so it had to be canceled. Then the coronavirus outbreak hit.

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"From the girls being born until February, I feel like we were mentally preparing ourselves for that day," Phil said. "Then when everything else happened, we went back home and we had a pretty good pandemic at home."

"We had a lot of really good family time together," he continued. "We got to watch the girls grow and get so strong and so healthy that it made me feel really, really good leading up to the second scheduling of their surgery."

The twins during their separation surgery. (Joe Hallisy / Michigan Medicine)

For the medical team at Mott, the months leading up to the surgery on Aug. 5 were "a long journey," Mychaliska told TODAY. "Dozens of people from seemingly obscure areas of the health system (participated) in this project. ... We had to innovate in terms of all of the monitoring and data capture to have two patients in one room, which is obviously highly unusual."

Mychaliska added that the "biggest unknown" was whether they could reconstruct the girls' chest walls in a way that allowed them to breathe independently. But thanks to titanium plates covered with soft tissues and skin, the end result worked "beautifully," he said.

Phil and Alyson Irwin and their twins. (Joe Hallisy / Michigan Medicine)

The successful separation surgery, which took 11 hours, is the first of its kind at Mott and, it's believed, in Michigan history, according to University of Michigan Medicine.

The twins stayed at the hospital for a month following surgery, and went home in early September. In that short time, the Irwins have gotten to watch their daughters develop as individuals. The parents always knew the twins' had distinct personalities, but watching Sarabeth "shine" has been the "biggest surprise," Phil said.

"Amelia is a little bit of a princess or a diva," he joked. "She wears all of her emotions right on her sleeve. There's no hiding how Amelia feels. ... Now that they're separate, it's so funny to see Sarabeth's quirky personality ... just physically, emotionally and mentally, how goofy that little girl really is."

Following their surgery, the twins stayed at the hospital for a month. (Joe Hallisy / Michigan Medicine)

Conjoined twins who survive separation surgeries often fall behind on developmental milestones, but Mychaliska said that they're catching up quickly and "look fantastic. ... It still seems a bit surreal that they're separated. It's overwhelming but in a very positive way."

The girls are already "so fast" with their crawling and scooting, Phil said. "It was like they'd been weight training for 15 months, carrying double the body weight."

According to Mychaliska, Sarabeth and Amelia's current prognosis is "very favorable for a normal life."

Or in their dad's words? "If you didn't know the girls before August, you'd have a hard time believing that they had been conjoined," he said.
By Debra Lancaster and Rocio Alejandra Avila

Despite growing demand for their services, the people who clean our homes and care for our children and seniors are toiling in one of the most unregulated industries in the United States. COVID-19 has only made it worse.

The wages for domestic workers are some of the lowest among all occupations. Most lack formal contracts. Access to any form of benefits or safety net is rare. Sexual harassment and abuse plague domestic workers, compounded by the fact that their work takes place in private homes. The pandemic led to sudden unemployment for many, while others were left on the front lines without adequate personal protective equipment or protection from the CARES Act.

Domestic workers are essential workers to the individuals and families who rely on them. They care for and support households by working as nannies, au pairs, housecleaners, and home health aides. They provide childcare and eldercare; prepare meals; run household errands and clean the house. Advocates like Ai-Jen Poo, co-founder of the National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA), have helped to elevate this often-invisible and historically undervalued work, reminding us that, Its the work that makes all other work possible.

Historically, domestic workers have been intentionally excluded from basic labor protections including the Fair Labor Standards Act, the National Labor Relations Act, and the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Some of these exclusions date back to reforms and regulations implemented after the Great Depression, leaving behind domestic workers and farmworkers  jobs filled largely by Black workers, immigrants and women as they are today. This is a great illustration of how structural racism and sexism pervade our economy.

Here in New Jersey, 97% of domestic workers are women, 60% are women of color and 52% are immigrants. Results from a representative survey of households across the state indicate that about one-third of us have hired a domestic worker to regularly perform domestic services. However, the survey also shows that 54% of people who hire domestic workers are unfamiliar with the existing laws that govern wages and hours.

A more recent survey carried out by four NDWA affiliates in New Jersey (Adihkaar, Casa Freehold, New Labor and Wind of the Spirit) reached more than 400 domestic workers and found that 57% of them have experienced a wage theft violation, such as having their pay withheld for no reason or not getting overtime pay. More than half of the workers surveyed have no health insurance and 49% are concerned about their lack of paid sick time and vacation time. While they know their rights, many of these workers are reluctant to speak out against abuses because they dont know how, or theyre afraid of getting fired or deported.

There is a way forward. Ten states and two municipalities have passed some version of a Domestic Worker Bill of Rights, with New York leading the way in 2010. Its time for New Jersey to do the same. Strong legislation would:

Guarantee a minimum wage, overtime, health and safety protections, workers' compensation and paid time-off for all domestic workers;

Create a portable benefits system that provides health insurance, paid family and sick leave, disability and unemployment insurance and retirement benefits;

Implement strategic enforcement targeting high-violation employers, and co-enforcement in which the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development teams up with domestic worker organizations on the ground;

Extend health and safety protections to domestic workers, including COVID-19 standards that can protect workers, their employers, and communities; and

Create a Worker Standards Board that provides a mechanism for domestic workers to set policy and raise industry standards.

Eliminating the inequalities facing domestic workers is not simple and legislation alone is never enough without investments in enforcement, employer and worker education, and worker organizing. But it is an important step forward.

In the last year, NDWA affiliates formed a New Jersey coalition to highlight the importance of ending domestic workers' exclusion from basic labor laws. Domestic workers have conducted educational outreach to elected officials and other domestic workers to highlight their precarious working conditions.

In the COVID-19 era, weve all seen the critical role that essential workers, including domestic workers, play in our society. Disgracefully, our society continues to exclude them from real protections. Thats why we urge policymakers and other allies in New Jersey to partner with domestic worker advocates to pass a Domestic Worker Bill of Rights.

Debra Lancaster is the executive director of the Center for Women and Work (CWW) in the School of Management and Labor Relations at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.

Rocio Alejandra Avila is the senior employment law counsel and state policy director for the National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA).

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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. Infection control expert Professor Mary-Louise McLaws agreed it was safe for regional Victorians to travel to other states as long as tight controls were maintained around Melbourne. Professor Mary-Louise McLaws. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer "NSW is in a safe place for regional Victoria and regional Victorians are safe to come and visit NSW," she said.

Professor McLaws called for a national approach to border controls with rapid "ring fencing" of clusters to prevent outbreaks from spreading. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has repeatedly said her government would consider opening up the state's borders with regional Victoria, but on Wednesday she said there were still concerns about Melbourne. "Were really pleased with the way the numbers have dropped in Victoria, but we need to see what Victoria does and how Melbourne responds when the restrictions are eased," she said. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has flagged the prospect of opening her state up to regional Victoria. Credit:Rhett Wyman Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said bringing infection numbers down was the way to convince other premiers they could reopen their borders.

He said the strategy to reduce cases was proving successful in Victoria as the state moved towards "COVID normal". "Part of that will be the notion of being able to travel much more freely within the state and indeed to travel beyond it," he said. Mount Gambier resident Daniel McGlone, who is currently stuck in Victoria due to border restrictions, said he hoped the border would reopen "sooner rather than later". "I think itll be good overall for the community in Mount Gambier because a lot of the cross-border communities rely on each other and a lot of people from smaller towns cross the border and come into Mount Gambier to do their shopping or for medical reasons," he said.

"I think it will be quite difficult to regulate but ... I don't really see it as too big of a problem." University student and Albury resident Lucy Nagle said she wanted the NSW borders opened "as soon as possible" to allow business to flow throughout Albury-Wodonga again. "Its been disheartening to see one half of the community in lockdown and not be able to open shops [and] not be able to see their friends and families when there arent any coronavirus cases, whereas on the other side things are pretty much COVID-normal," Ms Nagle said. "In my community, I think the popular opinion is to still maintain some border closures where there are many active cases."
President Trump's first speech to Congress in 2017. (Shawn Thew / European Pressphoto Agency)

Having wrested hard-won independence from a monarch, the founders of our nation sought to form a new union where executive power was constrained by other branches of government. They did so knowing that men are not angels, and believing that through a system of checks and balances that set ambition against ambition, a fledgling democracy could survive, even thrive.

That beautiful construct has been put to the test by a president who neither understands nor respects our constitutional scheme or the value of democratic governance.

When Donald Trump was inaugurated in 2017, I was confident that our Constitution and democratic institutions, which had survived the Civil War, terrorist attacks, economic crises and more, could withstand an unscrupulous president. What I did not foresee was the awful degree to which the party of the president would surrender its institutional responsibilities in order to protect its hold on power  and the extent to which this abdication would leave such a president unconstrained.

As we survey the wreckage of the past 3 years, its apparent that the foundation of our democracy has been shaken. Trump has sought to turn the instruments of government to his personal and political advantage, and to an astonishing degree, he has been successful.

He has extorted a foreign partner for dirt on his political opponent, a scheme for which he was impeached. He has interfered in prosecutions of his closest friends and allies, and abused the pardon and commutation powers to help political friends. He has painted the press as the enemy of the people, violated the Hatch Act, usurped Congress power of the purse to build a wall Congress did not fund, and retaliated against whistleblowers and inspectors general who exposed his wrongdoing and that of others.

Instead of being constrained by norms, Trump has acted as a stress test for our system of checks and balances, probing for where his powers are greatest and accountability is weakest.

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Trump is not the first president to seek to accumulate power and punish his enemies. When the crimes of Richard Nixon came to light after Watergate, Congress went to work to prevent such abuses from happening again. In what became known as the post-Watergate reforms, Congress created new checks and balances, including campaign finance reform, disclosure and transparency requirements for public servants, and privacy protections. Congress also established new oversight mechanisms, including the intelligence committees.

At every turn, we have fought Trumps abuses in the House, in the courts, and in an impeachment trial in the U.S. Senate. And today, we are taking the next step by introducing the first major democracy reform package since Watergate, the Protecting Our Democracy Act. Dozens of members and committees have contributed to this package and its proposals.

These reforms are just the beginning, not the end, of our work to protect and strengthen the guardrails of our democracy, against Trump and future presidents from either party who seek to abuse their power. Our reforms are built on three pillars and they are built to last.

First, we must prevent abuses of presidential power. The president is granted immense authority under the Constitution, but its not without limit or accountability. Our reforms would prevent the abuse of the pardon power, as Trump has done when he gave or dangled pardons to his cronies, and make clear that corrupt pardons can be prosecuted as bribery. It would also create a mechanism to enforce the constitutional prohibition on emoluments, which Trump has blatantly disregarded to enrich himself and his family.

Second, we must restore our system of checks and balances, the bedrock of our constitutional system, and ensure accountability and transparency. Our reforms would address a presidents efforts to run out the clock on oversight by providing for expedited enforcement of congressional subpoenas and fines for officials who refuse to cooperate. It would reassert the power of the purse, Congress authority over spending, and prevent the abuse of presidential emergency powers.

Finally, we need to protect our elections from foreign interference, because Americans must decide American elections. Our reforms would require political campaigns to report to the FBI suspicious foreign contacts or offers of assistance, and clarify that dirt on an opponent is a thing of value that campaigns are prohibited from soliciting or receiving from foreign powers.

These reforms may not be signed into law under this president, but I am confident that they will become law under a future administration, and will soon become enshrined into our understanding of American democracy, just as the post-Watergate reforms did.

Earlier this year, as the House debated impeachment, Speaker Nancy Pelosi quoted Benjamin Franklin. Asked upon exiting the Constitutional Convention what form of government the fledgling United States would have, Franklin said, A republic, if you can keep it.

Trump has posed exactly the kind of existential threat to our democracy that our founders feared. But we are not powerless to protect our country going forward. With these reforms, we can keep our republic. Our Constitution and our democracy are our sacred heritage. We will not allow them to be degraded or destroyed, by Donald Trump or anyone else.

Adam B. Schiff is the chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and represents Californias 28th Congressional District.
Im not complaining about my lot in life, he continued. But I was never really a very important person in the world, you know? Here I am, this Black guy whos kinda nice and most of my friends were white and I just kind of hung out on the periphery. No one really gave a damn. I was never the center of attention before and no one really cared what I said. And then all of a sudden, I was on this show and it went to my head. And then it disappears and its like, God, I wish I knew then what I know now. I wish Id had more time to ease into it. That you have to save your money. And you need to develop good friendships with people that arent going to just go away. Try to find people who arent just after you for your money. And maybe pursue other interests.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 01:23:54|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The United States on Wednesday imposed new restriction measures against Cuba, an effort to further deny Havana sources of revenue.

The new measures will prohibit U.S. citizens from "lodging at certain properties in Cuba, importing Cuban-origin alcohol and tobacco products, attending or organizing professional meetings or conferences in Cuba, and participating in and organizing certain public performances, clinics, workshops, competitions, and exhibitions in Cuba," the Treasury Department said in a statement.

President Donald Trump first announced these measures during his Wednesday remarks to honor the Bay of Pigs veterans.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Tuesday condemned Washington's intensified economic blockade against the island nation during his video address to the 75th session of the UN General Assembly.

In April 1961, the U.S. government supported an abortive invasion by Cuban exiles at the Bay of Pigs in southwest Cuba, after the 1959 Cuba Revolution led by Fidel Castro overthrew a U.S.-friendly government. Enditem
Chandigarh:

A high danger avalanche warning was again issued on Thursday for some avalanche-prone slopes of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.

Chandigarh-based Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) issued the warning that would be valid for the next 24 hours starting at 5pm on Thursday.

A SASE advisory said that "high danger" warning is in place for avalanche prone slopes in Kupwara, Bandipora, Anantnag, Baramulla, Ganderbal, Kulgam, Budgam, Poonch, Rajouri, Ramban, Reasi, Doda, Kishtwar and Kargil districts of Jammu and Kashmir.

High-danger avalanche warning for the same period has also been issued for avalanche prone slopes in Kullu, Chamba, Lahaul and Spiti, Mandi, Kangra, Sirmour, Shimla and Kinnaur districts of Himachal Pradesh.

"People are advised to keep clearing the snow deposition from rooftop of their houses/bunkers to avoid damages," it said.

SASE said fresh snowfall had occurred at many places in J&K and HP until early today. Banihal Top (25 cm), Haddan Taj (37 cm), Gulmarg (64 cm), Drass (49 cm) in J&K and Solang Nala (30 cm), Dhundi (93 cm) and Bahang (17 cm) in HP had received fresh snowfall.

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US Bully in Last Chance Saloon By Finian Cunningham September 22, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced this week the reimposition of international sanctions against Iran. Trouble is nobody is listening to Washington's remonstrations any longer. Not only has the emperor no clothes, he's lost bullying power too. The Trump administration asserts it has the legal right to invoke "snapback" UN sanctions on Iran over Washingtons baseless allegations that Tehran is in breach of the 2015 international nuclear accord. This is in spite of the fact that the American side forfeited its legal rights when it unilaterally quit the nuclear deal in May 2018. It is also in spite of the fact that the UN Security Council last month rejected Washington's "snapback" presumption in what was a huge diplomatic "slapback" to the Trump administration's arrogance. Even normally indulgent American allies, Britain, France and Germany, rejected the audacity of Washington's demands to reimpose sanctions on Iran. The Europeans have remained committed to upholding the nuclear accord along with Russia and China which mandates the lifting of economic sanctions on Iran in reciprocation for Iran's compliance with restrictions on its nuclear activities barring weaponisation. Undeterred by the debacle at the Security Council, Washington is now insisting that a self-declared deadline has been reached this week for snapback punitive measures on Iran. No Advertising - No Government Grants - This Is Independent Media Get Our Free Newsletter Iran has scorned the US, saying that the Trump administration avowed "maximum pressure" campaign has backfired and has only resulted in "maximum isolation" for the United States. It's hard to contest the Iranian view when you look at the predominant support for the accord among signatories. Russia, China and the Europeans have all insisted the US has no legal right to avail of mechanisms contained in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, as the nuclear pact is formally known. President Trump took the US out of the accord with an executive order. It really is parallel-universe-style delusional thinking for his administration to somehow claim at a later stage that it is still a participant with rights of redress. But what is significant is how little bullying power the US is able to apply. The US has been threatening to wield secondary sanctions on any nation not complying with its ultimatum for snapback measures. "We are not afraid of US sanctions, we are used to them", said Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov in response to Pompeos threats of extraterritorial US restrictions. He added that Russia and Iran would continue partnering in trade and defence development. It is the European defiance of Washington's demands that seems more indicative of American impotency. Their past habitual willingness to comply with US abuse of power is contemptible. We only have to look at how the European members of the Security Council have long been sheepishly complicit in Washington's illegal warmongering. However, have we reached a point in history where even European minions are now viewing Washington's rogue conduct as unacceptable? The brazen trashing of the nuclear deal by the Trump administration was a full-frontal assault on an international rules-based system. The subsequent diktat by Washington for everyone to abide by its diplomatic vandalism under pain of sanctions is a sure sign that the lunatic has taken over the asylum. Supine though the transatlantic Europeans are, even they must know that further indulgence of the American sociopath would mean their own eventual doom. Russia and China have had a better, more accurate critical appraisal of Washington's hegemonic hubris. The European nations seem to be finally catching on to the awareness that Washingtons tyranny is toxic. Continued tolerance of its rogue delusions is a path to nihilism and destruction. The Europeans are standing up to the US over the Iran nuclear deal not so much out of a sudden conversion to principles and integrity. They have had more than five years to implement the accord with Iran, but instead have dragged their feet. They are standing up to the US  at last  for their own self-preservation. They know that the absurd hypocrisy and double-think that flows out of Washington is because Uncle Sam is slumped on a stool in the Last Chance Saloon, and can't even control his bladder anymore. Finian Cunningham has written extensively on international affairs, with articles published in several languages. He is a Masters graduate in Agricultural Chemistry and worked as a scientific editor for the Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, England, before pursuing a career in newspaper journalism. He is also a musician and songwriter. For nearly 20 years, he worked as an editor and writer in major news media organisations, including The Mirror, Irish Times and Independent. - " Source " - Post your comment below See also America Is A Bully. OK. There, I Said It! American Empire Collapse: It's About To Get Much Worse. Chris Hedges The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House.
Mumbai, Sep 23 : A 15-year old Mumbai girl Anashruta Ganguly, has bagged the top honour at the 2nd Korea-India Friendship Quiz Contest-2020, an official said here on Wednesday.

A class VIII student of Pawar Public School, Chandivali, Ganguly won the coveted first prize of a six-day free trip to South Korea.

"Before taking part in this quiz, I had absolutely no knowledge about the rich and diverse Korean culture. It's only now that I understood that Korea is the 'Lamp of the East' and look forward to visiting the country," a visibly excited Ganguly said.

Despite the Covid-19 gloom, the contest attracted over 10,000 students from 20 schools in Mumbai and other parts, and the final was an online round conducted on September 22.

Organised by the Korean Cultural Centre India, it is one of the biggest quiz competitions for school students on an international topic in the Mumbai region.

According to the Korean Consul-General Kim Dong Young, the idea is to ensure that Indian students learn more about his country's history, culture and related aspects.

The second prize of Rs 10,000 was bagged by Taarini Padia, a student of Jasudben ML School, Khar, and another 14 winners also got cash prizes.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times.

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Pakistans 39-yr-old NSA a key player in armys Gilgit move that suits China

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Rajya Sabha adjourns sine die; second-shortest monsoon session so far

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Mumbai to receive more rainfall in next 6 hours; NDRF teams on standby

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IPL 2020: Mitchell Marsh ruled out of tournament, Sunrisers Hyderabad name replacement

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Sushant Singh Rajput took advantage of those closest to him to sustain drug habit: Rhea Chakraborty in bail plea

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How Ayushmann Khuranas quirky, eccentric and unique style has evolved through the years

Ayushmann Khurrana proves he is a fashion icon, no matter what style he chooses to wear. Whether it is his not-so-subtle taste in casuals or completely unique and often extravagant formals; it is next to impossible to ignore the Gulabo Sitabo actor whenever he chooses to make an appearance. Read more

Mercedes-Benz GLE 53 AMG 4MATIC Plus Coupe launched in India at 1.20 crore

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Watch | DRDOs plan to help feed Indian forces amid Ladakh long haul against China

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OTTAWA, Ontario

Sept. 22, 2020

$2 million

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.

Alykhan Abdulla

University of Ottawa

Bruyere Foundation

National Research Council

Canada

Artem Abramov

/PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- 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 donateworth 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: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." -, MD, Assistant Professor - TheFaculty of Medicine, Board Director -MicroMetrics is receiving advisory services and research and development funding from theof 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 acrossand 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."-, CEO, MicroMetricsTo learn more about MicroMetrics Healthcare's 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.-30-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 world's 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.SOURCE MicroMetrics
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas sent a congratulation letter to Saudi King Salman marking the kingdom's national day. Abbas took the occasion to laud Riyadh's support of the Palestinian cause, Al-Arabiya reported on Wednesday.

The Saudi king had told US President Donald Trump in September that Saudi Arabia wants to see a fair and permanent solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict based on the Arab Peace Initiative.

A Saudi cabinet statement on 15 September stressed that the "kingdom stands by the Palestinian people and supports all efforts aimed at reaching a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue that enables the Palestinian people to establish their independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with international legitimacy decisions and the Arab Peace Initiative.

Saudi Arabia presented the Arab Peace Initiative during the Arab summit in Beirut in 2002.

The plan stipulates full Israeli withdrawal from all the territories occupied since 1967, including the Syrian Golan Heights, to the lines of 4 June 1967, as well as the remaining occupied Lebanese territories in the south of Lebanon and the establishment of a Sovereign Independent Palestinian State on the Palestinian territories occupied since 4 June 1967 in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

In return, the Arabs would enter into a peace agreement with Israel, and provide security for all the states of the region and establish normal relations with Israel in the context of this comprehensive peace.

The UAE and Bahrain recently signed US-sponsored normalisation agreements with Israel in Washington DC in a move opposed by the Palestinians.

The Abraham Accords between the UAE and Israel dictate the establishment of peace and diplomatic relations... mutual understanding, cooperation and coordination between them in the spheres of peace and stability and cooperation on multiple fronts," including healthcare, science, technology and peaceful uses of outer space, tourism, culture and sport, energy, environment, education, maritime agreements, telecommunications, agriculture, food security, water and legal cooperation.

Trump described the accords as the foundation for a comprehensive peace across the entire region." He told the media Israel will also normalise relations with seven or eight or nine other states at the right time.

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Opposition parties will meet President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday amid the ongoing row over farm bills. Only five opposition leaders will be allowed to meet the President at 5 PM , reports said.

On Tuesday, the opposition boycotted the ongoing session over Centres refusal to accept its demand for withdrawal of farm bills passed by Parliament.

On Sunday, the Rajya Sabha passed two contentious 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) through voice vote.

Also Read | Rajya Sabha: 8 Opposition MPs suspended for a week after protests over farm bills

On Wednesday, the MPs of the Opposition parties which boycotted Parliament met at the chamber of Ghulam Nabi Azad, Leader of Opposition in the House.

Following the ruckus in the Upper House on Sunday, eight Opposition MPs, including Trinamool Congress floor leader Derek OBrien and AAPs Sanjay Singh, were suspended from Rajya Sabha for a week under Rule 256(2) on Monday.

Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh who was at the chair when the Opposition MPs created a furore inside the Rajya Sabha observed a one-day fast protesting the unruly behaviour of the Opposition MPs.

The two farm bills are presently awaiting Presidents nod.

Meanwhile, the government has recommended the adjournment of the Rajya Sabha sine die, Union minister of state (MoS) for parliamentary affairs, V Muraleedharan informed the House.

I have to inform members that the government has decided to recommend adjournment of the House sine die today. Some important legislative business passed by Lok Sabha has to be disposed of before the adjournment, the MoS said.
MORE: The Bethlehem police chief nominee is ready to work on the departments future

After furor over a Facebook post led Bethlehems police chief to retire, the citys new chief will make department history.

Capt. Michelle Kott, who serves in the professional standards division and leads the departments crisis negotiation team, was nominated as chief on Wednesday. If approved, she would be the first female chief in the departments history.

Im very humbled. I look forward to the challenge, and leading the men and women of this department, and hoping to inspire other girls that may be interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement, she said.

The 38-year-old Kott has been with the department since 2004 and started as a patrol officer, before rising through the ranks of crime scene detective, patrol sergeant, detective sergeant, and then a detective lieutenant. She was most recently promoted to captain in February 2019.

Mayor Bob Donchez made the announcement Wednesday afternoon at town hall. The nomination will next go to city council for confirmation Oct. 6, according to city Business Administrator Eric Evans.

Four excellent, well-qualified officers from within the department applied for the chief job, Donchez said, and any of the four could have been chief.

Kotts philosophy meshed with the mayors on community policing and getting out in the neighborhoods, very important aspects of policing during this time, Donchez said.

Captain Kott will no doubt bring a new energy and a new perspective to the department," the mayor said. She is a strong advocate of community policing, community partnerships, and additional training in the areas of mental health, cultural awareness, de-escalation tactics, implicit bias and crisis intervention.

Kott noted it is a critical time for law enforcement, and that it calls for strong leadership coupled with empathy, compassion, respect and responsibility.

I believe I am more than up to the task and I look forward to taking on the challenges in working together with the men and women of the Bethlehem Police Department and the community, she said.

Kott and her wife, Kristin, who celebrated their 10-year anniversary on Wednesday, live in Macungie with their 6-year-old son, Noah, and 2-year-old daughter, Allie.

Theyve all stood by me throughout my career and theyre my why, for who I am and what I do, Kott said.

Kott earned her bachelors degree from DeSales and a masters degree from St. Josephs University, and last year earned her doctorate in criminal justice studies from California University of Pennsylvania. She received the Jay S. Albanese Award for Academic Excellence in Doctoral Criminal Justice Studies.

Capt. Michelle Kott, left, is joined by her wife Kristin, right, who is holding their daughter Allie. Kott was nominated Sept. 23, 2020, to be Bethlehem's newest police chief.Sarah Cassi | For lehighvalleylive.com

Kott would replace former police Chief Mark DiLuzio, who retired after re-posting an offensive Facebook post. Deputy Chief Scott Meixell is serving as interim chief since DiLuzio announced his retirement on Sept. 4.

Earlier this month, DiLuzio on his private Facebook page shared a post that mocked professional athletes protesting the killing of Black men by police. The post included the original authors commentary viewed as racist.

DiLuzio took down the post, and apologized to his friends on the Facebook page and to city council.

After public furor over the post, two members of council said they didnt have confidence DiLuzio could maintain the trust of the community in a time where important conversations on race and other issues need to be had.

The mayor, when announcing DiLuzios retirement, said the then-chief "accepted that his standing in the community has been compromised. This has happened at a time when the citizens of Bethlehem justly expect the effectiveness of their chief of police to be beyond reproach.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com.
The long-awaited photonic technique could change the way optical technologies are developed and used over the next decade

BROOKLYN, New York, Wednesday, September 23, 2020 - The colloidal diamond has been a dream of researchers since the 1990s. These structures -- stable, self-assembled formations of miniscule materials -- have the potential to make light waves as useful as electrons in computing, and hold promise for a host of other applications. But while the idea of colloidal diamonds was developed decades ago, no one was able to reliably produce the structures. Until now.

Researchers led by David Pine, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering and professor of physics at NYU, have devised a new process for the reliable self-assembly of colloids in a diamond formation that could lead to cheap, scalable fabrication of such structures. The discovery, detailed in "Colloidal Diamond," appearing in the September 24 issue of Nature, could open the door to highly efficient optical circuits leading to advances in optical computers and lasers, light filters that are more reliable and cheaper to produce than ever before, and much more.

Pine and his colleagues, including lead author Mingxin He, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Physics at NYU, and corresponding author Stefano Sacanna, associate professor of chemistry at NYU, have been studying colloids and the possible ways they can be structured for decades. These materials, made up of spheres hundreds of times smaller than the diameter of a human hair, can be arranged in different crystalline shapes depending on how the spheres are linked to one another. Each colloid attaches to another using strands of DNA glued to surfaces of the colloids that function as a kind of molecular Velcro. When colloids collide with each other in a liquid bath, the DNA snags and the colloids are linked. Depending on where the DNA is attached to the colloid, they can spontaneously create complex structures.

This process has been used to create strings of colloids and even colloids in a cubic formation. But these structures did not produce the Holy Grail of photonics -- a band gap for visible light. Much as a semiconductor filters out electrons in a circuit, a band gap filters out certain wavelengths of light. Filtering light in this way can be reliably achieved by colloids if they are arranged in a diamond formation, a process deemed too difficult and expensive to perform at commercial scale.

"There's been a great desire among engineers to make a diamond structure," said Pine. "Most researchers had given up on it, to tell you the truth - we may be the only group in the world who is still working on this. So I think the publication of the paper will come as something of a surprise to the community."

The investigators, including Etienne Ducrot, a former postdoc at NYU Tandon, now at the Centre de Recherche Paul Pascal - CNRS, Pessac, France; and Gi-Ra Yi of Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea, discovered that they could use a steric interlock mechanism that would spontaneously produce the necessary staggered bonds to make this structure possible. When these pyramidal colloids approached each other, they linked in the necessary orientation to generate a diamond formation. Rather than going through the painstaking and expensive process of building these structures through the use of nanomachines, this mechanism allows the colloids to structure themselves without the need for outside interference. Furthermore, the diamond structures are stable, even when the liquid they form in is removed.

The discovery was made because He, a graduate student at NYU Tandon at the time, noticed an unusual feature of the colloids he was synthesizing in a pyramidal formation. He and his colleagues drew out all of the ways these structures could be linked. When they happened upon a particular interlinked structure, they realized they had hit upon the proper method. "After creating all these models, we saw immediately that we had created diamonds," said He.

"Dr. Pine's long-sought demonstration of the first self-assembled colloidal diamond lattices will unlock new research and development opportunities for important Department of Defense technologies which could benefit from 3D photonic crystals," said Dr. Evan Runnerstrom, program manager, Army Research Office (ARO), an element of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command's Army Research Laboratory.

He explained that potential future advances include applications for high-efficiency lasers with reduced weight and energy demands for precision sensors and directed energy systems; and precise control of light for 3D integrated photonic circuits or optical signature management.

"I am thrilled with this result because it wonderfully illustrates a central goal of ARO's Materials Design Program -- to support high-risk, high-reward research that unlocks bottom-up routes to creating extraordinary materials that were previously impossible to make."

The team, which also includes John Gales, a graduate student in physics at NYU, and Zhe Gong, a postdoc at the University of Pennsylvania, formerly a graduate student in chemistry at NYU, are now focused on seeing how these colloidal diamonds can be used in a practical setting. They are already creating materials using their new structures that can filter out optical wavelengths in order to prove their usefulness in future technologies.

###

This research was supported by the US Army Research Office under award number W911NF-17-1-0328. Additional funding was provided by the National Science Foundation under award number DMR-1610788.

"Colloidal Diamond" is available at ____:

About the New York University Tandon School of Engineering

The NYU Tandon School of Engineering dates to 1854, the founding date for both the New York University School of Civil Engineering and Architecture and the Brooklyn Collegiate and Polytechnic Institute. A January 2014 merger created a comprehensive school of education and research in engineering and applied sciences as part of a global university, with close connections to engineering programs at NYU Abu Dhabi and NYU Shanghai. NYU Tandon is rooted in a vibrant tradition of entrepreneurship, intellectual curiosity, and innovative solutions to humanity's most pressing global challenges. Research at Tandon focuses on vital intersections between communications/IT, cybersecurity, and data science/AI/robotics systems and tools and critical areas of society that they influence, including emerging media, health, sustainability, and urban living. We believe diversity is integral to excellence, and are creating a vibrant, inclusive, and equitable environment for all of our students, faculty and staff. For more information, visit engineering.nyu.edu.
S Lalitha By

Express News Service

BENGALURU: The sudden ban on export of Onions imposed last week has left leading exporters of the bulb from the City to Asian countries reeling. They have already lost lakhs by selling stocks held at ports within India at half the price and are desperate for an immediate solution.

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade banned exports on September 14 following a shortage in the Indian market after rains played havoc in production areas in Karnataka and Maharashtra. This caused a spike in selling price with Onion selling upto Rs 50 per kg in Mumbai and Pune.

The biggest onion exporter from Bengaluru, S Anandan, Proprietor of K Venkatesh & Co, based in Yesvantpur APMC yard, is under enormous mental and financial stress presently. He buys onions daily from farmers in Challakere in Chitradurga and many of its surrounding areas including Hiriyur, Imangala, Belaghatta, Koverahatti.

Anandan told TNIE, I have lost over Rs 40 lakh just this week. These are my consignments that got stuck at different ports as soon as the ban was suddenly announced  1,74,000 kilograms at Chennai port, 2 lakh kgs at Kolkata port, 1,50,000 kgs at Tuticorin and 98,000 kgs at Chennai port. They were intended for Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Malaysia, Vietnam and Hongkong.

Stressing that onions stored in closed containers would perish in a week, Anandan said that he offloaded the stock at Chennai and Tuticorin at half the price locally. Despite the government stating a couple of days ago that some relaxation has been permitted in case of Bangladesh alone, my products heading to that country were not permitted to leave the ports, he added.

Sandeep N V of Shree NN Enterprises said that farmers are bound to have huge losses. It is not just exporters but this kind of a ban impacts farmers in Nasik and Chitradurga heavily as they will only have a domestic market for their produce. The same problem happened last year too.

On the losses his concern suffered, Sandeep added, I had 1 lakh kgs of onions each at both Tuticorin and Mumbai ports for export. I sold them all in the local market last week and suffered a total loss of Rs 7.5 lakh. This is a big sum for a small time exporter like me.

The exporter that it was crucial that the Centre provides a little time to the traders before such bans are announced. Trucks from other parts of State take three to four days to reach different ports. Announcing such a move when goods are stuck midway is very tough for our businesses. The same thing was done by the Centre last year too (September 29, 2019), he added.

President of Horticultural Produce Exporters Association (referred to commonly as Onion Exporters Assn), Mumbai, Ajit Shah told The New Indian Express, The Indian Onion market is huge and exports 17 lakh to 18 lakh tonnes of onion annually. A high-level meeting was held yesterday in this connection and those in the know of things tell me that a positive outcome can be expected, he said. CAPTION: Shot of Onions being loaded onto trucks at Yesvantpur APMC yard in Bangalore
Ruth Bader Ginsburg will return to the Supreme Court for the final time on Wednesday morning after serving on the United States highest court for 27 years.

Thousands of mourners, some of whom camped overnight on Tuesday, are anticipated to honour the Supreme Court justice as she lies in repose on the grand buildings steps starting on Wednesday.

Mourners will have the opportunity to file past Ginsburgs casket at the location where justice built a reputation for being a proponent of equality and womens rights as both a lawyer arguing before the Supreme Court and as a justice.

The justices family and close friends will first gather for a private ceremony in the Great Hall on Wednesday morning. Ginsburgs casket will then move onto the Courts steps to lie in repose for two days.

Supreme Court justices have previously lain in repose for one day, but it was decided to award Ginsburg the honour for two days given she was just the second woman to join the Court. Ginsburgs popularity has also grown in recent years to become a feminist and cultural icon.

This will be the first time the eight remaining Supreme Court justices have gathered together in person since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in March. The Court shut down in-person work, leaving the justices to hold meetings through the telephone.

Ginsburgs casket is expected to arrive at 9:30pm EST on Wednesday morning. Supreme Court police will then carry her casket up the Courts steps, which will be lined with more than one hundred former Ginsburg law clerks acting as honorary pallbearers for the occasion.

Chief Justice John Roberts will be waiting in the Great Hall with the other Supreme Court justices as her casket arrives and is placed on the Lincoln Catafalque, the platform on which President Abraham Lincolns coffin rested in the Capitol rotunda in 1865. Hanging nearby will be a 2016 portrait of Ginsburg by artist Constance P Beaty.

President Donald Trump has not indicated if he will be present to honour the justice ahead of him leaving Washington DC on Wednesday afternoon. He previously paid his respects when Justice John Paul Stevens died last year. His predecessor, President Barack Obama, honoured Justice Antonin Scalia by visiting the Court in 2016 following the justices death.

Other touches made for Ginsburg include the entrance to draping the courtroom, her chair, and her place on the court next to Roberts in black  a tradition long used to honour justices.

Her casket will then move to the Courts steps for a public viewing from 11am to 10pm on Wednesday and 9am to 10pm on Thursday.

Then Ginsburg will lie in state at the Capitol on Friday, making her the first woman and only the second Supreme Court justice after William Howard Taft to receive the honour. Rosa Parks was the first woman to have lain in honour in the Capitol as a private citizen as opposed to a government official.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said there would be a ceremony for Ginsburg on Friday, but it would be for invited guests only due to the pandemic.

Ginsburg will be buried alongside her husband Martin Ginsburg, who died in 2010, during a private ceremony at Arlington National Ceremony next week. She is survived by her daughter and son, four grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, and a great-grandchild.

Ginsburg died from cancer at the age of 87 on Friday. Her death less than 50 days before the presidential election has launched a partisan battle between Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill, with Republicans vowing to let Mr Trump nominate a replacement before November.

When Justice Scalia died unexpectedly in 2016, Republicans, who controlled the Senate, refused to act on President Obamas Supreme Court pick, Judge Merrick Garland. At the time, the senators said that no Supreme Court pick should be up for consideration during an election year.

Republicans indicated this week they had enough votes to approve Mr Trumps nominee, who the president said would be announced on Saturday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report
Reopening

23 September 2020

Nestled in unique atolls surrounded by azure blue waters, powdery white sand, and an incredible diversity of marine life, Hilton's luxury resort Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi is ready to welcome travelers to its slice of paradise with an enhanced promise of safety and wellbeing.

Beyond the unsurpassed levels of Hilton hospitality that discerning guests to the two Maldivian resorts would have come to expect, guests can also stay assured that the resorts have implemented industry-leading standards of cleanliness and disinfection of the proprietary Hilton CleanStay program, while adhering to Maldivian health and safety guidelines.

From arrival to check in and throughout their stay, guests can experience an elevated standard of cleanliness and sanitization which builds upon Hilton's high standards of housekeeping and hygiene, where hospital-grade cleaning products and upgraded protocols were already in place.

Having recently celebrated its first year since opening, the iconic Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi offers guests a sense of elevated luxury in an exclusive tropical enclave, a plethora of activities for guests of all generations and a personal concierge service giving guests the freedom to create memories that last a lifetime.

The 119 all-villa resort, which was also recently awarded two notable titles in the coveted annual Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards list, welcomes guests to a world of visionary design where elite travelers with a discerning eye will appreciate exquisite architecture and design that blends perfectly into the landscape. Designed to meet local environmental requirements and needs, every aspect of the resort has been guided by the natural setting and local architectural style, with a luxury edge. Upon arrival, guests are greeted by a breath-taking view of villas nestled within the sparkling Maldivian landscape, inspired by the islands' beauty, natural resources and local culture.

In line with the Waldorf Astoria brand's rich legacy of culinary innovation and excellence, the resort has been designed to appeal to luxury leisure seekers with a refined palate and an appreciation for international cuisine, featuring 10 specialty dining venues serving the freshest produce in extraordinary settings  the diversity of which is a first for the Maldives. No matter their preference, guests can select from venues ranging from inspired tree-top dining and private wine cellars set in a cave to organic farmhouses and an authentic Chinese restaurant. Special occasions can also be celebrated at spectacular venues including the resort's private sandbank or within the comfort of their villas.
- Advancements in the techniques of Transcatheter Mitral Valve Implantation and substantial prevalence of Mitral Regurgitation with favorable reimbursement scenarios are expected to fuel the market growth.

VANCOUVER, BC, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --

Transcatheter Mitral Valve Implantation Market Size - USD 1.82 billion in 2019, Transcatheter Mitral Valve Implantation Market Growth - CAGR of 14.4%, Transcatheter Mitral Valve Implantation Industry Trends- percutaneous transcatheter mitral valve replacement techniques, favorable investment opportunities, and technological advancements

According to the current analysis of Emergen Research, the Global Transcatheter Mitral Valve Implantation Market was valued at USD 1.82 billion in 2019 and is expected to reach USD 4.67 billion by 2027, at a CAGR of 14.4%. Rising incidences of mitral valve diseases, new pipeline devices, together with the increasing elderly population with heart conditions, is positively driving the growth of the Transcatheter Mitral Valve Implantation (repair and replacement) market in the forecast period. Mitral Regurgitation (MR) is a widespread valve disorder affecting more than 4 million people in the United States. Roughly, 250,000 cases of mitral regurgitation are recorded in the United States annually, out of which close to 50,000 patients opt for the recommended surgery. Transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) is a substitute therapeutic opportunity that has been enhanced considerably to competently treat severe mitral regurgitation in patients who are exposed to high or prohibitive surgical risks.

A practicable and comparatively safe option in patients with mitral regurgitation is called percutaneous transcatheter mitral valve replacement. In terms of safety and effectiveness, these techniques are proving to be beneficial for those patients with the potential risk of mitral valve disease. The escalating demand for this technique is enhancing the growth prospects of the global transcatheter mitral valve implantation market over the forecast period. However, cases of failed surgeries, costly target surgeries, and rigorous government rules and regulations are likely to hinder the industry growth in the forecast period.

Request free sample of this research report at: https://www.emergenresearch.com/request-sample/54

Further key findings from the report suggest

To develop functional (secondary) mitral regurgitation, in March 2019 , MitraClip's suggestions to address the secondary MR was expanded and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This can be administered in patients with structural changes in the heart (such as enlargement due to heart failure)

, MitraClip's suggestions to address the secondary MR was expanded and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This can be administered in patients with structural changes in the heart (such as enlargement due to heart failure) As mechanical values last long up to approximately 25 years post-implant/surgery, the mechanical valves segment is anticipated to dominate the industry with a market share of almost 58.3%

Mitral Valve Stenosis dominates the market in terms of share of approximately 44.1% in 2019. However, the Mitral Valve Regurgitation segment in the application outlook registered the highest growth rate of approximately 14.1%, owing to a rise in conditions of mitral regurgitation and due to the development of potential techniques for successful surgeries.

Minneapolis -based CardioMech AS, a medical device company, is developing a transfemoral, transseptally delivered mitral valve repair technology for which in August 2020 , it raised funds worth USD 18.5 million for its first-in-human feasibility trial.

-based CardioMech AS, a medical device company, is developing a transfemoral, transseptally delivered mitral valve repair technology for which in , it raised funds worth for its first-in-human feasibility trial. North America dominated the market in terms of revenue in 2019. Factors contributing to the largest market share (39.7%) are increasing the success rate of surgeries, high employability of technologically advanced medical heart therapy devices, and favorable compensation policies, among other encouraging scenarios.

dominated the market in terms of revenue in 2019. Factors contributing to the largest market share (39.7%) are increasing the success rate of surgeries, high employability of technologically advanced medical heart therapy devices, and favorable compensation policies, among other encouraging scenarios. Key market players profiled for this industry analysis include Abbott Laboratories, HLT Medical, Neovasc, Edward Lifesciences, Biotronik Private Limited, LivaNova, Colibri Heart Valve, Medtronic, NeoChord, MValve Technologies, Transcatheter Technologies GmbH, and Venus Medtech, among other companies.

To get leading market solutions, visit the link below: https://www.emergenresearch.com/industry-report/transcatheter-mitral-valve-implantation-market

For the purpose of this study, Emergen Research has segmented the Transcatheter Mitral Valve Implantation Market on the basis of product, application, end use, and region:

Product Outlook (Revenue in Million USD; 2017-2027)

Mechanical Valves

Bioprosthetic Tissue (Biological) Valves

Application Outlook (Revenue in Million USD; 2017-2027)

Mitral Valve Stenosis

Mitral Valve Prolapse

Mitral Valve Regurgitation

End Use Outlook (Revenue in Million USD; 2017-2027)

Hospitals

Ambulatory Surgical Centers

Diagnostic Centers

Other

Regional Outlook (Revenue in Million USD; 2017-2027)

North America

U.S.



Canada

Europe

Germany



U.K.



France



Spain



Italy



Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

China



India



Japan



South Korea



Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America

Brazil

Middle East & Africa

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Huawei said that Qualcomm has applied for a license to sell it chips and the Chinese technology giant will use them in smartphones if permission is granted by the U.S. government.

China's Huawei was put on a U.S. blacklist last year that restricted American businesses from selling products to the Chinese phonemaker. U.S. companies, including Qualcomm, were required to get a license from the government to export goods to companies on that list.

Then in May this year, Washington amended a rule to require foreign manufacturers using U.S. chipmaking equipment to get a license before being able to sell semiconductors to Huawei. The U.S. government tightened this rule in August, a move which could lead to a "near-total" cut-off for Huawei from key semiconductor.

Huawei designs its own smartphones chips called Kirin, via its HiSilicon subsidiary. But Kirin is manufactured by Taiwanese contract chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. From Sept. 15, TSMC was no longer able to supply chips to Huawei.

"The U.S. has been continuously attacking us ... and that has posed great challenges to our production and our operation," Guo Ping, rotating chairman at Huawei, said on Wednesday. "We got the last batch of chipsets in middle of September, we are still evaluating more details."
"We are proud to partner with IMEC. Our goal is to assist manufacturers in our home state of Illinois to succeed and be cyber aware. Illinois is a very manufacturing dependent state, and were glad to be part of this educational opportunity. - Christian Espinosa, Alpine Security CEO

Compliance with cybersecurity policies from the Department of Defense (DoD) is critical for defense contractors to secure contracts. In Illinois, manufacturing contractors face confusion around DFARS Clause 252.204-7012, NIST 800-171, and CMMC security requirements, which define specific steps to protect covered defense information (CDI).

In an effort to educate and empower manufacturers, Alpine Security is partnering with the IMEC (Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center), a nonprofit that works to foster long-term economic and workforce competitiveness for the state, to facilitate these webinars during October, which is also National Cybersecurity Awareness Month.

Manufacturing has sometimes been a slow adopter, but most are embracing a digital transformation. As digitization efforts continue, new threats to data security become more concerning. Through these webinars, manufacturing organizations can obtain knowledge and learn about best practices to meet DoD cybersecurity compliance.

The schedule of webinars includes:

DFARS & CMMC Overview



October 15 @ 10:00 a.m.  11:30 a.m.

DFARS NIST 800-171 Compliance Process



October 22 @ 10:00 a.m.  11:30 a.m.

Cybersecurity Compliance  Real Company Examples



October 29 @ 10:00 a.m.  11:30 a.m.

CMMC Breakdown



November 5 @ 10:00 a.m.  11:30 a.m.

Cybersecurity: What Are Your Risks?



November 12 @ 10:00 a.m.  11:30 a.m.

Jana White, COO at Alpine Security, will be the presenter for all five sessions. There is no cost to register for these virtual events.

We are proud to partner with IMEC, an organization weve worked with for over five years to provide this series of webinars. Our goal is to assist manufacturers in our home state of Illinois to succeed and be cyber aware. Illinois is a very manufacturing dependent state, and were glad to be part of this educational opportunity, Christian Espinosa, Alpine Securitys CEO, said.

In addition to the series of webinars focusing on DFARS and CMMC, Alpine Security now offers a DFARS and CMMC compliance audit to clients. This is a three-step process that includes an evaluation/discovery, remediation and plan of action, and final compliance assessment.

To learn more and register for the webinar series, visit https://www.imec.org/events/

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.
ATLANTA, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Hodges Ward Elliott ("HWE"), the premier boutique real estate capital markets advisor, announced it represented a partnership of Stormont Hospitality Group, North American Properties and Long Wharf Capital in its sale of The Hotel at Avalon located in the premier Atlanta suburb of Alpharetta, Georgia.

An HWE team composed of Bill Hodges, Mark Elliott, Todd Ratliff, Pete Dannemiller, Nate Ries, Coby Campbell, and Nic Howe advised the ownership group on the sale of the 330-room full-service hospitality asset, part of the Marriott Autograph Collection brand of hotels. HWE advised on the financing structure for the acquisition as well.

"The hotel's exceptional quality, strong brand recognition, irreplaceable location in the heart of Avalon and strength of the surrounding Alpharetta market made The Hotel at Avalon a highly appealing asset," said Todd Ratliff, HWE. "Even in this challenging hospitality investment climate, demand for superior hotel product like The Hotel at Avalon remains strong. As we marketed the property, HWE was able to generate numerous competitive offers and we're pleased to have negotiated its sale."

Opened in 2018, The Hotel at Avalon offers luxurious guest rooms designed with a gracious southern charm, the 65,000-square-foot Alpharetta Conference Center featuring 44,000-square-feet of function space, a South City Kitchen restaurant (one of the top grossing restaurants in metro Atlanta), as well as a full-service Starbucks.

The Hotel at Avalon is fully integrated within the larger $1 billion, 86-acre Avalon mixed-use walkable community, as its front entrance opens to 500,000 square feet of specialty retail, almost 600,000 square feet of Class A office space, 20+ exceptional dining venues and over 600 residential units comprising single family residences and luxury rentals.

About Hodges Ward Elliott:

Hodges Ward Elliott ("HWE") is the premier boutique real estate capital markets advisor, empowered to deliver exceptional results across a broad spectrum of business lines and product types. HWE's multi-disciplined platform includes commercial, hotel and debt capital markets teams, with offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Washington D.C., and London. As a privately held company, HWE is dedicated to cultivating long-term client relationships and takes pride in the reputation and track record established over its 45-year history. HWE has closed over $70 billion of transactions, including more than $26 billion over the past 5 years. For more information, please visit https://hodgeswardelliott.com/.

Contact: Great Ink  908-392-0333, Tom Nolan ([email protected])

SOURCE Hodges Ward Elliott
Ancient Egyptian sculpture stood out for its simple shapes, strong lines and coherent formations, which gave it its special character. Stylised human, animal and hybrid forms decorated the tombs of the Pharaonic elite, and monumental structures paid homage to numerous gods and kings. Considering that much of this remarkable heritage has survived, it is no wonder that modern Egyptian sculpture draws so heavily on it.



Closing this week at Meem Gallery in Dubai, 100 Years of Egyptian Sculpture: Mokhtar-Henein-Agop (1 July-26 September)  dedicated to the late Adam Henein (1929-2020), who passed away in May  features a work each by Henein, Mahmoud Mokhtar (1891-1934), and Armen Agop (b. 1969): two of Egypts greatest artists and one of their worthiest heirs.



The acknowledged Father of Modern Egyptian Sculpture, Mokhtars revolutionary work combined ancient Egyptian formalism with a European sensibility. An example of the fellaha figure symbolising Egypt, his bronze Au Bord Du Nil (On the Bank of the Nile, 1923-1932) shows the young woman performing the life-giving task of carrying river water back to the village.



Typical of Heneins dynamic human and animal figures featuring minimal lines that recall ancient funerary art, the 1969 bronze piece Marie Nilus  so called after Potamoi  represents the Nile, one of Greek river gods Oceanus and Tethyss 3000 children.

Based in Pietrasanta, a small town near some of Italys marble quarries that houses a cosmopolitan community of rock sculptors, the Armenian-Egyptian Armen Agop contributes an untitled piece in black granite from his Mantra series.

Here as elsewhere Agops abstract work, at least as different from either Mokhtar or Henein as the two great figures are from each other, reflects the linear form and elegant minimalism that runs through both their work and the ancients. Expertly and painstakingly shaped into ultra-smooth, organic shapes, Agops rock is an attempt to manifest spiritual concepts in physical form.

Charles Pocock, Meems managing director, says these three works spanning three generations demonstrate the continuity of and power of modern Egyptian sculpture over a whole century:



I am proud to be holding the exhibition finally. It has long been my ambition to showcase the evolution of modern and contemporary Egyptian sculpture over the past century by focusing on the seminal works of Mahmoud Mokhtar, Adam Henein and Armen Agop. Adam was my teacher and guide in all things Egyptian sculpture and he ignited a passion in me. He was undoubtedly one of the greatest sculptors in the Arab world and leaves behind an incredible legacy, so I dedicate this show to his memory. I remember one sculpture in particular that made a lasting impact on me, a bronze figure titled Owl which like all of Heneins work combines an honest simplicity of execution with a beautifully balanced and tactile form.



In January 2009 I flew to Aswan to meet with the artist who was the founder of the Aswan International Sculpture Symposium. We met at the symposium and then Henein took me to the Open-air Museum. Aswan which, along with the quarries of pink granite, has been a hub of sculptural production for over four-thousand years. Seeing the work being produced there by artisans under the direction of the symposiums artists and visiting the sculpture park gave me the unique opportunity to view a variety of sculptures, both ancient and modern, in their natural surroundings.



It was there that I first encountered the remarkable work of Armen Agop. Needless to say, I was completely captivated by its peaceful beauty. Agops sculpture was poignantly positioned between two rough, protruding rocks with the sun reflecting off of its perfectly smooth surface. What struck me then, and what still strikes me to this day, is the sublime simplicity of Agops form: his clear and uncompromising quest for aesthetic perfection was instantly apparent.



Henein clearly shared my opinion, remarking that Agop was the one artist, in his opinion, who had truly taken on the tradition of modern Egyptian sculpture, refining and taking it to another level. Through the years Henein continued to position Agops work in this long tradition of Egyptian sculpture. More recently I was delighted to finally work with Agop on the exhibition, Mantra, which opened at Meem in November 2019. I continued to speak to Henein at great length about the continuity of Egyptian sculpture. He had always felt strongly that all significant sculpture from the country invariably drew its inspiration from Pharaonic roots.

"Indeed, Henein himself led the design team who worked on the restoration of the Great Sphinx at Giza in 1989-1998. It was by combining Pharaonic statuary with the European artistic sensibility that Mokhtar created a brand-new national aesthetic. He is best known for his statuesque figures, as can be seen in Au Bord Du Nil, a statue that I acquired for the Barjeel Art Foundation in Sharjah in 2017. Agop, for his part, says the idea behind the exhibition had existed for several years when Pocock spoke to him about the present concept:



He explained the thread he observed that extends from the ancient Egyptian sculpture to modern and contemporary Egyptian sculpture. Some common elements among the three sculptors represented in the show are strongly present. We can see the compact form, strong contours, simplicity and sobreity in both past and present. The idea of the show is to underline and illuminate that invisible thread. Mokhtar followed the simple form of the ancient Egyptians and Adam simplified his figures in a modern way, while renouncing representational figuration I deal with the concept of simplicity in itself, and I always say, Simplicity is very complicated.



I believe that the three artists represented in the show are one way or another influenced by ancient Egyptian art, each in his own way. Although in my case, I believe I am influenced primarily by the desert: it was in the desert where there seems to be nothing that I learned to see. I believe the desert had a huge great influence on ancient Egyptian art, the endlessness of the horizon, the spacious emptiness, the still landscape. In the desert, you might feel the resistance of the wind, you might hear it loudly, you might have difficulty opening your eyes because of the sunlight reflected in the sand, but the image is still. Stillness is one of the main characteristics of ancient Egyptian sculpture, I believe it is a natural consequence of the nature of the desert.



I met Henein for the first time in Aswan at the sculpture symposium. I was invited together with many other young sculptors to a small workshop. Our relationship developed very slowly. I was working in isolation in my studio outside Cairo in the desert of 6 October City and he was busy between his work and organising the symposium in Aswan. Through the years, we came to know each other better. We had mutual respect but we often disagreed and we used to joke about it, he was against my going to Italy and had advised me to stay in Egypt and be part of the symposiums organisational team but I obviously had other dreams.



Asked about emerging female sculptors such as Shaimaa Darwish, Therese Antoine, Eman Barakat, Reem Osama and Esraa Hatem proving themselves in the field, Agop exclaims, Finally! I am very pleased by this fact. It is very belated step but very important. Egyptian woman artists, painters, writers and intellectuals were strongly present in the beginning of the last century, and throughout history, Egyptian women played an extremely important role in the development of civilisation. Egypt had female Pharaohs and goddesses so its only natural that Egyptian woman should be strongly present in every field. Sculpture, he said, is just one.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 24 September, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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China and India agreed to avoid misunderstandings and misjudgments and refrain from unilaterally changing the situation on the ground. Neither side will take any unilateral action. (Photo: Reuters)

China and India have agreed to stop deploying troops to their contested border and avoid any action that might complicate the situation there, according to news reports Wednesday and statements from both countries.

Senior military officials from both countries met earlier this week and discussed the contested Himalayan border in Ladakh, Chinese defense ministry spokesman Wu Qian said late Tuesday. They agreed to hold new military-level talks soon, the reports said.

A news release said both sides had agreed to "avoid misunderstandings and misjudgments" and "refrain from unilaterally changing the situation on the ground." Neither side will take any unilateral action.

Tensions between the two had persisted despite several attempts to find diplomatic, military and political solutions - including negotiations in Moscow this month, according to Al Jazeera news and Reuters.

Last week, India's Defense Minister Rajnath Singh accused China of violating past border agreements and expanding its troop deployments along the unmarked border. Singh told parliament India had informed China its "attempts to unilaterally alter the status quo were in violation of the bilateral agreements."

India and China share a 3,500 kilometer (2,100 mile) unmarked border through the Himalayas where an uneasy peace has held since the two countries signed a truce following a war in 1962.

There have been skirmishes at several places since April. On June 15, engagement at Galwan Valley in India's Ladakh region. At least 20 of India's soldiers died in hand-to-hand combat. China troops also suffered an unspecified number of casualties. Since then, thousands of soldiers have been deployed on both sides - with experts concerned tensions might lead to an unintentional war.
New Delhi: Markets opened on a positive note on Wednesday despite mixed global cues.

The BSE Sensex jumped 322.49 points or 0.85 percent to 38,056.57 in early trade while the NSE Nifty edged higher by 94.40 points or 0.85 percent to 11,248.05.

Major gainers in the Sensex pack were RIL, Infosys, IndusInd Bank, Axis Bank, Maruti, Sun Pharma, HDFC, LT, Kotak Bank, HCL Tech, Bajaj Finance, and Bajaj Finserve, rising 2.72 percent. Major loser on the other hand wer TCS, Bharti Airtel, Powergrid, Nestle, NTPC, Tata Steel and Bajaj Auto, falling upto 1.41 percent.

Live TV

Among the Asian peers, MSCI`s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was steady after two days of declines, but the mood was hardly bullish. Japan`s Nikkei returned from a two-day holiday to drop 0.6%. Markets in Shanghai and Hong Kong opened flat, the ASX 200 rose 1.6% and South Korea`s Kospi fell 0.8% on a jump in coronavirus infections.

In the previous session on Tuesday, the BSE Sensex tanked 300.06 points or 0.79 percent to end at 37,734.08 while the NSE Nifty declined 96.90 points to settle at 11,153.65.
New Delhi:

India's military might and rich cultural diversity were in full display during the dazzling 68th Republic Day celebrations in the national capital on Thursday which had Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as the Chief Guest.

Republic Day honours the date on which the Constitution of India came into effect on 26 January 1950 replacing the Government of India Act (1935) as the governing document of India.

The Constitution was adopted by the Indian Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949, and came into effect on 26 January 1950 with a democratic government system, completing the country's transition towards becoming an independent republic.



The Constitution of India lays down the framework defining fundamental political principles, establishes the structure, procedures, powers and duties of government institutions and sets out fundamental rights, directive principles and the duties of citizens. It declares India a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic, assuring its citizens of justice, equality, and liberty, and endeavours to promote fraternity among them



Here are some interesting facts about the Indian Constitution

1. B R Ambedkar is regarded as the chief architect of the Indian constitution

2. The first temporary 2-day president of the Constituent Assembly was Dr Sachchidananda Sinha. Later, Rajendra Prasad was elected president of the Constituent Assembly

3. The draft for the Indian constitution was submitted in November 1949. After the submission, it took three more years to complete it

4. All the 284 members of the Constituent Assembly signed the documents on January 24, 1950

5. The Constituent Assembly had 284 members, out of which 15 were women

6. The Constitution was adopted on November 26, 1949, while it came into force on January 26, 1950

7. On January 26, 1950, the Indian Government also adopted Sarnath, the Lion Capital of Ashoka with the wheel, bull, and horse as the national emblem of India.

8. The original copies of the Constitution of India are kept in special helium-filled cases in the Library of the Parliament of India

9. The concepts of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity were taken from the French constitution

10. The concept of five year plans was taken from the USSR. The Directive Principles were adopted from Irish Constitution

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Technavio has been monitoring the laser cladding equipment market and it is poised to grow by USD 18.19 mn during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of almost 4% 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/20200923005358/en/

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Laser Cladding Equipment 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?

Development of automatic laser cladding equipment is a major trend driving the growth of the market.

Development of automatic laser cladding equipment is a major trend 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 2.69% and the incremental growth of the market is anticipated to be 18.19 mn.

The year-over-year growth for 2020 is estimated at 2.69% and the incremental growth of the market is anticipated to be 18.19 mn. Who are the top players in the market?

ALPHA LASER GmbH, Coherent Inc., Fraunhofer Society for the Promotion of Applied Research eV, Gall Seitz Systems GmbH, Optomec Inc., IPG Photonics Corp., Laserline GmbH, OC Oerlikon Corp. AG, and TRUMPF GmbH Co. KG, are some of the major market participants.

ALPHA LASER GmbH, Coherent Inc., Fraunhofer Society for the Promotion of Applied Research eV, Gall Seitz Systems GmbH, Optomec Inc., IPG Photonics Corp., Laserline GmbH, OC Oerlikon Corp. AG, and TRUMPF GmbH Co. KG, are some of the major market participants. What is the key market driver?

The declining cost of laser systems is one of the major factors driving the market.

The declining cost of laser systems is one of the major factors driving the market. How big is the Europe market?

The European region will contribute 41% of the market share.

The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. ALPHA LASER GmbH, Coherent Inc., Fraunhofer Society for the Promotion of Applied Research eV, Gall Seitz Systems GmbH, Optomec Inc., IPG Photonics Corp., Laserline GmbH, OC Oerlikon Corp. AG, and TRUMPF GmbH Co. KG. are some of the major market participants. The declining cost of laser 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.

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.

Laser Cladding Equipment Market 2020-2024: Segmentation

Laser Cladding Equipment Market is segmented as below:

Power High Power Low Power.

End-user Industrial Mining Power Generation Others

Geography Europe North America APAC MEA South America



To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR41530

Laser Cladding Equipment 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 laser cladding equipment market report covers the following areas:

Laser Cladding Equipment Market Size

Laser Cladding Equipment Market Trends

Laser Cladding Equipment Market Industry Analysis

This study identifies the development of automatic laser cladding equipment as one of the prime reasons driving the laser cladding equipment 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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Laser Cladding Equipment Market 2020-2024: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2020-2024

Detailed information on factors that will assist laser cladding equipment market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the laser cladding equipment market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the laser cladding equipment market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of laser cladding equipment 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

Industrial Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Mining Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Power generation Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Others Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Market opportunity by End-user

Market Segmentation by Power

Market segments

Comparison by power

High power Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Low power Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Market opportunity by power

Customer Landscape

Geographic Landscape

Geographic segmentation

Geographic comparison

Europe Market size and forecast 2019-2024

North America Market size and forecast 2019-2024

APAC Market size and forecast 2019-2024

MEA Market size and forecast 2019-2024

South America Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Key leading countries

Market opportunity by geography

Volume driver Demand led growth

Price driver Supply led growth

Market challenges

Market trends

Vendor Landscape

Vendor landscape

Landscape disruption

Vendor Analysis

Vendors covered

Market positioning of vendors

ALPHA LASER GmbH

Coherent Inc.

Fraunhofer Society for the Promotion of Applied Research eV

Gall Seitz Systems GmbH

Han's Laser Corp.Ltd.

IPG Photonics Corp.

Laserline GmbH

Optomec Inc.

OC Oerlikon Corp. AG

TRUMPF GmbH Co. KG

Appendix

Scope of the report

Currency conversion rates for US$

Research methodology

List of abbreviations

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200923005358/en/

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Legislation won state Senate approval on Tuesday that would relax some of the restrictions imposed on Pennsylvanias restaurants and bars that have forced some of these establishments to close for good.

House Bill 2513 would set minimum capacity for restaurants and taverns at a minimum of 50% and would allow them to go beyond that if their premises allows while complying with social distancing, masks and other safety precautions recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state Department of Health.

Further, it would remove Gov. Tom Wolfs administrations ban on bar services, allowing patrons to once again sit at the bar. It also would remove his requirement for meal purchases when buying an alcoholic beverage.

The bill, which passed the Senate by a bipartisan 43-6 vote, now must return to the House for concurrence on changes the Senate made. Its earlier version, sponsored by Rep. Garth Everett, R-Lycoming County, passed the House in May by a 117-85 vote, with limited Democratic support.

This action by the Senate comes a day after the governors administration raised the capacity limit on indoor dining from 25% to 50% if they fill out a self-certification document. His administration also extended the hours when alcohol can be purchased to 11 p.m., from 10 p.m., but customers must finish their last drink by midnight.

Sen. Pat Stefano, R-Fayette County, who chairs the Senate Law and Justice Committee, said this bill will provide assistance to the food service industry that has been hindered by what he called the Wolf Administrations arbitrary and burdensome regulations and restrictions to control the spread of COVID-19.

"Over the past six months, I have spoken with hundreds of owners of restaurants and taverns, hotels, producers, and event venues. They have all echoed the same message; no business in this industry can sustain operations at the current capacity, Stefano said in his remarks on the Senate floor.

He noted the states Independent Fiscal Offices estimation that more than 134,000 food service workers lost their job this year.

He said this bill will allow businesses to strike a balance between ensuring safety and ensuring survival.

Sen. Kristen Phillips-Hill, R-York County, said in a statement, These small businesses are critical employers and have been unfairly targeted by this governor while corporate owned big box stores operate with no restrictions, time limits or arbitrary metrics. The Senate sent a very loud and bipartisan voice to the governor that his unilateral mandates unfairly target these entities.

Sen. Art Haywood, D-Philadelphia, was one of the six Democrats to oppose the bill. He said he recognizes the suffering the pandemic-related restrictions have had on restaurants and bars and that alcohol sales make up a significant proportion of revenue for restaurants. However, he also noted that how COVID-19 has contributed to the deaths of many of his neighbors.

He said none of the restaurant and bar workers he has spoken with asked for the expansion of the rules that this bill provides. Instead, Haywood said they have expressed fear that patrons will show up not wearing masks and Then what are they to do? Theyre not TSA officers. They dont have any weapons or any other weapons to protect themselves.

Haywood said state Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine has indicated she is willing to consider further accommodations to help restaurants and bars as the public health risk subsides.

For now, he said, Further opening may only exacerbate the pandemic and put us in a position where we have more community spread."

Meanwhile, Chuck Moran, executive director of the Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association, thanked the Senate for its passage of the bill He said the industry he represents continues to play its role in battling the coronavirus.

It has been the tip of the spear since day one of the battle, and has sacrificed the most of any industry, Moran said. Industry casualties are mounting as more establishments close their doors and employees lose their jobs. The industry and its employees desperately need this type of help. HB 2513 is a safe step in the right direction."

The House is coming into session on Wednesday when it could consider a concurrence vote on the Senate-amended version of the bill.

Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy.
LeCroy kept his eyes open as someone out of his view in an adjacent room began administering the lethal injection of pentobarbital. His eyelids grew heavy while his midsection began to heave uncontrollably. After several more minutes, color drained from his limbs, his face turned ashen and his lips tinted blue. After about 10 more minutes, an official with a stethoscope entered the chamber, felt LeCroys wrist for a pulse and then listened to his heart before officially declaring him dead.
Photo credit: Rolls-Royce

From Car and Driver

When we look back on the late era of the internal combustion engine, the new Rolls-Royce Ghost may well prove to be the last sedan powered by a V-12 without hybrid assistance. This is a distinction that might be celebrated noisily, but 220 pounds of expertly applied sound-deadening material has other ideas. This is a car that never shouts and rarely does much more than whisper. It seemingly requires wide-open throttle to produce any evidence of internal combustion, and even then the V-12 merely issues a distant but purposeful hum of the sort you'd hear on the bridge of a luxury yacht a few seconds after moving the engine order telegraph to full ahead. Many brands will struggle to maintain their identities in the age of electrification, but for Rolls-Royce it will be a liberation from the small amount of disruption its engines still cause.

Much about the new Ghost is familiar, for the simple reason that the first version became the brand's best-selling model of all time over a decade-long run. The new car is slightly bigger and considerably cleverer but looks very similar from the outside. Exterior styling is cleaner and less fussy, Rolls reckoning it has identified what it terms a "post opulent" trend among the sharp-end one percenters who make up its clientele. But although more visually modest than the full-baller Phantom, the 218.3-inch, 5700-pound Ghost is never going to be short on presence, especially now that its rear-hinged second-row doors have gained power operation for opening as well as closing. It also gets the option of an illuminated radiator grille.

Photo credit: Rolls-Royce

Beneath the surface, all has changed. The first Ghost sat on the same underpinnings as the F01 BMW 7-series, but this one is based on the modular Rolls-only Architecture of Luxury platform that underpins both Phantom and Cullinan. Like its SUV sibling, the new Ghost gets both all-wheel drive and rear-wheel steering, with its 6.7-liter twin-turbo V-12 making the same output of 563 horsepower.

Story continues

Yes, it will hustle. Those Ghost buyers who will drive the car themselvesa clear majority in the United Stateswill be able to enjoy the surprising accelerative forces it is capable of generating. While never unseemly enough to chirp its tires, the Ghost will launch hard with the nose-up attitude common to the powerful but softly sprung. We didn't confirm the claimed 4.6-second 60-mph time during our drive in the United Kingdom, but considering the nearly 400-pound-heavier Cullinan has beat that, we're expecting the Ghost to be a bit quicker. It certainly seems quick enough. Steering is light and short on resistance, but front-end responses are accurate and grip levels are keen. An active anti-roll bar is fitted to the rear, but this is powered by a 12-volt motor (the Bentley Flying Spur has a 48-volt system), and the effect under harder cornering is limited. The brake pedal is weighted to make ultra-smooth stops easy and thus is also a little too soft for accurate modulation under hard braking.

Photo credit: Rolls-Royce

The Ghost is much happier at a gentler pace, with the most important statistic being the supine 1600 rpm at which the mighty engine attains its peak torque of 627 pound-feet. There is no way to manually select gears for the eight-speed automatic transmission, nor is there any obvious need to with the system software working as unobtrusively as an attentive valet. Just as in Phantom and Cullinan, the transmission uses GPS assistance to help intelligently select the right gear for approaching corners and junctions. Rolls-Royce is now happy to publicly state power and performance figuresit used to just claim an "adequate sufficiency"but it still refuses to fit anything as vulgar as a tachometer to the instrument panel. Yet even with the Power Reserve meter showing more than 80 percent of the engine's output untapped, performance is still brisk.

At first, suspension settings feel too soft. The Ghost's pillowy initial response to a bump feels as if it will be followed by the wallow of a '60s land yacht, but the air springs and adaptive dampers arrest the seemingly inevitable counter heave. At higher speeds it turns into a true magic carpet, with a road-reading stereo camera system informing the dampers of upcoming undulations. There are also dampers fitted to the top control arms that are designed to counteract vibration. Even sizable compressions are digested without apparent effort, with snug sound insulation doing a similarly good job at stopping the too-real world from spoiling the tranquillity of the Ghost's cabin. At 70 mph it is as quiet as most cars would be at 30 mph; conversations between front and rear seat can be conducted in a whisper. One strange omission is lane-keeping cruise control. The Ghost will keep distance from a car in front but doesn't have active lane assist.

Photo credit: Rolls-Royce

The cabin is spacious, although slightly less roomy than you might expect given the car's external dimensions. In regular form, the new Ghost is only barely shorter than the extended-wheelbase version of the outgoing car. Large adults can sit comfortably in the rear but without the ankle-twirling room that many associate with true luxury, a deficit that the inevitable stretched version will rectify. The combination of a high beltline and huge pillars also limits visibility, especially from the driver's seat, where there are substantial blind spots to the front three-quarters and over the shoulder. We also noted that, at a regular seating height, only the top half of the Spirit of Ecstasy hood mascot can be seen, meaning the visible silhouette looks more like Dumbo than the Flying Lady.

Photo credit: Rolls-Royce

Rolls-Royce continues to deliberately make its cabins feel closer to the 1920s than the 2020s, with archaic details like mechanical-style rotary heater controls in place of the omnipresent digital climate readouts of every upmarket rival. For the Ghost, it has added individual digital instruments that look and behave exactly like the conventional dials they replaced. But the overall effect still feels entirely special, thanks to details like the perfectly weighted metal air vents and the beautifully stitched leather dashboard. Even the starry headlinerwhich uses hundreds of fiber optics to mimic a clear night skydoesn't feel like a gimmick.

It is hard to criticize a car that betters a successful predecessor in every key regard, which is what the new Ghost manages. As ultra-luxury buyers follow the herd toward a preference for SUVs, it seems unlikely that this Ghost will be as popular as the outgoing version. But on every empirical and even subjective regard, it is the superior car.

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New Asia Growth Leader for Pureprofile

Australian digital research platform Pureprofile has appointed Keith Ang in the new role of Client Solutions Director. Ang worked most recently as Client Development Manager at Kantar Profiles.



Pureprofile collects consumers' profile data in exchange for rewards, and offers ad targeting, content strategy and research panel services. Eighteen months ago the firm was struggling after the unsuccessful acquisition of digital agency Cohort, and 'wrote down' the latter business to the tune of $14m, with CEO Nic Jones resigning in the summer of 2019. Former Lightspeed/GMI CEO Martin Filz took the top role in July 2020.



At Kantar, Ang (pictured) led projects but also spearheaded new business development efforts in the Asia Pacific region. Earlier he worked in quant insights in the retailer and emerging industries vertical at Nielsen. In his new role he is based in Singapore, and charged with growing the firm's presence across Asia; fostering partner relationships; growing a new Asia service delivery team; and expanding the scope of the team's work.



Headquartered in Sydney, Australia and with a footprint in the US, Europe and India, Pureprofile is a data and insights business that helps brands and media owners identify, connect and engage with consumers. A global leader in market research services, with a large consumer panel and a suite of technology products for media owners, agencies, and brands, Pureprofile also offers digital advertising and performance marketing services.



Filz says of the new arrival: 'We look forward to increasing our presence across Asia in the coming months, and this effort will no doubt be bolstered by Keith's extensive market research knowledge. His previous work across verticals including e-Commerce, FMCG and financial services will be highly beneficial to our team going forward, as we look to expand our offerings in these areas and more'.



The firm is online at www.pureprofile.com .




The time has come to fully leave our colonial past behind, the Governor General said in the throne speech delivered on behalf of the Prime Minister to open Parliament and that called for new head of state.

This is the ultimate statement of confidence in who we are and what we are capable of achieving, she added.

It was a powerful statement about a nation that feels its time to remove the Queen as its head of state and to move away from a monarchical system that sees its symbolic leader living an ocean away.

It wasnt Gov. Gen. Julie Payette who spoke those words to Canadians on Wednesday while reading the speech from the throne in Ottawa on behalf of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Instead, it was Gov. Gen. Sandra Mason of Barbados, who last week was reading the throne speech written by Prime Minister Mia Mottley.

Barbadians want a Barbadian head of state, the speech read. The government plans to complete the process in time for the Caribbean islands 55th anniversary of independence from Britain in November, 2021.

The speech raises an important question for Canadians: If Barbados can do it, why cant we?

In the 21st century, it is unthinkable Canada, a multicultural nation that champions diversity, is still beholden to a queen or king living in England. Add to that the fact that under the monarchy system no Canadian will ever be our next head of state, nor will any Catholic, Jew, Muslim or anyone from countless other ethnic and religious backgrounds.

And just as the time is right in Barbados, the timing here is also good, with polls consistently showing most Canadians favouring a dignified cutting of our ties to the monarchy, the final relic of our colonial past.

In Barbados, the move away from the monarchy has been gaining support for decades. The island, which has about 300,000 people, gained its independence from Britain in 1966. But its very first prime minister, Errol Barrow, declared at the time that Barbados would not be found loitering on colonial premises after closing time.

Barbados will become the latest in a long line of nations ending formal ties with Britain. Indeed, 16 countries have done just that since Queen Elizabeth II was crowned in 1953.

Besides Canada and Barbados, the only countries outside the United Kingdom that still have the Queen as their head of state are Australia, New Zealand, Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Belize, Grenada, Jamaica, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu.

Diehard monarchists and constitutionalists in Canada will argue that its imperative we have the Queen as our head of state or we will become a republic just like the U.S., where the president also is head of state.

But such arguments are predictable, meaningless obstructionism.

Most former British colonies dropped their ties to the monarchy long ago without any problems. Most have a prime minister, who heads the elected government, and a head of state who performs largely ceremonial duties.

We could select a head of state in several ways. We could do as India does, for example, and have members of Parliament and provincial legislatures elect the head of state. Or we could follow Irelands example and have the head of state directly elected by all voters.

And if we dont want to call the head of state by the title president, then we could simply pick another name.

We could start the process with a national referendum that asks the simple question: Should Canada sever ties with the British monarchy? If a simple majority vote Yes, then the formal process to do just that can begin. It might take two years, including gaining the formality of each province agreeing to the necessary constitutional amendments.

Obviously, Canada faces more critical issues right now, starting with the COVID-19 pandemic and the economy. But with the Queens reign nearing an end, the time to start looking to replace the monarchy is now.

If Barbados can do it while also having to deal with a pandemic, then Canada can do it too.

Bob Hepburn is a Star politics columnist based in Toronto. Twitter: @BobHepburn is a Star politics columnist based in Toronto. Twitter: @BobHepburn
A new book titled Love in Times of Coronavirus by Julia Summerland - a pseudonym - is set in Luxembourg during the first half of 2020 and describes the adventures of dating during the lockdown.

As the author of this anthology is elusive and rather mysterious, RTL Today spoke with publisher Katarina Grgic from Frieling-Verlag Berlin about the themes and the challenges of releasing a book during a pandemic.

How has COVID impacted the publishing sector?

Katarina Grgic: The first serious impact from COVID19 was felt by us in the publishing sector by the cancellation of the Leipzig Book Fair in March 2020 at short notice. This was later also followed by the cancellation of the Frankfurt Book Fair in October 2020. All our efforts were in vain and the financial losses inevitable. Much more painful was the loss of the important presentation opportunity for our new publications. These events are crucial in providing new business relationships within the book industry.

Lockdown luckily had only a small lasting impact on our publishing house, sales through the traditional booksellers came to a standstill, true - and they the booksellers were impacted particularly seriously - our losses were able to be dampened by the uptick in online book sales.

Has it been a good or bad time for writers in general?

KG: If this peculiar time period was or still is a good or a bad time for writers in general will only be clear in one or two years. It will take that long for real analysis to be done.

We were able to observe two aspects. COVID-19 changed the focus of interest in the first three months. We needed to observe and understand the developments as they happened, with the aim to determine whether it is merely a temporary phenomenon, or a a complete re-orientation.

The variety in topics listed in our editors program has always been a warranty for satisfactory sales figures. In contrary to the big publishing houses, we were already thinking broadly. Since the founding of our publishing house 37 years ago, we ensured that we did not simply run behind the general taste of the masses, but on the contrary to cover many small niches of interest, and so to serve many different reading interests.

During the first three months of COVID-19 a strange reading pattern reigned, dividing into two reader groups: the pessimistic realists, who ordered books in the themes of dystopia or tomes critical of society, and those refusing to face a new reality. These readers wanted to evade the daily COVID-19 reports with 'belles lettres' and 'poesie'.

Concerning the pleasure to write and publish, this desire seems to have been given an extra push during the lockdown. The increase in daily manuscript sendings was an explicit indicator for this. Many of the authors seem to have re-discovered their once started never finished or forgotten texts, others seem to have been more creatively active during social distancing. The amount of diversity in topics is huge.

Why did you decide to publish 'Love in Times...' and how was the idea for the book brought to your offices?

KG: The book title alone, when the first example of the manuscript was submitted attracted attention. In the middle of the powerlessness brought to ample parts of Europe through lockdown, Love in Times of Coronavirus sounded quite surreal and paradoxical, as especially thrilling and interesting.

The introduction read:

"In times of Corona Virus, I enrolled on the online partnership platform to combat my loneliness since my long-time boyfriend left me. I am meeting diverse men

This sounded as if someone would go for a pleasant walk at the frontline in the middle of the war, or play Russian roulette with a fully loaded pistol. We absolutely wanted to read the manuscript.

Who is the story about?

KG: The author who writes under pseudonym, who was recommended by another author of our publishing house, presented the draft manuscript several weeks later for examination. The manuscript presented a courageous, intimate view into the soul of the author, who stands as a representative for many people longing for vicinity and partnership.

The emotional bandwidth reaching from thoughtfulness, despair and anger, to hope, joy and longing, describes online-dating in a new light, freed from its stigma  totally without exaggerated sentimentality.



Having had a noteworthy number of dates in times of lockdown due to coronavirus alone was worth a report. The written documentation of these dates convinced with a delightful honesty, intensity and wit. The uniqueness of the situation is described: the empty streets in Luxembourg, the flourishing nature, the beauty of Luxembourgs landscapes, and the silence. The air became clear. The farsightedness was astounding. The nature reconquered back its place from the frenetic human beings in speeding cars or air planes. There were no more air planes. The bicycle tours which were rode with love, accompanied by the love with a capital L, demonstrate a sensitive view in a picturesque landscape.

It is the affectionate description of eating cherries directly from the tree in Schengen at the Mosel River and the blaze of colour of the flowers in the park of Mondorf-les-Bains, followed by Mountainbiking in the Red Rock Area and wild animal park and tree houses, ravens in Pissange and Mausketty in Burmerange, aircraft bomb in Consdorf, the train tunnel converted into a bicycle path, the trainstation in Clemency converted as Cafe, the castles in Sanem and Moutfort, and many more. Two people lovingly get closer while biking together during months of bike rides. This is an astounding love story.

We wanted to make this manuscript available to a large public.

The rest is history.

What tips do you have for budding authors?

KG: Life does not always write the best stories. However, life writes the most original, the most impressive and the most honest stories. Writing down these stories or to use them as plot for a fictional take, was for many famous writers the first and decisive step of their career as a writer. Who is gifted with the gift of telling a story, will sooner or later follow this call. Follow means, to remain open for inspiration, and not to search desperately for the one extraordinary book idea. The books which are still waiting to be written, will find their authors.

What do you look for in a 'good book'?

KG: There is no universal recipe for a good book. However there are two fundamental criteria, to make a book stand out from the huge mass of the already published books.

One aspect concerns the thematic direction, which contains something new, unexpected, extraordinary and unequaled in the essence of the action concept.

The topic on its own doesnt need to be original. The literary designing of this topic should however leave a remaining impression with the reader through its authentic interpretation, it should irritate or surprise or confirm or reward him/her.

A second aspect is the narrative originality. In general this is a bigger challenge.

With successful books, which put the main focus of the art of the narration in form of a tangible drawing of a figure and scene, the proper happening is secondary.

Here it is about a strong atmosphere, that the storyteller needs to create, to connect with the reader emotionally. The reader needs to be projected into the action, to make the scenes described in the book come alive in their head... in form of lively images. These are the books you dont put down.

Where can people buy the book?

KG: The book "Love in Times of Coronavirus can be bought as paperback book or as e-book via amazon.de, amazon.com, amazon.co.uk und amazon.com.au.

In addition you can buy the book in Germany in the book store directly from the publishing house: www.edition-avra.de and vertrieb@frieling.de
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Judge rules Snowden to give up millions from book, speeches The Hill

Class Warfare

Stop saying the only thing Dems care about is Roe vs. Wade and the culture war. The Democrats are *better* on antitrust case law and business law. Theres no reason the right couldnt be better on it except they are unwilling to stand up to libertarians. https://t.co/3lAuM7dtRJ  Matt Stoller (@matthewstoller) September 23, 2020



China?

India

2020

Just posted: I wrote in @thenation about progressive Democrats who want Biden to win but are worried about his foreign policy advisers, many of them with a direct role in the military industrial complex. Thats a big issue for Muslim Americans, too. https://t.co/24ik9sPujz

 I just want you to know I can see thru your mask (@TimothyS) September 21, 2020

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, September 23, 2020 15:47 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46af8ee 1 Lifestyle Tinkerlust,fashion,sustainable-fashion,sustainability,preloved-marketplace Free

Indonesian fashion marketplace Tinkerlust has launched its collaboration with 14 local brands under the campaign Local Heroes.

This is a new direction for a company known primarily as a resale e-commerce platform for branded and luxury fashion.

The Local Heroes campaign will be activated through several events, including a virtual fashion show and talk shows. The fashion show will be streamed on Sept. 24 on Tinkerlust's YouTube channel, while the talk shows are held once a week throughout September and October. Each will feature a speaker from brands featured in the campaign.

According to a press release, the brands are chosen for their commitment to sustainability and environmentally friendly ethics and for their unique feats in the sustainable fashion business. They are Sare Studio, Everyday by Major Minor, Woodka, Lekat Dua, Sejauh Mata Memandang, Tulola Designs, Kuro Official, DuAnyam, Torajamelo, Masshiro, Pvra, Stelarmade, Meraki Goods and Callie.

Read also: Post fast fashion: The future of fashion and the rise of resale

Sare Studio features a collection of pajamas made from natural and biodegradable fabrics. Daily-wear brand Lekat Dua emphasizes its identity through Baduy Tribe woven clothing and by using production leftovers of the Lekat fashion brand. Sejauh Mata Memandang uses natural fibers, such as cotton, linen and Lyocell. The Kuro clothing brand commits to using only unused or unsold fabrics as well as ecofriendly materials for its packaging.

Torajamelo creates kebaya (traditional Indonesian blouse) adorned with Indonesian motifs and modern touches from the hands of female weavers. Callie's collections are made by minimizing production waste and involving local suppliers and craftsmen. Stelarmade uses zero-waste designs to reduce textile waste from its sister label, STELLARISSA.

In the accessories department, there are Woodka, which focuses on wooden watches with a woven cloth wristband; Tulola with a jewelry collection with designs inspired by the archipelagos beauty; DuAnyam that outsources its products to female weavers in East Nusa Tenggara's Flores, rattan craftsmen in East Borneo and hibiscus tree bark craftsmen in Papua; Pvra that focuses on beaded sandals produced by local craftsmen; and Meraki Goods with handmade bags from leather and traditional clothing. (gis/wng)
With more than 10% of Frances intensive care units again occupied with COVID-19 patients and cases rising fast among the elderly, the health minister announced the closure of all restaurants, bars and public places in the hard-hit Marseille region and restrictions on gatherings in a dozen other cities. The French military announced Wednesday it is deploying medical teams and equipment to the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe to relieve hospital strain.
Watch: UK recovery 'fading' new lockdown rules imposed

The UKs economic recovery has shown signs of fading in the past month even before the announcement of new coronavirus restrictions, according to a closely watched business survey.

Flash estimates for the purchasing managers index (PMI) survey for Britains manufacturing and services sectors  a bellwether survey on the state of the UK economy  showed activity losing momentum in September.

The number of firms reporting growth in activity came in at a three-month low, though it still remained firmly in positive territory. The headline composite figure for factories and services came in at 55.7, compared to 59.1 in August, on an index where 0 means every firm reports decline and 100 marks growth for all firms.

PMI data for Britains manufacturing and services sectors showed activity losing momentum in September. Photo: Anthony Devlin/Getty Images

The UK economy lost some of its bounce in September, as the initial rebound from Covid-19 lockdowns showed signs of fading, said Chris Williamson, chief business economist at IHS Markit, which compiled the data.

It was not surprising to see that the slowdown was especially acute in services, where the restaurant sector in particular saw demand fall sharply as the Eat Out to Help Out scheme was withdrawn.

Demand for other consumer-facing services also stalled as companies struggled amid new measures introduced to fight rising infection rates and consumers often remained reluctant to spend.

Watch: What is a V-shaped economic recovery?

READ MORE: Firms warn on potentially fatal blow of new coronavirus restrictions

Duncan Brock, group director at the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS), which co-releases the figures with IHS Markit, added: The effects of COVID restrictions continued to suffocate the UK economy this month as some of the recent gains in the manufacturing and services sectors were lost, and supply chains continued to suffer bouts of instability with stock shortages and longer delivery times.

It comes a day after UK business chiefs warned new coronavirus restrictions were a potentially fatal blow for many of Britains pubs, bars, cafes, restaurants and city centre firms.

Story continues

UK prime minister Boris Johnson faced a barrage of warnings over the threat to firms, jobs and recovery on Tuesday after he unveiled measures for England including encouraging home-working again and a 10pm shutdown for hospitality venues.

Watch: Why business leaders are angry at the latest restrictions

Johnson also told parliament new restrictions could last perhaps six months as Britain struggles to contain the resurgent virus through other measures.

Six months would come as a shock to many firms, said the Confederation of British Industrys (CBI) director-general Carolyn Fairbairn. She 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.
Wednesday, September 23, 2020

The Zacks Research Daily presents the best research output of our analyst team. Today's Research Daily features new research reports on 16 major stocks, including AT&T (T), Philip Morris International (PM) and Square (SQ). These research reports have been hand-picked from the roughly 70 reports published by our analyst team today.

You can see all of todays research reports here >>>

AT&T shares' underperformance of the Zacks Wireless National industry in the year-to-date period (-27% vs. -3.5%) reflects the market's negative outlook for the business given competitive challenges on the wireless side and secular issues on the wirlines/Time Warner side, in addition to a debt-heavy balance sheet. But the Zacks analyst believes that AT&T is well placed to benefit from the streaming services of its newly launched HBO Max.

The company is committed to a three-year financial framework with sustained investments and debt-reduction efforts. However, AT&T is witnessing a steady decline in linear TV subscribers, legacy services and wireline division.

Continued cord-cutting remains a perennial challenge as consumers increasingly cancel pay TV packages for cheaper streaming options. As it tries to woo customers with discounts, freebies and cash credits, margins tend to fall. Spectrum crunch in a saturated wireless market is another operational headwind.

AT&T intends to deploy a standards-based, nationwide mobile 5G network to spur growth. The company expects to gain a competitive edge through edge computing services that offer the flexibility to better manage data traffic.

(You can read the full research report on AT&T here >>> )

Shares of Philip Morris have gained +7.6% over the past year against the Zacks Tobacco industrys rise of +0.5%. The Zacks analyst believes that the company has been benefiting from its pricing power, which also aided its second-quarter 2020 results. During the quarter, both top and bottom lines beat the consensus mark.

Story continues

Notably, favorable pricing variance was an upside, though it was countered by adverse volume/mix, mainly stemming from low cigarette volumes. The company has been battling soft cigarette volumes for a while due to rising health consciousness and stern regulations.

Apart from this, management does not expect a near-term recovery in the duty-free business due to travel-related uncertainties amid the pandemic. Also, a delay in minimum price enforcement in Indonesia is a concern. All said, revenues are likely to decline in 2020. Nonetheless, strength in RRPs, especially IQOS, is expected to offer respite.

(You can read the full research report on Philip Morris here >>> )

Square shares have gained +236% over the past six months against the Zacks Internet Software industrys rise of +93.6% on the back of gains from strong Cash App engagement and its growing active customer base.

Further, growing bitcoin revenues owing to robust Cash App are contributing well to the top-line. Furthermore, strong adoption of Cash Card is a major positive. Additionally, the companys strengthening momentum in online channels and growing card-not-present GPV are expected to remain tailwinds. Moreover, robust online products, such as Square Online Store, Invoices, Virtual Terminal and eCommerce API are expected to accelerate the GPV growth in the near term.

However, weak momentum across seller ecosystem owing to COVID-19 led shelter-in-place restrictions is a major concern. Further, declining unit sales of hardware devices is an overhang. Also, rising product development expenses are risks.

(You can read the full research report on Square here >>> )

Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today include Zoom Video Communications (ZM), Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.A) and Vale (VALE).

5 Stocks Set to Double

Each was hand-picked by a Zacks expert as the #1 favorite stock to gain +100% or more in 2020. Each comes from a different sector and has unique qualities and catalysts that could fuel exceptional growth.

Most of the stocks in this report are flying under Wall Street radar, which provides a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor.

Today, See These 5 Potential Home Runs >>

Sheraz Mian

Director of Research

Note: Sheraz Mian heads the Zacks Equity Research department and is a well-regarded expert of aggregate earnings. He is frequently quoted in the print and electronic media and publishes the weekly Earnings Trends and Earnings Preview reports. If you want an email notification each time Sheraz publishes a new article, please click here>>>

Today's Must Read

AT&T (T) Rides on Streaming Services, Debt Reduction Efforts

Pricing Aids Phillip Morris (PM), Travel Restrictions Hurt

Square (SQ) Banks on Solid Cash App Adoption, Bitcoin Growth

Featured Reports

Work-From-Home & Online Learning Wave Aids Zoom Video (ZM)

Per the Zacks analyst, Zoom Video is benefiting from the coronavirus-induced remote working and Internet-based education wave.

Shell (RDS.A) Aided by LNG Demand, Reserve Replacement Ails

The Zacks analyst believes that Shell's position as a major supplier of LNG should benefit its long-term cash flow growth but is worried over its reserve replacement ratio of just 76%.

Vale (VALE) Rides on High Iron Prices, Cost Control Efforts

Per the Zacks analyst, Vale is well poised to gain from high iron ore prices, lower debt levels, and focus on lowering costs and improving quality and productivity.

Solid INSPIRIS RESILIA Uptake Aids Edwards Lifesciences (EW)

The Zacks analyst is upbeat about INSPIRIS RESILIA aortic valve's strong momentum despite the pandemic.

Rising Demand Aids General Dynamics (GD), Competition Hurts

Per the Zacks analyst, a strong rise in demand for the company's varied defense products leads to organic growth.

Automation Solutions Drives Emerson (EMR), High Debt Hurts

Per the Zacks analyst, solid traction of Emerson's Automation Solutions segment, fueled by robust backlog level and healthy project bookings, will drive its sales.

Prudential (PRU) Gains on Solid Retirement Unit Amid High Costs

Per the Zacks analyst, the company's solid retirement business has generated substantial premiums, which in turn drove the top line.

New Upgrades

Dow (DOW) Gains from Cost Actions, Project Investment

According to the Zacks analyst, Dow is well placed to benefit from cost synergy savings and productivity initiatives and its investment in high-return growth projects.

Rental of Flight Equipment Revenues Boost Air Lease (AL)

The Zacks analyst is impressed with the rise in revenues from rentals of flight equipment.

Cost Control & Strategic Acquisitions To Aid Navient (NAVI)

Per the Zacks analyst, Navient's efforts to drive operational efficiency through cost-control measures are encouraging. Also, the company is focused on growth opportunities to boost overall business.

New Downgrades

Landstar (LSTR) Hit by Coronavirus-Led Freight-Demand Woes

The Zacks analyst is concerned about the weakness in Landstar's truck-transportation segment, thanks to softness in freight demand caused by the coronavirus outbreak.

Higher SG&A Expenses Hurt Stitch Fix's (SFIX) Bottom Line

Per the Zacks analyst, Stitch Fix is grappling with elevated SG&A expenses. This is hurting the company's bottom line, evident from a wider-than-expected loss per share in fourth-quarter fiscal 2020.

Weak Aerospace & Defense Market Hurts Plexus' (PLXS) Progress

Per the Zacks analyst, Plexus is suffering from end-market volatility. Soft aerospace and defense end-market and moderating demand for critical healthcare products are likely to hurt top-line growth.



Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report



Zoom Video Communications, Inc. (ZM) : Free Stock Analysis Report



VALE S.A. (VALE) : Free Stock Analysis Report



ATT Inc. (T) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Square, Inc. (SQ) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDS.A) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Philip Morris International Inc. (PM) : Free Stock Analysis Report



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SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (Sept. 23, 2020)  ALL OF MY BEST FRIENDS, the first Spanish EP from theGRAMMY nominated band, Hillsong Young & Free , is available worldwide now. This new project features 6 newly-penned songs (5 live performance tracks and one studio recording), including the groups breakout single Best Friends (Hay Otra Salida), which English version peaked at #1 on the Hot AC chart and remains the highest audio debut of any Hillsong track with more than 6.3 MILLION global streams. It also includes World Outside Your Window (Mas Alla De Tu Ventana), the focus track that is available from today on digital platforms and radio stations around the continent.

Young & Free continues to play an integral role in reaching this generation for Christ with their revamped contemporary approach. Recorded in Sydney, Australia, TODOS MIS MEJORES AMIGOS was born out of collaboration, unity and seeking to express the raw, bright-eyed passion of Hillsong's youth group. The new project captures the uninhibited feeling of discovering the love of Jesus and is a reminder that we are all connected to each other.

I think our greatest hope for our music is that people, whatever their background, circumstance or belief, would know that there is a purpose for their life, says Young & Frees Melodie Wagner. That there is more to life than what they see and that theyre not alone and never have been.

We never could have imagined the turn of events that would follow the recording of this album and yet it is full of relevant songs that bring joy and perspective in the midst of uncertain times, adds Young & Frees Laura Toggs. The very essence of Young & Free is a sound that unlocks joy within our hearts. Weve been waiting to release it at the right time. I think its important right nowthat you get an infection of joy.

On August 28, Young & Free released the full album in English, named All Of My Best Friends, which includes 20 songs; in January, they featured their first in a series of six singles leading up to the album launch, all of which have garnered more than 15 MILLION global streams to date. Previously released 2020 tracks (also featured on the new album) include Uncomplicated, As I Am, World Outside Your Window, Lord Send Revival, Best Friends, and Never Have I Ever.

Since forming in 2013, Hillsong Young & Free has released three highly successful albums and more than 20 singles, acquiring over 459 MILLION YouTube channel views and 1.2 BILLION global career streams (with a 700,000 plus global unit career consumption). With a combined social following of 3 MILLION plus fans, Young & Free has seen seven No. 1 career singles and 10 Top 5 singles at Hot AC radio. Their debut album We Are Young & Free landed in the Top 25 on Billboard 200 while Youth Revival garnered the group its first-ever GRAMMY nomination for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album (2017). Their recent single Every Little Thing hit #1 at Hot AC radio for eight weeks, making it the longest running #1 for the band.

ALL OF MY BEST FRIENDS follows on the heels of the youth worship collectives 2018 studio album IIIthat earned the group tremendous acclaim amassing over 75 MILLION streams and 75,000+ units in global consumption.

TODOS MIS MEJORES AMIGOS (ALL OF MY BEST FRIENDS) EP

Track Listing :

Mas Alla De Tu Ventana // World Outside Your Window Hay Otra Salida [Alternate Studio] // Best Friends Indescriptible // Indescribable Avivamiento // Lord Send Revival Como Soy // As I Am Hay Otra Salida // Best Friends

For more information on Hillsong Young & Free:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/hillsongyoungandfree

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HillsongYoungAndFree/

Twitter: www.twitter.com/youngandfree

Website: https://hillsong.com/youngandfree/

About Hillsong Young & Free:

GRAMMY nominated Hillsong Young & Free is a youth movement born out of Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia. In this 30-year story, they have seen generations of people serving, leading and pioneering movements. Young & Free is comprised of a collective of young people who come together to make music for youth and young adults everywhere. Their first album We Are Young & Free(2013) and EP, This Is Living (2015), garnered a No. 1 spot on Billboard Top Christian /Gospel Albums Chart. Their Youth Revival (2016)album spawned multiple No. 1s, landed in the Top 10 on Billboards Digital Albums Chart, and garnered the band its first GRAMMY nomination. Their most recent album III (2018) peaked at the No. 2 spot on Billboards Top Christian /Gospel Albums Chart and has already amassed over 75 million streams and 75,000+ units in global consumption. Breakout singles P E A C E and Love Wont Let Me Down received positioning on Spotifys New Music Friday playlist reaching over 2.4M followers while Love Wont Let Me Down hit #1 at Hot A/C. With millions of followers engaging in the social conversation and support from the most prominent music outlets around the world, Young & Free has scored five No. 1 radio singles and eight Top 5 singles at Hot AC radio.

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Dulal a doting husband sold his land and bought an elephant with tk 16.5 lakh to fulfill the dream of his wife. Image Source: IANS News

Dulal a doting husband sold his land and bought an elephant with tk 16.5 lakh to fulfill the dream of his wife. Image Source: IANS News

Dhaka, Sep 23 : The best thing to hold onto in life is each other and this was manifested by a Bangladeshi man for his wife.

Dulal Chandra Roy, a resident of Lalmonirhat's Panchagram union Bangladesh, sold his land and bought an elephant out of the proceeds as a token of love for his wife Tulsi Rani Dasi to fulfil her wish.

Dulal is a farmer by profession. He sold two bighas of his land, went to Moulvibazar and bought an elephant for Tk 16.5 lakh. He returned home last week with the animal in a truck hired for Tk 20,000.

"I sold the land and bought the elephant to fulfil my wife's dream," he said.

Dasi said she had a dream about a year ago where she had bought an elephant and was taking care of it.

It was not the first time she bought animals after seeing them in her dreams. A few years ago, Tulsi bought a horse, a swan and a goat.

People from the nearby areas thronged the couple's house to see the elephant.

Dulal also hired a mahout, Ibrahim Mia from Moulvibazar on a monthly salary of Tk 15,000.

"It's for the first time I've seen someone buying an elephant in this age to fulfil his wife's dream," said Santona Rani, a resident of Rajarhat area.
The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services Division of Financial Regulation has issued an insurance emergency order for people affected by the states wildfires.

Insurance companies must immediately take steps to do the following until the order is no longer in effect:

Extend all deadlines for policyholders to report claims or submit other communications related to claims

Take all practicable steps to provide opportunities for policyholders to report claims

Establish a grace period for premium payments for all insurance policies issued, delivered, or covering a risk in the affected areas

Suspend cancellations and nonrenewals

The order applies to several ZIP codes across the state. The divisions bulletin No. DFR 2020-16 provides a list of ZIP codes that are subject to the order.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Wildfire Oregon
SBA small Business Week

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Even during these tough times, we have received support from our fellow business owners who kept our lights on. From the assistance we received from the SBA PPP program, we were able to keep our staff. Not for a single day or month did we miss payroll or let our team go.

When I started my business, my vision was to be a champion for small business owners; when COVID made it tough for us, we pivoted. We gave away FREE press releases, a service we continue to offer. Qamar Zaman, Founder.

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SELINSGROVE  Susquehanna University has implemented a random COVID-19 testing protocol now that all students are on campus.

Students not living in campus buildings whose wastewater is monitored will be tested individually at a rate of 20 percent a week, the university announced Wednesday.

Commuting students, those participating in off-campus internships and those who live in three campus buildings not included in wastewater monitoring are among those subjected to testing, it says.

Those who leave campus overnight also will be tested when they return. They must register their travel in advance.

Each week, approximately 90 randomly selected students will receive an alert to visit a testing station centrally located on campus, the university says.

Susquehanna monitors wastewater outflows by testing 11 locations across campus. A positive result triggers throat swab testing of those living in that residential area.

Students in the Buenos Aires apartments were quarantined Sept. 9 after a presumptive positive COVID-19 wastewater test result. A retest the following day yielded a negative result. Individual tests of the students also were negative.

Susquehanna has not had a student test positive for the coronavirus this year, spokesperson person Amanda ORourke said.

The return of students to campus was done in phases, with juniors and sophomores completing the process this past weekend. First-year and transfer students arrived in mid-August, with seniors following two weeks later.

All students were required to test negative for COVID-19 before arriving on campus.

Random testing of faculty and staff will begin in the near future, the university says.

On-campus instruction will end Nov. 20, at which time students will depart campus until the spring semester. The last week of classes will be held remotely beginning Nov. 30 and finals will be administered remotely, beginning Dec. 7.

Susquehanna has approximately 1,850 students on campus this fall.
The UK government is encouraging people to work from home if its not necessary to go into the office. Photo: Dominic Lipinski/PA via AP

Banks across Britain, like other traditionally office-based industries, are grappling with the new rules and guidance put in place by the UK government.

While some banks are pausing return to office plans and asking staff to work from home, some are keeping the office open for those who need to go into the workplace.

On Tuesday, UK prime minister Boris Johnson implemented a range of new measures to try and get the nations reproduction (R) number  the average number of secondary infections produced by a single infected person  below 1. The R number is currently between 1.1 and 1.4.

This includes being encouraged to work from home if its not necessary to go into the office.

Watch: Boris Johnson addresses the nation

Johnson later addressed the nation in a televised speech and said that tougher measures were on the horizon if people did not follow the latest restrictions. He also warned that stricter rules could be enforced over the period of six months if the situation does not improve.

READ MORE: Boris Johnson unveils new rules to combat coronavirus second wave

Goldman Sachs (GS): In a memo seen by Yahoo Finance UK, Goldman Sachs has chosen to keep the office open for those who need to go into the office. The bank said in the memo that it will continue to take steps to sustain a safe, COVID-compliant working environment, in accordance with our own precautionary measures and UK government guidance.

It added that if employees have concerns about where they should be working, then they would need to discuss it with their manager.

As always, your health and wellbeing remain our top priority, it added.

Barclays (BARC.L): In an older memo seen by Yahoo Finance UK, Barclays previously said that colleague safety and wellbeing is at the forefront of decision-making when it came to returning to the office, and that adequate notice would be provided if invited back to the office. The bank boss Jes Staley had previously said in a Bloomberg television interview that it is important to get people back together in physical concentrations.

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However, following the UK government announcement on Tuesday, Barclays said that hundreds of Barclays staff who had returned to office-based working in recent weeks in London will now revert to working from home, according to multiple reports. Barclays was not immediately available for comment.

Lloyds of London: The private insurer said that it has asked most of its 800 staff to work from home following the UK government announcement but independent brokers who use its Lime Street headquarters will be able to go into the office.

Watch: Michael Gove has said people should now work from home if they can

READ MORE: Pubs and city centre firms warn new coronavirus rules could be a 'fatal blow'

Lloyds Underwriting Room is certified as a COVID-secure environment and will remain open for market participants, the companys spokesperson said in a statement.

Societe Generale (GLE.PA): The French lender which has a big business presence in London said in a statement to Yahoo Finance UK that it is adapting its position in line with UK government guidelines. The group priority, unchanged since the beginning of the crisis, remains the health and safety of our employees and clients, while ensuring business continuity. It did not give details of how many UK workers have returned to the office or how many will stay at home.

Natwest (NWG.L): Has said that staff can work from home until next year, according to multiple reports. Natwest was not immediately available for comment.

Cases rise but business lobby groups disappointed at WFH push

THe most recent figures show that the number of UK cases rose by 4,926 on Tuesday with deaths increasing by 37.

The UK chief science adviser Patrick Vallance and Englands chief medical officer Chris Whitty warned on Monday that while these numbers seemed low compared to the onset of the rapid spread of the pandemic earlier this year, if the virus is not controlled in its spread, then the doubling of cases could be fatal when it comes up to winter months and the start of flu season. Vallance pointed out in his presentation that the spread of coronavirus had occurred in office environments, as well as a number of other places where people gather.

However, the spokespeople for business lobby groups say they are disappointed with the governments encouragement of working from home.

Watch: These are some of the most important moments from the COVID-19 briefing

Catherine McGuinness, policy chair for the City of London Corporation, the local authority for the Square Mile, said: Clearly safety has to come first and were at a moment when measures need to be taken. But we are disappointed at the blanket call for office workers to return to working from home where possible.

Firms have taken huge steps to make sure that their offices are COVID-secure. Its clear that this virus isnt going to go away quickly so we need to find a way of living with it that doesnt cripple our economy, she added.

Business membership group London First CEO Jasmine Whitbread said: While public health must be the priority, discouraging people from returning to COVID-secure workplaces risks derailing an already fragile recovery.

READ MORE: Pound hovers near two-month low as UK unveils coronavirus second wave fears

The new restrictions must be regularly reviewed to minimise the damage to the economy while safeguarding the health of the nation in the round  not just physical health, but mental health and our economic health, she added.

Roger Barker, director of policy at the Institute of Directors, pointed out that greater and more efficient ways of testing would be key to progress on getting society back to normal.

Business leaders are eager for the government to focus on the foundations, issues like childcare, public transport, and getting the testing system firing on all cylinders, he said.
President Donald Trump picked retired generals for some of his most senior national security posts when he took office and boasts of heavy spending on the U.S. military that he asserts is unmatched in history. He has made getting U.S. allies to increase their own military spending a cornerstone of foreign policy along with a commitment to walk away from ridiculous endless wars in the Middle East that have killed thousands of U.S. troops. But the Republican president has also ridiculed his top generals, ignoring their advice on some key issues and questioning their ...
FAIRVIEW PARK, Ohio -- Lost during the pandemic-related blur that has been the last six months is the fact Fairview High School was nationally recognized by two different organizations.

Not only did it receive a STEM/STEAM School Designation from the Ohio STEM Learning Network (OSLN), but it was designated as a 2020 Model School from the International Center for Leadership in Education (ICLE).

What it really means is the hard work of Fairview High School administrators to build innovative programming and top-quality academics has really drawn attention, Fairview Park City Schools Superintendent Bill Wagner said. These recognitions are something were very proud of.

Fairview High School was one of 28 schools that applied for the STEM/STEAM School Designation.

Ohio STEM Committee approved applications for schools that implement best practices in STEM and STEAM education, which include creating a culture of inquiry, entrepreneurialism, problem solving, problem-based learning and connections to the real-world.

As for the other acknowledgement, Fairview Park City Schools is no stranger to ICLE. In 2019, a team of Fairview Park City Schools administrators and teachers attended ICLEs 27th annual Model Schools Conference held in Washington D.C.

Regarding its Model Schools designation, ICLE recognizes the need for change to collectively establish a vision and systematically that works together to create a learning environment that enables students of all abilities to thrive.

The criteria include schools that focus on leveraging individual data to make instructional decisions and personalize instruction, as well as balancing rigor and relevance in interdisciplinary learning while creating equity, access and opportunities for all students.

This really centers on the ability to build beyond the traditional design of school in an innovative 21st century model and design for learning, Wagner said. "There are a lot of schools doing some very unique and creative things across the country and across the globe.

This organization recognized Fairview High School for the combination of different opportunities and components that make it stand out. We call that the Fairview Advantage. They recognized that.

ICLE recognized Fairview High School as a Model High School after its detailed submission and proposal titled Staying the Course of Your Innovation Journey: How to Shift Gears without Wearing Out the Clutch.

For proof of seamlessly shifting gears, Wagner said look no further than this past spring when the stay-at-home order required Fairview High School -- as well as the entire district -- to pivot at a moments notice to remote learning

Whereas a lot of other school districts and schools had weeks -- sometimes months -- before they were able to really get education started back up again, it was like flipping a switch for us, Wagner said. "We had the infrastructure in place. The teachers had years of previous training and utilizing the tools, technology and the instructional delivery model to be able to help our students barely miss a beat at Fairview High School.

It certainly underscored for the district -- and hopefully for the community as well -- that the path the school district was on in leaning heavy on the future focus design for our schools and our instruction really proved to be beneficial in this case and allowed Fairview High School to stand out amongst others.

Read more news from the Sun Post Herald here.
BERLIN - Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been released from a Berlin hospital after more than a months treatment for poisoning, with doctors now believing that a complete recovery from the nerve agent is possible, the facility said Wednesday.

Navalny spent 32 days in treatment in Berlins Charite hospital, 24 of which were in intensive care, before doctors deemed his condition had improved sufficiently for him to be discharged from acute inpatient care.

As he was released Tuesday, the 44-year-old displayed his characteristic sarcastic sense of humour. In an Instagram post, he took swipe at Vladimir Putin, scoffing at reported comments by the Russian president suggesting he might have intentionally poisoned himself.

Navalny, Putins most visible opponent, was flown to Germany two days after falling ill on Aug. 20 on a domestic flight in Russia.

German chemical weapons experts have determined he was poisoned with the Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok  findings corroborated by labs in France and Sweden.

The hospital said that based on Navalnys progress, treating physicians believe that a complete recovery is possible, but added that it remains too early to gauge the potential long-term effects of his severe poisoning.

During his convalescence, Navalny has in recent days been posting regular photos from the hospital on Instagram, first showing him sitting up in his bed surrounded by his family, then up and about in the building.

In his post Tuesday night accompanied by a close-up photo, he laughed off reports that Putin suggested to French President Emmanuel Macron in a call that he might have swallowed the poison himself.

Good theory, I believe it deserves the most careful attention, Navalny wrote in Russian.

Cooked Novichok in the kitchen. Took a sip from a flask on the plane. Fell into a coma.

He wryly wrote then the ultimate aim of my cunning plan must have been to die in Siberia, where the cause of death would be lived long enough.

But Putin outmanoeuvred me. You cant fool him, Navalny wrote. As a result, I lay in coma for 18 days like a fool, but didnt get my way. The provocation failed!

The nerve agent used in the attack was the same class of Soviet-era agent that Britain said was used on former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury, England, in 2018, and Chancellor Angela Merkel and other world leaders have called for Russia to fully investigate.

Navalny was kept in an induced coma for more than two weeks as he was treated with an antidote. Members of his team accused the Kremlin of involvement in the poisoning, charges that Russian officials have vehemently denied.

Russia has bristled at the demands for an investigation, saying it needs Germany to share medical data or compare notes with the Russian doctors who said they found no trace of poison in his system while he was at a hospital in the Siberian city of Omsk.

Germany has noted that Navalny was in Russian treatment for 48 hours, and that Russia has its own data.

Germany has also enlisted the Hague-based Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons for technical assistance in the case.

Last week, the international agency said its experts had  independently collected biomedical samples from Mr Navalny for analysis by OPCW designated laboratories

Results have not yet been announced.

The Charite statement was released in consultation with Navalny and his wife, and the hospital would not comment further on whether he would continue to receive outpatient care there.

Navalnys team has said he eventually plans to return to Russia, but had no immediate statement after his release from the hospital.

____

Litvinova reported from Moscow

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NSW Labor will today introduce a bill to strip bonuses from executives at embattled state insurance agency icare after its top eight executives enjoyed $8 million in combined salary and bonuses in two years.

Opposition spokesman for finance and small business Daniel Mookhey said he would introduce the bill in the upper house on Wednesday, calling for the removal of a performance related bonus or incentive payment for icare's staff and chief executive.

NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said this month an immediate review of icare's bonus and remuneration framework would be undertaken. Credit:Steven Siewert, Kate Geraghty

The bill also seeks limits in icare's responsibility in relation to the employment of staff and the chief executive.

"Icare's top executives ruined the NSW workers' compensation scheme. Icare should never have paid them millions in salaries and bonuses," Mr Mookhey said.
A MEMBER of the Zimbabwe People Power Movement (ZPPM) has been arrested for allegedly undermining the State after he was found in Dete soliciting residents to sign a petition alleging that there was a crisis in the country that needed international intervention.

ZPPM is a pressure group-cum-political party that has been pushing a regime change agenda in the country. Simasimpe Reeds Tshuma (25) of 7619 Mkhosana in Victoria Falls had travelled to Dete for the purpose of making members of the public sign a petition calling on the United Nations and other countries to declare a humanitarian disaster in Zimbabwe. About 600 people had signed the petition when Tshuma was arrested on September 12.

Tshuma was not asked to plead to a charge of publishing or communicating false statements prejudicial to the State when he appeared before Matabeleland North magistrate-in-charge Mrs Sekai Chiundura.

He was released on $5 000 bail and ordered not to interfere with witnesses or visit Dete where he was arrested, reside at his given Victoria Falls address and to report fortnightly to Criminal Investigation Department in Victoria Falls as part of his bail conditions.

The accused was remanded to October 19 to allow for further investigations into the matter.

Prosecuting Mr John Chisango Mutyakaviri said the petition alleged that more than 8 million Zimbabweans are in dire need of food and humanitarian support and require urgent food, medicines, and international aid to help recover from the effects of the devastating situation.

Sometime during the month of June, the accused person joined the Zimbabwe People Power Movement (ZPPM) WhatsApp group where they used to communicate on issues to do with the economic situation in Zimbabwe saying there was catastrophic challenge that needed urgent help or intervention of United Nations.

In August the accused received a bunch of petition leaflets with a communique from ZPPM to be signed by Zimbabweans to call for the United Nations and its member states, sister states and other world leaders to consider declaring the state of affairs in Zimbabwe a humanitarian disaster. On 12 September the accused left Victoria Falls for Dete where he went around soliciting for people to sign the petition, said Mr Mutyakaviri.

He said Tshuma had managed to get 600 signatures in Detes Mtuya and Soweto suburbs when police arrested him after a tip-off.

The petition papers had space for citizens to write their names, national identity numbers and signature. Chronicle
Fraudsters have been targeting Australians with a new tax office scam involving fake phone messages.

The elaborate scam is delivered via phone messages and SMS and urges people to hand over their credit card details - threatening innocent victims with arrest if they don't comply.

'Attention: this call is from the legal department of Services Australia,' the message says.

Communications Minister Paul Fletcher confirmed the rort is real and the technology used to dupe taxpayers is becoming increasingly sophisticated

'Your Tax File Identification Number has been suspended and we have filed a case under your name.

'So, before this matter goes to Federal Court and you could get arrested kindly press 1. I repeat press 1 to know about your legal case.'

Communications Minister Paul Fletcher confirmed the rort is real and the technology used to dupe taxpayers is becoming increasingly sophisticated.

'A lot of scammers have been using so-called spoofing or overstamping of the number from which the call appears to originate,' he said, according to news.com.au.

A spokesperson from The Australian Tax Office said the body is concerned about the increasing number of people paying fake tax debt scammers

THE ATO WILL NEVER: - Send you an email or text message asking you to send us your information by email or text message. - Send you an email or text message with a link to log into online services. - Send a pre-recorded message saying the police are coming to arrest you or demanding urgent payment of money. - Ask for payment by bank transfers to: A bank that is not the Reserve Bank of Australia Ooverseas wire transfers; iTunes or Google Play cards; Cardless cash transfers; Cryptocurrency like Bitcoin. Source: ATO Advertisement

'So Australians will get a phone call. It will look like its coming from a well recognised number thats used by the Australian Tax Office or another well known organisation that advertises inbound numbers.'

He explained the cons are large-scale operations and detectives use complex software to find out where the calls come from.

A spokesperson from The Australian Tax Office said the body is concerned about the increasing number of people paying fake tax debt scammers.

'Scammers pretending to be from the ATO are contacting members of the community, telling them that they have a tax debt and that if they don't pay it straight away they will be arrested,' they said.

'These scammers will often request payment through unusual methods, such as cryptocurrency, pre-paid credit cards or gift cards, and will try to keep people on the line until they have paid.'

They urged anyone who received a phone call, text message or voicemail demanding money not to send a payment or provide personal information.

'We will never threaten you with immediate arrest or demand payment through unusual means.'

Australians were scammed out of more than $11million in May this year thanks to a plague of fake money-making schemes.

Online phishing scams received the most reports in May, with households losing $185,000 combined, up 190 per cent from April.
B anking giant HSBC has brought its back-to-the-office plans to a screeching halt after Boris Johnson told the country to work at home if people can.

Following the Prime Ministers address, Britains biggest bank wrote to staff to formally pause "phase one" of its efforts to bring employees back. Sources said staff in the low hundreds had begun returning to its UK offices, which include its headquarters in Canary Wharf.

The bank has put a stop to one-off trips to the office for employees who, for example, want to pick up equipment, it is understood. However, critical workers who support customers from a small number of offices and branches will continue to go in.

The lender  currently battling a media storm over the FinCen files  has also cancelled all planned events such as strategy sessions and planning days.

HSBC and rivals were bounced into redrawing their plans by the Governments shift in stance as Covid cases begin to rise again.

Goldman Sachs international chief Richard Gnodde told staff that its Plumtree Court offices in the City will remain open for those who need it, but is now encouraging staff to work remotely. Around 20% of its employees had returned. Rival lenders Barclays and Societe Generale have also told staff to work remotely again.

Lloyds of London has told its 800 directly employed staff to work from home, although the independent brokers who use the insurance market can continue to work in Lime Street. The market reopened its underwriting floor earlier this month with social distancing measures in place.

Bosses across London were deliberating over whether to shut offices again. Advertising chief Johnny Hornby, who runs The & Partnership, told the Standard: "Clearly having made our offices Covid secure and spent this month developing ways to bring out teams back in to the office - on average two to three days a week or at 30 percent capacity overall this now obviously feels like a setback.

"However, whilst a lot of what we do in our industry we have shown we can do well from home using technology. Bringing our best ideas to life for our clients does require us to be together at crucial points and we will keep our offices open and encourage our people to keep coming together at those vital stages.
Valmet to Supply Metsa Board's Kemi Mill with Industrial Internet Solutions The VII for Paper Quality solution, including Valmet's artificial intelligence-based applications and the Valmet IQ Quality Management System are used to predict and autonomously optimize paperboard surface quality in real time. Sept. 18, 2020 - Valmet and Metsa Board have signed an agreement on data-driven optimization of paperboard quality of the board machine at Metsa Board's Kemi mill in Finland. The machine produces premium quality white top kraftliner. Valmet will supply the mill with Valmet Industrial Internet VII Data Discovery and VII for Paper Quality solutions. The agreement is the first step in a jointly built digital roadmap between Metsa Board and Valmet. The target of this first step is to ensure top-quality end-product to enable smooth runnability in the paperboard converting process. A mill-wide action plan will be created by combining historical mill process data, converting data from Metsa Board's customer and Valmet's expertise to discover the improvement potential of the board machine BM1 production process. This is enabled by Valmet's VII Data Discovery solution. "Metsa Board's products are known for high quality consistency and converting runnability, and we are committed to continuous improvement. With virtual sensors for quality management using artificial intelligence we can reach even better performance. We chose Valmet as our partner based on technical expertise and long-term trust between our companies," says Tomi Vaha-Ruohola, Technical Development Manager, Metsa Board. "This project is a good example of how we can use VII Data Discovery findings to build a mill-wide action plan and create the right artificial intelligence-based VII solutions for the customer's needs. With this first step in our common digital roadmap, we are together moving towards data-based optimization of the entire value chain from pulping to converting," says Arttu-Matti Matinlauri, Director, Analytics and Applications, Automation business line, Valmet. The VII for Paper Quality solution, including Valmet's artificial intelligence-based applications and the Valmet IQ Quality Management System are used to predict and autonomously optimize paperboard surface quality in real time. A key part of the VII for Paper Quality solution is the world's first predictive application for online optimization of paperboard surface quality. It helps maintain high end-product quality and optimize the usage of raw material. Another important application in this solution is the Dynamic Centerline Advisor, which builds optimal production recipes for each operating mode, ensuring maximized overall equipment effectiveness. Valmet is a leading global developer and supplier of process technologies, automation and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries. The company's technology offering includes pulp mills, tissue, board and paper production lines, as well as power plants for bioenergy production. For further information, visit: www.valmet.com SOURCE: Valmet About the Kemi Mill The Kemi pulp and paper mill in Northern Finland has the capacity to produce 610,000 tonnes per year of sulphate pulp and 425,000 tonnes per year of coated and uncoated white-top fresh fibre kraftliner for high-quality corrugated packaging.
EBAMed SA, a medical technology company based in Geneva, Switzerland, has been awarded EUR 2.4 million in a non-dilutive grant (agreement No. 954783) by the Enhanced European Innovation Council (EIC) to develop its cardiac motion management product for the non-invasive treatment of heart arrhythmias. The grant enables EBAMed to optimize the product's hardware and software components, and to perform a first-in-human study which is planned to begin in 2021.

EBAMed develops a non-invasive medical device for heart arrhythmia treatment, which can be integrated into any existing radiation therapy machine and enables physicians to monitor heart movements automatically and in real-time. Its cardiac motion management product facilitates an out-patient procedure, as it does not require any hospitalization or sedation.

"The procedure is quick, safe, painless and suitable for any age and health condition patient with no side-effects and we expect it will provide an efficient alternative to existing treatments," states EBAMed's co-founder, Prof. Ugo Amaldi (CERN). "EBAMed will work with several clinical institutions, such as the National Center of Oncological Hadron therapy CNAO in Italy and the University Hospital UZ Leuven in Belgium, in order to fine-tune the use of its technology."

The Horizon2020 EIC pilot aims to support top-class innovators, start-ups, small companies and researchers with bright ideas that are radically different from existing products, services or business models, are highly risky and have the potential to scale up internationally. The program will provide a total amount of around 3 billion throughout 2018-2020 to fund the most talented innovators and help their companies scale up and expand beyond European borders.

Heart arrhythmia is a major worldwide public health problem, accounting for 15-20% of all deaths. It affects over 15 million people in Europe and North America and this number is expected to double in the next 50 years due to the aging population and lifestyle changes. Currently, catheter ablation is the gold standard for arrhythmia treatment. This is a staff-intensive invasive procedure, requiring patient hospitalization and with a high risk of complications, such as bleeding, infection and damage to heart valves and blood vessels. EBAMed's solution should ensure a more accurate, effective and safe treatment with its non-invasive medical device for heart arrhythmia treatment using proton therapy.

More information

EBAMed SA is a Swiss startup based in Geneva whose mission is to enable safe and effective non-invasive treatments of heart arrhythmias (and other related indications, such as hypertension), with protontherapy. The company is currently developing a medical device to enable non-invasive heart motion imaging and real-time synchronization of the therapeutic beam. Please visit ourLinked-In page

CNAO is the National Center of Oncological Hadron therapy is the only center in Italy that uses hadron therapy with both protons and carbon ions to treat tumors. The Center is based in Pavia, close to Milan. In addition to actively dealing with hadron therapy treatments, CNAO is also a Research and Development Centre whose activities aim at continuously stepping up the fight against cancer and other diseases.

UZ Leuven is a university hospital that wants to push the boundaries by combining specialized care and innovative treatments with human attention and respect for every patient. Future care providers and staff at UZ Leuven receive high-quality training, with a view to lifelong learning and innovation. As a pioneer in clinical research, the hospital also contributes to tomorrow's patient care.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200923005035/en/

Contacts:

EBAMed:

Adriano Garonna, PhD

CEO

adriano.garonna@eba-med.com

+41 76 693 00 83
WASHINGTON - Two Republican-led Senate committees issued a politically charged report Wednesday alleging that the work Joe Bidens son did in Ukraine constituted a conflict of interest for the Obama administration at a time when Biden was engaged in Ukraine policy as vice-president. But the report also offered no support for President Donald Trumps claim that the Democratic presidential nominee had improperly pressed for the firing of the countrys top prosecutor to protect his son.

The report did not implicate Biden in wrongdoing, focusing instead on his son Hunter, who it said cashed in on his fathers position by joining the board of a Ukrainian gas company. The document says that work created conflict-of-interest concerns, including among two Obama administration officials, but acknowledged that it was ultimately not clear what impact Hunter Bidens paid board position had on policy with Ukraine.

Bidens campaign immediately panned the report, released six weeks before the election, as an effort by an ally of Trumps to damage his election opponent. The campaign said the investigation was founded on a long-disproven, hardcore rightwing conspiracy theory and, even before the report was released, issued a detailed statement aiming to rebut point-by-point allegations that it said had long been debunked by media organizations as well as by U.S. and Ukrainian officials.

Hunter Bidens work in Ukraine remains a prominent line of attack in conservative circles heading into the election. Trump himself has repeatedly drawn attention to the issue, with his request for Ukraine to investigate the Bidens spurring an impeachment case against him. Hes continued to trumpet the claims even as his own administration has warned of a concerted Russian effort to denigrate Joe Biden and has asserted that a Ukrainian lawmaker who is involved in spreading an unsubstantiated anti-Biden narrative has been an active Russian agent for over a decade.

The investigation, from the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and the Finance Committee, produced stark political divisions. Democrats have accused Republican Sen. Ron Johnson, the Homeland Security chair, of a politically motivated initiative at a time when they say the committee should be focused on the pandemic response and other, less partisan issues.

Johnson has acknowledged in interviews that he hoped to complete the report before the election, telling The Associated Press last month that the American people deserve the truth about his probe. But he has also been on the defensive over Democratic accusations that his investigation was serving to amplify Russian disinformation. He has denied receiving information from Andrii Derkach, the Ukrainian lawmaker singled out by intelligence officials.

After the report was released Wednesday, Johnson defended the probe to reporters as a good investigation by two committees with jurisdiction over corruption and conflicts of interest.

There was nothing political about this, he added.

In scrutinizing Hunter Bidens financial dealings, the report details extensive payments to business interests from entities in Ukraine, Russia, and China that its authors say raise counterintelligence and extortion concerns.

But the crux of the document is that Hunter Bidens lucrative involvement with the gas company Burisma posed a conflict of interest because Biden was vice-president at the time and dealing with Ukraine policy.

It cites concerns from two officials, including one, George Kent, who was among the witnesses at impeachment proceedings against Trump last year. In one 2016 email, Kent, the former acting deputy chief of mission at the Kyiv embassy, described Hunter Bidens presence on the Burisma board as very awkward for all U.S. officials pushing an anticorruption agenda in Ukraine.

But the report also quotes Kent as telling lawmakers that there was never an occasion in which the embassy made a decision where we took the presence of a private citizen on the board into account.

Another State Department official, Amos Hochstein, is described in the report as having raised concerns directly to Biden because he was concerned Russians were using his sons role with the company to sow disinformation. Biden did not take action, the report says.

The report says that though State Department officials regarded the head of the company, Mykola Zlochevsky, as corrupt, Biden did not confront him or link him to corruption.

What the chairmen discovered during the course of this investigation is that the Obama administration knew that Hunter Bidens position on Burismas board was problematic and did interfere in the efficient execution of policy with respect to Ukraine, the report says.

Even so, the report acknowledges that the extent to which Hunter Bidens board position affected Ukraine policy is not clear. It does not establish that specific policy decisions were influenced by Bidens position.

Notably, the report makes limited mention of the claim by Trump and some supporters that Biden pressured Ukraine to fire its top prosecutor, Viktor Shokin, as a way to stymie an investigation into Burismas owner. The allegations were central to the impeachment case after Trump asked Ukraines president in a telephone call last year to investigate the Bidens.

The report includes only six references, including in footnotes, to Shokin and does not expose new information about any role Biden may have had in his ouster.

The Biden campaign pointed to news reports and public statements showing there was no active investigation into Burisma at the time of Shokins ouster in 2016, and that the firing of Shokin was broadly sought by U.S. and European officials, and reflected official Obama administration policy.

Both Bidens have denied wrongdoing, and Hunter Biden has denied using his influence with his father to aid Burisma. But Republicans who came to Trumps defence in the impeachment trial asked for further investigations. Johnson, a close Trump ally, took the lead.

As the coronavirus death toll climbs and Wisconsinites struggle with joblessness, Ron Johnson has wasted months diverting the Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee away from any oversight of the catastrophically botched federal response to the pandemic, a threat Sen. Johnson has dismissed by saying that death is an unavoidable part of life, Biden campaign spokesperson Andrew Bates said in a statement.

___

Associated Press writer Steve Karnowski contributed to this report.
The Vantagepoint A.I. team met its annual sales goal four months early; to celebrate, a significant donation was made to Shriners Hospitals for Children in the name of Bentley, patient ambassador. Were happy to invest in the success of our charitable partners and the vital work that they do in our community...We feel it is incumbent upon us...to step up especially since many others just cant right now. Lane Mendelsohn, President Vantagepoint A.I.

At a time when many are pulling back from their corporate philanthropy, Vantagepoint A.I. continues giving and has even expanded donations across its philanthropic partnerships.

Were so happy to invest in the success of our charitable partners and the vital work that they do in our community, said Lane Mendelsohn, President of Vantagepoint, Our company has experienced growth and success over the last year that has allowed us to stay steadfast in our giving to Shriners and add our support to The Childrens Cancer Center. We feel it is incumbent upon us, in this remarkable time in our company history, to step up especially since many others just cant right now.

Vantagepoint goes beyond writing a donation check; their philanthropic partners become part of the Vantagepoint family  they are invited to join into Vantagepoint events. For example, the company recently celebrated meeting its annual sales goal four months ahead of schedule. Bentley Rogers, a Shriners patient-ambassador, and his family were included in the unique festivities when the team celebrated meeting their goal.

What was especially meaningful for us is that we found out Bentley will be featured in a national commercial for Shriners, so we are pleased to announce we are donating $10,000 in Bentleys name, said Mendelsohn, and we donated equally to our friends at The Childrens Cancer Center.

See Bentleys reaction to the news and the teams remote celebration: https://youtu.be/ijffao5cvQ0 .

About Vantagepoint AI, LLC. Headquartered in Wesley Chapel, Fla., Vantagepoint AI, was the first company in the world to give independent traders the power of artificial intelligence for their home computers. VantagePoint software forecasts Stocks, Futures, Forex, and ETFs with proven accuracy of up to 87.4, predicting changes in market trend directions up to three days in advance to help traders find optimal times to make their trades. Consistently recognized as one of the Top 10 Places to Work in Tampa Bay, Vantagepoint AI and its President, Lane Mendelsohn, have also both been featured by Fortune Magazine and others. Family-owned, Vantagepoint employs over 65 team members and is actively committed to giving back in the Tampa Bay community. To see artificial intelligence in action, attend a free training or schedule a demonstration at http://www.vantagepointsoftware.com/demo

Media Contact: Lisa Moretti

Email: lisam@vantagepointsoftware.com


A Customary Court in Ile-Tuntun, Oyo State, on Tuesday dissolved a three-year-old union between Ibukun Amosun and estranged husband, Babatunde, over interference by her father in-law in the marriage.

Ms Amosun, a conservationist, a fortnight ago petitioned the court, seeking divorce on grounds that her father-in-law has poisoned her husbands mind to abandon her.

Delivering the judgment, the President, Henry Agbaje, held that the court dissolved the marriage in the interest of peace.

He advised both parties to avoid any act that could bring about confrontation with each other.

Earlier, Ms Amosun, who lived in Apata area in Ibadan said that her father in-law contributed to her marriage crashing.

Before Babatunde and I got married, I got a good job in Lagos and we agreed that I will continue working.

However, after the wedding, he told me to abandon the job and be a stay at home wife.

I disagreed with him and convinced him to allow me to work. But each time he visits his parents, they change his mind against me.

My husband changed the locks on me. When I called him, he informed me that his father advised him to do so.

His parents also ignored all calls to settle the matter, she explained.

The respondent gave his consent to the suit and stated his reasons for pulling out of the matrimony.

Babatundes father, Mr Johnson, had in the first hearing in the matter testified on behalf of his son because he was not in court.

My lord, I never told my son to lock her out. We could not cope with her attitude.

She refused to get pregnant until she finishes her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

In our own belief, married couples must live together. Her mother kept supporting her.

Again, she was never dressed like a married woman because she keeps wearing provocative dresses around, he said.

Also, in her testimony, Ms Amusons mother said that Babatundes father should have allowed the couple to work out their disagreements and not meddled in their affairs.

(NAN)
Editor's note: This is part of an ongoing series that breaks down the origins of Horry County's "Independent Republic" motto.

Weaving through Little River to Socastee, the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway is a boating lifeline in Horry County.

Initially built for travel, defense and trade routes, the entirety of the waterway still not only serves as a route from the north east, down the east coast to the southern tip of Florida  it now has shifted to host leisure activities for boaters, at least in its section within Horry County.

The waterway is now integral to the recreational offerings of the Myrtle Beach area as restaurants, boat rental companies and docks rely on it for their businesses to operate.

But well before the AIWW became a main attraction in the Independent Republic, some of the United States earliest political leaders dreamed of a continuous waterway that would bolster the national economy and defenses during the 18th Century.

The history of the AIWW can be traced back to the origins of the United States. Building the waterway, especially the portion in Horry County, was not a simple task and took over a century of planning and political fighting.

Like the modern fight to build an I-73 in Horry County, the effort to build the AIWW took decades as generations of political leaders debated the merits of the plan, where the money would come from and which levels of government were responsible for leading the effort.

But all that effort resulted in a marine highway that continues to shape the Myrtle Beach areas economy to this day.

The funding fight

Early citizens of the United States in the beginning of the 19th realized the need to avoid using the ocean for interstate travel. Seaworthy ships were larger and more expensive, but smaller boats could be used on calmer waters. In addition, promoting interstate trade made the U.S. more economically self-reliant and able to ship products without fear of foreign blockades.

The Revolution disclosed the isolation of the colonies from one another and the difficulties of moving men, military supplies, and goods up and down the seaboard. Roads were few and poor, all but the smallest rivers had to be ferried, and British warships menaced the customary traffic of coastal sailers, according to a 1970s government report on the history of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.

Brad Pickel, the director of the American Intracoastal Waterway Association, said the newly formed United States federal government began looking at ways to connect existing waterways  like lakes, inlets or rivers  to make a continuous shipping lanes through the mid-Atlantic region of the country.

Congress quickly realized that the country needed the ability to sail within its borders in order to ship supplies and troops for the war effort. Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin in 1808 created plans to build national roadways and waterways in an effort to promote connectivity in the new nation.

Originally President Thomas Jefferson, who tended to support a small federal government, opposed using federal dollars to build Gallatins infrastructure project. The War of 1812, however, and the return of British blockades, reminded the early Americans that the U.Ss lack of connectivity was a deterrent to national defense efforts.

The real kick off that led to the investment of federal dollars was the war of 1812. So the national defense goes back to then, Pickel said. They thought we need an inland system that will stop these blockades from closing our ports.

But even with a recent war painfully reminding Americans of their lack of connectivity, the federal government struggled to find the political power and money to take on large infrastructure projects.

The Grand Strands carved out

In 1824, more than 100 years before work would begin in Horry County, the U.S. Congress approved the General Survey Act that allowed the president to use Army engineers to identify important road and canal plans in need of funding. Gallatins plan was revisited.

Earlier in the century Gallatin created an interstate waterway that used existing rivers, with the help of soon to be constructed canals, to connect Massachusetts all the way down to Swansboro, NC.

But one major issue was Gallatins plan listed a stretch of land below the Cape Fear River that would require ships to enter the open ocean. Gallatin was likely referring to Horry Countys soon-to-be-famous 60 miles of uninterrupted coast.

Before construction began in 1930 inland navigation between the Cape Fear River and Winyah Bay had been totally impossible, according to the governments historical records of the AIWW.

Over the next century, the United States worked to build and connect canals to existing rivers to create a contentious waterway. While the waterway can help boaters reach New England, the AIWW itself runs from Norfolk, Va. down to Key West, Fla.

While some dredging work was done on the Waccamaw River during the 1880s, it became clear the Horry County portion of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway would have to be dug out since there was no other way to avoid sending ships into the open ocean.

Construction began in 1930 to carve out 22 miles of land to connect the Little River area to Socastee Creek. The resulting ditch was carved out to be 12 feet deep and 90 feet wide.

It had to be dug, Pickel said. But the area in Horry County was one of the later projects because it was literally earth moving.

Dr. Paul Gayes, director of Coastal Carolina University's Burroughs & Chapin Center for Marine and Wetland Studies and Palmetto Professor of marine science and geology, said the sediment dug out to create the waterway was used for one of the first large-scale beach renourishment projects in Myrtle Beach in the 1980s.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers took on the project of digging the Intracoastal in Horry County. It was completed in 1936, and drew in national figures for a ribbon cutting.

It was one of the last portions of the Intracoastal built, with construction on parts south of the Carolinas being completed in the late 1930s.

Keeping the waterway alive

The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway is still a functioning marine highway that requires regular maintenance to keep it alive.

These days the U.S. Department of Transportation recognizes the AIWW as a marine highway, or M-95, that mirrors I-95 for travelers looking for a quick way to sail north or south along the eastern seaboard.

While the AIWW is most obviously used in the 21st century as a recreational body of water, in many ways it still serves the initial goals of some of its earliest supporters as businesses and the military still use the aquatic superhighway.

Pickels organization is dedicated to helping governments and businesses that rely on the IWA to lobby for further government support. He said the military, law enforcement agencies and commercial shippers still use the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway regularly.

Its always had a two-pronged value: national defense and commercial, Pickel said. We are using the waterway, a marine highway to ship goods in a more cost effective way and also more sustainable. We can move more products at a lower cost and a lower environmental impact than we can truck or rail.

For the AIWW to fulfill its purpose, it needed to be dredged and maintained. Horry Countys portion of the waterway, being entirely man made, requires less regular dredging than more natural parts of the waterway.

Jeremy Johnson, project manager for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, said the Charleston District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers does not currently have any active maintenance dredging on the Intracoastal in Horry County.

The last maintenance dredging contract on the AIWW in Horry County was in 2002. Approximately 300,000 cubic yards of material was removed at a cost of $2.3 million.

Historically, the portion of the AIWW located in Horry County maintains natural depth, so maintenance dredging in this area is not needed, Johnson said. The Charleston District performs annual channel condition surveys of the AIWW, which are available for public download on its website.

Pickel said dredging is important to keep debris out from affecting the depth of the waterway as defined by the federal government. Typically, a hopper wedge and cutter suction dredge machines are most commonly used in South Carolina to clean out the waterway.

Just as the waterways earliest supporters wanted, the AIWW continues to be an economic driver with the power to unite and defend the American people. Waterway maintenance keeps the AIWW as an integral part of transportation networks in the United States.

Just like we have I-95, we have M-95, Pickel said. Its not just a hope and desire of a few stakeholders to keep this maintained, it is literally designated by a federal agency as a marine highway.
The Oregon Health Authority announced 193 new suspected or confirmed cases and six new deaths linked to COVID-19 on Wednesday, a substantial drop from Tuesdays number of cases and infection rate, which were the highest in nearly a month.

The trajectory of the pandemic in Oregon had been unclear in recent weeks, amid historic wildfires and a sharp drop in coronavirus testing, but state officials now say it is clear cases are on the rise.

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.

Although state officials did not respond to requests for comment from the newsroom on Tuesday, Patrick Allen, the Oregon Health Authoritys top official, acknowledged on Oregon Public Broadcastings Think Out Loud that officials recognize cases are once again rising.

We are definitely having more cases over the last week or 10 days, he said Tuesday, adding that Labor Day activities, testing at college campuses and potentially wildfire displacements could be part of the increase.

Allen said the states most recent modeling came during an inflection point, leaving the software confused.

I think clearly where we are is weve switched from being on a pretty good track, coming out of the holiday and the fires and everything else, into one were going to have to beat back down again, he said.

Where the new cases are by county: Baker (1), Benton (2), Clackamas (9), Clatsop (2), Columbia (2), Coos (2), Deschutes (2), Douglas (1), Hood River (2), Jackson (22), Jefferson (3), Josephine (4), Klamath (1), Lane (36), Lincoln (1), Linn (2), Malheur (22), Marion (17), Multnomah (29), Polk (2), Umatilla (12), Wasco (4), Washington (14) and Yamhill (1).

New fatalities: Oregons 532nd death linked to coronavirus is a 93-year-old Marion County woman with underlying health conditions. She tested positive Sept. 11 and died Sept. 15 at Samaritan Albany General Hospital.

The 533rd fatality is a 93-year-old Multnomah County woman with underlying medical conditions. She tested positive Sept. 14 and died Sept. 15 at Portland Adventist Medical Center.

Oregons 534th death is a 82-year-old Washington County man with underlying health conditions. He tested positive Sept. 17 and died Sept. 19 at Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center.

Oregons 535th death is a 75-year-old Lane County man with underlying health conditions. He tested positive Sept. 1 and died Sept. 2 at his residence.

Oregons 536th death is a 54-year-old Multnomah County man with underlying health conditions. He tested positive Sept. 3 and died Sept. 7 at Providence Portland Medical Center.

Oregons 537th death is a 95-year-old Multnomah County woman with underlying health conditions. She tested positive July 17 and died Aug. 31 at her residence.

The Oregon Health Authority removed one death from the total count, a 26-year-old Yamhill County man who was thought to be the states youngest victim, after a special test administered by the Centers for Disease Control showed that his death was not related to the virus.

The prevalence of infections: State officials reported 168 new confirmed infections out of 3,522 people tested, equaling a 4.8% positivity rate.

Who got infected: New confirmed or presumed infections grew among the following age groups: 0-9 (4); 10-19 (27); 20-29 (43); 30-39 (28); 40-49 (26); 50-59 (25); 60-69 (21); 70-79 (5); 80 and older (7).

Whos in the hospital: The state Tuesday reported 138 Oregonians with confirmed coronavirus infections are currently in the hospital, up 9 from Tuesday. Oregon remains well below its capacity, with hundreds of hospital beds and ventilators available.

Since it began: Oregon has reported 31,503 confirmed or presumed infections and 537 deaths, among the lowest totals in the nation. To date, 644,570 Oregonians have been tested.

-- Kale Williams; kwilliams@oregonian.com; 503-294-4048; @sfkale
Vietnamese pastor released after 4 years imprisonment over religious freedom advocacy

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A Vietnamese pastor imprisoned for advocating for religious freedom has finally been released after spending over four years in prison, drawing praise from the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom.

On Sept. 18, USCIRF announced that A Dao, a pastor of the Montagnard Evangelical Church of Christ, had been released from prison. Dao was arrested in 2016 while on his way to visit some members of his church after attending a conference on religious freedom in East Timor.

In April 2017, a Vietnamese court tried and sentenced the pastor to five years imprisonment for allegedly helping individuals to escape abroad illegally under Article 275 of the countrys Penal Code. Dao was not expected to be released until Aug. 18, 2021.

USCIRF Commissioner James W. Carr, who advocated for Daos release through USCIRFs Religious Prisoners of Conscience Project, said he hopes the release is a sign that the Vietnamese government is serious about improving religious freedom conditions and will release other individuals detained for their religious freedom advocacy.

He also called on Vietnams government to take steps to ensure that local authorities respect A Daos freedom and safety should he choose to return to his home village.

Dao had for years advocated for his fellow church members to enjoy religious freedom in Vietnams Central Highlands. While in prison, the pastor was beaten and abused by prison guards, while his church experienced ongoing harassment from the authorities.



Representative Glenn Grothman, who adopted Dao through the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commissions Defending Freedoms Project, said the pastors release marked a hallmark day for both Pastor A Dao and Vietnam.

I hope that his release is a sign of Vietnam transitioning from an anti-God totalitarian state to a country in which religion in general and Christianity in particular can be openly practiced, he said, adding that the release shows the importance of American elected officials speaking out against oppression and promoting the importance of religious freedom throughout the world.

Religion should not be a tool to oppress any person nor a stain on their character, he said. I hope other American Congressmen familiarize themselves with the oppression that religious minorities, which in many parts of the world are Christians, have to deal with on a daily basis.

Under Vietnams constitution, citizens are allowed to follow any religion or follow none and the government is required to respect and protect freedom of religion. According to estimates, the majority of Vietnam's more than 94 million people practice Buddhism. More than 6 million Vietnamese are Catholic, more than 1 million practice the Cao Dai or Hoa Hao faiths, and approximately 1 to 2 million are Protestant.

However, the constitution permits authorities to override human rights, including religious freedom, for reasons of national security, social order and security, social morality, and community well-being.

Vietnams Communist government is particularly suspicious of Christianity, which it associates with former invaders, France and the U.S.

In its 2020 Annual Report, USCIRF noted that Hmong and Montagnard Christians in Vietnams Northern and Central Highlands are regularly harassed, detained, or even banished because of their religious affiliation. Because of this, USCIRF has recommended that Vietnam be designated as a Country of Particular Concern every year since 2002.

Vietnam ranks as the 21st worst country in the world when it comes to Christian persecution, according to Open Doors USAs 2020 World Watch List. According to the persecution watchdog, Christians in Vietnam are targeted by both government and tribal leaders.

In 2018, Vietnam sentenced and jailed a number of Catholic activists, bloggers and Protestant pastors. In August, a pastor, Le Dinh Luong, was sentenced to 20 years for an alleged attempt to overthrow the government.


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The new facility will be able to accommodate 200-300 students. The diocese has up to 40 candidates each year. In the past, the government limited the number of vocations.

Thai Binh (AsiaNews/EdA)  The Diocese of Thai Binh (northern Vietnam) is building a new major seminary that can accommodate up to 300 seminarians.

On 7 September, nearly a hundred seminarians participated in a celebration to mark the beginning of the school year and the foundation of the new seminary, dedicated to the Sacred Heart.

Government authorisation for the construction of the facility was obtained thanks to the mediation of Bishop Phero (Pierre) Nguyen Van e of Thai Binh, and constitutes an important step for the local Church.

The previous seminary was closed in 1970-1971 because of the ongoing Vietnam war. The government kept it closed until 2008, when teaching was allowed again. However, officially it could take in only six seminarians per year, even though the diocese has had up to 40 candidates annually.

In 2008, the previous bishop of Thai Binh, Mgr Phanxico (Francis) Xavie Nguyen Van Sang, managed the exceptional feat of getting permission to train 25 candidates who are now deacons and will be ordained priests next December.

Fr aminh (Dominic) ang Van Cau, 58, is the rector of the new Sacred Heart Seminary, which can accommodate between 200 and 300 students.

The Catholic Church in Vietnam is divided into 27 dioceses, and currently has 11 major seminaries and 2,824 seminarians.
NEW HAVEN  Serena Neal-Sanjurjo, who has worked on developments for 16 years in the city, most recently as the head of the Livable City Initiative, is resigning.

It is a personal decision for me and it is breaking my heart, Neal-Sanjurjo said, particularly as she leaves behind the large number of employees to whom she has grown close.

The agency is responsible for housing code inspections and neighborhood development with an emphasis on affordable units in public-private partnerships.

A native of the city, she had worked in city government for a decade going back to the administrations of mayors Biagio DiLieto, John Daniels and John DeStefano Jr., before leaving to work in land use departments in Baltimore, Md. and New Orleans for 18 years.

She returned in 2013 and took over LCI in 2014 with the Hill to Downtown project her first major undertaking that eventually saw the razing of the deteriorated Church Street South housing complex, the relocation of hundreds of its tenants and plans for a mixed use replacement that will keep 30 percent of the units affordable.

The Hill to Downtown plan is still driving development with investments by builder Randy Salvatore in 110 units on Gold Street/25 affordable; 50 affordable units in the former Welch Annex School; 90 units at 216 Congress Ave. and 104 on Lafayette Street that filled in what were asphalt covered parking lots for decades.

Neal-Sanjurjo, most recently, began investment in construction of two-family homes that featured homeownership and an income-producing rental. A group of these were built on Judith Terrace on the east side of the city with nine under construction at Thompson Street and Winchester Avenue in Newhallville.

There were also in-fill housing and commercial projects throughout the city and the new construction of 31 units at Antellian Manor.

The LCI director also played a major part in development of a long-term plan for affordable housing that has led to an Affordable Housing Commission, whose members were recently appointed.

Neal-Sanjurjo said she will be working part-time with the Economic Development Corp., helping to see Union Square  the replacement for Church Street South  come to fruition and the West River development get on a solid financial path.

Her third goal is to see a commercial laundry built on Bassett Street, which would ultimately be owned by the workers.

The director praised her employees as one of the best departments in the city. I would put everything on them, she said, giving the workers credit for successful projects.

She said three new housing inspectors have been added, bringing the total to 13 from seven when she started. Neal-Sanjurjo said the new director will find LCI in good order.

I am happy to be working with Serena again, Ginny Kozlowski, the executive director of EDC, said.

The EDC is the citys non-profit entity focused on business attraction, retention, and community investment.

Neal-Sanjurjo leaves LCI on Oct. 9.

I am very proud of the work LCI has facilitated to implement tangible neighborhood development in some of New Havens most disinvested neighborhoods in my hometown, Neal-Sanjurjo said in an earlier statement.

Mayor Justin Elicker and Economic Development Administrator Michael Piscitelli praised Neal-Sanjurjo for her efforts.

Serena has been an incredible asset in the city, said Elicker. Her investment in expanding options for affordable housing has allowed many more residents to live stable and affordable lives in the City. I am grateful for her service and look forward to partnering with her in her next role at the Economic Development Corporation.

It has been an honor to work with Serena not only on actual projects, but also on the journey from planning to implementation, said Piscitelli. She has played a key role in defining our teams culture and focus on the well-being of residents across the citys neighborhoods.

Kozlowski said Neal-Sanjurjos extensive knowledge of the city, its neighborhoods, and its needs, will be a major asset for the EDC. Her responsibilities will include planning, guiding, and executing redevelopment projects currently underway, and identifying other possible redevelopment projects and partners for continued inclusive growth throughout New Haven.

mary.oleary@hearstmediact.com;William.Lambert@hearstmediact.com
Australias internal borders are to gradually reopen as COVID-19 infections continue to fall. South Australia and Queensland are easing restrictions with the neighboring state, New South Wales, for the first time in months. Australia has recorded about 27,000 coronavirus cases since the pandemic began, and more than 850 people have died.

South Australia has taken a very cautious approach to curbing the spread of the novel coronavirus. Most people are forbidden from entering the state from neighboring Victoria, which has had most of the nations coronavirus cases and fatalities. Those restrictions remain firmly in place, but starting Thursday, South Australia is reopening its border with New South Wales because that state has recorded no cases of community transmission of the virus for 14 days. Travelers will no longer have to go into quarantine.

South Australian Premier Steven Marshall says the eased restrictions will be a relief to residents.

People from New South Wales wanting to come into South Australia from Thursday onwards will be able to do that without doing the 14-days of self-isolation. So, this will be a massive, massive relief to people who have been dislocated from friends, from family, from business opportunities. This will be a huge relief, Marshall said.

From October 1, border restrictions between some northern districts in New South Wales and Queensland will be relaxed. The measures will allow more residents in border communities to travel freely between the two eastern states. However, the majority of people in New South Wales are still not allowed to travel to Queensland because of fears they could spread the virus.

People in Victoria cannot visit other Australian states and territories unless they hold an exemption, are an essential worker or live along a state border. The Victorian state government has said it was hopeful that falling infection rates will allow it to ease a strict lockdown measures in Melbourne.

Western Australia has no immediate plans to reopen to the rest of the country. Arrivals from other Australian jurisdictions must go into quarantine for 14 days before they are allowed to move freely about the state.

The federal government has long agitated for all internal borders to be reopened to help revive an economy that is in recession for the first time since 1991.

As parts of Australia begin to open up ahead of summer, the Northern Territory government is offering cash incentives to attract domestic tourists.

Australia is a country comprising six states, two principal mainland territories and a population of 25 million people.

Its international borders, which were closed to foreign nationals in March, are not expected to reopen until next year.
East European demand for both trailers and trucks has continued to plunge in 2020 following the onset of Covid-19.

The East European trailer demand forecast for the five-year period from 2020 to 2024 has been reduced by 52,000 trailers with the largest markets of Turkey, Poland and Russia accounting for over 60% of that reduction, said Clear International in its just issued September 2020 forecast for the East European Heavy Truck Trailer Market.

The largest fall in demand will occur in Poland  a country that was a model of stability in the 2009 Global Financial Crisis  Poland was the only country in Europe not to have a recession in that year.

Russia, the largest trailer market in Eastern Europe until 2010, suffered a 50% fall in demand between 2011 and 2015, but had an astonishing recovery in 2017/18 and is now the largest market once again. Turkish demand reached a new low in 2019 but recovery has already begun, though it will remain in third place behind Poland until the end of the forecast period.

Demand for trailers grew by 4.4% in Eastern Europe in 2018 then fell by 12.7% in 2019 as evidence of a cyclical downturn became more apparent. At the beginning of 2020 another modest decline in trailer demand was forecast for Eastern Europe but the outlook quickly worsened as the Covid-19 pandemic started to close down parts of the economy.

A reduction of new trailer registrations of 24.5% if now forecast for 2020, and that figure assumes that the second wave of the virus that is already in evidence is at least contained.

Trailer sales in 2018 were the third highest on record, only surpassed in 2007 and 2008. The forecast now is that registrations of new trailers will not match the 2007/8 level until after 2024 but will surpass the 2018 level in that year.

However, the short-term outlook is anything but positive.

Whereas the demand for road transport (measured in tonne-km) in Western Europe has yet to recover to the levels that were typical before the 2009 recession, in Eastern Europe both domestic and international road transport demand has continued to grow every year. Every year that is until 2018 when growth stalled. Slowdowns in Bulgaria, Czechia, Estonia, Poland and Hungary were enough to halt the growth which has been continuous since 2000. There was some growth in demand in 2019 but this was mostly due to international activity in Poland and Lithuania and it will not be sustained into 2020.

Gary Beecroft, managing director of Clear International commented: Turkey will be the only country in Eastern Europe to see any growth in trailer demand in 2020 but it is recovering from a very low base. Russia will have the smallest decline in the region. Other countries will see falls of between 15% and 50%.

BACKGROUND

Many East European countries joined the EU in 2004-07, which resulted in booming demand for trailers. In particular, semi-trailer demand rocketed as the volumes of international transport increased, both within Eastern Europe and between East and West.

From 2002 to 2007 the compound annual growth rate for trailer demand was 25.7%. Demand broke the 100,000- unit barrier in 2007 but fell to 40,000 in 2009 as a result of the GFC.

Some 77% of goods in Europe are moved by road and most of that proportion is transported in a trailer.

-- Tradearabia News Service
LANSING, MI  People across the state who are seeking coronavirus testing can check their status this week with the help of the Michigan National Guard for no cost.

The Michigan National Guard announced in a news release Tuesday, Sept. 22, that it will continue its partnership with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and local health departments to offer coronavirus testing this week in the communities of Allegan, Alpena, Holland, Sturgis, Taylor and Ypsilanti.

The Michigan National Guard has more than 20 trained testing teams able to assist with community coronavirus testing initiatives. These three-member teams include a certified medic to conduct the testing and two members to help with paperwork, logistics, and non-medical tasks, the release said.

All team members from the Michigan National Guard have tested negative for COVID-19 and have been following strict medical protocols to ensure health and safety and to protect Michigan communities, the release said.

Since March, members of the Michigan National Guard have performed more than 600 community-based missions in 81 of 83 Michigan counties as part of our states response to COVID-19. This includes COVID-19 testing support for more than 290 long-term care facilities throughout Michigan, 7 million pounds of food distributed at local food banks, and more than 106,000 COVID-19 tests administered as part of community based testing initiatives, said Maj. Gen. Paul Rogers, Adjutant General and Director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

COVID-19 is still a very real threat to our state and widespread testing remains one of the best ways communities can assess their level of risk for the disease," Rogers said.

In August, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said President Donald Trump granted her request to authorize National Guard members help with the pandemic response through Dec. 31.

Since COVID-19 was first discovered in our state, the Michigan National Guard has been a crucial part of our emergency response, from conducting testing and screening, distributing personal protective equipment, and assisting at food banks across the state Whitmer said in an Aug. 4 statement.

The community testing initiative is a continuation of those efforts, the Tuesday news release said. Similar testing has been held in more than 50 communities over the past three months.

Some tests were performed Tuesday. Upcoming testing locations include:

Allegan: Thursday, Sept. 24, 9 a.m. to noon, 3255 122nd Street, Allegan.

Holland 2: Friday, Sept. 25, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Holland Fire Station #2, 12169 James Street, Holland.

Taylor: Saturday, Sept. 26, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Taylor Sportsplex, 13333 Telegraph Road.

Ypsilanti: Saturday, Sept. 26, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Ypsilanti District Library, 5577 Whittaker Road.

Also on MLive:

Michigan National Guard to continue coronavirus help through Dec. 31, but with less federal funding

Michigan pandemic death toll is thousands higher than official counts

WMU reports 72 new coronavirus cases; university now at 235 infections

23 students at 10 University of Michigan buildings test positive for COVID-19, public health notices say

Coronavirus cases more than tripled among Michigan residents under age 25 since July 5
A worker looks at wind turbines in central Ninh Thuan Province. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade wants to extend the incentive feed-in-tariff (FIT) period for wind power projects by a couple of years.

The current incentive FIT applies to projects commissioned before November 1, 2021, but the ministry will request Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phucs permission to extend it until the end of 2023, Minister Tran Tuan Anh said at a recent meeting.

The current 20-year incentive feed-in tariff, which was approved in September 2018, is 8.5 cents and 9.8 cents per kWh for onshore and offshore projects, respectively.

An auction system is being considered to replace the feed-in tariff after 2023.

Wind power developers say that it usually takes two or three years to complete a project, compared to just several months for solar power projects. An extension of the feed-in tariff period will give them more time to construct their plants and benefit from the pricing incentive.

However, the national utility, Vietnam Electricity (EVN), proposed in July that the feed-in tariff period should not be extended to ensure that the national grid could absorb rising output from wind and solar power plants.

An auction system will make renewable energy more competitive and reduce prices, it added.

There are 11 wind power plants with a total capacity of 429 MW, according to EVN. By the end of June, an addition of 7,000 MW of wind power was added to the national plan.
STOLEN CAR ARREST: Marvez Preston, 24, of Chicago, was arrested and accused of possession of a stolen motor vehicle, driving on a suspended license, unlawful display of registration and no insurance after a Sept. 20 stop at 159th and Oak Park Avenue, police said. Police said the stolen car was involved in a carjacking in Chicago Sept. 7, but that Preston and his passenger did not match the description of the suspects. Preston told police he borrowed the car from a relative in Chicago and did not know the car was stolen.
OTTAWA  Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has staked the survival of his minority government on a new plan to continue heavy public spending during the COVID-19 pandemic on programs like child care, extended wage subsidies and new federal standards for seniors in long-term care.

Delivered to a diminished gathering in the Senate, Wednesdays throne speech included a long list of promises framed as the necessary response to a crisis that has killed more than 9,000 Canadians and forced millions of people to rely on billions of dollars in government aid.

Trudeau later made a nationally televised plea to Canadians to curb what he called a second wave of COVID-19 that is now rising in four provinces.

Were on the brink of a fall that could be much worse than the spring, Trudeau said. He warned its likely Thanksgiving gatherings will be limited but added, we still have a shot at Christmas.

The actions set out in the throne speech, however, immediately set course for a clash in the Commons, as the Bloc Quebecois and the Conservatives criticized it and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh suggested he might withhold support unless the government increases financial aid for jobless workers.

While the prime minister has said he does not want to trigger an election, senior Liberals say he is also unafraid of campaigning on the governing agenda set out in Wednesdays speech.

This pandemic is the most serious public health crisis Canada has ever faced, said Governor General Julie Payette, who read the text aloud to a pared down audience in the Senate chamber, with attendance minimized to comply with pandemic restrictions.

After six months of big spending to support struggling businesses and the jobless, the throne speech signalled Ottawa has no plans to ease up on borrowing that has already brought the federal deficit to almost $350 billion this year. In fact, the government made an array of costly promises.

These included a pledge to make a significant, long-term sustained investment to create a Canada-wide early learning and child-care system that would be accessible to all.

The government said it will extend the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, which covers up to 75 per cent of worker pay for entities that lost revenue during the pandemic, for another nine months. It has spent more than $35 billion on that program over the past six months.

On top of that, the speech pledged new spending on all types of infrastructure over the next two years, including on public transit, building retrofits, affordable housing and extending broadband internet access.

There was also a vow to make the largest investment in Canadian history on skills training for workers as the government sets a new goal to return employment to its pre-pandemic level by creating 1 million jobs, and a pledge to accelerate steps toward national pharmacare.

The speech was delivered as two opposition leaders are sidelined at home after being infected with COVID-19. While economic supports and spending to spur growth featured prominently, so too did pledges to help contain the spread of the virus by continuing federal efforts to procure necessary protective equipment, ensure Canadians have access to a vaccine if and when one is available, and help provinces improve their testing regimes.

The government said it will do whatever it takes to fulfil Canadians health needs, and that this is not a time for austerity.

Conservatives promptly panned the speech for neglecting any commitment to hold back on spending. Deputy leader Candice Bergen said her party will not support the speech, and are ready for an election if thats where this goes.

Conservative Leader Erin OToole replied to Trudeaus address with pointed criticism of his handling of the crisis and a broader critique of Trudeaus economic and foreign policies. OToole said COVID-19 testing needs to be ramped up, the needs of the energy sector must addressed, and Canadas trade should be diversified.

Mr. Trudeau says we are all in this together but Canada has never been more divided, OToole said in a video made outside his home, where he is in quarantine.

Trudeaus plan drew ire in Quebec, where Premier Francois Legault and Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet immediately slammed it for trampling into areas of provincial responsibility. Blanchet called the speechs intrusions on provincial turf an affront and said he would give the government one week to provide unconditional health transfers or else the BQ will vote against the government.

Premier Doug Ford, whose Progressive Conservatives have worked closely with the federal Liberal government throughout the pandemic, also fired a rare salvo at Ottawa.

Today the federal government missed a critical opportunity to commit to a desperately needed increase to the Canada Health Transfer, said Ford, who, along with the other premiers, is demanding the federal government boost its share of health-care funding from 22 per cent to 35 per cent.

I will continue to work alongside my provincial counterparts to advocate that the federal government invest its fair share in health care, Ford said.

The Liberal government is already spending $19 billion to aid provinces under safe restart agreements, plus another $2 billion directly in support for schools to reopen.

In the speech, Trudeau promised more federal help for surge testing in remote areas, as well as financial support for businesses shut down by local public health orders.

In August, Trudeau had promised a bold and ambitious action to build back better from the massive hit to nearly all of Canadas economic sectors. On Wednesday, in addition to extensions of the wage subsidy, business loans and business credit programs, Trudeau promised specific support for travel and tourism, hospitality and cultural industries.

The Liberal government established no specific new fiscal benchmarks, and used only vague language to say it will preserve Canadas fiscal advantage and continue to be guided by values of sustainability and prudence.

In the short term, well keep investing, Trudeau said in his televised address. But beyond the emergency, as we start to build back better, we must do that in a fiscally sustainable way. Investing for our recovery must be done responsibly.

The throne speech reiterated the governments plan to use the Employment Insurance system to continue to deliver emergency income support to Canadians left unemployed by COVID-19. Legislation is expected in days to create new benefits to help caregivers, the self-employed and others who dont qualify for EI, such as gig economy workers.

And while Trudeau says the government must remain focused on the immediate and near-term challenges that have not yet been met, he said climate change must be addressed as well.

In a signal of renewed urgency to update the climate targets it adopted from the previous Conservative government, the throne speech promised Ottawa would immediately bring forward its new plan to exceed the goal of slashing emissions by 30 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030. It pledged to make climate action a cornerstone of the governments economic recovery plan, vowing to create thousands of jobs by retrofitting homes and buildings so theyre more energy efficient.

It promised more money to expand public transit, build infrastructure to bring clean energy to regions without it, and spend on clean tech initiatives including making zero-emission vehicles more affordable and expanding the charging stations they need to be functional.

The speech also repeated previous promises to legislate emissions targets toward the goal of net-zero by 2050, plant two billion trees by 2030, spend money to protect communities from the effects of climate change, and ban single-use plastics by the end of 2021.

Environmentalists welcomed the renewed pledges, but many expressed skepticism and demanded to see real action in the economic update.

Trudeau doubled down on last years promise of moving toward a national universal pharmacare program, saying his government will work with provinces that are prepared to move forward on a single-payer public drug plan.

Trudeaus government, which in its first mandate created a 10-year $55-billion national housing strategy and pledged $1 billion for rapid housing to ease homelessness last week, pledged even more toward what is a key demand of the New Democrats.

The speech echoed the governments pledge to make web giants pay Canadian media and content creators for hosting their work, and require them to contribute to the creation, production and distribution of our stories, on screen, in lyrics, in music, and in writing. Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault told CTV that Canadians can expect the next federal budget will require the web giants to pay GST, to pay their fair share to Canadian media organizations for use of their content, and to contribute to the creation of Canadian content.

The speech pledged criminal justice reforms, including modernized police training, and other measures to fight systemic anti-Black racism and to redouble efforts toward reconciliation with Indigenous people, whose relationship Trudeau has frequently highlighted as his governments most important.

AFN national chief Perry Bellgarde welcomed many of the commitments, including infrastructure and environmental spending to achieve clean drinking water and to decarbonize the economy, as well as policing reforms and support for First Nations policing.

Peter Van Dusen and Esther Begin host CPACs in-depth coverage of the Speech from the Throne to open the second session of the 43rd Parliament. The speech, which outlines the federal governments legislative priorities, will be delivered in the Senate chamber by Governor General Julie Payette.

The speech from the throne is set to be debated for several days before being put to a vote in the Commons.

But unless Trudeau can win the support of at least one other opposition party to get the 16 extra votes he needs for a majority of Commons support, a rejection of the speech could set the country on the course to an election amidst a pandemic.
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.
A U.S. Coast Guard analysis found that a cargo ship overturned after departing a Georgia seaport because of unstable loading that left its center of gravity too high, making the vessel susceptible to rolling over, an expert told officials investigating the shipwreck Tuesday.

Coast Guard Lt. Ian Oviatt testified that his analysis found no fault with the design of the South Korean-owned Golden Ray. He said the ship lacked enough water in its ballast tanks, used to add weight at the bottom of a vessel, to offset that of 4,200 vehicles in its cargo decks above.

He was many who have spoken during hearings over the past week by the U.S. Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board into what caused the shipwreck.

The South Korean-owned Golden Ray had just left the Port of Brunswick on Sept. 8, 2019, when it overturned with 4,200 vehicles in its cargo decks. All crew members were rescued safely. But a year later, the vessel and its cargo remain partly submerged off St. Simons Island, waiting to be dismantled.

A naval architect with the Coast Guards Marine Safety Center, Oviatt testified during the seventh and final day of the public hearings on the Georgia coast to examine what caused the 656-foot (199 meter) ship to tip over.

Oviatt said his team calculated how weight was distributed aboard the Golden Ray using documents from the port showing how its cargo was loaded as well as data stored on the ships computer, including how much water was in the ballast tanks.

The cause of the vessel capsizing was lack of righting energy due to the way the vessel was loaded, Oviatt said. The vessel could have taken on additional ballast to be in compliance.

The Coast Guard analysis showed the Golden Ray failed to meet stability standards required by the International Maritime Organization at the time it capsized, as well as during its two voyages before arriving at Brunswick, Oviatt said.

He said the crew jettisoned roughly 1,500 metric tons of ballast water prior to arriving at Brunswick, 70 miles (112 kilometers) south of Savannah. That raised the ships center of gravity and made it susceptible to capsizing.

On Monday, a tugboat captain who helped push the ill-fated cargo ship Golden Ray from the docks as it left a Georgia seaport, testified he observed only smooth travel before the giant vessel overturned.

Clifton Gorden told federal investigators all seemed normal with the ocean-bound freighter before it began leaning and capsized while making a starboard turn.

Gorden, a tugboat captain for 25 years, testified that the tides and weather conditions were calm enough the morning the Golden Ray departed that only his boat was needed to nudge it free of the dock. He followed behind the ship a short distance to make sure it cleared the port.

Everything looked normal, Gorden said. There was no swaying back and forth when he moved his rudder. Usually, I can see a little bit of that. It was just smooth travel out of the narrow channel into Turtle River.

The Golden Rays pilot released Gorden soon after clearing the port. He said he was drifting toward another ship he was scheduled to assist when he got a radio call saying the Golden Ray needed help. Gordens tug arrived half an hour later, along with several other small boats, to find the 656-foot (200-meter) ship on its side. He stayed through the night helping with crew evacuations.

The hearings havent pinpointed what exactly made the ship tip over. Capt. Blake Welborn, the Coast Guard officer leading the investigation, said last week that investigators found no evidence of failures in the vessels safety equipment, communications equipment or machinery that contributed to the wreck.

Both the Golden Rays captain, Gi Hak Lee, and Brunswick-based harbor pilot Jonathan Tennant, who was steering the ship, testified last week the vessel began listing and overturned without warning, The Brunswick News reported.

Everything was just as normal as could be, until it capsized, Tennant, a harbor pilot with 20 years of experience, testified Friday. Its an unexplainable situation that Ive never experienced as a captain.

As a precaution against coronavirus infections, the public was not allowed to attend the hearings in person. Instead, the proceedings in Brunswick were streamed live online.

It could take another year before investigators publish a report of their findings, with recommendations aimed at improving safety.

Separate from the investigation, a multiagency command has spent the past year making plans to carve the ship into eight giant chunks to be hauled away by barges. Officials hope to begin the first cut sometime in October.

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

Topics Georgia Trucking
WASHINGTON  Chinas foreign ministry on Wednesday accused President Donald Trump of having shady political motives and engaging in a futile effort to smear Beijing for its handling of the coronavirus outbreak.

In scathing remarks, Wang Wenbin, a spokesman for the foreign ministry, directly countered Trumps address to the United Nations on Tuesday, in which he suggested that China allowed the virus to escape its borders and infect the world.

Wenbin said Trump had fabricated lies and used his platform at the UN to level unfounded allegations against China at a time when global cooperation is needed to stop the pandemic.

In a seven-minute address to the UN on Tuesday, Trump said world leaders must hold China accountable for unleashing "this plague onto the world."

In the earliest days of the virus, China locked down travel domestically, while allowing flights to leave China and infect the world, the president said. "China condemned my travel ban on their country, even as they cancelled domestic flights and locked citizens in their homes."

In his response, Wenbin said that by "repeatedly smearing China on COVID-19-related issues, the U.S. is attempting to shift the blame for its bad handling of the virus onto others.

Such acts have again shown that unilateralism and bullying are the biggest threat to the world, he said. "What the US needs to do now is stop the political manipulation, stop labeling or politicizing the virus, and join the rest of the international community in this common fight, rather than scapegoat or smear others."

U.S.-China tensions have spiked dramatically during the pandemic, with many fearing a new Cold War between the worlds two biggest economies.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin takes a question during the daily Foreign Ministry briefing in Beijing on July 24, 2020. China on July 24 ordered the US consulate in the southwestern city of Chengdu to close in retaliation for one of its missions in the United States being shuttered, capping a furious week of Cold War-style diplomacy.

The vitriolic geopolitical volley comes as Trump enters the final stretch of his re-election campaign, in which his handling of COVID-19 is a central issue. Trump repeatedly downplayed the virus when it first emerged in the United States, saying his administration had it under control and predicting it would disappear in warmer weather.

Story continues

Trump admitted that he intentionally played down the virus in a March interview with Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward.

"I wanted to always play it down. I still like playing it down, because I dont want to create a panic," Trump told Woodward on March 19. Audio clips of a series of Woodward interviews with the president were made public after the journalist released his book, "Rage," which paints a searing picture of the Trump administration's response to the virus.

U.S. officials have noted that China initially censored information about the virus and silenced doctors who tried to raise alarms about the outbreak, which began in Wuhan late last year.

China imposed a strict lock down in Wuhan on Jan. 23, barring exit from the city in the hopes of preventing further spread of the virus. But it was too late. There were also confirmed cases in other countries  including in the U.S.

Still, Trump's White House rival, Joe Biden, and other critics of the president have accused him of not leveling with American public and not doing enough to prepare the country to respond to the pandemic once he learned of its dangers.

In a Feb. 7 interview with Woodward, Trump discussed the threat of the coronavirus with a level of detail that he had not yet acknowledged to the public, saying it was "deadly stuff," and "more deadly than your  even your strenuous flus."

Woodward also disclosed details of a Jan. 28 briefing Trump had with top aides in which he was given a "jarring" warning that the virus would be the "biggest national security threat" to his presidency.

Trump publicly praised Xi Jinping at the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak, saying, among other things, that Beijing was being transparent and working very hard to contain the virus.

President Donald Trump declared that the United Nations must hold China accountable for failing to contain the coronavirus.

In his UN remarks, Trump attacked China over its environmental record, saying Beijing "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."

But Trump himself has infuriated environmental groups at home by rolling back a bevy of protections and shrugging off the threat of climate change as a hoax.

Wenbin noted that the Trump administration withdrew from the Paris Climate Accords and has shunned international efforts to address other environmental problems.

"The United States is the world's largest exporter of solid waste and a major consumer of plastics per capita," he said, and yet the U.S. has created obstacles to global rules on plastic waste.

"It has even shipped a huge amount of waste to developing countries, doing enormous harm to the local and global environment," Wenbin said. "How is such a country in any position to blame China?"

Contributing: Jeanine Santucci

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: China accused Trump of 'shady political motives' in COVID-19 attacks
Facebook says it removed a small network of fake accounts and pages that originated in China and focused on influencing the U.S. presidential election in November.

The activity was not directly linked to the Chinese government and gained almost no following, the company said.

Beijing has been expanding its influence operations ahead of the 2020 election but has not mounted an operation on par with Russian operatives in the 2016 presidential election who sought to inflame tensions on hot-button issues such as race and immigration.

Much of the activity identified by Facebook focused on the Philippines. In the U.S., the fake accounts posted content that favored and opposed Trump and his Democratic challenger Joe Biden as well as Pete Buttigieg.

Facebook ready with 'break glass' tools: It plans to restrict content if violence erupts after election

Trump, QAnon, Russia: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube brace for a turbulent election and post-election cycle

Facebook said the people behind the network concealed their identity and location using virtual private networks and other methods.

Last week, FBI Director Christopher Wray told House Homeland Security Committee hearing that Russia remains "very active" in its effort to sow discord and disrupt the vote, primarily by denigrating Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.

Facebook says it removed a small network of fake accounts and pages that originated in China and focused on influencing the U.S. presidential election in November.

U.S. intelligence officials warned last month that China, Russia and Iran would attempt to interfere in the 2020 election. Kremlin-backed forces have been promoting Trumps candidacy on social media and undercutting Bidens.

After Wray warned of Russian election interference last week, Trump called China a FAR greater threat than Russia, Russia, Russia on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fake Facebook pages, accounts originating in China targeted election
FARMINGTON  Defense attorney Norm Pattis has offered to pay back more than half of the $250,000 retainer he received from Fotis Dulos in the days before he died.

But Jennifer Dulos family says thats not enough.

An attorney representing her mother, Gloria Farber, plans to contest an agreement the administrator for Fotis Dulos estate has reached with Pattis to reimburse $137,500 of the retainer he received in January.

On Jan. 7, Fotis Dulos was charged with murder and kidnapping in the death and disappearance of his estranged wife. He gave Pattis and his colleague, Kevin Smith, the $250,000 retainer on Jan. 16 to represent him in the murder case and any appeal, according to the Probate Court documents.

Two weeks later, Fotis Dulos died on Jan. 30 from an apparent suicide.

READ MORE: Investigators: Dulos may have shaved head to frame colleague, new evidence could lead to Jennifers remains

Pattis attorney John Williams contends that some of the $250,000 retainer was payment for services that had already been provided. Fotis Dulos hired Pattis and his law firm soon after he was first charged with tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution in June 2019.

It was an understanding from these parties from day one that a lot of the payment would be down the road, Williams said. It was for all of the work over the course of the entire litigation with Mr. Dulos. It took Mr. Dulos a long time to get the money together.

Attorney Mark Dean, a trustee representing Farber, filed a lawsuit in August alleging Pattis wrongfully kept the retainer months after his client died. Deans lawsuit claimed the money should go to Fotis Dulos estate.

Attorney Christopher Hug, the administrator of the estate, filed to intervene in the lawsuit and then filed his own complaint on Aug. 25, also claiming the money should go to the estate. Hug has since negotiated with Pattis and his attorney to determine how much of the $250,000 should be reimbursed.

Fotis Dulos paid Pattis and Smith $50,000 after he was first arrested in June 2019, according to Hugs lawsuit. Fotis Dulos also paid the attorneys $155,000 prior to his second arrest on a tampering with evidence charge in September 2019, Hug said.

In his lawsuit, Hug claims Pattis and Smith broke their June 2019 agreement with Fotis Dulos by failing to reimburse unused portions of the $50,000 and by spending exorbitant amounts on items that were not connected with his defense.

The agreement Hug has reached with Pattis must be signed by all parties involved. As part of the agreement, the lawsuits filed by Dean and Hug would be dismissed.

However, attorney Richard Weinstein, who represents Farber, said he plans to contest the agreement, saying Pattis offer is not enough. Hug noted in the agreement that he believes Dean will also contest the deal.

The estate is largely insolvent and Farber was awarded possession of Fotis Dulos Farmington home on Friday after she filed foreclosure proceedings on the property as police were searching for her daughter in July 2019.

Since Fotis Dulos death, a Superior Court judge has awarded Farber about $2 million in a lawsuit she filed against her son-in-law for unpaid loans to his real estate development business. Farbers attorneys are trying to recoup some of the money through Fotis Dulos estate.

Fotis Dulos was accused of attacking his estranged wife in the garage of her New Canaan home when she returned from dropping off their children at school on May 24, 2019, according to his arrest warrant.

Police said Jennifer Dulos was the victim of a serious physical assault and the states medical examiner determined she suffered injuries that were not survivable without immediate medical attention, the warrant stated.

Pattis provided a flamboyant defense of Fotis Dulos that drew sharp criticisms from the prosecutor, family and friends of Jennifer Dulos and even writer Gillian Flynn. The author slammed Pattis for suggesting Jennifer Dulos staged her own disappearance based on Flynns Gone Girl novel.

Pattis repeated comments prompted Superior Court Judge John Blawie to issue a gag order in the case. Pattis challenged the order before the state Supreme Court, which did not render a decision before Fotis Dulos died.
Harvard Universitys undergraduate enrollment fell almost 20% from last year as the Covid-19 pandemic spurs some students to stay away.

The Ivy League school has 5,382 undergrads at Harvard College for the fall semester, compared with 6,716 as of Oct. 15, 2019, spokeswoman Rachael Dane said Tuesday. The freshman class is about 14% smaller, as more than 200 accepted students notified Harvard that they intend to begin in the next academic year instead of this one.

All instruction at Harvard College is remote for the 2020-2021 academic year. Freshmen and other students approved to be there based on academic needs are the only undergrads living on the Cambridge, Massachusetts, campus.

U.S. colleges and universities are trying to ensure the health and safety of students and employees amid the pandemic. Administrators have been concerned that fewer students would want to enroll this term, with mask wearing, virus testing and limited interactions for those colleges that have in-person classes. Many schools are going all or mostly virtual, while others have sent students home after coronavirus outbreaks.

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Rep. Matt Gaetz has called for a criminal investigation into billionaire Mike Bloomberg, who paid off $20 million in debt for more than 31,000 convicted felons in Florida so that they can vote in November.

Bloomberg, who is worth more than $50 billion, raised more than $20 million to pay off fines, court fees and restitution for felons, and pledged another $100 million to help Joe Biden win Florida.

'I believe there may be a criminal investigation already underway of the Bloomberg-connected activities in Florida,' Gaetz told Fox News host Sean Hannity, accusing the former Democrat presidential candidate of attempting to buy off votes for Biden.

Gaetz said that he had already contacted Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, a Republican, to urge her to investigate whether the scheme violates Florida law.

'[Under Florida law] it's a third-degree felony for someone to either directly or indirectly provide something of value to impact whether or not someone votes,' Gaetz explained. 'So the question is whether or not paying off someone's fines and legal obligations counts as something of value, and it clearly does.'

Rep. Matt Gaetz has called for a criminal investigation into billionaire Mike Bloomberg, accusing him of buying votes in a scheme to pay off the debts of Florida felons

Bloomberg, who is worth more than $50 billion, said on Tuesday that he had raised more than $20 million to pay off fines, court fees and restitution for felons to enable them to vote

Gaetz called on Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody (left) to investigate the scheme

Convicted felons in Florida are seen celebrating Amendment 4, a measure that will allow them to vote, by holding up four fingers in Miami last month

'If Michael Bloomberg was offering to pay off people's credit card debt,' Gaetz added, 'you would obviously see the value in that.'

'[W]hen you improve someone's net worth by eliminating their financial liabilities, that's something of value,' he went on.

'Normally, it would be very difficult to prove that that was directly linked to impacting whether or not someone was going to vote. But they literally wrote their own admission.'

According to the Washington Post, Bloomberg wrote in a memo about the scheme: 'We have identified a significant vote share that requires a nominal investment.'

'The data shows that in Florida, Black voters are a unique universe unlike any other voting bloc, where the Democratic support rate tends to be 90%-95%,' the memo continued.

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

Did Bloomberg actually commit a crime? In 2018, Florida voters overwhelmingly approved Amendment 4, which returned voting rights to most Florida felons who had completed their sentences. It excludes those convicted of murder or sexual offenses. But it quickly became unclear who could actually vote after Florida Gov Ron DeSantis signed a Republican-backed bill last year stipulating that, in addition to serving their time, felons would have to pay all unpaid fines and restitution before being eligible to vote. Voter rights advocates immediately sued the governor and the state, arguing that a vast number of felons are too poor to pay their fines. Just days before Bloomberg paid the fines and restitution, DeSantis won a court victory to keep felons from voting until they met those requirements. Shortly after Bloomberg announced the move, Rep Matt Gaetz called for a criminal investigation into the billionaire and accused him of trying to buy votes. It's unclear if Bloomberg actually broke any laws, but according to Florida's statutes, 'whoever by bribery, menace, threat, or other corruption whatsoever, either directly or indirectly, attempts to influence, deceive, or deter any elector in voting or interferes with him or her in the free exercise of the electors right to vote at any election commits a felony of the third degree'. The statute goes on to say that 'no person shall directly or indirectly give or promise anything of value to another intending thereby to buy that persons or anothers vote or to corruptly influence that person or another in casting his or her vote'. Advertisement

Gaetz said in a separate interview with Fox Business Network host Lou Dobbs: 'This is a specific inducement, to a specific segment of voters, to get them to vote in a certain way, and I think it could be a crime.'

Bloomberg said in a statement: '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.'

'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 it's 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 Governor 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.

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.

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

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 insinuations, 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.
Union minister of state for railways and four-time Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament (MP) from Karnatakas Belagavi constituency, Suresh Angadi, died of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in Delhi on Wednesday evening. He was 65.

Angadi, a lawyer and education baron who rose through the ranks in the BJP after being appointed the vice-president of the partys Belagavi district unit in 1996, is the fourth MP to succumb to the disease that has claimed around 90,000 lives in India. Shri Suresh Angadi was an exceptional karyakarta, who worked hard to make the party strong in Karnataka. He was a dedicated MP and effective minister, admired across the spectrum. His demise is saddening. My thoughts are with his family and friends in this sad hour. Om Shanti, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted.

The national flag will be flown at half mast on Thursday in government offices in Delhi due to Angadis demise, said a senior home ministry official.

Angadi announced on September 11 that he tested positive for the disease. He was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi soon after for treatment. Angadi is survived by wife Mangala, and daughters Spoorthi and Shraddha.

Shocked to know the passing away of Shri Suresh Angadi, Union minister of state of railways. An amiable leader Shri Angadi worked tirelessly for the people of his constituency, Belagavi and Karnataka, President Ram Nath Kovind tweeted.

Union railway minister Piyush Goyal said Angadi was like a brother. Words fall short to describe his commitment & dedication towards the people. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends in this hour of need. Om Shanti, Goyal tweeted.

He will always be remembered for his selfless service to the nation and party. My deepest condolences are with his family. Om Shanti Shanti Shanti, Union home minister Amit Shah tweeted.

BJP president JP Nadda also condoled the death. Extremely saddened by the passing away of central minister Shri Suresh Angadi Ji. He was a remarkable leader who dedicated all his life for organisation and went on to serve society with utmost diligence and compassion, he tweeted.

YSR Congress MP from Tirupati, Balli Durga Prasad Rao, Congress MP from Kanyakumari, H Vasanthakumar, and BJP Rajya Sabha MP, Ashok Gasti, have also died of Covid-19 so far.

A relatively late entrant to politics, Angadi was considered a BJP strongman from the Mumbai-Karnataka region of Karnataka and was instrumental in the BJP winning 25 of the states 28 seats in the 2019 general elections. He first won the Belagavi Lok Sabha seat in 2004 and remained undefeated. He was appointed the junior railways minister in 2019.

Angadi also ran a clutch of educational institutions under the Suresh Angadi Education Foundation including an engineering college, arts and commerce college, architecture college and international school.

His death was condoled by leaders across the political spectrum in Karnataka. Chief minister BS Yediyurappa expressed his shock and said Angadi was a peoples leader.

Former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) chief, HD Deve Gowda, said Angadi was like a younger brother to him. I feel terrible losing him. This is an unbearable loss to our nation, he said.
(Newser)  Alexei Navalny has finally left the Berlin hospital where he was treated for suspected Novichok poisoning. The Russian opposition leader was discharged on Tuesday, a few days after he posted a photo of himself walking in Charite Hospital. The hospital said his condition "has improved sufficiently for him to be discharged from acute inpatient care." It added he had spent 32 days there, including 24 in intensive care, per CNN. Navalny collapsed on a flight from Tomsk to Moscow on Aug. 20 and was initially hospitalized in Omsk following an emergency landing, per the BBC. He was flown to Germany two days later. He has vowed to return to Russia despite rumors that President Vladimir Putin ordered the poisoning. The Kremlin has denied any involvement. A preliminary probe in Russia wrapped on Monday and did not result in a criminal investigation, per CNN.

story continues below

French newspaper Le Monde has reported that Putin had condemned Navalny as an "internet troublemaker who had simulated diseases in the past" in a Sept. 14 phone call with President Emmanuel Macron, per the BBC. But labs in Germany, France, and Sweden have confirmed that a Novichok agent was used. Traces of the nerve agent were found on a water bottle in Navalny's Tomsk hotel room. Several other Russian dissidents have been poisoned in the past. And Britain said Russian intelligence agents used Novichok on former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury, England, in March 2018. They survived, though a woman who came in contact with the nerve agent died. "The treating physicians believe that complete recovery is possible," the hospital said of Navalny, though it warned of "potential long-term effects." (Read more Alexei Navalny stories.)
New Parliament building cost likely to go up by Rs 200 cr, CPWD expected to get approval

Monsoon Session: Ruckus over farm bills is to cover their own failures from past, says BJP

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

Hyderabad, Sep 23: The melodramatic protests by Congress, TMC, AAP and other regional parties like TRS against the farm bills passed by parliament are desperately manufactured for face-saving of their own governance failures from the past, BJP said on Wednesday.

Speaking to OneIndia, Telangana BJP chief spokesperson, K Krishna Saagar Rao said, "Congress and its regional allies are exhibiting their frustration driven out of guilt and their intentional incompetence, in not impacting lives of small and marginal farmers positively in decades of their misgovernance with lopsided priorities."

Monsoon session Day 10: RS debates on Bilateral Netting of Qualified Financial Contracts Bill, 2020

"Despite being in power for around six decades, Congress party and its allies including Communist parties could not fully liberalise the agricultural sector, while every other sector was liberalised. Especially the cultivation, harvest and post-harvest areas which could have enabled and empowered small and marginal farmers, who constitute more than 90 percent of the farming population in India," the spokesperson said.

BJP pointed question to Congress-- when you have liberalised the 'input side' of agriculture sector over a decade back?, which benefited large multi-nationals to enter in seed, fertilizer, nutrition and pestiside areas? and why didn't you (Congress) free the 'market side' which could have directly benefited the small and marginal farmers?

Monsoon Session: Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh breaks his one-day fast

However, the BJP understands the Congress party's political plot to keep small farmers unorganised and poor for vote bank politics. Empowerment and prosperity of farmer community could have challanged the divisive politics Congress and its regional stooges played for decades.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a clear vision to enable and empower small and marginal farmers in the nation. "Our party's and our government's singular objective is to make farmers at 'bottom of the pyramid' prosperous," Rao said.

"'Farmers First' is our national agenda. The ill-intentioned opposition parties exhibiting empty and baseless outrage, at the courageous and landmark reforms in Agriculture sector initiated by PM Narendra Modi, should bury their heads in shame for opposing small and marginal farmers economic empowerment," he added.
In this article VOW3-DE

Volkswagen revealed the new ID.4 electric SUV on Sept. 23, 2020 the brand's first long-range EV to be sold in the U.S. Volkswagen

Volkswagen will leverage its global footprint to profitably produce a new all-electric SUV called the ID.4. The vehicle, which will be produced at five factories on three continents, targets mainstream buyers, starting at $39,995 when it arrives in U.S. showrooms early next year. Pricing excludes an up to $7,500 federal tax credit to purchase electric vehicles. "This is truly a breathtaking global car," Scott Keogh, CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, said during a media briefing ahead of the vehicle's online reveal Wednesday. "I think the upside of that is it's giving us an awful lot of the scaling effects that we need, which of course is giving us the pricing power and we see a very strong correlation between pricing and adoption to electric vehicles." The ID.4 will be imported to the U.S. from Germany until local production begins at a VW plant in Tennessee in 2022, the company said. The price of the vehicle is expected to drop to about $35,000 when domestic production begins.

Volkswagen revealed the new ID.4 electric SUV on Sept. 23, 2020 the brand's first long-range EV to be sold in the U.S. Volkswagen

VW will produce the ID.4 at two plants in China and two plants in Europe in addition to the U.S. Keogh said the global production assists with scale and profitability  an ongoing challenge for the auto industry with electric vehicles. "We do have a positive contribution margin and profit on these cars," he said. "We're not where we want to be yet in terms of the battery cost but certainly in a very good place and getting better all the time." Batteries for electric vehicles are extremely expensive but the costs are lowering. Keogh declined to disclose the kilowatt per hour cost, a common industry measure of the cost of electric vehicles batteries, of the ID.4's battery. Unlike many automakers releasing vehicles to compete against Tesla  the industry's electric vehicle leader  VW is targeting the car at mainstream consumers who may be new to electric vehicles. VW, which opened online reservations for the ID.4 on Wednesday, compared the compact SUV to the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CRV rather than current electric vehicles from Tesla, General Motors and others.

Volkswagen revealed the new ID.4 electric SUV on Sept. 23, 2020 the brand's first long-range EV to be sold in the U.S. Volkswagen
OTTAWA, Sept. 17, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cornerstone Capital Resources Inc. (Cornerstone or the Company) (TSXV-CGP) (F-GWN) (B-GWN) (OTC-CTNXF) is pleased to provide an update on its wholly-owned Bella Maria gold and copper project in El Oro province, southwest Ecuador.



Figures related to this news release can be seen in PDF format by accessing the version of this release on the Companys website ( www.cornerstoneresources.com ) or by clicking on the link below:

http://www.cornerstoneresources.com/i/pdf/NR20-26Figures.pdf .

HIGHLIGHTS:

Detailed exploration program to follow up on previously defined targets



Drilling program scheduled for 2021 to test most prospective targets and anomalies

Yvan Crepeau, Cornerstones Vice President, Exploration, said: The Bella Maria gold project borders the NE corner of Lumina Golds Greater Cangrejos gold property, where Lumina has announced a resource of 10.4 m oz Au in the indicated category and 6.3 m oz. Au in the inferred category (*Mineralization hosted on adjacent and/or nearby properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization hosted on the Companys property). Bella Maria, which has never been drilled, has exceptionally anomalous gold in stream sediments draining the property as shown on accompanying figures. The soil sampling program carried out over the years has defined a 3 km by 2 km gold-copper +/- molybdenum anomaly located in the central part of the property.

An Environmental Registration was granted by the Ministry of Environment of Ecuador in January 2020. Under this registration surface exploration work is allowed on the entire property. Following the planned exploration programs described below in this news release to define drill targets to test the most prospective targets and anomalies, Cornerstone will apply to amend the environmental registration to allow for scout drilling in 2021.

FURTHER INFORMATION:

Bella Maria property

The 1,401-hectare Bella Maria property is located in southwestern Ecuador, in El Oro province along the western foothills of the Andes, some 30 km southeast of the port city of Machala at elevations ranging from 100 m to 800 metres above sea level (masl). Access is good via paved roads from either Guayaquil, a major port city located approximately 200 km by road to the northwest of the property, or from Santa Rosa to the southwest and then by a paved road crossing the central part of the property. The area is characterized by tropical climate and vegetation. Bella Maria borders the NE corner of the Cangrejos property of Lumina Gold Corporation.

Regional Geology

The project area is underlain by Paleozoic age metamorphic rocks including quartz-biotite orthogneisses, quartz-biotite schists and chlorite schists (La Victoria Formation) which form part of the El Oro Metamorphic Complex. The metamorphic rocks are intruded by Tertiary age granodiorite (Biron Batholith) and quartz diorite. The Oligocene age Saraguro Formation (andesitic to rhyolitic flows and pyroclatics) lies to the east and southeast.

The Bella Maria property is located in the southern part of a NNE oriented Late Oligocene - Early Miocene Porphyry Belt hosting the Gaby-Papa Grande (NI 43-101 compliant resource of 308 Mt at 0.63 g/t Au) and Cangrejos (NI 43-101 compliant resource of 10.4 Million Ounces Gold in the indicated category and 6.3 Million Ounces Gold in the inferred category) porphyry systems. Further to the SW, Challenger Exploration Ltd intersected similar type of porphyry Au-Cu mineralization at its Guayabo and Colorado V projects located at the southern contact zone of the Biron Batholith (Figure 1). These two projects along with Cangrejos and Bella Maria are located within a partly eroded circular feature cross-cut by NE oriented district scale structures (Figure 2 and 3). (*Mineralization hosted on adjacent and/or nearby properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization hosted on the Companys property).

Within this belt several intrusive complexes host low-grade gold-copper (typically <1 g/t Au and <0.5% Cu) mineralization. Higher-grade gold-copper mineralization occurs in hydrothermal breccias adjacent to porphyry bodies and located along and/or at the intersection of district scale structures. Epi-mesothermal gold deposits (Bella Rica, San Gerardo and several other small prospects) in the region are commonly associated with the porphyry systems. A total of 69.000 ounces of gold has been recovered by Odin Mining and Exploration Ltd (Now Lumina Gold Corp.) from its Biron alluvial gold mine located 10 km SW of Bella Maria. The San Agustin alluvial deposit lie 1 km north of the property.

Property geology and mineralization

Geological mapping and data compilation from previous surveys indicate that the property is located within the northern contact zone between the Biron Batholith to the south and Paleozoic age, basement rocks part of the El Oro Metamorphic Complex.

This contact zone is characterized by multiphase intrusions varying from granitic to dioritic in composition intruding metasedimentary and metavolcanic rock units (schist, gneiss and orthogneiss). Metamorphic foliation generally strikes NW-SE (N300E) and systematically dip 55 to 60 to the north.

Faults, fractures and magnetic lineaments from airborne magnetic surveys generally strike NNE to NE with a secondary, less developed set to the NW. Minor fractures and mineralized veinlets systems associated to intrusives and breccias are generally NNE oriented (N01E to N25E). District scale circular features evident in topographic maps and magnetic survey suggest that the Bella Maria property could possibly be located on the northeastern edge of a 15 to 17 km wide collapsed caldera which center would be Cangrejos intrusive complex to the SW.

District scale geological mapping and aerial geophysical data suggests that the mineralization patterns relates to underlying NE trending structures. Three types of mineralization have been outlined on the Bella Maria property: lower grade gold-copper-molybdenum porphyry style mineralization associated to quartz veinlets stockworks; higher grade, gold-copper mineralization associated to breccias; and, mesothermal quartz-tourmaline-gold-arsenic veins. Breccias are commonly associated to and controlled by faults and regional structures. Porphyry and breccia types of mineralization are located in the NE extension of and are very similar to significant gold-copper mineralization discovered by Newmont Exploration ("Newmont") and Odin on their Cangrejos property bordering the Bella Maria property to the south. Hole C99-14 by Newmont intersected 204m grading 1.6 g/t Au from surface at the Trinchera-Paloma target.

A total of seven mineralized prospects/areas have been identified on the Bella Maria property and area briefly described below (refer to may 11, 2012 news release for a detailed description of the prospects and assay results from these prospects). Three of them have been discovered in the recent field program.

Las Pavas Breccia (LPB): 400m by 700m area. Series of N-S oriented, fault controlled, metric size wide hydrothermal breccias with silicified and tourmaline rich matrix. Small scale miners sporadically exploit higher-grade gold mineralization. Medium priority target.

400m by 700m area. Series of N-S oriented, fault controlled, metric size wide hydrothermal breccias with silicified and tourmaline rich matrix. Small scale miners sporadically exploit higher-grade gold mineralization. Medium priority target. Vega Rivera Porphyry (VRP): 800m by 800m area. Located in the central part of the property along the Q. Cardenas stream. At this location, gold and copper mineralization is associated with stockworks of B type quartz veinlets developed within silicified and potassic altered granodiorite and quartz-feldspar porphyry units. Pyrite, chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite and occasionally some molybdenite and bornite are present within quartz veinlets and as coatings along fractures. High priority target.

800m by 800m area. Located in the central part of the property along the Q. Cardenas stream. At this location, gold and copper mineralization is associated with stockworks of B type quartz veinlets developed within silicified and potassic altered granodiorite and quartz-feldspar porphyry units. Pyrite, chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite and occasionally some molybdenite and bornite are present within quartz veinlets and as coatings along fractures. High priority target. Vega Rivera Breccia (VRB): 200m by 350m area. This breccia is located at the northern contact of the VRP with metamorphic rocks and possibly at the intersection of NW-SE and NNE-SSW structures. It shows sub-angular to sub-rounded fragments of metamorphic rocks and quartz within a silicified and pyritic matrix. High priority target.

200m by 350m area. This breccia is located at the northern contact of the VRP with metamorphic rocks and possibly at the intersection of NW-SE and NNE-SSW structures. It shows sub-angular to sub-rounded fragments of metamorphic rocks and quartz within a silicified and pyritic matrix. High priority target. Tourmaline Breccia (TB): 200m by 500m area. Located to the SE contact of the VRP and developed along a NE-contact between the VRP intrusive and metamorphic rocks. This breccia is composed of metamorphic rock fragments within a tourmaline-pyrite matrix. High priority target.

200m by 500m area. Located to the SE contact of the VRP and developed along a NE-contact between the VRP intrusive and metamorphic rocks. This breccia is composed of metamorphic rock fragments within a tourmaline-pyrite matrix. High priority target. Central Breccia (CB): 200m by 900m area. Hydrothermal breccia located in the south central part of the property along an NE-SW oriented fault. The breccia is composed of angular fragments of metamorphic, intrusive and breccia rocks within a silicified matrix containing 1-5% pyrite and traces of chalcopyrite, bornite, covellite and chalcocite. Sulphides are disseminated and associated with late quartz and quartz-tourmaline veinlets. The breccia is approximately 60m wide. Assay results from rock chip sampling is highly variable but channel sampling returned an intercept of 30m at 1.2 g/t Au. High priority target.

200m by 900m area. Hydrothermal breccia located in the south central part of the property along an NE-SW oriented fault. The breccia is composed of angular fragments of metamorphic, intrusive and breccia rocks within a silicified matrix containing 1-5% pyrite and traces of chalcopyrite, bornite, covellite and chalcocite. Sulphides are disseminated and associated with late quartz and quartz-tourmaline veinlets. The breccia is approximately 60m wide. Assay results from rock chip sampling is highly variable but channel sampling returned an intercept of 30m at 1.2 g/t Au. High priority target. Eastern sector (ES): 1000m by 1200m area. Presence of several sub-metric width, NNE-SSW oriented, mesothermal(?) quartz veins and veinlets. Low priority target.

1000m by 1200m area. Presence of several sub-metric width, NNE-SSW oriented, mesothermal(?) quartz veins and veinlets. Low priority target. Southeast Breccia (SEB): 150m by 1300m area. This target area is located in the southeastern part of the property at the contact between a N-S oriented, 40m thick, quartz-diorite dyke and schist units. The intrusive rock shows quartz-pyrite-pyrrhotite-chalcopyrite-molybdenite veinlets stockworks. The prospect is being exploited worked by small scale minors. Medium priority target.

Planned exploration programs:

A follow-up, detailed exploration program has been designed (Figure 4). It includes a 192 line-kilometre ground magnetic survey, 3D magnetic data processing, extensive 50m by 50m soil sampling program, detailed geology and rock sampling on the Las Pavas Breccia (LPB), Tourmaline Breccia (TB), Vega Rivera Porphyry (VRP), Vega Rivera Breccia (VRB) y Central Breccia (CB) targets, trenching and channel sampling, data integration and modeling. The objective of this program is to define drill targets to test the most prospective targets and anomalies. This program will be implemented later this year or in early 2021, depending on corporate priorities, and last 3 to 6 months. Bella Maria never has been drilled before.

More information about the property can be found at www.cornerstoneresources.com .

Qualified Person:

Yvan Crepeau, MBA, P.Geo., Cornerstones Vice President, Exploration and a qualified person in accordance with National Instrument 43-101, is responsible for supervising the exploration program at the Bramaderos project for Cornerstone and has reviewed and approved the information contained in this news release.

Sampling and assaying

Cornerstone uses a fire assay gold technique for Au assays (FAS-111) and a four acid multi element technique (IMS-230) for a suite of 48 elements. FAS-111 involves Au by Fire Assay on a 30-gram aliquot, fusion and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) at trace levels. IMS-20 is considered a near total 4 acid technique using a 20g aliquot followed by multi-element analysis by ICP-AES/MS at ultra-trace levels. This analysis technique is considered suitable for this style of mineralization.

Standards, blanks and duplicates are inserted ~1/28 samples. The values of the standards range from low to high grade and are considered appropriate to monitor performance of values near cut-off and near the mean grade of the deposit. The check sampling results are monitored and performance issues are communicated to the laboratory if necessary.

Sample security was managed through sealed individual samples and sealed bags of multiple samples for secure delivery to the laboratory by permanent staff of the joint venture. MS Analytical is an internationally accredited laboratory that has all its internal procedures heavily scrutinized in order to maintain their accreditation. MS Analytical is accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 2005 Accredited Methods.

Cornerstones sampling techniques and data have been audited multiple times by independent mining consultants during various project assessments. These audits have concluded that the sampling techniques and data management are to industry standards. All historical data has been validated to the best degree possible and migrated into a database.

Rock samples are collected by Cornerstones personnel, placed in plastic bags, labeled and sealed, and stored in a secure place until delivery by Cornerstone employees to the LAC y Asociados ISO 9001-2008 certified sample preparation facility in Cuenca, Ecuador.

Rock samples are prepared crushing to 70% passing 2 mm (10 mesh), splitting 250 g and pulverizing to 85% passing 75 microns (200 mesh) (MSA code PRP-910). Prepared samples are then shipped to MS Analytical Services (MSA), an ISO 9001-2008 laboratory in Langley, BC, Canada, where samples are assayed for a multi-element suite (MSA code IMS-136, 15.0 g split, Aqua Regia digestion, ICP-AES/MS finish) and gold by Fire Assay (MSA code FAS-111, 30 g fusion, AAS finish). Over limit results for Cu (>1%) are systematically re-assayed (MSA code ICF-6Cu, 0.2 g, 4-acid digestion, ICP-AES finish). Gold is assayed using a 30 g split, Fire Assay (FA) and AAS finish (MSA code FAS 111). Over limit results for Au (>10 g/t) are systematically re-assayed (MSA code FAS-415, FA, 30g., gravimetric finish).

Soil samples are dried at low temperature, screened to 80 mesh (MSA code PRP-757); a 15 grams portion is then assayed for a multi-elements suite (MSA code IMS-136, Aqua Regia digestion, ICP-AES/MS finish).

Quality assurance / Quality control (QA/QC)

The MSA Analytical Laboratory is a qualified assayer that performs and makes available internal assaying controls. Duplicates, certified blanks and standards are systematically used (1 control sample every 20-25 samples) as part of Cornerstones QA/QC program. Rejects, a 100 g pulp for each rock sample, are stored for future use and controls.

About Cornerstone

Cornerstone Capital Resources Inc. is a mineral exploration company with a diversified portfolio of projects in Ecuador and Chile, including the Cascabel gold-enriched copper porphyry joint venture in northwest Ecuador. Cornerstone has a 21.4% direct and indirect interest in Cascabel comprised of (i) a direct 15% interest in the project financed through to completion of a feasibility study and repayable at Libor plus 2% out of 90% of its share of the earnings or dividends from an operation at Cascabel, plus (ii) an indirect interest comprised of 7.6% of the shares of joint venture partner and project operator SolGold Plc. Exploraciones Novomining S.A. (ENSA), an Ecuadoran company owned by SolGold and Cornerstone, holds 100% of the Cascabel concession. Subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including SolGolds fully funding the project through to feasibility, SolGold Plc will own 85% of the equity of ENSA and Cornerstone will own the remaining 15% of ENSA.

Further information is available on Cornerstones website: www.cornerstoneresources.com and on Twitter. For investor, corporate or media inquiries, please contact:

Investor Relations:

Mario Drolet; Email: Mario@mi3.ca ; Tel. (514) 904-1333

Due to anti-spam laws, many shareholders and others who were previously signed up to receive email updates and who are no longer receiving them may need to re-subscribe at http://www.cornerstoneresources.com/s/InformationRequest.asp

Cautionary Notice:

This news release may contain Forward-Looking Statements that involve risks and uncertainties, such as statements of Cornerstones beliefs, plans, objectives, strategies, intentions and expectations. The words potential, anticipate, forecast, believe, estimate, intend, trends, indicate, expect, may, should, could, project, plan, or the negative or other variations of these words and similar expressions are intended to be among the statements that identify Forward-Looking Statements. Although Cornerstone believes that its expectations reflected in these Forward-Looking Statements are reasonable, such statements may involve unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors disclosed in our regulatory filings, viewed on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com . For us, uncertainties arise from the behaviour of financial and metals markets, predicting natural geological phenomena and from numerous other matters of national, regional, and global scale, including those of an environmental, climatic, natural, political, economic, business, competitive, or regulatory nature. These uncertainties may cause our actual future results to be materially different than those expressed in our Forward-Looking Statements. Although Cornerstone believes the facts and information contained in this news release to be as correct and current as possible, Cornerstone does not warrant or make any representation as to the accuracy, validity or completeness of any facts or information contained herein and these statements should not be relied upon as representing its views after the date of this news release. While Cornerstone anticipates that subsequent events may cause its views to change, it expressly disclaims any obligation to update the Forward-Looking Statements contained herein except where outcomes have varied materially from the original statements.

On Behalf of the Board,

Brooke Macdonald

President and CEO

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Mike Pompeo at megachurch: Don't hide your light, America should keep faith in public square

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Speaking at the Prestonwood Baptist Church in Texas on Sunday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stressed Americas responsibility to model Christian behavior and to be a light unto the world amid pressure from critics who say faith must be kept out of the public square.

Jack Graham, the pastor of the Plano megachurch, introduced Secretary Pompeo, saying his resume is incredible but first and foremost, hes a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ and a believer in our Savior.

Pompeo said the world is watching how America leads and they should know Americas foundation as a Judeo-Christian nation.

Faith in the public square is not only lawful but righteous. This faith is not only powerful, but required by the American tradition, he said and quoted one of the Founding Fathers, George Washington: Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable support.

Pompeo said the Founding Fathers put protection of human dignity and human freedom at the heart of our founding documents  To this day, America reflects this.

The work of the State Department, the secretary noted, must also reflect that.

Giving an example of what a godless nation would look like, he referred to the communist nation of China, where Uighur Muslims are being subjected to internment in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region. Estimates suggest that over 1 million to as many as 3 million Uighur Muslims and other minority groups in Western China have been placed in internment camps.

Pompeo said the United States is taking that seriously for the first time under the Trump administration.

In May, Congress passed the Uighur Human Rights Policy Act of 2020 nearly unanimously to safeguard the rights of the religious minority group.

Pompeo shared with the congregation that the wife of a Chinese Christian believer once wrote to him, urging prayers for her husband who had been kept incommunicado in a prison in China.

The responsibility to pray is fundamentally American too, the secretary said. We should pray; thats the first of all things.

He continued, If you hide your light in an open society like ours, that sends a terrible message to places that are more difficult.

There will always be critics who would say speaking up about your faith is not the right thing to do, he acknowledged. But dont be discouraged; it means youve got conviction and that you showed it.

Pompeo said a previous national security adviser criticized him, arguing that it was problematic that Mike Pompeo is overtly religious. He was referring to former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice who made the comments last month.

He also cited The New York Times that said, No Secretary of State in recent decades has been as open and fervent as Mike Pompeo about discussing Christianity and foreign policy in the same breath.

Pompeo underlined, Connecting faith to Americas foreign policy is imperative. Its a good thing. He said about a week ago, he saw that at the White House, where the leaders of two Muslim nations made peace with the Jewish state of Israel.

In a joint statement last month, President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed said the parties had agreed to the full normalization of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.

Earlier this month, a member of the Norwegian Parliament, Christian Tybring-Gjedde, nominated Trump for the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize, citing his work in helping to broker a historic peace agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.

Faith strengthens American diplomacy, it doesnt diminish it," Pompeo said.

It is in the places where faith is suppressed or targeted for total erasure, we see brutality and evil, and where humanity is most oppressed.

Pompeo said it was a privilege to serve as Americas 70th Secretary of State. Its only because of Gods grace in my life that Ive had this chance.

He shared that he keeps a Bible on his office table and digs into Gods Word each and every day.

He cited Galatians 6:9, Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Dont ever give up shining the light," he emphasized. "Dont ever walk away from an opportunity to put faith in the public square. Do walk with the Lord and keep at it. Stay true. Keep believing. All of us together, well make this nation a light unto the world.
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Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell is testifying Wednesday before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis to detail the central bank's efforts to ease the financial burden faced by American business amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

It marks the second straight day of testimony from the Fed chief, who with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Tuesday addressed the House Financial Services Committee.

The Fed and the Treasury Department have worked in tandem since March to supply households and businesses with liquidity and financial support through a cocktail of emergency policy initiatives and programs like the Paycheck Protection Program and the Main Street lending facility.

Those efforts helped soften the impact of Covid-19 on U.S. commerce, which earlier this year hit an abrupt halt amid efforts to slow to spread of the virus.

And even though the Fed chief said the U.S. still looks like it's in an economic rebound, Powell warned Tuesday that there is still a risk of deceleration in U.S. economic activity without additional fiscal stimulus from Congress as Americans opt to stay away from crowded venues like restaurants or salons.

"I would say many, most, [forecasters] assume some fiscal action. Fiscal action underlies many, many current forecasts," Powell told lawmakers on Tuesday.

He added that Americans could deplete their savings as they look for employment in the months ahead if Congress doesn't act to reenact unemployment benefits or direct stimulus payments.

"The risk is that, over time, they go through those savings, they haven't been able to find employment yet because it's going to take a while to get 11 million people back to work, so their spending will decline," he added. Their ability to stay in their homes will decline. So, the economy will begin to feel those negative effects at some time."

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This is a fun entry in the annals of liberal hypocrisy: Alyssa Milano, who I take it is an actress, is a lefty with a big Twitter following. She has advocated defunding the police. Of course, when she says the police, she means your police, not hers. She and her husband thought an armed man was loose on their property, and they summoned the 101st Airborne Division.

Well, not quite, but a healthy slice of the local sheriffs department. Turns out they neednt have worried. The Daily Mail has the story, courtesy of some neighbors who evidently dont think much of Milanos anti-police advocacy. And as always with DM, there are lots of photos:

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.

A neighbor tells DailyMail.com, We first noticed the helicopter circling overhead very low and knew something was going on, its usually such a quiet community. Then we saw all the police cars parked in front of Alyssas home. They had their guns at the ready and seemed very serious.

***

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.

***

A description was given of a suspect to the officers who was male, 40-years old, with long rifle.

***

The search by air and street level lasted over three hours and ended abruptly at 12.20 pm. 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.

Public safety? Hey, if you are a low-income person living in a dangerous neighborhood, good luck. Youre on your own. But if you are a Hollywood celebrity living in a multi-million dollar mansion in a gated community, and a kid with an air gun happens by, call out the cops!

Because if you are a liberal, hypocrisy is part of your nature.
Vice President Mike Pence speaks during the third night of the Republican National Convention at Fort McHenry National Monument in Baltimore, Md., on Aug. 26, 2020. (Saul Loeb / AFP via Getty Images)

Air Force Two Carrying Mike Pence Forced to Return to Airport After Bird Strike

A plane carrying Vice President Mike Pence was forced to return to New Hampshire after it was hit by at least one bird during takeoff.

Video footage posted on social media showed birds striking Air Force Two, and another photo showed Pence inspecting the engine after the incident. Devin OMalley, a spokesperson for Pence, told news outlets that it hit a bird.

The pilots of Air Force Two decided then to return to the airport out of an abundance of caution, OMalley said, reported CNN.

Pence and his staff used a cargo plane to return to Washington, according to pool reports. Pence held a rally earlier in the day in Gilford.

Earlier this evening Air Force 2 experienced a possible bird strike shortly after departure. Flight crew contacted the tower & returned to MHT safely. MHT rescue/firefighting were at staging areas per our response protocols. No impact to the airfield, we remain in full operation, officials with Manchester-Boston Regional Airport told WMUR-TV in a statement.

Student pilot Daniel Cerritos was at the airport to capture footage of Pence leaving.

We were wondering what had happened and then we saw that the aircraft, on a tracker, that it had climbed up and then it stopped when it normally would not stop climbing, Cerritos said. It started to descend again and started making its way back to Manchester.

According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) data, more than 14,661 bird strikes and other collisions occurred in 2018, reported USA Today. Bird strikes have been blamed for more than 106 civilian deaths over the past two decades.
Alex Rogers says he likes stress. As head of Qualcomm's maligned patent licensing division, he has seen plenty of it over the past few years.

Starting in 2014, government regulators from China to South Korea to the U.S. attacked the San Diego mobile technology firm's lucrative business model for licensing its intellectual property, claiming it coerced smartphone makers into paying sky-high patent fees that harmed consumers.

Apple joined the fray in 2017 with a lawsuit aimed at dismantling Qualcomm's blueprint for licensing patents. A year later, chip rival Broadcom made licensing troubles the centerpiece of its hostile takeover pitch to Qualcomm shareholders. The takeover failed only after the U.S. government moved to block it over national security concerns.

"All of these matters were challenging various elements of the licensing business and creating pressure on the licensing business," said Rogers. "That created a tremendous amount of uncertainty. How would the licensing business fare? Will the licensing business, for example, be forced to license at the chip level and what will that do to the value of Qualcomm's patents?"

Fast forward to today. For the first time in years, the narrative around Qualcomm is not dominated by legal struggles in patent licensing, which helps fund about $5 billion a year in fundamental research that has made Qualcomm the U.S. leader in developing core mobile technologies such as 5G.

Instead, the conversation has shifted to the company's emerging 5G processor opportunity, including its return as a mobile chip supplier for Apple's iPhones. Qualcomm's shares are up more than 35% so far this year.

"This is probably the least controversial the licensing business has been from a Wall Street perspective in a decade," said Mike Walkley, an analyst with Canaccord Genuity. "If you step back, there was huge pressure on these guys to cave in and sell the company to Broadcom for 50% below where the stock is today. Give them credit. They held their ground and got through this."

The licensing turnaround stems from the culmination of factorsthe accelerated commercialization of 5G that nudged Apple toward mending fences; settlements with regulators in China and Taiwan that left Qualcomm's business model intact; and a big legal win last month at the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

But the company also made strategic moves aimed at lowering the heat surrounding its licensing division.

Key among them was a decision to offer worldwide licenses for its cellular standard-essential patentsrequired intellectual property that enables interoperability between devices and networksat a lower rate.

Qualcomm also added its trove of new 5G patented inventions to its licensing program at no extra charge.

Rogers is the choreographer of this strategy to lessen the volatility around patent licensing. An English major and former high school teacher, he went back to Georgetown for his law degree and worked as a litigator before joining Qualcomm in 2001. He was named head of licensing in 2016.

"What we did not want to change is the fundamental model that we have now, which is the licensing business funds an underlying level of research that very few companies in the world do," he said. "The purpose of the licensing business is to get a return that allows us to keep doing this research years ahead of these standards actually coming into being. It allows us to drive technology in mobile five to 10 years ahead of when it actually hits the market."

Rogers and other company executives often talk about bringing "stability" to patent licensing. The strategy appears to have worked. Qualcomm has entered into more than 100 5G license agreements to date. (It has over 300 licensees for its 2G, 3G and 4G patents.)

The company has signed multi-year licensing deals with all major smartphone brandsincluding Apple, Samsung, LG, Xiaomi, Oppo and Vivo. Last month, Qualcomm inked a new license with holdout Huawei, China's largest smartphone maker.

"Because we have licensed up every major handset manufacturer, not to mention scores of other device manufacturers, we have worked through all this with the licensing program not only intact but healthy," said Rogers.

Even so, patent licensing is no longer seen by Qualcomm investors as the high growth business that it once was.

During the peak of the 3G to 4G smartphone upgrade cycle, royalty revenue doubled. By 2015, patent fees brought in nearly $8 billion and were forecast to grow to $10 billion.

Back then, Qualcomm's base royalty rate was 5% of the wholesale device price for its full portfolio of standard essential and nonessential patentsthough some high-volume customers or those with their own intellectual property paid less.

Today, it's 3.25% up to a $400 cap for cellular standard-essential patents. While Qualcomm still offers a full portfolio license, many customers opt for the lower rate of the SEP only version.

Analysts forecast Qualcomm's annual revenue from patent licensing in fiscal 2021 at roughly $6 billion, as Apple and Huawei resume royalty payments and the smartphone market slowly recovers from the coronavirus downturn.

"When I first started covering the company a dozen years ago, all anybody cared about was licensing," said Stacy Rasgon, an analyst with Bernstein Research. "Now people aren't looking at it to be a growth business. I think what you're hoping for is stability."

Qualcomm made other strategic moves that eased legal pressure on licensing. It championed the accelerated rollout of 5G. That contributed to Apple and Qualcomm settling lawsuits in 2019. Apple signed a multi-year patent license with Qualcomm, as well as a chip supply agreement, that is expected to bring 5G to new iPhone models later this year.

Perhaps the biggest milestone for stability was the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in August that the company's patent licensing practices are legal and do not violate anti-monopoly laws.

A three-judge panel threw out a lower court's antitrust finding against Qualcomm in a case brought by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission in 2017.

"There are a number of folks out there who looked at this licensing business and said the model was unsustainable," said Rogers. "That has been put to bed by this 9th Circuit decision."

If the lower court's ruling had been upheld, it potentially could have forced Qualcomm to renegotiate and restructure hundreds of licenses to collect royalties based on a percentage of the price of mobile chips, rather than a percentage of the price of the entire device.

Such a requirement could have gutted royalty revenue and stalled Qualcomm's R & D funding engine.

"One point the 9th Circuit made was look, when you apply antitrust law to innovation, you have to be extremely careful because applying antitrust law to innovation can actually stifle innovation," said Rogers.

"The other thing they recognized is business model innovation is actually good," he continued. "When you bring it down to their view of Qualcomm, the fact that we license our fundamental technology separately from selling chips was an innovative business model that was organic to the way Qualcomm developed, and the 9th Circuit said there is nothing wrong with that."

The company is not completely out of the woods. The FTC is considering an appeal. While Qualcomm has settled with China and Taiwan, its legal fight in South Korea is still working through the courts.

Nonetheless, when Wall Street analysts talk about patent licensing these days, there is less hand wringing over the direction of the business.

Rogers credits Chief Executive Steve Mollenkopf, an engineer with deep roots in the company's chip division, for sticking with licensing during the turmoil.

"He understands the value of the licensing business, and he believes in the model," said Rogers. "So through a lot of challenges and a lot of criticism, he was really a stalwart in ensuring that we deal with the challenges and move the business forward. We've got it to a place of stability, particularly as the 5G era comes along."

Explore further US court overturns Qualcomm defeat in antitrust case

2020 The San Diego Union-Tribune

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Thought Machine, the cloud native core banking technology company today announces the appointment of Andy Maguire as Chair. Maguire, former Group Chief Operating Officer of HSBC, joins Thought Machine effective immediately. At HSBC, Maguire led the bank's IT, business operations, change support, procurement and real estate services. Prior to HSBC, Maguire was Boston Consulting Group's managing partner for the UK and Ireland, and a member of their global executive committee.

Maguire's appointment comes at a time of significant momentum for Thought Machine, which recently closed its series B round at $125m, the fourth largest fundraising round in UK fintech this year. Furthermore, Thought Machine has added more than 150 employees in 2020 and has made a number of key senior hires in Q2 including Nicole Jude as Chief People Officer. Nicole recently led HR and people functions at Diligent Corporation and Bloomberg.

The appointment of Maguire happens against the backdrop of banks around the world increasingly demanding future-proof core banking infrastructure. Thought Machine will be announcing a number of new clients in the coming months. As the company pursues its internationalisation strategy, Thought Machine is strengthening its board with Maguire's experience in driving banking transformation at HSBC, a world-leading financial institution serving more than 40 million customers in more than 64 countries.

Maguire will take over from Richard Little, software entrepreneur, angel investor and non executive director in software and technology businesses. Little has chaired Thought Machine since 2016, overseeing its growth from 40 employees to more than 400 today. His experience in growing software businesses has been invaluable in guiding Thought Machine's expansion into new overseas markets and going live with several leading banks.

Founded in 2014 by Google engineer Paul Taylor, Thought Machine is delivering cloud native core banking technology to leading banks around the world. Currently Thought Machine names Lloyds Bank, Standard Chartered, Atom bank and SEB as customers.

Andy Maguire, newly appointed Chair of Thought Machine, says:

"Over the last few years, I have watched Thought Machine disrupt the age-old core banking problem and partner with leading banks to deliver their transformation journey. Thought Machine's success can be attributed to two strategic differentiators a world-class engineering team and a commitment to high quality delivery. With its recent funding, and acceleration of international hiring, the company is ready for its next stage of global growth. I am delighted to be joining Thought Machine as it expands its footprint to new markets, grows its revenue, and demonstrates that modern core banking infrastructure is a strategic imperative for 21st century finance."

Paul Taylor, CEO and Founder of Thought Machine, comments:

"I am delighted that a person of Andy Maguire's calibre has joined Thought Machine. As we expand our market share, Andy's skill set and experience in driving HSBC's infrastructural and operational strategy will be critical in creating material value for the business. As the world navigates the new economic environment, resilient and agile core banking infrastructure has never been more important to banks needing to adapt and serve customers. I look forward to working with Andy closely as Thought Machine meets this demand and aggressively pursues our international growth plans over the coming years."

-- ENDS --

About Thought Machine

Thought Machine was founded in 2014 with a mission to enable banks to deploy modern systems and move away from the legacy IT platforms that plague the banking industry. We do this through our cloud native core banking platform, Vault. This next generation system has been written from scratch as an entirely cloud native platform. It does not contain a single line of code which is legacy, or pre-cloud.

Founded by entrepreneur Paul Taylor, Thought Machine's customers include Lloyds Banking Group, SEB, Standard Chartered and Atom bank. We are currently a team of more than 400 people spread across offices in London and Singapore and have raised more than 110m in funding from Eurazeo, Draper Esprit, SEB, British Patient Capital, IQ Capital, Playfair Capital, Lloyds Banking Group and Backed. For more information visit thoughtmachine.net.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200923005073/en/

Contacts:

Head of Communications

Asif Faruque

asif@thoughtmachine.net
Tanaiste Leo Varadkar is restricting his movements after coming into close contact with someone who tested positive for Covid-19.

In a statement, Mr Varadkar said: Yesterday I was informed that I was a close contact of someone who tested positive for Covid 19. I was swabbed yesterday and the test has come back negative.

In line with public health advice, I will be restricting my movements to home and outdoor exercise. There are no implications for anyone who has been in close contact with me. I am perfectly well and will be working from home, he added.

It comes after it was yesterday revealed Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe is restricting his movements after he learned one of his Eurogroup colleagues tested positive for Covid-19.

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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.

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.
Filming for series six of Line of Duty is well underway, with star Martin Compston seen shooting scenes in the centre of Belfast on Tuesday.

The Scottish actor, who is returning for a sixth series as DS Steve Arnott, was back in his character's signature waistcoat and dapper suit as he strolled around between takes.

Martin was surrounded by masked crew members, and a wardrobe assistant in full PPE as part of the show's commitment to health and safety after they were forced to shut down shooting for six months earlier this year during lockdown.

Steve's back: Filming for series six of Line Of Duty is well underway, with star Martin Compston seen shooting scenes in the centre of Belfast on Tuesday

Leading man Martin clutched a take out coffee as he waited for the shot to be set up outside a Belfast bar and newspaper offices.

The street had been closed for shooting with masked crew members seen milling around with the cast.

At one point a member of wardrobe in full ppe including a visor made sure Martin's smart suit was looking immaculate before action was called, with the actor standing patiently while she used a lint roller.

The star happily greeted curious passers-by, waving at fans in between his discussions with the production crew.

Looking sharp: The Scottish actor, who is returning for a sixth series as DS Steve Arnott, was back in his character's signature waistcoat and dapper suit, which was looked after by a PPE covered member of wardrobe

Getting to work: Leading man Martin clutched a take out coffee as he waited for the shot to be set up outside a Belfast bar

In an interview in 2017, Martin explained that Steve's love of three-piece suits was actually inspired by a friend of his, who told the actor about a colleague who was always overdressed for work.

'Before we started the first series a pal of mine who works in a call centre was telling me about someone who worked with him,' he told the Evening Standard.

'This guy was a right wee d**k and he wore waistcoats to work  who would wear waistcoats to work in a call centre?'

Taking over the city: The street had been closed for shooting with masked crew members seen milling around with the cast

Fan favourite: The star happily greeted curious passers-by, waving at fans in between his discussions with the production crew

Where's your team? There was no sign of Martin's co-stars Vicky McClure and Adrian Dunbar on set on Tuesday

Separated: Vicky was instead filming interior shots on the set of AC-12's offices, sharing an Instagram snap on Tuesday evening

Health and safety: At one point Martin wore a brightly patterned face mask as he got into a car to move locations

'And I thought: 'That's him  that's Arnott, the needlessly overdressed guy.'

Filming resumed earlier this month on the sixth series of Line of Duty, with new cast member Shalom Brune-Franklin seen for the first time on set on Monday.

Vicky McClure and Adrian Dunbar have also flown to Belfast for the shoot although they have yet to be pictured on set in the city, instead shooting inside on the set for AC-12's offices.

The show was created and written by Jed Mercurio and is centred on the AC-12 Anti-Corruption Unit led by Supt Ted Hastings [Adrian Dunbar].

Production of the eagerly anticipated sixth season of the hugely popular series was halted by the Covid lockdown shortly after filming began earlier this year.

Looking after the suit: The wardrobe assistant made sure Martin's suit was looking immaculate before action was called, with the actor standing patiently while she used a lint roller

Keeping warm: Martin wore a padded black jacket in between scenes as the temperatures dropped

Check me out: The star stood out in blue, with Martin previously revealing that Steve's penchant for a three piece suit was inspired by a friend's dapper colleague

It's a wrap! Martin was well protected in his mask as he climbed into his car

Happy to be back: Production of the eagerly anticipated sixth season of the hugely popular series was halted by the Covid lockdown shortly after filming began earlier this year

Line Of Duty insisted that they have worked with health and safety consultants in accordance to government guidelines to ensure the safety of cast and crew.

Executive Producer for World Productions, Simon Heath, said: 'It's been almost six months since we stopped shooting.

'But following our implementation of all the industry Covid protocols, we're delighted to be able to resume filming series six safely.'

New faces: Cast members in police uniform joined the leading man on set in the city centre

Climbing the ranks: The show was created and written by Jed Mercurio and is centred on the AC-12 Anti-Corruption Unit led by Supt Ted Hastings [Adrian Dunbar]

Front page news: Scenes were shot outside a bar and a newspaper offices in Belfast

Taking over: Vehicles took over the street with traffic closed for the production
Bengaluru drug scandal: My son is innocent, his reputation has been destroyed

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Sep 23: The Central Crime Branch earlier this month arrested Bengaluru's celebrity party planner, Viren Khanna in connection with a drug case that also involved actor Ragini Dwivedi. He was arrested in Delhi and brought back to Bengaluru.

The family of Virender Khanna a.k.a Viren has now decided to speak out to clarify some of the recent facts reported in the media. Viren's father Professor Sri Ram Khanna told OneIndia that his son is a law-abiding event organiser who has envisioned a drug-free party culture for Bengaluru.

Bengaluru drug case: Lookout notice issued against ex-minister's son Aditya Alva

We deny all accusations as baseless," stated Khanna, who is a retired former professor at the University of Delhi, Delhi School of Economics.

According to Khanna and other members of Viren's family and close associates, several things reported in the press coverage of the case were incorrect or need clarification, including:

Viren did not organise parties after or during the Covid-19 lockdown. "Viren organised his last event in Bangalore in March 2020 before the lockdown and all the events promoted by him were hosted at establishments that were in compliance with the legal and police regulations after procuring licenses and permissions from all requisite authorities" said Khanna.

Viren did not supply drugs to attendees of his events nor did he encourage or condone drug-taking behaviour at the events he promoted. Viren's company VKP collaborated with well-established hotels, restaurants, bars and nightclubs as a service provider who created experiences to serve their clientele. VKP offered its service for a fee to promote these establishments in the hospitality industry to audiences who were interested in music, food, drink, and dancing. The fees received by VKP were subject to GST payments for which regular GST returns were filed. Invariably, all the establishments which used their services had excise licenses to serve alcoholic drinks, which is the only intoxicant served at these parties. Also, establishments provided security with standing instructions to evict any person suspicious of possession or consumption of drugs. None of these events were hosted at Farmhouses or unlicensed or private premises.

Viren did not flee from authorities. Actually, he was traveling by train to visit family members, bringing along two pets, and he published the details of this trip on his social media including the specific location of his travel.

Viren did not have clothing designed for the purpose of impersonating a police officer. The police costume found during a search of Viren's shared apartment in Bangalore is the same costume Viren has worn many times over the years, including at the annual VKP Halloween party. Pictures of which are available in the public domain for everyone to see.

The CCTVs installed in the rented shared accommodation were installed by Viren's family on 06 September 2020. This was two days before the actual search of the premises took place on the 08 September. This was meant to keep a record of any attempted planting of contraband by police during the search. The use of CCTVs as alleged in a section of the media regarding "honey trapping" are therefore patently false.

Here is what is true:

Viren is a computer engineer from RV College. He quit his salaried job at Accenture to pursue his dream and set up a start-up in events. He's among tens of thousands of students who come from all parts of India to get a professional degree in Bangalore. Many find jobs in the city and make it their home. He was one of them.



Viren started his company VKP in 2007, which grew by connecting young professionals in Bangalore. VKP organised over 500 events across Bengaluru (45+ venues) in association with corporate partners with over 6 lakh guests and 60+ artists in the last 13 years.

Viren started his company VKP in 2007, which grew by connecting young professionals in Bangalore. VKP organised over 500 events across Bengaluru (45+ venues) in association with corporate partners with over 6 lakh guests and 60+ artists in the last 13 years.

Viren comes from an upper middle-class family in New Delhi, a home where he was born and an ancestral property of his family. In Bangalore, Viren lives in a shared rented accommodation.

Viren comes from an upper middle-class family in New Delhi, a home where he was born and an ancestral property of his family. In Bangalore, Viren lives in a shared rented accommodation.

Viren has fully cooperated with the police in the investigation since 3rd of September 2020. On 8thof September, the shared apartment he rents in Bangalore was searched while both of his parents were present. The search lasted 12 hours and no drugs were recovered from Viren's room. Police claimed to have recovered six grams of tobacco from the room occupied by Viren's roommate, a French national who was not present during the search.

The business of event promotion undertaken by Virender Khanna has a big role in making Bengaluru a cosmopolitan city attracting thousands of young men and women from all parts of India and abroad to make this city their home. A large number of local professionals and expatriates regularly attend such events, making the city a great place to live, Professor Khanna also said.

My son's reputation has been destroyed:

Professor Khanna said that these events have destroyed the reputation of his son. The police is selectively leaking information to the media.

He further said that there are several rival party organisers in the city. There are a number of competitive party organisers. The rivalry is intense. Every party needs permission and this can be denied or delayed depending on which rival is lobbying more. I do feel that rivalry could be the reason.

The Kannada media is lapping up everything that the police is saying. This is orchestrated and choreographed by the police. The police will determine who is guilty and this has nothing to do with the reality. As a family of accused we are at great risk, he further added.

His parties are the most successful and most glamours. So they provide a certain kind of glamour. They are not his parties. They are hosted in the bars and hotels. Each one pays their own bill and he is paid a fee. His success has gone to his disadvantage, Professor Khanna pointed out.

Only Sushant took drugs, Rhea claims in latest plea | Oneindia News

Viren has been against and does not promote drugs. He has maintained that drugs should not be consumed in the parties. His parties are the ones where due diligence is done to ensure no drugs are used, Viren's father also said.
Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old hospital worker, was shot and killed by police in Louisville on March 13 after they burst into her home and fired multiple bullets.

Her death had become a rallying cry for activists  including high-profile celebrities  demanding charges against the officers involved.

There was dismay on Wednesday when Kentucky attorney general Daniel Cameron announced a grand jury had indicted an officer, Brett Hankison, for shooting into neighbouring apartments, but did not move forward with charges against any officers for their role in Ms Taylors death.

In a statement obtained by the PA news agency, Hollywood star Clooney responded to Mr Camerons dismissal of celebrities, influencers and activists from outside the state.

I was born and raised in Kentucky, Clooney said. Cut tobacco on the farms of Kentucky. Both my parents and my sister live in Kentucky. I own a home in Kentucky, and I was there last month.

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The justice system I was raised to believe in holds people responsible for their actions. Her name was Breonna Taylor and she was shot to death in her bed by three white police officers, who will not be charged with any crime for her death.

I know the community. I know the commonwealth. And I was taught in the schools and churches of Kentucky what is right and what is wrong. Im ashamed of this decision.

Other celebrities also voiced their frustrations over the case.

God bless Breonnas family and all who knew and loved her. Her tragic death compounded by the violence of silence and inaction by the city she called home is more than any of them should have to endure. https://t.co/fcDmIWHlDS  Ava DuVernay (@ava) September 23, 2020

Oscar-winning actress Viola Davis said it is a Bulls decision!!! and added: Black Lives Matter!!! Cannot be said enough times.

Acclaimed director Ava DuVernay tweeted: God bless Breonnas family and all who knew and loved her. Her tragic death compounded by the violence of silence and inaction by the city she called home is more than any of them should have to endure.

Daniel Cameron is on Donald Trumps short list as replacement of #RGB on the Supreme Court. The same man who decided to not charge the officers responsible for killing #BreonnaTaylor. Vote.  kerry washington (@kerrywashington) September 23, 2020

Westworld actor Jeffrey Wright called for a law change, while Saturday Night Live star Chris Redd expressed disbelief at an officer being charged for wanton endangerment, adding: Make it make sense!

Actress Kerry Washington urged people to vote. As anger mounted following the announcement of the charge, police confronted protesters in downtown Louisville.

A citywide curfew was to go into effect from 9pm local time.
SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Parnell Pharmaceuticals announced that it has developed what will be the first antiviral nasal spray in the United States. Nomovid Nasal Spray will be easy-to-use, low-cost and can be quickly made available over-the-counter for consumers.

Nomovid is based upon a substance licensed by Parnell from New Mexico Tech University to treat drug-resistant bacteria and fungi such as MRSA and Candida auris. Parnell had been taking the necessary steps to enter the FDA approval process for the MRSA indication until it reportedly saw very positive results against COVID-19. The company is now filing for the COVID-19 indication instead.

"Our product is based upon existing FDA approvals of the active ingredient for use in intravenous and inhalation formulations for other indications. It's also approved for inactive use, and is used in hundreds of cosmetic products today." said Dr. Francis Parnell, Chairman and C.E.O. of Parnell Pharmaceuticals. "It isn't some newly-created entity where its use hasn't already been documented and approved. Since the nose is the main route of entry into the body of Sars-CoV-2, we have prepared it in a nasal spray." Parnell said.

The company has submitted a White Paper to the U.S. government program Operation Warp Speed, seeking funding and an Emergency Use Authorization, which will allow the product to be manufactured and distributed while doing the necessary Phase III Clinical Trials.

About Parnell Pharmaceuticals

Parnell Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a closely held, private pharmaceutical company founded in 1986 and headquartered in San Rafael, California with an office in Dublin, Ireland. The company develops, manufactures, and markets prescription and OTC drug products that maintain and restore mucosal and skin integrity. The products are natural-based and patented for oral and nasal care, personal care, and anti-infective use. Parnell products, including Mouth Kote Dry Mouth Spray and Pretz Nasal Spray, are marketed and distributed in North America and Europe.

parnellpharm.com

SOURCE Parnell Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

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satishchugh BHPian

Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 125 Thanked: 289 Times

Covid Diaries - Pune to Delhi solo drive



The migrant in question is yours truly and I am grateful that God has been very gracious unlike some of the others who saw innumerable difficulties during this period.



The plan was to Drive down from Pune to Delhi in 2 days in my Chevy Beat Diesel and I was motivated by damanbir and OneToughRider who undertook similar journeys. The dilemma for me was  solo driving for this long and safety of eating and staying during the trip.



Enough of context, lets start the journey -

The route taken





Start count 6:15 AM on 17th Sept -





It took me about 50 minutes to cross the whole Pune City and hit Mumbai Pune expressway. By this time, clouds were descending on Lonavala & Khandala -





















The reality hit as I reached Navi Mumbai. Traffic was quite heavy (back to normal). At this point, I suspected a tyre puncture and that means about an hour was wasted getting it fixed. Meanwhile found a tea shop with sparse customers and decided to take a breakfast break. I was carrying ready to eat packs and all I needed was boiling water 





The roads from hereon were great and so were the views 









By around 2:45 PM, I reached outskirts of Surat and stopped for lunch. Again I just needed boiling water to make my ready to eat poha. The boy at the stall was a very nice person and refuse to take money for boiling water. I had to literally push him to take money.





The onward journey was quite interesting. How many times you see a train on truck







A tea break at dusk outskirts of Vadodara. Spent quite a lot of time consulting family on whether to go to Godhra and stay in a friends hotel or to Ahmedabad. Finally decided to go to Ahmedabad and it was a great decision, because NE1 from Vadodara to Ahmedabad is paradise for drivers. It was raining heavily, and I dont have pics to show. Reached Ahmedabad at 9:30 PM. I could have reached 2-3 hrs early if not for dilemma on Godhra vs Ahmedabad and the constant calls from office which took approx. 2 hrs in total. But then it also gave me some unplanned breaks.



Next morning started with a target to reach Jaipur by evening and then take a call whether to push for Delhi or not 







I have seen animals on road everywhere, but the right of way (and stay) that is given to cows in Gujarat is un-parallel. This can be potentially life threatening for both humans and cows esp. at night.









The views from hereon get better and better and the roads are also awesome -









Around 10 AM, I stopped at another small shack for my breakfast. What a beautiful location and another gentleman. I had to push him to accept money for that boiling water.







Upma is ready -

I wanted to share the story of a migrant, whose destiny took him to Pune to work there. Like many migrants they were visiting home town for the Holi festival when pandemic struck and lock downs happened. So they were struck at home town, which is not bad, however he had to finally come to Pune and then take care of his ghar-sansar. This post is about his journey back home  1600 KMs over a period of 2 day (17th & 18th Sept 2020)The migrant in question is yours truly and I am grateful that God has been very gracious unlike some of the others who saw innumerable difficulties during this period.The plan was to Drive down from Pune to Delhi in 2 days in my Chevy Beat Diesel and I was motivated by pune-delhi-route thread (Pune to Delhi route : GQ or NH3?) and esp. byandwho undertook similar journeys. The dilemma for me was  solo driving for this long and safety of eating and staying during the trip.Enough of context, lets start the journey -The route takenStart count 6:15 AM on 17th Sept -It took me about 50 minutes to cross the whole Pune City and hit Mumbai Pune expressway. By this time, clouds were descending on Lonavala & Khandala -The reality hit as I reached Navi Mumbai. Traffic was quite heavy (back to normal). At this point, I suspected a tyre puncture and that means about an hour was wasted getting it fixed. Meanwhile found a tea shop with sparse customers and decided to take a breakfast break. I was carrying ready to eat packs and all I needed was boiling water The roads from hereon were great and so were the views By around 2:45 PM, I reached outskirts of Surat and stopped for lunch. Again I just needed boiling water to make my ready to eat poha. The boy at the stall was a very nice person and refuse to take money for boiling water. I had to literally push him to take money.The onward journey was quite interesting. How many times you see a train on truckA tea break at dusk outskirts of Vadodara. Spent quite a lot of time consulting family on whether to go to Godhra and stay in a friends hotel or to Ahmedabad. Finally decided to go to Ahmedabad and it was a great decision, because NE1 from Vadodara to Ahmedabad is paradise for drivers. It was raining heavily, and I dont have pics to show. Reached Ahmedabad at 9:30 PM. I could have reached 2-3 hrs early if not for dilemma on Godhra vs Ahmedabad and the constant calls from office which took approx. 2 hrs in total. But then it also gave me some unplanned breaks.Next morning started with a target to reach Jaipur by evening and then take a call whether to push for Delhi or not I have seen animals on road everywhere, but the right of way (and stay) that is given to cows in Gujarat is un-parallel. This can be potentially life threatening for both humans and cows esp. at night.The views from hereon get better and better and the roads are also awesome -Around 10 AM, I stopped at another small shack for my breakfast. What a beautiful location and another gentleman. I had to push him to accept money for that boiling water.Upma is ready - Last edited by Aditya : 24th September 2020 at 05:22 . Reason: Minor typo
Flight Lieutenant Shivangi Singh is set to become Indias first woman fighter pilot to fly the Rafale aircraft that was formally inducted into the Indian Air Force on September 10, officials familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.

Singh, who hails from Varanasi, is currently being trained to fly IAFs newest fighter based in Ambala. She is undergoing conversion training to fly the Rafale jet and will soon join the Ambala-based No. 17 squadron, also known as Golden Arrows.

The officer, who is one of IAFs 10 women fighter pilots, joined the air force in 2017. After joining IAF, she has been flying the MiG-21 Bison aircraft and was till recently serving at a fighter base in Rajasthan, the officials added on condition of anonymity.

Ten women have been commissioned as fighter pilots after the experimental scheme for their induction into IAFs combat stream was introduced in 2015, a watershed in the air forces history. IAF is operating its Rafale fighter jets in the Ladakh theatre where the military is on its highest state of alert, amid heightened border tensions with China. IAFs current fleet of five Rafale fighters is fully operational and ready to undertake any mission, officials said.

India ordered 36 Rafale jets from France in a deal worth Rs 59,000 crore in September 2016. The air force formally inducted the planes at the Ambala air base on September 10 though they landed at their home base on July 29.

The next batch of three to four Rafale jets is expected to reach Ambala from France in October followed by a third batch in December. All deliveries will be completed by the end of 2021.

The head count of women in the military adds up to more than 4,000, but combat roles were off limits to them until IAF took the lead in crushing internal resistance to induct them into the fighter stream.

Tanks and combat positions in the infantry are still no-go zones for women, who were allowed to join the armed forces outside the medical stream for the first time in 1992.

Warships are no longer a no-go zone for women naval aviators with two of them set to become the first women in the navys history to operate from flight decks of warships and stay on board the vessels, the navy announced on Monday.

Sub Lieutenants Kumudini Tyagi and Riti Singh have been selected for the helicopter stream.

The struggle of two decades has culminated into this storm! In the past three years so much has progressed and now we are seeing yet another door opening .Absolutely delighted that the air force has not dithered and true to its grain has handed over the newest machine to Shivangi. Go girl ....Touch the sky with glory, said Wing Commander Anupama Joshi (retd), from the first batch of women officers commissioned in the IAF in early1990s.
T he Duchess of Sussex implored Americans to get out and vote in the most important presidential election of their lifetimes.

Meghan was speaking yesterday US voter registration day  alongside Prince Harry in a video marking the unveiling of Time magazines list of the worlds 100 most influential people.

She said: Were just six weeks out from election day and today is national voter registration day. Every four years were told the same thing, this is the most important election of our lifetime  but this one is.

"When we vote, our values are put into action and our voices are heard.

She added: As we work to reimagine the world around us, lets challenge ourselves to build communities of compassion.

In the clip for the 2020 TIME 100 list Harry pointed out that he cannot vote in the November 3 showdown between Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden.

Meghan has made it clear in the past that she does not support US President Donald Trump / REUTERS

He said: This election Im not able to vote in the US. But many of you may not know that Ive never been able to vote in the UK in my entire life.

Senior royals are not allowed to vote in British elections. Traditionally, members of the royal family are expected to be politically neutral but Meghan has confirmed she will vote in the US poll.

Harry urged Americans not to be influenced by online negativity and hate speech when they vote: When the bad outweighs the good, for many, whether we realise it or not, it erodes our ability to have compassion and to put ourself in someone elses shoes. Because when one person buys into negativity online, the effects are felt exponentially.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Police responded to a report of shots fired in Clifton Tuesday night.

Police received a 911 call for shots fired at 9:33 p.m. for Fairway Avenue, near Park Hill Lane, an NYPD spokesman said.

No injuries were reported, the spokesman said.

Police officers were closing off a small portion of Fairway Avenue shortly after responding to the scene.

A description of a possible suspect was not immediately available Tuesday night.
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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A court in Beijing has sentenced former property tycoon Ren Zhiqiang to 18 years imprisonment, in a move analysts said was intended to send a strong message that ruling Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping will brook no challenges to his authority, even among his own princeling political faction.



The Beijing No. 2 Intermediate Peoples Court sentenced Ren to 18 years imprisonment after finding him guilty of corruption, bribery, embezzlement of public funds and abuse of power as a high-ranking leader of a state-owned enterprise, the court said in a statement on Sept. 22.



Ren was found to have taken advantage of his position to embezzle more than 110 million yuan in public funds, received more than 1.25 million yuan in bribes, abused his power and caused particularly heavy losses of more than 100 million yuan to a state-owned holding company, the court said in a statement.



Ren accepted the decision and decided not to appeal, the Global TImes newspaper, which has close links to ruling party newspaper the Peoples Daily, said in a report.



He was expelled by the partys Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) in July after being probed by the agency in the wake of an online essay he wrote criticizing Xi Jinpings handling of the coronavirus pandemic, and likening the Chinese leader to a clown.



Ren was found to have failed to keep in line with the party Central Committee on major issues of principle and published articles in violation of the four cardinal principles, defaming the Party and the country, as well as distorting party and military history, the CCDI said at the time.

Bao Tong, former aide to late ousted premier Zhao Ziyang called the sentence "beyond belief."

"The problem is that they've sentenced someone to 18 years over a few million. As if it only just occurred to them to prosecute him," he told RFA.

"They can just suddenly remember something he said in whatever year, and present him with the charge sheet."



Sichuan-based journalist Li Li said the sentence means that the 69-year-old Ren will likely spend the rest of his days behind bars.



Basically this means that they want Ren Zhiqiang to die in prison, Li said. The Communist Party cracks down harder on [dissidents] within its ranks than outsiders.



'Warning to the rest of China'

Hebei-based Communist Party historian Fang Ning said he was shocked at the length of the sentence.



Everyone knows why Ren Zhiqiang got that sentence, Fang told RFA. Its a warning to the rest of China not to say anything that strays from the party line.



He said heavy sentences have typically been handed down to high-ranking party members believed to be a threat to the leadership of the time, including late former premier Zhao Ziyang.



If you look back at the history of the Chinese Communist Party, then this isnt particularly surprising, Fang said.



Beijing-based independent scholar Liu Jing agreed. Its basically letting everyone know that they need to keep their mouths shut, he told RFA. In Beijing, we call it killing the chickens to frighten the monkeys.



Anyone who says something [the party leaders] dont want to hear will be punished, he said.



Outspoken Beijing journalist Gao Yu said Rens apparent acceptance of the charges against him contradicted his earlier stance in refusing a state-appointed lawyer and choosing to defend himself in court.



Im pretty sure that Rens decision not to appeal has a lot to do with his son, she said, referring to the arrest of Rens son, about whom officials have remained silent.



Companies put on notice

Wu Qiang, a former politics lecturer at Beijings Tsinghua University, said the warning message in Rens hefty jail term extends in particular to other leaders of large companies in China not to forget that they need the ruling partys protection and approval.



He may be a second-generation member of a revolutionary family  but Ren cant be allowed off the hook, Wu said. [Xi] is building his image as an absolute leader.



Chinese political commentator Willy Lam said Rens sentence is closely linked to the fact that he criticized Xi in public.



Xi Jinping seems to have increased punishment for those who criticize him during the past year or two, Lam told RFA. This heavy sentence isnt just a matter of a couple of online articles.



Its about the fact that Xi regarded him as a threat, and part of a behind-the-scenes coup attempt aimed at Xi, he said.



Lam said official media had played down the news of Rens heavy jail term, possibly so as to avoid stirring up public sympathy for Ren.



Xi Jinping is hoping that this harsh sentence handed down to Ren Zhiqiang will stop other members of the princeling factions from attacking him, he said.



Reported by Gao Feng and Qiao Long for RFAs Mandarin Service, and by Ng Yik-tung and Sing Man for the Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Opinion Article

23 September 2020

Hotel History: Hotel Allegro, Chicago, IL, (483 rooms)

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The Hotel Allegro was created on the site of old Bismarck Hotel in 1998. The original Bismarck Hotel was built in 1894 by Emil and Karl Eitel, brothers from Stuttgart, Germany. The Eitels were pioneers who installed ice-boxes in the hotel's kitchen and air conditioning in the hotel's restaurants. During World War I, the Bismarck was renamed the Randolph Hotel because of anti-German sentiment. After the war, the Bismarck name was restored. When the Eitel brothers built a new 19-floor Bismarck Hotel, the 22-story Metropolitan Office Building and the 2500-seat Palace Theatre, the original Bismarck was demolished.

The new Bismarck opened in 1926 with 600 rooms with spectacular features such as:

a wide marble staircase with a hand-wrought balustrade in the spacious lobby

vaudeville acts and big-name bands performing in the adjacent Palace Theatre

authentic German cuisine served at the Bismarck's Swiss Chalet restaurant

In 1956, the hotel was acquired by the Wirtz family, owners of the Chicago Blackhawks and the Chicago Stadium. They installed air-conditioning throughout the building and telephones in every room. With its fortuitous location across the street from City Hall, the Bismarck was the official headquarters for the Cook County Democratic organization.

In 1996, Pal/Met purchased the Bismarck and, with Kimpton Hotels as operator, embarked on creating a thoroughgoing new identity with a theatrical ambiance. It reopened in 1998 with a new name, the Hotel Allegro, and a new identity. In 2008, interior designer Martha Angus was brought on board to craft a design concept that would tell the Hotel Allegro's modern "Be a Star" story, while maintaining a reverence for the building's past.

Guests enter the hotel on a red carpeted sweeping staircase, which leads to the renovated lobby area known as the "living room". A striking mural, above the reception desk of the S.S. Normandie, built in 1932 as the fastest and largest ocean liner in the world enhances the classic feel of the space. Nearby, guests can venture from past to present as they enter the adjacent Cameo Lounge, which shows a contemporary look with laser-cut ink splatter mirrors, bright red faux crocodile wall coverings, and white leather couches.

The Hotel Allegro's 483 luxurious guestrooms have a sleek design incorporating reflective surfaces, and lustrous furniture made of macassar ebony. Past and present is fused with Art Deco design features such as 1940s-inspired French desks, headboards inspired by 1960s luxury cruise ship cabins and 21st century geometric patterns and accents, including plexi-bedside table lamps. The historic Walnut Ballroom has fifteen-foot ceilings, large windows, and nickel-plated chandeliers of 1910 vintage.

The Hotel Allegro is a focal point for sightings of pop stars and rock bands such as Poison, Pink, Christina Aguilera, Tommy Lee, Midnight Oil, Flock of Seagulls, Warrant, The Killers, The Roots, Perry Ferrell, DJ Miles, Maeda and Rhianna. The hotel's restaurant, 312 Chicago, hosts politicians from neighboring City Hall while the lounge, Encore, provides production parties for actors and producers from the nearby theater district.

Frommer's Review, New York Times, August 18, 2012:

The Allegro's laid-back vibe make it a better bet for families and couples than other, more business-focused Loop hotels. The only downside is that you won't have room to spread out: The compact guest rooms don't have much space beyond the bed, an armoire, and an armchair. Still, the bright white-and-blue color scheme is cheery, and the compact bathrooms have built-in marble shelves for ample storage.

Committed to environmentally responsible hospitality, Hotel Allegro has become one of the first five hotels in Illinois to earn Green Seal Silver certification for its sustainable practices.

My New Book "Hotel Mavens Volume 3: Bob and Larry Tisch, Curt Strand, Ralph Hitz, Cesar Ritz, Raymond Orteig " has been published.

My Other Published Hotel Books

Great American Hoteliers: Pioneers of the Hotel Industry (2009)

Built To Last: 100+ Year-Old Hotels in New York (2011)

Built To Last: 100+ Year-Old Hotels East of the Mississippi (2013)

Hotel Mavens: Lucius M. Boomer, George C. Boldt, Oscar of the Waldorf (2014)

Great American Hoteliers Volume 2: Pioneers of the Hotel Industry (2016)

Built To Last: 100+ Year-Old Hotels West of the Mississippi (2017)

Hotel Mavens Volume 2: Henry Morrison Flagler, Henry Bradley Plant, Carl Graham Fisher (2018)

Great American Hotel Architects Volume I (2019)

All of these books can be ordered from AuthorHouse by visiting www.stanleyturkel.com and clicking on the book's title.

If You Need an Expert Witness :

For the past twenty-seven years, I have served as an expert witness in more than 42 hotel-related cases. My extensive hotel operating experience is beneficial in cases involving:
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The founder of Pret and current boss of Itsu has savaged Boris Johnson for 'spouting Churchillian nonsense' and blasted him over his 'criminal' six-month work from home call - as businesses said billions of pounds and millions of jobs would be lost by his plans.

Entrepreneur Julian Metcalfe - who has an estimated 215million fortune - spoke out as the owners of Upper Crust and Caffe Ritazza said it would lose 1.3billion because of travel curbs and home-working.

It came as pubs warned the PM's new 10pm curfew posed a risk of calling last orders at beloved bars forever.

And the City of London Corporation said the government needed to find a way to deal with coronavirus that 'Doesn't cripple the economy'.

Mr Metcalfe described last night's speech by the Prime Minister as a 'man sitting down with his Union Jack talking utter nonsense'.

In a further furious broadside he slated his 'exaggerated nonsense' before adding he feared Mr Johnson's plans would see millions of jobs lost.

It comes as another 6,178 cases of coronavirus were recorded on Wednesday and government data showed the outbreak has risen by 37 percent in the last week.

Mr Metcalfe's barbs for the PM are a far cry from their previously cosy relationship when Mr Johnson, then Mayor of London, appointed the Pret boss as leader of his taskforce for Croydon following riots there nine years ago.

Speaking today, the hospitality entrepreneur praised Chancellor Rishi Sunak for his efforts to help struggling businesses, before aiming his focus on the Prime Minister.

Mr Metcalfe said: 'Unless we get some clarity from the government we end up having to keep many, many  I dread to think how many - people will end up being made redundant, it's heartbreaking.

'It's hundreds and thousands of hospitality businesses. The knock on effects are on the people who look after them, who service them, who bring them food, and clean them - it's hundreds of thousands, millions of jobs.

'What we need is the government, particularly our Prime Minister, this man sitting down with his Union Jack talking utter nonsense, that's where we need leadership

'What I would advise our Prime Minister to do, number one is get aligned with his team.

'To turn to an entire nation and say stay at home for six months and to spout off some Churchillian nonsense about we'll make it through, it's terribly unhelpful to this country

'This talk of six months is criminal, it should be we will review it, we are here to serve you as civil servants. We will review the information and the data each week, each hour, we will behave like responsible people.'

It came as tens of thousands of Britons vowed to battle on to save the economy today as they headed back to work after the Prime Minister's call to avoid the office.

Some of the county's biggest firms declared 'nothing had changed' following Boris Johnson's desk-banging performance last night.

Most had already been allowing staff to split time between home and the office and said their business needs meant it would continue.

Mr Metcalfe added to Radio 4: 'The repercussions on this six months is going to be devastating to so many people, to local councils, to industry, to people all over our country, devastating.

'We have just not begun to touch the seriousness of this. How long can this continue, this vague work from home? Don't go on public transport?

'Meanwhile the industries that keep this country going, they're all expected to go to work, our hospitals and everyone in them. What happens to the thousands of people who look after and maintain shopping centres, the ramifications of this are just enormous.

'Not, everyone stay at home for six months and we'll see where we are because the scientists  all disagreeing with each other  have said X, Y or Z. It's just nonsense.

'We need leadership, we don't need exaggerated nonsense.'

Pubs have been left despondent over the rule on putting a 10pm curfew on them and restaurants.

Tom Stainer, chief executive of the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra), said the new measures pose a 'very, very real risk' to pubs and their staff.

'I think communities are going to see their locals lost forever,' he said.

Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pubs Association, added: 'During the current circumstances every hour of trading is crucial to the survival of pubs - for many this curfew will render their businesses unviable.

'The Government now needs to act fast in putting together a comprehensive support package to ensure that thousands of pubs don't close their doors for good.'

Just 18 hours after the Prime Minister's speech:

Business leaders urged Mr Johnson to think about other ways to stifle the spread of coronavirus

Traffic data from the UK's biggest cities showed no change following his big speech to the country

Commuters on the way to the office blasted his guidance as 'conflicting' and 'confusing'

One banker warned the mixed messaging would inflict a 'devastating impact on the economy'

Catherine McGuinness, policy chair for the City of London Corporation, said it was 'disappointed' with the work from home suggestion and said 'We feel that this will set back the recovery'

The Chief Executive of UKHospitality called the restrictions as 'another crushing blow' for many businesses

Transport eateries Upper Crust and Caffe Ritazza reported a 1.3billion lockdown loss

Entrepreneur Julian Metcalfe - who has an estimated 215million fortune - savaged Boris Johnson's latest change to lockdown rules

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves 10 Downing Street to attend Prime Ministers Questions (PMQs), London, Britain, 23 September 2020

Pret boss Julian Metcalfe and his wife, the American art expert and New York socialite Brooke de Ocampo. The pair married in 2008 and Ms de Ocampo has four children of her own

Furious Tory MPs have turned on 'authoritarian' Boris Johnson as he ordered the British public to obey his draconian new coronavirus restrictions  or face an economically devastating second national lockdown

Among those still in are head offices for supermarket chains, as well as high street banks who need to have personnel in their buildings.

Asda, who last month said staff could return to its Leeds HQ, said they could still attend but had told workers not to come in unless they had to.

NatWest and RBS, who had 10,000 staff back in throughout the pandemic to help customers, are still having them in their offices to help customers.

Barclays had started to bring even more people back but were revealed yesterday to have told 1,000 of them to return to a working from home set-up.

KPMG is also understood to expect a large number of its 5,000 workers to continue working from home.

An industry source told MailOnline: 'Most businesses have covid-secure settings and need people in offices to be able to help their customers.

'Nothing has changed for many after the Prime Minister's speech.'

A NatWest Group spokesperson said its priority had been looking after staff and customers.

They added: 'Enabling the majority of our colleagues to work from home has allowed us to support our customers in a safe way. For most people, this will continue into 2021.

The Tubes were jam-packed again this morning as thousands of Britons continued to make their way into work, defying the Prime Minister's call to avoid the office

Waterloo Station was at the same level of use as before the Prime Minister's announcements yesterday to the public

UK records 6,178 more cases of Covid as outbreak grows 37% in just a week Britain today recorded 6,178 cases of coronavirus as government data showed the outbreak has risen by around 37 per cent in the space of just one week. Data shows that 4,501 new Covid-19 infections are now being recorded each day, on average, up from 3,286 last Wednesday. The UK yesterday became just the 14 country in the world to pass the milestone of 400,000 cases, after another 4,926 patients tested positive for the disease. Today's figure is, technically, the second-highest amount of cases ever recorded in a 24-hour spell in Britain. But it is impossible to accurately compare infections now to numbers recorded on the darkest days of the outbreak in March and April. Fewer than 20,000 of the most severely-ill patients were being tested during the peak of the first wave, a figure which now stands at around 230,000. Top experts believe at least 100,000 new cases were truly occurring each day during the worst part of the first wave. Scotland also recorded its highest ever daily rise in positive coronavirus cases today  486 people in the past 24 hours. But experts say its data also cannot be compared to the peak of the crisis because of the lack of testing. The figures will likely be seized upon by advocates of tougher lockdown policies, as the scientific debate rages on as to whether the new restrictions unveiled yesterday will be enough to keep the outbreak under control. One SAGE member accused the government of 'not learning the lessons from March', while another Oxford University scientist warned 'we will talk ourselves back into a lockdown' if we panic over every up-tick in infections. Advertisement

'However, we have more than 10,000 colleagues working in branches and offices across the UK  as we have throughout the pandemic - to make sure our customers have access to the support and services they have need.'

Public transport also told the same story with workers packing trains as they headed to their jobs.

Executive recruitment consultant Greg Comer, 29, was heading to his office in Waterloo from his home in Greenwich this morning.

He said: 'I saw the Prime Minister's speech last night about working from home if you can.

I believe there has to be a balance struck between pushing forward economic activity and concerns over health.

'Personally I find working in an office environment much more beneficial in terms of work rate and practicality.

'I enjoy interacting with members of my team in person to get a bit of a buzz going.

'The office has been open since July 16 and I've been in every working day since.

'We're working to about 25 per cent capacity, there's about 10-12 of us In the office out of a team of 40 so we're able to easily observe social distancing guidelines.

'Maybe going in to the office is a risk, maybe travelling in on public transport is a risk but until we get a much more distinct set of instructions from the government, like during the first lockdown, then I think many people will continue to take those risks.'

At Bank underground station, workers were defiantly returning to work, claiming the Government's guidelines were confusing and that they were far more productive working in an office rather than home.

James Jeffs, 47 director of Vir2ue Comms, a telecoms company based in the City of London said: 'I could work from home, but you can't create the same atmosphere as you can in the office. You can't bounce ideas off other people and I also miss the banter.

'The Government is sending out very mixed messages about working from home. My fear is that telling people not to come to the office again is going to have a devastating impact on the economy. Just look at the City. All the shops, cafes and restaurants are empty.

'Boris has got this wrong. He should be encouraging people to return to work while maintain all the coronavirus guidelines, not sit at home.'

Waterloo station had workers milling around to head to the office during rush hour this morning

From a wine shop to 215million: Who is Pret founder Julian Metcalfe? Julian Metcalfe burst onto the food scene after an early working career in commercial property. His grandfather Edward was best man to the newly abdicated Edward VIII at his marriage to Wallis Simpson. He started out in business by opening a wine shop in Fulham while also working as a chartered surveyor. Then he and university friend Sinclair Beecham bought Pret a Manger in 1986 when it was a failed restaurant, using money from the sale of the shop They transformed it into a sandwich chain and expanded out from its single branch. In 2018 he sold his remaining stake in the business when German investment firm JAB Holding bought the company for 1.53billion. Last year the Sunday Times Rich List had him in 556th place with an estimated fortune of 215million. It said he currently owns 54% of London-based sushi bar operation Itsu, where assets surged 6m to 40.5m in 2017 Advertisement

Jas Bhachu, 47, a finance director of an international payments company said: 'We are getting conflicting messages from the Government and once again, they had done another major U-turn over its latest announcement on working from home.

'I'm not going to listen and will continue coming into the office. I could work from home if I wanted to, but I find that I'm a lot more productive when I'm in the office. Some of our staff have been furloughed while others did work from home for a while but we're all now back in the office.

'I like the office environment; you get through things a lot quicker.

'The Government doesn't really have a plan. They keep changing their minds and it's causing a lot of confusion.'

Max Porter, 24, director of a charity said: 'Like most people, I'm quite confused by the Government's latest announcement. First, they told us to stay at home, then they told us to return to work and now they're telling us to stay at home again.

'I've been coming into the office since July and I prefer it to working from home. It's a lot more productive and professional. The Government needs to make up its mind on what it wants us to do.'

Banker Jerry Wu, who is also studying for an MBA said: 'I'm from Hong Kong and the Government there has a far clearer idea of what it wants people to do during this pandemic.

'The British Government keeps changing its mind. This is confusing people and will have a devastating impact on the economy. The messaging is all wrong and not being delivered properly.

'I think it's better for people to be in an office environment because that will also help kick start the economy.'

Mr Wu added: 'I know one bank which employs 700 people and only five of them turned up for work today following the Government's announcement.'

Following the huge U-turn, the premier faced fire from all sides, with small business owners saying they will go bust if staff stayed home.

Traffic from some of the UK's biggest cities showed no sign of motorists heeding advice to stay home

Upper Crust and Caffe Ritazza owner SSP lose 1.3billion in lockdown Upper Crust and Caffe Ritazza owner SSP has said nearly two-thirds of its sites still remain closed as it revealed a sales hit of around 1.3 billion due to the pandemic. The group said it has reopened around 1,100 outlets since lockdown, which decimated trading at its food and drinks sites in airports and railway stations as passengers numbers plunged. SSP said sales are set to plummet by around 86% in its second half to September 30, with revenues down about 1.3 billion, while operating losses will be in the middle of its predicted 180 million to 250 million range. The group recently warned that up to around 5,000 jobs are under threat - more than half of its 9,000-strong peak season workforce - as it looks to slash costs in response to the pandemic. It had warned that only around a fifth of its sites in the UK would open by the autumn, but it has been able to reopen more sites as sales have improved slightly since full lockdown restrictions eased. A slight improvement in passenger demand has seen weekly sales declines narrow to around 76% from 95% in its third quarter, it said. In the UK, it said there had been a small recovery in air travel, although it was held back by ever-changing quarantine restrictions, while rail travel remained very weak with a slow recovery as workers tentatively returned to offices. The latest restrictions brought in on Tuesday by the Prime Minister, including instructions for office staff to work from home where they can, are likely to deal another blow. SSP cautioned that demand 'may well remain subdued' over the winter months. Simon Smith, chief executive of SSP Group, said: 'We have seen some improvement in passenger demand since the start of the crisis and we have reopened units swiftly and profitably in response to this, with over one-third of our units now trading. 'Our model is flexible and we will continue to align unit openings with demand, meeting the needs of our customers whilst managing operating costs and cash flow tightly. 'In the medium term we expect to see the gradual return of passenger travel to more normalised levels. 'The actions we are taking to rebuild the business will enable us to emerge fitter and stronger.' Advertisement

Catherine McGuinness, policy chair for the City of London Corporation, the local authority for the Square Mile, said it is 'disappointed' over new coronavirus guidance for workplaces.

She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'Clearly safety has to come first and we're at a moment when measures need to be taken.

'But we are disappointed at the blanket call for office workers to return to working from home where possible.

'Firms have taken huge steps to make sure that their offices are Covid-secure. It's clear that this virus isn't going to go away quickly so we need to find a way of living with it that doesn't cripple our economy.'

She claimed other financial centres had people back in the office without apparent related increases in infection and called on the Government to look 'really closely' at coronavirus evidence.

Ms McGuinness said the City of London Corporation would be asking companies to comply with government guidance, but highlighted that the fourth-quarter forecast was 'looking very bad' and there were 'job losses down the road'.

She also said she was 'concerned' about the knock on effect on local supporting businesses.

'We're not happy, we are disappointed and we feel that this will set back the recovery, but... we have to take steps at this difficult time,' she added.

Further restrictions, which could last for well into next year, will see pubs and other leisure and hospitality businesses like restaurants face a 10pm curfew from Thursday.

People working in retail, those travelling in taxis, and staff and customers in indoor hospitality will also have to wear face coverings - except while seated at a table to eat or drink.

In a grave Commons statement the Prime Minister warned that the new curbs could last for six months - taking them well beyond Christmas - 'unless we palpably make progress'.

Mr Johnson was barbed for introducing new measures including a 10pm pub curfew and 200 fines for mask rule-breakers among new restrictions on social settings in England.

The PM also announced he is making the British Army available to help the police enforce stringent new coronavirus rules.

He said officers will now have the 'option to draw on military support where required' to free up staff so more can crackdown on rule-breakers as he revealed fines are being doubled to 200.

But Downing Street ruled out deploying soldiers on the streets, saying they would be used for 'backfilling certain duties, such as office roles and guarding protected sites, so police can be out enforcing the virus response'.

Chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation Ken Marsh slammed the announcement as 'a nonsense' and National Chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales John Apter said it 'lacked any detail'.

Rush hour in Bristol saw the usually packed M5 extremely quiet after the Prime Minister's address to the nation last night

Queues of traffic were nowhere to be seen as motorists shunned motorways in their cars after the speech from Number 10

Meanwhile Chief Executive of UKHospitality Kate Nicholls described the restrictions as 'another crushing blow' for many businesses.

Responding to the address, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: 'We all want nothing more than to beat this dreadful virus and get back to normal.

'Sadly, today's statement from the Prime Minister confirms this is a long way off and there will be difficult times ahead.

'The Prime Minister must take responsibility for what has gone wrong, and apologise for the chaotic failure of his ''world beating'' test and trace system. It is inexcusable that this vital test and trace operation has been totally overwhelmed in recent weeks.

'Ministers must outline details of the practical steps they are taking to fix the test and trace system as quickly as possible. This is the only way to avoid yet more restrictions.

'With millions of people worried about their jobs, businesses and livelihoods, the Prime Minister must also urgently set out a new economic plan, including the extension of furlough and more help for the self-employed and small business.'
New Jersey officials on Wednesday reported seven new coronavirus deaths and 430 new positive tests as the states rate of transmission increased slightly again, climbing further above the key benchmark of 1 that shows the outbreak here is expanding.

This marks the eighth time in the last nine days New Jersey has announced more than 400 new COVID-19 cases, though new deaths and hospitalizations have been relatively stable in recent weeks.

Of the newly reported deaths, all seven occurred in the last week, Gov. Phil Murphy said during his latest coronavirus briefing in Trenton.

Even as the numbers of deaths we report every day continue to be low, we cannot take any solace in that, Murphy said. Our goal must be to get them to zero  not three or five, but zero.

New Jersey, an early coronavirus hotspot, has reported 200,988 COVID-19 cases out of more than 3.42 million tests administered in the more than six months since the outbreak here started in early March. Thats the eighth most cases among U.S. states.

Wednesdays case total reflects the removal of 53 positive test that were reported Monday and Tuesday but have since been determined to be out-of-state residents or duplicates, Murphy said.

The state of 9 million people has reported 16,082 deaths related to the virus  14,291 lab-confirmed and 1,791 considered probable. Thats the second most in the U.S. after New York. New Jersey has the nations highest COVID-19 death rate per 100,000 residents.

More than 34,600 residents have recovered from the illness, according to Johns Hopkins University, though that number is likely much larger.

New Jersey has seen its daily numbers drop significantly since April, when officials routinely announced hundreds of new deaths and thousands of new cases a day. New deaths have hovered below 10 and new cases have been between 300 and 600 in recent weeks.

Officials have said the increases are likely because of large testing capacity and some community spread of the virus. They have also warned about rising cases among younger residents and have noted spikes in individual counties, like Ocean and Gloucester, in recent days.

Murphy on Wednesday called for residents to keep wearing face masks, practicing social distancing, and washing hands frequently. He also warned that he doesnt want to follow in the footsteps in the United Kingdom, which announced this week it is rolling out a new round of restrictions because of an uptick in cases.

I desperately hope we dont have to do that here, the governor said. And the more we keep with our new routines, the better our chances are that we keep our numbers low and dropping, and we keep moving forward.

A few weeks after allowing gyms and indoor dining to reopen, Murphy said the state have not seen specific examples of outbreaks linked to those steps. But he said the state will need to see a sustained lack of outbreaks from those venues until officials can lift capacity limits.

TRANSMISSION RATE

New Jerseys latest rate of transmission is 1.15, up from the 1.13 reported Tuesday  and the highest the rate has been since hitting 1.15 on Aug. 7. The rate has been above 1 since Sept. 4 and increased incrementally since last week.

Wed like to get that below 1, Murphy said. It is about where we expected.

Any number above 1 means each newly infected person, on average, is spreading the virus to at least one other person. Any number below 1 means the virus is decreasing.

The states latest positivity rate  the percentage of residents who test positive in a single day  was 1.93% on Saturday, the date with the most recent data available. That means about 98% who were tested that day were negative.

The daily positivity for tests from September 19th was 1.93%.



The statewide rate of transmission is 1.15 pic.twitter.com/TPeFKDjL0w  Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) September 23, 2020

HOSPITALIZATIONS

There were 459 patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases across New Jerseys 71 hospitals Tuesday night. Thats 42 more than the night before.

Of those, 231 tested positive for the virus and 228 were under investigation while awaiting test results. Many of of the people under investigation for the virus turn out to be negative, officials have said.

Tuesdays hospitalizations include 90 patients in critical or intensive care (10 more than the day before) with 31 on ventilators (three fewer than the day before).

There were 32 coronavirus patients discharged Tuesday, according to the states coronavirus tracking website.

New Jerseys COVID-19 hospitalizations have dropped dramatically since the states peak in mid-April, when there were more than 8,000 patients.

COUNTY-BY-COUNTY CASES (sorted by most new cases)

Ocean County: 12,436 positive tests (59 new), 979 confirmed deaths (65 probable)

Middlesex County: 19,210 positive tests (51 new), 1,223 confirmed deaths (202 probable)

Bergen County: 22,276 positive tests (32 new), 1,801 confirmed deaths (243 probable)

Burlington County: 7,006 positive tests (32 new), 455 confirmed deaths (39 probable)

Gloucester County: 4,389 positive tests (28 new), 219 confirmed deaths (7 probable)

Passaic County: 18,877 positive tests (28 new), 1,110 confirmed deaths (142 probable)

Essex County: 20,898 positive tests (27 new), 1,897 confirmed deaths (230 probable)

Monmouth County: 11,605 positive tests (24 new), 773 confirmed deaths (92 probable)

Morris County: 7,795 positive tests (20 new), 686 confirmed deaths (145 probable)

Somerset County: 5,725 positive tests (17 new), 498 confirmed deaths (74 probable)

Union County: 17,517 positive tests (17 new), 1,190 confirmed deaths (166 probable)

Camden County: 9,765 positive tests (16 new), 553 confirmed deaths (53 probable)

Hudson County: 20,547 positive tests (15 new), 1,353 confirmed deaths (160 probable)

Mercer County: 8,596 positive tests (11 new), 599 confirmed deaths (36 probable)

Atlantic County: 3,990 positive tests (9 new), 245 confirmed deaths (11 probable)

Cumberland County: 3,757 positive tests (8 new), 149 confirmed deaths (8 probable)

Salem County: 1,052 positive tests (5 new), 84 confirmed deaths (6 probable)

Sussex County: 1,461 positive tests (5 new), 161 confirmed deaths (37 probable)

Cape May County: 1,008 positive tests (4 new), 87 confirmed deaths (8 probable)

Hunterdon County: 1,296 positive tests (4 new), 71 confirmed deaths (54 probable)

Warren County: 1,436 positive tests (2 new), 158 confirmed deaths (13 probable)

There are another 346 positive cases that remain under investigation, with the patients' home counties not confirmed.

AGE BREAKDOWN

Broken down by age, those 30 to 49 years old make up the largest percentage of New Jersey residents that have caught the virus (31%), followed by those 50-64 (26.6%), 18-29 (16.1%), 65-79 (13.3%), 80 and older (9.1%), 5-17 (3%), and 0-4 (0.6%).

On average, the virus has been more deadly for older residents, especially those with pre-existing conditions. Nearly half the states COVID-19 deaths have been of residents 80 and older (47.1%), followed by those 65-79 (32.2%), 50-64 (15.9%), 30-49 (4.3%), 18-25 (0.4%), 5-17 (0%), and 0-4 (0%).

At least 7,149 of the states COVID-19 deaths have been of residents and staff members at nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage

New Jersey is asking travelers from 35 U.S. states and territories considered COVID-19 hotspots to quarantine for 14 days after arriving here  including residents returning home.

The state has allowed some businesses listed in Stage 3 of its recovery plan to reopen with restrictions  including gyms, movie theaters, and indoor dining. Murphy has warned he could tighten guidelines if there are sustained increases or if businesses and patrons dont comply with the rules.

The virus has taken a major toll on the states economy. More than 1.56 million residents have filed for unemployment, businesses have lost untold revenue, and numerous businesses have closed permanently.

GLOBAL NUMBERS

As of Wednesday afternoon, there have been more than 31.71 million positive COVID-19 tests across the globe, according to a running tally by Johns Hopkins University. More than 972,800 people have died, while more than 21.79 million people have recovered.

The United States has the most positive tests in the world, at more than 6.91 million, and the most deaths, at more than 201,200.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com

Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com.
SIOUX CITY -- Two Northwest Iowa counties recorded COVID-19-related deaths on Tuesday.

Siouxland District Health Department reported that two Woodbury County residents, a woman in the 41 to 60 age range and a man in the 61 to 80 age range, succumbed to the novel coronavirus. The county's death total now stands at 63.

Crawford County recorded one additional COVID-19-related death, bringing its tally to five.

According to Iowa Department of Public Health data, Woodbury County had 5,052 total cases of the virus Tuesday evening, while Crawford had 1,016.

Sioux County's 14-day positivity rate of 30.2 percent continued to lead the state, followed by Osceola at 24.1 percent, Crawford at 22.4, Lyon at 21.9 percent, Plymouth at 18.6 percent and Sac at 18.2 percent. Ida County's rate of 17.6 percent ranked eighth highest, followed by Woodbury County in 10th place at 15.1 percent.

Erik Hoekstra, president of Dordt University, said in a statement that the Sioux Center college has seen an increase in COVID-19 cases in its student body.

As of Monday, the college had eight active positive COVID-19 cases among students. Sixty-three students were in quarantine or isolation.

"This is discouraging news, since we saw a decrease in COVID-19 cases in our student body in mid-September," Hoekstra said.

Dordt will remain at the yellow alert level, but will heighten precautions such as limiting event attendance, according to the statement. The Rec Center, Campus Store and Hulst Library will remain closed to the public.

Morningside College is moving to operating level orange, effective Wednesday.

All face-to-face classes will be required to be taught in a hybrid format that allows for adequate physical distancing within each classroom. Enhanced enforcement of occupancy requirements will be implemented in residence halls and seating in The Caf will be further reduced to ensure more physical distancing.

"We will remain in orange until further notice. Our hope is that numbers will stabilize and begin trending downward so that we can return to yellow at some point in the coming weeks," said John Reynders, the Sioux City college's president.

Morningside College reported 46 new student cases and two new faculty/staff cases for the week ending Sept. 20.

The MMCRU school district announced that it will extend its hybrid learning model through Sept. 25 due to a high number of COVID-19 cases at the high school level.

MMCRU, which has students in Plymouth and Cherokee counties, switched to hybrid learning on Sept. 3.

"We feel that extending the hybrid learning model for our high school students will help us to better limit contact tracing and quarantine, and also keep more of our students eligible for activities," Superintendent Dan Barkel wrote in a letter addressed to the MMCRU community.

State statistics, which were last updated Tuesday, show that a total of 446 hospital beds are available in Regional Medical Coordination Center Region 3, which includes Woodbury County and most of Northwest Iowa. Nearly all of the patients currently hospitalized with COVID-19 are being cared for in Sioux City hospitals.

RMCC 3 has 13 COVID-19 patients in ICU beds and there are still 84 beds available. The state statistics show nine ventilators being used by patients and an additional 68 ventilators are available in the region.

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While production is slated to begin this fall on the second season of 9-1-1: Lone Star, lead actress Liv Tyler will not be returning.

Tyler, 43, who played paramedic Emergency Medical Services captain Michelle Blake in the first season of the hit Fox show, will not be back for a second season, due to uncertainties with trans-Atlantic travel, according to Deadline.

The actress lives in London with her husband and her children, and while she was able to commute between London and L.A. in the first season, the global COVID-19 pandemic made it too complicated for her to return.

Not returning: While production is slated to begin this fall on the second season of 9-1-1: Lone Star, lead actress Liv Tyler will not be returning

Michelle: Tyler, 43, who played paramedic Emergency Medical Services captain Michelle Blake in the first season of the hit Fox show, will not be back for a second season, due to uncertainties with trans-Atlantic travel, according to Deadline

Tyler had signed a typical multi-year deal when she joined 9-1-1: Lone Star, unlike flagship 9-1-1 star Connie Britton, who left the show after completing her one-year deal.

The show doesn't plan on re-casting Tyler's Michelle Burke, leaving an opening for her to return, though they have already brought on a new character.

Fox announced in early September that Gina Torres had signed on to play new Paramedic captain Tommy Vega in a series regular role for Season 2.

Multi-year: Tyler had signed a typical multi-year deal when she joined 9-1-1: Lone Star, unlike flagship 9-1-1 star Connie Britton, who left the show after completing her one-year deal

While Tyler's exit was not planned, the end of Season 1 featured a natural conclusion to her character, though Tyler approached producers this summer regarding an exit.

Tyler had flown between London and Los Angeles for filming, with her children joining her in L.A. during vacations, resulting in Tyler never being away from her kids for too long.

Filming was supposed to start this summer while her kids were out of school, but now filming is set to tentatively begin on October 12.

Conclusion: While Tyler's exit was not planned, the end of Season 1 featured a natural conclusion to her character, though Tyler approached producers this summer regarding an exit

The U.K. also just announced travel restrictions, amid a potential second wave of COVID-19, which may have severely impacted production.

'What a thrill it was having a movie star of Liv Tylers stature to help us launch the first season of 9-1-1: Lone Star,' series co-creator/executive producer/showrunner Tim Minear said in a statement.

'We loved working with Liv and will be forever indebted to her for her haunting, powerful portrayal of Michelle Blake,' he added.

Restriction: The U.K. also just announced travel restrictions, amid a potential second wave of COVID-19, which may have severely impacted production

'While we were able to tell a complete chapter in Michelles story, as with Connie Britton on our mothership, we also feel like there are more stories to be told. The door here will always be open for a return,' Minear concluded.

Tyler was last seen on the big screen alongside Brad Pitt and Tommy Lee Jones in the outer space thriller Ad Astra.

She also recently starred on the Hulu series Harlots alongside Lesley Manville and Samantha Morton.

Complete Chapter: 'While we were able to tell a complete chapter in Michelles story, as with Connie Britton on our mothership, we also feel like there are more stories to be told. The door here will always be open for a return,' Minear concluded
City Merchants High Yield Trust Limited

Result of AGM

Result of the Annual General Meeting of City Merchants High Yield Trust Limited held on 23 September 2020:

Shareholders approved the following resolutions on a poll:

Resolution Votes For (including votes at the discretion of the Chairman Votes Against Votes Withheld Ordinary Resolution 1 15,245,051 99.99 237 0.01 0 2 15,097,025 99.86 20,657 0.14 127,606 3 15,245,288 100.00 0 0.00 0 4 15,168,179 99.50 75,699 0.50 1,410 5 14,750,913 96.97 461,176 3.03 33,199 6 15,202,132 99.93 9,957 0.07 33,199 7 15,182,407 99.80 29,681 0.20 33,199 8 15,194,887 99.93 9,957 0.07 40,444 9 15,197,917 99.89 16,427 0.11 30,944 Special Resolution 10 15,139,458 99.82 27,627 0.18 78,203 11 15,174,160 99.72 43,343 0.28 27,785 12 15,200,975 99.88 18,464 0.12 25,848 13 14,750,170 96.85 480,315 3.15 14,803

Total Voting Rights were 101,741,204.

The full text of the resolutions passed was as follows:

Ordinary Resolutions:

The following Ordinary Resolutions were passed at the Annual General Meeting held on 23 September 2020:

1. To receive the annual financial report for the year ended 31 December 2019.

2. To approve the Report on Directors' Remuneration and Interests.

3. To approve the Company's Dividend Payment Policy to pay four quarterly dividends to shareholders in May, August, November and February in respect of each accounting year.

4. To re-appoint PricewaterhouseCoopers CI LLP as the Company's auditor and authorise the Audit Committee to determine their remuneration.

5. To re-elect Mr Tim Scholefield a Director of the Company.

6. To re-elect Mr Philip Austin a Director of the Company.

7. To re-elect Mr John Boothman a Director of the Company.

8. To elect Heather MacCallum a Director of the Company.

9. To elect Stuart McMaster a Director of the Company.

Special Resolutions:

10. THAT, in accordance with Article 158 of the Company's Articles of Association, the Directors of the Company be and they are hereby released from their obligation pursuant to such Article to convene a general meeting of the Company within six months of the AGM at which a special resolution would be proposed to wind up the Company.

11. THAT, pursuant to Article 14.1 of the Company's Articles of Association, the Directors be and are hereby empowered to issue shares, up to 10% of the existing shares in issue at the time of the AGM, without pre-emption.

12. THAT, pursuant to Article 8.2 of the Company's Articles of Association and Article 57 of the Companies (Jersey) Law 1991 as amended (the Law), the Company be generally and unconditionally authorised:

(a) to make purchases of its issued ordinary shares of no par value (Shares) to be cancelled or held as treasury shares provided that:

(i) the maximum number of Shares hereby authorised to be purchased shall be 14.99% of the Company's issued ordinary shares, this being 15,251,006;

(ii) the minimum price which may be paid for a Share is 1p;

(iii) the maximum price which may be paid for a share must not be more than the higher of:

(i) 5 per cent. above the average of the mid-market values of the Shares for the five business days before the purchase is made; and

(ii) the higher of the price of the last independent trade in the shares and the highest then current independent bid for the Shares on the London Stock Exchange;

(iv) any purchase of shares will be made in the market for cash prices below the prevailing net asset value per share (as determined by the Directors);

(v) the authority hereby conferred shall expire on the earlier of the conclusion of the next AGM of the Company held after passing of this resolution or 15 months from the date of the passing of this resolution, whichever is the earlier.

13. THAT, the period of notice required for general meetings of the Company (other than AGMs) shall not be less than 14 days.

23 September 2020

Contact:

Hilary Jones

JTC Fund Solutions (Jersey) Limited

Telephone: 01534 700000
A growing list of schools are cutting out spring break due to the pandemic

The changes came after dozens of students were suspected of bringing coronavirus back to campus following ill-advised getaways this year

Officials hope that eliminating the recess will stop students flocking to beaches

Meanwhile a number of schools are already struggling to contain campus outbreaks as students defy restrictions on social gatherings

More than a dozen universities across the US have already canceled next year's spring break in an effort to limit reckless party trips from spawning coronavirus outbreaks.

University of Michigan, Purdue, Ohio State, University of Florida and Carnegie Mellon are among the growing list of schools that have already changed their 2021 schedules to eliminate the week-long break midway though the spring semester.

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The changes came after dozens of students were suspected of bringing coronavirus back to campus following ill-advised spring break getaways as the pandemic took hold in March and April.

While administrators look for creative solutions to avoid the same trend next spring, a number of schools are already struggling to contain campus outbreaks as students continue to defy restrictions on social gatherings.

More than a dozen universities around the US have already canceled next year's spring break in an effort to limit reckless party trips from spawning coronavirus outbreaks (file photo)

In the absence of a spring break, some schools have added single 'break days' throughout the spring semester to give students and faculty a chance to unwind.

Eliminating the break also means that the semester can start later or end earlier, shortening the amount of time students spend on campus.

WHERE IS SPRING BREAK CANCELED? University of Tennessee University of Florida Baylor University Texas Christian University Kansas State University University of Kentucky Iowa State University University of Iowa University of Northern Iowa Carnegie Mellon University Ohio State University University of Michigan University of Wisconsin, Madison Purdue University

For example, Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh - which is allowing students to choose how many classes they attend online versus in person - pushed back the start of its spring semester to February 1 and added five 'break days' in lieu of its usual 'Spring Carnival'.

The University of Michigan followed suit last week as it removed the spring recess from academic calendars across all three of its campuses.

Officials said the change would 'mitigate the possible risks associated with campus community members who may have traveled during the middle of the semester'.

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At least four other schools in the Big Ten conference also canceled their breaks, including Purdue, Ohio State, University of Iowa and University of Wisconsin at Madison.

In the south, Baylor University, Texas Christian University, University of Tennessee and University of Kentucky have removed their spring breaks as well.

Concerns of outbreaks stemming from recess trips were bolstered by a recent study from Ball State and Vanderbilt University which found a link between student travel and increased coronavirus rates in counties with colleges.

Researchers in that study analyzed GPS smartphone data from more than seven million college students and determined that counties with more early spring break students had higher confirmed case growth rates than counties with fewer of those students.

The increase in case growth rates peaked two weeks after students returned to campus, the study found.

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The changes came after dozens of students were suspected of bringing coronavirus back to campus following ill-advised spring break getaways as the pandemic took hold in March and April. Pictured: Spring breakers crowd a beach in Miami back in March

Some critics have expressed doubts over how effective canceling spring break will be as many schools are already experiencing major outbreaks just from holding in-person classes.

An alarming new study released Tuesday found that reopening college and university campuses for in-person instruction during late summer could be associated with more than 3,000 additional cases of COVID-19 per day in the US in recent weeks.

The findings call into question the practicality of face-to-face classes during the COVID-19 pandemic, and are important as colleges and universities plan their spring 2020 semesters, said researchers from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Indiana University, the University of Washington and Davidson College.

The findings are yet to be peer reviewed and have not yet been published online.

To track COVID-19 cases and study their association with students attending classes at college campuses, the team used location data from a database of cellphone users who agreed to share information. The information was gathered from July 15 to September 13.

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They also looked at COVID-19 infection rates in counties with campuses, before and after colleges reopened and students arrived.

The researchers noted significant increases in counties where colleges had reopened for face-to-face instruction, especially in and around campuses with students who came from areas with higher incidences of COVID-19.

'We are able to predict between 1,000 and 5,000 additional cases a day due to colleges reopening for face-to-face instruction, with our best estimate being somewhere around 3,219 cases a day,' said Ana Bento, a co-author of the study, from Indiana University's School of Public Health.

The study did not go into how many COVID-19 cases were 'imported' - or from students who arrived on campuses - and how many were local transmissions.

The team also pointed out that asymptomatic cases may not have been caught unless testing was done on campuses regardless of symptoms, and that the study did not look at measures taken by individual colleges.

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As of Tuesday evening more than 6.89 million coronavirus cases have been confirmed in teh US and 200,786 people have died.
NORWALK  A 72-foot sailing yacht that was the subject of a bitter dispute between the city and its owner sold at auction Tuesday for more than $24,000.

In August, the city took possession of the vessel, named Swany, under the states abandoned boats law.

Jeff Spahr, the citys deputy corporation counsel, confirmed the sale Tuesday afternoon. The final auction price was $24,100.

The identity of the vessels new owner was not immediately available.

City officials contend Swany had been left at the Veterans Park public dock in March for several weeks before they towed the boat to a mooring off Sheffield Island.

During a harbor commission meeting in the spring, city officials said the vessel was towed to the dock by the fire departments boat. However, fire officials later clarified they never towed the boat.

In May, police arrested three teenagers they said broke into Swany and stole around $2,000 worth of equipment.

On Aug. 3, the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection granted Norwalk ownership of Swany.

Emails obtained by Hearst Connecticut Media just before the boat changed hands show officials were concerned the two-masted yacht could break free during hurricane season and cause property damage.

As Tropical Storm Isaias bore down on the region, Swany was pulled off the water for storage.

An appraisal order by Norwalks purchasing department estimated the yacht was worth about $20,000 in its current condition.

If restored, the boat could have sold for $155,000 to $170,000, according to appraisal notes. However, it would cost between $135,000 and $150,000 to bring the boat back to its original condition, the notes state.

Much of the boat was reported to be in poor condition, according to the appraisal.

The overall condition of the vessel is restorable, the appraisal reads.

According to the terms of the auction, Swanys new owner will have to move the boat within 10 days.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, September 23, 2020 07:58 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c468b008 1 National sexual-harassment,Soekarno-Hatta-International-Airport,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,extortion,kimia-farma,pelecehan-seksual,pemerasan,Soekarno-Hatta-International-Airport-Police,Twitter Free

The Soekarno-Hatta International Airport Police have received a report from a woman who says she was extorted and sexually harassed while undergoing a rapid COVID-19 test at the airport.

The woman submitted the report after the airport polices criminal investigation unit visited her in Bali on Monday.

The case is under the jurisdiction of the Jakarta Police, but Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Come. Yusri Yunus said that the woman was unable to make the report in the capital because of work, so the officers went to Bali.

Read also: Kimia Farma to take legal action against COVID-19 rapid test officer accused of extortion, sexual harassment

The woman gave an account of her experience on Twitter, where she said she was extorted and sexually harassed by a medical worker employed by Kimia Farma during a rapid test at Terminal 3 of Soekarno-Hatta, prior to her departure to Nias, North Sumatra, on Sept. 13.

In response, clinical laboratory firm PT Kimia Farma Diagnostika, a subsidiary of publicly listed pharmaceutical company PT Kimia Farma, has said it will pursue legal action against an employee accused of fraud, extortion and sexual harassment during his time working as a COVID-19 rapid test officer at Soekarno-Hatta Airport.

Kimia Farma Diagnostika president director Adil Fadillah Bulqini said the company had agreed to bring the case to court after contacting the accuser. (dpk)
The New York Times Company announced on Wednesday that Arthur O. Sulzberger Jr. will retire as the chairman and as an active member of its board of directors on Dec. 31, completing a generational shift at a newspaper that has been in the same family for more than 120 years. He will be succeeded as the boards chairman by his son, A. G. Sulzberger, the publisher.

Mr. Sulzberger, 69, served as publisher of The Times from 1992 to 2017. He made sweeping changes during his tenure, taking the print newspaper from black and white to color starting in 1993  a move viewed with suspicion by some traditionalists  and later transforming it into a digital publication. He became chairman in 1997 and will assume the title of chairman emeritus.

His retirement concludes a changing of the guard, coming nearly three years after his son became the publisher and weeks after Meredith Kopit Levien, previously the chief operating officer, replaced Mark Thompson as the chief executive and president. Mr. Thompson, who held the chief executive job for eight years, was appointed to that role by the elder Mr. Sulzberger.

Serving this essential institution and working alongside so many gifted journalists over the years has been the privilege of my life, Mr. Sulzberger said. Theres an old saying, Laurels are nice to wear, but never to rest upon. I know A. G. will not rest in his drive to empower our journalists and expand the scope of The Timess ambitions. And with a dynamic new C.E.O. and the best executive editor in the business, I depart knowing the best is yet to come.
China has coerced more than 500,000 Tibetan people into military-style training centres that act as labour camps, a study has claimed.

The research, carried out by the Jamestown Foundation, has suggested that farmers and herders have been targeted and taken into labour programmes similar to those used against ethnic Uighurs in Xinjiang.

The moves risk a 'loss of cultural heritage' in the politically sensitive region, the group's report warned.

Authorities in Tibet, a predominantly Buddhist area in China's far west, have touted the scheme - which puts rural workers to task in factories - as a tool for poverty alleviation.

They say this is in line with President Xi Jinping's goal of eradicating extreme poverty by the end of 2020.

China has coerced more than 500,000 Tibetan people into military-style training centres that act as labour camps, a study has claimed. Pictured: Paramilitary policeman stands guard in front of the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet

Researchers at the Jamestown Foundation said more than 500,000 rural labourers were trained in the first seven months of 2020, with each county assigned quotas.

It did not cite any comparable figures for previous years.

The training schemes aim to instil 'work discipline, Chinese language and work ethics', according to a 2019 Chinese government action plan quoted in the report.

A 2018 report by the Nagqu city government also states that the purpose of the labour transfer scheme is to 'effectively eliminate lazy people'.

Companies that fulfil the hiring quota for workers are offered up to 500,000 yuan (about $75,000), the report said, while herders and farmers are also encouraged by the scheme to hand over their livestock and land to large state-run cooperatives.

'In the context of Beijing's increasingly assimilatory ethnic minority policy, it is likely that these policies will promote a long-term loss of linguistic, cultural and spiritual heritage,' wrote the report's author Adrian Zenz, a researcher at the US-based Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation.

Nearly 50,000 people have been transferred to other areas of Tibet, and more than 3,000 sent to other parts of China, the report said.

Authorities say the move is in line with the goals of President Xi Jinping (pictured) of eradicating extreme poverty by the end of 2020

The report claims there are similarities with labour schemes in the troubled Xinjiang region.

The scale of the Tibetan work scheme is still dwarfed by that of Xinjiang - which trained an average of 1.29 million workers each year between 2014 and 2019, according to a government white paper released last week.

Both the EU and the US have raised concerns this year over China's treatment of minorities in the Himalayan region.

Beijing says its troops 'peacefully liberated' Tibet in 1951 but many exiled Tibetans accuse the central government of religious repression and eroding their culture.

Foreign journalists have been largely barred from visiting the region since 2008, making it difficult to independently investigate reports from researchers and rights groups.
Chinese national Charlie Peng, who was booked by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for running a money-laundering racket, allegedly bribed some monks of Sera Monastery in Karnatakas Bylakuppe.

Head of the monastery told News18 that of Jamayang Jinpa of Sera Mey Monastery was paid Rs 30 lakh from the account of SK Trading. An investigator said that this account is one of the several shell companies used by Peng to transfer money to monks. The investigating agencies had been probing allegations if Peng was bribing" some Tibetans living in Delhi.

News18 had earlier reported that the 42-year-old Chinese national had been bribing some lamas (Buddhist spiritual monk) all over India, including Delhis Majnu ka Tila to gather information on Dalai Lama and his associate. Investigators said that it was done to buy support for a Chinese man to succeed Dalai Lama.

The investigator further told News18 that another monk, Thupten Chodak, from the same Karnataka monastery was allegedly paid Rs 15 lakh, while Phuntsok Dhargyal, Ngawang Losel and Tashi Choepel were giveb Rs 10 lakh each, Thupten Wangchuk was paid Rs 8 lakh and Lobsang Choeden was given Rs 7 lakh.

The same company allegedly paid Drepung Loseling in Karnatakas Mundgod Rs 10 lakh and Sonam Dorjee Rs 7 lakh. An undisclosed amount was also paid to Lobsang Dorjee Drepung Loseling in Mundgod. In Navi Mumbai, a monk named Pan Mingming was given Rs 10 lakh from SK Trading account.

Bylakuppe in Mysore district, borders Kodagu and is about 200kms from Bengaluru. It has the largest Tibetan settlement outside of Tibet after Dharamshala.

Six of the ten monks, who are accused of being bribed by Charlie Peng, live at the Sera monasteries. Due to the the coronavirus pandemic, the camps, temples and monasteries are closed to outsiders.

When News18 reached Sera, the monks named were unavailable. But at least two of them are said to have confided in Khonpon Tashi Tsering, one of the two abbots or heads of the Sera monasteries about the transactions.

Some of the monks got money from the man who was arrested in Delhi. But these monks say that was money from family and friends, they come here to study. They have some occasions like graduation. So the money was sent by family. Its not so easy to send from Tibet to people who live in India because Chinese government doesnt allow. I am not saying thats the fact. Thats their interpretation. I asked them why wasnt western union money transfer used. But they arent allowed to use it. They have to find another channel to get money here. Some amount is relatively huge but some events cost money like graduation where you have to host 5,000 people. I just want to leave it to the investigation agencies," said Tashi.

I talked to two monks. They have never met this man (Charlie Peng). They just used him as someone to transfer money. Apart from them, they dont know who this man is at all," he added.

While no internal investigation is launched by the monastery into these allegations, Tashi said they are waiting for the investigation by the Indian government to reach a logical conclusion and that the monastery would not stand by the monks if they were found to have done wrong.

In Mumbai, while most of the numbers were switched off, News18 managed to speak to one monk named Thupten Wangchuk of Sera Mey Monastery who evaded questions citing language as a barrier when confronted about his connection to SK Trading company and being benefactor of lakhs of rupees to his account. Sorry, humko hindi malum nahi (sorry, I dont understand Hindi)" was his standard answer when asked anything about Charlie Peng or the money sent.

Officials said at least 30 monks have been questioned by Karnataka and Delhi police in September to expose the truth.
A 56-year-old man, the last Covid-19 patient discharged in Da Nang, leaves hospital on September 23, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Nguyen Dong.

Vietnams central city Da Nang saw its last Covid-19 patient, a 56-year-old man, released from hospital Wednesday morning.

A resident in Da Nang's Hai Chau District, the patient had contracted the new coronavirus at Da Nang Hospital in mid August while receiving emergency aid for heart failure, high-blood pressure, diabetes, and metabolic disorder.

His infection occurred as Vietnam dealt with its second Covid-19 wave, which started on July 25 after the nation went three months without a single community transmission.

"Today marks one month and six days since I was diagnosed with Covid-19. Now that I'm healed and could reunite with my family, I am overjoyed. I just want to express my gratitude to all doctors and nurses," he said.

On being diagnosed with the disease, the patient was transferred from Da Nang Hospital to a field hospital treating Covid-19 patients in the city's Hoa Vang District.

He twice tested negative for the new coronavirus while at the field hospital, though he tested positive again.

In total, the patient had tested positive as many as 19 times during treatment.

"I was really worried and could not sleep for many nights, but doctors and nurses stood by my side and helped me get through my biggest obstacle: mental issues."

Doctor Dang Cong Quyt from the field hospital said: "It was not until last night when he had been confirmed negative for the third time in a row that he could sleep well."

Set up on August 1, the Hoa Vang field hospital had received 258 Covid-19 patients, 15 of whom have died.

There had been time when the hospital had to treat as many as 200 patients at once.

"Which worried us most was saving patients also suffering chronic diseases," Quyt said.

The latest recovery means Da Nang is now free of Covid-19 patients.

Since July 25, Da Nang has recorded 389 patients, 31 of them having died. Cases from Da Nang had been transmitted to 15 other cities and province across the country, including Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

By Wednesday, Da Nang had passed 23 straight days without local transmissions and Vietnam, 20 days.

So far, the nation has recorded 1,068 Covid-19 cases. Of them, 50 remain active, 980 have recovered and 35 have died. Three cases had died of other diseases after they had tested negative for the new coronavirus at least thrice.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 22:52:34|Editor: huaxia

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-- President Xi called on the international community to put people and life first, enhance solidarity and adopt comprehensive and long-term control measures to get through pandemic together.

-- China pledges to take more vigorous and effective approaches when pursuing green and sustainable development.

-- Experts spoke highly of the proposals put forward by President Xi on global anti-pandemic cooperation and the role of the United Nations in the international system.





BEIJING, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has reaffirmed commitments to closer global cooperation and stronger multilateralism at the high-level meetings of the United Nations (UN) in order to rise to the challenges in the post-pandemic era.

While addressing world leaders on Monday and Tuesday, Xi expounded his concepts and proposals via video link on how to tackle crises brought by ravaging coronavirus, rising unilateralism and protectionism and unbalanced and inadequate development.

"President Xi drew the world together with a plan and a vision of how to work," said Stephen Perry, chairman of Britain's 48 Group Club. "He is a beacon of hope in a dark moment of the planet. I hope he can carry other national leaders with him and to focus on making the world work right."

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)





RALLY SOLIDARITY

To beat back the pandemic that has infected over 30 million people and claimed nearly 1 million lives worldwide, and to invigorate the global economy as early as possible, Xi called on the international community to put people and life first, enhance solidarity and adopt comprehensive and long-term control measures to get through the global public health crisis together.

During the general debate of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, he noted 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.

Only when countries around the world stand together as one, help each other, and jointly battle the pandemic, can the human race achieve the final victory in the fight against the virus, said Donald Rushambwa, a researcher at the China-Africa Economic and Culture Exchange Research Center in Zimbabwe, while highlighting China's exemplary role in this regard.

Chinese medical team experts and Italian doctors pose for a photo during the COVID-19 pandemic in Padua, Italy, March 18, 2020. (Xinhua)

Noting the coronavirus ravaging the world is a common enemy of humanity, Gyula Thurmer, president of the Hungarian Workers' Party, said "the international community can only prevail over the pandemic by upholding the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind."

The COVID-19 pandemic is a reminder of the fact that all countries are closely connected and share a common future. In the face of the previous unknown virus, China has been actively involved in the global combat of COVID-19 by sharing valuable information and experience in disease control and treatment, providing medical supplies to hard-hit countries, joining global scientific researches and resuming business in an orderly way to maintain the running of global supply chains.

El Hadji Alioune Diouf, professor of Senegal's National School of Administration, said the steady recovery of China's economy will "contribute to stability of the world economy and improvement of business environment."

A Chinese medical team member gives a lecture to medical workers of the Health Point Upper East Medical Center in Harare, Zimbabwe, July 22, 2020. (Photo by Chen Yaqin/Xinhua)





URGE COOPERATION

As Xi pointed out, "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."

The UN, at the very center of multilateralism, is expected to play a bigger and more active role in addressing global issues, as unilateralism and protectionism are eroding the foundation of the global economy and governance system.

The Chinese president said at the UN meetings that countries should not dodge the challenges of economic globalization and must face up to major issues such as the wealth gap and the development divide.

"We should stay true to multilateralism and safeguard the international system with the UN at its core," Xi said, stressing that 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.

Children play at a poverty-relief resettlement site in Xia'ao Town of Du'an Yao Autonomous County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Aug. 18, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhou Hua)

President Xi "is choosing the path of working multilaterally, working with other countries, treating each country as equals, which is a basis of the United Nations operation," said William Jones, Washington bureau chief of the U.S. publication Executive Intelligence Review.

Norhan el-Sheikh, professor of political science with Cairo University, said she agrees with China's vison of improving global governance.

"China seeks to build a new type of international relations that features mutual respect, just and win-win cooperation," which will help build an "open, inclusive and clean" world, she said.





PLEDGES TO ACTIONS

In pursuit of common development in a better world, China made pledges and has fit its deeds to its words. In 2015 when the UN celebrated its 70th anniversary, Xi announced a series of initiatives and measures in support of the 193-nation body, which have all been implemented so far.

Five years later, he laid out four more major actions to help fight the pandemic, advance South-South cooperation and promote global sustainable development.

The year of 2020 will mark China's success of poverty alleviation and meet 10 years ahead of schedule the target set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Aiming to build a shared future, China is striving to create new drivers for shared development through various platforms such as the Belt and Road Initiative.

Zigani Saturnin (L), a student of China Agricultural University from Burkina Faso, checks crop growth in the field at an agricultural experimental base in Quzhou County, north China's Hebei Province, July 23, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhu Xudong)

Robert Lawrence Kuhn, chairman of the Kuhn Foundation, said China's poverty alleviation could serve as a good example for and will benefit other developing countries across the world.

"There is nothing more important in the world in terms of global equality, equity and sustainability than poverty alleviation, and in this regard, China's poverty alleviation program makes a vital contribution," Kuhn said.

Furthermore, China pledges to take more vigorous and effective approaches when pursuing green and sustainable development. China aims to have CO2 emissions peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060, according to Xi.

Jeffrey Sachs, an economics professor at Columbia University and a senior UN advisor, said he expects China will achieve the goal even ahead of the date, "as China is in the process of establishing world-class technologies" in green energy and high-tech industries.

Video reporters: Hu Yousong, Xie E, Tan Yixiao, Jiang Chao, Wang Jiangang; Video editor: Zhou Sa'ang)
40 Days for Life to have record participation despite COVID-19 pandemic

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The annual pro-life prayer vigil campaign 40 Days for Life will reportedly break a record for the most participating cities this year, despite pandemic-related shutdowns.

The 40-day annual event, which involves pro-life activists regularly praying outside of abortion clinics seven days a week, will begin Sept. 23 and conclude Nov. 1.

Shawn Carney, president and CEO of the group 40 Days for Life, told The Christian Post that 588 cities were participating this year, the largest since the observance was first held in 2007.

Many thought that the pandemic and civil unrest in our streets would be a deterrent, but I am so proud of the local leaders who came out in droves to apply, train, and lead their campaign locally, said Carney.

The desire to help women and their unborn children is at an all-time high despite nearly five decades of legalized abortion. The pro-life movement gets larger and younger by the day and that is illustrated in this record.

Carney also told CP that for the prayer campaign, his organization enhanced and expanded our training for the pandemic but also for security and keeping all participants safe.

The campaign is ready for any potential litigation, Carney explained, noting that they have extensive legal support available just in case a vigil faces legal harassment.

Historically, 40 days for Life is well-known in the communities we are in and we have a good reputation with local officials and law-enforcement, he continued.

If a local judge attempts to use COVID-19 as a vehicle to suppress our rights, then we are prepared to respond and defend those rights as Americans.

While largely concentrated in the United States and Canada, according to their website, 40 Days for Life vigils are slated to occur in several countries, including the United Kingdom, Argentina, Croatia, Germany, India, Nigeria, Spain, and Uganda.

Dorothy Zarelli, director of the local campaign for Tacoma, Washington, explained to CP that their vigil will be at the Cedar River Clinic, a late-term abortion provider.

We are on the sidewalk praying and holding our signs. We do not march or yell or confront anyone. We are just there to pray for the unborn and witness, said Zarelli.

Some days the sidewalk counselors are there and they are trained for one-on-one conversations with the people going into the clinic. We also have info on CareNet, a facility where pregnant woman can go get help with their pregnancy and a free ultrasound.

Zarelli noted that their campaign will feature four two-hour shifts seven days a week, with around 60 people being involved and at least two individuals present per shift.

Paula Grimm of the Right to Life League, head of the campaign for Pasadena, California, told CP that she first took part in a 40 Days for Life years ago as a college student.

Grimm explained that her local observance will take place at a Planned Parenthood in Pasadena, located right across the street from the offices of the Right to Life League.

Our volunteer list has 160 people on it and is growing rapidly, reported Grimm. LA county still has strict COVID health regulations in place, so our volunteers are required to wear masks and stand six feet apart at all times.

For our larger events  kickoff, midpoint, closing  we will space ourselves up and down the busy boulevard and across the street, rather than gather in one area.

As with other mass gatherings, demonstrations outside of abortion clinics have periodically been the target of law enforcement over concerns regarding the spread of the coronavirus.

In April, a district court judge issued an order allowing for pro-life activists to demonstrate outside of abortion clinics in Michigan after they had previously been ticketed for doing so.

U.S. District Court Judge Janet Neff issued an order approving an agreement between the City of Detroit and pro-life activist Andrew Belanger of the group ONElife for Life.

The City of Detroit shall dismiss the criminal citation issued to Plaintiff Andrew Belanger and any related criminal charges or proceedings that might arise from this citation and the incident related to it, read the order.
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Linkedin Benny Mawel and Budi Sutrisno (The Jakarta Post) Papua, Jakarta  Wed, September 23 2020

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.

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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 in Bhiwandi building collapse rises to 40

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Mumbai, Sep 23: Fourty 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.

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.

Personnel of the Thane Disaster Response Force (TDRF) pulled out the four-year-old boy, Ubed Quraishi, from the debris and fed him water.

Maharashtra disaster: Many killed in Bhiwandi building collapse | Oneindia News

Saddened says PM Modi on loss of lives in Bhiwandi building collapse

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 with the building collapse.

They will know the state is collapsing: Kangana Ranaut to Maha govt on 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.

"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.
Air Force Two, which is carrying Vice President Mike Pence, returned to Manchester-Boston Regional Airport shortly after taking off Tuesday night.

The vice president had held a rally earlier in the day in Gilford, New Hampshire.


The economic effects of the pandemic have created an even greater need to help underserved communities, while at the same time, a federal election where changes to popular traditional tax-advantaged programs that could help stimulate economic growth are being discussed.

Specialty financial administrator NES Financial, a JTC Company (LON: JTC), announced today that it will host its next webinar on tax-advantaged investments. Expert panelists will include Jean-Louis Guinchard, Managing Principal of RCX Capital Group; Daniel Wagner, SVP Government Relations of The Inland Real Estate Group; Edward J. Hannon, Shareholder of Polsinelli; and Frank Eichenlaub, Counsel of Polsinelli.

The informational webinar is scheduled for September 29 at 11 a.m. PT and will be moderated by Justin Amos, Account Executive, 1031 Specialist, of NES Financial. The event is free and open to the public to attend.

2020 has been a year like no other, said Amos. The economic effects of the pandemic have created an even greater need to help underserved communities, while at the same time, a federal election where changes to popular traditional tax-advantaged programs that could help stimulate economic growth are being discussed.

The Opportunity Zones initiative was enacted in 2017 to help incentivize economic development and growth in communities previously overlooked by investors. The initiative has grown considerably, with recently released final Treasury regulations and multiple legislative proposals to provide more in-depth reporting.

1031 exchanges enable you to reduce or eliminate taxes on the sale of business or investment real estate. If you want to sell one business or investment property (the relinquished property) and purchase a like-kind replacement property, structuring these two transactions as a 1031 exchange can enable you to defer capital gains tax and depreciation recapture tax.

In addition to discussing the benefits of each investment option, economic recovery and social impact, NES Financial will discuss how the latest presidential election may affect legislation. To RSVP and attend this webinar, please click here for more details or visit nesfinancial.com.

About NES Financial

NES Financial, a JTC Company, is a multi-jurisdictional provider of fund, corporate and private client services. The company administers more than $130 billion in assets and employs more than 900 people worldwide. A leader in specialty financial administration, NES Financial serves markets characterized by high administrative complexity, elevated transaction security needs and challenging compliance requirements.

As the North American division of JTC, NES Financial is the leading provider of third-party administrative solutions to US impact investment sectors, including Opportunity Zones and EB-5 visa funding, as well as to US private equity and 1031 exchanges. The companys technology-driven solutions streamline new best practices in these markets by simplifying specialized financial transactions, reducing back-office overhead, curtailing fraud and abuse, and ensuring security, transparency and regulatory compliance during each step of an investments life cycle.

For more information, visit nesfinancial.com.

About RCX Capital Group

Founded in 2001, RCX Capital Group, LLC, a registered broker dealer and FINRA member, is an investment and merchant banking boutique, focused exclusively on the real estate sector and delivering tech-driven capital solutions.

Capital Markets. We work with leading real estate investment managers and operators, helping them profitably grow AUM across private wealth, family office, and institutional capital networks. Our hybrid approach combines traditional expertise and know-how with modern digital efficiency. Our clients can leverage both our offline and online networks to gain access to capital pools globally. Our principals have raised over $56 billion in over 160 transactions and have over 110 years of combined experience. Our capital markets platform is powered by Source Central in which we have over $400 billion in digital AUM access.

Real Estate Sub Advisory. We empower wealth management firms to make the best real estate investment decision for their clients. RIA, Family Office, and Broker-Dealer clients leverage our platform and expertise to grow their AUM within the real estate asset class. Our advisory services and white label technology platform gives advisors and their clients access to fully-vetted deal flow for tax-advantaged structures, such as Delaware Statutory Trusts, Opportunity Zone Funds, directly held property, and real estate funds.

About Polsinelli

Polsinelli is an Am Law 100 firm with 900 attorneys in 21 offices nationwide. Recognized by legal research firm BTI Consulting as one of the top firms for excellent client service and client relationships, the firms attorneys provide value through practical legal counsel infused with business insight, and focus on health care, financial services, real estate, intellectual property, middle-market corporate, labor and employment and business litigation. Polsinelli PC, Polsinelli LLP in California.


A number of Taliban prisoners, who have been released by the Afghanistan government over the past few months, have returned to the battlefield, countrys top official Abdullah Abdullah said. Almost 5,000 prisoners have been released by Kabul as a part of Afghan Peace deal, which was brokered by the US and signed earlier in February. However, Abdullah, who chairs Afghanistan High Council for Nationa Reconciliation revealed that a considerable amount of them have taken arms again.

'Violation of the agreement'

Speaking at during an online conference with the US Council on Foreign Relations, Abdullah, who also heads the peace talks, asserted that some of the Taliban fighters have returned to wage a war against Afghanistan. "I do know that some have returned to the battlefield, which is a violation of the agreement that they had made," Abdullah said.

Although he noted that the peace talks with the Taliban in Doha had begun on a positive note, the violence on the Afghanistan territory had not lessened. In his speech, he also called on the US and other partners to pressure the Taliban leaders 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.

Read: Afghan Plea For Help In Making Peace With Taliban

Read: Trump Partnered With Taliban Ahead Of Afghan Peace Talks, Claims Ex-security Adviser

Last month, Associated Press reproted that a fierce fighting broke out between security forces and Taliban fighters during peace talks in Qatar. The long-awaited Afghan Peace talks began in August and were being seen as a historic opportunity to end decades of war in the country. As per reports, in the latest episode of violent overnight clashes erupted in three districts of Nangarhar province after security checkpoint was attacked by Taliban fighters.

As per Sayhoon News reports, Afghan Defense Minister Asadullah Khalid has stated that the attacks by Taliban forces have actually increased since the beginning of the peace talks. Khalid also is reported to have added that in an effort to ensure the violence does not negatively impact the ongoing talks, Afghan security forces have refrained from any aggressive retaliatory measures.

Read: Afghan Peace Talks Come With Heightened Clashes Between Security Forces, Taliban At Home

Read: Taliban Agrees To Resume Intra-Afghan Peace Negotiations, Talks To Begin On September 12

Image credits: AP
ISLAMABAD - Pakistans military said two of its soldiers were killed Wednesday by Indian fire in an unprovoked cease-fire violation in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir.

In a statement, it said Pakistani troops responded by targeting the Indian posts where the fire originated, causing substantial damage on the Indian side.

The Indian military accused Pakistan of initiating the clashes, saying Pakistani troops fired bullets and mortar shells along the Line of Control in the southern Poonch district early Wednesday. India did not report any casualties.

India and Pakistan routinely accused each other of unprovoked attacks along the tense Kashmir frontier in violation of a 2003 cease-fire agreement. Pakistan says India has violated the truce more than 2,000 times this year alone.

The region is split between the two countries, which each claim it in its entirety. India and Pakistan have fought two wars over Kashmir.

Tensions soared in February 2019, when Pakistan shot down an Indian warplane in Kashmir and captured a pilot in response to an airstrike by Indian aircraft targeting militants inside Pakistan. India said the strikes targeted Pakistan-based militants responsible for a suicide bombing that killed 40 Indian troops in the Indian-controlled part of Kashmir.

Relations have been further strained since August of last year, when India revoked the Muslim-majority regions decades-old semi-autonomous status, touching off anger on both sides of the frontier. Since then, troops have frequently traded fire, leaving dozens of civilians and soldiers dead on both sides.

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Sri Lankan authorities announced Wednesday that they will offer livestreams from the island nation's wildlife parks, in a move to help revive a tourism industry that has been decimated by the coronavirus pandemic

The government's Tourism Promotion Bureau said livestreaming will initially cover four national parks to showcase the South Asian country s exotic wildlife, including leopards, bears, elephants, crocodiles and birds, among other animals.

The project will offer eight wildlife streaming video sessions of one hour each, which will be telecast through social media platforms and shared further through broadcast media, the bureau said in a statement.

Tourism in Sri Lanka  which was named the world's top travel destination for 2019 by Lonely Planet  has suffered severely due to the coronavirus, with authorities indefinitely postponing their plans to reopen the country to tourists.

The government had planned to reopen to tourists on Aug. 1, but the plans were shelved when a new cluster of COVID-19 patients emerged in July.

Tourism is a vital economic sector for Sri Lanka, accounting for about 5% of its GDP and employing 250,000 people directly and up to 2 million indirectly. Several thousand hotel workers have been laid off since the pandemic started.

Sri Lankan health officials say that they have prevented a community spread of the virus, and that the patients now being reported belong to two known clusters. The country has reported 3,315 cases, including 13 deaths.

Sri Lanka imposed a nationwide curfew in March. The government gradually lifted the curfew in April and has taken steps to reopen the country in phases over the last three months, but schools and airports are still closed.

In a bid to contain the spread of the virus, Sri Lanka suspended all passenger flights and ship arrivals in mid-March, crippling the tourism industry.

According to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, no tourists arrived in Sri Lanka in April, May and June. Data for July is not available yet. There was a 60% decline in tourist arrivals from January to August this year compared to the same period in 2019.

To meet the income loss, most hotels are offering discounted prices for local tourists.
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.

Story continues

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.
Last week, Melissa Allis took her 11-year-old daughter with her to Firestone for a scheduled car repair. She wasnt bringing the sixth-grader just out of convenience: sitting and waiting at the shop meant her daughter could log on to the internet.

On another day, Allis spent a few hours parked outside a library so her daughter, Briar, could connect to the internet for online class.

Allis is a 42-year-old single mother who lives in Conway, a town with fewer than 2,000 residents in Western Massachusetts. When her three school-aged children had to switch to remote learning in the spring as coronavirus cases started to spread across Massachusetts, her kids were able to take turns using the internet. Remote classes were more casual then and did not include a full day of live, synchronous learning.

But now, as her children need to be online all day for school, Allis' situation is a worst-case scenario. The familys home is off the grid, located down a half-mile section of discontinued road. They get internet service from Verizon through a landline thats partially buried. This month, it became clear quickly that only one child could be online at a time for remote learning.

Allis said she asked school officials for paper packets of schoolwork and for information on how to find better internet access and has received few answers other than to bring her kids into school buildings. Allis, who works part-time as a nurse, wanted to keep her children remote as a safety precaution. Grappling with seemingly no option for a better connection, Allis feels she may no longer have a choice.

I understand teachers and the school systems are very overwhelmed but I also just feel like Im being forced into sending my children hybrid or full-time because I cant afford the resources, Allis said in a phone interview. I feel the schools are unwilling to help and I thought I would be able to have a choice to keep them home, to keep us all safe.

Heading into this school year, Allis thought remote learning would be like the spring. She didnt realize her children would have to be online all day. It has led to extreme trouble for her daughters to complete schoolwork.

Before school started, I had emailed all the principals and let them know that I was worried about my internet access. I didnt realize that they would be signing on live in real-time, Allis said.

Allis said her homes internet connection is strong enough for checking emails, or for her children to do school research online. But if one family member is on the internet, calls and text messages wont go through on her phone, she said. Even if her children were in a hybrid plan, theyd still run into internet problems during at-home learning time.

I wish I could get better internet service and I know its a lot to ask," Allis said. "I know that my circumstances where I live make it more expensive but I also feel like my children should be able to get a fair education and stay healthy at the same time.

Allis said she chose to keep her daughters on a remote learning plan because she is the sole caretaker for her children. She said she wanted to take the precaution to avoid the possibility of one of her children bringing the virus home.

I dont have family helping me and their only grandparent passed away last April, so if I were to be sick, I dont have anyone to take care of my children, she said.

An internet speed test shows completed at Melissa Allis' home in Conway. Her children are having trouble with remote learning. Courtesy photo.

A search for WiFi

Outside the local library, Briar, who attends Sunderland Elementary School, was able to use WiFi and log on for school. Another day, Allis tried parking outside the Conway Grammar School, but Briar could not get enough of a signal to log in.

Driving Briar around in search of WiFi means Allis has to leave her middle child, 13-year-old Dyna, at home alone to complete her eighth-grade work for Frontier Regional School. Allis son, Lincoln, is a 15-year-old in 10th grade at Franklin County Technical School. Lincoln is enrolled in a hybrid program, in school every other day, as he is in the automotive shop. Allis said she felt comfortable with him being in school a few days a week because the students wear respirators and goggles.

Both Briar and Dyna have hearing loss and wear hearing aids, Allis said, which complicates their situation more. If internet troubles cause the video to buffer or stall, its difficult for the girls to learn.

Sometimes the picture is frozen and theyre hearing them speak but they cant use the lip-reading, she said. Or if its breaking up entirely, they cant use closed captions.

Allis said she has spent hours a day researching alternatives and resources. She has asked for paper packets of school material to be sent home, but school officials have told her its not possible. Shes also working with a case manager from Holyoke Pediatrics and has reached out to the state in search of more information.

I dont know what other options are

Guidelines from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education indicates that Districts should ensure that every individual student and educator has access to an appropriate device (such as a laptop, Chromebook, or tablet) and adequate internet (such as through household broadband or a wireless hotspot) to use for remote learning.

A spokeswoman for DESE did not directly answer a question asking if districts are required to offer paper packets of schoolwork for families having trouble getting online.

We directed districts to ensure students have access to the tools they need to learn remotely, the spokeswoman said in a statement. If internet access is the problem, schools could consider addressing this through discounted purchasing (where internet access is available), hotspots, or by making a computer lab or other facility available. Solutions will look different in different districts and should consider what parents would find helpful."

Frontier Regional and Union #38 District Superintendent Darius Modestow said there are a small number of families in the district who are having trouble accessing the internet. In Allis' case, the location of her home does not even allow the opportunity to offer an internet hotspot - the signal in the area is not strong enough for a hotspot to work, he said.

For such cases, the district has opened internet cafes at elementary schools so students in the remote or hybrid plans can come to the building to get online, Modestow said. The students can also get lunch and supervision there. The Allis family used an internet cafe for school orientation.

The issue of a person thats choosing to do remote and not having the ability to be online puts the school in a difficult spot after weve tried to do those other things, Modestow said.

Allis has asked the district for paper copies of schoolwork so her daughter can keep up with assignments when shes not able to get online.

Right now were providing a remote education and were a hybrid district so were about to start up with having students in-person, so we already have two platforms in which were going to be delivering education, Modestow said. To give students handouts in place of a remote learning model would be like us giving them a textbook and telling the students to learn. We really cant go a whole other route of creating a paper curriculum for students to achieve on their own.

The district has a one-to-one Chromebook initiative and is trying to provide internet for students who need it, Modestow said.

In this particular case, we cant provide her internet. It does become a burden on the family to make a decision to either find a remote access spot or to have the offering the school is providing in of its buildings," Modestow said. Youre in dial-up country and dial-up can only handle so much bandwidth.

Modestow said he is open to other options for families that are having trouble with the current learning plans, but added that he doesnt believe the paper model works.

I dont know what other options are, he said. We have created a remote model that relies on the internet and those who have challenges with the internet weve tried to create accommodations for them. If those accommodations arent accepted then theyre really going to have to work on finding other ways of accessing the internet.

Modestow said there are many imperfections with the remote and hybrid models. The school district has about 1,500 students in four towns, all of which have different levels of internet access. Modestow said a low number of students dont have internet access.

Allis said she doesnt want to switch to a hybrid option, both for safety and because it still wont fix the problem for online learning days. Shes going to try and delay that choice for as long as possible.

Forcing me to bring my children into a facility to learn, solely because we lack resources due to our location and inability to afford internet such as dish or broadband, to teach my children with hearing loss, takes away our right to be remote, Allis said. I wish the school system would help my family with what we found helpful, which is learning safely from home, remotely, with books and learning packets, and at-home instruction, with the ability to email teachers.

Sen. Ed Markey and a coalition of more than three dozen Democratic senators have urged the Federal Communications Commission to boost internet connectivity for students who are learning at home amid the pandemic. Across the U.S., 16 million children lack internet access, who are disproportionally from communities of color, low-income households and rural areas.

Running out of options

In the spring, Allis reached out to Verizon, which told her that her residence has the maximum internet speed available through a phone line. Allis said Comcast told her that her home was not serviceable because she doesnt have telephone poles.

Allis could file a complaint regarding 504 plans for her daughters. She sees that as an option, but not her first choice.

I just hope that the school system can work with me to provide my kids with a good education, with the opportunity to keep my family safe as well," she said.

Ultimately, Allis feels lost on how to best help her children. And if coronavirus cases rise in Massachusetts this fall or winter, leading to another school shutdown, the familys plight will only become worse.

Im also worried about how they will access their school if we were to be quarantined or if the schools were to shut down again, she said. Because then, I would have them all three home.

Related Content:
The Greens have renewed calls for the Queensland government and Brisbane City Council to jointly purchase the former ABC Toowong site at 600 Coronation Drive, as an expressions of interest campaign ends in a week.

Maiwar MP Michael Berkman called for Treasurer Cameron Dick and lord mayor Adrian Schrinner to purchase the site, which he said was valued at $31 million, and convert it into a public park.

The 1.5-hectare site at 600 Coronation Drive, formerly the ABC Toowong headquarters.

Meanwhile, The Gabba ward councillor Jonathan Sri urged the state government to stump up half the predicted cost of a green bridge the council is planning that would connect West End to Toowong.

Cr Sri said he was concerned the LNP council administration did not have the funding to build the bridge, despite announcing four green bridges for the city.
Kaduna Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on Wednesday said his state feels a profound sense of loss at the demise of the Emir of Zazzau Emirate, Shehu Idris.

He said that the state will miss his dependable counsel and wisdom.

The governor once again commiserated with the people of Zazzau Emirate.

Referencing the widespread interest in the succession to the Zazzau Emirate throne, Mr El-Rufai prayed Allah to grant the kingmakers wisdom in recommending a successor with the qualities of Emir Idris.

Mr El-Rufai, who was speaking at the third-day prayer for late monarch held in Zaria , noted that the late Emir lived a life that many mortals would like to emulate.

The prayers marked the last day of the three-day mourning period announced by the state government in honour of the late Emir, with Wednesday specifically declared a public holiday.

Speaking at the event, former President Olusegun Obasanjo paid tribute to the late emir for the support he received as military head of state in the 1970s and as an elected president 20 years later.

The governors of Ekiti, Plateau, Niger and Jigawa states also spoke at the event.

With the conclusion of the official mourning period, the Kaduna State Government is awaiting receipt in the next few days of the recommendations of the kingmakers of Zazzau Emirate regarding the next emir, Muyiwa Adekeye, the spokesperson for Governor El-Rufai said in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES.

While the relevant institutions engage in their deliberations, the state government urges all residents to wait for official announcements and to ignore speculations, rumours and fake news.
Crude oil prices reversed their decline today after the Energy Information Administration reported an oil inventory draw of 1.6 million barrels for the week to September 18. This compares with a draw of 4.4 million barrels for the previous week.

The report came a day after the American Petroleum Institute propped prices up temporarily by estimating a sizeable decline in gasoline stocks, coupled with a modest build in crude oil stocks. Analysts, on the other hand, had expected the EIA this week to report an inventory draw of 2.325 million barrels.

In gasoline, the EIA estimated an inventory draw of 4 million barrels for the week to September 18, compared with a decline of 400,000 barrels for the previous week. This also helped prices up.

Gasoline production averaged 9.3 million bpd last week, up on a week earlier, when gasoline output averaged just 8.8 million bpd.

In distillate fuels, which are giving refiners a headache as demand for them remains a lot more subdued than demand for gasoline, the EIA reported a draw in stocks of 3.4 million barrels. This compares to a build of 3.5 million barrels estimated for the previous week amid still severely limited air travel.

Distillate fuel production last week averaged 4.5 million bpd, compared with 4.4 million bpd a week earlier.

Oil prices were still down at the time of writing, with Brent crude trading at $41.69 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate trading at $39.70 a barrel. The decline is hardly a surprise: it came amid deepening worry about the future state of oil demand as economic reports from different parts of the world suggested that any recovery would be slow. It also came soon after the news broke that Libya was reopening some of its oil export terminals and boosting production.

OilX reported that plans were to raise production to 260,000 bpd, from currently below 100,000 bpd. In a precarious price environment, this production boost was bound to pressure prices despite OPEC+s stated success with production cuts.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Inquiry heard police and the minister were not consulted on the decision

The inquiry still had not found out who made the decision to use private guards

The minister became 'cranky' upon learning of ADF involvement

Victoria's police minister Lisa Neville chucked a hissy fit upon learning in the media that Australian Defence Force personnel were to be deployed at Melbourne quarantine hotels.

Ms Neville told the public inquiry into the state's disastrous hotel quarantine program that she was 'pretty cranky' upon opening a Melbourne newspaper and reading that hundreds of troops would be replacing private security guards.

The minister had learned of the call for troops at midnight upon reading a front page newspaper report.

Victoria's Minister for Police and Emergency Services was 'pretty cranky' upon reading an article containing information she believes she oyught have known about

An email exchange in June between police minister Lisa Neville (in grey) and Victoria Police and Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp

An email exchange in June between police minister Lisa Neville (in grey) and Victoria Police and Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp

The June 25 article had revealed up to 850 ADF personnel had been requested by Victoria Police and Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp as COVID-19 spread from the quarantine hotels.

Quarantine breaches involving private security guards seeded 99 per cent of Victoria's deadly second wave of COVID infections, which in turn has led to more than 700 deaths of the elderly.

More than 30 security guards ended up catching coronavirus from quarantined returned travellers while working in the hotels.

After more than a month of sitting, the inquiry has heard not a single person can identify who made the decision to hire the private security guards.

Mr Crisp withdrew his request for ADF support the same day and instead Corrections Victoria officers were brought into guard returned travellers.

A text message exchange between Ms Neville and Mr Crisp was produced to the inquiry.

'The use of army in hotels? That was not agreed to at (Crisis Council) yesterday but is that we doing? And what will they be doing?' Ms Neville texted.

'Not sure what they do at hotels given no one leaves!! And they have no powers.'

Ms Neville told the inquiry she had been annoyed to learn of the proposal in the paper.

'So I think I, partly knowing how when I use two exclamation marks indicates that. I was still relatively annoyed about it,' she said.

ADF troops were not used to guard hotels housing returned travellers during the start of Victoria's COVID_19 pandemic

Texts between Mr Crisp and another public servant indicate the ADF was on offer from as far back as March 27 and his minister (Lisa Neville) knew it

DHHS secretary Kym Peake sends off an email to the justice department in June.

Ms Neville explained she was concerned from as far back as March 27 that ADF personnel had no powers to enforce hotel quarantine.

The inquiry has heard former Victoria Police Commissioner Graham Ashton claimed he was not consulted about security arrangements at the hotels before learning the decision had already been made.

Ms Neville said she had not been consulted either and was surprised when during a March 27 meeting with Mr Crisp the decision to employ private security appeared to have been set.

At the time, the government's jobs department had been in charge of the hotel quarantine scheme, before it was taken over by the health department.

As the inquiry draws to its conclusion, the question over who made the initial decision to employ private security guards remains unanswered.

Ms Neville said both herself and the commissioner should have been consulted.

Notes of her meeting with Mr Crisp indicate the use of ADF troops had been on offer from before the hotel quarantine program began.

A note scribbled by the police minister in March 27. It refers to private security and ADF

Former Victoria Police Commissioner Graham Ashton appeared at the inquiry last week. He claims he was not asked for his opinion on private security before the decision was made

Victoria Police and Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp annoyed the police minister when he failed to tell her what his plans for ADF personnel were

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, who will appear before the inquiry late Friday afternoon - in a move some believe was made to dodge media scrutiny - continues to deny ADF help had been on offer.

Ms Neville said she believed ADF personnel would have only been used to fill gaps in Victoria's response to the pandemic and would needed to have 'added value' to existing efforts.

She denied having knowledge of a possible ADF role on March 27, despite text messages from Mr Crisp to a colleague stating he was discussing it with her.

Ms Neville maintained she had been unaware of ADF involvement until she read that article months later.

The inquiry further heard Ms Neville never bothered to ask any of her colleagues interstate about their use of ADF at hotels because her department was not in control of the pandemic response - the health department was.

Earlier, jobs minister Martin Pakula claimed he too did not know who made the decision to use private security rather than ADF or police.

Nor could he explain why security company Unified Security, which was not endorsed by both the government or Trades Hall, received the lion's share of the hotel security work.

The minister said it was normal for the government to consult unions ahead of awarding contracts to ensure companies paid decent wages.

Unified Security had just 89 permanent staff in March, but ended up employing 1759 people, almost all through subcontractors.

Victorian jobs minister Martin Pakula fronted the hotel quarantine inquiry in Melbourne on Wednesday. Like most before him, he knew very little about the troubled system and where responsibility lies

A public servant within Mr Pakula's department pushes for Unified Security to be kept on at quarantine hotels beyond the initial weekend in March when the program was announced

The Police Association of Victoria and unions all had concerns about their members working within the hotels

It was through those subcontractors that Victoria's deadly second wave was spread.

'I think it is explicable in terms of the initial decision but I'm not aware of the context in which the decision was made to carry on,' Mr Pakula said.

The minister's department had been in charge of the hotel quarantine plan in the days before it was announced by the premier on March 27, at which point the health department took over control.

He claimed he had been unaware of any issues about hotel quarantine until after the inquiry into the debacle was established.

In hindsight, the minister said he would have preferred Jenny Mikakos' health department to have been in control from the beginning and made its own arrangements for security.

'I agree that it would be preferable for the agency which has overall responsibility to have the contractual management responsibility. I think that would have been better,' he said.

Private security guards were dumped by the State Government at the end of June as it became clear the virus had spread from the hotels they were guarding.

The inquiry continues.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 23)  The country saw a bigger funding gap in August as subdued economic activity kept tax collections deflated, data from the Bureau of the Treasury showed.

The Philippines incurred a 40.1 billion deficit for the month, ballooning from a measly 2.5 billion budget shortfall in August 2019. However, it is smaller than July's 140.2 billion gap.

The deficit was a result of a sustained drop in revenue collections against surging spending mainly for COVID-19 response measures since the first cases were confirmed in late January. There was a significant spike in public expenses since April, reflecting emergency measures meant to curb local COVID-19 infections.

The state collected 243.2 billion in August, down 13 percent from a year ago. Tax payments accounted for the bulk at 233.1 billion, down by a tenth as both the Bureau of Internal Revenue and Bureau of Customs suffered declines.

The Department of Finance earlier said there has been a recovery in tax collections as more establishments reopen, which they took as a sign of economic recovery following the first-semester recession.

READ: LGUs bleed as pandemic slashes local taxes by half  report

Non-tax revenues were slashed by nearly half to 10.1 billion, mainly due to lower dividends remitted by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, the Treasury said. Gambling and other leisure industries have remained closed in Metro Manila due to quarantine protocols.

Meanwhile, state expenses during the month steadied at 283.3 billion, barely changed from a year ago. The Treasury said this was due to a one-time transfer of subsidies to PhilHealth a year ago to cover medical benefits, which was frontloaded by the government this year between May-July. Minus that disbursement, spending is up 11.3 percent due to higher expenses for health and social services.

Total public spending from January to August totaled 2.672 trillion, up by 21 percent from the same period last year. This is only partially covered by 1.93 trillion revenues, leaving a 740.7 billion budget gap. This deficit is six times wider than the 120.4 billion shortfall as of August 2019, on track with state expectations of a record gap to be funded by debt.

READ: PH debt to hit over 10T by December

The government is prepared to see the budget gap swell to 1.8 trillion or 9.6 percent of gross domestic product for 2020 just to accommodate more spending for coronavirus prevention and cure. It has resorted to more loans from local and foreign sources to support COVID-19 programs as well as other projects in the pipeline for the year.

ING Bank senior economist Nicholas Antonio Mapa said he projects a sustained recession in the remainder of the year, as high unemployment and rising COVID-19 cases continue to dampen consumer spending and capital formation.

The economy shrunk by 9 percent in the first half, but the government sees softer contractions or even possible growth from July-December. Mapa said it could go worse, with his full-year projection pegged at a 9.9 percent contraction.
Without mentioning anyone's name, actress Kangana Ranaut took a major jibe at Bollywood mafia and said that they're finally regretting their silence over actor Sushant Singh Rajput's sudden demise. Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead in his apartment on June 14, 2020. Kangana Ranaut tweeted, "Finally for the first time Bullywood mafia wishing that Sushant wasn't killed and Kangana wasn't pushed against the wall, for the first time they are regretting their cruelty, sadism and silence. For the first time they are wishing they could turn back time and bring us back."

Kangana Ranaut On Bollywood Being Silence And Can we Bring That Moment Back | FilmiBeat

Kangana shared the tweet after Deepika Padukone, Shraddha Kapoor, Sara Ali Khan and Rakul Preet Singh were sent summons by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). ALSO READ: Drugs Case: Deepika Padukone, Shraddha Kapoor, Rakul Preet Singh And Sara Ali Khan Summoned By NCB

It's known to all that ever since Sushant left for his heavenly abode, Kangana has been slamming many celebrities like Karan Johar, Mahesh Bhatt, Salman Khan, etc., for the existence of nepotism in the film industry. Apart from them, Kangana also trashed many actresses including Alia Bhatt, Deepika Padukone, Sonam Kapoor, Taapsee Pannu, Swara Bhasker and Kareena Kapoor Khan.

Coming back to Kangana's tweet, it received mixed response from her followers. While some agreed with her, others criticised the Queen actress.

"@KanganaTeam is just like childhood me. I complained about the whole class to the principal for the wrongdoing which we did all together but i destroyed the evidence of mine. Now the whole class is punished," tweeted a netizen, while taking a sharp jibe at the Rangoon actress.

ALSO READ: Kangana Ranaut Supports Payal Ghosh, Says Bollywood Is Full Of Sexual Predators

Another netizen came out in Kangana's support and wrote, "I only hope that the so called elite and righteous people are exposed. I wonder what Jaya Bachchan is thinking. The thali she referred to is decorated with drugs. Youngsters wake up, time to appreciate talent and good cinema and not superficial movies."

What's your take on Kangana's tweet? Tell us in the comments section below.

(Social media posts are unedited.)
GRAFTON  The newest residents of Graftons Mississippi Riverfront will be welcomed at a 3 p.m. ceremony Sunday, Sept. 27, near the lighthouse park.

Created by Kurt Knickmeyer, Bobbie Heinemann and Rick Fortner, the concrete sculpture features a turtle, a frog and two catfish. The sculptures will be unveiled at an event hosted by the Grafton Parks Committee; participants are asked to bring their own chairs.

The trio used rebar and plaster lathe to create a form, then poured concrete into the form before guniting  or spraying a mix or mortar or concrete to the surface  and modeling the sculptures into their final shapes.

In the end, were just trying to make a nice piece of sculpture, Knickmeyer told The Telegraph this summer.

The turtles shell measures 10-by-12 feet, atop which sits a smaller frog. To the tail, the turtle measures 18 feet long, which is more than twice the length of the catfish sculptures which measure six and eight feet in length.

The sculptors are known for their work in The City Museum in St. Louis and the small turtle park across from the St. Louis Zoo. as playground furniture, said Knickmeyer.

Sundays event coincides with the first Riverside Flea Market of the year in Grafton. The popular event has not been held this year because of pandemic concerns. It returns 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at The Loading Dock on Saturday and Sunday.

Riverbank Gifts at 225 E. Main St., Grafton, also is celebrating its first year anniversary 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. And an Owl Prowl night hike is planned 5-9 p.m. at Pere Marquette State Park.
Etihad Airways marks Saudi Arabias 90th National Day. Image: Etihad Airways

To mark the occasion, the airline created an infographic to showcase the flight path of the special liveried Choose Saudi Arabia Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner since its first flight to Riyadh on 23 September 2019.

Ahmed Al Qubaisi, senior vice president government, international and communications, Etihad Aviation Group said: The Saudi Arabian-inspired livery celebrates the UAEs close historical ties with the Kingdom. Saudi Arabia is a key market and we enjoy a special relationship with Saudia through our codeshare agreement and an extensive maintenance programme through our Etihad Engineering division.

With travel restrictions being eased and borders reopening, subject to the lifting of international restrictions, we look forward to resuming flights to the Kingdom in October and once again, connecting Abu Dhabi to Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam.
Queen Elizabeth II welcomes Boris Johnson during an audience in Buckingham Palace as she recognised him as the new prime minister in July 2019. (Reuters)

Boris Johnson has brought Brexit back on to the table with a bill that his own ministers have had to admit could break international law.

Facing a Tory rebellion over the issue after criticism from five former prime ministers and dozens of Conservative backbenchers, Johnson offered an amendment to guard against a rebellion. The bill subsequently passed the Commons committee stage on Tuesday evening without the need to vote.

The amendment promises additional votes before the law-breaking powers are used  but the powers themselves are still on the table.

So might Johnson  whose decision last year to ask the Queen to prorogue parliament was deemed unlawful by the Supreme Court  soon be asking the monarch to sign off a bill that could break the law?

Watch: EU tells UK to 'stop playing games' on Brexit

Johnson tabled the Internal Market Bill earlier this month. It seeks to enshrine mutual recognition and non-discrimination, ensuring the four nations of Wales, Scotland, England and Northern Ireland can trade with one another.

But it also overrides parts of the Withdrawal Agreement between Britain and the EU by giving ministers the power to disapply previously agreed rules, including those for the Northern Ireland protocol, which helps ensure no hard border returns on the island of Ireland.

Although she is head of state, and hosts a weekly audience with her prime minister, the Queen is keen to remain politically neutral. The palace will want to avoid Her Majesty being dragged into constitutional or political controversy.

The Queen's role as head of state includes reading the Queen's Speech during the State Opening of Parliament, as here in 2016. (Reuters)

Read more: Does the Queen really own all the swans in Britain?

The Queen still gives Royal Assent to bills, approving their passing into law. Its considered a formality now, and the Queen has never refused to give her assent.

The last time a monarch refused assent was 1708, when Queen Anne objected to the Scottish Militia Bill, though even in the Queens reign there have been contentious issues.

Dickie Arbiter, former press secretary to the Queen, told Yahoo UK it was unlikely she would be dragged into anything untoward, because she acts on the advice of her prime minister.

Story continues

He said there would be ongoing discussion between the palace and Downing Street but by the time it gets to Royal Assent, the is have been dotted and the ts crossed.

For the Queen to rely on the advice of her prime minister, she must know that he or she is acting in good faith.

Anne Twomey, professor of constitutional law at the University of Sydney, told Yahoo UK this case is unusual because it concerns a breach of international law, not domestic, and because the government has admitted it, so its not likely to need to be resolved in a court.

Citing an example from Commonwealth realm Australia, Professor Twomey said: In 1975, it took five months for royal assent to be given by the Queen to the new Constitution Act of the State of Victoria, because British officials were arguing amongst themselves as to whether certain provisions in it were constitutionally valid.

One official took the view that the British government had to be satisfied that the reserved bill was within power, did not encroach upon the responsibilities of the Commonwealth government and (that) its enactment would not cause the Queen unacceptable embarrassment if successfully challenged in the Australian courts.

It would appear doubtful, however, that the Johnson government would even understand the concept of embarrassment, so the relevance of the precedent is probably not great.

Boris Johnson during the debate on the Internal Market Bill in the House of Commons, London. (House of Commons/PA Images)

Read more: Does the Queen have more money than previously thought?

Four years after that, Australia threw up another issue, as British ministers decided they could not advise the Queen to give her assent to certain bills dealing with appeals from the state courts, because they determined them to be unconstitutional.

In a meeting between New South Wales and British officials, the Australian argument was that assent should be given and issues of validity left to the courts to determine.

Brexit has thrown up unusual circumstances around Royal Assent before. When the Conservatives operated a minority government and MPs managed to pass the bill tabled by Hilary Benn against the will of ministers, the Queen might have been advised not to sign.

However, parliament was instead prorogued, so it may never be known what the ministerial plan was.

Gina Miller, who took the government to court over Brexit, said of the Internal Market Bill: I wonder what our 94-year-old Queen thinks? Not only did her prime minister lie to her about proroguing parliament, he is now asking her to put her name to an act which would break international law.

This would mar her legacy as someone whose life has been dedicated to the rules based order.

What if she were to refuse Royal Assent? What advice will her privy counsellors give her?

Citing the 1914 incident of King George V nearly refusing assent over the Irish Home Rule Bill, Miller added: The tables are now turned as it would be her own prime minister who would be necessarily advising her to agree to break international law.

Been pondering the #InternalMarketBill today and penned a few thoughts.

People may wish to send to their MPs as the Bill comes before Parliament this week and MPs debate/consider the national and international consequences pic.twitter.com/eiv7yx2QnQ  Gina Miller (@thatginamiller) September 13, 2020

Reflecting on the issue of Royal Assent in his paper Reforming the Prerogative in the UK, Professor Robert Hazell said: What if the ministers proffering that advice can no longer command the confidence of parliament?

The safer course, even then, is for the Sovereign to follow the ministerial advice; while the Queen would be strongly criticised, and really trigger a constitutional crisis, if she declined to do so.

So long as the Queen follows the advice of her government, then as with the unlawful prorogation, all criticism would be directed at the government which is accountable to Parliament, and whose constitutional role is to absorb such criticism instead of the monarch.

Now that the Internal Market Bill has passed committee stage in the House of Commons, it will travel through the House of Lords, where more questions are likely to be raised.

The UK is in the transition period of Brexit, with an agreement needed by the end of October if it is going to leave the EU with anything but a no-deal situation.

Ministers could delay the bills next appearance in the Commons until the results of the crunch summit in October are clear.
In the coverage of anti-government demonstrations, the city's public television is accused of bias towards the police. Warnings also for Commercial Radio and TVB. Journalists and schools of journalism are calling for the withdrawal of the new guidelines from law enforcement agencies.

Hong Kong (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The Communications Authority has issued a warning to the public television RTHK, reproaching it for being "biased" against the police. In its accusation, the supervisory body refers to four episodes of the "Pentaprism" program, which aired between September and November last year, in the midst of anti-government protests.

The Authority maintains that RTK only gave space to voices critical of police during the demonstrations, without any opportunity for rebuttal. The incriminated interventions involved the police raiding the Prince Edward subway station on August 31, and an officers wounding a demonstrator in Sai Wan Ho on November 11. The programmes editorial board defended its work by explaining that the security authorities had set out their reasons in several press releases.

This is not the first time RTK has been attacked by city officials for its coverage of clashes between law enforcement and demonstrators. For the same reason, Commercial Radio and TVB, which are private, have also been targeted by the executive.

Media censorship in the former British colony has increased with the adoption of the new security law wanted by Beijing. Yesterday, the police announced that they will only recognize press accreditations for journalists who work for publications registered with the Communications Authority or for "internationally recognized foreign media". Reporters who present credentials issued by journalists' associations will no longer be able to participate in the press conferences of the law enforcement agencies; they will no longer have access to restricted areas either for security reasons.

Eight trade unions, including the Hong Kong Journalist Association, are calling for the withdrawal of new guidelines established by the police. Journalist associations have long accused the law enforcement agencies of preventing the media from doing their job and of using excessive force against them. According to seven schools of journalism, restrictions on press accreditation are a threat to traditional city freedoms.
Takeo Nakajima, chief representative of the Japan External Trade Organization

The Japanese government issued incentives of around 57.4 billion ($546 million) to support its businesses move away from China. How likely is it that there will be another package like this?

After the initial financial incentives, with which our government supported businesses with a certain budget, it is unlikely that this will happen again. Instead, the Japanese state is aiming to support businesses in supply chain diversification by conducting surveys and giving advice to help them make the right investment decisions.

What issues does Vietnam need to tackle to foster Japanese investment into the country?

I think there are some points to be made here. In the medium term, Vietnam should improve on the rising labour costs and the imminent shortage of labour force in some sectors, as these are factors currently preventing some Japanese firms from expanding their production in the country.

One solution could be to expand the training system for technical engineers and improve the legal framework to overcome the shortage of skilled labourers. Currently, Vietnams laws forbid overtime for some higher-skilled workers, while unskilled ones seem to work way more than initially agreed on.

Moreover, Vietnam needs to improve its low localisation rate. For example, when a business needs to buy 100 products of a certain kind, often only 35 per cent can be acquired right here. Meanwhile, these rates can climb to 60 and 70 per cent in Thailand and China. With such a low localisation rate, it remains difficult for Japanese enterprises to source all needed components domestically. This, in turn, raises production costs unnecessarily.

Furthermore, the country needs to guarantee the provision of high-quality electricity supply. This is especially important for manufacturing companies as power outages in the blink of an eye can cause machinery to operate incorrectly, leading to production failures and losses for the business.

How can Vietnam attract more small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that want to diversify their supply chains?

Apart from the already-mentioned localisation rate, Vietnam should further build up a consistent support system for overseas investors like those from Japan. To do so, policies should be directed towards businesses that are part of production chains for larger enterprises.

When these huge companies take an interest in expanding their operations in Vietnam, they will entail a series of smaller satellite companies, mainly SMEs. Among these will be some of the leading Japanese SMEs who are looking to set foot into some of Vietnams many industrial parks. However, these parks currently also have some limitations that should be remedied, such as a lack of human resources and investment insecurities for foreign companies.

How would you describe Japans supply chain in Vietnam now?

Before the outbreak of the pandemic, 64 per cent of businesses said they would come to Vietnam to invest and produce goods for the domestic and export markets. However, currently, the pandemics development remains complicated, with the number of infections still rising. Therefore, our top priority should be to control the spread of the disease and mitigate its side effects.

In the end, any firms investment plans will depend on the outcome of the fight against the pandemic. We conducted a survey in June and received heterogeneous answers from responding companies. Whereas the automotive sector generally said that a full recovery will take time, some firms operating in consumer goods were more optimistic and are expecting a faster recovery. So, where Japanese businesses currently stand depends largely on their industry, but most of Japans supply chain in Vietnam has certainly been affected by the health crisis.

We highly appreciate Vietnams efforts and success in controlling the disease. So far, no Japanese company had to stop its production or cut down on its workforce. However, as exports have been stagnating, difficulties remain. We will further encourage large Japanese enterprises to expand their production lines in Vietnam to not only use the countrys advantages but also support local supply chains as well as cities and provinces.
Major General Zhao Jingmin (right) confers orders to peacekeepers of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO).

By Zhao Jingmin

I have conducted three overseas peacekeeping missions from 1991 to 2011. The most memorable one was my experience as the Force Commander in the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO).

On September 15, 2007, I took a flight from New York to Casablanca, Morocco, to serve as the Force Commander of the MINURSO. This is the first time that the UN has appointed a Chinese military commander to head the peacekeeping force in a mission area. On the plane, the words of the UN Secretary-General, the Deputy Secretary-General, and the Military Adviser to the Secretary-General echoed in my mind--

"MINURSO is facing a complex political environment. Both parties of the local conflict often complain and dissatisfy with MINURSO's performance of peacekeeping duties. There have also been some serious disciplinary violations within the peacekeeping force. I hope you can bring the excellent style of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) to the mission area and lead the troops well."

During the flight, I was briefed about the situation in the current mission area: the two parties of the conflict had great doubts about MINURSO's fairness, justice, and neutrality, and did not cooperate on ceasefire monitoring; the previous chief of staff of MINURSO was repatriated for disciplinary violations; military and civilian departments in MINURSO were at loggerheads; military observers were dissatisfied with the food, etc. It can be said that many challenges awaited me.

Upon arrival at the mission area, the first thing I solved was the non-cooperation of the conflicting parties on the ceasefire monitoring. After investigation, I found that both parties of the conflict have a cooperative attitude towards the UN. The reason why UN military observers to conduct verifications were shut out of their military command posts is mainly because of their concern about being misunderstood and unfairly treated. Therefore, I suggested changing the word "verification" into "visit" and asked the observers to pay attention to the methods when entering the command posts and minimize the hostility when conducting substantive verification.

This approach opened the door to the UN observers at all levels of command posts on both sides of the conflict. The number of incidents against UN military observers dropped from hundreds to only a few cases per month, which greatly eased the tension in the mission area. The implementation of the ceasefire agreement of the two sides has also been continuously collected. This case was recognized by UN headquarters and both parties of the conflict in the mission area. They highly appreciated the methods of monitoring the implementation of the ceasefire.

When I took office, MINURSO had more than 230 military observers from 27 countries. They have different cultural, religious, and historical backgrounds, and they have different hobbies and personalities. It is not easy to manage such a team. Therefore, I advocate mutual respect, mutual understanding, and tolerance between each other. Only in this way can observers from various countries get along well. It is with this concept that I have successfully resolved the conflict between military and civilian departments in MINURSO.

Every task in the UN peacekeeping mission area has standard operating procedure (SOP). Upon arrival, I devoted a lot of time and energy to improve and revise the SOPs in MINURSO according to changes of situation, especially strengthened training of driving safety and mine protection. I also summarized experience and lessons from accident cases and signs. In the previous 16 years before I took office, 16 peacekeepers lost their lives in the Western Sahara mission area. During my nearly four-year tenure, the mission area maintained a record of zero casualties, no serious violation of discipline, and no accident due to strict management. "Outstanding performance" were the then UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moons description for my service.

For me, it is a great honor to be the first Chinese officer to serve as a senior commander of the UN peacekeeping force. For the Chinese military, it is also an affirmation, showing that the UN fully recognizes the capabilities and qualities of Chinese peacekeepers.

(The author Zhao Jingmin is a retired PLA Major General, who was appointed as Force Commander of MINURSO in September 2007, being the first Chinese military officer to assume a senior command position in the UN peacekeeping forces. Born in 1954, he used to be a military attache abroad and has many years of working experience in the United Nations).
Queensland's Deputy Premier has accused Prime Minister Scott Morrison of using the nations defence force as a "bargaining chip" to pressure the state into reopening its borders.

The Australian Defence Force is in talks to pull troops from border checkpoints and redeploy them to hotel quarantine, as more domestic restrictions are eased and an influx of travellers return from overseas.

Police officers and members of the ADF have been patrolling borders around the country together. Credit:Luis Ascui

About 500 ADF members have been helping Queensland manage its response to the pandemic since July.

Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles told Mr Morrison to "back off" and not tinker with the state's border policy.
NEW YORK - A spike in COVID-19 cases in a handful of Brooklyn and Queens neighbourhoods with large Orthodox Jewish populations is raising alarm bells even as New York Citys overall infection rate remains low, city officials said Wednesday.

The neighbourhoods including Borough Park and Williamsburg accounted for 20% of the citys COVID-19 cases in recent weeks, according to city Health Department numbers.

We have a lot to do because were seeing a serious uptick in multiple neighbourhoods simultaneously, Mayor Bill de Blasio said at his daily coronavirus briefing. And its something we have to address with a very aggressive public health effort right away.

Some neighbourhoods have drawn scrutiny since early in the coronavirus pandemic for large gatherings that violated social distancing guidelines. De Blasio personally oversaw the dispersal of a Hasidic funeral in Williamsburg in April and weathered criticism over a tweet warning the Jewish community, and all communities to heed the virus.

Dr. Mitchell Katz, the head of the citys public hospital system, said health officials are meeting with religious leaders in the hard-hit neighbourhoods, making robocalls in English and Yiddish and sending sound trucks to flood the streets with messages about virus guidelines.

Katz said the city hopes to prevent gatherings such as wedding banquets in the communities that are seeing an uptick.

Large indoor activities are a huge problem for COVID transmission, he said.

Katz said his own father-in-law died of COVID-19 two nights ago in Israel.

According to the Health Department, the number of COVID-19 cases in neighbourhoods along Brooklyns Ocean Parkway more than tripled from 122, in the week that ended Aug. 1, to 381 in the week that ended Sept. 19.

De Blasio said police would help enforce social distancing guidelines in the neighbourhoods. Two yeshivas that saw coronavirus clusters have been closed, he said.

Spikes in coronavirus infections have also been tied to other types of religious gatherings in New York, as elsewhere. The Lighthouse Baptist Church in upstate Chemung County has been linked to at least 45 cases across six counties.

Rabbi Avi Shafran, a spokesperson for Agudath Israel of America, an Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization, said city officials are right to call on the community to do all it can to limit the spread of COVID-19 but should not single out any particular group.

There are likely people in the Orthodox community, as there are in other groups, including club-goers and protesters, who are not heeding the guidelines aimed at curbing the spread of the disease, Shafran said. They need, all of them, to realize that it is dangerous, for themselves and others, to not follow health authorities recommendations.
Rome's Fiumicino Airport is trialling a pre-departure testing system to facilitate what reports have dubbed "Covid-free" flights.

The pilot scheme is operating on two daily Alitalia routes to Milan Linate.

All passengers on these flights must be tested for Covid-19 before departure, and can only board the aircraft if they return a negative result.

Passengers can either undergo a rapid antigen swab test at a designated area in Terminal 3, or bring a certificate showing a negative test result issued within the previous 72 hours.

Airport tests are free under the trial, with results available within half-an-hour.

"The result of the swab will be read and communicated by the doctor after 30 minutes by calling the identification numbers of passengers who, whilst waiting for their result, are unable to leave the test area," according to a statement by Aeroporti di Roma, which operates the city's airports.

If the result is negative, they can proceed to board. If positive, they are not permitted to fly - though will receive a voucher for a future flight.

The Rome to Milan flights are Alitalia AZ 2038, departing daily at 13:30, and AZ 2092, which takes off at 17:30.

If successful, the system may be rolled out with other routes and airlines.

It comes as global aviation continues to reel from the pandemic, with a confusing variety of travel rules and restrictions further thwarting recovery and affecting passenger confidence.

The European Commission has proposed a common 'traffic light' approach, but testing is also seen as a key tool for safely resuming and restoring faith in travel - as well as eliminating blanket quarantines.

Several European airports, including Frankfurt and Vienna, are offering paid testing to arriving and departing passengers, with rates ranging from 59 to 139 for "express" results.

Fiumicino - also known as Leonardo da Vinci Airport - is the first in Europe to offer rapid testing for departing passengers.

Since September 1, it has also hosted a drive-in Covid-19 testing centre in its long-term car park, a 7,000-sqm facility manned by the Italian Red Cross.

In other news, Fiumicino recently became the first airport to receive a Skytrax 5-star Covid-19 airport rating, based on the hygiene and preventative measures it has in place to help reduce the spread of coronavirus.

Skytrax is best known for its annual rankings of the world's best airports.

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T he Prime Ministers television appearances are a Rorschach inkblot test of prior inclinations. If you incline to see a baggy-eyed, ruffled looking bounder, waffling about stitches in time and vaguely explaining new rules, you will have found his missive last night wanting and switched over approvingly to Nicola Sturgeon, whose natural mode is telling Scotland to stay at home

If, however, you view the next lockdown hoving into view as a sorrowful moment, in which many businesses will experience a fatal sucker punch leaving gaping holes in central London, you will give the PM the benefit of the doubt for trying to bridge the competing arguments of hawks and doves when it comes to dealing with the return of a high Covid-19 infection rate.

Hawks and doves divide in the Government aviary so glaringly because they reflect a growing divide over approaches to combatting the virus. For every one of us fishing out our masks more diligently when we leave the house, there is someone arguing that the best thing we can do is battle on and let the young catch the virus to boost herd immunity. Astride this tetchy battlefield stands Johnson, flailing in the past few weeks to find the right answers to justified criticism of an inadequate track-and-trace scheme and scrappy answers to public frustration over lack of access to testing.

Covid 2.0 requires an urgent relaunch of the Prime Ministers jumpy political software and last night was round one. We got a list of tweaked rules and fanfare about tougher penalties and fines of up to 10,000 for rule-breachers. (Can Dominic Cummings afford it? ). Yes, it featured an unmistakable U-turn on working from home. But short of the Government keeping us all locked up for most of the year, there will be changes in rules. France and Germany move their regulations frequently in response to local conditions, so the quest for complete consistency in a pandemic is, Im afraid, elusive.

Few of us are outright doves, who relish the shutting down of national and civic life as a precaution against any spread of the virus. Ditto hawks, who feel we should take our chances, but dont have an answer for the risk they impose on the more vulnerable.

A lack of diplomacy towards his party, an inward-looking Number 10 machine and churlish treatment of critics

The shifting balance between these positions is embodied in the Cabinet by Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor, and Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary. Instinctively, the PM is far closer to Sunaks warnings that too tight a clampdown will cause more damage through job losses, acute mental health problems, missed cancer treatments and the toll of isolation and unemployment. The Chancellor desperately needs upward blips of economic life on the monitor and the consequences of a moribund economy are also deadly serious, with potential to undermine the livelihoods of generations to come. The consistent answering bid from Hancock has always been that the priority is to prevent the NHS being overwhelmed until a vaccine is available or sufficient herd immunity is reached by the gradual spread of the virus to move the infection rate downwards. For all the failures along the way (the recent testing shortfall being but the latest example of a rickety public health edifice), this is likely to remain a sound argument until a vaccine becomes available.

It is a tough message for politicians to deliver and Johnsons failings are often more about an erratic communications style than saying anything stupid on combatting Covid. I seem to be one of the few people who gets the point of the 10pm pub closures, on the grounds that disinhibition is cumulative and behaviour of drinkers late in the evening is always more risky than it is earlier on.

The rules he now espouses are compromises aimed at a safety-check on our daily behaviours. I should think that he knows full well that this will most likely lead to a sharper lockdown of (hopefully) limited duration soon, but that easing people into this is less demoralising than a sudden jolt.

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In truth, the PMs problem is not that he has to weigh up competing interests as part of the changing jigsaw of Covid-19. It is a lack of diplomacy towards his own party, an inward-looking Number 10 machine and a churlish treatment of reasonable critics outside it. If the PM wants to promote a sense of commonsensical unity and good faith, it might not be a bad idea to give it a whirl in his dealings at Westminster too.

Anne McElvoy is senior editor at The Economist
BOSTON, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Salsify, Inc., the leading commerce experience platform that helps brands win on the digital shelf, today announced that it has closed a $155 million Series E round of financing led by Warburg Pincus, a leading global investment firm focused on growth.

"From skyrocketing traffic across major online retail sites to step function growth in direct to consumer channels , this year is when the digital shelf became the focal point of how consumers research, buy from, and develop relationships with brands," said Jason Purcell, Salsify co-founder and CEO. "We are excited to partner with a world-renowned firm like Warburg Pincus in our mission to ensure that brands across industries and geographies are best equipped to offer incredible commerce experiences to consumers, anywhere they shop online."

Salsify's CommerceXM platform combines powerful Product Experience Management capabilities (PIM, DAM, enhanced content and advanced workflow capabilities) with the ability to deliver and sell products across both retailer channels and direct channels such as marketplaces, social commerce and brand-owned sites.

By integrating all the capabilities brands need to support and transact commerce experiences through one technology stack, Salsify CommerceXM enables brands to move faster than their competition to optimize every digital touchpoint for discovery, conversion, and brand affinity.

Warburg Pincus has invested more than $20 billion in technology companies since inception, and is one of the most active growth investors in enterprise technology and SaaS. Notable technology investments include CrowdStrike, Avalara, Samsara, Ant Group, Privitar, Trax and Gojek, among others.

"Salsify is a clear market leader, serving some of the largest and most discerning global brands and retailers. The company's strong track record, paired with a talented leadership team has positioned it well for the increase in demand for digital shelf solutions," said Vishnu Menon, Managing Director, Warburg Pincus. "We are excited to partner with Salsify in their mission to help brands develop better and longer lasting relationships with consumers online," added Michael Ding, Vice President, Warburg Pincus.

Since its 2018 Series D , Salsify has seen consistent growth both from within its existing customer base and from the global enterprise sector. Salsify currently boasts a greater than 120% net revenue retention rate. Out of the company's 800 customers, 225 have more than $1 billion in revenue and 165 have global implementations of the platform.

In 2020, Salsify was named a Cool Vendor in Digital Commerce by Gartner and a leader in IDC's Product Information Management Marketscape. Earlier this month, Mike Milburn, former Chief Customer Officer at Salesforce, was also appointed President to lead all go-to-market and customer operations.

The new round of funding will enable Salsify to further accelerate product development of its commerce experience management platform. The company also plans on using the funds to scale international growth investments, including overseas sales, marketing, and business development efforts, along with assisting customers in global implementations of the platform.

For more information on Salsify's commerce experience platform, visit www.salsify.com

About Salsify

Salsify empowers brand manufacturers to win on the digital shelf by delivering the commerce experiences consumers demand anywhere they choose to shop online. The world's biggest brands including Mars, L'Oreal, Coca-Cola, Bosch, and GSK use Salsify every day to stand out on the digital shelf. To date, Salsify has raised a total of $198.1 million in funding, led by Warburg Pincus, Venrock, Matrix Partners, Greenspring Associates, Underscore VC, and North Bridge.

For more information, please visit: http://www.salsify.com .

About Warburg Pincus

Warburg Pincus LLC is a leading global investment firm focused on growth. The firm has more than $53 billion in assets under management. The firm's active portfolio of more than 185 companies is highly diversified by stage, sector, and geography. Warburg Pincus is an experienced partner to management teams seeking to build durable companies with sustainable value. Founded in 1966, Warburg Pincus has raised 19 funds, which have invested more than $84 billion in over 900 companies in more than 40 countries. The firm is headquartered in New York with offices in Amsterdam, Beijing, Berlin, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Luxembourg, Mumbai, Mauritius, San Francisco, Sao Paulo, Shanghai, and Singapore. For more information please visit www.warburgpincus.com .

Media Contact

Jason Fidler

Director of Communications, Salsify

[email protected]

Kerrie Cohen

Head of Communications, Americas, Warburg Pincus

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The PPS says it has now put in place a support package for the 17 victims affected

Northern Irelands Public Prosecution Service (PPS) has said victims of sexual offences should continue to have confidence in reporting crimes following its decision to set rescind 15 invalid convictions due to a legislative error.

The decision will impact on 15 cases in which there were 17 victims and only applies to certain sexual offences which occurred between 2009 and 2017.

The PPS said it launched a review of all cases potentially impacted after prosecutors became aware of a technical change to the law made in 2009.

This meant that certain types of sexual offences could no longer be prosecuted in the Magistrates Court and could only be dealt with by the Crown Court.

The PPS says the issue was not identified by any of the parties involved in the progress of each case through the courts at the time.

The cases in which there will be an application to rescind convictions involve 14 victims of indecent assault on a female; one victim of indecent assault on a male and two further cases of unlawful carnal knowledge.

The PPS says it has now put in place a support package for the 17 victims affected.

It will also be considering whether fresh prosecutions should be taken against the 15 defendants.

PPS Assistant Director Ciaran McQuillan said today: We are truly sorry to have to inform all affected by this unforeseen and undetected error in the law. This development will have come as a great shock and disappointment to the victims. It will also cause uncertainty for the defendants involved.

The PPS has arranged for delivery of letters to all those affected with a detailed explanation of how the situation arose and the steps we are now proposing to take. In recognition of the cross cutting nature of this issue, we have worked together with the criminal justice partners involved to identify the scale of the problem and the actions needed to address it.

We have made significant efforts to minimise the shock and upset these victims will clearly be feeling but we appreciate that this will be distressing news for many of them.

Mr McQuillan says the PPS is liasing with two charities, Victim Support NI and Nexus NI, to offer support and counselling for the victims through this challenging time.

The PPS says a fresh decision in each case will be taken within as short a timeframe as possible and that engagement with the victims would be an important part of that process.

Mr McQuillan added: The PPS works hard alongside criminal justice partners to robustly prosecute sexual offences where the Test for Prosecution is met. Victims should not allow the unusual circumstances which led to this development to diminish confidence in coming forward to report their experience. Victims can continue to come forward in the knowledge that they will be treated with sensitivity and respect.
WASHINGTON  Thousands of people are expected to pay their respects at the Supreme Court to the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the womens rights champion, leader of the courts liberal bloc and feminist icon who died last week.

Even with the court closed to the public because of the coronavirus pandemic and Washington already consumed with talk of Ginsburgs replacement, the justices former colleagues, family, close friends and the public will have the chance Wednesday and Thursday to pass by the casket of the second woman to serve on the Supreme Court.

Ginsburgs flag-draped casket arrived at the court at 9:30 a.m. and was carried into the courts Great Hall, past her former law clerks who lined the steps.

Former law clerks walk out and stand for the casket of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg to arrive at the Supreme Court in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020. Ginsburg, 87, died of cancer on Sept. 18. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)AP

Inside, the courts remaining eight justices were together for the first time since the building was closed in March and they resorted to meetings by telephone.

Ginsburg will lie in repose for two days at the court where she served for 27 years and, before that, argued six cases for gender equality in the 1970s.

Nearly 200 members of the public had gathered to pay their respects by early morning, intermingling with dog walkers and joggers who cut through the crowd. At the front of the crowd were attorneys Cara Stewart and Jenny Beene-Skuban, who drove overnight from the Cincinnati area to be there.

A memorial to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg includes a photograph of the late Justice, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020, outside the Harvard Law School library at Langdell Hall, on the campus of Harvard University, in Cambridge, Mass. Ginsburg, who attended Harvard law school but transferred to Columbia, died Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, at the age of 87. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)AP

I felt like I couldnt not be here, said Stewart, a public-interest lawyer from Martin, Kentucky.

Stewart said she particularly identified with Ginsburgs early career as a civil rights advocate.

What moves me more is her career before the court, she said. Using the courts for justice and being successful  thats not easy to do.

Beene-Skuban, of Cincinnati, said Ginsburgs career blazed trails for women who came after her.

Were here to recognize the shoulders were standing on, she said.

Outside the building, chairs and monitors were set up.

Following a private ceremony Wednesday in the courts Great Hall, her casket will be moved outside the building to the top of the courts front steps so that public mourners can pay their respects in line with public health guidance for the pandemic.

Since her death Friday evening, people have been leaving flowers, notes, placards and all manner of Ginsburg paraphernalia outside the court in tribute to the woman who became known in her final years as the Notorious RBG. Court workers cleared away the items and cleaned the court plaza and sidewalk in advance of Wednesdays ceremony.

Following past practice at the tradition-laden court, Ginsburgs casket is expected to arrive just before 9:30 a.m. EDT Wednesday, the court said. Supreme Court police will carry it up the court steps, which will be lined by former Ginsburg law clerks serving as honorary pallbearers.

Chief Justice John Roberts and the other justices will be in the Great Hall when the casket arrives and is placed on the Lincoln Catafalque, the platform on which President Abraham Lincolns coffin rested in the Capitol rotunda in 1865. A 2016 portrait of Ginsburg by artist Constance P. Beaty will be displayed nearby.

Its unclear whether President Donald Trump would visit the court before he leaves town Wednesday afternoon, though he did pay respects when Justice John Paul Stevens died last year and President Barack Obama visited the court after Justice Antonin Scalias death in 2016.

The entrance to the courtroom, along with Ginsburgs chair and place on the bench next to Roberts, have been draped in black, a longstanding court custom. These visual signs of mourning, which in years past have reinforced the sense of loss, will largely go unseen this year. The court begins its new term Oct. 5, but the justices will not be in the courtroom and instead will hear arguments by phone.

After the private ceremony inside the court, Ginsburgs casket will be on public view from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday.

Heather Setzler, a physicians assistant from Raleigh, North Carolina, started her drive at 1 a.m. to be at the court.

Setzler said on annual trips to Washington she always set aside an hour or so to tour the Supreme Court and hang out in the cafeteria, hoping for an impromptu chance to meet.

She appreciated not only the serious legacy she left behind but was also a fan of the pop culture phenomenon that surrounded the Notorious RBG, naming her two cats Hillary Ruth and Kiki, in honor of Ginsburgs childhood nickname.

There was just something about her. She was so diminutive yet turned out to be such a giant, Setzler said, wearing a face mask adorned with small portraits of Ginsburg.

Setzler said shes frightened by the prospect that Ginsburgs replacement could lock the court into a solid conservative majority.

It pains me to think that everything she worked so hard for could be turned around in a couple of years, she said.

On Friday, Ginsburg will lie in state at the Capitol, the first woman to do so and only the second Supreme Court justice after William Howard Taft. Taft had also been president. Rosa Parks, a private citizen as opposed to a government official, is the only woman who has lain in honor at the Capitol.

Ginsburg will be buried beside her husband, Martin, in a private ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery next week. Martin Ginsburg died in 2010. She is survived by a son and a daughter, four grandchildren, two step-grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

Ginsburgs death from cancer at age 87 has added another layer of tumult to an already chaotic election year. Trump and Senate Republicans are plowing ahead with plans to have a new justice on the bench, perhaps before the Nov. 3 election.

Only Chief Justice Roger Taney, who died in October 1864, died closer to a presidential election. Lincoln waited until December to nominate his replacement, Salmon Chase, who was confirmed the same day.

When Scalia, Ginsburgs closest friend on the court, died unexpectedly in 2016, Republicans refused to act on President Barack Obamas high-court nomination of Judge Merrick Garland.
KYIV, Ukraine  President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus was sworn in Wednesday to his sixth term in office at an inaugural ceremony that was not announced in advance amid weeks of huge protests of the authoritarian leaders reelection, which the opposition says was rigged.

One opposition leader called the secretive ceremony a farce, and several European countries reiterated that they dont recognize the results of the election and refuse to regard Lukashenko as the legitimate president. In the evening, thousands of people took to the streets in the capital of Minsk to protest the inauguration and were met with a strong response from police.

The ceremony was held in front of several hundred dignitaries at the ornate Palace of Independence in Minsk, the state news agency Belta said. Police and other security forces blocked off parts of the city and public transportation was suspended.

Lukashenko, 66, took the oath of office in Belarusian with his right hand on the constitution, and the head of the Central Election Commission handed him the official ID card of the president of Belarus.

The day of assuming the post of the president is the day of our victory, convincing and fateful, he said. We were not just electing the president of the country  we were defending our values, our peaceful life, sovereignty and independence.

The absence of public involvement in the inauguration only proved that Lukashenko lacked a valid mandate to continue leading the country, according to his political opponents and European officials.

Even after this ceremony today, Mr. Lukashenko cannot claim democratic legitimization, which would be the condition to recognize him as the legitimate president of Belarus, said Steffen Seibert, spokesman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel. He added that the secrecy surrounding the swearing-in was very telling.

Lukashenko has run Belarus, a former Soviet nation of 9.5 million, with an iron fist for 26 years. Official results of the countrys Aug. 9 presidential election had him winning 80% of the vote. His strongest opponent, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, got 10%.

Tsikhanouskaya, who is in exile in neighboring Lithuania after being forced to leave Belarus, says the outcome was invalid, as have the tens of thousands of her supporters who continue to demand Lukashenkos resignation during more than six weeks of mass protests.

The people havent handed him a new mandate, she said, calling the inauguration was a farce and an attempt by Lukashenko to proclaim himself legitimate.

I, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, am the only leader that has been elected by the Belarusian people. And our goal right now is to build the new Belarus together, she said in a video from Lithuanias capital, Vilnius.

The United States and the European Union have questioned the election and criticized the brutal police crackdown on peaceful protesters during the first few days of demonstrations. The EU is pondering sanctions against top Belarusian officials, but failed to agree on imposing them this week.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius called the inauguration a farce.

Forged elections. Forged inauguration. The former president of Belarus does not become less former. Quite the contrary. His illegitimacy is a fact with all the consequences that this entails, Linkevicius tweeted.

Other European officials echoed the sentiment.

In neighboring Poland, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki called for an honest election, saying on Facebook that the secretive nature of the swearing in only confirms that Lukashenko is aware of what he has done, rigging the results of the election.

He is aware that he has no backing from his own nation and that the aggression that he is allowing himself against the people of Belarus is inadmissible, Morawiecki said.

Czech Foreign Minister Tomas Petricek tweeted that the elections in Belarus were neither free nor fair. The result is therefore illegitimate, which is why todays inauguration of Alexander Lukashenko is also illegitimate.

Latvian Foreign Ministry press secretary Janis Bekeris told the Baltic News Service agency that they believe the unexpected inauguration will only deepen the Belarus political crisis, and Latvia will leave open diplomatic channels for cooperation with Belarus at the technical level.

The Kremlin refused to comment on the inauguration. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he wouldnt comment on an absolutely sovereign, internal decision of the Belarusian leadership.

Anti-Lukashenko protests have rocked the country daily since the election, with the largest rallies in Minsk attracting up to 200,000 people. In the first three days of protests, police used tear gas, truncheons and rubber bullets to disperse crowds. Several protesters died, many were injured and around 6,000 were detained.

The Viasna human rights group said several protesters were detained near the palace on Wednesday morning, holding banners that said, The king has no clothes and Victory (will belong to) the people.

In the evening, thousands of people took to the streets in different parts of Minsk to denounce the inauguration. They were met with a heavy response from police, who blocked off some areas of the city center and used water cannons and truncheons to disperse them. Over 140 people were detained, according to the Viasna group, and dozens were injured in the clashes.

Protests continued into late evening despite the crackdown, with groups of demonstrators blocking roads in various parts of the capital.

Rallies also took place in Brest, Vitebsk, Grondo and other cities.

Alexander Klaskousky, an independent Minsk-based analyst, said the secrecy surrounding the inaugural ceremony illustrated the threat the unrest poses to Lukashenkos grip on power.

The secret inauguration illustrates the level of trust of the leader in the official results of the election and in the people. Those who officially got 80% of the votes dont act like that, Klaskousky said.

Lukashenko has bristled at suggestions of starting a dialogue with the opposition. Amid international outrage over the violent crackdown on the protests, Belarusian authorities switched to prosecuting top activists. 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.

A prominent council member, Pavel Latushko, compared the inauguration to a gathering of thieves and refused to recognize Lukashenko as president.

For us, the citizens of Belarus, for the international community, he is a nobody. An unfortunate error of history and a disgrace of the civilized world, Latushko said on the messaging app Telegram. We will never agree with the falsification (of the election) and are demanding a new vote. We urge everyone to engage in indefinite civil disobedience!

___

Associated Press writers Daria Litvinova in Moscow, Liudas Dapkus in Vilnius, Lithuania, Karel Janicek in Prague, Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark, Geir Moulson in Berlin, and Monika Scislowska in Warsaw, Poland, contributed.

___

Follow APs coverage of Belarus at https://apnews.com/hub/belarus

___

This story has been corrected to show that around 6,000 people were detained during the first three days of demonstrations, not more than 7,000.
Members of a U.S. Marshals fugitive task force on Tuesday captured a man accused of killing a woman in Gloucester County over the weekend, authorities said.

Jose L. Saez, 38, of Westville, was charged with offenses including murder, felony murder and robbery in the slaying of 53-year-old Patricia Dorman, according to the Gloucester County Prosecutors Office.

Westville police found Dorman dead in her Broadway home around 1:30 p.m. Sunday, authorities said. An autopsy determined she died of blunt force trauma.

Through hard work, tenacity, and determination they promptly identified Saez as a suspect and developed key evidence linking him to the homicide, Christine Hoffman, acting county prosecutor, said in a statement. Patricia Dorman was well known by her neighbors and the cooperation and assistance from the Westville community was crucial in the arrest of Saez.

Authorities did not disclose a possible motive for the slaying or release more details on the investigation. Saez, who officials said was arrested in Camden, was being held at the Salem County Correctional Facility ahead of a detention hearing.

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Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com.
Inc. magazine revealed that Spotio, the leading field sales engagement platform, is No. 1,635 on its annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the nations fastest-growing private companies. The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economys most dynamic segmentits independent small businesses.

Im extremely proud of the teams hard work and well-deserved recognition for Spotios growth, said Founder and CEO, Trey Gibson. Were building something special at Spotio and this group has done an exceptional job helping our customers achieve more.

Not only have the companies on the 2020 Inc. 5000 been very competitive within their markets, but the list as a whole shows staggering growth compared with prior lists as well. The 2020 Inc. 5000 achieved an incredible three-year average growth of over 500 percent, and a median rate of 165 percent. The Inc. 5000s aggregate revenue was $209 billion in 2019, accounting for over 1 million jobs over the past three years.

Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000.

The companies on this years Inc. 5000 come from nearly every realm of business, says Inc. editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk. From health and software to media and hospitality, the 2020 list proves that no matter the sector, incredible growth is based on the foundations of tenacity and opportunism.

About Spotio

Spotio is the leading field sales engagement platform for outside sales teams. Spotio helps field sales teams manage sales activity, increase sales rep productivity, and capture field sales insights. Thousands of outside sales reps rely on Spotio to grow revenue and increase productivity in the field. Backed by Ballast Point Ventures, Spotio is a privately held company based in Dallas, Texas.

Methodology

The 2020 Inc. 5000 is ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2016 and 2019. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2016. They had to be U.S.-based, privately held, for profit, and independentnot subsidiaries or divisions of other companiesas of December 31, 2019. (Since then, a number of companies on the list have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2016 is $100,000; the minimum for 2019 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Companies on the Inc. 500 are featured in Inc.s September issue. They represent the top tier of the Inc. 5000, which can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000.

About Inc. Media

The worlds most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc.
Wednesday, September 23, 2020 at 6:35AM

Embed from Getty Images

Data breaches are incidents we, unfortunately, can't escape. But the Ottawa-based Shopify's data breach occurred within the company. Shopify revealed in a blog post that two "rogue" members of its support team were caught "in a scheme to obtain customer transactional records of certain merchants."

Shopify claims less than 200 merchants were affected, but it isn't known how much data was stolen. The company is quick to say that payment information like credit card and account numbers weren't affected. But customer information and order details of what was purchased were accessed. Shopify didn't name the stores involved, but it has informed the sellers. So, best keep an eye out on your inbox to see if you've been affected by the breach.

Source: Engadget
59MW DC facility is built on disused landfill and is the largest urban photovoltaic power plant in Europe

TEMPE, Ariz., Sept. 23, 2020, Inc.photovoltaic.

The facility, believed to be the largest urban solar PV power plant in Europe, is being built on the site of a former open-air municipal landfill in Bordeaux in South West France. The land was designated as a wasteland, unfit for residential or commercial buildings, or agricultural use. JPee, however, secured a 35-year lease for the 600,000-square meter site and began developing the Labarde solar project, which was selected under successive rounds of the PV tenders organized by France's Commission de Regulation De L'Energie(CRE).

Based in Caen, France, JPee has over 15 years of experience developing, financing, constructing, and operating renewable energy assets. The company operates 263MW D C of wind and solar projects, generating enough energy to power 230,000 average homes, making it one of France's leading independent renewable energy producers.

"The Labarde project demonstrates the positive role that solar can play within a community. Its role goes beyond transforming sunlight into solar electricity and supporting France's decarbonization goals, as it helps heal a piece of land that has no other practical use," said Xavier Nass, Chairman, JPee. "While solar is inherently sustainable, this project is powered by the lowest carbon solar technologyand sets new benchmarks for sustainability. We thank First Solar for standing behind its commitments and delivering on its promises to help ensure that this important project can be delivered on schedule."

Designed and developed at the Company's research and developmentavailable today.

"At First Solar, we put sustainability at the heart of our business, and we're thrilled that JPee is powering this landmark facility with First Solar's advanced solar module technology," said Pascal Tirtiaux, First Solar's head of business development for France. "Our transparency and commitments as a module provider plays a vital role in ensuring that developers like JPee can maintain their competitiveness and their project execution timelines. We're thankful for the trust that Xavier and his team have placed in First Solar."

With over 1,100MWs installed, First Solar's advanced module thin film technology forms the backbone of France's solar fleet. The Company's modules have been deployed across over 400 projects in France ranging from large-scale ground-mounted plants to commercial and industrial (C&I) projects.

About First Solar, Inc.

First Solar is a leading global provider of comprehensive photovoltaic.

For First Solar Investors

This release contains forward-looking statements which are made pursuant to safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning the order of Series 6 modules by JP Energie Environnement (JPEE) for its 59MW D C Labarde solar project. These forward-looking statements are often characterized by the use of words such as "estimate," "expect," "anticipate," "project," "plan," "intend," "seek," "believe," "forecast," "foresee," "likely," "may," "should," "goal," "target," "might," "will," "could," "predict," "continue" and the negative or plural of these words and other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are only predictions based on our current expectations and our projections about future events and therefore speak only as of the date of this release. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements for any reason, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the matters discussed under the captions "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and our subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as supplemented by our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Media



Reuven Proenca

First Solar Media

reuven.proenca@firstsolar.com (mailto:reuven.proenca@firstsolar.com) Investors



Mitchell Ennis

First Solar Investor Relations

mitchell.ennis@firstsolar.com (mailto:mitchell.ennis@firstsolar.com)

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/03548f61-5af7-42a3-986d-e77ddea48ad5
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.
Enhance focus on effective testing, tracing and treatment: PM Modi to CMs

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Sep 23: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday chaired a high-level virtual meeting with Chief Ministers and Health Ministers of seven Covid-19 high burden States and UT to review Covid-19 response and management. Chief ministers of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Punjab attended the meeting.

Addressing the chief ministers and other senior officials of these seven states during a Covid-19 review meeting, PM Modi said "Effective messaging is also necessary because most COVID19 infections are without symptoms."

"There are more than 700 districts in the country but only 60 districts in seven states are a cause of worry. I suggest CMs hold a virtual conference with people at the district/block level for seven days. We have to learn from the best practices from across the states," PM Modi said.

"Effective messaging is also necessary because most Covid-19 infections are without symptoms. In such a situation, rumours may rise. It might raise doubts in the minds of the people that testing is bad. Some people also make the mistake of underestimating the severity of infection," the prime minister said.

"We need to increase our focus on effective testing, tracing, treatment, surveillance and clear messaging," he added.

PM Modi pays tribute to Hindi poet Dinkar

It can be seen that PM Modi held several virtual meetings with the CMs to discuss the COVID-19 situation after the country went under a nationwide lockdown on March 25.

NCB summons Deepika Padukone, Shraddha Kapoor and Sara Ali Khan summoned in Drugs case|Oneindia News

However, in today's meeting, the chief ministers of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Punjab will attend the meeting.

These seven states account for 63 per cent of the total coronavirus cases in the country. Maharashtra, Punjab and Delhi are reporting a case fatality rate of at least 2 per cent. These states have recently reported a daily uptick in the number of cases as well.

Centre is sending its team to states to help state governments in containment, surveillance, testing and efficient clinical management.

Recently, a team was sent to Jammu and Kashmir. The COVID-19 situation of Delhi is also being monitored by a Centre-delhi government joint team.
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By MIKE SCHNEIDER

Associated Press

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 in court papers Tuesday.

Plaintiffs' claims of harm in this matter are rapidly evaporating, the government attorneys said ahead of a virtual court hearing in San Jose, California, over whether the 2020 census should stop at the end of September or continue through October.





. . .
People of Praise, a self-described charismatic Christian community, has faced renewed interest since US President Donald Trump put one of its purported members, Judge Amy Coney Barrett of the 7th US Circuit Court of Appeals, on his shortlist of candidates for elevation to the Supreme Court.

The group describes itself as an ultraconservative group with a mixture of Roman Catholic and Pentecostal traditions. Until 2018, it used the term handmaid for its female leaders.

The group has declined to confirm or deny whether Barrett was a member since a New York Times article in 2017 said she was in the group, citing unnamed current and former members. It says it leaves it to members to disclose any involvement. At the time, Barrett did not respond to requests for comment from the Times.

The groups spokesman, Sean Connolly, told Reuters that women are not considered subservient in People of Praise and that many hold leadership roles, such as directing schools and ministries.

Barrett did not respond on Tuesday to requests for comment about her membership of People of Praise made through a clerk at the 7th Circuit. Sharon Loftus, a judicial assistant to Barrett, said in an email the judges policy was not to give interviews or comments to the media.

People of Praise has about 1,700 members in 22 cities in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean, according to its website, and was founded in 1971 in South Bend, Indiana, also the home of the Catholic-led University of Notre Dame.

We admire the first Christians who were led by the Holy Spirit to form a community, the website says, tracing its origins to the late 1960s when students and faculty at Notre Dame experienced a renewal of Christian enthusiasm and fervor, together with charismatic gifts such as speaking in tongues and physical healing.

Its most devoted members make a lifelong commitment to the group, known as a covenant.

From 1970, women with leadership roles in the organization were called handmaids, but that changed following the popular 2017-to-present Hulu television series The Handmaids Tale, based on a 1985 book by Margaret Atwood. The dystopian story is set in a future United States where the rules of the male-dominated society are based on the leaders twisted interpretation of Old Testament scriptures.

Recognizing that the meaning of this term has shifted dramatically in our culture in recent years, we no longer use the term handmaid, the group said in 2018, without specifically attributing the change to the show.

Coral Anika Theill, a former People of Praise member, has been strongly critical of the group, calling it a cult and saying in an interview women are expected to be completely obedient to men and independent thinkers are humiliated, interrogated, shamed and shunned.

A lot of us suffered Stockholm syndrome and many of the women were on anti-depressants and tranquilizers, said Theill, who last year wrote a blog post entitled I lived the Handmaids Tale. She added that she planned to call every US senator to oppose Barrett should she become Trumps nominee.

Reuters could not independently verify her account. When asked about Theills allegations, People of Praise spokesman Connolly said the group followed Christian teachings that men and women share fundamental equality as bearers of Gods image.

We value independent thinking, Connolly said.

Thomas Csordas, a scholar of comparative religion at the University of California, San Diego, said People of Praise was very conservative but that he would not consider it a cult, adding that some of the charismatic Christian communities he has researched were more authoritarian than People of Praise.

In popular culture, the word cult can connote brainwashing and authoritarianism, he said.

My position to the press was that People of Praise is best described not as a cult but as a religiously-based intentional community, Csordas said in an email.

When I first encountered Atwoods book, I was frankly jolted by the similarity of terminology to that prevalent in some of the Catholic charismatic covenant communities I had been studying, Csordas wrote in a 1996 paper called A Handmaids Tale, without specifically referencing People of Praise.
A senior state government minister says NSW is aiming to welcome international students by early 2021, as it shores up lessons from hotel quarantine to share with the university sector.

Stuart Ayres, the minister for jobs, investment, tourism and Western Sydney, said NSW's record of quarantining 60,000 returning travellers through Sydney had built a "strong bed of evidence that we can learn from" in managing overseas student arrivals.

For months universities have been urging governments to establish a secure corridor scheme for overseas students to return to Australia. Credit:Louise Kennerley

"I foreshadow that well be able to open borders to international students through a quarantine regime much earlier than well be able to open borders to the visitor economy," he said, speaking at the ATN International Education Summit on Wednesday.

"I see no reason why we can't be optimistic here in NSW about doing something for the start of 2021. Thats definitely something that Ill be working towards. Ill be talking to vice-chancellors further about our lessons learned and how we can work more closely with the university sector."
West's unity on Iran hinges on US vote Iran has called for the rest of the world to united against the US

The reimposition of UN sanctions on Iran by the United States in the face of protests by Washington's European allies marks a highly unusual trans-Atlantic rupture that may only be healed by the coming American elections.

The administration of US President Donald Trump says it has decided to unilaterally reinstate virtually all UN sanctions on Iran lifted under a 2015 nuclear accord with Tehran negotiated under former president Barack Obama.

Trump pulled out of the deal in 2018 to the dismay of European powers. But his administration insists it is still a "participant" and can therefore go ahead with the sanctions, a position denounced by Europe as absurd.

Britain, France and Germany said in a statement on Sunday that the American move "is incapable of having legal effect."

"We have worked tirelessly to preserve the nuclear agreement and remain committed to do so," they said.

- 'Opposing US head-on' -

The US invasion of Iraq in 2003 had also created a major split in Europe, with France and Germany furiously opposing the military action to oust Saddam Hussein.

But Britain, as well as several other European states, joined the US-led coalition.

This time, the Trump administration has succeeded in making Britain rally around its European partners at the very time London is seeking a new path after its exit from the European Union.

"This is the first time that the British have also opposed the United States head-on on a subject deemed essential in American foreign policy," said Pascal Boniface, director of the Institute for International and Strategic Affairs (Iris).

Britain kept to the European line "despite ever more pressing demands of the United States" and the strategic implications of Brexit, he noted.

Trump, meanwhile, has shown little concern for nurturing Washington's close diplomatic relationships with European allies.

He has questioned the value of accords and institutions held dear by the Europeans: pondering the need for US membership of NATO, withdrawing from the Paris deal on climate change and recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Story continues

The US has also threatened to use its veto on UN Security Council resolutions in ways that would have been unthinkable before Trump, notably in 2019, when it forced the watering down of a resolution on sexual violence in conflict.

But there is a limit to how far Europe would want to see relations with the United States damaged, especially as the EU has yet to clearly articulate a joint security and military policy.

Bertrand Badie, professor at the Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po), said the Europeans were above all "posturing" in the Iranian issue.

"Fundamentally, the priority for all the Europeans is to keep the alliance with the United States because they need it, as they are incapable of ensuring a European defence or foreign policy," he said.

More prosaically, "they all say to themselves 'we have to hold out'" until the US presidential election on November 3, he added.

- 'Pick up the pieces' -

Should Democratic challenger Joe Biden, Obama's former vice president, win the election he would have the task of patching up the pieces of the eroded alliances.

Biden wrote in a commentary for CNN this month that if elected, the US would rejoin the nuclear agreement "as a starting point for follow-on negotiations" if Tehran returned to strict compliance with the accord.

"There is a smart way to be tough on Iran, and there is Trump's way," Biden said.

Analysts at the International Crisis Group (ICG) said it was widely recognised that the result of the election would determine the outcome of the sanctions dispute.

"If President Trump wins a second term, he will have ample time and opportunity to kill off the (nuclear accord), and then hope that Iran will come back to negotiate a different deal," the ICG said.

Americans and Europeans will seek to "pick up the pieces" if Biden is elected by reintegrating the United States into some international agreements, said Francois Heisbourg, special advisor to the Foundation for Strategic Research.

"But if Donald Trump is re-elected, there is a real danger that he will take the opportunity to break the Atlantic Alliance," he said.

"The Iranian issue is one of the pretexts he could use to question the role of the United States in NATO."

phr-vl-sjw/js/mb


MBABANE  Government has realised about E30 million worth of savings on fuel in the past three months.

This was said by the Minister of Finance, Neal Rijkenberg, when he made his submissions before the Finance Sessional Committee through a report that was tabled by the Chairperson, Manzini North MP Thandi Nxumalo.

The tabled report was that of the Finance Sessional Committee on the Supplementary Appropriation Bill No.18 of 2020.

The committee found that if the Bill was approved by the House of Assembly, 30 per cent of the CTA budget allocation from all the line ministries would be reallocated to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport for the purposes of procuring fuel.

The minister said the pending court case between the Central Transport Administration (CTA) and government did not have any effect on the exercise of reallocating 30 per cent of the budget reallocation of CTA from all the line ministries.

Recommended

Meanwhile, the committee has recommended that the House adopts the committees report on the Supplementary Appropriation (No.4) Bill, 2020 (Bill No.18 of 2020).

The report is yet to be debated and adopted by the House of Assembly.

The committee, in its report, commended the minister for the reforms that have been implemented, especially the closing of the Trading Account, as the issue has been a thorn in the flesh for many years.

The minister informed the committee that the closure of the Trading Account Was An Administrative Decision meant to curb over expenditure at CTA.

Operation of the Trading Account had no limit and accountability, hence its closure to enforce accountability. The closure has no bearing on the interest of CTA workers as their terms and conditions of employment remain the same, they continue to receive their salaries for the normal work done as was the case prior to the closure of the account, stated the minister after he was asked to clarify the status of the matter.

Secondly, he said the decision to close the Trading Account was purely administrative and as such, it did not require consultation of workers prior to implementation as it did not affect their interest in any way.

Circular

He said the ministry had issued Circular No. 1 of 2020/21 on the proposed Central Transport Administration Transition to address some control measures.

He submitted that they were yet to engage the workers on some of the control measures.

It was highlighted that some of the benefits aligned with the closure of the Trading Account were that the Ministry of Public Works and Transport had started to implement reforms which would ensure controls of most activities at this department.

The committee further expressed concern on whether there were any strategies in place to ensure a smooth transition of the closure of the Trading Account, to ensure that government was not grounded.

What prompted the question was that there was an outcry over fuel shortage in government such that service delivery had dropped drastically.

The committee was told that at present, CTA depots had run out of fuel for a prolonged period due to the lack of cooperation by the general transport manager, which then prompted the ministry to provide fuel for all government ministries through the uniformed or security forces.
Calif. pastor moves worship outdoors after county fines church $112K for indoor services County says it has no plans to forgive fines

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The pastor of a 3,000-seat California church said he will stop fighting Santa Clara County and hold services in the church parking lot as per local COVID-19 guidelines after fines rose to over $112,000. The county said it will not forgive the fines.

Jack Trieber, the pastor of North Valley Baptist Church in Santa Clara, has chosen to obey the countys directives banning indoor services, according to ABC7News.

The church was being fined $5,000 for every service it held as well as fines for other violations such as singing.

ABC7News reports that Trieber told his congregation in an outdoor meeting this week that senators told him they had given President Donald Trump the pastor's personal phone number and if he would be willing to receive a call from the White House. But the pastor said he didnt want to take that course of action.

Trieber also reportedly said he has put on hold a campaign that was aimed at flooding local government offices with one million emails from supporters. I dont wish anything evil to happen with authorities. Tonight was the right decision to move out here, he was quoted as saying.

County counsel James Williams told The Mercury News that banning indoor services was "essential" to the community's safety. The reality that churches and other religious institutions across our county were successfully holding outdoor services, drive-in services, remote services  and have been  just completely undermines the notion that they needed to have an indoor gathering and create that huge risk of danger, he said.

The county had filed a lawsuit against the church for its ongoing violations of COVID-19 orders, according to Trieber. After prayer, fasting and counsel, the pastor said, "I have felt led of God not to resist the lawsuit."

"The county has dropped their lawsuit based upon us moving our service outdoors," he told the congregation last weekend. "To me, thats a victory."

While he has faced reactions that he is a coward for backing down and doesn't know how long he will have to hold services outdoors, he said he will continue to preach outside and "do what God commanded me to do just like I did inside that building."

Despite the restrictions on services and fines, he encouraged the congregation not to send any "vicious" email or be unkind to county health officials, arguing, "Thats not your purpose as a Christian."

In an earlier video message shared on Facebook, the pastor resisted the bans, warning, If we dont stop it here ... its going to sweep all over the United States of America. Government cannot take away our freedom. You cannot take our right to assemble.

He had also asked the county to remove all fines and refrain from imposing future fines on the church. To do this to a church ... California preachers, we have rendered unto Caesar the things that are Caesar, and we have rendered unto God through our tithes and offerings, which is His.

The pastor revealed that when Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a total prohibition on religious worship services in some counties in March, his church ceased its in-person worship services, K4 through 12 Christian school, college, bus ministry, jail ministry, public school ministry, nursing home ministry, door-to-door visitation, hospital visitation, childrens ministries and Sunday School.

But Im in charge of the spiritual health of the people in this city and in this area, he said. Ive been trying to do it for 45 years. Though health is [of the] utmost importance, spiritual health is supreme. Because weve been locked out in this county of churches, suicide is up, domestic violence, addiction is up, homelessness is up, alcoholism is up. We need to get back to worshiping God. I am commanded to worship God.
Bunscoil McAuley Rice primary school in Callan has received a boost in their plans for increasing STEM awareness, with help from Red Hat, a global software company with an office based in Waterford.

Ciaran Byrne, a Red Hat employee whose children attend Bunscoil McAuley Rice, made a request in March to the Red Hat Cares committee, with the support of the Red Hat Women in Ireland group, who are actively involved in community outreach and engagement on behalf of Bunscoil McAuley Rice. The local school were in pursuit of a new full-year initiative  the Discover Primary Science and Maths Award, known as the Badge of Excellence in STEM, involving every class in the school.

The plan was to hold a STEM show and tell showcase event in the middle of March in the school hall, to provide an opportunity for children to experience and explore the work going on in other classrooms and also to share all that they have discovered in STEM subjects so far during that school year. Unfortunately due to restrictions as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the school was forced to close its doors until the start of the new school year this August.

However, the Red Hat Cares and Women in Ireland teams did not lose sight of their goal to support the school and worked tirelessly in the background. The result was that Red Hat made the very generous donation of 6,000 which was supplemented by local fundraising which added an additional 2,000 to the fund.

This has come as fantastic news for our school and will enable our teachers to provide our pupils with real-life learning experiences in STEM subjects through the use of LEGO, robotics and coding in the classroom. WeDo 2.0 and Spike Prime are outstanding resources for fostering a sense of creativity and self-confidence in our children while also promoting problem-solving and experimentation across a wide range of subjects, says teacher Damien Fogarty, who is responsible for the schools STEM programme.

We are very much looking forward to seeing what our pupils can create in the year ahead! I want to extend a special word of thanks to both Ciaran Byrne and Judy Kelly of the Red Hat Women in Ireland group without whom this project would not have been possible.

McAuley Rice immediately got to work to find an appropriate supplier of their chosen kit, which resulted in the delivery of 15 LEGO WeDo 2.0 classroom kits and 11 LEGO Spike Prime classroom kits which will be used in conjunction with the schools new iPads to learn all about computer coding, robotics and engineering in a fun, challenging and fully engaging way.

Red Hat Women in Irelands mission is to give back knowledge, skills and support in our communities where our associates live and work, explains Judy Kelly of the Red Hat Women in Ireland group.

When we heard about Bunscoil McAuley Rices initiative to increase STEM awareness from fellow Red Hatter, Ciaran Byrne, we were only delighted to fund this endeavour with the help of the Red Hat Cares program. Looking forward to seeing the many hours of happiness and creativity this Red Hat sponsored Lego will bring the kids in McAuley Rice.

Now that McAuley Rice has welcomed all of its pupils back to school, Principal John Moloney the future is looking bright.We are delighted to be back to full time education and our students are excited at the prospect of learning about coding,robotics and engineering, he says.

We are very grateful to Ciaran Byrne and Judy Kelly of the Red Hat Women in Ireland group for their support with this exciting initiative. We hope that our students will become future coders,engineers and entrepreneurs in a brave new digital world. Thanks to Red Hat, the future looks bright!
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 05:38:13|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi on Wednesday called for the renewal of commitment to multilateralism to tackle global challenges.

The theme of this year's General Debate of the UN General Assembly is a call for a renewal of the vision for an integrated and cooperative world, where nations express themselves in an open manner and act in a coordinated way in promoting sustainable and inclusive development, taking the 2030 Agenda as their banner, Nyusi told the assembly.

The theme of this year's General Debate is "The future we want, the United Nations we need: reaffirming our collective commitment to multilateralism -- confronting COVID-19 through effective multilateral action."

Multilateral cooperation remains the best approach to addressing the challenges and mitigating the suffering of the people who are the main reason for the creation of the United Nations, he said in a pre-recorded statement.

"Multilateralism within the United Nations is also key if we take into account that the world economy, especially that of developing countries, has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and its restoration requires global, integrated and concerted interventions."

Nationalism and isolationism are a prescription for failure to respond to COVID-19 and other infectious diseases of an unpredictable nature, he said.

Other global phenomena and challenges, including terrorism, climate change, cybersecurity, public health, research and development, trade and industrialization, also require UN-led multilateral intervention, he said.

"In the global village in which we live, national and international issues are increasingly less discernible. The transnational nature and interconnection of these phenomena require leadership that recognizes that, in today's world, our interventions must take into account the intrinsic relationship between the national, regional and global citizens."

International security and peace, the preservation and respect for human rights and the promotion of sustainable development only find fertile ground to flourish in the common approach and collective action of all stakeholders in the world, he said. "Let us, therefore, revisit our global commitment to the consolidation of the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, keeping in mind the main recipients of these efforts, namely 'We The Peoples!'" Enditem
This is an update to a story posted at 6:21 a.m. Wednesday.

SPRINGFIELD  A woman reported to police she was carjacked at gunpoint early Wednesday morning on Joseph Street shortly before her vehicle was found about three-and-a-half miles away, where it crashed into a utility pole and tree.

The driver and lone occupant was killed in the crash at the intersection of Carew Street and Carew Terrace, according to a police spokesman.

The adult male driver was ejected from the car and pronounced dead on scene, said Ryan Walsh, of the Springfield Police Department.

Police found a gun in the car, he said.

The alleged carjacking and the fatal crash followed an earlier report of shots fired on Joseph Street, where investigators found evidence of gunfire but no victim, Walsh added.

An investigation is ongoing.

This story will be updated with more details as they become available.
UPPER THUMB  As the coronavirus pandemic swept the state, healthcare professionals were among the many people forced to find alternatives to their normal routines. Many hospitals across the thumb have unveiled additional telehealth services to combat the precautions of the pandemic, and the services are proving to be a benefit to the community that will continue long after the pandemic.

McLaren Thumb Region in Bad Axe began implementing telehealth before the coronavirus pandemic, although it was fast tracked by the state shutdown and social distancing guidelines.

McLaren Thumb Region plans on utilizing telehealth services long after the pandemic, said CEO Michael Johnston. We have found that providers that may not have been welcoming to the service prior to the pandemic are enjoying its benefits and patients are appreciating its convenience.

At coronaviruss peak within the community, we saw a large number of patients using our telehealth service to see their primary care physicians, he added. As things get relatively back to normal for many families, more patients are willing to meet with their doctors face-to-face.

Many hospitals across the thumb also saw telehealth as a viable alternative to many in-person appointments. While certain issues need to be seen firsthand by a doctor and may require an office follow up, many minor issues can be seen and dealt with quickly over a video call. Telehealth covers many various areas of healthcare.

According to Trish VanNorman, Harbor Beach Community Hospitals clinic services coordinator, the hospital has offered telepsychiatry to adults, adolescents, and children since the fall of 2018. The hospital had applied for grant funding to offer these services to the community.

In most cases, people had to drive at least an hour and wait months to access these services, VanNorman said. Harbor Beach Community Hospital was already offering mental health therapy to K-12 students at Harbor Beach Community Schools and to the geriatric residents at Senior Life Solutions and Lakeview Extended Care and Rehab.

We felt that offering psychiatry and mental health services would allow easier access to needed services and decrease transportation issues, she added.

It wasnt until the coronavirus pandemic that Harbor Beach Community Hospital began offering additional telehealth services, including doctor visits and medication refills.

Through telehealth, patients are able to see our providers for a variety of acute visits, said Jennifer Siemen, Harbor Beach Community Hospitals medical clinic coordinator. It has proven helpful during the coronavirus pandemic, since virtual visits accommodate patients' social distancing concerns.

Hills and Dales General Hospital in Cass City also offers telehealth services for its primary care clinics as well as its extended hours clinic. The hospital also utilizes a virtual walk-in visit option, meaning that patients can call in and see a provider virtually seven days a week, whether they are a current Hills and Dales patient or not.

We were working on telehealth prior to the coronavirus pandemic, but it definitely fast-tracked these services, said Danielle Blaine, director of marketing and foundation at Hills and Dales. We were able to prepare these services for our community in less than one week.

At the height of the pandemic and now, the community continues to utilize this resource heavily, she added. It provides a way for us to stay connected with our patients.

Now that patients have begun to use telehealth and understand its convenience, Blaine hopes the service will continue to expand. The benefit has been seen with parents working from home while their children are learning virtually, telehealth offers a convenient and fast way to receive care. Hills and Dales is also partnering with Cass City Schools' nurse to provide support for students who need to see a provider virtually.

Telehealth also benefits patients who would be unwilling or uncomfortable to come into the clinic. It also helps patients who are unable to see a provider for various reasons, including car trouble or schedule conflicts, allowing the providers to bring healthcare to the patient.

Our goal is for the community to have unlimited access to healthcare, Blaine said. This service is one way for us to make that possible.

We can keep our patients healthier and meet them where it is most convenient for them, she added.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 19:11:49|Editor: huaxia

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MANILA, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The world-famous Boracay island resort in the central Philippines will start accepting local tourists on Oct. 1, the Philippines' Department of Tourism (DOT) said on Wednesday.

However, the DOT said that only tourists who tested negative from COVID-19 and living in the provinces under general community quarantine (GCQ) are going to be allowed into the island.

The Philippines is still under varying degrees of lockdown restrictions since mid-March.

"The reopening of Boracay to new market sources signals a gathering momentum for domestic tourism all over the country," Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said, adding that health and safety remain a priority as the island gradually welcomes tourists.

She said several safety measures are being put in place to avoid community transmission, including a swab test before travel. A tourist must test negative 48 to 72 hours before traveling to Boracay, she added.

"Travelers will be advised to go on a strict quarantine immediately after a test and until the time of travel to the island," Puyat said.

Tourism Undersecretary Benito Bengzon said visitors must have pre-arranged reservations. "Once they set foot on the island, they must follow the health and safety guidelines developed by the Department of Tourism," he said.

The popular resort, famous for powdery white sand, shallow azure water, and spectacular sunsets, was shut down when the government imposed a lockdown in mid-March to stem the spread of the virus.

About two million tourists flock to Boracay every year to enjoy the island's powdery white sand and calm blue waters. Enditem
Trudeau, who was on the defensive for much of the summer during an ethics controversy that has weighed on his approval ratings, made the controversial decision last month to seek the suspension of Parliament. He pledged to return with an ambitious plan for a green recovery that would remake the social safety net, and to put it to a confidence vote.
The probe into the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput has reignited the debate over the legal status of cannabis as the Hindi film industry and its alleged drug abuse is thrust into the spotlight yet again.

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has arrested Rajputs girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty and several others, including drug suppliers, for either using, possessing, buying or selling marijuana.

The drug abuse charge has divided the film industry and the probe into Rajputs death has assumed political overtones.

The home ministry has told Parliament that NCB hasnt come across actionable intelligence that suggests a link between Bollywood stars and drug traffickers but a probe is on.

Legally speaking

Cannabis is a wide-ranging term used for several preparations derived from Cannabis Sativa, one of the three well-known varieties of the plantthere is a dispute over how many are there.

Cannabis has been known to India since ancient times. Religious and medical texts have numerous references to cannabis. Believed to relieve pain and have a calming effect, it is used in ayurvedic medicines.

Its medicinal use has been gaining ground. Several countries, including the US, have approved the use of Cannabidiol (CBD), a medicinal compound derived from cannabis, to treat rare forms of childhood epilepsy or seizures.

As reported by Moneycontrol, Akseera Pharma, a Canadian startup, is planning to begin clinical trials and manufacturing of CBD in India. CBD, which is not intoxicating, will be used in a potential therapy for cardiac arrhythmias, or irregular heartbeat, with a possible link to COVID-19.

In India, the Opium Act regulated drugs from 1852. In 1893, the British instituted a study to understand the social and psychological impact of consuming cannabis.

The Indian Hemp Drug Commission concluded that moderate cannabis use caused no physical harm, mental injuries or impair moral judgment.

But in 1961, India joined the United Nations' Convention on Narcotic Drugs treaty and in 1985 the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act classified cannabis as a "drug". It though spared, bhang, a byproduct, on social and cultural grounds.

As per the NDPS Act, possession of fewer than 1,000 grams of marijuana can invite a fine of Rs 10,000 or a six-month jail term.

The NDPS Act prescribes rigorous imprisonment for possessing, selling, consuming or cultivating cannabis. It can vary from one to 20 years, depending to the gravity of the offence.

Also Read: Amid crude crash, smooth sailing for oil flotillas, for now

A thriving industry but no GST

The global cannabis industry is expected to be worth $ 15 billion by 2027 but India's contribution is only 0.001 percent.

Though treated on a par with synthetic drugs like ecstasy, meth, and acid paper, cannabis is widely consumed in India. More than 30 million people consume cannabis in the country, the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy has said in a paper, building a case for decriminalising cannabis.

A study found that in 2018, New Delhi and Mumbai consumed 38.26 metric tonnes and 32.38 metric tonnes of cannabis respectively, the paper says.

If cannabis were to be legalised and taxed, it could earn Rs 725 crore for Delhi and Rs 641 crore for Mumbai, the study said. The two cities consume more cannabis than Toronto, where it's legal.

Many developed countries, including the US, Canada, Australia, Italy and the Netherlands, have legalised or decriminalised medicinal and recreational consumption of cannabis.

In the US, 33 states allow medicinal use and 11 permit recreational use. Recreational use has generated a lot of heat, with critics questioning how its misuse among the young can be prevented.

Criminalisation of cannabis has done little to curb its use in India and has only pushed the thriving industry underground.

Cannabis is easy and cheap to get. There is always a friends friend who has a contact, who can be called for a handover. Payments are made in cash or through UPI or Paytm. Technology is integral to the trade.

In Mumbai, a 5 gm pack of ganja costs around Rs 100. Fifty grams of good quality weed is available for between Rs 2,500 and Rs 6,000. Delhi leans towards hashish and it costs Rs 3,000-8,000 a tola (11gm).

A few days ago, Yash and his friend Ayush were caught smoking cannabis on a deserted Mumbai road by two policemen and threatened with an FIR for drug possession.

"We pleaded and asked them to let us go. The cops demanded Rs 25,000. We're students and don't have that kind of money, so they agreed to Rs 5,000. We withdrew the amount from a nearby ATM and paid them and that was the end of it," Yash, who didnt share his second name to protect his identity, told Moneycontrol.

The street price is decided in grams but the annual turnover is in tonnes.

Mumbais supply of cannabis comes from neighbouring areas, the Western Ghats, northeast India as well as the Himalayan regions of the country. Imported strains from California and Amsterdam are also available.

Despite stringent laws and multiple agencies, marijuana and other cannabis products are easily available and trade in the contraband goes on uninterrupted. The network is well-oiled and largely works on trust.

Even the lockdown didnt stop the business. While alcohol and cigarettes were hard to come by, cannabis was available by the end of April, the first complete month of the lockdown, though at a premium.

Insiders say unlike other drugs, the cannabis trade is not controlled by a cartel or a drug lord. There are multiple players, from college kids looking to make easy money to hardcore traffickersthere is space for everyone, so to speak.

Is India ready for a change?

In India, there is a stigma attached to drug consumption but increasingly people are speaking out in favour of legalising cannabis and questioning its criminalisation, which they say was a copy-cat move removed from Indias reality.

Others call for caution.

Just like alcohol and cigarettes, consumption of cannabis is not suitable for restless and impulsive people and any such substances should be consumed with the utmost knowledge of ones personality traits and knowledge of the difference between recreational consumption versus addiction to consuming, Suruchi Kothari, a Mumbai-based psychologist, said.

Activists and political leaders, including Congress Shashi Tharoor, have called for decriminialising cannabis. In 2017, BJP leader and women and child development minister Maneka Gandhi had spoken in favour of legalising marijuana for medical purposes. Former Biju Janata Dal MP Tathagata Satpathy has been vocal in his support for legalising cannabis.

Former Member of Parliament Dharamvir Gandhi, who is a doctor by training, even proposed a bill to legalise and regulate the supply of traditional intoxicants such as opium and marijuana.

There is a class dimension to it as well. Several studies have found that it is the underprivileged or people who are economically weak who suffer the most. They dont have the money to pay a bribe or hire lawyers to defend them.

Cannabis and its complicated relationship with India has come under scrutiny in unfortunate circumstances but it is as good a time as any to revisit it.

(Shivam Vahia writes on technology, aviation, and mobility.)
LONDON (Reuters) - The Nicolas Maduro-backed Venezuelan central bank launched a landmark appeal in London on Tuesday over $1 billion (785.21 billion) of gold reserves held in the Bank of England's underground vaults.

The Banco Central de Venezuela (BCV) board controlled by the Maduro government is challenging a High Court ruling in July that the UK government "unequivocally" recognised opposition leader Juan Guaido as the interim president, therefore giving him control over the gold.

Lawyers representing the BCV say selling the gold, which amounts to around 15% of Venezuela's foreign currency reserves, would fund the response to the coronavirus and bolster a health system gutted by six years of economic crisis.

Guaido's lawyers say the bullion is his to control as the British government, along with around 60 others around the world, recognise him as leader after claims Maduro rigged Venezuela's last presidential election two years ago.

The hearing is expected to last three days and will be the first time such a tug-of-war has been conducted in the London Court of Appeal.

BCV board solicitor Sarosh Zaiwalla said in a statement the case raises a number of issues of international law, which forbids the interference by any country in the internal affairs of another.

The outcome could also present "a further threat to the international perception of English institutions as being free from political interference, as well as the Bank of Englands reputation abroad as a safe repository for sovereign assets".

Over the past two years, Maduro's government has removed some 30 tonnes of gold from its local reserves in Venezuela to sell abroad for much-needed hard currency.

Britain in early 2019 joined dozens of nations in backing Guaido, head of Venezuela's opposition-controlled congress, after he declared an interim presidency and denounced Maduro as an usurper.

Guaido, at the time, asked the Bank of England to prevent Maduro's government from accessing the gold, which the opposition claims Maduro wants to use to pay off his foreign allies.

Story continues

In May, BCV sued the Bank of England to recover control, saying it was depriving the BCV of funds needed to finance Venezuela's coronavirus response.

The Bank of England then asked the court to determine who Britain recognized as Venezuela's president.

(Reporting by Marc Jones; Editing by Nick Macfie)
Filming for the 2021 season of Married At First Sight has officially commenced.

And as next year's brides and grooms prepare to walk down the aisle, some of the show's past participants have offered words of advice.

'Don't let them get into your head,' urged Stacey Hampton, who failed to find love with businessman Michael Goonan on the show this year.

'Don't let them get into your head': Stacey Hampton is among the few Married At First Sight stars to offer newcomers words of advice as the 2021 series begins filming in Sydney

'Brides and grooms will need to be able to think for themselves and need to have strong will power,' the 27-year-old told Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday.

The mother of two, who has since found love outside of the reality show, also encouraged newcomers to watch Stan's UnReal for a taste of what's to come.

Meanwhile, Amanda Micallef, who failed to find love with lesbian bride Tash Herz, advised hopefuls 'to go in with an open heart and not hold back'.

'Brides and grooms will need to be able to think for themselves and need to have strong will power,' the 27-year-old told Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday

'Remember why you are there. Enjoy the ride as it'll be crazy, exciting, and perhaps the most disappointing and deflating thing you've ever done,' she continued.

Hayley Vernon, 32, who also split with her partner before the final commitment ceremony, said that she hopes experts decide to take the matchmaking process serious this year.

'This is someone's life they are toying with,' she added.

Amanda Micallef, (left) advised: 'Go in with an open heart, and not hold back'. Meanwhile, Hayley Vernon (right) said she hopes the experts take the matchmaking process more serious

In a bid to shake things up this year, experts Mel Schilling and John Aitken will be joined by Alessandra Rampolla, a certified clinical sexologist with more than 20 years' experience.

The reality star's words of advice come just days after Daily Mail Australia exclusively revealed Bryce Ruthven is one of the grooms set to appear on the show in 2021.

The Hit 104.7 radio presenter has taken three months of unpaid leave from his radio gig and temporarily relocated to Sydney.

New faces! The 2021 season will feature Alessandra Rampolla (centre), a certified clinical sexologist with more than 20 years' experience, on the panel of experts. Pictured with Mel Schilling (right) and John Aitken (left)
Coillte is encouraging people in County Longford to participate in National Walking Day on Sunday, September 27th 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.

Longford and its surrounding countries have a number of Coillte recreation forests which are open to the public. To find out more about Coilltes recreation offering visit www.coillte.ie/our-forests/ recreation-map/

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 kilometers 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 COVID19 guidelines. Coillte wants to encourage local residents in County Longford 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 Derrycassan Woods in County Longford.

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.
BWXT Nuclear Energy has claimed victory in its battle with a citizens group that fears the companys expansion into nuclear pellet production is a dire threat to public health.

BWXT, which operates out of part of the former GE Canada complex on Park Street, appears to have a strong case. But it should have waited for the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) to release its own independent test results.

During a hearing on BWXTs licence renewal and expansion application, the commission decided unusual concentrations of beryllium, a potentially toxic heavy metal, in soil at nearby Prince of Wales school warranted further testing.

BWXT commissioned its own tests and has released the results, which showed beryllium at the school and other locations is well within safe levels.

However, it is unlikely Citizens Against Radioactive Neighbourhoods (CARN) will accept any evidence that BWXTs operations are safe and should be allowed to continue and potentially expand.

One of the groups leaders dismissed the test results as nothing more than public relations.

Thats typical of some CARN members tendency to overstate. Two detailed studies by reputable firms back up an earlier CNSC staff opinion that the plants operations are safe and emission levels are not a worry.

However, there is a PR element to the companys release of its own numbers ahead of the commissions report, expected in October.

BWXT wanted to get the good news out on its schedule and control of the narrative.

The companys message couldnt be more direct: The key takeaway today is that these results demonstrate that BWXTs operations have no negative impact to the environment or public health.

Thats true, but they are the companys results, not the nuclear safety commission's.

While CARN has been harsh in its criticisms and willing to paint the company as a serial producer of toxic emissions, here and at a Toronto plant, it would have done BWXT no harm to wait for release of the truly independent testing. Or at least acknowledge that CNSCs own test results are coming and that nothing can be decided until then.

If public relations is about winning hearts and minds, the companys news release and its tone fell short.

For all the sturm und drang the protestors tried to stir up  including marches outside the plant with members wearing hazmat suits  BWXTs reputation has not particularly been sullied.

CARN initially targeted nuclear material that would be compressed into pellets and then assembled into rods for nuclear reactors but that particular type of uranium is not harmful and the protest didnt really take.

And a group of Trent University professors who raised concerns about increasing beryllium levels at Prince of Wales noted that soil and airborne levels didnt match up. They werent making accusations, just asking for better information.

BWXTs is a large multinational company and a significant local employer. Those 350 mostly high-tech, well-paid jobs give it clout and status.

CARN members are not so high-profile. They are concerned individuals, and if BWXT gets it licence renewal they will be the companys neighbours for years to come.

That neighbourly relationship has been damaged, and premature release of test results wont help repair it.

BWXT looks likely to win its licence. A little more graciousness will be needed to win the neighbours over.
Months after announcing plans to evolve Uncle Bens branding, the rice brand has a new name  Bens Original.

Mars Food, which owns Bens Original, said Wednesday that it will also remove Uncle Bens imagery from its products.

Mars Food announced it has a new name for the Uncle Bens brand of rice products: Bens Original.

Over the last several weeks, we have listened to thousands of consumers, our own associates and other stakeholders from around the world, Fiona Dawson, president of Mars Food, Multisales and Global Customers, said in a news release.

We understand the inequities that were associated with the name and face of the previous brand, and as we announced in June, we have committed to change.

Mars Food also announced plans for Bens Original outreach programs to bring nutritious meals to under-served communities in the U.S. and bolster educational opportunities for culinary entrepreneurs of all colors.

The company is partnering with the National Urban League to offer a scholarship to aspiring Black chefs in the U.S.,with goals to ultimately expand its support across the world, the company said.

In addition, Mars Food said it will work to provide educational opportunities for more than 7,500 students in Greenville, Mississippi, where Bens Original has been made for more than 40 years. The company said it also aims to provide easier access to fresh foods in the community.

While implementing an evolution on this scale will be a complex process, there is no better time than right now, Dawson said in the release. We know this is the right thing to do for our brand and business to ensure we create the truly inclusive future that everyone deserves.

After the death of George Floyd sparked protests across the country, Uncle Bens announced in June it would evolve its brand identity and imagery to take a stand in helping to put an end to racial bias and injustices.

A handful of other brands said they were taking steps to remove imagery depicting racial stereotypes from their packaging. Syrup brand Aunt Jemima said it would change its name and remove its logo from products. Cream of Wheat said it would review its packaging. Mrs. Butterworths syrup said it had already begun to review its branding and packaging.

So, who is Uncle Ben? The Uncle Bens brand name was first used in 1946 to refer to a Black farmer by that name in Texas, but the logo was modeled on a Chicago chef and waiter, McClatchy News previously reported.

But critics have said the imagery suggests a servant, while the uncle title reflects how white Southerners once used uncle and aunt as honorifics for older blacks because they refused to say Mr. and Mrs., according to the report.
House Passes Bill to Crack Down on Imports from Chinas Forced Labor Camps

The House on Tuesday passed legislation aimed at cracking down on the exchange of goods made in forced labor camps by Uyghurs in Chinas Xinjiang region.

The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, introduced by Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), passed in a 406-3 vote. The bill imposes a number of restrictions related to the region, including prohibiting certain imports from there and imposing sanctions on those responsible for human rights violations. In particular, goods made in Xinjiang will not be allowed entry into the United States unless U.S. customs officials can determine that the goods were not made under forced labor conditions. The bill also calls on the president to impose sanctions in the form of visa and property blocks on foreign entities or individuals who knowingly facilitated the forced labor manufacture of goods in Xinjiang or who tried to contravene U.S. laws that prohibit the import of items made under such conditions.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have called for action to fight human rights abuses in China.

There is strong, diverse, bipartisan, and bicameral support for this legislation, McGovern said on the floor ahead of the vote, adding, it is time for Congress to act.

He spoke of lawmakers watching in horror as the Chinese regime, in recent years, established and then expanded a system of mass incarceration camps, in which a series of grave abuses have taken place.

As many as 1.8 million Uighurs and members of other predominantly Muslim ethnic minority groups have been arbitrarily detained in the camps and subjected to forced labor, torture, political intimidation, and other severe human rights abuses, he said, adding that some of the practices the Chinese regime is allegedly engaged in, liked forced sterilization, may violate the UN Convention on Genocide.

In an interview in late August on The Epoch Times American Thought Leaders, Sam Brownback, the Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom, spoke of mounting evidence of the Chinese regimes human rights abuses.

You can look at what China did to the Tibetan Buddhists and still [does]: the persecution, keeping the Dalai Lama out of the country, he said. You can look at Xinjiang which is probably the most egregious religious persecution taking place in the world today. A million Muslim Uyghurs in concentration camps, he said, adding that outside Chinas harsh penal facilities, the communist regime continues its repressive tactics via an elaborate system of social control.

And then if you get out of those, youre in this police state of a virtual prison by all the cameras, the facial recognition systems, and the limitations on you, the destruction of the house church, the desire to control the Catholic Church, the persecution of Falun Gong, the credible reporting now of taking place of organ harvesting, he explained.

Practitioners of Falun Gong, a traditional Chinese spiritual discipline, have been subjected to a relentless persecution that began in 1999, which some scholars have described as the playbook for the current repression of ethnic minorities in the Xinjiang region.

Brownback added that the Trump administration has gotten tough on Chinas communist abusers.

Youre seeing the Trump administration go hammer and tongs at these human rights abuses and particularly religious freedom abuses that are taking place in western China. We are going at the companies that are then used in the forced labor, that is being forced by the Chinese Communist Party. We are going at the entities that their technology is being used to observe and to oppress people, he explained.

On the floor of the House on Wednesday, Rep. Ted Yoho (R-Fla.), who co-sponsored the bill, compared the abuses perpetrated by Chinas communist regime in Xinjiang to concentration camps in Nazi Germany.

As members of Congress, we have a moral obligation to ensure that the state-sponsored campaign of ethnic cleansing and forced labor reminiscent of the concentration camps of the Nazi regimewhen we swore as a world community, Never again!be shut down and punished to the fullest extent of U.S. and international law, he said.

Yoho added that Americas business community also has a moral obligation to not appease China in the name of profits.

The House is also expected to pass the Uyghur Forced Labor Disclosure Act (pdf), which would require publicly traded companies in the United States that do business in Xinjiang to disclose supply chain information, including whether the goods or materials used to make finished products involved the exploitation of forced labor.
TOKYO, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Taiko Aichi Capital, a private wealth management company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, reports that in a funding round led by private equity firm Permira, Paris-based Mirakl has raised $300 million giving the e-commerce start-up a company a valuation of $1.5 billion, its U.S. chief executive officer and co-founder confirmed in an interview.

Thomas Henderson, Taiko Aichi Capital's Director of EMEA Wealth, reported: "With its valuation exceeding $1 billion, this funding round makes Mirakl a newly minted unicorn."

Mirakl develops software that helps build online stores and marketplaces for its customers who include Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co., Kroger Co. and Siemens AG, according to analysts at Taiko Aichi Capital.

Adrien Nussenbaum, Mirakl's U.S. CEO and co-founder, said in an interview that an initial public offering is one of "the very serious options in this table and one of the drives of this round." He went on to add, "We think within a couple of years we would be in a position to IPO."

Nussenbaum added that the company connects their platforms to third-party sellers through its partnerships with Shopify and Adobe Inc.'s Magento Commerce. Before Adobe acquired it for $1.68 billion in 2018, Permira was an investor in Magento Commerce.

He added that Mirakl, which also has offices in Boston, would use the investment to employ 300 engineers over the next three years.

Anthony Green, Taiko Aichi Capital's Head of Capital Markets, reported: "The Covid-19 pandemic has helped boost companies that power e-commerce as customers have now shifted their shopping habits to the home following the global lockdowns. Shopify, the highly popular e-commerce service, has seen its shares more than double since March."

In a statement, Permira partner Alexandre Margoline said that Mirakl could become the "central hub and platform for digital marketplace operators, sellers and partners." Permira invests through its growth opportunities fund that makes minority investments in growth-stage businesses.

Other investors in the funding round include 83North, Bain Capital Ventures, Elaia Partners and Felix Capital, taking the company's total capital raised to $400 million.

Mirakl and Royal Bank of Canada were advised by Allen & Co., and Permira was advised by Eurvad Finance.

About Taiko Aichi Capital

Established in 2007, Taiko Aichi Capital  is an independent, boutique, private wealth management and advisory company with headquarters located in Tokyo, Japan.

Contacts

Mr. Shinsato Masao, Group Head of Research

Switchboard +81 3 4572 0250 | Email [email protected]

16F Otemachi Park Building, 1-1-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan.

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A national youth campaign against electoral violence has been launched in Accra with a call on the Electoral Commission to create a level playing field for all contesting candidates to help ensure violence-free, fair and transparent elections on December 7.

The campaign is the initiative of the Global Youth Empowerment Centre, (GYEC), a global youth movement with more than forty thousand members across the world.

The main goal of the campaign is to increase public awareness, especially among the youth to ensure peaceful, free, fair and transparent general elections in Ghana on 7th December 2020.

Launching the campaign, the Global Director of Operations of GYEC, Rhoda Duku, said in Africa, Ghana is hyped as a model of democracy and good governance. Characterizing this enviable feat since the resumption of multi-party democracy in 1992, is a record of seven successive and generally peaceful elections that have culminated into three successful transfers of power from one party to another.

According to her, none of the seven presidential and general elections, by-elections and re-runs were without violence, with the level of violence intensifying as electoral and political competition intensified with each election.

Madam Duku mentioned re-run and by-elections that were characterized with violence that as Akwatia in the Eastern Region (August, 2009), Chereponi in the Northern Region in September, 2009, Atiwa in the Eastern Region in August, 201), and Talensi in the Upper East Region in July, 2015.

However, beneath these positive credentials are undercurrents of recurring low intensity electoral violence that has virtually marred every election cycle, although this has not blown out into a civil war as exemplified elsewhere on the continent.

According to her, the recent case of electoral violence during the Ayawaso West Wuogon (AWW) Constituency by-election in January 31, 2019, and the recent ECs registration exercise in which there were shooting incidents and a dozen persons were injured in clashes between supporters of the opposition and the ruling parties must be concerns to all

Political vigilante groups with affiliation to the two leading political parties, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have been at the forefront of unleashing torrents of violence during elections with the aim of undermining opponents, in either inter-party or intra-party contests and events, in order to safeguard the electoral fortunes of their parties.

Ahead of the 2020 election therefore, the country has had to grapple with not only how to deal with microeconomic issues in order to avoid fiscal overruns risk but also with how to contain potential widespread electoral violence that have been sustained by impunity.

This, she noted, called for interventions to prevent and/or mitigate electoral violence including a range of peace messaging, stakeholder fora and grassroots peace advocacy by civil society groups. It was based on this premise that GYEC has launched a campaign against electoral violence.

The campaign, she noted, will reach out to over one million young people and women voters with a message of peace through public awareness creation to ensure violence-free election during and after the December 7th general elections.

Madam Duku appealed to all political parties especially the two major political parties, NPP and NDC to eschew provocative utterances, personality attacks and tribal statements that could plug the country into political turmoil.

The Country Head of the Global Youth Empowerment Centre Ghana, Raphael Godlove Ahenu, in a statement, urged the youth not to allow themselves to be used by selfish politicians to foment trouble.

He said the capacity of 2500 youth will be built as Peace Ambassadors in election hotspot communities to create a crop of youthful persons who are interested in peaceful outcomes in their communities instead of being used as tools to perpetrate electoral violence.
Police believe the events leading up to a black car crashing into a creek in western Sydney on Thursday morning could help them understand why a man was fatally stabbed nearby.

The body of Mak Muon, aged in his 20s, was found with stab wounds at Emu Green Reserve in Emu Plains just before 8am on Thursday.

Emergency services were called, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Detective Inspector Jason Pietruszka said it appeared the man, who was from the Nepean area, had been dead for several hours. He was known to police.
FAIRFIELD  Fairfield Ludlowe High School will be closed for the rest of the week after more individuals tested positive for coronavirus, according to town officials.

In a press conference Wednesday evening, First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick said there were six positive cases in town high schools  five at Fairfield Ludelow and one at Fairfield College Preparatory School. She said four of the Ludlowe cases may have been the result of approximately six gatherings of high school students over the weekend.

This also could result in over a hundred people having to be quarantined for 14 days, which is a big deal, Kupchick said. I get repeated reports from individuals across our community, complete with pictures, of our middle school and high school students gathering in large groups.

Kupchick said these gatherings have been reported in various places around town, noting the young people are not wearing masks. She said there is a civic responsibility not just for adults, but for children, to follow health guidelines.

Kupchick later said that one party had to be broken up by police because of the number of people there. She noted some of the parties were taking place at homes  with parents consent. She said the gatherings could set the town back in a significant way.

We have worked extraordinarily hard since March to make sure that our community is safe and that our numbers were kept low, Kupchick said. Our school district has gone above and beyond to try to bring back normalcy and have school for our children, and these types of things could really spiral out of control.

I feel like deja vu, she said. We were doing this in March  talking about our civic responsibility as a community to make sure that we keep our numbers down, so that we could have our students go back to school, our business reopen.

Kupchick urged parents to remind their children to follow health guidelines.

Superintendent Mike Cummings, who also spoke at the press conference, announced the four new cases at Ludlowe earlier in the afternoon. The new cases come a day after one student enrolled at Ludlowe tested positive.

As a result, Fairfield Ludlowe High School will be closed on Thursday, September 24 and Friday, September 25 to allow for cleaning and contract tracing, he said in a message to the community, adding students would follow the remote schedule published last week.

Even with the new cases, Cummings said the protocols the district put in place are working, noting they were followed in consultation with Health Department Director Sands Cleary and Nursing Supervisor Jill Mitchell.

Cummings said the health department received notification of the positive test from the Connecticut Department of Public Health, and immediately reached out to the individuals to begin contact tracing.

Anyone who has been in close contact with these individuals is being contacted by a member of the Fairfield Health Department Contact Tracing Team, Cummings said.

The district would not be releasing specific information about the individuals involved, Cummings said, in order to comply with laws and regulations regarding student and employee privacy.

In the press conference, Health Department Director Sands Cleary said all positive cases are in self-isolation, and all contacts are being notified of their exposure with instructions to quarantine.

Many of these contacts are seeking testing, and so there is a real potential that more cases and contacts will be identified over the next few days, he said. We will continue our work until all cases are identified and isolated and all those close contacts are in quarantine.

Cleary said there was no epidemiological link between the positive case identified yesterday at Ludlowe and the four new ones. He said four of the gatherings attended by high school students over the weekend were attended by students who have since tested positive.

In initial reports of those gatherings, is that there were no mask use or social distancing occurring at these events, Cleary said.

Early in this pandemic, I had stated that it is likely that hundreds will die and thousands will become ill in Fairfield, he said. We have already experienced 144 COVID-associated deaths, nearly 800 confirmed cases and serial prevalence studies have indicated that over 3,000 people in Fairfield have already had COVID-19.

Noting that those are the numbers from the first wave of the pandemic, Cleary said the town must focus on the things residents and their children can do to prevent a second wave. He noted those strategies included wearing a face mask outside of the household, staying home if sick or awaiting test results, and limiting contact with people outside of the household as much as possible.

If we wish to keep our schools and our businesses open, we cannot view where we are as We have done everything we need to do, and now we can go back to the way it was before,  Cleary said. We have to keep these preventative measures in place and be vigilant in our efforts as we go forward.
A Premier Inn logo is pictured outside one of the company's hotels in Doncaster, northern England, on September 22, 2020. British leisure group Whitbread, owner of Premier Inn hotels, announced Tuesday that it could axe up to 6,000 jobs and blamed "subdued" travel demand during the coronavirus pandemic. Whitbread, which also owns restaurants including Brewers Fayre and Beefeater, said it will consult on the cutbacks that would amount to almost a fifth of its workforce.(Paul ELLIS / AFP)

Whitbread, which owns also restaurant brands including Beefeater and Brewers Fayre, said the cuts would number almost one fifth of its workforce.

"With demand for travel remaining subdued, we are now having to make some very difficult decisions... that could result in up to 6,000 redundancies in the UK," chief executive Alison Brittain said in a statement.

The news came after British pub chain Wetherspoon separately announced plans to cut up to 450 jobs at venues across six UK airports.

Wetherspoon's "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 chief executive John Hutson.

Wetherspoon founder and chairman Tim Martin has said that pubs and other hospitality businesses could be wiped out by further coronavirus restrictions.

Britain reopened its hospitality sector in July after more than three months of lockdown, but the industry faces new restrictions.

The British government is scheduled to announce new measures to stem a rising tide of coronavirus cases, reducing pubs' trading hours in England and abandoning its call for people to return to offices.

Brittain said that Whitbread's performance since the lifting of the lockdown "has been ahead of the market".

To help the sector recover, the government launched a temporary stimulus package, including a restaurant discount scheme and tax cuts.

The "Eat Out to Help Out" deal throughout August saw the government contribute 50 percent of the cost of a cafe, restaurant or pub meal, up to 10 ($13, 11 euros) per person.

- Surge in infections -

Britons enjoyed more than 100 million meals under the discount scheme, according to data, while some analysts said it contributed to increasing cases of Covid-19.

On Monday, the government's top medical advisers had warned that the country could see up to 50,000 coronavirus cases a day by mid-October, and a month later exceed 200 deaths every day if nothing was done.

Almost 42,000 people who have tested positive for Covid-19 have died in Britain, the worst death toll in Europe.

In order to keep the economy alive and keep people in jobs, the government has paid the bulk of wages for almost 10 million workers.

With the state's furlough scheme set to end next month however, analysts forecast a surge in unemployment.

While retailers, hospitality and travel groups have been at the forefront of slashing tens of thousands of jobs during the pandemic, supermarkets have created huge amounts new roles to meet a surge in online food demand.
UPDATED at 6:05 P.M. EDT on 2020-09-23

An ethnic Tibetan New York City police officer and U.S. Army reservist was unmasked this week as a spy working to inform China on the activities of Chinese citizens and the Tibetan community in the New York area, the U.S. Justice Department said in a press release on Monday.

Baimadajie Angwang, 33, was arrested in Williston Park, New York, on Sept. 21 and charged with acting as an illegal agent for the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) and with wire fraud and making false statements, the Department press release said.

Since at least 2014, Angwang acted at the direction and control of officials at the PRC Consulate in New York City, the Justice Department said, adding that court documents state that Angwang was explicit about his motivations, saying he hoped that his actions would bring glory to China.

Specifically, Angwang 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 also provided PRC officials with access to senior New York City Police Department (NYPD) officials through invitations to official events, the Justice Department said.

The veteran police officer, whom the department described as "an ethnic Tibetan native of the PRC and naturalized U.S. citizen," faces a maximum 55-year prison term if convicted.

Baimadajie Angwang violated every oath he took he took in this country. One to the United States, another to the U.S. Army, and a third to the Police Department, NYPD Commissioner Dermot F. Shea said in a statement Monday.

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.

Call for greater vigilance

There was no immediate response to a phone message seeking comment from his lawyer, but Tibetans based in the U.S. and in India called for greater vigilance in Tibetan exile communities to detect infiltrations by Beijing.

China considers Tibets India-based exile government, the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), an important target for subversion, Karma RinchenSecretary of the CTA Department of Securitysaid, describing Chinese efforts to penetrate the Tibetan diaspora, now spread over more than 30 countries worldwide, as well-executed and planned.

Now, as Tibetans all over the world are gearing up for our election [for a new exile leader], the Chinese government will use this as a major opportunity to provoke disagreements and hostility among us by sending in spies. We must always be on high alert, he said.

A New York police officer hired by the Chinese government to spy on Tibetans in New York shows the lengths to which Beijing will go to undermine Tibetans, added Ngodup Tsering, a representative of the Office of Tibet in North America.

So Tibetans have to be much more vigilant.

Tashi Choephel, former general secretary of the Tibetan Community of New York and New Jersey recalled that Angwang, whose name in Tibetan is Pema Dhargyal Ngawang, had approached his group in 2019 to offer assistance in organizing Tibetan New Year celebrations.

He introduced himself as a Tibetan police officer and extended his willingness to help the Tibetan community. But he wasn't fluent in Tibetan, Choephel said. Later, we found that he was spotted at the Chinese Consulate in New York on the very same day that he attended our Losar celebration, and that sowed doubt in all of us.

Many Chinese spies have been infiltrating Tibetan society as instruments of Beijings long-running campaign to undermine support for [exiled Tibetan spiritual leader] the Dalai Lama and other Tibetan leaders, said Lama Tseta, former head of the Shugden Association of South India and now living in Connecticut.

The Chinese government is spending huge amounts of money to use Tibetans against other Tibetans to destroy our unity, Tseta said. They are sending spies into our community to spread Chinas influence and to help China advance its political agenda.

In June 2018, Dorjee Gyantsan, a Tibetan resident of Sweden, was convicted in a Swedish court of spying for China and was handed a 22-month prison term for collecting information on the identities, political views, and travel of fellow Tibetans living in Sweden.

Gyantsan, who had spied for China from July 2015 to February 2017, had passed the information to a Chinese intelligence officer in Poland, for which the court said he had been paid 50,000 kroner (U.S, $6,000) on at least one occasion, according to press reports.

Reported and translated by Tenzin Dickyi for RFAs Tibetan Service. Written in English by Richard Finney.

Updates with U.S. Justice Department description of the policeman as "an ethnic Tibetan native of the PRC and naturalized U.S. citizen."
- EQT Infrastructure to sell Synagro, the largest provider of wastewater biosolids solutions in North America, to West Street Infrastructure Partners III, an infrastructure investment fund managed by Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking Division

- Synagro partners with local communities to process over 14 million tons of wastewater biosolids annually to protect the health of our water, air, soil, and those who depend on them

- Under EQT's ownership, Synagro has grown its facility footprint from 15 to 24 facilities, while expanding its services offerings to provide reliable and sustainable biosolids management solutions to 1,000 municipal and industrial customers across 35 states

STOCKHOLM, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The EQT Infrastructure II fund ("EQT Infrastructure") today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell Synagro Technologies, Inc. ("Synagro" or "the Company") to West Street Infrastructure Partners III, an infrastructure investment fund managed by Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking Division.

Founded in 1986 and headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, Synagro is the leading provider of wastewater biosolids solutions in North America. The Company provides essential biosolids treatment solutions, turning a waste stream into fertilizer products for over 1,000 municipal and industrial customers across 35 states. Synagro manages over 14 million tons of biosolids annually across its portfolio of 24 specialized treatment facilities and the industry's largest permitted beneficial use land base.

Under EQT Infrastructure's ownership, Synagro has developed into the industry leading wastewater biosolids solutions platform in North America with the industry's largest wastewater biosolids treatment facility footprint, broadest network of permitted disposal solutions and most comprehensive environmental services offering. With its data driven and local approach, the Company has solidified its position as a trusted partner for municipalities and industrial customers helping to protect the water, air and soil quality of the local communities in which Synagro operates.

Crosby Cook, Partner at EQT Partners, said: "Partnering with the Synagro management team to develop the Company into the industry leading platform has been a fulfilling experience. Synagro's sustainable business model aligns well with EQT's ESG goals and we are proud to have been a part of the Company's transformation. With ever-increasing demand for sustainable biosolids solutions, Synagro is well-positioned for its next phase of growth under Goldman Sachs' ownership."

Bob Preston, Chief Executive Officer of Synagro, said: "Under EQT's ownership, we have cemented our position as market leader providing sustainable biosolids solutions to communities in North America. We see great potential for further growth in this market and look forward to continuing our journey together with Goldman Sachs."

Cedric Lucas, Managing Director at Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking Division, added: "We are excited about the opportunity to partner with Bob and the Synagro team to build on their success, accelerate innovation in biosolids treatment solutions, and support the Company's growth plans in the years to come. Synagro is a great example of our infrastructure funds' commitment to investing in sustainable businesses and Goldman Sachs' dedication to ESG."

The transaction is subject to customary conditions and approvals. It is expected to close in December 2020.

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC acted as financial advisor and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP as legal advisor to EQT Infrastructure.

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC acted as financial advisor and Sidley Austin LLP as legal advisor to West Street Infrastructure Partners III.

Contact

US press contact, daniel.yunger@kekstcnc.com, +1 917 574 8582

Crosby Cook, Partner and Investment Advisor to EQT Infrastructure, +1 917 281 0851

EQT Press Office, press@eqtpartners.com, +46 8 506 55 334

About EQT

EQT is a differentiated global investment organization with more than EUR 62 billion in raised capital and around EUR 40 billion in assets under management across 19 active funds. EQT funds have portfolio companies in Europe, Asia-Pacific and North America with total sales of more than EUR 27 billion and approximately 159,000 employees. EQT works with portfolio companies to achieve sustainable growth, operational excellence and market leadership.

More info: www.eqtgroup.com

Follow EQT on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram

About Synagro

Founded in 1986, Synagro Technologies, Inc. works to turn waste into worth by helping more than 1,000 municipal and industrial water and wastewater facilities in North America move toward safer, cleaner and more environmentally beneficial practices. For some, it's simply cleaning the water supply. For others, it's much more - we partner with them to process their waste for compost or energy pellets, creating healthy soil and sequestering carbon in the process. As the largest recycler of organic by-products in North America, we're trusted because we remove risks while keeping the logistics clean. Because we have the most experienced team in the industry, we can offer tailored solutions that ensure no waste goes to waste. Much of our work isn't pretty. But it's a greener world emerging from a cleaner one - worth coming from waste - and we think that's pretty beautiful.

More info: www.synagro.com

About Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking Division

Founded in 1869, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is a leading global investment banking, securities and investment management firm. Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking Division (MBD) is the primary center for the firm's long-term principal investing activity. MBD is one of the leading private capital investors in the world with investments across private equity, infrastructure, private debt, growth equity and real estate.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/eqt/r/eqt-infrastructure-to-sell-synagro,c3201549

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Asserting that India and the US share a strong interest in a rules-based Indo-Pacific region where no country including China threatens, Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden on Tuesday said the two nations can undeniably shape the region for a much better future.

"The US and India share a strong interest in a rules-based Indo-Pacific region, where no country including China threatens its neighbours with impunity," Biden said in his address to a virtual fundraiser for Indian Americans.

In his first ever virtual fundraiser as a presidential candidate for Indian Americans that was attended by 268 people, Biden alleged that President Donald Trump is ceding space to China just when the country is looking to undercut its neighbours and the American leadership in the Pacific.

"We can undeniably shape the Indo-Pacific order for a much better, better future. We can get it right. This election is going to determine our future," Biden said during the fundraiser in a conversation with Dr Vivek Murthy, former surgeon general.

Referring to his long-standing ties with India and the work that he has done over the past several decades, first as the US senator from Delaware and then as the country's vice president, Biden said his administration is going to continue to value this relationship.

"It is not about photo ops or handshakes, it is about getting things done," he said without elaborating any further.

Fifteen years ago, Biden told the Indian Americans that he was leading the Senate Foreign Relations Committee with a Republican, Senator Richard Lugar, and they approved the historic India-US civil nuclear deal.

"At the time, I said when India and the United States become closer friends, the world will be a much safer place. Seven years ago, as vice president, I told a business owner in Mumbai that the US-India partnership was the defining relationship in the 21st century," he said.

"I am not just saying it now, I said it then and I mean it," the former vice president said while asserting that he will continue to believe this as the president. "I will work to make sure it occurs," he said.

Biden said he has long called for standing with Indians confronting terrorism in the region, strengthening India's defence capabilities, expanding trade between the two countries and tackling global challenges like climate change and global health. PTI LKJ RC

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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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday asked states to press on with full strength in opening economic activities alongside fighting the coronavirus pandemic and suggested that they should now focus on 'micro-containment zones' to curb the disease.

In a review meeting through video conference with chief ministers and representatives of seven states with a high burden of COVID-19 cases, Modi said having micro containment zones will help states in dealing with the spread of the infection and also allow normal activities to continue.

The prime minister also questioned the efficacy of one or two-day local lockdowns imposed by certain states from time to time and asked them to reassess as to how effective they are in curbing the disease.

"Is it that this is creating difficulties in the resumption of economic activities in your states? This is my request that all states consider it seriously," he said.

Several states, including West Bengal and Punjab, have time to time imposed local lockdowns to contain the virus spread.

With major festivals like Durga Puja and Diwali approaching in the next couple of months, Modi asked states to promote COVID-appropriate festivities, as he observed that the battle against the pandemic is far from over.

He noted that only 60 districts out of more than 700 districts across the country, and that too in just seven states, have a high load of cases and therefore a cause of concern. He suggested to chief ministers to draft a one-week programme to interact directly with officials in a few blocks of these places on a daily basis.

This will boost the messaging at the ground level and inject more seriousness and sincerity in fighting the pandemic, he said.

The nationwide lockdown after the pandemic's outbreak benefitted us a lot, and the world has also lauded it, the prime minister said and then asked states to now focus on micro-containment zones.

"We should now focus only on micro-containment zones so that coronavirus spread is curbed and normal activities of life will also continue... We have to enhance our focus on effective testing, tracing, treatment, surveillance and clear messaging," he said.

"We have to continue with the patience, empathy, dialogue and cooperation which the country has displayed during these corona times. While battling the infection, we have to press on with full strength on the economic front," Modi added.

Chief ministers and other representatives, including health ministers, of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Punjab attended the meeting.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also participated in the meeting.

'Attended the meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji via video-conferencing with the Chief Ministers of Maharashtra, Delhi, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh to review the COVID-19 situation and its management in these states,' Shah later tweeted.

An official statement had earlier said that more than 63 per of the active cases in the country are concentrated in these seven states. These states also account for 65.5 per cent of the total confirmed cases and 77 per cent of the total deaths.

The prime minister told states to further enhance their focus on effective testing, tracing, treatment, surveillance and clear messaging.

Acknowledging the continuous rise in the COVID-19 cases, he noted that more than 10 lakh tests are being done daily and the number of people recovering from the disease is also going up sharply.

Noting that most of the COVID-19 patients are asymptomatic, Modi said an effective messaging is all the more important as rumours often get spread and the common man wonders if the testing is wrong.

Some people even make the mistake of undermining the seriousness of the disease, he said, while pitching for the need for an effective messaging.

Citing studies, Modi said wearing mask is very important in stopping the infection spread and asserted that positive outcomes will be difficult without people making it a part of their daily life.

A statement said states were also asked to increase tests substantially and to ensure 100 per cent RT-PCR tests in symptomatic rapid antigen test-negative cases.

Modi appealed to the nation to follow COVID-safe behaviour all the time and asked states to continue with mission-mode approach.

He asked states to adopt and encourage best practices in containing the virus.

The prime minister said it has to be ensured that medicines move unhindered from one state to another and noted that India has also been able to supply medicines across the world during such hard times.

Hindrance in the inter-state movement of services and people adversely affect the normal life and livelihood, he said and asked states to continuously monitor supply chains.

He noted that India has also been able to supply medicines across the world during such hard times.

The infrastructure developed to treat COVID-19 in the last few months has been very helpful, and it has to be strengthened further and the tracking-tracing network should be given better training, he said.

On the occasion, Modi noted that Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, under which the poor are treated free, will complete its two years on September 25 and said that over 1.25 crore patients have received free treatment so fat.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Health Minister Harsh Vardhan were among the senior functionaries who attended the meeting.

India's COVID-19 caseload went past 56 lakh with 83,347 infections being reported in a day, while over 45 lakh people have recuperated, the health ministry said on Wednesday.
Nurses and Midwives in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis and Effia-Kwesimintsim Municipality have joined the nationwide strike action embarked by nurses in demand for better working conditions.



As a result, a number of government hospitals within the two Assemblies have recorded low Out Patient Department (OPD) turn out.



A visit by the GNA to the European Hospital in Takoradi revealed the absence of nurses at the OPD with virtually empty seats.



Reverend Osei Boateng, the administrator of the hospital, bemoaned the current situation saying, it was unfortunate that the nurses had embarked on the strike action during these abnormal times.



He was, however, happy that doctors, laboratory technicians, Administrators, Accountants, and other support service providers were at post.



Rev. Boateng appealed to the government to negotiate with the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) to chart a clear path in meeting their demands.



He explained that workers within the health sector should be given all the allowances due them to prevent frequent strike actions since the strikes could lead to the loss of lives.



Rev Boateng noted that apart from the nurses, other staff such as administrators, accountants, cleaners and caterers have also not received much attention from various governments, stressing that they all play critical roles in achieving holistic healthcare delivery.



The situation was not different at the Kwesiminstim Hospital, where the Administrator, Mr Felix Osei Kesse, indicated that on a regular day, an average of 300 patients visit the OPD, however, the strike action had resulted in a decrease in attendance.



Mr Kesse also said the doctors were now playing the roles of nurses pointing out that "Doctors are now taking the vital statistics of patients and attending to pregnant women at the Ante natal Care (ANC) unit".



This he noted would increase the workload of the Doctors.



Mr Kesse explained that so far, only four critical cases were still on admission and being attended to while all other patients on admission had been discharged since nurses were not around.



He said the hospital had some referral cases but that the patients were likely to meet the same situation at the hospital they would be referred to.



Nana Owusu, a patient at the Essikado Hospital lamented that he had been at the facility for quite some time but had not been issued with a card because there were no nurses to attend to patients with general problems.



He called on the government to attend to the demands of the nurses for them to call off their strike action.



The strike action has been triggered by the poor conditions of service and unpaid allowances to nurses and midwives.



Physician assistants and certified registered Aneastetics are also included in the strike.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
If theres one word that the pandemic has made us re-evaluate, its "essential."



The grocery store clerk is essential, the health care workers risking their lives are essential. And for the first time in recent history, it became essential to have a closet full of toilet paper.



Beyond basic human needs, its essential to support the businesses you love and the places that make San Francisco special, or they wont be around much longer. And while the world crumbles around us, its also essential to maintain some sense of autonomy, especially when our tech devices supply personalized feeds of content designed to keep our eyes locked to screens.



So first, order a burrito. After that, visit a local bookstore and buy a book.

RELATED: SF bookstore owner tells us what people are reading

A Monday night trip to Dog Eared Books just before closing time made me realize why patronizing local bookstores is so important. Its not just to sustain institutions that have long served as the backbone of the citys cultural education, but because browsing actual wooden bookshelves at one of the 28 local members of the California Independent Booksellers Alliance offers an experience thats nearly impossible in todays tech-driven world: an escape from The Algorithms.

I believe the very best way to learn about someone is to ask what book theyre reading, but that knowledge doesnt mean nearly as much to advertisers, which is part of why there may be no cultural artifact in as much jeopardy right now as the hardcover book.

For most people, 99% of the words they read are now on screens rather than paper. Even avid readers like myself often prefer the convenience of e-books. And it can feel almost impossible to finish a book while living through the equivalent of a dystopian novel, with the plot points like neon orange skies happening in real-time, each chapter condensed into the size of a tweet, written by what social media has decided is your favorite author. But fighting through that fog is part of what makes San Francisco such a special city.

Dan Gentile

My first cultural memory of San Francisco, aside from a jingle for rice masquerading as a treat, has to do with books. Like many teenagers, a teacher introduced me to the Beats. Living outside of the Bay Area at the time, authors like Allen Ginsberg and Lawrence Ferlinghetti gave San Francisco a counter-culture glow far different from my home in Texas.



During my first visit to the city in the late aughts for a nightmarish job interview, I made a pilgrimage to City Lights followed by a barely legal beer at Vesuvio. When I moved to the Bay Area many years later, books gave me the context to feel like less of an outsider, from the horrific history lessons of Season of the Witch to gentrification primer Gold Gates: Fighting for Housing in America to the neighborhood secrets in Cool Gray City of Love.

RELATED: Pulitzer Prize winning author urges the public to support indie SF bookshop

When City Lights announced that it was on the verge of closing in April, San Francisco stepped up and donated over $365,000 in a single day, with its Go Fund Me currently at $495,335, but Russian Hill Bookstore, Alley Cat Books and Dog Eared Books are all hovering around half of their much more modest goals.

To survive the pandemic, these places need more than donations. In the year 2020, most local brick-and-mortar businesses will live or die based on the generosity of San Franciscans. Im the first to preach the library e-book system, and admit that I often take advantage of Amazons cheaper prices and free delivery, but a bookstore offers something that an online system cant.

While browsing the new fiction section at Dog Eared with my hands reeking of sanitizer, I was surprised at how refreshing it felt to move my eyes between objects that a computer code did not select specifically for me. Real humans decided these books stored something of value, and those real humans invested in them with the understanding that although they would not attract every set of eyeballs walking through the store, they were still worth sharing.

RELATED: How two women quietly reading books in an SF bar started an introvert revolution



I stare at screens all day. My behavior has trained those screens to feed me things I like. Instagram shows me photos of my very best friends, Spotify knows what new albums Im excited about and DoorDash reminds me how crispy the fried chicken at Farmhouse Kitchen tasted last week. Twitter, dont even get me started.



Bucking those algorithms and trusting that consumers will leave their house during a pandemic to browse for a book, I cant think of any purer act of faith. It goes against the wisdom powering every data-driven startp and would draw scoffs from computer engineers leaving San Francisco now that they dont need to commute.



And its exactly the type of behavior that makes San Francisco a place where people have always come to follow their dreams, indulge in wild ideas and go against the prevailing wisdom of the day in order to change the world. Historically, those dreams and ideas have always come from books, and now more than ever, its our civic duty to make sure future generations will still be able to wander into a store and walk out feeling inspired.

Dan Gentile is the culture editor at SFGATE. Email: Dan.Gentile@sfgate.com | Twitter: @Dannosphere
Top officials from the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) on September 22 held a meeting with representatives of several resident welfare associations (RWAs) of group housing colonies to seek their suggestions for the formulation of the Master Plan of Delhi (MPD) 2041.

The meeting was held on WebEx online platform. As many as 70 residents and RWAs registered through emails.

The DDA, in partnership with NIUA, is currently preparing the Master Plan for Delhi 2041.

The meeting was chaired by Leenu Sahgal, commissioner (Planning), and HK Bharti, additional commissioner, planning from DDA.

The participants were asked to share their suggestions towards improving the built environment, civic facilities and other planning concerns such as redevelopment, open spaces, water supply, solid waste management and parking.

The main concerns shared by participants included issues with regard to shared facilities and spaces.

The issue of access, maintenance and security of shared and common spaces such as terraces, ground floor frontage, parks, common toilets and security facilities was also discussed, DDA said in a statement.

RWAs also shared that some colonies had adopted good practices for solid waste management while others still had the issue of collection and segregation of waste.

They insisted that the focus should be on promoting solar panel installation, underground cabling of electricity and OFC infrastructure, which may be included in future plans.

Participants expressed their consent to take part in the improvement and redevelopment of their colonies in a planned and phased manner. Augmentation of existing infrastructure, ensuring fire safety and provision of lifts were other concerns of improvement related to redevelopment and upgradation, the statement said.

Some of the participants also suggested creating a specific redevelopment policy for group housing colonies with planned densification, upgradation of infrastructure and the need for a robust implementation framework for Master Plan 2041.

The DDA public portal is open for all residents of Delhi to share their views for the future of the city that will become part of a larger vision and strategy for MPD-2041.

MPD-2041 is a vision document for the citys development. It is expected to focus on development in all unauthorised colonies and provisioning for social infrastructure in illegal colonies.
"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]

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1279620/Cleveland_Clinic_Florida___Conor_Delaney___CEO.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/730396/Cleveland_Clinic_Florida_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Cleveland Clinic Florida

Related Links

https://my.clevelandclinic.org


After just over three hours on the final day of the PokerStars WCOOP-72-M: $530 NLHE [8-Max, Main Event], "1mSoWeeeaK" showed their strength in the end by taking the tournament down for $504,584 by defeating Yuri "Y.Zakharov" Zakharov heads-up.

The tournament attracted 4,821 unique players who reentered 2,284 times to get to a total of 7,105 entries which created a prize pool of $3,552,500 which easily surpassed the initial $2,000,000 guarantee.

"1mSoWeeeaK" came into the final table with a big chip lead and immediately started increasing it by taking a chunk out of Oscar "owilson25" Ramirez's stack. That chip lead was in their hands for most of the day but at some points, Zakharov took it too but those stints didn't last long. In the end, "1mSoWeeeaK" showed no weakness even when things went a bit haywire to take down inaugural Main Event at this buy-in level.

WCOOP-72-M: $530 NLHE [8-Max, Main Event] Final Table Results

Place Player Country Prize 1 "1mSoWeeeaK" Thailand $504,584 2 Yuri "Y.Zakharov" Zakharov Russia $359,680 3 "$harkFlo" Germany $256,392 4 "ZAR84" Germany $182,765 5 Rafael "GM_VALTER" Moraes Brazil $130,281 6 "tzini9" Romania $92,868 7 "kirbyi17" Germany $66,199 8 Oscar "owilson25" Ramirez Honduras $47,189 9 Marcin "cladarth" Pszenniak Poland $33,638

Final Table Action

In actual fact, Zakharov would be responsible for the first three eliminations of the day. Nine-handed play lasted over an hour before Marcin "cladarth" Pszenniak got his ace-king in when he three-bet shoved. Zakharov's four-bet shove with kings got Oscar "owilson25" Ramirez out of the way while he held throughout the runout of the board. Ramirez then fell to Zakharov when he held tens while the latter had ace-king and flopped top pair.

Then it was time for "kirbyi17" to fall to Zakharov with "tzini9" taken out in sixth place fifteen minutes later by Rafael "GM_VALTER" Moraes. A mere ten minutes later, Moraes got his twenty big blinds in with tens and was ahead against the sevens of Zahkarov but the seven on the flop signalled the end of Moraes' tournament run.

Rafael Moraes finished in fifth place for $130,281

"ZAR84" had started as the shortest stack at the final table but managed to climb the pay ladder while they saw the rest bust. They doubled up once more but with the blinds increasing, their stack dwindled again. At long last, they saw their whole stack go to Zakharov too. Not even ten minutes later, "$harkFlo" was done as their ace-trey couldn't beat the ace-queen of "1mSoWeeeaK".

Heads-Up Battle

"1mSoWeeeaK" started the heads-up battle with a slight chip lead and won two more pots before a short deal discussion ensued but failed to come to fruition. "1mSoWeeeaK" kept the pressure on Zakharov and kept building their chip lead. they got Zakharov down 14 big blinds but then doubled him back up.

Things went fast and furiously with only one more hand going to showdown before Zakharov was down to eleven big blinds. Two hands later, Zakharov called the shove of "1mSoWeeeaK" with ace-nine to see he was ahead agains the nine-eight but the eight on the flop and no help on the turn or river meant that the tournament was over with the chips all in the possession of "1mSoWeeeaK".

This concludes the PokerNews coverage of this event but stick around as the WCOOP-72-H: $5,200 NLHE [8-Max, Main Event] still has four players left who are battling it out for the top-prize of $1,499,942.
(Natural News) Margarine is ruining marriages!

(Article by Chris Cowan republished from NotTheBee.com)

This is alarming information, to say the least, but numbers dont lie. As you can see, the per-capita consumption of margarine has decreased at the same rate as divorces in Maine:

I knew there was something heinous about that wannabe butter knock-off!

And if that doesnt blow your mind, check this next one out..

Is cheese sneaking up on you and killing you while you sleep?

You cant argue with this. Its Science

I mean, Im still gonna eat cheese cause its cheese. But Ill be giving it the side-eye from now on.

Heres another fun fact that will blow your mind. Ready?

Are Nicolas Cage movies behind drownings?

For the love of all that is good, stop making movies, Nick! Youre causing people to drown themselves!

I know, you might be looking at these graphs, and you might be a little skeptical. But I assure you, all the information is completely accurate and taken from legitimate sources. As you can see, the data absolutely correlates.

Heres one more:

The older Miss America is, the more murderous!!!

As the age of the Miss America winner increases, so do the amount of steam-related murders!

Coincidence? I think

Well, yes. Of course its just a coincidence.

As I said, all of this information is verifiable and accurate. The only thing questionable about this is the fact that were pretending theres any real connection, beyond the lines on the graphs kind of going up and down at the same time.

These graphs come from a fantastic website titled Spurious Correlations, which, as the name implies, features an endless list of absurd graphs that seem to indicate very surprising connections!

The website is hilarious, but it also indirectly communicates an important point: Correlation is not causation. Just because two numbers seem to be related, does not mean that they are. This is important to remember whether youre diving into the dark depths of conspiracy theories, or when you hear a news report every other week claiming that a new study shows there may be a link between drinking coffee and immortality!

Its also an example of how numbers can be manipulated by experts in a way that allows interpretations and opinions to be presented as settled scientific facts.

Not that I can think of any specific examples, because I completely trust my government and the media, and everything they tell me is correct, and even if they contradict themselves again, theyll be correct then, too!

There might be something to that Nicholas Cage study, though
The growth of the financial sector depends on trust and confidence. These two elements are guaranteed in properly regulated financial sectors in many economies. Ponzi scheme practices and other fraudulent activities in the sector are eroding the confidence and trust of the local and foreign investors.

A weak financial sector indicates a weakening economy. In order to develop a resilient sector capable of meeting the funding needs of corporations and individual business owners, the State needs to be tough with the use of its powers.

There are laws governing the conduct of businesses and other activities in every State. The authorities with regulatory powers within the financial sector have been laidback in the past. This has wreaked a lot of havoc on the people who invested their monies in these institutions. The loss of funds due to the negligence of the investors cannot be blamed on the state. Even so, the state can always use its powers to intervene to save the depositors and the public purse.

The dividends to be received by the State in the liquidation of the defunct microfinance institutions in the country may not match the cost involved in the process. With this likelihood, the State should always be strict with its regulatory powers. The false entrepreneurs who use tricky schemes to accumulate wealth find a void in the regulatory regime. The owners of such ventures are fake because they do not act like entrepreneurs in their operations. Genuine entrepreneurs operate businesses that are regulated with appropriate laws.

The political parties contribute woefully to the development and growth of these schemes. If State authorities want to strictly apply the laws of the land, main opposition parties find a niche to gain political capital out of that. Instead of supporting the proper regulations of such units, they always capitalise on it to paint the picture as though the ruling party has the desire to kill businesses. In fact, if all the parties concur on plugging fraudulent financial institutions in their budding stages, it will help prevent many of these challenges in the sector.

The state should not create a conducive environment for moral hazards such that business owners will fail to cautiously operate their businesses and finally fall back on government for bail out. Some weeks back, MenzGold customers in a presser called on the government to bail the company as DKM customers were paid portions of their deposits. The State should not venture into bailing institutions created haphazardly, without proper legal operations. It should not pay attention to the pressures of the public to do an illegality by using state funds to pay them.

The State can use its powers to retrieve the funds deposited with those institutions from the owners. The individual depositors may not have the ability, financially and legally, to retrieve their monies. It seems there is a veil for the owners of these fraudulent institutions and other business owners to act behind with impunity. The immunity in the system should be curtailed by the use of the laws of the land. The government, currently, can enforce the laws of the land by compelling the owners of these businesses to pay back the monies taken in deposits from the public.

There is no reason for the State to relax in dealing with such matters. The various warnings to the public concerning the risky nature of these businesses are not enough. The State should be determined in its efforts to retrieve the funds for the depositors. From the current happenings, the owners of these Ponzi schemes are protected than the investing public. If this continues, there will be a conducive environment created for this type of business to thrive.

Nevertheless, the investing public should not continue to take extremely risky financial decisions with the expectation that the state will always come to their aid. In developing the savings and investment culture of the people, the investors need to evaluate and understand their choices. Taking on risky investments will result in heavy losses. There are many investment opportunities ranging from farming, real estate, retail, wholesale to financial products.

The State has unlimited powers to control businesses. There should not be a situation where businesses are operated without appropriate regulations. Well, there are unregulated industries but every business must fall under the regulation of a recognised agency.

Powers that be, many people are suffering for their negligence but there are avenues to help them retrieve their locked up funds. Without effective use of these powers, the owners of these institutions are shielded even with their fraudulent activities.

Emmanuel Kwabena Wucharey

Economics Tutor, A growing Activist and Religion Enthusiast.
WASHINGTON  President Trump said on Wednesday that he wants to ensure confirmation of a replacement for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg by the Nov. 3 election because he expects disputes over who won the White House to be resolved by the Supreme Court.

I think this will end up in the Supreme Court, Mr. Trump told reporters at a White House event on social media, adopting an argument for quick action made by his ally, Senator Ted Cruz, Republican of Texas. And I think its very important that we have nine justices, instead of the eight seats currently filled.

The president again asserted without evidence that Democrats were trying to rig the election and said he wants a high court that will agree with him. This scam that the Democrats are pulling  its a scam  the scam will be before the United States Supreme Court, Mr. Trump said.

Five of the eight current court members were appointed by Republican presidents, including two by Mr. Trump. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., who was appointed by former President George W. Bush, has on a few occasions sided with the liberals, which could potentially mean a 4-4 split.
As the Marvel Cinematic Universe Infinity Saga neared its end, public fascination about what would happen next grew to a fevered pitch.

During the filming of Avengers: Infinity War, the producers went to great lengths to keep the upcoming plot twists a secret.

So that made it even more special to a fan when they literally stumbled onto the set.

An unusual level of secrecy

The cast of Avengers: Endgame | Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney

Its fair to say that the ending of Infinity War shocked fans. But to get the full impact of that stunning moment the details of the plot had to be carefully guarded. The MCU fan base is famous for how closely they pay attention to the details in the movies, so a normal level of secrecy wasnt going to be good enough.

Screen Rant reports that to keep the public from figuring out what was going to happen, the producers went to extreme lengths, such as assembling trailers for Infinity War that were intentionally misleading. They gave the actors incomplete or even fake scripts, and everyone who was involved in the production was required to sign agreements to keep what they saw a secret.

In this atmosphere of tight security, filming for Infinity War ranged all over the globe.

Avengers: Endgame behind the scenes: Far-flung filming locations

RELATED: Infinity War: Thanos Might Have Seen Black Widow As a Serious Threat

Infinity War was a huge story, and so it required a huge set. According to The Location Guide, the cast filmed on location in areas as far apart as New York, Georgia, and Scotland. Producers also used plate shots, video footage that is inserted as background in certain scenes, that were filmed in Iceland, Brazil, and the Philippines.

They chose Scotland for some of the filming because they wanted a gothic, dramatic look for certain scenes. Filming in New York makes sense, because so many important scenes take place there. They used Atlanta to shoot some of the New York scenes because there is so much more room to work in Atlanta.

The state of Georgia also offers tax incentives to movie companies, to encourage them to film in the state.

For one fan, the decision to film in Atlanta led to a very lucky moment. They managed to wander onto the set of a very closely-guarded film.

I accidentally walked onto Infinity War

The fortunate fan took to Reddit to share their story of the experience.

I was walking in Atlanta trying to find a restaurant, passed this street and immediately got my interest piqued over the burning cars (there were also studio lights on cranes above), they posted. Walked in, found a crew member and chatted them up. Told them I love the film industry blah blah. He let me stay eventually and I had realized I forgot to ask what movie it was but he wasnt paying attention to me anymore.

This person probably would have been happy enough to see any Hollywood film being filmed right in front of them, but they were in for an even bigger surprise.

Anyways, probably in my top 3 biggest shocks of my life was this moment where I was standing on the corner, just watching the people start to set positions, and out walked Benedict Cumberbatch in his Doctor Strange outfit & Robert in a camo outfit with dots all over him. Then Hulk and Wong came out. Incredible day.

The other fans on Reddit were enthusiastic about the story, with at least one person suggesting they should have asked for a cameo in the film. But for this superfan, the experience of stumbling onto the set was enough.

Now theyll just have to wait to see what happens next, and hope that maybe they can get a peek at the next movie too.
Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times.

Opposition leaders to meet President today amid Parliament boycott over farm bills

Opposition parties will meet President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday amid the ongoing row over farm bills. Only five opposition leaders will be allowed to meet the President at 5 PM , reports said. Read more

Not joined any party as of now: Former Bihar DGP Gupteshwar Pandey after voluntary retirement

Former Bihar DGP Gupteshwar Pandey on Wednesday said he is yet to join any political party and has also not taken any decision in this regard. Pandey was speaking to media after opting for voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) in a sudden development on Tuesday evening. Read more

IPL 2020: They were all just personal runs - MS Dhoni batting at No. 7 makes no sense to Gautam Gambhir

Former India batsman Gautam Gambhir was surprised to see MS Dhoni bat so down the order, despite Chennai Super Kings chasing a huge 217-run target to win. In a still chase on Tuesday night, the likes of Sam Curran, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Kedar Jadhav batted at No. 4, 5 and 6 respectively while Dhoni reserved himself for No. 7. Read more

Ayushmann Khurrana only Indian actor on Times 100 most influential list, Deepika Padukone praises actor

Ayushmann Khurrana has been named among worlds 100 most influential people by the Time Magazine. The actor took to Instagram to share how honoured he was to be a part of the group. He shares the honour with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who, too, has been named in the list. Read more

Toyota Urban Cruiser SUV launched in India at 8.40 lakh

Toyota on Wednesday launched the Urban Cruiser SUV in the Indian market starting at 8.40 lakh. The company has announced that the deliveries of the new SUV will start from mid-October. Read more

Engrave Apple devices in 6 Indian languages, other perks you can get from Apples India online store from today

Apples online store in India is all set to go live today. The site still mentions its coming soon for now and is expected to go live shortly, but a quick glance tells you that the store, when it goes live, will offer shopping assistance, free no-contact delivery, different payment options, free sessions to understand how to use your device better, being able to engrave your Apple devices in six Indian languages, etc. Read more

Have the Covid-19 numbers dropped in India?

Hindustan Times National Political Editor, Sunetra Choudhury brings you the top stories you need to know. Sunetra talks about the number of Covid-19 cases in India so far; governments 5-pt plan to check oxygen shortage; HC stays order on 80% Covid quota in hospitals; Air India discusses flights overs scenic spots after Qantas flies over barrier reef. Watch
September 23, 2020 / 08:27 PM IST

9 am till 1 pm, and Lok Sabha in evening from 6 pm. The session, which was to continue until October 1, was cut short as both Houses were adjourned sine die.

Today was the tenth 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 was 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 convened in the morning from
DGAP-News: Epazz, Inc. / Key word(s): Miscellaneous

Epazz DeskFlex Room Booking Software Is Receiving Increased Demand From Universities and Colleges Struggling to Reopen After COVID-19 Lockdowns



23.09.2020 / 17:53

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





Epazz DeskFlex Room Booking Software Is Receiving Increased Demand From Universities and Colleges Struggling to Reopen After COVID-19 Lockdowns

DeskFlex Course Scheduling Software for universities receives more requests from schools, colleges and universities to reopen safely amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

CHICAGO -- via NewMediaWire -- Epazz, Inc. (OTC: EPAZ), a mission-critical provider of cloud-based business solutions, announced today that DeskFlex room booking software for universities is receiving a growing number of requests from schools, colleges and universities that are struggling to reopen their campuses after COVID-19 lockdowns.

Many educational institutions are seeking tools and technologies to help manage social distancing and contact tracing in order to go back to school. DeskFlex's room booking software has anti-COVID features that help secure schools, colleges and universities as they continue to open this fall. DeskFlex room scheduling tools provide thermal scanner features, mask detection and interactive TV screens placed at entranceways to monitor students, faculty and school employees when entering the premises.

DeskFlex room booking software continuously improves its complementary hardware devices, including the FlexCube QR code scanner, contactless conference room display screens, Bluetooth beacons and lobby kiosks.

According to the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), there must be a better contact tracing process, better testing and personal protective equipment before schools can reopen safely. DeskFlex room reservation software has COVID-compliant features, including a contact tracing tool, mask detection, thermal scanning and social distancing to help school administrators monitor everyone entering school premises and track those who have possibly been contaminated.

Under Mayor Bill de Blasio's proposal in New York City, schools are reopening using a hybrid model, under which students will attend in-person classes only a few days in a week. The schools limit classroom capacity to 12 students to comply with social distancing recommendations from health experts and the CDC. DeskFlex will benefit from these recommendations because our software makes it possible for schools to maintain capacity limits for each classroom, social distancing protocols and anti-coronavirus measures.

According to Shaun Passley, Ph.D., CEO of Epazz, Inc., "We are confident that DeskFlex classroom scheduling software can provide exceptional and insightful solutions to schools, colleges and universities for safeguarding their students, faculty and from the infection."

About DeskFlex.com

DeskFlex is a desk booking solution and room reservation software for conference rooms, workspaces, desks, car parking spaces, equipment, hoteling and hot desking that helps office managers accommodate the needs of mobile workers while reducing rent and facility costs. DeskFlex lets employees reserve space in advance or claim desks right away. It adjusts the telephone switch (PBX) so calls ring at the "desk du jour." DeskFlex includes check-in, point-and-click floor maps, a web browser, a local kiosk, Outlook integration and conference room scheduling.

About Epazz, Inc. (www.epazz.com)

Epazz, Inc. is a leading cloud-based software company that specializes in providing customized cloud applications to the corporate world, higher education institutions and the public sector. Epazz BoxesOS v3.0 is a complete web-based software package for small- to mid-size businesses, Fortune 500 enterprises, government agencies and higher education institutions. BoxesOS provides many of the web-based applications organizations would otherwise need to purchase separately. Epazz's other products are K9Sky.com kennel software and the Provitrac applicant tracking system.

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This is the "Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Certain statements contained in this press release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "may," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe" and "continue" (or the negation thereof) or similar terminology. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from future results or those implied by such forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that no forward-looking statement is a guarantee of future performance and that actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. Epazz, Inc., assumes no obligation and has no intention of updating these forward-looking statements. It has no obligation to update or correct information prepared by third parties that are not paid for by Epazz, Inc. Investors are encouraged to review Epazz, Inc.'s public filings on SEC.gov and otcmarkets.com, including its unaudited and audited financial statements and its OTC market filings, which contain general business information about the company's operations, results of operations and risks associated with the company and its operations.

CONTACT: For more information, please contact

Investor Relations

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Srinagar, Sep 23 : Terrorists shot dead a Block Development Council (BDC) Chairman in Central Kashmir's Budgam district on Wednesday evening.

According to details received here, terrorists fired upon the BDC Chairman identified as Bhupinder Singh from a close range at his ancestral village in Dalwash in Budgam district late on Wednesday evening, killing him on the spot.

Police have cordoned off the area and a search operation is underway to nab the assailants.
More than 200 retired military leaders have signed a letter endorsing Donald Trump for president in the 2020 election. (Alex Brandon / Associated Press)

Last week, 235 retired generals and admirals signed an open letter supporting President Trumps reelection campaign. The letter is disgraceful and runs counter to military norms. Unfortunately, a second group is likely to respond in kind with a similar statement in support of former Vice President Joe Biden.

Every presidential election year, candidates seek to embezzle the high trust Americans place in the U.S. military, abetted by a growing group of retired generals and admirals with the wrong stuff. But lets start with the right stuff.

At a Senate hearing in late 2016, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) asked Gen. Mark Milley whether he would consider Congress and President Obama threats to the military if they were to cut defense spending. Expressionless, Gen. Milley responded: Im not judging the president or Congress. I will abstain.

Milleys response was forged by two centuries of military tradition. Troops live by codes, self-enforced standards that guide conduct even in the worst circumstances. One of these codes is nonpartisanship. Political neutrality keeps the armed forces connected to all of America. It also prevents internal divisions.

Retired military figures now offer political endorsements to presidential candidates every election cycle. This is a relatively new development. Before the end of the Cold War, retired generals and admirals never endorsed presidential candidates. Since then, one in seven has made such an endorsement, according to recent research published in Armed Forces & Society.

Retired military officers may vote, run for office and provide public policy advice. They should not offer presidential endorsements, which are explicitly partisan and uniquely divisive. At best, these endorsements sanction one person, one party and one platform and in doing so exclude roughly half the country. At worst, they lend military titles for favors and sell stars for high-profile positions.

The worst has happened far too much. Retired Adm. William Crowe endorsed Bill Clinton in the 1992 election and got an ambassadorship to Britain. Retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn endorsed Trump in 2016 and was named national security advisor.

Story continues

Endorsements politicize the military in ways both explicit and subtle. For one thing, the American public tends not to distinguish between active and retired generals. One 2019 poll found that only about three in 10 Americans identified former Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis status as a Marine Corps general to be retired. (He retired in 2013.) Last weeks signatories exploited this ambiguity by titling their statement Open Letter from Senior Military Leaders, as if the retired officers were still serving and their views reflected those of the active military.

The more retired military figures endorse, the more Americans will see the military as partial. A downward spiral may follow. One president picks a brazenly partisan former general for some high office. The next president of the other party picks an openly partisan former admiral for another high office. And so on, with competence mattering less and less until it matters not at all. When America loses unity in this manner, our adversaries are more than happy to leverage the division. Its why the Kremlin-funded media outlet RT recently ran the headline, Whose side are generals on?

Although their numbers are rising, these presidential endorsers are still a minority. There are a little more than 7,000 generals and admirals of all ranks on the retired rolls, and 6,000 of them have not yet endorsed a presidential candidate. Given the militarys hierarchical culture, it would take only a few well-regarded four-star generals and admirals to mobilize a no-endorsements campaign and reaffirm the political neutrality of Americas armed forces.

This Project Neutral campaign could be predicated on the principle that although presidential endorsements may be legal, they surely are shameful. Retired generals and admirals who endorse always lead with their military titles, as if those titles were given at birth. But general and admiral are not first names. Those titles are on conditional loan, inseparable from the larger institution that conferred them.

That institution has earned the goodwill of the American people through competence and sacrifice. When an American sees an admiral, they are likely to think of Pearl Harbor or Okinawa. When they see a general, their minds may flash to red waves crashing on Omaha Beach or white cemetery crosses. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower noted in 1945: Humility must always be the portion of any man who receives acclaim earned in the blood of his followers and the sacrifices of his friends. That acclaim should not be leveraged for partisan purposes.

Codes of honor matter to warriors. Thats why American military greats  Sherman, Marshall, Mattis, all the way to Milley  have held firm to nonpartisanship. Hopefully our retired servicemen can too, even as everything else threatens to tear America apart.

Lt. Col. ML Cavanaugh is a U.S. Army officer and senior fellow with the Modern War Institute at West Point. He is working on a book, The Art of the General: How Washington, Grant, and Eisenhower Won the Wars that Mattered the Most and their Enduring Lessons for Leadership, Power, and Supreme Command in the 21st Century. @MLCavanaugh.
Google has officially banned Google Maps images of Uluru, a sacred indigenous site in Australia that no longer allows visitors since 2019.But despite people from around the globe no longer allowed to climb the sandstone rock formation physically, everybody could still pay a digital visit to the region, all thanks to Google Maps imagery and virtual walking tours based on images uploaded by the community.On the other hand, Anangu, the traditional owners of Uluru, havent been very pleased with this digital alternative, so Parks Australia, the body in charge of protecting Australias natural treasures, has decided to reach out to Google to request the removal of the 360-degree view of the site.[We have] alerted Google Australia to the user-generated images from the Uluru summit that have been posted on their mapping platform [and] requested that the content be immediately removed in accordance with the wishes of Anangu, Uluru's traditional owners, and the national park's Film and Photography Guidelines, a Park Australia spokesperson was quoted as saying by ABC Google has already answered the request and said the content would be removed, including the user-generated images that have been uploaded these past years.In addition to being the worlds number one navigation apps that many people turn to in order to find the correct directions to a specific destination, Google Maps is also an advanced solution to explore the world and find new places in specific locations.Google Maps offers not only satellite imagery of most regions across the world, but also street-level imagery thats powered by either its very own Street View feature, or by content uploaded by users. Street View provides Google users with a 360-degree view generated by advanced cameras installed on cars or bikes or similar hardware carried by staff and contributors.
CAIRO  The Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood has announced the appointment of Ibrahim Munir as the organization's new acting general guide following the Aug. 28 arrest of the groups acting general guide.

Brotherhood spokesman Talaat Fahmy said in a televised statement, Ibrahim Munir is the Brotherhoods deputy general guide and is the main official in charge of managing the organization under the traditions and rules of the Brotherhood following the arrest of the acting general guide, Mahmoud Ezzat.

Fahmi added, Munir is entitled to take over the affairs of the Muslim Brotherhood, since he is the only deputy general guide [available] since [most] Brotherhood leaders are in prison.

Munir, 83, issued a statement published on the Muslim Brotherhood website Sept. 17 in which he declared that he was the acting general guide and had formed a new managing committee for the organization. The committee includes Mahmoud Hussein, a member of the Guidance Office, and a number of other Brotherhood leaders.

Munir, who has long resided in London, further stressed that one of the Brotherhood's top priorities is working on reunification, strengthening the ranks of the organization and strengthening its cohesion.

Ezzat had assumed the acting general guide position on Aug. 20, 2013, following the arrest of the general guide, Mohammed Badie, against the backdrop of the violent dispersal of the Rabia al-Adawiya and al-Nahda sit-ins in Greater Cairo. At the time, Ezzat was deputy guide.

Fahmy told the Turkish TRT channel Aug. 28 that Ezzat, who is 76, had decided to run the organization from hiding inside Egypt despite the authorities' crackdown against the group and had refused to flee the country.

Munir has been a member of the group since his youth. During the era of President Gamal Abdel Nasser, he was sentenced to life in prison on charges of belonging to an organization accused of planning the assassination of Nasser. He was released in 1975 as part of an amnesty issued by President Anwar Sadat.

Munir was also sentenced, in absentia, to five years in prison on Jan. 8, 2011, on charges of receiving foreign funds, belonging to a banned group and attempting to conduct a coup against the regime. In August 2012, this sentence was commuted under an amnesty issued by President Mohammed Morsi, a member of the Brotherhood who was elected the year after Egypt's Jan. 25, 2011, revolution. Morsi was ousted by the military in July 2013.

Munir, who told news organizations during the past decade that he had not been in Egypt since 1987, moved between several countries after leaving Egypt before settling in Britain and applying for political asylum there. The asylum was granted and he became secretary-general of the International Organization of the Muslim Brotherhood. He was also a representative of the Brotherhood External Liaison Committee, which manages the organizations branches in the world.

Some analysts interviewed before Munir was named acting general guide said the decision likely would not sit well with many young Brotherhood members.

Mohammed Habib, a former Brotherhood deputy general guide, told Al-Monitor before Munir was appointed, Choosing Munir as the general guide of the Muslim Brotherhood will be criticized by a number of the organizations young people. Also, a number of leaders will be angered by this choice. This is the case for the secretary-general of the Brotherhood, Mahmoud Hussein, who is close to Turkish intelligence and offers financial support to the Brotherhoods young people who flee to Turkey.

Sameh Eid, a researcher in the affairs of Islamic movements who writes for a number of newspapers and is one of the Brotherhoods dissident young people based in Cairo, told Al-Monitor before Munir was named, Munirs assignment to the position of acting general guide will provoke anger among the groups young people, who blame the organizations leaders for the downfall of the regime of former President Mohammed Morsi.

The Aman news website, which specializes in the affairs of Islamic groups, published on Sept. 14 a statement attributed to a group of Brotherhood young people on the Telegram social media app. The statement accused Munir and Hussein of slow action, fear and hesitation and of being swayed by their current source of funding. The fugitives residing in Turkey implement the political agenda of the Turks.  This is how their allegiance shifts [from the Brotherhood] to the financing party.

Eid did say that the Brotherhood will seek to exploit Munir's relationships with several countries to pressure Egyptian authorities to reduce their security crackdown against the organization or even to reach a reconciliation deal.

But in an interview with Al-Jazeera on Aug. 25, Munir said, The Brotherhood will not make a deal with [President Abdel Fattah] al-Sisi.

Eid, however, said, Munir's refusal to reconcile with the state are mere media statements aimed to preserve the organizations standing and strength. He added, The truth is that the leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood are actively seeking reconciliation with the ruling authority to release the organization's imprisoned young people and leaders and to ensure the continuation of the organization that keeps facing severe security campaigns.
One death and 105 new positives were confirmed on Wednesday during the City of Laredo and Webb County's daily novel coronavirus update.

Since the emergence of the virus in Webb County, 13,474 people have tested positive for the virus, and 289 people have died due to COVID-19.

A man in his early 40 died due to the novel coronavirus on Wednesday.

The cases reported today marks the second consecutive day that city officials reported more than 100 cases.

Laredo Health Director Richard Chamberlain said that state officials continue to report a backlog of testing results from labs throughout the state. However, the cases reported will not effect the 7-day positivity rate, due to the fact that the reports could date back farther back than seven days.

The current 7-day positivity rate for the stands at 11.23%, as reported by the city health department.

The number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 saw a slight rise, with 99 people reported hospitalized in Laredo. 45 people remain in intensive care. The current COVID-19 hospitalization rate stands at 24.3%.

City officials continue to monitor the rate of COVID-19 hospitalizations in Laredo, in line with the Governor Abbott's announcement last week that barred Laredo and two other hospital regions from reopening further. At the conference, Abbott indicated that Laredo would only be allowed to reopen further when the rate fell below 15%.

As the health department continues to monitor hospitalizations, they have also started laying out plans for the influenza season, which is due to arrive officially next week. The flu season is of particular concern this year, due to the possibility of co-infections with COVID-19.

The first flu vaccine clinic hosted Wednesday by the health department was successful, with 885 vaccines administered to the public by the halfway point of the clinic, Chamberlain reported. A total of 1,000 vaccines are expected to be administered today.

In addition to the benefits of preventing flu infections during a time when hospital capacity is limited, the clinic also serves as a test run for city officials, as they continue to look into the future to possible COVID-19 vaccines that are currently under development.

The health department is currently laying out plans for additional influenza vaccination clinics in the near future, however details have yet to be fully confirmed.

As of noon Wednesday, 51,960 tests have been administered in Laredo. An estimated 12,569 people have passed their mandatory two-week quarantine period and are considered recovered by city health officials.

Free testing continues from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Friday at the Webb County Pavilion.
KGC's red ginseng products / Courtesy of KGC



Korea Ginseng Corporation's (KGC) red ginseng product Cheong Kwan Jang has been enjoying soaring popularity ahead of the Chuseok long weekend as consumers are increasingly purchasing the health food products as gifts, the state-run corporation said Wednesday.



This year, COVID-19 has changed everyone's lives completely. Living in a contactless society has become the new normal and maintaining social distancing at schools, work and even home has become the most fundamental lifestyle to protect ourselves from the virus.



Amid the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, more consumers are purchasing the red ginseng products as maintaining optimal immunity has become an essential element in this extraordinary time, the corporation added.



"Reflecting current consumer trends, the red ginseng product has become one of the most popular gift items as they are effective in boosting immunity. Our red ginseng products have been officially recognized by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for their effectiveness in improving the immune system," a KGC official said.



KGC said maintaining a high immunity level is important in such vulnerable times.



With the current focus on viral vigilance, many health food makers are emphasizing that their vitamin and supplement products are good for boosting immunity, but KGC said its red ginseng, aloe and chlorella products have much better effectiveness in enhancing the immune system because the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety officially recognized their health benefits.



KGC said its Cheong Kwan Jang red ginseng products are best-sellers among its health food products as they are certified by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for their effectiveness in fighting fatigue, boosting the immune system and energy levels, promoting healthy blood circulation and supporting memory function.



Among the product lineup of the Cheong Kwang Jang brand, KGC recommended Cheng Kwan Jang Hong Samjeong, an extract product made of six-years-grown Korean red ginseng. The product is widely known across the world and generates around $300 million in sales annually.



"In the age of COVID-19, we have been witnessing more consumers purchasing red ginseng products, which are certified by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, as more people are interested in boosting immunity," the KGC official said. "In order to let more consumers purchase our red ginseng products more conveniently, we are expanding our digital shopping channels."



(Advertorial)


REDWOOD SHORES, Calif., Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Oracle announced today that the Department of Labor Administration Law Judge ruled across the board in Oracle's favor and found no evidence whatsoever of discrimination at Oracle.

"After four years of litigation, we are grateful for Judge Clark's ruling. In a more than 200-page decision, Judge Clark found no evidence of discrimination. We have been subject to years of harassment by Department of Labor employees with no evidence of discrimination whatsoever," said Dorian Daley, Oracle's General Counsel. Daley continued, "This case never should have been brought in the first place."

Among Judge Clark's findings:

Oracle did not engage in intentional compensation discrimination (wage-rate, salary, or total compensation) at its headquarters facility during the relevant time period against female employees in the Product Development, Information Technology, and Support job functions; or against Asian and African American employees in the Product Development job function.

Oracle did not have a policy or practice at its headquarters facility during the relevant time period of relying on prior pay in salary setting and OFCCP did not show a disparate impact attributable to such a policy on female employees in the Product Development, Information Technology, and Support job functions; or on Asian and African American employees in the Product Development job function.

Oracle did not engage in assignment, job classification, or steering discrimination at its headquarters facility during the relevant time period against female employees in the Product Development, Information Technology, and Support job functions; or against Asian and African American employees in the Product Development job function.

"Oracle is run with equality and opportunity for all of our employees," said Joyce Westerdahl, Oracle's EVP for Human Resources.

"At Oracle we have 135,000 employees who work every day to help our customers succeed. The Department of Labor complaint bore no resemblance to the Oracle I know," said Safra Catz, Oracle's Chief Executive Officer.

About Oracle

The Oracle Cloud offers a complete suite of integrated applications for Sales, Service, Marketing, Human Resources, Finance, Supply Chain and Manufacturing, plus Highly Automated and Secure Generation 2 Infrastructure featuring the Oracle Autonomous Database. For more information about Oracle (NYSE: ORCL), please visit us at www.oracle.com .

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" " Prisons are most commonly used to jail criminals, but they have also been used to lock away political dissidents, the mentally ill, prisoners of war and even people who couldn't pay their debts. Photo courtesy U.S. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division

As an abstract term, prison is quite simple: it's a place where your freedom, movements and access to basically everything is restricted, usually as punishment for committing a crime. But for anyone who has ever done hard time, a prison is so much more: it's a place where dignity, privacy and control are given up to guards and prison administrators, where isolation and boredom can drive someone insane, and where the simplest of necessities seem like luxuries. In the United States, where more than two million people are in prisons and more than 400,000 work at them, prisons are big business [Source: U.S. Department of Justice].

Prisons have historically been used for a number of purposes. They are most commonly used to jail criminals, but they have also been used to lock away political dissidents, the mentally ill, prisoners of war and even people who couldn't pay their debts. The prison camps of the American Civil War were notorious in both the North and South for being unsanitary places with horrendous living conditions. Overcrowding, disease and malnutrition lead to hundreds of deaths [Source: AltonWeb]. In the 18th and 19th centuries, people who couldn't afford to pay their debts were often thrown into jail, or used as forced labor. The time spent working or in jail was an alternative way to pay off the debt. Today, certain debtors still get sentenced to jail -- those who don't pay child support or tax bills can be convicted and given a prison sentence.

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The cultural functions of prisons are more complex. A prison sentence is a punishment. In this regard, it serves both as a form of justice (we believe people who commit crimes should suffer some form of retribution) and as a deterrent(prison is unpleasant, so people are reluctant to commit crimes for fear of going there). Prisons often serve as a safeguard, keeping dangerous people locked away from society so they cannot commit any more violent crimes. In some cases, prisons are used to rehabilitate criminals and set them up for a new life with an improved education, job and social skills and a new outlook.

" " U.S.P. Marion, located in Marion, Illinois, is one of two SuperMax, or high-security, federal prisons in the United States. Photo courtesy Federal Bureau of Prisons/U.S. Department of Justice

U.S. prisons are broken down into three basic levels of security: maximum, medium and minimum. Minimum security prisons often resemble camps or college campuses. They are reserved for non-violent offenders with relatively clean criminal records, or prisoners who have served most of their term in a higher-security facility and displayed exemplary behavior. A medium security prison restricts the daily movements of the inmates to a greater extent, but instead of cells they usually have dormitories, and the prison is usually enclosed by a razor-wire fence.

Maximum security prisons are what most people think of when they think of prison. However, only a quarter of all prisoners in the United States are housed in a maximum security facility. These types of prisons are reserved for violent offenders, those who have escaped (or tried to escape) or inmates who could cause problems in lower security prisons. They are surrounded by high walls topped with razor wire, and armed guards in observation towers shoot at anyone who makes it "over the wall." We'll describe life in a maximum security prison in more detail in the next section.

When an incident occurs at a maximum security prison, all the inmates are confined to their cells for several days, with absolutely no freedom whatsoever. This is known as lockdown. In 1983, two guards at a federal prison in Marion, Illinois were murdered in separate incidents on the same day. That prison went into permanent lockdown. Since then, several prisons have been built and run under permanent lockdown -- they are known as SuperMax prisons. Most maximum security prisons have a SuperMax unit within the prison that has permanent lockdown status. Officially known as a Security Housing Unit (SHU), prisoners simply call it The Hole.

We'll examine what life is like inside a prison next.
Queen Maxima of The Netherlands looked pristine today in cream as she delivered a speech at a UN General Assembly digital conference.

The Dutch monarch, 49, delivered her speech from her office at Royal Palace Huis Ten Bosch in The Hague and donned a neutral but stylish ensemble as she addressed the members.

On-trend Maxima looked effortlessly chic in a cream V-neck blouse featuring a chunky gold chain as she addressed the general assembly from the palace.

Queen Maxima of The Netherlands looked pristine today in cream as she delivered the Keynote speech at the UNGA digital conference

The Dutch monarch, 49, delivered her speech from her office at Royal Palace Huis Ten Bosch in The Hague

The royal wore matching tailored trousers with the blouse and sported no other jewellery with the simple outfit.

She kept her blonde locks loose around her shoulders and opted for a subtle glow on her cheeks paired with a light smokey eyeshadow.

The United Nations General Assembly is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, and was set to take place in New York City today.

But this year, on the historic 75th anniversary of the United Nations, the event took place online due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Stylish Maxima looked effortlessly chic in a cream V-neck blouse featuring a chunky gold chain as she addressed the assembly

The royal wore matching tailored trousers with the blouse and sported no other jewellery with the simple outfit

Queen Maxima spoke about the G7 Partnership for Women's Digital Financial Inclusion in Africa.

The G7 Partnership for Womens Digital Financial Inclusion in Africa will support African governments, central banks, and financial institutions in their efforts to build more inclusive, sustainable, and responsible digital financial systems.

The partnership will ensure that 400million more African adults are financially includednearly 60 per cent of whom are women.

Behind the mother-of-three in her office were pictures of her three daughters Princess Amalia, 16, Princess Alexia, 15, and Princess Ariane, 13

She wore her blonde locks loose around her shoulders and opted for a subtle glow on her cheeks paired with a light smokey eyeshadow

Essential to efforts to expand digital financial inclusion to women in Africa are five pillars that fall into three categories: infrastructure, regulation, and planning.

The royal, who is married to Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, took part in the online general assembly by propping up an iPad in the palace's office.

Behind the mother-of-three in her office were pictures of her three daughters Princess Amalia, 16, Princess Alexia, 15, and Princess Ariane, 13.
Sean Penn was seen for the first time on the set of the new Paul Thomas Anderson movie on Tuesday.

The 60-year-old acting veteran was in a black shirt and jeans while holding a blue surgical face mask outside a vintage-looking furniture store in Reseda, California as he talked with a crew member.

The film, which as a working title of Soggy Bottom, is set in the 1970s and also stars Bradley Cooper as a behind-the-scenes Hollywood veteran.

On set: Sean Penn was seen for the first time on the set of the new Paul Thomas Anderson movie on Tuesday

The description of the movie on Imdb.com reads: 'Set in 1970s San Fernando Valley, the film follows a high school student, who is also a successful child actor.'

But there will also be several other intersecting storylines. Paul has written the film and is directing it as well as producing.

Also starring in the movie are Benny Safdie, Alana Haim, Cooper Hoffman and Mary Eileen O'Donnell.

Ready to shoot? The 60-year-old acting veteran was in a black shirt and jeans while holding a blue surgical face mask outside a vintage-looking furniture store in Reseda, California as he talked with a crew member

Deadline reported in July that the production moved from Universal to MGM so that Anderson could get started filming as soon as possible.

Shooting on the ensemble film began in mid August and will reportedly last three months.

Governor Gavin Newsom announced that counties throughout the state of California were clear to begin reopening to film production as of June 12.

Extras? The description of the movie on Imdb.com reads: 'Set in 1970s San Fernando Valley, the film follows a high school student, who is also a successful child actor.' But there will also be several other intersecting storylines

Careful on set: The Los Angeles Department of Health has issued an extensive set of protocols for the industry to follow during production. On set there is a Hand Washing Station seen

The Los Angeles Department of Health has issued an extensive set of protocols for the industry to follow during production.

Some of the new COVID-19 rules include closed sets with no visitors allowed, shoot days limited to 10 hours to allow time for the extra preparations, special work zones, consistent testing, according to the LA Times.

Sean is not the first actor to be seen on the set of Soggy Bottom.

He was on set too: Bradley Cooper was seen on set of the film in late August as he wore a Jon Peters inspired get-up to play his filmmaker character. The 45-year-old actor strutted around set with fake blood dripping from his face

Jon Peters - who Cooper's character appears to be inspired by - was working as a hairstylist when he met Barbra Streisand in 1973

Cooper was seen on set of the film in late August.

The actor wore a Jon Peters inspired get-up to play his filmmaker character.

The 45-year-old actor strutted around set with fake blood dripping from his face onto his sheer, white peasant blouse.

This comes after he was seem throwing a tantrum where he kicked over a stand-alone newsstand.

The entire production crew, except the actors, donned full COVID-19 gear .

And they also attempted to keep their distance from one another as filming carried on.

Anderson's project happens to be his fourth movie set in the Valley.

PTA likes the valley: Anderson's project happens to be his fourth movie set in the Valley. The other films are Boogie Nights, Magnolia and Punch Drunk Love

The other films are Boogie Nights, Magnolia and Punch Drunk Love.

Jon Peters - upon whom Cooper's character appears to be based - was working as a hairstylist at his family's salon on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills when he met Barbra Streisand in 1973, making a wig for her to wear in her comedy 1974 For Pete's Sake.

The two embarked on a relationship that lasted until 1982 during which time Peters developed a career as a producer.

For charity: Sean also made an appearance on the reading of Fast Times At Ridgement High with Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt

A hit with fans: From left, Julia Roberts, Pitt and Aniston during the reading

A classic: Penn starred in the original 1982 film from director Amy Heckerling

He produced Streisand's studio album Butterfly, released in 1974, and was credited as a producer on her 1976 remake of A Star Is Born.

Cooper made another remake of A Star Is Born with Lady Gaga in the lead female role in 2018 which earned eight Academy Award nominations. Peters has a producer credit on Cooper's movie since he owns the rights to the 1976 film.

This summer Penn shocked fans when he wed Leila George, the 28-year-old Australian daughter of actors Vincent D'Onofrio, 61, and Greta Scacchi, 60.

Sean also made an appearance on the reading of Fast Times At Ridgement High with Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt.

Penn starred in the original 1982 film from director Amy Heckerling.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican who has steadfastly refused to require residents to wear masks, tested positive for the coronavirus, his office said Wednesday.

Parson was tested after his wife, Teresa, tested positive earlier in the day. Teresa Parson had experienced mild symptoms, including a cough and nasal congestion, spokeswoman Kelli Jones said. She took a rapid test that came back positive and a nasal swab test later confirmed the finding. The governors rapid test showed he tested positive and he is still awaiting results from the swab test.

I want everybody to know that myself and the first lady are both fine, Parson said in a video posted on his Facebook page.

Right now I feel fine. No symptoms of any kind, Parson said in the video. But right now we just have to take the quarantine procedures in place.

Gov. Parson postponed several events through the remainder of the week. He and his wife had been travelling around the state this week for events that included a ceremonial bill signing in Cape Girardeau, where a photo posted Tuesday on the governors Facebook page showed both of them wearing masks.

On Friday, he and several other Missouri Republican candidates appeared together at an event called the TARGET BBQ in Springfield. A photo posted on Parsons Twitter pages shows Parson on a stage with four other statewide officeholders seeking reelection: Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick, Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and Attorney General Eric Schmitt. They appear to be a few feet apart from each other, but none are wearing masks.

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Director Randall Williams said contact tracing efforts have begun, seeking out people who have had close contact with the governor or his wife, but despite Parsons many recent public appearances, it is believed that involves a relatively small number of people.

Surprisingly its not as big a number as you might think because while they might be in a room with 1,000 people, the number of people who were literally with them for 15 minutes, right up next to them, is actually a smaller number, Williams said at a news conference.

Parson is self-isolating in the governors mansion, Williams said. His wife is isolating at their home in Bolivar in southwestern Missouri.

Spokespeople for Schmitt, Fitzpatrick and Kehoe said those elected officials all tested negative Wednesday. A spokeswoman for Ashcroft said his recent interactions with the Governor and First Lady fall well short of the close contact threshold.

Parson, 65, is facing Democratic State Auditor Nicole Galloway in the November election. The two were supposed to debate Friday in a forum hosted by the Missouri Press Association, but it has been postponed, said Mark Maassen, executive director of the association. He said the forum will be rescheduled.

I wish Governor Parson and First Lady Teresa Parson a safe and full recovery, Galloway said in a statement. This is a stark reminder that this virus can reach anyone, anywhere and that this pandemic is far from over. We must all continue to do our part in preventing the spread of the virus by practicing social distancing, washing hands, and wearing a mask.

Parson has repeatedly urged residents to wear masks and maintain social distancing, but he has been an outspoken opponent of mask mandates, sometimes appearing at functions without one. In July, speaking without a mask at a Missouri Cattlemens Association steak fry in Sedalia, he reiterated his stance.

You dont need government to tell you to wear a dang mask, he said. If you want to wear a dang mask, wear a mask.

Parsons opposition to statewide mask mandates has held strong even as the White House Coronavirus Task Force has recommended a face covering requirement in Missouri given the states escalating number of confirmed cases. When Parson allowed the state to reopen for business in mid-June, about 16,000 cases had been confirmed. The state health department on Wednesday added 1,580 new cases, bringing the total to 116,946 since the pandemic began.

The state also has reported 1,947 deaths, including 83 reported Wednesday. That single-day total was the highest since the pandemic began. The second-highest was the 57 announced Tuesday.

Asked Wednesday whether it was time for a statewide mask mandate, Parsons health director again deferred those decisions to local officials.

We just think that if youre too draconian everywhere ... its almost as if it creates more problems than it solves, Williams said.

Parson would be considered a potential high-risk patient given his age and a preexisting condition. On Christmas Eve in 2016, Parson underwent heart surgery after doctors discovered a blockage during a routine checkup in Springfield.

Two other Republican governors also have tested positive for COVID-19, though one of those turned out to be a false positive. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt in July became the first governor to announce hed tested positive. He recovered and returned to work less than two weeks later.

In August, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced that a rapid test was positive. But a short time later, DeWine said a more sensitive test was negative.

Parson is a former county sheriff and state representative who was elected lieutenant governor in 2016.

On Tuesday, the Parsons attended the grand opening in southern Missouri of the first U.S. public golf course designed by Tiger Woods. Woods hosted an exhibition match that featured him and fellow pro golfer Justin Thomas playing against British stars Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose. Two other golf legends, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player, also were in attendance.

A spokeswoman for Big Ceder Lodge, which operates the new Paynes Valley course, said the governor and first lady were there for a limited amount of time and did not have direct interaction with the participants.

___

Salter reported from OFallon, Missouri. Associated Press writers Summer Ballentine in Columbia, Missouri; John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas; and AP golf writer Doug Ferguson in Jacksonville, Florida, contributed to this report.
WATCH: Harry and Meghan encourage Americans to vote

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have dubbed Novembers US presidential election the most important of our lifetime as they urged Americans to vote, sparking a debate about whether they have broken royal protocol.

The royal couple appeared during a special Time 100 event to celebrate the magazines annual list of 100 people who are influential in their fields.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were themselves on the list in 2018, but are not on this years 100.

In a video message recorded in a garden, Meghan, who has been vocal about the importance of voting in the last few months, said: Every four years we are told the same thing  that this is the most important election of our lifetime.

But this one is.

When we vote, our values are put into action and our voices are heard. Your voice is a reminder that you matter, because you do, and you deserve to be heard.

Harry, 36, added: This election Im not going to be able to vote here in the US.

Many of you may not know that I havent been able to vote in the UK my entire life.

As we approach this November its vital we reject hate speech, misinformation and online negativity.

Harry and Meghan have urged Americans to use their vote in November. (PA)

Read more: Meghan Markle leads tributes to US Supreme Court judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg

After the video emerged, Piers Morgan tweeted: Prince Harry poking his woke nose into the US election & effectively telling Americans to vote against President Trump is completely unacceptable behaviour for a member of the Royal Family.

Royal Family members are not explicitly banned from voting, but they tend not to do so, to avoid any concerns about their political neutrality.

However, Harry and Meghan are not the first members of the Royal Family to urge people to participate in democracy.

Even the Queen has weighed in on issues before. In 2003, she raised concerns after a low turnout at the Welsh Assembly elections.

In a speech to Welsh Assembly members, she said: It is vital to the health both of the United Kingdom and of Wales that our democratic institutions flourish and adapt.

Story continues

"Elections are the fundamental means by which everyone can participate in the business of government.

"I share your concerns that we must encourage all our people to exercise their right to vote. This is a real challenge now before us all.

She is also reported to have told well-wishers outside Crathie Kirk in Scotland to think very carefully before the Scottish referendum in 2014.

US president Donald Trump at a campaign rally at Atlantic Aviation in September 2020 in Pennsylvania. (Getty Images)

Since Harry and Meghan moved to the US, after leaving their senior royal roles, Meghan, 39, has joined forces with a number of organisations to encourage Americans to vote.

While she has not explicitly voiced support for Joe Biden, the Democratic candidate, she has talked about how excited she was to see Kamala Harris named as his running mate.

Before joining the Royal Family, Meghan was critical of Republican president Donald Trump, who is running for a second term in office.

Harry was reportedly caught making comments about Trump when he was called in March by Russian hoaxers Vladimir Kuznetsov and Alexei Stolyarov, who posed as Greta Thunberg and her father. However, Buckingham Palace has not confirmed it was Harry's voice on the recording.

This is the first time Harry has addressed voting since the couples move to the US. The Daily Telegraph reported in August that he would not be joining the voting campaign out of respect for his familys position on the global stage.

Buckingham Palace said it would not comment, adding: The Duke is not a working member of the Royal Family and any comments he makes are made in a personal capacity.

Meghan has said she is excited about Kamala Harris, here on her campaign trail, being the Democrat vice presidential candidate. (AFP)

Read more: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle donate $130,000 to charity on his birthday

A spokesman for the duke added: The duke was talking about the tone of debate in the run-up to an election which is already quite febrile.

He is not talking about any candidate or specific campaign.

He is building on a lot of stuff that hes said before about online communities, how we engage with each other online, rather than specifically making any political points.

As well as addressing the election, earlier in the video Harry praised the work of the people on this years Time 100 list, saying: You work tirelessly to create a better world, a better global community for all of us and we thank you and celebrate you tonight.

Meghan added: Youre playing a critical role for our future and that of our children. Seeing our world through the lens of community is so important because we need to redraw the lines of how we engage with each other, both online and off.

What were exposed to online seeps into how we engage with each other offline. It can train us to be kind, or it can train us to be cruel.

Harry said: When the bad outweighs the good, for many, whether we realise it or not, it erodes our ability to have compassion and our ability to put ourself in someone elses shoes.

Because when one person buys into negativity online, the effects are felt exponentially. Its time to not only reflect, but act.

People on this years list include Michaela Coel, Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Harry and Meghans friend Tyler Perry.

The royal couple stayed in Perrys home in LA when they first moved to the city in March, crossing from the Canadian border as it was about to close because of coronavirus.

The duke and duchess are now financially independent, having signed a deal with Netflix (for an undisclosed sum) to produce documentaries, childrens programming and scripted series.

They also paid off the 2.4m renovation bill for Frogmore Cottage, which remains their UK home.
Samuel Jackson, who worked for Lidl, claimed it was unfair to sack him for offensive comments because of his adherence to the Hellenic philosophy Stoicism, founded by Zeno of Citium (pictured) from the 3rd century BC meant he can offend anyone without consequences

A communications worker sacked by Lidl for calling Asians 'greasy' has had his belief in Stoicism protected in law by an employment judge.

Samuel Jackson, who worked for Lidl, claimed it was unfair to sack him for the offensive comment because of his adherence to the Hellenic philosophy from the 3rd century BC meant he can offend anyone without consequences.

A employment judge accepted at a tribunal that his philosophical beliefs were 'genuinely held', but dismissed claims that he was directly discriminated against because of his beliefs.

The case is set to progress to a full hearing where allegationsthat Mr Jackson was discriminated against for his disability of dyslexia will be discussed in full.

Bosses at Lidl, where Mr Jackson worked in communications, fired him after he allegedly said 'Asians are greasy' and then 'did not apologise sufficiently'.

But Mr Jackson is suing the budget German supermarket firm for religious and belief discrimination and disability discrimination claiming he is part of a protected belief group and that his dyslexia meant he 'mixed up his words' and was unable to apologise properly.

He also claimed his Stoicism meant he could not 'communicate in a particular way' set out by his employers or that the consequences of what he says or does would not stop him from still doing it anyway.

Mr Jackson told Croydon Employment Tribunal the potential for offence would not stop him from saying anything, under his philosophical belief system.

Mr Jackson said discount chain Lidl (firm's store in Slough, Berkshire is pictured) was wrong to sack him

He told the judge: 'The realisation that the consequence of what I say would cause offence would not stop me from saying it.

'In interpersonal relationships, it would not be the potential for offence that prevented me from saying something.'

Stoicism is a philosophy of personal ethics formed around its system of logic and views on the natural world.

It teaches the development of self-control and fortitude as a way of overcoming destructive emotions to remain happy in the face of adversity.

During the virtual employment hearing held over two days earlier this month, Mr Jackson saw his claim that the ancient philosophy that became popular under the Greek and Roman civilisations qualifies as a 'protected' belief within the Equality Act 2010 upheld.

Stoicism: Ancient Greek philosophy meant to apply to everyday living Stoicism is a school of thought that flourished in Greek and Roman antiquity. It originated as a Hellenistic philosophy when it was founded in Athens by Zeno of Citium around 300 BCE. The name is said to come from the Stoa Poikile, or painted porch, an open market in Athens where the original Stoics used to meet and teach philosophy. Stoicism moved to Rome where it flourished during the period of the Empire, alternatively being persecuted by Emperors who disliked it and openly supported by progressive Emperors who attempted to live by it. The latter group included Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Stoicism was a philosophy focused on ethics and logic that was meant to be applied to everyday living. This philosophy of personal ethics formed around its system of logic and views on the natural world. It teaches the development of self-control and fortitude as a way of overcoming destructive emotions to remain happy in the face of adversity. Source: Internet Encyclopedia of Philosopy Advertisement

His application to be treated as a disabled person due to his dyslexia was also successful.

But an employment judge threw out Mr Jackson's claims of direct disability discrimination and direct discrimination because of religion or belief as having 'no reasonable prospect of success'.

However he allowed claims of indirect belief and disability discrimination to go to a full hearing.

The judge also made an order that Mr Jackson will have to pay a deposit - of an amount to be set out in a later judgement - in order for the proceedings to continue to a full hearing.

Employment Judge Simon Cheetham QC said in his ruling: 'The claimant [Mr Jackson] has a strong interest in philosophy and a thorough knowledge of the particular philosophical belief system known as Stoicism.

'He described himself as not being a 'consequentialist', by which he meant that the consequences of what he says or does would not prevent him from saying or doing that thing.

'Given that his job is in communications, one can see the potential for conflict, but that is a separate issue.'

Court documents show Mr Jackson was accused by his employer of saying 'Asians are greasy' at the end of October 2018.

He was the subject of disciplinary proceedings because he failed to apologise sufficiently and was dismissed, the tribunal heard.

Employment Judge Cheetham added: 'Stoicism is just one of innumerable schools of thought attempting to answer the most profound questions that we ask and the Claimant has further demonstrated this through his contextualisation of Stoicism alongside the major religions.

'I found him to be a truthful witness and I accept his self-description as accurate and unexaggerated.

'I am satisfied that this is not simply an opinion. In my view, the claimant's philosophical beliefs based upon Stoicism are genuinely held.'

Employment Judge Simon Cheetham QC said in his view 'the claimant's philosophical beliefs based upon Stoicism are genuinely held', but rejected claims that he was directly discriminated against because of his beliefs

The court also heard that although Mr Jackson had no proof of his dyslexia, the judge accepted he had the condition as he claimed he was unable to arrange a test with the British Dyslexia Society due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Dyslexia is a learning disorder that makes reading difficult due to problems identifying speech sounds and learning how they relate to letters and words.

On Mr Jackson's application that he is disabled, Judge Cheetham added: 'I accept his self-description [as dyslexic] and that the impact is substantial and therefore I conclude that he was disabled at the relevant time by reason of his dyslexia.'

A date for the final hearing in which the claims will be heard is yet to be set.

Lidl have been contacted for comment.
Health The Daily Beast

HandoutRosie Diven, a mother of three in rural South Carolina, had no idea her 16-year-old son had COVID-19 until a fearsome syndrome nearly killed him.Branson Diven had been vomiting and suffering a loss of appetite when Rosie brought him to an urgent care center near their home in Hartsville on Dec. 10. He did not have classic COVID symptoms such as a sore throat or a cough, and after testing negative for COVID and positive for flu, he was sent home under the assumption he would soon be better
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 05:28:14|Editor: huaxia

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A woman makes phone call on Times Square in New York, the United States, Sept. 20, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

"Large gatherings of students on campus, in classrooms and restaurants, may make schools a hotbed for outbreaks. If strong protective measures are not in place, there will be high risks of local outbreaks," says Zhang Zuofeng.



WASHINGTON, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Leading experts warned that COVID-19 cases may surge in fall and winter in the United States as the pandemic has caused over 200,000 deaths as of Tuesday.

Months into the pandemic, the United States has currently recorded more than 6.88 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and over 200,500 deaths, according to the real-time count kept by Johns Hopkins University.

Still, the actual numbers are believed to be much higher due to testing shortages, many unreported cases and other data issues.

Stanley Perlman, professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of Iowa, warned that the numbers of cases may surge in fall and winter. "But we hope that with appropriate measures and perhaps a vaccine, the surge will be less than we fear," he told Xinhua.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced the first COVID-19 case in the United States on Jan. 21. Four months later, on May 27, the U.S. death toll reached 100,000.

The novel coronavirus has now killed nearly twice as many Americans as the 116,516 who died in World War I, the third-deadliest conflict in the nation's history, according to a report of ABC News.

Customers dine in a Vietnamese restaurant in Frisco, Texas, the United States, on Sept. 21, 2020. (Photo by Dan Tian/Xinhua)

Recently U.S. campuses have become the new front for fighting the COVID-19 pandemic as more students are returning to school.

As of Sept. 14, The New York Times counted more than 88,000 cases and 60 deaths at 1,190 campuses nationwide.

The back-to-school season has brought new infections in colleges and universities nationwide. COVID-19 cases in students and children will continue to rise, Perlman acknowledged.

In order to slow the spread of the virus, schools have taken stricter control efforts. Students breaking the rules faced serious consequences.

At Purdue University, three dozen students were suspended for attending an off-campus party and violating the school's social-distancing rules.

"Large gatherings of students on campus, in classrooms and restaurants, may make schools a hotbed for outbreaks. If strong protective measures are not in place, there will be high risks of local outbreaks," Zhang Zuofeng, a professor of epidemiology and associate dean for research with the school of public health at University of California, Los Angeles, told Xinhua.

Experts and health officials have called on the public to get vaccinated against influenza in record numbers this fall to avoid a dreaded scenario: flu colliding with COVID-19 pandemic.

As symptoms of flu and COVID-19 are similar, experts are concerned that ,flu-related illnesses could overwhelm hospitals and laboratories that test for both respiratory illnesses.

Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Robert Redfield attends a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing on "Review of Coronavirus Response Efforts" on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Sept. 16, 2020. (Andrew Harnik/Pool via Xinhua)

"This fall and winter could be one of the most complicated public health times we have, with the two coming at the same time," CDC Director Robert Redfield said in a recent interview on the JAMA network.

Arnold Monto, professor of epidemiology at the University of Michigan, told media the predominant flu strain this season could be H3N2, the most feared strain.

It is associated with more complications, hospitalizations and deaths, especially among children, people 65 and older, and people with certain chronic conditions, he said.

The country has been ramping up testing and speeding up research of vaccines and therapies in fighting COVID-19.

The CDC has updated guidelines for testing asymptomatic people, stressing that anyone who has been in contact with an infected person should be tested for coronavirus.

Redfield said last week it will be the late second quarter or third quarter of 2021 before a COVID-19 vaccine is generally available to the American public.

According to Redfield, there would be vaccine initially available sometime between November and December, but "very limited supply and will have to be prioritized." 
OTTAWAThe opposition Conservatives are calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to boost health-care funding to the provinces by billions with no strings attached.

Conservative deputy leader Candice Bergen told reporters Wednesday that her party wants a commitment from Trudeau to increase health-care transfers, as provincial and territorial premiers unanimously called for last week.

Wed like to see the prime minister state clearly he will provide the health-care funding to the provinces that has been needed and asked for, without strings attached, Bergen said in a news conference outlining the opposition partys demands for the Liberal governments throne speech.

On Friday, the provincial and territorial leaders unanimously asked Ottawa to provide its fair share in funding for health care, saying the pandemic has laid bare the challenges facing Canadas public system.

The premiers want Ottawa to increase its share of funding from 22 per cent  roughly $42 billion this year  to 35 per cent, which would work out to $70 billion this year.

The federal government earmarked $19 billion to help provinces shoulder the burden of COVID-19 care this year, but the premiers say they want stable, long-term funding increases.

While the Conservatives are echoing the call to transfer billions more to the provinces each year, theyve also repeatedly called for fiscal restraint.

When asked what the Conservatives would cut to achieve both goals, Bergen said its not a black-and-white situation.

I dont think its just a simple  cut or dont cut, thats not always the problem. Its the unwise way that these Liberals spend money, and in some case unethical ways that they spend money that Conservatives would change, Bergen said.

Trudeau has agreed to meet with the premiers to discuss health-care transfers, but Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc said the critical question is whether the federal government has the capacity to boost health-care transfers while shovelling out unprecedented billions in emergency pandemic funding.

We have said we will stop at nothing to ensure the safety and security of Canadians in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and that remains our priority, LeBlanc told the Canadian Press last week.
According to the World Health Organization, more than a billion people, that is, about 15% of the world's population, have various forms of disability. Every year, up to half a million people receive spinal cord injuries, which are often accompanied by paralysis, and disorders of autonomic functions. To find ways to restore health to people with disabilities, researchers are developing invasive neuroprostheses that can transmit electrical signals to the spinal cord and brain and recover lost functions.

One of the main challenges faced by doctors and scientists is the adjustment of neuroprostheses to the surrounding nerve tissues of a person. Despite the biocompatible elastic materials, it is not always possible to adapt quickly the device to the anatomical and age characteristics of the patient. The solution to this problem has been proposed by a research team headed by Professor Pavel Musienko from the Institute of Translational Biomedicine at St Petersburg University and Professor Ivan Minev from the University of Sheffield (the Department of Automatic Control and Systems Engineering, the University of Sheffield). They have developed a new 3D printing technology that makes it possible to rapidly customise muscular and neural implants for monitoring and restoring of motor and autonomic functions.

This patient-specific approach is now possible thanks to NeuroPrint hybrid 3D printing technology. First, the printer creates the geometry of the future implant made of silicone, which also serves as an insulating material. Then microparticles of platinum or another electrically conductive element of the implant are applied to the framework. Then the surface is activated by cold plasma. Moreover, the number and configuration of electrodes in the neural implant can be changed, producing devices for implantation in the tissue of the spinal cord, brain or muscles. The average production time from project creation to prototyping can be just 24 hours.

'By the developed technology, the process of creating implants can become a lot faster and cheaper,' said Professor Pavel Musienko, Head of the Laboratory of Neuroprosthetics at the Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St Petersburg University. 'Considering the compactness of the equipment and the versatility of the approach, it is quite likely that in the future it will be possible to produce patient-specific neural implants right in the hospital. This follows the principles of personalized medicine and will minimise the cost and delivery time as much as possible.'

Neuroscientists have already exploited the NeuroPrint technology to carry out research on various model objects - mammals and zebrafish. It has shown that the new neural implants have a high level of biointegration and functional stability. Also, they are as good as their counterparts when they are used to restore motor functions of the limbs and monitor the bladder activity. Additionally, the scientists have been able to print soft implants similar in shape and mechanical characteristics to the dura mater - outer connective tissue membrane of the brain. This is an important achievement, since many scientific experiments cannot be carried out due to too rigid neuronal implants that are not suitable for the soft structures of the nervous tissue. Moreover, this limits their use in clinical practice.

'We have tested our development in experiments on freely moving rats for chronic recording of the electrocortical signals of the cerebral cortex, that is a necessary element of the brain-computer interface,' said Pavel Musienko. 'The experiments on paralysed animals have shown that electrical stimulation of neural networks effectively restores locomotor function. Thus, the NeuroPrint technology opens up new opportunities both for basic research into the central nervous system and for neuroprosthetics when people suffer from various diseases and injuries.'

###

Among the participants of the research are scientists from: St Petersburg University; Pavlov Institute of Physiology of the Russian Academy of Sciences; Granov Russian Research Centre of Radiology and Surgical Technologies; St Petersburg State Research Institute of Phthisiopulmonology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation; Ural Federal University; Technische Universitat Dresden (Germany); and the University of Sheffield (the UK).
On the occasion of GMT Magazines 20th anniversary (and WorldTempuss upcoming 20th anniversary in 2021), we have embarked on the ambitious project of summarising the last 20 years in watchmaking in The Millennium Watch Book, a big, beautifully laid out coffee table book. The Millennium Watch Book is available exclusively now for pre-order at a discounted rate on www.the-watch-book.com, in French and English, with delivery aimed just in time for the holiday season.

In the coming weeks, WorldTempus will be exclusively sharing excerpts from the book, to give you a taste.

Only a few days left to get an additional 10% discount on the Millennium Watch Book. To obtain your code, fill in the information requested in the dedicated area to the left of the article.

Heres is an exclusive excerpt from our section Whos who, where we name the 80 industry players, from CEOs to Creative Directors to retailers and independent watchmakers, who have indelibly shaped the last two decades of watches, written by those in the industry who perhaps know them best. For more information, visit www.the-watch-book.com.

Whos who-Christian Selmoni Vacheron Constantin, Style and Heritage Director

Born to a family of watchmakers in the Vallee de Joux, historical cradle of Swiss watchmaking, Christian Selmoni, 61, celebrates three decades at Vacheron Constantin this year. For most of this period, he has been tasked with balancing past and future at Vacheron Constantin, by injecting creativity into new designs while preserving the classic refinement of the house style.

Selmoni first joined Vacheron Constantin in 1990 in sales. He soon moved up in the company, first into purchasing then production, playing a central role in overseeing both manufacturing and sourcing.

When Vacheron Constantin, founded in 1755, was preparing to celebrate its 250th anniversary, Selmoni was charged with centralising every aspect of product creation for the maisons anniversary products.

Christian Selmoni  Vacheron Constantin

A keen art lover, Selmoni affirmed his own interest in the creative side of watchmaking, as he explains: Thankfully, a large part of watchmaking at Vacheron Constantin is artistically oriented. Centuries-old craftsmanship allows Vacheron Constantin to make speciality timepieces with a creative liberty overseen by Selmonis watchful eye. This resulted in memorable collections such as Les Masques presented in 2007 and featuring tiny masks inspired by the Barbier-Mueller collection inside the watch dials. The partnership in 2010 with Japanese lacquer specialist Zohico introduced traditional Japanese lacquer techniques to watch dials.

What Selmoni enjoyed best as Artistic Director was acting as inhouse trend forecaster, overseeing the development of the Metiers dArt workshops, as well as supervising the work of the maisons Les Cabinotiers ateliers that produce made-to-order timepieces.

As Style and Heritage director since 2017, Selmoni now sees himself as something of a guardian of the temple. His role is to shine a spotlight on the heritage of the house, while occasionally dabbling in design. His is the noble task of enriching Vacheron Constantins heritage, while ensuring that the new pays due respect to the old.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 12:24:37|Editor: huaxia

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BRUSSELS, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Frans Timmermans, the European Commission's executive vice president responsible for the European Green Deal, Tuesday welcomed the target set by China to achieve carbon neutrality before 2060.

China aims to have CO2 emissions peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced Tuesday when addressing the general debate of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly via video.

"We need decisive action from every country to keep temperatures under control, tackle climate change, and keep our planet inhabitable," Timmermans tweeted late on Tuesday.

Last week, Timmermans presented the European Commission's new climate plan, which set an ambitious target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 percent by 2030, in line with the goal of reaching climate neutrality by 2050. Enditem
Princess Beatrice joined Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank for a night out in London last night.

The royal sisters donned masks as they ventured out to exclusive member's club Annabel's yesterday and were snapped climbing into a taxi at the end of their night.

While Princess Beatrice, 32, showed off her tan in a little black dress with a matching face mask, Princess Eugenie, 30, looked chic in a pair of black leather leggings and wrapped up in a grey jacket.

She added a 40 designer mask from Wedel Art Collective x Jenny Holzer emblazoned with the words: 'YOU ME'.

It comes days after Princess Eugenie was seen stepping out with a friend in Notting Hill for a spot of shopping.

Princess Beatrice, 32, and Princess Eugenie, 30, appeared relaxed as they enjoyed a sister's night out at an exclusive London member's club last night. Eugenie wore a a 40 designer mask from Wedel Art Collective x Jenny Holzer emblazoned with the words: 'YOU ME'

Princess Eugenie wore a all-black outfit on the outing, opting for a pair of plether leggings and a long line grey coat

Princess Eugenie's husband Jack Brooksbank joined the sisters for the night out in Mayfair last night

Keeping the look low-key last night, Eugenie wore a natural make-up look, and kept her hair down and loose.

The princess wore a 40 Jenny Holzer printed cotton face covering featuring the words 'You, Me'.

With her two 1.5 carat pear-shaped diamond wedding ring gleaming, the Princess added a designer edge to the relaxed look.

Meanwhile she also sported stacks of bracelets and a subtle drop earring.

Princess Eugenie wore a bright white mask for the outing, which featured the words 'You Me' written in elaborate black writing

Princess Eugenie swept her hair from her face as she reclined in the car after her night out with her husband and sister

The royal opted for an all black outfit for the occasion, donning a pair of black leather leggings and a grey suede jacket for the occasion.

She kept her hand bag on her lap as she took the front seat of the car with her sister.

Meanwhile newlywed Princess Beatrice showed off her summer tan in a little black dress with bold and bright floral decorations across the bust.

Princess Andrew's eldest daughter swept her long auburn hair into a relaxed side parting and carried a small black handbag to complete her chic outfit.

The night out comes after the sisters were both seen enjoying a little retail therapy in the past few weeks.

On Saturday Princess Eugenie donned a patterned face mask and round sunglasses as she wondered around the west London streets.

Meanwhile Princess Eugenie carried a designer handbag which she kept on her lap throughout the journey

The sisters both opted to wear masks as they swept into a taxi after the night out at Annabel's club in Mayfair

Sporting a black floral dress and white Stan Smith trainers, the daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson looked relaxed as she indulged in retail therapy close to her Kensington Palace home, where she lives with husband Jack Brooksbank.

Meanwhile earlier this month, Princess Beatrice was also seen shopping in the capital, carrying a bag from the White Company's children's store The Little White Company.

The White Company sells everything from 20 scented candles to 200 cashmere jumpers, while the children's range sells clothing, toys and blankets.

Eugenie and her husband Jack returned to their Kensington Palace home Ivy Cottage in June after spending lockdown with Eugenie's parents Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew at the Royal Lodge in Windsor.

The newlywed showed off her summer tan in the little black dress, having spent her honeymoon in France this summer

Prince Andrew's eldest daughter donned a little black dress for the occasion, and wore her long auburn hair in a relaxed side-parting

The sisters appeared relaxed as they climbed into the taxi after enjoying their night out in the city last night

The royal has taken an active role in praising frontline staff who have been working tirelessly amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Eugenie married brand ambassador Jack Brooksbank in 2018 at St George's Chapel in Windsor.

Two years later, she watched her big sister Beatrice marry in a intimate ceremony at the Royal Lodge in Windsor, which was just immediate family in attendance due to coronavirus restrictions.

Earlier this summer Beatrice and her new husband Edo Mapelli Mozzi were spotted by an eagle-eyed tourist as they drove a small car absolutely packed to the roof with stuff in the south of France.

It comes days after Princess Eugenie was seen out and about shopping in west London over the weekend
A man holding a QAnon sign waits to enter a Trump rally in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., in 2018. (Associated Press)

To the editor: Thank you for publishing Virginia Heffernan's column likening QAnon propaganda to "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion," a particularly vicious anti-Semitic forgery that helped form the basis of Nazi propaganda.

The QAnon attacks are built upon decades of conservatives declaring their opponents were "baby killers." Recently, President Trump said Virginia's Democratic governor favored "executing babies after birth." Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) blamed the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg for 30 million "murdered" children.

If people have accepted these statements as fact, then ideas of ritualistic killings, child abuse and cannibalism are just a step away to the true believers.

Joseph Goebbels was the master of Nazi propaganda mentioned by Hefferman. Trump has chosen to utilize many of Goebbels' most deceiving techniques: the big lie, distraction, the bandwagon effect, name-calling and more. They are deliberately used to galvanize his supporters and attack his enemies.

Trump believes that Americans who disagree with him are his enemy, while foreign dictators are his friends. This is very dangerous.

Today, when so many Americans have never heard of the Holocaust, we all must do our best to represent what is best in our nation.

David Dillard, Los Angeles

..

To the editor: "Those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it"  philosopher George Santayana's warning and Heffernan's column on the conspiracy theorist cult QAnon need to be repeated.

Our real-world conditions of fires, hurricanes, the pandemic and social unrest are unnerving for most of us, but the ridiculousness of QAnon is in another realm. The historical context Heffernan supplies, rooting QAnon in the virulently anti-Semitic forgery "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion," is the nugget of truth that won't make it to the Twitter feed.

The "Protocols" is a history lesson that needs to be reexamined. Rational-thinking people will read the truth, recall their history and know it for the dangerous precedent it was. The problem is the hysteria of QAnon is whipped up in 30-second bites of social media frenzy that are repeated and twisted until they become a concoction destined to undermine civil society.

The ability of the Trump machine to spin a web of lies and conjure the impossible resembles the behind the curtain ministrations of the Wizard of Oz. We need more truth tellers to call out these doomsday prophets.

Barbara McCurtis, San Diego
"I call on you to prefer peace. I speak as someone who has spent 15 years in prison," says Floribert Ndjabu, a former warlord who has come to urge the men of a notorious armed group in northeast DR Congo to give up violence.

At his side is Germain Katanga, sentenced in 2014 by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes.

Katanga gives an approving nod as Ndjabu makes his pitch -- but at the same time, he keeps a watchful eye on the militiamen in front of him, with their heavy weapons, ammunition, spears, knives and fetishes.

"They aren't choirboys," says Katanga, an expert in such matters.

The pair, released from jail in January, are among half a dozen former rebels sent by President Felix Tshisekedi as peace envoys to Ituri -- the blood-stained province where they themselves once helped sow mayhem.

Their goal: to disarm the men of CODECO -- the Cooperation for the Development of Congo, blamed for the massacre of hundreds of civilians since December 2017.

Lethal group

A CODECO commander in Wadda village meets a delegation of former warlords sent to promote peace in volatile Ituri. By ALEXIS HUGUET (AFP)

CODECO is a political-military sect that claims to defend the Lendu, a local ethnic group who are mainly sedentary farmers.

Most of the victims have been herders and traders from their traditional rivals, the Hema, according to a UN report that says a possible "crime against humanity" has been committed.

Escorted by the army, the former warlords are heading out today from the provincial capital Bunia to the territory of Djugu, the epicentre of the latest violence.

Dozens of armed men emerge from the bush as their convoy nears.

Ndjabu, who heads the delegation, walks towards the militiamen, instructing them: "Get into the big truck at the rear."

Ituri is one of several provinces in eastern DR Congo where violence is endemic. By Romain ALLIMANT (AFP)

"Yes, president," they reply -- a nod to his status as president of the Nationalist and Integrationist Front (FNI), an armed political group that was active in the so-called First Ituri War between the Hema and Lendu in 1999-2003.

He was prosecuted, but never convicted, for allegedly ordering the murder of nine UN Bangladeshi peacekeepers in 2005.

By late afternoon, the convoy, with the militiamen onboard, arrives at the village of Masumbuko.

The militiamen, wearing civilian clothes or military gear, parade with their weaponry -- rocket launchers, machine guns, assault rifles -- as the villagers watch from afar, seemingly indifferent.

CODECO members welcome the former warlords on their peace trip. By ALEXIS HUGUET (AFP)

Among the armed group are 20 children parading in white shirts, who clearly have been inducted into CODECO ranks.

Young girls sing hymns to the glory of "General Ngudjolo", a reference to CODECO'S main chief Justin Ngudjolo, killed in March by Democratic Republic of Congo troops.

'All brothers'

It is the following day when talks start in earnest, after the reading of biblical tests beneath a leaden sun. "Aggressors, listen to the voice of Jesus," the militiamen sing.

The ex-warlords warm to their theme, arguing that CODECO should trust the authorities to resolve differences.

General Germain Katanga, centre, takes part in a meeting with CODECO militiamen in Masumbuko. By ALEXIS HUGUET (AFP)

"The head of state has sent us here to talk to you in order to end hostilities," says Ndjabu.

"I understand your frustration, but you should not turn the territory upside down -- you have to let the state and the authorities do their work," says Katanga.

CODECO's religious leader, Pastor Ngadjole Ngabu, is unconvinced.

"We are fighting the Congolese army and police (in protest at) the arbitrary arrests and detention of our people," he says, accusing the Hema of colluding "with the military" to track down Lendu fighters.

"Get it out of your heads that the Hema are your enemies or that they are evil. I am Lendu like you, but I stayed the night with the Hema. We are all brothers," retorts Ndjabu.

The talks wind up.

"We've reached an agreement. As soon as the president responds to their (request) for integration into the army or police force, everthing will be fine," predicts Katanga.

Katanga, a former commander of the armed group FRPI (Patriotic Resistance Force of Ituri), is dressed in military uniform with the rank of general.

"I came here with a clear message for them -- if you see me in military uniform, with this grade, it's because I accepted the (peace) process."

Less violence

Attacks in Ituri spread into new areas after CODECO splintered following Ngudjolo's death, UN human rights investigators said in June.

'Not choirboys': A militiaman stands guard during talks with ex-warlords in the village of Wadda. By ALEXIS HUGUET (AFP)

But AFP reporters who recently asked local people at various locations in Ituri say the level of violence has fallen back since Tshisekedi's envoys arrived.

According to the UN, more than a thousand civilians have been killed since December 2017, while the International Crisis Group (ICG) says half a million people have fled their homes. Lendu civilians also say that they have been victims of military reprisals.

Integrating miltiamen into the security forces, providing them with status and a career path, is a time-honoured strategy in many troubled African countries.

Experts, however, caution that such schemes also require long-term commitment, including punishment of those guilty of major crimes.

As the delegation leaves, excited militiamen try to block the convoy, forcing the envoys to carry on talking.

Nightfall: The convoy returns to Bunia after making its pitch for peace. By ALEXIS HUGUET (AFP)

Eventually, the convoy leaves at sundown.

As it nears Bunia, automatic gunfire of unknown origin erupts in the distance.

Katanga, his men and the army escort reach instinctively for their weapons.

The emergency passes, and the convoy continues at speed to Bunia as the night gathers.
President Donald Trump holding a photograph of coronavirus as Dr. Steve Monroe, right, with CDC spoke to members of the press at the headquarters of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta on March 6. Read more

People who are exposed to a COVID-19 patient but feel fine dont necessarily need to get tested, the nations top public health agency declared in August  only to drop that advice last Friday.

The same day, it declared that the coronavirus could spread beyond the 6-foot social distancing threshold, borne by aerosol particles that remain aloft for minutes.

But this week the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention took down that update, too, saying it shouldnt have been posted without review.

The reversals have alarmed veterans of the public-health community, warning that they could fuel confusion and even mistrust of science as a pandemic that has claimed 200,000 U.S. lives shows no sign of letting up.

Changes in health guidelines are to be expected as new scientific evidence emerges, said Esther Chernak, an associate professor at Drexel Universitys Dornsife School of Public Health. Think of the advice on masks: At first, they were not thought to be necessary outside hospitals, then evidence emerged that they were.

What is worrisome is when changes in public health policy are driven by non-scientists, she said. It is unclear what prompted the switch on how the virus is transmitted, but the CDCs looser guidance on testing was pushed by the White House coronavirus task force, according to the New York Times. President Donald Trump has frequently claimed that the nation already does too much testing, though medical authorities almost universally say the opposite.

I dont think its random what goes up and down on [the CDC] website," Chernak said. "My concern is that it is more controlled by people with more of a political orientation than a scientific orientation.

That sentiment was echoed by former Philadelphia Health Commissioner Donald F. Schwarz, now a senior vice president at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Princeton-based health philanthropy.

What were seeing is a perversion of the review process, he said. It undermines our faith in our ability to use the information.

Both Chernak and Schwarz said they still have utter faith in the career scientists at CDC. The Atlanta-based agency, founded after World War II initially to fight malaria, is a leading global authority on all kinds of health conditions. But both said they were troubled by recent reports that the agencys weekly research digest was being reviewed by political appointees at its parent agency, the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington.

That digest  a dispassionate distillation of science called the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)  is held by epidemiologists and physicians in the same esteem that the business community holds the Wall Street Journal. Among its most famous dispatches is a September 1982 report that named a new form of immune deficiency: AIDS.

If you want to know whats going on from a disease perspective in the United States, you read the MMWR, Chernak said.

Articles in the digest always have been subject to review, but careful science has been the ultimate guidepost, Schwarz said.

Yet in a report from Politico, CDC officials said they had been pressured to change summaries of COVID-19 data so as not to contradict Trumps optimistic messages of progress.

CDC scientists have fought back against the most substantial changes but have compromised on wording in a few cases, Politico reported, citing three people familiar with the situation.

Following the uproar, Michael Caputo  a senior administration official who was accused of interfering with the weekly reports  took a leave of absence. Caputo, a Health and Human Services spokesperson, had accused scientists of conspiring against the president, then apologized to his staff.

In August, the CDCs looser guidance on testing drew fierce pushback from physicians and other public-health experts, who warned that a failure to test people without symptoms would prevent health departments from identifying a significant source of disease spread.

Harold Varmus, a former director of the National Institutes of Health, coauthored a New York Times column titled It Has Come to This: Ignore the CDC.

The revised testing guidance, posted Friday, allayed such concerns  recommending a test for anyone who has been within six feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes, whether or not they experience symptoms.

The abrupt removal of the update on aerosol transmission, on the other hand, stoked new concerns that the agency was steering the public in the wrong direction. Epidemiologists have documented numerous cases in which the virus has been transmitted farther than six feet, particularly in indoor settings with poor ventilation.

Chernak, director of Drexels Center for Public Health Readiness and Communication, said that sudden changes in messaging, when not accompanied by clear, evidence-based explanation, make fighting the pandemic more difficult.

How you communicate with the public, how you explain risk, particularly when people are fearful and upset, is as important as the steps to actually curb transmission in the community, she said. Its not just a communications failure. What we have is a failure of response and a failure of policy. Everyone recognizes that responding to a pandemic is hard enough.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy on Wednesday visited the temple town of Tirupati to attend the nine-day Brahmotsavam festival beginning today. Keeping up with tradition, he presented a pattu vastram (silk robes) to the presiding deity on behalf of the state.

But his two-day visit has sparked a political slugfest as the opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is staging protests over a non-Hindu" chief minister being allowed to enter the temple without having to sign a declaration form requiring non-Hindu visitors to mention their religious identity.

TDP workers have launched state-wide protests against anti-Hindu" Reddy.

Ever since he took over as the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, more than 80 temples have been destroyed in the past 15 months. To date, not a single miscreant has been arrested. Now, his decision of not signing the faith declaration form brazenly violates the tradition of the Tirumala Tirupati temple," said TDP spokesperson Pattabhi Ram Kommareddy.

Both the TDP and the BJP got fresh ammunition when TTD chairman YV Subba Reddy announced that the temple body had decided to repeal the faith declaration form days ahead of Reddys visit. Defending the decision, temple officials said the form has been under reconsideration for a while.

The chief ministers visit has no relation with our decision to revoke the rule; the temple administration is being dragged into unnecessary political controversies," TTD sources told News18.

As the matter snowballs into a big political controversy, there have been past instances where the temples faith declaration form was tweaked for major political visits. Rule no. 136 and 137 of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam has been in practice for nearly a decade  it states that non-Hindu visitors must voluntarily inform the administration about their religion and seek special permission to enter the temple. But there have been exceptions.

In 1999, Congress president Sonia Gandhi was allowed to visit the temple without signing the declaration form for non-Hindus. Similarly, there was stiff opposition when YS Rajasekhara Reddy, Jagans father, and late Chief Minister of united Andhra Pradesh (2004-2009) attended the Brahmotsavam festival and gifted silk robes to the presiding deity.

While the temple administration has itself claimed the rule has always been flexible, BJP state president Somu Veerraju argued even former president APJ Abdul Kalam had signed the form when he visited Tirumala in 2003. The rule is sacrosanct and applies to all non-Hindus, including Jagan Mohan Reddy," he said.

Both the BJP and TDP said they will continue their separate protests despite several of their workers being put under house arrest by the state police. Meanwhile, several Bajrang Dal activists were detained in Hyderabad when they clashed with the police while protesting outside Reddys bungalow.
THE Government has sustained severe criticism for the lack of Covid-19 testing at Ireland's airports six months into the pandemic.

Sinn Fein TD Darren O'Rourke claimed the situation is "shameful".

Labour TD Duncan Smith said it means there's "still no real light at the end of the tunnel" for aviation workers whose jobs are at risk.

It came as the Dail debated the impact of Covid-19 on the transport sector.

Read More

Transport Minister Eamon Ryan said the priority in the weeks and months ahead is ensuring the safe operation and return of domestic and international travel to protect jobs.

He said aviation was one of the "worst-hit sectors" with a dramatic fall in the number of people flying here and around the world which has impacted on airline and airport workers.

He said: "The question of when aviation business may be able to resume in a meaningful way is clearly linked to the evolution of the virus, to what ongoing restrictions and advisories may be in place, as well as the general economic outlook."

Mr Ryan pointed to general supports in place that aviation businesses can avail of like the wage subsidy scheme, grants and low-cost loans as well as the establishment of an Aviation Taskforce.

Meath East TD Mr O'Rourke said few specific supports have been put in place for an industry that employs 140,000 people.

He said some European Governments like Germany and Italy have provided loans or taken equity stakes in airlines and asked if the Government here would do the same with Aer Lingus "to shore it up".

He asked what plans the minister has for providing financial assistance in the Budget to airports and cited the challenges facing Cork and Shannon.

And he criticised the absence of Covid-19 testing at airports.

He said: "Six months into the pandemic it's shameful that we still have no testing capabilities in our airports or even the most basic temperature screening of arriving passengers.

"People fill in a form and they're on their way  literally.

"You won't you won't find a less restrictive process anywhere in the world these days," he claimed.

Dublin Fingal TD Duncan Smith also highlighted how there still isn't a testing regime in place at airports.

He said Health Minister Stephen Donnelly told TDs at the start of August that the Government was working on this.

"That was nearly two months ago now," Mr Smith said.

"There seems to have been no progress on that."

He said Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said last week that there needs to be pre-departure screening and testing but this would be a long way away.

Mr Smith asked Mr Ryan to imagine hearing these things as an aviation worker adding: "were so far into it now that theres still no real light at the end of the tunnel."

He referred to the news that Germany has put extra restrictions on Irish passengers travelling there.

"If we were to fly into any airport in Germany wed be able to avail of a free Covid test," he said.

"They have that in place right now.

"We dont even have anything close to that in place in our capitals airport never mind in our regional airports which are struggling as well in this pandemic."

He asked Mr Ryan to "take a real lead" in resolving the issue.

Mr Smith said workers "want a path they can believe in and they want to know that in a few months they will have work to go to and livelihoods to earn."

Mr Ryan later responded saying the issue of testing at airports is "critical".

He said connectivity needs to be maintained and "We have to make it easy for people who to have to go for business or for personal reasons."

Mr Ryan said adopting a proposed common European approach is the best option because it allows for reciprocal arrangements.

He argued the issue of testing at airports has been "difficult" because the Government has been getting different advice with the health service at one point saying they didn't want it to happen as there were "difficulties that came in with that".

He said Ireland is supportive of the European Commission's proposal for a traffic light system of green, amber and red listed countries but this won't be agreed until October 13 at the earliest.

Mr Ryan said that in the interim: "We have to build up or see where we can get the testing capability.

"There is a limit on testing capability across the world at present.

"So we are looking at that, we're looking to try and... make sure that if there is agreement to the European Union on the Commission approach, then we will be able to adopt the red and amber mechanisms."
BERLIN - Finland is set to launch a coronavirus-sniffing-dog pilot program at Helsinki Airport on Wednesday, hoping that dogs could come to play a key role in screening for covid-19.

The voluntary canine tests will deliver results within 10 seconds, and require less than a minute of travelers' time, said Anna Hielm-Bjorkman, a researcher at the University of Helsinki who is using the trial to gather data.

Researchers in other countries, including the United States and the United Arab Emirates, are studying canine coronavirus tests. But the Finnish trial is among the largest in scale and furthest along.

In Dubai, health officials this summer began using dogs to analyze sweat samples from randomly selected air travelers, with more than 90% accuracy, according to initial results.

Changes in health can affect the way people smell, researchers say. Dogs long have been valued for their ability to sniff for drugs and bombs, and have proved able to detect cancers, infections and other health problems.

Researchers at the University of Helsinki this year found indications that dogs can detect the virus. Scientists say only large-scale trials, such as the one to begin Wednesday, can demonstrate how effective the method will be in practice.

As in Dubai, the dogs to be deployed in Helsinki will sniff sweat samples and will not come into contact with travelers. People who agree to the test will swab their necks to produce a sample, to submit through an opening in a wall, said Hielm-Bjorkman.

Regardless of whether they test positive, they will be urged to take a standard polymerase chain reaction (PCR) covid-19 test so researchers can monitor the dogs' accuracy. All tests are free for travelers arriving at the airport.

Hielm-Bjorkman said the dogs, according to preliminary research, may be better at detecting coronavirus infections, which can cause the illness covid-19, than PCR and antibody tests. They "can also find [people] that are not yet PCR positive, but will become PCR positive within a week," she said.

Virpi Perala, a representative for Evidensia Elainlaakaripalvelut, a network of veterinary clinics that funded the first stage of the trial, during which the initial cohort of dogs were trained, said more funding would be needed to grow the project, depending on initial results.

Out of the 16 dogs trained, four are ready to work. Six others are still in training, with another six found to be unsuitable for a noisy airport environment.

Experts have warned that canine tests, however effective, can be difficult to scale. Training is time-consuming and expensive. Even so, researchers are optimistic that it will come to play a roll, even if it cannot alleviate the demands on the world's strained testing systems.

One of the aims of the upcoming trial, said Hielm-Bjorkman, is to gather observations on how long the dogs can work in shifts.

"You see very easily on a dog when it starts to get tired," she said.

The researchers say it is unlikely that the dogs will be infected with the coronavirus during the tests or that their trainers could be exposed.

Although many dogs have tested positive for the virus in recent months, "there is no evidence that these animals can transmit the disease to humans," according to the World Health Organization.

Hielm-Bjorkman said dogs could be deployed to nursing homes, schools and other places, where they may eventually come into direct contact with infected individuals.

"You could open up society in another way if you had those dogs," she said.

Their use in such setting could pose concerns, including implications for privacy and for those uncomfortable with or allergic to dogs.

For now, the airport trial aims to give health officials one more tool as the country prepares to cope with a potential uptick in cases, though overall numbers remain low compared with surges in several other European countries.
Chief Minister to give COVID-19 update

The Chief Minister will hold a coronavirus briefing tomorrow afternoon.

The Manx Government have described the briefing as a general update on the Island's situation.

You will be able to see the live feed on our Facebook page and website from 4pm tomorrow.
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
TULLAMORE D.E.W. has confirmed it plans to move its visitor centre from the town centre to the distillery with the loss of up to 14 jobs.

Whiskey company William Grant & Sons said on Wednesday morning it will create a premium whiskey tour and experience at the distillery.

In a statement William Grant said its appetite to showcase the distillery as the centre-piece of the tour, as well as the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the tourism industry, will mean that the current visitor centre is expected to close its doors next month, with 14 jobs at risk of redundancy.

Since opening in 2012, the Tullamore D.E.W. visitor centre has become an established tourist attraction in Ireland, welcoming 35-40,000 visitors every year.

The company said that over the last few years, it has invested more than 100 million to bring together the malt, pot still and grain whiskey production to one location in Tullamore.

The Tullamore Distillery currently employs 90 people and William Grant & Sons commitment to the region is expected to continue through its plans to further enhance the visitor experience on site at the distillery.

Garry Moore, the Tullamore site leader said: Through our plans to relocate the visitor experience to the distillery, with its new state-of-the-art facilities, we will be in a better position to provide a new rich and immersive experience for our visitors.

We remain committed to the town of Tullamore and, through our proposal to create a new visitor experience, we look forward to continuing to do our part to boost the local economy in the years ahead.

While the company did not indicate the date when the existing visitor centre on the bank of the Grand Canal at Bury Quay will finally close its doors, local sources said it will cease operation on October 21.

Last night 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 of the Bury Quay building 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 D.E.W. would not be in the way of that.

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.

Tullamore Distillery began operations in 2014 on a site off the Tullamore bypass on the south side of the town.
The Sharjah Executive Council (SEC) has issued decision No.30 of 2020 setting up the Organising Committee of the Ports and Border Checkpoints, which will be affiliated to the Sharjah Seaports, Customs and Free Zones Authority.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of SEC, a WAM report said.

The Council reviewed several issues on its agenda concerning the emirate's various affairs and issued several resolutions that would support the development work of the Sharjah government at all levels and sectors.

The Council discussed the proposals submitted by the Sharjah Education Council regarding the development of the work system in the parents' councils of male and female students in the emirate, contributing to the integration between schools and families.

SEC reviewed the report submitted by the Department of Town Planning and Survey, DTPS, on the urban observatory project in Sharjah, which was established in March 2019 in cooperation with 18 government agencies, as a specialised centre that collects data on various development areas to improve the standard of living for residents in a specific area, as well as analysing data and transforming them into indicators.

The meeting of the Council was held at the Sharjah Rulers office, in the presence of Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and SEC Deputy Chairman.-- Tradearabia News Service
Gilbane Building Company is pleased to announce that Bryan Dodge has joined the Connecticut business unit as a business development manager.

Bryan brings over eight years of industry experience, most recently serving in a business development capacity for Consigli Construction in Hartford, CT. In his new role, Bryan will work to strategically enhance Gilbanes presence within all major markets by expanding upon existing relationships, as well lead business development strategies throughout Connecticut.

Bryan is actively involved with numerous industry organizations including the ACE Mentor Advisory Board, Professional Women in Construction (PWC) as well as the Connecticut Building Congress. Committed to his community, Bryan volunteers his time to numerous charitable organizations, including the Special Olympics, HRAC, and Camp Courant in Hartford, Connecticut.

Bryan holds a bachelors degree in economics from Saint Michaels College.

We are very excited to have Bryan join our team, said Vice President and Connecticut Business Unit Leader John Hawley. His reputation, knowledge, and relationships from his years in the industry will be a tremendous asset to our efforts as we continue to grow Gilbanes business strategy in Connecticut.

About Gilbane Building Company

Gilbane provides a full slate of construction and facilities-related services  from pre-construction planning and integrated consulting capabilities to comprehensive construction management, close-out and facility management services  for clients across various markets. Founded in 1870 and still a privately held, family-owned company, Gilbane has more than 50 office locations around the world.


New Delhi, Sep 23 : Union Minister of State for Railways, Suresh Chanabasappa Angadi, succumbed to Covid-19 at New Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences on Wednesday, becoming the first member of the Council of Ministers to die of the deadly disease.

The 65-year-old leader was admitted to AIIMS on September 11 after testing positive for Covid-19, ahead of the commencement of the Monsoon Session of the Parliament.

He was undergoing treatment under Neeraj Nischal in the trauma centre of the apex medical institute. He breathed his last at 8 p.m. and is survived by his wife and two daughters.

Born of June 1, 1955 in Belagavi district in Karnataka, Angadi held several positions in the party during his long political career. Angadi served as an MP from 2004 and as Minister of State for Railways from 2019.

He was elected to the Lok Sabha on a BJP ticket from Belagavi in 2004, 2009, 2014 and 2019. In May 2019, Angadi became the MoS for Railways.

Condoling Angadi's demise, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, "Shri Suresh Angadi was an exceptional Karyakarta, who worked hard to make the Party strong in Karnataka. He was a dedicated MP and effective Minister, admired across the spectrum. His demise is saddening. My thoughts are with his family and friends in this sad hour. Om Shanti." President Ram Nath Kovind too expressed his shock at this sudden demise of Angadi. "Shocked to know the passing away of Shri Suresh Angadi, Union Minister of State of Railways. An amiable leader Shri Angadi worked tirelessly for the people of his constituency, Belagavi and Karnataka," he tweeted.

BJP chief J.P. Nadda said, "Extremely saddened by the passing away of Central Minister Shri Suresh Angadi Ji. He was a remarkable leader who dedicated all his life for organization and went on to serve society with utmost diligence and compassion. My thoughts and Prayers are with his family and followers." "Deeply anguished at the unfortunate demise of Suresh Angadi ji," tweeted Minister of Railways Piyush Goyal. He added that Angadi was like a brother to him, who was committed towards the people.

Prime Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) chief H.D. Deve Gowda tweeted, "I am shocked and deeply saddened by the demise of Union Minister of State for Railways and four-term MP from Belagavi Shri. Suresh Angadi. He was like a younger brother to me. I feel terrible losing him. This is an unbearable loss to our nation."
New Delhi:

American search engine Google on Thursday created a doodle to mark 68th Republic Day, Google in its doodles showed a stadium fenced in tri colour. The stadium is filled with people.

The doodle displays one-half of the stadium, with crowd on two corners, while a saffron-coloured band runs along the inner periphery of the semicircular track.

The outer periphery of the track is shown decorated with tricolours and a semi-circular patch of green marks the space in the centre.

The word G-O-O-G-L-E has been spelt out in an arced fashion in the running tracks in bold green surrounded by two green grid patterns and one in red.

The internet giant, ever year comes up with a special doodle to mark the day. Last year, it showed a march of a richly caparisoned camel contingent of the Border Security Force, a major attraction at the annual parade at the Rajpath.

The 68th Republic Day Parade will showcase Indias military strength and achievements in a range of areas and its diverse culture on the ceremonial boulevard today.

Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is the chief guest of the Republic Day parade.

Led by Wing Commander Ramesh Kumar Dubey, the parade will start with four Mi-17 helicopters, flying an Indian flag and three other helicopters flying ensigns of the Army, Navy and the Air Force, will shower flower petals.

Google had marked the 65th Republic Day with a doodle featuring Jaanbaaz, BSFs motorcycle daredevils who delight the crowd at Rajpath every January 26, in their famous pyramidal formation.

(With PTI inputs)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept.23

By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:

The export of leather goods from Turkey to Uzbekistan plunged by 42.26 percent in the past eight months of 2020, compared to the same period in 2019, having made up $3 million, the Turkish Ministry of Trade told Trend on Sept.23.

In August 2020, Turkey exported leather goods worth $428,300 to Uzbekistan, which is 11.43 percent less than in the same month of last year.

Turkeys export of leather goods to world markets from January through August 2020 shrank by 24.3 percent, compared to the same period of 2019, and made up slightly over $856.4 million.

The export of leather goods from Turkey made up 0.8 percent of the country's total export over the reporting period.

In August 2020, Turkey exported leather goods worth $98.3 million to foreign markets, down 26.8 percent compared to the same month of 2019, the ministry said.

Meanwhile, Turkeys export of leather goods amounted to 0.8 percent of the country's total export.

During the last twelve months (from August 2019 through August 2020), Turkey exported the leather goods in the amount of over $1.3 billion.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Some parts of the country have no access to cash. Credit: Getty

A pilot scheme to give communities access to cash is being rolled out across nine parts of the country.

The Community Access to Cash Pilots (CACP) is being tested in towns and villages across the UK where no banks are available or where residents and businesses are reliant on cash, particularly ageing populations.

The pilots will start this autumn and will run until the end of June 2021.

The scheme received 23 applications and nine were selected on the strength of the local leadership willing to lead the work, and the need for innovation in cash access in their community.

In some areas local retailers and customers have nowhere to deposit and withdraw cash due to the closure of high street banks.

The initiative, which is being funded by the banking and financial industry, will trial alternative means of accessing cash that do not rely on traditional banks.

READ MORE: UK cash usage declining fastest in Europe

The nine pilot communities are Ampthill in Bedfordshire, Botton Village in North Yorkshire, Burslem in Stoke-on-Trent, Cambuslang in Lanarkshire, Denny in Falkirk, Hay-on-Wye in Powys, army barracks Lulworth Camp in Dorset, Rochford in Essex and Milisle in Northern Ireland.

While growing numbers of customers are increasingly choosing to pay digitally, the banking and finance industry is committed to ensuring that access to cash remains free and widely accessible to those who need it.

The Community Access to Cash Pilot is an important initiative, which will offer sustainable alternative solutions to branches which meet the needs of communities and individuals. The range of innovative ideas announced today marks a key next step in the progress of the pilot, said Eric Leenders, UK Finance managing director, personal finance.

Gareth Shaw, head of money at Which? welcomed the pilot schemes but said more needed to be done.

Its encouraging that these pilots are still going ahead in spite of the coronavirus crisis. However, if communities are going to be effectively supported, then the industry and regulators must do all they can to ensure any successful measures are rolled out as widely as possible.

While industry-run schemes are important in the short term, they are not enough to solve the cash crisis on their own. The government must urgently press ahead with much-needed legislation to protect cash before it becomes obsolete, he added.
Lewis Hamilton has been criticised by his former F1 rival Vitaly Petrov for being 'overzealous' in his approach to support the Black Lives Matter movement.

Mercedes star Hamilton has been vocal in his support for the anti-racism campaign and has been wearing a 'Black Lives Matter' t-shirt on the grid all season to date.

The six-time world champion recently escaped punishment for carrying the slogan: 'Arrest the cops who killed Breonna Taylor,' in reference to the black woman who was killed by police in Kentucky in March, after winning the Tuscany Grand Prix earlier this month.

Lewis Hamilton stood on the Mugello podium wearing a shirt calling for the arrest of police officers following the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor

The Mercedes star has been accused of taking his Black Lives Matter gestures too far

The FIA are keen to work with Hamilton but want to protect their status as a strictly non-political organisation. Former Renault driver Petrov has since said he felt the Brit had taken it 'too far' by wearing the controversial T-shirt.



'For me, this t-shirt, on top of calling for everyone to kneel, was too much,' the Russian 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.

Former F1 driver Vitaly Petrov hit out at Hamilton and claimed racism doesn't exist in Russia

Hamilton (left) pictured on the podium with Petrov (right) at the Australian Grand Prix in 2011

'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.

'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.'

Some F1 drivers have opted not to kneel before each race this season and Petrov said that Russians - including Daniil Kvyat - do not kneel for any reason except 'before God and to propose to your future wife'.

He added: '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.'
California's been suffering massive fires throughout September. Over 3.4 million acres of land burned already, and at least 25 people died. Six of the state history's top 20 fires occurred this year, likely due to global warming.

California wildfires pose imminent harm to occupants and property. They also represent long-term damage to people's life and well-being. Residents face a hostile environment. Their neighbourhoods are now lines of burned homes and low air quality.

Urbanization of Wildfires

In the recent past, the forests became arider, prolonging the fire seasons. In combination with powerful winds and long periods of drought, the conditions are only getting worse.

Northern California consists of wildland-urban regions where residential spaces stand near undeveloped forests. As a result of these areas' closeness, infrastructure and homes are among the first things to burn.

The smoke no longer consists only of organic matter. Because of urbanization, it's now packed with synthetic chemicals, plastics, and paint particles. The urban wildfires are an even more significant health threat today.

Public Health Concern

The mix of ash and smoke from fires contains small specks of matter that burned, from trees to tires.

The officials say that the issue of particle pollution is the most significant health-threatening result of fires. It can damage the respiratory system or enter the bloodstream and harm the heart.

The effects of immediate exposure to the smoke vary.

It generates an allergy attack-like reaction among the generally healthy population. Those with asthma or compromised immune systems could face more medical complications.

California's air quality struggles aren't new. Still, the issues are further exacerbated this year. The more widespread severe fires, hotter and drier climate, and the population's lack of caution are adding to the issue.

The long-term consequences are still unclear. No systemic research explaining the effect on residents' health took place thus far. Only two larger-scale studies stand out to show the severity of the issues.

Researchers sent out a survey of fire survivors last year. It showed that some people suffered from respiratory issues even months after inhaling wildfire smoke.

Another study examined the impact of particle pollution on children's immunities. It showed impairment of immune function, but it's inconclusive about long-term effects.

There's a crying need to research and treat the consequences in children and adults.

Home Safety

Most homes in affected neighborhoods suffered destruction after wildfires. Still, several families saw their houses survive deadly Californian natural disasters.

As a result, there's an increased focus on post-fire property records. More Californians are starting to worry whether their home will burn down next, and if not, what will protect it.

A particularly prominent analysis suggests that the response could be straightforward. The chances of a home's survival depend on its age and the roof material. A building code enacted in 2008 started requiring fire-resistant roofs and siding on Californian houses.

As experts explain, susceptibility to environmental issues is a threat to roofs in any location. The only help lies in high-quality, and this regulation ensured it in some buildings.

However, the situation is still dire. Last year, the number of surviving homes built after 2008 was around 51% of all affected. That figure is still far from encouraging.

Plus, the fires leave massive scars on the land surrounding the residential areas. Sometimes, they're impossible to rehabilitate. Combined with the extended effects on air quality, entire regions are becoming uninhabitable.

The Bottom Line

It might be years before scientists understand how wildfire threats are evolving. Their influence on California residents is evident, but still not measured.

Between the growing threat of climate change and the US refusal to embrace the Green New Deal, a solution is much-needed.

Doctors, legislators, and construction workers will all have to develop more advanced techniques to help in the short term, too. Combating wildfires and their long-term consequences is a necessary goal to pursue into the next year.
The death of a white bar owner accused of killing a Black Lives Matter protester in Omaha, Neb., this spring has upended the controversial case and the local racial justice movement that it ignited, further rattling a community that has been grappling with its divisions.

Jacob Gardner, 38, was found dead outside a medical clinic near Portland, Ore., on Sunday, police said. He had left Omaha shortly after the local prosecutor ruled that he would not face charges in the death of James Scurlock, 22, who was shot and killed after an argument outside Gardner's Omaha bar May 30.

A grand jury indicted Gardner Sept. 15 on charges of manslaughter, use of a firearm in a commission of a felony, attempted first-degree assault and making terroristic threats.

By then, he was in Northern California - shaky, scared and fleeing from death threats.

"I'm more anxious now than when I was flying to Iraq," the former Marine told Omaha news station KETV shortly before the indictment was revealed.

A police spokesman said authorities were awaiting autopsy results Monday.

Black pastors and activists in Omaha said that while they were saddened by Gardner's death, it would not derail their quest for the city to address larger issues of systemic racism and police brutality.

"I surely don't want anybody in my community to say this has been brought to a conclusion," said Preston Love, a longtime civil rights activist and Democrat who is running a write-in candidacy for the U.S. Senate against Republican Ben Sasse. "This case evolved out of an environment we need to deal with. The fact that we're not going to have a trial does not change any of that."

Speaking at a news conference Sunday, Gardner's attorney, Stuart Dornan, called the former Marine's death "a terrible tragedy." Gardner served two tours in Iraq and had long suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, his attorneys said.

"That night in the Old Market was a crossroads of where anger and fear met, and unfortunately, violence ensued and two young men have lost their lives," Gardner said, referring to the neighborhood where the shooting took place.

Reached by phone, Gardner's father, David Gardner, said, "I'm sorry, I just don't have anything to say."

Scurlock's death became a rallying cry - "Justice for James!" - at protests after the county attorney Don Kleine ruled that Gardner had acted in self-defense. He later reversed course.

Omaha has a long history of racial tension that includes the fatal shooting of 14-year-old Vivian Strong by a White police officer in 1969, which sparked riots that left an indelible mark on the city.

"The community is in shock. There are a lot of people trying to process their emotions right now," said Leo Lewis, the board president of the Malcolm X Memorial Foundation in Omaha, a memorial to the slain civil rights leader. "Some people are still protesting, some people are upset all the facts are not going to be presented. That's where we are."

On Tuesday, Frederick Franklin, a federal prosecutor with the U.S. attorney's office in Omaha who acted as special prosecutor, said at a news conference that investigators interviewed 60 witnesses, but Gardner's own words, through text and Facebook messages, became the probable cause for the indictment.

The weekend after the May 25 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody, the Omaha World-Herald reported, Gardner had written on Facebook that he planned "to pull military-style firewatch" that weekend at his bar, The Hive.

"I can tell you that there is evidence that undermines" Gardner's claims of self-defense, Franklin said. "And that evidence comes primarily from Jake Gardner himself."

State Sen. Justin Wayne, a Democrat who is serving as an attorney for James Scurlock and other family members, said Monday that the family was "sad, disappointed, frustrated still with the system," but would not be making any formal comment until Franklin's Tuesday news conference.

That Saturday night in May, Scurlock and friends were marching through the popular Old Market area when they got into an argument with Gardner after one allegedly pushed his father, 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.

After a woman jumped onto Gardner, he fired what Kleine described as two "warning shots" that sent the woman and another protester running. Scurlock jumped onto Gardner, placing him in what the bar owner later described to police as a "chokehold." With Scurlock on his back, Gardner fired over his shoulder and killed the 22-year-old.

Kleine initially said he would not bring charges against Gardner, but the prosecutor later called for a grand jury to review the case.

It was an unusual move, according to Raneta Mack, a law professor at Creighton University in Omaha.

"In order to give the community a sense of justice I think the county attorney eventually agreed having a second set of eyes on it was the best course of action," Mack said.

The grand jury decided that there was enough probable cause to proceed from Gardner's text and Facebook messages, she noted, but getting a conviction would have been tougher, with Franklin required to prove his case beyond a reasonable doubt.

"Now, we'll never know the answer to that," she said.

Many protesters had been surprised by the grand jury indictment and had been readying to take to the streets if the decision had not gone their way, said Cole Christensen, 28, an activist with the local social justice group ProBLAC.

Initially, his reaction was "sadness" that they had to work so hard to get a grand jury review, and worry that people would move on and the movement would lose momentum, he said.

"It was a weird, bittersweet moment," Christensen said.

Now, the group that gathers in Memorial Park each Sunday to plan next steps is just in "total disbelief."
The Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) on Wednesday released the schedule for School Lecturer recruitment exam 2020 on its official website.

Candidates who have applied for the recruitment examination can check the schedule online at rpsc.rajasthan.gov.in.

According to the schedule, the commission will be conducting the School Lecturer 2020 exam December 14 to 18, 2020, at various centres spread across Ajmer and Jaipur district headquarters.

RPSC School Lecturer 2020 examination schedule:

How to check RPSC School Lecturer schedule 2020:

Visit the official website at rpsc.rajasthan.gov.in

Under the latest announcement tab, click on the link given for the the schedule

A PDF file will open
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Colombia continue its nearshoring virtual tour with a new stop, San Francisco, CA. The Organization Latin San Francisco, is coordinating an exclusive conversation on Colombian Tech and Colombian Silicon Valley success stories with former Vice President and current Colombian Ambassador to the United States Francisco Santos and the President of ProColombia Mrs. Flavia Santoro.

"Colombia is a hot spot for innovation, and it's only getting hotter. With a resilient economy, creative talent and the backing of the government, Colombia offers entrepreneurs, tech companies and venture capital firms a vibrant ecosystem for growing their business," said Francisco Santos, Ambassador of Colombia to the United States.

Colombia has secured its spot on the global map as a top emerging tech destination. From the World Economic Forum choosing Medellin as its Spanish language HQ for the Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, to a total of $1.09 billion in venture capital investments across 36 deals last year, according to LAVCA, Colombia is at the forefront of machine learning, fintech, e-commerce and logistics as well as a great location for nearshoring.

"Thanks to its advances in competitiveness, economic environment, innovation and level of risk, Colombia is projected as one of the countries in the region with the greatest potential for attracting Venture capital funds. The development of the Venture Capital fund industry in Colombia, coupled with a government that is committed to strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem, has allowed our country to climb in the ranking of the Latin American Private Equity & Venture Capital Association," stated Flavia Santoro, President of ProColombia.

The Event coordinated with Global San Francisco will also have a guest appearance from Ricardo Garcia-Amaya founder of VOIQ and Top US Latinx Tech Leader.

"At LatinSF we help our San Francisco tax paying companies and VC Funds find opportunities in Latin America. In the past 18 months, I've been asked time and time again, what are the latest Colombian startups that we should have on our radar? We want to invest in the next Rappi ," said Jolynn Vallejo, Director of LatinSF.

This virtual nearshoring tour will continue in other key states around the US including New York, Massachusetts, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Florida.

Other major Colombian investment events are happening, the sixth version of the Colombia Investment Summit this year, 7-9 October, will be virtual and is expected to attract between 1,200 and 1,500 attendees. More than 550 investorscoming from markets in Europe, Asia, Latin America, and North Americawill participate in over 1,000 business meetings.

SOURCE ProColombia
The presence of a cat in a play staged in Tehran by the prominent Iranian director Mohammad Rahmanian has unleashed the country's censorship authorities to ban the production.

The six-episode play, "Love in Days of Corona [virus]," starring Mahtab Nasirpour, Sima Tirandaz, and Behnoosh Tabataba'ei, was staged at the Bagh (Graden) Cafe in the Roudaki Complex. After just three nights, the show was blocked from continuing due to censorship issues.

In a statement read to the audience at the beginning of the fourth night of the show, Rahmanian announced, "By the 'will' and demand of the Supervisory Council of the Dramatic Arts Center and the Director-General of the Dramatic Arts department, a part of the six-episode play, the 'Lady and the Cute Cat,' starring Behnoush Tabataba'ei, is facing supervisory issues, and eliminated."

Rahmanian continued, "With a little bit of magnanimity, it was proper for the directors of the [Roudaki] complex to tolerate the presence of a cat on the stage. They should not have cited us but rather referred to the words of the Prophet of Islam, who said that having a cat in the house brings in blessings."

A day earlier, Tabataba'ei had referred to the resemblance of Iran's map to a cat and noted on her Instagram account, "I love my Iran---and during these nights, I step on the stage with love; and present my soul more naked than before---in the play, "Love in Days of Corona," ---period."

"Love in Days of Corona[virus]" inspired by Gabriel Garcia Marquez's "Love in the Time of Cholera" premiered in the courtyard of Vahdat Hall on Thursday, September 17.

"The audience here gives us hope that theater still exists in the country," renowned filmmaker, Mohammad Ali Najafi, told the audience at the opening night. "The theater is the symbol of culture and thoughts because it has a more cultural influence on society than cinema."

Rahmanian, 58, is a founder of new age theater in Iran and has staged many memorable plays in the capital, and described the play as centering on love in its different forms in the coronavirus age.

While this is the first time a cat's presence on stage has led to the banning a play, "Love in Days of Corona[virus]" is not the first time that Rahmanian has struggled with Iranian censorship.

Rahmanian was charged with "propaganda against the state" based on a complaint by the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) in January 2019 for allegedly featuring a female soloist in his play, the New York-based Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) previously reported. Rahmanian was later released on bail.

Since Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution, women have not been allowed to sing solo in front of mixed-gender audiences. The policy is not explicitly dictated in Iranian law but could be seen by the authorities as a public display of immorality, which can be punished with prison time.

In November 2017, Rahmanian described his play, "Old Songs: Paykan Javanan," as "the story of the places in Tehran which are no more; those that were demolished, forgotten or their functions have changed."

"Not so long ago, there were promenades and recreational places in Tehran like the Funfair on Vanak Square and drive-in cinemas in Tehran Pars district and another on Vanak Square, which opened in 1967 and 1969, respectively," Rahmanian said at the time. "Today, all of these have ceased to exist."
Muslims and atheists in the United States are more likely than those of Christian faiths to experience religious discrimination, according to new research led by the University of Washington.

In the study, which focused on public schools because they are government-run, community-facing institutions, the researchers tested responses to an individual's expression of religious belief. In addition to finding greater bias against religious minorities, the researchers also saw that ardent expressions of faith, regardless of religious tradition, were more prone to discrimination.

"The U.S. is becoming a much more culturally diverse society than in the past, and the rate of change is happening very swiftly. So we wanted to ask: How are our public institutions keeping up? Can they provide equal accommodations and protection under the law?" said Steve Pfaff, a University of Washington professor of sociology and lead author of the study, which published Aug. 30 in Public Administration Review.

Religious bias may be a very serious problem, but it has been studied less than other types of discrimination, such as race- or gender-based discrimination, Pfaff added.

"Schools bear this enormous responsibility and perform this important service, and one thing that's changing quickly, among the population, is religion. So how are schools handling all that change?" he said.

Pfaff points to national statistics that reflect the change: The percentage of Americans who identify as "unchurched" has increased from 16% to 23% in the past decade; the percentage of Americans who identify as Muslim, while small, is expected to double to 2%, by 2050.

For this study, which was conducted in spring 2016, researchers sent an email to some 45,000 school principals in 33 states, including Washington. The email was presented as a note from a family new to the community. The randomized messages varied by belief systemCatholic, Protestant, Muslim or atheist, signaled by a faith-oriented quote in the email signatureand also varied the degree of religious expression in the body of the note. The basic version asked for a meeting to learn about the school; a second version sought to find a school that was the right fit for their beliefs; and a third inquired about accommodation of religious needs at school. A control email presented as a family new to the community, interested in learning about the school, but with no religious expression or a faith-oriented email signature.

The research team chose the audit approach, with its contrived email, over a more standard survey on the assumption that asking people questions about religious bias may not yield genuinely honest answers, Pfaff said. Much research in the social sciences suggests that subjects are unlikely to volunteer what they think will be perceived as discriminatory opinions.

While none of the principals' responses were explicitly negative, Pfaff said, it was the lack of response that indicated a pattern. Somewhat less than half of emails got a response. But those that signaled affiliation with Islam or atheism, indicated by a famous quote attributed to either the Prophet Muhammad or Richard Dawkins in the email signature, were about 5 percentage points less likely to receive a response than the control emails. Email response rates to notes accompanied by a quote from Pope Benedict XVI or the Rev. Billy Graham mirrored those of the control emails.

Principals displayed across-the-board bias in response to the more overt emails that suggested that their schools might have to accommodate religious requests from parents. In the presence of such treatment language in the email text, the probability of a response declined by as much as 13 percentage points for atheists, nearly 9 percentage points for Muslims, 7.8 percentage points for Catholics and 5.5 percentage points for Protestants. This finding strongly suggests that some bias may result from the perception that religious accommodations of various kinds might be difficult or costly, burdens that principals want to avoid, Pfaff said.

The study's findings were evident nationwide; emails were sent to principals in 33 states, and even when testing the potential effect of local demographicswhether an urban, diverse community, Democratic or Republican-leaning, or a more homogenous, rural onethe observed discrimination against religious minorities was consistent. That suggests that religious discrimination can occur anywhere, that it's not reflective of geography or political ideology, Pfaff said.

"Religious bias in response to a routine inquiry from a public school official, amounting to a 5 to 13 percent lower chance of response, reflects substantial evidence of bias," Pfaff said.

The findings may indicate that the perceived cost in dealing with a person or situation factors in to whether they receive a reply. In that case, the perceived cost may have as much to do with community attitudes and norms about religion in school, or about specific religions, as the principal's own beliefs or biases, Pfaff said. However, bias against Muslims and atheists on the basis of self-identification, without any request for accommodation, could stem from discrimination rooted in moral judgments. From a discrimination-research perspective, frontline bureaucrats, such as city or county workers or school principals, are an appropriate study poolperhaps even more than elected officialsbecause they have so many seemingly routine interactions with the public.

Many other factors could also contribute to a lack of response, Pfaff added, not the least of which is workload and competing demands on a principal's time. But the pattern of who did not receive a response was clear in the patterns of discrimination against Muslim and atheist emails, as well as discrimination against more overt displays of any faith.

Judaism was not included in the study because at the time previous research suggested little discrimination, and very positive public attitudes, toward Jews. In the years since, however, public expressions of anti-Semitism have increased, and in retrospect, including Judaism in the study would have been valuable, Pfaff acknowledged.

The focus of the study on public schools suggests specific policy solutions, such as briefing school administrators and staff about existing laws and constitutional standards concerning non-discrimination and legitimate religious accommodations, Pfaff said. Hiring a more diverse administrative staff and maintaining a general awareness of changing neighborhood demographics and public values could help better prepare school officials to serve their communities.

Explore further Muslim and Protestant scientists most likely to experience, perceive religious discrimination

More information: Steven Pfaff et al, Do StreetLevel Bureaucrats Discriminate Based on Religion? A LargeScale Correspondence Experiment among American Public School Principals, Public Administration Review (2020). Steven Pfaff et al, Do StreetLevel Bureaucrats Discriminate Based on Religion? A LargeScale Correspondence Experiment among American Public School Principals,(2020). DOI: 10.1111/puar.13235
Admit Card of the exam for the ranks of Sub Inspector/Sergeant/Assistant Superintendent Jail/Assistant Superintendent Jail (ex-serviceman) in the Bihar Police has been uploaded by the Bihar Police Subordinate Services Commission (BPSSC) on their official website, know how to download the admit card here.

BPSSC Bihar SI Mains admit card 2020 released: The Admit Card of the exam for the ranks of Sub Inspector/Sergeant/Assistant Superintendent Jail/Assistant Superintendent Jail (ex-serviceman) in the Bihar Police has been uploaded by the Bihar Police Subordinate Services Commission (BPSSC) yesterday i.e. September 22. Any registered candidates will be able to download their Admit Card from the Commissions online portal, bpssc.bih.nic.in.

The registrations for the exam were held online. The Combined Mains Examination will be held in the written mode for the purpose of picking out candidates to fill 2,213 vacancies in the Bihar Police. The exam is planned to be conducted on October 11 this year.

Follow the given steps to download the BPSSC SI Exam 2020 Admit Card:

Go to the official website of BPSSC, bpssc.bih.nic.in. Select the Notice: Download Admit Card of Main examination for the post of Police Sub Inspector/Sergeant/Assistant Superintendent Jail (Direct recruitment)/Assistant Superintendent Jail (Ex-Serviceman) in Bihar Police. link on the homepage. Fill in the required details and submit. The BPSSC SI Exam 2020 Admit Card will appear on the screen. It should be downloaded and printed as a copy of it will be needed at the exam centre alongside an identity proof.

Also read: NEET Cut Off 2020: Official NEET cutoff expected soon, know expected cutoff list details here

Also read: UPSC ESE Admit Card 2020 for main exam out @upsc.gov.in: Check important instructions, how to download

Exam Mode

The Mains exam will consist of 2 parts, with 200 marks in both, to be completed within 2 hours each. The first parts subject will be Hindi while the second part will have General Studies, General Science, Geography of India, Indian History, Mathematics, and a Mental Ability Test. The minimum percentage required to pass differs for each category.

Selection

Should two or more candidates of the same category get the exact same marks, then they will be ranked in the merit list according to their birth date.

The percentage needed to clear the Mains exam for aspirants of SC, ST or women category will be 32%, 34% for those part of Extremely Backward Classes, 36.5% for the ones belonging to Backward Classes, while General category candidates need to achieve 40% to pass.

Also read: SSC Exam Calendar 2020-21: Check revised exam dates of SSC CGL, SSC CHSL, SSC JE and other exams here
The House of Congress passed legislation on Tuesday that will benefit millions of Americans. It also aims to deliver the needs of people before the election.

As the House of Congress and Senate are now both back in session, there are now progress on the different relief aids the Trump's administration promised to deliver. On Tuesday, the House of Congress passed legislation that will avert government shutdown beginning the fiscal year.

Traditionally, political candidates go back to their home state one month before the election to focus on their campaign. However, this has changed due to the global pandemic that brought economic and health crises. Their top priority now is to deliver the needs of millions of Americans.

House lawmakers passed the bill with strong bipartisan support of 359-57. The vote was made a day after the Democrats revived their negotiation with the Republicans after it was temporarily stalled due to the farm aid not included in the bill.

The Democrats initially introduced a stopgap bill on Monday, but it did not include farmers' assistance through Commodity Credit Corporation. Trump's administration and the Republican lawmakers want to ensure that farmers, mostly are migrants, will receive the financial aid they need amid the pandemic.

The progress was made on Tuesday as both parties agreed to resolve differences on the farm aid as well as an expiring program created by a coronavirus relief measure earlier this year. That includes free or reduced-cost meals for children who normally received it during in-person classes.

Meanwhile, Republicans and Democrats both clashed in the additional $8 billion nutrition assistance programs that will be distributed as farm aids through the CCC. However, Democrats want to prohibit this aid to fossil fuel refiners and importers.

Moreover, the legislation expands the expiring program providing low-income children with meals to include child care centers impacted by pandemic-related closures and gives states continued flexibility for food stamp requirements for another year.

Additionally, the Senate is more likely to take the bill within this week. This is just one of the relief aids discussed while waiting for the second round of stimulus payments. The legislation filed is to ensure that federal agencies will have enough funds amid the pandemic and during the campaign and election period.

Pres. During his rally in Wisconsin, Trump has announced that his administration will add a $13 billion fund to help farmers who are heavily impacted by the pandemic. He also told an amount of $5 billion fund that will go in the education sector.

As the election nears, there is a growing tension in Congress to pass a new stimulus payment. Some Democratic lawmakers want House Speaker Pelosi to act on it, especially those facing a tight race in their home state.

Meanwhile, both Republicans and Democrats have agreed that they will deliver the stimulus payments that millions of Americans needed before the election. They are just looking for the right time to strike the deal.

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The benchmark indices fluctuated between negative and positive territory in early afternoon trade. The Nifty slipped below the 11,150 mark.

At 12:24 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was down 2.85 points or 0.01% at 37,731.23. The Nifty 50 index lost 5.30 points or 0.05% at 11,148.35.

In the broader market, the S&P BSE Mid-Cap index slipped 0.19% while the S&P BSE Small-Cap index shed 0.13%.

The market breadth was negative. On the BSE, 1152 shares rose and 1201 shares fell. A total of 146 shares were unchanged.

COVID-19 Update:

Total COVID-19 confirmed cases worldwide stood at 31,605,656 with 970,934 deaths. India reported 968,377 active cases of COVID-19 infection and 90,020 deaths, according to the data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

Derivatives:

The NSE's India VIX, a gauge of market's expectation of volatility over the near term, fell 1.43% to 21.1025. The Nifty September 2020 futures were trading at 11,167.10, at a premium of 8.1 points compared with the spot at 11,159.

The Nifty option chain for 24 September 2020 expiry showed maximum Call OI of 54.93 lakh contracts at the 11,300 strike price. Maximum Put OI of 46.53 lakh contracts was seen at 11,000 strike price.

Buzzing Index:

The Nifty Metal index fell 1.54% to 2,179.90. The index has tumbled 9% in five sessions.

Tata Steel (down 3.62%), Welspun Corp (down 2.69%), JSW Steel (down 2.37%) and SAIL (down 1.13%) declined while Hindustan Zinc (up 2.43%) and MOIL (up 1.85%) advanced.

Stocks in Spotlight:

Hexaware Technologies rose 1.70% at Rs 468.50 after the company in a newspaper advertisement announced that the promoter HT Global Holdings has accepted the discovered price of Rs 475 per share, as the final price for the delisting offer.

Central Bank of India slumped 6.10% to Rs 16.15. The state-run bank launched its qualified institutional placement (QIP) of shares on Tuesday (22 September 2020). The floor price has been set at 16.18 per equity share for the QIP, which is a 5.93% discount to Tuesday's closing price. The bank's capital-raising committee will meet on 25 September to consider and determine the issue price for the equity shares to be allotted to qualified institutional buyers.

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries shed 0.58% to Rs 507.50. The company said that its wholly-owned Japanese subsidiary has launched ILUMYA Subcutaneous Injection 100 mg syringe in Japan for the treatment of plaque psoriasis in adult patients who have an inadequate response to conventional therapies.

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Linkedin Umberto Bacchi (Reuters)  Wed, September 23, 2020 12:03 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46a076b 2 Science & Tech TikTok,LGBTQ,Bytedance,China,Britain Free

TikTok has apologized for suppressing LGBT+ content in the past, with a director telling British lawmakers on Tuesday that the company now removed LGBT+ images only when required to do so by law enforcement agencies.

The video streaming app came under fire last year over reports it censored depictions of homosexuality, such as two men kissing or holding hands, and artificially prevented posts from LGBT+ users from going viral in some countries.

"I'm really sorry, we really got that wrong," TikTok's director of public policy in Europe the Middle East and Africa, Theo Bertram, told a British parliamentary committee referring to the practice of curtailing the reach of some posts.

Bertram said viewership of some LGBT+ videos, as well as posts from disabled or plus size users, was deliberately limited in a bid to reduce bullying on the platform.

"That was a terrible idea," he told the sub-committee on online harms and disinformation, adding the policy had since been changed.

TikTok, which boasts hundreds of millions of users worldwide, is widely used by young LGBT+ people to share niche jokes, find a date, and swap advice and stories about traumatic experiences such as being forced into conversion therapy.

Speaking about the removal of LGBT+ content, Bertram said the company would do so only upon receiving a specific request from law enforcement agencies in countries, like Russia, where there were laws banning the dissemination of LGBT+ materials.

"I think the Russian law is terrible and our community does too... But unfortunately we have to comply with legal requests in the countries that we operate," he said.

Russia adopted a so-called "gay propaganda" law in 2013, which makes illegal any event or act regarded by the authorities as an attempt to promote homosexuality to minors.

Separately on Tuesday, TikTok said it had removed over 104 million videos from its platform globally in the first half of the year for violating its terms of service.

Read also: Trump gives blessing to deal to allow TikTok to continue to operate in US

The company owned by China's ByteDance and at the center of a political battle between Washington and Beijing, was also criticized earlier this month for suppressing LGBT+ related hashtags in some countries.

A report by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) think-tank found the Russian, Estonian, Bosnian, and Arabic version of some terms like "gay" and "I am a lesbian" were "shadowbanned" - meaning searches would yield no results.

Responding to the report, TikTok said some hashtags had been restricted to comply with local laws, while others because they were primarily used for searching pornographic content.

Some compound phrases in English and Arabic had been moderated by mistake, but the issue had been solved, it added.

Asked if the company was still restricting the prevalence of LGBT+ hashtags in some countries, and particularly in Russia, Bertram said he did not think that was the case.

"Not as far as I'm aware, you can create any content on our platform, there is no restrictions," he said, adding he was unsure as to what the company would do if requested to take down an hashtag by law enforcement agency.

"I don't know the answer to that," he said.

TikTok owner, ByteDance has been racing to avoid a crackdown on TikTok after being at loggerheads with the US government.

US officials have expressed concerns that personal data of as many as 100 million Americans that use the app is being passed on to China's Communist Party government.

Topics : TikTok LGBTQ Bytedance China Britain
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept.23

Trend:

The National flag carrier of Azerbaijan starting to operate special flights from Baku to two more cities of Turkey - Ankara, and Antalya.

The flights to the capital of Turkey, Ankara, are scheduled to be operated from September 28, twice a week, on Mondays and Saturdays.

Special flights to Antalya will be operated on Wednesdays starting from September 30.

To recap, AZAL continues to operate flights to Istanbul 11 times per week.

Ticket booking for all Turkey directions is open on the official website of the airline (www.azal.az), as well as in the airline's accredited agencies.

According to the rules applied to the special flights operated during the COVID-19 pandemic, only passengers tested negative for COVID-19 will be allowed to board the flights.

The list of Baku laboratories accredited by the Management Union of Medical Territorial Units (TABIB) can be found at https://www.azal.az/en/information/covid-clinics.

When departing from Turkey, passengers can pass the COVID-19 test in one of the Memorial Saglk Grubu clinics or other clinics from the list available on the website of the Ministry of Health of Turkey: https://covid19.saglik.gov.tr/TR-68720/covid-19-yetkilendirilmis-tani-laboratuvarlari-listesi.html.

Following the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan, all passengers arriving by these flights in Baku will have to self-isolate for two weeks. For this, during the flight, they will need to fill out a declaration indicating the address of residence at which they can self-insolate.

It should be noted that on flights operated during the COVID-19 pandemic, special rules apply both at the airports of departure and arrival and onboard the aircraft. Azerbaijan Airlines prepared a video instruction available at https://youtu.be/Rbb_I0NsW7U
A federal judge ordered expedited bail hearings for a group of immigrants at a detention center in Conroe in a ruling that criticized the Immigration and Customs Enforcements management of the coronavirus pandemic at the facility.

The order issued Tuesday is in response to a lawsuit against the federal government filed in April by eight immigrants detained in the Montgomery Processing Center who said that staying there under current pandemic conditions makes them particularly vulnerable to unnecessary risks of contracting serious illness and death from the virus due to their underlying medical conditions and age.

U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison ordered expedited individual bail hearings for plaintiffs who have medical conditions recognized as risk factors for COVID-19 and who do not have a violent and felony criminal history. Bail would allow them to stay in the country legally while following their requests for refuge or asylum in court. The order mentioned several methods by which authorities could monitor immigrants without having to keep them in detention under pandemic risks.

This decision is incredibly significant (because) the court recognized that people who are at grave risk of harm from COVID-19 while held in immigration detention need an immediate opportunity to seek release, said Kate Huddleston, attorney for the ACLU of Texas, the organization representing plaintiffs. ICE continues to hold medically vulnerable people in dangerous conditions, where they cannot socially distance or otherwise protect themselves or their community from infection.

The judge denied a plaintiffs motion to create a provisional class certification that would allow bail hearings for other detainees who are not parties in the case.

Court documents indicate that although ICE implemented several measures to contain the pandemic at the detention facility, located north of Houston, they were not efficient in avoiding subsequent virus outbreaks. ICE declined to comment due to ongoing litigation.

Ellison said the court is encouraged by some ICE measures, such as significantly decreasing the centers detainee population. The agency reported that 161 individuals were at the facility as of Sept. 9, which allowed fewer detainees per housing unit.

ICE defended its efforts to control the virus in its facilities, saying it took a number of measures. The immigration agency has also published a comprehensive list of actions they say they have taken in all detention centers.

The judge, however, questioned its effectiveness at the Montgomery Processing Center.

At first blush, the measures seem extensive, said the judge. However, they are severely undermined by the fact that such practices were implemented in May, and yet MPC suffered a massive outbreak (later) in June and July under those practices.

The number of detainees and staff members who have tested positive at the facility grew from a handful at the end of April to over 200 by the closing of July, according to plaintiffs counts. The judge questioned how those hundreds came down to zero active cases and deaths reported by ICE among detainees just over 10 days later on Aug. 11. He said the agency didnt provide the court statistics of positive cases identified since late July.

This facility has had the highest amount of infections among five detention centers reporting under ICEs Houston office. A Houston Chronicle tracking of the agencys coronavirus reports shows that the Montgomery Processing Center experienced a 490% increase of confirmed COVID cases in half a month, between the end of May and mid-Jun. The number of cases increased from 19 to 112 in that period, while the proportion of identified infections per total detainees population went from 4% to a quarter.

ICEs published statistics say that no death and 207 positive cases have been identified among detainees at this detention center since the agency started reporting. Their tally says that there are no cases under isolation or monitoring now.

The reality is we cannot know the number of deaths or the severity of the illness among the over 200 detainees who were infected because defendants released, transferred, or removed hundreds of them  including those with current infection and symptoms, the judge wrote.

Criticism brought in the case suggests that the federal agency failed to implement or follow several of its own measures, such as enforcing the use of facemasks, the court order said. Cohorting unconfirmed cases where symptoms had appeared and not retesting quarantined detainees before transferring them back to standard units are among other mentioned deficiencies.

olivia.tallet@chron.com

Twitter: @oliviaptallet
Firefighters from several companies were battling a fire early Wednesday afternoon that heavily damaged a house in Carlisle.

The blaze at the brick home was reported around 1:30 p.m. in the 400 block of West South Street.

Flames were licking at the roof and the windows had been shattered by heat. There were no reports of injuries.

Check back with PennLive for more information.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 07:31:23|Editor: huaxia

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Video: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Sept. 22, 2020 tells 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. (Xinhua)

"Life is hard under sanctions. However, harder is life without independence," says Hassan Rouhani.



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.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani addresses the opening session of Iran's new parliament in Tehran, Iran, May 27, 2020. (Photo by Ahmad Halabisaz/Xinhua)

"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. 
Tourists are suing the Austrian government over a mass outbreak of coronavirus at a ski resort in March that propelled the spread of Covid-19 across Europe.

A consumer rights group announced earlier today it had filed four civil lawsuits against the country following a Covid-19 outbreak in Ischgl, in the western Tyrol region, earlier this year.

The outbreak at the ski resort in Ischgl, which calls itself the Ibiza of the Alps, was linked to cases in 47 countries after tourists returned home from crowded apres-ski bars.

The group added that it hoped to bring at least one class action lawsuit on behalf of thousands of people next year.

But Austrian authorities have said they acted based on what was known at the time.

Tourists are suing the Austrian government over a mass outbreak of coronavirus at a ski resort in Ischgl (pictured) in March that propelled the spread of Covid-19 across Europe

Ischgl's first case was detected on March 7 - just days after Iceland said that tourists had been infected there and 11 days after Austria's first infections were confirmed.

But Austria's public health agency has since said it believes the virus arrived in Ischgl far earlier, on February 5.

The authorities in the province of Tyrol say they responded appropriately given what was known at the time.

The private Consumer Protection Association (VSV), a private organisation in Austria, argues they reacted too slowly and possibly gave in to pressure from the tourism sector not to act.

'Yesterday I filed - on behalf of the VSV and the affected tourists or those they left behind - the first four lawsuits against the Republic of Austria at the Provincial Civil Court in Vienna,' lawyer Alexander Klauser said in a VSV statement.

The lawsuits were on behalf of individuals, the statement added, with at least three related to the Ischgl area.

They are seeking damages of up to 100,000 (92,000).

The outbreak at the ski resort in Ischgl, which calls itself the Ibiza of the Alps, was linked to cases in 47 countries after tourists returned home from crowded apres-ski bars (pictured)

The VSV described the four civil suits as test cases and said that more than 6,170 people from different countries had signed up for potential class action suits next year.

The latest tally includes tourists from 47 countries, including Britain, the United States and the Netherlands, though most are in Germany.

The VSV has also written to Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz in an open letter urging him to agree to a settlement because such lawsuits could take 'years if not decades'.

Kurz's conservatives also lead the provincial government in Tyrol.

Kurz himself announced an immediate quarantine in Ischgl and the surrounding Paznaun Valley on March 13, though tourists were allowed to leave, further fuelling the spread of the virus in what the VSV called a 'chaotic' process.
Srinagar, Sep 23 : Kashmir's Pashmina shawl has a centuries-old reputation and Emperor Napoleon presenting a gown made of Pashmina yarn to his queen Josephine is just one of the myriad stories eulogising the famed handwoven garment.

Pashmina shawls are woven from the fleece of domesticated, high altitude Himalayan Capra hircus goat.

This special species of goat is found in the Himalayan range at high altitudes in Tibet, Ladakh and Nepal.

J&K established a goat farm of this special breed at Khuril (Nyoma) in Leh district of Ladakh in 1970s. The goat farm is now in the newly-carved Union territory of Ladakh and hosts around 1,000 Pashmina goats.

Another Pashmina goat farm is situated at Upshi, 40 kms from Leh town. In Kargil district of Ladakh region, another Pashmina goat farm is located at Khangral, 60 kms from Kargil town. This farm was established in 1996 with 30 goats.

"Pashmina yarn comes from the undercoat of the goat and is collected by using special combs. The fleece is then auctioned to bidders who pass it on to the shawl weavers. The undercoat is basically a defence mechanism by the animal to ward off the extreme cold. If the same animal is brought down to warner climates, the goat does not grow the undercoat," said a veterinarian posted at the Khuril goat farm.

Officials at the farm say the fleece is sold at Rs 2,000 per kg.

"The raw material is de-haired and then the pure undercoat fleece is spun into yarn that is woven by Pashmina shawl makers into the magic garment," said Mohd Sultan, 61, a shawlmaker in the old city of Srinagar.

Kashmir has traditional shawlmaking families who specialise in making the Pashmina shawls with majority of such families concentrated in the old city area of Srinagar.

"Pashmina making has been in our family line for the last five generations. We have kept the art alive, but given the worst period of the non-availability of yarn due to COVID-19 and now the heightened tensions between India and China in Ladakh region, it is likely that the art of Pashmina shawlmaking is going to be a thing of the past," lamented Nazir Ahmad, 54, a Pashmina shawlmaker from Eidgah area of Srinagar city.

Others in the industry believe official apathy is pushing the traditional Pashmina shawlmakers into penury and oblivion.

"We have been demanding support from the government not in terms of money, but by making available the Pashmina yarn at reasonable rates. This is not happening in the Valley." "Influential people monopolise the yarn market and then use the poor shawlmakers as bonded labour. I think the magic of the Pashmina shawl is now relegated to history books," said Mohd Raza, 45, another shawlmaker whose family has been in the trade for four generations.

Making a Pashmina shawl is a painstaking and labourious task. One shawlmaker, who is otherwise known as a good weaver, takes almost one year to finish a shawl.

In economic terms it means making one Pashmina shawl should earn a weaver an entire year's livelihood.

"This rarely happens given the remuneration an average Pashmina shawl maker gets. This also acts as a dampener for the shawlmaker and his family," said Gowhar, a shawl trader of Kashmir.

Given the hardships faced by this world famous industry, the only glory a Pashmina shawlmaker can boast of is the picture of the French empress Josephine sporting a gown made of the poor shawl weaver's hard labour.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 23)  Philippine pork and chicken production may decline as a result of further spread of African Swine Fever and weak demand from the hotel and restaurant industry, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) said.

In its Philippine Livestock and Poultry update, USDA reported that pork production is seen to decline by 20 percent to 1.27 million metric tons (MT) due to ASF infection, especially in top producing areas in Luzon.

Post sees production dropping by 20 percent in 2020 as ASF continues to affect the main hog producing areas in Luzon, it said.

According to the latest report submitted by the Philippine Department of Agriculture to the World Organization for Animal Health, the country has 72 new ASF outbreaks most of which are in Luzon, while 33,406 hogs were already culled, bringing total count to over 300,000.

The USDA said production recovery in 2021 might be gradual but may not reach 2019 levels as some areas continue to curb the spread of the virus.

In terms of demand, the agency it this may improve in the second half of 2020 despite a 20 to 30 percent drop in the previous period as the government continues to relax quarantine restrictions.

Unemployment has improved with the loosening of COVID-19 restrictions and is now at around 10 percent, would should contribute to improved demand in H2 of 2020, USDA said.

Meanwhile, chicken production is seen to decline 15 percent to 1.25 million MT due to weak demand from its main demand drivers.

The six-month lockdown in the Philippines has heavily affected the hotel, restaurant, and institutional industry, where it is estimated that one third of all chicken is consumed, the USDA said.

Moreover, the temporary halt in businesses operations and job loss led to lower consumer spending.

Slight recovery is seen next year as demand improves with the continuous reopening of the economy, the agency said.
New Delhi: Delhi is likely to receive light rainfall on Wednesday, which could be the last precipitation of this monsoon season, the MeT department said. There has been no rainfall in Delhi for two weeks. The last time Safdarjung Observatory, which provides representative data for the city, recorded any rainfall (1.3 mm) was on September 8. The capital has recorded only three rainy days this month, the lowest since 2016.

Light rains are possible in parts of Delhi on Wednesday. Thereafter, there are very less chances of any rainfall till the withdrawal of the monsoon," Kuldeep Srivastava, the head of IMDs regional forecasting centre, said. The monsoon is likely to start withdrawing from Rajasthan on September26. Thereafter, it will recede from Delhi, Haryana, west Uttar Pradesh simultaneously by September last week, he said.

Heat and humidity continue to trouble the residents. On Tuesday, the maximum temperature settled at 37.1 degrees Celsius, three notches more than the normal. Delhi has recorded 80 percent less rainfall in September so far, according to India Meteorological Department data.

The Safdarjung Observatory has recorded just 20.9 mm rainfall against the normal of 104.2 mm this month so far. Delhi recorded 237 mm rainfall in August this year, the highest for the month in seven years.

Overall, the city has recorded 576.5 mm rainfall against the usual 624.3 mm since June 1, when the monsoon season started.

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 Trade Union Congress (TUC) has said that eight states are yet to commence the payment of the new minimum wage and its consequential adjustments.

Its President, Quadri Olaleye, and Secretary General, Musa-Lawal Ozigi, in a statement on Tuesday in Lagos, said the union had written to the governors and also engaged them in dialogue, but without any success.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported how after weeks of intense negotiations, the federal government and the countrys labour unions reached a deal on the implementation of the new minimum wage in October last year.

The leaders, on Tuesday, while expressing deep concern, said that the union had decided to collaborate with its sister union, the Nigeria Labour Congress, to carry out its planned protest formerly scheduled for September 23, but now shifted to September 28.

There is no need for the pains we bear; it is a needless one. They asked us to tighten our belts while they loosen theirs.

Services are not rendered, yet we are compelled to pay estimated bills. You will recall that this government spoke a lot on subsidy and even promised to build refineries.

We depend a lot on oil, so any hike in fuel price will automatically have adverse effects, but successive governments have consistently done that, the union leaders said.

The duo vowed that the union would protest against social ills, urging governments at all levels to act quickly to forestall such action in the interest of the general public.

(NAN)
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Peterkin said Bradshaw is charged with 332 counts including statutory sexual offense with a child and crimes against nature. According to the sheriff, the alleged victims are as young as 5 years old, and more than 133 alleged victims have been identified. The assaults began in February, and Peterkin said some of the victims were physically assaulted and some of the children were not touched but were instead exploited on the internet.
Senate Republicans claim that their reversal on Supreme Court nominationsrefusing to vote on President Barack Obamas nominee in 2016, then agreeing to vote on President Donald Trumps nominee in 2020isnt hypocritical. They say theyre just followed precedents. When the president and the Senate represent different parties, the historical norm is that such [election-year] nominations are not confirmed, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell asserted on Tuesday. But when the president and the Senate represent the same party, said McConnell, nearly every such nominee has been confirmed.

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McConnells rationalization is bogus. What Republicans did in 2016 was unprecedented. So is what theyre doing now.

The best presentation of the GOPs argument, cited by the White House and several Republican senators, is an Aug. 7 article by Dan McLaughlin in National Review. McLaughlin details the history of election-year nominations. He summarizes them in two tables. One table shows what happened when the presidents party controlled the Senate; the other shows what happened when it didnt. McLaughlin thinks the tables support McConnell. But they also expose differences between past nominations and the GOPs current behavior.

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McLaughlins first table, below, lists 10 Supreme Court vacancies that opened when the presidents party didnt control the Senate. Theres no clear pattern in the four cases that closely resemble todays situation: those in which a vacancy occurredand nominations or recess appointments were madein an election year and before the election. In the first two cases, 1844 and 1852, the Senate blocked the presidents nominees. But in two more recent cases, it confirmed them. In 1888, a Republican Senate confirmed a nomination by Democratic President Grover Cleveland. In 1956, Republican President Dwight Eisenhower appointed William Brennan to the court during a Senate recess, and a Democratic Senate confirmed Brennan five months later.

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So when Obama nominated Merrick Garland to the court in 2016, rejection of such nominations wasnt the norm. The ratio of confirmations to rejections was 5050, and the trendif you can call it that, in a sample of fourwas toward confirmation. You could enlarge the sample, as the table does, to include a vacancy that opened at the end of 1843 (prior to the 1844 election), as well as three cases in which the vacancy or the nomination came after the election (1828, 1860, and 1880). But in two of those four cases, the president eventually got a nominee confirmed. So the ratio is still 5050. Or you could exclude the 1956 case, on the grounds that Brennan wasnt confirmed until March 1957. But you could just as easily include Anthony Kennedya Republican nominee who was confirmed by a Democratic Senate in 1988which, again, makes the ratio 5050.

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The only norm thats clear in the table is that nominees get a vote. Every election-year nominee got a voteat a minimum, on a motion to tableexcept Garland. He got no hearing and no vote.

McLaughlins second table, below, shows six cases in which 1) the presidents party controlled the Senate, 2) the vacancy occurred during the election year, and 3) a nomination was made before the election. In one of these cases (1968), senators filibustered a nominee over corruption. In another case (1916), one-third of the Senate voted against the nominee. In the other four cases1804, 1892, 1932, and a different 1916 casethe nominee was unopposed. Those consensus nominations arent precedents for partisanship. Theyre precedents for conciliation.

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If we look at the tables full list of same-party nominations, there are 18 in which the nominee was confirmed. But check out the percentage of votes against each nominee, shown in the No Votes column. In 14 cases, there was no or almost no opposition. Only once, in 1837, did more than 35 percent of senators vote against a successful nomineeand in that case, the nominee declined to serve. There are no cases in which a party rammed a new justice through a closely divided Senate, over the united opposition of the other party, in an election year.

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Next, look at the presidents listed in the table. Only one, Benjamin Harrison, lost the popular vote while winning the Electoral College. His nominees were confirmed without opposition. The other 12 presidents who got election-year nominees through the Senate, including the three who did so in the face of significant opposition, had won the popular vote. Of the five presidents who have ever won elections while losing the popular vote, Harrison is the only one who got all his Supreme Court nominees through. The others who preceded TrumpJohn Quincy Adams, Rutherford B. Hayes, and George W. Bushall suffered defeats or withdrawals. Trump would be the first popular-vote loser to get an election-year nominee confirmed since 1892, and hed be the first ever to do it by ramming the nominee through in the face of opposition.

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And what about the senators who voted on these nominations? What kind of mandate did they have? The table shows four cases in which a president got a heavily contested nominee through a Senate controlled by his own party in an election year. Two of these cases were in 1837; the others were in 1912 and 1916. In each of these cases, the majority party in the Senate had a clear mandate: In the previous midterms, it had won more seats than the opposition party.

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Thats not true of todays GOP. It lost 24 of the 35 Senate races on the ballot in 2018. Mostly, thats because the majority of incumbents up for election were Democrats. But thats another way of saying that Republican incumbents werent on the ballot. In a year when voters swept Republicans out of the House of Representatives, the only thing that stopped them from sweeping out Republican senators was that those senators were beyond the voters reach. This would be the first Senate majority ever to ram through a contested election-year nominee after failing to win most of its races in the previous midtermslet alone after suffering such an electoral rebuke in the House.

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McLaughlin has a very different analysis of the tables, which you can read in his August piece and in his 2017 article on Supreme Court confirmations. Both essays are well-argued and full of useful information. In a way, were like dueling lawyers before the court: He sees similarities to past cases where I see differences, and vice versa. But in my book, the differences are stark and grave. The GOPs behavior in 2016 and 2020 isnt just hypocritical. Its wildly unprecedented. And a party that invents its own precedents can expect the other party to do the same.
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Linkedin Sarah Young and Kate Holton (Reuters) London, United Kingdom  Wed, September 23, 2020 15:54 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46aff5b 2 World UK,Britain,coronavirus,coronavirus-restrictions,COVID-19,COVID-19-infection,pandemic,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus Free

The British government on Wednesday defended its new, stricter coronavirus measures against criticism that they did not got far enough, saying it was trying to balance supporting the economy while protecting health.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson told citizens on Tuesday to work from home if possible and ordered restaurants and bars to close early, in an effort to slow a fast-spreading second wave of COVID-19, saying restrictions would likely last six months.

Britain has the highest COVID-19 death toll in Europe, with a total close to 42,000. New infections have been accelerating in recent weeks, leading scientists to say they could hit 50,000 per day by mid-October if left unchecked.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab gave a round of interviews on Wednesday - six months to the day since the government first imposed a national lockdown on March 23 - seeking to persuade the public to abide by the new rules to avoid a second lockdown.

"What we don't want is to have to take even more severe measures as we go through Christmas," Raab said on LBC radio. "And that's why we need to take the proportional, targeted measures we're taking now."

Asked on BBC radio if the new measures were part of a Swedish-style plan to live with the virus rather than try to get rid of it, Raab rejected that suggestion.

But a decision by Scotland's semi-autonomous government to take more stringent measures, such as banning any socializing between households, cast doubt over whether the steps taken in more populous England would be sufficient.

"I've made a judgment that we are again at a tipping point with COVID and I'm looking at data that alarms me, frankly," Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said on ITV.

She said her scientific advisers had told her the package announced by Johnson would be insufficient to bring down the rate of transmission.

In England, people can still socialize with members of other households in groups of up to six people.

Wales and Northern Ireland are also taking some different measures to England.

The Times newspaper reported that Chris Whitty, the national government's chief medical adviser, was privately saying further restrictions in England were inevitable to bring the epidemic under control.

A YouGov poll found that 78% of people supported the measures already announced, although 45% said Johnson should have gone further while 32% said he had got the restrictions about right.

On the business side, there was widespread angst over what the new restrictions would mean, especially for pubs, restaurants and other hospitality firms. The 10 p.m. closing time announced by Johnson was criticized as ineffective in terms of reducing transmission, but damaging to business.

Raab rejected this, saying the government's scientific advice was that the package of measures was appropriate to "bear down" on the virus.

Prof John Edmunds of London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who is on the government's scientific advisory team, told BBC radio: "Overall, I dont think the measures have gone anywhere near far enough. In fact, I dont even think the measures in Scotland have gone far enough."  He said he believed very stringent measures woud come into force across the United Kingdom as some point "but it will be too late again".

Adding to the government's woes, there were signs of a fightback by the main opposition Labor Party, which had been in the doldrums after it was beaten by Johnson's Conservatives in an election in December last year.

The latest Ipsos Mori poll showed the Conservatives' popularity falling, while Labor leader Keir Starmer beat Johnson on a number of measures, with more people saying he had sound judgment and was a capable leader.
Shares of newly listed Route Mobile jumped over 19 per cent on Wednesday after foreign portfolio investor (FPI) Goldman Sachs increased its stake in cloud communication services provider to 5.23 per cent. The stock made strong debut on Monday, listing at a premium of 102.28 per cent above its IPO issue price of Rs 350 on BSE. The share has rallied as much as 135 per cent in the last three sessions against the issue price.

In an exchange filing, Route Mobile said that Goldman Sachs Assets Management International has purchased additional 3.99 lakh equity shares in the company, or 0.7 per cent of the total paid-up equity, via open market transactions on Wednesday. Earlier on Tuesday, Goldman Sachs had acquired 25.74 lakh equity shares in the company, or 4.53 per cent of the total paid-up equity. As a result, US-based Goldman Sachs' total investment in Route Mobile increased to 5.23 per cent.

Continuing its gaining momentum, shares of Route Mobile gained as much as 19.16 per cent to settle at Rs 825.55 apiece on Wednesday, against its previous closing price of Rs 692.80. During the day's trade, the stock hit a fresh high of Rs 831.35 after opening higher at Rs 714. In contrast, the BSE Sensex ended 65.66 points, or 0.17 per cent, lower at 37,668.

In a similar trend, share price of Route Mobile ended 20 per cent higher at Rs 833.10 on the National Stock Exchange (NSE).

The share of Route Mobile made a stellar debut on BSE and NSE on September 21, delivering over 100 per cent returns to its investors. The company raised Rs 600 crore through the IPO which was held between September 9 to September 11. The public offer comprised a fresh issue of Rs 240 crore and an offer for sale of Rs 360 crore. Price range for the offer was fixed at Rs 345-350 per share. Ahead of IPO, the company had raised Rs 180 crore from anchor investors.

Route Mobile intended to utilise the fund proceeds for repayment or pre-payment, in full or part, of certain borrowings of the company, acquisitions and other strategic initiatives, purchase of office premises in Mumbai, and general corporate purposes.

By Chitranjan Kumar

Also Read: Route Mobile share makes stellar debut, lists at 105% premium over issue price

Also Read: Route Mobile stock rises 7% after Goldman Sachs buys 24 lakh shares
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Images Luxury Nail Lounge salons, with locations in Irvine, Newport Beach and Long Beach, today filed over $5,000,000 in claims against the cities of Irvine, Newport Beach, Long Beach, the counties of Orange, Los Angeles, and the State of California (collectively "the Government") for the Government's continued forced closure of their nail salons.

The Images Luxury Nail Lounge salons are alleging that the Government violates their constitutional rights under the federal and California Constitutions due to enforcement of Governor Newsom's March 19, 2020, executive order. While other similar businesses have subsequently been permitted to open, nail salons remain shuttered.

Tony Nguyen, General Manager of the Image Luxury Nail Lounge salons, notes that "the Vietnamese community has been singled out in this unfair and arbitrary order." Vietnamese own 80% of the 11,000 nail salons in California. Mr. Nguyen points out that "since the State, County and Cities have now allowed hair salons to fully reopen, it is evident that the government is enforcing these laws in a racist manner. With hair, for example, the stylist is right in your face, while with a nail salon, you can be an arm's length away. Yet hair salons have already been allowed to fully reopen, but Vietnamese owned nail salons are effectively not." While nail salons are now allowed to open outdoors, Mr. Nguyen states, "we can't open outside. Most of the malls we are in won't allow it, and our chairs and equipment are bolted into the floor."

The claims filed today note that there has been no income for six months although nail salons continue to have fix costs such as lease obligations, licensing fees and taxes, etc. Moreover, nail salons have made the necessary accommodations to ensure the safety of their clients, including, but not limited to, mandated masks and social distancing measures, eliminating indoor waiting areas, incorporating touch-free check-in and check-out, only using every other chair, etc. These accommodations make nail salons safe or safer than other businesses. Despite these accommodations, nail salons continue to be closed while other less safe businesses have been allowed to open. Mr. Nguyen notes that "Images Luxury Nail Lounge salons are simply seeking to be paid back the money the government effectively took from them through the enforcement of these arbitrary laws that are being enforced in a racist manner. "

For More Information contact: Tony Nguyen, (949) 205-9415, [email protected]

About Images Luxury Nail Lounge:

Images Luxury Nail Lounge first opened its doors in 2014. With their state-of-the-art interior and professional-grade cosmetic procedures, each Images location offers a unique experience. Now with 5 prime locations in Southern California, Images Luxury Nail Lounge is ranked the 24th "Top Company" in Los Angeles and the 253rd "FASTEST GROWING BUSINESSES IN THE COUNTRY" by Inc. Magazine's Top 500 for 2017.

Images Luxury Nail Lounge has established a prestigious reputable name. Images Luxury Nail Lounge is now offering both lucrative partnerships and business opportunities nationwide. So, if you are interested in joining Images' growing success in the cosmetic and spa service industry, this is your opportunity to establish your own luxury salon with the benefit of a great support system and a well-established and recognizable brand. Investment opportunities are also.

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President Trump appears on video to address the United Nations General Assembly, held virtually this year because of the pandemic. (Associated Press)

As the United Nations marked its 75th anniversary with a pandemic-era summit conducted virtually, President Trump used the occasion Tuesday to excoriate China, accusing it of "unleashing" the coronavirus on the world even as U.S. deaths from the disease passed 200,000.

Trump, who'd advertised for days on the campaign trail that he would be tough on China, took on the fellow member of the Security Council at the U.N.'s annual General Assembly, with the world's leaders looking on via video screens. While Trump railed against Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged cooperation.

Using a term widely seen as xenophobic, Trump said Beijing must be held accountable for the "China virus." The world's death toll is on track to reach 1 million. While one-fifth of the deaths and confirmed cases of infections are in the United States, Trump made wildly exaggerated claims about how well his administration has tackled COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.

"In the United States, we launched the most aggressive mobilization since the Second World War," Trump said in relatively brief remarks recorded at the White House and delivered remotely. He claimed, contradicting his government's top scientists and medical experts, that a vaccine will soon be distributed and the virus "defeated."

"As we pursue this bright future, we must hold accountable the nation which unleashed this plague onto the world: China," Trump said. He accused China of colluding with U.N. health officials to dupe the world over the severity of the disease, while also attacking Beijing on issues including ethnic cleansing and climate change.

After years of apparent friendship between Trump and Xi, relations between the world's two largest economies are the most hostile in years, with tension over the coronavirus exacerbating conflicts over artificial intelligence, military activities in the South China Sea and trade.

Story continues

The unusually harsh speech in a forum that typically sticks to diplomatic niceties had two audiences. Trump not only was speaking to the global community, but also to American voters: Anti-China rhetoric has been central to his campaign efforts to deflect blame for his failings in handling the pandemic, as well as criticism about his responses to trade deficits, climate change and China's abysmal human rights record.

The tone of Trump's comments harked back to his first General Assembly speech in 2017, when he taunted Kim Jong Un, the leader of nuclear-armed North Korea, as "Rocket Man" and threatened "to totally destroy" his country.

"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. "Later, they falsely said people without symptoms would not spread the disease," he added. "The United Nations must hold China accountable for their actions."

The president's assertions of China dissembling about the virus came as he has been on the defensive domestically for minimizing, even falsifying, information about the deadliness of the coronavirus  based on months of recorded interviews with journalist and book author Bob Woodward that contradict his sunny assessments to the public over time.

Trump has already vowed to leave the WHO, the U.N.'s main health body, which has been a top recipient of U.S. aid to combat polio and malaria across the globe. In a tweet, the WHO responded that no government controls its activities, policies or decisions.

Though he has routinely denied that global warming is a problem and withdrew the U.S. from the worldwide Paris climate accord, Trump blasted China for its environmental record. (The United States is the only country in the world to have withdrawn from the Paris pact.)

"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," Trump said. He added that the U.N. must focus on the "real problems" of the world, such as terrorism, drug trafficking and the "ethnic cleansing of religious minorities."

By the last item, he was referring to China's repression of Muslim Uighurs. The Trump administration was slow to criticize China for its treatment of the minority, which it has forced into labor camps, stripped of cultural identity and in some cases, according to human rights organizations, tortured and killed. But since Trump decided that stoking anger against China was politically advantageous, he and his top Cabinet members have routinely decried the plight of the Uighurs.

Asked later if Trump's attack on China might backfire and undermine cooperation on fighting COVID-19, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said, "There is no bigger bully than China when it comes to COVID."

The General Assembly is usually an elaborate, two-week affair that annually brings most of the world's leaders to U.N. headquarters in Manhattan. But this year, presidents and prime ministers were asked to submit videotaped speeches ahead of time. Those were then broadcast, starting Monday, to a nearly empty conference hall.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres opened the session and, while not naming Trump, declared that "populism and nationalism"  Trump's hallmarks  have failed, especially in the fight against the coronavirus. He warned against a new Cold War between Washington and Beijing.

"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  each with its own trade and financial rules and internet and artificial intelligence capacities."

Xi's speech was taped before Trump's comments aired, and so he was not responding directly to his American counterpart. Still, he got in his digs as well.

Xi took aim at Trump's "America first" doctrine, which challenges the U.N.'s core mission of multilateralism since its founding after two world wars. "No country has the right to dominate global affairs, control the destiny of others, or keep advantages in development all to itself," he 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."

He said China had no interest in a "cold war or a hot one" with any nation, and urged world powers to avoid "falling into the trap of a clash of civilizations."

China's U.N. ambassador, Zhang Jun, was in New York and, speaking to reporters, condemned Trump's tone as "incompatible with the general atmosphere" of the world body.

"When the international community is really fighting hard against the COVID-19," he said, "the United States is spreading a political virus here in the General Assembly."

Times staff writer Noah Bierman in Washington contributed to this report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The Taliban have killed 28 paramilitary policemen in fighting in southern Afghanistan, officials said Wednesday, the latest losses in an ongoing siege of a government-controlled district that could tip into insurgent hands.

One local official said the Taliban executed the police after they had surrendered, but the insurgents denied this and AFP was not immediately able to confirm the claim.

If proven, a mass shooting of dozens of captives would mark a grim new low point in Afghanistan's recent violence, which has been worsening in recent weeks.

The incident occurred in the Gizab district of the southern province of Uruzgan, where intense fighting has raged for days as the Taliban besiege outmanned and outgunned Afghan police and army outposts.

Zelgai Ebadi, a spokesman for the Uruzgan governor, said Taliban fighters offered 28 local and national police a chance to go home if they surrendered Tuesday night.

"But after taking their guns, the Taliban killed them all," Ebadi said.

Provincial council head Amir Mohammad Barekzai confirmed the death toll and said heavy fighting was ongoing.

Barekzai would not say if the men had been killed before or after surrendering.

A third local official, speaking on condition of anonymity, put the toll at 28-30 police, adding that three policemen managed to escape.

The interior ministry declined to comment on the circumstances of the deaths.

In a statement, the Taliban denied it had slaughtered the policemen after they surrendered.

"Enemy claims that they were executed after surrender are baseless. Mujahidin (Taliban fighters) repeatedly asked them to lay down arms & end hostility, but they insisted on fighting," Taliban spokesman Yusuf Ahmadi said on Twitter.

The 28 deaths come after at least 14 Afghan police and soldiers were killed during the same battle overnight Sunday-Monday.

Taliban and Afghan government negotiators are meeting in Doha, where they are trying to find a way to end 19 years of war.

A hopeful start to the peace talks September 12 was immediately marred by fresh violence across Afghanistan.

Negotiations are moving slowly, with the two sides trying to thrash out various parameters before deciding an agenda.

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Democrats, led by presidential nominee Joe Biden, argue Republicans are stalling a fresh round of COVID-19 relief  as the nation reaches the grim milestone of 200,000 deaths from the coronavirus  but rushing the court nomination ahead of the election. They remind that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell led Republicans in refusing to consider a nominee of President Barack Obama nominee in February 2016, long before that years election. No Supreme Court nominee in U.S. history has been confirmed by the Senate so close to balloting.
LEITCHFIELD, Ky.  The group gathered around the town square, waiting for the arrival of what has become a new American boogeyman: antifa.

Michael Johnson and others were certain that school buses full of radical left-wing extremists from big cities were coming to Leitchfield, Kentucky, where about 50 of their neighbors had gathered on the courthouse lawn to chant, Black lives matter! and wave signs in solidarity with the nations surging protest movement.

The June 10 protest ended peacefully with no sign of any antifascist activists in the town of less than 7,000 people, but Johnson and his son sat awake outside their house all night, armed with a shotgun, just in case the antifa rumors he saw circulating online were true.

Theres no reason not to believe it after you watch TV, whats going on, said Johnson, 53.

Its a scene that has unfolded in many other cities and small towns this year, the product of fear and conflict stoked by bogus posts on social media, right-wing news outlets and even some of the nations most powerful leaders.

President Donald Trump has said the federal government would designate antifa as a terrorist organization and has blamed it for violence at protests against racial injustice and police brutality. Attorney General William Barr has claimed groups using antifa-like tactics fueled violent clashes in Minneapolis after the killing of George Floyd, a black man who died after a white police officer pressed a knee into his neck for several minutes.

However, FBI Director Christopher Wray told a congressional panel last Thursday that antifa is more of an ideology or a movement than an organization. While the FBI has had domestic terrorism investigations of violent anarchist extremists, any number of whom self identify with the antifa movement, Wray noted that extremists driven by white supremacist or anti-government ideologies have been responsible for most deadly attacks in the U.S. over the past few years.

A man suspected of fatally shooting a Trump supporter after a pro-Trump caravan in Portland, Oregon, last month had described himself in a social media post as 100% ANTIFA. Federal agents later shot and killed the suspect, Michael Forest Reinoehl, in Washington state.

But federal arrest records of more than 300 people at protests across the country include very few obvious mentions of the word antifa. They could be hard to identify, however, because there is no domestic terrorism statute under which to charge protesters involved in violence or vandalism.

Louisville, Kentucky-based attorney David Mour has represented many protesters involved in demonstrations over the killing of Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old emergency medical technician who was shot by Louisville police officers when they barged into her house in the middle of the night to serve a search warrant. Protesters have occupied a square in downtown Louisville for more than three months. All along, Mour has dealt with wild rumors that antifa is somehow involved.

Its constant. These people are just trying to generate fear and frenzy. Theyre trying to blame all this stuff on antifa, and Im like, Who exactly is antifa? Where are they? Who are you talking about? Its insane, he said.

Rutgers University historian Mark Bray, author of the book Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Handbook, said there are well organized, tightly knit antifa groups that have operated for years.

But thats different from saying that the politics of antifa is just one single, monolithic organization, which is obviously false, said Bray, whose book traces the history and evolution of the movement.

Many Americans had never heard of antifa before Trumps election and the violent clashes between far-right extremists and counterprotesters at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in August 2017. Bray said Trumps campaign and presidency stimulated far-right organizing and the antifascist response to it. He believes Trump and his allies are demonizing antifa for political gain.

The portrayal they present serves their purposes of using it as a boogeyman to rally support and to kind of redirect attention away from the legitimate grievances behind the Black Lives Matter protests, he said.

Adam Klein, an associate professor of communication studies at Pace University, analyzed social media posts by far-right extremists and antifascist activists leading up to the Charlottesville rally three years ago. He found antifascists have a pretty loose communication network.

You dont get the sense online that there is an organization as much as there are some prominent (social media) accounts associated with antifa, he said.

Lindsay Ayling, a 32-year-old doctoral student at the University of North Carolinas flagship Chapel Hill campus, is a fixture at counterprotests against neo-Confederates and other far-right group members. They often call her antifa, a label she accepts in the sense that I oppose fascism and I am willing to go and confront fascists on the streets.

The thing thats so dangerous about labeling anyone who is antifascist as a terrorist is that its criminalizing thought, she said. Not just thought, but its criminalizing active resistance to fascism.

Ayling said the first person to call her an antifa leader was a Florida man, Daniel McMahon, who dubbed himself the Antifa hunter online. McMahon was sentenced to more than three years in prison after pleading guilty in April to using social media to threaten a Black activist to deter the man from running for office in Charlottesville.

Far-right extremists arent the only ones who use the term against her, Ayling said. Last week, she posted a video of herself asking Alamance County Sheriff Terry Johnson why he and his deputies were breaking the law by not wearing masks at the scene of a protest in North Carolina.

Maam, why are you breaking the law? We know youre with antifa, the sheriff responded.

Rumors of antifa invading Leitchfield, Kentucky, started on Facebook and quickly spread through the community. Stephanie Ann Fulkerson, who had organized the demonstration, was stunned. She usually keeps to herself but felt strongly enough about the Black Lives Matter movement that she decided to plan something in the small town in Grayson County about 70 miles south of Louisville.

This is the first time Ive really spoke up for anything. Im a stay-at-home mom thats very anti-social. Thats the crazy part of all this, she said.

As the protest got underway, residents lined up in front of businesses to guard against vandalism, some of them on motorcycles. A handful heckled the protesters. At one point, one of them stormed across the street toward the demonstration, but law enforcement restrained him.

The buses didnt show, but that didnt mean everyone accepted it was just a baseless rumor. Johnson said he heard that 15 antifa members in a Winnebago were stopped in town by local residents and law enforcement and complied with a command to go home.

Grayson County Sheriff Norman Chaffins said that didnt happen.

Thats a rumor, the sheriff said. People are pretty detailed when they make up stories.

___

Kunzelman reported from College Park, Maryland. Associated Press reporter Michael Biesecker contributed to this story.
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More Info of Impact Covid19 @ https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/covid-19-analysis/6332
Watch: Sir Keir Starmer questions the PM on government's test and trace scheme

Keir Starmer questions governments contradictory statements on importance of test and trace system in restricting spread of COVID-19

Labour leader attempts to shift focus on to Downing Streets test and trace struggles in latest PMQs clash with Boris Johnson

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Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has accused the government of completely opposite statements on coronavirus testing.

In his latest Prime Ministers Questions (PMQs) clash with Boris Johnson, Starmer focused on Downing Streets issues with its test and trace programme.

He pointed to two contradictory statements the government has made on test and trace: one in which health secretary Matt Hancock said it can stop the virus spreading and the other in which Johnson said it cannot.

It comes as the number of new infections continues to surge, and after Johnson announced six months of new restrictions on Tuesday.

PMQs clash: Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer. (Parliamentlive.tv)

Starmer said: Three months ago today, the PM said test and trace can be a real game-changer for us. He was backed up by the health secretary, who said finding where people who test positive are is the single most important thing that we can do to stop the spread of the virus.

Yesterday, the PM said the complete opposite. Standing there, he said testing and tracing has very little or nothing to do with the spread or the transmission of the disease. Both positions cannot be right, which one is it?

Johnson hit back: It is an obvious fact of biology and epidemiology that alas, this disease is transmitted by human contact or aerosol contact.

But it is one of the great advantages of NHS Test and Trace, which we did not have working, alas, earlier in the pandemic the result is, we now have the ability to see in granular detail where the epidemic is breaking out, exactly which groups are being infected.

Starmer responded by asking the same question: So why yesterday did the PM say testing and tracing had very little or nothing to do with the spread or transmission of the disease?

Story continues

The PM, after largely repeating his previous answer, criticised Starmer for not paying tribute to test and trace.

The government has endured huge problems coping with demand for coronavirus testing, with NHS Test and Trace chief Dido Harding admittingd last week that up to 75% of people who wanted a test had been unable to get one.

Meanwhile, contact tracing, which Baroness Harding also oversees, is also falling below its 80% target. The latest figures show 73.9% of close contacts of people who tested positive for COVID-19 in England were reached through test and trace in the week ending 9 September.

Watch: How to remove a face covering correctly

Coronavirus: what happened today

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More than 30 residents were removed Monday from an unlicensed group home, where they were found living in "deplorable" conditions with no food or medication, according to authorities.

So far, no charges have been filed. The investigation is ongoing.

Deputies with the Harris County Pct. 7 Constables Office said they came upon Caring Hands Group Home about 3 p.m. Monday in the 14000 block of Long Meadow Drive on Houstons south side. The department had received a call from the sister of a 62-year-old resident, who said he was being held hostage on the second floor.

In a statement, deputies said they found a total of 37 neglected and abused residents, most of whom were diagnosed with mental or physical disabilities, spread throughout the three-bedroom home. Deputies said some residents were sleeping in the garage, which did not have air conditioning. Deputies also noted a cockroach infestation, leaking water and only one working bathroom.

"In my 30 years of law enforcement this is definitely clearly the worst group home or care home facility I've ever seen, according to a statement Precinct 7 Sgt. Jon Meek, adding that the home was in deplorable condition.

CHRONICLE INVESTIGATION: Fatal fire exposes lax oversight of Houston's rooming houses

Caseworkers with Adult Protective Services also were dispatched to the home. They counted fewer residents (35) than Harris County deputies, according to Melissa Lanford, a spokeswoman for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

She said the residents ranged in age from 38 to 82. Among them, 13 residents were transported to two different hospitals. Another 14 were taken to licensed personal care homes. Four were taken to assisted living facilities. Two residents were picked up by family members, and another two walked away to buy food but never returned, Lanford said.

She said she did not have an update on the hospitalized residents condition as of Tuesday afternoon.

The home was not licensed with the state, she said. She said state caseworkers reported that residents did not have medication or food, other than a pizza sent Monday by State Sen. Borris Miles.

The home is located in Miles district. The state senator could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday evening.

Pamela Greenwood, a spokeswoman for the Pct. 7 constables office, said the Houston Police Departments Boarding Home Enforcement Unit previously issued multiple citations for city code violations to the operators of the home.

It was unclear late Tuesday who oversaw the residents.

When Pct. 7 deputies arrived at the home Monday afternoon, they encountered two employees who refused to open the door. Deputies eventually entered and detained the employees, but the Harris County District Attorneys Office did not accept criminal charges, the constables office said.

The 62-year-old man who originally reported to be a hostage in the home was found exactly where he said he was being held, according to the constables office. The man said weapons were in the home, but the constables office did not say whether deputies recovered any weapons.

A spokesman with the district attorney's office said the agency is continuing to investigate.

It is crucial to protect the most vulnerable in our society and our prosecutors are working with police agencies to ensure this deeply troubling incident is thoroughly investigated; as always, it is vital to get all the facts as we proceed, said Dane Schiller, spokesman for the Harris County District Attorneys Office.

julian.gill@chron.com
Six months ago today Boris Johnson gave his best Winston Churchill, announcing to the nation that the fight against Covid-19 - the invisible enemy - was about to get intense. No more commuting, no more mingling, no more leaving our own homes unless absolutely strictly necessary. It was time to lock down, baby. It was time to get serious.

And without the usual external stimuli, the past six months have been a wild ride in the world of pop culture. Viral trends became an outward expression of the quiet madness of an atomised populace.

It turns out that staying inside makes everyone strange in exactly the same ways...

Phase 1: The Wholesome Bit

Theres a virus on the loose but at least were all in it together.

And you know what? We kind of needed a break. It all got a bit civil war-y in the lead up to 2020 (lol, remember Brexit?). So settling into some government-enforced hometime, banding together every Thursday night to clap for our NHS carers (thank f**k for the carers), might actually be...dare we say it? Kind of okay.

#StayAtHome? Sure! Whatevz. No probz.

Carole Baskin saw us through Phase 1 of lockdown

We clear a space on the sitting room floor and order the completely red, 570 piece Heinz ketchup jigsaw puzzle. Thisll waste some time.

And baking. It takes seven hours and five different supermarkets but we finally get a hold of a (slightly crushed) 500g bag of strong white flour; we are delighted and immediately google how to sourdough starter cake recipe easy (and because weve still got Zante booked for July best home workouts belly fat).

Fomo is dead bitches - because were all doing exactly the same thing: watching Tiger King, or dressing up like someone off Tiger King, or reading Reddit threads with titles like What is the truth behind Carole Baskin? (to quote spbarry79: There's absolutely no chance she didn't kill her husband.)

Despite everything this is a hopeful time; Boris says we can win this war in just 12 weeks. By Christmas well be eating turkey at mass gatherings.

In the meantime, God bless Captain Tom!

Spring is springing and this might be the first time weve ever, like, stopped to notice it. We spend our one-hour government-sanctioned daily walk taking pictures of down-the-roads wisteria. #itsthelittlethings.

At home we set about making our first sourdough loaf; it comes out flat and rubbery but we display it proudly on Instagram because we are doing just fine. Everything is fine, absolutely fine.

Phase 2: The Horny Bit

The days are slipping by, has it been a month already? More than a month? We offer banana breads and sourdoughs to our neighbours because we are bloated and carb-sick. They refuse them.

Doing yoga in the park a policeman comes over to chastise us for sitting - we are in downward dog but nod emphatically, wed never dream of sitting.

Weve accidentally hoovered up some pieces of the jigsaw but it doesnt matter because weve got no time for it now anyway.

Now we quiz. Four nights a week we click the link at the allotted time and test our trivia prowess. If anything were seeing more of our friends than we ever did in peacetime - this is something we can keep doing even after lockdown, which will definitely be ending soon. Definitely.

Jesus, Captain Tom is killing it.

PE With Joe was a lockdown mood

We see lots of articles dedicated to the lockdown horn and are relieved that its not just us. Its bad. Weve had to give up on PE with Joe Wicks because it was making us too horny. In fact, we have stopped exercising altogether - although we did once read an article about a man who lost half his body weight just by masturbating six times a day for six months. If we keep on like this, we wont need to exercise ever again. L8rz Wicksy.

We watch Normal People on the BBC - first all the way through, then again, fast forwarding to the sex bits then for a third time skipping to the close-ups of Connells chain. Its so sexy but we dont know why. We google it and find lots of op-eds. Its to do with masculinity and stuff. Weve been inside too long.

We go outside and its still spring, and did we ever notice how green the leaves are? We Houseparty with eight others who are also outside. We all discuss the leaves.

We think we spot Paul Mescal in the park with his shirt off. We blink a lot and rub our eyes. Its not actually him. Wed better get back inside.

Phase 3: The Breakdown Bit

Had to cancel Zante :(

Someone on Twitter has shaved their head, we stare in the mirror for a really long time and then decide that, f**k it, yes, well shave ours too. Afterwards we google how long shaved head grown back and turn our camera off for Zoom meetings. We just need to get used to it, we tell ourselves.

Sometimes we get so drunk on Zoom quizzes that we forget were in our living room until the link runs out. Weve turned a corner of the kitchen into a speakeasy and given everyone in the house a password, which they have to say before they can access the cocktail cabinet. We change the password regularly and everyone hates us.

For the most part, we are committed to #StayingHome until we hear about Dominic Cummings trip to Barnard Castle

We consider quitting booze but other than 3pm when we sneak off to masturbate, cocktail hour is our favourite time of the day.

There is debate about masks. We do not understand - why not just mask? We buy a mask and use mask as a verb in sentences. We forget to mask on a trip to the shop and walk around with our t-shirt pulled up. Other shoppers hate us.

For the most part, we are committed to #StayingHome until we hear about Dominic Cummings and his trip to Barnard Castle. We google Barnard Castle. It looks nice. We consider going there just to get a picture for Instagram, like f-you DC but then realise thats a lot of effort. We lay back down.

Still sad about Zante :(

Phase 4: The F**k it Bit

Its the talk of social bubbles that finishes us off. What constitutes a bubble?

F**k it, if DC can see his family then so can we. We organise a picnic on the common for 12 of our nearest and dearest. We keep a respectful distance but then, a bottle of rose deep, briefly forget about the global pandemic and suck hummus off the finger of a neighbour. Has there always been something between us? Or is it just the lockdown horn? Neighbours wife gives us a dirty look and we feel bad. Head home to masturbate. Seeing friends is soooooo goooooddddd!!!

Pubs and restaurants reopen. At first were, like, not even bothered, you know? Privately we think that maybe weve evolved past indoor spaces. But a friend insists on booking a table so we go and it turns out pubs and restaurants are legit the best things ever. We get really drunk and make overemphatic eye contact with everyone in the room. We keep saying omg, remember when this was normal?

Phase 4 seemed to be a lot about trying to save Pret

The government is super keen on getting us to socialise again (poss because they can see our google search histories which have become increasingly macabre). They offer to pay half the bill if we go to McDonalds and a number of other reputable eateries. We book restaurant dinners for every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in August and feel proud that were doing our bit for the war effort. #EatOutToHelpOut, right?

Everyone knows that you cannot complete Netflix, but we give it an honest-to-god try. We watch all three seasons of Selling Sunset in one weekend (why do they all dress like its 2011?) and sign up to Now TV because what else is there?

The government wants us to go back to the office, so as to save Pret. We wonder why we never got a free coffee despite going to the same Pret for 8 years. We make absolutely no effort to return to the office.

We have stopped masturbating.

We consider booking a holiday but every time we try the government changes the rules about that one particular place. Its like they are listening to us - maybe through our Amazon Alexa? We consider throwing it out, and burning a 5G tower for good measure.

Phase 5: The Back in Lockdown Bit

Has it been six months? Has it really? Or has lockdown merely exposed the fact that linear time is a meaningless construct, a not-thing?

The past six months have been a fast-slow, blink-and-youll-miss-it, how-did-this-happen, where-has-this-year-gone, who-even-am-I, do-I-exist, heres-some-focaccia-art, head-f**k which may, were told, soon start all over again. Like Groundhog Day.

We restock the speakeasy and buy some flour.

Whos for a banana bread?
A research team from Kumamoto University, Japan has developed an animal model that reproduces motor dysfunction and cerebellar neurodegeneration similar to that in spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) by inhibiting chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA) in cerebellar neurons. Since CMA activity is reduced in cells expressing SCA causing proteins, CMA is expected to become a new therapeutic target for SCAa disease that currently has no basic treatment.

SCA is an inherited, intractable neurological disorder caused by several genes. It causes atrophy and neurodegeneration of the cerebellum and is characterized by progressive motor dysfunction like staggering and dysarthria (a brain disorder that results in a loss of control the muscles used in speech). It is classified into 48 different types according to the causative genes, and the common mechanisms that lead to cerebellar atrophy and ataxia in SCA are not yet understood.

The cells of living organisms have a mechanism called autophagy that maintains homeostasis by breaking down intracellular components, such unnecessary proteins, and eliminating pathogenic microorganisms. Chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA), a type of autophagy, transports intracellular components to lysosomes for degradation using Hsc70, a molecular chaperone, and LAMP2A, a lysosomal membrane protein. Recent research has shown that CMA is involved in the maintenance of neuronal protein homeostasis and that reduced CMA activity is involved in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. The relationship of CMA with neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's has attracted much attention.

Kumamoto University researchers developed an original method for assessing CMA activity in cells and investigated its relationship with the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. After finding that reduced CMA activity was observed in cells expressing several SCA causing proteins, they hypothesized that reduced CMA activity might be a common part of the pathogenesis of SCA.

They generated mice with reduced CMA activity in cerebellar neurons by administering adeno-associated viral vectors. These vectors were able to introduce a gene that specifically diminishes LAMP2A into the mouse cerebellum which resulted in progressive motor dysfunction. At early stages of motor dysfunction, histological analysis showed no effect on the morphology of cerebellar neurons or cerebellar structure. However, glial cells, such as astrocytes and microglia, became activated in the cerebellum. Glial activation is a hallmark of neuroinflammation and causes neurodegeneration in various neurodegenerative disorders. At a considerably worse stage of motor dysfunction, glial cell activation as well as cerebellar neurodegeneration and associated atrophy of the cerebellar cortex became prominent.

These effects (progressive motor deficits and neurodegeneration with associated atrophy of the cerebellar cortex) observed in mice with reduced CMA activity in cerebellar neurons are consistent with observations in patients with SCA. Moreover, early glial cell activation has been observed in various SCA mouse models. Since CMA activity has been found to be reduced by the proteins responsible for SCA, the results of this study strongly suggest that reduced CMA activity in cerebellar neurons is a common molecular mechanism in SCA pathogenesis.

"We have shown that CMA is a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of spinocerebellar ataxia and may lead to the development of a fundamental treatment that has not yet been established," said Associate Professor Takahiro Seki, leader of this study. "For SCA, the presence or absence of a causative gene can be determined by genetic diagnosis. However, even if a causative gene is found, there is no way to prevent the onset of the disease. If a safe compound that activates CMA can be developed, it could be a very effective treatment and preventive agent for SCA."

###

This research was posted online in "Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology" on 28 July 2020.

Source:

Sato, M., Ohta, T., Morikawa, Y., Konno, A., Hirai, H., Kurauchi, Y., ... Seki, T. (2020). Ataxic phenotype and neurodegeneration are triggered by the impairment of chaperone?mediated autophagy in cerebellar neurons. Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology. doi:10.1111/nan.12649
Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio has unleashed a war of sorts by rolling out its new post-paid plans in its bid to target high tariff paying Airtel and Vodafone Idea users.

The telco unveiled brand new post-paid tariff plans on Tuesday, September 22 to woo higher paying subscribers of its incumbent rivals and the country's older operators.

This price competition in the mobile telephony space is going to benefit customers a great deal. (Reliance) Jio's move could possibly trigger another round of competitive pricing which would only eat into the revenues of the incumbent telecom operators in the country who are already reeling under the pending AGR dues owed to the government and unsustainably lower tariffs amid intense competition.

The Tuesday's announcement by Reliance Jio has only added to the din. The telco unveiled a gamut of offerings for post-paid users comprising family packs and access to OTT platforms, a first from the company which has so far nearly fully concentrated on prepaid customers.

Also Read: Mukesh Ambani's Reliance to buy PUBG? Here's what we know so far

What is Reliance Jio offering?

The telco on Tuesday launched a fresh post-paid plan- Postpaid Plus- that offers a slew of services comprising in-flight connectivity for Indian travellers flying abroad, free international roaming in the US and UAE, OTT subscriptions such as Amazon, Netflix, and Disney+Hotstar, among others.

To avail these services, Reliance Jio unveiled new post-paid plans wherein in the monthly tariff charges are as follows: Rs 399, Rs 599, Rs 799, Rs 999, and Rs 1,499. Moreover, these packs come bundled with individual offers and data limits as per the users' needs.

The telco has also introduced offers for post-paid users of other operators to carry over their credit limit to the Jio network in case they choose to port to Jio connections. The company is also offering free home delivery of new SIM cards.

What are Airtel and Vodafone Idea's offerings?

Where Airtel's monthly post-paid plans begin from Rs 499 whereby it offers 75GB data and unlimited voice calling. The telco's offer also includes a one-year free subscription to Amazon Prime, Airtel Xstream App, and Zee5.

Vodafone Idea's post-paid plans start at Rs 399 per month whereby it offers 40GB data along with 100 messages and unlimited calls for a month along with free Vodafone Play subscription and Zee5 Premium access for a year.

Also Read: Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea have to pay 10% of AGR dues by March 31: Govt tells Parliament

Reliance Jio vs Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea

Reliance Jio's base post-paid plan, at Rs 399 per month, is similar to what Vodafone Idea is offering and is 20 per cent (Rs 100) cheaper than Airtel's entry-level plan priced at Rs 499.

However, Jio's value proposition (offering higher data) is more than Vodafone Idea, whereas, it is offering more content subscriptions than Airtel in its entry level pack.

It is also noteworthy here that Jio is already offering a much cheaper Rs 199 monthly post-paid plan but it still tails in post-paid business, despite surfacing as a large telecom company in the Indian market.

Airtel and Vodafone Idea hold sway over the post-paid market in the country with a lion's share of such subscribers- 71 per cent in FY20, according to data collated by Jefferies India Pvt Ltd.

Customer loyalty has helped these telcos tide through the blows dealt by Reliance Jio time and again, helping them retain a large share of their subscribers, even when the market size contracted in recent years.

Also Read: Reliance Jio adds 37 lakh subscribers in May; Airtel, Vodafone Idea lose 47 lakh users each

How big will the impact be on Airtel, Vodafone Idea's business?

Will Reliance Jio's new offerings inflict churn in Airtel and Vodafone Idea's postpaid mobile business? Well, how big a jolt it will be to the two incumbent operators is yet to be seen, but Reliance Jio has packaged its post-paid plans well scoring over Airtel and Vodafone Idea.

Reliance Jio's move comes at a time when both Airtel and Vodafone Idea have been talking about the need to increase the prices promptly to mend the telecom industry's financials. Jio is the only profit-making telecom operator in India.

Reliance Jio entered the telecom market in the year 2016 storming it with pre-paid plans bundled with dirt cheap data and free voice calls.

This triggered rapid consolidation in the telecom industry, leading to revenue erosion of incumbent operators. Jio outdistanced its older rivals with its cheaper pre-paid plans, emerging as the market leader within four years of its debut in the telecom market.

While Jio has approximately 400 million subscribers, Airtel and Vodafone Idea's user-base pans around 280 million each.
San Francisco, Sep 23 : Amazon Founder and CEO Jeff Bezos will open his first nonprofit preschool for underserved children in October.

Overseen by Bezos' $2 billion philanthropic endeavour, the Day One Fund, the first "Bezos Academy" in a network of high-quality, full-scholarship Montessori-inspired preschools will be located in Des Moines, Washington, the world's richest person said in an Instagram post.

"This one in Des Moines, WA, is the first of many free preschools that we'll be opening for underserved children," he said.

The preschool will offer year-round programming, five days a week, for children 3-5 years old, Bezos Day One Fund said on its website, adding that admissions will prioritise low income families.

The Bezos Day One Fund launched with a $2 billion commitment to focus on making meaningful and lasting impacts in funding existing non-profits that help families experiencing homelessness, and creating a network of new, non-profit tier-one preschools in low-income communities.

While the Day 1 Families Fund supports organisations that help families, the Day 1 Academies Fund focuses on Montessori-inspired preschools in underserved communities.

The fund considers a wide range of data, including income levels, participation in free and reduced-cost meal programmes, and gaps in access to licensed childcare providers in selecting communities for its preschools.

"We also look for local organisations and businesses that understand the needs of their community members and are excited about the prospect of hosting a tuition-free, high-quality preschool in their neighbourhood," it added.
General Capital will broadcast its annual meeting via Zoom for shareholders, media and guests to view.

Below are the details to join the Zoom Meeting:

https://zoom.us/j/5946768689?pwd=TWM4SzVKbFNxN3ZzbE51SVBqeG92QT09 Meeting

ID: 594 676 8689

Passcode: 156405

General Capital has over 700 shareholders, both in New Zealand and overseas. We hope they take the opportunity to view the meeting live and learn more about the Company if they are unable to attend in person.

Shareholders will not be able to vote or submit questions online.

Change of Room (same venue)

The adjourned Annual Meeting of Shareholders is now to be held in the Ball Room at 2:00pm, Thursday, 24 September 2020 at New Zealand Yacht Squadron, 181 Westhaven Drive, Westhaven Marina, Auckland 1011.

For further information contact:

Brent King

Managing Director

General Capital Limited

+64 21 632 660 Brent.King@gencap.co.nz

24 September 2020





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Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 19:04:38|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will attend a meeting of foreign ministers of the member states of Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) via video on Sept. 24.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Wednesday that Wang Yi will hold in-depth discussions with the heads of delegations from other member states on the joint fight against COVID-19, the international and regional situations, as well as CICA cooperation in various fields. Enditem
Riyadh:

A Saudi court on Thursday dismissed charges against 13 accused over a crane collapse that killed dozens at Islams holiest site, a newspaper reported on its website.

The prosecution objected to the ruling and asked to appeal, said the Okaz daily, which has closely followed the case. The accused included at least one Saudi billionaire and nationals from Pakistan, the Philippines, Canada, and several Arab countries, Okaz and Saudi Gazette newspapers reported when the trial began in August.

Five months on, the criminal court in Mecca on Thursday said it did not have jurisdiction to hear cases involving safety breaches, Okaz reported.

There was no clarification why todays report referred to 13 accused, while 14 have previously been mentioned.

They were charged with negligence leading to death, damaging public property and ignoring safety guidelines at the site of the Grand Mosque crane collapse in September 2015, Okaz and Saudi Gazette said.

During severe winds a construction crane toppled into a courtyard of the mosque. It was one of several cranes the Saudi Binladin Group had employed as part of a multi-billion-dollar expansion to accommodate increasing numbers of faithful.

At least 109 people died, including foreign pilgrims, leading King Salman to suspend the firm for several months from new public contracts.

Okaz and Saudi Gazette reported last week that Judge Abdulaziz Hamoud al-Tuairki had rejected a plea from defence lawyers to prevent newspapers from covering the case.

He said they could appeal his ruling.

The court would in the next two weeks review the entire case, the newspapers said at the time.

Saudi Binladin Group, which developed landmark buildings in the kingdom, was founded more than 80 years ago by the father of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, who was killed by US Navy SEAL commandos.

Like other construction firms in the kingdom, Binladin Group suffered last year from delayed government receipts after a collapse in oil revenues left the kingdom unable to pay private firms.

The company last year said it had completed payment to 70,000 laid-off employees. Workers still with the firm would get their back pay as the government settled its arrears, Binladin Group said.

A company spokesman could not be immediately reached to comment on the court case. Mecca draws millions of pilgrims annually from around the world.

The kingdom wants to boost those numbers and develop religious tourism as part of wideranging economic reforms.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Chahak people and the layer. Credit: Rahil Alipour, UCL

Chromium steelsimilar to what we know today as tool steelwas 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.

Crucible slag adhering to the interior of a crucible sherd. Credit: Rahil Alipour, UCL

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 alloya 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 traditionseparate from the more widely known Central Asian methods in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistanfor 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."

Explore further Russian archaeologists find oldest crucible steel weapon in East Europe

More information: Rahil Alipour et al, Chromium crucible steel was first made in Persia, Journal of Archaeological Science (2020). Journal information: Journal of Archaeological Science Rahil Alipour et al, Chromium crucible steel was first made in Persia,(2020). DOI: 10.1016/j.jas.2020.105224
Kajol, in an appearance on Anupam Khers chat show in 2015, revealed that her daughter Nysa convinced her to do Dilwale, which was her seventh film with Shah Rukh Khan. It marked Kajols return to acting after a five-year gap.

Narrating the incident, she said, We are guilty all our lives that weve given birth to these kids, and havent been able to spend time with them. When Rohit came to offer me this film, my daughter jumped up. She said, mumma you must do this film.

When Kajol asked Nysa why she wants her to work and stay away from her, Nysa had a heartbreaking response. Kajol said, She turned around and said something amazing, and I wanted to cry, I wanted to laugh. I did not know what to do besides tell her that I love her. Nysa had told Kajol, Just because you love me doesnt mean you cant love something else.

Nysa in a recent social media video spoke about the pressures of being born to famous actors. Talking about Kajol, she said, I think me and my mom are very much like each other. Shes way more chill than I think she would ever admit. I know that both of us are really loud and that both of us dont really have a filter.

Also read: Kajol dolls up for photoshoot, introduces daughter Nysa as her new in-house photographer

Nysa studies in Singapore, but returned to India during the coronavirus lockdown. Kajol recently posted a picture of herself on social media, which she said was clicked by Nysa. Just really missed wearing my sarees. So had a heyday doing this. Love the saree for all the subtle possibilities...... hmmm ! Another in house photographer.. this time my daughter, she wrote in her caption.

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New Delhi:

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto has cancelled a planned meeting on January 31 with newly elected US President Donald Trump amidst dispute over funding of proposed wall between the two countries.

Earlier, Donald Trump had asked his Mexican counterpart to cancel his visit to Washington if Mexico is not ready to pay for the huge border wall that he aims to build for stopping illegal migrants from entering America.

If Mexico is unwilling to pay for the badly needed wall, then it would be better to cancel the upcoming meeting, Trump tweeted, hours after his Mexican counterpart Enrique Pena Nieto condemned the US decision to build a border wall and repeated that Mexico would not pay for the wall despite Trumps assertions that it would.

Pena Nieto was scheduled to be in Washington on January 31.Mexico does not believe in walls. Ive said time again; Mexico will not pay for any wall, Pena Nieto had said in a video statement posted to Twitter.I regret and reject the decision of the US to build the wall, he had said.

Also Read: New US President Donald Trump vows to 'start renegotiating' NAFTA

Pena Nieto said he would wait for a final report from his top officials who arrived in Washington on Wednesday to meet with the Trump administration, and previous meetings with Mexican legislators, before deciding which steps he would take next.Trump also tweeted that the US has a USD 60 billion trade deficit with Mexico.

It has been a one-sided deal from the beginning of NAFTA (The North American Free Trade Agreement) with massive numbers of jobs and companies lost, Trump, who has been in office for just six days, said.

In a late night interview to ABC News, Trump said the US will be reimbursed by Mexico for the wall his administration is building across the US-Mexico border to stop the flow of illegal immigrants and drug traffickers.

Yeah, absolutely, 100 per cent, yes, Trump said when asked if Mexico will pay US back.Earlier, Trump had signed two executive orders directing the construction of a wall on the US-Mexico border, boosting border patrol forces and increasing the number of immigration enforcement officers who carry out deportations.

Also Read: US President Donald Trump signs two executive orders for construction of wall along Mexican border

In a speech on Monday, Pena Nieto had said his government is prepared to negotiate with the US if Mexicos national sovereignty is respected. He laid out economic integration and respect for the rights of migrants and the money they send home as his nations key negotiating points.

Trump has suggested some of the USD 25 billion in annual remittances that migrants return home would be retained to pay for the border wall.Neither confrontation nor submission. Dialogue is the solution, Pena Nieto had said Monday.Trump said that he wants to build an impenetrable, physical, tall, powerful, beautiful, southern border wall between the US and Mexico.

The US-Mexico border is about 3,100-km long and traverses all sorts of terrain from empty, dusty desert to the lush and rugged surroundings of the Rio Grande. Some 1,046-km of the border is covered already by a confused and non-continuous series of fences, concrete slabs and other structures. Trump says his wall will cover 1,600 km and natural obstacles will take care of the rest.

With PTI inputs

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 23) Despite the recent ramped-up calls from the international community, the Philippine government sees no need for a United Nations probe into the current human rights situation in the country.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made the statement in an interview with CNN Philippines on Wednesday, stressing that any UN investigation should first gain the consent of the concerned country.

No need (for UN probe), because under the UN system, the states consent is required. And believe me, theres no need to allow into the country these so-called experts with very fixed biases against the Philippines already, Roque said in an interview with The Source.

The fact that were not allowing them in is a sovereign prerogative recognized by the UN system. Theres nothing that the UN can do if we do not allow rapporteurs into our country, he added.

In August, dozens of civil society groups here and abroad called on the UN Human Rights Council to establish an independent body to probe the supposed human rights violations and killings in the Philippines.

They argued this should be part of the councils response to address the widespread and systematic" killings in the government's flagship anti-drug campaign, as claimed by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet in her report last June.

The country's human rights situation again hogged the global spotlight last week, when the European Union pushed to impose trade sanctions against the Philippines over alleged abuses under President Rodrigo Dutertes administration.

Malacanang has repeatedly refuted claims of extrajudicial killings, adding that victims and concerned parties can avail of remedies under existing laws. An inter-agency panel headed by the Justice Department was also established to ensure fair investigation on drug-war linked deaths, which are nearing 6,000, according to latest government data. Human rights groups, however, cite higher numbers of suspects killed.

Duterte, in his debut at the United Nations General Assembly, also personally assured that the government remains committed in upholding the human rights of its citizens, and likewise called on the international body to engage in constructive dialogues to promote the cause.

Meanwhile, Roque believes theres no need for the country to declare some EU officials as persona non grata a proposal earlier floated to protest the allegations against the Philippines.

 I dont think we need to bring it to that extent. But the message is clear we are no longer slaves of European countries, we are no longer slaves of any foreign countries for that matter. No one can dictate the matter by which we uphold the rule of law in the Philippines, Roque said.
Gov. Mark Gordon said Wednesday that federal efforts to loosen Endangered Species Act protections for Wyomings grizzly population could actually make the law more effective in protecting wildlife by giving states more say in the process.

In testimony before the U.S. Senates Committee on the Environment and Public Works, Gordon told lawmakers that the act no longer served its original intent effectively: namely, to protect imperiled species, recover them in accordance with scientific recovery objectives and to delist or remove species from the threatened or endangered species list.

The Act hasnt been updated since 1988, Gordon noted in remarks provided to the committee. The bill your committee is considering today includes many amendments that, if passed, would serve to make the Act more effective.

The largest barrier to achieving this, Gordon said, was not the role of the law itself but of the courts and litigation he said was aimed at exploiting technicalities in how the United States Fish and Wildlife Service implemented those rules. While he said the judicial review of agency actions written into the law was included with good intent, that provision has been exploited through endless court challenges on species conservation that run counter to the acts objective.

I believe the Endangered Species Act is broken, he told committee members in his testimony to the committee. And there is no scientific reason it shouldnt be fixed.

That perspective  embraced in an amendment by the committees chairman Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyoming, to sideline judicial review in delisting decisions  also represents something of a poison pill for Democrats and conservationists who want those decisions to have some sort of oversight.

Our stakeholder feedback process made clear that at least one provision in my bill is a non-starter for those groups, and for the committees minority, Barrasso said. It also made clear that the same provision is the top priority for my home state of Wyoming.

In his opening remarks, Barrasso said that while he knew it could mean stakeholders may not support the bill, it was a key provision for states such as Wyoming, who have long desired the ability to manage their own species with minimal federal intervention. Under a delisting decision, states must develop their own species management plan that  for five years after the decision  will be monitored by the federal government to deem whether or not its successful.

In anticipation of a 2016 delisting decision for the grizzly bear, Wyoming drafted such a plan under then-Gov. Matt Mead tailored to the challenges and needs of Wyoming. With judicial review, however, both Barrasso and Gordon claimed that the current appeal process for Endangered Species Act delistings leads to activist organizations venue shopping (a claim those organizations deny) in an effort to achieve a desired result in the courts, serving as a potential deterrent for states and federal agencies to work together.

The courts ultimately derailed Wyomings own plans to manage the bear.

Where everything is litigated immediately, those plans never get off the ground, Gordon said. And thats essential.

Barrassos amendment would essentially delay the ability of a federal court to overturn a delisting rule during that five-year monitoring period, giving states an opportunity to prove that they can successfully manage the recovered species.

Conservation groups, however, have panned the amendments to the Endangered Species Act, citing unintended consequences on other species amid an unprecedented decline in global diversity, according to a 2019 report by the United Nations. According to testimony by Defenders of Wildlife President and CEO Jamie Rappoport Clark, development, habitat loss, exploitation, pollution and invasive species now threaten as many as 1 million species with extinction, threats she said were exacerbated by climate change.

If we dont act now, science tells us the consequences will be dire, she said.

In his own remarks, Co-chairman Tom Carper, D-Delaware, said that while he appreciated the intent of efforts to amend the Endangered Species Act, he still had difficulty seeing how the changes would improve the ability to protect species. Rather, it would hand responsibility from federal agencies to states, many of whom may not have the financial or legal resources to ensure the species protection.

Americas wildlife are in crisis  with more than one-third of all species at-risk or vulnerable to potential extinction in the years ahead, Collin OMara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation, wrote in a statement Wednesday. Now more than ever, we absolutely must focus on saving thousands of species and creating tens of thousands of good jobs by investing in proactive, on-the-ground, collaborative conservation efforts, while we also work together to strengthen the Endangered Species Act.

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by Louis Raphael Sako*

Emigration and instability have led to drastic shortages in the number of priests and people dedicated to the consecrated life in Iraq. The patriarch calls on parents to encourage and support their children in this choice. Families are the first place in which to instill the seed of faith and nurture it through prayer and contemplation.

Baghdad (AsiaNews)  Emigration and instability have led to a drastic decline in priestly and monastic vocations, both male and female in our Church, says Card Louis Raphael Sako, Primate of the Chaldean Church, in a message to the faithful, especially young men and women.

In his statement, the prelate explores the value of the priesthood or consecrated life, encouraging families to respond to God's call. There is a shortage in numbers and types, both inside and outside Iraq," he writes.

The first place where faith is discovered and deepened is the family. For this reason, parents are tasked with instilling the seed of faith and nurture it through prayer and contemplation.

Starting with the Chaldean primates appeal, AsiaNews plans to report on the issue of vocations in Iraq, with two more in-depth articles in the coming days. Here is Patriarch Sakos message:

It is regrettable that priestly and monastic vocations have dropped drastically in our Church in recent years due to conditions that have fuelled emigration and [political and social] instability, and the criticism addressed to the Church and the multiple pressures to which young people are subjected.

Ours is a Church that is going through a real crisis of vocations. There is in fact a great shortage of numbers and types, both inside and outside Iraq. Everyone is looking for priests, monks and nuns.

On the occasion of the beginning of the current academic year 2020-2021, I turn to our young people, men and women, to invite them to be generous for the love of Christ, the Church and society, so that they can dedicate their lives to serve their brothers and sisters.

Whoever loves gives himself in everything. This gift is an act of deep and conscious love, which takes the whole being, thought, memory, heart and feelings. So that, ultimately, ones life becomes light and full of meaning.

Here I would like to cite Isaiah, in this passage, where he says: Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send? Who will go for us? Here I am, I said; send me! (Isaiah 6:8).

The first place in which the vocation is born and strengthened is precisely that of the family. Parents should take care to implant this sublime goal of faith in the hearts of their daughters and sons, and nurture it through prayer and contemplation of the testimony of people and the great examples of which the Bible speaks. [They should] Observe how they closely followed Jesus and joyfully served him.

At the same time, it is equally important to speak about the experience of priests full of God, whom they know or see. Perhaps, this way, God will allow one of their children to respond to the vocation and become a pastor of his people, or a monk, or one of their daughters may become a Sister or a nun.

The responsibility for participating in vocations also lies with our bishops, priests, monks and nuns. This is why I urge them to organise spiritual activities and make use of the media, old and new, to develop their vocations.

Our society simply needs a priest, a Father, a friend, a teacher, a mentor and a partner, especially in difficult times. The strength of the Church is in people like Christ, who are a source of great love, joy, spirituality, vision, wisdom and courage, so that God may use them to spread goodness.

* Chaldean Patriarch of Baghdad and president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Iraq

(End of Part One)
Darden students holding discussions after class

With a stated goal to become the most affordable and accessible MBA program from a top B-school, the University of Virginias Darden School of Business today (Sept. 23) announced a series of what it called innovations to its scholarship offerings. The goal is to make more evident the recent increase in scholarship funds for students who enroll in its MBA program.

Since becoming dean in mid-2015, Scott Beardsley has brought in pledges of $135 million for scholarships at the school and hopes to raise an additional $50 million to $100 million more. We are just trying to do what we think is the right thing and continue to innovate and streamline and better communicate what we already have, Beardsley tells Poets&Quants. As a student who had to borrow everything to go to school, I am a big believer that you need to make education affordable and accessible. Scholarships for me were a game-changer in my life and it is equally relevant for students today.

In recent years, scholarship awards have become an important tool for business schools to attract the best and brightest students into their MBA programs (see MBA Scholarships At Record Levels, With Awards As High As $200K). Some of the most promising applicants are being enticed by large sums of scholarship support. Devon Sanford, who just entered Harvard Business School as a first-year MBA, was showered with nearly $900,000 in scholarship offers from the eight schools that accepted her.

A TRIO OF NEW SCHOLARSHIP INNOVATIONS AT DARDEN

Just about every business school capital campaign includes fund-raising for student scholarships to offset the rising sticker prices on MBA degrees. Most schools jealously guard the amount of money they set aside for MBA awards, but the size and number of scholarships have grown substantially since the last full accounting of MBA scholarships by Poets&Quants. When donors contribute to the schools endowment, only 4.5% to 5.5% can be allocated in any one year. You can only spend a certain percentage every year with endowment and some pledges take a while to come in, says Beardsley. Its almost never enough.

Story continues

Among the newly announced innovations at Darden are:

The introduction of the Darden Distinguished Scholars Program for full-time MBA students, which includes a growing portfolio of merit scholarships and scholarship competitions offered by the Darden School and the Darden School Foundation.

A new competitive scholarship program called The Oculus Fellowships that will invite selected admitted full-time MBA students to apply and compete for this prestigious award, which includes full tuition and fees and other benefits.

A new need-based merit scholarship program called AccessDarden, which will provide students admitted on their merit  in both the full-time MBA and Executive MBA programs  the opportunity to apply for a need-based scholarship of up to $20,000 per year of study.

AWARDING SCHOLARSHIPS TO DESERVING PEOPLE IS REALLY PART OF OUR MISSION

Darden School of Business Dean Scott Beardsley

I dont want the main barrier to an MBA to be whether you can finance it, adds Beardsley. If you go to a top business school you could have good earning potential but on the other hand, it is expensive. Awarding scholarships to deserving people is really part of our mission. And you have more career options if you are not so indebted that you have to do certain things. Its part of being a great university.

Roughly a third of the full-time MBA students at Darden currently receive partial or full scholarships that are awarded on the basis of both merit and need, though all of the schools MBA candidates qualify for financial aid. The first thing we do is guarantee that any student who comes to Darden qualifies for financial aid in the form of loans at the very least, says Beardsley. Even if someone doesnt have a penny and has no credit history, we stand behind their student loans. Thats very important. That means anybody can find a way to make it through.

Under the new Darden Distinguished Scholars Program, the school is granting both competitive and merit scholarships. Competitive scholarships involve seven prestigious full-ride scholarship competitions, some in partnership with external organizations  to recognize high-achieving students who demonstrate a comprehensive set of admirable characteristics, including outstanding academic achievement, professional accomplishments, and leadership.

A NEW NEED-BASED PROGRAM AT DARDEN PROVIDES AWARD OF UP TO $20,000

The Oculus Fellowships are a new competitive scholarship for the 2020-21 academic year awarded by the Darden School to recognize outstanding academic ability and leadership potential. Named for the Oculus  the circular opening at the apex of the Dome Room in the Rotunda  the fellowships represent the illumination that outstanding students and their ideas bring to the University. Awardees receive a full-ridetuition and feesto Dardens full-time MBA program.

Darden merit scholarships are the second component of the Darden Distinguished Scholars Program. The Darden School and Darden School Foundation have an extensive portfolio of highly selective awards. The Admissions Office nominates individuals to the School and Foundation scholarship committees upon review of an applicants credentials through the application. The scholarships range from partial tuition stipends to full tuition and fees and are intended to recognize top talent and help the School build a talented and diverse class.

And finally, there is AccessDarden. a new, need-based program that provides scholarships of up to $20,000 based solely on financial need. The school considers such factors as income, savings and assets in determining whether full-time MBA and Executive MBA students are eligible after they have been admitted.

ITS ALL ABOUT REMOVING BARRIERS

Beardsley points out that if an MBA student bore the total cost to attend Darden  at just over $100,000 per year  the MBA experience is the most affordable of the schools ranked in the Bloomberg Businessweek Top Ten due in part to the lower costs of living in Charlottesville, Virginia, and the schools comparatively lower tuition.

The meta point is two years of business school is still a very significant investment of your time, your opportunity costs, and your money. Making sure that the beautiful gift of an MBA is still reachable and a worthwhile investment is a noble purpose onto itself. Making something more affordable means the ROI is higher and that educational experience is more reachable to a larger group of people.

Its all about removing barriers to having the worlds best educational experience and to allow new pipelines to flourish and increase the transparency for everyone. We want to be a place where students know that when they get in, we have their backs and will make it as affordable as possible for them. Some students really need help. I was one of those kids back in the day.

DONT MISS: This Business School Is Leading All Others In How To Compassionately Deal With The Pandemic or Meet Dardens MBA Class Of 2021

The post Darden Boosts MBA Scholarship Game appeared first on Poets&Quants.
Getting a building permit in Haldimand County used to resemble a scavenger hunt. Residents had to visit various offices scattered around the county, a consequence of several autonomous municipalities merging 20 years ago.

County staff were distanced from one another, and customer service suffered as a result of the inevitable delays.

That all changed as of February, when the countys new $21-million administration building opened in Cayuga.

In the past, you had to go to four or five offices for one project, explained Phil Mete, Haldimands general manager of public works and operations, and the co-lead on the administration building project.

Now, all of our administration is located in one spot. We really have a one-stop shop.

Residents who cant make the trip to Cayuga can still connect with the county by picking up the phone or logging into the myHC system at all Haldimand library branches.

The three-floor administration building, which shares a parking lot with the Cayuga arena, was designed with the future in mind, says architect Bill Curran of Hamilton-based Thier and Curran Architects.

Its a state-of-the-art office building for 2050, Curran said. We were looking ahead, trying to make sure we have a good building that will endure.

Every workspace is steps away from the buildings many tall windows, which open to allow for airflow. Desks convert from sitting to standing position, and each cluster of desks has its own thermostat and noise-cancellation system.

Exposed steel crossbeams nod to the Nanticoke steelworks while painted murals by Hamilton artist Jamie Lawson incorporate historical photos from around Haldimand.

Bright colours adorn the walls, which are mostly painted drywall, but with judicious use of natural materials like wood and stone to highlight key areas such as the council chambers, which double as a provincial offences court.

There is no beige in the building. Everything is rich and animated, said Curran, whose firm also designed Cayugas library and heritage centre, which opened in 2018.

A climate-controlled room houses the collections from the countys museums, and public display space lets residents see artifacts that would otherwise be in storage. The main floor currently has a display on Haldimands Black history, including the story of Canfield as a stop on the Underground Railroad.

CAO Craig Manley noted with pride that the five-year project will stay within its budget of $21 million, a price tag that includes the planned demolition of Cayugas former admin building down the road.

The new building, which took one year to design and nearly two to build, replaces six county buildings throughout Haldimand.

The building opened for business in February but the pandemic has twice-delayed a planned grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony. Some desks sit empty as employees continue working from home, but Manley said the buildings spaciousness is a bonus since it allows for physical distancing during the pandemic, while spaces can be rejigged to incorporate more staff as the county grows.

Its been designed for collaboration. You can work anywhere in the building, Manley said, praising Currans design as combining rural, small-town practicality with an artistic flourish.

Mete hopes the new building will provide Haldimand residents centralized service with style for many decades to come.

Its a well-constructed building that the community can be proud of, he said.
Italian actress Sophia Loren is set to star in a feature film for the first time in over a decade.

The star of Hollywood's Golden Age, 86, will play the main part in a new Italian-language drama, The Life Ahead, which will be streamed on Netflix.

In the film - which will be directed by the star's son Edoardo Ponti - Sophia plays a Jewish woman and Holocaust survivor named Madame Rosa who helps raise the children of prostitutes.

Exciting times: Italian actress Sophia Loren is set to star in a feature film for the first time in over a decade

Speaking of her excitement about the project she told Deadline: 'When my son proposed the role to me, it was a dream come true.

'I jumped at the opportunity to make it. I loved portraying Madame Rosa. She is tough, she is fragile, she is a survivor. In many ways she reminds me of my own mother.'

Last July, Sophia was spotted filming the movie in Bari, Italy, where she was seen looking dishevelled as she shot scenes being pushed around in a wheelchair by a child.

New role: The star of Hollywood's Golden Age, 86, will play the main part in a new Italian-language drama, The Life Ahead, which will be streamed on Netflix (pictured in 1965)

Sophia has already been getting Oscar buzz for the role and it is hoped the premier will go ahead as planned in Rome in October.

Her last film was the 2010 TV movie My House Is Full of Mirrors. The year before that she made a big impression opposite Penelope Cruz and Nicole Kidman in the feature film Nine.

Sophia is considered one of Italy's national treasures as she is the biggest movie star to come out of the country.

Back on set: Last July, Sophia was spotted filming the movie in Bari, Italy, where she was seen looking dishevelled as she shot scenes being pushed around in a wheelchair by a child

Gorgeous: Sophia is considered one of Italy's national treasures as she is the biggest movie star to come out of the country

In 1961 Sophia won Best Actress at the Academy Awards for her role in Two Women and was the recipient of an Honorary Oscar in 1991 'for a career rich with memorable performances that has added permanent luster to our art form.'

Ponti, whose father was the late famed film producer Carlo Ponti, previously directed his mother in 2002's Between Strangers.

Her career began in when she was a teenager and went by the name Sofia Villani Scicolone. She was first cast as an extra in Mervyn LeRoy's 1951 film Quo Vadis.

Back in her sexy look: She wore a garter belt with a corset for The Millionairess in 1960 for which she is most renowned

But it was not until she met Carlo Ponti that her career took off. He renamed her Sophia Loren and got her cast in the 1953 film Aida.

Her breakthrough role was in 1954's The Gold Of Naples.

But she became internationally famous when she starred in Boy On A Dolphin.

In 1958 Hollywood called and she was cast in Desire Under The Elms with Anthony Perkins, based upon the Eugene O'Neill play.

The love of her life: She was wed to Carlo Ponti (pictured together) from 1966 until his death in 2007 and together they had two children

When she co-starred with Cary Grant in Houseboat he fell in love with the beauty but she stayed loyal to Ponti.

One of her most popular movies was the 1965 drama Marriage Italian Style.

She was wed to Carlo from 1966 until his death in 2007 and together they had two children: Edoardo, 46, who is wed to actress Sasha Alexander, and Carlo Jr, 50.

Loren has been staying out of the spotlight in recent years as she prefers to spend time with her grandchildren.
WASHINGTON  Cindy McCain, the widow of Senator John McCain of Arizona, formally endorsed Joseph R. Biden Jr. for president on Tuesday, praising the character and integrity of her late husbands longtime friend and colleague while voicing her unease with President Trump.

Ms. McCain, who spoke in a video at the Democratic convention last month, said in a telephone interview that she had been uncertain about how public a role she would play in this years campaign. But after reading reports this month that described Mr. Trump denigrating members of the military, she said, she became more and more frustrated with the president.

The most important thing that moved me a great deal was talking about troops being losers, Ms. McCain said, referring to an article in The Atlantic. You know we have children in the military, as did the Bidens.

She added, I want my president to have my back, and I dont believe thats the case right now.

The McCains two sons, Jack and James, both served in the armed forces, and Mr. Bidens son Beau served in the National Guard, including a tour of duty in Iraq. Beau Biden died of brain cancer in 2015.
DUBLIN, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- AerCap Holdings N.V. ("AerCap" or the "Company") (NYSE: AER) announced today that AerCap Global Aviation Trust ("AGAT," "we," "us" and "our"), a Delaware statutory trust and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, for its own account and on behalf of AerCap Ireland Capital Designated Activity Company ("AICDAC"), in connection with our previously announced offers to purchase for cash the notes listed in the table below (the "Notes") (i) in accordance with, and in the order of, the corresponding Acceptance Priority Levels and (ii) subject to the Maximum Tender Cap (as defined below) and possible pro rata allocation, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase (as defined below), including the Financing Condition (as defined below), has increased the aggregate purchase price (including principal and premium, but excluding Accrued Interest (as defined below)) of the Notes that we intend to purchase in the Offers from the previously announced amount of $500,000,000 to $1,500,000,000 (as so amended, the "Maximum Tender Cap"). Additionally, we have amended the previously announced condition that we receive prior to the Expiration Date (or Early Settlement Date, if we elect to have an early settlement) gross proceeds of at least $500,000,000 from our contemporaneous offering of one or more series of notes upon the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the prospectus related to such offering, on terms satisfactory to us in our sole discretion, to our receipt of gross proceeds of at least $1,500,000,000 from the same (as so amended, the "Financing Condition"). The other terms of our previously announced offers to purchase the Notes remain unchanged. The offers to purchase with respect to each series of Notes are referred to herein as the "Offers" and each, an "Offer." Each Offer is made upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the offer to purchase, dated September 23, 2020 (as may be amended or supplemented from time to time, including by this press release, the "Offer to Purchase"), and the related Letter of Transmittal (the "Letter of Transmittal" and, together with the Offer to Purchase, the "Tender Offer Documents"). Capitalized terms used but not defined in this press release have the meanings given to them in the Offer to Purchase.

Issuers Title of Security Security Identifiers Principal

Amount

Outstanding Acceptance

Priority

Level Early

Tender

Premium(1) Reference

Security Bloomberg Reference Page Fixed Spread(2) Hypothetical Total Consideration(3) AGAT & AICDAC 4.500%

Notes due

2021* CUSIP : 00772B AF8 /

00772B AE1 /

G01080 AC7

ISIN : US00772BAF85 /

US00772BAE11 /

USG01080AC74 $1,100,000,000 1 $30.00 0.125% UST due 08/31/2022 FIT1 90 bps $1,020.76 AGAT & AICDAC 5.000%

Notes due

2021* CUSIP : 00772B AM3

ISIN : US00772BAM37 $800,000,000 2 $30.00 0.125% UST due 08/31/2022 FIT1 135 bps $1,034.09 AGAT & AICDAC 4.450%

Notes due

2021* CUSIP : 00774M AH8

ISIN : US00774MAH88 $700,000,000 3 $30.00 0.125% UST due 08/31/2022 FIT1 175 bps $1,027.92 AGAT & AICDAC 3.950%

Notes due

2022* CUSIP : 00772B AR2

ISIN : US00772BAR24 $1,000,000,000 4 $30.00 0.125% UST due 08/31/2022 FIT1 240 bps $1,017.03





* Admitted to trading on the Irish Stock Exchange plc, trading as Euronext Dublin ("Euronext Dublin"). (1) Per $1,000 principal amount of Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn and accepted for purchase in the applicable Offer at or prior to

the Early Tender Deadline; included in Total Consideration. (2) Includes the Early Tender Premium. (3) Hypothetical Total Consideration per $1,000 principal amount of Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn and accepted for purchase in

the applicable Offer, based on a hypothetical Tender Offer Yield determined as of 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on September 22, 2020 and

assuming an Early Settlement Date (as defined below) of October 8, 2020 for each Series. The actual Tender Offer Yield used to determine the

actual Total Consideration for each Series will be calculated on the Price Determination Date (as defined below). This information is provided

for illustrative purposes only. We make no representation with respect to the actual Total Consideration that may be paid with respect to each

Series and such amounts may be greater or less than those shown depending on the Tender Offer Yield as of the Price Determination Date.

The Total Consideration will be determined taking into account the par call date, if applicable, for such Series. Excludes Accrued Interest.

All documentation relating to the Offers, including the Offer to Purchase and the Letter of Transmittal, together with any updates, are available from the Information Agent and the Tender Agent, as set forth below. The Tender Offer Documents can also be accessed at the following website: http://www.gbsc-usa.com/aercap/. The Tender Offer Documents set forth a complete description of the terms and conditions of the Offers. Holders of the Notes ("Holders") are urged to read the Tender Offer Documents carefully before making any decision with respect to the Offers.

Purpose of the Offers

The primary purpose of the Offers is to acquire the maximum principal amount of Notes up to the Maximum Tender Cap, subject to the satisfaction or waiver by us of the conditions set forth below and as further described in the Offer to Purchase. Notes that are accepted in the Offers will be purchased, retired and cancelled and will no longer remain outstanding obligations of AerCap or any of its subsidiaries. Such Notes will also be delisted from Euronext Dublin.

Details of the Offers

The Offers will still expire at 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on October 21, 2020 (as the same may be extended with respect to any Offer, the "Expiration Date"). Holders still must validly tender and not validly withdraw their Notes at or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on October 6, 2020 (as the same may be extended with respect to any Offer, the "Early Tender Deadline"), to be eligible to receive the applicable Total Consideration and Holders who validly tender their Notes after the Early Tender Deadline and at or prior to the Expiration Date will be eligible to receive only the applicable Purchase Price, which is equal to the applicable Total Consideration less the applicable Early Tender Premium, in each case as fully described in the Offer to Purchase. Tendered Notes may still be withdrawn at any time at or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on October 6, 2020 (as the same may be extended with respect to any Offer, the "Withdrawal Deadline"), but not thereafter, except as required by applicable law as described in the Offer to Purchase. None of the Offers is conditioned upon consummation of any of the other Offers, and each Offer otherwise operates independently from the other Offers. None of the Offers is conditioned on any minimum amount of Notes being tendered.

The applicable Total Consideration for each $1,000 in principal amount of Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn before the Early Tender Deadline and accepted for purchase pursuant to the Offers will be determined by reference to a fixed spread specified for each Series of Notes over the yield based on the bid price of the applicable Reference Security specified in the table above for such Series, as fully described in the Offer to Purchase. The consideration will still be calculated by the Dealer Managers (as defined below) at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on October 7, 2020 (as the same may be extended with respect to any Offer, the "Price Determination Date"). The applicable Early Tender Premium for each Series of Notes is set forth in the table above. The Purchase Price for the Notes accepted for purchase pursuant to the Offers will be calculated by taking the applicable Total Consideration for such Series of Notes and subtracting from it the applicable Early Tender Premium for such Series of Notes. In addition to the applicable Total Consideration or applicable Purchase Price, as the case may be, accrued and unpaid interest from the last interest payment date up to, but not including, the applicable Settlement Date will be paid in cash on all validly tendered Notes accepted for purchase in the Offers (the "Accrued Interest").

We reserve the right, but are under no obligation, at any point after the Early Tender Deadline and prior to the Expiration Date, to accept for purchase Notes that have been validly tendered and not validly withdrawn at or prior to the Early Tender Deadline on a date determined at our option (such date, if any, the "Early Settlement Date"). The Total Consideration, plus Accrued Interest, for Notes that are validly tendered and not validly withdrawn at or prior to the Early Tender Deadline and accepted for purchase will be paid by us in same-day funds on such Early Settlement Date, if any. We still currently expect the Early Settlement Date, if any, to occur on October 8, 2020. The Purchase Price, plus Accrued Interest, for Notes that are validly tendered and not validly withdrawn after the Early Tender Deadline and at or prior to the Expiration Date and accepted for purchase will be paid by us in same-day funds promptly following the Expiration Date (the "Final Settlement Date"). We still currently expect the Final Settlement Date to occur promptly following the Expiration Date, on October 23, 2020.

Our obligation to accept for purchase, and to pay for, Notes that are validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to each Offer, up to the Maximum Tender Cap, is conditioned on the satisfaction or waiver by us of a number of conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, including the Financing Condition, in each case unless waived by us as provided in the Offer to Purchase.

The amounts of each Series of Notes that are accepted for purchase in the Offer will be determined in accordance with the priorities identified in the column "Acceptance Priority Level" in the table above. Subject to the Maximum Tender Cap, all Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn at or prior to the Early Tender Deadline having a higher Acceptance Priority Level will be accepted for purchase before any validly tendered and not validly withdrawn Notes having a lower Acceptance Priority Level, and all Notes validly tendered after the Early Tender Deadline and at or prior to the Expiration Date having a higher Acceptance Priority Level will be accepted for purchase before any Notes tendered after the Early Tender Deadline and at or prior to the Expiration Date having a lower Acceptance Priority Level. However, any Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn at or before the Early Tender Deadline will be accepted for purchase in priority to Notes validly tendered after the Early Tender Deadline and at or prior to the Expiration Date even if the Notes tendered after the Early Tender Deadline and at or prior to the Expiration Date have a higher Acceptance Priority Level than the Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn at or before the Early Tender Deadline. Notes of the Series in the last Acceptance Priority Level accepted for purchase in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Offers may be subject to proration such that we will only accept for purchase Notes with an aggregate purchase price up to the Maximum Tender Cap.

We expressly continue to reserve the right, in our sole discretion, to further amend, extend or, upon failure of any condition described in the Offer to Purchase to be satisfied or waived (including the Financing Condition), to terminate any of the Offers, including the right to further amend or eliminate the Maximum Tender Cap, at any time at or prior to the Expiration Date.

Barclays Capital Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC are serving as the Lead Dealer Managers, and BofA Securities, Inc., HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., RBC Capital Markets, LLC and SG Americas Securities, LLC are serving as Co-Dealer Managers, in connection with the Offers (collectively, the "Dealer Managers"). Questions regarding terms and conditions of the Offers should be directed to Barclays Capital Inc. by calling toll free at 800-438-3242 or collect at 212-528-7581, to Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. by calling toll free at 866-627-0391 or collect at 212-250-2955 or to Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC by calling toll free at 800-624-1808 or collect at 212-761-1057.

Global Bondholder Services Corporation has been appointed as information agent (the "Information Agent") and tender agent (the "Tender Agent") in connection with the Offers. Questions or requests for assistance in connection with the Offers or the delivery of tender instructions, or for additional copies of the Tender Offer Documents, may be directed to Global Bondholder Services Corporation by calling collect at 212-430-3774 (for banks and brokers) or toll free at 866-807-2200 (for all others) or via e-mail at [email protected]. You may also contact your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee for assistance concerning the Offers. The Tender Offer Documents can also be accessed at the following website: http://www.gbsc-usa.com/aercap/.

None of AGAT, the Company, the Dealer Managers, Global Bondholder Services Corporation, the trustee under the indenture governing the Notes or any of their respective affiliates is making any recommendation as to whether Holders should tender any Notes in response to the Offers. Holders must make their own decision as to whether to tender any of their Notes and, if so, the principal amounts of Notes to tender.

This press release is for informational purposes only and is not an offer to purchase or sell or a solicitation of an offer to purchase or sell with respect to any securities. Neither this press release nor the Offer to Purchase, or the electronic transmission thereof, constitutes an offer to purchase or sell or a solicitation of an offer to purchase or sell with respect to any securities, as applicable, in any jurisdiction in which, or to or from any person to or from whom, it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation under applicable securities laws or otherwise. The distribution of this press release in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. In those jurisdictions where the securities, blue sky or other laws require the Offers to be made by a licensed broker or dealer and the Dealer Managers or any of their respective affiliates is such a licensed broker or dealer in any such jurisdiction, the Offers shall be deemed to be made by the Dealer Managers or such affiliate, as the case may be, on behalf of AGAT in such jurisdiction.

About AerCap

AerCap is the global leader in aircraft leasing with one of the most attractive order books in the industry. AerCap serves approximately 200 customers in approximately 80 countries with comprehensive fleet solutions. AerCap is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (AER) and has its headquarters in Dublin with offices in Shannon, Los Angeles, Singapore, Amsterdam, Shanghai, Abu Dhabi, Seattle and Toulouse.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain statements, estimates and forecasts with respect to future performance and events. These statements, estimates and forecasts are "forward-looking statements". In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "might," "should," "expect," "plan," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "predict," "potential" or "continue" or the negatives thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release are forward-looking statements and are based on various underlying assumptions and expectations and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions, and may include projections of our future financial performance based on our growth strategies and anticipated trends in our business. These statements are only predictions based on our current expectations and projections about future events. There are important factors, including the impacts of, and associated responses to, the Covid-19 pandemic, that could cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results, level of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. As a result, we cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements included in this press release will prove to be accurate or correct. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the future performance or events described in the forward-looking statements in this press release might not occur. Accordingly, you should not rely upon forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results and we do not assume any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any of these forward-looking statements. Except as required by applicable law, we do not undertake any obligation to, and will not, update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For more information regarding AerCap and to be added to our email distribution list, please visit www.aercap.com and follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/aercapnv.

SOURCE AerCap Holdings N.V.

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On March 13  in the months since taking this case, our dedicated team of prosecutors and investigators, with more than 200 years of combined career experience, conducted a thorough investigation to better understand the events that led to Ms. Taylors death. After hearing the evidence from our team of prosecutors, the grand jury voted to return an indictment against Detective Hankison for three counts of wanton endangerment, for wantonly placing the three individuals in Apartment 3 in danger of serious physical injury or death. The charge one, endangerment in the first degree, is a Class D felony, and if found guilty, the accused can serve up to five years for each count. Reporter: Mr. Cameron, Mr. Cameron, Rukmini Callimachi with The New York Times  right here  Yes, sorry. Hi, two questions for you: No. 1, you said that she was shot six times, yet her death certificate says five. Can you please explain the discrepancy? And the second thing is, journalists in this room, myself included, have taken apart that apartment complex looking for witnesses, to the point that you made about the knocking and announcing. Of a dozen witnesses that I spoke to, only one, a man who was directly upstairs, heard them announce. Do you think thats enough, in the middle of the night when somebody is asleep, for just one person in a tight-knit apartment block, to have heard that? Is that a sufficient way of announcing? Well, let me try to answer your second question first. Your question was, is it enough for me? I think the more pertinent question is, what was the evidence provided to the grand jury? What was sufficient for their purposes? They got to here, and listened to all the testimony and made the determination that Detective Hankison was the one that needed to be indicted  indicted  knowing all of the relative points that you made. So there is a bullet that was lodged  and bullet might be too generous a term  there was an object that was lodged into, into one of her feet. And so that is what is being referred to as the sixth, I guess, projectile. My job is to present the facts to the grand jury, and the grand jury then applies those facts to the law. If we simply act on emotion or outrage, there is no justice. Mob justice is not justice. Justice sought by violence is not justice. It just becomes revenge. I certainly understand the pain that has been brought about by the tragic loss of Ms. Taylor. I understand that as a attorney general, who is responsible for all 120 counties in terms of being the chief legal officer, the chief law enforcement officer. I understand that. I understand that as a Black man, how painful this is, which is why it was so incredibly important for make sure that we did everything we possibly could to uncover every fact.
Trump hasnt even named his pick to succeed Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court, and already the media is stepping up to fulfill its role as the propaganda adjunct for the Democratic Party and its leftward-most pressure groups.

 Like this NBC News story:

Critics say! Which critics? Im surprised they dont say experts just to give it that special CDC glow. I wonder what Anthony Fauci thinks? How long until the CDC declares that Ginsburg-Grief is a serious health threat that can only be cured if Trump appoints Nina Totenberg to the Supreme Court?

Anyway, to continue:

The women on President Donald Trumps shortlist to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court do not reflect Ginsburgs legacy and could undo key civil rights victories she backed during her 27 years on the court, LGBTQ and civil rights advocates warn. Just having a woman, any woman, does not cut it, Sunu P. Chandy, legal director of the progressive National Womens Law Center, told NBC News. We need someone with deep civil rights experience and background if we are looking to fill the legacy of her seat on the court.

Its really easy to be a reporter in the mainstream media when all you do is rewrite the press releases from leftist interest groups.

 Then theres Yahoo News, which really lives up up to the organizations name with this headline and story about a mother of five:

This Is Amy Coney Barrett, The Potential RBG Replacement Who Hates Your Uterus . . . Barrett is a practicing Roman Catholic and mother of seven. She is well-known throughout conservative circles for putting her religious convictions at the forefront of her work and identity. Her religious convictions are pro-life, and she lives those convictions, said U.S. district Judge Patrick J. Schiltz, one of her mentors. . . Barretts positions on abortion stem from her personal background and strong religious beliefs. In 2002, she joined her Catholic universitys faculty. At the time, fellow educators actively opposed ideas of secularization, and especially the Supreme Courts 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling.

 Did you know that a Catholic group that Notorious ACB (the correct nickname for prospective Justice Amy Coney Barrett) belonged to was the inspiration for Margaret Atwoods famous horror novel The Handmaids Tale? Well thats what Newsweeka former magazinewould have us think:

How Charismatic Catholic Groups Like Amy Coney Barretts People of Praise Inspired The Handmaids Tale Amy Coney Barrett, a favorite to be President Donald Trumps Supreme Court nominee to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, is affiliated with a type of Christian religious group that served as inspiration for Margaret Atwoods dystopian novel, The Handmaids Tale. Barrett, a devout Catholic, and her husband both belong to the People of Praise group, current and former members have said, according to The New York Times. Their fathers have served as leaders in the group.

Theres only one problem, which Newsweek grudgingly admits in a correction appended at the end:

Correction: This articles headline originally stated that People of Praise inspired The Handmaids Tale. The books author, Margaret Atwood, has never specifically mentioned the group as being the inspiration for her work. A New Yorker profile of the author from 2017 mentions a newspaper clipping as part of her research for the book of a different charismatic Catholic group, People of Hope. Newsweek regrets the error.

Apparently Newsweek doesnt regret the error enough to retract the storyor even change the incorrect headline. Which means they dont regret it at all. Im sure they think it is fake, but accurate, somehow.

This doesnt even rise to fake news. And CNN hasnt started in yet.
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The USS Kidd has returned to its homeport in Washington following a five-month deployment to the Eastern Pacific.

The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer pulled into Naval Station Everett on Monday after setting out to sea in April to assist in a counter-narcotics operation.

The warship drew attention on social media after viewers took note of the large pirate flag on its mast, as well as its notably rusty appearance.

The black and white flag containing an image of a skull and crossbones, also known as a Jolly Roger, has been long associated with pirates dating back to the 18th century.

The flags later became popular among submarine crews during the First World War, particularly in the UK Royal Navy, as a symbol of a successful patrol or naval operations.

The USS Kidd returned to its homeport in Washington on Monday following a five-month deployment to the Eastern Pacific

The ship pulled into Naval Station Everett flying a pirate flag, also known as a Jolly Roger. It is the only U.S. Navy ship authorized to do so

But for the US naval ship, the flag represents its connection to its namesake which is both in reference to WWII Rear Admiral Isaac Kidd and Scottish sailor and pirate Captain William Kidd, according to The Drive.

It is the only ship in the Navy authorized to fly it.

Admiral Kidd was killed on battleship USS Arizona during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.

Two years later, a Fletcher-class destroyer (DD-661) was named after late admiral Kidd, but the ship's crew had already adopted the Scottish captain as its mascot.

William Kidd was executed for piracy in England in 1701 after returning from a voyage to the Indian Ocean.

It was later learned Admiral Kidd had been nicknamed 'cap' in reference to the Scottish sailor during his time at the Naval Academy.

The crew then sought permission from Kidd's widow to have the pirate flag painted on the ship's smokestack and to fly the Jolly Roger.

The current USS Kidd is the third US Naval ship to be commissioned under that name, which is in reference to both WWII Admiral Isaac Kidd (right) and Scottish sailor Captain William Kidd (left) who was executed for piracy in 1701

The DD 661 sailors subsequently were recognized as the 'Pirates of the Pacific', and were known for rescuing pilots and aviators during the war.

The USS Kidd was decommissioned and returned to service by the Navy several times until 2007, when the current Arleigh Burke-class destroyer was named after the admiral and remains in service.

During its deployment, the USS Kidd seized millions of dollars in illicit drugs and also assisted fishing vessels in need of help at sea, the Navy said.

The warship had set out to the Eastern Pacific in April to assist in a counter-narcotics operation. It was forced to dock in San Diego weeks later after suffering a coronavirus outbreak on board

The ship, along with the Coast Guard LEDET, seized 805kg of cocaine and almost one ton of drugs worth $30million, The Drive reports.

Earlier this year the US naval ship made headlines after it became the second to suffer a COVID-19 outbreak aboard while at sea.

At the time the USS Kidd had been involved in a counter-narcotics operation in the Eastern Pacific on April 22 when the first sailor was reported to be exhibiting 'influenza-like symptoms'.

The following day, an Abbott testing machine was brought aboard the ship by a team of eight doctors who then began screening the crew.

Within the days that followed cases of COVID-19 began multiplying rapidly on-board, forcing the ship to head to port in San Diego and evacuate its most afflicted sailors.

The Navy said that 63 percent of the Kidd's crew of more than 300 had been tested.

It came after the USS Theodore Roosevelt became the first deployed US warship to suffer an coronavirus outbreak.
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- Can you predict the performance of Supreme Court appointees? When President Donald Trump chooses a successor to the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, as he has said he will do by the end of this week, can he be confident that he will be happy with his choice?

Many people think that the answer is no. In their view, judges often stun people, including the president who appoints them.

Thats wrong. Over the last half-century, there have been exactly no surprises.

Lets divide justices into the following categories: very conservative, moderately conservative, centrist, moderately liberal and very liberal. The categories are crude, but they suggest how justices are likely to vote on important issues, such as affirmative action, environmental protection, gun rights, privacy, campaign finance, immigration and religious liberty.

If you had studied the pre-appointment records of the 17 Supreme Court justices confirmed since 1971, you would have been surprised by the performance of none.

Consider a few examples.

Justice Anthony Kennedy, selected by President Ronald Reagan in 1987 after the Senate refused to confirm the very conservative Robert Bork, had an extensive record as a lower court judge. He was unmistakably conservative, but he also showed a degree of moderation, including sympathy for a constitutional right to privacy.

His vote in 1991 to preserve Roe v. Wade, the 1973 opinion that established a constitutional right to abortion, was hardly shocking. A close reader of his lower court opinions would not have been amazed to learn that he turned out to be a pivotal vote in favor of protecting gays and lesbians.

Justice David Souter, appointed by President George H.W. Bush in 1990, was a centrist. He is often seen as Exhibit A for the proposition that the voting records of Supreme Court choices are surprising. But for those who had read his opinions on the New Hampshire Supreme Court, his centrism was self-evident. In New Hampshire, he was a judges judge: cautious, nonideological, closely attentive to precedent.

Story continues

Justice Stephen Breyer, appointed in 1994 by President Bill Clinton, had an extensive record both as an academic and as a lower-court judge. A specialist in administrative law and regulatory policy, he was a moderate, known to assess facts with great care, and for his respect for specialists and technical expertise.

Before his appointment to the court, he was not a liberal in the mold of Justices William Brennan or Thurgood Marshall, who had argued for bold new departures in constitutional law. His careful, moderately liberal performance on the court fits with what was known about him before his appointment.

Something similar can be said of Chief Justice John Roberts, appointed in 2005 by President George W. Bush. He served only briefly on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, but in that time, he voted and wrote as a moderate conservative. While his votes on the lower court tended to please those on the right, he was also a minimalist, focused on the concrete issues before the court. He did not argue for large-scale movements in the law.

Justice Samuel Alitos performance as a lower court judge was distinctly different. Appointed a few months after Roberts, Alito was more conservative, and he was more willing to rethink precedent  as indeed he has been on the Supreme Court.

As a lower court judge, Justice Neil Gorsuch was a textualist and an originalist, rejecting the idea of growing and evolving constitutional rights and committed to adhering to the original public meaning of constitutional provisions. He generally voted in ways that pleased conservatives. But he also displayed a libertarian streak, occasionally protective of immigrants and criminal defendants. Justice Brett Kavanaugh appeared to be a pretty reliable conservative in terms of his votes; he was also circumspect and judicious, showing respect for contrary views.

Gorsuch and Kavanaugh, the two Trump nominees, have not been on the Supreme Court for long. But thus far, their votes and opinions are very much in line with their previous work.

Why, then, do many people insist that its so hard to predict the behavior of Supreme Court justices?

One answer is that President Dwight Eisenhower was indeed disappointed and surprised by two of his appointees, Chief Justice Earl Warren and Justice William Brennan, whose very liberal voting patterns came as a shock. Justice Harry Blackmun, appointed by Richard Nixon in 1970, also drifted to the left. Some observers have drawn general lessons from those outliers from long ago.

Another answer is that conservatives in particular have been keenly and publicly disappointed by several appointees of Republican presidents, prominently including Kennedy, Souter and Roberts. It is true that if you want a very conservative justice, all three might be disappointing. But their performance should not have been surprising.

Law is not politics, and judges are not politicians. But if someone tells you that you cant predict the voting patterns of Supreme Court justices, dont believe it.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Cass R. Sunstein is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He is the author of Too Much Information and a co-author of Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth and Happiness.

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion

Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev addresses his first U.N. speech at the general debate of the 72nd session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York in this Sept. 17, 2017 photo. / Courtesy of Embassy of Uzbekistan



By Kim Young-gu



On Sept. 23, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev participated in the high-level meetings and the general debate of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly and put forward a number of important initiatives. One of them is the establishment of a Regional Center for the Development of Transport and Communication Interconnectivity under U.N. auspices.



First of all, it is worth noting that the President's proposals are aimed at enhancing Central Asia's transport, communication and transit capacity with the involvement, foremost, of the countries of the region itself as well as international organizations, particularly of the U.N.



Indeed, given the importance and relevance of the development of Central Asia as a single region, Uzbekistan's Leader Mirziyoyev, from day one of his presidency, outlined the pursuit of a proactive regional policy, the creation of a favorable political environment in Central Asia, the building of constructive and mutually beneficial relations with the countries of the region in all areas as the main priorities of Uzbekistan's foreign policy.





Korea-Uzbekistan Business Association Chairman Kim Young-gu poses after receiving the prestigious "Dostlik Order" from the Uzbek government in recognition of his dedication to the development of bilateral relations, during a ceremony at the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Seoul in 2011. / Courtesy of Embassy of Uzbekistan

Thanks to the intensified dialogue and interactions in Central Asia, a new political atmosphere was created in a very short period of time after early 2017, an atmosphere which favors comprehensive and multifaceted cooperation in the region. And, the whole global community recognizes the positive dynamics in the region today.



Intentions of the regional countries to transform Central Asia into a zone of stability, sustainable development and good-neighborliness have become more realistic tasks than ever before.



One of the most striking testimonies to that is the first consultative meeting of the heads of the five Central Asian states, which was held on March 15, 2018, in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, in order to discuss topical issues pertaining to the regional agenda. The meeting, held for the first time in 13 years, in such a format once again proved that even the most acute problems can be solved if there is good political will and readiness to compromise.



During the event, heads of states highlighted the important contribution of the President of Uzbekistan, Mirziyoyev, as the initiator of the creation of this platform. According to the estimates of international observers, the Uzbek leadership managed to achieve progress in just one year in a whole range of inter-state problems  first of all, acute border and territorial issues, joint water use and exploitation of hydropower facilities, the resumption of disrupted transport, communications and electric power infrastructure.



Since 2017, mutual visits, regular meetings and negotiations between representatives of business circles and leading enterprises of the region's countries have greatly increased, which has allowed them to significantly strengthen economic ties and increase the volume of trade between countries.



For Central Asian countries, such dynamics are associated with priorities for ensuring sustainable development, diversified entry into world markets and modernization of national economies. Indeed, without the active interaction of neighboring countries and their close integration, it is impossible to implement major regional projects in transport and communication spheres.



The region is home to some of the shortest routes connecting large international markets. The transport and transit potential of the region is defined by its geostrategic location  in the middle of the "Great Silk Road"  which historically served as a bridge between East and West, between North and South.



By some estimates, the network of railroads across Central Asian countries stretches beyond 22,000 kilometers. Kazakhstan possesses the largest and the most-used rail network, which accounts for 66 percent of that of the whole region and carries out 84 percent of all freight traffic. About 18 percent of regional railways pass through the territory of Uzbekistan, which accounts for about 11 percent of all traffic. Turkmenistan has nearly 12 percent of regional railroads and 4 percent of traffic.



Today, one of the important challenges facing the countries of Central Asia is the creation of conditions for the transportation of goods through their territories. It primarily implies the need for the modernization of transport infrastructure and creation of logistical services that would be able to compete with sea transport, in terms of speed and cost-efficiency.



Moreover, there is a number of problems within the transport and transit system of Central Asia, addressing which requires consolidation of efforts by all countries of the region. For instance, today, the states of the region, which have no direct access to seaports, are bearing significant transportation costs, reaching up to 70-80 percent of the value of exported products. Up to 40 percent of the time spent on transportation is due to inefficient customs clearance procedures. Additionally, the circularity of the regional transportation system, coupled with lack of flexible tariff policies as well as complicated customs and administrative procedures pose substantial challenges requiring immediate attention.





Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, right, and President Moon Jae-in shake hands after signing a Joint Declaration on Special Partnership between the two countries during Moon's state visit to Uzbekistan in April 2019. / Courtesy of Embassy of Uzbekistan





Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, right, shakes hands with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres during the latter's first visit to Uzbekistan in June, 2017. / Courtesy of Embassy of Uzbekistan
EATON RAPIDS, MI  A group of people found 41 razor blades that appeared to be intentionally placed on and around playground equipment in a city park.

The Eaton Rapids Police Department was called to Howe Field around 4:40 p.m. on Monday after it was reported by the group. Some of the blades appeared to have been placed intentionally to cause harm, according to police.

The discovery led city workers to check other parks. Additional blades were located on GAR Memorial Island laying in the grass. All parks were temporarily closed but have since been reopened.

We are happy to announce that all parks have been canvased and we are confident that any hazardous objects have been removed from the parks, a statement reads.

We are able to open the parks at this time. Many thanks to the generosity of the community members that came forward to assist with loaning equipment and offering other resources to aide in these efforts. We appreciate you and your dedication to this great community.

Witnesses report seeing four persons of interest that had been on the equipment described as two males and two females approximately 17 to 18 years old.

The City of Eaton Rapids is offering a $1000 reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspects.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Officer Richard Dover at 517-663-8118 ext. 8532 or by email at rdover@cityofeatonrapids.com.
Los Angeles: Emmy winner Billy Porter is set to narrate Equal", a four-part docuseries for HBO Max. According to Variety, the series, which explores the events leading up to the Stonewall Uprising, will be released during LGBT History Month with October 22 set as premier date. The Stonewall riots were a series of spontaneous, violent demonstrations by members of the gay community in response to a police raid that began in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn in the Greenwich Village neighbourhood of Manhattan, New York City.

Best known for becoming the first openly gay black man to be nominated and win in any lead acting category at the Primetime Emmys for his role in the series Pose", Porter is equally famous for his unique fashion sense. Other stars included in the show include Samira Wiley, Cheyenne Jackson, Anthony Rapp, Shannon Purser, Heather Matarazzo, Jamie Clayton, Isis King and Gale Harold. Showrunner Stephen Kijak is attached to direct each episode except episode two, which is about the experiences trans people faced and is directed by trans director Kimberly Reed.
Philip Morris International Inc. released In Support of the Primacy of Science, a white paper exploring international attitudes regarding the role of science in society, business, and policymaking.

The white paperpresenting findings from an independent survey, conducted by Povaddo for PMI, of over 19,000 adults across 19 countries and territoriesindicates that citizens around the world want governments, public authorities, and private businesses to prioritize science and facts when tackling critical issues.

The global insights reveal that faith in science is high, with most people surveyed (77 percent) hopeful that advances in science will solve many of societys biggest problems. Supporting this view, there is also strong interest in businesses prioritizing science, with 90 percent of respondents saying it is important to them that businesses invest continually in science to improve their products.

Despite these positive attitudes, nearly half of respondents (47 percent) believe that society does not place enough importance on science. Given the diverging opinions, the white paper challenges the need for regulators to place greater focus on science to inform policy decisions, with half (51 percent) of respondents believing that their government does a good job ensuring science and evidence are included in the decision-making process.

Science can help make significant strides in our collective efforts to address the worlds most pressing problems said Dr. Moira Gilchrist, vice president for Strategic & Scientific Communications at PMI. Unfortunately, governments and broader society have yet to embrace science at its fullest potential, as this global survey shows. Ensuring facts and evidence are given greater prominence in policymakingover ideology, politics, and unsubstantiated beliefswill help match the publics expectations for science to sit at the heart of decisions impacting them and their future.

The survey also reveals that peoples access to accurate scientific information is far from assured today, with nearly half of the total sample indicating that they find it difficult to access reliable information about scientific developments and relevant studies.

This finding is alarming and sends a clear signal across business, media, and government that accurately communicating scientific information should remain an important priority, added Dr. Gilchrist. When reliable scientific information is in short supply, misinformation, wild guesses, and hearsay can take more space and significantly hamper peoples ability to make informed decisions.

PMI is undergoing a fundamental transformation into a science- and technology-led company with the aim of delivering a smoke-free futurea future without cigarettes. With the right regulatory encouragement and support from civil society, we believe this goal can be achieved in many countries in 10 to 15 years. Science is central to delivering on this commitment. Since 2008, PMI has invested billions of dollars in developing, testing, and manufacturing better alternatives to cigarettes for adults who would otherwise continue to smoke. These products are the result of nearly two decades of R&D work, underpinned by a rigorous scientific assessment program and led by a team that today includes more than 430 world-class scientists and other experts. We make our scientific findings and methods available for others to scrutinize, we invite independent research into our products, and we encourage a broad, science-based conversation with regulators, scientists, and the public health community about these better alternatives and the role they can play in tobacco control and harm reduction.

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ONE of the founders of Zanu PF and former Cabinet minister, Rugare Gumbo, has reiterated that it is in the best interest of Zimbabwe, President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the ruling party for unity to prevail in the country.

Speaking to the Daily News yesterday, Gumbo  a liberation struggle stalwart who was controversially fired from the ruling party in the run-up to Zanu PFs sham 2014 congress, at the height of the ruling partys tribal, factional and succession wars  also implored Mnangagwa to unite Zanu PF if it is to survive much longer.

This comes as there is a renewed national push to nudge Mnangagwa to engage the opposition and other key stakeholders for the sake of the country.

It also comes as both Zanu PF and the main opposition MDC are riven with sharp divisions  with the party founded by the late Morgan Tsvangirai now virtually on its knees, while Zanu PFs ructions are fast-approaching the levels that almost disembowelled it in the last few years in power of the late former president Robert Mugabe, who was later ousted from power by a stunning and popular military coup in November 2017.

The forthright Gumbo told the Daily News yesterday that Zimbabwes, Zanu PFs and Mnangagwas own tenure in power were bleak if there was no unity in the country.

The situation on the ground doesnt seem to allow the continuation of the crises because people are now tired of all this.

There must be a change in the attitude of those who are in power. They must unite the people, as any failure to do that will mean that they will be digging their own political graves, he said.

He (Mnangagwa) must absolutely make sure that he unites Zimbabweans as he is the president. He has the power to sit down with all Zimbabweans.

He must be able to contact his rivals and talk with them so that they can solve the current problems, Gumbo added.

I was watching vaMuzendas (the late former Vice President Simon Muzendas) video, where he was encouraging unity among Zimbabweans.

Without unity, the future of Zimbabwe is bleak. It is going to be problematic for the ruling party to go into 2023 without uniting Zimbabweans.

They are digging their own grave if they fail to talk to all political parties and unite all people to solve the countrys current crises, Gumbo told the Daily News further.

He (Mnangagwa) must seriously rethink the future of the country and  the young generation. He must not think about himself and power, but the young generation that we have.

What are they going to inherit? Are they going to inherit the violence and divided country? These are the kind of things the president must think about.

If you think of power only without thinking about the life of the ordinary person you have a problem.

The ruling party must shape up or ship out. Mnangagwa must be man enough and accept the challenges facing the country, Gumbo also warned.

If there is no unity, there will always be external and internal threats. You dont need that. You need  to unite even with people who oppose your views so that you can bring stability in the country.

The ruling party must know that one doesnt know what lies in the future. Change does occur and for anybody to think that he will remain in power for ever is not good.

In Shona they say chinobhururuka chinomhara. Hakuna chisingaperi (everything ends) and we say lets not do that.

Everyone is a Zimbabwean. There is no Zimbabwe for Zanu PF or MDC  Zimbabwe is for everybody, Gumbo further told the Daily News.

This comes after members of the Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations (ZHOCD) met Mnangagwa and MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa in separate engagements last week, in a bid to nudge both men to hold much-needed national dialogue.

It also comes as South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa and his ruling African National Congress (ANC) have been attempting to assist Zimbabwe to end its decades-long political and economic crises.

At the weekend, another liberation stalwart and former Cabinet minister, Tshinga Dube, said the push by both Ramaphosa and the ANC to end Zimbabwes long-standing political and economic crises rested on them winning support from brawling Zanu PF factions.

It all starts with the leaders in Zanu PF agreeing that we need dialogue and that South Africa has a critical role to play.

They need to find common ground on that to make the ANCs work easier. We can blame this group or that group, but I dont want to do that because what is important, for the sake of progress, is that they must find each other.

It is not difficult for the leaders to find each other because they have been working together for quite a long time, the fearless Dube told the Daily Newss sister paper, the Daily News On Sunday.

I dont think it is impossible for them (Zanu PF factions) to do that for the good of the country and our people.

That is what leadership is all about. If they do not agree and continue like that, then it will be difficult for anyone who wants to help, including the ANC, he added.

Dube is among many influential people who are calling on Mnangagwa to initiate much-needed national dialogue in the interest of the country.

Last month, the former military officer also repeated his calls for Mnangagwa to hold talks with Chamisa.

The former War Veterans minister also said that the biggest threat facing Mnangagwas rule was the countrys shrinking economy  warning further that rising poverty could drive Zimbabwe into civil strife.

Both Mnangagwa and Chamisa have previously said that they were interested in dialogue, although nothing concrete has happened  primarily because of differences over the form and platform on which the talks should take place.

There are now fresh hopes that the much-talked about national dialogue could happen soon after clerics embarked on a fresh push to initiate talks between the 78-year-old Zanu PF leader and Chamisa. Daily News
New Delhi: Debutant actress Sharvari will be seen in Yash Raj films' 'Bunty Aur Babli 2' in which she plays the role of Babli. The actress has reportedly signed a mega three film deal with YRF already. Whats interesting is that even before Bunty Aur Babli 2 releases, she has been roped in for another huge project by YRF which will be announced soon.

Her third project with the banner is also expected to be a big one.

YRF has signed on Sharvari with a three film deal. Aditya Chopra is mighty pleased with her work in Bunty Aur Babli 2 and feels she is a talent that industry needs to watch out for! We hear Adi has already given her another big project that will again tap into Sharvaris acting prowess. Adi Chopra believes in her and feels Sharvari is destined to become the big talking point of the industry with her sheer talent", reveals trade source.

Sharvari has been groomed for about two years by mentor Aditya Chopra before she faced the camera in Bunty Aur Babli 2.

The source adds, Sharvari has the perfect mix of good looks and good acting talent. She is definitely a talent to watch out for. If she has been roped in by YRF for three big films and has also worked with a big film-maker like Kabir Khan and wowed everyone with her performance in The Forgotten Army, it means that her acting skills are totally on point. With her doing three big films with YRF, she is definitely going to be a prized pick for producers who are looking out for talented fresh faces.
Republicans have threatened to oust Speaker Nancy Pelosi if she tries to impeach Donald Trump for a second time.

Democrats have suggested that impeaching the president or Attorney General William Barr, as a delaying tactic to prevent the Senate confirming the presidents Supreme Court nominee.

Mr Trump is shortly expected to name a female nominee to fill the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburgs vacant seat.

Ms Pelosi would not rule out the move when she appeared on ABCs This Week and said, We have our options. We have arrows in our quiver that Im not about to discuss right now.

Now House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy says he would introduce a motion to remove Pelosi if she acted.

Any motion to vacate the speakers chair would need Mr McCarthy and Republicans to secure a majority of House members to oust Ms Pelosi.

Republicans currently hold only 198 seats, versus 232 for Democrats.

The president is supposed to move forward and they will. The Senate is supposed to take the action and they will, its their constitutional right and they are following through, the California Republican told reporters on Wednesday.

And I will make you this one promise, listening to the Speaker on television this weekend, if she tries to move for an impeachment based upon the president following the Constitution, I think there will be a move on the floor to no longer have the question of her being Speaker.

She may think she has a quiver, we do too.

Pelosi and Democrats have angrily criticised Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnells commitment to a vote on Mr Trumps nominee.

Such a move would overturn the 2016 precedent McConnell set in blocking the confirmation of Barack Obamas nominee, Merrick Garland.

Republicans have argued that in this case the circumstances are different as the Senate and White House are controlled by the same party.
NEW DELHI  India reported more than 83,000 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, showing some decline after reaching a record a week earlier.

The country has now confirmed more than 5.6 million cases. The health ministry also reported 1,085 new fatalities, raising the death toll to 90,020.

India is expected to become the worlds worst-hit country within weeks, surpassing the United States, where nearly 6.9 million people have been infected by the virus.

But the past week has seen some improvement in India, with the numbers dropping after a record 97,894 new cases were reported on Sept. 16.

Balram Bhargava, director-general of the Indian Council for Medical Research, said Tuesday that vaccines with at least 50% efficacy will be approved for use against the coronavirus. Thats the benchmark set by the World Health Organization, as no vaccine for respiratory diseases is 100% effective, Bhargava told reporters.

In other developments in the Asia-Pacific region:

 Xi Jinping, Chinas president and the leader of its Communist Party, cast the fight against the virus as an important exercise in international cooperation, an opportunity to join hands and be prepared to meet even more global challenges. Xi took oblique potshots at the United States and its foreign policies, cautioning in a U.N. address Tuesday that the world must not fall into the trap of a clash of civilizations  remarks played minutes after delegates heard U.S. President Donald Trump insist that the United Nations hold China accountable for how it handled the emergence of the coronavirus. While Xi, being prerecorded and not there, could not rebut what Trump said, his U.N. ambassador was in the General Assembly chamber and responded directly while introducing the Xi video.

 Sri Lankan authorities announced Wednesday that they will offer livestreams from the island nations wildlife parks to help revive a tourism industry that has been decimated by the coronavirus pandemic. The governments Tourism Promotion Bureau said livestreaming will initially cover four national parks to showcase the South Asian countrys exotic wildlife, including leopards, bears, elephants, crocodiles and birds. Tourism in Sri Lanka  which was named the worlds top travel destination for 2019 by Lonely Planet  has suffered severely due to the coronavirus, with authorities indefinitely postponing the reopening of the country to foreign tourists. The country has reported 3,315 cases, including 13 deaths.
The flexible workspace provider teams up with its first franchise partner to expand its footprint in Queensland

LUXEMBOURG, Sept. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- IWG, the world's leader of flexible workspaces and coworking, has signed its first franchise deal in Australia, in partnership with the Adams Group. The deal will see IWG expand throughout Northern Queensland adding 10 centres under the Regus brand.

The partnership will extend IWG's footprint into areas where demand for flexible office space among local businesses and entrepreneurs is increasing. The centres will be located in the Sunshine Coast, Townsville, Cairns, Noosa, Mackay, Rockhampton, Gladstone, Bundaberg, Hervey Bay and Airlie Beach.

The Adams Group are already the owners of one of the most successful franchise operations in Australia: Nightowl Convenience, which has 75 locations nationally and plans to grow to 100 by 2022.

Adam Adams, CEO of the Adams Group said: "The appetite for flexible and coworking spaces was booming in Australia pre COVID and the pandemic has only increased demand. There is a clear gap in the market for a high-quality product in Queensland and our goal is to partner with Regus, the global leader, with a strong brand, professional infrastructure and worldwide network to fulfil this need."

"The franchise concept offers our partners the unique opportunity to make an attractive, high-yield investment with the know-how of the market leader and their local expertise. With a strong entrepreneurial spirit and a proven track record in the franchise space, the Adams Group is an ideal partner to grow the Regus brand in Queensland", said Mark Bhardwaj, IWG's Head of Partnership Growth in Australia and New Zealand.

"We are actively looking for franchise partners to capitalise on the growing demand in the flexible workspace industry outside the core CBD areas and are confident in adding another 10 - 20 locations to the Australian footprint by the end of 2020," added Bhardwaj.

IWG currently operates in 77 locations in Australia adding two new locations to its portfolio in the first half of 2020 with the opening of Spaces Riparian Plaza in Brisbane and Spaces 60 Martin Place in Sydney. "Both locations have proven to be successful additions with strong demand for a high quality product. In October, we will be adding a third location with Spaces Two Melbourne Quarter, located in the Docklands, which will add a further 12,000sqm+ across our growing portfolio", said Damien Sheehan, Country Head for IWG in Australia.

Australia has always been an early adopter of flexible working culture and in recent years, its flexible workspace market has rocketed. Last year's Australian Co-working Market report saw a 41% year-on-year increase[i] in the supply of flexible workspaces. Pre Covid-19, flexible working as a part of corporate businesses real estate strategy was increasing and discussions have only increased as a result of what employees are now seeking to become embedded into a company's work culture.

As an investment, flexspace is a tried and tested business model, promising low staffing requirements and strong customer retention rates. Thanks to the contract-based nature of flexible office services, fewer recurring customers are required for generating a healthy profit (compared to, for example, dining outlets).

IWG has more than 30 years of experience of launching and running flexible spaces all over the world, and an array of established flexible office and coworking brands under its belt to match different demographics and local business needs.

Find out about becoming a franchise partner with IWG.

About IWG

IWG is leading the workspace revolution. Our companies help more than 2.5 million people and their businesses to work more productively. We do so by providing a choice of professional, inspiring and collaborative workspaces, communities and services.

Digitalisation and new technologies are transforming the world of work. People want the personal productivity benefits of living and working how and where they want. Businesses want the financial and strategic benefits. Our customers are start-ups, small and medium-sized enterprises, and large multinationals. With unique business goals, people and aspirations. They want workspaces and communities to match their needs. They want choice.

Through our companies we provide that choice, and serve the whole world of work: Regus, Spaces, No18, Basepoint, Open Office and Signature. We create personal, financial and strategic value for businesses of every size. From some of the most exciting companies and well-known organisations on the planet, to individuals and the next generation of industry leaders. All of them harness the power of flexible working to increase their productivity, efficiency, agility and market proximity.

Join us at www.iwgplc.com.

Media information:

Simon Condon, Group Head of Communications, IWG, Simon.condon@iwgplc.com

[i] https://www.office-hub.com.au/2019/09/the-australian-coworking-market-report-2019/
Jill Duggar is shedding new light on her decisions to part with some of her family's teachings  which has resulted in her cutting her once-long hair, wearing pants, and even getting her nose pierced over the past few years.

The 29-year-old participated in a candid fan Q&A with her husband Derick Dillard, 31, where the two talked about getting therapy, maintaining boundaries, and making choices that are right for them  even if Jill's mom and dad, Michelle and Jim Bob, don't always approve.

Jill admitted that her family is 'not always' supportive of what she does, but while she wants to have 'deference' toward them, she refuses to be 'led by fear'' and 'controlled by what somebody else is gonna think.'

Real talk: Jill Duggar is shedding new light on her decisions to part with some of her family's teachings in a new video Q&A with her husband Derick Dillard

Grownup: Jill has been setting her own path with Derick, separate from her family  and that involves wearing pants, piercing her nose, and cutting her hair

Rule makers: Jill's parents, Jim Bob and Michelle, are incredibly strict. Jill admitted that her family is 'not always' supportive of her decisions

Jill's super-strict Christian upbringing involved a lot of rules  especially for the girls. The Duggars' modest dressing ideals mean long skirts and dresses, covered-up shoulders and decolletage, and long, curly hair for females in the family.

The kids were all homeschooled, alcohol was off-limits, and the girls generally weren't encouraged to set career or education goals, which might conflict with being a wife and mother.

But Jill, more than any of her siblings, has been setting her own path with Derick, separate from her family.

'Are they supportive? Not always,' she admitted. 'Everyone's gonna have their opinion about different things. Some of my siblings are probably more likely to have something to say about it than others. Some are more like, "Hey, I'm happy for whatever y'all are deciding."

'Not all of them are cool with it but some of them are more cool with it than others,' she added.

Though she said it's still important to listen to the advice of people close to you, she also insisted that 'you don't want to be overly fearful and be led by fear.'

Healthy attitude: Though she said it's still important to listen to the advice of people close to you, she also insisted that 'you don't want to be overly fearful and be led by fear'

Guess which ones are the most judgmental! She said 'not all of' her siblings 'are cool with' her choices, 'but some of them are more cool with it than others'

'You want to have deference but you also don't want to be controlled by what somebody else is gonna think,' Jill explained.

For the mother of two, seeking out professional help has made a difference.

'Therapy's been really helpful,' she said.

Though they 'haven't changed who we are as people,' Jill admitted that some of her views, which are still guided by her faith, have changed a little bit now that she has been able to do more research.

Several of the changes she's made have been to her appearance. She and her sisters were all raised with very long, curly hair, but recently Jill chopped off quite a few inches.

'My hair was so heavy and it was giving me headaches,' she said. Because it was a 'decent amount,' she was also able to donate it.

She also got her nose pierced a few years ago after discussing it with Derick.

'I liked it, we talked about it. I kind of always thought they were cute, nose piercings. But ... even if I liked something before, I wouldn't have done it because of maybe some of the backlash that I would get from people close to me, or something. I just hate confrontation so I would have avoided it,' she said.

He approves: Jill said she always thought nose piercings were 'cute,' and when Derick said he was OK with it, she got one for herself

Modesty: She also started wearing pants and shorts after growing up in only skirts and dresses

Makeover time: Derick added that 'not being closely associated with the show anymore has allowed that decision to happen more organically' (the Duggars pictured in 2002)

'I think growing as a person, growing closer together as a couple is helpful. So when Derick told me he was cool with me getting my nose pierced... we decided that it was cool.

'Because of the journey that we've made as a couple, I was more comfortable with decisions that we make as a family. Like basically having healthy boundaries and everything, and being OK sometimes with other people not being OK is a hard thing but as long as we knew that the decisions were not wrong, they were just ones that other people might not make for themselves, then that's, like, good for us,' she said.

Derick added that 'not being closely associated with the show anymore has allowed that decision to happen more organically.'

As for wearing pants, Jill said it wasn't 'a reactionary thing,' but she did follow the bible's words to 'leave and cleave' and that led her to 'reevaluate things.'

'I felt like I could be modest and wear pants,' she said.

She and Derick aren't even anti-tattoo, though neither has one just yet.

'We're not against tattoos,' said Jill. 'I'm a very sentimental person, so I could see myself getting a tattoo... except for that I hate needles'

Jill and Derick have two kids, Israel and Samuel, and said they would like more: 'I don't know that we have a number. Probably not 20 kids, but again, we're not gonna rule anything out'

'We're not against tattoos,' said Jill. 'Biblically, I don't think there's something wrong with it.

'I'm a very sentimental person, so I could see myself getting a tattoo... except for that I hate needles,' she added.

Finally, the couple talked about the possibility of growing their family, revealing that they would like more kids but don't know how many.

'Yes, we would love more kids if God chooses to give us more,' said Jill.

'How many? I don't know that we have a number. Probably not 20 kids, but again, we're not gonna rule anything out. If God wants us to run an orphanage or something...' she went on.

'Derick's mom was adopted, so adoption has always had a special place in our heart.'

Transparency: The could has been candid in two Q&A videos on YouTube this month

'Growing up, the whole idea of drinking was not encouraged,' Jill said. Even though she drinks now, she never gets drunk

This is Jill and Derick's second Q&A video, with the two getting candid and answering fan question in another YouTube recording last week.

In the first video, Jill and Derick addressed a recent Instagram photo that showed her drinking an alcoholic pina colada.

'We try and practice what the bible says about anything, and as far as alcohol, the scripture is pretty clear that drunkenness is absolutely sinful,' Derick said.

'Neither one of us has ever drank to drunkenness and don't ever plan to. But that doesn't mean that Jill wouldn't have a pina colada at dinner or something.'

'We also just want to be careful and sensitive to other people, too. You just have to know yourself and your boundaries,' added Jill.

'Even with our kids and stuff, eventually  obviously, they're really young right now  but eventually, I think it's good... for them to see, like, a healthy balance in our lives,' she went on.

She also admitted to People that her attitudes are a departure from how she was raised.

Freedom! Jill was pictured enjoying a pina colada while out for a date night with her husband Derick Dillard earlier this month

Good for her! She confirmed that it was a 'regular' alcoholic version of the drink in the comments

'Growing up, the whole idea of drinking was not encouraged,' she told People.

'I know my parents would not be happy with it, and I know that my siblings, some more than others, would probably have an issue with it. Other ones would probably be like, "Whatever's good for yall, that's fine. Live your life."

'So far nobody's said anything to us about it,' she added.

'We have boundaries,' she went on. 'In our faith, we believe like we're not supposed to get drunk.

'So, with drinking, it's not like we're just like going crazy. Its more socially here and there, or at home, for a date or something. Our kids are pretty young right now, but I think it's good for them to see a healthy balance.'

Jill's healthy attitude about alcohol in moderation has been a surprise to fans, who expected her to abstain completely like the rest of her family.

For some very religious Christians  Duggars included  even wine is off-limits, and they believe that references to wine in the Bible actually mean grape juice.

In early September, she shocked social media followers when she and Derick enjoyed dinner at a Mexican restaurant in Arkansas and shared a picture showing a tasty-looking frozen drink in front of her.

Branching out: This summer, she shared a sponsored Instagram post for a modest swimwear company, modeling several of their outfits

When commenters asked what she was sipping, she told them it was a pina colada  and further confirmed that it was a 'regular' one, not a virgin one made without alcohol.

'Date night with my favorite person @derickdillard,' Jill wrote, captioning a photo of herself and Derick sitting side-by-side.

'Weve missed our regular date night outings during covid and have had lots of in home dates, but we were able to swap childcare with friends last night for a date!'

In the comments section, she responded to inquisitive fans asking about her drink choice, confirming that she was, in fact, having an alcoholic beverage.

Derick has hinted before that they may not mind a drink here or there. In 2018, when a Twitter user asked Derick why they didn't drink wine, he seemed to deny it.

'Where did you read that?' he said. 'I dont think weve ever said that.'

Big boy time: Jill's oldest son Israel started kindergarten in late August. Jill was homeschooled

Off they go! The whole family went with Israel to drop him off at the school, and all four of them donned face masks per the school's new regulations

This summer, she shared a sponsored Instagram post for a modest swimwear company, modeling several of their outfits.

And on August 24, she dropped her oldest son, Israel, off at his first day of kindergarten in public school after she and her siblings had all been homeschooled.

The proud mom seemed thrilled to be sending her five-year-old off on an adventure she herself never got to have.

'It's working out pretty good. [Israel] is getting used to it,' she said in the first video Q&A session.

On the decision to send her children to school when she herself was homeschooled, Jill said: 'Even though I grew up homeschooled ... we just talked about it, prayed about it, we felt lie this is the right timing for us. We moved right next to a really good school and in a good community, so I think it just made sense for us.

'It was definitely both of us making that decision,' she added, noting that they gave careful consideration to the choice and didn't make decisions out of fear.

Unfortunately, some of this  and the couple's refusal to film for the family's TLC reality show anymore  has led to strained relationships with Jill's parents.

Derick has claimed on numerous occasions that Jill's father, Jim Bob, restricts her visits to their home  and that Jill has to ask permission to come over, especially if Jim Bob isn't there.

Down with the tyrant! Meanwhile, Derick has been calling out Jill's dad Jim Bob for restricting their access to the rest of the family

Enabler: Jim Bob reportedly restricts Jill's access to the family home, and she is unwelcome at some family gatherings  but Jill's abuser, sex pest Josh, is inexplicably welcome

Jill even reportedly had to get permission from Jim Bob to go do her sister Jessa's house when she gave birth to daughter Ivy last year.

Derick has had some truly scathing words for his father-in-law, who doesn't seem to place similar restrictions on older son Josh, who admitted molesting four of his younger sisters, including Jill, as well as a fourth child when he was a teenager.

In July, he even went so far as to compare Jim Bob, 55, to Jeffrey Epstein, accusing him of placing a higher importance on money than following Jesus.

'[Counting On is] is still under his control. And he will attack the victims if they threaten his show.

'We were humiliated and threatened when we first tried to not film,' he added.

'We have to break this culture, that cares more about money and ratings than protecting the most vulnerable.

'Jeff Epstein already showed us that if you have enough money, power, and influence, you can get away with anything. Sadly, it doesnt stop with him. There are many more stories in this world that are not too different, existing in a culture where it can still thrive.'
The Government is on the brink of losing public support over perceived hypocrisy, the Dail has been told.

TDs will get a 2pc pay rise to 98,000 a year next month, but there is only an extra 10 cent an hour proposed for the low paid, a debate on sick pay was told.

Labour finance spokesperson Ged Nash made the point on his partys motion for the establishment of a State-backed sick-pay scheme for all employees in all workplaces.

His party colleague Aodhan O Riordain warned: We are on the brink of losing public support.

The ability to impose anti-Covid regulations would be impaired if the Government is not seen as on the publics side, he said.

Read More

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) was walking away from the Low Pay Commission because the best that the LPC can do is a 10-cent rise for those on the minimum wage. The current rate is 10.10 per hour.

He said people were having a conversation in their own heads and wrangle in their own minds as to whether to go to work if they developed Covid-like symptoms, he said.

Do I go to work, knowing I am not well, or do I do the right thing, knowing I will be out of pocket and may not be able to pay the rent, pay the bills, and to feed my children.

Unlike in 23 other EU countries, there is no automatic right to sick pay, and it is left to the discretion of an employer. People Before Profit TD Brid Smith said that on this issue, Ireland was literally the sick man of Europe.

The Government says it will study the question of a statutory sick-pay scheme for all over the next six months, consulting with all stakeholders, including employers and the unions.

But Mr O Riordain said: We dont have six months. We are in the middle of a pandemic.

Sinn Fein TD Louise OReilly said ICTU chief Patricia King was right to walk away from the Low Pay Commission, and she hoped the Government would now legislate for a meaningful increase.

Patricia Ryan, Sinn Fein TD for Kildare South, said there were many stories of workers taking Calpol to keep their temperatures down when going to work at meat plants.

Social Democrats TD for Cork South West Holly Cairns said the lack of sick pay in Ireland disproportionately affected women.

She added: Without sick pay, we are directly incentivising people to go to work while sick.

During a pandemic, sick pay is a basic protection for others, including front-line workers.

Sinn Fein spokeswoman on social protection Claire Kerrane described the recommendation from the Low Pay Commission of a 10-cent increase in the minimum wage is a slap in the face for workers.

Over the last six months, we have praised workers on the front line, the shop assistants, the factory workers, delivery drivers and those working in food services, she said.

Many of these workers were deemed essential when Covid first hit and they continued to work under extremely difficult and stressful circumstances to keep the country running.

They worked to ensure that the supermarket shelves were full, they took up making PPE, they ensured that food supplies were continually available, and they delivered essential supplies the length and breadth of the State.

The suggestion of a 1pc increase is an insult to workers. The commitment in the Programme for Government to progress to a Living Wage over the lifetime of the Government needs to come much sooner.

Peadar Toibin, leader of Aontu, warned that the Government's attitude was reminiscent of the days of Charlie Haughey.

The Meath West TD said: It's like his telling people to tighten their belts at the same time while buying Charvet shirts in Paris.

The row blew up again a short while later.

Sinn Fein TD Johnny Brady said he and his party would not accept the 2pc pay rise in a Deputys salary in October.

He said: There is a perception that some politicians are standing on the backs of the low-paid to stick their snouts in the trough.

But the Taoiseach told Sinn Fein TDs: You are the wealthiest party in this country.

He added: I'm not going to play a cheap political games that your party wants to do all the time. I havent raised millions of dollars in the United States like your party.

Amid outcry from the Sinn Fein benches, Ceann Comhairle Sean O Fearghail urged Deputies to restrain themselves.

Mr Martin said the rate of pay for a TD had been pegged to that of a Principal Officer in the civil service for the last 20 years, and asked if Sinn Fein was going to break that linkage.

The way you deal with wages in this country is you have a progressive taxation system that taxes middle and high incomes more than those on low incomes. That's what we have in this country.
The National Liberal Party (PNL) candidate for Bucharest City Hall, Nicusor Dan, said that the average salary in Bucharest can reach, in four years of office of an administration that works in the service of the citizen and is open to work with specialists, at 1,400 euros per month, from 850 euros per month, as it is today.

"Bucharest has a great economic future and a great economic potential. (...) As we said in the project we presented publicly, the average salary of Bucharest residents can reach, in four years of office, 1,400 euro per month from 850 euro per month, as it is today. It is a very simple matter, we must collaborate with the business environment, we must give these people time, we must, together with the Romanian Government, and Bucharest needs a partnership with the Romanian Government, bring the big investments the city needs, we must make predictable public procurement that will generate the local market, we must see how things go with school and how we can make a partnership between the school and the business environment, so that the children who come out both from the pre-university and from the university level find the jobs for which they have prepared," said Nicusor Dan, on Tuesday, at the launching event of the political programme of PNL Bucharest,"Together we build the New Bucharest - the priorities of the Liberal local government.

He added that all the aspects pointed out are "very simple" things that are based on "an even simpler issue", that the City Hall should work "for the citizen" and have the openness to work "with specialists".

"We have professional associations, we have a competitive business environment, we have NGOs, we have people in the university area, we must all work together for this city. Both the City Hall and the General Council are the ones who have to put the people of Bucharest together to work for this city. It is very simple, you have to have the humility, the openness to work in the service of the citizen, that's all," said the candidate supported by PNL for the Capital City Hall.

Nicusor Dan described the PNL's political programme for Bucharest as "realistic".

"These are the things that this city could have started doing four years ago, eight years ago and 12 years ago. What's simpler than when your water pipe cracks, replace it and if you have European money for it, you take it, what's simpler than that?", said Nicusor Dan.
ATLANTA, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Due out Fall 2020, "Thrive: Turning Uncertainty To Competitive Advantage," a new Strategic Business Growth book by Meridith Elliott Powell, Business Growth Expert & Award-Winning Author, MotionFirst, of Atlanta, provides the roadmap for corporate leadership and family-owned businesses to grow their organizations and drive sales in these highly shifting, constantly changing economic times.

Book Cover Meridith Elliott Powell

"I wrote this book because I wanted to flip the script on uncertainty. I wanted to help business owners and corporate leaders understand that uncertainty does not have to be a negative. In fact, it can be the very thing that can transform your business and take it to the next level," said Powell who has consulted with companies such as FastSigns, Nationwide, and IBM.

Powell's new strategic growth book reveals the stories of nine companies that were founded in the late 1700's to early 1900's and are still in business thriving today. These organizations have handled the challenges of and continued to grow through several economic shifts including World Wars, economic depression and even a pandemic.

Powell shares their stories, their struggles, and shows readers exactly how they overcame adversity and transformed their businesses. She concludes with a 9 Step Formula, based on the research, for turning adversity to strategic opportunity.

Her formula is easily applicable to any business, no matter your size, your model or your customer base.

The book is presented in three easy to read and easy to implement sections:

PART 1:

A high-level history lesson you are going to love. An opportunity to look back more than 250 years at the constant changes, challenges and shifts we have seen in our economy and marketplace. This section will help you find a unique sense of calm and peace in understanding we have been here before. Faced with World Wars, Economic Depression and yes, even a Pandemic  businesses and our society have survived.

PART 2:

We reveal the companies and share their stories. A deep dive into the case studies, and the journeys of the nine companies that have learned to turn uncertainty to competitive advantage. Each chapter will highlight one-step of the Nine-step Formula for Thriving in Uncertainty, and then use a company's real-life story to show how they did it and how effective it has been.

PART 3:

Powell presents "Your Nine-step Formula for Thriving in Uncertainty." The step-by-step guide shows readers the strategy to follow to move from fearing uncertainty to capitalizing on it.

For more information about the formula and THRIVE: Turning Uncertainty To Competitive Advantage go to https://meridithelliottpowell.com/pre-order-thrive/

About Meridith Elliott Powell

Voted one of the Top 15 Business Growth Experts, a Top Sales Experts To Follow on LinkedIn, and Top 41 Motivational Sales Speakers, Meridith has a cutting-edge message, rooted in real-life examples and real-world knowledge. She is the author of six books, including "Cut Through The Excuses  Send Sales Through The Roof," and her latest "Thrive: Strategies To Turn Uncertainty To Competitive Advantage."

Meridith is regularly featured in Forbes, Fast Company, Inc., Investment News, and American Banker. Her speeches and training sessions are high energy and highly interactive. Meridith helps leaders and business owners learn the new rules of success and the strategies they need to build their business, engage their teams, and leave their competition in the dust.

Meridith is a Certified Speaker Professional, a designation held by less than twelve percent of professional speakers. She is a Certified Virtual Presenter. She is the Vice-Chair of the National Speakers Association and serves on several community and corporate boards.

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Gulf Air, the national carrier of Bahrain, has announced that it has resumed its direct flights to and from Delhis Indira Gandhi International Airport on September 19.

Last week, the airline resumed flights to Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), Cochin and Calicut with plans to announce a further expansion into more destinations within India soon.

The flights are operating based on a special agreement between the governments of Bahrain and India.

Gulf Air has been operating direct flights between Bahrain and the Indian capital since 1981 and its network of Indian cities has always been key within the Gulf Airs global network. The airline currently flies to and from London, Paris, Frankfurt, Manila, Athens, Cairo, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Kuwait, Peshawar, Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Thiruvananthapuram, Cochin, Calicut and Delhi.

Being one of the few airlines that continued scheduled commercial operations, Gulf Air continuously works closely with the government authorities throughout the destinations on its network to resume operations as soon as airports open.

Gulf Air boasts a flexible and agile network by immediately adapting to government orders and civil aviation directives around its network and has been responsive to continuous changes and updates regarding operations to and from its network destinations.

Updates are constantly added on gulfair.com/covid19 including travel advice, network and new health and safety procedures, the statement said. - TradeArabia News Service
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Linkedin Ali Sawafta and Nidal al-Mughrabi (Reuters) Ramallah, Palestine  Wed, September 23, 2020 09:27 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c469362a 2 World Arab-League,Middle-East-conflict,Palestine,Israel-Palestine-conflict,Israel-UAE,normalization Free

Palestine has quit its current chairmanship of Arab League meetings, the Palestinian foreign minister said on Tuesday, condemning as dishonorable any Arab agreement to establish formal relations with Israel.

Palestinians see the accords 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 member nations breaking ranks and normalizing ties 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 West Bank city of Ramallah that it no longer wanted the position.

"Palestine has decided to concede its right to chair the League's council [of foreign ministers] at its current session. There is no honor in seeing Arabs rush towards normalization during its presidency, Maliki said.

After initial remarks, Maliki read from a letter he said he sent to Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit informing him of the Palestinian move and criticizing the UAE and Bahrain, both Gulf Arab nations that share Israeli concerns about Iran.

The UAE's deal with Israel "created a deep crisis in the Arab League" and the accord was followed "by a similar collapse by the Kingdom of Bahrain", Maliki said, quoting from the letter.

In a new move addressing internal Palestinian divisions, officials from West Bank-based President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah faction and the Islamist 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.
Andersen posted his own summary of his paper on Twitter:

Davidson's Marsicano has his own Twitter thread here .

The research paper, "College Openings, Mobility, and the Incidence of COVID-19," is posted here (and click on "preview PDF" to read it). Note that medRxiv (pronounced "med-archive") is an online repository for preliminary health sciences research reports that haven't yet been peer reviewed or published in the academic sense.

P.S.: Here's a tip if you can't afford a Wall Street Journal subscription but do have a Greensboro library card. The Greensboro Public Library through NC Live lets you read full articles from the printed version of the WSJ; click here and follow the online trail. That wouldn't let me read the story online when it was first published, but I was able to get to it today.

Update, 1:30 p.m.: I added the link to the paper in the next-to-last paragraph above.

Staff writer John Newsom covers higher education for the News & Record of Greensboro and the Winston-Salem Journal.

Have something to say about this blog post? Email him at john.newsom@greensboro.com. You can also follow him on Twitter at @JohnNewsomNR.

Support his coverage of higher education. Click here and here to learn about digital subscriptions the News & Record and the Journal.
As COVID-19 cases in Benton County rise with Oregon State Universitys fall term getting underway, identifying cases early and getting those who test positive into isolation are important factors in slowing the disease.

Access to testing and contact tracing and getting the public to cooperate are also key.

Its not so much about reducing that reproductive number, its about finding cases, Peter Banwarth, Benton County Health Departments data analyst said in his Tuesday morning presentation to the county commissioners.

Banwarth, an epidemiologist, provided the commissioners with a new set of computer-modeled projections for the county based on the 12,000 students, faculty and staff expected to be moving into the county for OSU fall term.

Through Monday, the fourth day of move-ins to Oregon States dormitories, 27 students, or roughly 1.5%, of the nearly 2,000 who arrived tested positive for coronavirus. The health departments Charlie Fautin said about 60% of those testing positive through Monday opted for OSUs isolation housing. The rest went home.

Twenty-four of the 27 positive tests came Friday. Fautin said once better demographics from the positives are available, a study will be done to see if those came from specific locations or if it was just a statistical anomaly.

Assuming 1.5% of those moving to Corvallis for fall term are infected, a total of 180 would contract COVID-19, Banwarth said.

In Banwarths projections, a baseline scenario assumes the use of the same policies and interventions that have been in place and available since the start of the pandemic.

A no policies/intervention approach represents a hands-off approach that would result in a significant number of illnesses and deaths. A public health champions scenario would include additional efforts beyond what has already been put forth to reduce the spread of the disease.

With the public health champions scenario providing the best possible outcome of the three and the no policies/intervention approach the worst, Banwarths projections call for between 3,500 and 50,000 infections and 22 to 220 total deaths in Benton County between Sept. 1, 2020 and Aug. 31, 2021. Using the baseline scenario, there would be 8,000 infections and 35 deaths in that time frame.

Peak hospitalizations would be one throughout the year in the public health champions scenario, three in November 2020 and March 2021 in the baseline scenario and 40 in February 2021 using the no policies/interventions scenario.

In creating and updating his projections over time, Banwarth said they are more sensitive to COVID-19 response than to prevalence to the disease at any time.

Whether there are 15 cases or 150 cases on a given day, the projections dont change considerably moving over time. Instead its the policy and community responses, he said.

In a discussion on the topic, Commissioner Xanthippe Augerot emphasized the importance of testing and contact tracing.

Thats what I was really trying to get to, is that piece, because I feel like thats what we have control over most, Augerot said.

Fautin was asked how recent COVID-19 messaging from the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and confusion in testing recommendations are looked at by the public health community. He called it a giant concern.

Fautin said public health lives and breathes on reputation, being first and accurate.

Although public health is a lot about informing and recommending policy to elected officials like you and policymakers, we try very hard to be based on science and to provide straightforward, honest information, he said. It is very painful within the public health system to see the sort of whiplash that we have witnessed as recently as (Monday), where it looks like theres direct intervention into either the content or the visibility of specific scientific recommendations. At all levels, the public health reputation trustworthiness suffers as a result of that.

Fautin pointed to a dramatic increase in cases in Great Britain and the publics highly dubious response to additional health measures announced by the government.

He says there is strong compliance to protocols in the local area but not in other parts of the state and country.

I think were going to face a serious uphill fight and some real challenges  when a vaccine becomes available, probably early next year, maybe a little sooner, Fautin said.

At Oregon State, a total of 1,000 people from its three campuses  Bend and Newport included  will be randomly invited each week to be tested.

Benton County is involved in wastewater monitoring on an on-going basis. Fautin said that if COVID-19 is found on the OSU campus, officials would try to isolate that to a single building and hopefully gain permission from Oregon State to do testing on those in the target area.
A Broadmoor Hospital doctor who lied to senior colleagues about having breast cancer has been told she can treat patients again after she vowed to be an 'honest and transparent person.'

Trainee psychiatrist Dr Amina Rafi, 25, had falsely claimed she had undergone three rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment when she did not have the condition.

But the lie unravelled when colleagues at the maximum security facility, which has over the years housed some of Britain's most infamous life-serving prisoners, became suspicious about her medical qualifications.

She kept up the pretense during a review meeting with a senior consultant but eventually broke down and confessed.

It emerged she had exaggerated her medical experience and also her age - claiming she was four years older than she actually was.

In November last year at the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service in Manchester, Rafi from Reading, Berks was suspended from practice for nine months after a disciplinary panel said her lies had put the lives of Broadmoor patients at risk.

The high security hospital was previously home to the Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe and London nail bomber David Copeland.

Trainee psychiatrist Dr Amina Rafi, 25, had falsely claimed she had undergone three rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment when she did not even have the condition

Rafi worked at a Broadmoor high security hospital (pictured), which was previously home to the Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe and London nail bomber David Copeland

Rafi admitted misconduct but said she been under 'stress' due to the death of a patient at the facility and collapse of a member of staff in the car park.

She also claimed she was 'anxious' about getting breast cancer as there had been a history of the illness in her family.

Today Rafi was deemed safe to return to work during a review hearing after she filed a series of statements telling of her shame over the lies.

She said: 'This journey has been truly gruelling and has forced me to confront so much about myself and to change, and has also made clear what is at stake if I do not - namely my medical licence, which remains very dear to me.

'I have experienced life without it, and if I had to reduce my feelings down to the most overwhelming one, it would be what a privilege I have lost. I feel such shame and regret at everything I did and wish I could make amends to everyone I have wronged.'

The investigation began after rumours circulated at the hospital about Rafi's trumped-up claims of being a member of the Royal College of Physicians and a hospital registrar at 'ST6' level when she started at Broadmoor in February 2018.

In fact she had just completed her second year of training as a psychiatrist having qualified at Leeds University medical school in 2014.

But at the time she started her job she also made false claims to her clinical supervisor about having cancer and was advised to tell senior staff about her condition.

She falsely claimed she had received surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy for breast cancer on 'two or three' occasions. She kept up the lies until a review meeting in June 2018 where she was asked about her background.

Trainee psychiatrist Dr Amini Rafi (pictured), 25, told colleagues at the maximum security hospital she had the disease, was four years older than she was, and that she was a member of the Royal College of Physicians

In her reflective statement read to the hearing Rafi added: 'I have spent many hours on a monthly basis preparing these reflections and considering the impact of my behaviour.

'As difficult as that process has been, it has confirmed my commitment to ensure that such behaviour is not repeated.

'I remain deeply remorseful for my misconduct and dishonesty that led to my suspension and I hope that the Committee will accept the above evidence as a demonstration of my insightful reflections and my commitment to ensuring that such behaviour is not repeated.

'I lied to my colleagues and I tried to bolster my own self-esteem in a very ugly and potentially dangerous way.

Ms Rafi told of how she had been under 'stress' due to the death of a patient at Broadmoor and the collapse of a member of staff in the car park

'I felt so ashamed but it does not compare to the shame I felt once everyone knew I had not only lied but had continued to lie.

'I choose to view this period of suspension as a way to prove my ongoing commitment to changing myself, to never allowing my ability to reflect on myself to slip, to admit to my faults and work on changing them.

'I wish to be seen as an honest and transparent person again, in the eyes of the profession and also through my own critical lens.'

She went on: 'I think that now more than ever, channelling the support network I have been building is crucial to ensure I do not slip back into old patterns.

'I remain committed to the promises I made to myself and to the professional body that I must not adopt old habits out of desperation, to allow terrible things to happen and to silently endure it.'

Lifting the suspension tribunal chairman Mrs Jayne Wheat said: 'Dr Rafi has developed further insight into her actions since the 2019 Tribunal hearing and has recognised her actions were wrong.

'She has learnt from them and understood the consequences in relation to both the impact on her colleagues and of the reputation of the profession. Dr Rafi recognised that had her behaviour continued patients may have been put at risk.

'She has consistently engaged with this in order to maintain her medical knowledge and skills. The Tribunal considered that the steps taken by Dr Rafi in maintaining her knowledge represented a clear commitment to resuming practice safely.'
Jimmy Deenihan with internationally renowned harpist Muireann ODwyer at Culture Night in Listowel. Photo by John Kelliher

Some of North Kerrys finest young harpists prepare for a night of magical Irish music on the grounds of Listowel Castle on Friday. Photo by John Kelliher

Tralee Circus Festival performers in a video celebrating Culture Night in the county capital, which was streamed on Friday

Violinist Kate Fitzpatrick tunes up for Culture Night at St Johns Arts Centre in Listowel. Photo by Domnick Walsh

What a difference a year makes. Last year's Culture Night seems a distant memory at this stage as the 2020 outing - which took place last Friday night - was a much different affair to last year's festivities. Indeed, most of this year's events taking place online due to COVID-19.

One of the big events that took place in North Kerry was a very successful harp recital staged in St John's Theatre.

The event, organised by former Minister Jimmy Deenihan and Ballybunion harpist Eithne Walsh, featured Dingle harpist Deirdre Granville, Templemore Harpist Muireann O'Dwyer and nine of the emerging young harpers from North Kerry. It was live-streamed online and garnered a fantastic response from viewers.

It's an instrument that has deep roots in North Kerry, with two renowned harpists from the 17th and 18th century - Nicholas Dall Pierse from Rathoo, Ballyduff; and Cornelius Lyons - hailing from the area, so to see the instrument making a resurgence in the region is a very welcome sight.

In South Kerry, there was a plethora of events for people to choose from including an online screening of an exhibition by Roisin Ni Chionnfhaolaidh (glass) and Anja Gnauck (ceramics).

Both artists live and work in Ballinskelligs and are strongly influenced by the surrounding seascapes.

Additionally, another popular event was a live stream of 'Kampala to Kerry', a musical journey of songs, stories and drumming, with viewers enjoying the best of African and Irish cultural offerings.

And in Tralee, the Fanzini brothers were on hand to show off their latest creation, a specially commissioned video piece from the National Circus Festival of Ireland and Kerry County Council Arts Office.

It featured six circus artists and was shot at locations around the town.
Watch: Gwyneth Paltrow says co-parenting with Chris Martin is 'harder than it looks'

Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin seem to have the co-parenting thing down pat, but the Goop CEO says it can be harder than it looks some days.

Paltrow chatted with friend Drew Barrymore for the new daytime TV hosts talk show about her relationship with Martin. Barrymore called the exes  who consciously uncoupled in 2014 after 10 years of marriage  a major beacon of how it can be done.

In a way, my divorce and my relationship with Chris now is, like, better than our marriage was, Paltrow, 47, explained on The Drew Barrymore Show. So, I do think that it can be done.

Read more: Gwyneth Paltrow says conscious uncoupling sounded a bit full of itself

The Avengers star credited a doctor with helping give her and the Coldplay frontman, 43, a rubric of how to do it.

Gwyneth Paltrow opens up about co-parenting with Chris Martin. (Photo: Getty Images for J/P Haitian Relief Organization)

You have to know that every relationship is 50-50 no matter what you think  how you think you were wronged, or how bad you perceive the other persons actions or whatever the case may be, Paltrow continued. If you are brave enough to take responsibility for your half and take a look at your own garbage, your own trauma then theres really somewhere to go and something to learn and something to heal.

Paltrow said she and Martin made their two children  daughter Apple, 16, and son Moses, 14,  a priority.

I really wanted my kids to not be traumatised, if it were possible, she explained. Chris and I committed to putting them first and thats harder than it looks because some days you really dont want to be with the person that youre getting divorced from! But if youre committed to having family dinner, then you do it you recommit to this new relationship you are trying to foster.

While there are good days and bad days, Paltrow added, We have this idea that just because we breakup we cant love the things about the person anymore that we loved and thats not true.

Story continues

Read more: Gywneth Paltrow wishes daughter Apple a happy 16th birthday

Both stars have happily moved on since finalising their divorce in 2016. Paltrow is married to writer and producer, Brad Falchuk, and has posted about her modern family over the years.

Martin has been dating Dakota Johnson. They were first spotted out together in 2017.

Watch: Dating at a Distance - Alex and Rob talk crushes, celebrity lookalikes and weird quirks
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IMAGE: Opposition MPs march from Mahatma Gandhi's statue to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar's statue in protest against the farm and labour bills during the monsoon session at Parliament House in New Delhi, September 23, 2020. Photograph: Kamal Kishore/PTI Photo

The monsoon session of Parliament has seen more than its fair share of government-Opposition friction.

But nothing like what was witnessed on Sunday, September 20, in the Rajya Sabha when two agriculture-related bills were passed.

The protests started when Deputy Chairperson Harivansh Narayan Singh rejected the Opposition's demand to end the day's proceedings at the scheduled 1 pm.

Opposition members rushed to the well of the House, mikes were broken, papers were torn, and amidst all this bedlam the two farm bills were passed by a voice vote, with the chair not granting a division.

The next day saw even more action, with eight Opposition MPs suspended for a week for unruly behaviour.

But they refused to leave the Parliament premises and sat on an overnight dharna on the lawns. Their protest was finally withdrawn when all the Opposition parties decided to boycott Parliament to protest their suspension.

Dr Syed Naseer Hussain, a Congress member of the Rajya Sabha and one of the eight MPs who were suspended, spoke to A Ganesh Nadar/Rediff.com about what happened in Parliament and what the MPs are planning to do next.

Could you tell us what happened in the Rajya Sabha when the agri bills were passed?

It was 1 pm. The session was supposed to end at 1 pm. We asked Deputy Chairperson Harivansh to adjourn the house. We could have taken up the matter the next day, debated on it and put it to vote, and they (the government) would have lost.

But he refused to adjourn the House. We asked for a division vote, he refused. He did not allow us to vote. Then the hungama (bedlam) happened and we were suspended the next day.

What were your objections to the farm bills?

The first objection is that minimum support price is not included.

Then there is no clarity on what will happen after the mandis and the Agriculture Produce Market Committee outlets are closed.

Where will the farmers sell their produce?

We wanted a statement that the Centre and states will continue to buy at MSP included in the bill.

There is a severe pandemic caused by the coronavirus, there is tension at the China border, so what was the hurry to pass these bills? There is no hurry.

We wanted to refer the bill to a select committee, but they did not agree.

So you all refused the tea offered by Harivansh on Tuesday morning?

If he had adjourned the House and taken it up the next day, they would have lost. He doesn't go by the rule book, so how could we accept his tea?

The bill allows the farmer to sell his produce anywhere in the country. Isn't that good?

But sell where in the country? Where are the markets?

What happens to the small farmers who have less than five acres of land? They don't have the facility or means to store. They cannot go far as they don't have money to transport.

They will be exploited by money-lenders.

What is the guarantee that the buyers will buy at MSP? There is no guarantee.

But by boycotting the Rajya Sabha you only allowed the government to pass all their bills without opposition, isn't it?

We would love to participate in the Rajya Sabha if the government cared two hoots for parliamentary procedures.

You don't allow division. You don't allow voting. What is the point of attending Parliament?

It is undemocratic and shows fascist tendencies.

What are you planning to do next?

We are going to collect two crore (20 million) signatures against the bills and mobilise the farmers.

This evening (Wednesday, September 23 evening) all the parties are meeting the President to tell him not to sign the bills. We are going to ask him to return the bills to Parliament.
A joint forum of several farmers, labourers and Dalit organisations have called for a statewide bandh in Karnataka on September 28 after the state government went ahead and tabled a bill to amend the APMC act.

President of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha Kodihalli Chandrashekar, State president of Confederation of Farmers Association Kuruburu Shanthakumar, Hasiru Sena (Green Army) Chief Badgalapura Nagendra and others said that a state wide bandh would be observed on Monday to protest against what they said was anti-farmer policies of the state and Central governments.

Farmer organisations have been protesting against some of the recent changes in the state like allowing non-agriculturists to buy farmland, amendments to the electricity act and now the APMC act which would allow farmers to sell outside of mandis to private players.

Chandrashekar said on Friday that there would be statewide protests against the proposed farm bills but on Monday there would be a complete statewide bandh. Except essential and emergency services, all other services would be shut on the day of bandh. Shanmugappa, president of the Karnataka unit of Lorry Owners and Agents association, claimed that five lakh trucks and lorries would come to a standstill.

A few autorickshaw and taxi app based aggregator (like Ola and Uber) organisations have also extended support for the proposed bandh.
MANY months into the COVID-19 pandemic, we know more about this relentless virus and how it behaves and spreads. Using this limited but growing scientific knowledge, public-health measures have kept us largely safe.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/9/2020 (486 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opinion

MANY months into the COVID-19 pandemic, we know more about this relentless virus and how it behaves and spreads. Using this limited but growing scientific knowledge, public-health measures have kept us largely safe.

Back in March, given the unknowns we needed to manage, the only solution possible was a complete lockdown. It came into our lives violently, enticing many to panic-buy, thinking they would not be allowed to leave their homes for weeks, possibly months.

As consumers, we behaved irrationally as we coped with many uncertainties. Regrettably, over-buying food led to more food waste and added unnecessary pressure on the food supply chain. The food industry was also compromised by a food-service sector that was almost completely idle for weeks.

In addition, the livestock industry was hard hit by COVID-19. Twelve meat processing plants had to shut , some for as long as a month, because so many employees contracted the virus. The Cargill plant in High River, Alta., became a case study when it experienced the largest outbreak at one address in the country.

The weird and wacky quest for toilet paper aside, empty shelves where food belonged gave many a profound, heart-thumping fear of food insecurity. It became real for many people, likely for the first time in their lives.

After all, North America hasnt experienced the famine, major wars or chronic civil unrest seen elsewhere in the world over the last century. In the land of abundance and bounty, running out of food is something that happens elsewhere.

Though pictures of empty shelves led Canadians to believe our food system has its limits, it quickly became apparent that the shelves would continue to be stocked, however messy the process of getting it there might be.

Panic slowly disappeared, allowing collective discipline and peaceful amenability to take over. Measures were put in place to keep people safe and responsible and, a few weeks into the pandemic, rationing became an expectation. All measures were gracefully executed as consumers complied.

Technologies and just-in-time procurement allowed the food industry to absorb the unprecedented shock in March and April. In a stunning display, the food industry really delivered to ensure shelves were stocked. We witnessed a beautiful miracle of collaborative spirit.

The industry also learned how to serve consumers who are unable to get to grocery stores as quarantines and self-isolation measures forced many to order online. Barely six months ago, it was almost impossible to get a grocery order delivered within eight days. Now, most markets offer great home delivery service and will deliver just about anything, including groceries, within two hours. This was almost inconceivable when this crazy year began.

As a result of the pandemic, online food sales will triple the 2019 volume.

The food industry and consumers also benefited from the decision to allow borders to remain permeable throughout the pandemic. Just a few decades ago, that would not have happened. But cooler heads prevailed and governments around the world quickly understood that closing the borders to the movement of vital goods would only make matters worse.

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.

Canadians should feel comforted by the willingness to allow the borders to remain permeable.

While most Canadians will be food secure, despite higher prices, this isnt true for all Canadians. Poverty rates have increased during the pandemic and Statistics Canada reports that an additional 700,000 people have experienced food insecurity since March. Lets hope the federal government has long-term plans for financially vulnerable Canadians.

The pandemic has made life challenging and, quite understandably, Canadians are on edge and a little restless going into the fall. But we dont need to panic. Companies do learn, and its highly unlikely an uncontrolled, mismanaged scenario will happen again.

The food sector has been preparing for a potential second wave for months, and though the industry may not be perfect, we should trust that food will remain available across the country.

Sylvain Charlebois is senior director of the agri-food analytics lab and a professor in food distribution and policy at Dalhousie University.

 Troy Media
Senior government ministers Martin Pakula and Lisa Neville have distanced themselves from Victoria's botched hotel quarantine program, which led to the state's devastating second coronavirus wave.

The duo placed the blame squarely on the Department of Health and Human Services when they appeared before the state's hotel quarantine inquiry on Wednesday.

'It was a health emergency, therefore the control agency was DHHS,' Police and Emergency Services Minister Lisa Neville told the inquiry.

The ministers said they don't know who made the decision to hire private security companies to guard the state's quarantine hotels, rather than Victoria Police or the Australian Defence Force.

Victoria Police Minister Lisa Neville speaks to the media during a press conference in Melbourne

Pictured: A woman in a hi vis vest leaving Rydges on Swanston hotel in Melbourne, July 14.

The inquiry has previously heard it was Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton's preference that private security be used, while Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp maintained there was no need for ADF 'boots on the ground'.

Ms Neville had a scheduled meeting with Mr Ashton and Mr Crisp at 2pm on March 27, immediately after national cabinet announced the hotel quarantine program.

'I believe that private security was raised by Commissioner Crisp. I'm pretty confident the ADF issues were raised by Mr Ashton,' she said.

Mr Crisp previously told the inquiry he couldn't remember what was discussed at the meeting but didn't think he would have brought up security.

'It was clear to me and I think to both commissioners that a decision had already been taken about the front line of enforcement at the hotels,' Ms Neville said.

Jobs Minister Martin Pakula said his department was tasked with contracting hotels and security companies for the program but it was clear the DHHS had 'overall responsibility'.

'It would have been preferable for the agency which has overall responsibility to have the contractual management responsibility. I think that would have been better,' he said.

More than 30 security guards and staff working at two quarantine hotels (pictured in June) caught coronavirus from returned travellers and spread it into the community

The contracts written up by the jobs department placed the responsibility of training guards, including in the use of personal protective equipment, on the security companies.

Cleaning obligations were put on the hotels, unless a returned traveller tested positive to COVID-19.

Mr Pakula said it was appropriate to place some onus on the contracted parties.

'I don't take from it a suggestion that there were no obligations on anybody else in addition to that,' he said.

He said the DHHS were responsible for providing infection control advice to contractors.

More than 30 security guards and staff working at two quarantine hotels caught coronavirus from returned travellers and spread it into the community.

Some 99 per cent of second wave cases in Victoria can be linked to the two outbreaks.

The inquiry has previously heard guards received little to no training in appropriate PPE use and failed to adhere to social distancing rules.

Some were accused of sexually harassing nurses, hotel staff and guests.

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton speaks to the media in June. The inquiry has previously heard it was Mr Ashton's preference that private security be used

The inquiry heard public servants in Mr Pakula's department had concerns about the program as early as April.

But he admitted he did not know about them until the inquiry 'had commenced or had been called'.

The Department of Justice and Community Safety took over the program in late June, using Corrections Victoria staff.

A submission to the Crisis Council of Cabinet around that time warned the police union and the Community and Public Sector Union may be concerned about 'workplace health and safety risks for staff working in hotel quarantine'.

DHHS secretary Kym Peake will also continue to give evidence.

On Tuesday, she denied her department had 'sole accountability' for the program despite being the control agency.

Health Minister Jenny Mikakos and Premier Daniel Andrews will appear on Thursday and Friday respectively.
He said he is looking forward to getting to know the BPD personnel on a personal level.

My goal is pretty simple, to get to know the community and basically all of the stakeholders, Clary said. So internally within the police department, get to know the people what their goals and ambitions are so that I can help them attain their goals.

He said helping members of the department become better, will in turn enable them to better serve the Bellevue community.

I believe in transparency of government, I want people to know who I am, I also want to know who they are, Clary said.

We serve the community and without understanding what their wants and needs are, we cant really forge ahead in the right direction, Clary said.

He said he wants to engage the Bellevue community in conversation and provide them opportunities to give him and the rest of BPD feedback.
Gandhinagar, Sep 24 : The Gujarat Assembly unanimously passed a bill in the ongoing five-day Monsoon session, for setting up an authority to develop the area around famous Ambaji temple as pilgrimage site.

Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel proposed the bill in the house on Wednesday. The bill seeks to establish an authority for the development and management of pilgrimage tourism in and around the Maa Ambaji temple at Ambaji in Gujarat, through effective planning and administration and governance.

"With increasing number of pilgrims in Gujarat as well as in the country, the Gujarat government felt the need of developing the area. Therefore, the state government decided to establish an authority namely the Ambaji Area Development and Pilgrimage Tourism Governance Authority," said Patel.

The proposed authority will establish, maintain and operate services connected with the pilgrimage tourism industry. The authority will acquire the land required for the development, by sale, or taking it on lease, hire or pledge or otherwise grant, donate, town planning, consent agreement or through proceedings under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.

The authority will also enter into contracts, agreements or concession agreements with any person, entity, developer or organisation for performing its functions.

The provision of the Act prohibits any person to carry on any development in any building on any land within the limits of the said pilgrimage development area, without the prior permission of the authority. The person if found violating, the authority will have the power to pull down any such work or construction and restore the land.

The provisions of the bill empowers the district police to assist the officers of the authority to enforce, protection and security of the development area. It also empowers the police in aiding the Ambaji Pilgrimage Tourism Authority in detection and investigation of any matters relating to leakage of revenue or any amount to the temple pilgrimage Development Authority.

The Ambaji pilgrimage tourism development area will be considered to be an industrial township and will be declared as a notified area.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
A Louisville sergeant at the centre of the Breonna Taylor investigation sent a mass email on Tuesday defending police actions as "legal, moral and ethical".

It comes as Louisville police declared a pre-emptive state of emergency in anticipation of findings from the state's attorney general, who has been investigating possible criminal charges against the officers involved Ms Taylor's death.

In the email sent to more than 1,000 colleagues about 2 am on Tuesday morning, Jonathan Mattingly said the next few days would be tough whatever the outcome as they were pawns in a political game.

"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 demonized, and criminals are canonized," Mr Mattingly wrote in the email, first reported by Vice News correspondent Roberto Aram Ferdman on Twitter.

Mr Mattingly, who was shot and wounded during the raid on 13 March, also wrote that his colleagues did not deserve to be in the position that allowed thugs to yell, curse, degrade, thrown bricks, urine and expect them to do nothing in their jobs of "good versus evil".

"Your civil rights mean nothing, but the criminal has total autonomy," he added.

Mr Mattingly's lawyer, Kent Wicker, confirmed to The Courier-Journal that Mr Mattingly sent the email to express his feelings in difficult times.

"Like our entire community, he is hopeful this process moves forward quickly and that his fellow officers and the people of Louisville remain safe, Mr Wicker said.

During a press conference to discuss police barricades securing the city's downtown area, Louisville Metro Police Department chief Robert Schroder said talking about the outcome was premature.

Mr Mattingly, along with detectives Myles Cosgrove and Brett Hankison, was one of the three officers who fired their weapons serving a search warrant at Ms Taylor's apartment.

This is by no means intended to be a lockdown of the downtown area, Mr Schroeder said.

After Louisville police issued a statement Tuesday in anticipation of attorney general Daniel Cameron's decision, Mayor Greg Fischer said the goal was to keep everyone safe.

The state of emergency allows Mr Fischer to employ restrictions like curfews, close parking garages and ban street parking.

Journalist Hayes Gardner posted images online of buildings, gas stations and shop fronts boarded up and vehicle barricades around Jefferson Square Park.

While Mr Cameron has not given a public timeline on his decision, Louisville police cancelled all days off and all vacation requests on Monday , leading some observers to believe a decision not to recommend charges will be coming this week.

Activists promoting violence on Twitter have begun calling for the city to burn if a charging decision for the officers involved isn't delivered.
Jon Cherry/Getty ImagesOn Wednesday, a Kentucky grand jury indicted one of the three officers involved in the March 13 shooting death of Breonna Taylor. However, none of the officers involved have been charged with Taylor's death.

A $15,000 cash bond was set for former Louisville police officer Brett Hankison, who was indicted on three counts of wanton endangerment in the first degree -- defined as exhibiting extreme indifference to human life -- for shooting into a neighboring apartment, not Taylors apartment.

In a press conference after, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron said none of the shots Hankinson fired hit Taylor and that both Officer Jonathan Mattingly and Officer Myles Cosgrove "were justified in their return of deadly fire after being fired upon."

While protesters have already begun to hit the streets of Louisville and surrounding cities in reaction to the news, celebs took to social media to offer their thoughts and feelings.

Bernice King: "Praying for Breonnas mother and family. Because they knew and loved her before her name became a hashtag."

Lecrae: "Its all kind of numbing. On one hand its like I KNOW Im not crazy theres a real problem in our country. On the other Im sad that everyone doesnt see it and some dont want to. Of course I know God is at work. Its just tough to process it all. #BreonnaTaylor."

Jessie Reyez: "Justice wasnt served. The world is watching. Everything done on earth is paid on earth."

Common: "#Sayhername...#Breonna Taylor."

Queen Naija: "I cant believe this Breonna Taylor situation bruh... if it was a white girl who was killed, all the cops and more would be charged. Smfh I hate it here."

Aisha Tyler: "This is not justice. This is cowardly. ARREST THE COPS WHO KILLED BREONNA TAYLOR."

Ava Duvernay: "God bless Breonnas family and all who knew and loved her. Her tragic death compounded by the violence of silence and inaction by the city she called home is more than any of them should have to endure."

Ella Mai: "My heart is broken for the family of Breonna Taylor. once again were left with nothing that they try to make seem as something."

Kirk Franklin: "Sad day...#BreonnaTaylor."

Jemele Hill: "The state of Kentucky deemed the lives of Breonna Taylors neighbors to be worth more than her own. Let that sink in."

Yara Shahidi: "What is most insulting is that the recommended charges aren't even in response to the MURDER of Breonna Taylor, but to the POTENTIAL injury of other people in the apartment. 'No knock warrants' feel analogous to the experience of being Black in America...The unsolicited intrusion of racism and violence dealt with on a daily basis."

Viola Davis: "Bull--- decision!!! BLACK LIVES MATTER!!! Cannot be said enough times."

Kerry Washington: "[Kentucky Attorney General] Daniel Cameron is on Donald Trumps short list as replacement of #RGB on the Supreme Court. The same man who decided to not charge the officers responsible for killing #BreonnaTaylor. Vote. Whoever needs this: I understand the desire to not vote. To reject a system that abuses you & denies your worth. But please know that the system - DOES see your worth. Its AFRAID of your power. Thats why it works so hard to make you feel powerless. You are NOT powerless. Vote!

April D Ryan: "191 days and no justice! #BreonnaTaylor deserved better! Her family deserved better! Black people deserved better! Wake up and VOTE people! Thats how we change this... and they know it & its why #VoterSuppression is so intense now! #JusticeForBreonnaTaylor."

Martin Luther King III: "This is a sad day for America and for justice. Today, no one was truly charged for Breonna Taylor's murder, and her family deserves much better. This is again why elections matter, not just for president. We must vote up and down the ballot by November 3rd. Black Lives Matter."

By Rachel George

Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
A 28-yeear-old married man from India recently made international news headlines for lying to his family about getting infected with the new coronavirus as an excuse to run away with his lover.

On July 24, Manish Mishra called his wife to say that he had tested positive for Covid-19 and that he didnt want to live anymore. He then proceeded to shut off his phone, which caused his family to panic. His wife called her brother for help after receiving the bizarre call, and he advised her to file a missing persons report with the Navi Mumbai police. The investigation that followed showed that the 28-year-old supervisor had actually used the dreaded illness as a pretext to leave his family and elope with his mistress.

Photo: Mika Baumeister/Unsplash

My coronavirus test report has come out to be positive, I cant live anymore, a weeping Manish reportedly told his wife during his last phone call, but police checked all the labs near his last known location, and none had tested anyone by the name Manish Mishra. They then checked in with his employer, a logistics company, and learned that he had recently been fired because of his involvement in a fraud attempt. Finally, after talking to some of his friends, and learned that he had been having an affair.

We sent a team to his last known location, where we got his motorcycle and key, his backpack that he carried to work, and his helmet, a police officer told Indian Express. We even checked the Vashi creek with the help of local fishermen, but could not find his body. We were certain that he was alive and so we kept looking.

Based on the last cell phone location in Airoli, we scanned all CCTV camera footage from the area and found him getting into a car, Sanjeev Dhumal, senior inspector of Vashi police, said. A team tracked its owner to Ratnagiri. Meanwhile, we were also constantly questioning his friends and family. We came to know that he was having an extramarital affair. With the help of information provided by friends, we tracked him in Bhawarkua, Indore in Madhya Pradesh.

Manish and his family

Mishra was fired from work as he had indulged in a financial fraud recently. He had been having an affair for a couple of years and wanted to get rid of his wife and daughter. Which is why he plotted his illness and suicide, Dhumal added.

Police finally tracked down Mishra to the city of Indore, where he was reportedly living with his lover, hoping that his family had written him off as dead. On September 15, he was picked up and taken back to Navi Mumbai, where he was reunited with his family.

Id hate to be in this guys shoes, as he tries to explain that last phone call and the past two months.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Residents of the Belgian capital will no longer be obliged to wear anti-coronavirus facemasks in public from October 1, the regional government said on Wednesday.

Brussels, home to the headquarters of NATO and the European Union, imposed one of the world's strictest mask orders on August 12 and officials said it would be "strongly recommended" that people continue to wear them even after they are lifted.

The announcement came after Prime Minister Sophie Wilmes said she would ease some anti-COVID restrictions, despite a worrying increase in cases, in order to ensure long term public support.

"The virus is still there but life must continue," Wilmes told a news conference after a meeting of the National Security Council.

"Wearing a mask is very important in managing the epidemic. Nevertheless it is useless to impose it everywhere, all the time."

She invited local authorities not to make face covering mandatory everywhere, but to limit it to closed public places, public transport and shopping areas.

Wilmes also announced that the isolation period imposed in case of close contact with a person contaminated by the coronavirus would be reduced from 14 to seven days.

Previously, Belgian households were require to limit close contacts to a "social bubble" of five people, now each household member can choose five contacts for a month and a family can host occasional events such as dinner parties for up to ten.

Public events are limited to 200 people indoors and 400 outdoors.

Soon a "barometer of the epidemic" will be published to guide local restrictions, depending on the speed of viral spread.

In Belgium, population 11.5 million, the authorities had recorded by Wednesday 105,226 cases of COVID-19 and 9,955 deaths, one of the highest mortality rates in Europe.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

 2020 AFP
Culpeper students who would like to pursue a career in education recently got a big assist from Career Partners, Inc., the local non-profit that serves as a bridge from school to the working world.

Earlier this month the Career Partners, Inc. Board of Directors voted unanimously to sponsor dual enrollment tuition for Culpeper County Public School students who enroll in Virginia Teachers for Tomorrow, the non-profit announced last week.

Virginia Teachers for Tomorrow is a program designed to encourage students to pursue careers in education, and help with the teacher shortage in the commonwealth and across the nation.

Up to 900 K-12 teaching positions went unfilled in Virginia schools last year, according to a Dec., 2019 report from the Virginia Department of Education, CPI said in their announcement.

The dual enrollment tuition will be paid by CPI for up to 50 students who enroll in both Virginia Teachers for Tomorrow I and II classes during the 2020-21 school year.

Were excited to remove the financial barrier for students exploring careers in education and look forward to how this program may expand in the future, said Career Partners President Marty Bywaters-Baldwin in a statement.

This is an incredible opportunity for our students and ultimately our community. Thank you to CPI for once again investing in our students, their education and the future of Culpeper,  said Culpeper County Public Schools Career & Technical Education Director Randi Richards-Lutz.

Through a partnership with Shenandoah University, CCPS students will receive 3 college credits for each completed course. As set forth by the Virginia Department of Education, eligibility for the program is a minimum 2.7 GPA, three teacher recommendations, and an application with a brief essay.

Eligible students interested in the Virginia Teachers for Tomorrow dual enrollment program can talk to their school counselor or their Teachers for Tomorrow teacher, Mrs. Cathy Zanella.

CPI is a non-profit, volunteer organization that brings together local business, government, school, and community leaders to better prepare students for the workforce. Career Partners sponsors six educational programs, including the annual E-Squared business plan competition and Virginia Teachers for Tomorrow.
Prince Charles spoke about the devastating effects of climate change and warned about its impact as compared to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The 71-year-old royal, who has been a passionate environmental activist for decades now, delivered a powerful speech during the virtual opening of Climate Week in New York.

Prince Charles Calls for "Swift Action" Against Climate Crisis

In a message recorded from his Birkhall residence in Balmoral estate, the Prince of Wales pointed out that all nations need to act fast to resolve the climate change crisis.

"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," Prince Charles stated.

In addition, the senior royal explained that the ongoing pandemic should serve as a warning for what he believes would be a more severe and intense catastrophe in the future.

"[The environmental] crisis has been with us for far too many years-decried, denigrated, and denied," he continued. "It is now rapidly becoming a comprehensive catastrophe that will dwarf the impact of the coronavirus pandemic... The global pandemic is a wake-up call we simply cannot afford to ignore."

To recall, during the onset of the health crisis, the royal tested positive for coronavirus. He was then required to undergo self-quarantine at Balmoral.

Duchess Camilla, on the other hand, tested negative from the dreaded virus but was also required to observe self-isolation.

The Prine of Wales displayed mild symptoms, but he was able to recover and now remains in good health.

"It is not possible to ascertain from whom the prince caught the virus owing to the high number of engagements he carried out in his public role during recent weeks," Clarence House mentioned in a statement.

The Prince of Wales Calls for "Global Alliance"

Furthermore, Prince Charles mentioned how "billions of people" are looking for united action "to right the balance of this planet" that has been rashly disrupted.

In the end, he encouraged the government and business leaders to build a "global alliance" that would help "overcome the perverse obstacles" and restore the natural world.

On the other hand, Express.co.uk noted how Prince Charles was emotional during the speech.

Body language analyst and author Judi James explained to the outlet that the senior royal illustrated "a strong emotion" but showed "sadness" and "huge regret."

James also compared the Prince of Wales to the renowned British broadcaster and natural historian David Attenboroug, famous for the nine-part Life series.

"There's some profound channeling of David Attenborough in the style of the Prince's delivery, suggesting some strong admiration for the environmental expert," James explained.

The body expert went on and cited his difference with his son Prince Harry and wife Meghan Markle, as well as the young Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg.

"Rather than reflecting the overt displays of passion from the likes of his own son Harry and wife Meghan, or the fizzing anger of environmental campaigner Greta Thunberg, Charles, like Attenborough, stands almost to attention here, sporting the slightly ruffled look of academia, with his soft tailored suit and his slightly wonky tie."

READ MORE: Zendaya Bags Monumental Win in Emmys 2020
The Upper House of Parliament was adjourned sine die on Wednesday. The Upper House was adjourned eight days ahead of the scheduled end of the Monsoon session amid concerns of the spread of coronavirus among lawmakers. The monsoon session, which started on September 14, was set to continue till October 1.

On Wednesday alone, the Rajya Sabha passed three key labour reform bills on industrial relations, social security and occupational safety by voice votes. The passage of the bills will now remove obstacles for winding up of companies and allow firing of staff without government permission in firms with up to 300 workers.

Parliament also approved a bill to make it mandatory for office bearers of NGOs to provide their Aadhaar numbers at the time of registration and also bring various other changes on Wednesday.

Also read: Rajya Sabha passes 3 key bills on labour laws

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.

Parliament cleared the Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2020, which focuses on decriminalisation and enhances ease of living.

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Second Amendment) Bill, 2020, received Parliament nod on Monday. The bill ensures that no fresh insolvency proceedings would be initiated against companies for defaults arising during six months from March 25.

Also read: Parliament Session: Bill to amend Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act passed in Rajya Sabha

Rajya Sabha had passed the Farmers' and Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020, through voice vote on Sunday.

The bills had faced staunch opposition from farmer bodies, opposition parties and from within the ruling coalition. Harsimrat Kaur Badal, the food processing minister from the Shiromani Akali Dal party, even resigned from the government over the bills.

In total, the Upper House had to hold 18 sittings but only 10 could be held due to fear of COVID-19 spread in Parliament. Despite fears of coronavirus, the 10-day session was productive and as many as 25 bills were passed. The MPs also introduced a total of six bills.

The monsoon session of Parliament saw more than its share of ruckus as the government passed several contentious bills, including agricultural reforms bills. During last Sunday's sitting, eight members were suspended as they created a scene over the passage of the farm bills.

Also read: Parliament passes Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code Amendment Bill
On Monday, September 21, children in pre-school education and primary school first grade students will start in-person education once a week. All classes are planned to open in the coming weeks in Turkey, where there are nearly 18 million students and 1 million teachers in K-12 schools. Sosyalist Esitlik (the Socialist Equality Group, SE), in political solidarity with the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI), calls on teachers, parents, young people and workers to oppose this reopening of schools.

Despite the resurgence of the coronavirus pandemic, President Recep Tayyip Erdogans government is overseeing the resumption of in-person teaching with support of bourgeois opposition parties and trade unions. Only the independent mobilisation of all workers and youth will stop this murderous policy.

The drive to reopen schools amid the expanding coronavirus pandemic threatens the health and lives of millions of children, educators, parents, grandparents and community members.

If schools are fully opened, millions of youth and teachers will be exposed to the risk of infection in overcrowded classrooms, run-down toilet facilities and public transportation. The official number of cases is over 1,500 every day and the number of deaths exceeds 60. Only a few days before reopening of schools, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca himself admitted that Compared to the first period, the burden of our healthcare workers has increased four or five times. The fact that schools were completely closed in this first period, in March, underscores that the reopening of schools today is politically criminal.

Health Minister Koca all but admitted that herd immunity is his governments strategy against the pandemic. He said, In the upcoming period, the main focus should be on this: The number of people who have no symptoms and who are only vectors does not matter, as long as they do not infect someone else.

Yet scientific studies have established that children transmit the virus and can hold up to one hundred times more viral load in their respiratory tracts than adults. School re-openings in the United States and Brazil have already caused thousands of new infections, many teachers deaths and school closures in many regions. In August, positive cases were reportedly detected in hundreds of schools during the one-week teachers seminar period in Turkey.

A catastrophe is being prepared, with millions more students slated to return to classrooms in coming days and weeks. According to an August poll, 93 percent of teachers believe it is impossible to maintain necessary social distancing between students in classrooms. Nonetheless, the political establishment backs this school reopening, despite warnings from scientists and public health experts.

This is not because capitalist politicians who have spent their entire careers slashing school funding and privatizing public education have suddenly become concerned with the academic, social and emotional needs of children.

On the contrary, they have only one purpose: to get children out of their homes so their parents can be sent back to work to produce profits for the corporate and financial elites. The hundreds of billions of liras handed out to the corporations and banks since the beginning of the pandemic are now to be recovered from the populationno matter the cost.

International resistance to the reopening of schools is already emerging. Hundreds of thousands of teachers, pupils and parents have joined groups hostile to school re-openings on social media in the US, Brazil, UK and elsewhere. Health and safety committees are being formed in factories, schools and universities in the US, Britain and Germany, independently of the trade unions, which are the bribed allies of the corporations and state.

In the same survey of teachers in Turkey, the vast majority (96.4 percent) said that if face-to-face education is initiated during the pandemic, their health and the health of their families will be in danger. According to another survey, 64 percent of parents stated that they did not find it safe to reopen schools.

Sosyalist Esitlik aims to mobilize this opposition and unite educators with youth, parents and the entire working class to fight the dangerous re-opening of schools and the ruling class interests driving this murderous policy.

Teachers, students and workers need scientific facts to counter misinformation and lies peddled by politicians and the corporate media.

The campaign to reopen schools is based on three fundamental lies.

Lie #1: Children are less susceptible to infection and dont develop serious symptoms from COVID-19.

Nearly 180,000 cases of COVID-19 were reported in children from July 9 to August 6. This is a 90 percent increase in total cases among children in just four weeks. According to official figures of the Robert Koch Institute, the number of cases among children and adolescents has risen rapidly since the opening of schools. By September 6, 6,756 COVID-19 cases among children and adolescents in care had been reported to the authorities from facilities such as day nurseries and schools.

International figures show that one in three children in hospital has to go to intensive care, just as often as adults. Six percent need respirators.

Lie #2: Children rarely transmit COVID-19.

Recent, comprehensive studies with large sample sizes conducted in the US, Italy and South Korea each concluded that children transmit COVID-19 more readily than adults. One of the studies, from Chicago, found that babies and young children infected with the virus can carry viral loads in their throats and airways up to 100 times greater than adults. The spread of the deadly disease in Israel has been largely attributed to the reopening of schools.

Lie #3: Schools can be reopened safely.

A recent study from the University of Florida confirmed that minute, aerosolized COVID-19 particles can become airborne and travel 16 feet or more, well beyond the recommended six feet for social distancing, and remain infectious. These aerosols can also remain suspended in the air for hours in poorly ventilated spaces.

As a result, every school bus and classroom will become a dangerous confined setting even with temperature screenings, masks and efforts to ensure social distancing.

Schools thus inevitably turn into breeding grounds for the pandemic. Governments of all stripes do not care about the thousands of deaths that this policy will cause. They are only interested in the profits of the banks and corporations, no matter how many must die.

It is up to workers to take urgent action. Sosyalist Esitlik calls for the formation of rank-and-file safety committees, independent of the unions, to prepare for the immense struggles that lie ahead. These committees must fight to unite all workersteachers, school bus drivers, caretakers and workers in manufacturing, health care, logistics, retail and food processingto stop schools regular operation and save lives.

In this struggle, we advance the following demands which we urge all workers to fight for:

 For the immediate closure of all public and private schools! It is impossible to safely open schools during a raging pandemic. The loss of life and permanent physical and emotional damage to children who spread the disease to teachers, parents and grandparents dwarfs any disruption caused by online learning.

 Resources for teachers, schools and online learning! To ensure safe conditions, new education facilities must be opened and teachers must be hired. Until these measures are taken, all teachers and students must be provided with good computers and high-speed Internet access free of charge to ensure quality online teaching. Families need comprehensive financial and social support during the pandemic.

 Full income protection to all parents and caregivers who stay home with their children! The money handed over to the rich must be used to provide full income to those who cannot work because they must stay home with their children. At the same time, the policy of imposing unpaid leave of 1.170 lira (US$150) per month on hundreds of thousands of workers should end. All unemployed people should be provided with a full unemployment allowance.

 No loss of income for educators who choose to stay home! Teachers and education workers who refuse to work in unsafe conditions must be provided with full income and benefits for the duration of the pandemic, not fined and penalized.

 For free speech and the protection of whistleblowers! Those who speak out against unsafe working conditionswhether in schools, factories, warehouses, hospitals or officesmust be defended against victimization by employers or state officials. All workers who have been victimized must be rehired with back pay.

 For regular and comprehensive tests of pupils and teachers! Central to the safety of daycare centers and schools is the regular testing of children, youth and staff. The same applies to all factories and workplaces where a risk arises. Only in this way can immediate quarantine measures be taken and the spread of the virus limited.

 Halt all nonessential production! Until the pandemic is contained, only key industries such as food production, medical care and logistics should remain open. Workers in those industries must be provided with the most advanced safety measures to prevent infection. All nonessential workers and laid-off workers must be provided with full unemployment benefits and access to free health care.

The schools must remain closed until the threat to public health is over and rank-and-file safety committees, working in conjunction with trusted scientists and public health experts, can ensure the safety of children, teachers and school employees. This will only happen after a massive program of testing and contact tracing. Before any school reopens, all ventilation systems must be modernized, janitorial and nursing staff must be hired, and class sizes must be permanently reduced to no more than 15 students.

The unprecedented catastrophe of the pandemic is fundamentally a social and political, not simply a medical, question. The necessary technology and medical expertise to contain the virus and ensure workers safety exists, but under capitalism everything is subordinated to the profit interests of the corporate and financial elite.

This merciless policy in the interests of the ruling class is essentially supported by all parties in the parliament. Confessing that schools cannot be opened safely under these conditions, the bourgeois opposition parties make nothing but token statements to keep widespread social opposition under control.

Moreover, not only pro-government unions, but also pro-Republican Peoples Party (CHP) and pro-Peoples Democratic Party (HDP) unions support the reopening of schools. The Education and Science Workers Union (Egitim-Sen), which carried out the above-mentioned survey among teachers, declared its support for government, stating: Egitim-Sen thinks face-to-face education should be started in schools as soon as possible. This is yet another example of the reactionary collaboration between the government, so-called opposition parties and trade unions against workers and their families.

Rank-and-file safety committees must be established completely independently of the parliamentary parties and the trade unions. They must be oriented towards the whole working class in Turkey and internationally, fighting for the unification of educators with all workers, in the automobile industry, health care, logistics, meat processing and beyond, exposed to these deadly conditions.

Our demands are based not on what the corporations and the politicians claim is affordable, but what is necessary to protect the lives and well-being of children, educators and the entire working class. Our aim is to mobilise the working class as an independent social force against the insecure reopening of schools and for the defence of public education.

All educators, school workers, parents and students who support this initiative should contact us today to establish local rank-and-file committees in your school and neighborhood. Send us any pertinent information, including significant developments in your district or state, and we will share this widely with a global audience.
(Natural News) Federal authorities arrested on Sept. 22, an officer of the New York City Police Department (NYPD) and a U.S. Army reservist over allegations of espionage for China. Baimadajie Angwang, a 33-year-old ethnic Tibetan who later on became a naturalized U.S. citizen, referred to himself as a Chinese asset  according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

A criminal complaint filed by the FBI against Angwang indicated that he acted at the direction and control of Chinese government officials at the Chinese Consulate in New York. He used his position to report on the activities of ethnic Tibetans, assess potential ethnic Tibetan intelligence and liaise with both consulate and senior NYPD officials. Aside from these, Angwang is also accused of committing wire fraud, obstructing an official proceeding and making false statements. He is set to appear virtually in federal court Sept. 22.

NYPD Police Commissioner Dermot Shea remarked that Angwang violated every oath he took in this country  including that of the United States, the U.S. Army and the police department. Shea added that NYPDs intelligence and internal affairs bureaus worked closely with the FBIs counterintelligence division to ensure Angwang would be brought to justice.

Two-faced Angwang: Living in America, spying for China

According to the FBIs complaint, Angwang had been in frequent communication with an unidentified Chinese consular official since June 2018, known only as Boss.

A phone call between Angwang and Boss revealed that the police officer proposed to relay information about the NYPDs internal workings to the consular official. Angwang suggested that Boss should attend the police departments events as a gesture to raise our countrys soft power.

Angwang also discussed the benefit of cultivating intelligence sources for the Chinese government in the local Tibetan community, even suggesting that those who wish to be intelligence sources should be willing to recognize the motherland. (Related: A communist Chinese SPY was on Sen. Dianne Feinsteins government payroll for 20 years.)

Furthermore, Angwang has maintained a working relationship with at least two Chinese officials stationed at the consulate since before 2018 until the present. One of the officials is believed to be connected with the China Association for Preservation and Development of Tibetan Culture under the United Front Work Department (UFWD). The UFWD is responsible for pre-emptively taking care of potential opposition to Chinas policies and authority.

Based on recorded conversations, the two Chinese officials serve as Angwangs handlers: Angwang received tasks from and reported to them.

Angwang is just one of many U.S.-based individuals doing espionage work for China

In a statement, William Sweeney Jr., the FBI Assistant Director of New York, described Angwang as an insider threat who worked on behalf of a foreign government, lied to obtain necessary clearances and used his position as a police officer to aid the Chinese governments efforts to recruit intelligence sources.

However, the arrest of Angwang is not the only documented instance of American citizens doing espionage work for China. Take the case of Charles Lieber, the former head of Harvard Universitys chemistry department.

A report by the Justice Department stated that Lieber was arrested in January 2020 for failing to disclose his affiliation with Chinas Wuhan University of Technology and the Thousand Talents Plan. Federal charges were brought against Lieber and two other Chinese individuals.

In June, a federal grand jury indicted Lieber on two counts of lying to government officials about his connections to China. Liebers indictment was delayed a few months due to the coronavirus pandemic. U.S. District Judge Marianne Bowler set Liebers bail at $1 million and prohibited him from directly or indirectly communicating with three Chinese academic institutions.

Find out more news about U.S. citizens spying for China, such as Baimadajie Angwang and Charles Lieber at Surveillance.news.

Sources include:

ABC7NY.com

Justice.gov 1

Justice.gov 2

TheCrimson.com
Brandon Ford of Tampa, Florida, is preparing for the 2021 model year by adding numerous new Ford model research pages to its website. These 2021 Ford model research pages, which include pages for the 2021 Ford F-150, the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E All-Electric SUV, and the 2021 Ford Bronco, highlight all of the important model specifications and features interested customers need to know about.

The 2021 model year is fast approaching, and one dealership in Tampa, Florida, is preparing for the arrival of its new 2021 Ford models by adding numerous model research tools to its website.

Brandon Ford recently updated its website by adding numerous 2021 Ford model research pages in an effort to make sure all of its customers have all the information they need to know about the new model year.

These 2021 Ford model research pages, which include pages for the 2021 Ford F-150, the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E All-Electric SUV, and the 2021 Ford Bronco, highlight all of the important model specifications and features interested customers need to know about.

This includes powertrain and capability ratings, interior passenger and cargo space specifications, feature lists and explanations, exterior paint color option lists and more.

Brandon Ford will continue to add more 2021 Ford model research pages to its website, as well, as more information on the 2021 Ford model lineup becomes available. All of these model information pages can be found on the Ford Model Information page of the dealerships website.

Brandon Ford will also be adding 2021 Ford model comparison research pages to its website once the 2021 model year fully kicks into gear throughout the industry. These pages will compare the dealerships 2021 Ford models to some of their stiffest competition, giving customers an easy tool to use while trying to figure out which new 2021 model is right for them.

All of this and more can be found on the Brandon Ford website at http://www.brandonford.com. Customers can direct any questions they may have to the friendly and knowledgeable staff at Brandon Ford by calling 813-246-3673. Brandon Ford is located at 9090 Adamo Drive in Tampa.
Dont come @ me because I remember SideTrax as a single storefront with a (W)eber grill in the (alley) on gravel. ... If you feel threatened, out (of) place, or unsafe (c)reate your own spaces like WE had to 40+ years ago! We opened our own bars, restaurants, hair salons and retail stores. ... Go establish yourselves with your own identities and get back to us.
Sonam Kapoor, who has been at the receiving end of a volley of criticism for allegedly riding on the privileges of an insider following Sushant Singh Rajputs death, said that it took a toll on her mental health. In a new interview, she said that she was quite stressed in the last three or four months but is much better" now.

After Sushant Singh Rajputs death in June, star kids such as Sonam, Alia Bhatt, Sonakshi Sinha and Ananya Panday have been getting hateful messages from online users, who believe that SSR did not get his due in the industry due to nepotism. Sonam had also temporarily disabled the comments section on her Instagram posts to avoid negative comments.

Talking to NDTV, Sonam said, I had some stressful times in the last three or four months, mentally. There is a lot of stuff that happens on social media, there is a lot of hate and talk about a lot of things. It put me in a very low and negative space. But now I am much better.

In June, a week after Sushants death, Sonam shared screengrabs of the messages she was receiving on social media. Some of the messages wished death upon her and her future children. Yes, Ive switched off my comment section and my parents comment section because I dont want my 64-year-old parents to go through this. They did nothing to deserve this. And Im not doing it out of fear you morons Im doing it out of common sense to preserve my mental health and my parents, she wrote in a post.

Recently, Sonam came out in support of Jaya Bachchan, who stood up for the film industry in her speech in Parliament. I want to be her when I grow up, Sonam wrote on Twitter.

Jaya objected to the labeling of the entire film industry as a gutter and its alleged defamation by some of its own members. She was apparently referring to comments made about the industry by Kangana Ranaut and Ravi Kishan.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  A Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority police officer shot a 43-year-old man in a mental health crisis after the man lunged at officers and social services employees with knives, Cleveland police and CMHA officials.

An officer shot the man in the abdomen and wrist, according to Cleveland police.

Officials have not released the officers identity or the identity of the 43-year-old man he shot. Police arrested the 43-year-old man  wrongly identified Tuesday as 39  and charges against him are pending, according to Cleveland police. He remains at MetroHealth as of Wednesday morning.

Cleveland police homicide detectives are investigating the shooting, as they do all law enforcement shootings in the city. Housing officials have not said whether CMHA placed its officer on restricted duty following the shooting.

CMHA police do not wear body cameras, according to CMHA spokeswoman Cortney Crockett.

The shooting happened about 3 p.m. Tuesday at the Carl B. Stokes Mall on Woodland Avenue near East 61st Street. The building houses several CMHA offices and apartments and officers for a variety of social services, including Y-Haven.

Y-Haven provides temporary housing, drug and alcohol treatment, and runs programs designed for homeless men and people entering society after being released from prison.

A Y-Haven spokesman said the 43-year-old man was a resident of their housing program.

Cleveland police said the man suffered from a mental health crisis and cut himself with a knife. CMHA police previously said the man was despondent.

CMHA spokeswoman Jennifer Rieker said in a statement on Wednesday that the man forcibly attempted to detain a Y-Haven employee.

Y-Haven staff, including clinicians and CMHA police, went to the mans seventh-floor apartment in an attempt to talk to him, according to CMHA and Cleveland police. Reiker said officers worked diligently to de-escalate the situation.

The man held two knives in his hand and suddenly charged at the officers and Y-Haven employees in a crowded hallway, according to police and CMHA. One fired shots, hitting the man, according to police.

Read more from cleveland.com:

CMHA police shot despondent man threatening social services employee in Cleveland, police say

CMHA police shoot man in Clevelands Central neighborhood

6-year-old girl dies nearly two weeks after she was shot in West Akron
LANSING, MI  Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says she expects the U.S. Air Force to comply with strict new state standards while cleaning up toxic fluorochemicals at the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda.

In a Tuesday, Sept. 22 letter, Whitmer urged Air Force leadership to comply with state cleanup laws that were established in July for PFAS chemicals in groundwater.

The new standards are lower than a federal advisory level the military is using as remediation threshold around the country. The Air Force has thus far only committed to evaluating whether to comply with Michigans lower PFAS standards for ground and surface water pollution.

The State of Michigan expects that the Air Force will meet Michigans PFAS clean-up standards, Whitmer wrote in the letter to John Henderson, assistant Air Force secretary overseeing installations, energy and the environment.

In the letter, Whitmer credits the Air Force for showing renewed efforts to expand stopgap cleanup measures that local activists have sought for years. In August, Henderson visited Oscoda and outlined plans to intercept PFAS plumes entering Van Etten Lake, where the chemicals are creating a microlayer on the surface that results in toxic beach foam.

The visit was on the invitation of U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Flint, who has been pushing the Air Force to perform interim cleanup using millions in newly appropriated money while site managers work through a years-long federal remediation process named CERLCA.

However, it is long past time for the Air Force to commit to an aggressive clean-up plan and engage in extensive interim actions to stop the spread of PFAS contamination at and around Wurtsmith, Whitmer wrote.

Whitmers letter follows Sept. 18 correspondence between the Air Force and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) about state cleanup requirements that go by the clunky acronym ARARs, (applicable or relevant and appropriate requirements).

Under CERCLA, (the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act), the military is required to comply with state ARARs at certain stages of site cleanup.

However, the Air Force has balked at committing to Michigans PFAS standards, which are among the lowest such requirements in the nation. Site leaders have tried to invoke arguments about federal sovereign immunity from state law during past correspondence.

The ambiguity has led to pending Congressional legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, who has authored language in the must-pass National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would require the military to use the most stringent applicable standard during site cleanups at places like Wurtsmith or Camp Grayling.

In Michigan, compliance with new state law would entail cleaning up the individual compound PFOA in groundwater to 8 parts-per-trillion (ppt) and the compound PFOS to 16-ppt.

Michigan also has a surface water standard of 14-ppt that was established back in 2014, long before most people were aware of the threat posed by exposure to PFAS chemicals.

That rule was promulgated to guide fish consumption advisories in water bodies around Wurtsmith, which is polluted due to past use of firefighting foam called AFFF.

The Air Force says its cleaning polluted groundwater thats going through an on-site treatment facility to the 12-ppt level before discharging it to a creek that feeds the Au Sable River.

I ask that the Air Force carefully review EGLEs list of ARARs and commit to apply these standards to ensure the clean-up protects public health and the environment, Whitmer wrote.

Activists say they are encouraged by Whitmers letter.

Tony Spaniola, an attorney and leading PFAS activist in Michigan who owns a home on Van Etten Lake across from the base, said hes pleased that Whitmer has entered the fight and thrown the weight of her office behind our cause in Oscoda.

Spaniola said Whitmer visited Oscoda and spoke to pollution activists in 2018 during her campaign for governor.

We look forward to working with her and our champions in Congress to hold the Air Forces feet to the fire, he said. Theres a long way to go, but this is a step in the right direction.

Jennifer Hill, associate director at the National Wildlife Federations Great Lakes center, said the governor should take the next logical step by utilizing her authority under the National Defense Authorization Act to require the Department of Defense to comply with Michigans clean-up standards for PFAS at Wurtsmith.

The longer the Department of Defense waits, the more costly the solutions and adverse the impacts will be on the people and wildlife living in and around Oscoda, Hill wrote.

Related stories:

Air Force plan at Wurtsmith a step in the right direction

Slotkin measure would arm Michigan for PFAS battle

Michigan PFAS site list surges past 100

With trepidation, Michigan settles Air Force dispute

Michigan veterans face uphill battle proving toxic exposure

Quit horsing around, Oscoda residents tell Air Force

Advocates ask EPA to regulate PFAS as hazardous waste
OTTAWA  The federal Liberals have squandered the bump in support they got from Winnipeg voters at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, making swing ridings vulnerable to a Tory takeover, a new poll commissioned by the Free Press shows.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 22/9/2020 (486 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA  The federal Liberals have squandered the bump in support they got from Winnipeg voters at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, making swing ridings vulnerable to a Tory takeover, a new poll commissioned by the Free Press shows.

Methodology Click to Expand Probe Research polled a sample of 1,000 adults online, 683 of whom were recruited by phone through representative sampling, with the rest pulled randomly from the firms panel of suvery-takers, from Sept. 8 to 17. That sample provides results with 95 per cent certainty, with the equivalent of a margin of error within 3.1 per cent.

The minority Trudeau government will deliver its throne speech Wednesday amid parliamentary brinkmanship that could trigger an election.

"The Liberals seem to be losing their hold on Manitoba, particularly Winnipeg, and I don't think that's a surprise in light of the WE (Charity) scandal," said Christopher Adams, a political scientist at the University of Manitoba.

The Free Press commissioned Probe Research to poll 1,000 Manitobans at the start of the month. Results show the governing party has lost the edge it achieved as it rolled out pandemic-response payments. Voters have warmed to the Conservatives.

Curtis Brown, a principal at Probe, said the election of a new leader, Erin OToole, has given the Tories a boost, while the resignation of Trudeaus finance minister, Bill Morneau, because of a sole-source contract to the WE Charity, has put a black mark on the Grits' reputation.

Brown cautioned its unclear how the seat count in Manitoba would change in a snap election. Of the 14 ridings, the Tories have seven, the Liberals hold four while the NDP have three.

Among the eight ridings in or around Winnipeg, the Liberals hold four seats, while the Conservatives and the NDP each have two MPs.

"This is just one more data point that suggests it probably wouldn't be a great idea for anybody to try, the Liberals especially, to force an election this fall," said Brown.

"In a minority parliament, every seat counts."

SEAN KILPATRICK / THE CANADIAN PRESS The election of a new leader, Erin OToole, has given the Tories a boost.

In the poll, taken from Sept. 8 to Sept.17, the Tories had 40 per cent among Manitobans, equivalent to what they held in March. The Liberals held 33 per cent, slightly down from 36 points just three months ago, though higher than their 30 per cent support in March.

Adams said support for the Conservatives in Winnipeg stands out: the party jumped to 28 per cent this month, compared with just 19 per cent support in June.

Support for the NDP echoes its 2019 election results: 24 per cent. The Liberals had 42 per cent in Winnipeg, down from 45 per cent three months ago.

"They haven't lost as much in Winnipeg as I would have thought," said Adams, who has worked for Probe.

Still, he said it marks the end of the goodwill the Liberals garnered from the city for a generally successful rollout of support payments, such as the CERB, and Trudeaus daily media briefings.

In June, the Trudeau governments support in the city mirrored what it got in 2015 election, when the party swept Winnipeg.

"The Liberals squandered much of the political capital they raised during the COVID crisis," Adams said.

NDP leader Jagmeet Singh holds a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

The Conservatives have 60 per cent support among Manitobans who dont have a post-secondary education, while the Liberals are the most popular option for graduates.

"That education gap is a huge, huge difference," Brown said. "Weve been seeing this more and more over the past few years, that amount of polarization."

OToole seems to have targeted working-class voters with his "take back Canada" message.

On Labour Day, he issued a message that said trade deals undercut Canadian workers, and he talked about the need to shore up domestic manufacturing jobs, which are talking points usually made by unions and the NDP.

Adams noted the Tories poll 10 points lower with women than men in Winnipeg; support for the Liberals is equal along gender lines in the city.

He said that follows a pattern the Harper government broke by recruiting strong female candidates during its time in office.

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca
On September 18, after a 2,295-mile drive from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah, a big 53-foot semi truck arrived at the Worcester County Food Bank in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. The truck contained over 40,000 pounds of food as a humanitarian donation from the Church to the Worcester County Food Bank, which supports some 115 distribution partners in Worcester County who provide meals for needy individuals and families.

The food is not from a wealthy donor, but rather from the donations of millions of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints throughout the world. Their donations are then used to support Church-owned farms, ranches, and factories that grow and process 90% of the food which was on the truck, with the helping hands of member volunteers.

President David Holland, president of the Worcester Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which has congregations in Worcester, Oxford, Gardner, Acton, and Littleton, notes that, We are profoundly grateful that we could arrange for this donation of food to the Worcester County Food Bank. The Food Bank provides an indispensable service to the communities in and around Worcester through food pantries and other organizations. Its an honor to help support this essential work and we have appreciated our opportunities to join together with the Food Bank in addressing the needs of families and individuals in our area. We deeply value this partnership.

Worcester County Food Bank is inspired and encouraged by the communitys outpouring of support for our mission and their neighbors struggling with food insecurity at this challenging time of the pandemic, said Jean G. McMurray, chief executive officer. Together with our network of food pantries and community meal programs, we are providing help and hope in a time of uncertainty.

This food donation to the Worcester County Food Bank comes via the humanitarian arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose purpose is to relieve suffering, foster self-reliance and provide opportunities for service. Following the admonition of Jesus Christ to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, take in the stranger, clothe the naked and visit the sick and afflicted, the humanitarian arm of the Church sponsors relief and development projects in 195 countries and territories and gives assistance without regard to race, religious affiliation, or nationality. More than one million workdays of labor are contributed each year by volunteers in support of welfare initiatives.
One of Australia's biggest industry superannuation funds has written to the nation's 200 largest listed companies advocating for lower carbon emissions, more female leaders and fairer executive bonuses despite a federal government backlash against funds overstepping their role.

In a letter to ASX200 bosses and boards, industry super fund HESTA chief executive Debby Blakey has asked companies to reduce carbon emissions in line with the Paris Agreement for net zero by 2050 and to employ women in 40 per cent of top jobs.

HESTA chief executive Debby Blakey. Credit:Wayne Taylor

Ms Blakey has also requested boards crack down on lucrative executive bonuses "where the company received benefits arising from government support and stimulus".

Collectively, a third of top listed companies have received $1.8 billion in government subsidies during the coronavirus pandemic. Some received the federal government's JobKeeper wage subsidy and continued to pay large bonuses. The biggest listed companies include casino behemoths Crown Resorts and Star Entertainment and mining giants BHP and Rio Tinto.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, September 23, 2020 15:13 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46ac3d1 4 National COVID-19-test,COVID-19,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,death,coronavirus,virus-corona,virus-korona-indonesia,COVID-19-death-toll,Berau,East-Kalimantan Free

Berau Regent H. Muharram died on Tuesday evening after undergoing treatment for COVID-19 at Pertamina Hospital in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan.

Muharram was admitted to the hospital on Sept. 9. On the same day, he tested positive for COVID-19 after taking a swab test, which is one of the health requirements that regional election candidates need to fulfill.

He announced the test result publicly through a video recording he posted on Sept. 9 via his Instagram account @muharram.supu in which he apologized for his own negligence in interacting with other people.

Prior to his positive COVID-19 test result, Muharram accompanied Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Edhy Prabowo during a visit to Maratua, Berau, on Sept. 1 to release 300 turtle hatchlings back into the wild.

Read also: Kelapa Gading district head latest Jakarta official to die of COVID-19

Two days later, Edhy tested positive for COVID-19. He has since reportedly recovered from the virus.

Kanujoso Djatiwibowo General Hospital director Eddy Iskandar said that Muharrams situation improved shortly before he passed away.

His condition had initially improved but it deteriorated quickly this evening until he stopped breathing, Eddy said as quoted by kompas.com on Tuesday. (dpk)
Every investor in Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited (ASX:SOL) should be aware of the most powerful shareholder groups. Insiders often own a large chunk of younger, smaller, companies while huge companies tend to have institutions as shareholders. Warren Buffett said that he likes "a business with enduring competitive advantages that is run by able and owner-oriented people." So it's nice to see some insider ownership, because it may suggest that management is owner-oriented.

With a market capitalization of AU$5.5b, Washington H. Soul Pattinson is rather large. We'd expect to see institutional investors on the register. Companies of this size are usually well known to retail investors, too. Taking a look at our data on the ownership groups (below), it seems that institutional investors have bought into the company. Let's delve deeper into each type of owner, to discover more about Washington H. Soul Pattinson.

View our latest analysis for Washington H. Soul Pattinson

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Washington H. Soul Pattinson?

Many institutions measure their performance against an index that approximates the local market. So they usually pay more attention to companies that are included in major indices.

As you can see, institutional investors have a fair amount of stake in Washington H. Soul Pattinson. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. It is not uncommon to see a big share price drop if two large institutional investors try to sell out of a stock at the same time. So it is worth checking the past earnings trajectory of Washington H. Soul Pattinson, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too.

Hedge funds don't have many shares in Washington H. Soul Pattinson. Brickworks Limited is currently the largest shareholder, with 39% of shares outstanding. Meanwhile, the second and third largest shareholders, hold 5.4% and 4.1%, of the shares outstanding, respectively.

Story continues

To make our study more interesting, we found that the top 4 shareholders control more than half of the company which implies that this group has considerable sway over the company's decision-making.

While studying institutional ownership for a company can add value to your research, it is also a good practice to research analyst recommendations to get a deeper understand of a stock's expected performance. There is some analyst coverage of the stock, but it could still become more well known, with time.

Insider Ownership Of Washington H. Soul Pattinson

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.

Insider ownership is positive when it signals leadership are thinking like the true owners of the company. However, high insider ownership can also give immense power to a small group within the company. This can be negative in some circumstances.

Our most recent data indicates that insiders own some shares in Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited. This is a big company, so it is good to see this level of alignment. Insiders own AU$332m worth of shares (at current prices). Most would say this shows alignment of interests between shareholders and the board. Still, it might be worth checking if those insiders have been selling.

General Public Ownership

The general public, with a 36% stake in the company, will not easily be ignored. This size of ownership, while considerable, may not be enough to change company policy if the decision is not in sync with other large shareholders.

Public Company Ownership

We can see that public companies hold 39% of the Washington H. Soul Pattinson shares on issue. This may be a strategic interest and the two companies may have related business interests. It could be that they have de-merged. This holding is probably worth investigating further.

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. For instance, we've identified 3 warning signs for Washington H. Soul Pattinson that you should be aware of.

If you are like me, you may want to think about whether this company will grow or shrink. Luckily, you can check this free report showing analyst forecasts for its future.

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.
Washington, Sep 24 : US President Donald Trump will pay his respects to the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the Supreme Court here on Thursday, the White House said in a statement.

Ginsburg's casket arrived at the Supreme Court for a private ceremony on Wednesday morning, Xinhua news agency reported.

"I offer our heartfelt condolences on the loss of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. That loss is widely shared but we know that it falls most heavily on the family," Chief Justice John Roberts said in his remarks during the ceremony.

The public may pay their respects later in the day and on Thursday.

Ginsburg died last week at the age of 87 due to complications related to metastatic pancreas cancer.

A renowned champion of women's rights and a liberal icon, Ginsburg was appointed to the Supreme Court by then president Bill Clinton in 1993. She was the second woman appointed to the highest court in the United States and served for more than 27 years.

Ginsburg will lie in state at the US Capitol on Friday, becoming the first woman in history to be honoured this way.

She will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery, which is across the Potomac River from Washington, according to the Supreme Court.

Flags outside some federal buildings have been lowered to half staff to mark Ginsburg's death.

Trump has said he will name Ginsburg's replacement on Saturday.

Republicans, who have a majority in the Senate, appear to have enough votes to confirm the pick, which would cement a 6-3 conservative majority in the Supreme Court.
Partygoers in Scarborough on Tuesday night demonstrated inconsiderate and incomprehensible behaviour, Mayor John Tory said Wednesday.

Toronto police said 14 people in Scarborough were each fined $880 Tuesday after officers were called for a noisy party in the Kingston Road and St. Clair Avenue East area.

Police said about 50 people were at the party.

Were past the education time, were past the warning time, were onto the enforcement time, said Tory at a press conference. I hope (police) will see fit to do whatever they think is appropriate in terms of enforcing the law as it exists. And it exists for good public health reason.

Officers issued 14 provincial offence notices under the Reopening Ontario Act for failure to comply with an order.

Police said during their investigation, a man was arrested on an outstanding warrant and transported to Halton police.

Toronto police Chief James Ramer said: We now consider it a public safety issue. We're working very closely with the city to attend complaints, and where appropriate, charges will be laid.

The citys medical officer of health, Dr. Eileen de Villa, called on Toronto residents to abide by self-protection measures, in response to the party.

We need to commit to engaging in the appropriate behaviours, said de Villa. The behaviours that will protect ourselves and protect our community and get us to a point where we are able to enjoy our city, get our city back and get beyond COVID-19.

Const. Randall Arsenault said in a tweet the incident showed blatant disregard of rules meant to protect us all.

The fine comes after Tory said the city will be getting tougher in regards to the enforcement of by laws surrounding new gathering limits across the GTA.

Homeowners and event organizers in Ontario can be fined up to $10,000 for an event that exceeds the maximum number of people set out in the new provincial regulations, with a $750 fine for attendees.

Matthew Pegg, chief of Toronto Fire Services, said the command centre received over 20 complaints in relation to gatherings that occurred this past weekend.

The Reopening Ontario Act extended specific emergency orders in the province. The provincial government announced Sept. 17 that there would be new gathering limits in Toronto to 10 people indoors and 25 outdoors in a bid to curb the increasing spread of COVID-19.

With files from Manuela Vega and David Rider

Libaan Osman is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Stars radio room in Toronto. Reach him via email: losman@thestar.ca
They can ask me to do anything and Ill do it. And I have done it, John Yolich, a father of three students, told me at the time. We need you to vacuum. Done. We need you to tell this dude whos making people fearful outside to move. Done. I do whatever they need. I love this place. It makes me a better human being.
Attorney General Steve Marshall opposes former House Speaker Mike Hubbards request to shorten his four-year sentence for ethics violations.

Marshall and lawyers with the AGs' office filed a motion Tuesday in Lee County Circuit Court saying that Hubbards sentence is fair considering that he stands convicted of six felonies.

Hubbards lawyers argued in their request for a revised sentence, filed Friday, that a new sentence was fair considering that appeals courts overturned six of the 12 convictions issued by a jury in 2016.

In July 2016, Lee County Circuit Judge Jacob Walker sentenced Hubbard on each charge, mostly with the sentences running concurrently.

Hubbard is not being punished for his reversed convictions, the attorney generals office said in its argument against a shorter sentence. He is being punished for the crimes of which he remains convicted.

Hubbards motion for a revised sentence said that he had already received wide-ranging punishment, including divestment of his businesses and loss of the right to vote.

But the attorney generals office said in its motion that Hubbard did not lose the right to vote. The Legislature did not include ethics law crimes among those that cost felons their voting rights.

During the 2016 trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Hubbard used the influence of the speakers office to enrich himself through consulting contracts.

Hubbard said he kept those activities separate from his public office and has maintained his innocence.

Hubbard reported to the Lee County sheriffs office to begin his sentence on Sept. 11 after being out on appeal for more than four years since his sentencing. He was transferred that day to the Russell County jail.

Related: Jailed Alabama politician Mike Hubbard selling radio stations
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 12:15:53|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chris Wallace, moderator of the first 2020 U.S. presidential debate, on Tuesday announced topics for the face-off between President and Republican nominee Donald Trump and his Democratic challenger, Joe Biden.

Wallace, veteran journalist and anchor of Fox News Sunday, has selected the candidates' records, the Supreme Court, COVID-19, the economy, race and violence in U.S. cities, and the Integrity of the November election, as topics, according to the Commission on Presidential Debates.

The debate, the first of three between Trump and Biden, will be held on Sept. 29 at Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, state of Ohio.

The format calls for six 15-minute time segments dedicated to the topics "in order to encourage deep discussion of the leading issues facing the country," said the commission.

Two other presidential debates will take place in October.

That month, there will also be a vice presidential debate between Vice President Mike Pence and U.S. Senator from California Kamala Harris, Biden's running mate. Enditem
NEW DELHI : Heres a list of top ten stocks that may be in news on Wednesday:

DHFL: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has 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.

Tata Group companies: Mistry family led Shapoorji Pallonji group said it has decided to exit its decades-long partnership with the Tata group, hinting at a potential sale of its 18.4 % stake in Tata Sons that could mark and end four years of acrimonious courtroom battles fought between the two sides, which erupted after Cyrus Mistrys unceremonious ouster as Tata group chairman in 2016.

RIL: Reliance Jio, the subsidiary of Reliance Industries Ltd, has unveiled a slew of new postpaid plans for mobile users in an attempt to lure customers from its rivals in this most profitable segment for telecom operators. The new plans will be bundled with subscriptions such as Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney + Hotstar.

Indian Oil Corp: The countrys largest fuel retailer will invest 17,825 crore in raising the capacity of its Gujarat refinery as well as setting up a petrochemical plant at the unit as part of plans for upscaling petchem business to protect margins.

Hindustan Zinc: Vedanta Group firm Hindustan Zinc Ltd (HZL) on Tuesday said its board-constituted panel has approved raising up to 4,000 crore through debentures. The approval on the same was given during the meeting of the committee of directors held on Tuesday, HZL said in a filing to the BSE.

Future Enterprises: The company has defaulted on interest payments of 15.86 crore for its non-convertible debentures. The Kishore Biyani-led Future Group firm had last week disclosed that it had defaulted on payment of commercial paper of 90 crore. On August 20, it had defaulted on interest payment of non-convertible debentures (NCDs) worth a total of 265 crore.

Central Bank of India: The public sector lender has set the floor price for its QIP at 16.18 per equity share.

HCC: HCC Concessions Ltd, the infrastructure development arm of HCC Group, has completed its 100% sale of Farakka-Raiganj Highways Limited to Cube Highways and Infrastructure II Pte Ltd.

Satin Creditcare: The microfinance firm plans to issue non-convertible debenture up to the amount of 175 crore via private placement.

Sequent Scientific: The company, one of the largest manufacturers of veterinary APIs globally, will acquire 40% stake in Provet through Alivira Animal Health Limited, Ireland, its wholly-owned subsidiary.

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Sudbury, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - September 23, 2020) - Rockcliff Metals Corporation (CSE: RCLF) (FSE: RO0) (WKN: A2H60G) ("Rockcliff" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that additional drilling completed at its 100% owned Tower Property has expanded the Tower Deposit mineralization along strike and at depth. Management has determined that it is appropriate that this additional mineralization be added to the Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") currently being prepared by the Company and its independent consultants. The Tower Deposit's mineralization strike length has increased to approximately 1,000 metres and has been intersected to depths of approximately 800 metres.

These latest drill results in the deep part of the Tower Deposit appear to add depth and strike length, therefore Rockcliff will complete an updated Mineral Resource model as part of its PEA work. Management is using these new drill hole results to gain further geotechnical knowledge including rock quality characteristics and structural data for the Tower Deposit. This drill program will provide additional and more representative rockmass data for use in the PEA's engineering design for the ground support requirements and the stope designs. The new drill data should support the PEA assumptions for the rate of advance in development headings, the stope dilution and recovery and the host rock behaviour, especially in the crown pillars.

Alistair Ross, President and CEO, commented: "It is fortunate for us to be able to incorporate, mid-stream, this new drill data into our PEA. Although this extends the date for publishing our PEA, it allows us to maintain our promise to deliver a high quality study to the market. The PEA results are anticipated to be known before the end of the year. I believe that when the PEA has been finalized, our shareholders will appreciate the level of confidence they can place in the study results."

Tower Drill Program

Significant down hole mineralized intervals are summarized below. Drill holeTP20-102 is presently being logged. Geophysical probing of TP20-101 indicated that off hole conductivity exists below, south and north of the drill hole.

Hole ID From (m) To (m) Length (m) Cu% Zn% Au g/t Ag g/t CuEq % TP20-088 229.00 233.20 4.20 1.77 0.05 0.22 13.22 2.04 includes 229.00 230.69 1.69 3.69 0.07 0.44 26.31 4.21 TP20-089 275.64 275.84 0.20 0.31 0.02 0.06 1.00 0.36 TP20-090 289.37 289.58 0.21 0.66 0.00 0.91 1.70 1.27 TP20-091 275.50 275.70 0.20 1.47 0.03 0.25 4.50 1.68 TP20-092 287.19 287.40 0.21 0.99 0.02 0.12 3.80 1.11 TP20-093 233.78 235.52 1.74 3.93 1.94 0.26 21.54 4.98 includes 233.78 234.59 0.81 7.76 3.85 0.28 42.35 9.69 TP20-095 221.27 223.77 2.50 0.67 0.08 0.05 4.41 0.77 includes 222.46 222.78 0.32 1.61 0.19 0.06 9.50 1.80 TP20-096 214.30 214.70 0.40 2.39 0.17 0.35 13.10 2.78 TP20-097 619.54 622.05 2.51 4.98 2.56 0.44 23.10 6.39 includes 620.00 621.56 1.56 7.23 2.93 0.59 33.06 8.95 TP20-098 330.75 331.00 0.25 1.22 1.65 0.18 5.50 1.99 TP20-099 392.44 396.54 4.10 0.76 0.06 0.31 4.94 1.02 and 829.75 830.74 0.99 2.57 1.30 0.11 9.80 3.19 includes 830.12 830.44 0.32 7.08 3.75 0.27 26.80 8.85 TP20-101 700.96 704.43 3.47 3.89 3.00 0.37 15.84 5.36 includes 701.27 701.99 0.72 8.27 3.34 0.93 31.25 10.36



m =metres represent down hole widths as true widths are not currently known, gpt = grams per tonne, CuEq = copper equivalent values used: US$3.00 copper, US$1.10 zinc, US$1350/troy ounce gold ($43.40/gram), US$16.50/troy ounce silver ($0.53/gram). 100% metal recoveries were applied. CuEq = Cu grade % + (Zn grade % X Zn price per lb / Cu price per pound) + (Au grade g/t X Au price per gram / Cu price per tonne) X 100 + (Ag grade g/t X Ag price per gram / Cu price per tonne) X 100. Assays are pending for TP20-100 and TP20-102. The numbers may not add up due to rounding.





Figure 1: Tower Deposit Longitudinal Projection, Q3-2020 Drill Pierce Point Locations and 2019 Mineral Resource Update Outline.



To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3071/64464_4224d46b94e63b1d_001full.jpg

Tower Deposit Updated Mineral Resource Estimate

A recent NI 43-101 Technical Report prepared by P&E Mining Consultants Inc. ("P&E") with an effective date of March 2, 2020 and filed on SEDAR on April 16, 2020 is summarized below.

Tower Property Updated Mineral Resource Estimate at 1.5% CuEq cut-off(1-10)

Classification Tonnes

(k) Cu

(%) Zn

(%) Au

(g/t) Ag

(g/t) CuEq

(%) Cu

(Mlbs) Zn

(Mlbs) Au

(koz) Ag

(koz) CuEq

(Mlbs) Indicated 1,026 4.69 1.32 0.85 23.7 5.74 106.0 29.8 28.1 783 129.8 Inferred 367 3.53 1.05 0.57 18.0 4.29 28.6 8.5 6.8 212 34.7



1) Mineral Resources which are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, marketing, or other relevant issues.

2) Mineral Resources were estimated using the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM), CIM Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves, Definitions and Guidelines prepared by the CIM Standing Committee on Reserve Definitions and adopted by CIM Council.

(3) The Inferred Mineral Resource in this estimate has a lower level of confidence than that applied to an Indicated Mineral Resource and must not be converted to a Mineral Reserve. It is reasonably expected that the majority of the Inferred Mineral Resource could be upgraded to an Indicated Mineral Resource with continued exploration.

(4) Approximate Jan 31/20 two year trailing average US$ metal prices used were $3/lb Cu, $1.10/lb Zn, $1,350/oz Au and $16.50/oz Ag. The US$: CDN$ exchange rate used was 0.77.

(5) Respective process recoveries for Cu, Zn, Au, Ag were 95%, 80%, 80%, 80%

(6) Respective smelter payables for Cu, Zn, Au, Ag were 96.5%, 85%, 90%, 90%.

(7) Respective USD Cu and Zn smelter treatment charges used were $80 and $250/tonne with concentrate freight of CDN$65/tonne.

(8) CuEq% was calculated as follows: Cu% + (Zn % x 0.220) + (Au g/t x 0.673) + (Ag g/t x 0.008).

(9) The 1.5% CuEq cut-off is approximately equivalent to a C$100/tonne project operating cost.

(10) Contained metal totals may differ due to rounding.

Neither Rockcliff's Qualified Person, Ken Lapierre, P.Geo., nor P&E's Qualified Person, Eugene Puritch, P.Eng., nor management of Rockcliff are aware of any environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing or other relevant issues that may materially affect the estimate of the Mineral Resource.

Additional drill hole information is highlighted in the table below.

HOLE ID UTM-E UTM-N DH_Dip DH

Azimuth Actual

EOH TP20-088 485897 5980623 -45 310 290 TP20-089 485897 5980623 -49 310 309 TP20-090 485897 5980623 -53 310 401 TP20-091 485735 5980564 -45 348 350 TP20-092 485735 5980564 -50 348 377 TP20-093 485955 5980643 -45 305 275 TP20-094 485957 5980636 -54 305 350 TP20-095 486015 5980680 -45 305 266 TP20-096 486050 5980713 -45 305 251 TP20-097 486676 5981231 -65 289 743 TP20-098 485954 5981006 -50 185 356 TP20-099 486678 5981226 -73 278 869 TP20-100 486063 5981188 -75 90 859 TP20-101 486676 5981231 -70 289 737 TP20-102 486656 5981091 -66 290 pending

TGR Nickel-PGE Drilling

Drilling at the TGR NI-PGE Prospect and surrounding area totalled 1,452 m in 4 holes. No significant observable mineralization was noted in the drill holes. Samples have been sent to the lab for nickel and PGE analysis. Additonal exploration included geophysical probing of all drill holes where induction surveys identified additional anomalous areas for drill testing. A compilation study from the drill program is ongoing and will aid in understanding what additional exploration is required.

Quality Control and Quality Assurance

Ken Lapierre P.Geo., VP Exploration of Rockcliff, a Qualified Person in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements as set out in NI 43-101, has read and approved the scientific and technical information that pertains to the Tower Drill Program that forms part of the basis for the disclosure contained in this press release.

Samantha Espley, P.Eng., VP Mining Transformation, BESTECH, a Qualified Person in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirement as set out in NI 43-101, has read and approved the scientific and technical information that pertains to the Tower PEA study that forms part of the basis for the disclosure contained in this press release.

Quality Control and Quality Assurance: Assays

Samples of half core were packaged and shipped directly from Rockcliff's core facility in Snow Lake to TSL Laboratories (TSL) in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. TSL is a Canadian assay laboratory and is accredited under ISO/IEC 17025. Each bagged core sample was dried, crushed to 70% passing 10 mesh and a 250g pulp was pulverized to 95% passing 150 mesh for assaying. A 0.5g cut is taken from each pulp for base metal analyses and leached in a multi-acid (total) digestion and then analyzed for copper, lead, zinc and silver by atomic absorption. Gold concentrations were determined by fire assay using a 30g charge followed by an atomic absorption finish. Samples greater than the upper detection limit (3,000 ppb) were reanalyzed using fire assay gravimetric using a 1 Assay Ton charge. Rockcliff inserted certified blanks and standards in the sample stream to ensure lab integrity. Rockcliff has no relationship with TSL other than TSL being a service provider to the Company.

About Rockcliff Metals Corporation

Rockcliff is a well-funded Canadian resource development and exploration company, with a fully functional +1,000 tpd leased processing and tailings facility as well as several advance-staged, high-grade copper and zinc dominant VMS deposits in the Snow Lake area of central Manitoba. The Company is a major landholder in the Flin Flon-Snow Lake greenstone belt which is home to the largest Paleoproterozoic VMS district in the world, hosting mines and deposits containing copper, zinc, gold and silver. The Company's extensive portfolio of properties totals over 4,500 square kilometres and includes eight of the highest grade, undeveloped VMS deposits in the belt and high grade gold properties.

For more information, please visit http://rockcliffmetals.com

Youtube: Rockcliff Metals Corporation

Twitter: @RockcliffMetals

Linkedin: Rockcliff Metals Corp

Instagram: Rockcliff_Metals

For further information, please contact:

Rockcliff Metals Corporation

Alistair Ross

President & CEO

Phone: (249) 805-9020

contact@rockcliffmetals.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This news release includes forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause the actual results of the Company to be materially different from the historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements contained in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward-looking. Although Rockcliff believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not a guarantee of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements.

The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/64464
A 28-year-old Lincoln woman arrested a week ago after getting caught with the keys to a stolen car was taken to jail again Tuesday afternoon on allegations she had done it again.

Mary Nyembo was booked on suspicion of two counts of theft by unlawful taking and burglary.

Officer Luke Bonkiewicz said Tuesday at 12:46 p.m., police responded to a report of a larceny at 16th and B streets, where several people told them Nyembo had been stealing from cars and houses.

He said officers contacted Nyembo near Goodhue Boulevard and B Street as she was trying to get into a stolen 1990 Lexus LS400.

Bonkiewicz said police canvassed the area and identified five incidents involving larcenies. Based on victim statements, witness statements and property found on Nyembo, officers developed probable cause to believe that shed stolen a vehicle, burglarized a home and stolen items from several vehicles, he said.

On Sept. 16, police arrested Nyembo after allegedly finding her with the keys outside a stolen vehicle at 16th and C streets.

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EDWARDSVILLE  Authorities on Wednesday filed a charge against a jail inmate who allegedly offered a cell mate $10,000 to kill the victim of a previous robbery.

Trevion C. Pitts, 24, of Florissant, Missouri, was charged with solicitation of murder for hire, a Class X felony. He is being held in the Madison County Jail on that charge in lieu of $500,000 bail.
Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air will resume flights from Kyiv and Lviv to Bratislava (Slovakia) from October 2.

The cost of tickets starts from UAH 309, the press service of the company reported on Wednesday.

"The restoration of flights depends on the decision of the authorities to leave or remove Slovakia from the list of countries in the 'green' zone. If it is excluded from the list, flights connecting Ukrainian cities with Bratislava will be postponed," the company said.
Seoul: South Korean President Moon Jae-in has used a speech to the United National to call for a regional infectious disease control and public health initiative to tackle health crises and lay the foundation for peace with Pyongyang.

In a video message to the 75th General Assembly in New York, 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.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in speaks in a pre-recorded message that was played during the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly. Credit:UNTV/AP

"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.

Moon proposed launching a "North-east Asia Cooperation Initiative for Infectious Disease Control and Public Health" involving involving China, Japan, Mongolia and North Korea, but he did not provide details.
A decision about charges could hinge upon an interpretation of Kentuckys castle doctrine. Legal analysts have said the law allows someone to use lethal force if they fear for their life when faced with a possible aggressor. But Kentuckys castle doctrine has an explicit exception for situations in which a peace officer . . . enters or attempts to enter a dwelling, residence, or vehicle in the performance of his or her official duties, and the officer identified himself or herself in accordance with any applicable law.
House Democrats reached a deal with the White House yesterday on a stopgap spending measure that seeks to avert a government shutdown just weeks before the November election.

The bill now needs to be approved by the Senate before it can be sent to President Trumps desk. Congress has been unable to agree on the broader spending bills that would keep the government funded when the new fiscal year starts on Oct. 1.

There has also been virtually no progress on a new round of coronavirus relief legislation, but a bipartisan group of lawmakers is pressing for the House to remain in session until a bill is passed.

In a letter signed by 20 Democrats and 14 Republicans, the lawmakers wrote, Our constituents do not want us home campaigning while businesses continue to shutter.

The House passed a stimulus package of more than $3 trillion in May, after which Senate Republicans proposed a narrower measure, but negotiations have been stalled since then.

Yesterday was National Voter Registration Day  not that many voters needed the reminder. Political experts say this election could drive record turnout, and even before yesterdays pseudo-holiday, more than 61.4 million general-election ballots had been requested by or sent to absentee voters, according to a New York Times analysis.

And there was an infusion of energy after Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died on Friday: Vote.org, which leads a nonpartisan get-out-the-vote effort, reported a 118 percent increase in registration verifications on Saturday and Sunday, compared with the previous weekend.

Mitt Romney said yesterday that he would support Trumps effort to fill the Supreme Court vacancy left by the death of Justice Ginsburg, seemingly ensuring that Mitch McConnell, the Senate majority leader, will have enough votes to push through a hasty confirmation.

Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska are now the only Senate Republicans publicly opposing a vote before the November election.

At this point, I would say that our conference is committed to moving forward, said John Thune of South Dakota, the chambers No. 2 Republican.

The Food and Drug Administration is planning to release newly strengthened guidelines around a potential coronavirus vaccine  throwing further cold water on Trumps claims that an immunization will be ready in coming weeks.

The guidelines, which could be released as early as this week, are expected to lay out required criteria for clinical trial data and recommend that a committee of independent experts vet that data before the F.D.A. approves a vaccine.

The pandemics recorded death toll in the United States topped 200,000 yesterday  the grimmest virus-related milestone yet for a country that accounts for one in five coronavirus deaths worldwide, despite having just 4 percent of the worlds population. The actual death count is most likely far higher, according to an analysis by The Times.

Just hours before the official count hit 200,000, Trump once again sought to downplay the viruss impact. He falsely told a crowd at a late-night rally on Monday in Dayton, Ohio, that the virus mostly affects elderly people, elderly people with heart problems, then went further. It affects virtually nobody, he said. Its an amazing thing  by the way, open your schools!
The number one priority of the Northern Ireland Executive is to keep schools open despite a surge in coronavirus cases, Education Minister Peter Weir has said.

First Minister Arlene Foster warned that while there were no plans to extend the forthcoming half term break, "of course things are changing quite quickly".

"I think it is important to say that we want to keep schools open," Mrs Foster said.

Mr Weir, speaking at the launch of a support programme to help school children's learning during the pandemic at Dungannon Primary School, said there was no sign that the opening of schools was responsible for a recent upsurge in Covid-19 cases in Northern Ireland.

The minister's comments come after Holy Cross College in Strabane announced its temporary closure after members of its community tested positive for the virus.

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"The aim is to get the maximum amount of schools open on any one particular day but we are dealing with the situation where there are maybe something between 15 to 20,000 classrooms in Northern Ireland.

"There will be localised outbreaks and individual cases and it is right that public health advice is followed under those circumstances, so there will be bumps along the road.," Mr Weir told the Belfast Telegraph.

Expand Close Pictured welcoming the new programme during a visit to Dungannon Primary School are Education Minister Peter Weir and First Minister Arlene Foster Alan side Principal David Thompson. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. / Facebook

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Whatsapp Pictured welcoming the new programme during a visit to Dungannon Primary School are Education Minister Peter Weir and First Minister Arlene Foster Alan side Principal David Thompson. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.

"But what we are seeing is the vast majority of schools are open and most pupils will see their studies being completely uninterrupted in that regard, but we need to deal with those situations."

Mr Weir said that the advice from chief medical officer is that adults and children are more likely to bring the virus into schools rather than pupils spreading Covid-19 within the school.

"I think schools have taken a large number of mitigation measures to try to prevent that," he added.

"The Executive has made it very clear that they see, in terms of sectors within Northern Ireland, education as being the top priority, ensuring that our children have life chances through education, is probably the most critical thing we can do at this time in terms of opening up society."

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First Minister Arlene Foster also attended Dungannon Primary School for the launch of the 11.2m Engage Programme. She said there were no plans to extend the upcoming half term break to allow a more stringent lockdown.

"We are not considering that at the moment, but of course things are changing quite quickly. We will listen to what the medical advice is in all of these matters," she said.

Expand Close Pictured welcoming the new programme during a visit to Dungannon Primary School are Education Minister Peter Weir and First Minister Arlene Foster. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. / Facebook

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Whatsapp Pictured welcoming the new programme during a visit to Dungannon Primary School are Education Minister Peter Weir and First Minister Arlene Foster. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.

"We recognise the damage that was done by the closure of schools. It was a necessity at that point in time but it is important that our young people are able to come to school, have that routine, have that education, have that society of mixing together with their peers.

"All of that is very important for young people's mental health because I think the isolation that happened when young people were at home is something that we are going to have to continue to deal with."

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The Engage Programme is aimed at addressing the impact of Covid-19 on children's learning.

The funding, agreed by the Executive in June 2020, is aimed at enabling all primary and post primary schools to provide additional teaching support, particularly to pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Expand Close Pictured welcoming the new programme during a visit to Dungannon Primary School are Education Minister Peter Weir and First Minister Arlene Foster Alan along side side Principal Thompson, pupils Kyla McKernan and Kayla McRoberts and School Chair Judith Anderson. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. / Facebook

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Whatsapp Pictured welcoming the new programme during a visit to Dungannon Primary School are Education Minister Peter Weir and First Minister Arlene Foster Alan along side side Principal Thompson, pupils Kyla McKernan and Kayla McRoberts and School Chair Judith Anderson. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.

Mr Weir added: "I am determined that, during what has been a most challenging time, every pupil in Northern Ireland should receive the support they need to help them engage with learning, to enhance wellbeing to ensure that they can all reach their full potential.

The programme includes the purchase of online virtual learning resources for current Year 7 children to help with literacy and numeracy skills. A number of primary schools will also receive funding to provide Summer Schools.
Gardai sprang into action on the first day of Level 3 Covid restrictions in Dublin, turning out in Dolphin's Barn in the south inner city in large numbers to man a checkpoint. At least eight gardai were present on Saturday afternoon to stop cars, query motorists about their travel intentions and check the boot of their cars - in case Covid was trying to surreptitiously hitch a lift.

In a stroke of good luck, a cameraman from RTE happened to be present to record the long line of gardai patrol the area, as a paddywagon blocked off one lane of traffic and six Garda motorbikes remained parked at the side of the road. Dumbfounded motorists, encountering the checkpoint, could have been forgiven for thinking an escaped serial killer was on the loose, given the large numbers of gardai assigned to the operation.

Fast forward a couple of hours and a marquee was being erected at Oliver Bond flat complex, just a stone's throw from where gardai had been out in such force earlier that day. According to multiple residents, they began calling gardai almost immediately to advise them a large outdoor party was being held on a green space in the complex. Within a short period of time, more than 100 young people had gathered - drinking, taking drugs and trashing the area.

Speaking about the incident on Monday, residents of the flat complex all said the same thing. A Garda patrol car had driven past the party on a few occasions from 7pm, but made no effort to intervene and stop it. It wasn't until nearly midnight that gardai asked the crowd to disperse, which they did. If gardai were empowered to stop motorists and search cars as part of a Covid checkpoint on Saturday afternoon, why weren't they able to break up a massive rave happening right under their noses in the same area later that evening?

Incredibly, a Garda statement released on Sunday said their patrols had not detected any breaches of the restrictions at the rave - as "social distancing, wearing of masks in public areas and other such guidelines are not penal regulations". This rather missed the point that, under an amendment to the Health Act which came into effect on Saturday, organising an event in breach of Covid restrictions - which the rave clearly was - is an offence. Even if it wasn't, surely the open drug-taking and criminal damage engaged in by the revellers was reason enough for gardai to intervene?

The disparate Garda responses, in the same area of Dublin on Saturday, begs a question. Are gardai being used in some kind of PR exercise - out in force during the day when RTE cameras are trained on them, but non-existent at night when breaches of the regulations are actually taking place and people need their help? Gardai initially said they failed to detect any breaches of the regulations at Oliver Bond flat complex and noted that most of the Covid guidelines - that we must all try to abide by - are not penal provisions.

However, the restrictions relating to travel outside of Dublin are also just guidelines. You can't be arrested if you flee to Wicklow or Louth - but that didn't stop gardai mounting a highly visible Covid checkpoint on Saturday afternoon.

The State, in its response to Covid, expects a lot of us as a community. We must change our work practices, close our businesses, cut our social contacts, reduce the numbers at weddings and funerals and indefinitely suspend leisure and cultural activities.

Speaking to Pat Kenny on Newstalk on Monday, Taoiseach Micheal Martin even said that flatmates need to speak to each other if a member of the household is breaking the guidelines, and say, "this is not on".

It would be a lot easier to have those conversations if there was more evidence of blatant breaches of restrictions being pursued by State authorities. Why should flatmates, who have to spend all day living and working together in cramped apartments, have awkward conversations that could permanently poison relationships when there are no consequences for those who publicly make a mockery of the guidelines?

Clearly, if we are ever to suppress the virus, personal responsibility is essential. Members of the public will have to adhere to guidelines and reduce their social interactions if we are to succeed and restore some semblance of normality. But social solidarity will quickly wane if a perception arises that those abiding by the rules are mugs whose efforts are being put to naught by selfish idiots who want to keep partying throughout the pandemic.

How many enraged people will have watched footage of the rave at the Oliver Bond flat complex, which continued with the tacit approval of gardai, and decided, to hell with it, they were going to have that dinner party/their child's birthday party after all?

Mr Martin, in an interview with Brendan O'Connor on RTE on Saturday, said it was his view that we would be dealing with Covid for the entirety of 2021 - there will be no imminent reprieve. If people continue to get away with publicly flouting the rules, it will become almost impossible to convince the general public to continue adhering to restrictions for prolonged periods at great personal cost.

If we really are all in this together, then egregious bad behaviour needs to be punished - as well as good behaviour being acknowledged. If it's not, public buy-in will evaporate and Covid will surge.
The tussle between tech giant Google and payments unicorn Paytm has put the focus back on Indias competition laws pertaining to digital markets. For long, Google and Apple have been exercising too much control over app developers. This episode shows that it can happen anytime and with any apps. This time they played by the rules, but they can always make these decisions to suit their business interests," said Gurshabad Grover, senior policy officer at Centre for Internet and Society (CIS).

There is no clear judgement" when it comes to the Play Store and App Store, about whether they are intermediaries, such as Facebook, Twitter and other social platforms, Grover said. In the Fermat Education vs Sorting Hat Technologies case of 2018, Madras high court specifically said that if you are pre-screening uploaded content or if some sort of money is involved, then you are moving away from the definition of intermediary, which protects you from liability," he said.

This isnt the first time Google has been pulled up in India for one of its platforms. The company has run into trouble with the Competition Commission of India (CCI) for abusing its dominance with Search in 2018, for monopoly in mobile operating systems in 2019, and even in May for a case against Google Pay. CCI slapped a fine of 135.6 crore on it for abusing its dominant position in online general web search and web search advertising services.

We need to have a modular approach to this. India needs to fix the competition law for the digital market. The 2020 proposed amendments to the competition law are a step in the right direction and the government should implement more of the recommendations by the Competition Law Review Committee," said Grover.

There is also a lack of clarity in how things work in the digital space. Tech policy advisor Prasanto K. Roy said a clear set of instructions from companies like Google is more important in such cases. It appears there were gaps on both sides. Paytm has a different take on what happened, including that Google was classifying scratch cards and cashback as gambling. Google said that was not the case. It is not clear how much time was given. Paytm says zero, Google says otherwise," he said.

Self-regulation of platforms such as Google is also required, Roy said. Why the action is taken should be clear and enough time should be given. When a dominant app in a critical area such as payments is affected, the action should be internally escalated and reviewed," he said.

CCI is empowered to rein in the power of big tech just like it is done globally. Anisha Chand, partner at law firm Khaitan and Co., said CCI has been investigating various tech companies, including Indian ones, such as Flipkart and MakeMyTrip. If the question is whether the regulation can be more robust so that these things can be caught in a more timely manner, the answer is probably yes," she added.

Regulation of big tech is under question worldwide, Chand said. The struggle regulators face is in finding a method that allows regulation without stifling innovation. The challenge is to strike the right balance between an adequate amount of intervention and at the same time ensure that technology players arent disincentivized to come up with creative and innovative ways to make our lives better," Chand said.

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GARLAND, Texas, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Texas-based True Velocity, an advanced manufacturing and technology company specializing in small-arms ammunition, is introducing new technology and proprietary solutions to help armed forces streamline ammunition production and logistics from anywhere in the world. The company's manufacturing capabilities can power customizable and highly portable "cells," allowing for decentralized and automated ammunition production. True Velocity recently received its 145th issued patent for its manufacturing technology, processes and products.

True Velocity manufacturing is aimed at reducing inefficiencies in the ammunition supply chain, improving manufacturing safety, and has capacity to produce as many as 600 million rounds per year from its operations. The cell production technology from True Velocity includes everything from casing manufacturing to loading of ammunition in a physical footprint that requires only 2,500 square feet.

During testimony in front of the House Armed Services Committee, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology Dr. Bruce Jette mentioned the shortfalls of current ammunition manufacturing logistics in the U.S. and provided a blueprint for modernization. Congressman Donald Norcross opened the hearing, expressing concern that "essential functions of ammunition [are] done in museum-like conditions."

Dr. Jette said, "We have been reticent to bring our production facilities into the 21st century. But we are at an inflection point, knowing that technology offers true modernization pathways that can significantly improve both safety and transform the production capability."

The single largest producer of ammunition for the U.S. Armed Forces, Lake City Army Ammunition Plant, has been in operation since 1941 and produces nearly 1.4 billion rounds of ammunition per year at a 3,935-acre facility. When asked about opportunities to modernize operations, Dr. Jette referenced the potential of using polymer casing manufacturers.

"What we will likely do is use their facilities to develop our interim supplies while we develop our in-house capabilities," said Jette. "My insistence is upon transforming our approach as opposed to modernizing."

True Velocity can ship manufacturing infrastructure anywhere in the world and can create operational manufacturing cells within months. Traditional ammunition manufacturing lines take as long as two years to accomplish similar outputs.

"We are uniquely positioned to enhance the armed forces' capabilities through manufacturing modernization and enabling logistical efficiencies," said Chris Tedford, president of True Velocity. "At True Velocity, we obsess over quality control and want to provide our country's leaders with solutions that reinvent ammunition production, industrial supply chains, quality and distribution."

True Velocity, founded in 2010, is based in the U.S. with manufacturing operations in Garland, Texas, just northeast of Dallas. More than 1 million rounds of True Velocity composite-cased cartridges will be delivered throughout 2020-2021 to the U.S. Army as ammunition solutions are tested by the U.S. Army's Next Generation Squad Weapons program.

For more information, visit tvammo.com.

About True Velocity

True Velocity is an advanced technology and composite manufacturing company based in Garland, Texas. Founded in 2010, True Velocity has more than 250 patents pending or issued on its products, technology and manufacturing processes. Initially, the company is focused on revolutionizing the ammunition industry. True Velocity products are manufactured in the U.S. in a state-of-the-art, 66,000-square-foot facility and are currently available to public agencies, with consumer products available soon. For more information, visit tvammo.com.

SOURCE True Velocity

Related Links

https://www.tvammo.com


BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug.31

Trend:

Azerbaijani community of Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh region has issued a statement on the 27th anniversary of Gubadli district's occupation by the Armenian armed forces, Trend reports on August 31 referring to the community.

"On August 31, 1993, the Gubadli district was occupied by the Armenian armed forces. As a result of the occupation, 238 residents of Gubadli were martyred, 316 people became disabled, more than 100 people went missing, the administrative center and 93 villages were destroyed and looted, over 40,000 residents of Gubadli became internally displaced persons," the statement says.

According to the statement, as a result of the occupation, 445,000 square meters of housing stock, 4 medical institutions, 6 kindergartens, 61 secondary schools, 10 houses of culture, 24 clubs, 1 local history museum, 60 libraries, 205 recreational facilities, and 12 historical monuments were destroyed.

"The policy of illegal settlement of the occupied Azerbaijani lands by Armenia, including Gubadli, increasingly intensifying in recent years, has shown that Armenia continues to hold Azerbaijani territories under occupation and strengthen its consequences, and, thus, is not interested in a peaceful solution to the conflict, the statement also reads.

The Azerbaijani community of Nagorno-Karabakh region states that the only solution to the conflict is the withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from all occupied Azerbaijani territories and the return of ethnic Azerbaijanis to their homelands," adds the document.

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.
Pascale Ferrier was arrested on Sunday - REUTERS

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 on Tuesday.

Pascale Ferrier, of Quebec, was arrested on Sunday at the US-Canada border and made her first court appearance on 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 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."

Fonda Kubiak, Ms Ferrier's lawyer - AP

Ms Ferrier appeared in court briefly Tuesday and US Magistrate Judge H Kenneth Schroeder Jr entered a not-guilty plea on her behalf.

Ms 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 judge's 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 Ms Ferrier was exercising her rights to those hearings, which were scheduled for Monday.

Story continues

Pascale Ferrier, right, in court with an interpreter - REUTERS

"She has a presumption of innocence and that'll be pursued further after today," Ms 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 Ms Ferrier had been jailed in 2019.

Investigators also matched Ms Ferrier's fingerprints from four of the letters, the complaint said.

In Facebook and Twitter posts in September, Ms 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.
Rajesh Kumar Thakur By

Express News Service

PATNA: In what appears to a meticulously planned route, Bihar DGP Gupteshwar Pandey, known for always remaining in the media for his statements, took VRS (Voluntary Retirement Scheme) on Tuesday evening .

According to sources, he has made up his mind for starting a new inning of his post-VRS life through politics from his home district Buxar. Buxar is Brahmin and Rajput caste dominated.

Gupteshwar Pandey has been replaced as DGP by IPS officer SK Singhal . This is perhaps the first incident when a senior IPS officer has taken VRS from the post of DGP to jump into politics. Sources said that he had applied for VRS that got approved by the central government on Tuesday.

Sources also claim that Pandey is making an attempt to get a ticket from JDU. The former DGP was recently seen in Buxar where he met local party office bearers of JDU on the pretext of reviewing elections prepration. Gupteshwar Pandey aslo has good relations with the NDA leaders, he had applied for the VRS before the 2009 Lok Sabha elections as well. When he didn't get a ticket for the Lok Sabha,he managed to return to services with the help of CM Nitish Kumar.

ALSO READ | Rhea Chakraborty has no stature to comment on CM Nitish Kumar: Bihar DGP Gupteshwar Pandey

He recently came into the limelight after a rounds of statements he made on the death case of Bihar born bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput and his girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty's arrest. Pandey had raised a strong protest against the forcible quarantine of Patna city SP when he went to Mumbai to carry on the investigation into the actor's death case.

Sources said CM Nitish Kumar is also willing to field Pandey and recently at a government function he asked Pandey to prepare for the election. Pandey has always been a multifaceted police officer. He sings, he preaches and he orates skillfully before a crowd.
The damage was evident in the health sector, he said, "with all the cancer, heart attack and stroke cases not being treated the way they should be. But also in society, we're seeing lost school years and many many children in precarious situations and suffering from what is going on with us focusing exclusively on Covid," he said.

"Even though a lot has been done in the right way, my criticism is that we have focused too exclusively on the coronavirus and we have ignored all the collateral damage that has been going on and continues to go on," Fresenius CEO Stephan Sturm told CNBC on Wednesday.

But the chief executive of German health-care group Fresenius has warned that the country may have been overly focused on the pandemic, ignoring other areas of business and society that have suffered.

Germany has been praised for its tackling of the coronavirus pandemic, having managed to keep deaths under 10,000 while its European neighbors have seen much higher fatalities.

As the coronavirus crisis surged in Europe, companies like Fresenius, which has a hospital-operating unit Helios, were forced to delay and cancel elective surgeries. The German government offered fixed compensation to hospitals for procedures they have been forced to cancel.

Sturm said compensation had helped. He also insisted his concerns surrounding the focus on the coronavirus was not due to commercial interests, but from being a "responsible citizen."

"The German government has been good enough to make available a compensation package that makes us half-way home for the fixed-cost charge that is ongoing. But yes, the fixed-cost charge is hurting us, given that we were basically prohibited from treating elective-surgery patients. There, from the trough in March-April, we're seeing a steady, gradual recovery."

Germany has recorded 278,515 infections, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. It's current death toll of 9,421 is far lower than its European counterparts.

Nonetheless, data from the Robert Koch Institute 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. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called for a crisis summit next week with regional governors, German media reported Monday.

Despite the "better" data, Fresenius published a study on the pandemic's impact on Germany in August in which it said the clinical course of the virus in the country was as bad as in other countries.

"Two of every three Covid-19 patents in intensive care in Germany require mechanical ventilation. One-third of ventilated intensive care patients die, compared with one-quarter of non-ventilated intensive care patients," according to the study, which had collected and analyzed data on Covid-19 patents treated in 86 German hospitals run by Helios since the start of the pandemic in February.

"This shows that the clinical course of Covid-19 patients in Germany is as poor as in countries hit harder by the pandemic such as Italy, France, the United Kingdom and Belgium," the study said.

Fresenius' CEO told CNBC that he believes Germany had seen a lower death toll for several reasons. "A) We had a good hospital infrastructure to start with and B) we were relatively late [to see cases] and we could take some good lessons from other countries. and C) I think social distancing is a good part of the German culture and therefore we had much better prerequisites to deal with this."
Air Force Two has been forced to return to a New Hampshire airport after it was hit by birds shortly after takeoff.

The incident occurred Tuesday evening after the plane, carrying Vice President Mike Pence, departed Manchester-Boston Regional Airport en route to Washington, D.C.

Video shared to Twitter showed the birds striking the aircraft about seven seconds after takeoff, with several sparks subsequently seen coming from the plane's right engine.

Pilots managed to turn the plane and safely land back at the airport. There were no reports of any injuries.

Air Force Two, which was carrying Vice President Mike Pence, was forced to return to a New Hampshire airport Tuesday evening after it was hit by birds. Pence is pictured campaigning in the state

Air Force Two is seen grounded on Tuesday evening following the bird strike

Sparks could be seen (pictured) near the engine of Air Force 2, which carried U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, after the plane struck a bird during takeoff at Manchester

Pence was seen alongside severak aviation engineers as they inspected the plane as it sat on the tarmac shortly before nightfall.

The Vice President later boarded a C17 cargo plane for the 80 minute flight back to the nation's capital. That plane is usually used to transport Pence's vehicles.

Assistant Secretary for Health Brett P. Giroir shared of snap of Pence inside the cargo plane.

'Air Force 2 has a little different look tonight. Now in a C17 and happy for it! Thanks to the pilots and crew for getting us safely back on the ground,' Giroir wrote.

Vice President Mike Pence inspects an engine on Air Force 2 after the plane hit birds moments after leaving Manchester Regional Airport. The VP is now en route to Washington on a cargo plane. pic.twitter.com/LFf0umSCGZ  Sam Sweeney (@SweeneyABC) September 23, 2020

Mike Pence is seen alongside Assistant Health Secretary Brett P. Giroir inside a C17 cargo plane they later used to fly back to D.C.

Pence had spent the day campaigning in the city of Gilford, where he pledged that Trump would fill the Supreme Court seat left vacant following the death of Ruth Bade Ginsburg.

He also vowed that the Trump Administration would stand with law enforcement and would never defund the police.

'So many of you said yes to Donald Trump in 2016, but I'm here, 42 days from Election Day, because I know New Hampshire's going to say yes to four more years of President Donald Trump,' he stated.

Meanwhile, Trump took to the battleground state of Ohio for another raucous rally, in which he poked fun of his Presidential rival Joe Biden less than 45 days out from the election.
Precaution doses for Covid warriors, elderly from January 10: All you need to know

Covid self-isolation rule change explained: What does the new rules mean for me?

Explained: Will Uttar Pradesh CM's plan to set up 'film city' be a hit or a flop?

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

New Delhi, Sep 23: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has come up with an ambitious plan to set up a "film city" and invited several filmmakers to come to the state.

According to reports, CM Adityanath announced 1,000 acres for the same in Gautam Budh Nagar by the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA), where a Dedicated Infotainment Zone would be set up with world-class civil, public and technological facilities.

Coronavirus: India records 83,347 new COVID-19 cases as recoveries cross 4.5 million-mark in India

On September 18, CM Adityanath had said that the country's "biggest and most beautiful film city" would be set up in Gautam Budh Nagar district. Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar had called on him on Sunday - and on Tuesday, several film personalities including Anupam Kher, Udit Narayan, and Satish Kaushik attended a meeting with Adityanath.

After the announcement, what were the steps taken by the govt?

On September 18, while conducting a review meeting of Meerut Division, Chief Minister Adityanath directed officials to find land in the jurisdiction of Noida, Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority, or the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority to set up a "film city". The move attracted lot of attention and drew reactions from the film industry.

Officials were quick to act, and "Expression of Interest" was invited the same day for the appointment of an agency to evaluate options for setting up "Film City or Infotainment zone". Interested agencies were told to submit their applications in the next 15 days.

Here's why PM Modi is all set meet chief ministers of these seven states today

How were the previous attempts to establish a "film city" in Uttar Pradesh go?

In 2015, two film cities were proposed in the state, and agreements were signed in the presence of then Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, director-producer Boney Kapoor, and BJP MP from Gorakhpur Ravi Kishan. One of these film cities was proposed to come up along the Lucknow-Agra Expressway, and the other in the Trans Ganga City project in Unnao.

Only Sushant took drugs, Rhea claims in latest plea | Oneindia News

The government had offered about 300 acres of land to each of these two proposed film cities. They were proposed to come up on Public-Private Partnership model, with a proposed investment of about Rs 700 crore. However, neither of the two projects saw the light of the day.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Wednesday, September 23, 2020, 10:17 [IST]
Officials meet with workers at the Zhuowan factory in Ghulja county, in the XUAR's Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, in an undated photo.

New evidence further links a company in northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) whose products were banned from entry to the U.S. earlier this month to forced labor supplied by detainees from a local internment camp, RFA has learned.

On Sept. 14, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency issued Withhold Release Orders (WROs)measures intended to prevent goods suspected to have been made with forced labor from entering the United Statesthat targeted three entities from Xinjiang and one from Anhui province in eastern China.

Among the products was apparel produced by Yili Zhuowan Garment Manufacturing Co., Ltd. and Baoding LYSZD Trade and Business Co., Ltd., located in Ghulja (in Chinese, Yining) county, in the XUARs Ili Kazakh (Yili Hasake) Autonomous Prefecture.

Information reasonably indicates that these entities use prison and forced labor in apparel production, CBP said at the time.

CBP identified forced labor indicators including the restriction of movement, isolation, intimidation and threats, withholding of wages, and abusive working and living conditions.

The WROs follow a year of heightened U.S. scrutiny of Beijings sprawling network of camps in the XUAR, where authorities are believed to have held up to 1.8 million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities since April 2017.

And on Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act that would block imports from the XUAR, amid growing evidence that internment camps in the region have increasingly transitioned from political indoctrination to forced labor, with detainees being sent to work in cotton and textile factories.

Investigations by RFA have found that former detainees placed in forced and coerced labor schemes following their detention are regularly required to surrender part of their pay to camp administrators. In some cases, they are housed in dormitories on their workplace campuses and only permitted to visit their families at home as little as once a month.

In January last year, RFA learned that nine Kazakh women from Ghulja county were sent back to an internment camp after they refused to sign a labor contract with a monthly salary of 600 yuan (U.S. $90), around 40 percent of a typical wage for a manual worker, of which they would have received only around 300 yuan (U.S. $45).

The women had been sent to work in the Jiafang Garments Industrial Park after being released from an internment camp, and expected to work 12-hour shifts sewing gloves and undergo an hours political education every day for the money.

A map shows Ghulja county in the XUAR's Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture. RFA Name-brand exports

RFA recently spoke with a Europe-based Uyghur who claimed, on condition of anonymity fearing reprisal, that over the past two years their own younger sister has worked under forced labor conditions in a Zhuowan factory.

The source, who provided RFA with a number of photos of different factories and workshops, said that several small- and medium-sized factories have been built in Ghulja at the invitation of the local government.

They produce name-brand gloves, bags, clothing, and other goods, and then export them to Russia as well as Europe and the United States, the source said.

These factories and workshops are tax-exempt, and the local government has assumed responsibility for electricity, water, and rent. These factories use the people from camps basically for free. They work 10-plus hours a day. Those who cannot meet the demands placed on them face all sorts of punishment.

Photos provided by the source show that the Zhuowan factory is located within the Jiafang Garments Industrial Park and reveal rows upon rows of workshops and other buildings inside a large complex.

The source also provided the business card of Zhuowans general manager, Wang Xinghua. Repeated calls to Wang by RFA reporters went unanswered at the time of publishing.

The source said they felt compelled to share information about factories in the region after learning that products made by their sister and other forced laborers were making their way to countries like the U.S.

According to information available online, Zhuowan was founded with a private investment of some 460 million yuan (U.S. $67.5 million). It is registered as a limited liability company, and was registered in November of 2017, well after the start of the internment campaign in Xinjiang. The goods it produces include both leather and wool gloves.

According to the website of the Ili prefectural government, the total land area of buildings in the Jiafang Garments Industrial Park in the Ili Yidong Industrial District measures around 160 mu (26 acres). When founded in September 2016, the park contained 15 workshops and agreements were signed to locate 15 garment factories there. By August 2017, seven factories in the park were producing apparel and close to 2,000 [people] were put to work.

Reporting by RFA and a number of other news outlets over the past several years has shown that a staggering number of factories have been built in Xinjiang contemporaneous to the campaign of mass incarcerationmany of which are located on the site of or nearby known internment camp locations.

Gulzira Auelkhan (R) and a fellow worker at the Zhuowan factory in Ghulja county, in late 2018. Gulzira Auelkhan Just like a camp

Gulzira Auelkhan, a Kazakh woman RFA reported on last year who worked at Zhuowan, recognized details in the photos supplied by the source in Europe of the factory and Jiafang Industrial Park and confirmed that she had been sent there after spending 15 months prohibited from leaving an internment camp between July 2017 and October 2018.

This is JiafangI worked in a glove factory there for three months, she said.

The Zhuowan glove factory and the camp were both on the grounds there. [The factory] was just like being in a camp. Even now, just thinking of it makes my heart cry. I cant stand it.

Auelkhan, who relocated to Kazakhstan in 2019 after finishing the work detail, described the factory as a two-story building on the edge of the industrial park structure, where armed police stood everywhere.

It was a 20-minute bus ride between the workshop and the campat 6:30 a.m. Beijing time, when it was still pitch-black outside, the police would put us onto the bus and take us to the workshop, she said.

There, she claimed, she worked on a floor with more than 200 other Uyghurs and Kazakhs who had been released from a camp.

Between the two floors there were at least 500 Uyghur and Kazakh women, as well as a small number of Hui [Muslim] women [working], she said.

Excluding the 40 minutes in which we were allowed to eat meals, we spent all the rest of our time under the heavy weight of work, without even the permission to get a drink of water. We got off work at 6:00 or 7:00 p.m. We would go back to the camp and take part in brainwashing sessions.

Each day at work, Auelkhan and others were expected to sew 20 pairs of gloves, each of which could take 30-50 minutes to complete. She said that because she was forced to study Chinese at night, her eyesight had become poor and she was never once able to complete the work assignment.

We tried to help one another to complete our work assignments, because there were all sorts of punishments for us if we didnt finish, she said. They even scared us by saying we might go back into the camp.

While Auelkhan was promised 600 yuan for her three-month stint at Zhuowan, at the end of the contract she received nothing and was forced to sign a document saying she had received free job training from the company. She was beaten by police when she told them should wouldnt sign until she received the money she was owed.

Visiting officials are briefed outside of the Zhuowan factory, in an undated photo. RFA listener Global market

Auelkhan told RFA she is devastated to know that the gloves she and her fellow workmates made are being sold on the global market.

The leather gloves we sewed are sold in China for 250 yuan (U.S. $37)the cheapest sell for 180 yuan (U.S. $26), she said.

They told us that the gloves are also sold in the U.S. and Germany, that they would go to foreign countries.

When asked what brand of gloves they were making, Zhuowan managers told workers that the labels would be added once they were sent to different workshops in other parts of China.

Additional details of the link between Zhuowan and the internment system, as well as the conditions at the glove factory, were confirmed by Darren Byler, a postdoctoral researcher at the Center for Asian Studies, at the University of Colorado, Boulder in an September 2019 interview he conducted with a Kazakh man named Erzhan Qurban published in the journal SupChina.

Qurban had spent nine months in a camp in Ghulja before being released in November 2018, at which point he was promptly forced to work at the glove factory.

Reported by Gulchehra Hoja for RFAs Uyghur Service. Translated by Elise Anderson. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
NRAO joins space mission to the far side of the moon to explore the early universe

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.

###

This story has been published on: 2020-09-22. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Vanessa Bryant accusee par sa mere de lavoir jetee a la rue apres la mort de Kobe, elle replique

Le sort sacharne sur Vanessa Bryant. Apres avoir perdu son mari Kobe et sa fille Gigi dans un tragique accident dhelicoptere en janvier dernier, la femme doit faire face aux accusations de sa propre mere dans les medias. La veuve a dailleurs souhaite faire une mise au point concernant les declarations de sa mere, rapporte le magazine Voici.





Dans une interview accordee a lemission El Gordo y la Flaca, diffusee sur la chaine americaine Univision, la mere de Vanessa Bryant a fait des revelations exclusives sur sa relation avec sa fille depuis la mort de Kobe. Sofia Laine avait notamment explique: Vanessa ma dit tu dois quitter cette maison elle ma aussi demande la voiture, et elle la voulait tout de suite.





Mise au point





Des propos qui ont choque la veuve de Kobe Bryant. La femme a donc decide denvoyer un communique a la chaine afin de mettre les choses au clair. Mon mari et ma fille sont decedes brutalement, et pourtant ma mere a laudace de faire une interview televisee en parlant negativement de moi tout en versant des larmes pour une voiture et une maison qui netaient pas a son nom, a declare Vanessa Bryant.





Elle a ensuite accuse sa maman dessayer de sattirer la sympathie du public en detournant la verite. Elle a enleve tous ses bijoux, elle a vide lappartement que javais fourni et cache les meubles pour donner limpression quelle na pas daide de ma part. Mon mari et moi lavons soutenue financierement au cours des vingt dernieres annees et je continue de le faire, et cela vient en supplement de sa pension alimentaire.





Deception




Gov. Gavin Newsom's executive order banning sales of new combustion-engine motor vehicles in California starting in 2035 will mark a radical change in transportation infrastructure. It also will prompt many questions from consumers. Here are answers to some:

Is this a real ban on combustion vehicles?

The order calls it a goal but gives the California Air Resources Board authority to lay out a transition plan. CARB has enforcement powers. The order calls for a plan to phase in requirements between now and 2035, but details are yet to be determined.

Dont electric cars cost more?

Yes, they do, with a sticker price typically 30% higher than that of a comparable combustion car. Right now, tax credits and rebates from federal and state government make up for much of that cost. EV advocates say lower fuel and maintenance costs should also be figured in.

But the price gap is shrinking. Although batteries remain expensive to build, the cost is coming down fast. The consulting firm McKinsey estimates EVs will reach price parity with combustion-engine cars as soon as 2025 and transform from money losers to moneymakers for car companies. Other studies predict price parity by the end of the decade.

Batteries have been getting a lot more competitive in terms of mileage range  at a lower cost, said Mary Nichols, who chairs the California Air Resources Board.

No one can say what the world will look like in 2035, but its a safe bet that EVs will be cheaper than gasoline cars.

Will there be enough electric cars and trucks available so there's a real choice?

There will. Strict clean-air and greenhouse-gas requirements in Europe and a government-sponsored push for zero-emission cars in China have caused automakers to get serious about moving past combustion engines. There will be dozens and then hundreds of models available between now and 2035.

Will government financial incentives remain in place?

Not in the long run, and even now California incentives are in trouble. A government mandate restricting the supply of new cars to EVs would provide all the incentive the market needs.

Story continues

For the near future, "there will likely need to be financial incentives to get more people willing to go electric," said Jessica Caldwell, market analyst at Edmunds. Last year, the EV market actually fell, by 7%, and accounted for only 2% of the 17 million cars and light trucks sold in the U.S. in 2019.

That puts California in a bind, though. California's finances are in crisis because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and made worse by the wildfires. The state's EV incentives now come in at about $2,000, though that varies based on car model and customer income. The governors budget already calls for a reduction in EV incentives.

Where will I charge my new electric car?

Most people charge EVs at home. The network of public charging stations is still sparse  but growing. The mandate should help solve the chicken-egg problem for capital spending on stations and create plenty of places to charge up.

As 2035 approaches and more electric cars hit the road, gas stations could take a hit. The number probably will fall, but the survivors are likely to be adding electric charging stations to their properties. Shell is a leader not only in EV charging. It also plans to fit some of its stations with hydrogen pumps for fuel-cell cars and trucks.

Will fuel-cell powertrains be allowed?

Certainly. Fuel-cell vehicles turn hydrogen into electric energy and leave only water vapor behind, so they count as zero-emission vehicles too. That technology is less developed than battery-electric vehicles but is also advancing fast.

What about hybrids?

Theyll be allowed until 2035, but because they come equipped with both a battery and a combustion engine, they will not be allowed to be sold once the ban takes place.

I love gasoline engines in cars and trucks. Will I still be able to own one after 2035?

Yes. The ban doesnt affect existing cars, and according to the governors order, it won't cover out-of-state sales. So in 2035, you could travel across the border to Nevada or Arizona, buy a combustion vehicle and register it in California  unless those states ban combustion engines, too.

Will the governors ban be challenged in court by the Trump administration, by car companies, by gasoline refiners, by dealerships, by auto mechanics and by gas station owners?

Its 2020. What do you think?





This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
An office building adjacent to the River Walk is set to be converted into high-end apartments.

Plans call for turning office space at the Travis Building at 405 N. St. Marys St. into 63 luxury units, according to a filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

A second phase will involve adding amenities for residents and retail space to the 10-story structure, which has an attached parking garage. The roughly 76,000-square-foot building was constructed in the 1920s.

Michael Fisher/ San Antonio Express-News

The renovations are expected to cost $8 million and take a year to complete, starting Oct. 31, according to the filing.

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Harris Bay, a California firm with plans to build a boutique hotel adjacent to the Travis Building, is listed as the owner.

Iconic Travis Bldg LLC bought the building this summer. Deed records also indicate the entity has the same address as Harris Bay.

The property was valued at $6.3 million this year, according to Bexar Appraisal District records.

This building created the unique opportunity to add more residential units to the downtown core along the River Walk and create some synergies with the hotel project we are developing next door, said Harris Bay managing partner Jake Harris. We are excited to part of the evolving downtown market and to be a small part of the future of San Antonio.

The firm is also behind plans for a mixed-use development on the East Side, apartments and retail at the Antiques Warehouse on South Flores Street and apartments and possibly retail at warehouses near GW Brackenridge High School.

Harris Bays downtown developments would join a slate of other projects in the urban core, including plans to turn the derelict Hedrick Building at 601 N. St. Marys St. into apartments and retail and to convert the former Continental Hotel at 322 W. Commerce St. into housing.

On ExpressNews.com: Will a Trump tax break fuel investment in San Antonio  or just give money away?

The Travis Building and the adjacent site Harris Bay owns sit within one of 24 federal opportunity zones in the San Antonio area. Harris said they plan to use the opportunity zone program and seek historic tax credits and city development incentives for the Travis Building renovations.

The adaptive reuse of historic buildings always is a challenge, Harris said. We are planning on using all of those programs to make this project financially viable.

President Donald Trumps 2017 tax bill established the initiative, which is intended to spur investment in low-income communities by providing capital-gains tax breaks to those who make long-term investments within the zones.

Critics say the program is doing more to benefit wealthy investors than residents who live in the zones, and questions have also been raised about the designated locations and projects that were in the works before the tax break.

In San Antonio, research by the Urban Institute last year revealed that many of the local opportunity zones were attracting investment beforehand.

madison.iszler@express-news.net
This is the first time the annual meeting series has been held both virtually and in person. It is also the last of its kind in the term of incumbent WIPO Director General Francis Gurry.



Its opening ceremony was attended by about 750 delegates from 135 WIPO member states, observer states, inter-governmental organisations, and non-governmental organisations.



In his opening remarks, Director General Francis Gurry reported on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic while warning that the diminished state of multilateralism poses a major challenge to the world.



He said technological progress has connected humanity in never-before-seen ways, but has been accompanied by increasing signs of closure, including protectionism.



Gurry noted that the pandemic has yet to adversely affect the financial position of WIPO, which funds its activities primarily through the provision of global IP services, but that close attention has to be paid to the evolving global economic situation.



For his part, newly appointed WIPO General Director Daren Tang acknowledged member states support for him to serve in this post and committed to close cooperation with them in the time ahead.



Tang, who was Chief Executive of the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore, will begin his six-year term on October 1.



Representing ASEAN countries to deliver the blocs joint remarks, Ambassador Mai, head of Vietnams permanent mission to the United Nations, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and other international organisations in Geneva, said while responding to Covid-19 and promoting post-pandemic recovery, ASEAN countries have been prioritising digital transformation and innovation, setting up electronic systems for registration and reception of intellectual property (IP) dossiers to improve IP authorities efficiency, and maximising teleworking methods to ensure the timely and quality provision of IP services for relevant parties.



She also informed participants about ASEANs IP-related achievements this year, including its members innovation index, engagement in some international IP agreements, and regional cooperation with WIPO.



ASEAN countries appreciated Director General Gurrys leadership and substantial contributions to WIPO during his two tenures (12 years), Mai said, adding that they believe the newly appointed Director General will lead the organisation to obtain great achievements in the time to come.



Speaking on behalf of Vietnam at the opening ceremony, the ambassador highlighted some of the countrys attainments in the field of IP since the beginning of 2020, including the growth of applications for the protection of IP rights, an increase in protection certificates of industrial property rights, and the start of implementation of the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Deposit of Industrial Designs.



Vietnam has been effectively carrying out the National IP Strategy and most of WIPO-funded projects, with a focus on digital transformation, innovation and response to the pandemic, she noted.



The diplomat also stressed the countrys wish and belief that WIPO will continue making progress in enhancing the system of IP rules and ensuring balance between promoting innovation and implementing the WIPO development programme for the sake of all member states.



The agenda of the 61st meeting series is shortened compared to those in previous years due to the Covid-19 impact. It is scheduled to wrap up on September 25.
This is the third such incident over the past 12 months.

Bulgaria's Chief Prosecutor Ivan Geshev has notified the foreign minister of evidence gathered regarding espionage efforts by "two foreign nationals enjoying diplomatic immunity."

That's according to a statement released on the agency's website.

After receiving the relevant signals from SANS security service, the Specialized Prosecutor's Office instituted pre-trial proceedings targeting "foreign nationals gathering information constituting a state secret for the purpose of handing it to a foreign state or organization."

Read alsoRFE/RL: Bulgaria charges three Russians in absentia over attempted murders in 2015The investigation says the two Russian spies had been operating since 2016, seeking intelligence on the plans for modernization of the Bulgarian army and technical condition of its military hardware.

The information was then to be passed to Russia's military intelligence in Moscow, the report says.

The two suspects developed contacts with Bulgarian citizens who had access to information related to the defense industry. In certain cases, financial benefits have been "promised and provided" to Bulgarian citizens for such clandestine cooperation.

"It has been established that the two Russian citizens have diplomatic status," the report reads.

The suspects' diplomatic immunity does not allow Bulgarian authorities to prosecute them so the two spies were declared personae non-gratae and told to leave country within 72 hours, Reuters reported citing the foreign ministry.

Russian spies in Bulgaria: background
On the advice of my uncle in Poland, I tried to go to Poland via Romania - ex-journo spilled the beans

by Our Defence Correspondent

A man named Balasubramaniam Senduran, a resident in Colombo has visited a printing house in Kiribathgoda, Colombo suburb, on June 2020, requested a series of articles to be printed in a newspaper format. He told the owner of the printing house that he will come to collect the printed paper in a few days. He said that he worked as a journalist and told the owner that he was reporting on current affairs.

But he was arrested on suspicion by the CID in July 2020 when he arrived to pick up the printed fake newspapers. It has been revealed that he had paid around Rs. 24,000 to the printing press for printing these fake newspaper pages.

One of the fake news reports states,





 B. Sendhuran, a journalist of the Thinakkural newspaper and editor of a well - known Tamil newspaper in Canada, was assaulted at around 7 am yesterday. The journalist who was seriously injured in the incident has been hospitalized with head injuries. The Sri Lanka Press Association has condemned the incident."

However, during investigations, the man revealed that he had worked for the Thinakkural and Virakesari newspapers for some time. But no one has interfered with his duty. However, the salary he received from the company where he worked was not enough. Therefore he tried to go abroad by preparing fake documents and fake newspaper reports. He was found in possession of a forged identity card of a journalist and seven forged official stamps.

According to reliable sources, the forged documents were prepared on the instructions of his uncle who lives in Poland. He believed that these forgeries could easily deceive the foreign embassies in Colombo and other responsible parties. He planned to go first to Romania and then to Poland and seek asylum.

A significant number of similar incidents have reported in the past. But due to lack of reliable evidence, those cases were kept under the carpet. As a result, many have fled the country and sought refuge, claiming that they had been subjected to state repression.

International organizations have often accepted the views of these individuals and their brokers to blame the Sri Lankan security forces and other authorities. But most international organizations do not independently investigate the veracity of those allegations. Consequently, innocent parties came under severe criticisms merely based on assumptions.












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As the next step in its Linux expansion program, Lenovo on Wednesday announced the launch of Linux-ready ThinkPad and ThinkStation PCs pre-installed with Canonicals popular Ubuntu technology.

The company also now brings Linux certification to its ThinkPad and ThinkStation Workstation portfolio, along with easing deployment for developers and data scientists. Lenovo is moving to certify the full workstation portfolio for top Linux distributions from both Ubuntu and Red Hat. This includes every model and configuration.

Previously only accessible to enterprises via a customized bid, Lenovo now offers a comprehensive range of nearly 30 Ubuntu-loaded devices available for purchase via Lenovo.com. These include 13 ThinkStation and ThinkPad P Series Workstations and an additional 14 ThinkPad T, X, X1, and L series laptops. All come with the 20.04 LTS version of Ubuntu, with the exception of the L series which will have version 18.04.

A More Streamlined Linux Experience

Lenovos vision of enabling smarter technology for all really does mean for all. Our announcement of device certification in June was a step in the right direction to enable customers to more easily install Linux on their own. Our goal is to remove the complexity and provide the Linux community with the premium experience that our customers know us for, according to Igor Bergman, vice president of PCSD Software and Cloud at Lenovo.

This is the next step to offer Linux-ready devices right out of the box, he said.

This expansion brings increased accessibility to open source apps, libraries, and tools to enhance developers productivity. This offers a seamless out-of-box experience for those who previously braved the often-time-consuming process of loading Linux onto their Lenovo devices themselves. It also provides this community of programmers, software developers, AI professionals, and other Linux users an increased range of devices from which to choose, he added.

Lenovos expansion of Ubuntu certified devices shows great commitment to open source and the Linux community. With data scientists and developers increasingly needing Linux for emerging workloads, this collaboration enables enterprises to equip their employees with the assurance of long-term stability, added security, and simplified IT management, said Dean Henrichsmeyer, vice president of engineering at Canonical.

By providing these devices preloaded with the OEM version of Ubuntu, Lenovo is removing complexity for Linux users and introducing end-to-end web and phone support for platform-related Linux issues.

Taking the Next Step

The announcement comes on the heels of Lenovos release of computers running Fedora Linux desktop, the community version sponsored by RedHat Linux. That was a big deal, noted Red Hats senior software engineering manager, Christian Schaller, at the announcement earlier this month.

The events marked a double milestone for Lenovo. This was the first time Fedora shipped pre-installed on a laptop from a major vendor. It also was the first time one of the largest laptop makers sold directly to consumers premium laptops with the Linux desktop OS pre-installed.

Both September announcements by Lenovo were bittersweet. Years ago, first IBM sold ThinkPad laptops with Linux pre-installed and then Lenovo continued that product line. Then, in 2008 Lenovo dropped that Linux product line. In July of last year, IBM closed a landmark acquisition of Red Hat for US$34 Billion.

Lenovo has been taking steps toward this expansion for many years, offering pre-loaded Linux PCs for companies that submitted customized bids and certifying a range of our PCs to Linux specifications that would allow users to more easily install the OS on a Lenovo device themselves, Bergman told LinuxInsider.

In June, the Lenovo Workstation team published a blog article announcing the expansion of the Linux program. That included the impending availability of a wide range of preinstalled Linux PCs, he added.

This announcement is the manifestation of that promise, specifying the PCs available, both within the workstation portfolio and beyond, Bergman noted.

Lenovo embarked on this expansion in response to increasing commercial customer demand, particularly IT professionals and developers that are part of the global open-source community. Lenovo seeks to offer these users more choices in their smart technology, he explained.

A Start, But Limited

It is worth noting that the new Linux configurations are all Thinkpad laptops or ThinkSystem desktops aimed primarily at businesses and IT professionals, particularly developers. They should also be attractive to folks working in areas where Linux predominates, like AI/machine learning and HPC/supercomputing, both areas where Lenovo is active, according to Charles King, principal analyst at Pund-IT.

The company is astute in assessing commercial opportunities in global markets so I expect these new offerings should do very well, he told LinuxInsider.

Lenovo has been actively building out its Linux portfolio this year via strategic partnerships announced with Fedora and Red Hat. But the companys focus on Linux lags some competitors, King remarked.

Dell, in particular, has sold Linux-loaded laptops for the better part of a decade via a program called Project Satellite aimed primarily at developers. The company offers both slimline XPS13 and muscular Precision workstations and tower systems certified by both Red Hat and Canonical.

In this context, Lenovos decision to jump into the deep end with Fedora and Canonical could signal that adoption of Linux-based PCs and laptops is accelerating, King said.

Why Ubuntu?

Ubuntu is a popular, well-respected and modern, open-source operating system on Linux for the enterprise server, desktop, cloud, and IoT. Lenovo has worked closely with Canonical, the publishers of Ubuntu, for several years, so expanding our collaboration with them was a natural choice, Bergman observed.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Lenovo is actively involved with several other open source communities, as well. One of the main Linux communities is Fedora, which Lenovo announced earlier this year.

Ultimately, we want to support open source in a way that fits its expectations and ethos, Bergman said.

All of the Linux Ubuntu configurations come with GNOME as default desktop. For the other desktops you do not have to reinstall the OS. While you cannot select it in the Lenovo purchase, you can install/select the other desktops the same way Ubuntu has always supported it. It is all standard Ubuntu with no Lenovo restrictions, according to Lenovo.

Availability

Included in this global expansion are the following Lenovo ThinkPad and ThinkStation devices. They will be available globally starting September 2020 and will roll out in phases through 2021:

ThinkPad T14 (Intel and AMD)

ThinkPad T14s (Intel and AMD)

ThinkPad T15p

ThinkPad T15

ThinkPad X13 (Intel and AMD)

ThinkPad X13 Yoga

ThinkPad X1 Extreme Gen 3

ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 8

ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 5

ThinkPad L14

ThinkPad L15

ThinkPad P15s

ThinkPad P15v

ThinkPad P15

ThinkPad P17

ThinkPad P14s

ThinkPad P1 Gen 3

ThinkStation P340

ThinkStation P340 Tiny

ThinkStation P520c

ThinkStation P520

ThinkStation P720

ThinkStation P920 (Pictured Above)

ThinkStation P620

All of the PCs included in this announcement, with the exception of the ThinkPad L series laptops, will be available with the 20.04 LTS version of Ubuntu that was released in April 2020. The ThinkPad L14 and L15 will be available with version 18.04 LTS.

The announcement focuses on Lenovos commercial range of PCs. The company continues to explore expansion and will share more later, said Bergman.
SYDNEY: Former rebel military commander Ishmael Toroama has been elected president of Bougainville, an autonomous part of Papua New Guinea in the South Pacific, electoral officials said on Wednesday, and is set to lead talks seeking independence.

The general election was the first since Bougainville voted overwhelmingly for a separation from Papua New Guinea at the end of last year, with Toroama defeating an open field, the Bougainville Electoral Commissioner said.

Mineral-rich Bougainville island has been hampered by years of little economic progress following a decade-long civil war that claimed as many as 20,000 lives before ending in 1998.

The conflict was largely fought over how the profits from the lucrative Panguna gold and copper mine on Bougainville should be shared and the environmental damage it had caused.

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape said in a statement he would meet with Toroama in the coming weeks.

I look forward to working with president-elect Toroama in progressing consultations on the outcome of the recent referendum and securing long-term economic development and a lasting peace for the people of Bougainville," Marape said.

During the election campaign, Toroama said there was a time for war, a time for reconciliation and a time to build a new nation.

God will also unleash the strength for our countrymen to nation-build because that time has come. We are on our way," he said.

Toroama was a commander in the secessionist Bougainville Revolutionary Army, and later worked on the peace and disarmament process.

Plans to reopen the mine, which could help fund an independent Bougainville, have stalled due to competing claims over development rights over the long-shuttered Panguna mine.

The mine on Bougainville had one of the worlds largest deposits of copper, and was the economic engine of Papua New Guinea, when Conzinc Riotinto of Australia Ltd, a forerunner of Rio Tinto, was forced to abandon it due to the unrest.

Bougainville, with a population of around 250,000 and now reliant on financial support from the Papua New Guinea capital, has since fallen to the bottom of almost every financial indicator, despite boasting mineral riches, fertile volcanic soil and stunning geography.

Discussion over how Bougainville would sustain its independence is likely to dominate independence negotiations, with one senior Bougainville politician estimating the transition could take 10 years, as the region would need to rebuild its institutions.

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
Cleaning headstones at the Jerome Township Cemetery in Sanford on a recent chilly morning, Linda Fisher explained why she and about 10 others have devoted hundreds of hours of their time to cleaning and resetting its headstones over the past few months.

"About four years ago, some people from out of town went to the Sanford (Centennial) Museum (looking for information about someone buried at the cemetery)," Fisher said.

When the museum staff accompanied the visitors to the cemetery to help them find the right headstone, the staff was ashamed by the condition of the headstones in general, she said.

Some stones were discolored. Others had sunk so far into the ground that they were almost hidden. Another 47 had been dislodged and were lying on the ground.

A few people, including Fisher, were willing to do something about this state of ruin, but at first they lacked permission from the township government and the financial backing needed to carry it out.

Eventually, permission was given to do the work, the Midland Area Community Foundation approved a grant, and on top of that, history enthusiast and professional headstone cleaner Justin Frost joined the effort.

"Justin came in, and Justin was the muscle power," Fisher said with a smile.

The grant has paid for a tripod to help lift headstones and for limestone gravel, among other things.

Fisher and Frost have been joined in the work by Belinda Lyons, Floyd Andrick, Tracie Boshaw, Carolyn Maynard, Rebecca Malkin, Michelle Brown, Mary Herkner, Brittney Carle, Mary Beebe, Lisa Marie Stub and Diana Richardson.

Fisher's father, grandparents and great-grandparents are buried at the Jerome Township Cemetery. She also belongs to the local W.T. Lamphierd Chapter of the Daughters of the Union.

So, helping to restore headstones at the cemetery is very meaningful for her.

It's been a complicated process, but the work is bearing fruit, Frost said.

"The goal is to get all the stones that were vandalized or tipped over, put back together  to restore those," Frost said. "The ones that have sunk into the ground and other various things, were pulling those out and resetting them and putting them back to the way they should be. And then we're cleaning every stone in the cemetery so that its able to be read and preserved."

About 200 of the total of 353 stones have been restored at the cemetery, which is right across the street from the Sanford Dam, and experienced flooding after the mid-Michigan dam failures in May.

"Almost every time we go over there, we find more (headstones). The flood did bury a couple of them," Frost said. "When we get a heavy rain, you start to see the mud wash over them. There was about a foot of sand washed into one section (by the flooding)."

Frost said in just one night, he hauled out about eight wheelbarrow loads of brush and leaves that had been strewn throughout the cemetery.

The volunteers also replaced many flags at the headstones, about 28 of them on the Fourth of July, Frost said, noting that some veterans of the Civil War and Spanish-American War are buried at the cemetery.

Another volunteer, Andrick, said what motivates him in this work is knowing that he is helping to preserve the memories of the deceased.

"It's a good feeling. Everybody should have a headstone to show they existed," said Andrick, who spent five years as the chair of the Midland County Historical Society.

The group of volunteers was recently informed the grant money from the foundation has all been spent, so they expect to end their work at the cemetery this fall.
Whether be it accusation of disenfranchising or voter suppression or voter registration mishaps or inadequate voter exhibition exercise timetable, which is currently ongoing the opposition National Democratic Congress NDC has not shied away from its argument that the Electoral Commission (EC) and its chair aren't there for the Umbrella's interest.

In fact, the party holds the view that the EC Chairperson Jean Mensa is puppet and she's there to do the bidding for the Akufo-Addo ruling- NPP.

This view, sound or unsound hasn't been proven yet.

However, as you are aware a good argument must have true premise. It must be valid and strong and must have premises that are more plausible than one of its premises. Be reminded a valid argument can have false premises and it can have false conclusion.

You cannot merely accuse one of being bias or favouring an opponent without evidential proof.

Would NDC ever be happy with EC's Work?

Maybe not this time. I think not until the tables have turned and they've one of their own put in charge.

But as long as auntie Jean is in the driver's seat, they'll have an ass to grind. And this nick picking will go on unabated. Bottom line, the two don't see eye to eye.

It seems they are destined to happen. But I don't know if this act was deliberate or certain circumstances forced EC to fix the voter exhibition timetable this way.

And you think NDC would sit aloof. The party considers the time frame of the exhibition as too short or too little. And I couldn't agree more.

The inevitable question is: If EC scheduled 21 days for the 2016 election and 11 days for 2012 (both of which obviously had fewer registered voters compared to over 15 million for 2020) why then did the body decide to set aside 8 days for the current exercise?

Unless, EC explains that its decision was influenced by the deadly pandemic'COVID-19, which is ravaging the world. But, if that was even the case, wouldn't it have been better for EC to engage the parties involved in a way to allay any fears and this element of suspicion which has beclouded the entire process?

Indeed this is not the first and will certainly not be the last as the nation gears up to vote in yet another epic general elections on December 7, 2020.

Prez Mahama blasts Jean

On Monday 22 September the party's flagbearer Former President John Mahama blasted Jean, describing her as incompetent leader.

Mr. Mahama was reacting to developments bordering on the voter exhibition. The exercise which commenced on Friday 18 September 18 is expected to come off on Friday, 25 September 2020.

As aforesaid NDC is unhappy about the turn of events. Thus it has raised a lot of concerns with the way the exercise is being conducted.

Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, Director of Elections for the NDC has criticised the electoral body for conducting the voter exhibition exercise within just eight days.

At a press conference he said this:

The NDC wishes to emphatically state that since the inception of the Fourth Republic, our otherwise respected EC presents to the people of Ghana such a malformed and anaemic register going into a major election," said Mr. Afriyie Ankrah.

While we present to you impeccable evidence of anomalies on the provisional register, we will encourage Ghanaians to visit the exhibition centers to see for yourself the mess that the Jean Mensa and Bossman Asare-led EC has created."

He emphasises that the exhibition of the voters' register is a critical aspect of our electoral process.

And it is through the exhibition exercise that citizens who register get the opportunity to confirm that their names and other details are duly captured on the voters roll such that they will not be disenfranchised on voting days. In view of the importance of the exercise, the exhibition duration in the past had been between 11 to 21 days.

In 2012 the exhibition was eleven days. Even in 2016 where only a limited registration exercise was conducted in preparation for that election the duration for the exhibition exercise was 21 good days

Unfortunately, with the 2020 registration exercise that was characterized by various anomalies, violence and chaos and also involving close to 17 million prospective voters the EC rather strangely announced an 8-day exhibition exercise," Elvis concluded.

By Gordon Offin-Amaniampong
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 23) Malacanang on Wednesday said it respects Ombudsman Samuel Martires decision to halt lifestyle checks on government officials, noting there are other existing measures that can help authorities go after erring employees.

We, of course, respect the decision of the Ombudsman; he is a constitutional body, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in an interview with CNN Philippines The Source.

And I think what he considers as more important would be enforcement of the anti-money laundering law because thats really the best way to determine if ones income as a government employee can justify his assets that are hidden, he added.

Martires on Tuesday bared that he had ordered a stop to lifestyle checks on public officials, citing questionable provisions of Republic Act No. 6713, also known as the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

R.A. 6713, the same law that requires public officials and employees to file their statements of assets, liabilities and net worth, requires them and their families to "lead modest lives appropriate to their positions and income." Under the measure, they shall also not "indulge in extravagant or ostentatious display of wealth in any form.

Roque, meanwhile, partly agreed that lifestyle checks may not always be effective, especially since some officials can find ways to hide their ill-gotten wealth.

Siguro may mga panahon na the corrupt ones will flaunt it. Pero times have changed, ngayon they could live modest lives, even they could use dummies for their bank deposits and can pretend to have modest lives even if they have trillions and billions of ill-gotten wealth, the spokesperson said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 20:55:09|Editor: huaxia

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LAGOS, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- An unknown number of persons, including students, have been confirmed killed after a fuel tanker explosion in Kogi state, central Nigeria on Wednesday as the state governor expressed condolences to the families of the victims.

Yahaya Bello, the governor of Kogi state, said in a statement on Wednesday he was very sad to learn of the "tragic loss of lives, many vehicles, property and other valuables" in the fire arising from the fuel tanker explosion that occurred around the Felele area of Lokoja, the state capital of Kogi.

He said this is "the greatest tragedies the state has witnessed in recent times", without revealing details such as the exact casualties and cause of the accident.

The governor also urged the students of Kogi State Polytechnic to remain calm and peaceful, adding that he equally shared in their grieving moment over the death of some of their colleagues in the disaster.

Witnesses told Xinhua that the state government had deployed police and traffic management officials to the scene of the accident to restore order.

Mohammed Onogwu, spokesperson of the governor, told Xinhua on the phone the governor will address the media after an on-the-spot assessment of the scene of the incident.

According to local media reports, some Kogi State Polytechnic students, school buses conveying local primary and secondary school students, and residents passing by were burnt by the fire sparked by the explosion. Enditem
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Europe surged past five million cases of the new coronavirus on Wednesday as France and Spain prepared tighter restrictions in an attempt to curb rising levels of infections in their capital cities.

Worldwide nearly 32 million people have been infected and more than 971,000 have died since the virus emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019 and spread across the globe.

After appearing to bring cases mostly under control with economically devastating lockdowns, Europe now faces a resurgence, forcing governments to consider reintroducing tough measures.

More than half of Europe's infections have been recorded in Russia, followed by Spain, France and the United Kingdom.

The 380,000 cases reported in the past week represent the highest number in the region since the start of the pandemic.

'Be vigilant'

The French government was preparing on Wednesday to announce stricter anti-virus measures for Paris, sources told AFP, as national infections have rocketed since lockdown was liftedsometimes surging past 10,000 a day.

President Emmanuel Macron had said new curbs would be announced on Wednesday and sources said they could include a ban on alcohol sales after 8:00 pm and restrictions on social gatherings, as well as speeded up testing.

"We are calling on people to be vigilant, we will have to live with this virus for a while," said Anne Souyris, deputy Paris mayor. "The object is to protect yourself while shaping a social life."

The Madrid region, the heart of an explosion of infections in Spain, has already locked down roughly 850,000 people and plans to extend the measures on Friday.

Britain has already announced fresh steps to try to allay the rising toll.

"To help contain the virus, office workers who can work effectively from home should do so," the government said on Tuesday, despite fears of a devastating economic impact.

New rules come into force for pubs and other hospitality venues on Thursday, forcing them to close early, and plans to allow fans back into sporting events have been ditched.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned the new restrictions could last up to six months and called for a collective effort to "get through this winter together".

His scientific advisors had said the United Kingdom could see a devastating 50,000 coronavirus cases a day by mid-October if no action is taken.

Trump says deaths 'a shame'

The World Health Organization reported late on Monday that almost two million infections were recorded around the globe in the week to September 20.

The United States has passed 200,000 deaths, the world's highest toll, with Brazil, India and Mexico the next most severely affected countries.

The world's most powerful nation hit the figure just 41 days before a presidential election.

US President Donald Trumpwho faces a tough re-election fight and is trailing Democrat Joe Biden in the pollssaid the 200,000 milestone was "a shame" and deflected blame on to China.

Trump used a video address to the annual United Nations General Assembly to attack Beijing for not stopping the spread of what he called the "China virus".

"We must hold accountable the nation which unleashed this plague onto the worldChina," he told the UN's diplomatic showcase event, which is being held almost entirely online because of the pandemic.

Trump has repeatedly played down the seriousness of the coronavirus crisis.

The pandemic is taking a heavier toll on employment than previously feared, the United Nations said on Wednesday, with hundreds of millions of jobs lost and workers suffering a "massive" drop in earnings.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) found that by mid-year, global working hours had declined 17.3 percent compared with last Decemberequivalent to nearly 500 million full-time jobs.

"The impact has been catastrophic," ILO chief Guy Ryder told reporters in a virtual briefing.

In a rare glimmer of hope, Saudi Arabia announced that it would gradually resume the year-round umrah pilgrimage for Muslims from October 4.

The kingdom had suspended the umrah in March and later scaled back the annual hajj in a blow to millions of Muslim pilgrims around the world.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

 2020 AFP
The United Nations (UN) has always struggled when its most powerful members are disunited. On the 75th anniversary of the UNs foundation, not only is great power rivalry rising to Cold War levels, but the world is under enormous forces of change, whether technological or environmental. The organisation recognises it needs to make major adjustments, but it can only reform if there is a sufficient consensus among its members to that effect. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking at the supplementary high-level meeting, stressed the need for reformed multilateralism to ensure UNs continued relevance.

India has long called for the Security Council to be expanded to provide permanent seats for emerging powers like itself. That a draft text for such reforms has made it to the UN General Assembly is an accomplishment. While New Delhi must continue to iterate this requirement, it should be recognised this is an aspiration and comes with a long and unpredictable timeline. It is not merely China which will be a barrier, neither the United States or Russia is eager to see their positions diluted.

There are three obvious multilateral issues in which the UN needs to become much more active. The most obvious is the pandemics. No government can claim there is not a case for much more transparent and intrusive global preventive health system. Then there is climate. The UN hosts the worlds primary climate change conference, but this role needs to be institutionalised. In addition, climate policy now affects other areas such as trade and immigration and urgent multi-disciplinary discussions are needed at the highest level. Finally, terrorism remains a global threat. The collapse of the Islamic State has taken the wind out of the terrorists sail, but no one believes this is not a temporary situation.

Cynics will say the UN will be hampered by a de-globalising world, superpowers at daggers drawn and rising protectionism. The debate over a reformed multilateralism and more relevant UN needs to begin sooner rather than later. The speeches have now been made, but India and other governments now need to find ways to convert these into action on the ground. The UN is imperfect because the cohesion of its member-states is imperfect. But no one can deny, as Mr Modi said, Our world today is a better place because of the United Nations.
The Delhi government has called for willing medical personnel from its existing hospitals to apply to work at two of its newly operationalised hospitals in Burari and Ambedkar Nagar, and another one yet to open in Dwarka.

There have been no new appointments for the hospitals in Burari and Ambedkar Nagar, which is being run by already diverted staff from other hospitals. The two hospitals together have 500 beds for the treatment of patients with coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

Presently, health and family welfare department has deputed staff (medical, nursing, and paramedical) in Burari and Ambedkar Nagar hospitals on diverted capacity from other government hospitals. Now, this department intends to post willing staff in the aforesaid hospitals, read a circular by the deputy-secretary (Human Resources-Medical) Surinder Narang.

The circular has asked all medical superintendents to send a list of staff willing to be posted at the three new hospitals within two weeks.

The 2,000-bed Lok Nayak hospital, which is the biggest Covid-19 treatment facility in the city, has also diverted staff to the hospitals. We have already sent 15 of our nurses to the hospital in Burari. Now, we are looking at staff who live near these areas to join the three hospitals, said a senior official from the hospital management.

The doctors from the hospital have reported severe shortage of staff, especially to run the intensive care unit. We just have 33 senior residents in the anaesthesia department who run two ICUs, the operation theatres in the hospital, and the operation theatre at the trauma centre in civil lines. The doctors are burnt out now, said a doctor from the hospital, on condition of anonymity.
President Donald Trump was asked Wednesday if he would commit to a peaceful transfer of power after the November election  and declined to do so.

'Well, well have to see what happens,' said Trump, when pressed on the matter at the White House.

It was a similar comment to those he made in 2016 when asked similar questions.

After refusing to go along with a pledge, the president attacked Democrats and delivered swipes that appeared to be directed at mail-in voting, the subject of his frequent attacks at the White House and at campaign rallies.

'Get rid of the ballots and youll have a very peaceful  there wont be a transfer frankly, therell be a continuation,' President Donald Trump said, in a likely reference to mail-in ballots

'Win lose or draw in this election will you commit here today for a peaceful transferal of power after the election?' Trump was asked at the top of his press briefing.

'Well, well have to see what happens,' Trump replied  entertaining the question, but also refusing to commit.

His questioner pointed to 'rioting' in U.S. cities, and asked if Trump would commit to making sure there is a peaceful transfer of power after the election.

'You know that. Ive been complaining very strongly about the ballots. And the ballots are a disaster,' he said, in a likely reference to mail-in ballots. Trump regularly says they are rife with fraud, although a handful of states use them for elections.

Trump was asked if he would commit to a peaceful transfer 'win, lose, or draw' in his race against Democrat Joe Biden

Trump was asked about a peaceful transfer as police clashed with protesters marching through the streets of Louisville after a grand jury chose not to indict three officers in the death of Breonna Taylor on Wednesday afternoon

A man wears a shirt supporting U.S. President Donald Trump while waiting in a socially distant line to vote on the first day of early voting for the 2020 U.S. presidential election at the Fairfax County Government Center in Fairfax, Virginia, U.S., September 18, 2020

Trump appeared to be referencing mail-in ballots when he said: 'Get rid of the ballots and youll have a very peaceful  there wont be a transfer frankly, therell be a continuation'

'Get rid of the ballots and youll have a very peaceful  there wont be a transfer frankly, therell be a continuation,' Trump said.

'Get rid of the ballots and youll have a very peaceful  there wont be a transfer frankly, therell be a continuation.' - President Donald Trump

He continued: 'The ballots are out of control. You know if. And you know who knows it better than anybody else, the Democrats,' he said.

The president quickly moved on to other questions about the coronavirus and charges for an officer involved in the shooting of Breonna Taylor in Kentucky.

The president's dodge came on a day when the Atlantic published an article titled The Election that Could Break America that played out scenarios where Trump would refuse to accept results amid court cases and recounts, and rejects the outcome even if rival Joe Biden appears to have won or be within sight of prevailing in the Electoral College.

The president made the comment as some of his fiercest critics have accused him of making moves toward authoritarianism. Biden said this summer trump will 'try to steal' but said he is convinced the military 'will escort him from the White House with great dispatch.'

The president faces the backdrop of ongoing investigations by prosecutors in New York that could implicate the president if he were to leave office.

On Wednesday, a New York judge ruled that Eric Trump must comply with a subpoena in a probe that extends to Trump Organization statements when obtaining financing for projects.

Trump concluded the briefing saying he had to take an 'emergency phone call' and turned the podium over to coronavirus advisor Dr. Scott Atlas.
A Vietnamese mechanic died after being struck by a lightning bolt while preparing a plane for a flight at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi on Tuesday.

When the accident occurred at 6:05 pm, it was raining heavily with thunder and lightning bolts, according to Tran Hoai Phuong, director of the Northern Airports Authority.

A lightning bolt struck the airplane parking at Lot. 24, which would serve flight VN7715 from Hanoi to Vinh International Airport, scheduled to take off at 6:10 pm on Tuesday.

At that time, 40-year-old technician N.V.B, an employee of Vietnam Airlines Engineering Company, was cooperating with pilots in switching on the aircraft engine and he was hit by the lightning.

Medical staff at the airport gave him first aid and sent him to a local hospital immediately. However, the mechanic could not make it.

On Tuesday night, a Facebook group of Vietnamese aircraft mechanics changed its cover photo to send condolences to the unlucky mechanic.

Deputy Minister of Transport Le Anh Tuan has required relevant officials and staff to visit the family of the mechanic and help them with funeral rites.

Airports around the country have reported lightning strikes at airplanes, runways, and parking lots for several times.

Lightning recently hit and deformed the taxiway at Vinh International Airport in north-central Nghe An Province.

At Cat Bi International Airport in northern Hai Phong City, a part of a low-cost carrier's airplane was also damaged by lightning.

This is the first death by lightning to have been reported at Noi Bai International Airport.

According to an expert, engineers and technicians must examine engines and support their colleagues during take-off and landing in any weather conditions.

To avoid lightning strikes, they should use hand signals to communicate instead of headphones.

However, some staff were reported injured due to the effect of electric currents as lightning struck airplanes.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 23

Trend:

The expression "Who dies for fascism, dies for Armenia" is too dangerous, Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament Sahiba Gafarova said, Trend reports.

Gafarova made the remark during her official visit to Russia at the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of Russia.

Speaking about the fact that a monument to the fascist Garegin Nzhdeh was erected in the center of Yerevan, the speaker of the Azerbaijani parliament stressed that some countries, wishing to rewrite history, are trying to heroize Nazi collaborators, erect monuments to them, which causes fair anger and condemnation by the international community.

Russia, not remaining on the sidelines, also expressed its attitude to this, becoming the initiator of the discussions and adoption of a resolution in the UN on the fight against the heroization of Nazism. But we see that a number of states, for example, Armenia, dont recognize the UNs decisions and other influential international organizations. How else the erection of a six-meter monument to the fascist Garegin Nzhdeh in the center of Yerevan can be explained? After all, the "Who dies for fascism, dies for Armenia" expression belongs to Armenia. I think that Armenias actions must not remain unnoticed, and an adequate response must be given, said Gafarova.

Since September 21, the parliamentary delegation of Azerbaijan, headed by Speaker of the Parliament of Azerbaijan Sahiba Gafarova, is on an official visit in Russia.
Lee Spirits Company a leading distiller of award winning pre-prohibition American dry gin, flavored gins, fine liqueurs, whiskey, vodka and canned cocktails, is pleased to announce it is adding two new flavors to its portfolio of ready to drink canned cocktails: Fuego Lemonade and Whiskey Lemonade. In addition, all Lee Spirits canned cocktails are now available for purchase in variety packs.

Lee Spirits canned cocktails and new variety packs are available beginning today throughout Colorado and Nebraska.

Recently named Colorados Ready to Drink distillery of the year by the 2020 New York International Spirit Competition for its Strawberry Ginger Gin Lemonade and Lavender Gin Lemonade canned cocktails, Lee Spirits looks to add to the widespread popularity of its canned cocktails with todays three new offerings.

The positive responses from consumers, spirit store operators, bartenders and distributors around our first two canned cocktails have been incredible and today we are so happy to be building off of this momentum by offering variety packs and two new canned cocktail options, said Carlos Garcia, Director of Sales.

Lee Spirits Fuego Lemonade combines the distillers one-of-a-kind peppery and spicy spirit Ginfuego, with refreshing lemonade. The cocktail is delicious over ice and is equally as refreshing right from the can.

The companys Whiskey Lemonade combines 5-year Kentucky whiskey blended perfectly with lemonade and is tasty when enjoyed on-the-rocks or from the can.

In 2018 the company decided the canned spirit marketplace was saturated with carbonated cocktail options making it ready for a delicious alternative, said Nick Lee, Co-founder. This fact drove our research and development team to approach our canned product with a fresh vision, non-carbonated cocktails. The instant popularity of our first two flavors opened our eyes to the real possibility of expanding our manufacturing and today I so am proud of our entire team for formulating two utterly delicious new cocktails people can enjoy from a can. It is also very cool to be announcing the availability of variety packs alongside the new cocktails which gives consumers an opportunity to try each of the four flavors with one purchase.

Each of Lee Spirits canned cocktail flavors are 9% AVB and are offered in 4-packs as well as in variety packs. All are available at retail outlets that sell spirits across Colorado and Nebraska. The organization plans to increase its flavor profiles during 2021.

About Lee Spirits Company: Lee Spirits Company is an award-winning Colorado-based distillery whose mission is to create the finest products to empower spirit-lovers to enjoy authentic cocktails. Lee Spirits products can be found across Colorado, Arizona, Oklahoma, and Nebraska. To connect with Lee Spirits, visit their website or social media page.
It would be fair to surmise that people in Peotone have exhibited a range of reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic. On one end of the spectrum are those who feel the coronavirus is a hoax and we should all carry on with our lives as if nothing was different. At the other end are those who embrace the notion of staying home as much as possible.
The Nagaland government has decided to withdraw the steep COVID-19 cess on petrol and diesel, state minister Neiba Kronu said on Wednesday. The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting at Choumukedima in Dimapur district, he said.

Considering the need to give a boost to economic activities and the woes of the people, the decision to rollback the cess was taken, Kronu, who is also the government spokesperson on COVID-19, said. The Nagaland government imposed the COVID-19 cess of Rs 5 per litre on diesel and Rs 6 per litre on petrol and other motor spirits on April 28, amid a crunch in the state'sfinances in the wake of the lockdown following the COVID-19outbreak.

Opposition parties, tribal bodies, civil society groups and student bodies have been demanding a rollback of the cess. Besides, the Dimapur Naga Students' Union on September 19 had threatened to close down all the petrol pumps in the state if the cess was not withdrawn. The official notification for the rollback would be published on Thursday and is likely to come into effect from Friday, Kronu, who is the Land Revenue and Parliamentary Affairs minister, said.

He said Nagaland was given Rs 27.84 crore by the central government for fighting COVID-19, while the state spent Rs 115.80 crore from its own resources. Total COVID-19 cess collected from April to July is Rs10.32 crore, he said, adding that the August collections are yet to be deposited.
International Day of Sign Languages is observed annually on September 23, along with the celebrations of International Week of the Deaf. It was first celebrated in 1958 and has since evolved into a global movement for deaf unity, one that focuses on raising awareness about the importance of sign language as a means of communication and in full realization of the human rights of people who are deaf, according to the United Nations.

The World Federation of the Deaf first made the proposal for this day on December 19, 2017. September 23 is in itself a significant date as it marks the day the World Federation of the Deaf was first established in 1951. This day is particularly significant as it presents the opportunity to support and protect the linguistic identity and cultural diversity of all deaf people and other sign language users. According to data collected by the World Federation of the Deaf, there are around 72 million deaf people in the world, and over 300 different sign languages are used by them.

Though in essence, sign languages structurally differ from spoken language, they are full-fledged natural languages, even in its many forms. On a global scale, there is an international sign language which is used for official meeting or even when informally travelling and socializing.

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, acknowledges and encourages the use of sign language. It also recognises that sign languages are equal in status to spoken languages. Early access to sign language, like quality education available in sign language is essential to the growth and development of deaf individuals. According to the United Nations, It recognises the importance of preserving sign languages as a part of linguistic and cultural diversity.

For the year 2020, the World Federation of the Deaf has issued a Global Leaders Challenge, which is being organised to promote the use of sign language by locals, national and global leaders who are in partnerships with national association of deaf people in each country.

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New Delhi:

Indian pharmaceutical sector is likely to gain, rather than being impacted, as the new US President Donald Trump aims to reduce drug prices since the country's generic medicines are already affordable, according to industry players.

"Considering the fact that India offers a low-cost innovation and manufacturing hub and India-made generics sometimes cost almost one-tenth of branded drugs sold in theUS, we are likely to be least affected by the anticipated policy changes," Biocon Chairperson and MD Kiran Mazumdar Shaw told PTI.

She further said Trump would focus on introducing new pricing models that will make expensive innovative drugs more affordable.

"If controlling healthcare costs is a priority for the new administration, I believe the Indian pharma industry is already aligned with US President Donald Trump's vision,"Mazumdar- Shaw added.

Echoing similar sentiments, Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance(IPA) Secretary General Dilip G Shah said: "We are positioning ourselves as a trust worthy and reliable partner of the USA for access to quality medicines at the affordable prices."

He said Trump wants American companies to manufacture domestically and selling products at the US prices. Likewise, to fill in the void of Obamacare, "he will not mind imports of quality medicines from India at the affordable prices".

A Glenmark spokesperson said traditionally, Indian pharma companies are known to offer products at lesser prices and it will look to address the rising drug prices in future as well.

Mazumdar-Shaw said Indian pharma industry has for decades contributed significantly to contain and bring down healthcare costs in the US by supplying high-quality yet affordable generic drugs to the country.

"The US bought USD 4.74 billion, or over a third of the USD 12.54 billion worth of drugs exported by India in 2015," she said.

"With India now emerging as a leading global supplier of biosimilars, biopharma companies are well-placed to address the unmet need for more affordable versions of biologic products around the world, including the US," Mazumdar-Shaw added.







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STAMFORD  Michelle Troconis is no longer on house arrest and she does not have a curfew, but she is still required to wear a GPS monitoring device and cannot leave Connecticut without the courts permission, a judge ruled on Wednesday.

Troconis is facing conspiracy to commit murder, tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution charges in the death and disappearance of Jennifer Dulos.

In his 15-page ruling, Stamford Superior Court Judge John Blawie said the seriousness of the defendants charges cannot be understated.

The defendant stands accused of two serious felonies, alleging her involvement in a conspiracy to murder Jennifer Dulos, Blawie wrote. Although Troconis has no prior criminal record nor any history of violence, these allegations themselves weigh heavily against complete termination of her non-financial conditions of release.

READ MORE: Investigators: Dulos may have shaved head to frame colleague, new evidence could lead to Jennifers remains

Defense attorney Jon Schoenhorn, representing Troconis, has been trying for months to get the court to loosen the non-financial conditions of his clients release on $2.1 million bond.

Schoenhorn contends the GPS unit is hampering his clients ability to participate in her own defense since Judicial Branch officials know her every move.

It appears that Judge Blawie is splitting the baby, Schoenhorn said of the ruling. Although I believe it is a thoughtful legal memorandum, I will continue to ask the Appellate Court to review the requirement of continued GPS monitoring. We are grateful that the court agreed that the other conditions, including curfew and house arrest should be removed, and that she is permitted to travel out of state with prior permission. But we believe there is an insufficient basis to require the ankle bracelet.

Schoenhorn finally had a hearing on his motion to have the 24-hour GPS unit removed on Aug. 28  after he sought help from the state Appellate Court to get his clients court date moved up from October.

On Monday, Schoenhorn filed another motion with the Appellate Court, asking the jurists to intervene by either reviewing Blawies decision to keep his client on electronic monitoring or exercising its own authority to grant relief.

Although Schoenhorn contends the states evidence against his client isnt as strong as originally believed, Blawie said he had to consider several factors, including the limited ties Troconis has to Connecticut and that she only came to the state to live with Fotis Dulos, who died in January from an apparent suicide while facing murder and other charges in the case.

Troconis has not violated the conditions of release that were set when she was first arrested in June 2019, Blawie said.

This track record of ongoing compliance is sufficient to warrant certain modifications, the judge wrote in his ruling.

But he stopped short of removing the GPS on the grounds Judicial Branch officials do not alert law enforcement of her movements and while the staff monitoring her whereabouts know her location, they are not aware of who she is meeting with or what conversations are taking place, Blawie said.

The court sees no meaningful restriction on an attorneys ability to properly advise a defendant subject to pretrial monitoring, Blawie said.

But Troconis will no longer be on house arrest and she does not have a curfew. She must seek the permission of the court if she wants to travel outside Connecticut. The court also recently agreed to allow her to travel to Florida to see her father who is recovering from COVID-19, Blawie said.

Assuming that she keeps her GPS monitor charged and operative, Troconis is free to travel anywhere at any time within the state of Connecticut without restrictions, pending trial, Blawie said.

Troconis has been free on $2.1 million bond but under restrictions since her first arrest on tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution charges on June 1, 2019.

But Schoenhorn has argued the restrictions have been too harsh, and said they even caused Troconis to lose custody of her daughter, who is now living with her father in Argentina.

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.

According to her arrest warrant, Troconis 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 and attorney for Fotis Dulos, was also 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 to the charges.

Troconis is scheduled to have a remote court date on Oct. 1.
Good Morning Britain viewers fell in love with an 'amazing' crocheting wife and retired farmer whose TV knocked out an entire village's internet for 18 months.

Pensioners Alun, 67, and Elaine Rees, 63, left Piers Morgan in hysterics this morning after Elaine told him it made her cross when he 'didn't let Susanna speak'.

Piers tweeted to say that the couple were 'possibly my favourite guests ever' and said that they would be buying the couple a new TV.

The couple 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.

The mystery left engineers baffled, but it was finally solved when the 'electrical noise' responsible was finally traced to the couple's home.

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

The retired couple explained that the 30 TV set, which is in their bedroom, was turned on every morning to watch Good Morning Britain.

Elaine, who loves to watch Piers Morgan in the morning because he 'makes her laugh', was crocheting a blanket throughout the interview and showed off another she had crocheted over the back of the sofa behind them.

She explained that, while retired farmer Alun is driving his tractor, she sits in the back and crochets.

Elaine added: 'Weve got a camper van that we actually made up ourselves and I do sit in the passenger seat crocheting when Alun is driving the camper van.'

When Piers asked Elaine when he makes her cross, Elaine told him it was when he wouldn't let co-host Susanna talk, to which Susanna responded with a round of applause.

Piers said: 'By the way, pretty rich coming from you given Alun doesn't talk either. I haven't seen him get a word in.'

GMB viewers found the couple hilarious and called for them to be on Channel 4's show Gogglebox.

They left Piers Morgan in hysterics this morning after Elaine crocheted a blanket through their entire interview

The retired couple explained that the 30 TV set, which is in their bedroom, was turned on every morning to watch Good Morning Britain

One Twitter user said: 'Elaine & Alun for @C4Gogglebox. They were brilliant!'

Another commented: 'Definitely brightened my Wednesday morning.'

A third wrote: 'Absolutely!! No filters, no clever camera angles, just two normal people! So refreshing and made me feel so happy!!!'

Another user said: 'Really enjoyed this. A much needed break from the current doom and gloom. Others moaning about how long they were on for, but why not let them have the time, they were entertaining after all!'

Yesterday, 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.

Piers Morgan tweeted to say that the Welsh couple were 'possibly my favourite guests ever'

Twitter users fell in love with the couple who left them 'absolutely howling with laughter'

'Next thing they're knocking the door and asking us to turn the telly off at the wall.'

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.'

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.

Another user asked how they could order a crocheted blanket from Elaine while others complained the interview was a 'waste of air time'

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 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.

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.'

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

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.'
Rev. Grace Nzameyo Maa claims Rev. Charles Atkins Jr. tried to initiate an affair with her after helping her get a job at The French Evangelical Church of New York in 2018, according to the lawsuit filed in Manhattan Supreme Court on Tuesday

A female pastor at a New York City church has filed a lawsuit against a male pastor accusing him of texting her photos of his penis, asking for sexual favors and calling her a 'stupid b***h' under his breath during services.

Rev. Grace Nzameyo Maa claims Rev. Charles Atkins Jr. tried to initiate an affair with her after helping her get a job at The French Evangelical Church of New York in 2018, according to the lawsuit filed in Manhattan Supreme Court on Tuesday.

Nzameyo, who is suing Atkins and the church, claims Atkins made several inappropriate comments to her after she started, including asking her to be his mistress because his 'wife isn't giving it to me anymore'.

'Grace, you're giving me a headache. I don't know why you don't understand. I love you and I want to build up this friendship and relationship. I gave you this ordination I want you to be with me as my mistress. My wife isn't giving it to me anymore,' he said, according to the lawsuit.

He is also alleged to have said: 'Grace, you know I love you and want you to be my girlfriend. You have to stop this madness. I'd like to get a blowjob from a cute pastor like you. I know you Africans don't like to give blowjobs.'

On another occasion, Atkins allegedly told her: 'Dont wear your robe; I was hoping I could see your butt and curves and legs today.'

Despite Nzameyo repeatedly asking him to stop, the lawsuit claims Atkins then sent her three different photos of his genitals.

Nzameyo, who is suing Atkins and the church, claims Atkins made several inappropriate comments to her after she started, including asking her to be his mistress because his 'wife isn't giving it to me anymore'

She claims that Atkins started retaliating against her after she refused his advances.

The lawsuit says Atkins would refuse to put Nzameyos on the Sunday bulletin and stopped her from participating in the Sunday service.

Nzameyo also claims that Atkins would call her a 'stupid b***h' under his breath when he was in the pulpit during the Sunday services, according to the lawsuit.

She filed a formal complaint against him in February 2019 with the New York Presbytery, which oversees the Manhattan church.

The lawsuit says Atkins submitted a letter in May 2019 renouncing jurisdiction of the of the Presbytery and the Presbyterian Church.

Nzameyo claims that even after Atkins left, she was stopped from holding services and carrying out her duties.

The New Yorks Presbytery said in a statement that they couldn't investigate further given Atkins renounced jurisdiction of the church.

They also denied retaliating against Nzameyo.

'This means that he ceased to be a minister of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and that the church could no longer investigate or try him in its courts. It is now solely in the secular court system,' the statement said.

'The Presbytery did not retaliate against his accuser; her employment as a minister had not been not been undertaken properly.'
A mother struggling to find her autistic son's favourite food has been 'blown away' after the company dropped a free box of their products to her home.

Leanne Page, 40, from Morayfield, north of Brisbane, went to her local Woolworths store earlier this month to discover they were out of Keith's Foods Mini Dagwood Dogs.

When she was unable to find them in any nearby stores, she reached out to the Gold Coast-based company to ask if they had discontinued the range, which is the only thing her son Tyler, three, will eat.

'I asked where I could buy them, I got put onto Karen who told me I could get them an hour-and-a-half away,' Ms Page told Daily Mail Australia.

Leanne Page, 40, struggled to get her son Tyler (pictured), three to eat until she found Keith Foods' Mini Dagwood Dogs

'Next thing I know she has turned up at my door. Keith's Foods gave it to me for nothing.

'It is the only thing my son eats. He hasn't eaten in the past two years.'

'I was blown away.'

Karen explained the shortage was due to Keith's Foods, which specialises in crumbed products, experiencing difficulties sourcing key ingredients amid the pandemic.

Four days after making the hour-and-a-half drive to personally deliver the 30-pack box, Karen called Ms Page to tell her she would never have to worry about running out again.

After reaching out to the company, Keith's Foods representative Karen (left) drove to Ms Page's (right) Morayfield home to deliver a free 30-pack box

Ms Page shared her experience in Facebook group The Kindness Pandemic with a photo of her gift to Karen and a card for the Keith's Foods team

'She spoke to her boss and they have decided that for however long my son eats these products they would supply us with 150 free when I contact them,' Ms Page said.

Karen returned days later with another delivery and was gifted with flowers and a card to say thank you to the team for 'going above and beyond'.

The mother-of-three said the kind act has had 'an amazing impact' on her family.

'I can't thank them enough, they have done so much for me.'

'Tyler was overwhelmed, he got more hot dogs so he was good!

Keith's Foods specialises in crumbed products

'As long as he gets his mini hotdogs on his plate every night he is happy.'

Ms Page shared her experience with the family owned business in Facebook group The Kindness Pandemic, which has since garnered more than 6000 positive reactions.

'Now thats awesome customer service!' one person wrote.

Another comment read: ' This is amazing. Why can't more people be like this?'

The Australian operated business, founded in 1976, said they have also been bombarded with personal messages praising the heartwarming gesture.

'It has been an amazing response and not something we expected,' a Keith's Foods spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia.

'We do stuff like this often, we work with a lot of charitable organisations through our distributors and donate directly to local church groups.'

'We did not realise doing something like sending out Dagwood dogs to a mum and her boy would give us this sort of reaction.'

'We are going to supply Ms Page constantly so her son will always be in constant supply.'
Huaweis chairman has confirmed that the Chinese manufacturer plans to open up its HMS ecosystem to rival manufacturers. Incidentally, Huawei also plans to allow rival manufacturers to use its HarmonyOS.

Last year, Google had banned Huawei from using Google services. As a result, the Chinese manufacturer developed its own version of Google services. Thus Huawei developed the Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) ecosystem as a replacement for Google services on Android.

Simultaneously, Huawei has been developing an alternate mobile OS to rival Android -HarmonyOS. Zhang Ping An, Huaweis President of Consumer Cloud Services confirmed that the Chinese manufacturer is in ongoing discussions with other Chinese manufacturers. There is a high possibility that future Xiaomi phones, in China at least, could run HarmonyOS (HongmengOS) and HMS.

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Huawei wants to convince these Chinese manufacturers to move away from Googles Android OS and exclusively use HarmonyOS. If this tactic succeeds, Google could see its Android numbers dip sharply.

In fact, Guo Ping, Huaweis rotating Chairman, confirmed that Huawei will continue to focus on the development of the HMS ecosystem. The company will reach out to rival manufacturers as well in order to spread the ecosystem.

New sanctions imposed by the US restrict Huaweis access to smartphone chips.

Recently, new sanctions imposed by the US have now restricted Huaweis access to the latest technology and advanced microprocessor chips. The US Commerce Department announced these fresh sanctions, which restrict the sale of chips containing US-developed technology to Huawei.

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Thus, any foreign semiconductor manufacturer will not be able to sell chips to Huawei, if these are developed using US software or technology. However, the sanctions include a caveat  the manufacturer would need to obtain a license first before supplying any technology to Huawei.

These new sanctions have hit Huaweis mobile business pretty hard. However, the Chinese manufacturer is already in discussions with AMD and Intel for the procurement of chips. Earlier this month, both, AMD and Intel had confirmed that the US had granted them licenses to provide chips to Huawei.

Though, Guo Ping did confirm that Huawei has sufficient chips for its telecom equipment, server, and cloud businesses. The challenge the Chinese manufacturer faces is with smartphone chips. Huawei consumes millions of these chips annually.

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Huawei hopes to develop an engaging ecosystem with rival manufacturers using HMS and HarmonyOS.

Zhang Ping An stated that Huaweis ambition is to develop an engaging ecosystem around HMS and Harmony OS. The Chinese manufacturer, he said, is under discussions with rival manufacturers and is discussing possible cooperation with them.

It will be interesting to see how this new ecosystem develops. Given the past failed experience with other manufacturers  including Microsoft  it seems to be an uphill battle for Huawei to remove Android from its pinnacle right now.
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.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 21:46:11|Editor: huaxia

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by Sanaa Kamal

RAMALLAH/GAZA, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinians have repeatedly expressed their hope to hold presidential and legislative elections as soon as possible in order to confront the multiple challenges they have been facing.

Local residents from the West Bank and the blockaded Gaza Strip said that the political division between the rival Fatah and Hamas movements for more than 13 years has negatively affected the Palestinian cause and weakened its position in the international community.

"The internal division gives Israel the chance to implement its plans in the occupied Palestinian territories," Jawwad Jaradat, from the West Bank city of Ramallah, told Xinhua.

He said Israel has passed dozens of its "resolutions," while the Palestinian leadership could not stop them because of the weakness due to the internal division.

He called on Fatah and Hamas to accelerate their reconciliation efforts to confront the Israeli annexation plans, as well as to face the normalization agreements between Israel and some Arab states.

For his part, Ibrahim al-Arouri from Ramallah believes that holding general elections in the Palestinian territories would result in a united Palestinian front, which would be able to draw new political strategies that would enable the Palestinians to fight for their rights.

"Unfortunately, neither Israel nor the Arab states end our issue, but our leadership and factions have contributed to this situation because they kept internal division in place," the 38-year-old young man said.

The internal Palestinian division began in 2007 when Hamas forcibly took over Gaza from Fatah, which now controls the West Bank.

Repeated Arab and international mediations that aimed at ending the crisis have failed, although the two rivals did sign a series of understandings and agreements on internal unity.

The ongoing division and the continued Israeli blockade have negatively affected the coastal enclave, which has seen three large-scale military operations by Israel.

Mamdouh al-Khaldy from Gaza city told Xinhua that the hard-living conditions were a direct result of the internal division.

"Not only Israel but also Hamas and Fatah bear the responsibility for the deteriorating conditions," the 53-year-old resident said, adding that they "destroyed an entire generation because of their party ambitions."

However, he hopes that the two rival factions could manage to overcome their differences and look at the Palestinian people's interests.

A Fatah delegation headed by Jibril Rajoub, secretary-general of Fatah's Central Committee, and a Hamas delegation headed by Saleh Arouri, deputy chief of Hamas, met on Tuesday in Turkey to end their internal division and achieve reconciliation.

"The meetings in Turkey are an extension of the previous meetings and dialogues held between the two Palestinian movements," said in a press statement Khalil al-Hayya, a member of Hamas' politburo.

"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 his part, Saeb Erekat, secretary-general of Palestine Liberation Organization Executive Committee, said that the meetings in Turkey discussed holding general elections in Palestine.

"If the delegation of Fatah gets the approval on holding general elections, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will immediately issue a presidential decree setting a date for the elections," Erekat added. Enditem
India is reporting steep increase in Covid -19 recoveries. New recoveries in India have exceeded the new cases for the fifth consecutive day, an official update noted today. A total of 89,746 recoveries have been registered in the last 24 hours in the country, whereas the number of new confirmed cases stands at 83,347. With this, the total number of recoveries are 45,87,613. The Recovery Rate is 81.25% today.

India has the highest recovered cases in the world. It contributes 19.5% to the global recoveries. A total of 75% of the new recovered cases are being reported from ten States/UTs, viz. Maharashtra, Karnataka , Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Delhi, Kerala, West Bengal and Haryana. Maharashtra continues to lead with more than 20,000 new cases of recovered patients. Andhra Pradesh contributed more than 10,000 to the single day recoveries.

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A total of 1,100 indigenous manufacturers of personal protection equipment (PPE) kits have been developed by the government till date, most of them being from the MSME sector, the Lok Sabha was informed on Wednesday.

In a written reply, Minister of State for Health told the Lower House that the production capacity of PPE coveralls is nearly 5 lakh per day with potential for additional capacity creation to meet the demand.

He was talking about increase in the production capacity of PPE kits in the country since the beginning of the

From no indigenous manufacturer to begin with... 1,100 indigenous manufacturers of personal protection equipment (PPE) kits have been developed by the government till date, most of them being from the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector, Choubey said.

He said the Ministry of Health, in its guidelines, on rational use of PPE kits has issued specifications and standards to be followed, including medical masks for use by healthcare workers and other front line workers.

These specifications are available in public domain through the website of Ministry of Health, he said.

The Government of India has also issued advisory and manual on use of homemade protective covers for face and mouth for use by general public, the minister said.

On steps taken by the Centre for burning or deep burial of used face masks/medical kits across the country, Choubey said the Central Pollution Control Board and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change have issued guidelines for handling, treatment and disposal of waste generated during treatment/diagnosis/quarantine of COVID-19 patients, both in facility-based and home setting.

(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.)
WATERLOO REGION  The drive-thru COVID-19 testing clinic in Kitchener was closed on Wednesday due to overwhelming demand and abusive behaviour from people waiting in the long line.

There was an extreme amount of cars that showed up this morning, starting to line up at three oclock in the morning, said Sarah Sullivan, operations site manager for Grand River Hospital. Because of that surge that was leading into traffic issues for the main road and the surrounding area, we did have to close operations.

The hospitals safety concerns also included verbal abuse and threats directed at staff.

Our staff are dealing with a significant amount of abuse from people who are waiting to be tested and are frustrated, said Cheryl Evans, communications manager. We understand that frustration, however staff are doing the best they can to get the most people seen as quickly as possible. The volume is just too high.

The situation can be especially uncomfortable for staff working at the site, most standing in the outdoor testing area as people drive in, she said. It does put them in a vulnerable position when someone is angry and in a motor vehicle.

The Glasgow Street site remained closed for the rest of the day.

We do need to spend the day replanning our approach to the morning surge, Sullivan said.

Waterloo Regions COVID-19 testing centres have seen a sudden surge in demand since schools reopened after Labour Day  a trend being seen across the province.

Throughout August and into early September, the drive-thru clinic did an average of 400 tests a day. Since Sept. 16, thats jumped to 630 and 640. For more than a week, its been at capacity by the time it opened.

Once the drive-thru is full and the overflow lot is full, we have to turn people away for safety. We dont have the space for them, Evans said.

Margaret Elder can see the testing site from her home. She got up at 6 a.m. on Wednesday and already Glasgow was blocked in both directions.

Its really been bad the last two or three days and people are telling me theyve been here five days trying to get in. They cant go back to work until they get tested and theyve got rent to pay, she said. People are in a panic mode now.

Tensions were high at the site that morning even after it was closed. People wanting to get tested kept driving by the blocked entrance, and being told by security to keep moving. One person got out of their car and began yelling at the person behind her.

Kitcheners Jessica Sieber came with her son, who needed to get tested after being sent home from school on Monday with a fever. It was her second day trying to get a test, after showing up at 6 a.m. on Tuesday and being turned away even before the site opened at 7:30.

This morning we came as soon as we could. We showed up at 4:16 a.m. and waited in our car, she said. There were 30 cars ahead of us.

They were able to get tested after parking and lining up as a walk-in, waiting outside in the chilly morning air under blankets.

St. Marys General Hospital president Lee Fairclough said the testing centres were planning for a potential increase in demand in the fall, but the major surge theyre experiencing now has far exceeded expectations.

The volumes are very high, said Fairclough, hospital lead for the regions pandemic response.

The sites are working on expanding capacity and adding hours to manage the crowds and address the backlog, she said. The Kitchener-Waterloo-Wilmot-Wellesley-Woolwich centre, based on Westmount Road in Waterloo, is operating an outreach testing site in Wellesley, and the other clinics are also looking at new sites.

A site is opening on Oct. 1 at the University of Waterloo for students and employees.

Fairclough said the province is supportive, and staffing can be added to the testing sites as needed to meet the demand. It really is about having the human resources available.

St. Marys clinic on Bathurst Drive in Waterloo had long lines on Tuesday, and on Wednesday added spots and handed out numbers to those arriving without an appointment. Once those 170 numbered slips were gone, people could book a time to return another day.

Fairclough thanked the community for their patience and apologized for the long lines. She echoed regional medical officer of health Dr. Hsiu-Li Wangs request to leave testing spots for people with an urgent need: those experiencing symptoms or who were directed to get tested.

Please wait a few days if youre looking to get a COVID test because we really need to prioritize these groups, she said.

Thats a departure from previous guidelines, when the focus was to boost testing numbers in Ontario as lab capacity increased. Testing was expanded by the province in late May to anyone who was worried they may have the virus or been exposed, regardless of having symptoms.

Starting Friday, up to 60 pharmacies in Ontario will offer testing by appointment, with more locations being added in the coming weeks. No pharmacies in Waterloo Region were on Fridays list.

Waterloo MPP Catherine Fife brought up the long waits at local testing sites during Wednesday mornings question period at Queens Park, also criticizing Premier Doug Ford for earlier this week defending private tests as an option.

People cant afford to spend hundreds of dollars or sometimes days to get a COVID-19 test. Does the premier expect everyday Ontarians to shell out hundreds of extra dollars for a private COVID test when they can barely afford to take the day off in the first place?

She said families have been left waiting for hours and even days, leading to chaotic scenes at testing centres across the province, and she urged the government to take action to fix the problem.

Does the premier really think that families should have to pay $400 for this governments failure to plan, Fife asked.

Johanna Weidner is a Waterloo Region-based general assignment reporter for The Record. Reach her via email: jweidner@therecord.com with files from Chris Seto
DMK President M K Stalin during an all party meeting with the main opposition to discuss the three farmer bills passed in the Parliament, at party headquarters in Chennai.  PTI photo

DMK President M K Stalin has urged the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, not to approve the detailed project report Karnataka for the construction of a reservoir at Mekedatu against the orders of the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal and Supreme Court of India.

In his letter to the Prime Minister, which was personally handed over to him in Delhi by DMK MPs, T R Baalu, Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, A Raja, Trichi Siva and Dayanidhi Maran on Tuesday, Stalin said: I am disappointed that the Honble Chief Minister of Karnataka during his meeting with you demanded for early approvals and clearances for irrigation and drinking water projects including Mekedatu.



Pointing out that Tamil Nadu had expressed strongest opposition for the projects, he said the proposed Mekedatu reservoir was in total violation of the final order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal dated February 5, 2007 as well as the judgment of the Supreme Court of India dated February 16, 2018.

The farmers and people of Tamil Nadu had been consistently and persistently opposing the reservoir and the State Assembly had passed unanimous resolutions disapproving the project, he said, adding that the civil appeal filed by the state of Tamil Nadu seeking a restraint order was pending before the Supreme Court, making the subject matter sub judice.

The Proposed Mekedatu reservoir under the guise of drinking water purpose would irreparably and irreversibly affect the flow of water from river Cauvery to the lower riparian States- particularly Tamilnadu and also threatens the very existence of many combined water supply schemes catering to the needs of lakhs of people. Very importantly, it would drastically disturb and affect the distribution of water to Tamilnadu as per the allocation of water in the final order notified in the Gazette, the letter said.

Stalin requested the Prime Minister to instruct the Central Ministries concerned not to give approval for the detailed project report and the construction of the reservoir.
Bengaluru, Sep 23 : Taking over the probe in the Bengaluru violence case, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is all set to interrogate SDPI leader Muzamil Pasha and his close associates for allegedly "instigating the mobs" that triggered the violence in the state.

According to an NIA statement, Pasha had reportedly called a meeting and allegedly directed the members of the Popular Front of India (PFI) and Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) to instigate the mob and incite violence.

"The mob went on rampage in D.J. Halli, K. G. Halli and Pulakeshi Nagar area in Bengaluru. The mob attacked the two police stations namely D. J. Halli and K. G. Halli and vandalized the property of police stations including government and private vehicles parked in these police stations," the statement said..

An official further added that the mob also attacked the house of MLA, Pulakeshi Nagar constituency Akhanda Srinivas Murthy prior to attacking the police stations, hence the probe will begin with interrogating Pasha.

It can be recalled that more than 1,000 people gathered in front of the house of Congress MLA Akhanda Srinivas Murthy (Pulakeshi Nagar constituency) at Kavalbyrasandra.

The mob was protesting against the derogatory social media (Facebook) post on August 11, at around 4 pm by MLA's nephew Naveen, which allegedly insulted the religious sentiments of the Muslims, the statement added.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Donald Trump is likely to have the votes in the US Senate to confirm a Supreme Court nominee before the election, after Mitt Romney became the latest Republican moderate to back a speedy process.

Mr Romney, the Utah senator who was the presidential nominee in the 2012 election, had been seen as a possible rebel, given he was one of the few senators willing to publicly speak out against the US president.

However, Mr Romney disappointed liberals yesterday by making explicit his willingness to vote on the person Mr Trump picks to fill the Supreme Court seat left open after the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg last week.

"The Constitution gives the president the power to nominate and the Senate the authority to provide advice and consent on Supreme Court nominees," Mr 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."

Mr Romney's announcement followed two other Republican senators, Cory Gardner of Colorado and Charles Grassley of Iowa, who made similar comments indicating their willingness to vote.

Only two Republican senators announced their opposition to voting on a nominee before the election: Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. At least four Republican rebels are needed to block the vote.

All indications are that the Republicans will push ahead with an attempt to get whoever Mr Trump nominates approved by both the Senate judiciary committee and the full Senate before election day on Nov 3. Lindsey Graham, the Republican chairman of that committee, which is in charge of holding confirmation hearings, said the party had the votes it needed.

Usually the confirmation process for a Supreme Court justice takes up to three months. This nominee would be confirmed in around a month, one of the swiftest in modern times.

Mr Trump announced yesterday that he would name the person he would nominate on Saturday, after funeral services for Ms Ginsburg. Amy Coney Barrett, a circuit judge on the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, nominated by Mr Trump for that role, is the front-runner, according to US media.

Mr Trump met Ms Barrett on Monday. Her conservative instincts and Catholic faith became points of focus during the confirmation process for her current judicial position.

The apparent decision by the Republican leadership to push for a confirmation before the election, when they hold the White House and the Senate, rather than afterwards, when they could lose one or both, will shape how the issue plays with voters. If the confirmation is successful, there would be no open seat on the Supreme Court to be filled by the next president, meaning Mr Trump loses an incentive that he could hold out to potential supporters.

But confirming three Supreme Court justices during his first term would be a reminder to evangelical voters, a core part of his support base, of the importance of his presidency.

Forcing a confirmation through before the vote could also further energise Democrats. A record-breaking $160m has been given by Democratic contributors online, through a website for processing digital donations, since Ms Ginsburg's death. Republican senators argued that they were not breaking with the standard they held up in 2016 when blocking Barack Obama from filling an open Supreme Court seat.
Burma Huge Explosion at KIA Arms Depot in Northern Myanmar

The explosion on a social media video.

YangonA Kachin Independence Army (KIA) armory exploded in Ja Htu Kawng in the rebel groups territory on Monday, according to its information officer, Colonel Naw Bu.

The explosion was due to poor maintenance. [Witnesses] said a short circuit caused the fire. At first, they tried to put out the fire but soon they feared an explosion and fled before the armory blew up, said Col. Naw Bu.

No one was injured, he said. The depot mainly housed substandard, old and unusable weapons and ammunition, but some parts can be used to manufacture new arms.

A video showing a huge blast went viral on social media amid unconfirmed reports that the Arakan Army (AA), an ally of the KIA, was responsible for the explosion as it carried out mine attacks on the depot. The KIA lost valuable weapons in the explosion, the rumors claimed. The Irrawaddy could not independently confirm the reports.

As the government has declared the AA a terrorist organization, The Irrawaddy was not able to contact the armed group for a comment.

Most of the unusable weapons were destroyed in the explosion. Heavy weapons 120mm rocket launchers were destroyed. Accurate information will not leak. The rumors were incorrect. No one here will give information. What is being said is incorrect, said Col. Naw Bu.

The KIA said it will investigate the explosion and take action against those in charge of the depot.

Myanmars military spokesman, Major General Zaw Min Tun, said the Tatmadaw (military) heard about the explosion in the KIA-controlled area.

We heard that an arsenal exploded due to short circuits in Ja Htu Kawng and many arms and ammunition were lost. We dont know the details, said the military spokesman.

Ja Htu Kawng is around a 10-minute drive from the KIAs administrative headquarters in Laiza and houses the armed groups military headquarters.

KIA has not signed a ceasefire with the government and Tatmadaw and is still in the process of negotiating a bilateral ceasefire with the government.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko

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First Deputy Foreign Minister of Belarus A.Guryanov meets the Ambassador of Tajikistan

On September 28, 2020 the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, Alexander Guryanov, met with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Tajikistan, Makhmadsharif Khakdod.

During the meeting, the sides discussed the issues of Belarusian-Tajikistan relations in trade and economic spheres, cooperation between the countries within international organizations and integration associations. The parties also reviewed the schedule of bilateral events for the short term.



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The popular phone app TikTok, known for cheerful, brief videos of people dancing or otherwise acting silly  and providing cover for some China bashing  is figuring in some more serious news.

An 18-year-old defendant in a Cumberland County manslaughter case has been admonished by a Superior Court judge for using TikTok to harass the family and friends of his alleged victim.

Since his arrest, Zachary T. Latham, allegedly has been using TikTok to comment publicly on his case, as well as sharing the victims address via comments to his posts.

Latham is reportedly pursuing a self-defense strategy. Hes been charged with aggravated manslaughter in the death of his 52-year-old Vineland neighbor, William T. Durham Sr., a state corrections officer. Prosecutors say Latham stabbed Durham to death in a May 4 brawl that Durhams family says was triggered by weeks of harassment and threats by Latham.

The Cumberland County Prosecutors Office was so concerned about Lathams post-arrest posts that it asked the judge for a gag order that was issued in August. The order covers not just Latham, but the Durhams and their family attorney, who was interviewed by NJ Advance Media and allegedly disclosed parts of Lathams prior record.

On Sept. 18, Latham agreed to no longer comment on the case in any public forum. Latham was released following his arrest; some of his recent TikTok posts allegedly originated in Florida. Superior Court Judge Cristen P. DArrigos order also wisely requires Latham to seek court permission before any change of address outside the State of New Jersey.

DArrigo is also rightly concerned about leaks from the Durham familys counsel and some of the victims friends, one of whom is a law enforcement professional who opined about the kind of charges Latham should be facing.

Remember when such expressions by public officials were limited by decorum and fear of prejudicing a case? In 1970, President Richard Nixon told reporters that cult murderer Charles Manson was guilty while the trial was still ongoing. The huge flap forced Nixon to rescind the comment. A mistrial was almost declared when Manson appeared in court waving a Los Angeles Times headline, MANSON GUILTY, NIXON DECLARES.

Now, our president freely tweets about who should be locked up, even if they werent charged with any crime. He whines about why a particular judge is unfit to hear a particular case; the family originated in Mexico. In turn, perhaps, that has spawned activists who demand immediate arrest of officers being investigated in use-of-force incidents.

Its obvious where social media and especially TikTok come into this mix. Its ironic that an app viewed as frivolous is the outlet of choice of a killing suspect, and the subject of national security warnings that TikToks Chinese owners could be forced to release U.S. user data to the Chinese government.

President Donald Trump was less than 24 hours away this weekend from banning new downloads of TikTok by Americans, until Walmart and the tech firm Oracle agreed to buy its U.S. assets. Americans may continue to use TikTok as they wish unless the deal falls through. But at least one person, who resides in Vineland, can no longer use the platform that way.

As a news outlet, we back freedom of expression and our right to report what anyone legitimately in the know tells us about a criminal case. It falls upon public officials to measure their words so they do not cause mistrials.

When Walmart puts online shopping interfaces into TikTok, the cool kids will stop using it and start loving another platform. Thats what you get for a reported $12 billion. But never discount the ability of even the most innocuous file-sharing app to affect criminal justice, international relations and more.

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The flag-draped casket containing the remains of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg arrived at the Supreme Court Wednesday morning where she will lie in repose for two days at the place she served for 27 years.

President Donald Trump will join the thousands of expected mourners when he pays his respects with a Thursday visit.

Former President Bill Clinton, who appointed Ginsburg to the high court in 1993, visited her casket on Wednesday along with Hillary Clinton. Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen paid their respects on Wednesday evening. Several members of Congress also came by the Supreme Court.

Thousands are expected at the Supreme Court building on Wednesday and Thursday when Ginsburg's coffin lies on the front steps for public viewing, to pay tribute to the woman who became a cultural icon.

And while she is honored in the court where she made history, the political battle to replace her will take place across the street in the U.S. Capitol building. President Trump will name his nominee to succeed her on Saturday. Democrats have vowed to do what they can to hold off the nomination, arguing the winner of the November election, should make the selection, but their odds are slim given Republicans have lined up behind the president and are preparing to move forward with confirmation hearings. Trump's expected to name a conservative to replace the liberal Ginsburg.

Ginsburg's casket, draped in the American flag, arrived at the court at 9:30 am and was carried up the court steps and into the building for a ceremony with her family, former law clerks and fellow justices.

'Ruth is gone and we grieve,' Chief Justice John Roberts said in his eulogy. 'Of course, she will live on in what she did to improve the law and the lives of all of us.'

Ahead of her casket's arrival, 120 of her former law clerks lined up in rows down the Supreme Court's stairs, dressed in black and wearing black face coverings in an image of solemn mourning.

The clerks formed an honor guard as her remains arrived at the building where she served, standing in silence as her coffin was carried up the steps and into the court.

Roberts, in his moving tribute, described Ginsburg's affect on American law and her inspiration to women, calling her a 'rock star.'

'It has been said that Ruth wanted to be an opera virtuoso, but became a rock star instead. But she chose the law, subjected to discrimination in law school and the job market because she was a woman, Ruth would grow to become the leading advocate fighting such discrimination in court. She found her stage right behind me in our courtroom,' he said.

'There she won famous victories that helped move our nation closer to equal justice under law, to the extent that women are now a majority in law schools, not simply a handful. Later she became a star on the bench where she sat for 27 years. Dissenting opinions will steer the court for decades. They are written with the unaffected case of precision,' he noted.

'Her voice in court and in our conference room was soft, but when she spoke, people listened. Among the words that best describe Ruth, tough, brave, a fighter, a winner, but also thoughtful, careful, compassionate, honest. When it came to opera, insightful, passionate. When it came to sports, clueless,' he added as people chuckled.

He also noted Ginsburg had friends across the political aisle, highlight at trip she took to India with Justice Antonin Scalia, a conservative member of the court who died in 2016, and recalled them riding an elephant together.

'In the photograph, she's riding with a dear friend, a friend with totally divergent views,' Roberts said. 'There's no indication in the photo that either was poised to push the other off.'

Mourners pass by the Supreme Court stairs where Ruth Bader Ginsburg's casket lies in repose; her coffin will remain on the front steps through Thursday

Vice President Mike Pence and second lady Karen Pence paid their respects to Ruth Bader Ginsburg when they visited her casket on Wednesday evening

Vice President Mike Pence and Karen Pence joined a long list of lawmakers who stopped by the Supreme Court to pay their respects

U.S. Supreme Court Police salute the casket of the late Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg as they place her remains on the building's front stairs for the public viewing

Bill and Hillary Clinton pay their respects to the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Former President Bill Clinton, who appointed Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the Supreme Court, rests his hand on his heart as he pays his respects at the Supreme Court

Chief Justice John Roberts gave the eulogy for Ginsburg as her family and fellow justices honored her legacy

Ruth Bader Ginsburg was honored by her friends, family, former law clerks and fellow justices in a ceremony in the Supreme Court's great hall on Wednesday morning

Chief Justice John Roberts called Ginsburg a 'rock star' in his eulogy, where he paid tribute to her status as a cultural icon and hero to women

Ruth Bader Ginsburg's flag draped coffin arrives at the Supreme Court to lie in repose for two days after she died from complications from colon cancer on Friday

Her former law clerks - 120 in total - await the casket of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg to arrive at the Supreme Court

A mourner pays their respects to Ginsburg

A child in a Supergirl costume pays respects to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

: Frankie Frezzell (R), 2, and Lucille Wilson (L), 3, wait in line dressed in tribute Ginsburg with her signature white lace collar

Mourners, many of whom brought their children, wait in line to pay their respects to Ginsburg

Many people brought signs and flowers to leave for the late Supreme Court justice

Family members of Justice Ruth Bader - including Jane C. Ginsburg - wait her casket to arrive at the court

Ginsburg's casket arrives in the Great Hall at the Supreme Court, where a small group of family and friends honored her legacy

Ruth Bader Ginsburg's casket is carried into the Supreme Court building as her former law clerks form an honor guard

Thousands of mourners are expected to pay tribute to Ginsburg and the lines went down the street by the Supreme Court with the Capitol Dome in the distance

Mourners pay their respects to the late justice, who was hailed as a feminist icon

A woman pays tribute to Ginsburg as the public filed by to pay their respects to the late justice

People line up in socially distanced rows to wait their turn to pay their respects to Ruth Bader Ginsburg

A 2016 portrait of Ginsburg by artist Constance P. Beaty was on display during the brief ceremony.

'Today we stand in mourning of the American hero, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg,' the Rabbi Lauren Holtzbatt said.

Holtzbatt paid tribute to Ginsburg's status as an American feminist icon.

'To be born into the world that does not see you, that does not believe in your potential, that does not give you a path for opportunity, or a clear path for education and despite this, to be able to see beyond the world you are in, to imagine that something can be different. That is the job of a prophet. And it is the rare prophet who not only imagines a new world, but also makes that new world a reality in her lifetime. This was the brilliance and vision of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg,' she said.

She touted Ginsburg as a 'role model to women and girls of all ages, who now know that no office is out of reach for their dreams: whether that is to serve in the highest court of our land or closer to home.'

The entrance to the courtroom, along with Ginsburg's chair and place on the bench next to Roberts, have been draped in black, a longstanding court custom.

Her coffin rested on a Lincoln catafalque, on loan from Congress, that once held President Abraham Lincoln's remains.

After the private ceremony inside the court, Ginsburg's casket will be on public view from 11 am to 10 pm Wednesday and 9 am to 10 pm Thursday.

Ginsburg also will become the first woman to lie in state in the U.S. Capitol when her coffin lies in Statutory Hall on Friday. She will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery next week, where her husband Marty Ginsburg lies in rest.

Since her death on Friday from colon cancer, thousands laid flowers, notes, candles and stuffed animals on the court's step to pay homage to a woman who found fame late in life, known as the 'Notorious RBG' for her fiery dissents.

Court workers removed them to make way for her casket's arrival on Wednesday.

Born in Brooklyn, she was one of the few women in her class at Harvard Law. Transferring to Columbia Law when her husband took a job in New York, she graduated first in her class. She argued before the Supreme Court on gender and equity issues before then-President Bill Clinton appointed her to the bench in 1993.

She became vocal force with her dissents and a cultural icon with her white lace collar on her black robe and her over sized glasses.

A 2016 portrait of Ginsburg by artist Constance P. Beaty was on display during the brief ceremony

The Supreme Court justices and their spouses sit in front of the flag-draped casket of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg during Wednesday's ceremony

Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and his wife Ashley at Ginsburg's memorial ceremony

Justice Sonia Sotomayor stands during Ginsburg's memorial ceremony

Flowers and other memorabilia have been left in front of the Supreme Court since Ginsburg died on Friday

the lines of mourners stretched from the Supreme Court building across the street to the US Capitol

Ruth Bader Ginsburg's coffin will lie on the front steps of the Supreme Court building on Wednesday and Thursday for the public to pay tribute to the late justice

Supreme Court police begin to bring the body of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg up the steps of the Supreme Court. Lining the steps of the court are her former clerks, who acted as honorary pallbearers ahead of the ceremony

The justice's former law clerks, who will serve as honorary pallbearers, lined up as Ginsburg's casket arrived

Law clerks dressed in black with black face masks watch as Ginsburg's casket arrives at the Supreme Court building

Members of a Supreme Court Police honor guard position the flag-draped casket of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg under the Portico at the top of the front steps of the Supreme Court building

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and his wife Virginia Thomas watch as Ginsburg's casket arrives

Justice Stephen Breyer and his wife Joanna at Ginsburg's memorial service

Justice Neil Gorsuch (left) and Justice Stephen Breyer (right) during Ginsburg's memorial service

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (L) and Senator Bernie Sanders pay their respects to Ginsburg

Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine stops by the Supreme Court to pay her respects

Many mourners wiped away tears as they paid their respects to Ginsburg

Members of CASA, an advocacy organization for Latino and immigrant people, hold up white roses in honor of Ginsburg

A sign thanking Ginsburg for her dedication to equal rights

The portrait of Ruth Bader Ginsburg surrounded by flowers stood in the Great Hall of the Supreme Court

Lucille Wilson, 3, wears a RBG collar while waiting in line to view the casket of Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Two women arrive to pay their respects to Ginsburg, the women's rights champion, leader of the court's liberal bloc and feminist icon who died last week aged 87

Thousands are expected to gather by the Supreme Court over the next two days

Bill and Hillary Clinton depart the Supreme Court after paying their respects to the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Ruth Bader Ginsburg died on Friday at the age of 87 due to complications from an ongoing battle with pancreatic cancer

Meanwhile Trump said he will announce his nomination to replace Ginsburg on the 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.

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 will pay his respects to Ruth Bader Ginsburg with a visit to the Supreme Court on Thursday and 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.

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
The global fabric conditioner market size is expected to grow by USD 3.58 billion as per Technavio. This marks a significant market growth compared to the 2019 growth estimates due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the first half of 2020. Moreover, steady growth is expected to continue throughout the forecast period, and the market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6%.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200922005696/en/

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Fabric Conditioner Market 2020-2024 (Graphic: Business Wire)

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Read the 120-page report with TOC on "Fabric Conditioner Market Analysis Report by Product (RCFS and Dryer sheets) and Geography (APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and MEA), and the Segment Forecasts, 2020-2024". Gain competitive intelligence about market leaders. Track key industry opportunities, trends and threats. Information on marketing, brand, strategy and market development, sales and supply functions. https://www.technavio.com/report/report/fabric-conditioner-market-industry-analysis

Fabric conditioner market is driven by the growing popularity of concentrated fabric conditioners. In addition, the high demand for eco-friendly fabric conditioners is anticipated to boost the growth of the Fabric Conditioner Market.

Fabric conditioner market is driven by the growing popularity of concentrated fabric conditioners. Concentrated fabric conditioners are formulas that have a thicker consistency and are less diluted than traditional fabric conditioners. These concentrated formulas can serve the purpose of their traditional counterparts more efficiently with lesser quantity. The consumer can dilute the product according to their choice. This means that the same end-product at a consumer level requires much less packaging and lower amounts of water during the manufacturing process. Also, as concentrated fabric conditioners take up less space per unit, they can be transported in greater quantities, which reduces fuel consumption and transportation costs. Hence, vendors are able to save time and money when manufacturing concentrated fabric conditioners. Such factors will drive the demand for fabric conditioners during the forecast period.

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Major Five Fabric Conditioner Companies:

Church Dwight Co. Inc.

Church Dwight Co. Inc. has business operations under various segments such as consumer domestic, consumer international, and specialty products division. The company offers Arm Hammer Fresh'n Soft Fabric Softener Sheets and Perfume Dye Free fabric softener sheets.

Colgate-Palmolive Co.

Colgate-Palmolive Co. operates its business through two segments: oral, personal and home care; and pet nutrition. The company offers fabric conditioner through its brands Cuddly and Fluffy among others.

Henkel AG Co. KGaA

Henkel AG Co. KGaA has business operations under four segments: adhesives for consumers, craftmen and building; industrial adhesives, beauty care; and laundry home care. The company offers fabric conditioner through its product lines Persil and Bref among others.

Kao Corp.

Kao Corp. operates its business through various segments such as cosmetics business, skin care and hair care business, human health care business, fabric and home care business, and chemical business. The company offers fabric conditioner through its product line TETRANYL.

LG Household Health Care Ltd.

LG Household Health Care Ltd. has business operations under three segments: beauty, home and personal care, and refreshment. The company offers a line of products such as Perfume concentrated Laundry detergent and Perfume concentrated Fabric conditioner refreshing among others.

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Fabric Conditioner Market Product Outlook (Revenue, USD bn, 2020-2024)

RCFS size and forecast 2019-2024

Dryer sheets size and forecast 2019-2024

Fabric Conditioner Market Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD bn, 2020-2024)

APAC size and forecast 2019-2024

North America size and forecast 2019-2024

Europe size and forecast 2019-2024

South America size and forecast 2019-2024

MEA size and forecast 2019-2024

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GRAND RAPIDS, MI  Attorney Hillary Scholten, a Democrat running to replace U.S. Rep. Justin Amash in Congress, is calling on Republican candidate Peter Meijer to pledge to divest from all direct stocks holdings if elected.

Scholten, who worked at the Department of Justice during the Obama administration, said she does not own any direct stocks, and argued that divesting from stocks is necessary to ensure that elected officials do not put their own personal gain ahead of the public interest.
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But as far as Samsung Galaxy S20 owners are concerned, glitches related to GPS have been more or less isolated until now, yet a recent update seems to make the whole thing a little bit more widespread these days.Im seeing more and more people complaining of a bad experience with Google Maps and Waze, and in some cases, the problems are tied to the GPS connection.While Samsung has remained completely tight-lipped so far, users who turned to the companys forums explain that the Google Maps just freezes after the latest software update was installed on the Galaxy S20.Happens on both my S20 Plus and my wife's S20, and it's incredibly frustrating. Seems to be happening more frequently lately, and it causes some awkward/dangerous situations while driving. Unacceptable for phones this expensive, someone says on Samsungs forums No workaround seems to bring things back to normal, although some users claim that rebooting their phones and then re-launching Google Maps fixes the application temporarily. This indeed appears to suggest that its a GPS problem, and most users claim that its been around for approximately one week.Closing all background apps including maps doesn't seem to work either. Restarting my phone works sometimes, mostly after two restarts. It's frustrating when I'm in the middle of nowhere and maps chooses to act up like this. It happened yesterday when I was in an unfamiliar area and missed a couple of turns, someone explains.It remains to be seen if Samsung comes up with a fix, but for the time being, if you didnt install the latest Galaxy S20 version and Google Maps is working fine, it might be a good idea to hold back on the update until the South Koreans figure out whats happening.
First responders and law enforcement officers in participating counties were recognized and presented with framed copies of the TIM programs memorandum of understanding.

It is always the thought to do everything we can as safely as we can for both the traveling public and all the first responders, said Gary Thayer, NDOTs District 6 engineer. The (memorandum of understanding) just enhances that effort of working together.

Everybodys safety is at the forefront of every conversation we have and every initiative that we start, Thayer said. He said he doesnt think the traveling public understands the effort that it takes to keep them as safe as possible at all times.

In addition, according to a study by the National Traffic Incident Management Coalition, traffic crashes and struck-by incidents are the leading cause of injuries and deaths for law enforcement officials and first responders.

Trent Kleinow, assistant chief of the North Platte Fire Department, told of a near-miss incident roughly five years ago. One of the departments trucks was nearly hit by a passerby as the crews worked a crash scene on the interstate.
Footage has captured the moment two Islamic extremists allegedly launched a brutal attack on a prison officer using lumps of twisted metal after luring him into a store cupboard by asking for a replacement spoon.

Brusthom Ziamani, 25, and fellow inmate Baz Hockton, 26, allegedly lured Prison Officer (PO) Neil Trundle towards a cupboard before attacking him while wearing hoax suicide vests at HMP Whitemoor in Cambridgeshire.

CCTV footage allegedly showed Ziamani and Hockton following PO Trundle as he walked towards the store cupboard on January 9. Suddenly the pair appear to jump on Mr Trundle, pushing him further into the store room.

The alarm was sounded in the prison and PO Georgina Ibbotson was one of the first on the scene. She said she tried to calm Ziamani but he punched her in the face so hard she sank to her knees and thought she was dying.

As she looked over her left shoulder she saw nurse Jayne Cowles laying on her side dazed and confused.

Brusthom Ziamani (right), 25, and fellow inmate Baz Hockton (left), 26, allegedly lured Prison Officer (PO) Neil Trundle towards a cupboard before attacking him while wearing hoax suicide vests at HMP Whitemoor in Cambridgeshire

PO Ibbotson managed to stagger to her feet and felt the blood dripping down her skin as she hid inside a storeroom cupboard.

Appearing in the witness box at the Old Bailey on Wednesday, she said: I saw two men standing in front of me, Mr Ziamani and Mr Hockton both holding weapons.

I could see they had something in their hands and they holding it in clenched fists.

They were really hyped up and full of adrenaline and really intimidating definitely. I put my hands out and just said woah.

Mr Ziamani took a step forward, so I put my hands on my belt to rack my baton.'

Mr Ziamani punched me in the face as hard as he could. It was really like a big shock.

The aftermath of the alleged attack showed Mr Trundle on the floor nursing serious head wounds as staff gathered around him

I fell to my knees. After I got assaulted and stood up, when I looked over my left shoulder nurse (Jayne) Cowles was on the floor laying on her side looking shocked.

I went to the back of the store cupboard. I could feel the blood dripping down my face. I did not know how bad the injuries were and I was fearing for my life.

Ms Ibbotson said she never had any trouble with Ziamani before, adding that he spent a lot of time with Hockton 'one to one'.

Mr Trundle was left covered in blood from multiple cuts after Ziamani asked him if he could replace a broken spoon.

Giving evidence, Mr Trundle said he had never had any problems with Ziamani before. He said: 'There had been no confrontation or cross words, no indication that there was going to be any issues between us'

The prison officer went to unlock a store cupboard, followed by the defendants.

Giving evidence, Mr Trundle said he had never had any problems with Ziamani before.

He said: 'There had been no confrontation or cross words, no indication that there was going to be any issues between us.

As he approached the store cupboard he could see one of the men 'in my peripheral view'.

He added: 'Before I knew it I was on the floor on my back. I wasn't sure how I ended up on the floor. I did not know what position I was in but I was on the floor and I was being attacked.'

Mr Trundle approached the store cupboard followed by Ziamani and Hockton in the January 9 attack at Whitemoor jail

Mr Trundle, who has been a prison officer for more than 14 years, said he raised his arms to protect his face and called for help.

'I felt pressure on my body as if people were lying on my body. I could feel stabs, especially to my head at this precise moment. I could still feel little bits of stinging.

'I did not know who was on me or how many was on me but I did notice when that person or persons left. I noticed when they came back again and attacked me a second time.

'I did not see any weapons. I could feel blows coming down on me.

'During the attack I was laying on my back and I was trying to kick out. The kicking out made it more difficult for them.'

Both suspects were pinned down by officers after an emergency alarm was sounded in the building following the attack

He added: 'I did not realise how bad the damage was to myself until I went to the hospital and looked in the mirror.'

Jurors were shown CCTV footage of the incident, which was briefly interrupted when two female staff members attempted to intervene and were assaulted by Ziamani.

Earlier on January 9, Ms Ibbotson said Ziamani had also asked her to fetch a spoon from the store cupboard which gave her a 'gut feeling'.

She said: 'It just made me feel uncomfortable - it made me feel like it was something I did not want to do.'

Ziamani told staff he had a bomb when they intervened to help their colleague, the Old Bailey heard.

Both inmates were found to have been hoarding writings on Islamic extremist ideology after the brutal violence, it was said.

Ziamani was carrying a four-page handwritten letter detailing his fanatical beliefs, the court heard.

The pair allegedly used lumps of twisted metal, makeshift stabbing instruments and a homemade shank in a carefully planned attack.

Jurors were shown CCTV footage of the incident, which was briefly interrupted when two female staff members attempted to intervene and were assaulted by Ziamani. Pictured, Whitemoor high-security prison in Cambridgeshire

Ziamani was serving a sentence for plotting to murder a British Army officer at the time of the attack, the court has heard.

Ziamani, formerly of Camberwell, southeast London, and Hockton, formerly of Ramsgate, both deny attempted murder.

Hockton admitted wounding with intent for the attack on PO Trundle but Ziamani denied the charge.

Ziamani admitted two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm against Ms Ibbotson and Ms Jayne Cowles.

The trial continues.
Nonwoven Industrial Membrane Market Research Report by Module Type (Hollow Fiber Membranes, Plate & Frame, Spiral-Wound Membranes, and Tubular Membranes), by Application (Chemical Processing, Food & Beverage Processing, Industrial Gas Processing, Pharmaceutical & Medical, and Water & Wastewater Treatment) - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19

New York, Sept. 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Nonwoven Industrial Membrane Market Research Report by Module Type, by Application - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05973350/?utm_source=GNW



The Global Nonwoven Industrial Membrane Market is expected to grow from USD 1,012.91 Million in 2019 to USD 1,442.65 Million by the end of 2025 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 6.07%.



Market Segmentation & Coverage:

This research report categorizes the Nonwoven Industrial Membrane to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets:



Based on Module Type , the Nonwoven Industrial Membrane Market studied across Hollow Fiber Membranes, Plate & Frame, Spiral-Wound Membranes, and Tubular Membranes.



Based on Application , the Nonwoven Industrial Membrane Market studied across Chemical Processing, Food & Beverage Processing, Industrial Gas Processing, Pharmaceutical & Medical, and Water & Wastewater Treatment.



Based on Geography, the Nonwoven Industrial Membrane 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 Nonwoven Industrial Membrane Market including 3M Company, Ahlstrom-Munksjo Oyj, Asahi Kasei Corporation, Autotech Nonwovens Pvt. Ltd., Berry Global Inc., Bondex, Inc., DuPont de Nemours, Inc., Exxon Mobil Corporation, Fibertex Nonwovens A/S, Freudenberg SE, Hollingsworth & Vose, Hydroweb GmbH, Johns Manville, Lydall, Inc., and Toray Industries Inc..



FPNV Positioning Matrix:

The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Nonwoven Industrial Membrane 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 Nonwoven Industrial Membrane Market?

2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Nonwoven Industrial Membrane Market during the forecast period?

3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Nonwoven Industrial Membrane Market?

4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Nonwoven Industrial Membrane Market?

5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Nonwoven Industrial Membrane Market?

6. What are the modes and strategic moves considered suitable for entering the Global Nonwoven Industrial Membrane Market?

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05973350/?utm_source=GNW



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ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



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A small plane traveling from Vermont crash landed on a residential street in Pennsylvania, injuring the pilot and a passenger.

The single-engine aircraft was trying to land at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport on Sunday night when the pilot apparently had engine trouble and brought the plane down on Stone Street, officials said. The plane took down power lines and left more than 500 customers without electricity.

Witnesses described hearing a loud noise and then the lights went out.

The plane came to a rest with damage to its nose, wings and landing gear.

The pilot and the passenger sustained injuries that were not considered life-threatening, police said. Their names were not released.

Nobody was injured on the ground.

The National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA were investigating.

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

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Linkedin Moch. Fiqih Prawira Adjie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, September 23, 2020 13:47 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46a5464 1 National COVID-19-in-Indonesia,COVID-19-death-toll,covid-19-task-force,Wiku-Adisasmito,East-Java,governor,khofifah-indar-parawansa,definisi-kematian-covid-19,health-minister,Terawan-Agus-Putranto Free

The national COVID-19 task force has dismissed a proposal to redefine what constitutes a COVID-19 fatality, after it was suggested that deaths among people with comorbidities should be categorized separately in the official tally.

Previously, East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa had suggested to Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto that COVID-19 deaths among patients with comorbidities  the simultaneous presence of two chronic diseases or conditions in a patient  should be categorized differently to deaths among patients without comorbidities in the death toll.

As of now, the government has no plans to make the change proposed by the East Java governor, task force spokesperson Wiku Adisasmito said in a statement issued on Tuesday.

He added that the government followed the World Health Organizations guidelines in tallying COVID-19 deaths, which is to count all deaths of people with confirmed or probable cases of coronavirus infection, with exceptions made for unrelated causes of deaths, such as traffic accidents.

Probable cases refer to people who had not received their test results before their deaths, but who suffered from upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which clinically suggest COVID-19 infection.

Read also: 160 deaths in one day: Indonesia sets bleak virus record

According to the task force, other countries such as the United States followed similar guidelines for counting coronavirus fatalities.

The East Java administration, which had recorded 3,015 COVID-19 fatalities and more than 41,000 confirmed cases as of Tuesday, has claimed that 91.1 percent of COVID-19 deaths in the province are patients who had comorbidities.

Khofifah has since clarified her intentions for sending the letter to the health minister, claiming she did not ask the government to redefine what constituted a COVID-19 death.

On the other hand, East Java encourages honesty and openness in the recording and reporting of all information related to COVID-19 in a manner that is more detailed than the WHO guidelines so this pandemic can be brought to an end quickly, the governor wrote on her Instagram account, @khofifah.ip, on Tuesday.

In August, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a report that said 94 percent of people recorded to have died from COVID-19 had comorbidities.
Grant requirement too high

Being a small business owner at the same location for the past 23 years, and then having the virus come along and pretty much cripple my business, even though I am in my studio every day because being a glazier folks do need replacement glass for their windows, so that makes me an essential worker, and getting the news the city is accepting applications for the CARES grant money to help small businesses, but then come to find out that one of the requirements for eligibility is I must have at least $50,000 in gross sales a year.

Wow! If I could gross that amount a year, I would not need the grant and so when folks ask if I have applied for it and I tell them about that requirement, their jaws hit the floor  as did mine when I read that. You know folks have called me Lynchburgs Best Kept Secret, but for the help with that kind of requirement, I am in more of a danger of becoming Lynchburgs Best Dead Secret.

J.E. GLENN

J.E.G. Stained Glass

Lynchburg

Russian collusion is real

I recently read a letter on these pages from a man who recommended throwing The Atlantic story about Trump disparaging our fallen heroes in the trash bin along with the phony Russian collusion story. I cant say whether there was any truth to that Atlantic story. But I can state unequivocally that the Russian collusion story was not phony.

If you read The Mueller Report, youll discover that he documents several instances of Trump campaign officials meeting with Russians, or people acting on behalf of Russia, to advance Trumps candidacy.

As Mueller conceded, collusion per se is not illegal. Only when collusion rises to the level of a criminal conspiracy is it a crime. Mueller determined that the Trump campaigns collusion with Russia did not rise to that level.

Still, it was un-American, and it should trouble us all that a presidential campaign would welcome help from a longstanding adversary  one that continues to meddle in our electoral process.

EDWARD PALM

Forest
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 Microsofts 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 Microsofts 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.
There were no Ukrainian army casualties.

No violations of the ceasefire in the Joint Forces Operation zone in eastern Ukraine's Donbas were recorded on Tuesday, September 22.

There were no Ukrainian army casualties, the JFO Command said in a morning update on Facebook on Wednesday, September 23.

Read alsoDonbas truce holding for almost two months  ZelenskyThe Ukrainian military continue adhering to the ceasefire and are ready to respond to any attack by the enemy, it said.

The full and comprehensive ceasefire continued on Wednesday.

Donbas ceasefire: Background
URI graduate student Anna Robuck dissects a seabird as part of her PFAS research. Credit: Anna Robuck

Evidence continues to accumulate about human and wildlife exposure to chemical compounds called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, collectively referred to as PFAS, and their deleterious effects on the environment. The latest study, by a University of Rhode Island graduate student, found high levels of the compounds in seabirds from offshore Massachusetts and coastal Rhode Island and North Carolina.

Chief among the findings was the discovery that one type of PFAS, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid or PFOS, which has not been produced since the early 2000s, is the most dominant PFAS compound in the birds from all three sites, further illustrating how these chemicals do not breakdown in the environment and can remain in animal tissues for many years.

"Wildlife is being inundated with PFAS," said Anna Robuck, a doctoral student at the URI Graduate School of Oceanography, who has been studying PFAS with Professor Rainer Lohmann since 2016. "We don't really understand what that means for wildlife health overall, since scientists are just catching up with what PFAS means for human health. What we do know is that we're seeing significant concentrations that laboratory studies tell us are concerning."

Her research was published this month in the journal Environmental Science and Technology.

The concentrations of PFAS Robuck found in seabird livers are comparable to levels found in other bird studies that suggested that the compounds may be causing negative reproductive health outcomes.

"This speaks to the incredible persistence of these compounds," she said. "Once in the environment, it's there in perpetuity for it to be accumulated by wildlife. And even though we no longer produce PFOS, we still produce a series of related compounds that, once in the environment, readily transform into PFOS."

Robuck, a native of Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, measured the levels of PFAS in the livers of herring gulls from Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, great shearwaters in the offshore waters of Massachusetts Bay, and royal and sandwich terns from Cape Fear, North Carolina. All of the birds were juveniles found dead near their breeding or feeding grounds. The three sites were chosen to represent birds from an urban area where PFAS exposure is common (Narragansett Bay), an offshore area of birds that seldom approach land (Massachusetts Bay), and an area downstream of a major PFAS producer (Cape Fear).

"We studied their livers because there is a specific protein in the liver that PFAS love to bind to," Robuck said. "We also know that in humans, PFAS exposure leads to liver damage and impairment of function."

Among her other findings, Robuck discovered that the North Carolina birds that hatched downstream from a PFAS production site contained several novel PFAS compounds that have been created in recent years to replace those that have been phased out.

"The nesting colonies where we got the Cape Fear birds from are 90 miles from the production facility," she said. "This is the first detection of these compounds in liver tissue and the furthest distance from the known industrial source.

"Surprisingly, we also found those same novel PFAS in birds that have no connection to Cape Fearin one gull from Narragansett Bay and two shearwaters in Massachusetts Bay," she added. "It suggests that these replacement compounds are highly persistent and capable of migrating further in the environment than we were aware of. There also may be more sources of the compounds than we know about."

Of particular note, Robuck also found that as PFAS levels increased in the birds, the phospholipid levels in their liver decreased, a finding that is especially concerning.

"That's a really big deal because fats are important for reproductive health, migration, raising their young successfully, and other elements of their life cycle," Robuck said. "The fact that there is an observable relationship between PFAS and fats deserves a lot more investigation to see what it could be doing to wildlife populations."

In addition, Robuck detected the same PFAS levels in the offshore birds as those from inshore Rhode Island.

"They didn't have the same kind of PFAS, but they had the same total level," she said. "I expected offshore birds to be a lot lower, since those birds never come to land. It suggests that even our most remote and most pristine habitats are facing exposure to these compounds."

Robuck's next study will analyze the PFAS concentrations in other tissues from the same birds. She hopes the resulting data will be included in future government assessments of the impact of PFAS in wildlife and the environment.

Explore further Consumption of sheep or beef liver can contribute considerably to the total intake of PFAS
State Senator Lew Frederick, a Democrat, said he was hopeful that the devastation Oregon had seen over the past several weeks, including hazardous smoke that blanketed the region for days, would help shift the politics. Mr. Frederick says that informal discussions are already underway about how to address wildfires, and that there is a chance the Legislature could convene in a special session to vote on new measures this year.

How long will it last? I dont know, Mr. Frederick said. I hope it lasts longer than it has in the past.

But State Senator Herman Baertschiger Jr., who was the Republican minority leader leading the walkout over the cap-and-trade plan, worried that groups ranging from logging proponents on the right to environmentalists on the left might dig in during a time of intense political polarization around the country.

Given the ferociousness of the fires and the power of the warm, dry winds that propelled them through the towering Douglas firs of the western Cascades, the measures that Ms. Brown supported this year would have had little chance to make a substantial difference. But policymakers emphasize that adjusting to the reality of a warming climate is a long game  as are the strategies for combating wildfire.

Fires have always been a part of the regions landscape, and long before European settlers arrived, Native Americans embraced controlled burning as a strategy to manage the lands. While the types of blazes that Oregon saw this month  summer flames stoked by dry winds from the east  are not common, they are also not unheard-of in the Northwests more recent history, going back to the deadly Yacolt Burn in 1902.

The tensions over how to properly manage the states timberlands have also been around since the states inception, when settlers in Portland were felling so many trees that the city got the nickname Stumptown.

The often competing interests between economic growth and environmental stewardship have been locked for decades in disagreements, including a battle over the spotted owl, which faced extinction in the 1980s as the industry cut through ancient forests along the coast. That dispute, which included lawsuits and legislation that drove a lasting decline in the timber industry, escalated to the point that President Bill Clinton had to intervene to strike a solution that became the Northwest Forest Plan.
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Nearly 380 pilot whales have been confirmed dead off the coast of Tasmania as rescuers battle to save the remaining few that are still alive in one of the world's largest ever mass strandings.

Authorities have confirmed that a total of more than 470 of the marine creatures were discovered on Wednesday morning about five kilometres south of the original stranding site at Macquarie Harbour, the largest in the country's history.

Some 50 whales were successfully rescued and coaxed back to the open ocean but the remaining 30 animals still alive remain stranded on a shallow sandbar off Tasmania's west coast.

The search effort was initially launched on Monday after 270 were spotted struggling in shallow water on Monday.

Rescue teams are now racing against the clock to save the whales, with Parks and Wildlife regional manager Nic Deka conceding time is quickly running out.

'I would expect that we would shift through a transition from rescue into the retrieval and disposal effort  we're just considering options at the present time,' he told the ABC.

About 200 more whales have been stranded on a shallow sandbar off Tasmania's west coast, bringing the total to more than 470

Teams work to rescue hundreds of the whales that are stranded on a sand bar in Macquarie Harbour on the west coast of Tasmania

Rescuers have managed to guide around 25 of the animals back into deeper waters, sadly many of them are still battling for life in the shallow water, as teams work to free them

Rescuers attempt to save one of the stranded whales, with many feared dead after the large group came aground near the coast

While Tasmania's west coast is a hot-spot for whale strandings, this week's incident is the largest to have occurred for at least a decade on the Australian island

A map shows the location where the two groups of whales were stranded this week as rescuers desperately try to save the remaining ones

Rescuers have been battling to save the remaining few pilot whales that are still alive in one of the world's largest mass strandings

Some 50 whales have so far been successfully rescued and coaxed back to the open ocean but the remaining 40 animals still alive remain stranded on a shallow sandbar off Tasmania's west coast

Sixty rescuers, including local fishermen and volunteers, are working in teams to help free the animals - using harnesses fitted to boats to guide them back out to sea

Beached whales most often die of dehydration. The animals have a very thick layer of blubber that keeps them warm in deep-sea temperatures, but causes them to rapidly overheat near the surface

Why are the whales stranded? Tasmania is the only part of Australia prone to mass strandings, although they occasionally occur on the Australian mainland. Scientists are unsure why exactly they run aground. Marine Conservation Programme wildlife biologist Kris Carlyon said the pod may have been drawn into the coast to feed or by the misadventure of one or two whales, which led to the rest of the pod following. Marine scientist Vanessa Pirotta said there were a number of potential reasons why whales might become beached, including navigational errors. 'They do have a very strong social system, these animals are closely bonded and that's why we have seen so many in this case unfortunately in this situation,' Ms Pirotta said. Another potential cause is when the whales use magnetic fields for navigation, they get perplexed by geomagnetic anomalies or they may be following a sick member of their group that got stranded Long-finned pilot whales are known for large strandings because they stick together in tight social structures. Advertisement

Hampering rescue efforts are 'ugly' conditions including cold temperatures and rain, though Carlyon added that the conditions will help the whales survive longer by keeping them wet and cool.

Beached whales most often die of dehydration. The animals have a very thick layer of blubber that keeps them warm in deep-sea temperatures, but causes them to rapidly overheat near the surface.

A stranded whale may also be crushed to death by their own weight, without water acting as a support, or else if they are stranded in deep water they may drown if their blowholes are covered.

All of the whales have to be reached by boat, limiting the number that can be worked on at any one time, while rescuers are having to operate in teams to prevent hypothermia.

They are also battling the unusual tides in Macquarie Harbour, which are dictated by barometric pressure.

Kris Carlyon, a government marine biologist, said a team of around 60 rescuers - including local fishermen and volunteers - are being forced to 'triage' the whales, working to free those who are in the best condition and easiest to reach first.

Workers are using boats fitted with slings to drag the animals off the sandbar, along with teams of people in the water to guide the animal back into the ocean.

Though mass whale strandings occur relatively often in Tasmania, such a large group has not been seen in the area for more than a decade.

Scientists believe the animals - which were spotted from the air on Monday - come from two pods that number around 470 in total.

Once the whales are returned to deeper water, Carlyon said, the biggest challenge will be herding the social creatures out of the sandbar-riddled harbour and back into the open ocean.

Scientists said it was unclear what caused the latest stranding, but Carlyon suggested the pod may have gone off track after feeding close to the shoreline or by following one or two whales that strayed.

Karen Stockin, an expert in marine mammals at New Zealand's Massey University, said Tasmania was a 'particular hotspot' for pilot whale strandings in large pods.

Scientists do not know how or why pods of whales become beached, but speculate that the group could have become disoriented after feeding near the sandbar, or else followed members of the pod who strayed off-course

Beached whales most-often died of dehydration as thick coats of blubber designed to keep them warm in the deep sea cause them overheat close to the surface - meaning cool temperatures in Tasmania should keep them alive longer

Rescuers are being slowed down because the whales can only be reached by boat, limiting the number of people who can help at any one time, and rescuers are having to operate in teams to prevent hypothermia

Rescue workers in thermal wetsuits to prevent hypothermia work to try and free a pilot whale stranded on a shallow sandbar near Macquaire Harbour in Tasmania

Workers are using boats fitted with slings to drag the animals off the sandbar, along with teams of people in the water to guide the animal back into the ocean

Rescue workers say they are being forced to 'triage' the whales due to the large number, prioritising the healthiest and easiest-to-reach and rescuing them first before dealing with the trickier cases

Beached whales most often die of dehydration caused by overheating, but may also be crushed under their own bodyweight without water to support them, or else drown if water covers their blowhole

The stranded pod of pilot whales (pictured on Monday) spread across two sandbars and a beach off Tasmania's west coast

Rescue workers are towed out to sea as they battle cold temperatures, rain, and unpredictable tides to try and save 155 pilot whales stranded off the coast of Tasmania

One of the biggest whale strandings in history This latest stranding is likely to be one of the largest on record and is the worst in Australia's history. Australia's largest mass stranding had previously been 320 pilot whales near the Western Australia state town of Dunsborough in 1996. The latest stranding is the first involving more than 50 whales in Tasmania since 2009. In 1935, records show 294 whales, also long-finned pilots, became stranded at Stanley on Tasmania's north-west. In neighbouring New Zealand, more than 600 pilot whales washed up on the South Island at Farewell Spit in 2017, with more than 350 dying. In 1918, around 1,000 pilot whales were stranded on the Chatham Islands in New Zealand, the largest whale stranding ever recorded. Advertisement

'It seems to be a notorious whale trap... you do tend to get these mass stranding events there,' she told AFP.

Stockin said that while pilot whales were typically more resilient than other whale species, rescuers faced a race against the clock as the mammals can overheat, their muscles deteriorate and their organs become crushed outside their natural environment.

'Time is never your friend,' she said. 'So without doubt, the more expedited rescue missions are, the more likely there is an increased (chance) of survival.'

Mike Double, the head of the Tasmania-based Australian Marine Mammal Centre, said it was 'tragic' that such a 'massive' pod had become stranded but other whales had previously been saved from the same location.

'The state team responsible for responding are extremely experienced and they'll be absolutely working incredibly hard to get the best possible outcome,' he said.

Most of a 30-strong group on a nearby beach were found dead Monday, while about 60 other whales on the sandbars are also believed to have since died.

James Tucker, from the Marine Science Centre at Southern Cross University in New South Wales, said it will be a 'huge operation' disposing for that many whale carcasses.

There are four ways to dispose of the whale carcasses; dragging them out to sea, burying them, leaving them to decompose, or disposing them at a waste management facility.

Leaving the carcasses to decompose naturally can be a risk as they tend to attract sharks.
QUEBEC, QC / ACCESSWIRE / September 23, 2020 / SOCIETE D'EXPLORATION MINIERE VIOR INC. ( Vior  or the  Corporation ), (TSXV:VIO)(FRANKFURT:VL51) - is pleased to announce the acquisition of a new gold project in the Lake Mirabelli area, located approximately 300 kilometers north of town of Matagami, in the James Bay region of Quebec. The Mirabelli project consists of two separate blocks, the North and the South, located near the James Bay Road and covering an area of ?75.6 km2 for a total of 142 claims, of which 56 are currently in process.

The Mirabelli project is characterized by the presence anomalous gold grain counts in till samples. Counts of up to 40 grains of gold have historically been obtained from heavy mineral concentrates in the North Block, while a count of 57 gold grains was obtained in the South Block, including 3 pristine grains. More recently, a validation till sampling program carried out at 9 sites located near the historical samples of the North Block, provided varying counts of between 3 and 82 gold grains for an average of 18 gold grains over a ??3 km2 area. ?The area covered by the North and South Blocks of Mirabelli encompasses the potential source region of gold-in-till samples in the glacial up-ice direction to the northeast.

Mirabelli's North and South blocks are located near the contact zone between the geological sub-provinces of Nemiscau and La Grande, where several gold prospects and deposits are found in the Eastmain River sector. Aerial magnetic data from the North block of Mirabelli suggests the presence of a band of volcanic rocks or iron formations, trending N060, which would extend for more than 16 kilometers.

The Corporation is planning to carry out till sampling lines this fall to better define the source area of ??the gold grains on Mirabelli. In preparation for this program, the Corporation has initiated, through an independent consultant, the processing of historical aerial geophysical data in order to better optimize the collection of till samples. A follow-up prospecting program will be carried out in Summer 2021.

Vior acquired the Mirabelli project in a non-arm's length transaction from two co-owners of the Mirabelli project (the "Vendors"), one of whom is Mr. Eric Desaulniers, a member of the Corporation's Board of Directors. Under the asset purchase agreement (the "Agreement"), Vior can acquire a 100% interest in the Mirabelli project by making payments totaling $ 50,000 over a twelve-month period and completing exploration expenditures totaling $225,000 over a twenty-four-month period. The Vendors will retain a 2% NSR royalty, half of which can be repurchased for $ 1 million. In addition, the Corporation shall pay to the Vendors the following milestone payments upon the occurrence of the following events, if and when such events occur: $250,000 in cash or at the election of Vior, in shares, upon the completion of a resource estimate on the project and $1,000,000 in cash or at the election of Vior, in shares, upon completion of a feasibility study on the project. Should Vior elect to pay these milestone payments in shares, such payments will be subject to the prior approval of the disinterested shareholders of Vior. The TSX Venture Exchange has conditionally accepted this transaction, with the exception of the milestone payments which will be subject to further regulatory approval, subject to the Corporation filing certain compliance documents, including the issuance of the present news release, on or before November 18, 2020.

In light of the participation of Mr. Desaulniers, a Director of Vior, in this transaction, the entering into the Agreement is considered to be a related party transaction under Multilateral Instrument 61-101, but is exempted from the requirements to obtain a formal valuation and to obtain minority approval, as the consideration payable to the related party under the Agreement does not exceed 25% of Vior's market capitalization. The independent directors of Vior have approved the Agreement. The Company is relying on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements provided under sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of Multilateral Instrument 61-101.

In other news and in connection with the Skyfall project (see Press Release dated August 24, 2020), Vior wishes to clarify that a cash payment of $3,300 and the issuance of 100,000 shares of the Corporation were made to two prospectors for 35 claims.

Qualified Person

The technical content disclosed in this press release was reviewed and approved by Mr. Marc L'Heureux, P.Geo., who is the Corporation's Qualified Person as per NI 43-101.

About Vior

Vior is a junior mining exploration corporation based in Quebec whose corporate strategy is to generate, explore, and develop high quality projects in proven and favourable mining jurisdictions in North America. Through the years, Vior's management and technical team have demonstrated their ability to discover several gold deposits and many high-quality mineral prospects.

For further information, please contact:

Mark Fedosiewich

President and CEO

Tel.: 613-898-5052

mfedosiewich@vior.ca

Marc L'Heureux

Vice-president, Exploration

Tel.: 450-646-1790

mlheureux@vior.ca

Website: www.vior.ca

SEDAR: Societe d'exploration miniere Vior inc.

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: Societe d'exploration miniere Vior inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/607347/Vior-Acquires-a-Gold-Project-at-Lake-Mirabelliin-James-Bay-Quebec
Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron is soon expected to say publicly whether the officers who shot and killed Breonna Taylor will face criminal charges.

Landmark Announcement on Breonna Taylor

On March 13, 2020 LMPD officers Jonathan Mattingly, Brett Hankison, and Myles Cosgrove entered Breonna Taylors home in plainclothes under a no-knock entry warrant linked to an investigation into Taylors ex-boyfriend. Taylor was at home with boyfriend Kenneth Walker, who, believing the police were intruders and claiming that they did not announce themselves as required by law, shot and injured a police officer in the leg. During the forced entry 26-year-old Taylor, who worked as an emergency room technician, was shot 5 times, according to the death certificate. No money or drugs were subsequently found in the apartment.

The officer injured at the scene Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly, in an email to his colleagues at the LMPD on Tuesday called protesters punks, thugs and said that he and other officers "did the legal, moral and ethical thing that night" when they fired their weapons during the search of Taylor's apartment.

Officer Brett Hankinson was fired after the shooting, while the other two officers were placed on administrative leave.

Mayor of Louisville: Use caution, dont spread misinformation

In a video posted Tuesday, Mayor of Louisville Greg Fischer hit back at social media rumours pleading with citizens to use caution, not to spread misinformation or to base their plans on unfounded and uninformed speculation online.

Local newspaper the Courier Journal reports that protesters began marching down Liberty Street just before 20:00 (EDT) Tuesday 22 September and eventually returned to the park at Sixth and Jefferson streets.

Preparing for any eventuality

Fischer stressed that he doesn't know when an announcement on the Breonna Taylor case is coming but the move indicates that it may be soon. The Mayor issued two executive orders on Tuesday; one allowing the city to acquire additional resources ranging from personnel to supplies and the other closing certain downtown parking garages and limiting street parking.

Our goal is ensuring space and opportunity for potential protesters to gather and express their First Amendment rights after the announcement we are preparing for any eventuality to keep everyone safe. Fischer said.

The Louisville Police Department put in place a separate state of emergency Monday, which is separate from the Mayors declaration of emergency for the city.

Interim Chief Schroeder said that the LMPD state of emergency was called in order to provide for adequate staffing for any eventuality. All department vacation requests and off-days were cancelled to "ensure we have the appropriate level of staffing to provide for public safety services and our policing functions."

Ongoing unrest in Louisville

Protests have continued for almost 120 days in Louisville since May, and sparked two further fatal shootings and well over one hundred arrests.

In August the Guardian reported that legal experts have said that whether the officers will be charged is unclear, but may be unlikely given the protection that is offered to police.

Black Lives Matter: 93% Peaceful

Over 7,750 protests against police brutality have taken place in all 50 states throughout the spring and summer this year. According to a new report by The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) 93% of protests have been peaceful.

It is thought that the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020 have been the largest civil rights movement of all time. Protests have taken place in over 60 countries and on every continent except Antarctica. The wave of unrest was sparked by the police killing of George Floyd on 25 May 2020 in Minneapolis.

For accurate and up to date information on the unfolding situation in Louisville, check the city authorities social media accounts: @louisvillemayor, @LMPD
BMC commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal has asked that all offices and establishments in the city, barring essential services, be shut on Wednesday

Mumbai: Heavy rains lashing Mumbai overnight led to waterlogging in many parts of the metropolis on Wednesday, prompting disruption of road and rail traffic, officials said.

Rains across the island city and the western suburbs picked up late on Tuesday evening. There were intense spells across Mumbai for a few hours overnight, an official said.

On Wednesday morning, public transport services were hit and normal life affected in the financial capital due to heavy downpour and waterlogging.

Several streets and low-lying areas were waterlogged due to overnight rains and the road traffic was also badly hit, a civic official said. Some vehicles broke down in the water, affecting the traffic movement, he added.

Mumbai's municipal commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal has asked that all offices and establishments in the city, barring essential services, be shut on Wednesday due to the downpour and IMD's forecast of "heavy to very heavy rains" in the city.

A Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) release said Chahal has also appealed Mumbaikars not to step out of their homes, unless it is an emergency.

A Central Railway spokesperson said suburban services were suspended at 5 am on Wednesday following heavy rains along the tracks.

"Due to heavy rain and waterlogging in Sion-Kurla and Chunabhatti-Kurla, traffic has been suspended on CSMT-Thane and CSMT-Vashi sections for safety reasons," he said.

Special shuttle services are being run between Thane- Kasara, Thane-Karjat and Vashi-Panvel stations, while several long distance trains have been rescheduled, he said.

The Western Railway also said its suburban train service has been suspended due to heavy rain and water logging between Churchgate-Andheri stations.

"Suburban locals service is running normally between Andheri and Virar," it tweeted.

Suburban trains, considered the lifeline of Mumbai, are being operated for essential services employees due to COVID-19 outbreak and common citizens are not authorised to travel in them as of now.

A civic official said the public bus service of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) has also been hit due to waterlogged streets, and traffic diverted at several locations.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued an orange alert with a forecast of heavy rainfall at some places in Mumbai and Thane during the day.

According to KS Hosalikar, deputy director general of IMD, 122.2 mm rain was recorded at Colaba and 273.6 mm at Santacruz till 5.30 am.
(Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of London-listed company director and manager changes announced on Wednesday and not separately reported by Alliance News:







Primorus Investments PLC - investment firm focussed on natural resources sector - Appoints Rupert Labrum, Hedley Clark and Matthew Beardmore as directors, subject to due diligence checks, following request from unnamed investor who initially sought to requisition general meeting. Donald Strang to step down when new additions join board but Executive Chair Jeremy Taylor-Firth and Executive Director Alastair Clayton to remain. Primorus notes that notice to requisition general meeting has been withdrawn.







Templeton Emerging Markets IT PLC - emerging markets investor - Adds Medha Samant to board as non-executive director from October 1. Spent about 10 years as investment director for Asian equities at Fidelity International.







Asimilar Group PLC - technology-focused investor - Mark Horrocks joins immediately as non-executive director. "He has worked as a research analyst and fund manager for a FTSE100 insurance group," Asimilar notes. Donald Stewart to step down from board at the conclusion of company annual general meeting.







BB Healthcare Trust PLC - healthcare-focused investor - Appoints Toby Young as non-executive director immediately. "Professor Young is a practicing frontline NHS consultant urological surgeon, director of medical Innovation at Anglia Ruskin University, president of the Institute of Decontamination Sciences, and national clinical director for Innovation for the NHS," BB Healthcare said.







4d Pharma PLC - drug developer - Adds Katrin Rupalla to board as non-executive director with immediate effect. Chief Executive Officer Duncan Peyton said: "We are delighted to be able to attract someone of Katrin's calibre to our board of directors. Her vast experience guiding novel therapies through the clinic will be invaluable as we progress our pipeline of novel live biotherapeutics into and through the clinic."







Hurricane Energy PLC - Goldaming, England-based oil exploration company - Non-executive Director Alan Parsley retired with effect Wednesday. Leonard Tao also steps down as alternate.







Base Resources Ltd - Australia-based mineral sands producer and developer - Appoints Janine Herzig to board as non-executive director from October 12. "Ms Herzig has 30 years' experience in the resources sector, encompassing executive management, consulting, technical and production roles, across all commodities including industrial minerals," Base said. Sam Willis to step down as a non-executive director from November 20.







By Eric Cunha; ericcunha@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
23.09.2020 LISTEN

The President of Rwanda HE Paul Kagame and Commonwealth Secretary-General The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland have today announced the new date for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) which was to have been held in Kigali in June 2020 but was postponed because of the impact of COVID-19.

The new date agreed with member countries will be the week of 21 June 2021.

CHOGM is customarily held every two years and is the Commonwealths highest consultative and policy-making gathering. Commonwealth leaders selected Rwanda as host for their next summit when they met in London in 2018.

President Kagame said:

CHOGM Rwanda 2021 will be an exceptional occasion to deliberate together on the enormous technological, ecological, and economic challenges and opportunities facing the Commonwealth, particularly our young people, and which are all the more pressing as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Rwanda looks forward to welcoming all delegates and participants to Kigali next year for a safe and productive meeting.

The Secretary-General said:

At this historic CHOGM, the first to be held in Africa this millennium, we look forward to Commonwealth leaders coming together to take practical action on the critical issues we all face.

Our meetings in Rwanda will give us a real opportunity to focus on our post COVID recovery, but we also know that the pandemic has not reduced the urgency with which global challenges such as climate change, the global economy, trade and sustainable development need to be dealt with decisively through multilateral cooperation and mutual support.

The leaders summit, which is preceded by meetings for representatives from Commonwealth networks for youth, women, civil society and business, will be held in the Rwandan capital of Kigali.

The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 54 independent and equal countries. Representing a third of the world it is home to 2.4 billion people and includes both advanced economies and developing countries. 32 of our members are small states, including many island nations.

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.

Every two years the leaders of our 54 countries gather for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). The intergovernmental meeting is an opportunity for Heads to address shared challenges and set new priorities. Decisions are reached by consensus with statements reflecting the views of all those present.

Responsibility for hosting the meeting is shared by member countries. The next CHOGM will be hosted by the Government of Rwanda, the date of which is yet to be announced.
Researchers at Center for BrainHealth, part of The University of Texas at Dallas, collaborated with scientists at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to examine whether the Strategic Memory Advanced Reasoning Training (SMART) program affects people's abilities to make informed decisions about their medical treatment options. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis, in particular, are often reluctant to take antirheumatic drugs because of perceptions about the drugs' risks and benefits. The findings from this study point to an approach that helps these patients, and other people, make more informed decisions about their health.

The study, accepted for publication in Arthritis Care & Research (August 2020), was authored by lead researcher Susan J. Blalock, Ph.D., a now-retired professor from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a research team that featured Sandra Bond Chapman, Ph.D., founder and chief director of the Center for BrainHealth, and Molly Keebler, former head of community programs at the Center for BrainHealth.

SMART teaches evidence-based strategies and techniques that improve strategic thinking, increase productivity and foster innovation. It was developed and tested by BrainHealth researchers over the past three decades.

The findings build on previous work that suggests the SMART program helps people understand the gist, or bottom-line meaning, of complex information. As part of the study, patients with rheumatoid arthritis were asked questions about how they value the risks and rewards of certain antirheumatic drugs. Six months after they participated in the SMART program, participants that initially had inadequate knowledge of the risks and rewards of treatment options made more informed decisions because they became more knowledgeable about the drugs.

The SMART protocol helps improve gist reasoning abilitieshow well people can understand the overall gist or essence of complex information such as medication pamphlets and doctor's recommendations. "Rather than getting overwhelmed by the immense number of warnings, possible risks and outcomes, participants learn to focus on the major facts rather than all the less relevant details, to reach an informed decision aligned with their personal values," said Chapman.

This research has broader implications, such that the SMART methodology could help others with a variety of chronic conditions strategically focus on key inputs to make more informed decisions consistent with their belief systems about their health.

"We helped empower people to ask questions and focus more effectively on the most important facts within complex information by following a SMART protocol. We got them thinking about the big picture and gave them the confidence to be informed users of medical adviceactively engaged in making decisions about their healthcare," said Chapman.

Explore further How you can supercharge your brain from the comfort of your home

More information: Susan J. Blalock et al, Enhancing Patient Understanding of Medication Risks and Benefits, Arthritis Care & Research (2020). Journal information: Arthritis Care & Research Susan J. Blalock et al, Enhancing Patient Understanding of Medication Risks and Benefits,(2020). DOI: 10.1002/acr.24421

Provided by Center for BrainHealth
The Bethlehem Area School District this week announced three additional confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the total to 11, and one probable case.

According to the districts COVID-19 Case Dashboard at basdschools.org, cases have been confirmed in students or staff at Miller Heights, Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, Gov. Wolf and Donegan elementary schools; Northeast, East Hills and Nitschmann middle schools; and Liberty High School.

This weeks count includes the first among eClassroom students, who are 100% online learning at home. The district also offers a hybrid schedule, with two days of in-classroom learning each week.

One of the confirmed cases is in a Clearview Elementary School eClassroom student, while the probable case is in an eClassroom student at Liberty, according to the dashboard.

The district is defining a probable case as a person with known exposure to a positive case, who is exhibiting symptoms but has not yet been tested. A probable case is being treated the same as a positive test case in terms of isolation and contact tracing.

When a case is identified in a school, according to the district:

A letter is sent to all staff and parents/guardians in that school, a copy of which can be found via the dashboard.

BASD Health Services and the Bethlehem Health Bureau will complete contact tracing and contact anyone who may need to quarantine.

Bethlehem Area schools Superintendent Joseph Roy noted the initial case at Donegan occurred before students were in the building, on teacher in-service days.

Very importantly, contact tracing shows that none of the cases were the result of in-school spread, he told lehighvalleylive.com by email. The source of the virus for each case is known and they are all outside of school.

Our mitigation strategies are working, Roy continued. The hybrid model with low class sizes allow for social distancing and are further strengthened through masking. The uptick of cases in the community has not led to spread in school because of our mitigation strategies.

Pennsylvania on Wednesday announced 898 new cases of the novel coronavirus illness, bringing the states total case count to 152,544 during the pandemic since the first cases were confirmed in March. At least 8,062 people have died statewide. The United States on Tuesday surpassed 200,000 deaths attributed to the virus.

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.
Political candidates in California can use up to three words on the ballot to describe their current or recent principal profession, vocation or occupation. When Alameda County voters elect a new Superior Court judge on Nov. 3, their choices, according to the ballot descriptions, will be Elena Condes, trial attorney, and Mark Fickes, civil rights attorney.

Fickes self-designation, approved by local elections officials, isnt far-fetched, but its open to debate: A former prosecutor, he now works at a law firm that handles a variety of civil litigation, including a number of discrimination cases hes tackled in the past few years. Several commentators say its an illustration of the need for voters to do their own research on candidates in low-profile races.

Its hard to tell voters who are so overwhelmed already, now you have to do a spreadsheet of your judicial candidates, said Jessica Levinson, a Loyola Law School professor in Los Angeles whose specialties include election issues. But thats where it leaves us.

Fickes, an Oakland resident and UC Hastings law school graduate, began his legal career as a Santa Clara County prosecutor in 1995, and later was on the legal staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Since 2014, he has been a partner in Cannata, OToole, Fickes and Olson, a small San Francisco law firm.

In the past few years, Fickes said in an interview, a substantial number of his clients have been employees, renters, small-property owners and others claiming discrimination under federal civil rights law because of their race, age, ethnicity, national origin or sexual orientation.

One client, Fickes said, claimed to have been targeted for unfounded disciplinary investigations at work for being nonwhite and gay. Another said she was fired because of her Asian-Pacific origin. Another client, a Laotian immigrant in Lake County, was initially accused of environmental pollution, but said his foes later stole his property, sold it and painted a swastika on a tree, Fickes said.

He was also one of the lawyers for Joanne Hoeper, a San Francisco deputy city attorney who was fired in 2014 after investigating questionable city payments to plumbing companies. A judge found that Hoeper had been a victim of retaliation and awarded her more than $5 million in damages and attorneys fees. Fickes said he considered it a civil rights case for whistle-blowers.

My practice is diverse, but civil rights cases represent the majority of what Ive done over the past several years, Fickes said. I stand 100% behind my ballot designation.

Such designations have been challenged in other elections  Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Tulare, successfully defended his self-description as a U.S. Representative/Farmer in 2018 on the grounds that he earned some income from farming, though he no longer owned a farm. And Rep. Gil Cisneros, D-Fullerton (Orange County), won election in 2018 after a lawsuit that forced Democratic rival Sam Jammal to drop his civil rights attorney ballot label because he had not handled rights cases for about a decade.

Condes, a criminal defense lawyer for 26 years, said she considered Fickes ballot label problematic but hadnt known much about his practice before the March primary election and couldnt have afforded the $20,000-plus it would have taken to mount a legal challenge. After she and Fickes ran first and second in the primary, she raised the issue with the county registrar but said she was told she had waited too long.

How he presents himself  before he signed up for the election, it wasnt as a civil rights attorney, Condes said.

Fickes, in return, noted that Condes had described herself only as a trial attorney and not as a criminal defense lawyer.

Fickes, a gay man, is endorsed by the California Democratic Party and a number of local elected officials, including Assemblyman Rob Bonta, D-Alameda. Condesis backed by retiring Judge Carol Brosnahan and 20 of her court colleagues, along with labor unions, four county supervisors, farm labor leader Dolores Huerta and civil rights attorneys Eva Paterson and Walter Riley.

A dispute over ballot labels may not matter much in most political campaigns, where candidates generally have well-established records on the issues and take positions in public debates. But rules of ethics largely prohibit judicial candidates from taking public stances on controversial issues, and their campaigns are generally conducted in obscurity.

Its a problem with having elected judges, said attorney Michael Risher, who has handled civil rights cases and described himself as an open-government lawyer. The electorate is not likely to be well-informed about the particulars of their career, and its easy to manipulate.

Natasha Minsker, a San Francisco attorney and criminal justice advocate who supports Condes, said the average voter knows absolutely nothing about the judicial candidates. They frequently skip judicial candidates. If they do vote, theyre limited to what they read on the ballot.

Minsker, like Loyolas Levinson, said the solution, if there is one, depends on voters willingness to take a closer look.

The good news is, people are going to be filling out their ballots at home and they have time to do the research, Minsker said. Google every one of these candidates for judge. See whos supporting them. Even just reading the voter guide that has their candidate statements. Dont do the vote based on their name and what it says on the ballot.

Note: An earlier version of this article incorrectly said Elena Codes would be the first Latina on the court if elected.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko
President Donald Trump on Wednesday unveiled new restrictions on Cuban exports and barred Americans from staying at properties owned by the Cuban regime as he courts the Cuban-American voter bloc in Florida ahead of the November election.

Today, as part of our continuing fight against communist oppression, I am announcing that the Treasury Department will prohibit U.S. travelers from staying at properties owned by the Cuban government, Trump said at the White House. Were also further restricting the importation of alcohol and Cuban tobacco, he added.

The event was intended to honor Bay of Pigs veterans and commemorating the 40th anniversary of the 1980 Mariel boatlift that sent 120,000 Cubans to South Florida.

Trump added that Wednesdays actions will ensure U.S. dollars do not fund the Cuban regime.

The Treasury Departments Office of Foreign Assets Control on Wednesday amended the Cuban Assets Control Regulations to prevent an American from lodging, paying for, or reserving lodging at properties that are owned by the Cuban Communist Party or family members of party officials. The agency announced 433 properties that were identified by the Department of State as being owned by the Cuban Communist Party officials.

The Treasury also imposed new curbs on imports of Cuban rum or cigars.

In his speech, Trump said he is a bulwark against communist or socialist regimes in Latin America, including Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua. He also criticized the Obama administrations efforts to normalize relations with the Cuban regime.

The Obama-Biden administration made a weak, pathetic, one-sided deal with the Castro dictatorship that betrayed the Cuban people and enriched the communist regime. I canceled the Obama-Biden sellout to the Castro regime, the president said.

We will not lift sanctions until all political prisoners are freed, freedoms of assembly and expression are respected, all political parties are legalized and free elections are scheduled, Trump added. They will have to go through a lot but things are happening.

Meanwhile, he said the Democratic Party is attempting to foster socialism or communism domestically.

Today, we proclaim that America will never be a socialist or communist country, Trump said.

Earlier this year, the Trump administration ordered Marriott International to wind down hotel operations in Communist-run Cuba. Starwood Hotels, now owned by Marriott, was the first U.S. hotel company to sign a deal with Cuba since the 1959 revolution amid the normalization of relations sought by former President Obama.

No Republican has won the presidency without Florida since Calvin Coolidge in 1924, and Trump will hold a rally in Jacksonville on Thursday.

Reuters contributed to this report.

From The Epoch Times
- APC has lost another seat at the federal House of Representatives, Abuja

- The tribunal sacked the APC candidate, Kasim Danjuma, over alleged certificate forgery

- Danjuma was said to have presented forged certificate to the INEC before the election

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Barely seventy-hours after it lost the governorship election in Edo state, the National Assembly election petition tribunal sitting in Niger has sacked Kasim Danjuma, the candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Magama/Rijau federal constituency by-election held in the state.

This Day reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Danjuma winner of the by-election held on March 27, 2020.

Legit.ng gathered that the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the by-election, Emma Alamu, had approached the tribunal over the poll.

He accused Danjuma of submitting forged documents to INEC thereby making him ineligible to contest the by-election.

Members of the House of Representatives during a plenary. Credit: Twitter/House of Reps NGR.

Source: Twitter

Alamu said that Danjuma presented a fake primary school certificate and forged declaration of age certificate to INEC for the clearance.

Mohammed Ndayako, the counsel to the petitioner, asked the tribunal to quash the victory of the APC candidate and declare his client the winner.

The three-man tribunal headed by Justice B. F. Zubairu unanimously upheld the petition and declared the victory of Danjuma null and void.

The tribunal said the petitioner proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the first respondent presented forged documents to INEC which enabled him to contest the election.

It further annulled the election and directed INEC to conduct a fresh election in the constituency within the next 90 days.

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Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that the Supreme Court on Monday, August 31, confirmed Yahaya Bello of the APC as the winner of the governorship election in Kogi state.

It was reported that the apex court in a seven-man panel led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Tanko dismissed the appeal filed by the PDP and its candidate in the election, Musa Wada.

Edo indigenes celebrate Obaseki's victory | - on Legit TV

Source: Legit.ng
A Chinese drug trafficker on death row has escaped from a jail near Indonesia's capital after digging a 30-metre (100 feet) tunnel from his cell, police said.

Cai Changpan, sentenced to death in 2017 for trafficking 110 kilogrammes (230 pounds) of methamphetamine, broke out of Tangerang prison in Banten last week via the narrow tunnel, which connected to a sewer, officials said.

Authorities said they had recovered a crowbar, chisel, screwdriver and other tools used to dig the hole, speculating he may have got them from building work being done on a prison kitchen.

Cai Changpan, sentenced to death in 2017 for trafficking 110 kilogrammes (230 pounds) of methamphetamine, broke out of Tangerang prison in Banten last week via the narrow tunnel

Officers checking the culvert used by a Chinese death-row prisoner to escape in Tangerang

The drugs smuggler dug the tiny 50cm-wide passage after stealing the tools from the jail's kitchen workshop before eventually reaching the sewage system.

CCTV footage showed the desperate fugitive emerging from the pipe network and calmly walking away before disappearing into a dark alleyway.

Jakarta Police spokesman Yusri Yunus said it appears Changpan, 53, had been planning his incredible escape for around ''five to six months''.

Officials said the 37-year-old, who also used the name Cai Ji Fan, had invited his cellmate to join him, but the inmate had declined.

The Chinese inmate reportedly timed his jail break to coincide with the changing of the guards.

'This is the second time he escaped,' said Tangerang police's chief Sugeng Hariyanto, adding he also managed to get out of the National Police Criminal Investigation Department cells in Jakarta while on remand.

Cai's first escape was in January 2017 via a hole he made in a bathroom wall using an iron rod.

Along with other prisoners, he then climbed a 2.5-metre (eight-feet) wall, but was recaptured in West Java three days later.

Authorities said they had recovered a crowbar, chisel, screwdriver and other tools used to dig the hole, speculating he may have got them from building work being done on a prison kitchen. CCTV footage shows the fugitive emerging from the pipe network and walking away

Although rare by foreigners, jailbreaks are common in Indonesia, where most prisons are overcrowded and poorly staffed.

In 2018, some 90 inmates escaped a prison in Banda Aceh after tearing down a fence during a prayer gathering.

A year earlier more than 400 inmates broke out of an overcrowded prison in Riau province.

Also in 2017, four foreigners dug their way to freedom from Bali's notorious Kerobokan jail.

A Bulgarian and Indian were captured in East Timor a week later, but an Australian and Malaysian were never found.

His bid for freedom is being compared to that of Andy Dufresne who escaped from prison after spending years tunneling out of his cell in The Shawshank Redemption (above)

His bid for freedom is being compared to that of Andy Dufresne who escaped from prison after spending years tunneling out of his cell in The Shawshank Redemption.

He finally escaped after crawling through 400 metres of sewage emerging into a river.

Changpan is now on Indonesia's most wanted list and immigration officers have put bans in place to stop him fleeing the country.

Cops said he was put on death row in 2017 after being found guilty of smuggling 110 kg of crystal methamphetamine into the country.

Officers also revealed this was not the first time that the convict has managed to escape detention.

While being held in a police cell during his trial he fled along with other prisoners by creating a hole in the bathroom using an iron bar.
Stone throwing at Maujpur Metro station by a group of 200-300 Muslims at 5.23pm on February 23 was the first riot reported to Delhi Police in the communal violence that rocked north-east Delhi, according to the charge sheets filed on a conspiracy behind the violence.

After the police reached the spot, the mob started pelting stones on them in which five policemen were injured. This was the first set of medico-legal cases in relation to the north-east Delhi riots, reads the charge sheet.

It was the first of the 16,381 distress calls that the police control room (PCR) received between February 23 and 27, according to the charge sheet filed by the special cell of Delhi Police last week.

The riots, which started as protestors against and for the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) and later acquired a communal colour, left 53 people dead and 607 injured.

About an hour later, while a police team was dispersing the mob and collecting stones/bricks amassed at the spot, the control room received information about the second rioting incident from Kabir Nagar, Bhajanpura, less than a kilometre away from the Maujpur Metro station. In the charge sheet, police have mentioned that at 6.40 pm, two police officers were injured in the stone-pelting near a crematorium in Kabir Nagar.

A police inspector who was on patrol duty with his team noticed a mob of over 100 people beating three men. The police team were attacked with stones and bricks when they went to rescue the person.

The police have registered 751 different incidents of rioting, murder, arson, destruction of property and other sections in which 1,571 people have been arrested.

Weapons used

From guns to wooden sticks and from a pair of scissors to plastic crates --- the rioters used all kinds of things as weapons, the charge sheet says, citing the recoveries made by the police.

According to data cited in the charge sheet, at least 12 pistols, 121 empty and 92 live cartridges, 33 wooden sticks, one iron rod, 61 glass bottles filled with chemicals, two knives, four swords, a pair of scissors, stones, several plastic sacks, plastic crates, one plastic tub, stones and 11 slingshots were seized by the police from the sites where violence had taken place.

According to the police, the riots were deliberate, planned and caused after due preparations. The police have attached the statement of a protected witness, who has claimed to have seen suspended municipal councillor Tahir Hussain and his men stocking glass bottles, petrol and acid, which were later used in the riots.

Police have also alleged that the money to buy a pistol, which was used to murder a man named Rahul Solanki, was provided by Hussain and he handed it over to arrested suspect Mustaqeem (first name only).

Hussain has in the past denied the allegations and said that he was a riot victim; that his house was damaged; his family had to flee for safety and that the police were framing him.

Fire incidents

Between February 24 and 27, the charge sheet shows, the fire department received at least 242 calls of arson from the police and local residents.

Records show thatthe maximum number of calls, 95, were received on February 25. During the clashes, a tyre market in Gokalpuri, a parking lot with over 150 cars in Shiv Vihar, a petrol pump in Bhajanpura and houses and shops were burnt.

The lone woman, who died in the riots, Akbari Begum, 85, was killed when rioters set her house on fire in Bhajanpura on February 25.

The charge sheet says at least 1,130 commercial and residential properties were damaged in Karawal Nagar and Yamuna Vihar. The police said they are awaiting the survey report from other areas such as Seelampur and Shahdara. The government has so far disbursed 21.93 crore against the damages claims while 185 claims are still pending.

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Louth County Council officially opened the Clanbrassil Street and Saint Nicholas Quarter Rejuvenation Scheme in Dundalk last Tuesday.

The much-anticipated rejuvenation works in the centre of town were opened by Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council, Councillor Dolores Minogue, with Cathaoirleach of Dundalk Municipal District, Emma Coffey in attendance.

The works have transformed the historic centre of the town, covering Clanbrassil Street, Church Street and part of Bridge Street, up to St Nicholas Church.

The project comprised the provision of wider granite footpaths, asphalt parking bays, planting and seating areas, an upgrading of public lighting, improved pedestrian crossings and a decluttering of footpaths.

The works also involved the undergrounding of overhead ESB cables, refurbishment of water services and the provision of a new 500mm water main, in partnership with Irish Water.

A new bronze sculpture Heart Space, by Drogheda-based artist, Breda Marron, complements the rejuvenation project, and is installed at the new plaza on Church Street.

Speaking at the official opening, Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council, Councillor Dolores Minogue, said: I am delighted to officially open the Clanbrassil Street and Saint Nicholas Quarter Rejuvenation Scheme, which has been designed and constructed to the highest standards and will bring new life to the centre of the town.

Great Day

Chief Executive of Louth County Council, Joan Martin commented: This is a great day for the town of Dundalk.

The completed scheme is very welcome, and it has transformed the main spine of the town, as well as making it more attractive for investment, and increasing visitors to the town.

She added: The scheme has been a catalyst for the redevelopment of existing buildings along the street, and the recent painting of shop fronts has complimented the rejuvenation scheme.

The project, with a value of approximately 5.5m, represents a considerable investment in the town by Louth County Council, and by the European Regional Development Fund, which is part-funding the works.

I want to acknowledge the co-operation and assistance from the Dundalk BIDS Office, the Dundalk Chamber of Commerce, the traders, and all the businesses and residents in the area.

Cathaoirleach of the Northern and Western Regional Assembly, David Maxwell, commented: I am delighted to see the successful completion of the Clanbrassil Street and Saint Nicholas Quarter Rejuvenation Scheme, which is a result of the partnership between the Northern and Western Regional Assembly and Louth County Council, with European Regional Development Fund assistance through the BMW Regional Operational Programme 2014-2020. Projects such as the rejuvenation in Dundalk are an excellent example of how important European funding is to our country and our region, and how it can directly benefit towns and local communities.

The project builds on Dundalks rich heritage and we welcome this reinvigoration to the centre of the town that the European Regional Development Fund co-funded development is enabling.
South Korea is a key investment source for Vietnams advanced tech ambitions, photo Le Toan

During her official visit to Vietnam last week  which was also the first by a South Korean senior official to the country since the spread of COVID-19  South Koreas Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Kyung-wha and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc agreed that the two nations will create the best conditions for experts, investors, and people from both sides to enter their own territories in order to increase the cooperation in tourism, investment, and trade.

Both nations are expecting to see bilateral trade turnover to rise to $100 billion in the near future following the normalisation of flights between them.

Minister Kyung-wha stated that many South Korean people wish to enter Vietnam to conduct business and investment, and also, many Vietnamese people want to enter South Korea for studies and doing business. Currently Vietnam is home to over 9,000 South Korean businesses operating in many sectors.

She hoped that the two countries will soon agree on a special entry process in order to facilitate experts, managers, and businesspeople from South Korea to enter Vietnam, with simplified procedures.

PM Phuc reaffirmed that Vietnam is creating favourable conditions for people coming from its partner country for those purposes as this is necessary and beneficial to the two countries.

Vietnam began resuming four routes to Guangzhou, Taiwan, Seoul, and Tokyo from September 15, and will do the same with Laos and Cambodia from September 22. The reopening of routes is expected to welcome 20,000 foreign visitors in the first month.

Currently Vietnam has facilitated over 6,000 South Korean experts to enter its territory amid complicated COVID-19 developments.

South Korean Ambassador to Vietnam Park Noh-wan said at the first ROK-Vietnam strategic dialogue titled ROK-Vietnam relations: deepening the strategic cooperative partnership recently organised in Hanoi that the two nations have succeeded in reining in COVID-19, and a new co-operation framework needs to be worked out, so that they can further enhance their existing strategic partnership forged in 2009.

During PM Phucs official visit to South Korea last November, President Moon Jae-in stressed that Vietnam is a key partner in South Koreas New Southern Policy, and that his country wishes that both nations continue boosting the bilateral ties to a new height.

However, the Vietnamese side has yet to reveal any plan to reach such a comprehensive strategic partnership, in which bilateral cooperation will cover all sectors, especially economic, trade, and investment.

If it comes true, both nations investment and trade ties will have a more solid foundation to further flourish because more favourable conditions will be created for the trade and investment flows from South Korea into Vietnam and vice versa.

Figures from the Vietnamese General Statistics Office (GSO) showed that as of August 20, South Korea was Vietnams biggest foreign investor, with nearly 8,900 valid investment projects registered at $70.16 billion. In the first eight months of 2020, the total newly registered capital of South Korean investors in Vietnam was $2.96 billion.

Samsung is now the biggest foreign investor in Vietnam, with its total registered investment capital of over $17 billion for various projects and jobs for more than 160,000 local employees. The group is building a $220 million research and development centre in Hanoi, which is expected to become operational in 2022, employing another 2,200-3,000 people.

Samsung Electronics exports account for 25 per cent of Vietnams total export turnover and 28 per cent of the countrys GDP, said a statement from the South Korean Embassy in Vietnam.

The GSO also reported that eight-month bilateral trade sat at $41.3 billion, with Vietnam earning $12,6 billion from exports, down 1.5 per cent on-year, and the country spending $28.7 billion on imports, down 8.3 per cent on-year.
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Press Release

23 September 2020

Since the reopening of Riu Plaza Berlin on 25 May, up to 31 August, RIU Hotels & Resorts has delivered 22,138 hours of training in the prevention of COVID-19 infection to its staff, by means of an online training system. The programme includes webinars complemented by face-to-face training on practical application and crisis management, as well as an audit of implementation in all the hotels. The objective of this training, and indeed of the department itself, is to provide the company with the best possible tools and to ensure its efficiency within a global strategy focused on the safety of staff and customers.

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Over the months in which RIU's tourist operations were on hold, the company launched an online training portal in record time, enabling it to start a training programme to create as safe an environment as possible for customers and staff. As a result of this first phase of online learning, the RIU workforce has implemented the 17 safety protocols in the RIU Manual in all the hotel departments: reception, housekeeping, dining room, bar, kitchen and technical services, as well as others.

To ensure the proper implementation of these measures, in each open RIU hotel around the world, an organised structure of roles has been created, headed up by a member of the hotel's management team who has overall responsibility for compliance with the protocols. Together with the programme director, another key figure in this on-site training is the internal trainer who is in charge of adapting the measures to the hotel's operations and guiding staff. As Pere Torrens, head of the RIU Hotels training department, explains, "training is the responsibility of every person who has a team in their charge. They are responsible for the teams knowing how to do their jobs. For us, training the staff is one of the main tools for changing the company and people, and a clear example of this is the application of the anti-COVID protocols."

As well as the online seminars and face-to-face training, a series of essential tools for monitoring, coordinating and communicating with the operational team in the hotels has also been launched through the RIU Hotels Training Portal. Thanks to this tool, RIU has created a learning community where directors and trainers can ask the experts questions and contribute comments or points of improvement based on their experience as they implement the measures.

The purpose is to maintain this constant flow of communication and, above all, to adapt our training and knowledge to the new circumstances and to the rules as they are updated in each of the company's destinations. An example of this is that staff in Spain are developing their awareness, through face-to-face talks, in order to expand the implementation of the prevention and hygiene measures they have learned at RIU into their private and social lives, as it has been detected that this is an area of risk with great potential for improvement. This experience will soon be taken to Mexico too.

At the same time, the consultant Preverisk is undertaking visits to each hotel two weeks after they reopen. The basis for this external audit is a verification list that helps detect possible errors with a view to the hotel team being able to rectify them as soon as possible and apply the changes to the relevant areas. Finally, a second and a third visit take place to ensure compliance and guarantee that the protocols are being implemented properly. From June to September this year, a total of 60 RIU hotels have achieved COVID-19 Hygiene Response certification.
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Linkedin News Desk (Reuters) Madrid, Spain  Wed, September 23, 2020 09:57 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c4696052 2 World Spain,coronavirus,coronavirus-restrictions,COVID-19,pandemic,draft-bill,work-from-home,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus Free

The Spanish government has agreed with unions and business leaders that employers must cover home working expenses after the coronavirus pandemic caused millions to work from their living rooms.

"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 seen by Reuters, 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.

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 labor ministry is also seeking an extension of a furlough scheme that is due to expire on Sep. 30.

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.
Grass Valley, California--(Newsfile Corp. - September 22, 2020) - Rise Gold Corp. (CSE: RISE) (OTCQX: RYES) (the "Corporation") announces that it has completed the non-brokered private placement announced in its August 8, 2020 news release. The Corporation raised a total of US$250,000 through the issuance of 333,333 units (each a "Unit") at a price of US$0.75 per Unit (CDN$1.02 per Unit), with each Unit comprising one share of common stock (a "Share") and one-half of one share purchase warrant (the "Offering"). Each whole warrant (a "Warrant") entitles the holder to acquire one Share at an exercise price of US$1.00 until September 21, 2022.

The Shares and any shares issued upon the exercise of any Warrants are subject to a hold period until January 22, 2021. All securities issued pursuant to the Offering are also subject to statutory hold periods in accordance with applicable United States securities laws.

The securities offered have not been 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 absent registration or compliance with an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.

About Rise Gold Corp.

The Corporation is an exploration-stage mining company incorporated in Nevada, USA. The Corporation's principal asset is the historic past-producing Idaho-Maryland Gold Mine located in Nevada County, California, USA. The Idaho-Maryland Gold Mine produced 2,414,000 oz of gold at an average mill head grade of 17 gpt gold from 1866-1955. Historic production at the Idaho-Maryland Mine is disclosed in the Technical Report on the Idaho-Maryland Project dated June 1st, 2017 and available on www.sedar.com.

On behalf of the Board of Directors:

Benjamin Mossman

President, CEO and Director

Rise Gold Corp.

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For further information, please contact:

RISE GOLD CORP.

333 Crown Point Circle, Suite 215

Grass Valley, CA, USA 95945

T: 530.433.0188

info@risegoldcorp.com

www.risegoldcorp.com

The CSE has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this news release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur.

Although the Corporation believes that the expectations reflected in any forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions related to certain factors including, without limitation, the impact of the COVID-19 virus and amendments to reporting and other applicable requirements as a result thereof, obtaining all necessary approvals, meeting expenditure and financing requirements, compliance with environmental regulations, title matters, operating hazards, metal prices, political and economic factors, competitive factors, general economic conditions, relationships with vendors and strategic partners, governmental regulation and supervision, seasonality, technological change, industry practices, and one-time events that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information contained in this release. The Corporation undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements or information except as required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/64429
On Monday, the Jerusalem District Court handed down a judgment allowing the extradition of accused child sex abuser Malka Leifer to Australia.

The former principal of Melbourne's ultra-orthodox Adass Israel girls school faces 74 charges of rape and child sexual assault against three former students.

Leifer fled Australia to Israel in 2008 after the allegations first emerged. The process to extradite her has stalled several times since it first began in 2014 and has so far involved more than 70 court appearances.

It's likely Jerusalem's decision will be appealed by the defence to the Supreme Court.

In this episode, Sunday Age editor David King is joined by The Age's investigations editor Michael Bachelard to discuss the likelihood of Leifer's extradition.
Law360 reported that Zurich filed a motion this week, requesting an Illinois federal court dismiss the retailers claims, saying that under New York law (which governs the case) physical loss or damage is limited to physical damage to property. The insurer also maintained that although COVID-19 could damage the lungs of those it infects, it does not affect buildings.

The insurer also cited several recent cases wherein the judges ruled that business interruptions of this nature, and civil authority shutdowns, do not trigger insurance coverage.

Read more: Travelers wins business interruption lawsuit case

Across the country, courts have been reaching the same result nearly uniformly and dismissing claims, like that of Americas Kids, that attempt to stretch property insurance policies to cover economic losses unhinged from any property loss or damage, the insurer argued in its motion.

The insurer also maintained that since the virus does not change structures and can be wiped away and/or disinfected, it could not cause the type of physical loss described by the policy. Similarly, the civil authority clause requires that shutdown orders be in response to physical loss, Zurich added.

Zurich also responded to Americas Kids allegations of bad faith and deceptive practices, explaining that the insurers denial of coverage was neither deceptive nor malicious, but was a correct interpretation of the policy.

In its complaint, Americas Kids also pointed to another clause in the policy, arguing that it allows coverage for microorganisms, but Zurich countered by saying that clause applies only when the microorganisms resulted from another covered cause.
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 Arciero, Vice-President of Intellectual Property and Commercial Development, ERS Genomics

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 bachelors 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. 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. Eric Rhodes, CEO, ERS Genomics
Hyderabad, Sep 23 : The Telangana State Election Commission is gearing up to conduct elections to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) as the term of the elected body ends early next year.

As the polls are likely to be held under the shadow of Covid-19 pandemic, the poll body is planning special measures to ensure smooth conduct of the entire process.

After taking charge as State Election Commissioner a few days ago, C. Parthasarathi began discussions with the officials to finalise the poll preparations.

With the pandemic posing numerous challenges, the State Election Commission (SEC) is trying to ensure fool-proof arrangements, and will be following the guidelines issued by the Election Commission for conducting the elections during the pandemic.

The SEC has sought the opinion of political parties on whether to use ballot papers or electronic voting machines (EVMs) keeping in view the pandemic.

Commission Secretary M. Jayasimha Reddy wrote a letter to the Presidents and Secretaries of political parties registered with the SEC, requesting them to send their suggestions to the Commission on or before September 30.

The state poll panel has already decided to fix a voter strength of 800 per polling station to ensure physical distancing norms. The number of polling stations will have to be increased.

As the term of the present elected body of the GHMC is expiring on February 10, 2021, the elections are likely to be held in December-January.

This will be the second election to the 150-member GHMC after the formation of Telangana state in 2014.

As part of the poll preparations, GHMC officials will be trained to acquaint them with software applications in the application, developed by the Centre for Good Governance (CGG) for preparation and publication of electoral rolls, randomisation of polling and counting personnel and election process etc.

For expeditious, error-free and transparent election processes, the SEC is aiming to use maximum technology with the help of the CGG. This may include use of face recognition software to update electoral rolls.

Considering the fact that in every election the state capital registered low voter turnout, the SEC will be focusing on improving the poll percentage.

In the 2016 GHMC polls, only 45.29 per cent voters cast their votes. The turnout dropped further in the 2018 Assembly elections and the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Analysts say with the polls likely to be held under the shadow of Covid, the SEC will be facing a daunting task in improving the poll percentage. It is planning to involve NGOs for intensive voters' awareness campaigns.

The ensuing elections will be the third since the GHMC was created by merging surrounding municipalities with the then Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad.

The Congress and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) shared the power in the first GHMC with 52 and 43 seats, respectively.

In 2016, the ruling TRS scored a landslide victory winning 99 seats in 150-member body.

It had washed away the main opposition Congress and the Telugu Desam Party-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP-TDP) alliance, with both reduced to single digits.

The AIMIM withstood the TRS wave in its stronghold of the old city to emerge as the second largest party with 44 seats. However, the massive mandate for TRS deprived it of the kingmaker's role, which it historically enjoyed in the municipal body.
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Sept. 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wearing a mask in public is one of the simplest and most effective steps we can take toward curbing the spread of the novel coronavirus. But as we learn more about how the virus spreads, people are demanding more from their masks than a simple strip of cloth can offer. DONY, one of Viet Nams largest garment manufacturers, has met that need with the DONY Mask: a multi-layer mask offering superior protection and comfort at the same price some of us have paid for simple cloth masks.

The DONY Mask packs three layers of protection into a compact, lightweight form. The outer layer provides strong water resistance, preventing the tiniest of water droplets from leaving or entering. The middle layer serves as an air filter, making it ideal not just for disease prevention but also for venturing outdoors during periods of low air quality. The inner layer is treated with an antimicrobial agent that kills 99.9% of all bacteria and retains its effectiveness even after repeated washings.

The time is right for a better kind of face mask, says DONY [CEO] Henry Pham. And Viet Nam is the right country to provide it.

In the past, the world turned to China when it needed massive quantities of consumer products, notes Pham. The COVID-19 pandemic changed that a bit, and the ongoing trade war between China and the US has inhibited Chinese production of PPE even more.

Other countries have been catching up to Chinas manufacturing capacity: we can now produce nearly a quarter million DONY Masks a day when needed. We do it with a degree of precision and quality control that larger Chinese manufacturers cant match, and with the same low overhead, government support, and access to global shipping channels that China is known for.

Weve had requests to lower our wholesale price by cutting corners on QC and in-package sterilization, and weve refused to honor each of those requests. We produce the best mass-market face mask available today, and we will continue to do so.

DONY also manufactures a full line of full-body PPE, including isolation gowns and head-to-toe protective coveralls. Each is designed with the attention to detail that has made the DONY Mask such an important alternative to cheaply made face masks.



Dony Protective Coverall is specifically designed to provide all-round protection to the health employees. The clothing had been designed by keeping in view the problems and hurdles which employees face while performing their job. Dony is concerned about the health and well being of health workers as well as their comfort. Dony Protective Coverall serves as a single solution to multiple problems which the health workers face on the job.



Those who need something that can be quickly worn and fits in budget Dony has a different product to satisfy their needs. Dony isolation gown can guard the workforce against all kinds of dangers. It is quick to wear and easily disposable.

Both products of Dony are certified by the most reliable health authorities of the world like FDA, C.E, DGA, TGA, SASO, ISO, TUV Reach, CFS, Intertek and others.

All DONY PPE products are readily available to retailers in the companys supported regions: the USA, Canada, the UK, Germany, France, the UAE, Australia, Taiwan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, KSA, Belgum, Jodan, South Africa and Japan.



In the evening of 5th June 2020, Dony Garment Company and other Vietnamese enterprises has donated medical supplies to the USs people.

At the ceremony, Mr. Daniel Kritenbrink, U.S. Ambassador in Vietnam has extended his heartfelt gratitude and confirmed that Operation USA Organization which based in Los Angeles, USA will distribute these medical supplies to needed places such as California, New York,..



To learn more about the DONY Mask, or to inquire about international distribution of any DONY product, please visit https://garment.dony.vn/



Video Dony Mask: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmcXNj569lA

DONY GARMENT COMPANY LIMITED

+84985310123

News via: https://story.kisspr.com





Attachments
ARTISTS IN THE TIME OF COVID-19 - Brutalist

"Sadly, a face mask doesn't double as a pop filter," says John Hassell of two-piece ambient beats duo Brutalist, lamenting the presence of plosives in the studio.

Hassell is a Sydneysider based in France teaching English who also makes music with Seekae, Boy Charlton and Montvert.

Brutalist, an ambient beats duo (one in Melbourne, one in France)

"For the time being things in Marseille look far less restrictive than Melbourne so I feel for all my peeps down there."
Contributed Photo / Connecticut State Police

TRUMBULL  A stretch of Route 8 south is expected to be briefly closed Wednesday morning for a follow up on a crash, according to police.

At 9:05 a.m., Connecticut State Police said Route 8 south would be closed between exits 11 and 10 starting at 9:30 a.m. for a follow up on a crash. The closure is expected to last about 30 to 45 minutes, police said.
WASHINGTON - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin reached a bipartisan deal Tuesday evening to keep the government funded through early December and avoid a shutdown just before the election.

Pelosi hailed the deal in a statement in which she pointed to $8 billion in increased spending on food-assistance programs that she secured, in exchange for agreeing to renewing funding for a farm bailout program strongly supported by Republicans.

The short-term spending legislation - known as a "continuing resolution," or CR - was expected to pass the House later Tuesday.

"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., who had reacted angrily Monday when Pelosi released a different version of the bill that left out the farm bailout money.

However, the legislation - which extends government funding through Dec. 11 - is expected to sail through the House with strong bipartisan support and could come to the Senate floor later this week.

Congress needs to pass a spending bill by Sept. 30 or large portions of the government would begin to shut down. The bill also must be signed by President Donald Trump ahead of the shutdown deadline.

The deal came together after a series of ups and downs, beginning with talks between Pelosi and Mnuchin unexpectedly breaking down late Friday after they'd appeared on the cusp of an agreement. Lacking a deal, Pelosi released her own bill Monday and announced a House vote for Tuesday.

But on Tuesday morning, she and Mnuchin re-opened negotiations. Pelosi set aside the partisan bill she'd released on Monday and unveiled a new one that was expected to come to the House floor under expedited voting rules Tuesday night.

Even with much attention on Capitol Hill focused on the Supreme Court vacancy created by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, there was little appetite on either side for brinkmanship around a government shutdown.

As part of the stopgap spending bill, Republicans have sought to replenish a $30 billion borrowing fund called the Commodity Credit Corporation, a New Deal-era program that Trump has used to reimburse farmers harmed by his trade policies and tariffs. Democratic leaders oppose the additional money, partly because they say Trump could use it for political purposes.

At a campaign rally in Wisconsin last week, Trump announced a new package of aid for farmers from the CCC, which he has used in an unprecedented way to distribute largesse. Under previous administrations, the CCC was used for much more limited purposes, and some Democrats charge that Trump has essentially turned it into a slush fund.

But there are also several endangered House Democrats who support the program, including Cindy Axne and Abby Finkenauer of Iowa, freshmen 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 and declaring, "Our farmers should not be used as a bargaining chip for negotiations."

Before talks collapsed Friday night, Pelosi had been seeking an agreement with Mnuchin that would bulk up childhood nutrition programs by about $2 billion in exchange for the CCC money. The bill released on Tuesday increases the nutrition spending to $8 billion, something Democrats pointed to as a victory.

It also includes some new guardrails on CCC funding, to guard 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 that kick the can down the road, or even allowing the government to shut down. There are often fights about what policy provisions will be attached to these stopgap bills, since in some cases they are the only legislative vehicle pending that is guaranteed to pass into law.

That seems to be the case now, since 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 coronavirus relief measures could be attached to the stopgap spending bill, known as a continuing resolution, that does not appear to be in the works.
Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad met President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday evening amid growing dissent over passage of farm bills passed by Parliament.

Azad met the President and handed over a memorandum, urging him to not give his assent to the farm bills cleared by Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

There was no division of votes, no voice voting. Constitution was undermined in the temple of democracy. We have given a representation to president that farm bills have been passed unconstitutionally and he should return these bills, he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

The government should have consulted all parties and farmer leaders before bringing the bills, Azad said after meeting the President.

Previously, it was decided that leaders of five Opposition parties - Congress, TMC, Samajwadi Party, TRS and DMK - will meet the President to raise the issue but due to Covid-19 safety protocols the parties decided to submit the memorandum through Azad.

The Opposition has launched a staunch protest against passage of 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  by voice vote in Parliament on Sunday.

Several leaders from the Opposition including TMCs Derek OBrien and Aam Aadmi Partys Sanjay Singh entered the well of the Rajya Sabha demanding that the bills be sent to a select committee. The ruckus ensued and resulted in the suspension of eight Rajya Sabha MPs, including OBrien and Singh, who then camped overnight in Parliament complex in protest.
Read the introduction to this essay, Teachers Can Take on Anti-Racist Teaching. But Not Alone , by Education Week staff writer Madeline Will.

In college, I was a history major, yet I learned more about the Black experience from reading books than I ever did in school. Sadly, this is also the case for many students, and poor teacher-preparation programs steeped in anti-Blackness should shoulder a large part of the blame.

I teach African American history using a curriculum that has abolished the white supremacist, racist, and patriarchal lenses that are intrinsic within schools and are so harmful to all students. This is so different from my experience as a Black Muslim student growing up in Philadelphia: I never saw myself represented in the history curriculum unless I was learning about a sanitized version of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a tired Rosa Parks, or a militant Malcolm X.

I learned to love history because I was surrounded by it outside of school. Though we lived in public-housing developments, my parents had a full set of encyclopedias, the Reference Library of Black America, and a subscription to National Geographic. My parents efforts helped me establish a strong connection with the Black experience and Black history that I did not get in school.

Still, I almost quit my teacher-preparation program midway through after observing a lesson in African American history taught by a young white educator in a Philadelphia high school. I sat horrified as the teacher asked, Did Africa need to be colonized? and almost everyone said yes. The students argued that if it wasnt for European colonization, Africa wouldnt have access to advanced technology or important institutions like universities and hospitals, and the teacher did not correct them. What about Timbuktu University in the 1500s and ancient Egyptian prowess in geometry?

Unfortunately, 33 students, who were mostly students of color, left that class seeing Africa through a colonial and anti-Black lens. I was angryand inspired to become what Bettina Love, a professor at the University of Georgia, calls an abolitionist teacher.

Abolitionist teaching, Love says, is steeped in community organizing and informed by critical race theorythe understanding that race is a social construct used by white people for their own political and financial gain. Abolitionist teachers call out racism and discrimination both within the school and larger society. They teach from a place of love that centers Black resistance and Black joy.

As an abolitionist educator, I have spent time mentoring youths and cultivating their leadership skills as the sponsor for my schools Muslim Students Association and Black Students Association. I also became a mentor for students within the Philly Black Students Alliance, which was formed this summer to support students publicly addressing systematic racism in Philadelphia schools.

As part of building an anti-racist education system, teacher-preparation programs have to completely abandon their current model and try something new.

For starters, leaders of these programs should meet with Black, Indigenous, and other educators of color and listen to their experiences as both students and teachers. From that, faculty should create new courses and syllabi representing the best of abolitionist teacher preparation.

Teachers need to be prepared to challenge the view that math, science, and literature are primarily European or white American enterprises and that history is the account of those groups. Science teachers, for example, can add the stories of Henrietta Lacks, Katherine Johnson, and the horrific gynecological experiments of James Marion Sims to their curriculum. And elementary teachers must learn to discuss the European Age of Exploration from the perspective of the Indigenous people who were decimated by it.

White teachers, who may have little exposure to communities of color, must feel comfortable discussing culture and race. Teachers would be encouraged to develop spaces and extracurricular clubs within schools that encourage student leadership, dissent, public speaking, and the beauty of celebrating all forms of Blackness.

This is revolutionary thinking that is, to say the least, overdue. The recent killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Tony McDade are connected to a long history of brutality. If we dont want another crisis in 30 years, the moment to build social structures that no longer oppress Black students and other students of color is now.

And it starts with education. Teacher-preparation programs, step up.
Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews speaks to the media at the daily briefing in Melbourne, Australia on Sept. 11, 2020. (Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Legal Community Objects to Andrews Emergency Measures Bill

A cohort of retired judges and prominent senior lawyers, including former high court judge Michael McHugh, former federal court judge Peter Heerey, and leading barristers Stuart Wood, and Neil Young, have published a letter to the Victorian Premier, Daniel Andrews objecting to the proposed Emergency Measures Bill.

In the letter, the group stated that they were deeply concerned by the expansion of the powers of the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 (pdf) that are involved in the Omnibus bill .

The COVID-19 Omnibus (Emergency Measures) bill entitles authorities with additional powers to carry out arrests on people who are deemed as a COVID-19 health direction risk.

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 anyone diagnosed with COVID-19, they noted.

Other issues raised were that authorised officers would be given the power to detain an individual who may be a risk without defining a sentencing length. Third parties who are not police or public servants can also be permitted by the government to operate as authorities.

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, they said.

The bill also states that the government could also be given the power to allow anyone they deem appropriate to exercise authoritative powers, even if they are not police or public servants.

We call on the Legislative Council to amend the Bill, or to vote against it, the group said.

Premier Andrews on Sept. 22, in a daily press conference, objected that the Emergency Measures bill is open to being abused.

He justified the bill by stating that if the policies are implemented correctly, it can be managed.

If youre going to have COVID site plans enforced if youre going to have people doing the right thing so that we jealously guard the low numbers that we are in the process of actually delivering, then you need to have a bigger enforcement team, and not play many different roles,

Victorias enforcement of CCP virus restrictions have raised human rights concerns, with protests against the lockdown lasting weeks. Several class actions have also been submitted to Melbourne Supreme court.

Read More Avi Yemini Raises Over $50K in One Day for Victoria Government Supreme Court Lawsuit

The Omnibus (Emergency Measures) Bill was voted through a Labor dominant lower house on Sept. 18 and is due to be debated in the upper house of the Victorian parliament next month.
NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Coffee Pods and Capsules market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.72% during the forecast period.





Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05865799/?utm_source=PRN





- The quality, efficiency, and diverse choices offered in a single serving of coffee are responsible for the growth witnessed by the coffee pods and capsules market. Moreover, consumers are willing to purchase coffee machines to recreate the cafe-style experience at home. This, in turn, has increased the demand for coffee pods and capsules.

- The demand for coffee pods is increasing due to the convenience factor associated with coffee pods majorly in the developed region, such as North America. However, the capsules segment is expected to grow at a slow pace over the forecast period, due to market maturity and the supremacy of the Keurig system in the region. Although the parent company, Keurig Green Mountain (KGM), has benefitted a great deal from its near-total control of the American and Canadian pod markets, it has also worked unfavorably to the category in keeping the prices high and limiting consumer choice.



Key Market Trends

Capsules Hold a Significant Market Share



Coffee capsules have gained high acceptance among consumers in recent years, due to the growth in the demand for instant non-alcoholic drinks. Coffee capsules are chosen by coffee producers, owing to their suitability, comfort of use, and a wide diversity of coffee products and machinery. Furthermore, the proliferation of premium coffee shops, such as Starbucks, has stimulated consumers' appetite for high-end, fresh-brewed coffee. This has increased the demand for coffee capsules. Nespresso and Nescafe Dolce Gusto brands play a significant role in the capsule market. Other single-serve brands associated with technology that contribute to increasing the value/volume share ratio include Keurig, the JacobsDouweEgberts, Tassimo, and Senseo, all owned by JAB. Evolving packaging technologies and the ability to compete with exotic or sophisticated brands resulted in the growth of coffee capsules



Germany Leads in the Global Market



As of 2016, around 13% of the German population drank coffee made from a single-cup brewer every single day. This indicated the rise in the demand for specialty coffees and single-serve methods in Germany. The German Coffee Association hosted the European Congress on Coffee Capsules in Berlin, wherein all companies that are active in the coffee capsules market, from materials suppliers to rework specialists, offered latest insights. The German coffee pods and capsules market is highly dominated by Nestle's Nespresso, with its wide product reach across the country. However, Keurig Green Mountain merged with JAB Holding, with an aim to expand its presence, which is expected to hinder the growth of Nestle in Germany. Alois Dallmayr KG is one of the most prominent players in the German coffee pods and capsules market, and it offers a wide range of coffee pods and capsules compatible with Nespresso machines.



Competitive Landscape

The global market for Coffee Pods and Capsules is largely dominated by Nestle and JDE, with a strong global presence of their brands, Nespresso, Keurig, Tassimo, Senseo, and Dolce Gusto. Other key players, such as Kraft foods, Dunkin Brands, and Starbucks Corporation, also held a prominent share in the global market in 2019. However, high product innovations, the launch of limited edition coffee pods, large distribution networks, better supply chains have led the coffee pods and capsules market to become highly consolidated, where Nestle (Nespresso and Dolce Gusto) and JAB Holdings (Senseo, Tassimo, Keurig) held the maximum share in the global market.



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Leadership Update

Brisbane, Sep 23, 2020 AEST (ABN Newswire) - NOVONIX Limited ( ASX:NVX ) ( FRA:GC3 ) ( OTCMKTS:NVNXF ) is pleased to announce a restructure and recommitment of the Board, major shareholders and Executive leadership designed to maximise leverage of the significant talent and capability available and to best position the Company to secure and deliver on the exciting opportunities ahead.Today NOVONIX has multiple integrated business streams including advanced manufacturing of battery materials, research and development of next generation battery materials, battery research, development and testing services and development and sales of advanced battery testing diagnostic technology.The operating divisions of the Company are in the USA and Canada and the Company plans to expand into Europe as a second phase of market penetration in the medium term.We have made significant progress within our anode material business with our foundational customer, Samsung SDI (of the Samsung Group), as well as with Sanyo Electric (of the Panasonic Group). We have growth ambitions to work with large global battery manufacturers and automotive OEMs, and already our customer base currently spans 15 countries including many of those companies.Our investor base continues to rapidly diversify internationally from an historical concentration of Australian investors, attributable to the Company's primary listing on the ASX.We are in the throes of implementing our major expansion in Chattanooga, as well as growing our IP portfolio from our rich R&D base in Halifax.As a result, we are realigning our board and management structures to give focus to our operations and customers, as well alignment with our shareholders.We are putting in place leadership for the next growth phase of the Company.Executive AppointmentsThe transition to the new structure involves appointments to the positions of Group CEO and Group CFO.The Company is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Chris Burns as Chief Executive Officer of the NOVONIX Limited group of companies, bearing the title "Group CEO".Chris is the co-founder and CEO of NOVONIX Battery Testing Services Inc based in Canada and co-developed the breakthrough Ultra-High-Precision-Coulometry (UHPC) technology with Professor Jeff Dahn. He has also been the COO of the NOVONIX group responsible for the PUREgraphite business in the USA and the Battery Technology Solutions (BTS) business in Canada, for the last three years.The company is also pleased to announce the appointment of Nick Liveris as Chief Financial Officer of the NOVONIX group of companies, bearing the title "Group CFO".Nick has been the operational CFO at PUREgraphite and NOVONIX BTS and VP Business Development for the NOVONIX group for the last three years. Nick has played a key role in group strategy and business development, establishing the PUREgraphite business and engagement with global customers and other stakeholders. He brings significant investment banking, management consulting and analytics experience with him from prior roles with McKinsey and Merrill Lynch.NOVONIX Chairman, Tony Bellas, said Dr Chris Burns is a thought leader in the rechargeable battery sector. "Dr Burns is a rising star in the world of lithium-ion batteries. He is an outstanding battery scientist, inventor and battery technology and materials engineer. Dr Burns is also a successful entrepreneur ready to take NOVONIX to the next level," Mr Bellas said. He went on to add "Nick Liveris is an executive with deep financial and consulting background, and with proven leadership skills. He has been instrumental in developing the PureGraphite customer base and financial strategy", said Mr Bellas.Mr Bellas said that the combination of Burns and Liveris together with an outstanding Board has the capability to take NOVONIX to a new level of shareholder value. They will both report to the Chairman.Board ChangesAs part of the transition to the new executive structure, Philip St Baker has retired as Managing Director and resigned from the Board of the Company. Philip will be taking up the role of Chairman of Delta Electricity, a major electricity generation and retail company in NSW, Australia, presently chaired by Trevor St Baker AO, who is replacing Philip on the Board of NOVONIX, as Non-Executive Director. Trevor St Baker AO, is the founder and director of the St Baker Energy Innovation Fund, the major shareholder in NOVONIX.Trevor has over 60 years' experience in the energy industry, including 23 years in planning and leadership roles within NSW and Queensland Electricity Commissions, 12 years as Principal of ERM Consultants then founding ERM Power Ltd which was acquired by Shell for $617 million in November 2019.Trevor is currently Chairman of Sunset Power International t/a Delta Electricity and is the founder and a Director of the St Baker Energy Innovation Fund (SBEIF).Trevor is an investor and director of leading global electric vehicle DC fast charge developer and manufacturer, Tritium Pty Ltd. He is also Chairman of Nth Degree Worldwide Technologies Inc, and of Printed Energy Pty Ltd, both of Tempe Arizona, and a Director of CareWear Corp, of Reno NY. He is also a founding director of SMR Nuclear Technology Pty Ltd. Trevor also co-founded the St Baker Wilkes Indigenous Educational Foundation Limited, and he and his wife have established the Trevor & Judith St. Baker Philanthropic Trust.Reflecting the locus and importance of the Company's operations in North America, Admiral Robert (Bob) Natter will take an Executive Director role with particular focus on supporting the PUREGraphite operations team in Chattanooga, Tennessee. At the same time, Greg Baynton will move from an Executive Director role and remain a Non-Executive Director of the Company.Current Independent Non-Executive Directors, Andrew Liveris AO and Rob Cooper, will continue to serve on this renewed Board.In addition, two committees of the Board will be established, an Executive Committee chaired by Tony Bellas, with members being Bob Natter, Chris Burns and Nick Liveris, and a Remuneration Committee, chaired by Robert Cooper, with the independent Directors Tony Bellas, Andrew Liveris and Trevor St Baker as members.Importantly, all Non-Executive Directors of NOVONIX have recommitted to continue to provide active strategic guidance and support of critical customer and supplier relationships globally.NOVONIX Chairman, Tony Bellas, said, "This Board and new executive leadership structure will serve NOVONIX and its shareholders very well in our next phase of opportunities in the battery sector. We have the right team to deliver on our ambitious plans for the Company."He went on to say: "Phil St Baker has played a pivotal role in positioning the company strategically and leaves it well placed to be able to fulfil its potential in this next phase, under CEO Chris Burns. Philip's management capability and executive leadership have been invaluable, and we wish him well in his new role at Delta Electricity ".The Company and Mr Philip St Baker have agreed, in accordance with his employment contract, that Mr Philip St Baker will receive $75,000 payment in lieu of notice. The loan of $1.5 million to Mr Philip St Baker (see note 23(g) to the Company's 2020 annual report) will be repaid through set off against vested performance rights and outstanding employee entitlements held by Mr Philip St Baker, with shares being valued at the closing price on 22 September 2020 ($1.70).About NOVONIX Limited

NOVONIX Limited (ASX:NVX) (FRA:GC3) (OTCMKTS:NVNXF) is an integrated developer and supplier of high-performance materials, equipment and services for the global lithium-ion battery industry with operations in the USA and Canada and sales in more than 14 countries. NOVONIX's mission is to support the global deployment of lithium-ion battery technologies for a cleaner energy future.


New York City, Sept. 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CommPRO (https://www.commpro.biz/), a digital publication for the C-Suite in corporate communications, marketing, public relations and financial services, in partnership with The Museum of Public Relations today announced a free virtual event with bestselling author John Dean, moderated by CNNs Michael Zelden, to take place September 30, 2020 at 6 pm Eastern Time. During this event, John Dean will discuss his newest bestseller, Authoritarian Nightmare: Trump and His Followers. Registration is free at http://sumo.ly/14qtk.

Authoritarian Nightmare is John Deans psychological investigation into the psyche and personality of Donald J. Trump and his base. Best known for his treatise on Richard M. Nixon, Dean drills deep inside the mind of the current president to understand the roots of his dictatorial dreams and how close we are to facing an authoritarian nightmare if hes elected again. Dean worked with Bob Altemeyer, a professor of psychology whose expertise is the study of authoritarianism, to closely explore why Trumps base is so faithful to him.

John Dean previously served as Counsel to the President of the United States from July 1970 to April 1973. Before becoming White House counsel at age 31, he was the chief minority counsel to the Judiciary Committee of the US House of Representatives, an associate director of a law reform commission, and an associate deputy attorney general at the US Department of Justice. For the past 15 years, Dean has been a visiting scholar and lecturer at the University of Southern Californias Annenberg School of Communications. Since 2017 he has been a political and legal commentator for CNN.

Moderating the event and interviewing John Dean will be Michael Zeldin, who has served as a TV legal analyst since 1996, covering the OJ Simpson murder trial, Whitewater/Lewinsky investigation, Clinton impeachment proceedings, Gore v. Bush court challenges, and the Mueller Special Counsel investigation. Zeldin has published op-ed pieces for CNN.com, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Hill, The Washington Times, and The Washington Post. He is an internationally recognized expert on money laundering, terrorist financing and economic sanctions.

To learn more about this event and to register, please click here.

ABOUT COMMPRO

CommPRO (https://www.commpro.biz/) is a digital publication for the C-Suite in corporate communications, marketing, public relations and financial services.

ABOUT THE MUSEUM OF PUBLIC RELATIONS

The Museum of Public Relations, a 501(c3), is the world's only museum dedicated to the field of public relations.

CONTACT: fays@commpro.biz
Cannoli from Termini Bros. bakery, one of the local food companies due to open stands at the Live! Casino & Hotel. Read more

Three longtime players on the Philadelphia food scene will open outlets in the food hall inside the Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia, opening in early 2021 at Ninth Street and Packer Avenue:

Lorenzo & Sons Pizza, the South Street landmark; Sang Kee Noodle Bar & Kitchen, a partnership between veteran Chinatown restaurateur Michael Chow and the local food-services company Strother Enterprises; and Termini Bros., the South Philadelphia bakery that will mark its 100th anniversary next year.

The deal is a partnership of family owned businesses, said Joe Billhimer, executive vice president of casino operator Cordish Gaming Group, which itself is family owned.

The food hall, billed as 10th Street Market, will serve as a hub for quick eats and late-night bites. A 24-hour bar and more dining options will be announced later.

Lorenzo & Sons owner Giuseppe Pulizzi said his stand would serve the 14-inch specialty pizzas that define his location in West Chester, rather than the huge 28-inch pizzas he sells on South Street. He also hopes to make a 20-inch pie that he could cut into sixths. In 1970, Pulizzis father, Lorenzo, founded the parlor at Ninth and Christian Streets in the Italian Market but later sold it. It retains the Lorenzos name. Giuseppe Pulizzi opened Lorenzo & Sons in 1987 at 305 South St. and more recently expanded into four kiosks at the Wells Fargo Center.

Chow founded Sang Kee as Sang Kee Peking Duck House in 1980 at 238 N. Ninth St. Its now among the oldest restaurants in Chinatown and has been spun off to locations including Reading Terminal Market as well as restaurants in Wynnewood and University City.

Termini Bros., the cannoli and Italian pastry specialist that opened in 1921 and moved into its current bakery at 1523 S. Eighth St. in 1938, has other locations in Reading Terminal Market and Packer Park Shopping Center. It formerly had a partnership at Giuseppe & Sons restaurant in Center City. Terminis location inside the Comcast Center is idled by the coronavirus, while the retail counter on Eighth Street is scheduled to reopen Oct. 2.
The moratorium covers low-income residential customers who qualify for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program and to those who are financially affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The ICC is stressing that customers need to call their utility company if they have missed payments or are struggling to pay a bill. It also said deferred payment arrangements are available to both residential and small business customers having difficulty making payments at this time.
Lee University students Krystina Engblom and Zoe Riggins have been named the 2020-21 Tucker Scholars in nursing.

To receive this scholarship is an absolute honor, said Ms. Engblom. Each year I have found myself growing in ways that I could have never imagined. The faculty have not only shaped me and pushed me to think critically about my patients diagnoses, but also to assess and care for their spiritual needs.

Ms. Engblom, a senior nursing major from Oak Ridge, Tn., is a tutor and supplemental instruction leader for Lees pathophysiology/pharmacology courses. She is also involved with the Nurses Christian Fellowship at Lee.

Krystina helps her peers with their learning while maintaining high standards for her own academic work, said Jessica Price, associate lecturer of nursing at Lee. She accomplishes this, as well as her clinical performance, with a great deal of compassion and goes above and beyond to be a good advocate for her clients.

Ms. Riggins, a Cleveland native, is a sophomore nursing major and a student worker in the Helen DeVos College of Education. She has been a member of Lees brass choir and participated in Dorm Wars, raising money for local charity.

I am so thankful to have been chosen as the recipient of the Tucker Foundation Scholarship, said Ms. Riggins. It is my hope that the foundations investment into my education today will allow me the opportunity to give back to my community in the future.

Zoe is just beginning her nursing courses and has already demonstrated that she is hard working, said Dr. Nancy LaBine, associate professor of nursing at Lee. She is a solid student who is motivated to be an excellent nurse, and we are looking forward to helping her grow in skills and knowledge.

Recipients of the Tucker Foundation Endowed Scholarship in Nursing are selected by a nursing scholarship committee comprising nursing faculty with input from the financial aid office. The scholarship award is renewable for four years until graduation.

The Tucker Foundation established the nursing scholarship in 2014 to support students from southeast Tennessee enrolled in Lee Universitys nursing program, which began the same year. The Tucker Foundation also established a scholarship for natural science and mathematics at the university in 2009. The scholarships were established on behalf of Mr. and Mrs. Summerfield K. Johnston, Jr.

For more information about the Tucker Foundation Scholarship, contact the School of Nursing at 614-8526.
Hence, Race and Violence in Our Cities, in the view of many liberal critics, suggests that the primary issue surrounding the protests this summer is violence  not justice, as its supporters say  and that it is explicitly race-based and urban-centered. It also shifts the focus away from the cause of the protests themselves: The use of deadly force by police against African Americans, and racial inequities in general.
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 America's 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 cooperation," 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 Trump's 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 year's 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.

Trump's 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.

China's 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 cooperation, 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."

Trump's 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 he'd 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.

Trump's 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.

Trump's 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 cooperation between Serbia and Kosovo.

He didn't mention the threat from North Korea's 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 administration's diplomatic efforts to get Kim to give up his nuclear weapons have not succeeded.

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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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Thu, September 24 2020

Prosecutors mentioned the names of Attorney General ST Burhanuddin and former Supreme Court chief justice Hatta Ali on Wednesday in their indictment against prosecutor Pinangki Sirna Malasari, who is accused of assisting graft convict Djoko Soegiarto Tjandra during his time as a fugitive from the law.

Pinangki is standing trial at the Central Jakarta District Court on charges of money laundering and bribery after allegedly agreeing to accept bribes amounting to US$500,000 from Djoko for conspiring to secure an acquittal for him from the Supreme Court.

The court found Djoko guilty in 2009 for his involvement in the high-profile Bank Bali corruption case.

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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. 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." David Ozog, M.D., chair of Henry Ford's Department of Dermatology in Detroit and study's lead author

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."
Facebook purged two networks linked to Philippines security forces it accused of "coordinated inauthentic behavior"

The Philippine military said Wednesday it will review the social media accounts of service members after Facebook took down a network linked to state security forces it accused of "coordinated inauthentic behavior".

Facebook said it had removed two networks -- one traced to the Philippines and another to China's Fujian province -- for violating its policies.

The Philippine network involved 57 Facebook accounts, 31 pages and 20 Instagram profiles, according to Nathaniel Gleicher, head of security policy at the social media giant.

"Although the people behind this activity attempted to conceal their identities, our investigation found links to Philippine military and Philippine police," he said in a blog post.

Activities focused on local politics, military operations, a controversial anti-terrorism bill and criticism of communist insurgents.

Philippine military chief Lieutenant-General Gilbert Gapay on Wednesday urged troops to comply with Facebook guidelines.

"The (armed forces of the Philippines) does not tolerate the uploading of fake news and fictitious social media accounts," he said ahead of a meeting later Wednesday with Facebook officials in Manila.

"This development also prompted us to review personnel accounts and remind them of our policies."

Philippine police chief Camilo Cascolan said official force Facebook pages "remain compliant".

The force adheres to "cyber etiquette and proper decorum in all public engagements including social media", he said.

Tuesday's action by Facebook was the third takedown of suspicious Philippine accounts since 2018 when it stepped up an offensive against misinformation.

In January 2019 it removed hundreds of pages with 43 million followers linked to a local digital marketing group.

Facebook said the campaign out of China it took down focused on the Philippines and South East Asia, but also took aim at the US presidential race.

Posts commented particularly on naval activity in the South China Sea, including US vessels.

mff/cgm/fox
On the President's Affirmation of the Philippines' Arbitral Victory over China before the United Nations

More at: https://pinglacson.net/2020/09/23/on-the-presidents-affirmation-of-the-philippines-arbitral-victory-over-china-before-the-united-nations/

'Alipin' no more! Hearing the President invoke the Award before the UN General Assembly while firmly rejecting any attempt to undermine it should now erase doubts on where he stands regarding the West Philippine Sea issue.

Filipinos from both sides of the political aisle should feel proud hearing the President express his strong and unequivocal position on the WPS issue. His statement should erase all doubts on where he stands.

More importantly, I hope that China heard the President's message loud and clear.
CREVE COEUR  U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue defended his administrations stance on climate change during a visit this week to the St. Louis area, saying that he had personally experienced the changing climate.

Additionally, he said that dicamba, the drift-prone and fiercely divisive weedkiller that courts have barred from being sold for agricultural use, should be returned to the market and made available to the countrys farmers.

Perdues remarks came in an interview Monday with the Post-Dispatch, following the grand opening of the Creve Coeur headquarters for Benson Hill, a biotechnology company focused on crop science. He was asked how the U.S. Department of Agriculture could best support the work of Benson Hill and other entities aiming to ensure that crops are able to keep pace with stresses from climate change, even as the administration of President Donald Trump publicly denies or dismisses mounting climate risks.

First of all, I dont agree with your premise that the administration is dismissive of climate change, said Perdue, who was raised in a farming family in Georgia, and later became the states governor. We at USDA have been working on different types of climate adaptability for a long time and continue to do that. So, well continue to do that as we go forward. Climates have been around with us for many, many years. As a personal example, growing up on a farm, we had a major drought in 1954, a major flood in 1993, and a hurricane in 2018. So, Ive seen climate change and will continue to see climate change.

Perdue touted the work of Benson Hill to help the genetic capacity of crops adapt to that kind of climate change, earlier, and mentioned separate efforts from USDA to work with companies on promoting soil health, in order to have soil act as a sink for storing carbon, instead of a source of emissions.

For years, the Trump administration has censored, dismissed, or denied climate science, while rolling back fuel economy standards, chopping a key methane rule for oil and gas companies, and pledging to leave international climate plans.

But, in February, Perdue told reporters that he was open to putting a price on carbon emissions, particularly as a financial tool for farmers to innovate and adjust their practices  a suggestion that broke ranks with others throughout the executive branch. That same month, the newly released USDA Science Blueprint identified climate adaptation as one of five key focuses for the departments scientists from 2020 to 2025.

During his stop in St. Louis, Perdue also addressed the controversial weedkiller, dicamba, which has torn a rift in the agriculture community in recent years. Though the chemical has been around for decades, it has risen to newfound prominence as weeds develop resistance to old standbys, like Roundup, and as farmers adopt new seed varieties introduced by Creve Coeur-based agriculture giant Monsanto that are genetically engineered to tolerate the herbicide. The trait allows those growers to safely spray their own fields with the chemical, but its tendency to vaporize and move off-target has put other nearby crops at risk of damage, leading to complaints on millions of acres of farmland nationwide. A federal appeals court banned sales of the chemical earlier this year.

But Perdue on Monday insisted there was a way for dicamba to safely coexist with other forms of agriculture.

We think there is a way, from a biological perspective, to be safe in that product, said Perdue. But unfortunately, courts have gotten into the science business, there.

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New Delhi, Sep 23 : The Bar Council of Delhi has issued summons to advocate Prashant Bhushan to appear before it next month and also asked why disciplinary proceedings should not be initiated against him to revoke his enrolment as a lawyer in view of his conviction by the Supreme Court for his contemptuous tweets.

"You are required to appear in person or through an authorised advocate on your behalf on October 23 at 4 P.M. in the office of the Council for personal hearing. You may appear physically or through virtual conferencing as suited to you," Delhi's bar body wrote in a letter dated September 21.

The activist-lawyer has also been directed to send his response, within 15 days, after the letter's receipt as to why "disciplinary proceedings may not be initiated against him under Sections 24A and 35A of the Advocates' Act, 1961 for his tweets and in view of the contempt of court verdict." "In case the Council does not receive any reply or response from you (Bhushan) within the aforesaid time period, it will be taken that you do not wish to file the reply. In case you do not choose to appear before the Council on the date fixed, the proceedings shall be taken ex-parte," it added.

The state Bar Council grants a license to a person to practice as a lawyer and has powers to either suspend or take away this right of its members, under certain situations, under the Advocates Act.

Bhushan, who is enrolled as an advocate under the Bar Council of Delhi, acknowledged receiving the notice on his Twitter account on Wednesday.

"Now the Bar Council's notice on the basis of the SC order on my 'Contempt'! It cites Sec 24A of the Advocates Act which says that an Advocate will not be enrolled if convicted for an offence of moral turpitude. For the Bar Council, Contempt by critical comment is moral turpitude!" Bhushan wrote in a tweet.

A bench headed by Justice Aruna Mishra (since retired) and comprising B.R. Gavai and Krishna Murari had convicted Bhushan for two of his tweets against the judiciary and imposed a fine of Re 1 on him.

The Bar Council of Delhi shot the letter to the lawyer after the Bar Council of India asked it to examine the conviction of Bhushan and proceed as per law.

The BCI resolution had said: "The General Council of the Bar Council of India has unanimously resolved to direct the Bar Council of Delhi, where Prashant Bhushan is enrolled as an Advocate, to examine the matter and proceed as per law and rules to decide the same as expeditiously as possible." The apex bar council had said it is of the view that the tweets and statements made by Bhushan and verdict of the apex court need thorough study and examination by the Bar Council in the light of statutory duties, powers and functions conferred on it under the Advocates Act, 1961.
The faces are from across Canada, but photographer Yuri Dojcs black and white photographs arent just portraits. Theyre a genealogical survival story.

Opening Saturday at the Niagara Falls History Museum, North is Freedom shows the descendants of slaves who fled the United States for Canada before the Civil War. About 30,000 people came to Canada via the Underground Railroad, settling in places like Niagara, Windsor and as far away as the Manitoba border.

Among the people he photographed was Niagaras resident black historian Wilma Morrison, who died of COVID-19 earlier this year.

We were able to work with Yuri to create a bit of a special tribute at Wilmas portrait, says museum curator Suzanne Moase. We have a few of Wilmas personal items on display.

I feel like everybody in Niagara Falls had an opportunity to know or know of Wilma. For the locals, its an extra reason to come, for people to come and say hello to Wilma.

Dojcs show was commissioned four years ago by the Canadian Embassy in Washington and has been seen in Ottawa, Halifax, Owen Sound and Chatham.

To mark its Niagara debut, Dojc gave the museum permission to add a local element with And We Rise, a collection of images, audio and artifacts from the massive anti-racism rally held in Niagara Falls on June 6. Organized by local resident Sherri Darlene, the peaceful demonstration saw thousands of people marching in response to the death of George Floyd, the Minneapolis black man who died in police custody while an officer was pressing a knee into his neck.

While the museum specializes in the past, Moase says items from current events are always being added to the collection.

Its pretty important for museum professionals right now to be recognizing that its our job sometimes to get out of the way, says Moase, so other voices can be heard and tell their story.

This is really Sherri Darlenes exhibition.

North is Freedom and And We Rise can be seen at the Niagara Falls History Museum (5810 Ferry Street) from Sept. 26 to Jan. 10.
5StarWines - the Book 2021 hot off the press By distributing 5StarWines - the Book (...) around the world, we guarantee visibility of the wines featured. Some of the award-winning wineries with the highest scores overall have already experienced an increase in online sales with some of the superlative wines selling out.

The agile version of the blind wine tasting took place with judges performing their duties from home, as restrictions on international travel due to the spread of Covid-19 set significant limitations on gatherings such as 5StarWines & Wine Without Walls. The event was thus reshaped and modified to be safely completed, its end product a guide, in both digital and paperback format, featuring 847 top wines from around the world.

In the words of Daniele Cernilli: As well as demonstrating how to adapt to the needs of our times, the agile mode introduced, for the first time, a new system of carrying out a complex tasting in all its forms, first and foremost dictated by the involvement of dozens of people in various countries and around the world and [which] involved the evaluation of over two thousand samples. Cernilli was accompanied by esteemed judges Pedro Ballesteros Torres MW, Robert Joseph, Monty Waldin, Bernard Burtschy, and another 52 international judges.

This years guide represents an important marketing tool. Each of the wines earning a score sufficient for inclusion is presented along with technical characteristics, tasting notes, and information about the winery. By distributing 5StarWines - the Book throughout our community of buyers, wine experts, and wine lovers around the world, we guarantee visibility of the wines featured. Some of the award-winning wineries with the highest scores overall have already experienced an increase in online sales with some of the superlative wines selling out. The 5StarWines team is currently in the process of sending guides and diplomas to participating wineries, producers, and judges.

By featuring in 5StarWines - the Book, wines not only gain visibility through the guide itself, but they also star on the Wine-Searcher website - the number one search engine dedicated to wine - opening doors to a whole new and diverse customer base. find out more at: https://www.wine-searcher.com/critics-46-5starwines+-+the+book+-+vinitaly.

5StarWines & Wine Without Walls also gives awarded wines the chance to participate in dedicated B2B encounters during the wine2wine 2020 Business Forum, a two-day conference designed to give participants the latest market insights and strategic networking opportunities. Selected international buyers will be involved in one-to-one meetings with producers with the goal of creating international business opportunities.

Moreover, an ongoing social media campaign features on all 5StarWines channels (Instagram @5StarWines, Twitter @5StarWines, Facebook @5StarWines - the Book, LinkedIn @5StarWines - the Book), with a dedicated post for each and every wine featured in the guide. Posts consist of a special graphic featuring the wine bottle, tasting notes, information about the winery, and technical information about the selected wine.

The Italian Wine Podcast has also recognized the highest scoring wines from this year's blind tasting event, with host Monty Waldin dedicating an episode to each trophy winner in the form of an interview. Monty managed to uncover the stories behind these special labels and helped listeners get to know the people behind the production of the wines we love.

While publication of the Guide wraps up the process of the blind tasting itself, many associated initiatives and activities are just beginning. As Stevie Kim, Chief Content Officer of the Selection and Managing Director of Vinitaly International, explains: After the guide has been produced, still the work continues throughout the year with wine-searcher listings, special B2B moments during the events organized by Veronafiere, both in Verona and abroad, and promoting trophy winners and selected wineries through social media.

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About: 5StarWines  the Book is the annual wine selection organized by Veronafiere, held in the lead-up to the biggest Italian wine fair in the world. The event is now in its fourth edition. 5StarWines & Wine Without Walls is a blind tasting aimed at shedding light on wineries investing in the improvement of their products. During the event, a highly qualified panel of wine professionals will taste and scoreusing a 100-point scaleparticipating wines. In this edition, over 2000 bottles took part in the competition and 847 were selected for inclusion in 5StarWines  the Book. The Guide is a useful tool both on the promotional and commercial side. It introduces international buyers and wine lovers to new wine products of great value. It guarantees wine quality and it maintains and certifies their value at an international level.
(Natural News) Scientists from China are working on a vaccine candidate for the coronavirus that will deliver the vaccine as a nasal spray. The vaccine candidate  already greenlit by Beijing for phase I human testing  was developed by researchers from Xiamen University and the University of Hong Kong, together with the manufacturer Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy.

The delivery of the new vaccine candidate may seem novel, but the government has already approved an intranasal spray vaccine for the flu. The nasal spray vaccine, also known as live attenuated influenza vaccine or LAIV, has been approved for use among children, as well as adults who prefer to avoid the more common needle injections.

Currently, scientists around the world have been trying to create nasal sprays as an alternative to injections for vaccines.

Spray to keep coronavirus at bay

The new intranasal vaccine is the 10th vaccine candidate from China to move forward to clinical trials. The country is looking to make headway in vaccine development, especially with AstraZeneca having to briefly pause its trials last week after a woman in the U.K. showed symptoms of spinal inflammation. Those clinical trials have since been allowed to continue after getting approval from the U.K.s Medicines Health Regulatory Authority.

The spray  which contains the weakened form of the virus and genetic material from the coronaviruss spike protein  is administered through the nasal tract. The route of administration is similar to how SARS-CoV-2  the virus responsible for COVID-19  infects the body, as well as how the virus stimulates the bodys immune response against the pathogen, according to Science and Technology Daily, a paper affiliated with Chinas Ministry of Science and Technology.

The scientists hope that administering the vaccine through the nose increases its chances of stopping the deadly virus in the respiratory tract. To note, a needle jab can create a systemic response, wherein antibodies circulate through the blood to all parts of the body. In the case of a respiratory virus like SARS-CoV-2, the infection may take hold even before systemic immunity kicks in.

The Science and Technology Daily paper also reported that preclinical studies in vivo showed that the nasal vaccine can significantly reduce lung damage in those who get infected with COVID-19.

A race to develop the first vaccine

The nasal spray is just one of 35 vaccine candidates worldwide that are now in clinical trials. Currently, three vaccine candidates are in late-stage testing in the U.S.  AstraZeneca and the University of Oxfords AZD1222, Pfizer and BioNTechs BNT162b2 and Modernas MRNA-1273. Its worth noting that AstraZeneca and Moderna both received funding from the government through the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority for developing the candidate and securing supply deals for the vaccines. While Pfizer and BioNTech did not get funding from the U.S., the two companies did agree to provide 100 million doses of their vaccine in a deal worth nearly $2 billion. (Related: U.S. agrees to buy 100 million doses of experimental coronavirus vaccine from Pfizer in $2 billion deal.)

Meanwhile, Chinas most advanced vaccine developers have touted the safety of their own vaccines. In an article published in Science and Technology Daily, the state-owned China National Biotec Group said that diplomats and workers did not report adverse effects months after receiving the vaccines. CanSino Biologics, another Chinese vaccine developer, said that their military-backed vaccine is safe and has not caused serious side effects.

Despite inoculating tens of thousands with experimental vaccine candidates that have not completed standard testing procedures, neither company has released official data on the matter. Experts have also raised concerns about the procedure, saying the needle jabs are very problematic and that it was impossible to judge efficacy without a clinical trial standard control group. In addition, the China-developed vaccines appear to produce fewer antibodies than those of their competitors, including AstraZeneca and Moderna.

China has had over 90,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and around 4,700 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Pandemic.news has more on the Wuhan coronavirus.

Sources include:

Bloomberg.com

CNBC.com

NPR.org

Fool.com

USNews.com
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Linkedin Josh Smith and Hyonhee Shin (Reuters) Seoul, South Korea  Wed, September 23, 2020 08:43 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c468ef16 2 World South-Korea,Moon-Jae-In,UN,UN-General-Assembly,coronavirus,COVID-19,pandemic,North-Korea Free

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 neighboring 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 US 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 denuclearization 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.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison pleaded with Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews to take up to 1000 Australian defence personnel to help with clinical efforts and contact tracing as the number of the state's coronavirus cases spiralled out of control in July.

A series of letters between the pair, released to Sky News Australia under freedom of information laws, detail the pressure Mr Morrison placed on the Premier to accept support from the Australian Defence Force.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison wrote to Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews several times in July offering him Australian Defence Force personnel to help with the coronavirus outbreak. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Mr Morrison detailed his concerns on July 4, prior to Melbourne going into full lockdown when cases reached 108 during a sharp spike.

"The Commonwealth stands ready to provide any support needed on top of the existing measures in place, including Australian Defence Force support to support planning and logistics, and Commonwealth staff to support clinical efforts, community engagement and contact tracing," Mr Morrison wrote according to the report.
The National flag carrier of Azerbaijan starting to operate special flights from Baku to two more cities of Turkey - Ankara, and Antalya.

The flights to the capital of Turkey, Ankara, are scheduled to be operated from September 28, twice a week, on Mondays and Saturdays.

Special flights to Antalya will be operated on Wednesdays starting from September 30.

To recap, AZAL continues to operate flights to Istanbul 11 times per week.

Ticket booking for all Turkey directions is open on the official website of the airline (www.azal.az), as well as in the airline's accredited agencies.

According to the rules applied to the special flights operated during the COVID-19 pandemic, only passengers tested negative for COVID-19 will be allowed to board the flights.

The list of Baku laboratories accredited by the Management Union of Medical Territorial Units (TABIB) can be found at https://www.azal.az/en/information/covid-clinics.

When departing from Turkey, passengers can pass the COVID-19 test in one of the Memorial Saglk Grubu clinics or other clinics from the list available on the website of the Ministry of Health of Turkey.

Following the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan, all passengers arriving by these flights in Baku will have to self-isolate for two weeks. For this, during the flight, they will need to fill out a declaration indicating the address of residence at which they can self-insolate.

It should be noted that on flights operated during the COVID-19 pandemic, special rules apply both at the airports of departure and arrival and onboard the aircraft. Azerbaijan Airlines prepared a video instruction available on YouTube.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
How will emerging technologies such as 5G, facial recognition, and telehealth impact the future of the United States? The App Economy Conference (AppCon) is an annual event that aims to answer this question. Previous AppCons brought together Americas top mobile innovators and political leaders in Washington, D.C. to discuss the most pressing issues facing technology and society in the near future. Due to COVID-19, this years event is completely virtual.

The four-week-long conference is being held by ACT, the App Association. ACT is an international organization that represents more than 5,000 small- and medium-sized tech companies across the $1.7 trillion mobile economy. By connecting the tech industrys top leaders with preeminent policymakers, ACT strives to drive smart innovation and regulation.

Among the cohort of tech business leaders joining AppCon 2020 is Marc Fischer, CEO and Co-Founder of Dogtown Media, a Los Angeles-based mobile app development company. Fischer is attending as a representative of California.

In past AppCons, Fischer had the opportunity to 5Gs future in rural areas with FCC Commissioner Michael ORielly and Director Ajit Pai, lowering chronic health condition costs via telehealth with Congressman Joseph Kennedy III and Senator Amy Klobuchar, and accelerating American AI innovation with the White Houses Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). Fischer hopes to have similar fruitful and productive discussions this year.

The first week of AppCon 2020 will focus on improving 5G and broadband connectivity for rural and urban communities. More than 20 million Americans currently lack adequate access to broadband connections, causing the digital divide to grow into a chasm. Political and tech leaders will explore the benefits of broadband mapping, 5G deployment, and utilizing television white spaces (TVWS) to address this issue.

AppCon 2020s second week will concentrate on connected healthcare technologies. Telehealth has proven to be an invaluable tool during the COVID-19 pandemic. During these sessions, AppCon 2020 attendees will examine the recent results of temporarily lifting U.S. telemedicine restrictions, removing reimbursement restrictions for digital health tools, and the WEAR IT Act.

In the third week of AppCon 2020, political leaders and ACT members will discuss current issues regarding privacy legislation and the need for ubiquitous end-to-end encryption. Theyll also tackle one of the most timely issues of the last few months: facial recognition. AppCon attendees will delve into the implications of this technology for the near and far future.

AppCon 2020 will close out its fourth and final week with a discussion focusing on platform regulations. This includes antitrust, Wi-Fi standards regulations, Bluetooth, Internet of Things device chips, and more.

After four years of meeting with political leaders on Capitol Hill, Fischer and ACTs other members feel that progress is being made in the right direction. While virtual, this years AppCon carries immense potential to help ensure that positive policy change is enacted for many of the technologies emerging in society today.

Based in Venice Beach, Dogtown Media is a mobile technology studio that leverages disruptive design strategies and dynamic development to deliver industry-leading apps. To date, the company has created over 200 mobile apps in industries including Healthcare app development, IoT, and Artificial Intelligence. The firm has also been featured on the Inc. 5000 List of Fastest-Growing Companies in America for three years in a row.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 00:59:58|Editor: huaxia

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Chinese President Xi Jinping has a videoconference with United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 23, 2020. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

BEIJING, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had a videoconference on Wednesday.

Xi urged the international community to reaffirm their support for multilateralism and abiding commitment to the UN Charter.

Noting that COVID-19 is still ravaging the world, Xi said China firmly supports the key leadership of the UN system, especially the World Health Organization, in battling the pandemic.

China also firmly supports the UN system in strengthening international cooperation in COVID-19 prevention and containment, Xi added.

The Chinese president said China will honor its commitment to make COVID-19 vaccines a global public good after putting them into use following the completion of vaccine development.

China will contribute to the vaccine accessibility and affordability in developing countries, Xi said.

Noting the emergence of many new problems amid the pandemic, Xi said these problems are in a way or another related to peace and development.

He said the UN Security Council should play the role of a collective security mechanism and the Security Council permanent members should play an exemplary role.

Pursuing unilateralism and seeking hegemony are unpopular and will surely be rejected, he added.

Xi said the COVID-19 pandemic has magnified the problems of maladaptation and mismatch in the global governance system. However, all parties should think about how to improve it, instead of tearing it down and setting up another one.

In the world, there is only one system, namely the UN-centered international system, and only one set of rules -- the basic norms of international relations based on the UN Charter, Xi said.

"China never pursues ideological confrontation, advocates 'decoupling' or seeks hegemony," Xi said.

He also said China will not sit idly by and allow its national sovereignty, dignity and development space to be undermined. Instead, China will firmly safeguard its legitimate rights and interests and uphold international equity and justice.

The Chinese president called on all countries to rise above differences between countries, nationalities, cultures and ideologies to promote building a community with a shared future for humanity.

During the videoconference, Guterres expressed his gratitude over China's consistent and firm support for multilateralism and the UN.

Guterres highly commended a series of important initiatives and measures Xi announced at the UN General Assembly in spheres of practicing multilateralism, coping with climate change and promoting sustainable development.

He also expressed his support for China's efforts to push for jointly building a Silk Road of Green Development.

Guterres said the UN supports China in deepening cooperation with Africa and developing countries, and the UN hopes to continue strengthening cooperation with China and expects China to play a leading role.
Massachusetts residents who travel to Maine no longer need to quarantine or produce a negative coronavirus test, Maine Gov. Janet Mills announced Wednesday.

This summer, as the positive test rate in Massachusetts remained around 1%, Massachusetts officials and residents questioned why residents were still facing travel restrictions when going to Maine, a popular destination for summer trips and tourism.

Protecting the health and safety of Maine people has always been our first and foremost goal, said Mills. We congratulate our friends to the south on their progress in mitigating the spread of the virus and ask them to continue to take all the appropriate precautions, as we know they will, to protect their health and safety and that of Maine people.

Maine officials said Wednesday that the decision comes after a review of public health information by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services and Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, which determined that Massachusetts now resembles exempt states like Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey in its COVID-19 prevalence and positivity rate.

Travelers from those states, as well as New Hampshire and Vermont, are also able to visit Maine without quarantining.

Recent data show that the transmission risk in Massachusetts is similar to that in Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey, said Dr. Nirav D. Shah, the director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. We still recommend that people traveling from those states to Maine take advantage of readily available testing options as the best way to ensure the safety of Maine residents and visitors.

Though, Mills' administration said travelers are still recommended to get a test before visiting Maine.

Massachusetts visitors play a key role in our tourism economy, said Maine Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Heather Johnson. We are hopeful for a strong fall tourism season as well as a robust ski season, and we are looking forward to Massachusetts residents being able to safely visit Maine.

Anyone traveling from states not on Maines exempt list must show a recent negative coronavirus test or quarantine for 14 days.

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Insurance Business is proud to present Australias Top Brokerages  exemplary industry players who have focused on providing value to their clients and have triumphed over the past years unprecedented events and natural disasters.

These brokerages stepped up to lead their clients and the industry to face various challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic, Black Summer bushfires, hail, and drought, while pioneering innovations, establishing new trends, and setting the standard for best practice. They took these challenges as opportunities to reboot tech systems, reconnect with clients, and develop more innovative and valuable products and platforms.
Ltd, the world's largest miner, has finalised contracts for heavy earth moving equipment worth over Rs 5,900 crore to ramp up production, its Chairman Pramod Agrawal said on Wednesday.

The miner is also planning a capex of Rs 10,000 crore during the current fiscal.

Early this year, the company had said it was looking at spending around Rs 7,000 crore on heavy equipment to bolster production.

"Heavy earth moving machinery worth over Rs 5900 crore has been finalised for augmentation of coal production and improving age profile of equipment," Agrawal told shareholders at the annual general meeting.

To make a quantum jump in output, Mine Development and Operator (MDO) documents for open cast and underground mines have also been finalised with valuable input from all stakeholders approved by the CIL board, he said.

Four tenders have already been floated, of which three are for Central Coalfields and one for Mahanadi Coalfields with 20-25 years of contract period.

Tenders for 10 more mines would be floated shortly, and the documents for abandoned mines are under review to make use of advanced technology to augment production further, he said in his address.

Eighteen mining project reports have been cleared by and subsidiary last fiscal with a rated capacity of 132.04 million tonne per annum and sanctioned capital of Rs 21,244.55 crore.

The Kolkata-headquartered mining major has set a production target of 650-660 million tonne in the 2020-21 fiscal as against 602 million tonne a year ago.
Chandigarh, Sep 23 : Amid apprehensions of oxygen shortages with rising coronavirus cases, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to direct urgent steps to ensure adequate supplies from other states, and also sought expeditious release of Rs 200 crore the state had requested as the next tranche of central aid for Covid-19 management.

With experts warning of possible aggravation of Covid conditions due to stubble burning, the Chief Minister also reiterated his demand for fiscal aid by the Centre to farmers for defraying the cost on management of paddy straw.

Though the state government is launching an aggressive media campaign to educate farmers and people in general, giving the linkage with Covid, it was imperative for the government of India to step in with the Rs 100 per quintal compensation the state has been seeking for the farmers to manage the paddy straw.

During a virtual meet with Prime Minister Modi, the Chief Minister further urged him to direct the Chief Controllers of Explosives, Nagpur, to clear the licence request for establishment of a liquid medical oxygen plant at Government Medical College, Patiala, by HLL India Ltd, under the PM Swasthya Suraksha Yojna (PMSSY).

The meeting was also attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, besides the Chief Ministers of six other states.

These seven states -- Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Punjab, currently contributed 62 per cent of the total Covid-19 cases in the country.

The Prime Minister, while promising to look into the Chief Minister's requests, suggested that the state government should strengthen its Covid awareness efforts by involving the civil society even more aggressively and making announcements from gurudwaras and other religious places.

He expressed confidence that Punjab would be able to reduce the positivity rate to less than 5 per cent and bring down the covid fatality rate (CFR).

Noting that government and private hospitals in Punjab could end up facing shortage of medical oxygen supply due to the late surge of Covid cases, Amarinder informed the Prime Minister that with no manufacturers of medical oxygen, the state was dependent largely on three big manufacturers for liquid oxygen.

These are at Baddi (Himachal Pradesh), Dehradun (Uttarakhand) and Panipat (Haryana), but the Dehradun and Panipat plants are not supplying oxygen as per the state's demand, he said, adding that the Panipat plant can supply more oxygen if supply to Panipat refinery is curtailed.

His government, on its part, was in talks with industry to convert industrial oxygen to medical oxygen.

On the fiscal package, the Chief Minister said the government of India has released Rs 131.22 crore from the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, and after submitting a utilisation certificate for the whole amount, the state had requested the government of India for immediate release of Rs 200 crore, which is awaited.

Updating the Prime Minister on the state's Covid situation, Amarinder said the last 3-4 weeks had seen a surge in cases, and on an average in the past week, around 2,400-2,500 cases and around 55-60 deaths were reported daily.

The main concern, he said, was the case fatality ratio, which remains high at 2.9 per cent despite some reduction in the past one week.
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.
Diane Kruger didn't miss an opportunity to showcase her stellar style while out and about in LA on Tuesday.

The German actress looked chic as can be wearing an all black ensemble during a stop by a Bristol Farms grocery store.

There, Diane, 44, put her slender stems on display donning a dark babydoll dress with long, puffed sleeved and a high neckline.

What a doll! Diane Kruger looked chic as ever while wearing a flirty black babydoll dress during a trip to the grocery store on Tuesday

While the frock was fairly conservative up top, the daring hemline gave people something to talk about.

Kruger, who shares a nearly two-year-old daughter with partner Norman Reedus, completed the leggy look with lace-up boots and a monochrome mask with stripes.

The Inglourious Basterds actress swept her golden tresses out of her face and into a low bun. Not needing much makeup, Diane had a natural glow to her skin.

Boot-iful: Kruger completed the leggy look with lace-up boots and a monochrome mask with stripes

After stocking up on supplies, Kruger made her way back to her family.

Diane and partner of four-years Norman welcomed a baby girl back in November of 2018.

But the very private couple have tried their hardest to keep their daughter out of the spotlight, not even sharing the tot's name with the public.

Family: Diane and partner of four-years Norman welcomed a baby girl back in November of 2018. They're seen in 2016 above

While the little girl is Kruger's first child, Reedus is already father to son Mingus Lucien, 20, from his prior relationship with Danish supermodel Helena Christensen.

Diane, for her part, has been in past relationships with Dawson's Creek star Joshua Jackson, and was married to French actor Guillaume Canet from 2001 to 2006.

The National Treasure star will next be seen on the big screen in 355, a spy thriller costarring Jessica Chastain, Sebastian Stan and Penelope Cruz.

As of now, it's expected January 15th, 2021.
VICTORIABritish Columbias top doctor said shes received death threats in her role as a public figure during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry told a panel discussion at the annual convention of the Union of B.C. Municipalities that shes had to have security in her home and has been targeted by people who dont agree with her.

There are many people who dont like what I do  and feel quite able to send me nasty notes, leave phone calls, to harass my office staff, she said on Tuesday. Ive had to have security in my house. Ive had death threats. How do we deal with that?

Henry said 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.

I sense that people find that its OK to do that for a woman whos up front more so than some of our male leaders. But I could be wrong, she said.

The panel discussion was on leadership during the pandemic and also featured Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin and former Tsawwassen chief Kim Baird.

Henry also discussed the importance of trust and transparency in responding to crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

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.

She told the audience its important to discuss these issues when trying to mentor the next generation of leaders.

Henry is the latest female figure to talk about the abuse women in high-profile positions face.

Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna has previously spoken about the threats she and others have faced, and called for new measures to better protect Canadian politicians from threatening behaviour.

A police investigation was launched last month after someone yelled obscenities at a member of McKennas staff, with the footage posted to social media.

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Tuteras Tiffany Springs Senior Living Community  a luxury senior living community located in Kansas City, Missouri  was voted both best independent living and assisted living in the KC Northland. We are honored to have Tiffany Springs Senior Living Community recognized by popular vote among Northland residents.

Tuteras Tiffany Springs Senior Living Community  a luxury senior living community located at 9191 N. Ambassador Drive in Kansas City, Missouri  was voted both best independent living and assisted living in the Northland. As an added coup, Tiffany Springs also was voted best place to work over 50 employees in the Northland.

The Courier-Tribune and Gladstone Dispatch recently announced these honors at the conclusion of their community-driven 30th annual Best of the Northland recognition program. More than 63,000 Northland residents cast votes.

The Courier-Tribune and Gladstone Dispatch featured the Best of the Northland 2020 winners in a special print publication, as well as a digital special section on July 30, 2020. Tiffany Springs Senior Living Community won gold  the highest honor  in all three categories (best independent living, best assisted living, and best place to work over 50 employees).

Winners of this community-driven recognition were celebrated with certificates marking their achievement. The recognition continues throughout the year as Best of the Northland banners are displayed in offices, lobbies, restaurants and shops. The Best of the Northland also serves as a guide to consumers who know they can trust the endorsement of their friends and neighbors.

Tiffany Springs is Tutera Senior Living & Health Cares newest continuum-of-care community and extension to the Tiffany Springs Rehabilitation Center. The community offers upscale residential options with country club-style amenities. Tiffany Springs comprises 289,906 square feet on 4.6 beautifully landscaped acres.

We are honored to have Tiffany Springs Senior Living Community recognized by popular vote among Northland residents, said Joe Tutera, chief executive officer of Tutera. The long-standing and respected Best of the Northland contest honors and supports our community. This recognition underscores our continued commitment to creating the most luxurious and enjoyable lifestyle for area seniors, as well as providing a wonderful place to work for our employees.

The rental-based Tiffany Springs includes 37 memory care, 52 assisted living and 175 independent living residential apartment homes. Each one-bedroom, one-bedroom-plus-den and two-bedroom residence features high-end appliances, upscale finishes, high ceilings, balconies and large windows. The range of residential options are designed to meet the diverse lifestyle preferences of every senior who lives at Tiffany Springs.

About Tutera Senior Living & Health Care

Tutera Senior Living & Health Care is a locally owned, diversified post-acute senior health care provider operating 70 senior living communities in nine states throughout the country. As one of the nations premier senior care providers, Tutera Senior Living & Health Care offers its residents independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing, post-surgery rehabilitation, memory care, home health and hospice care. In 1983, Dominic F. Tutera, M.D., founded Tutera to provide compassionate patient care with the uncompromising values of integrity, accountability and commitment. Tutera Senior Living & Health Care still embodies those values today. Tutera is committed to making a positive difference in the lives of its residents and their families through senior living and health care experts who inspire and promote individuality and personal happiness. For more information, visit http://www.Tutera.com.
Boxes of Uncle Ben's rice are displayed on a shelf at a Safeway store in San Anselmo, Calif., on June 17, 2020. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Uncle Bens Getting New Name Due to Inequities Linked to Rice Brand

Mars Inc. is changing the Uncle Bens rice brand because of inequities linked to the brand.

Uncle Bens will be known as Bens Original, signaling the brands ambition to create a more inclusive future while maintaining its commitment to producing the worlds best rice, according to a press release from the company.

Over the last several weeks, we have listened to thousands of consumers, our own associates, and other stakeholders from around the world, Fiona Dawson, global president of Mars Food, said in a statement.

We understand the inequities that were associated with the name and face of the previous brand, and as we announced in June, we have committed to change.

A Mars spokesperson said in June that the company was evaluating the brand.

As a global brand, we know we have a responsibility to take a stand in helping to put an end to racial bias and injustices, the spokesperson said at the time. We recognize that one way we can do this is by evolving the Uncle Bens brand, including its visual brand identity.

Uncle Bens featured a black man with white hair, wearing a suit.

The character was based on a rice farmer from Houston, Texas, whose rice farm regularly won awards because of the quality of the crop, according to the Museum of Public Relations.

Gordon Harwell, who later became president of Uncle Bens, was dining in Chicago when he saw a man whose face is now known as Uncle Ben. He decided to name the brand after the deceased farmer.

Mars says on its website that the company entered the rice category in 1942 with a new commercial rice parboiling plant in Houston. The company later became known as Uncle Bens.

Marss decision comes as other companies decide to drop brands that some believe are racist.

Quaker Foods in July said it was renaming Aunt Jemima, a brand whose origins are based on a racial stereotype, a spokesperson said. Land OLakes retired Mia, a Native American woman who served as the companys logo. And Cream of Wheat was reviewing its packaging.

The company plans on launching community outreach programs and assistance for culinary entrepreneurs with the help of the National Urban League.

Brands have an important role to play as we continue to navigate this moment of reconciliation regarding racial justice, diversity, and inclusion, Marc Morial, president and CEO of the league, said in a statement released by Mars.

Were proud to partner with Bens Original as they evolve and embark on a new path with a new purpose, providing black communities here and abroad with more equitable opportunities in education and business.
US amending trade pact to reduce dependence on Russian uranium

The US Department of Commerce last week announced the initiation of a draft amendment to the suspension of an agreement on uranium from the State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom (Rosatom) of the Russian Federation.

This amendment, if finalised, will extend the agreement to 2040 and reduce US reliance on uranium from Russia during that time period, the commerce department stated in a release.

Under the current agreement, Russian uranium exports are limited to approximately 20 per cent of US enrichment demand. Under the amended agreement, this figure would drop to an average of approximately 17 per cent over the next 20 years and would be no higher than 15 per cent starting in 2028.

The agreement suspending the antidumping investigation on uranium from the Russian Federation was originally signed in 1992.

This draft agreement represents an important step forward for the American nuclear industry, said commerce secretary Wilbur Ross. If finalised, it will contribute to the restoration of Americas nuclear energy advantage and protect the domestic industry from dumped Russian uranium.

The draft amendment would strengthen existing protections for the US commercial enrichment industry. By extending and reducing the agreements export limits, the draft amendment would enable the US commercial enrichment industry to compete on fair terms.

Under the current agreement, Russia can use its entire export quota for the sale of not only the enrichment component of the low-enriched uranium (LEU), but also the natural uranium concentrates and conversion components of the LEU. By contrast, the amended agreement would allow only a portion of the export quota to be used for the sale of the natural uranium components (concentrates and conversion) from Russia. On average, this portion will be equivalent to approximately 7 per cent of US enrichment demand, and no higher than 5 per cent starting in 2026. This, according to commerce department, would establish unprecedented protections for US uranium miners and the US uranium converter.

Under the current agreement, foreign origin returned feed (ie, natural uranium delivered by US customers to the Russian exporter, in exchange for enriched uranium) can be delivered to the Russian exporter, enriched in Western Europe, and then exported to the United States outside the agreements export limits, which is prejudicial to US uranium miners. The amended agreement would require foreign origin returned feed that is enriched in third countries to be subject to the agreements export limits if exported back to the United States.

The amended agreement, however, would allow for the fulfilment of US customers pre-existing contracts for Russian uranium. There are US companies that have contracts to purchase uranium from Russia before the commerce department launched negotiations to extend the agreement beyond 2020. The limits in the agreement are structured to enable the majority of these contracts to be fulfilled.

Commerce department said it would be releasing the draft amendment for public comment by evening of 28 September 2020. The department is seeking to finalise an amendment to the agreement not later than 5 October 2020, which would enable it to avoid possible termination of the agreement and resumption of the underlying suspended antidumping investigation of uranium from Russia.
From an IT student to the co-creator of one of the biggest movie hits of Vietnams visual effects industry, The First Swallows, Nguyen Le Hoangs journey has been marked by hard work, passion and dedication.

BROUGHT TO LIFE: Nguyen Le Hoang (left) is now living his dream as a visual effects supervisor at Duy Tan Universitys Silver Swallows Studio. Photo by Duy Tan University

The career of the 31-year-old graphic artist reached a new high in April, when he won the Foxs Got Talent contest organised by Fox Renderfarm -- a famous global tech company. Behind the success, though, was a huge amount of effort that inspired Vietnams entire graphic design industry. Viet Nam News reporter Hoang Ho sat down with Hoang to talk about his career.

Congratulations on the award. How did you feel?

I was very happy because it was the first time I had received an international award. When I entered the contest I never expected to win, because the other entries were outstanding and came from people who are famous within the graphic design industry.

When the organisers told me I had won the April Foxs Got Talent competition, it caught me by surprise.

What was the inspiration behind your idea of creating white cliffs? How much time and effort did you put into it?

I worked on it for a week, including brainstorming. The original idea was simple. The inspiration for me to do it started with the Pixar movie Up. But to tell a visual story, I had to create the cliffs, the grass, and the flowers in the most realistic way possible.

There are real white cliffs in New Zealand, which I re-created in 3D.

All of the details, from the trees, the grass, and stones to the houses and the doors were all created by hand. The white cliffs were the most difficult. I had to carefully create cliffs that both looked real and expressed my idea, which was the depiction of a peaceful scene from childhood.

IMAGINEERING: Nguyen Le Hoang studied IT but has pursued his passion for visual effects. Photo courtesy of Nguyen Le Hoang

Can you tell us more about your career? Why are you so into graphics? How did you learn how to do it and then practise it?

Ive been passionate about graphics since I was young. I always felt excited when watching a movie with visual effects (VFX) or 3D graphics. Later, when I studied information technology, I found it was very much related to graphics, because modern graphics rely on computers a great deal.

The reason I chose graphics was because its my major passion, and I also wanted to be involved in the production of films using VFX and 3D effects.

I was fortunate to be involved in The First Swallows, which re-creates the history of Vietnams first air battle against the US air force and uses 3D graphics produced by Duy Tan University.

What can you tell us about the movie?

Its about the first battle the Vietnamese air force fought against the US air force. The battle resulted in many deaths on both sides. But, importantly, Vietnam showed its ability against the well-equipped and well-trained US airmen.

The idea was first mooted by Duy Tan Universitys principal Le Nguyen Bao six years ago. Production, conceptualisation, and documentation then took three years.

The film received great support from viewers. Some people even wanted to donate money, because they didnt expect that a university could produce such a well-made film.

What have been some of the highlights in your career?

A lot of my time has been devoted to this film. The most memorable graphic I created during those six years was probably the MIG 17 aircraft, which was used by the Vietnamese air force in those first battles. That is probably the most indelible mark Ive left in my career.

The creation of graphics is a meaningful endeavour. They can be hugely inspiring for the community and enable the re-creation of what was previously only in our imagination, even the craziest of ideas.

Graphic design is always evolving, so we must continue to learn and change in order to stay abreast of its development.

What are your thoughts on Vietnams visual effects industry? What do you expect in the future?

The local visual effects industry is still quite limited in terms of talent and the conditions needed to build a team for productions with visual effects. It takes a massive amount of time, money, and effort. And human resources must be well trained. The visual effects community in Vietnam is small, and people mainly pursue it as a passion.

The studio and the university are proud of the films success and plan to continue with other productions.

The film is a tribute to Vietnamese history and has received good reviews for its graphics. This gives me hope that the local graphic design industry has the capacity to develop in the future.

The crew has a second film in mind, and thats the focus of my future plans. VNS

85 percent of articles in international publications are from education sector A new study by Duy Tan University found that 12,307 articles in international publications in 2019 can be found at Vietnamese addresses, 85 percent of which were by researchers in the educational sector.
Rumors have been making the rounds that senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Eknath Khadse is likely to jump ship and join the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). On Wednesday, NCP chief Sharad Pawar held a meeting with leaders from Jalgaon district, the hometown of the BJP leader.

Pawar allegedly discussed the pros and cons of bringing Khadse in to the party fold. However, state NCP chief Jayant Patil said the meeting did not involve any discussion on Khadse. There was no discussion related to Eknath Khadse. The meeting was called to discuss irrigation projects of the district, Patil told reporters.

Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, state NCP president, Anil Patil, NCP MLA from Amalner and former minister Gulabrao Deokar were present for the meeting.

Khadse, the former revenue minister, was sidelined by the BJP after he was made to resign from the post following allegations of graft and conflict of interest in a land deal near Pune in 2016. Earlier, there were rumors that he would join Congress.
E arlier this month landlords saw encouraging signs that workers were starting to return to London offices. There was no big recovery and property giants were not claiming floods of people were back at desks they had not seen since the Covid-19 lockdown started in March. But, occupancy levels were gradually improving at buildings across the City and West End.

However, in a blow to parts of the commercial property sector, the government this week announced new measures to try and tackle a rise in coronavirus cases. The government said: To help contain the virus, office workers who can work effectively from home should do so over the winter.

That guidance will likely mean footfall remains weak in central London for shops, pubs and restaurants, and it will also cause disappointment within the property sector.

Landlords with mixed-use portfolios will be looking at low office occupancy levels, adding to pressures they may already be facing within other parts of their estate, such as retail property, where values have been hurt by the virus crisis and difficulties on the high street.

Charles Begley, executive director of London Property Alliance, which represents a number of landlords across the capital, says: It is incredibly disappointing, just as it felt we were adapting to returning to work and seeing businesses gradually trying to recover. The impact on central London is particularly acute given its reliance on office workers and visitors, and sadly many of the jobs most at risk will be lower paid ones in the service and hospitality sectors.

Dan Scanlon, chair of the City Property Association, says: The reversal in return to the office guidance will stall the capitals recovery and be a significant setback to those businesses which have worked so hard to transform their workplaces and offerings to encourage employees and visitors back into London and other cities across the UK."

Scalon, who is also senior vice president, developments at Brookfield Properties, adds: The Citys competitive advantage derives from its unique concentration of businesses and talent, complemented by an expansive infrastructure and world class retail, leisure, hospitality and cultural offering. Our offices and shared spaces allow for collaboration and connection in a way that is impossible to replicate from home."

He says that whilst the health and safety of our nation is paramount, "it is essential that government and business work together to develop a long term plan to minimise the spread of Covid-19 whilst progressing the national economy".

James Walker, head of City agency at property agent Colliers International, warns the latest guidance could impact potential deals in the short term.

He says occupiers are still taking a long term view on real estate being a fundamental part of their ecosystem, but adds that the new update might impact immediate decision making, with some choosing to defer until there is more clarity.

Walker points out that the governments measures come at a time when there was a real desire from some employees to get back to workplaces.

Some businesses have said there are many members of staff that want to be back in offices, all the time or for part of the week, as working from home is difficult for them.

Various survey results have showed some people also miss talking to colleagues face to face.

What will be frustrating for some tenants, building managers and landlords is that they have invested money in making properties Covid-secure, and now these sites will not be properly occupied. Those that had returned to offices may have seen hand sanitiser stations installed, and screens between desks, as part of efforts to promote social distancing.

Shared workspace giant WeWork is among firms that say they are more than ready to welcome back businesses to office buildings. Mathieu Proust, general manager of WeWork UK, Ireland and emerging markets, says: "We know that circumstances and everyone's needs are different, and for some working from home might not be suitable or effective, whether that's because of their role or for their wellbeing.

Proust adds: What is absolutely crucial is that those who do need to go into the office can do so in a space that is safe. We have made significant changes to our spaces to help members and employees stay safe and work as effectively as possible during this time."

Office landlord Workspaces asset management director John Robson, says: We have extensive measures in place to keep customers safe throughout our centres, including social distancing signage, one-way systems, reception screens and enhanced cleaning regimes.

Landlords remain confident there is still good demand from businesses that want to have bases in central London, but property bosses are aware that more tenants will want flexible space as they adjust to numerous staff wanting to work from home for at least part of the week.

Making it difficult for companies and staff that do want to get back to offices will leave a number of chief executives in the commerical property sector feeling very frosty towards the government.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 16:18:22|Editor: huaxia

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LAGOS, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria's organized labor is mobilizing for a general strike on Monday to protest over the federal government's refusal to reverse the hikes in electricity tariff and fuel price.

Ayuba Wabba, president of the Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC), said at a news conference in the country's capital Abuja on Tuesday that after a council meeting, the organization resolved to reject the hike in electricity tariff by almost 100 percent as well as in fuel price in the name of deregulation.

Last week, the NLC's central working committee issued a two-week ultimatum to the federal government to reverse the recent hikes in electricity tariff and fuel price, saying otherwise the country's workers may down tools.

"This decision, alongside other decisions of the government including the increase of VAT by 7.5 percent, other numerous charges by commercial banks on depositors, without any explanation will further impoverish Nigerian workers and citizenry, including their families," said the labor leader.

The moves are not only "ill-timed" but also counterproductive amid the COVID-19 pandemic, he said, adding that "Sept. 28 will be a date that those actions will be challenged by Nigerian workers, our civil society allies, and also other labor centers."

Meanwhile, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has postponed its planned nationwide protest scheduled for Wednesday till Monday.

The union decided to hold a unified protest with the NLC, said Gbenga Ekundayo, TUC chairman in Lagos on Tuesday.

Ekundayo told reporters the government and organized labor have yet to reach an agreement as regards the price of electricity and petrol.

Labor unions have been protesting the price hikes in electricity and fuel in the middle of the economic hardships from the pandemic, but authorities maintained the new rates are in the best interests of Nigerians. Enditem
This is creating down payment assistance for millennials in a time where incomes arent rising at the pace of housing prices. They may have a sizable down payment, but they dont have the paycheck to go along with that.

Noble says this is an opportunity for alternative lenders to increase their market share, as the mortgage landscape shifts. While the impact on employment and income will hopefully improve as COVID-19 releases its grasp on the economy, he says alternative lenders are in an ideal position to help Canadians through their ability to look at a borrower more holistically and offer shorter terms and flexible payout periods.

If a borrowers eligibility is compromised or affected negatively, they can look at how everything else plays into the picture because frankly, they are risking their own capital. Thats a luxury that prime lenders dont have and risks that banks cant take on, said Noble.

The role of technology

Flexibility will be the number one asset post-pandemic. Noble says there is a big opportunity for brokers to educate borrowers on the type of financing scenarios they can help with through alternative financing, to overcome the common misconception that non-prime mortgages are only for people with poor credit history. He recommends both brokers and alternative lenders leverage the right technology to better understand all the options available to borrowers during this time.

Innovation is growing hand in hand with the size of the alternative lending market, and we're only going to continue to see that, he said.
CHICAGO, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- AArete, a global management and technology consulting firm, is pleased to announce that it has acquired UK-based boutique technology consultancy Dsquaredi Pvt. Ltd. The purchase strengthens AArete's ability to deliver technology innovation to clients around the world.

Founded in 2015, Dsquaredi brings a hands-on, engineering-driven approach to each engagement. It also brings strong strategic partnerships with niche product companies in the areas of identity and access management and systems performance engineering. Dsquaredi will work closely with AArete client service teams worldwide to drive client performance improvement and transformation programs with expert and niche technology and change management consulting skills.

"This acquisition strengthens AArete's international position, as well as our ability to serve companies in the financial services industry, where Dsquaredi has carved out something of a niche," said Loren Trimble, CEO and Managing Director of AArete. "As we've seen while working on several projects together, our two companies have very similar approaches to client delivery and great overall synergy. We're very excited to go to market together as a single firm to solve the challenges that our clients around the world face."

Per the terms of the acquisition, the Dsquaredi name will be folded into AArete. Dsquaredi founder John Carey will join AArete as a managing director and report to AArete Digital and Data Services practice leader and head of international expansion, Maulik Bhagat.

"Dsquaredi's IT and change management expertise will help AArete's client services teams deliver even more effectively in technology domains like security and identity, design, the cloud and performance engineering," Carey said. "AArete shares our passion for working alongside clients to drive meaningful, long-lasting results. We're excited to join forces and help AArete continue on its growth trajectory."

Leaders from the two merging firms expressed great confidence that their clients will be very satisfied by AArete's increased scale, capabilities and reach. Financial terms of the agreement have not been disclosed.

About AArete

AArete is a global management and technology consulting firm specializing in strategic profitability improvement, digital, data analytics and advisory solutions. Our solutions are powered through modern technology and market intelligence with a bias for results. We work across all industries and business functions to optimize profits in a compressed timeframe. AArete humanizes data by translating numbers into actionable insights, helping clients make better decisions and standing by their side to foster change with confidence, empathy and purpose. For more information, visit https://www.aarete.com/.

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The company's decision to pull out of the Luxembourg project surprised the mayors of Bettembourg and Dudelange, despite their criticism of the project.

According to RTL sources, discussions on the continuation of the Greek dairy plant in Luxembourg were still being conducted by the Ministry of the Economy over the course of recent days, but turned out to be futile on Tuesday morning, as conveyed by minister Fayot himself.

The Greek investors decided to step back from the project after too much time had passed and the start of the construction was still being held back by local environmental concerns. The project was set to cost around 280 million and create 300 jobs. Following the incident, two further potential investors decided to step back from the land.

Franz Fayot said: "It's not the first project that has ended this abruptly. The talks lasted four years, which is far too long for a project like this. It must be much swifter in future. This is not a great sign for Luxembourg as a credible industrial developer, and it really is a pity. We need this industry, especially industries at the front of technological advancement that produce as ecologically friendly as possible."

Dudelange Deputy Mayor Dan Biancalana was surprised by the company's exit. Although critical about the project, he had given constructive feedback and hoped the plan would succeed.

Meanwhile, the 15 hectare real estate has already been sold back to the Luxembourgish government for the same amount as the initial transaction: 30 million.

"Companies that want to now invest or settle in Luxembourg will think twice before doing so," Bettembourg Mayor Laurent Zeimet said, in line with Fayot's opinion. "I hope we can learn from this case."

Minister of the Environment Carole Dieschbourg has stated that questioning the use of resources and maximising sustainability played a large role in the project's long delays, and must be dealt with at the start of negotiations rather than down the line.
In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic as Ireland battles an unparalleled existential crisis, it is sometimes easy to forget that just 10 years ago the country was caught up in another global fire-storm, this time an economic one.

The Irish economy ground to a halt in mid 2008 following the twin disaster of the banking crash and the collapse of the country's overheated building industry.

The damage was as devastating as it was fast and by mid 2010 the country and the county were in dire straits.

Hundreds of businesses had closed across Kerry and over 16,000 people had found themselves on the dole line, up from just 6,000 two years before. Tralee, in particular, had been ravaged and without the fall-back of tourism, the county capital was haemorrhaging jobs.

People were, very understandably, desperate for a solution and one was about to arrive from a most unusual source.

The beginnings of the Global Pharmaceutical Centre of Excellence (GPCE) project were low key. In late June 2010 a small company - GPCE Ltd - was set up and a few weeks later, on July 19, a website appeared.

While light on detail - and mainly filled with stock images and generic graphics - the site made an astonishing claim.

The company proposed building a 4.7 billion pharmaceutical research facility that would house over 40 multinational companies and create up to 5,000 jobs.

The GPCE would take the lead on global research into everything from the common cold to AIDS and cancer and was to be the largest single place of employment in the country.

It was a breath-taking proposal and, if it came to pass, it would be the answer to Tralee, Kerry and Munster's prayers.

Initially, it appeared that the people behind the project had hoped to keep their massively ambitious plans relatively quiet.

However, a plan so mind bogglingly huge was never going to stay under the radar. Within hours of the website appearing, news of the plan was spreading like wildfire, first on social media and quickly on the streets of Tralee.

It was hardly surprising that the plan was met with considerable scepticism but it soon became apparent that while the proposal was certainly bizarre it was genuine.

The Kerryman quickly learned that the main movers behind the plan were involved with Cork based generic medicine supply and delivery firm Pharmadel.

Pharmadel was headed up by businessman Tom Barry and its main Kerry connection was Rory Doyle, a Fenit native, who was Pharmadel's Vice President.

The firm may have been little known but it had some significant backers. These included the former Fine Gael leader, and then Anglo Irish Bank director, Alan Dukes - whose father hailed from Tralee - and the renowned heart surgeon Dr Maurice Neligan, who also had strong links to Kerry with a home in Dooks.

Several other firms had also given the project their backing, among them Malachy Walsh and Partners engineers; Peevers Slye Cotter accountants and architects Michael Williams and Associates.

As interest in the plan escalated - it didn't so much snowball as avalanche - politicians soon got involved. Then Enterprise Minister Batt O'Keeffe signalled his general approval and, not long after, Taoiseach Brian Cowen had given his full backing to the project pledging that the Government would do all it could to advance it.

"GPCE and its promoters Pharmadel can rely on the supportive engagement of the state enterprise agencies in their endeavours to make the project a reality and to see the benefits accrue to Ireland and beyond into the global economy," the Taoiseach said in a letter to the GPCE company and its backers..

"When detailed proposals for the project are submitted, I want to assure you that as head of government, the expertise of our state enterprise agencies will be at your disposal to assist and support you further to bring this ambitious project to fruition," Mr Cowen added.

State bodies like the IDA, Enterprise Ireland and Shannon Development were soon brought on board and, within a few months, the campaign to bring 'big pharma' to Tralee was in full swing.

One of the leading backers of the bid was the 'Kerry4GPCE' group, a collection of local business people who came together and launched a county wide campaign in support of the stunning proposal.

By the end of 2010, GPCE fever had well and truly gripped Tralee and the town was smothered in GPCE posters and flags and the project's main backers had achieved near celebrity status in the town and county.

Feted wherever they went, things were going well for Mr Doyle and Mr Barry and Tralee's unlikely GPCE dream looked as though it might just come true.

The high point for the project came in March of 2011 when the GPCE's backers and its proposed board were honoured by Kerry County Council during a two day trip to Tralee.

With Kerry County Council handing over its chambers and the visitors - from several leading international pharmaceutical firms - treated to a tour of Tralee complete with a garda escort and outriders, the event, at times, resembled a fully fledged visit by a foreign monarch.

During the visit - at a high profile meeting in the council chamber - three of the visiting firms announced the creation of 300 initial jobs. These would be the first GPCE jobs and would mark the official start of the project.

They would never actually materialise.

In truth, the two day visit in early 2011 actually revealed many major problems with the project.

These generated little discussion at the time but, in hindsight, it was clear the project had little chance of proceeding, at least as was originally planned.

The GPCE company were still seeking funding for the 4.7 billion project and negotiations with three sovereign funds, including one in Saudi Arabia, were a long way from concluding.

Furthermore, no application had been made for planning permission.

Having failed to reach an agreement with Shannon Development - the plans to build the GPCE on a site adjacent to Kerry Technology Park had been quietly shelved.

The GPCE plan had shrunk rapidly and instead of an enormous campus that would house nearly 5,000 workers, the plan became a proposal to house 200 to 300 workers in various vacant Tralee factories.

For a time the Kingdom faced competition from north of the border when the city of Derry tried to poach the GPCE from under Tralee's nose.

However, Derry's interest in the project, such as it was and soon the bid to bring the GPCE to Northern Ireland had petered out

With little sign of any real progress being made, interest soon waned in Tralee too.

The posters and flags faded and fell as it became more and more apparent that the GPCE project was doomed to fail.

Talk of the 300 jobs "announced" in March 2011 ended and the GPCE was soon all but forgotten, especially by the many politicians who had been so quick to embrace it.

In the end the GPCE died a quiet and unspectacular death.

In September 2011 - just six months after the GPCE's backers were greeted with flags and fanfares - the CEO Designate of the GPCE project Rory Doyle resigned from the position on health grounds.

Then, a little under a year later in July 2012, Pharmadel, the main corporate backers of the GPCE plan, collapsed.

The Cork firm was placed into liquidation with reported debts of close to 1 million.

Finally on January 27, 2013 GPCE Ltd, the company set up to run the project, was strike-off listed by the Companies Registration Office, bringing the grand plans for the multi billion Euro facility to a modest end.

Amid an historic depression, Tralee had dared to dream, unfortunately not even part of that dream would ever be realised.

The astonishing scale of GPCE's Tralee plans

There were many reasons to be sceptical of the GPCE's prospects of success but arguably the greatest reason for caution was the sheer scale of what was being suggested.

However, while many of those connected with the project privately expressed major doubts about the GPCE company's extraordinarily ambitious plans, there was a general unwillingness to voice those reservations publicly.

Behind the scenes though, several senior figures were advocating a more measured approach, citing the vast size of the GPCE campus proposal and the enormous pressure it would place on Tralee's already strained resources and infrastructure.

Put simply, while a 4.7 billion pharma centre complex and 5,000 new jobs would be very welcome, would Tralee have been able to cope with the influx?

Some basic figures about the plan help put this in context.

If it had been successful, the GPCE would have increased the population of Tralee and its surrounding areas by an enormous 22 per cent.

This, in turn, would have had massive implications for Kerry County Council's plans for the Tralee area. The entire Tralee Development Plan to 2020 would have had to be scrapped and started from scratch.

According to the 2020 development plan, 779 extra houses would have been needed in Tralee by 2016, if the GPCE plan went ahead that would immediately have increased to 925 houses with huge knock-on effects for every single Council service.

Then there was the campus itself. Aside from the provision of adequate power, water and waste service, the issue of parking alone was set to be a massive headache.

At the time, Kerry County Council said it was most likely the proposed centre would be classified, for planning purposes, as a mixture of office and warehouse space.

Thus the developers would need to provide two or three parking spaces per 100 square meters of floor space. That's an easy proposition for a typical development but in the case of a 1.2 million square foot facility it's a different matter.

With the average parking space measuring of 150 square feet the GPCE campus would have had to provide a car park, of between 8 and 12 acres in size to house some 3,345 cars.

Given that the site earmarked for the vast facility - adjacent to Kerry Technology Park - measured just 30 acres providing anywhere near enough parking was going to be something of a conundrum for the complex's designers.

The plan to build Ireland's largest single workplace in Tralee would have placed the county capital on the international economic map but, looking back, it's hard to see how a town of Tralee's relatively modest scale could have accommodated it.
Tertiary institution students from Ondo State under the umbrella of National Association of Ondo State Students (NAOSS) have expressed dissatisfaction over the failure of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu to pay their bursary and scholarship allowances since 2016.

The students said the stipend has now accumulated to N60 million despite meeting with the governor on the plight of indigent students.

Speaking on Tuesday at a press conference in Akure, NAOSS National President, Kikiowo Ayoade, said the last time the money was paid to the students body was in 2015 under former governor Olusegun Mimiko.

In January, we met with Governor Rotimi Akeredolu who promised the disbursement of the bursary soon. Series of letters were written to the governor since our first meeting in January to communicate our plight to him.

In August, when this promise was yet to be fulfilled, we consulted the Commissioner for Education and the management of the scholarship board. However, all these consultations failed to transition beyond the promises made. We have waited eight months since we received the promise and yet no single student of Ondo State has received payment.

While we understand the several bottlenecks of running a government, we hold our position that budgeting N60 million for students for over eight months is nothing but overdue. Payment for the bursary is overdue and students of Ondo State could be greatly relieved if it is paid at this time, he said in a statement seen by PREMIUM TIMES.

The special adviser to the governor on education matters, Olawumi Juliet, did not respond to calls and text messages for this story.
23.09.2020 LISTEN

On Wednesday, September 23rd, 2020, Mrs. Sylvia Annor the Public Relations Officer of The Electoral Commission of Ghana was on GN RADIO UK Morning Show: THE FACTS AND THE TRUTH to talk about the Voters Exhibition Exercise.

On the Show the host Dr. REN asked her if the EC is incompetent.

In answering Mrs. Sylvia Annor emphatically said NO!

When asked if she has heard the utterances made by Former President Mahama:

"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".

Mrs. Annor said the claim by Former President is NO NEWS AT ALL and that the exhibition is done to clear all anomalies in the voters register.

She further elaborated that, this is not the first time an exhibition has been done.

Everything is normal at the moment and that Ghanaians abroad shouldn't be worried as the EC is doing its mandated duty.

The question here is what is exhibition of the Voters' Register meant for?

The law provides that the voters register be exhibited for all registered voters to check and verify whether all thier details are correct with the view to rectifying all anomalies and that is what exactly the EC is doing.

So as a registered voter if you go to the exhibition centre and you didn't find your name or there are errors in your name , it is NO NEWS AT ALL.

Again i would say this is not the first time the EC is conducting such an exercise.

The exhibition is to make sure that all mistakes are corrected.

She further added that at the exhibition centre the EC have what is called multiple list and it comprises of persons who have done multiple registration.

For instance some people wanted to test the system for various reasons so they did double or multiple registration so they have been flagged by the EC computer systems.

There's also what is called exceptional list.

This list contains all who were challenged under the pretext that they were not Ghanaians or less than 18 years, or they don't live in the community or constituencies where they wanted to register.

So in the situation where your name cannot be found in niether of the above mentioned ie MULTIPLE LIST or EXCEPTIONAL LIST you shall be given an inclusion form to fill if it is established that you have been registered and you have your registration card available with you.

These are processes that the EC has been employing for a very long time.

All political parties and their representatives are aware.

Our staff are well trained and so there's no cause for alarm for Ghanaians living in abroad to be scared about some utterances or word of attack on the EC.

The perception that people's names have been expunge or deleted from the register are all speculation and not facts.

One goes to the exhibition centre individually and it only that person who can correct his or her mistake.

More so the very first day we started people came out to say over 20,000 voters names has been expunged or deleted from the register who collated all these names?

How did they come to such conclusion?

The EC has integrity and will NEVER DELETE OR EXPUNGE NAMES FROM THE REGISTER.

THE EC TO DELETE OR EXPUNGE VOTERS NAMES FOR WHAT?

EC again gave out another alternative for voters to even check names if thier names are not found on the register.

For instance if for some reason the person register in Kumasi and has travelled to Accra, the EC has given a short code where you text your details to 1422 and all your relevant details on the register will be sent to you and is for all networks in Ghana.

Alot of people are using that service. You either go to the centre or send a text to short code 1422.

Where the machines generated wrong coding this is, where 2 or more people had the same Identification numbers (ID NBRS), there was the need to reprint cards and give unique cards to all the affected registered voters.

So we sent the unlaminated cards to the exhibition centres to the affected districts to laminate and get the affected people by calling them to come for their cards.

While this was going on, somebody recorded them and gave the wrong caption that EC is doing registration after the exercise has ended.

Moving forward we need to disabuse the minds of people on peddling stories which are not factual or untrue.

So to our Ghanaians abroad there is no cause for alarm.

Exhibition is where mistakes are corrected and it started long time ago.

In conclusion Dr. REN asked how safe are staff of the EC and Mrs. Sylvia Annor answered that God is in control and the securities are working hard to ensure that their lives are protected.

Election is a process. Through it all we have been engaging political parties even to the extent of where we print ballot papers and secure boxes, the political parties are always present with their representatives who even run a shift to make sure they are satisfied with processes.

On the durability of EC cards, she said the EC card is for casting ballot and its durable for that.

She ended by saying:

"Finally i say to all Ghanaians that there's no cause for alarm come 7th December we shall deliver a free, fair and transparent elections.

We haven't flouted any laws.

All mistakes are being rectified.

There are Ghanaians who believe in the EC and we shall protect our integrate by delivering A FREE , FAIR AND TRANSPARENT ELECTION come December 7, 2020.

Written by: Dr. REN (Broadcast Journalist at GN Radio UK)
Hannibal, N.Y.  Kaydence Nichols was a bubbly 16-year-old whose lively smile and big hugs never failed to cheer up the people around her, friends say.

She loved sunflowers, puppies, hugs and the color yellow.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 23)  Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III revealed that he will submit a proposal to the Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) to increase the salary of nurses and medical workers in private hospitals.

Bello said he will meet with members of the IATF on Thursday to discuss his recommendation.

The labor chief is looking at a possible increase of up to 26,000 for entry-level health workers.

I am going to present to the IATF a bill that will propose the increase of our nurses and medical workers in the private sector to the level of the nurses and medical workers in the public sector, he said in a media briefing on Wednesday.

Bello added that he has consulted Health Secretary Francisco Duque on this proposal.

The Filipino Nurses United (FNU) have been appealing to the government to increase the salary and benefits of nurses.

At the very center of this battle against the virus stands our countrys unyielding nurses who care for the sick, bravely risking their own lives, the FNU said in a statement.

Too many of our courageous medical frontliners have already paid the ultimate price as they tried to save our countrymen during this pandemic," the group also said. "We, as a nation, are indebted and pledge our immeasurable gratitude for their heroic service.

It added: "Nurses cannot even afford their own basic needs, much more of their families basic survival like food on the table, basic education for siblings and/or children, medical expenses of elderly parents and decent housing."
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / September 23, 2020 / ALT 5 Sigma Inc. an emerging leader in blockchain powered financial platforms provides its daily digital instruments market summary for Bitcoin (BTC/USD), Ether (ETH/USD), Litecoin (LTC/USD).

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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
The Taliban launched a wave of attacks on security checkpoints in southern Afghanistan overnight, killing a total of 28 Afghan policemen, officials said Wednesday.

The violence comes even as Taliban leaders and Afghan government-appointed negotiators are holding historic peace talks in Qatar a Mideast country where the Taliban set up a political office after they were toppled from power in the 2001 U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan. The negotiations, which started earlier this month, are meant to end the fighting and establish a roadmap for a post-war society.

According to the provincial governors spokesman Zelgay Ebadi, the attacks started late Tuesday in southern Uruzgan province.

A Taliban spokesman, Qari Mohammad Yousuf Ahmadi, claimed responsibility for the attacks and said the insurgents carried them out after the police in the area refused to surrender to the insurgents.

Ebadi, meanwhile, said the policemen were killed after they had surrendered. The discrepancy in their accounts could not immediately be resolved. The remoteness of the area makes it impossible to independently verify either version of events.

Reinforcements were not able to get to the outposts to save the besieged officers but Ebadi said Afghan security forces were later back in charge of the checkpoints. The Taliban seized weapons found at the scene before fleeing the checkpoints.

In the negotiations in Qatar, the two sides have so far have spent more than a week deciding agendas and the manner in which the two sides will be conducting the negotiations.

Both the government in Kabul and the United States have called for a reduction of violence while talks are being held in Qatar, but the Taliban have said they would not commit to a reduction of violence until the terms of a cease-fire are negotiated and resolved Deep mistrust exists on both sides of the table.
A PREMIUM TIMES check across several secondary schools in Nigerias six geopolitical zones during the just concluded West Africa Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) has mirrored a shabby adherence to safety protocols for COVID-19 ahead of the full resumption of schools.

Federal and state authorities in the past few months have been struggling with the reopening of schools safely without putting teachers and students at the risk of contracting the virus which has infected more than 57, 000, killing about 1, 100 across the country.

Recent data from the World Health Organization (WHO) had cautioned governments on ensuring full safety protocols before reopening schools, warning that 43 per cent of schools around the world lacked access to basic handwashing with soap and water in 2019  a key condition for schools to be able to operate safely in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Other safety measures expected in place before reopening include temperature checking thermometers, a COVID-19 infantry, face masks and adequate maintenance of social distancing.

Many of such plans were stalled due to the inability of several schools to meet up with safety demands and guidelines put in place by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 for safe reopening.

Another challenge was that the response strategy of the federal and state authorities is not in sync. The reopening of secondary schools rests on the shoulders of state authorities, except federal unity schools with the federal government doing oversight functions.

Due to failures to meet up with safety demands, the Nigerian government had resolved it would not allow candidates in the country to sit for WAEC, a terminal examination for secondary school students in four West African nations  Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, and Liberia.

The government, however, made a U-turn later to allow students to join others from the other West African countries to write the exams starting August 17.

Only students and pupils in exit classes  Primary 6, JSS3 and SSS3  were allowed to resume on August 4 to prepare for their terminal exams.

Some of the students taking the exams in states such as Bayelsa and Akwaibom tested positive for the contagion, a warning sign that more needed to be done to ensure safety.

Some states such as Benue have fully reopened schools for all classes starting from Monday.

During the terminal examinations, which ended in mid-September, PREMIUM TIMES visited several schools across the country to observe the level of safety ahead of full reopening.

Lagos

In Lagos, many schools, especially government-owned secondary schools, shut their gates against PREMIUM TIMES reporter, saying the government has given the directive not to allow visitors and journalists access, those who allowed access declined to make any comment.

There was a circular from the states Ministry of Education that no school teacher or even principal should talk to journalists; you cannot observe or even take pictures, except you have a written approval from the ministry.

There were handwashing equipment and hand sanitisers in various schools visited, though temperature checks were missing.

At Ikosi High School, students entered the school premises in twos and threes but none practised hand-washing despite a big container of water and soap positioned close to the gate.

For about 15 minutes of sitting at the first block of the high school, which was close to the gate, no student washed their hands. There were no temperature checks being conducted likewise.

The students, however, maintained physical distancing in the exam hall as they were spread into several classrooms to achieve a COVID-19 compliant sitting arrangement.

We are not allowed to speak to any reporter, the state government released a circular that mandates all school principals and even teachers not to address reporters. You can go to the ministry to get any information you want, one of the teachers said.

But we have hand sanitisers and handwashing machines provided by the state government.

The principal of Ayedere Ajibola High School, Ketu area of Lagos, likewise declined giving comment on the compliance of the school to COVID-19 protocols.

You should not have been allowed to enter the premises, that is the clear directive from the government. Im a public official and cannot allow you to even see the school or speak to you.

At Caleb International College, modernised and touchless handwashing machines were erected at strategic locations, while visitors and students were mandated to wash their hands before entering the premises.

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When PREMIUM TIMES contacted Kayode Abayomi, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Education on the safety protocols put in place in secondary schools, he said he could not give any comment on it as WAEC is a national examination.

Borno

Secondary schools in Borno state conducted WAEC without support from the government to enable them to comply with the COVID-19 safety measures, some teachers and officials said.

A visit to some of the public and private schools within Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, revealed how school managements struggled to conduct the examinations with little or no aid from the government to enable them to observe the prescribed safety measures.

In Shehu Garbai Secondary School, one of the largest in Borno state, safety measures such as hand washing, wearing of face masks were observed but social distancing was not fully adhered to as students sat in twos on each desk.

The principal of the school, Kaka Muhammed, said though the government provided some safety and cleaning products, they were not enough for the students.

Even the Face Masks that were supplied by the state the government was inadequate; hence some of the students had to resort to some self-made face mask which is not good enough to protect them, he said.

Mr Muhammed said another major challenge for the school was the inadequate toilet facility.

At the GRA Model school, Maiduguri, the Head Teacher, Aishatu Dauda, said 420 students were taking the exams, noting that there was no facility to provide medical care for any student.

Our first aid box is empty as you can see, she said opening the green box. We are just lucky that so far none of our students has fallen ill, which is even surprising to us, she said.

There was no evidence of WAEC officials seen in the exam hall enforcing the observance of the safety protocols.

At Baraimul Iman School, a private school located within the GRA in Maiduguri, the students observed the COVID-19 safety measures. All the student was provided with were face masks by the school management.

We provided face masks for all our students and we ensured the use of handwashing spots and sanitizers before entering the halls, said Kyari Ali-Kyari, the Principal of Baraimul Iman school.

At Mafoni Liberty Secondary Schoool, the students that failed to come to the school with their face masks were asked to turn back.

The principal of the school, Yusuf Tom, said the school has not received any support neither from the state nor the federal government.

The hand sanitizer and hand washing items you see us using here were provided by some spirited individuals and some NGOs. The school-based management committee provided the handwashing facilities. But the challenge we are facing now is that all these items like the hand sanitizers would soon finish and the exams are still ongoing.

The principal also confirmed that two students, a female and a male, developed a high fever and were asked to go home for treatment.

Efforts to get the Borno state Commissioner for Health, Salisu Kwaya-Bura, to find out if the state received any support from the federal government was not successful as his phone simply rang without a response.

Abuja

Many public schools in the Federal Capital Territory maintained shabby compliance with COVID-19 safety protocols.

At Junior Secondary School Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, some students in the classrooms were not wearing face masks.

Koori Donatus, the principal of Jewel Model schools, a private school in Kubwa, said though safety measures are being maintained during the WAEC exams, officials from the FCTA visit regularly to check our level of compliance and we have not been culpable of violating any of these rules.

The last time the officials came, they said we have done well above 80 per cent. Our spacing is also accurate.

We also have the isolation centre in case of any challenge, we can put it to use. Fortunately, we have not had any case to prompt the use of the isolation ward. The students temperature is checked every day right from the school gate.

He said, the school provides the soaps and sanitizers for everyone within the premises.

The principal said parents were advised to make provisions for facemasks to increase the safety of their children/wards.

On preparation in place for full school resumption, he said, We have already started reshuffling sitting schedules in the school by expanding the classrooms. Before now we have two classes for science students but it has been increased to three to ensure physical distancing in the classrooms.

Ebonyi

In Ebonyi, our reporter, who went round some schools, noted that there was the provision of running water in buckets with taps for students to wash their hands.

Hand sanitisers were readily available which the state government had distributed.

However, it was observed that many students no longer wear face masks to school.

Spacing during exams was observed. It was the same scenario in some private schools visited.

A teacher, who pleaded anonymity, however, noted that some schools have run out of sanitisers and soap.

Also, none of the schools monitored had infrared temperature kits to check students temperatures.

The commissioner for education, Onyebuchi Chima, could not be reached to speak on the development as he did not take calls nor respond to text messages sent to his phone.

Kaduna

Most of the Kaduna public schools visited abided with the COVID-19 protocols especially with regards to the provision of water containers for hand washing at the school entrance.

But the majority of the students did not adhere to the handwashing protocols. Also, most of them barely wore face masks.

At Government Secondary School Kargi Road in Tudun Wada, Kaduna South Local Government Area, both the teachers and students observed the social distancing protocols during the exams.

It was gathered that face masks were provided by the state government to all the JSS3 and SS3 students after schools resumed.

Similarly, at Government Girls Secondary School Maimuna Gwarzo located at Unguwar Sanusi community in the same LGA, not all students and teachers adhered to safety protocols.

Few private schools visited had better safety protocol in place than the public schools.

At Agombas Secondary school Tudun Nufawa, the school management provided face masks to all their students.

A senior teacher in the school, Salisu Ibrahim, said no student was allowed into the school without washing his or her hand or wearing face masks.

In all the schools visited, there was no sign of WAEC officials assigned to enforce COVID-19 protocols.

Meanwhile, in some private schools in Kaduna South Local Government Area of the state, parents paid for their childrens face masks.

Albashir Yusuf, a parent, said he was asked to pay 500 Naira as money for face masks for his two children.

Akwa Ibom

During a visit to Efficient Secondary Commercial School, a private school in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State, the students were writing Christian Religious Studies.

At the school gate, they and their teachers were screened, using a non-contact temperature assessment device, before they were allowed inside the school premises.

There was a hand sanitiser and provision for hand-washing at the school gate.

However, most of the students did not wear face masks and did not observe social distancing inside the examination hall.

At West Itam Secondary School, Itu, a government-owned school, there was hand sanitiser and provision for hand washing at the school entrance.

Most students did not wear face masks. They did not also observe social distancing inside the examination hall.

At Uyo High school, Uyo  government-owned, there was no hand sanitiser at the school gate. No provision for hand washing at the school gate. All the students, however, wore face masks.
Highlife musician Bless has asked authorities to take action against awards organiser Kwame Fordjour popularly known as 'Dr UN' for deceit.



Dr. UN has been trending for weeks now for his ability to 'scam' influential persons including the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, popular musicians Sarkodie, D-Black, media personalities Berla Mundi and Johnnie Hughes with his awards.



He gave the impression that the awards were associated with the United Nations and the Kofi Annan Foundation which later turned out to be false, leaving eggs on the faces of those who attended his event.



And for Chocho Mucho hitmaker Bless, Dr UN must be dealt with. According to him, the man's action is not something people should brush aside and just laugh over.



What the man did is serious but we are just laughing about it as if nothing happened. To gather high profile people in the name of giving them awards for their hard work when you know that award is not legit is something we should not joke about at all.



"The UN or government must take serious action against him because we had government officials who were also given some of the awards," he said.



Since the awards, Dr UN has been making the rounds at a number of radio and TV stations and Bless asked the media houses to stop giving him audience as if he is a hero.



I know media houses want news but not this way. Dr UN is not a hero and we should not be giving him that privilege. It is so sad how he embarrassed our top musician Sarkodie and other high profile officials and we should all disassociate ourselves from him.



"If we endorse him we are giving the opportunity to other people who might be thinking of doing the same thing. Who knows what he got out of this award scheme, he said.



Bless also asked Ghanaians to go easy on celebrities who find themselves involved in scandals, especially if it is no fault of theirs.



Some of the comments I saw on social media about for instance Sarkodie were enough to break him down if he were not strong. The insults and the trolling are just too much, we should slow down a bit when our celebrities are in trouble, he stated.





Source: Graphic Showbiz









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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.
Thermo Fisher Scientific, the world leader in serving science, today announced new collaborations of the Thermo Fisher Precision Medicine Science Center (PMSC) with AstraZeneca and the University of Nebraska Medical Center as part of its ongoing development of innovative solutions for unmet needs in clinical biomarker discovery. The new alliances strengthen the PMSCs mission of creating standardized workflows with pharma and academic partners to streamline the transition from biomarker research to clinical implementation, creating new opportunities for precision medicine.

Ongoing and planned studies with both AstraZeneca and the University of Nebraska Medical Center will utilize standardized plasma protein profiling workflows, including Thermo Fishers newly developed ultra-high throughput plasma protein profiling (uHTPPP) workflow, for biomarker discovery, for a range of conditions. The standardized workflows consist of automated sample preparation for untargeted and targeted methods in combination with the Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Exploris 480 and Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Exploris 240 mass spectrometers.

Precision medicine is becoming a greater area of interest across a range of different diseases and has, therefore, faced challenges effectively scaling to meet clinical needs. The goal of the Precision Medicine Science Center is to construct end-to-end workflow solutions that generate impactful data from discovery studies with large human cohorts and to harness the power of molecular profiling to improve the outcomes of patient care. Our ongoing work with AstraZeneca and the University of Nebraska Medical Center are paramount to realizing the potential of these technologies. Emily Chen, senior director, Precision Medicine Science Center, Thermo Fisher Scientific

Ventzi Hristova, senior scientist, dynamic omics, antibody discovery and protein engineering, R&D at AstraZeneca, said, Powered by technological innovation, omics is proving to be one of the richest sources of data in all of science. Clinical proteomics is an emerging field aimed at improving patient care through the development of sensitive, high-throughput methods for in-depth proteomic characterization of clinical samples. This collaboration aims to evaluate and establish a model for clinical proteomics, using advanced sample processing and downstream analytical applications, that has the potential to help us identify new drug targets and biomarkers.

Subsequently, the University of Nebraska Medical Center is collaborating with Thermo Fishers PMSC to utilize the companys standardized plasma protein profiling workflows to analyze clinical samples in an aneurysm study. The study is supported by the National Institutes of Health-National Institute on Aging (NIH-NIA) and done in collaboration with Vanderbilt University, the University of Maryland and the University of Wisconsin.

Thermo Fishers mass spectrometry platform and workflow will allow us to analyze a large cohort of plasma samples and answer highly significant clinical questions. As a cardiovascular physiologist and proteomics expert, I am a bridge between mass spectrometry analyses and the clinical world and am very interested to see the results from this collaboration. Merry Lindsey, Ph.D., Chair and stokes-shackleford professor, Department of cellular and integrative physiology, director, center for heart and vascular research, University of Nebraska Medical Center

Bernard Timothy Baxter, MD, professor, department of surgery division of vascular surgery, University of Nebraska Medical Center, who is leading the NIH-NIA aneurysm study said, There is a drastic need for this type of technology that can produce better indicators/blood tests and can tell us who has an undiagnosed aneurysm, and which aneurysms are likely to progress rapidly and need closer observation. Clinically, the current treatment plan for abdominal aortic aneurysms is to watch and wait. We image and when aneurysms reach a certain size threshold, we surgically repair them. Unfortunately, there are a number of patients who first realize there is a problem when they present with a ruptured aneurysm  the mortality in this situation exceeds 50%.
Providing major relief to around 40,000 mid-day meal (MDM) workers and other staff, the Punjab government has given its nod to provide them maternity leave for 180 days in accordance with the Maternity Benefit Act.

Earlier,a mid-day meal worker wanting to go on maternity leave had to avail casual leave or temporarily depute a substitute in the school to prepare meals.

Welcoming the move, workers in the district said that this will motivate more women to work as cooks in government schools. There are over 3,622 MDM cooks preparing meals in 1,536 government schools of the district.

The state education department has also issued a pro forma through which the MDM cooks can apply for maternity leave and it is compulsory to attach a medical certificate. In the pro forma, details such as for how many students the cook is catering to, how many other cooks are there in the school, for how many years the worker has been working needs to be mentioned. The pro forma has to be duly signed by the school head and district education officer.

As per Maternity Benefit Act 1961, No women shall be entitled to maternity benefit unless she has actually worked in an establishment of the employer from whom she claims maternity benefit for a period of not less than one hundred and sixty days in twelve months immediately preceding the date of her expected delivery.

MDM worker at a government school Parvinder Kaur said, I am preparing meals for 500 students on a daily basis and working here for the last five years.Now, with the government allowing cooks to take maternity leave with all benefits, MDM workers can take care of their child at home with full pay.

The MDM cooks get a meagre salary of Rs 1,700 per month and now will also be paid during the 180 days maternity leave.

General manager of the state MDM cell, Mohali, Prabcharan Singh, said, This move will benefit the MDM workers and helpers who can now avail maternity leave by submitting the pro forma.

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Tom Stepien, CEO & Co-founder of Primus Power, appointed to EMN's Board of Directors



Andrea Zaradic promoted to Vice President, Operations

Thomas Gluck appointed Chief Technology Officer

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Euro Manganese Inc. (TSX-V/ASX: EMN) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that following a comprehensive search process, Mr. Tom Stepien has been appointed as a director of the Company, that Ms. Andrea Zaradic P.Eng., has joined the Company as Vice President, Operations, and that Dr. Thomas Gluck has been appointed EMN's Chief Technology Officer. All appointments are effective September 22, 2020.



Tom Stepien has over 30 years of global high technology management, operations and engineering experience at small and large companies. He is currently CEO of Primus Power, a battery energy storage company headquartered in California's Silicon Valley. Prior to co-founding Primus, he was a Vice President at semiconductor equipment manufacturer Applied Materials. Tom earned a BS and MS in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is a co-inventor on numerous patents, and a frequent speaker at energy conferences. He brings an international perspective, having led diverse teams in several countries.

Mr. John Webster, Interim Chairman of EMN, stated:

"We are very pleased to have been able to attract an executive of Tom's calibre to our Board. His depth of knowledge and his network in the energy storageindustry fit well with our growth plans. His experience will be invaluable as we prepare the Chvaletice Manganese Project for commercial development and financing, complete its feasibilitystudy and make a final investment decision.We feel strongly that Tom's proven leadership abilities and impressive technical and entrepreneurial experience are ideally suited to work with our Board as we strive to create value for our shareholders."

In connection with the appointment of Mr. Stepien, he has been granted stock options to purchase 500,000 common shares of the Company, exercisable for a term of ten years at an exercise price of C$0.125 per common share. The options will vest one-third on the date of grant, and one-third on each of the first and second anniversaries of the date of grant.

Andrea Zaradic has been working for EMN since April 2019 as a Project Director, responsible for the Chvaletice Manganese Project's feasibility study and other special projects. She has over 30 years of experience in corporate, project and business development in the mining and renewable energy industries. She has worked throughout the Americas, Africa, Asia and Europe. Some of previous senior roles include: CEO of Northair Silver, until its merger with Kootenay Silver; VP Operations and Development for Magma Energy Corp. a geothermal energy producer, until its merger of Magma and Plutonic to form Alterra Power Corp.; Construction and Senior Process Operations Engineer for BHP Billiton, where she was a lead engineer in the successful development of the Ekati diamond mine; and Manager of Infrastructure Development for Canico Resource Corp. on the Onca Puma nickel project in Brazil. She currently serves on the boards of Kootenay Silver and Reservoir Capital. Andrea holds a M.A.Sc. degree in mechanical engineering from the University of British Columbia and is a registered Professional Engineer in the provinces of BC and Ontario.

Dr. Thomas Gluck, who has been EMN's Vice Present, Project Development, since January 2018, and a manganese processing consultant to the company since 2016, has been appointed as the Company's Chief Technology Officer. Dr Gluck is a chemical engineer with over 30 years of in-depth experience in the design, development and operation of high-purity manganese processing plants. He has played a key role in the evaluation, planning and design of the process flowsheet of the Chvaletice Manganese Project.

Mr. Marco Romero, President and CEO of EMN, commented:

"We are delightedto promoteAndrea Zaradic to the key senior management position of Vice President, Operations. Her strong technical, leadership and project management skills have been clearly in evidence since she joined our team in early 2019. She is perfectly suited for this role as we enter the exciting and demanding next phase of the Chvaletice Manganese Project development."

"We are also very pleased that Thomas Gluck has assumed the role of Chief Technology Officer. He has been a valuable member of our team for four years and will now focus his attention on thetechnological aspects that are critical to the success of the project. He will support our team to achieve excellence in its mission to competitively produce exceptional quality manganese products, made in the most sustainable manner."

About Euro Manganese Inc.

Euro Manganese Inc. is a Canadian resource developer, 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.

Contact: Marco A. Romero Fausto Taddei President & CEO Vice President Corp. Development & Corp. Secretary +604-681-1010 ext. 101 +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

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company or the Project to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. Such statements can be identified by the use of words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "expect", "believe", "plan", "anticipate", "estimate", "scheduled", "forecast", "predict" and other similar terminology, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved.

Such forward-looking information or statements relate to future events or future performance about the Company and its business and operations, which include, among other things, statements with respect to the continued development of the Chvaletice Manganese Project.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements. Forward-looking statements and information involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indicators of whether or not such results will be achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements or information, including, but not limited to, the factors discussed under "Risks Notice" and elsewhere in the Company's MD&A for the year ended September 30, 2019 and its most recent Annual Information Form.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Subject to applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this news release.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange), or the ASX accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky hopes for progress in Canada's gradual visa liberalization for Ukrainian citizens.

"Canada's visa liberalization for Ukrainians remains a topical issue for me. I hope we will be able to move this process forward and achieve simplification for Ukrainians traveling to Canada," Zelensky said in a phone conversation with Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau, the Presidents press service informs.

The parties also discussed the possibility of coordinating measures taken by both countries to overcome coronavirus consequences. The President of Ukraine and the Prime Minister of Canada called for the removal of artificial barriers to the development of international trade to support national economies weakened by the pandemic, as well as to ensure access of all countries to the necessary medical products.

"I express my sincere support to your government and to all Canadians in the fight against coronavirus. I would like to express deep condolences to the relatives and friends of the deceased and wish the sick a speedy recovery," Volodymyr Zelensky said.

In addition, the President of Ukraine informed PM Trudeau of the situation in Donbas and Ukraine's consistent steps towards a peaceful settlement.

"Achieving peace in Donbas remains a key priority for me. I am grateful for Canada's strong support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our state," Zelensky said.

The parties also exchanged views on the current situation in Belarus.

Volodymyr Zelensky and Justin Trudeau also discussed the progress of reforms in Ukraine. The Prime Minister of Canada called the steps taken by the President of Ukraine to reform the state courageous and expressed support.

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Even if omicron peak nears, Long Beach cases and hospitalizations will still be up for weeks, official says
New Delhi:

In a veiled attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi said on Wednesday India becoming a republic on January 26, 1950 meant that it would not accept whims of any emperor nor a dictator.

In his Republic Day message greeting countrymen, Rahul also made an oblique attack on the RSS, saying that the country accepting the Constitution also means that no ideology will be imposed upon anyone in the country.

"On this day when we accepted the principles of freedom struggle and the great values of our heritage in the form of our Constitution, this meant that no emperor's whims and any form of dictatorship would any longer prevail. In this free world of ideas, no ideology will be imposed upon anyone in the country," Rahul said.

With everyone having the right to self-rule, Gandhi said even the voice of the weakest will be heard attentively and its intent is to protect the voice of every individual.

"If India has succeeded, its credit goes to everyone. Our strength is the voice of every Indian and this we have never to forget. We have to preserve and protect this message of our heritage and help fulfil bring its dreams," he said.

Gandhi has been critical of Prime Minister Modi accusing him of acting as a dictator and not listening to the voice of the people, while also attacking the RSS for imposing its ideology on the country.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Charges against rapper in road accident case toughened after drugs found in his blood

 The Tagansky District Court's press service

00:08 24/09/2020

MOSCOW, September 24 (RAPSI)  Police toughened charges against rapper Elmin Guliyev in the central Moscow road traffic case after drugs had been found in his blood, the Interior Ministrys spokesperson Irina Volk has told RAPSI.

Medical examination revealed that the defendant was under the influence of drugs when driving his car, she stated.

On the evening of September 23, the Tagansky District Court of Moscow ordered Guliyev to be put in detention for two months, until November 21.

Earlier, the man was charged with a road traffic offense that caused harm which endangered life or causes the victim severe bodily harm. Now he is prosecuted of committing a road traffic accident in a state of intoxication. He could face up to 7 years in jail if convicted.

According to the investigation, on September 21, Guliyev driving his Infiniti ran a red light at the signal controlled intersection and collided with another car. Then the defendants car went into a foot path and hit two people. They were taken to a hospital.
Groove Sales Engagement Platform Its impressive that Groove has been able to maintain its status as the top-rated sales engagement platform on G2 for over two years while also earning the highest satisfaction score in four other G2 Sales Tech categories. - Michael Fauscette, Chief Research Officer, G2

Groove, the leading sales engagement platform for enterprises using Salesforce, today announced that its platform has received the highest overall and enterprise product satisfaction rankings in G2s Fall 2020 Grid Report across categories: Sales Engagement Software, Email Tracking Software, Outbound Call Tracking Software, Account Data Management, and Sales Intelligence. Groove has topped G2s Best Sales Engagement Software list for eight consecutive quarters.

Released today, G2s Fall 2020 Grid Report for Sales Engagement Software ranks the performance of 41 different sales engagement platforms. Groove outranked every competitor across eight product satisfaction rating categories.

Top scores based on verified users include:



95% would recommend Groove

97% find it easy to do business with Groove

93% say Groove is easy to use

92% say Groove is easy to set up

93% believe Groove meets all of their requirements

93% say Groove is headed in the right direction

Groove also received the highest G2 Relationship Index score, which is calculated by assessing scores across user satisfaction, ease of doing business with, quality of support, and likelihood to recommend the product.

GROOVE #1 RANKINGS IN G2S FALL 2020 GRID REPORTS

G2 ranked Groove as the highest-rated sales acceleration platform in two important categories: Overall and Enterprise. Built for enterprise users, Groove received top-marks for ease-of-use, ease-of-administration, and cross-team collaboration.

Sales Engagement Software - Grooves Salesforce-native platform was built to meet the needs of large enterprises and full-cycle sellers.

Email Tracking Software - Grooves Gmail and Microsoft 365 auto-logs every email in real-time, eliminating sync errors and data latency.

Outbound Call Tracking Software - Grooves Dialer automatically logs calls, transcripts and SMS messages to Salesforce, including call notes, outcomes, and next steps.

Account Data Management - Grooves Salesforce-native platform ensures better data hygiene, fewer duplicates, no sync errors, and always-current data.

Sales Intelligence - Groove gives sales teams visibility into real-time sales performance data for improved collaboration, optimization, reporting, and forecasting.

With a remarkable G2 Satisfaction Score of 98, Groove stands out in a highly competitive field for its Results, Ease of Use, Ease of Doing Business With, and Quality of Support, said Michael Fauscette, chief research officer, G2. Its impressive that Groove has been able to maintain its status as the top-rated sales engagement platform on G2 for over two years while also earning the highest satisfaction score in four other G2 Sales Tech categories.

PRODUCT FEEDBACK AND REVIEWS FROM VERIFIED USERS

G2s Fall 2020 Sales Engagement Grid Report allows software buyers to drill down into user feedback on more than 60 product and service attributes, as well as written reviews from verified users, including:

After a lengthy review of multiple vendors, we selected Groove for the intuitive user experience, easy integration with Salesforce, and enterprise-level of control/visibility.



Heather D., Sales Development Leader, EVERFI

Ease of use is far superior to the competition. I've had the opportunity to use a number of these email automation and cadence tools, and I could not be more impressed by Groove.



Sean F., Account Executive, Datadog

The insights we get from Groove on our prospect outreach has been invaluable since our team has moved to being primarily remote.



Chris L., Head of Business Development, Sapling

G2 2020 FALL SALES ENGAGEMENT SOFTWARE REPORT BY GROOVE

A detailed overview of these Fall 2020 findings have been compiled in Grooves G2 Sales Engagement Software Report. Explore the rankings of the 41 sales engagement software providers and the multitude of factors that contribute to Grooves leadership position in product satisfaction.

DOWNLOAD GROOVES G2 FALL 2020 SALES ENGAGEMENT SOFTWARE REPORT

In addition to being the highest-rated sales engagement platform, Groove is the leading sales engagement platform for enterprises using Salesforce, specializing in ease-of-use, ease-of-administration, and cross-team collaboration. Built for the needs of full-cycle sellers, Groove automates non-sales activities so that reps can spend more time building relationships and generating revenue. Grooves Salesforce-native architecture ensures more accurate reporting and forecasting, lower compliance risk with global privacy laws, and streamlined administration.

Grooves unique approach has resulted in rapid adoption by some of the worlds largest and fastest-growing companies, including Google, Uber, BBVA, and Capital One.

ABOUT G2

G2, the worlds leading business solution review platform, leverages 1M+ user reviews to drive better purchasing decisions. Business professionals, buyers, investors, and analysts use the site to compare and select the best software and services based on peer reviews and synthesized social data. Every month, more than three million people visit G2s site to gain unique insights.

ABOUT GROOVE

Groove is the leading sales engagement platform for enterprises using Salesforce, specializing in ease-of-use, ease-of-administration, and cross-team collaboration. Built for the needs of full-cycle sellers, Groove automates non-sales activities so that pre- and post-sales reps can spend more time building relationships and generating revenue. On average, Groove gives revenue teams 20% of their time back to focus on higher-value activities. Grooves Salesforce native architecture ensures more accurate reporting and forecasting, lower compliance risk with global privacy laws, and streamlined administration.

Over 50,000 account executive, sales development, and customer success representatives use Groove at some of the worlds largest and fastest-growing companies, including Google, Uber, BBVA, and Capital One. Groove has earned the highest customer satisfaction rating on G2 in the sales engagement category for over two years in a row.

Groove was named one of Inc. Magazines Best Workplaces 2020 and is one of the 2020 Inc. 5000 fastest-growing privately held companies in the U.S. Groove also ranks #14 on the San Francisco Business Times' "fastest-growing private companies in the Bay Area in 2019." Founded in 2014, Groove is headquartered in San Francisco with offices in San Diego and Seattle. To learn more, visit groove.co.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

The Madrid region will extend partial lockdown measures to more areas later this week, officials said, urgently asking for army help with testing and disinfections as virus cases soar.

Wednesday's announcement came two days after the regional government imposed mobility restrictions on 850,000 people in and around the capitalmostly in densely-populated, low-income districts in the south.

These areas account for 13 percent of the 6.6 million population in the Madrid regionbut 24 percent of virus cases.

Residents cannot leave except for work, school or to seek medical care, but have freedom of movement within the area.

Madrid's deputy health chief Antonio Zapatero told a news conference the restrictions would be extended to more areas which would be identified on Friday.

The regional government was still "studying and analysing" the epidemiological data before making its decision, he added.

Those included in Monday's restrictions have all counted more than 1,000 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 inhabitantsnearly three times the national average, which in itself is the highest in the European Union.

Local parks have been closed and cafes and restaurants must shut by 10 pm.

Meanwhile, the region's deputy president Ignacio Aguado said his administration would ask the central government for "urgent military logistical support" to "carry out tests and basic disinfection tasks" in the worst-hit areas.

When the pandemic started in March, the army deployed across the country to help with such tasks.

On Tuesday, Health Minister Salvador Illa urged Madrid residents to limit all movements "to the maximum" and restrict social contacts to only the "essential" to reverse a surge in infections.

The Madrid region has recorded 202,600 confirmed cases of the disease and 9,129 deathsin both cases a third of the national total.

Since the central government ended a 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 Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

 2020 AFP
Syracuse, N.Y.  The Syracuse school district is not ready to open to students, the president of the teachers union said.

There are so many unanswered questions about everything from air quality to class sizes that it would take a miracle for the district to open its doors to students Oct. 5, said Bill Scott, president of the Syracuse Teachers Association.

"Were not there yet. There are some pressing matters that absolutely have to be addressed, Scott told syracuse.com. He detailed his concerns to the 3,000 union members in an email Tuesday.

The city school district, the largest in the county, is also the only district in Onondaga County that has not re-opened to students for some in-person education.

Syracuse had already delayed in-person learning for the district of 20,000 students after the union questioned in August whether it was ready to bring kids back to the 33 school buildings.

In a statement, Superintendent Jaime Alicea disputed Scotts claim that the district will not be ready in two weeks.

We are aware of the concerns raised by STA and will continue to work with them and all of our employees to ensure our school buildings and staff are ready for our students, Alicea said. Many of the issues mentioned have been addressed or will be prior to October 5th and STA leadership is aware of this.

Alicea also pointed to the success of all the other districts in the county that have students back in the classroom.

Our suburban counterparts have welcomed back students and continue to operate in a safe manner even while having positive tests in their districts. We know that positives tests are a reality but by following the guidance from the CDC, NYS Health Department and the Onondaga County Health Department we know that we can open schools safely as other school districts in Onondaga County have, Alicea said.

Neither School Board President Katie Sojewicz nor Vice President Mark D. Muhammad, the elected leadership of the district, returned numerous requests for comment.

Syracuse students began school in their bedrooms and at their dining room tables Sept. 14. The case was the same for many other large Upstate city school districts.

In Syracuse, the start was bumpy for some families. Some students had the wrong schedules or no schedules at all on the first day of school, parents said. Social media was flooded with tales from families struggling for days to get access to the various platforms the district is using.

The rollout of completely online school is complicated in Syracuse, the 10th worst place in the nation for internet access. A quarter of the households in the city do not have access to the internet. The school district passed out 6,000 laptops and 1,200 Wi-Fi hotspots earlier this month and said there are 4,000 more laptops and 1,200 hotspots coming. Thats enough for half the students in the city where 44 percent of children live in poverty.

The district has come up with some workarounds for families who arent online: Some classes are being broadcast on WCNY, which the district did in the spring. In some schools, teachers are delivering worksheet packets to students whose families do not have computers and calling them on the phone to help.

Scott said teachers want to go back to school, but they dont want to go if its not safe. Since the district reopened, there have been three Covid-19 cases reported among teachers and staff, according to the district and state data.

The latest was a case Tuesday at Porter Elementary School. The cases, Scott said, did not spread at the schools. But he said teachers are worried there will be more cases when students return. So far, five districts in Onondaga County have reported Covid-19 cases.

Scott said he cant understand why the district has taken so long to answer important questions that would put teachers at ease.

The biggest one is about the air quality in the districts 33 buildings. The union asked the district five weeks ago which buildings could use the Merv-13 filters that shopping malls and other public places have been required to use to help clean the coronavirus out of the air, he said. The union also asked to know other ways the air circulation could be improved in buildings where the special filters could not be used.

Five weeks is an inordinate amount of time to give us something so simple, Scott said. Weve had problems with heating, air conditioning, ventilation systems in the buildings. Are they ready to go or not?

Scott also said the district still has not provided school nurses with equipment they need to stay safe if they must care for a child with Covid-19. They need properly fitted n-95 masks and HEPA air filters for their offices and isolation rooms.

Construction projects at three of the districts high schools  Corcoran, Henninger and Nottingham  are still ongoing, raising space concerns at those schools.

Scott said teachers working in some of those buildings are sharing classrooms for remote classes, some six to a room, because other parts of the building are not accessible. So its not clear how they will find a place for all the students to be properly spaced out in less than two weeks, he said.

Scott said its possible the district could come up with a compromise that brings some students back sooner than others. One idea is to bring those in pre-k through second grade back sooner.

Parents of special needs students, whose learning and therapies dont translate well to online learning, have also said they want their kids back in school. There are 4,500 special education students in Syracuse. Every other district in the county has brought special education students back for at least some days of in-person education each week.

Scott doesnt see how the district can get all of the concerns addressed in less than two weeks.

If all the planets align  and some miracle happens. But if it doesnt, were going to need a Plan B, he said. Everyone very much wants to get back to the kids and see them in person, everyone is rooting for that, but we cant let our enthusiasm blind us to the remaining safety things.

Are you a teacher, parent or student in the Syracuse school district? Reporter Marnie Eisenstadt wants to hear from you about how its going so far. Contact her anytime: email | Twitter| Facebook | 315-470-2246

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Complete education coverage on syracuse.com
Chinese solar manufacturer Dehui is planning mass production of 12-busbar bifacial panels based on 182mm wafers from next year. Dehui's current, 166mm-wafer modules offer conversion efficiencies of 21.6-22.5%.Chinese solar module manufacturer Dehui is planning to increase the production capacity of its Vietnamese factory to 3 GW. The company currently has annual module manufacturing capacity of 2.25 GW - and 1.5 GW for cells - at its sole production site, at the Dai Dong-Hoan Son Industrial Park, in Vietnam's Bac Ninh province. "The cell capacity is expected to be raised to 2 GW by April 2022 ...

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.
A school deputy headteacher has tragically died after he was injured by cows while out walking on farmland in North Yorkshire.

David Clark, deputy head of Richmond School, was injured by cows in a field near Richmond at 7.30pm on Monday (21 September).

Emergency services, including the Great North Air Ambulance Service, were called to the scene of the incident.

Mr Clark, aged in his 50s, was treated by paramedics, but sadly he was pronounced dead at the scene.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said: "Officers from the local Neighbourhood Policing Team will be working to support those affected by his death today.

"The Health and Safety Executive has been informed, and enquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances."

The tragedy comes after an elderly man died from his injuries following an incident involving cattle in North Yorkshire in June.

The NFU, on its website, explains that livestock attacks on the public are 'very rare' given the thousands of walkers who enjoy the countryside every year.

But it adds that it is 'important' that walkers are aware of risks from livestock and to take precautions to reduce the chances of any incident.

The NFU says: Remember that it is a working environment where animals graze. Walkers should be mindful of their surroundings to fully enjoy the experience.

Be vigilant, especially on entering a field or where you cannot see the whole field, and try to stay away from animals and to be aware of their movements

"In the spring its especially important to be sympathetic to farm animals rearing their young and give them space.
The first batch of depositors whose funds were locked up as a result of government's financial sector clean-up exercise in 2019 are expected to receive their monies today in cash, the Registrar General has stated.

This will be followed by withdrawals from a mutual fund a week later on September 30, this year.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in November last year revoked the licences of some 53 fund management firms for operating their institutions outside the confines of laid-down industry regulations.

According to the Official Liquidator, the fund will have a short term (Tier 1) component which will allow the depositors to retrieve a portion of their claims immediately in cash and the remaining in a medium term (Tier 2) component (a mutual fund) that shall have time-based withdrawal restrictions.

The Registrar General, Jemima Oware, who is also the Official Liquidator of these companies, disclosed this when she met the investors and creditors recently in a virtual meeting.

She said the validated investors would receive pro-rata shares of their validated amounts into the two tiers [Tier 1 and Tier 2] of Amalgamated Fund Limited.

But investors in companies that are currently not included in the ongoing exercise will be called to join it when the liquidation orders are obtained for their firms from the courts.

According to the Registrar General, the bailout package was being offered to investors via a special purpose vehicle (SPV), a mutual fund, which shall be managed by GCB Capital, the investment banking arm of GCB Bank.

Investors (claimants) who choose to participate in the bailout programme shall exchange their interest in the defunct fund management companies for shares in the SPV after which such allocations would be in validated claims.

However, claimants who do not subscribe to the bailout scheme will have to wait for a proportional liquidation dividend from the Official Liquidator.

The opportunity offered by the government and the SEC is to restore confidence in Ghana's capital market.

The 20 fund management firms have been cleared by the court for their liquidation.

Government recently released GH3.56 billion to be paid to investors whose monies were converted into bonds which could mature in five years' time. It has already settled 90 per cent of locked-up funds leaving the current percent being catered for.

---Daily Guide
Studies have shown that wealthy people live longer, but new research suggests it may be their novel experiences that makes them believe they do.

A team at the Norwegian University of Science and Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience discovered a network of brain cells that expresses our sense of time within experiences and memories.

The team found that enjoyable experiences, such as vacations and hobbies, create time codes in the brain that are more memorable and are easier to recall than events that are boring  making it seem we have been on the Earth longer.

On the other hand, their work also shows that the brain typically does not stamp events that are mundane or constantly repeated, leaving us less to look back on.

Researchers suggest that when you recall on a memory where you whisked away to a tropical island or spent an afternoon tinkering on a vintage car, life feels longer in retrospect.

The team found that enjoyable experiences, such as vacations and hobbies, create time codes in the brain that are more memorable and are easier to recall than events that are boring  making it seem we have been on the Earth longer. When you recall on a memory where you whisked away to a tropical island or spent an afternoon tinkering on a vintage car, life feels longer in retrospect'

Valtteri Arstila, a professor of philosophy at the University of Helsinki, told National Geographic: I think like the main thing is that wealthy people have the option of getting rid of their daily routines.

Researchers from the Norwegian University of Science and Kavli Institute for Systems found the area of the brain that creates these time codes is located in the medial entorhinal cortex.

They conducted experiments with two groups of rats while monitor this region.

In one experiment, a rat was introduced to a wide range of experiences and options for action.

A team at the Norwegian University of Science and Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience discovered a network of brain cells that expresses our sense of time within experiences and memories.

It was free to run around, investigate and chase bits of chocolate while visiting a series of open space environments.

PhD candidate Jrgen Sugar said: 'The uniqueness of the time signal during this experiment suggests that the rat had a very good record of time and temporal sequence of events throughout the two hours the experiment lasted.'

'We were able to use the signal from the time-coding network to track exactly when in the experiment various events had occurred.'

In the second experiment, the task was more structured with a narrower range of experiences and options for action.

The rat was trained to chase after bits of chocolate while turning left or right in a figure-eight maze.

Albert Tsao with Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience said: 'With this activity, we saw the time-coding signal change character from unique sequences in time to a repetitive and partly overlapping pattern.

'On the other hand, the time signal became more precise and predictable during the repetitive task.

According to Sugar, the data shows that the brain is not willing to waste time memorizing moments that are boring.

So the rats seemed to create more memories when they were engaging in free or varied actions, rather than something that is though out and predictable, he added.

Sugar also explained to National Geographic that there are differences between how short-term memory feels in the moment.

They conducted experiments with two groups of rats while monitor this region. The rats seemed to create more memories when they were engaging in free or varied actions, rather than something that is though out and predictable

He gives the example of students sitting in two different lectures- one was boring and the other interesting.

The pupil in the boring discussion saw time inching by while the other thought it was flying.

When recalling both events, the boring class created fewer time codes that the brain eliminated after a period of time.

The interesting lecture was full of memories and felt longer in retrospect.

However, other experts not involved in the study are not convinced.

Adrian Bejan, a professor of thermodynamics at Duke University, said the novelty of exciting experiences will eventually wear off and the wealth do not have the power to trick time into slowing down.

Benja told National Geographic that although taking fun trips may slow time for a bit, it will lose its charm.

The rich individual will become bored at some point and want to return to the office, which will again speed up time.
By Laurence Frost

PARIS (Reuters) - Global airlines called on Tuesday for airport COVID-19 tests for all departing international passengers to replace the quarantines they blame for exacerbating the travel slump.

Rapid and affordable antigen tests that can be administered by non-medical staff are expected to become available in "coming weeks" and should be rolled out under globally agreed standards, the head of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said during an online media briefing.

"We don't see any alternative solution that would be less challenging or more effective," IATA Director General Alexandre de Juniac said.

Airlines hammered by the pandemic are pressing governments to embrace alternatives to blanket travel restrictions that are still hampering a traffic recovery - and now tightening again in Europe amid resurgent case numbers.

With rapid antigen tests becoming available for as little as $7 each, De Juniac said, airlines will push for their use to be endorsed by International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the U.N. agency that oversees global aviation rules.

IATA believes production could be quickly increased to millions per day and the tests phased in between late October and the end of the year, "helping to save a part of the winter season", De Juniac told Reuters television.

A global agreement is needed to ensure pre-departure test results are uniformly accepted by the destination country, he said. "It will also boost passenger confidence that everybody on the aircraft has been tested."

The airlines' position has evolved with the test technology. IATA argued a month ago for new rules to recognise lab-based PCR tests conducted 48 hours before departure.

Last-minute airport screening is more effective because it "seals off the system" against forged certificates or infections contracted just before travel, De Juniac said on Tuesday.

Antigen tests are faster but less sensitive and therefore slightly more likely to miss positive cases than the PCR alternatives, although the accuracy gap has narrowed.

Among companies marketing the new tests, German diagnostics specialist Qiagen said earlier this month it planned to launch a COVID-19 antigen test that provided results in 15 minutes and could be deployed in airports or stadiums.

(Reporting by Laurence Frost; Editing by Jason Neely, Mark Potter and Alexandra Hudson)
Brussels pushes tougher asylum rules to win backing for reform Europe's plan to redistribute migrants and refugees between EU member states will face opposition in many of them

The European Commission on Wednesday proposed tougher border controls and streamlined procedures for expelling rejected asylum seekers as its migration reform plan was criticised as a climbdown to appease anti-immigrant member states.

The long-awaited proposal for a "New Pact on Migration and Asylum" comes two weeks after fire destroyed an overcrowded camp on the Greek island of Lesbos, and five years after Europe's last major migrant crisis.

It proposes that EU member states that do not want to volunteer to house more migrants -- and reduce pressure on Italy and Greece, where most arrivals land -- can instead take charge of sending those whose asylum requests are rejected back to their homelands.

"We want to live up to our values, and at the same time face the challenges of a globalised world," the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said, warning that the old system "no longer works".

The proposal disappointed migrants' rights activists and refugee agencies who had hoped for compulsory quotas for refugee settlement and an end to a "Fortress Europe" ringed by squalid refugee camps.

"It's a compromise between xenophobia and cowardice," tweeted Francois Gemenne, Belgian migration expert and professor of environmental geopolitics.

But the plan is likely to face a rough reception in national capitals, many of which are reluctant to take charge of refugees on their own soil and keen to see Brussels take ownership of the problem.

- Sceptical reception -

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz told AFP that mandatory quotas for refugees for EU countries "won't work".

Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia also oppose compulsory relocation, having torpedoed such plans after the 2015 migration crisis.

Their prime ministers -- Mateusz Morawiecki of Poland, Andrej Babis of the Czech Republic, Slovakia's Igor Matowic and Hungary's Viktor Orban are due in Brussels to meet von der Leyen on Thursday.

Story continues

Hungarian government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs said Budapest's stand remains unchanged.

"We must ensure that the external borders of the EU and the Schengen Area remain perfectly sealed along all sections," he said.

But von der Leyen promises the new plan will deliver an accelerated process to remove migrants who are unlikely to obtain asylum.

European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson said the plans would make the EU "more effective" on returns.

For example, those from countries with a lower than 20 percent positive response rate to asylum applications, such as Tunisia or Morocco, will be processed at the border and within 12 weeks.

In the proposal, frontline countries under excessive migratory pressure such as Italy and Malta can request the activation of a "compulsory solidarity mechanism".

All states will then be called on to contribute, according to their economic weight and population.

But in an EU innovation, they will be able to choose whether to receive asylum seekers, "sponsor" the return of migrants who do not have the right to stay or help to build reception centres.

This may not be enough for countries such as Sweden, which has a tradition of taking in refugees.

"As we understand things so far, it will now be possible to contribute in other ways, but if that's the case then it has to be real measures," Migration Minister Morgan Johansson told news agency TT.

EU countries should not be allowed, for example, to send a nurse to help out for two weeks instead of taking in asylum seekers, he said.

- 'Long live Dublin' -

In the event of a crisis similar to that of 2015 -- when more than a million refugees arrived, compared with only 140,000 per year now -- the choice will be reduced to taking charge of relocating refugees or repatriating rejected migrants.

But if an EU country fails to return migrants to their country of origin within eight months, it must take them in -- an idea that a European source admitted would be hard for smaller countries to accept.

Von der Leyen said last week the proposal would replace the "Dublin Regulation" with "a new European migration governance system" -- but the plans unveiled on Wednesday stick pretty closely to the status quo.

The Dublin Regulation states that asylum claims must be processed by the migrant's country of arrival, a rule that has angered southern members where seaborne migrants arrive.

In the Commission's proposal, the country responsible for the application could instead be the one where a migrant has a relative or where he or she has worked or studied. Any country that issued a visa to a migrant will have to handle any asylum application.

Otherwise, however, the country of arrival is still responsible.

Observers said the plan as unveiled maintains more or less the same principle as Dublin, with some flexibility.

"It all looks like window dressing, it's more or less Dublin is dead, long live Dublin," said migration researcher Yves Pascouau of the Jacques Delors Institute.

Marissa Ryan of aid agency Oxfam said the plan "bowed to pressure from EU governments whose only objective is to decrease the number of people granted protection in Europe".

alm-dc/arp/bp
New York, US (PANA) - Despite the continent-wide approach taken by African countries to combat COVID-19, the pandemic has set back their development aspirations, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa told world leaders at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.

Speaking via video-link, Mr. Ramaphosa noted that, with resources redirected to fighting the virus, efforts to provide housing, health care, water and sanitation, and education have been hampered, and called for interest payments on African countries debt to be suspended.

Until we eradicate global poverty, we will always fall short of realizing the vision of the founders of the United Nations, Mr. Ramaphosa told world leaders, reminding them of the importance of meeting all the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UNs 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development..

The South African President emphasized gender equality, including the expansion of opportunities for women, and ensuring their rights in the workplace, political life, and in society as a whole.

South Africa, he noted, is a member of the UNs Generation Equality, prioritizing the eradication of gender-based violence and femicide, and is working to adopt an African Union Convention on violence against women. African Union member states, he continued, are also working on measures to support financial inclusion for women.

Turning to peace and security matters, Mr. Ramaphosa declared that South Africa is continuing with efforts to silence the guns, through conflict resolution and peace-building.

Increased cooperation between the UN and African Union has, he said, contributed to improving peace and security in the Darfur region of Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Mali and the Central African Republic.

And, as a non-permanent member of the Security Council, South Africa has, continued Mr. Ramaphosa, promoted international peace and security by advocating for the peaceful settlement of disputes and inclusive dialogue.

Looking ahead to the post-pandemic recovery, Mr. Ramaphosa noted that it presents an opportunity to place the global economy on a low-carbon, climate resilient developmental path.

The principles of green, and circular, economies must be advanced, he declared, for the sake of the environment, as well as for job creation and economic growth.

The South African premier added that climate change adaptation, mitigation and support must be at the heart of the global recovery effort.

For Mr. Ramaphosa, one of the upshots of the pandemic is that is has presented the world with a choice, and an opportunity to create a new order, rooted in solidarity, equality and unity of purpose.

When history faithfully records the global response to the worst health emergency of this century, concluded Mr. Ramaphosa, 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.

-0- PANA AR 23Sept2020
ALBANY  Sixteen cases of coronavirus were confirmed among Albany County residents overnight, officials announced Wednesday.

Contact tracers determined that 13 of the new cases were people who had close contact with an infected person. A possible source of transmission for the other three could not be immediately determined.

The county said a dozen of the new cases are associated with the University at Albany, which has been working to contain an outbreak that was first detected Sept. 10. In the past 14 days, 113 students have tested positive for the virus, including 61 who live on campus, 42 who live off campus in the region and are taking classes remotely, and 10 who live off campus but are taking classes on campus, according to the universitys COVID-19 dashboard.

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 university has recorded 69 such cases during the current time period, which began Sept. 12 and ends Friday.

Meanwhile, the number of Albany County residents who were hospitalized with the virus remained at eight overnight.

Yesterday marked a tragic milestone for our country  200,000 COVID-related deaths since the outbreak began, with the toll growing higher by the day, County Executive Dan McCoy said Wednesday. Thats more than the combined populations of the city of Albany and the town of Colonie, wiped out. My heart breaks for every family who has lost someone they love to this pandemic, especially those here in Albany County.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

While the infection rate remains low and our hospital data is stable here in the Capital Region and throughout New York, this is a reminder that we still have a long road ahead of us, he continued. Please continue to do the right thing and wear masks, practice social distancing, avoid large gatherings and get tested.

Albany County has had 2,862 laboratory-confirmed cases of the virus to date and 134 known deaths. As of Wednesday, 92 county residents were battling active infections  down from 104 on Tuesday.

The five-day average of new daily cases in the county also dropped Wednesday, to 16 from 19.2.
LANSING, MI - A Michigan bill allowing local clerks to start prepping absentee ballots for tabulation early is one step closer to a House floor vote.

The House Elections and Ethics Committee approved Senate Bill 757 by a 4-1 vote with two abstaining during its Sep. 23 hearing. The bill will be reviewed at least once more by the Ways and Means Committee before consideration by the House.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Ruth Johnson, R-Holly, would allow clerks from cities with at least 25,000 residents to start pre-processing absentee ballots between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. the day before the Nov. 3 general election. It also outlines the pre-processing procedure for clerks before Election Day, how inspectors can validate proper ballot handling and what shift times vote-counting staff can work.

Local clerks have been requesting extra time to pre-process absentee ballots, which are a time-consuming and meticulous effort compared to in-person voting, according to Delhi Township Clerk Evan Hope.

The average person, unless they have worked elections, doesnt realize this. Its not as simple as just running a ballot through a tabulator.

Read more: Why it takes so long to count absentee ballots

Previous Senate testimony by local clerks explained that each absentee ballot requires a few minutes to verify a voters signature on the return envelope before it is opened, remove and open the secrecy envelope, flatten the absentee ballot and feed it into the tabulator.

With more than 2.39 million Michigan residents requesting absentee ballots this year per Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, the bill would provide more buffer time for election workers to conduct this pre-process. Local clerks would need to request the extra day at least 20 days before Nov. 3.

In addition, inspectors appointed by election boards would be required to record how many ballot return envelopes were opened, how many didnt contain signatures and how many were set aside for extra inspection on Election Day. At least one Democratic and Republican inspector would have to be present at poll locations at all times and couldnt leave secrecy envelopes unattended.

Each township or city requesting additional pre-processing time would have to place secrecy envelopes in a tamper-resistant metal container approved by the local election board by Oct. 15. Use of an unauthorized container is a misdemeanor crime punishable by up to 90 days imprisonment or a $500 fine.

After Election Day, the Secretary of State has to report the following to the House and Senate election committees, according to an analysis by the House Fiscal Agency:

How many cities and townships participated in the pre-processing procedures

The number of registered voters (including active ones), the number of absentee voters, the number of in-person voters, the number of absentee ballots not returned, the number of people on the permanent absentee voter list and the number of ballots that required duplication.

How many return envelopes were opened before Election Day, how many didnt contain a voters signature and were returned to the local clerk and how many were challenged by inspectors.

How many secrecy envelopes were stored in approved containers.

Whether or not the number of return envelopes opened the day before matched the secrecy envelopes delivered to absentee voter counters on Nov. 3.

Election workers would also be required to be at the polling location all day. While new workers could relieve them for a shift, none of the workers could leave the polling location until they close.

A House vote on the bill would depend on how quickly it makes it through the Ways and Means Committee. It is currently not on the schedule for the committees next hearing Thursday, making a floor vote unlikely this week.

Amber McCann, spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clark Lake, said after the Senate vote that Republican leaders are hopeful the bill will assist clerks in November.

Senator Shirkey hopes this will be a helpful change to assist local clerks in processing ballots while still protecting the integrity of the election, McCann said.

Read more from MLive:

Michigan Senate passes bill to allow absentee ballot processing to begin one day early

Appeals court rules sending absentee ballot applications to all registered voters was legal

Michigan clerks begin mailing absentee ballots this week

A third of active Michigan voters have requested absentee ballots

Michigan clerks to state lawmakers: We need more time to count November ballots
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 18:02:38|Editor: huaxia

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BERLIN, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Ambassador to Germany Wu Ken on Tuesday called for mutual respect in China's relations with the European Union (EU).

Wu made the remarks during a video interview with Deutsche Presse Agentur (DPA) days after the China-Germany-EU leaders' meeting.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel made China-EU relations a priority after Germany took over the rotating EU presidency in July, said Wu.

The China-Germany-EU virtual meeting is vital for China-EU relations, he noted, adding that the negotiations for a mutual investment agreement has reached its final stages and both sides have showed their political will to strike a deal within this year.

The Chinese envoy said that it is inevitable that there will be problems or even disputes with such extensive cooperation between China and the EU.

"It is important that we are always ready to talk to one another. As long as we follow the principle of mutual respect and non-interference in internal affairs of other countries and communicate based on facts, we can discuss any topic," said Wu.

"We are of the opinion that one should do one's own homework, rather than raise a moralizing finger," he said. Enditem
An icebreaker with the power to crunch through frozen seas and navigate polar storms has docked in the port of San Francisco on its way to Antarctica.

The research vessel, the Nathaniel B. Palmer, is the flagship icebreaker in the U.S. Antarctic Programs fleet. It was scheduled to dock outside the Exploratorium at Pier 17 until Thursday afternoon, but departed for Chile one day early on Wednesday to begin the journey south.

The Palmers brief stop in San Francisco to pick up a team of 31 scientists may be the first and last time a vessel of its stature passes through the citys port. Researchers typically board in Chile or New Zealand, but had to use a domestic port due to restrictions on international travel.

The team of scientists, who have been quarantining in San Francisco, will journey to the bottom of the Earth to study the molecular biodiversity in the Southern Ocean, said Dr. Karla Heidelberg, program director in the Office of Polar Programs at the National Science Foundation, which operates the ship.

Strict quarantine measures are in place to ensure that the crew and scientists do not carry COVID-19 to the three U.S. research bases in Antarctica, which have so far remained virus-free.

The team will study ocean-dwelling invertebrates that populate the waters encircling Antarctica. The Southern Ocean, or Antarctic Ocean as it is also known, has the worlds strongest ocean current, whose centrifugal force forms a biological barrier that prevents it from mixing with other ocean waters.

Mark Lundgren / The Chronicle

The 300-foot icebreaker, equipped with advanced scientific tools, will travel to different regions of the Southern Ocean to answer the question, Are the organisms in isolated pockets or is it a well-mixed soup around the continent? Heidelberg said.

The answer will help researchers better understand the origin and evolution of invertebrates that have adapted to survive in one of the harshest environments on Earth.

But in order to do that, the scientists themselves will have to brave the continents finger-numbing, teeth-chattering cold. Antarctica is heading into summertime, along with the rest of the Southern Hemisphere, but temperatures still regularly drop well below zero.

Despite the deep-freeze temperatures, there are consolations to life at sea. The Palmer has a sauna, a gym and a lounge equipped with a television and more than 150 movies on VHS. The icebreakers limited internet is reserved for research purposes and quick email blasts only.

But those small comforts of home pale in comparison to the sight of Antarcticas star-filled nighttime skies, unadulterated by light pollution, or the lifelong friendships that bond many crew members and scientists, Heidelberg said.

People who go to sea together remain friends for a very long time, she said.

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

The 28-year old icebreaker, named for the American sailor who is credited with first seeing Antarctica, anchored in San Francisco on Sunday. The ships arrival was intense, owing to the logistical challenge of getting a federal research vessel into port on time with the proper paperwork, said port manager Christopher Mourgos.

Visitors to Pier 17 may notice a barge parked alongside the icebreaker. Thats a sewage barge, transporting wastewater from the ship to a disposal site in Alameda. The barge makes daily trips to empty the ships 5,000-gallon sewage tank, Mourgos said.

Once the icebreaker departs, those on board will not set foot on unfrozen land again until the ship returns to the U.S. in mid-December.

Nora Mishanec is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: nora.mishanec@sfchronicle.com
NC church honors local police officers with Visa gift cards, appreciation plaques

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As police officers across the United States face low morale amid a wave of social unrest and calls for the defunding of police departments, a North Carolina church has taken it upon itself to express support and appreciation for its local police force.

Open Door Baptist Church in the town of Hickory, North Carolina held a special service earlier this month to honor the 19 members of the Long View Police Department.

Police Chief T.J. Bates spoke at the event, where officers were presented with $100 Visa gift cards and plaques of appreciation

In an interview with The Christian Post, Pastor Shawn Davis explained that the decision to hold the event was made after holding a meeting with Bates. During the meeting, Bates spoke of the low morale among the officers.

Davis hopes that his gestures of goodwill will provide the Long View Police Department with a much-needed morale boost.

We prayed over them and asked for Gods blessing, safety, and protection, he said. We let them know we appreciated their service and courage.

Davis maintained that we cant have a society and be civil without the police.

If somebodys breaking into my house, I call the police department, the pastor explained. We need the police department. One bad apple dont spoil the whole bunch.

Amid the ongoing debate about policing in the U.S., Davis contends that the negative voices are the loudest.

He said that he hopes that his church community, over 300 of whom attended the event, can be a positive voice for local law enforcement.

According to Davis, the congregation gave the officers a standing ovation during the service.

Davis said hopes that many other churches will follow suit and show support for their local law enforcement.

He told CP that Open Door Baptist Church plans to recognize the Long View Police Department on an annual basis.

In addition to Open Door Baptist Church, many other churches, businesses and individuals have shown police officers their appreciation.

Earlier this summer, Lighthouse Missionary Baptist Church in Jonesborough, Tennessee, donated $1,000 to each member of the local police department.

We wanted to make a bold statement in support of law enforcement, Lighthouse Pastor Perry Cleek told CP in July. Our desire was for our action to send a symbolic message of our support to the Jonesborough Police, but to also show our support in a very practical way by recognizing and supporting each individual employee.

About a month after the death of George Floyd in police custody incited national protests against police brutality, an African immigrant living in Washington, D.C. delivered food to police officers in her city in late June. She described the officers as brave men and women who took the oath  to serve the community and theyre doing just that.

Earlier in June, a restaurant in Port Richey, Florida, declared itself a safe haven for police.

That gesture came not long after a man in Alabama walked up to four police officers dining at a Cracker Barrel and offered to pay for their meal as a gesture of appreciation, refusing to take no for an answer.

Amid the anti-police rhetoric embraced by some politicians and activists, many police officers have left the force nationwide.

In the month following the death of George Floyd, 272 New York City police officers filed for retirement, a noticeable increase from the 183 New York City officers who filed for retirement during the same period in 2019.

In August, the San Francisco Chronicle reported an increase in the number of police force resignations in the first six months of the year.

In Colorado, over 200 police officers resigned in the weeks after Gov. Jared Police signed a police reform bill into law on June 19 that holds officers personally liable for their actions, according to The Denver Post.
Claims of fake news have long been a staple of President Trumps rally speeches. But in recent days, with the election less than six weeks off, he has made his rhetorical attacks on the news media more personal, with repeated references to a specific reporters suffering an injury while on the job.

At a rally in Bemidji, Minn., on Friday, Mr. Trump went after the MSNBC anchor and correspondent Ali Velshi by name, describing a moment when Mr. Velshi was hit in a knee by a rubber bullet in May while reporting on a Minneapolis protest prompted by the police killing of George Floyd. (The incident was captured live on MSNBC.)

It was the most beautiful thing, Mr. Trump said, after incorrectly stating that Mr. Velshi had been hit by a tear-gas canister. He added, Its called law and order.

The president brought up the incident again the next day at a rally in Fayetteville, N.C., to more applause.
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Linkedin M. Taufiqurrahman and Galih Gumelar (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, September 23, 2020 08:21 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c468dcf9 1 Politics COVID-19,RegionalElections,Luhut-Binsar-Pandjaitan,Central-Java,President-Jokowi,Gibran-Rakabuming-Raka,PDI-P Free

With rising concerns that political campaigning in the lead-up to the regional elections could become super-spreader events for COVID-19, a senior government official has said that security authorities will crack down on campaign activities found to be in violation of social-distancing rules.

Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Pandjaitan, who is leading the government's efforts to curb infection rates in nine provinces hardest-hit by COVID-19, said that the National Police, with the help of the Indonesian Military (TNI), could take measures to break up political campaigning and arrest participants who failed to maintain social distancing.

"I have told the National Police chief and head of regional police forces to crack down on [mass gatherings]. I don't want to see an event like the one in Magelang [Central Java] initiated by Gatot and KAMI. That could have an impact [...] that could kill people," Luhut said in an interview shortly before chairing a coordination meeting with the governors of the nine provinces hardest-hit by COVID-19 on Tuesday. Luhut was referring to an event attended by former TNI chief Gatot Nurmantyo, organized by a group of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's critics, which took place over the weekend.

The National Police chief Gen. Idham Azis issued a circular on Monday calling for candidates running in the December regional elections to practice social distancing.

Luhut has been a proponent of a proposal that the President could issue a regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) that would allow for the postponement of the regional elections later this year.

Read also: Regional races 'can't wait until the pandemic is over': State Palace says amid criticism

However, the administration of President Jokowi and the House of Representatives have insisted on holding the 2020 simultaneous regional elections on Dec. 9 despite the soaring number of COVID-19 cases in the country.

During a hearing at House Commission II overseeing home affairs on Monday, the government and legislators agreed not to postpone the elections on the grounds that the outbreak is still under control.

To prevent the spread of COVID-19 during political campaigning and balloting, the House only urged the General Elections Commission (KPU) to tighten social distancing rules and health measures, which will apply from the campaigning period starting on Sept. 26 until polling day.

Election observers have blasted the decision to go ahead with the regional elections given that in the past few weeks, the country has seen a spike in the number of COVID-19 infections.

The number of confirmed cases in Indonesia reached 252,293 people on Tuesday. The previous day the daily number of new cases in the country hit a record high of 4,176.

The decision to press ahead with holding the regional elections has been made despite the ever greater number of poll officials who have contracted the coronavirus.

Over the past three weeks, several central and regional KPU officials have tested positive for COVID-19, including KPU chairman Arief Budiman.

Meanwhile, on Sept. 12, the KPU recorded that 63 out of 743 prospective candidates had tested positive for the disease, but this number had declined to 13 on Monday as most of them have now recovered.

The government and the House are acting irrationally by neglecting public health and deciding to carry on with the elections, said constitutional law expert at Andalas University in West Sumatra, Feri Amsari, during a virtual press conference on Tuesday.

A regulation in lieu of the 2016 Regional Elections law [Perppu] could allow the postponement of the elections if the outbreak still persists. Why doesn't the government make that move?

Cofounder of the Network for Democracy and Electoral Integrity (Netgrit) and former KPU commissioner Hadar Nafis Gumay also called on the government to postpone the elections, if for no other reason than what happened during the candidate registration period from Sept. 4 to Sept. 6.

At that time, the Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) found that 243 prospective candidates had ignored social-distancing rules by bringing large entourages to register their candidacies at their local KPU headquarters. Epidemiologists said that such political gatherings could become super-spreader events that could lead to a spike in the number of cases.

Hadar said that since most political candidates were oblivious to the possible dangers of COVID-19 they could be expected to commit the same violations during the announcement of election candidates on Sept. 23 and the drawing of their candidacy numbers the following day.

Those situations should be perceived as solid arguments for the government to postpone the elections. We dont want the polls to be postponed until the outbreak ends. We only want the elections to be delayed until a time when the KPU and the government can come up with new election mechanisms that minimize the chance of face-to-face interactions, he said.

Political parties have differing views on postponing the local elections.

Mardani Ali Sera, a lawmaker on House Commission II from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), said the government should heed the call for the postponement of the elections.

Meanwhile, Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto said the polls should take place as scheduled given that there was no timeline as to when the pandemic would end. The party is currently backing 256 prospective candidates in this years elections, including President Jokowi's son Gibran Rakabuming Raka who is running for mayor of Surakarta in Central Java.

Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD said the government had been firm in its decision to hold the polls in December and pledged that it would prioritize public health by imposing strict social-distancing measures.

Mahfud also said that he had held a meeting on Tuesday with election organizing bodies, law enforcement agencies and representatives of political parties, all of which were committed to adhering to strict social-distancing protocols.
MassDOT Innovation Series Virtual Webinar

BOSTON, Mass.  The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) will host a virtual transportation webinar on the "Standards & Design for Stream Crossings & Geomorphic Compatibility."

The webinar is scheduled to be held on Thursday, Sept. 24, at 2:00 p.m. via Zoom and will be open to the general public at no cost.

The webinar will focus on the latest technical developments in the MassDOT Highway Divisions approach to stream crossings and resilient design using the principals of fluvial geomorphology. The members of the panel will discuss experiences that are anticipated to guide future innovations for providing resilient, cost-effective, habitat-friendly stream crossings in Massachusetts.

Panelists include: Tim Dexter of MassDOT, John Pierce of MassDOT, Roy Schiff of Milone & MacBroom, and Matthew Lundsted of Comprehensive Environmental Inc.

The upcoming webinar is part of a new Innovation Webinar Series being offered by MassDOT, with the support of the UMass Transportation Center at UMass Amherst, to highlight some of the latest innovations in transportation. The series will include a variety of topics related to technology and other innovations including cross-agency collaborations and partnerships.

All transportation practitioners from federal, state, regional, and local transportation agencies, transit agencies, academia, and private industry are invited to attend these free sessions. Registrants are invited to come with their stream-crossing questions and share examples of the successes and challenges/obstacles they have faced with regard to this topic.

The link to register can be found here
Telecom operator Bharti Airtel has said that it has paid the first installment of over Rs 18,000 crore of the adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues. The next payment is due in fiscal year 2021-22, Sunil Bharti led telco also said in a letter to Department of Telecommunications (DoT).

The statement came after the government informed the Parliament on Tuesday that Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea have to pay 10 per cent of the AGR dues demanded by the DoT by March 31, 2021, as directed by the Supreme Court.

"Airtel has written to the government,explaining its interpretation of the Supreme Court judgment and how its next installment is now due in the next fiscal (year starting April 1 2021). Vodafone Idea has also verbally communicated a similar point of view," The Economic Times reported citing an unidentified source.

Earlier the Supreme Court had asked the telecom operators to make 10 per cent upfront payment of their dues by March 31, 2021 to the DoT. The top court had said that the remaining could be paid over a period of 10 years beginning April 1, 2021.

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, according to the government's calculations.

However, the telcos maintain that they have already paid over the 10 per cent of their AGR dues, while the DoT said 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 telecom companies have lately reached out to their legal counsels so as to make sense of the apex court's order amid ambiguity over the calculation of dues.

Also read: AGR dues: Telcos need to pay 10% of total liability by 31 March 2021 , clarifies DoT
People wait for flu vaccine shots that they opted to pay for at a public medical clinic in Gwangju, Wednesday. Yonhap



By Kim Se-jeong



A flu vaccine crisis is looming after the government's temporary halt of a free vaccination program created panic among the public, Wednesday, with people rushing to pay for flu shots nationwide.



Pediatric clinics were especially busy dealing with parents asking about paying for flu shots for their children.



Other clinics were also busy fielding similar inquiries, with some seeing people queuing to pay for vaccinations.



The government suspended its free program after its supply was subject to inappropriate storage temperatures during transit.



This year, the government obtained 29.5 million flu vaccine doses, among which 19 million were allocated for the free shot program for children, pregnant women and the elderly. The remainder have to be paid for at medical clinics which charge between 10,000 won and 40,000 won.






Illustrative image (Source: phnompenhpost.com)

So far, the storm has left 11 dead, including eight people killed by a lightning strike and three others swept away by floodwater. Meanwhile, nearly 2,000 houses and about 312 hectares of rice and crop farm have been submerged. At the same time, 475 residents had to leave homes for a safer place.





According to Cambodias National Committee for Disaster Management, storm Noul's impact has caused flash flood in some parts of five provinces - Preah Sihanouk, Koh Kong, Oddar Meanchey, Pailin and Pursat.



Pailin has been the hardest-hit locality with 40 houses and 400m of canals affected. Governor Phan Chanthul said that heavy rains and flooding also affected 80 households in Sala Krao, while drowning the whole crop areas in the locality.



On September 21, a large bridge in Phnim Kravanh district of Pursat province collapsed, interrupting transportation activities through the bridge./.
An Offaly native and children's author was inspired to write his first book in 2017 after watching multi million selling children's author David Walliams being interviewed on television and deciding he could do too?

Now, Ray Flannery, who is originally from Banagher, is looking forward to the release of the third book in the 'Moany McMoan: The Accidential Hero' series. Telling the story of Mickey 'Moany McMoan', Mickey is a loveable rogue, who seems to have this amazing ability to find trouble without every trying too hard to find it. Mickey lives in Banban and is a sporty ten year old, who has one simple dream..... he wants to be famous. He does manage to achieve this but just not quite in the manner he had imagined.

In this third instalment of Mickey's adventures, the reader gets to read all about his adventures that he gets up to and including the summer holidays. Speaking to the Tribune recently, Ray said he was looking forward to the release of his latest book, despite not being able to launch the book in the 'traditional' way due to Covid-19.

Also, Ray was delighted to announced that he and his publisher, Book Hub Publishing, were teaming up with the Garda based charity called 'Little Blue Heros'. This charity does amazing work and gives some children the opportunity to become honourary Gardai. A percentage of all profits will be going to Little Blue Heros and as a serving member of An Garda Siochana, I am proud to be associated with them and hope to raise lots of money for them, the children's author explained.

Ray, who resides in Dublin, also contributed chapters for three books in the 'Mental Health for Millennials series', the next book of which is due out in October. Meanwhile, the latest book in the 'Moany McMoan' series is available through www.bookhubpublishing.com along with the first two books in the series if readers want to check it out.
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / September 23, 2020 / Belise Gakwaya is currently a substation technical engineer at Eversource Energy in New Hampshire, USA. She is responsible for monitoring substation conditions to ensure system reliability. She collects and analyzes that ensures preventative maintenance. Belise looks ahead to an exciting, stable and rewarding engineering career path.

Before embarking on her career at Eversource Energy in New Hampshire, Belise interned at one of Ayabatwa's manufacturing plants in Uganda. During her internship, she was part of the team that connected the factory to the power grid. The factory was previously powered by generators. The work involved constructing a substation on the factory premises and bringing in a 33kV line kilometers away.

Ayabatwa and Belise agree on the importance of internship for engineers. They agree that classroom theoretical knowledge is not enough to work in industries. Students need to have hands-on experience working in a real-time environment and projects. Therefore, internships give students the opportunity to apply their theoretical knowledge they have learned in the classroom. Crucially, students get first hand-exposure working under a mentor who challenges them to think outside the box. To put simply, an internship is the best way to bridge the gap between the employer's requirements and academic learning.

That is what Belise gained in her one-year internship sponsored by Ayabatwa. As Belise explains, working on electricity project in Uganda helped her to understand the full life cycle of a project, from creating a scope to procuring vendors/equipment and ultimately to completing the project.

Moving from the internship to her current position was a smooth transition because it was the same work she did in Uganda under a mentor. Belise adds that her internship in Uganda inspired her to aim for greater purpose. She has no doubt that Ayabatwa's one-year program equipped many others who benefited from the same program, especially in Africa where such opportunities are extremely limited.

Giving back to the community has always permeated Tribert Rujugiro Ayabatwa's business endeavours.

In Ayabatwa's world, contributing to the common good, especially in training young people cannot be separated from doing business. As he puts it, "without giving back to the community by empowering young people, neither a private enterprise nor a country can prosper. Communities are the foundation on which wealth is built. No one should be left behind." For Ayabatwa, seeing young people like Belise working in her chosen career of engineering is confirmation that there can be no better value than investing in people.

Contact:

David Himbara

contact@TribertRujugiroAyabatwa.net

PANAFRICAN TOBACCO GROUP

SOURCE: Tribert Rujugiro Ayabatwa

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/607424/Tribert-Rujugiro-Ayabatwas-Manufacturing-Plants-Mentor-Aspiring-Engineers-For-One-Year-That-Turns-Classroom-Theory-Into-Real-Time-Work-Environment
The construction of 11 buildings by China in a part of the remote border district of Humla that Nepal claims as its own territory has triggered a border row between the two countries, with a spontaneous protest outside the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu on Wednesday.

The buildings were constructed by the Chinese side in an area where a border pillar has been missing since Nepal built a road several years ago. There was only a hut in the area in 2005, according to Nepalese officials who visited the disputed area recently.

The Chinese side claimed that the area where the houses are built falls within the Chinese territory, Bishnu Bahadur Tamang, chair of Namkha rural municipality, who visited the area on Sunday with a team of officials, told The Kathmandu Post.

The construction of the buildings by Chinese security and border forces has been reported to Nepals home ministry.

There was a spontaneous protest in front of the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu on Wednesday afternoon against the encroachment of Nepalese territory in Humla district. The protesters chanted slogans and demanded China should vacate Nepalese territory immediately, videos posted on social media showed.

Also Read: Fake pages from China tried to disrupt US politics, says Facebook

Before they were dispersed by police, the protesters also demanded the reopening of two border posts at Tatopani and Rasuwagadhi, which have been shut for 10 months and where goods imported from China worth billions of rupee have been stuck.

A statement issued by the spokesperson of the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu said the buildings in question have been verified to be on the Chinese side of the China-Nepal border. The statement added: The Nepali side may make verification again. China and Nepal have no territorial disputes.

The statement described the two countries as friendly neighbours and said China has always respected Nepals sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Media reports said that during an inspection by a Nepalese team led by chief district officer Chirinjbi Giri on Sunday, Chinese security officials claimed their territory extended one kilometre further south from the area where the buildings are located.

Tamang, however, said Nepals territory extends two kilometres north from where the buildings are, The Kathmandu Post reported. Of the 11 houses in the disputed area, security forces live in one and the others are empty, Tamang said.

Also Read: LAC row: Five things you need to know today

After Nepalese officials reached the disputed site on Sunday, Chinese security personnel arrived in a truck, a tanker and a jeep. They used a microphone to speak with the Nepalese officials and asked them to go to the border for talks.

We spent around one-and-a-half hours at the disputed area. After we reached, a team of Chinese army and security officials came and said talks cannot be held on their territory. Then we left, Tamang said. We claimed that area to be our territory, they showed us the map and said it is theirs.

Nepals home ministry dispatched a team comprising government officials, the head of security agencies and local government representatives to Namkha rural municipality to conduct an inspection and submit a report, which is expected at the end of the week.

Chakka Bahadur Lama, the MP from Humla, said the dispute emerged after a border pillar in the area went missing.

As long as both sides do not ascertain the location of the missing pillar, the dispute will continue, Lama said. The pillar was damaged during a road construction on the Nepali territory some 12 years back. That area where the Chinese have allegedly built the concrete buildings is on the old yak caravan route used for trade between Nepal and Tibet.

During a meeting in 2015, Nepal and China had agreed to ascertain the location of the missing pillar, but no steps were taken subsequently, local officials said.

The officials further said that if a straight line of demarcation is drawn from the last existing pillar towards the location of the missing pillar, the disputed land falls inside Nepalese territory.

Parliamentarian Lama blamed negligence on the part of the Nepal government for the problem as the countrys security presence in the border area is less than that of the Chinese side.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Rezaul H Laskar Rezaul H Laskar is the Foreign Affairs Editor at Hindustan Times. His interests include movies and music. ...view detail
Staff Selection Commission on Tuesday released the revised tentative annual calendar for the year 2020-21. The commission has announced the dates of examinations including combined graduate level (CGL), combined higher secondary level (CHSL), junior engineer and multi-tasking staff and other recruitment examinations.

According to the revised calendar, SSC CHSL 2019 tier 1 exam (for leftover candidates) will be held from October 12 to 26 while CGL 2019 Tier 2 exam will be held from November 2 to 5. The junior engineer recruitment exam paper 1 will be held from October 27 to 30 while the SSC Selection Post/ Phase- VIII 2020 exam will be held from November 6 to 10.

The examination for Stenographer Grade C and D 2019 recruitment will be conducted from November 16 to 18. The junior Hindi Translator, Junior Translator and Senior Hindi Translator exam 2020 will be held on November 19.

According to the revised calendar, SSC will conduct CGL 2019 Tier 3 exam on November 22, Sub Inspector in Delhi Police and CAPF paper 1 exam 2020 from November 23 to 26, Constable executive exam 2020 from November 27 to December 14, JE Paper -2 on January 31, 2021, CHSL Tier 2, 2019 and JHT,JT, SHT paper 2 exam on February 14, 2021.

SSC Junior Engineer 2020 paper 1 exam will be held from March 22 to 25, 2021 for which the advertisement will be released on October 1. SSC CHSL 2020 advertisement will be released on November 6 and the tier-1 exam will be conducted from April 12 to 27, 2021. SSC SI, CAPF 2020 Paper 2 exam will be held on July 12, 2021. SSC MTS 2020 paper 1 exam will be held form July 1 to 20, 2021 for which the advertisement will be released on February 2, 2021. SSC GD Constable exam 2020 advertisement will release on March 25. 2021 and the exam will be held from August 2 to 25, 2021.

Candidates are advised to keep checking the official website of SSC regularly for updates or change in the dates of examination.

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Cyclotron is touting it as a way to tailor its consulting work to the specific business needs of its clients. Acting as an independent unit within the company, the team will provide white glove service to guide customers through the adoption of cloud solution and to enhance the business value its able to deliver to its clients.

Atlanta is one of the priority markets for Cyclotron due to its robust growth and varied industries which includes many in the Fortune 100.

"Embracing enterprise change is a big part of the transition to the cloud. The cloud journey involves more than the financial benefits. A lot of the return on investment depends on organizational change elements such as employee and end-user satisfaction," said Rob Riley, Director of Cloud Services.

The top priorities of organizations in the current market are all about making operations more efficient, added Steve Ellson, Director of Sales at Cyclotron. We are seeing a positive response to the Adoption practice from modern enterprises who are turning to digital transformation with cloud, driven by clear business-focused drivers.

Drawing on resources and professional experience from its network, Cyclotron aims to assist companies in Atlanta in realizing their vision of business transformation and upgrade as well as contribute to improve the standards of the modern service industry in this region. This is a strong testament of the firms commitment to prepare for its journey and support companies in Georgia in their building of business eminence. Combined with its flagship product  TeamsHub by Cyclotrons Adopt platform  enterprise change management is easier than ever. Learn more about TeamsHub by Cyclotron's Adopt platform at https://teamshub.io/microsoft-office-365-adoption-teamshub/

About Cyclotron

Cyclotron is a Microsoft Managed Partner recently having won the 2020 Top US Partner for Microsoft 365 Teams and the 2020 MSUS Partner for Social Impact as well as being the finalist for the 2020 Partner of the Year for Social Impact.

Cyclotron was proudly founded in San Francisco with the sole intent of accelerating the success of our clients. We solve mission-critical business and technology challenges, through proven industry-specific frameworks. We are a trusted strategic partner to many innovative organizations in the financial, health and life sciences, public, retail, and technology sectors. Our solutions boost productivity, enhance collaboration, and integrate intelligence across your entire enterprise.
New South Wales residents will be able to holiday in South Australia after the state recorded just six new cases of COVID-19 in hotel quarantine.

None of the new coronavirus cases reported on Wednesday were acquired within the community, giving the green light for South Australia to open its borders.

South Australia Premier Steven Marshall said the border reopening would go head if no new cases of community transmission were recorded.

SA will lift its COVID-19 border restrictions with NSW from midnight on Wednesday and drop the two-week quarantine requirement.

South Australia Premier Steven Marshall (pictured) said the state would open its borders to NSW on Wednesday at midnight if no new cases of community transmission were recorded

NSW recorded just six new cases of COVID-19 from travellers in hotel quarantine on Wednesday and no locally acquired cases (Sydney airport pictured)

'NSW has been doing extraordinarily well. We can't wait to welcome people from NSW with open arms,' Mr Marshall told Nine Network on Wednesday.

This marked the second day in a row with no community transmission of coronavirus in NSW.

'The last time NSW had consecutive days without community transmission was July 3, 4, and 5,' a statement from NSW Health said.

The new cases brought the total number of infections recorded in NSW to 4,023.

There were also 16,759 tests recorded in the 24-hour reporting period.

'This is a good result for New South Wales,' NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.

'We know that there are still a number of risks in NSW including the high likelihood that the virus is circulating, especially in Western and South-Western Sydney, undetected.

'Which is why we really need to make sure anybody who has the mildest of symptoms comes forward and gets tested,' she warned.

NSW has also gone a fortnight without recording an untraceable case of the virus.

Visitors from NSW will no longer be required to quarantine for two weeks when crossing the South Australian border (NSW Police pictured at Sydney Airport)

Qantas is expected to add flights from Sydney to Adelaide this week along with budget airline Jetstar (pictured in Byron Bay) in time for the school holidays

South Australia currently has no active coronavirus infections (Sydney airport pictured)

Health authorities are currently treating 74 people for coronavirus, including three cases in intensive care, one of whom is being ventilated.

NSW residents have been urged to wear masks where social distancing is not possible.

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.

Virgin Australia plans to resume daily flights between Sydney and Adelaide and will offer three flights a week between Canberra and Adelaide from October 12.

The airline has flagged adding even more flights from November.

South Australia also lifted quarantine requirements for travellers coming from the ACT last week, providing a needed boost to the aviation industry (Sydney Airport pictured)

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.

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.
(TNS)  The Los Angeles Police Department has used facial recognition software nearly 30,000 times since 2009, with hundreds of officers running images of suspects from surveillance cameras and other sources against a massive database of mugshots taken by law enforcement.The new figures, released to the Los Angeles, reveal for the first time how commonly facial recognition is used in the department, which for years has provided vague and contradictory information about how and whether it uses the technology.The LAPD has consistently denied having records related to facial recognition, and at times denied using the technology at all.The truth is that, while it does not have its own facial recognition platform, LAPD personnel have access to facial recognition software through a regional database maintained by the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. And between Nov. 6, 2009, and Sept. 11 of this year, LAPD officers used the systems software 29,817 times.More than 300 LAPD personnel have access to the software.Josh Rubenstein, an LAPD spokesman, said he could not determine how many leads from the system have developed into arrests, but that the technology has helped identify suspects in gang crimes where witnesses were too fearful to come forward and in crimes where no witnesses existed.He said it has helped officers solve crimes faster than they otherwise would, and confirmed that it was recently used by the SAFE LA task force  a coalition of law enforcement agencies investigating arsons, burglaries and other crimes that occurred during protests in the city this summer.In a recent test, facial recognition software incorrectly matched 26 California legislators with mug shots of people who had been arrested. California is considering banning such software from being used with police body cameras.Records reviewed byalso indicate that LAPD officers arrested a man in June on suspicion of sexually assaulting minors after identifying him with the help of facial recognition.LAPD Assistant Chief Horace Frank said it is no secret that the LAPD uses facial recognition, that he personally testified to that fact before the Police Commission a couple years ago, and that the more recent denials  including two since last year, one to were just mistakes.We arent trying to hide anything, he said.Civil liberties advocates disagree. They said the recent denials  only corrected afterquestioned their accuracy  are part of a long pattern of deception in which the LAPD has systematically avoided discussing facial recognition by denying it has records related to the technology or by claiming, erroneously, that it doesnt use it.As such technology improves and becomes more pervasive, transparency around the governments use of it becomes all the more important  and the LAPDs actions all the more concerning  given the potential for privacy and civil rights infringements, advocates say.Mohammad Tajsar, a senior staff attorney at the ACLU of Southern California, said the ACLU was aware that the LAPD had access to the Los Angeles County Regional Identification System, or LACRIS, but unaware of the scale of use  including that hundreds of officers had access to the platform.That is a lot of people with access to the system, and shows its widespread usage, he said.Although some law enforcement officials have argued that such technology is an important tool, there has also been pushback. San Francisco last year banned facial recognition technology on civil liberties grounds.According to Rubenstein, the county system allows police investigators to submit images from witnesses, crime scenes, surveillance cameras or other sources and compare them against a database of nearly 9 million mugshots.The system identifies key contour facial features, but is only used to develop investigative leads, not to solely identify a suspect in a crime, Rubenstein said. No individuals are arrested by the LAPD based solely on facial recognition results.Still, Tajsar said the ACLU and others have serious concerns about such widespread use of the facial recognition system, including because computer algorithms and the systems reliance on certain image pools like mugshots can make for an inherently racist search process.The technology used in Los Angeles is from DataWorks Plus, a South Carolina company that expanded into facial recognition from mugshot services. In 2019, a federal study of more than 100 facial recognition systems, including software used by DataWorks Plus, determined that they falsely identified Black and Asian faces 10 to 100 times more often than white faces.With mugshot images, the highest false positives are in American Indians, with elevated rates in African American and Asian populations, the study found.Todd Pastorini, DataWorks Plus executive vice president and general manager, said he has worked with forensic facial recognition systems in California for more than a decade, and has never observed a racial bias.He said his company installed three facial recognition engines for LACRIS, from Rank One, NEC and Cognitec. For each probe image entered by a police officer, he said the engines kick back positive facial matches and then software selects the top 250 for the officer to review.Pastorini said the systems do not provide incorrect or correct identities, but a candidate list that requires the user to conduct further investigation to decide whether or not to pursue that investigative lead.The LACRIS system is used by 64 law enforcement agencies across the county, but its unclear which or how many use the facial recognition feature. The L.A. County Sheriffs Department would not answer questions fromabout the systems use.As the use of facial recognition among law enforcement has grown, California lawmakers have stepped in to put limits on it  including in connection with other technology systems like officers body cameras.However, the LAPD has escaped some scrutiny in those discussions, in part because of its erroneous claims of not using the technology.For example, in the summer of 2019,asked Rubenstein about the departments use of facial recognition for an article on proposed legislation to restrict its use with body cameras.We actually do not use facial recognition in the department, Rubenstein responded  adding only that there had been a few limited instances where it was used by other agencies working on investigations alongside the LAPD.In November, the department denied a public records request for documents related to its use of facial recognition software by saying it didnt use such technology or any related services.In June, LAPD officials denied a records request for LAPD policies on facial recognition by claiming none existed. Theyd given a similar response several years before, when the Center on Privacy & Technology at Georgetown Law requested records as part of a project assessing facial recognition capabilities at major police departments across the country.However, last month, another records request, this one filed by Medium senior writer Dave Gershgorn, met with more success. The request specifically asked for emails mentioning facial recognition, DataWorks Plus and other related terms, and in response the LAPD released 368 pages of officers discussing the technology with one another and LAPD officials issuing directives around its use.I need it all the time for my burglary cases, one detective wrote to a colleague in May, in an effort to get trained on the system.Another detective wrote to a colleague May 30, the day mass protests, arsons and burglaries broke out in the city, musing that the department should look into purchasing a new system of facial recognition, as it may be a way of identifying violent protesters and looters.In another email from February, Lizabeth Rhodes, director of the LAPDs Office of Constitutional Policing and Policy, directed commanders to ensure that only personnel who had received proper training on the system were accessing it, and that policies related to its use were followed. The memo also addressed the new state law barring its use with body cameras.Facial recognition technology shall not be utilized to establish any database or create suspect identification books, the memo read. Additionally, FRT shall not be used as a general identification tool, when there is no investigative purpose, or as the sole source of identification for a subjects identity.After reviewing the emails, which were posted to an online portal for city records,sent Rubenstein a list of questions about the departments use of facial recognition and its previous denials of such usage.In response, Rubenstein disclosed the nearly 30,000 uses since 2009  nearly 3,750 of which occurred since February, when Rhodes put out her advisory  and said that 330 people in the LAPD have access to the system. That number had been higher, standing at 525 officers with access at the time the department denied to thethat it used facial recognition.Rubenstein said use of the county system is provided to LAPD at no cost, and that the LAPD does not use the software to scan crowds or in any live-streaming capacity. Despite regular audits of its use, he said he is not aware of any instances where the system has been misused by LAPD officials.Rubenstein said his previous statement todenying that the LAPD used such technology was intended only to convey that it did not use it with its body cameras  a key issue in the legislation that was pending in Sacramento at the time. He did not specify that distinction at the time, and the request for information fromhad not specified body camera usage.The LAPD also sent a correction last week to the records requester who was told in November that the LAPD doesnt use facial recognition.We are writing to inform you that the previous statement that was sent to you  was inaccurate, the message read.Beyond the denials, confusion around the LAPDs use of facial recognition today is also partially rooted in its own vague references to the technology in the past  including as it ran various pilot programs that featured the technology.For example, the Center on Privacy & Technology report, published in 2016, noted that the LAPD had described a CCTV surveillance system equipped with facial recognition technology in 2005, a smart car that would be equipped with it in 2007 and a CCTV system in the west San Fernando Valley that could recognize faces from 600 feet away in 2013.Citing those examples, the report concluded that the LAPD may have the most advanced face recognition system in the country, but that it was unclear because the agency had responded to the centers request for records by saying it had none to disclose.Rubenstein said while discontinued programs in the past may have used the technology, the LAPD currently uses facial recognition only through LACRIS.
Since launching its franchising opportunity in 2013, Famous Toastery has established itself as a runaway leader in the better breakfast and lunch segment. With nearly 30 locations in the Southeast, the toastery with the mostery continues to keep the momentum strong and shows no signs of slowing down. Recently, the franchise was featured on Restaurant Business magazines Future 50, an article highlighting the nations 50 fastest-growing chain restaurants.

According to the article, Famous Toasterys year-after-year storewide sales increased by more than 38% in 2018, totaling close to $43 million. The company is set to reach the 30-unit milestone early next year. Part of the reason the brunch concept has been positioned for such success is its cautious and deliberate growth model.

"We didn't want to grow for the sake of growing and are now being selective about expansion, especially in areas outside the Southeast, Famous Toastery CEO and co-founder Robert Maynard told Restaurant Business. A franchisee has to be able to open at least five units in a new city to compete, and not all can do that.

In 2005, Maynard and his best friend Brian Burchill opened the first Famous Toastery in Huntersville, North Carolina. The pair made sure to prioritize using high-quality ingredients and making meals from scratch, pioneering a series of breakfast trends, including all-day breakfast, lobster specials and avocado toast. This, along with an emphasis on customer service, has resulted in strong growth since they started franchising.

The founders attribute Famous Toasterys success to a variety of factors, from the strength of its partners to the idiosyncrasy of the word toastery. After initially branding as Toast Cafe, the duo decided to change the name of their business. Maynard told Restaurant Business that since there were a lot of other Toast Cafes, using the made-up word of Toastery ensured the brand would always come up in Google searches.

Even as the brand grows, Maynard and Burchill have remained very hands-on within the day-to-day business, vetting all prospective franchisees and scouting real estate. The corporate team is very involved with overseeing franchisee operations, which promotes a level of control and profitability while supporting the overall infrastructure.

"Franchising is a growth model, but you're working with many different personalities and can lose control," Maynard told Restaurant Business. "Keeping the brand strong is important to attract the right people."

To further support brand strength, Maynard and Burchill have designed a system in which every time a new store opens, the franchisee must choose a charity partner and donate all of the first two days proceeds to that local nonprofit, immediately forging a powerful relationship with the community that sets the franchise up for success.

We are thrilled to have been included in Restaurant Business magazines Future 50, said Maynard. Our focus on making sure that patrons, staff members and franchisees alike all feel warmly welcomed by the brand at every point of contact sets us apart from the competition and continues to position us for success.

Famous Toasterys franchising model, ground-breaking menu and impressive year-after-year sales growth has also earned it a place on Enterprises 2019 Franchise 500, Inc.s 5000 list of fastest growing companies, the Wall Street Journal, FOX Business Televisions Cavuto: Coast to Coast, Vogue, Entrepreneur Magazine, Forbes and FOX and Friends.

ABOUT FAMOUS TOASTERY

Davidson, N.C. based Famous Toastery began in 2005 in a small house-turned-restaurant where best friends Brian Burchill and Robert Maynard opened their first breakfast spot. Never compromising fresh ingredients or friendly service, Famous Toastery evolved into a franchise system in 2013 and now has over 35 locations. Famous Toastery was ranked No. 9 in Full-Service Restaurants category of Entrepreneur Magazines Top Food Franchises of 2019 and is on Entrepreneur Magazine's Franchise 500 Rankings. In 2019, Famous Toastery placed on Restaurant Business' The Future 50, featuring the fastest-growing small chains. In 2018, Famous Toastery received recognition by CNBC as a top franchise to buy, FSR Magazine as one of the Top 14 restaurant chains ready for lift-off, Inc. 5000s list of the fastest growing companies and Franchise Times' Top 200+ franchise opportunities. For more information about Famous Toastery, visit http://www.famoustoastery.com. To learn about franchising opportunities, please visit http://www.ownatoastery.com.
NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- TIME reveals the 2020 TIME100, its annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world. The issue has 8 worldwide covers, each highlighting a member of the TIME100: immunologist Dr. Anthony Fauci, performer The Weeknd, Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, COVID-19 frontline nurse Amy O'Sullivan, actor Gabrielle Union and athlete Dwyane Wade, performer Megan Thee Stallion, President of Taiwan Tsai Ing-wen, and Black Lives Matter founders Patrisse Cullors, Alicia Garza and Opal Tometi.

The TIME100 often includes surprising pairings of the list members and the guest contributors TIME selects to write about them. The seventeenth annual list includes: Denzel Washington on Michael B. Jordan, Derek Jeter on Patrick Mahomes, Common on Angela Davis, Ted Cruz on Tsai Ing-wen, Oprah Winfrey on Tyler Perry, Taylor Swift on Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Elizabeth Warren on Ady Barkan, Stevie Wonder on Yo-Yo Ma, Maya Moore on Naomi Osaka, Leonardo DiCaprio on Nemonte Nenquimo, Cyndi Lauper on Billy Porter, Deepika Padukone on Ayushmann Khurrana, Lena Waithe on Michaela Coel, Ayanna Pressley on Kamala Harris, Tilda Swinton on Bong Joon Ho, Kim Kardashian West on JoJo Siwa, Melinda Gates on MacKenzie Scott, Ronan Farrow on Julie K. Brown, Timothy Geithner on Jerome Powell, Jennifer Garner on Greg Berlanti and many more.

See the 2020 TIME100 full list, tributes, videos and photos: time.com/100

See all eight TIME100 covers: https://bit.ly/3hUQDxB

In addition to these eight covers, the issue will also feature a new cover and a special tribute commemorating Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who was featured on the TIME100 list in 2015 . See the cover: https://bit.ly/2ZYiEOL .

Of the 2020 TIME100 list, TIME CEO and editor in chief Edward Felsenthal writes, "This year's list looks far different than any of us could have predicted just six months ago. The TIME 100 has always been a mirror of the world and those who shape it. While you will certainly find people who wield traditional power on this year's listheads of state, CEOs, major entertainersit also includes many extraordinary, lesser-known individuals who seized the moment to save lives, build a movement, lift the spirit, repair the world.... Their work challenges each of us to wield our own influence toward a world that is healthier, more resilient, more sustainable and just."

Of this year's list, Felsenthal continues, "As a rule, the TIME 100 focuses on the living, but looming large over this year's list is the impact of individuals such as Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Tony McDade, whose killings galvanized a reckoning around police brutality and systemic racism; Aimee Stephens, whose case led to a historic Supreme Court decision protecting the rights of LGBTQ Americans; and Li Wenliang, the Wuhan physician who tried in vain to warn Chinese officials about the coronavirus and later died of it. The issue also includes a memorial to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, including the tribute that fellow Justice Antonin Scalia wrote when she was on the TIME 100 in 2015." https://bit.ly/2EpVlFX

See the complete 2020 TIME100 list: time.com/time100

For the first time, TIME revealed the annual TIME100 list with an hour-long special television event on ABC. Produced in partnership with P&G, the TIME100 broadcast special is created by TIME's Emmy award-winning television and film division TIME Studios along with industry leading global storyteller Done + Dusted, and is presented with exclusive premier sponsor Citi, signature sponsor Toyota Venza, and signature sponsor Smirnoff. Watch the show on demand on ABC.com.

On September 23, 24 and 25, TIME will host TIME100 honorees for a three-part series of TIME100 Talks, TIME's series of virtual conversations that convenes influential leaders across fields to encourage cross-disciplinary action toward a better world, presented in partnership with TIME100 exclusive premier sponsor Citi, signature sponsor Smirnoff, and supporting sponsor AT&T. To register and see the full lineup of speakers and performers, visit: time.com/time100-talks/

About TIME

TIME is a global media brand that reaches a combined audience of more than 100 million around the world, including over 40 million digital visitors each month and 45 million social followers. A trusted destination for reporting and insight, TIME's mission is to tell the stories that matter most, to lead conversations that change the world and to deepen understanding of the ideas and events that define our time. With unparalleled access to the world's most influential people, the immeasurable trust of consumers globally, an unrivaled power to convene, TIME is one of the world's most recognizable media brands with renowned franchises that include the TIME 100 Most Influential People, Person of the Year, Firsts, Best Inventions, World's Greatest Places and premium events including the TIME 100 Summit and Gala, TIME 100 Health Summit, TIME 100 Next and more.

Media Contact:

Kristin Matzen, TIME

[email protected]

SOURCE TIME

Related Links

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Johnson & Johnson has kicked off a final 60,000-person trial of a single-shot Covid vaccine that potentially would simplify the distribution of millions of doses compared with leading rivals using two doses.

The company expects results of the Phase III trial by year-end or early next year, Paul Stoffels, J&Js chief scientific officer, said in a press conference with officials from the National Institutes of Health and the Trump administration.

Rival vaccines from Moderna, Pfizer, and AstraZeneca all require two shots separated by several weeks, which makes them much more difficult to administer.

The benefits of a single-shot vaccine are potentially profound in terms of mass immunisation campaigns and global pandemic control, Dan Barouch, a Harvard vaccine researcher who helped design J&Js Covid-19 vaccine, said. J&J shares rose.

Big news. Numerous great companies are seeing fantastic results. FDA (Food and Drug Administration) must move quickly, US President Donald Trump said in a tweet.

J&J published a detailed study protocol for its phase 3 trial on the companys website, joining the three other vaccine makers that have made these study plans available in recent weeks after calls for increased transparency in the trials.

JUST IN: #JNJ has announced the start of our Phase 3 clinical trial for our investigational #COVID19 vaccine candidate. We are fully focused on developing a safe, effective and urgently-needed preventive solution for people around the world. Read more: https://t.co/gi5PpMMcgu pic.twitter.com/vx0tpuH6Tc  Johnson & Johnson (@JNJNews) September 23, 2020

Mr Stoffels said J&J started the phase 3 trial after seeing positive results in its initial trial in the US and Belgium. The company plans to release those results imminently.

He said the safety and level of protection in the study were on par with what was seen in the companys animal studies, and said the results showed a single dose could offer sufficient protection for a long time.

J&Js late-stage trial will use as many as 215 sites in the US, South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru. The company plans to manufacture as many as 1 billion doses in 2021, and more after that, Mr Stoffels said.

The goal of the trial is to test whether the vaccine can prevent moderate to severe Covid-19 after a single dose, but it will also look to see if the vaccine can prevent serious disease requiring medical intervention.

Mr Stoffels predicts it will take six weeks to two months to enroll the trial, and said the company hopes to get an answer on whether the vaccine works around the end of the year or early next year. It is not clear how fast the company could get regulatory approval, but J&J plans to manufacture doses before approval.

Reuters
(Newser)  Rather than face a manslaughter charge in the shooting death of Black protester James Scurlock, white Nebraska bar owner Jake Gardner apparently took his own life over the weekend. But while one of Gardner's attorneys called it an "extremely sad day," Scurlock's family doesn't feel quite the same way. "Are we supposed to feel bad?" Riss Mitchell, Scurlock's older sister, tells KETV, via the Daily Beast. "Personally, I don't have any condolences to give and never will." Scurlock's father cites the "lack of closure" the family now feels after Gardner's suicide. "You can't orchestrate a murder and then take your own life," James Scurlock II says. Gardner attorney Stu Dornan said at a Sunday presser that his client, an Iraq War veteran, had been "shook up" from the felony charges against him, per NPR, adding Gardner suffered from PTSD and had acted in self-defense in the shooting.

story continues below

But Scurlock's family is pushing back on that, noting that if he was truly innocent, he would've been eager to clear his name in court. "Why was he so afraid to go to trial?" another sister, Chandalea Jones, tells KETV. Mitchell, meanwhile, isn't buying the PTSD defense. "A lot of people have trauma they are dealing with from the past," she notes. "That does not mean [the shooting] was OK." Scurlock's family also says they've been threatened over his killing. "We have to live with the fact that people genuinely don't like us because someone killed our brother," Jones says, while Mitchell predicts how things would've gone down if the tables had been turned. "If my brother would've killed [Gardner], my brother would have been arrested, charged, and convicted, waiting for sentencing right now," she says. (Read more Nebraska stories.)
After battle with addiction, Thats So Raven star Orlando Brown is finding hope in Christian fellowship

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After a tumultuous last few years, actor and rapper Orlando Brown, best known for his role as Eddie Thomas on the Disney Channel series That's So Raven, is getting ready to graduate from a faith-based treatment center in Texas and he's singing high praises about the power of prayer and Christian fellowship.

Brown, 32, who has had a very public struggle with drugs and his mental health, told The Christian Post Monday that he is looking forward to graduating from Rise Discipleship, a free 6-month in-patient recovery program for men who struggle with addiction, homelessness and other life-controlling issues run by Rise Church in Abilene, Texas.

We help not only those who struggle with drugs and alcohol, but also those who battle depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. Every RISE student will be given a biblical foundation that will assist in character building and the leadership development to approach life in a new light, the Rise Discipleship website explains.

While he said he wasnt yet ready to do any extended interviews on his journey with the program, Brown told CP that he graduates at the end of November and its definitely been a great process.

I can tell you that Im OK. Im alive. I was in an unsafe position and it has been shaky but at the end of the day all I can tell you is Im OK and Im graduating and I will be getting married, he said.

At a fundraising event for the home last Thursday, which was broadcast on Facebook Live, Brown also spoke briefly about his battle with addiction and his current journey to recovery.

I went through a lot. I experimented with crystal meth, with weed. I didnt know what I was doing. I was addicted to the internet. All kinds of stuff, he said.

Browns battle with drugs first made headlines in February 2016 when he was arrested and charged in Torrance, California, with domestic battery, obstruction of justice, drug possession with intent to sell, and possession of contraband following a fight with his then-girlfriend in public.

In 2018, he reportedly entered a short-lived attempt at rehab, after an intervention from friends and family. He would endure subsequent arrests for drugs and prostitution. That same year, Brown also appeared on an episode of Dr. Phil with retired psychologist Phil McGraw, where he made claims that pointed to an unhealthy mental state.

Earlier this year, Brown also claimed on Instagram that rapper and television host Nick Cannon once performed fellatio on him while dressed as a woman. Cannon denied the claim as hilarious!!!!" and urged better support systems for our youth.

I watched various of this young brothers videos and all I see is a cry out for help. So I don't know if there are any real leaders or solid individuals in this young man's life but let's embrace him and tighten him up so he doesn't become another lost victim to these Hollywood circumstances, Cannon wrote on Instagram.

In April, Brown claimed actor Will Smith raped him as a child.

My student Orlando Brown giving his testimony at Rise Church for the Rise Home rally. Proud of you my bro. pic.twitter.com/PzyNijgTfU  Rey Sandoval (@PastorRey1) September 20, 2020

In his testimony Thursday, Brown explained that he learned about Rise Discipleship from his fiancee and he was moved by how he was accepted for who I am.

My fiancee told me about this place and when I came it was amazing, he said. I had a blast. These brothers accepted me for who I am.

Rise Discipleship explained that while fundraising to support the program normally consists of the men from the home going across Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and other places selling crosses and ministering to those who need prayer and to others struggling with addiction, the coronavirus has limited their efforts.

The program, which does not have a waitlist, provides housing, food and basic needs for the men being treated.

The men do not work while they are in the program so they can focus on having life change so they can then go out and be the fathers, husbands and sons their family needs them to be, the website explains.

Jubal Elrod, whom Brown describes as the home overseer, said at the fundraising event Thursday that Brown has been a leader during his time in the program.

Hes completely turned around. He got on this like in his third week, hit it like a man. Now hes leading classes. Hes actually overseeing discipline and teaching other brothers how to get through it. I'm super proud of you man, proud of you Orlando, Elrod said.

Rey Sandoval, Rise Church founder and senior pastor, also echoed Elrods pride in Browns recovery in the program so far.

My student Orlando Brown giving his testimony at Rise Church for the Rise Home rally. Proud of you my bro, Sandoval said in tweet on Sunday.

Brown explained to CP that his main focus right now is getting back to his family and life, and prayer has been really helpful.

Prayer is so essential especially in cases like these where we have a whole bunch of men come off the street and they are doing their thing to change, he said.
As we build and connect our fiber-optic clusters throughout the Pacific Northwest, companies in rural and major markets alike can meet the competitive challenges of today and sustainably grow into the future.

LS Networks, the largest, locally owned, fiber-optic network in the Pacific Northwest, announced today that it has further expanded its carrier-class fiber network in Yakima, Washington. With the additional network density of the new Yakima Cluster, LS Networks now operates 166 miles of fiber-optic network in Yakima County and over 80 miles of fiber in the greater Yakima metro area. This enhanced network density will provide Yakima businesses with better access to powerful network connectivity needed to compete in todays business environment. To view the Yakima fiber-optic cluster map, please visit http://www.lsnetworks.net/yakima-wa

The implementation of cluster architecture is just one of the ways LS Networks is changing the telecommunications landscape. By investing in and pre-building fiber-optic infrastructure in business-rich districts such as Yakimas South Broadway and Union Gap, LS Networks has made it easier and more affordable for businesses to access the regional network. For businesses in Yakima, this means faster install times and access to a wide range of advanced service offerings such as ethernet, internet, and unified communications. With a fiber cluster, businesses now have access to virtually limitless capacity and all of LS Networks advanced service offerings without requiring multiple service installations.

Byron Cantrall, LS Networks President and CEO, explains, This significant investment in Yakima is the first of many to come. As we build and connect our fiber-optic clusters throughout the Pacific Northwest, companies in rural and major markets alike can meet the competitive challenges of today and sustainably grow into the future.

About LS Networks

LS Networks is the largest, locally owned and operated, fiber-optic network in the Pacific Northwest. For over 15 years, weve served rural and underserved communities with high-speed connectivity and market-leading bandwidth that other carriers deploy only in metropolitan areas. With a mission to be the most trusted provider through our focus on quality, innovation, and investment in our communities, LS Networks provides businesses competitive pricing and bandwidth  disrupting the incumbent-dominated telecommunications landscape. Offering a complete portfolio of data, fiber internet, and voice services, LS Networks continues to stand as a leading provider of innovative services in the region. If your business is within rural Oregon or Washington, let us transform the way you do business. Lets grow together at light speed.
Indian origin HIV biologist Professor Ravindra Gupta is one of the 100 influential personalities listed by the Times magazine for 2020. He is the professor of Clinical Microbiology and Wellcome Trust Senior Fellow in Clinical Science at The University of Cambridge and faculty at the Africa Health Research Institute in Durban, South Africa.

Im so fortunate and humbled to know him, and to see how his dedication can conquer this disease," wrote Adam Castillejo in his brief about the professor in Times magazine. Known as the London Patient, Castillejo is the second person ever to be functionally cured of HIV.

Castillejo recalls his first meeting with Gupta and says he was pleasantly surprised on seeing him. He was thoughtful and compassionate, and his accomplishmentsnow including oversight of the stem-cell treatments I received from a donor with a rare gene mutation, which led to my remissionclearly earned him respect and admiration from his colleagues in the HIV research community. Now he has mine, as well," the London Patient writes.

He has championed me and empowered me to become an ambassador of hope to millions of people living with HIV around the world," Castillejo says about the professor.

In March 2019, Gupta led a team demonstrating HIV remission in an HIV positive man with advanced Hodgkins lymphoma following an unrelated stem cell transplant. The person to receive this treatment was Castillejo.

Gupta graduated with a medical degree from Cambridge University in 1997. He later received a clinical degree from Oxford University in 2001 and completed a Master in Public Health at Harvard School of Public Health (1998-1999). He subsequently trained in infectious diseases in Oxford and The Hospital for Tropical Diseases.

Among other Indians on Times 100 influential people for year 2020 include Prime Minister Narendra Modi, actor Ayushman Khurrana, the dadi from Shaheen Bhagh protest Bilkis, Alphabet and Google CEO Sunder Pichai.
We will have a strong sense of the direction that Canada's immigration system is heading towards by the end of October.

October will shape Canadian immigration for years to come

October will shape Canadian immigration for years to come We will have a strong sense of the direction that Canada's immigration system is heading towards by the end of October.

October will shape Canadian immigration for years to come We will have a strong sense of the direction that Canada's immigration system is heading towards by the end of October.

October will shape Canadian immigration for years to come We will have a strong sense of the direction that Canada's immigration system is heading towards by the end of October. Kareem El-Assal Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif

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Two major events over the coming month will shape Canadas immigration system for years to come.

Canadian immigration: Why October will be a huge month October will be an extremely important month for Canadas immigration system. Here are the reasons why.Read more: https://www.cicnews.com/2020/09/october-wil

The first will be a new mandate letter that will be written by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to immigration minister Marco Mendicino. This letter will contain Canadas new immigration priorities and it should be released shortly, perhaps as soon as within the coming week.

The second is Canadas Immigration Levels Plan 2021-2023. The plan will outline Canadas new permanent residence targets over the next three years and it should be announced by October 30th.

New immigration mandate letter

In Canada, the prime minister outlines the responsibilities that they would like their respective cabinet members to pursue while the ruling party manages the government.

In this case, Trudeau will provide minister Mendicino with a letter that will guide Mendicinos efforts to lead the operations of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

In what will be a rare occurrence, the prime minister will issue his second immigration mandate letter in less than one year.

Mandate letters tend to be issued to each minister every two to four years. They are typically issued when a new government takes office and when a minister is assigned a new portfolio.

In August, however, Trudeau ended the last session of Canadas Parliament as he wanted to reset the governments priorities in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Canadian governments new priorities were defined on September 23rd during the speech from the throne, which kicked off the new session of Parliament. The throne speech formally underscored Canadas goal of welcoming more immigrants to maintain its competitive economic standing.

As such, Trudeau will now define new immigration priorities for Mendicino and IRCC to pursue.

If last year is any indication, the new immigration mandate letter may become publicly available by early October. Last year, the December 5th, 2019 Speech from the Throne was followed by mandate letters being released on December 13.

COVID-19 has derailed many of the priorities outlined in Mendicinos current mandate letter. Mendicino was well on his way to implementing the governments immigration agenda when he announced Canadas Immigration Levels Plan 2020-2022 in early March.

Marco Mendicino on Twitter: As outlined today in the Throne Speech, immigration remains a driver of Canadas economic growth and a priority for our government. https://t.co/MwQERapcHh / Twitter As outlined today in the Throne Speech, immigration remains a driver of Canadas economic growth and a priority for our government. https://t.co/MwQERapcHh

But the pandemic has now delayed goals such as launching a new Municipal Nominee Program and eliminating Canadian citizenship application fees.

We should expect Mendicinos forthcoming mandate letter to heavily emphasize the coronavirus. Namely, the government will likely provide an overview of how it seeks to adapt Canadian immigration policy and how it will process applications moving forward in the wake of the pandemic.

Find out if you are eligible for Canadian immigration

Immigration Levels Plan 2021-2023

In another rare occurrence, Canada will announce its Immigration Levels Plan for the second time in the same year.

The levels plan is usually announced each fall around the last week of October. This is stipulated by the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

IRPA is the main law that guides Canadas immigration system.

However, IRPA also stipulates that the levels plan announcement can be delayed in election years, as was the case in 2019 when Canadians went to the polls.

Hence, Mendicino will follow the 2020-2022 levels plan announcement he made in March of this year with a similar announcement that will likely come by Friday October 30th.

IRPA states that the immigration minister is to announce the plan by November 1st each year when Parliament is sitting however that date coincides with a weekend, and hence the announcement should occur a bit earlier.

Find out if you are eligible for Canadian immigration

Mendicino has also constantly affirmed Canadas commitment to immigration throughout the pandemic. This commitment is being demonstrated by the ongoing Express Entry draws that IRCC is conducting that are seeing record levels of individuals receive invitations to apply for permanent residence.

The question on everyones mind leading up to Mendicinos forthcoming announcement is: How will COVID-19 impact Canadas immigration levels?

Over the medium- and long-term, Canada can be expected to return to high levels of immigration. This is due to Canadas need for immigration to support its economy. The latest speech from the throne also strongly suggests Canada intends to return to high newcomer levels.

But, there is far greater uncertainty as to the number of immigrants Canada will able to welcome amid the pandemic. While Express Entry and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws and application processing continue, the actual number of immigrants completing their permanent residence landing process remains limited by COVID-19.

The combination of the new mandate letter and the 2021-2023 Immigration Levels Plan announcement will give us more clarity in terms of how quickly the Canadian government believes the immigration system will be able to return to normal.

Find out if you are eligible for Canadian immigration

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LISBON, Portugal, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Hovione today announced the signing of a partnership agreement with Ligand to significantly ramp up the production output of Captisol. Captisol, a Ligand product, is a chemically modified cyclodextrin proven to improve the solubility and stability of drugs. It is used in the formulation of Gilead's COVID-19 treatment Veklury (remdesivir). Hovione is the sole producer of this key enabling excipient.

The COVID-19 pandemic has to date killed one million people; studies show that in the next 3 months cumulative deaths may more than double.

"To meet Captisol demand associated with Veklury, Hovione will soon be producing per month the quantity it usually produces in one year. This sudden spike in demand has required unique mobilization efforts across the Hovione network to secure additional raw material supply, execute major capital expenditure projects at our sites, maximize operational efficiency, hire additional talent and identify external partners to expand our overall capacity. The pharmaceutical supply chain is working together in an unprecedented fashion to treat patients and save lives. Hovione is privileged to be part of this truly global response," said Jean-Luc Herbeaux, Chief Operating Officer.

"Ligand values its longstanding partnership with Hovione," said Matt Foehr, President and Chief Operating Officer of Ligand. "Their excellent customer service, global commitment to quality and high pharmaceutical standards make them an ideal partner for Captisol, a critical component for a number of life-saving medicines. We commend them for responsibly and efficiently partnering with Ligand to manage the scale up and expansion of their operations to contribute to global health during the pandemic."

About Captisol

Ligand's Captisol technology is a patent protected, uniquely modified cyclodextrin, with a chemical structure that was rationally designed to enable the creation of new products by significantly improving solubility, stability, bioavailability and dosing of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). It uses a green manufacturing process that uses water as process solvent.

About Veklury (remdesivir)

Gilead Sciences' Veklury is an investigational nucleotide analog with broad-spectrum antiviral activity both in vitro and in vivo in animal models against multiple emerging viral pathogens. Multiple ongoing international Phase 3 clinical trials are evaluating the safety and efficacy of Veklury for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection, the virus that causes COVID-19, in different patient populations, formulations, and in combination with other therapies. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) enabling use of the investigational antiviral Veklury to treat all hospitalized patients with COVID-19, in addition to the previous authorization for patients hospitalized with severe COVID-19.

About Hovione

Hovione is an international company with over 60 years of experience as a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) and is currently a fully integrated supplier offering services for drug substance, drug product intermediate and drug product. With four FDA inspected sites in the USA, China, Ireland and Portugal and development laboratories in Lisbon, Portugal and New Jersey, USA, the company provides branded pharmaceutical customers services for the development and compliant manufacture of innovative drugs including highly potent compounds. For generic pharmaceutical customers the company offers niche API products. Hovione also provides proprietary product development and licensing opportunities for drug products. In the inhalation area, Hovione is the only independent company offering a complete range of services. Please visit www.hovione.com

Contact

Isabel Pina.

Director External Communications

ipina@hovione.com

Tel: +351 21 982 9362, +351 91 750 7462
She grew up in an era where men held the helm in every aspect of social life and especially the legal profession was utterly dominated by men.

by Punsara Amarasinghe

The death of the US Supreme Court Judge Ruth Bidder Ginsburg has created an abyss in the court for the liberal voice where justice Ginsburg was seen as the linchpin of the liberal block of the Supreme Court at a time when that block was shrinking. Especially late judge had vociferously advocated for women rights, environmental issues and often came up with unique dissents in delivering her judgements which were propelled by her jurisprudence which embodied the solemn ideal in American legal system Equal Protection under the Law . She was on a quest to defend the delicate balance between honoring the timelessness of American Constitution and recognizing the depth of its enduring principles in new centuries and under new circumstances.

She grew up in an era where men held the helm in every aspect of social life and especially the legal profession was utterly dominated by men. Recalling her legal studies at Harvard law school in the 50s judge Ginsburg had stated later how she was once asked by the Dean of Harvard law school to justify her position as a law student that otherwise would have gone to a man. Yet she had the spunk to overcome all the obstacles stood on her way and excelled as a scholar becoming the first female member of the Harvard Law Review.

In tracing her legal career that it becomes a salient fact, Judge Ginsburg marked her name in American legal history even decades before she joined the bench. While at the American Civil Liberties Union in the early seventies she made an upheaval in American in legal system in famous Supreme Court Case Reed Vs Reed. In Reed Vs Reed the brief drafted by Ginsburg provided an astute analysis on the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution, the Equal Protection Clause. Ginsburgs brief changed the aged long practice existed in the State of Idaho on favoring men over women in estate battles by paving the path for a discourse on gender equality rights in the USA.

Judge Ginsburgs appointment to the Supreme Court in 1994 during Clinton administration marked the dawn of new jurisprudential chapter in the US Supreme Court. Two terms later, in the United States v. Virginia (VMI), Justice Ginsburg applied her lucid perspective to a sharply disputed constitutional claim. The United States challenged Virginia's practice of admitting only men to its prestigious military college, the Virginia Military Institute. Writing for six Justices, Ginsburg held this policy unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause. In reaching this result, Ginsburg adroitly cut away potentially confounding issues about women's participation in the military or the advantages of single-sex education.

Her robust activism in securing gender equality often attracted the admirations of the feminist scholars and activists, but it should be noted that her contribution was not only confined to the protection of gender equality. She was a robust critique of racial dissemination which still pervades in American society and she frequently pointed out how racial discrimination has marred the constitutional protections guaranteed to every citizen. Especially in the case of Gratz Vs Bollitnger, she stressed on the commitment that the state ought to fulfil by eliminating the racial biases existing employment and education. Moreover, disabled citizens. In Olmstead v. Zimring, she held that "unjustified institutional isolation of persons with disabilities is a form of discrimination" violating the Americans with Disabilities Act.45 She elaborated a two-fold concept of discrimination, noting that unneeded institutionalization both "perpetuates unwarranted assumptions that persons so isolated are incapable or unworthy of participating in community life.

In remembering the mortal departure of this prudent judge that one cannot forget her keenness in incorporating international law into her judgements regardless of the disinclination shown by conservative judges like Antony Scalia. Going beyond the mere textualism approach to the law, Ginsburgs jurisprudence was much more akin to using international law to make substantive decisions. For instance, in her concurring verdict in Grutter Vs Bollinger, Justice Ginsburg relied upon international human rights law, and in particular upon two United Nations conventions, to support her conclusions.

Indeed, the demise of Ruth Ginsburg is a major blow for the liberalists in the USA, especially in an era where liberalist values are at stake under the fervent rise of populist waves propounded by Donald Trump. Especially late judge had been one of the harsh critics of Trump even before ascendency to the Oval office. The void created by the demise of judge Ginsburg might change the role the US Supreme Court if the successor to her position would take a more conservative approach and it will fortify the conservative bloc in the US Supreme Court. Trump has already placed Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh and the third pick would more deeply entrench the conservative views in the US Supreme Court, which would inevitably undermine the progressive policies taken during Obamas administration towards issues such as the environment. The political storm appeared after the death of the late judge has already created a tense situation in US politics as president Trump is determined to appoint a judge to fill before the presidential election in November.

Punsara Amarasinghe is a former visiting research fellow at the Center for Global Legal Studies in Wisconsin Law School at University of Wisconsin Madison and currently he is reading for PhD in Law at Institute of Law, Politics and Development at ScuolaSuperioreSant Anna in Pisa, Italy. He can be reached at punsaraprint10@gmail.com
The study starting Wednesday will be one of the worlds largest coronavirus vaccine studies so far, testing the shot in 60,000 volunteers

Johnson & Johnson is beginning a huge final study to try to prove if a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine can protect against the virus.

The study starting Wednesday will be one of the worlds largest coronavirus vaccine studies so far, testing the shot in 60,000 volunteers in the U.S., South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru.

Read More: Black doctors group forms task force to review virus vaccine

A handful of other vaccines in the U.S.  including shots made by Moderna Inc. and Pfizer Inc.  and others in other countries are already in final-stage testing. Hopes are high that answers about at least one candidate being tested in the U.S. could come by years end, maybe sooner.

U.S. health officials insist the race for a vaccine isnt cutting corners.

We want to do everything we can without sacrificing safety or efficacy  were not going to do that  to make sure that we end up with vaccines that are going to save lives, Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, told reporters.

n this July 30, 2013, file photo, large banners hang in an atrium at the headquarters of Johnson & Johnson in New Brunswick, N.J. (AP Photo/Mel Evans, File)

But many vaccine specialists question whether the Food and Drug Administration will stick to that goal under intense pressure from the Trump administration. President Donald Trump has consistently presented a faster timeline for a new vaccine than experts say is adequate to fully test the candidates.

Trump on Wednesday tweeted the link to a news report about the Johnson & Johnson study and said the FDA must move quickly!

Meanwhile, testing of still another experimental vaccine, made by AstraZeneca, remains on hold in the U.S. as officials examine a safety question, even though studies have resumed in other countries.

Earlier this week, Vice President Mike Pence urged state governors to do your part to build public confidence that it will be a safe and effective vaccine.

Story continues

And Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top U.S. infectious disease expert, added in the call to governors that he is confident in a tried and true process that has checks and balances built in, including an independent board evaluating the progress of each vaccine trial, as well as the integrity of the FDA.

A recording of the call was provided to The Associated Press.

Medical professionals conduct a nasal swab test at the COVID-19 Bondi Beach drive-through testing center on July 07, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

Senators were scheduled to question FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn, Fauci and other administration officials later Wednesday about the pandemic response.

Even if the FDA were to allow emergency use of a vaccine by years end, supplies would be limited and given first to vulnerable groups such as health workers. Most Americans arent likely to receive a vaccine until sometime next year.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention wants states to get ready now to roll out vaccinations, which will present enormous logistical challenges. On Wednesday the CDC was set to announce distribution of $200 million in congressionally approved funds to help begin setting up operations.

Read More: Trump contradicts CDC director on vaccine, masks

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said the COVID-19 vaccine campaign will build on longstanding cooperation between the federal government and the states on immunizations.

J&Js vaccine is made with slightly different technology than others in late-stage testing, modeled on an Ebola vaccine the company created. Unlike the other three vaccines that started late-stage testing in the U.S., it requires only one shot, not two. Despite a later start to testing than some of its competitors, Dr. Paul Stoffels, J&Js chief scientific officer, told reporters that the study was large enough to yield answers possibly by early next year.

___

Associated Press writers Lauran Neergaard and Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar contributed to this report.

___

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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The post Johnson & Johnson begins late-stage study of first single-shot vaccine appeared first on TheGrio.
Dearborn Heights police detectives are asking for the publics help in apprehending a man who walked out with a cartful of Milwaukee and DeWalt tools, valued at more than $1,400, the afternoon of Sept. 17 from Home Depot, 25451 Michigan Ave. in Dearborn Heights.

The man is described as Black, wearing glasses, a blue hat, face mask, black T-shirt and blue pants. He is about 5 feet 10 inches tall and approximately 240 pounds.

He was picked up by a driver of a small black 2-door vehicle with no license plate.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the police at 313-277-7487 at the Dearborn Heights Police Department.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 23

Trend:

Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops 49 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.
BENTON COUNTY - Your skin is 90% of your selfie. Great skin doesnt happen by chance: it happens with proper care. Your face is the first thin
CARLISLE - Fire heavily-damaged a single-family home in Carlisles Old Mooreland neighborhood Wednesday, but the homes 88-year-old occupant was led to safety by neighbors, and no one else was injured.

Fire crews were dispatched to the 412 W. South St. home of James Vovakis at 12:55 p.m., Carlisle Fire Chief Jeff Snyder said.

it was moments earlier, neighbor Cheri Getty said, when she and her daughter pulled up in front of their home to see smoke coming from the direction of what initially appeared to her to be the area of Vovakiss chimney.

She noticed Vovakis trying to address the problem himself, seeking assistance with a nearby work crew to help him. As they ran over, Getty said, we heard him asking them for help with a ladder, and... kind of simultaneously, everyone around was recognizing that it was going bad really fast and we called 9-1-1.

Thats the great part about being in a small neighborhood like this," Getty said. "Everybody kind of sees it all at the same time.

The chief said it was too early in the investigation to know how the fire started, though it appeared to be accidental based on early findings. He also was not able to give an exact point of origin, though the bulk of the fire appeared to be on the second and third floors of the building.

Snyder said the response was complicated a bit by what he called extreme conditions of material inside all three floors, which led him to order the removal of the windows in the front of the building to improve access in and out of the home. It took tremendous work for those companies to get to where the active fire was, Snyder said.

Neither Vovakis or any responding firefighters were injured, Snyder said, and crews were able to keep the fire from spreading to homes on either side.

Carlisles fire companies were assisted at the scene by volunteer companies from New Kingstown to Newville. Snyder said the bulk of the fire was brought under control in about a half-hour, but as late as 2 p.m. crews were still addressing active fire within pockets of the home.

Vovakis, the homeowner, is now being taken care of by relatives in the area, the chief said.
Djibouti (AFP) - Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh's regime is facing a wave of protests triggered by the detention of a military officer who had denounced discrimination and corruption in the tiny Horn of Africa nation.

Hundreds took to the streets of Djibouti city on June 4 before being brutally dispersed by police, who then made spot arrests throughout the capital, according to an AFP reporter.

The following day, police used live ammunition on a crowd in Ali Sabieh, the country's second-largest city, wounding several people and arresting others, human rights organisations said.

A new demonstration was again held on Monday in the sprawling district of Balbala in the capital, and on Tuesday, security forces were omnipresent in the city.

The protestors are outraged over a video shot by Air Force Lieutenant Fouad Youssouf Ali from his cell in Gabode prison in Djibouti city, where the regime is accused by rights activists of detaining opponents and sometimes using torture.

A small, highly strategic country that is simultaneously home to French, US, Chinese and Japanese military bases, Djibouti has been ruled with an iron fist since Guelleh became president in 1999.

In the video, which was posted online, Ali showed his cell, a tiny windowless room only equipped with dirty latrines.

The pilot, who has been in prison since April 22, filmed himself with a mobile phone and revealed what appeared to be injuries to his legs caused by physical abuse.

- 'Persecution' -

He complained about the conditions of his imprisonment and worried that he would never get out alive.

"He could die at any moment," said his lawyer Zakaria Abdillahi, who says Ali needs to be hospitalised and has obtained court approval for a medical assessment.

Abdillahi, who was able to see his client on Wednesday for the first time since May 13, told AFP on Thursday that Ali has "begun a hunger strike".

Ali came to the public's attention at the end of March when he published a first video saying he was persecuted because of his clan, and attacking the nepotism which he said prevailed in the army.

Story continues

The same day, he fled to Ethiopia to seek political asylum. He was arrested on April 8 by the Ethiopian police and handed over to Djibouti a few days later.

"This gentleman was kidnapped, he was not extradited," Abdillahi said.

"As far as I'm concerned, he's been arbitrarily detained since April 11... He's someone who was kidnapped and held captive, which is a criminal offence," he said.

The government has reacted through its official media, a rare move when opponents are arrested.

"For once, there is pressure from the public... This authoritarian regime is afraid," said Abdillahi, who also accused the police of harassing Alis family.

- Charged with treason -

Djibouti's attorney general, Djama Souleiman Ali, said the lieutenant had tried to steal a military plane to fly to Eritrea but failed to take off and damaged the aircraft.

He has charged him with treason, which carries a life sentence but which Abdillahi said "makes no sense".

Relations between Djibouti and Eritrea are strained by a long-standing unresolved border dispute over Ras Doumeira, a strategic cape overlooking the entrance to the Red Sea north of Djibouti city.

Ali "called for insurrection and revolt and that's not acceptable for any country," Djibouti's ambassador to Ethiopia, Mohamed Idriss Farah, told AFP.

Benedikt Kamski, a researcher at the Germany-based Arnold-Bergstraesser-Institute (ABI) said that while the current protests remained relatively small, and were likely to fizzle out, they were mainly a sign of dissatisfaction with the government ahead of elections which are meant to take place next year.

"Large parts of the population are dissatisfied with the president and the government, especially due to (allegations of) widespread corruption and the lack of delivering basic services to the population.

"Also unemployment and underemployment are particularly big issues."

The protests also come as Djibouti is dealing with the highest prevalence of the coronavirus on the continent. A lockdown has been lifted but a travel ban is still in place and people's livelihoods have been hit hard.

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2020 is an extraordinary year, witnessing explosive growth in technologies together with reforms in different industries. The tremendous potential of digital transformation is to be unleashed on the basis of synergy across five tech domains, in which connectivity, cloud computing, AI and applications develop surrounding 5G in ways never seen before.

By turning coal mines into digital structures for more than 10 scenarios, Huawei has achieved digital twining, making whole mining business digital and smart.

For the Malanshan Video Cultural Creative Industrial Park, Huawei has collaborated with clients and partners to establish the cloud platform for filming process, streamline the entire video production ranging from shooting, editing streaming, to storage and backhaul, shortening the cycle by 30% and reducing cost by 20%.

Huawei has long been adhering to best practices for a better future. In 2018, Huawei's logistics park in Dongguan underwent transformation that lasted for half a year. With the help of automated equipment and intelligent algorithms, delivery efficiency (volume of goods delivered per capita) has increased by 67%, and the delivery cycle has been shortened by over 50%.

Peng concluded, "There are three decisive factors while digitalizing scenarios. The first one is the cutting-edge technology, allowing integration of ICT with core scenarios. The second one is industry know-how, where we should seek industrial insights in depth and understand the industrial knowledge. Finally, it is all about execution. That is to put all these into practice, turning theories into reality with continuous exploration and innovation."

A new paradigm of digital transformation

A digital ecosystem with which Huawei creates and shares value is crucial for the construction of the prosperous digital future.

In the digitalized era, the essence of business is to "make the cake bigger" and achieve win-win results rather than compete in the zero-sum game. To this end, Huawei proposes to build a "digital ecosystem cube" from three dimensions. The first dimension is to target at the future of digitalization, gain insights of the unsatisfied demands from numerous segmented scenarios in various industries, which is the premise of "the bigger cake". The second dimension is to aggregate different capabilities of various partners and fully play to their strengths, which is the basis of "baking a bigger cake". The third is to develop multiple approaches for collaboration and business models, and make conscious effort to create and share value together. This is the permanent force that continually drives the expansion of market size.

Taking Shenzhen Airport as an example. By working with industry-leading solution partners and based on the synergy across five tech domains that integrates end devices, data management and industry application, Huawei has developed diverse and segmented scenario-based solutions, such as flight scheduling, stand allocation and ground support. In 2019, it helped reduce the number of passengers who took shuttle bus by some 2.6 million, boosting the efficiency of security check by 60%. It has led to a safer airport with better efficiency and superior experience tailor-made for travelers.

Now, Huawei has built on the 100 scenario-based solutions, creating more industrial value associated with partners.

"You can't find a new land with an old map," Peng said, calling on clients to embrace changes, and craft a new paradigm of industrial digital transformation for a greater future.

At HUAWEI CONNECT 2020, the global leading ICT company also invited clients with great achievements in digital transformation to share their experience.

Chen Jinzu, General Manager of Shenzhen Airport Group, said that Shenzhen Airport is a pioneer in digital transformation, contributing in building a smart civic airport with the wisdom and experience of Shenzhen.

Tang Shaojie, General Manager of Shenzhen Metro Group, said that as the backbone of public transportation, Shenzhen Metro will facilitate station-city integration, high degree of amalgamation of multiple transportation modes across Shenzhen and the region, and joint-construction of the "Greater Bay Area on the track", with a smart city initiative.

In appreciating global partners for their efforts in driving business growth and shared success over the past years, Huawei has presented them with outstanding partner awards of 2020. These recognitions include the Excellent Global Channel Partner, Excellent Global Strategic Partner, Excellent Global Distributor, Excellent Global Industry Solution Partner, Excellent Global Talent Ecosystem Partner, and Excellent HUAWEI CLOUD Channel Partner. Meanwhile, Huawei has announced its declaration of industry ecosystem, that is to innovate and grow together for success together in the future.

HUAWEI CONNECT 2020 is an annual flagship event hosted by Huawei for the global ICT industry, and is being held in Shanghai from September 23 to 26, 2020. HUAWEI CONNECT is an open platform designed to help our customers and partners navigate these changes, share experience, and work together to create new value. At this year's event, we will explore trends and opportunities in industry digitization; showcase advanced ICT technologies, products, and solutions; give you an insider's look at the fruits of joint innovation; and share best practices in digital transformation. Our ultimate goal is to build an open and sound industry ecosystem that will benefit all stakeholders and create new value for all industries. For more information, please visit:

https://www.huawei.com/en/events/huaweiconnect2020/

SOURCE Huawei

Related Links

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"The stakes are as high as possible" in President Trump's rush to install a Supreme Court justice, but "Republicans probably do have the votes to do this," Chris Hayes conceded on MSNBC Tuesday night. "There is no magic trick, right? No procedural thing you can do as Democrats to stop them. I mean, you can delay, you can make it difficult, and obviously they should do that," but "what is the plan? Because if they are willing to pay any price for this seat, because it is so valuable to them, then the only option left is to make the price as high as possible. And that means you focus on what Donald Trump's nominee on the court could mean."

Democrats need to make the loss of health care for tens of millions of Americans, the squelching of "reproductive freedom," and the judicial assault on clean air and water and climate legislation "stick to the Republicans who are responsible for putting that person on the court," especially the vulnerable incumbents facing tough re-election battles, Hayes argued. "What you do not do  and I strongly believe this  is focus on the actual nominee."

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) made the "very deft call" in 2016 to focus not on Merrick Garland, President Obama's nominee, but on the principle that "we can stop this and we will," Hayes said. "Democrats don't have the power right now to stop it, but they should take the same approach: It is not about the actual nominee, it is about what Donald Trump and his party are trying to do to the country through the appointment. So boycott the hearings, boycott the process, the same way Republicans did with Merrick Garland. ... You're not going to convince these Republicans to change their minds, so all you can do is make them pay." Watch his argument below.

More stories from theweek.com

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A mild defense of Republican hypocrisy on the Supreme Court

Trump is the only one being honest about the Supreme Court fight


New Delhi, Sep 23 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed deep condolences over the death of Union Minister of State for Railways, Suresh Angadi (65), who succumbed to Covid-19 at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences here.

"Shri Suresh Angadi was an exceptional Karyakarta, who worked hard to make the Party strong in Karnataka. He was a dedicated MP and effective Minister, admired across the spectrum. His demise is saddening. My thoughts are with his family and friends in this sad hour. Om Shanti," the Prime Minister tweeted.

President Ram Nath Kovind too expressed shock at the sudden demise of Angadi.

"Shocked to know the passing away of Shri Suresh Angadi, Union Minister of State of Railways. An amiable leader Shri Angadi worked tirelessly for the people of his constituency, Belagavi and Karnataka," he tweeted.A The 65-year-old leader was admitted to the trauma centre of the apex medical institute after testing positive for Covid-19 and was undergoing treatment under Neeraj Nischal, Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine.
ST. LOUIS, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC) ("Centene" or the "Company") announced today that it has commenced an underwritten public offering to sell $2,200,000,000 of senior notes due 2030 (the " Notes "), subject to market and other conditions.

Centene intends to use the net proceeds from the offering of the Notes, together with cash on hand, to redeem of all of its outstanding 4.75% Senior Notes due 2022 (the " 2022 Notes Redemption "), all of its outstanding 5.25% Senior Notes due 2025 and all of WellCare Health Plans, Inc.'s, a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, outstanding 5.25% Senior Notes due 2025 (together, the " 2025 Notes Redemptions "), including all premiums, accrued interest and costs and expenses related to the 2022 Notes Redemption and the 2025 Notes Redemptions. Pending the application of the net proceeds of the offering for the foregoing purposes, net proceeds may be temporarily used for general corporate purposes. The foregoing does not constitute a notice of redemption or an obligation to issue a notice of redemption for the outstanding notes of any series.

BofA Securities, Barclays, J.P. Morgan, Truist Securities and Wells Fargo Securities are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering of the Notes.

This offering is being made pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement and prospectus and a related preliminary prospectus supplement filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the " SEC "). Before you invest, you should read the prospectus and the related preliminary prospectus supplement, the registration statement and other documents that Centene has filed with the SEC for more complete information about Centene and this offering.

Copies of the prospectus supplement and related prospectuses for this offering can be obtained from BofA Securities, NC1-004-03-43, 200 North College Street, 3rd floor, Charlotte, NC 28255-0001, Attn: Prospectus Department or by email at [email protected]; from Barclays Capital Inc., c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, by email at [email protected], or by calling (888) 603-5847; from J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717 or by calling +1 (866) 803-9204; from Truist Securities by email at [email protected]; and from Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, 550 S. Tryon Street, 5th Floor, Charlotte, North Carolina 28202, Attention: Leveraged Syndicate.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of the securities described herein in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction.

About Centene Corporation

Centene Corporation, a Fortune 50 company, is a leading multi-national healthcare enterprise that is committed to helping people live healthier lives. The Company takes a local approach  with local brands and local teams  to provide fully integrated, high-quality, and cost-effective services to government-sponsored and commercial healthcare programs, focusing on under-insured and uninsured individuals. Centene offers affordable and high-quality products to nearly 1 in 15 individuals across the nation, including Medicaid and Medicare members (including Medicare Prescription Drug Plans) as well as individuals and families served by the Health Insurance Marketplace, the TRICARE program, and individuals in correctional facilities. The Company also serves several international markets, and contracts with other healthcare and commercial organizations to provide a variety of specialty services focused on treating the whole person. Centene focuses on long-term growth and the development of its people, systems and capabilities so that it can better serve its members, providers, local communities, and government partners.

Cautionary Statements on Forward-Looking Statements of Centene Corporation

All statements, other than statements of current or historical fact, contained in this communication are forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, forward-looking statements often use words such as "believe," "anticipate," "plan," "expect," "estimate," "intend," "seek," "target," "goal," "may," "will," "would," "could," "should," "can," "continue" and other similar words or expressions (and the negative thereof). Centene (the "Company", "our", or "we") intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe-harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and we are including this statement for purposes of complying with these safe-harbor provisions. In particular, these statements include, without limitation, statements about Centene's intended use of proceeds from this offering, including in connection with the 2022 Notes Redemption and the 2025 Notes Redemptions, future operating or financial performance, market opportunity, growth strategy, competition, expected activities in completed and future acquisitions, including statements about the impact of Centene's recently completed acquisition (the "WellCare Acquisition") of WellCare Health Plans, Inc. ("WellCare"), other recent and future acquisitions, investments and the adequacy of Centene's available cash resources. These forward-looking statements reflect Centene's current views with respect to future events and are based on numerous assumptions and assessments made by Centene in light of Centene's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, business strategies, operating environments, future developments and other factors Centene believes appropriate. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are subject to change because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future, including economic, regulatory, competitive and other factors that may cause Centene's or its industry's actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. All forward-looking statements included in this communication are based on information available to Centene on the date of this communication. Except as may be otherwise required by law, Centene undertakes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements included in this communication, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this communication. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, as actual results may differ materially from projections, estimates, or other forward-looking statements due to a variety of important factors, variables and events including but not limited to: the impact of COVID-19 on global markets, economic conditions, the healthcare industry and Centene's results of operations, which is unknown, and the response by governments and other third parties; uncertainty as to Centene's expected financial performance during the period of integration of the WellCare Acquisition; the possibility that the expected synergies and value creation from the WellCare Acquisition will not be realized, or will not be realized within the expected time period; the risk that unexpected costs will be incurred in connection with the integration of the WellCare Acquisition or that the integration of WellCare will be more difficult or time consuming than expected; unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the WellCare Acquisition; the inability to retain key personnel; disruption from the integration of the WellCare Acquisition, including potential adverse reactions or changes to business relationships with customers, employees, suppliers or regulators, making it more difficult to maintain business and operational relationships; the risk that Centene may not be able to effectively manage its expanded operations; Centene's ability to accurately predict and effectively manage health benefits and other operating expenses and reserves, including fluctuations in medical utilization rates due to the impact of COVID-19; competition; membership and revenue declines or unexpected trends; changes in healthcare practices, new technologies, and advances in medicine; increased healthcare costs; changes in economic, political or market conditions; changes in federal or state laws or regulations, including changes with respect to income tax reform or government healthcare programs as well as changes with respect to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ("ACA") and the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act, collectively referred to as the ACA and any regulations enacted thereunder that may result from changing political conditions or judicial actions, including the ultimate outcome in "Texas v. United States of America" regarding the constitutionality of the ACA; rate cuts or other payment reductions or delays by governmental payors and other risks and uncertainties affecting Centene's government businesses; Centene's ability to adequately price products on the Health Insurance Marketplaces and other commercial and Medicare products; tax matters; disasters or major epidemics; the outcome of legal and regulatory proceedings; changes in expected contract start dates; provider, state, federal, foreign and other contract changes and timing of regulatory approval of contracts; the expiration, suspension, or termination of Centene's contracts with federal or state governments (including but not limited to Medicaid, Medicare, TRICARE or other customers); the difficulty of predicting the timing or outcome of pending or future litigation or government investigations; challenges to Centene's contract awards; cyber-attacks or other privacy or data security incidents; the possibility that the expected synergies and value creation from acquired businesses, including businesses Centene may acquire in the future, will not be realized, or will not be realized within the expected time period; the exertion of management's time and Centene's resources, and other expenses incurred and business changes required in connection with complying with the undertakings in connection with any regulatory, governmental or third party consents or approvals for acquisitions; disruption caused by significant completed and pending acquisitions, including, among others, the WellCare Acquisition, making it more difficult to maintain business and operational relationships; the risk that unexpected costs will be incurred in connection with the completion and/or integration of acquisition transactions; changes in expected closing dates, estimated purchase price and accretion for acquisitions; the risk that acquired businesses will not be integrated successfully; restrictions and limitations in connection with Centene's indebtedness; Centene's ability to maintain or achieve improvement in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ("CMS") Star ratings and maintain or achieve improvement in other quality scores in each case that can impact revenue and future growth; availability of debt and equity financing, on terms that are favorable to us; inflation; foreign currency fluctuations and risks and uncertainties discussed in the reports that Centene has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This list of important factors is not intended to be exhaustive. Centene discusses certain of these matters more fully, as well as certain other factors that may affect Centene's business operations, financial condition and results of operations, in Centene's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including Centene's annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K. Due to these important factors and risks, Centene cannot give assurances with respect to Centene's future performance, including without limitation Centene's ability to maintain adequate premium levels or Centene's ability to control its future medical and selling, general and administrative costs.

SOURCE Centene Corporation
The provincial government is currently considering a plan for a sand-processing facility about 35 kilometres east of Winnipeg. Given the controversy surrounding this proposal, officials would do well to expand their due diligence into double-due diligence.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 22/9/2020 (486 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The provincial government is currently considering a plan for a sand-processing facility about 35 kilometres east of Winnipeg. Given the controversy surrounding this proposal, officials would do well to expand their due diligence into double-due diligence.

CanWhite Sands wants to remove 1.6 million tonnes of sand per year at the facility in the RM of Springfield, for fracking and other purposes, but the proposal has incurred strong opposition from area residents, environmentalists and opposition politicians who have also alleged unethical business dealings in the past by the CEO of CanWhite.

Despite the protests, the company wants to go ahead because it recognizes good sand when it sees it. The silica sand in the area is of very high purity. Its ideal to produce silica products such as fiber-optic cable and silicon metal for solar cells, electronic components, construction materials and art supplies, according to the Manitoba Prospectors and Developers Association.

The plant and related jobs would bring economic benefits to the area around the town of Vivian, but an organized effort by some local residents has rung alarm bells about possible environmental consequences. Their concerns were put forth publicly by Dennis LeNeveu, a biophysicist and a former safety officer at Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd.

The CanWhite plan is to pump sand and water up from the sandstone aquifer, which will be a draw on the aquifer. Mr. LeNeveu said the water could become contaminated when the pyrite in the shale hits the surface, oxidizes and becomes acidic, but acid also will form right in the aquifer before anything hits the surface because of air injection into the aquifer, which is the process used to extract the sand.

He said there is a risk of contaminating the source of drinking water for many residents of southeast Manitoba.

A group called What The Frack Manitoba warns the Brokenhead River could become a "toxic dumping ground" for the processing plant, and has publicly called on the province to suspend its approval process until the federal government gets the necessary information to weigh possible adverse impacts, such as violating the federal Fisheries Act by threatening aquatic life.

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The environmental protests about the proposed plant have been supplemented by concerns about the business history of Feisal Somji, the CEO of CanWhite Sands. At a press conference last Thursday, Liberal MLAs disclosed Mr. Somji is also the former CEO of Prize Mining Corp., which in 2019 was ordered by the Alberta Securities Commission to cease trading after it was accusing of "making misrepresentations and failing to comply with its continuous disclosure obligations."

The commission ordered the company to issue a news release, disclosing that of the $6.5 million it reportedly raised from investors, $5.5 million was returned to some of them for "consulting agreements."

JESSE BOILY / FREE PRESS FILES Biophysicist and concerned citizen Dennis LeNeveu.

Mr. Somji complied with the commissions order to come clean publicly about his investors and, to be fair, there was no finding that he engaged in any illegal activities that would prohibit him from doing business in Manitoba. Still, the ploy in Alberta to misrepresent the financial commitment of investors should prompt Manitoba officials to intensely scrutinize his proposal for the sand-processing facility.

The Liberals are calling for a full review of the project before the Clean Environment Commission. That would allow public hearings, in which the company would be questioned about its plans for Manitoba.

Such public hearings are warranted. Given the warning that the project threatens the sustainability of the aquifer that underlies much of southeastern Manitoba, its crucial that the environmental impact of the proposal be fully investigated before a shovel hits the sand.
Samsung is all set to launch the Galaxy S20 FE aka Galaxy S20 Fan Edition smartphone today during an online event. The company will unveil the Galaxy S20 FE at 10AM ET (7:30PM IST) during the Galaxy Unpacked for Every Fan event. The smartphone was initially rumoured to be called the Galaxy S20 Lite, and as the name suggests, it is expected to be a toned-down version of the Samsung Galaxy S20. The launch comes about a month after Samsung launched its Galaxy Note 20 series of flagship smartphones.

The invite for the Galaxy Unpacked for Every Fan event said that the event will be avaialbe to watch live on Samsung Newsroom and the companys official website. Further, the launch event will be streamed on Samsungs social media channels including Facebook and YouTube. You can also watch the event live below:

The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is reported to arrive in six colour schemes - Navy, Lavender, Sky Green, Red, White, and Orange. The phone is expected to also arrive in both 4G and 5G variants. While there is not much known on the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE, reports have suggested that the phone will come with a 6.5-inch full-HD Super AMOLED display, along with a 120Hz refresh rate and an in-display fingerprint sensor. Under the hood, the phone could either have Qualcomms Snapdragon 865 SoC of Samsungs in-house Exynos 990. The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is also rumoured to come with at least one 6GB RAM option.
An incredible new argument is being put forward by an appeal team for Roger Rogerson who was jailed for the execution of Sydney drug dealer Jamie Gao.

Rogerson, 79, and former detective Glen McNamara, 60, were jailed for life in 2016 for the cold-blooded murder of Gao in a south Sydney storage locker in May 2014.

The former cop argued his innocence at trial by saying he was unaware of McNamara's murder plans and in a new appeal his barrister said his actions before the crime prove he isn't guilty.

Rogerson (pictured), 79, and fellow former detective Glen McNamara, 60, were jailed for life in 2016 for the cold-blooded murder Gao in a south Sydney storage locker in May 2014

'He (Rogerson) brought his own car to the scene of the crime,' Rogerson's barrister John Stratton SC told the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal on Wednesday.

'It would not make sense for him to do it in his own car if it was planned to either rob or kill the deceased.'

One of the three judges hearing the appeal this week said the theory was interesting.

'But it's been my experience that not each premeditated crime involves skilfully and intelligently thought-through plans,' Justice Robert Allan Hulme said.

'Sometimes, people of reasonable intelligence do some pretty stupid things.'

Mr Stratton conceded that but pointed out the crown case at the four-month-long trial had been that Mr Gao's death was a planned crime.

'It's not conceivable that this man Rogerson would not have thought through that very basic flaw that, in my submission, even the most simple armed robber would have thought of,' he said.

Describing its case as 'compelling', the Crown said Rogerson's reaction as captured on CCTV wasn't consistent with finding Mr Gao's body and McNamara 'in a distressed condition'.

'Instead, (Rogerson) and McNamara appear to be acting according to plan,' crown prosecutors Eric Balodis and Karl Prince say in written submissions.

Former Police officer Roger Rogerson is taken into custody by NSW Police at his home in Padstow, Sydney, Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Another prong of Rogerson's conviction appeal calls for a new trial after the emergence of what has been called new evidence.

If successful on any ground, Rogerson wants the court to reduce his nine-year jail term for robbing Mr Gao of 2.78 kilograms of methamphetamine.

The Crown submitted the court should dismiss all appeals.

McNamara's legal team began outlining its appeal on Wednesday afternoon, alleging the trial judge erred by not allowing their client to detail his prior belief that Rogerson had murdered before and that McNamara therefore acted under duress.

The pair were found guilty in June 2016 after a four-month trial that heard Mr Gao was lured to a darkened storage shed in Padstow and shot dead, before Rogerson and McNamara attempted to cover their tracks by dumping his body at sea.

They used the skills and knowledge honed over their years as sworn NSW police officers to gain Mr Gao's trust, the sentencing judge found.
The Directors of the SQLI Group, at a board meeting on Tuesday, 22 September 2020, acknowledged strategic differences with the CEO Didier Fauque who is leaving the Group and resigned as a Director of the company.

To ensure a smooth transition process, Philippe Donche-Gay, Chairman of the Board of Directors of SQLI, has agreed to become interim CEO as of today. Combining the two functions, he will lead the process of recruiting a new CEO. He will rely on the support from the management team in place, notably Olivier Stephan, the Deputy General Director for Finance.

The Board of Directors also approved the interim financial statements which will be published, as planned, on Thursday, 24 September 2020, after the market closes. The results came out slightly higher than the guidance communicated on 28 July 2020, with an EBIT of 4.6 million and a revenue reaching 110.3 million for the period.

Phillipe Donche-Gay said: "I would like to thank Didier for all his achievements as CEO of the SQLI Group since 2013. He initiated a process of deep transformation of the group to make it a European player in e- commerce services. We wish to pursue it, despite the sudden deterioration of the economic environment, particularly in France. The interim results to be published on Thursday reflect our resilience and strengths, as well as the challenges to be met."

SQLI will publish its 2020 interim results on 24 September 2020, after the market closes.

You can register to obtain SQLI's financial information free-of-charge by e-mail at: www.actusnews.com

About SQLI Group: Created in 1990, SQLI is an international digital services group that combines the best of technologies and methodologies to create user-centred applications and services and e-commerce solutions to enhance the client experience.

Its unique positioning, drawing on a model that specialises in retail, technologies and skills transformation, combined with the production capacity of its digital services centres, allows the SQLI Group to provide sustainable support to large companies and European brands in the development of their sales, reputation and internal performance.

It has 2,200 employees located in 13 countries: France, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Belgium, United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Sweden, Netherlands, Denmark, Spain, South Africa and Morocco. SQLI Group generated revenue of 239 million in 2019.

SQLI has been listed on Euronext Paris (SQI) since 21 July 2000.



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WILSON, N.C., Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Vets Pets , a North Carolina cooperative network of veterinary hospitals, continues to expand with its second Rolesville Veterinary Hospital location. Rolesville Veterinary Hospital at Forestville Crossing will open its doors in late October at 3111 Leland Drive, Suite 130, in the Forestville Crossing Shopping Center.

Rolesville Veterinary Hospital has served the Rolesville and surrounding communities for almost 12 years. Vets Pets started the original Rolesville Veterinary Hospital in 2008 with Dr. Jennifer Hummel in a small leased space on Main Street in Rolesville. They constructed a new free standing facility in 2014 located at 300 Batten Road in Rolesville. The community love for their pet families and support for the hospital is exceptional, resulting in significant growth. That growth led to the decision to open the second location.

"We are proud to serve such a wonderful community," said Dr. Jennifer Hummel, DVM, Rolesville Veterinary Hospital. "The town and our clients have stood behind us and we can't wait for them to see our new home."

Dr. Shanna Baker will start as the primary veterinarian at the new location. Dr. Baker has worked with the team at the existing location for the past 6 years. She was born and raised in Greenville, NC, where she developed her love of animals. She had multiple pets at an early age and always wanted to be a veterinarian. Dr. Baker obtained a BS degree in Biology from East Carolina University and proceeded to Veterinary School at North Carolina State University, graduating in the class of 1997.

"Drs. Baker, Hummel and the rest of the team embody an unwavering commitment to advancement and work constantly to improve their client experience, medicine, surgery and use of technology," said Steve Thomas, CEO of Vets Pets. "Expanding into a second location is the next step in our progression, and I am excited to see what we can do from here."

For more information about Rolesville Veterinary Hospital, visit: rolesvillepetcare.com. If you'd like to schedule an interview with Steve Thomas or Dr. Hummel, please contact Matt Mumpower by email at [email protected] or by phone at 252.237.1375.

About Vets Pets

Vets Pets is a cooperative group of small-animal veterinary hospitals located in the Triangle and Eastern North Carolina. Based in Wilson, North Carolina, Vets Pets was created to address the changing needs in the veterinary industry. By providing hands-on operations management, HR support, continued education, advanced technology and resources, it enables veterinarians to focus on medical excellence in a supportive and healthy hospital culture.

Whether veterinarians are looking to join one of their existing practices, launch a new practice, acquire an existing practice or transition out of practice ownership, Vets Pets' role in the business is flexible. It invests in people, equipment, and facilities with the long-term in mind, and works with veterinary partners to match strengths and interests with the right business opportunity. For entrepreneurial veterinary leaders, Vets Pets forms partnerships where it co-owns practices with veterinarians. For more information, visit the Vets Pets website and Facebook page .

SOURCE Vets Pets
TEHRAN, Iran - Irans powerful Revolutionary Guard force has managed to fly a surveillance drone over the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier which last week transited through the Strait of Hormuz, an Iranian news agency said Wednesday.

The semi-official Tasnim news agency, which is considered close to the paramilitary Guard, published images of the Nimitz, saying they were taken by Iranian-made drones, and showing fighter planes parked on the carriers deck.

The Nimitz, and several other warships, passed last Friday through the Strait of Hormuz, the worlds most important chokepoint for oil shipments, the U.S. Navy had said in what was described as a scheduled manoeuvr.

The U.S. Navys Bahrain-based 5th Fleet, which oversees patrols across Mideast waters, declined to comment the Iranian report on Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, the Guard took over a delivery of surveillance drones from Irans defence industries. At a ceremony marking the event, Gen. Hossein Salami said the power of the Guards navy stems from its combination use of drones, helicopters, aircraft and its vessels.

Over the past decade, the Guard has occasionally published images on the U.S. vessels in the Persian Gulf, where the force has been in charge of protecting Irans interests since 2007. In 2019, similar images were published, reportedly from a Guard drone that flew over the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and another American warship in the Persian Gulf.

Tensions between Iran and the U.S. continue to simmer. The U.S. withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and major world powers and imposed new, tougher sanctions on Iran that sent the countrys economy into free fall.

We are in war, we are in an economic war, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani told in a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, citing the U.S. sanctions as the cause of the economic warfare.

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The matcha chocolate chunk cookies intertwine matcha, semisweet Belgian chocolate and Maldon sea salt, and are usually one of the first items to sell out. Even the unassuming rolls  which Nguyen says are her favorite items to make because the dough itself is so fun to work with  pique the senses of taste and sight. Ube, a yam known for its purple color, is prevalent in dishes throughout the Philippines. Nguyens ube rolls, served with bright-purple ube butter, practically melt on the tongue. Her cakes, often also incorporating ube, feature similarly delectable flavor combinations coupled with gorgeous design elements.
CHICAGO, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a new market research report "EdTech and Smart Classroom Market by Hardware (Interactive Displays, Interactive Projectors), System (LMS, SIS, TMS), Technology (Gamification, Analytics, Advanced Technology), and Region - Global Forecast to 2025", published by MarketsandMarkets, the EdTech and Smart Classroom Market size expected to grow from USD 85.8 billion in 2020 to USD 181.3 billion by 2025, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 16.1% during the forecast period.

The major factors driving the growth of the EdTech and Smart Classroom Market include increasing penetration of mobile devices and easy availability of internet, and growing demand for online teaching-learning models, impact of COVID-19 pandemic and growing need for EdTech solutions to keep education system running in lockdown.

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47- Figures

223- Pages

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Interactive Displays segment to hold the largest market size during the forecast period

The interactive display is a hardware device that opens up content, predominantly technological content, and inspires a level of interactivity that is challenging to attain with conventional textbook-based learning. The presence of an interactive display can impact learning in several ways as it serves to raise the level of learner engagement, inspires students, and encourages enthusiasm for learning. Interactive displays are progressively being seen as a vital requirement for teaching in K-12, higher education, and corporate organizations. These displays are innovative, new generation hardware using wireless technologies. Interactive displays are entirely technology-enabled and are widely used in an advanced and mature market. This hardware has been widely used globally since it allows organizations to process and present data in an effective manner. Interactive displays are used to display content, such as images, videos, and video calls. The education sector is the most primitive adopter of interactive displays influenced by encouraging responses from trainers, students, and teachers.

Cloud deployment type to record the fastest growth rate during the forecast period

In the cloud-deployed EdTech, solutions are hosted over the internet connection, and users can log into the service provider's site. Teachers or trainers can upload course content, create new courses, and interact with learners via their internet browsers to refrain from the installation of the required management software. Instructional designers can store any information on the cloud, and this can be remotely accessed by approved users in any location. This deployment type is preferred for its features, such as better and enhanced security, lower setup costs, easy accessibility, quicker deployment, highly scalable, customizable, enhanced storage space, ease of maintenance, automatic upgrade of course materials, and automatic licensing done by vendors. In this type, learning is delivered to the learner, anywhere and anytime via the browser.

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APAC is projected to be the fastest growing region during the forecast period

APAC countries considerably contribute to the growth of the EdTech and Smart Classroom Market. The adoption of EdTech solutions has explicitly been implemented in this region to discover the power of innovative learning methodologies. Intrinsic strength and rapid economic growth make this region one of the fastest-growing education markets internationally. Countries such as Australia and Japan are expected to experience significant growth because of a wider technological infrastructure. The EdTech and Smart Classroom Market is an upcoming segment with high growth potential in this region. The demand for custom eLearning content and technologies is one of the factors is driving the Asian EdTech and Smart Classroom Market. APAC continues to be the largest exporters and consumers of education services. APAC countries differ greatly, some being among the most technologically developed, while others still show signs of major weakness in terms of adopting the latest technologies. APAC is considered to be one of the major regions for EdTech solution providers, as it covers a large terrestrial area and holds significant growth in this market. APAC continues to experience rapid growth in all areas of technology. The region being broad and diverse, not all countries enjoy the same levels of technological expansion and approachability.

Market Players

Some prominent players across all service types profiled in the EdTech and Smart Classroom Market study include Apple (US), Cisco (US), Blackboard (US), IBM (US), Dell EMC (US), Google (US), Microsoft (US), Oracle (US), SAP (Germany), Instructure (US).

Browse Adjacent Markets: Software and Services Market Research Reports & Consulting

Related Reports:

LMS Market by Component (Solution and Services), Delivery Mode (Distance Learning, Instructor-Led Training and Blended Learning), Deployment Type, User Type (Academic and Corporate), and Region - Global Forecast to 2025

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/learning-management-systems-market-1266.html

Digital Education Market by End User (Individual Learners and Academic Institutions, Enterprise and Government Organizations), Learning Type (Self-paced and Instructor-led Online Education), Course Type, and Region - Global Forecast to 2025

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/digital-education-market-7751828.html

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A High Court judge has said a lead case on Leaving Cert grades will be heard next month  but only if lawyers agree which of three separate cases brought over standardisation will be that lead case.

One of the cases is by Freddy Sherry, a Leaving Cert student at Dublins Belvedere College. He claims the Minister for Educations interference last August with the work of the Independent Steering Committee on Calculated Grades, directing it not to rely on previous school data or schools historic records in the standardisation process, led to him being unfairly downgraded by 55 points in his Leaving Cert this year.

A second case is by the Board of Management of St Kilians German school in Dublin and eight of its students, who claim the standardisation model lead to an extraordinary downgrading of results in German and other subjects there.

Aine Finnegan, from Fairview in Dublin, claims in the third action the standardisation process meant she unfairly missed out on a place in Medicine in Trinity College Dublin by two points.

When all three cases were mentioned before Mr Justice Charles Meenan, he was asked to fix a hearing date in late October.

The judge said an October hearing date was entirely dependent on a lead case being identified. Unless the sides reached agreement by next week on which of the cases should be a lead case, he would not fix a hearing date in this law term, which runs to December 21, he stressed.

Brian Kennedy SC, for the Minister for Education and Skills, the Minister for Further and Higher Education and the State, earlier said the cases involved a systemic challenge to the calculated grades process and his side would need at least four weeks to prepare opposition papers.

Feichin McDonagh SC, with Micheal P OHiggins SC and Brendan Hennessy BL, for the applicants, said the cases were not a systemic attack on the calculated grades.

Instead, they argued, the cases concerned a Ministerial decision last August to interfere in that process in response to some criticism in public discourse.

In the case by Mr Sherry, of Newtown, Celbridge, Co Kildare, he said, while Belvedere College does not have formal streaming of classes, he says he was in the faster moving Leaving Cert classes in four subjects as well as being in the only class in Latin, and, as a result, expected the students in most of his classes would have had a high number of H1 and H2 grades.

He had studied consistently for his Leaving Cert until May 8 when the cancellation of the exam and its replacement with a calculated grades system was announced.

He had relied on the respondents guidelines published on May 20 for students and schools.

But contrary to the express representations by the respondents, the process has not relied on previous school data or historical data on a national level during the standardisation process and that was announced by the Minister at a press conference on September 1.

He was hugely disappointed his teachers estimated CAO points total of 542 for him was reduced to 487 under the process.

His first course choice was pharmacy in TCD, he had decided not to take up a CAO offer of Chemical Sciences with Medicinal Chemistry in the Technical University of Dublin and may now may have to sit the Leaving Cert exam in November.

In the St Kilians case, it is claimed the school consistently achieves a high number of H1s and H2s in Leaving Certificate German.

It is impossible to reconcile that background with the Calculated Grades actually received by students of St Kilians, its principal Alice Lynch said in an affidavit.

One student had had the schools estimated mark of 90pc for her reduced to a H3 while another student was downgraded from a H2 to H4 and was refused a CAO place since he did not have the H3 German requirement for the course in TCD.

The calculated grade system was inherently flawed and failed to take into account the proven level of German academic attainment for the students in the school.

In her action, Ms Finnegan also alleges unfairness in the process. She studied for her Leaving Cert at the fee-paying Institute of Education in Dublin, missed out on a place in Medicine at TCD by two points after three of her calculated grades were reduced.

Joe Jeffers BL, for TCD, told the court the college could not give an assurance, as sought by her lawyers, to hold a place for her on the course pending the outcome of her action. Mr McDonagh said his side would correspond with TCD about that matter.

Earlier a fourth case, by Martha Woods, who got 613 points in the 2019 Leaving Certificate, was withdrawn.

Ms Woods, Murragh, Enniskeane, Co Cork, had said the points for dentistry in UCC rose this year from 590 points to 613, the final applicants for that course all had 613 points, places were allocated by random selection and she failed to get a place. Because she has since got a place in the UCC Dentistry course, that case is not proceeding.
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, has marked the 90th National Day of Saudi Arabia with the announcement that the airline plans to resume flights to three destinations in the Kingdom in October.

Also, to mark the occasion, the airline created an infographic to showcase the flight path of the special liveried Choose Saudi Arabia Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner since its first flight to Riyadh on September 23, 2019.

Ahmed Al Qubaisi, Senior Vice President Government, International and Communications, Etihad Aviation Group, said: The Saudi Arabian-inspired livery celebrates the UAEs close historical ties with the Kingdom. Saudi Arabia is a key market and we enjoy a special relationship with Saudia through our codeshare agreement and an extensive maintenance programme through our Etihad Engineering division.

With travel restrictions being eased and borders reopening, subject to the lifting of international restrictions, we look forward to resuming flights to the kingdom in October and once again, connecting Abu Dhabi to Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam.

The iconic aircraft, flying with latticework design in the Kingdoms national colours and Islamic calligraphic and Mashrabiya, travelled to 46 destinations, carried around 74,000 guests and transported more than 4,500 tonnes of cargo in 421 flights.

In 2019, Etihad operated 8,404 passenger flights and carried 1.3 million guests between Saudi Arabia and the UAE. - TradeArabia News Service
SPRINGFIELD  A 60-year-old teacher at the Springfield Renaissance School has been put on leave after allegations surfaced in Connecticut charging that she had an inappropriate relationship with a student at Norwalk High School more than 30 years ago.

A lawsuit filed in August at Bridgeport, Connecticut, Superior Court, alleges teacher Lise Krieger, then employed as an English teacher at Norwalk High School, engaged in an improper sexual relationship with a minor student in the late 1980s.

Krieger declined comment on Tuesday.

The suit, filed under the pseudonym Jane Doe, names Krieger; John Ramos, the high school principal at the time; and the Norwalk Board of Education as defendants. It seeks $15,000 in damages.

Details of the suit were first published in the Norwalk Hour, a local newspaper.

Azell Cavaan, the Springfield Public Schools communications director, told the paper that Krieger was placed on administrative leave Sept. 9. There is no timetable stipulated for when she will return.

The suit charges that Krieger engaged in an inappropriate relationship with the student, showing her affection and making physical contact that exceeded the bounds of an inappropriate teacher-student relationship.

The suit charges that a complaint was filed against Krieger at the time, but she was allowed to return to teaching. A short time afterward, Krieger continued pursuing the student, and the relationship became sexual.

The suit charges that at the time the student was a minor and was mentally, emotionally and legally unable to consent to a sexual relationship. It also charges she suffered lasting physical and emotional damage that affects her ability to work and her emotional well-being.

Krieger, according to her staff profile on the Renaissance School webpage, has been a teacher at the school since 2007, after having taught English at Norwalk High School for 19 years.
BANGALORE, India, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the Latest Market Research Report " Smart Education & Learning Management Market by Learning Mode (Adaptive Learning, Blended Learning, Collaborative Learning, Simulation-Based Learning, Social Learning, Virtual Instructor-Led Training), by Component (Educational Content, Hardware, Services, Software), by End User (Corporate Education, Elementary School, Pre-School Education, Secondary School, University & Higher education), by Educational Content (Audio-Based Content, Text Content, Video-based Content) and Region - Global Forecast to 2025", published on Valuates Reports . The Global Smart Education & Learning Management Market size is expected to grow from USD 105,809.30 Million in 2019 to USD 270,630.32 Million by 2025 at a CAGR of 16.94%.

Smart Education & Learning Management prioritizes mobile instruments and offers versatile learning processes that replace conventional methods of teaching in the classroom. By embracing high-tech teaching strategies such as smart notebooks, whiteboards, and others, several educational institutions are changing their preference to the idea of smart education.

Major factors driving the growth of Smart Education & Learning Management market size are the adoption of e-learning solutions and Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML).

Get Detailed Analysis of COVID-19 Impact on Smart Education and Learning Management Market: https://reports.valuates.com/request/sample/360I-Auto-0T350/The_Global_Smart_Education_Learning_Management

TRENDS INFLUENCING THE SMART EDUCATION AND LEARNING MANAGEMENT MARKET

Factors such as increased importance of smart education and learning technologies, enhanced accessibility of handheld communication devices, and increased demand for collaborative learning are expected to drive the Smart Education & Learning Management Market size.

The increasing adoption of consumer electronics, especially smartphones and tabs, is expected to fuel the Smart Education & Learning Management Market size growth. The use of consumer devices, such as smartphones, e-readers, notebooks, and e-learning apps, has altered traditional education and increased the learner's effectiveness.

Enhanced smart teaching solutions have resulted from alliances and partnerships between hardware manufacturers, software developers, and content providers. Due to its significant adoption by corporate professionals, the Smart Education & Learning Management Market size is expected to display a substantial rise over the forecast period.

Furthermore, the growing people's understanding and the increasing popularity of smart education prompt providers of solutions to invest in research and development to produce more efficient and cost-effective solutions. The increasing investments are, in turn, expected to fuel the Smart Education & Learning Management Market size.

View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/360I-Auto-0T350/the-global-smart-education-learning-management

SMART EDUCATION AND LEARNING MANAGEMENT MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS

North America is expected to hold the largest Smart Education & Learning Management Market share during the forecast period. This dominance of North America is due to the availability of adequate infrastructure and increased technology adoption in educational institutions.

Asia Pacific is expected to witness the highest growth during the forecast period. Due to the existence of rising economies such as India, China, and Japan, the Asia Pacific is expected to see substantial growth. Government-led programs, such as government-funded literacy growth projects in rural areas, are expected to improve the smart education and learning market size.

By Region

Americas,

Asia-Pacific ,

, Europe ,

, Middle East & Africa .

Inquire for Regional Data: https://reports.valuates.com/request/regional/360I-Auto-0T350/The_Global_Smart_Education_Learning_Management

SMART EDUCATION AND LEARNING MANAGEMENT MARKET SEGMENTATION

Based on Learning Mode, the Smart Education & Learning Management Market studied across

Adaptive Learning,

Blended Learning ,

, Collaborative Learning,

Simulation-Based Learning ,

, Social Learning ,

, Virtual Instructor-Led Training.

Based on Component, the Smart Education & Learning Management Market studied across

Educational Content,

Hardware,

Services,

Software.

The Educational Content further studied across

Audio-Based Content,

Text Content,

Video-based Content.

The Services further studied across

Consulting,

Managed Hosting,

Training & Certification.

The Software further studied across Adaptive Learning Platform,

Assessment Systems,

Learning Content Management Systems,

Learning Management System.

Based on End-User, the Smart Education & Learning Management Market studied across

Corporate Education,

Elementary School,

Pre-School Education,

Secondary School,

University & Higher education.

Key Companies:

Adobe Systems Incorporated,

Blackboard, Inc.,

Cisco Systems, Inc.,

Cornerstone Ondemand, Inc.,

Desire2learn Corporation Ltd.,

Educomp Solutions Ltd.,

Ellucian Company L.P.,

Instructure, Inc.,

Knewton,

Mcgraw-Hill Education,

Niit Limited,

Pearson PLC,

Promethean, Inc.,

Saba Software, Inc.,

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.,

Smart Technologies, Inc.,

Sum Total Systems, LLC.,

Tata Interactive Systems,

Think & Learn Pvt Ltd.

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SIMILAR REPORTS

Adaptive Learning Software Market

The USA is expected to hold the largest Adaptive Learning Software Market share during the forecast period. The USA market took up about 53.7% of the global market in 2018, while Europe and China were about 19.6%, 4.3%, respectively.

DreamBox Learning, SAS, Wiley (Knewton), Docebo, D2L are the key suppliers in the global adaptive learning software market. And the top 5 companies in the Adaptive Learning Software Market took up 41% of the global market in 2018.

View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-0Y2692/covid-19-impact-on-global-adaptive-learning-software

Blended Learning Market

The Americans will be the major revenue contributor to the Blended Learning market due to the presence of several key players with strong digital infrastructure.

View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-24I2860/global-blended-learning

Virtual Classroom Market

The Global Virtual Classroom Market size is expected to grow from USD 10.46021 Billion in 2019 to USD 26.78647 Billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 16.96%.

View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/360I-Auto-4J66/virtual-classroom

Simulation Learning Market

In 2018, the global Simulation Learning market size was USD 8220 Million and it is expected to reach USD 22100 Million by the end of 2025, with a CAGR of 15.2% between 2019 and 2025.

View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-21B2354/covid-19-impact-on-global-simulation-learning

Social Learning Platforms Market

View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-39O2730/covid-19-impact-on-global-social-learning-platforms

Smart Education Market

View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-1S2018/global-smart-education

Smart Education Software Market

View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-12O1752/global-smart-education-software

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On September 21, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal held an online meeting with Director of the European Department at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Alfred Kammer, during which they discussed issues of bilateral cooperation.

According to the Government portal, Shmyhal congratulated Kammer on his recent appointment and assured that further cooperation with the IMF is one of the priorities of both the President and the Government of Ukraine.

"Ukraine highly appreciates the comprehensive support provided by the IMF in difficult times for the whole world," the PM said.

Shmyhal said that a letter had been sent to Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Kristalina Georgieva, with a request to launch the mission in Ukraine in online mode.

The Prime Minister also invited Alfred Kammer to visit Ukraine after the removal of restrictive measures introduced due to the spread of COVID-19.

The conversation was also attended by Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko and Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine Kyrylo Shevchenko.

As reported, Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko said that the Finance Ministry expects to receive two tranches from the International Monetary Fund worth $700 million each by the end of the year.

In June 2020, Ukraine received a loan from the IMF in the amount of $2.1 billion.

ish
South Australia's border reopening with NSW will officially go ahead but the good news has been tempered by new cases, a travel exemption breach and a quarantine bungle.

The border restrictions with NSW will lift at midnight after the state recorded its second day of no community transmission cases of COVID-19.

NSW residents travelling to SA will no longer have to go into 14 days of self-isolation so long as they do not enter via Victoria.

It comes as SA recorded its first new cases in almost two weeks after a man and a woman in their 20s tested positive after arriving from Qatar on Sunday with their young child.

South Australia has recorded its first case of coronavirus in weeks, ahead of the state reopening to NSW. Source: AAP

They are in quarantine and their child has tested negative.

A hotel security guard is being treated as a close contact and will also be forced to quarantine after potentially being exposed to the family.

"When this family had additional tests done last evening, one of the security guards that was there helping out was unfortunately too close to where that procedure was done," Prof Spurrier said.

"I do apologise directly to that hotel security guard who was doing a fabulous job but was just put in that unfortunate situation of not being entirely safe."

Premier Steven Marshall earlier said the state was excited to reopen its borders to NSW.

"Last week it was the ACT, this week it is NSW," he said.

"It has been an enormous impediment on business, on families, on family reunification and that is going to be gone as of midnight tonight.

"That's going to be an absolute boon for our economy in South Australia but most importantly, creating more jobs."

South Australian Premier Steven Marshall said he was excited to reopen state borders with NSW. Source: AAP

Inappropriate exemption linked to AFL

Authorities have been left red-faced after 11 Victorian family members of Port Adelaide AFL players were wrongly granted travel exemptions to enter SA.

Port will host Geelong in a qualifying final at Adelaide Oval on October 1.

Story continues

Chief public health officer Nicola Spurrier says the exemptions were granted by a member of SA Health's exemptions committee who has since been counselled.

Five of the 11 who have already arrived in SA will undergo 14 days' hotel quarantine at their own expense and then will be free to remain in the state.

The others have had their exemptions revoked.

"It is absolutely entirely inappropriate at this point in time," Professor Spurrier said on Wednesday.

"We do have a very rigorous exemption process and as people would know, we have quite a hard border with Victoria at the moment.

"Our health exemptions really should be people with compelling compassionate reasons ... in this instance, that is not the case."

Prof Spurrier has promised to step back onto the exemption committee to provide extra oversight and will also review previous decisions.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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GUANGZHOU, China, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The China Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fair 2020 (CIEF 2020) themed "Digital Transformation and Innovation Leadership" opened in Guangzhou on Sept. 23. The CIEF is jointly sponsored by China Association for Science and Technology, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Chinese Academy of Engineering, the Central Committee of the Jiu San Society, the Guangdong Provincial Government, and the Guangzhou Municipal Government, and is co-organized by Guangzhou Municipal Government and International Data Group. Relevant leaders from China Association for Science and Technology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Chinese Academy of Engineering, the Central Committee of the Jiu San Society, Guangdong Provincial and Guangzhou Municipal Governments attended the launch ceremony of the CIEF. Also present at the launch ceremony were 11 academicians including Song Erwei, Cao Chunxiao, Sun Yu, Chen Jing, Zhang Ping, Zhao Liancheng, Chen Jun, Liu Changxiao, Liu Huanbin, Du Ruxu, and Ye Siyu, as well as 40 officials from the consulates of 21 countries in Guangzhou including Mexico, Israel, Nepal, Turkey, Ethiopia and Colombia.

The CIEF has been held for 5 years, and its brand visibility and influence have been significantly improved. A total of about 500 projects have been transformed and implanted at the CIEF, with a value of 39.4 billion yuan. This CIEF features a wealth of talents, abundant achievements and highlights.

Every effort should be made to explore the transaction and transformation mode of technological innovation achievements with Chinese characteristics, and encourage innovation and entrepreneurship as far as possible in the whole society. First, we should value more the integration of innovative elements, promote the effective matchmaking of technology, capital and industry, and help scientists cooperate with entrepreneurs and help entrepreneurs cooperate with venture capital parties. Second, we should pay more attention to the integration of technology and economy, promote the industrialization of advanced technology, make the transformation of technological achievements more efficient, promote the deep integration of technology and economy, and better serve economic and social development. Third, pay more attention to upgrading of innovation platform, innovate service models, improve working mechanism, and improve the professional service capabilities for the transformation of technological achievements.

At the launch ceremony, Song Jun and Wen Guohui unveiled the plaque of Guangzhou International Technology Exchange Service Center; representatives of the holders of 10 innovation and entrepreneurship achievement projects for which agreement has been achieved or intention of cooperation has been agreed exchanged the signed contracts with the enterprise representatives. After the launch ceremony, the leaders and guests visited the exhibition of innovation and entrepreneurship achievements.

This year's CIEF will be held from Sept. 23 to 25. Held in the form of online and offline events for the first time, the CIEF holds 22 special events and displays over 3,000 pieces of achievements. Focusing on the industrial reforms triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic and the new growth drivers generated by industrial integration, this year's CIEF especially sets up the "exhibition area for epidemic prevention technology achievements", fosters in-depth cooperation between industry, universities, research institutes and users, and strives to become an international, professional, and market-oriented innovation and entrepreneurship platform to facilitate the deep integration of technology and economy.

SOURCE IDG Asia
What can be done to reduce the increasing crime rate in the United States?

Even before the pandemic from Covid-19, it had increased, but with the pandemic it has increased significantly. As a result, there are some Individuals and organization attempting to deal with this situation.

However, before individuals and organizations can be effective in dealing with this increase, they need to understand the causes of crime. One statistical reality is that approximately 75 percent of crime is committed by school dropouts and approximately 75 percent of inmates in prison are school dropouts as well. Therefore, this needs to be an important consideration. Therefore, in the long term there needs to be a strong effort to do what is necessary to help students remain in school.

This involves working with students, teachers, and parents to help students be successful in school. This includes helping them academically, emotionally, and socially. This is very important because if students drop out of school, they find it very difficult to find work to enable them to earn enough to take care of themselves Therefore, many turn to crime as an attempt to survive, and some develop a fatalistic attitude about life or a feeling of hopelessness. Therefore, they tend to think there is no point in obeying laws when they will not survive a full lifetime.

Further, to have an effective impact upon the crime rate for those who have already dropped out of school, there needs to be a strong effort to work with these individuals. This includes establishing social relationships with them and helping them find legitimate work that will enable them to take care of themselves. This may also include working with some to help them return to school or getting an education. In other words, there needs to be an effort made to help them have hope for a better future without having to turn to crime.

In some cases, the high crime rate is also due to frustration and anger. This is demonstrated in St. Louis where the murder rate during September has already surpassed the murder rate for all of 2019, especially among young males. This is also due to some extent to the Covid-19 conditions we are faced with at this time. Social science shows that as human beings we all need social contact. This is especially true for the young and restrictions we are currently facing creates frustration and anger within them as well others. Therefore, they tend to strike out with violent behavior at others at times due to suppressed anger.

These are some of the things that need to be done in order to be successful in reducing the crime rate.

As a Professor Emeritus of Sociology/Criminal Justice, I taught Sociology for 30 years at Lewis & Clark Community College and Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. During those years, I did research and taught in all areas of Sociology. Sociology is the science of society and its social relations, institutions, and organizations.

Although I taught all aspects of social relations one of my primary focus was upon criminal justice that included the criminal justice system, crime, corrections, etc. As a result, I had a strong focus upon learning and teaching about the crime rates, imprisonment, recidivism (repeated crimes and return to prison). Thus, Lewis & Clark Community College established an endowed scholarship in my name for Criminal Justice students. I only mentioned this to emphasize the strong effort I made to provide an explanation for the cause of and prevention of crime and recidivism. This is very important today due to the increasing number of crimes being committed in our cities and elsewhere.
A New Jersey man who received sexually explicit images and videos of a 15-year-old Missouri girl he met through Sony PlayStation has been sentenced to 18 years in federal prison.

Daniel T. Baggott, 38, of North Plainfield and a 41-year-old El Dorado Springs, Missouri woman  Amanda E. Hunt  received the same 18-year-old, 4 month sentence, the U.S. Attorneys Office for Western Missouri said in a statement Tuesday. Both will also spend the rest of their lives on supervised release and have to register as sex offenders.

Baggott and Hunt became acquainted while chatting on PlayStation about 12 years ago. About six years ago he began making annual trips to Missouri to see Hunt and the girl, officials said.

Last year, Baggott started asking Hunt to send him sexually explicit images of the girl over Facebook Messenger, a request she complied with, according to prosecutors. Hunt, Baggott and the 15-year-old also started to trade sexually explicit messages and child pornography using Facebook messenger.

Facebook tipped off the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children on April 7, 2019 and an investigation began.

Hunt and Baggott pleaded guilty last year to producing child pornography, child sexual exploitation and coercion and enticement of a minor.

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Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
There have been two new deaths and 234 further cases of coronavirus in Ireland.

The 14-day incidence of the virus in Dublin on Monday had fallen to 136.9 per 100,000 compared to 138 per 100,000 on Sunday, indicating that the spread may be slowing down in the capital.

There has now been a total of 1,794 coronavirus related deaths in Ireland and 33,675 confirmed cases in Ireland.

Of the cases notified today, 115 are men and 119 are women, 68pc are under 45 years of age, 49pc are confirmed to be associated with outbreaks or are close contacts of a confirmed case and 34 cases have been identified as community transmission.

Read More

103 cases are in Dublin, 30 in Donegal, 22 in Galway, 21 in Cork, 13 in Wicklow, 12 in Louth, 9 in Kildare, 8 in Meath, with the remaining 17 spread across 10 counties.

Dr Ronan Glynn, Acting Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said that it is crucial that people reduce their social contacts and cut down on "discretionary" social activities.

"The single most important thing that people all across the country need to do now is to reduce their social contacts," he said.

"We all need to cut down on discretionary social activities. Meeting fewer people means fewer opportunities for the virus to transmit. Please prioritise who you choose to meet and try to keep your social network as small as possible," he said.

Dr Una Fallon, Director of Public Health, HSE Midlands, said: "If you are a close contact of a confirmed case please follow the guidelines on hse.ie and restrict your movements for 14 days  do not go to school or work, do not have visitors to your home, do not go to the shop or pharmacy unless it is absolutely necessary.

Dr Colm Henry, Chief Clinical Officer at the HSE said that cutting down on contacts protects the Irish healthcare system.

Every time you reduce your contacts, avoid a crowd, or choose to meet outdoors, or remember to keep your distance, know that you are a part of the frontline that protects our doctors, nurses, healthcare workers, and other staff working hard for us all in the Irish healthcare system.

Professor Philip Nolan, Chair of the Nphet Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, said that it is too early to tell if the disease has changed.

"While 14-day incidence and daily incidence have stopped rising in the last few days, it is too early to conclude that there has been any change in the pattern of disease. The reproduction number over the last two weeks remains high, at between 1.5 and 1.7, growth rate between 5 and 6.1, and doubling time between 12 and 14 days.

If we are starting to suppress the virus again, it is essential that we maintain this effort: limit our social contacts, limit mixing between households. The next ten days are critical," he said.
Hours after outlining a new set of restrictions, Prime Minister Boris Johnson implored Britons in a special broadcast on Tuesday evening to follow precautions to curb the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19), or face fines and even another lockdown, if the minority who flout rules continue to do so.

As the day-rise of new cases climbed to 4,926 on Tuesday evening, and a cumulative total of 403,551 with 41,825 deaths, Johnson abandoned his earlier optimistic outlook, and said if need be, the army would be deployed to ensure official guidance is followed.

He said: (Unless) we take action the risk is that we will have to go for tougher measures laterIf 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 dependWe 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.

The country, he told Britons, came together when the virus took hold in March, when people scrupulously followed official guidance by staying at home and taking basic precautions such as frequently washing hands and maintaining social distancing.

That collective action kept the virus at bay, which was reflected in falling numbers of new cases and admissions in hospitals from June onwards. But September has seen an exponential rise at various levels, after what Johnson called too many breaches of guidance.

Johnson said: The tragic reality of having Covid is that your mild cough can be someone elses death knellThats 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.

The new curbs include a 10pm curfew for pubs, restaurants and hospitality centres, which has further unnerved the industry struggling to balance the books in recent months. Wearing of masks has been made compulsory, including in taxis.

Another key advice was to work from home, a reversal of the recent back to work advice when new cases were in the hundreds. Weddings will also be limited to 15 people, instead of 30, while planned pilot events for the return of spectator sport have been cancelled.

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Cheri Honkala, an advocate for the homeless, poses for a portrait outside her home in Philadelphia, Pa. on September 17, 2020. Read more

Cheri Honkala has worn many hats during her life as a determined activist for homeless people.

She has struggled with homelessness herself. Shes been a controversial figure (arrested more than 200 times by her count). Shes been a community advocate for more than three decades. And, in 2012, she was a vice presidential candidate, running with Jill Stein on the Green Party ticket.

Yet throughout the years, there is one title that has eluded Honkala: homeowner.

I have helped a lot of people get homes, she said. And finally, somebody helped her.

Through the efforts of Jamie Moffett, another community advocate, Honkala bought her first home in April in Kensington. Its a cute two-story rowhouse  with three bedrooms, one bathroom, and a small backyard patio  located on a Custer Street block with many good neighbors but a few too many vacant properties that can create a nuisance. Honkalas house is in nice shape.

 READ MORE: Trying to fix Kensington, one home at a time

Moffett, an artist and former film director, owns several rental properties in the area and Honkala was renting one of them when he suggested that she buy it and at last become a homeowner.

I said that I am not young anymore, said Honkala, now 57. If it could happen, I would be excited.

Then came the tough part: working around her low credit score.

Moffett went to bat for her with Finanta, a mission-driven nonprofit lender in Kensington with which Moffett shares strong community ties. He attested to Honkalas excellent record of paying her rent on time: the first of every month, at 8 a.m.  month in and month out. It took a little while, but Honkala got a mortgage whose monthly debt service has worked out to cost less than her rent had.

It was a lot to do and there was no way I would be able to get a mortgage on my own, Honkala said. Jamie was amazing.

Becoming a homeowner was just the latest challenge in Honkalas life, although not on the level of running for vice president.

It was pretty much like standing in front of a Mack truck and having somebody back up into you, she said about her political run. Politics are just nasty. It just got ugly, but it taught me a lot about being sure of myself, and courage, and that you could pull bravery out of nowhere.

Moffett, 44, says Honkala, who is originally from Minnesota, made a profound impression when he met her about 25 years ago. He saw how dedicated she was to helping those without permanent housing. In fact, the majority of her arrests have come from her finding shelter for homeless people in abandoned buildings.

When I met her, Cheri was working with homeless moms in an abandoned Catholic church," St. Edwards, in Kensington, he said. I was inspired and wanted to help.

He was a college student at the time and, with a handful of fellow students, threw his support behind Honkala. And a few years later, he moved to Kensington himself.

She changed my life," said Moffett, who now lives in Palmyra, Burlington County.

Moffett has no official charitable organization. He just donates his time  lots of it.

A typical day, I speak to developers and ask them what their take on the market is, their thoughts on crime, and issues that we can resolve together, he said. I also speak with my friends in nonprofits and community development, keeping an eye on how things are going in the neighborhoods.

He also supports people through the home-loan application process; in June, he helped three renters in the area became homeowners. And he works on identifying abandoned properties that could be used for affordable housing.

There needs to be more developers and nonprofits putting [out] affordable housing resources if we are going to make [a neighborhood] a safe and healthy place, Moffett said. I am most passionate about quality affordable housing. If we can get to the point where we can have more options for renters to get the chance to be homeowners, it gives them more options in life.

Before the pandemic, Honkala was employed by Instacart, delivering groceries to people in Philadelphia.

She went on unemployment after contracting COVID-19 when the pandemic hit.

Little has come easy for Honkala, who lives with and cares for her 18-year-old son, Guillermo Santos, who is on the autism spectrum. Her other son is movie star Mark Webber, 40, who lives in Los Angeles.

He is a formerly homeless kid," Honkala said about Webber. He was homeless when [he was] 9 years old and we lived in a car. These issues are near and dear to him. He used to say, Mom, you have to get in your own housing,' and I have told him to send money to the organization.

The organization she is referring to is Poor Peoples Economic Human Rights Campaign, which she founded and which has been helping low-income and homeless people for more than 30 years.

Not surprisingly, the doors of her new home are always open to those seeking a roof over their heads. Any given week, she said, a half-dozen people in need of shelter will find it at her place.

In the middle of a pandemic I became a homeowner, she said proudly. It is really wonderful, just a great feeling.
 Flash

China firmly opposes the United States' fabrication of lies and groundless accusations against China, motivated by shady political purposes, at the United Nations (UN) podium, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday.

"Facts have proven once again that unilateralism and bullying are the most serious threats facing the world," Wang Wenbin said at a press briefing in response to a U.S. leader's remarks about China at the general debate of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.

"Lies can in no way replace truth. China's COVID-19 response efforts are clearly recorded, and people will make fair judgments," said Wang, adding China reported the epidemic, identified the pathogen and shared its genome sequence with the world all at the earliest possible time.

Wang said after confirming the human-to-human transmission of the novel coronavirus, China immediately made the resolute decision to shut all exit routes from Wuhan, and imposed the most stringent controls on the exit routes from Wuhan and Hubei Province.

Furthermore, China's customs authorities promptly halted, in accordance with the law, overseas travel by Chinese people belonging to four groups, namely confirmed cases, suspected cases, close contacts with the former two and people with a fever, he added.

Wang pointed out when China closed the exit channels from Wuhan on Jan. 23, only nine confirmed cases were identified outside China, of which only one was in the United States.

On Jan. 31, the United States suspended direct flights to and from China. When the United States closed its borders to all Chinese citizens on Feb. 2, only a dozen confirmed cases were reported in the United States, he said.

"China's COVID-19 response efforts have been open and transparent with a clear timeline. The facts and figures are an open book for all to see," said the spokesperson.

It is "utterly futile" for the United States to level groundless accusations against China concerning the pandemic in an attempt to shift blame for its mishandling of the virus onto others, Wang said.

The United States' arbitrary attacks on and withdrawal from the World Health Organization have jeopardized global anti-epidemic cooperation, which will bring harm to people around the world and see the American people incur a heavy cost, he added.

"It is imperative for the United States to cease its political manipulations and put an end to labeling or politicizing the virus, and join the rest of the international community in this common fight, rather than scapegoat or smear others," said Wang.

On climate change and environmental protection, Wang said the facts are also clear, noting China has actively fulfilled the international responsibilities consistent with its stage of development and national conditions, and carried out a host of policies and actions.

The spokesperson pointed out China has attained its 2020 climate action targets ahead of schedule, a major contribution to the global response to climate change. Non-fossil fuel now takes up nearly 15 percent in China's total energy consumption. China has 30 percent of the world's installed capacity of renewable energy, accounting for 44 percent of the world increase, and its new energy vehicle stock is more than half the world's total.

In addition, Wang said China has contributed 25 percent to the increased afforestation areas worldwide since 2000, noting China will update and enhance its nationally determined contribution targets, and introduce stronger policies and measures, to strive for the peaking of CO2 emissions before 2030 and carbon neutrality before 2060.

"Such objectives are consistent with China's vision of a vibrant, clean and beautiful world through joint efforts and its commitment to fostering a community with a shared future for humankind," said Wang.

"China takes an active part in global climate governance," Wang said, adding that as one of the first signatories of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, China has contributed significantly to the conclusion of the Kyoto Protocol, the Paris Agreement and related implementation guidelines.

Thanks to the concerted efforts by China and other parties, the 2019 UN Climate Change Conference in Madrid produced a string of decisions that reaffirmed the commitment to multilateralism and the consensus among all parties on climate governance, laying the groundwork for follow-up negotiations, Wang said.

In contrast, Wang said, the United States as the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases in cumulative terms, not only failed to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, but also pulled out of the Paris Agreement. It has rejected binding quantified emissions reduction targets for itself and refused to take even the minimum steps to protect the planet, he added.

"By doing so, the U.S. has completely disassociated itself from the global carbon emissions system and arrangements, and seriously held back such global processes as emissions reduction and green and low-carbon development," said the spokesperson.

Wang said as the world's largest exporter of solid waste and a major consumer of plastics per capita, the U.S. nevertheless has refused to ratify the Basel Convention and has set obstacles for the global governance process on plastic waste.

The U.S. has even shipped a huge amount of waste to developing countries, doing enormous harm to the local and global environment, said Wang. "How is such a country in any position to blame China?"

"We urge the U.S. to stop playing political games, abandon unilateralism, and live up to its due responsibility to the world," added the spokesperson.
Hope Centre would not reject demand for restoration of statehood in J&K before polls: Ghulam Nabi Azad

We are a big loser, J&K better off when governed by CMs: Ghulam Nabi Azad

J&K was better off before Article 370 was abrogated: Azad

Opposition parties request President Kovind not to give assent to contentious farm bills

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Sep 23: Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad met President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday over the farm Bills and the suspension of the eight MPs. Around 16 Opposition parties had submitted a memorandum to the President on these issues.

Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad, who met President Ram Nath Kovind on behalf of the opposition parties, said the government should have consulted all parties and farmer leaders before bringing the farm bills.

"The opposition parties have requested President Ram Nath Kovind to return the farm bills, their passage is unconstitutional," Azad said after meeting the President.

Ghulam Nabi Azad meets President Kovind over farm bills, Opposition stages protest

"The Constitution was undermined ...We have given a representation to President that the farm bills have been passed unconstitutionally and he should return these bills," Azad said.

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, have been passed by both Houses and await presidential assent.

There was a ruckus during the passage of two of the three farm bills in Rajya Sabha on Sunday following which eight Opposition MPs were suspended.

NCB summons Deepika Padukone, Shraddha Kapoor and Sara Ali Khan summoned in Drugs case|Oneindia News

Meanwhile, all major opposition parties will boycott the Lok Sabha against the anti-farmers' bills pushed by the government and have been protesting in front of the Mahatma Gandhi Statue inside the Parliament complex.
Ever since Michael Ronnell Williams left his native Syracuse, New York, for the Midwest 24 years ago, his family had been trying to convince him to move home.

Now it's too late.

Four people were charged Tuesday in connection with the murder of Williams, 44, a Black man whose burning body was found Sept. 16 in ditch in rural Iowa.

Steven Vogel, 31, was charged with first-degree murder and abuse of a corpse, according to an Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation news release. Vogel was already being held at the Marshall County Jail on unrelated charges, the release said.

Julia Cox, 55, Roy Lee Garner 57, and Cody Johnson, 29 were each charged with abuse of a corpse, destruction of evidence, and accessory after the fact.

The body of Michael Williams, 44, was found burning in a roadside ditch in rural Jasper County on September 16, 2020. The Syracuse, New York native had been living in Grinnell, Iowa about 12 years.

Cannibalism case: Man found guilty of ex-girlfriend's murder

All the people charged are white. But during a Tuesday news conference with the Iowa-Nebraska chapter of the NAACP, police said there was no evidence Williams had been murdered because of his race. At least one of the suspects  Vogel knew Williams, they said.

Grinnell Police Chief Dennis Reilly called for the community to help Williams' children.

Our mission from the very beginning, and that will continue, is to bring justice for Mike and justice for his family," Reilly said.

Authorities found Williams' body when they investigated the fire in the ditch in Kellogg, about 45 miles east of Des Moines.

Over 50 law enforcement agencies have since been involved in the investigation. Evidence revealed Williams was killed at a residence in Grinnell, Iowa, on or about Sept. 12 and his body had remained in the basement there for days.

When Williams' burning body was found four days later, it was wrapped in cloth and plastic, secured by rope and tape, a DCI news release details.

An affidavit in the case says Vogel admitted to a witnesses that he had strangled Williams. The affidavit also details the involvement of each suspect.

According to the court document, Vogel showed Williams' body to Johnson in his basement, and offered drugs in exchange for his help removing it on Sept. 15.

Story continues

The following day, Garner, accompanied by Vogel and Cox, used his 1999 Dodge Dakota pickup truck to take Williams' body to the roadside ditch.

'There's not a comparable year': Homicides are up 52% in Chicago amid COVID-19, with majority involving people of color

The Office of the State Medical Examiner classified Williams' death as homicide consistent with strangulation.

Family of Michael Williams remembers his big heart, trusting soul

Williams was determined to live life on his own terms. He was diagnosed with a learning disability as a child and wanted to prove he could be on his own, according to his aunt Paula Terrell.

Terrell, 57, of Syracuse said Williams first moved to Nebraska before settling in Grinnell about 12 years ago. He worked at a few fast food restaurants but was recently unemployed due to worsening diabetes.

He would check in with family on a daily basis, she said. He wanted to know how his mother was doing and he'd always update them on what he'd been up to.

But the calls stopped Sept. 12, two days after his 44th birthday.

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Michael Williams and his aunt Paula Terrell in an undated photo. The body of Michael Williams, 44, was found burning in a roadside ditch in rural Jasper County on Sept. 16, 2020. The Syracuse, New York, native had been living in Grinnell, Iowa, about 12 years.

Williams had a big heart and was a friend to everyone, Terrell said, and he never ended a conversation without saying I love you.

"If you met him on a park bench, or at the bus stop, he'd say you were his new friend," she said. "He was a very trusting soul, and always looked for the best in everyone."

Michael Williams' ex-wife, Sharta Williams, was always envious of the way he could strike up a conversation with anyone. He was a funny, silly guy, she said.

"He had such a sense of humor, he was a character," Sharta Williams, 54, of Kearney, Nebraska, said. "If you needed someone to make you laugh, he would be the one to make you laugh."

Williams is survived by his parents, five siblings, five children and one granddaughter.

Williams' family hopes his body is returned to them in Syracuse soon, Terrell said.

"All we wanted was for him to come home. Now we have to bring him home in the worst possible state," Terrell said. "We will fight for justice. This is our family's mission, no matter what  we 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."

Follow Andrea Sahouri on Twitter @andreamsahouri.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Michael Williams, found dead in Iowa ditch, was friend to all: family
The Chhattisgarh government has warned of action against private hospitals if they overcharge Covid-19 patients, an official said on Wednesday.

There have been complaints that some private hospitals, which are designated as Covid-19 treatment facilities, are charging hefty amounts from patients.

Chhattisgarh Health Services Director Neeraj Bansod on Tuesday issued a directive to all district chief medical and health officers (CMHOs), asking them to take action if they get complaints against private hospitals of charging more than the fees fixed by the state government for Covid-19 treatment.

Such hospitals will face action under the Epidemic Diseases Act, the Chhattisgarh Public Health Act, 1949, and the Chhattisgarh Epidemic Diseases Covid-19 Regulations, 2020, a public relations department official said on Wednesday.

The CMHOs have also been directed to inform the district collector concerned about such complaints and if necessary, cancel the permission for Covid-19 treatment of those private hospitals, he said.

The Chhattisgarh government on September 5 fixed the rates of Covid-19 treatment in private hospitals after classifying them in three categories.

Hospitals in major districts like Raipur, Durg, Rajnandgaon, Bilaspur, Korba and Raigarh have been listed in A category, while those in Surguja, Mahasamund, Dhamtari, Kanker, Janjgir-Champa, Balodabazar-Bhatapara, Kabirdham and Bastar districts are in B category.

Hospitals in remaining 14 districts of the state have been placed in C category.

The A category hospitals accredited by the National Accreditation Board of Hospitals (NABH) can charge Rs 6,200 per day from moderately sick patients, Rs 12,000 per day for severely ill patients and Rs 17,000 per day for very severely ill patients.

The non-NABH accredited hospitals can charge Rs 6,200, Rs 10,000 and Rs 14,000 from moderate, severe and very severely ill patients, respectively, the official said.

Hospitals in the B category can charge 80 per cent of the rate fixed for the A category hospitals, while hospitals in the C category can charge 60 per cent of it.

Till Tuesday, Chhattisgarh reported 90,917 Covid-19 cases and 718 deaths due to the disease.
The great Indian Festive season has started amid the COVID-19 pandemic. We all know what kind of a washout the first half of 2020 has been when it comes to businesses and even personal lives being completely disrupted. Given the strict Government directives on maintaining social distancing, the huge crowds of shoppers that usually throng the markets during this time might be a lot less this year.

In normal circumstances, brands look at the festive season as an opportunity to gain maximum ROI, leveraging the consumer sentiments during this time. However, the unprecedented conditions have dampened the economy so far. While some are sceptical about businesses picking up during the rest of the year, we are also seeing a general mood of optimism.

Also read: Weve seen 25% surge in demand for pre-owned cars in July: Amit Kumar, OLX Autos

Amid such a scenario, Adgully has reached out to marketers and publishers across India to gauge the sentiments during the festive season this year as part of our special series on Festive Mood. Over the next few weeks, we will be bringing the views and insights from various markets on how marketers and publishers are endeavouring to trigger a revival and give a boost to festive sentiments.

Vineet Sehgal, CMO, Quikr,

How do you see the consumer sentiments across the nation this year? Which markets are seen as leading the rebound and how? What factors will drive growth this festive season? How much do you see festive sales getting impacted due to COVID-19 this year?

The economic slowdown, along with safety and precautions associated with the ongoing pandemic, has not only changed consumer behaviour and buying patterns, but has made everything digital-first as more people will buy online now more than before. However, due to the financial constraints and reduced income, consumers will be careful in their spends.

This festive season, owing to the cost-saving benefits they offer, pre-owned and refurbished goods are gaining momentum as consumers can buy good quality products at affordable prices and marketplaces like Quikr are starting to see positive signs of growth. The engagement levels on our platform have started going up across several categories, including QuikrBazaar, with increasing demand for pre-owned goods, QuikrCars & Bikes is seeing a jump in interest for pre-owned vehicles as consumers switch to personal transport over shared/ public transport. In the Real Estate segment, we are seeing a surge in the demand for rental homes with people looking to upgrade their lifestyle as they are spending more time at home now than before. QuikrJobs is also seeing a spur in the demand and supply of jobs in the blue-collar industry. In our services vertical, which focuses on the on-demand home services, we are seeing a lot of SMBs on-boarding with us as they make the digital shift. Looking at the overall trends seen on our platform, we expect to see continued momentum ahead of the festive season.

What kind of integrated marketing activities are you planning for the festive season? On which platforms will you be investing your ad spends more and Why? What kind of digital push are you looking at?

With the wealth of data that we have, Quikr is able to understand what consumers are looking for, and in that way, our fundamental strategy to focus on digital remains the same. Today, Quikr attracts about 20 million unique users a month and over 95 per cent of this traffic is organically sourced. With a jump in this organic traffic and user-base that we are witnessing on our platform, along with strong analytics, we are able to create cross-selling and up-selling opportunities for the short-term and long-term needs of our consumers. The power of a diversified platform like ours is that while we attract consumers in one area, they end up using Quikr in multiple adjacent areas as well.

Do you see retail footfalls increasing during the festive season, given that people are still not venturing out for shopping in a big way? What alternate routes are you looking at to shore up sales  such as e-commerce, online purchases, D2C initiatives?

With the phase-wise unlock plans and relaxations in the government rules, consumers have started venturing out in limited capacity. Because of this, retail footfall will increase vis-a-vis the last few months, however, it is expected to be relatively lower than in previous years. At Quikr, we assessed market trends based on such consumer behaviour patterns and associated triggers and we are already seeing them make the digital shift. Based on this understanding, we have created newer formats and solutions to scale up focus on our offerings. For example:

In QuikrBazaar, we saw consumer interest rise sharply for WFH products such as laptops and study tables. We focused on this segment by scaling up our offering to provide a safe end-to-end shopping experience, especially at retail stores, including safe, sanitized, and secure deliveries.

In the Real-Estate segment, as consumers adapt to the new normal, they are opting for the online route and we are helping the builder community make the digital shift to cater to their target audience on newer channels. Recently, we helped builder partners to showcase their projects and tap the NRI market with our first-ever online property show, Gruhapravesham. We also enabled a lot of their campaigns in renewed formats such as content marketing, online launches, blogs, 3D home visuals, and webinars.

Given the cross-category nature of our platform, we are able to identify such segments within specific categories where we as marketers could focus on. Our product, marketing spends, and logistic offerings are sharply focused on delivering the right experience in these segments.
ALBANY  The State Liquor Authority battled back against criticism from two Capital Region members of the state Assembly, who on Tuesday said an agency-led task force appointed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo is being overzealous in its enforcement of health and safety regulations imposed on New York's bars and restaurants to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

"It's easy to forget that New York is only reopening because of the hard work of state government to enforce strict public health guidelines and bring infection rates down," said SLA spokesman Bill Crowley.

According to agency records, of the more than 1,800 bars and restaurants in the Capital Region licensed to sell alcohol, over the past six months only 15 have been cited for violating new pandemic-related regulations. The measures include requiring restaurant and bar staff to wear masks at all times, having customers masked except when seated, ordering food along with initial alcohol orders, and seating separate groups at least 6 feet apart if dividers are not in use and limiting them to a maximum of 10 people.

Of those local businesses cited by the SLA, eight have had their liquor licenses temporarily suspended by the agency board following enforcement agents observing what were seen as egregious violations of pandemic-related safety measures or, in the case of Lebanon Valley Speedway in West Lebanon and Liberty Ridge Farm in Schaghticoke, preemptively suspended for advertising Fourth of July events that would have flouted those regulations. The latter two had their licenses reinstated with no penalties; two other local bars suspended for flagrant violations, Loopies Pub in Tribes Hill and Hudson Brewing in Hudson, paid $10,000 fines to get their licenses back, according to the SLA. Liquor licenses remain suspended at The New Elbo Room and Andy's Place in Albany and at Mark's Grill and Wolff's Biergarten in Schenectady.

While the law allows penalties for up to $10,000 for initial violations that do not result in suspensions, records show the SLA board generally imposes fines of between $1,500 and $4,000 on first-timers. The average in the Capital Region is $1,800, Crowley said.

For weeks a multi-agency task force of state investigators and other employees has been making thousands of compliance checks per week at bars and restaurants. Statewide, such spot visits have resulted in more than 1,000 citations issued for lesser violations, and about 200 liquor licenses that have been temporarily suspended for more flagrant failure to enforce current regulations. But such violations have been consistently found at a tiny number of the places visited. According to the governors office, nearly 6,000 investigator visits during the last week of August, for example, produced 35 violations, or or a rate of 0.5 percent; last weeks 1,585 checks resulted in seven citations, or 0.4 percent.

Assembly members Pat Fahy and John McDonald, Democrats who represent districts in and around Albany, said Tuesday during a roundtable with area restaurateurs that such widespread compliance among nearly all bars and restaurants visited suggests enforcement resources would be better deployed elsewhere.

We have to let up on the gotcha mentality, Fahy said, adding, "lets put some of those enforcement things into our colleges or where we are seeing other problems.

In fact, said Crowley, the agency and other state departments are doing just that. Cuomo earlier this month ordered more patrols and other enforcement efforts be directed to areas around colleges and where students carouse. The stepped-up measures resulted in temporary suspensions for bars catering to college students in Cortland, Dutchess, Madison, Monroe, Oswego and Schenectady counties, with the latter being the Erie Boulevard location of Wolff's Biergarten.

With significant outbreaks linked to colleges and universities across the country, Crowley said, New York's additional efforts will help keep students, faculty, staff and the surrounding communities safe.

The SLA said that informing Cuomo's continuing insistence on vigilant enforcement at bars and restaurants are nationwide accounts tracing outbreaks to the hospitality industry. The agency pointed to a New York Times report in August that about a quarter of all of Louisiana's COVID-19 cases outside of prisons and nursing homes since March were attributable to eateries and watering holes, as were 12 percent of cases in Maryland in July. In other examples, the SLA cited Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who said in late June, "If I could go back and redo anything, it probably would have been to slow down the opening of bars," and Michigan, where 174 cases have been tracked to one barpopular with college students.

"We cannot lose sight of the forest for the trees," Crowley said. "We are still in the middle of a global pandemic, the threat of a second wave is on the horizon, and it is far better to be unhappy with enforcement than sick or worse."
The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged Edward T. Kelly, the former Controller of Aceto Corporation, with insider trading.

According to the SEC's complaint, after Kelly retired from Aceto in March 2018, the company formally retained him as a consultant to assist in closing Aceto's books for the quarter ending March 31, 2018. While working as a consultant, Kelly allegedly obtained non-public information about Aceto's poor sales and earnings results and a pending impairment charge. The complaint alleges that while in possession of this information, Kelly sold all of his Aceto shares and exercised and sold his in-the-money stock options in advance of the information being released, profiting and avoiding losses of more than $85,000 in the aggregate.

The SEC's complaint, filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, charges Kelly, a resident of Lakewood Ranch, FL, with violations of the antifraud provisions of Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder.

Without admitting or denying the allegations of the complaint, Kelly consented to the entry of a final judgment that enjoins him from violating the charged provisions, bars him from serving as an officer or director of a public company, and imposes a civil penalty of $170,228. The proposed settlement is subject to court approval.

The SECs investigation was conducted by Eric Kirsch, Michael Ellis, Elzbieta Wraga, Richard Hong and Wendy Tepperman, and was supervised by Sanjay Wadhwa, all of the New York Regional Office. The SEC appreciates the assistance of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.
Administration officials said other firms had declined to take the project. They also said the administration had the authority to take down the memorials because they had become a threat to public safety as protests erupted across the nation.
Iltija Mufti, the daughter of former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, has approached the Supreme Court seeking to modify her petition challenging the detention of her mother under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA). Mehbooba, the president of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was arrested on the eve of the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status and its bifurcation into Union Territories on August 5 last year.

In her application before the Supreme Court, Iltija said it has been filed praying for permission to amend the writ petition seeking inter alia a writ of habeas corpus. "The amendment sought is to include grounds of challenge and additional prayers for challenging the orders of confirmation (dated February 26) and subsequent extensions (May 5 and July 31) of the detention order (of Mehbooba) impugned in the writ petition," the application reads.

The writ petition has challenged Mehbooba's detention on several grounds. It contends that the grounds and the dossier for detention are "stale, vague and that they suffer from non-application of mind, malice in law and that they violate the provisions of Section 8(3)(b) of the PSA". "The detention order based on stale grounds have become staler even more since the petition was filed and the respondent administration has continued to act with total non-application of mind and the malice in law has only been reinforced and aggravated in confirming and extending the order of detention for further periods," it said.

Seeking permission to allow her to amend the section of the writ petition entitled Prayers, Iltija pleaded for issuance of the writ in the nature of habeas corpus commanding the respondents  the central and Jammu and Kashmir governments  to produce Mehbooba forthwith before the court for being set at liberty. Pleading for direction or order quashing the impugned order of detention and subsequent extension orders, the application sought appropriate compensation to Mehbooba for the "illegal detention that she has suffered" and to award costs of the litigation to the petitioner.

"I have challenged her PSA order and the subsequent extensions to ensure her continued detention. Her detention is illegal and questionable in a democracy," Iltija said, adding "a key opposition leader has been jailed for over a year without recourse to trial." She said the application has been filed to bring to the notice of the Supreme Court that the Jammu and Kashmir administration is yet to file a reply to its earlier order, which shows the respect the authorities have for courts. "We are also bringing to notice of court the treatment the former chief minister has received where she has been deliberately kept out of bounds for party people and barred from attending to her duties as PDP president," she said.
A person at a vigil for Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky, on June 6. Brett Carlsen/Getty Images

Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly, one of the three officers involved in the shooting death of Breonna Taylor, sent a long email to his coworkers at about 2 a.m. on Tuesday in which he called protesters "thugs."

The Vice News correspondent Roberto Aram Ferdman shared the email, which was sent to about 1,000 officers, on Twitter on Tuesday morning. Mattingly's lawyer later confirmed to the Louisville Courier-Journal that his client had sent the email.

"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," Mattingly wrote in the email.

The sergeant also criticized city officials, calling them "pencil pushers" who were "too scared to hold the line."

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A police sergeant involved in the shooting death of 26-year-old Breonna Taylor sent an email to more than 1,000 fellow officers at about 2 a.m. on Tuesday in which he called protesters "thugs" and told the officers that their "civil rights mean nothing."

Louisville Metro Police Department Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly and Detectives Brett Hankinson and Myles Cosgrove executed a no-knock search warrant at Taylor's home on the evening of March 13, firing more than 20 rounds into her apartment.

Mattingly and Cosgrove have been placed on administrative leave. In June, Louisville's interim chief of police, Robert Schroeder, fired Hankinson, saying he "displayed an extreme indifference to the value of human life."

All three are awaiting a grand-jury decision from Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron.

Kent Wicker, Mattingly's lawyer, confirmed to the Louisville Courier-Journal that his client was the author of the email. It was first shared on Twitter by the Vice News correspondent Roberto Aram Ferdman.

Roberto Aram Ferdman (@robferdman) September 22, 2020

In the email, Mattingly expressed anger toward city officials.

Story continues

"I'm not here to tell you that you signed up to help this community and to keep your head up. I'm here to tell you I'm sorry you have to go through this. I'm sorry your families have to go through this. I'm sorry the Mayor, Amy Hess, and Chief Conrad failed all of us in epic proportions for their own gain and to cover their asses." he wrote, referring to Hess, Louisville's chief of public safety, and Steve Conrad, the police chief who was fired in June.

Mattingly went on to call people involved in protests over Taylor's case "thugs."

"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," he wrote.

"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 aren't 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."

Mattingly also described city officials as "pencil pushers" who were "too scared to hold the line."

"It's sad how the good guys are demonized, and criminals are canonized," he said, adding, "This is not an us against society, but it is good versus evil."

In a press conference on Tuesday morning, Schroeder, who has announced he will retire in October, said it was "premature" to make a statement on Mattingly's email, WAVE 3 News reported. An LMPD representative told the Courier-Journal that the department was aware of the email and that "the matter is under review."

Wicker defended his client, telling the Courier-Journal that Mattingly was "expressing his support for them and their work in these difficult times."

Both the Louisville police and the mayor declared a state of emergency this week ahead of potential protests following the grand jury's decision.

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Migrants on the Danish-flagged tanker Maersk Etienne waiting to be transferred on the Mediterranea NGO's Mare Jonio rescue ship (background), in the Mediterranean Sea, on Sept. 11, 2020. (Mediterranea Saving Humans/AP)

World Becoming Less Welcoming to Migrants, Gallup Poll Shows

The world is growing less accepting of migrants, according to a Gallup poll, with the sharpest declines in welcoming attitudes coming in Central American countries that have seen an influx of people fleeing Venezuelas socialist dictatorship.

The poll, released on Sept. 23, showed that attitudes toward migrants declined most substantially in Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia, which have seen an influx of Venezuelans fleeing turmoil in their home country.

Last week, while visiting Guyana, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke out against Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro, calling on him to leave office.

We talked about the need for democracy in Venezuela and an end to the illegitimate regime that is denying that very democracy that the Guyanese people so love, denying that democracy from the people of Venezuela, Pompeo said on Sept. 18.

Overall, the world has become slightly less accepting of migrants today than it was three years ago, with Gallups latest iteration of its Migrant Acceptance Index showing a drop in its global score to 5.21 from 5.34. The index is based on more than 140,000 interviews in 145 countries and regions (pdf).

Gallups index showed that Canada was the most welcoming country toward migrants, followed by Iceland and New Zealand. The United States remains near the top of the league of countries most welcoming to migrants, in sixth place.

Seven European countries, led by North Macedonia, Hungary, Serbia, and Croatia, topped the index of the worlds least-accepting countries.

Turkey, with a score of 2.53, came in as the 10th least-welcoming country.

Turkeys appearance likely reflects the burden the country took on with the 2016 deal with the EU to keep refugees in its territory, members of Gallups editorial team wrote in a note. The country currently hosts an estimated 4 million refugees and migrants, and the 2016 deal has since collapsed.

Scores also fell in Belgium and Switzerland, where migration continues to be a polarizing subject, according to Gallup.

The poll was released as Europe prepares to unveil a new asylum plan following a fire at an overcrowded camp in Greece that left thousands without shelter.

Member countries of the European Union have long been at loggerheads over how to handle the influx of migrants, many of whom arrive in Mediterranean countries from North Africa by boat. The arrival in Europe in 2015 of well over 1 million migrants, most of them refugees fleeing conflict in Syria, sparked one of the EUs biggest political crises, driven by disputes over who should take responsibility for them, and whether every member state, including those with limited or no sea access, should be obliged to help.

The blocs executive unveiled a plan on Sept. 23 which seeks to provide a flexible burden-sharing arrangement that will either legally oblige all members either to host a share of refugees or take charge of deporting those who are refused asylum.

Earlier proposals to force EU member countries to host refugees based on quotas faced pushback by several countries, including Poland and Hungary.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Washington:

US President Donald Trump, getting accustomed to a new way of life away from the Trump Tower, has taken a liking for the phones in the White House and described his new residence as "beautiful" and "elegant."

"These are the most beautiful phones I've ever used in my life. The world's most secure system. The words just explode in the air," Trump said in an interview to the New York Times, referring to the phones in the White House.

The report said Trump, who used to fly back from distant campaigning locations to sleep in his own bed in his luxurious Trump Tower home, is gradually discovering several things in the White House that he likes.

Describing the White House, he said, "It's a beautiful residence, it's very elegant. There's something very special when you know that Abraham Lincoln slept there.

"The Lincoln Bedroom, you know, was his office, and the suite where I'm staying is actually where he slept," Trump said referring to the White House master bedroom, which is now his own.

"Knowing all of that, it's different, then, you know, just pure elegance and room size," Trump said. "There's a lot of history."

Trump's aides say he wakes before 6 AM, watches a little television and then looks through the morning newspapers: TheNew York Times, The New York Post and now The Washington Post.

His meetings now begin at 9 AM, earlier than they used to. Since Trump is not into reading books, he is able to end his evenings with plenty of television. The White House kitchen has been stocked with the same types of snacks thatTrump had on his private plane, including Lay's potato chips.

"The White House is the only property that Trump has slept in that is more famous than one of his own, and he seems in awe. Although he made his name building extravagant, glide properties, the new president has marvelled to aides about the splendour of the White House and the lengths he must walk to retrieve something from a far-flung room," the NYT report said.

He prefers to work in the Oval Office during the day."I've had people come in; they walk in here and they just want to stare for a long period of time," the 70-year-old said.

The president sat at his desk the one used by former Presidents Barack Obama, George W Bush, Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan and John F Kennedy, among others at the end of his fourth full day in office.

Trump's wife Melania returned to New York on Sunday night with their 10-year-old son, Barron following the inauguration.The First Lady and their son are expected to return to live in the White House at the end of the school year for the young Trump.

In the interview, Trump demurred when asked about whether it was hard having his family away from him, and he pointed to Thursday, when his wife and son are expected to return. "They'll come down on weekends," Trump said. "She'll come down on Thursdays and stay."

He said he was enjoying himself so far, despite his visible displeasure with the coverage of his inauguration and the first performance of his press secretary, Sean Spicer, who shouted at the news media and made numerous false statements about Trump's inaugural crowds in the White House briefing room on Saturday.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 01:06:04|Editor: huaxia

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HELSINKI, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Finnish transport company Nurminen Logistics announced on Wednesday that it will start to transport temperature-controlled foods by freight train from northern Europe to China.

Nurminen Logistics claimed in a press release issued on Wednesday that it is the first in Europe to do such a business, adding that its temperature-controlled railway transportations and the unique refrigerated containers will provide new possibilities for food exports and imports of Finland and other countries.

"Earlier, it hasn't been possible to transport temperature-controlled products by railway. But now, our new reefer containers that are suitable for the train will change the situation," claimed Olli Pohjanvirta, interim CEO of Nurminen Logistics, in the press release.

Reliable and fast temperature-controlled railway transportations to China will take only 11 to 14 days, according to Pohjanvirta.

In addition to foods, other products requiring temperature-controlled conditions can also be transported in refrigerated containers by train.

The first temperature-controlled food transportation from Finland to China by freight train will start off at the end of this week, said the company. Nurminen Logistics's freight train travels from Finnish capital Helsinki to Hefei, the capital of eastern China's Anhui province, and from Norwegian town Narvik, via Helsinki, to Hefei every week.

Nurminen Logistics has already operated more than 100 container trains between Helsinki and Hefei, since the company launched the service in November 2018.

In the spring, when international transport was facing challenges and air cargo did not run normally due to the COVID-19 pandemic, railway freight volume between China and Finland operated by Nurminen Logistics hit record high by the end of March this year. Enditem
Solar photovoltaic systems and LED lights donated by China to Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province have been welcomed by the local government and residents.

China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment donated 4,000 sets of solar photovoltaic systems and LED lights to the province in November. Installed in homes and local institutions in Gwadar, it is estimated they will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by around 3,000 metric tons over the next 15 years.

The local government and residents say they are eager for more, as the lights have helped mitigate the impact of frequent power failures.

"I felt so excited," Wahag Baloch told local news portal Gwadar Pro when recalling the day he fixed the solar panels to his home and turned the light on for the first time.

He said local people had grown used to blackouts. Due to limited local infrastructure and extreme weather, his family sometimes went without power for up to 48 hours. When electricity was available, it was often only for a few hours.

"Now I have solar, there is light in my house 24 hours a day," he said. "It's good. Lights are superb."

But he said some families were still plagued by frequent power failures, and he hoped they could also benefit from donated solar photovoltaic systems and LED lights.

Fang Jiawei, an executive with Zhejiang Yankon, China's largest producer of energy-saving lights, who is responsible for implementing the donation project in Pakistan, said representatives of local communities and institutions were all lobbying for such facilities.

The donation of the solar photovoltaic systems and LED lights is just one of the latest examples of China's efforts to help developing countries strengthen their ability to face the challenges brought about by climate change.

The ministry said China has signed memorandums of understanding on climate change cooperation with 37 countries, with materials worth over 1 billion yuan ($147 million) donated to help mitigation and adaptation efforts. In addition to solar photovoltaic systems and LED lights, donations have included microsatellites and electric buses.


- Sergei Torop, known to his followers as Vissarion, has been running a religious sect for the last three decades

- The former traffic policeman was arrested alongside two other leaders of the group and is accused of extorting money and causing physical and emotional harm

- The 59-year-old lost his job back in 1989 and later he claimed to have experienced an awakening

- Sergei's followers who are based in Siberia count years from 1961, the year of his birth

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A former traffic police officer who has been running a cult while claiming to be the reincarnation of Jesus has been arrested by Russian authorities.

Sergei Torop, known to his followers as Vissarion, has been running a religious sect for the last three decades known as the Church Of The Last Testament.

READ ALSO: Maria actress Bridget Shighadi aka Sofia, baby daddy Nick Mutuma serve couple goals in cute photo

Sergei Torop has been running a religious sect for about three decades Photo: Sky News

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Man runs away from wedding after lady slaps him with over KSh 1M marriage bill

According to The Guardian, Sergei was arrested in the depths of Siberia, where his communities are based, with helicopters and armed police storming the area before capturing him.

He was arrested along with two other leaders of the group and stand accused of extorting money and causing physical and psychological harm.

The 59-year-old lost his job in 1989 and later he claimed to have experienced an awakening shortly after the breakup of the Soviet Union.

READ ALSO: Musalia Mudavadi celebrates 60th birthday with intimate party surrounded by wife and kids

The former traffic police officer has a community based in Siberia Photo: The Guardian

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Chris Kirubi shows off his massive house, lake and expensive car collection

Many of his followers range from professionals from Russia and also believers from several countries across the world, according to the Guardian.

His followers, based in Siberia, reportedly wear strict clothing which are always bright in colour and count years from 1961, the year Vassarion was born.

READ ALSO: Kitui: Woman becomes barren after medics left placenta in womb during delivery

Sergei sitting in a police cell after his arrest Photo: Kirill Kukhmar/Tass

Source: UGC

Christmas to them comes early in the year on January 14, which is Sergei's date of birth.

According to BBC, they are also not allowed to consume meat, coffee, tea, sugar and wheat products.

TUKO.co.ke previously did a story about a mzungu preacher resembling 'Jesus' who brought things to a standstill in Kitengela, Kajiado country during a crusade organised by local PEFA Church.

Michael Job, a prolific preacher from United States of America (USA), left locals in awe and great admiration of his striking resemblance with the Messiah soon as he took to stage to preach.

READ ALSO: Mbwanna Samatta: Tanzanian aces Premier League stint set to come to pre mature end

The powerful sermon which went down on Wednesday, July 24, evening, was characterised by commotion and confusion emanating from the preacher's appearance.

Majority of locals who arrived at the open field venue where the prayers were being held surrendered their lives to Christ fearing the world could be coming to an end.

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My mother abandoned me with two holes in my heart | Tuko TV

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Eric Trump speaks in Portsmouth, NH on Sept. 17, 2020. Eric Trump, son of President Donald Trump, makes a stop in Portsmouth during one stop on his 'Make America Great Again!' tour.

Eric Trump must testify in response to a subpoena from the New York Attorney General's office before the presidential election as part of an investigation into whether President Donald Trump's company improperly valued real estate assets in official statements, a judge ordered Wednesday.

Eric Trump, who is the president's middle son and a top executive in the Trump Organization, must testify no later than Oct. 7, Judge Arthur Engoron ruled after a hearing in Manhattan Supreme Court, where Trump's lawyers had asked to delay his deposition until after the election.

Engoron noted that, "Mr. Trump cites no authority in support of his request, and at any event, neither petitioner nor this court is bound by timelines of the national election."

Attorney General Letitia James's office called the ruling a "major victory."

"The court's order today makes clear that no one is above the law, not even an organization or an individual with the name Trump," James said in a prepared statement.

Eric Trump, in a statement, said, "The New York Attorney General has called my father an 'illegitimate' president and pledged to take him down while she was running for office. Her actions since demonstrate a continued political vendetta and attempt to interfere with the upcoming election."

"That said, since I previously agreed to appear for an interview, I will do so as scheduled," Eric Trump said.

The attorney general is investigating whether the New York-based Trump Organization improperly inflated the values of several real estate assets on annual financial statements that were used to obtain loans, as well as to get economic and tax benefits related to those properties.

James last month had filed an action with the court seeking Eric Trump's compliance with the subpoena after she said that he had reneged on an agreement to testify this summer.

James also sought to force compliance with subpoenas seeking documentation and testimony related to several Trump properties. Her office noted Wednesday that the judge's order will give her access to documents that have been "withheld by the Trump Organization."

Lawyers for Eric Trump later said that he was willing to be deposed as part of James's probe of the Trump Organization, but only after the Nov. 3 contest between President Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden.

Attorneys for the AG's office argued to the judge earlier Wednesday that Eric Trump has no right to delay a subpoena for his testimony as part of an ongoing investigation.

"We simply can't delay compliance for another two months," one of those attorneys, Matthew Colangelo, said during a video conference before Engoron.

"Mr. [Eric] Trump is asking for a further two-month delay ... to the middle of November in response to a subpoena that was served in may and where the parties agreed in early june on a date for his attendance," Colangelo said.

"Mr. Trump shouldn't be able to profit from his own dilatory conduct here."


September 23, 2020

The seven-year agreement between the two organizations will upgrade technology throughout the hospital and improve efficiency

Amsterdam, the Netherlands and Tampa, Florida, U.S. - Tampa General Hospital(NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, today announced they are creating a long-term strategic partnership designed to keep Tampa General Hospital at the forefront of technological innovation.

Tampa General, one of the largest hospitals in the U.S., will have early and ongoing access to the latest Philips innovations during the seven-year arrangement. This will allow the hospital to continue delivering world-class care while lowering costs.

"We are humbled by the heroic work the TGH team is doing during the pandemic and their dedication to constantly improving care across the board, even in these difficult times," said Vitor Rocha, Chief Philips North America, member of the Executive Committee Royal Philips. "The relationship between TGH and Philips builds on a shared drive for innovation in healthcare - to deliver on the Quadruple Aim, break down the barriers between hospital and home and improve people's lives. For us, the partnership is more than transactional. It means taking the time to truly understand their patients' needs and suggest solutions that can address their workflow and service line needs today, while planning for tomorrow."

Under the terms of this strategic partnership, Philips will provide the hospital with millions of dollars' worth of new solutions such as new software packages, healthcare informatics, unique workflow solutions and high-level consulting.

As a result, Tampa General will replace all bedside patient and vital sign monitors throughout the 1,006-bed hospital and upgrade key imaging equipment in the catheterization laboratories and interventional radiology rooms.

Philips also plans to deliver a standardized platform, providing doctors and clinicians with a better overall view of the patient to help make the best decisions when it comes to diagnosis and providing world-class care.

"This partnership allows us to stay on the leading edge of technology for many years to come, in a cost-effective way," said TGH President and CEO John Couris. "Philips not only provides new solutions, but also serves as a valuable partner by helping us improve our workflows and optimization. Tampa General's vision is to become the safest and most innovative academic health system in America, and long-term commitments like this one will help us achieve that vision."

The transformational partnership shows Tampa General is investing in long-term innovation. Together, Philips and Tampa General have already invested more than 1,000 hours on technology replacement planning and performed over 400 clinical staff interviews to understand how to better improve the patient and staff experience.

Philips is also working on a technology replacement plan which includes implementing cloud-based technologies such as Philips PerformanceBridge . This technology gives users a view to all their diagnostic equipment and ensures that TGH gets the latest in medical innovation in a cost-effective, timely way.

A key benefit for Tampa General is that Philips solutions are built to integrate with the hospital's existing technologies for a seamless experience for clinicians and patients.

For further information, please contact:

Joost Maltha

Philips Global Press Office

Tel.: +31 6 10 55 81 16

E-mail: joost.maltha@philips.com



Jennifer McVan



Tampa General Hospital



Director of Marketing and Communications

Tel.: +1 813 373-9505

E-mail: jmcvan@tgh.org

Silvie Casanova

Philips North America

Tel.: +1 781 879-0692



E-mail: ?silvie.casanova@philips.com



About Royal Philips

Royal Philips .

About Tampa General Hospital

Tampa General Hospital, a 1006-bed non-profit academic medical center, delivers world-class care as the region's only center for Level l trauma and comprehensive burn care. It is one of the nation's busiest adult solid organ transplant centers and is the primary teaching hospital for the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. With five medical helicopters, Tampa General Hospital transports critically injured or ill patients from 23 surrounding counties to receive the advanced care they need. Tampa General houses a nationally accredited comprehensive stroke center and its 32-bed Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit is the largest on the West Coast of Florida. It also is home to the Jennifer Leigh Muma 82-bed Level IV neonatal intensive care unit, and a nationally accredited rehabilitation center. Tampa General Hospital's footprint includes 17 Tampa General Medical Group Primary Care offices, TGH Family Care Center Kennedy, TGH Brandon Healthplex, TGH Virtual Health and 18 outpatient Radiology Centers. Tampa Bay residents also receive world-class care from the TGH Urgent Care powered by Fast Track network of clinics, and they can even receive home visits in select areas through TGH Urgent Care at Home, powered by Fast Track . As one of the largest hospitals in Florida, Tampa General Hospital is first in the state to partner with GE Healthcare and open a clinical command center that uses artificial intelligence and predictive analytics to improve and better coordinate patient care at a lower cost. For more information, go to www.tgh.org .

Attachments
With the adjournment of the Rajya Sabha sine die on Wednesday, September 23, eight days before it is scheduled to end, September 22 ended up as one of the most productive days in its history.

In just three-and-a-half hours, the Upper House passed seven key bills.

Only members from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, its ally Janata Dal-United and those of parties like the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the Biju Janata Dal, the Yuvajana Shramika Rythu Congress and the Telugu Desam Party, which have been extending support to the Modi government on various issues, participated in the debates on the bills n Tuesday.

The Opposition had boycotted proceedings in protest against the suspension of eight MPs for the remainder of the monsoon session for unruly behaviour in the Rajya Sabha on Sunday, September 20.

Dominic Xavier asks why the Modi government appears unwilling to debate and discuss important issues confronting our great Republic and its people with the Opposition parties in Parliament.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
A dog who was shot more than 40 times in the head by a shotgun has remarkably survived in what his owner branded a 'miracle'

Naiko, a three-year-old white Swiss shepherd, was wounded when it wandered off near its house in the south-western French department of Gironde on Sunday.

When it returned, the dog's owner Sarah Galeazi found it covered in wounds and immediately took it to the vet.

Naiko, a three-year-old white Swiss shepherd who was shot more than 40 times in the head by a shotgun, has remarkably survived

The dog (pictured before its injuries) was wounded when it wandered off near its house in the south-western French department of Gironde on Sunday

Some of the pellets were embedded so deep in the dog's head that they could not be removed safely.

A large shotgun shell can normally hold up to 18 pellets, meaning the perpetrator likely reloaded before continuing to fire.

Ms Galeazi told French news site Demotivateur: 'The dog received 25 shots of buckshot in the head at close range. It took a pellet in the eye. There is very little chance he will come out of it.

Owner Sarah Galeazi initially counted 25 pellets but the vet, based in the commune of La Reole in Gironde, said the dog had more than 40 in its head.

'The dog is so nice, there is no reason to shoot it. It's inexcusable!'

The owner initially counted 25 pellets but the vet, based in the commune of La Reole in Gironde, said the dog had more than 40 in its head.

Naiko was placed under observation with Ms Galeazi fearing the worst but remarkably the dog survived.

Some of the pellets were embedded so deep in the dog's head that they could not be removed safely

It has lost the use of its left eye after two pellets were fired there.

The vet said: 'We couldn't remove all the pellets, some of them are too deep.'

Owner Sarah Galeazi said: 'It is a miracle that Naiko is still alive.'

She has filed a complaint this week at the gendarmerie in La Reole and has alerted animal rights organisations L214 and the Fondation Brigitte Bardot.

An investigation has been opened.
A portion of Route 15 in Adams and York counties that closed for hours Wednesday morning when state police said a Maryland man shot at troopers reopened shortly after 7 a.m.

The northbound side was closed at Latimore, Mountain and County Line roads in Latimore Township, Adams County; while the south was closed at Franklin Church Road, Range End Road and exit 94 to Hanover and York Springs.

Pennsylvania State Police said the hours-long traffic closures were because an armed, suicidal man shot at troopers during an attempted traffic stop around 12:09 a.m. on Route 15 north near mile marker 27.7 in Latimore Township.

When his Chevy pick-up truck was stopped by spike strips, Gregory Kalinyak, 51, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, got out, shot at state police and ran into a nearby wooded area, state police said.

Kalinyak was found and taken into custody around 2:13 a.m. No one was hurt and there is not a danger to the public, state police said.

Kalinyak is charged with attempted first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person, resisting arrest, and fleeing or attempting to elude an officer, court records show.

His arraignment is scheduled for 8 a.m. in York County, in front of Magisterial District Judge Joel N. Toluba.

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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.
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.
Thanks to her mother, Enola Holmes (Millie Bobby Brown) can hold her own in hand-to-hand combat. (Alex Bailey / Legendary)

Enola Holmes has been raised to believe she could do anything and be anyone.

After the 16-year-old discovers that her mother has disappeared, she reunites with her estranged older brothers, Sherlock  the famous detective  and Mycroft, who are surprised to learn that Enola has not had the most traditional upbringing.

But when Mycroft decides Enola needs to be sent to a boarding school for a chance to be molded into an acceptable member of society, she runs away to solve the mystery of their missing mother on her own.

She's trying to find who she is while being smothered by her famous last name, trying to find her mother and understand if she likes the boy, said Millie Bobby Brown, the Emmy-nominated "Stranger Things" star who plays Enola and also produced the Netflix/Legendary Pictures film, which is now streaming. Everybody else wants to control her life, specifically men.

Directed by Harry Bradbeer, the Emmy Award-winning director of Fleabag, Enola Holmes is based on the young-adult detective novel by Nancy Springer. The screenplay was adapted by prolific British writer Jack Thorne, whose credits include the play "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" and the TV series "His Dark Materials."

Enola's (Millie Bobby Brown) older brother is the famous detective Sherlock Holmes (Henry Cavill). (Alex Bailey / Legendary)

The thing that I noticed first about the script was that it was about my favorite topic, which is dysfunctional families coming to terms with each other, said Bradbeer, who has long been a fan of Sherlock Holmes. It struck me that [this film] brought one of my enthusiasms and another  which is Sherlock  together. You got to see him from another side and you got to meet his mother, and better understand the character who was always meant to be quite unknowable.

Though Sherlock (Henry Cavill) is a presence in the film, the story focuses on Enola finding her own path. The teen sleuth is intelligent, observant, opinionated, capable, stubborn and very vocal that she has no interest in what is traditionally expected of young women.

Story continues

It was Enola herself who appealed to Paige Brown, the star's older sister and a self-described bookworm, who helped start the journey for the film to get made after reading Springers Enola Holmes Mysteries series.

[Enola] really just struck me as a really great character, said Paige Brown. Millie at the time was a bit younger [than Enola] but I was thinking ahead and thought, This would be really great onscreen.

Paige introduced the books to Millie, and it didnt take much for her to get on board with a film project.

I just fell in love with Enola, said Millie Bobby Brown. When Paige is excited about something it gets me immediately excited. I read the book series and I was immersed by the story.  I was very excited about multiple different things  the stunts, the costumes, the time period. [Enolas] bravery and her vulnerableness.

The sisters discussed the project with their father and, through their family production company, PCMA Productions, connected with Legendary Pictures, a studio Millie had a relationship with via the Godzilla franchise, to make the film happen. Netflix acquired the finished film in April, when movie theaters were already shut down due to COVID-19.

Enola Holmes is the first producing project for the Brown sisters. It's also the first time the siblings have collaborated on the creative side of a project, though Paige has been working with Millie in a behind-the-scenes capacity for the last few years. (Netflix has since announced A Time Lost, a film based on a story by the duo, which they're also attached to produce.)

Director Harry Bradbeer and Millie Bobby Brown on the set of "Enola Holmes." (Alex Bailey / Legendary)

Taking on additional responsibilities beyond acting meant there was a certain level of excitement and nervousness going into [their first producing role], said Millie Bobby Brown.

I was starring in the film, so I was focused very much on that, she added. But I've always been into production, I've always been into behind-the-scenes [work]. So this was a great opportunity for me.

Paige Brown had more involvement in the preproduction side, helping to develop the story and identifying what elements of the book would work for the movie. She was also on set for much of the filming.

Unlike Enola, who cannot see eye-to-eye with her older brothers, the Brown sisters say they work together really well.

I think that maybe the challenging part of this one was wondering whether we were going to have the same ideas creatively, said Paige Brown. We never really came to any creative differences.

In fact, the sisters often found themselves on the same wavelength, which Millie said was very exciting. And she was confident that if they did disagree, they would have found a way to compromise.

Plus, Paige is my sister, she's brutally honest with me, said Millie Bobby Brown. She'll tell me if something's looking good or not.

In addition to the coming-of-age and mystery aspects, Enola Holmes engages with the politics of its time period. And despite being set in 1884, the film has feminist themes relatable to today. While there have been undeniable political gains since the 19th century  fought for by generations of activists, including some alluded to in the film  women still contend with sexism and inequality.

Things get a bit explosive in "Enola Holmes." (Alex Bailey / Legendary)

I think it's so important for young women to know what sacrifices were made in the hundreds of years before us, said Paige Brown. Weve come a long way from how oppressed women were during those times, but were definitely not [all the way] there yet.

I remember learning about the suffragette movement in school and feeling really passionate about it, she continued. When you're learning about it for the first time as a young girl, it's so empowering. It's so meaningful  the things that they used to do.

Added Millie: Were very empowerment-oriented. I feel like weve always been like that.

For Bradbeer, the political message of Enola Holmes was another of its key selling points.

I wanted to make something that was realistic but also fun and magical, he said. Something that was fun but had something to say, [and] didn't talk down to its audience.

While the films politics seem subtle compared with the mystery and action elements, they're also nuanced. Sherlocks political apathy is called out as privilege, and some women are shown to be complicit with the system.

Some people, they need to defend the status quo because it suits them, said Bradbeer. Its not just the men who are doing this.

And it was important that the film showed the different outlooks held by women of the time period through its characters.

Theres definitely very different perspectives throughout the film  philosophies of women from women, said Millie Bobby Brown. Enola has her own philosophy that shes learning. How does she want to live her life?
TICKMILL hits ceiling with the "Best Forex Education Provider" award - globally

LONDON, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Brands Magazine (GBM) has created a series of awards for companies, who have been consistently leading the industry in providing exceptional service to customers, following their unique vision and approach that's customer-focused.

GMB has been on the forefront, bringing news, views and opinions on brands that are 'driving dynamics" of the industry. The UK-based magazine keeps its readers in touch with the latest news on 'best-in-class' brands across the globe.

TICKMILL, already acknowledged as Europe's 'Most Trusted Broker' in 2017 by Global Brands Magazine, is spearheading the Forex exchange market. Scoring the Best Forex Education Provider award this year in Forex awards, TICKMILL adapts to emerging demand of a huge market segment that craves the use of Technology. TICKMILL continually demonstrates excellence and leads way in key areas of the foreign exchange business. TICKMILL leads the field in assisting customers, extending support and providing exceptional trading conditions, with the use of technology. First choice for traders, seeking strong regulation, industry-leading trading conditions and safety of client funds and reaffirm our commitment to maintain our client-centric approach and deliver an outstanding trading experience.

While Moving the Forex industry a step forward, TICKMILL endeavors to equip their clients with proper informational gear.

On winning the award, Mr. Themis Christou, Head of Marketing Projects, stated: "At Tickmill, we have always been emphasizing the importance of Forex education and how this can lead to a successful trading career. As part of our promise to deliver an outstanding learning experience, we have enriched our educational offering with interactive forex webinars, daily market insights, trading tutorials, eBooks, and infographics in multiple languages. Our Education Center available on our website serves as a one-stop-shop for traders of all experience levels where a range of resources are easily accessible and browsable both on their desktop and mobile devices."

ABOUT TICKMILL

Tickmill is a Forex and CFD investment services provider offering first-class trading products through its four global entities, Tickmill UK Ltd, Tickmill Europe Ltd, Tickmill Ltd, Tickmill Asia Ltd, Tickmill South Africa (Pty) Ltd, authorised and regulated by the following respectively CySEC, UK FCA, Seychelles FSA, Labuan FSA, and Financial Sector Conduct AuthorityFSCA).

CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage 73% and 76% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with Tickmill UK Ltd and Tickmill Europe Ltd, respectively. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

About Global Brand Awards

Global Brands Awards main objective is to accredit the companies and identify the best brands who have been excelling remarkably in different sectors. Awards are being arranged for sectors/areas such as Finance, Education, Hospitality, Automobiles, Lifestyle, Education, Real Estate, and Technology. This effort acknowledges the prominent entities for the outcomes they bring.

About Global Brands Magazine (GBM)

Headquartered in the United Kingdom, Global Brands Magazine is a well-known brands magazine brimming with latest news and opinions related to various brands across the world. GBM is a data-centric research organization, bringing up-to-date news, reviews, opinions, and polls on leading brands across the globe, to its readership. GBM Credits the distinct efforts of Champions and help create a unique brand identity. For more information, please visit www.globalbrandsmagazine.com

In addition, GBM endeavours to create awareness concerning significance of such organizations and reward them for rigorous efforts, with ultimate global recognition.

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1250180/GBM_Logo.jpg
Bulgaria has expelled two Russian diplomats accused of military espionage and ordered them to leave the country within 72 hours, the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry said on September 23.

"Bulgaria's Foreign Ministry has declared two Russian diplomats 'personae non gratae' and has informed the Russian embassy with a diplomatic note," a ministry spokesman said.

State prosecutors launched a case against the two suspects at the request of the State Agency for National Security (SANS), which alleged the two suspects collected secret state information on Bulgarias military modernization plans and preparedness.

Criminal proceedings could not be brought against the suspects because they have diplomatic immunity.

"Their goal was to transfer the collected information, including official and state secrets, to Russian military intelligence in Moscow, prosecutors said.

The Russian Embassy in Sofia said there was no evidence to justify the "unreasonable expulsion" of its diplomats.

"The Russian side reserves the right to take 'mirrored' measures in response," the embassy said in a statement on Facebook. "No evidence proving that they were engaged in some activities inconsistent with their status has been provided," it said.

Bulgarian investigators said the espionage, which took place between 2016 and the present, included the use of financial inducements to recruit Bulgarian nationals with access to sensitive information

Bulgaria is a NATO member with generally good ties with Russia, which supplies it with much of its energy.

It is not the first spying case to have marred Sofia's relations with Moscow this year.

Two Russian diplomats were also declared personae non gratae in January for allegedly pursuing classified information on Bulgaria's electoral architecture.

Sofia also declined to grant a visa to a Russian defense attache choice in December 2019.

With reporting by Reuters
UTI Asset Management Company will launch its initial public offering for subscription on September 29. The company plans to raise Rs 3,000 core via the issue, sources pivy to the matter told Moneycontrol.

The public issue will consist of an entire offer for sale of 3,89,87,081 equity shares by State Bank of India, Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), Punjab National Bank, Bank of Baroda and T Rowe Price International.

State Bank of India, LIC and Bank of Baroda are going to divest 1,04,59,949 equity shares each, while PNB and T Rowe Price International 38,03,617 equity shares each via offer for sale.

The offer includes reservation of 2 lakh equity shares for eligible employees of the company. The total offer would constitute at least 30.75 percent of total paid-up equity.

The issue will close on October 1 and the price band is yet to be decided by the company.

Kotak Mahindra Capital Company, Axis Capital, Citigroup Global Markets India, DSP Merrill Lynch, ICICI Securities, JM Financial and SBI Capital Markets are the book running lead managers to the issue.

Equity shares are proposed to be listed on the BSE and National Stock Exchange.

It would be tenth initial public offering to launch in 2020 after SBI Card, Rossari Biotech, Mindspace Business Parks REIT, Happiest Minds Technologies, Route Mobile, Compute Age Management Services, Chemcon Speciality Chemicals, Angel Broking and Likhitha Infrastructure.
Two Manitoba companies have recently joined the ranks of the worlds most inclusive and sustainable companies.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 22/9/2020 (486 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Two Manitoba companies have recently joined the ranks of the worlds most inclusive and sustainable companies.

In the past few months, Assiniboine Credit Union and Frontiers North Adventures became certified B Corp companies by the U.S non-profit that now boasts about 3,500 companies around the world who have scored high enough in a rigorous score sheet that measures social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability that balances both profit and purpose.

To become certified as a B Corp companies have to achieve a minimum verified score on about 200 different variables of a companys impact on its workers, customers, community, and environment.

Those with just passing knowledge of how Assiniboine Credit Union (ACU) operates might not be surprised that it would qualify for membership in such a group. Its retail presence in neighbourhoods that other financial institutions have long since abandoned is perhaps the most obvious feature. The credit union also has a long track record of working with communities on projects that other banks might view as just too challenging.

And it so happens that ACU racked up the sixth highest score globally in B Corps history and the highest ever in Canada.

But Kevin Sitka, the chief executive officer of ACU, said, "In true Manitoba/Canadian humility we did not spend a lot of time looking at where we ranked nationally or globally. We were pleasantly surprised. But we are a mission-driven organization. Its something we spend a lot of time and effort on and were really busy doing the work that goes along with that."

Notwithstanding the fact that there are many Manitoba companies who might qualify for B Corp certification it has not been a mass movement here.

With the two new additions, it swells the Manitoba ranks to a total of six  Manitoba Harvest Hemp Foods, Relish New Brand Experience Inc., Momenta and Manoverboard Inc. are the others.

But with social inequality becoming more stark and environemental stabilty more precarious, the B Corp qualities will certainly be needed even more than ever.

When the Business Roundtable, the organization representing the largest corporations in the U.S., re-wrote its own principles on the role of the corporation last year expanding its decades old singular dedication to increasing the profits for its shareholders to include caring for employees and the environment and dealing fairly and ethically with their suppliers, you know the times are changing.

"We are looking to do our part," Sitka said. "It is who we are and who we have been for so many years. This (B Corp certification) is just helping to bring awareness to that."

With its stated goals of reduced inequality, lower levels of poverty, a healthier environment, stronger communities, creation of high quality jobs that include dignity and purpose, it is hard to argue with the benefits (the "B" in B Corp) that infers.

The idea is a community of leaders, driving a global movement of people using business as a force for good.

That means the traditional business bottom line -- profits -- also has to be there. It will not help the process if too many of ACUs loans default or Frontiers North offers accommodations and tour packages that no one wants to patronize.

John Gunter, the CEO of Frontiers North, said they took at look at their organization some time ago and wanted to figure out a way the Churchill travel organization -- famous for its environmentally responsible polar bear and beluga whale watching excursions -- could substantiate its bona fides.

"We were trying to find a way to do it where we could say, dont take our word for it," he said. "At the time my take was that a lot of it could be interpreted as green washing,"

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Frontiers North already has a lot of clients whose values align with their own. Becoming a B Corp certified company gives all the companies that achieve such status certain bragging rights.

"We consider ourselves as stewards of the community and the environment in which we operate," he said. "With the B Corp certification it de-positions the competition. By saying clearly what we are, it distances ourselves from those who arent."

For ACU, with $5.2 billion in assets, it already ranks among the largest credit unions in the country. Sitka said its drive to get involved in projects others dont "has worked out pretty well for us."

The triple bottom line -- people, planet and prosperity -- has been a good business model for ACU and Frontier North. From a competitive point of view of Sitka and Gunter would be happy if more of their competitors embraced the same strategy.

"The more attention we can bring to that within our communities and with our own economy locally, the better it will be for all of us," said Sitka. "We are very much of the belief we need to be the change we seek."

martin.cash@freepress.mb.ca
Even though world's leading space powers - Russia and the United States - seem agitated by latest findings suggesting Venus might be hosting forms of life, a renewed space race between the powers is unlikely to emerge, while the recent discovery itself needs verification, experts told Sputnik

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 23rd September, 2020) Even though world's leading space powers - Russia and the United States - seem agitated by latest findings suggesting Venus might be hosting forms of life, a renewed space race between the powers is unlikely to emerge, while the recent discovery itself needs verification, experts told Sputnik.

Scientists from the UK Cardiff University and the US Massachusetts Institute of Technology have recently discovered the presence of phosphine, which is on Earth produced by anaerobic organisms, in the atmosphere of Venus. Presence of phosphine was suggested in 2019 as an indicator of life on other planets.

These revelations have suddenly shifted the focus of leading space powers from Mars to Venus. NASA Chief Jim Bridenstine has said that "it's time to prioritize Venus," while Russia's space corporation Roscosmos expressed doubt over the findings, saying that reliable data could be obtained only through contact studies of the surface and atmosphere of Venus. Roscosmos also backtracked on plans to launch a joint mission with the US - called Venera-D - to study the planet. The agency explained that it wants to conduct a mission "without broad international cooperation."

TIMES HAVE CHANGED, CLEARING PATHWAY FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

Russia and the United States were engaged in a space race back in 1960s and 1970s, but this time the exploration of Venus will likely be conducted in a form of competition, which will only be beneficial to the research, the experts have said.

"I don't particularly see this as starting a new space race, but agencies will seek to develop new missions to Venus with the aim of understanding this planet more and with a renewed focus. There may be an element of competition in being the first agency to get new missions to the planet, but there will also need to be significant collaboration to bring together the technologies needed to operate in the challenging conditions in the atmosphere of Venus and on the planetary surface,'' Martin Barstow, professor of astrophysics and space science with the University of Leicester's school of Physics & Astronomy, told Sputnik.

Philip J. Stooke, an associate professor at the Department of Geography and the Centre for Planetary Science and Exploration of the University of Western Ontario, in his comments to Sputnik agreed with Barstow.

"I am not sure about a new space race. I think the Moon and Mars will remain as goals of the greatest importance. But Venus has been overlooked for a long time and this may push it up higher in the list of priorities. It is very unfortunate that the only images we have of the surface taken by landers (all from the Soviet Union) are several decades old. I would like to see some additional competition among nations to speed up surface exploration of Venus, but I don't think it will amount to a new space race," Stooke underlined.

Multilateral international cooperation now lies at a core of space exploration as it is the most viable method to advance the research, Jim Bell, professor with the Arizona State University's School of Earth & Space Exploration, told Sputnik.

"Regarding a potential 'space race': in my opinion, I do not believe that this result, or any other, will lead to a situation like existed back in the 1960s.

The world is very different today, as is, in my opinion, the motivation for the exploration of space. I believe that we are now in a time of significant and important international collaboration and cooperation in the exploration of space, and that this collaboration and cooperation will only increase as time goes on and as the world's ambitions for space exploration increase in scope and complexity," Bell said.

Henry R. Hertzfeld, research professor of space policy and international affairs with the George Washington University and a former NASA analyst, noted that space technologies are now available to many countries, unlike 50 years ago.

"Space technology today is relatively mature, capable of doing many things in space well, and is now available to many nations with the funds and desire to participate. Sure, China, European nations, Japan, India and others may also engage in more space activities, particularly those that might be interesting for many reasons, scientific as well as other uses of space. Again, it will not necessarily be a race, but it will be competitive along with encouraging many new international collaborations as well," Hertzfeld told Sputnik.

VENUS FINDINGS NEED VERIFICATION

Despite the international community's excitement about the latest findings suggesting life exists on Venus, this discovery need further validation, the experts believe.

"In my opinion, while the results and interpretations reported could have interesting implications for the atmosphere of Venus in general, I do not believe that provide sufficient evidence to support what would be an extraordinary claim regarding the biologic origin of the observed atmospheric chemistry. The study does reveal, however, that we really need to work harder and collect more data to understand the complicated atmosphere of our planetary neighbor Venus," Bell said.

Looking into the telescopic data previously obtained by Russia and the United States may show the evidence supporting new findings, according to Stooke.

"Space exploration is slow and steady. Before anything else happens it will be necessary to confirm these observations. The published study uses telescopic data but many spacecraft have visited Venus and all their data will now be examined with the utmost care to see if they support the new results. ... If new telescopic observations or old spacecraft data support the published result it may be time to plan a new mission," the University of Western Ontario professor noted.

Barstow believes that if the detected gas is proved to be of biological origin, it will become an important milestone in Solar System research, but as of now the findings need further confirmation.

"This is an amazing discovery. If the gas detected is eventually proved to have a biological origin, it will certainly be seen to be a defining moment in our understanding of life in the Solar System and in the Universe. However, more work is going to be needed to understand the origin of the signal. So, in the near term, it will focus more attention on Venus than has been the case in recent years. There has been a lot of attention paid to Mars in the search for life. Venus must now also be included in these searches," the space science professor concluded.
Luis Suarez has been captured leaving Barcelona's training ground in tears as he closes in on a move to Atletico Madrid.

The Uruguayan said his goodbyes to good friend Lionel Messi and the rest of his team-mates on Wednesday and is expected in the next few hours to be confirmed as the latest star to leave the Nou Camp in a 5.5million deal.

The 33-year-old - who will leave Barcelona as the club's third highest goalscorer of all time - was then captured shedding tears as he briefly put his head down while he drove out of and away from the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper facilities.

Luis Suarez left Barcelona's training ground in tears ahead of his move to Atletico Madrid

The emotional moment was captured as he left the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper facilities

 ULTIMA HORA | @LuisSuarez9 abandona llorando la Ciudad Deportiva del @FCBarcelona tras el entrenamiento matinal



 Se ha despedido de sus companeros esta manana



 @ElGolazoDeGol pic.twitter.com/huxXVitHDS  El Partidazo de COPE (@partidazocope) September 23, 2020

Since moving to Barcelona from Liverpool in 2014, Suarez has netted a remarkable 197 times in 283 appearances and the club are expected to make a farewell gesture to the striker on Thursday.

The Uruguayan will sign for two seasons with Atletico, who have agreed to pay just 5.5m for his services.

However - much to the relief of Ronald Koeman who is against the clock to bring in fresh faces - Suarez' tears appear to signal the end of yet another transfer saga at the Catalan side this summer.

On Tuesday, it was reported that Barcelona were attempting to put the brakes on Atletico's move for Suarez by adding their rivals to a list of 'vetoed clubs' he can't join, alongside rivals Real Madrid, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain.

The Uruguayan said goodbye to team-mates including Lionel Messi ahead of the 5.5m move

Suarez has netted a remarkable 197 times in 283 appearances since joining from Liverpool

But Atletico have nevertheless emerged as the front-runners for Suarez's signature after a move to Juventus fell through.

Suarez flew to Perugia, Italy, last week and passed a dual citizenship test in order to accelerate his move to the Serie A champions.

But that deal collapsed and Suarez could now find himself in hot water after claims by La Repubblica and Ansa that there were 'irregularities' in the test.

It has been reported that Suarez was sent the questions in advance and passed the Italian language (B1 level) exam having already been told the answers, with an investigation by the Guardia di Finanza now underway.

The tears appear to signal the end of another transfer saga involving one of the club's stars

But he is now set to line up for Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid in LaLiga next season

The police are now said to be acquiring documentation from the University of Perugia, where Suarez's test took place, and the player risks heavy legal action by the Public Prosecutor of Perugia.

Spanish giants Barcelona, meanwhile, have been in a state of crisis this summer amid the coronavirus crisis crippling their finances while they were left to pick up the pieces following the huge fall-out from the Lionel Messi transfer saga.

But after board members were divided on the Messi issues, there has been a significant split in the Barcelona boardroom over the club's choice to allow the experienced striker Suarez to join their La Liga rivals, according to Onda Cero.

Suarez will fill the gap left by Alvaro Morata, who joined Juventus on loan this week

However, to the reported dismay of some board members Suarez will join Atletico, who have themselves freed up space in the squad after Alvaro Morata joined former club Juventus on loan.

Former Liverpool star Suarez joins Arturo Vidal, Ivan Rakitic and Nelson Semedo has the high-profile departures at Camp Nou this summer.

Vidal joined Inter Milan for just 917,000 earlier this week, Croatian Rakitic went back to former club Sevilla for 1.3m while right-back Semedo has become the latest Portuguese addition at Wolves following a 37m move to Molineux.

Suarez won four LaLiga titles and as many Copa del Rey trophies, with his solitary Champions League win coming in 2015 after Barcelona beat Juventus in Berlin.
The bizarre legal fight between Mark McGowan and Clive Palmer has intensified, with the WA Premier filing papers in the Federal Court accusing the Queensland businessman of defamation.

In a taxpayer-funded counter-claim to a defamation action Mr Palmer launched in August, Mr McGowan claimed the billionaire had caused him distress and embarrassment, and had damaged his reputation.

Premier Mark McGowan has come under fire from opposition MP Zak Kirkup for taking Clive Palmer to court for defamation. Credit:

According to Mr McGowan's claim, he was seeking to "vindicate his reputation".

He accused Mr Palmer of defamed him by saying he "lied to the people of Western Australia", was "abusing the parliamentary system", was a criminal, and "corruptly attempted to cover up his personal involvement in criminal acts".
The number of Covid-19 patients in Delhi who are in home isolation fell on Tuesday by nearly 750 compared to the previous day, the decline being recorded after nearly a month of a steady rise in such cases, according to official data.

However, the number of containment zones continued to rise with the count standing at 1,937 on Tuesday.

On Monday, the number of home isolation cases had mounted to 19,213 and the city had 1,889 containment zones that day. The next day, the number of home isolation cases dropped to 18,464, according to data shared by the Delhi health department.

Since last week of August, both the number of home isolation cases and containment zones have shown a steadily rise, except on September 19 when the count of home isolation cases was 18,648, a very marginal fall from the previous days figure of 18,701.

However, this Tuesday, for the first time in nearly 30 days, home isolation case count fell by a sizeable margin of 749, to 18,646.

Experts feel the drop could be due to two reasons, with a senior doctor at a Delhi government-run dedicated Covid-19 facility asserting that home isolation as been very effective in managing the pandemic in the city.

One reason for the drop in numbers could be people are getting better and finishing their home isolation. The other could be some patients at home being transferred to Covid-19 care centres. But, in my opinion, the first reason is a bigger factor, Dr B L Sherwal, Medical Director, Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital told PTI.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who recently tested Covid-19 positive and was in home isolation, was shifted to LNJP hospital on Wednesday.

Asked if the situation is likely to improve in Delhi after the surge in cases in September, the doctor said, We will have wait and watch for a week or so at least. It is too early to comment now.

Covid-19 cases have shown a surge since the beginning of this month with September 16 recording 4,473 cases, the highest single-day spike here till date. The daily surge in cases in Delhi had breached the 4,000-mark for the first time on September 9 while the number of fatalities recorded that day was 20.

From September 9-19, fresh cases have been recorded more than 4,000 per day except on September 14 when the figure stood at 3,229 with 26 deaths being recorded that day, according to official data.

The Delhi government has significantly ramped up testing in the past few days.

The number of tests conducted and corresponding fresh cases reported, ranged from 24,198 and 2,312 respectively on September 1 to 61,973 and 4,071 on September 19.

Delhi recorded 3,816 fresh Covid-19 cases on Tuesday, as the tally in the city rose to over 2.53 lakh, while the death toll climbed to 5,051.

On September 20, fresh cases and home quarantined cases stood at 3,812 and 18,910 respectively. On September 21 the city had 2,548 new case and 19,213 patients in home quarantine.

Delhi had seen a big surge in cases in June, but the spike had come down in July.

The home isolation figures on July 1 stood at 16,703 with 437 containment zones marked in the city. On July 31, while the home isolation cases count had come down to 5,763, the containment zones had risen to 692, according to official data.

On August 3, the number of Covid-19 patients under home isolation, and containment zones count, both came down to 5,577 and 496 respectively. On August 25, there were 5,949 home isolation cases and 654 containment zones or localised areas from where infections were reported.

Home isolation cases rose to 6,850 with 763 containment zones on August 28; then to 7876 home isolation cases with 833 containment zones on August 31; and 8,407 home quarantined cases with 894 zones on September 2.

On September 5, the number of home isolation cases jumped to 9,822 while the containment zones count stood at 946.

Delhi government had been laying a lot of emphasis on home isolation, especially for asymptomatic patients as part of its Covid-19 management strategy in the past several months.

In an interview to PTI, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on September 7 had asserted that home isolation policy had proved a game-changer in taming the surge in June, a strategy the city government will continue to pursue.
Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL) is looking to roll out low-cost smartphones in sub-Rs 5,000 category in India.

RIL's telecom arm- Reliance Jio is in talks with local suppliers to jack up their production capacity to produce around 200 million units within the next two years.

The handsets priced around Rs 4,000 will come with Jio branding, Bloomberg reported, citing sources familiar with the matter, adding that the phones will run on Google's custom OS (operating system) announced by RIL at its 43rd AGM (annual general meeting) held in July this year.

Also Read: Reliance Jio to produce 10 crore low-cost Android phones by December

The oil-to-telecom conglomerate, at the AGM, had announced its partnership with Google to build an Android-based operating system for its affordable 5G smartphones soon.

Announcing the association with Google, RIL CEO Mukesh Ambani had said that Jio Platforms and Google would jointly develop an entry-level affordable smartphone that would be designed from "ground-up" and offer optimised Android OS and Play Store.

"Reliance will bring an entry-level 4G or even 5G smartphone for a fraction of its current cost. To power such a value-engineered smartphone, we also need an equally value-engineered smartphone operating system which will be designed from ground-up," Ambani had said at the AGM.

He had also claimed that the (Reliance) Jio has over 350 million feature phone users in India. Ambani had added that the Jio-Google partnership is determined to make India "2G-mukt."
Why Do Some Candidates Run as Republicans and Then Vote With the Democrats?

It is an open secret that there are two active Republican Parties in Beaufort County. One is conservative and independent and the other is liberal and submissive; to the Establishment. Well, they are submissive to all except the conservative Republicans. The liberal Republicans mistakenly believe it is their duty to force conservatives into their liberal beliefs and behaviors. Like allowing the two Democrats to pick County Commissioner Chairmen when there are five Republicans on the board. They're willing to cut deals with Democrats but you have to wonder at what cost in principles.



This is more than an innocent rivalry. Over the years a great many dirty tricks have been pulled by the liberal Republicans. Among these are the destruction of the Belhaven hospital building, the building of the useless US highway 17 bypass on the west side of Washington, the county park at Pamlico Beach and building $20 million worth of schools where they are not needed. But the greatest "sin" of all is their letting the Democrats control the management of the county which has cost the taxpayers millions of dollars on single bid contracts, poor planning and special interest favoritism. Sound like the "other" Washington? You got that right!



I have always been reluctant to expose Republican factional infighting to the public. Most of the time it hurts the Republican Party. However, the truth is the truth. How will the people know unless someone blows the whistle. When Democrats change their registration and run as Republicans because that is the only way they can get elected, and then return to voting like Democrats when elected, we need public debate about what elected officials and each party really stand for.



The simple truth is: if you tell the people one thing then vote the opposite you are not being truthful. People are getting fed up with such duplicity. I think we'll see this on November 3.



It true at the Federal level and we are about to see it in the confirmation of the next Supreme Court Justice. It's true at the state level, when some have pointed out: "there's not a dime's worth of difference between the Democrat and Republican leaderships. And it is certainly true at the local level with people running as Republicans, claiming to be "conservative" then voting with tax and spend liberal Democrats. By definition, you can't be a conservative and vote with the Democrats.



The most recent insult for me came at the Reagan Day celebration on September 17, with about 100 Republicans in attendance. There were several state level elected officials present. Former Senator Bill Cook, the "yellow sheet" elected Chairman of the Beaufort County Republican party exhorted Republicans to vote and contribute money. Then he said "even though we have one elected official who has said not to contribute money to the State Party"



I am the Republican elected official who said that. What I said and have said many times is: "Do not give your money to the Republican Party, it is better to find a local Republican candidate you like and give the money to his/her campaign." There are a lot of reasons for this. For one thing, the State Republican party rarely shares money with minor or local Republican candidates. They over whelmingly give our donations to the big boys. Robin Hayes is under federal indictment for his money handling shenanigans. One of the things he did was to take North Carolina Republican contributions and send them to other states. What about helping our own to be great first?



I have tolerated Bill Cook and his "hold your nose and vote Republican" buddies for years. His behavior now has become too much. He has berated me publicly saying I am the cause of all Republican problems. He did this at the Beaufort County Convention right after the "yellow sheeters" elected him chairman. He lost his temper and stormed out of the Beaufort County Conservative Republican Club meeting during the Spring of this year. If you do not agree with King Bill and kiss his ring, he gets really angry. This is not a good leadership quality.



Bill Cook refuses to notify some members of the Beaufort County Executive Committee meetings as is required by the Republican party rules. For state, district and county executive committee meetings, all elected Republicans office-holders are ex officio members respectively of these various executive committees. I have written three letters of complaint to Bill Cook and party officials, King



Cook still refuses to follow the rules. Not giving notice of executive committee meetings is his way of shutting out conservative Republicans.



Bill Cook is conducting most of the work of the executive committee in the back room, and is using the executive committee to support one liberal Republican for County Commissioner while pretending to support the other three of us.



The people of Beaufort County and particularly registered Republicans in Beaufort County deserve better. Bill Cook needs to learn to control his temper and his dislike of conservatives.



In order for any political party to be successful in a republic that treasures free speech, the factions have to be able to tolerate each other. Dictatorships do not last very long.



We are at risk in Beaufort County 2020 commissioner elections of electing a liberal Republican who will join vote with the Democrats. Watch and see, if he is elected, he will vote with the two Democrats to elect Frankie Waters Chairman with Jerry Langley being the Vice Chairman. If that happens we will continue to waste a lot of tax money, do county business in the back room and try to build a jail we do not need. We will increase the cost of trash handling with the false claim the trash pick will not increase your cost



To those who will fault me for raising a ruckus just before the November elections, I refer you to President Donald J. Trump and ask would he do this differently?


Welland Public Library users will ride for free on city buses during Canadian Library Month this October, says Marla Bestward, the librarys co-ordinator of community engagement.

The free rides are courtesy of Welland Transit through the librarys Ride to Read program.

Its a partnership weve done for years with transit. Library patrons get free rides to any of our branch locations during our operating hours, said Bestward.

That includes the main branch at 60 The Boardwalk, Seaway Mall branch at 800 Niagara St., and Diamond Trail branch at 315 Southworth St.

The main branch is open Monday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Seaway Mall branch is open Monday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Diamond Trail branch is open Monday to Thursday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., closed Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. All branches are closed on Sunday.

All people have to do to take part is visit one of the branches and get a Ride to Read sticker and attached it to their library card.

She said those visiting the Seaway Mall branch will need a voucher signed by library staff for their return trip.

The program is usually held in the summer in conjunction with the summer reading club, but that was cancelled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our Ride to Read partnerships with Welland Transit is always very well-received by the community. Were very grateful to transit for making it happen this fall, she said, adding Canadian Library Month is where libraries across the country raise awareness of the integral role that libraries play in the lives of all Canadians.

Welland Transit manager Dave Stuart said the agency was pleased to team up once again with the library.

Its a mutually beneficial relationship as we collectively try hard to be a large part of the solution to expedite the social and financial recovery of our community, he said.

Stuart said transit staff have been cleaning and sanitizing buses and facilities diligently to ensure customers enjoy a safe, worry-free ride to and from any of the three library branches.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  Surrogates for both Republican President Donald Trump and Democratic former Vice President Joe Biden said their preferred candidates were the right choices for the Black community during a Tuesday debate.

While the candidates were absent during Tuesday nights debate hosted by the Greater Cleveland Association of Black Journalists, Cuyahoga County Republican Party Executive Director Donna Walker Brown and Cuyahoga County Democratic Party Chairwoman Shontel Brown stood in for their respective nominees. WKYC anchor Russ Mitchell and GCLEABJ Vice President Rhonda Crowder moderated.

Donna Walker Brown highlighted Trumps accomplishments that have helped predominantly Black communities, such as opportunity zones meant to spur investment and continuing funding for historically Black colleges and universities.

Shontel Brown said Trump was largely coasting off a political climate and accomplishments from Democratic President Barack Obama and Biden. As an example, she said Trumps support of HBCUs was only a renewal of funding that was set to expire.

The two found little common ground between their candidates throughout the 90-minute debate, which included questions from the audience.

The Black vote has been especially significant during the 2020 election, especially as racial issues have come to the forefront with high-profile police killings of unarmed Black men and women leading to a nationwide reckoning on race. Trump has made a more significant push for Black voters than any Republican in recent memory while Biden has worked to shore up one of the most reliable bases of support for Democrats.

Donna Walker Brown said that Biden had done little to enact policies good for Black people during his decades-long career in Washington. Several of Bidens policies, including his instrumental role in a 1994 crime bill that resulted in heavy incarceration for Black men and women, were incredibly detrimental to the Black community, she said.

However, she conceded that Trump did not have a specific agenda for Black Americans, nor had one crossed his desk.

I have not seen any Black agenda, she said. The Black agenda has not run across my desk, even from the Black Voices for Trump.

Shontel Brown said Black Americans needed only to look to before Trumps time in office for less tumult. The coronavirus pandemic, which spread following Trumps mismanagement of the disease, has disproportionately killed Black and Hispanic Americans, she said.

Trump was refusing to even acknowledge the challenges facing the country, such as the pandemic that has killed 200,000 Americans, record unemployment and job losses and environmental disasters throughout the country.

We have one individual who refuses to acknowledge that these issues exist compared to another candidate who has detailed plans to tackle these issues through a Black lens, she said.

Watch the full forum:
As the presidential race is edging closer to election day, I have come to think a lot about the fluctuant manner in which US American politics unfolded over recent years. And that made me wonder whether Luxembourgish public opinion on its former liberator had altered over the decades since we first celebrated the arrival of Allied troops in our country.

Shifts in perspective

It is hard to pinpoint the earliest memory I have of being told about this mystical land of promise where nothing seems impossible. But I remember that when I was a child, each of these stories left me with the certain feeling that there was no conceivable challenge in this world that could not be overcome by an American. A bit silly, but I believed that if any catastrophe were ever to happen and Luxembourg could no longer stand on its own, the US would come to our help and save us. They did it before, they can do it again, no doubt.

When I was in primary school, Luxembourgish author Henri Losch once came to visit our class and read from his newly published war-time memoires. Although we were still quite young at the time, I remember his stories being impressive and compelling, as Losch was about the same age we were when the Allied forces arrived in Luxembourg. I can still picture his excitement when he told us about the glorious sight of the troops marching through the streets, and more specifically the American soldiers: They handed out chewing gum and even cigarettes for the older kids, can you imagine? My own grandmother paints a similar picture when reminiscing about her childhood and the liberation from the German occupation. Still to this day, she expresses her gratitude and admiration for the United States: Spending sleepless nights lying on a sack of potatoes in the basement while waiting for the sirens to stop is something you simply cannot forget. They were our heroes.

My parents were definitely influenced by American pop culture in their youth, be that in the form of music, television, or fashion. Nevertheless, you can sense that at the same time, their generation started to see the illusion of the flawless country crumble and become what today some people might consider woke. As US foreign policies grew ever more questionable over the years, the voices glorifying America became a bit quieter. It was also brought to my attention that by the time my parents learned about World War II in school, it had become widely established that the liberation of Luxembourg was a coordinated move by the Allied forces, and not as it first might have appeared, a gracious act of mercy by the US.

Where are we at today? Being a late millennial myself, I feel that apart from the stories my grandparents told me, not much of the former vision of the American heroes has remained intact. It is hard to say whether there was a concrete tipping point or not. While solidarity with the US was certainly still great in the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, the revelations of the countless deceptions leading to the Iraq War definitely dampened that enthusiasm. However, I remember that the election of president Obama in 2008 felt in a way like a sort of redemption, or at least evoked in me the idea that the US were still able to come together as a nation and vote for change. Considering the relentless images of divisiveness since the beginning of the Trump presidency, I wonder if that ability for change is still intact.

Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial in Hamm. /  U.S. Embassy in Luxembourg

Upcoming presidential election

One would think that after Trumps unlikely win in 2016, political analysts, news pundits, and journalists would bid caution when it comes to predicting the outcome of the November election. Yet four years appear to be an awfully long period, with sufficient time to forget and fall back into old habits. There is no shortage of news reports indicating a strong Biden lead in the polls, which can only end up in, as experts like to put it, a landslide victory for Democrats. However, on the other side of the aisle, claims of an inevitable second triumph for Trump are just as numerous and the enthusiasm for the president remains unshaken it seems.

Meanwhile in different circles, the murmurs around the possibility of Trump not accepting the election results, given he were to lose, have by now evolved into loudly voiced concerns. HBOs Real Time host Bill Maher interviewed nearly every candidate who ran for the democratic nomination, and asked each one the same question over the course of their campaigns: What if Trump wont leave? Shrugged or even laughed off by most at the time, the issue now seems to have become a legitimate concern. At least serious enough that in 2019, the bipartisan Transition Integrity Project (TIP) was launched, an organisation which played out different scenarios that could arise after the announcement of the November results:

TIP report: Preventing a Disrupted Presidential Election and Transition (3 August 2020)

Naturally, the incumbent presidents relentless tweets about rigged systems, voter fraud, and postponing the election only add fuel to the flame. But at least Trump does not hide his intentions in any form of way. In a debate with Hilary Clinton during the 2016 election, Trump was asked by Chris Wallace if he would accept the outcome no matter the result, and he responded that he would have to wait and see. And nearly four years later in July of 2020, the same news anchor received the same answer to the same question.

I recently came across the first press conference that then-president George W. Bush gave after the election results, which declared Barack Obama the next president of the United States, had just come out. I have to admit that I was quite stunned by what I saw, mostly remembering Bush on the one hand for his questionable war policies, on the other for his numerous gaffs and missteps. But in this particular case, only a rather inspiring speech on the vitality of American democracy.

Regardless of personal political affiliation, can anybody conceive president Trump delivering a comparable speech if he loses in November?

Between 1974 and 2010, pure moderates made up the biggest electoral fraction in the States at an almost consistent 40% rate, with only some minor deviations throughout the decades. But is it really important to know whether or not the United States are now more divided than ever before in their history, of which there is currently no shortage of claims? No matter the outcome of the election, one thing remains certain: the losing side will not simply vanish. Considering the results of the popular vote are seldom far from the 50% mark, that means the country will be left with a significant amount of dissatisfied, frustrated, or even contemptuous people.

Which brings me to the media. The recent coverage of civil unrest in the States amazes me, but not in a particularly positive manner. When I turn on a more liberal news channel, what I mostly find is a presenter starting off by denouncing the way that right-wing media portrays the protest movements as acts of violent domestic terrorism, before dedicating about a minute to the violence themselves, followed by a 50-minute long segment on the inspirational messages of the movement. The images in the background: people united in the streets, walking peacefully arm in arm. Should I tune into one of said right-wing outlets, I find the exact opposite: declarations of hypocrisy from the mainstream media, who are unwilling to show the violence, to which they then dedicate an hour-long analysis while briefly mentioning the peaceful marches. The images in the background: buildings on fire and looters breaking into stores. And the cherry on top of the cake I guess, each segment ends with the news reporter thanking the audience for choosing to see the truth through their coverage. Amazing.

While I will certainly refrain myself from making a prediction as to who will win the election in two months, I have to admit that I find it concerning how the outcome might be the final straw for the losing side, whichever that may be.

A vaccine for Covid-19?

I believe we once trusted the United States to be a force for good in this world, but is that still the case? As already mentioned, there was a time during my childhood where I was certain that they would be the ones to save us from whichever crisis may occur. That is no longer the case Im afraid. I would highly prefer to still have that certainty, to be able to look towards the US and trust that their decisions and proposed solutions would be the ones to follow. Now that we have entered the age of the pandemic, I look towards America and nearly question their every move.

Our very own Minister of Health Paulette Lenert sat down for an interview with RTL last week, and was asked when the Grand Duchy, or alternatively the EU, would have a vaccine ready. She showed little optimism that a reliable sample could be ready by the end of the year and was overall rather reluctant to speculate on the exact timeline of the development

As recently as last week, Donald Trump stood in front of the cameras and announced that his administration would have a Covid-19 vaccine ready by October. Now I am certainly no expert in the field, but out of the oversaturation of medical information of the past months, I definitely remember that a vaccine needs proper testing and that this process takes time. In a recent CNN interview, Joe Bidens running mate Kamala Harris stated that under no circumstances would she consider a vaccine authorized by the Trump administration reliable, claiming he would go as far as silencing public health experts just to score a win: I will not take his word for it, he wants us to inject bleach. No, I will not take his word.

I wonder what would (or will) happen if the United States officially announced that they have a reliable vaccine ready before we do. Would we turn to the US again for help in a time of crisis? Is our confidence in the sincerity of America still great enough that we trust them with such a delicate issue? When I posed this series of questions to my grandmother, she said to me that she still trusted the US, but that she would not believe a thing Trump says due to the nature of his personality. Another acquaintance of mine, Boma MJ, stated something very similar: Trump would not come and save us.

Now while I have little doubt that the United States have slowly yet steadily damaged their once impeccable reputation in the Grand Duchy over the years, I still find it quite difficult to assess whether or not this is purely related to the nation itself, or completely dependent on the person in charge of it. But maybe a Democratic win in the November election will provide an answer to that question.
CHIEF provincial health officer Dr. Brent Roussin recently explained that while Manitobas COVID-19 daily test capacity could reach 3,000 occasionally, it couldnt manage it over a sustained period. Instead, he suggested that 2,500 is something we have the ability to do daily right now.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/9/2020 (486 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opinion

CHIEF provincial health officer Dr. Brent Roussin recently explained that while Manitobas COVID-19 daily test capacity could reach 3,000 occasionally, it couldnt manage it over a sustained period. Instead, he suggested that "2,500 is something we have the ability to do daily right now."

While Premier Brian Pallister suggested a goal of 3,000, there are many who wonder about the delays. To start, the reports of long lines at testing sites indicate theres a bottleneck there, especially on days with high demand. Now that school has resumed, our province must continue to ramp up testing capacity. Here are ways to problem solve to increase testing:

First, its been reported that mobile testing units came to test in communities such as Hutterite colonies, where communal living created a higher possibility of becoming infected. Can this tactic be used in schools or meat processing facilities? This approach should be ongoing. We should decentralize testing so it can be done safely in more locations simultaneously. For instance, schools with a positive case could call for a mobile testing unit to test an entire student cohort at once.

Secondly, a spokesman for Dynacare, Mark Bernhardt, is quoted as saying "Dynacare was able to secure (through our own supply network) a very scarce but high throughput testing equipment," Bernhardt wrote, "It was as a result of securing this equipment that Dynacare was able to start offering COVID-19 testing in Manitoba as of August."

According to scientists who understand the testing protocol, it takes two pieces of equipment to do these tests  one to extract the RNA from mucous samples and one to evaluate the RNA for the presence of COVID-19. Right now, procuring new equipment is difficult; its all on back order. However, there are research scientists in Manitoba who already have these pieces of equipment sitting idle in their laboratories. These professors, researchers and their students are expert at using this equipment, but many of their labs were effectively shuttered because of the pandemic.

This is when some well-meaning person explains that in Canada, only a "certified medical laboratory technologist" (CMLT) is licensed to run these lab tests. The argument is that these university PhDs and their research technicians and students, who use the equipment daily for other purposes, arent properly certified in Canada or competent to do medical laboratory testing.

There are solutions to this. Lets acknowledge that in many cases, these scientists and professors teach and train students who go on to become CMLTs. Professional researchers in this field, who use the same equipment for other research, could easily be cross-trained to do this medical protocol.

Provincial legislation could direct the College of Medical Laboratory Technologists to fast-track training and examination procedures so these basic research scientists could acquire limited accreditation, specifically to conduct COVID-19 on an emergency basis during the pandemic.

In Germany, thats exactly what happened. The German COVID-19 testing program recruited between 200 and 300 German academic and private labs, currently with a capacity of half a million tests a week, and with the goal of returning patient test results in as little as 2.5 hours. Yes, you read that correctly: 2.5 HOURS.

Germanys not alone. Along with many others, basic research labs at the University of Washington, the University of Montana, and the University of California/Berkeley each have played central roles in their respective states pandemic response and COVID-19 testing regimes.

Normally, Canadas CMLTs might defend their certification process as sacrosanct to ensure test validity, but also to protect their livelihoods. However, in the midst of a pandemic, its time to get all hands on deck. Account for all those pieces of equipment the province and its institutions already own, and start training capable, well-qualified scientists who can help on an emergency basis.

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Next, acknowledge that this virus is powerful and contagious. Once these people are trained, quickly create a rotation system that decentralizes this testing. Create an environment in which there are multiple backup systems in play rather than depending solely on the Cadham Laboratory and Dynacare diagnostic labs.

Why? When people get sick, they can no longer do their jobs. When those sick people include CMLTs at the two main diagnostic labs, there will be a COVID-19 testing crisis in Manitoba.

We must create a diagnostic laboratory infrastructure with flexibility, redundancy and the ability to boost surge capacity. That is, plan for a rush of cases, a series of pressure-cooker situations. As well, plan for the contingency of one or both of the existing diagnostic labs going out of service during the pandemic and still maintain acceptable testing rates and turn-around times.

For the moment, we have things "under control," but this novel coronavirus has already given us enough data points. We know that COVID-19 is contagious, increases exponentially, and that we need a very robust regime of testing, containment, contact tracing and patient care to minimize negative health outcomes.

Our province has been lucky so far, but this is Manitoba. Winter and flu season are coming. Lets plan ahead now.

Jeffrey Marcus is a professor in the department of biological sciences at the University of Manitoba. Joanne Seiff is a Winnipeg-based freelance writer and the author of three books.
Ukrainian and Azerbaijani Presidents Volodymyr Zelensky and Ilham Aliyev have discussed the implementation of a number of large-scale infrastructure and investment projects that are being implemented in Ukraine with the active participation of large businesses and investors from Azerbaijan.

The heads of state discussed this issue during a phone call, the Ukrainian president's press service said.

"It is a pleasure that Azerbaijani partners take an active part in the implementation of important projects in our country. A striking example is the major repair of 38 kilometers of the M-01 Kyiv - Chernihiv - Novi Yarylovychi highway. We are also moving towards the completion of the construction of the service hub at the Chonhar checkpoint," Zelensky said.

He noted the dynamics of the bilateral political dialogue and invited Azerbaijani companies to participate in large-scale privatization. He also suggested intensifying bilateral cooperation in the framework of projects with the Antonov State Enterprise.

Both sides also discussed the epidemic situation and measures taken in Ukraine and Azerbaijan to combat the spread of coronavirus.

Zelensky noted that Ukraine has a low mortality rate among patients with COVID-19 compared to other countries. At the same time, he noted that citizens are already tired of quarantine restrictions.

The presidents expressed hope for the prompt development of a vaccine and agreed to continue coordinating the two countries' efforts to counter the spread of coronavirus.

Zelensky also briefed Aliyev on the security situation in Donbas. He recalled that during the meeting of advisors to the leaders of the countries participating in the Normandy format, the need to adhere to the permanent ceasefire, which has lasted for almost two months, was confirmed. During this time, as a result of the provocation, Ukraine lost one serviceman, but on other days there were no combat losses.

Aliyev stated Azerbaijan's support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and stressed that Azerbaijan treats Ukraine as a close strategic partner.

Zelensky and Aliyev paid special attention to discussing cooperation between Ukraine and Azerbaijan in the cultural and humanitarian sphere, sports, tourism and interpersonal contacts. Zelensky also expressed gratitude for the fact that the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum has implemented the project of the First Lady of Ukraine and provides tourists with Ukrainian-language audio guide services.

"I am especially pleased that the Museum has made this wonderful gift to Ukraine for the Independence Day of our country - since August this year, the museum has started 'speaking' Ukrainian," Zelensky said.
Pregnant Woman Jumps Into Water to Rescue Husband from Shark Attack in Florida

The man was snorkeling with family when he was bitten on the shoulder "almost immediately" upon entering the water

A man who suffered a severe shark bite while snorkeling in Florida with his family was pulled to safety by his pregnant wife, who leaped into the water to rescue him, according to authorities.

Andrew Eddy, 30, was snorkeling on a private boat at Sombrero Key Light on Sunday when he was bitten on the shoulder by a shark almost immediately upon entering the water, the Monroe County Sheriffs Office said in a statement.

Deputy Christopher Aguanno wrote in an incident report obtained by PEOPLE that Eddys wife, Margot Dukes Eddy, saw the sharks dorsal fin, and then saw the water fill with blood.

Dukes, without hesitation, dove into the water and pulled Eddy to the safety of the boat, Aguanno wrote.

The couple was on the boat with Dukes Eddys parents, her sister and her sisters boyfriend, most of whom were already in the water when the attack occurred, the report said.

Reinhard Dirscherl/ullstein bild via Getty Bull shark

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Shark Expert Jamin Martinelli Says Sharks Read Body Language: 'Just Remain Calm'

Shark expert Jamin Martinelli stars on the Shark Week special 'Laws of Jaws: Dangerous Waters' on Discovery Channel

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Eddy, who lives in Atlanta, was taken from the water to Sombrero Beach around 10:30 a.m., and airlifted to Ryder Trauma Center in Miami, the sheriffs offices statement said.

His injuries were described as severe, though his condition has not been released. Dukes Eddy, 29, did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment.

Sombrero Key, Florida

The sheriffs office said that witnesses reported seeing a bull shark in the area, and that the one that attacked Eddy was between 8 and 10 feet long. No one else was injured in the attack.

Story continues

RELATED: Woman Swimming Off the Coast of Maine Killed After Apparent Shark Attack

This was a very rare medical crisis for the Florida Keys, but everyone came together  including those witnesses on the boat to 911 Communicators to all our emergency responders  in order to ensure this victim received life-saving care, Sheriff Ramsay said in a statement.

Shark attacks are relatively rare in the Florida Keys, as there have been just 17 unprovoked shark attack bites in Monroe County since 1882, according to the University of Florida International Shark Attack File, the Miami Herald, which first reported the attack, noted.
A man looks over a memorial dedicated to Breonna Taylor , who was killed during a police raid on her home (Getty Images)

A state of emergency has been declared in Louisville, Kentucky - the state's largest city - ahead of prosecutors' decision on whether or not to charge police officers over the killing of Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old black woman who was shot 13 times during a raid on her home in March.

Greg Fischer, Louisville mayor, said he had introduced the measure to prepare for potential civil unrest as the city nervously awaits the state attorney general's announcement. Officials have not yet made public when the decision will be announced, although it is expected in the coming days.

It came hours after Louisville police department said it would restrict access to the city's downtown area; both the police and mayor Fischer said the move was aimed at protecting both demonstrators and the people who live and work in the area.

Barricades will be erected 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.

"Our goal is ensuring space and opportunity for potential protesters to gather and express their First Amendment rights after the announcement," said mayor Fischer when declaring the state of emergency. "At the same time, we are preparing for any eventuality to keep everyone safe," he added.

Mayor Fisher said that he did not know what the Kentucky attorney general, Daniel Cameron, would say in the announcement. Mr 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 Mr Cameron's office have promised to try to give authorities a heads-up.Kentucky governor Andy Beshear said the measures taken by Louisville police are due to the intense scrutiny of the Taylor case, in Louisville and around the country.

Story continues

"The national attention here is so great, the potential for outsiders so significant, the possibility of someone taking something peaceful and trying to turn it into something that's not, is all there," Mr Beshear said during his daily Covid-19 briefing on Tuesday.

Taylor, a hospital emergency room tecnician, was shot multiple times on 13 March 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.

Breonna Taylor was shot 13 times during the raidBreonna Taylor

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 $12 million and pledged several police reforms as part of the agreement.

Meanwhile, an officer who was shot in the leg by Taylor's boyfriend the night police entered her apartment wrote an email to fellow officers telling them that with their actions, Mr Fischer and top police officials had "failed all of us in epic proportions."

In the email, published by news outlets Tuesday and confirmed by his attorney, Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly wrote, "I know we did the legal, moral and ethical thing that night."

Taylor's boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, told police he fired one round after Taylor's door was broken down and Mr Mattingly entered. Mr Walker said he thought someone was breaking into the house and didn't know that it was police who were entering.

Referring to protesters, Mr Mattingly added that police officers should not be in a position "that allows thugs to get in your face and yell, curse and degrade you." His attorney, Kent Wicker, told The Associated Press in an email that Mr Mattingly's email was "expressing his support for (fellow officers) and their work during these difficult times."

Additional reporting by Associated Press

Read more

Police in Louisville cancel vacations ahead of announcement in Breonna Taylor case
The Supreme Court nomination hearings will bring the seething tensions among Democrats  between the left and the few old moderates who remain  into sharp focus for voters. And should Trump nominate federal appeals Judge Amy Coney Barrett, Democrats would again be compelled to attack her Roman Catholic faith, which is exactly what they did to her during her last confirmation hearing.
(Newser)  A fraternity at the University of Georgia suspended itself after racist messages from a group chat were shared online. Screenshots of the messages were shared Saturday by junior Arianna Mbunwe, who started receiving tips about wrongdoing after mocking fellow students' coronavirus practices on Twitter, per the New York Times. Mbunwe, who is Black, says the group messages included racist comments about her. "They were targeting me because my account has become very popular for exposing the people who are contributing to the rise in cases," the 20-year-old tells NBC News. The chat for members of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity had made reference to a tweet in which Mbunwe called out a sorority member for violating social distancing guidelines. "Lord give me the strength to not call that woman a racial slur," one member wrote.

story continues below

Other messages in the group "Sex Drugs and Darby House" included racial slurs and a reference to Mbunwe's genitalia. Mbunwe says members used fake names. One user went by "Ghost of Aunt Jemima." On Sunday, the university's Interfraternity Council said it was aware of the "racist, sexist, and otherwise discriminatory comments," adding the Lambda Chi Alpha chapter had "self-suspended operations indefinitely." The fraternity's national organization is investigating, along with the university's Equal Opportunity Office. But Mbunwe says EOO Associate Director Kristopher Stevens is "victim blaming me" for the harassment. She shared an email in which Stevens implies some of Mbunwe's tweetsincluding one reading "all white sororities suck" and another suggesting it should be illegal to be whiteare just as bad. (Read more campus racism stories.)
A psychiatrist has told the extradition hearing of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange it is 'clear' he is on the autistic spectrum said he would find extradition 'unbearable'.

Dr Quinton Deeley, a consultant neuropsychiatrist, diagnosed the 49-year-old with Asperger's syndrome after witnessing a two-hour autism assessment and conducting six hours of phone calls with Assange in Belmarsh prison.

Assange is fighting extradition to the US, where he is facing an 18-count indictment alleging a plot to hack computers and conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defence information.

Giving evidence on Wednesday, Dr Deeley, who also spoke to Assange's parents during his assessment, said: 'To my mind, it's clear Mr Assange presents as a person with an autistic spectrum condition.

'He's an intelligent person, he's learnt to adapt to some of those characteristics.'

A neuropsychiatrist told the extradition hearing WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is on the autism spectrum and would find extradition back to the US an 'unbearable ordeal'

Dr Quinton Deeley, a consultant neuropsychiatrist, diagnosed Assange with Asperger's syndrome after witnessing an autism assessment and conducting six hours of phone calls

Julian Assange is preparing to kill himself in prison after hearing voices in his head, psychiatrist tells extradition hearing 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 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. 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.' 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. Advertisement

Dr Deeley went on to tell the court that Assange 'would find [extradition] an unbearable ordeal' and added that he thinks '[suicide] is more likely than not [should he be extradited].

It comes after it was reported yesterday psychiatrist Professor Michael Kopelman said the Australian had begun making preparations to end his own life including confessing to a Catholic priest, drafting farewell letters to his family and drafting a will.

The Old Bailey heard Assange refused to complete two components of the autism test, including a task to act out brushing his teeth and answering questions about his daily 'self-management' or 'self-care' routine because he found them 'demeaning'.

James Lewis QC, for the US government, suggested: 'It's highly unusual for people to refuse these tests?'

Dr Deeley, who said he has assessed hundreds of people to determine if they are autistic, replied: 'Correct.'

He described Assange as 'an intelligent person' who shares the characteristics of 'many high-functioning people on the autistic spectrum', including engineers and computer scientists.

Dr Deeley said he has 'difficulty discussing his own emotions', with a 'primary focus on his own thoughts and interests' and noted a 'failure to initiate or sustain' conversations.

Assange's mother, Christine, told the doctor her son as a child 'had a preference for solitary play' but made a small number of friendships in his teens with 'geeky' boys who shared his interest in computers, the court heard.

The court also heard Assange's close friend Suelette Dreyfus referred to his 'Edwardian style of speaking', such as talking about Coca-Cola as mead, 'like he's been reading Jane Austen novels'.

She also talked about Assange's 'outrageous behaviour and lack of propriety', such as moving furniture around in cafes, helping himself to condiments from another table, or going behind the bar to change the music, Dr Deeley said.

Mr Lewis said Assange has hosted a 'chat show' on the Russia Today television network and played footage to the court of a question and answer event where he appeared by video link at London's Frontline Club.

But Dr Deeley said he was talking about a topic in which he was an expert, which was not incompatible with his diagnosis.

Demonstrators protest outside of the Old Bailey court where extradition hearing is being held

Mr Lewis also raised Assange's long-term relationships, during which he has fathered five children.

Assange has two children with his current partner, Stella Moris, who he has been with for nine years, the court heard.

Dr Deeley said: 'He has had very few lifelong friends and the people who have befriended him have had to make allowances or accepted things which are generally considered to be quirky, unusual or odd aspects of his interpersonal interactions.'

He also told the court: 'It is true that many, perhaps the majority of people on the autism spectrum don't form intimate relationships successfully. There are a minority who do so.

'In Mr Assange's case, his high standing and celebrity, for some individuals would also make him an attractive figure, an interesting and compelling figure, and that likely contributes in the formation of some of his relationships.'

Mr Lewis told the court that Assange's father described him as 'good company' with a 'good sense of humour' while his partner said he 'could turn on the charm and entertain people'.

He added: His mother said he has a wonderful sense of humour he is an extraordinarily selfless father.

That last comment - an extraordinarily selfless father - that alone is very inconsistent with someone who is on the autistic spectrum.

Julian Assange is fighting extradition back to the US in a hearing being held at the Old Bailey

Dr Deeley: No because a person on the autistic spectrum can be dutiful but it doesnt necessarily mean they have an acute or nuanced understanding of the thoughts, feelings and perspectives.

The lawyer claimed Assanges family relationships contradicted the diagnosis, asking: Hes maintained many long term relationship and has fathered five children, is that not inconsistent?

Did you know Julian Assange was given sole custody to his child and he brought him up?

No court would give custody to [someone displaying these symptoms].

Dr Deeley said: I dont accept that. Someone on the autistic spectrum can manage as parents and function in everyday life independently.

The hearing continues.
September 22, 2020





2020 has been hard on all of us, especially those of us who run small to medium-sized businesses. If the going has been tough, then you might be sitting there thinking what you can do to increase your business chances of doing better in the last quarter of this year. While the year is almost over, its not over until the fat lady sings, right?







Technology plays an increasingly important role in the way that businesses are run, and it wasn't that long ago that only big corporations were able to automate processes so that they could make more money in less time. However, the landscape is changing, and automation is becoming more available to smaller companies. Let's take a look at how to automate your business this year so that you can see improved results.

1. Monitor Your Employees

If youve recently had to deal with asking most of your employees to work from home, then you will be up against a very different environment when it comes to managing them. It can be difficult to manage employees in person at the best of times, let alone when theyre remote and hard to get a hold of.

If you're finding the 'new normal' to be a challenge with your employees so far away, consider implementing employee monitoring software. This is just one of many ways that you can automate the management process so that you can keep on top of how they're doing and their production levels. This way, you don't have to spend all day worrying about them.

2. Sales

When it comes to business, marketing and sales go hand in hand. This means that if you haven't already automated the process of coming up with the best marketing solution for your business, then you should. The good news is that you can automate the sales process as well, as the two are so similar.

Make sure that you are finding ways to promote your business online through social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook (News - Alert). Instagram has a paid ad program that allows you to pay for posts to be put in front of your target audience. This is a great way to increase your sales online and bring more people to your website where they can find your product or service. Automation of the sales side of things will free up your time for other important aspects of your business, like quality control.

3. Inventory

Speaking of quality control, there is one aspect of this part of the manufacturing process that you can automate with ease. When was the last time that you asked someone on your team to do an inventory of your products? If its been a while, then it might be time to do this again. However, taking an inventory of all of your stock is a time-consuming process, even for a small business.

Instead, try automating the inventory process. Software can easily add, delete, and edit any information that you have already logged about your products so that you can keep up with what's going out and what's coming in. Being able to update your inventory in real-time is also going to help you avoid making common mistakes.

4. Use an Automation Specialist

If youre not quite sure at this point what automating your business looks like, or where you should put your efforts, then you could consider hiring an automation specialist for a short period of time. Specialists like this come with invaluable advice and guidance around when and where you should automate, which can end up saving you time, money, and making potential errors.

The more you can learn from someone like this, the better you can set up your business for success this year.

Thinking about automation aspects of your business might be a headache. However, it doesnt have to be this way, and with everything out there available to you, it could end up helping your brand in the long run.

About The Author:

Aqib Ijaz is a digital marketing guru at eyesonsolution.com. He is adept in IT as well. He loves to write on different topics. In his free time, he likes to travel and explore different parts of the world. You can read more of his blogs at eyesonsolution.
Karel VALANSI

We witnessed a historic event last Tuesday. How do you evaluate the peace deals between Israel and United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain?

First of all, I think that it is a warm peace. Which means full interactions between people and movement of goods. We did not have it with Egypt, we did not have it with Jordan. We have an entirely different deal with UAE and Bahrain. Definitely, it is a peace of a qualitative difference.

How does this step change the Middle East? Can we expect an end to the instability, as many leaders have pronounced?

I doubt it. Basically, we see a formalization of alignments in the Middle East between Israel and moderate Arab states against Iran. Iran continues to be a revisionist power with proxies all over the region. We will probably see closer relations between Iran and Turkey. Both are ambitious and have expansionist goals. We will not see a peaceful Middle East. We will see a continued struggle. It will isolate to a greater extent Iran and also the Turkish-Qatari alliance.

Can we say that Israel has joined the Arab axis officially? If so, what may be the price it has to pay?

People talk about F-35s that will be delivered to the UAE. But this is part of having peace. After we had peace with Egypt, the Egyptian army was American equipped. This is something to be expected. Israel should demand compensation in certain arms from the US.

So you expect this sale to occur

This is not an Israeli decision. This is an American decision. If Trump wants to sell, he will do it. We will be compensated for preserving our qualitative military edge. But F-35s, this will not be tomorrow, it will take time. A few years

Normalization with these two countries could encourage others as well, as Trump has said. Can Saudi Arabia be one of them? And can this wave expand to North Africa as well?

We can say but I am not sure it will happen. Oman probably is a better candidate than Saudi Arabia because it has hosted a public visit by Israeli prime minister [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the Gulf state of Oman and discussed peace initiatives in the Middle East with Omani Leader Sultan Qaboos in 2018]. Maybe Morocco.

Prof. Dr. Efraim Inbar

Lets say Qatar, who provides financial aid to Gaza and has good relations with the U.S., decides to normalize its relations with Israel as well. What will be the response of the UAE? Is this a possibility?

It is not likely in the near future. Qatar is a problem. Qatar supports the Muslim Brotherhood. One of the reasons UAE is close to Israel is Qatar's support for Islamists.

The statements of the Turkish Foreign Ministry demonstrate that this normalization could complicate the already problematic relations between the two countries. How do you see the future of Turkish-Israeli relations?

As long as Erdogan is in power, I don't expect to have a good relationship. However, Erdogan is somewhat pragmatic. Turkey has diplomatic relations with Israel, Turkish Airlines flies to Israel and there are of course economic interactions. Turkey exports Turkish goods to the Arab world via the Haifa port.

Turkey has been pronounced as a challenge for Israel by the IDF report lately. What is the implication of this report?

We don't want a military confrontation with Turkey. I am saying that we don't want; I am not saying that it will not happen. It is connected with Erdogans ambitions, according to Turkeys decisions or acts.

Palestinians may be feeling left out of all these developments. What will be the future of the two-state solution?

Depends on the Palestinians. They don't want to talk to us, they don't want to talk to the Americans, they call President Trump names, they are not part of it. If they decide to change their position, we may see negotiations and maybe will have a Palestinian state. Also, the Palestinian national movement is dysfunctional.

What do you think will change in the Middle East especially for Israel, if Joe Biden becomes the next American president?

The only thing we are concerned about is, he may decide to bring back the JCPOA which is really a very bad agreement. Biden has welcomed the deal with the UAE, Biden said he will not move the embassy from Jerusalem, Biden is not hostile to Israel. Our main concern is Iran nuclear deal.
KAMPALA  Uganda Prisons has offered a bounty of fifteen million shillings (Shs 1,5000,000/=) for each gun recovered and five hundred thousand shillings (Shs 500,000/=) for every escaped prisoner recaptured.

This was revealed by the Commissioner General of Prisons, Dr Johnson Byabashaija who had visited Uganda Government Prison Moroto on an inspection tour of the facility following the escape of 223 prisoners last week.

He held closed-door meetings with the station management, UPDF and Police before addressing staff at the station.

I want to inform the escapees that it is a matter of time, were going to get them. Those who escaped in Arua, we got them, those who escaped in Bukwo we got them back. These ones we shall get them. In Uganda, you cannot get lost. Even if you go to the neighboring country by our collaboration we shall bring back, every day were picking one by one, said Byabashaija.

The Commissioner-General noted there were some errors inside the prison that caused mass escape. He revealed that 16 inmates have been recaptured and 7 put out of action  giving a total of 23 inmates so far accounted for. The station has been reinforced with specialized team from the Safety and Security unit.

We had some errors inside the prison and our gatekeeper was not adequately protected a structural deficiency. I have instructed my Assistant Commissioner in charge of security to deal with it very quickly. We must protect the gatekeeper with a cage such that prisoners dont get access to him. I have directed him to place central boxes or what we call watchtowers. If we had watchtowers here, of course, we wouldnt have had that problem  you shoot directly at the prisons from the watchtowers and were going to make a double fence.

Byabashaija was accompanied by the Director Correctional Services, Samuel Akena, Commissioner Corporate Affairs, Frank Baine, Assistant Commissioner Political Commiserate, Kamugisha Moses, Assistant Commissioner Safety, and Security Operations, Simon Wansadha, Assistant Commissioner Prisoners Administration, Kivumbi Jacob.

His visit comes days after a team from the Prison headquarters camped in Moroto to investigate the prison break.

No gun has been recovered yet and according to the Prisons spokesman, Frank Baine, some of the prisoners have crossed to neighboring Kenya.

Related
COLONIE  On Siena College's socially distanced campus on Wednesday, masked students quietly padded in sweatshirts and Birkenstocks to assigned seats under a large white tent  their outdoor classroom.

Others sat at tables in the student center with laptops and headphones, studying or logging into virtual courses.

But some students say they are on edge after Siena College officials took sweeping disciplinary action following a Derby Day gathering that students say got out of control. And a recent email from campus safety to Siena students requesting photos of the weekend bash has some nervous that they could be next.

"There are kids taking pictures of you if youre congregating outside from their door rooms to send to the dean," one student wrote to the Times Union. "It is a paranoia going on here."

Several students told the Times Union that they have reported infractions of Siena's COVID-19 protocols, noting that most people had no trouble obeying the rules.

"The rules aren't that difficult," freshman Lilly Kronau, of Poestenkill, said. "That upsets me. I don't know why they wouldn't have the decency and care to make sure that we can all stay on campus."



Roughly 20 students at Siena College were "temporarily dismissed" from campus housing last week after school officials caught wind of the Sept. 5 event celebrating the Kentucky Derby horse race, which students say drew a crowd of 80 to 100.

Students, stunned by the crackdown, told the Times Union that they saw peace officers walking around the event and chatting with students.

Attendees of the party were cited for violations like failing to wear their masks, holding an impromptu gathering, and drinking alcohol outside. Administrators say investigations are ongoing.

At least five other students were sent home for holding gatherings in their dorm rooms since the beginning of the semester, school officials confirmed.

"We want all of our students  every single one of them  to be successful and happy," Siena President Chris Gibson said in an interview. "And that's how we are operating here to have a very safe and effective conveyance of the academic program. It's clearly challenging under these circumstances, but we are doing our best."

He emphasized that the dismissals were temporary and that most students would return when the investigation was complete.

"We want everyone here to flourish on our campus and even anyone who might be part of the disciplinary process, we look forward to welcoming them back once this rehabilitation period is over," Gibson said.

Students on the tight-knit campus  2,200 of 3,000 Siena students have elected to live in the dorms this year  had mixed feelings about the crackdown but many were glad to see administration was taking action.

"I have seen many people be sent home because they brought someone from the outside in," Angelee Carino, a freshman from the Bronx, said. "The fact that Siena is taking that precaution, it does make me feel safer."

Students are discouraged from leaving the sprawling campus and they must wear masks every time they leave their rooms. They signed a pledge before arriving on campus, but admit that the rules can sometimes feel arbitrary.

Meredith Buono, a freshman from Valatie, noticed that resident assistants walked around the dorms telling students to put masks on when they have guests over, even if they were seated six feet apart. During meals, she and her friends can eat together without masks.

"You'd think if you are in an open space with nobody around you, you can have your mask off outside, but they really don't want you to do that either, so it's been really restricting," Buono said. "I think some people are starting to get over it and not wearing their masks because they are tired of it."

Making friends under pandemic conditions is a challenge, so the college has organized virtual events for first-year students.

"It's more limited, there are fewer people gathering, but I have made a lot of friends, even though we are in a pandemic," said Miykael Locke, a chemistry major from Schenectady.

So far, Siena College has seen few COVID-19 cases, with its third since the start of the semester reported on Wednesday.

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.

That's in contrast to other colleges and universities, like University at Albany, which have seen a recent surge in infections. Schools in the SUNY system risk having students locked down or sent home for the semester if they surpass the state's threshold.

Previously reported:

At SUNY Oswego, Greek life, athletic activities, eat-in dining hall meals suspended

SUNY Oneonta sends students home after hundreds diagnosed with COVID

In addition to closely monitoring student behavior, the college has ramped up its testing protocol. Officials strongly recommended students get COVID-19 tests before arriving on campus, but only 20 percent of students complied, according to Siena officials.

Siena College researchers have also been studying wastewater as a form of surveillance testing. On Tuesday, the college announced that it found traces  though an unquantifiable amount  of the RNA associated with the coronavirus in the water. They are zeroing in on specific buildings to see if the infection came from the campus community or an outside source.

"When we get a reading like this, which is close to the instrument  which means it's possible we have an infection ... we are dialing in and actually going to floors," Gibson said.

The college has also partnered with an outside lab to conduct random nasal swab tests on 2 percent of the campus population each week.

While the disciplinary measures may seem harsh to students, Gibson emphasized that the vast majority were following the rules and doing their part to keep the campus safe.

"The administration is just trying to follow the evidence and get it right," Gibson said.
Sharon Stone has kissed plenty of leading men throughout her career, but one stood out to her as the absolute best  Robert De Niro.

In fact, Stone said her kiss with De Niro in the 1995 crime drama "Casino" was "pretty fabulous."

"Well, Robert De Niro was for sure the best kisser. Bob was far and away the best kisser," Stone, 62, told "Watch What Happens Live" host Andy Cohen.

In the movie, Stone played hustler Ginger McKenna and shares a kiss with her husband's boss, Sam "Ace" Rothstein, who was played by De Niro. She earned a best actress Oscar nomination for her role in the now-legendary Martin Scorsese film.

Sharon Stone And Robert De Niro In 'Casino' (Archive Photos / Getty Images)

For Stone, it was about more than just the smooch. She said De Niro was the actor she "admired the most" and she had been looking forward to the moment she could "sit across the table from Robert De Niro and hold my own."

"There was so much attached to it. I was just so madly in love with him as an actress to start with that he probably could have hit me in the head with a hammer and I wouldve been Oh yeah!" Stone joked.

As for worst kisser, Stone didn't spill the details to Cohen or fellow guests Sarah Paulson and Cynthia Nixon, who were also on the Zoom call.

"I dont know if I could compare anything else to that," Stone said. "Everything else was kind of meh!"
SANTA FE  First there was the Pantry.

Then a year ago came the Pantry Dos. And soon there will be a third Pantry restaurant in Santa Fe, this one downtown at the northeast corner of Galisteo and West Alameda.

But it wont be called Pantry Tres.

Were calling it Pantry Rio, because its by the river, said Stan Singley, co-owner of the Pantry enterprise along with Max Myers, whose father George founded the original Pantry restaurant on Cerrillos Road in 1948.

Located at 229 Galisteo across West Alameda from the Santa Fe River, the Pantry Rio will occupy the space formerly occupied by the French restaurant LOlivier, which closed last month.

Singley said when LOlivier announced on Facebook that it was closing, he and Myers were intrigued about the possibility of taking up that location. Its just a few blocks away from the citys historic Plaza and walking distance from downtown hotels and government buildings.

Our Pantry on Cerrillos Road does a lot of tourist business, he said. Knowing that  and that they all seem to come from downtown  we thought this would be a good location. And quite honestly, it will take pressure off that one.

The iconic Pantry restaurant on Cerrillos has long been popular with tourists and locals alike. It, too, will undergo changes, Singley said.

We learned a lot from COVID, he said, adding that the temporary patio set up for outdoor dining during the pandemic will likely be renovated into a permanent patio.

Itll look a lot like this one, he said of the flagstone patio that wraps around two sides of the Pantry Rio.

The 1,700-square-foot patio at the Pantry Rio doubles the available dining space, as the building itself is 1,760 square feet, including the kitchen.

The building has gone through several incarnations, beginning as a gas station. Its also been a curio store and rug shop before being converted into a restaurant. At least three different restaurants have occupied the space. LOlivier had been there since 2013.

The Pantry Rio will start by serving just a breakfast and lunch. But Singley said plans are to later open for dinner.

I think dinner will be a huge business, he said, adding that the restaurant is licensed to serve beer and wine.

The Pantry Dos, opened last year in Oshara Village near Santa Fe Community College, already offers a dinner menu along with breakfast and lunch.

Singley said the Pantry Rio is shooting for an Oct. 1 opening, but that will depend on whether they can finish a few renovations by then.
More than a month into the new school year, new efforts are being made to share information on coronavirus spread in schools. With a state-level dashboard still a few weeks away, some school districts are doing it themselves.

Two Alabama school districts, Hoover City and Lee County, have now published online dashboards showing the number of students and employees testing positive for COVID-19 and the number having to quarantine due to being exposed. Others are sharing that information in a different format with parents.

And like reported elsewhere around the nation, early Alabama data hasnt shown that schools which have reopened to in-person learning are becoming cauldrons for the spread of COVID-19.

Theres nothing more important to us than the health, safety and well-being of our students, Hoover City Schools Superintendent Kathy Murphy said in an interview with AL.com.

Murphy said publishing the dashboard, which went live online Tuesday and will be updated daily, is part of their goal to be transparent with the community in how officials make decisions when it comes to the safety of students and the spread of coronavirus in schools.

It comes after district officials spent a lot of time trying to decide which metrics would best let the public know the prevalence of coronavirus in the citys schools. We wanted what we put out there to be as self-explanatory as possible, Murphy said.

The dashboard shows the number of positive COVID-19 cases in students and employees across the district since school started, by day. Murphy said she hopes that families wont focus just on the total number62 students and 25 employees since school started last monthbut more on the current cases and those over the past 14 days.

For example, a look at the number of cases over the past 14 days shows 8 employees and 44 students tested positive. Looking at it another way, under one-half of 1% of their 1,883 employees and fewer than one-third of 1% of the districts 13,441 students enrolled have tested positive.

Hoover schools also is publishing the number of students in isolation and quarantining, broken down on a daily basis.

Hoover City Schools now publishes the number of positive and suspected COVID-19 cases and will update it daily.

The dashboard does not distinguish between students who are learning remotely or in-person.

Murphy said about a third of all students have chosen remote-only learning for now. Elementary students, beginning last Monday, now attend school four days a week. Middle and high school students attend school two days a week on a staggered schedule.

Lee County also went live with a dashboard on Tuesday. Dr. Anna Shepherd-Jones, director of federal programs for the district, said the dashboard was created after school board members requested the information be shared with the public on a regular basis.

We do want our community to know that we are making efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in accordance with CDC and ADPH guidelines Shepherd-Jones wrote in an email to AL.com, and hope to foster trust in how we are handling our current crisis, starting with our openness and transparency through our public dashboard.

After a remote-only start, Lee County students choosing in-person learning returned to 5-day-a-week classes on Sept. 14. As of Sept. 18, four students tested positive, seven symptomatic students were sent home, and 41 students were quarantined due to close contact.

Eight employees reported testing positive, six symptomatic employees were sent home, and 12 employees were quarantining due to be in close contact with either a symptomatic or positive case.

Lee County went a step beyond Hoovers, identifying the schools where positive COVID-19 cases were reported, but not the number testing positive at each school.

Their district dashboard will be updated weekly, she said.

Other Alabama school districts are making regular reports to their communities about the spread of coronavirus, too, just not in a dashboard format.

Since school began in early August, some school districts are sending that information in emails to parents and families, while others are reporting numbers on a weekly basis, and still others shared case data through social media.

Wednesday, September 23, 2020 It has been brought to our attention that an employee at Dale County High School has... Posted by Dale County Board of Education on Wednesday, September 23, 2020

The state dashboard

The Alabama Department of Public Health is working with the Alabama State Department of Education to publish a database sharing information on coronavirus spread in school districts.

The database, according to Alabama State Department of Education Communications Director Michael Sibley, should be online by mid-October. It will give a weekly update of confirmed COVID-19 cases, per school system.

School officials are required to report to ADPH students with major symptoms and those who say they have tested positive for COVID-19, but that data is still questionable because it is based on self-reporting.

Were completely dependent on the parent, grandparent or guardian, School Superintendents of Alabama Executive Director Ryan Hollingsworth said. They may or may not tell us. You have no confirmation from a medical professional unless they share it with you.

Additionally, not all reports are being broken down to the school level, leaving those in larger districts with lingering questions.

And while some states are providing case reports at the school level, Chief Health Officer Scott Harris said that will not be the case in Alabama.

We understand the desire for school-level data, Harris said in an email to AL.com, but are finding it difficult to determine how to report this in a way that respects privacy at every institution.

School level data is certainly a reasonable expectation in a large school with thousands of students, Harris continued, but would be very problematic in many of our small schools (especially if cases were identified as teachers or staff, since there are probably even fewer of these people than students).

The good news so far is that data that is currently available dont point to schools as places where coronavirus spreads rapidly, initially of concern to public health officials.

There is no evidence that our schools are superspreaders, Murphy said. So that has been delightful news.

She credits teachers working hard, parents reporting positive cases to schools, students following social distancing guidelines and everyone cooperating in wearing masks along with hand sanitizing stations and lots of handwashing.

Hollingsworth gives a lot of credit to school officials who continue to work hard to keep schools clean, keep masks on, and enforce social distancing guidelines.

All of the mitigation strategies seem to be working and to be very effective, he said.
(TNS)  The city of Dayton is searching for a vendor to help bring high-speed internet to some high-poverty areas in the northwestern part of the city using federal coronavirus relief money.The city has issued a notice of funding opportunities that says it has $1.4 million in federal CARES Act dollars available to expand broadband access to multiple neighborhoods, including Philadelphia Woods, Fairview, Hillcrest, Dayton View, Mount Vernon and Santa Clara.About 952 households in those neighborhoods do not have internet access, or nearly a quarter of the total (22.8%), according to Census data provided by the city.The city is interested in offering free wireless internet to those neighborhoods and possibly others during the pandemic when a lot of business activities, work, learning and medical services have shifted to online platforms, officials said.The city recognizes access to reliable internet in many of our homes is a challenge our residents face, said Melissa Wilson, Daytons purchasing agent. This digital divide was made more apparent through the COVID-19 pandemic and the city is interested in exploring all feasible options to bridge this divide.The main focus is on helping vulnerable residents access telehealth services, but the broadband expansion project hopefully will have a lasting impact even after the pandemic is over, said Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley.This is something really important, as weve learned, during this time of COVID, both for education and health purposes, Whaley said. And its an infrastructure issue.Since the start of the coronavirus crisis, citizens increasingly have relied on the internet for education, jobs, shopping and medical services.But in some parts of northwest Dayton, more than one-third of households do not have internet access, and homes without service are concentrated in some high-poverty zip codes, the city said.The broadband expansion project seeks to address disparities related to internet access while specifically helping residents utilize telehealth options, city officials said.Health care services in northwest Dayton have suffered since Good Samaritan Hospital closed a few years ago, but telemedicine could be a solution, officials said.The city is seeking a vendor to help provide Internet speeds of 25 megabits per second (Mbps) for downloads and 3 Mbps for uploads. Today is the deadline for vendors to submit electronic proposals.The city says it is looking for a long-term partner that will continue assisting with the project after the system is installed. The city wants the project up and operational before Dec. 28.The city says this pilot project could serve as a blueprint for expanding and enhancing broadband access in the future, and the city has requested a scalability plan to support future growth or downsizing.The city has to spend its CARES Act funds by the end of the year, and work on the project needs to begin immediately, officials said.But Mayor Whaley said this project could set up the infrastructure needed for high-speed internet and its possible the city could find foundation support or other types of funding to cover the cost of the service moving forward.Thats why we are doing a notice of funding, because we dont have a sense of what we can get, Whaley said. But were saying, This is how much money we have, so OK providers, what can you offer?Years ago, the city offered free wireless internet in downtown years and unsuccessfully tried to expand service citywide.
The Bihar School Education Board (BSEB) has notified the dates for class 6 admissions in Simultala Awasiya Vidyalaya for the session 2021-22. According to the press release issued on Wednesday, the registration process for class 6 admission will begin on September 25, and will conclude on October 5, 2020.

A candidate should be at least 10 years old as on April 1, 2021, in order to apply for the admissions. The upper age limit for the candidate should not be more than 12 years.

Candidates belonging to the unreserved and other categories are required to pay an application fee of 200, while for SC/ST aspirants, the registration fee is 50.

The board will conduct the preliminary examination on December 17, 2020. The examination will be objective in nature and will carry 150 marks. Students who will clear the preliminary examination will be eligible to appear for the mains on January 31, 2021.

Exam Pattern:

How to register for Simultala Awasiya Vidyalaya class 6 admission:

Visit the official website at biharboard.online

On the homepage, click on the link to apply for Simultala Awasiya Vidyalaya class 6 admission

Click on the registration link

Fill in all the requisite information

Pay application fee

Submit

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Petrescu to lead graduate education at Kansas State University

Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020



MANHATTAN  Claudia A. Petrescu, a chief strategic planning officer and professor of public administration from Michigan, will become Kansas State University's first vice provost for graduate education and serve as dean of the university's Graduate School.



Petrescu's appointment was made by K-State Provost and Executive Vice President Charles Taber following a national search. Petrescu will start her new duties on Jan. 10, 2021. She replaces Carol Shanklin, who is retiring, as dean of the Graduate School.

"I am excited to have Dr. Petrescu join us in this newly defined leadership role of vice provost for graduate education and dean of the Graduate School at Kansas State University," Taber said. "She joins K-State at an exciting time as we engage in new and innovative graduate programming and strategic enrollment efforts. She will bring a fresh and relevant perspective to our graduate programs and will be a strong advocate for graduate students."



In her new role, Petrescu will provide strategic leadership and vision to help advance graduate education in directions consistent with K-State's goals and priorities and the evolving role of graduate education in the 21st century. She will oversee operations of the Graduate School and will work collaboratively with partners  including the college deans, faculty, students, program coordinators, administration and more  to develop fresh approaches to graduate program enrollment.



"I am truly honored for being chosen to serve as the inaugural vice provost for graduate education and dean of the graduate school at K-State," Petrescu said. "I am looking forward to working with Provost Taber and with K-State's leaders, faculty, staff, students, alumni and community members in supporting the university's mission by advancing graduate education in strategic and innovative ways."



Since 2019, Petrescu has served as chief strategy officer at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan. Reporting to the university president, she works with leaders from across all divisions to lead and coordinate implementation of the university's strategic plan, develop data-driven decision-making, identify strategic opportunities that support organizational innovation and adaptation, student success, impactful research and community engagement, and creating a diverse and inclusive campus.



Petrescu served as Oakland University's dean of graduate education from 2015-2019 and is a professor of public administration and nonprofit management. Before joining Oakland, Petrescu was at Eastern Michigan University where she was a professor of public administration and nonprofit management; faculty associate for policy and procedure at the Graduate School from 2014-2015; assistant to the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences for strategic planning from 2009-2015; program director of the university's National Leadership Alliance from 2004-2014; and interim head of the political science department from 2005-2007.



Among Petrescu's honors are serving as an American Council of Education, or ACE, fellow from May 2018 to June 2019. She has 14 peer-reviewed publications in a variety of journals, including the International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations, International Leadership Journal, Nonprofit Management and Leadership, and more, and has presented her work across the world.



Petrescu earned her doctorate from the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh. She earned a master's degree in social and public policy from Duquesne University and a master's in economics from Babes-Bolyai University in Romania. She also completed post-graduate studies in international affairs at the National School of Public Administration and International Relations, also in Romania. Petrescu is fluent in Romanian and Hungarian.






A former manager at Vitol Group, the worlds largest independent oil-trading firm, was indicted for allegedly bribing Ecuadorian government officials to get business for his firm with state-owned Petroecuador.

The case, part of a broad U.S. probe into bribes paid to South American officials, is the latest to sweep up the oil-trading giant. Last year, a former Petroleo Brasileiro SA oil trader who went by the code name Phil Collins told a Brazilian judge he received bribes from Vitol to favor the company in contracts.

U.S. prosecutors allege that Javier Aguilar of Houston, who was previously charged in a sealed criminal complaint and arrested, made $870,000 in illicit payments to Ecuadoran officials so they would help him obtain a $300 million fuel-oil contract with Petroecuador.

DEFIANT: Venezuela and Iran buck U.S. sanctions again to export crude

While the indictment doesnt name Vitol, the firm is Aguilars former employer, according to a person with knowledge of the matter, who asked not to be identified because its private.

Vitol is aware of charges being brought against an individual relating to business with Petroecuador and is cooperating with the relevant authorities, Vitol said in an emailed statement.

Aguilar couldnt be reached for comment nor could his lawyer.

Vitol has denied the allegations of bribery in Brazil and has said it has a zero tolerance policy regarding bribery and corruption, and that it was cooperating with authorities, including the U.S. Justice Department.

FUEL FIX: Now more than ever, you need our energy news in your inbox

Vitol is committed to upholding the law and has in place anti-bribery and corruption policies, procedures and controls across its business activities, according to the statement on Wednesday.

Aguilar was initially charged on a sealed criminal complaint filed on July 10. He made an initial appearance on July 23 and was freed on a $100,000 bail. In an indictment unsealed Tuesday brought by federal prosecutors in Brooklyn, he was charged with conspiracy to bribe foreign officials and a count of money laundering. Hes scheduled to appear at a later date in federal court in Brooklyn.

Asphalt Company

Separately, a Florida asphalt company called Sargeant Marine Inc. pleaded guilty to conspiring to bribe officials of Venezuelas state-owned oil company and those of two other South American countries, agreeing to pay $16.6 million to end a wide-ranging U.S. investigation. Charged with violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the company was part of a scheme and conspiracy to pay bribes on behalf of the company in multiple countries, in Brazil, Venezuela and Ecuador, in order to win valuable business contracts, the government told a federal judge in New York at a virtual hearing on Tuesday.

Asphalt, also known as bitumen, is a sticky form of petroleum found abundantly in Venezuela and in high demand in China.

In the case involving Boca Raton, Florida-based Sargeant Marine, employees engaged in the bribery plot between 2010 and 2018, prosecutor Derek Ettinger said. They bribed Brazilian officials, as well as officials of Petroleos de Venezuela SA, and paid off a senior official of Petroecuador to win a 2014 contract. As a result of the scheme, Sargeant Marine earned about $26.5 million, the government said.

U.S. District Judge Eric Vitaliano in Brooklyn accepted the terms of the plea agreement and sentenced the company immediately.

Prosecutors also disclosed several guilty pleas that had been under seal, including by Daniel Sargeant, described in court papers as an executive and one of the chief decision-makers of the company between 2012 and 2016.

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
Illustrative photo (Source: VNA)

Hanoi  Vietnam is capable of generating 10 GW of electricity by offshore wind farms by 2030, suggested studies carried out by the Danish Energy Agency (DEA) and the World Bank (WB).



The suggestion was presented at a workshop on recommended roadmap and policy for Vietnam to tap its offshore wind power potential, which was held by the two organisations in Hanoi on September 22.



According to a report at the function, Vietnam possesses a long shore and potential for 160 GW of wind power energy within a radius of 5  100 km from shore.



The workshop saw the presentation of researches that reviewed the potential, related transmission capacity, domestic supply chain, challenges and opportunities facing offshore wind power development, and experiences from successful countries, among others. Experts recommendations on a roadmap for Vietnam in sector were also put on the table.



Outcomes of the event would be the income of the national master plan for electricity development for 2021  2030, which is being built by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT).



Hoang Tien Dung, Director of the Department of Electricity and Renewable Energy under the MoIT, affirmed that the Vietnamese Government is committed to sustainable energy growth.



He stressed Vietnam appreciates the consultations and recommendations from the DEA and the WB, which the official said are the countrys traditional partners with experience in renewable energy.



Danish Ambassador to Vietnam Kim Hjlund Christensen said offshore wind power is among the best green energy options for Vietnam, which he said will generate clean energy, help ease climate change impact, create jobs, and attract investment.



Denmark is willing to share its 30-year experience in the field with Vietnam, he affirmed.



Anton Beck, Head of the DEAs Division for Global Cooperation, offshore wind turbine is the strongest form of renewable energy, adding that an 8 MW-turbine is capable of meeting demand for electricity of 43,000 Vietnamese households for a year.



Since 2009, Denmark has provided over 60 million USD in non-refundable aid for Vietnam in the fields of energy and climate change.



The third phase of the two countries partnership cooperation programme in the energy field will begin in late 2020 and last until 2025, with the focus on offshore wind power.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 14:58:07|Editor: huaxia

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GUANGZHOU, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- A European Union (EU) business leader has expressed optimism for China's economic outlook and underscored the importance of EU-China ties as COVID-19 has cast a shadow over the global economy.

In an interview with Xinhua, Joerg Wuttke, president of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, said the virtual meeting between EU and Chinese leaders on Sept. 14 was very important and encouraging, as it sent a message that both sides are looking to deepen cooperation amid the pandemic.

Wuttke said China, once hit hard by COVID-19, was first to emerge from the crisis with effective anti-virus measures. He said that if the EU and China recover quickly, this can have a positive impact on the global economy.

"The world is not in good shape right now, so, as two global economic heavyweights, how Europe and China manage their own respective crises can impact other parts of the world," said the business leader.

"China will stand for 30 percent of global growth in GDP in the next 10 years," Wuttke said, adding that global companies need to have a presence in the Chinese market, which cannot be replaced.

The president noted that most EU companies have suffered from shrinking demand due to the virus, but some firms in the automotive, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries have benefited from booming Chinese consumer demand.

"Given China's per capita GDP is about 25 percent that of the EU, the Chinese market has huge potential, and we want to tap into it," Wuttke said.

This year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of China-EU diplomatic relations. Despite the virus, the two sides are anticipating high-level exchanges later this year, as well as further cooperation in fields such as trade and investment, climate change, green development and COVID-19 control.

Wuttke told Xinhua that he believes in China's market potential. "Economic recovery in the coming years will be a challenge, but in the long run, the outlook for China's economy is obviously very positive," he said.

Apart from China's market size and growth, the chamber president also thinks highly of the country's increasingly favorable environment for innovation and research and development (R&D).

Five years ago, 55 percent of European Chamber members found China's R&D environment to be as good as or better than the global average. That number has increased to 78 percent in 2020, according to Wuttke.

"Obviously, the upside in China is that you have brilliant scientists, you have very good people in mathematics and chemistry and physical science, so it would be natural to do more R&D here," said Wuttke. Enditem
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There have been recent reports that she has been feeling down over husband Kanye West's struggle with his mental health.

And Kim Kardashian looked a bit forlorn on her latest outing.

The 39-year-old reality star looked tense as she arrived for business meeting in Los Angeles on Tuesday night amid reports that she and her 43-year-old husband Kanye have been enduring marriage difficulties.

Interesting: Kim Kardashian looked tense as she arrived for business meeting in Los Angeles on Tuesday night amid reports that she and her 43-year-old husband Kanye West have been enduring marriage difficulties

However a source close to Kardashian tells DailyMail.com that the couple are 'good.'

Relationship hardships or not, Kim looked fashionable as always as she sported a long blue leather coat despite the 70degree weather in the upscale town.

She also sported a grey and brown snakeskin top and kept the leather theme going as she tucked into a black midi skirt.

Rocking it: Relationship hardships or not, the 39-year-old reality star looked fashionable as always as she sported a long blue leather coat despite the 70degree weather in the upscale town

Slithering: She also sported a grey and brown snakeskin top and kept the leather theme going as she tucked into a black midi skirt

Unique: She completed the outfit with a pair of interesting heels

She completed the outfit with a pair of interesting heels which looked like slightly elevated rubber flip flops.

Kim added a pop of color to the look in the form of a small orange designer handbag.

Her hair looked retro chic as her signature brunette tresses were down in a fountain top hairstyle with her bangs elegantly combed to the side and tucked behind her ear.

She sported darker tones for her make-up including blush and shiny lip.

Shining: Kim added a pop of color to the look in the form of a small orange designer handbag

Quite the look: Her hair looked retro chic as her signature brunette tresses were down in a fountain top hairstyle with her bangs elegantly combed to the side and tucked behind her ear.

Doom and gloom? She sported darker tones for her make-up including blush and shiny lip

It was recently said that the mother-of-four is 'deeply disappointed and sad' about husband Kanye West's ongoing mental health struggles, according to Us Weekly.

The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star is reportedly worried about the 'vicious cycle' her husband is experiencing, after a series of bizarre Twitter rants and posting a video of him appearing to urinate on one of his Grammys statue.

A source told Us Weekly: 'She is deeply disappointed and sad because Kanye is struggling. It's a vicious cycle that Kim has had success at interrupting successfully for months at a time.'

They went on to say how Kim knows it is difficult for Kanye 'being isolated and alone'.

Lots on her mind: It was recently said that the mother-of-four is 'deeply disappointed and sad' about husband Kanye West 's ongoing mental health struggles, according to Us Weekly, as the couple are seen in November 2019

'Being isolated and alone essentially in his head isn't healthy for Kanye ... She doesn't care about the tweets, that is Kanye being Kanye. The mood swings and the manic episodes that are extremely difficult for Kim to help Kanye cope with.'

Meanwhile, Kim wants to 'be there' for Kanye.

The insider said: 'Kim is holding onto her marriage with Kanye and knows that he is bipolar and struggling with his mental health and wants to be there for him and help. She is continuing to support him and does her best to understand him and where he is coming from. She knows he is unconventional and has always known that.'

Seen better days: Kimberly's outing comes after reports she's worried about the 'vicious cycle' her husband is experiencing. Kardashian is seen in January above

Whiz kid: Kanye appears to be struggling, recently indulging in a number of bizarre Twitter rants and posting a video of him appearing to urinate on one of his Grammys statue, above

Kim is still 'focused on healing her relationship' despite the difficulties.

One insider said: 'Kim is focused on healing her relationship with Kanye and has been busy taking care of their kids and him. She has been helping and supporting him a ton while he's been struggling with his mental health and wants him to know and feel that she is there for him through thick and thin ...

'The quarantine has been hard on Kanye and, in turn, has been difficult for her too. Their marriage definitely faced some hardships and was just hanging on with Kanye not being able to fully be present for their family, but ultimately Kim wants to keep everyone together and work things out for their kids.'

Despite the rumored marital woes, Kim announced on Thursday that her successful shapewear company SKIMS will be doing bridalwear.

Jumping in: Despite the rumored marital woes, Kim announced on Thursday that her successful shapewear company SKIMS will be doing bridalwear

Inclusive: The upcoming collection will feature clothing for all shapes and sizes

She took to share several images promoting the upcoming range including one featuring several veiled models in the desert.

Kim wrote: 'Save the Date: @skims Bridal Is Coming Soon! From something silky to something blue: weve got you covered with our most loved Solutionwear styles in new a soft blue color and a limited edition, embroidered silk robe. '

The mogul also took to her Instagram Story to show off several of the pieces including a white silk robe.

SKIMS Bridal will be launching on Friday.

Sneak peek: The mogul also took to her Instagram Story to show off several of the pieces including a white silk robe
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.
Government regulators and operators of exchanges are outgunned by sophisticated and well-financed manipulators. CME spends $45 million a year to police traders, yet has been criticized by the CFTC for not doing enough to catch spoofers. CME says it has improved its software and suspended two traders it accused of spoofing gold and silver markets. CFTC officials have argued that the agency should have access to real-time order and messaging data to better detect spoofing. That would be a big change, since it has always relied on CME to police its own market. Traders argue that the definition of spoofing remains too vague, making it hard to distinguish it from legitimate order cancellations. (Its perfectly legal for a trader to change her mind.) Prosecutions of spoofing have to show that traders intended in advance to cancel their orders. In a 2014 case, for example, prosecutors said the traders intent was shown by computer programs written to cancel orders automatically. Some argue that the main victims of fake orders placed and withdrawn within milliseconds are high-frequency traders who have been blamed for a variety of market woes themselves, and many doubt that Sarao could have done more than contribute to the flash crash. Sarao gave his perspective in 2015, when he shouted to a London courtroom, Ive not done anything wrong apart from being good at my job!
AN initial report on the police use of tear gas against a group of protesters on Sunday has been completed.

The report, compiled by officers involved, is expected to be reviewed and recommendations made on if any protocols were breached by the officers engaged in the activities at the Queens Park Savannah in Port of Spain.
Watch: This couple had no idea they were wiping out their villages WiFi daily for 18 months

A retired pair have been revealed as the couple who wiped out their village's WiFi every day with their old 30 TV.

Alun and Elaine Rees were totally unaware that their 16' Bush television set was causing problems for their neighbours in Aberhosan, mid-Wales.

The couple would turn on the faithful TV set in their bedroom at 7am every day, unknowingly causing electrical noise that interfered with the internet signal for the entire village.

Engineers sent to the Powys village had been baffled as to why the WiFi cut out like clockwork at 7am.

Retired Alun and Elaine Rees switched on their 16' Bush TV every morning, unaware it wiped out their whole village's WiFi. (Wales News)

Retired receptionist Elaine, 63, explained she'd turn their TV set on every morning to watch Good Morning Britain, adding: "I love watching Piers Morgan in the mornings."

She said: "One morning during lockdown at around 8.30am we could hear two men outside talking about signal strength.

Engineers were initially stumped as to why the WiFi kept cutting out in Aberhosan, mid-Wales. (Wales News)

"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 theyre knocking the door and asking us to turn the telly off at the wall."

If you're looking for something to brighten up your morning, look no further...



Alun and Elaine Rees gave us the #WednesdayMotivation we all needed. @piersmorgan | @susannareid100



Watch the whole interview here  https://t.co/yyUUJmzswF pic.twitter.com/FimueWdhaN  Good Morning Britain (@GMB) September 23, 2020

Retired farmer Alun, 67, added: "He told me wed better get rid of the set immediately because it was interfering with the internet connection all over the village.

Story continues

"He said wed 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."

Watch: How to move out of the city
KYIV, Ukraine - President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus was sworn in Wednesday to his sixth term in office at an inaugural ceremony that was not announced in advance amid weeks of huge protests of the authoritarian leader's reelection, which the opposition says was rigged.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/9/2020 (486 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko attends a meeting with Oleg Kozhemyako, governor of the far eastern region of Primorsky Krai of Russia in Minsk, Belarus, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020. (Maxim Guchek/BelTA Pool Photo via AP)

KYIV, Ukraine - President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus was sworn in Wednesday to his sixth term in office at an inaugural ceremony that was not announced in advance amid weeks of huge protests of the authoritarian leader's reelection, which the opposition says was rigged.

One opposition leader called the secretive ceremony "a farce," and several European countries reiterated that they dont recognize the results of the election and refuse to regard Lukashenko as the legitimate president. In the evening, thousands of people took to the streets in the capital of Minsk to protest the inauguration and were met with a strong response from police.

The ceremony was held in front of several hundred dignitaries at the ornate Palace of Independence in Minsk, the state news agency Belta said. Police and other security forces blocked off parts of the city and public transportation was suspended.

Lukashenko, 66, took the oath of office in Belarusian with his right hand on the constitution, and the head of the Central Election Commission handed him the official ID card of the president of Belarus.

"The day of assuming the post of the president is the day of our victory, convincing and fateful," he said. "We were not just electing the president of the country  we were defending our values, our peaceful life, sovereignty and independence."

The motorcade of Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko arrives for his inauguration ceremony at the Palace of the Independence in Minsk, Belarus, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020. President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus has assumed his sixth term following an unexpected inauguration ceremony. (TUT.by via AP)

The absence of public involvement in the inauguration only proved that Lukashenko lacked a valid mandate to continue leading the country, according to his political opponents and European officials.

"Even after this ceremony today, Mr. Lukashenko cannot claim democratic legitimization, which would be the condition to recognize him as the legitimate president of Belarus," said Steffen Seibert, spokesman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel. He added that the secrecy surrounding the swearing-in was "very telling."

Lukashenko has run Belarus, a former Soviet nation of 9.5 million, with an iron fist for 26 years. Official results of the country's Aug. 9 presidential election had him winning 80% of the vote. His strongest opponent, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, got 10%.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko takes his oath of office during his inauguration ceremony at the Palace of the Independence in Minsk, Belarus, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020. Lukashenko of Belarus has assumed his sixth term of office in an inauguration ceremony that wasn't announced in advance. State news agency BelTA reports that the ceremony will take place with several hundred top government official present. (Andrei Stasevich/Pool Photo via AP)

Tsikhanouskaya, who is in exile in neighbouring Lithuania after being forced to leave Belarus, says the outcome was invalid, as have the tens of thousands of her supporters who continue to demand Lukashenko's resignation during more than six weeks of mass protests.

"The people havent handed him a new mandate," she said, calling the inauguration was "a farce" and an attempt by Lukashenko to "proclaim himself legitimate."

"I, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, am the only leader that has been elected by the Belarusian people. And our goal right now is to build the new Belarus together," she said in a video from Lithuania's capital, Vilnius.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko attends his inauguration ceremony at the Palace of the Independence in Minsk, Belarus, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020. Lukashenko of Belarus has assumed his sixth term of office in an inauguration ceremony that wasn't announced in advance. State news agency BelTA reports that the ceremony will take place with several hundred top government official present. (Maxim Guchek/Pool Photo via AP)

The United States and the European Union have questioned the election and criticized the brutal police crackdown on peaceful protesters during the first few days of demonstrations. The EU is pondering sanctions against top Belarusian officials, but failed to agree on imposing them this week.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius called the inauguration "a farce."

"Forged elections. Forged inauguration. The former president of Belarus does not become less former. Quite the contrary. His illegitimacy is a fact with all the consequences that this entails," Linkevicius tweeted.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko takes his oath of office during his inauguration ceremony at the Palace of the Independence in Minsk, Belarus, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020. Lukashenko of Belarus has assumed his sixth term of office in an inauguration ceremony that wasn't announced in advance. State news agency BelTA reports that the ceremony will take place with several hundred top government official present. (Sergei Sheleg/Pool Photo via AP)

Other European officials echoed the sentiment.

In neighbouring Poland, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki called for an "honest election," saying on Facebook that the secretive nature of the swearing in "only confirms that Lukashenko is aware of what he has done, rigging the results of the election."

"He is aware that he has no backing from his own nation and that the aggression that he is allowing himself against the people of Belarus is inadmissible," Morawiecki said.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, background centre, attends his inauguration ceremony at the Palace of the Independence in Minsk, Belarus, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020. Lukashenko of Belarus has assumed his sixth term of office in an inauguration ceremony that wasn't announced in advance. State news agency BelTA reports that the ceremony will take place with several hundred top government official present. (Maxim Guchek/Pool Photo via AP)

Czech Foreign Minister Tomas Petricek tweeted that "the elections in Belarus were neither free nor fair. The result is therefore illegitimate, which is why todays inauguration of Alexander Lukashenko is also illegitimate."

Latvian Foreign Ministry press secretary Janis Bekeris told the Baltic News Service agency that they believe the unexpected inauguration will only deepen the Belarus political crisis, and Latvia will "leave open diplomatic channels for co-operation with Belarus at the technical level."

The Kremlin refused to comment on the inauguration. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he wouldn't comment on "an absolutely sovereign, internal decision of the Belarusian leadership."

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko delivers a speech during his inauguration ceremony at the Palace of the Independence in Minsk, Belarus, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020. Lukashenko of Belarus has assumed his sixth term of office in an inauguration ceremony that wasn't announced in advance. State news agency BelTA reported that Wednesday's ceremony is taking place in the capital of Minsk, with several hundred top government official present. (Andrei Stasevich, BelTA/Pool Photo via AP)

Anti-Lukashenko protests have rocked the country daily since the election, with the largest rallies in Minsk attracting up to 200,000 people. In the first three days of protests, police used tear gas, truncheons and rubber bullets to disperse crowds. Several protesters died, many were injured and around 6,000 were detained.

The Viasna human rights group said several protesters were detained near the palace on Wednesday morning, holding banners that said, "The king has no clothes" and "Victory (will belong to) the people."

In the evening, thousands of people took to the streets in different parts of Minsk to denounce the inauguration. They were met with a heavy response from police, who blocked off some areas of the city centre and used water cannons and truncheons to disperse them. Over 140 people were detained, according to the Viasna group, and dozens were injured in the clashes.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko salutes during his inauguration ceremony at the Palace of the Independence in Minsk, Belarus, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020. Lukashenko of Belarus has assumed his sixth term of office in an inauguration ceremony that wasn't announced in advance. State news agency BelTA reported that Wednesday's ceremony is taking place in the capital of Minsk, with several hundred top government official present. (Andrei Stasevich/Pool Photo via AP)

Protests continued into late evening despite the crackdown, with groups of demonstrators blocking roads in various parts of the capital.

Rallies also took place in Brest, Vitebsk, Grondo and other cities.

Alexander Klaskousky, an independent Minsk-based analyst, said the secrecy surrounding the inaugural ceremony illustrated the threat the unrest poses to Lukashenko's grip on power.

A woman reacts in front of police line during a rally in Minsk, Belarus, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has assumed his sixth term of office in an inauguration ceremony that wasn't announced in advance. State news agency BelTA reported that Wednesday's ceremony is taking place in the capital of Minsk, with several hundred top government official present. (AP Photo/TUT.by)

"The secret inauguration illustrates the level of trust of the leader in the official results of the election and in the people. Those who officially got 80% of the votes dont act like that," Klaskousky said.

Lukashenko has bristled at suggestions of starting a dialogue with the opposition. Amid international outrage over the violent crackdown on the protests, Belarusian authorities switched to prosecuting top activists. 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.

A prominent council member, Pavel Latushko, compared the inauguration to a "gathering of thieves" and refused to recognize Lukashenko as president.

Women comfort each other during an opposition rally to protest the presidential inauguration in Minsk, Belarus, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has been sworn in to his sixth term in office at an inaugural ceremony that was not announced in advance amid weeks of huge protests saying the authoritarian leader's reelection was rigged. Hundreds took to the streets in several cities in the evening to protest the inauguration. (AP Photo/TUT.by)

"For us, the citizens of Belarus, for the international community, he is a nobody. An unfortunate error of history and a disgrace of the civilized world," Latushko said on the messaging app Telegram. "We will never agree with the falsification (of the election) and are demanding a new vote. We urge everyone to engage in indefinite civil disobedience!"

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___

Associated Press writers Daria Litvinova in Moscow, Liudas Dapkus in Vilnius, Lithuania, Karel Janicek in Prague, Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark, Geir Moulson in Berlin, and Monika Scislowska in Warsaw, Poland, contributed.

___

Follow AP's coverage of Belarus at https://apnews.com/hub/belarus

___

This story has been corrected to show that around 6,000 people were detained during the first three days of demonstrations, not more than 7,000.
Ren Zhiqiang (69), a real estate tycoon turned social critic, has been a marked man since February, when he is believed to have penned an essay criticising Mr Xis response to the coronavirus outbreak (stock photo)

A Beijing court sentenced a property tycoon - the son of a former vice minister and part of an elite previously regarded as 'untouchable' - to 18 years in prison after his criticism of Chinese leader Xi Jinping made waves.

Scholars say the punishment indicates the growing dissent Mr Xi is facing from his own Chinese Communist Party elite, as he takes the country down a more authoritarian path.

Ren Zhiqiang (69), a real estate tycoon turned social critic, has been a marked man since February, when he is believed to have penned an essay criticising Mr Xi's response to the coronavirus outbreak.

"I saw not an emperor standing there exhibiting his 'new clothes', but a clown who stripped naked and insisted on continuing being emperor," the essay said.

Mr Ren was placed under investigation by the Chinese Communist Party in April.

As a member by birth of China's political elite, he likely did not expect to be imprisoned until age 87, said Chongyi Feng, associate professor in Chinese studies at the University of Technology, Sydney.

"There had been an unspoken rule the 'second red generation' would not be punished for their political expression," said Professor Feng, using a term for the children of China's founding Communist officials.

"They are part of the ruling elite."

The Second Intermediary Court of Beijing said on its website yesterday Mr Ren was sentenced to 18 years and fined about $619,000 for corruption and bribery in his previous position as chairman of Huayuan Real Estate Group.

 Washington Post
TORONTO, Sept. 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- dynaCERT Inc. (TSX: DYA) (OTCQX: DYFSF) (FRA: DMJ) ("dynaCERT" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that its HydraLytica Technology, which measures fuel savings in real time for users of dynaCERTs proprietary HydraGEN Technology, is greatly escalating its scope of applications and utility to respond to the growing industry needs of Logistics companies and the broader Trucking Management software ecosystem. In so doing, dynaCERT is expanding into the FreightTech industry.



dynaCERT International Strategic Holdings Inc. (DISH), a wholly-owned subsidiary of dynaCERT, has agreed with Corsario Ltd. of Mississauga, Canada (Corsario), dynaCERTs HydraLytica software developer, to magnify and maintain the functionality of its new proprietary suite of FreightTech software applications. GP LogiX Inc. (GP), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Corsario established specifically for this single purpose, will market the functionality of dynaCERTs new FreightTech software and share equally with DISH all financial benefits, thus providing a stream of cash flow to dynaCERT, through DISH.

The added innovative and proprietary FreightTech functionality that dynaCERT is promoting to both (a) its users of HydraGEN Technology and (b) non-users of HydraGEN Technology that participate in the logistics ecosystem or manage trucking fleets, provides numerous features indispensable for modern fleet management.

Among the current prospects of GP currently utilizing the FreightTech technology of DISH are Day & Ross, Ottaway Motor Carriers, Drisco Carriers (based in the USA) and Stevens Brothers Trucking (based in the USA). Additionally, members of GP are proud to have membership with Women in Trucking where GP is working to make participation in the trucking industry safer and to encourage more diverse employment in the logistics industry.

The Company views its decision to enter into the FreightTech industry as a supplementary evolution of services that fit very naturally with dynaCERTs fuel-saving and emission-saving know-how, marketed as its existing HydraGEN Technology. Not only do current and future users of HydraGEN Technology have the benefits of fuel savings and reducing carbon emissions, but also the ability to subscribe to innovative proprietary FreightTech management solutions through a monthly subscription programme.

Our PaaS (Platform as a Service) solution enables the aggregation of data to create actionable intelligence and present it in a form that is widely accessible and understandable by the user. The delivery of our solution is through a managed service, where, not only is the raw data available to the user, but the software monitors industry-based Key Performance Indicators comparing real time data streams to industry averages and reporting areas of deficiency. Our FreightTech solution reports the data in an easy to use and easy to understand mobile application as well as providing recommendations on numerous matters such as fleet management, route planning, driver safety, and load management.

In doing so, we create a value proposition by allowing companies to make educated, data driven decisions through accessible information that incorporates industry knowledge, security, data searching, and an easy to use User Interface with an underlying structure of managed services. The PaaS where we deliver the entire environment required to install, service, train, and execute the model in a single monthly subscription price which does not require the client to have any pre-requisites nor ongoing hardware or software capability to sustain the platform and it allows them to be resilient to staff turnover or instability.

Chris Grossman, CEO of GP LogiX Inc., stated, Increasingly, transportation companies rely upon digitized logistics integration software to optimize management processes along their entire transport route. Many are recognizing the need to visualize large amounts of complex data in real time and in a utilisable format. We have witnessed first-hand how our competencies in data analytics can be an enormous value to many users of dynaCERTs HydraGEN technology, so it makes perfect sense to strengthen our DISH alliance to enable new GP initiatives announced today. The fast-growing FreightTech market is a perfect fit with the historical core capabilities that Corsario has demonstrated over decades of experience. Our clients can benefit immediately by our commitment to improve FreightTech beyond what traditional competitors may have been offering. The new close alliance with dynaCERT propels our future even faster and provides an immediate synergy that helps our clients achieve their targets around carbon emissions as well as fuel efficiency savings. The ability to marry innovative FreightTech with dynaCERTs HydraLytica software is unique and can be very rewarding. We can now deliver premium quality FreightTech for free by offsetting the subscription cost of our GP managed service with fuel savings from dynaCERTs HydraGEN Technology and reduce the financial burden of entry for customers who previously found these necessary advanced software platforms much too cost prohibitive.

Jean-Pierre Colin, President & CEO of DISH, stated, The mission of DISH, as a wholly-owned subsidiary of dynaCERT, is to advance dynaCERTs synergistic initiatives that can demonstrate the potential to greatly benefit dynaCERT shareholder value. The target market of FreightTech is similar to that of our HydraGEN Technology in trucking markets. We view our new FreightTech initiative as an exceptional business opportunity with a very competitive-edge product. In addition, FreightTech seamlessly complements our current proprietary products, an opening that can expand in parallel to dynaCERTs HydraGEN fuel savings solutions.

Jim Payne, President & CEO of dynaCERT, stated, Through our new DISH initiative with GP LogiX Inc., dynaCERT is partnering shoulder to shoulder with known industry experts that have a long history and track record of success in innovative software development. The management of GP has proven that it has the ability to secure very important and high-profile clients, while Corsario has shown that it can be quick and nimble to develop software solutions that dove-tail with our proprietary HydraGEN Technology while advancing our plans to offer Carbon Credits. Our close association allows us to execute two important strategic mandates (1) to adapt to the growing desires of end-users of our HydraGEN products and (2) become trail-blazers in the FreightTech business while maintaining our core competencies and fostering together our global award-winning HydraGEN Technology.

About Corsario Ltd.

Corsario is a software development company based in Canada and operating internationally. Corsario is managed by Mr. Brian Semkiw and Mr. Rui Mendes who were the pioneers in critical data security software which is used in international payments systems such as Apple Pay, PayPal and many other point-of-sale terminals worldwide. Similar high stakes data security issues become vital to user adoption of dynaCERTs HydraGEN Technology, along with its HydraLytica and FreightTech software. More information about GP LogiX Inc. is available here: https://www.gplogix.com/

A bout dynaCERT Inc.

dynaCERT Inc. manufactures and distributes Carbon Emission Reduction Technology for use with internal combustion engines. As part of the growing global hydrogen economy, our patented technology creates hydrogen and oxygen on-demand through a unique electrolysis system and supplies these gases through the air intake to enhance combustion, resulting in lower carbon emissions and greater fuel efficiency. Our technology is designed for use with many types and sizes of diesel engines used in on-road vehicles, reefer trailers, off-road construction, power generation, mining and forestry equipment, marine vessels and railroad locomotives. Website: www.dynaCERT.com.

READER ADVISORY

Except for statements of historical fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. In particular, forward-looking information in this press release includes, but is not limited to completion of the Offering, satisfaction of TSX listing conditions and regulatory approvals. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. We cannot guarantee future results, performance of achievements. Consequently, there is no representation that the actual results achieved will be the same, in whole or in part, as those set out in the forward-looking information.

Forward-looking information is 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 anticipated in the forward-looking information. Some of the risks and other factors that could cause the results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: uncertainty as to whether our strategies and business plans will yield the expected benefits; availability and cost of capital; the ability to identify and develop and achieve commercial success for new products and technologies; the level of expenditures necessary to maintain and improve the quality of products and services; changes in technology and changes in laws and regulations; the uncertainty of the emerging hydrogen economy; including the hydrogen economy moving at a pace not anticipated; our ability to secure and maintain strategic relationships and distribution agreements; and the other risk factors disclosed under our profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com . Readers are cautioned that this list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive.

The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. We undertake no duty to update any of the forward-looking information to conform such information to actual results or to changes in our expectations except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the release.

On Behalf of the Board



Murray James Payne, CEO

For more information, please contact:

Jim Payne, CEO & President

dynaCERT Inc.

#101  501 Alliance Avenue

Toronto, Ontario M6N 2J1

+1 (416) 766-9691 x 2

jpayne@ dynaCERT .com

Investor Relations

dynaCERT Inc.

Nancy Massicotte

+1 (416) 766-9691 x 1

nmassicotte@dynaCERT.com
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The G4 countries  Brazil, India, Japan and Germany  on Wednesday expressed disappointment at attempts to derail reforms of the United Nations and called for text-based negotiations within a fixed timeframe to revamp the world body.

The foreign ministers of the four countries, during a virtual meeting during the 75th session of the UN General Assembly, highlighted the urgency of reforming the world body and updating its main decision-making bodies to better reflect contemporary realities.

The move is in line with Indias position on the reforms of the UN, including expansion of the permanent and non-permanent membership of the Security Council, its main decision-making organ.

The foreign ministers  Brazils Ernesto Araujo, Indias S Jaishankar, Japans Motegi Toshimitsu and Germanys minister of state in the federal foreign office, Niels Annen, who represented foreign minister Heiko Maas, said the declaration adopted by all heads of state and government on the 75th anniversary of the UN reaffirmed the common resolve to finally take decisive steps towards the early and comprehensive reform of the Security Council.

Jaishankar tweeted that the G4 ministers had called for a decisive push for UNSC reforms during #UN75. He said there was a unanimous call for text-based negotiations in a fixed timeframe and Indias approach to the UN is guided by reformed multilateralism.

In a joint statement, the G4 ministers noted that the declaration said the world of today is very different from what it was when the United Nations was created 75 years ago. There are more countries, more people, more challenges but also more solutions. Our working methods need to keep pace and adapt.

In keeping with this call, G4 ministers highlighted the urgency of reforming the United Nations and updating its main decision-making bodies, in order to better reflect contemporary realities, the joint statement said.

The ministers also expressed disappointment at attempts to derail this process and committed to addressing the issue in a meaningful way and with increased urgency at this 75th anniversary of the UN.

They also said the expansion of the Security Council in both categories will be indispensable to make this body more representative, legitimate and effective, enhancing therefore its capacity to deal with the complex challenges the world faces today on questions of international peace and security.

The ministers insisted that only the reform of the Security Council will stop the body from becoming obsolete.

Broader membership of the Security Council, with increased and enhanced representation of countries with the capacity and willingness to contribute to the maintenance of international peace and security, including from Africa, will allow it to preserve its credibility and create the political backing needed for the peaceful resolution of todays international crises, the joint statement said.

The G4 countries have backed each others candidature for permanent membership of an expanded Security Council. Except for China, all the other P5 countries  the US, the UK, France and Russia  have also offered unstinted support for Indias membership of the Security Council.

The G4 ministers also expressed concern at the lack of any meaningful movement forward in the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) on Security Council reform and expressed their concern that  after two sessions in February and March  the IGN was adjourned due to Covid-19 and no further meetings were held.

They said these negotiations lack the necessary openness and transparency and are constrained by flawed working methods. They further said they were convinced the time has come to leave behind debates based solely on general statements, without substantive text based negotiations actually taking place in an intergovernmental setting.
By CARLA K. JOHNSON

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 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.

In an interview Tuesday with a Detroit TV station, Trump boasted of doing an amazing and incredible job against the virus.

And in a prerecorded speech at a virtual meeting of 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.

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 five countries  Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Spain and Brazil  rank higher in COVID-19 deaths per capita.

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, with nearly 967,000 lives lost, by Johns Hopkins' count, though the real numbers are believed to be higher because of gaps in testing and reporting.

For the 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 countrys 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 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. wouldnt 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 cant 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 its just unbelievable. Its 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.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting lehighvalleylive.com with a subscription.
- Compliance to regulatory guidelines such as annual walk-in efficiency factor (AWEF) standards paves way to development of energy-efficient industrial refrigeration equipment, global industrial refrigeration equipment market to clock a CAGR of ~5% During 2019 - 2027

- Expansion of cold chain infrastructure in Asia Pacific to spur demand for state-of-the-art technologies in refrigeration warehouses

ALBANY, N.Y., Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Stakeholders leverage the benefits of natural refrigerants to unveil energy-efficient solutions in multi-zone factory projects and food and beverages sector. Presently the refrigerants ammonia and carbon dioxide score favourably on global warming potential (GWP) and annual walk-in efficiency factor (AWEF) standards.

Strides in design, construction, and production of new equipment, concur analysts at TMR, will drive the industrial refrigeration equipment to expand at a CAGR of ~5% from 2019 to 2027, globally. By the period-end, the valuation will reach ~US$ 37 Bn. Expanding cold-chain industry for food and beverages sector in Asia Pacific will propel the regional market opportunities to rise at rapid pace during the forecast period.

Download PDF Brochure - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php

Key Findings of Industrial Refrigeration Equipment Market Report

Regionally, Asia Pacific held the dominant share in 2018

held the dominant share in 2018 Other key revenue generators are North America and Europe

and Of all different product segments, condensers accounted for the leading share in 2018, vis-a-vis value

Ammonia is by far the most attractive refrigerant of all types

However, its popularity might decline due to challenges related to its usage

The demand for ammonia pivots mainly on its zero rating for global warming potential (GWP) and low ozone depletion potential

Explore 178 pages of top-notch research, incisive insights, and detailed country-level projections on Industrial Refrigeration Equipment Market (Product: Condensers, Compressors, Evaporators, Heat Exchangers, Controls, and Others; Refrigerant Type: Ammonia, Carbon Dioxide (CO2), and HFC; and Application: Food & Beverages Processing, Refrigerated Warehouses, Chemicals, Petrochemicals, and Pharmaceuticals, and Others) - Global Industry Analysis, Value, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 2019 - 2027 at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/global-industrial-refrigeration-equipment-market.html

Industrial Refrigeration Equipment Market: Key Driving Factors and Promising Avenues

An expanding cold chain facility around the world is the key driver for technological advances in industrial refrigeration equipment.

The fast strides in the cold chain industry in Asia economies such as in India and China is motivated by the growing consumption of fresh and just-in-time delivery of processed food.

economies such as in and is motivated by the growing consumption of fresh and just-in-time delivery of processed food. The growing demand for energy-efficient refrigeration solutions spurs the popularity of natural refrigerants among end users in the industrial refrigeration equipment market, notably ammonia (NH3) and carbon dioxide (CO2).

The developing world has been seeing rapid adoption of energy guidelines by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). They are trying to adapt to new designs that can help manufacturers meet annual walk-in efficiency factor (AWEF) standards.

The compliance with guidelines has paved way to innovations in the industrial refrigeration equipment market.

Demand for cost-effective equipment especially for food and beverages processing has also risen in cost-sensitive markets.

Currently, Ammonia is one of the most popular refrigerants. However, some genuine concerns has nudged material researchers explore new options.

In the backdrop of concerns with Ammonia, the trend of hybrid refrigerants developed with mixed proportions of CO2, hydrocarbons, and ammonia will pick up significant pace during the forecast period.

Analyze global industrial refrigeration equipment market growth in 30+ countries including US, Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Russia, Poland, Benelux, Nordic, China, Japan, India, and South Korea. Request a sample of the study

Industrial Refrigeration Equipment Market: Competitive Landscape

Several players in the industrial refrigeration equipment market are relentlessly focused on advancing the design and on the use of energy-efficient refrigerants. HVAC manufacturers in developing and developed regions intend to unleash more research on innovative designs in a bid to stay ahead in the competitive arc.

Some of the key industry stakeholders in the global industrial refrigeration equipment market are BITZER SE, Parker Hannifin Corp, LENNOX International Inc., Emerson Electric Co., EA Group Aktiengesellschaft, Danfoss, Johnson Controls, and Ingersoll Rand.

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Industrial Refrigeration Equipment Market: Regional Assessment

Asia Pacific hold the major share in the industrial refrigeration equipment market in 2018 and is expected to see sizable revenue generation in coming years. A considerable revenue stream is likely to come from India and China.

North America was the second leading regional market in the same years. Avenues in Europe will expand on the back of unveiling of new energy regulations pertaining to the HVAC industry.

Industrial Refrigeration Equipment Market, by Product

Condensers

Compressors

Evaporators

Heat Exchangers

Controls

Others

Industrial Refrigeration Equipment Market, Refrigerant Type

Ammonia

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

HFC

Industrial Refrigeration Equipment Market, by Application

Food & Beverages Processing

Refrigerated Warehouses

Chemicals, Petrochemicals, and Pharmaceuticals

Others

Industrial Refrigeration Equipment Market, by Region

North America

U.S.



Canada



Rest of North America

Europe

Germany



France



Italy



U.K.



Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

China



Japan



India



Rest of Asia Pacific

Middle East & Africa

& GCC Countries



South Africa



Rest of MEA

South America

Brazil



Rest of South America

Explore Transparency Market Research's award-winning coverage of the Global Factory Automation Industry:

Commercial Food Refrigeration Equipment Market - The increased demand for frozen foods and the growing number of food products that require refrigeration are expected to positively influence the growth of the commercial food refrigeration equipment market. This has led to the need for commercial food refrigeration equipment being used to minimize food wastage at both, production and distribution levels.

Warewashing Professional Equipment Market - The global warewashing professional equipment market was valued at US$ 5.3 Bn in 2019 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.5% from 2019 to 2027. Rising disposable income, development of innovative products, and increasing penetration of IoT devices are also expected to boost the global market of warewashing professional equipment in the near future.

Industrial Gas Regulator Market - The global industrial gas regulator market is expected to reach a value of US$ 18.96 Bn by 2026. In terms of value, the market is estimated to expand at a CAGR of 3.4% during the forecast period from 2018 to 2026. Rising demand for natural gas for power generation and operation of industrial units in various industries is projected to offer lucrative opportunities to the industrial gas regulators market.

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About Transparency Market Research

Transparency Market Research is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. Our experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyse information.

Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.

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By AFP

PARIS: Europe surged past five million cases of the new coronavirus on Wednesday as France and Spain prepared tighter restrictions in an attempt to curb rising levels of infections in their capital cities.

Worldwide nearly 32 million people have been infected and more than 971,000 have died since the virus emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019 and spread across the globe.

After appearing to bring cases mostly under control with economically devastating lockdowns, Europe now faces a resurgence, forcing governments to consider reintroducing tough measures.

More than half of Europe's infections have been recorded in Russia, followed by Spain, France and the United Kingdom.

The 380,000 cases reported in the past week represent the highest number in the region since the start of the pandemic.

- 'Be vigilant' -

The French government was preparing on Wednesday to announce stricter anti-virus measures for Paris, sources told AFP, as national infections have rocketed since lockdown was lifted -- sometimes surging past 10,000 a day.

President Emmanuel Macron had said new curbs would be announced on Wednesday and sources said they could include a ban on alcohol sales after 8:00 pm and restrictions on social gatherings, as well as speeded up testing.

"We are calling on people to be vigilant, we will have to live with this virus for a while," said Anne Souyris, deputy Paris mayor. "The object is to protect yourself while shaping a social life."

The Madrid region, the heart of an explosion of infections in Spain, has already locked down roughly 850,000 people and plans to extend the measures on Friday.

Britain has already announced fresh steps to try to allay the rising toll.

"To help contain the virus, office workers who can work effectively from home should do so," the government said on Tuesday, despite fears of a devastating economic impact.

New rules come into force for pubs and other hospitality venues on Thursday, forcing them to close early, and plans to allow fans back into sporting events have been ditched.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned the new restrictions could last up to six months and called for a collective effort to "get through this winter together".

His scientific advisors had said the United Kingdom could see a devastating 50,000 coronavirus cases a day by mid-October if no action is taken.

- Trump says deaths 'a shame' -

The World Health Organization reported late on Monday that almost two million infections were recorded around the globe in the week to September 20.

The United States has passed 200,000 deaths, the world's highest toll, with Brazil, India and Mexico the next most severely affected countries.

The world's most powerful nation hit the figure just 41 days before a presidential election.

US President Donald Trump -- who faces a tough re-election fight and is trailing Democrat Joe Biden in the polls -- said the 200,000 milestone was "a shame" and deflected blame on to China.

Trump used a video address to the annual United Nations General Assembly to attack Beijing for not stopping the spread of what he called the "China virus".

"We must hold accountable the nation which unleashed this plague onto the world -- China," he told the UN's diplomatic showcase event, which is being held almost entirely online because of the pandemic.

Trump has repeatedly played down the seriousness of the coronavirus crisis.

The pandemic is taking a heavier toll on employment than previously feared, the United Nations said on Wednesday, with hundreds of millions of jobs lost and workers suffering a "massive" drop in earnings.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) found that by mid-year, global working hours had declined 17.3 percent compared with last December -- equivalent to nearly 500 million full-time jobs.

"The impact has been catastrophic," ILO chief Guy Ryder told reporters in a virtual briefing.

In a rare glimmer of hope, Saudi Arabia announced that it would gradually resume the year-round umrah pilgrimage for Muslims from October 4.

The kingdom had suspended the umrah in March and later scaled back the annual hajj in a blow to millions of Muslim pilgrims around the world.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 12:05:59|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday proposed a sub-regional public health initiative that would involve the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

"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, whereby North Korea participates as a member along with China, Japan, Mongolia and the Republic of Korea."

"A cooperative architecture that guarantees collective protection of life and safety will lay the ground for North Korea to have its security guaranteed by engaging with the international community," Moon told the General Debate of the UN General Assembly via a pre-recorded speech.

Moon also asked for the support of the United Nations and the international community for an end-of-war declaration on the Korean Peninsula.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War. Time has come to remove the tragedy lingering on the Korean Peninsula. The War must end, completely and for good, said Moon.

"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," he said.

"I believe it begins with declaring an end to the (Korean) War, an act that can affirm mutual commitments to peace. I hope that the UN and the international community provide support so that we can advance into an era of reconciliation and prosperity through the end-of-war declaration. The end-of-war declaration will, indeed, open the door to complete denuclearization and permanent peace regime on the Korean Peninsula."

Moon said his country has been steadfast in seeking inter-Korean reconciliation and is making relentless efforts to achieve denuclearization and establish permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula.

However, he said, peace on the Korean Peninsula is still in the making and changes that used to be brimming with hopes have stalled.

"Yet, 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," said Moon.

He pointed out that inter-Korean cooperation in disease prevention and control and public health will also trigger dialogue and cooperation in the process of building a peaceful Korean Peninsula. Enditem
Instagram queen Tammy Hembrow has long battled surgery rumours.

And now the 26-year-old finally admitted to a breast augmentation when quizzed by fans in a recent Q&A video on YouTube.

Tammy was only too happy to talk about the operation, saying she felt that breastfeeding had 'sucked the life' out of her ample chest.

Truth: Instagram queen Tammy Hembrow, 26, has reveals the TRUTH about her surgery secrets admitting she got a boob job after Saskia's birth. (L) In 2017. (R) 2020

'I got my boobs done after I had Sass [her daughter's Saskia, now three] after I stopped breastfeeding her actually,' Tammy began.

'I just think it sucked the life out of my boobs. They were just little saggy pieces of skin after.'

Tammy went on to clarify her position, saying she just wanted to undergo the procedure for herself.

Setting the record straight: 'I got my boobs done after I had Sass [her daughter's Saskia, now three] after I stopped breastfeeding her actually,' Tammy began in the Q&A. Here: 2020

'That's fine. There's nothing wrong with that [her chest at the time]. But I just wanted to undergo it for myself,' she said.

The blonde bombshell admitted she 'hates wearing bras' and that she was forced to wear the undergarment prior to the operation.

'Now, I never even have to [wear a bra]. I did it for that reason and I am glad I did it.'

Changes: Tammy continued: 'I just think it sucked the life out of my boobs. They were just little saggy pieces of skin after.' (L) 2017. (R) 2020

Tammy has repeatedly denied speculation she has undergone a Brazilian butt lift in order to attain her shapely derriere.

The beauty has long been the subject of surgery rumours, however, she has seldom spoken of her possible use of cosmetic injectables.

Back in August 2018, the CEO of DrHaworth.com claimed that Tammy may have undergone a nose job, liposuction and dermal fillers to achieve her bombshell look.

All natural: Tammy has repeatedly denied speculation she has had a Brazilian butt list in order to attain her shapely derriere. Here: 2020

'Miss Hembrow is the quintessential Instagram model for our social media world where fake is the new real,' Dr Haworth said.

'As attractive as she is, she sits alongside countless other online influencers that have been matriculated in the Kardashian-Jenner School of Beauty.'

The celebrity surgeon went on to claim that the Queensland-based mother-of-two looks strikingly different in her celebrity photos compared to images of her taken several years ago.

'Miss Hembrow is the quintessential Instagram model for our social media world where fake is the new real': Dr Randal Haworth claimed that Tammy looks strikingly different in recent photos compared to images of her taken several years ago. Tammy pictured on the left in her teenage years, and right, in more recent photos

'Based on what I presume to be filtered photos, she has undergone a striking transformation of not only her facial features but also of her facial shape,' Dr Haworth claimed.

He added: 'Specifically, her jawline is more defined into a "V-line". I would even venture to say her chin has been shortened and narrowed compared to her teenage years.'

Dr Haworth also believes her V-line chin could have been achieved through either 'liposuction or bony chin modification'.
For someone who grew up on smuggled VHS tapes of Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes and has seen everyone from Robert Downey Jr. to Benedict Cumberbatch play the detective, it was weird to see Henry Cavill smile so much in this Netflix version of yet another Holmes mystery. I had to get myself a pot of tea when I saw Sherlock plonk down on the ground under a tree.

But with a flavourful of Darjeeling tickling my taste buds, I realised I was quite happy to watch yet another Holmes solve a delightful mystery.

The trailer reminds you that the idea of Enola Holmes comes from novels for Young Adults written by Nancy Springer and this is an adaptation of the book: The Case Of The Missing Marquess. The film, however, engages adults too. The action is fast-paced and the mystery is quite interesting, but Yes, there is a but. Not too ominous, except that we are so used to a taciturn Sherlock who communicates with a raising of his eyebrow, that to watch Enola Holmes talk nineteen to a dozen, breaking the fourth wall (talking directly to the audience) compelled me to drink way more tea than I normally do.

So Enola has been brought up like a wild thing according to the straitlaced Mycroft despite having sent his mother money for governesses and other suitable teachers who would teach his sister manners and make her suitable for marriage. Enola doesnt do embroidery or wear corsets, but rides bicycles and knows how to fight. She is not the usual prim Victorian miss shes expected to be.

Sherlock and Mycroft show up at their country home to help figure out where their mother has disappeared to, and they end up chasing after a runaway sister as well. If you have a brother like Mycroft (played wonderfully by Sam Claflin), who cared more about social standing than why his mother had gone missing, then youd run away too.

Sherlock Holmes has always been shown as disconnected from society and disdainful of conventions. So its fun watching Henry Cavill play Sherlock so very differently from Jeremy Brett (the best Sherlock in my humble opinion!). No slicked back hair here for Sherlock. His curls humanised him here. Even though he was being himself when he does not want the responsibility of a sister who begs him to take her under his wing.

But the movie truly belongs to the young Millie Bobby Brown who plays Enola Holmes. Yes, you saw her in Stranger Things as Eleven. In a way here too, she comes across as someone who does not fit in society, someone who has been taught to celebrate her difference. And yes, shes as good as her famous brother Sherlock.

Enola wants to find out where her mother went and her brother Mycroft wants her to become a lady. Sherlock doesnt want anything to do with her so she takes matters into her own hands. The film that follows is fast-paced and full of action. Thats great because it makes you forget that this was written for young adults.

Her adventures take her to London in search of her mother. Although it feels like CGI sometimes, you dont care. You worry about her safety because a creepy murderer is following her. I loved the character of Edith, the lady who owns a teahouse and teaches ladies Jiu Jitsu. But its Victorian London and women had yet not earned a right to vote, let alone have a voice.

Edith is played by the Nigerian British actor who was super in the TV series called Chewing Gum. She gives us a glimpse into the womens Suffrage movement in the film and that made me wish this were a series rather than a film. Helena Bonham Carter who plays Eudoria Holmes is perhaps part of that violent part of the change that the women wanted. Helena Bonham Carter is an accomplished actor, and I despair whenever I see that Bellatrix madness in her roles.

You will love the actual clues and the mystery Enola solves for someone she bumps into during her runaway adventure. And you will enjoy how differently Sherlock solves the same mystery and gives you that a-ha! moment.

This is a breezy two-hour watch for the family. Dont be surprised if the little girls in the house force you to participate in a flower to alphabet clue solver craft project over this weekend. I quite liked Enola Holmes for her independent spirit. If she doesnt talk to the audience in the next film, I will be happy to watch. And Henry Cavill Hes so dishy, you would be Sher-locked too!

Manisha Lakhe Is A Poet, Film Critic, Traveller, Founder Of Caferati  An Online Writers Forum, Hosts Mumbais Oldest Open Mic, And Teaches Advertising, Films And Communication.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 23:38:04|Editor: huaxia

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MOGADISHU, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Somalia parliament on Wednesday gave a vote of confidence to the newly appointed Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble in a special session held in the capital, Mogadishu.

Mohamed Mursal Abdirahman, Speaker of Lower House of Parliament, said that 215 members endorsed Roble who was appointed by President Mohamed Farmajo last week, saying there was neither objection nor abstention.

President Farmajo thanked Parliament for accepting his request for approval of the new prime minister who will be charged with overseeing government functions.

"I am thanking the parliament for giving the majority vote of confidence to the new prime minister, I also wish you will approve his new government soon," he said in a statement.

"Roble is an educated, experienced Somali citizen with a high degree of patriotism. He needs to form a capable government that can continue to prioritize the country's pressing needs," he added.

On his part, Roble thanked the parliament for the vote of confidence while promising to build a qualified executive council that will respond to pressing matters like security and managing elections.

"I thank the president and the parliament for giving me this historic opportunity to serve my country. I will set up a new government and hope you will give your confidence as soon as I bring it to you," said Roble.

The prime minister, who was immediately sworn in after his approval in a session attended by President Farmajo, said his administration will give priority to security, elections, development, good governance, anti-corruption fight, reviewing the constitution, reconciliation and international cooperation.

Roble, a newcomer in politics, also said he will focus on fighting terrorism and foster good governance.

He is a graduate of Somali National University in civil engineering and an international civil servant who worked at the International Labour Organization (ILO).

Analysts say the appointment of Roble, who appears non-aligned in the Somalia political landscape, appears a sign of hope and a major compromise on the process to be followed in electing the incoming federal government of Somalia.

The tenure of the current Parliament ends on Dec. 27, and the tenure of office of president Farmajo ends on Feb. 7, 2021.

Analysts say holding the 2020 universal vote is considered critical for the sake of entrenching the federal system of governance, which is required to appease communities and regions claiming systematic exclusion and marginalization for decades. Enditem
Tanaiste Leo Varadkar is restricting his movements after being a close contact of someone who tested positive for Covid-19.

Mr Varadkars test came back as negative.

He said in a statement: Yesterday I was informed that I was a close contact of someone who tested positive for Covid-19.

I was swabbed yesterday and the test has come back negative.

I am perfectly well and will be working from home Leo Varadkar

In line with public health advice, I will be restricting my movements to home and outdoor exercise.

There are no implications for anyone who has been in close contact with me.

I am perfectly well and will be working from home.

It comes a week after the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly also tested negative for Covid-19.

Mr Donnelly reported feeling unwell last Tuesday and announced he was being tested for the virus.

This resulted in other members of the cabinet restricting their movements as a precaution.

The incident also led to the Ceann Comhairle Sean O Fearghail announcing to TDs in the Dail that evening that ministers were restricting their movements and that he was adjourning the sitting.

However, TDs were back in the chamber on request of Taoiseach Micheal Martin hours later.

Green party leader Eamon Ryan was also forced to restrict his movements after a member of his household awaited a Covid-19 test.

The test came back as negative and Mr Ryan returned to work last week.
The Court of Appeal judgment is a blow to the many women who believe the sharp increase in their state pension age from 2010 discriminated against them.

I support the concept of state pension age equality, and it is difficult to defend women being able to start their state pension five years before men, while also having longer life expectancy.

But equality of state pension age is by no means pension equality. Indeed, the average womans pension is far lower than a mans  with latest estimates showing a 40 per cent gender pensions gap.

This inequality feeds the sense of injustice felt by so many women waiting longer than they expected for their state pension.

In reality, women have always been  and still are  second-class citizens in the UK pension system. Not only far more reliant on the state pension, because they have much less private pension than men, women also normally have a much lower state pension than men, too.

Equality of state pension age is by no means pension equality. The average woman's pension is far lower than a man's - with latest estimates showing a 40 per cent gender pensions gap

Women often lose out because of their societal role. More women work in lower-paid sectors and are often those caring for family, so they earn less than men of their age, work parttime and have shorter working lives and lower lifetime earnings than men.

Since private pensions depend on income, women also have lower private pensions. So pension reforms aiming at improving gender equality should take this into account.

The UK pension system particularly penalises the low-paid, the majority of whom are women. But reforms could benefit all other low-earners, too.

Here are some examples of urgently needed reforms to improve womens pensions.

* The National Insurance lower earnings limit penalises people with multiple low-paid jobs  who are mostly women.

Those earning under 120-a-week in two or three roles receive no credit for their state pension.

The Government has refused to address this problem, despite thousands of women losing out each year.

* The much-vaunted state pension triple lock [which promised to increase state pensions each year by the highest of earnings, prices as measured by the Consumer prices Index, or 2.5 per cent] does not protect the oldest and poorest pensioners (again, mostly women) because means-tested Pension Credit only has to increase each year with earnings.

The triple lock protects the old basic state pension but not Serps, otherwise known as state second pension, while the full new state pension (only paid to the youngest pensioners) is fully triple-locked.

* Women who dont claim child benefit (even when they know their or their partners income leaves them ineligible) miss out on credits for their state pension.

* Auto-enrolment rules only require people earning over 10,000 a year to be automatically put into a pension at work.

So, again, those with more than one job, each paying less than 10,000 a year, lose out in private pension auto-enrolment.

* More than a million women, earning under 12,500 a year, are also being forced to pay 25 per cent extra for their pension due to the way the scheme their employer has chosen operates.

Most are unaware of this issue with net pay. Many will be more likely to opt-out of pensions because their take-home pay is lower than it otherwise should be.

Government measures to promote pension equality and reduce the overall cost of state pensions have focused too much on increasing the state pension age, and also failed to adequately warn women in time to prepare for delayed pensions.

It is high time to place more emphasis on redressing these other gender pension inequalities as soon as possible. Women need and deserve better pensions.
(Newser)  NASA has rolled out a detailed plan to land a woman and man on the moon by 2024but it says it will need $3.2 billion next year to make it happen. NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said Monday that it is "critically important" for lawmakers to release the funds to build a human landing system as part of the project, which has an estimated overall price tag of $28 billion, USA Today reports. So far, only $600 million has been released to develop the lander. NASA says the Artemis program will put a woman on the moon for the first time in the history and a man for the first time since 1972. The plan released this week calls for an uncrewed Artemis-1 test flight around the moon next fall, followed by Artemis-2, in which astronauts will test equipment including the Orion lander. The Artemis-3 mission will then bring astronauts to the lunar surface.

story continues below

"With bipartisan support from Congress, our 21st century push to the Moon is well within Americas reach, Bridenstine said, per a NASA release. As weve solidified more of our exploration plans in recent months, weve continued to refine our budget and architecture. Were 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, were also building momentum toward those first human steps on the Red Planet." The BBC reports that Bridenstine says the first female astronaut on the moon will be somebody already in the astronaut corps. There are currently 17 female NASA astronauts, including five who graduated from training this year. (Read more NASA stories.)
With dozens of large blazes continuing to scorch the West, rain is desperately needed to assist firefighters. Though rain is in the forecast in some locations, others will not see the beneficial moisture and even in areas where rain does fall, other problems may arise.

Following a storm that delivered some light to moderate rain to western Washington and Oregon late last week, forecasters are monitoring a cold front which is likely to bring heavier and more widespread rain.

Rain arrived in western Washington and northwestern Oregon by Wednesday afternoon and progressed farther to the south and east through Thursday. On Wednesday, Seattle received 1.08 inches of rain, the first calendar day since May 30 with more than an inch of rain.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP

As the heavy rain moves into the mountains, it may actually be too much of a good thing.

Another dose of rain will spread over the Northwest into Friday.

"Heavy rain over the Cascades could provide localized flash flooding, especially for low-lying and poor drainage areas," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Adam Sadvary. "Mountainous regions that have suffered from wildfires this summer may be susceptible to mudslides caused by a combination of heavy rain and loose terrain."

Portland, Oregon, has not accumulated an inch of rain in one day since June 6, but that could change by the end of the week.

Unfortunately, the rain will not make it much farther south.

"The cold front will bring much needed rain to some wildfire-stricken areas in the Cascades, but it will remain dry farther south for most of California, which is under severe drought," Sadvary said.

Not only will areas south of Oregon remain dry, but winds on the south side of the storm system will increase. The tinder-dry conditions will mean new fires could ignite and the winds could make new and existing fires spread quickly.

"Strong winds will also accompany this cold front, which could further exacerbate wildfire conditions in regions that miss out on rain from this system," Sadvary added.

Story continues

Following Friday's storm in the Northwest, another system was forecast to move into Washington on Sunday. However, it now appears that the rain on Sunday will stay to the north in British Columbia. With these rain events, the rain is expected to largely be restricted to western Washington or north into Canada, while areas farther south miss out yet again.

By late this weekend and into next week, a large heat dome is expected to build over the West. This will mean the region will be dry and it will likely be until at least some time in October before the entire West will be in line for any chance of widespread precipitation.

Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Hyderabad, Sep 23 : Telangana's Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Wednesday unearthed disproportionate assets worth Rs 70 crore owned by an Assistant Commissioner of Police in Hyderabad.

The anti-graft agency carried out searches against Y. Narasimha Reddy, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Malkajgiri, under the Rachakonda Police Commissionerate, and unearthed the disproportionate assets with market value of about Rs 70 crore.

The ACB said it carried out simultaneous search at 25 locations in Hyderabad and other towns in Telangana and neighbouring Andhra Pradesh following reliable information that the ACP acquired assets disproportionate to his lawful sources of income by indulging in corrupt practices and dubious means.

During the searches, ACB found 55 acres of agricultural land at Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh, four plots measuring 1,960 square yards in front of Cyber Towers, Madhapur in Hyderabad, two other house plots, one commercial G+3 building at Hafeezpet in Hyderabad, two houses, Rs 15 lakh cash, two bank lockers, investment in real estate and other business.

ACB sleuths were continuing the search at various places including Hyderabad, Warangal, Jangaon, Karimnagar and Anantapur.

It registered a case of disproportionate assets against Narasimha Reddy.

The agency has urged people to contact toll free number 1064 in case of demand of bribe by any employee of the Police Department.
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NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Grapevine Village, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ideanomics Inc., has today, launched Grapevine Shops, a fully digital e-commerce storefront which showcases boutique innovative consumer brands.

Traditional brick and mortar stores are being displaced as more consumers take to shopping exclusively online via mobile devices, purchasing products promoted by their favorite creators on social media. Grapevine Shops allows consumers to seamlessly buy products featured in an influencer's promoted posts through their phones.

"One of the most popular trends in direct to consumer marketing is to leverage influencer content. Even behemoths such as Microsoft, Amazon, and Wal-Mart are starting to embrace this approach," said Grapevine Village CEO, Kristen Standish. "We foresaw this emerging trend and invested in growing our influencer platform last year when we launched our initial brand partnerships. After a year in development, Grapevine Shops is poised to capitalize on this opportunity, to accelerate the reach of mission-driven brands, and build a community together with our fully integrated social media marketplace."

"I am very excited to work with Grapevine and other e-commerce entrepreneurs to build a strong community in the United States. Yang Lan Fashion, which represents that same spirit of caring and sharing, was one of the first brands on the platform, and I am pleased with its continued growth and evolution," said media mogul Yang Lan*, founder of Her Village and Yang Lan Fashion.

Grapevine Shops launches its Shopify storefront with support for Facebook and Instagram. Additionally, Grapevine Village invites brands that seek to scale their Shopify businesses to apply to join our storefront today.

Learn more and apply at https://www.grapevineshops.com/

Ideanomics announced a pending divestiture of Grapevine Village on June 15, 2020.

* Lan Yang is the wife of Dr. Bruno Wu who is the Chairman of Ideanomics, Inc.

About Grapevine Village

Grapevine Village is the Definitive Trust Marketing Agency. Advertisers leverage Grapevine Village's full suite of services to build, iterate, and scale end-to-end digital advertising campaigns. These are powered by authentic content sourced from creators across YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. Learn more at https://www.grapevinevillage.com/

About Ideanomics

Ideanomics is a global company that facilitates the adoption of commercial electric vehicles and supports next-generation financial services and fintech products. Our electric vehicle division, Mobile Energy Global (MEG), provides group purchasing discounts on commercial electric vehicles, EV batteries and electricity, as well as financing and charging solutions; we refer to this business model as sales to financing to charging (S2F2C). Ideanomics Capital provides fintech services that include intelligent and innovative solutions powered by AI and blockchain. Together, MEG and Ideanomics Capital provide our global customers and partners with more efficient solutions for a greener economy.

The company is headquartered in New York, NY, with offices in Beijing, Guangzhou, and Qingdao, and operations in the U.S., China, Ukraine, and Malaysia.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains certain statements that may include "forward looking statements". All statements other than statements of historical fact included herein are "forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements are often identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believes," "expects" or similar expressions, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, and include statements regarding our intention to transition our business model to become a next-generation financial technology company, our business strategy and planned product offerings, our intention to phase out our oil trading and consumer electronics businesses, and potential future financial results. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, they do involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, and these expectations may prove to be incorrect. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of risks and uncertainties, such as risks related to: our ability to continue as a going concern; our ability to raise additional financing to meet our business requirements; the transformation of our business model; fluctuations in our operating results; strain to our personnel management, financial systems and other resources as we grow our business; our ability to attract and retain key employees and senior management; competitive pressure; our international operations; and other risks and uncertainties disclosed under the sections entitled "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our most recent Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and similar disclosures in subsequent reports filed with the SEC, which are available on the SEC website at www.sec.gov.. All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these risk factors. Other than as required under the securities laws, the Company does not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements.

Grapevine Media Contact

Jibran Malek, Marketing Director

[email protected]

https://www.grapevinelogic.com/

Tel: +1.917.213.5518

Ideanomics Investor Relations and Media Contact

Tony Sklar, VP of Communications at Ideanomics

[email protected]

www.ideanomics.com

Tel: +1.212.206.121

SOURCE Grapevine Village

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 16:15:07|Editor: huaxia

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NEW DELHI, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Drugs Controller General Of India (DCGI) has issued a new set of guidelines for COVID-19 vaccine candidates, focussing on safety, immunogenicity and efficacy parameters.

The DCGI has said that a COVID-19 vaccine candidate should have at least 50 percent of efficacy in the Phase-III clinical trial for it to be widely deployed and adequate data informing the potential risk of vaccine-associated Enhanced Respiratory Disease (ERD) needs to be generated.

DCGI has also asked the pharma companies to keep pregnant women and women of childbearing potential in mind while developing the vaccines.

Last week India's health ministry said about 30 COVID-19 vaccines were under various stages of development in the country. According to the ministry, of the 30 vaccines, three were in the advanced stage.

India is in the grip of an ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Enditem
Arabtec Holding, a leading contractor for social and economic infrastructure, said one of its subsidiaries, Target Engineering Construction Company has been awarded a AED403.8 million ($110 million) contract by Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Petroleum Operations (Adnoc Onshore) for its key facility at Jebel Dhanna in Abu Dhabi.

Under the 20-month contract, Target Engineering Construction Company will provide engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services for crude receiving facilities at the Jebel Dhanna Terminal to import Upper Zakum and non-system crude and transfer it to the Ruwais Refinery West, said Arabtec in its filing to the Dubai bourse.

On the key win, Arabtec Group CEO, Engineer Wail Farsakh said: "We are delighted to continue building our relationship with Adnoc in the UAE."

"This is in line with our strategy, this important award further builds the groups presence in the oil and gas sector," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
New Delhi: The Delhi Police has arrested a gang from Janakpuri area for stealing wires to the tune of Rs 10 lakh.

The eight-member gang conducted the robbery in broad daylight, and using a JCB machine.

The gang excavated an MTNL site in Janakpuri area using a JCB machine and cut the underground cable worth nearly Rs 10 lakh.

They would then take out of copper from inside the cable, and sell that in the market.

Further to reduce suspicion, the gang had though of a plan so that they could carry out the robbery without raising any doubts.

Their leader kept a fake letter or a copy of the order from MTNL which allegedly permitted for the excavation to be carried out.

This was done to make sure no one made any inquires about the excavation.

All the accused wore proper attire, and carried out the operations while following all necessary safety norms.

The leader of this gang, Azharuddin is repeat offender, he has previously committed three similar robbery incidents.

All the accused arrested are originally from a village named Taran in Bihar. Azharuddin had gathered everyone and included them in the robbery.

The police have recovered Rs 6 lakh worth copper wire from them.
India on Wednesday rejected Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans comments that the Kashmir dispute is a burning issue for the stability of South Asia, saying they were tantamount to gross interference in the countrys internal affairs.

This was not the first time that India and Turkey have engaged in a terse exchange on the Kashmir issueErdogan has repeatedly raised the matter after the Indian government scrapped Jammu and Kashmirs special status in August last year, and India has pushed back on each occasion.

Also Read: World powers take the stage, virtually, at UN debate

In a video message for a special session marking the 75th anniversary of the UN, Erdogan said: The Kashmir conflict, which is also key to the stability and peace of South Asia, is still a burning issue. Steps taken following the abolition of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir further complicated the problem.

We are in favour of solving this issue through dialogue within the framework of the UN resolutions and especially in line with the expectations of the people of Kashmir.

Soon after, TS Tirumurti, Indias permanent representative to the UN, tweeted that Erdogans remarks were totally unacceptable.

We have seen remarks by President of Turkey on Indian [union territory] of Jammu & Kashmir. They constitute gross interference in Indias internal affairs and are completely unacceptable. Turkey should learn to respect sovereignty of other nations and reflect on its own policies more deeply, Tirumurti said.

Erdogans remarks were welcomed by his ally, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, who said in a tweet: Deeply appreciate President Erdogan once again raising his voice in support of the rights of the Kashmiri people during his address to UNGA. Turkeys unwavering support remains a source of strength for the Kashmiris in their legitimate struggle for self determination.

Deeply appreciate President Erdogan once again raising his voice in support of the rights of the Kashmiri people during his address to UNGA. Turkeys unwavering support remains a source of strength for the Kashmiris in their legitimate struggle for self determination. pic.twitter.com/RIBJAIUpty  Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) September 23, 2020

Erdogan was among the few leaders who had raised the Kashmir issue at last years UN General Assembly session and he subsequently also raised it during a visit to Pakistan in February. He raised the matter despite Indias external affairs ministry saying such remarks would affect bilateral ties.

In February, India made a strong demarche with the Turkish government on Erdogans remarks on Jammu and Kashmir during his visit to Islamabad. These remarks reflect neither an understanding of history nor of the conduct of diplomacy. They distort events of the past to advance a narrow-minded view of the present, the external affairs ministry spokesperson had said at the time.

The remarks in February were also described as one more example of a pattern of Turkey interfering in the internal affairs of other countries, and India also rejected the repeated attempts by Turkey to justify the cross-border terrorism practised so blatantly by Pakistan.

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BARCELONA, Spain - The Spanish government says it will from next week start to hear requests for the pardon of the imprisoned leaders of Catalonias secessionist movement.

Justice Minister Juan Carlos Campos said Wednesday that the requests to pardon the politicians and activists, who were found guilty last October of sedition while leading a failed secession attempt in the northeastern Spanish region in 2017, would commence next week.

The review process can take months.

Nine of the 12 separatists found guilty were given prison sentences of nine to 13 years by Spains Supreme Court.

The announcement comes as Catalonias regional president awaits the ruling of the Supreme Court in a separate case that could result in him being removed for power for breaking electoral laws.

Spains government is engaged in complicated negotiations to approve a new budget in which it may need the support of Catalonias separatist political parties in the Parliament.

Polls show that Catalonias 7.5 million residents are equally split on the issue of independence from Spain.

Read more about:
KYODO NEWS - Sep 23, 2020 - 23:11 | All, World, Japan

Japan, Brazil, Germany and India, aspiring to become permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, on Wednesday renewed their call for an immediate restart of negotiations to reform the world body's 15-member decision-making organ after the talks were adjourned due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The foreign ministers of the countries, collectively known as the Group of Four, stressed "the urgency of reforming the United Nations and updating its main decision-making bodies, in order to better reflect contemporary realities," said a joint statement issued after their virtual meeting.

The ministers, meeting on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, voiced "disappointment at attempts to derail this process and committed to addressing the issue in a meaningful way" as this year marks the 75th anniversary of the world body.

Japan has been working with the three other countries for years to have all four included as permanent U.N. Security Council members and increase the number of nonpermanent seats.

Intergovernmental talks on U.N. reforms started in 2009 but have not achieved much progress.

The Security Council currently consists of five permanent members who each hold veto power -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- and ten nonpermanent members elected for two-year terms.

Japan has said the Security Council should be more representative, noting that the number of its members only increased once in 1965, from 11 to 15, by adding more nonpermanent seats, although the United Nations now has 193 member states, up from 51 in 1945 when the New York-headquartered organization was established.

Toshimitsu Motegi from Japan, Ernesto Araujo from Brazil and Subrahmanyam Jaishankar from India took part in the teleconference, while Niels Annen, the German foreign ministry's minister of state, sat in for Foreign Minister Heiko Maas.

Related coverage:

Japan ready to become permanent U.N. Security Council member: Motegi

U.S., China leaders trade jabs over pandemic at virtual U.N. debate

U.N. nuclear ban treaty reaches 45 signatories
By PTI

NEW YORK: I did the best I could, President Donald Trump said. Huddled with aides in the West Wing last week, his eyes fixed on Fox News, Trump wasn't talking about how he had led the nation through the deadliest pandemic in a century.

In a conversation overheard by an Associated Press reporter, Trump was describing how he'd just publicly rebuked one of his top scientists  Dr Robert Redfield, a virologist and head of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Redfield had angered the president by asserting that a COVID-19 vaccine wouldn't be widely available until late 2021.

So hours later, with no supporting evidence, Trump called a news conference to say Redfield was confused.

A vaccine, Trump insisted, could be ready before November's election.

Mission accomplished: Fox was headlining Trump's latest foray in his administration's ongoing war against its own scientists.

It is a war that continues unabated, even as the nation's COVID-19 death toll has reached 200,000  nearly half the number of Americans killed in World War II, a once unfathomable number that the nation's top doctors just months ago said was avoidable.

Over the past six months, the Trump administration has prioritised politics over science at key moments, refusing to follow expert advice that might have contained the spread of the virus and COVID-19, the disease it causes.

Trump and his people have routinely dismissed experts'' assessments of the gravity of the pandemic, and of the measures needed to bring it under control.

They have tried to muzzle scientists who dispute the administration's rosy spin.

While there is no indication that Trump''s desperation for a vaccine has affected the science or safety of the process, his insistence that one would be ready before the election is stoking mistrust in the very breakthrough he hopes will help his reelection.

Today, he is pushing hard for a resumption of normal activity and trying to project strength and control to bolster his political position in his campaign against Democrat Joe Biden.

In hindsight, Trump says, there''s nothing he would have done differently, citing his early move to restrict travel from China  a move that data and records show was ineffective.

Still, he gives himself high marks on his handling the pandemic  except for bad messaging.

On public relations, I give myself a D, he told Fox this week. On the job itself we take an A-plus.
Sensex and Nifty reversed early gains and closed a tad lower on Wednesday amid weak global cues. Global markets were muted today as investors were cautious amid a resurgence in COVID-19 infections across the world and European cities announcing new restrictions to curb the pandemic from spreading.

Extending fall for the fifth consecutive session, Sensex ended 65 points lower at 37,668 and Nifty declined 21 points to 11,131. Yesterday, BSE 30-share benchmark Sensex ended 300 points lower at 37,734 and NSE Nifty 50 fell 96 points to 11,153.

Bharti Airtel, Tata Steel, PowerGrid, NTPC, ONGC, TCS and Bajaj Auto were among the laggards on Sensex. On the other hand, Infosys, HCL Tech, Asian Paints, Kotak Bank, Titan and HDFC Bank were among gainers. Sectorally, gains in private banking, financials, realty, FMCG were capped by losses in media, pharma, PSU Banks, metal and IT indices.

Investor sentiments in global markets was dented amid rising coronavirus cases that led to the possibility of fresh lockdowns, further slowing the pace of global economic recovery.

Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services said," The re-emergence of virus infections around the world has put doubts on the global economic recovery, and the positivity in the global markets was led by technology shares."

Overseas, Australian markets were leading the gainers, while most Asian markets closed marginally higher. Wall Street stocks closed higher yesterday as comments from Fed Chairman regarding the state of the economy kept sentiments upbeat. However, a delay in new US fiscal stimulus by Congress and an increase in the number of coronavirus cases kept gains checked.

On Nifty's near-term outlook, -Manish Hathiramani, proprietary index trader and technical analyst, Deen Dayal Investments said,"The markets reached close to 11000 but was swift to bounce back. However, the target of 10900-11000 is still open and we could very well achieve it. 11600-11650 is the resistance level and hence any rally up can be utilised to go short on the Nifty."

For tomorrow's trade, Ajit Mishra, VP - Research, Religare Broking said," We expect volatility to remain high on Thursday as well, thanks to the scheduled derivatives expiry of September month contracts. Indications are in the favour of some respite but sustainability would be key. In the present scenario, we feel it's more prudent to focus on the accumulation of quality stocks on dips."

On the currency front, Indian rupee too ended flat, rising by one paisa at 73.57 per dollar today, as investors turned cautious amid weak domestic equities.

Worldwide, there were 317 lakh confirmed cases and 9.75 lakh deaths from COVID-19 outbreak. Meanwhile, India's death toll from COVID-19 infections rose to 0.90 lakh and total coronavirus cases stood at 56.46 lakh as of Wednesday.

Share Market News Highlights: Sensex ends 65 points lower, Nifty at 11,131, Airtel, Tata Steel top losers

RIL share rises 3% after KKR buys stake in retail business for Rs 5,550 crore

Should you buy Reliance Industries stock for less than Rs 2,250?
To mark the brands 160th anniversary this year, the TAG Heuer Carrera collection welcomes yet another addition  this time, the iconic chronograph features an elegant design reminiscent of historic models with a touch of modern flair. These four chronographs have a refined and modern look inspired by the pure style that first made the TAG Heuer Carrera iconic.

Contemporary elegance inspired by the original TAG Heuer Carrera

The sophistication of this reinterpreted TAG Heuer Carrera comes from its sleek stainless-steel bezel, which has been designed without a tachymeter scale to keep the overall aesthetics in line with the unforgettable silver-dial Heuer Carrera that was originally launched in 1963. This 42 mm timepiece maintains its chronograph functionality with two push buttons and subdials. Available in opaline black or sunray brushed blue, anthracite and silver, the dial features azurage subdials at 3 and 9 oclock and a running small-second counter at 6 oclock above a discreet date window. The beating heart of this timeless TAG Heuer Carrera is the brands proprietary movement, the Calibre Heuer 02.

Carrera  Tag Heuer

The models with black and blue dials are presented on a streamlined H-shaped stainless-steel bracelet. The angles of the outer and inner links are rounded for a more fluid appearance and the bracelet is thinner for improved comfort. The bicoloured version with a silver-coloured dial and rose-gold-plated hands and the model with a deep anthracite dial are paired with a handsome brown alligator leather strap. The screw-down sapphire caseback provides a fascinating view of the innovative movement inside, made even more exclusive by its rose-gold-coloured oscillating mass.

Carrera  Tag Heuer

Exceptional performance thanks to the Calibre Heuer 02 manufacture movement

The TAG Heuer Carrera line has always featured the most advanced watchmaking technology developed by the brand. The redesigned models are powered by the Calibre Heuer 02 movement, which is visible through the transparent caseback. This sophisticated in-house innovation is entirely Swiss-made in TAG Heuers Chevenez manufacture. It comprises 168 components, including a column wheel and a vertical clutch  signatures of improved chronograph timekeeping and high-quality manufacture movements  and boasts an impressive power reserve of 80 hours.

Carrera  Tag Heuer

Former TAG Heuer CEO Jack Heuer dedicated himself to the intensive study of industrial design, which heavily influenced the DNA of his most beloved collection and has shaped the design and construction of all TAG Heuer Carrera models since 1963. With these new reinterpreted models, the flowing and elegant touches that sparked Jack Heuers interest decades ago are more apparent than ever. The uncluttered three-dimensionality of the original dial with its three subdials made it easy to read at a glance and was a truly groundbreaking design at the time  and it is now echoed on these signature innovations. Other details, such as the applied indexes that follow the angle of the flange, drawing the eye in to the time, take their cue from another area that inspired the TAG Heuer Carrera, one in which legibility is of course of the essence: motor racing.



Born on the racetrack yet equally at home at a formal evening event, the new TAG Heuer Carrera timepieces exude sheer elegance and make a striking statement in any situation. They not only serve as a tribute to the collections acclaimed roots, but also demonstrate the brands expertise in seamlessly combining sophistication in design and watchmaking.
For proof that climate change is not the primary cause of horrific Western wildfires, look at Baja California, Mexico.

Baja has a big mountain range that resembles the Sierra Nevada, but its healthy and fire-resilient. Thats because until relatively recently, it was managed by nature, not humans  except for Indigenous people who knew what they were doing.

Yes, climate change is distressingly real. The melting arctic ice cap is evidence.

Gov. Gavin Newsom is on target when he tells President Donald Trump  and, repeatedly, all of us  that the hots are getting hotter, the dries are getting drier. He points to a disturbing fact: The average California summer temperature has risen from 71 degrees to 74 degrees over the last 40 years.

But Newsom misses the mark when he implies that if it werent for global warming, we wouldnt be suffering these cataclysmic blazes.

If you do not believe in (climate) science, I hope you believe in observed reality, the governor told reporters recently while standing in the ashes of an incinerated Butte County forest. The science is absolute. The data is self-evident.

No, what is most evident is forestry mismanagement and overpopulation of wildlands.

Its a different picture in northern Bajas Sierra de San Pedro Martir, part of the long Peninsular Ranges that extend into Southern California.

The Sierra de San Pedro Martir is similar to the Sierra Nevada: dominated by Jeffrey pine and mixed conifer forests, winter snow, granite base and rainbow trout. The peaks arent nearly as high as in the Sierra Nevada, but theyre up there. The tallest is 10,157 feet.

The pristine Baja range can be used as a reference to what the drier portions of ... forests in the Sierra Nevada may have looked like without a history of extensive logging and fire suppression, reads a research paper published in April by the California Fire Science Consortium at UC Berkeley.

But unlike the Sierra Nevada, the UC paper continues, the structure of this (Baja) forest creates an ecosystem that is resistant and resilient to drought, high-severity fire, insects and disease.

It can help guide management decisions in ... the western U.S./California that wish to return forests to historical conditions or prepare them for a changing climate and an uncertain future.

What did Mexico do differently than us? For a long time, it did nothing. Nature handled it.

An early exception: Like California Indians had for hundreds of years, Indigenous people in Baja practiced prescribed burning to clear the forest floors, thin out the smaller trees and keep the woods bountiful for food foraging and hunting. That stopped in Mexico, however, and was greatly reduced in California when civilized settlers conquered the Indians.

But fire was necessary for a healthy forest. In California and most of the West, whenever a fire ignited, we rushed to extinguish it. The public demanded it  little towns and resorts were springing up and needed to be protected. And prescribed burning was a smoky nuisance.

So, California forests became overgrown with people, pines and dense undergrowth. Like too many chickens in a coop, the dense trees became susceptible to disease  bark beetle havens in a drought  and 163 million now are dead, creating hot-burning fire fuel.

But in the Sierra de San Pedro Martir, lightning fires were allowed to burn themselves out, cleaning the forest naturally. It wasnt until the 1970s that Mexico began to douse fires there after a national observatory was built. It needed to be protected.

The result of natures management is a forest thats practically in mint condition, resistant to fire and disease.

Heres the evidence:

There was a four-year severe drought around 2000, and fewer than one tree per acre died, according to UC Berkeley fire science professor Scott Stephens, who has studied the Baja range for 20 years.

Then, in 2003, a major wildfire erupted that burned thousands of acres. And 80% of the trees survived.

It was dramatic, Stephens says. Every time I go down to that place, it astounds me how well that area has been able to adapt to climate change.

Climate change certainly has hit that place too. But its doing well.

California is not doing well. To do better, Newsom and other Democratic leaders need to do more than curse climate change while trying to stabilize Earths thermometer. They need to invest heavily in adapting our forests to climate change.

When I asked Stephens how much climate change was to blame for our wildfires, he answered: Less than 50%. Maybe a third.

The state owns less than 3% of Californias forests but is responsible for helping to manage the 40% that is privately held. The federal government owns 57%.

Stephens and other fire experts say that the state should step up prescribed burning and forest cleaning. And it is, pouring substantially more money into the effort. But California needs to invest billions more.

The governor and Democratic leaders recently failed to agree on a fire prevention spending package that began at $3 billion and fell to $500 million  then collapsed. It was from lack of leadership.

There also needs to be more fire-resistant hardening of homes in vulnerable communities. The state Legislature passed a bill by Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) to require that. Hopefully the governor will sign it.

Perhaps Newsom should take a trip to the Sierra de San Pedro Martir and learn from Mexico.

Watch Now: California Proposition 15, split roll, explained in 1 minute

Political columnist George Skelton has covered government and politics for nearly 60 years and for the Los Angeles Times since 1974.
KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MI  A Galesburg man accused of tying a man up and dragging him for miles behind his own truck after killing him has been ordered to undergo a second competency evaluation.

Joshua Joel Wessel, 32, was arrested in July and charged with open murder in the June 4, 2017 death of 71-year-old Ron French.

Related: Missing man found dead in Kalamazoo County field

Wessel, according to his arrest affidavit, allegedly dragged Frenchs body to a cornfield several miles away from Frenchs home, leaving his remains at the dead end of S. 45th Street and V Avenue." Evidence at the scene showed that French was dragged by cords that were wrapped around his mouth and neck.

Wessel, who was scheduled to have a preliminary hearing in Kalamazoo County District Court on Wednesday, Sept. 23, was found incompetent to stand trial last week by Kalamazoo County District Judge Christopher Haenicke and ordered to undergo further evaluation, according to court records.

The purpose of a competency evaluation, according to state law, is to determine whether a defendant understands the charges against him and can assist their attorney in a meaningful way. A case will not proceed until a defendant is ruled competent.

Wessel was arrested initially two days after Frenchs death on unrelated warrants, after the suspect was found by Kalamazoo Public Safety officers driving Frenchs stolen truck in a vacant lot, according to the affidavit.

Sheriffs detectives then executed a search warrant on the truck and found evidence from the homicide, including a red comforter from Frenchs bedroom that had the victims blood on it, the affidavit states.

Wessel, according to the affidavit, is believed to have killed French at the victims Brady Township residence in Kalamazoo County. The medical examiners' findings from Frenchs autopsy showed the manner and cause of his death to be homicidal violence.

Evidence found in Frenchs truck, including bloody cargo shorts that Wessel had been seen wearing the morning after the slaying, tied Wessel to the crime, the affidavit states. Forensic testing showed the blood belonged to a dog matching the same breed French owned.

Frenchs dogs were not seen after their owner went missing on June 4.

The victim was last seen alive and well at his residence at about 5:30 p.m. that night. His body was not found until three weeks later on June 26, 2017.

Wessel, according to evidence gathered during the investigation, was in possession of Frenchs truck at 7 p.m. June 4, the affidavit states.

Wessel admitted to detectives that he had stolen Frenchs truck, but told them he did not take it until the early morning hours of June 5 and denied any contact with French or his dogs. He pleaded guilty in 2017 to a felony charge of unlawful driving away of an automobile, according to court records.

Wessel, who was sentenced to 90 days in jail on the vehicle charge, is due back in court for a competency review on Nov. 18.

If the Center for Forensic Psychology submits its findings to the court before then, the court has five days to review the findings before issuing a ruling on the defendants competency.

Also on MLive:

Murder suspect targeted elderly man at Meijer, court records show

Kalamazoo approves $1K hazard pay for public safety employees

Search for 12-year-old boy swept off Lake Michigan pier now recovery mission, sheriff says
New Delhi: Chinese virologist Dr Li-Meng Yan, who investigated the origin of the COVID-19 virus during the initial outbreak in Wuhan, said that she was muzzled by her supervisor for speaking out. In an exclusive interview with news channel WION's Executive Editor Palki Sharma, Dr Li-Meng Yan said that the Chinese government was aware of the spread of COVID-19.

On being asked whether she thought that the Chinese government could influence studies and research on COVID-19, Dr Li-Meng Yan said Of course, of course, adding I had been there for many years I knew many many people across a vast network - hospitals, institutes.

She further said, I worked in Hong Kong for many years, adding All my experience and knowledge can tell you - Chinese Communist Partys money and power influence the whole world, far more beyond your imagination.

Chinese virologist said, This virus comes from a lab on purpose, claiming that the Chinese government is now trying to tarnish her reputation through social media, conduct cyber-attacks on her and intimidate her family in China.

Dr Li-Meng Yan, who was a post-doctoral fellow in virology and immunology at Hong Kong School of Public Health, said that she was muzzled by her supervisors. Yan, who was associated with the Hong Kong School of Public Health, had been researching the coronavirus for a long time.

Dr Li-Meng Yan further said that Wuhan's wet market is just a smokescreen from the Chinese Communist Party.

Earlier on September 14, she had claimed that COVID-19 was made in a Wuhan laboratory. The Chinese virologist claimed that during her research she came across that coronavirus was developed in a laboratory in China.

Dr Li-Meng Yan had also accused China of not taking proper precautions to contain the spread of coronavirus and offered scientific proof that COVID-19 is lab-made in Wuhan.

She had also revealed that she had to flee to the US for her safety after being threatened by the Chinese officials when she wanted to alert the world about the pandemic.
PULLMAN, Wash. - Researchers at Washington State University have predicted how and where the Asian giant hornet, an invasive newcomer to the Pacific Northwest, popularly dubbed the "murder hornet," could spread and find ideal habitat, both in the United States and globally.

Sharing their discoveries in a newly published article in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the team found that if the world's largest hornet gains a foothold in Washington state, it could spread down much of the west coast of the United States.

The Asian giant hornet could also find suitable habitat throughout the eastern seaboard and populous parts of Africa, Australia, Europe, and South America, if humans inadvertently transport it.

The team's predictions underline the importance of Washington state's efforts to stop the large insects before they spread.

"We found many suitable climates in the U.S. and around the globe," said lead author Gengping Zhu, a postdoctoral scholar at WSU's Department of Entomology.

Collaborating with Washington State Department of Agriculture scientist Chris Looney and WSU entomologists David Crowder and Javier Illan, Zhu examined more than 200 records from the hornet's native range in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, then used a set of ecological models incorporating climate data to predict likely global habitat across six continents.

"These predictions are scientific sleuthing," Illan said. "We're making an educated guess on how fast and far these insects can move, their rate of success in establishing a nest, and offering different scenarios, from least bad to worst. No one has done this before for this species."

A wide range of suitable habitats

Native to forested parts of Asia, the Asian giant hornet, Vespa mandarinia, is a significant threat to Western honey bees, which have no natural defense. In late summer and fall, hornet colonies attack beehives, destroying entire bee colonies to feed their brood and produce new queens.

Up to two inches long, the insect also deploys a potent sting, which is more dangerous than that of local bees and wasps.

Asian giant hornets are most likely to thrive in places with warm summers, mild winters, and high rainfall. Extreme heat is lethal, so their most suitable habitats are in regions with a maximum temperature of 102 degrees Fahrenheit.

Based on those factors, suitable habitat for the giant hornet exists along much of the U.S. west and east coasts, adjacent parts of Canada, much of Europe, northwestern and southeastern South America, central Africa, eastern Australia, and most parts of New Zealand.

Much of the interior of the U.S. is inhospitable to the hornet due to extremes of heat, cold, and low rainfall. This includes the eastern parts of Washington state and British Columbia, as well as California's Central Valley, all of which have major fruit and nut crops that rely on honey bee pollination.

Danger of accidental spread

Using data from a similar species, Vespa velutina, scientists predicted that without containment, Asian giant hornets could spread into southern Washington and Oregon, and north through British Columbia. Calculating that hornets could fly up to 68 miles per year, their worst-case scenario found that the insects could disperse throughout the western regions of Washington and Oregon in 20 years or less.

However, scientists cautioned that these predictions are an educated guess.

"The information that we want--how fast and far queens can fly, and when they fly--is all unknown," Illan said. "A lot of basic biology is unknown. So, we're using a surrogate."

"We know queens come out of their nest in the fall, mate, and fly--somewhere," Looney said. But nobody knows how far they fly, or if they fly repeatedly. We don't know if they set up nests in the spring near where they hibernated, or if they start flying again. These are some of the things that make predicting natural dispersal a challenge."

Nature alone cannot predict where the hornet may end up. Human activity plays a role in transporting invasive species around the globe. While colonies can only be started by mated queens, and a USDA analysis found that accidental transport by humans is unlikely, Looney said that human-assisted spread could be a concern.

"It's easy for some species to get moved accidentally from one side of the country to the other, even if there's a large swathe of unacceptable habitat in between," he said.

"Preventing the establishment and spread of Asian giant hornet in western North America is critical for protecting bees and beekeepers," Crowder said. "Our study can inform strategies to monitor and eradicate these invaders before they become established."

###
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said that the conflict between the government and opposition is over and that there is no need to attack Idleb reports Al-Masdar.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov considers the military confrontation between the Syrian government and the opposition in the country to be over, noting that there are only two hotspots in Syria, namely Idleb and the areas east of the Euphrates.

Lavrov said, in an interview with Al-Arabiya TV, whose text was published on the official website of the Russian Foreign Ministry on Monday, I recently returned from Damascus, where I visited with the Russian Deputy Prime Minister, Yuri Borisov, who held talks on the prospects of economic cooperation, while I discussed with colleagues political situations.

He continued, I do not think that those who have spoken with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and other state officials, can say that the government of the Syrian Arab Republic is only counting on a military solution to the conflict. This is not true. The military confrontation between the countrys government and the opposition is over.

He explained, Idlebs lands are under the control of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, but this area is being narrowed. Our Turkish colleagues, based on the Russian-Turkish memorandum, continue to fight terrorists and separate the moderate opposition from them.

He continued, The second hotspot is the eastern side of the Euphrates River, where the American military personnel operating in the area illegally united with the separatist forces, and are playing with the Kurds in an irresponsible manner.

Lavrov stressed that the US military, brought American oil companies to the region and started pumping oil for their own purposes without respecting Syrias sovereignty and territorial integrity, as stipulated in Resolution 2254 of the United Nations Security Council.

In a related context, Lavrov said, in response to a question about fears of a joint attack by the Syrian and Russian forces on Idleb, There is a Russian-Turkish memorandum that is still in full force, and patrols on the M4 highway have been stopped due to security motives, because Tahrir al-Sham always carries out armed provocations and attacks the positions of the Syrian government forces, and also tries to attack the Russian air base in Hemeimeem.

He added, Our Turkish colleagues affirmed their commitment to fighting terrorism and separating real opponents, who are ready for negotiations with the government, from terrorists. There is no need for the Syrian army and its allies to launch any attack on Idleb. It is only necessary to target terrorist sites and eliminate their only remaining outpost on Syrian territory.

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.
Cindy McCain endorsed Democrat Joe Biden for president Tuesday in a rebuke of President Donald Trump by the widow of the GOPs 2008 nominee.

Trump has had a fraught relationship with members of John McCains family since he disparaged the Arizona senator during his 2016 campaign. But the McCains have until now stopped short of endorsing Trumps rivals.

Cindy McCain cited the decades long friendship between her family and Bidens and their bond as the parents of children serving in the military.

He supports the troops and knows what it means for someone who has served, McCain said in a phone interview. Not only to love someone who has served, but understands what it means to send a child into combat. Weve been great friends for many years, but we have a common thread in that we are Blue Star families.

McCains backing could help Biden appeal to Republicans disaffected with the GOP president and give the former vice president a boost in Arizona, a crucial swing state that McCain represented in Congress for 35 years. Hes remained a revered figure since his 2018 death from complications of a brain tumor, particularly with the independent voters whom Biden is courting.

In this Oct. 16, 2017, file photo Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., receives the Liberty Medal from Chair of the National Constitution Center's Board of Trustees, former Vice President Joe Biden, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)AP

I decided to take a stand, and hopefully other people will see the same thing. Other women particularly, McCain said. You may have to step out of your comfort zone a little bit, but Biden is by far the best candidate in the race.

McCain said she hasnt voted for a Democrat since she was 18 and followed the lead of her parents. She remains a registered Republican and has no plans to change, she said.

Biden told donors on Tuesday evening that McCains endorsement was coming because of what (Trump) talks about how my son and John and others who are heroes, who served their country. You know, he said theyre losers, suckers.

Biden was referring to comments Trump reportedly made mocking the American war dead. Trump has denied making the remarks, first reported through anonymous sources by The Atlantic, but many of the comments were later confirmed by The Associated Press.

Cindy McCain had not initially been expected to offer an explicit endorsement of Biden, but she had already gone to bat for his presidential run. She lent her voice to a video that aired during the Democratic National Convention and was focused on Bidens close friendship with her late husband.

John McCain was assigned to be a military aide for Biden, then a senator, during an overseas trip, and their families formed an enduring friendship. Biden and his wife introduced the McCains to each other,

They later shared a grim bond over glioblastoma, an aggressive cancer that killed Bidens son Beau three years before McCain succumbed to the same disease.

John McCain said in 2016 that he couldnt support Trump or Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016, citing Trumps demeaning comments about women.

Its not pleasant for me to renounce the nominee of my party, McCain said during a debate as he sought his sixth term in the Senate. He won the nomination fair and square.

A Navy pilot, John McCain was shot down over North Vietnam in 1967. He was captured, beaten and held prisoner for more than five years, refusing to be released ahead of other American servicemembers.

During his 2016 campaign, Trump said of McCain, Hes not a war hero. He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who werent captured. McCain later angered Trump with his dramatic thumbs-down vote against repealing Obamas health care law.

The McCains' daughter Meghan McCain has been outspoken about the pain she feels when the president disparages her father. Biden consoled Meghan McCain on an appearance on The View after her father was diagnosed with the cancer that eventually took his life. She has said Biden often reaches out to her to offer support, after losing his own son Beau to the same cancer in 2015.

Trump wasnt invited to John McCains funeral.
Shonaleeka Kaul By

In my last column, I wrote about how there was an idea of India long before the British colonised us and that its core tenet was this countrys vastness and diversity. The piece was warmly received by readers of this newspaper and beyond. However, a specific section of academia was, as if on cue, enraged. This is a section that has disowned the idea of an Indian nation and attempts to villainise any engagement with it. So what if the engagement is based on irrefutable historical references. It must still be suppressed by the attribution of political and ideological motives, if not also slander, in the process exposing perhaps the deeply antagonistic agenda of such persons.

Indeed all founding fathers of modern India swore by the nation and nationalism, but today these seem to have become swear words for some. To speak of Indias unity through all her vibrant diversity may invite invective in these quarters. And to refer to her antiquity and ancient texts evinces a condescension and communalised hostility (again a throwback to colonial mindsets). This is accompanied by the teleological championing of the present and the recent as all things real and enlightened.

However, the politics and hubris of myopia should not disable efforts to address the simplest curiosity a people can have: How far back do they go? Here then are some more examples from premodern history of a clear conception of India as a unified geographical space peopled by cultural and other kinds of plurality.

We spoke last time of the subcontinental evidence from the Mahabharata and Vishnu Purana (5th cent. BCE  5th cent. CE), the Chinese pilgrim Xuan Zang (7th cent.), and Shankaracharyas pan Indic voyages (8th cent). Of a kind is the testimony of the Indika attributed to the Greek ambassador, Megasthenes (4th cent. BCE), who was based at the Mauryan court in ancient Patna. Megasthenes is reported to have described the land of the Indoi thus: It has its eastern and western side [till the south] bounded by the great sea  on the northern side it is divided from Scythia [central Asia] by Mt. Hemodos [abode of snow] while the western side is bounded by the river Indus.

Later, Ptolemy (2nd cent. CE), the celebrated geographer from the Roman Empire, defined India and her regions in copious detail and claimed she was marked by Hindukush in the west, snowy mountains in the north, (mouth of) the Ganga in the east, and the ocean in the south. Interestingly, he also spoke of an India beyond the Ganga reaching up till China. At about the same time, Sangam texts like the Patirruppattu, and the later Tamil epic Silappadikaram (5th cent. CE), were also invoking the same geographic imagery of the space between the snowy Himalayas and Cape Kumari (Comorin) in the oceanic south.

In the 6th century, the Indian astronomer and polymath Varahamihira in his Brhat Samhita describes Bharatavarsha in over 20 remarkable verses, including an exhaustive enumeration of her many regions and communities, which includes everyone from Kashmir, Kangra and Peshawar upto Dravidas, Kerala and Karnataka, and from Assam, Bengal and Odisha upto Punjab and Saurashtra. As clear, robust and inclusive a notion as could be.

Again, the Arab traveller Al beruni, in his 11th century Kitab ul Hind, describes Hind thus: Limited in the South by the Indian Ocean, and on all three other sides by the lofty mountains. This Hind he identified with the world extending southwards from Himavant  Bharatvarsha, which is the centre of Jambudvipa. We come across Bharata kshetra or Bharat khanda in southern Jambudvipa in Jaina cosmological literature as well.

Then, the famed Mughal historian Abul Fazl in the 16th century Ain-i-Akbari writes: The sea borders Hindustan on the east, west and south. In the north, the great mountain ranges separate India from Turan, Iran and China  Intelligent men of the past have considered Kabul and Qandahar as the twin gates of Hindustan By guarding these two, Hindustan obtains peace from the alien (raider). Note the reference to Kabul also resonates with Ptolemy and Xuan Zang.

The Tibetans on the other hand called India rGya-gar (Vast Land?) or Phags-Yul (Noble Country), the source-country of their Buddhist masters. Their works like Lama Taranaths 16th century History of Buddhism in India and the later Jewel Garland of Buddhist History mention gurus from Phags-Yul belonging to Kashmir and Peshawar (N), Andhra and Kanchi (S), Saurashtra (W) and Bengal (E).

Thus on view, again and again, over an enormous span of time and variety of contexts, are astonishing convergences in the perception or knowledge of what IndiaBharatavarsha, Indu, Hind, Indoi, rGyar, Phags-Yul, Hindustanwas. Though not necessarily identical in every respect, nor coterminous with present-day boundaries or concepts, the fact that there seems to be a great deal that continued to be held in common in the idea of India across the centuries by Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims and Jains, by residents as well as foreign travellers, by pilgrims, poets and chroniclers, itself deserves to be explored. To deny traditions of continuity where they may exist, even in the midst of so much historical movement and change in an ancient continuous living civilisation like India, would be to put riven politics above the pursuit of history.

Shonaleeka Kaul

Associate Professor, Centre for Historical Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University

(shonaleeka@mail.jnu.ac.in)
With the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, a prime objective of all containment measures has been the need to prevent a sudden upsurge of severe infections with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), limiting the burden on the healthcare services within sustainable boundaries. With the recognition that certain subgroups of the population seemed to have a higher risk of developing severe disease following infection, some countries put shielding policies into place to protect them from infection.

A new study by researchers at the University of Glasgow and the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, and published on the preprint server medRxiv* in September 2020, examines the benefits of such measures.

Shielding of High-Risk Groups

Most Asian countries adopted wide-ranging containment policies, including testing, tracing, and isolating all sections of society alike, based on high test availability and the determination to monitor and ensure the implementation of the strategies devised by the public health authorities. The situation in Europe is different, with population-wide social distancing and hand hygiene being enforced on the one hand, while special risk groups are shielded, or asked to be in strict isolation, for varying periods of time.

This is true even of Sweden, the outstanding exception to the generally uniform implementation of lockdown policies in Europe, which still enforced shielding of such high-risk sections of society. In the UK, two categories of shielded patients are listed, namely, those at high risk and those at moderate risk.

In the UK, shielding of high-risk patients was defined as their not leaving their homes on any but the most urgent pretext, and even avoiding all but essential contact with their household members, while food and other necessities were delivered to them at their homes. The moderate-risk patients, on the other hand, were recommended to follow general population measures carefully.

Issues with Shielding

Some earlier studies indicate that prolonged shielding has adverse effects on the supposed beneficiaries. Another issue is that the high-risk group here is defined on the basis of previous viral outbreaks rather than on a good understanding of SARS-CoV-2. Currently, the evidence is pouring in that the presence of self-reported heart, kidney, or lung disease, as well as diabetes and obesity, are linked to higher odds of serious COVID-19 requiring hospitalization and respiratory support, as well as death in hospital.

Researchers are now working on a COVID-19 risk score to help screen patients for the truly high-risk category who may be advised to shield. An important issue here is the lack of any but mathematical modeling data as to how shielding may contribute to lower adverse outcomes at the population level.

High- vs. Moderate/ Low-Risk Groups

The current paper compares high- and moderate- or low-risk individuals in terms of the infection risk, outcome risk, and the proportional contribution to population-level COVID-19-linked outcomes. It included a total of ~1,300,000 people, obtained from GP records in a single NHS area in Scotland. Of these, about 2.5% were asked to shield while just over a quarter was at moderate risk.

In the shielding group, over half had severe respiratory disease, about a fifth on dialysis, over 15% on immunosuppressive treatment, while smaller proportions of patients with other medical conditions, including severe heart disease and organ transplants.

The moderate risk category included patients with high blood pressure, comprising a little less than half, while chronic lung disease was present in over 40%. About 40% were 70 or older. A fifth had diabetes, and about 14% of heart disease.

Outcomes in High-Risk vs. Other Groups

The researchers found that of the entire group, just over 1% had undergone COVID-19 testing. The odds of testing increased with age, female sex, and risk category. The prevalence of confirmed COVID-19 in this group was about 0.25% and was again highest in the above categories.

Of over 3,300 confirmed COVID-19 cases, just over 1,600 were hospitalized, and about 120 required ICU admission. The risk of ICU admission was higher in those aged 45-64 than in the oldest age group.

The number of deaths was just over 1,000. Men and women showed equal risk, while it was higher in older people. The risk of mortality increased from the low-risk to the high-risk group, as expected, even after adjustment for sex and socioeconomic deprivation.

The shielded group made up about 9% of confirmed COVID-19 infections, about 15% of hospitalizations, about 5% of all ICU admissions, and 13% of deaths, all related to COVID-19. The risk of hospitalization was 18 times higher in the shielded group, but the ICU admission risk was four times greater relative to the low-risk group.

In the moderate-risk group, the number of infections, hospitalizations, ICU admissions, and deaths made up about 40%, 60%, 20%, and 75% of the total. However, there was no significant difference in mortality between the moderate and high-risk groups.

Those over 70 years or with weakened immunity run a risk of dying equivalent to those in the shielded group. Septuagenarians were 8 times more likely to test positive despite being advised to shield. They were 7 times more likely to die of the infection following testing and had a 74-fold risk of death relative to the low-risk category. They made up 18% of all infections, 23% of hospital cases, and half of all deaths due to COVID-19.

Implications

Since three of every four deaths occurred in the moderate-risk category that falls outside shielding recommendations, it is evident that shielding criteria are too narrow to impact mortality rates significantly.

To prevent 80% of total deaths, therefore, shielding would have to cover many more categories, including five that are currently treated as moderate risk, comprising about 30% of the population, rather than the current 2.5% who are currently shielded.

The risk of ICU admission following hospitalization was 14 times less than in individuals above 70 years than for low-risk patients. This is likely to be an effect of having to prioritize care for those with the best prognosis in a situation of overwhelming burden on the healthcare system, rather than being the outcome of effective prevention of infection in this category.

Also, the shielded group continued to test positive at an 8-fold higher rate, to die after confirmed infection at a fivefold higher rate, and to have 49 times the risk of death from COVID-19 overall. The researchers suggest this casts doubt on the effectiveness of the shielding strategy.

Indeed, relative to the low-risk group, those judged to be at moderate risk, who make up a quarter of the population, had four times the odds of testing positive. Mortality after confirmed infection, and overall mortality, was five times and 26 times higher, respectively, in this group. This should serve as a wake-up call to recognize the high risk of many thought to be at moderate risk, particularly those who are older.

Moderate-risk criteria define about a quarter of the population in many studies. However, one US paper reported that 45% of the adult study population had one or more of a long list of coexisting illnesses that are potentially linked to a higher risk of adverse outcomes with COVID-19. were four times as likely to have confirmed infection than the low-risk category.

Shielding of such a large percentage of the population is likely to be both unenforceable and unpopular in view of the increasing trend towards relaxation of lockdown restrictions. Therefore, the researchers conclude, Shielding is probably best viewed as an individual-level 6 intervention to be used alongside other population-wide interventions such as physical distancing, face coverings, and hand hygiene.

*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.
This story is part of a series of profiles, The CannaInfluencers: The people shaping the cannabis industry in the Garden State. Written by NJ Cannabis Insider reporters, the profiles will publish the weeks leading up to the Nov. 3 election, when New Jersey voters will decide whether to legalize recreational, adult-use cannabis.

Scott Rudder has been a lot of things in his life  an Army veteran, a legislator, mayor of Medford, an executive at Lockheed Martin, a lobbyist  but for Rob Cressen hes been something more.

Hes family to me, said Cressen, 49, of Toms River. Ive had a couple tough years  I lost my dad and I lost my nephew  and Scotts been there for me the entire time. No matter what.

Cressen, the former executive director of the New Jersey Republican Party who first worked with Rudder in the state Assembly when both men were in their 20s, has had a rough road over the past decade. In 2011, Cressen was diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome after a leg break he sustained while competing in a triathlon caused an infection that damaged part of his brain.

The result, Cressen said, is that my brain only tells my body to make pain.

Drain all the blood out of your veins, fill them with lighter fluid and set it on fire, he said. Thats how I feel every moment of every day.

In the wake of his diagnosis, Cressen was fully supplied with opioids for the pain but they impacted his ability to function and led to addiction. It was Rudder and others, Cressen said, who suggested transitioning to medical cannabis.

Without medical cannabis, I wouldnt be able to function on many days, he said.

Rudder, 51, who founded and serves as the president of the New Jersey CannaBusiness Association, a cannabis industry trade group, said the difference medical cannabis has made in Cressens life was remarkable.

He met a doctor who helped transition him from opioids to medical cannabis and now he uses medical cannabis for his pain mitigation treatment, Rudder said. Its really had a visible difference. And Rob, when you talk to him on the phone or have a meeting with him in person, hes just different in a very positive way now, and he thanks cannabis for that.

Moreover, Rudder, who is also part of a team who filed an application in last years stalled medical cannabis licensing process, said, Cressen helps ground the NJCBA.

Certainly as a business organization, youre thinking of dollars and cents, but we cant forget why were here, Rudder said. Our mission is to serve patients and Rob is the constant reminder of that at all of our meetings.

That grounding remains at the forefront for Rudder as Election Day and the upcoming ballot referendum on adult-use legalization draws nearer. Rudder said hes optimistic the ballot question will pass in November because polling shows a majority of voters understand the economic and social justice benefits of legalization.

Wouldnt it be better to generate $300 million in new revenue for the state of New Jersey instead of costing taxpayers $147 million annually to arrest and prosecute simple possession charges? Rudder said. Is it better to create thousands and thousands of jobs instead of arresting 36,000 people annually for simple possession? I think people understand that message, particularly now as were dealing with COVID and the economic destruction that shutting down businesses has done to our economy, not just in New Jersey, but across the country and around the world.

While that messaging may be apparent today, it wasnt an easy sell back in 2016 for many.

Before I came out of the cannabis closet, if you will, and announced the launching of the NJCBA, I wrote an op-ed piece that kind of explained my journey and I did that for a couple reasons, Rudder said. One is I wanted just to get out there publicly, Im not ashamed of what I do. Im very proud of what I do.

Scott Rudder has four children, who range in age from 11 to 19. He took this photo with his kids on a road trip to Atlanta for Thanksgiving 2019.

Even so, Rudder said, hed run into friends whod have a look of disappointment in their eyes over his pivot and explaining the change to his four children, who range in age from 11 to 19, was another conversation altogether.

But, again, it was Cressen and the impact medical cannabis made in his life who helped cut through stigma. This proved especially invaluable for Rudder recently, who, in a recent column for NJ Cannabis Insider, discussed his mothers diagnosis with Parkinsons disease and his conversation with her about the potential relief medical cannabis could provide.

The conversation from 2016 to 2020 has shifted dramatically and the acceptance of cannabis, as a medicine has grown significantly, said Rudder. But cannabis as a legal and regulated product out there, thats going to resolve a lot of different challenges that we currently face, whether its civil liberties, economic opportunities, or I just want something healthier than going to the liquor store. I think people have seen it not just for my organization, but just nationally, how things have progressed.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Justin Zaremba may be reached at jzaremba@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinZarembaNJ.
Seoul Gangdong-gu District Mayor Lee Jung-hun, left, meets one of the merchants at Dunchon-dong Subway Station street market in the district's Dunchon-dong area on Sept. 22. Yonhap



South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases rebounded to over 100 on Wednesday, snapping three consecutive days of a two-digit rise, as sporadic cluster infections, coupled with untraceable cases, continued to pop up across the country.



The country added 110 more COVID-19 cases, including 99 local infections, raising the total caseload to 23,216, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).



Wednesday's daily tally marks a sharp increase from 61 cases reported Tuesday, the lowest number since Aug. 13, when the comparable figure was 56. The country had reported less than 100 new virus cases for the third consecutive day since Sunday.



The country's new daily infections had been in triple digits for more than a month since Aug. 14 due to cases tied to a church in Seoul and an anti-government rally before briefly falling below 100.



Health authorities said the daily new cases are showing signs of a decline but warned that it is a matter of time before the daily figures jump above the 100 threshold again due to the rising number of patients with unknown infection routes.



Over the past two weeks, 26.6 percent of the newly added cases had unknown infection routes, according to the latest data. Around 25 percent of additional patients were traced to group infections as well.



Against this backdrop, the country opted Sunday to extend the Level 2 social distancing scheme nationwide until Sept. 27.





Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, left, leads a central disaster safety countermeasure meeting regarding COVID-19 at Government Complex Seoul in Jongno-gu District, Sept. 23. Yonhap



The country 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.



Public facilities such as museums or libraries are closed, along with high-risk facilities such as karaoke rooms and clubs.



The decision also came amid concerns that the spread of the virus may accelerate again during the upcoming Chuseok holiday, which runs from Sept. 30 to Oct. 4. Millions of South Koreans travel across the nation to meet their families and relatives during Chuseok.









South Korea will also have a three-day break from Oct. 9 to 11, when Hanguel Day, which celebrates the Korean alphabet, is combined with the weekend.



Health authorities have been urging people to stay home over the holidays.



Chains of cluster infections especially haunted schools, residential buildings, and hospitals across the country.



Of the additional locally transmitted cases, 40 came from Seoul, and 28 were reported from the surrounding Gyeonggi Province. Incheon, located west of Seoul, added five more patients.



Infections tied to last month's anti-government rallies came to 622 as of Tuesday, just up three from the previous day.





People queue up at National Medical Center in Seoul's Jung-gu District, Sept. 23, to receive a check-up on possible COVID-19 infection. Yonhap
Calls have been made to declassify all files relating to the Arms Trial after it was suggested in the Dail that Sean Mac Stiofan, a member of the IRA army council was a Special Branch informer.

Sean Haughey, the son of former Taoiseach Charles Haughey, has asked that the Arms Trials garda files be released after he suggested in the Dail that Mr MacStiofain was the person who was behind the tip-off about a shipment of arms coming into Dublin Airport.

Justice Minister, Helen McEntee said she would review and release any relevant records where that may exist in her Department where appropriate.

However, she said it was not appropriate for her to speculate with regard to matters of that time.

Ms McEntee added: It is difficult to see how different accounts can be validated, or adjudicated on at this remove, particularly for most of those who are involved, are no longer in a position to defend themselves.

The Minister said the arms trial "was one of the most significant political controversies in the history of the state, and it remains of abiding interest, despite the passage of 50 years."

Read More MPs back British Government compromise on controversial powers to override Brexit deal

She said that some records relating to the arms trial had been released to the National Archives in 2000. However, she said some of the records could not be released because they contain sensitive, garbled reports or potentially defamatory information.

Mr Haughey said the Dail had previously been "misled" about how the State came to learn of the imminent arrival of the arms flight in the 1970s.

He said the House had been told that it had been discovered by civil servants who were "concerned about certain aspects of the paperwork" and said this incorrect version has remained on the record of the Dail ever since.

"It is not satisfactory that the official record of any event let alone one as important as this should be misleading."

Mr Hughey said a new book, Deception and Lies the Hidden History of the Arms Trial by David Burke, "reveals that Mac Stiofain exploited his position to create mischief for his archrival, Cathal Goudling.
HONG KONG (AP)  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 Kong's legislature was repeatedly blocked from doing so by opposition among the territory's 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 Beijing's control, critics worry the courts could be next, potentially undercutting the territory's key advantage as a safe place to do business.
Chesterfield Township police have arrested an 18-year-old man suspected to be involved in recent drive-by shootings in the community.

Christian Koussa, of Chesterfield Township, was arraigned at 42-2 District Court in New Baltimore on charges related to the reported drive-by shootings in the area of Donner Road and Interstate 94, police said. He is charged with discharge a firearm from a vehicle, which is a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison or a $10,000 fine.

Police said several small-caliber rounds were fired at unsuspecting homes that were targeted at random between 11 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. Sept. 12. No one was injured.

He was lodged in the Macomb County Jail and held on a $10,000 or 10% bond.

 Katelyn Larese, MediaNews Group
Debbie Leonardi, 53, Ashley Leonardi, 34, niece, Melissa Capozzoli, 28, daughter to Debbie, and Capozzoli's son, Alejandro Torres, 3, came to visit and pay their respects to the family by leaving candles at the J.D. Hoyu Grocery in South Philadelphia at the corner of 9th Street and Porter Street on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020. The family are neighborhood friends and live right down the road from the corner store. "They're a nice quiet family," Debbie said. "As soon as I heard I got upset. I hope they catch him." Read more

One day after turning 18, Tyseem Murray fatally shot another teen on a darkened Southwest Philadelphia street last October, and three months after that, he brazenly walked into a corner store and gunned down the 31-year-old clerk, a city prosecutor said during a preliminary hearing Tuesday.

After being arrested in January, Murray confessed to slaying Zyqueire Echevarria, 15, and Xiano Ding Li, 31, Assistant District Attorney Joanne Pescatore told Municipal Judge David Conroy, who ordered the defendant to stand trial on two counts of murder, all related charges, and for an armed robbery committed shortly after the last slaying.

Murray, who will turn 19 next month, hung his head during most of the hearing, which took place in the near-empty Stout Center for Criminal Justice, which is still not officially open to the public due to the coronavirus shutdown.

The shootings of Echevarria and Li came amid an epidemic of gun violence in the city. Through midnight, 334 people had been killed this year in Philadelphia, an increase of 34% compared with the same time last year.

Homicide detectives Vincent Parker and Chris Sweeney testified Tuesday that after Murray was arrested Jan. 17, he waived his rights to remain silent and to have a lawyer, and confessed to committing both slayings.

I had to tell the truth, Parker said he heard Murray telling his mother by phone. He told his mom that he did kill the people, and he apologized for putting her through this, Sweeney said.

Defense attorney Walter Chisholm said the confessions were phony, the product of a scared teenager being interrogated by detectives with decades of combined experience.

Confessions are fraught with all kinds of difficulties, especially when dealing with young Black men, Chisholm said in an interview after the hearing, noting the notorious Central Park Five case in New York, in which five defendants were exonerated years after confessing to raping and beating a woman jogger in 1989. Thats where we are. He had just turned 18 just before the first alleged incident. The homicide detectives had over a hundred years of experience. Under those circumstances, theres no equitable way those confessions should be deemed reliable.

The gunmans face was not visible in videos of both slayings, which were played in court, the attorney said. The detectives, however, testified that the black clothing the gunman wore in the second slaying inside the store was recovered at Murrays home in the 5400 block of Bartram Drive. The handgun linked to the slayings by ballistic evidence was also recovered at the defendants home, Parker testified.

Echevarria, a magnet-school student who reportedly wanted to be an engineer, was shot on the 1500 block of South Beulah Street about 7 p.m. Oct. 14, the day after Murray turned 18.

Video showed the victim standing with a group of male and female teens when someone on a bike stopped, shot Echevarria in the chest, and then pedaled away with another biker. Murray allegedly told detectives he and the victim had a beef and he fired because he thought one of the victims friends had gone into a house for a gun.

In the second slaying, video showed a gunman in a black coat, face mask and hoodie walked into the J.D. Hoyu grocery store in the 900 block of Porter Street and point a handgun at Li, who is sitting behind the counter. Li stood, reached toward the gun with his left hand then was out of camera view as the gunman continued to fire.

The gunman fled with another man who stood at the door during the fatal encounter. Nothing was stolen, but Murray told detectives that he went to the store  owned by Lis family  to rob it and fired his gun because he thought the victim was reaching for a Taser, Sweeney testified.

Li died from a gunshot to the chest.
CIA Director Gina Haspel is reportedly keeping a tight lock on Russian intelligence.

Nine current and former officials tell Politico that Haspel "has become extremely cautious about which, if any, Russia-related intelligence products make their way to President Donald Trump's desk." She has also reportedly been cracking down on the agency's "Russia House," which produces intelligence on the country  but exactly why she's doing so is up for debate.

Last year, Haspel started having the CIA's general counsel review "virtually every product that comes out of Russia House" before it heads to Trump  an "unprecedented" workflow, Politico reports. Haspel's "scrutiny" has led to some "recent dust-ups" with Russia House analysts, including the firing of the house's head this year, four current and former officials tell Politico. Another Russia House analyst reportedly quit after Haspel said he had lied about intelligence. "She calls analysts liars all the time, said one former CIA official.

But another official said it's not a matter of Haspel trying to censor the agency from Trump, who is "extraordinarily sensitive around the subject of Russian meddling," Politico reports. It's more about "quality over quantity," the official said. "Scrutinizing intelligence product and process is exactly what is expected of Director Haspel," CIA Press Secretary Timothy Barrett told Politico, adding she "ensures intelligence is corroborated, double-checked, and then run through the wringer once more." Read more at Politico.

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The three Conservative caucus chairs for the provinces of Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan sounded the alarm for national unity in advance of today's federal throne speech by sending a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/9/2020 (486 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The three Conservative caucus chairs for the provinces of Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan sounded the alarm for national unity in advance of today's federal throne speech by sending a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday.

Signed by Conservative MPs Len Webber in Alberta, Kevin Waugh from Saskatchewan and Manitoba's Larry Maguire, the letter detailed the specific frustrations and difficulties  both economic and political  felt by western Canadians who are feeling "alienated and distrustful of their national government," and called upon the prime minister to "repair some of the damage" he has inflicted on national unity.

In broad terms, the three federal MPs blamed the Trudeau Liberals for pipeline cancellations, anti-development legislation like Bill C-69 that overhauled the National Energy Board and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, "and the flight of large capital investment and projects" from Western Canada.

The letter went further, framing the issue of national unity upon Canada's need for economic recovery, and demanded that the prime minister place Canada's energy industries and other resource developments at the heart of that recovery.

This is not an unexpected  or even a new  demand from Western politicians who have watched global oil prices tumble and many of their constituents lose their jobs as the oil industry hemorrhages. The oil industry was already feeling the pain before the pandemic hit and automation was slowly eating away at job numbers in the industry, but the coronavirus has exacerbated that decline, as it has other sectors of our economy such as retail and small business.

And it would seem that Canadians, too, feel similarly, if the results of a national poll by Ipsos on behalf of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers is accurate. The poll, which surveyed 4,038 Canadians, found a majority of Canadians believe the country's oil and natural gas industry should be part of our economic recovery from the COVID-19 crisis.

The poll suggests that Canadians see economic recovery as the top issue (44 per cent) that the federal government should focus upon in today's speech, which kicks off the new session of Parliament. The other top issues included health care and COVID-19 (36 per cent), and ensuring we can produce what we need in Canada (29 per cent). Interestingly, deficit reduction ranked fourth (20 per cent) and tax reduction fifth (17 per cent) in the top five priorities.

The poll suggests that Canadians are concerned mostly about economic issues, and that when the dust settles from battling COVID-19, they want to still have jobs to work and a growing economy.

While the throne speech is expected to address Canada's economic recovery as well as the ongoing COVID-19 threat, it is questionable whether this prime minister will bow to Western pressure when it comes to oil, gas and resource extraction.

Just two weeks ago, Trudeau was touting his government's plan to unveil an "ambitious green agenda" in the throne speech, saying that the world is moving toward lower carbon, and renewable energy. Though he said the path forward will have to include people working in industries that will be affected by such a shift, he spoke rather about the need for Canada to take the opportunity presented by COVID-19.

"We have an opportunity to go green," he said. "We have an opportunity to be fairer, to reduce barriers for women's participation, (and) Indigenous participation in the workforce."

But with a growing threat of a second wave of COVID-19 facing the country, the Liberal minority government's priorities in today's speech may have shifted somewhat. Canada's premiers have come together demanding more money for health care for the provinces, and there is a growing fear of mass closures of small businesses, specifically in the restaurant industry, across the country due to the pandemic.

And amid all of this, there is renewed talk of an election. With both the NDP and Conservatives making demands upon the government, the pressure on Trudeau and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland to deliver a bold new plan for the country is especially strong. And the future Liberal fortunes could turn on the success of this new session of Parliament, so it's in Trudeau's interests to pacify Western interests, as well as those in vote-rich Ontario and Quebec. Those competing interests have never been more at odds than they are now, making any government plan fraught with political sinkholes and minefields.

More than likely, with the Liberals still riding higher than the Conservatives in national polling, and with a Nanos Research survey last July suggesting Canadians don't want to go back to the polls during the pandemic, Trudeau may well do what he wants and dare the other party leaders to take him down, risking the ire of Canadians.

As it often does in this country, national unity will most likely be forced to take a back seat to political expediency. That's a fancy way of saying that the Conservative caucus chairs' overture to Trudeau probably fell on deaf ears.
When the internet made it onto the consumer market, William Lind said he wouldnt use it.

Lind was working for a U.S. senator when the office brought in computers with internet, and these clunky early machines seemed far from efficient. He declined to use one and was even willing to resign over the issue if forced.

It didnt come to that, and in fact all his coworkers were frustrated that Lind always completed all his work before them. Later, he joked that whoever could invent a computer terminal that would give you hard copies in real time would make a fortunethey all agreed, then realized that was exactly what Linds typewriter did.

So naturally, I never let it into my home, Lind said. Not only did Lind not adopt the internet at the beginning, to this day he doesnt use a computer and hasnt brought the internet into his home.

Following the fallacy that whatever is new is better, most people swapped their typewriters for computers, connected those to the internet, and then adopted smartphones that put the world wide web into their back pockets.

But people are increasingly tired of incessant newness and all it bringssmartphone addiction, the 24-hour news cycle, clutterand an interesting cultural trend is on the rise. Colonial-style furniture, 50s-style fashion, retro-themed establishments and lifestyle brands, new homes built with big front porches, and even entire neighborhoods and towns being built in Victorian-style architecture are becoming more common. Advertisers, designers, and developers all seem to have caught on: People want to somehow capture the feelings of the good old days.

Lind calls it retroculture, and though hes lived it all his life and often gone against the grain to do so, now hes seeing that its on the verge of becoming mainstream.

A mother and daughter visit Colonial Williamsburg in colonial garb. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

More Than Nostalgia

These days, one might see a couple who wants to dress and dance like theyre in the 1940s living in a restored Victorian-style home, next to someone who built his own house and dresses in colonial-style clothes and attends historical re-enactment clubs but also drives a car, flies on a plane, and goes to the movies.

Retroculture is not about living in the past, but rather about bringing the good things found in the past into your own life. Its different from nostalgia, which is a yearning for some imaginary past that can never be recaptured, Lind explains in his book Retroculture.

As everything falls apart around us today, what makes sense is to go back; this is what people have always done when things have gone broadly wrong, Lind said. The Renaissance was a revival of the beautiful and dignifying parts of the classical world, and the Reformation was an attempt to revive the early church and remedy rampant corruption. These grand movements sought wisdom from the past not to recreate it but to find a way forward.

Retroculture is about recapturing real styles of living, whether thats the 20s, the 40s, or the Victorian era. In every era of the past, fashion was a tyrant, Lind writes, but we dont have such restrictions today. People can pick and choose what eras and aspects to adopt, and to what degree.

With successful and beautiful towns like Seaside, Florida, designed to have the look and feel of a community from the past, an explosion of vintage-style bars, the return of train travel, and widespread interest in sustainability, retroculture is here to stay. People want to buy beautiful things that last, instead of throwing things away constantly to keep up with trends. They want to be able to connect with people and find communities.

The town of Seaside, Fla., was designed to look and feel like a classic neighborhood, with mixed use development and public spaces that connect neighbors and community. Seen above is the Seaside post office, a pocket park, and a bookstore. (Courtesy of Visit Florida)

Some might adopt retroculture only in fashion or aesthetically at first, but its soon apparent that what they are after is not just the props that remind us to heed the manners of yesteryear, but the civility and sound values that came with it.

More than Material

In Retroculture, Lind gives plenty of practical advice and items for consideration should you want to live a retroculture lifestyle, move to a retroculture neighborhood, or get your family on board (if you have children, youre in luck, because retroculture is currently quite trendy, and something theyll actually see as cool and fun). He captures the lifestyles of various people who have gone all-in, living immersive retroculture lifestyles. He also touches on dating and courtship (retroculture seeks to recapture pre-sexual revolution wisdom and its fruits of enduring, emotionally satisfying relationships) and advises us to start with good family memories by asking grandparents and relatives what their stories are.

The things are not what is truly important, Lind saidvalues are.

We miss things like civility, sound values, strong family life, and neighborhoods, towns and cities that are pleasant places to live, he writes. Retroculture is about lifestyle, but its also about the values and standards that guide the behavior governing a lifestyle. If you asked the people from these eras we might seek to emulate what was most important to them, Lind said they would likely tell us it was what they believe, things like charity and craftsmanship and stewardship, and that these values are expressions of deeper beliefs and their faith.

These morals, and standard middle-class values, start with the Ten Commandments, Lind explained. He adds in his book that people of the past didnt live up to all of them, but it is only in our present throwaway culture that we have people declaring that if we cant attain this standard we should throw the standard out.

When we look to the past, many see the ugly horrors of it, such as prejudice and hypocrisy, and Lind said no one is advocating we bring that back. Neither are people advocating that we should live without air conditioning and modern medicine. Rather, with the best innovations from the past and present, we can combine them with time-tested values to find a way forward.

Those Stuffy Victorians

It was during the Victorian era that middle-class values became universal, explains William Lind. Values like hard work, saving, and honesty were prevalent across classes. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Lind has always been interested in the past, so in a way his entire life has been research for his book; he has also spoken many times with historian Gertrude Himmelfarb, who wrote a number of books on the Victorian era.

She contrasted very explicitly, which most historians wont do, the success of the Victorians and their social policies compared to the failures of today, Lind said. She wrote that in the Victorian period, the incidence of social problems steadily went down. In our era, starting in the 1960s, theyve steadily gone up. That tells us something.

Lind references the Victorians several times in Retroculture. People might think of theirs as a strange and stuffy period of culture, but Lind details several ways in which they got things right. They focused greatly on improving life, in contrast to todays emphasis on economic growth; they fought for business practices that would support rather than strain families; and they believed in the importance of service to the public good.

Lind grew up in the 1950s, a good and prosperous decade that comes up often in retroculture.

The 50s didnt spring fully grown from the head of Jupiter. They are the product of the Victorians, Lind said. He knew Victorian women growing up, his grandmothers and their friends, and had always been interested in the period. One of the great accomplishments of the Victorians was the spreading of standard middle-class values.

They originate in 17th-century Holland and 18th-century England, Lind said. They were values like modesty; honesty in business dealings; delayed gratification and saving, as in the building up of human, physical, and intellectual capital over the generations; and the importance of workthe belief that work is a good thing in and of itself, not just something we need to do to make money.

By the middle of the 18th century, these values were embedded in the English middle class, but it was really the Victorian era that saw these values become widespread. Lest we forget, we had very rough societies before the prim and proper Victorians.

They make middle-class values essentially universal, Lind said. Up through the 1950s, even if you were poor, you saw the importance of hard work, saving, and honesty, and conspicuous consumption was frowned upon among the wealthy as well, he said. Thats not to say it didnt happen, but it definitely didnt help you rise on the social ladder.

The values worked, and perhaps even more interesting, they are unique.

They create a society that is safe, stable, prosperous, and free at the same time, Lind said. Many times in history weve seen cultures that were orderly, and there have even been a handful that were both orderly and prosperous. But these middle-class values gave almost a unique combination of order, prosperity, and freedom, Lind said. Because middle-class values understand that freedom is not  the right to do whatever you feel like at the moment and suffer no consequences.

Freedom is the right to substitute self-discipline for imposed discipline. And thats what the old culture did; it did it by social sanction, overwhelmingly, not by law.

Remembering Who We Are

When Lind was 8 years old, he would take the train by himself up to his aunts house in Meyersdale, Pennsylvania.

That was my great refuge as a kid, he said with a laugh. Nobody thought anything of an 8-year-old traveling by himself then. Id have a week before my parents got there, and Aunt Lulu would make as many of the rich, wonderful desserts I love as I could eat, and there was no limit until my mother got there.

Even as a child, Lind was keenly aware that he was living in a world where the good things were gone or going.

Not the desserts, but the steam locomotives and the streetcars he loved ridingMeyersdale, in his aunts time, was home to two railroads, and on the weekends would be packed so full you could hardly walk down the sidewalk. Today, its a somewhat depressed town.

Linds love of history and affinity for retroculture is steeped in his family roots. His great-grandfather fought in the Civil War, and Lind still has his diary, his musket, and the letters he wrote. He also has a diary of that Civil War soldiers mother, Linds great-great-grandmother; she began writing it in 1835.

My mothers family, the Sturgesses, our motto is If we once had it, we still do,' Lind said. My house is filled with family memorabilia going back before the Civil War in some cases; these remind me who we are.

And when I was young, one of the main admonishments that young people who were misbehaving got, from their parents and grandparents, was Remember who we are.'

But somehow between one generation and the next, we forgot. Lind and others often point to the cultural collapse of the 60s, when youth culture said dont trust anyone over 30, join the sexual revolution, and reject of your parents lifestyles.

What we had, Lind said, was a generation of young people reared in prosperity who thought the wealth and stability and freedom they had was just a given, combined with the cultural Marxism that had been making inroads since after World War I.

The influential writers of the time included Herbert Marcuse, who successfully dumbed down the often very obtuse intellectual works by the other Frankfurt School members in works like Eros and Civilization and then injected it into the Baby Boomers, this generation that had grown up in prosperity and with good order and so it assumed all those things were automatic when in fact they were only a generation deep, Lind said. This was a generation that did not want to fight the Vietnam War and that latched onto an ideology that justified this desire. Those two things came together and gave us the disaster of the 1960s, and since then that counterculture has become the mainstream, largely through the Baby Boom generation. They absorbed cultural Marxism as students and have since promulgated it to succeeding generations.

Lind has written plenty about what went wrong and how it went wrong, but Retroculture isnt about that. It focuses not just on solutions, but on the fun and positive ones. This isnt policy and partisan politics; its about asking your grandparents how they lived their lives, demanding beauty in everyday purchases so as to buy less, and maintaining civility and raising that standard around us.

It does no good to offer another dystopia, Lind said. In fact, hes written one, a fictional novel, under the pen name Thomas Hobbes. Linds Victoria is an update of the philosopher Hobbess Leviathan, he takes a look 50 years into the future of this country as it falls apart, but the story ends with retroculture and rebuilding based on what we know worked in the past, Lind said.

People need something positive to engage with; you cant get anywhere just by condemning everything. And thats exactly what people whove discovered retroculture are engaging in.

Youve got to give people something positive to work for.

What family memorabilia or items from the past do you hold dear in your life? What time-cherished rituals have you kept going? Tell us at tradition@epochtimes.com or The Epoch Times, Life & Tradition, 229 W. 28th St. Floor 7, New York, NY 10001.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A Staten Island man who attended several protests in the city this summer is facing felony charges after he punched two police officers in the face and kicked one in Manhattan, police allege.

Police arrested Alvin Dan, 28, of South Gannon Avenue, while he was attending a Black Lives Matter protest in Washington Square Park on Sept. 18, an NYPD spokesman said.

As police were trying to arrest the Meiers Corners man, Dan kicked a lieutenant in the right thigh and then punched him in the right eye, police allege.

Dan twisted the lieutenants left index finger while he was trying to put handcuffs on him, causing substantial pain," according to criminal complaint.

He then proceeded to punch an NYPD captain in the left eye, police say.

Dan is now facing charges that include one count of resisting arrest and assault in the second degree for causing physical injury to a police officer.

A lawyer representing Dan did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Dan is being held on $7,500 bond/$3,500 cash and is due back in Manhattan Criminal Court on Thursday, according to public records.

It wasnt the first time Dan was arrested while attending a protest in recent months.

On July 15, police were trying to take another protester into custody when Dan tried to stop the officers, the NYPD spokesman said.

When police tried to arrest Dan, he shoved a sergeant and failed to give his hands to be placed in handcuffs, according to the NYPD.

Police eventually arrested Dan and charged him with resisting arrests, obstructing governmental administration and refusing to disperse, according to police and public records.

On July 24, Dan tried once again to interfere with an arrest police officers were making during a protest, the spokesman said.

Dan shoved the officer back and tried to pull the other person away from the officer, according to police.

Police arrested Dan and charged him with resisting arrest and unlawful assembly, according to public records and police.

Dan was given a desk appearance ticket for both the July 15 and 24 arrests, public records indicate.

He is due back in court on Oct. 13 and Oct. 22, according to public records.

A lawyer for the July arrests is not publicly listed.
Sen. Hawley: Conservatives have opportunity to secure 'pro-Constitution' majority on SCOTUS

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Appearing at the 2020 Values Voter Summit Tuesday, Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., spoke about the Supreme Court vacancy, arguing that conservatives have an opportunity to put a pro-Constitution majority on the court, reversing decades of disappointing rulings.

When asked by Family Research Council President Tony Perkins about the vacancy, Hawley described it as a turning point moment.

Weve got an opportunity here as conservatives  those of us who believe in the right to life, those of us who believe in religious liberty, this is a moment where well be able to shape the future of this court for decades to come, he said.

I think this last term on the United States Supreme Court has made maybe all too clear that we do not have a working, pro-Constitution majority. We do not have a working pro-family, pro-life majority on the United States Supreme Court. This is the chance to get one.

In the previous term on the Supreme Court, two Republican-appointed Supreme Court justices sided with liberal justices in ruling that Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act applies to sexual orientation and gender identity. Therefore, a Christian-owned funeral home in Michigan broke the law by firing an employee who transitioned from male to female.

Justice Neil Gorsuch, whom President Donald Trump appointed to the Supreme Court in 2017, authored the opinion while George W. Bush appointee Chief Justice John Roberts also sided with the four liberal justices in the decision. Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Public Theology Professor Andrew Walker slammed the decision as devastating for religious liberty.

Two weeks later, Roberts sided with the liberal justices in striking down a Louisiana abortion law that required abortion doctors to have admitting privileges at local hospitals. Lila Rose, founder of the pro-life advocacy group Live Action, called the decision truly awful.

Perkins brought up a speech Hawley gave on the Senate floor, where he criticized Senate Republicans for their lackluster performance in appointing originalist justices to the bench.

The deal is up. Conservatives have bought this kind of a wink and a nod, trust us, and here we are, 47 years after Roe v. Wade and were still fighting the same battles, Perkins paraphrased Hawley as saying.

After mentioning that Republican presidents have had the opportunity to appoint over a dozen judges to the Supreme Court in the past several decades, Hawley expressed disappointment that the Republican Party has not done a good job of actually living up to its pledges to our voters to put pro-Constitution, pro-life, pro-family justices on the bench.

Its time that the pledge ends and the actual work and the results begin, he said. To get my vote in the United States Senate, this nominee  has to be someone who understands that Roe v. Wade was wrongly decided, that Roe v. Wade is an act of judicial imperialism, and they have to understand why that is absolutely central to your judicial philosophy.

If you think that Roe is OK, if you believe theres no problem with Roe, not only are you wrong on the moral issue  that also tells me you dont understand a judges role in our Constitutional structure. Thats why I drew that line in the sand."

For decades, conservatives have worked to appoint Supreme Court justices who would overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, which legalized abortion nationwide. Perkins discussed how Senate Republicans have embraced a stealth plan to keep judicial nominees explicit positions on Roe v. Wade secret and just hope that theyre right on the issue.

We know how thats worked out, Hawley asserted. It hasnt worked out well at all.

On multiple occasions throughout the past several decades, Republican-appointed Supreme Court justices have sided with liberals on cases relating to abortion and other social policy issues.

Republican-appointed justices William Brennan, Warren Burger, Potter Stewart and Lewis Powell were part of the 7-2 majority ruling that abortion was a constitutional right in Roe v. Wade.

In 1992, Republican-appointed justices Sandra Day OConnor, Anthony Kennedy, John Paul Stevens, David Souter and Harry Blackmun voted to reaffirm Roe in the Planned Parenthood v. Casey decision.

In 2000, OConnor, Stevens and Souter joined with two Democrat-appointed justices to strike down a Nebraska law banning partial-birth abortion.

In 2003, OConnor, Kennedy, Stevens and Souter sided with the liberal justices in striking down a Texas law banning sodomy in Lawrence v. Texas. In 2015, Kennedy joined with the four liberal justices to declare same-sex marriage a constitutional right in Obergefell v. Hodges.

In a 2005 column, conservative commentator Ann Coulter expressed disappointment with past and present Republican-appointed Supreme Court justices, citing Souter, Brennan, Blackmun, Stevens, OConnor and Kennedy as reasons why Republican presidents have lost the right to say trust me when it comes to Supreme Court nominations.

Coulters column was written shortly after then-President George W. Bush nominated Roberts to the court.

Hawley offered a similar analysis in his conversation with Perkins.

As he explained the need for Supreme Court nominees to acknowledge that Roe was wrongly decided, Hawley recalled, What weve seen for years in the past are these trust us statements that come from usually the establishment, the political establishment."

"They say trust us, weve chosen the justice, you just go along with it, conservatives, you go along with it, pro-family, you go along with it, pro-life conservatives,'" Hawley argued.

I think were out of the business of trusting. Theyve taken our votes and our support for granted. They depended on us to turn out and win elections and to give electoral support to Republicans but then when push comes to shove, its time to nominate, its time to confirm, were told to just go along with the program.

Hawleys promise to only support Supreme Court nominees who explicitly support overturning Roe v. Wade, combined with his membership on the narrowly divided Senate Judiciary Committee, gives him the power to make or break a judicial nomination.

Trump is expected to announce a replacement for recently deceased Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg later this week.
The University of Toronto and the Canadian Judicial Council are under mounting pressure to investigate allegations that the universitys Faculty of Law backed off from an important hiring decision under external influence and that a sitting judge  a major donor to the faculty  exerted that inappropriate influence.

Global human rights organization Amnesty International threatened to pull out of its four-year partnership with the law schools International Human Rights Program (IHRP), citing serious reputational risk for Amnesty unless the university offered a full, transparent explanation of events.

The Star reported last week that the university had reversed a decision to offer Germany-based scholar Valentina Azarova the position of director of IHRP. According to a note by two previous directors of that program to the faculty dean, Edward Iacobucci, on Sept. 12, a judge of the Tax Court of Canada had expressed concern about Azarovas scholarship on Israels occupation of the Palestinian territories.

This judge was not named in the letter.

The Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT), which represents 70,000 academic and general staff at 120 universities and colleges, asked the university to immediately restart the hiring process with Azarova.

Dean Iacobucci denied outside influence affected the outcome of the search but not that such pressure was applied. He told law professors, Even the most basic of the conjectures that are circulating in public, that an offer was made and rescinded, is false. However, sources told the Star that a verbal offer had been made and accepted. The Star also published details of emails that corroborate that intention.

The entire faculty advisory board of the IHRP has resigned; one of them was on a three-member hiring committee. Another hiring committee member resigned his job in protest.

On Monday, the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) asked the judicial council for an independent and thorough investigation of the alleged interference by a sitting judge.

Unproven and potentially spurious allegations, both on social media and amongst various members of the University of Toronto community, have been made that Justice David Spiro, who sits on the Tax Court of Canada, and is publicly listed as a donor to the University of Toronto, was the judge responsible for engaging in such inappropriate conduct, wrote the council CEO Mustafa Farooq.

Two sources have independently named the same judge to the Star. Judge Spiro is among those named on the Faculty of Law Building Campaign Donors and for a Campaign for Excellence without Barriers in support of students in the $25,000-$99,999 donor category.

The tax court declined comment when the Star asked to clarify whether Spiro was involved. The Tax Court of Canada will not comment on this matter, Sophie Matte, executive legal counsel to the chief justice, said by email Tuesday.

Farooq cited complaints from Canadian Muslim academics who feared the incident could restrict their academic freedom and lawyers, some of whom appear at the Tax Court feeling reasonably concerned about the apprehension of bias.

On Sunday, Osgoode Hall Law School professor Craig Scott asked the council to seek the name of the judge and conduct further investigations once that name is determined.

He offered four names at the University of Torontos law school who he believed had first-hand knowledge of the name of the Tax Court judge and the timing and recipients of one or more communications to the University of Toronto Faculty of Law in relation to Azarovas appointment.

The four names are Iacobucci; Professor Audrey Macklin; who resigned from the faculty advisory board and was a hiring committee member; assistant dean Alexis Archbold, also on the hiring committee (the Star has seen letters from Archbold that suggest Azarova was the committees unanimous and enthusiastic choice); and lastly, assistant dean Jennifer Lancaster, who leads the law schools fundraising strategy.

If contacted, I assume that every one of them would feel ethically and possibly legally obliged to answer the questions of an investigator truthfully, even as they may, for different reason have decided not to speak to reveal such information to journalists, Scott wrote.

The judicial council did not respond to Star questions on how it would proceed with the two complaints by deadline.

Amnesty International Canada asked Dean Iacobucci to conduct an independent external review, and to make its findings public.

It is essential that the investigation be independent, meaning wholly outside the universitys control and direction, Amnesty secretary general Alex Neve told the Star. The investigator must have unhindered access to any and all information and to interview anyone they see fit. It should be feasible to wrap this up within six weeks.

The other demand from CAUT to restart the hiring process was addressed to university president Meric Gertler.

According to information I have received, including discussions with Dr. Azarova, it appears the decision to cancel her appointment was politically motivated, and as such would constitute a serious breach of widely recognized principles of academic freedom, wrote David Robinson, CAUT executive director, on Sept. 16 in a note made public Monday.

In its media statements, the university has been at pains to point out that the position of the IHRP director is a managerial staff position not a faculty one and that it was a non-academic staff member.

So what, asked Vincent Wong, who was on the hiring committee and resigned from his job.

A job like the director of a human rights clinic, which engages teaching and research specifically on issues holding power to account, should attract academic freedom considerations similar to those of tenured faculty and students.
Pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has begun the phase-three trials of its single-shot coronavirus vaccine candidate, the company announced on September 23.

The fourth experimental vaccine to enter the last stage of trials in the United States will recruit up to 60,000 adult volunteers in the US and other countries to determine its safety and effectiveness.

Unlike the three vaccines developed by Moderna, Pfizer and BioNTech, and AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford, that require a re-visit and second shot three to four weeks after the first one to trigger a protective immune response, J&J will be initially testing a single dose.

Besides, J&J vaccine can also be stored in liquid form at refrigerator temperatures for three months, whereas two of the front-runner candidates must be frozen or kept at ultracold temperatures for long-term storage.

A single-shot vaccine, if its safe and effective, will have substantial logistic advantages for global pandemic control, said Dan Barouch, director of the Center for Virology and Vaccine Research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, who partnered with J&J to develop the vaccine told Washington Post.

This development comes at the heels of US President Donald Trump's claim that he expects to have available enough doses of a coronavirus vaccine for every American by April.

"Hundreds of millions of doses will be available every month, and we expect to have enough vaccines for every American by April," Trump told a news conference.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 01:03:41|Editor: huaxia

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LAGOS, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria's police in southern Ebonyi on Wednesday said three more corpses had been recovered from the Akaeze-Ukwu river, where a bus plunged into the river on Sept. 18, bringing the death toll to 22.

The state police spokesperson told Xinhua in Abakaliki, the state capital, the 32-passenger bus was returning from a funeral in the Afikpo South area of neighboring Enugu State when the accident occurred.

The spokesperson said the recovered bodies have been deposited at Izunma Hospital Mortuary, Akaeze in the Ivo area, awaiting autopsy.

Meanwhile, four people are still receiving treatment in the hospital. Enditem
Jegadeeswari Pandian By

Express News Service

MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Tuesday quashed a tender notification issued by the executive officer-cum-fit person of the Arulmigu Dhandayuthapani Swamy temple in Palani to hire housekeeping service for the temple.

The court said that major decisions which have financial implications ought to be taken only by the temples board of trustees, and advised Tamil Nadu authorities to take steps to constitute a board of trustees for the temple as soon as possible.

Justice GR Swaminathan noted that due to a change in the political scenario in 2011, some temple trustees resigned from the boards, and to fill the vacuum the Tamil Nadu government had passed an order that year appointing executive officers as ex-officio fit persons. "Though it was an interim measure, nine years have gone by and the executive officers continue to be at the helm of affairs," he said.

"As per Rule 11 of Collection of Income and the Incurring of Expenditure Rules, no expenditure shall be incurred without the written order of the trustee. But, if the executive officer himself is also made the fit person so that he can discharge the functions of a trustee, and such a scenario continues for years together, it is certainly fraud on the statute," the judge pointed out.

The judge also concurred with the contentions of the petitioner's counsel that the executive officer for Palani temple had been appointed under the Madras Act, 1927, and no fresh proceedings were issued under the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act of 1959. Arguments made by government counsels questioning the locus standi (right to bring an action to a court of law) of the petitioner were quickly rejected by the judge. "He has filed the plea in his capacity as a devotee or worshiper," he said.

Allowing the petition, he quashed the tender notification dated August 20, 2020 and advised the State authorities to take steps to constitute board of trustees for Palani temple as early as possible.

Justice Swaminathan also quoted from The New Indian Express editorial published on September 22 regarding similar concerns pertaining to the administration of temples in Andhra Pradesh that cropped up following the recent Antarvedi temple fire.

"Reconstituting temple trust boards with eminent Hindus and men of impeccable character would be a good start. Leaving the temples in the care of the bureaucracy and politicians hasn't helped," he quoted and said that these words are relevant to Tamil Nadu as well.

The petitioner, TR Ramesh, had challenged the notification on various grounds which, apart from questioning the capacity of the authorities, also included the argument that devotees are entitled to offer voluntary service known as 'Uzhavara pani' and that cleaning and maintenance works should not be given to outsiders in the name of a housekeeping contract.

The judge accepted this contention by quoting from the 'Periyapuranam' and added that the temple management cannot deny this right.
When Anne Kovas saw her younger daughters class schedule at Jackson Middle School, she was puzzled: Why so little live online instruction?

Her oldest, a freshman at Wilson High, has two 75-minute classes per day, four days per week, totaling 10 hours a week.
A review meeting will be held on Friday ahead of the Ashok Gehlot-led Rajasthan governments plan to place its report card in public domain on the occasion of the Mahatma Gandhis birth anniversary celebrations on October 2.

Tamradwaj Sahu, Congress leader and the chairperson of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) manifesto implementation panel, will preside over the review meeting on Friday.

Also read: Rajasthan govt approves free travel to Haridwar for ashes immersion

Sahu and Congress member of Parliament (MP) Amar Singh will visit Jaipur to review the implementation of the partys report card.

CM Ashok Gehlot, Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee (RPCC) chief Govind Singh and AICC general secretary Ajay Maken will also attend the review meeting.

However, Maken is slated to attend the meeting via a video-conference link.

CM Gehlot is keeping his cabinet colleagues and senior bureaucrats on their toes as only eight days are left for the October 2 deadline.

Maken, who has recently been made the in-charge of the partys affairs in Rajasthan, has held several meetings with members of the Gehlot cabinet as part of the feedback programme ahead of the release of the report card on October 2.

He has expressed his satisfaction about the Gehlot governments performance.

He has said that 70% of the promises made by the Rajasthan government has been fulfilled since the Congress came to power in December 2018.
The Trump administrations nominee for ambassador to Pakistan has said that Islamabad must take sustained and irreversible action against terrorism.

In a statement to the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on Tuesday as part of his confirmation process, William E Todd said he will actively engage Pakistan on terrorism, strategic stability and non-proliferation if he is confirmed.

To truly reduce regional tensions, and rebuild a strong relationship with the United States, Pakistan must take sustained and irreversible action against terrorism. Pakistan has suffered terribly itself at the hands of terrorists and has committed publicly to ensure terrorists cannot use Pakistani territory to operate, he said in his statement.

He added, Pakistan has taken important steps toward fulfilling that commitment but needs to continue that work. If confirmed, I will work with Pakistan to advance our shared interest in eliminating terrorism from its territory and advancing security in the region.

Also Read: Pakistan Hindu Council chief discusses Jodhpur deaths with foreign minister Qureshi

Todd referred to what he described as regional dynamics and said although we have a strong relationship with India, that does not need to come at the expense of Pakistan.

He added, I believe that under the right conditions, we can have a strong relationship with both countries. Our hope is that both countries will take the necessary steps to reduce tensions, and as President [Donald] Trump has offered, we are prepared to facilitate dialogue if both sides request it.

India has accused Pakistan of supporting cross-border terrorism, especially in Kashmir. It has also repeatedly spurned all efforts by Trump to mediate between the two countries, saying differences with Pakistan are a bilateral matter.

In his statement, Todd described the US-Pakistan ties as a longstanding and important, but always complicated and sometimes contentious relationship.

He said: We certainly have our differences, but Pakistan is an essential regional partner, and this is an opportune moment in our relationship to work together on shared goals. Peace in Afghanistan is in both our countries best interests, and effective US-Pakistani cooperation is essential to achieve that objective.

He recalled secretary of state Mike Pompeos remarks during a visit to Islamabad in 2018 about an opportunity to reset the relationship between our two countries across a broad spectrum - economic, business, commercial - the work that we all know that we need to do to try to develop a peaceful resolution in Afghanistan that benefits certainly Afghanistan, but also the United States and Pakistan.

Also Read: India slams Turkish President Erdogans Kashmir remarks at UNGA

Todd said Pakistan played a critical role in creating the conditions that brought Afghan leaders and the Taliban to the historic start of Afghan Peace Negotiations and noted Islamabad has an even more important role to play in supporting efforts toward a negotiated political settlement. This represents an opportunity for Pakistan to continue to forge a new and better role in the region, he added.

He said he would also engage Pakistan on strategic stability and non-proliferation, carrying a clear message on the threat that nuclear weapons pose to the United States, the region, and our allies and partners.

Pakistan needs to demonstrate it is prepared to live up to international commitments on weapons of mass destruction, he added.

Todd also listed three other key priorities that he would focus on if confirmedadvancing human rights, particularly freedom of religion and expression, increased bilateral trade and investment, and expanded youth engagement.

I was shocked and heartbroken that US citizen Tahir Naseem was killed in a Pakistani courtroom in which he was facing an accusation of blasphemy. I grieve with the family of Mr Naseem, and if confirmed, will engage Pakistani authorities on full accountability for the perpetrators, he said.

I am also concerned about increasing restrictions on civil society, including the growing harassment and disappearances of journalists without accountability, which undermines the exercise of the right of peaceful assembly and freedoms of expression and association, he added.

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MANAGUA, Nicaragua: Nicaraguas governing party is pushing a bill that would require people, businesses and non-governmental groups that receive money from outside the country to register as foreign agents, saying it is an attempt to prevent foreign interference.

The Sandinista Front of President Daniel Ortega controls 70 of the 91 seats in the National Assembly.

Once registered as a foreign agent, individuals or organizations would have to abstain from intervening in activities or areas of domestic politics. Those found in violation could face seizure of their assets.

Juan Sebastin Chamorro, executive director of the Civic Alliance opposition group, said the proposed legislation is unconstitutional. Deep down its aim is to repress the Nicaraguan opposition, he said.

The proposal also raised concern among independent media outlets and human rights organizations, many of which depend on foreign financial support.

The law would exempt Nicaraguans receiving remittances from relatives living abroad and foreigners living in Nicaragua receiving pensions from outside the country, as well as local branches of foreign companies and investors.

Ortega has blamed big anti-government protests that broke out in April 2018 on foreign interference. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights says more than 300 people died after the government violently repressed those demonstrations.

Nicaraguas next presidential elections are scheduled for November 2021.

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 01:19:08|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Chairman of the presidency of Bosnia-Herzegovina Sefik Dzaferovic on Wednesday defended multilateralism at the UN General Assembly, citing his own country's experiences.

There is an indisputable fact that during the past few years, a very strong crisis of multilateralism has been present at the scene, Dzaferovic told the General Debate of the General Assembly.

International organizations in general, including the very United Nations, have become an object of strong challenge and even dispute, he said in a pre-recorded statement.

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that the largest problems of today can no longer be solved by one, three, or five states individually. These difficulties can only be solved through transnational, multilateral response, based on dialogue and cooperation of as many states as possible, he said.

"Allow me to share with you an observation how multilateral organizations, even at the time of the pandemic, have shown their extraordinary significance in today's globalized world, which is based on interdependence and a necessity for constant cooperation."

A historic agreement for a package of economic recovery of the European Union worth over 2 trillion euros (2.34 trillion U.S. dollars), has indicated how the European unity is extremely strong and can serve as an example to all other parts of the world, he said.

The strength of the European Union has also been demonstrated in the fact that it did not direct its enormous financial resources to only serve its own needs. Rather it has also supported other countries, including Bosnia-Herzegovina, a country that is on its road toward EU membership.

He also thanked the EU for its strong support for Bosnia-Herzegovina's economy and the health care system, which, he said, has had an extraordinary stabilization potential.

The EU assistance package for Bosnia-Herzegovina to mitigate the economic impact of the pandemic has strengthened the country's commitment to European integration and has secured, for the very European Union, the stability in its nearest neighborhood, he said. Enditem
DAVISON, MI -- Its been 14 days since Davison Community Schools started its school year, and the district has quarantined 139 students or employees.

But only three students have tested positive for COVID-19, and none of them contracted COVID-19 from school, Superintendent Kevin Brown said.

One was an online student and another had not attended school for 48 hours before becoming symptomatic. The third student had been in an elementary small group pod to support social distancing, so only four students and one teacher had to be quarantined due to contact.

District quarantine numbers are high because a student and their close contacts must quarantine if the student shows a primary symptom associated COVID-19, like a fever or shortness of breath. If the symptomatic student is tested and the results are negative, or if a healthcare provider makes an alternate diagnosis, the student and those quarantined are allowed to return to school.

What has been really challenging, to be honest, is the quarantining that has been required for people who are symptomatic, Brown said, referring to students who have symptoms that can be related to COVID-19 but have yet to receive test results.

Were spending an exorbitant amount of time dealing with that because kids have illnesses -- they have allergies, they have colds, they have flus, they have a lot of things that can appear with symptoms similar to or, in a lot of cases, the same as COVID-19.

The districts quarantine procedures are taken directly from Gov. Gretchen Whitmers Executive Order 172 which states, any and all people who have had close contact with an individual who tests positive for COVID-19 or with an individual who displays principal symptoms of COVID-19 should remain in their home or place or residence (apart from seeking medical care ... until 14 days have passed since the last close contact or the individual displaying the symptoms receives a negative COVID test.

Heres what happens when someone at a Genesee County school gets coronavirus

This means, not only will Davison students with COVID-19 symptoms be isolated before their COVID-19 test comes back, so will any of their peers found to be potential close contacts. Close contact is defined as someone within six feet who has spent 15 minutes or more with the symptomatic person.

Of the 139 in Davison schools who have quarantined, 96 or 69% have returned to school after the student presenting symptoms received a negative COVID-19 test or an alternative diagnosis from their doctor, district officials said. Most students returned within two to four days, they said.

The district asks for help from parents in identifying their childrens symptoms and close contacts.

If a child displays one primary symptom: fever, chills, uncontrolled cough, shortness of breath or loss of smell or taste, they are asked to stay home, Brown said. They also must stay home if they have two secondary symptoms: muscle aches, sore throat, severe headache, diarrhea, vomiting or abdominal pain, he said.

Students in close contact with any student with these symptoms are also asked to quarantine for 14 days or until the child with symptoms has received a negative COVID-19 test result or alternative diagnosis.

All things considered, Brown said the district is still doing very well. Of its around 5,700 students, 80% opted to return to the classroom in person this year. Davison is Genesee Countys second largest school district.

Ive been pretty outspoken that I believe the best thing is for kids to be in school. Were working very, very hard to make that happen and to keep kids in school, Brown said. All in all, when you look at the big picture I think weve been very successful. Even if you look at the total number of kids quarantined 139 out of over 5,000 students, those are numbers I can work with. Its a lot of work but its worth it to provide a safe educational environment for our students.

The Genesee County Health Department confirmed its guidelines adhere to Whitmers order for close contacts of symptomatic but not yet tested people to quarantine, spokesman John McKellar said, adding he does not believe many counties are following the order as strictly as Genesee County is.

He said the order to quarantine direct contacts of people with symptoms, which is more stringent than CDC guidelines, may have influenced the August influx of Genesee County schools switching from having in-person option for classes to being entirely remote, McKellar said.

The number of quarantined Davison students has doubled since Brown released a Thursday, Sept. 17 letter to parents, outlining the districts procedure in the case of symptomatic children.

In the first week of school, which started in person Tuesday, Sept. 8 for students who did not opt to learn online, Brown said no positive COVID-19 cases were identified among students. However, in the second week, three positive cases were identified and more than 70 students were identified as a close contact to a classmate who developed a fever or other principal symptom of COVID-19 while in school.

In order to be transparent, Brown said the district is developing a COVID-19 Data Dashboard on the district website. The dashboard will report the number of positive cases reported, the number of students in quarantine and statistics by building.

I share this information with you for several reasons," Brown wrote. "First, we want to be completely transparent. We do not want to cause undue panic or concern, but want parents and staff members to be kept up to date with what is happening throughout the district. Secondly, we want you to have accurate information. I am very well aware of the rumors circulating on social media and so much of the information that is shared is just not accurate.

In the case of symptomatic students, the affected person and close contacts are removed from the classroom and calls are made for the parents to pick their child up,. They are not allowed to ride the bus home.

If the parent of the symptomatic student decides against testing or seeking guidance from a healthcare provider, then the student -- along with those quarantined -- must remain out of school throughout the quarantine period, Brown said.

We need to exercise an extreme amount of caution and will continue to follow the guidance of health department officials, Brown wrote. "We thank you for your support and patience.

Read more:

These school tax proposals are on Genesee Countys November ballot

2 Lake Fenton students test positive for coronavirus

Positive coronavirus cases move some Port Huron classrooms to virtual learning

Flint Community Schools to stay online only until further notice
More than HK$11 million (US$1.4 million) worth of cocaine was found concealed in seven boxes of chocolate biscuits airmailed to Hong Kong from Europe, a customs official said on Tuesday.

The 7.7kg haul of illicit narcotics was found among 160 boxes of biscuits during an inspection of a consignment sent from the Netherlands at the airports cargo terminal on Wednesday last week.

Acting senior inspector Yau Wing-yeung, of the customs departments drug investigation bureau, said the shipment was opened for inspection after an X-ray examination yielded suspicious images.

Get the latest insights and analysis from our Global Impact newsletter on the big stories originating in China.

A slab of cocaine, weighing about 1.1kg, was found under a layer of chocolate biscuits in each of the seven boxes involved, he said.

Two men, aged 65 and 30, were arrested in connection with the case on Thursday last week and Monday, respectively.

Customs officers are investigating whether the cocaine was destined for the local market.

Illegal drugs with a total estimated street value of more than HK$550 million were seized at Hong Kong airports cargo terminal in the first half of this year, as coronavirus-related travel restrictions forced international syndicates to use airborne shipments rather than human couriers.

Figures showed 1.47 tonnes of illegal drugs were seized from air cargo packages posted into and out of the city in the first six months of this year, up 127 per cent from the 645kg found in the same period last year.

A suspect arrested in connection to the seizure of 7.7kg of cocaine last week is seen at customs headquarters in North Point on Tuesday. Photo: Felix Wong

A law enforcement source said the price of cocaine on the citys underground market had gone up from HK$1,100 a gram in May, to more than HK$1,400 a gram recently.

The higher price indicates there is a shortage of illegal drugs on the market, the source said, adding that he believed the drug shortage was the result of customs and police officers stepping up enforcement action and making more seizures in recent months.

Story continues

Last Friday, police confiscated HK$23 million worth of ketamine and arrested a suspected drug trafficker in a Kwun Tong warehouse.

And earlier this month, customs officers made their largest seizure so far this year involving airborne drug shipments, bagging about HK$45 million worth of various drugs and arresting a male suspect. The haul included about 31kg of liquid cocaine that was found concealed in 45 red wine bottles during an inspection of an air cargo consignment arriving in the city from the United States on September 7.

Last month, police also made their largest seizure of dangerous drugs this year, swooping down on a factory building in Fanling, where a haul worth more than HK$170 million was found hidden inside bottled drinks. A total of 178kg of heroin, Ice  or crystal methamphetamine  and ketamine were seized in the operation.

This article Hong Kong customs finds 7.7kg of cocaine in shipment of biscuits after X-ray reveals sweets contained more than just chocolate first appeared on South China Morning Post

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Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) urged Mumbaikars against leaving homes unless absolutely necessary following heavy water logging in parts of Mumbai on Wednesday after overnight rain. Water logging was reported from Hindmata, Gandhi Market, Sion Road 24, Malad Subway, Bandra Talkies, Old Khar, and Shastri Nagar, Goregaon. BMC diverted buses from these routes on Wednesday morning.

Mumbai Rains LIVE updates: Dedicated Covid-19 facility faces water logging

Mumbaikars, train services on Central & Harbour lines have been suspended due to water logging following the heavy rainfall yesterday. However, Western Railway is functioning as usual, BMC tweeted.

All four lines of Central Railways were stopped from 4.20 am due to water logging between Dadar and Kurla stations, and Masjid Bundar, according to BMCs disaster management department.

Municipal Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal visited parts of Mumbai to take stock of the situation.

While the intensity of rainfall went down in several parts of the city, water was yet to recede. According to BMC, water logging was reported from Bhendi Bazar, Gol Temple, Nana Chowk in Grant Road, Mumbai Central Junction, J J flyover Junction, Hindmata, Kala Chowky and Worli Sea Face. The body tweeted about it, adding that all administrative wards were working actively to remove the water.

Water logging at Bhendi Bazar, Gol Temple, Nana Chowk, Mumbai Central Junction, Bawla Compound, J J Junction, Hindmata, Kala Chowky, Sarthi Bar, Worli Sea Face.



All wards are working actively to dewater the water logged areas.#MumbaiRains#MyBMCUpdates   Mumbai,  BMC (@mybmc) September 23, 2020

According to BMC, the island city received an average of 267mm rainfall in the last 24 hours from Tuesday 8 am to Wednesday 8 am followed by western suburbs received average of 251mm of rainfall and eastern suburbs received 173 mm of rainfall. Several areas in central Mumbai surrounding Byculla and Dadar received the highest rainfall, according to BMC.

BMC earlier evacuated residents living around the banks of Mithi river around 6 am as the water levels crossed the 3.3 metre mark. A civic officer from BMCs disaster management department said, Water receded by 8am, and a few people returned home. The situation is under control.
The Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on Wednesday conferred the title of "role model of the times" on 10 frontline medical assistance teams in recognition of their outstanding contributions in China's fight against COVID-19.

Huang Kunming, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, attended the ceremony and presented medals and certificates to the recipients.

The 10 medical teams include the national medical assistance team for Hubei Province, which consists of medical experts and workers from the Beijing Hospital and other five hospitals, a team of military medics dispatched to Hubei and a traditional Chinese medicine medical team dispatched to Hubei from the China Academy of Chinese Medical Science.

Over 42,000 medical workers from across China have been dispatched to aid Hubei in fighting COVID-19 since the virus outbreak.
HAMILTON, Bermuda, Sept. 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hermitage Offshore Services Ltd. (Hermitage Offshore, or the Company) announced today that it has received notification from the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) that the Companys common stock has been suspended from trading on the NYSE as it has fallen below the NYSEs continued listing standard requiring listed companies to maintain an average global market capitalization over a consecutive 30 trading day period of at least $15,000,000. The suspension of trading does not affect the Companys appeal rights with respect to the NYSEs previously announced determination to commence delisting procedures with respect to the Companys common stock. The hearing to review the delisting determination is scheduled to take place on December 17, 2020.



Commensurate with the suspension of trading from the NYSE, the Company expects that its common stock will be quoted on the OTC Pink marketplace ("OTC Pink"), operated by the OTC Markets Group Inc., effective Thursday, September 24, 2020 under the ticker symbol HOFSQ. The OTC Pink is a significantly more limited market than the NYSE, and the quotation of the Companys common stock on the OTC Pink may result in a less liquid market available for existing and potential shareholders.

As previously disclosed, the Company and its subsidiaries filed voluntary petitions for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code on August 11, 2020. The Company continues to believe that there is significant doubt as to its ability to operate as a going concern following the bankruptcy proceedings, and can make no assurance that it will be successful in its appeal of the decision of the NYSE to delist the securities or that there will be any equity value in its common shares at the conclusion of the Chapter 11 process.

About the Company

Hermitage Offshore Services Ltd. is an offshore support vessel company that owns 21 vessels consisting of 10 platform supply vessels, or PSVs and 11 crew boats. The Companys vessels primarily operate in the North Sea and the West Coast of Africa. Additional information about the Company is available at the Companys website www.hermitage-offshore.com, which is not a part of this press release.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Matters discussed in this press release may constitute forwardlooking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbor protections for forwardlooking statements in order to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their business. Forwardlooking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts. The Company desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words believe, expect, anticipate, estimate, intend, plan, target, project, likely, may, will, would, could and similar expressions identify forwardlooking statements.

The forwardlooking statements in this press release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, managements examination of historical operating trends, data contained in the Companys records and other data available from third parties. Although management believes that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond the Companys control, there can be no assurance that the Company will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections. The Company undertakes no obligation, and specifically declines any obligation, except as required by law, to publicly update or revise any forwardlooking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Important factors that, in the Companys view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions, including fluctuations in charter rates and vessel values, changes in demand in the offshore support vessel (OSV) market, changes in charter hire rates and vessel values, demand in OSVs, the length and severity of the recent novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the results of the Companys Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, the results of the Companys appeal of the NYSEs delisting determination, the impact of over-the-counter trading on the price and liquidity of the Companys common stock, the Companys operating expenses, including bunker prices, dry docking and insurance costs, governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities as well as potential liability from pending or future litigation, general domestic and international political conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents or political events, the availability of financing and refinancing, vessel breakdowns and instances of off-hire and other important factors described from time to time in the reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Contacts:

Hermitage Offshore Services Ltd.

+377 9798 5717 (Monaco)

+1 646 432 3315 (New York)

Web-site: www.hermitage-offshore.com
Toronto police are asking the public to help identify a suspect in a sexual assault that they said took place in North Toronto in August.

A 42-year-old man was asleep in his room on Friday, Aug. 14 when another man entered the room and sexually assaulted him, police said.

The incident took place between 5:30 and 6 a.m. in the Mount Pleasant Road and Eglinton Avenue East area.

When confronted, the perpetrator fled the scene, they added.

Police have released security images of a man between 30 and 40 years old, standing at about five-foot-eight with a slim build, and having a shaved or bald head. He was clean shaven and was wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans, said police.

They ask anyone with information to contact them at 416-808-5300 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).

Manuela Vega is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Stars radio room in Toronto. Reach her via email: mvega@thestar.ca
Britney Spears took to Instagram to endorse an 'insightful and life-affirming' book called The Inner Goddess Makeover on Tuesday.

While the 38-year-old performer typically shares high-spirited dance videos with her followers, she urged her 26.4 million followers to pick up a copy of the tome by writer Tanishka, which is a combination of autobiographical accounts and ancient women's wisdom.

'I promise  this is a good one,' she captioned a shot of the book's cover. 'It is a workbook that helps you strengthen all aspects of your womanhood.'

Highly-recommended: Britney Spears took to Instagram to endorse the 'insightful and life-affirming' book The Inner Goddess Makeover, which is a combination of autobiographical accounts and ancient women's wisdom

In her caption, the Grammy-winning performer also confessed she has 'only studied the chapters' she thought she would 'most benefit from' from the 224-page guide.

According to the The Inner Goddess Makeover summary, it is broken into 'seven steps to meet and understand the seven universal feminine aspects.'

Britney expressed her hope that the principles would 'strengthen' her 'Just a Touch of Rose' and 'RED' projects, which she has recently began to open up about.

Book worm: While the 38-year-old performer typically shares high-spirited dance videos with her followers, she urged her 26.4 million followers to pick up a copy of the tome by writer Tanishka

After a number of her followers inquired about her choice to repeat one outfit multiple times, Spears provided some clarification, earlier this month.

'A lot of people have been saying that a lot of my posts are not new but they're old. But just to let you guys know, none of my pictures or posts are more than a month old,' she explained.

'Yes, I know I did wear the same top 17 times. But it's for a project, Project Rose. And you will be seeing way more of Project Rose in the future,' she noted.

Britney previously referred to her personal photo project as the 'Just a Touch of Rose' shoot in an August 21 post.

Teasing fans: The mother-of-two expressed her hope that the principles would 'strengthen' her 'Just a Touch of Rose' and 'RED' projects, which slowly began to open up about

Since March 25, Spears has shared 17 depictions of the flower as well as countless rose emojis embedded in her captions.

'Some say they smell the fragrance of roses while communicating with angels in prayer or meditation. Did you know? I didn't either!' the Mississippi-born blonde wrote on July 21.

She continued: 'Angels use rose scents as signs of their spiritual presence because roses have energy fields that vibrate at a high electrical frequency - the highest of any flower on Earth! Pssss ... in other words buy some damn roses!'

My prerogative: Grammy winner Britney Spears might not be in complete control over her estate and finances, but she defended the reason she repeatedly wears the same peasant-style blouses on Instagram (pictured September 3 and August 12)

Britney's latest post comes as the fate of her conservatorship and financial freedom has been the dominant topic among her droves of fans.

While Britney herself hasn't directly brought up the issue on social media, many fans have speculated that her seemingly innocuous posts  whether they display yoga and dance routines, a flowery photo project, or new fashions  betray a secret or encoded cry for help.

Last week, it was reported her stars' divorced parents Jamie and Lynne Spears are allegedly 'at war with each other' over what's best for her.

'Roses have energy fields that vibrate at a high electrical frequency': Since March 25, the Mississippi-born blonde has shared 17 depictions of the fragrant flower as well as countless rose emojis embedded in her captions

'Lynne wants a care plan established that would transition Britney's personal life out of the conservatorship,' a source told Us Weekly on Monday.

'Jamie has told her that Britney needs long-term monitoring, and he doesn't think she is prepared to take such a drastic action.'

Britney is reportedly more engaged than ever in the legal battle, wanting to unseal details of her conservatorship rather than keep them 'hidden away in a closet as a family secret.'
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry will hold urgent meetings and consultations to determine Ukraine's position regarding the inauguration and political status of Alexander Lukashenko.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said this during his visit to Zakarpattia region on Wednesday, September 23, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"The inauguration was secret. No foreign ambassador was invited, even the ambassador of the Russian Federation that fully supports Lukashenko. Therefore, regarding the assessment of Lukashenko's inauguration and political status, we will hold urgent meetings and consultations to decide on our position," Kuleba said.

He said that Ukraine's position on the events in Belarus is very clear.

"The elections in Belarus were not free, fair and transparent," Kuleba said.

On September 23, Lukashenko took office as President of Belarus. The inauguration was not announced in advance for the first time, which came as a surprise to journalists and Belarusian society. In addition, according to the law "On the President of the Republic of Belarus," the swearing-in ceremony must be broadcast on television and radio. However, according to Belarusian opposition media, state channels aired TV series during the inauguration.

op
America is definitely not Europe, but we can find a number of parallels between European history and contemporary America. For example, weve previously written about the Italian Years of Lead as a possible template for urban unrest and low-level inter-tribal warfare in the United States. Another example of how things might play out in the United States is the Spanish Civil War.

The Spanish Civil War is known to historians, amateur and professional alike, as the dress rehearsal for the Second World War. It is so termed because it pitted one side  which was equipped, armed and funded by Europes fascist regimes (Germany and Italy)  against a government largely funded and propped up by the Soviet Union. However, it is worth noting that General Francisco Francos nationalist forces were not themselves fascist (though there were fascists within their ranks) and that Spain remained neutral during the Second World War, later becoming a close ally of the United States in the fight against Communism internationally.

While there are few perfect analogs to be found anywhere in world history, there are parallels between the contemporary domestic political situation in the United States and the period immediately before and during the Spanish Civil War. And while the situation in the United States might play out in a much similar way to the Spanish Civil War, it is worth noting that our previous Civil War was the bloodiest in human history. There is little doubt that a Second American Civil War would not be significantly more destructive.

Prologue: The Situation in Spain Prior to the Civil War

As we talk about the leadup to the Spanish Civil War, the situation will begin very much unlike modern-day America, however, it will become more like the contemporary domestic situation as time goes on.

The main difference, of course, is that Spain was a monarchy for almost all of its existence until 1931. A republic was briefly declared during the years 1873 and 1874, but it didnt have much staying power and ultimately was not a transformative government in Spain. Following the First World War, the corrupt central government of Spain became increasingly unpopular and a military dictatorship, that of Miguel Primo de Rivera y Orbaneja, 2nd Marquess of Estella, 22nd Count of Sobremonte, arose. This fell in 1930, along with the abdication of the deeply unpopular King Alfonso XIII.

This led to the creation of the Second Spanish Republic and a new constitution in 1931. It was a radically leftist constitution in a largely conservative and Catholic country. Womens suffrage, civil marriage, compulsory universal education, the nationalization of Catholic Church properties, the prohibition of Catholic religious orders from teaching in schools (and the Jesuit order entirely), as well as a provision allowing for the nationalization of any property that was for the public good were all components of the new Spanish constitution. In many ways it resembled the constitution of Weimar Germany, in that it was an attempt by the left to radically remake a country through constitutional means.

The first election saw leftist elements firmly in the saddle, but the second, in 1933, was a major victory for forces of the right. However, because the conservative party had won a plurality in the parliament, and not a majority, the left-wing president of Spain invited the centrist party to form a government. Meanwhile the socialist government alleged electoral fraud, which caused them to become further radicalized. On the ground, a radical working-class movement became hostile toward the ostensibly left-wing government after the movement was suppressed violently by the military.

Monarchist forces, with the explicit backing of Benito Mussolini and the implicit backing of King Alfonso XIII, as well as ideologically fascist forces led by Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera, began military drills, preparing for war. The streets of Spain became battlegrounds, with 330 assassinations, 213 failed assassination attempts and 160 religious buildings destroyed, with arson being the primary means of their destruction. The Spanish Socialist Workers Party, formerly a fairly standard European social democratic party, began to cleave between forces who favored moderation and those who sought a more explicitly Bolshevik party.

The Coup dEtat of July 1936

Much as the War Between the States began with the attack on Fort Sumter, so did the Spanish Civil War begin with the Coup dEtat of July 1936. This was effectively an uprising by all forces of the Spanish right, which included two different factions of monarchists, nationalists, fascists (known in Spain as Falangists) and conservatives.

The igniting event was the election of 1936. This saw a very, very slim (less than 1 percent of the vote) victory of the Spanish left (socialists, Communists and anarchists) over the Spanish right. The right wing in Spain stopped planning to take over the Spanish Republic and instead decided that they were going to overthrow it.

The central republican government of Spain was very weak and had been making attempts to purge suspect right-wing generals from its ranks. To that end, General Francisco Franco, who ended up becoming dictator of Spain until 1976, was removed from his office as chief of staff and put out to pasture in the Canary Islands. When the uprising began, the nationalist rebels had the unanimous support of the Army of Africa, a 30,000-strong force that boasted some of the hardest core soldiers Spain had to offer. Many of these troops were Muslims from Morocco, who had been told that the republic planned to outlaw worship of Allah.

Indeed, Spanish Morocco was the base of operations for the rebels, with Generals Franco and Goded taking control of the Canary and the Balearic Islands, respectively. Any opposition in the Spanish colonial empire was quickly crushed with leading trade unionists and leftists simply executed by the rebel forces. The two trade union federations in Spain offered to help crush the uprising, but were told that there was nothing to worry about as the uprising was confined to Morocco and other overseas possessions.

The coup was less than a rousing success for the nationalist rebels, who invaded from their overseas bases. They failed to capture any major cities, which remained significant bases of support for the republican government. The republican government remained in possession of the lions share of Spanish territory. However, the republican government was at a disadvantage for two reasons: First, the nationalists had split the territory of peninsular Spain in half, dividing the country between republicans in the north and south while they controlled the middle.

Second, the republican government responded to the crisis by effectively mobilizing the far left in Spain as shock troops to terrorize the population into submission. Communists in particular were unleashed to execute and torture anyone even suspected of being a nationalist sympathizer. It didnt help that the clergy bore the brunt of this, with nuns gang raped before being summarily executed. The republicans went so far as to exhume the bodies of dead religious figures and desecrate their corpses.

The Spanish Red Terror

The Spanish Civil War continues to have a sort of romantic quality among the left, many of whom see the Civil War-era republican government as an example of real socialism in action or, at the very least, something close to it. However, the Spanish republican left were less bloody than their more famous Communist counterparts in Russia, China and the Eastern Bloc only due to a lack of scale and a limited time frame on which they operated.

The Red Terror in Spain predates the nationalist rebellion and was, indeed, one of the primary motivations for the uprising. It is generally agreed that the Spanish Red Terror began during an Asturian miners' strike in 1934. Priests and the religious were targeted in what was not simply a strike, but a rebellion against the government. Supporters of the rebellion targeted clergy and religious figures, resulting in the destruction of 58 churches and convents during a period of a little more than two weeks. Ironically, the rebellion was put down by Goded and Franco at the behest of the republican government.

Once the rebellion began, the Catholic Church  its clergy, its religious orders and its lay faithful  were largely seen as fair game by supporters of the republic. The comparison between the Church in Spain 1936 and white Americans in 2020 isnt much of a stretch. Much of the violence directed against the Church was predicated on the basis that they deserved this as payback for historical crimes. All told, 3,400 priests, monks and nuns were murdered during the first two months of the Spanish Civil War. Indeed, most of the deaths during the early months of the Civil War were not because of deaths on the battlefield, but rather because of targeted executions against enemies of the Spanish Republic.

In addition to the atrocity against nuns, there were a number of horrific incidents mostly involving clergy. The parish priest of Navalmoral was forced to undergo a parody of the Passion of Christ, ending with a vigorous debate about whether or not to actually crucify the priest at the end. They mercifully decided to just shoot the man. The priest of Ciempozuelos was thrown to fighting bulls and had his ear cut off at the end of the spectacle. In Ciudad Real, a priest was castrated and had his penis and testicles put in his mouth. People were forced at gunpoint to swallow their own rosaries. Others were thrown down mine shafts or forced to dig their own graves prior to summary execution. A Madrid nun was executed for the crime of refusing a marriage proposal from a militiaman who had participated in the sacking of her convent.

All told, the republicans destroyed over 20,000 churches and other religious sites during the war. Unsurprisingly, Spanish Catholics overwhelmingly supported the nationalist effort during the Civil War. Even among conservative allies of the republic (for example, conservative Catalan nationalists), support for the republican cause was lukewarm at best, thanks to the Spanish Red Terror.

The Red Terrors victims are not limited to Catholics or nationalists. As the war progressed and the Communists came to have greater power in the republic (for example, when they were given the Interior Ministry and when the militias were put under centralized control), they also turned their fire on anarchists, socialists and Trotskyists. This move against the non-Communist elements of the Spanish left is detailed in later chapters of George Orwells memoir, An Homage to Catalonia.

A Spanish White Terror?

Some attempts have been made to create an equivalence between the Red Terror in Spain and the Francoist repression at the end of the war. There certainly were atrocities committed by the Francoist forces during the course of the war. Indeed, it would be a bit strange if there werent, as such atrocities are a hallmark of modern warfare. Specifically, the Francoist forces engaged in war rape and frequently confiscated babies from republican women prior to their execution. These babies were then placed with Francoist families.

However, there are also some important differences between the terror engaged in by the Francoist forces and their republican adversaries. The Francoist repression wasnt indiscriminately targeted at the friends, family and acquaintances of anyone who fought on the republican side. It was directed squarely at people who had committed atrocities in the name of the republican regime. The large numbers run up by the Francoist forces arent a function of the bloodthirsty nature of the victorious nationalist forces  on the contrary, they were quite conciliatory and looking to get the country moving again after a highly destructive war. Rather, its because the atrocities committed by the republican forces during the Civil War were so widespread. Those executed generally received trials unlike those summarily executed by the republicans.

Forced labor was employed for projects such as draining swamps, digging canals and building national railway systems. But again, it is worth noting that the people who were being conscripted for labor were considered criminals by the new regime. Indeed, any participation in the Popular Front government of the republic was criminalized by the Law of Political Responsibility, enacted two months after the end of the war. Whats more, this forced labor is not comparable to gulag labor where the intent was to work the victims to death.

As with any fight against Communist forces, it is worth asking a simple question: What would Spain have looked like if the Communists had won? We have ample examples of what Communist regimes look like  in Eastern Europe, in Asia and in Latin America. There is little reason to believe that a Communist regime in Spain would not have been as bloodthirsty and ruthless as other Communist regimes. Indeed, the experience of the Civil War shows that a Spanish Communist regime would have been quite destructive and, it is fair to say, vindictive in its victory.

The Course of the War

Without getting too bogged down into the details of the war, the Civil War is largely the story of the nationalist forces winning victory after victory until the end of the war. This is largely because the republican military wasnt centralized. Instead, most of the military decisions were delegated to individual autonomous militias who elected their own officers and operated on a democratic basis. Nationalist forces were unified under Franco very quickly, with everyone from conservatives to monarchists to fascists all forced to play nice in service of the nationalist cause. Such centralization did not come for the republicans until the very end of the war, and by then it was too little, too late  and also largely a power play by Moscows forces in the Communist Party.

The only major republican victory during the war was the Battle of Guadalajara. This was not a successful republican offensive, however  it was a successful repulsion of a nationalist attack. Whats more, the republicans didnt even defeat a Spanish military force. They were fighting instead primarily volunteers from fascist Italy. The main impact of this loss was that the nationalists stopped trying to end the war with one big battle and instead focused on chipping away at vulnerable parts of republican Spain.

In 1939, Catalonia, the strongest base of republican support, fell to the nationalists and it was mostly all over but for the shouting. While there were major cities still under the control of the republicans (such as the capital, Madrid), everything from here on out was largely a mop-up operation for the nationalists. The republican government was in total disarray and attempted to negotiate a peace settlement with Franco, but the Generalissimo would only accept an unconditional surrender from the republicans.

Franco declared victory in a radio address on April 1, 1939. Over 500,000 republicans fled to France, where they were largely held in squalid internment camps. Some stragglers continued to fight guerilla warfare against the Francoist government even into the 1950s, but there was no significant impact. In 1944, some republican veterans who had been fighting with the French Resistance attempted to invade Catalonia from France, but the attack was repelled within 10 days.

The Relevance of the Spanish Civil War Today

So what does a European civil war that ended 70 years ago have to do with anything going on in America today? A lot, actually.

First, there is the intense political polarization of the United States. A significant portion of the country champions changing the United States into a radical liberal nation with greater centralized control and a firm Constitutional commitment to leftist social justice causes. Another significant portion of the country is opposed to any further changes to the United States Constitution and is openly hostile toward leftist egalitarian principles.

Whats more, we are already beginning to see street battles not dissimilar to those that happened in Spain in the lead up to the Civil War. It is also worth noting that the anarcho-communist ideology, which held great sway among the partisans of the Second Spanish Republic, likewise informs the insurrectionary elements of the American left that began rioting and burning down American cities in the summer of 2020.

As we prepare for the 2020 Presidential election, it is clear that whoever loses will not only be unhappy with the results, but will probably consider them to be illegitimate. On the left, there is the Russiagate hoax, the leftist conspiracy theory that alleges that the Russian intelligence services stole the election for President Donald Trump in 2016. On the right, there is the very reasonable fear that there will be a variety of electoral chicanery, including mass mail-in balloting, voting by dead people, voting by pets, voting by dead pets and outright fabrication of ballots from largely Democratic-controlled urban areas in swing states. Indeed, a Bloomberg article seems to be preparing the American public for a stolen election, stating that while it might appear that Donald Trump will win reelection in a landslide the night of the election, that further months and weeks will reveal that he did not, in fact, win as the aforementioned mail-in ballots come in.

An article from the Washington Post states that any outcome but a Biden landslide will result in massive violence and civil unrest. While Jeff Bezos vanity blog certainly has their reasons for promoting this notion, its not entirely without merit. If the president is reelected, no matter how big the margin, there will likely be another wave of urban unrest that will dwarf the events of the summer of 2020. If Biden wins by a slim margin, there will be accusations of fraud and likely more confrontations in the streets, albeit more two-sided. It seems that the only result that would be accepted as legitimate, particularly by the press and the American left, is one where Biden wins dramatically.

It is worth briefly considering the other side of the equation. The American Conservative ran a column in July 2020 discussing the very real phenomenon of the American rights increasing impatience not with democracy, but with liberalism. This is a phenomenon known as illiberal democracy, where the forms of democracy persist, but are used for anti-liberal means. Put in simple terms: How many on the American right  even the mainstream American right  would be terribly bothered by the president taking extreme action against an insurrectionary left?

No one has a crystal ball to see the future. However, it is not a wild assertion to suggest that the real violence in America is coming after the election.
United Nation, Sep 23 : Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has said that his country is against any country dominating the Indian Ocean and that it would stay neutral.

"As a strategically placed country in the Indian Ocean, it is our priority to ensure that the Indian Ocean is maintained as a zone of peace where no country could gain advantage over any other," he said on Tuesday in a pre-recorded speech to the annual high-level session of the General Assembly.

"Sri Lanka is committed to follow a neutral foreign policy with no affiliations to any particular country or power bloc," he said.

Because of the economic importance of its sea lanes to many countries, "powerful countries" should support Indian Ocean's neutrality and protect its valuable marine resources, he said.

However, caught in China's debt trap having borrowed huge amounts of money Sri Lanka has surrendered a strategic Indian Ocean port to China.

Unable to pay the interest and repayment on loans from China, Sri Lanka was was forced to hand over to China the Hampanakota port built with loans from Beijing Gotabaya Rajpaksa's brother, Mahinda, got when he was president.

Sri Lanka has been crticised for the killing of thousands of Tamil civilians at the end of the civil war in 2009 by the UN's human rights bodies and several western countries, including the United States have called for an investigation into killings by both the government and the Tamil Tiger rebels.

Sri Lanka has opposed the investigation.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa said in his address on Tuesday: "In order to ensure the sustainability and the credibility of the Organization, political witch hunts through questionable motives against member states, need to be halted." He took aim at the Tamil communities in several Western countries that have lobbied for political support to investigate the atrocities.

Referring to the Tamil Tigers, he said, "In spite of its elimination from the Sri Lankan soil, the international network of this terrorist outfit remains, pushing its ruthless ideology and influencing certain capitals to spread its baseless lies and propaganda. We are hopeful that no state will tolerate activities of this international network which continues to espouse and propagate violent ideology under different guises and manifestations." Rajapaksa faced a lawsuit brought in a California federal court by the daughter of a journalist, Lasantha Wickrematunge, alleging that he was involved in his assassination. The court ruled that as president he had immunity from prosecution, but an appeals court took up an appeal against the ruling but allowed it to be withdrawn so that it can be reinstated when Rajapakse leaves office.

(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter at @arulouis)
HOLYOKE  Springfield Police Officer Angel Marrero was found guilty of assault and falsifying a police report in connection with the arrest of a 15-year-old high school student in 2018.

Marrero was charged last year by the Hampden County district attorneys office and was convicted Wednesday after a bench trial in Holyoke District Court.

Marrero was sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to attend anger management courses, according to James Leydon, spokesman for Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni.

Police spokesman Ryan Walsh said Marrero has been on inside duty since he was investigated and charged by the district attorneys office. According to Walsh, Police Commissioner Cheryl C. Clapprood today said the case will be forwarded ASAP to the Community Police Hearing Board, and will seek a recommendation from the civilian panel for internal discipline of Marrero.

Marrero was a school resource at the time of his altercation with the boy in a school hallway. In his report, Marrero said the student called him a vulgar word and threatened to slap the s--- out of him before shoving the officer in the chest. However, a video contradicted the officers rendition of events.

The video shows that the student does not walk toward the officer or shove him. After a fleeting verbal exchange, Marrero moves toward the student, grabs him by the back of the neck and pushes him up against the side of the hallway. The student then flails and struggles with the officer as Marrero attempts to handcuff him.

In internal police records previously obtained by MassLive, Marrero told his superiors he never intended to mislead anyone about the incident.

I have been an officer with this department for approaching nine years, Marrero wrote. During these approximate nine years I have never had any disciplinary issues. I have never had any complaints of excessive force. I have never had any complaints of being deceitful in any of my reports or in any arrests I have made or assisted in. I take great pride in my work and make every effort to perform my duties in a professional and honorable manner.

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California voters are tepid about Proposition 22, a statewide poll shows, despite a jaw-dropping $184.3 million poured into it by Uber, Lyft and other gig companies trying to keep their drivers and couriers as independent contractors.

Of 5,900 likely voters polled, 39% would vote yes on Prop. 22, while 36% said they would vote no, and 25% remain undecided, according to the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies, which conducted the survey Sept. 9-15. The polls margin of error is plus or minus two points. Prop. 22 needs just over 50% of votes to pass.

These numbers dont look encouraging for the Yes side, said Jessica Levinson, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. Going into October, you dont want to be languishing in the high 30s or low 40s.

Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, Instacart and Postmates have joined forces on Prop. 22 in an effort to duck Californias new gig-work law, AB5, which could compel them to reclassify their workers as employees. Prop. 22 would permanently enshrine independent contractor status for the companies gig workers, while allowing for some pay guarantees and some benefits.

Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle 2020

Uber and Lyft are also battling AB5 in court, where California and some cities have sued them over driver classification. The ride companies have threatened to leave California or curtail service in the state if they lose the court case and Prop. 22 does not pass. They already did a test run, so to speak, preparing to suspend service in August if they had to abide by a temporary injunction forcing immediate driver reclassification. That injunction was stayed pending an appeal, so they did not proceed with their contingency plans.

With Uber and Lyft saying, If this doesnt pass, were out of California, it will be interesting to see if people believe that, especially their users, said Jack Citrin professor of political science at UC Berkeley.

The gig companies say their business models and their workers rely on the flexibility of freelance work. Switching to employment, with costs such as minimum wage, overtime and benefits, could add hundreds of millions of dollars to their expenses.

Thats why theyre willing to spend so deeply, Levinson said.

Theyre going all in on this, she said. They know it makes all the sense in the world to spend millions to reap even more millions.

But Citrin noted that big spending is not a guarantee of success.

We know that money does not always win out in these things, he said.

The No on Prop. 22 campaign, which has raised slightly over $10 million  about one-eighteenth of the Yes sides massive war chest  was quick to highlight the gig companies deep pockets.

After record-shattering spending on TV, radio and every other platform imaginable since July  I guess more isnt always better when youre pushing a deceptive measure to rip basic benefits and protections away from your workers, said Gale Kaufman, chief consultant for No on Prop. 22, which is backed by organized labor.

The Yes campaign put a positive spin on the survey.

As voters learn more about Prop. 22 and the benefits provided to both drivers and customers, we are seeing growing support across the political spectrum, Yes on 22 spokesman Geoff Vetter said in a statement. With six weeks until the election, our campaign is hitting its stride with more than 100,000 drivers and 100 coalition partners actively supporting Prop. 22.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

Levinson said a lot could change in coming weeks, noting that many voters havent yet paid attention to ballot initiatives.

All the oxygen in the room is sucked up by the presidential campaign, she said.

The barrage of TV ads that Yes on 22s deep pockets are financing could sway the older Californians who reliably vote in large numbers, she said.

On the other hand, while No on 22 is being drastically outspent, it is hard to overstate the importance of union opposition, she said. For people who are union members or sympathetic to unions, if they get a call or text, its a huge motivation for them.

Many union members, including furloughed hotel workers, are now actively calling union households throughout the state to urge them to vote no on Prop. 22.

Yes on 22 last week donated $2 million to the California Republican Party, as KPFA Radio reporter Ariel Boone first reported on Twitter. It also donated $20,000 to the Ventura County Republican Party and $2,593 to the Santa Clara County Republican Party, Vice reported.

Vetter said the measure has support from groups across the political spectrum and that the contributions are to assist the party in their member communications.

Republican support for Prop. 22 was strong, according to the poll, with 53% supporting it and 29% opposed. The poll showed that 42% of Democrats would vote no on 22, while 31% would vote yes and 27% were undecided.

Carolyn Said is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: csaid@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @csaid
Foreign Affairs Minister Ivan Korcok calls for ending violence and putting the president on sanction list.

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Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko should be put on the sanction list.

This is how Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Ivan Korcok (SaS nominee) responded to the unannounced inauguration of Lukashenko on September 23. He considers it the final straw following the manipulated and illegitimate presidential elections in August and stressed that Slovakia will not recognise him as president.

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Today, President Lukashenko has asked for a ticket to the sanction list, Korcok said, adding that he hopes the EU will respond quickly.

The sanctions should be of an individual rather than an economic character against those who contributed to the manipulated elections.

He also called for ending the violence against protesting Belarusian citizens who are asking for free elections.
V K Yadav will be the first CEO of the Railway Board.

The Narendra Modi government is going ahead with the restructuring of the Railway Board, the powerful body that governs the Indian Railways. The Cabinet recently said OK to the revamp, and also decided to merge all central railway service cadres into a single Indian Railways Management Service (IRMS).

The board will now have five members. The present chairman, V K Yadav, will be the Railway Board's first CEO. It will also have independent members in non-executive roles.

Apart from Yadav as chairman and CEO, Pradeep Kumar has been appointed as member, infrastructure; P.C. Sharma as member, traction and rolling stock; P.S. Mishra as member, operations and business development; and Manjula Rangarajan as member, finance.

In the new structure, the chairman will be the cadre-controlling officer responsible for human resources, assisted by a director-general. Three apex posts will be surrendered. Railway Board posts will be open to all officers regardless of the service to which they belong.

The government says that the revamp will end jealousies between departments, which have hampered the growth and efficiency of the railways for decades. But not all railway officers are pleased with the revamp. Their first objection is to the merger of cadres. They say the government is seeking to merge fundamentally dissimilar services. They advocate instead two distinct services instead of one  civil services and engineering.

According to sources, murmurs of protest are rising, and railway unions are planning a series of protests against the move.

Three newbies in PMO

The appointment of three IAS officers adds heft to the Prime Ministers Office, which is the most powerful PMO ever. The new officers are Raghuraj Rajendran of Madhya Pradesh as director, Amrapali Kata of the Andhra Pradesh cadre as deputy secretary, and Mangesh Ghildiyal of the Uttarakhand cadre as under-secretary.

Rajendran was earlier private secretary to petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Amrapali Kata, (2010 batch) was deputy secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat (intelligence). Ghildiyal worked with the Uttarakhand government.

These appointments make the three officers seem like high-fliers. They have clearly been chosen for their track record. In the presidential-style PMO of Narendra Modi, they are expected to focus on tough decisions and show results.

UPs dubious crackdown

Though public perception is to the contrary, the Uttar Pradesh government claims it has a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption, and spouts data to prove it. According to sources, since coming to power three years ago, Yogi Adityanath has cracked the whip on around 800 government officials. Just recently the government suspended two IPS officers, Abhishek Dikshit, the senior superintendent of Prayagraj, and Manilal Patidar, superintendent of Mahoba, for involvement in corrupt practices and lax policing.

The data shows that it has acted against more than 775 officials so far, including some retired officials who were found complicit in malpractices. The government has forcibly retired 325 officials and suspended and demoted over 450 babus.

But, sources say, despite the governments crackdown, some suspended officers have wriggled back into plum postings. J.B. Singh, Gonda DM, was suspended in June 2018, along with Kumar Prashant, DM of Fatehpur, and faced disciplinary action over irregularities in the procurement of wheat. But Singhs stint in the wilderness was short-lived. In 2019 he was appointed the DM of Etawah.

Kumar Prashant too found himself back in favour. Last year he became the DM of Badaun, a more important district than Fatehpur. There are other instances, say sources, where after a brief period of lying low, suspended officials got back in the saddle.

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Two microschools  the modern-day equivalent of one-room schoolhouses that have gained in popularity over the past decade  will soon be open in Lincoln.

Though both schools are opening during the unprecedented disruption to education the pandemic caused  one that has resulted in a 73% increase in home-school filings in the state  both families involved say that wasn't their motivation.

They were, instead, drawn to the learner-driven philosophy of the Austin, Texas-based Acton Academy nonprofit, though one of the families says the pandemic prompted him to move up the timeline.

Zach Harsin, whose oldest child is 5 and ready to start kindergarten, said he and his wife stumbled across an Acton Academy business fair in Omaha in February, were intrigued and moved ahead with plans to open one near 14th Street and Yankee Hill Road in the fall of 2021.

Enter COVID, and now we have sped up our timeline, he said. It really was all the families we were talking to were saying the same thing: 'This is the most amazing thing ever; we cant imagine life without it,' and any other year, we could sit around and wait for you to launch.
The People Power Party's former Rep. Kim Jin-tae. Korea Times file



Several members of the main opposition party have proposed "drive-through" rallies as an alternative to the mass anti-government protests planned for next month, drawing harsh criticism from the ruling party.



The government has banned rallies of 10 or more people on the Oct. 3 National Foundation Day due to fears of another resurgence of the infectious coronavirus.



Proponents of the idea say a drive-through will pose no risk to anti-COVID-19 efforts, while opponents blasted it as "madness."



"How about we all come out in our cars that day?" the People Power Party's (PPP) former Rep. Kim Jin-tae wrote on his Facebook page Tuesday. "It would be a comedy if they banned even that. It has nothing to do with COVID-19 if I am alone in my own car."



Former Rep. Min Kyung-wook of the PPP supported the idea and mocked the police's ban on protests involving 10 or more vehicles.



"Why don't they put a ban on nine or more cars parking in a parking lot?" he wrote on Facebook.



The proposal drew harsh criticism from the ruling Democratic Party, especially after PPP floor leader Rep. Joo Ho-young appeared to endorse the idea.



Joo told reporters Tuesday that it was the protesters' "right" to stage drive-through rallies if they did not get in the way of traffic and anti-COVID-19 efforts.





The People Power Party's former Rep. Min Kyung-wook. Yonhap
For two months the inquiry into hotel quarantine has been leading to this point; a political reckoning where government ministers responsible for a program that unleashed a second wave epidemic upon this state are held to account.

Now that we are here, two things are clear: a basic question about the program will remain unanswered, and ministerial responsibility in Victoria  at least in any traditional sense of what it is supposed to mean  was dead long before this virus struck.

Jobs Minister Martin Pakula says he was not consulted about Victoria's hotel quarantine -- despite briefly being the minister responsible. Credit:Video grab

Whose idea was it to use private security guards in quarantine hotels?

According to Lisa Neville, Victorias Police Minister responsible for the governance of our emergency services, and Martin Pakula, the Minister of Jobs whose department contractracted the security companies, they were not consulted, nor told about the final decision.
Aulick Industries is a family-owned subsidiary of Original Equipment Company, founded in 1952 by Harry Aulick. Its truck manufacturing facility is currently on Avenue I in what was formerly a state roads department building. General truck shop manager Austin Aulick said the current facility has lent itself very well for its purpose, however, a new facility is being finished up on South Beltline Highway.

We were having to break down a lot of our trucks that we were bringing in, Aulick said. Wed have to break them down before we could get them in the door. This facility will allow us not to have to go through that, saving time and labor in that spectrum to then help the customer get product from us just because our lead times are out as far as they are. Were just trying to speed the process up, get more people to build those trucks. This facility is built for that. That state building lent itself well, but it was small, low ceilings. We made it work, and its worked well, but we were just due for a new facility, more room.
Ejaz Kaiser By

Express News Service

RAIPUR: Tension prevailed in the south Chhattisgarh's Kondagaon district where the inhabitants of five village panchayats assembled and warned the local Christian families to leave their villages. The houses belonging to Christian families were also allegedly ransacked.

Over 1500 villagers gathered at Singanpur in Kondagaon and held a demonstration. Many of them threatened that they would not allow any Christian to live in their area.

The local officials reached the spot to pacify the villagers but in vain as they remain adamant.

The villagers had asked the local Christian families to return to the tribal folds and worship the native deities if they wish to continue living with them.

A couple of days ago, the members of the Christian community living in the villages had lodged a police complaint at Kondagaon alleging that the locals are repeatedly harassing them and they fear for their lives and property.

The Christians are being beaten up, their properties ransacked and intimidated in spite of the presence of senior officials such as collector and SP. As many as 10 Christian families from different villages have approached cops for protection from the mobs. The affected families are living in an absolute helpless situation, alleged Arun Pannalal, president of Chhattisgarh Christian Forum.

The Kondagaon district collector Pushpendra Meena told that he was at the spot where the tension prevailed but didnt reveal anything about the situation.

SP Sidharth Tiwari was not available for his statement. Local MLA and state Congress president Mohan Markam too was not available for his comment.
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TORTOLA, BVI / ACCESSWIRE / September 23, 2020 / TraceSafe Inc. ("Tracesafe") (CSE:TSF) announced today that they have received a letter of authorization (LOA) from a large Southeast Asian conglomerate primarily focused on technology, defense and engineering. The LOA provides for an initial purchase of 30,000 wristbands and LTE Gateways, with additional purchase options over the next 12 months for sale into a major national government in the region.

This order differs from previous large-scale product procurements in that TraceSafe will deliver wristbands combined with an all-new TraceSafe LTE enabled gateway, and the complete ecosystem, including cloud management.

This deal marks another example of TraceSafe's growing presence throughout Southeast Asia and speaks directly to the success and trust our solutions are gaining throughout the region. TraceSafe's iMSafe product continues to provide scalable quarantine management solutions to governments in various countries around the world.

TraceSafe is committed to enabling its customers to implement a privacy-first user experience that helps curb the spread of COVID-19. TraceSafe's LTE gateway acts as a GPS and LTE-enabled substitute for cellphones. This provides an end-to-end solution for self-quarantine monitoring that does not require a personal mobile phone for connectivity. Since the Gateway is not connected to the user's personal mobile device, it provides users additional privacy safeguards to help ensure their personal information and data remain secure end to end. Once the self-quarantine period is over, all data is securely disposed of.

Executive Quote

"TraceSafe is proud to be launching another major initiative in Southeast Asia who is seen as a leader in the region" announced TraceSafe CEO Dennis Kwan. "Not only does this deal bolster our position in Southeast Asia, but it gives us an opportunity to showcase the evolution of our product line - iMSafe Gateway technology. This latest development in our product line was designed to assuage personal privacy concerns by providing users with a centralized hub for self-quarantine management. Completion of this large order will have a significant impact on our top line results for 2020."

About TraceSafe

Tracesafe is a full suite of real-time location management services and contact tracing solutions enabled through advanced low power bluetooth beacons and enterprise cloud management. TraceSafe's leading cloud management solution ensures both user privacy and comprehensive administrative control. TraceSafe's patented contact tracing bracelet has already been deployed in mission critical quarantine applications around the world in partnership with leading governments. In addition to their government work, TraceSafe is developing leading edge solutions for enterprise, healthcare, education and large-scale venue management.

For further information, please contact:

Wayne Lloyd, CEO

+1 604 629-9975

wayne@tracesafe.io Alan Tam, CFO

+1 604 377-7575

alantamca@gmail.com John Costigan

+1 604 620-8589

jcostigan@ecmbcapital.com

The Canadian Securities Exchange has in no way approved or disapproved the contents of this news release.

Statements in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that are based on Tracesafe's expectations, estimates and projections regarding its business and the economic environment in which it operates, including with respect to expectations regarding the TraceSafe assets and their application, future business plans and relationships, future developments in respect of COVID-19 and solutions adopted in response to the virus, and the deployment and acceptance of the Tracesafe technology, revenue derived from contracts, and future orders. Although TraceSafe believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to control or predict, including the suitability of our products to help businesses and governments reopen, competition, the spread or containment of COVID-19 and government responses thereto and general economic and market conditions. Therefore, outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements and readers should not place undue reliance on such statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and TraceSafe undertakes no obligation to update them publicly to reflect new information or the occurrence of future events or circumstances unless otherwise required to do so by law.

SOURCE: TraceSafe Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/607388/TraceSafe-Awarded-Large-Scale-Order-from-Southeast-Asian-Conglomerate
German police raid meatpacking plants over illegal migrant workers, incl. from Ukraine

16:40, 23.09.20 2382

Law enforcers want to question more than 80 foreign workers, mostly from non-EU Eastern European countries such as Ukraine and Belarus.
CEO Charles Scharf apologised on Wednesday for comments he made about the difficulty of finding qualified Black executives.

Scharf said that there is a very limited pool of Black talent to recruit from in corporate America. The memo to employees was written in June, but became public this week.

The comments and similar statements made in a Zoom meeting, reported by Reuters, led to an intense backlash in Washington and on social media.

Perhaps it is the CEO of who lacks the talent to recruit Black workers, said Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez of New York, on Twitter.

Scharf on Wednesday said in a prepared statement that his comments reflected "my own unconscious bias. There is no question has to make meaningful progress to increase diverse representation, he wrote.

Wells has pledged to increase hiring of minority candidates, particularly through Black colleges and universities, as well as new anti-racism training programmes at the bank.

Like much of the political and corporate world, the banking industry has had to face a reckoning for its role in the racial and economic inequality that faces Black and other minorities, in the wake of the death of George Floyd. Banks have announced changes to how they lend, and created new programs to spur economic development in communities of colour.

Citigroup announced on the same day as Scharf's apology that it would direct $1 billion of the firm's capital toward closing the racial wealth gap in the United States. It would include $550 million in homeownership programs for communities of dollar, and hundreds of millions toward Black-owned businesses and suppliers.

But, despite those announcements, American banking is dominated by leadership that is largely white and male. None of the six big Wall Street banks have ever had a Black or female CEO.

Citigroup a few weeks ago announced it would promote a woman to CEO next year, the first on Wall Street to do so. Banks large and small are still regularly cited for discriminatory practices, including allegations of redlining toward Black homebuyers.

Of the 964 named executives in the Russell 3000, only 71 of them are a racial or ethnic minority, according to Institutional Shareholder Services. Of those 71 individuals, nine are Black.

The last prominent African American to serve as CEO at a large financial services company was Kenneth Chenault, the former CEO of American Express. He retired in 2018. In an interview with The Associated Press at the time, Chenault called the lack of a pipeline to recruit and retain diverse talent embarrassing to the financial services industry.

Stanley O'Neal, the former CEO Merrill Lynch while it was still an independent company, is also Black. He resigned in 2007 during the firm's collapse.

(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 sun rises behind the Supreme Court in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020, before a private ceremony and public viewing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Read more

Expanding the Supreme Court to more than nine seats sounds like a radical idea, and the term for it, court packing, sounds derisive because it has created controversy every time it has come up. But it has been attempted - and done - in American history before.

Now the idea is back in the political mainstream as some Democrats, frustrated that the Supreme Court that could get even more conservative in the coming months, push presidential nominee Joe Biden to consider it if he wins the White House and Democrats take back the Senate majority.

Biden seems reluctant - he hasn't acknowledged Democratic calls to do this since Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died - but there is a world in which he may warm to it and attempt to push through legislation. Here's what it is, its history, and how it could become a reality

What is court packing?

It's adding more judges to a court than there are now, something that can be done on the federal level simply by passing a law.

The Constitution says nothing about how many justices there must be on the Supreme Court, and over time, the number has fluctuated. The court started out with six justices, expanded to seven and has gone as high as 10. Congress set the Supreme Court to be nine justices in 1869, but if a president and Congress agree, they could change the law to expand the court or shrink it.

Whats the argument for adding justices to the court?

Doing so would change the political makeup of the court and influence its decisions. Congress and the president might decide that the court majority is too far out of line with their understanding of the Constitution and the law or public opinion and then add seats and fill the court with justices that think more like them in the hopes of rebalancing the scales.

"Since justices effectively can't be fired, except by impeachment, the idea of court packing is to dilute their vote," Georgetown Law professor Josh Chafetz said in an email to The Washington Post.

 READ MORE: Biden warns in Philly that confirming a new Supreme Court justice now would cause irreversible damage

A brief history of court packing

In the Civil War era, the court expanded and shrank like an accordion. In 1863, the Republican Congress expanded the court to 10 justices to give Abraham Lincoln an extra appointment. A few years after, Congress reduced the court to seven justices to prevent Andrew Johnson from making any appointments, and then grew it to nine in 1869 to give Ulysses Grant vacancies. It's stayed at nine ever since.

But other presidents have tried to change it. Franklin Roosevelt tried in the 1930s to get Congress to expand the court, frustrated by how it was knocking down pieces of his popular New Deal legislation. He put out a judicial overhaul plan that would allow him to appoint a new judge in all federal courts for every judge over 70. "That's the way it was dressed up, but people saw pretty clearly what it allowed him to do," said Russell Wheeler, a Supreme Court expert with the Brookings Institution, "which was to aim to appoint justices for the five or six who were over the age of 70 on the Supreme Court."

Roosevelt's idea hit a wall in Congress. But in a roundabout way, he got what he wanted. The court saw its majority imperiled, and two justices began switching their votes to support New Deal legislation. "It's called 'the switch in time that saved nine,'" Wheeler said. "They switched their approach to New Deal legislation, and that saved the idea of nine justices."

Why some Democrats are talking about packing the court now

They're frustrated about how the past two justices, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, have gotten on the court: under extremely politically divisive circumstances, nominated by a president who lost the popular vote, and approved by a bare majority of a Senate that, because of where people live, no longer represents a majority of the population.

"Any one of these things might not have been sufficient by themselves," said University of Michigan law professor Leah Litman. "But the combination of all these things ... strikes people as no way to run a country."

"Nothing is off the table," Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., told fellow Democrats in a widely reported private conference call this weekend. He didn't specifically mention court packing, but this was interpreted as a nod to considering the idea, since he didn't rule it out either.

Expanding the court gained some traction during this year's Democratic presidential primary. As many as 11 candidates were at least open to it, according to a Post tally. "It's not just about expansion, it's about depoliticizing the Supreme Court," Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said. "It's a conversation that's worth having."

"We need to reform the Supreme Court in a way that will strengthen its independence and restore the American people's trust in it as a check to the presidency and the Congress," agreed former South Bend, Ind., mayor Pete Buttigieg.

 READ MORE: Ruth Bader Ginsburg lauded in Philly as a legal and feminist icon whose voice soared above the rest

What Biden has said about court-packing

He has not been a fan. He sees it as a maneuver that could come back to haunt Democrats when they're out of power. What's to stop a Republican president and Republican Congress from expanding it even more, to get what they want? That was a feature of the Reconstruction Era. "We'll live to rue that day," he said last year during the primary.

Plus, Biden has served in the Senate for more than 30 years and has a reputation for respecting institutions and the way things are done. He's an unlikely candidate to be the first president in some 150 years to expand the court. And his campaign seems aware of a risk that even talking about this could turn away moderate voters - who may not be as conservative as the way this Supreme Court is heading, but who also don't want to mess with the way things are done. Ginsburg was opposed to it for that reason.

"If anything would make the court look partisan," she told NPR in 2019, "it would be that - one side saying, 'When we're in power, we're going to enlarge the number of judges, so we would have more people who would vote the way we want them to.' "

My Post colleagues report that some people in Biden's campaign are annoyed by this movement rising on the left. "People in your own party shouldn't cause you problems 44 days out," said one Biden adviser, criticizing Democrats in Congress for elevating the idea.

 READ MORE: Can Trump and McConnell get through the 4 steps to seat a Supreme Court justice in just 6 weeks?

How this could still actually happen

Let's say Democrats are in a position to seriously consider this: They win the presidency, keep control of the House of Representatives and win the majority in the Senate, thus controlling the White House and all of Congress.

Considering there is a pandemic and calls for action on racial injustice, moving to expand the Supreme Court doesn't seem like the first to-do item on their list. But what if Democrats start passing Biden's agenda, and inevitable challenges by Republicans make their way to a conservative Supreme Court, which stops some of the legislation?

There could be a world in which Biden, frustrated by the court just as Roosevelt was, starts thinking differently about the court's makeup. Biden would need majority votes in the House of Representatives and in the Senate to approve expanding the court, just like any other piece of legislation. (Though Senate Republicans could try to filibuster it.) If the law passed, he and the Democratic Senate could add justices with a simple majority vote.

There's also a world in which even just talking about changing the court actually changes how partisan the court is, like what happened under Roosevelt. Packing the court has ramifications for the justices as much as the politicians who do it.

It will be a severe blow to the legitimacy of the Supreme Court if people look at it say: This is a compromised court, with these judges appointed by a minority president, said Wheeler.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

The United States and Russia have a mutually beneficial civil partnership in space despite disagreements in other areas, US Space Force chief Gen. John Raymond said on Tuesday

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd September, 2020) The United States and Russia have a mutually beneficial civil partnership in space despite disagreements in other areas, US Space Force chief Gen. John Raymond said on Tuesday.

"Even with areas where our countries disagree there [has] always been agreement and partnership on civil use of space," Raymond said during the Mitchell Institute virtual conference.

Both nations had "great collaboration" in space even at the height of the cold war, he added.

NASA Administrator James Bridenstine, in turn, reminded that US and Russia will celebrate the 20th anniversary of co-working at the International Space Station in November.

"This is a monumental achievement of diplomacy," he said.

The NASA chief urged to remember significant programs, which both countries realized cooperating with each other in the past, including Apollo-Soyuz in 1970s and Shutle-Mir missions in 1980s-1990s. "It is a channel of communication, it is an important kind of diplomatic tool," he said.
Embedded lending solutions are growing in popularity and set to become one of the next big disruptions in consumer lending. The pandemic has accelerated the pace of strategic partnerships in the financial services space.

Today, Eko and TERA Finlabs joined hands to offer customized embedded credit solutions for Eko's merchant network. By utilizing TERA's lending platform and risk management capabilities, Eko will provide short term credit line solutions to help its merchant partners get access to affordable credit.

"Embedded lending solutions help consumer platforms offer tailor-made credit products to their customer and channel partner network, something that traditional financial institutions don't offer. As a risk technology platform, we take a data-driven risk management approach to develop credit products that work for both our partners and their customers. We are excited to be partnering with Eko and helping them fulfill their vision of providing affordable and accessible financial services for the unbanked sectors in India," said Pradeep Rathnam, CEO TERA Finlabs, speaking to the journalists over a virtual press conference.

TERA Finlabs is a Bengaluru based start-up that provides technology, risk, and capital solutions to enable innovative embedded financing solutions for businesses. An MIT Sloan alumnus, Rathnam is a financial services veteran who has worked with Citibank, Bajaj Finance, and AEGON Insurance.

Through this partnership, TERA will provide its entire technology stack, risk management capabilities, and capital solutions to create and enable a credit line for Eko's merchant network.

Merchants will now be able to use the credit line and offer a wide array of Eko's digital services to end consumers. This will keep credit costs low for merchants who will have the option of drawing smaller amounts according to their requirement and settling it in daily.

"We are delighted to partner with TERA to enable us to offer customized credit solutions for our retail merchant base. This will go a long way in deepening our relationships with our partners and helping them increase their overall business. Having access to credit will now allow all Eko channel partners to efficiently serve the needs of millions of non-salaried gig entrepreneurs and workers who use our services to remit funds and perform other digital transactions," said Abhinav Sinha, Co-founder, Eko.

Founded in 2007, Eko is a leading domestic player in providing accessible banking services to unbanked customers in India, especially the low to moderate income migrant workers.

Eko enables over ten million transactions a month and has served over 5 crore customers to date through its network of over 3,00,000 merchants.

"Today, our merchant's business volume in our platform is an outcome of the liquidity he sets aside daily. However, considering the complexity of their core business, they are always exposed to some ad-hoc requirements. Our deep understanding of our merchants based on our relationship allows us to offer credit solutions and enables them to leverage the real business opportunity on the platform," added Sinha.

With access to potential borrowers and their proprietary data, any business can now offer credit products by partnering with platforms like TERA.

"Information asymmetry has been the biggest bottleneck in delivering consumer credit in India. Providing credit solutions at the point of sale or point of need makes credit delivery much more efficient. This makes embedded lending a very attractive proposition that can be a win-win for both businesses and their partners," added Rathnam.

COVID-19 has severely stifled credit flow to consumers and small businesses. Uncertainties around business continuity and job security are further making borrower evaluation difficult for traditional lenders.

The emergence of new captive consumer lending entities that are integrated with businesses that are close to their customers will only help channel more credit effectively and quickly.

TERA is now enabling businesses that have large customer bases to become profitable lenders themselves. This will not only help businesses further monetize their customer relationship but also deliver personalized credit products to customers and channel partners, indirectly enabling higher revenues and margins from their core business.

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.)
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani told the United Nations General Assembly on September 22 that the United States can impose neither negotiations nor war on the Islamic Republic. US-Iran relations quickly deteriorated after US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) in May 2018, calling it the worst deal ever.

The United States launched a maximum pressure campaign with a slew of sanctions on Iranian officials and its latest declaration to return all UN sanctions on Iran through the snapback mechanism has worsened the relations even further. It has imposed new sanctions on Irans defence ministry and other individuals allegedly involved in its nuclear program, asserting its declaration that all UN sanctions have been restored.

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, Rouhani told the UNGA in a video message.

Read: Russia Vows To Develop Military Cooperation With Iran After UN Arms Embargo Expiry

Read: US Imposes Fresh Sanctions On Iran To Stop 'death And Mayhem' In Middle East

Major powers disagree with the US

The European signatories of the JCPoA, also known as Iran nuclear deal, stated that the US unilaterally withdrew from the deal in 2018 and has no legal standing to trigger snapback. In a joint statement, Britain, France, and Germany said that they have worked tirelessly to preserve the nuclear agreement and remain committed to doing so.

Kremlin has already denounced the unilateral declaration by the United States on Iranian sanctions under the 2015 nuclear deal as illegitimate and unacceptable. Russia has also vowed to develop military cooperation with Iran after the expiry of an arms embargo in October, ignoring the declaration of the US.

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 added, referring to the Trump administration.

Read: Pompeo Welcomes E3 Countries' Rejection Of Beijing's Maritime Claims In South China Sea

Read: 'US Not In Position To Reimpose Iran Sanctions, Europe Won't Concur With Decision': Macron
She is said to be in the throes of new romantic bliss, after reportedly embarking on a relationship with businessman Josh Riley.

And Megan McKenna had another reason to smile on Wednesday night, when she joined a friend for an early birthday meal at London's Roka restaurant.

The TOWIE star, who is set to turn 28 on Saturday, took advantage of the last night bars and eateries can close later than 10pm, as a second lockdown looms.

Early celebrations: Megan McKenna had another reason to smile on Wednesday night, when she joined a friend for an early birthday meal at London's Roka restaurant

Megan stepped out in casually cool style for the night, wearing flattering black skinny jeans and a white crop top, which she shrouded with an oatmeal cardigan.

Standing tall in a pair of box fresh white chunky trainers, the TV personality swept her chestnut brown tresses into a low ponytail.

Accessorising with a selection of jewellery that included large gold hoop earrings, the east London native highlighted her good looks with a natural palette of makeup.

Second lockdown: The TOWIE star, who is set to turn 28 on Saturday, took advantage of the last night bars and eateries can close later than 10pm, as a second lockdown looms

Pal: She was joined by her equally glamorous pal, after they spent the day shopping for clothes

She was all smiles as she made her exit from the upscale eatery, toting a collection of bags, after going on a shopping spree with her friend earlier in the day.

The erstwhile Ex On The Beach star flashed a broad grin at onlookers and struck a pose for waiting photographers before boarding a taxi to head home.

Last month, it was reported that Megan is 'smitten' with her new businessman beau Josh after he won her heart over during a series of fancy dinner dates.

Josh is said to have wined and dined the reality star as they enjoyed a date at the swanky Mayfair restaurant Hakkasan, where they originally met earlier this year.

Casually cool: Megan stepped out in casually cool style for the night, wearing flattering black skinny jeans and a white crop top, which she shrouded with an oatmeal cardigan

It's all in the details: Standing tall in a pair of box fresh white chunky trainers, the TV personality swept her chestnut brown tresses into a low ponytail

He is the company director of the online men's fashion brand, Yelir World, which has been featured in GQ and has been worn by Wayne Rooney.

A source confirmed to The Sun that the pair are now an item and are planning their future together.

The source revealed: 'Megan and Josh have been dating for a few months. Theyre totally smitten, its very sweet to see.

'The pair of them are taking it slow but they have been talking about the future.'

Golden girl: Accessorising with a selection of jewellery that included large gold hoop earrings, the east London native highlighted her good looks with a natural palette of makeup
PORTLAND, Maine - The Navy began releasing documents from the investigation into the deadliest submarine disaster in U.S. history on Wednesday, but the Navy said the documents released under a court order dont shed any new light on the cause of the sinking.

The first of the documents released were 300 pages from the official inquiry into the sinking of the USS Thresher on April 10, 1963.

The loss of the nuclear-powered submarine and all 129 men aboard during a test dive in the Atlantic Ocean delivered a blow to national pride during the Cold War and became the impetus for safety improvements.

The loss of Thresher was a defining event for the submarine service, said Rear Adm. William Houston, director of the undersea warfare division in the office of the chief of naval operations at the Pentagon.

The Thresher story was already well known. It had undergone sea trials and was back in the ocean for deep-dive testing about 220 miles off Massachusetts Cape Cod.

The first sign of trouble was a garbled message about a minor difficulty after the 279-foot (85-meter) submarine descended to more than 800 feet.

The crew indicated it was attempting to empty ballast tanks in an effort to surface. The crew of an accompanying rescue ship heard something about the test depth. Then the sailors listened as the sub disintegrated under the crushing pressure of the sea.

The Navy inquiry found weaknesses in the design and construction of the first-in-class nuclear-powered submarine, which had been built at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine, and based in Groton, Connecticut.

The documents released Wednesday included the timeline of the sinking, evidence lists, reports, testimony and correspondence. But there were some redactions. Even more than 50 years later, technical details including the test depth were redacted.

In the documents, the Navy said it believes an interior pipe burst and caused electrical problems that caused an emergency shutdown of the nuclear reactor.

The documents noted that the commanding officers evaluation of the first year of operations  before additional work was conducted at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard -- included praise the submarine. But he also said the submarine was overly complex in many areas and he noted a vulnerability of the auxiliary salt water system.

He stated, In my opinion, the most dangerous condition that exists in Thresher is the danger of salt water flooding while at or near test depth, the report said.

The brazed joints in pipes were a special concern, and many electrical panels were not adequately protected from sea water in the event of a leak, the report said.

Resting on the ocean floor at a depth of 8,500 feet, the Thresher looks as though it went through a shredding machine and is spread out over a mile, University of Rhode Island oceanographer Robert Ballard told The Associated Press in 2013. Ballard used his 1985 discovery of the RMS Titanic as a Cold War cover for surveying the Thresher.

Not everyone was satisfied with the Navys conclusions.

Retired Capt. James Bryant, commander of a Thresher-class submarine, requested the documents under the federal Freedom of Information Act and ultimately went to court to demand the documents release. He thinks theres more to be learned from the documents, most of them classified.

Michael Shafer, whose father and uncle both died on the Thresher, said some of the families need to review the documents to see for themselves and fully understand what happened. His suspicion is that the Navy was pushing the limits and placing personnel at risk during the Cold War.

I want to know the truth, the whole truth. Not some smoke screen from the Navy, he said Wednesday from St. Petersburg, Florida.

A judge in February ordered the Navy to release the documents. The coronavirus pandemic delayed the review of the documents. Eventually, more than 1,000 pages of documents will be released.

If there was a silver lining, it was that the tragedy so shook the Navy that it accelerated safety improvements and created a program called SUBSAFE, an extensive series of design modifications, training and other improvements.

One submarine has sunk since then, the USS Scorpion in 1968, and it was not SUBSAFE-certified, the Navy said.

Some of the improvements included better welding techniques, and the main ballast tank blow system that helps a submarine reach the surface was made more effective.

Joy MacMillan, one of four siblings who lost their father, the submarines chief radioman, said its helpful to know the tragedy spurred safety improvements. But its still important for the families to have the documents, and some closure.

After being 57 years in the dark, its time for the families to know any and all information so that we can put it away. We can say, Mistakes were made. Lets move on, MacMillan, of Brentwood, New Hampshire, said Wednesday.

The sinking was the first of a string of calamities in 1963.

The March on Washington was a turning point in the Civil Rights movement, but the Vietnam conflict grew, white supremacists bombed the 16th Street Baptist Church in Alabama and President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.
Premier Daniel Andrews has confirmed more restrictions will be eased this weekend, beyond those he previously flagged, after declaring the state is winning the battle against coronavirus.

But he made it clear he would not budge on October 26 as the review date for Melbourne's 9pm-to-5am curfew, which is the subject of a Liberal-supported legal challenge.

The state recorded 15 new cases of coronavirus and five deaths on Wednesday, bringing Melbourne's crucial 14-day average down to 29.4, from 32.8 on Tuesday.

Here's what Victorians can do from 11.59pm, Sunday, November 8.

The state government's road map for easing restrictions in Melbourne is tied to the 14-day case average, and the target for the second step of reopening is for that number to be between 30 and 50 on September 28.

Mr Andrews previously said he would make announcements on Sunday about what rules would be eased, and asked on Wednesday if he was intending to go further in winding back restrictions than originally planned, he said: "Yes, I am."

Under the current government strategy, minor restrictions set to ease from Sunday night include the opening of outdoor pools, childcare and some school levels resuming, and allowing public gatherings of up to five people from two different households.

More significant lockdown measures, including the five-kilometre radius rule and the 9pm-to-5am curfew, will not be lifted until late October at the earliest under the current plan  and only if the number of "mystery" cases with an unknown source over the previous 14 days is fewer than five.

Currently, the number of mystery cases (measured between September 7 and September 20) is 41.

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Mr Andrews did not say which additional rules would be eased.

"We're looking at those and ... look at what the risk is. We don't want to do something that might seem quite small but could present a significant challenge to us in a couple of weeks' time.

"That's part of the nature of this virus. I know I've made the point many times but it's worth repeating again that what we do on Sunday, the full effect of that won't necessarily be apparent to us until a couple of weeks after then.

Premier Daniel Andrews and Minister for Mental Health Martin Foley provide an update on the coronavirus situation in Victoria.

"That's why they have to be cautious steps, steady steps, and all the steps we take have to be safe."

Mr Andrews made it clear he would not budge on the October 26 review date for Melbourne's curfew.

"It won't be there forever," he said. "We are winning this battle and we will prevail, it's just a matter of us staying the course, not letting our frustration get the better of us, not allowing our desperate hope and wish that this were over to lull us into a sense of pretending that it is."

Mr Andrews said 15,741 tests had been conducted in the previous 24 hours, which was a "strong number".

"It's a powerful contribution ... it is critical in order to have a clear picture of how much virus is out there and the impact of restrictions and therefore the tolerance of easing those is, to make the best and most well-informed decisions," he said.

Wider emergency powers concern

Mr Andrews also indicated on Wednesday that he was willing to compromise on controversial new laws his government has proposed for more powers to enforce health directions in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The government faces mounting opposition to the "omnibus bill" it has brought to Parliament, seeking powers for police to pre-emptively detain citizens suspected of being public health risks and allowing public servants and other government officials to be handed powers of arrest and detention.

Deakin University epidemiologist Catherine Bennett added her voice to the backlash on Wednesday, rebuking the government's "punitive" approach to fighting the pandemic and saying enforcement of restrictions should be a "last resort" in a public health crisis.

"It's not always about enforcing restrictions ... we're going further and further down the enforcement path and making people more and more concerned, and even concerned about coming out of lockdown, which I can't understand," Professor Bennett said.

Associate Professor Hassan Vally, a public health expert from La Trobe University, said he broadly supported the ability to detain people who are a risk of spreading COVID-19, but said scrutiny over the details was essential.

"Everything with this is in the implementation and the detail and making sure theres oversight into how these powers are used and making sure theres checks and balances," Professor Vally said.

"But as a general principle, Id turn it around and say, whats the alternative? If someone has the virus and could knowingly go out there spreading to people and potentially spreading it to vulnerable populations who could die, do we want to be able to do something about that, or do we want to let that go?"

Professor Vally said a similar law was introduced for HIV-AIDS in 1993, where those who had spread the virus willingly could be jailed for up to 25 years, before the Andrews government repealed the law in 2015.

The Premier flagged at his press briefing on Wednesday that Labor may be willing to compromise with a sceptical upper house to get the legislation through Parliament when it returns next month.

Mr Andrews compared the passage of the omnibus bill with the debate around the six-month extension of the government's state of emergency laws that passed with amendments from upper house crossbenchers this month.

"There was a lot of speculation with what would happen with the last bill, and we got an outcome," the Premier said. "I think this will be no different.

"Whether it's identical to the bill that's presented, that's entirely a matter for our colleagues in the Legislative Council."

Regional rules

Mr Andrews gave more detail on the rules for those who live in metropolitan Melbourne but work in regional Victoria, including those in industries able to operate in the regions but not in Melbourne. He said the primary rule was that if you can work from home you must work from home, regardless of industry or location.

"A person travelling from metropolitan Melbourne to regional Victoria to work must have a valid work permit. The worker permit allows them to issue a permit to a worker who lives in metropolitan Melbourne," he said.

"When a person from metropolitan Melbourne is in regional Victoria, the metropolitan Melbourne restrictions apply to them, even though they're not in metropolitan Melbourne, the rules follow them to their work in regional Victoria."

Mr Andrews said it means those who live in metropolitan Melbourne are not allowed to go out for dinner in regional Victoria.

"They can't be engaging in that activity if they are [a permitted worker]. They have a permit to go to work and then to return back to their home in metropolitan Melbourne."

Mental health funding

The government announced it would spend more than $21 million to help mental health and alcohol and drug services prevent and prepare for coronavirus outbreaks, as the state moves towards "COVID normal". More than $8.6 million will go towards increased cleaning for the sector.

About $5 million would be used to reduce the need for staff to work across multiple sites by increasing hourly rates, back-filling staff who may be unable to work due to exposure to the virus, or retaining workers in the non-government organisation sector. More than $6.5 million in grants will be available for minor upgrades to reduce contamination risks, such as installing sensor taps or modifying facilities.

Mental Health Minister Martin Foley said the lockdown had taken a toll on the mental health of many people and providers had stepped up during the pandemic.

"We're ensuring these vital support services are safe and ready for those who need them," he said.

Hallam cluster growth halted

Deputy Chief Health Officer Allen Cheng said the growth of the Hallam cluster in Melbournes south-east had halted at 43 cases and had not moved for at least two days.

"There's still close contacts that are undergoing monitoring, but there's been no new cases," Professor Cheng said.

There were 834 tests done in the Casey council area on Tuesday, which Professor Cheng said was adequate, noting that about 2 per cent of the population of Melbourne had been tested in the past fortnight, assuming every person only received one test.

"In areas where we're particularly concerned, where there's been more cases, Brimbank, Casey, Hume, Wyndham. It's substantially more than 2 per cent, so pushing into the high 2 per cent to 3 per cent," he said.

Professor Cheng said the 41 active "mystery" cases with no known source in Melbourne were from 18 different council areas.

"Most of those are still in the areas where we are concerned," he said. "Casey had four unknown-source cases, Brimbank three, Hume three and Hobson's Bay four. So again, just the hint that there's other cases out there."

Although there were 15 new cases of COVID-19 recorded in Victoria over the previous 24 hours, the historical tally has increased by 24 cases after cases were accidentally removed from the system in July and August.

"They date back to July and August mainly, and they were inadvertently taken off the system. So as part of quality checking, we go back to make sure that the record is correct. But they were all followed up at the time. It was only in the process of taking them off from being an active case that they were removed."

More exposure sites revealed

Victorian health authorities have added two new exposure sites where people who were COVID-positive spent time last week.

Anyone who shopped at Melton Woolworths in Coburns Central Shopping Centre on September 16 or 17 should be monitoring closely for any symptoms of COVID-19.

The same advice has been issued for anyone who shopped at Niddrie Woolworths at the Central Shopping Centre on Keilor Road on September 18.

There were similar warnings already out for locations in Brunswick, Burwood East, Clifton Hill, Craigieburn, Hoppers Crossing, Narre Warren, Oakleigh South, Roxburgh Park, St Albans, Sunshine, Sunshine North and Port Melbourne.

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The number of active cases in Victoria has dropped to 554, with aged care cases still making up half of that number.

People evacuated from aged care at the height of the crisis are being returned to the nursing homes where outbreaks occurred, as case numbers drop.

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More than 600 elderly Victorians in care have died of the virus.

Active cases linked to aged care homes dropped by 44 on Wednesday, down to 284 from a peak of more than 2000 in mid-August.

Victoria's death toll from COVID-19 is now 771. The national death toll is 859.
ATLANTA, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Greater Women's Business Council (GWBC), one of the largest providers of certification and development resources for women business enterprises (WBEs) in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, today announced 11 corporations selected as its 2020 TOP Corporations of the Year.

These corporate partners, who have demonstrated a passion for inspiring, engaging, empowering and furthering the success of women-owned businesses, were recognized at a virtual event today.

GWBC's 2020 TOP Corporations of the Year for Women's Business Enterprises are:

Accenture

AT&T

Bank of America

BMW Manufacturing Co.

Delta Air Lines

Georgia Power

Grady Health System

McKesson Corporation

The Coca-Cola Company

Truist Financial Corporation

UPS

"While this has been a year of challenges and uncertainty for many, these corporate partners have continued to step up and represent best in class innovators in supplier diversity and procurement," said Roz Lewis, president & CEO of GWBC. "We're grateful for their continued support for all they do to empower women-owned businesses."

Dr. Bertice Berry, Ph.D., served as keynote speaker at the TOP Corporations Awards event. Dr. Berry is a best-selling author and award-winning lecturer. She has been named Comedian of The Year, Lecturer of the Year and Entertainer of the Year, and has created a niche as both a gifted speaker with a comic edge and a comic with a serious message. She has published 11 best-selling books and has won numerous awards and accolades for both her writing and presentations.

"We'd like to thank Dr. Berry for her inspirational contribution to today's event and give special thanks to Accenture for supporting our virtual event with their technology expertise. Our guests received a special gift to celebrate with us and thank you to both UPS and Tracey West Irresistible Pound Cakes for providing delivery and a tasty treat to all our TOP Corporation virtual attendees," added Lewis.

GWBC partners with dozens of major companies who are committed to providing a sustainable foundation to bring education, training and the standardization of national certification to women businesses in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

The power of these partnerships can be seen through the numbers: GWBC's constituency is comprised of more than 1,000 certified WBEs that staff more than 51,000 employees and generate more than $9.6 billion in revenue.

GWBC's TOP Corporations of the Year Awards is unique in that each corporate honoree's award is presented through a real-world testimony of a WBE partner whose business has been directly impacted by their support. Judged by a panel of WBEs, criteria for the GWBC TOP Corporations of the Year awards include corporations that are members of the organization; have a dedicated supplier diversity program serving Georgia and the Carolinas; meet and exceed spend goals with WBEs; and actively participate in educational and development activities with WBEs in the region.

WBEs who presented at this year's TOP Corporations Awards are: Expedite Technology Solutions for Accenture, ASAP Solutions Group & WeFresh for AT&T, Niche Marketing for Bank of America, Signatures Company for BMW Manufacturing Co., iSuccess Consulting for Delta Air Lines, Colliers Facility Solutions for Georgia Power, Edge Solutions for Grady Health System, Primus Software Corporation for McKesson Corporation, Leapley Construction Group of ATL for The Coca-Cola Company, Corporate Environments of GA for Truist Financial Corporation, and HLMF Logistics for UPS.

For more information on GWBC visit www.gwbc.org.

ABOUT THE GREATER WOMEN'S BUSINESS COUNCIL, INC.

The Greater Women's Business Council, Inc. (GWBC) is a nonprofit organization providing nationally-recognized certification through Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), innovative programming and value-driven events customized to the unique needs of women business enterprises (WBEs) in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. GWBC's constituency is comprised of over 1,000 certified WBEs, dozens of corporate member partners, government entities and business alliances united to inspire, engage and empower women-owned businesses. A Regional Partner Organization of WBENC, GWBC is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with an office in Charlotte, North Carolina. Learn more at www.gwbc.org .

SOURCE The Greater Women's Business Council, Inc.
On Saturday night in Paris outside Notre Dame cathedral, a truss built with traditional tools and methods by Carpenters Without Borders offered a sign of hope that the fire-damaged landmark can be rebuilt in an historically appropriate manner. FRANCOIS CALAME PHOTO

ORLEANS  Notre Dame de Paris was built eight centuries ago by people who believed in miracles. Something like that happened last weekend, outside the cathedrals charred ruins, when an international group of volunteer carpenters raised an oak truss created of the same materials and by the same methods as the roof supports lost in the blaze.

The main thing was showing the public that the cathedral can be rebuilt the same way it was built 800 years ago, said Carpenters Without Borders member Ian Ellison, who lives in Orleans. Having participated in many international builds with the group, he was confident that would be the case. Even before the dramatic raising by hand of the truss on Saturday, the French government had signaled its approval for a rebuild using historic materials.

Were it not for the pandemic and its air travel restrictions, Ellison and his son Tanner, of Harwich, would have been in France to help build the demonstration truss. The next stage of the work may not occur for several years.

They built it by hand, he said of his fellow volunteers. They got the trees out of the forest up in Normandy. They hewed these logs into square timbers. Then they joined them together, cut all the joinery, wood to wood, secured with wooden pegs. No steel, no bolts.

The original trusses damaged in the April 2019 fire were 30 feet high. Drawn up timber by timber through an opening in the cathedrals stone vault ceiling by hand-cranking a hamster wheel, as Ellison puts it, they were assembled and raised to support the roof. They didnt have a crane, so they used the wheel, he said of the Medieval-era artisans. After the last stone on the vaulted ceiling was placed, the wheel was left in place.

When the traditionally-built trusses are raised, Ellison said, a crane will be used. The next stage of the work at the cathedral may not occur for several years, but he said Carpenters Without Borders could turn out a truss per year at the site in Normandy where the truss raised Saturday was crafted. In 2018, the organization, including Ellison, built a bridge over a moat to Harcourt Castle there.

In 2005, Ellison and his then 15-year-old son helped repair two barns at a French chateau using traditional materials, methods, and tools. He was swinging axes and hewing timbers side by side with Czech Republic, French and German carpenters, he said of Tanner. Training apprentices is an important part of Carpenters Without Borders mission, and young people were on hand to help raise the truss at the cathedral last weekend.

Ellisons own desire to swing an ax in the cause is evident. He spoke wistfully of the cathedral, which he visited twice before the fire. You walk in and its so overwhelming, he said, the peace you get from walking in there, just sitting in there and being in a place thats 800 years old, all stone and huge and peaceful. Its wonderful.

Meanwhile, Ellison is building a log cabin  in Canada. Hes a dual citizen, but the borders are closed and hes not allowed to go to the site. Thats not stopping him.

It needs roof trusses, he said. Ill cut them here, and my kids can help me cut joinery for the trusses, then put them on a trailer. With an almost audible smile, he added, I could even build one of the trusses for the cathedral here.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to meet chief ministers of seven states on Wednesday to discuss the coronavirus situation. These states -- Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab and Delhi -- have contributed majorly to India's exponentially-increasing COVID-19 cases. The meeting also comes just ahead of the completion of Unlock 4 phase that would end on September 30. Since the lockdown on March 25, there have been a series of meetings between CMs and the Prime Minister to discuss ways to curb the rise in coronavirus cases.

These seven states account for 63 per cent of the total coronavirus cases in the country. The Centre would send its teams to monitor coronavirus cases in states. They would also help state governments in containment, surveillance, testing as well as efficient clinical management.

Delhi would receive a Centre-Delhi government joint team. The meeting would also discuss whether these seven states would require guidance from the central government.

India has the second-highest number of COVID-19 cases in the world, after the US. Over 5.5 million total coronavirus cases have been reported in India. However, the health ministry has said that active cases are less than a fifth of the total number of cases.

Maharashtra has 2,75,017 active cases, while Karnataka has 95,354 active cases, Uttar Pradesh 64,164 active cases, Tamil Nadu 46,495 active cases, Andhra Pradesh 74,518 active cases, Punjab 21,661 active cases and Delhi 30,941 active cases.

Meanwhile, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dr Harsh Vardhan has said that the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has been conducting large-scale sequencing of the nationally representative strains of SARS-CoV-2 virus collected over the past several months. He added that so far no significant or direct mutations have been detected in the strains in India.

Also read: PM Modi's foreign trips in 2015 cost Rs 517.82 crore

Also read: IIT Guwahati convocation 2020: PM Modi says NEP will establish India as global education destination
United Nations, Sep 23 : External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and the foreign ministers of Brazil, Germany and Japan, whose countries make up the G4, met virtually on Wednesday and called for a "decisive push" for UN Security Council reforms.

Foreign Ministers Ernesto Henrique Fraga Araujo of Brazil, Heiko Mass of Germany and Toshimitsu Motegi joined Jaishankar in keeping the annual tradition of meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly's high-level session, which has gone digital this year.

Jaishankar tweeted after the meeting, "Participated in #G4 Foreign Ministers Meeting that called for a decisive push for UNSC reforms during #UN75. Unanimous call for text-based negotiations in a fixed time frame. Reformed Multilateralism guides India's approach to the United Nations." The reform process has been blocked by a small group of countries, Uniting for Consensus, led by Italy and including Pakistan that use procedural tactics to prevent the adoption of a negotiating text that can move the negotiations forward.

The negotiating text that lays down the agenda and the points of agreement and the differences is needed to continue the negotiations meaningfully.

The G4 countries work together for Security Council reforms and mutually support each other for a permanent seat on a reformed body.

At their meeting, the ministers take stock of the state of the reform process and coordinate their strategies.

The reform has received a lot of support from heads of government and state who spoke on the first day of the high-level session on Monday.

Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari said the Council must be reformed "to reflect the diversity and dynamics of the 21st Century. Africa deserves permanent seats in the United Nations Security Council." The view was echoed by several others like Presidents Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco of Angola and Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, "We must rapidly implement comprehensive and meaningful reforms, starting with the restructuring of the Security Council." General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir, who will oversee the reform process ruing the Assembly's current session, had said earlier, "There is no doubt that the membership of the Security Council as well as its working methods must reflect the realities of the 21st century." "Security Council reform is very important, not only for the member states but also to the United Nations as a whole," he said, giving an assurance that he will promote the Security Council reform process impartially.

(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter at @arulouis)
Every investor in Record plc (LON:REC) should be aware of the most powerful shareholder groups. Institutions often own shares in more established companies, while it's not unusual to see insiders own a fair bit of smaller companies. Warren Buffett said that he likes "a business with enduring competitive advantages that is run by able and owner-oriented people." So it's nice to see some insider ownership, because it may suggest that management is owner-oriented.

Record is a smaller company with a market capitalization of UK84m, so it may still be flying under the radar of many institutional investors. Our analysis of the ownership of the company, below, shows that institutions own shares in the company. Let's delve deeper into each type of owner, to discover more about Record.

View our latest analysis for Record

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Record?

Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once it's included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing.

We can see that Record does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. It is not uncommon to see a big share price drop if two large institutional investors try to sell out of a stock at the same time. So it is worth checking the past earnings trajectory of Record, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too.

Hedge funds don't have many shares in Record. Looking at our data, we can see that the largest shareholder is Neil Record with 32% of shares outstanding. In comparison, the second and third largest shareholders hold about 7.6% and 6.9% of the stock. Leslie Meier, who is the second-largest shareholder, also happens to hold the title of Chief Executive Officer.

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To make our study more interesting, we found that the top 4 shareholders control more than half of the company which implies that this group has considerable sway over the company's decision-making.

Researching institutional ownership is a good way to gauge and filter a stock's expected performance. The same can be achieved by studying analyst sentiments. There are plenty of analysts covering the stock, so it might be worth seeing what they are forecasting, too.

Insider Ownership Of Record

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.

Insider ownership is positive when it signals leadership are thinking like the true owners of the company. However, high insider ownership can also give immense power to a small group within the company. This can be negative in some circumstances.

Our information suggests that insiders maintain a significant holding in Record plc. It has a market capitalization of just UK84m, and insiders have UK41m worth of shares in their own names. I would say this shows alignment with shareholders, but it is worth noting that the company is still quite small; some insiders may have founded the business. You can click here to see if those insiders have been buying or selling.

General Public Ownership

The general public holds a 15% stake in Record. 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.

Private Company Ownership

We can see that Private Companies own 4.8%, of the shares on issue. It might be worth looking deeper into this. If related parties, such as insiders, have an interest in one of these private companies, that should be disclosed in the annual report. Private companies may also have a strategic interest in the company.

Next Steps:

It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Record better, we need to consider many other factors. Take risks for example - Record has 3 warning signs (and 1 which is significant) we think 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.
Wells Fargo CEO Charlie Scharf is walking back a controversial comment blaming the bank's lack of racial diversity on a shallow pool of minority talent.

In a public memo sent to employees on Wednesday, Scharf apologized for what he said was "an insensitive comment reflecting my own unconscious bias."

He wrote, "There are many talented diverse individuals working at Wells Fargo and throughout the financial services industry and I never meant to imply otherwise. It's clear to me that, across the industry, we have not done enough to improve diversity, especially at senior leadership levels. And there is no question Wells Fargo has to make meaningful progress to increase diverse representation."

Scharf's original comments were made in a June company-wide memo amid nationwide protests over police brutality and the death of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man who died at the hands of a white police officer. In that memo, obtained by Reuters, Scharf acknowledged that his company "needs more diverse representation" in its corporate offices.

He then went on to say, "While it might sound like an excuse, the unfortunate reality is that there is a very limited pool of Black talent to recruit from."

After Reuters reported on Scharf's original memo on Tuesday, the CEO's comments were widely criticized. Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted late Tuesday, "Perhaps it's the CEO of Wells Fargo who lacks the talent to recruit Black workers."

As the head of the largest US bank employer, Scharf has now pledged to double the number of Black leaders over five years. He has also told hiring managers to consider diverse candidates for high-paying roles that are vacant and to ensure diversity on interview teams.

According to a June 19 post on Wells Fargo's website, the company's senior leadership ranks are currently 41% female and 21% racially or ethically diverse, including 6% Black or African American.

"There is no question Wells Fargo has to make meaningful progress to increase diverse representation," Scharf wrote on Wednesday. As I said in June, I have committed that this time must be different."
An Indian expat in the UAE will finally be able to return home after two decades after he was granted a waiver of nearly Dh 750,000 ($204,195) in overstay fines, according to a media report.

Thanavel Mathiazhaagan, 56, arrived in the UAE in 2000 through a recruitment agent on the promise of a job.

The agent, who also took Mathiazhaagan's passport, later went missing and he had to illegally stay in the UAE to provide for his family in India by doing part-time jobs, the Gulf News reported.

Mathiazhaagan, who hails from Tamil Nadu, sought help from two social workers in the UAE to return home during the COVID-19 pandemic. The only documents he possessed was his employment visa entry permit and a copy of the last page of his passport, the report said.

A K Mahadevan and Chandra Prakash, who helped Mathiazhaagan get an emergency certificate through the Indian embassy in Abu Dhabi, said he had failed to get identity clearance from India during the pandemic as there was a mismatch in his father's name in documents back home and that shown in his passport.

Emergency certificate is a one-way travel document issued to Indians without a valid passport, to facilitate their return home, it said.

The duo said they approached the Indian embassy and the local departments in Mathiazhaagans village to rectify the mistake and process his documents, it said.

Indian Ambassador to the UAE Pavan Kapoor took special interest in solving this case after the issue was taken up with him, Prakash was quoted as saying by the Gulf News.
In this July 29, 2020 file photo, a VW ID.4 stands in front of the Frauenkirche on the occasion of a Volkswagen vehicle presentation on the Neumarkt in Dresden, Germany. Germany's Volkswagen is unveiling the ID.4, the battery-powered sport-utility vehicle that is headed for global markets including the United States and China, as the company takes a major step forward in its campaign to make electric cars a mass-market choice. (Sebastian Kahnert/dpa via AP, File)

Volkswagen is unveiling a battery-powered sport-utility vehicle that is headed for global markets including the United States and China, as the company takes a major step forward in its campaign to make electric cars a mass-market choice.

The ID.4 combines the battery drive favored by environmental rules in Europe and China with the compact SUV design that has drawn many consumers away from hatchbacks and sedans.

The new model comes close on the heels of the German company's first vehicle built on its electric-only platform, the ID.3 compact, that went on sale in September. The ID.3 is not, however, coming to the United States, where larger vehicles such as SUVs increasingly rule the market.

The ID.4 is by contrast "designed as a world car," according to Volkswagen brand head Ralf Brandstaetter. It will launch in the U.S. early next year, with Volkswagen offering three years free unlimited charging on 470 stations belonging to the Electrify America fast-charging network.

The company says prices start at $39,995 before the potential $7,500 U.S. federal tax credit. The first edition will have range of 250 miles, charging to full in 7 1/2 hours at home, or up to 80% in 38 minutes at a fast-charging station. Volkswagen says eventually it will have a lower-cost $35,000 version with less range.

Scott Keough, CEO of Volkswagen in America, said Tesla's all-electric Model Y, which now starts at $49,990, is a competitor, but Volkswagen sees most of its customers coming from conventional compact SUVs such as the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V. "The opportunity is to get people flipping from ICEs (internal combustion engines) to this car," he said.

The compact SUV segment is the largest part of the U.S. new vehicle market with 4 million sold every year, Keough said.

At first, U.S. versions of the ID.4 will be rear-drive and imported to the U.S. from Germany, but Volkswagen's factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee, will begin building it toward the fall of 2022, he said.

Volkswagen says the ID.4 will have great handling and will be faster from zero to 60 mph (96.6 kilometers per hour) than gas engine competitors. It expects the rear-drive version to get there under eight seconds and the all-wheel-drive version under six.

The company's goal is to broaden electric cars' appeal beyond "first adopters" to buyers simply looking for affordable transportation.

Volkswagen hopes car buyers will be attracted by the advantages that come from designing a car as an electric vehicle from the ground up. Putting the battery flat below the passenger space gives the ID.4 about the same interior space as that of the longer Volkswagen Tiguan SUV, while the lower center of gravity makes for better handling.

The new vehicle underlines the sharp turn the company has made after its 2015 scandal over diesel cars that for years were rigged to cheat on emissions tests so they could pollute more than U.S. rules allowed.

Only last week the company announced it had completed three years of monitoring as part of its guilty plea with the U.S. Justice Department. Under independent monitor Larry D. Thompson Volkswagen had to come up with a uniform ethics code and an expanded whistle-blower system. The company has also paid more than 30 billion euros ($35 billion) in fines and civil settlements. Former CEO Martin Winterkorn faces a criminal trial in a German court and has been indicted in the U.S., though he cannot be extradited under German law.

The push into electric cars is to a great extent being driven by regulation. The European Union is from 2021 requiring car makers' fleets to have lower levels of carbon dioxide, the primary greenhouse gas that causes global warming. The race to comply with the rulesor face fines that could run thousands of euros per vehicle soldhas seen companies launch more electric vehicles with better prices and longer range. The European market share jumped to 7.2% in the third quarter from 2.4% a year ago, despite the overall slump in sales due to the coronavirus recession.

The Chinese government is also making a regulatory push for more alternative propulsion vehicles. Uptake in the U.S. has been slower as regulatory pressure has been weaker.

Stephanie Brinley, principal automotive analyst at research firm IHS Markit, said the vehicle is "very significant for Volkswagen as it tries to move forward and transition from traditional engines to a more electric vehicle lineup."

She cautioned that the transition to significant electric sales will take decades. "This is the beginning of a very long journey for them."

Consumers are getting more choice, with 18 electric models available in 2018 growing to 120 by 2025. And that will help push electrics to a 9% market share by 2025: "For the electric vehicle market to really find the success that we expect it will, it needs to make that trip over to people who are less aggressive about change and are willing to try it anyway."

Explore further EU share of electric cars grew during virus lockdown months

 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 04:41:16|Editor: huaxia

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Turkey's Istanbul Airport launched a "Chinese Friendly Airport" project on Sept. 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Osman Orsal)

A special project "Chinese Friendly Airport" is launched in Turkey's Istanbul Airport on Sept. 22, aimed to provide unique experience for Chinese traverls.

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. 
A 27-year-old man allegedly barged into his ex-girlfriends house in Sarita Vihar on Monday, opened fire and threatened to kill her and her family members if she married someone else, police said.

The man, identified as Sumit Tomar, was arrested on Tuesday and a country made pistol used in the crime recovered from him, police said.

Deputy commissioner of police (southeast) RP Meena said that late on Monday night, the police received a call regarding firing outside a house at Aali Vihar in Sarita Vihar. The caller, a 24-year-old woman, told the police that she was inside her home with her family members when her ex-boyfriend opened fire at their main gate. Nobody was injured in the firing. Two empty bullet shells were recovered from near the main gate that was partially broken because of the impact of the bullets, said the DCP.

The woman alleged that the bullets were fired by her ex-boyfriend, Sumit Tomar, who had been stalking, sexually harassing and threatening her.

A case of act endangering the life of others, stalking, sexual harassment and criminal intimidation was registered at the Sarita Vihar police station and teams were formed to nab Tomar, said DCP Meena.

During the probe, a police officer said, the woman told investigators in her statement that she had been in a relationship with Tomar for nearly a decade. They wanted to marry each other but because of certain reasons the wedding had to be called off.

Then after Tomars marriage with someone else around two years ago, the woman started ignoring him, which infuriated him. Tomar wanted her to continue their relationship but she did not want to ruin his married life and her future as well, said the officer.

About two months ago, the womans wedding was fixed with someone and Tomar learnt about it. He began stalking and pressuring her to change her decision, but she was not ready to do so. Her refusal irked Tomar and to intimidate her and her family members, he purchased a country made pistol from an arms dealer in Uttar Pradesh last month. On Monday, he fired outside the womans house, threatened her and her family members before fleeing the incident spot.

We raided Tomars home and hideouts but found him missing. On Tuesday, the teams caught him after receiving information that he was hiding in the forested area of Aali Vihar, added the officer.
JACKSON COUNTY, MI -- Two incumbents on the Jackson County Board of Commissioners will face challengers in the November election.

Jackson County voters will decide on who will represent their district on the countys elected board. Incumbent Commissioners Rodney Walz, a Republican representing District 2, and Darius Williams, a Democrat representing District 8, are facing challenges from Democrat Chris Osinski and Republican John Wilson, respectively.

Walz, of Grass Lake, has been on the board since 2014. District 2 includes the townships of Henrietta, Waterloo, Grass Lake and part of Leoni. His opponent, Osinski, runs an online screen-printing business in Grass Lake.

Williams, who represents the west side of Jackson in the District 8 seat, will once again face off against Wilson. The two previously competed in 2018, with Williams edging the win over his Republican counterpart.

Williams is a senior pastor at the Second Missionary Baptist Church. Wilson is a retired Michigan Department of Corrections employee and works part-time with his family business.

MLive Media Group has partnered with the League of Women Voters of Michigan to provide candidate information and other voting resources to readers ahead of 2020 elections.

Each candidate was given a list of questions relevant to the office for which they are campaigning. The voter guide can be accessed at vote411.org.

All responses in the voter guide were submitted directly by the candidate and have not been edited by the League of Women Voters, except for a necessary cut if a reply exceeded character limitations. Spelling and grammar were not corrected. Publication of candidate statements and opinions is solely in the interest of public service and should NOT be considered as an endorsement. The League never supports or opposes any candidates or political parties.

All responses in the voter guide were submitted directly by the candidate and have not been edited by the League of Women Voters, except for a necessary cut if a reply exceeded character limitations. Spelling and grammar were not corrected. Publication of candidate statements and opinions is solely in the interest of public service and should NOT be considered as an endorsement. The League never supports or opposes any candidates or political parties.

Here is how each candidate responded to the questions:

Describe your qualifications and experience for this office and explain your reasons for running. How would you be an asset?

Osinski: I am qualified to represent district 2 on the Jackson County Board of Commissioners because of my work history, which gave me experience in accounting and management. Also, I own a small home business that has provided invaluable information on how local governments can build a welcoming and sustainable system for small business.. I want to improve our public and mental health systems, reduce crime and addiction rates, enhance the parks systems under the countys control, make tangible improvements to Keeley Park, be fiscally responsible and build a strong and vibrant community. I am an asset because of my strong work ethic and I have the vigor to dig in and get the work done for our community. I will not waste my time crafting show boat legislation. While best practices are a good method. I will also be thinking outside of the box in creative ways to accomplish the goals our board sets. I believe in myself, I believe in you and I believe in us!

Walz: Served as a member Grass Lake Fire and Rescue Department, worked at Foote Hospital 20 years President for 12 years for the Village of Grass Lake , retired from Jackson Public Schools as the Director of District Operations 18 years. There was in charge of several million dollars of projects.

Williams: I have served 8th District as County Commissioner for nearly one full term of experience allows me to be able to freely make decisions on what I believe is best for the district. However, over the years, I have held several leadership roles in our community in various areas I have the leadership skills to confidently to defend the voice of our community and fight for the equity of all people, not just those who call the 8th district home but all citizens of Jackson County.

Wilson: Im a residential property owner and of age. Im no stranger to those who vote and Im especially not a stranger to our current or past county commissioners. Each time previous that I have been on the ballot, its for the same reason, and that is to provide proper oversight for each tax dollar spent and to ensure taxpayers receive the essential government services they pay taxes for. One recent example is County Administrator Michael Overtons request that the Jackson County Board of Commission replace general fund allocations which funds county agencies with millages. Just a few months ago, county commissioners voted to defund senior services from the general fund and instead voted to place a Senior Services property tax millage on the August, 2020 ballot. This is wrong, each county agency SHOULD be funded from the countys general fund. Taxpayers already pay county taxes and there is no reason they should have to pay a separate millage to mostly fund each and every county agency.

Due to our current circumstances, what are the most important challenges facing our community, and how do you propose to address them?

Osinski: Our biggest challenge facing our community this fiscal year will be lost revenues. I will be looking for alternative sources of revenue; grant writing, cost sharing and hosting events on county properties. Revenue will also be an issue for businesses that require foot traffic. We will need to be flexible regarding any legislative changes required that could hinder their ability to operate in a safe manner. Another challenge I foresee is an increased demand for mental health services due to the affects from covid. I would address that challenge by being proactive. I feel it is essential for the county board to cooperate with local businesses and all facets of government. The costs of ignoring mental health issues at the forefront multiply over time. Being good stewards of our environment is important and especially for district 2. We are blessed with lakes, rivers and trails that should be preserved for generations to come.

Walz: With the pandemic, we need to get people back to work and business open. Although some will never reopen. We have to work on finding safe and healthy ways to strengthen our economy.

Williams: I believe some of Jackson Countys more significant issues have been: the voice of the community being ignored. I have heard how much of the community feel as if their voice is not being heard. I spoken with people from all over the district, and listened to their needs and have done much to bring their voice to the county desk. If I am re-elected, I will continue my efforts to advocate and asking the tough questions so the 8th district can have the best representation Secondly, I have worked on building the necessary bridges to help our business in Jackson county I have advocated for business in the county in many ways. Moreover, Jackson county has an ongoing problem for many years of the Cascade lagoons flooding and causing much damage to many homes in the area. If re-elected, I will continue my efforts to rid the community of this damaging problem. Further, These are just a few examples of the commitment I have given to the 8th district.

Wilson: The lack of transparency and commissioner oversight on how the 2018 county parks millage is being spent. The parks millage passage gave county officials the green light to fix and maintain our county parks. Just after the millage vote, county commissioners decided to integrate the fairgrounds into the county parks system which would allow parks millage dollars to be spent on the new, rebranded Keeley Park. While Keeley Park is very nice, that wasnt supposed to be part of the parks millage. Recently, county commissioners voted to purchase land in Blackman Township to construct a new county park. Just two weeks ago, county commission moved forward partnering with the city to spend $30 million on expanding the city and countys bike and walking trails. On June 26, two years since the passage of the parks millage, Cascades Falls closed abruptly due to a major electrical system failure. The parks millage was advertised it would fix the Falls electrical issue, what happened?

MORE ON MLIVE:

Jackson County voters approve senior services tax with 58% approval

Electrical system to be replaced at Jacksons Cascade Falls

Michigan charities held strong early in the pandemic. Will they persist this winter?

Here are the candidates running in the Nov. 3, 2020 election in Jackson County

Jackson-area prep football power rankings after Week 1
COLUMBIA, Md.

(Sept. 18, 2020)Maryland added 24,200 jobs in August and the state's unemployment rate dropped from 7.6% to 6.9%, according to preliminary data released by the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics on Friday morning.The state added 53,900 jobs in July . The national unemployment rate is at 8.4% "Good news the state has added jobs, but Maryland is still in the red by nearly 175,000 jobs from the beginning of this crisis," National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) state chair Mike O'Halloran told MarylandReporter.com in an email on Friday.O'Halloran added: "I'm also worried the jobs added in August might not have been permanent jobs. The biggest gain last month came in the leisure and hospitality sector. Those employers could have just added staff to help finish out the summer strong before settling in for a fall and winter season that will bring a tremendous amount of uncertainty. Hopefully the retail sector will see a boost when we get towards the holiday seasons but there are so many variables that could impact their and our overall economy's performance."Howard County Chamber of Commerce Leonardo McClarty said the reason more than twice as many jobs were added in July than in August is likely because the state was immersed in Stage 2 of its reopening plan-which meant that "many businesses were able to bring back workers."McClarty added: "Further, we had changes to the PPP (Paycheck Protection Program) criteria and I believe it was extended during that time frame as well. As such, many businesses, especially small businesses were able to bring back workers that may have been furloughed. I believe August is painting a real picture of where job growth really is. Of course, there will be an uptick in some industries in the later part of the month, we went to Phase 3 but not as much as the earlier phase."McClarty said some of the jobs that were added in August "may have" been part-time ventures.Frederick County Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Rick Weldon attributed the large uptick in jobs in the early summer to the reopening of the state's restaurants."It's likely that many of the June and July increases were related to expanded options for dining and shopping."Weldon said indoor dining capacity must be allowed to increase beyond 50% or restaurants may be forced to lay-off more of their employees."If we don't see indoor capacity added for most restaurants that can accommodate it, then I fear these increases in employment may be impacted. A few manufacturers are increasing capacity, but I think we're unlikely to see big increases in the future employment numbers until people increase their own confidence in reengaging in the economy."Both O'Halloran and McClarty agreed that the state's restaurants face significant challenges."Looking ahead may also leave a lot to be desired especially in the hospitality sector. Any continuation in limited indoor dining capacity for restaurants will keep stifling an already hurting industry," O'Halloran said."The ability for restaurants to weather the fall/winter storm is certainly a tricky one. I think two things will be at play here. 1) restaurant inside capacity increasing and 2) consumers feeling comfortable eating inside. The harsh reality is that many people just aren't comfortable going inside" McClarty said.Gov. Larry Hogan touted the state's jobs numbers in a statement on Friday."Unlike many other states, we were able to keep more than 70% of our economy open throughout this entire crisis, and now, after entering Stage Three of our 'Maryland Strong: Roadmap to Recovery' earlier this month, all Maryland businesses are able to safely open," Hogan said. "Maryland truly is open for business, and our economy is getting back on track and making a steady recovery."There are 119,062 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Maryland as of Friday morning, according to the state's Department of Health, and 3,724 people in Maryland have died from the virus. The state's positivity rate is at 3.21%, which is better than that of most states in the country. Maryland has tested more than 2.3 million people for COVID-19.Update: Hogan said Friday that effective Monday, Sep. 21 at 5:00 p.m. EST. the state's restaurants will be allowed to increase their indoor dining capacity to 75%
In September 2020, reports online claimed that U.S. President Donald Trump had threatened or suggested signing an executive order to prevent former Vice President and his Democratic opponent Joe Biden from ever becoming president.

Trump's executive order

On September 19, 2020, the Inquisitr published an article with the headline saying that President Trump suggested signing an executive order that will disqualify Joe Biden from running for president.

On September 20, Forbes published an article with the headline "Trump Threatens to Issue Executive Order Preventing Biden From Being Elected President."

The article reported that at his campaign rally, President Trump ramped up attacks against his opponent, Joe Biden, calling Biden the "dumbest of all candidates," and went so far as to declare that he will sign an executive order that Biden can't be president if he wins.

The article contained a short video clip from Trump's speech that was posted to Twitter by @Acyn. Several netizens suggested that President Trump was gauging the reaction of the public to would-be acts of authoritarianism on his part.

Also Read: Five Women Eyed by Trump to Take Ruth Bader Ginsburg Seat in the Supreme Court

The truth

The video that was posted was authentic and was not doctored, and both Forbes and the Inquisitr quoted President Trump accurately.

However, it is not clear whether he was joking or if he is serious about signing an executive order to stay in the White House even if he loses.

The remarks in question came during his speech in Fayetteville, North Carolina, on September 19. Throughout, President Trump continued his campaign's line of attack against Joe Biden as being "weak." He also questioned his mental acuity.

President Trump described his opponent as "the dumbest of all candidates" and "the worst candidate in the history of presidential politics," claiming that Biden was shot and had half of his head left and he suggested that Biden's campaign would inject him with drugs in order to give him energy during the first presidential debate on September 29.

Toward the end of Trump's speech, he characterized Biden as weak, pointing to the criticism he had faced from U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris of California, during the Democratic primaries, whom he later named as his vice-presidential running mate.

President Trump speculated that Joe Biden if elected president, would be overrun by sinister left-wing elements within the Democratic party and would give way for a Harris presidency.

President Trump's demeanor at that moment in his speech suggests that he was joking about signing an executive order barring Biden from becoming president.

This is not the first time that President Trump had said something that confused the public. In July 2016, Trump asked the Russian government to hack the email server of his then opponent, former U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, but he later brushed it off as just sarcasm.

In June 2020, during his election campaign, he said that he asked his officials to slow down COVID-19 testing in order to lower the rate of infection in the United States. That remark earned him a massive backlash.

The administration officials later claimed that he was just joking, but the president insisted and said "I don't kid."

Related Article: Fact Check: Can President Trump Assign a New Supreme Court Justice in Just 6 Weeks?

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A top music and arts venue named after a controversial slave trader has been officially renamed.

The venue, previously named the Colston Hall, is to be rebranded as the Bristol Beacon, after a statue of 18th century merchant Edward Colston was toppled.

It was announced in April 2017 that the hall would be ditching its 'toxic' name, and a ceremony was held on Wednesday 23 to reveal the rebranding.

The venue, previously named the Colston Hall (pictured), is to be rebranded as the Bristol Beacon after it was announced in April 2017 that the hall would be ditching its 'toxic' name

Bosses have always maintained that the attraction in Bristol gets its name from the street it sits on in the city, rather than the man himself.

The city made headlines when a statue of the slave trader was toppled during Black Lives Matter protests in June.

But the decision to remove Colston from the venue was taken well before the monument came down.

The Colston Hall was opened in 1867, and has hosted some of music's biggest stars.

Bristol made headlines when a statue of the slave trader Edward Colston (pictured) was toppled during Black Lives Matter protests earlier this year

It was founded more than 150 years ago when Colston died and received no money from him or his estate - but still found itself associated with the slave trader.

The new name was originally supposed to be announced in May following a 50 million refurbishment.

But the discovery of structural problems and the outbreak of coronavirus meant the work was delayed.

Louise Mitchell, chief executive of the Bristol Music Trust, said she hoped the new name would celebrate the 'unity and joy' of live music.

The new name was originally supposed to be announced in May following a 50 million refurbishment

She said: 'For us, our audiences, artists and for our city, this name change is a chance to be free to write our own inclusive narrative.'

Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees also gave a speech, adding: 'It is such a powerful building.'

Edward Colston's influence was visible in many places across Bristol prior to the toppling of his statue.

But that event forced the city to reconsider its history - with officials now reassessing any links to the merchant.

Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees (left) and Louise Mitchell (right), chief executive of the Bristol Music Trust, at the announcement of the new name, Bristol Beacon
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.
Boots has paused any new bookings for private flu vaccinations at its shops in Northern Ireland, the pharmacy chain has confirmed.

The chemist has stopped taking any new bookings for flu vaccinations for its NHS under 65s service and private service in England due to an increase in demand.

However, in Northern Ireland NHS flu vaccinations are done through GPs, so it is only the private service which Boots provides to customers in NI which will be affected by the move.

It comes shortly after people were advised to get flu jabs to help protect against the "double danger" of flu and coronavirus.

Read More

Having flu and Covid-19 together significantly increases your risk of death, government scientists have said.

A Boots UK spokesperson said: We know that this year, our customers have been more conscious than ever about protecting the health of themselves and their families, and protecting against flu has been front of mind for many of us.

As a result, we have seen more people than ever booking early to get their flu vaccinations.

"We have been closely monitoring our stock levels, and made the decision this weekend to pause taking new bookings for our private under 65s Flu Vaccination Service. This is to make sure we can vaccinate the patients who have already booked their appointments with us.

Boots increased its order for flu vaccinations by 20% this year, but said levels of demand have been "unprecedented" as a result of the pandemic.

Read More

Dr David Irwin, consultant of public health at the Public Health Agency, told BBC Radio Ulster's Nolan Show that flu vaccinations for people over 65 and those under 65 in an at risk group are covered exclusively through the GP system in Northern Ireland.

"For anybody who normally should have their vaccine because they are over 65, or because they are in an at risk group under that age, they still will be able to get their vaccination through their GP," he said.

Dr Irwin, who is heading up the flu vaccination programme in NI, said there is enough flu vaccine for people over 65 and those in at risk group in Northern Ireland, but it is not clear if there is enough vaccine for everyone in NI who wants it.

Dr Irwin said the flu vaccination programme is due to start in Northern Ireland on October 1.
From 4pm on Friday, anyone from Luxembourg who wishes to stay in Belgium for more than 48 hours will need to complete a form.

Quarantine and a screening test is mandatory for people who arrive into Belgium from a high-risk country, which will now include Luxembourg. Travel from Belgium to Luxembourg will also be restricted.

Speaking to "France Bleu Nord", Belgian foreign minister Philippe Goffin clarified that cross-border workers are not affected by this new classification, which is instead aimed at holiday-makers.

The new list was published by Service public federal on Wednesday.
Tracings of the flight patterns of Brent Geese might seem more ornithological than fashion material, but that's not the case.

NCAD student Una Curran looked at how bird flight patterns could be captured - and the shapes heavily influenced her topical use of ribbon embroidery and raffia in her graduate collection.

The 22-year-old has been named winner of this year's NCAD/Brown Thomas 'Designer to Watch' bursary.

Her work was praised by judge Shelly Corkery as "beautifully coutured with ribbon and stitching and an extraordinary attention to detail".

Una is now lined up to do a paid three-month internship in London with international designer JW Anderson - who, as it happens, started out on his fashion career as a visual merchandiser in the Grafton Street store. JW, son of Irish rugby hero Willie Anderson, took part in the Create showcase of Irish talent in 2012.

Part of Una's graduate collection will be included in this year's Create showcase, which had to move out of its traditional July time slot due to Covid-19.

Five pieces from Una's 'Entangled Traces' graduate collection are on display in store, including a red cotton voile dress and a cream coat with bird flight patterns on them with pink ribbon and zig zag stitching. She added turkey stitching with fringing and texture.

The showcase, which runs for a month, features 31 established and up-and-coming designers across ready-to-wear, jewellery, handbags, millinery, childrenswear and interiors.

Una said yesterday: "During Covid I was working at home in my attic, doing my own thing, and then all of a sudden I'm presenting here and winning an award.

"It's been crazy to go from that to this."

Video of the Day

Una, who lives in Marino, in Dublin, and went to school at the Dominican College on Griffith Avenue, said the plan now was to start her internship in January.

"I think it's great to have that as a kickstarter because, leaving college, it can be really hard getting on your feet," said Una.

She marked herself out for special attention by her use of colour and textures.

She looked at traces in the widest of terms, from traces in movement to traces in the age of surveillance.

Shelly Corkery, fashion director of the Brown Thomas Group and competition judge, praised Una's tiny stitching and the use of pale pink ribbon and raw edging with loose threads.

"The jacket is very soft, casual and utilitarian in its form but beautifully coutured," she said.

"It is more couture puffa than techno puffa," Una added.
The G4 countries  Brazil, India, Japan and Germany  on Wednesday expressed disappointment at attempts to derail reforms of the United Nations and called for text-based negotiations within a fixed timeframe to revamp the world body.

The foreign ministers of the four countries, during a virtual meeting during the 75th session of the UN General Assembly, highlighted the urgency of reforming the world body and updating its main decision-making bodies to better reflect contemporary realities.

The move is in line with Indias position on the reforms of the UN, including the expansion of the permanent and non-permanent membership of the Security Council, its main decision-making organ.

The foreign ministers  Brazils Ernesto Araujo, Indias S Jaishankar, Japans Motegi Toshimitsu and Germanys minister of state in the federal foreign office, Niels Annen, who represented foreign minister Heiko Maas, said the declaration adopted by all heads of state and government on the 75th anniversary of the UN reaffirmed the common resolve to finally take decisive steps towards the early and comprehensive reform of the Security Council.

Jaishankar tweeted that the G4 ministers had called for a decisive push for UNSC reforms during #UN75. He said there was a unanimous call for text-based negotiations in a fixed timeframe and Indias approach to the UN is guided by reformed multilateralism.

In a joint statement, the G4 ministers noted that the declaration said the world of today is very different from what it was when the United Nations was created 75 years ago. There are more countries, more people, more challenges but also more solutions. Our working methods need to keep pace and adapt.

In keeping with this call, G4 Ministers highlighted the urgency of reforming the United Nations and updating its main decision-making bodies, in order to better reflect contemporary realities, the joint statement said.

The ministers also expressed disappointment at attempts to derail this process and committed to addressing the issue in a meaningful way and with increased urgency at this 75th anniversary of the UN.

They also said the expansion of the Security Council in both categories will be indispensable to make this body more representative, legitimate and effective, enhancing therefore its capacity to deal with the complex challenges the world faces today on questions of international peace and security.

The ministers insisted that only the reform of the Security Council will stop the body from becoming obsolete.

Broader membership of the Security Council, with increased and enhanced representation of countries with the capacity and willingness to contribute to the maintenance of international peace and security, including from Africa, will allow it to preserve its credibility and create the political backing needed for the peaceful resolution of todays international crises, the joint statement said.

The G4 countries have backed each others candidature for permanent membership of an expanded Security Council. Except for China, all the other P5 countries  the US, the UK, France and Russia  have also offered unstinted support for Indias membership of the Security Council.

The G4 ministers also expressed concern at the lack of any meaningful movement forward in the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) on Security Council reform and expressed their concern that  after two sessions in February and March  the IGN was adjourned due to Covid-19 and no further meetings were held.

They said these negotiations lack the necessary openness and transparency and are constrained by flawed working methods. They further said they were convinced the time has come to leave behind debates based solely on general statements, without substantive text based negotiations actually taking place in an intergovernmental setting.
Japanese auto giant Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) on Wednesday forayed into the compact SUV segment with the Urban Cruiser-a re-badged version of Maruti's bestseller Vitara Brezza, at a starting price of Rs 8.4 lakh, which goes up to Rs 11.3 lakh for the top end variant. Urban Cruiser is the second model that Toyota and Suzuki have shared in India after the Glanza premium hatch back, which was launched in June last year and is based on Maruti's Baleno.

The launch comes barely a week after Kia Motors debuted its own compact SUV Sonet making the segment one of the most promising yet competitive in the market. To differentiate itself from the Brezza, Toyota has made cosmetic changes with the bumper and grille of the vehicle in the front and colour combination inside, while also doing away with a like to like entry level variant for the Brezza LXi, which has a starting price of Rs 7.34 lakh. The mid range variant as a starting point, however, makes the Urban Cruiser one of the most expensive offerings in the segment, outstripping even the Ford EcoSport that has a starting price of Rs 8.17 lakh.

With no diesel engine under the bonnet, the new car gets the same 1.5 litre petrol engine of the Brezza, which has a peak power output of 103 PS, torque of 138 NM and an ARAI certified fuel economy of 18.76 kpl. The bigger engine, however, means the car attracts a higher GST of 43 percent unlike 29 percent that petrol variants of rivals like the Venue, Sonet or Nexon attract because of the smaller 1.2 litre engine, which partly explains the high price tag of the car. It is mated with a 5 speed manual transmission available in three variants priced between Rs 8.4-9.8 lakh while a 4 speed torque converter automatic transmission is also available in three variants at Rs 9.8-11.3 lakh.

Also read: Auto Expo 2020: Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza facelift launched at starting price of Rs 7.6 lakh

"Our entry into the compact SUV space comes at a time when the segment has gained much popularity due to its body type and superior road presence thereby garnering greater connect and appeal among today's youth. At TKM, the focus is always on delivering the best products and services to our customers who have remained loyal to the brand over the years while looking for ways to welcome more customers, particularly the youth, to the Toyota family," said Masakazu Yoshimura, Managing Director, TKM.

"The launch of the all-new Toyota Urban Cruiser is an important step in that direction. It is our ambition to enable more people to buy and experience a Toyota vehicle and our renowned after-sales service, which is a differentiator for us in this segment. We will continue to emphasize on introducing ever-better cars, better technologies and environment-friendly products and services. Our alliance with Suzuki allows us to surge ahead on that path while building a self-sustaining local ecosystem of suppliers and partners," Yoshimura added.

The track record of manufacturers coming together to offer re-badged cars, that allows them to save on cost of developing a completely new car, has been mixed in India. The Volkswagen group and Renault Nissan alliance have tried this extensively in the country with limited success but given the greater reach of Maruti and Toyota in India, their experiment is being keenly watched.

With the Glanza, Toyota has been able to sell a shade under 30,000 units in 15 months at an average of 2,000 units a month. The Baleno sells around 15,000 units every month on an average. The relatively lower numbers aside, Toyota believes Glanza has helped bring new customers to its fold and the Urban Cruiser will only take this forward.

Also read: Kia Sonet launched at Rs 6.71 lakh in India; check out key features

"The first three months after we launched the Glanza were an eye opener for us as around 50-60 percent of the customers were first time Toyota buyers. That is very encouraging," says Naveen Soni, senior Vice President, sales and service, TKM. "With the Urban Cruiser again we are entering into a segment we were not present in before but it is a segment that is growing very fast so we are confident of a good showing."

The craze for compact SUVs - loosely defined as vehicles that like small cars measure no longer than 4 metres but have a higher stance and better road presence - has shown no signs of abating in India. At a time when the domestic automobile industry is in the midst of its worst slowdown in almost half a decade - sales declined by over 17 percent in 2019-20- this segment is an outlier.

In fiscal 2020, sale of compact SUVs grew by 8.7 percent to nearly 345,000 units. The entry of Hyundai Venue in the segment last year however saw sales of segment leader Brezza decline by a steep 30 percent at 110,641 units.

Also read: 2020 Hyundai Creta beats Kia Seltos; emerges as top-selling SUV for second straight month
In the case overturning the Trump administrations relaxation of penalties for automakers, the three Republican judges found no ambiguity in the statute that Congress passed in 2015 ordering federal agencies to adjust a wide range of civil penalties to account for inflation.

And in August a panel of two judges appointed by Republicans and one appointed by a Democrat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit rejected the E.P.A.s 2019 approval of an air pollution rule for Pennsylvania that would have allowed coal-fired power plants in that state to exceed pollution limits.

The court typically gives the federal agency deference in decision-making, the judges wrote. But they said, To receive such deference, the agency cannot reach whatever conclusion it likes and then defend it with vague allusions to its own expertise; instead, the agency must support its conclusion with demonstrable reasoning based on the facts in the record.

The E.P.A. contends it has been successful in the majority of its significant cases. In an opinion article for Bloomberg Law, the agencys general counsel, Matthew Z. Leopold, pointed to cases like a federal court ruling in August that rejected a request from 17 states to block the Trump administrations revisions to a rule that significantly narrows the definition of which bodies of water are federally regulated, and a 2019 federal appeals court ruling that upheld the E.P.A.s decision not to finalize an Obama-era requirement that mining operators prove they can pay for cleanup in the event of a disaster.

Jeffrey H. Wood, who served as acting assistant attorney general for the Justice Departments environment and natural resources division under Mr. Trump and is now a partner at the law firm Baker Botts, agreed: The current record shows that D.O.J. and E.P.A. are making a solid defense of the Trump administration priorities.

Similarly, a spokesman for the Department of Interior said the agencys success rate has been impressive, pointing to a March decision in which a federal judge upheld a decision to repeal Obama-era standards for hydraulic fracturing on public lands.

Mr. Leopold and Mr. Wood, in interviews, both said the N.Y.U. rating system wrongly classified a case as unsuccessful for the administration if the court identified any flaw in the agencys work. They argued that courts often find defects in government actions but allow the policy to go into effect.
Adamu Dramani Sakande, a former Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, has died in London after a persistent heart problem.

The former MP, GhanaWeb gathers, died on Tuesday evening.

Hon Adamu Dramani Sakande joins the land of the silent ones this evening in London. He was a great father and an uncle, a family told theghanareport.

The ruling NPP former lawmaker, who was convicted of perjury and forgery, was reported to have been flown out of Ghana for medical attention in 2013, after he was granted pardon by former President John Dramani Mahama because his health had deteriorated.

But Sakande denied the Daily Graphic report at the time, stating that an impression was created as though he had been bedridden and rushed abroad for medical attention.

Yes, I am due for medical check-up in the United Kingdom, but the impression is not as bad as being suggested by sections of the media, the former MP said.

The Accra Fast Track High Court, in 2012, sentenced Adamu Dramani Sakande to two years imprisonment after he was found guilty of false declaration of office, perjury and deceit of a public officer.

A Bawku-based cattle dealer, Sumaila Bielbiel, had challenged the status of the MP for Bawku Central, Adamu Daramani Sakande in the law-making body due to his dual citizenship, something the 1992 Constitution frowns upon.

Sakande spent time receiving medical attention whilst in jail at the cardiothoracic unit of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital but was granted a presidential pardon on December 31, 2012, by the then President, John Dramani Mahama, based on medical grounds.

Sakande contested the Bawku Central seat on the ticket of the ruling NPP in the 2008 election and snatched it from Mahama Ayariga, the incumbent.

He polled 20,157 of the ballots ahead of Ayarigas 17,385 following a second recount which saw ballots conveyed from Bawku to Bolgatanga specifically for that purpose.

The 1992 Constitution of Ghana forbids persons with dual citizenship from becoming lawmakers.

Adamu Dramani Sakande was 58-years-old. He left behind a wife and two children.
It's no secret that Bachelor contestants must sign strict contracts before appearing on the Channel 10 dating show.

And it seems the network and producers Warner Bros. have a rather effective way of ensuring that the show's participants abide by the rules.

A contestant, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Daily Mail Australia she was told she would have 'no chance' of appearing on Bachelor in Paradise if she broke her contract.

Punishments: Misbehaving Bachelor contestants are allegedly being told they won't be allowed on Bachelor in Paradise if they break the rules. Pictured: Roxi Kenny

'They said to me: "If you do this, you might as well rule out any future appearance on any other Warner Bros. show,"' the source claimed.

Locky Gilbert's contestants were warned not to speak to any magazine, website or podcast about their experiences during filming without the written permission of Warner Bros.

They were also told their social media posts had to be approved by producers.

'If you are caught posting something they don't like, you have to delete it immediately,' the insider added.

Warning: A contestant, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Daily Mail Australia she was told she would have 'no chance' of appearing on Bachelor in Paradise if she broke her contract. Pictured: Kaitlyn Hoppe and Areeba Emmanuel

The source continued: 'They continually remind you of your signed agreement and ask if you want to return for Bachelor in Paradise.

'We have a bit more freedom once we are get kicked off the show.'

The production team also closely monitors the social media accounts of each of the finalists to make sure they don't leak spoilers - either deliberately or by accident.

Watched: The producers also closely monitor the social media accounts of each of the finalists to make sure they don't leak spoilers - either deliberately or by accident. Pictured: Kaitlyn

Another bugbear for producers is staged paparazzi photos.

'Warner Bros. also really frown upon contestants setting up paparazzi photos... It's a big no-no,' the contestant said.

The Bachelor continues Wednesday at 7.30pm on Channel 10
To hear more audio stories from publishers like The New York Times, download Audm for iPhone or Android.

After the 2016 election, I was deeply shaken not just by the outcome, but by the terrifying sense that I did not understand the nation as well as Id thought I did. To blunt the shock, I went on a bender through American history. I dove into books about the Civil War, the Progressive era and, finally, Robert Caros titanic biography of Lyndon B. Johnson, where I washed up on the shores of the turbulent 1960s.

I discovered something amazing: After 1960, much of history as many Americans experienced it  through popular culture on TV, on the radio and at the movies  is preserved and easily accessible online. With a few clicks around YouTube, history leaps into the present, often in ways that deepen and complicate the narrative.

For instance, Caro ably describes Johnsons stirring first presidential address to Congress. It was five days after the assassination of John F. Kennedy, and the new president pressed lawmakers to pass civil rights legislation in Kennedys honor. Everywhere you looked, people were crying, the journalist Hugh Sidey wrote.
This week he lost out on the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie to Mark Ruffalo.

But, Hugh Jackman wasn't letting the defeat get him down as he stepped out for a casual stroll with his beloved wife Deborra-lee Furness and their pups on Wednesday.

The couple was spotted together on a brisk early fall morning walking along the Hudson River in New York City.

Fresh air: Hugh Jackman didn't let his Emmy's defeat stop him from enjoying a casual stroll with his beloved wife Deborra-lee Furness and their pups on Wednesday

Hugh and Deborra-lee were both smartly masked up to help stem the spread of COVID-19 during their early stroll.

The actor sported a pair of light grey pants, sneakers and a black hoodie with a large white square in the middle that read 'laughing man.'

Deborra-lee, meanwhile, kept it comfortable in an all-black ensemble of capri pants, a T-shirt and zip up hooded sweatshirt. Trotting alongside the couple were their two dogs.

On Sunday night, Hugh participated in a first-of-its-kind virtual Emmy Awards telecast hosted by Jimmy Kimmel.

Happy pair: The couple was spotted together on a brisk early fall morning walking along the Hudson River in New York City

He was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for his role in Bad Education but lost out to Mark Ruffalo who played two characters in I Know This Much is True.

Due to the pandemic, nominees were streamed in to the show from all around the globe via professional production kits sent out by the Academy.

For the major awards, a crew member in a hazmat suit was sent to wherever the nominees were beaming in from with the golden Emmy statute - ready to present it if they won.

That meant even the losers of each category were able to glimpse the award that just slipped through their fingers.

Big night: On Sunday night, Hugh participated in a first-of-its-kind virtual Emmy Awards telecast hosted by Jimmy Kimmel; He lost out on the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie to Mark Ruffalo

Emmy's producer Phil Rosenberg was on such crew member who was dispatched to Jackman and Furness's multi million dollar Manhattan apartment.

'Every single one of us were sent an Emmy, none of them were engraved,' Rosenberg told E! News. 'Only Ernst & Young knew who the winners were, they keep that under lock-and-keyWe had to send [awards] to every person's house.'

Rosenberg said the team used a app similar to a Walkie-Talkie to communicate globally and only found out who'd won the category seconds before the presenter announced the name.

Very different: For the major awards, a crew member in a hazmat suit was sent to wherever the nominees were beaming in from with the golden Emmy statute - ready to present it if they won

'Every single one of us were sent an Emmy, none of them were engraved,' said producer Phil Rosenberg - who was stationed at Jackman's apartment. 'Only Ernst & Young knew who the winners were, they keep that under lock-and-keyWe had to send [awards] to every person's house.'

'Before they went into the category, during a commercial break, there was a moment where all of the nominees got pushed into a Zoom together and they could chat,' Rosenberg explained. 'I overheard them congratulating each other.'

When Ruffalo was announced the winner of Jackman's category, Rosenberg said there is was a bit tense but ultimately the actor was gracious.

'They seemed great about it,' he said. 'They had a great time, they were the sweetest of people.'

'They seemed great about it,' he said of Jackman's loss. 'They had a great time, they were the sweetest of people.'

The best part for him? He, along with the rest of the team, got to keep their Emmy branded hazmat suits aftwerwards.

As for Hugh, despite his loss, he has received wide praise from fans and critics alike for his role as a corrupt school superintendent in Bad Education, with many calling it the actor's best performance yet.

And, Hugh and Deborra-Lee still had plenty to celebrate as Bad Education did take home a Creative Arts Emmy for Outstanding Television Movie on Saturday.
Findings yield new insight on where to look for more ore

University of Alberta scientists have uncovered the formation mechanism behind a class of mineral deposits that have been hotly contested until now. The findings shed new light on how iron deposits, among others, form--and this new understanding can aid geologists in the hunt for more ore.

"Most mineral deposits are formed by circulation of hot water; whereas some are formed by crystallization from a magma," said Matthew Steele-MacInnis, assistant professor in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Science. "In the case of Iron oxide-apatite deposits, nobody has been able to agree on how they are deposited, but our study now shows they are deposited from a very unusual liquid dominated by calcium carbonate and sulfate."

The substance is a magma in a sense, explains Steele-MacInnis, but an unusual one and a formation process unknown until this study--led by PhD student Wyatt Bain under MacInnis' supervision-- and this context gives geologists new clues to guide the hunt for ore.

"The origins and chemical properties of ore-forming fluids are key parameters that determine whether a mineral deposit will form. In this case, our results show that the fluids that form iron oxide-apatite deposits are sourced by a very particular process: melting of limestones and/or salt deposits by injection of magma," said Steele-MacInnis.

The results can be directly applied in exploration, explains Steele-MacInnis. Geologists looking for iron oxide-apatite deposits should target areas where magmatic rocks have been emplaced into sedimentary basins containing limestones or salt deposits.

And while the findings have the most immediate relevance for the hunt for iron deposits, Steele-MacInnis explains that this new understanding also has implications for some of our most cutting-edge technology.

"Iron oxide-apatite deposits have been mined for some years as sources of iron, which is probably the single most important metal for industrial applications and infrastructure," said Steele-MacInnis. "But in recent years, these deposits have become even more attractive, because they commonly are enriched in key high-tech metals like rare Earth elements, which are critical to green-energy production and electronics."

###

The paper, "A fundamental role of carbonate-sulfate melts in the formation of iron oxide-apatite deposits," was published in Nature Geoscience (doi: 10.1038/s41561-020-0635-9).
Overdrive

The 2020 Toyota Urban Cruiser has been launched at a starting price of Rs 8.40 lakh for the Mid variant, going up to Rs 11.30 lakh for the top-spec Premium automatic variant, all prices ex-showroom. Deliveries are set to begin mid-October, while Toyota has announced that it will offer a free service package to customers who have booked the Urban Cruiser already. The variant-wise pricing for the Toyota Urban Cruiser is as follows (all prices ex-showroom):

Mid-variant

1.5 petrol (5MT) - Rs 8.40 lakh

1.5 petrol (4AT) - Rs 9.80 lakh

High-variant

1.5 petrol (5MT) - Rs 9.15 lakh

1.5 petrol (4AT) - Rs 10.65 lakh

Premium-variant

1.5 petrol (5MT) - Rs 9.80 lakh

1.5 petrol (4AT) - Rs 11.30 lakh

Stylistically, the Toyota Urban Cruiser differentiates itself from the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza with a grille designed to mimic the Toyota Fortuner full-size SUV, and redesigned bumpers front and rear. It will also be available in a Rust Brown shade unique to the Toyota (seen above), apart from five other colours.

The Toyota Urban Cruiser range starts with the Mid-variant, which as the name suggests, carries features typical of a mid-spec VXi variant of the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza. This includes LED lighting all around, in the dual-projector headlights, fog lamps and tail lights, apart from auto climate control, 2DIN audio system with steering mounted control, keyless entry with push-button start/stop, two airbags and ABS with EBD.

Like the Maruti Suzuki Brezza on which it's based, the Toyota Urban Cruiser specifications show that it is powered by a 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated petrol, with 105PS and 138Nm of torque. The manual variants get a 5-speed gearbox, while the automatic variants use a 4-speed torque convertor, as well as mild-hybrid assistance via SHVS technology. The manual variant has a certified fuel efficiency of 17.03kmpl, while the automatic has been certified at 18.76kmpl. The Toyota Urban Cruiser is offered with a 3-year/1,00,000km warranty, bundled with roadside assistance. The Toyota Urban Cruiser, on average, carries a Rs 5,000 premium to it, as compared to an equivalent Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza variant, with the top-most automatic variant undercutting the Brezza by Rs 10,000.

Rivals to the Toyota Urban Cruiser will of course include the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza, and recently launched Kia Sonet, Hyundai Venue, Tata Nexon, Mahindra XUV300 and Ford EcoSport.
Furious shoppers have threatened to boycott Costco over its 'woke' decision to remove popular Palmetto Cheese from 120 of its stores after the founder of the dairy company slammed Black Lives Matter as a 'terror organization.'

The hashtag #boycottcostco was trending on Twitter Wednesday afternoon, with hundreds of critics blasting the retailer for removing an American-made product from its shelves and stifling free speech.

One Twitter user, Terry Forshee wrote: 'The truth is now punishable by the woke mob. Disgusting. I hope Costco pays big time.'

It comes after Palmetto Cheese owner Brian Buck Henry, who is also the mayor of Pawleys Island, South Carolina, blasted Black Lives Matter on his own Facebook page, calling the movement a 'terrorist organization'.

Costco has pulled Plametto Cheese products from its shelves at 120 stores nationwide after the company founder's controversial comments about Black Lives Matter

The pimento cheese spread brand has sparked calls for a boycott on social media

Furious customers have been tweeting #boycottcostco in response to the retailer's decision to pull the pimento cheese brand off its shelves

Henry confirmed that his brand of spicy cheese spread was being yanked from store shelves but has sought to downplay the move.

'Costco rotates items in and out during the course of the year. They will occasionally add and drop products as a matter of normal business,' Henry told The Post and Courier. 'We remain optimistic that Palmetto Cheese will be back on the shelves in the not too distant future.'

Costco has not commented on its decision to remove Palmetto Cheese from a portion of its 785 big-box stores.

Initially there were calls for the dairy company to be boycotted, but the news that the popular cheese was being removed from shelves was too much for some customers.

Twitter user Victoria wrote: 'Its time to start a boycott against Woke #Costco #boycottcostco bring back my #palmettocheese.'

'We don't hurt people in this country because of their political opinions. Comments were blunt but not racist. #boycottcostco,' tweeted user Phil Galbraith.

Another message read: 'Costco flexing their wokeness and/or giving in to the BLM mob. Criticize BLM = lose your business. #BoycottCostco'

The hashtag #boycottcostco was trending on Twitter Wednesday afternoon, with hundreds of critics blasting the retailer for removing an American-made product from its shelves and stifling free speech

Frank Clavijo commented: 'Its sad that a company like Costco go along with a Marxist communist organization like blm/antifa I guess the millions of conservatives in this country will find somewhere else to shop #boycottcostco free speech this is America not a Marxist communist country.'

The issue began when Henry posted an angry rant on his Facebook page last month, decrying the slaying of '2 white people defenselessly gunned down by a black man.'

Henry's screed referenced the August 24 killings of Nick Wall and his 21-year-old stepdaughter, Laura Anderson, who police say were shot and killed by Tysheem Walters III after a car crash and altercation in Georgetown, which also injured a third person.

'So why do we stand by and allow BLM to lawlessly destroy great American cities and threaten their citizens on a daily basis,' Henry wrote the following day. 'Should they have a carde blanche license to pillage and destroy. Why? This has gone too far. Rise up, America. This BLM and Antifa movement must be treated like the terror organizations they are.'

Critics have called on Brian Henry, the founder of Palmetto Cheese and the mayor of Pawleys Island, South Carolina, to resign following his remarks

Henry posted this angry screed a day after a Black suspect allegedly shot three white people, two of them fatally, following a car crash in Georgetown, South Carolina

Henry, who is white, went on to state: 'all lives matter. There I said it. So am I a racist now? I think not. How about the POS who just gunned down three defenseless white people? You be the judge.'

There is no evidence to suggest that Walters has ties to the Black Lives Matter movement, or that the violent incident was related to it. He has been charged with two counts of murder.

The Georgetown chapter of the NAACP lambasted Henrys now-deleted status update as 'racist' and demanded that he resign as mayor of Pawleys Island.

Meanwhile, Henry's critics have been promoting the hashtag #BoycottPimento on social media.

Earlier this month, Henry called a press conference and apologized for his remarks.

'I am profoundly sorry to those I offended with my post last week. My comments were hurtful and insensitive,' Henry told reporters on September 3. 'I spent that past 10 days listening and learning.

Henry called a press conference on September 3 and apologized for his 'hurtful and insensitive' comments

Costco has not commented on its decision to remove Palmetto Cheese from a portion of its 785 big-box stores

'The conversations Ive had with friends, our staff, the community and faith-based leaders provided me with a deeper understanding of racial inequality and the importance of diversity sensitivity, which is very much needed to heal Pawleys Island, Georgetown and our country.'

Henry, who founded Palmetto Cheese with his wife, Sassy, in 2006, also appealed to his critics to end the calls for a boycott.

'Please consider the hundreds of South Carolinians jobs that depend on its success,' he pleaded.

Palmetto Cheese is still sold in some 9,000 stores in 44 states and Washington, DC, according to the companys website.
The Convention Peoples Party (CPP) says it is set to pay the GHS100, 000 presidential filing fee announced by the Electoral Commission (EC).



According to the presidential candidate of the party, Ivor Kobina Greenstreet, although CPP is in talks with the commission to consider reviewing the amount downwards, it will not be discouraged in its efforts to serve the country if the amount is maintained.



Speaking to Accra based radio station, Citi FM, Mr Greenstreet said CPP wants a multiparty democracy and not monetocracy or duopoly.



We believe we want a multiparty democracy and not monetocracy or duopoly. We want all Ghanaians to be able to participate in the electoral process. So we will continue to engage the EC to try and ensure that we achieve those ideals and aims. If it doesnt work, in the same way, we are compelled to pay high fuel and electricity prices, we will also have to suffer and pay the high filing fees. he stated.



The CPP had earlier criticised the increment and accused the EC of a lack of transparency.





The General Secretary of the party, Nana Yaa Jantuah, said in a interview with Citi FM said There should be some democratic precedence here and some transparency in the whole thing. This is an institution that overlooks a democratic process, and they are not democratic themselves,



She accused the EC of failing to consult the various political parties before agreeing on the increment.



The CPP believes that there was no consensus making. IPAC did not meet. We were there and we were told that the filing fee for the presidential candidate is GHS100, 000 and the parliamentary one is GHS10, 000, she said.



Meanwhile the Chairperson of the CPP, Nana Akosua Frimponmaa Sarpong-Kumankumah said if the CPP is voted for in the 2020 general elections, it will ensure that all abandoned projects by previous governments are completed.



Background



On Monday, September 14, this year, the EC opened online nominations for presidential and parliamentary aspirants for the December 7, 2020 elections.



The commission fixed the filing fee for presidential aspirants at GH100,000 and that for parliamentary aspirants at GH10,000.



The figure for the presidential aspirants was a 100 per cent increase over the 2016 filing fee, while that of the parliamentary candidates remained unchanged.



However, some political parties, civil society organisations (CSOs) and individuals have raised concerns about the filing fees, describing it as exorbitant.



Some smaller political parties also said the fees by the EC was a calculated attempt to prevent them from participating in the general election.



Thus, they called on the EC to consider a downward review of the filing fee.









Source: graphic.com.gh









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New Delhi, Sep 23 : The Delhi High Court on Wednesday directed the Central government to decide within two weeks on a complaint against a media house for broadcasting shows in relation to the mob lynching incident that took place in Palghar in Maharashtra earlier this year.

A single judge bench of the high court presided over by Justice Navin Chawla asked the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to consider the complaint, which was filed on May 5, and take a decision on the same within two weeks.

Following these directions, the bench disposed of the petition filed by lawyer Amrish Ranjan Pandey through advocate Joby P Varghese. The petition alleged that the shows aired on the incident by the media house "tried to promote communal attitude in the country".

Appearing for the petitioner, former Bar Council of Delhi Chairman KC Mittal claimed before the bench that migrant gatherings at Bandra in Mumbai were given the tag of a conspiracy in another programme aired by the same media house.

The plea also said that the shows aired on these incidents were in absolute violation of the rules of the programme code prescribed under the Cable Television Regulations and also the uplinking and downlinking guidelines issued by the ministry.
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Linkedin Sebastian Partogi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, September 23, 2020 10:03 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c469657b 3 Opinion Tilik,sexism,julia-suryakusuma,gender-inequality,short-movie,feminism Free

It has been curious to see how a seemingly apolitical and nonideological  therefore quite harmless  film like Tilik has sparked a heated controversy, especially on social media, after it was uploaded to YouTube last month.

The film has drawn ire from all four directions of the political and economic compass, so much so that somebody shared a tongue-in-cheek yet serious four-quadrant diagram breaking down the four types of outrage on WhatsApp. The diagrams X axis represents the spectrum of economic beliefs from far left to far right and the Y axis represents the spectrum of political beliefs from authoritarian to libertarian.

If you are a left-wing authoritarian, you will perceive the film as insulting to villagers; if you are a right-wing authoritarian you will deem it as an offense to women who wear the hijab, even to Islam.

Meanwhile, a right-wing libertarian will believe the film is an attack on the free market because it was financed by the regional government and a leftwing libertarian will slam the film for reproducing negative stereotypes about women.

In this article, I seek to criticize the left-wing libertarian view of the film and use Julia Suryakusumas article Tilik, sexist stereotypes and our collective insanity, which appeared in The Jakarta Post on Sept. 16, as a jumping off point.

Julia, as well as other film critics with feminist leanings such as Intan Paramaditha, tends to view the film as reproducing negative stereotypes about women as gossipers.

Well, stereotypes do contain some kernels of truth. Evolutionary psychologist Anne Campbell in her 2013 book A Mind of Her Own: the Evolutionary Psychology of Women debunks feminists ideas that women are inherently more peaceful and less violent than men.

Some 20 years earlier, feminist author Naomi Wolf also debunked this postulation in her 1994 book Fire with Fire, asserting that women are as capable of committing violence as men.

American psychologist Polly Young-Eisendrath, who specializes in human conflicts and political polarization, asserts that the only reason women have not been masters of war as yet is because they simply do not have access to weaponry (yet, hello, have we forgotten about what former Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi or former United States state secretary Hillary Clinton have done?).

Aggression, in its various shapes and forms, is part of human nature. Both men and women possess the potential to act brutally toward each other. Yet, societies are more punitive toward women who are physically aggressive than toward men who behave similarly. Therefore, to channel their aggression, women often use the backdoor, namely passive-aggressive behavior, which manifests itself in gossiping.

This is not to say that men do not love to gossip as well. A shameful truth: yes, we also like to indulge in gossip. Yet, by questioning why the film puts so much emphasis on women who gossip, Julia has taken the films content out of its sociological context.

The films characters are from a Yogyakarta village. People who live in villages, which have a more communal characteristic, can attest to just how much their residents love to gossip about their neighbors.

A 2019 Stanford University paper titled Using Gossips To Spread Information: Theory and Evidence from Two Randomized Controlled Trials by Abhijit Banerjee, Arun G. Chandrasekhar, Esther Duflo and Matthew O. Jackson reveals that gossiping is also a method human beings use to safeguard against each others behaviors.

By exchanging stories through gossiping, people can detect potential antisocial behaviors that can disrupt order and stop the potential disruption in its tracks. People who live in small villages, who do not enjoy the protection of security guards, often rely on this form of activity.

Well, speaking of policing, patriarchy has been our silent and stealthy teacher for centuries, having turned men and women alike into its moral police agents. We can easily see how women become the harshest moral police agents of their fellow women whom they perceive as failing to conform to patriarchal societal norms.

Tilik is not the only film to address this. Look at Chonie Prysilia and Hizkia Subiyantoros 2020 animated documentary K0s0ng (No One Inside), which addresses pressures on women to have biological children, for example. This is not sexist; this is just a mirror image of how our society behaves.

But again, village men gossip too, why not portray their behavior as well? Look: this is where the film actually portrays women positively. The women are on their way to visit the sick female subdistrict head. Women are socialized to engage in more prosocial behavior and nurturing than men.

It would be very bizarre to see a group of men riding in a truck to visit the ailing woman. Again: context, context, context.

Finally, a class bubble has caused many to fail to see just how the film celebrates the strength of village women, as depicted in a scene where they taunt a corrupt traffic policeman so as to reach the hospital on time.

As a public minivan passenger, I have to thank these women for saving my life on many occasions. They are fierce enough to call minivan drivers out for their reckless behavior when no men, including myself, dare to do so.

For instance, while traveling in a minivan in Bekasi, West Java, I  along with other passengers, including men  was saved from being crushed by a train when a woman passenger yelled and beat the shoulder of the minivan driver who was about to cross the railway when the red light and alarm signals were already on.

Why has Tilik been so politicized? First, our political climate, which has become highly polarized because of social media, seems to force everyone to draw a political line on everything, including nonideological and apolitical matters.

Second, cinematically the film is too literal, capable of drawing strong visceral reactions from its viewers.

All in all, let us just depoliticize Tilik and keep our emotional reactivity in check. Still, I would like to offer a caveat: my male privileges might cause me to turn a blind eye to some of the feminists concerns in my analysis here.

***

Staff writer at The Jakarta Post

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.
The three daughters of a school receptionist killed in the Manchester Arena bombing have today described her as a 'warrior mum' who 'treated everyone with kindness, decency and respect'.

Jane Tweddle, 51, was one of the 22 people who died in the May 2017 terror attack, which took place at the end of an Ariana Grande concert.

Ms Tweddle, who worked at a school in Blackpool, Lancs, had accompanied a friend to Manchester while her 14-year-old daughter attended the concert, a public inquiry into the attack heard today.

Ms Tweddle's daughter's Isabelle, Harriet and Lily attended the inquiry in person at Manchester Magistrates' Court as their pen portrait of their mother and tributes from other family members and friends were read by their lawyer.

They said: 'You always knew how to brighten someone's day and make them feel loved. You treated everyone with kindness, decency and respect.

Jane Tweddle (centre right), 51, was one of the 22 people who died in the May 2017 terror attack, which took place at the end of an Ariana Grande concert.

'You rarely got mad and when you did you probably had a damn good reason.

'Our warrior mum, teaching us to be kind and to always stick together.'

They added: 'Our house was always full of love and laughter. There is nothing in this world we wouldn't give to hear your voice, see your smile or hold your hand for just one minute.

'When we'd asked what time it was you'd reply 'it's the time of your life, never forget it', we'll hold on to that forever.

'You were taken too fast, mum, but you were so loved and now you rest high peacefully.

'We love you endlessly. Now we all have an angel to call by name.'

Ms Tweddle, originally from Hartlepool, worked at South Shore Academy in Blackpool, Lancashire, where she was said to be 'cherished and trusted' and 'made for the job'.

Ms Tweddle's (pictured) daughter's Isabelle, Harriet and Lily attended the inquiry in person at Manchester Magistrates' Court as their pen portrait of their mother and tributes from other family members and friends were read by their lawyer

The inquiry was told: 'Familiar, friendly and full of life, you were the first person the students would see when they walked through the door in the morning.

'Children from all backgrounds would open up to you about their homes lives and personal struggles.

'The perfect listener, you were a shoulder to cry on and a source of strength and support for so many.'

Her mother, Margaret Tweddle, said: 'What happened in Manchester that night was evil and we won't let evil win - Jane would not want that.'

The inquiry also heard how a nurse killed in the bombing 'adored' her husband and her 'super six' children.

Alison Howe was one of the 22 people killed in the terror attack. She was waiting to pick up one of her children from the concert at the time.

Her husband Stephen Howe said the loss of the 44-year-old, from Oldham, Greater Manchester, had 'absolutely destroyed what we had in a mother and a wife'.

Mr Howe told the inquiry in a video recorded message that Alison was a 'fantastic' mother to their two daughters and his four sons until the day she died as she waited to pick up one of her daughters from the Ariana Grande concert.

He said: 'She really was fantastic inside and out.

'You'll never believe the impact it has had on our family and children, as the other families.

'It's absolutely destroyed what we had in a mother and a wife. I don't think we are ever to get over this properly. I can only give credit to the way that she brought my sons and my daughters up and the strength they have got through her.'

Mrs Howe's mother, Sue, said her daughter was a talented musician from the age of five and that the pair were 'the best of friends' who saw each other nearly every day.

She said: 'She adored her family. Stephen and the children were her everything. The gaping hole that's been left is unbelievable.

'We don't live any more, we just exist. Nothing will take away the pain and loss we feel. I still turn around when somebody shouts 'mum' and it's like being stabbed in the heart.'

Alison Howe was one of the 22 people killed in the terror attack (pictured: police at the scene). She was waiting to pick up one of her children from the concert at the time

Mrs Howe's best friend, Tracey Green, read a poem written by the nurse's stepson Harry on behalf of her 'Super Six' children.

It ended: 'I don't know how you managed it. Us six, my dad and his beauty of a crew.

'So special, so wonderful, so beautiful, so true. If you can hear me now, Alison Howe we all love you. Love from Harry and your Super Six.'

Today the chairman of the Manchester Arena Inquiry told relatives of the victims that he has a 'huge responsibility resting on me' after listening to seven days of tributes paid by their families.

The inquiry has spent the last two weeks listening to statements read by family members, their friends and lawyers, often accompanied by slide shows, videos and music.

At the conclusion of the hearings, Sir John Saunders, the chairman of the inquiry, told the families: 'My lasting thoughts are one of a huge responsibility resting on me, on the inquiry team and everybody involved in the inquiry to find answers for the families and survivors and provide what they most want, which is recommendations that will make it less likely that similar events will happen in the future, with all the terrifying and terrible suffering that that brings.'

Mrs Howe's (pictured) best friend, Tracey Green, read a poem written by the nurse's stepson Harry on behalf of her 'Super Six' children

He added: 'For those of us who have listened, it has been a deeply affecting and emotionally draining experience, how much worse must it have been for those families who have prepared and presented it?'

He said the inquiry wanted to make clear that the deceased and their families are 'at the centre of this inquiry.'

'In the course of the last two weeks we have learned about the lives and personalities of those who died,' Sir John added.

'They are not a number, each of them is not just one of the 22 who died, each was an individual, each was unique and each loss of life is a separate tragedy.

'My overwhelming impression is one a group of people who, for the most part, were strangers brought together only in death but who individually had brought great joy and happiness to others.

'They seem to have shared a great spirit of fun and enjoyment and a zest for life.'

Sir John also praised the people of Manchester, saying: 'From the moment of the explosion, the families have had support from Manchester. No city has done more to put an arm around those who are suffering.'

The chairman said it was important that the public know of the effect of the attack on the families and friends of those killed.

'It is important that the extent of the suffering of both relatives and friends of those who died and the continued physical and mental struggles of the survivors, is understood,' he told the hearing.

'Without knowing the real consequences of an attack such as was carried out May 22 2017, a proper balance cannot be struck between the right of individuals to a private life and the duty of the state to protect lives.'

All representatives have been socially distanced and have sat behind plastic screens in Court 7 of Manchester Magistrates Court.

Assistant Chief Constable Russ Jackson, head of Counter-Terrorism Policing North West, and representatives from British Transport Police and the North West Fire and Rescue Service have sat in the hearing room throughout.

Lawyers for the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) have been in an adjacent court room.
With less than six weeks to go before Election Day, and with over 250 COVID-related election lawsuits filed across 45 states, the litigation strategy of the Trump campaign and its allies has become clear: try to block the expansion of mail-in balloting whenever possible and, in a few key states, create enough chaos in the system and legal and political uncertainty in the results that the Supreme Court, Congress, or Republican legislatures can throw the election to Trump if the outcome is at all close or in doubt. Its a Hail Mary, but in a close enough election, we cannot count the possibility out. Ive never been more worried about American democracy than I am right now.

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Much of the blizzard of election litigation concerns the casting of ballots by mail, a means of voting that has exploded thanks to COVID-19, and the fears many people have of voting in person during a pandemic. Rules for casting mail-in ballots vary from state to state, and some are onerous during a pandemic, such as a requirement to have an absentee ballot notarized. There are also serious questions about timing; even without all the tumult at the United States Postal Service, some states allow voters to request absentee ballots in the period close to the election, and there is real fear that voters will not get their ballots back in time to elected officials to be counted. Some state and federal courts have responded to these lawsuits by relaxing technical requirements, such as allowing ballots to be counted if they arrive after Election Day so long as they are postmarked by Election Day (or if they arrive shortly after Election Day with no postmark, given that USPS does not always put a postmarkor a legible oneon ballot envelopes).

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Trump has made repeated and loud unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud in relation to mail-in ballots, even though he and his allies have voted by mail themselves and even as the campaign has begun encouraging more mail-in balloting among his own supporters. The Trump and Republican litigation strategy has been to fight efforts to expand voting by mail: They have opposed expanded use of government drop boxes to return absentee ballots, extension of deadlines for ballot return, and state decisions to proactively send mail-in ballots to all active registered voters. Four statesCalifornia, Nevada, New Jersey, and Vermontare doing so this time, joining the five other states that already conduct their elections almost exclusively by mail. The Trump campaign has through litigation attacked the expansion of mail-in balloting in Nevada, so far unsuccessfully, and Attorney General William Barr has ridiculously claimed that election officialsled by a Republican secretary of statewill somehow find 100,000 ballots to help Joe Biden win the state if Trump is in the lead.

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The Trump strategy of fighting the expansion of mail-in balloting appears to be twofold. To begin with, the campaign appears to have made the calculation that lower turnout will help the president win reelection. This may explain why Pennsylvania Republicans are planning on going to the U.S. Supreme Court to argue against a state Supreme Court ruling allowing the counting of ballots arriving soon after Election Day without a legible postmark. They argue that doing so unconstitutionally extends Election Day beyond Nov. 3 and takes power away from the Pennsylvania Legislature to choose presidential electors.

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The first argument is not a particularly strong one: A decision to accept ballots soon after Election Day without a legible postmark does not extend Election Day as much as it implements how election officials determine if a mailed ballot was timely mailed. It recognizes the reality that many ballots have been arriving without postmarks and uses proximity to the election as a proxy for timely voting. Virginia and Nevada recently adopted similar rules, in light of pandemic-related mail delays. The Trump-allied Honest Elections Project is fighting a consent decree over a similar extension in Minnesota.

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The argument about the state Supreme Courts ruling usurping legislative power to set federal election rules echoes a parallel claim that was made during the disputed election in 2000. The question is whether a state supreme court usurps legislative power when it interprets election rules in line with both state statutes and the state constitution. The argument that a state supreme court applying a state constitution in a voting case usurps legislative power is weak to me, but it was convincing enough for the more conservative members of the Supreme Court that decided Bush v. Gore.

The fighting over things like postmark rules are fights on the edges, the kind of trench warfare that will only matter if the election comes down to hundreds of ballots in a key swing state essential for the Electoral College outcome. But theres a second play here as well, one that is far more worrisome.

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The idea is to throw so much muck into the process and cast so much doubt on who is the actual winner in one of those swing states because of supposed massive voter fraud and uncertainty about the rules for absentee ballots that some other actor besides the voter will decide the winner of the election. That could be the RBG-less Supreme Court resolving a dispute over a group of ballots. Indeed, on Tuesday, Vice President Mike Pence suggested that Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburgs replacement needs to be seated, possibly without so much as a hearing, in order to decide election issues [that] may come before the Supreme Court in the days following the election, including questions involving universal unsolicited mail and states extending the deadline for ballot receipt. (Never mind that a 44 split on the court on an election issue is unlikely.) It could be a Republican legislature in a state saying it has the right under Article 2 of the Constitution to pick the states winner in the face of uncertainty. Bart Gellman in the Atlantic recently quoted a Republican operative imagining these state legislatures saying, All right, weve been given this constitutional power. We dont think the results of our own state are accurate, so heres our slate of electors that we think properly reflect the results of our state. And it could be Republicans in the Senateif they keep their majoritynot counting Electoral College votes that were cast for Biden based upon manufactured uncertainty. This would lead to a dispute with the Democratic House and lead to a political struggle over the presidency.

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The president has been laying the groundwork for these claims for months, and just Tuesday his son, Donald Trump Jr., baselessly suggested that Democrats will add millions of fraudulent ballots that can cancel your vote and overturn the election. (The video remains up on Facebook even though it contains blatant election disinformation. Facebook has added a label to the post, however.)

If we are lucky enough, the election will not be close, and we will avoid this election meltdown only to start panicking again in the run-up to 2024. But if it is close, all bets are off.

We should not think of the litigation and the wild claims of voter fraud as separate from one another. Instead, they are part of a play to grab power if the election is close enough. There are good legal arguments against a power grab, but if another body tries to overturn the will of the people in voting for president, there will be protests in the streets, with the potential for violence.

This is a five-alarm fire, folks. Its time to wake up.

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Democrats have options to combat a conservative SCOTUS supermajority.
The state government is likely to resume admissions to first year junior college (FYJC) this week. The admissions were stayed owing to the apex courts interim stay on the Maratha quota.

The redrawing of seat matrix is nearly complete. The state government is now getting the required clearances, and an announcement with respect to restarting the admission process is likely to be made this week, said an official from the state education department.

On September 9, the Supreme Court ordered an interim stay on the Maratha quota in education and employment. After the decision, the state education department decided to stay FYJC admissions until further notice as the previously granted 12% reservations in admissions no longer held valid. While the department had said that a revised timetable for the second admission round, which was scheduled to take place on June 10 will be declared soon, it is yet to come up with an announcement in this regard.

Students have meanwhile been writing to the department urging authorities to restart admission procedure as soon as possible. Junior colleges in Mumbai usually start their new academic year in August. However with the current delay, colleges are now stressed about completing the syllabus after the year begins.
When I began university three years ago, I was struck by how I often felt pulled in multiple directions. The pressure to make new friends and enjoy my new-found independence while grappling with a new course of study meant that moving away from home for the first time was both exciting and overwhelming.

Amidst all the excitement, however, I rarely considered the financial aspect of any of it. I regarded myself as independent and savvy, yet it quickly became apparent that I had little idea of how to manage my money or budget properly.

Three years later, I feel I've finally got to grips with spending as a student.

I am lucky to receive a small allowance from my parents each week, which goes towards rent and food. All other expenses are covered by the wage I earn in a part-time job.

As the cost of living is high in Dublin, I try my best to stick to a budget in an effort to ensure I don't overspend or run out of money.

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Most third-level institutions collaborate with restaurants to offer special deals for students, so I always keep a close eye on where I can pick up cheap and easy meals. My student card is also useful and allows me to avail of discounts on items such as clothing and technology.

When shopping for groceries, I've found that supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl surpass their more expensive competitors by offering unbranded goods at far lower prices.

Although my weekly food shop could cost as much as 40 in Dunnes, I often manage to get a full week of groceries for as little as 20 in Aldi.

Similarly, there are savings to be made in travel - I use a student Leap Card to get around Dublin but, dependent on where in the city I am based, it is sometimes cheaper to buy a monthly Luas ticket.

Despite my best efforts, there are times when I can't help splashing out. I love reading and am often found drifting around Dublin's various bookshops, attempting to quash the urge to buy 10 books at once. Second-hand bookstores, websites that sell cheap earlier editions, and second-hand book sales in college all allow me to indulge my reading habit while keeping costs down.

The second-hand route also works well for purchasing expensive academic textbooks.

Similar to my penchant for books, I often struggle to prevent myself from overspending in Dublin's cafes. Although there's nothing I enjoy more than catching up with friends over a coffee, I came close to bankrupting myself in first year by buying 3.50 cappuccinos on a daily basis.

I've since learnt from my mistakes and now frequent the 1 coffee machine in Trinity. When I do want to venture to a cafe, I am most inclined to visit those which offer student deals or a loyalty scheme.

My advice to any student looking to save money would be to shop around. It took time for me to realise that certain supermarkets are cheaper than others and to acquaint myself with the shops and restaurants which cater best to a student budget.

Although budgeting and saving can be boring and tiresome, I've found that they're like every other skill: the more effort I put in, the better I become.
AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- SpyCloud, known for its unique breach data collection and curation platform that powers leading account takeover prevention and fraud investigation solutions, today announced its partnership with CyberDefenses, an award-winning Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP) and expert in election security, to protect the integrity of current and future elections.

Across the United States, elections are operated by Secretary of State offices with more than 3,000 county governments forming the frontline of defense against election cyberattacks. County election departments are frequently attractive targets for attackers with a wide range of motivations and agendas. As most areas of government shift to digital platforms, threat actors are increasingly choosing cyberattacks as their method to launch election interference, ransomware, account takeover, and other attacks. Even a small but successful attack could cause people to lose faith in election results, resulting in disastrous consequences for our nation.

CyberDefenses provides nearly one in five election jurisdictions across the United States with a multitude of security services, including Election Security Assessments that evaluate the end-to-end election process, benchmark cyber risk, and deliver concrete recommendations to fix gaps that could put counties at risk for cyberattacks and election interference. By providing cyber intelligence, SpyCloud is a key component of the assessment and gap-fix process. SpyCloud delivers continuous monitoring of the dark web for stolen credentials across the election landscape, including election staff, county officials and third-party suppliers who could be targeted because of their access to elections.

"SpyCloud is instrumental to the work we do in ensuring that every vote counts," said Armando Ordonez, CEO of CyberDefenses. "It gives county governments an 'over-the-horizon view' of the cybercriminal landscape, with advanced information to protect elections from fraud and foreign interference, before it's too late."

Stolen credentials are still the No. 1 breach tactic , so continuous monitoring and remediation are necessary for election teams to proactively secure the voting process. Any account associated with election operations is checked against SpyCloud's comprehensive database of more than 100 billion assets that have been compromised in data breaches. Using SpyCloud's recovered breach assets, CyberDefenses alerts the county when it cannot be determined whether the user logging in is legitimate or a criminal leveraging stolen credentials. When accounts are at risk, they can be locked down until they are re-secured with a password reset or step-up authentication procedure.

"SpyCloud's ability to continuously monitor suppliers as well makes their partnership essential to our mission," explained Ordonez. "Anyone doing business with the county needs to be secure themselves, so they are not an entry point for bad actors attempting to interfere with elections. CyberDefenses also alleviates some of the burden by defining policies that counties can extend to their supplier network; fundamentals that must be met in order to remain a partner."

CyberDefenses also uses SpyCloud's data, including hundreds of millions of assets to research the infrastructure used in election fraud campaigns.

"We are all too aware of foreign attempts to undermine the sanctity of U.S. elections, and we're proud to do our part with CyberDefenses to help stop them," said Douglas Lingenfelter, Director of SpyCloud's Federal practice. "Unfortunately, criminals are relentless and innovative in their attacks, so we are constantly updating our data and methods to help election officials stay ahead."

About SpyCloud

SpyCloud is the leader in account takeover prevention, protecting billions of consumer and employee accounts either directly or through product integrations. Our award-winning solutions  backed by the world's most comprehensive and actionable repository of exposed assets  proactively defeat fraud attempts and disrupt the criminals' ability to profit from stolen information. Learn more and check your exposure at spycloud.com .

About CyberDefenses Inc.

CyberDefenses, an award-winning MSSP Alert Top 100 Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP), is a leader in election security with expertise in providing security assessments, guidance, threat monitoring and intelligence services for organizations throughout the nation. Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001, Founder Randell Casey, a cybersecurity expert retiring from the US Army, was asked to ensure the nation was not under cyber attack in addition to physical attack. As a result of that assignment, a team of military cybersecurity veterans came together to launch CyberDefenses. Since then, the team has grown to include cybersecurity analysts, advisors, CISOs, cyber intelligence experts and information security leaders from the US Military, state and local governments, Big 5 consulting firms and Fortune 500 companies.

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Brad Hem, The Dialog Lab for SpyCloud

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Calaveras County Public Health COVID-19 numbers 9-22-20 View Photo

San Andreas, CA  There are three additional cases of COVID-19 in Calaveras County and it remains in the substantial risk category on the states 4 Tier system.

Those new cases include one female and two males between 18 to 49 years of age. One case resides in District 2 and the other two are in District 5.

At Tuesdays Calaveras County Board of Supervisors meeting, County Health And Human Services Director Kristin Stranger gave an update on possible plans to move the Frogtown coronavirus testing facility to Sonora, stating, Toulumne County did approach the state about the potential to relocate the site due to more use from Tuolumne County residents. There were some community questions yesterday about an item that was on the Sonora City Council agenda about a potential lease for a new location in Tuolumne County. Ultimately, that item did not materialize and the location did not materialize. However, Tuolumne County continues to push for the move and Calaveras Health Officer Dr. Dean Kelaita gave a November 1st date for the possible relocation.

It has been just over three weeks since Governor Gavin Newsome implemented the states 4 Tier color-coded system, as details here. Calaveras County remains in Tier 3, the red substantial risk level, meaning that some indoor business operations can proceed with specific modifications. Public health officials are urging residents and businesses to help bring that level down.

We all play an essential role in slowing the spread of COVID-19 and protecting the health of Calaveras County. When we make every effort to do so, we can lower our county risk level and loosen any restrictions. This will allow us to open up other businesses and activities in the county, said Dr. Dean Kelaita, Calaveras County Health Officer. We can get there if together we practice physical distancing, wear a face covering, get tested, wash your hands often, stay home if you are sick, and avoid any gatherings especially where physical distancing and masking is not being followed.

There is a total of 314 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the county. That number is made up of 139 males and 175 females with the majority, 128, in the 18-49 age range. To date, seven cases remain active and 293 cases have since recovered while a total of 14 fatalities are linked to COVID-19.
The FBI trainer was talking about intent Tuesday at the new Huntsville Firearms Training Center near the Tennessee River. Thats intent as in intent to shoot, the critical step a suspect takes that means an agent is justified in using deadly force.

For the FBI in the situation being discussed, he said intent is grasping the grip of the gun in your belt. Wait any longer to respond, the trainer said, and the agent might be not be coming home.

The conversation was one of many as visitors toured the training center. It started with a question about a training poster on the wall showing a man with an already drawn weapon and a hostage. The building is where officers and agents practice cleaning" rooms and responding to scenarios like that one while trainers observe from overhead catwalks.

The training center is a joint project of the Huntsville Police Department and the FBI, which invested $5 million in its completion. It is located near the town of Triana, and it is the result of 10 years of planning, Huntsville Police Chief Mark McMurrary said.

The 40-acre site was studied first for archaeological, historical and environmental impacts, McMurrary said. We brought our sound engineers (also) to find out how we could reduce the impact on Triana, our neighbors here in this area, McMurrary said. We wanted to reduce the sound impact for the houses around here, and were continuing to monitor that sound.

The training center includes a 40-lane outdoor range, a 270-degree all purpose range, a 600-yard rifle range and the 7,500-square-foot Tactical Training Building. Its goal is a police force that is well-trained and knows how to react and knows how to protect and serve, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said, and thats what we see on a daily basis.

Each police officer, each day when you leave your home, know that you are loved, City Councilwoman Frances Akridge said. Love yourself and dont be afraid to ask for help.

My staff will be working side by side with HPD at this facility, said Birmingham FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnny Sharp. and your FBI will be training here five days a month.

Sharp said the FBI anticipates special training at the facility such as sniper schools and firearms instructor schools for its agents and law enforcement agencies from across the country. I want each of you here today as well as the citizens of Huntsville to know how much the partnership with the Huntsville Police Department means to me and to the men and women of the FBIs Birmingham division, he said.

Sharp said 40 percent of his divisions resources are currently invested in Huntsville. We dont just show up when something happens, he said. He cited the North Alabama Violent Crimes Task Force created in April. Since then, he said the task force has arrested more than 30 people for violations including homicide, armed robbery, carjacking, weapons violations and financial fraud.

Thats 30 violent offenders off the streets thanks to our partnership, Sharp said.
Further demonstrating its commitment to expanding its global platform in Africa, Andersen Global announced it entered the Algerian market by way of a Collaboration Agreement with full-service tax firm Cabinet Hadj Ali.

The Algiers-based firm, led by Managing Director Samir Hadjali, was founded nearly 60 years ago and has grown to include more than 40 professionals. The firm offers tax and advisory services to owner-managed businesses, large multinational companies and subsidiaries of international corporations in a wide variety of industries.

Our firm was previously an Arthur Andersen affiliate, so we appreciate and understand the importance and impact of working with like-minded individuals around the globe with whom we share a commitment to stewardship, transparency and providing seamless service internationally, Samir said. Since 1962, our firm has prided itself on providing premier client service in this unique market, and were going to take it further now, broadening our service and reach across the globe.

Adding a location in Algeria is another component to our African expansion strategy and fills another key geographic market, said Andersen Global Chairman and Andersen CEO Mark Vorsatz. Given the firms previous ties to Arthur Andersen and close working relationship with other collaborating firms, I have no doubt that his team will complement our member firms and collaborating firms throughout the region.

Andersen Global is an international association of legally separate, independent member firms comprised of tax and legal professionals around the world. Established in 2013 by U.S. member firm Andersen Tax LLC, Andersen Global now has more than 6,000 professionals worldwide and a presence in over 202 locations through its member firms and collaborating firms.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200922005385/en/
NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Product Information Management Market was valued at USD 8.27 billion in 2019 and is expected to reach USD 31.84 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 25.2% over the forecast period 2020 - 2025. Product information management (PIM) solutions are a set of processes and tools that unify and manage a business' product information to secure a single, accurate view of product data. PIM offers a centralized platform to manage data on a business' products and services cost-effectively. PIM promotes the maintenance of consistent and quality product data and information for all the customers.







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- A PIM system helps various organizations integrate various product information collected from various information sources, like core product data (product name, title, and description), product attributes (SKU, cost, and pricing), product specifications (e.g., dimensions, warranty, and packaging info), product-related metrics, omnichannel product information (e.g., mobile copy), extended channel information (Google/Amazon/Shopify/etc.), and store-specific information (POS registers and product catalogs).

- With the massive growth in data generation, data and information have become the backbone of organizations and businesses. Recently, more professionals have begun to pay attention to product information management (PIM) systems due to the growing demand for providing a better customer experience. For instance, in 2018, Adobe found that companies with the strongest omnichannel customer engagement strategies witnessed a 10% Y-o-Y growth, a 10% increase in average order value, and a 25% increase in close rates.

- The PIM software gained robust traction due to its growing application in the retail and e-commerce industries. It is helping offline retail outlets grow in digital spaces and helping new concepts, like Amazon Go, that leverage customer data to build their product. With the expansion of the retail and e-commerce businesses, and the growing amount of product data to be managed, the adoption of PIM systems is on the rise.

- Moreover, the demand for Software-as-a-service (SaaS) versions of business applications increased dramatically in recent times. Cloud-based PIM is becoming more popular among organizations that prefer the ease of deployment and collaboration, affordability, and the ability to scale.

- The COVID-19 pandemic significantly accelerated the existing trend toward digital marketplaces in the foreseeable future. According to the Flexera 2020 State of the Cloud Report, 93% of enterprises have a multi-cloud strategy, and 87% have a hybrid cloud strategy. Additionally, 20% of enterprises spend more than USD 12 million per year on public clouds, and 59% of enterprises expect cloud usage to exceed prior plans, owing to the COVID-19 situation. This will give rise to the adoption of cloud-based PIM offerings, thereby creating opportunities for the vendors.



Key Market Trends

Retail Industry is Expected to Drive the Market Growth



- The adoption of product information management (PIM) is expected to be highest in the retail and e-commerce industry due to the growing focus on enhancing customer experience and the adoption of artificial intelligence and retail analytics tools in the retail and e-commerce sector.

- Owing to digitization, customers have the power to access product information through various sources. Also, with the massive growth in e-commerce, customer preferences and behaviors have changed drastically. Moreover, as the world of mobility and artificial intelligence combines smart data analytics, retailers worldwide can experience accurate analytics that is useful for their business.

- For instance, according to Shopify, by 2021, the global e-commerce is forecast to be worth USD 4.97 trillion, almost a 400% increase in seven years. North America contributes USD 552.6 billion, which is second to Asia (USD 831.7 billion in total e-commerce sales), with China as the largest single market. It is estimated that there will be 1.92 billion global digital buyers in 2019, with e-commerce sales expected to account for 13.7% of retail sales worldwide.

- Hence, customer conversion is a significant challenge for retailers. They are competing to engage the empowered consumer by providing them a comprehensive solution for accessing product information, thereby enhancing the information supply chain. Product information management solutions maintain a tab on this information and offer enterprises a competitive advantage. PIM is also used for managing data generated from various sources, owing to the increasing number of marketing channels.



Asia-Pacific to Witness the Fastest Growth



- Asia-Pacific is witnessing the fastest growth as digitization has exponentially increased the volume and speed of data generation, creating the need for this large data storage and security. Centralizing and harnessing information from this data provides a competitive advantage to companies in this region, which drives the demand of the market.

- Immense market potential in Asia-Pacific is expected to draw several international players to expand into the region. For example, according to the IBEF, the Indian e-commerce market is expected to reach a value of USD 200 billion by the end of 2026, from USD 38.5 billion in 2017. The increasing internet and smartphone penetration primarily trigger this rapid growth of the industry. The continuing digital transformation in India is expected to increase the country's total internet user base from 604.21 million in 2018 to 829 million by 2021.

- The pharma analytics technology in Asia-Pacific, which extensively uses data for quantitative and qualitative analysis, is undergoing an industry transformation from volume-based medicines and reimbursement to value-based medicines that needs proper supply chain management. Companies seek to implement a robust Product Information Management (PIM) solution to aggregate item information in one centralized location and publish the same information to their supply chain and regulatory agencies.



Competitive Landscape

The product information management market is highly fragmented and competitive due to regional and international players' presence. Players are doing mergers & acquisitions and product innovation to maintain their position in the market, which holds an intense rivalry among the competitors. Some of the recent developments in the market are:

- May 2020 - IBM Corporation announced an upgrade to its existing solution. IBM Product Master, formerly known as IBM InfoSphere Master Data Management Collaborative Edition, provides trusted product information management (PIM) and master data management (MDM) capabilities. IBM Product Master Collaborative Edition V12.0 brings the following enhancements to the persona user interface: Secondary spec support and Capability to hide empty collaboration areas and steps.

- September 2019 - Insite Software, a provider of B2B eCommerce solutions, launched InsitePIM, a new cloud-based PIM module for InsiteCommerce. InsitePIM allows teams to set up product catalogs and configure product data requirements quickly. The new tool offers helpful functionality to efficiently manage data acquisition and curation processes critical to e-commerce success.



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NEW HAVEN  A defendant who had pleaded guilty to robbing a bank, a Shell gas station and a Dunkin Donuts was sentenced Wednesday to serve eight years in prison.

Jose A. Cubiz, 42, of New Haven, apologized for his actions and said he feels ashamed.

But Cubiz, along with his attorney Richard Silverstein, told Superior Court Judge Gerald L. Harmon that a lesser sentence than that previously agreed upon should be considered because of the unanticipated arrival of COVID-19 in prisons. Harmon quickly denied this request.

Cubiz crime spree began April 22, 2019 when he walked into the Shell gas station convenience store at 141 Willow St. at about 6 p.m.

Police said Cubiz demanded that the store clerk open the cash register and give him money. He put his hand under his shirt and acted as if he had a gun, police stated.

He said to the clerk, I have a gun. Open the register or Im going to kill you. After the clerk handed over about $85, Cubiz fled. The stores surveillance tape showed the robbery.

On the following day at about 8 a.m., Cubiz walked into the Dunkin Donuts at 1954 State St. in Hamden and handed the woman behind the counter a note that read, I have a gun, give me the money, according to Hamden police.

The employee told police she was extremely nervous and asked the robber if he was serious. He shook his head to say Yes. She opened the register and handed him the contents of the drawer, $231.

When police responded, they pulled up the shops surveillance videotape that corroborated the employees account.

In another incident, on May 1, 2019 at about 12:30 p.m., Cubiz entered the Bank of America branch office at 250 Sargent Drive in New Haven. Police said the teller told them a man walked up to her window and handed her a note saying: I have a gun, I need $4,000, I dont want to hurt you. The teller said she did not see his hands but she thought he did have a gun. She handed him $4,000.

Based on witness descriptions and identifications in photo arrays, New Haven police issued a warrant for Cubiz arrest. He turned himself in on May 2, 2019.

According to the New Haven police warrant, Cubiz confessed to the bank robbery, telling them he was going through a rough time with his girlfriend.

For the sentencing hearing Cubiz appeared on a video feed from MacDougall Walker Correctional Center and Silverstein addressed Harmon from a conference room adjacent to the courtroom. Senior Assistant States Attorney John P. Doyle Jr. was in the courtroom with Harmon. Many defendants are no longer appearing in court for their sentencings because of COVID-19 concerns.

Silverstein noted Cubiz had pleaded guilty to the robberies before COVID-19 hit Connecticut. Nobody anticipated my client would be putting himself at risk by being in jail in a pandemic, he said.

Silverstein said he fears there could be a second wave of the pandemic, which could affect the prisons.

Silverstein noted that previously I floated the idea of re-examining his pleas and going downward on the sentence.

Im not happy with the plea agreement, he added. He never had a gun. He had two weeks where he was out of his mind on crack cocaine. No one was injured. Still it was traumatic for those who suffered from his actions.

They say its a very serious health issue but the criminal justice system says: Weve got to get on with business, Silverstein told Harmon. Silverstein said Cubiz might now say: Hey, I could die in here. They dont social distance.

Silverstein said Cubiz crimes do not deserve a death sentence.

But Doyle told Harmon the sentence should go forward as previously agreed, which was for eight years.

Cubiz then asked to speak. He told Harmon, I want to apologize to all the victims, everyone at those places of businesses that I frightened. Im ashamed of what I did. Whether I was high on drugs or not, theres no excuse. I apologize to my community and my family.

Cubiz added, I know I have to pay for what I did. Ill face the consequences. But he told Harmon that when he pleaded guilty, I was not aware of the pandemic. I would have fought harder for less time. I am a diabetic; I have a pre-existing condition. I live in a unit with 120 other people. I eat with them. I see people going out sick. Im willing to serve my time. But I dont deserve to die.

Harmon told Cubiz: Weve had over 200,000 people die in the U.S. Were at risk also, sir.

Harmon sentenced Cubiz to eight years for each of the robberies but made them concurrent for a total effective sentence of eight years, plus four years of special parole.

Silversteins parting words to Cubiz were these: Stay healthy in there.

Contact Randall Beach at randall.beach@hearstmediact.com
NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- HSBC Holdings plc (the 'Company,' 'we' or 'us') today announces the results of its previously announced six separate offers to purchase for cash any and all of the outstanding series of notes listed in the table below. We refer to the outstanding notes listed in the table below collectively as the 'Notes' and separately as a 'series' of Notes. We refer to each offer to purchase a series of Notes as an 'Offer', and collectively as the 'Offers.'

The Offers were made upon the terms and were subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase dated September 15, 2020 relating to the Notes (the 'Offer to Purchase') and the related notice of guaranteed delivery (together with the Offer to Purchase, the 'Offer Documents'), including the Financing Condition (as defined in the Offer Documents). The Offer Documents are available at the following link: https://www.gbsc-usa.com/hsbc/.

The Offers expired at 5:00pm (New York City time) on September 22, 2020 (the 'Expiration Date'). References to '$' are to U.S. dollars.

Acceptance

Priority

Level Title of Notes CUSIP Maturity Date Principal

Amount

Outstanding Principal

Amount

Tendered(1) Principal

Amount

Accepted(1) Aggregate

Consideration(2) 1 2.950% Senior

Unsecured Notes

due May 2021 404280AY5 May 25, 2021 $2,500,000,000 $958,875,000 $958,875,000 $975,914,208.75 2 Floating Rate Senior

Unsecured Notes

due May 2021 404280AZ2 May 25, 2021 $1,000,000,000 $414,682,000 $414,682,000 $419,226,914.72 3 4.000% Senior

Unsecured Notes

due March 2022 404280AN9 March 30, 2022 $2,000,000,000 $999,053,000 $0.00 $0.00 4 3.400% Senior

Unsecured Notes

due March 2021 404280AV1 March 8, 2021 $1,032,090,000 $53,601,000 $53,601,000 $54,373,390.41 5 5.100% Senior

Unsecured Notes

due April 2021 404280AK5 April 5, 2021 $907,191,000 $58,637,000 $58,637,000 $60,142,798.16 6 Floating Rate Senior

Unsecured Notes

due March 2021 404280AX7 March 8, 2021 $707,841,000 $196,306,000 $196,306,000 $198,290,653.66











Total

Consideration $1,707,947,965.70

(1) These amounts include the principal amount of Notes for which holders have complied with the Guaranteed Delivery Procedures (as defined in the Offer Documents). Such amounts remain subject to the Guaranteed Delivery Procedures. Notes tendered pursuant to the Guaranteed Delivery Procedures are required to be tendered at or prior to 5:00pm (New York City time) on September 24, 2020, unless extended or earlier terminated in respect of an Offer by the Company in its sole discretion (such date with respect to an Offer, as the same may be extended, the 'Guaranteed Delivery Date').

(2) These amounts do not include Accrued Interest (as defined below).

The Company was advised by the Information Agent (as defined below), that as of the Expiration Time, the aggregate principal amount of each series of Notes specified in the table above were validly tendered and not validly withdrawn. The table above provides the aggregate principal amount of each series of Notes that the Company has accepted in the Offers on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer Documents (including satisfaction of the Guaranteed Delivery Procedures).

The Company's obligation to complete an Offer with respect to a particular series of Notes was conditioned on satisfaction of the Financing Condition (as defined in the Offer Documents). On September 16, 2020, the Company announced that the 'Total Available Amount' for purposes of the Financing Condition is $2,000,000,000.

The Company announces that the Financing Condition has been satisfied with respect to the series of Notes with an 'Acceptance Priority Level' (as set forth in the table above) of 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6. Because the Total Available Amount is insufficient to fund any and all of the Notes of the series with Acceptance Priority Level 3 that have been validly tendered and not validly withdrawn (after taking into account Notes of each series accepted for purchase with a higher Acceptance Priority Level), no series of Notes with Acceptance Priority Level 3 will be accepted for purchase. Accordingly, only series of Notes with an Acceptance Priority Level of 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 validly tendered (including Notes for which holders have complied with the Guaranteed Delivery Procedures) at or prior to the Expiration Time and not validly withdrawn at or prior to the Withdrawal Date have been accepted for purchase.

Payment of the applicable Consideration (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) for all Notes validly tendered and accepted by us pursuant to the Offers will be made on September 25, 2020 (the 'Settlement Date'). In addition to the Consideration, holders whose Notes of a given series are accepted for purchase will also be paid a cash amount equal to the accrued and unpaid interest on such Notes from, and including, the last interest payment date for such Notes to, but not including, the Settlement Date, rounded to the nearest cent (such amount in respect of a series of Notes, 'Accrued Interest'). Accrued Interest will be payable on the Settlement Date. For the avoidance of doubt, interest will cease to accrue on the Settlement Date for all Notes accepted in the Offers. Under no circumstances will any interest be payable to holders because of any delay on the part of Global Bondholder Services Corporation, as depositary, The Depository Trust Company ('DTC') or any other party in the transmission of funds to holders.

All Notes accepted in the Offers will be cancelled and retired, and will no longer remain outstanding obligations of the Company.

The Company retained HSBC Bank plc as Dealer Manager for the Offers (the 'Dealer Manager'). Questions and requests for assistance related to the Offers may be directed to the Dealer Manager at UK: +44 (0)20 7992 6237, US: +1 (212) 525-5552 (Collect) or +1 (888) HSBC-4LM (Toll Free), or by email at [email protected].

Global Bondholder Services Corporation is acting as the information agent (the 'Information Agent'). Questions or requests for assistance related to the Offers or for additional copies of the Offer Documents may be directed to the Information Agent at (866) 470-4300 (toll free) or (212) 430-3774 (banks and brokers). You may also contact your broker, dealer, custodian bank, trust company or other nominee for assistance concerning the Offers.

.....

This announcement is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to purchase or sell, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase or sell, any security. No offer, solicitation, or sale will be made in any jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful.

United Kingdom. This communication and any other documents or materials relating to the Offers are not being made and such documents and/or materials have not been approved by an authorized person for the purposes of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. Accordingly, this communication and such documents and/or materials are not being distributed to, and must not be passed on to, persons in the United Kingdom other than (i) to those persons in the United Kingdom falling within the definition of investment professionals (as defined in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the 'Financial Promotion Order')), (ii) to those persons who are within Article 43(2) of the Financial Promotion Order, including existing members and creditors of HSBC Holdings, (iii) to those persons who are outside the United Kingdom, or (iv) to any other persons to whom it may otherwise lawfully be made under the Financial Promotion Order (all such persons together being referred to as 'Relevant Persons') and the transactions contemplated by the Offer to Purchase were available only to, and engaged in only with, Relevant Persons. Any person who is not a Relevant Person should not act on or rely on this communication or any of its contents.

Belgium. Neither this communication nor any other documents or materials relating to the Offers have been submitted to or will be submitted for approval or recognition to the Financial Services and Markets Authority ('Autorite des services et marches financiers / Autoriteit financiele diensten en markten') and, accordingly, the Offers may not be made in Belgium by way of a public offering, as defined in Articles 3 and 6 of the Belgian Law of 1 April 2007 on public takeover bids (the 'Belgian Takeover Law') as amended or replaced from time to time. Accordingly, the Offers were not advertised and the Offers were not extended, and neither this communication nor any other documents or materials relating to the Offers (including any memorandum, information circular, brochure or any similar documents) has been or shall be distributed or made available, directly or indirectly, to any person in Belgium other than (i) to 'qualified investors' in the sense of Article 10 of the Belgian Law of 16 June 2006 on the public offer of placement instruments and the admission to trading of placement instruments on regulated markets, acting on their own account or (ii) in any circumstances set out in Article 6, 4 of the Belgian Takeover Law. This communication has been issued only for the personal use of the above qualified investors and exclusively for the purpose of the Offers. Accordingly, the information contained in this communication may not be used for any other purpose or disclosed to any other person in Belgium.

Italy. None of the Offers, this communication or any other document or materials relating to the Offers have been or will be submitted to the clearance procedures of the Commissione Nazionale per le Societa e la Borsa ('CONSOB') pursuant to Italian laws and regulations. The Offers are being carried out in the Republic of Italy as exempted offers pursuant to article 101-bis, paragraph 3-bis of the Legislative Decree No. 58 of 24 February 1998, as amended (the 'Financial Services Act') and article 35-bis, paragraph 4 of CONSOB Regulation No. 11971 of 14 May 1999, as amended. Holders or beneficial owners of the Notes that are located in Italy can tender the Notes for purchase in the Offers through authorized persons (such as investment firms, banks or financial intermediaries permitted to conduct such activities in the Republic of Italy in accordance with the Financial Services Act, CONSOB Regulation No. 20307 of 15 February 2018, as amended from time to time, and Legislative Decree No. 385 of 1 September 1993, as amended) and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations or with requirements imposed by CONSOB or any other Italian authority.

Each intermediary must comply with the applicable laws and regulations concerning information duties vis-a-vis its clients in connection with the Notes and/or the Offers.

Hong Kong. This communication and any other documents or materials relating to the Offers and/or the debt securities is not being made in Hong Kong, by means of any document, other than (i) in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32, Laws of Hong Kong) (the 'CWUMPO'), or (ii) to 'professional investors' as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) (the 'SFO') and any rules made thereunder, or (iii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a 'prospectus' as defined in the CWUMPO.

No invitation, advertisement or document relating to the Offers and/or the Notes has been or will be issued, or has been or will be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to the Offers and/or the Notes which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to 'professional investors' as defined in the SFO and any rules made thereunder.

Canada. Any offer or solicitation in Canada must be made through a dealer that is appropriately registered under the laws of the applicable province or territory of Canada, or pursuant to an exemption from that requirement. Where the Dealer Manager or any affiliate thereof is a registered dealer or able to rely on an exemption from the requirement to be registered in such jurisdiction, the Offers shall be deemed to be made by such Dealer Manager, or such affiliate, on behalf of the relevant company in that jurisdiction.

France. None of the Offers were made, directly or indirectly, to the public in the Republic of France ('France'). This communication and any other document or material relating to the Offers has been or shall be distributed to the public in France and only (i) providers of investment services relating to portfolio management for the account of third parties (personnes fournissant le service d'investissement de gestion de portefeuille pour compte de tiers) and/or (ii) qualified investors (investisseurs qualifies), other than individuals, acting for their own account, all as defined in, and in accordance with, Articles L.411-1, L.411-2 and D.411-1 of the French Code monetaire et financier, were eligible to participate in the Offer. This communication has not been and will not be submitted for clearance to nor approved by the Autorite des Marches Financiers.

.....

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

In this communication the Company has made forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of terms such as 'believes,' 'expects,' 'estimate,' 'may,' 'intends,' 'plan,' 'will,' 'should,' 'potential,' 'reasonably possible' or 'anticipates' or the negative thereof or similar expressions, or by discussions of strategy. We have based the forward-looking statements on current expectations and projections about future events. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions about us, as described under 'Risk Factors' in our Offer to Purchase. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed herein might not occur. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates.

Note to editors:

HSBC Holdings plc

HSBC Holdings plc, the parent company of the HSBC Group, is headquartered in London. HSBC serves customers worldwide from offices in 64 countries and territories in our geographical regions: Europe, Asia, North America, Latin America, and Middle East and North Africa. With assets of US$2,923bn at 30 June 2020, HSBC is one of the world's largest banking and financial services organisations.

SOURCE HSBC Holdings plc
Unifor ordered the 6,300 workers that it represents at Ford Canadaincluding those employed at the Oakville assembly plant and two engine plants in Windsor, Ontarioto remain on the job after Mondays 11:59 p.m. strike deadline to facilitate the conclusion of a tentative agreement with the automaker.

The deal, which Unifor President Jerry Dias announced at a press conference yesterday, sets the stage for further attacks on autoworkers wages, working conditions, and jobs.

Talking more like a corporate CEO unveiling a new product line than a workers leader reporting back to the rank-and-file, Dias spent the lions share of his press conference boasting about the new investments in electric vehicle production Ford Canada is reportedly planning to make.

Dias called it an historic day, because the proposed agreement purportedly secured the auto industrys presence in Canada for the long term and would start a discussion as a nation on how we use our natural resources for the betterment of all Canadians.

According to the head of Unifor, Ford and the federal Liberal and Ontario Conservative governments will invest CAN $1.95 billion in the automakers Canadian operations. Of this, $1.8 billion is supposed to go to converting the Oakville Assembly Plant to a facility that, starting in 2025, will be capable of producing five electric vehicle models.

Dias refused under questioning to confirm how much of the investment would be provided by the federal and Ontario governments respectively, but suggested the figure in media reports is erroneous. In a report subsequently confirmed by other news organizations, the Toronto Star reported Sunday that the two governments have offered Ford $500 million in state subsidies.

The Oakville plant, Dias claimed, will also assemble the batteries to be used in the electric vehicles. A 6.8 litre engine was also secured for the companys Windsor facilities. We hit a home run, Dias proclaimed.

The more Dias trumpeted Fords investment plans, the more evident it became that this was a ruse to avoid any discussion whatsoever of the essential contents of the proposed contractbe it wage-rates, pensions, work-rules or what, if any, contractual commitments Ford has made in terms of job security and future employment levels.

Even when he was asked directly whether the approximately 4,250 autoworkers at Oakville would have jobs through 2023, when assembly of the Ford Edge SUV and Lincoln Nautilus are scheduled to end, Dias refused to provide an answer. He repeatedly stated that only 3,400 workers are employed at Oakville, suggesting that the union has written off the hundreds of workers laid off at the plant since July 2019.

When taken together with his repeated references that a significant portion of the Oakville workforce is, or will soon be, eligible for retirement, it is clear that Unifor is scheming with Ford to push older, higher-paid workers out of the plant with the carrot of an early-retirement scheme and the stick of further concessions on work-rules and speed-up. A smaller number of younger workers and new hiresworking at vastly inferior pay levels under the discriminatory multi-tier wage regimewould then be employed after the plants retooling, ensuring the automaker greatly enhanced profits.

Of the economic package Unifor has agreed to with Ford, Dias would only say that the proposed agreement provides gains and progress on improving the hated multi-tier wage system. However, the union already made clear in the bargaining updates it sent out during the contract talks that the lengthy grow-in period for new hires, currently 10 years, will remain in place.

Dias was forced to acknowledge that the agreement would result in further job cuts. He claimed that when the Oakville plant is retooled, Unifor will likely have 3,000 members working there. However, given that the fifth electric vehicle model is only scheduled to leave the production line in 2028, it seems likely that the plant will operate at least for several years below even this reduced level. The Unifor president was also conspicuously silent on the fate of the workers employed at the Bramalea Distribution Centre, which is to be closed and replaced by two smaller regional depots.

Unifor is determined to ram through its deal with Ford as quickly as possible and has scheduled a ratification vote for this Sunday. Autoworkers must reject this anti-democratic sham. Unifor is withholding essentially all information about the proposed contract until just before voting begins on Sunday morning, and will, as it has frequently done in the past, give workers no more than a Highlights brochure that excludes or downplays major givebacks.

Workers should refuse to vote on Unifors historic deal until they are provided the contract in full and given at least one week to study and discuss its terms prior to any ratification vote. This is all the more necessary because, due to the pandemic, the meetings will be held online, making it all the more difficult for workers to consult with each other and question Dias and others on the bargaining committees.

At Tuesdays press conference, Dias did say that the proposed deal with Ford is for three years, meaning that it will expire simultaneously with the agreements negotiated in the United States between the UAW and the Detroit Three. Dias previously stated that his goal in seeking a three-year deal was to enable Unifor to compete more directly with the UAW for investments. However, yesterday he put a twist on this, declaring that Unifor intends to work hand-in-hand with the UAW to stop the migration of investment to Mexico.

The pledge to work hand-in-hand with the UAW, a criminal organization whose top officials have either been convicted or are under investigation for accepting kickbacks from the automakers, must be seen as a threat by workers. Over the past three-and-a-half decades, the unions have used anti-Mexican chauvinism and nationalist appeals to pit workers in North America against each other so as to enforce pay cuts and layoffs.

Dias wants this to continue, as he indicated with his call at yesterdays press conference for a national-corporatist strategy to establish Canadian capitalism as a leader in green technology. He appealed for a discussion on how do we use our lithium in Quebec, our nickel in Sudbury, our cobalt in northern Ontario, and our aluminum in Quebec and British Columbia, because these products, critical for manufacturing batteries, would provide the foundation for Canadian jobs.

Autoworkers at Ford and the Detroit Threes other Canadian operations have no interest in supporting their own corporate elite in the global scramble for market share and profits. Instead, autoworkers must unify their struggles with their class brothers and sisters in Mexico, the United States and internationally to launch a counteroffensive in defence of all jobs and the overturning of all concessions.

To conduct such a struggle, autoworkers must immediately form rank-and-file committees in their plants to seize control of the contract struggle and prepare an industry-wide strike to fight for their demands. As the World Socialist Web Site Autoworker Newsletter stressed in its recent statement, There is an enormous well of rank-and-file anger against the auto bosses and their Unifor accomplices. But if workers are to prevent Unifor from once again running their struggle into the ground and corralling them into voting on a concessionary contract whose true details they have not been allowed to see, they must act now. They must take matters into their own hands by building a network of rank-and-file committees in all Detroit Three and auto industry plants.
China aims to push back against the United States by reopening talks with 10 Southeast Asian nations on a code of conduct that would help prevent mishaps in a crowded, disputed Asian sea, political scholars say.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged in August that the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations bloc resume talks with his country toward a South China Sea code of conduct, state-controlled news media in China said. Wang told a symposium in Beijing this month that negotiators should try to finish the code at a faster pace, China Central Television reported online.

The ministers calls followed charges from U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo in July that Chinese claims in the sea are illegal and that Washington would help other countries that come under pressure from Beijing. China calls about 90% of the sea its own.

Beijing vies with sovereignty in tracts of the 3.5 million-square-kilometer sea with bloc members Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines.

Ignoring code of conduct talks  popular in Southeast Asia and pending since the negotiating parties reached a related framework deal in 2002  would put China on the blocs bad side and endear it to the United States, scholars believe. Talks broke down in 2019.

The reason that I think the Chinese first agreed to the code of conduct was to block out the Americans, that the Chinese could say we already established a track toward addressing the issues in the South China Sea, so the South China Sea is peaceful, and it is stable, so to the Americans, do not meddle, said Yun Sun, East Asia Program senior associate at the Stimson Center think tank in Washington.

Backed by the worlds third strongest armed forces, China has upset Southeast Asian countries over the past decade by landfilling some of the seas tiny islets, sometimes for military use. Claimants prize the waterway for fisheries and undersea energy reserves. The U.S. government has no claim in the sea but bristles when its rival superpower China exerts too much control over it.

Chinese officials worry about what the United States will do next, analysts believe. The two powers are already locked in trade, technology and consular disputes.

I think China now really wants to finalize the code of conduct because the South China Sea right now could reach a boiling point any time now, said Aaron Rabena, a research fellow at the Asia-Pacific Pathways to Progress Foundation in Metro Manila. Its really a major flashpoint between China and the United States, and China doesnt want more tensions with the U.S.

Southeast Asian countries are receptive now to both Beijing and Washington. But the Philippines, after a boat standoff with China in 2012, won world court arbitration against China in 2016 and Vietnam has considered filing its own case.

Countries that feel hopeless will develop alternative channels to achieve what they want, Sun said.

China and the bloc is better known as ASEAN agreed in 2017 to restart the talks and later set a completion goal of 2021. A code would be designed to prevent accidents that capsize fishing boats, a common occurrence, as well as deadly skirmishes such as the Sino-Vietnamese clashes of 1974 and 1988.

Negotiations have stalled over the years largely because of code content that would touch on sovereignty disputes. For example, its unclear whether wording would cover mishaps near Chinese-controlled islets, make certain clauses legally binding and set up an enforcement body. Taiwan, a sixth claimant to the sea, is excluded from the code talks but still uses the waterway.

ASEAN and China remain stuck on details in the code, said Huang Kwei-bo, vice dean of the international affairs college at National Chengchi University in Taipei.

But China figures that just the act of negotiating will keep Washington at bay, he said. You could say its just an empty diplomatic move, but I think according to foreign relations that to negotiate is always better than not negotiating, Huang said.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expected to announce tougher standards for the authorisation of a coronavirus vaccine this week, which will make it unlikely for one to be approved by election day.

The agency is expected to issue the guidance later this week, in order to boost public trust in the process, as it moves closer to being able to decide on a potential vaccine, according to The Washington Post.

President Donald Trump claimed at a campaign rally earlier this month that a vaccine will be approved by the US election on 3 November, but two of his top scientific advisers have said that it is unlikely that one will be ready, as trials will not have collected enough data by that point.

Dr Moncef Slaoui, the scientific head of vaccine development programme Operation Warp Speed, told NPR in early September that an approval is extremely unlikely but not impossible, while US surgeon general Dr Jerome Adams said it is improbable.

The Post reported that the agency is concerned that the presidents claim, combined with reports of his administration interfering with federal science agencies throughout the pandemic, has lowered trust among Americans on a potential vaccine.

A report by the Pew Research Centre this month showed that only 50 per cent of US citizens said they would get a vaccine if it was available today, compared to 72 per cent in May.

Concerns over interference from the Trump administration on health agencies' response to the pandemic were reignited last week, as Alex Azar, the secretary of health and human services, took away the FDA's authority to sign new regulations into law.

The power has been reserved for Mr Azar, and in a statement on Sunday, HHS attempted to justify the decision, and said that it minimises litigation risk...prevents potential future abuse of authority, and is consistent with congressional intent.

Two individuals familiar with the agencys new guidance, told the Post that in order to increase trust from the public, the FDA will ask any manufacturers who seek an emergency approval for a Covid-19 vaccine to go through a more rigorous process than is normally the case.

The FDA will reportedly ask manufacturers to follow participants involved in late-stage trials for two months, after they have been administered their second vaccine shot.

The agency will also want five participants with severe cases of Covid-19 in the placebo group, as well as older participants, who are the worst affected by the virus. The vaccine will also have to be 50 per cent more effective than the placebo.

The new rigorous guidelines will likely spell the end of speculation that a vaccine will be ready in time for 3 November, as manufacturers will not be able to make it through the process in time if they have not already started.

Moderna and Pfizer began their trials on 27 July, and got to the halfway stage of 15,000 participants, of a planned 30,000, a month later.

Participants are due to take the second vaccine shot a month after starting the trials, but The Post reported that although some will have completed the process by election day, it is unlikely the manufacturers will have enough data in time to have it approved.

Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, told The Post that even with new guidelines, the US public may not trust an emergency vaccine.

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, he said.

Mr Hotez added: US history is littered with good vaccines that get voted off the island because of bad public perceptions.
T hey were hailed as the little ships ready to ride to the rescue, in a Dunkirk-style mobilisation of the national response to coronavirus. But the failure to involve the UKs small laboratories in the test and trace programme has been highlighted by an Evening Standard investigation as one of many problems with a system described by critics as secretive and shambolic.

Thousands of people have been unable to get coronavirus tests as a direct result of the lack of laboratory capacity to process them. Put simply, testing centres have been told to stop swabbing people because the laboratories cannot process the swabs quickly enough.

The problem dates to the decision of the Government in April to establish a new network of privately run mega-labs. The alternative would have been to expand capacity in the existing NHS and Public Health England labs, and call upon support from the small labs.

The first of the Lighthouse Labs opened in Milton Keynes on April 9, in partnership with the private sector and utilising emergency Covid rules that avoided the need for open competition. They are managed by the Department of Health but are not part of the NHS.

There are now seven Lighthouse Labs across the UK, with two more, in Newcastle and Bracknell, announced last week. Together, they will do the bulk of the testing as the country moves towards a target of 500,000 antigen tests a day by the end of next month.

Their job is to process pillar 2 tests  the swabs from drive-through and walk-in facilities in the community that have been so heavily criticised. About 160,000 people a day are being swabbed in the community  but the demand for tests is three to four times higher.

Separate to this are the pillar 1 swabs from patients and staff in hospitals and care homes. These swabs  about 55,000 a day  are processed by NHS labs. The Lighthouse Labs are doing the bulk of the work, but they are far less efficient.

Last week, NHS labs returned 92 per cent of samples within the target 24 hours. The Lighthouse Labs managed 33 per cent. The delay matters because the longer it takes to diagnose someone with Covid, the longer it then takes to trace their close contacts  meaning that both the infected person and others they may have infected remain at large in the community and potentially spreading the virus.

Testing mystery as cases fall in London despite coronavirus spreading

The Lighthouse Labs have been under such pressure that the UK has asked centres in Germany and Italy to process tens of thousands of swabs. NHS labs are also being asked to process thousands of community swabs. Figures yesterday showed the problem was getting worse. Joint pillar 1 and 2 daily capacity for the UK stood at 263,689. But only 188,865 tests were processed  the lowest figure for a fortnight.

Both Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Baroness Harding, the head of Test and Trace, have spoken recently of including the small labs in the drive to double capacity to 500,000 tests a day.

It was Sir Paul Nurse, who heads the Francis Crick Institute, who first called in April for the small labs in universities and private research facilities to be mobilised. He said that ministers should remember the lesson from Dunkirk and call upon little watercrafts rather than launching destroyer mega-labs.

The Crick immediately got to work and continues to process about 2,000 tests a day for NHS staff, patients and care home residents in north London.

Sir Paul told the Standard today: An efficient testing programme is vital to controlling the pandemic. It is our strongest defence against a second wave of this virus. But the supposed mobilisation of the small labs remains a closely guarded secret. Parliamentary written questions remain unanswered. Requests from the Standard for information have failed to elicit a response.

Sir Paul said: Both a local and national approach to testing is needed, and the news that more labs will be up and running soon is welcome. But how the testing strategy will draw on smaller, local labs which are serving the communities around them is still unclear.

The Crick approach could be run throughout London to improve the quality of testing by linking university research labs to healthcare facilities.

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Allan Wilson, of the Institute of Biomedical Science, said the focus should be on utilising and then expanding capacity in NHS labs. He said: We have been calling for a closer working relationship between pillar 1 and pillar 2  the NHS and Lighthouse Labs. It is a real frustration that we dont know what happens in these Lighthouse Labs, and we are paying for them. There was a drop in capacity recently and we still dont fully understand why.

The IBMS is unsure of the practicalities of mobilising small labs. There remains a grey area about what can these small labs do? Mr Wilson said. There is a potential role if you could somehow think of a group of tests that could relieve the pressure on both Lighthouse and NHS labs. But it takes quite a bit of effort. The more labs, the more difficult it is to ensure the quality of what you are doing.

Professor Allyson Pollock, a member of Independent Sage, the rival group of experts to the Governments scientific advisory panel, said it had been disastrous to exclude GPs from the system. This prevented them from sifting people with coughs and colds from those with Covid symptoms, so that the right people were tested.

Professor Deenan Pillay, of University College London and Independent Sage, said: Its not too late now to develop a national consortium based around NHS laboratories, Public Health England laboratories, as well as the private labs.

There is hope too for Test and Trace. Professor Christina Pagel, from University College London, said: The good news is that you dont have to improve it a lot. It doesnt have to be world-beating. It just has to be better.
They sent viewers into euphoria when they recreated the iconic topless scene during a celeb-filled Fast Times At Ridgemont High table read last week.

So it comes as no surprise that Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt were a little nervous going into the virtual event especially considering there was nothing off-limits.

Jennifer, 51, and 56-year-old Brad 'were a little nervous going into' the star-studded recreation of the 1982 classic film on Thursday but 'both enjoyed themselves' according to sources for Us Weekly on Wednesday.

Can't blame them: Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston 'were a little nervous going into' the star-studded recreation of the 1982 classic film on Thursday but 'both enjoyed themselves' according to sources for Us Weekly on Wednesday

Sizzling: The internet went wild as they recreated Phoebe Cates' risque yet iconic topless scene

This comes as it was revealed that there were 'no rules' regarding their parts in the special together.

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Comedian Dane Cook - who put together the charity event - appeared on Maria Menounos' Better Together podcast as he revealed the A-listers could not have been more easy to deal with.

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The 48-year-old funnyman - who also played Mark 'Rat' Ratner in the table read - said: 'When I text [Jennifer], she was, Im not trying to make it more fluffy, she could not have been more delightful, game, excited.

'Again, I knew once those first few names were in there, when Brad Pitt started coming in, I was like, Yes! This is gonna happen.'

Reunited! This comes as it was revealed that there were 'no rules' regarding their parts in the special together

Dane said that it was Jennifer who agreed to do the virtual event first and Brad followed suit.

The comedian said: 'Once his team talked to him, Im sure it was just like, "Heres already in there so far." There was no hesitation, there was no rules, there was no, nothing.

'There wasnt anything like were they not allowed No! Zero. No drama.'

Man with the plan: Comedian Dane Cook - who put together the charity event - appeared on M aria Menounos' Better Together podcast as he revealed the A-listers could not have been more easy to deal with

Dane gushed about how pleasant the two acting megastars were to deal with and how dedicated they were to the project.

He explained: 'They both locked in. What you saw was absolutely what we had hoped. Which was just nice engagement between two massive, incredibly talented people!'

The two had reunited onscreen for the first time in decades on Thursday with a risque scene during a star-studded table read of 1982 movie Fast Times At Ridgemont High.

Together again: The actor, 56, took on the role of Brad Hamilton, originally played by Judge Reinhold, 63,

Role: While his ex-wife Jennifer, 51, played high school 'sex queen' Linda Barrett, portrayed by Phoebe Cates, 57, in the coming-of-age teenage dramedy

Daydream sequence: Judge Reinhold as Brad is shown kissing Linda during his daydream sequence in the 1982 movie, which Jennifer and Brad had to reenact virtually from their homes (stars Phoebe and Judge pictured in film still)

The actor, 56, took on the role of Brad Hamilton, originally played by Judge Reinhold, 63, while his ex-wife Jennifer, 51, played high school 'sex queen' Linda Barrett, portrayed by Phoebe Cates, 57, in the coming-of-age teenage dramedy.

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The former couple shared a screen together during the film's daydream sequence which takes place after Brad arrives at a pool party hosted by his younger sister Stacy Hamilton, played by Oscar-winning actress Julia Roberts, 52.

Jennifer wore a red bikini top over a white tank top for the scene during the live virtual table read and Brad brought a pirate hat for his character's fast-food restaurant employee costume.

Setting the scenes: The former couple shared a screen together during the film's daydream sequence which takes place after Brad arrives at a pool party hosted by his younger sister Stacy Hamilton, played by Oscar-winning actress Julia Roberts, 52

Also taking part in the table read for CORE Response coronavirus charity, were Sean Penn - who played Jeff Spicoli in the original film, Henry Golding, Matthew McConaughey, John Legend, Jimmy Kimmel, Shia LaBeouf and Morgan Freeman.

The duo had to recreate one of the film's most risque scenes, where Jennifer's character Linda walks in on Brad's character 'daydreaming' about her topless in the bathroom as she looks for Q-tips.

Reading the script virtually from their homes, legendary actor Morgan, 83, narrated the scene as he described Linda as 'gorgeous', he reads: 'Her eyes are filled with desire as she says...'

To which Jennifer as Linda awkwardly says: 'Hi Brad, you know how cute I always thought you were. I think you're so sexy. Will you come to me?'

Risque: The duo had to recreate one of the film's most risque scenes, where Jennifer's character Linda walks in on Brad's character 'daydreaming' about her topless in the bathroom as she looks for Q-tips

The narrator: Reading the script virtually from their homes, legendary actor Morgan, 83, narrated the scene as he described Linda as 'gorgeous', he reads: 'Her eyes are filled with desire as she says...'

Awkward! To which Jennifer as Linda awkwardly says: 'Hi Brad, you know how cute I always thought you were. I think you're so sexy. Will you come to me?'

Friendly exes: To which Brad starts laughing as he looks down while the rest of the star-studded cast are left giggling

Brad starts laughing as he looks down while the rest of the star-studded cast are left giggling.

Morgan then narrates: 'She reaches out and grabs him for a kiss, pulling him close... then she pushes him away, so he can watch as she carefully unstraps the top of her bathing suit...'

He adds: 'They're just about to fall into passionate love making when we hear...'

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To which Jennifer's character Linda breaks the daydream and asks: 'Hey Brad, do you have any Q-tips?'

Brad's character then has to hide himself and act 'nonchalant', the actor jokingly shakes his head as he reads: 'Wait, just a minute...'

Hilarious: Freeman then narrates: 'She reaches out and grabs him for a kiss, pulling him close... then she pushes him away, so he can watch as she carefully unstraps the top of her bathing suit...'

Hysterical: He adds: 'They're just about to fall into passionate love making when we hear...' to which Jennifer's character Linda breaks the daydream and asks: 'Hey Brad, do you have any Q-tips?'

Famous: Brad famously made a guest appearance on Jennifer's hit TV sitcom Friends in 2001, a year into their marriage

Pool scene: Phoebe Cates is pictured as Linda Barrett in the pool scene from 1982 film Fast Times At Ridgemont High

With Jennifer's character replying: 'Oh God, I'm so sorry... I did not know anyone was in here.'

To which Brad's character exclaims: 'Doesn't anybody f**king knock in here!'

The event officially titled Dane Cook Presents Feelin' A-Live Fast Times At Ridgemont High served as a fundraiser for the humanitarian organisation CORE [Community Organised Relief Effort] co-founded by Penn, 60, and REFORM Alliance in the battle against the coronavirus pandemic.

This is the first time Jennifer and Brad, who split in 2005, have reunited on-screen for years.

Brad famously made a guest appearance on Jennifer's hit TV sitcom Friends in 2001, a year into their marriage.

Hollywood stars: Jennifer, Brad, Dane Cook, Morgan Freeman, Henry Golding, Jimmy Kimmel, Shia LaBeouf, John Legend, Ray Liotta, Matthew McConaughey, Sean Penn and Julia all shared a screen together

He took on the role of Ross Geller's friend Will Colbert in the Thanksgiving episode with the two discussing their 'I hate Rachel Green [Jennifer's character] club' at high school.

Jennifer and Brad got married in Malibu, California, in July 2000 and announced their separation fives years later in 2005.

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He then famously confirmed his romance with now ex-wife Angelina Jolie in 2006 after meeting on the set of film Mr. & Mrs. Smith in 2005.
The total number of confirmed cases grew to 184,734.

Ukraine said 3,497 new active COVID-19 cases had been confirmed across the country in the past 24 hours as of September 23, 2020.

The total number of confirmed cases grew to 184,734, as seen on the interactive map compiled by the National Security and Defense Council.

Read alsoKyiv, 22 regions not ready for lifting COVID-19 curbs  health ministryAs many as 81,670 patients, including 1,769 in the past day, have recovered.

The death toll is 3,705 with 63 fatalities recorded in the past day.

There were 99,359 active cases as of September 23. In total, there have been 249,529 reports on suspected COVID-19 since the beginning of 2020.

The overall incidence per region is as follows:

20,335 in the city of Kyiv;

19,045 cases in Lviv region;

15,908 in Kharkiv region;

13,448 in Chernivtsi region;

12,811 in Ivano-Frankivsk region;

12,130 in Odesa region;

12,069 in Ternopil region;

11,459 in Rivne region;

9,343 in Zakarpattia region;

8,148 in Kyiv region;

7,132 in Volyn region;

5,455 in Vinnytsia region;

5,191 in Zhytomyr region;

5,049 in Khmelnytsky region;

4,394 in Dnipropetrovsk region;

3,537 in Chernihiv region;

3,280 in Sumy region;

3,238 in Cherkasy region;

3,149 in Zaporizhia region;

2,643 in Mykolaiv region;

2,634 in Donetsk region (Ukrainian-controlled districts);

1,630 in Poltava region;

1,024 in Kirovohrad region;

868 in Kherson region; and

814 in Luhansk region (Ukrainian-controlled districts).

Data from Russia-occupied areas  the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the city of Sevastopol, parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions  is not available.

COVID-19 tests were run by the Public Health Center's virological reference laboratory and regional laboratories. As of the morning of September 23, 2020, the Center had received 3,819 reports of suspected cases. In total, there have been 249,529 reports on suspected COVID-19 since the beginning of 2020.

Quarantine in Ukraine: background
Mumbai, Sep 23 : In a major development, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Wednesday said that it has summoned Bollywood actors Deepika Padukone, Sara Ali Khan, Shraddha Kapoor and Rakul Preeet Singh for questioning in a drug-related case.

A senior NCB official related to the probe told IANS, "Summons have been issued to Deepika, Sara, Shraddha and Rakul for questioning. "Besides four Bollywood actors, the NCB has also summoned fashion designer Simone Khambatta." However, the official did not share the date when these actors have been called for questioning.

The drug law enforcement agency has also summoned Deepika's manager Karishma Prakash for questioning. The development comes in the wake of the investigation into a drug-related case linked to the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

Sushant was found dead on June 14 at his Bandra flat.

The official said that the actors have been summoned after several alleged chats of them discussing drugs came to the fore during the investigation.

The NCB has registered a case on the request of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) after it found alleged drug chats between Sushant's girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty, her brother Showik, house manager Samuel Miranda.

Rhea, Showik, Miranda, Sushant's personal staff Dipesh Sawant along with 16 other accused have been arrested by the NCB in the case so far.

Sara is the daughter of noted actor Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh, while Shradhha is the daughter of veteran actor Shakti Kapoor. Deepika is the daughter of the badminton icon Prakash Padukone and is married to Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh.

The official, however, denied that it has issued any summons to Dia Mirza. Earlier in the day, the NCB continued questioning Sushant's talent manager Jaya Saha for the third consecutive day.

Besides Saha, the NCB is also questioning Madhu Mantena Varma, a noted producer, who gave blockbusters such as 'Udta Punjab' and 'Ghajini'.

According to NCB sources, Varma is being confronted with Saha over alleged chats of them discussing drugs. NCB has also questioned Sushant's former manager Shruti Modi on a number of occassions.

Besides the NCB, the CBI and the ED are also probing the death case of Sushant.

Latest updates on Sushant Singh Rajput Death Mystery

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, Sep 23 : Filmmaker Maqbool Khan, who directs the upcoming Ishaan Khatter-Ananya Panday starrer Khaali Peeli, says it was veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan who inspired him to enter the world of films.

"I am a die hard fan of Mr. Amitabh Bachchan. I grew up watching his movies. In my childhood days, I used to imitate his style a lot. Basically, he inserted a 'filmy' keeda in me. He is a huge inspiration to me. His movies always kept me at the edge of my seat and ignited a spark in me to pursue career in film industry," Khan tole IANS.

Before becoming a full-fedged director, Maqbool used to assist filmmaker Anubhav Sinha. He learned everything about films on the sets.

"I come from a small town in Rajasthan. When I came to Bombay, I assisted Anubhav Sinha sir for 10 years. I learnt everything about movies on the sets. I never visited any film institute. Anubhav sir is my real guru. After assisting him, I came up with my first film 'Kabootar' in 2006, and since then my real journey as a filmmaker started," he added.

Maqbool is extremely happy to direct the film "Khaali Peeli".

"It took almost 23 years to reach here. Slowly and gradually I have achieved my mark in the industry. It's totally worth the wait. Happy that I have directed film of such great scale. Couldn't ask for more," he said while speaking about "Khaali Peeli".
By Online Desk

Minister of State for Railways Suresh Angadi succumbed to COVID-19 on a day when India's tally crossed the 56-lakh mark with a spike of 83,347 new cases. 1,085 deaths were also registered in the daily bulletin.

The total case tally in the country now stands at 5,646,011 including 9,68,377 active cases, 45,87,614 cured/discharged/migrated and 90,020 deaths, Health Ministry's latest update informed.

Reporting more cases of recovered ones over fresh infections for five consecutive days, India also recorded over one lakh recoveries for the first time.
Former Emmerdale actor Kris Mochrie has spoken about his romance with his ex co-star Max Parker, who played his brother on the soap.

Kris starred as Lee Posner on the ITV series until he left in October of last year while Max continues to play Lee's brother Luke.

Speaking to The Mirror about their romance, Kris said: 'It's great to meet someone through work and have so many things in common and an understanding of each other's jobs.

Relationship: Former Emmerdale actor Kris Mochrie has spoken about his romance with his ex co-star Max Parker, who played his brother on the soap

'We didn't actually share any scenes together on Emmerdale but kept in touch after I left.

'I don't want to jinx things. We are seeing how we get on. We had a great time on holiday in Dubai. Let's see how it goes.

Kris appeared as Lee on the Dales last year in a hard hitting storyline that saw the character rape Victoria Barton (Isobel Hodgins) who then became pregnant.

Lee could not be convicted of the rape due to a lack of evidence, prompting her brother Robert (Ryan Hawley) to seek revenge.

Characters: Kris (left) starred as Lee Posner on the soap while Max (right) currently plays his brother Luke

Kris said: 'It's great to meet someone through work and have so many things in common and an understanding of each other's jobs'

Robert beat Lee and put him into a coma and was then arrested for grievous bodily harm. Although he eventually woke up, Lee died soon after.

Max's character Luke first appeared on the soap after he formed a friendship with Victoria, who was devastated to learn he was Lee's brother.

Luke and Victoria briefly dated earlier this year before she decided she couldn't get into a relationship so soon after her ordeal but they recently reunited this month.

A source previously told The Sun that Kris met Max after he filmed his final scenes as Lee and they kept in touch after he left the soap.

Horrific: Kris' character Lee was killed off after he raped Victoria Sugden in harrowing scenes aired last year

Plot: Max's character Luke first appeared on the soap after he formed a friendship with Victoria, who was devastated to learn he was Lee's brother

They said: 'They were cast as brothers and are really alike and have been joking that casting did a great job.

'The boys kept in touch after Kris finished on the show but they've spent a lot of time together over summer.

'It's early days but they're really enjoying themselves and who knows what the future holds.'

During the summer, both Max and Kris sparked dating speculation when they enjoyed a rainy hike together.

Kris also shared a snap alongside Max as they sunbathed together, with the caption: 'London lads lazily lounging like.'
After 31 December UK-headquartered banks will no longer be covered by passporting agreements that allow them to do business in the EU. Photo: Mike Kemp/via Getty Images

US bank JPMorgan Chase (JPM) is moving around 200bn (183bn, $230bn) in assets from the UK to Frankfurt, Germanys financial hub, before the UK finally leaves the European Union.

Bloomberg, which first reported the news, said sources confirmed that the asset migration will happen before the end of this year  when UK-headquartered banks will no longer be covered by passporting agreements that allow them to do business in the EU.

The assets earmarked to be moved to the Frankfurt hub reportedly equal just under 10% of JPMorgans total balance sheet, according to Bloomberg. JPMorgan declined to comment.

Frankfurt, Dublin and Paris are among the European cities that have been vying to attract banks looking to move assets, or entire hubs out of London into the EU. Barclays moved its European headquarters to Dublin last year along with some 200bn in assets, while HSBC is moving around 1,000 jobs to Paris. Bank of America (BAC) will set up its European brokerage arm in Paris, and its EU banking headquarters in Dublin.

READ MORE: Germany to take on 96bn in new debt next year

Some major banks, including Barclays (BARC.L) and Lloyds (LLOY.L), have begun sending letters to their UK account holders who live in the EU informing them they will no longer be able to service them after 31 December, when the Withdrawal Agreement ends, because of the cost and the complexity of EU banking rules.

If there is no new financial services agreement before 31 December, then banks would be forced to apply for new banking licences with individual EU countries.

Jason Porter, director of specialist expat advisory firm Blevins Franks notes that passporting is currently possible because the UK Financial Conduct Authority is bound by the same rules and standards as other regulators in the EU.

But once the UK leaves the EU, the regulation of financial activity and consumer protection may not continue to line up on both sides, Porter said. As such, unless a mutual deal is agreed on financial services, the EU will not permit ongoing passporting arrangements for UK financial businesses and advisers from 1 January 2021.
Sushant Singh Rajput Death Anniversary: A Timeline of the of events that have transpired so far

NIA likely to become 4th federal agency to join Sushant Singh death probe

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Sep 23: With the ambit of the probe into the death of actor, Sushant Singh Rajput expanding and national security issues emerging, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is likely to join the investigation.

A notification has been issued stating that the Centre after consulting with the states invests the official of and above the rank of the inspectors in the NIA to exercise the powers and perform duties according to section 53 of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act 1985.

Peddler-supplier-consumer: NCB seeks help from international agencies in Sushant Singh case

If the NIA joins the probe, it would be the fourth federal agency to do so after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).

The NIA which was formed after 2008, Mumbai 26/11 attacks specifically focuses on terror and counterfeit notes related cases. Last year an amendment to the NIA act also gave it the jurisdiction to probe cases relating to human trafficking and cyber terrorism.

The order now signed by under secretary in the ministry of finance's revenue department, Biswajit Sarkar gives the NIA the jurisdiction to probe cases relating to narcotics as well.

A case relating to narcotics has a wider ambit considering the International ramifications.

This comes in the wake of 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.

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, kilograms 200 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.

Drugs probe by NCB: Rhea, her brother Showik Chakraborty file bail plea in Bombay HC

Only Sushant took drugs, Rhea claims in latest plea | Oneindia News

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.

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.
During the past few years, William Shatner has tackled everything from progressive rock and country to classic rock and even Christmas songs on his eclectic spoken-word/music albums for Cleopatra Records. But when the label approached him with the idea of a blues record, he was slightly taken aback.

A white guy from Montreal knows nothing of the blues, says the 89 year-old actor. Montreal is a very musical city and I would hear the blues not knowing, necessarily, that it was the blues. But I was very young and didnt come from a musical background.

But he was up for a new challenge and the end result, The Blues, arrives on October 2nd. It features blues classics like The Thrill Is Gone, Sweet Home Chicago, and Route 66 recorded with an impressive slate of guest musicians that includes Brad Paisley, Ritchie Blackmore, James Burton, and Jeff Skunk Baxter.

Shatner began the process by reaching out to ZZ Tops Billy Gibbons to learn more about the genre. Gibbons gave him a list of books on the blues that Shatner eagerly read, but his education really began when he sat face-to-face with 76-year-old blues icon Arthur Adams, who plays guitar on As the Years Go Passing By.

He said, When I was very young, I picked cotton in Mississippi and sang in the fields,' says Shatner. I said, Show me. He got up and started to mime the picking of imaginary bolls of cotton and putting it in an imaginary bag, all the while singing something bluesy. This kind of insight really allowed me to understand the reverence people who sing the blues have for the music.

The vocals were recorded at a Los Angeles home studio prior to the pandemic. First up was the B.B. King classic The Thrill Is Gone. When I first heard it with the music backing, I thought I was sounding too much like B.B. King, Shatner says, so I went back and re-recorded it, trying to stay with that emotion of disappointment and sadness in the song.

Story continues

I have approached all this music that Im doing as an actor would in a scene, relying on the musical background to help me musically, he continues. I found that Im getting closer and closer to melding the spoken word with the singing word. Im trying to tread that line. I think I do it most successfully on this blues album.

Hes taking these lessons into the sessions for his next record, which he says will be an autobiographical album featuring new songs hes creating with the help of a New York Citybased poet. Its still somewhat early in the process, but theyve already settled into a groove where Shatner tells the poet stories from his life that are then woven into song lyrics.

For example, Shatner told the writer about a time many decades ago when his youngest child called out to him in the middle of the night from her crib. She saw the reflection of a tree on her wall and thought it was a lion. I comforted her by explaining it all, he says. She then went to sleep. I had done my job as her father in assuaging her fears. That story has remained with me all my life, how easy it was to take away that fear and how difficult it is to take away other fears. I wish I could take away her other fears as easily as that first one. Thats the basis of the song.

Theres also another genre-based covers album in the works (Im restricted from talking about it, but youll laugh when you hear what it is) and continued work on his History Channel show The UnXplained, along with an eight-part documentary about a motorcycle trip Shatner recently took from Chicago to New York. Its a lot of work for a man who turns 90 in March 2021, so its no surprise that the actor hasnt had the time to watch his friend Patrick Stewarts new show Star Trek: Picard.

Ive sent Patrick messages, but I havent watched it, he says. Ive seen the Star Trek: The Next Generation guys at many Star Trek conventions and theyve all become buddies of mine. But Ive never seen the show. Ive never seen these other shows that everyone talks about. I dont watch it. I watch movies. I watch sports. Im a news-aholic. I watch a lot of television, but I dont watch fictional television of that ilk.

The return of Patrick Stewart to the world of Star Trek after an 18-year absence has caused many fans to hope that Shatner might follow with a series of his own. Captain Kirks death in the 1994 film Star Trek: Generations might seem like a hindrance to such a show, but Spock died at the end of The Wrath of Khan and was resurrected in The Search for Spock just two years later. And Shatner personally authored The Return, a 1996 novel in which Kirk comes back to life.

But Shatner has little desire to star in any sort of Captain Kirk show at this point in his life. I filmed a commercial yesterday and it took 12 hours, he says. I got home and fell into bed. I got up this morning to do these interviews and Im exhausted. I dont know what Patrick is going to do to film the way a series takes it out of you. A series is 14 hours a day and then on the weekend youre doing publicity. Its all your time. Im having a good time and I have time to ride my horses and pay attention to my family, so Id never do another series like that.

He also has little desire to celebrate his 90th birthday next year. I just want to keep breathing, he says. Im going to celebrate breathing.

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New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed a Delhi Legislative Assembly panel not to take coercive action against Facebook India Head Ajit Mohan till October 15 over its summons to him to depose before it in connection with the northeast Delhi riots.

Following the order, the Peace and Harmony Committee of the Delhi Assembly deferred its proceedings and said it would notify the further course of action and the next date of sitting in due course of time.

The committee, chaired by AAP MLA Raghav Chadha, had issued a notice to Mohan, who is the vice president and managing director of Facebook India, over complaints accusing the social media giant of deliberately not taking action to curb hateful content on its platform. The committee had issued a fresh notice to Mohan to appear before it on Wednesday.

Senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for Mohan, submitted in the top court that the committee cannot decide the breach of privilege of the house and that administrative control over social media is with the Central government.

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"Privilege is something to be decided by the Assembly. A committee cannot decide whether action on privilege can be taken or not," Salve said, adding the Delhi government could not put Mohan "in the pain of punishment" by asking him to appear before the Committee.

Senior advocate A M Singhvi, appearing for the legislative committee, however, submitted it is not proper for the court to stay the proceedings in the matter, and that there is no question of coercive action. "I have sought instructions from the Committee that Mohan has been asked (to appear) only as a witness and there is no question of coercive action," Singhvi said.

The apex court's order came on the plea filed by Mohan, Facebook India Online Services Pvt. Ltd and Facebook, Inc, which contended that the committee lacks the power to summon or hold petitioners in breach of its privileges for failing to appear and it was exceeding its constitutional limits.

The plea challenged the September 10 and 18 notices issued by the committee that sought Mohan's presence before the panel which is probing the Delhi riots in February and Facebook's role in the spread of alleged hate speeches.

A bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Aniruddha Bose, and Krishna Murari issued notices to the secretary of the Legislative Assembly, the ministries of Law and Justice, Home Affairs, Electronics and IT, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, represented by the Secretary-General, and Delhi Police, asking them to respond to the plea.

"Counter affidavit be filed within one week. Rejoinder affidavit is filed within one week thereafter," the bench said. It orally observed that "no coercive action shall be taken against the petitioner till October 15."

The apex court noted that the only purpose of serving notice to the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha is because in the perception of the petitioner's lawyer there may be some interplay of the powers of the Delhi Assembly and the Secretariats in question.

During the hearing of the petition, Salve further submitted that Mohan has the fundamental right not to speak under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution and being an employee of a US-based company he does not want to comment on this "politically sensitive issue."

"Issue is very sensitive and has political overtones. I don't want to comment on the issue which has the political overtones," Salve said. He said that no coercive action can be taken against his client for not appearing before the Committee.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Facebook, argued that If he (Mohan) does not go before the Committee, it is no breach of privilege.

"I personally as a lawyer have been called by Parliament for giving opinions a number of times. You cannot compel and say non-appearance will be a breach of privilege. There is no penalisation," he said.

The petition by Mohan said "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."

It said there is no law that empowers a State Legislature, including a committee formed by the Legislature, to take coercive action against any person unless it obstructs or impedes its legislative functions. "When a Legislative Assembly has been denied powers over subjects exclusively assigned to the Union of India, a Committee of that Assembly cannot compel witnesses to appear and provide evidence on those subjects," the plea said.

Chadha had earlier said non-appearance of any Facebook representative before the panel was not only "contempt" of Assembly, but also an "insult" of the two crore people of Delhi.

The hearing by the assembly panel follows a Wall Street Journal report that claimed that one of Facebook's senior India policy executives intervened in internal communication to stop a permanent ban on a BJP lawmaker from Telangana after he allegedly shared communally-charged posts.
To the Editor;

As the Syracuse Poster Project approaches its 20th anniversary next year, we have an archive of more than 320 civic art posters. One of our goals for the next decade is to find enduring ways to share this work with the public.

The recent installation of a large-format canal-themed poster at the Erie Canal Museum is one example. The poster appears on a wall in the breezeway, next to the entrance, where it complements neighboring murals. It feels right in that location. But like other good touches in the built environment, it took work and collaboration.

The installation was funded by a grant from Tomorrows Neighborhoods Today, a city-funded agency that works with residents to enhance neighborhoods. TNT funded another canal-themed poster installation at the museum in 2017, and two installations at the Central Library in 2018 and 2019. Tina Zagyva, manager of TNT, deserves thanks for coordinating the grant process.

We also thank Natalie Stetson, the canal museums director; Vicki Krisak, director of communications and outreach; and Ashley Maready, curator.

Theyve been open, welcoming and collaborative in brainstorming about how to incorporate our art into the museums building facades.

The next time you visit the museum, take a moment to consider its grounds. Administrators have taken a progressive approach with murals and civic poster art. Given their mission to preserve history, they could have easily defaulted to a staid, buttoned-up building, with everything contained in the building itself. Instead, the museum transcends its walls, with murals and poster art, creating an inviting experience for passersby and approaching guests.

We therefore align as civic enterprisesboth the museum and the Poster Project contributing to the public space in ways that express the communitys history and culture.

Tong Amy Su, who created the poster, deserves special thanks. A native of China, Su worked with us in 2017, when she was a grad student in the illustration program at Syracuse University.

Most of our posters start with short three-line poemshaikuabout the city. Artists then illustrate the poems. In 2017, we created a special reverse-process poster. We commissioned Su to create an image in honor of the canals bicentennial. The poster was then complemented with a haiku by Ross Getman.

The poster depicts a birds-eye view of bustling canal activity. Its an outstanding illustration, one of the most popular in the 2017 series.

But wait, theres more. Su had presented sketches of three possibilities for the 2017 poster. Each was beautiful and could have been developed into a finished work.

We asked Su to develop one of the additional sketches, first for the World Canals Conference, which took place in Syracuse in 2017, and subsequently for this years large-format installation.

Su commented about her work:

"Im from Chang Sha, from the southeastern part of China, in Hunan Province. I was familiar with the canal because in my high school we had global geography class, and they mentioned the Erie Canal as the second longest canal in the world. The longest one is the Jing-Hang Canal, from Beijing to Hangzhou.

So I was aware of the Erie Canal, but didnt really know that it goes through Syracuse. When I researched it, I saw that it went through Clinton Square, and that it really influenced peoples daily life.

By the way, Sus poster is not a rare instance of international skill benefiting our city. In the Poster Projects long relationship with SU, we have worked with several extremely talented artists from China, and more than two dozen interns from China and Taiwan. They help with information management, interactive mapping, website development, accounting and bookkeeping, graphic design, and marketing and promotion. They directly contribute to the projects success.

To Syracuse business leaders: If you have yet to make use of this talent pool, I urge you to do so. While area colleges enroll international students from many countries, students from China are among the most numerous. This is also true nationwide. According to The New York Times, 360,000 Chinese students are studying in America. SU accounts for about 2,200 of them. For comparison, some of Central New Yorks smaller villages, such as Jordan, have fewer than 2,000 residents.

How can a region benefit and excel, given a small village worth of bright, ambitious, technically skilled students? Its a timely question. Given the up-and-down relations of U.S. and Chinese administrations, this opportunity may not last.

Jim Emmons | Coordinator, Syracuse Poster Project

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The first Pedego Electric Bikes retailer in Pennsylvania has opened in Harrisburg. Pedego Harrisburg opened the new shop at Strawberry Square at 17 N. Third St. in Harrisburg across from the Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts and adjacent to the Third Street entrance to Strawberry Square near Rite Aid. Bike enthusiast and CEO of Harristown, the owner of Strawberry Square, Brad Jones was on hand on Thursday with other officials to welcome the new bike store to the capital city.

This is the only one in Pennsylvania and what better place to have it than the city of Harrisburg, he said.

The new shop, which has one of the citys bicycle lanes right in front of the store, sells Pedego bicycles and services them as well and is also offering guided tours, rentals and free trial rides. Bike rentals begin at $25 an hour. The store also sells bicycle accessories.

Weve been excited about looking and doing electric bikes for about a year and looking for the right place and we certainly found it here, co-owner Michael Soisson said.

Bike sales across the country have reportedly surged during the pandemic as many people have found things to do in their own area as opposed to traveling.

Weve been open for about three weeks, Michael Soisson said. Its been a fantastic journey already. Were way ahead of what we expected in terms of sales and rentals, just people coming in and being interested.

The first Pedego Electric Bikes retailer in Pennsylvania has opened in Harrisburg. Pedego Harrisburg opened the new shop at Strawberry Square at 17 N. Third St. in Harrisburg across from the Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts and adjacent to the 3rd Street entrance to Strawberry Square near Rite Aid. (Daniel Urie, PennLive)

The bikes are equipped with 250 to 500-watt motors, which the company says allow riders to conquer hills and cycle distances up to 60 miles on a single battery charge. The twist-and-go throttle gives riders instant manual control over their speeds while the pedal assist functionality automatically adds power to their pedaling, the company said.

Michael Soisson, said as a traditional cyclist he never thought he would switch over to electric bicycles but said that electric bicycles are fantastic for people of all ages.

I never thought I would go to electric but it is unbelievable --you can pedal as little or as much as you want, he said. It gives you all kinds of flexibility. If you got a hill to climb and you need a little assistance you get that.

Pedegos models include cruisers, mountain bikes, cargo bikes and electric folding bikes among other bikes.

The dealership, which opened Sept. 1 is owned by Michael, Denise and Drew Soisson.

The store is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Pedego Electric Bikes was founded in California in 2008 and has more than 125 Pedego branded stores in the United States and additional branded Pedego locations in Canada, France and the United Kingdom.

Electric bikes across the country are on the rise and we just thought it would be a good thing for the city and for the people, co-owner and manager Drew Soisson of Harrisburg said. Its a good area with the bike lanes  it is a good opportunity for everybody.

The first Pedego Electric Bikes retailer in Pennsylvania has opened in Harrisburg. Pedego Harrisburg opened the new shop at Strawberry Square at 17 N. Third St. in Harrisburg across from the Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts and adjacent to the 3rd Street entrance to Strawberry Square near Rite Aid. From left to right are Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse; Drew Soisson, co-owner of Pedego Harrisburg; Michael Soisson, co-owner of Pedego Harrisburg; Brad Jones, CEO of Harristown and David Black, president and CEO of the Harrisburg Regional Chamber and Capital Region Economic Development Corporation. (Daniel Urie, PennLive)

--Business Buzz

You can follow Daniel Urie on twitter @DanielUrie2018 and you can like PennLives business page on Facebook at @PennLiveBusiness
HAMPDEN  The search for a permanent town administrator continues.

Shortly after former Springfield Mayor Robert Markel assumed the role of interim town administrator in September 2019, the Select Board had decided to wait until spring to recruit for potential candidates to replace Mary McNally, who resigned abruptly in June 2019. McNally, who was the Town of Hampdens first town administrator, took over as East Longmeadows interim town manager in August 2019 and was named full-time town manager in December.

Last year, the board interviewed two search consulting firms: Bernard Lynch, principal of Plymouth-based consulting firm Community Paradigm Associates LLC, and Edward J. Collins, Jr. Center for Public Management at the University of Massachusetts Boston.

But when spring bloomed, so did the global COVID-19 pandemic, and the search for a replacement town administrator was put on hold.

During the Monday, Sept. 21 meeting, members of the Select Board revisited the topic. Again, Markel reiterated that in his experience, while this is not the prime time for finding candidates, a search was still possible.

Right now, if you try to recruit a town administrator, there are fewer candidates available, said Markel, adding that much of the searching takes place in the spring to fall in line with a new fiscal year in July.

Since retiring from a full-time role as town manager for Ipswich in 2011, Markel has served as a professional interim town administrator for a number of municipalities in the commonwealth, including Southampton, Templeton and Stoneham. He has also served in the towns of Richmond and Buckland.

Im retired, but I serve as an interim from town to town to keep busy and active, I enjoy it. I like it a lot in fact. Im also writing a book, Markel told The Republican. Most communities are not that dissimilar. We all live under the same federal and state laws and certainly state regulations. The difference is the size and the amount of staffing. Smaller communities are more hands-on with the administrator, whereas when I served as mayor of Springfield, I had six assistants in the office.

Markels contract states that he serves until a full-time replacement has been found, he said. As an interim, Markel works 20 hours per week. The search to find an administrator or manager is different for each town as hes spent multiple years in some towns and a few months in others, he said. Markel described the role hes taken as a professional interim as that of a caretaker until the town is able to find a permanent full-time replacement.

As the conversation progressed at the Sept. 21 meeting, board member Mary Ellen Glover suggested that she and her fellow members take time to define the role of the board as well as that of the town administrator.

I think that much of what we have done is use the town administrator as a secretary or a processor and not given him [or the person in the position] the authority to do the job that they want because the board has been very familiar with running the town, said Glover. I would suggest that we do a self-assessment of some sort, define roles, define goals, define assessments and see  because (Board member) John (Flynn) has been here the longest, he can bring history to it, but he doesnt have the authority as one person to go out and try to start a committee or talk to people about revitalizing this building. That is either the town administrators role or our role.

Glovers statement triggered some back and forth between her and board member John Flynn, to which Glover further asserted that she felt that all board members act unilaterally. Flynn also pointed out that the role of the town administrator is spelled out in the towns bylaws.

So why do we need to explore this further? he asked. We hired Bob as an interim administrator knowing that we would go forward with another administrator.

I dont think that solves our problem, Glover responded. Unless you put our problem out on the table and have a discussion about the problem, the problem stays there.

Chair Donald Davenport asked Glover to clarify what she thought the board should be doing.

Markel interjected saying that those looking to fill the role would be looking at three areas: salary; span of authority, which includes expectations and responsibilities; and the relationship that the board has with the individual currently assuming the role of town administrator.

Glover started to back down and say that maybe she was off-base, but Davenport persisted, asking what she thought the board should do.

Like I said, I think we should do a self-assessment: do we take on too much responsibility? And lets look at those things we do well and those things that we do so-so, she said. Self-assessment is good and I think we can do better.

She also noted that wanting to know when town employees were out sick, for example, was a detail that members of the board should not be concerned with. She said she felt that was an area that the town administrator should be aware of, not the board.

Were too down in the weeds, she said.

Flynn responded saying that while it wasnt important for him to note whether members of other boards were absent from meetings, it was important for the Select Board to know when Administrative Assistant Pamela Courtney was out sick.

Glover suggested that assessments be performed every year. She said that part of her reason for concern is that she felt members acted more on an individual level and not as a collective.

We can always do better, she said.

Markel reminded board members that the consulting firms that have previously been interviewed were capable of making assessments of the board and how it operates.

In redirecting the conversation, Flynn asked if the board was to investigate the search process further. Davenport said that while Glovers input wasnt specifically dealing with the item on the agenda, he did feel it was an area the board should be addressing.

Markel said that depending on the level of concern on the matter, the board could also consider a group retreat. He also noted that there are some individuals that provide guidance to municipalities, including a former town administrator and Select Board member from Franklin.

Ultimately, Davenport said this was an item that would be kept on the boards radar as they progressed to another agenda item.
The Ontario governments back-to-school plan is morally unconscionable and even dangerous, the provinces teachers unions are arguing in an appeal now before the labour relations board.

The Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation noted in its filing that at the time it was writing its appeal, Premier Doug Ford had just limited social gathering sizes to 10 indoors and 25 outside across the province because COVID-19 cases continue to rise. And yet the (ministry of education) has maintained normal indoor class sizes of between 20 and 35 or more across most of Ontario.

The OSSTF also said that student cohorts remain at 100 under the return-to-school guide even as social bubbles are maintained at 10. In respect of our children and their teachers and other education workers, the Crown offers protection to them which is manifestly less than for the rest of us.

This is morally unconscionable and legally wrong.

The labour board appeal was launched by the high school teachers union, as well as the Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens (AEFO), the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario and the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association, which collectively represent more than 190,000 teachers and support staff.

The case was filed before school began and continues this week, dealing with a preliminary claim by the Crown that the Ontario Labour Relations Board does not have any authority to hear an appeal because no health and safety orders were issued.

The unions argue that the government has not taken every reasonable precaution to protect workers in schools and failed to adequately respond to their concerns, and is violating the workplace health and safety act.

By reopening schools without having put in place appropriate measures that offer significant protections in this regard, the (government) endangered the health and safety of all workers in significant and imminent danger in the education sector, the AEFO said in its arguments.

The unions are proposing class sizes of 15 to 20 children in order to maintain two-metre distancing, which currently is not happening in many schools, as well as minimum ventilation standards to address the risk of airborne transmission, masking for all students as well as better busing safety.

The OSSTF said that by raising concerns about school reopening, the definition of an order has been met and the four unions can therefore bring these appeals to the board.

In the legislature on Tuesday, Education Minister Stephen Lecce defended the governments plan, saying $1.4 billion is being spent to keep every school safe in the province of Ontario  funds that include provincial and federal monies, as well as boards own reserves for hiring teachers, custodians, cleaning supplies and purchasing personal protective equipment.

What we are doing in every board in this province, urban and rural, is providing our school boards with more funding to reduce classroom sizes, he said. Our aim is to ensure the layers of prevention are in place to ensure every school is as safe as we can make it as we respond to COVID-19.

But NDP education critic Marit Stiles noted that despite more than 50 new COVID-19 cases in schools, boards continue to collapse classes and make them larger due to insufficient funding for more teachers.

A parent from Collingwood called me (Monday) to share that in their school  and theres so many like this  four kindergarten classes of 20 have been collapsed into three classes of 26. Will the minister stop trying to sell us a bill of goods and start taking action to ensure the safer, smaller classes? she asked.

Torontos public and Catholic school board are among those in which funds for additional staff are being directed to neighbourhoods with higher numbers of COVID-19 cases. Large urban boards also have high school classes of about 15 students, who attend in person half the time and learn online the rest.

However, the largest classes are kindergarten and grades 4 through 8, where parents have reported as many as 30 students in the room.

Lecce said the province has provided funding to school boards to ensure that these classes are safe. Were doing everything we can, supported and endorsed by the chief medical officer of health of this province.

He said some 1,3000 additional caretakers are also being hired.

Has your child been assigned to a large class or has your school kept class sizes low? We want to hear from you. Tell us about your familys experience with in-person school by emailing schools@thestar.ca . Please include your school board in the email.
President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria called Tuesday for the "uninhibited supply of safe and effective coronavirus vaccines for all."

He was addressing the United Nations Generally Assembly.

Buhari warned that if the United Nations can't 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."

African nations have been outspoken in seeking the equitable distribution of any COVID-19 vaccine while watching anxiously as some of the world's richest countries strike deals with pharmaceutical companies to secure millions of doses of potential vaccines.

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 Africa's 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.

Buhari also said that nations must "redouble" their counterterrorism efforts, noting its own fight against the Boko Haram group.
Former Indian PM, HD Deve Gowda said that parliament can not be run on emotions and both the national parties, BJP and Congress should realise that there is a larger interest of farming sector people, which needs to be addressed urgently.

Parliament can not be run on emotions and both the national parties  BJP and Congress  should realise that there is a larger interest of farming sector people, which needs to be addressed urgently, said HD Deve Gowda, Former Prime Minister on Wednesday.

In an exclusive interview with ANI, the Janata Dal (Secular) Rajya Sabha MP from Karnataka said, Both the national parties should come to an understanding to run the house and solve the problems of the farming sector.

Deve Gowda suggested to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi that a permanent National Commission be set up to address the grievances of farmers and solve the disputes arising out of their various interaction with the government and agriculture markets.

Also read: China has no intention to fight either Cold War or hot war, says Xi Jinping

Also read: LAC standoff: India, China agree to refrain from sending more troops to frontline

I will write to Prime Minister Modi about setting up the Commission and will personally follow it up with him. Prime Minister should not be in hurry to implement these bills because there are widespread ramifications. It is not as Prime Minister thinks that these bills will eliminate middleman, in fact, it will create more intermediaries, he said.

While commenting upon the resignation of Lok Sabha MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal from the Cabinet, Deve Gowda said, The fact that PMs own cabinet colleague resignation indicates the magnitude of the problem as seen by an ordinary farmer, having come from a farming background it is my feeling too that these bills have to be revisited.

On September 17, Harsimrat had resigned from the Union Cabinet, displaying her opposition to the three Bills. The parliament recently passed Farmers and Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill,2020.

Also read: PLA recruits sob while heading to Ladakh border to face Indian soldiers, watch viral video
Insomnia causing sleepless nights, daytime fatigue and poor health outcomes is a cycle worth busting, experts say, with depression, anxiety and stress a common co-occurrence.

A study of more than 450 insomnia patients in Australia has confirmed some positive results for such patients with insomnia.

The Flinders University researchers found not only that a program of targeted cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia help relieve insomnia - but also has a positive effect on symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress.

"With COVID-19 and many other stressors in life, treating the worst effects of insomnia may have a transformative effect on a person's wellbeing, mental health and lifestyle," says lead researcher Dr Alexander Sweetman, from Flinders University's sleep research clinic, the Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health.

"We studied the impact of depression, anxiety, and stress on response to CBTi, in 455 'real world' insomnia patients, from pre-treatment to three-month follow-up," Dr Sweetman says.

"Insomnia symptoms improved by a similar amount between patients with and without symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress."

Symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress show moderate-to-large improvement following CBTi, the results published in Sleep Medicine show.

Flinders Professor Leon Lack, who runs the insomnia therapy service at the Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health at Bedford Park, says CBT for insomnia ('CBTi') is recommended as the most effective and first-line treatment of insomnia.

As well as face-to-face CBTi therapy available at the Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health, the expert treatment is also available via telehealth options around Australia.

"The revamped insomnia treatment program at Flinders includes a range of treatments provided by experienced psychologists and physicians specialising in the management of sleep disorders, and treatment approaches which are directly based on the highest quality available scientific evidence," says Professor Lack.

"In line with many health services during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Flinders University insomnia treatment program is also available through online and telehealth platforms to people living in rural or remote areas of Australia."

The sleep research team is also rolling out the evidence-backed insomnia CBT program for general practitioners to support people with their sleep problems and avoid the use of sedative hypnotic medication over time.

###

Go the website, https://www.flinders.edu.au/adelaide-institute-sleep-health, or contact sleephealthtreatment@flinders.edu.au for more information.

The latest paper, Do symptoms of depression, anxiety or stress impair the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia? A chart-review of 455 patients with chronic insomnia (2020) by A Sweetman, N Lovato, G Micic, H Scott, K Bickley, J Haycock, J Harris, M Gradisar and L Lack has been published in Sleep Medicine DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2020.08.023
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 23)  A task force official on Wednesday vowed that it will prevent other crowd-gathering incidents from happening again, such as the Manila Bay white sand event that led to violations in physical distancing.

Carlito Galvez, chief implementer of the National Task Force Against COVID-19, acknowledged that authorities failed to control the situation.

"We have learned our lesson so we will make sure this will not happen again," he told reporters in an online briefing.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) recently launched a project that covered the Manila Bay Baywalk with white sand made of crushed dolomite minerals.

The agency opened the area for public viewing for a limited time over the weekend which caused visitors to flock to the area in tightly packed lines, waiting to get a glimpse of the beach.

This drew concerns from the public of possible COVID-19 transmission. The DENR later apologized for the crowding while Philippine National Police Chief PGen. Camilo Cascolan sacked the Ermita police head for failing to enforce security and health measures.

President Rodrigo Duterte on the other hand defended the project from critics who questioned the purpose of the white sand. He pointed out that people are enjoying the reclaimed area.
The dragon is breathing fire at the Sino-India boundary, and then there is another headache for the Centre. A significant section of people in Ladakh have rejected the domicile laws and urged for a special status for the union territory.

Prominent religious and political groups, including the BJP Ladakh chapter, are seeking the Narendra Modi governments assurance to extend the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution that will seal safeguards for land, jobs and environment in the region.

Leaders of all hues on Tuesday indicated a plan to boycott next months Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) polls if the Centre does not meet their demands.

The central government, grappling with the belligerent Chinese over the LAC intrusion in the past five months, is not willing to grant the Sixth Schedule to Ladakh, anticipating that such an exercise would open a Pandoras box with respect to other states. It has no quick-fix solution to this internal crisis that is shaping up like a mass movement, and would like to purchase more time to defuse the situation.

In fact, the Modi government has rushed two senior national leaders to Leh to placate the Buddhist leadership. It appears the Centre would again offer the leadership in Leh the domicile laws on the lines of the UT of Jammu and Kashmir, but the other side is adamant.

"We want the Centres commitment on it. As of now it seems reluctant but it is our long-standing demand. We hope parties from Kargil will join us in the future. The Centre should listen to our grievances," said Jigmet Paljor, a student leader from Leh.

That said, Ladakhs other important region - Kargil - is nascent to these developments and, like the Kashmiri leadership, have endorsed the pre-August 5 position. "The Kargil region has always sided with Kashmir and believes the dilution of Article 370 stripped the former state of its identity and powers to make its own laws. We want the government to restore Article 370," Sajjad Kargili, a prominent political leader, told News 18.

Tuesdays announcement to boycott the hill council polls has delivered a major blow to the BJPs integrationist politics. Besides, the decision for the first time bears

a similarity with Kashmiri politics where poll boycott has been used to protest against the Centres unilateral policies on Kashmir.

The Valley-based National Conference, Peoples Democratic Party and other groups had boycotted the municipal and panchayat elections in 2018 and 2019 to prevent the Centre from scrapping the special status of J&K.

The current developments in Leh run contrary to the August 5 decision when Jammu and Kashmir state was stripped of Article 370 and divided into two union territories.

Buddhists in Ladakh had then hailed the newly carved UT status for Ladakh though Kargil sides with Kashmir.

The initial euphoria in Leh slowly started to dissipate after citizens feared invasion of outsiders from mainland India.

The movement for the Sixth Schedule is peaking at a time when Ladakh is on edge, courtesy the Chinese army nibbling at Indias territory and poised to fight a war, in some with India.

The apex body of Peoples Movement for Sixth Schedule for Ladakh unanimously resolved to boycott the ensuing 6th LAHDC Leh elections till such time the constitutional safeguard under Sixth Schedule on the lines of Bodo Territorial Council is not extended to the UT Ladakh and its people, veteran politician and former Lok Sabha MP Thupstan Chhewang told reporters in Leh on Tuesday.

The polls are scheduled on October 16 and are the first since the dilution of Article 370 and the creation of Ladakh UT. The current body is headed by BJP.

Similarly, Ladakhi environmentalist and Magsaysay award winner Sonam Wangchuk has raised fears of the rise of a separatist movement in Ladakh if their concerns for identity and environment were not addressed. Wangchuk had earlier advocated for the boycott of Chinese goods to bleed the country economically when China made the initial hostile moves in eastern Ladakh.

Among the signatories endorsing the poll boycott was the BJPs Leh president Nawang Samstan, in a way indicating how the local BJP unit was not willing to buy the central leaderships line over the critical issue.

Many in Ladakh believe Ladakhs BJP Member of Parliament Tsering Namgyal was behind a recent resolution passed by the Leh autonomous council which sought privileges for Ladakh under Article 371, Sixth Schedule or domicile laws at the Centres bidding.

But commoners in Ladakh are opposed to extending the domicile law or Article 371 to the region, fearing outsiders will run riot with its land, environment, culture and language.

The Centre has already introduced the domicile law for J&K after which thousands of outsiders have been granted domicile status in the UT.

Sources in Ladakh said the Centre intends to extend the domicile law to Ladakh on the pattern of J&K but Ladakhis are very critical and not willing to back off.

The leaders based in Leh said the decision to boycott elections was taken after thorough discussions.

The other leaders who signed the boycott pledge included Ladakh Buddhist Association president P Kunzang, former Rajya Sabha Member Kyabje Thiksey Khenpo Rinpoche, former minister Chhering Dorje Lakrook, former minister and president of Ladakh Congress Nawang Rigzin Jora.

Three Leh-based Muslim and Christian organisations also signed the resolution.

The notification issued by the election department of Ladakh said the date for filing of nomination for LAHDC Leh will begin on September 21 and the last date for nomination is September 28. Elections are scheduled to be held on October 16. It is not clear whether the elections will now be held given the unprecedented development.

The Centre had cared little when Valley-based parties boycotted polls and it paved the way for the BJP to win the most seats. A repeat here, analysts say, would be a recipe for disaster. "Ladakh, especially Leh, is not Kashmir and our sentiments dont run contrary to the countrys interests. We want the Modi ji-led government to concede to our demands," a leader told News 18.
CHICAGO, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report "Real-Time Location Systems Market (RTLS) with COVID-19 Impact Analysis by Offering (Hardware, Software, Services), Technology, Vertical (Healthcare, Manufacturing, Retail, Education, Govt., Sports), Application/Use case, Geography- Global Forecast to 2025" , published by MarketsandMarkets, the RTLS market is expected to grow from USD 3.4 billion in 2020 to USD 10.3 billion by 2025; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 24.8% from 2020 to 2025. The RTLS market has been witnessing significant growth over the past years, mainly owing to the high adoption of RTLS solutions in the healthcare, manufacturing & automotive, retail, and transportation & logistics verticals, and growing adoption in emerging use cases. However, the COVID-19 outbreak is likely to result in a decline in the growth rate of the RTLS market, especially in 2020 and 2021. This is because organizations in most of the major demand-generating verticals are currently or were non-operational in various countries, thereby negatively impacting the demand for RTLS solutions. Additionally, COVID-19 has also disrupted the supply chain of the RTLS market, which is hindering the manufacturing, distribution, and installation of RTLS solutions.

Ask for PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=1322

Wi-Fi segment to hold the largest share of the RTLS market, by technology, in 2020

Wi-Fi segment will lead the RTLS market, by technology, in terms of size, in 2020. A number of RTLS vendors have been using the existing Wi-Fi infrastructure to lay out RTLS solutions for the purpose of data sharing. This has resulted in the greater use of Wi-Fi technology for RTLS applications, especially in newer verticals and emerging markets.

The market for supply chain management & operational automation/visibility segment to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period

The supply chain management & operational automation/visibility application segment is expected to witness highest growth in the RTLS market during the forecast period. In this segment, RTLS solutions are gaining popularity for locating inventory in warehouses as well as throughout supply chains. RTLS technologies allow better visualization of supply chain dynamics in real time. As companies move toward Industry 4.0, there arises the demand for greater visibility to facilitate faster decision-making. Real-time data of supply chain operations allows quicker response times for any alterations in normal operations.

Browse in-depth TOC on "Real-Time Location Systems Market"

181 - Tables

76- Figures

279 - Pages

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North America to hold the largest share of RTLS market by 2020

North America is expected to hold the largest share of the RTLS market by 2020. The US leads the market in North America owing to its well-established economy that encourages government and private investments in new technologies. Europe is expected to account for the second-largest share of the RTLS market during the forecast period. The UK and Germany are significant demand-generating countries for RTLS solutions in this region.

A few key players operating in the Real-Time Location Systems Market are Stanley Black & Decker (US), Zebra Technologies (US), Aruba Networks (US), Impinj (US), Savi Technology (US), TeleTracking Technologies (US), AiRISTA (US), Ubisense Group (UK), Decawave (Ireland), and Litum Technologies (Turkey).

Related Reports:

Asset Management System Market With Covid-19 Impact by Solution (GPS, RFID, RTLS, Barcode), Asset Type (Electronic Assets, Returnable Transport Assets, In-Transit Equipment, Manufacturing Assets, Staff), Industry, Geography - Global Forecast to 2025

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Donald Trumps nominee for the Supreme Court seat vacated by liberal stalwart Ruth Bader Ginsburg is regarded as a judge who checks the presidents box of sticking closely to the exact wording of the 231-year-old US Constitution.

Amy Coney Barrett, a 48-year-old conservative judge on the Chicago-based 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, met privately with the president at the White House on Monday. He emerged from that session and praised her qualifications.

Shes one of the people thats very respected, but theyre all respected, he said of those on his five-woman shortlist. She is certainly one of the candidates, yes.

At a campaign rally on Tuesday night in Pennsylvania, the president promised his supporters he would nominate someone who he decides meets the criteria of being among conservative believers in our country, solid, incredible people. Over the weekend, he vowed to pick someone who doesnt believe in making policies from the bench, but on Tuesday said high court justices set policy.

On Saturday afternoon Ms Barrett appeared at the White House with Mr Trump, who confirmed that he was choosing her as his third Supreme Court nominee, with Republican senators likely to quickly confirm her this year, possibly before the 3 November election. Her opinions as a federal jurist show she shares Mr Trumps views on gun rights and his hardline immigration stance. Ms Coney Barretts opinions on abortion rights align with the presidents promises to his conservative base. Here is a snapshot of some of her most telling opinions.

Abortion rights

A devout Catholic, Ms Coney Barrett has never ruled in a case directly challenging the high courts landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision to legalize abortion across the country.

Womens rights and abortion advocates, however, are sounding alarms that her appointment could put that decision at risk of being overturned.

She has never been a part of a decision specifically on abortion rights. But a handful of her decisions, experts say, suggest opposition to other rulings that shot down restrictions on abortion rights.

In a 1998 Marquette Law Review article she co-wrote exploring the effect of the Catholic churchs teachings on federal jurists, Ms Coney Barrett said the churchs views on prohibiting abortion and euthanasia are absolute because they take away innocent life.

As a judge, she has voted for her court to rehear cases from lower panels on abortion rights.

Second Amendment

Ms Coney Barrett is considered an originalist on issues like gun rights, arguing the Constitutions Second Amendment is clear and should be applied ultra-literally in just about any circumstance.

In the 2019 case Kanter v. Barr, she dissented from the majoritys opinion upholding the governments right to deny what it deems dangerous people from legally obtaining firearms.

At the time of the countrys founding, she said, legislatures took away the gun rights of people who were believed to be dangerous, Amy Howe wrote for SCOTUS Blog. But the laws at the heart of Kanters case are too broad, she argued, because they ban people like Kanter from having a gun without any evidence that they pose a risk. Barrett stressed that the Second Amendment confers an individual right, intimately connected with the natural right of self-defense and not limited to civic participation.

Those views align with Mr Trumps promises to his base, which he repeated on Tuesday night in Moon Township near Pittsburgh.

If I werent president, you know the pressure, your Second Amendment would be obliterated. It would maybe be gone, but at a minimum obliterated, he said to boos. They haven't touched your Second Amendment, not even touched it because I'm here to block. I'm a blocking force. I'm like a lineman for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

I'm a blocking force. No, they haven't touched it, but your Second Amendment would be under siege, he warned as part of his fear-spawning campaign.

Immigration

Ms Coney Barretts views on immigration also put her in the same hardline camp as the president.

In a June dissent, she wrote that she favoured allowing one of his contested policies.

She was out-ruled, 2-1, to end the so-called public charge rule in Illinois.

That Trump policy denies legal permanent residency to some migrants who are deemed most likely to require government assistance at some point.
Insulin has become the poster child of unaffordable prescription drugs. From 2002 to 2013, prices tripled for some brands, and as a result, one in four patients has reported rationing their insulin.

But insulins not the only example. Since 2007, prescription drug spending has increased by about 40 percent, to $335 billion in 2018 from $236 billion. A study from last year showed this increased spending isnt a result of new, better drugs hitting the market, either  rather that pre-existing brand-name and generic drugs were becoming increasingly expensive.

Why do drug companies charge that much? Because they can, said David Mitchell, a cancer patient and the founder of Patients for Affordable Drugs, a nonprofit advocacy group. We let them. Whereas most other developed countries allow the government to negotiate with drug manufacturers on behalf of its citizens for lower prices, the United States does not.

President Trump recently issued an executive order aimed at addressing this disparity, after a separate deal that proposed to cut drug costs by $150 billion fell apart. The order would enable Medicare to pay the same price for prescription drugs as those sold in other countries, but experts questioned whether the White House has the authority to put it into effect.

Dr. Elizabeth Seeley, an adjunct lecturer at Harvards school of public health whose research focuses on pharmaceutical pricing and policy, said that while this order or an international price reference would certainly lower the cost of many patented, brand-name drugs, its unclear what impact it would have on the market.

In the current system, pharmacy benefit managers, or P.B.M.s, act as middlemen between drug manufacturers and insurance companies and negotiate the receipt of rebates in exchange for listing a manufacturers medication as the preferred brand on their insurance formulary. Assuming theyre insured, patients pay the co-payment or coinsurance stipulated on their health plans policy, blind to the drugs actual cost.

They tell you that the value of the rebate is passed through to the patient in the form of lower prices, lower out-of-pocket and lower premiums, said Mr. Mitchell, who has an incurable blood cancer and spends more than $15,000 for just one of the medications he takes to treat it. But all of those dealings are restricted from public knowledge. Even members of Congress cant find out what rebates are paid, because its all considered a trade secret.
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education sent letters to 16 districts Friday urging them to return to in-person learning. The districts were all in communities with low COVID-19 infection rates, but which had started the year with remote learning.

But other districts with low infection rates that have begun the year remotely were not among them. The reason had to do with when they planned to return to in-person classes.

Only districts that did not indicate when they were going back, or a handful of districts who stated they were going back in late fall, were included, Colleen Quinn, communications director for the Executive Office of Education, told MassLive.

Of the 16 communities sent the letter, signed by Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley, 12 were fully remote with no indication of when they would return to in-person classes. Four others had return to class dates that were late in the fall, Quinn said. Those included the school districts of Belmont, Watertown, West Springfield and Mohawk Trail/Hawlemont Regional.

But there were school districts in the state that are either fully remote or have late return to class dates that have low infection rates that werent among the 16. The reason could be past infection rates.

South Hadley Public Schools have a return to in-person class date of Nov. 4 and according to last weeks report from the state had fewer than 4 COVID cases in the town. Readers asked MassLive why the town was not included among those urged to return to in-person learning by the Department of Education.

According to DESE spokesperson Jacqueline Reis, South Hadley did not meet the criteria for receiving a letter because the community had previous high reports.

The state assesses a communitys risk level in a color-coded map released each Wednesday that places communities in gray, green, yellow or red with gray being fewer than five cases, green being fewer than four cases per 100,000 people, yellow being four to eight cases per 100,000 and red more than eight cases per 100,000.

While South Hadley is gray now, it was yellow on Aug. 26, red on Aug. 19 and yellow on Aug. 12.

Gov. Charlie Baker Wednesday echoed the commissioners urging that schools that can return to in-person learning, should.

Getting kids back to the classroom, obviously, is something that we believe is critically important to our success and to our kids' success going forward, said Baker at a press conference on Wednesday. Its very important for people and communities to look at three weeks worth of data, which is four weeks worth of information before they make decisions about changing their plans with respect to schools.

In the case of South Hadley, if the community has fewer than 4 cases again when the report is released this week, that will make four weeks the district has remained in the gray.

The 16 communities and school districts identified by the Department of Education include:

Amesbury

Belmont

Berkshire Arts and Technology Charter Public (District)

Bourne

Boxford

East Longmeadow

Gardner

Gill-Montague

Hoosac Valley Regional

Manchester Essex Regional

Mohawk Trail

Hawlemont

Pittsfield

Provincetown

Watertown

West Springfield

Related Content:
London: The US government has suggested that Julian Assange would not be held in solitary confinement and would be able to crochet and play bingo if he is extradited and jailed on spying charges.

The revelation emerged at Assange's extradition hearing underway at London's Old Bailey which has this week been focussed on Assange's mental health.

People queue at the entrance of the Old Bailey court in London. Credit:AP

His defence team has called witnesses to testify that he has Autism Spectrum Disorder, Asperger's, anxiety, hears voices, is depressed and would take his own life if he loses his legal battle.

The court has heard that Assange has withheld telling doctors his true mental state while detained in Belmarsh Prison because he fears being placed in solitary confinement.
A live address on prime-time television by a political leader is usually reserved for moments of great national importance.

In Northern Ireland, such an occasion is unprecedented in modern times.

Read More

So it is a sign of the deepening sense of crisis that Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill chose to make a direct TV plea to people on Tuesday night.

Speaking for just over 10 minutes, staring straight at the camera and into living rooms around the country, they struck a serious but measured tone.

There was little new in what they said - the warning that this is a critical moment and the importance of following the guidelines are familiar to us all.

Instead, this was about the way it was delivered, almost presidential in style.

Some Stormont sources have voiced concern that the public has tired of the gloomy tone of the Health Minister, Robin Swann.

The address was sombre, and it had to be, but also tried to strike a personal touch.

It was easy to emphasise with Mrs Foster when she said: "As an Executive, we will not get every last thing right but our motives are to protect as many lives and livelihoods as we can."

So too Ms O'Neill when she touched on her own worries.

"As a mother and daughter I understand this reality. My family are worried too," she said.

It was also about giving a sense of hope - a point that Ms O'Neill made near the end.

Sometimes how the message is conveyed is as important as the message itself, and all of Northern Ireland was listening.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stressed the need for a "de-occupation" of the Russia-annexed Crimea and called for the reform of the United Nations in his speech to the UN General Assembly. In a prerecorded address to the body on September 23, Zelenskiy urged the world not to let the Russian annexation of Crimea become a "customary element of the international order."
Telefonicas TEF unit has extended partnership with Allot and McAfee to augment the capabilities required to safeguard Spain-based small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through the Movistar Secure Enterprise Connection Service. Telefonica Tech is a global business providing the Group with the agility to leverage the rising demand for technology services including cloud, cybersecurity and IoT/Big Data.



The solution, managed by ElevenPaths  the cybersecurity company of Telefonica Tech and which works as a platform installed at the core of Telefonicas network  helps to prevent employees from visiting potentially dangerous websites. It helps to protect employees fixed and mobile devices in case of loss and theft, even when connected to the Internet from outside the corporate network.



The deal will add the new version of McAfee MultiAccess that includes privacy control capabilities for 5 to 10 devices by usage licenses and the latest improvements of the Allot platform. So far in 2020, the number of SMEs in Spain subscribing to the service has tripled, exceeding the forecasts of the companies. This has enabled them to expand the platform almost three years earlier than initially planned.



SMEs are rapidly digitizing due to the current circumstances for business continuity. Since the end of March, despite the economic constraints imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, customer demand has continued to grow at double-digit monthly rates. The Secure Connection Business solution gives them protection from the most common threats that come from the Internet.



Telefonica Tech aims to accelerate its existing revenue growth streams, making them more visible and increasing optionality. It has already inked agreements with global providers including Microsoft MSFT, Fortinet FTNT, Amazon AMZN Web Services, Google and GE Healthcare. The company has invested in Nozomi Networks, a leader in industrial IoT cybersecurity.



On Sep 7, ElevenPaths announced the acquisition of iHackLabs, a company specialized in cybersecurity training. iHackLabs is a company that trains the level of expertise of the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. It has different cloud-based training platforms and labs under a SaaS model that simulate real cyber threat situations adapted to the specific needs of companies. The integration of iHackLabs followed the purchase of Govertis, a company specializing in cybersecurity consulting, as part of Telefonica Techs growth strategy in the security business.



Meanwhile, Telefonica intends to optimize value creation by prioritizing investment in its core operations (Spain, Germany, the U.K. and Brazil). The company seeks to optimize its Hispam operations to streamline its Group structure and core market focus, reduce exposure to emerging markets and foreign exchange volatility, and to accelerate its deleveraging.



Telefonicas shares have lost 22.1% in the past six months against 13.1% growth of the industry. The company has a long-term (three to five years) earnings growth expectation of 17.8% compared with the industrys 9.2%.





Story continues





Telefonica has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), at present.



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More than two decades after Sarah Spiers, Jane Rimmer and Ciara Glennon vanished off the streets of Claremont, the fate of their accused killer, Bradley Edwards, will finally be decided on Thursday.

The hunt for the Claremont serial killer became Australias biggest and most expensive murder investigation, spanning 20 years to 2016 when the breakthrough arrest of Mr Edwards was made.

The verdict in the Claremont serial killer trial will be handed down on Thursday morning. Credit:WAtoday

The mammoth Macro Taskforce investigation was followed by Western Australias longest-running murder trial, which heard from more than 200 witnesses over 95 days between November 2019 and June 2020.

The immense public interest and complex nature of the case against Mr Edwards meant the 51-year-olds trial was heard by a judge alone.
The Zamfara State Government has asked security agencies to track the whereabouts of over N37 billion refunded by the Federal Government for projects executed by the state government.

The state Commissioner of Finance, Rabiu Garba, disclosed this while addressing journalists in Gusau on Tuesday.

Mr Garba alleged that the immediate past administration led by former governor, Abdulaziz Yari, might have misappropriated the money.

But Mr Garbas predecessor says no money is missing.

The incumbent commissioner said the amount was initially quoted at over N47 billion as the funds used by the former administration in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of 14 federal roads in the state.

We understood that the cost of the verified projects at the Federal Ministry of Works stood at over N37 billion.

But when we asked for refunds of the said amount, it was confirmed by both the Federal Ministry of Works and the Debt Management Office that the amount had been paid fully.

On further investigation, we gathered that the money was collected by the Director-General of Nigerian Governors Forum and one lady who also worked in the same place on instructions from the former Zamfara government.

We wonder how people who are not indigenes of the state nor have they ever worked for the state should collect such a colossal amount on behalf of the government and people of Zamfara, the commissioner said.

He said the present administration under Governor Bello Matawalle would do everything possible to recover the money so that we can use it in the development of the state.

But reacting in an interview with the News agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday, the former Commissioner of Finance in the Yari-lued government, Muktar Idris, exonerated the administration from any wrongdoing.

Mr Idris said that the immediate past administration constructed the roads at the cost of over N60 billion and claimed the same amount from the Federal Government.

But a federal government verification committee only approved N37.4 billion refunds which was on completed projects.

Due to the dearth of funds to repay such projects to about 23 states, which stood at over N500 billion, it was agreed at the governors forum that the states would collect the refunds in two tranches via promissory notes that would mature in three years.

The states were to receive 40 per cent in the first instalment, in which Zamfaras due amount stood at N14.9 billion.

All the affected state governors also agreed that the director-general of the Governors Forum should collect for them.

I still have the documents with me where we put over N10 billion as discounted from N14.9 billion into our joint account because we needed the money.

So, we discounted and collected the amount through the Debt Management Office, Mr Idris told NAN.

He explained further that the second promissory note was for N22 billion which was also discounted to a little over N17 billion.

All the money had been deposited into the state governments accounts.

Zamfara people are free to check and verify these facts, he said.

(NAN)
Here is why PM Modi is all set meet chief ministers of these seven states today

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

New Delhi, Sep 23: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to meet the chief ministers of seven states today (September 23), which are majorly contributing to the country's coronavirus caseload. The meeting comes just ahead of the completion of Unlock 4, which is all set to end on September 30.

It can be seen that PM Modi held several virtual meetings with the CMs to discuss the COVID-19 situation after the country went under a nationwide lockdown on March 25.

However, in today's meeting, the chief ministers of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Punjab will attend the meeting.

50 pc efficacy in phase 3 trials needed for COVID-19 vaccine approval: Drug authority's guidelines

These seven states account for 63 per cent of the total coronavirus cases in the country. Maharashtra, Punjab and Delhi are reporting a case fatality rate of at least 2 per cent.

These states have recently reported a daily uptick in the number of cases as well. Centre is sending its team to states to help state governments in containment, surveillance, testing and efficient clinical management. Recently, a team was sent to Jammu and Kashmir. The COVID-19 situation of Delhi is also being monitored by a Centre-delhi government joint team.

India can promise to be Africa's most steadfast partner: Jaishankar

On Tuesday, it can be seen that India crossed the 5.5 million-mark in terms of number of coronavirus disease cases. But the Union health ministry said that the country's active cases are less than a fifth of the total tally.

Only Sushant took drugs, Rhea claims in latest plea | Oneindia News

Maharashtra had reported 18,390 fresh COVID-19 infections, pushing the total to 1,242,770. The state surpassed 60 lakh COVID-19 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.
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.
Wellington: National leader Judith Collins was on the offence in the first debate of the New Zealand election, calling Labour leader and Prime Minister Jacinda Arderns answers nonsense and arguing with host John Campbell about the need for her tax cut plan.

But the opposition is on the defence in the campaign, as it remained 17 points behind Labour in a TVNZ/Colmar Brunton poll released just before the debate.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (left) and National Party leader Judith Collins during the first live leaders' debate ahead of the October 17 election. Credit:Getty Images

It is also fighting to salvage its economic credibility after a second multibillion-dollar gap was revealed in its fiscal plan.

After accepting a first $NZ4.2 billion ($3.9 billion) miscalculation, finance spokesman Paul Goldsmith rejected a new gap uncovered by Stuff.co.nz, saying reallocation of the countrys transport budget would cover the apparent $NZ3.9 billion shortfall.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the Republican rush to fill Ruth Bader Ginsburgs seat on the Supreme Court could spell the end of Obamacare, but that she opposes increasing the size of the court in response.

In an interview taped for the Bloomberg Equality Summit to take place on Wednesday, Clinton cited Ginsburgs reported last wish -- that the seat she had held since 1993 remain vacant until the presidential election was decided.

She was offering a measured opinion thats in the best interest of the country and the court to let the election go forward, said Clinton, who was the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee.

She acknowledged that Republicans appear to have the votes to confirm an appointment from President Donald Trump before the Nov. 3 election.

A decision by Republicans led by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to go forward with confirming a nominee is a very unfortunate display of partisan power to push through whoever the president nominates, Clinton said.

She said she wouldnt, however, favor a strategy being discussed by some Democrats to increase the size of the court in the event they win control of the Senate and White House to dilute the conservative majority. She called that idea a step too far.

The 2016 Democratic standard bearer said her party should be absolutely clear whats really at stake and first and foremost in this case is health care, noting that the high court is scheduled to hear a case on the Obama administrations signature health care legislation shortly after the election.

It really speaks to the fervent desire of Republicans under Trump and Mitch McConnell to get rid of the Affordable Care Act, Clinton said. What that means is for millions of Americans, their cost will go up, if they can even get insurance.

Clinton framed the high court and health care battles in terms of the coronavirus pandemic.

Having the seat filled right now, rather than waiting until we know who the president is, may well mean the end of the ACA and millions of Americans who have been exposed to Covid-19 will have pre-existing conditions that wont be covered, she said.
Clash: Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks during the 75th annual UN General Assembly in New York, which is being held mostly virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic. PHOTO: REUTERS

Xi Jinping, China's president, warned against a "clash of civilisations" at the United Nations yesterday after Donald Trump swiped at Beijing over its coronavirus response.

Tensions between the leaders of the world's largest economies spilled out on the global stage yesterday as the US president told the UN General Assembly that China must be held accountable over the pandemic.

Mr Trump accused Mr Xi of allowing the coronavirus to "leave China and infect the world", and urged the international community to take action. "The United Nations must hold China accountable for their actions," Mr Trump said in a pre-recorded message, referring to Covid-19 as the "China virus".

Addressing the assembly in New York minutes later, Mr Xi, positioning himself as the more measured of the statesmen, urged cooperation instead of finger-pointing.

"We should avoid falling into the trap of a clash of civilisations. Any attempt at politicisation or stigmatisation should be rejected," he added, in a clear dig at Mr Trump. "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."

"We will not seek to develop only ourselves or engage in zero sum game," Mr Xi said in a pre-recorded video statement to the annual gathering of world leaders

Mr Trump directly accused China of not sharing timely information with the world on the new disease and criticised its decision not to stop international flights.

"In the earliest days of the virus, China locked down travel domestically while allowing flights to leave China and infect the world," he said in a short message to a gathering that meets each year to address global problems.

"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," said the US president, who is facing growing disapproval at home over his handling of the virus.

Mr Trump has ramped up US tensions with Beijing in recent months in an attempt to portray himself as tougher toward the country's leaders than his re-election opponent, former vice president Joe Biden, and to deflect blame for the US coronavirus outbreak, the largest in the world.

The Trump administration has made a number of antagonistic moves toward China, including sanctioning Chinese officials over their treatment of Muslim minorities, removing special trade benefits enjoyed by Hong Kong, closing a Chinese consulate in Houston, Texas, and announcing plans to restrict Chinese visas for journalists and students.

Mr Trump also is seeking to force the spin-off of the US operations of TikTok, the popular Chinese-owned short video app. He has directed his administration to withdraw from the WHO, an independent international body that works with the UN, accusing it of being a puppet of China.

Antonio Guterres, UN secretary-general, opening the 75th session of the General Assembly - the first ever to go virtual - urged the world to prevent a Cold War between the US and China and halt conflicts so it can focus on the pandemic.

"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," he said, without calling the US and China by name.
JERSEY CITY, N.J., Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- GenPsych PC, a provider of mental health and substance abuse services, announces a further extension of its services in North Jersey with the opening of its latest facility in Hudson County to serve the county's largest city, Jersey City, and the surrounding neighborhoods/communities.

The GenPsych Jersey City location offers Adult mental health programs, Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) programs, and Adolescent programs.

The Adult Mental Health Program is an intensive and comprehensive program to help individuals struggling with various mental health concerns.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Program is an evidence-based, cognitive-behavioral therapy that focuses on skill training in the following areas: mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness.

GenPsych Adolescent Program is an outpatient program that aims to help teens struggling with various issues such as anxiety, depression, defiance, anger, bipolar, and more.

"We pride ourselves as a top-drawer facility in our industry because we thrive on perfection in everything we do," said Kemi Olukoya, GenPsych Chief Marketing Officer.

"Our patients are guaranteed to experience 5-star treatment in our programs by our elite professional and dedicated team who share a vision of helping clients and their family members to facilitate convenient, effective psychological services and support."

GenPsych offers a partial care program (PC) that runs five days a week and an intensive outpatient program (IOP) that runs three to five days a week. While enrolled in any program, clients participate in both individual and group therapies.

GenPsych Jersey City is located at 26 Journal Square, Jersey City, NJ 07306. Further information about Jersey City location and other GenPsych programs can be found on the GenPsych website www.genpsych.com.

Founded in 2005, GenPsych PC is New Jersey's premier mental health and substance abuse treatment provider. GenPsych is dedicated to helping clients regain their emotional and physical health in a safe, supportive environment.

GenPsych has seven convenient locations throughout New Jersey: Brick (Ocean County), Bridgewater (Somerset County), Flemington (Hunterdon County), Princeton (Mercer County), Livingston (Essex County), Wayne (Passaic County), and Jersey City (Hudson County).

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Election 2020: Biden leads but is he losing support?

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In November, Republican President Donald Trump will try to fend off a challenge from Democratic presidential hopeful and former Vice President Joe Biden.

Both nominees have promised a better future for a United States dealing with a pandemic, economic uncertainty, and widespread inner city protests.

A question over the future of the United States Supreme Court has received more attention with the recent passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the debate over whether her replacement should be nominated before election day.

The Christian Post looked at multiple election polling websites on Monday, finding that while Biden was ahead in most reports, his support might be slightly weakening.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa will hold a virtual bilateral summit on September 26, their first official engagement after parliamentary elections in the island nation last month.

The implementation of developmental projects by India, cooperation on counter-terrorism and defence matters, trade, and the devolution of powers to Sri Lankas Tamil minority are expected to figure in the talks, people familiar with developments said on condition of anonymity on Wednesday.

The virtual bilateral summit will give an opportunity to the two leaders to comprehensively review the broad framework of the bilateral relationship soon after the parliamentary elections in Sri Lanka and in the context of the time-tested friendly ties between the two countries, the external affairs ministry said in a statement.

Rajapaksa began a fresh term as prime minister after his Sri Lanka Peoples Front party secured a two-thirds majority in parliamentary polls in August.

In July, India announced a $400-million currency swap facility for Sri Lanka under the framework of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), though New Delhi is yet to take a call on Colombos request for a bilateral swap facility for $1.1 billion.

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had sought the special swap facility of $1.1 billion during a phone conversation with Modi in May.

President Rajapaksa also made it clear recently that Sri Lankas strategic security policy will have an India first approach though Colombo remains open to dealing with other key players for economic development.
A UAB archaeology professor who tweeted that late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was stronger than any M*GA f*ckstick bootlicker could ever dream of -- a reference to President Trumps supporters -- had her comments condemned by the university, saying she showed poor judgment."

Sarah Parcak, an Egyptian archaeology expert at UAB and a professor at the universitys Department of Anthropology who has a large following on Twitter and has appeared on national television, posted the tweets shortly after Ginsburgs death Friday at age 87. Ginsburg was a leading voice of the Supreme Courts liberal wing.

She hung on as long as she could. Icon. Genius. Loving wife, mother, grandmother. Beloved wearer of Egyptian menat collars adorning Pharaohs of old. Powerful arbiter of truth and justice, even when she was in the minority. In her honor, dig deep, fight like hell, VOTE #rbg  Professor Sarah Parcak (@indyfromspace) September 18, 2020

About an hour after her initial tweet on Ginsburgs death, Parcak, who used space satellites to discover the street plan of an ancient Egyptian city, wrote that the late justice was stronger in her mid 80s than any M*GA f*ckstick bootlicker could ever dream of. Take that energy with you [Friday night] and always into the voting booth, the polls, and online to donate.

RBG planked for a minute for multiple sets at AGE 86 and did tons of pushups. She was stronger in her mid 80s than any M*GA f*ckstick bootlicker could ever dream of. Take that energy with you tonight and always into the voting booth, the polls, and online to donate.  Professor Sarah Parcak (@indyfromspace) September 19, 2020

On Tuesday, UAB said Parcaks tweets "reflect poor judgment and do not represent the opinions of our university. Our 45,000+ students, faculty, and staff often use social media to express thoughts that do not necessarily reflect the voice of the university.

The university would not say whether Parcak was disciplined for the tweets.

If a public comment by a member of the campus community needs to be addressed by Student Affairs or Human Resources, it would be. However, personnel and student conduct matters are addressed privately between the individual and the institution," a UAB spokeswoman said.

Parcak has nearly 70,000 Twitter followers and has tweeted about her support for liberal and progressive causes before.

See also: Sarah Parcak on archaeology from space, history in the South

When protesters tried to take down Birminghams Confederate monument in Linn Park during demonstrations following the death of George Floyd, Parcak lent her expertise to suggest how the protesters could topple the statue, giving advice in a tweetstorm:

PSA For ANYONE who might be interested in how to pull down an obelisk* safely from an Egyptologist who never ever in a million years thought this advice might come in handy



*might be masquerading as a racist monument I dunno  Professor Sarah Parcak (@indyfromspace) June 1, 2020

Those tweets, like the Ginsburg ones, remained on the professors account as of Tuesday evening.

Efforts to reach Parcak for comment Tuesday evening were not immediately successful.
Around 120,000 years ago in what is now northern Saudi Arabia, a small band of homo sapiens stopped to drink and forage at a shallow lake that was also frequented by camels, buffalo, and elephants bigger than any species seen today

The people may have hunted the large mammals but they did not stay long, using the watering hole as a waypoint on a longer journey.

This detailed scene was reconstructed by researchers in a new study published in Science Advances on Thursday, following the discovery of ancient human and animal footprints in the Nefud Desert that shed new light on the routes our ancient ancestors took as they spread out of Africa.

Today, the Arabian Peninsula is characterized by vast, arid deserts that would have been inhospitable to early people and the animals they hunted down.

But research over the last decade has shown this wasn't always the case -- due to natural climate variation it experienced much greener and more humid conditions in a period known as the last interglacial.

"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," explained study co-author Richard Clark-Wilson of Royal Holloway.

The paper's first author Mathew Stewart, of the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Germany, told AFP the footprints were discovered during his PhD field work in 2017 following the erosion of overlying sediments at an ancient lake dubbed 'Alathar' (meaning "the trace" in Arabic).

"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," he said.

The prints were dated using a technique called optical stimulated luminescence -- blasting light at quartz grains and measuring the amount of energy emitted from them.

- A Green Arabia -

In total, seven out of the hundreds of prints discovered were confidently identified as hominin, including four that, given their similar orientation, distances from one another and differences in size, were interpreted as two or three individuals traveling together.

The researchers argue these belonged to modern humans, as opposed to Neanderthals, on the basis that our extinct cousins aren't known to have been present in the wider Middle East region at the time, and based on stature and mass estimates inferred from the prints.

"We know that humans were visiting this lake at the same time these animals were, and, unusually for the area, there's no stone tools," said Stewart, which would have indicated the humans made a longer term settlement there.

"It appears that these people were visiting the lake for water resources and just to forage at the same time as the animals," and probably to also hunt them.

The elephants, which had gone extinct in the nearby Levant region some 400,000 years ago, would have been particularly attractive prey, and their presence also suggests other plentiful freshwater resources and greenery.

In addition to the footprints, some 233 fossils were recovered, and it's likely that carnivores were attracted to the herbivores at Alathar, similar to what is seen in African savannas today.

According to the paper, fossils were first recorded for Homo sapiens outside of Africa between roughly 210 and 180 thousand years in southern Greece and the Levant.

The new paper demonstrates "inland routes, following lakes and rivers, may have been particularly important to humans dispersing out of Africa" too, said Stewart.

"The presence of large animals such as elephants and hippos, together with open grasslands and large water resources, may have made northern Arabia a particularly attractive place to humans moving between Africa and Eurasia," added the study's senior author Michael Petraglia of the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.

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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Boyden increases footprint in EMEA for clients needing robust leadership in challenging times

Boyden, a premier leadership and talent advisory firm with more than 70 offices in over 45 countries, today announced its expansion into Greece and Cyprus, led by new Managing Partner Anny S. Chatzikonstantinou.

Anny Chatzikonstantinou has an executive career spanning 20 years in senior roles with companies such as Diageo, Hasbro, SingularLogic and Unilever, followed by 10 years in consulting. She will be joined by partners Michalis Moraitis, Simi Farrou and Fani Mamalaki, with expertise respectively in strategic IT, Consumer Retail and Human Resources. Leveraging their experience in digital transformation, restructuring and turnarounds, Boyden Greece and Cyprus will support local and international clients in strategic growth.

Trina Gordon, President and CEO of Boyden commented, "We know these are challenging times for people in Greece and Cyprus and Boyden does not shy away from countries experiencing adversity. Greece has attracted significant foreign investment in recent years. The full array of Boyden's global capabilities is at Anny's disposal to help her clients maintain momentum in a complex environment."

"We are very pleased to be joining Boyden at a time when businesses in Greece and Cyprus need a distinct and collaborative approach to finding the right leadership," said Anny Chatzikonstantinou. "Business leaders face a number of challenges today. We believe that blending our local insight and professional networks with Boyden's collaborative culture and digital acumen will be an important step change for our clients."

Boyden Greece and Cyprus six-person team provides executive search to global corporations, local business owners and HR leaders in Greece and Cyprus. They will work cross-border with Boyden's offices across EMEA, Asia Pacific and the Americas. Team members join Boyden's Global Practices in Consumer Retail, Industrial, Technology, Financial Services, CEO Board Services, Human Resources and Private Equity.

About Boyden

Boyden is a premier leadership and talent advisory firm with more than 70 offices in over 45 countries. Our global reach enables us to serve client needs anywhere they conduct business. We connect great companies with great leaders through executive search, interim management and leadership consulting solutions. For further information visit www.boyden.com/Greece and Cyprus.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200923005217/en/

Contacts:

Chris Swee

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T: +1 914 747 0172

E: cswee@boyden.com
Ukraine and Hungary are gradually moving towards finding solutions.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba says Ukraine will not amend the education law, but will negotiate its implementation with Hungary.

"I have repeatedly stressed we will not amend the law of Ukraine on secondary education in terms of education for national minorities. We have already complied with all the recommendations of the Venice Commission, but we must talk with our partners about how we will be implementing the legislation, how we will be eliminating those negative  let's call them diplomatically  phenomena that arose from the Hungarian side in 2017 after the adoption of the law," he said in a video message from the town of Uzhgorod posted on Facebook on September 23.

Kuleba said he would meet his Hungarian counterpart Peter Szijjarto on September 23.

"We are in constant contact with him, because those wounds that have been inflicted on Ukrainian-Hungarian relations in recent years  they need to be healed very slowly, we must approach this very carefully. Therefore, we constantly talk with him, meet and move forward in small steps toward finding solutions that will be mutually acceptable for both Ukraine and Hungary," the Ukrainian foreign minister said.
President Kovind leaves for Bangladesh, to be Chief Guest at 50th Dhaka Victory Day celebrations

Let's resolve to build society based on values of justice, liberty: President Kovind on Christmas eve

5 Opposition leaders to meet President today at 5pm amid Parliament boycott over farm bills

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

New Delhi, Sep 23: Leaders from the Opposition parties is all set to meet President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday amid the ongoing row over farm bills. According to reports, only five opposition leaders will be allowed to meet the President at 5 PM.

On Tuesday, the opposition boycotted the Lok Sabha session over Centre's refusal to accept its demand for withdrawal of farm bills passed by Parliament.

Parliament passes FCRA Bill that makes Aadhaar mandatory to register NGOs

Earlier, the Rajya Sabha passed two contentious key farm bills - 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) through voice vote.

Monsoon Session: Ruckus over farm bills is to cover their own failures from past, says BJP

On Monday, Naidu announced a one-week suspension of Trinamool Congress' (TMC) Derek O'Brien and Dola Sen, Aam Aadmi Party's (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.

Only Sushant took drugs, Rhea claims in latest plea | Oneindia News

Later, Harivansh wrote to President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu saying protests in the Upper House on September 20 by the Opposition leaders during the passage of the two bills on Sunday caused him pain, stress and mental tension.
On September 20, 2020, two farm bills were introduced in the Rajya Sabha that sparked a huge commotion among the opposition and ruling lawmakers.

The Centre says the bills were introduced in a bid to improve the overall condition of the nations farmers. According to the government, the income of the farmers would double by the year 2022. The bills also aim to provide farmers other benefits like the ability to sell their produce to whoever they want to and do business with big agricultural firms, Bharatiya Janata Party lawmakers say.

The proposed laws have still been facing significant opposition from several political parties and farmers organisations across the country.

Proponents are saying this is an urgent agricultural reform, the middlemen will be done away with, this is essential for the modernisation of agriculture, etc. However, detractors say the government is opening the door for corporates, and the interests of farmers are no longer protected.

Here are some voices in support of and against the move from across the country:

West Bengal

Farmer Sanjeev De Kabiraj, who owns a few bighas of land in Singur, said, Now there is about 10 tons of paddy in stock. Currently, I have to sell it at a very low price. As a result of this agricultural reform, I will be able to sell in different places at a higher price than the minimum support price."

Along with these hopes, there are also fears. Some say, My land, my wish. Why should other people interfere?" Shailen Chandir, a farmer from Shantipur, said, This is contract farming. There is no guarantee in this agreement. What will happen to those of us who cultivate on small plots of land and sell their produce in the local market? The traders will benefit from this. We will have nothing left."

Anirban Pradhan, deputy director of the state cooperatives and agriculture department, said, Initially, the lack of mandi culture may not be the reason for the pressure. But overall, there is a possibility of foul play. In this case, if any big private company wants to buy a product and keep it in cold storage, the government will not stop it. Due to the Essential Commodities Act, the government had the right to stop storage of excess goods earlier. Now that is no more the case.

Rabin Banerjee, who has been working for the rights of farmers for many years, said, Bengal farmers are not likely to be directly affected. But he thinks that it might affect the middle-class people. He further said that in Bengal, buyers and sellers do not go to the mandis. As a result, the farmers will not face direct loss. But the loss will be different. Many grains are imported from other states. If the new bills become law, that grain will come with a condition. Now, we can go to the grocery store and ask for Rs 2 worth of dried chillies. But, then it will not be possible. The government will charge 6 per cent GST for packing. No longer will we be able to buy as much as we need, he said.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee has declared that she and other members of the Trinamool Congress will protest against the two farm bills until they are withdrawn. The TMC chief also called on all parties to unitedly oppose the farm bills and assured her partys support.

The Congress and the Left Front have also decided to hit the streets on September 25 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.

Karnataka

Karnataka Congress has termed the bills anti-farmer". Many farmers unions have called for a nationwide bandh on September 25. Former Prime Minister and Rajya Sabha member HD Deve Gowda has asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to explain the short-term and long-term benefits as well as consequences of the bills.

Several top local activist groups have called for protests and condemned the central government passing the bills. All these organisations are alleging that the Centre is acting at the behest of industrialists and capitalists and they are not protecting the core interests of farmers.

Kerala

I do not trust the bills and agreements on agriculture as all of them have failed to protect the farmers interests in the past because none of them were prepared by the farmers, but by the market forces. When the agricultural business is turning market-centric, naturally the role of the government will dwindle and, in reality, it will be against the interest of the farmers. This will be the big impact on the farmers by the bills passed by the Rajya Sabha. The number of farmers, as well as the area under cultivation, are getting lower and lower in Kerala. This is evident from the decrease in the area of rice cultivation, one of the three major crops, besides coconut and rubber, in the past 50 years. The younger generation prefers some kind of a regular job or migrating to foreign countries as they find agriculture uneconomical as a daily business. Hence, the state may not witness many protests in this matter," said Dijo Kappen, state vice-chairman, Kisan Maha Sangh

Maharashtra

Maharashtra doesnt have corrupt crop-procurement systems like Punjab and Haryana. Sugarcane and cotton are both important crops in the state. Both have good procurement systems led by the state government. The Maharashtra government already had open markets for farmers when Devendra Fadnaviss government was in office. Here, farmers are used to free trade. They dont feel any discomfort. So Maharashtra farmers are fine with the bills, says Pasha Patel, former president of Commission for Agricultural Costs & Prices (CACP) Maharashtra.

Tamil Nadu

In Tamil Nadu, the ruling AIADMK supports the bills while the opposition DMK has called for a protest on September 28.

The bills would ultimately drive farmers out of their landholdings and force them to quit agriculture. In spite of unfavourable conditions, natures fury and an unpredictable monsoon, agriculture and farmers, in general, had thus far been given protection to some extent by way of the minimum support price. With the new laws, the Centre was planning to do away with MSP for paddy, wheat and other produce, said Maniarasan, farmers association leader.

CM Edappadi K Palaniswami says that many special aspects of these bills would benefit the farmers of Tamil Nadu. This would not affect the procurement of paddy based on the MSP. There will be no bar on the functioning of the farmers markets in Tamil Nadu, he says.

Telangana

After passing of the farm bills in the Rajya Sabha, some parties and the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) decided to hold protests across the Telugu-speaking states. While the Andhra Pradesh government supports the bills, Telanganas ruling party is opposing them. Telangana chief minister KCR says the Centres move is an injustice to the farmers.

For public consumption, it was stated in the bills that farmers could sell their products anywhere in the country. But in reality, the bills would enable the traders to go anywhere in the country to buy the produce. The bills would also help the corporate lobby spread to all corners of the country and pave the way for private traders. They are saying that farmers can sell their products anywhere in the country with these new bills. But is it possible for farmers to take their small produce to long-distance areas bearing the heavy transport charges and sell it at a good price? These bills are nothing but a sugar-coated pill. This should be opposed at all costs," the CM said.

While the Andhra government supports the bill, farmers organisations and Left parties held a demonstration in Vijayawada. Terming the two bills anti-farmer" and pro-corporate", the All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC), an association of 250 farmers organisations, called for Bharat Bandh on September 25.

At the beginning of this month, the AIKSCC had written 100 letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting a discussion on the farm bills with farmers organisations. There has been no response, and the government has passed the bills despite farmers outrage," said Avik Saha of AIKSCC.

We are demanding the immediate withdrawal of the two farm bills. Why didnt the government send the bills to a select committee as urged by over 15 political parties? Instead, the bills were passed by a voice vote despite the oppositions request for division of votes. It is Shameful that the YSRC Party and Telugu Desam Party competed in supporting the anti-farmer bills," Saha added.

Once the bills pave the way for corporate farming, small and marginal farmers will be gravely impacted. Corporates may even grab the lands of poor farmers in the name of contracts. The AIKSCC has also asked that the President must refuse and send back the farm bills, said Sagar from the Telangana Rythu Sangham.

(With inputs from all language editors of respective states)
The US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations supported Keith Dayton's nomination as US ambassador to Ukraine and recommended the upper house of the Congress to approve it.

The Committee hearing was held on Tuesday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"I am glad that the Committee has approved fifteen nominations (for various positions) this morning. I am particularly pleased to send nominations for the posts of ambassadors to Japan and Ukraine to the Senate for approval," US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch said.

He underscored that the positions of ambassadors in the two countries "play a vital role in shaping US foreign policy," expressing confidence that Keith Dayton's nomination "will soon be approved" by the upper house of the US Congress.

As reported, U.S. President Donald Trump nominated Keith Dayton for the post of U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine in early May 2020.

Keith W. Dayton currently serves as the Director of the George C. Marshall Center in Garmisch, Germany, a position he has held since 2010. He also serves concurrently as Senior U.S. Defense Advisor to Ukraine, an adjunct duty to his position as Marshall Center Director. This follows a four-decade career in the United States Army from which he honorably retired in 2010 with the rank of Lieutenant General. Among his many assignments, Lt. General Dayton was the U.S. Security Coordinator Israel/Palestinian Authority; Director of Strategy, Plans and Policy, Army Staff, the Pentagon, and Director of Operations for the Defense Intelligence Agency, including as Director of the Iraq Survey Group looking for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

The hearings of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Keith Dayton's nomination were held on August 5. Dayton confirmed his awareness of the current situation in Donbas, pledged to combat the harmful influence of Russia, and highlighted the need for the United States to preserve Ukraines territorial integrity.

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The first Black presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church has very special memories of that day.

The Black bishop who delivered the sermon at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle has written a book where he detailed his experience at the royal wedding.

After I preached the sermon, I just remember it was like I could feel slaves around the place, Bishop Michael Curry wrote. I dont mean to be spooky, but it was like their voice was somehow heard that day. I included one of their songs, There is a Balm in Gilead.

Bishop Michael Curry gives an address during the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in St Georges Chapel at Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England. (Photo by Owen Humphreys  WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Bishop Currys new book, Love Is The Way: Holding on to Hope in Trouble Times was released Tuesday.

I can think of nobody better to help shine a light during these difficult times than Bishop Curry, TODAY Show co-host Al Roker wrote in a review. His wisdom and smile are a beacon for my soul right now.

Read More: Meghan Markle and Gloria Steinem team up to encourage people to vote

Curry, the first Black presiding bishop in the Episcopal Church, says he is not in touch with the royal couple currently. He reflected on the solemnity of having a Black woman descended from American slaves marry into the royal family of the United Kingdom.

It was like their voice, one of their songs, one of their descendants was there that day. The Queen was most gracious, he continues. The fact that all happened, for me, its a sign of hope. Its a sign of hope that one who descends from people who were captured in the slave trade, probably the British slave trade, is brought from the shores of West Africa to the shores of America. That one of their descendants was in the presence of the Queen of England, and he quoted one of their songs. Thats hope that we dont have to be the way weve always been.

Read More: Meghan Markle reportedly pitching doc about BLM co-founder Patrisse Cullors as part of $100M Netflix deal

Currys book reflects on his personal life and hardships, and it aims to be a guide to help readers overcome the challenges of poverty and racism.

Story continues

He writes that unselfish love should be ones life goal. He says that he saw that kind of love between Prince Harry and Markle.

What stood out for me was, these are two people who really do love each other, he says. It brought together two nations, Britain and the U.S. But it brought together people from around the world. I realized that the love of two people for each other brought together, at least for a moment, a world of differences. And I think that is a parable of what real love can do.

Have you subscribed to theGrios Dear Culture podcast? Download our newest episodes now!

The post Bishop Curry: He could feel, hear slaves at Meghan and Harrys royal wedding appeared first on TheGrio.
Jair Bolsonaro said that Brazil had been smeared as an environmental villain during his speech before the United Nations General Assembly.

The populist president, dubbed the Trump of the Tropics defended his administrations record in protecting the Amazon rainforest, telling fellow global leaders on Tuesday that his country has been wrongly portrayed.

We are victims of one of the most brutal disinformation campaigns about the Amazon and the Pantanal wetlands, Mr Bolsonaro said in a pre-recorded message. The 75th meeting of UNGA is being held largely virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic.

He continued: 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 also emphasized Brazils role as the worlds largest food producer. As the pandemic rages on, Brazil still feeds more than one billion people worldwide through its agribusiness sector which, Mr Bolsonaro said, respects the best environmental legislation on the planet.

Last week, a group of European countries published a joint statement urging Brazil to take action in the Amazon. They said deforestation is making it increasingly difficult for businesses and investors in Brazil to fulfill their environmental, social and governance criteria.

Fires have spiraled out of control in Brazils Pantanal, the worlds largest tropical wetlands, with the number of blazes surpassing 16,000 so far in 2020  considerably more than any full year on record, since 1998. This year, the Pantanal has already burnt 185 per cent more than in 2019.

Deforestation in Brazils Amazon region may have reached a 14-year high in the 12 months through July, according to preliminary data published last month by the countrys space agency INPE.

The fires raging across Brazil are often criminally set by farmers, ranchers and land-grabbers to clear land for agriculture. The blazes not only contribute to the climate crisis but are causing devastating biodiversity loss and harming indigenous communities.

Mr Bolsonaro came to office in 2019 promising to open more of the Amazon to development such as farming and mining.

In Mr Bolsonaros debut appearance at the assembly in 2019, he struck a defiant tone, railing against the media and socialism. He declared Brazilian sovereignty over the Amazon and denounced what he termed radical environmentalism.

In May, he put the army in charge of protecting the rainforest. Two months later, he banned setting agricultural and forest fires for 120 days as the country entered the dry season. Brazilian law requires permits for fires to clear brush and open land for farming, ranching or logging, but the requirement is widely ignored.

Mariana Mota, Public Policy Coordinator at Greenpeace Brazil, said: Bolsonaro and his government have dismissed the environmental catastrophe facing Brazil and attacked those working to protect life on this planet.

"Bolsonaro uses hate speech and rhetoric as a smokescreen to divert attention from the real danger his government poses - not only to Brazil, but to the global climate. Global political and business leaders must immediately condemn his call for violence and demand an end to his destructive agenda."

On Monday, protesters wearing face masks demonstrated outside the UN building in midtown Manhattan with signs that read Brazil in flames (Brasil em Chamas) and No forest; No future.

Wires contributed to this report
Muzaffarpur boiler explosion: PM Modi announces ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for kin of deceased

Makes me feel better: 84-year-old Bihar man claims to have taken 11 Covid vaccine shots

Not joined any party as of now says former Bihar DGP

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Sep 23: I have not joined any political party as of now and I have not taken any decision on it yet. As far as social work is concerned, I can do it without entering politics too, Gupteshwar Pandey, Bihar's DGP who took voluntary retirement said.

The additional charge of Bihar DGP has been given to DGP, Home Guards, S K Singhal.

Bihar DGP Pandey takes VRS, likely to contest from Buxar

Reports had said that Pandey is likely to contest the forthcoming Bihar elections from Buxar.

Pandey had recently made remarks on the Sushant Singh Rajput case. He was critical of the Mumbai Police and also sparked a controversy when he said that Rhea Chakraborty did not have the stature to comment on the Chief Minister of the state, Nitish Kumar.

Only Sushant took drugs, Rhea claims in latest plea | Oneindia News

Pandey had in 2014 applied for VRS in 2014. However, he was not given a ticket from the Buxar Lok Sabha seat, following which he withdrew his application.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 14:50:46|Editor: huaxia

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HAVANA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Tuesday condemned Washington's intensified economic blockade against the island nation. In his video address to the 75th session of the UN General Assembly, Diaz-Canel also said that the current U.S. administration tries to discredit the Caribbean island's medical assistance as part of the global response to stem the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide.

"Saving lives and sharing what we are and have, no matter what sacrifice it takes, that is what we are offering to the United Nations, to which we only request to be attuned with the gravity of the present time," he said. "Let us strive together to promote peace, solidarity, and development."

Cuba has sent over 3,700 health professionals to 39 countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East, and for the first time to Europe, where two Cuban medical teams are still providing health assistance in Italy and Andorra.

Due to the COVID-19 crisis and its direct impact on the work at the UN headquarters in New York, Cuba has postponed until next year the draft resolution it annually submits to the UN General Assembly, condemning the U.S. blockade of the island.

The Cuban leader also condemned U.S. interference in the internal affairs of China, saying it opposes "any attempt to harm its(China's) territorial integrity and its sovereignty."

China and Cuba will mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations on Sept. 28.
15:25 | Lima, Sep. 23.

KOICA Peru, in collaboration with the Korea Food for Hungry International (KFHI) , launched the "Cocina para la Comunidad" (Cooking for the Community) project, which will distribute an amount of food equivalent to two daily meals (breakfast and lunch), taking into account the calories and essential nutrients required under the Sphere standards.
Workers at the Indigo Books & Music location in Mississauga, Ontario, in suburban Toronto, voted this week to join UFCW Local 1006A. The move to unionize was prompted in part by a requirement that forced booksellers to routinely clean customer bathrooms, something employees said they felt was risky behavior during the pandemic.

An initial filing to unionize the Mississauga store was made on September 10. The union was able to generate strong support for the move to organize on social media, where videos from several local political and community leaders were shared.

The next step will be for the union and management from the store to negotiate terms. "Theyre legally obligated to negotiate in good faith with us," said Kevin Shimmin, a national representative for UFCW Canada, speaking with Quill & Quire. "Then well have a series of meetings soon after the vote where well ask the employees for all their proposals for negotiations. And then well ask them to elect a few people from amongst themselves to be on the negotiating committee. The negotiations could take a few months."

This is not the first Indigo store to unionize, as workers at the Indigo store on McGill Avenue in Montreal joined the Confederation of National Trade Unions in 2003. As for whether other locations will follow suit, Shimmin said, "Sometimes well see that ripple effect, and were definitely hoping thats the case with Indigo, because we have heard from a number of workers from other locations who are expressing the same concerns."

PW has reached out to Indigo on the results of the vote and has yet to receive a comment.
Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough, Laura Dern and Sam Neill in Jurassic Park (Credit: Universal/Getty Images)

Sam Neill, Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum have got the band back together for the first time since 1993's Jurassic Park, and they've got a message for fans.

The original trio  also known as Dr. Alan Grant, Dr. Ellie Sattler and Dr. Ian Malcolm  have posted a snap on the official Jurassic World twitter account, urging people to register to vote.

Read more: Chris Evans uses nude pic blunder to urge voter sign up

The pic was posted on National Voter Registration Day in the US, with many celebrities now joining in the collective drive to get people to the polls in November.

Neill, Dern and Goldblum were all masked up and on the set of Jurassic World: Dominion, where they'll reprise their roles for the first time since the first movie.

Watch: Glen Powell had a blast voice acting for 'Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous'

Goldblum appeared in the second movie, The Lost World, with Richard Attenborough, but without Neill and Dern.

Neill and Dern then appeared in Jurassic Park III, but without Goldblum, and then in 2018, Goldblum turned up (without Neill and Dern) in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.

Read more: Goldblum and Neill in jazz duet

With no plot yet revealed, it's not yet known how Sattler, Grant and Malcolm will integrate with the latest in the dino-disaster series, but it'll be a treat seeing them all back together.

Filming on the movie resumed in July, after being put on a hiatus due to the outbreak of coronavirus in March, though planned filming in Malta last month was disrupted after it was put on the list of countries from which travellers to the UK must quarantine for 14 days.

The trio have reportedly been back on set since the beginning of August, which could suggest their involvement is substantial.

Filming is currently taking place at Pinewood Studios, under director Colin Trevorrow, with the movie still slated for release on 11 June, 2021.
A naked sauna room Kung-fu fight between Boris Johnson, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin provides the shocking centrepiece of a trailer heralding the return of puppet satire Spitting Image.

The show, which is back on screens next month, also takes aim at other A-listers such as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Today's short film shows the UK and US heads eating fried chicken in the hot room together before the Russian premier enters accompanied by two blondes and attacks.

Their towels drop during the fight to reveal their full puppet anatomies at the end of the jawdropping trailer.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be among of the most anticipated characters to be seen on the show

The puppet of Prince Harry was first seen at a stand at MIPCOM in Cannes, France, last year

The puppet of Meghan Markle was first seen at a stand at MIPCOM in Cannes, France, last year

Price Harry and Meghan Markle will feature in puppet form in the return of Spitting Image

A naked sauna room Kung-fu fight between Boris Johnson, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin provides the shocking centrepiece of a trailer hearalding the return of puppet satire Spitting Image

The short film shows the UK and US heads eating fried chicken in the hot room together before the Russian premier enters accompanied by two blondes before attacking

Kanye West is among the A-list names whose puppet is featured in the advert for the new series

The show takes aim at a host of world leaders including Boris Johnson, Donald Trump, Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel

The controversial trailer sees Gwyneth Paltrow advertise some unusual products

Kim Kardashian is among the huge number of celebrities satirised in the two-minute clip

Ed Sheeran also features in the advert for the new series, which kicks off on October 3

Home Secretary Priti Patel is also targeted in the new series of the show which was watched by 15 million viewers in its heyday

Teenage environmental activist Greta Thunberg also appears in puppet form in Spitting Image

Mr Johnson and Mr Trump feature highly in the two-minute long advert, starting it by discussing Spitting Image's comeback.

The US President states: 'Puppets. That is the very most moronic thing I've ever heard.'

Creators have also put together a Who's Who of famous faces in puppet form, from Priti Patel to Kim Kardashian, for the show's return.

The trailer sees Gwyneth Paltrow advertise some unusual products while Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg steals a mobile phone and boasts: 'I've got all your private data.'

Puppets of Kanye West, Ed Sheeran and the Pope also feature in the advert for the new series.

Viewers comments, on Twitter, ranged from: 'That is too gross and explicit... can't watch it with the family,' to 'hard to unsee that sauna scene' and 'offending all the right people. Brilliant, keep it up.'

It comes as new images of the puppets of environmental campaigner Greta Thunberg and Home Secretary Ms Patel were released.

The satirical puppet show, which was watched by 15 million viewers in its heyday, will return on October 3 with a 10-week series on BritBox.

Producers previously unveiled images of the Prime Minister, his chief adviser Dominic Cummings and the Duke of York ahead of the show's comeback.
NOGALES, Ariz.  A member of the famed all-black Tuskegee Airmen who died in Arizona will be remembered this week.

Martinez Funeral Chapels in Nogales confirmed a funeral for George Washington Biggs is scheduled for Thursday.

Biggs died Saturday at age 95.

His daughter, Rose Biggs-Dickerson, told The Arizona Republic that her father had been living in a senior-care facility in Tucson.

A native of Nogales, Biggs enlisted in 1943 at age 18 with the U.S. Army Air Corps  which later became the U.S. Air Force.

He was placed in an elite group of fighter pilots trained at Alabamas Tuskegee Institute. The program was created after the NAACP began challenging policies barring Black people from flying military aircraft.

In the mid-1950s, Biggs was stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson. He was one of the bases first African-American officers and helped incorporate minority soldiers, his daughter told the newspaper.

He flew B-47 and B-52 bombers in the Korean and Vietnam wars while earning numerous military honors.

Despite his accomplishments, he spoke often of the discrimination he faced in the military.

Biggs-Dickerson said her father retired in the 1970s and became an agent for the U.S. Customs Service in Nogales.

According to the funeral homes online obituary, Biggs is survived by his wife, 10 children, 22 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.
"At a time of profound disconnection and hardship, we want to promote inclusivity and shine a light on our connections. I couldn't be more excited to announce ILIA's first brand campaign, giving a window into what goes on between two peopleyet unites us all," notes ILIA founder Sasha Plavsic. "For the brand, Between Us is much more than a one-time campaign: it's a platform we plan to support through a variety of initiatives and creative opportunities, both this year and next."

Conceptualized by Creative Directors Marie Bliss Delpy and Ariella Gogol, in partnership with Plavsic, "Between Us" was shot in New York City by fashion and documentary photographer Sam Nixon, with support from Directors of Photography Michael Casker and Jared Christiansen, hair duo Hiro + Mari, and stylist Shibon Kennedy.

The series of 14 films and 6 stills capture the world, often unknown by the outside, of the "us"as seen through six female-identifying duos. The cast consists of an eclectic mix of sisters, close friends, and creative collaborators, spanning generations and industriesincluding critically-acclaimed director Crystal Moselle and her producer partner Alliah Sophia Mourad, as well as Wet frontwoman Kelly Zutrau and her sister Gabriella, a political activist.

The "Between Us" campaign will come to life across wild postings and billboards in New York City and Los Angeles, as well as on social, digital, and iliabeauty.com and @iliabeauty.

#ItsBetweenUs

For more information on ILIA Beauty and the campaign, please contact Purple: [email protected]

About ILIA

Since its start in 2011, ILIA has been reshaping the conventions of clean beauty. After moving home for a brief sabbatical, Founder Sasha Plavsic set out to re-create a nontoxic version of her favorite lip balm. Nearly 10 years later, ILIA has continued to rethink industry norms, creating skin-centric makeup with safe, yet powerful formulas that make your skin look and feel alive.

ILIA can be found at iliabeauty.com, as well as at Sephora, Credo, and Mecca in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

About Sasha Plavsic, Founder

Born and raised in a rural, ocean-side setting of Vancouver, Sasha Plavsic was brought up in nature and learned early on, the importance of self-care - whether in beauty, wellness or other daily rituals. With an interest in design, she earned a degree in Typography at The London College of Printing before working in New York, Los Angeles and Vancouver. She currently resides in Laguna Beach, CA with her husband and two daughters, Lise and Rhea.

SOURCE ILIA
The German hospital treating Russian opposition leader for poisoning says his condition improved enough for him to be released from the facility.

The Charite hospital in Berlin said Wednesday that after 32 days in care, Navalny's condition improved sufficiently for him to be discharged from acute inpatient care. The hospital said that Navalny had been discharged on Tuesday.

The hospital says that based on the patient's progress and current condition, the treating physicians believe that complete recovery is possible, but that it's still too early to gauge the potential long-term effects of his poisoning.

Navalny, the most visible opponent of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was flown to two days after falling ill on Aug. 20 on a domestic flight in

German chemical weapons experts have determined that the 44-year-old was poisoned with a Soviet-era nerve agent, prompting Berlin to demand that investigate the case.

Navalny was kept in an induced coma for more than two weeks as he was treated with an antidote. Members of his team accused the Kremlin of involvement in the poisoning, charges that Russian officials have vehemently denied.

The Kremlin has bristled at calls from German Chancellor Angela Merkel and other leaders to answer questions about the poisoning.

(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.)
MOUNTAIN VIEW and SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / September 22, 2020 / The German International School of Silicon Valley (GISSV) announced today their plans to celebrate (in coordination with the Halvorsen family) the impressive milestone of Colonel Halvorsen's life and his timely message of hope. Instead of his usual public appearances, this year, Colonel Halvorsen will be having a private gathering surrounded by his family. This change is why GISSV and the Halvorsen family chose to collaborate on digital and creative ways to wish Colonel Halvorsen a very Happy Birthday.

"When you go eyeball-to-eyeball with someone in need, and you're able to do something about it, there's no better feeling." Colonel Gail Seymour "Hal" Halvorsen, USAF

This milestone is deeply personal for GISSV's Head of School, Kathrin Roeschel, who was the former Principal at the Gail S. Halvorsen Schule in Berlin. Over the years, Halvorsen, his family, and Roeschel formed a close bond that continues today. [Photo, source]

"What I remember most of Mr. Halvorsen's story is the emotional impact of what he and his fellow pilots faced when one week they were fighting against Germany in WWII, and a little later when the war was over, they had to switch gears, go back to Germany, and now rescue the people trapped in West Berlin. He would always answer that It is all about humanity, especially with children." Kathrin Roeschel, GISSV Head of School



Background

During the time of the Soviet blockade in 1948, Halvorsen served as a C-54 pilot in the Berlin Airlift (Operation Vittles), helping to supply food and essentials to Berliners behind the lines. Halvorsen witnessed the challenging conditions the children were facing and launched his own mission deemed "Operation Little Vittles," dropping an estimated 23 tons of candy via 250,000 parachutes. This act of kindness boosted the morale of those in blockaded Berlin and galvanized many in the United States to help with his mission.



"Saving the population of West Berlin by heroic deeds such as the ones by Hal Halvorsen and his fellow pilots lay the rock hard foundation for the close friendship between the German and the American peoples after World War II. This is a foundation we keep relying on and it has proved strong enough to weather even the hardest storms. We'll stay the course." Hans-Ulrich Sudbeck, German Consul General in San Francisco

GISSV will coordinate a creative digital celebration to honor this inspiring 'Candy Bomber' Hero and incorporate eye witness history into their digital classrooms. Since the moment COVID-19 forced the San Francisco Bay Area into quarantine on March 17, 2020, GISSV immediately switched into Distance Learning mode, where teaching continued under the same full class schedules. To ensure success, GISSV increased the number of iPads available for students to use for classes. Teaching digitally versus on-campus required the teachers to adapt and optimize new teaching styles. GISSV seeks out new opportunities to blend technology with learning to create a better experience for their students. In coming together to collaborate and celebrate Gail S. Halvorsen digitally, the students have a chance to enrich their lives and give back.

100th Birthday Celebration 2020 [October 9, 2020]

Designating Colonel Halverson's birthday, October 10, at GISSV as "Berlin Candy Bomber Day."

A unique art portfolio of student art projects in Mr. Halvorsen's honor.

High School students will translate and read out loud short eye-witness texts about the receiving of CARE packages based on "Memory of 70 years of CARE" by the CARE Foundation (https://www.care.de/70-jahre-care)

Bilingual video compilation of "Happy Birthday" messages from the GISSV community and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Special in-person delivery to Mr. Halvorsen in Utah of the original artwork and gifts from the GISSV community.

To learn more and/or to submit your own birthday message for Mr. Halvorsen, please visit our webpage: https://www.gissv.org/halvorsen100.

Gail S. Halvorsen at age 99 sending a message of hope during COVID in his letter to Michael Muller, Governing Mayor of Berlin, April 2020:





"Food and Freedom - we are thankful forever. Thank you, Mr. Halvorsen" Uwe Wagner, GABA Board Member, and Strategic Management Consultant

About [GISSV]: www.gissv.org

The German International School of Silicon Valley (GISSV) is an independent, bilingual international school offering Preschool-Grade 12 with two locations in the San Francisco Bay Area: Mountain View and San Francisco. GISSV is accredited by WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges) and recognized as the only official German School Abroad (DAS) in California. GISSV's special dual-language curriculum is true to its mission of educating global citizens. Their experienced international faculty are passionate about sharing their appreciation for language acquisition and cultural diversity. GISSV students graduate with dual diplomas, the California High School Diploma, and the German International Abitur. GISSV is also a center for cross-cultural exchange and a focal point for families interested in exceptional dual-lingual intercultural education.

If you would like to reach out to us please contact:



Carol Hink

Marketing and Communications Director

German International School of Silicon Valley (GISSV)

cahink@gissv.org

SOURCE: German International School of Silicon Valley

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/607311/Celebrating-the-Inspirational-Berlin-Candy-Bombers-100th-Birthday
Actor Sunny Leone spent some quality time with daughter Nisha, and took to Instagram to share a picture of their arts and crafts session. Sunny and her family, including husband Daniel Weber and their twins, are in Los Angeles.

Sharing a picture of herself with Nisha, proudly displaying her artwork, Sunny wrote in her caption, Working together as a team!! My little princess Nisha. Her post has been liked over half-a-million times.

The actor in a recent interview to Hindustan Times confessed that she misses India. I want to come back so bad. India is my home, Los Angeles is just my vacation home. India is where my heart is, she had said.

Her name was recently dragged into an argument between Kangana Ranaut and Urmila Matondkar. Kangana, who in an interview had called Urmila a soft porn star, defended her comments by saying that the industry had readily accepted Sunny, a former adult star, and that her words werent meant to be taken in a negative manner. Shed written in a tweet, Liberal brigade once virtually lynched a renowned writer in to silence for saying people like Sunny Leone should not be our role models, Sunny is accepted by the industry and entire India as an artist, suddenly fake feminists equating being a porn star to something derogatory.

Also read: Sunny Leone: It took a while but I was fortunate that people accepted me in Bollywood

Sunny had shared a cryptic social media post a couple of days later. Catching up on world drama, shed written in the caption. But the second photo in her post was more telling. It read, Its funny how the people that know the least about you have the most to say.

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Billionaire chicken farmer and philanthropist Bob Ingham died at the age of 88

The racing industry stalwart was at his Sydney home when he died on Tuesday

He helped built Inghams company into the largest chicken company in Australia

Billionaire chicken farmer and horse racing entrepreneur Bob Ingham has died at the age of 88.

The Sydney-based businessman, philanthropist and racing industry stalwart was at his home, surrounded by family, when he passed away on Tuesday.

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Bob Ingham, along with his brother Jack, built the Inghams company into the largest producer of chickens and turkeys in Australia.

He also co-founded the nation's largest thoroughbred horse racing and breeding operation.

He owned some of the greatest stars of the Australian turf in the 1990s such as Octagonal and his son Lonhro - all carrying the famous cerise silks - before selling his racing operation to the global Godolphin stable.

Chicken empire entrepreneur Bob Ingham (pictured) has died at the age of 88

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'Bob always had a passion for horse racing. Along with Jack they turned this passion into the largest thoroughbred racing and breeding operation in Australia at the time,' the family said.

'He was a pioneer and visionary of his day whose work and legacy will live on for many years.

'His hard work, commitment and philosophy of 'doing the right things and doing things right' underpinned everything he did. He made us very proud. We will miss him greatly.'

Jocky Darren Beadman (right) and Lonhro owner Bob Ingham celebrate after winning the Australian Cup at Flemington race track in 2004

Billionaire heiress Jess Ingham, the granddaughter of businessman Jack Ingham, got engaged earlier this year

Inghams, which is headquartered in the southwestern Sydney suburb of Casula, was sold to private equity firm TPG for $880 million in 2013.

Mr Ingham sold the bloodstock operation in 2008 in the biggest deal ever recorded in the history of thoroughbred racing and breeding.

'Bob, along with his brother Jack, made a significant contribution over the past 60 plus years not just to the needs of Liverpool's local population but also the greater southwest Sydney community and ultimately, through one of Australia's home-grown business success of Inghams Enterprises, the wider Australian population,' the family said.

Australia's chicken and horse racing kings, Bob and Jack Ingham pictured outside their first head office at Casula southwest Sydney in 1960

Inghams, which is headquartered in the southwestern Sydney suburb of Casula, was sold to private equity firm TPG for $880 million in 2013

Mr Ingham's philanthropy was also well known and respected and his vision for an independent specialist centre for health and medical research facility in Liverpool was realised in 2012, when the Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research was opened.

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He is outlived by his wife Norma and leaves behind children Lyn, Debbie, Robby, and John, as well as 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

The family says due to COVID-19, the funeral service will be by invitation only.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks people to make a donation to the Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research.

Bob Ingham, along with his brother Jack, built the Inghams company into the largest producer of chickens and turkeys in Australia
Chinese President Xi Jinping has vowed his country will aim to stop adding to the global warming problem by 2060.

Calling for a 'green revolution', the Chinese leader pledged that China will aim to have CO2 emissions peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060 during a Tuesday speech to the UN General Assembly.

He added that the coronavirus pandemic had shown the urgent need to preserve the environment.

In this image from UNTV video, President Xi Jinping speaks in a pre-recorded message which was played during the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday

Chinese President Xi Jinping has vowed his country will aim to stop adding to the global warming problem by 2060. In this file photo taken on November 28, 2019, smoke and steam rise from a coal processing plant in Hejin in northern China's Shanxi Province

The goal will be a challenge for China, which relies heavily for its electricity on coal, one of the most carbon-intensive fossil fuels.

China released the equivalent of 10 billion tons of carbon dioxide, or CO2, into the atmosphere in 2018, according to the Global Carbon Project that tracks emissions worldwide.

That was almost twice as much as the United States and three times as much as the European Union.

Several other major emitters have set earlier deadlines, with the EU aiming to be carbon neutral by 2050.

President Xi's announcement is a significant step for the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases.

'Humankind can no longer afford to ignore the repeated warnings of nature,' he said.

Calling for a 'green revolution', the Chinese leader President Xi Jinping (pictured on screen) pledged that China will aim to have CO2 emissions peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060 during a Tuesday speech to the UN General Assembly

The goal will be a challenge for China, the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases and relies heavily for its electricity on coal, one of the most carbon-intensive fossil fuels. People wearing protective masks are seen walking on a street in Beijing on December 9, 2019

Xi said his country would raise its emissions reduction targets with 'vigorous policies and measures'. In this photo taken on November 19, 2015, smoke belches from a fuelled power station near Datong, in China's northern Shanxi province

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.

The term 'carbon neutrality' means releasing no additional CO2 into the atmosphere, though technically it allows countries to keep emitting if they ensure that an equal amount is captured again in some form.

The announcement was cheered by climate campaigners. Greenpeace executive director Jennifer Morgan called it 'an important signal' that showed climate change is 'top of (the) agenda for China'.

'A big shift for curbing emissions and a significant step forward in international cooperation,' UN climate chief Patricia Espinosa said.

Frans Timmermans, who leads the EU executive's efforts on climate change, welcomed Mr Xi's announcement.

'We need decisive action from every country to keep temperatures under control, tackle climate change and keep our planet inhabitable,' he said.

The United States has so far not set such a goal. President Donald Trump, who once described climate change as a hoax invented by China, has started the process of pulling the US out of the Paris accord.

If China fulfils Mr Xi's goal, it could prevent 0.4 to 0.7 degrees Fahrenheit (0.2 to 0.4 degrees Celsius) further warming for the world, according to 'very rough estimates' by MIT management professor John Sterman, who models and tracks emission reductions and pledges with Climate Interactive.

But much depends on how they do their emissions reduction and how soon they cut them, he said, adding he has to do a more thorough analysis.

'That's a lot,' Mr Sterman said. 'China's by far the world's big emitter. They're emitting more than the EU and US together.'

'It puts a lot more pressure on the United States,' he added.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (centre), US President Barack Obama (right) and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (left) shake hands during a joint ratification of the Paris climate change agreement at the West Lake State Guest House in Hangzhou onSeptember 3, 2016

China released the equivalent of 10 billion tons of carbon dioxide, or CO2, into the atmosphere in 2018. The file photo shows people wearing face masks watch the national flag-raising ceremony at Tiananmen Square on International Workers' Day on May 1

The United States has so far not set such a goal. President Donald Trump (pictured in file photo on April 10 speaking at the White House), who once described climate change as a hoax invented by China, has started the process of pulling the US out of the Paris accord

Perhaps even more important than the carbon neutrality pledge is the effort to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 instead of by 2030, Mr Sterman said.

Carbon dioxide's more than 100-year lifetime in the air makes earlier emission cuts more effective than promises in the future, according to the expert.

'Emissions that don't happen between now and 2030 are going to reduce warming a lot more than the same emission reductions after 2060,' he added.

Twenty-nine nations before China have pledged to achieve climate neutrality in different years, according to the Carbon Neutrality Coalition.

With China, the 30 countries that have some kind of carbon neutrality pledges account for about 43 per cent of the world's carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of fossil fuels.

The largest polluting countries not on the list are the United States, India, Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, South Africa, Turkey, Brazil and Australia.
The Congress has decided to launch a nationwide protest from Thursday against the two agricultural reform bills passed by Parliament recently.

The decision for a nationwide agitation was taken at a meeting of general secretaries and in-charge of states which was held at Congress partys headquarters in Delhi.

From September 24 onwards, Congress will launch an all-India agitation asking the government to repeal the black laws, Congress leader AK Antony told media after the meeting on Wednesday.

The two 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 passed by the Rajya Sabha despite uproar and strong protest by the Opposition parties in the house.

These bills have already received Lok Sabhas nod and are now with President Ram Nath Kovind. The Opposition parties have urged the President to not give approval to these bills. They want the government to take back the bills.

Several leaders and different party workers along with farmers have taken to street across India to protest against the bills.

The Opposition on Tuesday even boycotted Parliament over Centres refusal to accept its demand for withdrawal of the bills.
The Supreme Court has sat nine justices since 1869. (AFP via Getty Images)

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.

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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.

Read more

First Trump-Biden debate topics released, including Supreme Court, coronavirus and race

Some Dems, not yet Biden, talk of expanding Supreme Court

This is Amy Coney Barrett, the judge at the top of Trumps list to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Election 2020 Today: Replacing Ginsburg, Bloomberg pays up

'Abuse of power': Biden hits out at Trump move to replace Ginsburg ahead of election
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

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 11:12:36|Editor: huaxia

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ROME, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Alvaro Morata is set to start his second stint at Juventus as the defending Serie A champions announced his return from Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.

The 27-year-old joined Juventus from Real Madrid in 2014. During his two-season spell with the Old Lady, the Spaniard scored 27 goals in 93 outings and won five trophies, including two Scudetti and two Italian Cups.

Having returned to the Merengues on a buy-back clause in 2016, Morata then joined Chelsea before a move to Atletico Madrid in January 2019.

"The Spanish striker's return to Juventus is now official. The 27-year-old joins on loan from Atletico Madrid, where he has played for the last season and a half. He will be part of this year's team, with an option for a one-year extension to the loan, plus an option to buy," read a statement.

Morata will wear the number 9 jersey. Enditem
Patna, Sep 23 : Even as most political parties are busy tweaking their campaign plans for this year's assembly polls in Bihar, cracks within the Grand Alliance led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) over seat-sharing are coming to the surface.

The Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP), part of the Grand Alliance, is reportedly upset over seat distribution and has called a meeting of its members to discuss the issue on Thursday.

RLSP sources say that the RJD wants to give 10 or less seats to the party, whereas the party leadership is seeking as many as 35 seats.

RLSP chief and former Union minister Upendra Kushwaha has already met RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav in this regard.

Meanwhile, party general secretary Anand Madhav says it is a matter of concern that the biggest members of the alliance - the Congress and the RJD - are yet to arrive at an understanding over seat-sharing. This is sending out the wrong signal to the voters.

"We will discuss all these circumstances at the party's national and state executive on Thursday. Our future course of action will be decided in the meeting." One must mention that the Hindustani Awam Morcha has already broken away from the Grand Alliance and gone into the NDA fold. The RLSP had joined the Grand Alliance ahead of the last Lok Sabha elections in 2019.
Despite the steady rise of COVID-19 cases in a country already hard-hit by the virus Belgian Prime Minister Sophie Wilmes said Wednesday that mask requirements, some attendance limits and other public health measures will be relaxed as part of a less stringent, long-term coronavirus strategy.

Wilmes said Belgium residents should learn to live with the virus but warned against a widespread slackening of the basic social-distancing rules.

We are in a risk-management phase," she said after a National Security Council meeting. Some rules will be relaxed because they are no longer useful or tenable."

Starting next month, Belgium no longer will require wearing a mask outdoors except in crowded places where social distancing cannot be practiced. The government also is reducing the mandatory quarantine period from 14 days to one week for people with COVID-19 symptoms who eventually test negative for the virus.

While a maximum of 10 guests will remain the rule for private gatherings, parties or weddings hosted by professional organizers won't be subject to the limit.

The virus is still there, but life must continue in an adapted way to try to control this epidemic, Wilmes said.

The prime minister also announced that everyone can now have close physical contact with up to five people from outside their households each month.

They are people that you can hug, with whom you can eat or have a drink while being very close to each other," she said.

Wilmes' announcement left leading Belgian virologist Marc Van Ranst perplexed. Belgium reported a daily average of 1,374 new confirmed virus cases during the week of Sept. 13-19, and the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients also went up.

When you look at the numbers, its certainly not time to relax. One does not need to be a great virologist to predict that the figures will continue to increase in the coming weeks, Van Ranst told Belgian broadcaster VRT.

Wilmes said Belgian authorities are working to devise an epidemiological barometer, a tool that would take a series of factors into account and be used to adapt virus control restrictions depending on the situation at the national, provincial and local levels.

In a move aimed at improving coordination with other EU countries, Belgium as of Friday no longer will prohibit travel to a destination classified as high risk for virus exposure.

___

Follow AP news coverage of the coronavirus pandemic at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
Time to get aboard the Texas Central Railroad.

Every Texan should celebrate the Federal Railroad Administrations greenlight of a truly transformative project that will create jobs, protect the environment, and attract billions of dollars of investment. If you are grateful to previous generations for building the Interstate Highway System, you should support high-speed rail.

Texas Central needs all the help it can get. Cranky landowners, unsavory lobbyists and pandering politicians have been sabotaging high-speed rail in Texas since the late 1980s. And every year they delay Texas building an advanced passenger rail system, they hurt the states economic future.

Nostalgia is not the basis for my love of trains. Ive lived and traveled extensively in Europe, Japan and the Northeast Corridor. Ive enjoyed the convenience of Frances TGV, Japans Shinkansen and Amtraks Acela.

TOMLINSONS TAKE: Trains and rail make more sense than cars and roads

Watching the countryside blur at 200 miles per hour is far more enjoyable and convenient than driving yourself or packing onto an airplane. High-speed Internet service turns a four-hour slog into 90 minutes of productive work.

But even if you never ride the train, building critical infrastructure that will last more than 100 years spurs economic development.

Texas Central plans to spend $20 billion in privately-raised money to build a new track from Houston to Dallas. Construction will employ thousands of people for years, and daily operations will employ hundreds more.

Once successful, the company will not stop with one line. The logical expansion includes lines from Dallas to San Antonio, with a new station in Austin. Completing the triangle back to Houston creates a state-shrinking circuit.

The demand for such a train network is apparent. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, airlines offer 25 non-stop flights from Houston to Dallas, and the Vonlane luxury bus service offers three departure times. Even more people make the drive.

Environmentalists should leap at the chance to move people out of fossil fuel vehicles and onto electric-powered trains. As the amount of renewable energy on the Texas grid grows, the cleaner train travel will become.

Raised railways will take away agricultural land and could cause flooding if not correctly engineered. Laying track across the state will create local headaches, and some landowners have already promised more lawsuits. Anytime humans change the landscape, there will be consequences.

Moving people onto rails, though, will reduce demand for additional highway lanes and airport runways. Train travel is considerably less polluting than airlines or autos.

The more significant long-term benefit is the creation of new businesses and investments. Texas Central has hired Italian construction giant Salini Impregilo to lay the high-tech rails. It will purchase the trains from Central Japan Railway and contract Spanish rail operator Renfe to run the show.

Those companies will hire hundreds of Texas sub-contractors and workers, and when other states build their high-speed rail, Texas companies will take their newly-acquired expertise across the country.

Unfortunately, a bunch of curmudgeons and entrenched incumbents want to prevent Texans from seizing these opportunities. They fear change and dont like competition.

Farmers and ranchers say they do not want electric trains whizzing past their property, complaining it will ruin the character of their rural communities.

Clairvoyant critics argue not enough people will use the system to justify the disruption or expense. Even though Texas Central does not rely on taxpayer money, unlike Californias High-Speed Rail project, fiscal hawks predict that if the company goes bankrupt, it will go to Congress with hat in hand.

TOMLINSONS TAKE: Roads and cars will change, companies could make a lot of money

Previous generations made the same arguments against the Interstate Highway System, which happens to rely on fuel taxes. The naysayers were wrong then and they are wrong now.

Most days, Id expect Republicans to rejoice when a private firm offered to invest billions in Texas. Theyd be thrilled to demonstrate that private enterprise in Texas can outperform a public-financed California high-speed rail project.

Sadly, Republican lawmakers are not as committed to limited regulation and free enterprise as they claim, caving in to the regressive demands of rural GOP primary voters. U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands, is trying to derail the project, and state Rep. Ben Leman, R-Brenham, is spreading disinformation produced by activist groups with hidden funders.

This is another case of hypocritical NIMBYism. The same people who support pipelines and highways cutting through other peoples private property get worked up when Texas Central tries to leverage rights granted to railroads since the 19th century.

No state in the nation is better suited than Texas for high-speed rail. Real estate developers, airlines and auto dealerships have killed past projects to protect their profits. Lets not let those forces retard Texas chance to become a national leader in the transportation mode of the future.

Tomlinson writes commentary about business, economics and policy.

twitter.com/cltomlinson

chris.tomlinson@chron.com
Even as the world is reeling under the COVID-19 pandemic and the unprecedented toll it has taken in terms of deaths, long-term health conditions, and economic turmoil, scientists from all over the world are frantically trying to find an effective way to control the spread of disease and treat those who are already affected. Many studies have shown that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection can cause a wide range of symptoms starting from asymptomatic to mild or severe disease in humans requiring mechanical ventilation in worst cases.

The lack of a complete understanding of the immune correlates of the clinical outcomes is a significant barrier to the development of vaccines and drugs that prevent or limit infection. One major roadblock to understanding the immune mechanisms is the lack of pre-infection samples from SARS-CoV-2 patients.

In a recent bioRxiv* preprint paper, researchers from the Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, and Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, discuss their study in mice that undergo detailed immunophenotyping before getting infected with SARS-CoV.

The team used genetically diverse mice from the Collaborative Cross infected with mouse-adapted SARS-CoV along with thorough pre-infection immunophenotyping to determine baseline immune correlates of severe clinical and virologic outcomes upon infection with SARS-CoV.

"The use of the mouse-adapted SARS-CoV MA15, while not the same as SARS-CoV-2, at the very least allowed us to perform proof-of-concept studies demonstrating that baseline T cell phenotypes can predict infection and disease outcomes following coronavirus infections, though future studies of both mice, as well as human samples using SARS-CoV-2, are required to validate our findings for COVID-19."

The team set out to determine if circulating baseline T cell signatures are linked to a lack of viral control and severity of disease upon SARS-CoV infection.

Circulating T cell signatures correlated with early viral control

The researchers found that SARS-CoV infection in mice leads to many different viral load trajectories and clinical outcomes. Interestingly, early control of the virus in the lung was associated with increased levels of activated CD4 and CD8 T cells and regulatory T cells prior to infection.

Circulating T cell phenotypes at steady state predicted protection from high titers and severe disease upon SARS-CoV MA15 infection. The tendency of T cells to express IFNg and IL17 over TNFa also correlated with early control of the virus. It was clear that a dysregulated, proinflammatory T cell signature at baseline was associated with severe disease upon viral infection.

Although human studies are crucial to validate these findings, according to the team, their study highlights the complexity of inflammation, which can be both protective and detrimental to the infected individual. They hypothesize that specific T cell immunophenotypes may play a crucial role in promoting rapid immunity and limiting immune-mediated damage upon SARS infection. Overall, the results of the study demonstrate that baseline T cell signatures can be predictors of early clinical and virologic outcomes upon SARS-coronavirus infection.

"It stands to reason that such an active innate-like T cell response would need to be subject to immunoregulation in order to limit activity and prevent excess collateral damage."

The authors also predict that bystander-activated T cells may be critical in the early innate immune response to SARS-CoV infection. However, as SARS-CoV-2 elicits more inflammatory responses compared to SARS, the immune correlates of disease and protection for SARS-CoV-2 may vary from those of SARS-CoV. Thus, more studies using mouse-adapted SARS-CoV-2 are critical to validate these results.

Human baseline immune predictors could help identify high-risk individuals

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented enormous challenges to healthcare systems worldwide, as healthcare workers put their own life at risk without adequate access to personal protective equipment (PPE) or a protective vaccine. While several candidate vaccines are undergoing expedited trials in various parts of the globe, it is evident that when new prevention or treatment strategies become available, there will not be enough supply for everyone in need. This emphasizes the need for a strategy to identify individuals at high risk of infection and severe disease outcomes so as to triage new drugs or vaccines as soon as they become available.

The identification of the baseline immune predictors in humans could help identify individuals at high risk of severe clinical outcomes upon SARS-CoV-2 infection, and thus allow them to benefit from the best clinical interventions available to mitigate infection and disease. The identification of immune correlates of clinical outcomes can also help guide vaccine and drug development efforts in the future.

*Important Notice

bioRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.
New Delhi: The month of September holds prime importance for the global Deaf community, which celebrates International Week of the Deaf, starting 21st of September this year. The community worldwide also celebrates International Sign Language Day which happens to be on September 23 and to commemorate this occasion, Bollywood superstar Ranveer Singh has released two sign language videos in a bid to raise more awareness in making Indian Sign Language (ISL) the 23rd official language of India.

Ranveer said, "I want to elevate the experience of music for the deaf community. This is my pledge. Our biggest dream today is to help secure a better future for the deaf community in India and we can only ask for this through our art. But to make this a reality, we need your support. I urge my fellow Indians to support this cause and fight for a brighter future for our deaf brothers and sisters."

Ranveer has released Shwapon, a collaboration between SlowCheeta, Bengali folk artist Dipannita Acharya, and Mehfil-E-HipHop, sung by all four Inc Ink artists Kaam Bhaari, Spitfire, SlowCheeta and Devil The Rhymer to promote this awareness initiative in India.

He has released these songs through Inc Ink, his independent record label which is a passion project of the superstar. Inc Ink is a platform for brilliantly talented budding artists and its Ranveers dream is to provide equal opportunity for all in the music space through his record label.

"At Inc Ink the engagement of music for 'ALL' is a priority. I forward parts of myself that go beyond being a performer here. The experience of music has shaped me as a person. Music has given me strength through struggles and given me power to propel myself towards achievement. I am bound by love and gratitude to engage with the Deaf Community because I know what music has given me. It is when you don't take something for granted that you appreciate it more. Its a valuable life lesson that I have learned," added the actor.

The United Nations (UN) declared that starting 2018, ever year 23rd September would be officially celebrated as the International Day of Sign Languages all over the world. In 2019, Inc Ink pledged to align with the Deaf community of India and released a song Vartalap in ISL. Ranveer also signed the petition to make ISL an official language and encouraged people and fans to sign the same petition which has now gathered more than 70,000 signatures.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 22:12:45|Editor: huaxia

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GUANGZHOU, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The statement made by Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday that China, the largest developing country in the world, is committed to peaceful, open, cooperative and common development has injected positive energy into a world divided by unilateralism, protectionism and hegemony.

"We will never seek hegemony, expansion, or sphere of influence," Xi said at the general debate of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Xi's remarks came at a special time when the global community is still wrestling with the COVID-19 pandemic, while stigmatization and buck-passing happened from time to time.

Clearly, the process of coping with COVID-19 reflects different paths of development. While some countries resorted to shifting blame and smearing, which in no way made them gain the moral high ground in the anti-virus battle, China has been adhering to the principle of cementing solidarity and cooperation, a clear reflection of its development concept featuring inclusiveness, openness and win-win cooperation.

The development of human society is a journey of constant challenges and difficulties. Although the global pandemic and the unprecedented changes over the past century have had major influences, the theme of the times -- peace and development -- has not changed, and the expectations of the people of all countries for win-win cooperation in peaceful development are even stronger.

When the global community is faced with unprecedented social, economic and governance challenges, Xi's remarks sent a clear message to the world that China is still a mighty force in sustaining global peace and stability.

For China, development is of extreme importance over the past seven decades. The country has formed its own development path with concerted efforts, and made remarkable social and economic achievements. However, China remains until now a developing country that is faced with unbalanced development. The country of 1.4 billion people are still working hard toward the goals of winning the anti-poverty fight and achieving a moderately prosperous society in all respects.

Against such a backdrop, it is notably significant for China to act as a responsible big country, as Xi pledged to provide 50 million U.S. dollars to the United Nations COVID-19 Global Humanitarian Response Plan and another 50 million U.S. dollars to the China-FAO South-South Cooperation Trust Fund (Phase III).

It is undeniable that there is no universal path of development for all. China has no intention to impose its own development mode on other nations, and those wishing to transform China into one they desire are doomed to fail.

COVID-19 reminds us that economic globalization is an indisputable reality and a historical trend. As Xi said, 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.

Countries should not dodge the challenges of economic globalization and must face up to major issues such as the wealth gap and development divide. As a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development and a defender of the international order, China will enhance exchanges with other countries based on the principle of mutual respect for the ultimate goal of common development and prosperity. Enditem
The Midland City Council on Tuesday passed a resolution in support of earlier comments by Mayor Patrick Payton that the city is open for business.

Paytons remarks came during a press conference last week following an announcement by Gov. Greg Abbott that restaurants and stores could open at 75 percent capacity, but bars must remain closed. The mayor said he would support businesses that opened beyond what Abbott had allowed, though they may face repercussions from state agencies.

A resolution passed by the city council Tuesday stated, The City Council believes that businesses are socially responsible and are capable and willing to maintain effective health protocols to ensure that Midland continues to be successful during this public health threat and  the City Council finds it to be in the public interest to support Mayor Patrick Paytons comments regarding Midland opening for business.

In an interview following Tuesdays city council meeting, Payton said the resolution and the press conference last Thursday were to let Midlands businesses know the city is behind them.

Were had some great conversations among the council  them understanding that what we did Thursday didnt really carry any legal weight, he said. It was just an opportunity for us as a community to say were for our business community and we wish Gov. Abbott would let us manage our affairs outside of the larger umbrella of Texas, considering our hospital numbers are at 2 percent.

Tuesdays resolution also does not carry any legal weight, according to Payton, and is meant only as a show of support for business owners. Local governments are not able to override state mandates.

Payton acknowledged Thursday that stores and restaurants are risking being fined or closed by state agencies if they choose to open beyond 75 percent capacity. But he said the city would not close businesses that did so or take complaints from residents regarding businesses operating at a higher capacity.

When asked if he would support bars that opened against Abbotts orders, Payton said he would defend a bar owners right to do what they think they need to do. He said he could not, however, protect a bar from having its license revoked by the state.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 13:12:34|Editor: huaxia

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Secretary-General of the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti receives an interview with Xinhua in Brussels, Belgium, Sept. 21, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Cheng)



BRUSSELS, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- China has been a "better listener" to poor countries and demonstrated great capacity for understanding, Secretary-General of the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti has said.

Pinto Chikoti made the remarks in an interview with Xinhua on the occasion of the high-level meeting to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the United Nations (UN) held on Monday.

China has made progress over the past decades "in a regular and constant way," said Pinto Chikoti, adding China's experience can help poor countries in their agriculture development and economic transformation.

"China, which has invested more resources in all of our countries than anyone else, can play a very important role," said the secretary-general.

Given its industrial and technological power as well as its huge market, China "can work not only with developing countries but also with developed countries," he said.

"From this point of view, China is an extremely important partner for the world to better respond to the challenges of health, climate, trade, peace and security, alongside the UN," said Pinto Chikoti.

While addressing the high-level meeting via video, Chinese President Xi Jinping said "China will continue to be a true follower of multilateralism. It will stay actively engaged in reforming and developing the global governance system."

The multilateral system has benefited both "the balance of the world" and "the well-being of everyone," said Pinto Chikoti, who however stressed that "this balance is being undermined."

Noting the World Health Organization has been undermined by the U.S. withdrawal and groundless accusations, the secretary-general said "this imbalance in the multilateral system" has made the small economies of the OACPS suffer.

He called on all parties to work together to save multilateralism.

"It is together that we can save the multilateral system. If we are looking for a vaccine, a drug ... let us all work together. I think this is a challenge for all countries," said Pinto Chikoti. Enditem
Paul Bersebach/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Micki Kanesaki

A former California attorney who strangled his ex-wife and then tossed her overboard during a Mediterranean cruise was sentenced Friday to life without the possibility of parole.

Lonnie Loren Kocontes, 62, was convicted in June of first-degree murder with a special circumstance allegation of murder for financial gain in the death of his 52-year-old ex-wife Micki Kanesaki.

Orange County prosecutors said Kocontes killed Kanesaki in order to inherit more than $1 million as the beneficiary of several bank accounts and the sale of a home she didnt want to sell.

He is calculated, he is incredibly smart, he lacks empathy and compassion and is willing to take tremendous risks to harm others, Assistant District Attorney Susan Price said, the Orange County Register reports. He killed her because she was standing in his way of getting what he wanted. He planned, he schemed, he eliminated that obstacle.

Paul Bersebach/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Lonnie Kocontes

According to prosecutors, Kocontes specifically chose a budget cruise ship that had balcony windows where he could push her out into the sea without anyone noticing, the Register reports.

Prosecutors said Kocontes "specifically asked for a balcony room. It was very important to him,'' NBC4 reports.

Kocontes and Kanesaki flew to Spain and boarded the cruise ship on May 21, 2006. Four days later, the couple took a day trip to the town of Messina, Italy, and then returned to the ship. Kanesaki was last seen alive on the ship around 11 p.m.

Prosecutors alleged that Kocontes strangled his wife later that night and then threw her body overboard.

Kocontes claimed he woke up around 4:30 a.m. and found her missing. He notified authorities and told them she may have fallen overboard after getting sick from wine, NBC4 reports.

Kocontes returned to California on May 27 -- the same day his wifes body was found floating off the coast of Paola, Italy.

Story continues

Paul Bersebach/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Lonnie Kocontes and his ex-wife Micki Kanesaki

During the trial, Kocontes fourth wife Amy Nguyen testified that Kocontes told her he wanted to have Kanesaki killed during the cruise. She didnt alert the authorities because I didnt think it was serious. I told him, no, dont do it, according to the Register.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

Prosecutors said Kocontes in 2008 tried to transfer $1 million between various bank accounts he shared with Kanesaki. Soon, the FBI started investigating the money transfers and the United States Attorneys Office eventually took possession of the accounts.

Kocontes was arrested in Safe Harbor, Florida, in Feb. 2013.

You are a vicious, cruel, evil person, Mickis brother Toshi Kanesaki said to Kocontes during sentencing, the Orange County Register reports. You are rotten to the core.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 19:35:41|Editor: huaxia

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Motorcycles and a vehicle run on a flooded street after heavy rain showers in Mumbai, India, Sept. 23, 2020. (Str/Xinhua)



MUMBAI, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- India's financial capital Mumbai was lashed with heavy rains on Wednesday morning, forcing government and private offices to shut down.

During the past 24 hours, till 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Mumbai's two weather observatories at Santacruz and Colaba recorded 286.4 mm and 148 mm rainfall, respectively.

The heavy rain led to water logging on railway tracks and roads, disrupting public movement within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region with Central Railway shutting down its services while Western Railway restoring its services in the afternoon after suspending it for some time.

The city's civic authority BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation requested citizens to venture out only if it is urgent and announced closure of all offices except those offering essential services.

India Meteorological Department in its tweet on Wednesday afternoon said, "Light to moderate rain with occasional intense rain spell likely over parts of Mumbai during next 6 hours. Forecast: Heavy rainfall at isolated places likely over Mumbai during next 24 hours."

According to weather experts, Mumbai has already surpassed its average rainfall of September of 341 mm by recording 400 mm rainfall so far this month. Enditem
The Victorian government will try to keep secret the data it analysed before deciding to continue Melbourne's strict curfew.

Mornington Peninsula cafe owner Michelle Loielo is suing the government, claiming Covid-19 restrictions have caused a 99 per cent drop in her revenue.

The case will go to trial in the Supreme Court on Monday and Ms Loielo's lawyers argue that data which informed the government's decision-making should be made public.

Michelle Loielo (right) filed a suit in Victoria's Supreme Court on Tuesday, saying she has lost 99 per cent of business under the tough restrictions

Earlier this month Premier Daniel Andrews (pictured) said he decided to bring in the unprecedented 8pm curfew even though it was not recommended by scientists

But the state will try to keep the data secret under a public interest immunity claim to be made next week, reported the Herald Sun.

Victoria's Deputy Public Health Commander Michelle Giles, who approved the extension of the lockdown and curfew on 14 September, said in court documents submitted on Tuesday that her decision was informed by government data.

Professor Giles claimed the data showed 'a clear and direct correlation' between stage four restrictions lower Covid-19 case numbers.

Ms Loielo's lawyer Vanessa Plain said: 'It is critical that data be produced and is before the court so we may test the way in which Dr Giles reached the conclusion the orders were rational.'

Earlier this month Premier Daniel Andrews said he decided to bring in the unprecedented 8pm curfew even though it was not recommended by scientists.

'That's a decision that I've made,' he said on 10 September, adding that governments are 'free to go beyond' advice given to them by doctors.

The previous day Victoria's chief health officer Brett Sutton said he did not recommend the curfew.

Ms Loielo, a Liberal Party supporter, claims the curfew violates her rights to freedom.

She says her business in Capel Sound used to bring in up to $20,000 a week in earnings.

The curfew, which affects metropolitan Melbourne, originally required people to stay home between 8pm and 5am, but was pushed back to 9pm from Monday

'Last week I made $400,' she wrote in a court document supporting her claim last week.

'This situation troubles me greatly, as I am the sole financial provider for my three children and I am genuinely concerned that I am not going to be able to provide for my children if this situation continues. I am afraid that I will lose my house.'

Ms Loielo said the business was running at a loss, and trying to keep it afloat while caring for her children had taken a significant toll on her health.

In a post on her restaurant website on August 8, Ms Loielo said the industry had taken an 'absolute beating' in 2020 and she had had to remodel, reshuffle and rethink everything to do with her business.

'To this end, I have become heavily involved in local politics and discussions and am even taking a crack at being preselected to run for the next state election in the seat of Nepean for the Liberal Party,' she wrote.

Court documents, filed by Marcus Clarke QC, argue the curfew direction is invalid on grounds of irrationality and illogicality.

Mr Clarke has previously provided expert advice to Victoria's state opposition over the legality of changes to Victoria's state of emergency, which has been extended.

In an originating motion he says the curfew is not reasonably proportionate, and not based on relevant and reliable evidence in line with public health laws.

It says Victoria's Deputy Public Health Commander, Associate Professor Michelle Giles, 'failed to give any real independent consideration to whether it was appropriate to make the curfew'.

Ms Loielo, the DHHS and shadow attorney-general Edward O'Donohue have been contacted for comment.
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Claims children shouldn't be given more to be 'anxious' about amid pandemic

Johanne Hall is frustrated her son is banned from wearing chosen mask at school

A school has banned pupils from wearing Liverpool FC face masks in a bid to stop them from becoming fashionable 'status symbols'.

Lord Derby Academy (LDA) in Huyton, Merseyside, sent a text message to parents saying face coverings worn in the school must be 'black, grey, burgundy or medical blue' in school from Monday, September 21.

School chiefs say the request is to 'ensure a completely inclusive approach' and that they are 'determined to avoid any pupil being 'singled out'

A mother has since aired her frustration after he child's face mask, which is red and black and emblazoned with a Liverpool FC badge, was one of those banned under the new school rule.

Johanne Hall, 43, who was one of those to receive the text, said she is not opposed to pupils and staff wearing face coverings, but was frustrated at the short notice given to parents.

She added that 'it shouldn't matter what colour a mask is as long as the children wear it and feel safer.'

Johanne Hall is frustrated that her child's school is allowing only certain coloured face masks to be worn on site. This black and red patched mask with a Liverpool FC logo (pictured) belonging to her son is banned

But the school insists the measures being put in place are to 'ensure a completely inclusive approach' and that LDA is determined to avoid any pupil being 'singled out' and face coverings becoming a 'status symbol.'

Now that face masks are compulsory, people are turning their backs on the blue medical ones in favour of more creative and designer ones.

It has led people to flock online to comb through the latest must have face mask designs.

Manufacturers are all too pleased to meet the demands and have made them available in floral, leopard print, camouflage and of course team sports.

Johanne said she contacted the school Friday after the announcement for more information but didn't speak to LDA until yesterday to discuss the matter.

But after her son returned home from school she heard he was told he couldn't wear a black and red patched mask with a Liverpool FC logo on it and was instead given a 'medical blue' mask to wear.

Johanne said she contacted the school again this morning and that after months of children being away at home due to the pandemic, they shouldn't be given anything more to be 'anxious' about.

The mother told the ECHO: 'They have to wear the school colours or surgical blue masks, but as long as they wear a mask they are saving lives. That's all that matters.

'As long as they're respecting each other and the guidance it shouldn't matter what colour it is as long as the children wear it and feel safer.

'But getting that message on a Friday afternoon to rush around and get masks, some people might not have money or are on universal credit and going to foodbanks, never mind paying 3 for a mask.

'It's not only that it's the queues as well in the shopping areas. Parents may not have that time or resources or ways to get the places and when they get there a shop may only have a specific mask.'

Lord Derby Academy Headteacher Victoria Gowan said the school is determined to avoid any pupil being 'singled out' and face coverings becoming a 'status symbol'

Johanne said she will be compliant with the rules of the school but that she believes more notice and reasons should've been given to parents and pupils to avoid any more 'anxiety.'

She said a different or fun face mask may lift the spirits of pupils and that wearing masks are about 'saving lives' not 'branding.'

What are the rules on face masks in UK schools? What is the situation in England? Pupils and staff at secondary schools in local lockdown areas will have to wear face masks in communal areas. This does not include classrooms and does not apply to primary-aged pupils. In all other parts of the country, it will be up to headteachers to decide whether masks are required. Which parts of the country will be subject to the mandatory face masks rule? Any part of the country which is defined as an area of national Government intervention. As of Tuesday evening, local restrictions were in place in areas of Greater Manchester, Lancashire and West Yorkshire, Leicester, Luton and Northampton. What are the rules in Scotland? The Scottish government announced yesterday that face coverings should be worn by staff and pupils when they move around secondary schools from August 31. The rules will also apply on school transport for primary school pupils aged five and above. What about Wales and Northern Ireland? Welsh health minister Vaughan Gething said yesterday a decision on schoolchildren wearing face coverings will likely be made today, but current guidance says masks are not being recommended. In Northern Ireland, post-primary pupils will be asked to wear face coverings in corridors and other communal areas, Stormont's education minister Peter Weir said. Advertisement

Johanne said: 'I even suggested to one of the teachers if the school have to wear masks and they need those colours for the children to be ambassadors for the school why don't you give everyone a mask.'

Lord Derby Academy Headteacher Victoria Gowan said: 'On Friday 18th September 2020, Lord Derby Academy was informed of the new measure being implemented by Knowsley Local Authority that staff and pupils would be requested to wear a face covering in all communal areas in Knowsley secondary schools.

'The measure would be implemented from Monday 21st September due to the increase in COVID-19 transmission rates and the new local restrictions.

'This new measure is fully supported by Lord Derby Academy and The Dean Trust.

'Leaders made the decision that, in line with other Dean Trust schools, face coverings for both staff and pupils would need to be 'black, grey, burgundy or medical blue'.

'This request is to ensure a completely inclusive approach.

'The school is determined to avoid any pupil being 'singled out' and face coverings becoming a 'status symbol'.

'Any pupil without a suitable face covering has been provided, free of charge, with a 'medical blue' mask by the school.

'The new face covering measure was implemented at LDA very smoothly yesterday - with no child being disadvantaged. I thank the school community for their support in this matter.'

Responding to the school Johanne said she 'takes her hat off' to the work of the teachers.

She said she wouldn't have been so bothered by the rules if an explanation was provided when she first attempted to contact LDA on Friday.

Teachers have previously warned that the decision to make face masks compulsory in schools would create chaos in schools amid fears pupils will bully each other over their choice of covering.

The Government last month announced that face masks would be made compulsory in the communal areas of secondary schools in parts of England which are subject to local lockdowns.

A decision on whether to wear masks in non-lockdown area schools is being left to individual head teachers.
Guwahati, Sep 24 : Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will on Thursday inaugurate, via video conferencing, 43 bridges in seven border states and Union Territories and lay the foundation of an important tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh, a defence official said on Wednesday.

Defence spokesman, Lt Col Harsh Wardhan Pande said of the 43 bridges constructed by the Border Roads Organisation, 10 are in Jammu and Kashmir, eight each in Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh, seven in Ladakh, four each in Punjab and Sikkim, and two in Himachal Pradesh.

The Defence Minister would also lay the foundation stone of Nechiphu tunnel to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh. The tunnel is expected to shorten the travel time to Tawang, 448 km northwest of state capital Itanagar and bordering China.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
How should Vietnam attract talented people, and accept their differences to develop? On the topic of aspirations for Vietnam to rise up and catch up with modern, civilized countries, VietNamNet spoke with senior economist Tran Dinh Thien.

Recently, the topic of recruiting talented people has emerged again. Every development or blockage, the struggle between backwardness and stagnation and breakthrough and creativity always revolves around the brains of talented people. What is your opinion?

Vietnam does not lack talented people, but without respecting the differences and social diversity, the environment for talented people to reveal will not be created.

Confucius's philosophy is "human genius is primitive nature". The good is the most important thing, the good must be passed from generation to generation, people must have morality. That is, according to that ethic, everything must be based on the old foundation, without breakthroughs, and no need to be creative. Such a society does not nurture talented people!

Hegel said that between good and evil, evil is the main thing because evil destroys the old. Karl Marx said in Feuerbach's thesis, the dialectic of objective idealism is ten thousand times more than materialism. Marx also has a famous saying: I doubt everything.

Dr. Tran Dinh Thien.

Similarly, talented people are always skeptical. It does not mean they do not believe anything. They still have faith but they always have the spirit of skepticism, want to reconsider, not reject. Such is the mindset of talented people.

But you see, Vietnam's economy has grown very fast thanks to innovation that go against the old patterns ... It must be the results of many minds who dare to think differently?

Any change beyond the old is successful. But if there is only minor success, then the mission is considered incomplete. That is the limit of empirical success.

The important success of this country is the development of the private enterprise force in line with the market economy. If the market is good, the private sector will be strong. Unfortunately, our country's market is not strong yet.

If Vietnamese enterprises are strong enough, the country will develop because the market mechanism will react and be activated. If domestic enterprises are weak, we will face many difficulties when we re-open after the Covid-19 pandemic.

The production force decides the production relationship, Marx said. Production relations, also known as the production economy of the society, decide the superstructure.

We are aware that it is necessary to change production relations, but it takes time because the production force is tied up with the production relationship, but the production relationship is tied up with state power.

Therefore, when it is not yet able to deal with the matter of the state structure, for example shown through the ask-and-give mechanism, it is still difficult. Why is the spirit of the planned economy and administrative-based resource allocation still embraced? The market has no chance. That is, we are facing a contrast between the market and the state.

We still tell each other that Vietnam has many talented people, for example, many young people who are well trained abroad and talented overseas Vietnamese and then the elite. ...

Vietnamese people are intelligent, and have many initiatives. For example, they learn from the world very quickly and transform this into experience. Our reforms have important values and we have brought in market thinking. Our choice is correct but we are still a bit shy.

Once I returned to my hometown, Nghe An, I asked the question, why does Nghe An have so many talented people but the province cannot develop? That is the question that Nghe An needs to think about and also the country needs to ponder. I think the concept of talented people is the concept of the olden days. The talented people today must be different.

We keep talking about talented people, but lets look at the task in front of our eyes - promoting disbursement of public investment. That task can be done by those who are diligent, not the talented ones.

This is an example: Da Nang has ranked first in the provincial competitiveness index (PCI) for the past 10 years. PCI is the assessment of businesses of the authorities administration. But many leaders of Da Nang have been disciplined.

Binh Duong is known for asking for mechanisms, not for money.

The talent that we often talk about is the old-style talent. The selection of cadres is still based on relationships. There is no objective staff recruitment mechanism. The criteria for selecting public servants are very vague.

The nature of the story of talented people in Vietnam is the foundation and mechanism. When it comes to talented people, there must be competition. To have competition, we must have standards.

During the war, we mobilized forces, but in peacetime, the gathering of forces was slow. The clearest evidence is that public investment has been slow. We make laws not to create open spaces, but to make laws more complicated. We try to deal with this, but the number of legal documents increase and they conflict with each other.

Now it is good to see bright spots like Binh Duong. Binh Duong is known for asking for mechanisms, not for money. Binh Duong has a high level of initiative and determination. But Binh Duongs good things have not been spread to other localities, so this province seems to be alone.

A competitive structure

Thanks to the new mechanism, many private entrepreneurs have been established, but it seems that their development is incommensurate. What do you think about this situation?

The fact that private enterprises cannot get bigger must be a warning. If some of them grew, it was thanks to their own relationships. Meanwhile, the basic business structure of the period before Doi Moi (renovation)  State-owned enterprises  has been broken. The state sector must do its job properly.

The agricultural and rural areas still stand firm because their foundation are the farmers, with their strong ability to survive, but this force is insignificant and cannot solve the problem. After the crisis, their products became popular again.

In essence, what this has to do with the current structure is problematic. I am afraid that, after the Covid-19 pandemic, the possibility of reverting to the old structure is high.

I once told a high-ranking official that this economy would become a foreign-invested (FDI) economy one day without our carefulness. He said that FDI takes only 20% of the economy, so we should not worry. But the problem is that there are zero Vietnamese Dong FDI projects.

For example, in Nghe An province, there is a foreign-invested garment factory that employs 1,200 workers, with a monthly average salary of VND4.5 million per worker. The workers work from 7am, 10 hours a day. There are 2 shifts a day. The break-time for workers is only about 10 minutes amid the shift. Workers have about 1 - 1.5 hours off for lunch. I observed that below each worker's seat is a bottle of water. They drink only a little water to avoid having to go to the bathroom.

That way of attracting FDI into a labor-intensive field, with low payment like this, cannot attract talented people.

The highest risk for us in the coming time is that domestic enterprises cannot develop. For a long time, we have talked a lot about attracting 'eagles' to nest in Vietnam. It is necessary to re-define the concept of eagle nest: that is, the Vietnamese business community. The two main factors making up the eagle nest: the institutions and the business force, besides a few other factors such as human resources and infrastructure.

Many businesses are calling for help as they don't have a market. Do you have any suggestions for this situation?

Saving the old ones is impossible as it will take a long time. It will be easier to follow the new structure model. The priority goal is to create new, to renew, not save the old.

As for saving the old things, it is necessary to set priorities: who will be saved, who will not be saved, as the cost is huge. That cost is better to be invested in creating something new.

The point of view that should be clearly defined from the outset is to have a standard to follow. This is saving the economy, not saving specific businesses. This is the time to take strong stances to save the economy.

We need to calculate very carefully the resilience of the economy. How much is the resilience, where are the main sources. Thats why we have to focus on public investment. We cannot use state budget resources for this task. And thus good choices will be made.

The goal should be for the economy to get up. Get up to step into new ones. It is necessary to think about creating new forces; if you keep holding the old one up, the old will not develop anymore after a few years.

The reality in the world proves that strong, fast-growing firms are mostly in the field of technology, and they always create new things like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos. I have heard that within a few months, millions of electric cars were sold in Europe. Elon Musk's fortune is up to $80 billion, standing in the top of the world's billionaires.

Nobel Prize winners with US citizenship account for 60-70%. Although the Nobel Prize has nothing to do with technological development, the foundation of technological invention must be basic science.

I believe that a country with many Nobel Prizes will lead mankind. I mean, we must make the choice, the ability to cope with change in order to thrive. The biggest contradiction of the present era is the conflict between states/nations and globalization.

Lan Anh
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.
Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. HII recently clinched a modification contract involving the USS Boise (SSN 764) submarine. The deal has been awarded by the Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C.

Valued at $351.8 million, the contract is scheduled to be completed by May 2023. Per the terms, Huntington will offer continued advance planning, execution services, production and availability preparations for the USS Boise engineered overhaul.

Work related to this deal will be carried out in Newport News, VA.

Growing Demand for SSN & Huntington

Global demand for submarines has increased in recent times, driven by the need for undersea capability enhancement and fleet expansion initiatives undertaken by emerging economies including India and China. Nevertheless, North America still leads the global submarine markets growth.

Coming to SSN, which is a nuclear-powered attack submarine, it is expected to be the largest segment in the global submarine market driven by several high-value procurement programs worldwide including the U.S. Navys Virginia-class procurement.

Notably, the Navys force-level goal is to achieve and maintain a 355-ship fleet including 66 SSNs. This clearly reflects the U.S. Navys optimism surrounding this class of nuclear submarines.

To further make its fleet even more advance, the U.S. Navy is currently building an advanced model of Virginia-class submarines named the Virginia Payload Module (VPM). This will come with an additional, 84-foot-long, mid-body section equipped with four large-diameter, vertical launch tubes for storing and launching additional Tomahawk missiles or other payloads.

Since Huntington Ingalls remains one of the prime submarine contractors in the nation, the aforementioned developments along with the latest contract win should bode well for this stock.

Prospects

Looking ahead, per a report by Technavio, the global naval shipbuilding market is expected to reach $14.36 billion during the 2020-2024 period at a CAGR of approximately 3%. This, in turn, is likely to drive demand for various assault ships, including the SSN warships. Huntington Ingalls  being a major shipbuilding giant  should benefit. Other submarine manufacturers like Bae Systems PLC BAESY, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. MHVYF and General Dynamics GD are also likely to benefit.

Story continues

Price Performance & Zacks Rank

Shares of Huntington Ingalls have lost 32.3% in a year compared with the industrys decline of 32.6%.

Huntington Ingalls currently carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).

You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

These Stocks Are Poised to Soar Past the Pandemic

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Our research shows that 5 cutting-edge stocks could skyrocket from the exponential increase in demand for stay at home technologies. This could be one of the biggest buying opportunities of this decade, especially for those who get in early.



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Workers install cables for the Australian National Broadband Network (NBN) at an apartment block in Sydney, Australia, May 30, 2017. (Reuters/David Gray /File Photo)

Millions of Australian Homes to Get Ultra-Fast Internet With $4.5 Billion Upgrade

Millions of homes and businesses will gain access to ultra-fast internet under a $4.5 billion upgrade to the National Broadband Network (NBN).

At least eight million premises have the potential to receive up to one gigabit per second by 2023.

The upgrade will be financed through NBN Co. borrowing from private debt markets.

Paul Fletcher, the federal minister for communications, said that with 99 percent of premises now able to connect to the NBN the time was right to upgrade the network.

Fletcher said the pandemic had also changed the way people used the internet, with more employees working from home, and increasing the demand for speed.

The button pushed by Anthony Albanese, Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, to switch on the NBN fibre network to an additional 2,600 homes and businesses in Brunswick at the Brunswick Digital Hub in Melbourne, Australia on July 24, 2013. (Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

The upgrade signals a significant change in the Coalition governments approach to the NBN rollout.

The NBN was announced in 2009 by former Labor prime minister Kevin Rudd as an initiative to upgrade Australias broadband infrastructure and provide consumers with faster internet connections.

The original plan would have seen the NBN network use fibre optic cables to connect the network directly to Australian homes across the country and was slated for completion in 2020.

The Coalition scrapped this approach after coming to power in 2013 in favour of mixed technologies.

Fletcher claimed the Labor approach was costly, slow, and would have left 5 million fewer homes connected today.

Under the Coalition government, the plan was changed to a Fibre to the Node (FTTN) system which saw fibre optic cables rolled out to nodes near houses or apartment blocks, and homeowners would then connect via copper wires. Internet speeds however were affected and, in some cases, slower.

However, the latest policy change will see the FTTN system expanded to include local fibre networks that will run along streets. Homeowners can decide if they will connect to the network at an extra cost.

A child doing his schoolwork at his family home in a file photo taken on April 5, 2020. (Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)

The Labor opposition has criticised the announcement saying the Coalition should not have made changes to the original plan.

This has to be the most extraordinary wasteful public policy backflip in a generation. This government has built a network that costs more and does less, Labor Communications Spokeswoman Michelle Rowland said.

The announcement comes as the government launches a series of infrastructure spending initiatives aimed at restarting the economy following the COVID-induced lockdown.

This is a major infrastructure investment which will bring immediate demand stimulation, with some 25,000 new jobs over the next two years, Finance Minister Mathias Cormann said.

Longer term it is estimated to increase Australias GDP by $6.4 billion per annum by 2024, he added.

Simon Yuen of Artificial Intelligence Technology with 25 years experience in telecommunications, said despite the policy changes, the upgrade was being finance privately and the focus should be on timely implementation.

The timing of this announcement would appear strategic, and there will always be criticism and potential finger pointing when it comes to the growing appetite for internet bandwidth and the governments management of the NBN rollout, he told The Epoch Times on Sept. 23.

Rob Nicholls, associate professor at the University of New South Wales, said consumers would benefits, but ideally the changes should have occurred seven years ago when the Coalition revamped the plan initially.

In telecommunications, building one thing, changing it and adding to it is never as efficient as building it once and getting it right, he told The Epoch Times on Sept. 23.

Consumers can expect two improvements. The first is that they will have access to faster broadband services. The second is that the number of faults and service outages will reduce, he said.

The latest upgrade will also make NBN a more suitable competitor to 5G services being rolled out but warned the price of connecting to local fibre networks needed to be within the reach of consumers.

Minister Fletcher also appears to be laying the groundwork for NBN Co.s privatisation after the next election, saying the value of the company was an important consideration with the upgrade.

The independent Parliamentary Budget Office estimates NBN Co. is worth $8.7 billion, while the government values it at $29.5 billion.
Governor Cooper Announces that School Districts May Re-Open Elementary Schools Under Plan A

COVID-19 Updates: Staying Informed & Prepared

Governor Cooper Asks President Trump to Include North Carolina in the Oil Drilling Moratorium

North Carolina Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

No Cost Testing Events Around NC

Complete the 2020 Census

Get All of the Latest Information in Spanish

Tweet of the Week

Today marks two years since Hurricane Florence made landfall in our state. Storms are only getting more frequent and more intense with climate change, and we must stay committed to building back stronger and smarter so we're prepared for future hurricanes.https://t.co/c0Y9XR1Sir pic.twitter.com/Ivxh7hGqJm  Governor Roy Cooper (@NC_Governor) September 14, 2020

After consultation with public health officials and 14 days of steady and downward COVID-19 trends, Governor Cooper announced that North Carolina elementary school grades Kindergarten through 5th grade may now choose plan A for operations as soon as October 5. All school districts will be able to select the plan that works best for their district.said Governor Cooper.Plan A requires important safety protocols for students, staff and teachers. Details about the plans and safety protocols are online in the Strong Schools NC Public Health Toolkit . While Plan A will soon be an available option, it is not the right choice for every student. Governor Cooper encouraged remote learning options for them and their families.Read the Press Release It's important to rely on trusted sources of information about COVID-19. Keep up with the latest information on Coronavirus in North Carolina HERE Texttoto receive general information and updates about COVID-19 and North Carolina's response. Dial 2-1-1 provides free, confidential information and is available 24 hours a day to help you find resources within your community. They can connect you with people and groups that can help with questions about access to food, shelter, health care, employment and child care.Families who need food assistance for their children can texttoto find free meal sites in their communities.Make sure to prioritize your overall wellness and don't hesitate to seek additional help. Optum has a toll-free 24-hour Emotional Support Help Line atfor people who may be experiencing anxiety or stress due to Coronavirus.You can track the disease in real time through the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services' COVID-19 NC Dashboard . It includes detailed information about the state's COVID-19 confirmed cases, hospital capacity and more.This week Governor Cooper wrote a letter to President Trump asking him to include North Carolina in the oil drilling moratorium announced for South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida earlier this month.Governor Cooper stands with the 45 coastal communities who have adopted resolutions opposing oil drilling off the coast of North Carolina. The state's exclusion from the moratorium jeopardizes tourism, commercial and recreational fishing and the natural resources that fuel the coastal economy, generating over $3 billion annually and supporting more than 30,000 jobs.Read the Governor's Letter to the President.Read the Press Release This month Governor Cooper encourages all North Carolinians to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Celebrated between September 15 and October 15, as seven Latin American nations celebrate their independence days. About 10% of North Carolinians from 20 different Latin American Countries call this state home as this population continues to grow it will only make North Carolina better.said Governor Cooper.Read the Press Release Read the Proclamation The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) has announced community free testing events in Edgecombe, Halifax, Hertford, Johnston, Northampton, Sampson and Wake counties. For an up-to-date list of events, visit the Community Testing Events page. People who may not currently have symptoms but may have been exposed to COVID-19 should get tested, especially people from historically marginalized communities.If someone tests positive for COVID-19, the COVID-19 Community Team will reach out to connect them with needed resources. People should answer when the Community Team reaches out, via phone, text from 45394, or email from NC-ARIAS-NoReply@dhhs.nc.gov with further instructions.Find a nearby testing site Find My Testing Place For more information visit the NCDHHS FAQs about Testing and FAQs about Contact Tracing Completing the census will help us count the number of people in our state, which is how the federal government divides tax dollars to states and communities. As of July, more than 40% of North Carolinians, over 4 million people, had not been counted, which could mean a loss of $7.4 billion dollars per year for North Carolina for health care, education, highways, and community and economic development is at risk.An incomplete count puts representation in Congress and and federal funding our state needs in jeopardy.The count is lagging behind in Eastern North Carolina where many of our military families live and where so many have been hit hard by recent storms. Encourage your friends, family, and neighbors to participate in the count. Census workers will begin knocking on doors on August 11th to ensure we all are counted.You can complete the 2020 Census safely at home online at my2020census.gov and by phone (8443302020 in English, 8444682020 in Spanish), or submit by mail.During this time it is imperative that everyone is informed about what is going on in our state. Governor Cooper's administration has been working to get information and resources translated for the Spanish speaking population in our state. Many of the Governor's press conferences press releases , and executive orders are available in Spanish. Resources are also available in Spanish on the DHHS website.
HOBOKEN, NJ  Some of my most delightful childhood memories are the spooky Halloweens of my pre-teen years, spent in a farmy Freehold neighborhood bounded by a creek and county road. These days, I celebrate in the decidedly denser city of Hoboken, where trick-or-treating takes place at stores and brownstones rather than on porches and driveways. But the sentiment remains the same: meet your neighbors, treat yourself, and maybe get to show a little of your weird side (and hopefully get to see theirs).

We all like that extra license to let our strange side show.

I anticipated Halloween for months as a kid, savoring that moment in late August when the air captured the subtle chill of fall coming down the pike. I strategized for weeks in advance of the holiday, plotting my trick-or-treat route on bike rides amid centuries-old trees. I mapped which houses my brother and I would hit for maximum treat intake, but it wasn't just about the candy  I loved the trepidation of scaling an unfamiliar driveway, getting a glimpse into a house we normally only saw from outside.

One year, an old, blind woman on her porch extended a shaky hand to me and said, "Do you say trick or treat?" She handed me an apple. I worried she was lonely, so I tried to strike up a conversation, telling her she had a beautiful cat. She said she didn't know about any cat, although it was prowling her driveway. Still, I stayed and talked a while. I kind of wanted her to be my grandma.

Mischief Night  which, apparently, is called that only in New Jersey (see map) and small parts of Pennsylvania and Connecticut  was celebrated without fail on my sleepy street. The older kids decked the boughs with rolls of Charmin, ducking behind bushes when patrol cars rolled by.

Halloween meant we could hide in our costumes and revel in that fall feeling that anything could happen.

Halloween in '82

But there was one year when my spirits were dampened and I knew the holiday might not happen  The Sugarless Halloween of 1982.



Story continues

Weeks earlier, I planned to head around town with my friend Karin in a simple witch costume, with the usual goal of scoring more treats than before (and not just some low-end lollipops).



But in the final days of September, the nation suffered a tragedy. Seven people died mysteriously in the Chicago area, including a 12-year-old girl, a new mother, and a postal worker, whose brother and sister-in-law then succumbed while they were mourning him.

In a must-read Patch story, a nurse spoke last year about how she investigated and found that the link was Tylenol capsules bought from various stores. The crime remains unsolved to this day. Read More: 'When We Lost Our Innocence': Nurse Who First Saw Tylenol Connection Remembers Murders 35 Years Later

This is why medicine is now sold with tamper-proof caps, and why some communities banned Halloween in 1982.

At the time, I imagined how devastating it was to lose someone so suddenly, even though it wasn't in my area. (Back then, we had no choice but to watch our parents' TV, and that meant the news  good, bad, or scary, with added context from the newspapers. We didn't shy away from the facts; once we had them, we could decide how to react.)

My usually overprotective mom somehow let me go out for Halloween anyway  I guess the free-range childhoods of the '80s trumped the dangers  but to be clear, she also said I couldn't eat the candy.



Surprisingly, I didn't care so much.

I remember a chilling sign on door saying "Sorry, too dangerous" with a sad face in the O in "Sorry." Other houses kept all their lights off.

I saw some of my friends, not many. I understood and I plodded on. Back home, I let my full candy bag hang in a bag on my closet, enjoying that deliciously strange odor of chocolate and plastic.

I knew I was lucky. I was safe and healthy.

And today

Many people, including adults like me, hold Halloween near and dear. It's about community for some, and for others it's really about that rare chance for sanctioned strangeness (something that was not encouraged in the '80s).

Parents in Hoboken, where I am, have been wondering when an announcement will come from the city about the traditional Ragamuffin Parade. Popular parades have been canceled in places like Toms River and Ocean City.

And people are discussing how Halloween can still be fun for kids while keeping them safe, depending on each person's situation. Some have come up with creative solutions, like pouring wrapped candy into baskets to hang on their doors. Others are finding their way to farms and pumpkin patches in New Jersey and Pennsylvania (places like Allstede Farms are open, with restrictions).



The CDC released its recommendations for Halloween and trick-or-treating Tuesday. Read More: Halloween 2020 In NJ: CDC Weighs In On Trick-Or-Treating

What will it look like in your neighborhood, and what will you do? I'm still decorating and pondering all the ways to make the most of it while keeping safe.

And I think maybe, just maybe, we can take time to find out what's weird, unique, and quirky about our neighbors on other days  workers in the stores or that neighbor whose cats are on the porch (or someone else's). So what's quirky about you, and how do you plan to celebrate this year? Share in the comments below.

Got news? Email caren.lissner@patch.com. To be the first to get news alerts with breaking stories in your town, or to get a free local newsletter each morning, sign up for Patch breaking news alerts or daily newsletters.



This article originally appeared on the Hoboken Patch
While cannabis use during pregnancy is on the rise, researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have found evidence that the resulting children are more likely to have psychopathology in middle childhood.

The team's analysis are the first steps in studying the effects of cannabis on children as attitudes surrounding its use change rapidly -- recreational adult cannabis use is now legal in 11 states and the District of Columbia. Patterns of usage, too, are changing; one of the fastest-growing subsets of cannabis users may come as a surprise: the pregnant.

"There have been increasingly permissive and lenient attitudes toward cannabis use among pregnant people," said Sarah Paul, a clinical psychology graduate student. "It has skyrocketed in the past few years," she added, with data indicating a quick rise from 3% to 7% past-month use.

"Unfortunately, despite the increase in use, we know remarkably little about the potential consequences of prenatal cannabis exposure," Paul said. "Prior studies have linked prenatal cannabis exposure to birth-related outcomes such as lower birth weight and infant characteristics like disrupted sleep and movement. Relatively fewer studies have examined behavior and problems as children age," and, she said, "findings have been tenuous due to inconsistent replication and an inability to account for potential confounding variables."

Working with Ryan Bogdan, associate professor of psychological & brain sciences in Arts & Sciences, and director of the Brain Lab at Washington University, and faculty from the School of Medicine, a team of researchers led by Paul and Alexander Hatoum, a postdoc research scholar, poured through data to examine what, if any, effect maternal use of cannabis during pregnancy may have on children.

Their findings were published today in JAMA Psychiatry.

They looked at data from the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development Study (ABCD Study), an ongoing longitudinal study of nearly 12,000 children ages 9-11 and their parent or caregiver from 22 sites across the United States that began in 2016.

The researchers grouped participants into three mutually exclusive groups: Children who were not exposed to cannabis prenatally; children who were prenatally exposed to cannabis before the pregnancy was known, but not after; and children who had been exposed to cannabis after the pregnancy was known, regardless of exposure before.

The receptors that cannabis influences are not known to be expressed prior to five- to six-weeks' gestation. Researchers expected associations with the children's outcomes would only be present if cannabis exposure happened once those receptors had been expressed. Most people said they learned of their pregnancy after about seven weeks, which aligned with the time of endocannabinoid type 1 receptor expression.

The group hypothesized that prenatal exposure, regardless of when it occurred, would be characterized by adverse outcomes in childhood, but that only continued exposure after the pregnancy was known would have an independent association with these outcomes (after considering potential confounds -- things such as family history of psychopathology, whether alcohol or tobacco or prenatal vitamins were used during the pregnancy, as well as whether children had tried alcohol, among a host of others).

The data showed children who were exposed to cannabis in the womb (regardless of when that exposure occurred) were slightly more likely to have adverse outcomes. They had elevated psychopathology -- more psychotic-like experiences; more problems with depression and anxiety as well as impulsivity and attention; and social problems as well as sleep disturbance. They also had lower cognitive performance, lower indices of global brain structure during middle childhood as well as lower birth weight.

However, when the researchers included important familial, pregnancy and child-related covariates, Bogdan said, "This is when things got really interesting. All associations with prenatal exposure only prior to maternal knowledge of pregnancy were nowhere near significantly associated." This suggests that the association between prenatal cannabis exposure during early stages of pregnancy may not be independent of these confounding factors.

"Cutting to the chase ... clinicians and dispensaries should discourage cannabis use among those who are pregnant or are considering becoming pregnant.

"However, when we look at exposure after maternal knowledge of pregnancy, which corresponds to when endocannabinoid type 1 receptors are expressed in the fetal brain, the associations with child psychopathology largely remain -- these children tend to have more psychotic-like experiences, more impulsivity and attention problems, and social problems," he said. "This raises the intriguing possibility that prenatal cannabis exposure may plausibly impact child behavior. It in no way shows causation, but documenting that effects are independent of common confounding factors provides incremental support for potential causation."

"There are certainly other plausible reasons for this pattern of results," Hatoum said. It could be that the behaviors are a byproduct of genetic and environmental similarity and not causally related to cannabis use.

"However, that our measures of these potential confounds accounted for the associations with use prior to maternal knowledge, but not after, suggests that prenatal cannabis exposure may independently contribute, in a small way, to child outcomes," he said. "Potential causation underlying this association should be further evaluated using experimental non-human animal models, additional replication and other approaches (e.g., siblings discordant for exposure)."

"Cutting to the chase, my interpretation of these findings, is that clinicians and dispensaries should discourage cannabis use among those who are pregnant or are considering becoming pregnant," Bogdan said.

"Being attentive to substance use problems among family members and providing them with support and access to help is critical for anyone regardless of pregnancy status," Bogdan said. "Learning of one's pregnancy may produce additional reason to stop use. Someone who has just learned of a pregnancy and has previously used cannabis, might think, well I have already exposed the fetus to cannabis, so I may as well not stop. The current data might provide the clinician and parent-to-be with evidence that stopping after learning of the pregnancy may reduce the likelihood of negative outcomes among their children."

At the same time, Bogdan said, "It is also important not to stigmatize expecting parents who may be experiencing difficulties. Quitting substance use during pregnancy, which is already a challenging time, may not be straightforward. Physician support and empirical paradigms for quitting during pregnancy will be important. Lastly, couples who are planning to have a child may wish to consider combatting cannabis use before they begin attempting to conceive and the additional stressors of pregnancy begin to mount."

From a public health perspective, Bogdan suggested looking to the highly effective public health campaigns and clinician attention directed at reducing the use of tobacco and alcohol during pregnancy. In fact, he said, "This study found that prenatal cannabis exposures were more strongly and consistently associated with adverse child outcomes than prenatal tobacco or alcohol exposure."

###

In addition to Sarah Paul, Alexander S. Hatoum and Ryan Bogdan, Washington University in St. Louis authors on this study include: Jeremy Fine; Isabella Hansen; Allison Moreau; Erin Bondy; Yueyue Qu; and Deanna M. Barch.

Researchers from the School of Medicine include: Emma C. Johnson; Nicole R. Karcher; Ebony B. Carter, MD; Cynthia E. Rogers, MD; and Arpana Agrawal.
By Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) continued its inspection at the State Centre for Advanced Printing and Training (C-apt) office at Vattiyoorkavu in Thiruvananthapuram for the second consecutive day in connection with the probe into the transportation of copies of the Quran received from the UAE consulate.

The sleuths seized the GPS recorder after reports that the GPS system was disabled deliberately while the Quran was being transported. There were reports that the vehicle had travelled to Bengaluru. Following this, the NIA interrogated the staff in the office who were involved in the transportation of vehicles to and from the C-apt office. Sources said NIA officers will verify the log books to check the distance covered by the vehicle and the places recorded in the book where the vehicle traveled inside and outside the state.

Earlier, the Opposition had alleged that the Higher Education Minister KT Jaleel was involved in smuggling gold under the pretext of bringing Quran from the consulate. The agency has seized the Global Positioning System (GPS) recorder and log books of the vehicle which transported the Quran from the capital to Malappuram.

Though the sleuths had inspected the storeroom at the office on Tuesday, they did not get any vital evidence. The inspection began at 10 am and ended around 12 noon and they returned to Kochi with the log register and GPS recorder. On Tuesday, the officers grilled the then Managing Director of C-apt M Abdul Rahman at his office and the driver Augustine who drove the vehicle which ferried the books.

Earlier, Jaleel had admitted to the sleuths that he had distributed copies of the Quran along with the Ramazan food kits received from the UAE Consulate. He was interrogated by the NIA last week at the office in Kochi.

It had earlier come to light that the state-owned institution under the higher education department distributed thousands of copies of the Quran which were received as a gift from the UAE Consulate. Of these, 32 copies were transported to Malappuram in the vehicle owned by C-apt.

While there is nothing illegal in distribution of Quran to the general public, the religious books reached a government office without prior intimation to the Ministries of External Affairs and Home. The Opposition parties had earlier alleged that the Quran packets contained smuggled gold owing to Jaleel's alleged links with gold smuggling accused Swapna Suresh.

Earlier, Jaleel was interrogated by the Enforcement Department which is probing whether he is involved in smuggling gold under the pretext of transporting Quran to the C-apt office and to Malappuram from the office.
In 1999, thenattorney general Janet Reno empaneled a special counsel to investigate the 1993 Waco siege after learning that the FBI had misled her about the use of pyrotechnic rounds fired during the standoff's last day. The Special Counsel (predictably) found no evidence of government complicity in civilian deaths, and investigators like me and several colleagues, who'd tested weapons, observed infrared video, and calculated relevant geometries before coming to the opposite conclusion, wondered whether our diligent efforts had been in vain.

A few years following, I penned a critique of the deeply flawed science underpinning the special counsel's results. Now, nearly two decades later, I can see how amazing it was that an investigation was conducted at all. For I doubt whether it would have gone forward in these days of social media, when Facebook and Twitter rise above all, dominating the scene like Mt. Everest, their fact-checkers occupying positions of consequence well above their native levels of experience and renown.

That's what it seems like to me, as I've not seen the names and resumes of fact-checkers who pin "fake news" on the conclusions of a researcher such as, for example, Li-Meng Yan, M.D., Ph.D.

Conspiracy theory! False information! Unsubstantiated! blare the warning notices from my shaded Facebook posts sharing Dr. Yan's work, which also encourage me to check "reputable" sources (like the WHO) for the real deal.

In the old days, we who challenged official narratives were also called crazy, conspiracists, and right-wing extremists. The difference, then and now? We didn't risk being deplatformed  i.e., canceled, as no all-encompassing "free speech" platform existed back then.

Today, Facebook's faceless fact-checkers screech into the faces of science at every turn. Their shrill cacophonies influence the narrative.

Drive-by critique does not help the cause of science. It does assist in shuttering and eliminating opposing views.

Drive-by critique insults scientists by pitting the work of a credible researcher against the judgment of an employee whose name you'll never know, working for a company you've never heard of.

Drive-by critique is argumentum ad baculum, as it arrives with a cudgel to punish dissent with deplatforming unless you change your ways. (Dr. Yan's Twitter was deleted after only two active days.)

Instead of a national conversation on key issues, we now have platform-wide restrictions on speech. Far from drawing in qualified professionals to help resolve controversies by applying their expertise, this situation works to constrain professionals who might otherwise wish to contribute. After all, why apply the results of years of learning to a problem when one Facebook fact-checker, identity known only to that utility, can demolish your conclusions with a swipe?

False information.

Umm, no. I think I'll sit this one out.

After all, who needs scientists when you have Facebook fact-checkers?

Barbara G. Grant is an electro-optical engineer. Her website is grantdrone.com.
Since Worcester Public School employees began voluntarily returning to school buildings last month, six staffers have tested positive for coronavirus, officials said.

In some cases, staff members chose to work from home and were never present in a school building. But in other cases, employees have been inside of school buildings for work and then have reported a positive test, according to Robert Pezzella, the Worcester Public Schools safety director, who is taking the lead on the districts COVID-19 response.

One case was of a South High Community School teacher who tested positive at the end of August. The employee was in school on Aug. 26, according to Superintendent Maureen Binienda, and then had a negative test the following day. The teacher is tested twice a week because he also teaches at a college, the superintendent said. Then over the weekend, on Aug. 30, the teacher tested positive and notified the district, Binienda said.

That teacher wore a mask and kept a distance when he was in the building on Aug. 26 and did not return to the building after that day, Binienda said.

There was another case with an employee who was at Worcester East Middle School, officials said.

Pezzella said employees who work at two other schools have also tested positive after being in the building. Pezzella declined to specify which schools.

Binienda and Pezzella said the Department of Public Health handles contract tracing after an employee tests positive. However, Pezzella said he also works to reach out to close contacts of someone who has tested positive.

If an employee tests positive, they are expected to call their supervisor or school, and then Pezzella is notified.

I try to have a conversation with them to get a little bit more information but the one thing that is an absolute is we tell that person they need to stay home and then they need to quarantine, Pezzella said.

Whether symptomatic or not, the employee must stay home for at least 10 days, possibly 14 days, Pezzella said.

Contract tracing is done through the Department of Public Health. Pezzella said there can be a lag time between information going from the state to the local DPH. With that in mind, Pezzella said he tries to notify any staffers who were a close contact of an employee who has tested positive and works to reach out to them. A close contact, Pezzella said, is considered being within 6 feet of a positive person more than 10 to 15 minutes.

Regardless of wearing PPE, if a COVID-19 positive employee has come into contact with a coworker within 6 feet for more than 10 to 15 minutes, then I am strongly urging that exposed staff member to get tested, Pezzella said.

Branching out from the six positive employees, Pezzella said he has reached out to, or another supervisor has reached out to, about 20 employees to notify them of being in close contact.

Before the school year and professional development days began, the district announced that employees would be allowed to work from home. However, some positions require employees to be present in school buildings. The first day of school was Sept. 15 and students are learning remotely until at least the end of the first quarter in November.

While some educators are working from home, employees including principals, custodial staff, secretaries and some teachers are in the buildings throughout the week.

Roger Nugent, the president of the Educational Association of Worcester, said union members have felt more comfortable being able to work remotely, but that there is still concern about coronavirus transmission in school buildings.

As word spread about the South High Community School case, some Worcester Public Schools employees, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of losing their job, said they were upset the district never reached out to notify South High staffers that a teacher tested positive.

Pezzella stressed that the district only reaches out to people who are considered close contacts. Pezzella said he would need to talk with the superintendent about whether the district would consider doing a wider outreach to employees when an employee has tested positive after being in a building.

I am totally empathetic of their concern, however, we cant violate HIPPA laws, Pezzella said. We dont want to unnecessarily alarm people that werent in close contact with an employee who tested positive for COVID-19. Theres two sides to this issue. One is people being very concerned and want to know that someone was in the perimeter of where theyre working, if they were in contact with that person, and secondly, the other thing is, we dont want to have heightened alarm and concern because someone tested positive in that building.

All Worcester school buildings are closed on Fridays for regular cleanings. Additionally, Pezzella said the district has a cleaning protocol for after a positive employee has been in a district building.

Theres an indication there, if they see the cleaning going on in the building, that there was somebody in the building, Pezzella said.

Further, Pezzella said the district is supplying the schools with sanitizer and cleaning equipment and has a very aggressive distribution of PPE.

Employees are allowed to publicly identify themselves as having tested positive and reach out to colleagues to notify them of possible exposure, Pezzella said.

On Sept. 16, Worcester was labeled by state health officials as a city at high risk for spreading coronavirus. Worcester averaged 9.5 coronavirus cases per 100,000 people over two weeks, according to the state Department of Public Health.

That designation led the district to postpone fall sports. Both the district and the city are sponsoring coronavirus testing events in Worcester this week.

Across Massachusetts, other school districts have had to adjust plans after positive coronavirus tests. In Arlington, Peirce Elementary School announced it would go to a fully remote learning model for the first week of classes after a staff member tested positive. The Arlington Board of Health offered free COVID-19 testing of district staff last week.

In addition to staff cases, student cases have forced other districts to go online. Pope Francis Preparatory School recently switched to remote learning for two weeks after a student tested positive.

And at Monomoy Regional High School in Harwich, students and staff in classes attended by a student who tested positive switched to remote learning for two weeks.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 01:43:57|Editor: huaxia

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CAIRO, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry headed to the Jordanian capital Amman on Wednesday to participate in a quartet meeting to be held on Thursday among the foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan, Germany and France over the developments of the Palestinian cause, said the Egyptian foreign ministry.

"The quartet ministerial meeting will focus on exchanging views on the current status of the Middle East peace process and its repercussions, and the means to advance the resumption of the peace process," Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Hafez said in a statement.

The four ministers will also discuss ways to "support reaching a comprehensive and just political settlement to the Palestinian cause in accordance with the principle of the two-state solution," Hafez added.

The quartet meeting will be held a week after the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain officially signed U.S.-sponsored peace agreements with Israel in Washington.

Egypt and Jordan already have peace treaties with Israel.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been going on for decades, following the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands and the Western-backed creation of Israel in 1948. Enditem
Easton police are seeking the publics help in finding a 14-year-old runaway.

Nevaeh Montgomery left home on Monday, police said.

The 5-foot, 3-inch, 165-pound girl was last seen wearing black shorts and a hooded sweatshirt featuring an American flag, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call 911, police said.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting lehighvalleylive.com with a subscription.

Tony Rhodin can be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi  Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc sent a message to the United Nations (UN) High-Level Meeting marking the 75th anniversary of the UN in New York on September 21, as part of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly.



The meeting drew 137 senior state leaders and 33 ministers of UN member countries. Due to COVID-19 pandemic, leaders of states will send their video of the speech to air at the meeting.



Recalling the great achievements the UN has gained over the past 75 years, the PM said that they would not have been possible without the fundamental principles of the UN Charter and the UN itself as the centre for harmonising the actions of nations.



Noting that the world is facing unprecedented challenges, the PM underlined the need to work together in solidarity and strengthen multilateralism with the UN at its core with the strict implementation of the UN Charter and international law, along with respect for independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the states.



The people must be at the heart of all efforts for development so that no one is left behind, the leader stressed.



The PM took the occasion to extend to other UN member states the gratitude for entrusting Vietnam with a non-permanent membership at the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 tenure.



As the Chair of ASEAN in 2020, Vietnam is working closely with other ASEAN member countries to build an ASEAN Community of unity, resilience and prosperity, he stated.



Vietnamese people are determined to work alongside all other nations around the world to safeguard peace and realise the UN Sustainable Development Goals, he declared, stressing that the Vietnamese flag will be flying at even more UN Peacekeeping Missions.



The Vietnamese Government leader expressed his belief that that with strong determination and joint actions, a brighter future for all will be built.
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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As universities have reopened in various ways this fall after spring COVID-19 closures and a rapid move to online learning, new challenges are emerging. Beyond navigating a "new normal" of both virtual and in-person academic learning, universities must confront questions about student life and wellness in a pandemic.

As some students return to campuses and university communities, it's clear that COVID-19 has not influenced a change in some student partying behaviors with the potential to spread COVID-19.

In the United States, there have been notable campus shutdowns and high COVID-19 case numbers among some post-secondary students. In Canada, an outbreak was recently declared after five Western University students tested postive for COVID-19.

Universities need to collaborate with government policy-makers to provide guidelines that acknowledge the important role socializing plays in student mental health, and that will help students find safer ways to participate in building personal networks and supports.

Transitions, challenges, mental health

Universities have relayed information and resources about how COVID-19 is impacting universities in addition to specific information about physical saftey to mitigate the risk of outbreaks. They have also emphasized encouraging student resilience, virtual orientation to student life and services and caring for mental health. Notably, however, there remain gaps in the conversation about student substance use and mental health.

In reopening after COVID-19 closures, universities have relied on their own experts and other guidelines. In Canada, they and local health authorities had guidance from from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) in collaboration with Canadian public health experts.

Some Canadian universities have issued messages warning students about rule-breaking and in Ontario, Premier Doug Ford has asked students to "cool your jets with the partying."

Some public health researchers have noted shortcomings in the kinds of messaging used for students and young people to communicate risks of the virus and safer practices. Ideally, such messaging would acknowledge the specific realities and needs of students.

Life transitions

A typical fall semester would have both full-time commuting and non-commuting students students experiencing a dense point of transition related to their social roles and friendships. Students attending university face changes related to geography, living arrangements and lifestyle, coupled with a decrease in parental monitoring and supervision.

The transition to post-secondary campus life is commonly seen as a period of experimentation and exploration, where we see an increase in substance use and associated harms.

Students throughout the pandemic are facing precarious futures but have been asked to carry on and shoulder increased burdens as they navigate COVID-19. Universities may have to deal with new mental health concerns emerging from pandemic stressors. Feelings of being overwhelmed will likely increase as the term moves forward and workloads increase.

Alcohol consumption

My own master's research, and other research, has shown that alcohol consumption among students matches closely with dates that have an associated culture promoting high levels of alcohol consumption, such as such as orientation or Halloween.

For students, punitive sanctions such as fines or suspensions aren't effective, as individuals tend to view condemnation of their actions as illegitimate since they see evidence of others with similar conduct who won't necessarily face sanctions.

Students may deflect responsibility for their actions using their peers as a shield from taking personal responsibility if they too are engaging in similar behaviors.

In the pandemic, learning how to speak to young people about risk has been shown to be critical, as abstinence-style messages aren't effective. This challenge will only worsen as temperatures cool down. Outdoor gatherings will end and bar patios close, causing gatherings to move indoors, thus posing greater health risks.

Outdoor spaces while effective in the short-term, are limited by the changing weather. New guidelines are needed to provide students with safe spaces to congregate.

Building bonds critical for students

The initial phase of campus life is more social and changes as the term progresses. Students establish peer and study groups, engage in extra-curricular activities and activities that provide them a sense of belonging and a strong source of support. Building these bonds is essential to assist students in acclimating to the campus environment and coping with the stressors of university life.

As academic workloads increase, student stress levels increase accordingly. Even before the pandemic, campuses across the country before the COVID-19 crisis were trying to respond to record levels of anxiety and depression among the university student population.

Governments should seek to bolster university mental health services to prevent a further backlogging of the campus system and provide students the care they need to cope with the added stress of the pandemic university experience. Particular attention should be paid to students living off-campus, and finding ways to provide these students with an equal level of services and support.

In a typical semester those students on campus or living adjacent to campus already faced an advantage in forming social bonds compared to those off-campus. With fewer students on campus and students telecommuting, attempts to form social bonds will be more difficult. We must be aware of the dangers of isolation and the heightened fears related to the pandemic that students face.

Duty of care

COVID-19 has forced students to acclimatize to the new reality of university life. Students turn to their peers when dealing with mental health concerns for support which has been shown to be effective in managing anxieties.

Those able to forge strong bonds adjust to campus life more easily. Failing to address this change may heighten anxieties and lead to students having worse academic and personal outcomes as a result.

Universities need to find new ways of having students interact on and off-campus with accessible physical and virtual meeting places. Universities owe their students a duty of care to ensure that they are not just remaining safe from COVID-19 but, that they are still able to learn and grow from the valuable experiences that post-secondary life brings inside and outside the classroom.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Ohio House on Wednesday passed a bill blocking Cuyahoga County and other local governments from banning plastic bags and other single-user containers, sending the the measure to Gov. Mike DeWines desk for his signature.

The House voted 57-34, with most Republicans voting yes and most Democrats voting no to accept changes to House Bill 242 previously added by the state Senate. The Senate amended the bill so the pre-emption ban will only be in place for 12 months after the bill takes effect before expiring.

The bills sponsor, state Rep. George Lang, described it as a pro-business measure that will promote uniformity across Ohio for grocery stores and other companies that operate in the state. Lang, a Southwest Ohio Republican, also said it would protect the interests of a plastic-bag manufacturer in his district, one of five in the country.

Another bill backer, state Rep. Don Jones, a Freeport Republican, asked legislators to imagine how they would have ridden out the coronavirus pandemic if take-out containers were banned.

But bill opponents say the ban will prevent local governments from addressing pollution, particularly in Lake Erie. In a recent study from the Rochester Institute of Technology, researchers estimated the lake includes 381 metric tons of plastic, much of which originates in city streets and makes its way into the lake via storm drains.

Opposition also has come from local governments who say it erodes their home-rule powers.

We should not install a Columbus-knows-best approach, especially when these bags are infiltrating the Great Lakes more than other parts of the state," said state Rep. Kent Smith, a Euclid Democrat.

If DeWine signs the bill, it will become law within 90 days.

Some of the no votes on Wednesday came from Republicans who represent districts abutting Lake Erie, including state Reps. Haraz Ghanbari and D.J. Swearingen, who represent the Toledo area. Toledo regularly sees algal blooms on Lake Erie that can render the areas drinking water unsafe. One such algal bloom left more than 400,000 people without safe drinking water in 2014.
SAN FRANCISCO  TikTok, the short-form viral video app, asked for a preliminary injunction against the Trump administration on Wednesday, a legal maneuver aimed at protecting the companys service in the United States against a potential ban.

The request, filed in the District Court for the District of Columbia, is in response to Commerce Department rules that Apple and Google remove the TikTok app from their app stores by Sunday for American users, and cease to provide further software updates to people who have downloaded the app in the United States.

TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese internet company ByteDance, has lately been working to complete a deal that would keep it operating in the United States. In August, President Trump signed executive orders effectively mandating that ByteDance sell TikToks U.S. operations or risk halting its transactions in the country. The White House has positioned TikToks American presence as a national security threat.

ByteDance and government officials have worked to find a resolution for months. On Saturday, Mr. Trump said he had blessed a proposed deal among TikTok, Oracle and Walmart, under which the two American companies would get a 20 percent stake in a new entity called TikTok Global.
OTTAWA - The Liberals are reversing course on a decision to wind down a federal wage subsidy, vowing in their throne speech to extend the program for businesses harmed by COVID-19 into next year.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/9/2020 (485 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA - The Liberals are reversing course on a decision to wind down a federal wage subsidy, vowing in their throne speech to extend the program for businesses harmed by COVID-19 into next year.

Over the summer the government decided to start scaling back the program through the rest of the year by providing a smaller subsidy with each passing month.

The criteria for using the program were also eased.

But the Liberals were warned that small businesses that have used the program would need the help into 2021 as their revenues stayed low while costs remained steady.

Today, the Liberals' throne speech promised to extend the subsidies to summer 2021, acknowledging the economic situation facing many employers is still fraught.

And for workers who lose their jobs, the throne speech also promises to put everyone under the employment insurance system, making it the only vehicle for benefits for hard-hit workers even if they previously didn't qualify for the decades-old program.

The Canadian labour market has been hammered by the pandemic, when lockdowns in March and April led to a loss of three million jobs and 2.5 million more workers having their hours slashed as non-essential businesses were ordered closed.

Final preparations are made to the Senate in advance of the speech from the throne in Ottawa on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

As of August, the country has recouped about two-thirds of those job losses but that recovery has been uneven: Women, youth, low-wage and visible minority workers haven't rebounded as quickly.

Statistics Canada reported that about one-fifth of the labour force was considered underutilized in August, a combination of people who were unemployed, who were not looking for jobs but wanted to work, and who worked less than half their usual hours  usually due to the pandemic.

The throne speech vows to use federal spending to get back the last million or so jobs, including through direct investments in the social sector and incentives for employers to hire and retain workers. The extension of the wage subsidy is touted as another way to create jobs.

As of Sept. 13, the government had paid out just over $35.3 billion in benefits to 312,750 different companies, although the number of workers covered by the subsidies has fallen in recent weeks.

Dan Kelly, president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, said the extended wage subsidy will be a help for small companies, as well a promise to expand an emergency loan program to cover fixed costs, like wages and rent.

Kelly said the throne speech's promise of targeted help for businesses subjected to localized lockdown is also a positive sign for nervous owners.

"The speech is very much focused on ongoing COVID-19 relief and supports to business and I think they're very much necessary," he said in an interview.

"I wish that weren't the case, but unfortunately, that's where we are and it's good news to hear the government indicate that's in the works."

Gov.Gen. Julie Payette gives a wave as she waits before delivering the throne speech in the Senate chamber in Ottawa on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

At the same time, the Liberals plan to wind down the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, which has paid out almost $78 billion in benefits to nearly 8.8 million people.

Anyone covered by employment insurance will move to that program with access eased, they say. Those who don't qualify, such as self-employed and gig workers, will be pushed to a new 26-week "recovery" benefit.

But the throne speech says that new benefit, which Parliament still has to approve, will be a transitional program before moving every worker in the country onto EI.

There is also a pledge in the throne speech to update the government's technology systems. That will be a must for EI because the core system that delivers payments is more than 40 years old.

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What was missing from the speech was detail about the promises at a time when companies and workers are looking for specifics amid widespread uncertainty, said Perrin Beatty, president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

"What we've seen is a series of spending programs to respond to the pandemic, but what we haven't seen is a COVID management strategy," he said. "Where we've been to date is largely responding to the pandemic instead of managing it, and there's a big difference between the two."

The throne speech promised a fiscal update this fall, but didn't make any reference to a fiscal anchor  a measurement the government will use to judge its success in managing the treasury, such as a target for the federal deficit.

"The fall economic statement must deliver a fiscally responsible and disciplined plan to restore confidence, promote investment and spur job creation," Goldy Hyder, president of the Business Council of Canada, said in a statement.

A note from a trio of BMO experts estimated the deficit would be between $340 billion and $375 billion by the end of the fiscal year, and around $200 billion next year with some of the signals sent in the speech.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 23, 2020.
The German hospital treating Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny for poisoning said Wednesday that his condition improved enough for him to be released, and suggested a complete recovery from the nerve agent was possible.

Navalny, 44, spent 32 days in treatment in Berlins Charite hospital, 24 of which were in intensive care, before doctors deemed his condition had improved sufficiently for him to be discharged from acute inpatient care.

The hospital said that based on Navalnys progress, treating physicians believe that complete recovery is possible, but added that it remains too early to gauge the potential long-term effects of his severe poisoning.

Navalny, the most visible opponent of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was flown to Germany two days after falling ill on Aug. 20 on a domestic flight in Russia.

German chemical weapons experts have determined he was poisoned with the Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok  findings corroborated by labs in France and Sweden.

It was the same class of Soviet-era agent that Britain said was used on former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury, England, in 2018, and Chancellor Angela Merkel and other world leaders have called for Russia to fully investigate.

Navalny was kept in an induced coma for more than two weeks as he was treated with an antidote. Members of his team accused the Kremlin of involvement in the poisoning, charges that Russian officials have vehemently denied.

Russia has bristled at the demands for an investigation, saying it needs Germany to share medical data or compare notes with the Russian doctors who said they found no trace of poison in his system while he was at a hospital in the Siberian city of Omsk.

Germany has noted that Navalny was in Russian treatment for 48 hours, and that Russia has its own data.

Germany has also enlisted the Hague-based Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons for technical assistance in the case.

Last week, the international agency said its experts had  independently collected biomedical samples from Mr Navalny for analysis by OPCW designated laboratories

Results have not yet been announced.
By Trend

The UN and the EU should remind the international community to live up to its previous resolutions, Ismail Serageldin, the co-chair of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center (NGIC) told Trend.

Serageldin noted that although the agenda of NGIC meetings are more focused on other issues, there are many many other meetings related to this period of the UN General Assembly.

And as the diplomats meet to discuss the important issues of our time, they should ensure that the so-called frozen conflicts receive attention to move them forward towards a lasting and just solution. Of these, the issue of Nagorno Karabakh is an important and deserving one, Serageldin said.

He added that already a few months ago, the Board of Trustees of NGIC had issued a statement calling on all parties to avoid the use of arms and to continue  as Azerbaijan is doing,  to seek redress through the appropriate legal channels and seek peace through peace.

In such an endeavor, the UN in its 75th anniversary, and the EU should activate all possible diplomatic channels, to advance the search for a final and just settlement of that long-standing conflict. The UN and the EU should remind the international community to live up to its previous resolutions, particularly United Nations Security Council Resolutions, and to overcome the unjust legacies of the past, to address our global challenges of the present, and to lay the foundations for better tomorrows, Serageldin said.

--

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
London: Buckingham Palace was forced to distance itself from Prince Harry as he risked a diplomatic row after joining a voting drive in the US presidential election.

Venturing into the political arena for the first time since leaving the royal family, Harry urged Americans to "reject hate speech" as "we approach this November".

His intervention will cause deep concern both for the reputation of the royal family and the diplomatic "special relationship" between Britain and America. His comments were described as "unwise".

In a joint video message, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex urged US citizens to vote, with Harry warning they must reject "hate speech, misinformation and online negativity" in the lead-up to the November 3 election.
INDIANAPOLIS  When Hamilton Southeastern Schools went from all virtual instruction to a hybrid schedule for students, Jessica Savage knew she had to keep her two sons at home.

Her second grader, who is in special education classes, has multiple health concerns, and she's unsure how COVID-19 could affect him. Plus, she said, virtual learning was going great.

"The boys were thriving, and we had a pretty good handle on their schedule, she said.

When K-4 students started the hybrid schedule after Labor Day, that changed for her younger son. The new option's schedule change left little to no time for her son to interact with his teacher and classmates via video.

Its been pretty rough for him," Savage said. The teachers are doing an amazing job, but for kids like mine, the plan isnt equitable."

As school districts created their plans for returning to school, a hybrid schedule, which puts students into two groups who rotate attending in-person and virtually, emerged as a popular choice.

Students are further split into two other groups  those who are in-person part-time and those who are always virtual.

COVID-19 and schools: How do you teach performing arts when there are no performances? This school is learning

Parents and teachers notice the differences, prompting questions about equity for kids who are in the virtual group  especially in classrooms where teachers are responsible for both in-person and fully virtual students.

Those questions, being asked at districts around the country, came up at a Hamilton Southeastern school board meeting last week.

I worry that our 100% virtual kids are getting the short end of the stick, and I worry that our teachers are strained, said Michelle Fullhart, the board president.

The schedule for Hamilton Southeastern students such as those at the newly built Southeastern Elementary School in Fishers, Ind., has been controversial. Roughly 82% of K-4 students and 77% of students in grades 5-12 are on a hybrid schedule.

One lesson, two audiences

Parents and teachers of Hamilton Southeastern students had mixed reactions to an all-virtual start to the year.

As of last Thursday, roughly 82% of K-4 students and 77% of students in grades 5-12 were on the hybrid schedule.

Story continues

Many parents were outspoken about wanting an in-person option, but others said they felt they didn't have a choice.

Angela Gafford Asmus, who has a second grader and fifth grader in Hamilton Southeastern schools, said shes glad the district used the hybrid schedule to ease into attending in-person.

She said she felt like she didn't have an option but to choose the hybrid over virtual.

"There is no way that can be equitable, she said of the virtual schedule, adding that those with health concerns are really being punished by having to stay home.

'Not a sustainable model': A peek at how one high school handles its COVID-19 challenges

In the hybrid schedule, students stay with the same teachers they had during the all-virtual phase, meaning teachers have classes with students on the hybrid schedule and those who are fully virtual.

Jan Combs, assistant superintendent of teaching and learning, told the school board in August that there were multiple reasons for keeping classes together regardless of their learning format.

It allowed families to switch between in-person and virtual instead of making a long-term commitment to one format or the other, she said. She said virtual students would have the same class options and teachers as their peers instead of learning from a mostly self-guided online program with limited options. Combs said this saved the district from needing to hire additional teachers.

At the elementary level, teachers meet with students attending virtually  whether they are fully virtual or the hybrid schedule  in the morning and in the afternoon.

Parents worry that kids who are learning at home are being shortchanged on interactions with teachers.

In between, teachers work with in-person students while the virtual students learn from prerecorded lessons and attend enrichment sessions with a librarian, specialist or counselor via live video. Teachers can include virtual students on in-the-classroom lessons for synchronous learning.

Maxx Flavin, a parent of two elementary students in the district, said this schedule drastically reduced the time his children spend with their teachers, as well as the time they have to interact with classmates. As he talked to more parents, he learned how different virtual learning is from classroom to classroom.

Flavin started the Hamilton Southeastern virtual learners coalition to try to make sure the district's families have a quality virtual learning option all school year.

Parents of elementary virtual learners said the schedule reduced live instruction for their students and limited time for interaction

In the district's upper grades, some lessons are recorded and some are synchronous.

Teachers said planning for multiple audiences added to their workload and revamped their lesson plans.

Abby Taylor, executive vice president of the Hamilton Southeastern Education Association and a fourth grade teacher, said that after planning her lessons, she has to record multiple lessons for each day.

Though teachers have gotten faster at it, thats still 30 minutes of time that you normally wouldnt spend on top of (lesson planning), she said. Its a lot for teachers to do.

She said teachers are reassured that its a temporary schedule.

Its not something that is sustainable for a long time, Taylor said. Teachers will not be able to do this for a very long time or for the foreseeable future.

Learning from home is hard. Learning from home while some of your classmates are learning in-person may be even harder, some parents fear. "There is no way that can be equitable, one parent said of the fully online schedule, adding that she felt those with health concerns are really being punished by having to stay home.

Offering a hybrid schedule

Health officials have largely recommended the hybrid schedule for secondary students as a way to decrease the number of students in buildings and classrooms, even when students still switch classes.

Hybrid schedules are used less often at the elementary level.

The schedule allows schools to offer in-person learning while having more space to social distance and take health precautions.

Obviously, in-person is the best way to give a lesson, but its not the safest way, said Suzy Lebo, president of the Avon Federation of Teachers. Hybrid is not the best way to teach kids, but its safe. And virtual is the worst way to teach but the safest.

Coronavirus and schools: Facing deadline, New York City will again delay start of in-person classes

Teachers and students must balance the challenges of virtual learning, such as technology issues and student participation, with the in-person challenges of social distancing and wearing masks.

At Avon High School, students and teachers have had three different schedules in the roughly six weeks since school started. They started the year with a fully in-person option, then moved to all virtual, then to a hybrid schedule, then back to fully in-person.

We were just getting the hang of (a hybrid schedule) after doing it for a month, Lebo said. She expects the schedule to keep changing in response to the upcoming flu season.

Teachers for fully virtual students

One of the biggest differences in how schools apply the hybrid schedule is who teaches virtual learners.

At the elementary school level, many districts have a 100% in-person option and an all-virtual option, each with a set of dedicated teachers.

Some districts have had to hire additional teachers. At Carmel Clay Schools, the district hired 17 all-virtual positions, including 11 teachers, this year.

Online coursework subjects are displayed on sixth grade teacher Katy Larson's laptop at James Russell Lowell School 51 in Indianapolis on Aug. 17. Indianapolis public schools are relying on online instruction until at least October because of the coronavirus pandemic.

At Westfield Washington Schools and Indianapolis Public Schools, the question of whether teachers will be responsible for virtual or synchronous learning depends on how many parents want virtual versus how many want an in-person option.

For schools at the secondary level, where students typically switch classes, teachers have one section of all virtual students on their schedule or districts use outsourced education platforms for fully virtual students. In some cases, its a mix.

Parents said the outsourced platforms lack options and students have limited to no interaction with school staff and classmates.

Pike High School in Indianapolis started a hybrid schedule this month similar to the one in Hamilton Southeastern schools.

Theater teacher Sarah Vilensky said its a struggle to plan lessons when the majority of the people you are teaching are not in the classroom but on a screen.

She said shes concerned about making sure that the students who are fully virtual have the same experience as students who are in the classroom part-time.

Its not an easy job, she said. And its been made harder.

School buses are out in force in Noblesville, Ind., for the first day of the 2020/2021 school year Aug. 4.

'Make it sustainable'

When the Hamilton Southeastern school board approved moving elementary students to a fully in-person option next month, parents of fully virtual learners said they were hopeful.

Savage hopes her son's teacher will have more time to do lessons in small groups of virtual students instead of the daily check-ins to explain assignments.

"Anything we can do to get closer to how it was," she said. "Something needs to change to make it sustainable."

At last week's meeting, several school board members asked if it was time to rethink the options for all virtual students and if it was possible to consider virtual teachers for virtual students.

Superintendent Allen Bourff stressed that there are questions with that approach, including staffing issues and what happens to students who are quarantining or who want to switch from virtual to in-person.

He said administrators planned to meet this week with the Hamilton Southeastern Education Association to talk about the hybrid schedule and with the virtual learners coalition.

Flavin said the coalition wants to find ways it can volunteer to help and give more support and resources to teachers so the district has a strong virtual program.

It needs to work," he said of all-online learning. "The virtual students arent going anywhere, a lot of them cant go back.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: COVID-19: How hybrid schedules affect students with online learning
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 00:33:48|Editor: huaxia

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HARARE, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Wednesday thanked his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa for calling for the lifting of Western sanctions on Zimbabwe.

Ramaphosa made the call Tuesday at the start of the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Tuesday.

He made the call in his capacity as the African Union chairperson.

"Thank you to @CyrilRamaphosa for once again calling for an end to the debilitating sanctions that have injured the people of Zimbabwe for almost two decades," Mnangagwa said in a tweet on Wednesday.

In his speech, Ramaphosa said sanctions on Zimbabwe and Sudan should be removed to allow the two countries to adequately respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"To ensure that no country is left behind, we reiterate our position as the African Union that economic sanctions against Zimbabwe and Sudan should be lifted to allow their governments to respond adequately to the pandemic," Ramaphosa said. Enditem
A civil society group in Nepal has launched protests against China for allegedly constructing buildings on the countrys territory in Humla district, according to media reports on Wednesday. The activists chanted slogans such as Return Nepals land" and stop Chinese expansionism," it said.

According to media reports here, China has allegedly constructed 11 buildings on the Nepalese territory in the Humla district bordering Tibet. The disputed area lies in Lampcha village of Namkha Rural Municipality in Humla district. Beijing has maintained that the constructions were carried out on the Chinese side of the border. The reports also said that Pillar Number 11 that defined the Nepal-China boundary was missing from the area.

There was just a hut in the area in 2005," Dattaraj Hamal, assistant chief district officer of Humla who visited the disputed area recently, was quoted as saying by The Kathmandu Post. I talked to the people there and reported to the chief district officer, Hamal said. e in turn reported to the Home Ministry. He now has gone to the area as per the Home Ministrys instructions." Chakka Bahadur Lama, a Member of Parliament from Humla, said that as long as both sides do not ascertain the location of the missing pillar, the dispute will continue.

On Tuesday, a Nepalese delegation led by Chief District Officer of Humla had reached the area to talk to Chinese officials, My Republica reported. However, the Chinese security personnel had returned them saying that the land falls on the Chinese side of the border, the paper added.

During a meeting between the two sides in 2015, Nepal and China had agreed to ascertain the location of the missing pillar, but no steps were taken on the matter, the paper said, citing Paljor Tamang, chair of Ward No 6 of the rural municipality where the disputed area lies. Meanwhile, the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu refuted the allegations and said the buildings were constructed on the Chinese side of the border.

The government of China has conducted necessary investigation into the matter and the Nepal government can also do so if needed," said a statement issued by the embassy. China and Nepal have no territorial disputes. The two sides have always maintained close communication on border affairs," the statement said. China and Nepal are friendly neighbours. China has always respected Nepals sovereignty and territorial integrity." .
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 23)  President Rodrigo Duterte affirmed before the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) the Philippines' win against China in a 2016 ruling over the South China Sea.

"The Philippines affirms that commitment in the South China Sea in accordance with UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award. The Award is now part of international law, beyond compromise and beyond the reach of passing governments to dilute, diminish or abandon," said Duterte in his pre-recorded speech aired during the general debate of the 75th United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday (Philippine time).

Duterte, who appeared for the first time in the UNGA in his four-year presidency, said the Philippines rejects any attempts to undermine the said arbitral ruling and assured the country's adherence to the UN Charter and the 1982 Manila Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes.

The President also thanked nations who supported the 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) favoring the Philippines over China's sweeping claims in the South China Sea.

"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. This, as it should, is the majesty of the law," he added.

In a separate speech during the 75th UNGA, China President Xi Jinping assured its commitment to resolve disputes through dialogue and negotiation.

"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," said Xi.

In its decision, the PCA said there was no legal basis for China to claim historic rights over most of the South China Sea using their "nine-dash line" claim. The ruling covered marine features in the West Philippine Sea, including the hotly contested Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal, as part of the Philippine territorial waters.

China has repeatedly refused to recognize the PCA ruling and continued to reclaim islands in the disputed areas for military and research purposes.

In the fourth anniversary of the historic PCA ruling last July, Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Teddy Boy Locsin Jr. called on China to adhere to the ruling, saying the arbitration award is "non-negotiable."

Last September 18, three European nations issued a joint note verbale to the UN challenging China's sweeping claims in the South China Sea and recognizing the 2016 arbitral ruling favoring the Philippines. These countries are France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
Bangur Nagar police on Tuesday arrested a 35-year-old man for allegedly sodomizing his eight-year-old daughter. The accused then beat her up with a stick and threatened her with dire consequences if she revealed the incident to anyone.

According to police, the accused first assaulted the girl in August and continued the abuse till September 22. Initially, the child didnt say anything due to fear, but on Tuesday she narrated her ordeal to her mother, who then approached the police. We arrested the accused immediately after receiving a complaint from her mother, said an officer from Bangur Nagar police station.

The accused has been booked under section 376 (2)(f) (being a relative, guardian or teacher of, or a person in a position of trust or authority towards the woman, commits rape on such woman), 376(2)(n)(commits rape repeatedly on the same woman), 377 (unnatural offences), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and section 4 (penetrative sexual assault), 6 (aggravated penetrative sexual assault) and 10 (aggravated sexual assault) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.

Meanwhile, Khar police on Monday booked a 45-year-old man for allegedly molesting his 23-year-old daughter. The woman told police that her father used to consume liquor regularly, because of which there used to be frequent quarrels between him and her mother.

The survivor said that on September 18, around 9pm, the accused came home drunk. Around 10pm, when she went to the bathroom to change her clothes, he followed her and molested her.
KHARTOUM, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Sudan and the United States have discussed how Khartoum could advance Arab-Israeli peace, authorities said on Wednesday, adding the talks also covered the removal of the former hardline foe of Israel from a U.S. list of terrorism sponsors.

Meeting in the United Arab Emirates, a Sudanese delegation and U.S. officials held talks on how peace could stabilise the region and secure a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian question, the ruling sovereign council said.

The UAE, a leading regional partner of the United States, and Bahrain normalised ties with Israel this month in deals brokered by Washington, the first Arab states in a quarter of a century to break a longstanding taboo.

In August, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo raised the issue of Sudan establishing ties with Israel during a visit. Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok told him at the time he had no mandate to do so.

A Sudanese team led by General Abdel-Fattah al-Burhan, head of the council, flew to the UAE on Sunday to hold talks with U.S. officials on several issues including the removal of Sudan from a U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism.

Sudanese officials held "serious and frank talks" on the future of Arab-Israeli peace, which would lead to "stability in the region and preserve the right of the Palestinian people to establish their state according to the vision of a two-state solution", a council statement said after the return of the delegation.

The two sides also discussed "the role that Sudan is expected to play in achieving this peace," it said, without giving any details.

The council, made up of the military and civilians, has been in charge of Sudan since the toppling of autocrat Omar al-Bashir last year.

Ties with Israel are a sensitive issue in Sudan, which was among the hardline Arab foes of Israel under Bashir.

In February, Burhan met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Uganda, a meeting condemned by Sudanese protesters. He afterwards cast doubt on any rapid normalisation of relations, though Israeli aircraft soon began overflying Sudan.

The talks also tackled lifting Sudan from the terrorism list, which hinders its ability to access foreign loans to tackle an economic crisis, the council said, without giving details.

(Reporting by Khalid Abdelaziz; Writing by Mahmoud Mourad; Editing by Ulf Laessing, William Maclean)
The city of Vaughan is coming late to the anti-Black racism party.

This past week, the York Region District School Board relented and voted to change the name of Vaughan Secondary School. Back in June, city council succumbed to pressure to change the name of the August civic holiday, removing the Vaughan Day name that council attached to it in 2013.

Better late than never, one might say.

The slavery legacy of Benjamin Vaughan is the Whats in a name problem. The Jamaican-born Brit, it was revealed by students doing research, did more than own slaves in Jamaica in the 1790s. He actively campaigned against the ending of the slave trade, arguing it would end civilization as we know it.

That revelation, coming after George Floyd and the rekindling of advocacy against anti-Black racism and ongoing trauma faced by people of African descent  and specific local complaints by Black citizens of Vaughan  made the school board vote a slam dunk. Ditto the citys vote to return the August civic holiday to its original Simcoe Day name.

Except we are talking about Vaughan. And Vaughan is proficient at turning gold into dust.

In a stroke of pure advertising genius in the 1990s, the pitchmen positioned Torontos northern emerging countryside as The City Above Toronto. The slogans accompanying jingle and cheeky claims caught everyones attention. Yeah, Vaughan!

The marketing success turned out to be fools gold  thanks to Vaughans politicians, who could not get out of each others way. For a stretch, more than a decade ago, there was not a more dysfunctional council in the history of the Greater Toronto region  and thats saying a lot, considering the scandals of the city of York council when Mayor Fergy Brown proved incapable of rooting out the rot in the preamalgamation era.

Vaughan was pure political theatre of the absurd. The citys first mayor, Lorna Jackson, was a gem for some 19 years. Two mayors later, her daughter, Linda, scrubbed the name clean of any lustre, due to rank unprofessionalism. In between, the name Michael Di Biase became a byword for impropriety, inviting council censure, court conviction and everyday ridicule. In 2008, during the younger Jacksons term, the entire council, including some of the very scoundrels responsible for the mess, held a news conference to declare non-confidence in Jackson.

So, when Maurizio Bevilacqua arrived from his 22-year sojourn as the citys rep in the federal Parliament, the people of Vaughan were indeed looking for a saviour. For a decade now, he may not have been the perfect mayor, but Bevilacqua has restored, well, at least repaired, the citys image.

And then we found out about the Vaughan name  in the midst of international protests against anti-Black racism  and started looking at Vaughan again.

Bevilacquas staff last month sent me a list of the citys bona fides which, the email said, reiterates the mayors and councils commitment to combat anti-Black racism in all its forms.

For example:

A school, community centre and district park will be renamed the Jean Augustine Complex after the first African Canadian female MP and cabinet minister. Council proclaimed Aug. 1 Emancipation Day, July 18 Nelson Mandela International Day and Jan. 21 as Lincoln Alexander Day. Council approved hiring a diversity and inclusion officer and set in motion the creation of the diversity and engagement task force.

Spread over three pages, the accomplishments seemed impressive. In an interview, Bevilacqua made it clear he has been a long-time ally, not a Johnny-come-lately.

So, what was the trigger for councils flurry of motions addressing racism, following years of deafness?

The trigger was my personal awareness, he said. I was talking about these issues long before anyone was. I dont need to be pushed. I listen and act on what is important.

With such a woke presence, Bevilacqua should have been one of the first politicians to respond to the George Floyd video, the one with a cops knee on the Black mans neck as he died, sparking global outrage last May.

It took Bevilacqua three weeks  and he had to be pushed, said Shernett Martin, executive director of the Vaughan African Canadian Association (VACA). She said she contacted the mayor, urging him to make a statement because his residents were suffering trauma from the video, as it stirred up memories of the perennial complaints about discrimination and racism in Vaughan.

Since 2004, VACA has been badgering the city to hire a more diverse workforce and provide community space where African-Canadian culture is celebrated, embraced and valued. Bevilacqua has been mayor since 2010. A measure of the relationship is this: VACA has sued the city for $25 million, claiming damages when the city cancelled a Caribbean festival event in 2019 after it started. And there is an outstanding Ontario Human Rights complaint about anti-Black racism from Vaughan staff and councillors.

The battles with the school board are equally divisive. The most sensational clash involved parent Charline Grant, who a school trustee referred to using the N-word. Trustee Nancy Elgie later apologized and resigned.

So Martin and Grant and other advocates are not inclined to praise the city or school board for suddenly moving on recommendations theyve pushed for during Bevilacquas three terms.

The city of Vaughan has to be shamed into doing something good. They dont move until we shake the tree, said Martin. The oppressed has to constantly teach the oppressor, and in 2020 we still have to shame them into doing the right thing.

Royson James is a former Star reporter and a freelance contributing columnist based in Toronto. Reach him via email: royson.james@outlook.com

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In a bid to revive its coronavirus-battered religious tourism industry, Saudi Arabia will gradually allow its citizens and residents to undertake the year-round umrah pilgrimage beginning Oct. 4.

In response to the aspirations of many Muslims at home and abroad, some 6,000 worshippers will be permitted to perform the pilgrimage and enter the Grand Mosque in Mecca each day under the new rules, the Interior Ministry said in a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency. By Nov. 1, Saudi officials plan to welcome up to 20,000 pilgrims and 60,000 worshippers daily from a list of countries considered safe for travel.

Pilgrims can register their visits on a mobile app developed by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. The Ministry of Interior urged those attending to follow health protocols, including wearing face masks and avoiding physical contact.

In March, the kingdom put umrah pilgrimages to Mecca and Medina on hold as part of measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The Islamic pilgrimage can be performed at any point during the year and attracts some 19 million people to the holy cities annually.

The bigger pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, known as the hajj, was limited to just a few thousand socially distanced citizens and residents this July. The annual journey to Mecca usually draws some 2 million people in what makes up the worlds largest gathering of Muslims. Together with the umrah, the hajj brings in an estimated $12 billion annually.

The coronavirus dealt a major blow to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmans ambitions of boosting the countrys religious tourism. The kingdom had set a target of hosting 6 million people for the hajj and 30 million for umrah by 2030.

After Iran, Saudi Arabia has the second-largest COVID-19 outbreak in the Middle East. The Saudi Ministry of Health reported 552 new cases of the coronavirus on Tuesday, bringing the total number to 330,798 and 4,542 deaths.
SAN FRANCISCO - Uber Eats has become a rogue mobile bar during the coronavirus pandemic, delivering cups and carafes of mimosas, margaritas and mai tais.

The only problem? The app forbids alcohol delivery in most markets.

Strapped restaurants have been selling high-margin drinks to go since California and other states temporarily loosened alcohol rules during the global pandemic. For some delivery apps like DoorDash and Postmates, which already allowed alcohol sales via their apps and have built-in systems to ensure customers are carded, it has opened a new market: cocktail deliveries from restaurants.

But in the U.S., Uber Eats' app is only programmed for alcohol sales in Florida and select smaller markets. In other places where alcohol delivery hasn't been part of Uber's business, its drivers are instruction-less and in some cases dropping off alcoholic beverages in illegal packaging at the doorstep without ever interacting with a person. At bars and restaurants in New York City, Baltimore and elsewhere, to-go cocktails were available for order on Uber Eats despite the company's rules.

Evan Bould, 32, stumbled upon a local restaurant that looked appetizing on Uber Eats in Austin, Texas, and paired a lime margarita with his burger. He said receiving a small bottle of Reposado tequila taped to a cup of Margarita mix at his door felt a little informal - even in the age of contactless delivery.

"This did almost feel too easy," he said.

If a restaurant were found to be providing alcohol to a minor or intoxicated party, they and the driver who facilitated delivery could be found criminally liable, according to the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Uber and other delivery services say they are platforms that facilitate transactions, employing independent contractors as go- betweens.

After a Washington Post inquiry, the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control said it was opening an investigation into the matter.

Uber Eats spokeswoman Meghan Casserly said that the company removed alcohol listings from the restaurants flagged by The Post and is reviewing menus to ensure offerings comply with its policies. The company cited what it saw as confusion around its rules in a rapidly changing environment, but placed ultimate responsibility on the restaurants who listed alcohol improperly.

"While laws and regulations are shifting rapidly during this pandemic, it's important to note that Uber Eats does not currently allow alcohol sales in California, so we take these types of reports very seriously," Casserly said. "We're sending guidance to restaurant partners reminding them of our policies on alcohol delivery and the importance of alcohol regulatory compliance. If restaurants knowingly circumvent our policies or act in bad faith, we will take action including removing menu items and restaurants from Uber Eats."

The novel coronavirus has created a groundswell of demand for food delivery apps, such as Uber Eats, Postmates, DoorDash and Caviar. Shelter-in-place orders have kept customers largely tethered to delivery apps if they want to order from their favorite restaurants.

But the surge in business is also revealing more cracks in the Uber's ability to police its apps. The company has consistently highlighted its status as a platform giving opportunities to drivers, but dismissing responsibility for bad behavior on its app.

Ala Benotman, 27, a delivery driver for apps such as Instacart, DoorDash and Caviar who has worked for Uber Eats in the past, found it frustrating that Uber's drivers would be put in a position to take the blame for an oversight that could leave them criminally at fault. He said the situation underscores how drivers have to be extra vigilant in an environment where companies don't have their best interests at heart.

"We are the one who are facing the law when it comes to this," he said. "I think the Uber app is the one that should be responsible for checking who is the customer or how [old they are]. ... It really should be the responsibility of the company, not the driver."

Eats in particular has taken on a new importance at Uber, where the company's traditional ride-hailing business has nearly evaporated. CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said on a call with investors last month that trips on the ride app had declined 60 to 70 percent in the markets hit hardest by the Coronavirus. Eats, on the other hand, had record days this month in some markets, according to people familiar with the matter.

Postmates, DoorDash and Caviar each allow alcohol delivery, but heavily monitor it through their apps, including requiring drivers to scan ID cards, collect signatures in some cases, and safely transport alcoholic beverages so they are not in violation of open container laws. On Postmates, for example, sellers are required to specially input their alcohol products into a portal so they automatically flag an identification check when they're selected.

Mattie Magdovitz, a spokeswoman for DoorDash and DoorDash-owned Caviar, said that while to-go cocktails were a new addition to the apps, minimal changes were required for the apps since they were already set up for alcohol deliveries. The apps waived their signature requirement to encourage social distancing practices by avoiding touching, but are still scanning IDs. Postmates instructs drivers not to deliver to anyone who is under 21 or appears intoxicated, and hinges its deliveries on the recipient being present.

The most responsible companies have worked directly with the state to devise systems to ensure they are in clear compliance with the rules, said Jacob Appelsmith, director of the California department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, the state regulator with a broad array of enforcement powers. He declined to name which companies.

California officials last month eased regulations on to-go alcohol orders, allowing home delivery of alcoholic beverages provided they were transported in delivery drivers' trunks and did not come in containers such as cups with straw openings. The courier is also supposed to verify the recipient's ID upon delivery. The cocktails and mixed drinks also have to be ordered with food.

The Washington Post ordered a half dozen cocktails from Uber Eats in the Bay Area over the past week. Most of the drinks came ready for consumption in clear plastic cups, in violation of to-go alcohol delivery guidelines specified by state officials. The plastic cups typically had a hole for a straw on their lids, with a piece of tape over the opening. And drivers left the drinks at the door without carding recipients. The drinks were ordered without food.

The ABC's Appelsmith said that arrangement did not satisfy even the state's relaxed guidelines on alcohol delivery.

"It's meant to be sealed and not readily accessible," he said. "What we clearly were trying to avoid was ready access to someone just sipping it through a straw or with a lid."

Some of the problems stem from Uber's app. Because it doesn't allow alcohol delivery in most markets, drink orders are coded no differently from food items, meaning they can be selected regardless of whether they accompany a meal. And there is no step-by-step checklist for drivers delivering alcoholic drinks, meaning they are not instructed to verify the recipient is 21 or over by scanning their ID, ensure the recipient is not intoxicated, or otherwise obtain a signature upon delivery (DoorDash and Caviar have waived the signature requirement to adhere to social distancing guidelines).

In certain cases, it's unclear if a driver knows they are delivering cocktails to go.

"It's not worth the risk for $4," said a courier who has driven for Uber Eats, citing the typical earnings on a delivery. The driver, who declined to be named publicly for fear of retaliation, said he had noticed the availability of cocktails but expressed a range of concerns: "Open container laws, furnishing alcohol to a minor or an intoxicated person."

"I'd probably decline the pickup," he said of to-go alcohol orders, citing the potential liability for the driver.

So far, Uber hasn't effectively policed it app to ensure the restaurants are followings its rules. By last week, restaurants listing alcoholic beverages included Cadillac Bar and Grill and The Links Bar and Grill in San Francisco, and Agave Uptown in Oakland, among others.

In Agave's case, some drinks were listed with apostrophes - masking terms like Margarita and Mojito from search. The restaurant did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

The businesses listed a sampling of beverages including to-go mimosas, margaritas, mixed drinks and in one case, a default order of seven servings of its cocktails.

Michael Rodriguez, owner and operator of the Cadillac Bar and Grill, which was delivering to-go cocktails on the app, pledged to cease the practice beginning Monday.

"I'm going to immediately stop it with Uber," he said, referring to alcoholic drink listings. He pointed to California's eased restrictions on delivery of cocktails and premixed drinks. He was able to get in touch with certain apps such as DoorDash, he said, and find instructions for listing alcohol on other apps. But there was no specific guidance from Uber, and he has typically struggled to get in touch with them.

Rodriguez said he sends the drinks in plastic cups with packing tape over them. In the restaurant, signage warns couriers not to serve alcoholic beverages to anyone under 21, he said. Only Uber was allowing orders of cocktails without food, he added.

"I didn't know that's what Uber was doing," he said.

The Links Bar & Grill offered $10 cocktails on Uber Eats last week. A representative, who declined to be named citing concerns for his business, said it was a difficult time for restaurants and they were turning to any measure available to try to keep afloat. But the restaurant didn't realize alcohol sales on Uber were not being properly monitored.

The business, he said, checks the IDs of any couriers who pick up alcoholic drinks, but did not realize they were responsible for ensuring the ultimate recipient was of age - something he believed was left to the delivery app. The representative said the restaurant did not make any Uber Eats alcohol deliveries as far as he was aware, and the listing had been taken down.

Appelsmith, the ABC director, was clear about the potential liability for both restaurants and couriers, though he said that state was more focused on compliance than enforcement.

"Let's say they deliver to you and your 17-year-old brother opens the door and they just hand it right over to them? Who is responsible for that?" he asked. "Who is responsible is the person who delivered it. That individual is guilty of a crime and so is the licensee who actually sold it. And the licensee's license is in jeopardy of being penalized."
SINGAPORE: Singapore is seeking proposals on the electrification of small vessels known as harbourcraft as the industry transitions towards a low-carbon future, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said in a joint statement on Wednesday.

The MPA is working with the Singapore Maritime Institute (SMI) to seek proposals from industry participants and institutes of higher learning or research institutes to develop commmercially ready fully electric harbourcraft.

They are also seeking proposals for shore charging infrastructure for electric harbourcraft and other electric vessels operating in Singapores port.

Proposals with a viable business model to be scaled up will be more favourably considered, MPA and SMI said.

Harbourcrafts are small vessels typically fuelled by oil that only operate within Singapore waters and are used to carry a small number of passengers, for towing other vessels or to carry dry or packaged cargoes.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has a long-term goal to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 50% from 2008 levels by 2050. New IMO rules that came into effect this year only limit sulphur content in marine fuels.

Green supply chain is the future of shipping and for Singapore to maintain its hub status, innovation must enable the transformation of the shipping industry through co-creation," said Sanjay Kuttan, SMIs executive director.

To accelerate our decarbonisation efforts of the local harbour craft industry, we invite industry innovators to lead a consortium with our local researchers to deliver impact in our fight against climate change."
Microlistics WMS being such a robust, agile and technically-advanced platform will allow us to be true innovators through end-to-end digitalisation and automation.

In response to strong business expansion, London-based food services provider, Manning Impex, will deploy Microlistics Enterprise WMS in its 80,000 sq. ft. Camberley warehouse.

Manning Impex had outgrown its legacy WMS, which was predominately paper based, where all warehouse processes were manual, and lacked automated operator direction and workflows. These deficiencies failed to provide the required efficiency, traceability and scalability demanded by a growing business.

Mike Cheong, Manning Impexs Chief Operating Officer, said that while mid-market WMS solutions were available, they wanted to work with a market-leading, Tier 1 WMS provider.

We consider ourselves to be a visionary company in the food services sector, so we were very deliberate in our search for a technology partner with a WMS that would align with this. Microlistics WMS being such a robust, agile and technically-advanced platform will allow us to be true innovators through end-to-end digitalisation and automation.

Apart from the obvious need for a platform that integrated with our Sage X3 ERP, we wanted a vendor who was experienced in food service processes  specifically temperature controlled. With excellent growth driving a need for further warehouse expansion, it was imperative to fully automate and bring forth the advantages that a tier 1 WMS can offer and ultimately underpin a vital part in the companys proliferation, said Mike.

For Manning Impex, Microlistics Enterprise WMS has the food services functionality it needs such as built-in compliance rules like temperature control, batch, lot, use-by and shelf life as well as catchweight, variable weight and real-time traceability.

Microlistics WMS will provide full system-directed task management of warehouse operatives, real-time visibility of customer orders, and comprehensive track and traceability. The system will also drive differentiated service levels, packaging, and process workflows for different Manning Impex customers.

Important details about warehousing status, stock levels, stock movements throughout the day, and productivity levels will all be visible to the Manning Impex team. Other benefits will include minimised double handling of products, and reduced reliance on expert personnel.

Microlistics Founder and Managing Director, Mark Dawson, said that this technology partnership with Manning Impex was testament to Microlistics WMS growing reputation for alignment with the needs of specific industries.

Microlistics WMS is utilised in food services companies worldwide, and the selection of Microlistics by Manning Impex will strengthen our position in the UK and European markets.

We look forward to delivering a truly great WMS and seeing the long-term business benefits that follow for this leader in food services, said Mark.
A Kentucky grand jury is expected to deliver its report on Wednesday on the police killing of Breonna Taylor, the 26-year-old black medical worker who was fatally shot in Louisville, Kentucky after officers entered her home using a no-knock warrant.

The grand jury will present its report at 1.15 pm EST, and Kentuckys attorney general Daniel Cameron will discuss a decision at 1.30 pm EST.

Louisvilles mayor declared a state of emergency ahead of the announcement, as protests continue to demand justice for Ms Taylors killing on 13 March, which has galvanised a global call urging law enforcement to arrest the cops involved.

The city has anxiously waited for a decision whether prosecutors will charge Jonathan Mattingly, Myles Cosgrove and Brett Hankison for their role in her killing.

"Our goal is ensuring space and opportunity for potential protesters to gather and express their First Amendment rights after the announcement," mayor Greg Fischer said in a statement on Tuesday. "At the same time, we are preparing for any eventuality to keep everyone safe."

The city reached a settlement with the family of Ms Taylor earlier this month as part of a landmark civil lawsuit agreement to pay $12m to her estate and commit to police reform and transparency measures in the wake of her death.

None of the three officers wore body-mounted cameras, and no criminal charges have been filed.

The lawsuit alleges that police relied on flawed information using a "no-knock" warrant to enter her apartment, during which Ms Taylor's boyfriend fired at what he thought were intruders, and police killed Ms Taylor while returning fire.

Mr Hankinson was fired three months after her death for "wantonly and blindly" firing 10 rounds into her apartment, according to then-interim Louisville Police Chief Robert Schroeder.

Tamika Palmer, Ms Taylors mother, said that the settlement must not lose focus on what the real job is.

Its time to move forward with the criminal charges, because she deserves that and much more, she said on 15 September.

She asked supporters to please continue to say her name, echoing a phrase from protests heard around the world demanding justice after her death.
On the new 90 Day Fiance spinoff series called Darcey & Stacey, Darcey Silva is dating a new man named Georgi Rusev. Hes from Bulgaria, and currently living in Washington, D.C. The two got acquainted on social media, and theyve met in person in Miami for the Super Bowl.

Recently, they reunited in New York City, where Darcey was wined and dined. She had a fabulous time, and it could be a sign of better things to come. This week, Darcey asks Georgi if he wants to come and stay with her. However, the coronavirus (COVID-19) has hit, which puts a damper on things.

Darcey Silva says she could be falling in love

Darcey Silva | Raymond Hall/GC Images

Darcey and Georgi had an excellent time in the Big Apple, where they went out to a nice Italian restaurant. Although its only their second time being together in person, Darcey says theres a deep attraction between them.

At dinner, Georgi even gives Darcey a gift of Bulgarian rose oil. The next morning, theyre still laying in bed together enjoying each others company.

Georgi and I only met twice, but I feel like I could be falling in love, Darcey admits to producers.

Darcey wants Georgi to come and visit

RELATED: Darcey & Stacey: What Happens When Darcey Silva and Georgi Meet Up?

The relationship seems to be more than just a casual fling, and this week, Darcey tells her family that she wants to invite him to stay with her. The coronavirus has hit the country, and everyone is quarantining during this time.

Its been really nice spending time with my family, Darcey explains. But, I really worry about Georgi, because Im around my family. He doesnt get to be around his cause theyre all back home in Bulgaria. Hes in D.C. alone, but I want to be able to see him and touch him, and I need to figure out a way that we can be with each other.

Darcey and her family do some yoga outside in the fresh air, and she discusses the situation with them. She says Georgi doesnt have a lot of family in the United States. She tells everyone she thinks shes going to ask him to come and visit.

Darcey invites Georgi to come visit her during quarantine

Two weeks after Darcey and Georgi had a magical meetup in New York, Darcey decides to call him and invite him to come and visit her. They talk over a video call, and make small talk at first.

Being away from him, its getting harder by the day, Darcey explains. I dont even know if its possible for us to be near each other right now.

Darcey asks about Georgis family, and he says theyre OK. Darcey tears up a little bit. Would you like to come to Connecticut? Darcey asks him. I would love for you to be here. I mean, we can get something quaint, cute, close by.

I dont want to put in danger no one, Georgi replies. He says hes going to stay home for the next couple weeks. Maybe one more week. Or two.

Darcey says she wishes Georgi was with her. He tells her not to worry about it. Hope very soon we can meet, Georgi says.

In a sneak peek of the upcoming episode, Darcey mentions that she and Georgi have been talking about moving in together during lockdown. Darcey says its going to look crazy that they are moving in together after only seeing each other on a couple dates. Next, we see Georgi arriving to be greeted by Darcey at the door.

It looks like Darcey is going to get to be with Georgi during quarantine. Well have to wait and see how things play out for them.
Sacha Baron Cohen says he would give his life for the revolution in the new trailer for The Trial Of The Chicago 7.

Written and directed by Aaron Sorkin, the film follows the notorious trial that followed what was intended to be a peaceful protest at the 1968 Democratic National Convention, which turned into a violent clash with police and the National Guard.

The organisers of the protest  including Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, Tom Hayden and Bobby Seale  were charged with conspiracy to incite a riot.

Redmayne, who plays Hayden, opens the trailer, saying: We want to underscore again that we are coming to Chicago peacefully, but whether we are given permits or not, we are coming.

Cohen, who plays Hoffman, says This is a real revolution, we may have to hurt somebodys feelings.

Watchmen actor Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, who plays Seale, also appears in the footage and says: Theres no place to be but in it, while Successions Jeremy Strong plays Rubin and can be seen saying: If we leave without saying anything about why we came in the first place, it will be heartbreaking.

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The trailer also shows Michael Keaton as Ramsey Clark, telling the court: The riots were started by the Chicago Police Department, and Frank Langellas judge saying: Sustained, before Sir Mark Rylance, as the groups lawyer William Kunstler, points out: Nobody objected.

The film is The West Wing writer Sorkins second directorial effort, following 2017s Mollys Game.

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The Trial Of The Chicago 7 will be released on Netflix on October 16.
A team of researchers from Brazil, the United States, and the UK has conducted a study showing that herd immunity played a significant role in determining the size of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic in Manaus, the capital city of the Brazilian state of Amazonas.

According to the study estimates, the transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)  the agent that causes COVID-19  rapidly increased in Manaus between March and April, before slowly declining between May and September.

In June, the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity peaked at 52%, before then falling during July and August, as antibody levels against the virus started to wane.

After adjusting for this antibody waning, Ester Sabino (University of Sao Paulo) and colleagues estimated a final epidemic size of 66%.

The team says the unusually high infection rate, followed by a sustained drop in cases, suggests that population immunity played a significant role in determining the size of the epidemic in Manaus.

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

Monthly antibody prevalence and signal-to-cutoff (S/C) reading in Manaus and Sao Paulo. SARS-CoV-2 antibody prevalence estimates in Manaus (A) and Sao Paulo (C) with a range of corrections. Error bars are 95% confidence intervals. Grey bars are standardized daily mortality using confirmed COVID-19 deaths in the SIVEPGripe (https://covid.saude.gov.br/) notification system and standardized by the direct method using the total projected Brazilian population for 2020 as the reference. Black lines are the cumulative deaths rescaled so that the maximum is set to the maximum seroprevalence estimate for each city. Mortality data is plotted according to the date of death. Distribution of S/C values over the seven monthly samples are shown for Manaus (B) and Sao Paulo (D). Each point represents the S/C reading for a single donation sample. Upper dashed line - manufacturers threshold (1.4 S/C units); lower dashed line - alternative threshold (0.4 S/C units); black boxplots show the median, interquartile range and range of S/C values above 0.4 (i.e., excluding very low and likely true-negative values.

Importance of the herd immunity threshold

Currently, there is no consensus regarding the proportion of a population that must become infected with SARS-CoV-2 for herd immunity to be reached. This is the threshold above which each case of infection results in less than one secondary infection, and disease incidence starts to decline in the absence of other preventive measures.

Estimates of the herd immunity threshold can help to inform public health policies and decisions over whether to relax mitigation measures and reopen society.

The herd immunity threshold, together with social distancing and other control measures, determine the final epidemic size, say the researchers.

When conducted in a given location, serial cross-sectional seroprevalence studies can produce empirical evidence of the final epidemic size, say Sabino and team.

However, although seroprevalence studies have been carried out in Europe and North America, the relatively low estimates of cumulative infections (usually less than 20%) cannot be assumed to reflect herd immunity, given the widespread implementation of effective non-pharmaceutical control interventions.

By contrast, Brazil has seen one of the most rapidly-growing rates of COVID-19 in the world.

In Manaus, the capital of the Amazonas state, the first case of SARS-CoV-2 was identified on 13th March 2020. This was followed by an explosion in cases, and excess mortality in the city during the first week of May was 4.5 times higher than the year before.

This peak in the epidemic was followed by a sustained drop in cases and mortality, even though control measures were relaxed.

Although the ideal study design for determining SARS-CoV-2 infection would include a population-based sample, this approach is time-consuming and expensive, say Sabino and colleagues.

Routine blood donations can serve as a logistically-tractable alternative, they add.

What did the current study involve?

Now, the researchers have presented cross-sectional monthly estimates of SARS-CoV-2 prevalence among blood donors in Manaus for the first seven months of infection transmission in Brazil.

In February and March, seroprevalence was less than 1% in Manaus, but quickly increased to 4.8% in April, 44.2% in May, and 51.8% in June. This increasing seroprevalence was found to closely follow the curve of cumulative mortality.

Following the peak seroprevalence in June, the effect of antibody waning became apparent, with the proportion of blood donors testing seropositive falling to 40.0% in July and 30.1% in August.

Following adjustment for this antibody waning over July and August, the team estimated that 66% of the population in Manaus was infected with SARS-CoV-2 throughout the course of the epidemic.

Herd immunity played a significant role in determining the size of the epidemic

The non-pharmaceutical interventions implemented in Manaus in late March were similar to those introduced in other Brazilian cities. Furthermore, cell phone mobility data revealed a significant increase in physical distancing that started in mid-March and followed a similar pattern to the distancing seen in the city of Sao Paulo.

Therefore, it remains unclear what accounted for such rapid transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in Manaus, writes the team.

The researchers say potential contributing factors include poor socioeconomic conditions, with crowded households, and reliance on boat travel, where overcrowding can accelerate transmission.

Although non-pharmaceutical interventions, plus a change in population behavior, may have helped to limit SARS-CoV-2 transmission in Manaus, the unusually high infection rate suggests that herd immunity played a significant role in determining the size of the epidemic, 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.
A man has been arrested after Border Force officers and US Homeland Security agents swarmed a home in country New South Wales.

The man, 36, wore a black Adidas shirt and dark sunglasses as he was spoken to by authorities outside a home at South Bathurst just after 6am on Wednesday.

The search is related to the alleged importation of illegal firearm parts and drug manufacturing equipment into Australia from US, Hong Kong, China, Germany and Japan.

During the search warrant and a customs search a suspicious substance was found inside the home.

Fire and hazmat crews are now at the scene investigating.

The man, 36, wore a black Adidas shirt and dark sunglasses as he was spoken to by the Australian Border Force at a home at South Bathurst just after 6am on Wednesday

An agent from the United States Homeland Security Investigations waits outside the home in South Bathurst where a suspicious substance was found during a search

The man's arrest comes after a joint investigation between the New South Wales Police Force, Australian Border Force and United States Homeland Security Investigations.

The operation is also being assisted Chifley Police District, the Dog Unit, and Western Region Operations Support Group.

The man was served with Firearms and Weapons Prohibition Orders before being arrested and taken to Bathurst Police Station, where he is expected to be charged.

Border Force officers were seen searching the home following an investigation with New South Wales Police Force and United States Homeland Security Investigations
A Growth Engine for the Group Empowered by World-leading Healthtech

HONG KONG and SHANGHAI, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. (hereafter "Ping An" or the "Group", HKEX: 2318; SSE: 601318) unveiled its healthcare ecosystem strategy and world-leading healthtech achievements at an Investor Day in Shenzhen. Jessica Tan, Co-CEO of Ping An, Fang Weihao, Acting Chairman and CEO of Ping An Good Doctor, Geoff Kau, Co-President of Ping An Smart City and CEO of Ping An Smart Healthcare, and Xie Guotong, Chief Healthcare Scientist of Ping An, delivered keynote presentations.

"The health care ecosystem is one of Ping An Group's long-term core strategies. With more than 20 years of effort and investment in the health care sector, Ping An has developed into a leading health care enterprise in China. We aim to establish strong technological competition entry barriers by building a closed loop ecosystem of health care services. We are committed to supporting the development of a healthy China; improving people's health, seizing market opportunities, and creating greater value," said Ms Tan.

The development of Ping An's healthcare ecosystem is based on three considerations, Ms Tan said. First, the immense healthcare market in China is expected to grow from RMB6 trillion in 2019 to RMB16 trillion in 2030, due to significant demand and a supportive policy and regulatory environment. Second, the Ping An healthcare ecosystem will generate strategic synergies as a comprehensive range of health care services can be provided efficiently and tailored for different segments. This will leverage ecosystem resources, establish technological competition entry barriers, and differentiate the Group's core financial and insurance businesses with tailored life insurance products. Ping An is already a leading health care enterprise in China, with a strong traffic portal, a comprehensive online and offline service network and world-leading healthtech.

Ping An is developing a closed-loop health care ecosystem that includes government, patients, medical service providers, social and commercial health insurers and technology to create a new growth engine for the Group. The Ping An health care ecosystem has a three-pronged strategy: 1) to expand user traffic, managing organizations for the insurers, and empowering service providers to maximize value; 2) to pursue vertical integration through serving the government, harnessing the resources of hospitals, doctors, and pharmaceutical companies, and empowering members of the ecosystem with technology to create competitive barriers; and 3) to create synergies with Ping An's core financial businesses to acquire customers, enhance customer stickiness, and increase average value per customer.

Strategy: Build an ecosystem with enhanced user experiences and technology

The challenge of dealing with the aging population in China has revealed a number of pain points in the health care ecosystem. In response to the national strategy "Healthy China 2030", Ping An has accelerated its development at the frontier of health care and revised its health care ecosystem strategy.

The five components in the strategy of Ping An's health care ecosystem encompass government, patients, medical service providers, social and commercial health insurers and technology. Ping An Smart Healthcare serves the government and offline health care service providers. Ping An Good Doctor focuses on patients and online health care service providers. Ping An Life, Ping An Annuity, Ping An HealthKonnect and Ping An Health serve payers, and Ping An Health Technology Research Institute provides world-class artificial intelligence technology to continuously improve health care service quality and efficiency.

Ping An allocates 1% of its annual operating income to research and development of innovative technologies, and a large portion is invested in healthtech. Ping An Health Technology Research Institute has established one of the world's largest health care databases with the second largest number of healthtech patent applications globally, and technology that has won six international medical imaging competitions. The database covers more than 30,000 diseases, more than 1 billion medical consultation records and over 300 million applications.

"In the past, Ping An's health care segment was divided into a few segments at the corporate level, to specialize in particular areas. Following the restructuring and the upgrade of our health care ecosystem strategy, the segment is now moving towards 'integration and closed loop'. With well-defined roles for each member, we will be able to partner and complement one another in strengthening our ecosystem," Ms Tan said.

Ping An Good Doctor is a pillar of Ping An's health care ecosystem, with a mission to create the largest and most advanced internet health care service platform in China. Since mid-2020, Ping An Good Doctor has been focused on a strategic upgrade, especially online health care services and its integration with offline services. During the Investor Day, Ping An Good Doctor launched its new service brand "Ping An Doctor Home", a professional doctor-patient communication channel.

Ping An Good Doctor provides diagnosis and treatment for over 3,000 common diseases, the largest proprietary doctor service community in China and has also established a huge offline service network. As of June 30, 2020, Ping An Good Doctor had 346 million users, with more than 1,800 medical and nursing practitioners and nearly 10,000 health care experts across the country. It has the largest offline service network, partnering with 110,000 pharmacies, 49,000 clinics and over 2,000 medical examination centres. In the first half of 2020, Ping An Good Doctor's operating income increased by 21% year on year to RMB2.75 billion, of which revenue from online health care surged by 107% to RMB695 million.

Ping An Smart Healthcare, affiliated to Group subsidiary Ping An Smart City, focuses on four core areas to support the rapid development of China's health care system: improving institutional management by empowering health and medical authorities; assisting doctors in diagnosis and treatment; supporting the public health system to manage epidemics and chronic diseases; and facilitating pharmaceutical research. The deployment of its smart image reading system has helped to substantially shorten diagnosis times from 15 minutes to 15 seconds. Currently, Ping An Smart Healthcare services are available in 90 Chinese cities and are expanding in overseas markets, serving a total of 20,000 medical organizations and 450,000 doctors.

Ping An's health care ecosystem plays a key role in growing the Group's core financial business. Between 15% and 20% of Ping An's new financial customers are acquired from the health care ecosystem every year. Contracts per financial customer that use the health care ecosystem services is 3.1, compared to 2.0 for non-users. The assets under management (AUM) of financial customers served by the health care ecosystem is approximately RMB10,000, compared to RMB5,600 for non-users. The synergy between Ping An's health care ecosystem and its core financial business will be further enhanced through products, traffic, services and technology.

Ping An Good Doctor launches "Ping An Doctor Home" for doctors and patients

Ping An Good Doctor launched a new service brand Ping An Doctor Home at the Investor Day. Fang Weihao, Acting Chairman and CEO of Ping An Good Doctor, said that Ping An Doctor Home is a hub for private doctors and family doctors. Ping An Doctor Home will ensure Ping An Good Doctor consolidates its leading position in the sector, spearhead product upgrades and set trends in the industry, and accelerate business development horizontally and vertically.

Ping An Doctor Home will be able to offer a multi-tier membership system for health butler services for individuals and families linking them to doctors covering different services and needs. It will completely upgrade the doctor's workbench helping and empowering doctors in their medical technical and management and promotion needs. The service establishes the world's largest doctor ecosystem by combining the four-tier doctor system of AI doctor assistants, resident corporate doctors, external contracted experts and leading specialists. Doctors will be recommended to patients based on need and work efficiency will be enhanced with the new audio and video consultation functions and the integration of online and offline resources. Ping An Doctor Home will also upgrade insurance coverage, to improve the level of health care security and secure peace of mind of both doctors and patients.

Ping An Doctor Home spearheads Ping An Good Doctor's mission to build a professional doctor-patient communication gateway based on trust, professionalism and convenience, thus creating the largest, most advanced and competitive internet health care platform in China, said Mr Fang.

Smart healthcare empowers government

Ping An Smart Healthcare provides end-to-end solutions for regulatory authorities and the health care ecosystem by supporting the government with management of institutions, doctors, diseases and drugs to drive efficient operation of China's health care system.

Geoff Kau, Co-President of Ping An Smart City and CEO of Ping An Smart Healthcare, said that its technology offerings include: a portal for offline health care services, to improve hospitals' core operations and the AskBob intelligent database, a Bloomberg-like medical database for doctors. Ping An Smart Healthcare services strengthens the public health system to respond to epidemic emergencies, by providing a chronic disease management platform to facilitate early detection, treatment and recovery. The service also supports medical drug development, quality control and centralized procurement.

Mr. Kau said Ping An's smart healthcare business has been expanding rapidly, spanning more than 90 cities in China and Southeast Asia, covering more than 20,000 medical institutions, and serving over 450,000 health care practitioners on nearly 300 million service calls. With Ping An Smart Healthcare, Singapore's Singhealth, American medical cloud computing company Arterys, Romania's Matei Bals Hospital and medical institutions in Indonesia have launched scientific research collaboration to improve the quality and efficiency of their services.

Building A World-Leading Technology Health Care System

Xie Guotong, Chief Healthtech Scientist of Ping An, introduced the Group's world class health care database with five libraries: diseases, health care products, prescription treatment, medical resources and personal health. The disease library contains 100,000 disease concepts and 420,000 disease terminologies. The health care product library contains 180,000 drug manuals and 84,000 Chinese medicine prescriptions. The prescription treatment library contains 150,000 prescription formulas and 30 million medical documents. The medical resource library contains 500,000 Chinese doctors and 2.2 million scientific researchers. The personal health library contains 1 billion diagnoses and information on treatment.

The Company enjoys the technological differentiation with its leading algorithm-training platform. The Company's Saifei platform supports large-scale parallel experiments, which can reduce project workloads by 30% to 50% through intelligent scheduling and allocation of computing resources, increase prediction speed three to six times, accelerate calculations by 100 times, and reduce memory consumption by 23% through intelligent dispatch and allocation of computing resources. The Company's health care algorithm models can effectively boost R&D efficiency by five to eight times.

Dr. Xie said Ping An has developed one of the world's leading intelligent diagnosis assistance platforms. It has developed the world's largest chronic disease management platform and the world's largest health care database. The company has the world's second-largest number of patent applications for health care technology. This knowledge is applied extensively through Ping An's "medical brain" to support artificial intelligence decision-making.
LONDON, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Global higher and business education analyst QS Quacquarelli Symonds released the QS World University Rankings: Masters in Supply Chain Management, the new addition to their series of specialized business masters tables, which also includes; Masters in Business Analytics, Finance, Management and Marketing as well as the Full-Time MBA.

QS's CEO Nunzio Quacquarelli said: "Whether it is companies seeking to distribute Covid-19 vaccines, or sectors such as e-commerce, which are experiencing rapid growth since the start of the pandemic, companies around the world are hiring talent specialized in supply chain management. Like the growth in data analytics, this is an emerging career path for the next decade. At QS, we have expanded our series of business masters rankings to include the most sought-after career specializations and provide prospective students around the world with independent insights to help their search for the best programs in the field."

The Rankings measure Employability, Entrepreneurship and Alumni Outcomes, Return on Investment, Thought Leadership and Class and Faculty Diversity. Collectively these rankings cover the post-graduate programs most in-demand amongst employers around the world.

Dr Andrew MacFarlane, Rankings Manager at QS, said: "In addition to analyzing program-related inputs, QS also considered the reputation of specific business schools from the perspective of nearly 37,000 global employers and more than 34,000 global academics. Finally, we mapped the education paths of 27,831 successful alumni back to specific institutions."

Stanford GSB continues to lead the QS World University Rankings: Global Full-Time MBA, while The Wharton School drops to second place. HEC Paris, INSEAD, London Business School, and IE Business School feature among the top 10, highlighting the global footprint of today's leading MBA programs.

QS Global MBA Rankings 2021 (Top 10) 2021 2020

1 1= Stanford GSB US 2 1= Penn (Wharton) US 3 3= MIT (Sloan) US 4 5 Harvard Business School US 5 7 HEC Paris France 6= 3= INSEAD France 6= 6 London Business School UK 8 11 Columbia Business School US 9 14 IE Business School Spain 10 9 UC Berkeley (Haas) US  www.TopMBA.com













QS Global MBA Rankings 2021 Methodology

The world-leaders of each of QS's business program rankings are:

Masters in Business Analytics 2021: MIT Sloan

Masters in Finance 2021 University of Oxford - Said

Masters in Management 2021: HEC Paris;

Masters in Marketing 2021: HEC Paris;

Masters in Supply Chain Management 2021: MIT

Full suite of business schools masters rankings Methodology

SOURCE QS Quacquarelli Symonds

Related Links

http://www.qs.com/


La Crosse County has averaged 110 new COVID-19 cases per day during the past week, a 33.1% positivity rate, with 87 new cases Wednesday.

The newest cases, as reported by the Wisconsin Department of Health, show a 25.44% positivity rate. Total local confirmed cases are up to 2,785, which grows to 2,942 when including probable cases.

After drops in the seven- and 14-day positivity rates Tuesday, both rose again Wednesday. The seven-day rate increased to 44.97%, up from 34.29% on Tuesday and 31.30% a week ago. The 14-day rate increased to 37.54%, up from 36.59% on Tuesday and 25.28% a week ago. Total positivity is up to 10.24%.

Coronavirus deaths among La Crosse County residents remain at two, though Vernon County has reported its first death, attributed to a man in his 70s.

Of the La Crosse County cases reported Wednesday, 36 were people in their 20s and 26 were people from ages 10-19. There was one new case of people from ages 0-9, seven in their 30s, seven in their 40s, three in their 50s, four in their 60s, one in their 70s and two in their 80s.

According to the Coulee COVID-19 Collaborative, which gives a weekly overview of case data and metrics on Wednesdays, there were 1,418 active cases in La Crosse County as of Tuesday, with a running total of 69 hospitalizations. From Sept. 14 through 20, 80.4% of new cases were attributed to those between the age of 18 to 24.

For the seven-day period ending Sept. 20, the collaborative showed the majority of the risk assessment metrics were in the red category, with six of the nine categories unmet.

New case rate: 97 per 100,000 people per day, red

New hospitalization rate: 4.05 per 100,000 people per day (green, satisfactory)

COVID care capacity: green, all patients can be quickly tested and cared for

Cases interviewed within two days (85% goal): 25.4%, red

Identified contacts traced (90% goal): red

Contacts reached within one to two days (75% goal): red

Daily testing goal met (75% goal): 42.2%, red

Testing turnaround time (85% within two days goal): 73.9%, red

Positive test ration (under 10% goal): 39.7%, red

Given the information from these metrics and the growing case rates in La Crosse County, the collaborative highly recommends the following to assure a safe and healthy community:

When in public or associating with people outside your household, anticipate exposure. You can reduce this risk by following all recommendations, including wearing a mask and maintaining six feet between yourself and others

Avoid any businesses or locations that are not following recommendations on masks, physical distancing and capacity limits.

If you have recently tested positive, isolate at home and notify anyone you have been in contact with to follow quarantine instructions, available at https://lacrossecounty.org/covid19/if-you-have-been-exposed

If you have been in close contact with someone who is COVID-19 positive, quarantine for 14 days and get tested if symptoms occur. If you are asymptomatic, get tested if you develop symptoms or are advised by county health officials.

If you have symptoms, you should be tested. Call medical facilities prior to arrival for screening purposes and pre-registration, or visit https://lacrossecounty.org/covid19/testing-information for information on community testing sites.

Avoid all unnecessary travel.

Personal social gatherings are not recommended.

Wash hands frequently and thoroughly.

Recommendations for businesses, public buildings and venues:

Limit capacity to 25% of total capacity or 50 people indoors (100 outdoors), whichever is less.

Masks and physical distancing should be required.

Venues should consider cancelling or rescheduling any large gatherings planned for the next 14 days.

Businesses should actively screen employees. All symptomatic employees should stay home.

Organizations that care for populations vulnerable to COVID-19 including older adults, individuals at high risk or with underlying health conditions, etc. should limit visitors and increase screening of employees.

The La Crosse County Health Department noted Wednesday that with the record number of new cases, not all cases and contacts will receive a phone call at this time. Those who have been newly diagnosed are asked to visit https://lacrossecounty.org/covid19/if-you-have-been-exposed, and isolate themselves immediately. Cases should also personally notify anyone they had close contact with 48 hours before symptoms developed or post symptom onset. Those contacts should also quarantine for 14 days.

College COVID-19 Dashboard data

UW-La Crosse administered no new PCR tests Tuesday. As of Sept. 17, the most recent date available at press time, 77 of the university's isolation rooms were in use.

Viterbo University reported 39 active COVID-19 cases among students as of Sept. 21.

Western Technical College had nine active cases as of Wednesday, including four new this week.

State update

In Wisconsin, an additional 1,762 people tested positive for the coronavirus Wednesday, for a running total of 105,932 lab-confirmed cases. The running total for negative tests is 1,360,183, a daily increase of 11,691. An additional 56 people were hospitalized, with 6,821 ever hospitalized, and eight more individuals died from COVID-19, bringing fatalities to 1,259.

Emily Pyrek can be reached at emily.pyrek@lee.net.

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.
With Election Day fast approaching, Lake Conroe will be hosting a voter registration drive for Montgomery County residents on its shore as accompanied by a boat parade and a flyover show.

Float the Vote will be held 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 3 on the lake. Currently confirmed voter registration sites include Pappas On The Lake restaurant at 14632 Texas 105 in Montgomery and Wave on Lake Conroe at B Wave Restaurant, 7041 Kingston Cove in Willis, according to Float the Vote chief organizer Carla Shouse.

We dont care which direction they want to vote, we just want people registered, Shouse said.

Certified Montgomery County registrars will be set up by 11 a.m. registering county residents, according to Shouse.

The Bohannons, a family of World War II-era plane pilots, will be flying over the lake in the yesteryear aircraft just as they did June 6 for a boat parade supporting President Donald Trump on Lake Conroe.

Shouse helped organize that event, as well as another Trump-supporting boat parade on May 16 on the lake. Shouse is assuring attendees the voter registration drive is nonpartisan.

Boaters will be required to set their watercraft on idle speed during the event. Shouse is confident there will not be similar circumstances as seen Sept. 5 on Lake Travis when five boats sunk during an unrelated pro-Trump boat parade.

A lot of that was user error, Shouse said.

Boats in the parade will be separated into five groups based on type to avoid overwhelming the event, she said. The parade, she added, will try and pass by most major subdivisions on Lake Conroe.

Participating boaters will start at Lake Conroe Dam, located at the southern point of the lake. On Oct. 1, there will be a virtual captains meeting likely on Facebook Live via Float the Votes Facebook page found at fb.me/e/1FBJnBaBC.

The voter registration deadline is Oct. 5. Early voting runs Oct. 13-30. Election Day is Nov. 3.

jose.gonzalez@chron.com

twitter.com/jrgzztx
HAMILTON  The township remains committed to arming patrol officers with body-worn cameras.

Hamilton Council last week passed a resolution establishing a five-year contract with Axon Enterprises to buy public safety video surveillance equipment and unlimited evidence storage for approximately $920,000.

The new contract provides Hamilton Police with 120 body-worn cameras, 36 in-car cameras, three video cameras for interview/DWI rooms and air licenses for drones.

Hamilton cops have been widely equipped with body-worn cameras since March 2016.

In hashing out a renewed contract with Axon, The whole point of it is for police to continue with body-worn cameras for the same purposes that were originally there, Mayor Jeff Martin said Tuesday in an interview with The Trentonian. I see it as good for the police and good for the public.

Martin said the main benefit with body-worn cameras is to prevent a he said, she said dispute from arising between the public and law enforcement.

Hamilton Council in March 2016 first approved a resolution authorizing a five-year, approximately $600,000 contract to purchase 120 police-worn Axon 2 body cameras and associated training and evidence storage. The governing body reaffirmed that contract with Axon Enterprises in July 2018.

Hamilton Police Chief James Stevens requested a renewed contract with Axon for body cams, according to Martin, who thanked Hamilton Council for supporting the resolution.

The townships new contract with Axon is part of the Sourcewell National Pricing System and goes beyond the former body-cam contract by further providing Hamilton cops with 36 in-car cameras, three interview room cameras and air licenses for drones.

The township will pay $100,000 this year and about $200,000 in each of the next four calendar years under the contract.
QUEBEC CITY, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Tando, a brand of Derby Building Products, has expanded its Pro-Channel sales team with Marquis Sales and Marketing to enhance brand growth and further support dealers and distributors in the Mid-Atlantic and Southern regions.

Known for their unique skillset within the building products industry, Marquis Sales and Marketing combines more than 160 years of dealer and distributor relationships with an experienced sales force proven to deliver growth and value across every level of the supply chain.

"Everyone here is primed to help take the Tando brand to new levels," said Wayne Cornwell, President of Marquis. "Our tenured and experienced sales representatives are committed to growing Tando's industry-leading composite stone and shake products within their network of channel partners and beyond."

Four Marquis sales professionals will join the Tando team and work collaboratively with their distribution partners. Sales reps and territories include: Jay Saxton-- Eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey; Tony Strong--Maryland, Delaware and Northern Virginia; Joshua Kirschner - North Carolina and Southern Virginia; and William Herbert-- South Carolina and Northern Georgia.

"Through our collaboration with Marquis' first-class sales team, we're confident that Tando's high performance, low-maintenance products will reach an even broader customer base. Marquis' additional market support and experience positions us and our customers very well to service the growing demand of TandoStone, Beach House Shake, and TandoShake," said Mike Morris, VP Tando Sales.

The Tando product line is comprised of TandoStone, the #1 brand of composite stone; Beach House Shake, the look of natural cedar shingles that stays looking like the day it was installed with little to no upkeep; and TandoShake, the original and most iconic shake on the market.

To learn more about the beautiful, low maintenance Tando brands, visit www.tandobp.com. For more information about Beach House Shake, visit www.beachhouseshake.com.

About Tando

Tando's exterior building products leverage innovation and manufacturing technology to solve market challenges such as labor shortages, long lead times, and moisture concerns all while meeting consumer demand for mixed material exteriors and low maintenance. From launching the first polymer shake over 40 years ago to developing the #1 brand of Composite Stone, Tando has a proven history of creating new categories, including TandoStone, Beach House Shake, and TandoShake. Tando is owned by Derby Building Products.

SOURCE Derby Building Products
EAGAN, Minn., Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota (Blue Cross), has announced the addition of Election Day as a company holiday, beginning November 3, 2020. The company says it is making the change to ensure that all Blue Cross associates have every opportunity to vote and participate in the most fundamental form of civic engagement.

Going forward, Blue Cross will have Election Day as a paid company holiday in even-numbered years (2022, 2024, 2026) to coincide with federal (presidential, U.S. Senate, U.S. House) and statewide elections (gubernatorial, state offices, legislative).

"Every eligible voter who wants to participate in the democratic process should be able to do so, whether that is through voting in person or via absentee ballot. We're doing our part to make that happen," said Dr. Craig Samitt, president and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota. "I am proud that Blue Cross has such a rich history of civic engagement among our workforce. Engaged citizens are essential for healthy communities. Making Election Day a paid company holiday on a permanent basis reflects the value that we place on participation and having your voice heard."

Blue Cross will remain open on November 3 with appropriate staffing in place to ensure business continuity and to assist members. Associates in these essential roles will receive holiday pay, per company policy. In addition, Blue Cross managers will provide reasonable scheduling flexibility so associates can use paid time to participate and vote in the election.

Blue Cross is also proud to partner with Civic Alliance on these important election and voting initiatives. Civic Alliance is a nonpartisan coalition of more than 220 companies committed to supporting safe, healthy and trusted elections.

CitizenBlue serves as a trusted source of election-related resources

As a company, Blue Cross has been championing civic engagement for 20 years through CitizenBlue - a nationally recognized nonpartisan program that equips associates with information and resources to be more informed and engaged citizens. CitizenBlue has organized a variety of initiatives to prepare and encourage associates to vote in a dynamic election year. These include updates on vote-from home policies, distributing a nonpartisan voter guide, hosting candidate forums and promoting "get out the vote" social media campaigns. Many events have shifted to virtual platforms while most associates continue to work remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic. CitizenBlue also sends out timely information so associates can check their voter registration, find their polling place, request an absentee ballot and volunteer as election judges in their local communities.

While Minnesota is the nation's leader in voter participation, Blue Cross associates turn out in even larger numbers. In 2018, 88 percent of Blue Cross associates voted in the midterm election, compared with 64 percent of all registered Minnesota voters.

In addition, CitizenBlue has encouraged associates to sign up to work as election judges, if their health and schedule allows. Nationwide, states are facing a shortage of poll workers due to the pandemic  many regular poll workers are older and more vulnerable to contracting COVID-19. To date, dozens of Blue Cross associates have signed up to work at the polls on Election Day.

CitizenBlue has been nationally recognized by the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the Harvard Kennedy School and the Harvard Business Review for its nonpartisan voter engagement efforts and for being "one of the most robust" corporate civic engagement programs in the country.

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, with headquarters in the St. Paul suburb of Eagan, was chartered in 1933 as Minnesota's first health plan and continues to carry out its charter mission today: to promote a wider, more economical and timely availability of health services for the people of Minnesota. A nonprofit, taxable organization, Blue Cross is the largest health plan based in Minnesota, covering 2.9 million members in Minnesota and nationally through its health plans or plans administered by its affiliated companies. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota and Blue Plus are nonprofit independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, headquartered in Chicago.

SOURCE Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota
Judging by a local MPs reaction, Mondays test of a virtual voting system for the House of Commons was less than smooth.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/9/2020 (486 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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Judging by a local MPs reaction, Mondays test of a virtual voting system for the House of Commons was less than smooth.

Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa Conservative MP Dan Mazier took to Twitter Monday afternoon to air his grievances about how things were going.

"I am attending a simulation for online voting," he wrote. "It is a complete gong show. There are over 15 MPs that could not vote. At least 3 MPs were asked to vote twice. There were many technical problems. And the Liberals want this to be the new Parliament!? Democracy is at risk."

During a Tuesday afternoon phone call with the Sun, Mazier admitted he was frustrated on Monday and that he was feeling less anxious after House staff took the time to hear out MPs complaints and feedback so they can improve the system.

"In all fairness, it was the first time we were ever exposed to that," he said. "The way it was emailed out to us from the House of Commons was go online, be there because were going to test the voting system. It was very vague and not well described as to what we were going to experience."

The process of voting in-person is much smoother, he said, only requiring MPs to stand when voting yay or nay to an item. With few directions, 338 MPs all trying out the system for the first time at once and formal language being used during a test event, it was a bit chaotic.

However, Maziers fears were somewhat allayed by a 90-minute session after the test voting in which MPs were allowed to outline their concerns and ask questions.

"It really showed a signal that the House of Commons want to make this work, and I applaud them for that."

With infection rates on the rise and a potential second wave of COVID-19 on the way, Mazier said theyll have to find some way to make a hybrid Parliament system work, but it may take time to get used to it. His concern is that Canadian democracy is upheld with this new system.

"They need to get this right. They need to make sure the rules of engagement are correct. I think you were hearing my frustration with that."

Another of Maziers tweets from Monday derided Speaker of the House Anthony Rota for saying that MPs would have to follow an honour system when making sure theyre adhering to parliamentary rules during virtual voting.

"Hahaha," Mazier wrote. "He actually believes Liberals will follow an honour system."

Asked if the ruling party not following any honour system was still a concern on Tuesday, Mazier said it was and said there has been an example of it happening in the last year, with a female Liberal MP not being present when a question was posed despite the party saying she was, which would be a breach of parliamentary procedure. However, Mazier could not recall the name of the Liberal MP.

With Prime Minister Justin Trudeau giving a throne speech followed by a televised address to the nation today, the Sun asked Mazier what he would like said during proceedings.

"Theres a lot of concern about making Canada united again," he said. "Theres been a lot of decisions made by this Liberal government that have been very divisive. The carbon tax and the way its being applied to Canadians is not only unfair, its just wrong in so many different ways. Its penalizing a lot of rural Canadians. People dont understand that."

He also said hed like to see the Canadian oil and gas industry treated better and efforts made toward getting Canadians back to work and developing a plan to transition out of the current pandemic.

A letter co-signed by three federal Conservative provincial caucus chairs, including Brandon-Souris MP Larry Maguire, was sent to the prime minister on Monday and had a similar message.

"Your throne speech is an opportunity to bring Canadians together and repair some of the damage you have inflicted to national unity. The Canadian economy can roar back to life and be a destination for investment and employment if we leverage all of our economic strengths. You need to prove to Western Canadians that your governments talk of a green recovery is not just code for further punitive actions."

The throne speech will be followed by a confidence vote. If the Liberals do not receive support from at least one of the Bloc Quebecois, Conservative Party or New Democratic Party in that vote, it will likely lead to a federal election.

 cslark@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @ColinSlark
The liberal party offers strong rhetoric on climate change but in practice promotes continued fossil fuel production. In the face of our unfolding climate catastrophe, this needs to end now.

by Sonali Kolhatkar

The recent chorus of Democratic Party leaders lining up to denounce President Donald Trumps climate science denial is deafening. As the West Coast of the United States burns relentlessly, taking lives and land, spewing ash and smoke, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden denounced Trumps refusal to acknowledge climate science, saying in a speech, If you give a climate arsonist four more years in the White House, why would anyone be surprised if we have more of America ablaze? He added, referencing hurricanes on the Gulf Coast, If you give a climate denier four more years in the White House, why would anyone be surprised when more of America is underwater?

California Governor Gavin Newsom during his meeting with Trump was more polite, saying, climate change is real and that is exacerbating the fires. Newsoms predecessor, former Governor Jerry Brown, told the New York Times, we have a global crisis that has been mounting and the scientists have been telling us about. For the most part, its been ignored.

Listening to these Democratic leaders, one might imagine that during their years in office they have done their level best to address the climate crisis. True, the Obama administration was far more active than Trump on admitting that climate change is real, that greenhouse gas emissions are the culprit, and that somewhere down the line society has to end its reliance on fossil fuels. Under Obamas Clean Power Plan, the Environmental Protection Agency began regulating carbon dioxide emissions, which helped accelerate the retirement of coal power plants. The former president also signed the modest Paris Agreement, thus joining most of the worlds nations in promising action on climate change.

But Obamawith Biden by his sidealso championed the hydraulic fracturing or fracking industry, which led to so much oil and gas production within the United States that the nation was drowning in the very fossil fuels that spark climate change. Oil production rose by a historic amount under the Democratic president, leading him to boast two years after he left the presidency: That whole, suddenly Americas like the biggest oil producer and the biggest gas [producer thing]that was me, people.

In California, Brown and Newsom engaged in similar double-speak, claiming to take climate action but overseeing a massive boom in oil and gas production through fracking.

Once in office, Trump overturned both Obamas Clean Power Plan and the U.S.s participation in the Paris Agreement. However, blaming Trump for the climate crisis we are in today is akin to focusing on the very last car in a giant pileup. That last car, barreling at top speed toward the fiery crash, does indeed bear some blame, but hardly all of it.

The public knows this. Four years ago, a Yale University poll found broad support for climate action, with 75 percent of voters backing a reduction in fossil fuel emissions and 84 percent supporting investments in renewable energy sources such as solar and wind. This past June, a Pew Research poll found large majorities of Americans backing climate actions that include restrictions on carbon pollution and the boosting of alternative energy. Sixty-five percent of voters found that the federal government was doing too little to tackle climate change. In 2019, an NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll even found that 63 percent of Americans back a Green New Deal (GND), which the pollsters described as a plan to address climate change by investing government money in green jobs and energy efficient infrastructure.

The Green New Deal is a congressional resolution backed by most environmental organizations today that outlines a bold vision for transforming the nations energy system through an ambitious jobs program.

Sensing the public desire for action, Biden has thankfully made bold overtures on climate. While he has not admitted his culpability in the Obama administrations role in the historic rise of domestic oil and gas production, Bidens campaign has said he, believes the Green New Deal is a crucial framework for meeting the climate challenges we face. His platform includes a powerful promise of working toward a 100% clean energy economy and net-zero emissions no later than 2050.

But the climate advisers whom Biden has brought into his campaign offer a more honest assessment of his position on the issue. According to the Intercept, Biden has surrounded himself with, veterans of the Obama administrations all of the above strategy, which embraced fossil fuel development and technologies like fracking while publicly trumpeting clean energy commitments. The outlet speculated, If appointed to key energy and environmental jobs, they could pose an existential threat to even the most ambitious climate plans. Biden has also made it clear that he opposes a ban on the fracking industry.

If Biden continues the standard Democratic Party approach of championing climate action while promoting fossil fuel production, his double-speak will fuel voter skepticism toward a liberal party that continually fails to live up to its stated goals. Democratic leaders suffer from an enthusiasm gap compared to their Republican counterparts whose ideals and actions are far more consistent with one another. Democratic Party leaders like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have failed to grasp the public desire for strong climate action. Pelosi derisively dismissed the GND in an interview earlier this year, saying, The green dream or whatever they call it, nobody knows what it is, but theyre for it, right?

Modest regulations to curb emissions such as a carbon tax that many Democrats have backed are laughably weak in the face of the climate catastrophe unfolding today. The liberal party would do well to enthusiastically embrace bold climate action and go far beyond what Obama did. In matching their climate actions to their rhetoric, Democratic leaders like Biden, Pelosi, and Newsom could eschew domestic oil and gas production. Further, they could tackle the twin crises of the climate and the economy with the GND as a courageous idea to capture the imagination of American voters. The chorus of opposition to the high costs of the GND is easily countered with the mounting price tag of doing nothing.

As California, Washington, and Oregon burn so severely that the smoke and gas from the infernos have spread to the nations opposite coast, voters are perhaps more primed than ever for strong action. Simultaneously, as massive hurricanes pummel the East Coast, churning in the Atlantic in record-breaking numbers and ferocity before slamming into coastal communities, half measures are not just weakthey are a show of negligence. If the liberal party were to actually embrace strong climate action that goes beyond rhetoric, it could distinguish itself enough from its opposition party in ways that matter. And that would offer the clearest evidence that the hope and change that Democrats offer every four years is meaningful.

This article was produced by Economy for All, a project of the Independent Media Institute.

Sonali Kolhatkar is the founder, host and executive producer of Rising Up With Sonali, a television and radio show that airs on Free Speech TV and Pacifica stations.
Aimee Gilchrist founder of Los Angeles Explorer's Club, left, and Marissa Lopez, a professor of English and Chicano studies at UCLA and founder and director of Picturing Mexican America, ride through L.A. State Historic Park during a self-guided bicycle tour they created. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

The distance was just over a quarter of a mile. On First Street, from the old Los Angeles Times building on Spring up to The Music Center on Grand. With a slight incline. Me and a Metro bike, ready to channel my inner Tour de France champ.

Perhaps be one of those Basques cyclists who dominate those mountain climbs.

I nearly died.

I hadn't biked more than a block in over a decade, yet I was already halfway through a six-mile bike ride around downtown Los Angeles that doubled as a history lesson on the forgotten past of Latinos in downtown. My lungs burned; my legs chafed.

Maybe I should've worn a more appropriate outfit than a free T-shirt, baggy Dickies shorts that went past my knees, and leather huaraches with tire-tread soles.

But no way would I quit in front of my guide.

So I huffed and I puffed and I never once used the curb as a crutch. I was going to conquer this slight summit, dammit.

From left, Aimee Gilchrist, Marissa Lopez and Yvonne Condes, walk their bikes through downtown Los Angeles during a self-guided tour. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

Next to me was UCLA Chicano Studies professor Marissa Lopez. She runs Picturing Mexican America, an Instagram account that tells the hidden histories of Latino Los Angeles through photos and copious captions. Lopez plans to eventually release a map-based app version of the project, but the avid cyclist worked with the Los Angeles Explorers Club to turn it into a 70-minute self-guided audio bike tour in the meantime.

I was her first guest.

And I was about to embark on something like a nerdy, violence-free version of Grand Theft Auto V."

Soon, we  OK, I  were catching our breath in front of The Music Center. Around us were the surnames of Old Los Angeles: Chandler. Taper. Ahmanson.

Wheezing for air, I asked Lopez why young people now seem so taken with woke history.

Its more about being accurate than woke, she countered. Its important for young people to realize theyre not interlopers. This is their city.

A bikeable city, even for weaklings like me.

::

Aimee Gilchrist, founder of Los Angeles Explorer's Club, outside the U.S. Courthouse in downtown Los Angeles. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times)

Lopez, Picturing Mexican America contributor Yvonne Condes and Explorers Club founder Aimee Gilchrist met me at Union Stations Metro Bike Share depot. They smiled when I confessed the date of my last ride  and now they wanted me to cycle from Olvera Street to City Hall all the way to Exposition Park and learn some radical Angeleno history along the way?

Story continues

Couldnt I just Google it?

Being on a bike slows the world down, Lopez assured me. All your senses have to be on, which allows you to absorb more.

So off we went  they on fancy Electra, and Bianchi bikes, me on a sturdy, taxpayer-supported spoked steed.

Reckonings with our complicated past have swept across the country this year, and not just among the progressive set. Gilchrist, whose group focuses mostly on lighthearted bike rides that deal with Hollywood, Route 66, and L.A. noir, reached out to Lopez this spring to suggest the two create a downtown jaunt that was more than the whitewashing that usually happens on these things.

Lopez and Condes wrote a script and uploaded a recording of it to Spotify; Gilchrist plotted out the route.

Aimee Gilchrist makes a stop at the U.S. Courthouse in downtown Los Angeles. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

The industry of L.A. history is romanticizing, erasing, and promoting a white gaze, Lopez said as we pedaled up Alameda toward Los Angeles State Historic Park. But something like this is about all the stuff left out. You learn to love L.A. more.

Our first stop: The Zanja Madre, the citys first aqueduct. A handmade sign on a fence pointed out a stretch of a brick-encased ditch that ran parallel to the Gold Line tracks. That's how L.A.'s founders first brought water to the parched town.

The audio version of Lopezs tour is comprehensive, if too earnest. In person, her delivery is insightful and droll.

Historians always call this L.A.s original public works project, Lopez said. But they never talked about the forced Indigenous labor that made it happen. Instead, they make it seem like one giant, consensual fiesta.

We circled around the park, and the profe was right: I noticed far more than I would have on foot or car. The city unveiled itself. On a hill was St. Peters Italian Church. In the shade were volunteers handing out free food. Joggers and other cyclists buzzed around. Looming over the scene was the L.A. skyline.

Lopez made a Spotify soundtrack complete with chipster  that's Chicano hipsters, people  favorites Chicano Batman, Ozomatli and Las Cafeteras for people who wanted to take the tour sans her narration.

Next up was Fletcher Bowron Square, named after the mayor who guided Los Angeles from the end of the Great Depression through World War II and into the 1950s. There was nothing on the tan concrete walls that bore Bowron's name about who he was, but a plaque identified the site as the location for the citys first newspaper, the Los Angeles Star.

Lopez looked like Mookie Betts ready to swing at a fourth-graders fastball.

So no mention that Bowron was one of the biggest advocates to round up Japanese Americans during World War II, she said. No mention that the Star published bilingually in its early years. No mention that across the street was a market where Native Americans were essentially sold as slave labor.

She waited a beat.

You have to work hard to make this place boring.

Aimee Gilchrist, left, and Yvonne Condes make a stop at Fort Moore Pioneer Memorial in downtown Los Angeles. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

Condes kept us on schedule. We walked our bikes past a Millard Sheets mural on City Hall East, then sped past the former headquarters of The Times before taking on that brutal incline up First Street. Lopez, Condes, and Gilchrist reached the summit with ease.

A downhill path thankfully followed to the highlight of the tour: The Fort Moore Pioneer Memorial. An 80-foot-long waterfall cascaded into a shallow pool that Mayor Eric Garcetti should turn into a mini-Raging Waters. Towering over us were the largest bas relief military monuments in the United States.

Captions proclaimed the glories of the troops who helped to win the Southwest and the settlers who made Los Angeles a city  never mind that Mexicans founded Los Angeles in 1781.

Its an awe-inspiring, unironic monument to U.S. colonialism, Lopez said dryly.

This is gross, Gilchrist cracked.

Condes pointed out a smaller plaque. Lost among a dogpile of etched names was that of Daisuke Dike Nagano, a pioneering Japanese American architect who designed the Fort Moore monument.

Just a decade before he did this, he was in an internment camp, she said.

Lopez didn't even get into how whites regularly lynched Mexicans here  because I already knew that part, at least.

My guides wanted to push to Exposition Park, but my calves declined the invite. So we zipped through Chinatown before ending up in Olvera Street, long derided as a fake tourist trap and not spared a ding in Lopez's script.

Before us was something else: Latinos eating, shopping, and even posing on the areas infamous burro while wearing ponchos and bandoliers. Business was finally returning to the shopping district after months of coronavirus-caused shutdowns.

People make history real, Lopez said. People make it their own. We have to move forward together to make a better tomorrow.

She doesn't plan to offer any group rides until the coronavirus crisis is over, but you don't need to wait that long. Visit the Los Angeles Explorer Club's website, download the route and audio guide, and learn a better, fuller history about L.A. than whatever you learned back in high school.

But, just in case, make sure to work out those calves.
20:54 | Lima, Sep. 22.

In a prerecorded statement from Lima, Peru's top official took the stage online along with other world leaders on the General Debate of the UNGA held on September 22-29

The Head of State started by paying tribute to the victims of the novel coronavirus.





"In these difficult circumstances for mankind, allow me to extend, on behalf of the people and the Government of Peru, our full solidarity and our sympathies to those who as a result of COVID-19 have lost loved ones, family members, friends, colleagues, and to those who are on the front line and have given everything, even their own lives: doctors, nurses, politicians, and soldiers," he expressed.





"I also pay tribute and express thanks to those who continue to fight every day, far from their families, in order to save lives at the risk of losing their own. We reaffirm our commitment to continue undaunted in our joint efforts to wage war against this unprecedented health crisis," he added.





The statesman acknowledged the seriousness and the magnitude of the pandemic, as well as the unfamiliar and highly contagious nature of COVID-19.





"No one is safe unless we are all safe. Therefore, we encourage everyone to join us in this struggle as we work together effectively recognizing that a vaccine and a treatment for this virus are global public goods, as well as guaranteeing timely and fair access to necessary medications and equipment to tackle the pandemic," he said.





In this sense, the leader mentioned that it is urgent to achieve global agreements on these basic goals because "these will strengthen the underpinning of the multilateral system and ensure compliance with our commitment, which we adopted in 2015 to leave no one behind."





"We had to combat corruption rings in defense of democratic governance, and now we are fighting the unexpected and devastating COVID-19 pandemic," he noted.





Being aware of the social gaps and the historic weaknesses in the healthcare system, the President said his "administration was one of the first in the region to adopt strong measures to contain the spread of COVID-19. These measures have saved thousands of lives despite the very high and painful death rates and contagion rates."





Therefore, "we are now able to reverse decades of backsliding in our infrastructure and investment in public health. We have done our utmost to contain the illness and at the same time we are strengthening our response capacity. Six months after taking on this struggle, the contagion figures and death figures due to COVID-19 are beginning to drop sharply in Peru, and we are firmly committed in Peru that we will continue with these actions to the very end."



Corruption





President Vizcarra underlined that "we are waging an all-out war against the scourge of corruption, with a series of national reforms to transform institutions that need change."





"In support of these efforts, and given the nature of this scourge, it is through our strong conviction that we along with the Heads of State and Governments in the hemisphere adopted the Lima Commitment at the Summit of the Americas in 2018 in order to ensure democratic governance against corruption, as well as to increase our obligations and strengthen cooperation in our continent," he said.





Similarly, the top official underlined that Peru along with Colombia and other friendly countries have called for a Special General Assembly of the United Nations to Combat Corruption, which will be held in June 2021.





In this sense, "we hope that a clear and action-oriented political statement will be adopted, which will make international judicial assistance and cooperation even more affective."





"We are facing corruption, which involves considerable assets, and we encourage anti-corruption legislation in both the private sector and among legal entities, among other measures," he indicated.





Elections





Likewise, Mr. Vizcarra recalled that he had become President of the Republic two and a half years ago supported by the Constitution and following the resignation of his predecessor Pedro Pablo Kuczynski.





Within this framework, the leader mentioned that during this time in office the Peruvian people and his administration together have faced a number of critical situations.





Therefore, he said his administration's response has been built "on a constitutional basis strictly abiding by the law and fundamental rules, as well as acknowledging the sense of urgency ()."





Furthermore, the top official mentioned that under a commitment to the rule of law general elections will be held in April 2021, adding that he will end his time in office in accordance with the Constitution by handing over the office to his successor on July 28, 2021, the day on which Peru will celebrate its Independence Bicentennial.





Moreover, Mr. Vizcarra mentioned that the lessons learned throughout this crisis have led his government to convene the Peru Pact a democratic form for reflection within the National Agreement in order to generate consensus among politicians and citizens.





He explained that said pact focuses on 5 specific issues to promote a renewed agenda for governance as the nation heads into the Bicentennial. They are: Building a unified healthcare system, guaranteeing quality education, boosting economic growth, reforming the justice administration system, as well as combating poverty and extreme poverty.





Economy





The Head of State acknowledged that despite the macroeconomic strength of Peru the pandemic has shown inequalities and structural weaknesses in the informal sector.





As a response, he said his administration is implementing the greatest recovery and support plan in the history of the Republic, adding that it is one of the greatest plans in the region.





"We have investment equaling 20% of our GDP: the plan includes subsidies, liquidity measures, tax relief to support family consumption, as well as to keep people employed and ensure a constant payment chain. This will benefit 8.5 million household and more than 700,000 businesses, 90% of which are micro, small and medium-sized enterprises," he underlined.





The Government has also designed measures for public spending in order to carry out projects to generate and recover one million jobs. "Similarly, we are speeding up our infrastructure projects through contract modalities from government to government."





"We have taken these decisive measures to counter COVID-19, and they will be the underpinning of our rapid and secure recovery. We believe that an increase in GDP in 2021 will be 10%, and by 2022 we will reach levels that we had prior to the pandemic," he underlined.





As we face this crisis, the 2030 Agenda remains the roadmap that should guide the nation's decisions to meet these challenges that have been even more complex due to the pandemic, he said.
The petition also sought an enquiry by NIA into the matter as the persons allegedly promoting the messages in relation to Khalistan are from outside the country

A PIL has been moved in the Delhi High Court seeking action against social media platform Twitter for being allegedly involved in conspiracy to promote anti-India propaganda such as Khalistan movement.

The matter was listed for hearing before a bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan which on Wednesday recused from hearing it and directed that the petition be listed before another division bench on 30 September.

The plea has contended that some "promoted handles" on Twitter''s platform were being allegedly used for promoting an agenda for a separate Khalistan.

According to the petition by Sangeeta Sharma, promoted handles are those from which Twitter generates revenue.

In her plea, filed through advocates Desh Ratan Nigam and Awanish Sinha, she has sought lodging a case against Twitter and its representatives in India under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the provisions of IPC dealing with sedition and waging war against the country and under the Information Technology Act.

The petition also seeks an enquiry by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into the matter as the persons allegedly promoting the messages in relation to Khalistan are from outside the country.

It has also sought that the revenue generated by Twitter from India should be taxed here.

The petition also seeks a direction to Twitter to share its source code with the Indian government.
Former Cambodia National Rescue Party official Oeur Narith was released on Monday after being questioned for two days in police custody, labeling the detention as an attempt to intimidate him.

Oeur Narith, who was an assistant to former CNRP vice presidents Mu Sochua and Eng Chhai Eang, was arrested Saturday afternoon near Calmette Hospital in Phnom Penhs Daun Penh District, he told VOA Khmer on Tuesday. Police informed him that the questioning was related to an old, personal financial dispute.

It is an old case from 2012, Narith said, not wanting to divulge details of the dispute. I am no longer implicated in that case because I think it is over and nothing more after we have resolved that.

Oeur Nariths questioning in the most recent in a long line of arrests, convictions, and intimidation of officials and supporters of the dissolved CNRP. Close to two dozen former party officials have been arrested or convicted in recent months, mostly on alleged incitement charges. Additionally, a similar number of youth and rights activists have been arrested since August for protesting the arrest of prominent unionist Rong Chhun.

As he was escorted to the Phnom Penh Municipal Police headquarters, Oeur Narith said he was asked to hand over his belongings, including his mobile phones for police scrutiny.

I thought about it over and over and came to the conclusion that I would not take a chance because I was worried that my bank information and online passwords were all in the [phone]. So, I decided to throw my phone and break it, Narith said.

The police then accused Narith of attempting to destroy evidence, he said, and that they started questioning him about his involvement with the funds used to provide financial support to jailed political activists and for training he held for young participants at his newly-opened cafe near Phnom Penhs Central Market.

His belongings were searched and his laptop was analyzed by cybersecurity official, he said, before his release Monday afternoon.

They demanded that I sign and thumbprint a contract promising to not gather or mobilize young people or former jailed activists, Oeur Narith said. They told me that I would be on their radar and my activities and movements will be under surveillance.

Oeur Narith was previously arrested after violence broke out between CNRP supporters and Daun Penh district security guards in July 2014. He was charged with insurrection and released on bail a week later, following the easing of political tensions between Prime Minister Hun Sen and then-CNRP president Sam Rainsy in July 2014.

However, after the CNRPs campaign to scrutinize the Cambodian Peoples Party governments handling of border demarcation along the Vietnam border, which included 2,000 supporters going to the border in Svay Rieng province, Oeur Narith and several other CNRP activists and officials were convicted and sentenced from 7 to 20 years in jail.

The former CNRP official was pardoned after the 2018 national elections, in which the CPP won all 125 seats in the National Assembly.

Nariths detention took place as former CNRP leader Sam Rainsy announced on Saturday another promise to return to Cambodia, after his first attempt was unsuccessful in November 2019, on account of travel bans, threats, border blockades by the Cambodian government.

San Sokseiha, a principal assistant to the Phnom Penh Municipal Police Chief Sar Thet, confirmed the detention and interrogation of Oeur Narith.

He was initially brought in for questioning over a financial issue, but after he gave his testimony, we seemed to not find anything to press charges and we released him, San Sokseiha told VOA Khmer.

It was related to borrowing, he said when asked for details, declining to answer further.

Am Sam Ath, deputy director at local rights group Licadho, said Nariths arrest and release was a matter of concern.
The defence ministers of Finland, Norway and Sweden signed a joint Statement of Intent (SOI) when convening in Lakselv, Norway on Wednesday, announcing wider military cooperation, according to the Finnish Ministry of Defence, Trend reports citing Xinhua.

Signed by the ministers Antti Kaikkonen of Finland, Frank Bakke-Jensen of Norway and Peter Hultqvist of Sweden, the SOI defined the level of the joint aims of the three countries. It outlined the common ambition of the three countries as "to be able and ready to conduct operations in crisis and conflict if so decided."

"In order to improve our interoperability and readiness to give military support between us, we will undertake the necessary preparations, aiming at enhancing our defence capability and serve as a deterrent from aggression," the SOI noted.

The SOI noted that it is not "a legally binding commitment under national or international law" and does not "substitute for or invalidate any existing defence agreements, arrangements or memoranda of understanding among the participants."

Finnish Defence Minister Kaikkonen noted in the press release that the defence cooperation between the three countries supports the aims of the wider Nordic Defence Cooperation (NORDEFCO) to work together in the conditions "of conflict, a crisis or peace."

NORDEFCO is a collaboration among the Nordic countries in the area of defense. Its five members are Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden.

Kaikkonen said that the cooperation between the three complements the current cooperation between Finland and Sweden, and the bilateral cooperation between Finland and Norway.

Kaikkonen told the Finnish News Agency STT that the trilateral agreement does not change the relationship of Finland or Sweden to NATO. Finland and Sweden are enhanced cooperation partners of NATO, while Norway is a member.
A group of armed men apologised to a family after invading their home and realising they were in the wrong house.

Samuel and Lupe Aukuso were watching television with their baby daughter and three-year-old son in their home on Mendana Street in Lethbridge Park in Sydney's west at 10:40pm on Monday.

Suddenly the lights went off, prompting the Mr Aukuso, 29, to go outside to the power box and turn it back on.

But the young father was followed back inside by two masked men, one of which was armed with a handgun, while another man stood guard outside.



Speaking to Nine News, Mr Aukuso said he and his family were 'really scared' that the men were going to shoot them.

'I felt it, there was someone watching me. When I came back in, those two guys, big guys, they enter the house and almost laid hands on me,' he said.

'It was really scary, my wife was screaming, my kids were too.

'They were about do do it, maybe they were about to shoot us. I saw him looking at my kids, then they looked at me and then they suddenly stopped like that.

'He said 'Sorry uce, wrong house' and then I saw him putting away a gun. I don't if it was a gun or a knife but I think it was a handgun, he put it back in his back pocket before he said that.'

Uce is short for uso, which is a Samoan word for brother or sister, depending on gender. In this case, it meant brother.

Parents Samuel (left) and Lupe Aukuso (right) with their three-year-old son and baby daughter. The family were 'really scared' when masked men stormed into their house on Monday night

After realising their mistake and apologising, the men drove off in a Toyota hatchback.

No one in the Aukoso family was injured and no property was taken.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Tickner from Mount Druitt Police believes the home invaders were after the previous tenants, who may have been drug dealers.

'Upon realising the people in the house didn't appear to be the people they were looking for they apologised and left the scene,' Mr Tickner said.

'Unfortunately, the people in the house prior to these people appear to be involved in some kind of drug activity.'

The previous tenants of the house moved out more than a year ago.
By Trend

By the initiative of the Azerbaijan Insurers Association (AIA), a group of insurance experts have been created in Azerbaijan, the AIA told Trend.

The group includes experts of the insurance companies that are the members of the AIA.

There are experts in all AIAs member companies, who can be contacted for any information in the field of insurance, the association noted.

At the initial stage, a group of 30 people was organized on the basis of the division of professional insurers in different directions, said the AIA.

"The creation of the group is aimed to minimize the number of inaccurate and perplexing information in public about the insurance system, the correct organization of information policy related to insurance in the country, the provision of information about insurance by qualified insurers," the AIA noted.

In order to get information from a skillful expert in the insurance sector, it is enough to contact the AIA at [email protected], the association added.

--
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Linkedin Dzulfiqar Fathur Rahman (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, September 23, 2020 07:49 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c468ade0 1 Business Agriculture-Ministry,2021-state-budget,farmers,national-economic-recovery-program,NTP Free

House of Representatives Commission IV approved on Monday a vastly increased Agriculture Ministry budget that is aimed at supporting the national economic recovery from the slump caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The budget of Rp 21.83 trillion (US$1.48 billion) marks an increase of around 50 percent from the ministrys 2020 budget of Rp 14.06 trillion.

The Agricultural Infrastructure and Facilities Directorate General will get the largest share of the budget with an allocation of Rp 5.27 trillion, followed by the Food Crops Directorate General with Rp 4.91 trillion and the Animal Husbandry Directorate General with Rp 2.13 trillion.

This budget was approved in farmers interest, Suhardi Duka, a House member from the Democratic Party, was quoted as saying in a statement on Monday.

Hence, we have to make sure farmers will not face any more difficulties. We have to give whatever they need, because this is about the national interest, said Suhardi, who represents West Sumatra in Commission IV, which oversees agriculture, forestry, maritime affairs, fisheries and food.

The budget approval comes at a time when the Agriculture Ministry claimed success in keeping the sector growing at 2.19 percent year-on-year (yoy) in the second quarter, while most sectors were down following the coronavirus restrictions. The agriculture sectors growth was mainly propelled by the shift in the peak of the rice harvest season from March to April.

However, farmers terms of trade (NTP) once fell to 99.47 in May, indicating farmers welfare got worse as their expenses exceeded their income two months after the pandemic started in the country. The NTP rose to 100.65 in August, marking an improvement in farmers welfare.

I hope the NTP can improve gradually and thus create prosperity for the farmers, said Suhardi.

The Agriculture Ministry is also allocating Rp 723 million for developing service centers and warehouses to maintain agricultural machines and tools in 18 villages, respectively.

The criteria for the location and potential recipients of the assistance for the development of agricultural tools and machines service centers include considerations of the location of activities in agricultural production centers in several Indonesian regencies, said Sarwo Edhy, the director general of agricultural infrastructure and facilities at the ministry.

[It also takes into consideration] their willingness to utilize, manage and optimize the assistance as well as their responsibility for using and maintaining the assistance for the development of agricultural tools and machine service centers they get, he added.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Salman Khurshid, CPM leader Brinda Karat and Udit Raj were among politicians who gave provocative speeches during the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), alleged Delhi police in the charge sheet filed in connection with the February riots here.

Police have referted to former Congress Councillor Ishrat Jahan and a protected witness in a case related to the north east Delhi riots and said that they told about the speeches in their disclosure statements given to the them.

The charge sheet said that the protected witness have stated in the statement recorded, under section 161 (examination by police) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, that several big names like politician Udit Raj, Khurshid, Karat had come to the Khureji protest site and gave "provocative speech".

"Several big names used to come to the Khureji site to give speeches against CAA/NPR (National Population Register)/NRC (National Register for Citizens), like Udit Raj, Salman, Khurshid, Brinda Karat, Umar Khalid (former JNU student leader)...," the witness alleged.

ALSO READ | Delhi riots: Death of Head Constable Ratan Lal among casuaities police suffered

The charge sheet further said that Jahan, in her disclosure statement, alleged that in order to sustain the anti-CAA protests, several known persons like Khurshid, filmmaker Rahul Roy and Bhim Army member Himanshu were called by her and activist Khalid Saifi on the instructions of Jamia Coordination Committee (JCC).

"In order to sustain the protest for a long time, several known persons were called by me and Khalid Saifi on the instructions of JCC, like Salman Kurshid, (filmmaker) Rahul Roy, Bhim Army member Himanshu, Chandan Kumar... gave provocative speeches because of which all the people sitting in the protest used to get instigated against the government," Jahan said according to her disclosure statement.

ALSO READ | Ex-judges hit out at civil society members who criticized probe into Delhi riots

The disclosure statement of Saifi stated that during the anti-CAA protests held in January 2020 "Swaraj Abhiyan leader Yogender Yadav, (senior advocate) Prashant Bhushan, Salman Kurshid...also used to come to these speeches."

The supplementary disclosure statement of Saifi, which was a part of the charge sheet, stated that in order to sustain the protest for a longer time several known persons like Khurshid, JNU student Sharjeel Imam, JCC member Meeran Haider were called to the Khureji protest site.

"In order to sustain the protest for a longer time several known persons like Kurshid, Sharjeel Imam, Meeran Haider etc were called to the Khureji protest site by me and Ishrat Jahan," he said in his disclosure statement.

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.
Soldiers choose military outfits in the supermarket for military outfits precision distribution at the Naval Submarine Academy.

By Yuan Xingtao and Zhang Yifei

QINGDAO, Sept. 23 -- PLA Navy's first supermarket for military outfits precision distribution has been set up in the Navy Submarine Academy. It is the outcome of a pilot program initiated by the naval logistics departments to explore the precise supply of outfits characterized by "simultaneous applying and receiving".

The supermarket offers in-place measurement and personal outfits application information enquiry at the shopping guide area . In the shopping area, a variety of military outfits including uniforms, underclothes and shoes are available. Soldiers can finally check out by self-service code scanning at the exit.

Meanwhile, the warehouseman would be informed with the inventory changes through a warehouse management system and calculate the necessary replenishments in time, in this way precision and convenience would be ensured.

"The one-stop outfits distributing mode is innovative and flexible with high efficiency. Compared with the traditional centralized distributing mode, it can decrease the transportation and delivery pressure, improve support efficiency, and reduce management costs", said Zhu Lin, director of the logistics support center of the academy.

Since the pilot operation in early July, naval officers and men in the academy have got outfits of more than 400 sets (pieces) in 25 categories from the military outfit supermarket.

It is learnt that the PLA Navy has scheduled to expand the scope of the pilot program and more such military outfit supermarket will be set up in military units boasting complete warehouse infrastructure and accessible local logistics.
RTHK: Alexei Navalny discharged from German hospital

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been released from a Berlin hospital after more than a month's treatment for poisoning, with doctors now believing that a complete recovery from the nerve agent is possible, the facility said Wednesday.

Navalny spent 32 days in treatment in Berlin's Charite hospital, 24 of which were in intensive care, before doctors deemed his condition had improved sufficiently for him to be discharged from acute inpatient care.

As he was released, the 44-year-old displayed his characteristic sarcastic sense of humor. In an Instagram post, he took swipe at Vladimir Putin, scoffing at reported comments by the Russian president suggesting he might have intentionally poisoned himself.

Navalny, Putins most visible opponent, was flown to Germany two days after falling ill on August 20 on a domestic flight in Russia.

German chemical weapons experts have determined he was poisoned with the Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok, with the findings corroborated by labs in France and Sweden.

The hospital said that based on Navalny's progress, treating physicians believe that a complete recovery is possible, but added that it remains too early to gauge the potential long-term effects of his severe poisoning.

During his convalescence, Navalny has in recent days been posting regular photos from the hospital on Instagram, first showing him sitting up in his bed surrounded by his family, then up and about in the building.

In his post on Tuesday night accompanied by a close-up photo, he laughed off reports that Putin suggested to French President Emmanuel Macron in a call that he might have swallowed the poison himself.

Good theory, I believe it deserves the most careful attention, Navalny wrote in Russian.

Cooked Novichok in the kitchen. Took a sip from a flask on the plane. Fell into a coma.

He wryly wrote then the ultimate aim of my cunning plan must have been to die in Siberia, where the cause of death would be lived long enough.

But Putin outmanoeuvred me. You cant fool him, Navalny wrote. As a result, I lay in coma for 18 days like a fool, but didnt get my way. The provocation failed!

The nerve agent used in the attack was the same class of Soviet-era agent that Britain said was used on former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury, England, in 2018, and Chancellor Angela Merkel and other world leaders have called on Russia to fully investigate.

Navalny was kept in an induced coma for more than two weeks as he was treated with an antidote. Members of his team accused the Kremlin of involvement in the poisoning, charges that Russian officials have vehemently denied.

Russia has bristled at the demands for an investigation, saying it needs Germany to share medical data or compare notes with the Russian doctors who said they found no trace of poison in his system while he was at a hospital in the Siberian city of Omsk.

Germany has noted that Navalny was in Russian treatment for 48 hours, and that Russia has its own data.

Germany has also enlisted the Hague-based Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) for technical assistance in the case.

Last week, the international agency said its experts had  independently collected biomedical samples from Mr Navalny for analysis by OPCW designated laboratories

Results have not yet been announced.

The Charite statement was released in consultation with Navalny and his wife, and the hospital would not comment further on whether he would continue to receive outpatient care there.

Navalny's team has said he eventually plans to return to Russia, but had no immediate statement after his release from the hospital. (AP)

This story has been published on: 2020-09-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
The Bombay high court (HC) recently granted pre-arrest bail to a man booked for allegedly assaulting a government servant at the gram panchayat office in Pune district, where he had gone after he failed to get a bed for his Covid-19 positive mother. The HC, while allowing his application, observed that anxious moments in the lives of near ones who have tested positive for Covid-19 lead to unexpected behaviour during a pandemic and directed the man to be released on bail on condition that he contribute 10,000 to the Chief Ministers (CM) Relief Fund.

On September 18, the single-judge bench of justice Bharati Dangre, while hearing the anticipatory bail application of Swapnil Lande, a resident of Somatane village in Pune district, was informed by advocate Pranav Bhoite that his clients mother had tested positive for Covid-19 on July 25. Bhoite said that as no beds were available in the dedicated Covid hospitals, Lande had no option but to keep his mother in home-quarantine. However, as all the village residents urged him to admit his mother to some hospital, he went in search of a vacant bed in the government hospital.

However, as he was unsuccessful in securing a bed, he turned to a private hospital which asked him to deposit 1 lakh as advance. Bhoite submitted that as Lande was not able to arrange for the funds, when he came to know that some government officials were going to visit the gram panchayat office on July 27, he reached the office for redressal of his grievance but was denied an opportunity to meet the visiting officials.

Bhoite added that while Lande was at the office, the driver of an official restrained him from entering the office and humiliated and abused him. He was thereafter locked in the office. In light of these submissions, Bhoite sought anticipatory bail as the driver had complained against him.

Assistant public prosecutor Suraj Hulke objected to the application and said that as per the complaint of the driver, he had taken the officials to the gram panchayat office to survey the spike in Covid cases in the region. While he was parking the vehicle, an unknown person was shouting and insisted that his mother should get treatment. The complaint further stated that the driver tried to stop the applicant as the survey work was underway, and Landes interference resulted in deterring public servants from discharging their duty.

After hearing the submissions, justice Dangre noted, It can very well be assumed that the applicant was anxious to get treatment for his mother, who was detected positive and the complainant [driver] wanted to keep a distance from him since his family member was positive.

The bench said that the applicant did not have any intention of deterring the public servant from discharging duties, but for the anxiety to get treatment to his mother, he might have overstepped his limits.

The pandemic situation, which has brought the entire world to its knees, is witnessed by one and all. The anxious moments in the lives of near and dear ones, who have tested positive can lead to an unprecedented situation and unexpected behaviour, said the judge.

While observing that custodial interrogation of the applicant was not required, the bench said that Lande had to take responsibility for his actions. He must pay the price for his irresponsible behaviour since it is a well-known fact that it is the endeavour of the government machinery with its limited resources to cater to the needs of the public in the pandemic situation, and the government is attempting to do its level best, said justice Dangre.

The court then directed Lande to deposit 10,000 with the CM Relief Fund within four weeks and said that in the event of his arrest, he should be released on furnishing a personal bond of 20,000 with sureties.
Starting in 2021: every year, a city in Europe will takes centre stage in moves designed to improve democracy, supported by international organisations and civil society

- High-profile mayors and other leading politicians launch a Europe-wide initiative - instigated by the Innovation in Politics Institute - aimed at innovating and strengthening democracy so that it will prevail against the threats it currently faces. Heavyweights from politics, civil society, business and the arts are joining in.

- Impact: across borders and party lines, the best minds in politics and civil society - and those who want to join them - are mobilising in order to strengthen democracy in Europe. They will be starting new initiatives at local level, showcasing best practice and joining forces with peers.

- Each year, a jury of over 10,000 European citizens will select the city to be designated the European Capital of Democracy, from a shortlist compiled by experts.

VIENNA, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Mayors from more than 15 European countries launched the European Capital of Democracy initiative on Friday in Vienna. From autumn 2021, each year a European city will receive this title and commit to starting new projects geared towards strengthening democracy in its sphere. The main topics of the annual programme will be new technologies, climate change, citizen participation and education.

International organisations and foundations will be invited to stage their own activities in the selected city, such as youth gatherings, fairs or culture festivals. "Democracy is under attack, and now it is striking back. Each European Capital of Democracy will become the place to be for people in Europe who want democracy to become stronger - across party lines and national borders," the head of the initiative, career diplomat Helfried Carl, predicts.

The initiative was launched under the patronage of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejcinovic Buric, and European Commission Vice-President Dubravka Suica, at the invitation of the Mayor of Vienna, Michael Ludwig.

The initiative has already gained the backing of mayors and other leading politicians from numerous cities:

Michael Ludwig , Mayor of Vienna, Austria

, Mayor of Kostas Bakoyannis, Mayor of Athens, Greece

Aleksandra Dulkiewicz , Mayor of Gdansk, Poland

, Mayor of Gdansk, Yordanka Fandakova, Mayor of Sofia, Bulgaria

Peter Feldmann , Lord Mayor of Frankfurt, Germany

, Lord Mayor of Zdenek Hrib, Lord Mayor of Prague, Czech Republic

Ekrem Imamoglu, Mayor of Istanbul, Turkey

Gergely Karacsony, Lord Mayor of Budapest, Hungary

Hermano Sanches Ruivo , Deputy Mayor for European Affairs, Paris, France

, Deputy Mayor for European Affairs, Rafal Trzaskowski, Mayor of Warsaw, Poland

Matus Vallo, Mayor of Bratislava, Slovakia

Erion Veliaj , Mayor of Tirana, Albania

At the launch in Vienna - which was switched to a digital format due to the COVID-19 pandemic - the mayors presented their vision for the initiative.

How cities will be selected: each application must include the city's self-evaluation of its democratic track record and an outline for a year-long programme aimed at strengthening and broadening democratic practices. Based on transparent criteria, a group of experts will draw up a shortlist from all applicants. Finally, a jury of 10,000 citizens, representative of the European population, will select the title holder from the year 2023 onwards.

"In the first two years, 2021 and 2022, while we are developing the extensive selection process, two cities will lead the way in bringing this initiative to life and showcasing what is expected from future title holders. We will present these cities by the end of this year," says Helfried Carl, outlining the next steps.

What European Capitals of Democracy do: the cities that hold the title will work on two levels. Firstly, they will implement their own programmes. Each city will develop, curate and organise a wide range of activities and events together with civil society, citizens and local partners. Citizens and politicians from other European countries will then be invited to experience these efforts first-hand and to participate. Secondly, the cities will serve as the stage for European discourse on strengthening democracy, hosting various initiatives, projects and events organised together with The Innovation in Politics Institute and other international organisations and foundations.

Programme focused on four main topics: technology, climate change, education and participation: the programme envisaged for the first Capitals of Democracy will focus on four key topics. A "technology track" will concentrate on the challenges and opportunities for our democracies resulting from the digital revolution, including artificial intelligence and disinformation. In the "participation track," the Capital of Democracy will implement new measures to improve citizen participation, such as citizens' assemblies and participatory budgeting. As climate change will be a major factor in democratic developments, each city is encouraged to feature inspiring flagship projects aimed at addressing this problem. And in the "education track," schools from other cities and countries will be able to participate in activities in the European Capital of Democracy, both on site and online.

Helfried Carl describes the long-term goal of the initiative: "An increasing number of politicians and citizens are asking themselves what can be done to improve democracy. With our initiative, we will create a space where innovators from all over Europe can meet every year, share best practice and start new forms of democratic engagement. To survive, democracy has to advance. This is what the cities participating in the initiative will aim for."

Press photos and quotes from participating mayors: https://innovationinpolitics.eu/en/press/ecod/

Contact for inquiries:

Robert Schafleitner

The Innovation in Politics Institute

media@innovationinpolitics.eu

+43 660 628 30 77
Mumbai Indians have won the 5th match of IPL 2020 by 49 runs, Kolkata Knight Riders were restricted for a total of 146 runs for 9 wickets in their quota of 20 overs. Pat Cummins was the highest scorer with 33 runs. The highest partnership of the innings was between Dinesh Karthik and Nitish Rana who contributed 46 runs to the innings.

Jasprit Bumrah bowled the 16th over of the innings and kept things tight, conceding just 2 runs from the over along with 2 wickets.

10 runs and a wicket came off the 17th over of the innings bowled by Trent Boult where he kept things tight.

Jasprit Bumrah bowled the 18th over of the innings and gave away 27 runs off the over.

3 runs and a wicket came off the 19rd over of the innings bowled by James Pattinson where he kept things tight.

Rahul Chahar bowled the 20th over of the innings and kept things tight, conceding just 4 runs from the over along with a wicket.

That brings us to the end of the match. MI will now face RCB at Dubai whereas Kolkata Knight Riders will meet SRH in their respective next matches.

Follow live score and updates from IPL
Two posts for U.S. military veterans in Newton have closed after at least two people tested positive for the coronavirus.

Newton VFW Post 5360 announced on Wednesday that is closed until further notice and American Legion Post 86 plans to reopen Oct. 3, according to separate Facebook posts from the organizations.

The two who tested positive were at the VFW on Sept. 12, when the post held a takeout-only barbecue chicken fundraiser.

The Chicken BBQ, Sept 12, at Newton VFW, was take out only. The person who tested positive (post 86 member) went to the... Posted by Newton VFW Post 5360 on Wednesday, September 23, 2020

An American Legion member who was present that day but only went to the pavilion, where tickets were being sold but no food was allowed, later tested positive for coronavirus, the VFW said in a Facebook announcement on Wednesday. No date was provided.

The person who tested positive gave no contact tracing information, so no one was contacted, the post stated.

Several people on board that day tested voluntarily and are negative for Covid while one VFW member tested positive this weekend. This Saturday will mark 2 weeks. We have not heard of additional reports of Covid, or symptoms. We pray for everyone to stay well, and commit our priorities to our community, the VFW stated.

The VFWs announcement followed a statement on Tuesday from the American Legion  that some people who attended the fundraiser had tested positive and that members from both posts had gathered at the American Legion on Friday.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!!!! We have recently been informed that there were some people who attended the Chicken BBQ at... Posted by American Legion Post 86, Newton, New Jersey on Tuesday, September 22, 2020

We strongly recommend that if you attended the Chicken BBQ at the VFW or visit Club 86 since Friday and you start showing signs of the virus to have yourself tested. Protect yourself as well as the people around you. Be safe and stay healthy, the post stated.

Additional information was not immediately provided by the town of Newton and the Sussex County health department.

The Newton VFW is located on Mill Street, about 2 1/2 miles from the American Legion hall on Yates Avenue.

Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust.

Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com.
By John Chalmers and Robin Emmott

BRUSSELS, Sept 23 (Reuters) - The European Union is unlikely to follow through on a threat to impose sanctions on Turkey after Ankara agreed to talks with Greece over maritime claims on Tuesday, senior EU diplomats and officials said.

But the progress left an internal EU dispute over Belarus unresolved - Cyprus, which - backed by Greece - is at odds with Turkey over maritime energy resources, is blocking EU sanctions on Minsk until the bloc takes a tougher stance towards Ankara.

The fate of proposed sanctions on some 40 senior Belarusian officials is up in the air, eroding EU credibility as it seeks to support a pro-democracy movement in Belarus after its Aug. 9 election that the West says was rigged.

EU sanctions require the support of all 27 member states.

"I'm afraid that, as things stand right now, we will have to insist on Belarus. It's the only weapon that we have," a Cypriot diplomat told Reuters, saying that the EU had not left Cyprus with a diplomatic way out of the impasse.

Mediation led by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and European Council President Charles Michel has calmed Greek and Turkish tempers after weeks of tension in the eastern Mediterranean, securing an agreement on Tuesday to restart talks on continental shelf boundaries that broke off in 2016.

"Dialogue has reduced the need to threaten sanctions on Turkey and so there's no consensus among the 27 for such a step right now," said one EU diplomat.

Turkey's decision to pull a seismic exploration ship out of disputed waters was seen as helpful. A postponement of Thursday's EU summit in Brussels, due to focus on Turkey, has also served to allow more time, a second diplomat said.

The summit, which was put off due to a coronavirus incident in Michel's security detail, will now take place on Oct. 1-2.

Turkey began drilling for oil and gas near Cyprus last year despite warnings from Brussels, amid broader fears of a military escalation in the eastern Mediterranean as Greece and Turkey - who are NATO allies but estranged for years over myriad bilateral disputes - held naval drills in the area.

Cyprus proposed in June to impose sanctions on Turkish companies and individuals involved in drilling but many EU states say such measures would derail diplomacy.

"The Turks are playing a clever game. Being more engaging towards Greece, they are trying to drive a wedge between the other members and us," the Cypriot diplomat said. "We seem to have been left by the wayside." (Writing by Robin Emmott Editing by Mark Heinrich)
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- The landmark peace deal between Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain is great news in terms of constructing a regional coalition against Iran. It may also help convince the Palestinians that they are no longer at the center of Arab politics, and bring them to the negotiating table. It perhaps gives the administration of President Donald Trump a minor talking point that wont really matter to most Americans.

But the most complex and controversial aspect is that the deal may create the conditions for massive U.S. arms sales  including fifth-generation fighter aircraft  to Arab nations, beginning with the UAE. While Trump said he has no problem selling the advanced planes to an Arab nation, it raises legitimate concerns for Israels security.

Lets start with the importance of the F-35 Lightning, also known as the Joint Strike Fighter. It is the dominant combat aircraft in the world today, bar none. (Disclosure: I have consulted in the past for Northrop Grumman, one of the subcontractors.) It has a highly stealthy profile, advanced human-machine interfaces and powerful command-and-control features that integrate it into broader combat networks.

Israel is one of the key international partners in the program; it received its first F-35s in 2016 and plans to purchase 50 or more.

The problem with providing the F-35 and associated combat systems to Arab states, at least with all their technological capabilities, is that it might erode Israels qualitative military edge, or QME  an assurance from the U.S. that it will not sell its most advanced weapons to Israels potential military opponents.

There is precedent going back to the Camp David accords in the 1970s of giving advanced military technology to Arab states  Israels then-enemies Jordan and Egypt. Opponents of any new sale in Congress and Israel, however, correctly point to U.S. law on the matter, which guarantees that Washington will not allow the QME to be weakened.

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The Emiratis, whose interests in Washington are skillfully represented by Ambassador Yusef Al Otaibi, say that a new deal would be exactly that  a new arrangement for a new era. They point out that unlike Egypt and Jordan, they have never attacked Israel.

What are the biggest considerations in deciding whether any sale should go forward?

First, the U.S. must look at how the technology that would be shared in an F-35 sale would be protected. When I was supreme allied commander of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, we were negotiating F-35 sales to the European allies, and the first conversation was always about security issues.

These included physical protection of hangars and airfields, and of any manufacturing conducted in a foreign country; the guidelines under which the maintenance process would be conducted; what cybersecurity barriers would be in place; and the reliability of the security-clearance process for all those in possession of the technology (from commanders to pilots to wrench-turning jet mechanics).

A second factor in the U.S. decision is the regional geopolitics. The UAE has been a reliable contributor to U.S. and allied operations. Its forces played roles in the Balkans, Somalia, Afghanistan, Libya and against the Islamic State. As NATO commander, I was deeply impressed by the Emiratis military professionalism, especially during the Libyan campaign. My counterpart at U.S. Central Command (and future defense secretary), General Jim Mattis, called the UAE little Sparta.

While Washington has broadly opposed the UAEs participation in the Saudi-led military campaign against rebels in Yemen, the overall alignment between the nations is high.

Providing the Emiratis with advanced weaponry would not only strengthen the alliance against Iran, it would help avoid arms-sales competition from Russia and China. A cautionary example is the purchase by Turkey, a NATO partner, of the S-400 anti-aircraft missile system from Russia, which will probably cost the Turks their participation in the F-35 program.

A third element is the so-called under the table relationship existing between UAE and Israel for more than a decade. As head of U.S. European Command, which includes the military relationship with Israel, I saw firsthand the nascent cooperation between the Israelis and the Sunni Arab states in Special Forces, air defense, cybersecurity and long-range surveillance. The F-35 deal, should it come to fruition, would seem to be a logical extension of that cooperation.

It could also be a magnet that eventually pulls Saudi Arabia into similar peace arrangements with Israel, and into high-tech arms deals with the U.S. This would have even more geopolitical advantage for Washington than the UAE deal.

Finally, the views in Israel must be considered. Domestic politics there are always fractious, and the coalition government does not seem fully aligned over bringing the UAE into the F-35 program. The sale probably has the blessing of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu  although he is denying it  but not of Defense Minister Benny Gantz, who under the complicated power-sharing agreement is slated to become prime minister late next year.

If all these political and foreign-policy considerations can be ironed out, the debate ultimately becomes a fairly technical military discussion. Would Israel possess superior military means, as the QME law stipulates, even after the F-35 becomes part of the Emiratis inventory?

The answer depends on the precise configuration of the F-35 that is sold to the UAE (there are several variations, and its possible to sell a version without all its advanced technology); the capabilities of Israelis air defenses (first rate now, and not entirely dependent on U.S. equipment); and the degree to which Israel and the UAE can set up integrated air-surveillance and communication systems.

I participated in these sorts of technical discussions at the Pentagon on several occasions. They can get emotional, and take months or even years. Conversations we had for several years with Brazil about technology transfer and sharing with the F-18 Hornet ultimately failed, and the Brazilians ultimately purchased Gripen fighters from Sweden. Yet the Trump administration seems motivated to declare victory on the deal before the November election.

This circled can be squared, but maintaining the QME will require the U.S. to increase its support to Israel more broadly. This can be done first by allowing accelerated procurement under the current Memorandum of Understanding  a 10-year agreement with the Israelis on aiding their overall security  which would bring not only the F-35 but also new F-15X fighters and KC-46 refueling tankers.

The U.S. could also increase the quantity and lethality of precision-guided munitions in the War Reserve Stocks, a cache of weaponry maintained by the U.S. inside Israel for use in an emergency.

Washington could increase the intelligence flow to Israel (already high, but not quite at the level of the Five Eyes program of English-speaking nations) and conduct more technology sharing in cybersecurity; cyberwarfare can provide enemies strong counters to new kinetic technology like the F-35. Finally, as the Israelis normalize relations with increasing numbers of their neighbors, Washington may want to sign a formal mutual defense treaty with Tel Aviv.

Given the rising threat of Iran, the U.S. would be smart to improve the UAEs defenses. But protecting commitments with Israel takes priority. It will be a complicated process, one that cant be rushed to meet the exigencies of the U.S. electoral calendar.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

James Stavridis is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He is a retired U.S. Navy admiral and former supreme allied commander of NATO, and dean emeritus of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. He is also an operating executive consultant at the Carlyle Group and chairs the board of counselors at McLarty Associates.

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion

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Trump: Biden Policy Threatens Oil Industry

President Donald Trump says a Biden government would threaten Pennsylvanias fossil fuel industry. Speaking at a rally in Pittsburgh, the president criticized the Democrats green new deal.

He called this election a matter of economic survival for the state, saying Democratic Presidential nominee Joe Biden does not want petroleum products.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Authorities allege that a 21-year-old man shot and tried to kill a 25-year-old man in Port Richmond last week.

Freddy Espinal, of John Street, fired a gun multiple times at about 9:10 p.m. on Sept. 17 at the corner of Heberton Avenue and Albion Place, according to the criminal complaint and police.

The victim was struck in the leg and required medical attention because of injuries that included excessive bleeding and substantial pain, according to the complaint.

The suspect and the victim were acquaintances, according to a source with knowledge of the investigation.

Espinal was arrested on the morning of Sept. 19 and has been charged with attempted murder, attempted assault, criminal possession of a weapon, assault and criminal possession of a firearm.

He has been remanded to jail and is due to appear in Criminal Court on Thursday, according to public records.

Attorney Mark Fonte said Espinal has been wrongly accused.

My client adamantly maintains his innocence, Fonte said. He had nothing whatsoever to do with this shooting. This case will ultimately be decided by a jury.

Police responded last Thursday night to a ShotSpotter activation in the vicinity of Heberton and Albion.

Shell casings were recovered, but police initially told the Advance/SILive.com that no injuries were reported in the immediate aftermath of the shooting.

Last Thursday night, a woman who was sitting outside her home with her two children and husband said she heard three or four shots but didnt know what happened.

Police used flashlights to search the lawn of an area home. Officers placed evidence markers on the ground near the corner of Heberton and Albion.

Heberton also was cordoned off with caution tape for a time during the emergency response.
Imelda Quiroz, a staff member of Mi Familia Vota, talks to a voter while door-knocking in Phoenix on Sept. 12. (Melissa Gomez / Los Angeles Times)

When Imelda Quiroz began knocking on doors this month in search of registered voters, one question would often lead to a glimpse of their daily struggles.

"How has the pandemic affected you?" she would prompt in English, sometimes in Spanish. She wanted to get a sense of how voters were doing and what issues were important to them ahead of the November election.

What Quiroz heard was an outpouring from people worried about paying next month's rent, electric or water bills. Parents were struggling with their children shifting to online learning without laptops or internet, she said.

Many had lost their jobs, Quiroz recalled on a Saturday afternoon as she walked among houses in a predominantly Latino Phoenix neighborhood. While knocking on doors for the nonprofit, nonpartisan group Mi Familia Vota, the Arizonan has met Republicans, Democrats and independents blindsided by the pandemic and economic crisis.

Advocacy groups returning to face-to-face outreach are finding a landscape changed by the coronavirus, and they have become lifelines, through food banks or passing along contacts for organizations that help with rent or utility bills. But often, canvassers said, people just want to be heard.

When I can, I give them information, Quiroz said, and when she can't, she sympathizes. "Because what they want is to talk."

Sometimes it's hard to know how to respond, she said. "Many are hopeless.

In Arizona, a key battleground state, outreach groups fear the crisis could suppress the vote among communities of color focused less on the election and more on surviving.

Were really a bit concerned that the pandemic is going to have an impact on voter registration and voting among Latinos, said Joseph Garcia, executive director of Chicanos Por La Causa Action Fund, noting the issues facing the community.

Latinos, who are being courted by both presidential campaigns, are often on the front lines of the pandemic as essential workers, and in Arizona they and Native Americans have been hospitalized at higher rates than other groups.

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Nationally, the unemployment rate for Latinos during the pandemic is worse than during the recession of the late 2000s, and 70% of Latinos surveyed in April by the Pew Research Center said they did not have emergency funds to cover expenses for the next three months.

"Its understandable that our families are very worried and focused on COVID," said Hector Sanchez Barba, CEO and executive director of Mi Familia Vota. But the disproportionate impact the virus has had on the community is a reason for voters to prioritize politics, he said. "This is why we must organize and raise our voices.

Because face-to-face outreach is important for Latinos and other voters of color, community leaders say, some nonprofits and politically aligned organizations have restarted door-knocking to reach communities often missed through online and digital outreach.

President Trump's reelection campaign has said that it has continued to hold meetups in the state for supporters, reaching thousands; campaign efforts for Democratic nominee Joe Biden have remained largely virtual as the former vice president said his campaign was following public health experts' guidelines during the pandemic.

Both campaigns are competing intensely in Arizona, which Trump won in 2016 by less than four points. Polling suggests Biden is ahead, and turnout among Latino voters could be key for Democrats in both the presidential election and the race between Republican Sen. Martha McSally and Democratic challenger Mark Kelly. A sharp rise in Latino voter turnout during the 2018 midterm election helped deliver Democrat Kyrsten Sinema a U.S. Senate seat, some say. She won 70% of the Latino vote.

These days, Mi Familia Vota canvassers have shifted their focus from surveying the community about the pandemic to educating voters on the candidates, a ballot measure on education funding, and reminding them to vote early and by mail. The group is still working to connect voters in need with help for domestic violence and mental illness and other concerns.

The organization wants to make the connection between voters' personal struggles and the importance of voting this year, said Eduardo Sainz, Mi Familia Vota's Arizona state director.

"Individuals are fed up, he said. They know that life could be better.

Other groups are also acting as intermediaries. The Arizona Coalition for Change partners with churches to pair voter registration and food drives. Our Voice, Our Vote, a progressive voter mobilization group, held mask giveaways and voter registration drives in Maricopa County.

Central Arizonans for a Sustainable Economy, or CASE, an organization focused on immigrant rights, economic justice and civic engagement, helped newly registered voters apply for unemployment benefits and set up a hardship fund to help service workers until they received benefits.

It's very hard to engage civically if you are disenfranchised because you have no economic stability, said Rachel Sulkes, communications director for CASE, echoing a core message for the group.

Karen Hernandez, left, and Danaysha Smith, staff members for the progressive voter organization Our Voice, Our Vote, on Sept. 12 in Glendale, Arizona. (Melissa Gomez / Los Angeles Times)

On a recent Saturday morning, canvassers for Our Voice, Our Vote were out in Chandler, a predominantly white city southeast of Phoenix, to knock on doors. The canvassers are all required to wear masks and face shields while out in the community.

Danaysha Smith, the organization's regional field manager for Maricopa County, said she often reminds her team of about 20 canvassers to be empathetic while door-knocking. Often, a voters experience losing someone to COVID-19 or struggling with bills resonates with their own story, she said.

Were all really going through the same situation at the same time, she said.

That is the case for Karen Hernandez, the organization's statewide field director. Along with Smith, she was out with canvassers on Saturday, wearing a mask that read "Our Voice, Our Vote."

Hernandez, the daughter of immigrants, said she shares her story while canvassing. It can make it easier to connect with voters, especially on days when the temperature hits 117 degrees.

Hernandez said she and her family recently had to rally around her aunt, a single mother of two, whose work cleaning houses vanished because of the pandemic. "To have someone ... in my family have to go through that is really difficult," she said.

She's run across voters who are in need, just like her aunt, she said, and when she can, helps them find resources. "With this work, I really feel like Im doing something.

Smith remembers an older man she spoke with while phone-banking in July. The Latino military veteran, a conservative living in rural Tucson, was worried about leaving his home to get essential supplies at the store, and he was upset about how Trump was handling the pandemic. The call lasted 44 minutes and 30 seconds.

I knew he needed someone to really unload and unleash some of his frustrations with, Smith said. "These are the type of people that need us."

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
It is the European Commission that has the final say.

Ambassador of the European Union to Ukraine and Head of the EU Delegation Matti Maasikas says no irreparable actions have taken place so far in the situation regarding EU visa-free travel and the EU will be closely monitoring anti-corruption institutions in Ukraine.

Conditions for the visa-free regime include, among other things, institutional parameters, the diplomat said in an interview for the RBC Ukraine news agency.

"And we are concerned about some events around the anti-corruption architecture... Of course, we do not comment in any way on decisions by the Constitutional Court [on unconstitutionality of a decree on the appointment of the National Anti-corruption Bureau's (NABU) chief]. But we want to focus on legal, constitutional clarity around NABU, which should be restored very quickly," he said.

According to Maasikas, the situation around NABU should be resolved as soon as possible.

"Of course, this is something that the European Union and EU partners are watching very, very closely. The visa liberalization process is assessed every year, and we will be monitoring this very closely," the ambassador added.

Read alsoZelensky reacts to row over SAPO chief selectionMaasikas clarified the statement made by MEP Viola von Cramon-Taubadel about the direct threat to the visa-free travel with Ukraine carries weight, but it is the European Commission that has the final say. At the same time, the ambassador claims nothing irreversible has yet been done in the matters.

Threat to EU visa-free travel after replacing top anti-corruption prosecutor
MEDELLIN, Colombia (AP) - A major U.S. asphalt company agreed to pay $16.6 million in fines while pleading guilty Tuesday to federal charges that it paid millions in bribes to officials in Brazil, Ecuador and Venezuela for almost a decade to win lucrative contracts.

The plea agreement by Sargeant Marine Inc. is part of a broader crackdown on corrupt dealings in South America's commodities markets.

In what appears to be a related case, a former oil trader at Switzerland-based Vitol was charged Tuesday with paying $870,000 in bribes to former Ecuadorian officials from 2015 to 2020 in exchange for fuel oil contracts. Vitol, which is not named in the indictment, purchased half of Sargeant Marine in 2015.

Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn said Sargeant Marine and its affiliates paid bribes between 2010 and 2018 for contracts with state-run oil companies in the three South American countries, all of which were run by leftist governments at the time. The Boca Raton, Florida-company netted more than $38 million in profits as a result of the bribes.

Recipients in Brazil, where the bulk of profits were earned, included a congressman, a Cabinet minister and senior executives at state-run Petrobras during the administrations of former Presidents Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his handpicked successor, Dilma Rousseff. None of the foreign officials are identified by name in the plea agreement but Brazilian prosecutors in 2018 charged a former congressman, Candido Vaccarezza, for negotiating with Sargeant Marine the bribes paid to Petrobras. Vaccarezza at the time was leader of the ruling Workers' Party in the lower house.

Recently unsealed court filings indicate that Daniel Sargeant, who used to run Sargeant Marine, quietly pleaded guilty last December to conspiracy to commit money laundering and violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which bars Americans from paying overseas officials in exchange for business. He is awaiting sentencing after paying $300,000 in cash bail. This month, a former PDVSA manager once in charge of asphalt sales was arrested in a related case, bringing to seven the total number of Sargeant Marine executives, traders, agents and former Venezuelan officials tied to the long running bribery scheme.

An attorney representing Sargeant Marine declined to comment.

False consulting contracts and fake invoices were used to pay intermediaries who negotiated the bribes in the three countries, according to the plea agreement. Members of the conspiracy, who are not identified by name, would negotiate the payments by composing draft messages in a U.S.-based email account for which they shared the login and password information.

After a company affiliated with Sargeant Marine completed shipments of asphalt to Petrobras in August 2010, the affiliates executive emailed Daniel Sargeant stating, "Wow, guess last Brazil trip with crooks paid off. Should go again before contract next year gets hot and heavy," according to the plea agreement.

Similar tactics were used in Venezuela, whose tar-like crude is among the best in the world for making asphalt. Confidential information obtained through the bribery scheme and which gave Sargeant Marine a competitive edge in its dealings with PDVSA after 2015 was called by the code name "chocolates."

Sargeant Marine was "one of the largest asphalt providers in the world," according the indictment. But the company is a shadow of its former self amid a sell off of assets that followed a bitter, multi-year legal fight between Sargeant and his older brother, Harry Sargeant III, for control of the asphalt trading company started by their father.

The older Sargeant, a prominent Republican donor in Florida, was not named in the indictment or his brother's plea agreement. Some of the bribes were paid before he was ousted from the family business.

Sargeant Marine also acknowledged paying bribes in 2014 from offshore accounts to an official working for state-run Petroecuador, which was looking to supply the country with asphalt.

Separately, Javier Aguilar, a former oil trader for Vitol, was charged with paying bribes to Petroecuador, according to a criminal complaint also brought by federal prosecutors in Brooklyn and unsealed Tuesday. Vitol acquired a 50% stake in Sargeant Marine in 2015 for an undisclosed amount.

Alex Spiro, an attorney for Aguilar, denied the allegations. "We will see everyone in court," he said in a statement.

"Vitol is aware of charges being brought against an individual relating to business with PetroEcuador and is cooperating with the relevant authorities," the company said in a statement. "Vitol is committed to upholding the law and has in place anti bribery and corruption policies, procedures and controls across its business activities."

___

Joshua Goodman on Twiitter: @APJoshGoodman
FullGear - The world first customizable GTLS Watch Read your time even in complete darkness, with a watch that is forged by you.

The FullGear team is unveiling their first series of watch at Kickstarter, named Pioneer, a handsome automatic pilot watch equipped with Swiss made tritium gas light. Paired with their user-friendly watch customizer, customers are going to experience a new concept of watch making, a total freedom of what-it-would-be for your watch.

FullGear is the world first customizable tritium watch brand. Starting from color of the case, design of the dial, color of hands, material of the strap, you could even have access to color of tritium tubes on the dial or hands. None of the other tritium watch brands offer customizing service as detailed as this before.

The leader of the FullGear Team, Luke Lau, explains, Our team members are all veterans from the watch industry. We believe timepiece is not just a tool, it is a part of your character and your partner to cope with different challenges. Thats why we created FullGear, a watch equipped with the finest material, an all-the time glowing light for you even in complete darkness. Reading the time is no longer a problem in extreme conditions. We are so excited to share this watch to the kickstarter community.

Pioneer series features Swiss made GTLS from mb microtec, a leading tritium tube manufacturer located in Niederwangen, Switzerland. Most of the other expensive tritium watch brands are also using their GTLS. FullGear is non-compromising on every part and material; the cases are made with marine grade 316L stainless steel, while the straps are high quality USA oily leather with quick release system. The core is the SII NH35 3 hands date automatic movement, a reliable choice based on its steady performance.

The FullGear Kickstarter campaign will be launched on 12/10/2020. Super Early Bird price as low as USD$293. You can sign up for prelaunch notifications at the link below:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/fullgear/fullgear-the-world-1st-customizable-tritium-watch

About the FullGear Team:

The FullGear Team is composed of well-experienced watch makers of different fields in Hong Kong. They have been designing and manufacturing thousands of timepieces in different materials and specifications in their career. From high-end tourbillion watch to multi-function smart watch, the passionate team is now looking for new challenges.

Proposed Kickstater Launch date: 12/10/2020 (Duration 35 days)

Kickstarter preview link (change may occur before launch): Click Here

Press Release Link (Watch photos. Mood shot photos): Click Here

Contact: Luke Lau

E-mail: marketing@fullgear.watch

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FullGearWatches

Twitter: @FullGear_Watch
North Korea laundered money through major U.S. banks with the help of Chinese companies even when the U.S. tightened sanctions, a report reveals.

The report by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and NBC analyzed data from the U.S. Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and found that North Korea laundered some US$174.8 million in illegal funds through American banks.

Chinese companies moved large amounts of money through prominent banks in New York like JPMorgan Chase and the Bank of New York Mellon and transferred the money to shell companies in other countries such as Cambodia from 2008 to 2017.

But the final destination was North Korea. The Chinese firm that played the most prominent role was Dandong Hongxiang Industrial Development Corporation.

The companies took advantage of the fact that some U.S. banks like correspondent banks, which act as agents on behalf of smaller financial institutions or foreign banks, are somewhat lax in their background checks of customers when managing foreign exchange and facilitating international trade and finance.

North Korea and China founded several shell companies to deal with U.S. banks.

Meanwhile, the U.S. on Monday restored sanctions against Iran and blacklisted key Iranian officials and organizations it claims are involved in the exchange of missile technology with North Korea.

U.S. President Donald Trump appears desperate to look tough in foreign policy as his chances of re-election slip. "My administration will never allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon," he said in a statement Monday.


The TIME magazine has released a list of 100 pioneers, leaders, titans, artists, and icons who marked their impact on people this year (external link).

This year, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana, the 'dadi from Shaheen Bhagh' Bilkis, Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Professor Ravindra Gupta are among TIMEs 100 most influential people of 2020.

Bilkis -- The dadi from Shaheen Bagh

82-year old Bilkis -- is now one of TIME 100 most influential people in the world. Bilkis became one of the prominent faces of the protest for her sheer resistance despite her age. She was aong the many women who sit in protest all day into the night at Shaheen Bagh.

"Bilkis deserves recognition so the world acknowledges the power of resistance against tyranny," says the Time piece by journalist Rana Ayyub.

Ayushmann Khurrana

The actor has been lauded for featuring in films that break the stereotype of masculinity. He gained much attention for his first movie, where he played the role of a sperm donor.

"The reason you and I talk about him today is because of the impact he has been able to create through memorable films and iconic characters. Where male protagonist roles often fall into the trap of stereotypical masculinity, Ayushmann has successfully and convincingly transformed into characters who challenge those very stereotypes," wrote Deepika Padukone in the magazine.

Narendra Modi

The prime minister is the only politician from India who has made it to the coveted list.

Explaining why Modi made the list, TIME editor Karl Vick wrote, "Though almost all of Indias Prime Ministers have come from the nearly 80% of the population that is Hindu, only Modi has governed as if no one else matters. First elected on a populist promise of empowerment, his Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party rejected not only elitism but also pluralism, specifically targeting Indias Muslims."

Ravindra Gupta

Last year in March, a UK patient walked free of HIV because of a study led by Professor Ravindra Gupta. The London patient was the second on the planet to be cured of HIV.

In recognition of his work, last year the University of Cambridge appointed him professor of clinical microbiology at the Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease.

Sundar Pichai

Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai is among TIME's 100 most influential people. He became the CEO of Google, one of most valued tech company in the world, at the age of 42.

"Sundar Pichais uniquely American story -- emigrating from India as a young adult and working his way to become CEO of a $1 trillion corporation -- represents the best of what we aspire for our society. He used his natural gifts and strong work ethic to rise through the ranks of Google (now Alphabet) by leading many of their most successful products, such as Drive, Gmail and Maps, and officially took the reins of the company in December," wrote CEO of JP Morgan Jamie Dimon wrote in the TIME magazine.
An Indian army convoy moves on the Srinagar- Ladakh highway at Gagangeer, northeast of Srinagar, Indian-controlled Kashmir (Dar Yasin/AP)

Senior military commanders from India and China have agreed to not add more troops along their disputed border in the mountainous Ladakh region where the two Asian giants are locked in a bitter months-long standoff.

A joint statement released after talks said the two sides also agreed to strengthen communication on the ground and avoid misunderstandings and misjudgements along the lengthy contested border known as the Line of Actual Control.

However, it did not mention any breakthrough during the talks about their forces disengaging from the standoff as they had earlier committed.

The standoff in the cold desert of Ladakh began in May and escalated in June to the deadliest violence between the two sides in decades  a clash on a high ridge in which soldiers used clubs, stones and their fists.

Twenty Indian soldiers were killed and dozens of others were injured. China is believed to have also suffered casualties but did not provide any details.

The rival countries have amassed tens of thousands of soldiers, backed by artilleries, tanks and fighter jets in the Ladakh area following the deadly standoff.

Expand Close Pangong Lake has been one of the sites where the conflict has continued (Manish Swarup/AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Pangong Lake has been one of the sites where the conflict has continued (Manish Swarup/AP)

After that clash, the two countries partially disengaged from the site in Ladakhs Galwan Valley and at least two other places, but the crisis has continued in at least three other areas, including the glacial Pangong Lake.

In recent weeks, the worlds two most populous nations have accused each other of sending soldiers into each others territory in the Pangong area and firing warning shots for the first time in 45 years, raising the spectre of a full-scale military conflict.

Despite several rounds of talks by military, diplomatic and political officials, including negotiations between the two countries foreign and defence ministers in Moscow this month, the border tensions have persisted.

The commanders held discussions on Monday for about 14 hours.

The statement issued by the defence ministries of the two sides on Tuesday said they have agreed to stop sending more troops to the frontline.

It said the two countries will hold a seventh round of military commander-level talks as soon as possible and jointly safeguard peace and tranquility in the border area.

The statement said the commanders agreed to earnestly implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries.

Mondays military-level talks came less than two weeks after the two nations foreign ministers met on September 10 and agreed that their troops should disengage from the tense border standoff, maintain proper distance and ease tensions.

The foreign ministers did not set a timeline for disengagement, nor did Tuesdays statement mention one.

Military experts have repeatedly warned that any mistake or miscalculation from either side could have disastrous consequences.

Expand Close Indian army officers walk past the pyre of their colleague Colonel B Santosh Babu, who was killed during a clash with Chinese soldiers (Mahesh Kumar A/AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Indian army officers walk past the pyre of their colleague Colonel B Santosh Babu, who was killed during a clash with Chinese soldiers (Mahesh Kumar A/AP)

Neither India and China have provided much information, but media in the two countries, India especially, have extensively covered the escalating tension, which has dramatically changed their bilateral relations.

Long wary of economic domination by China, India has in recent weeks banned Chinese cell phone apps including TikTok and taken other steps to rein in Chinese influence.

Relations between the two countries have often been strained, partly due to their undemarcated border.

They fought a border war in 1962 that spilled into Ladakh and ended in an uneasy truce. Since then, troops have guarded the undefined border while occasionally brawling. The two countries have agreed not to attack each other with firearms.

The fiercely contested control line separates Chinese- and Indian-held territories from Ladakh in the west to Indias eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, which China claims in its entirety.

It is broken in parts where the Himalayan nations of Nepal and Bhutan border China.

According to India, the de facto border is 3,488 kilometres (2,167 miles) long, while China says it is considerably shorter. As its name suggests, it divides the areas of physical control rather than territorial claims.
The fear and intimidation Waikato University professors have experienced when calling out racism has been putting prospective students off from going to university, the Maori Tertiary Student's Association has said.

Te Mana Akonga, the Maori Tertiary Students' Association, are the latest group to send an open letter to the Minister of Education Chris Hipkins calling for a nationwide review into racism at all universities.

An open letter was also sent to Hipkins on September 14 calling for a national review to commence urgently, signed by 36 Maori professors across the country.

Te Mana Akonga tumuaki takirua Mamaeroa Merito says it's been a difficult time for tauira (students).

"It has actually been quite a jarring experience for our tauira to see our rangatira really struggling and feeling the need to speak out on these issues, but not only that, also then feeling fear and intimidation when they have done so and that obviously impacts on our tauira negatively.

"In some cases that have been reported back to us, we have prospective students that are now reconsidering which universities they want to go to because of all the fear and intimidation that has come to light that our rangatira are experiencing."

She says a review would create a better system, one that met the Treaty of Waitangi and which would restore Maori faith in tertiary institutions that had been shaken.

"Their starting to question whether or not tertiary education is a safe space for them and that's one of our driving points for why we think there needs to be a nationwide review.

"It's already hard enough to be a Maori student in tertiary education, and that's reflected in our outcomes, but now the fact of the matter is that it's impacting potential Maori students and that's where we feel the need to call our minister to intervene, to review so that we can create a better system and a better sector."

Merito says they've had an acknowledgement from Hipkin's office that their letter has been received, but no response from him.

Professor of Maori Studies at University of Auckland, Margaret Mutu, was one of the 36 professors who called for a review over a week ago.

She says they'd also only received an acknowledgement, and was disappointed at the slow response.

"This is a major issue, not only in the universities where it's really bad but also across the country, so it will benefit them to take it seriously."

"I think it's a matter that has to be addressed in this country and to hide behind whatever, including that it is election time, is just not good enough."

Mutu says universities were "burying their head in the sand", and until a review was undertaken, the institutions wouldn't know the true extent of racism.

"A review would point out exactly what racism looks like and how it behaves inside of a university, and it's only once you know what you're dealing with, that you can then address it."

The minister wasn't available for comment but said in a statement, he would be responding to both letters "shortly".

Hipkins says reports of systemic or structural racism were taken "very seriously" and the government was committed to strengthening Maori-Crown relationships.

He says the government would consider the findings of the Waikato University independent review into specific claims of structural racism at the university.

Meanwhile, a letter was sent to the University of Waikato calling for them tackle racism in their institution.

That was signed by over 6800 professors, students and graduates from New Zealand and across the globe, with 43 per cent of the signatories from overseas.

Meriana Johnsen /RNZ.
A senior Gold Coast police officer has warned the "gangster attitude has to stop" after two men were charged with murder of a man fatally stabbed in Surfers Paradise. Police said a 27-year-old man was involved in a confrontation with a group of men about 9pm on Cavill Avenue near Orchid Avenue. Detectives believe the victim and group know each other. It will be alleged the man was stabbed in the torso with a knife before he was rushed to the Gold Coast University Hospital and died in the ward a short time later. Police locked down the area around the scene of the stabbing, found two men nearby, took them into custody and questioned them overnight.

A 21-year-old man from Tinana on the Fraser Coast and an 18-year-old man from Pimpama on the Gold Coast, have both been charged with one count of murder and three counts of assault. They are both due to appear at the Southport Magistrates Court on Thursday morning. Detective Superintendent Brendan Smith said investigators were appealing for any witnesses who filmed the incident on their phone to come forward. "We believe there is probably a couple more people outstanding that we wish to speak to," he said. "It's a tragic incident and another example of knife crime, we speak about it constantly ... these people need to understand that you cannot carry knives, this is the consequences of carrying knives.
An image of the two, captured by Associated Press photographer Hassan Ammar, has come to symbolize the devastation of the Aug. 4 blast at the Beirut port, which took 193 lives and wounded 6,500. In the photo, a dust-covered Hoda, 11, holds her body stiffly against her uncles shoulder, a gash bleeding from her forehead, eyes half-closed and face set in a grimace.
By Ashfaque EJ, TwoCircles.net

Kozhikode: Its been a week after we got beaten and casteist slurs were used against us. The police have failed to identify and arrest the accused. This delay shows that law and justice are turning a blind eye towards Parayas. If the police fail to arrest the accused, we will be organizing an indefinite hunger strike at Meppayur bus stand, reads a letter written by three Paraya kids in Pulaprakunnu in Meppayur Panchayat in Kozhikode district of Kerala. The incident is the latest example of caste-based violence in Kerala, a state which is hailed as progressive by the rest of the Country.

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The incident happened on 27 August at around noon near an aqueduct at Madathumbagam in Meppayur in Calicut.

Three boys, 15-year-old Aadhiseshan, 14-year-old Prajun Kumar, and 15-year-old Arjun were returning from Prajuns grandmothers home. A person, later identified as Pradeepan, stopped them near the aqueduct and asked, Where are you coming from?

They replied that they are coming from Prajuns grandma Shailjas home and went there to collect Prajuns Onakodi (new clothes for Onam celebration). He asked Prajun to stay there and ordered both of us to leave. We insisted on Prajun to come with us. He grabbed Arjuns hand and twisted it, said Aadhiseshan. Arjun had a previous injury on his hand, which had not completely required.

The boys tried walking away but Pradeepan stopped them and ordered them to take another route. It was then that Pradeepan hit Prajuns back and hurled casteist slurs. Polayadi mone (a casteist slur) you will never leave the place if you beat me, he threatened them.

Where are you going Paraya bastards, he shouted, Aadiseshan recalled.

According to Arjun, many ladies were watching this and none of them offered help. Later, Mujeeb, a neighbour came for rescue.

I requested Pradeepan to leave them. He was drunk. He said that these kids are ganja peddlers and ordered the kids to call their grandma. Pradeepan later allowed them to go after he talked with their grandmother, Mujeeb told TwoCircles.net.

On the next day, the boys parents went to the spot and asked the residents about the issue.

Most of them replied that they didnt know about it. Later we met Mujeeb in Meppayur town and he helped us identify the accused, Aadhiseshans father Ratheesh told TwoCircles.net.

The boys went to the Meppayur police station and gave a detailed statement in front of the circle inspector. The police registered FIR no: 382/ 2020 under sections 341, 323, 294(b) and 506 of the Indian Penal Code against the accused. Although the boys are minors and belong to the Paraya caste, Police failed to include the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Mahesh Sashtri, SC/ST monitoring committee Kozhikode district member, told TwoCircles.net that as the boys are from the Sambava/Paraya colony and its a known fact that the residents of the colony were being discriminated against, the case should be registered under the SC/ST Act.

The Atrocities Act was not included initially to weaken the case and to delay the case so that the accused can apply for anticipatory bail, said Sashtri.

Sashtri and the parents of the boys contacted the Vadakara SP and DySP to add the SC/ST Act in the FIR.

Talking to Dalit Camera, Vadakara DySP Prinze Abraham said that the SC/ ST Act was added in the FIR and he recorded a detailed statement of the boys on Sunday.

The circle inspector of Meppayur refused to comment as the case was under investigation.

According to Ratheesh, the assault is not an isolated incident. Last year his friends were similarly attacked by four people. They had gone to my friends home to help him with his daughters marriage. Four people stopped them while going back home. Where are you going, what are you doing here? they asked, said Ratheesh. The group started attacking his friends. They hit them on their chest, head, and waists. They got admitted to a government hospital in Koyilandy and filed a police complaint. As the Meppayur CI took no action on the complaint filed by his friends, they had moved to the Vadakara rural SP with the complaint. Even if the complaint was filed under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, the accused got bail easily. Arjuns mother Praseetha fears that the accused in this case will also get an easy bail.

Praseetha blamed that the delay in the Police investigation was mainly because the complainant was of a lower caste. If the accused was from our caste, he would be arrested within a day, Praseetha said. If they cannot arrest him for at least a day, what is the point of law? How can we believe in a law which will not ensure our safety? 39-year-old Praseetha shared her angst.

Meanwhile, Ratheesh alleged that Congress activist Ramachandranhad contacted him many times over the telephone asking to compromise On the next day onwards he started calling me. He told me that the accused was his neighbour and his father works for him. He asked me to compromise on the issue as the accused was an alcoholic, Ratheesh said.

Pulaprakunnu Paraya or Sambava colony is situated at a hillock in Meppayur town, 35 kilometres away from Kozhikode city. During the 1970s, Andy, a rich landlord in Meppayur handed over 74 cents at Pulaprakunnu to Meppayur Panchayats first president Chappan Nair on a condition to convert it as a settlement colony for the homeless from the Paraya caste. In 1992, the then Panchayat President Kelappan master constructed houses worth Rs 35000 to 8 Paraya families living at the colony. At least 11 Paraya families lived in the colony under harsh conditions without basic facilities such as electricity, water, and a secure house. The road leading to the colony was in shambles and people had to walk down at least 150 meters down steep for potable water. As the colony residents dont have title deeds or property possession certificates, they were unable to claim benefits under government schemes and food rations.

In 2015, the then Calicut district collector came to know about the plights of the residents through social media campaigns. In Aug 2015, the Collector visited the colony and initiated a meeting with officials from Meppayur Panchayat, revenue, Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB), and colony residents. 13 decisions were taken in the meeting which included the construction of a new water tank, electricity, toilets, street lights, proper roads, concreted houses, title deeds or property possession certificates, education scholarships, and jobs, said Ratheesh, who is also the secretary of the Pulaprakunnu colony.

But, Ratheesh alleged, that the decision remained on papers and none of the decisions were implemented for the next three years, apart from a 2,000-litre capacity water tank and a street light.

In January 2019, Dalit rights activists Vineetha Vijayan, Ratheesh Payyoli, and Sheetal Raj visited the colony after they were notified about the colony through a social media post. The group contacted CPI (M) Kerala state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and Minister for Excise and Labour TP Ramakrishnan at the Sneha veedu housing project event and briefed them about the colony. The leaders promised the solution and directed the Panchayat president to commence the welfare project on an immediate basis. Kozhikode Collector S Sambasiva Rao, who visited the colony, understood that they were discriminated against based on caste and ordered the construction of houses. Uralungal Labour Contract Co-operative Society Ltd (ULCCS Ltd) got the contract and they finished the construction of at least 5 houses. A total of 8 houses will be constructed by the district authorities and one under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Ratheesh said.

He added that the Collector was very helpful and accused Meppayur Panchayat officials of acting as roadblocks. The collector also took the initiative to distribute the property possession certificates for the colony residents. In June 2020, the residents of the colony were shifted to a school following a heavy downpour and landslide alert.

For decades, the residents of Pulaprakunnu have been carrying the burdens of caste-based discrimination. Many people in the colony shared the bitter experience of casteist discrimination and untouchability they faced in public spaces, schools, Panchayat offices, and marriage functions. In marriage functions, people are not ready to dine with them. In public spaces and buses, people always stared at Pulaprakunnu residents. The majority of the people were not ready to share their seats on the bus or to stand behind the Pulaprakunnu residents.

Once, Praseetha and other ladies went to Meppayur town for a Kudumbashree (Kerala governments women empowerment mission) meeting.

People were standing in two long queues. The ladies from the colony also joined in the queue. As I stood in the queue, the person who stood in front of me moved to the other line. Most of the outsiders are not ready to stand in the queue with Pularakunnu residents, Praseetha complained.

The upper caste people had vilified Paraya and instilled fear in the mind of children. As there is water scarcity, the people in the colony are dependent on a pond, which is one kilometre away.

One day, Aadhiseshan and his friends were walking in front of a house on their way back home from the pond. People from Pulaprakunnu are coming. If you dont eat food, they will kidnap you, they overheard a mother saying to her child. This fairytale is being passed from generation to generation. Parayas have replaced the position of demons in the fairytales of Meppayur.

Aadhiseshan narrated an instance of how his brother Abhimanyu was discriminated against by his classmates in 2015. Most of the students are not even ready to sit with Parayas. Normally, four to five students sit on a school bench. My brother Abhimanyu was made to sit on the corner of the bench and they kept two-three bags next to him. The students always kept a distance from him, said Aadhiseshan.

Prajun narrated an incident that happened five years ago at Meppayur school which forced him to change his school. One day students harassed me saying that I stole a hundred and ten rupees from my classmates bag. I complained to my father. He came to school and enquired with the teacher. The teacher didnt take any action and instead, he tried to normalize it. I didnt feel like going to that school, Prajun said, adding he was later enrolled at a boarding school at Mathara in Kozhikode.

Ratheesh substantiated the claims by sharing the experience of his friend Ajeesh, a post-graduate from the community. Ajeesh was called names, insulted, and harassed by fellow students. He even stayed at home for a month. But later he fought back and resumed going to school. If 90 out of 100 students call me Paraya and laugh at me, how can I concentrate on letters and studies? Most of us cannot take this humiliation. Gradually we will stop going to school. They dont want us to progress in education and to get a good job, Ratheesh said.

Earlier people used to make a specific sound to mock us. The sound is to mock the Paraya dialect. Recently, my friends and I were returning home after hard labour. While we were walking, a guy made this sound to mock us. I confronted him and warned that he will face the consequences if he repeated it. Dont you dare to do it again, I said. He became numb. People came to mediate. I said to them that I dont want anybody to interfere with this. I was mocked based on my caste. You people were mute spectators, Ratheesh said with angst.

Ratheesh noted that caste-based discrimination has decreased as they have started to question and resist it. During my youth, I had experienced a lot. But now caste is expressed indirectly. You can read it from their body language, Ratheesh said. They will be hesitant to drink and eat from our homes. But in public spaces they will claim that they are progressive and dont care about caste, he noted.

Ratheesh is an Ambedkarite and drew his courage from Ambedkars teachings. I encourage my kids to read. They can only understand the atrocities done to us over centuries and learn about the resistance only through reading. In school, we learned Ambedkar as the person who drafted our constitution. But later through books, I realized who Ambedkar was and how he fought the oppression and stood for the dignity of the lower caste, Ratheesh said. This fight is not only for my children but to uphold the dignity of all the children from our community, he added.
By PTI

WASHINGTON: The US has the most powerful weapons ever produced and is the envy of the world, President Donald Trump has said, hoping that he will never have to use them, as he vowed to keep America out of "endless, ridiculous and stupid" foreign wars.

Trump said for decades, American politicians spent trillions of dollars rebuilding foreign nations, fighting foreign wars that never ended, and defending foreign borders.

"Instead of endless war, we are forging peace in the Middle East, it's so great. Peace in the Middle East," he said.

"We will strike down terrorists who threaten our citizens and we will keep America out of endless, ridiculous, stupid foreign wars," he said at an election rally in Pennsylvania on Tuesday night.

"I am just telling you the most powerful weapons ever produced we have and other countries know that and it's a good thing that they know it and I don't think we will ever be using them and I hope we don't, I hope to God," Trump said.

The president said by saying so, he was not leaking any classified information.

He said he was allowed to speak about it because he is the president of the United States.

Trump said that he has rebuilt the US military.

"It was totally depleted when I took over. We built a military, USD 2.5 trillion we spent all made in the US saying, the greatest equipment, the greatest planes and rockets and missiles and our nuclear," he said.

"I hate to even mention the word and hope to God we never have to use that. We have the most powerful weapons in the history of the world and we do that over a very short period of time, weapons that are so powerful that we are the envy of the world," Trump said.

He said that he hopes that he will never have to use those weapons.

"I never want to use those weapons and hopefully we will never have to. You know the way you don't have to use them is when you have them, it's when you have them but nobody has ever built a force like what we have," he said.

Trump said that he gets along with world leaders very well.

"My father taught me, he said if you can win and spend less money that's a good thing, not a bad thing. That's a good thing, not a bad thing, like if you get along with the leaders of other lands and don't go to war all the time with everybody and can come out on top without having to shed blood all over the place and destroy your families and your country," Trump said.

"Like when I get along with (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, when I get along with (North Korean leader) Kim Jong-un. Whatever happened to the war we were supposed to be in with North Korea? Nothing happened.

"They said I gave away so much. I said what did I give away? They couldn't find anything. I didn't do anything," he said.
September PMI data: UK economic momentum fades slightly, services sector faces additional risks, Pound Sterling attempts to stabilise

- The Pound to Euro exchange rate is -0.15% lower @ 1.086890 today

- The Pound to US Dollar exchange rate is -0.1% lower @ $1.27294 today

The UK PMI business confidence data indicated a slowdown in the recovery momentum for September and there is the risk of a further slowdown amid tighter restrictions. The relative performance relative to the Euro-zone provided some relief. Sterling avoided further selling following the release.

UK services-sector confidence dips to 3-month lows

According to the flash September data, the UK PMI manufacturing index declined to 54.3 from 55.2 previously, although slightly above consensus forecasts of 54.1.

The services-sector index dipped to 55.1 from 58.8 and below market expectations of 56.0. The composite output index declined to a 3-month low of 55.7 from 59.1.

Image: UK PMI

Although a number of manufacturers reported pent-up demand, there were widespread reports of a lack of consumer confidence and persistent disruptions to business operations.

New business volumes increased at the slowest rate for 3 months and business expectations for the year ahead declined to the lowest level for three months. Companies reported concerns over Brexit and global economic trends as well as coronavirus fears.

Overall confidence in the services sector declined to 4-month lows amid fears over further covid restrictions. The ending of the Eat out scheme also dampened confidence.

Employment continued to decline, although it was the slowest rate of job cuts since March.

Manufacturing export orders improve

There was one positive element for manufacturing with the fastest pace of new export orders since February 2018.

Chris Williamson, Chief Business Economist at IHS Markit commented; "Encouragingly, robust growth in manufacturing, business services and financial services has offset weakness in consumer-facing sectors, meaning the overall rate of expansion remained comfortably above the surveys long-run average, which adds to expectations that the third quarter will see a solid rebound in GDP from the collapse seen in the second quarter.

Nevertheless, there were important reservations over the outlook with confidence notably brittle.

Williamson added; The indication from the survey that growth momentum is quickly lost when policy support is withdrawn underscores our concern over the path of the labour market once the furlough scheme ends next month, and raises fears that growth could fade further as we head into the winter months, especially as lockdown measures are tightened further."

There was some relief that the data was not even weaker and the services sector remained in expansion territory. In contrast, the Euro-zone services-sector dipped into contraction for September, reinforcing reservations over the Euro-zone recovery outlook.

Capital Economics Thomas Pugh added; reinstating restrictions on business opening hours and encouraging people to work from home again could cause the recovery to stall completely in Q4.

The Pound-to-Dollar rate edged back above 1.2700 and off earlier lows as dollar strength faded slightly with the Euro-to-Pound rate close to 0.9200.

Image: EUR/GBP rate chart

ING commented; the recommendation to work from home if possible (in contrast with the recent encouragement to reopen offices) and the 10pm curfew on restaurant and bars all bode ill for the UK economic recovery. This is another negative impacting already grim GBP prospects.

The bank also noted that the relatively encouraging PMI data could be seen as out-dated given the fresh tightening of coronavirus restrictions.
Associated Press

DANBURY  Comedian John Olivers recent Emmy win has got nothing on the possibility of the citys sewer plant being named after him.

As nice as this is and its very, very nice, the comedian said Sunday speaking with the media after earning the award for his show Last Week tonight, my dream has been this year to have a sewage plant named after me in Danbury, Connecticut.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept.23

By Zeyni Jafarov  Trend:

Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan Mikayil Jabbarov held a meeting with Country Director of the ADB (Asian Development Bank) Azerbaijan Resident Mission Nariman Mannapbekov, Trend reports referring to the ministry.

As reported, at the meeting, Jabbarov noted that Azerbaijan attaches great importance to cooperation with ADB. The bank has allocated over $5.2 billion to Azerbaijan for the implementation of a number of projects in the country.

According to the minister, Azerbaijan is actively participating in the Central Asian Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) program. ADBs Azerbaijan: Moving Toward More Diversified, Resilient, and Inclusive Development research publication covers a number of important issues of the economic development of Azerbaijan.

During the meeting, it was noted that the preparation of a project with ADB can be useful as a financing instrument, as well as in the direction of implementing projects in the field of high technologies and innovations, education, development of small and medium-sized businesses, public-private partnerships, as well as tax policy.

Speaking about the development priorities of Azerbaijan, Jabbarov informed the country director about economic reforms, diversification of the economy, measures to develop the non-oil sector and increase competitiveness in the country, the possibility of cooperation between ADB, the Ministry of Economy, and the Azerbaijani investment holding.

Mannapbekov expressed satisfaction with the activities of the bank in our country and shared his opinion on the directions of expanding relations between Azerbaijan and ADB.

Following the meeting, the sides discussed prospects for expanding cooperation, promoting projects implemented with the support of ADB, as well as other issues of mutual interest.

----

Follow the author on Twitter: @jafarov_zeyni
Contributed Photo / Bjoern Wylezich - TNS

NEW HAVEN  A city man was sentenced to five years in prison on a federal gun charge in connection with his 2019 arrest.

A judge sentenced 34-year-old Shannon Bishop Wicker to serve 60 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
The University of Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, has made the admit card for Postgraduate Admission Test 2020 available on the official website, allduniv.ac.in. Candidates can download the PGAT 2020 admit card by using their registered user name and password. Allahabad University will conduct the PGAT 2020 from September 29 to October 5.

How to download Allahabad University PGAT 2020 Admit Card

Step 1: Visit the official website of the varsity https://www.allduniv.ac.in/

Step 2: Click on the Admission-2020 on the right side of the homepage

Step 3: Select the application form

Step 4: Enter your login ID and password

Step 5: PGAT 2020 admit card can now be seen on the screen

Step 6: Download the PGAT 2020 hall ticket and take a print out of it

The candidate will have to carry the Allahabad university entrance test admit card to the allotted exam centres. Any candidate without having admit card will not be allowed to enter the premises. Candidates must go through the Allahabad University PGAT 2020 admit card and follow the instructions given on it on the exam day. They can also download the admit card directly by clicking on the link https://www.aupravesh2020.com/Home/Applicationform.aspx

The varsity has earlier released the admit card for undergraduate admission test for BSc, BCom, BSc Home Science), BA, BFA and BPA on September 18. The exam is scheduled to be conducted on September 26 and 27. The Allahabad University has also provided mock tests to make the students familiar with the exam pattern and marking. Aspirants can take the mock test by clicking on the links available for each course.

Allahabad University entrance test for UG and PG courses will be conducted at 104 test centres in 11 cities across the country. The entrance exams would be held in three phases in both online and offline mode. The offline exams will be held at 58 centres while the online exam will be conducted at 46 centres.
When Morgan Sims five-year-old son woke up with a stuffy nose Tuesday, there went the rest of her day  and week.

The night before, parents at her sons school had received an email telling them to properly screen children each morning and not to bring them in if they had any symptom of COVID-19.

So, instead of dropping off her son and his 2 1/2-year-old brother at their kindergarten and preschool, Sim and her husband submitted the whole family to COVID-19 testing at Scarborough Health Networks Centenary hospital site.

With the lines for testing getting longer since schools reopened, Sim was told it would take three to five days to get the results, during which both her children must isolate at home. The boys cant return to school unless they are symptom-free for 24 hours.

Were basically back in the same situation that we were in from March until two weeks ago, said Sim, who has her own law firm.

Sim said she understands the needs to get children with symptoms tested but would like to see testing available at schools.

I know it costs money, but frankly the amount of lost productivity cost to parents who are spending half a day at these testing centres would more than compensate whatever cost is involved.

Sim isnt the only parent feeling frustrated. In addition to the health worries, the lag time can be more than an inconvenience.

According to Decent Work & Health Work, 58 per cent of Canadian workers do not have paid sick days. The majority of them are low-income households.

Carolina Jimenez is a registered nurse and the co-ordinator of an advocacy group thats pushing to restore paid sick days for all Ontarians.

We need to make sure we have paid sick days delivered in a way that everyone has access to them, said Jimenez. We are coming up on the flu season. This is ... going to be happening with all the different potential symptoms and people needing to stay home and not having the money to stay home.

Health experts say they are not surprised to see the surging demand for COVID-19 testing during the past two weeks, with adults returning to work and children to schools.

They recognize the challenges.

The lines are getting longer, the turnaround times (for results) are getting higher. We have to go where the money is: Thats the people who are symptomatic. Its important they get tested quickly and effectively, said Dr. Zain Chagla, an infectious disease specialist with McMaster University. When we start introducing barriers for that group to get high-priority testing and rapid turnaround we are going to discourage people to get tested when they do have symptoms.

As of Tuesday, 116 Ontario public schools had a reported case, including two that were shut down as a result. Thirty licensed child-care centres also reported infections, with eight being closed.

Ontarios current school COVID-19 screening checklist includes: fever, chills, cough thats new and worsening, shortness of breath, sore throat, runny nose, congested nose, headache, pink eyes, digestive issues, fatigue and sluggishness.

Even though children tend to have milder COVID-19 symptoms and normally dont get as sick, Chagla said, they should get tested even with very minor symptoms.

However, some say there is room for the screening checklist to be refined when more scientific evidence can show health officials what symptoms are more common and reliable indicators of an infection among this demographic.

In British Columbia, for instance, the latest daily health checklist for children has been refined to just seven key symptoms, from 17.

Dr. Mustafa Hirji, the Niagara regions acting medical officer, said there have been far fewer infections in children than adults because schools and child-care facilities have been closed until recently. More data such as percentages of positve cases are needed to determine if the current protocols are effective and justified, Hirji said.

In the Niagara region, parents whose kids are sent home for symtoms are told to speak to health officials before they take their children to a testing centre.

A parent or school (administration) are not health providers. They are going to ask people to get tested all the time. But health-care professionals can provide that guidance. That should be the ideal policy, Hirji said.

The long queues for testing that Ontarians are seeing now can be attributed to the volume of what Hirji calls low-value testing with spaces taken up by people with no symptoms or close contacts with an infected person.

That can partially be attributed to the provinces strategy to maximize the number of testing being done indiscriminately, including some routine workplace testing.

Right now, dealing with the long lineup and frustration of parents and teachers, we need to back off on the low-value testing to make sure we have the testing capacity and prioritize the people who have the symptoms and do need to be tested, Hirji said.

Otherwise, you are doing testing like shooting in the dark and you are not going to be very effective.

Its hard to pinpoint precisely the proportion of low-value testing but it could be potentially as high as two-thirds of all the tests currently undertaken in the province.

Hirji said Ontario had similar level of new infections in May and this month, but only 10,000 tests were completed daily then, compared to the 30,000-plus tests being done now.

These tests are designed to diagnose illness in a person who has symptoms. It is less accurate when done on those with no symptoms, he noted.

And officials can raise the testing capacity only so much, because they will need more money, machines, testing agents, physical space and lab technicians.

To reduce the wait times at testing centres, Chagla recommended health authorities streamline the registration process and move it online, while exploring rapid testing kits as an alternative to supplement the current testing capacity.
Body camera footage released by the Salt Lake City (Utah) Police Department on Monday has shed more light on the horrific police shooting of 13-year-old Linden Cameron on September 4. Cameron remains in the hospital after somehow surviving being shot nearly a dozen times. He suffered broken bones and serious organ damage when bullets pierced his intestines, bladder, shoulder and ankles.

Cameron, who is white and has been diagnosed with Aspergers syndrome, was shot 11 times as he ran from the police. They had been called to his home by his mother, who was seeking help getting him to the hospital for mental health treatment. She had alerted the 911 dispatcher that her son possibly had a toy gun and had a previous confrontation with police in the neighboring state of Nevada, but that he did not possess a real weapon. My biggest fear is that, I dont know, I just dont want him to die, Golda Barton said on the call, asking specifically for the aid of a mental health worker.

Multiple videos show that Barton had met a team of four officers down the street from her house to warn them that Cameron was afraid of the police, but that she desperately needed help getting him safely to a hospital, as he was suffering a meltdown. He sees the badge and automatically thinks you are going to kill him, he freaks out, she explained.

A screenshot from body camera footage shows Linden Cameron, a 13-year-old boy with autism, lying on the ground after being shot 11 times by police on Sept. 4, 2020. (Credit: Salt Lake City Police Department/YouTube)

The four officers then discussed how they would approach and apprehend Cameron. One officer questioned why they would be entering the home of a boy suffering a psych problem. She suggested they call their sergeant and tell him the situation. Because Im not about to get in a shooting because [Camerons] upset.

A second officer, who shot the boy a short time later, presciently remarked, Yeah, especially when he hates cops, its going to end in a shooting.

Despite these apparent misgivings, the group of officers proceeded to approach the home to confront Cameron under the assumption he was armed, despite Bartons assurances to the contrary. Having spotted the police, the boy took off running down an alley behind his home and the police pursued on foot.

As the officers caught up to Cameron, one of them screamed at him several times, ordering him to get on the ground, before opening fire in rapid succession. A second officer can be heard asking Cameron to pull his hands out of his pockets just as the first officer opens fire.

I dont feel good, Cameron told the officers as he lay on the ground. Tell my mom I love her.

While Cameron narrowly avoided being one of the more than 714 people killed by police thus far this year, his grandfather, Owen Barton, 66, was one of the first victims of 2020, having been shot and killed by sheriffs deputies in Lyon County, Nevada on January 16. As with most police killings, details are sparse, but the official account claims he had advanced on deputies with a handgun, forcing them to shoot and kill him.

Since George Floyd was murdered by police in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 25, sparking multi-racial and multi-ethnic protests demanding an end to police violence and racism across the country and internationally, at least 300 people have been shot and killed by the police, according to the tally kept by killedbypolice.net. At the current rate, police in the US are on track to kill nearly 1,000 people, a grim toll that they have exacted every year since 2015.

African-Americans, along with Native Americans, are disproportionately killed by the police, but the largest share of victims continues to be white. The victims, regardless of race or ethnicity, are overwhelmingly poor and working class. Like Cameron, many were dealing with some sort of mental illness. A significant proportion of those killed by the police were suffering a health emergency when they were shot.

Floyds murder and that of Breonna Taylor, who was killed when police opened fire in her home during a no-knock warrant raid in Louisville, Kentucky, as well as the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, have garnered attention from the Democratic Party and the Black Lives Matter organization. However, they have paid virtually no attention to white victims like Cameron, his grandfather, and 25-year-old Hannah Fizer, who was shot dead by police in Sedalia, Missouri last June.

Friends, family and community members have protested largely in isolation to demand justice for Fizer, a convenience store clerk who was killed by a deputy during a traffic stop. Last week, a special prosecutor ruled that the shooting was justifiable and that there would no criminal charges. In July, a protest was held in rural Wilson, Oklahoma to demand criminal charges in the killing of 28-year-old Jared Lakey, who was tased more than 50 times and choked to death by police in 2019.

Even as they feign sympathy for the black victims of police violence and proclaim their commitment to confronting white supremacy, the Democrats have slapped down demands for defunding the police and other mild reforms. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has repeatedly rejected the notion that police budgets should be cut, instead highlighting his plan to give local police $300 million in additional federal funding. The former vice president launched a massive law and order ad campaign earlier this month denouncing violent protesters against police brutality as anarchists and arsonists.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump is waging a fascistic reelection campaign, appealing to the police and whipping up the far-right elements of his base. Trump has defended the 17-year-old militia member, Kyle Rittenhouse, who killed two anti-police-violence protesters in Kenosha, Wisconsin, while also praising the federal police squad assassination of Portland protester Michael Reinoehl as retribution.

Despite months of protests, police violence is not abating. Rather, the repressive arm of the state is being built up further in an effort to suppress all signs of opposition from the working class. The Department of Justice on Monday targeted New York City, Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington as anarchist jurisdictions, paving the way for them to lose federal funding.

A state of emergency was declared in Louisville, Kentucky yesterday in anticipation of protests over an imminent decision by the states attorney general on whether to bring charges in the Breonna Taylor case. Police began erecting concrete barricades around the downtown business district Monday, and the federal courthouse has been boarded up. One of the officers involved in shooting Taylor, Sergeant John Mattingly, sent an email to his colleagues early Tuesday morning defending his actions and encouraging them to confront protesters and to be the Warriors you are.
Six months after it was shut down by Covid-19 life has returned to Siamsa Tire.

On Monday a long awaited sense of normality returned to the National Folk Theatre with the return of classes in its world renowned training academy.

It was the first time students have been in the building since it was closed in mid-March due to the pandemic.

The start of the new academy term marks the beginning of a gradual return to business for Siamsa Tire, with the Free Radicals Youth Theatre Group also due to return to regular workshops from Saturday October 3.

The theatre may have been closed but it has still been a busy summer for the Siamsa team and particularly for theatre's Covid Officer Gemma Hurley.

The Director and staff at Siamsa have worked tirelessly throughout the summer months to ensure that the building is fully compliant with government guidelines before re-opening to the public.

Siamsa Tire will implement the full Failte Ireland Safety Charter before any public events resume.

The National Folk Theatre team has also put specific measures in place for the Training Academy students and these will be replicated for the Free Radicals Youth Theatre to ensure the safety of both students and trainers.

Normally the Siamsa Tire Training Academy holds auditions in June for a new intake of traditional arts students.

This was not possible this summer due to COVID restrictions so the Academy will focus on its Level two, three and Advanced classes in the year ahead, with the potential for auditions in the early part of 2021.

The Academy is introducing four terms across the year instead of its usual two, allowing them to provide more concentrated training for students, in smaller groups.

Siamsa Tire Executive Director Roisin McGarr said everyone at the theatre is delighted to welcome back their students and looking forward to welcoming the public back to the theatre.

"It has been a difficult year for our students, their families and all of our customers as well as for our staff, performers and artists here at Siamsa Tire. It makes it extra special that we are re-opening to the youth that will be our future artists and performers in the years ahead," said Ms McGarr.

"The team here have worked very hard to ensure the safety of our staff and every visitor to the building, so we all look forward to welcoming back our students and hopefully not too far into the future, our customers as we return to business, providing the arts in all its forms in the safest environment possible," she added.
TANZANIA, Tanzania - World leaders gathering remotely Wednesday criticized a haphazard global response to a microscopic virus that has unleashed economic havoc and taken nearly 1 million lives in its march across the globe. In the words of Kazakhstans president, it was a critical collapse of global co-operation.

Our world has been turned upside down, said Ghanas president, Nana Akufo-Addo. We all fell together and looked into the abyss together.

The coronavirus pandemic and its consequences topped the list of concerns on the second day of prerecorded speeches by world leaders at the General Assemblys first virtual high-level meeting. Countries large and small spoke about struggling to deal with its impact without international co-ordination.

Pleas for the world to work together to combat the scourge and other global problems have taken the forefront at this weeks U.N. gathering that itself was altered by the virus.

A pandemic is by definition a global challenge and requires a global response, but COVID-19 has unfortunately revealed how we are tempted to react to immediate threats  nationally, not internationally, said Finlands president, Sauli Niinisto.

Instead of uniting behind multilateral efforts to tackle the coronavirus, he said, we witnessed a series of national responses, which raise concerns on how we will be able to combat other global challenges.

Kazakhstans president, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, warned that the world is coming close to what some have already called a state of global disfunction as a result of the pandemic, and the global system is now on the verge of dramatic upheavals that may lead to irreversible consequences.

Now is a make-or-break moment for the humankind, he warned.

Tokayev called for upgrading national health institutions, taking politics out of the development of a coronavirus vaccine, and revising regulations to improve the World Health Organization and enable all countries to prevent and respond to diseases.

The Kazakh leader proposed establishing an International Agency for Biological Safety based on the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention that would be accountable to the U.N. Security Council. And he suggested creating a network of regional centres for disease control and biosafety under U.N. auspices.

Many leaders also called for any COVID-19 vaccine that is developed to be shared equally, with Sefik Dzaferovic, chairman of Bosnias three-member presidency, saying it must be available to the entire mankind.

Dzaferovic said the past few years have seen a very strong crisis of multilateralism at international organizations including the United Nations, which has become an object of strong challenging and even dispute.

But the pandemic has shown their extraordinary significance in todays globalized world, he said, and has also shown that the largest problems of today can no longer be solved by one, three or five states individually.

As the global death toll from the virus approaches 1 million, many leaders spoke about how dramatically lives have changed in their countries.

Ghanas Akufo-Addo said people everywhere have learned not to shake hands or hug loved ones, not to sing in groups because its become a dangerous activity and to worry about the safety of sending children to school.

And for many people, the most difficult thing to deal with in these uncertain and unsettling times has been the silence forced on churches, mosques, temples and other places of worship, he said.

COVID-19s economic impact has been felt around the world, even in the tiny Pacific island nation of Palau that has remained coronavirus-free. President Tommy Remengesau Jr. said the pandemic is affecting the archipelagos economy and has put the country of about 18,000 into a level of isolation we have not known for many, many years.

Palau is struggling with disrupted supply chains for food and medicine, getting life-saving treatments for patients who used to travel to larger countries as well as keeping families united, college students in school and people working.

Private sector unemployment is approaching 50%, and it will take years to recover what we have lost in months, Remengesau said.

The Palau leader, who said he will soon return to life as a fisherman, recalled attending the General Assemblys high-level meeting in 2001, two months after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. He called then for the unity and co-operation it inspired to be nurtured.

We do not see human evil in this pandemic in the way we did in the perpetrators of 9-11, he said. But the challenge of our response is not so different ... to unite in the face of a shared crisis in a way that might have seemed unlikely a year or two ago.

The pandemic also has shone a crude light on inequality in the world, said Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, a COVID-19 survivor.

Switzerlands President Simonetta Sommaruga, one of the few women leaders to speak, said the pandemic has caused untold suffering in the world, with the most vulnerable hit hardest.

If every crisis is a suffering, it is also a moment of change that allows us to reinvent ourselves, she said. So lets reinvent ourselves.

Some nations, like Iraq, called for more assistance to flow to countries that have less than others.

Saudi Arabias King Salman, in the first address to the U.N. by a Saudi monarch since his fathers in 1957, said that as chairman of the Group of 20 major industrialized nations, the kingdom held a summit of its leaders in March and pledged $500 million to combat this pandemic and curb its humanitarian and economic impacts.

Reflecting a wish of all leaders, Iraqi President Barham Saleh said, We pray to the almighty God that the next meeting can be held in a pandemic-free world.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, a former actor who won the presidency in 2019, spoke of closed borders, the Summer Olympics postponed and the current high-level meeting happening online.

A year ago, we would have said that this was the script of an apocalyptic blockbuster, and not the reality of 2020, Zelenskiy said.
In every sense, she became a homemaker  and a great one, in fact. She personified perhaps the last generation of American women who almost completely sublimated their own ambitions for those of their children. She raised one son to be a professor of medicine and the other a television producer. She insisted  as her parents never did  that her daughter pursue her own intellectual identity to the greatest possible extent, supporting my sister in an artists career and making clear to my father that Lindas masters degree in fine art was every bit as essential as anything her brothers might undertake.
Theo's father Laurent Hayez (L) and several volunteers pictured during a search near Tallow Beach regarding the disappearance of 18-year old Theo Hayez, a Belgian student who was traveling in the area, in Byron Bay, Australia, Tuesday 02 July 2019. (MARIE-PAULINE DESSET/Getty Images)

Search Continues in Bush for Lost Victorian Boy

An air and ground search for a teenage boy missing in dense bushland east of Melbourne has been unsuccessful so far.

William Wall, 14, left his Launching Place home about 7am on Tuesday to go for his daily walk in the Yarra Ranges.

The teenager told his family he would be gone for 15 minutes but never returned.

William, who has high functioning autism and is verbal, left home without his mobile phone and police are concerned for his welfare, but are heartened by the fact he knows the area well.

Everyone is hoping at the moment that he will be ok, Williams father, Shane Wall, said on Tuesday night.

I want to get him home.

The air and ground search involving local police, including some on horseback, and the State Emergency Service is continuing on Sept 23.

Local volunteers, like Gabriella Jago, are also keen to be involved.

Im currently 17 weeks pregnant, so Im becoming a parent for the first time myself, she told Nine Network.

I thought, if that was my kid out there, I would want everyone with their boots on the ground, having a look and trying to help.

Searchers have concentrated on the Warburton Rail Trail, which runs about 40 km from Lilydale to Warburton, which covers difficult terrain, and the OShannassy Aqueduct Trail above Warburton.

William is described as 177cm tall, with a lean build, mousy brown hair and a lazy right eye.

His family said he was wearing a dark hooded jumper, dark-coloured track pants, black runners and had a CamelBak hydration backpack.

Williams disappearance comes three months after another teenage boy with non-verbal autism was rescued after two nights in freezing bushland near Mt Disappointment.

William Callaghan, 14, was found by local bushman Ben Gibbs, suffering from exposure and a few injuries but otherwise well.

Melbourne
Never have our homes needed to feel like a sanctuary more than now.

Even as the world is starting to reopen from the coronavirus pandemic, many of us are still working from home, with children attending school from home. Were not going to gyms, and were not going to movies. Were picking up takeout for dinner.

So its natural that Sherwin-Williams would pick the rich, grounding hue Urbane Bronze for its 2021 Color of the Year.

The home is now the ultimate retreat from the world, and color is an easy and effective way to create a personal haven, said Sue Wadden, director of color marketing at Sherwin-Williams. Urbane Bronze encourages you to create a sanctuary space for mindful reflection and renewal.

Naval, a deeply saturated dark blue, was Sherwin-Williams pick for 2020. Seemingly channeling the same vibe, Pantone chose Classic Blue and PPG chose Chinese Porcelain for their 2020 top colors.

Earlier this month, PPG named a trio of its own colors  Transcend, Misty Aqua and Big Cypress  as its 2021 Palette of the Year.

Paint companies and color influencers pick a favorite color of the year as a reflection of whats going on in the world. Urbane Bronze is a sophisticated bronze-brown hue that can bring a sense of calm to a room. Its a color drawn from trends of the 1970s and 90s, but updated with gray undertones.

The color is from the Sanctuary palette that Sherwin-Williams included in its 2021 Colormix Forecast announced earlier this year with a prediction that the world needs rich, bold colors in this 20 decade as we leave behind the cool neutrals of the 2010s.

Sherwin-Williams pairs Urbane Bronze with warm neutrals such as Modern Gray, a bone white, or Messenger Bag, a modern green.

Other past Color of the Year choices from Sherwin-Williams include Cavern Clay in 2019, Oceanside in 2018, Poised Taupe in 2017 and Alabaster in 2016.

diane.cowen@chron.com
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 12:29:33|Editor: huaxia

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BRUSSELS, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- A 69-percent fall month on month in the number of applicants seeking asylum in the European Union (EU) in the second quarter of 2020 has been attributed to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Eurostat, the EU's statistics organization said Tuesday.

Some 46,500 first-time asylum seekers applied for international protection in the EU member states in Q2 of 2020, according to Eurostat.

The latest figure is a 69-percent drop from the first quarter this year, when there were 150,100 applications, and a 68-percent decrease compared to the second quarter of 2019, when the number was 143,700.

"This sharp drop in asylum applications in Q2, 2020 in particular results from the COVID-19 emergency measures applied by the Member States starting from March 2020," a Eurostat press release said.

According to Eurostat, most first-time applicants seeking international protection in EU member states came from Syria, Afghanistan and Venezuela, which registered 7,700, 4,200, and 3,000 applications, respectively.

In addition, the latest figures revealed that the most favored destinations accounting for 65 percent of all first-time applicants seeking asylum in Q2 were Germany, France and Spain, which received 14,200, 8,900 and 7,200 applications, respectively.

Furthermore, pending applications for asylum had fallen to 842,000 at the end of June 2020, a decrease of 9 percent compared with both June 2019 and March 2020. Enditem
Published on 2020/09/23 | Source

Korean movies opening today 2020/09/23 in Korea: "The Swordsman", "Diva" and "Samsara"

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"The Swordsman" (2020)

Directed by Choi Jae-hoon

With Jang Hyuk, Kim Hyun-soo, Joe Taslim, Jung Man-sik, Lee Na-kyung, Lee Minhyuk,...

Crank in : 2017/06/15

Synopsis

"Three different swordsmen meet each other for their own reasons".

Tae-yeul (Jang Hyuk), a swordsman in his thirties goes out to find his only daughter after losing one of his eyes. Min Seung-ho (Jung Man-sik), The Joseon Dynasty's best swordsman chooses an ordinary simple life after perceiving the transient nature of power. Gurutai (Joe Taslim), the best swordsman in Qing Dynasty aspires to become the best even in the Joseon Dynasty.

"Diva" (2020)

Directed by Jo Seul-yeah

With Shin Min-a, Lee Yoo-young, Lee Kyu-hyung, Joo Suk-tae, Oh Ha-nee, Park Sung-yeon,...

Started filming: 2018/07/16

Wrapped up filming: 2018/11/05

Synopsis

Skill, beauty, personality, 'Diving Diva' I-yeong has it all. Not being able to be with her best friend Soo-jin is the only thing that gets in her way. Just so she can help Soo-jin out, she changes her event to synchronizing swimming. While pouring everything to Olympics selection practice, Soo-jin and I-yeong are involved in a freak accident. Soo-jin disappears without a trace, while I-yeong survives but loses her memory. I-yeong's memory slowly comes back to her but remembers strange side of Soo-jin. Her iron will begins to shake on the diving board.

"Samsara" (2019)

Directed by Moon Jeong-yun

With Kim Myung-gon, Lee Yeong-seok, Kim Jun-bae, Hong Hee-yong, Son Kyung-won, Jung Joon-young-I,...

Synopsis

Do-beop is an old monk who is respected by the religious body and has several successors.

Hye-jin, the first in line, is the chief monk of the biggest temple in Seoul. She was abandoned by her parents when she was young and raised in the hands of Do-beop. Rather than following the Buddhism concepts, she wants to be recognized as the first successor, considering Do-beop as her father, but the dual agony of life and connection bothers Hye-jin.

One day, the monks gather in the mountain hermitage when they hear that the monk is in critical condition. The reason why they visit the old monk after a long time, is not to check on his well-being, but because they have a clear purpose that would benefit them. However, what they face is not the great monk who had been commanded with dignity in the past, but an elderly man who is sick from dementia and paralysis.

At some point, mankind, Buddhism, indiscrimination, truth, life and death are lost and the monks argue with each other over the responsibility for the nursing of Do-beop and the wealth of the temple.

In the meantime, Hye-jin faces her own image in the past, which has been bothering her and looks back on the process of becoming who she is now.
As usual, Time has paired up people on the list with prominent guest contributors to write about them.

The TIME Magazine 100 List is an annual roster of people dubbed the years most influential people, and in a year that has been anything but ordinary, the 2020 tally reflects the same.

The 17th annual list features its share of notable Black Americans.

The Weeknd, actress Gabrielle Union and her husband Dwyane Wade, as well as rapper Megan Thee Stallion and Black Lives Matter founders Patrice Cullors, Alicia Garza and Opal Tometi are all included.

Actress Gabrielle Union (left) and rapstress Megan Thee Stallion are among the black notables listed in the TIME 100. (Photos by Andrew Toth/Getty Images and Ari Perilstein/Getty Images for Atlantic Records)

As usual, the TIME 100 has paired up people on the list with prominent guest contributors to write about them. For this issue, some pairings include Denzel Washington writing about Michael B. Jordan while Oprah Winfrey is writing about her friend, Tyler Perry.

WNBA player and activist Maya Moore  who is featured on the list, too  writes about Naomi Osaka and Massachusetts Rep. Ayanna Pressley pens a powerful piece about Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris. Al Sharpton writes about author Ibram X. Kendi; Mary J. Blige explores Jennifer Hudson, and rapper-actor Common captures the iconic Angela Davis. Others in the arts, sports, business, medicine and the military were honored as well.

Read More: Bishop Curry: He could feel, hear slaves at Meghan and Harrys royal wedding

In a statement, TIME CEO and editor in chief Edward Felsenthal wrote that the list looks far different than any of us could have predicted just six months ago.

It is a mirror of the world and those who shape it, he writes. The list includes famous people, but also lesser-known individuals who seized the moment to save lives, build a movement, lift the spirit, and repair the world.

Felsenthal said that while the list is focused on the living, this years list is also influenced by the impact of individuals such as Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Tony McDade, whose killings galvanized a reckoning around police brutality and systemic racism.

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Read More: As US struggles, Africas COVID-19 response is praised

The TIME100 List will be featured in eight covers. Megan Thee Stallion and The Weeknd will each have their own. Union and Wade will share a cover as will Cullors, Garza and Tometi.

Also getting a lone cover is Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the U.S. Coronavirus Task Force, who was written about by Jimmy Kimmel.

Dr. Fauci doesnt sugarcoat his words and refuses to be pressured by politicians, Kimmel wrote. He delivers the truth, as difficult as it may be to hear, earnestly and with one goal: to save lives.

The covers and list honorees were announced in an ABC News special Tuesday night.

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The post Gabrielle Union, Megan Thee Stallion named to 2020 TIME 100 list appeared first on TheGrio.
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."
Stockholm could face new local restrictions to curb the spread of coronavirus, as health officials warned of worrying signs" in the Swedish capital.

Sweden, which has so far chosen not to use lockdowns to tackle the virus, is also seeing early signs the number of infections is increasing nationally, experts have said.

Stockholms top health official has raised the alarm about a rise in cases in the region.

"What we can see are worrying signs that the spread of infection is increasing," said Bjorn Eriksson, the Stockholm director of health and medical services, said on Tuesday, according to local media.

The downwards trend is broken. We can only hope that this is a blip, that the spread start decreasing again. That depends on how well we follow the guidelines.

Anders Tegnell, Swedens chief epidemiologist, said new measures may be needed in the capital, and there will be discussions looking at this.

Unlike other countries who have implemented strict lockdowns, Swedens strategy to combat coronavirus has emphasised personal responsibility instead.

This model drew fierce criticism as deaths shot up during the spring, but has also been lauded by WHO 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 the UK in the past month.

As of Tuesday, around 1,200 new cases and five deaths had 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," Mr Tegnell, who devised Swedens pandemic strategy, said.

The countrys health minister signalled earlier this month the government is keen to avoid national restrictions.

Its very important that we have quick and local response to hit down the virus without making restrictions for the whole country, Lena Hallengren said.

Sweden has seen more than 88,200 cases of coronavirus to date.

As of Wednesday, the country had reported around 5,800 Covid-related deaths in total.

Additional reporting by agencies
Whale strandings: some notable events At least 380 pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia

At least 380 pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia, officials said Wednesday, in what is likely to be the biggest beaching of the cetaceans in the country's history.

Here are other notable mass strandings of whales from around the world.

- New Zealand -

New Zealand -- considered as one of "hotspots" for whale strandings -- has recorded incidents dating back to the 1800s.

The country's largest reported mass stranding took place in 1918, when 1,000 whales beached at the remote Chatham Islands.

More recently, hundreds of pilot whales died after nearly 700 were found on the beaches of Farewell Spit -- at the top of the country's South Island -- in February 2017. Another 145 died in a mass stranding the following year on Stewart Island.

- Argentina -

One of the largest known mass beachings in the last century was of false killer whales in October 1946, when an estimated 835 were stranded near Mar del Plata in Argentina.

- Chile -

In December 2015 more than 300 whales were discovered washed up on a remote Patagonian inlet in southern Chile. Scientists at the time called the sight of the stranding "apocalyptic".

A surge in algae in the water, known as a "red tide", was believed to be the culprit. It bloomed across the ocean around Chile in the early months of 2016, choking to death an estimated 40,000 tons of salmon in the Los Lagos region -- or about 12 percent of the country's annual production of the fish.

In July 2016 about 70 dead whales were also found on the southern Chile coast.

- Madagascar -

In May 2008, around a hundred whales swam onto the beaches of Madagascar and three-quarters of them perished, in the first mass beaching blamed on high-frequency sonar mapping systems deployed in the hunt for oil.

According to a report released by the International Whaling Commission in 2013, the culprit was a high-power 12-kilohertz multibeam echosounder system operated by an ExxonMobil vessel about 65 kilometres (40 miles) offshore. The company disagreed with the findings.

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The use of anti-submarine sonars was also suspected of causing the mass-beaching in 2002, when some 15 beaked whales perished in the Canaries after a NATO exercise.

- Japan -

In April 2015, around 150 melon-headed whales were discovered washed up on a stretch of beach in Japan.

The cetaceans, which usually live in deep water and are a member of the dolphin family, were thought to have either suffered from a parasitic infection that disrupted their ability to navigate, or had become unable to navigate in the sandy shoals.

bur-am/je
No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite, the late Nelson Mandela, political leader and philanthropist, was once quoted saying.

This holds true for at least a young child in Singapore, who is a classic example of how humans are not prejudiced by nature.

Image source: Facebook screengrab

Taking to a Facebook post (22 Sep), Yang Kaiheng shared that he was surprised to see his young cousin engaged in a board game with three foreign workers on the front porch of his aunts house when he visited recently.

Apparently, it had been pouring then and they were waiting for the rain to stop.

What stood out to Yang was that his cousin appeared unconcerned by the irrational but common fears that many people have in light of the high number of coronavirus cases in foreign worker dorms.

Image source: Facebook/Yang Kaiheng

She had no hesitation making friends with the workers and it did not bother her at all that they looked different to her. All that mattered were that they were friendly and willing to play games with her, he wrote.

Yang said he later found out that the foreign workers were engaged for a project at his aunts houseand for over a few weeks now.

My youngest cousin has been regularly interacting with them, offering them drinks and playing board games with them during their breaks, he shared.

They have in fact gotten pretty close such that his cousin now calls the workers by their names.

Yang later learned from their interaction that his cousin reminded one of the workers of his young daughter whom he misses back home, as both girls are of similar ages.

From this incident, Yang shared his own reflections stating that prejudice towards another is not innatejust like what he observed in his young cousin. Rather, it is learned subconsciously through the media or our own experiences.

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He highlights the importance of teaching the younger generation kindness, which will go a long way.

Likewise for Yang as a parent himself, he too hopes to have the discipline to ingrain these positive values in his son.

You can view his full post here:

ALSO READ:

How to raise children who are deserving  not entitled

Dont worry. Im here: Brother Holds Nervous Sisters Hand While Ordering Food at Hawker Centre

The post Spore Child Befriends Migrant Workers Over Board Game While Waiting Out The Rain Together appeared first on theAsianparent - Your Guide to Pregnancy, Baby & Raising Kids.
HOUSTON, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Summit Midstream Partners, LP (NYSE: SMLP) (the "Partnership" or "SMLP") announced today the expiration and final results of its previously announced cash tender offers (the "Tender Offers") by its subsidiaries, Summit Midstream Holdings, LLC and Summit Midstream Finance Corp. (collectively, the "Issuers"), to purchase a portion of the Issuers' outstanding 5.75% Senior Notes due 2025 ("2025 Notes") and outstanding 5.50% Senior Notes due 2022 ("2022 Notes" and, together with the 2025 Notes, the "Notes") in separate modified "Dutch Auctions" pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, dated August 25, 2020 (as amended and supplemented from time to time, the "Offer to Purchase").

According to information provided by D.F. King & Co., Inc., the Tender and Information Agent for the Tender Offers, approximately $38,694,000 aggregate principal amount of the 2025 Notes were validly tendered and not withdrawn at or below the price of $575.00 per $1,000 principal amount of the 2025 Notes and approximately $33,539,000 aggregate principal amount of the 2022 Notes were validly tendered and not withdrawn at or below the price of $700.00 per $1,000 principal amount of the 2022 Notes (collectively, the "Tendered Notes") as of 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on Tuesday, September 22, 2020 (the "Expiration Time"). The Issuers expect to accept for purchase all such 2025 Notes for $575.00 per $1,000 principal amount of the 2025 Notes and all such 2022 Notes for $700.00 per $1,000 principal amount of the 2022 Notes (the "Tender Offer Consideration") and expect to make payment for the Tendered Notes on September 24, 2020. All holders of Notes tendered and not withdrawn at or before 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on Wednesday, September 16, 2020 will also receive an early tender premium of $25.00 per $1,000 principal amount of such Notes in addition to the Tender Offer Consideration. The total principal amount of 2025 Notes that the Issuers have accepted for purchase represent approximately 9.8% of the total principal amount of outstanding 2025 Notes as of September 22, 2020, and the total principal amount of 2022 Notes that the Issuers have accepted for purchase represent approximately 12.5% of the total principal amount of outstanding 2022 Notes as of September 22, 2020.

Upon settlement of the Tender Offers on September 24, 2020, SMLP expects to retire $72,233,000 aggregate principal amount of the Notes at a weighted average discount of approximately 34%, including the early tender premium and excluding accrued interest, resulting in the remaining aggregate principal amounts of $355,071,000 and $234,047,000 for the 2025 Notes and 2022 Notes, respectively. After settlement of the Tender Offers, and including the results from SMLP's previously disclosed debt buyback program that commenced in May 2020, SMLP will have retired $210,882,000 aggregate principal amount of the Notes at a weighted average discount of approximately 39%.

The complete terms and conditions of the Tender Offers are set forth in the Offer to Purchase that was sent to the Holders. Copies of the Offer to Purchase may be obtained from the Tender and Information Agent, D.F. King & Co., Inc., at 800-967-5084 (toll free) for noteholders, 212-269-5550 for banks and brokers or [email protected].

THIS PRESS RELEASE IS NEITHER AN OFFER TO PURCHASE NOR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO SELL ANY OF THE NOTES. THIS PRESS RELEASE IS NOT A SOLICITATION FOR ACCEPTANCE OF THE TENDER OFFERS. THE PARTNERSHIP IS MAKING THE TENDER OFFERS ONLY BY, AND PURSUANT TO THE TERMS OF THE OFFER TO PURCHASE AND OTHER RELATED DOCUMENTS. THE TENDER OFFERS ARE NOT BEING MADE 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. NONE OF THE ISSUERS, THE PARTNERSHIP, OUR GENERAL PARTNER, ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS OR EMPLOYEES, THE TENDER AND INFORMATION AGENT OR THE DEALER MANAGER FOR THE TENDER OFFERS MAKES ANY RECOMMENDATION IN CONNECTION WITH THE TENDER OFFERS. THIS PRESS RELEASE SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE IS UNLAWFUL.

About Summit Midstream Partners, LP

SMLP is a value-driven limited partnership focused on developing, owning and operating midstream energy infrastructure assets that are strategically located in unconventional resource basins, primarily shale formations, in the continental United States. SMLP provides natural gas, crude oil and produced water gathering services pursuant to primarily long-term and fee-based gathering and processing agreements with customers and counterparties in six unconventional resource basins: (i) the Appalachian Basin, which includes the Utica and Marcellus shale formations in Ohio and West Virginia; (ii) the Williston Basin, which includes the Bakken and Three Forks shale formations in North Dakota; (iii) the Denver-Julesburg Basin, which includes the Niobrara and Codell shale formations in Colorado and Wyoming; (iv) the Permian Basin, which includes the Bone Spring and Wolfcamp formations in New Mexico; (v) the Fort Worth Basin, which includes the Barnett Shale formation in Texas; and (vi) the Piceance Basin, which includes the Mesaverde formation as well as the Mancos and Niobrara shale formations in Colorado. SMLP has an equity investment in Double E Pipeline, LLC, which is developing natural gas transmission infrastructure that will provide transportation service from multiple receipt points in the Delaware Basin to various delivery points in and around the Waha Hub in Texas. SMLP also has an equity investment in Ohio Gathering, which operates extensive natural gas gathering and condensate stabilization infrastructure in the Utica Shale in Ohio. SMLP is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes certain statements concerning expectations for the future that are forward-looking within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including, without limitation, information concerning completion of the Tender Offers, the terms and timing of the Tender Offers, and the impact of completion of the Tender Offers. The Issuers may modify the terms or timing of the Tender Offers with requisite notice. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may project, indicate or imply future results, events, performance or achievements including statements about the Tender Offers and statements about the Notes that remain outstanding after the Tender Offers, and may contain the words "expect," "intend," "plan," "anticipate," "estimate," "believe," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result," and similar expressions, or future conditional verbs such as "may," "will," "should," "would," and "could." Forward-looking statements also contain known and unknown risks and uncertainties (many of which are difficult to predict and beyond management's control) that may cause SMLP's actual results in future periods to differ materially from anticipated or projected results. An extensive list of specific material risks and uncertainties affecting SMLP is contained in its 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 9, 2020, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2020 filed with the Securities Exchange Commission on May 8, 2020, and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended June 30, 2020 filed with the Securities Exchange Commission on August 10, 2020, each as amended and updated from time to time. Any forward-looking statements in this press release, are made as of the date of this press release and SMLP undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect new information or events.

SOURCE Summit Midstream Partners, LP

Related Links

http://www.summitmidstream.com


Iron oxide-apatite ore from one of the study areas at Iron Springs, Utah. Credit: Wyatt M. Bain.

University of Alberta scientists have uncovered the formation mechanism behind a class of mineral deposits that have been hotly contested until now. The findings shed new light on how iron deposits, among others, formand this new understanding can aid geologists in the hunt for more ore.

"Most mineral deposits are formed by circulation of hot water; whereas some are formed by crystallization from a magma," said Matthew Steele-MacInnis, assistant professor in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Science. "In the case of Iron oxide-apatite deposits, nobody has been able to agree on how they are deposited, but our study now shows they are deposited from a very unusual liquid dominated by calcium carbonate and sulfate."

The substance is a magma in a sense, explains Steele-MacInnis, but an unusual one and a formation process unknown until this studyled by Ph.D. student Wyatt Bain under MacInnis' supervisionand this context gives geologists new clues to guide the hunt for ore.

"The origins and chemical properties of ore-forming fluids are key parameters that determine whether a mineral deposit will form. In this case, our results show that the fluids that form iron oxide-apatite deposits are sourced by a very particular process: melting of limestones and/or salt deposits by injection of magma," said Steele-MacInnis.

The results can be directly applied in exploration, explains Steele-MacInnis. Geologists looking for iron oxide-apatite deposits should target areas where magmatic rocks have been emplaced into sedimentary basins containing limestones or salt deposits.

And while the findings have the most immediate relevance for the hunt for iron deposits, Steele-MacInnis explains that this new understanding also has implications for some of our most cutting-edge technology.

"Iron oxide-apatite deposits have been mined for some years as sources of iron, which is probably the single most important metal for industrial applications and infrastructure," said Steele-MacInnis. "But in recent years, these deposits have become even more attractive, because they commonly are enriched in key high-tech metals like rare Earth elements, which are critical to green-energy production and electronics."

Explore further New research supports volcanic origin of Kiruna-type iron ores

More information: Wyatt M. Bain et al, A fundamental role of carbonatesulfate melts in the formation of iron oxideapatite deposits, Nature Geoscience (2020). Journal information: Nature Geoscience Wyatt M. Bain et al, A fundamental role of carbonatesulfate melts in the formation of iron oxideapatite deposits,(2020). DOI: 10.1038/s41561-020-0635-9
At the centre of the dispute is the normalization of relations between Israel and the Emirates (and Bahrain). The decision in protest against the failure to adopt a joint rejection of this position. According to the Palestinian Foreign Minister, it "falls short of the principles and values" that inspire it.

Jerusalem (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The Palestinians have renounced control of a leading role within the Arab League, in protest against the bloc's failure to adopt a common vision contrary to the so-called "Abraham Accords".

The Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki announced the decision to resign from the rotating presidency (a position that, in rotation, is held by each of the member countries) of the Council; he stressed the failure to adopt a draft condemnation in the normalization of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (and Bahrain).

On September 15, US President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the foreign ministers [and not the rulers, ed] of Abu Dhabi and Manama Abdullah bin Zayed and Abdullatif al-Zayani signed the agreement at the White House. An agreement defined as historic by the parties involved, and met with rockets and protests in Palestine. The Ramallah leadership has repeatedly called the agreement a "stab in the back".

"The state of Palestine... refuses to record in its history the association of its presidency with the regression in values and principles that was evident in the last meeting of the council of foreign ministers," Maliki said in the West Bank town of Ramallah. The assignment was to continue until March and, in the last summit in early September, had led to the joint signing by the 22 members of the condemnation of the normalization agreements.

In 2002 the Arab League, following a Saudi proposal, had advanced an Israeli-Palestinian peace plan (never applied) renewed later in 2017. It provides for normalization only in exchange for a complete withdrawal from the territories occupied in the Six Day War of 1967, the creation of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital and a solution for all refugees. A plan never accepted by the United States, which after announcements and delays at the beginning of the year proposed its own "peace" initiative, exalted by the Israelis and disowned by the Palestinians.

In the agreement signed last week and brokered by Washington, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) underlined the clause according to which Israel intends to suspend its annexation plans. In fact, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated at the signing that any agreement - on suspension - has a limited duration and the plans remain on the table, unchanged in form and substance.
Gaiter Kings original mission was to create apparel that met the unique needs of outdoor enthusiasts and workers in the construction, trucking, and logistics industries. But not long after the world was struck by the devastating COVID-19 pandemic, the company soon found that its face masks and neck gaiters were serving another purpose never originally envisioned: Helping people stay safe in these uncertain times.

As the coronavirus pandemic spread across the world, face mask protection options gained their fair share of controversy. Initially, public health officials dismissed any need for them. But the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now consider face mask protection to be a critical preventive measure.

Neck gaiters were no exception to scrutiny. Intended to showcase an inexpensive method to test face mask protection efficacy with lasers and phone cameras, a study from Duke University suggested that neck gaiters allowed more airborne particles to spew through its fabric. Although the research study only used one type of neck gaiter that was purposely lightweight and thin for extra breathability, waves of alarmist media outlets latched onto this hypothesis and ran headlines claiming that wearing neck gaiters could actually be worse than wearing no mask at all.

Since Duke Universitys findings were published, several reputable news sources such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and USA Today and many leading researchers have all come to the defense of neck gaiters. One of them was even a leading researcher in Duke Universitys study.

Our intent was for this technology to get out there so companies and organizations can test their own masks, explains Dr. Martin Fischer, a Duke University Chemistry associate research professor and co-author of the study. Our intent was not to say this mask doesnt work, or never use neck gaiters. This was not the main part of the paper... It was not a systematic study of masks... Seeing the media somewhat misquote and misinterpret the data was a big downer.

Dr. Linsey Marr, a professor of environmental engineering who studies aerosols at Virginia Tech, a leading authority on this subject, even evaluated two types of neck gaiters on her own using mask testing methods similar to those of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. She found that a single-layer gaiter folded to become two-ply was effective at blocking more than 90% of particles.

Gaiter Kings founding members are well-aware of the controversy that neck gaiters inadvertently garnered from the Duke University Study. But they aren't concerned. All of Gaiter Kings products are made with high-quality material specifically designed to combat the shortcomings of a thin fabric gaiter. They can also become two-ply just by folding them down.

There are also several great reasons why Gaiter King is trusted by industry professionals in agriculture, construction, logistics, and more. The companys neck gaiters and face masks are moisture-wicking to keep users cool and dry. And with UPF 50 protection, they block more than 97% of the suns rays. Perhaps best of all, each Gaiter King product is infused with a copper and silver anti-microbial treatment.

Its no secret that the coronavirus pandemic has hit the United States particularly hard. For Gaiter Kings founding members, its imperative that the company helps America in as many ways as it can. Thats why all Gaiter King products are 100% American-made. Every part of the companys supply chain, from yarn sourcing to cutting, printing, and sewing, is done in America by U.S. workers with American materials. You may not care about where your product comes from, but we do, founder Jon Dadon explains.

Theres no telling when COVID-19 will stop being a threat to humanity. But with ambitious companies like Gaiter King who are willing to adapt to these turbulent times, one cant help but feel hopeful that a brighter future isnt too far away.

Established in Southern California, Gaiter King was founded by a group of outdoor enthusiasts who create functional, fashionable, and durable apparel for nature lovers and working professionals across the agricultural, construction, logistics, and energy industries. All of Gaiter Kings face masks and neck gaiters are 100% made in the U.S.A. by the hands of skilled American workers.
And Kennedy cut that wall down, Dr. Mazzenga said.

I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute, the soon-to-be president said in a poignant address to the all-Protestant Greater Houston Ministerial Association in September of 1960, where no Catholic prelate would tell the president (should he be Catholic) how to act, and no Protestant minister would tell his parishioners for whom to vote.

With his emphatic embrace of liberalism, he laid those hoary ideological objections to Catholicism to rest; with his sophisticated comportment and demeanor, he slew the remainder. Catholics could present themselves for election to public office without suspicion, and they could confidently call themselves members of the white middle class.

Capturing the presidency was putting the cherry on top of this movement into the American middle class, Peter Cajka, assistant teaching professor of American studies at the University of Notre Dame, told me. Since then, he said, Catholics have become more assimilated into middle-class American whiteness, losing their ethnic base. Thus they became, with some exceptions, indistinguishable from white, Protestant America. In other words: They got exactly what they asked for.

One of the things that I have found interesting over the years, Greg Smith, associate director of religion research at the Pew Research Center, told me, is that if you look at Catholics opinions about a variety of political issues, what we see very clearly is that Catholic partisans tend to express opinions that are more in line with the positions of their party than the positions of their church. When it comes to abortion, Republican Catholics favor bans in most or all cases; where it comes to an expanded border wall, theyre very supportive. The reverse applies for Catholic Democrats, though Pope Francis has spoken emphatically against abortion and in favor of migrants and refugees. Mr. Kennedys speech in Houston was prescient indeed: No prelate, dead or alive, seems capable of influencing American Catholics politics now.

Indeed, censure by official church figures means little to Catholic politicians of either party. In 2012, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops published several letters it had written to the heads of congressional committees, calling upon Congress to heed the tenets of the faith in shaping the federal budget for 2013  specifically, to refrain from slashing funds for food stamps and other welfare programs. Representative Paul Ryan, a vocal Catholic, misrepresented and then ignored them. In 2008, Bishop John Ricard wrote an open letter to then-Senator Biden to question, in the gentlest terms, whether he ought to receive communion given his opposition to abortion restrictions. Bishop Ricard was joined by a number of other bishops in short order, and Mr. Biden was refused communion as recently as last October for that very reason. As in the case of Mr. Ryan, none of it has changed a thing.

And this is as much a result of what those hopeful Catholics of 1960 gained as what they lost.

The Catholic right hasnt lost political purchase  on the contrary, several wealthy, right-wing Catholics are vocally supportive of Mr. Trump, including Kenneth Langone, the billionaire behind The Home Depot, and Tom Monaghan, the founder of Dominos Pizza. All five justices in the conservative majority of the Supreme Court were raised Catholic.

Its just that the Catholic right is no longer recognizably Catholic. Its politics are more or less identical to those of the other members of the right-wing Christian coalition. A Pew poll conducted in August found that roughly 60 percent of white Catholics plan on voting for Donald Trump  identical to the number of nonevangelical white Protestants who plan to vote for him.
FRANKFURT - Volkswagen is unveiling a battery-powered sport-utility vehicle that is headed for global markets including the United States and China, as the company takes a major step forward in its campaign to make electric cars a mass-market choice.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/9/2020 (485 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

FILE - In this July 29, 2020 file photo, a VW ID.4 stands in front of the Frauenkirche on the occasion of a Volkswagen vehicle presentation on the Neumarkt in Dresden, Germany. Germany's Volkswagen is unveiling the ID.4, the battery-powered sport-utility vehicle that is headed for global markets including the United States and China, as the company takes a major step forward in its campaign to make electric cars a mass-market choice. (Sebastian Kahnert/dpa via AP, File)

FRANKFURT - Volkswagen is unveiling a battery-powered sport-utility vehicle that is headed for global markets including the United States and China, as the company takes a major step forward in its campaign to make electric cars a mass-market choice.

The ID.4 combines the battery drive favoured by environmental rules in Europe and China with the compact SUV design that has drawn many consumers away from hatchbacks and sedans.

The new model comes close on the heels of the German company's first vehicle built on its electric-only platform, the ID.3 compact, that went on sale in September. The ID.3 is not, however, coming to the United States, where larger vehicles such as SUVs increasingly rule the market.

The ID.4 is by contrast "designed as a world car, according to Volkswagen brand head Ralf Brandstaetter. It will launch in the U.S. early next year, with Volkswagen offering three years free unlimited charging on 470 stations belonging to the Electrify America fast-charging network.

The company says prices start at $39,995 before the potential $7,500 U.S. federal tax credit. The first edition will have range of 250 miles, charging to full in 7 1/2 hours at home, or up to 80% in 38 minutes at a fast-charging station. Volkswagen says eventually it will have a lower-cost $35,000 version with less range.

Scott Keough, CEO of Volkswagen in America, said Teslas all-electric Model Y, which now starts at $49,990, is a competitor, but Volkswagen sees most of its customers coming from conventional compact SUVs such as the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V. The opportunity is to get people flipping from ICEs (internal combustion engines) to this car, he said.

The compact SUV segment is the largest part of the U.S. new vehicle market with 4 million sold every year, Keough said.

At first, U.S. versions of the ID.4 will be rear-drive and imported to the U.S. from Germany, but Volkswagens factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee, will begin building it toward the fall of 2022, he said.

Volkswagen says the ID.4 will have great handling and will be faster from zero to 60 mph (96.6 kilometres per hour) than gas engine competitors. It expects the rear-drive version to get there under eight seconds and the all-wheel-drive version under six.

The company's goal is to broaden electric cars' appeal beyond first adopters to buyers simply looking for affordable transportation.

Volkswagen hopes car buyers will be attracted by the advantages that come from designing a car as an electric vehicle from the ground up. Putting the battery flat below the passenger space gives the ID.4 about the same interior space as that of the longer Volkswagen Tiguan SUV, while the lower centre of gravity makes for better handling.

The new vehicle underlines the sharp turn the company has made after its 2015 scandal over diesel cars that for years were rigged to cheat on emissions tests so they could pollute more than U.S. rules allowed.

Only last week the company announced it had completed three years of monitoring as part of its guilty plea with the U.S. Justice Department. Under independent monitor Larry D. Thompson Volkswagen had to come up with a uniform ethics code and an expanded whistle-blower system. The company has also paid more than 30 billion euros ($35 billion) in fines and civil settlements. Former CEO Martin Winterkorn faces a criminal trial in a German court and has been indicted in the U.S., though he cannot be extradited under German law.

The push into electric cars is to a great extent being driven by regulation. The European Union is from 2021 requiring car makers' fleets to have lower levels of carbon dioxide, the primary greenhouse gas that causes global warming. The race to comply with the rules - or face fines that could run thousands of euros per vehicle sold - has seen companies launch more electric vehicles with better prices and longer range. The European market share jumped to 7.2% in the third quarter from 2.4% a year ago, despite the overall slump in sales due to the coronavirus recession.

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The Chinese government is also making a regulatory push for more alternative propulsion vehicles. Uptake in the U.S. has been slower as regulatory pressure has been weaker.

Stephanie Brinley, principal automotive analyst at research firm IHS Markit, said the vehicle is very significant for Volkswagen as it tries to move forward and transition from traditional engines to a more electric vehicle lineup."

She cautioned that the transition to significant electric sales will take decades. "This is the beginning of a very long journey for them."

Consumers are getting more choice, with 18 electric models available in 2018 growing to 120 by 2025. And that will help push electrics to a 9% market share by 2025: For the electric vehicle market to really find the success that we expect it will, it needs to make that trip over to people who are less aggressive about change and are willing to try it anyway.

___

Associated Press writer David McHugh reported this story in Frankfurt, Germany and AP writer Tom Krisher reported from Detroit.
Appointment

23 September 2020

The iconic InterContinental New York Times Square has appointed hospitality veteran Anthony Del Gaudioto Head of Commercial. Del Gaudio comes to InterContinental New York Times Square with 33 years of hospitality sales, e-commerce, and revenue management experience. In his new role, Del Gaudio will be responsible for the InterContinental New York Times Square's top-line performance through analyzing data, planning, developing, and executing sales and marketing plans, and revenue management strategies.

Prior to joining InterContinental New York Times Square, Del Gaudio was with Loews Hotels & Resorts for 18 years, where he held various senior leadership positions within the Corporate Sales & Marketing division. In his most recent role as Vice President of Sales, he was responsible for setting and implementing direct sales strategy, achieving all revenue goals, overseeing new hotel openings and transitions into the Loews portfolio, driving business with the brand CRM and loyalty teams, and more.
The Mobile World Conference in Barcelona is traditionally taking place in the last week of February or the first week of March. Due to COVID-19, MWC 2020 was cancelled, and now the GSM Association announced next-years version is scheduled to take place between June 28 and July 1, 2021.

It is a bit sad that journalists, mobile company employees, partners and guests wont visit the Spanish city in its off-season period, but MWC is keeping the announcement schedule on point - the last week of February will see the MWC Shanghai 2021 take place - the official dates are February 23-25.

The conference in the Chinese city is aimed at Asia Pacific markets and brands that usually don't make it to Barcelona.

John Hoffman, CEO of GSM Association said in a press release that partners and clients remained dedicated to ensuring MWC21 Barcelona is a success. According to him, the conference is an experience that brings the whole industry together.

Switching the dates between Shanghai and Barcelona is a way to keep the annual cycle of events going on, since the MWC Los Angeles 2021 will remain as planned - at the end of October.

Source
By PTI

BERLIN: The German hospital treating Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny for poisoning says his condition improved enough for him to be released from the facility.

The Charite hospital in Berlin said Wednesday that after 32 days in care, Navalny's condition "improved sufficiently for him to be discharged from acute inpatient care."

The hospital said that Navalny had been discharged on Tuesday.

The hospital says that "based on the patient's progress and current condition, the treating physicians believe that complete recovery is possible," but that it's still too early to gauge the potential long-term effects of his poisoning.

Navalny, the most visible opponent of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was flown to Germany two days after falling ill on Aug. 20 on a domestic flight in Russia.

German chemical weapons experts have determined that the 44-year-old was poisoned with a Soviet-era nerve agent, prompting Berlin to demand that Russia investigate the case.

Navalny was kept in an induced coma for more than two weeks as he was treated with an antidote.

Members of his team accused the Kremlin of involvement in the poisoning, charges that Russian officials have vehemently denied.

The Kremlin has bristled at calls from German Chancellor Angela Merkel and other leaders to answer questions about the poisoning.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 05:18:19|Editor: huaxia

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KIEV, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine seeks to obtain a clear, articulated prospect of membership from the European Union (EU), the president's press service reported on Wednesday.

"The European Union is our key partner in restoring sovereignty and territorial integrity and supporting reforms. Since the signing of the Association Agreement, the EU has become Ukraine's main trading partner, which already accounts for more than 40 percent of our foreign trade... However, Ukraine wants full integration into the EU," said Zelensky.

Zelensky noted that Ukraine is currently working on deepening the integration between Ukraine and the EU within the framework of the Association Agreement, as well as adapting the trade part of the agreement to modern economic realities, which would be one of the core topics of the Ukraine-EU summit held in Brussels.

The Ukrainian president stated that a reformed and strong Ukraine could significantly strengthen the EU.

Earlier this week Zelensky had a meeting with the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell during the first visit of the EU foreign minister to Ukraine. Enditem
Cork software firm Everseen has secured a major new contract with US supermarket giant Kroger to supply artificial intelligence technology to 2,500 stores.

Headquartered in Blackpool, Cork city, Everseen holds a dominant position in the rapidly growing industry, providing unmanned checkout systems for supermarkets and other retailers.

Its technology began rolling out at Kroger stores in March and will continue to be installed in the coming months, with plans to deploy the technology at 2,500 outlets across the US.

Everseen uses cameras to monitor the checkout and self-scan areas and can detect when cashiers or customers mistakenly forget to scan an item, and can alert them to scan the item again.

Such errors, along with thefts, cost retailers up to 40bn each year. Everseen's AI technology sees 160 million items and 20 million people each day.

The Cork firm works with six of the worlds 10 largest retailers, including Walmart, for whom it monitors, and acts on, discrepancies across millions of events daily.

Chris Taylor, chief sales officer at Everseen said their job is to take a customer-first approach to make retailers such as Kroger more efficient and profitable.

Everseens unique Visual AI technology is transforming the way retailers can manage their end-to-end operations to drive perpetual inventory accuracy, prevent stock loss, and empower autonomous processes, said

Confirming the announcement, Mike Lamb, vice president of Asset Protection at Kroger said they are laser-focused on continuous improvements to customers experience across our stores.

"By leveraging Everseens Visual AI and machine learning technology, were not only able to remove friction for the customer, but we can also remove controllable costs from the business and redirect those resources to improving the customer experience even more."

Kroger employs nearly half a million workers and serves 11 million customers daily.

Everseen was founded by Cork man Alan O'Herlihy who came from a retail background.

It now has offices in Cork, New York, Romania, and Serbia.
Were in a constant state of search, looking for people to fill well-paying jobs. David Maurer of Humphrey Products said.

To celebrate National Manufacturing Week, Kalamazoo Valley Community College will stage a virtual Skilled Trades Expo on Thursday, Oct. 1 at http://www.kvcc.edu/skilledtradesexpo.

Prospective students, families, employers and the general public are encouraged to view and participate in a variety of educational and interactive videos and activities which will include:



Interviews with Kalamazoo Valley faculty members

Q and A sessions with employers and industry experts

Information about training at Kalamazoo Valley for high-paying jobs in these pathways:

Automotive Technology

Electrical Technology

HVAC Technology

Engineering/Design/Manufacturing Technology

Welding Technology

Computer Information Systems

Chemical Technology

Although virtual, the expo is patterned after a similar on-campus event held during 2019 when more than 800 people visited the colleges Texas Township Campus to learn about these careers. Sponsors of the event include Concept Molds, Humphrey Products, Landscape Forms and Stryker Corporation.

Kalamazoo Valley alumni Jason Sparks, general manager at Concept Molds, completed an apprenticeship while he was a student at Valley. The apprenticeship training that I received both in the classroom at Valley and hands-on at the shop gave me the background and the technical understanding of mold making, Sparks said. The Schoolcraft-based company opened in 1992 and employs 25 people, building plastic injection molds for the medical device market, as well as for the automotive, industrial, and consumer products markets, specializing in precision injection mold design, engineering, construction, management, and design support.

There has been a huge push recently to get the younger generation interested in skilled trades after high school and I am eager to do my part to help, Sparks said. There is an abundance of job opportunities for incoming prospects in skilled trades and mold making and machining. Many of these opportunities in mold making can lead to growth and advancement within the trade and plastics manufacturing industry and most mold shops are very safe, clean, bright and climate controlled.

David Maurer is President and CFO for Kalamazoos Humphrey Products company. He said he thinks the Skilled Trades Expo is a great way for students and parents to explore training and employment options and said he is always looking for qualified job applicants. Were in a constant state of search, looking for people to fill well-paying jobs. Maurer said. Were thrilled to be associated with initiatives like Kalamazoo Valleys Skilled Trades Expo that will help inform the public about high paying, rewarding careers in the skilled trades.

To access the Skilled Trades Expo, go to http://www.kvcc.edu/skilledtradesexpo beginning at 9 a.m. on Oct. 1. Content will remain available for the entire month.
The regime has arrested a student and dismissed a state employee for comments they made on their personal social media accounts reports Nadaa Syria.

The security branches of the Syrian regime arrested a university student from Suweida in southern Syria after a post he shared on his personal Facebook account, in addition to dismissing an employee in the same governorate for opposing the regime.

Suweida 24 reported that the regimes intelligence services arrested Qais Nur al-Din Naim from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Damascus on Sunday, while he was passing through the Conference Palace checkpoint and took him to the Political Security Directorate in the capital, knowing that there was no complaint or charge against him.

The same source pointed out that the arrest was due to a post the student wrote on his personal Facebook, in which he expresses his political opinion.

In similar news, the network confirmed that the Ministry of Education of the Assad regime issued a decision to dismiss Lala Salama Murad from her job, based on orders from the National Security Bureau, on charges of opposing the regime and harboring malevolent feelings towards the state and the higher political leadership.

According to the same source, Murads husband confirmed the news on his personal Facebook and uploaded a picture of the recommendation for dismissal, which was submitted to the attention of the Prime Minister of the Syrian regime.

It should be noted that following the outbreak of the Syrian revolution in March 2011, the Assad regime issued dozens of dismissal decisions against employees, teachers, and workers in government departments because of their political opinions or their participation in the revolution.

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.
Patna, Sep 23 : Political parties in Bihar are busy chalking out strategies for the Assembly elections which are likely to be held in October-November this year though the Election Commission (EC) has not yet announced the poll dates.

In many cases, parties which were friends during the last elections will now be seen as opponents while foes in the last polls have joined hands.

In the last assembly elections, the BJP and the Janata Dal (United) fought against each other but in this election they are together in the NDA-fold.

The Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) is likely to remain in the NDA this time as well but the Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) which was with the NDA during the last elections has severed ties with it. Former Union Minister Upendra Kushwaha's party RLSP is now part of the Opposition Grand Alliance (Mahagathbandhan) for the forthcoming election.

However, the RLSP and the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) are said to be upset as the seat-sharing formula in the Grand Alliance has not yet been decided.

Former MP Pappu Yadav has also announced to contest this year's election through the Jan Adhikar Party (Loktantrik). Yadav has not yet aligned with any opposition party.

The BJP is enthused with the JDU coming back to the NDA. The importance of the Bihar elections for the BJP can be gauged from the fact that its National President J.P. Nadda has already reached Patna and is busy reviewing preparations for the polls.

The Left which contested the last elections alone is likely to join the Grand Alliance this time. There have been several rounds of talks between the Left and the RJD on contesting the elections together.

RJD spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwari said the Opposition grand alliance should expand its outreach. Negotiations were on with many other parties, he added. Asked about the resentment over the seat-sharing formula, he said candidates who could guarantee a win were being selected.

The BJP's Bihar unit President Sanjay Jaiswal says the NDA has jumped into the poll fray with full force. The BJP-led NDA parties were contesting on the sole plank of development.

In the last Bihar assembly elections, the JDU, the RJD and the Congress had contested together under the Grand Alliance and formed the government with absolute majority. Later, however the JDU broke away from the alliance and formed the government in Bihar by joining hands with the BJP.
Berry good news -- new compound from blueberries could treat inflammatory disorders

Various plants and their products are known to contain "bioactive" ingredients that can alleviate human diseases. These "phytocompounds" often contain restorative biological properties such as anti-cancerous, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. Thus, understanding how they interact with the body can lead to potential treatment strategies against major immune disorders.

A team of researchers at Tokyo University of Science, led by Prof Chiharu Nishiyama, has been working this direction for the past several years, to identify novel active components in functional foods and understand their effects on the body. Their efforts have now led to success: In their latest study, published in The FASEB Journal, the scientists identified a polyphenolic compound called "pterostilbene" (PSB) with strong immunosuppressive properties--making it a potential therapeutic option for chronic inflammatory diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This compound is very similar to another phytocompound known to have important medicinal effects, called "resveratrol" (RSV). Dr Takuya Yashiro, corresponding author of this report, explains the idea that prompted their research, "RSV, a polyphenol, was known to have pronounced immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects on animal models of colitis ulcer. Therefore, we investigated the possibility of other compounds structurally similar to RSV as a new type of treatment for IBD."

In patients with IBD, the gastrointestinal tract lining contains long-lasting ulcers caused by chronic inflammation due to an elevated immune response in the body. This involves the excessive production of immune system-related molecules called "cytokines." Moreover, two types of immune cells, "dendritic cells" (DCs) and "T cells," are also involved: at the onset of an immune response, DCs produce inflammatory cytokines and activate T cells to initiate a defense response. These processes together form a complex pathway that result in a "hyper" immune response. Thus, to find an effective compound that can suppress the immune system, it was crucial to test it on this population of immune cells.

Thus, to begin with, the scientists studied the effects of a range of plant-derived compounds on DC-mediated T cell proliferation. Their initial research led them to PSB, which showed stronger immunosuppressive activity than the other candidates. When they dug deeper, they found that PSB treatment prevents T cells from differentiating into Th1 and Th17 (subtypes of T cells that elevate the immune response) while increasing their differentiation into regulatory T cells (another subtype known to inhibit inflammation). They also revealed that PSB treatment inhibits inflammatory cytokine production from DCs by attenuating the DNA-binding activity of a crucial transcription factor PU.1. When they further tested PSB in mice with IBD, they found that oral intake of PSB improved symptoms of IBD. Thus, the study confirmed that PSB is an extremely promising anti-inflammatory agent to fight IBD. Not just this--it is easily absorbed by the body, making it an ideal drug candidate!

Through these findings, the scientists have ushered in new possibilities for the treatment of not just IBD but also other inflammatory disorders. Dr Yashiro concludes, "For disease prevention, it is important to identify the beneficial components in foods and to understand the underlying mechanism by which immune responses and homeostasis are modulated in body. Our findings showed that PSB possesses a strong immunosuppressive property, paving the way for a new, natural treatment for IBD."

###

About The Tokyo University of Science

Tokyo University of Science (TUS) is a well-known and respected university, and the largest science-specialized private research university in Japan, with four campuses in central Tokyo and its suburbs and in Hokkaido. Established in 1881, the university has continually contributed to Japan's development in science through inculcating the love for science in researchers, technicians, and educators.

With a mission of "Creating science and technology for the harmonious development of nature, human beings, and society", TUS has undertaken a wide range of research from basic to applied science. TUS has embraced a multidisciplinary approach to research and undertaken intensive study in some of today's most vital fields. TUS is a meritocracy where the best in science is recognized and nurtured. It is the only private university in Japan that has produced a Nobel Prize winner and the only private university in Asia to produce Nobel Prize winners within the natural sciences field.

Website: https:/ / www. tus. ac. jp/ en/ mediarelations/

About Dr Takuya Yashiro from Tokyo University of Science

Junior Associate Professor Takuya Yashiro is affiliated with Faculty of Industrial Science and Technology, Department of Biological Science and Technology. He received his PhD from Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the University of Tokyo in 2011. His area of research interest is immunology. He has published 30 research papers in international journals.

About Professor Chiharu Nishiyama from Tokyo University of Science

Professor Chiharu Nishiyama is affiliated with Faculty of Industrial Science and Technology, Department of Biological Science and Technology. She received her postgraduate degree in 1990 from the Division of Agricultural Science at University of Tokyo Graduate School, followed by PhD from the University of Tokyo. Her areas of research interest include applied biochemistry including immunology, allergy, molecular biology, transcription factors, cell development. She has published around 124 research papers in international journals. She also received the prestigious JSBBA Award for Young Scientists in 2005, JSA Award for Young Scientists in 2005, and JAFI Award in 2019.

Funding Information

This work was supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C) (19K05884), Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B) (17K15275), the MEXT-Supported Program for the Strategic Research Foundation at Private Universities (Translational Research Center, Tokyo University of Science), the Tokyo Biochemical Research Foundation, the Tojuro Iijima Foundation for Food Science and Technology , and the Takeda Science Foundation. Takuya Yashiro, first author of this study, was supported by Research Fellowships of the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science for Young Scientists (JSPS Research Fellowships for Young Scientists #10792).

This story has been published on: 2020-09-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
By Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As the state witnesses a huge spike in daily Covid-19 cases, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has blamed it on the mass demonstrations. Briefing the media here on Tuesday, the CM said despite repeated warnings that crowds could cause a surge in cases, the Opposition parties ignored the same and organised protests, sometimes resulting in altercation with the police. As a result, 101 police personnel have got infected so far after handling the protesters, he said.

Crowding is one of the major factors that cause transmission of the virus. This has been highlighted by agencies like the World Health Organisation, but the Opposition parties in the state didnt take it at face value and were organising protests. They were indeed creating a perfect setting for the virus to spread, said the CM. The police personnel infected in the line of duty include one deputy superintendent of police, one inspector, 12 sub-inspectors, eight assistant sub-inspectors, eight senior civil police officers and 71 civil police officers. In addition, 164 primary contacts of these personnel have been identified and 171 others put under surveillance.

The police force is in the forefront of the Covid-19 battle. The political parties that carry on with this reckless act should think whether this is how they should treat the force for their selfless service. They are also humans and every human life is precious, Pinarayi said.Asked whether the government will go for stringent measures to control the protests, the CM said it rests with the political parties to behave responsibly. It is usually considered that political parties operate with their social obligation in mind. I am optimistic that the Opposition parties will take a stand that they will protect the society from falling into the grip of this pandemic, he added.

Meanwhile, health officials seem to be divided on whether protests have resulted in the sudden increase in the new cases. According to one section, gatherings could become super-spreader events. They say that crowded gatherings can contribute to the spread of the virus, especially when those involved shout or chant slogans. The infection could happen through various means. It ranges from using water cannons to disperse the crowd to lathicharge or while shifting the protesters to police vans, said an officer.

At the same time, citing the Black Lives Matter protests in the United States and reports that these didnt result in a spurt in cases, another section said as the protests are staged in open-air settings, the risk of virus transmission is less than in enclosed settings. However, they say that proper wearing of facemasks is decisive in reducing the risk of spread and severity of illness.
Tunisian NGO urges 'equitable' national migration strategy Against doubling of deportations from Italy

(ANSAmed) - TUNIS, SEPTEMBER 23 - The Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights (FTDES) has asked the country's parliament to request that the government be called upon to speak in the assembly on "tools for cooperation with the European Union and Italy on migration issues, urging them to examine and adopt the national strategy on migration". FTDES said in a missive that it holds the country's president "politically, morally, and constitutionally if the same foreign policy characterised by the unilateral European and Italian vision were to continue in dealing with the issues of undocumented migration''. The Tunisian NGO affirmed in a statement its "commitment to equitable bilateral cooperation respecting rights", calling for "transparency in talks and that the national public opinion be informed about details (of these talks), reiterating a refusal of the forced expulsions of migrants and security approaches adopted to deal with the phenomenon, noting the frequent reports in Italian media of a new Tunisian-Italian agreement on undocumented migration and Tunisia's approval for the doubling of deportations". FTDES added that ''this agreement reportedly received its first approval during the visit by Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese to Tunisia on July 27. This approval by the Tunisian side was reportedly reaffirmed during the visit by the Italian-European delegation on August 17, according to Italian media.'' Some 3,164 undocumented Tunisian migrants arrived in Europe in 2019 compared with 5,744 in 2018, FTDES said. (ANSAmed). (ANSA).




Boris Johnson responds to Sammy Wilson's accusation that the government is using coronavirus 'scare tactics'. (Parliamentlive.tv)

MP suggests governments dire warnings about resurgence of COVID-19 are exaggerated

DUPs Sammy Wilson accuses Boris Johnson of using scare tactics to push forward new restrictions announced on Tuesday

PM, who nearly died from virus, responds look at whats already happened in pandemic

Visit the Yahoo homepage for more stories

An MP has accused Boris Johnson of using scare tactics to push forward his new coronavirus restrictions.

Speaking during Prime Ministers Questions (PMQs), the DUPs Sammy Wilson suggested the governments dire warnings about the resurgence of COVID-19 have been exaggerated  something denied by Johnson.

On Monday, Sir Patrick Vallance, the governments chief scientific adviser, issued a series of warnings about the virus, saying it is doubling every seven days and that if this continues unabated, there could be just under 50,000 new cases a day by mid-October.

It was followed on Tuesday with Johnson announcing a raft of new measures  such as encouraging office staff to work from home, pubs closing at 10pm and wedding attendance being cut from 30 to 15  that are set to last for six months.

Watch: Sir Keir Starmer questions the PM on government's test and trace scheme

Wilson told Johnson at PMQs on Wednesday: Only time will tell whether the predictions made this week by the medical advisers about deaths and infections of coronavirus have any credibility  or whether they are as exaggerated as claims there would be half a million deaths within weeks made at the beginning of the year.

What is not in dispute, however, is that the scare tactics being used and regulatory actions taken will have an immediate impact on high streets, the hospitality industry, and further devastation for the aviation industry.

'Scare tactics': Sammy Wilson questions Boris Johnson. (Parliamentlive.tv)

Johnson, who six months ago nearly died from the virus, retorted: He makes a powerful point of scepticism about the medical forecasts.

All I can say is that everybody should look at whats already happened in the first phases of this pandemic and be in no doubt that it is possible that such a thing could happen again. Its precisely to avoid that, that we are taking the steps now.

Story continues

Among Sir Patricks other warnings on Monday were that an estimated 6,000 people a day are being infected and 70,000 currently have the virus.

He also said the UK is on the same course as Spain and France, which both saw second waves of infections translate into increased hospitalisations and deaths.

Dr Daniel Lawson, senior lecturer in statistical science at the University of Bristol, said on Monday following Sir Patricks warning of 50,000 infections: The scenario is unlikely to come about. But we do need to pay attention to it anyway, because the public do need to take action to lower the infection rate and only some of this is achieved by policy  the rest is done by us.

If we ignore this scenario, it could yet come about, or worse restrictions put in place instead.

Coronavirus: what happened today

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 Flash

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.
By Ayya Lmahamad

Azerbaijani products are being presented at the international exhibition Worldfood Moscow 2020 held in Russia on September 22-25, the Ministry of Economy has reported.

Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO) has organized participation of 30 Azerbaijani producers of pomegranate juice, hazelnut, wine and other alcoholic beverages, fruits and vegetables, mineral water, confectionery and flour products, tea, jams, dried fruits, lemonade and other products at single national stand Made in Azerbaijan at the exhibition.

Azerbaijans non-oil products have been presented at a number of international exhibitions in Russia recently. Azerbaijani companies signed contracts in the amount AZN 11.1 million ($6.5M) for export of products to Russia within the framework of two international exhibitions in Russia in 2019. So far, products worth over AZN 10.7 million ($6.2M) have been exported under these contracts.

Participation in the World Food 2020 international food exhibition is important in terms of expanding the geography of non-oil sector exports, increasing exports of Azerbaijani products to foreign markets and further strengthening ties between Azerbaijani entrepreneurs and foreign businessmen.

A wide range of products from more than 30 Azerbaijani companies were presented at single stand Made in Azerbaijan at the international food exhibition Prodexpo 2020, which was held in Moscow on February 10-14.

A contract for export of Azerbaijani products worth AZN 14 million ($8.2M) was signed at the exhibition and products worth over AZN 10 million($5.8M) have already been exported.

Overall, Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation has organized 33 export missions of Azerbaijani companies to foreign countries to promote Made in Azerbaijan brand so far.

Since early 2020, Azerbaijani companies have participated in the International Green Week 2020 in Germany, Prodexpo 2020 in Russia, Gulfood 2020 in the United Arab Emirates, and Azerbaijani products were presented at the single national stand Made in Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijani entrepreneurs will participate in the 3rd China International Import Food exhibition to be held in Shanghai, China by the end of 2020.

The Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO) is a joint public-private initiative, established by the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan in 2003 with the aim to contribute to the economic development through attracting foreign investments and stimulating exports in the non-oil sector.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
(Natural News) An investigative report published in Public Health Nutrition finds that Coca-Cola is running a fraudulent scientific front group called the Global Energy Balance Network (GEBN). This Coca-Cola front group claims to be researching the causes of obesity, but they are really just a team of fraudsters, using science to cover up the fact that the beverage industry is driving the US obesity epidemic.

Obesity rates skyrocketed between 2013 and 2015  the same time that this Global Energy Balance Network was downplaying the role that sugary beverages play in the obesity epidemic. Coca-Cola not only funded this front group to the tune of millions of dollars, but they tried to downplay that they were a major donor, while attempting to cover up how much they donated.

Coca-Cola tries to conceal their operation to manipulate Americans on the true causes of obesity

The investigative report was conducted by researchers from the US Right to Know, the University of Oxford, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and the University of Bocconi in Milan, Italy. They investigated over 18,000 pages of emails between the Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta, West Virginia University, and the University of Colorado. The investigation revealed that Coca-Cola supported a tight knit group of academics who were called the email family.

The network wasnt trying to improve public health, but were instead trying to defraud it, manipulating the science to mislead Americans on the true metabolic causes of obesity. The corrupt network repeatedly promoted that lack of exercise was the only cause of the obesity epidemic, that Americans were solely at fault. The network repeatedly downplayed the level of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and flavor chemicals that are in Coca-Cola beverages.

Their research concealed the fact that Coca-Cola beverages are formulated to addict customers to the beverage with no regard to the level of sugar in the drinks and how this affects the metabolic system of humans. The real science on HFCS and sugary beverages was concealed in order to protect beverage industry profits.

Coca-Cola contributed $1.5 million to GEBN and funneled millions more to academics who were affiliated with GEBN. Coke used public health academics to carry out classic tobacco tactics to protect its profits, said Gary Ruskin, the executive director of US Right to Know. Its a low point in the history of public health and a warning about the perils of accepting corporate funding for public health work.

One email chain revealed deceptive intentions, as GEBN tried to make a Coca-Cola donation look like funding from multiple universities and supporters. GEBN academics also discussed policies on how to keep hidden the amount that Coca-Cola contributed to the research. The deception worsened with GEBNs coalition building strategy that connected Coca-Colas research network with policy makers and public health officials.

Coca-Colas obesity deception contributes to the covid-19 pandemic

The researchers who uncovered this scheme are calling this a low point in this history of public health. Their investigative report is even more important today, because obesity was one of the most common underlying conditions that led to complications and death during the covid-19 pandemic.

If Coca-Cola was contributing to obesity rates and covering it up, then they are part of the problem exacerbating covid-19. By lying about their beverages, they are deceiving the public, causing rapid weight gain which leads to greater complications from viral infections. Coca-Cola is literally creating an environment within humans that is conducive for viruses to multiply. Coca-Cola is contributing to an immune-suppressed, chronically ill population, that is being repeatedly poisoned with each sip of HFCS, making it easier for viruses to take hold of their cells, multiplying and exacerbating infectious disease spread.

Sources include:

BlackListedNews.com

DailyMail.co.uk

NaturalNews.com
Technavio has been monitoring the anti-inflammatory therapeutics market and it is poised to grow by USD 30.62 bn during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of over 6% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200922005958/en/

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Anti-inflammatory Therapeutics 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?

Emergence of novel anti-inflammatory drugs is a major trend driving the growth of the market

Emergence of novel anti-inflammatory drugs is a major trend 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 5.9% and the incremental growth of the market is anticipated to be 30.62 bn

The year-over-year growth for 2020 is estimated at 5.9% and the incremental growth of the market is anticipated to be 30.62 bn Who are the top players in the market?

AbbVie Inc., Amgen Inc., AstraZeneca Plc, Bayer AG, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., GlaxoSmithKline Plc, Johnson Johnson, Merck Co. Inc., Novartis AG, and Pfizer Inc. are some of the major market participants.

AbbVie Inc., Amgen Inc., AstraZeneca Plc, Bayer AG, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., GlaxoSmithKline Plc, Johnson Johnson, Merck Co. Inc., Novartis AG, and Pfizer Inc. are some of the major market participants. What is the key market driver?

The increase in prevalence of IMID is one of the major factors driving the market

The increase in prevalence of IMID is one of the major factors driving the market How big is the North America market?

The North America region will contribute 45% of the market share

The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. AbbVie Inc., Amgen Inc., AstraZeneca Plc, Bayer AG, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., GlaxoSmithKline Plc, Johnson Johnson, Merck Co. Inc., Novartis AG, and Pfizer Inc. are some of the major market participants. The increase in prevalence of IMID 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.

Anti-inflammatory Therapeutics Market 2020-2024: Segmentation

Anti-inflammatory Therapeutics Market is segmented as below:

Geography North America Europe Asia ROW

Drug Class Anti-inflammatory Biologicals Corticosteroids NSAIDs

Application RA Psoriasis MS



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=IRTNTR41324

Anti-inflammatory Therapeutics 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 anti-inflammatory therapeutics market report covers the following areas:

Anti-inflammatory Therapeutics Market Size

Anti-inflammatory Therapeutics Market Trends

Anti-inflammatory Therapeutics Market Industry Analysis

This study identifies the emergence of novel anti-inflammatory drugs as one of the prime reasons driving the anti-inflammatory therapeutics 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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Anti-inflammatory Therapeutics Market 2020-2024: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2020-2024

Detailed information on factors that will assist anti-inflammatory therapeutics market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the anti-inflammatory therapeutics market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the anti-inflammatory therapeutics market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of anti-inflammatory therapeutics market vendors

Table of Contents:

Executive Summary

Market Landscape

Market ecosystem

Value chain analysis

Market Sizing

Market definition

Market segment analysis

Market size 2019

Market outlook: Forecast for 2019 2024

Five Forces Analysis

Five forces summary

Bargaining power of buyers

Bargaining power of suppliers

Threat of new entrants

Threat of substitutes

Threat of rivalry

Market condition

Market Segmentation by Application

Market segments

Comparison by Application

RA Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Psoriasis Market size and forecast 2019-2024

MS Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Market opportunity by Application

Market Segmentation by Drug Class

Market segments

Comparison by Drug class

Anti-inflammatory biologicals Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Corticosteroids Market size and forecast 2019-2024

NSAIDs Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Market opportunity by Drug class

Customer landscape

Geographic Landscape

Geographic segmentation

Geographic comparison

North America Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Europe Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Asia Market size and forecast 2019-2024

ROW Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Key leading countries

Market opportunity by geography

Volume drivers Demand led growth

Market challenges

Market trends

Vendor Landscape

Vendor landscape

Landscape disruption

Vendor Analysis

Vendors covered

Market positioning of vendors

AbbVie Inc.

Amgen Inc.

AstraZeneca Plc

Bayer AG

F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.

GlaxoSmithKline Plc

Johnson Johnson

Merck Co. Inc.

Novartis AG

Pfizer Inc.

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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Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 02:40:34|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The International Support Group for Lebanon on Wednesday asked political leaders of the country to support the formation of a new government and called for reforms.

In a joint statement after a ministerial meeting of the group, the members of the group urged Lebanon's leaders to unite in support of the timely formation of a government able to meet the legitimate aspirations expressed by the Lebanese people and committed to addressing Lebanon's multiple and acute challenges.

They also urged Lebanese political leaders to undertake critical reforms and welcomed the agreement reached earlier this month by all of Lebanon's political leaders on a comprehensive roadmap of reforms with an implementation timetable in line with their prior commitments.

They urged Lebanon to speedily implement measures to restore economic stability, improve the delivery of public services and the credibility of the financial sector, resume effective talks with the International Monetary Fund and prioritize key governance measures, and provide support for the most vulnerable communities in Lebanon.

They also urged the caretaker government and political leaders to fight corruption, combat tax evasion to guarantee transparency and accountability.

The members of the group called on all actors to maintain the peaceful character of the protests, by avoiding violence and respecting the right to peaceful assembly and protest.

Wednesday's meeting was co-chaired by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian. The International Support Group for Lebanon brings together Britain, China, France, Germany, Italy, Russia and the United States, together with the United Nations, the European Union and the Arab League. Enditem
During the lockdown, a lot of people have had to deal with loneliness as they werent able to see their family and friends due to stringent social distancing measures. However, at this time, a 24-year-old hairdresser and a 94-year-old veteran developed an unlikely friendship that has now blossomed into a special bond.

Tayle Wright with Ken Smith. (Caters News)

Tayla Wright, from Duston, Northantam, wanted to do something valuable after she was furloughed from her job as a hairdresser at Minx Hair Salon in Far Cotton due to the pandemic. Thus the youngster decided to volunteer at Northampton General Hospital.

I saw the NHS needed help and Ive only ever done hairdressing so I thought it would be good to get a different perspective, she told Caters News Agency.

However, at that time, Tayla was completely unaware of the change it would make in her life.

Tayla decided to volunteer at the elderly wards unit because she found it interesting to talk to older people. However, among all the people she spoke to on the job, she clicked straight away with Ken Smith, who was at the hospital at the beginning of the lockdown following a fall, according to the Northampton Chronicle and Echo.

The elderly man, who was at the hospital for four weeks, came across many volunteers who opted to help with making drinks and assisting patients by providing companionship as their near and dear ones were restricted from visiting. Ken struggled to keep in touch with his family even though he had a mobile phone as he didnt know how to use it.

However, after meeting Tayla, Ken immediately bonded with her. We were on the same wavelength, Ken recalled, according to Caters News Agency.

The duo chatted quite a bit, and Ken had a lot to share with Tayla. Ken had so many unique stories to tell that people of my age wouldnt be able to, Tayla said. We talk about everythingour lives, families, jobs and I love listening to him and finding out about how things worked in his day.

Seeing Tayla, the nonagenarian, who had worked for the Royal Air Force for four years, would get excited to meet her, as she kept him entertained.

Kens family thanked Tayla for taking the time to go visit Ken as they werent able to see him due to restrictions.

Twenty-four-year-old Tayla Wright. (Caters News)

We were so grateful to herit was a lifeline for us in terms of his mental wellbeing, Kens daughter, Kay Roberts, said. She kept his spirits up and spent an awful lot of time with him.

Tayla shared that Kay told her that she knew the days her father had met the youngster, as he seemed a lot perkier and brighter. But that wasnt all; Tayla would also report back to the family, as they werent aware of what was happening due to isolation.

When Ken, who had worked as an accountant before retiring, came out of the hospital, he was quite emotional.

I think Tayla reminds him of a granddaughter who is in Australia, Kay told Northampton Chronicle and Echo.

Although Ken is now back home and Tayla has returned to work, the duo is still in touch with each other. Kay said: Dad thought that was it and he wouldnt see her again, but then she texted me and asked if she could speak to him.

The pair speak a lot on the phone, and Tayla even pops up for coffee once in a while. I like to check he is okay and I tell him about my weekend antics, Tayla shared.

Tayla Wright with some friends her own age. (Caters News)

Most importantly, Tayla is pleased to know that she helped someone recover and that for her was a really lovely feeling.

She now urges others to visit someone who needs a bit of company. What Im doing with Ken doesnt take up much of my time but I think its so importantgiving up half an hour of your day, she said.

The grandfather is also happy to have befriended Tayla.

Tayla visiting her new 94-year-old friend, Ken. (Caters News)

To have a young person pleased to help old people is amazing. I still have a few of my marbles and Im not doing bad for my age, Ken told Caters Agency.

We would love to hear your stories! You can share them with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.nyc
The World Future Energy Summit (WFES) will return to the UAE capitals Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec) from April 57, 2021, with a broader market focus and expanded business agenda.



Organised by Reed Exhibitions, the business event will feature a new, three-day format, bringing together stakeholders from government and private sectors, finance, technology providers, innovators, academics and industry leaders.



During the week attendees will experience a programme of accelerated business meetings and networking delivered by the dedicated Sustainability Business Connect team.



Grant Tuchten, Group Event Director - World Future Energy Summit, highlighted the range of new business, education and networking features for 2021.



"The revised, multi-pronged format of the event will offer attendees the opportunity to conduct business and engage with industry colleagues through a platform of their choice: whether on the exhibition floor or in a virtual meeting space, he said.



As the regions most important platform for business and innovation, our primary goal is to connect buyers and sellers, and offer exceptional value for all stakeholders that cannot be achieved through any other format. The event will showcase thousands of innovations, technologies and present best practices for the future, supporting a more sustainable approach to a global economic recovery, he added.



A recent report published by the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) showed that accelerating investment in renewable energy could power an economic recovery with worldwide GDP gains of almost $100 trillion over the next 30 years. In response, the Agencys Director-General, Francesco La Camera, urged governments to invest in renewable energy in order to stimulate economic growth while helping to meet climate targets.



Over the past 13 years, the Summit has firmly established itself as the leading global platform for, not only future energy, but sustainability and green technology, too. The event has been carefully curated to maximise networking and business opportunities in the fast-evolving future of the energy and sustainability sectors, said Tuchten.



The Summit will feature a newly formed Climate and Environment Expo & Forum, which will showcase the latest advancements, innovative technologies and best practice to help accelerate the business of local and global climate resilience. There will also be an expanded Energy Forum covering key topics such as green hydrogen, energy storage and digitalisation.



The other five expos and forums include Energy, Water, Solar, Smart Cities and the co-located EcoWASTE Exhibition & Forum in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Centre for Waste Management  Tadweer.



The Summit will also host the fourth Climate Innovations Exchange (CLIX), launched to explore the worlds most innovative technologies to combat climate change challenges, as well as to provide a dynamic and agile platform that connects start-ups and investors. The 2021 event will feature two new themes: Smart Cities and Climate Resilience, in addition to Energy, Food, Agriculture and Space.



It is here that ideas become technology, and technology becomes practical solutions, added Tuchten. The Climate Innovations Exchange continues the search for sustainable solutions and helps prepare for the challenges that await us in the future.



Since the inaugural event in 2008, the summit has grown to host 34,000 visitors from 125 countries and, earlier this year, featured 840 exhibiting companies and brands. According to economic impact data from Adnec, the 2020 summit delivered AED150 million ($40.8 million) to the business economy, supported 738 jobs and generated 24,220 room nights with 96% of international visitors highlighting they were likely to return to Abu Dhabi for leisure.- TradeArabia News Service
Threat to Tomar

Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar is a worried man these days. On his home turf of Gwalior-Chambal, crucial Assembly bypolls are set to take place, which may establish the supremacy of Jyotiraditya Scindia as BJPs iconic figure on Tomars turf.

Tomar, who holds the additional charge of panchayati raj and rural development, was embarrassed when a well-known party spokesman fumbled and failed to name him as the countrys agriculture minister.

The spokesperson, having roots in the BJPs economic cell, reportedly took Radha Mohan Singhs name, who was agriculture minister in the previous Narendra Modi ministry. Sources close to Tomar feel their leader needs more visibility if he has to counter Scindia within the BJP.

Dissidents new dilemma

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi turned out to be smarter than her detractors. The 23 Congress dissenters who wrote a letter seeking inner party democracy are now perplexed by Sonias move to appoint the Congress Working Committee nominating some prominent dissidents who were asking for CWC polls.

Would Ghulam Nabi Azad, Anand Sharma and Mukul Wasnik muster the courage to turn down a CWC nomination? As per the party constitution, 12 members are required to be elected while an equal number can be nominated.

Last time when CWC polls were held, the party was led by Sitaram Kesri in 1997. Sonia is travelling abroad for her medical checkup and likely to skip the monsoon session of parliament.

In her absence, a six-member panel [without Rahul or Priyanka Gandhi] would officiate.

How to protest

The monsoon session of Parliament is starting amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Ironically, when the House had met in March 2020, the chair had reprimanded members for wearing masks.

Six months later, wearing masks has been made mandatory. The seating arrangement is also bothering the Opposition as members are spread to galleries in order to enforce social distancing. How would they protest if access to the well of the House is denied?

AAP in hills?

Though the Uttarakhand state Assembly poll is scheduled for early 2022, the BJP has begun preparation.

Politically, the Trivender Singh Rawat government does not seem strong enough to return to power. So BJP strategists are looking for a third front to prevent the Harish Rawat-led Congress from edging the party out of power. The buzz is that Arvind Kejriwals Aam Aadmi Party is set to contest the hill state poll in a big way.

The presence of a third contender will be bad news for the Congress. The BJP is also reportedly promoting the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal, otherwise considered a defunct outfit. The calculations are that if AAP and/or Uttarakhand Kranti Dal get a few seats through cutting into Congress votes and anti-BJP votes, then a Haryana-like situation can bring the BJP back to power.

Bhai closes Darbar

Jafferbhai Mansuri of Delhi Darbar fame is no more. Covid-19 took another toll. Jafferbhai was a legend in Mumbai as his biryani of the Delhi Darbar chain of restaurants was worth every paisa.

In 1973, Jafferbhai had founded his Delhi Darbar restaurant at Bombay's Grant Road, and by 2006 he became the Biryani King, having a chain of restaurants called Jaffer Bhais Delhi Darbar from Grant Road to Jogeshwari. The chain also owns several restaurants in the UAE.

Jafferbhais biryani was much sought after in wedding receptions. An unassuming and affectionate person, Jafferbhai used to keep a keen eye on his friends and acquaintances who were often given a packet of biryani and kebabs to relish at home.

Silence, they said

Swami Agnivesh will be greatly missed. The social crusader in saffron was a spare time politician who did not get his due even in death, as most English-language newspapers did not carry his obituary.

Surprisingly, most Urdu dailies had news of his death on the front page with some editorials and lengthy obits.

Perhaps it was due to Agniveshs consistent opposition to BJPs brand of Hindutva. A brahmin from Andhra, Agnivesh was a vocal Arya Samaji whose influence spread from Punjab-Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan to other parts of the Hindi heartland.

Agnivesh had given up a career as a professor in Calcutta to be a full-time social activist. His mission was to resist the RSS at all levels.
Theres an old joke in the legal profession about the attorney who goes to court saddled with a case in which the legal precedent clearly favors the other side.

The attorney insists that the previous case doesnt apply to the attorneys current case  because the dates and names in that case are different.

Maybe thats why so many lawyers become successful politicians. They share a knack for bending precedent to suit their agendas.

This skill isnt unique to one party, but its rarely been practiced with the utter shamelessness that weve seen from Senate Republicans in their recent handling of Supreme Court appointments.

Last Friday, we lost Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a fearless pioneer in the fight for gender equality, at the age of 87 from complications of pancreatic cancer.

Amanda Andrade-Rhoades /Bloomberg

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, immediately made it clear that he would allow President Donald Trump to fill that court vacancy in the coming weeks.

McConnells fellow Senate Republicans quickly fell in line, and it now seems all but certain that Trumps pick will be confirmed before the November 3 presidential election.

Of course, McConnell and his allies argued in early 2016 that then-President Barack Obama did not deserve a chance to have his Supreme Court nominee, Merrick Garland, brought to the Senate for consideration, because it was an election year and the American people needed to be given a voice in the selection of the next Supreme Court justice.

How can you justify the need to hold a Supreme Court seat vacant for nine months before an election, and then four years later insist that we cant wait six weeks?

Consider what U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said in 2016:

It has been 80 years since a Supreme Court vacancy was nominated and confirmed in an election year. There is a long tradition that you dont do this in an election year.

Cruz also downplayed 2016 concerns about a court vacancy by saying there is certainly long historical precedent for a Supreme Court with fewer (than nine) justices.

In a Sunday op-ed for Fox News, however, he warned our nation is at risk of a constitutional crisis without nine justices on the bench to litigate a possible contested election (a scenario that didnt seem to worry him as the 2016 election approached).

McConnell argued that voters gave the GOP a Senate majority in 2014 precisely for the purpose of restricting Obamas power and subsequently preserved that majority because Republicans pledged to support Trumps outstanding appointments to the federal judiciary.

So, were being told there is no need to wait six weeks for the electorate to choose our next president and Senate, because voters gave the sitting presidents party a clear mandate in the 2018 midterms.

ANNA MONEYMAKER, STR / NYT

Lets look at the GOPs 2018 mandate.

In the U.S. House, Republicans lost 40 seats. In Senate races across the country, Democrats received 59 percent of the vote, to only 39 percent for Republicans  a difference of 18 million votes.

Republicans maintained their Senate majority not because they received a mandate from voters, but simply because of a fluke in election scheduling. In 2018, 26 of the 35 Senate seats up for election were controlled by Democrats. Ten of those seats were in states won by Trump in 2016.

Any fair reading of the 2018 midterms would say that the GOP, by only gaining two Senate seats with a map so stacked in their favor, actually received a rebuke, not a mandate, from voters.

Nonetheless, Senate Republicans insist that history is on their side.

J. Scott Applewhite, STF / Associated Press

What were proposing is completely consistent with the precedent, said U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee.

Of course, that depends on what precedent you choose.

Lets try this one: Since 1900, the latest that any Supreme Court justice has been nominated and confirmed in a presidential election year has been in July.

Heres another one: Garland, Obamas 2016 pick, is the only Supreme Court nominee since 1853 (other than those whose nominations were withdrawn by presidents) who never received even a Senate confirmation hearing.

That was really strange, said Al Kauffman, St. Marys University School of Law professor, about McConnells 2016 move. I didnt think it was a precedent and I was against that concept.

I would respect this cynical exercise more if Senate Republicans were honest about whats happening here.

In 2016, Republicans had the power to block Obamas pick. They used that power.

Right now, Trump has the power to nominate a justice and Senate Republicans have the power to confirm that selection. They sense that Trump is likely to get voted out in November and they plan to use their power while they still have it.

Its not about respecting precedent or honoring the will of the voters. Its the might-makes-right principle of governing.

Gilbert Garcia is a columnist covering the San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Gilbert, become a subscriber. ggarcia@express-news.net | Twitter: @gilgamesh470
Cindy McCain gave her formal endorsement Tuesday to Joe Biden and his run for the presidency after signaling her support last month when she narrated a video as part of the Democratic National Convention highlighting Bidens 40-year friendship with her late husband, Sen. John McCain. The McCain familys relationship with President Donald Trump has always been adversarial with Trump denigrating the Republican senators military service and years spent as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. In the two years since McCains death from brain cancer, Trump has repeatedly disparaged McCain in oddly personal ways. He was horrible, Trump said in a 2019 interview with Fox News six months after McCains death.

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During a round of interviews with media outlets following her endorsement, Cindy McCain cited Trumps derisive comments about veterans as what pushed her into taking a more active role in supporting Biden. The most important thing that moved me a great deal was talking about troops being losers,  McCain told the New York Times. You know we have children in the military, as did the Bidens. The McCains have two sons who served in the military; Joe Bidens late son, Beau, was in the National Guard, which included a combat tour in Iraq. [Joe Biden] supports the troops and knows what it means for someone who has served, McCain told the Washington Post. Not only to love someone who has served, but understands what it means to send a child into combat. Weve been great friends for many years, but we have a common thread in that we are Blue Star families.

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Cindy McCain, the partner of the former standard-bearer of the Republican Party, is a high-profile defection, and a sign of the times within the GOP, but shes not alone in her cross-party support of Biden, as a growing legion of centrist Republicans have decamped from their partys vulgarian nominee. Some have publicly endorsed; others have taken to the campaign trail. Its unclear how much of a difference the opinion of this sliver of the electorate will have over swing Republican or independent voters. McCain said her public role over the last six weeks of the campaign is still taking shape, but she would campaign in her home state of Arizona, a new swing presidential state that if it goes to Biden would seriously complicate Trumps electoral math.
China will encourage the use of innovation, testing and maintenance processes at its comprehensive bonded zones, or CBZs, to bolster the development of the services trade, a Customs official said on Tuesday.



The larger goal is to further integrate the growth of goods trade with that of services trade, said Chen Zhenchong, head of the department of free trade zones and special control areas under the General Administration of Customs.

As a next step, the government will promote the development of new business formats such as financial leasing, cross-border e-commerce, cultural creativity and healthcare within the nation's CBZs, he said.

Eager to attract more foreign investment, stimulate trade and promote regional integration, the government said last month that it would expand the number of CBZs to 150 by the end of this year, especially in the central and western regions.

Compared to the pilot free trade zones in the country with an average land size of 120 square kilometers, comprehensive bonded zones are special Customs supervision areas established by the Chinese government with reference to the FTZs that are commonly used globally. The average size of these zones are usually set between 5 and 10 sq km.

These zones integrate the functions of bonded zones, export processing areas, bonded logistics zones and ports. It can develop businesses, including international transit, distribution, procurement, transit trade and export processing.

With China officially adding three new pilot FTZs in Beijing, Hunan and Anhui provinces this week, Chen said based on the market demand and local talent base, the GAC will offer more assistance to support Beijing Tianzhu comprehensive bonded zone within China (Beijing) Pilot FTZ to develop cultural creativity, movie production, film shooting equipment and prop rental businesses to further enrich the Chinese capital's industrial structure and boost trade in services.

The official said that the Beijing Daxing International Airport Comprehensive Bonded Zone currently is in the approval stage and could gain the green light from the central government by the end of this year.

The total value of imports and exports at China's comprehensive bonded zones stood at 1.7 trillion yuan ($249.81 billion) during the first seven months of this year, up 14.5 percent on a yearly basis, accounting for 9.9 percent of the country's total foreign trade volume, according to GAC data.

To further take advantage of CBZs' favorable business environment, Dalian Port and global mining giant Rio Tinto Group signed on Tuesday a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop blending operations within the Dayaowan Bonded Port Area in Dalian, Liaoning province, making it the first port in China that can provide diversified bonded blend fines to clients in China and the rest of Asia.

"This is Rio Tinto's first iron ore blending operation in a bonded area," said Chen Sheng, general manager of Rio Tinto Iron Ore Trading China Ltd, adding that Rio Tinto Blend Fines have been a success with customers in China.

The partnership with Dalian Port to blend within a bonded area allows Rio Tinto to offer this commodity to clients across Asia, using Dalian Port as a transshipment hub, said Chen.

"This cooperation will not only enable high-quality products to move closer to the markets, meet the diverse requirements of our clients, but also effectively cut the costs generated from the supply chain operations and provide more value-added services," he said.

According to Tai Jingang, deputy general manager of Dalian Port Co Ltd, a subsidiary of Liaoning Port Group, the blend fines will be sold to major steel mills in Japan, South Korea, and other countries and regions in Asia as well as China's northeastern provinces.

Dalian is the first domestic port that is qualified to deal in bonded blending fines and has the first batch of specialized ore terminals necessary for unloading from 400,000-metric-ton ore carriers. Since 2016, 46 million tons of blending fines were being operated at Dalian Port, including 24 million tons for international transferboth ranking first in China.
HARTLAND, NB, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Day & Ross has announced that Bruce Morin has been promoted to Chief Revenue Officer. As CRO, Bruce will be responsible for our revenue generation strategy and will continue to oversee our sales and partner channel teams. Bruce reports to Bill Doherty, CEO.

Since joining Day & Ross almost 28 years ago, Bruce has built an impressive record of success and one of the strongest sales teams in the industry. As Day & Ross continues to make significant investments in technology to further integrate and improve the customer experience, Bruce will drive sales performance through the development of a skilled and united team in both Canada and the US.

"We are confident that Bruce's strong leadership and passion for growing our business will position us well to drive growth with our established customers and take on new opportunities, including the growth of our Dedicated business in the US and the evolution of A&S Kinard as part of the Day & Ross family," said Bill Doherty, CEO. Day & Ross services include LTL/TL and cross-border transportation, logistics, dedicated fleets, and residential delivery. The company also maintains an exclusive partnership with R&L Carriers in the US for transborder transportation.

About Day & Ross

With over 8,000 employees, drivers, and owner operators in Canada and the US, Day & Ross offers a diversified portfolio of freight and delivery solutions to top brands across North America. The company got its start by hauling potatoes out of New Brunswick in 1950. Today, their key services include LTL/TL and cross-border transportation, logistics, dedicated fleets, and residential delivery.

For over a decade, Day & Ross has been recognized consistently as one of Canada's Best Managed Companies, and was named a Top Company for Women to Work for in Transportation in 2018 and 2019. Their commitment to safety and sustainability is rooted in their family values and their care for their employees and the communities where they work and live. dayross.com

SOURCE Day & Ross Inc.

Related Links

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The world's biggest four-day telecom assembly has been scheduled to start from June 28, 2021, global industry body GSM Association said on Wednesday.

The is held in the last week of February every year but this year, it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and after telecom companies one after the other started pulling out of the annual conference following the outbreak of coronavirus.

"MWC21 Shanghai will now take place from February 23-25, 2021, and MWC21 Barcelona will now take place between 28 June and July 1, 2021," said in a statement.

It added that moving MWC21 Barcelona, initially scheduled for the first week of March 2021, allows to contend with external circumstances related to COVID-19.

GSM Association has been organising the event annually since 2006 in Barcelona, Spain, where governments, ministers, policymakers, operators and industry leaders across the broader ecosystem discuss developments in the technology sector with telecom as a common thread.

The global telecom sector event also sees participation from top Indian industry leaders and top government officials and ministers.

Bharti Airtel chief Sunil Mittal, Communications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and Telecom Secretary Anshu Prakash were also expected to attend the global event early this year.

Around 1 lakh people from across the globe attend the event every year.

(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.)
US seeks breakthrough on Sudan before election US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo poses for a picture with Sudan's top general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan in Khartoum on an August 2020 visit

With weeks to go before US elections, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is racing to make a breakthrough with Sudan that he hopes could also benefit Israel.

Sudan's new civilian-led government is urgently seeking to be removed from the US blacklist of state sponsors of terrorism, and is seen by Washington as open to becoming the latest Arab state to recognize Israel -- a major cause for President Donald Trump's electoral base.

"The United States has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to ensure that compensation is finally provided to victims of the 1998 Al-Qaeda-backed terrorist attacks on the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania," Pompeo wrote in a letter to senators that was confirmed by congressional sources.

"We also have a unique and narrow window to support the civilian-led transitional government in Sudan that has finally rid itself of the Islamist dictatorship that previously led that country."

Sudan is one of four nations listed as a state sponsor of terrorism by the United States, severely impeding investment as businesses worry of legal risks in dealing with the country.

The designation dates back to 1993 when then strongman Omar al-Bashir welcomed Islamists including Osama bin Laden, the founder of Al-Qaeda, which carried out the embassy attacks that claimed more than 200 lives.

Washington had been gradually reconciling with Bashir, who agreed to independence for mostly Christian South Sudan.

But Sudan was transformed last year when Bashir was deposed following a wave of youth-led protests. British-educated economist Abdalla Hamdok has become the new prime minister with a reformist mandate in a transitional arrangement with the military.

- Question for Congress -

Sudan's delisting has been held up by a dispute over a package of some $335 million that Khartoum would pay as compensation to victims' families and survivors of the embassy attacks.

Completing a compensation package "is one of the highest priorities for the Department of State," a spokesperson said.

Story continues

In his letter, Pompeo said it was "very likely" that an agreement on claims and on delisting Sudan from the terror blacklist would be completed by the end of October -- days before the November 3 election.

But Congress also needs to pass legislation to provide Sudan immunity from further claims.

Senate Democrats are divided in part because the draft package would provide more money to US citizens than Africans, who made up the bulk of the victims -- an arrangement some call discriminatory but others say is realistic and in keeping with precedent.

Some lawmakers also want further discussion on compensation for other attacks by Al-Qaeda, notably the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole off Yemen.

Why the sudden push by Pompeo, who in his more than two years as America's top diplomat has rarely seemed preoccupied by Africa?

Sudan has hinted at a willingness to engage Israel, whose prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, in February met Khartoum's top general, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, in Uganda.

The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain last month recognized Israel, a coup for the Jewish state and a signature foreign policy win for Trump.

Pompeo briefly stopped in Khartoum in late August in the first visit there by a US secretary of state in 15 years.

Hamdok demurred in his meeting with Pompeo, saying that his transitional government, which is set to rule until 2022 elections, did not have a mandate to normalize relations with Israel -- in what would be a major about-face for a country until recently considered Islamist-run.

But some observers believe there can still be forward movement on relations with Israel, especially with the prospect of removal from the terror blacklist.

fff/sct/bfm/leg




More employees of LG Electronics Inc. working at its headquarters building in Seoul have been infected with the new coronavirus, company officials said Wednesday, prompting the tech firm to expand its remote working system.







So far, five employees of LG Electronics have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past two days, forcing the company to partially shutter the West Building of LG Twin Towers in Yeouido, western Seoul.







LG has closed floors six through nine of the building and ordered all employees working on those floors to receive virus tests.







To better curb virus infections inside the building, LG said all of its workers are ordered to work from home until Friday.







Last month, LG partially shuttered the East Building of LG Twin Towers after a child at its in-house day care center tested positive for the novel coronavirus.







LG Twin Towers is home to LG Group's main affiliates, including LG Electronics, LG Chem Ltd. and LG Display Co. (Yonhap)


The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), James Opong-Buanuh has warned that the police service is ready to crack the whip on any officer of the service found abusing the rules that regulate the service on Election Day.

COP Oppong-Buanuh said this in an interview with Citi News on the sidelines of a police electioneering simulation exercise in Takoradi.

He cautioned personal to be minded of the rules and also assured the public of better policing come December.

We are going to be professional in everything that we do. If Police personnel go wayward, we have our regulations that deal with whatever we are supposed to do on that day.

If people don't comply with it, we have our own system of taking them through disciplinary procedures. So we can assure Ghanaians that will make sure that all police officers are professional on that day.

The Inspector-General of Police, who also held a private durbar for the Western Regional Police personnel in Takoradi, encouraged the public to cooperate with the police service for a violence-free election.

---citinewsroom
Italian actress Sophia Loren is set to star in a feature film for the first time in over a decade.

The star of Hollywood's Golden Age, 86, will play the main part in a new Italian-language drama, The Life Ahead, which will be streamed on Netflix.

In the film - which will be directed by the star's son Edoardo Ponti - Sophia plays a Jewish woman and Holocaust survivor named Madame Rosa who helps raise the children of prostitutes.

Exciting times: Italian actress Sophia Loren is set to star in a feature film for the first time in over a decade

Speaking of her excitement about the project she told Deadline: 'When my son proposed the role to me, it was a dream come true.

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'I jumped at the opportunity to make it. I loved portraying Madame Rosa. She is tough, she is fragile, she is a survivor. In many ways she reminds me of my own mother.'

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Last July, Sophia was spotted filming the movie in Bari, Italy, where she was seen looking dishevelled as she shot scenes being pushed around in a wheelchair by a child.

New role: The star of Hollywood's Golden Age, 86, will play the main part in a new Italian-language drama, The Life Ahead, which will be streamed on Netflix (pictured in 1965)

Sophia has already been getting Oscar buzz for the role and it is hoped the premier will go ahead as planned in Rome in October.

Her last film was the 2010 TV movie My House Is Full of Mirrors. The year before that she made a big impression opposite Penelope Cruz and Nicole Kidman in the feature film Nine.

Sophia is considered one of Italy's national treasures as she is the biggest movie star to come out of the country.

Back on set: Last July, Sophia was spotted filming the movie in Bari, Italy, where she was seen looking dishevelled as she shot scenes being pushed around in a wheelchair by a child

Gorgeous: Sophia is considered one of Italy's national treasures as she is the biggest movie star to come out of the country

In 1961 Sophia won Best Actress at the Academy Awards for her role in Two Women and was the recipient of an Honorary Oscar in 1991 'for a career rich with memorable performances that has added permanent luster to our art form.'

Ponti, whose father was the late famed film producer Carlo Ponti, previously directed his mother in 2002's Between Strangers.

Her career began in when she was a teenager and went by the name Sofia Villani Scicolone. She was first cast as an extra in Mervyn LeRoy's 1951 film Quo Vadis.

Back in her sexy look: She wore a garter belt with a corset for The Millionairess in 1960 for which she is most renowned

But it was not until she met Carlo Ponti that her career took off. He renamed her Sophia Loren and got her cast in the 1953 film Aida.

Her breakthrough role was in 1954's The Gold Of Naples.

But she became internationally famous when she starred in Boy On A Dolphin.

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In 1958 Hollywood called and she was cast in Desire Under The Elms with Anthony Perkins, based upon the Eugene O'Neill play.

The love of her life: She was wed to Carlo Ponti (pictured together) from 1966 until his death in 2007 and together they had two children

When she co-starred with Cary Grant in Houseboat he fell in love with the beauty but she stayed loyal to Ponti.

One of her most popular movies was the 1965 drama Marriage Italian Style.

She was wed to Carlo from 1966 until his death in 2007 and together they had two children: Edoardo, 46, who is wed to actress Sasha Alexander, and Carlo Jr, 50.

Loren has been staying out of the spotlight in recent years as she prefers to spend time with her grandchildren.
Leitrim has been highlighted this week as a county showing concerning trends of Covid-19 cases according to health officials.

The statistics, figures and threat of a Level 3 lockdown has caused much confusion locally with less than five

Covid-19 cases reported in the past week.



Although more positive Covid cases are expected to be announced this week according to local sources, the rate of incidence has more than halved in a number of days.

According to figures released by the HPSC (on Tuesday, September 22) Leitrim had 11 positive cases of Covid-19 reported over the past two weeks.

That figure viewed as per 100,000 population sees Leitrim with a rate of 34.3.



Leitrim had the fourth highest rate of cases in the country at 78.0 last Friday, September 18 which referred to 25 cases reported over two weeks.



Assistant secretary at the Department of the Taoiseach Liz Canavan stated on Monday, While there has been a significant focus on Dublin; Louth, Waterford, Limerick, Kildare, Leitrim, Donegal and Offaly are now showing concerning trends.



HSEs Chief Clinical Officer Colm Henry also said they are looking at Leitrim's two day incidence rate and have seen an escalation at the level of community transmissions which are not linked to the train of known transmissions.

The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) meets this Thursday to discuss the possibility of further restrictions on counties outside of Dublin.

Leitrim has been named alongside Donegal, Limerick, Louth, Kildare, Offaly, Waterford and Wicklow as counties of concern. Senior Government official Liz Canavan warned on Monday that people have to double their efforts to halt the spread of the virus.

People across Ireland and in particular these counties are urged to seize the window of opportunity they have now to avoid anti-Covid restrictions being imposed.



Speaking on national radio Mr Henry said: "We don't react to today's figures, we look at the two day incidence and that's rising particularly in Waterford, Leitrim, Louth and patterns somewhat different but still that worrying escalating level of community transmission.



Community transmission accounts for cases out in public areas, or the streets that cannot be traced back to one location or any known chain of transmission.



He said, "The only way we can prevent uncontrolled transmission, which is the greatest threat to our population is restricting social contacts, reducing the number of contacts, reducing the number of settings the virus can jump from household to household and from individual to individual and that applies to Leitrim or Dublin."





Also read: Covid update - 334 confirmed cases of Covid -19
Retail brokerage Sharekhan, which is owned by French banking major BNP Paribas, on Tuesday announced its entry into the discount broking space with Espresso, which offers no fees if the trade ends in losses.

The basic idea is to help clients succeed by ensuring that they have more money in their hands by not paying brokerage on loss-making intra-day trades, or simply put 'pay-when-you-profit-pricing model', the brokerage told reporters on a conference call.

Discount brokers like Zerodha and 5paise have eaten into the business of traditional full-service players.

Sharekhan said Espresso will be a separate company. The new platform was announced three months ago as a Beta testing format.

However, Espresso does not believe that discount broking should be all about lower brokerage as it believes in helping investors end up making profitable trade.

Also, there will also be no brokerage on delivery trades.

The service will be free for all types of trades for the next three months if a customer opens a demat account with Espresso before October 22, Sharekhan Chief Executive Officer Jaideep Arora said.

Espresso Chief Customer Officer R Kalyanaraman said a customer can pay Rs 20 per order across equity, future and options, commodities and currency, and the brokerage waiver is only on one side (buy/sell) of the order and also there is zero delivery brokerage.

The company is also offering an inaugural offer of 50 percent discount on trade booster programme, which is a week-long online course to learn disciplined trading.
Under a new policy, Hong Kongs police will cease to recognise press accreditation issued by local media or journalist associations unless they are also registered with the Hong Kongs Information Services Department. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) said the move aggressively undermines media freedom and independence in Hong Kong and demands it be revoked immediately.

In a letter sent to media organisations on September 22, the chief superintendent of the public relations branch of the Hong Kong Police, Kenneth Kwok, outlined amendments to the definition of media representatives. The new policy takes effect from September 23. Police justify the restrictions as a means to control activities and fake reporters. They also argue that the new measures provide an objective definition of journalist.

The policy change represents yet another attack on media independence in Hong Kong and follows of more than a year of police violence amid ongoing pro-democracy protests and the deterioration of freedom of speech and political rights since the imposition by the Beijing authorities of the controversial national security on June 30. The move has been strongly condemned by media unions which say journalists could be restricted from covering police-controlled events, press briefings and protests. Under the policy, only "internationally recognised and renowned" foreign media will be recognised by police.

Hong Kong Journalist Association (HKJA) chairman, Chris Yeung, said HKJA was disappointed at the policy change and that police had not consulted media unions in making the determination. Yeung said he did not understand why HKJA press cards were no longer recognised, since the association had not received any related any complaints.

On September 22, the HKJA joined eight Hong Kong media unions in demanding the policy be scrapped. Today, the police have broken this relationship by planning to make a significant amendment without first discussing and consulting our sector. We demand the police to scrap the relevant amendment, or we will respond by taking any possible and necessary measures, the joint statement said.

Media workers or journalists in Hong Kong were previously required to be in possession of an identity card issued by individual media outlets, as well as those with membership cards provided by the HKJA or the Hong Kong Press Photographers Association.

The IFJ said: This is another level of state control clearly at odds with press freedom. It also shows the excessive overreach by authorities against journalists and media workers in Hong Kong in a bid to control critical media coverage. The IFJ strongly objects to any move to limit access to journalists and the narrowing of the definition of a journalist as dictated by police which have no capacity to make such a determination without the consultation of journalists.
Students walk under the entry to the California State UniversityFullerton campus in Fullerton, Calif., on Aug. 28, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Fresno State President Named Chancellor Of CSU System

LONG BEACH, Calif. (CNS)Joseph I. Castro, who has been president of Fresno State University for the past seven years, on Sept. 23 was named the next chancellor of the Long Beach-based California State University (CSU) system.

Castro is the first California native and the first Mexican-American to hold the position. He will take over the office on Jan. 4, 2021, replacing retiring Chancellor Timothy White.

My great-grandparents and grandfather immigrated from Mexico about a hundred years ago to work on the railroad and to work the land of the San Joaquin Valley, Castro told the CSU Board of Trustees during a virtual meeting in which he was introduced.

Like the majority of students that we serve at CSU, I was the first in my family to attend and graduate from a university, and thats a gift that Ive been paying back ever since, he said.

I intend to continue paying that gift back over time as chancellor of the CSU. I am committed to working with the entire CSU community, including my brother and sister presidents and vice chancellor colleagues, to take our transformational 23-campus system to new heights of success in the coming years.

White, 71, announced in October 2019 that he would be retiring, effective in July 2020. But he delayed those plans in March when the COVID-19 pandemic took hold, forcing the system and its roughly 480,000 students into a virtual learning environment that will continue through the spring of 2021.

The search process for his replacement was also put on temporary hold.

CSU Board of Trustees Chair Lillian Kimbell introduced Castro, 53, during the boards Sept. 23 virtual meeting.

Dr. Castro is a passionate and effective advocate for his students, his campus, and the CSU in his local community, in Sacramento, and in Washington, D.C., Kimbell said.

Above all, hes a leader who inspires greatness in his students, in his faculty and staff, and in the broader community. Hes bold yet measured and collaborative, courageous, and a proven innovator, but uncompromising in his core values. In short, he is the right leader for the California State University in our current circumstances and for our future.

Castro will earn $625,000 a year as chancellor, along with a monthly auto allowance and a nearly $8,000-a-month housing allowance. The CSU system does not have an official residence for the chancellor.

Castro earned bachelors and masters degrees at the University of CaliforniaBerkeley, and holds a doctorate in higher education policy and leadership from Stanford University. He and his wife, Mary, have three children.

White has been CSU chancellor since 2012. Prior to that, he was the chancellor of the Riverside campus of the University of California from 2008 to 2012.

White is credited with spearheading efforts to bolster graduation rates. During his tenure, state funding for the system increased from $2.3 billion to $3.6 billion, and enrollment grew from 436,000 to more than 480,000.
KYODO NEWS - Sep 23, 2020 - 15:11 | Arts, All

The world's smallest Rubik's Cube was unveiled to the media on Wednesday to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the six-sided puzzle in Japan.

The aluminum cube, weighing about 2 grams and measuring 9.9 millimeters on each side, was shown a day before an exhibition opens to mark the debut of the popular three-dimensional puzzle in the country in 1980.

The exhibition includes a mosaic artwork made up of 1,600 pieces of Rubik's Cube, portraying Hungarian sculptor and architect Erno Rubik, the puzzle's inventor.

The commemorative cube was developed by MegaHouse Corp., a subsidiary of Bandai Namco Holdings Inc., and Iriso Seimitsu Co., a Japanese metal processing company based in Saitama Prefecture. It retails at 198,000 yen ($1,880) per cube.

"We would like to expand the possibilities for Rubik's Cube through pursuing new approaches and projects," MegaHouse President Hiroshi Sakakibara said.

The cube was first marketed in Japan in 1980, and in the first year alone 4 million were sold, according to MegaHouse.

The exhibition hosted by the Hungarian Embassy among others will open free of charge in Tokyo's Minato Ward through Nov. 9.
A view from Wrexhams Member of Parliament

This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Sep 23rd, 2020

Wrexham.com has invited Wrexham & Clwyd South Members of Parliament and Assembly Members to write a monthly article with updates on their work in their respective Parliaments and closer to home  you can find them all here.

Today, Wrexhams MP Sarah Atherton writes

This month we secured our first major free trade deal as an independent trading nation with Japan; boosting trade between our two counties by 15.2 billion, creating jobs and delivering new opportunities across every part of the United Kingdom. This deal will help build back better as we create new opportunities for people throughout the whole of the UK and help level up our country.

https://twitter.com/AthertonNWales/status/1304384386549321730?s=20

I was particularly pleased to welcome the Minister for International Trade, Ranil Jayawardena MP, to Wrexham to showcase a fantastic family-run farm to discuss how future free trade agreements will help reduce costs and cut red tape on agricultural exports, allowing farms across Britain to continue to produce and export their high- quality good

https://twitter.com/AthertonNWales/status/1304172284253528065?s=20

The visit took place during the same week as Back British farming Day, which saw us celebrating farmers across the UK. It was a fantastic opportunity to thank our farmers across Wrexham, that help keep us fed, manage our wonderful countryside and produce high-quality food. Wherever possible I encourage residents to show their support to our farmers by buying British.

https://twitter.com/AthertonNWales/status/1303801115046219778?s=20

Whilst international trade is important, it is crucial that we preserve the integrity of our internal Market. Wrexham is home to one of the largest trading estates in the UK, and sits just 4 miles from the English border. It is vital that we have unfettered access to the rest of the UK as we transition out of the European Union. The UK Internal Market Bill does just that. That is why I am pleased to say that I voted in favour of this bill, protecting jobs, livelihoods, and growth across the whole of the UK.

#Wrexham is home to the largest trading estate in the UK, and sits just 4 miles from the English border. It is vital that #Wales has unfettered access to the rest of the UK as we transition out of the EU. The #UKInternalMarket Bill does just that. pic.twitter.com/KYvieaXCrM  Sarah Atherton MP (@AthertonNWales) September 16, 2020

Nothing is more important right now that protecting our public health and supporting our economic recovery from coronavirus. This Bill will ensure that all four nations can overcome Covid together, promoting good cooperation between Westminster and the devolved Governments. Last month, I welcomed the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and industrial strategy, Alok Sharma MP, to Wrexham to meet with one of the businesses situated on the trading estate to discuss the importance of being able to trade seamlessly across all home nations.

It was a pleasure to welcome the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, @AlokSharma_RDG, to visit @Silvergate_UK in #Wrexham yesterday! pic.twitter.com/cQfL5z2Kzw  Sarah Atherton MP (@AthertonNWales) August 5, 2020

As part of the UK Governments strategy to spur on the countrys economic recovery from coronavirus, it has launched its new Kickstart scheme. The scheme has been designed to ensure young people at risk of long term unemployment have a future of opportunity and hope by creating quality, Government subsidised jobs across the UK, providing an opportunity to kickstart the careers of thousands of young people who would have otherwise been left behind as a result of this pandemic.

Protecting, supporting and creating jobs is at the heart of our plan for recovery. The Kickstart scheme, aimed at young people, will make sure no-one is left behind as we kickstart the Welsh economy again. https://t.co/yBsW9Qkf7t  Sarah Atherton MP (@AthertonNWales) September 2, 2020

Recent figures published have shown that the furlough scheme has protected more than 9.6 million jobs across the UK since the scheme launched, including 400,800 in Wales. On the 1st July, the Government introduced flexible furlough, giving businesses the flexibility to bring back employees part-time, 42,300 in Wales have benefited from this. This shows that the scheme has been very successful in saving jobs and helping to ensure people get back to work.

It was a pleasure to visit the @PPEhwbWrecsam in #Llay, to hear how theyve been operating throughout the pandemic, producing face visors. If youd like to join this amazing team, please email 

new.volunteer.ppehwbwrecsam@gmail.com pic.twitter.com/Jccr2SrShF  Sarah Atherton MP (@AthertonNWales) September 12, 2020

Locally, I have continued to visit and speak to local businesses and charity groups, such as the PPE Hub in Llay, whose volunteers have been hard at work throughout the pandemic producing face visors. This is important work, and I am proud to see that our community has come together in this way.

It was a pleasure to visit the @PPEhwbWrecsam in #Llay, to hear how theyve been operating throughout the pandemic, producing face visors. If youd like to join this amazing team, please email 

new.volunteer.ppehwbwrecsam@gmail.com pic.twitter.com/Jccr2SrShF  Sarah Atherton MP (@AthertonNWales) September 12, 2020



The last few months have been incredibly challenging for individuals and businesses; however, I am encouraged by the work that government has done to keep us safe, protect our jobs and businesses, and revive our economy. I will continue to work on behalf of the people of Wrexham to ensure their voices are heard as we tackle the virus.

As always, if there is anything I can do to be of any assistance please dont hesitate to contact me.

https://twitter.com/AthertonNWales/status/1307969209700421632?s=20

Wrexham.com has invited Wrexham & Clwyd South Welsh and UK Parliament representatives to write a monthly article with updates on their work and closer to home  you can find them all here.
"2020 has been a challenging year. But you stuck with us and fought alongside us to not only sustain but to advance our mission," said Year Up Founder and CEO Gerald Chertavian while addressing the Year Up community. "We will continue to scale and evolve our program to serve more deserving young adults, and build the capacity to work with and through others, dramatically increasing the number of young adults who gain access to opportunity."

More than 1,000 attendees joined the event on September 16th, where Year Up alumnus and PhD student Durrell Washington interviewed Bryan Stevenson, Founder and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI). They focused on the need to "commit to learning history" to recognize and address failures contributing to the racial wealth gap, and how young adults could accelerate social change.

Jalen Epps, who graduated from Year Up Greater Boston in 2015 and is an Associate Program Manager on the Emerging Talent Program Team at JPMorgan Chase, spoke about how Year Up still inspires him.

"I currently serve as the co-chair for the Year Up Boston Alumni Association, and through my work on the Emerging Talent Programs team, I ensure there are opportunities at the firm for diverse candidates of all backgrounds," said Epps.

Jameela Roland, a Year Up Puget Sound 2017 graduate working at Microsoft, emceed the event. Roland testified before Congress in 2017 as part of a hearing on "Opportunities for Youth and Young Adults to Break the Cycle of Poverty." Beija Gonzalez, a 2018 Year Up Bay Area graduate working at LinkedIn, spoke about how Year Up empowered her to be a more effective community leader.

Champions of Year Up's mission were inducted into the Opportunity Hall of Fame, including Joe and Abigail Baratta, Paul and Sandy Edgerley, Garrett and Mary Moran, John Stanton and Terry Gillespie, and Greg and Alicia Walton; Harvard University, Kaiser Permanente, LinkedIn and LinkedIn Social Impact, The Workday Foundation and United Airlines; and Ballmer Group, Barr Foundation, Blue Meridian Partners, The Boston Foundation, The James Irvine Foundation, The Marcus Foundation, The Richard and Susan Smith Family Foundation, and The Wyss Foundation.

About Year Up Inc.

Year Up is an award-winning, national 501(c)3 organization that enables motivated young adults to move from minimum wage to meaningful careers in just one year by providing the skills, experience, and support that will empower them to reach their full potential. Through a one-year, intensive program, Year Up utilizes a high-expectations, high-support model that combines marketable job skills, stipends, coursework eligible for college credit, and corporate internships at more than 250 top companies. Its holistic approach focuses on students' professional and personal development to enable young adults with a viable path to economic self-sufficiency and meaningful careers. Year Up has served more than 30,000 young adults since its founding in 2000. Year Up is active in 35 campuses across the U.S., including Arizona, Baltimore, Bay Area, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Greater Atlanta, Greater Boston, Greater Philadelphia, Jacksonville, Los Angeles, the National Capital Region, New York City/Jersey City, Pittsburgh, Puget Sound, Rhode Island, South Florida, Tampa Bay, and Wilmington. Year Up has been voted one of the "Best Non-Profits to Work For" by The NonProfit Times. To learn more, visit www.yearup.org, and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

SOURCE Year Up

Related Links

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The title of Pope Francis' third encyclical, with its incipit Fratelli tutti, sparks strong reactions in some quarters. In fact, Francis of Assisi, who is quoted here, addresses all believers and all people  brothers and sisters in the entire world. The following article identifies the source of the name of the new encyclical and calls for accurate translation.

Weeks before Pope Francis' third encyclical will be signed in Assisi and its text (1) published, a debate over its title has already been triggered. In some German and English-speaking areas, for example, there are women who are set not to read a written work that is addressed only to fratelli tutti. Translations with little sensitivity ignore the fact that in the cited work, Francis of Assisi is addressing both women and men. The medieval author endorses, as does the new encyclical, universal fraternity. Pope Francis highlights a spiritual pearl of the Middle Ages capable of surprising modern readers, both male and female.

A quotation of Brother Francis

When the encyclical was announced, various media rightly wondered if Pope Francis had placed a discriminatory quotation at the beginning of his third encyclical. How is it possible that he, whose first public words after his election were brothers and sisters, would now address only fratelli tutti? Why does the incipit  the first few words of a text that also serve as its title - exclude women and thus exclude half the Church? Only brothers  or what?, asks a critical article by Roland Juchem (2). The director of the Vatican service of KNA (Catholic News Agency) explains that the new encyclical consciously begins with the words of the Medieval mystic of Assisi, which were translated faithfully. Since Brother Francis is addressing his brothers, the expression omnes fratres should be formulated in the masculine. According to this logic, however, the correct translation would be Frati tutti [Friars all]! And so the text would be read only by an infinitesimal minority in the Church. Pope Francis begins his new encyclical with a maxim of wisdom authored by his model. Those who, with presumed faithfulness to the text, insist on a translation only in the masculine, do not recognize the true addressee of the medieval collection. Francis of Assisi, with the final composition of his text, addresses all Christian men and women. Translations into modern languages must express it in an accurate and immediately comprehensible way.

Collection of wisdom sayings

Just as the opening words of the encyclical Laudato Si' quoted the Canticle of Brother Sun, Sister Moon, composed by the Poverello of Assisi in the old Umbrian language, the Pope's third encyclical refers to a collection of his maxims of wisdom. The main source used by Pope Francis in Franciscan writings bears the title Admonitiones. The expression admonitions is too limited, because the full set of 28 spiritual teachings also includes numerous beatitudes, a brief essay and even a canticle about the strength of the gifts of the Spirit (3). The Dutch edition in fact prefers to speak of Wijsheidsspreuken (maxims of wisdom) (4). The fact that they are addressed to brothers is true only for some individual maxims, not for the entire collection. When translators rely on the fact that all standard editions of Franciscan writings in all the languages of the world translate the omnes fratres of the cited maxim into the masculine form, they err in judgment, and thus understand only a half truth. In other words, the literal translation of the Latin sentence does not reflect the full meaning that the text intends to express in its final form! In the Italian/German edition of Franciscan Sources, the sixth admonition begins with the words: Let all of us, brothers, consider the Good Shepherd Who bore the suffering of the cross to save His sheep (5). Here one can already note that the image of the shepherd and his flock used in the text includes the entire Church, and not just a multitude of friars or monks. To recognize the final addressee of the collection of texts cited by the Pope, it is necessary to distinguish between the genesis of the various parts of the text and their final compilation. In the latter, the word fratres is expanded from the small circle of Franciscan initiates to all people.

From the puzzle piece to the complete picture

The quoted locution comes from a collection that gathers spiritual discussions among the brothers and the considered conclusions of those discussions. The overall skilful collection expands the horizon beyond the small initial circle.

The individual maxims are addressed to Francis's friars, to religious people in general and also to all people at the service of God (servi Dei). In the last years of his life, Francis of Assisi put together 28 well selected spiritual teachings to form a series of lessons that construct a spiritual edifice and recall the biblical house of Wisdom with its carved pillars (6). The symbolic number 28 is composed of 4 times 7: the four indicates the world and the seven God's creation; the 28 symbolically represents the universal Church as a work of God (7). Who enters under an artistically adorned portico and limits him or herself to looking at only one pillar? All people, without exception, are invited into this spiritual edifice, and in fact the individual passages in the collection are addressed to everyone.

Omnes fratres

The first admonitio speaks specifically of questions regarding the Eucharist, but intentionally also addresses all people (8). Hence, the Latin text in the inviting incipit clearly indicates that the horizon of hope is open to all the daughters and sons of man. On their way through the house of Wisdom, they will discover a path towards a life that makes one happy (9). In fact, at the centre of this series of spiritual lessons, Francis of Assisi interprets biblical beatitudes, which are also addressed to all people, adding ten beatitudes of his own. Pope Francis does not highlight a single text, but rather a collection of texts that Kajetan Esser defined as the Magna Carta of Christian fraternity (10). The subtitle of the encyclical makes it obvious that it is addressed, like the Christian-Islamic joint document of Abu Dhabi on human fraternity, beyond ones own Church, to humanity. Pope Francis writes on fraternity and social friendship, which must unite, without any exclusion, all the people in a supportive world.

From frati to brothers and sisters

What justifies Pope Francis, with his fraternal vision of humanity, referring to Francis of Assisi as his model and placing a fraternal quotation at the beginning of his encyclical? Consider this brief explanation. The preserved writings of the Saint contain a collection of letters, some of which are addressed to individual brothers (Leo, Anthony, government leaders) while others are addressed to the entire confraternity and to all the faithful. But there is also one circular letter that extends the horizon to the universal and is addressed to all mayors and consuls, magistrates and governors throughout the world and to all others to whom these words may come (11). No pope and no emperor of the Early Middle Ages addressed all of humanity in such a universal way. In the Rule of 1221, which is presumably addressed only to his brothers, Francis includes an invitation that extends beyond every border of nation and religion: not just Christian faithful and not just the people committed within ecclesial structures, but rather all peoples, races, tribes and tongues, all nations and all peoples everywhere on earth, ... let us all love the Lord God (12). The mystic expands his own horizons to the entire human family even in the Rule specific to friars, a few months after arriving in Egypt in the fifth Crusade and having felt in a striking manner, through his encounter with Islam, that it is possible to find spiritual wisdom and the love of God even outside one's own religion (13). The same universal opening also occurs with his maxims of wisdom, which in the Admonitiones are skillfully united in a series of lessons. In the last years of his life, Francis includes what had been words of wisdom to his brothers in a complete composition that addresses all the faithful. The Latin text requires no addition: the expression fratres used for the religious includes also sisters, as still today do fratelli, hermanos and freres in Latin languages which do not have a term for parallel usage regarding the female gender. Today, the German language makes a distinction between Bruder or Gebruder and Geschwister and also between Bruderlichkeit (without sisters) and Geschwisterlichkeit (with sisters). Similarly, English distinguishes between brothers (purely masculine) and siblings (brothers and sisters), and between brotherhood (often without sisters) and fraternity or siblinghood (everyone included).

Later, after the first admonition allowed all sons and daughters of man to enter the beautiful house of Wisdom, this universal form of address also begins the sixth admonitio with reference to fratres, for it addresses all Christian women and men and calls out to all people on earth.

On the origin of the quoted source

With regard to the collection of 28 maxims of wisdom, Franciscan research affirms that the individual preserved texts summarized longer discourses about the spiritual and communal life of the friars. In the course of time, some ideas were summarized in writing and highlighted. Thus something analogous occurred to what happened with the sayings of the ancient fathers and mothers of the desert in the circles of their followers, preserved in a condensed fashion in the Apophthegmata and in the Meterikon (14). The individual teachings of Francis were also written down in diverse situations by people capable of writing, and were summarized in their essence. Toward the end of his life, he himself combined these results of communal discourses; once collected into a complete work, the individual teachings acquired a new dimension.

It is no coincidence that the first teaching begins with a scriptural quotation that sets the theme: The Lord Jesus said to His disciples: 'I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life'. The Romanesque entrances of churches sometimes invite one to enter the building with a figure of Christ in the tympanum, and precisely this same quotation in an open book. In the spiritual edifice of the Admonitiones, two preparatory teachings lead to ten maxims of wisdom that outline the way of truth. Following them are four biblical beatitudes and another ten Franciscan beatitudes, before two concluding teachings prepare for the return to daily life. The individual teachings are combined in this way in order to create a spiritual house of wisdom that resembles a basilica: on the left of the nave twelve pillars lead, as the way of truth, toward the area of the altar, whose canopy is supported by four slender pillars, and identify the place of intimate communion with God. Then, on the other side of the nave, twelve pillars lead back to the entrance and indicate the way of life. Via  veritas  vita are the keys of the composition of a complete work whose individual passages, even separated from the context in which they were born, are a message for all Christians, men and women

Whoever may be interested in the collection of the texts from which Pope Francis draws the incipit of his encyclical will soon find an analysis of the composition and the complete message in a specialized series of the Philosophical-Theological University (PTH) Munster (15).

Conclusion

With the incipit of his third encyclical, Pope Francis expressly refers to Francis of Assisi. In the Canticle of Brother Sun, Sister Moon, the saints universal fraternity extends to all people and all creatures. Among the saint's circular letters there is one that addresses all the people on earth in a universal fashion. Even in the Rule of the Order of 1221, composed for Franciscan friars, he addresses all persons and all peoples with an invitation. The sixth admonitio quoted by the Pope condenses the results of a spiritual discourse in the sphere of the Brothers Minor; that is the context in which it was born. The spiritual teaching that inspires the incipit of the new encyclical, however, was included by Francis toward the end of his life as a pillar in the house of wisdom, where the capitals form images that mirror each other. Not only brothers, but all believers and every person on earth are invited to traverse this spiritual edifice. Thus the omnes fratres or fratelli tutti of the encyclical is to be translated as a quotation of Saint Francis so that all Christians, men and women, feel involved. The addressees of the quoted collection of texts comprise all the brothers and sisters who meet in real and ideal ecclesial spaces, and by extension, all human beings on earth. Likewise Pope Francis, with this incipit, addresses his encyclical to all human beings on earth.

by Dr. Niklaus Kuster

Niklaus Kuster (1962) is a Swiss Capuchin friar with a degree in theology and a noted scholar of Saint Francis. He teaches Church history at the University of Lucerne and Franciscan spirituality in the Order's superior institutes in Munster (PTH) and Madrid (ESEF). He paid tribute to Pope Francis's Franciscan profile in his book Franz von Assisi. Freiheit und Geschwisterlichkeit in der Kirche, (Verlag Echter) Wurzburg 2 2019.

Notes:

(1) The encyclical will be signed very symbolically on the eve of the Feast of Saint Francis, 3 October 2020, in the basilica of the Saint in Assisi.

(2) The article was published online on 8 September 2020: Titel der neuen Papst-Enzyklika: Nur die Bruder  oder wie?: https://www.kath.ch/newsd/titel-der-neuen-papst-enzyklika-nur-die-brueder-oder-wie/

(3) Francis of Assisi, Early Documents. vol. I: The Saint, ed. by Regis J. Armstrong, J. A. Wayne Hellmann, William J. Short, New York - London - Manila 1999, 128-137.

(4) Gerard Pieter Freeman /Hubert J. Bisschops / Beatrijs Corveleyn /Jan Hoeberichts / Andre Jansen (ed.), Franciscus van Assisi. De Geschriften, Haarlem 2004, 108122.

(5) Early Documents I, 131.

(6) Proverbs 9:1: Wisdom has built her house, she has set up her seven pillars; cfr. Proverbs 14, 1 e 24, 3-4.

(7) On the symbolism of the Admonitiones as an ideal church open to all: Theo Zweerman / Edith van den Goorbergh, Franz von Assisi  gelebtes Evangelium. Die Spiritualitat des Heiligen fur heute, Kevelaer 2009, 69-71.

(8) Admonitio I:14 with Psalm 4:3 in the version of the Vulgate: filii hominum.

(9) The collection of the admonitions as subtly composed pathway of teaching and spiritual edifice is explained by Zweerman / Van den Goorbergh, Gelebtes Evangelium, 6294.

(10) Cf. Niklaus Kuster, Franziskus. Rebell und Heiliger, Freiburg 42016, 150154; originale: Kajetan Esser, Anfange und ursprungliche Zielsetzungen des Ordens der Minderbruder, Leiden 1966, 273276.

(11) Early Documents I, 58.

(12) Early Documents I, 84.

(13) Cf. Niklaus Kuster, Spiegel des Lichts. Franz von Assisi  Prophet der Weltreligionen (Franziskanische Akzente 22), Wurzburg 2019.

(14) Los escritos de Francisco y Clara de Asis. Textos y apuntes de lectura, ed. by Julio Herranz  Javier Garrido  Jose Antonio Guerra , Onati 2001, 40; Pietro Messa  Ludovico Profili, Il Cantico della fraternita. Le ammonizioni di frate Francesco dAssisi, Assisi 2003; Francisci Assisiensis Scripta  Francesco dAssisi: Scritti, critice edidit Carolus Paolazzi, Grottaferrata 2009, 346.

(15) Niklaus Kuster, Weisheitsspruche des Franz von Assisi. Zum Charakter der Admonitiones und zur Komposition ihrer Sammlung, in: Mollenbeck, Thomas / Schulte, Ludger (ed.), Weisheit - Spiritualitat fur den Menschen, Munster 2021 (to be published in the spring).
China recently released a white paper on the participation of the countrys armed forces in the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping operations, for the first time introducing the concrete steps of its government and armed forces to implement the decisions and directions made by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Leaders Summit on Peacekeeping at UN Headquarters 5 years ago.



The white paper, titled Chinas Armed Forces: 30 Years of UN Peacekeeping Operations, showcases the sense of responsibility of China as a major country, and demonstrates the new contributions made by the country to UN peacekeeping operations (UNPKOs).

Taking concrete actions to honor its solemn promise of safeguarding world peace, China has made important contribution to UNKPOs. China has registered an 8,000-strong standby force and a 300-member permanent police squad for UN peacekeeping missions. Six of its standby contingents have been elevated to Level Three in the UN Peacekeeping Capability Readiness System. Twenty-five rotations of engineer and medical units totaling 7,001 troops have been committed to missions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, Sudan's Darfur, Mali and Lebanon. In the past five years, China has provided training programs to over 1,500 peacekeepers from more than 60 countries, and offered assistance in demining and trained more than 300 professionals from multiple countries including. The Chinese Ministry of Public Security also trained more than 1,000 foreign peacekeeping police officers.

The Peoples Liberation Army has honored Chinas commitment of gratis military aid to the value of USD100 million to support the African Standby Force and the African Capacity for Immediate Response to Crisis; Chinas armed forces deployed their first peacekeeping helicopter unit; 23 peace and security projects totaling over $10 million were implemented to support UNPKOs.

To contribute to building a community with a shared future for mankind, Chinas armed forces have stepped up their support for and participation in the UNPKOs, bringing greater confidence and hope for peace and development to areas beset by conflict.

As a critical element and key force in the UNPKOs, Chinas armed forces in the new era have instilled more positive energy into world peace and development.

China has abided by the highest standards in selecting and training police peacekeepers, said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, adding that Chinese police peacekeepers have strictly followed UN work rules and discipline, demonstrating professional competence and ethics.

Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, president of the 74th session of the UN General Assembly noted that China is playing a more and more important role in UNPKOs. Lieutenant General Carlos Humberto Loitey, Military Adviser for UN Secretary-General (UNSG), also spoke highly of the important contributions made by China and the Chinese military to the UN peacekeeping operations. The UNPKOs couldnt have achieved todays success without the vital support from China, he said.



World peace is the responsibility of all countries and peacekeeping calls for expanding multilateral cooperation. Chinas armed forces have cooperated on peacekeeping with over 90 countries and 10 international and regional organizations based on the principles of mutual trust and win-win cooperation. They have enhanced mutual understanding, shared experience, extended practical cooperation, strengthened bilateral and multilateral relations, and promoted peacekeeping capability.

China has continuously strengthened strategic communication to build consensus on peacekeeping, contributed Chinese wisdom and shared experience, and extended cooperation on joint exercises and training to build capability. China is widely recognized as an important force supporting peacekeeping operations and multilateralism, which fully indicates the countrys firm determination to support the UN, support the cause of world peace and development, uphold the vision of global governance based on extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, and safeguard multilateralism.

Peace, like air and sunshine, is hardly noticeable. But none of us can live without it. Though the world is going through huge changes unseen in a century; unilateralism, hegemonism and power politics are impacting international order and undermining global cooperation; and human beings are facing increasingly severe risks and challenges, peace and development still remain the theme of the time. Standing at this critical moment of history, we must cherish the hard-won peace more than ever.

China is firmly committed to the path of peaceful development, and hopes that other countries will also pursue peaceful development. As always, Chinas armed forces will continue to provide unfailing support for the UNPKOs, fulfill their commitments to safeguarding peace, and bring greater confidence and hope to conflict-ridden areas and local people.


Dassault Aviation stands by Lebanon

Saint-Cloud, France, September 22nd, 2020  To help Lebanon after the tragic explosion of August 4th, 2020 in the port of Beirut, and in response to the call for mobilization launched by the President of the French Republic, Dassault Aviation has decided to sign an agreement to support the Lebanese NGO Nawraj.

Under the agreement, Dassault Aviation will buy and dispatch medical equipment worth 150,000 for a hospital in the Gemmayze district, which suffered extensive damage in the blast.

The agreement was signed today, at Dassault Aviation headquarters in Saint-Cloud, by Mr. Fouad Abou Nader, President of Nawraj, and Eric Trappier, Dassault Aviation Chairman and CEO. His Excellency Mr. Rami Adwan, Ambassador of Lebanon in Paris, Ambassador Pierre Duquesne, Interministerial Delegate in charge of Mediterranean Affairs, and Mr. Gwendal Rouillard, member of the National Assembly representing Morbihan who co-chairs the study group on Christians in the Middle East and minorities, honored the ceremony with their presence.

"We were greatly affected by the tragedy in Beirut. Dassault Aviation has a long history of friendship with Lebanon. The country's air force has been equipped with Mirage III and several Lebanese nationals are loyal Falcon customers", said Eric Trappier. "Contributing to the movement of solidarity initiated by the French President, Mr. Emmanuel Macron, is an obvious choice for us."

ABOUT DASSAULT AVIATION:

With over 10,000 military and civil aircraft delivered in more than 90 countries over the last century, Dassault Aviation has built up expertise recognized worldwide in the design, development, sale and support of all types of aircraft, ranging from the Rafale fighter, to the high-end Falcon family of business jets, military drones and space systems. In 2019, Dassault Aviation reported revenues of 7,3 billion. The company has 12,750 employees.

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New Delhi, Sep 23 : The Nepal government has directed its security forces and intelligence agencies to keep a close watch on movements of Tibetan refugees owing to the ongoing India and China military impasse over border issues, sources said.

Further, an assessment was carried out by the Nepal Army where it clearly stated that "these refugees would pose a security threat in case of hostilities" between India and China.

Sources said the decision to keep a tab on Tibetan refugees lately was taken after China pressured Nepal to do so coupled with Tibetans being part of India's Special Frontier Force (SFF) especially engaged in covert operations behind Chinese lines.

It was when Subedar Nyima Tenzin, a SFF officer, was killed in a military operation to occupy previously unoccupied heights in Chushul sector in eastern Ladakh in India on August 30 that the focus shifted to Tibetan refugees.

The SFF was raised by India's Intelligence Bureau in the immediate aftermath of the 1962 China-India war.

The covert outfit recruited Tibetan exiles and was initially named Establishment 22. Subsequently renamed SSF, it now falls under the purview of the Cabinet Secretariat.

Now, China wants close monitoring of Tibetan refugees in Nepal.

Nepal shares a 1,236-kilometre-long border with China and is home to a sizeable Tibetan community. There are around 20,000 Tibetan refugees in Nepal. Many of them live in former detention camps that have been transformed into permanent settlements.

Nepal and China had signed several security and intelligence-sharing agreements since 2008.

On China's insistence Nepal had agreed to enforce a ban on Tibetan public demonstrations; implement close monitoring of the Tibetan community, its leaders, and real or perceived activists and deploy a sizeable number of Nepali armed police in Tibetan neighbourhoods on politically sensitive dates.

"China also enrols certain members of Nepal's intelligence and law-enforcement agencies to monitor and infiltrate Tibetan communities living in Nepal," sources said.

Nepal's crackdown on Tibetans, under the pressure of China, has been continuing for several years, the source said. "Most of the Tibetans in Nepal do not have a residential permit. They are also unable to open bank accounts or own property," the source said.

He also stated that a confidential diplomatic cable created by the US embassy in New Delhi for period of Jan 30-Feb 19, 2010 released last week by Wikileaks titled 'Update on Tibetan refugee flow' stated that the Chinese government rewards Nepali forces by providing financial incentives to officers who hand over Tibetans attempting to exit China.

(Sumit Kumar Singh can be reached at sumit.k@ians.in)
Did Joe Rogan make a big mistake accepting Spotifys proposal?

I suppose all marriages are hard work. But theres usually a honeymoon phase, a stretch of bliss in which both parties are lost in the clouds, too giddy in love to detect any looming turbulence. Less than a month into this union, youd think Spotify would be head-over-heels after snagging the worlds most popular podcaster and getting him to agree to an exclusive relationship.

But the comedian and the streaming service appear to have skipped the euphoria.

They may already need urgent marriage counselling.

A few days ago, Vices Motherboard reported on an internal uprising inside Spotify. It seems the company has now held 10 meetings with staffers  10!  who feel alienated by Spotifys hosting of certain The Joe Rogan Experience (JRE) episodes.

In another story, Digital Music News noted: A group of Spotify staffers are now reportedly pushing to introduce direct editing oversight over The Joe Rogan Experience  before the episodes go live. That includes content flags, trigger warnings, references to fact-checked information, or simply refusing to publish an episode at all.

Wow. They want to put trigger warnings on a guy who released a standup special titled Triggered? Isnt that a bit like affixing a May Cause Injury sticker to the buttstock of an AK-47?

Unfortunately, for the aggrieved staffers  and, hopefully, for anyone who values free speech  Spotifys chief executive, Daniel Ek, is unbowed. This is no small act of courage in a climate of outrage.

According to Vice, Ek told concerned staffers: The fact that we arent changing our position doesnt mean we arent listening. It just means we made a different judgment call.

Exactly. The right judgment call.

How Rogan became a bete noire to progressives is one of the great mysteries of our time. The man is pro-choice and pro just about anything else enshrined in doctrinaire social liberalism. Ive heard him volunteer to pay way more in taxes if it helped lift up the impoverished and make real systemic change in neighbourhoods lost to decades of neglect and decay. For crying out loud, he adores Bernie Sanders.

But none of this seems to matter to those who believe Rogan does more harm than good.

Is it because he routinely gives a platform to voices on the right? Is it because hes friends with everyone from Alex Jones to Ben Shapiro? Is it because hes occasionally dead wrong about something, including most recently having to apologize for falsely claiming left wing people were setting the fires now ravaging the West Coast? Is it because he will give a forum to writers such as the Wall Street Journals Abigail Shrier, whose recent book Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters, has enraged trans activists who see it as pure poison?

I have no idea. But heres the thing: having wide-ranging, anything-goes, decidedly un-woke and refreshingly open conversations with academics, scientists, celebrities, public intellectuals, comics, athletes and authors is exactly why Spotify proposed to Rogan in the first place, with a diamond ring that was a reported $100-million licensing deal. You dont hire Wolfgang Puck to cater your backyard soiree and then demand he change the recipe to the marinated lamb with honey-mint vinaigrette.

Rogan has a bigger audience than anyone in cable news precisely because hes not partisan.

Ive heard him mock both Joe Biden and Donald Trump. He supports peaceful protests and condemns looting and violence and the destruction of property. This is not controversial  its common sense. Rogan lets his guests express ideas, however unpopular, without content flags.

And he does all of this at a time when the free exchange of ideas is itself imprisoned.

If its true staffers at Spotify are now demanding editorial control of JRE, then management needs to take control of this rebellion. By all means, keep listening. Foster a respectful workplace. Make sure everyone feels safe. But at the same time, do not hesitate to read the riot act.

Rogan is, by far, the biggest star in the companys podcasting constellation. Later this year, when JRE is only available on Spotify, he will be a reason millions migrate to the platform. Spotify isnt gambling on an unknown  it is betting on lucrative popularity.

As such, it has an obligation to protect its new partner from attacks, especially from within. There is a French proverb that roughly translates into, In any relationship, the person who cares less has all the power. In this relationship, that person is Joe Rogan.

He was doing just fine without Spotify. He could do just fine after Spotify.

That a cabal of staffers now want to dictate what he can and cant say is madness.

So this is what he should say: Im doing the show my way, or this marriage is over.
Bringing together the world's largest city-led urban resilience network

SINGAPORE, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As continued resilient recovery remains a priority in cities around the world, the global community represented by Resilient Cities Network came together virtually. The organization introduced the new members of its Board of Directors and Global Steering Committee. With cities still battling the unprecedented global pandemic and the compound risks of climate change and social inequity the agenda discussed by the core executive team as well as the Network alumni community was particularly relevant, reviewing and discussing the strategic direction of the Network for 2021-2023.

During the meeting, Lauren Sorkin, Executive Director of the Network, presented Daniel Stander, Private Sector Representative to the United Nations, Naina Batra, Chairwoman and CEO, Asian Venture Philanthropy Network (AVPN), Sylvester Turner, Mayor of Houston, and Sameh Wahba, Global Director of Urban, Disaster Risk Management, Resilience, and Land Global Practice, World Bank as new appointees for the Board of Directors. Also, the network's Global Steering Committee was confirmed. It will be headed by co-chairs Belfast, represented by Grainia Long, Commissioner for Resilience, and Christchurch, represented by Mike Gillooly, Chief Resilience Officer, and comprised of Buenos Aires, Salvador, Pune, Cape Town, Kigali, Rotterdam, San Francisco, and Houston.

"The reach, achievements, and vision of the Resilient Cities Network are impressive. Speaking on behalf of the Board of Directors, I can say that we feel deeply inspired by the commitment of the organization to support the critical needs of vulnerable communities by implementing projects that address multiple shocks and stresses and are improving the lives of people." Sylvester Turner, Chair of the Board of Directors and Mayor of Houston.

Resilient Cities Network co-creates urban solutions to address complex and interrelated urban challenges, so that cities and communities thrive. The Network will focus on three priorities to be delivered through programs of collective action with member cities during the next two years through a holistic resilience approach. It continues to pursue a resilient recovery to reinforce equity, to promote private-public partnerships, and foster stronger local economies. Also, cities need to be prepared to further build climate resilience, not only to protect citizens from water-related challenges but also to strengthen the capacity of communities to cope with the effects of climate change. The third priority is the promotion of circular economies through indigenous and technological solutions to rapidly and sensibly enhance waste management and food systems.

"Now more than ever building city resilience makes sense. Working with cities to create prosperous, equitable, and safe urban environments while prioritizing access to healthcare for vulnerable populations is a key driver for us. We are committed to growing the practice of urban resilience across the globe in a way that it accrues social, economic, and political capital, making our cities thrive. At this point, we feel proud of the refreshed visual identity and of our new website and logo, which better represent the values and commitment of the Network." Grainia Long, co-chair of the Global Steering Committee, Commissioner for Resilience, Belfast.

Empowered by the knowledge and expertise of resilience practitioners and governments, the Network is activating projects to deliver local benefits and collective impact that benefit over 220 million citizens around the globe, 50 million of them living under vulnerable conditions.

As a city-led Network, the organization works together with Chief Resilience Officers, mobilizing communities, city governments, urban practitioners, and partners in the pursuit of safe and equitable urban societies.

"We are grateful to both the Board of Directors and the Global Steering Committee for their active engagement, advice, and commitment. Working with them, we feel empowered to build on the valuable legacy from which Resilient Cities Network emerges. We have in our hands a promising opportunity to enhance the quality of life, improve access to infrastructure, and build a healthier and more sustainable future for all." said Lauren N. Sorkin, Executive Director.

About Resilient Cities Network

Resilient Cities Network is a global city-led nonprofit organization that brings together knowledge, practice, partnerships, and funding to empower cities to help them build a safe, equitable, and sustainable future for all. The Network integrates the combined effort of urban practitioners, city governments, and communities in a collective, comprehensive, and well-coordinated call-to-action to deliver urban impact-driven resilience solutions. For more information, visit www.resilientcitiesnetwork.org.

Media Contact

Fabiola Guillen

fguillen@resilientcitiesnetwork.org

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Following another active year of investment and engagement, CI continues to add to its portfolio of exciting, high-potential companies.

Connecticut Innovations (CI), Connecticuts strategic venture capital arm and the leading source of financing and ongoing support for Connecticuts innovative, growing companies, today announced final investment figures from its recently completed fiscal year.

Between July 1, 2019, and June 30, 2020, CI invested $43.2 million in Connecticut-based, early-stage companies via 135 individual transactions. In terms of investment breakdown, CI invested $25.8 million in bioscience and healthcare companies, $15.9 million in information technology companies and $1.5 million in other Connecticut-based companies. CIs transactions also leveraged an additional $436 million in outside capital.

Following another active year of investment and engagement, CI continues to add to its portfolio of exciting, high-potential companies, said David Wurzer, chief investment officer and executive vice president at Connecticut Innovations. Even in this challenging climate, we continue to see substantial progress being made and milestones achieved by many of our portfolio companies across a broad range of technology categories. We look forward to supporting their growth in the coming year.

About Connecticut Innovations

Connecticut Innovations (CI) is Connecticuts strategic venture capital arm and the leading source of financing and ongoing support for Connecticuts innovative, growing companies. CI provides venture capital and strategic support for early-stage technology companies, financial support for innovation and collaboration, and connections to its well-established network of partners and professionals. For more information, please visit http://www.ctinnovations.com.


Burhan (R) with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo last month in Khartoum. Photo: Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Negotiations in Abu Dhabi between the U.S. and Sudan have ended without a breakthrough on Sudanese recognition of Israel, sources briefed on the talks tell me.

The big picture: Sudan is trying to re-engage with the world economically as it transitions from the dictatorship of Omar al-Bashir, and needs U.S. sanctions relief to do so. The U.S., meanwhile, has pushed Sudan to become the latest Arab country to normalize relations with Israel. The talks in Abu Dhabi, first reported by Axios, were the most substantive to date on that topic.

Behind the scenes: The UAE hosted the talks, mediated between the parties, and was ready to contribute financial aid to Sudan in order to reach a deal. The Sudanese asked for an immediate aid package of 3 billion dollars and a commitment for more aid in the future.

After three days of negotiations, there were still gaps between the parties in terms of the aid Sudan could expect from the U.S. and UAE in return for normalizing relations with Israel.

What he is saying: The chairman of Sudans ruling council, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, confirmed for the first time that the talks in Abu Dhabi dealt with a possible normalization agreement with Israel.

Returning to Khartoum after leading the Sudanese delegation, he said in a statement that the talks were "useful and constructive, but not whether further talks were expected.

He added that he discussed with the U.S. delegation the future of the Arab-Israeli peace process and the role Sudan can play in achieving peace in the region."

He also said he told the U.S. delegation that any peace process in the region must respect Palestinian rights  mainly an independent state.

Al-Burhan said the talks largely focused Sudan's potential removal from the State Departments State Sponsors of Terrorism list, a designation which has severely constrained Sudan's economy.

He said he also asked the U.S. to cancel its ban on participation of Sudanese citizens in the Green Card lottery.

What to watch: Burhan, who represents the military faction of Sudan's transitional government, believes normalization with Israel will help Sudan get out of the economic and humanitarian crisis it's facing, Sudanese sources tell me.
Prime Minister on Wednesday paid tributes to legendary Hindi poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar on his birth anniversary, saying his timeless will continue to inspire all citizens.

"Humble tributes to 'rashtra kavi' Ramdhari Singh Dinkar ji on his birth anniversary. His timeless will continue to inspire not only literature-lovers but all countrymen," Modi tweeted in Hindi.

Born at Simariya in Bihar in 1908, Dinkar's nationalistic was considered inspirational during the freedom struggle, and his work remained a source of motivation for politicians and others, including during the movement against Emergency.

Modi has often cited Dinkar's

The three-time Rajya Sabha member died in 1974.

(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.)
Union Minister of State for Railways Suresh Angadi died of Covid-19 at All India Medical Institute of India (AIIMS), Delhi on Wednesday.

The BJP MP, initially asymptomatic, was admitted to the dedicated Covid-19 facility at the AIIMS Trauma Centre, where he passed away.

However, AIIMS did not release an official statement until the time this article got published.

The BJP MP initially asymptomatic was admitted to the dedicated Covid-19 facility at the AIIMS Trauma Centre, where he passed away. Angadi's wife Mangala and other members were also in hospital when he died.

For latest updates on coronavirus outbreak, click here

It is yet to be decided where the cremation will be held. Since he died of Covid-19, the cremation will be held as per protocol. The government officials and family members will take a decision, said a member in the family.

If the body is not allowed to take Belagavi, the cremation will be held at Lodhi Road Crematorium, he said. Karnataka Industries Minister Jagadish Shettar, the relative of Angadi, rushed to Delhi and were holding discussion with family members on cremation.

However, Shankar Patil, Karnataka Special Representative to Delhi said that he had asked Karnataka Bhavan employees to meet the family members and AIIMS officials to co-ordinate the further procedure.

He said that if permitted, officals would make arrangement to take the body to Belagavi.

Soon after news of his death spread at 8.30 pm, Karnataka MPs, who are here to attend Parliament Session, rushed to the hospital.

Later in the night BJP National President J P Nadda, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, and MPs and senior officials Ministry of Railways, visited his official residence on South Avenue Lane and expressed their condolences to Angadi family members.

A pall of gloom descends over Angadi's residence as shocked leaders rushed to express their condolences.

As a mark of respect, the national flag will be flown half mast in all Government offices in Delhi on Thursday said the Ministry of Home Affairs in a statement.

Angadi is the first member of the Union Cabinet to succumb to coronavirus. He is also the second member of Parliament from Karnataka to die of Covid-19 after BJP Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Gasti passed away last week.

President Ram Nath Kovind condoled the death of Minister of State for Railways Suresh Angadi. "An amiable leader Suresh Angadi worked tirelessly for the people of his constituency, Belagavi, and Karnataka," President Ram Nath Kovind tweeted. Vice president M Venkaiah Naidu also expressed shock to the demise of Angadi.

"Shri Suresh Angadi was an exceptional Karyakarta, who worked hard to make the Party strong in Karnataka. He was a dedicated MP and effective Minister, admired across the spectrum. His demise is saddening. My thoughts are with his family and friends in this sad hour. Om Shanti," PM Modi tweeted sharing a photo with Suresh Angadi.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP national president J P Nadda and Railway Minister Piyush Goyal also condoled Angadi's death.

Angadi was an active minister of state for railways and he was given a lot of responsibilities in the Ministry. Since Railways Cabinet Minister Piyush Goyal has Commerce and Industries portfolio, Goyal had given a number of responsibilities to Angadi. He used to travel several states to review the works of the ministry also.

Angadi was also instrumental in allocating more funds and projects in Railway Budget for Karnataka.
In our nation, where the people are supposed to have the ultimate authority, the system will not thrive, cannot be expected to survive, even, unless the citizens are engaged.

Such involvement, of course, can take on various forms. Some people run for office, seeking to effect change by serving on a school committee or a town council. Others might offer to become a member of a local board or commission. Most folks, of course, are not so intimately involved in the day-to-day affairs of governing.

But anyone who cares even a whit about preserving our experiment in self-governance has a duty, a sacred obligation as a citizen, one might even suggest: To vote.

Because a government of the people, by the people, for the people cannot long endure if the people themselves dont participate in elections. Voting is the most fundamental element in a democracy. And in our representative republic.

Tuesday was Voter Registration Day. And Thursday marks a month until the Massachusetts deadline for registering to vote on Nov. 3. A serious suggestion: Consider the former more than the latter. Because a month can pass quickly, and things do tend to be forgotten, pushed aside by other matters.

It can be difficult to remember now, but there was a time -- and it wasnt so very long ago -- when there were lots of folks who argued that there was little difference between most political candidates. And since they were all effectively the same, the thinking went, theres no great reason to bother voting.

This was always bunk, of course, but the past four years have proven beyond doubt just how out of bounds was this notion. No rational person truly believes that our world would have been just the same had Hillary Clinton been elected president in 2016. And no one who is thinking, who is conscious, really, believes that Democrat Joseph R. Biden Jr. and President Donald J. Trump are largely indistinguishable.

And that is to talk about only the presidency.

Elections matter. Always have, and always will. But some matter more than others. And the one thats fast approaching matters more than any in memory. Even if you can remember way, way back.

Register. Today. And vote. Early. Or on Election Day. In person. Or by mail. However you wish. But register and vote. Like our nation depends on it.
News that a stray line of computer code meant several hundred thousand Jersey drivers owed the state Motor Vehicle Commission money sparked a flurry of emails from customers asking for more information.

MVC officials confirmed that 300,000 drivers had a $7 senior citizen discount accidentally applied to the amount they had to pay to renew their vehicle registrations that expire in October.
C hina, the world's worst polluter, has pledged to become carbon neutral before 2060 in a move that could prove to be a major step forward for the global climate fight.

The country also said it would scale up its efforts under the global Paris Agreement on climate change, with an aim to have its carbon dioxide emissions peak before 2030.

In a statement to United National General Assembly, the Chinese President Xi Jinping said the Covid-19 crisis reminded the world 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.

He called for a green recovery of the world economy in the post-Covid era.

Xi Jinping addresses the UN General Assembly remotely / UNITED NATIONS/AFP via Getty Ima

Commenting on the announcement, Richard Black, director of the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) said: This is the first time that China, the worlds biggest greenhouse gas emitter, has pledged to end its net contribution to climate change so although details are scarce at the moment, this looks like a very significant step forward.

China isnt just the worlds biggest emitter but the biggest energy financier and biggest market, so its decisions play a major role in shaping how the rest of the world progresses with its transition away from the fossil fuels that cause climate change.

A Chinese man wears a protective mask as he stands near the CCTV building in fog and pollution during rush hour in Beijing / Getty Images

Scientists have warned that global carbon dioxide emissions need to nearly halve in the next decade and fall to zero overall by 2050 in order to prevent global temperatures rising more than 1.5C above pre-industrial levels.

Beyond that temperature rise, the consequences of climate change will become increasingly severe, with more extreme weather, floods and droughts, rising sea levels, and damage to crop yields, health and wildlife.

Buildings are seen on a polluted day in Beijing / AFP via Getty Images

The UK has a legal target to reach net zero emissions by 2050, with sharp cuts to greenhouse gases and any remaining pollution offset through measures such as planting trees.

The carbon neutrality pledge would see China emit no more carbon dioxide, the most significant greenhouse gas, than it was able to capture and store through measures such as planting trees, and would require major action to cut pollution from electricity generation, industry, heating and transport.

It is not yet clear what it means for other greenhouse gases.

Greta Thunberg issues climate warning in trailer for new documentary

Dr Joeri Rogelj, lecturer in Climate Change and the Environment, Grantham Institute, Imperial College London, said the announcement was a defining moment that resets the ambition of global climate action.

Analysts have understood for a while that China could easily peak its carbon emissions before 2030.

The unexpected and eye-opening part in this announcement is Chinas long-term vision. Its newly announced goal of reaching carbon neutrality by 2060 would put its emissions on track for meeting the Paris Agreement.

With Chinas economic power, the benefits in technological progress that come with such an endeavour will undoubtedly spill over to other parts of the world, he said.

Li Shuo, senior global policy adviser for Greenpeace South East Asia  who is based in Beijing, said: Xis pledge will need to be backed up with more details and concrete implementation  By how much earlier can China peak its emissions? How to reconcile carbon neutrality with Chinas on-going coal expansion?

These are hard questions that demand a better response from Beijing. But if anything, Xis new commitment will certainly help turn a challenging year for the environment around and mark as the beginning of a reinvigorated round of global climate efforts.

And Prof Cameron Hepburn, director of the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, University of Oxford, said: China may still be building coal fired power plants, but momentum is slowing and will soon grind to a halt as the pathetic economics of new coal is exposed.

In the meantime, China has become a wind, solar and battery superpower, with hydrogen now in its sights. China hitting net zero before 2060 is not only possible but necessary.
Leaders Hated and Feared to Make False Claims of Global Peace, Security and Justice

by Mahboob A. Khawaja, PhD.

Justice denied anywhere diminishes justice everywhere ~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Justice in the life of and conduct of the State is possible only as first it resides in the hearts and souls of the citizens ~ Plato

WE, the People of Human Conscience and the UNO

Are We, the People of the world trapped in a vicious circle of disingenuous unlearning of the learning inequality, racial injustice and human degradation across the globe? We continued to experience political deceptions in the name of peace and security, phony wars for peace-making, destruction of human habitats, racial injustice and violations of basic human rights and dignity at every step of the UN ladder of convenience for fair and foul narratives. The UNO and its Charter were empowered by the succeeding nations after the WW2 to protect mankind from another man-made catastrophic war and to come up with workable solution of futuristic human security and conflict resolution. But The UNO and its agencies failed to live up to the hopes of succeeding generations. We have been ditched into a waking consciousness of human degradation as a new normal. Across the globe, people are calling for equality, racial justice and peace and security of all living beings. The European Empires - British, French, Dutch, Italian and American  all infested the societies with racial inequality, class systems and endless systematic discrimination of black and colored masses. The UN could not call for an emergency session to discuss the human losses in both rights and dignity that its Charter claimed to have granted protection. The UN leadership fears President Trump and his volatile reaction psychology  America First. American masses are increasingly assuming anti-racism stance and marching for human equality and racial justice. President Trump alleges conspiracy and calls them extremists and thugs disturbing the law and order. Throughout American history such denials have perpetuated discrimination, violations of human rights and societal violence. When destiny of people coincides with the destiny of political elite, the nobility fears the challenge of change.

We, the People of Concerned Humanity are witnessing dreadful political apparatus of painful imagination and threats to rational future-making for all the mankind. Our enquiries and search for human equality, social justice, peace and global harmony are dashed away like the scum floating on water. This not a speculative tenets but a living reality recorded by our time and experience. These grave issues concern all the living mankind regardless of nationalities, borders, ethnicities and prides of so many flags. Are these politicians pathological liars viewing the humanity as dumb, numb and silent spectators? We are the living conscience of humanity and do know that UNO celebrations are a planned distraction from the challenges of the prevalent world of political misrepresentation, contradictions and falsehood. There is hardly any encouraging evidence to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the UNO plausibly when millions of human beings are continuously charcoaled in Syria, locked up in Kashmir, Yemen, Libya, Myanmar, Iraq, Belarus and elsewhere on this planet. The very essence of human rights and dignity that UNO and the American leadership should have protected against aggression and used its resources to protect life and freedom of all the people. But the leadership professing to be wise and optimistic, fast becoming irrelevant, treacherous and self-centered without any accountability. Paul Craig Roberts (A New World Is Being Born: What Will It Be? Information Clearing House: 04/9/2020), explains the encompassing truth:

We are hearing from many that the world after Covid-19 will be different. The question is: Different in what way? Will it be better or worse? Elites are working to make it better for them, and worse for the rest of us. About that the evidence is clear.The elites by thinking only of their interests are in the way of the opportunity that crisis provides to bring people together. If we cant be brought back together, we can forget about unity beyond the boundaries of our own victim or identity group. In place of community, we will be organized in clans of separate identities. The absence of unity at home will make us a sitting duck for enemies abroad.

America and Trump Beyond the 9/11 and Genocide in Iraq

After the 9/11, America politics indicate shifting metaphor to wickedness and cruelty against poor and helpless nations. To chase Osama bin Laden, they massacred and destroyed millions of people in Afghanistan. But once OBL was killed, American war did not end its occupation. The Iraqi invasion with American-British collaboration resulted in genocide of approximately three million civilians. Would American and British leaders ever be held accountable for their crimes against humanity? Robert Scheer, Editor in Chief, Truthdig (All Americans Have Blood on Their Hands. Information Clearing House: 6/09/2019), narrates the first-hand experience of Danny Sjursen, a veteran of the US war in Iraq:

Sjursen tells Scheer in the latest installment of Scheer Intelligence, but the reality is that I was censoring myself..adapting to his new life and grappling with post-traumatic stress disorder, the former soldier is still profoundly troubled by his experiences at war, not only as he led soldiers to their deaths, but also as he watched U.S. forces devastate Iraq and Afghanistan. ..What I saw happen to the Iraqi people [haunted me more] than what happened to my soldiers, Sjursen says. Not only the bodies in the street, not only the civil war that was being waged, but I found that more than 90% of the very friendly Iraqis  That was a big turning point, when I started to say, Wait a second. You know, forget about fighting the war poorly; we shouldnt be fighting this war at all.  But the blood on Sjursens hands, which he remains conscious of long after his last deployment, is on all Americans hands

Could the American society spare more time and opportunity to think rationally of global peace, humanity and racial justice than the pets and daily stock markets listings? At his last phase of the presidency, Trump is attuned to flatter his friend Israeli PM Netanyahu more than American political capacity could afford to do so. America under Trump is blindfolded by the lobbyists to believe in falsehood, misrepresentation and to compromise truth of the rights of people while virtue of truth has becoming offensive and undesirable as a precept of the US foreign policy. The UNO could have addressed the problem of Palestine- Israel conflict and recognition of two states for almost 70 years. It seems many false and ignorant leaders occupy the political platforms of the UNO but also in America, Israel and the Arab world. The former Arab tribal agents of the lost British Empire and now prince and authoritarian kings do not represent the masses in UAE, Bahrain or Arabia to normalize relations with Israel. The authoritarian rulers could be phased-out any time. It is a Trump sponsored fantasy to appease one-sided classic ignorance. The Arab and Muslim people have a history of religious affinity and protection of Jews and extending critical humanitarian assistance during and prior to the WW2 when West European persecuted them for ages because of the religious animosity. Now State of Israel is in denial of the rights of Palestinian masses to Statehood and to co-exist in peace. Perhaps Israeli citizens should be conscience of this historic truth and be courageous to protect the Palestinians from a dangerous trend of political cruelty. Arab palaces are guarded by the CIA, not by the people. The leaders and people breathe oxygen in conflicting time zones. Trump administration is manifested with denial of human rights, human equality and racial justice and looks repulsive to suppose human security and peace to be enhanced by profligacy, malevolence and one-track thinking of peace and security in the Middle East.

To Think of Political Change and Societal Reconstruction for Human Equality and Justice

In its search for change and movement to progressive future-making, the global mankind is oppressed by systematic ignorance, intransigence and arrogance of the few affluent class of people managing the global institutions, militarization and governance - the perverted insanity lacking basic understanding of the Human Nature and of the working of the Universe in which we enjoy coherent co-existence. The mankind continues to be victimized by the cancerous ego and cruelty of the few Western warlords. Perhaps, they view humanity just in digits and numbers, not as the living entities with social, moral, spiritual and intellectual values and progressive agendas for change and development. The oppressed masses in Indian held Kashmir, tormented innocent displaced refugees in Syria, more than half of a million of Rohinga refugees forcible evicted by Myanmar (Burma) military - a genocide in making and stalled in Bangladesh, divided and continuously bombed civilians in Yemen, citizens of Belarus demanding fair elections and besieged Palestinians look for global humanity to help  IF THERE IS ANY STILL INTACT - and call for order of the disorder, equality and justice, they have no tools to challenge the oppressors except endurance and foresight for human identity and peace to rejoice dignity and freedom without any perpetuated animosity. This was the moment for the UNO and Five superpowers should have moved to take a stand in support of human equality and justice.

To change the world, it is incumbent upon the intellectuals, academics, visionaries, poets, philosophers and the thinking people to perceive and articulate new and creative ideas, new political imagination for the 21st century organizations to be functional for the people, by the people and accountable to the supremacy of the peoples will. Thus facilitating opportunities for dialogue and reason to deal with issues of primary national conflicts, competing economic and political discords, freedom, justice, human rights, and to invent new terminologies of diplomacy, peacemaking and co-existence between Man, the Humanity and the encompassed Universe. Peace and global security are not the properties or the exclusive domains of any superpowers, America, Russia, the EU, UNO or the UN Security Council or any American corporation. The global mankind enjoins rational optimism to see the ideas and ideals of peace and human security as its own collectively, not of the few.

The tragic death of black American George Floyd reminds us all of the revulsion against the failure of working democracy, economic evil, subjugation of the people of color, psychological and political evil, and insane evil against black and people of colors. The America First claimed by Donald Trump reflects painful temptation and socio-economic and political compulsion of systematic evil embedded in Capitalism and the class of the people who claim supremacy to govern the less fortunate and poverty stricken people of colors. They planned and organized security-police forces to protect the ruling nobility - 1% elite. Facing the challenges of public outcries for equality and racial justice, legislative and systematic legal changes must be formalized to create participation of all the citizenry in making a sustainable future. Public calls for unfunding of the police apparatus is not a realistic issue but better education and training of police force could change the human landscape of trust and relationship. All colors matter  All lives matter if we claim to be a rational human being species populating the God-given One Planet - Earth. We, the People, the Humanity are colorful and beautiful.

(Dr. Mahboob A. Khawaja specializes in international affairs - global security, peace and conflict resolution with keen interests in Islamic-Western comparative cultures and civilizations, and author of several publications including the latest: One Humanity and the Remaking of Global Peace, Security and Conflict Resolution. Lambert Academic Publishing, Germany, 12/2019).
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 Authorities in the southern province of Binh Duong recently seized 324,000 used condoms being illegally recycled at a local facility.

 The new Mien Dong (Eastern) Bus Station in Ho Chi Minh Citys District 9 will be put into operation on October 10, serving passengers traveling from the southern city to central and northern cities and provinces.

 The University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City in collaboration with the Department for Administrative Management of Social Order under the Ministry of Public Security on Tuesday issued national IDs at hospital beds to elderly patients who have difficulty commuting.

 The Peoples Committee of the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong has decided to permanently close the Cam Ly landfill, around five kilometers from downtown Xuan Huong Lake, in 2022 as well as investing VND48 billion (US$2 million) in building pollution treatment infrastructure before stopping the landfills operation.

 In the first eight months of 2020, Hanois fire and rescue police detected 13,676 establishments with violations and shortcomings in fire prevention and fighting, sanctioning 2,123 cases with more than VND12.1 billion ($523,100) in fines issued.

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 Shipments of Vietnamese fishery products to the EU in August, the first month after the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement took effect, increased by around ten percent over July, according to the Vietnam News Agency.

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Former Bihar DGP Gupteshwar Pandey on Wednesday said he is yet to join any political party and has also not taken any decision in this regard.

Pandey was speaking to media after opting for voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) in a suddeb development on Tuesday evening. His decision to retire came even as Bihar is getting ready for Assembly polls, likely to take place in October-November.

I have not joined any political party as of now and I have not taken any decision on it yet. As far as social work is concerned, I can do it without entering politics too, he said.

I have not joined any political party as of now and I have not taken any decision on it yet. As far as social work is concerned, I can do it without entering politics too: Gupteshwar Pandey



He recently took VRS from his services in Bihar Police as Director General of Police(DGP) pic.twitter.com/z23isehv12  ANI (@ANI) September 23, 2020

This is the second time Pandey has taken VRS from service. In 2009, he opted for premature retirement as he reportedly wished to contest that years Lok Sabha polls from Buxar on a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket.

However, he was not given a ticket.

Nine months later, Pandey requested the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government to allow him to withdraw his resignation, a request that was granted.

In recent days, he has been in news for his frequent remarks on the Sushant Singh Rajput death case. The 1987-batch IPS officer triggered major outrage when he questioned actor Rhea Chakrabortys aukaat after the Supreme Court handed over probe into Rajputs death to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), on August 19.
Last Wednesday, September 16, marked the end of the period for holding party conventions ahead of the Brazils November mayoral elections. The elections will choose mayors and the members of city councils in all of Brazils 5,570 municipalities.

This years mayoral elections are being held under extraordinary circumstances. Brazils fascistic president, Jair Bolsonaro, has advocated from the very first recorded cases of COVID-19 in the country a policy of herd immunity.

He called the disease a little flu, claimed without presenting any scientific evidence that the countrys warm climate and younger population would reduce the impact of the pandemic and proclaimed as government policy the eugenicist conception that healthy Brazilians wouldnt be impacted by the disease and, conversely, that half of the dead would have died anyway. That meant that nothing should be done to stop the spread of the pandemic.

Later, as the countrys Supreme Court granted governors and mayors autonomy to decide health issues, and cities and states began to partially shut down, he railed against local authorities, blaming them for unemployment and lost income, and fired two health ministers who didnt comply with his promotion of quack cures for the disease. Governors and mayors of all political parties, initially feigning concern for the health of workers, are already implementing a homicidal return to classes, the last major activity to face restrictions in the country.

Just last week, Bolsonaro summed up his policies, now embraced by the whole political establishment, praising himself for never calling for quarantines and slandering those taking social-distancing measures and demanding the right to a safe workplace as the weak.

The result has been more than 4.5 million infections and more than 138,000 deaths. The infection rate, barely controlled in the last month across the country, stands at 30,000 new cases a day, with over 700 daily deaths, and is already climbing again in many regions. Unemployment, previously hidden by quarantine measures, jumped to 14.3 percent in August.

In response to this crisis, conflicts within the Brazilian ruling class center largely on foreign policy, while there is a consensus on a pro-austerity and repressive agenda at home in preparation for a working class reaction to the capitalist crisis.

On the one hand, the Brazilian ruling class faces an intractable crisis stemming from the impossibility of sustaining the neutrality position it had sought to maintain during the first decades of the 21st century, in face of the increasing aggressiveness of US imperialism against China, as the latter surpassed the former to become Brazils main trade partner.

That position, facilitated by the so-called commodity boom, was abruptly abandoned in the wake of the fraudulent impeachment of Workers Party (PT) president Dilma Rousseff in 2016, with dominant sections of the ruling class seeking to steer Brazil towards alignment with US imperialism.

Tensions over foreign policy were on display over the weekend, as Speaker of the Brazilian House Rodrigo Maia, reacted strongly to the provocation staged by Brazils far-right Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on the Venezuela-Brazil border on Friday. Maia stopped just short of accusing Araujo of a crime. Maia was later supported by a joint letter signed by all former foreign ministers of civilian governments since 1985, which called Pompeos visit a spurious use of the national territory. In the run-up to Pompeos visit, dissension within the ruling class was put in stark terms by the conservative daily Estado de S. Paulo, which editorialized: Jair Bolsonaro submits, once again, the national interest to his unshakable willingness to align uncritically with the interests of Donald Trump, even more than those of the United States, which would by itself be unacceptable.

The consensus on internal policy is epitomized by Congresss almost unanimous vote for financial bailouts at the beginning of the pandemic and the universal back-to-school campaign by governors and mayors previously posing as defenders of science against Bolsonaro.

Also politically revealing is the record numbers of members of the military and law enforcement running for offices in the coming municipal elections, which is expected to more than double from the last mayoral elections, to over 2,200 candidates. Even more significantly, military candidates are being promoted in key cities by self-styled left and socialist parties such as the PT and its split-off, the Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL).

The policy behind the record enrollment of police in the elections is the reactionary defense of the Brazilian capitalist state against Bolsonaros recklessness, and of the military commanders surrounding him as the adults in the room, supposed moderating forces committed to national interests. This has been the hallmark of the opposition led by the PT from the first days after his election in 2018.

In the crucial first month of the pandemics spread in Brazil, the PTs former presidential candidate, Fernando Haddad, signed a letter calling for Bolsonaro to stand down in favor of his vice-president, the ultra-right coup-monger Gen. Hamilton Mourao, as the least costly means for a democratic way out of the Bolsonaro presidency.

The mayoral elections are seen as a crucial moment for consolidating these policies in a manner best described by Guilherme Boulos, the mayoral candidate of the pseudo-left PSOL in Brazils largest city, Sao Paulo. Boulos described it in his Twitter account as a wide front or an onion tactic where the broadest layer is the struggle for democracy against fascism, in this one everyone fits... Perhaps the best example is the movement for the Diretas Ja at the end of the military dictatorship. In that movement for direct elections, he explained, there were oligarchs who had broken with the dictatorship side by side with Communist Party and PT leaders. He later added that this years municipal elections will be a key moment ... to combat Bolsonaro and his fascist project, that is, to employ the onion tactic of alliances with oligarchs who have broken with Bolsonaro.

Such policies have served only to strengthen Bolsonaros enablers in Congress and local governments, as well as the right-wing parties that previously dominated the political system. The PTs choice of military candidates, of which the most prominent is a Military Police major in Salvador in the northeastern state of Bahia, the fourth largest city in the country, has had a similar effect.

Walking into the abyss, facing a historical defeat, under risk of losing every capital, are the expressions describing PT and PSOL electoral prospects that appear in the pro-PT outlets such as Brasil 24/7 and Revista Forum, as well as in interviews with PT allies such as the Communist Party governor of the impoverished northeastern state of Maranhao.

The crisis of PT mayoral slates is exemplified by the dismal polling numbers of its candidate in Sao Paulo, where its 2018 presidential candidate, Fernando Haddad was routed in his attempted reelection as mayor in 2016. Haddad suffered an unprecedented defeat for an incumbent Sao Paulo mayor, receiving only 17 percent of the vote, losing all of the citys red belt of working class districts on the citys outskirts and polling his best in the upper-middle-class western sector of the city.

This year, the partys mayoral candidate, city councilor Jilmar Tatto, is polling at only 2 percent. Leading PT figures such as former foreign minister Celso Amorim have publicly endorsed the perceived left opposition to the party, Guilherme Boulos, prompting PT leader Gleisi Hoffmann to threaten dissenting members in the city with disciplinary action if they endorsed Boulos instead of Tatto.

The PT is now attempting to solve the crisis by summoning former president Lula to give the partys right-wing, pro-military line a left veneer. This renewed campaign was kicked off on Brazilian Independence Day, amid party conventions, with a nationalist twenty-minute speech by Lula broadcast on the partys social media.

The speech combined harsh criticism of Bolsonaros criminal neglect of the pandemic and the growth of social inequalitya direct product of the bailouts the PT supported in Congresswith charges that US imperialism was involved in Rousseffs removal in 2016 and barring Lula from running in the 2018 election by means of corruption charges. Lula insisted that, like the majority of Brazilians, dont believe and dont accept pacts from above with the elites, precisely the kind of pacts being signed by his own partys leaders.

His conclusion underscored the ever more rabidly nationalist line being advanced by the PT. The gravest aspect of this whole situation is that Bolsonaro takes advantage of collective suffering to, covertly, commit crimes against the country, he said, adding that this subjects our soldiers and ambassadors to vexing situations.

Lulas phrases against pacts from above with the elites, combined with criticisms of US imperialismwhose role he and Rousseff generally dismissed even when faced with public revelations of actions by Washington, such as the 2013 NSA espionage against Rousseffs officesare an attempt to give a left face to the unpopular broad front policies the PT has promoted.

This is the same essential role played by Bernie Sanders in the US Democratic Party or Jeremy Corbyn in the UK Labour Party. However, the PT is not using an outsider or backbench figure, but refashioning the same old Lula, who previously bragged of being respected by war criminals like George W. Bush and Barack Obama and helping the Brazilian banks make more money than ever.

The left-sounding rhetoric of Lula notwithstanding, his denunciation of crimes against the country and railing against the humiliation of soldiers represents an explicit defense of the capitalist state under conditions in which it faces the growing threat of a social upheaval by the Brazilian working class.
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Linkedin Carla Bianpoen (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, September 23, 2020 15:16 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46ac831 1 Art & Culture #art,#culture,#artists,#exhibition,#ArtSocietes,#artspace,#SakarsaArtSpace,#gallery,#Indonesia Free

The newly opened Sakarsa Art Space, designed by renowned architect Budi Pradono, waited a year to display its first exhibition.

The art space, located in Bekasi, West Java, that opened its doors on Sept. 9, is managed by Andonowati, director of ArtSociates and successful manager of Lawangwangi art space in Bandung, and curated by Asmudjo Jono Irianto.

Andonowati said the gallery, owned by Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, was completed last year and that she had been asked to organize the first exhibition before the pandemic intervened.

When asked about the timing for opening the art space during this difficult period, Andonowati, who likes to think inventively and is always searching for new possibilities for artists and collectors, is of the opinion that one must adjust to the challenges of the time.

She thinks that expanding her collectors network along with Wahyu Trenggonos will be energizing and help revitalize the art scene in this time of the pandemic. It will create a new cluster of collectors, she said.

Indeed, after just one week, Andonowati said that sales had gone quite well.

Wahyu Trenggono, whose political activity keeps him busy, is a fervent art lover. When I became involved in politics, I came to understand the importance of arts and culture as the backbone of national unity for it is cultural resilience that can unite the country, he said.

The exhibition of 25 artists, including established, semi-established and upcoming artists, offers a thorough selection of interesting contemporary works in which technique, material, innovation and visuality firmly unite.

Curator Asmudjo explained that the exhibition featured artists who he considered to be the face of Indonesian contemporary art.

Contemporary art is pluralistic, he says. Any theme and material can do. So there is no overall theme, and the mediums used are various.

The artists include the highly conceptual and culturally knowledgeable Eddy Susanto, who is known for his innovative juxtapositions of images from Renaissance painters, which he depicts with Javanese script telling a similar story from the Babad Jawi chronicle.

The exhibition features Eddys painting Adam and Eve after the Renaissance painter Albrecht Duerer, in which he juxtaposes in one frame two contrasting perspectives of Adam and Eve from the same period of time, namely that of religious cosmology that refers to the Book of Genesis and the physical cosmology held by Sir Thomas Burnet, who employed theology and geology as well as other scientific approaches to investigate the universes origins.

The exhibition also includes work from the talented Mujahidin Nurrahman, such as his beautiful, delicate arabesque-style paper cuttings of AK-47 rifles and his paper cuttings of the shadows of war planes that conceal the dark stories of violence and pain experienced by wives and mothers in particular.

This work has a feminine appearance, he says. But it depicts the F-16 aircraft that have been commonly used in wars like the Gulf War, the Gaza war and others  a symbol of terror and violence, particularly for women and wives.

'Absorption: After Magritte' (oil on canvas, 2020) by Yogie A. Ginanjar (Courtesy of ArtSociates/-)

There is also Yogie A. Ginanjar who feels the tension of being a modern painter and a Muslim who needs to abide by the rule of depicting only the non-figurative.

He found the solution by appropriating Rene Magrittes iconic surrealist head and placing it against a background of calligraphic expressions of spirituality.

This challenge has also been faced by Dikdik Sayahdikumullah, whose work in this exhibition leans toward the abstract.

Meanwhile, Maharani Mancanagara engages with unfinished history in an installation of charcoal paintings on wood that reminds us that trials have still not been held for the 1965/66 massacres.

The possibility for random explorations to result in interesting works is demonstrated by Erwin Windu Pranata, who compiles lines and inordinate scratches from walls and random pieces of paper to create a colorful 3D work, as well as Budi Adi Nugroho, who seeks to show how objects can be transformed by bringing together old wajans (frying pans) to create a colorful visual metaphor about the rebuilding of a dilapidated urban environment; and Arghya Dhyaksa, who made a composition from fractured ceramics to show that things that are broken can be transformed to reveal new beauty.

Playing around: 'In Search of Gold #3' (iron and paint, 2018) is an example of Budi Adi Nugrohos exploration of how objects can be transformed to create visual metaphors. (Courtesy of ArtSociates/-)

The fusion of mythology and contemporary reality is explored by Eldwin Pradipta, who compares the depiction of an eclipse in Javan mythology to the art world.

Eldwin compares the story of a mythological creature swallowing both the sun and moon before releasing them to the phenomenon in the art world of an art work disappearing from the market, only to return when high demand induces a high price.

Going beyond conventional painting, Restu Taufik Akbar replaces oil on canvas for polyurethane, nitra cellulose and stained glass on stainless steel to make movement in the painting tangible.

Meanwhile, Syagini Ratna Wulan, a passionate reader and observer of the human psyche, takes inspiration from art, culture, psychology and scientific theories. In her work at the exhibition, she presents interchanging light on a range of panels, applying the Fibonacci theory to measure distances between the panels.

Digital data and the internet have become an overpowering part of life. Jim Allen Abel, who specializes in photography, is concerned with the groundbreaking changes this has brought to the way humans relate socially and culturally.

The exhibition also includes eye-opening works from Angga Aditiya Atmadilage, Bandu Darmawan, Etza Meisyara, Gabriel Aries Setiadi, M. Akbar, Michael Binoko a.k.a Koxis Verseken, Natas Setiabudi, Nurrachmat Widyasena, Patriot Mukmin, Rendy Raka Pramudya, Septian Harriyoga and Wilman Hermana.

-- The Seni Rupa Kontemporer exhibition runs from September to December at Sakarsa Art Space, Jl. Kenanga Raya no. 9, Jakasampurna, Bekasi 17145. Contact: Yori Papilaya +62 87823416728
Saudi Arabia has suspended flights to and from three nations including India, in view of the spike in fresh coronavirus positive cases in these countries. The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) -- Saudi Arabias civil aviation regulator  told all airlines on September 23 to discontinue flights to and from India, Brazil and Argentina, where the number of active coronavirus cases remains a cause of concern.

Mint reported that GACA has also told airlines to not fly a person who has been to any of these countries in the past 14 days, before they arrived in Saudi Arabia. Exceptions will however be made for people who have government invitations to visit the three countries.

The duration of the suspension of flight operations to and from the three nations has not been specified in the note sent to the airlines.

For live updates on coronavirus, click here

A senior airline official, who had received the GACA directive late on September 22, said: As per the directive, Indian airlines will now not be allowed to operate any flights to Saudi Arabia nor will any flights from the Gulf nation be allowed to fly to India from 24 September.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

He added that it is clear that the step was taken by Saudi Arabia in view of the rising number of coronavirus cases in India. The decision may even lead other countries to issue similar suspension orders, the official said, adding that the Indian government should discuss the matter with the Saudi government and get the suspension order revoked.

Though Saudi Arabia does not have a bilateral travel agreement -- such as an air bubble arrangement  with India, several Indian airlines, including Air India, have been operating charter and repatriation flights from Saudi Arabia since the coronavirus pandemic outbreak.

Follow our coverage of the coronavirus crisis here
Photo credit: Volkswagen

From Autoweek

Ahead of the full reveal of the ID.4 electric SUV later this week, which will go on sale in the U.S. later this year, the German automaker said that buyers of the model will receive three years of unlimited charging at Electrify America stations. The compact electric SUV, which will be the first ID-branded model from Volkswagen scheduled to go on sale in North America, will benefit from a charging network that Volkswagen's subsidiary has been constructing in the U.S.

"To increase range confidence, Volkswagen will provide ID.4 customers, who lease or purchase the electric SUV, with access to Electrify America's more than 470 charging stations and over 2,000 DC fast chargers, including a newly completed cross-country route to take electric vehicle (EV) drivers from Washington D.C. to L.A.," the automaker said.

Sitting on the automaker's MEB platform, which will underpin a large number of EV models across Volkswagen Group brands, production of the ID.4 began just days ago in Zwickau, Germany, joining the smaller ID.3 hatch. The ID.4 is expected to offer a range of up to 310 miles in the top version, and about 250 miles in the base variant, and will be offered in a number of different trims and powertrain combinations. The base model is expected to be rear-wheel drive, while the top version could offer all-wheel-drive capability.

The base rear-wheel drive version is expected to go on sale first, and to be joined by the all-wheel drive version a little later. Pricing for U.S. models has not been announced just yet  we should have a better idea later this week, after the full reveal of the crossover  but it's expected to start in the low-$30,000 range before the application of a $7,500 tax credit. The range-topping version, meanwhile, is expected to stretch only to about $45,000, so this will not be a pricey luxury model aimed at early adopters.

"The ID.4 was engineered, loaded and priced to win the hearts of SUV owners who are simply ready to go electric  and fall in love with Volkswagen again," said Scott Keogh, CEO, Volkswagen Group of America. "By adding three years of fast charging at no additional cost through Electrify America, we are eliminating all barriers for mainstream compact SUV buyers to go electric."



VW's decision to sweeten the deal with three years of free charging at EA stations was perhaps not unforeseen, as the automaker had launched Electrify America as part of its penance for the diesel crisis and has been promoting electric vehicle infrastructure in the U.S. in a brand-neutral manner.

Electrify America's network is planned to almost double in the next 12 months, with the company expecting to have 800 charging stations online by the end of 2021, with 3,500 DC fast chargers at these stations.
India has termed as "completely unacceptable" references to Jammu and Kashmir by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during his address to the high-level debate at the United Nations General Assembly, saying Ankara should learn to respect the sovereignty of other nations and reflect on its own policies more deeply.





"We have seen remarks by President of Turkey on Indian UT (Union Territory) of Jammu & Kashmir. They constitute gross interference in India's internal affairs and are completely unacceptable. Turkey should learn to respect the sovereignty of other nations and reflect on its own policies more deeply," India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti said in a tweet on Tuesday.

Erdogan, in his pre-recorded video statement to the General Debate at the 75th session of the UN General Assembly, made a reference to Jammu and Kashmir, saying the issue of Kashmir, "which is also key to the stability and peace of South Asia, is still a burning issue. Steps taken following the abolition of the special status of Jammu-Kashmir further complicated the problem."



He said that Turkey was in "favour of solving this issue through dialogue, within the framework of the United Nations resolutions and especially in line with the expectations of the people of Kashmir".



The Turkish president, a close ally of Pakistan, had last year also raised the issue of Kashmir in his address to the high-level general debate in the General Assembly Hall.



India has rejected any third-party intervention in the Kashmir issue and has maintained that all outstanding matters in Indo-Pak ties should be resolved bilaterally.
US President Donald Trump used the UN General Assembly on Tuesday to attack China's handling of the coronavirus pandemic, saying it must be held accountable for having "unleashed this plague onto the world." By contrast, China's President Xi Jinping struck a conciliatory tone in his pre-recorded virtual address to the General Assembly, calling for enhanced cooperation over the pandemic and stressing that China had no intention of fighting "either a Cold War or a hot war with any 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 with the United States dealing with the world's highest official number of deaths and infections from the coronavirus, focused his speech on attacking China.

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. "We must hold accountable the nation which unleashed this plague onto the world, China," he said in remarks taped on Monday and delivered remotely to the General Assembly due to the pandemic.

Also read: Donald Trump to not attend UN General Assembly session in-person: WH chief of staff

"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," he said. "Later, they falsely said people without symptoms would not spread the disease ... The United Nations must hold China accountable for their actions."

The president promised to distribute a vaccine and said: "We will defeat the virus, and we will end the pandemic." In introducing Xi's remarks, China's UN ambassador Zhang Jun said China "resolutely rejects the baseless accusations against China."The world is at a crossroads. At this moment, the world needs more solidarity and cooperation, but not confrontation."

'GET THROUGH THIS TOGETHER'

Xi's address contained what appeared to be an implicit rebuke to Trump, calling for a global response to the coronavirus and a leading role for the World Health Organization, which the US president has announced 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 politicizing the issue, or stigmatization, must be rejected."

Also read: Trump administration says all UN sanctions on Iran restored, but world yawns

The WHO rejected Trump's remarks. "No one gov't controls us," it communications director, Gabby Stern, said in a tweet, adding: "On Jan. 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."

Russian President Vladimir Putin told the General Assembly the WHO should be strengthened to coordinate the global response to the pandemic and proposed a high-level conference on vaccine cooperation. China has portrayed itself as the chief cheerleader for multilateralism at a time when Trump's 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 Trump's "America First" policy in statement to a meeting celebrating the 75th anniversary of the United Nations 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.

Also read: Chinese tycoon Ren Zhiqiang jailed for 18 years for criticising Xi Jinping's COVID-19 response

The death toll from the spread of the coronavirus in the United States surpassed 200,000 on Monday, by far the highest official number of any country. Trump also attacked China's record on the environment, but leveled no direct criticism at Beijing over human rights.

The president, a frequent critic of the United Nations, said that if it was to be effective, it must focus on "the real problems of the world" like "terrorism, the oppression of women, forced labor, drug trafficking, human and sex trafficking, religious persecution, and the ethnic cleansing of religious minorities."

China's envoy Zhang Jun issued a statement in response to Trump's remarks, accusing the United States of "abusing the platform of the United Nations to provoke confrontation and create division." "Lies repeated a thousand times are still lies," he said. Earlier, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that 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| 2020-09-23 20:08:34|Editor: huaxia

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NEW DELHI, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The monsoon session of Indian parliament's upper house Wednesday concluded eight days ahead of schedule as the opposition boycotted proceedings in both houses.

"Monsoon session of Rajya Sabha (upper house of parliament) concludes and house adjourns sine die," an official said.

The monsoon session started on Sept. 14, over five months after parliament was adjourned over the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The sudden conclusion of the session comes amid an uproar from opposition lawmakers over the farm bills, which were passed by the Rajya Sabha on Sunday.

On Sunday eight lawmakers belonging to opposition parties in the upper house were suspended for their alleged unruly behaviour during the passage of the bills.

Earlier in the day, the house passed key bills, including three on labour reforms.

On Tuesday seven bills were passed in the upper house as the lawmakers from opposition parties decided to boycott house proceedings in protest against the suspension of eight lawmakers.

Meanwhile, lawmakers of opposition parties continued their protest inside parliament premises.

The federal government on Wednesday recommended that the ongoing monsoon session in both houses of parliament be adjourned sine die. The decision to adjourn the parliament meeting comes on a day when opposition parties have called for a meeting to discuss ways to take the protest forward against the recently passed farms bills.

At least 15 political parties from the opposition have also urged President Ram Nath Kovind to not give assent to the recently passed legislations.

The early adjournment of both houses is also against the backdrop of growing cases of COVID-19 pandemic in the country. Several lawmakers, including a few ministers, have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last few days. Enditem
Lahore:

The high-profile murder of Pakistani social media star Qandeel Baloch has taken a new turn after her father retracted his earlier statement and refused to testify against one of the suspects, prompting the police to register a case against him.

During a court proceeding on Wednesday, Qandeel's father and complainant Azeem Baloch refused to testify against Aslam (brother of Qandeel) whom he had earlier declared as one of the suspects in the case.

In the FIR, Azeem had alleged that Aslam was involved in the planning of the murder of 25-year-old Qandeel. However, in a court in Multan, he backtracked from his statement. Additional district and sessions judge Saeed Ahmad Raza ordered the police to register a case against Azeem.

Police have registered a case against him under section 213 of Pakistan Penal Code.

The court has already indicted three suspects - Qandeel's brother Waseem, her cousin Haq Nawaz and taxi driver Abdul Basit.

The suspects, however, denied committing the crime. Another suspect Zafar Khosa is absconding.

Police claimed that Waseem had made a confession of killing her sister in the presence of an area magistrate. But the counsel for the accused denied any such confession.

The Qandeel was found strangled in her house in Multan, some 350 kilometres from Lahore, on July 16, 2016. Her brother Waseem had confessed to having killed his sister 'in the name of honour'.

In his confession video, Waseem had expressed no regret in killing his sister. "I am proud of what I did. I drugged her first then I killed her. She was bringing dishonor to our family," Waseem had said.

Qandeel had caught public attention after posting bold videos and pictures many considered as 'obscene' on Facebook.

Pakistani cleric Mufti Qawi, who was embroiled in a scandal with Baloch after she uploaded her pictures with him during a meeting, believes that she has met this fate because she had humiliated him.

"Those who intend to or humiliate clerics must learn from Qandeel Baloch's fate," Qawi had said in his reaction on her murder.

Qandeel had received threats from the supporters of Qawi for allegedly trying to disgrace him. Waseem in his confessional statement had also said humiliation of Qawi was also one of the "motivational factors" to kill his sister.

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Industrial and medical gases



major Air Products on Wednesday said it has been awarded a contract by the West Bengal government for supplying liquid oxygen to three state-run COVID hospitals.

The company will supply liquid medical oxygen to M R Bangur Super Speciality Hospital, M R Bangur District Hospital and ID&BG Hospital, Beliaghata.

Air Products commissioned a cryogenic medical and industrial gases manufacturing unit at Barjora in West Bengal's Bankura district in August 2019.

The unit has a manufacturing capacity of 200 tonne per day.

The company said it has been supplying medical oxygen through its channel partners to more than 100 hospitals in the state to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the largest storage capacity of 1000 tonne and the widest distribution infrastructure in the state, the company has been supporting various hospitals in the COVID-19 crisis, an official said, adding that it has a fleet of 54 specialised cryogenic tankers.

(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.)
There's a terrifying twist at the end of photographer Breanna Caldwell's latest photo series.

The Chesterton, Indiana mom is going viral for a spooky set of images she captured of her 4-year-old daughter, Maci, having a tea party with "Halloween" villain Michael Myers.

Indiana photographer Breanna Caldwell is going viral for a photo series featuring her daughter, Maci, 4, and

In the chilling images, a friend dressed up as the fictional slasher film character watches little Maci having a tea party from the woods surrounding her yard.

The girl, dressed in a white party dress and looking sweet and innocent, notices Myers lurking and invites him to sit at her tea table. Like in any good horror film story line, just when the images lull the viewer into a false sense of security, the slashing begins.

The series shows little Maci inviting Myers to her tea party, but there's a twist. (Breanna Marie Photography)

The killer isn't Myers, however, it's little Maci, who takes the antagonist of the "Halloween" franchise by the hand, leads him into the woods and stabs him, covering her white dress in blood and stealing Myers' iconic mask.

It's pure Halloween magic. And, despite criticism from some social media users, Caldwell says the shoot was just a fun activity she did with her daughter to celebrate her recent birthday.

After luring Myers to her tea party, Maci takes him into the woods to kill him. (Breanna Marie Photography)

"(People said) now, is she going to be a serial killer or end up needing a therapist because this has traumatized her," Caldwell, whose post containing the images has been shared nearly 250,000 times on Facebook, told TODAY Parents. "Well, for everyone that can see the session, she is not traumatized nor will she grow up to be a serial killer."

Caldwell says she introduced Maci to the friend who dressed up as Myers in advance, both with his mask on and off.

"She wasn't scared one bit and I walked her through the entire session," said Caldwell.

When Maci's tea party ends, the 4-year-old is covered in Myers' blood and has stolen his iconic mask. (Breanna Marie Photography)

When she isn't slaying masked killers, Caldwell says little Maci loves playing dress up, singing and dancing and watching her favorite movie, "Lilo and Stitch."

"She is a very smart, beautiful and perfect little model," said the 25-year-old single mom, adding that she loved sharing some Halloween magic with her daughter. "Halloween is my absolute favorite and I honestly wish it was just more than one day."
A number of Taliban prisoners who were released by the Afghan government as a condition for peace talks have returned to the battlefield, lead Kabul negotiator Abdullah Abdullah has said.

Abdullah, the head of Afghanistan's High Council for National Reconciliation, said negotiations with the Taliban in Qatar have been positive since they opened in Doha on September 12, although the two sides reportedly remain far from agreement on virtually every issue.

But Abdullah said that some -- though not the majority -- of the 5,000 Taliban prisoners released by the Afghan authorities as a condition for talks had resumed the fight against the government.

"I do know that some have returned to the battlefield, which is a violation of the agreement that they had made," Abdullah told an online conference with the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations on September 22.

Despite the ongoing negotiations, the level of violence inside Afghanistan has not fallen, and Abdullah called on Washington, which launched the peace process as part of a February deal with the Taliban, and Pakistan, which allegedly maintains ties to the militants, to pressure them to agree to a cease-fire.

"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 travel to Pakistan soon 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, was singled out as a barrier to success by U.S. officials testifying in Congress on September 22.

U.S. chief negotiator Zalmay Khalilzad warned that violence remains unacceptably high and Washington expects more setbacks in ongoing peace talks between Taliban militants and the Afghan government.

"By any measure, current levels of violence are too high," Khalilzad said. "We know that reductions are possible."

"While we have reasons to be hopeful, we are under no illusions about the challenges ahead.... We expect that there will be setbacks and obstacles," Khalilzad said.

He added that Washington and its allies were looking at an agreement between Afghanistan and Pakistan so that neither side's territory would be used to attack the other.

"We're hoping that by the time that these other negotiations are over, we could also achieve success in that regard," said Khalilzad, who recently returned from Doha.

With reporting by AFP, AP, and Reuters
Days after an Etobicoke man was charged in the brutal slaying of a Muslim caretaker outside a Rexdale mosque, a Canadian organization tracking online extremism says it has linked the accuseds social media activity to neo-Nazi ideology  a chilling development thats prompted calls to combat rising numbers of violent extremist groups.

In the wake of the slaying of Mohamed-Aslim Zafis, a 58-year-old volunteer caretaker fatally stabbed outside a Toronto mosque Sept. 12, pressure is mounting to counteract a dramatic recent rise in far right extremist groups in Canada  a number thats grown since the deadly 2017 Quebec City attack that killed six mosque worshippers and wounded eight others.

Weve been here before, said Mustafa Farooq, who arrived at the International Muslim Organization mosque soon after the attack to find the body of Zafis, a selfless husband and father, lying outside his place of worship.

When the Quebec City mosque shooting happened we expected action to be taken. Nothing happened, he said.

On Tuesday, Farooq, the CEO of the National Council of Canadian Muslims, called on the federal government to take immediate steps to counter white supremacist hate groups.

Guilherme William Von Neutegem, 34, was arrested and charged Friday with first-degree murder in the killing of Zafis. Hours later, the Canadian Anti-Hate Network  an organization that monitors and reports on hate groups  began raising the alarm about online activity linked to Toronto-based social media accounts with the same name as Von Neutegem.

According to the Canadian Anti-Hate Network, the posts on multiple accounts with the same name and location as Von Neutegem demonstrate links to a neo-Nazi occult ideology that, among other things, instructs believers to commit murders.

Toronto police have not commented on the social media accounts and have said its too early to determine a motive. Investigators have not ruled out investigating the homicide as a hate-motivated crime.

In the hours after Von Neutegems arrest, police executed search warrants at his Etobicoke home and have been scouring Von Neutegems online presence, conducting a forensic audit of online activity and probing the large volume of property seized from his residence.

Homicide detectives are also continuing to investigate any possible links to the fatal Etobicoke stabbing of Rampreet (Peter) Singh, a slaying that came five days before Zafiss murder. The men are from similar ethnic backgrounds; police have said they cannot yet exclude the possibility they are connected.

We are still looking at it, but its going to take some time, Toronto police Insp. Hank Idsinga told the Star.

On Tuesday, politicians including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered condolences to Zafiss family, saying reports that his murder was motivated by neo-Nazism and Islamophobia are extremely concerning.

We stand with Muslim communities against such hatred, which has no place in Canada, Trudeau tweeted.

First reported by the Canadian Anti-Hate Network and confirmed by the Star, several of the social media accounts linked to a man with the same name and location as Von Neutegem contain white supremacist and neo-Nazi content and rhetoric. That includes posting a chant on YouTube that the Canadian Anti-Hate Network describes as a neo-Nazi death ideology.

A Twitter account from a Toronto-based William Von Neutegem follows a white supremacist media platform that was banned by Facebook for repeatedly violating its ban on hate speech.

Weve got to get to the bottom of this  its dangerous, said Evan Balgord, executive director of the Canadian Anti-Hate Network, who said an external expert should be brought in to help police investigate. Theres unanswered questions here.

Idsinga, who heads the Toronto police homicide squad, said Tuesday that determining whether hate plays a role in the motive is part of the investigative process  including whether it could meet the bar for a terrorism-related upgrade to the first-degree murder charge.

In that case, the RCMPs counter-terrorist security forces (Integrated National Security Enforcement Teams) would be brought in as part of the investigation. Neither the RCMP nor the Toronto police would comment on whether federal investigators have been called in.

Idsinga said there continue to be a large number of officers devoted to the case.

People want answers and they want them sooner than later, and all I can say is were investigating, we know what the process is, we know what we have to gather, and our job right now is to gather all of that evidence and then see where we go with it, he said in an interview Tuesday.

Toronto police already brought in federal investigators and laid terrorism-related first-degree murder charges in two cases in 2020.

Earlier this year, investigators announced that the February stabbing death of a 24-year-old woman at a North York massage parlour was being treated as an act of terrorism after they determined it was allegedly inspired by the misogynistic incel ideology. The fatal hammer attack that killed a 64-year-old Toronto woman in February was also later upgraded to include terrorist activity.

If Toronto police determine that a homicide was motivated by hate but do not lay terrorism charges, that could have implications for sentencing or parole eligibility because it would be an aggravating factor. In the case of a first-degree murder charge, however, the accused is already facing the maximum possible sentence.

Mary-Liz Power, a spokesperson for Public Safety Minister Bill Blair, said race-based, white supremacist violence is a tragic reality in Canada and while we have taken significant action as a government to end violence in our communities we also know there is more to do.

We are committed to doing that work, said Power, who noted that among the actions taken since the Liberals formed the federal government is quadrupling funding for a security program that provides organizations at risk of hate-motivated crime with support to make security improvements.

Omar Farouk, president of the International Muslim Organization, told the Star Tuesday the mosque will submit an application for that funding.

Power said Blair has reached out to the IMO mosque to express his most sincere condolences for Zafis, who tragically lost his life in an act of senseless, racist violence.

Barbara Perry, director of the Centre on Hate, Bias and Extremism based at Ontario Tech University, called Zafiss murder chilling and said Canadian police services are not adequately monitoring far-right groups. That means they arent in a strong position to be proactive at a time when these groups are a growing threat, she said.

Weve seen such a dramatic increase in the numbers and activities associated with individuals and groups that are affiliated in some way with the extreme right, Perry said in an interview Tuesday.

Since 2015, Perry has been researching the presence of far right extremist groups across Canada, including speaking with police services about their approach to such groups as well as directly with members. When she began, the number of groups, chapters or individuals associated with far right extremism in Canada was conservatively estimated at about 100  by 2018, that number had grown to 300, she said.

Determining who the actors are in these groups and how many exist in Canada can be a moving target, she said, in part because of the increasing atomization of the movement; namely, individuals ascribing to an ideology.

Theres much more activity at the individual level there and, of course, thats whats frightening, and this is what weve seen is that the violence has mostly come from lone actors.

Last year, Alexandre Bissonnette, the shooter who opened fire on a Quebec City mosque in January 2017, was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for at least 40 years. The judge found Bissonnette was driven by racism and hatred.
Organizations such as the World Bank, IMF, and the Jack Ma Foundation have contributed aid worth more than $2 billion to aid Kenyas fight against COVID-19. But much of the money and donated medical supplies have gone missing. President Uhuru Kenyatta had ordered an investigation into the issue.
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Indian Parliament

The tenth day of ongoing Monsoon Session of the Parliament begins on September 23 amid reports of sine die adjournment of proceedings of both the Houses.

The Opposition parties will continue to boycott the proceedings in Rajya Sabha beginning at 9 am. The Lok Sabha will start at 6 pm, instead of usual 3 pm, according to the revised list of business of the Lower House.

The Rajya Sabha is expected to take up two bills - the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2020 and the Bilateral Netting of Qualified Financial Contracts Bill, 2020, apart from other scheduled businesses on September 23. Three bills- the Major Port Authorities Bill, 2020, the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Bill, 2020 and the Factoring Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2020, will be taken up in the Lok Sabha.

The government is also expected to present at least 29 CAG reports before the parliament today. The reports include a defence offset report that was expected to carry a review of the Rafale offset deal.

On Tuesday, the Opposition boycotted both the proceedings in both the Houses. Led by the Congress party, the Opposition parties have put three demands, including revoking the suspension of the Opposition MPs, before the government, failing which they will not attend the session. Extending support to their MPs in Rajya Sabha, the parties boycotted the Lok Sabha as well and demanded withdrawal of the contentious farm bills.

The government has said that it will consider revoking the suspension if the MPs apologised for their behaviour- misconduct with Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman on Sunday.

In absence of the Opposition parties on September 22, Rajya Sabha passed seven bills in three-and-a-half hours while Lok Sabha also passed three Labour Code Bills and the Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Bill, 2020.

Meanwhile, there are reports that the Parliament is likely to adjourn sine die on September 23, days ahead of its scheduled end on October 1. 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, have 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, who have just returned from abroad, are unlikely to attend any sessions 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 Monsoon Session of Parliament that began on September 14, under the shadow of the 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.
RESTON, Va., Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- SyncDog, Inc. , the leading Independent Software Vendor (ISV) for next generation mobile security and data loss prevention, today announced their partnership with Halodata, a leading data security solutions distributor, to expand access to SyncDog's Secure.Systems solution within Singapore and the Southeast Asian commercial market. This partnership provides SyncDog with the opportunity to empower more organizations to tap into the flexibility of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) and Choose Your Own Device (CYOD) technology, enabling mobile workers to conduct business operations efficiently and securely from wherever they are.

"Halodata is thrilled to partner with SyncDog to expand access to their advanced mobile security solution to our customers in the Southeast Asian market," said Resham Ganglani, CEO of Halodata International. "We recognize the benefits of implementing flexible mobile device policies like BYOD and CYOD, as well as the challenges organizations face in securing these devices. We are excited to be able to offer a mobile workspace solution that prioritizes efficiency and productivity without sacrificing security."

Over the past 10 years, mobile devices have become a more attractive attack vector for threat actors seeking to steal corporate data. As the threat landscape expands, and threat actors continuously work to exploit mobile endpoints, corporate data that is access by and stored on mobile devices is at great risk. SyncDog's innovative approach to mobile security provides a desktop-like experience on mobile devices and enables unrestricted, unimpeded, and fully secure collaboration between mobile employees and their enterprise ecosystem  while completely separating that information from their personal use applications and data. Secure.Systems boasts a full suite of mobile-enabled productivity applications that provides a defense-grade containerized workspace serving as an additional, robust layer of security to existing enterprise mobility strategies.

"SyncDog is honored to partner with Halodata to extend the reach of our Secure.Systems solution," said Brian Egenrieder, Chief Revenue Officer at SyncDog. "As we witness Singapore continuously demonstrate their commitment to combating cyber threats throughout various industries, SyncDog is eager to begin working with these organizations to secure their corporate networks from the growing number of mobile endpoint-threats."

Halodata's extensive reseller database and dedication to offering superior, effective, and tailored solutions, enables their customers to enhance productivity but also streamline the operational needs of their business. Halodata is ideally positioned to advance the adoption and implementation of SyncDog's Secure.Systems solution within the market. SyncDog's Secure.Systems solution is built in compliance with NIST order 800-171 and protected through a FIPS 140-2 certified, AES 256-bit encrypted app container. Secure.Systems supports numerous integrations and can be seamlessly deployed over the cloud, on-premise or a combination of both making it easy to adopt and implement.

For more info about Halodata, please visit https://www.halodata.biz/

For more information about SyncDog, please visit https://www.syncdog.com/

About Halodata

Halodata is a Product Distribution and an IT Security Company in South East Asia. They distribute many award-winning Data Security Solutions across the region. Their reach goes beyond 25 major cities and multiple resellers. With offices in Indonesia and Singapore, Halodata strives to provide the optimum in data security products and solutions for all technology sectors. As a new era of technology emerges, Halodata is primed to lead the change into high level data security technology and is always committed to bringing the latest and only the best to serve its vast range of security conscious clientele.

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SyncDog is the leading ISV for building mobile frameworks that extend app functionality to devices while securing corporate and government networks from mobile-endpoint threats. SyncDog's flagship solution, Secure.Systems, delivers a rich and unimpeded mobile experience for employees working remotely, and supports a multitude of enterprise productivity apps within a NIST-certified (FIPS 140-2 cert. #2687) workspace. Secure.Systems is ideal for organizations that want to deliver a rich mobile app experience across BYOD, CYOD (choose your own device), or other endpoint device policy. Secure.Systems is a natural complement to security and compliance auditing initiatives to satisfy the mandates of HIPAA, GDPR, PCI DSS, GLBA, FISMA, and other laws/standards for data security.

Secure.Systems can be deployed as a managed service from https://secure.systems or as an on- premise solution. Additionally, Secure.Systems can be found on the Microsoft Azure and MobileIron marketplace exchanges, as well as on the App Store (iOS) and Google Play Store (Android).

Media Contact:

Cole Christy

LaunchTech Communications for SyncDog

619-972-9836

[email protected]

SOURCE SyncDog Inc.

Related Links

https://www.SyncDog.com


A coalition of Republicans, including Texas GOP Chair Allen West and six state lawmakers, are joining activist Steven Hotze in asking the Texas Supreme Court to block Gov. Greg Abbott from extending the early voting period by a week during the pandemic.

Abbott, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment, made the move through an executive order as a way to cut down on long lines at the polls and make voting safer, a step hed also taken for the July primary runoffs. The late July executive order also gave voters more time to turn in completed mail-in ballots in person to the early voting clerks office by allowing drop-off during the early voting period. Usually, dropping off mail-in ballots is only allowed on Election Day.

In the 40-page petition filed Wednesday, the Republicans wrote that the extension was unlawful because the Texas Election Code defines the early voting periods as the 17th day before election day  through the fourth day before election day, and the time for in-person submission of mail-in ballots as only while the polls are open on election day. The petition seeks to force Secretary of State Ruth Hughs to stick to the timelines in the law.

HES DECIDED HES THE KING: Gov. Abbotts COVID response leaves lawmakers on sidelines

Hotze has filed a number of lawsuits aimed at Abbotts COVID-19 emergency orders; in the early voting suit, he again alleges that Abbott does not have the authority, even during a disaster, to suspend laws through executive order. Instead, he says, Abbott should have convened the Legislature.

If ever a special session was justified, now is the time, the petition states. Abbotts Executive Orders are unprecedented and have had life and death implications, destroyed small businesses and familys livelihoods, have had a crippling effect on every single community, and now have the ability to impact local, state and national elections. As long as this Court allows it to occur, one person will continue to unilaterally make these decisions under the guise of an unconstitutional statute.

The lawmakers involved in the suit are state Sens. Charles Perry and Pat Fallon and state Reps. Bill Zedler, Cecil Bell, Jr., Steve Toth and Dan Flynn. Additional relators include former state Reps. Matt Rinaldi, Rick Green and Molly White; Harris County Republican Party Chair Keith Nielson; and several other candidates and Republican group leaders.

VOTING BY MAIL? Everything you need to know about voting by mail in Texas

The suit follows a similar one filed in state district court in Travis County filed by Republican candidates Bryan Slaton, who is running for a Texas House seat, and Sharon Hemphill, running for district judge in Harris County.

While Hotzes suits have been unsuccessful in cutting away at Abbotts emergency powers thus far, the Texas Supreme Court has shown some sympathy for his argument against Abbotts executive power, which Wednesdays petition cited.

If we tolerate unconstitutional government orders during an emergency, whether out of expediency or fear, we abandon the Constitution at the moment we need it most, Justice Jimmy Blacklock wrote in a May 5 concurring opinion on a petition related to local coronavirus shutdown orders.

Democrats, who say the suit is an attempt to suppress the vote in November elections, were quick to condemn the suit and Republicans involved in it.

We should be expanding early voting and vote by mail options, not cutting them, said Texas Democratic Party spokesman Abhi Rahman. We support voters having every opportunity to vote and have been fighting for those options the entirety of the pandemic  and the decades before that.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to remove State Sen. Donna Campbell from the list of plaintiffs. Campbells name was on a draft version of the legal documents, but it was removed before the action was filed at her request.

taylor.goldenstein@chron.com
Arjun Rampal has shared his look from his upcoming project, titled NailPolish. The actor recently returned to work amid coronavirus pandemic and asked his fans to pray for the crews health.

Sharing a still from NailPolish on Instagram, Arjun wrote, So good to be back to work. Wait for this one it knocked my socks of. Pray for our health. On the sets of #NailPolish Coming Soon. #BehindTheScenes @zee5premium #ManavKaul @anandntiwari @rajitkapurofficial @madhoo_rockstar @bugskrishna @tyyproductions @dhirajjkapoor @pradeepuppoor7. In the still, the actor is in a blue silk kurta and is in conversation with someone. He also attached a picture of his co-star Manav Kaul, who is seen in a jovial mood.

Arjun, along with his model girlfriend Gabriella Demetriades and their one-year-old son Arik, was stuck on an extended vacation in Karjat during lockdown. We decided to stay back for my sons safety. While he is too young now, this will be a story to tell him when he grows older. Besides, Mumbai is just a few hours away, and hence, easily accessible in case of an emergency, he had told Mid-Day. Since there are no cases here, we are secure. We have an open space and [are enjoying] being amid nature instead of confined to an apartment, he added.

The couple had also shared glimpses of their time in Karjat on Instagram. Arjun had shared a video from the location which had a large swimming pool, a big backyard with tall palm trees and a gym. It showed them playing board games, spending time with a golden retriever and Arik.

Also read: When Kajol revealed that daughter Nysa convinced her to do Dilwale: I wanted to cry, I wanted to laugh

He had also shared the first clear pictures of his son on his first birthday in July. On Ariks first birthday, its time to share his love with my insta family. Thank you all for your patience and all the love you have poured upon us. Meet the little Rampal. Arik. Happy birthday my boy, he wrote in caption, alongside a tonne of adorable pictures.

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Storm Noul pulls down trees in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue (Photo: VNA)



In the message, the Lao PM, on behalf of Lao Party, State and people, extended his deepest sympathy to the Vietnamese people, especially those who were directly affected by the storm.

The Lao Government and people will always stand side by side with the Vietnamese Party, Government and people during times of hardship and highly value the Laos-Vietnam traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation, he wrote.

Storm Noul, the fifth in the East Sea this year, made landfall in Vietnams central region on September 18.

As of September 20, the storm left six people dead and 112 others injured; 13 houses completely collapsed and 22,716 others damaged; 3,888 ha of rice and vegetables submerged; and 105 ha of aquatic farming ruined.

Meanwhile, 16.5 km of coasts and river banks were eroded, and 36km of roads were damaged, most of which have been re-opened for traffic as of September 20 morning./.
Kerry Washington has opened up about the very real fear she feels when playing with her children outside.

The actor told journalist Jemele Hill in a recent episode of the Jemele Hill Is Unbothered podcast that she fears someone might one day call police on her and her family.

Washington stressed that such fears are valid regardless of her own personal fame, telling Hill: It's crazy-making when somebody says like, 'How dare you, Kerry Washington, have a voice. You're a so-privileged, Hollywood actor person.'

No matter what I do, no matter how many Emmy nominations, I am still scared at times to scooter in neighborhoods with my kids where I feel like somebody could call the cops.

She stressed that that cop may never have seen Scandal, the show in which she portrayed crisis manager Olivia Pope for seven seasons.

I still have that very real fear, she added. My fear is not irrational, my fear is rooted in historical truth and fact, and there is real social science to support the fact that I do deserve to continue to speak out.

Washington recently played the lead role in American Son, the film adaptation of the play of the same name by Christopher Demos-Brown. The film was nominated for Outstanding Television Movie at the 2020 Emmys.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 16:43:44|Editor: huaxia

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CAIRO, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Participants at an Egyptian conference have stressed the importance of international cooperation in the post-COVID-19 era.

The conference, dubbed "Toward a Shared Future for Mankind in Post-Coronavirus Era," was held Tuesday on the occasion of the 71st anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

It was attended by Chinese Ambassador to Cairo Liao Liqiang, and former Prime Minister of Egypt Essam Sharaf amid tight anti-coronavirus preventive measures.

In his speech during the opening session of the conference, Liao said that COVID-19 is one of the most dangerous pandemics that humanity has witnessed in decades, highlighting the success achieved by China in containing the deadly virus.

Liao pointed out that China shares its information, experiences, expertise, research results, and technical documents on the coronavirus with the countries of the world and the World Health Organization (WHO).

He added that China has provided all possible support and assistance to enhance international efforts to confront the pandemic, noting that China donated 50 million U.S. dollars to support the WHO.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us many lessons. We must make joint efforts to complete the global public health governance system, make public health a top priority on the international agenda, and strengthen political coordination and exchange in the field of health," the ambassador said.

For his part, Sharaf stressed the importance of international cooperation through the Belt and Road Initiative, as well as the importance of communication among countries in order to achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.

Meanwhile, Emad al-Azraq, chairman of the Tahrir Center for Studies and Research that organized the conference, said that the participants at the conference discussed the world's ability to deal with the COVID-19 crisis, the international relations, the impact of the crisis on creating a new international order, and the ability of countries to recover from the repercussions of the coronavirus. Enditem
Pilots' unions urge U.S. regulator to improve cockpit procedures for Boeing 737 MAX FILE PHOTO: FILE PHOTO: An inside view of the Icelandair Boeing 737 MAX training simulator in the TRU Flight Training Iceland in Reykjavik

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 <BA.N> 737 MAX to help pilots disable an erroneous stall alert that could be a serious distraction during mid-flight emergencies, major pilots unions said on Monday.

The proposal about an erroneous "stick shaker" alert is among recommendations the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) and the Allied Pilots Association 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.

Separately, the Allied Pilots Association, which represents American Airlines' pilots, also asked on Monday for a checklist to disable erroneous stick shaker activation as well as an overspeed warning.

Story continues

The union said the FAA should condense a checklist for dealing with a loss of control called runaway stabilizer to help pilots "more rapidly isolate the problem."

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)
However, Ms Peake did not brief her minister, Ms Mikakos. She told the inquiry that in her mind, the issues raised in the reports had already been addressed and that a briefing would have normally occurred a "couple of weeks later". By that time, the Justice Department had taken over the quarantine program, she said. She said she ensured those findings were handed over to the Justice Department. On Tuesday, Ms Peake told the hotel quarantine inquiry that even though the Health Department was nominally the control agency in hotel quarantine, accountability for it was "shared" between various different agencies. More questions on private security Earlier on Wednesday the police minister, Ms Neville, could shed no light on the crucial question before the inquiry of who made the decision to put private security in charge of guarding the guests in hotel quarantine rather than the police or the Australian Defence Force.

Ms Neville said Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp first mentioned private security to her in a meeting about the hotel quarantine program at about 2pm on March 27  the day the system was being set up. Loading Ms Neville, Mr Crisp and Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton had a regular meeting scheduled for 2pm that day, just after National Cabinet decided to quarantine international arrivals, but the police minister said it was an "information sharing" meeting, not one where decisions were made. Ms Neville said she had expected to be informing the two men about hotel quarantine, but that they were "a bit ahead of me in terms of the level of knowledge that they had". She thought Mr Crisp had first mentioned private security. "I believe that private security was raised by Commissioner Crisp, I'm pretty confident the ADF issues were raised by Mr Ashton."

Mr Crisp does not remember what was spoken about at that meeting, but told the inquiry last week he did not think it was him that first talked about private security. Ms Neville said she took the mention of private security by Commissioner Crisp to mean that "a decision had been made at some point that private security was the front line" before their meeting. However, Ms Neville joins the rapidly growing group of people claiming ignorance about how the decision was made: "I do not know who made the decision to engage private security contractors," the minister's witness statement reads. She recalls in that crucial meeting that neither she, Mr Crisp, nor Mr Ashton expressed any concern about hiring private security guards, saying in her statement that it was a standard model for guarding "Parliament House, hospitals and police headquarters ... [and] major events such as the Australian Open".

Ms Neville also resisted the charge that the decision to hire the guards was responsible for what later went wrong. "I do not know whether that was because of the use of private security at all, or because of issues with the management and oversight of the private security arrangements, infection control management, or both," her statement read. About 99 per cent of the coronavirus cases in Melbourne's devastating second wave emerged, via security guards, from the botched hotel quarantine system. However, if there was ever "serious contemplation" of Victoria Police playing a hands-on role in guarding the hotels, she would have been consulted and she wasn't, Ms Neville said. Even so, Ms Neville said former Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton should have been consulted. Mr Ashton has in effect told the inquiry he wasn't consulted and it was "presented to him as a decision that had already been made".

A limited role for the army On the role of the ADF, Ms Neville said she remembered Mr Ashton talking in the meeting about it, but only in the limited role of escorting passengers from the airports when they arrived. "It was not me providing the idea of an ADF role because I'm very clear that there had been no conversation around the ADF role until that meeting," she told the inquiry. Ms Neville said she didn't have a particular view about the ADF, only that the "reality is" they didn't have correct powers unlike the Australian Federal Police and Victoria Police to enforce quarantine. When a move emerged later, on June 24, within the Victorian public service to replace all hotel quarantine security guards with 850 defence personnel, nobody told Ms Neville, and she was left to read about it on the front page of the newspaper at midnight.

That fact left her "pretty cranky," she said. She texted Mr Crisp saying: "Not sure what they [ADF] do at hotels given no one leaves!! And they have no powers." At the time she sent the text on the morning of June 25, she was "still slightly cranky that I had discovered the whole thing by the Herald Sun article just after midnight. I was still relatively annoyed about it. She said she was raising concerns that the Defence Force had no powers to enforce hotel quarantine and that was an issue. Who was in charge? We still don't know Ms Neville said it was "clear to me" that the DJPR (Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions) was organising hotel quarantine, "and it was clear to me and I think to both commissioners that a decision had already been taken about the front line of enforcement at the hotels," she said.

Although the Jobs Department was "standing up" the hotel quarantine program, Police Minister Neville said it was clear to her that the Department of Health and Human Services would be the control agency. This was because it was a health emergency, she said. Her comments echo those of Mr Pakula who told the inquiry on Wednesday morning the Health Department was in charge, not his own, and that he expected the Health Department to provide infection control advice to contractors, namely security guards and cleaners. In evidence to the inquiry on Tuesday, Ms Peake, the Health Department secretary, had been grilled on the same subject, and responded that her department was the control agency that oversaw Operation Soteria, the taskforce behind hotel quarantine, but my view is that there was a joint operation on the ground. I know it would be  whats the right word  straightforward, if there was an ability to say today there was a single point of accountability ... but I do think the whole weight of evolution of public administration and public service delivery has been that people are not carved up into portfolios, she said.

Consulting unions Earlier, Mr Pakula said it was normal for the government to consult unions ahead of awarding contracts to ensure companies pay decent wages. Two of the contracted security firms, Wilson Security and MSS Security, were preferred by Trades Hall. Unified Security was not, yet it became the main contractor for the quarantine program and was offered $28.6 million for work across 13 Melbourne hotels. Jobs Minister Martin Pakula gives evidence to the hotel quarantine inquiry on Wednesday.

One senior Jobs Department staff member told a colleague they should tell Trades Hall that Unified was a "dream" to work with and employed "loads of Jobs Victoria clients", a government program designed to help the unemployed find work, while Wilson had been difficult. But within the first few days of the hotel program, Unified was already subcontracting its work. Counsel assisting the inquiry Rachel Ellyard asked Mr Pakula to respond to the evidence. "It's difficult for me to comment on it, Ms Ellyard, I can't speak as to why the representations that appear to have been made to the Hall were not followed through for want of a better description," Mr Pakula responded. "I really don't know."

Mr Pakula said in that "very hectic period" at the end of March, in which authorities had 36 hours to stand up hotel quarantine, "engagements were entered into" in which the primary focus was to find companies that could "effectively stand up a workforce in a short period of time". That was the rationale, he said, for the employment of Unified Security. Jobs Department staff have been forced to admit in the inquiry that Wilson Security was not difficult. Mr Pakula also told the inquiry he had not become aware of the concerns his departmental staff had about the hotel quarantine program until after an inquiry into it was established.

Mr Pakula's departmental staff, who were given the task of finding private security firms for hotel quarantine, were wary on day one of the crisis of dealing with a 'cowboy industry', saying they didn't want 'rogue guards' prowling the corridors of hotels. Mr Pakula said he has since found out about concerns around whether or not police should have had a presence at the hotels and whether returned travellers detained in their rooms should have been allowed outside for some fresh air. The $3 million inquiry, led by former judge Jennifer Coate, is investigating how virus outbreaks among staff and private security guards at two Melbourne quarantine hotels  the Rydges on Swanston and Stamford Plaza  seeded Victoria's catastrophic second coronavirus wave. Mr Pakula has said that to the best of his recollection, he first learned about the hotel quarantine program on the afternoon of March 27 in a phone call from Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions Secretary Simon Phemister.

National Cabinet made the decision to quarantine international arrivals to Australia that day and it was announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Premier Daniel Andrews. The Minister said he understood from his phone call with Mr Phemister that his department would be in charge of the hotel quarantine program. However, control quickly shifted to the Department of Health and Human Services. Mr Pakula was represented on Wednesday by three lawyers, including David Collins, QC.
United Nations, Sep 23 : India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and the foreign ministers of Brazil, Germany and Japan, whose countries make up the G4, decried on Wednesday the attempts to derail Security Council reforms and said they would take it up with a sense of urgency during the UN's 75th anniversary year.

"G4 Ministers expressed disappointment at attempts to derail this process and committed to addressing the issue in a meaningful way and with increased urgency at this 75th anniversary of the UN," according to a joint statement distributed by Germany's UN Mission.

Foreign Ministers Ernesto Henrique Fraga Araujo of Brazil and Toshimitsu Motegi attended the virtual G4 meeting, while German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas was represented by Minister of State Niels Annen.

The ministers, whose countries work together for Security Council reforms and mutually support each other for a permanent seat on a reformed body, kept the annual tradition of meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly's high-level session, which has gone digital this year.

Jaishankar tweeted after the meeting, "Participated in #G4 Foreign Ministers Meeting that called for a decisive push for UNSC reforms during #UN75. Unanimous call for text-based negotiations in a fixed time frame. Reformed Multilateralism guides India's approach to the United Nations." The joint statement said, "G4 Ministers are convinced that time has come to leave behind debates based solely on general statements, without substantive text-based negotiations actually taking place in an intergovernmental setting." The reform process has been blocked by a small group of countries, Uniting for Consensus, led by Italy and including Pakistan that uses procedural tactics to prevent the adoption of a negotiating text that can move the negotiations forward.

A negotiating text that lays down the agenda and the points of agreement and the differences is needed to continue the negotiations meaningfully.

The G4 ministers noted that the 75th Anniversary Declaration adopted by world leaders on Monday committed them "to instil new life in the discussions on the reform of the Security Council." During the last session of the General Assembly that ended earlier this month, the negotiations had hardly gotten off the ground when the COVID-19 pandemic led to a shutdown of the UN building in New York.

The G4 Ministers dismissed the pandemic as an excuse to have curtailed the negotiations.

They expressed their concern at "the lack of any meaningful movement forward in the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) on Security Council reform and expressed their concern that - after two sessions in February and March - the IGN was adjourned due to COVID-19 and no further meetings were held thereafter. However, virtual meetings or a written process could have taken place to allow for progress to be made in the previous session." "The IGN in the current session should start immediately as a direct continuation of the previous session," they said.

The ministers said, "There is a clear need for an enhanced role of developing countries and of major contributors to the United Nations to make the Council more legitimate, effective and representative. Africa needs to be represented in both the permanent and non-permanent categories of membership of a reformed and expanded Security Council to correct the historical injustice against this continent with regard to its under-representation in the Security Council." African countries made the case for getting proper representation for the continent on the Council during the first day of the General Assembly's high-level meeting on Tuesday.

Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari said the Council must be reformed "to reflect the diversity and dynamics of the 21st Century. Africa deserves permanent seats in the United Nations Security Council."The view was echoed by several others like Presidents Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco of Angola and Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt.

The G4 statement said, "The Ministers expressed their determination to seek concrete outcomes during the 75th session of the General Assembly, instructing their delegations to support the efforts of the President of the General Assembly (Volkan Bozkir) to promote early reform of the Security Council." The ministers reiterated their support for each other's candidatures for permanent seats on a reformed Security Council, the statement said.

Bozkir, the Turkish diplomat who will oversee the reform process during the Assembly's current session, had said earlier, "There is no doubt that the membership of the Security Council as well as its working methods must reflect the realities of the 21st century.""Security Council reform is very important, not only for the member states but also to the United Nations as a whole," he said, giving an assurance that he will promote the Security Council reform process impartially.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, "We must rapidly implement comprehensive and meaningful reforms, starting with the restructuring of the Security Council." (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter at @arulouis)
Reuters

Senate Republicans have released their controversial report on Joe Biden and his son Hunters former dealings with Ukraine in a politically-charged move to taint Bidens campaign weeks out from Election Day.

The investigation, which was spearheaded by Sens. Ron Johnson (R-WI) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) focuses on Hunter Bidens work for Ukrainian gas company Burisma Holdingsa key issue in last years impeachment of President Donald Trump. The probe was launched despite no evidence of any wrongdoing by Hunter Biden ever being established.

The report contains little that wasnt already known. Its headline finding is that two Obama administration officials raised some concerns to the White House in 2015 about Hunter Biden serving on the board of Burisma, but the report does not support Trumps baseless claim that Joe Biden tried to use his influence as Vice President to remove a Ukrainian prosecutor in order to protect his sons gas firm.

Senate Democrats tried earlier this week to prevent the report from being published, warning that the document would only serve to amplify Russian disinformation about Biden ahead of Novembers election.

The Treasury department has sanctioned Andriy Derkach, an associate who has pushed similar theories with the help of Trumps lawyer Rudy Giuliani, because U.S. intelligence services believe he is an active Russian agent. It was reported on Tuesday that the CIA believes President Putin is probably directing the disinformation campaign against the Bidens personally.

The GOP investigation, launched after Biden became a frontrunner for the Democratic nomination, has been framed by Johnson as explicitly politicaldrawing condemnation even from Republican senators. Last week, Johnson said his report would reveal that Biden "is not somebody we should be electing president of the United States."

On Wednesday, following the publication, the Biden campaign immediately dismissed the report as politically-motivated nonsense.

Story continues

Biden spokesman Andrew Bates reportedly said: As the coronavirus death toll climbs and Wisconsinites struggle with joblessness, Ron Johnson has wasted months diverting the Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee away from any oversight of the catastrophically botched federal response to the pandemic, a threat Sen. Johnson has dismissed by saying that death is an unavoidable part of life.

The report trumpets one quote as its central finding: That a State Department official, George Kent, raised concerns in 2015 with unidentified officials at the White House about Bidens son working with Burisma. Kent wrote in one email to unidentified colleagues of his: The presence of Hunter Biden on the Burisma board was very awkward for all U.S. officials pushing an anti-corruption agenda in Ukraine.

However, Kent said as much to congressional investigators during his testimony last year, when he said he was worried that Hunter Bidens position could appear like a conflict of interest, and that he had raised that issue with the White House.

Kent, who was the acting deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine at the time, also said that the U.S. government never made a decision about Burisma that was affected by Hunter Bidens board position.

Kent said in October last year that in the aggregate (Hunter's job) didn't have any discernible effect.

Generally, the report aims to paint Hunter Bidens activities as unseemly, and his father as complicit. Whats missing is any fresh new evidence bolstering the notion that Hunter Biden's activities actually subverted U.S. policy in Ukraine, beyond concerning U.S. officials.

In the course of the investigation, Johnsons committee pursued a sweeping set of subpoenas for former Obama-Biden administration officials to appear for testimony. They secured several interviews, including with former State Department official Victoria Nuland and Biden adviser Amos Hochstein.

Yet, the report relies just as heavilyif not more soon media reports that had been in the public realm long before the GOP committees took interviews. A New Yorker profile of Hunter Biden from 2019, in particular, is heavily cited.

When it is not attempting to raise the specter of general sketchiness by the Bidens, the GOP report reads as a general airing of grievances by the chairmen, particularly Johnson, who has increasingly bristled at scrutiny of his contentious investigation.

A full 10 pages of the 87-page report, slotted in the middle of material about Biden and Ukraine, serves as a venue for the Republicans to vent against Democrats for arguing that the GOP probe advanced Russian disinformation efforts and for media leaks.

There is plenty of disdain, too, for the media outlets that reported critically on the investigation. The Democrats false narrative has continued to be picked up, amplified, and circulated by a broad network of Democrat-friendly media outlets and Democratic members of Congress, says the report.

Elsewhere in the report, Republicans simply dump assorted dirt on Bidens son. Hunter, say the Republicans, paid women who were Russian nationals and allegedly linked to a prostitution ring. Theres an entire section of the report devoted to how Hunter Biden received U.S. Secret Service protection on trips abroad while his father was vice president.

The GOP also raises Hunter Bidens China tiesa topic that Team Trump openly encouraged the Chinese government to probe in 2019and says the connections raise criminal concerns and extortion threats without citing any specific evidence other than records acquired by the committee. These are cited in the report frequently as confidential documents.

Those mysterious documents also form the basis of the Republicans parting shot: that they may not be done yet with Hunter Biden. Republicans say they will continue to review the documents in their possession. There remains, reads the reports final sentence, much work to be done.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Ukraine seeks greater participation in shaping the security of the Black Sea region and will be able to play a more active role in this process thanks to its NATO EOP status.

Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Olga Stefanishyna made a corresponding statement at the online meeting of the Center for European Policy Analysis Forum, Government portal informs.

The Vice Prime Minister noted that the occupation of Crimea by the Russian Federation had led to the loss of 70% of Ukraines maritime assets. Currently, Ukraine is rebuilding its naval fleet, in particular by building new bases, with the support of international partners

"Security in the Black Sea, Crimea is not only an issue of Ukraine's national interests but also an issue of security for the entire region, which is given a priority on NATO's agenda. With the support of our international partners, we work to restore the Ukrainian fleet, invest in strengthening its capabilities and capacity," Stefanishyna said.

The Vice Prime Minister reminded that Sea Breeze 2020 naval exercises had taken place in Ukraine this July, where 26 ships and 19 aircraft of eight allies and partners (Bulgaria, Georgia, Norway, Romania, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine, and the USA) held air defence, submarine warfare, damage control and search and rescue training.

According to her, joint exercises with NATO member states are a strong signal that partners support the Ukrainian military in face of daily threats to the Black Sea region security even despite such global challenges as the coronavirus crisis.

"Having NATO EOP status, Ukraine will be able to play a more active role in shaping the security of the Black Sea region and sharing our unique experience in countering hybrid threats," Stefanishyna said.

The Ukrainian official also called for an increased presence of partners in the Black Sea and Ukraine's involvement in NATO member states' security measures.

The annual CEPA Forum is a leading conference on transatlantic security, with the participation of American, Central and Eastern European politicians. The forum brings together more than 400 government and business decision-makers, as well as security and policy experts. Participants will discuss the most pressing issues and challenges NATO faces today. This year's Forum focuses on the future of Europe amidst growing threats to democracies posed by new digital technologies and geopolitical competition.

ol
SCHENECTADY  In one of the first court cases since New York legalized disclosure of police misconduct records, a judge on Wednesday gave the city police union a week to refine their arguments for why part of the personnel record of a police officer involved in a controversial incident should be blocked.

State Supreme Court Justice Mark Powers noted in court the Police Benevolent Association wants the city to redact any information about complaints about Officer Brian Pommer that were unfounded, unsubstantiated or that did not lead to discipline. Over the summer, Pommer was seen in a video that appeared to show the officer kneeling on the neck of a man he was arresting.

The union also wants the city to withhold information about cases in which he was exonerated of wrongdoing and bar the release of any documents that resulted in Pommer receiving a "counseling notice."

It is unclear if Pommer has ever faced internal discipline, and the nature of what any "counseling notice" is is unknown. Powers has sealed most of the legal papers filed in the case, leaving few clues about the nature of complaints the PBA hopes to shield from public view.

The city on Wednesday filed new legal papers under seal and Powers gave the union a week to respond to them. The judge is expected to issue a written decision after he meets with the two sides on Oct. 13.

The union sued the city earlier this month in the hopes of convincing a judge to carve out some exceptions to the repeal of a state law known as 50-a that shielded police disciplinary records from public disclosure. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo signed the repeal on June 12, just weeks after the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police.

In July, the Times Union filed a request for Pommer's personnel records, including any information related to his July 6 arrest of Yugeshwar Gaindarpersaud, who was suspected of vandalizing a neighbor's car on North Brandywine Avenue. Pommer initially approached Gaindarpersaud in front of Gaindarpersaud's home, but the 31-year-old man ran into his backyard where he was tackled by Pommer. Albany Proper, a local website, and the Daily Gazette made similar records requests.

Videos of Gaindarpersaud's apprehension by the officer triggered demonstrations in the city and prompted an internal investigation of the encounter by the police department. The Schenectady County district attorney's office also is investigating the incident. Neither agency has released its findings.

The city was preparing to comply with the newspaper's request to see the personnel file when the union went to court earlier this month to block disclosure of the documents.

The PBA's attorney, Jack Calareso, and Schenectady's attorney, Corporation Counsel Andrew Koldin, both appeared in court Wednesday but neither spoke. Powers said the union argues the disclosure of Pommer's record would be an "invasion of privacy." But the judge also acknowledged the Times Union and the public had a "stake in the controversy."

A similar case is playing out in New York City where a federal court judge last month lifted a restraining order that barred the city's police watchdog agency, the Civilian Complaint Review Board, from releasing police disciplinary records. But a federal appeals court last week agreed to keep the records secret while it weighs an appeal from the city's public safety unions.

Even before arguments got underway in Schenectady, demonstrators rallied outside the courthouse. Nearly a dozen were in court for the brief proceedings and afterward expressed concern part of the records could be redacted.

Gaindarpersaud, who has accused Pommer of kneeling on his neck and punching him several times during the skirmish, has been charged with criminal mischief and resisting arrest, both misdemeanors. He is free pending a future court appearance.

Earlier: Video shows Schenectady officer kneeling on man's neck

Schenectady chief: Breathing of man arrested never impaired

Schenectady: Police can't put knee on neck, head of suspects

Mayor directs police brass to weigh discipline in arrest case

Neighborly dispute at the root of Schenectady police incident

Demonstrators at Schenectady City Hall demand justice after video shows police knee hold on man

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Video: More scrutiny over Schenectady arrest case

Gaindarpersaud's father videotaped the confrontation, footage that appeared to show Pommer kneeling on Gaindarpersaud's neck. The video, shared with the Times Union and other media outlets, drew comparisons to the killing of Floyd, who died May 25 after a Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes.

The police department later released footage from Pommer's body camera which showed Gaindarpersaud running from the officer when Pommer tried to discuss the vandalism complaint. On that recording, Pommer can be seen punching Gaindarpersaud several times in the ribs while Gaindarpersaud squirmed on the ground.

Police Chief Eric Clifford insisted the videos did not show Pommer kneeling on Gaindarpersaud's neck but rather on his head. Within days, the police department announced a policy prohibiting officers from kneeling on a person's head or neck.

Schenectady Mayor Gary McCarthy raised concerns about the events leading to Gaindarpersaud arrest and directed Clifford and Public Safety Commissioner Michael Eidens to consider possible discipline based upon any department policies that may have been violated.

It is unclear if Clifford or Eidens followed through.

On Wednesday, dualing demonstrations were held outside court - with some protesters demanding an end to police brutality, while others argued police were unfairly maligned. There were tense moments with supporters of both causes yelling at each other on the sidewalk.

Civil rights activist Jamaica Mills was among those who urged the crowd to keep fighting for justice and called for the court to make Pommers file public.

On the other hand, an emotional William Tryon told reporters he wanted to let law enforcement know they were appreciated. He said he supported the release of disciplinary records but only if the officer's conduct was criminal.

Paul Nelson contributed to this article.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 01:57:50|Editor: huaxia

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U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin testifies at a hearing before the House Financial Services Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Sept. 22, 2020. Mnuchin said Tuesday the administration continues to try to work with Congress and is ready to reach a bipartisan COVID-19 relief agreement, noting that a "targeted" package is still needed. (Caroline Brehman/Pool via Xinhua)

WASHINGTON, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Tuesday the administration continues to try to work with Congress and is ready to reach a bipartisan COVID-19 relief agreement, noting that a "targeted" package is still needed.

"The President and I remain committed to providing support for American workers and businesses. We continue to try to work with Congress on a bipartisan basis to pass a Phase IV relief package," Mnuchin said in his testimony at a hearing before the House Committee on Financial Services.

The extra 600-U.S.-dollar weekly federal unemployment benefits, part of a 2-trillion-dollar relief package approved by Congress in late March, expired at the end of July, but lawmakers remain deadlocked over the next round of COVID-19 relief bill.

House Democrats unveiled a 3-trillion-dollar relief proposal in May, which didn't gain support from Republicans. Senate Republicans unveiled a 1-trillion-dollar package in late July, but failed to advance a slimmed-down proposal earlier this month.

The U.S. treasury secretary voiced confidence the economy will see "tremendous" third-quarter growth, fueled by strong retail sales, housing starts and existing home sales, manufacturing growth, and increased business activity.

Mnuchin noted the recovery has been strong because the administration and Congress worked together on a bipartisan basis to deliver the largest economic relief package in American history, adding that the Federal Reserve has also been instrumental to the recovery by implementing various lending facilities.

Mnuchin's optimism, however, is not shared by some lawmakers, including Rep. Juan Vargas, a California Democrat, who said he thinks tens of millions of Americans would disagree with the treasury secretary's remarks on a strong economic recovery.

"In fact I would say that the stock market is not the only economy," Vargas said. "You have 11 million Americans that are still out of work, that lost their jobs, more than in the financial crisis."

In his response, Mnuchin said there is a strong recovery because the country closed the economy and then reopened it, while adding that there is still more work to do.

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, who also testified at the hearing, said a full recovery is likely to come only when people are confident that it is safe to reengage in a broad range of activities.

"The path forward will depend on keeping the virus under control, and on policy actions taken at all levels of government," Powell said. Enditem
(Natural News) The home of a Utah man who hosts a popular YouTube channel for children was raided last week after local law enforcement officers arrested him on suspicion of trying to have sex with children.

John Robert Krampf, 64, creator of The Happy Scientist, was reportedly found to be in possession of thousands upon thousands of child pornography images, which were saved on numerous hard drives found at his residence.

Krampf, along with 11 other suspects, was arrested as part of a Craigslist sting in St. George, which later revealed that he was in possession of some 20 hard drives, including one with four terabytes of space, that contained countless images of child pornography.

During a forensic review of that hard drive, [Dixie State University Police Chief Blair Barfuss] said investigators found thousands, upon thousands, upon thousands of inappropriate images and videos of children, one local news outlet reported, referring to the four-terabyte drive found at Krampfs house.

Because so much child porn is said to have been found on Krampfs hard drives, the case was referred to the FBI for further analysis and investigation.

With 19 hard drives still to go, we knew we had a bigger problem, stated Chief Barfuss, who also assists with the FBIs child exploitation task force. So we decided to send everything to the FBI field office and get the U.S. Attorneys Office involved at that point.

Krampfs YouTube channel, which contains a compilation of educational science videos geared towards children, currently has about 8,140 subscribers. His most popular video has more than 3.3 million views, though he had apparently been doing this for a long time, Chief Barfuss indicated, referring to Krampfs collecting of child porn.

YouTube is harboring pedophiles and we arent surprised

The FBI had reportedly already been honing in on Krampf prior to the local sting, which uncovered what some in the law enforcement community had apparently suspected was taking place.

Chief Barfuss stated that Krampfs case is particularly disturbing because the contents of his channel are geared towards the young and vulnerable.

We found that concerning, to say the least, he stated.

In the federal indictment against Krampf, prosecutors allege that the man did knowingly possess material containing images of child pornography involving children younger than 12 years of age.

Additionally, those images were transported in interstate and foreign commerce,' the indictment added.

Krampf was scheduled to appear before a U.S. District Court this past Monday. Meanwhile, his YouTube channel is still active, which is hardly surprising since the Google-owned video platform revels in perversion and facilitates its spread, hence why independent platforms like Brighteon.com were created as alternatives.

If convicted of a second charge involving receipt of child pornography, Krampf faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison, according to the U.S. Sentencing Commission. This charge is in addition to possession of child pornography, which carries its own penalties.

Over the years, penalties for these types of crimes have become stricter. In 1997, the average sentence for a person convicted of a charge related to child porn was just over 20 months. Since that time, the average has jumped nearly sixfold to 118 months in prison.

Meanwhile, the FBI allegedly destroyed evidence on (Anthony) Weiners laptop that supposedly contained videos of children being abused, that were so bad that hardened FBI officers threw up, wrote one Infowars commenter. One law for thee, but not for me, is clearly the U.S. Establishments mantra.

A scientific mind is most often void of spirit and conscience which often leads to degenerate behavior like pedophilia, wrote another.

More related news on YouTubes harboring of pedophiles and perverts can be found at DemonicTimes.com. And the site ScienceClowns.com profiles the biggest clowns in the realm of science.

Sources for this article include:

Infowars.com

NaturalNews.com

StGeorgeUtah.com
Amaravati/New Delhi, Sep 23 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Wednesday met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the second time during his Delhi tour and discussed issues related to the state's development, official sources said.

The second meeting lasted 45 minutes. The two earlier met for around an hour on Tuesday evening after the Chief Minister arrived in Delhi, during which the issue of central funds was also discussed.

As per the laws enacted vis-a-vis bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, the state is eligible for central funds.

Reddy told Shah that Andhra Pradesh had suffered immensely after its bifurcation -- which led to the birth of Telangana state -- whereas the coronavirus pandemic had proved to be a double whammy.

He told the Home Minister that the state was suffering due to lack of funds and sought central assistance to tide over the crisis. The Chief Minister also discussed the issues of women's protection initiative Disha, and abolition of the Legislative Council.

After winding his Delhi tour by Wednesday afternoon, Reddy will fly from Delhi to Renigunta near Tirupati to participate in the Brahmostavams. He will then proceed to Tirumala temple by road.

Reddy's visit to the renowned temple comes amid a controversy whether he will sign the faith declaration. Tirumala Tirupati Devastanam Chairman YV Subba Reddy said there was no need for Reddy to sign the declaration.
President Donald Trump again went after Rep. Ilhan Omar at his Tuesday night rally, suggesting that the U.S. isn't her country.

'She's telling us how to run our country. How did you do where you came from?' Trump said of the Somali-born Democrat, who's a U.S. citizen. 'How was your country doing?' the president added.

Omar hit back at Trump's comments, even calling his rallies 'cult-like.'

'Firstly, this is my country and I am a member of the House that impeached you,' the Minnesota lawmaker tweeted. 'Secondly, I fled civil war when I was 8. An 8-year-old doesn't run a country even though you run our country like one.'

President Donald Trump (left) suggested the U.S. wasn't Rep. Ilhan Omar's (right) country, disparaging her at a Tuesday night campaign rally in Pittsburgh

Rep. Ilhan Omar hit back at Trump tweeting, 'this is my country,' and she also suggested that he ran the U.S. like an 8-year-old, the age she fled the Somalian civil war

Rep. Ilhan Omar reacted to President Donald Trump's racist barbs by calling his rallies 'cult-like' and sharing a 'Mean Girls' GIF

The Trump campaign has been targeting Minnesota as being flippable, with the president saying Omar was playing a part.

'We're going to win the state of Minnesota because of her, they say,' Trump told the crowd.

Omar pushed back at the racist comments with a few insults of her own and a meme.

'These cult-like rallies leave me wondering one thing,' the freshman congresswoman tweeted.

Omar then included GIF of Regina George's character in 'Mean Girls' asking Lindsay Lohan's Cady Heron, 'Why are you so obsessed with me?'

During his hour and a half in Pittsburgh, Trump also mocked Omar's 'squad'-mate, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for her 'green new deal.'

'She's not a good student, but she's got a good line of crap,' Trump said

The president also laughed about reporters experiencing violence while covering this summer's protests.

Trump misremembered an incident involving MSNBC's Ali Velshi, who was hit by a rubber bullet, as opposed to 'hit with a canister of tear gas,' as the president recalled. 'Remember that beautiful sight?' he said of Velshi being hit.

The president also joyfully recounted a journalist being targeted by police.

'Sometimes they grab. They grab one guy. "I'm a reporter. I'm a reporter." Get out of here. They threw him aside like he was a little bag of popcorn,' Trump said. 'Honestly, when you watch the crap that we have all had to take so long. When you see it it is actually a beautiful sight.'

But Trump mostly targeted his political rival, Democrat Joe Biden, who he made fun of for wearing a mask, floated had plastic surgery and suggested was on drugs.
YSR Congress Party president and chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Wednesday visited the popular hill shrine of Lord Venkateshwara at Tirumala in Chittoor district without signing the mandatory declaration proclaiming his faith in the presiding deity, leading to protests from Hindu groups and opposition parties.

The chief minister, who arrived in Tirumala straightaway from New Delhi, was accorded a rousing reception at the temple. He wore traditional attire of a Hindu devotee, sported the Thiru Namam (the Vaishnavite style of tilak on the forehead) and carried the silk clothes on his head into the temple to present them to the Lord on behalf of the state government, amidst chanting of Vedic hymns.

However, Jagan, a protestant Christian by faith, ignored the demands of the Hindu groups and the opposition parties, including Bharatiya Janata Party, Telugu Desam Party and the Congress, that he should follow the decades-old tradition of signing the declaration form meant for non-Hindus stating that he has faith in Lord Venkateshwara.

Though Jagan had visited Tirumala several times in the past without signing the mandatory declaration, it kicked up controversy this time following a statement from Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams trust board chairman that there was no need for non-Hindus to sign the declaration compulsorily and as such, Jagan didnt have to sign the same.

The TTD chairmans statement triggered massive protests from Hindu groups. On Wednesday, activists of Bajrang Dal tried to lay siege to Jagans Lotus Pond residence at Banjara Hills in Hyderabad and courted arrests.

A tense atmosphere prevailed in Tirupati, where the police took hundreds of TDP and BJP leaders and activists into preventive custody as they planned to take out protest rallies on the occasion of the chief ministers visit.

TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu demanded that Jagan should respect the temple traditions and sign the declaration meant for non-Hindus. He also demanded that as per the traditions, Jagan should also be accompanied by his wife Bharati. He accused the Jagan government of hurting the sentiments of Hindus.

Popular seer of Sri Peetham Swamy Paripoornananda told reporters in Hyderabad that Jagan should respect the feelings of the Hindus, as he would not lose anything by signing the declaration.

However, YSRCP leaders rejected the demand of the opposition parties and Hindu groups. State civil supplies minister Kodali Nani questioned the propriety of imposing such a rule in Tirumala. Only those who have faith in Lord Venkateshwara come to Tirumala temple. Why should anybody declare their faith again? he asked.

He said the BJP leaders should first advice Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the temples along with his wife. When Modi can go alone to Ayodhya temple to lay foundation stone, why should Jagan bring his wife to the Tirumala temple? he asked.

BJP leaders fumed at the minister and demanded that Jagan should immediately sack him from the cabinet. We should not rest till Kodali Nani is sacked from the cabinet for insulting Modi, BJP national spokesman and MP GVL Narasimha Rao said.

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Abuja, Nigeria (PANA)  The Nigerian Navy on Tuesday began a two-day exercise code-named Exercise Sanga Sung, deploying troops on board six warships, including 60 gunboats, in a special military exercise to tackle pirates, oil smugglers and other criminalities in the nations waters
The PayPal Business Debit Mastercard is now available in five new European countries - Austria, France, Ireland, Italy and Spain - in addition to its existing availability in Germany, the United Kingdom and United States.

Mastercard is the one of the most widely accepted cards in the world, meaning PayPal's business customers can now spend money held in their PayPal account at over 52 million Mastercard acceptance locations worldwide2. The debit card has no monthly fees, no foreign exchange fees and a flat ATM withdrawal charge of just 2 worldwide.

With its cash back program, PayPal pays out over $45million USD to business owners every year. The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged even the most financially sound small businesses and the expanded availability of the PayPal Business Debit Mastercard comes at a time where business owners around the globe need access to funds more than ever. As businesses begin to reopen, conveniently being able to purchase products and services and getting rewarded with extra cash will be vital for their survival.

In the UK and Germany, the PayPal Business Debit Mastercard is most often used for purchasing digital marketing services and retail goods for inventory and supplies, whilst in the US, the card is most commonly used to purchase business services and everyday essentials like petroleum and cellular phone bills.

"Each day that goes by when small businesses don't receive the revenues and support that they need, the risk of bankruptcies increase. As an industry, we must make it as easy as possible for small businesses to get access to their funds fast, and our global expansion of the PayPal Business Debit Mastercard does just that", says Jacob de Geer, Vice President of Small Business Products & iZettle, PayPal.

David Dechamps, Senior Vice President, Digital Partnerships at Mastercard Europe noted: "Supporting small businesses is an indispensable part of the economic recovery. To that end, we want to make it as simple and convenient as possible for businesses to access their funds. At Mastercard we are delighted to be PayPal's partner of choice for issuing debit cards to their business customers."

The PayPal Business Debit Mastercard was first launched in the US in 2003, providing a cashback reward whenever it was used. Since then, PayPal has chosen to work with Mastercard to expand its business debit card offering to Germany and the United Kingdom, and now further to Austria, France, Ireland, Italy, and Spain. For more information on the PayPal Business Debit Mastercard, and how to request one, please visit http://www.paypal.com/us/businessdebit

Notes to Editors

The key features of the PayPal Business Debit Mastercard include:

Instant access to PayPal funds for all business spending: Business owners can use their PayPal funds wherever Mastercard is accepted both online and in-person.

Business owners can use their PayPal funds wherever Mastercard is accepted both online and in-person. Unlimited and uncapped cash back: PayPal business customers will receive 0.5% cash back on all eligible purchases made with the card with no caps or limits.

PayPal business customers will receive 0.5% cash back on all eligible purchases made with the card with no caps or limits. No foreign exchange fees: PayPal business customers will benefit from no foreign exchange fees for international online or in-person purchases to help their business run better across borders

PayPal business customers will benefit from no foreign exchange fees for international online or in-person purchases to help their business run better across borders Flat 2 fee for ATM withdrawals anywhere in the world: Business owners can access cash worldwide 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with a flat fee of 2 for ATM withdrawals.

Business owners can access cash worldwide 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with a flat fee of 2 for ATM withdrawals. No monthly fees: The PayPal Business Debit Mastercard is free with no monthly fees for all business customers.

About PayPal

PayPal has remained at the forefront of the digital payment revolution for more than 20 years. By leveraging technology to make financial services and commerce more convenient, affordable, and secure, the PayPal platform is empowering more than 300 million consumer and merchant accounts in more than 200 markets to join and thrive in the global economy. For more information, visit paypal.com .

About Mastercard (NYSE: MA), www.mastercard.com Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments and businesses realize their greatest potential. Our decency quotient, or DQ, drives our culture and everything we do inside and outside of our company. With connections across more than 210 countries and territories, we are building a sustainable world that unlocks priceless possibilities for all.

Follow us on Twitter @MastercardEU @MastercardNews , join the discussion on the Beyond the Transaction Blog and subscribe for the latest news on the Engagement Bureau

PayPal contacts

[email protected]

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Mastercard contacts

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1 Cash back may vary per country.

2 The 2019 Nilson Report

SOURCE PayPal, Inc.

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It has been announced Fr Edward Tamer and Fr Firas Hejazin in Aleppo have passed away after contracting coronavirus reports Asia News.

The novel coronavirus has hit Aleppo, Bishop Georges Abou Khazen, apostolic vicar of the Latins, told AsiaNews.

At the height of the pandemic, We buried 10 victims a day in the Christian community alone, the prelate he said. Since then, the death rate seems to have declined and the number is constantly decreasing.

However, two Franciscan friars have died from COVID-19. Unfortunately, the two were at the Holy Land college. Fr Edward Tamer (pictured) was 82 but in good condition and Fr Firas Hejazin was 49. What a tragedy!

The coronavirus has not spared Aleppo, Syrias main economic centre, but the number of cases and victims remains uncertain because of limited testing and incomplete data provided by the authorities.

What is certain that of four of the five Franciscan Fathers present in the city contracted the virus and two of them have died. Fr Ibrahim Alsabagh, of the Latin parish, is the only one who has been spared.

In a letter to Crux, an online US Catholic paper, he complains of the state of precariousness and lack of hospitals, medicines, doctors and nurses.

Despite the lack of accurate data, the proportion of priests affected by the coronavirus can be projected onto the population in order to understand the magnitude of the pandemic.

In his letter, the clergyman describes the work of raising awareness among members of his parish and across the city, from social distancing to wearing masks, to avoid a larger catastrophe.

According to some estimates, at the height of the pandemic, the pandemic had hundreds of victims, up to 800 a day.

Bishop Abou Khazen notes that, the virus circulation was huge, but now things have improved a bit. Regulations, like the obligation to wear a mask, social distancing, and a ban on large gatherings and events, have worked.

Today traffic has resumed, schools reopened on Sept.13, 2020, and we are trying to see what the effects may be.

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 Upper West Regional Chairman of the NPP, Dr. S.B.Kangberee together with some regional executives of the party met the family of the late Wa Imam, Dr. Suleman M.H.Bakuri on behalf of his Excellency, the vice president of the Republic of Ghana in an effort to peacefully resolve their impasse.

The regional executives of the party and the family decided to bury the hatchet after peaceful but frank deliberations. The Regional leadership of the Governing party met with the family on Monday 21st September, 2020 at Limanyiri, the family house of the late Imam as a follow up to earlier meetings between the Regional leadership of the Governing party and the late Imams family.

The Regional chairman expressed regret about the mishap and assured the family that it was never the intention of the vice president to disrespect the family. The vice President has always enjoyed an enviable relationship with the late Imam and the family and would wish that this cordial relationship continues even after the demise of the Imam. He would therefore not intentionally do anything that would mare the beauty of that relationship. He further assured the family of the Governments preparedness to do all it can on her part to give a befitting farewell to the late Imam.

The family on its part welcomed this intervention by the regional chairman on behalf of the Vice President, and stated that it was never the intention of the family either to put the presidency in bad light or engaged in such public exchanges with the presidency but for the conduct of the Regional Minister, Hon. Hafiz Bin Salih abusing his office by preventing the late Imam and his followers from carrying out their religious obligations through REGSEC, sending armed military and police men to disrupt our eid prayers, inciting other traditional authorities and supporting them against the Limanyiri family, preventing the president, vice president and others from calling on the family whenever they visit the region etc. The family has always enjoyed the courtesies and respect of the Vice President and the family is also well aware of the humility and respect that he pays to the elderly especially traditional and religious authorities in the country. It is the observation of the family that it has never been part of His Excellency, the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to carry himself in a Manner as would bring his name into disrepute.

To the Regional chairman, S.B.Kangberee, the family was grateful to him and his executives for the mature leadership and the able manner in which he handled this matter. The family assured him of their support and prayers any time he calls on them.

To further cement this relationship, the regional chairman thanked the family for the good heart the family has shown and made a personal donation of GHC 20,000.00 on behalf of the vice President of the republic of Ghana. His donation was accepted by the family and the family expressed its sincere gratitude to the vice President and the Chairman Dr. S.B. Kangberee for the kind gesture and followed it up with prayers for the President, his vice, the government and the nation at large.

The family further took the opportunity to offer prayers for a peaceful election before, during and after the upcoming December 7 presidential and parliamentary elections.

God bless our homeland Ghana.

Yours Sincerely

.

ALHAJI ISSAKA MAHAMA BAMWARA

(HEAD OF LIMANYIRI FAMILY)

SPOKESPERSON

ALHAJI IBRAHIM SIFA (SANTAMA)

0268396330
ANN ARBOR, MI  University of Michigan residence hall staff have accepted a deal and ended their strike for more coronavirus health protections.

Residence hall staff began striking earlier this month, shortly after members of the Graduate Employees' Organization went on strike demanding a safe and just response to the coronavirus pandemic. They announced the end of the strike in a tweet Monday night, Sept. 21, thanking everyone who supported them, including GEO.

The strike officially ended at 7 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22.

Residence hall staff on strike at University of Michigan, demand more coronavirus protections

We appreciate greatly that housing met with us and that we were able to negotiate an offer that both sides were happy with, the tweet said. This wouldnt have happened without everyone that extended a helping hand in our direction. Solidarity forever!

Among other things, residence hall staff sought regular access to COVID-19 testing, effective personal protective equipment for staff and students, enforcement of social distancing and hiring and staffing to normal capacity for all facilities and housing teams.

Michigan Housing made a number of commitments as the two sides talked, including priority testing for residence hall student-staff through the universitys surveillance testing program, additional personal protective equipment and the creation of a Residential Experience Council of ResStaff, where concerns about situations or issues can be brought forward and addressed, said Rick Gibson, UM director of housing.

Were happy to announce ResStaff has accepted an offer from UM Housing, and our strike will be ending effective 7am on Tuesday, September 22nd. Wed like to thank everyone that supported us during our strike, especially GEO, AFT, our regents, our LT, & everyone on campus (1/2)  Umich ResStaff (@UMResstaff) September 22, 2020

Gibson thanked the student employees for the time and commitment they put into the conversations, as well as helping both sides come to an understanding of the issues.

For our part, we have a deep appreciation now of how important it is to respond to concerns in the moment, and were committed to avenues of communication with our staff, Gibson said. Residence hall student staff are on the frontlines, and we can only be successful when they have information, and support, they need.

The strike by residence hall staff began Tuesday, Sept. 8, and a number of issues came up when students began moving back to campus Aug. 12. Residence hall staff said blue bins used to move furniture into dorms were not being sanitized, and cleaning materials were not available. Testing for COVID-19 was also inconsistent, with some students not being tested at all and others only being tested after they moved into their rooms.

Before arriving to campus, students were supposed to be given a COVID-19 test at home and could only move into their dorm if they had a negative result. Students were told to bring the negative test with them to move-in, but residence hall staff said they werent told about this and had no way to check or log the results, according to the release.

Representatives from UMs residence hall staff did not immediately respond to a request for further comment.

There have been a number of COVID-19 cases at several UM residence halls, including 21 at the South Quad residence hall. The positive cases were removed from the building, and after establishing a pop-up testing site, 221 residents on the sixth and eighth floors of the building have tested negative for the virus, according to UMs COVID-19 dashboard.

221 University of Michigan students test negative for coronavirus after cluster at South Quad

There have been 85 positive cases out of 5,419 total tests over the last two weeks, according to the dashboard. Since March 8, there have been 433 positive cases and 17,484 tests administered.

READ MORE:

University of Michigan confirms cluster of 19 coronavirus cases in South Quad residence hall

Graduate employees reach deal with University of Michigan to end strike

Ann Arbor City Council passes resolution to partner with University of Michigan for emergency shelter
Although India and China has agreed to stop sending more troops to Ladakh front-line, New Delhi is prepared for a long haul of multiple rounds of military-diplomatic talks before a firm political understanding is reached between two sides on complete disengagement.

This is going to be a long drawn out process and it will be foolhardy to assume that results will be achieved in one or two rounds of talks. While both sides have agreed in principle not to send more troops to the border, there is no means for both sides to verify this on ground as neither would like to share information collected through communication intercepts and spatial intelligence, said a senior official.

As of now, there is no change of situation on ground with Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) troops still on finger four mountainous spur on north Pangong Tso lake and Indian Army dominating the Rezang La Rechin La ridgeline on the Line of Actual Control (LAC). There has been no change in situation in Gogra-Hot Springs sector as the PLA have linked the withdrawal there to Pangong Tso disengagement.

ALSO WATCH | DRDOs plan to help feed Indian forces amid Ladakh long haul against China

China watchers believe that the Ladakh situation will require a series of dialogues before understanding between the two sides builds up on how to keep the LAC quiet post May intrusions by the PLA in western sector. Given the continuous infra upgrade across the occupied Aksai Chin and Arunachal Pradesh by China, the PLA capacity to rapidly deploy on the LAC is better than Indian Army. This means that till such time a larger political understanding is reached, the Indian Army will have to be on alert all along the LAC as PLA cannot be allowed to take advantage again.

Apart from Ladakh, there has been PLA build-up in depth areas of Arunachal with focus around Nyingchi as the latter is going to connected soon with Lhasa by rail road. The Chinese are also building a rail road from Shigatse or Xigaze to Yatong or Yadong in Chumbi Valley, which will put pressure on Indian Siliguri corridor. The upgrade in Tibet and Xinjiang is not only designed to put pressure on India but largely to consolidate the hold of Han Chinese on these sensitive areas as part of the Communist partys Sinicization programme.

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The Australian sharemarket picked up after a dire start but still finished deep in the red on Thursday as a fresh US selloff sapped investor confidence.

The ASX 200 fell by as much as 1.7 per cent in a $30 billion opening dive but investors soon clawed back losses.

The benchmark index still finished down 48 points, or 0.8 per cent, at 5875.9 to keep Wednesdays rebound rally to a single session.

The ASX 200 fell by 0.8 per cent on Thursday. Credit:Louie Douvis

All sectors ended lower, with tech darling Afterpay shedding 5.8 per cent and the gold miners losing their lustre.

Westpac - fresh from copping the biggest penalty in Australian corporate history - fell by as much as 2.3 per cent but trimmed its decline to 0.1 per cent by the close.

Weak manufacturing data helped knock the wind out of Wall Streets sails, while Perpetuals Matt Sherwood said in a note that concerns remain US markets are still overbought, despite a near 10 per cent selloff in recent weeks.

Further denting offshore sentiment was a plea from Fed chair Jerome Powell that more stimulus is needed to assist the worlds largest economy, in what is likely to be a long and slow recovery.

This view contrasts with a lot of investors who had wagered that a combination of stimulus, virus control, and economic reopening would spark a large recovery, Mr Sherwood wrote.

EY partner and investment banking veteran Duncan Hogg said local markets appeared content to follow the overseas lead amid a lack of other news.

He said volatility on the ASX would likely continue until the Federal budget is handed down on October 6.

(The budget) may give people more confidence around where were going as a market generally, Mr Hogg said.

Were all expecting a budget that is going to try and stimulate the economy. My view is that the opening the borders and the budget will hopefully build some positive sentiment leading into Christmas.

The materials sector sagged by 1.5 per cent on Thursday with BHP, Rio Tinto and Fortescue Metals each losing between 0.2 per cent and 0.7 per cent.

Gold miners were hammered on softer precious metal prices, with Newcrest down 3.7 per cent at $30.69, Northern Star losing 3 per cent to $13.20, and evolution 5.3 per cent lower at $5.53.

Banks NAB and ANZ defied the wider ASX decline to rise 0.4 per cent and 0.1 per cent respectively, while Commonwealth Bank ended 0.1 per cent lower at $64.20.

Westpac initially fell 2.3 per cent to $16 after it confirmed it would pay a record $1.3 billion fine to AUSTRAC for breaches of money laundering laws.

The bank closed down 0.1 per cent at $16.37.

Among the other blue-chip firms, CSL dropped 0.3 per cent, Wesfarmers 0.2 per cent, Woolworths 1 per cent and Macquarie Group 0.4 per cent.

Afterpay weighed the tech sector down while energy stocks slumped by a collective 2.1 per cent.

There was rare support from Transurban, which rose 1.9 per cent to $14.72, and Fisher and Paykel, which jumped 1.8 per cent to $30.83.
During typical summers in the southeastern U.S., streams of visitors travel to Great Smoky Mountains National Park to witness one of nature's most spectacular displays of light: thousands of male fireflies, all flashing together in near-perfect harmony.

"This is the most beautiful biological phenomenon that I've ever witnessed," said Orit Peleg, an assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science and BioFrontiers Institute at the University of Colorado Boulder.

In a study published today in the Journal of The Royal Society Interface, she and her lab members shed new light on this beautiful phenomenon--striving to understand how relatively simple insects manage to coordinate such feats of synchronization.

The team discovered that the light shows may be more complicated than scientists realized: Rather than flash according to some innate rhythm, the fireflies seem to observe what their neighbors are doing, then adjust their behavior to match.

Peleg's team hopes the research will inspire citizen scientists around the world to get out and help to protect populations of these charismatic creatures. Some of these insect species, which use their glow to attract mates, have found themselves competing for attention with human sources of light.

"So many people have had positive experiences with fireflies," said Raphael Sarfati, lead author of the new study and a postdoctoral researcher at CU Boulder. "They're also very fragile. Many species are on the decline around the world because there is more and more light pollution."

One in a swarm

As Peleg describes it, the firefly display is over almost as soon as it begins. Males belonging to the species Photinus carolinus only flash for about two weeks every June, and then just for a few hours a night.

Studying them "is a constant race against time," Peleg said.

Still, the sight is a must-see: During their mating displays, swarms of males stay low to the ground so as to better show off for females hiding in the leaf litter below. They also flash with a distinct rhythm: a few quick bursts of light followed by a several-second pause, then more bursts. In person, the display looks like a wave of light passing over the hillside.

To date, scientists have struggled to explain how this synchronization works.

"Is it something hardwired in fireflies that makes them want to synchronize?" Sarfati said. "Or is it something more context dependent, maybe based on their environment?"

To find out, the researchers drove to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in June 2019. There, they set up two 360-degree cameras in a wooded area--a new technological approach that allowed the team to map out the locations of the bugs flashing in their vicinity. The group also assembled a pop tent on site and introduced a few fireflies at a time to the isolated environment.

"It was, basically, like we were one of the fireflies in the swarm," Sarfati said.

Follow the leader

The researchers-turned-fireflies found what they were looking for: Male P. carolinus fireflies, the team reported, don't behave the same when they're alone versus in a big group.

When the researchers, for example, put a single male into the pop tent all on his own, that bug would flash without a good sense of rhythm--a few bursts here, a few bursts there. Increase the number of fireflies, however, and things began to change.

"When you start putting 20 fireflies together, that's when you start observing what you see in the wild," Sarfati said. "You've got regular bursts of flashes, and they're all synchronized."

The fireflies, in other words, likely aren't hardwired to flash with a particular pattern. Instead, their light displays seem to be more social. Bugs watch what their neighbors are doing and try to follow along. The group's findings, Peleg said, could help researchers learn more about a range of other synchronous behaviors in nature--and maybe one day design swarming robots that act in tandem.

"This kind of synchrony occurs in many natural systems," Peleg said. "The cells in our hearts all flex and contract at the same time. Neurons in our brains also synchronize."

Firefly populations have also proved tricky for researchers to monitor in the wild, she said. Her team thinks that its 360-degree camera approach could provide a solution, perhaps allowing anyone to head out into the woods to keep an eye on their local fireflies. Peleg, at least, doesn't want to see the glow from these insects disappear.

"There always was this last half an hour at night where we were tired and sitting in the forest, waiting for the fireflies to stop flashing," she said. "It was the most relaxing part of this work."

###

Other coauthors on the new study include Julie Hayes, a former post-baccalaureate student at CU Boulder, and Elie Sarfati of the Supinfogame Rubika in France.
The Committed Drivers Association has warned that any political party promising to legalize Okada operation will lose their votes.



According to the association, they love their lives and that of their brothers riding Okada hence want better and decent jobs for them and not a very risky job of riding Okada.



Whereas the opposition National Democratic Congress(NDC) has promised to legalize Okada(commercial use of motorbikes as means of transportation), the ruling New Patriotic Party(NPP) has categorically stated it will not legalize it as it is dangerous and results in many fatalities.



Addressing the press in Accra, an Executive Member of the Committed Driver Association, Mr Anane Frimpong whos a retired accident investigator stated that the agenda to play on the minds of vulnerable people is enough and must be stopped forthwith.



He stressed that the youth deserve better and that is why they are urging political parties, especially, the NPP and the NDC to look for better ways of creating employment avenues for the teeming unemployed youth rather than this cruel means of engaging them.



We want successive governments to create a business-friendly environment that will encourage the setting up of more companies, focus more on investing in agriculture, expand our road networks and also fix our rail lines. The reviving of our rail network across the country will create thousands of jobs and also open up local economies.



This is where we want successive governments to spend our taxpayers money on not to legalize Okada which will end up creating problems for us.



He served notice that the association will use every legitimate means to resist any attempt to legalize okada.



On this note, we would like to send a very strong signal to the government not to legalize Okada operations.



Any attempt to do so will incur our wrath. We will on monthly basis demonstrate against such a move across the country until our calls are headed to.



Below is the full statement



Ladies and gentlemen of the press, creating an avenue to employ the teeming unemployed youth is good but must be done in a decorous and respected manner.



The agenda to play on the minds of vulnerable people is enough and must be stopped forthwith.



The youth deserve better and that is why we will urge political parties, especially, the NPP and the NDC to look for better ways of creating employment avenues for the teeming unemployed youth rather than this cruel means of engaging them.



Any political party promising to legalize Okada operation will lose our votes. We love our lives, we love the lives of our brothers and sisters riding Okada. We want better and decent jobs for them.

We want successive governments to create a business-friendly environment that will encourage the setting up of more companies, focus more on investing in agriculture, expand our road networks and also fix our rail lines.



The reviving of our rail network across the country will create thousands of jobs and also open up local economies.



This is where we want successive governments to spend our taxpayers money on not to legalize Okada which will end up creating problems for us.



On this note, we would like to send a very strong signal to the government not to legalize Okada operations.



Any attempt to do so will incur our wrath. We will on monthly basis demonstrate against such a move across the country until our calls are headed to.



Statement to be delivered by Committed Drivers Association on Okada operations: To legalize or not to legalize it?



Good morning ladies and gentlemen of the press. We have called you here today to share with you our resolve to discourage any attempt by any political party who intends to legalize the operationalization of okada business and further warned them to desist from making it a manifesto promise.



We, Committed Drivers Association, must say that this discourse has been with us for some years now but has been heightened in this election year as a result of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and its Presidential candidate, His Excellency John Dramani Mahamas promise to legalize okada operations when they win political power in the 2020 general elections.



We believe that the promise by John Dramani Mahama to legalize the Okada operations is not a well thought through policy but just an attempt to woo the votes of unsuspecting riders of motorcycles.



One key question that comes to mind is what has changed for Mr. John Mahama to make a sudden u-turn?



As at the time the law to ban okada was being promulgated, Okada ranked 9th on the list of causal agents for road accidents.



Today, Okada is ranked second on the list. So, what actually informed His Excellency the former President, John Dramani Mahama to make this sudden u-turn obviously for political expediency?



We believe this cheap, populist agenda to woo the riders of Okada must not be countenanced, hence, should be rejected by all Ghanaians.



Okada is a business of using motorcycle for passenger transport at a fee or commercial purpose just like a taxi cab will do.



It is a well-known fact that population growth, especially, in urban and semi-urban areas comes with its attendant challenges.



The more the population in urban and semi-urban areas, the more pressure they bring to bear on existing structures, especially, infrastructure and mobility systems.



You will bear with me that all our cities and semi-urban areas are heavily populated, bringing to bear, their pressure on existing infrastructure and mobility systems.



A fact that all of us cant deny is that most of our transport systems are poorly designed. We still have poor road networks across the country, and more especially, in urban and semi-urban areas. As a result of this, our roads are always choked, resulting in delays and high cost in commuting from one place to another.



These challenges have compelled the transport-disadvantaged to search for affordable options that will take them to their destinations without any hustle. The emergence of Okada business was therefore seen as an alternative means of commercial transport in addressing the needs of disadvantaged passengers.



The unemployed therefore took advantage of the tax waivers on motorcycles to buy these machinery and provide the services that the transport-disadvantaged were looking for.



To be honest with ourselves, Okada usage has its own advantages some of which include;

 It provides door-to-door services easily and could access areas with poor to impassable road networks.

 It is also very suitable for short trips and can save time (overcoming traffic congestion), especially, in the congested urban space.

 It is an affordable means of transport. Its rates are cheaper compared to the conventional taxi fares.

 It is a faster means of transport.



However, Okada has not been without safety and security concerns, particularly, with regards to the adherence to public safety needs.



Okada operation is a very risky business. Okada operators ride dangerously putting their lives and that of their passengers and pedestrians into danger.



Okada riders dont respect traffic regulations and signals on our roads. They drive anyhow on our roads and hardly respect traffic signals.



Okada operation is one of the major causes of road accidents and deaths.



The Ministry of Transport in 2018, found that the proportion of motorcycle fatalities had increased from 2.7% in 2001 to 21% despite the massive investments made in road safety by successive governments.



The National Road Safety Commission now National Road Safety Authority estimates that the chance of dying from a motorcycle crash is 10 times higher than a car crash. In 2014 alone, figures released by the National Road Safety Authority revealed that 2,571 people were knocked down motorists out of which 1,856 lost their lives. In 2015, 2,289 motorcycles were involved in road crashes nationwide while in the first quarter of 2017, about 708 road users died from 4,049 road accidents, with 3,983 others sustaining various degrees of injuries.



In January 2020, the Ghana Medical Association called for the ban of Okada when they were reporting high accidents and fatalities at various hospitals.



The situation was so disturbing that Dr. Frederick Kwarteng, the Head of the Accident, Emergency and Orthopaedic Department, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, call on government to totally ban Okada operations to save lives since a lot of motorcycle accident victims were dying, losing their legs and arms, brains, wealth and social life.



He said from December 21, m2019 to January 1, 2020, the Department admitted 79 vehicle accident victims, 58 motorcycle accident victims and one bicycle accident victim.



Additionally, from December 22 to 23, 2019, 30 road traffic accident cases were recorded out of which 20 were serious Okada related cases. Some of the victims, according to him, had crushed bones, fractures, severe wounds, head injuries and traumas.



As a result of the severity of some of the cases, he said, some of the victims could have their limbs amputated to save lives if all procedures of treatment were ineffective.



It is based on the reasons shared above that then National Democratic Congress (NDC)-led government under the leadership of Mr. John Dramani Mahama, passed the Road Traffic Regulation, 2012 (L.I. 2180), with section 128 (1) (2), and (3) and 84 of the L.I. prohibiting motorcycle or tricycle and provides thus,

1. Licensing Authority shall not register a motorcycle to carry a fare-paying passenger.

2. Person shall not permit a motorcycle or tricycle which that person exercises control to be used for commercial purpose, except for courier and delivery services, and

3. A person shall not ride on a motorcycle or tricycle as a paying passenger.

So, if you read the law carefully, it even makes it illegal for passengers to even patronize Okada operations.

Sub-regulation 84 also makes compulsory for the wearing of protective clothing in respect of motorcycles.

84(1) states that A person shall not ride or be a pillion rider on a motorcycle, motor tricycle or a quadruple-cycle, or in a side car attached to a motorcycle, unless that person wears reflective clothing and a protective helmet that;

84(a) is specially designed for use in connection with the cycle, and

84(b) fits properly with the chin strap properly fastened under the chin.

84(2) also states that A person who contravenes sub-regulation (1), (2), or (3) commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of not more than twenty-five penalty units or to a term of imprisonment of not more than thirty days or both.



We, Ghana Committed Drivers Association were party to the calls for the ban on Okada operations and our position has never changed because Okada is a public health issue.



Ladies and gentlemen of the press, we cannot continue to be losing more lives. Blood is more precious than other thing in this world.

We believe that the factors that led to the passage of L.I. 2180 by Mr. Mahama and the NDC have not changed.



People are still dying; people are still sustaining various degrees of injuries; riders continue to disregard road safety regulations; people are being robbed at gun and knife points using Okada.



The situation is dire and we cannot allow this to go on.



Ladies and gentlemen of the press, creating an avenue to employ the teeming unemployed youth is good but must be done in a decorous and respected manner.



The agenda to play on the minds of vulnerable people is enough and must be stopped forthwith.



The youth deserve better and that is why we will urge political parties, especially, the NPP and the NDC to look for better ways of creating employment avenues for the teeming unemployed youth rather than this cruel means of engaging them.



Any political party promising to legalize Okada operation will lose our votes. We love our lives, we love the lives of our brothers and sisters riding Okada. We want better and decent jobs for them.

We want successive governments to create a business-friendly environment that will encourage the setting up of more companies, focus more on investing in agriculture, expand our road networks and also fix our rail lines.



The reviving of our rail network across the country will create thousands of jobs and also open up local economies.



This is where we want successive governments to spend our tax payers money on not to legalize Okada which will end up creating problems for us.



On this note, we would like to send a very strong signal to the government not to legalize Okada operations.



Any attempt to do so will incur our wrath. We will on monthly basis demonstrate against such a move across the country until our calls are headed to.

Source: kasapafmonline.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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Democratic U.S. presidential nominee Joe Biden speaks at an outdoor "Black Economic Summit" while campaigning for president in Charlotte, North Carolina, September 23, 2020.

WASHINGTON  Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden traveled to the battleground state of North Carolina on Wednesday for a Black Economic Summit, part of a broader effort his campaign has launched to woo entrepreneurs and Black voters.

It was Biden's first trip to this key state since the coronavirus pandemic forced him to cancel campaign travel this spring. In 2016, President Donald Trump won North Carolina by nearly four points, and this year it is again considered a must-win for the Republican.

As of Wednesday, state polling averages showed Trump and Biden running neck and neck in the Tar Heel State, with Biden leading by a statistically insignificant 0.5 points. This week's CNBC/Change Research poll showed Biden with a 2-point lead in the state.

Adding to the urgency of the contest is that voting in North Carolina has already begun. The first absentee ballots were mailed out on Sept. 4.

On Wednesday, Biden's campaign hosted the summit in Charlotte, where the former vice president delivered remarks and then took questions from a socially distanced audience of Black local business owners and community leaders.

Biden drew attention to several of his previously announced economic proposals, including his plan to provide an additional $70 billion to historically black colleges and universities.

He called for a national coronavirus business reopening standard backed by a multibillion-dollar federal testing and PPE supply chain, so that small business owners would not only have consistent health guidance, but the means to carry out those recommendations.

Biden also addressed the racial wealth gap and the reality that the pandemic's ongoing economic shock has only served to widen economic racial disparities.

"We have to break a cycle, and the cycle is that the African-American community, by and large, finds itself at the bottom of the economic heap when businesses are doing better and when things are good," said Biden. "Then when things get bad, they're the first ones in the hole. And when things get better again, they're the last ones out."

Federal unemployment data backs up Biden's argument. In August, the unemployment rate among Black Americans was 13%, while among White Americans it was only 7.2%.
Swift action by the crew of the Coast Guard National Security Cutter Waesche saved the ship from a potentially disastrous fire in the Western Pacific on Sunday.

Crew members spotted smoke around 5 p.m. local time and discovered a fire in the exhaust stack and adjacent spaces, according to a news release from the Coast Guard. The fire suppression system was activated in the hangar and main engine room, and Coast Guardsmen manually battled the flames for 90 minutes until the fire was extinguished.

Read Next: Marines' New Amphibious Combat Vehicle Will Arrive at Units Ahead of Schedule

A fire team on board Coast Guard Cutter Waesche cools bulkheads in the hangar during a fire on Waesche in the Western Pacific Ocean, September 19, 2020. (Aidan Cooney/U.S. Coast Guard)

The vessel had been heading to Fleet Forces Yokosuka in Japan when the fire erupted. The ship was able to transit under its own power to its destination, where Navy and Coast Guard inspectors are working to determine the cause of the fire, said Lt. Cmdr. Stephen Brickey, U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area spokesman.

"We did have the possibility of needing a tow [from the Navy], but that didn't prove necessary," Brickey said.

Five crew members suffered minor injuries, including smoke inhalation and heat exhaustion. They were treated by the ship's medical team.

Seaman Dominique Diego on board Coast Guard Cutter Waesche wipes away sweat after returning from battling a fire onboard the cutter in the Western Pacific Ocean, September 19, 2020. (Aidan Cooney/U.S. Coast Guard)

"The rapid response and courageous efforts from the crew members aboard Waesche to quickly contain and extinguish the fire are a testament to the bravery and skill of this crew," Waesche commander Capt. Jason Ryan said in a release.

The cutter was in the Indo-Pacific region supporting the Navy Seventh Fleet's freedom of operations mission.

The fire is the second in a month to damage a Coast Guard vessel: In August, the Coast Guard's only medium icebreaker, Healy, suffered a fire off Seward, Alaska, damaging its main propulsion engine and leaving its starboard propulsion motor and shaft inoperable.

As a result, Healy canceled its planned summer deployment to the Arctic.

The blazes follow a recent series of fires aboard U.S. Navy ships. A catastrophic fire raged for four days on the amphibious assault ship Bonhomme Richard, nearly destroying the ship and causing damage to 11 of its 14 decks. The vessel was undergoing maintenance at the time in San Diego.

Coast Guard Cutter Waesche crew members conduct overhaul after a fire onboard the cutter in the Western Pacific Ocean, September 19, 2020. (Aidan Cooney/U.S. Coast Guard)

Another amphibious assault ship, the Kearsarge, and the yet-to-be-commissioned carrier John F. Kennedy suffered small shipyard fires after the Bonhomme Richard mishap, according to Defense News.

The 418-foot Waesche was commissioned a decade ago at its home port of Alameda, California, the second cutter in the service's National Security Cutter class. The class was a replacement for the service's 378-foot Hamilton class high endurance cutters, which had been in service since the 1960s.

Brickey said that, depending on the extent of damage to the vessel, the ship will remain in Yokosuka for repairs.

No aircraft were aboard the vessel at the time.

Coast Guardsmen onboard Coast Guard Cutter Waesche survey damage after a fire onboard the cutter in the Western Pacific Ocean, September 19, 2020. (Aidan Cooney/U.S. Coast Guard)

-- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Monster.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime.

Related: Coast Guard Watch Opens Fire as Shark Crashes Swim Call
MMG Insurance Company has hired David McPherson as senior vice president of operations, effective September 1, 2020.

McPherson will work closely with Matt McHatten, current executive vice president and chief operating officer, to transition into his role. This new position is part of a broader leadership succession plan as MMG prepares for the retirement of Larry Shaw on December 31, 2022, and McHatten stepping into the president and CEO role after that.

McPherson has worked at national carriers since 1993, with his most recent responsibilities including senior level operational management and oversight of commercial middle market products in the Southwestern U.S.

MMG Insurance Company, headquartered in Presque Isle, Maine, is a regional property and casualty insurance company with operations in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Today, the company writes in excess of $210 million in premiums in partnership with more than 200 independent agencies across more than 500 locations.

Source: MMG Insurance Company

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Editor's take: Blizzard co-founder Mike Morhaime is back with a host of industry veterans, ready to create and share new experiences with gamers around the globe. Here's to hoping his encore career will be even more successful than the first.

Its been nearly two years since Blizzard co-founder Mike Morhaime left the company he helped create in 1991. Industry veterans are rarely able to sit idle for more than a couple of years without getting the itch to jump back into the business and Morhaime is no different.

On Wednesday, Morhaime announced his encore career in the form of a new game company called Dreamhaven. Based in Irvine, California, the firm will create and publish original games under two studios: Secret Door and Moonshot.

Morhaime recruited a host of industry veterans with a common goal to empower creators and bring their ideas to life through the creation of original gaming experiences that foster meaningful connections between players.

Chris Sigaty will oversee Secret Door. Sigaty is best known for working on StarCraft II, Heroes of the Storm, Warcraft III and Hearthstone, just to name a few. Moonshot will be led by Jason Chayes, who has previously held high-level positions at Blizzard, Electronic Arts and Walt Disneys gaming division.

Neither studio had anything concrete to announce but with next-gen consoles just around the corner, the emergence of mobile platforms and the PC being as compelling as ever, the sky truly is the limit.
Agartala, Sep 23: The police on Wednesday lobbed teargas shells and used water cannon to disperse protesting school teachers here, who had lost their jobs because of faulty recruitment policy. The police also baton-charged the teachers, who were marching in a procession towards the state secretariat demanding alternate government jobs, after a scuffle ensued when they were stopped near the Circuit House.

Daliya Das, the convenor of the Justice for 10323 teachers, the organisation of the sacked teachers, alleged that at least 10 of them were seriously injured and 70 others suffered minor injuries in the police action. The police, however, denied the claim.

They broke road blockades set up by the police and tried to go ahead disregarding our warnings. We had to issue mild lathi charge and water cannon to disperse them. No one was injured," Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of New Capital Complex, Piya Madhuri Majumder said. A delegation of the teachers later met Education Minister Ratan Lal Nath.

After the meeting, Das said that the agitating teachers would meet Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, who is now in Delhi, after a week. We think our movement today is successful. We shall meet Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb. If we are satisfied with the solution to be provided by the government, we shall suspend our agitation. But if the meeting with the CM does not yield result, we shall intensify it," she said.

As many as 10,323 undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate candidates were appointed teachers in government schools in phases since 2010, when the CPI(M)-led Left Front was in power. The recruitment was challenged and the High Court of Tripura in 2014 terminated their services, holding the process faulty". The government moved the Supreme Court against the order but the apex court upheld the High Court verdict in March 2017. They were, however, appointed again on an ad-hoc basis.

After the BJP-IPFT government came to power in March 2018, it appealed to the Supreme Court, which granted them one-time final extension till March 31, 2020. Senior CPI (M) leader Badal Choudhury and state Congress president Pijush Biswas later visited the protesters and extended their support to the agitation.

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
China's Christian children in the crosshairs

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A court in Chinas southern Fujian province has summoned a house church preacher and his wife for not sending his children to public school and homeschooling them, according to a watchdog.

Preacher You Guanda of Dianqian Church in Xiamen city and his wife have been asked to report to Shaowu Court on the morning of Sept. 23, according to the U.S.-based persecution watchdog International Christian Concern.

They were charged with custody disputes by the local government, ICC said.

Read more at: https://www.christianpost.com/news/china-house-church-preacher-wife-face-charges-for-homeschooling-children.html
China recently released a white paper on the participation of the countrys armed forces in the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping operations, for the first time introducing the concrete steps of its government and armed forces to implement the decisions and directions made by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Leaders Summit on Peacekeeping at UN Headquarters 5 years ago.

The second echelon of Chinas 19th batch of peacekeeping forces to Lebanon left Kunming Changshui International Airport, southwest Chinas Yunnan province for their destination, Aug. 18. (Photo by Zhang Zhengju/Peoples Daily Online)

The white paper, titled Chinas Armed Forces: 30 Years of UN Peacekeeping Operations, showcases the sense of responsibility of China as a major country, and demonstrates the new contributions made by the country to UN peacekeeping operations (UNPKOs).

Taking concrete actions to honor its solemn promise of safeguarding world peace, China has made important contribution to UNKPOs. China has registered an 8,000-strong standby force and a 300-member permanent police squad for UN peacekeeping missions. Six of its standby contingents have been elevated to Level Three in the UN Peacekeeping Capability Readiness System. Twenty-five rotations of engineer and medical units totaling 7,001 troops have been committed to missions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, Sudan's Darfur, Mali and Lebanon. In the past five years, China has provided training programs to over 1,500 peacekeepers from more than 60 countries, and offered assistance in demining and trained more than 300 professionals from multiple countries including. The Chinese Ministry of Public Security also trained more than 1,000 foreign peacekeeping police officers.

The Peoples Liberation Army has honored Chinas commitment of gratis military aid to the value of USD100 million to support the African Standby Force and the African Capacity for Immediate Response to Crisis; Chinas armed forces deployed their first peacekeeping helicopter unit; 23 peace and security projects totaling over $10 million were implemented to support UNPKOs.

To contribute to building a community with a shared future for mankind, Chinas armed forces have stepped up their support for and participation in the UNPKOs, bringing greater confidence and hope for peace and development to areas beset by conflict.

As a critical element and key force in the UNPKOs, Chinas armed forces in the new era have instilled more positive energy into world peace and development.

China has abided by the highest standards in selecting and training police peacekeepers, said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, adding that Chinese police peacekeepers have strictly followed UN work rules and discipline, demonstrating professional competence and ethics.

Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, president of the 74th session of the UN General Assembly noted that China is playing a more and more important role in UNPKOs. Lieutenant General Carlos Humberto Loitey, Military Adviser for UN Secretary-General (UNSG), also spoke highly of the important contributions made by China and the Chinese military to the UN peacekeeping operations. The UNPKOs couldnt have achieved todays success without the vital support from China, he said.

The first echelon of Chinas 19th batch of peacekeeping forces to Lebanon board a plane, July 28. (Photo by Zhang Zhengju/Peoples Daily Online)

World peace is the responsibility of all countries and peacekeeping calls for expanding multilateral cooperation. Chinas armed forces have cooperated on peacekeeping with over 90 countries and 10 international and regional organizations based on the principles of mutual trust and win-win cooperation. They have enhanced mutual understanding, shared experience, extended practical cooperation, strengthened bilateral and multilateral relations, and promoted peacekeeping capability.

China has continuously strengthened strategic communication to build consensus on peacekeeping, contributed Chinese wisdom and shared experience, and extended cooperation on joint exercises and training to build capability. China is widely recognized as an important force supporting peacekeeping operations and multilateralism, which fully indicates the countrys firm determination to support the UN, support the cause of world peace and development, uphold the vision of global governance based on extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, and safeguard multilateralism.

Peace, like air and sunshine, is hardly noticeable. But none of us can live without it. Though the world is going through huge changes unseen in a century; unilateralism, hegemonism and power politics are impacting international order and undermining global cooperation; and human beings are facing increasingly severe risks and challenges, peace and development still remain the theme of the time. Standing at this critical moment of history, we must cherish the hard-won peace more than ever.

China is firmly committed to the path of peaceful development, and hopes that other countries will also pursue peaceful development. As always, Chinas armed forces will continue to provide unfailing support for the UNPKOs, fulfill their commitments to safeguarding peace, and bring greater confidence and hope to conflict-ridden areas and local people.
Peter Dazeley/Getty Images

The Berkeley City Council has passed an ordinance that bars grocery stores from selling candy and soda at checkout lines and instead encourages the sale of healthy snacks such as fruit, nuts and beverages with no added sugars.

The ordinance, passed unanimously Tuesday night, applies to retailers with stores greater than 2,500 square feet and will impact chains that operate in Berkeley such as Safeway and Trader Joe's. Proponents of the ordinance state that the rule will encourage healthier food consumption choices.
CK Architecture Interiors - a vertically integrated design and build boutique specialist - has announced that it has secured several ultra-luxury projects in some of Dubais most sought-after addresses.

The Dubai-based company is currently working on six ultra-luxury villas ranging from five to nine bedrooms in Palm Jumeirah with a total construction area of over 20,800 sq m and a plot area of over 9,300 sq m.

Some of the unique elements in the villas project include a bowling alley, state-of-the-art lighting design and car parking area and furniture from some of the worlds top brands. All the villas are due to be handed over by 2022, said the top interior designer.

The company that provides end-to-end, bespoke solutions for discerning private owners is also working on a super-luxury residential 2.5-bedroom apartment in Burj Khalifa which will be delivered next month.

The scope of work includes a complete redesign of the apartment with luxury furniture, kitchen, curtains and bathroom fixtures and fittings from premium European brands, it stated.

Founder and Managing Director Cem Kapancioglu said: "Dubais premium property sector is built on solid foundations and remains resilient to recessions and immune to pandemics. And thanks to the recent announcement from the government granting retirement visas, we expect even more pent up demand by non-resident UHNWIs to invest in the city and take advantage of its luxurious lifestyle."

The company has been providing bespoke design and build solutions for residential, commercial and hospitality projects including apartments in Burj Khalifa, Blue Waters, Palm Jumeirah, Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel, Seven Hotel and Residences, Sterling and Wilson, Tetra Pak, Ferro Expo and Boulevard Plaza.

Through its in-house capabilities in space planning, individualised project management and construction, CK Architecture provides end-to-end, bespoke solutions for discerning private owners as well as high end residential and commercial developments.-TradeArabia News Service
Abu Dhabi, Sep 24 : Reigning champions Mumbai Indians on Wednesday strolled to a 49-run win over Kolkata Knight Riders to record their first ever win in the United Arab Emirates. Chasing a target of 196, KKR were restricted to 146/9 by a clinical MI bowling attack at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

KKR looked to have an outside chance until the 16th over of the match in which Jasprit Bumrah (2/32) dismissed dangermen Andre Russell (11) and Eoin Morgan (16). KKR needed as many as 96 runs from 30 balls at the start of the over, but Russell and Morgan's reputation for big hits kept the two-time champions' hopes alive. Bumrah knocked off Russell's leg stump with the very first ball of the over and then got Morgan to edge the fourth ball to the wicket-keeper.

Bumrah's number were spoilt by Pat Cummins (33), who hit four sixes in the 18th over that he bowled. He ended with figures of 2/32 while Trent Boult (2/30), James Pattinson (2/25) and Rahul Chahar (2/26) all took two wickets each.

Earlier, Rohit Sharma's (80) masterful innings and some lacklustre work with the ball and in the field from KKR helped MI post 195/5. Rohit nearly played through the innings for his side, falling to Shivam Mavi (2/32) only in the 18th over. KKR managed to restrict MI in the last two overs after Rohit's dismissal, with the four-time champions otherwise looking set to score more than 200 runs for much of the innings.

The UAE had hosted the first half of the IPL 2014, when general elections were held in India, and MI had failed to register a win at the time.

Brief scores: MI 195/5 in 20 overs (Rohit Sharma 80, Suryakumar Yadav 47; Shivam Mavi 2/32) beat KKR 146/9 in 20 overs (Pat Cummins 33, Dinesh Karthik 30; James Pattinson 2/25) by 39 runs.

Latest updates on IPL 2020

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
POMPANO BEACH, FL / ACCESSWIRE / September 23, 2020 / Global Boatworks Holdings, Inc. (OTC PINK:GBBT) ("Global" or "the Company") announced today that it has completed a definitive Share Exchange Agreement with Baltimore, Maryland based R3 Score Technologies, Inc. ("R3 Score"), a first-of-its-kind AI powered FinTech, software-as-a-service (SaaS) company providing criminal justice risk models. Pursuant to the Share Exchange Agreement, Global has acquired over 94% of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of R3 Score Technologies, Inc. with the ability to increase to 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of R3 Score in exchange for 147,000,000 shares of Global's common stock.

R3 Score Technologies, Inc., its shareholders, team members, current and former note holders, and key partners now own over 90% of Global shares and vote and therefore is the surviving entity.

Commensurate with the closing of the transaction, the Company intends to revise its capital structure and management, change its name to R3 Score Technologies, Inc., and apply for a change in trading symbol. The Company also expects to begin the process to up-list to the OTC Markets Group, Inc.'s OTCQB tier Venture Market (the "OTCQB") to increase R3's visibility within the investment community and assist in broadening its stockholder base. Global Executives and Board of Director members have resigned and will be replaced by officers and directors of R3 Score. Laurin Hodge Leonard has been appointed CEO and Director of R3 Score. Effective immediately, all the Company's resources and efforts will be focused on the continuation of R3 Score's current and future development and operations.

"We are excited to have completed this merger and extend a warm greeting to the former Global shareholders," commented Laurin (Hodge) Leonard, the new Chief Executive Officer of R3 Score. "The merger provides R3 with enhanced resources and flexibility to pursue our corporate strategy and advance our unique proprietary core product to serve a large and disadvantaged consumer audience and businesses that need better tools to hire employees or analyze credit worthiness. We believe R3 Score is well positioned for its transition into a public company and we look forward to realizing the value of our business strategy to the benefit of all of R3 Score stakeholders."

R3 Score utilizes its proprietary software platform to provide criminal justice risk models to consumers and businesses to better understand the credit profile of the 1-in-3 Americans, (more than 70 million people), living with an arrest or conviction record, have thin consumer credit files and those who are often left out of traditional credit scoring models. . R3 Score's product offerings are timely given the growing dialogue around social unrest and economic justice and can offer marketplace solutions for the millions of consumers who need to rebuild their lives and want tools that take a more holistic approach using alternative data.

A Current Report on Form 8-K containing more detailed information regarding the merger transaction will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

About R3 Score Technologies, Inc.

R3 Score has pioneered a proprietary data-driven scoring designed to unlock new valuable information about employees and financial services consumers utilizing a multi-factor algorithm based on 11 factors assessing character, capacity, and current choice. R3 Score sells its core product directly to businesses and consumers offering a contextualized background report and an alternative credit score. For more information visit www.r3score.com

About Global Boatworks Holdings, Inc.

Global Boatworks Holdings Inc. is a publicly trading company, which is a multifaceted "Luxury Living Vessel" manufacturer located in South Florida. The Company has previously built and operated a highly successful charter vessel in Boston, and currently has designed, constructed and sold a state-of-the-art luxury living vessel, in South Florida.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to many risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements regarding our intentions, beliefs, projections, outlook, analyses or current expectations. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the inherent uncertainties associated with developing new products or technologies, regulatory approvals if any, unexpected expenditures, the ability to raise the additional funding needed to continue to pursue its business and product development plans and overall market conditions. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and the company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements.

We may use terms such as "projects," "believes," "estimates," "anticipates," "expects," "plans," "intends," "may," "could," "might," "will," "should," "approximately," or other words that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements. Although we believe that we have a reasonable basis for each forward-looking statement contained herein, we caution you that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that our actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. As a result of these factors, we cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements in this press release will prove to be accurate.

Contact:

Global Boatworks Holdings, Inc.

globalboatworks1234@gmail.com

http://www.globalboatworks.global

R3 Score Technologies, Inc.

IR@R3Score.com

R3 Score Investor Relations

TraDigital IR

Kevin McGrath

+1-646-418-7002

kevin@tradigitalir.com

MJ Clyburn

+1-917-327-6847

clyburn@tradigitalir.com

SOURCE: Global Boatworks Holdings, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/607481/Global-Boatworks-Holding-Inc-Completes-Definitive-Share-Exchange-Agreement-with-R3-Score-Technologies-Inc
The next 10 images prove that we live in a wonderfully weird world.

Norma Rashia, 22, undergoes a facial massage with Giant African land snails, which some claim boost collagen in the skin, at a centre in Amman, Jordan. Photograph: Muhammad Hamed/Reuters

People walk past the Upside Down House attraction next to the beach in Brighton, Britain. Photograph: Peter Nicholls/Reuters

People sit at one of the eight tables on a nine tonne structure that can accommodate a total of 32 guests, suspended from a crane at a height of fifty metres during an event known as "Dinner in the Sky 2.0 New Generation' in Brussels, Belgium. Photograph: Yves Herman/Reuters

Strongman Sergey Agadzhanyan pulls a Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft weighing over 16 tonnes in attempt to brake truck-pull national and world records in Kazan. Photograph: Alexey Nasyrov/Reuters

Hossam Nasser, 32, plays with his camel "Anter" in front of his house in the Nubian village of Gharb Soheil, on the west bank of the Nile river in Aswan, Egypt. Photograph: Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters

Ducks go into rice paddy fields to clear up weeds and pests, such as snails and bugs, after harvesting season in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand. Photograph: Soe Zeya Tun/Reuters

The Oberbaum Bridge in the Friedrichshain Kreuzberg district is illuminated during the Festival of Lights show in Berlin, Germany. Photograph: Joachim Herrmann/Reuters

Chickens are seen in a classroom converted into a poultry house because of COVID-19 in the town of Wang'uru, Kenya. Photograph: Baz Ratner/Reuters

A women poses with a sculpture at the 18th Swell Sculpture Festival on Currumbin Beach on September 16, 2020 in Currumbin, Australia. Swell Sculpture Festival is an outdoor exhibition showcasing works by local, national and international artists. Photograph: Chris Hyde/Getty Images
Iranian president Hassan Rouhani compares his country's treatment under the US to George Floyd death ( )

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.

Story continues

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.

Read more

Iran strikes defiant tone at UN under crushing US sanctions

More of the same: US announces fresh sanctions on Iran but no new approach to dealing with Tehran

Alone among nations, US moves to restore UN Iran sanctions

UN chief: No UN support for reimposing Iran sanctions now
An election observation mission of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights for the October 25 local elections in Ukraine consists of 66 long-term observers, and 600 short-term observers will arrive in the country several days before election day, according to a statement posted on the OSCE website.

"The mission is led by Ingibjorg Solrun Gisladottir and consists of a core team of 15 experts based in Kyiv and 66 long-term observers, who will be deployed throughout the country from 29 September. ODIHR also plans to request OSCE participating States to send 600 short-term observers, who would arrive several days before election day," the statement reads.

It notes that the mission will assess whether the elections are held in line with OSCE commitments and other international obligations and standards for democratic elections, as well as with national legislation. Observers will closely monitor key aspects of the elections such as voter registration, campaign activities and their financing, the work of the election administration and relevant government bodies, election-related legislation and its implementation, and the resolution of election-related disputes. The mission will also monitor media coverage of the campaign.

Meetings with representatives of state authorities, political parties, civil society, the media and the international community are also planned. The ODIHR mission will co-operate closely with the health authorities of Ukraine and follow the protocols they have established.

An interim report will be published to update the public and media during the course of the observation. ODIHR will present its preliminary findings and conclusions at a press conference the day after the election, and will publish its final report on the observation including potential recommendations approximately two months after the end of the election process.

The ODIHR election observation mission, the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission and the Office of the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine operate separately and independently under their respective mandates.

op
In August, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo raised the issue of Sudan establishing ties with Israel during a visit. Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok told him at the time he had no mandate to do so

Sudan and the United States have discussed how Khartoum could advance Arab-Israeli peace, authorities said on Wednesday, adding the talks also covered the removal of the former hardline foe of Israel from a US list of terrorism sponsors.

Meeting in the United Arab Emirates, a Sudanese delegation and US officials held talks on how peace could stabilise the region and secure a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian question, the ruling sovereign council said.

The UAE, a leading regional partner of the United States, and Bahrain normalised ties with Israel this month in deals brokered by Washington, the first Arab states in a quarter of a century to break a longstanding taboo.

In August, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo raised the issue of Sudan establishing ties with Israel during a visit. Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok told him at the time he had no mandate to do so.

A Sudanese team led by General Abdel-Fattah al-Burhan, head of the council, flew to the UAE on Sunday to hold talks with US officials on several issues including the removal of Sudan from a US list of state sponsors of terrorism.

Sudanese officials held "serious and frank talks" on the future of Arab-Israeli peace, which would lead to "stability in the region and preserve the right of the Palestinian people to establish their state according to the vision of a two-state solution", a council statement said after the return of the delegation.

The two sides also discussed "the role that Sudan is expected to play in achieving this peace," it said, without giving any details.

The council, made up of the military and civilians, has been in charge of Sudan since the toppling of autocrat Omar al-Bashir last year.

Ties with Israel are a sensitive issue in Sudan, which was among the hardline Arab foes of Israel under Bashir.

In February, Burhan met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Uganda, a meeting condemned by Sudanese protesters. He afterwards cast doubt on any rapid normalisation of relations, though Israeli aircraft soon began overflying Sudan.

The talks also tackled lifting Sudan from the terrorism list, which hinders its ability to access foreign loans to tackle an economic crisis, the council said, without giving details.

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Its been a long week.

Hurricane Sally took us by surprise. When we went to bed last Tuesday, Sally was squatting in the Gulf as a weakening Hurricane Cat 1 and lulling many of us Lower Alabamians to sleep. When we woke up she was energized, ravenous and eating our trees for breakfast.

Fairhope sits on a bluff overlooking Mobile Bay. The town is populated by a variety of oaks, magnolia trees and tall pines. Pine trees and water oaks can turn into daggers during a storm. When Sally stomped through, the mighty live oaks watched unamused as other trees swayed, snapped and bent to the ground. Power lines caught a bounty of the fallen, as did several houses and vehicles. A red oak stabbed our friends house, punching a hole just above the historical cottage plaque on the front porch.

Hurricane Sally says good morning (photos)

Sally slams Fairhope (photos)

It was a week without power, but just the electric kind. Not the people kind. When electric power goes out, people power kicks in.

Day One: Within hours of Sallys exit, folks grabbed their rakes and chainsaws and took to the yards to reclaim their violated property. Piles of lumber and debris quickly lined the streets. With the constant drone of generators and heavy machinery amidst the smell of gasoline and pine, our quiet friendly neighborhood became a war zone littered with large broken soldiers blocking roads, dragging down power lines and sleeping on roofs. Some of the dead still lean on those who survived the battle.

Driving through the streets was like navigating a horrific corn maze.

Day Two: The bucket trucks with heroes in hard hats and yellow vests arrived. They were greeted with applause. Welcome to the neighborhood, I said to the nice fellow with the Georgia accent surveying the damage from the end of my driveway. Whats the prognosis?

He smiled, looked at his notes and said there were four crews from Gainesville, Florida, assigned to our area. Were looking at a week to ten days for you guys."

Related: The scariest adventure: Riding out Hurricane Sally

Power outages compound Hurricane Sally agony in coastal Alabama

Long lines for fuel, boats damaged: Coastal Alabama cleans up from Sally

Day Three: I decided to invest in a generator. Never needed one before. We have been through several storms in 20 years, the worst for us was Hurricane Ivan in 2004. The power had always been restored within hours after the storm passed. Sally was worse than Ivan. The whole town was devastated. Many streets in our Fruit and Nut section of town were unrecognizable. Every line on our street was down, inviting a bad game of jump rope. Several poles snapped in two, their top halves dangling like hanged men.

Day Four: I tried to set up the generator, thinking it would take only an hour or so, allowing me to get back to my real job of drawing stuff. Two hours passed and I was still struggling with the first step in the Quick Set-Up directions: Remove metal packing bracket. Completely frazzled, I was headed to the hardware store for a magic tool to set this thing free. Thats when my handy brother-from-another-mother magically appeared. Thirty minutes later my generator was humming along in perfect tune with all the others. Thanks, hero Ack Moore.

Day Five: Without power and Internet, I was behind on the news and having issues drawing and posting new work. Fairhope literary icon Winston Groom died Thursday. And then we lost the inspirational badass Ruth Bader Ginsburg the next day. A friend who had just got power back stepped up to save my cartooning woes by graciously inviting me to use her office one day and her house the next to produce tributes to both. Thanks, hero Nela Forney.

Also Day Five: Six strangers showed up at our house and got busy with it on our yard. Chainsaws roared and a Bobcat was unleashed. In 3 hours, these strangers did more cutting, clearing, hauling and dragging than my raking, pacing, pondering and cursing would have accomplished in 3 years. A big heart-felt thank you to this crew of volunteers from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from Ocean Springs, Mississippi. They refused money. Their only request? Pay it forward. Wow. I gotta get busy with it. Thank you, new friends and heroes from Mississippi. Are you a citizen in need of help? Call Crisis Cleanup at 1-800-451-1954. It may not be immediate, but they will show up and get it done.

Ocean Springs heroes - Citizens in need of help call Crisis Cleanup 1-800-451-1954

Day Six: Monday night at 6:00, there was much whoopin' and hollerin' on our street. The power is on! my wife shrieked, almost in tears. Shes used to exercising and walking several miles a day, but for the past few weeks shes been hobbling around with a boot on a broken foot. Yet, against better judgment, this California girl has been in game-on mode: Raking, dragging limbs to the street, pulling vines out of our beaten trees and bleaching the air with some mighty fine cursing. Thank you, hero Lori.

The heroes from Gainesville have been a constant presence, working hard from daylight until way past dark every night. Now they were celebrating, too. I walked out to thank the smiling crew by our house.

One of the hard hat heroes pointed to a tall young dude a few feet away. Thats the man you wanna thank, right there.

Are you the man? I asked. Reckon I am, he said, strutting towards me like a lanky rooster who had just restored power and hope to a grateful worn-down neighborhood.

John da Man

Thanks, John Stanwix-Hay from Starke, Florida. You da man. Thanks to all the power workin' heroes who came to re-energize our devastated town. You did good.

Thanks to all you everyday unsung heroes. You know who you are. You get things done.

COVID kept us apart. Hurricane Sally brought us together. (I actually shaked a few hands this week.)

Tuesday night, Fairhope citizens lined the street to thank the linemen for turning them on:'

Turning Me On

Sally Sunset

Check out more cartoons by JD Crowe

JD Crowe is the cartoonist for Alabama Media Group and AL.com. He is the 2020 RFK Human Rights Award winner for Editorial Cartoons. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter @Crowejam and Instagram @JDCrowepix.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 23

By Jeila Aliyeva - Trend:

Turkmenistan increased imports of condensed and powdered milk and cream by 2.1 times from the European Economic Union (EAEU) countries from January through July, compared to the same period last year, Trend reports with reference to the Eurasian Economic Commission.

During this period, Turkmenistan imported more than 420 tons of condensed and powdered milk and cream from countries such as Belarus and Russia, totaling $891,946, which is also 2.7 times more than the number of Turkmenistan's imports of condensed and powdered milk and cream for the same period last year.

According to statistics, the share of Belarus in the total exports amounted to more than $725,152, and the share of Russia  more than $166,793.

Also, during this period, Turkmenistan imported more than 283 tons of cheese and yogurt, which is 3.3 percent more than imports from January through July of last year, for a total of $644,829, which is also 29.2 percent more than imports of cheese and yogurt from January through July of last year.

Thus, the exporting countries of cheese and yogurt in this period were Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia. At the same time, the share of Belarus in the amount of exports amounted to $280,500, Kazakhstan  $10,962, and Russia  $353,366.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @JeilaAliyeva
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday night urged the international community to take strong action against illicit flows of small arms and light weapons.

Addressing the virtual United Nations General Assembly through a pre-recorded video statement, Mr Buhari said Nigeria was deeply concerned over the menace.

Nigeria remains deeply concerned over the illicit trade, transfer, and circulation of small arms and light weapons, particularly on the continent of Africa.

We urge the international community to renew efforts to stem this traffic and promote the Arms Trade Treaty.

This is to codify accountability in the on-going battle against trans-border crimes, including terrorism and acts of piracy, he said.

The president also reminded the world of the litany of terrorist attacks across the globe, saying it is a harsh reality of the challenges the world is facing today.

He emphasised that the problem could only be solved through international collaboration and solidarity.

In Nigeria, we are still facing violent extremism from the insurgency of Boko Haram and bandits.

We continue to count on our strong cooperation with UN counter-terrorism bodies and neighbouring countries to overcome the terrorists in the Lake Chad Basin and the wider Sahel Region.

We will vigorously sustain the rehabilitation, reconstruction and resettlement of victims of terrorism and insurgency in the North-East.

The North-East Development Commission has been established for that purpose, he said.

Mr Buhari also stated Nigerias position on other global challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, illicit financial flows and nuclear proliferation.

On COVID-19, the president joined other world leaders at the forum in calling for uninhibited supply of safe and effective coronavirus vaccines for all.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the call for global solidarity against the pandemic featured prominently in all the statements delivered on Tuesday.

The developing world has been watching helplessly as some wealthy countries pre-order millions of doses of potential COVID-19 vaccines from pharmaceutical companies.

This move, which has come to be known as vaccine nationalism, is a source of concern to the UN and other stakeholders.

They fear that this would leave the poor countries helpless, thereby undermining efforts to end the pandemic.

In his statement earlier in the day, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres noted that vaccine nationalism is not only unfair but also self-defeating.

Mr Buhari decried the lack of global solidarity in the battle, urging the UN to marshal an inclusive response to the pandemic.

According to him, failure by the orgainsation in this direction means failure in its core mission of giving expression, direction and solution to the yearnings of the international community.

Turning to illicit financial flows, he called for an overhaul of existing international structures that undermine countries efforts to generate and retain their financial resources.

Speaking further, the president expressed Nigerias commitment to ongoing efforts by the UN to rid the world of nuclear weapons.

He said: We recall the adoption of the landmark Treaty on The Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which opened for signature on 20 September 2017.

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Nigeria participated actively in the processes leading to its adoption and was an early signatory and ratifier.

With less than ten ratifications needed for the TPNWs entry into force, we urge other member states who have not done so to quickly ratify the Treaty for the actualization of its important objective. (NAN)
Fox News

Fox News devoted multiple segments on Tuesday night to defending accused murderer Kyle Rittenhouse, describing the 17-year-old charged with shooting several Kenosha protesters as an all-American and a little boy out there trying to protect his community.

Fox News host Tucker Carlson, who justified the shootings earlier this summer, kicked off his program Tuesday night by airing a video detailing the August shootings produced by a fundraising group led by Rittenhouses attorney, L. Lin Wood.

The heavily narrated video, which purportedly details Rittenhouses actions that night, largely uses previously shown footage while portraying the victims as criminals, going so far as to show their rap sheets when identifying them. Rittenhouse, meanwhile, is described as a lifeguard who has devoted hundreds of hours to community service.

The video also tries to sow doubt about whether Rittenhouse actually killed Jason Rosenbaum, the first victim. Acknowledging that Rittenhouse shot four times toward Rosenbaum, the narrator notes that other shots were fired in the vicinity, suggesting that the shot that killed Rosenbaum could have been fired by someone else.

After showing the slickly produced clip from Rittenhouses defense team, Carlson turned to pro-Trump Fox News host Judge Jeanine Pirro, who immediately took the opportunity to defend Rittenhouse.

We still dont know if Kyle did the kill shot, because we cant get the autopsy or the ballistic reports yet, she said. But if you move on to the second shooting, what you realize is this kid is not a mass murderer, there were several times he couldve continued shooting. Twice he shot in the air, once he turned around and the guy put his hands up, he didnt shoot him, he kept moving.

After applauding Rittenhouses apparent restraint in not shooting more protesters that night, Pirro called on the district attorney to drop the charges against Rittenhouse, saying theres no shame in exonerating a defendant if hes not guilty.

Story continues

Kyle Rittenhouse has been villainized here, and he's been demonized, and I think it should be just the opposite, she continued, adding: This one kid is an innocent man, hes looking to help, hes all-American, and hes trying to just make sure his town is safe.

Notably, Rittenhouse is not from Kenosha, or even Wisconsin. He traveled to the Jacob Blake protests that night from Antioch, Illinois, roughly 20 miles away.

The following hour on Trump confidant Sean Hannitys show, former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondiwho served on President Donald Trumps impeachment defense teampiggybacked on Pirros portrayal of Rittenhouse as a clean-cut kid trying to make a positive difference.

After Hannity played a bit of the video, Bondi said she was glad Wood was the attorney before justifying Rittenhouses alleged actions, saying Kenosha was a war zone.

You have got a 17-year-old out there trying to protect his state, she exclaimed. He is helping people who have been injured. He has paramedic training for being a lifeguard. He is taking graffiti off walls. He is trying to mitigate the chaos out there.

Once again, it should be noted that Rittenhouse is not from Wisconsin.

The video speaks volumes, Bondi said, adding that the victims were criminals who were chasing him down before claiming that it is too soon to charge him with anything.

They charged him two days later and there were bullets flying everywhere. Other people were firing, she said. This kid was out there trying to help people. Were people killed? Absolutely.

We have a little boy out there trying to protect his community, Bondi continued. Should he have been out there with a gun? No. But should he have been charged with murder? We just dont know yet and they charged him two days later. So its a war zone out there.

The former attorney general concluded by seemingly placing the blame for the shootings on local leadership, asking, Whats it coming to in these liberal cities when teenagers have to go out there to try to provide aid to other people who are getting injured by these rioters?

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As Pam Elkow recollects, it took $80,000 several years ago to root out what was causing elevated readings of contaminants at a commercial printing operation in Naugatuck.

The usual suspects like ink storage containers and a power transformer passed the eyeball test with flying colors, but soil samples still came back positive.

The culprit? Snowplows, in all likelihood, scraping up flecks of oil-soaked asphalt on their rounds, just as we would find along many driveways in the Northeast. But in the months of delay that it took to pinpoint the cause, two buyers walked away from buying the printing plant.

In the end, the seller was unable to recoup that $80,000 outlay in the final sale, which fetched less than $700,000.

That was just one of thouands of property deals that failed in large part due to a Connecticut law known as the Transfer Act, which was instituted in 1985 to force the cleanup of polluted properties before owners could sell them. The law instead has left many properties as idle brownfields.

Ranking state officials are trying to change that  perhaps as soon as this month in a special session of the General Assembly. Lawmakers and the Lamont administration are putting the finishing touches on a sweeping change they say will still address industrial contamination, while easing the way toward property sales that will lead to redevelopment.

Elkow, an environmental law expert and partner in the Stamford office of Carmody, Torrance, Sandak and Hennessey, is co-chair of the Transfer Act working group along with and Katie Dykes, commissioner of the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, which would craft fresh regulations from any new law.

Under the current Transfer Act, property owners must disclose any record of significant amounts of hazardous waste generated or stored by a business prior to transferring the parcel. The Transfer Act is invoked automatically in the cases of dry cleaners, auto body shops and furniture refinishing studios.

Dykes dubbed Connecticuts Transfer Act a broken regulatory framework that forces property owners to spend money to prove the negative that contamination does not exist.

Former Gov. Dannel P. Malloy had his own commissioners working on the issue as well, without moving ahead prior to Gov. Ned Lamont taking office at the start of 2019.

Under the legislation taking shape, Connecticut will end up with a release-based system in use in all 49 other states. Property owners will still be required to report accidental releases of chemicals or other toxins, but no longer subject to randomized testing in every corner of a property at the time of a sale to comply with the letter of the Transfer Act law.

Instead, the state would rely on licensed environmental professionals to use their professional judgment to check likely problem spots  for instance, staining near a tank or grounds where plant life is not growing.

You dont have to go and turn over every rock on the property  but if you do look in an area where you would have reason to look, then you have to clean up what you find, Elkow said. Its much more targeted.

In a Tuesday interview, Dykes said only about a quarter of the more than 4,000 Connecticut properties that have come under Transfer Act review have completed needed environmental steps, equating to roughly 30 a year.

Thats bad for the environment  its also bad for business, Dykes said. Under a release-based system, the obligation is to clean up contamination when you find it, when it is discovered. ... That frees up [DEEP] resources to focus on high-risk contamination.

Dykes acknowledged the possibility of property owners brushing spills under the figurative rug and not disclosing them in subsequent sales transactions. But buyers have the option of demanding environmental testing as a condition to purchase a property and working out the financials of any cleanup of contamination with the seller..

Banks and other lenders in the private market, they dont want to have property owners taking on risks of known contamination, Dykes said. The market itself is driving some of that investigation and cleanup as they weigh the potential for liability.

Regardless of the timing for any legislative bill being sent to Gov. Ned Lamont, Dykes said it will likely take DEEP a few years to work up regulations. She said the department will borrow elements from other state schedules  thick as a phone book in her words  that specify regulatory interventions according to chemical toxicities and spill locations, among other factors.

The New Haven-based environmental nonprofit Save the Sound is on board with the changes, according to Roger Reynolds, senior legal counsel, provided that Connecticut adopts reporting and audit requirements in line with that of Massachusetts  auditing at a rate of one in every five reports or more.

Most of our reservations relate to the reliance on licensed environmental professionals, Reynolds said. They have the responsibility to certify that [a property] is in compliance with the law and meet the standard. It creates a perverse incentive because the person who is hiring you is the person ... who you would have to say is not doing this correctly and force them to do it correctly.

DEEP upped its enforcement entering Dykes first year as commissioner, completing 1,285 informal actions over 12 months through September 2019  about 225 more than its annual average over five years  and reaching 40 formal consent orders. The vast majority of cases were more environmentally hazardous than Elkows example of the stalled sale in Naugatuck that racked up $80,000 in testing and legal costs.

These thousands of different brownfields ... in urban centers and village centers in these prime areas that are close to transportation hubs  it means those can become really attractive investment opportunities, Dykes said. Theres a lot of promise with a lot of these legacy industrial sites, that I think a release-based system can finally unlock.

Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; @casoulman
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.

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To the editor:

I remember in my history classes, when FDR took responsibility to win World War II after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

I would like to thank President Trump for taking the responsibility to control and wipe out the COVID-19 virus. President Trump purchased gloves, masks, PPE. President Trump then went out to try and get more ventilators made. President Trump went to Ford Motor Co. and those men and women answered the call to help the country, thank you President Trump. Then President Trump thought "outside the box" and made a statement that we could maybe add a vapor into the ventilators ( I was thinking he meant something like Vicks Vapor Rub). I think this was a wise thought. Then the Democrats (twisted his words and) said that maybe we could drink a gallon of bleach. The night talk show hosts (twisted his words and) said we could inject bleach into your arm with a needle. I don't think this would be a wise idea.

Then I wondered what the Democrats have done to help with the COVID-19 virus. What has Nancy Pelosi done? Well she flew from Washington DC to California to get her hair washed. I have to think that she also bought some truck loads of food for the laid off people. Why else would she take a 5,000 mile round trip?

What have other Democrats done? Did the Clinton Foundation purchase truck loads of food to help the poor laid off people? What has Mr. Biden been doing to help? What has Ms. Harris done to help? What has any Democrat done? They should stop yelling about what President Trump has completed. They could start telling what the Democratic did to control this virus.

With the grace of God we are starting to rid ourselves of this virus.

May God bless and keep you safe.

ROLAND JUENGEL

Coleman
OYA plans to build 100 MW DC of Community Solar projects in New York in 2021

NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - OYA Solar today announced that it has successfully closed a $35 million construction and interconnection financing from NY Green Bank, a state-sponsored, specialized financial entity and division of NYSERDA. The financing will support the construction of three Community Solar projects in New York state, the first of which, a 6.8 MW DC project in Constable, New York is already under construction. OYA expects the three projects to be placed in service early next year and they will be the first in a 100 MW DC portfolio that OYA intends to construct through the end of 2021. Together, the entire portfolio will provide 155 GWh annually, enough to power approximately 39,000 homes annually with clean energy, to a wide variety of local businesses, public sector agencies, affordable housing providers and residents.

"We appreciate the support of NY Green Bank in achieving this significant milestone for our community solar business. In a difficult market for both construction debt and tax equity, NY Green Bank exhibited flexibility and ingenuity in tailoring a very competitively priced solution, which will enable us to place 22 MW DC in service in the first half of 2021," says Manish Nayar, CEO & Founder of OYA Solar. "We look forward to expanding our relationship with NY Green Bank as we focus our attention on the remainder of our 100 MW 2021 construction portfolio." Additionally, OYA is working with various Tax Equity parties to secure commitments for 2021.

"NY Green Bank is pleased to underwrite the deployment of three of OYA Solar's community solar projects that expect to provide thousands of North Country region citizens with access to clean energy," said Alfred Griffin, President of NY Green Bank. "The execution of this transaction marks NY Green Bank's 22nd transaction to support community solar projects across New York State which advances Governor Cuomo's nation leading clean energy and climate goals."

The successful closing of the transaction proves that the solar industry can mobilize quickly to become an immediate driver of economic growth and employment during COVID-19. The construction of these projects will have a significant and immediate positive economic impact in upstate New York and provide direct economic and environmental benefits to their residents for the next 25 years. OYA plans to increase its investment across the state to help support the State's goal to deploy 6 GW of Distributed Solar by 2025.

If you have any questions, please contact Janet Janzen at (416) 840-3358 x131 or through email: [email protected].

About OYA Solar

OYA Solar is a North American full-service solar developer committed to developing, constructing, and operating solar projects that provide clean energy and widespread economic and environmental benefits for communities. With a project development pipeline of 1,000 MW DC , OYA Solar is proud to be contributing to a better future.

SOURCE OYA Solar

Related Links

https://www.oyasolar.com


Jorge Silva/REUTERS

After defying U.S. sanctions by shipping a cargo of oil condensate to Venezuela just last week, Iran is using the same ship to help the Latin American country export its crude.

The Iran-flagged supertanker Honey, also known as Horse, is loading Venezuelas top exported grade Merey 16 at Venezuelas government-controlled port of Jose, according to a shipping report seen by Bloomberg. The shipments give some respite to the nations hobbled oil industry, as most shipowners avoid doing business with the country for fear of sanctions.
A former minister of foreign affairs under the Goodluck Jonathan administration, Aminu Wali, has stated that the previous government brought the Boko Haram insurgency to an end at the tail end of the administration.

Mr Wali, who was Nigerias ambassador to China between 2009 to 2014 stated this in an Exclusive Interview with PREMIUM TIMES.

He said the Boko Haram insurgency started getting bad after the government of President Muhammadu Buhari took over power in May 2015.

The electoral umpire, INEC, had, in 2015, announced a postponement of the 2015 general election.

While citing security reasons in the North East, the then Chairman, Attahiru Jega said the elections had to be postponed after the nations security agencies indicated to the commission that they were not available to support the elections earlier planned for February 14 and 28.

Security agents, within that period, said they were commencing a six-week special operation against Boko Haram insurgents in the north eastern corridors of the country and would rather not be distracted by the elections.

Mr Jega announced that the security forces also said the operations are due to commence on February 14, the date INEC had planned for the presidential and federal legislative elections.

How We Eliminated Attacks

The former minister, while speaking on how the Goodluck Jonathan administration defeated the Boko Haram terrorists when the election was postponed, also said they were sabotaged by the then state government of Borno State.

There is no way a government would say we do not want assistance from any quarters. It was something that was being said to blackmail the sitting government at the time.

What happened in Chibok, if you go deep, you would not even blame the central authorities. This was something that happened in Borno State and most of the persons involved were persons that were in [the state] government and they knew when this started happening.

As far as Boko Haram is concerned, I can boldly say, by the time we left government, we had brought down Boko Haram to a standstill.

If you recall, when the election was postponed for four weeks, it was because of insecurity. At that time, our operation in the North-east was succeeding.

We brought Boko Haram where we want them that is why there was no single polling unit in the northeast where elections did not take place.

It was after we had left that a lot of things started to get bad again. Goodluck Jonathans government did a lot to stop Boko Haram, he said.

He also said though they had their misfortunes with Boko Haram, they eliminated all forms of attacks before leaving office.

On why the then Government was unable to procure arms from foreign countries, Mr Wali said the opposition parties then painted the government in a bad light which countries like the United States of America fell for.

He said this brought about many problems the government faced in the fight against insurgency.

You see, we discussed the problem of Boko Haram with various countries especially those who are in a position to give us some kind of support. But unfortunately, the approach in Nigeria now, which I believe it is still when it comes to insecurity in the country, the opposition (parties) wants to always be blasting the sitting government.

They dont give the right support and advice. They portray the whole thing as the fault of the government such that the western countries fell for this kind of propaganda, and we entered lots of problems.

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For example, we (wanted) cobra helicopters from the U.S. they refused to sell it to us during my time. We headed elsewhere to get these helicopters. I visited Turkey. They said they are willing to sell to us those types of aircraft but, unfortunately, they cannot go ahead and sell to us because the engines are American, therefore, they have to have a license from the US. But the U.S. was not prepared to help, he said.

He said the main concern of the US then was about the (then) coming election.

They said is the election going to happen? I said yes. As far as they were concerned, they were not interested (in the request), all they were interested in was a change of government.
A drive-in movie theater hosted an emotional citizenship ceremony on Sept. 18, which saw 150 people representing 50 different countries sworn in as citizens of the United States of America.

The ceremony took place at the Starlite Drive-In theater in Clermont County, Ohio, and was officiated by Judge Beth Buchanan. The day was a long time coming for many of the attendees who stood by their vehicles, in compliance with social distancing rules, spaced 6 feet apart and wearing masks.

The Starlite Drive-In movie theater in Clermont County, Ohio (Screenshot/Google Maps)

A woman is sworn in as a new U.S. citizen from inside a vehicle at a drive-in naturalization ceremony in Santa Ana, Calif., on July 29, 2020. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Footage shot by WKRC depicts 150 new citizens next to their cars with their right hands raised and swearing the oath of allegiance to make their long-awaited American citizenship official.

Hordense Massa, originally from Cameroon, Central Africa, told the news outlet that she had waited over six years to be sworn in. She described feeling very excited and also scared to finally make her dream a reality.

Ive been here for seven years and its been a long process, another attendee, Claudia Trenum, explained. Im very excited, its a big day.

Maria Porter, who attended with her mother, said: Shes so excited for our family. Its completelyits a dream come true.

A new U.S. citizen sits in a vehicle while being sworn in by an immigration service officer in Santa Ana, California, on July 29, 2020 (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

The Sept. 18 ceremony was the third of its kind to take place at the Starlite Drive-In.

The drive-through-style oath takings are a 2020 phenomenon, a result of the pandemic and subsequent virus-containment measures implemented across the United States and the world. They have provided a novel solution to what was fast becoming a backlog of unfulfilled applications.

Madeline Kristoff, field officer for the San Diego U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, lauded the drive-through ceremonies as being fun and a lot more personal, almost.

Officers, she explained, get to participate in ways they normally dont get to  And its really fun to talk to people who are driving through and get to hear a little of their stories.

We would love to hear your stories! You can share them with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.nyc
The Chief Executive of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Mohammed Nii Adjei Sowah argues that mortuaries are not a priority for Muslim communities.

Mr Mohammed Nii Adjei Sowah in a Citi News interview called for better ideas from the flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress, John Mahama, for the Muslim community instead of mortuaries.

According to him, education and employment are the priorities of Muslims and not mortuaries.

A couple of days ago, I read about candidate John Mahama talking about constructing mortuaries in Muslim communities. That is nota priority for Muslims, he said.

The point is what is the priority? And your priority could be to provide them with education, employment and capacity building. Thats what is relevant to Muslims and even we (Muslims) do not keep our corpse for more than 24hours.

John Dramani Mahama has promised to make traditional mortuaries handle loved ones of Muslims better when they pass on.

However, the promise has been met with varied opinions in the country.

But a statement signed by Mahama's Campaign Spokesperson, James Agyenim-Boateng, however, clarified that Mr. Mahama quoted the specific section of the People's Manifesto which addresses the issue and aims at lessening the burden of bereaved Muslims by treating their deceased loved ones in line with accepted practices of the Islamic faith.

---citinewsroom
The City of San Diego and the San Diego Housing Commission are planning to purchase two Marriott hotels to turn into permanent apartments for 336 of the citys homeless. The new tenants would likely be relocated from the San Diego Convention Center, which has been used as a temporary socially distanced-compliant homeless shelter since the pandemic broke out.

The purchase of the two Marriott Residence Innsone in Mission Valley and another in Kearny Mesais made possible thanks to a $37.7 million grant from the states $600 million Project Homekey program, established to help house the homeless during the pandemic.

The Residence Inn by Marriott at Hotel Circle in Mission Valley, San Diego, Calif. (Screenshot/Google Maps)

The Residence Inn by Marriott located on Kearny Mesa road, San Diego, Calif. (Screenshot/Google Maps)

Additional donors include Chase Bank, Moving to Work, and the citys Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act fund, reports The San Diego Union-Tribune.

Housing Commission President and CEO Rick Gentry explained that $27.7 million in donations will go toward the $67 million 192-room hotel at Mission Valley, and $10 million will go toward the $39.5 million 144-room Kearny Mesa site. Built in 2003 and renovated in 2013, the two hotels need minimal repairsmeaning they can be up and running as quickly as needed.

Gentry praised the hotel purchase as a game-changer in the citys effort to create a solution to its homelessness crisis.

Each of the total 336 apartments will have an estimated market value of between $274,000 and $349,000. Units will be fully equipped with a kitchenette so that tenants can live independently; each building has common areas and two rooms for managers, and supportive services such as health care and employment assistance are part of the residence package.

This is not a temporary shelter, Scott Marshall of the San Diego Housing Commission told ABC 10. They are permanent homes that will provide them a path out of the shelter and off the streets.

A homeless man and dog next to new building developments in downtown San Diego pictured on July 16, 2019 (S and S Imaging/Shutterstock)

Items belonging to the homeless on the street near downtown Los Angeles, Calif., pictured on Jan. 4, 2020 (Dogora Sun/Shutterstock)

At the time of writing, it is not known what the entry criteria for new tenants will be, but the Housing Commission has committed 332 federal housing vouchers for use by new tenants for both hotels.

San Diegos purchase plan is a timely one, as the temporary homeless shelter at the San Diego Convention Center is soon to close, and its Operation Shelter to Home initiative will draw to a close at the end of 2020. Some tenants will be relocated back to the citys bridge shelters, which will operate at reduced capacity, while others will benefit from the hotel project.

San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer has publicly backed the collaboration between the City and the San Diego Housing Commission. Rapidly converting hotels into housing is how we get new units available faster and at a lower cost for taxpayers, as San Diego continues to lead the state with innovative homeless solutions, he explained in a press release on Sept. 15.

Theres a reason why San Diego is the only region in the state to see homelessness decline each of the past two years, Faulconer adds. We now have another opportunity with these hotels to end the cycle of homelessness for hundreds more people.

The hotel purchase plan will be tabled before the San Diego City Council in October for final approval. If all goes well, apartments could be ready in time for Christmas.

The Residence Inn by Marriott located on Kearny Mesa road in San Diego, Calif. (Screenshot/Google Maps)

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The flag-draped casket of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg arrives at the Supreme Court in Washington on Sept. 23, 2020. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo)

Trump to Pay Respects to Ginsburg at Supreme Court

President Donald Trump will pay his respects to deceased Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Thursday, the White House announced.

The President will pay his respects to the late justice on Thursday at the U.S. Supreme Court where she will be lying in repose, Judd Deere, deputy press secretary, said on Sept. 23.

Ginsburg, who died at age 87 last week, is lying in repose at the court building in Washington starting Wednesday morning and continuing until 10 p.m. on Thursday.

Ginsburgs body will be stationed outside so members of the public can more safely pay their respects amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trump said he learned of the justices death for the first time when asked by a reporter about it following a rally in Minnesota on Friday night.

Youre telling me now for the first time. She led an amazing life, what else can you say? She was an amazing woman, whether you agree or not, she was an amazing woman who led an amazing life, the president said.

Im actually sad to hear that. Im sad to hear that, he added after a pause.

Law clerks and other people gather as the flag-draped casket of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg arrives at the Supreme Court in Washington on Sept. 23, 2020. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)

President Donald Trump speaks to the media as he reacts to the news of the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the tarmac of Bemidji Regional Airport after addressing supporters during a Great American Comeback rally at in Bemidji, Minn., on Sept. 18, 2020. (Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images)

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is introduced during the keynote address for the State Bar of New Mexicos annual meeting in Pojoaque, N.M., on Aug. 19, 2016. (Craig Fritz/AP Photo)

Ginsburg, the oldest member of the court, battled health problems for years, including cancer and broken bones.

Ginsburg refused to retire when Democrats held the presidency from 2009 to 2017, initially saying President Barack Obama couldnt appoint someone like her and later pointed to the Republican-held Senate as a likely obstacle to Obama picking whomever he wanted.

Senate Republicans in 2016 refused to consider Obamas nominee for another vacancy, a seat that ultimately went to Trump nominee Neil Gorsuch.

Ginsburg called Trump a faker before he was elected, something she later apologized for. She said she wanted to serve on the court until she was 90.

Ginsburgs body is slated to lie in state in the U.S. Capitol on Friday.

A private interment service is slated to take place next week at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, which borders Washington.

Trump plans to announce his choice to replace Ginsburg on Saturday.

He has said it will be a woman.
Denmark and Iceland are set to be the next countries to be added to the governments no-go list.

As new coronavirus infection rates increase across Europe, the transport secretary, Grant Shapps, is expected to remove quarantine exemption from more nations at 5pm on Thursday. At the same time, the Foreign Office will warn against travel to those countries

The latest figures from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) show that the rate of new infections per 100,000 in seven days in Denmark has more than doubled in the past week.

Wednesdays figures show a rate of 63. The British governments threshold is 20, and the UK itself is at 44.

Iceland has experienced an even steeper rise in cases. In the four weeks from 19 August, it kept daily new infections in single figures. But for the past week they have been running at an average of 35 per day. With a population of barely one-third of a million, the rate per 100,000 has risen to 69.

The Department for Transport (DfT) takes into account a wide range of factors, so going above the threshold is not a sufficient condition for triggering quarantine.

Greece, which is a far more popular destination in September than Denmark and Iceland combined, has seen its infection rate climb from 17.7 to 20.5 in a week.

Although this technically places Greece above the threshold, it includes seven Greek islands on the no-go list. They include Lesbos and Santorini, which have infection rates above the threshold. If they are subtracted, the figure for the remainder of Greece goes below 20.

This may be enough to stop England, Wales and Northern Ireland imposing quarantine for travellers from the rest of Greece; Scotland already requires arrivals from any part of the country to self-isolate for two weeks.

Slowly increasing infection rates in Italy are causing concern; Wednesdays figure is 18.1, an 11 per cent increase in a week. Were this to continue, Italy could become a no-go nation early in October.

However, it is possible that an island such as Sardinia, where rates are high, could lose quarantine exemption while the rest of the country retains it.

Turkey is showing a very small increase (13.8 to 14.2) in the course of a week, but as long as no other factors are at work, it looks likely to remain a low-risk country.

However, there is no sign of Bulgaria  which has lower rates than Turkey and has remained below the government threshold for months  losing the high-risk label and opening up for autumn holidaymakers.

All African countries remain on the DfTs no-go list, despite extremely low recorded rates of new infections in countries such as Egypt, Tunisia and Rwanda.
Tuolumne County Public Health View Photo

Sonora, CA  There are no new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Tuolumne Countys Tuesday report. Two previously isolated cases have recovered and there are no hospitalized cases at this time. There are a total of seven known active cases in the county. The states Blueprint tier information is updated weekly on Tuesdays with data from the week ending September 12th, Tuolumnes Case Rate is at 1.6 and the Test Positivity Rate is at .9% meaning Tuolumne County will remain in Tier 3, the Orange Tier. Mariposa moved from Orange to the least restrictive Yellow Tier. Amador moved from the highest Purple Tier with widespread COVID-19 exposure risk to Red, Substantial risk the same as Calaveras. More about the risk categories in the states 4 Tier color-coded system for reopening businesses is detailed here.

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 total number of cases in the county are 226 made up of 212 residents and 14 Sierra Conservation Center inmates. A total of 11,235 tests have been done and 201 are listed as recovered. There have been four deaths related to COVID-19 in the county.

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 10 9/22 1 0 Calaveras 7 9/22 3 0 Mariposa 0 9/22 0 0 Madera 531 9/22 33 12 Merced 409 9/22 83 54 Mono 3 9/22 0 0 San Joaquin 942 9/22 178 58/24 Stanislaus 416 9/22 47 93/29 Tuolumne 7 9/22 1 0 Totals (Cumulative) COVID-19 Cases County

Recovered (increase) Total Positives Deaths Alpine 2 (+0) 2 0 Amador 227(+1) 252 15 Calaveras 293(+13) 314 14 Mariposa 73 (+0) 75 2 Madera 3,800(+28) 4,424 65 Merced 8,254(+186) 8,803 140 Mono 160(+0) 165 2 San Joaquin 18,728(+72) 20,019 421 Stanislaus 15,643 (+54) 16,398 339 Tuolumne 201(+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
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 23

By Jeila Aliyeva - Trend:

Ambassador of China to Turkmenistan, Sun Weidong, is completing his diplomatic mission, Trend reports with reference to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov, and Ambassador of China to Turkmenistan, Sun Weidong held a meeting in Turkmen MFA on September 22, 2020.

The sides stressed the need to intensify cooperation within the framework of the Turkmen-Chinese Committee on Cooperation on the trade-economic, transport, energy, and cultural-humanitarian spheres.

The parties noted the importance of strengthening political and diplomatic dialogue, economic, cultural, and humanitarian cooperation. Positive cooperation in the framework of international organizations, in particular within the UN framework was also highlighted.

During the meeting, the Chinese Ambassador highlighted that work in Turkmenistan occupies a special place in his diplomatic career, as Turkmenistan and China are strategically important partners.

Turkmenistan and China cooperate in several areas. In particular, cooperation in the energy sector is highlighted.

As reported, a new field in Bagtyyarlyk contractual PSA territory is being put into operation in the country. The exploration and development of this field are carried out by the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC).

CNPC signed the Bagtyyarlyk Production Sharing Agreement with Turkmenistan in 2007 and began to purchase natural fuel in Central Asia since 2009, after the launch of a gas pipeline from Turkmenistan to China through the territories of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @JeilaAliyeva
ALPHARETTA, Ga., Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Premier mortgage broker, Atlantic Home Mortgage (AHM) (https://www.atlantichm.com) announced Jordan Bennett has joined the company's Alpharetta, Georgia branch as a Mortgage Loan Officer.

Bennett's background in both public and industry accounting provides substantial experience in client-specific engagements and working with all types of clients and situations. He helps them understand the best financial options available to them.

Jordan Bennett Headshot

"The ability to help clients achieve their financial goals inspires me. Being in a position to help individuals with the most beneficial financial decisions, and making clients aware of the options and tools that are available and how to take advantage of those options is something I feel strongly about," said Bennett.

Bennett is committed to putting clients in the best financial position possible to reach their specific financial goals. He also communicates how to mitigate exposure to unnecessary use of credit and how to optimize their financial options for financial peace.

"We are thrilled for Jordan to join the team at such an exciting time in the company's growth," said Tony Davis, Founder of Atlantic Home Mortgage.

About Atlantic Home Mortgage

Atlantic Home Mortgage (AHM) was founded to provide a better way for people to obtain home loans. The client-centered company combines cutting-edge technology with experienced professionals to create a simple, transparent mortgage process. They keep overhead low by using technology to streamline many of the tedious parts of the mortgage process, passing the savings onto their clients. The approach seems to be working. In the past two years, AHM has funded over $300 million in new mortgage loans and experienced 650% revenue growth from 2018 to 2020.

For more information, visit https://www.atlantichm.com

Media Contact:

Larissa Negreiros

(888) 309-4643

[email protected]

SOURCE Atlantic Home Mortgage
In a huge makeover of the eastern Uttar Pradesh's image, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday announced the start of international flights from Kushinagar airport by Deepawali. Also known as Padrauna airport, it is situated in Kushinagar district, around 52 km east of Gorakhpur, the home turf of Chief Minister Adityanath.

The Union Cabinet, in its meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had, in June this year, decided to recognise Khushinagar as an international airport, the 29th in the country and fourth in Uttar Pradesh, including the upcoming Jewar airport. Dwelling upon the strategic importance of the Kushinagar airport, located close to the international border, Chief Minister Adityanath, in a statement, said this entire region is part of 'Buddha Circuit' and this facility will increase the inflow of foreign tourists.

He said there is an immense potential of tourism in the eastern UP region and so, officials have been directed to prepare an action plan in consultation with public representatives to showcase it as an international tourist hub. Amid a growing number of youths from Bihar and eastern UP flying to various Gulf countries for employment, this airport would also become handy to them in reaching their destinations, an official said.

In his statement, the Chief Minister also announced his decision to celebrate the upcoming centenary of the 1922 Chauri Chaura movement with fanfare. The incident involving freedom struggle had taken place at Chauri Chaura in Gorakhpur district on February 4, 1922, when a large group of protesters, participating in the non-cooperation movement, had clashed with police, which had opened fire on them, killing three civilians.

The demonstrators in retaliation attacked and set afire the Chauri Chaura police station, killing all its 22 occupants. Following the violence in Chauri Chaura, Mahatma Gandhi had halted his nationwide non-cooperation movement. The chief minister made the two crucial announcements while reviewing the developmental projects of the Gorakhpur division, comprising eastern UP districts of Gorakhpur, Deoria, Kushinagar and Maharajganj.

Public representatives of all districts were present in the meeting presided over by the Chief Minister through video conferencing. The CM also interacted with the representatives and received their feedback on developmental projects in their constituencies. Adityanath also directed officials to make an integrated action plan to devise a permanent solution to the nagging flood menace in the eastern part of the state.

He asked officials to undertake dredging of rivers in the region to extract dual benefit -- relief from floods and availability of sand which will fetch revenue for the district administration. He said his government has controlled the Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and Acute Respiratory Syndrome (AES) to a great extent. He also said pure water is the key to effective control over JE and other communicable diseases.

"Make a project for house-to-house water supply in every JE-affected village,'' he said.

Also read: India's biggest film city will come up in Uttar Pradesh: CM Adityanath

Also read: Noida to be developed as biggest hub in north India, says CM Yogi Adityanath
If Republicans succeed in replacing path-breaking Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg this fall, Democrats may well try to rectify the courts imbalance by increasing the number of justices. While some politicians and journalists have already called such a change calamitous or even a declaration of warfare, the history of the last such expansion reminds us that changing the number of justices is a normal, if potentially fraught, part of U.S. history.

That story also reminds us of something else we often forget: Californias bitterly contentious fights over slavery, secession and loyalty to the Union during the Civil War Era.

The Supreme Court inflamed politics in the 1850s and 1860s under the leadership of the notoriously pro-Southern Chief Justice Roger Taney. In the Dred Scott decision, the court invalidated the Missouri Compromise, opened western territories to slavery and denied federal citizenship to all black people. In the early days of the Civil War, the court limited President Abraham Lincolns powers to keep slaveholding states in the Union. Over 1862, the Senate ratified three new members appointed by Lincoln, but the court remained closely divided. In February 1863, as the court heard Prize Cases that tested the United States blockade of European trade to Confederate ports, Republicans worried the Supreme Court might sabotage the war effort.

Republicans also worried about the loyalty of the far West, especially the notoriously slavery-sympathetic politicians in California. So in March 1863, Congress solved the political, geographical and judicial problems in one fell swoop, creating a 10th seat on the Supreme Court. Lincoln then appointed Maryvilles Stephen Field, chief justice of Californias supreme court, to solidify both the loyalty of state politicians and the Norths hold over the Supreme Court. The appointment will speedily remove control of the court from the Taney school, the New York Times crowed. Even before Field joined, the justices ruled the blockade constitutional by a narrow 5-4 vote.

Whats remarkable for us is how little controversy the expansion provoked; it was a normal political act. Congress had already expanded the court in 1807 and 1837. Although President Franklin D. Roosevelt proposed packing the court with New Deal sympathizers in 1937, the failure of that attempt (and the courts subsequent acquiescence to the New Deal) and the silence of later politicians on the issue has made the number nine seem sacrosanct, even constitutionally prescribed.

Now that Ginsburgs much-lamented passing makes the courts composition the central dispute in U.S. politics, Fields appointment reminds us that there is nothing inherently un-American about expanding its membership, like Lincoln and Congress did, to prevent a Trump-packed body from overturning Obamacare, abortion rights, federal regulatory provisions, or state environmental and labor laws.

But there are risks. One risk is escalating political conflict, and Lincoln solved this by appointing Field, a loyal Democrat, to the seat. It is unlikely that either Trump or Biden will follow this precedent.

Another risk is creating seats for the other side to fill. Republicans faced this quickly in 1865 after a Confederate sympathizer assassinated Lincoln, and his successor Andrew Johnson went to war against Reconstruction. To save freed peoples rights from Johnson-appointed justices, Republicans reduced the court in 1866. In 1869, after Johnson left office, they returned to nine.

Fields career suggests another risk in any relatively young appointee, whether one by Trump now or by Biden in 2021: a long career reveals beliefs not evident in the conflict of the moment. As the post-war United States industrialized, and as post-war laborers organized to protect workers rights, Field stayed on the court for 34 years to champion an issue relatively unimportant to 1850s Republicans but crucial to Field, with his close connections to California railroads: the expansive rights of corporations.

But corporate rights were not foremost on the minds of journalists or politicians in 1863; they cared about saving California for the Union, and Fields appointment reminds us of the states tenacious connections to slavery and its narrow escape from secession. After arriving in the Gold Rush migration, Fields engaged in the bloody political struggles of California; he became chief justice of the state supreme court after the pro-slavery Chief Justice David Terry killed anti-slavery U.S. Senator David Broderick in a politically motivated duel at Lake Merced. Although Field was no abolitionist, he was loyal, unlike some California Democrats. After secession, Field telegraphed Lincoln over the newly completed transcontinental line to pledge to keep the state in the Union. Over 1862, however, Confederates invaded New Mexico and temporarily controlled southern Arizona. Meanwhile former U.S. Sen. William Gwin floated a Pacific republic that would secede from the Union.

Therefore, California loyalists celebrated Fields appointment as proof that the relatively young state belonged squarely and permanently in the Union. The Chicago Daily Tribune celebrated that Fields would make large amends for the pro-slavery rascals [California] has in times past inflicted upon the country. In fact, Fields appointment helped bind California to the Union so well that my students are mostly shocked to learn of the states pro-slavery past.

That legacy of political bitterness endured. In 1889, Terry attacked Field in Lathrop, now part of San Joaquin County, over an inheritance dispute. A U.S. marshal, assigned to protect Field, killed Terry, and Field and the marshal were charged with murder. The resulting Supreme Court case eventually resolved constitutional questions over federal marshals authority.

Fields legacy lives on still. For Democrats, he is a reminder that there is nothing unprecedented about expanding the Supreme Court to save the country. But his pro-corporate opinions also remind us that justices sometimes act in ways their supporters may not expect, especially as political contexts change.

Only a constitutional amendment ending lifetime tenure and creating regular vacancies will reduce the Supreme Courts role in partisan politics. Until then, the only certainty is that every political action, like the Republicans appointment of a replacement for Ginsburg, will lead to some kind of counter-reaction, including the creation of an additional seat like the one extended to Californian Stephen Field.

Gregory Downs is a professor of history at UC Davis.
Business

Luxury goods giant LVMH is ending its takeover deal of jewelry retailer Tiffany & Co., saying the French government had requested a delay to assess the threat of proposed U.S. tariffs.



Wednesdays announcement came after the deals value had been eroded by wider industry troubles caused by the coronavirus pandemic.



The Paris-based conglomerate said that both the French government and Tiffany had requested that the closing of the deal be postponed by a few months. The French government, it said, wanted to assess the impact of the possible U.S. tariffs on French goods.



As a result, LVMH said, the $14.5 billion deal  which would have been biggest ever in the luxury market and was scheduled to close Nov. 24  will be canceled.



Tiffany replied that its suing to enforce the merger agreement, which was signed in November 2019. The New York company said LVMHs argument has no basis in French law. Tiffany also said that LVMH hasnt even attempted to seek the required antitrust approval from three jurisdictions.



We believe that LVMH will seek to use any available means in an attempt to avoid closing the transaction on the agreed terms, said Roger Farah, chairman of Tiffany, in a statement.



Shares in Tiffany slid $7.85, or 6.4%, to close Wednesday at $113.96. Those in LVMH, which owns 75 brands including Christian Dior, Fendi, Givenchy and Tag Heuer, were stable.



The deals value came under strain during the pandemic, which has caused retail sales to plunge around the world. Tiffanys share price has been trading around $125 a share for weeks  below the $135 per share price that LVMH had agreed to pay last fall, before the pandemic.



Back then, industry experts had said the deal made sense. Tiffany, known for its delicate jewelry, distinctive blue boxes and an Audrey Hepburn movie, had been trying to transform its brand to appeal to younger and more digital shoppers, and could have used an owner with deep pockets to help expand.



LVMH, led by billionaire Bernard Arnault, had thought the deal would strengthen its position in high-end jewelry and in the U.S. market. LVMH was also making a bet on Chinas economy, where Tiffany had been expanding its presence.



The pandemic threw all those assumptions and plans in doubt, and the threat of new tariffs between the U.S. and Europe was cited as a further complicating issue.



Before COVID, the global market for personal luxury goods was solid, reaching a record high of $307.1 billion (260 billion euros) in 2018  a 6% increase from the year before, according to consulting firm Bain & Co. That sector slipped by 2.1% to $331.9 (281 billion euros) last year, according to Bain estimates.



But given COVIDs financial fallout and the shutdown of tourism worldwide, those sales could drop by 20% to 35% in 2020, Bain estimates. Bain expects that personal luxury sales wont recover to pre-COVID levels until 2022 and 2023.



Tiffanys global sales declined 29% during the fiscal second quarter ended July 31, following a 45% drop in the fiscal first quarter.



Last year, France sought to impose a tax on global tech giants including Google, Amazon and Facebook. The French tech tax is aimed at establishing tax justice. France wants digital companies to pay their fair share of taxes in countries where they make money instead of using tax havens, and is pushing for an international agreement on the issue.



In response to the tech tax, the U.S. threatened to slap 100% tariffs on $2.4 billion of French products.



The two sides are at a tense truce as France has said it would delay collection of the digital tax until December, parking the issue until after the next U.S. presidential election where Trump hopes to secure another four-year term.



In a news conference on Wednesday, French government spokesman Gabriel Attal confirmed that a letter was sent by French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian to LVMH and referred to international talks about U.S. tariffs as a very important issue.



The (French) government is neither naive nor passive. We have objectives that we want to reach, he said. He wouldnt further elaborate and said that Le Drian is expected to express his views on the issue in the coming hours.



CFO Jean Jacques Guiony of the LVMH insisted in a phone interview with reporters that the letter received Sept. 1 from the French government was legal and valid and left the group no choice.



I dont think their objective is to please or not to please LVMH. They dont give a damn , he said. The letter is legally valid, is legal. When you get such a legally binding and legally valid letter, you just apply it . We will apply it.



Asked about lowering the price to keep the deal alive, he said that had not even been considered as there is no article in the contract that would allow that.



The deal cannot take place ... we are prohibited from closing this transaction  we have no choice.



As for the threatened lawsuit, the CFO said that he doesnt see a way in between the arguments the two sides could put forth - we dont do the deal on Nov. 24 and they saying that you have to do it anyway, he said.



Well see what happens.






A Christian secretary was sacked by a school because she shared Facebook posts criticising LGBT lesson to young children, not because of her religious beliefs, an employment tribunal has heard.

Kristie Higgs, 44, was dismissed for gross misconduct by Farmor's School in Fairford, Gloucestershire, last year after sharing two posts to around 100 people in her network.

She is seeking 56,000 in damages at a Bristol employment tribunal after senior staff allegedly branded her a 'Nazi Right-wing extremist'.

The posts raised concerns about relationship education at the mother-of-two's son's Church of England primary school, which was to teach the No Outsiders in Our School programme.

The No Outsiders in Our School programme is a series of books on teaching the Equality Act in primary schools.

Christian Kristie Higgs, 44, was sacked by Farmor's School in Fairford, Gloucestershire, because she shared Facebook posts criticising LGBT lesson to young children, not because of her religious beliefs, an employment tribunal has heard

In one Facebook post, Mrs Higgs urged people to sign an online petition against making relationship education mandatory

In one Facebook post, Mrs Higgs urged people to sign an online petition against making relationship education mandatory.

In another she shared an article about the rise of transgender ideology in children's books in American schools.

One anonymous Facebook friend of Mrs Higgs complained in October 2018 to the school, where she worked as a pastoral assistant.

Mrs Higgs, who posted under her maiden name, was suspended by the school's head and following a disciplinary process was sacked.

The Christian Legal Centre is supporting Mrs Higgs and lawyers are arguing that her sacking breached her freedom of speech and freedom of religion.

The posts raised concerns about relationship education at her son's Church of England primary school (pictured), which was to teach the No Outsiders in Our School programme

School governor Stephen Conlan, who chaired the disciplinary panel, said she was dismissed because of the language used in the posts.

Mr Conlan, who is an employment lawyer, told the tribunal in Bristol: 'We were not concerned with Mrs Higgs's religious beliefs.

'We were concerned with the manner in which those beliefs were expressed.'

Pavel Stroilov, representing the mother-of-two, asked Mr Conlan if an employee would have been dismissed if they had posted tweets criticising Brexit - namely supporting the Bollocks to Brexit campaign.

'I don't know. It would depend on a whole host of things,' Mr Conlan replied.

Kristie Higgs outside the Civil Justice Centre in Bristol on Monday. She is seeking 56,000 in damages at a Bristol employment tribunal after senior staff allegedly branded her a 'Nazi Right-wing extremist'

'I can't answer that hypothetical situation. It's simply not possible to say whether I would dismiss. It is based on the circumstances.'

Mr Conlan was asked if Mrs Higgs would have been dismissed if she had posted on Facebook in support of LGBT teaching in schools and a complaint had been received from someone holding the opposite view.

'If we are looking at exactly the same, exact set of circumstances, I would say it would still be a gross misconduct case because it is not about the views, but the manner in which they are expressed,' Mr Conlan replied.

'She is entitled to express her religious beliefs but the issue was the manner in which they were expressed.

'The school has not said it has a problem with her expressing her beliefs.

Mrs Higgs shared an article about the rise of transgender ideology in children's books in American schools

'You can post your beliefs without posting this sort of language and it is perfectly possible to communicate your beliefs without using such strong language.'

Mrs Higgs, from Fairford, appealed against her dismissal and an appeal panel upheld the original decision.

Mr Stroilov suggested Mr Conlan, who was present at the appeal before three different governors, had 'dominated' the hearing.

Mr Conlan replied: 'I don't think I dominated the hearing at all.'

Mrs Higgs said: ''I am aware that same-sex marriages are now recognised under UK law, but I believe that is contrary to God's law - which only recognises marriages between one man and one woman'

In a statement submitted to the employment tribunal on Monday, Mrs Higgs said she 'does not believe in the modern ideas of gender fluidity and transgenderism', and believes same-sex marriage is 'contrary to God's law'.

'I was concerned that a lot of parents all over the country and the world simply did not know what was going on,' she said in a statement.

'As a Christian, I believe it is morally necessary to speak out in defence of the Bible truth when false and harmful doctrines are being promoted.'

Mrs Higgs told of her shock at being suspended from the school during a meeting with the headmaster, Matthew Evans, and business manager Sue Dorey.

'I remember saying to them: sorry to put you through this extra work, but what I posted is true - this is happening all over the world,' she said.

'I was still shaking when I came home.

'I rang my dad and then rang my husband. Both of them were in shock. My boys were also in shock to know I was not going back to work.'

Ms Higgs added: 'I believe that God created mankind as 'male and female' and what he has created is good. He does not make mistakes. I therefore do not believe in the modern ideas of gender fluidity and transgenderism.

'I did not think much about this issue until it was brought up in my younger son's primary school. I knew that there were cross-dressers and that the practice of cross-dressing had been expressly condemned in the Bible.

'People cannot change something that has been established by God, such as their identity as a man or a woman.

'I am aware that same-sex marriages are now recognised under UK law, but I believe that is contrary to God's law - which only recognises marriages between one man and one woman.'
Non-Governmental Organization Citizen Eye Ghana (CITEG), has kicked against the legalization of Okada business by the flagbearer of the NDC, John Dramani Mahama.



The CEO of the group, Mr. Alex Kweku Tetteh described the policy as reckless, unreasonable and a threat to lives in an interview with Peacefmonline.com



Former President John Mahama made the promise to legalize Okada business across the country during his campaign tours.



The promise has also been captured in the NDCs 2020 manifesto making it a priority policy if the NDC is voted back into power.



But Mr. Alex Kweku insisted that the policy must be condemned by all.



He fears many will lose their lives if the business is legally accepted in Ghana.

Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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One of the two federally funded Bay Area labs that scrapped their diversity program because of a new Trump administration directive said it will reinstate the initiative, according to a memo reviewed by The Chronicle.

The resurrection of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratorys diversity, equity and inclusion program comes after lab Director Mike Witherell told employees that the program would be suspended on orders from the White House, which recently called such initiatives un-American propaganda training sessions.

The Berkeley lab is managed by the University of California, but funded largely by taxpayer dollars through the Department of Energy. More than 1,400 scientists and engineers work at the lab, which conducts unclassified research across several disciplines.

In another memo over the weekend, Witherell said a review of the labs diversity initiatives, combined with clarified guidance from the DOE, found that trainings offered at the Berkeley lab are not of concern.

In the unlikely event that the Lab leadership needs more information about a specific program, we will directly contact the person who runs that program, Witherell wrote. Unless you hear otherwise, you should continue with the conversations and programs that you had planned.

Its unclear what type of clarified guidance the lab received; a Berkeley lab spokesperson referred questions to the DOE. Energy Department spokeswoman Shaylyn Hynes said Tuesday the programs at Berkeley and across the entire DOE enterprise are still under review.

In a Sept. 4 memo to all the heads of executive branch departments and federal agencies, Russell Vought, director of the White Houses Office of Management and Budget, derided racial-sensitivity trainings, saying they run counter to the fundamental beliefs on which America was founded and engender division and resentment within the Federal workforce.

Vought cited unspecified press reports that claimed federal employees have been required to attend trainings where they were taught that virtually all White people contribute to racism, and were told to acknowledge that they benefit from racism.

We cannot accept our employees receiving training that seeks to undercut our core values as Americans and drive division within our workforce, Vought wrote. The President has directed me to ensure that Federal agencies cease and desist from using taxpayer dollars to fund these divisive, un-American propaganda training sessions.

That memo represented one of the latest efforts by the Trump administration to curb trainings and teachings it considers to be un-American. This month, Trump convened an education commission intended to reinstate patriotism in American schools.

As of Tuesday, the Berkeley labs diversity website still included information and training sessions about topics like implicit bias and racism.

Another lab run partly by UC but funded by the DOE, The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, also suspended parts of its diversity training, The Chronicle reported last week. Lynda Seaver, a spokeswoman for the Livermore lab, said the training seminars that were postponed pending review by the DOE are expected to be rescheduled in the near future.

Michael Williams is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: michael.Williams@sfchronicle.com. Twitter:@Michaeldamianw.
OTTAWAConservative Leader Erin OToole says his COVID-19 diagnosis is a reminder of the need for vigilance as regions across Canada enter the pandemics second wave.

Speaking to the Star on Tuesday from self-isolation in his Ottawa home, OToole said he recognizes that politics needs to be done differently during the global health crisis  even as the House of Commons prepares for an unprecedented pandemic sitting.

The fact that a couple parts of the country right now, Ontario and Quebec, are peaking (in the number of cases), as MPs we have to not just adhere to the rules but to make sure were practising the highest standards and not exposing inadvertently other people, OToole said, his voice betraying few signs of illness.

Its sadly a wake-up call that the pandemic remains and we could be on the edge of what looks like a second wave.

This isnt how OToole expected his first month as Conservative leader to go.

Listen to Alex Boutilier discuss Erin OToole as the new Conservative leader

His leadership began last month with a 1:30 a.m. acceptance speech, away from the prime-time lights after a delay in the leadership vote. Now the month is ending with him stuck in self-isolation.

When Parliament meets for the Liberal governments throne speech Wednesday, OToole will be isolated in his basement home office  where he has spent most of his time since early last week, when a staffer who accompanied him on a recent mini tour of Quebec tested positive for COVID-19.

It will be up to deputy leader Candice Bergen and the partys front bench to provide the Conservatives initial response to the throne speech. OToole said he hopes to return to the chamber on Sept. 29.

OToole is passing the time by working remotely, listening to music and perfecting a pandemic playlist that includes The Smiths, The War on Drugs and Grimes.

His isolation began after returning from Quebec. OToole said he was enjoying some family time with his wife, Rebecca, and their two children when he got the news that the staffer was going for a COVID-19 test. His immediate concern, he said, was isolating from his family.

But the Conservatives revealed Tuesday that Rebecca tested positive after developing symptoms over the weekend. In a statement, she said that its particularly important for people with autoimmune diseases  she has inflammatory arthritis  to take precautions as the country enters a second wave of COVID-19. OTooles children, Mollie and Jack, have been kept out of school while the family isolates, and will have to take another COVID-19 test soon.

OTooles comments came on the eve of Parliament returning with Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus Liberals set to deliver a throne speech that is expected to lay out ambitious plans to rebuild Canadas economy as the pandemic continues.

The progressive mantra of building back better has been bandied about to describe the tone and thrust of the speech, which will be Trudeaus third agenda-setting mission statement in five years. But with COVID-19 surging in major centres like Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal, plans for rebuilding after the pandemic might have to wait.

Ontario reported 478 new infections Tuesday, the highest number of daily new cases since the province was under strict lockdown orders in May. Politicians and public health officials are warning of a second wave of the deadly virus, just as public schools reopen.

OToole experienced firsthand last week the frustrations of being turned away from a COVID-19 testing site that had reached capacity, and the anxiety of waiting for results. He told the Star the experience has made him a better leader during the crisis.

Now I can actually, in my role as opposition leader, relate to the frustrations of people in hours worth of lineups here in Ottawa. I can relate to the stress of having COVID in your home and youre worried about your children, OToole said.

Its kind of hard not to think about what happens if (Rebecca and I) arent well. You know, we have family and friends not far away. (But) all these tough decisions make me a better leader.

When asked if theres anything Trudeau and the Liberals could say in the throne speech to win his partys support, OToole didnt bite. He said he would wait to hear the governments mission statement before passing judgment.

But after Trudeau and the Conservative leader spoke on Friday, OToole made it clear that there is a significant ideological gap between the government and the official opposition, making a kumbaya moment unlikely.

Our main concern is whats going to be left out of the speech. Were fearful that literally millions of Canadians will be left out of the speech, OToole said, referring to the natural resource industries that the Conservatives champion.

Build back better means people getting to work, it means the millions of Canadians who are worried about their next mortgage payment or job opportunities for their children, he said. The needs of the economy and job creation have to be absolutely paramount.

Find the Star's federal election coverage here
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Special Assistant to the country's Prime Minister on National Health Services Faisal Sultan also briefed the media on the vaccine, saying that it will benefit Pakistanis and the world if the clinical trial succeeded.Sultan said the vaccine trial is a vital step for Pakistan as it will help in the capacity building of the country to develop vaccines against other viral diseases.The drug regulatory authority of Pakistan approved the vaccine trial, and it will be administered under the supervision of the NIH.Pakistan has so far reported over 306,000 COVID-19 cases and 6,420 deaths.Source: Medindia
- Increasing infertility cases and the advancement of new technologies, such as lensless sperm imaging, are expected to propel the growth of the in-vitro fertilization industry in the forecast period.

- In-Vitro Fertilization Market Size - USD 15.87 Billion in 2019, In-Vitro Fertilization Market Growth - CAGR of 9.1%, In-Vitro Fertilization Industry Trends- High demand from developing nations

VANCOUVER, BC, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --The Global In-Vitro Fertilization Market is forecast to reach USD 31.97 Billion by 2027, according to a new report by Emergen Research. The growth of the sector is facilitated by rising occurrences of infertility attributable to behavioral improvements, policy measures to have fair insurance schemes, and ongoing efforts by suppliers in the industry. The development of fertility therapies to treat male infertility, such as ICSI, is expected to have a positive impact on market growth. In turn, the provision of genomic testing to deter genetic disorder transfer through in-vitro fertilization (IVF) usage is also projected to push the IVF industry. The increase of IVF treatment has led to more insurance players covering the procedures. It led directly to competitive rates and moderated the costs of IVF treatment, as the process was a successfully mastered technology that has driven the market with more optimization and automation of therapy. The main factor leading to reduced Total Fertility Rate (TFR) is a behavioral change in culture. These factors include a growing number of women in the workforce, higher first-born age, urbanization, lower marriage rates, and changing attitude towards marriage.

Growing consumer understanding of infertility and the development of various therapies are anticipated to fuel business growth. Any other reasons, such as the availability of innovative drugs, decreased male infertility, reduced alcohol & tobacco use, and increased policy efforts to improve IVF care, are projected to further fuel consumer demand.

According to the American Society for Pregnant Medicine (ASRM), approximately 6.7 million people in the U.S. are impacted by the inability to conceive, which accounts for around 11.0% of the reproductive population. Additionally, 25% of couples have more than one factor that can cause infertility. Researchers have also developed methods that are used beforehand to improve the effective rate of in-vitro fertilization. Specific methods such as aided hatching, vitrification, processing of egg/sperm, percutaneous epidydimal sperm accumulation and testicular sperm retrieval (PESA and TESE), mini IVF, tri-parent IVF, and genetic testing are already being utilized. Due to the broad target demographic, low treatment cost than developing countries, and availability of advanced technologies, Asia Pacific held the largest market share with regard to the number of IVF cycles conducted in 2019.

Request free sample of this research report at: https://www.emergenresearch.com/request-sample/19

Further key findings from the report suggest

Based on instrument, disposable devices generated a revenue of USD 5.27 billion in 2019 and is estimated to rise with a CAGR of 9.5% in the forecast period. Due to the need for high sterile conditions and strict regulatory requirements, market players are incorporating disposable devices such as needles, slides, and chambers.

in 2019 and is estimated to rise with a CAGR of 9.5% in the forecast period. Due to the need for high sterile conditions and strict regulatory requirements, market players are incorporating disposable devices such as needles, slides, and chambers. The fresh non-donor procedure segment is expected to grow with a CAGR of 9.3% in the forecast period owing to the steady success rate in the first attempt.

The fertility clinic application is the major contributor to the In-Vitro Fertilization Market. The fertility clinics application of the European region is leading the market segment and held around 64.0% of the market in the year 2019. Owing to the growing demands for ART treatments, there is a significant increase in the number of fertility centers and ART centers, which provide counseling for couples with conceiving problems.

Europe dominated the market for In-Vitro Fertilization in 2019 as it became the first to develop the in-vitro fertilization method to delete the controversial title from the cryopreservation of sperm and the first to officially authorize IVF or the mitochondrial fusion strategy of the three parents. The European region held approximately 35.1% of the market, followed by North America , contributing to around 31.0% of the market share in the year 2019.

dominated the market for In-Vitro Fertilization in 2019 as it became the first to develop the in-vitro fertilization method to delete the controversial title from the cryopreservation of sperm and the first to officially authorize IVF or the mitochondrial fusion strategy of the three parents. The European region held approximately 35.1% of the market, followed by , contributing to around 31.0% of the market share in the year 2019. Key participants include Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Irvine Scientific, OvaScience, Cooper Surgical Inc., EMD Serono Inc., Cook Medical Inc., Cardone & Associates Reproductive Medicine & Infertility LLC, Morpheus Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd., Vitrolife AB, and Genea Biomedx, among others.

To get leading market solutions, visit the link below:

https://www.emergenresearch.com/industry-report/in-vitro-fertilization-market

For the purpose of this report, Emergen Research has segmented the global In-Vitro Fertilization market based on the procedure type, instrument, application, and region:

Procedure Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion; 2017-2027)

Fresh Donor

Frozen Donor

Fresh Non-donor

Frozen Non-donor

Instrument Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion; 2017-2027)

Disposable Devices

Culture Media

Capital Equipment

Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion; 2017-2027)

Fertility Clinics

Hospitals

Others

Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion; 2017-2027)

North America

U.S.



Canada

Europe

Germany



U.K.



France



Benelux



Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

China



Japan



South Korea



Rest of APAC

Latin America

Brazil



Rest of LATAM

Middle East & Africa

Saudi Arabia



UAE



Rest of MEA

Find more similar research insights by Emergen Research:

Injectable Drug Delivery Market By Product Type (Formulations, Devices), By Therapeutic Application (Hormonal disorders, Autoimmune disorders, Oncology), By End-User (Homecare settings, Hospitals & Clinics), Forecasts to 2027

Surgical Robotics Market By Types (Neurosurgery, Spinal surgery, ENT Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Robotic Radiosurgery System), By Applications (Pediatrics, Adults, Geriatrics), By End Use (Hospitals, Ambulatory Care Centers, Others), and Regions Forecasts to 2027

Animal Genetics Market By Live Animals (Porcine, Bovine, Poultry, Canine and Others), By Genetic Materials (Embryo, Semen) and By Services (Genetic Trait Testing, Genetic Disease Testing, DNA Type Testing) Forecasts to 2027



Women's Health Market By Product Type, By Application (Contraceptives, Postmenopausal Osteoporosis, Hormonal Infertility, Menopause, Endometriosis, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)), By End-Users (Hospitals & Clinics, Obstetrics & Gynecology Centers, Ambulatory Surgical Centers, Research Institutes), Forecasts to 2027

Ventilator Market By Interface (Invasive, Non-Invasive), By Type (Adults/Pediatric, Neonatal/Infants, By Mode (Pressure, Volume, Dual/Combined Mode), By End-Users (Hospitals, Home Care Settings, Ambulatory Care Centers, Emergency Medical Services), Forecasts to 2027

Sports Medicine Market By Product (Body Reconstruction Products, Body Support and Recovery Products), By Application (Knee Injuries, Shoulder Injuries, Foot and Ankle Injuries), By Body Monitoring and Evaluation Devices, By End-Use, and By Region, and By Region, Forecasts to 2027



About Emergen Research

At Emergen Research, we believe in advancing with technology. We are a growing market research and strategy consulting company with an exhaustive knowledge base of cutting-edge and potentially market-disrupting technologies that are predicted to become more prevalent in the coming decade.

With market-leading insights and an in-depth understanding of leading and niche technologies, our solutions address the most pertinent questions for your business needs. A major technological shift has been witnessed towards creating a 'Circular Economy,' fuelled by factors, such as the increased adoption of bio-based materials, along with other methods for achieving carbon neutrality. We are conversant in technologies, viz., Artificial Intelligence (AI), Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), Robotic Process Automation (RPA), Smart Manufacturing, Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data Analytics, Machine learning, Nanotechnology, Edge Computing, Blockchain Technology, Cloud Computing, Vehicle Electrification, Advanced Maintenance Analytics, and Predictive Maintenance, among other prevalent and emergent technologies.



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Read full Press Release at: https://www.emergenresearch.com/press-release/global-in-vitro-fertilization-market

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If you thought that Tucker Carlson was done defending the Illinois teen charged with murdering two protesters in Kenosha, Wisconsin, think again. Tucker was at it again on Tuesday, and this time his Fox News show aired a video from a group tied to Kyle Rittenhouses defense attorneys that showed him shooting people and blasted the victims as criminals.

Tucker introduced the video, which he said comes from a nonprofit founded by Kyle Rittenhouses defamation attorney, by reminding everyone that Rittenhouse cleaned some graffiti up and claimed he was just altruistically trying to defend a car dealership. Today were going to show you context from that night, and were going to let you decide what happened, Tucker declared, before letting the video roll.

You can watch the relevant portion of Tuesdays episode of Tucker Carlson Tonight in the video embedded in this article. But be warned that the content is graphic and shows all three shootings involving Rittenhouse.

The film is narrated by an unnamed woman and opens with Rittenhouse, who is too young to legally use the gun he was carrying, talking about how it was his job to protect buildings. And part of my job is to help people. If theres somebody hurt, Im running into harms way. Thats why I have my rifle.

Also Read: Tucker Carlson Trashes RBG Over 'Pathetic' Final Wish (Video)

The narrator says a random person present at the protests, but not a part of the incident, started the whole incident by firing a pistol. The video, in slow motion, shows a blurry light in the far distance, with no accompanying sound, and the narrator claims thats a muzzle flash from this other person.

The video goes on and on like this, showing Rittenhouse shoot three people, and clearly showing the killing blow he fired at Anthony Huber. The video then paused to let us know that Huber, who attacked Rittenhouse with a skateboard, had been convicted of crimes in the past. It also shows Rittenhouse shooting Gaige Grosskreutz in the arm, again pausing to let us know about his criminal record.

Story continues

The overarching claim here is that Rittenhouse was, essentially, caught up in fraught circumstances and defended himself.

Also Read: Tucker Carlson Is Mad That Facebook Called Him Out for Peddling False COVID Info (Video)

After showing the video, Tucker brought in Judge Jeanine Pirro to talk about it. She promptly noted that Kyle Rittenhouse could have shot many more people but chose not to.

Read original story Tucker Carlson Airs Graphic Video Defending Accused Kenosha Killer (Video) At TheWrap
Credit: Shutterstock

Students in the first year of school to Year 10 have been learning remotely in Victoria. It's estimated first-year students (known as prep in Victoria) in areas that have been under lockdown for some time have missed around 12 weeks of classroom schooling in terms two and three.

These first year students will also be one of the first groups to return to face to face classes when restrictions start easing in Melbourne. In other states when restrictions lifted, students in the first years of school, and the most senior years, were the first to go back.

This recognizes the first year is important for children's education. It provides the foundations for literacy, numeracy and socialization, which all matter for lifelong success.

Given the disruption in 2020 to this important year of school all across Australiaparticularly in Victoriasome school leaders have expressed concern over disadvantaged students, such as those living in households where English is a second language, and suggested children repeat the year in 2021.

Parents may be concerned about how this year's disruption has affected their kids. But how worried should they really be?

Parents should remember that while remote school may look different to "normal" school, children are still being taught; they are still learning and many are still actively engaged in the curriculum. Teachers are still teaching, developing lessons and engaging with children in their learning.

Here are four other things to keep in mind.

1. Parent engagement matters as much as learning at school

Research shows parents' engagement is one of the most important influences on children learning. Children's educational outcomes improve not only when parents are actively engaged in their learning, but also when parents are genuinely interested.

So, simply asking your children how their day went and what they learnt can enhance their outcomes.

Remote schooling has highlighted inequities in the way children access education. This is particularly so for children who may not be confident English speakers, or families who have limited access to technology at home. But those aren't the only tools necessary for success.

Home resources also include parents who are interested, supportive and committed to their child's learning. And being confident in English isn't mandatory either. Education departments encourage multilingual parents to speak their own language to the child as much as possible, as this actually enhances their English skills and helps with memory and attention.

2. Kids don't start school as a blank slate

The importance of the early years of a child's education (from birth to eight) is well documented. When children enter the first year of formal schooling, they do not begin as a blank slate.

Across Australia, around 90% of children starting school have already attended preschool. They start school with a range of skills and abilitiesincluding having learnt independence, how to develop relationships and how to acquire new knowledgethat significantly contribute to their later school success.

3. It's not what kids know that matters

More important than what children know is how they engage as learners. Children's social and emotional competence is a significant measure of later school success. Having a positive attitude towards learning, a positive sense of self, strong emotional well-being and strong social competence are key indicators for effective learning.

Rather than focusing on what academic learning kids may have missed, parents and teachers can support children to develop these positive dispositions.

4. Other factors affect learning

Nobody knows exactly how children's learning and success will have been affected by the disruption to schools over 2020. There are, however, studies investigating how children's learning was affected when school was disrupted due to natural disasters.

A 2019 study looked at the effects of school disruptions due to bushfires in Australia. It found a reduction in expected gains in Year 3 to 5 NAPLAN scores in schools affected by the bushfires. But a 2016 study into long-term effects on academic success for children who went through the Christchurch earthquake found increased school disengagement had no bearing on poorer academic performance.

These findings need to be considered in context. In both situations, children experienced trauma associated with being displaced, the loss of family and friends, and homes and schools destroyed. Trauma is linked to poorer educational outcomes.

We know many children are currently experiencing levels of trauma due to what they are seeing and hearing in the media, whose parents may have lost jobs, or whose family has been impacted by the illness. For these children, trauma may have affected their learning during the remote learning period.

However, given the findings from these previous events, when children do return to the classroom, they will be returning to an environment in which they feel safe and connected. It is important for teachers to recognize these children may have experienced trauma and to create a supportive classroom environment.

When contemplating whether your child should repeat their foundation year, it is important to not focus on what they haven't achieved.

Instead, focus on their dispositions for learning, their self-confidence, and their emotional well-being, as these will be better predictors of their ability to catch up.

Explore further Closure of schools during the COVID-19 lockdown could increase inequalities in primary and secondary education

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
A memorial to Breonna Taylor, placed in Jefferson Square Park, is photographed in downtown Louisville, Kentucky on September 23, 2020 as the city anticipates of the results of a grand jury inquiry into the death of Breonna Taylor, a Black woman shot by the Louisville Metro Police Department in her apartment earlier this year. (Photo by Jeff Dean / AFP) (Photo by JEFF DEAN/AFP via Getty Images)

It's been over six months since 26-year-old Breonna Taylor was killed when three Louisville police officers broke into her apartment, and on Sept. 23, the Kentucky grand jury announced the charges in her case. Brett Hankison has been charged with three counts of wanton endangerment in the first degree, and the other two officers involved have been cleared. In a jaw-dropping and utterly unjust decision, the charges appear to be for the officer shooting into neighboring apartments, but no charges were filed for killing Taylor. The indictment completely ignored the life that was taken, and instead was made about the risk her neighbors were in as a result of the officers shooting.

According to Kentucky government legislature, wanton endangerment in the first degree is a Class D felony, punishable with fines of up to $10,000 and up to five years in prison. The legal definition says: "A person is guilty of wanton endangerment in the first degree when, under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life, he wantonly engages in conduct which creates a substantial danger of death or serious physical injury to another person."

Demonstrations have erupted throughout Louisville and across the entire country demanding justice for Taylor. Officials, activists, and Taylor's supporters and advocates are still wrapping their heads around an indictment that shows such little regard for her life, but Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) put it best:

Once again, the law says that property is more valuable than Black life.



We cannot let up in our fight for justice for Breonna Taylor and every Black and brown person murdered at the hands of police. We will fight to end qualified immunity. https://t.co/JeHOP3GEVG - Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) September 23, 2020

This is an ongoing story and we will provide further updates and analysis.
OTTAWAThe Conservatives wont support it, the Bloc Quebecois sounds doubtful, and the New Democrats are reserving judgment while making demands. Could Canada be headed for a pandemic election?

The Liberals unveiled their pandemic recovery road map in a throne speech on Wednesday, presenting the opposition parties with an opportunity to trigger an election if they all vote against it later this month.

Heres where the opposition leaders stand on Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus pandemic plans, and what theyre saying about the possibility of an election.

Conservative Leader Erin OToole

OToole is isolating with COVID-19, but managed to record a video responding to the throne speech, and to Trudeaus followup address to the nation on Wednesday evening.

We must remain extremely vigilant in our battle against the spread of COVID-19  We must also very vigilant about the future of our country, OToole said in the video, recorded Wednesday afternoon outside his Ottawa home.

Across this country, millions of Canadians have lost their jobs, many fear losing their homes. Too many have lost hope. Mr. Trudeau says were all in this together, but Canada has never been more divided.

Candice Bergen, the Conservative deputy leader, told reporters earlier Wednesday that the Liberals should agree to premiers demands to boost health care transfers to provinces by billions of dollars, to help provinces and territories struggling under the pandemic.

But Bergen also said the Conservatives would not support the governments agenda  although nobody really expected them to.

Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet

Also holed up with COVID-19, the Bloc Quebecois leader accused Trudeau of being obsessed with interfering in Quebecs jurisdiction by proposing national standards in areas like child care and long-term care.

Blanchet said unless Trudeau forks over unconditional transfers to Quebec for health care, the Bloc would vote against the throne speech.

This is an affront to the jurisdiction of the National Assembly of Quebec and does not warrant the support of Quebec, Blanchet said in a televised address.

Mr. Trudeau has one week to provide unconditional transfers to Quebec for health care, otherwise the Bloc Quebecois will vote against this throne speech.

Blanchet had been calling on the Liberals to boost health transfer payments to the provinces by $28 billion this year and increase the transfer by six per cent annually

New Democrat Leader Jagmeet Singh

That leaves Jagmeet Singh and the NDP to prop up the government, should they so choose. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Singh said his goal was not to bring down the government  but warned hed be prepared to fight an election if the New Democrats demands werent met.

Im not looking for an excuse to go to an election. That is not my goal, Singh said.

(But) Im not going to back down because Im afraid of an election. Im not afraid of an election  but I dont want an election, because I dont think thats going to help people.

Singh is calling on the government to enshrine paid sick leave in legislation, and to extend the Canada Emergency Response Benefit  which gives Canadians $500 a week if they cant work due to the pandemic. The Liberals plan to transition CERB recipients onto Employment Insurance instead.

Read more about:
South Africa: Civil servants at the frontline of the battlefield

Boots on the ground, a sound strategy and the promise of a better tomorrow are some of the crucial ingredients needed to win a war.

In this war, South Africa and many other countries around the world share a common enemy -- COVID-19.

Artilleries and grenades are not required but the expertise of scientists, health researchers and healthcare professionals is what is desperately needed.

They are at the forefront of the response as they work around the clock to diagnose, treat and study the virus.

As the race to find a cure continues, epidemiologists have played a critical role in monitoring developments.

Epidemiologists continue to be responsible for collecting information on the disease from surveillance systems, which report the data of new cases, hospitalisations, deaths, as well as demographic information.

Leading the Epidemiology and Surveillance Work Stream at the North West provincial COVID-19 nerve centre is National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) provincial Epidemiologist, Wellington Maruma.

At a time when the country commemorates Public Service Month (PSM), Maruma, 27, takes pride in his work as a public servant.

Commemorated annually in September, PSM serves as a reminder of what it means to serve communities, while also looking at the impact that government has, especially on service delivery.

Maruma has imparted the skills needed in the battlefield against Coronavirus.

One of the greatest things that I have been able to achieve at the nerve centre is the transfer of skills. This is very important with epidemiology because its a scarce skill and you dont want to be the only one with a specific skill, he tells SAnews in an interview.

Like anyone intent on winning a war will know, gathering intelligence on the enemy is crucial.

As part of the countrys response, the nerve centre produces COVID-19 situational reports, which describes the distribution of cases, identifies hotspots and incident risk, progress on contact tracing, statistics on the enhanced community screening program, the recovery rate, as well as the case fatality rate on a daily basis.

The centre also analyses and interprets data on all confirmed cases.

When the centre was established, Maruma, who is also part of the first cohort of qualified Implementation Scientists in Africa, assisted in the drafting of its terms of reference.

With 216 countries affected by COVID-19, Maruma emphasises the importance of keeping up to date with the latest global knowledge, as information on the virus is evolving and vaccine clinical trials are being conducted.

We want to know what went wrong, so that we dont try out something that has been proven not to work and waste resources on that. My job is to make sure the province understands the knowledge in the simplest form because most of the knowledge uses scientific jargon, he says.

The making of a dedicated civil servant

Marumas journey to where he is today in the public service began at Monash University in 2012, when he pursued a degree in Public Health and later went on to graduate with an Honours degree. His research focused on the relationship between stunting and childhood obesity by exploring the prevalence of malnutrition from a nutritional feeding program in early childhood development centres.

While studying towards his degree, he completed an internship with HOPE Worldwide, an organisation that serves vulnerable children, households and communities.

During this time, he also supported the development of the assessment data collection tools for the Early Childhood Household Stimulation (ECHS) program funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and non-profit human development organisation FHI360.

He was also awarded a scholarship by the United States of Americas National Institutes of Health (NIH) Fogarty International Centre and the National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH) to pursue a Masters of Science in Epidemiology at the University of the Witwatersrand.

I chose to do a Masters of Science in Epidemiology. [This is] because the degree equips you with a lot of skills to conceptualise epidemiologic approaches to understanding the causes of ill health in population-based research, knowledge of appropriate data collection methods, handling large data sets and being able to use the different statistical approaches to summarise data and write the scientific output for different audiences, he says.

In 2017, Maruma was placed at the Aurum Institute, where he conducted his research for his Masters degree, which focused on factors influencing the collection of data by ward-based outreach teams (WBOT) for Tuberculosis (TB) contact tracing.

The institute is a leading healthcare organisation, which has been successfully battling HIV and TB for over 20 years.

In as much as he was doing his research, Maruma made sure to use his time wisely by working on various research projects with scientists at the institute, providing them with technical support in terms of data quality assessments, drafting of standard operating procedures (SOPs), data collection and analysis using both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies.

His hard work paid off when the organisation offered him a contract position as a research assistant.

One of the key studies that was paramount in his career was on Optimising the efficiency of household contact tracing for TB control in South Africa where he assisted with data quality assessments.

The findings of that scientific output were presented at the 2018 TB Conference in Durban.

Maruma also presented the findings of his Masters research project at the same conference and also at the 2018 Ekurhuleni Research Conference.

That was one of the key highlights, seeing my contribution being recognised by the scientific community. I worked with scientists at the Aurum Institute, Dr. Candice Chetty and Professor Charalambous, who are the principal investigators for the main study to which my research was nested under.

While at the institute, he also played a significant role on the pilot study that assessed the use of incentivised mobile technology to improve uptake of HIV testing services among 15 to 24-year-olds.

Maruma was thrown in the deep end a few months into his job as a provincial epidemiologist, when he had to conduct an outbreak investigation on mumps at a primary school in Zeerust in 2019.

He took this challenge, which he now cites as one of his career highlights, in his stride.

I supported the Communicable Disease Control Directorate within the provincial Department of Health to do the outbreak response. I went on to write the scientific output, which I presented at the 2019 Federation of Infectious Diseases Societies of Southern Africa (FIDSSA).

Last year, Maruma also worked with the Wits Health Consortium on the National Department of Health`s National Immunisation Coverage Survey - specifically conducting training on the data collection tools and supporting the data management processes.

He was also part of the NICD`s provincial epidemiology team that provided support to the department when conducting the Ebola preparedness assessment for the would-be designated treatment hospital in the North-West.

Marumas dedication to his work embodies the theme for this years Public Service Month - Growing South Africa together for an Ethical Public Service.

The theme seeks to instil and rebuild good ethics and professionalism in how public servants perform their functions, while also recognising the selflessness of thousands of frontline public servants.

This month, public servants are encouraged to reflect on the services they provide, and gain a thorough and deep understanding of what it means to be professional and ethical.

At a time when government is working to rid the country of corruption and nepotism, the contribution and hard work of public servants like Maruma are the building blocks to winning the war against the virus.

Just as an archer carries their arrows on the journey to battle, public servants across the various government spheres remain as crucial cogs not only in fighting COVID-19 but also in the rendering of essential services to citizens.

After all, winning any kind of war - be it against COVID-19, corruption, gender-based violence or injustice - requires national effort.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2020-09-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Washington: Facebook has detected limited Chinese operations intended to both help and hurt President Donald Trump's reelection 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 Trump's repeated contention that China is intervening in the election to support former vice-president Joe Biden, the Democratic candidate.

Facebook said the Chinese campaign was small. Credit:AP

While the intelligence community has assessed that China opposes Trump's reelection, 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.

A recent CIA analysis concluded President Vladimir Putin of Russia is most likely continuing to approve and direct interference operations aimed at raising Trump's reelection chances, a signal that intelligence agencies continue to back their assessment of Russian activities despite the president's attacks.
PORTLAND, Ore.  For a full week this month, my family did not leave our house here in this famously outdoorsy city. At times, smoke from the states huge wildfires made it hard to see to the end of the block. Sometimes, we could barely see across the street.

The smoke was extreme, yes. But it was also a glimpse of the future. Were not going to get off of this wildfire train anytime soon, said Jennifer Balch, a fire scientist at the University of Colorado, Boulder. The big question is, how do we want our smoke?

Once upon a time, smoke was simply part of life in the West. Many ecosystems evolved to tolerate and even depend on fire, which occurred regularly because of lightning, Native American burning practices, and later, settlers. These blazes were often small. In the early 20th century, however, the U.S. government resolved to stamp out wildfires. And for a while, it succeeded, ushering the country through decades of anomalously fire-free, smoke-free summers.
MADISON, Wis. - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned Wednesday that China was aggressively attempting to influence state and local governments, including through seemingly innocuous sister-city agreements, delivering the message in the presidential battleground state of Wisconsin.

Telling the truth about China isnt partisan, Pompeo said to an audience of Republican lawmakers and guests who were spread out across the Wisconsin state Senate chamber. Its principled. And it protects our people.

Pompeos visit to the Wisconsin Capitol less than six weeks before the election was a first for a secretary of state. His stop came after President Donald Trumps Attorney General William Barr was in Milwaukee on Tuesday and Vice-President Mike Pence was scheduled to be in Eau Claire on Thursday.

Wisconsin is a hotly contested battleground state that Trump won by fewer than 23,000 votes in 2016. Polls show a tight race again this year and both Trump and Democrat Joe Biden, as well as their surrogates, have made campaigning in Wisconsin a priority.

Trump has ramped up anti-China rhetoric as he looks to deflect criticism of his handling of the coronavirus outbreak that has killed more than 200,000 Americans, the worlds highest death toll. Trump, Pompeo and other officials have not only blamed China for the spread of COVID-19 and an inadequate response, but have also imposed sanctions against Chinese officials over human rights and other issues, including Hong Kong, Tibet and Taiwan.

Pompeo described the coronavirus as being released from Wuhan.

In addition to penalties levied against individual Chinese, the administration ordered the Chinese consulate in Houston to close  drawing a tit-for-tat response from China  earlier this year after accusing it of being a nest of Chinese spies engaged in industrial espionage and intellectual property theft.

Pompeo warned that sister-city programs, including in Wisconsin, fall under a program thats part of the Chinese governments overseas propaganda. He called it not so friendly to American interests.

Pompeo also cautioned lawmakers that when approached by a Chinese diplomat, it is likely not in the spirit of true co-operation or friendship. He urged lawmakers to investigate who is paying for any trip to China they may be offered once COVID-19 travel restrictions are lifted.

He said that Democrats and Republicans together have a friend in the Trump Administration to help push back against Chinas efforts.

Pompeos comments on Wednesday fit neatly into the broader assault on China that Trump has sought to elevate as he tries to portray himself as being tough on the country ahead of Novembers election. Trump has also tried to paint his opponent, former Vice-President Joe Biden, as being soft on China and unable or unwilling to confront the challenges it poses.

Pompeo came at the invitation of Republican Senate President Roger Roth, who had spoken with Pompeo about a request he received from Chinese officials earlier this year to pass a resolution praising the Chinese government for its response to the coronavirus.

Pompeo said Roth was right to delete the email and treat it as a hoax. Pompeo cited it as part of a wide-ranging public relations campaign by Chinese officials. He said that what happened to Roth was happening in statehouses across the country. Pompeo said the Chinese government has a much more sinister vision of engagement than other foreign governments, with the goal of making Americans more receptive to its form of authoritarianism.

Following his address, Pompeo took questions from Roth that had been submitted in advance by Republican state lawmakers. Those in attendance wore masks, but Pompeo took off his mask for his speech and neither he nor Roth wore a mask during the question and answer session.

Democratic lawmakers were invited to attend but it did not appear that any did. Democratic state Sen. Chris Larson decried Pompeos appearance, calling it a campaign speech disguised as a foreign policy address.

___

Associated Press writer Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report.
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Kelly Dizon of Simi Valley, CA, has been awarded the 2020 GraphicDesignDegreehub.com Creativity Scholarship. The $1,500 scholarship is designed to promote study in graphic design and related disciplines. The scholarship is to be used toward tuition or academic supplies.

"We had 13 applicants," said Jesse Rochus, Editor of GraphicDesignDegreeHub.com. "All were strong, but Kelly Dizon stood out for her talent, energy, and her commitment to use her art to help others understand our various cultures and issues today."

Ms. Dizon attended Santa Susana Magnet High School in Simi Valley, CA, a school that specializes in the arts and technology.

During her senior year Ms. Dizon was the main graphic designer and head section editor of Technical Arts for her school's award-winning yearbook. After the yearbook was completed, she received the Danny Sanchez award given by her teacher for being the class's "Most Valuable Player." She also earned certification with High Honors in Digital Arts and Technology in the School of Technical Arts. She served as publicist for several clubs including Key Club, KPOP Dance Club, and Bollywood Dance Club. As the publicist, she designed graphics and event posters to promote these clubs.

Ms. Dizon, a Phillipino-American, said in her application letter, "My aspiration in life is to create art that inspires and educates all people about different cultures as well as ongoing issues in the world."

Ms. Dizon is attending the California Institute of the Arts.

The GraphicDesignDegreeHub.com Creativity Scholarship award is designed to promote study in graphic design and related disciplines through a monetary scholarship of $1500. Scholarship deadlines are July 31 and October 31. Applicants must be majoring or intending to major full-time in a Graphic Design, Multimedia Design, Animation, Gaming, or Art program at a college or university. Scholarship rules and guidelines are available here: https://www.graphicdesigndegreehub.com/art-scholarship/.

Graphic Design Degree Hub is a trusted resource for gathering the latest up-to-date information about pursuing the best graphic design degrees at top colleges across the United States. The website's mission is to share expert knowledge on the best accredited graphic design degree programs that will build the mix of knowledge and skills needed to open professional doors in a wide range of visual arts career paths. For more information, visit: https://www.graphicdesigndegreehub.com/.

Contact: Jesse Rochus, Editor

Phone: 484-302-0209

Email: https://www.graphicdesigndegreehub.com/contact/

SOURCE Graphic Design Degree Hub
Japanese financial firm SBI Holdings Inc has ambitions to revive struggling regional banks by taking stakes and pushing them into higher-margin businesses - a strategy that may get a boost from the country's new prime minister.

Although regional lenders are dominant outside of Tokyo and other big cities, many are tied to areas where the population is ageing rapidly, and business has been hollowed out. The pandemic has deepened the pain after years of low-margin lending.

Yoshihide Suga has pledged to strengthen local economies and encourage regional banks to consolidate, a shakeup that many say is long overdue.

"If the government is going to focus on revitalising local economies, there absolutely will be a business opportunity in that," SBI Chief Executive Yoshitaka Kitao said in an interview.

Kitao spoke to Reuters before Suga announced his intention to run as leader of the ruling party to replace Shinzo Abe.

SBI has so far invested in four regional banks, and Kitao says he wants to expand that to 10. The remaining six tie-ups should come by the end of the financial year, he told Reuters.

Read: Japan's Suga hopes for improved ties with South Korea's Moon

If Suga pushes to revive local economies, regional banks could benefit, said Natsumu Tsujino of Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities.

"Under such circumstances, SBI's framework would be more attractive for regional banks, and that could be a tailwind for SBI," she said.

Close Relationship

"There are a lot of regional banks, and some of them don't seem to have changed very much," Suga told Reuters in an interview last month, while still chief cabinet secretary.

Without prompting, Suga mentioned SBI's CEO, saying: "I hear many regional banks are going to see Mr Kitao".

The two are close, according to one source. Suga has asked Kitao for help with regional banks, Kyodo news agency reported.

SBI declined to comment on Kitao's relationship with Suga or how the company could benefit under the new administration.

Founded in 1999, SBI was the financial unit of SoftBank Group until the tech firm exited in 2006. SBI owns an online bank, an asset manager and Japan's largest online brokerage.

Kitao says he wants to create the fourth-biggest banking force in Japan, behind "megabanks" such as Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc.

His strategy is to use regional banks to expand SBI's customer base, said Brian Waterhouse of Windamee Research, who publishes on the Smartkarma platform.

"He is not trying to rescue the banking industry or save regional banks. He sees this as an opportunity to expand his empire," Waterhouse said.

Also Read: Trump and new Japan PM Suga discuss 'free and open Indo-Pacific': US

Smaller cities have plenty of wealthy people, many of whom don't know how to invest, especially in riskier assets with potentially higher returns, Kitao said.

Small banks, Big money

Combined net profits of regional banks tumbled 40% in the last four years, according to the country's Financial Services Agency. Yet regional lenders still account for nearly half of all bank deposits in Japan, holding some 368 trillion yen ($3.5 trillion) in cash deposits, according to central bank data.

For Shimane Bank, in the western part of the main island, SBI's 34% stake has meant a "dramatic change" in how it invests, a spokesman said.

Profits from its securities portfolio improved after it invested with SBI Asset Management, which has connections with global fund managers such as BlackRock Inc, the spokesman said.

Chikuho Bank, on the southern island of Kyushu, has been able to tap an SBI investee company, BASE, to help build e-commerce sites for its customers, something the bank couldn't do itself, a spokesman said.

"The biggest advantage from the alliance has been SBI's connection with technology firms," the spokesman said. SBI had a 2.9% stake in Chikuho as of March, according to Refinitiv data.

Fukushima Bank, which is 19% owned by SBI, has teamed up with an SBI-owned staffing company to help its customers secure workers.

The bank, a distant third in the prefecture, needs to expand beyond traditional lending, a representative said. As Japan's population falls and market shrinks, some banks may not want to merge, said Windamee's Waterhouse.

"For these banks who are looking for more capital and rescue, Kitao is perhaps the only option at the moment."
Shoppers have voted for their favourite dip brands of 2020, with Aldi taking out the top spot for the second year in a row.

Australian consumer review website Canstar Blue put 11 well known supermarket brands to the test to find the best tasting food dips on the market.

More than 1,500 customers surveyed in the annual review were asked to rate the snacks based on taste, texture and consistency, range variety, packaging appeal, value for money and overall satisfaction.

Deli Originals dips, which is Aldi's exclusive brands, was a clear winner after earning five star reviews for taste, value for money, texture and consistency, packaging and overall satisfaction.

Offering classic and gourmet flavoured dips, the products, which cost between $1.79 for 200g to $4.99 for 1kg, received a credible four star rating for range variety.

Australian shoppers have voted for their favourite food dip brands of 2020

Australia's favourite dip brands 1. ALDI Deli Originals 2. ZoOsh 3. Obela 4. Chris' Dips 5. Yumi's 6. Black Swan 7. Red Rock Deli 8. Ritz 9. Coles 10. Willow Farm 11. Peckish Advertisement

The German supermarket's range are also cheaper than most big brands.

Obela and Red Rock Deli were the only two brands to dominate the range variety category after scoring five stars.

ZoOsh landed on second place after receiving four-star reviews for taste, texture and consistency, packaging appeal and overall satisfaction.

But the range, generally priced $2.80 per 185g, fell short in value for money and range variety with three stars.

In third place, Obela, which is known for offering different takes on the classic hummus, scored a stellar five-star rating for taste and range variety.

Deli Originals dips (left), which is Aldi's exclusive brands, was a clear winner after scoring five stars out of six categories while ZoOsh (right) landed on second place

Obela (left) came third after earning five stars for taste , followed by Chris' Dips (centre) and Yumi's (right)

Other popular food dip brands in the top 11 included Black Swan (left) and Red Rock Deli (right)

The products, which cost between $4 per 220g and $9 for 1kg, landed on four stars for overall satisfaction, texture and consistency, and packaging appeal but received a three-star rating for value for money.

Chris' Dips scored respectable four stars across most categories, including taste, overall satisfaction, texture and consistency, packaging appeal and range variety but received three stars for value for money.

In fifth spot, Yumi's earned five stars for taste and ended on a four-star review for overall satisfaction, texture and consistency, packaging appeal and range variety.

The products, which are priced from $4 per 200g to $7 for 1kg, received three stars for value for money.

Other popular food dip brands in the top 11 included Black Swan, Red Rock Deli, Ritz, Coles, Willow Farm and Peckish.
For those who may have been asymptomatic or dont know if they have had COVID-19, the Red Cross now is testing blood donations for antibodies. Results typically are available in one to two weeks. Although the test is not a diagnostic one that would confirm infection or immunity, the presence of antibodies means that a persons blood donation could be used to help COVID-19 patients.
Job Title: Program Specialist

(Legal/Access to Justice)

Organization:

Freedom House

Duty Station:

Kampala, Uganda

Salary: USD

35,000  40,000

About US:

Freedom House

promotes the spread of freedom and democracy around the world through research,

advocacy, and programs that support frontline activists. We are a leader in

identifying threats to freedom through our highly regarded analytic reports,

including Freedom in the World, Freedom of the Press, Freedom on the Net, and

Nations in Transit.

About USAID Project:

Freedom House is

implementing a three-year, USAID-funded Uganda Rights and Justice Activity

(RAJA). The program seeks to: (1) challenge laws restricting civic and

political activism; (2) push for laws that protect the rights of vulnerable

groups, such as women, children, youth, and people with disabilities; (3)

provide human rights defenders (HRDs) with tools and skills to ensure that they

can carry out their work safely and securely; and (4) direct vulnerable groups,

particularly child victims of sexual violence, to legal aid.

Job Summary: Freedom House is seeking a Program Specialist

(Legal/Access to Justice) to support our Kampala office in its mission to: (1)

assist citizens in understanding, using, and shaping the law to exercise their

civil and political rights in a safe and secure manner; (2) support members of

vulnerable populations who are victims of human rights abuses in accessing

justice, protection, and referral services; and (3) carry out programmatic,

administrative, and financial functions according to the regulations, policies,

and procedures of USAID, the Ugandan government, and Freedom House. This

position will be based in Kampala, Uganda and will report to the Chief of

Party.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:



Monitor

and evaluate program implementation to ensure completion of program objectives.



Work

closely with the Chief of Party to facilitate learning from program data and

appropriate adaptation of activities.



In

coordination with the Chief of Party, Advocacy and Civil Society Specialist,

Senior Grant Manager, and headquarters program and finance staff, assist with

activity planning, logistics, budgeting, and procurements.



Conduct

rule of law, human rights, and access to justice analyses to include in

detailed monthly, quarterly, and annual reports.



Support

activity partners and groups, including arranging trainings, reviewing reports,

preparing legal analyses/briefs, and providing other forms of technical

support.



Support

the team and partners to ensure programmatic compliance with USG rules and

regulations, as well as with Freedom House financial policies.



Coordinate

with partners and Freedom House staff to ensure key deliverables are met in a

timely manner.



Other

duties as assigned by the Chief of Party.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:



The

applicant should preferably hold a Bachelors degree in Law, a Masters Degree

in Law (specializing in human rights)



At least

three to five years of experience in rule of law, access to justice, and human

rights programming, particularly experience in implementing USG/USAID projects.



Prior experience

working in NGO programming.



Prior

experience working with and/or supporting civil society and government of

Uganda ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).



Knowledge

of the Ugandan rule of law, human rights, and access to justice landscape.



Knowledge

of USG/USAID reporting requirements.



Strong

ability to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing.



Ability

to effectively write reports, maintain documentation related to programming,

and complete required programmatic forms.



Demonstrated

experience in civil society engagement in Uganda.



Ability

to maintain the highest degree of confidentiality regarding all aspects of work

at all times.

How to Apply:

All suitably qualified

candidates should send a resume, and cover letter online at the link

below. Candidate cover letters should

specifically address how their previous experience relates to the duties and

qualifications listed above.

Click

Here

NB: Only candidates

who have been selected for an interview will be contacted.

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


Portland police arrested a man and three young teenagers suspected of burglarizing four marijuana dispensaries in less than an hour early Tuesday.

The alleged bandits broke into Floyds Fine Cannabis in the 800 block of Northeast Broadway about 2:41 a.m. before driving nine blocks to Jayne Recreational and Medical Marijuana Dispensary on Northeast Martin Luther King Boulevard, according to the Portland Police Bureau.

Afterward, the suspects struck Herb Stomp in the 5700 block of Northeast Sandy Boulevard and then The Green Front Dispensary in the 6800 block of Northeast Glisan Street about 3:25 a.m., police said.

Officers later arrested Shawndell Deshazo, 27, and three teens  ages 14, 15 and 15  during a traffic stop several miles away, according to police. The stop turned up a substantial amount of evidence from the suspected burglaries, police said in a news release, though they did not provide additional detail.

All four face charges of second-degree burglary and attempted burglary, police said.

-- Shane Dixon Kavanaugh; 503-294-7632

Email at skavanaugh@oregonian.com

Follow on Twitter @shanedkavanaugh

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
Zurich: Oscar winner Olivia Colman will be feted with Zurich Film Festivals Golden Eye, the lifetime achievement award, the festival organisers announced on Wednesday. The movie gala, slated to run from September 24 to October 4, will also showcase Colmans latest film, The Father", which will have its festival debut on Saturday.

In the Florian Zeller directorial, she co-stars with veteran actor Anthony Hopkins who portrays the eponymous character, a mischievous and highly independent man who, as he ages, refuses all assistance from his daughter Anne (Colman). Colman, who is currently filming and unable to travel due to the coronavirus pandemic restrictions, will link up to Zurich via a live-stream for the gala premiere screening the film.

The actor said she is really honoured" to receive the Golden Eye Award. To count myself among those who also received the award is great! My big thanks go to the Zurich Film Festival. I just wish I could be there in person in your beautiful city," she said in a statement. Colman, who won her first Oscar for playing Queen Anne in Yorgos Lanthimos 2018 absurdist period comedy The Favourite", is also known for her small screen turns in police procedural drama Broadchurch", comedy series Peep Show", and internationally acclaimed dark comedy Fleabag".

Christian Junge, Artistic Director, Zurich Film Festival, said they are excited to present the prestigious award to Colman. Olivia Colman is one of the most exciting character actresses of her generation, she is characterized by great diversity and gives her characters depth. You never see the star when she is at work, only the figure. After we have already had the honor of showing The Favourite, for which it won an Oscar, it is a great honor for us to award it the Golden Eye for its work," added Junge.

Colman will reprise her role of Queen Elizabeth II in the upcoming fourth season of Netflix royal drama series The Crown".
Russian officials said that they have secured deals for the Sputnik V vaccine to be delivered in countries like India, Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Brazil.

The preliminary agreements with more than 10 countries are set to give Russia "a valuable economic and political leverage" internationally.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Moscow has received requests or "expressions of interests" from various countries for 1.2 billion doses of the vaccine.

Reuters

The vaccines would be manufactured overseas and circulated globally as soon as November. However, the shot would require local regulatory approval before distribution.

'Sputnik V' was approved by the Russian authorities on August 11 even though there was skepticism among the Western countries about the "speed with which it was registered."

Also Read: Russia's Gamaleya Research Centre Given Green Light For Post-Registration Trials Of Sputnik V Vaccine

According to the Wall Street Journal, Russian researchers completed only small-scale tests on 76 volunteers before securing approval.

The data from these early trials had shown that the shot was "safe to use" and generated an immune response, but experts say that large-scale testing trials are necessary to determine the effectiveness of the vaccine.

While Russia is expected to undertake mass vaccinations of its own population by the end of 2020, China has injected "hundreds of thousands" of people with its own vaccine.

Experts have raised concerns over the rush to use vaccines - which have not completed testing - as the widespread use of the ineffective vaccine could lead to "a renewed spread" of COVID-19.

Also Read: COVID-19 Vaccine: Russia Signs Deal With Dr Reddy's For Trial & Distribution Of Sputnik V In India

Officials in the US have also indicated that it is unlikely to use a Russian or a Chinese vaccine, in wake of the doubt over testing procedures.

Analysts say that Russia can use the vaccine as "a soft power tool" to draw counties in its orbit.

"The view here is that the vaccine could win Russia some hearts and minds in the non-West and boost its geopolitical leverage," The Wall Street Journal reported quoting Vladimir Frolov, a former senior Russian diplomat, and Moscow-based political analyst.

AFP

Russia aims to manufacture close to 30 million doses by the end of this year for its own population. It has been hit hard by the pandemic with over 10 lakh COVID-19 cases (according to Johns Hopkins University).

The Wall Street Journal further reports that Russia is transferring the technology to manufacturing hubs in India, Brazil, and South Korea, from which the vaccine would be distributed.

As per the preliminary agreements, India will receive 100 million doses, while Bahia in Brazil will receive 50 million doses, the Russian Direct Investment Fund said. However, Russian officials have not disclosed how many countries apart from the four that have agreed to the supply accords.

In August, Deputy Prime Minister, Tatiana Golikova, said many countries "are interested in various forms of cooperation, including joint vaccine development, clinical trials, procurement, domestic production on their territory and humanitarian aid."

Russia already announced agreements to conduct clinical testing of the vaccine in the UAE, Saudi Arabia along with Egypt and Belarus. Mexican Foreign Minister, Marcelo Ebrard, said that Mexico wants to take part in the large-scale testing of the vaccine with 500-1000 volunteers, but the final decision on the test and eventual vaccine approval lies with the health authorities.

Reuters

The US, European Union, Japan, and the UK, according to The Wall Street Journal, have agreed to purchase around 3.7 billion doses of the shot from Western drug makers, which ties up most of the "immediate" global vaccine manufacturing capacity leaving developing nations at risk of being unable to secure the same.

Russian officials state that there is a "strong demand" for the Russian vaccine from the developing countries.

Also Read: Russia Reportedly Seeking Help From Hyderabad Vaccine Manufacturers To Launch Sputnik V

"We will focus on saving people in Latin America, Middle East and Asia, where most of the requests come from because these people are not thinking about politics to stifle Russia and to constrain Russia, but they want to protect their citizens," Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, said. "We have people who are begging to have the vaccine because they looked into the science and they understand that it works."

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte said that the country would give priority to Russian and Chinese vaccines because in the Western countries, "it's all (about) profit," he said. Dmitriev said that the fund is "only looking to recoup its investment" in the vaccine and not make a profit.

However, Russia has not disclosed the rate it would charge for the vaccine shot.

All Inputs: ANI
Chennai: With over 5 lakh infected persons having recovered from the novel coronavirus, Tamil Nadu has posted a high recovery rate of around 90%, among the badly COVID-19-hit states.

As per the state government's health bulletin, Tamil Nadu has so far reported over 5.58 lakh COVID-19 infections, of which, around 46,000 cases are still active.

In a video interaction with the Chief Ministers of states that are badly hit by the pandemic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was seen appreciating Tamil Nadus efforts in mass testing, tracing and isolation.

Commending the people and the state government, PM Modi said that Tamil Nadu presented itself as an example to other states for having controlled the spread of the virus.

Also read | Enhance focus on effective COVID-19 testing, tracing, treatment, surveillance and clear messaging, says PM Narendra Modi



In interaction with the Prime Minister, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami stated that he had personally toured 26 districts to review the performance in the fight against the pandemic.

Emphasizing that the state was only employing the highly reliable RT-PCR tests, he said that over 66 lakh samples have been tested across the states 66 government and 110 private labs, with an average testing capacity of 85,000 RT-PCR tests per day.

Adding that the daily testing alone cost Rs 6.8 crore, the CM Edappadi K Palaniswami requested the Centre to fund at least 50% of the cost of the PCR tests from the PMCARES fund, owing to the financial difficulties faced by the state government.

"The State has maintained a low death rate, which is now at 1.62%, one of the lowest in the country. As on date, in no district, the positivity rate is above 10%, deaths due to COVID have also been reduced from an average of 100 deaths per day to around 70 deaths per day. The positive cases per day in Chennai have now been reduced below 1000 from around 2,300 in the month of June 2020," the Chief Minister explained the Prime Minister.

Adding that the state government had placed orders for 5.25 crore triple-layer face masks, 48.05 lakh N-95 masks, 44.61 lakh PPE kits and 63.25 lakh RT-PCR testing kits, the Chief Minister urged PM Modi to increase the package of Rs 712.64 crore allotted to Tamil Nadu to Rs 3000 crore.

Mentioning that the state exchequer had fully exhausted the State Disaster Response and Mitigation Fund, he requested an ad-hoc grant of Rs 1,000 crore rupees from NDRF immediately to fight the pandemic.

Also read | CM Edappadi K Palaniswami urges PM Narendra Modi to include experts from Tamil Nadu in panel studying Indian culture

From September 1, in line with Unlock 4.0 aimed at reviving economic activity, Tamil Nadu has resumed to near-normalcy.

Only academic institutions, cinema halls, swimming pools, amusement parks, big auditoriums, beaches, zoos, museums, tourist places and similar public places remain shut, until further notice.

While all modes of transport are allowed to ply (even if in limited numbers), suburban trains alone are yet to resume services.

Live TV

Religious, political, social, cultural, educational events and celebrations also remain restricted.

While Tamil Nadu has done away with the e-passes for inter-district travel, the state still follows the e-pass system for inter-state travel.

The government maintains that the e-pass system is being retained to keep track of the flow of persons entering and exiting the state.

However, the passes for inter-state travel are offered on an instant approval basis, once applied on the state's web portal.
Demonstrators in Medellin demand efforts to continue peace talks between the government and ELN guerrillas (AFP or licensors)

The US Government is posting a five million dollars reward for information leading to the capture of a National Liberation Army Leader, which is still fighting an insurgency against the Colombian Government, after more than fifty years.

By James Blears

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who`s just visited Colombia, is targeting National Liberation Army commander Wilver Villegas Palomino for arrest, offering five million dollars or its equivalent, for intelligence leading to his capture.

Wilver is being singled out, due to his alleged involvement in drug trafficking. Pompeo refers to him as a narco terrorist. He`s accused of being a major player in the transportation of cocaine from Colombia to the United States, in order to finance the rebels` continued war against the Colombian State, which has been dragging on since 1964. Pompeo`s announcement follows a meeting with Colombian President Ivan Duque.

Silver haired Duque, who was born twelve years after this conflict began, broke off peace talks with the ELN last year, after one of their operatives killed 21 people including himself and injured 68 more, in a truck bombing of the General Santander Police Academy, in the Capital Bogota. The ELN also bombs oil pipelines and kidnaps people to finance, feed and arm its estimated 2,500 guerillas.

The much larger Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, better known as the FARC, concluded a peace agreement with the Government in 2016 and evolved into a political party. But the ELN is still continuing its armed campaign.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Tarkwa-Nsuaem in the Western Region, George Mireku Duker has confirmed fisticuffs with the NPP Western Regional Secretary, Charles Bissue who doubles as a presidential staffer at a meeting on Monday.



Confirming the incident in an interview with the Daily Guide newspaper, Mr Duker said Bissue bit his finger during the brawl which occurred at a meeting which had NPP national campaign manager, Peter Mac Manu and Director of Operations at the Presidency, Lord Commey present.



The meeting also had some national officers, Western Regional executives of the NPP as well as some metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives, MPs and parliamentary candidates present.



Mr Duker told the Daily Guide that he had complained to the regional executives about the fact that Mr Bissue was supporting an independent candidate in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Constituency against him.



So at the meeting, I made the same complaint that there is an independent candidate in Tarkwa who is being supported by some regional executives so we should trash the issue here. After my presentation, I went to sit down, he recounted.



But before the meeting came to an end, Lord Commey asked Bissue to react to the issue I raised in three minutes. Bissue went for the microphone and said I used to be his friend but I visited him at his office one day and told him that he should not believe the President and allow people to do galamsey or illegal mining, Mr Duker alleged.



Mr Duker said those present were all surprised at the comment from Mr Bissue because he was pitting him against the President and so Lord Commey went for the microphone and said this is not the issue we want you to discuss."



Mr Duker said Mr Bissue was asked to sit down and that instead of going to sit on his chair, he was going to where he (Duker) was sitting fuming and threatening to beat him [Duker].



He was coming to me as he shouted, I will beat you! So my chairman was even asking me to get up because Bissue was coming to me. Lo and behold! Bissue came to me and threw a blow at me and in defence I also threw one at him but my finger went into his mouth and he chewed it," he alleged.



I had a deep cut at the middle finger of my right hand. I later went to the Jemimah Hospital for some treatment, Mr Duker said.



The Assistant Constituency Secretary of the NPP at Tarkwa Nsuaem, Gomashie Edem Wisdom, who corroborated the story to the Daily Guide newspaper said NPP activists in the constituency had even planned to demonstrate against Charles Bissue for supporting the independent candidate against Duker.



Meanwhile, when contacted, Mr Bissue told the newspaper that he had not bitten or chewed the finger of anyone.



Some photos showing Charles Bissue with a swollen face have since been published on the internet.









Source: graphic.com.gh









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The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has joined the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in threatening to shut down activities in the country on September 28 if the federal government refuses to reverse the recent hike in petrol price and electricity tariff.

The decision came as the national executive council of the NLC agreed with the decision of its central working committee to stage a nationwide protest on September 28.

Premium Times reported that the NLC said it has finalised its plan to stage the nationwide rally to protest the increase in the prices of petrol and electricity tariff.

The TUC had issued a seven-day ultimatum, resolving to embark on a strike on September 23 if the federal government fails to meet its demands on the increases. However, a statement issued on Tuesday night said its ultimatum has been shifted to the midnight of September 28.

The statement which was signed by the TUC president, Quadri Olaleye, and its secretary-general Musa-Lawal Ozigi, called on the international community to place a visa ban on all corrupt Nigerian politicians who have looted the country and people if its resources.

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria after an exhaustive meeting held to review its mobilisation strategies on the forthcoming strike to protest fuel hike and electricity tariff resolved that the congress is going to work in collaboration with its sister Labour Centre, the Nigeria Labour Congress and the civil society allies to execute the strike, he said.

According to the president, consequent upon this, the ultimatum which should expire by midnight of today September 22 has been shifted to September 28 for effective and maximum effect.

He appealed to Nigerians, especially those in the informal sector, to bear with the labour union while the industrial action lasts.

You will recall that this government during its electioneering campaigns in 2014 told the world there is nothing like subsidy. We were told that they will build refineries, all that are history now. We run a mono-economy and any hike in fuel automatically will have an adverse effect on us yet successive governments tow that path because they are not creative, he said.

Grouses

Mr Olaleye said eight states are yet to commence the payment of the new minimum wage and its consequential adjustment even though the president signed it into law on April 18, 2019.

We have written letters to the governors and also engaged them in dialogue but all to no avail. Sometimes we wonder if these people have a conscience at all, he said.

The congress hereby appeals to all Nigerians to get ready for the unprecedented mass action against corruption, obnoxious policies, rape and other violent offences, breach of collective agreement, unemployment, etc.

We also call on the USA, UK, Germany, Spain, etc. to support our struggle by placing indefinite visa ban on our political leaders whose stock in trade is to loot and impoverish the masses and the country. We can no longer take it. Enough is enough, he said.

NLC speaks

Similarly, the NLC condemned the increment in fuel price, bank charges, electricity tariff, VAT and other sundry charges.

In a communique signed by president of the NLC, Ayuba Wabba at the end of the meeting on Tuesday in Abuja, the congress endorsed the strike and protest actions and decided to shut down the entire Nigerian economy on September 28.

NEC resolved to reject in its entirety, the issue of hike in electricity tariff by almost 100 per cent. Also, NEC resolved to reject the fuel price increase in the name of full deregulation, he said.

In line with all of these, NEC decided to endorse the two weeks ultimatum given to the federal government to try to reverse those obnoxious decisions and also pronounce that the actions proposed by the central working committee is hereby endorsed by the NEC that 28th of September will be a date that those actions would be challenged by Nigerian workers, our civil society allies and also other union movements, he said.

Issues

PREMIUM TIMES had reported how electricity distribution companies had hiked their tariffs from about N30.23 to about N62.33 per kWh for Nigerians after the federal government said it would no longer subsidise electricity consumption.

Also, the price of petrol increased from about N145 to about N161 per litre.

In an effort to resolve these issues, President Muhammadu Buhari directed the minister of employment and productivity to hold a meeting between the federal government, labour unions and the civil society organisations.
Sensex, Nifty LIVE Updates on September 23: Market benchmarks Sensex and Nifty reversed from early gains closed tad lower on Wednesday, amid weak global cues. Extending fall for the fifth consecutive session, Sensex ended 65 points lower at 37,668 and Nifty declined 21 points to 11,131. Global cues were mixed today as doubts about the timing of a global economic recovery kept investors cautious. Yesterday, BSE 30-share benchmark Sensex ended 300 points lower at 37,734 and NSE Nifty 50 fell 96 points to 11,153.

Here's a look at the updates of the market action on BSE and NSE today

3. 45 PM : Closing session

Market benchmarks Sensex and Nifty reversed from early gains closed tad lower on Wednesday, amid weak global cues. Extending fall for the fifth consecutive session, Sensex ended 65 points lower at 37,668 and Nifty declined 21 points to 11,131.

3. 35 PM: Rupee closes tad higher

The rupee appreciated by one paisa to close at 73.57 against the US dollar on Wednesday, as investors turned cautious amid weak domestic equities.

3. 20 PM: Sectors update

Gains in private banking, financials, realty, FMCG were capped by losses in media, pharma, PSU Banks, metal and IT indices.

3. 15 PM: Gold Technical outlook

On Gold falling below Rs 50,000/10gmNish Bhatt, Founder & CEO, Millwood Kane International said,"The dream run for Gold has hit a roadblock, after hitting life highs of over Rs 56,000/10gm last month, the yellow metal has been falling. Internationally, Comex Gold is trading below the $1900/oz level."

He added,"The primary reason for the fall in gold prices is the rally in the Dollar index, uncertainty over the next stimulus package by the US government to help give a push to the slowing growth rate. While the Dollar index is near an 8-week high against the other currencies in the basket. As gold is an international commodity and a rally in the US Dollar affects its prices. Further stimulus is crucial as the Fed chairman in its testimony to Congress said that more government spending will be required to sustain the growth rate. Fears of a second lockdown in Europe is also one of the reasons for the fall in Gold.

3. 02 PM: Chemcon Speciality Chemicals IPO

Chemcon Speciality Chemicals' IPO has received overwhelming response from investors, with the offering seeing 46.5 times subscription on the final day of bidding. The company's public offer received bids for 30.50 crore shares so far against the issue size of 65.59 lakh shares (excluding anchor book), as per the data available on the exchange. CAMS shares will be listed on BSE on October 1.

Chemcon Speciality Chemicals IPO subscribed 46.5 times; retail portion 33 times

2. 56 PM: Angel Broking IPO

The initial public offering (IPO) of Angel Broking has been fully subscribed on the second day of bidding i.e. Wednesday. The Rs 600-crore IPO was subscribed 1.07 times so far today. The issue received bids for 1.47 crore equity shares as against offer size of 1.37 crore equity shares, according to the exchange data.

Angel Broking IPO: Public issue fully subscribed on Day 2

2. 43 PM: UTI AMC IPO

The much-awaited initial public offer (IPO) of UTI Asset Management Company will open on September 29. The IPO will comprise offer for sale of 3,89,87,081 equity shares by State Bank of India, Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), Punjab National Bank, Bank of Baroda and T Rowe Price International.

UTI AMC to launch IPO on September 29; SBI, LIC, T Rowe to sell stake

2. 23 PM:Britannia Industries outlook

Expressing views on the stock, Amarjeet Maurya- AVP-Mid Caps, Angel Broking said,"Britannia Industries (BIL) Biscuits contribute more than 80% of the company's turnover. BIL continued to gain market share ahead of competition and has narrowed its gap with the No. 1 player in the category. BIL has gained market share in new categories like Wafers and Milk Shakes. BIL has an overall distribution reach of 5.5 million outlets coupled with Strong brand. Hence, we are positive on stock.

2. 12 PM: Ant Group registers Shanghai portion of its $35 billion IPO

China's Ant Group submitted documents to the securities regulator for registration of the Shanghai portion of its IPO, the city's bourse said late on Tuesday, moving a step closer to a planned dual-listing expected to be worth about $35 billion. The financial technology firm, backed by China's biggest e-commerce company Alibaba Group, plans to list simultaneously on Shanghai's Nasdaq-style STAR Market and in Hong Kong, in what sources have said could be the world's largest IPO and come as soon as October.

Ant Group registers Shanghai portion of its $35 billion IPO

2.05 PM: Top losrs and gainers

Bharti Airtel, Tata Steel, PowerGrid, NTPC, ONGC, TCS and Bajaj Auto were among the laggards on Sensex pack. On the other hand, Infosys, HCL Tech, Asian Paints, Kotak Bank, Titan and HDFC Bank were among the other gainers.

1. 58 PM: Market falls further

Market benchmarks Sensex and Nifty reversed from early gains and fell for the fifth consecutive session on Wednesday, amid weak global cues. Sensex was trading 355 points lower at 37,378 and Nifty declined 127 points to 11,026.

1. 43 PM: Global market outlook

Asian markets are trading mixed as investors react to comments from Fed Chairman. Australian markets are leading the gainers.

U.S. markets closed higher as investors tried to look past rising corona cases and political tension in Washington. Comments from Fed Chairman regarding the state of the economy also weighed. European markets closed higher attempting to recover from previous day's losses. Oil & Gas stocks gained while insurance sectors stocks slipped.

1. 33PM: Shapoorji Pallonji Group shares rise 20%

The shares of companies of Mistry family owned Shapoorji Pallonji Group surged on Wednesday after it announced its separation plans from Tata Group. Shares of Sterling & Wilson Solar hit 20 per cent, its biggest single day gains since August last year. It currently trades at 235.70 apiece. Similarly, Forbes & Co hit 5 per cent upper circuit at Rs 1,484.15 apiece.

Shapoorji Pallonji Group shares rise 20% after announcement of separation from Tata Group

1. 20 PM: Market update

On the equities front, global markets were mixed today the potential worsening of the coronavirus pandemic. Domestic indices also reversed to losses. The 30-share BSE benchmark Sensex was falling 189 points higher at 37,544 and Nifty declined 70 points to 11,083.

1. 09 PM: Future Enterprises share hits lower circuit of 5%

Share price of Future Enterprises fell 5% today after the firm said it defaulted on interest payments of Rs 15.86 crore for its non-convertible debentures. Future Enterprises share hit lower circuit of 5% to Rs 12.35 against previous close of Rs 13 on BSE.

Future Enterprises share hits lower circuit of 5% after firm defaults on debt repayment

12. 50 PM: Market falls for fifth session

Market benchmarks Sensex and Nifty reversed from early gains and fell for the fifth consecutive session on Wednesday, amid weak global cues. Sensex was falling 189 points higher at 37,544 and Nifty declined 70 points to 11,08. Investors were spooked amid a resurgence in COVID-19 infections across the world and European cities announcing new restrictions to curb the pandemic from spreading.

12. 34 PM: Gold outlook

Anuj Gupta from Angel Broking said, "Meanwhile, no signs of further stimulus infusion by the U.S. policymakers to support the economy shackled by the pandemic further pressurized Gold prices. However, U.S. policymaker vowed to support the small businesses hit by the coronavirus-triggered slowdown. Markets will keep an eye on the U.S. Federal Reserves' official's assessment of the current scenario in the world's largest economy. The fall in gold prices was limited as reinforcement of lockdown in the Eurozone reflecting the alarming increase in Covid-19 cases dampened hopes of economic recovery."

12. 15 PM:CAMS IPO

Jaikishan Parmar, Sr. Equity Research Analyst, Angel Broking said," On the second day, CAMS IPO subscribed 1.93x, and the retail portion subscribed 2.91x. We believe investors should hold this stock for the long term also. As its reinvestment requirement is very low. Because it is a technology-led company, it does not have to do heavy CAPEX to run regular business. Hence, at the end of the year, the CAMS left with a strong cash flow which CAMS uses to pay a generous dividend to a shareholder. Historically it has maintained a dividend payout ratio of 65%. An INvestor can expect a similar dividend payout in the future also. We have given SUBSCRIBED rating considering Market leader, strong financials, and healthy dividend payout policy.

12.09 PM: Gold prices drop sharply today

Gold price continued falling on Wednesday as investors reacted to the comments from Federal Reserve officials on the state of the economy. Precious metals continued weakness after bullion prices slipped to more than one month low as the dollar gained. Precious metals turned red on a firm dollar and as investors were also concerned about the fresh coronavirus-induced curbs, globally denting hopes of a swift economic recovery.

On the Multi Commodity Exchange, Gold October Futures fell Rs 590 at Rs 49,788, after hitting an intraday low of Rs 49,744 against the previous close of Rs 50,381 per 10 gm. Since the beginning of the year, the yellow metal has risen 41.5% to life-time high of Rs 56,191 per 10 gm

11. 44 AM: Gold and Silver outlook

Hareesh V, Geojit's Head of commodity research said," Gold may continue to be supported by renewed US-China tensions and hopes of fresh economic stimulus measures amid rising virus cases across the globe. However, a robust US dollar and optimism over Covid vaccine continue to hit the safe-haven demand of the commodity.

On Spot gold intraday technical outlook, the brokerage said Prices continue to trade in a tight range of $1880-1975 an ounce. As long as prices hold the support of $1880 expects recovery momentum for the day. However, a direct drop below the same would continue the liquidation pressure towards $1840 or even more. For MCX Gold Oct futures, the brokerage said resistance is placed at Rs 51820 and support at Rs 49840.

On Silver, the agency said," Intraday support of $23.40 needs to be cleared for the continuation of further selling pressure in the counter. Else, expect recovery rallies for the day. Anyhow a break of $27.60 is a turnaround point."

MCX Silver Nov futures resistance is placed at Rs 64800 and support at Rs 49420.

11. 32 AM: Coronavirus toll

Worldwide, there were 317 lakh confirmed cases and 9.75 lakh deaths from COVID-19 outbreak. Meanwhile, India's death toll from COVID-19 infections rose to 0.90 lakh and total coronavirus cases stood at 56.46 lakh as of Wednesday.

11. 18 AM: RIL share rises 3%

Reliance Industries share rose 3% in early trade today on reports that private equity player KKR would invest Rs 5,550 crore into Reliance Retail Ventures (RRVL) for a 1.28 percent stake. The investment values Reliance Retail at a pre-money equity value of Rs 4.21 lakh crore, RIL said.

RIL share rises 3% after KKR buys stake in retail business for Rs 5,550 crore

11.00 AM: Nifty outlook

As per Geojit Financial, "While a collapse is less expected, initial pull back to 11370-11410 is likely to attract liquidation pressure with 11170 in perspective. It would, however, require more confirmation before playing the 10800-10500 view. Until then, the 11170-11000 region is favoured to diffuse the bearish momentum."

10. 50 AM: RIL stock

Reliance Industries has been a delight for investors since Mukesh Ambani-led (RIL) raised capital amid the pandemic. Ambani, the only Asian tycoon among the top 10 richest people in the world, has been able to renew investors' interest in the stock unlocking value deals with global investors in last six months.

This is despite the alarming coronavirus pandemic that has brought large economies to a standstill.

As the company builds up a dominant presence in refining, petrochemicals, telecom and retail businesses, most analysts have kept a BUY rating for the conglomerate and raised the target price to Rs 2,500.

Should you buy Reliance Industries stock for less than Rs 2,250?

10. 36 AM: Nifty technical indicators

In technical & derivatives report , Sameet Chavan (Chief Analyst-Technical and Derivatives, Angel Broking) said,"Nifty started the session marginally positive yesterday; however, it was mere a formality as we immediately witnessed correction and within first half an hour, Nifty sneaked below 11100. The index gradually pulled from the lows, but the bears continued their dominance and the pullback move was sold into to eventually end the day with a loss of about 100 points around 11150."

10. 23 AM: Chemcon Speciality Chemicals IPO

-Keshav Lahoti, Associate Equity Analyst, Angel Broking said," Chemcon Speciality Chemicals IPO was subscribed by 12.62 times on the second day of issue. Retail portion was most subscribed by 22.94 times. Due to over subscription in such a big number, most of the retail investors will be disappointed as they won't get a single lot. Non institutional and QIB were subscribed 3.50 and 1.37 times respectively. Such oversubscription was in line with our expectation, as we believe a lot is left on the table for the investors by comparing its valuation with other speciality chemical companies. We are positive on the future outlook for the industry as well as the Company, so in our IPO Note we have recommended to Subscribe to the issue for long term as well as for listing gains.

Due to its position as leading manufacturer of its products globally, it is getting strong traction among investors. But, product concentration and client concentration risk cannot be ruled out. Although Company clients are sticky in nature, they have long standing relationships. Aurobindo Pharma has been its client for more than 20 years.

10. 10 AM: Stocks to watch today on September 23

RIL, HDFC Bank, SBI, Future Enterprises, Indian Oil among others are the top stocks to watch out for in Wednesday's trading session.

Stocks in news: RIL, HDFC Bank, SBI, Future Enterprises, Indian Oil

10.00 AM: Global cues

Investors sentiment was dented as rising coronavirus cases led to the possibility of fresh lockdowns in some European countries, which could further slowdown the pace of global economic recovery

9. 52 AM: Nifty outlook

As per Geojit Financials, "While short covering potential towards 11325-11366 or more has emerged as a possibility, given the recovery attempt in the closing hour, favoured view expects 11240 to resist early upside attempts, and drag Nifty towards 11030. But as maintained yesterday, the 10800-10500 view, requires more confirmation, and as such, we are hopeful of short covering rallies, later today or tomorrow, should 11240 give away."

9. 43 AM: Global markets

Asian markets are trading mixed as investors react to comments from Fed Chairman. Australian markets are leading the gainers.

U.S. markets closed higher as investors tried to look past rising corona cases and political tension in Washington. Comments from Fed Chairman regarding the state of the economy also weighed. European markets closed higher attempting to recover from previous day's losses. Oil & Gas stocks gained while insurance sectors stocks slipped.

9. 30 AM: Market outlook

Manish Hathiramani, proprietary index trader and technical analyst, Deen Dayal Investments said," The markets have opened with a gap up, but the trend continues to remain weak in the short term. 10900-11000 continues to remain a target and is also a good medium term support for the Nifty. On the upside, the resistance zone is 11600-11650 and until we do not get past that, every rally up can be used to short for a target of 10900-11000."

9. 17 AM: Opening bell

Market Benchmarks Sensex and Nifty reversed from four days of straight falls and opened on a bullish note on Wednesday, amid positive Asian markets. Sensex was rising 367 points higher at 38,056 and Nifty gained 98 points to 11,248.

9. 00 AM: Global cues

Global cues were mixed today as doubts about the timing of a global economic recovery kept investors cautious. Markets continued trading volatile overseas, as delay in new fiscal stimulus by Congress and an increase in the number of coronavirus cases dampened hopes of a faster economic recovery.

8. 50 AM: FII action

Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold shares worth Rs 2,072.76 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs), were net buyers to the tune of Rs 878.91 crore in the Indian equity market on 22 September, provisional data showed.

8. 40 AM: Rupee closing

In the forex market, the rupee depreciated 20 paise to close at 73.58 against the US dollar.

8. 30 AM: Closing on Tuesday

Yesterday, BSE 30-share benchmark Sensex ended 300 points lower at 37,734 and NSE Nifty 50 fell 96 points to 11,153.

Sensex ends 300 points lower, Nifty at 11,153; Maruti, L&T, IndusInd Bank top losers
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / September 22, 2020 / Blue Lagoon Resources Inc. (the "Company") (CSE:BLLG)(FSE:7BL)(OTCQB:BLAGF) announces that, as a result of a review by the British Columbia Securities Commission the Company is issuing the following news release to clarify its technical disclosure with respect to the independently prepared technical report titled "Preliminary Economic Assessment Dome Mountain Mine British Columbia, Canada" dated July 13, 2020 (the "Dome Report").

The BCSC staff have informed the Company that it has identified a number of examples where the Dome Report does not comply with the requirements of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and the requirements of Form 43-101F1 Technical Report ("Form 43-101F1"). As a result, the Company's preliminary economic assessment is not supported by a compliant NI 43-101 technical report and the Company has determined to hereby retract its technical disclosure relating to project economics, as originally announced in the Company's news release of May 19, 2020 and as disclosed in the Dome Report.

The Company is working with the independent authors of the report to prepare and file a current technical report to support the mineral resource disclosed in its May 19, 2020 news release. The Company currently expects to file an updated current technical report in draft with the BCSC within the next two weeks, and subject to clearing comments of the BCSC on SEDAR thereafter. As a result, investors should not rely on the results disclosed in the Dome Report pending a compliant technical report being filed.

For further information, please contact:

Rana Vig

President and Chief Executive Officer Telephone: 604-218-4766

Email: rana@ranavig.com

The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information: This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that Blue Lagoon Resources Inc. (the "Company") expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. In particular, statements regarding the timing and ability to file a current technical report as provided herein is are forward looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

SOURCE: Blue Lagoon Resources Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/607381/Clarification-to-Technical-Disclosure
A 50-year-old man has been arrested during protests at military base in west Wales, where up to 250 Channel migrants are

The man, who has not been named but is not from the area, is being held on suspicion of public order offences during a second day of protesting outside the camp in the coastal village of Penally, near Tenby, on Tuesday.

On Monday the first group of up to 250 male asylum seekers was moved to the barracks by the Home Office, prompting an organised protest.

The decision to house the migrants in the camp was criticised by Wales's First Minister Mark Drakeford, while a Welsh Conservative politician blamed the resulting disorder on 'people bussed in from outside with very unpleasant political agendas'.

Dyfed-Powys Police said around 40 people had again protested in the area on Tuesday evening, and the 50-year-old man was arrested at around 5.40pm.

Police said they had arrested a man, 50, during the protests outside the camp

The village is yards away from the camp and families have been protesting over the plans

Protestors gathered outside the camp in the village of Penally, near Tenby

It comes as record numbers of migrants continue to cross the Channel throughout 2020 with September being the busiest month.

At least 1,880 asylum seekers have entered the UK this month.

Superintendent Anthony Evans, divisional commander for Pembrokeshire, said: 'We understand that tensions are running high in the community, but Monday night's scenes endangered everyone and caused understandable alarm.

'We are actively reviewing a significant amount of footage extracted from our officers' body worn cameras, from footage shared to social media and intelligence obtained from other sources. Those identified committing criminal offences will be prosecuted.'

'We are in conversation with our partners across Pembrokeshire and are grateful to those in Penally and the surrounding community who are engaging with our officers on the ground and sharing concerns and information with us.

Neighbours in Penally, Pembrokeshire, were protesting the housing of 250 asylum seekers in the military base

Protestors from outside the village have travelled to the site to join the demonstrations

'Our history as a service is one of co-operation and we are working with partners across the county and the Home Office to get the support residents are asking for.'

On Wednesday morning around 60 'anti-racist' protesters stood outside the camp with welcome placards in a demonstration organised by Stand Up to Racism.

Spokesman Patrick Connellan said those in attendance, who held up signs including 'welcome to Wales', failed to spot any migrants but the camp's welfare officer 'gratefully accepted our welcome messages'.

He said: 'Many people want to help with donations and practical assistance so groups are now being set up to coordinate that work. We will continue to resist the racists and build closer ties with the refugee and local community.'

During Tuesday's Welsh Parliament plenary, Mr Drakeford said the Labour-led Welsh Government did not have a say in the decision to house the migrants, before adding 'a military camp is not a suitable place to house people who have fled from conflict and war in other parts of the world'.

The man, who has not been named but is not from the area, is being held on suspicion of public order offences

60 'anti-racist' protesters stood outside the camp with welcome placards

He said a written request to Home Secretary Priti Patel for assurances that funding would be provided to the area to help deal with resulting demands on its services was met by an 'utter blanket refusal'.

Welsh Conservative Angela Burns, MS for Carmarthen West & South Pembrokeshire, told the plenary: 'Unfortunately, we saw some shocking scenes last night at Penally camp of elements coming in from away - not Pembrokeshire people.

'Pembrokeshire people are warm and welcoming, and we want to do our best by these people, who've already been through a really traumatic time.

'Absolutely shocking scenes occurred, with people bussed in from outside with very unpleasant political agendas.'

The site is used by the Ministry of Defence for training courses, which have now been rescheduled or moved to alternative military sites.
7 Deadly Sins: A Trump Dystopian Heptology, Tim Atleffs one-man show at the ArtRage Gallery, operates with a hybrid structure, blending the caricatures and provocation of political cartooning with the size and breadth of fine-art painting.

Most of the works in the exhibition connect Donald Trump to various sins including gluttony, vanity and lust. In this series of seven paintings, the pieces are large (48 by 60'), bold, full of vivid colors and depictions of Trump as a grotesque figure.

In Envy, he appears with a greenish face and a striped garment surely meant to suggest a prison uniform. In Lust, hes a twisted creature sitting on a throne. In a third painting titled Sloth, he sits on a couch watching television and holding a remote. The floor is littered with soda cans. Wrath, meanwhile, portrays him as a swaggering bully.

However, even as Atseff offers an absurdist, sometimes comical view of Trump, thats not the sum total of the exhibit. The artist is deeply concerned about the impact of the Trump presidency on the operations of a free press and other media, on the environment, on the future of political discourse in the United States.

And so, Atseff works with motifs that signify the serious nature of examining Trumps tenure in the White House: police tape, American flags typically hung upside down, torn-up presidential seals, and more. In Lust, the scales of justice are tossed on the floor. Redact, a 2020 work not part of the 7 Deadly Sins group, displays the U.S. Constitution in a parchment format. At the very bottom, Trumps signature blots out the names of the documents signers.

In addition, Gluttony, one of the best pieces in the exhibit, presents a wild caricature of Trump plus red, white and colors and four brief texts embodying Trumps compulsive use of Twitter.

Clearly, Atseff benefits from working on a full-size canvas instead of the postage-stamp format available to most editorial cartoonists. Yet, size isnt a primary factor in the shows appeal. Rather, the ArtRage exhibition reflects the artists ability to skillfully design and execute a painting.

Consider another 2020 work," 100 Seconds to Midnight." There Atseff references the work of a group of scientists who each year evaluate the threat to humanitys future posed by nuclear weapons, tensions on the world scene, militarism and obstinate leaders. The metaphor of a clock is used to communicate how close we are to total destruction.

Atseff deals with this concept in concrete terms. Indeed, the painting integrates multiple elements such as sticks of dynamite, an alarm clock, hogs crowding in to eat, and lemmings. At the top of the work, look for small images of President Trump and other politicians as well as Kaboom in cartoon lettering.

Crown of Thorns, another 2020 artwork, takes a drastically different approach. It features a dark background and a shadowy figure who places a crown on his head. The oil seems to refer both to Donald Trump and to political thinkers who argue that democracy is an inefficient, outdated system.

Beyond that, the 7 Deadly Sins paintings are accompanied by brief statements from Atseff and relevant quotes from Trump. In Wrath, the artist states that Trump, thou art a villainous, tickle-brained, bully-rag. Its followed by a statement from Trump emphasizing the importance of getting even with people. For Vanity, Atseff wrote that Trump, thou art, a beslubbering, motley-minded, lout. This insult is paired with four quotes in which Trump praises himself.

Among other things, the artists comments spell out his contempt for Trumps persona and policies and make it clear that hes enraged by the events of the last three-and-a-half years.

The ArtRage exhibit isnt a premiere for 7 Deadly Sins. It was first hung during 2019 at the Center for Contemporary Political Art located in Washington, D. C. However, it does provide a Syracuse venue for an artist with many connections to our city. He was born here and later worked for the Syracuse daily newspapers as an editorial cartoonist, art and design director, and managing editor.

More importantly, the exhibition stands on its own merits. Its visually and topically interesting, provocative and visceral. In creating the 7 Deadly Sins series, Atseff moved into crowded territory; a variety of artists working in various disciplines have addressed the Trump presidency. Yet, the current show at ArtRage has its own identity and plenty of visual appeal.

Its well worth a visit to the gallery, located at 505 Hawley Ave., which hosts the exhibit through October 4. ArtRage is open from noon to six p.m. on Thursday and Friday and from noon to four p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Admission is free. Be prepared to wear a mask and practice social distancing. For more information, call the gallery at 315-218-5711 or go to www.artragegallery.org.

Carl Mellor wrote about visual arts for the Syracuse New Times from 1994 to June, 2019 when the paper closed. He continues to write about exhibits and artists in the Syracuse area.
Hong Kong: Lab staff pay review accepted

The Chief Executive-in-Council has decided to accept in full recommendations made by the Standing Commission on Civil Service Salaries & Conditions of Service on the grade structure review for laboratory staff, the Government announced today.

Laboratory staff include those who have reached the Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department's Veterinary Laboratory Technician grade and the Department of Health's Medical Laboratory Technician grade.

The Chief Executive-in-Council also accepted the related conversion arrangements proposed by the Government.

The Government will seek the Legislative Council's approval for the recommendations later.

Pay-related recommendations will be implemented with effect from the first day of the month immediately following the month of approval by LegCo or June 1 next year.

In reaching this decision, the Chief Executive-in-Council has considered a number of factors including the commission's review findings and recommendations, the views of management of the two departments and the staff side of the two grades as well as the wider community interests.

The Chief Executive-in-Council considers the commission's recommendations to be reasonable and well justified for tackling recruitment difficulties and retention problems faced by both staff grades.

The Government thanked the commission for its in-depth analysis and thorough consultation with stakeholders in the course of conducting the grade structure review.

It is also grateful to all stakeholders for their valuable input.

This story has been published on: 2020-09-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
A joint research conducted on Ghanas implementation of the World Health Organisations (WHO) three-Pillar Module, of the Test, Treat and Track (Three-Ts) Policy for malaria, has shown great progress in the first two pillars.



However, the tracking aspect by healthcare providers - to ensure adherence to prescriptions given to clients, monitoring their response to the treatment, and also their unwillingness to go back for reviews at facilities -was found to be lacking.



The researchers, therefore, recommended improved funding by the Government, frequent training of healthcare staff at the lower level, especially the Community-Based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) Compounds, and intensified monitoring by District and Municipal Health Directorates by devising tracking systems contextual to urban and peri-urban facilities for cost effectiveness.



Ms Charlotte Tawiah Agyemang, representing the Kintampo Health Research Centre, at a policy dissemination workshop in Accra on Tuesday, said realising the critical need for assessing the Three-Ts Policy, seven years after its implementation by the Ghana Health Service in 2013, a research partnership was formed, to review and identify any possible gaps, and help in addressing them.



She introduced the research partners as the Alliance for Reproductive Health Rights (ARHR) representing civil society, the Anglican Diocesan Development and Relief Orgainsation (ADDRO) for religious, and the Kintampo Health Research Centre, with funding from the COMIC Relief.



Ms Agyemang said there was still a lot to be done considering the numerous gaps that were identified in the efforts to control malaria, and called for massive stakeholder involvement, especially, regarding issues of the environment, elimination of the breeding grounds of mosquitoes, proper use of Insecticide Treated bed Nets, and strict adherence to prescribed medication, for effective treatment.



Nii Ankonu Annorbah Sarpei, the Programmes Manager for the ARHR, said the overall objective of the study was to highlight the gaps within the system with respect to malaria care, adding that, although the Policy, recommended adherence to all the Three-Ts of malaria care, some of the facilities sampled were found to be confronted with challenges such as non-availability of or expired of Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) kits, and absence of laboratories.



This, he said created a vacuum for proper diagnoses, and some were compelled to rely on signs and symptoms of patients for treatment, with the lack of funding being the major explanations given by the majority of the healthcare workers and District Health Directorates in the sampled areas, for the low tracking rate.



He urged the Government agencies responsible, to ensure that facilities were always well stocked with important healthcare consumables if Ghana was to realise the full impact of the Three-Ts Policy.



Mr Francis Agbokey, a Research Fellow with the Kintampo Health Research Centre, in a presentation, said the study was conducted in six selected districts across three ecological zones within the Northern, Middle and Southern belts, with variations to ensure a well representation.



They included districts and municipalities in West Mamprusi, Jirapa, Kintampo, Mporhor, as well as Nzema East respectively, where a total of 590 clients from 31 health facilities, made up of the Community-Based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) Compounds, Health Centres and Hospitals, participated in the study.



The study, he said ascertained that there was high knowledge among both healthcare workers and clients regarding the Three-T Policy and spoke about the use of the Community Scorecards as an effective tool for data collection during the research.



He said the partners would engage with policy makers to present the findings and together help in filling the identified gaps with evidenced-based approach towards malaria control.



Dr Robert Kuganab, the Member of Parliament for Binduri, and Ranking Member of the Health Committee commended the research partners for the good work done, saying, the study had provided evidence on what was working and not, through a broad national perspective of what was being done as far as the control and elimination of malaria was concerned.



He urged the researchers to move the study further, by considering themselves as key stakeholders in the implementation of the recommendations.

Source: GNA









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A Kentucky grand jury on Wednesday charged one of three police officers involved in the shooting death of Breonna Taylor. The 26-year-old Black woman was shot by officers inside her home in Louisville last March.

The officer, Brett Hankison, was not charged for his part in Taylors death, which happened during a police raid of her apartment on the night of March 13. Instead, the grand jury charged Hankison with three counts of wanton endangerment for firing shots into other nearby apartments during the raid.

Hankison, who is white, has already been dismissed from his job.

No other charges were announced against the other two officers who took part in the raid, Jonathan Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove.

Immediately after the announcement, people expressed anger that the grand jury did not do more.

Justice has NOT been served, tweeted Linda Sarsour of Until Freedom, a group that has pushed for charges in the case. Rise UP. All across this country. Everywhere. Rise up for #BreonnaTaylor.

Protesters in Louisville have pressured state Attorney General Daniel Cameron to charge the police officers who shot Taylor. Cameron, a Republican, is Kentuckys first Black state attorney general.

Officers shot Taylor, an emergency medical worker, several times. Police had entered her home using a warrant during a drug investigation. The warrant they used did not require the officers to announce their presence. The use of these so-called no-knock warrants has since been banned in Louisville.

The warrant used to search Taylors home was connected to a suspect who did not live there and no drugs were found.

Taylors boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, opened fire when police entered, hitting Officer Mattingly. Walker was charged with attempted murder of a police officer, but lawyers later dropped the charge.

Walker told police he heard knocking but did not know who was coming into the home. He said he fired his gun in self-defense.

Cameron said the states investigation found that Hankison and the two other officers announced themselves before entering. Cameron said the officers acted in self-defense after Walker fired at them.

Cameron has said his office received materials from the Louisville Police Departments public integrity unit while trying to decide whether to bring state charges against the three officers involved.

Hankison was dismissed from the citys police department on June 23. Acting Louisville Police Chief Robert Schroeder said in a dismissal letter that Hankison had shown extreme indifference to the value of human life when he wantonly and blindly shot 10 rounds of gunfire into Taylors apartment.

Last week, the city settled a lawsuit against the three officers brought by Taylors mother, Tamika Palmer. The city agreed to pay her $12 million and put in place police reforms.

Protesters in Louisville and across the country have demanded justice for Taylor and other Black people killed by police in recent months. The release in late May of an emergency 911 call by Taylors boyfriend marked the beginning of days of protests in Louisville. The protests were also fueled by the May 25 death of George Floyd, a Black man who died while being arrested by police in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Im Ashley Thompson.

The Associated Press reported on this story. Ashley Thompson adapted the report for VOA Learning English. was the editor.

_______________________________________________________________



Words in This Story



apartment - n. a usually rented room or set of rooms that is part of a building and is used as a place to live

wanton - adj. showing no thought or care for the rights, feelings, or safety of others

warrant - n. a document issued by a court that gives the police the power to do something

integrity - n. the quality of being honest and fair

lawsuit - n. a process by which a court of law makes a decision to end a disagreement between people or organizations

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A female doctor holds a swab in one of the central fairgrounds in the outpatient corona test facility. Britta Pedersen/picture alliance via Getty Images

Healthcare providers in the US are again limiting who is able to get a coronavirus test due to shortages of supplies needed to process the test, The Wall Street Journal reported.

These shortages come as the fall season the US is beginning.

Flu tests also require the same supplies that the COVID-19 test needs.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

A shortage of a chemical used to process the COVID-19 test has caused healthcare systems across the US to limit who is able to get a test  right before the start of the flu season  The Wall Street Journal reported.

Some hospitals and facilities have gone back to limiting tests to the most vulnerable patients as supplies dwindle.

Mark Steadham, president and chief executive of Morris Hospital and Healthcare Centers, told The Journal that his hospitals are only getting about a third of their usual Abbott testing kits forcing them to scale back their testing.

"We felt like we were just starting to get ahead of the virus," Steadham told The Journal about the testing decline.

Michael Dacey, president of Riverside Health System in Newport News, Virginia, also told The Journal that his hospital cut testing by 20% due to limited supplies. Those who are suspected of having COVID-19 but aren't ill enough to be admitted to the hospital don't get a test.

"This is a big country, and we still haven't been able to settle the testing issue. It doesn't make any sense," Dacey told The Journal.

Public health experts sounded alarms last month when testing declined by 13%. That came after labs were so overburdened with tests that it sometimes took more than a week for people to get their results, giving them enough time to spread the virus. According to experts, without adequate testing, it makes it harder to get a handle on the outbreak.

"One of the biggest obstacles to containment has been the fact that we don't have a testing strategy and people don't know their status," Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security, told Business Insider. "When you look at countries that have been able to contain [the virus], they didn't do anything out of the ordinary. They tested, traced, and isolated."

Story continues

In this case, while tests have expanded from 15.8 million in April to 37.6 million in August, the tools such as reagents needed to run those tests are in short supply making it hard to actually process the tests, The Journal reported.

The shortages are not expected to be resolved anytime soon, since the same chemicals are also used to test for the flu. Flu season is expected to start soon, and healthcare systems will have to start screening for both illnesses.

Experts at John Hopkins University told the Boston Herald that the flu coupled with the coronavirus pandemic will burden both hospitals and testing systems.

"These are two infections that are very similar in terms of how they present clinically, and so this may put an increased burden on our COVID-19 testing infrastructure," Andrew Pekosz, virologist and co-director of the Johns Hopkins Center of Excellence for Influenza Research and Surveillance, told the Herald.

Read the original article on Business Insider
will take up three Bills for consideration and passing on Wednesday.

The Major Port Authorities Bill,2020, The Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation)Bill, 2020 and The Factoring Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2020 will be taken up by the Lower House for consideration and passing.

As per the website, Mansukh Madaviya, Minister of State for Shipping (Independent Charge) will move--The Major Port Authorities Bill,2020,--the Bill to provide for the regulation, operation and planning of Major Ports in India and to vest the administration, control and management of such ports upon the Boards of Major Port Authorities and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto, be taken into consideration and passing.

Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan will move--The Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation)Bill, 2020-- the Bill for the regulation and supervision of the assisted reproductive technology clinics and the assisted reproductive technology banks, prevention of misuse, safe and ethical practice of assisted reproductive technology services and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto, be taken into consideration and passing.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will move--The Factoring Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2020-- the Bill to amend the Factoring Regulation Act, 2011, be taken into consideration and passing.

will meet on Wednesday at 6 pm instead of the usual time of 4 pm. The House has been meeting at 4 pm during the monsoon session of except on the first day. Speaker Om Birla informed the members about the change of timings in the House on Tuesday.

Three labour reform Bills -- Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020, the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, and the Code on Social Security, 2020 -- were passed by the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. The Lower House also passed--The Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Bill, 2020-- a Bill to include Kashmiri, Dogri and Hindi as official languages of Jammu and Kashmir in addition to English and Urdu.

(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.)
At least 10 states including Union Territories (UTs) are reporting 74 per cent of newer confirmed COVID-19 cases and 83 per cent of the deaths in the last 24 hours due to infection, the Union said on Wednesday.

"A total of 83,347 new cases (active cases) have been reported in the last 24 hours in the country. About 74 per cent of the new confirmed cases are concentrated in 10 states/UTs," the ministry said in a statement.

According to the ministry, in the last 24 hours, Maharashtra has alone contributed to about 18,390 new cases, while Andhra Pradesh has reported at least 7,553 cases. Karnataka has contributed to 6,974 cases, Uttar Pradesh has witnessed 5,650 cases, Tamil Nadu has reported 5,337 cases, Odisha is contributing to 4,189 cases, Kerala has seen 4,125 cases, while Delhi has reported 3,816 cases. West Bengal has witnessed about 3,182 cases and Chhattisgarh has reported 2,736 cases.

"About 1,085 deaths have been registered in the past 24 hours and 10 states/UTs account for 83 per cent of the deaths in the last 24 hours due to COVID. Maharashtra reported 392 deaths followed by Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh with 83 and 77 deaths, respectively. West Bengal has reported 62 fatality, Tamil Nadu has witnessed 76 deaths, Andhra Pradesh has seen 51 mortality, Punjab has reported 66 deaths, Delhi has witnessed 37 fatality followed by Haryana which has registered 29 deaths while 28 people have succumbed in Chhattisgarh due to the virus in the last 24 hours," the ministry said.

The Union also informed at least 14 states/UTs have demonstrated better COVID-19 response strategy with higher Tests Per Million (TPM) and commensurate lower positivity rate than the national average.

According to the official data, India's national cumulative positivity rate is 8.52 per cent and the TPM stands at 48,028 on Wednesday.

India's testing capacity has surged to more than 12 lakh daily tests. More than 6.6 crore total tests have been conducted across the country so far.

"Nearly 14 states/UTs have demonstrated better COVID response with higher Tests Per Million (TPM) and commensurate lower Positivity Rate than the national average. These include-- Mizoram, Manipur, Daman and Diu and Dadar and Nagar Haveli, Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Sikkim, Tripura, Jammu and Kashmir (UT), Odisha, Assam, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Haryana and Andaman and Nicobar Islands," the ministry 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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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, September 23, 2020 09:31 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c4693c07 1 People New-Orleans,Indonesian-diaspora,marissa-hutabarat Free

Marissa Hutabarat, a United States citizen of Indonesian descent, has taken office as a judge at the First City Court in New Orleans, Louisiana, after winning the local vote.

It's a dream come true. This is what I've been wanting to do since I entered law school, Marissa said in an interview with VOA Indonesia.

Marissa first studied psychology at the DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois. Afterward, she went to the Loyola University School of Law in the same city.

My desire is always to serve the community, to the best of my ability, she said, proudly.

Prior to her running as a judge, she served as an associate attorney at Glago Williams, LLS, focusing on traffic incidents, medical malpractice and insurance disputes.

Read also: Indonesias first Academy Awards voting member Amelia Hapsari to champion Southeast Asian documentariesl

Marissa was supported by the Democratic Party in her run for election as a judge. Campaigning under the tagline "Peoples Judge", she won 60 percent of the vote at the local election on Aug. 15.

Marissas electoral victory has exposed her to the proud Indonesian diaspora, especially Batak people who share her family name, Hutabarat. She said Indonesian people, even those she did not know, had showered her with congratulations all over social media.

All of this makes me even prouder of being an Indonesian, she said, smiling.

Marissa was born to a Batak father and a Chinese Thai mother. She was born and raised in the United States and has never been to Indonesia. However, she still connects with her Indonesian roots through her Opung (Bataknese for grandmother), who taught her a little bit of the Batak language.

I'm a little embarrassed that I've never learned the Indonesian language, but I will make that happen, she promised. (gis/kes)
Miami, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/23/2020 -- The Satin Pure Collection is an elegant set of linens with colors designed to invoke and capture the cooler autumn season. The colors were unveiled earlier this year by Hastens and they are now available. With the classic Hastens Blue Check, the Hastens Satin Pure Bed Linen Range perfectly complements and adds a splash of rich colors to the selection of beds already known as being pieces of carefully handcrafted art.



Now is the time to get a more restful sleep this fall and winter season. Prices for Hastens beds will be increasing during October. Don't miss the opportunity to save and experience boundlessly better sleep at night.



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Brickell Mattress is devoted to redefining the bed or mattress shopping experience by welcoming clients in a relaxed environment where the focus is ease and assurance. Each specialist has a minimum of five years experience in the industry and is highly trained in providing customers comprehensive information on the science of sleep and mattresses by some of the world's most acclaimed top mattresses brands including Swedish manufacturer Hastens, Carpe Diem Beds of Sweden, and more. For additional information please call 305-326-4000, check out the website at www.brickellmattress.com or visit Brickell Mattress at 1030 SW 8th Street in the heart of Miami. Hastens beds are also sold at the Miami Design District: 112 NE 41 Street, Suite # 100, Miami, FL 33137.
By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 09/22/2020



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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 Olivia Cornu has revealed Brett Lindsey acts like a different person on-camera than when they're together in private and so she struggles to know the real Brett.Olivia, a 30-year-old nurse practitioner from Bossier City, LA, and Brett, a 35-year-old with a career in information technology from Gretna, LA, were matched by experts Dr. Pepper Schwartz, Dr. Viviana Coles and Pastor Calvin Roberson to wed on Season 11 of the Lifetime reality series.During Wednesday night's episode of : Unfiltered, Olivia watched back a Season 11 clip in which she and fellow MAFS bride Amani walked along a swamp together in Louisiana and discussed their marriages.Amani shared how she had butterflies for her husband Woody Randall , but Olivia admitted those emotions "weren't present" on her end and it was "concerning" Brett didn't open up to her."He says he talks, but I just don't know how honest the talking is," Olivia says in the clip.Unfiltered host Jamie Otis , who starred on Season 1 of , asked Olivia if she's grown any closer or more attracted to Brett yet."You know, I think at this point, I look for little moments, and I have moments of attraction and I have moments of like, 'No!'" Olivia confessed.At this stage in the process, Olivia and Brett had been living together in New Orleans and they were about two weeks into the experiment."And so I'm just still waiting for the consistent butterflies to show up and to really just feel that connection with Brett," Olivia shared.Since viewers only get to see what is documented and filmed, Jamie asked Olivia to reveal her dynamic with Brett behind the scenes, when cameras are turned off and they're alone."You know, sometimes when Brett and I are by ourselves, I can really feel like I'm seeing the real Brett and really seeing a little bit more of a vulnerable side of him," Olivia explained.As viewers have observed, Olivia seems to get frustrated with Brett in group settings more often than in private interactions."I feel like when we're on-camera, it's difficult to kind of navigate him saying certain things. So I'm really struggling with just really trying to understand who the real Brett is and peeling back those layers," Olivia said."So I'm just taking my time in trying to figure him out."Jamie, who is still married to her MAFS match Doug Hehner, pointed out that's the right way to go about it -- "just one day at a time."Pastor Cal joined Olivia on Unfiltered, and Jamie asked the MAFS expert how Olivia should go about navigating her conversations with Brett considering she's not sure when he's being honest and his true self."Brett has to undo some thinking. The guy that he is in private, she said she sees glimpses of his vulnerability, and when the camera comes on, it's 'who's this guy?' And he's not really being open and honest," Pastor Cal explained."But he's got to rework that. He's got to be the same whether he's documented or not documented and be vulnerable and be emotional."Pastor Cal acknowledged Woody had "mastered that" and so he "needs to talk to Brett."Olivia has admitted on numerous occasions marriage is a lot harder than she had anticipated, and so Jamie asked the nurse practitioner what she thought marriage would look like going into the experiment."I don't really know what I envisioned. I kind of went into this with an open mind. I just hoped to find someone that would have fun with me and cut up a little bit and be serious when you have to be serious -- and just someone who supports me and my hopes and my dreams for my life and someone I can build my life with," Olivia shared."I think Brett and I are having some struggles as far as it comes to communication, but ultimately, you know, I'll keep persevering and pushing through and making sure I give it my best effort."Olivia has been questioning on Season 11 why the MAFS experts even matched her with Brett to begin with.The main issue seemed to be that Brett enjoys staying at his home with his cats and saving money for retirement while Olivia was looking for a husband who would join her on adventures and participate in activities such as sporting events and romantic dinners out.Olivia said marriage wasn't coming easy for the couple, so she thought it would be a good idea to try to bond with Brett over inexpensive outings.Olivia therefore suggested to Brett they should go on an airboat ride in the Louisiana swamp together and then Brett took Olivia rock climbing in the latest episode "We're making large strides in the small things that we do, and that's making me optimistic about our future together," Olivia noted.But Olivia's marriage optimism faltered when she and Brett went to a bar to play trivia with Olivia's friends one night.Olivia believed Brett was full of random knowledge, but he didn't seem to know the answers to any of the questions. Brett didn't really participate or help out, and the cameras caught him seemingly bored and yawning at one point."The fact Brett's not trying makes me feel like he doesn't care," Olivia griped, adding that Brett wasn't trying to connect with her friends.In addition to Olivia, Brett, Amani and Woody, 's eleventh season also stars Henry Rodriguez , Christina, Amelia Fatsi Miles Williams , and Karen Landry currently airs on Wednesday nights at 8PM ET/PT on Lifetime.Interested in more news? Join our Married at First Sight Facebook Group
What is Ontario waiting for? The province says its fall pandemic plan has been ready since July, but that it is being rolled out in instalments this week because it is so robust, so vast. Despite rising COVID-19 case counts, testing failures and escalating levels of alarm, step one wasnt revealed until Tuesday, and it was to get your flu shot. Great, good, get your flu shot. What else?

We dont have anything specific that were prepared to move on right now, said Health Minister Christine Elliott on Tuesday, but we are looking very carefully at several different scenarios.

This is time for the full-court press, said Dr. Isaac Bogoch, infectious diseases specialist at the University of Toronto. On all fronts. Its go time. It was go time a month ago, but its really go time now.

The province had months to prepare, and it apparently isnt done yet. Two weeks ago Ontario shelved further reopening plans as if that was a containment strategy. Last week Ontario dropped gathering sizes from 100 outdoors and 50 indoors to 20 and 10, though not in commercial establishments, houses of worship or schools. Which was something, but not enough. Maybe not even now.

I dont think the social circle concept has worked out, said Dr. Vera Etches, Ottawas medical officer of health. I look at what were seeing in peoples behaviour, where one circle of 10 becomes a different circle of 10 overlapping on a different day of the week.

That is a failure of public health messaging and regulation, and matches data in Peel, which is another of the hardest-hit regions of the province. They arent seeing undifferentiated community spread yet, but its not too far from here to there.

Each case had an average of five close contacts at the end of July and August. Nowadays, that average is up to 25-30 close contacts, said Dr. Lawrence Loh, Peels medical officer of health. So just by the gross numbers alone, the risk of transmission is increasing.

So for the moment, it is left to local officials to take action. Tuesday, Ottawa Public Health took the extraordinary step of imposing mandatory 14-day self-isolation on anyone who has COVID-19 or symptoms of COVID-19, is a close contact of someone with COVID-19, or has reasonable cause to believe they have the virus. Violators are subject to a $5,000 fine. Youre allowed out after 14 days, or with a negative test.

Of course, Ottawas testing waits have been dystopian, among other reports of lengthy delays in many locations across the province. Premier Doug Ford keeps saying the system is strong and theyre pulling out all the stops, but the lineups are there for all to see.

In the Ottawa Public Health briefing, Jeffrey Dale, the CEO of the Eastern Ontario Regional Laboratory Association, was asked what he needed to be able to handle the testing crunch. He said more reagents, more equipment and more staff. That doesnt sound like the system was ready.

Meanwhile, Toronto Public Health is only getting 25 per cent of positive tests results from the lab within 24 hours of a positive test, and it is getting less than 60 per cent within 48 hours. Contact tracing capacity has been built up across the province, but as one local medical officer of health who requested anonymity put it, there isnt a lot of room left on the cliff.

We still dont have a real-time data sharing platform for (data transmission from labs to public health), says Toronto Councillor Joe Cressy, the chair of the Toronto Board of Health. So from a contact tracing point of view, when youre trying to manage cases during reopening, were starting with our hands behind our back.

Then there are the testing delays themselves. Like so many in a period of what is now exponential case growth, health-care workers with kids in school have to sit home and wait for tests. The worry is that as hospitalizations inevitably climb, hospital staffing could be impacted.

The lab capacity for that guy who wants to go to the wedding is the same lab capacity that I use so I can take care of ICU patients, says Dr. Michael Warner, the critical care chief at Michael Garron hospital in East York, who has already spent three days at home while waiting for a test. And our turnaround time in my hospital is up to five days. So the supply of the health system is going to evaporate, just as the flu season is coming. So we are in major, major trouble.

If we didnt fix (protective personal equipment) in March, everything would have fallen apart. If we dont fix testing now everything will fall apart, except much faster.

So what is the province waiting for? Dr. Ashleigh Tuite, one of the provinces best infectious disease modellers, notes that research out of Switzerland estimates that for every week you wait during exponential spread, you pay a heavy price.

For every week you wait (to intervene), thats three weeks of lockdown just to get back to that point, says Dr. Tuite. Nobody wants to go back to lockdown. Thats not a good place to be. But if were going to get shut down anyway, why not plan to support the businesses instead of hoping that things are going to be fine? Were going to have a reckoning at some point.

Ontario was supposed to use the summer to bolster its epidemic response, and while the premier and the health minister keep saying theyre ready, thats clearly not the case. But even if theyre already too late, they and we still have a chance to change the course. Maybe the province will actually make the right interventions, and have the stomach for the fight.

But at the most local level, its back to basics: cut down your social circles, wash your hands, and keep your distance, because the waters rough again. The province of Ontario has waited too long already. The rest of us shouldnt make the same mistake.

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Laxmi Vilas Palace case: Court stays arrest warrant against Arun Shourie

India

oi-Deepika S

Jodhpur, Sep 23: The Rajasthan High Court on Wednesday stayed the arrest warrant against former union minister Arun Shourie and one other in a case involving the sale of an Udaipur hotel at an alleged loss of Rs 244 crore to the exchequer.

The HC, however, told Shourie to appear before the trial court on any day by October 15--the next date of hearing-- and furnish a personal bond of Rs 2 lakh and two sureties of Rs 1 lakh each.

The hotel''s valuer, Kantilal Vikamsey, has been told to do the same on October 8.

On Wednesday, the CBI told the High Court that no irregularity was committed by them, justifying the closure report filed by it earlier.

Centre's Additional Solicitor General S V Raju stated that the CBI court's order was not in conformity with law.

A special court last week had asked the CBI to file cases against Shourie and four others with regard to the sale of public sector Indian Tourism Development Corporation's Laxmi Vilas Palace Hotel to a private firm around two decades ago.

PM Modi meets Arun Shourie at Pune hospital, enquires about his health

The property was sold to Bharat Hotels Ltd for Rs 7.52 crore when Shourie was the minister in charge of divestment in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led National Democratic Alliance government at the Centre.

During a preliminary investigation by the CBI, the property was valued at Rs 252 crore, suggesting a loss of Rs 244 crore to the exchequer.

On Wednesday, Shourie's counsels Pradeep Shah with Prashant Bhushan through video conferencing said there was neither the condition nor the urgency to summon the accused by arrest warrant and the CBI court erred in passing this order.

Mentioning about the other three accused who were granted bail by the court on Tuesday, Bhushan said, "Though the petitioner''s case was identical, but required a different order in as much as petitioner was not even named in the FIR."

He argued that the trial court erred in invocation of Section 19 of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Shourie also sought exemption from appearance in person in the CBI court for furnishing the bond and sureties, citing his age, ill-health and family conditions.

NCB summons Deepika Padukone, Shraddha Kapoor and Sara Ali Khan summoned in Drugs case|Oneindia News

Admitting the arguments, Justice Dinesh Mehta converted the arrest warrant of Shourie and Kantilal Vikamsey into a bailable warrant.

However, it asked Shourie and Vikamsey to appear in the CBI court on any day by October 15, to furnish the bonds and sureties.

With this, all five accused in the case have been granted relief from arrest as ordered by the CBI court on September 15.

On Tuesday, the High Court court had stayed the arrest of former disinvestment secretary Pradip Baijal and two others--MD of Lazard India Limited Ashish Guha and MD of Bharat Hotels Limited Jyotsana Suri.

Staying their arrest, the HC had termed the CBI court''s decision ''not justified''.

The HC also directed that the Laxmi Vilas Palace Hotel should be transferred back to the company, a week after the lower court ordered its takeover by the state government till the case is settled.

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Story first published: Wednesday, September 23, 2020, 21:41 [IST]
Paris, 23 September 2020 - Apax Partners SAS has entered into exclusive negotiations with Cap Gemini in view of acquiring Odigo, a leader in Contact-Center-as-a-Service (CCaaS) solutions principally for large companies.

Founded in 1986, Odigo is an omni-channel cloud platform that supports companies in the management of their customer interaction. The company offers cutting-edge technologies that improve both customer satisfaction and the employee experience in such a way as to stimulate growth in the sales of Odigo's customers.

With around 650 employees, Odigo accompanies more than 400,000 users and more than 200 customers in nearly 100 countries.

With Apax Partners as a new investor, Odigo would aim to accelerate its growth and international expansion, notably on the back of its plans for technological innovation.

About Altamir

Altamir is a listed private equity company (Euronext Paris-B, ticker: LTA) founded in 1995 and with an investment portfolio of more than 1bn. Its objective is to provide shareholders with long-term capital appreciation and regular dividends by investing in a diversified portfolio of private equity investments.

Altamir's investment policy is to invest via and with the funds managed or advised by Apax Partners SAS and Apax Partners LLP, two leading private equity firms that take majority or lead positions in buyouts and growth capital transactions and seek ambitious value creation objectives.

In this way, Altamir provides access to a diversified portfolio of fast-growing companies across Apax's sectors of specialisation (TMT, Consumer, Healthcare, Services) and in complementary market segments (mid-sized companies in continental Europe and larger companies in Europe, North America and key emerging markets).

Altamir derives certain tax benefits from its status as a SCR ("Societe de Capital Risque"). As such, Altamir is exempt from corporate tax and the company's investors may benefit from tax exemptions, subject to specific holding-period and dividend-reinvestment conditions.

For more information: www.altamir.fr

Contact

Claire Peyssard Moses

Tel.: +33 1 53 65 01 74 / E-mail: investors@altamir.fr

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Korean film 'An Old Lady' explores why our 'normal' questions about rape tend to be extraneous.

Woman, aged 69, raped by a 29-year-old man.

We often read this sort of headline in newspapers. But where do we pause? At rape, or at 69 and 29?

South Korean writer-director Lim Sun-aes film An Old Lady asks that question, and then she wants us to consider this: Is there an age limit to being raped?

An Old Lady, which is playing at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), opens to a black screen. We hear two people talking. It seems one is a nursing assistant, and he is with a female patient who has come for physiotherapy. She has a frozen shoulder.

No one would guess your age, he says. Do you swim? Your legs You dont look old at all.

He puts an infrared lamp on. How long will it take? she asks.

Nine minutes.

The screen lights up and we stare at a row of curtained cubicles. Theres a loud beep and in one of them and the red light goes off.

We are left with the feeling that something has happened. But the patient, Hyo-jeong (Ye Su-jeong, known for her role in Train To Busan), seems normal as she chats and gently jokes with Mr Nam (Ki Joo-bong), who has come to pick her up.

He owns a small book store, and she works for him. Hes published a book of poetry and she was once his nurse.

At home, Hyo rubs her wrist. He notices a bruise on her arm. The nursing assistant was clumsy with the needle, she says. Later she says to him, I should report it to the police.

An Old Lady is framed in a way that everything seems to be against the woman who claims she was raped by the handsome nursing assistant, Lee Joong-ho.

Also, hes 29 and shes is in a live-in relationship. That makes the young cops snigger.

It was not rape. It was consensual sex, Lee tells the cops.

Though Hyos polygraph tells them that she may be telling the truth, and she has proof  the clothes she wore that day  old people, you know, they forget. They mix-up things.

And in any case, he says he didnt do it. Hes 29. Handsome.

The burden of proof on Hyo keeps mounting. She must convince the cops first, to even attempt a proper investigation. She must herself prove that it was rape and not consensual sex. She must prove that she didnt meet him once, earlier, at a supermarket. And that she didnt follow him to the clinic. She must produce a witness, the person who sent her to the clinic.

But that was so long ago. She cant recall. Shes forgetting things. Maybe, dementia is setting in.

But those flashes keep interrupting, disturbing her. The wrist mark is fading, but it still aches.

A womans age, class, social status, caste, clothes, marital status, lifestyle, behaviour  all these immediately come into question the moment she makes an accusation against a man. And the questions that follow are, Why would he? He could get anyone. Why would he need to rape? And why her?

As if women in burqas and long ghunghats are not raped. As if rich, upper caste men rape only according to their status. As if men only rape women their age. As if only women who smoke and drink get raped. As if women who quietly go about their business, with heads bowed, are never raped. As if rape were about sexual attraction, and not a violent crime.

As if rape was about how sexy a woman is and not about the perpetrators feeling of inadequacy, the desire to dominant, to exert power, to leave their mark of control and capability on another.

As if rape were about women, and not men.

Director Lim Sun-ae has said that she was riled up to make An Old Lady by a real-life case in which the warrant dismissal letter said, There is not much reason for a young man to rape an old woman.

An Old Lady ends on an empowering note, with a nod to the #MeToo movement. But it leaves you wondering how many women must still be keeping their sexual assault, rape a secret because they are scared theyll be asked, Who will rape an old lady?
Hyderabad, Sep 23 : The Telangana government will soon launch works to create infrastructure in Hyderabad to take care of the city's growth requirement for the next 30 years.

Telangana's Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister K. T Rama Rao stated this in a reply to the tweet by Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) chairman Anand Mahindra.

The minister also claimed that the government has already addressed over 90 per cent of the water issues in Hyderabad.

"Also soon launching infra works for the next 30 years of growth and needed water requirement of Hyderabad, including dedicated drinking water reservoirs and interlinked grid of Godavari and Krishna water," tweeted KTR, as the minister is popularly known.

"The speed of your response gives me even more hope for the future of the city," replied Anand Mahindra, who is quite active over social media.

The friendly banter between the two started with the top industrialist taking to Twitter to hail Hyderabad for being ranked as the best city to live and work in India in a survey by Holidify.com "Not surprising. More power to the city & all those who live there. We are especially delighted because the city is home to Mahindra University and we plan to grow & flourish & attract the best minds from around the world," wrote Mahindra.

The netizens reacted to his tweets, highlighting various issues. One of them wrote about the water problem in the city. The Twitter user commented that water is the only problem. He pointed that in some areas people have dug borewells up to a depth ofA2000 feet.

Anand Mahindra drew KTRS attention towards this problem with another tweet.

"If you can solve the water problem he's alluding to, you will have given us a city we can all love." The minister, who is son of Chief Minister K, Chandrasekhar Rao, was quick to respond, for which he earned praise from Mahindra.
This is the first in a series of articles devoted to the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival (September 10- 19).

The COVID-19 pandemic inevitably had a major impact on this years Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The 45th festival took place primarily on an online streaming platform, with some limited in-person screenings.

This years event presented some 60 feature films, a sharp decline from the more than 330 screened in 2019. TIFF, which organizes year-round programming, forecasts a 50 percent decline in revenue for 2020.

Even prior to the outbreak of the pandemic, in November 2019, the film festival reported it was laying off 15 staff members after what it called a comprehensive review of its five-year strategic plan, according to the CBC. The festival temporarily closed its year-round offices and cinemas at TIFF Bell Lightbox in March due to COVID-19. In June, in response to the devastating impact of the disease, the organization laid off 31 more employees, or 17 percent of its full-time staff.

In a July 8 statement, officials from the Toronto, Venice, Telluride and New York film festivals reported they were moving away from competing with one another and, instead, offering our festivals as a united platform for the best cinema we can find.

The statement asserted that this year we saw the COVID-19 pandemic devastate communities all over the world, and bring life as we knew it to a halt. As supporters of global cinema, we watched as the work of film artists stopped in its tracks, and the culture of film itself was challenged. Films come alive with audiences, who could no longer gather in the ways we had for over a century.

The art form we love is in crisis. Our own organizations have seen unprecedented challenges to our work and our financial security. The pandemic caught each of us as we were preparing for the biggest event of our year in the fall of 2020. We knew we had to adapt. We decided to collaborate as we never have before.

Two hundred and fifty thousand people have died in the three countries that host these four film festivals, with no end in sight to the mounting death toll. The pandemic has exposed the economic, social, political and moral rot of present-day capitalist society, and deepened it. There is no going back to the conditions that existed before March 2020, as harsh as those were for the mass of the population.

Where does the art form in question, global cinema, stand in relation to this unprecedented crisis? Is it shedding important light on the existing state of affairs, including the criminal policies of every government on the planet, or helping to conceal it?

As always, perhaps, the question cannot be answered so easily. Without doubt, a considerable portion of the filmmakers remain oriented to their own middle class problems and interests, their own little world, to race and gender issues in particular. Numerous references are made in the festivals press releases (and this is a global phenomenon, of course) to such matters.

An August 24 release, for example, boasted that Of all the titles in this years [festival] lineup, 45 percent are directed, co-directed, or created by women--and a strong 46 percent of titles are directed, co-directed, or created by Black, Indigenous, or POC filmmakers. It continued: The overall number of speakers at this years Industry Conference represents a 50/50 gender split, as do TIFF Talent Development initiatives such as TIFF Studio and Filmmaker Lab. And, for the first time, all of the TIFF Rising Stars are women.

None of this tells us anything about the content of the films in question or the commitment of the various filmmakers to social and artistic truth. We will point out once again that the imposition of de facto racial and gender quotas has not improved the quality of filmmaking one iota or resulted in any genuine diversification, i.e., a widening of cinemas social scope to include the burning problems of the overwhelming majority.

There were nonetheless a number of interesting and valuable films presented this year in Toronto, despite the much smaller pool of works from which one had to choose.

76 Days

Appropriately, 76 Days, a documentary about the 11-week lockdown (January 23-April 8) in Wuhan, China, the city where the pandemic began, was one of the best movies in Toronto. It contained some of the most authentic and memorable drama.

The film is credited to Hao Wu, Weixi Chen and Anonymous (a local reporter in Wuhan who wishes to remain anonymous to protect his identity).

Wu, a Chinese-American film director (Beijing or Bust, The Road to Fame, Peoples Republic of Desire), edited the video footage shot in Wuhan by his two collaborators.

The documentary does not offer any overall assessments or analyses. It is very much a close-up. Nearly everyone is a virus-infected patient or a health care worker. The intense immediacy is a limitation, but 76 Days, at a time of unrelenting propaganda by the US government against the new Yellow Peril, introduces its audience to the humanity and suffering of the Chinese people in an intimate and entirely legitimate manner.

Desperate people trying to enter hospital in 76 Days

Even more generally, it is a blow to the callousness and indifference of the media and political establishment everywhere, who argueor implythat the portion of the population primarily succumbing to the coronavirus is valueless, dead weight, somehow less than fully human.

In the documentary, we see a woman begging frantically, but vainly (for health reasons), to see her dying father one more time. Papa! Youll stay forever in my heart, she cries. In another scene, one of the most poignant and revealing, a desperate crowd of the sick presses for access at a hospital entrance. Please cooperate!, the staff members plead. They promise that everyone will eventually be admitted.

A nurse collects the ID cards and cell phones of the dead. The latter, often with images of the deceased or family members, are like small, glowing ghosts. A woman infected with the virus gives birth. Its a girl. But the baby is taken away immediately, because of the mothers health. Later, we will see both her and her husband waiting anxiously for their child. The happy reunion takes place as a nurse cheerily tells them the baby was a big sleeper and a good eater.

One naughty grandpa keeps getting up and roaming the corridors, looking for a way out, to go home. Somebody says, He was a fisherman. Hes restless. Sick and frightened, he weeps. Im already one foot in the grave. However, he turns out to be one of the lucky ones, and survives. When he is finally released, staff members gather near the elevator to say goodbye to him. I will never forget you, he tells them.

In one of the final sequences, the conscientious nurse returns a dead parents belongings to a family member. Im sorry, she says, we tried everything. I know is the simple response, as the crying woman turns to go.

In his directors statement, Hao Wu describes his reaction in the early days of the pandemic as it became increasingly clear that the local government had lied and suppressed whistleblowers to conceal the outbreak. It also became apparent that the situation was dire in Wuhanpeople were dying, hospitals were overwhelmed, and medical personnel did not have adequate protection so they were getting sick and dying too.

Later, in New York, he felt as though he was reliving the Wuhan stories all over again in Americaunderprepared government, lying or scientifically ignorant politicians, scared residents, and exhausted doctors and nurses with no protective equipment. It shocked me even more, this second time around, because America supposedly had a top-notch public health infrastructure and a far-superior political system.

Frankly, without glorifying the role of Chinese officials, it is almost preposterous at this point to suggest that the US relived the Wuhan experience. The lockdown in the latter city and accompanying measures contained and suppressed the virus. China has now fallen to 43rd on the list of countries ranked by number of deaths, with 4,600 fatalities. The US, with one-fourth the population, has suffered 205,000 deaths, thanks to the homicidal government policy.

In any event, 76 Days is a valuable and moving work.

Under the Open Sky

In a very different vein, but also a compassionate one, Under the Open Sky , from Japanese filmmaker Miwa Nishikawa, concerns a man who comes out of prison after a long sentence. Vindictively charged with murder in what seems to have been a case of self-defense, or at most manslaughter, Mikami (Koji Yakusho), once a gangster, is released into society after 13 years. The punishment begins, as Alfred Doblins Berlin Alexanderplatz (1929) has it, in regard to the ex-convict Franz Biberkopf.

Mikami struggles on the outside. His wife has divorced him (although she remains sympathetic to his situation: The world must be a difficult place for a man like you), he has no job, not even a drivers license. Am I too unhealthy to live in society?, he asks at one point, frustrated, impatient. He tries to track down his mother, who put up him up for adoption, but finds that the records are gone.

Under the Open Sky

A television writer and director propose to make a film about his fate, but Mikamis own difficulties and violent streak make that difficult. In any case, one of the middle class types says to the other, What is there to write about an ordinary guy?

In the end, he finds a job as a trainee in a nursing home, working with the elderly. I promise to be patient, he tells his friend. But there is no happy ending here. Too much damage has been done.

Veteran actor Koji Yakusho gives a beautiful, nuanced performance as a tortured soul for whom Japanese society has no place.

The director of Under the Open Sky, Miwa Nishikawa, apprenticed under well-known Japanese filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda before launching out on her own. In an interview, she explains, The [Japanese] social system has changed in the past 30 years, but peoples thoughts and attitude toward ex-convicts have not to the same degree. Do we live in a society that gives us a second chance at life?

Everyone in Japan, Nishikawa suggests, suffers from unspoken anxiety and suffocation as the result of an unforgiving world. She also explains, With this film, I think Ive entered a new phase. I now have the urge to portray society and the era and am shifting away from personal stories. All to the good.

The Best Is Yet to Come

The Best Is Yet to Come, from Chinese director Wang Jing, is an unusual, complex work. The film is essentially a tribute to investigative journalism and those prepared to sacrifice their own careers and comforts in the cause of exposing social ills.

A high school dropout, Han Dong (Ke Bai), from a city in northeast China, is determined to become a journalist. A well-known reporter, who has read a few of his articles, takes him on as an intern. Together they effectively expose a mine accident and the efforts of the mines owners to intimidate relatives of the dead miners into accepting a pittance in compensation.

Han Dong comes upon another scandal: Hepatitis B carriers illegally hiring healthy stand-ins for screenings. The issue is a huge one in China, where an estimated 100 million people are carriers and face discrimination, due to a lack of knowledge about the disease, in jobs and education. At first, Han Dong thinks he has come across a money-making racket and he writes an expose, which should ensure his employment by the newspaper, along those lines.

The Best Is Yet to Come

The truth is more complex: those helping the individuals infected with Hepatitis B are in fact fighting prejudice along humanitarian lines. Han Dong, already planning out a more pleasant existence for himself, now has to decide whether to pull the front-page story at the last moment and lose his position or keep his mouth shut in the face of an injustice.

In an interview with Variety, director Wang, who has worked as an assistant director for prominent Chinese filmmaker Jia Zhangke, explained that his central character was inspired by the example of a real-life journalist, a courageous and passionate small-town young man who embarked on a journey to become one of the most important journalists in China 17 years ago--its the kind of story that could exist only in that era. People back then aspired for a better tomorrow. They believed that changes were possible, and (believed in) the power of individuals. The implication about the present conditions and moods in China is obvious.

To be continued
Photo taken on Aug. 21, 2020 shows a logo of the video-sharing social networking company TikTok's Los Angeles Office in Culver City, Los Angeles County, the United States. (Xinhua)

TikTok, a short-form mobile video app popular among young people in the U.S., with an estimated 400 million downloads worldwide and about 90 million active users, was suddenly forced to either be sold or shut down.

Did TikTok violate the relevant laws of the U.S.? Did it cause damage to the U.S., or did it cause a great deal of social revulsion?

None of these! There is no reason at all!

It's hard to imagine this is all happening in the 21st century, in the U.S., which has always boasted of its free economy.

If the information publicly disclosed by CNN and other U.S. media accurately expresses the content of the agreement, Oracle will become a partner of TikTok in data security compliance and become its "trusted technology provider.

Oracle will review the source code and subsequent updates of TikTok, supervise all technical operations of TikTok in the U.S., and exclusively host TikTok user data in the U.S.

This means that Oracle will have full access to the technology of Douyin, a Chinese video-sharing social networking service. It is easy for discerning people to know whether such a "trusted technology provider" is credible.

Known as a "trusted technology provider, what kind of company is Oracle? Oracle is simply a large database provider with no operational management experience in mobile Internet products.

With an out of date technology product mechanism , the company, through charging high licensing fees through large databases, cannot simply adapt to the distributed and flexible mobile Internet.

Oracle's shortcomings in technical capabilities and management are likely to be disastrous for the development of TikTok.

Oracle's participation appears to be a "gentle trap" designed by the U.S. government. Through such a superficial cooperation, it does not seem to pay any price; it can control a powerful application developed by a Chinese company, one which American Internet companies cannot compete with, having full command of the company's technology.

Obviously, Oracle actually acts as the "black hands " of the US government.

Particularly noteworthy, CNN and other U.S. media have disclosed that the newly formed board of directors for TikTok Global will be composed of five people, four of whom need to be U.S. citizens, and these four U.S. citizens must include a US data security expert and serve as the director of the company's internal national security committee, with the highest security authority within the company.

If the above information is confirmed, then TikTok seems to have jumped out of the predicament of being forced to be sold and found a "cooperative route"; however, it is in fact being strangled.

This agreement seems to be nothing more than a snare for TikTok woven by American politicians and companies, with the goal to seize control of an influential Chinese mobile Internet company.

It is impossible to pin hopes on the opponent that losses can be avoided by complying with one of its rules. A superficial concession will lead to a bigger trap.

Even in sheep's clothing, a wolf is still a wolf. In the face of wolves, China can only survive through struggling! This is the inspiration China must draw from in this case!
Congratulations, cno.org got a very good Social Media Impact Score! Show it by adding this HTML code on your site:

Cno.org scored 71 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 3.5/5.0 Stars by Social Team

This CoolSocial report was updated on 25 Dec 2012, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want.

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The core educational mission of independent booksellers regional associations was on full display Tuesday at the combined fall conference for the New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association and Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance. In packed workshop sessions and thematic buzz panels, booksellers and editors were able to rekindle much of the educational reason for attendingand some of the interpersonal reasons as well.

Addressing Key Issues

In four 30-minute sessions, booksellers began their day with virtual roundtables in which they asked questions about some of their most pressing challenges and offered potential solutions.

Prospective bookstore owner Emily Liner was among them, coming to a breakout session for new bookstore owners with important questions about financial projections. Liner has relocated from Washington, D.C., back to her hometown in Columbus, Miss., where she hopes to open a new and used bookstore in the next year. Using the American Booksellers Associations ABACUS financial data drawn from hundreds of the nations bookstores, she wondered whether it was accurate to anticipate the $300,000 in annual revenue projected in the survey. "Ive got the ABACUS numbers, but Im going to be a new bookstore, so I dont know if I can anchor to those, Liner said.

Mary Patterson, owner of the Little Bookshop in Midlothian, Va., encouraged Liner to be cautious in her estimates. Keep your numbers super-conservative. Even though it says $300,000? I wish.

A session on returns was attended by 17 booksellers, who shared resources and strategies for sending unsold books back to publishers. Maplewood, N.J.-based Words Bookstore managing principal Jonah Zimiles asked about how to limit the hourly wage costs attendant to processing returns while also increasing the frequency of sending them.

Ive been keeping track of how much time it takes us to do it, and Im not very happy with what Im seeing, Zimiles said. It costs us a fair amount of money to do returns, particularly in terms of labor. So I think its critically important that we learn how to do them in a more efficient manner.

Booksellers encouraged Zimiles to increase the frequency of returns, and to consider keeping a schedule for sending books back based on section and publisher. Based in St. Simons, Ga., Righton Books co-owner Darryl Peck suggested using the U.S. Postal Services media mail instead of association discount shipping programs, UPS, or FedEx. Yes, you have to use more tape because the postal service is brutal, Peck said. But we have saved 70% on shipping.

Some publisher sales representatives were also in attendance, sparking a conversation about their role in helping process returns. Their presence led to booksellers wondering if publishers would pay the cost for returns of books that they oversold, with one bookseller affirming that a publisher had done so for her store earlier this year.

A session on generating revenue through subscription boxes, led by Delaware-based Bethany Beach Books manager Amanda Zirn Hudson, also drew high attendance, with booksellers sharing tips and strategies down to specific vendors and ways to develop different types of subscription programs. Hudson runs the bookstores subscription program, called the Book Drop, and encouraged booksellers to persist even if they only have a handful of customers. We started at 20 subscribers, Hudson said, standing in front of a wall of mailers awaiting pickup. Now were at 1400.

Coming Back to 'Lost Books'

Close to 50 booksellers took turns handselling overlooked recent releases to one another during an afternoon session moderated by NAIBA executive director Eileen Dengler. Many of the books that booksellers talked up were spring releases that were overshadowed by the pandemic. All genres for both adults and children were represented during the interactive session, beginning with On Lighthouses by Jazmina Barrera, translated by Christina McSweeney (Two Lines Press, May). Michael Triebwasser of Politics & Prose in Washington, D.C., described the book as a meditation on lighthouses, a slim volume, but I took it slow, because I didnt want it to end.

A number of booksellers mentioned The Book of Atlantis Black: The Search for a Sister Gone Missing by Betsy Bonner (Tin House Books, Aug.), with SIBA board president Kelly Justice of Fountain Bookstore in Richmond, Va., declaring that it should have been much bigger, Please read. Em Perper, a bookseller at the Curious Iguana in Frederick, Md., added that she seconded the raves about the book, saying it reminded her of Maggie Nelsons The Red Parts. And for those wanting queer romance, Lexi Beach, owner of Astoria Bookshop in New York City, championed Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall (Sourcebooks/Casablanca, July).

'Sex Sells'

This years Sex Sells! panel at NAIBA/SIBAs virtual conference drew scores of booksellers, as well as numerous sales reps who sell romance books. Moderator Pam Jaffee, senior director of publicity at HarperCollins, noted that 2020 has been a pretty terrible year. And in terrible years, romance does well. It guarantees a happily ever after, or at least happy for now, endingsomething you dont get with political books.

Other panelists included Jeanne-Marie Hudson, v-p, associate publisher, and marketing director of Berkley, and booksellers Michelle Haber, owner of Cupboard Maker Books in Enola, Pa., and Angela Trigg, owner of the Haunted Book Shop in Mobile, Ala. Trigg, who is also an award-winning romance writer, revealed that 41% of her store's sales were in trade paperbacks, and that 18% of romance sales at her store came from just five titles: The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams (Berkley) and its sequel, Undercover Bromance (Berkley); Beach Read by Emily Henry (Berkley)' Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston (St. Martins Griffin); and The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory (Berkley).

These five titles were referenced time and again during the panel. Trigg said she uses Bromance Book Club as a gateway book for new romance readers, and said she felt it offers a good education on the current state of the romance novel. Panelists also noted several times that the contemporary romance novel has found new audiences in independent bookstores, in part by abandoning the traditional illustrated image on the cover in favor of simple, evocative illustrations.

Hudson said that any squeamishness a customer might have about the sex in the books could be overcome by pointing out that in contemporary romance novels, consent is central to any interaction. Its a big thing for romance: there has to be an explicit yes, Hudson said, adding: No one wants throw me down romance now."
(Natural News) Researchers from EM Radiation Research Trust have warned the UK government about the adverse health effects linked to 5G radiation in response to the UK governments 5G consultation.

Their letter states clearly that imposing untested 5G radiation on the country is a bad idea. Of particular concern is the fact that the rollout of 5G in the country will significantly raise the number of radio frequency transmitters that are needed. This, in turn, will cause a sharp rise in microwave radio frequency exposure among the public as well as pollinating insects and other types of wildlife.

They also question what effect all of this exposure could have on childrens health. There has been no precautionary guidance on the use of smart phones, mobile phones, tablets and the Internet of things as well as the communication systems that keep these devices connected, whether its Wi-Fi, 2G, 3G, 4G or 5G.

The researchers mentioned scientific literature documenting harmful effects from microwave radio frequency signals such as fertility damage, behavioral and developmental problems, and increased cell death. The World Health Organizations International Agency for Research on Cancer classified radio frequency signals as a possible human carcinogen in 2011. Since then, the evidence has only grown linking this radiation to a greater cancer risk. Thats why they believe that the government should scrap its plans to move ahead with 5G until further testing can be carried out.

They asked in their letter why no safety testing is taking place before rolling out 5G and why it is not held to the same pre-market safety testing standards as new foods and medicines.

The scientists added that they are deeply concerned that special interests and industry lobbying are playing a role in this denial.

Concerns around the world growing over 5Gs dangers

They are far from the only group warning about potential serious health effects linked to 5G. More than 180 scientists and doctors from three dozen countries signed an appeal to the European Union over 5G dangers. They asked for the rollout to be halted until independent scientists can get a closer look at the potential hazards to human health and the environment posed by this technology.

The international EMF scientist appeal was written by researchers who study the health effects of EMF. They identified health concerns such as reproductive system changes, neurological disorders and cancer risk.

The 5G network aims to make the transmission of great amounts of data faster than ever, but it will require a high number of antennas to be installed in urban areas, making it impossible for many people to escape the harmful effects of radiation.

It is said to be as much as 100 times faster than 4G and have the potential to transform how people work and communicate. However, the price of all this could be our health and that of the planet.

Your internet might be a lot faster and you might have to wait less time to download movies (if youre inclined to do that sort of thing in a hurry), but you might also get cancer. Its hard to imagine anyone willingly signing up for anything with that horribly poor risk-to-reward ratio. And yet thats what telecommunication firms are asking us to do while trying to suppress information about the dangers that come with the new technology.

Why are so many regulators around the world listening to telecoms instead of scientists on this life-and-death matter?

Sources for this article include:

GlobalResearch.ca

NaturalNews.com
Last year, Egypt's ACA announced the arrest of the head of the Old Cairo district, located in the south part of the capital, for receiving a bribe

Egypts Cairo Criminal Court sentenced on Wednesday the former head of the Old Cairo district to 10 years in prison after he was found guilty in a 2019 bribery case.

The court sentenced another defendant to three years in prison in the same case.

The sentences are not final and can still be appealed by the defendants.

Last year, Egypt's Administrative Control Authority (ACA) announced the arrest of the head of the Old Cairo district, located in the south part of the capital, for receiving a bribe.

He was arrested for receiving EGP 1 million, out of an agreed upon EGP 2 million, from a demolition contractor working with the district in return for disbursing funds owed to the contractor by the district.

The ACA, the state body responsible for enforcing laws and regulations within state bodies, has been waging a national campaign against corruption in recent years.

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Ontarios effort to stop a second wave of COVID-19 starts with the largest and most comprehensive flu shot campaign in Canadas history, Premier Doug Ford said Tuesday.

Calling it the first pillar of the plan, he said the government is investing $70 million and ordered 5.1 million doses of the flu vaccine, nearly 700,000 more than were used last year.

Anyone who wants a flu shot can get one, Ford said at his daily news conference.

With Ontarios daily count of new COVID-19 cases spiking sharply this month, he said its absolutely critical to control the spread of the flu so emergency rooms and doctors offices arent overwhelmed.

Folks, we need your help. Its the best way to protect you and your family because the next few months will be critical, Ford said.

On Tuesday, Niagaras acting medical officer of health Dr. Mustafa Hirji said the public health department wants to provide wider access to flu shots this year.

Normally, the majority are done through pharmacies and family doctors, he said, but it is in talks now with some of the regions larger family health units to launch their own community vaccination clinics.

He said the flu vaccine program will allow his department to gather information that will later inform the way a widespread COVID-19 inoculation program can be run once a vaccine is approved for use.

Sean Simpson, who owns two pharmacies in Niagara-on-the-Lake, said Niagara pharmacists are preparing to carry a heavier load this year. Last year, he and his staff administered nearly 1,000 shots at the two stores, Simpsons Pharmasave Pharmacy in Virgil and Simpsons Pharmasave Apothecary on King Street.

This year, he said, theyve been told they might receive 10 to 20 per cent more doses, we anticipate demand might be higher than that, but it all depends on provincial stocks and how they are distributed.

The toll influenza takes on Canadians varies year to year. Last winter there were about 42,500 cases across the country, according to Infection Prevention and Control Canada, compared to 55,000 three years ago.

On Tuesday, Minister of Health Christine Elliott said there were 280 deaths from flu in Ontario last year.

Prevention measures for the flu and COVID-19 are similar  frequent hand washing, covering coughs and sneezes and staying home when youre sick. Both illnesses also share some of the same symptoms such as aches and pains, loss of appetite, fever and cough.

Simpson said pharmacies will likely receive their flu vaccines around the second week of October.

This year, pharmacists will be able to provide high-dose vaccines to seniors. Previously that was only available through family doctors.

And while the health ministry encourages everyone six months and older to get the vaccine, Simpson said, pharmacists can only provide them to people age five and older but he has heard that age limit might be lowered.

Other regulations have been eased, he said, to get more people vaccinated. He and other registered pharmacists at his stores will likely visit seniors residences and some workplaces to provide shots.

To allow for physical distancing, Simpson said he will provide vaccinations by appointment only. At his Virgil store, he will set up a drive-through clinic in the parking lot. He said he expects other pharmacies will also adapt their protocols to allow safe distancing between customers.

Simpson said Canadian health officials often use flu seasons in New Zealand and Australia to estimate how severe Canadas might be.

This year it has been less severe in those countries  possibly because more people are wearing masks, practising social distancing and frequently washing their hands.

Simpson said newborns, people with egg allergies and those with compromised immune systems cannot receive the flu vaccine.

Those are all potential members of our population that cant get the flu shot and cant be protected, he said. But if the rest of us get the vaccine, it will help reduce the spread of influenza throughout our population.

With files from Grant LaFleche

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Credit - TIME

The 2020 TIME100 list features pioneers, leaders, titans, artists and icons who made a significant impact on this years events. To reveal the list on Tuesday night, TIME brought Meghan Thee Stallion, Anthony Fauci, Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade and more leaders together for a socially distanced ABC Broadcast special.

The evening featured performances from The Weeknd, Halsey and Jennifer Hudson. Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, discussed the importance of voting. Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade shared how their kids inspire them in an evening that celebrated the 2020 TIME100 honorees.

See the below highlights from Tuesdays ABC broadcast revealing the 2020 TIME100 list.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, discuss the importance of voting

As the Tuesday broadcast coincided with National Voter Registration Day, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, shared a message about the value of Americans exercising their civic duty and voting in the Nov. 3 general election.

Every four years we are told the same thing, that this is the most important election of our lifetime, Meghan Markle said. But this one is. When we vote, our values are put into action and our voices are heard. Your voice is a reminder that you matter, because you do and you deserve to be heard.

Harry also urged Americans to be mindful of the type of information theyre consuming both online and off.

When the bad outweighs the good, for many, whether we realize it or not, it erodes our ability to have compassion and our ability to put ourself in someone elses shoes. Because when one person buys into negativity online, the effects are felt exponentially. Its time to not only reflect, but act, he said. As we approach this November, its vital that we reject hate speech, misinformation and online negativity.

Story continues

Anthony Fauci: It isnt me. Its what Im symbolizing

Anthony Fauci, one of the 2020 TIME 100 honorees featured on this years cover, discussed the coronavirus pandemicand the politicized, divisive U.S. response.

It isnt me, he said of those who engage in misinformation that has sought to discredit Fauci, scientists and public health experts. Its what Im symbolizing.

Michael B. Jordan wants his work to be part of justice as a whole

Michael B. Jordan, who was named to the 2020 TIME100 list in part for his advocacy, has been a strong voice for equity in Hollywood.

When you see these glimpses of strength and solidarity, I think it just makes me want to be better; It makes me want to work harder, he said, referring to protesters and organizers mobilizing against inequity and racial injustice. If I can do a bit of that hard workIf I can afford them more opportunity so they can stand on my shoulders and be a little bit tallerI think Im doing my job.

Meghan Thee Stallion addresses the conservative backlash against WAP

Meghan Thee Stallion, another 2020 TIME100 honoree featured on a cover, discussed how she approaches her music as a way of empowering women. Im like a girls girl and I love to support other women, Meghan said.

Meghan also addressed conservative backlash around Meghans hit with Cardi B, WAP.

When i saw all of the politicians in an uproar about mine and Cardis WAP, I was just really taken aback, she said. Like why is this your focus?

Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade shared how their kids inspire them

Union and Wade said that their children, including their daughter Zaya, who came out as transgender earlier this year, are the couples inspiration in leading a meaningful life.

We have a daughter that is almost 2, who the world has seen is bound to nothing but whatever is in her heart and on her soul at the moment and its beautiful to watch truly free children, Union said. We have another daughter who is 13, who has freedom to be exactly who she is, who she was born to be, to be her most authentic self. She doesnt ask permission to exist. That is wildly inspiring.

Wade echoed Unions message. Were inspired by our kids, he said. The way they look at us, the way they look to us for leadership and guidance, for their moments of bravery.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 12:40:08|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese military spokesperson said the Chinese and Indian military officials held the sixth round of commander-level talks on Monday.

Wu Qian, a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, said the talks were held at the border personnel meeting point in Moldo.

The two sides had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on stabilizing the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in China-India border, according to a press release jointly issued by the two sides.

The two militaries agreed to earnestly implement the important consensus reached by leaders of the two countries, strengthen in-place communication and contact, avoid misunderstanding and miscalculation, stop adding troops to the frontline, and refrain from changing the in-place situation unilaterally and taking any actions that may complicate the situation, the document said.

The two sides also agreed to hold the seventh commander-level talks as soon as possible, take practical measures to properly handle in-place issues and jointly maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas, said the press release. Enditem
NEW DELHI - India reported more than 83,000 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, showing some decline after reaching a record a week earlier.

The country has now confirmed more than 5.6 million cases. The health ministry also reported 1,085 new fatalities, raising the death toll to 90,020.

India is expected to become the worlds worst-hit country within weeks, surpassing the United States, where nearly 6.9 million people have been infected by the virus.

But the past week has seen some improvement in India, with the numbers dropping after a record 97,894 new cases were reported on Sept. 16.

Balram Bhargava, director-general of the Indian Council for Medical Research, said Tuesday that vaccines with at least 50% efficacy will be approved for use against the coronavirus. Thats the benchmark set by the World Health Organization, as no vaccine for respiratory diseases is 100% effective, Bhargava told reporters.

In other developments in the Asia-Pacific region:

 Xi Jinping, 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. Xi took oblique potshots at the United States and its foreign policies, cautioning in a U.N. address Tuesday that the world must not fall into the trap of a clash of civilizations  remarks played minutes after delegates heard U.S. President Donald Trump insist that the United Nations hold China accountable for how it handled the emergence of the coronavirus. While Xi, being prerecorded and not there, could not rebut what Trump said, his U.N. ambassador was in the General Assembly chamber and responded directly while introducing the Xi video.

 Sri Lankan authorities announced Wednesday that they will offer livestreams from the island nations wildlife parks to help revive a tourism industry that has been decimated by the coronavirus pandemic. The governments Tourism Promotion Bureau said livestreaming will initially cover four national parks to showcase the South Asian countrys exotic wildlife, including leopards, bears, elephants, crocodiles and birds. Tourism in Sri Lanka  which was named the worlds top travel destination for 2019 by Lonely Planet  has suffered severely due to the coronavirus, with authorities indefinitely postponing the reopening of the country to foreign tourists. The country has reported 3,315 cases, including 13 deaths.

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A grand jury on Wednesday indicted a former Louisville, Kentucky, cop, Sgt. Brett Hankison, on wanton endangerment charges connected to the police raid that led to the killing of Breonna Taylor  but he was not charged with any crimes related to her death. Hankison, who fired 10 shots during the raid only was charged for having fired shots that ended up in a neighboring apartment to Taylor's home, not into her residence itself. Two other cops involved in the raid on Taylor's home, Officer Myles Cosgrove and Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly, were not criminally charged by the grand jury. An attorney for the Black woman's family, Ben Crump, condemned the lack of criminal charges related to Taylor's death. "Jefferson County Grand Jury indicts former ofc. Brett Hankison with 3 counts of Wanton Endangerment in 1st Degree for bullets that went into other apartments but NOTHING for the murder of Breonna Taylor. This is outrageous and offensive!" Crump tweeted.

Former Louisville Metropolitan Police Department officer Brett Hankison poses for an official portrait in Louisville, Kentucky, in an undated photograph. LMPD | via Reuters

"If Brett Hankison's behavior was wanton endangerment to people in neighboring apartments, then it should have been wanton endangerment in Breonna Taylor's apartment too. In fact, it should have been ruled wanton murder!" Crump added. Judge Annie O'Connell said a warrant will be issued for Hankison's arrest. She set bail at $15,000. The death of the 26-year-old Taylor, who was hit by six shots, along with the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis last spring, catalyzed the protest-driven movement to reform police organizations that spread nationwide this summer. Wanton endangerment in the first degree is a Class D felony that carries a maximum possible sentence of five years in prison. Hankison was charged with three counts of that crime. The multiple counts relate to the fact that the shots he fired went into an apartment, not Taylor's, which contained three other people. A lawyer for the former police officer did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Louisville Police Department in June terminated Hankison's employment, saying he had displayed "an extreme indifference to the value of human life." In anticipation of the grand jury's findings, Louisville's mayor, Greg Fischer, imposed a curfew from 9 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. starting Wednesday.
The federal government's industrial relations working groups have gone into overtime after they failed to reach a major compromise during months of scheduled talks.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison unveiled the talks in May with the aim of simplifying Australia's often complex and acrimonious industrial system to make it easier for businesses to hire staff and help the economy recover from the pandemic.

Attorney-General Christian Porter said the government would try to legislate its preferred ideas from the working groups. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Attorney-General Christian Porter is now conducting informal talks with select unions and employers in the hopes of getting agreements over the line after formal discussions ended on Friday without clear consensus.

If the last-minute talks do not get agreement among the parties, Mr Porter said the government would take ideas from each working group and "try and build them into a product that can A) grow jobs and B) make its way through Parliament".
CIA found Russia president Vladamir Putin 'probably directing' campaign against Biden ( )

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.

Story continues

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."

Read more

DHS official told to stop analysis on Russia election interference because it 'made the president look bad', whistleblower complaint claims

DHS bulletin warns that Russia is amplifying mail-in voter fraud claims

FBI chief warns of Russian efforts to denigrate Joe Biden and undermine confidence in elections with 'steady drumbeat of misinformation'
Currently airing on EPIX is Enslaved, a Samuel L. Jackson-hosted docuseries that sheds new light on 400 years of human trafficking from continental Africa to the West. Based on a DNA test identifying his ancestral tribe, the series traces Jacksons personal journey from the USA to Gabon for his induction into the local Benga tribe, providing unprecedented access to local customs that are typically not made public.

Accompanying Jackson on this six-episode journey are British author/broadcaster Afua Hirsch and investigative journalist Simcha Jacobovici, who are there to put Jacksons discoveries into context. Each episode follows three separate story lines: the quest for a sunken slave ship, a personal journey by Jackson and a historical investigation.

When the project was presented to me they told me that they identified these ships that were in the Atlantic that were ships that were taking enslaved people all the way to the New World and they sank, Jackson said. And thats a story that weve never talked about: Who were these people? Where did they came from? Who commissioned the ships? Those were the kinds of questions I needed answered.

Using advanced 3D mapping and ground-penetrating radar to locate and examine sunken slave ships on three continents, the series reveals an entirely new perspective on the history of the transatlantic slave trade. It tracks the efforts of The National Association of Black Scuba Divers (NABS) and Diving With a Purpose (DWP), a collaborative effort as they search for and locate six slave ships that sank drowning the enslaved humans aboard.

We never talk about the ships that did not make it and what that meant, or what the profitability of that was for the people that sponsored the ships  because even though people didnt make it, someone still made a profit off them, Jackson said. I mean how did they still profit from those ships going down?

Story continues

A journey that began during an episode of PBS Finding Your Roots in 2012, Jackson described his profound experience of connecting with his ancestors tribe, calling it a completion of something that he felt was missing in all the other things that he thought knew about himself. I understand different aspects of what my DNA has done to me, he said. I have a real love for the sea and the beach, and in a way it now makes sense because I now know that I come from a beach tribe and that answers some of those questions.

The series also digs into how the past informs the present, speaking to how social history is also very relevant to whats happening in the country today. Jackson spoke of a present-day environment in which matters of racial injustice remain unresolved, following the police murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery just this year alone. He wants to make it clear that Black bodies are still treated as expendable. The business of our bodies continued and still continues, he said. We were considered property at one time, and you look at whats happening now, the argument can be made that not a lot has changed. This is important American history that has resonance today.

Always candid, he was very public with his disgust over the death of Eric Garner in 2014, whose final words as he was put in a chokehold by officers from the New York Police Department were: I cant breathe. It became the title of a Black Lives Matter anthem, launching nationwide protests against police brutality and as well as the lack of police accountability in these circumstances.

Following Garners death, Jackson published a video on his Facebook page calling on celebrities who participated in the Ice Bucket Challenge in order to raise awareness of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (or ALS, Lou Gehrigs disease), to join him in singing in protest of the choking death of Garner by white police officers.

He may have become more famous for his swearing in movies and also on his Twitter page  a search of YouTube will result in videos like Samuel L Jackson: HOW to use Motherfu**er for EVERY Occasion  and its all quite hilarious. But the 71-year-old actor and activist has been around for a while, and theres a lot more to his history.

He was a sophomore at Morehouse College when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968, and he served as an usher at Kings funeral. It was an event that inspired him to become more politically active during that tumultuous time in American history, including taking part in a 1969 protest that locked board members in a building for two days in protest of the schools curriculum and governance. The act got him expelled for two years.

Well, weve been in the struggle for a very long time and LaTanya and I connected in the struggle  and representing that struggle throughout our lives together, he said speaking of his wife of 40 years, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, who is also an executive producer on the Enslaved. Thats what drives us and moves us: Doing things that are social justice for our people and to make this world a better place.

And this urgent and relevant series, which is airing at a critical moment, is just an extension of that work. We cant allow people to forget history, because you know what they say: If you start to forget, theres a good chance [it] will repeat, he said. So we just hope that the series provides a greater understanding of who we are, why we protest and why things seem like they dont really change  or they change incrementally.

The six-part series Enslaved, which premiered on September 14, is currently airing on EPIX, with new episodes airing each Monday at 10 p.m. through Oct. 19.

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California Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order on Wednesday requiring sales of all new passenger vehicles be zero-emission by 2035.

The new order would be a huge boost for electric vehicles, and vehicles using alternative fuels like hydrogen, and could boost a sector that's already surging in California.

As an announcement from the California governor's office indicates, the transportation sector is responsible for more than half of all of California's carbon pollution, 80% of smog-forming pollution and 95% of toxic diesel emissions.

This is the most impactful step our state can take to fight climate change, said Governor Newsom, in a statement. For too many decades, we have allowed cars to pollute the air that our children and families breathe. Californians shouldnt have to worry if our cars are giving our kids asthma. Our cars shouldnt make wildfires worse  and create more days filled with smoky air. Cars shouldnt melt glaciers or raise sea levels threatening our cherished beaches and coastlines.

After the order, the California Air Resource Board will develop regulations that will mandate 100% of sales of passenger cars and trucks are zero-emission by 2035.

Setting the 2035 target would achieve reductions in greenhouse gases above 35% and an 80% improvement in oxides of nitrogen emissions from cars.

The board will also develop regulations that require operations of medium and heavy-duty vehicles to be fully zero-emission by 2045, where feasible.

Under the order, state agencies in partnership with the private sector will be required to accelerate deployment of affordable fueling and charging options. The order also requires broad accessibility to zero-emission vehicles, according to a statement.

What it won't require is for Californians who own gasoline-powered cars to give them up or deny car owners the ability to sell their gas-powered cars in the used car market.

With the initiative, California is joining 15 countries that have already committed to phasing out gas-powered cars, according to a statement.

Story continues

Built into the order is an assumption that zero-emission vehicles will be cheaper and better than fossil fuel-powered cars, but there are significant hurdles -- and opportunities before the market gets there.

There's going to need to be a massive buildout of charging stations and fueling stations for electric and hydrogen powered vehicles. New charging technologies will need to be put in place to enable faster charging, and new financing models will need to be put in place to ensure the kind of accessibility the California government is requiring.

All of these opportunities should have startups champing at the bit, and several companies, like the new electric vehicle manufacturers launching to compete with Tesla, the new charging technology developers and others, will have Newsom to thank for the sudden boost in their valuations.
BRIDGEPORT  A sixth federal civil rights lawsuit has been filed against city police regarding a 2017 incident in which nearly a dozen police officers were cited for using excessive force and lying about it.

The incident at a birthday party on Colorado Avenue has already cost the city nearly $400,000 in settlements for four previous lawsuits.

Carmelo Mendez, who is seen on video apparently being hit and kicked by officers while he was handcuffed, received a settlement of $342,500. Others receiving settlements included Mendezs sister, Wanda Mendez, and partygoer Jose Alvarado.

Attorney Robert Berke represented all the plaintiffs. He declined comment on the newest lawsuit but said it will probably be the last he files in the case.

In the newest lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court, 25-year-old Ramon Davila claims he was recording video of the interaction between partygoers and police when a man he identified as Officer Joseph Cruz knocked him to the ground.

Defendant Cruz without justification utilized excessive force when he performed a leg sweep which thrust Mr. Davila violently to the ground, the lawsuit states. The plaintiff was not interfering with the officers, had not attempted to flee and had not assaulted or attempted to assault an officer.

The suit seeks unspecified money damages for physical and emotional injuries suffered in the incident.

City officials did not immediately respond to emails for comment. The city is contractually required to represent officers sued for their actions while on duty.

The lawsuit continues that Officer Cruz lied in his sworn police report of the incident.

Cruz was later cited by the citys Office of Internal Affairs for using excessive force in the incident. He is awaiting a disciplinary hearing.

Davila was arrested by Cruz and Officer Michael Mazzacco, also named as a defendant in the lawsuit. Davila was charged with interfering with police, carrying a dangerous weapon and breach of peace. The charges are still pending in Superior Court.

The suit claims Mazzacco and Officer Daniel Faroni,  in observing the false arrest of the plaintiff, knew or should have known that a constitutional violation was being committed by their fellow officer.

On Oct. 21, 2017, Wanda Mendez was hosting a pre-Halloween party at her Colorado Avenue home when police showed up in answer to a noise complaint. Forty-six cops ended up descending on the home.

Ten officers were later found to have been untruthful about what happened that night, according to the citys Office of Internal Affairs report. The investigation also found that six officers had used excessive force.
Firefighter Brian Weidman was summoned to a grass fire near Ashland that was threatening some homes on Sept. 8, one blustery day after Labor Day.

He figured it might take a few hours to put out the flames before heading back north to his fire station in nearby Phoenix.

Itd be more like 36 hours before he called it a day. And by then, there was no fire station to return to. The Almeda fire had burned through Jackson County Fire District No. 5s Fire Station No. 3 -- plus more than 2,800 structures, ravaging the towns of Phoenix and Talent as well as parts of Medford and Ashland. Three people are known to have died, in addition to six others statewide.

It moved faster than any other fire Ive ever been on, said Weidman, a captain and a firefighter of 10 years. It was an intense fire fight that lasted for many, many hours.

With limited resources and eventually lack of water, he added, it was a very, very difficult thing to manage.

Weidmans story is just one of a number that are emerging from the aftermath of one of the most devastating fires to hit Oregon during its most devastating wildfire season in modern-day history. Weidman was one of the first responders who waged a hard-fought battle to save home after home, building after building, along a 13-mile-long stretch of landscape running parallel to Interstate 5 in southern Oregon.

While trying to extinguish that initial Ashland grass fire Sept. 8, Weidman said he and his colleagues looked up and saw a massive column of smoke off in the distance from another fire and they knew a catastrophic event was underway.

Next, Weidman and one other firefighter responded to a burning house in rural Ashland. He rushed inside and yelled as he tried to determine if anyone was in danger, but with flames shooting out of the second story and smoke enveloping the first floor, he had to quickly retreat.

Weidman said hes entered many burning buildings in his career but, as a matter of safety protocol, only with a partner and a hose spraying water in front of him. Typically, five fire engines respond to a residential fire, with plenty of personnel to drag him out if he gets in trouble.

That Tuesday, there was only one fire truck with only one other firefighter and Weidman alone inside the burning house with no hose to spray a path in front of him.

Every crew that worked that day did things that were unsafe, Weidman said. It was just part of what we had to do. Theres no getting around it.

While the first house was a total loss, Weidman and his partner were able to save the next house that they rushed to from catching on fire. The flames had been approaching it.

This went on all night long, Weidman said. We used all of our hose, thousands and thousands of gallons of water. We tried to save anything we could.

Within a few hours, he and his partner had run out of air tanks for their respirators and were breathing in the heavy, choking smoke. Eventually, they were out of water. For 24 hours, they ate only a few granola bars stashed in their truck, before someone brought them some burritos.

When Weidman finally called it one long day and returned to his home in Central Point, he dived into yard work -- trimming any trees or bushes that might put his home at greater risk of catching fire.

After clearing flammable vegetation away from his home, he spent time with his family, whod just returned. The day before, his wife had packed up the family photos and their children -- ages 6 and 8, with stuffed animals in tow -- before evacuating to their grandparents' house for one night. The familys neighborhood had been declared a level 2 Be set evacuation zone.

Their home ultimately survived untouched.

But Weidmans fire station was destroyed. So was Pucks Donuts, the Phoenix Motel, homes at Bear Lake Estates and many others in the 4,500-resident community of Phoenix. Just a few minutes' drive to the north, huge swaths of industrial businesses, the Flywheel Bicycle Solutions shop, Simple Machine Winery and more homes were burnt in 6,600-resident Talent.

The remains of Puck's Donuts, a local landmark, in Phoenix, OR, on Thurs., Sept. 10, 2020. The southern Oregon towns of Phoenix and Talent were devastated by the Almeda Fire. Thousands have been told to evacuate because of the fire, which was fed by strong winds and high temperatures. Dave Killen / Staff - Wildfire destruction in Phoenix and Talent, OR Dave KillenDave Killen

Aided by winds, the fire worked through the towns in a haphazard patchwork fashion skipping some properties while leveling others. In all, 3,200 acres burned.

Physically, Im fine, Weidman said. But mentally, Im still exhausted because of the gravity of everything that happened in the community I serve.

Wildfire tracker: See all fires in Oregon and across the nation

-- Aimee Green: agreen@oregonian.com; @o_aimee
Actor John Boyega has said he would absolutely drop everything to star in the upcoming adaptation of Tomi Adeyemis young adult fantasy novel Children of Blood and Bone. Boyega paid tribute to Adeyemi in an essay for Time's 100 Most Influential People of 2020, talking about the importance of representation and hailed her as the god of ideas.

Adeyemis series is rooted in the pantheon of Yoruba gods and is set in a universe where magic, bestowed by Yoruba deities, has been suppressed and its users called maji are oppressed. It follows a young girl called Zelie Adebola, who is descended from maji, and her quest to restore magic to the world.

Boyega described Adeyemis book as a cross between Harry Potter, the Chronicles of Narnia and Yoruba gods, saying that he reread it multiple times then listened to the audiobook.

(Getty Images) / getty images

He said, The characters were larger than life but with very human problems and issues. And the novel spoke to my self-identity and culture as a Nigerian, in its social commentary and in its depiction of both magic and oppression.

He continued, Its so important to have representation within books like this. In school, I realised that only when my teacher considered my point of view did learning become easier.

Adeyemis book was picked up by Disney last year and has since signed This Is Us writer Kay Oyegun to pen the screenplay. Star Wars producer Kathleen Kennedy, who worked with Boyega on the recent trilogy, has also signed on and Dopes Rick Famuyiwa is set to direct.

Boyega celebrated what the project meant for diversity in the film industry. He said, The big-screen adaptation will hire a lot of people and bring more representation to our industryall that comes directly from Tomis imagination. She is going to be very powerful when it comes to bringing stories and ideas to the forefront.

I would absolutely drop everything to be in the film. If I missed the opportunity to be a part of it, it would be like missing history, he said.

Adeyemi celebrated being included in 2020's Time 100 on Twitter, thanking Boyega for the "beautiful tribute." He responded to her tweet, "Excited to see you rise! Xxx"

If Boyega were to be cast in the Adeyemi adaptation, possible lead roles that could be open to the star include Inan, the tortured prince of Orisha, or Tzain, the level-headed brother of the series protagonist. As of now, no actors have been cast in the project.
Washington: 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, DC, where US Postal Service personnel flagged it as suspicious and contacted the FBI, according to an FBI affidavit filed with the charging documents.

Pascale Ferrier is accused of mailing a package containing ricin to the White House, with a letter in which she told President Donald Trump to give up and remove your application for this election". Credit:AP

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.
Tessa Majors was stabbed to death in New York City (Instagram)

One of the teenagers charged in the fatal stabbing of Tessa Majors allegedly confessed to a role in the murder during a wiretapped phone call with his father on a prison phone line, reports have said.

According to CNN and The New York Post, sources have said that the teenager, who was 14 years old at the time of the murder, allegedly confessed in a conversation with his father on a Mohawk Correctional Facility phone line before he was arrested.

The defendant stated in substance that he was in the park and tried to take the girls phone and she was hanging onto her phone and that he hit her with a knife," court papers said, according to The Post.

The teenager has been charged as an adult with second-degree murder and robbery. He pleaded not guilty to murder in February.

An attorney for the teenager, Jeffrey Lichtman, told CNN that the leaking of alleged evidence is repulsive and only seeks to demonize him.

"The effort to demonize a 14-year-old boy already facing life in prison by the leaking of alleged evidence of an alleged confession is repulsive," Mr Lichtman said.

"But then again trying a 5'6" 120 pound 14-year-old boy as an adult is equally repulsive in a civilized society so today's news isn't a surprise."

Majors, a New York college student of Charlottesville, Virginia, was fatally stabbed early on the evening of 11 December 2019 as she walked through Morningside Park in New York.

Another teenager, who was also 14 years old at the time of the murder, has been charged as an adult with one count of murder in the second degree in connection with the case, CNN reported. He has also pleaded not guilty.

The attack on Majors, which took place two days before the start of final exams at the womens college, rocked city residents due to its proximity to campus and its apparent randomness.

A criminal complaint released in 2019 described Majors as struggling on a landing with three people and screaming, Help me! Im being robbed. She staggered up a flight of stairs to street level and collapsed in a crosswalk.

Story continues

A 13-year-old who was arrested in December and charged as a juvenile with felony murder told detectives he was at the park with other youths but was not the one who stabbed Majors.

Additional reporting by the Associated Press.

Read more

Tessa Majors: Teenage boy charged with murder of New York college student

Tessa Majors: Mayor slams head of police union over marijuana claims

Tessa Majors murder: 13-year-old arrested for stabbing college freshman in New York park

Tessa Majors: 18-year-old college freshman found stabbed to death in New York City park
In an act of arrogance and breach of international norms, the United States attacked the World Trade Organization (WTO) after the WTO's dispute resolution body concluded that the U.S.' ongoing trade war is illegal.



According to the report issued by the WTO settlement panel, tariffs levied by America on $200 billion of goods, including both the initial 10% tariff and the increase to a 25% rate, violated Articles I and II of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade of 1994. America's tariffs were deemed to be discriminatory, applying excessive rates outside the bounds of the agreed-upon schedule and applied only to goods from one country, while the U.S. was unable to articulate a justifiable rationale.

In its report, the ruling panel concluded: "While the United States asserted that any measures it adopted were necessary, the Panel considers that the United States did not offer the requisite explanation that Article XX envisages to substantiate and justify this assertion."

Rather than modifying its illegal behavior, President Donald Trump and the United States instead lashed out with vitriol further attacking the rule of law.

Trump said, "We'll have to do something about the WTO" and claimed that the organization allows China to get away with trade violations. But the WTO already has rules in place that apply to all countries, and a system to deal with allegations of violations. When the U.S., or any other country, believes a member has broken WTO rules, they can file a complaint, like China did against America's illegal tariff hikes.

If President Trump thinks China is currently committing any violations, he can lodge a complaint with the WTO.

Nor is the WTO's ruling unexpected or out of line with the viewpoints of foreign countries, with the European Union's filing agreeing with China's arguments on most points.

For example, the EU wrote that America's purported justification for its tariffs on "moral" grounds was "too indirect," as the long list of goods targeted had nothing to do with the alleged violation of "public morals" raised and unproven by the U.S. (The "public morals" clause typically refers to the protection of intangible cultural values, such as trade barriers blocking the distribution of pornographic material or other materials that violate a country's particular moral standards.)

Trump was not the only American politician to react badly to the U.S. getting slapped down by the WTO. Senator Josh Hawley responded by saying the WTO should be abolished.

This response reflects an American arrogance and myopia that has always existed to some degree but has become pronounced during America's Bush-Trump populist era. The U.S. took the lead in creating international institutions such as the WTO to promote its own interests. In fact, free trade is how the U.S. made itself rich and the country still benefits from it. One ruling doesn't change that.

The arrogance is that the U.S. thinks it should be exempt from having to follow the very same rules it writes and demands other countries follow. From invading Iraq with no UN authorization to refusing to abide by the Paris Climate Accords and violating the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with Iran, the past two decades have been marked by a series of American unilateral violations of international law.

America's illegitimate unilateralism has not gone unnoticed by other countries, including its own allies. With every abuse of power, the U.S. is harming its image on the world stage.

According to a recent international survey by the Pew Research Center, favorability ratings toward the United States in seven European and East Asian countries are at their lowest level of the past two decades. Even in its neighbor to the north, Canada, only 35% of Canadians have a favorable view of the U.S. The only time the numbers have been this bad was following the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

If the U.S. wants to restore its place as the moral leader of the Western world, it must change its ways.

Mitchell Blatt is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit:

http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/MitchellBlatt.htm

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.

If you would like to contribute, please contact us at opinion@china.org.cn.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday came to the rescue of certain traders who were asked to pay "enhanced custom duty of 200 per cent" on imported goods from Pakistan due to sudden increase in the tariff by the Centre following the 2019 Pulwama terror attack and ordered that they will have to pay the duty under the older tariff.

The top court dismissed the appeal of the Centre against a Punjab and Haryana High Court judgement holding that it cannot levy enhanced custom duty from importers who had already presented "bills of entry for home consumption before the enhanced rate was notified' in e-Gazette.

As many as 40 Central Reserves Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed on February 14, 2019 in an audacious terror strike at Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir.

A Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist had rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a bus carrying the security personnel.

Two days after the terror strike, the central government on February 16, last year had issued a notification under Section 8A of the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 and introduced "a tariff entry by which all goods originating in or exported from the Islamic Republic of Pakistan were subjected to an enhanced customs duty of 200 per cen".

The notification allegedly led to huge financial burden to some exporters, who had already exported goods under the old custom rates, and had to get their imported goods re-assessed for the purposes of levy of custom duty at enhanced rate.

The consignments of import covered a diverse range of goods, ranging from dry dates to cement.

The government's notification was uploaded on the e-Gazette at around 8.46 PM on February 16, 2019 and the customs authorities at the land customs station at Attari in Punjab sought to enforce the enhanced rate of duty on importers who had already presented bills of entry for home consumption before the enhanced rate was notified in the e-Gazette and this led to filing of cases by traders in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the apex court noted in its judgement.

The High Court, on August 26, 2019, had allowed the pleas of traders and had held that since the importers, who had imported goods from Pakistan, had presented their bills of entry and completed the process of 'self-assessment' before the notification enhancing the rate of duty to 200 per cent was issued and uploaded, the enhanced rate of duty was not attracted.

The High Court had also held that the importers were liable to pay the duty applicable at the time when the bills of entry for home consumption were filed under Section 46 of the Customs Act and had ordered the Centre "to release the goods within seven days on the payment of duty 'as declared and assessed' without applying the notification enhancing the rate of duty on goods originating in Pakistan."

The Centre came in appeal against the High Court's order which was dismissed by a bench comprising Justices D Y Chandrachud, Indu Malhotra and K M Joseph in two separate and concurring verdicts.

Justice Chandrachud, writing the judgement for himself and Justice Malhotra, referred to various provisions of the Constitution and the Customs Tariff Act and held that the importers who had already got their imported goods self-assessed for the levy of customs duty cannot be asked to pay the higher duty.

The rate of duty was determined by the presentation of the bills of entry for home consumption in the electronic form under Section 46.

Self-assessment was on the basis of rate of duty which was in force on the date and at the time of presentation of the bills of entry for home consumption.

This could not have been altered in the purported exercise of the power of reassessment under Section 17 or at the time of the clearance of the goods for home consumption under Section 47.

The rate of duty which was applicable was crystallized at the time and on the date of the presentation of the bills of entry in terms of the provisions of Section 15, Justice Chandrachud, who wrote 82-page judgement, said.

Justice Joseph wrote a separate and concurring 94-page judgement in the case and dismissed the appeals against the High Court's order.
Former Supreme Court Justice and Brooklyn native Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a pioneer of the womens rights movement in the 1960s and 1970s, died on Friday.

Ginsburg became the second female justice on the U.S. Supreme Court in 1993 and the first Jewish woman and first woman from New York to serve as a Supreme Court justice. Prior to her career as a jurist, Ginsburg got her start in New York City, which spawned the careers of many leading feminists of the late 20th Century.

Ginsburg worked with many of these women as she became the first female professor to ever receive tenure at Columbia University, where she worked from 1972 to 1980. Ginsburg also worked as a litigator and director of the Womens Rights Project of the American Civil Liberties Union, which is also based in the city, during the 1970s.

Ginsburgs contemporaries who led the modern womens rights movement included politicians, authors and activists. Here are some of the most important ones:

Shirley Chisholm

Brooklyn-native Chisholm became the first Black woman to get elected to Congress and the first Black woman to run for president. Prior to entering into politics Chisholm worked as a nursery school teacher and ran two day care centers. In 1959 she became the educational consultant for the citys Division of Day Care. And in 1964 she was elected to the state Legislature before she was encouraged to run for Congress by her constituents in Brooklyn.

Chisholm served in Congress for seven terms, from 1969 to 1983, and during that time developed her own catchphrase: unbought and unbossed. In Congress, Chisholm advocated for minimum annual incomes for families, extended day care hours and school lunch. She also criticized the Vietnam war, suggesting that the U.S. should focus on combating its own racism and poverty rather than engage in warfare abroad.

In 1972, she launched her presidential campaign, which caused issues within the feminist community of that time, which was primarily dominated by white women. None of her contemporaries lent their support to her campaign. Despite losing her presidential campaign, her historic run inspired numerous women to run for office as did her ability to speak candidly about racism and sexism.

In 2018, it was announced that a statue would be erected in Chisholms honor in Prospect Park. Unfortunately, the statue, which was expected to be installed in the park this year, has been held up due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bella Abzug

Famous for her big hats and booming voice, the native New Yorker who represented Manhattan in Congress was one of the most recognizable figures in the womens rights movements during the 1970s.

Before her election to the House of Representatives, Abzug worked as a civil rights attorney in Manhattan and the ACLU. She was elected to Congress in 1970; her campaign slogan for the race had been, This womans place is in the House  the House of Representatives. Abzug served in Congress for three terms, where she spoke out against the Vietnam War, called for President Richard Nixons impeachment, championed womens rights and introduced the first bill to protect civil rights for gays.

She left the House to run for Senate against Daniel Patrick Moynihan in 1976 but lost the race. She ran for New York City mayor against Ed Koch in 1977 and lost.

Florynce Kennedy

The civil rights lawyer, typically referred to as Flo, was known for representing individuals facing discrimination.

Kennedy became one of the first Black women to graduate from Columbia Universitys law school in 1951, though she was not admitted to the school until she threatened to file a discrimination suit against them if they denied her entry.

She worked for a Manhattan law firm before opening her own firm in 1954. And in 1966, Kennedy began to turn toward political activism, when she founded the Media Workshop organization, which aimed to address racial prejudices in journalism and advertising. She also helped found the National Organization for Women, with Betty Friedan, that same year.

In 1971, she founded the Feminist Party and in 1975, she founded the National Black Feminist Organization. Kennedy also became an integral part of the legal team in New York that worked to legalize abortion within the state.

Gloria Steinem

Steinem still remains one of the most visible and recognizable feminist figures around, though her career in activism began a long time ago.

She came to New York City in 1960 to become a journalist and in 1963, Steinem was launched into the national spotlight after she posed as a Playboy Bunny at the Playboy club in Manhattan to expose the rampant sexism present there.

In 1971, Steinem founded Ms. Magazine which became one of the first national magazines to address womens issues and highlight feminist thought. Steinem has lived in the same Manhattan apartment for half a century, according to The New York Times.

Betty Friedan

In 1963, Friedan published "The Feminine Mystique," which became a catalyst for the womens rights movement. Her seminal work highlighted the unrealistic expectations placed on women to be completely satisfied with domesticity as well as the lack of career opportunities available for women. However, she has been criticized for focusing solely on the issues facing white and middle-class women.

Born Bettye Naomi Goldstein, she married Carl Friedan in 1947 and the couple moved to Rockland County. After they divorced in 1969, Friedan moved to Manhattan with her family.

She founded and became president of the National Organization for Women in 1966, and remained the organizations president until 1970. Friedan also founded the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws (known today as Naral Pro-Choice America) in 1969 and the National Women's Political Caucus in 1971, alongside several other famous feminist thinkers and leaders of the time.

Florence Howe

Thought of as the mother of womens studies, Howe is often credited with expanding the focus on womens literature and womens studies in academia.

While she was working at various universities, teaching womens studies in the 1950s, Howe realized that there was limited literature available on the subject she was teaching. In 1970, she created the Feminist Press to create the materials she was looking for herself. In 1971, she joined the faculty at the State University of New York College at Old Westbury and brought her publishing house with her. The Feminist Press published works by many reknowned authors, such as Zora Neale Hurston, Charlotte Perkins Gilman and Barbara Ehrenreich. The Feminist Press is still in operation today.

Brenda Feigen

A chief feminist thinker and lawyer in the 1970s, Feigen co-founded Ms. Magazine alongside Steinem, founded the ACLUs Womens Rights Project with Ginsburg and also helped found the National Womens Political Caucus. Feigen ran for a seat in the New York Senate in 1978, though she did not win. She continues to practice law, although she no longer lives in New York.

Geraldine Ferraro

Ferraro, who was born in Newburgh, New York, became the first woman to become a presidential running mate in 1984, alongside Walter Mondale.

But before jumping into the presidential race, Ferraro began her career as a criminal prosecutor in Queens. It wasnt until her children were in school that Ferraro went to work in the Queens District Attorneys office. Ferraro served as a congressional representative from Queens for three terms. During her time in Congress she helped pass legislation that would make it easier to access spousal retirement benefits, which was a big concern for many women at the time. She also co-sponsored the Economic Equity Act, which sought to accomplish many of the same goals as the Equal Rights Amendment and supported federal funding for abortions.
A new study has suggested that horror movie enthusiasts are coping better with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The research was conducted by the Research Program for Media, Communication, and Society and the School of Communication and Culture at Aarhus University, Denmark.

Although most people go into a scary movie with the intention of being entertained rather than learning something, scary stories present ample learning opportunities, says the report.

Fiction allows the audience to explore an imagined version of the world at very little cost. Through fiction, people can learn how to escape dangerous predators, navigate novel social situations, and practice their mind-reading and emotion regulation skills.

The study only incorporated a small sample size (310 participants), meaning that its conclusions should be taken with a grain of salt.

But according to the research, those respondents who indicated a preference for horror also suggested they had suffered less psychological distress over the past few months.

One reason that horror use may correlate with less psychological distress is that horror fiction allows its audience to practice grappling with negative emotions in a safe setting, the study continues.

Experiencing negative emotions in a safe setting, such as during a horror film, might help individuals hone strategies for dealing with fear and more calmly deal with fear-eliciting situations in real life.

Horror film sets around the world: dare to visit? Show all 10 1 /10 Horror film sets around the world: dare to visit? Horror film sets around the world: dare to visit? The Shining (1980)  Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado It was a bleak winter weekend in 1974 that Stephen King found himself staying in Room 217 of the Stanley Hotel. Opened in 1907 and catering to the rich and famous, unexplained sightings and peculiar happenings have been reported ever since. Pianos play of their own accord and the sounds of parties can be heard in empty rooms.

The hotel inspired the events of Kings cult novel, The Shining and although the hotel didnt feature in the subsequent film, its ties are undeniable. These days, the film plays on a continuous loop in every room on channel 42 for ever and ever more  it would drive anyone to insanity. Horror film sets around the world: dare to visit? A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)  John Marshall High School, California John Marshall High is anything but just another school filled with gossip and romance. The setting for A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), its students are subjected to no escape from their haunting dreams turned real-life murders.

If the school looks vaguely familiar already, its because it boasts an impressive film career, ranging from Buffy the Vampire Slayer to James Deans Rebel Without a Cause. If thats not enough, Leonardo DiCaprio went to school here too. Sounds more like a dream than a nightmare. Horror film sets around the world: dare to visit? The Exorcist (1973)  Georgetown, Washington DC Starring the most terrifying of little girls, The Exorcist (1973) is a whirlwind of supernatural beings and shocking gore, based on a true story (that always makes it ten times worse, right?).

At the corner of 36th Street NW and M Street NW, youll find the setting for one of the films most memorably horrifying scenes: the infamous stairway that saw the death of Father Karras. For the scene the stairs were padded with thick rubber, so be sure to stay well away from them in real life  unless you want to find yourself facing a grisly end, that is. Horror film sets around the world: dare to visit? The Blair Witch Project (1999)  Seneca State Park, Maryland By day, Seneca is a surprisingly picturesque park, popular with hikers and daytrippers galore. In fact, its the kind of place youd take a picnic and while away a sunny afternoon. Just make sure that you dont linger there after nightfall, unless you want to be faced with the fabled Blair Witch that is. Its in this very park that the fate of three film students took a terrifying turn for the unknown in The Blair Witch Project (1999), none of them ever heard from again... Horror film sets around the world: dare to visit? Dawn of the Dead (1978)  Monroeville Mall, Monroeville, Pennsylvania The setting for the George A. Romero zombie thriller, the Monroeville Mall has seen more than its fair share of gore. In Dawn of the Dead, a zombie apocalypse has doomed the world, with the mall providing a refuge for the four still-human men and women hiding inside. Since the film, Monroeville Mall has become somewhat of a must-visit pilgrimage for zombie fans the world over, with visitors from all over the globe congregating in its eerie hallways. Horror film sets around the world: dare to visit? The Haunting (1963)  Ettington Park Hotel, Stratford upon Avon, UK This eerily grand hotel was used purely for the exterior shots of 1963s The Haunting, with none of the actors actually stepping inside. But if you ever find yourself staying in this neo Gothic beauty of a building, dont sleep too soundly by telling yourself thats its all just a film; Ettington Park hotel is claimed to be one of the most haunted in the whole of the UK. Horror film sets around the world: dare to visit? The Amityville Horror (1979)  112 Ocean Avenue, Long Island, New York Based on the chilling events of a true story, youd need nerves of steel to move into 112 Ocean Avenue. Back in the 1970s, Ronald DeFeo Jr gruesomely murdered six members of his family inside the walls of this Dutch colonial house.

When the Lutz family innocently moved in just 13 months later, they began to be terrorised by the sinister beings inside, their experiences turned into the 1979 cult film. The Lutz family only lasted 28 days here but believe it or not, people actually still live in the house today. Rather them than us. Horror film sets around the world: dare to visit? Psycho (1960)  Bates Motel, Universal Studios, California If youre a fan of questionable mother-son relationships with a large helping of murder mystery thrown in, then youre probably already a huge devotee of Hitchcocks Psycho (1960). A cult classic of horror and suspense, the film still has the undeniable power to shock over fifty years later.

Dare to take things one step further with a visit to the very motel where all the action went down, as part of the Universal Studios tour. What could be better than a stay at the Bates motel and a look at the creepy house next door? Just remember to stay out of the shower. Horror film sets around the world: dare to visit? Poltergeist (1982)  4267 Roxbury Street, Simi Valley, California The 1982 horror classic, Poltergeist is set in a seemingly innocent Californian suburb. Inside 4267 Roxbury Street, the Freeling family are terrorised and threatened by an otherworldly presence, haunted by a poltergeist intrusion in their home.

These days the house is still actually somebodys home, looking unnervingly like a regular house in every way. Hopefully there isnt a television set inside. Horror film sets around the world: dare to visit? The Others (2001)  Palacio de los Hornillos, Cantabria, Spain As beautiful as it is haunting, the grand Palacio de los Hornillos has plenty of stories to tell. Acting as the damningly isolated home of the Stewart family, it was in these grounds that the twists and turns, trials and tribulations of 2001s The Others took place, sending Grace Stewart to insanity. With the film containing enough unexplained events and spooky happenings to give anyone goosebumps, this is one house you dont want to find yourself alone in after dark. Though it's also now used for weddings...

However, the researchers warned non-horror fans against seeking out the scariest films in an effort to boost their coping mechanisms.

If someone hates horror movies, it may simply make it worse, they revealed.

If emotion regulation skills are what are being improved and helping people deal with the pandemic, it may also be best to watch movies that are scary to you, not movies that are considered the scariest in general.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 12:20:00|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has presented to the world his country's "clearly focused vision" of international relations, said a renowned U.S. expert on China.

The vision, laid out in his video speech on Monday at a high-level meeting to commemorate the United Nations' 75th anniversary, features "three overarching principles," Robert Lawrence Kuhn, chairman of the Kuhn Foundation, told Xinhua via email.

The first is that "multilateralism, epitomized by the UN, is the only way that the contemporary world can work well," and the second is that "big countries ... should advocate and uphold international rule of law and honor their commitments," he noted.

The third, he added, is that "the world should reject unilateralism, where one country exercises dominance."

Kuhn noted that Xi also highlighted China's intention not to seek hegemony and control, which "indirectly addressed the recent and increasingly public charge, especially in the West, that China has growing imperial ambitions."

Speaking of Xi's message in the speech that no country should be "allowed to do whatever it likes and be the hegemon, bully or boss of the world," Kuhn said that "by using the evocative, half-humorous phrase, 'boss of the world', powerful in its simplicity ... President Xi delivers the message with a smile not a frown."

Kuhn said that Xi's "most prescriptive recommendations" include increasing the representation and voice of developing countries, a position that many countries "would no doubt support," and giving priority to addressing non-traditional security challenges such as public health.

"President Xi stressed that 'we must act, not just talk,' a way of thinking that has characterized his style of governance throughout his long career in government," Kuhn said. "I myself remember Xi telling me just that in 2006 when he was Zhejiang Party Secretary and we met in Hangzhou." Enditem
Major climate news arrived on Tuesday when Chinese President Xi Jinping said China would aim for "carbon neutrality" by 2060 and a CO2 emissions peak before 2030.

Why it matters: China is by far the world's largest greenhouse gas emitter. So its success or failure at reining in planet-warming gases affects everyone's future.

The big picture: Glen Peters of the Center for International Climate Research said the 2060 goal  if it happens  keeps alive the prospect of holding global temperature rise to 1.5C.

That's the most ambitious and moonshot goal of the Paris climate deal and it's fast slipping out of reach.

And here's Wood Mackenzie analyst Alex Whitworth in a note this morning: "The worlds largest carbon emitter finally shifted from its long-term position of having limited responsibility to reduce global emissions as a developing country, to assuming clearer leadership in tackling climate change."

Catch up fast: Xi made the pledge in video remarks Tuesday before the UN General Assembly.

He also said China will slightly toughen its nearer-term pledge under the Paris deal by aiming for the emissions peak before 2030. Their current pledge said they'll do this "around" 2030.

Reality check: The new commitment is very brief and super vague and there's no guarantee they will make good.

China watchers are now looking to see how the country will define "carbon neutrality" and what concrete steps it's planning to transform the targets into action.

"Chinas upcoming 14th five-year plan has the potential to be the most important document in global energy market history," Gavin Thompson, another Woodmac analyst, said in their note.

And, here's just one of many challenges: China's fleet of coal-fired power plants is very young and they're still building new ones.

The intrigue: Xi's speech came after President Trump's remarks hit China for "rampant" pollution, touted his decision to abandon Paris, and noted the U.S. has reduced CO2 emissions.

"Xi Jinpings climate pledge at the UNGA, minutes after Trumps speech, is clearly a bold and well calculated move. It demonstrates Xis consistent interest in leveraging the climate agenda for geopolitical purposes," says Greenpeace's Li Shuo.

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Linkedin Jonathan Allen (Reuters)  Wed, September 23, 2020 12:30 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46a193b 2 World DeathRowConvicts,death-penalty,DeathSentence,murder-case Free

The US government put convicted rapist and murderer William LeCroy to death by lethal injection on Tuesday, the sixth federal execution this summer after a lengthy hiatus in capital punishment at the national level.

LeCroy, 50, was pronounced dead at 9:06 p.m. EDT after officials with the US Bureau of Prisons administered him a fatal dose of the barbiturate pentobarbital at the bureau's execution chamber in Terre Haute, Indiana, an agency spokeswoman said.

The execution came shortly after the US Supreme Court denied an 11th-hour petition seeking a stay until LeCroy's principal lawyer, who suffers from a chronic health condition, could travel safely to Terre Haute without fear of contracting COVID-19.

It marked the sixth death sentence the US government has carried out during the past three months, more than the total number of federal executions carried out under all of President Donald Trump's White House predecessors combined going back to 1963.

Another execution was planned for Thursday, when Christopher Vialva, a convicted murderer, is set to become the first Black man to face the federal death penalty under Trump, who has long been an outspoken advocate for capital punishment.

The Trump administration ended an informal 17-year-hiatus in federal executions in July, after announcing last year that the Bureau of Prisons was switching to a new single-drug protocol for lethal injections, from a three-drug combination it last used in 2003.

The new protocol revived long-running legal challenges to lethal injections. Last month, US District Judge Tanya Chutkan in Washington, D.C., sided with condemned inmates in ruling that the Justice Department was violating the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act in not seeking a doctor's prescription to administer the highly regulated barbiturate.

But a three-judge panel of the US Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit said the violation did not in itself amount to "irreparable harm" and allowed federal executions to proceed.

Chutkan previously issued multiple orders halting planned executions while litigation continued. Each of those was overturned by either the Circuit Court or the US Supreme Court, whose conservative majority said that legal challenges to pentobarbital injections, also used by several state governments to execute prisoners, were unlikely to prevail.

LeCroy was convicted and sentenced to death in Georgia in 2004 for the carjacking, rape and murder of Joann Tiesler, a 30-year-old nurse, after breaking into her home. He was caught two days later in Tiesler's vehicle at the US-Canadian border with notes scribbled on the back of a torn map, according to prosecutors.

"Please, please, please forgive me Joanne," read one note by LeCroy, who misspelled the victim's name. "You were an angel and I killed you. Now I have to live with that and I can never go home. I am a vagabond and doomed to hell."
Police said a 30-year-old man was seated in the passenger seat of a stolen red Jeep in the 800 block of South Wabash Avenue when a dark-colored sedan pulled up and an argument ensued between the occupants and the victim. One of the occupants pulled out a weapon and shot the victim in the shoulder, police said.
As three days of ceremonial mourning began on Wednesday for Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the first woman to receive the honor of lying in state at the U.S. Capitol, Hebrew words resounded in the marble hall of the highest court in the land.

The first words of the ceremony came from Jewish tradition, yet spoke specifically to Ginsburg's life's work. "Baruch dayan ha'emet," Rabbi Lauren Holtzblatt began the memorial service. "Blessed is God, the true judge."

Ginsburg brought her Judaism into her Chambers, where she hung the biblical words, "Tzedek, tzedek tirdof," which mean "Justice, justice shall you pursue." On Wednesday, she was remembered in a ceremony for her family and her fellow Supreme Court justices as both an American luminary and a Jewish one.

"To be born into a world that does not see you, that does not believe in your potential . . . and despite this to be able to see beyond the world you are in, to imagine that something can be different: that is the job of a prophet. And it is the rare prophet who not only imagines a new world, but also makes that world a reality in her lifetime," Holtzblatt said, speaking of Ginsburg's lifelong work to enshrine gender equality in the nation's laws.

Holtzblatt, the rabbi who led the ceremony along with Chief Justice John Roberts, has personal ties to Ginsburg beyond leading Northwest Washington's Adas Israel synagogue where Ginsburg worshiped: Holtzblatt's husband, a lawyer, clerked for Ginsburg.

Last Friday, Holtzblatt learned of Ginsburg's death just as the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah began at sundown. She shared the news with her congregation during her live-streamed worship service, closing her eyes with emotion as she recalled taking her two young children to see Ginsburg's chambers when her husband was a clerk. As Holtzblatt's curious young daughter touched the photographs and memorabilia around the room, Ginsburg took the girl by the hand and shared with her what each object meant.

"She was kind. She was loving. She was deeply caring," Holtzblatt said, recalling that when she and her husband attended a ceremony where Ginsburg's Supreme Court portrait was unveiled, Ginsburg mentioned that she could not have served her country every day without her housekeeper's help.

The rabbi and the justice co-wrote an essay in 2015 about the often overlooked women of the Exodus story, which many families now read at their Passover seders.

When she spoke on Wednesday about Ginsburg's role in creating professional opportunities for women across America, Holtzblatt briefly touched on her own role. As co-senior rabbi of the 1,700-family synagogue Adas Israel, Holtzblatt is one of only a small group of women to serve as head rabbi of a large synagogue in the Conservative Jewish denomination, which has ordained women as rabbis since 1985.

For Ginsburg to lie in repose at the Supreme Court on Wednesday and Thursday, then lie in state at the Capitol on Friday, her family chose to forgo the Jewish custom of a speedy burial, generally within three days of death.

Instead, they chose a memorial that infused Judaism into America's rituals of mourning. Ginsburg's rabbi chanted "El Malei Rachamim" (God full of mercy) and the 23rd psalm as the Supreme Court's justices bowed their heads, the words echoing off the columns and washing over the flag-draped casket.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar By

Online Desk

As some schools reopen across the country amidst the raging pandemic, apprehensions over the spread of coronavirus continue to haunt parents.

The Central government as part of its 'Unlock 4' plan had allowed schools to partially reopen from September 21.

While the move can be seen as a breather for rural India, which has been devoid of basic internet facilities, it has also raised safety concerns in the urban pockets.

Dr Rukmini Banerji, CEO of Pratham, said, "For a large section of population in rural India, classes cannot go online due to lack of devices and connectivity. Stakeholders in the education sector should adapt their products and programmes according to the ground realities. As per the 2019 TRAI data, rural teledensity in India is 57.59 per 100 inhabitants, and wireless internet teledensity at 57.28. With this magnitude of digital divide, it is imperative that the solutions we create are flexible and feasible enough to reach the last mile."

India might have the second-largest internet user base in the world. However, despite the efforts to make internet affordable, the primary device required - a smartphone - can amount to an entire household's income making it a prohibitively costly affair in rural areas.

ALSO READ | Digital divide proves to be challenge for online education in rural AP

"For instance, learning content could be shared via phone calls where there is a lack of internet connectivity. Similarly, mass media such as radio and TV could be leveraged to reach out to a large section of the children in rural areas. Many state governments including Maharashtra, UP and Bihar are already reaching out to children with learning content in their language through radio and TV. As the professionals in the education sector work towards creating remote learning solutions, they should aim for three things  access, engagement and learning. The solutions should be accessible to every child. At the same time, they should engage the child in meaningful learning opportunities in their community, in their language, tailored to their context," she added.

Moreover, the entire education system has been struggling to adapt to the tectonic shift to the online mode.

At the virtual Yidan conference where key philanthropists and experts in the field shared their insights on the 'State of education in the post-pandemic world', Banerji stressed that "the crisis has heightened the concern among the community for the last person who lacks access to resources."

ALSO READ | Internet data costs make online education a distant dream for many Tamil Nadu students

"The challenge will be to determine how we carry these positive energies forward when things go back to the new normal," she added.

ALSO SEE:
Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Four people who said they were attacked by right-wing militia members during protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin are suing Facebook.

The plaintiffs claim that Facebook enabled the violence by hosting a "Kenosha Guard" page that encouraged militia members to take up arms against protesters.

Defendants named in the suit include Kyle Rittenhouse, a 17-year-old facing murder charges in connection with the deaths of two protesters, and people with apparent ties to "Boogaloo Bois" and Kenosha Guard militia groups.

One of the plaintiffs is the partner of a man Rittenhouse is accused of killing.

The lawsuit hinges on a Reconstruction-era law meant to shield protesters' First Amendment rights against attempts to intimidate and suppress protests. It also challenges the precedent of Section 230, a federal law that shields platforms like Facebook from being held liable for users' posts.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Facebook is facing a new lawsuit filed by four people who say they were attacked by right wing militia members during protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last month.

The lawsuit claims that Facebook enabled violence against protesters by hosting a Kenosha Guard militia page on its platform that issued a "call to arms" against protesters and failing to remove the page after it was reported. It also names three men who are allegedly affiliated with militia groups as defendants, including Kyle Rittenhouse, the 17-year-old accused of shooting three protesters and killing two. Rittenhouse is facing murder charges.

Facebook has seen backlash from employees and activists after The Verge reported that the Kenosha Guard militia page was flagged by users several times before the date of its "call to arms" event, which was the night two protesters were killed. The event was reported more than 450 times, BuzzFeed News reported, but moderators declined to remove the event. CEO Mark Zuckerberg later apologized, saying the event wasn't removed due to an "operational mistake."

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"It was only days after Plaintiffs and protesters were forced to flee in terror and watch their friends and loved ones die that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg issued a public apology," the plaintiffs said in their complaint. "This 'mistake' empowered right wing militias to inflict extreme violence and deprive Plaintiffs and protesters of their rights."

One of the plaintiffs is Hannah Gittings, the partner of a man Rittenhouse is charged with killing. The other plaintiffs are Kenosha residents Nathan Peet and Christopher McNeal, who said they were marching in Kenosha to protest racial injustice when they were attacked by militia members, and Carmen Palmer, a Milwaukee resident who traveled to Kenosha with a church group to join the protests.

In a statement, Rittenhouse's attorney Lin Wood said called the lawsuit "errant nonsense" but added that Rittenhouse plans to sue Facebook for defamation over its decision to label the incident a mass shooting and ban posts that celebrate Rittenhouse's actions.

"This lawsuit is errant nonsense but may provide a golden opportunity for obtaining documents & sworn testimony from Facebook to bolster Kyle's future defamation case against Facebook for falsely accusing him of mass murder," Wood said.

The lawsuit hinges on a Reconstruction-era law meant to protect people's First Amendment rights against militia groups like the Ku Klux Klan that aim to intimidate and suppress protesters. It also challenges the precedent of Section 230, a federal law that shields platforms like Facebook from being held liable for users' posts.

"Facebook, where most of the conspiring took place, failed to act to prevent this harm," the complaint says. "Despite over 400 reports of the Kenosha Guard's event page and its call to arms, as well as the violent rhetoric throughout, Facebook failed to remove the page from its site until after several deaths, injuries, and extensive harassment occurred."

Facebook did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
By 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 us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Belarus' authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko was sworn in as president in a surprise, secretive ceremony held Wednesday amid tight security and with no announcement beforehand.

The ceremony was held without a live broadcast on state media and most Belarusians only learned of it after Lukashenko's press service announced he had already been sworn in. Troops and riot police sealed off the main avenues of the capital in Minsk and the Independence Palace, where the ceremony took place. Lukashenko's cortege was filmed speeding through the capital's empty streets, flanked by motorcycle outriders.

Video aired on state television afterward, showing Lukashenko in a marble hall speaking to an audience of several hundred officials.

MORE: The 22-year-old helping to lead Belarus' protests from behind a screen in Poland

He told the audience his inauguration was "a day of convincing and fateful victory."

"We not only elected a president of the country, we protected our values, our peaceful life, sovereignty and independence," he said.

A presidential election in August gave Lukashenko over 80% of the vote, amid allegations of massive ballot fraud, which has triggered weeks of historic protests demanding he step down and new elections be held. Hundreds of thousands of Belarusians have protested for seven weeks, in face of often brutal violence from Lukashenko's security services.

The secretive inauguration triggered new protests on Wednesday, with several thousand people taking to streets in Minsk and in other cities across Belarus. There were chaotic scenes not far from the palace where Lukashenko was inaugurated, as riot police moved violently to disperse the peaceful protesters, using water cannons on the crowds, the first time they had done so in the capital since the crackdown in the first weeks on the protests.

PHOTO: Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko signs the inauguration certificate during his inauguration ceremony at the Palace of the Independence in Minsk, Belarus, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020. (Sergei Sheleg/AP)

Lukashenko's main opponent in the election Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who has declared herself "national leader" and pledged to hold new elections, on Wednesday dismissed his inauguration as illegitimate.

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"Today, secretly from the people, Lukashenko tried to hold his own inauguration. We all understand what's going on. This so-called inauguration is, of course, a farce. In fact, today Lukashenko has simply retired," Tikhanovskaya said in a statement.

"This means that his orders to the power structures are no longer legitimate, which means they are not subject to execution. I, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, am the only leader elected by the Belarusian people. And our task now is to build a new Belarus together," she said, adding that European countries are ready to support the protest movement.

Tikhanovskaya, who is in exile in neighboring Lithuania where she was forced to flee after the election, was given just 9% of the vote by the official count during it, widely viewed as vastly underestimating the real result.

PHOTO: Belarusian law enforcement officers detain a man during an opposition protest against the inauguration of President Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk, Belarus, Sept. 23, 2020. (Tut.by via Reuters)

Several European countries refused to recognize Lukashenko's inauguration, including Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

"Presidential elections in #Belarus were neither free nor fair. Election result is illegal. No ceremony -- pompous or secret -- will change this indisputable fact or create illusion of legitimacy," Gitanas Nauseda, Lithuania's president, wrote on Twitter. He and others urged Lukashenko to open dialogue with the protesters and hold new free and fair elections.

The United States and the European Union have already refused refused to recognize Lukashenko's reelection and have said they are preparing sanctions against top officials in his regime.

MORE: Lukashenko flies to Russia for talks with Putin amid Belarus protests

Russia, which has thrown support behind Lukashenko, has recognized him as president, as has China and a number of authoritarian former Soviet countries.

The Kremlin's spokesman on Wednesday said he had been unaware the inauguration was taking place.

Inaugurations, as in other countries, are normally major events, held with pomp and announced weeks in advance. Lukashenko's decision to conduct it without any public involvement appeared on highlight the hollowness of his claims to have won the election with massive support, observers said.

PHOTO: Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko takes his oath of office during his inauguration ceremony at the Palace of the Independence in Minsk, (Sergei Sheleg/Pool Photo via AP) (Sergei Sheleg/AP)

"Unannounced in advance, not broadcast to nation. This is not how a candidate with "80% support" does these things," Dr Nigel Gould-Davies, a former British ambassador to Belarus and now a senior fellow for Russia and Eurasia at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, wrote on Twitter.

Protests have continued against Lukashenko for weeks since the election and the crackdown that followed it, with smaller ones taking place most days and huge demonstrations happening each Sunday, involving often over 100,000 people. Despite the massive protests, Lukashenko's government in recent weeks has moved to shore up its grip, increasing the pressure on the demonstrations by detaining hundreds of protesters and targeting opposition leaders, most of whom are either detained or have been driven into exile.

Lukashenko sworn in as Belarus president in surprise, closed ceremony originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Not just on land and sea, Chinas expansionist plans have reportedly reached the space with Beijing carrying out multiple cyber-attacks against Indian satellite communications between 2012 and 2018. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), however, has maintained that its systems has not been compromised so far.

Times of India quoted a 142-page report by US-based China Aerospace Studies Institute (CASI) that elaborates on the results of one of the attack of 2012. The report stated that a Chinese network based computer attack on the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) allowed full functional control over JPL networks." The report quotes multiple sources while listing out some of these attacks.

TOI in its report further said that India, as part of its counter-space capabilities, demonstrated Anti-Satellite (A-Sat) missile technology on March 27, 2019, which equipped India with a kinetic kill option to destroy enemy satellites. But the CASI report points to how China has multiple other counter-space technologies that are intended to threaten adversary space systems from ground to geosynchronous orbit (GEO). These include direct-ascent kinetic-kill vehicles (anti-satellite missiles), co-orbital satellites, directed-energy weapons, jammers, and cyber capabilities.

CASI, a think-tank, supports the secretary, chief of staff of the US Air Force, the US chief of space operations, and other senior air and space leaders. It provides expert research and analysis supporting decisions and policymakers in the US Department of Defense and across the US government.

A 2019 report released by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace said while India demonstrated its A-Sat interceptors, China  which had done the same in 2007  has capabilities to mount sophisticated cyber-attacks directed at ground stations with the intent of either corrupting or hijacking the systems used to control spacecraft/satellite. China has investments in developing ground, air, and space-based radio frequency jammers that target uplinks, downlinks, and crosslinks involved in either control of space systems or data transmission," the report reads.

Times of India quoted multiple insiders as saying that ISRO hasnt been able to pinpoint sources of cyber-attacks over the years. Cyber threats are a given but it cannot be ascertained who are behind such attacks. Weve systems in place to alert us and I dont think weve ever been compromised," a senior scientist was quoted, adding that the Chinese may have tried and failed".

Chinas expansionist plans have recently picked up pace with Chinese Army engaging in a stand off with India in eastern Ladakh. Satellite images recently showed that China is building heliports close to its borders with India. This includes one heliport near Doklam, which lies on the tri-junction of India, China and Bhutan  the site of the 73-day stand-off that took place between the two Asian powers in 2017.

Over the past decade, China has also steadily hardened its claims to most of the South China Sea from where a third of the worlds shipping passes through.

In recent months, with much of the world preoccupied with the Covid-19 pandemic, China has sharply escalated its coercive activities. In early April, a Chinese Coast Guard vessel sank a Vietnamese fishing boat close to islands claimed by both China and Vietnam. A Chinese marine survey vessel harassed a Malaysian oil exploration vessel off Borneo. This month, the Department of Defense voiced concern about the Chinese Navys decision to seal off an area around the Paracel Islands to conduct naval exercises. In response, the United States increased its own naval activities, including joint exercises by two aircraft carrier groups.

These confrontations have contributed to a sharp deterioration in US-China relations on other fronts.
Antigen tests, commonly used in doctors offices for influenza, detect proteins known as antigens that have been collected on nasal swabs or in saliva. While theyre less sensitive than PCR tests, theyre faster and cheaper and can be conducted by a trained technician.

PCR tests detect and amplify viral genetic material. They must be done by laboratory professionals in high-tech labs.

The meeting Tuesday between OPS and UNMC was to include a generous funder and the districts chief financial officer and address the financial ramifications of the testing and the strategy around the testing, Logan said.

OPS previously announced that testing would be required for all district personnel  everyone from bus drivers to teachers to Logan herself. Starting next month, the district is preparing to have in-person lessons for the first time since March.

The district already has started testing district staff through a partnership with TestNebraska. The testing goes beyond those who feel ill or had contact with someone with COVID-19.

These are not symptomatic folks, Logan said of the testing. Its to give us another data point as we reopen schools.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 23)  A group of Filipino professionals launched the countrys first remote-exclusive job portal that caters to those who want to earn while staying safe at home amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Victoria Escover, co-founder and chief marketing officer of GoRemote, told CNN Philippines Newsroom Ngayon that the website was conceptualized by her and her friends to help those who lost their jobs during this global health crisis.

What we did for Go Remote many of our friends lost their jobs during the pandemic, so what we thought of doing is we did a service wherein you can access many types of remote jobs that you can apply to using our website, she explained.

GoRemote is a job website catering to remote job positions only, or those that can be done away from the usual office set-up.

Escover said that jobs listed in the website are from development, design, marketing, business, and support companies, which she noted are the booming industries during this time. Most of the companies are also foreign-owned and can help expose Filipino talent in the international scene, she added.

Currently, we only have 50 job listings available" she said. "The purpose really is to build the list by itself. We are encouraging employers, even outside of the Philippines, to really post their job listings there and for applicants to apply.

To apply, Escover explained that users will just have to go to the Go Remote website, search for a job, click on the job posting that will redirect the user to the website of the company hiring. She added that the job portal does not keep data since users directly apply to the company.

On ensuring the legitimacy of the companies who want to enlist in the portal, Escover said Go Remote checks the companys website, LinkedIn and other social media accounts, as well as online reviews.
Panic buying shoppers today emptied aisles of toilet roll in supermarkets across the country, as Asda announced 1,000 new Covid-19 marshals to ensure that shoppers wear masks.

Frustrated customers around the country have been met with empty shelves as they try to do their supermarket shops - mainly in the toilet roll aisles.

Yesterday Prime Minister Boris Johnson gave a statement announcing new restrictions to curb the spread of coronavirus.

And now, shoppers are calling on supermarkets including Asda, Morrisons, Sainsburys, and Tesco, to impose restrictions on buying essential items, such as loo roll, in bulk.

It comes as Asda has announced 1,000 new safety marshals to help enforce the Government's advice to wear and face mask and will give sanitised baskets and trolleys to customer as they enter the store.

Near empty shelves at Asda in Pipps Hill, Essex, in scenes reminiscent of March during the first lockdown

A virtually empty toilet roll aisle in Sainsbury's in Great Sankey, Warrington, Cheshire

Near empty shelves at Morrisons in Leicester. Shoppers have once again gone out to supermarkets and stripped them of toilet paper

Asda said that customers who do not have a face covering when they enter a shop will be offered a pack of disposable masks that they can pay for as they complete their shopping.

It comes as supermarkets have urged shoppers not to panic buy after a surge this week in anticipation of the tighter Covid-19 restrictions that were announced by Boris Johnson yesterday.

Anthony Hemmerdinger, Chief Operating Officer at Asda, said: 'We know that safety remains a key priority for our customers and we will continue to do all we can to keep them and our colleagues safe in store, as we have since the start of the pandemic.

'These additional measures will make our stores an even safer place to shop and work during the coming months.'

Asda also confirmed that as per the change to Government guidance, all staff will now wear a face covering at work unless they have a medical exemption and they will introduce additional hand sanitisation stations in stores.

Shoppers wearing face masks enter an Asda supermarket in June this year. Safety marshals will now be present outside every store in the UK

An employee scans a customer's purchases through the till at a check-out desk inside an Asda supermarket in Watford

And the supermarket group will be applying a protective coating to all basket and trolley handles, creating an antimicrobial surface that prevents the spread of bacteria and viruses.

The same coating technology (Bio Master X shield) is already used to kill bacteria and viruses in the NHS Nightingale Excel hospital.

It comes as frantic shoppers were panic-buying once again today as photos have emerged of toilet roll aisles stripped bare across major supermarkets.

In Morrisons in Leicester on Monday, Sarah Milnes snapped an almost entirely empty shelf where multi-packs of toilet roll should have been found.

In a Tweet, the midwife described the scene as 'utter madness'.

Meanwhile, in Sainsburys in Warrington, Cheshire, a man named Daniel - who did not wish to give his surname - was met with a similar situation, with the majority of the loo roll cleared off the shelves.

Shoppers wearing face masks and walking past a banner advising customers to maintain the British government's current social distancing guidelines

Shoppers were also purchasing bags of pasta, amid warnings of panic buying in recent days

Shoppers queue at Costco today in Bushey, Watford, and come out with trolleys loaded full of shopping

Shoppers have taken to social media to share photographs of supermarkets with the shelves stripped bare (above, ASDA in London)

The 28-year-old joked that shoppers are 'obviously sh***ing themselves'.

And in Asda in Pipps Hill, Essex, Daniel Smith shared a photo of an even emptier stack of shelves where toilet roll should have been, while he was doing his shop between 7pm and 8pm on Monday evening.

Daniel wrote: 'The shop was packed, unordinarily so for 7pm, so people were already panic-buying.

'This was about three hours after the mere threat of a lockdown.

'The public need to calm down and stop panic-buying essentials.'
Platinum And Palladium Set To Surge As Gold Breaks Higher

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS:

Gold will target the $2,250 level before stalling and attempting another upside price rally targeting $2,500 or higher.

Silver will target the $33 price level when the current upside move builds enough momentum, then target $38 or higher.

Our next upside price target for platinum is $1,410, representing a +52.4% upside price target.

Palladium bottom in March 2020 was near $1,357. We expect a new upside price target for Palladium near $3,663 once it has broken out past current resistance levels.

If you have been following my research for a while, you are already aware of past research posts suggesting Gold and Silver will advance in multiple upside price legs over the next 90+ days. Gold will target the $2,250 level before stalling and attempting another upside price rally targeting $2,500 or higher. Silver will target the $33 price level when the current upside move builds enough momentum, then target $38 or higher.

What you may not be aware of is the incredible opportunities setting up in Platinum and Palladium. Platinum has set up a very deep COVID-19 low near $550 and rallied back to briefly touch resistance near $1,035 as we can see in the Palladium Weekly chart below. Since that move, Platinum has stalled below $1,000 waiting for momentum to start another upside price leg. Using a simple 100% Fibonacci Measured move technique, we can easily identify the $485 price swing from the $1,035 highs to the $550 lows. All we need to do is find a support level near what we believe will be the Momentum Base level, then add that $485 to the Momentum Base level to find the next upside target in Platinum.

Let us assume the Momentum Base will happen near $925. This would result in the next upside price target for Platinum will be $1,410. Of course, Platinum would have to rally above the $1,035 level to confirm this upside breakout trend and for the $1,410 target level to become valid. That $1,410 target level represents a +52.4% upside price target.

Palladium presents an even broader price rotation. The peak just before the COVID-19 collapse was near $2,820. The bottom in March 2020 was near $1,357. This creates a range of $1,463. We can clearly see the Flag/Pennant formation on the Palladium Weekly chart (below) highlighted in YELLOW. We want you to pay close attention to what already appears to be a moderate upside price move after the apex of the Flag/Pennant formation.

If we add the $1,463 range to the Flag/Pennant Apex level, near $2,200, then we end up with a new upside price target for Palladium near $3,663. This represents a +66.5% upside price target for Palladium.

Something else we want to point out is the relationship of Platinum and Palladium to Gold and Silver. If Platinum and Palladium rally towards the targets we have suggested (+52% and/or +65%) from the Momentum Base levels, could Gold and Silver rally a similar amount? A 55% rally in Gold from current levels would target the $3,038 level. A 55% rally in Silver would target the $42 level. These new upside target levels are well beyond our Measured Move suggested targets  these higher target levels may be broader upside Fibonacci expansion levels? Still, they suggest a much bigger move in precious metals is pending.

Watch how Platinum, Palladium, Gold and Silver react over the next 6+ weeks. We believe there is a very strong possibility that a bigger upside price move is just waiting to breakout as the markets deal with incredible levels of uncertainty over the next 60 to 90+ days.

We are actively trading gold and have positions in this precious metal. If you would like to ride my coattail with my trade alerts and my pre-market videos where I walk through the charts every day before the opening bell, then take a look at the Technical Trader, my Active ETF Trading Newsletter. If you have any type of retirement account and are looking for signals when to own gold, equities, bonds, or cash, be sure to become a member of the Technical Investor, my Long-Term Investing Signal Newsletter.

Chris Vermeulen

www.TheTechnicalTraders.com

Chris Vermeulen has been involved in the markets since 1997 and is the founder of Technical Traders Ltd. He is an internationally recognized technical analyst, trader, and is the author of the book: 7 Steps to Win With Logic



Through years of research, trading and helping individual traders around the world. He learned that many traders have great trading ideas, but they lack one thing, they struggle to execute trades in a systematic way for consistent results. Chris helps educate traders with a three-hour video course that can change your trading results for the better.



His mission is to help his clients boost their trading performance while reducing market exposure and portfolio volatility.



He is a regular speaker on HoweStreet.com, and the FinancialSurvivorNetwork radio shows. Chris was also featured on the cover of AmalgaTrader Magazine, and contributes articles to several leading financial hubs like MarketOracle.co.uk

Disclaimer: Nothing in this report should be construed as a solicitation to buy or sell any securities mentioned. Technical Traders Ltd., its owners and the author of this report are not registered broker-dealers or financial advisors. Before investing in any securities, you should consult with your financial advisor and a registered broker-dealer. Never make an investment based solely on what you read in an online or printed report, including this report, especially if the investment involves a small, thinly-traded company that isnt well known. Technical Traders Ltd. and the author of this report has been paid by Cardiff Energy Corp. In addition, the author owns shares of Cardiff Energy Corp. and would also benefit from volume and price appreciation of its stock. The information provided here within should not be construed as a financial analysis but rather as an advertisement. The authors views and opinions regarding the companies featured in reports are his own views and are based on information that he has researched independently and has received, which the author assumes to be reliable. Technical Traders Ltd. and the author of this report do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any content of this report, nor its fitness for any particular purpose. Lastly, the author does not guarantee that any of the companies mentioned in the reports will perform as expected, and any comparisons made to other companies may not be valid or come into effect.

Chris Vermeulen Archive

 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication.




Rishi Sunak has cancelled plans for a Budget later this year amid fears over the economic impact of a second wave of coronavirus.

Questions had already been raised over whether the Chancellor's set piece autumn announcement, broadly penned in for November, would go ahead.

But the Treasury this afternoon confirmed it had been put back to allow him to focus on dealing with the impact of the second wave of coronavirus on the economy.

Mr Sunak this afternoon confirmed he will tomorrow outline plans to protect millions of jobs and save thousands of businesses from going under as a new round of coronavirus restrictions threatens to throttle the UK economy.

The Chancellor is to set out his 'Winter Economy Plan' in the House of Commons tomorrow amid growing unrest from MPs and businesses over the return of working from home and new restrictions on hospitality firms.

Facing calls for a Furlough 2.0 scheme to be set up he tweeted: 'As our response to coronavirus adapts, tomorrow afternoon I will update the House of Commons on our plans to continue protecting jobs through the winter. '

Number 11 said work on the scheme had been taking place in parallel with Budget preparations and the focus has been on jobs to avoid the expected three million unemployed.

The Treasury said: 'We will always be honest with people about the difficult trade-offs that are involved here.

'Not between health and the economy, but between keeping people in jobs and helping them find new ones. And between help in the here and now and rebuilding in the future. That's what people deserve.'

Questions had already been raised over whether the Chancellor's set piece autumn announcement, broadly penned in for November, would go ahead

What is the German-style system that Rishi Sunak could use in place of the furlough scheme? Germany's has used its Kurzarbeit job subsidy measures during the coronavirus pandemic and has recently extended its use until the end of 2021. Unlike the British furlough programme, an emergency scheme which pays companies to pay employees not to work, the Kurzarbeit system, which already existed before the pandemic, surrounds short-time working. It allows employers to reduce employees' hours while keeping them in a job. The government pays workers a percentage of the money they would have got for working those lost hours. According to the Munich-based Ifo Institute for Economic Research, at the height of the pandemic, half of all German firms had at least some of their staff on the scheme. Influential British political figures including former prime minister Gordon Brown have urged the government to bring in such a scheme, or a similar French-style system, after the furlough scheme ends in October. Advertisement

Last week it was rumoured he was considering postponing the autumn Budget until early next year amid fears over the potential economic impact of a second wave of coronavirus sweeping the country.

It was not due until mid-November at the earliest and Mr Sunak told MPs he has asked the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) to prepare an economic forecast - a vital part of the Budget planning - to be published in 'mid to late November'.

The Chancellor is being urged by business chiefs to 'get around the table' and agree new job support measures after Boris Johnson ditched his back to work drive and imposed a range of new coronavirus restrictions.

Companies fear the new crackdown will deal a hammer blow to already struggling firms especially with the furlough programme closing at the end of October.

But reports suggest Mr Sunak is planning a new scheme to prevent job losses after retail bosses warned that up to a million furloughed workers could be made redundant without another bailout.

The mooted plans being looked at by the Chancellor would see the Government and firms share the cost of topping up wages for employees who are only able to work part-time because of the pandemic.

It came as the founder of Pret and current boss of Itsu savaged Boris Johnson for 'spouting Churchillian nonsense' and his 'criminal' six-month work from home bid - as businesses said billions of pounds and millions of jobs would be lost by his plans.

Entrepreneur Julian Metcalfe - who has an estimated 215million fortune - spoke out as the owners of Upper Crust and Caffe Ritazza has said it would lose 1.3billion because of travel curbs and home-working.

It came as pubs warned the PM's new 10pm curfew posed a risk of calling last orders at beloved bars forever.

And the City of London Corporation said the government needed to find a way to deal with coronavirus that 'Doesn't cripple the economy'.

Mr Metcalfe described last night's speech by the Prime Minister as a 'man sitting down with his Union Jack talking utter nonsense'.

In a further furious broadside he slated his 'exaggerated nonsense' before adding he feared Mr Johnson's plans would see millions of jobs lost.

Furious Tory MPs have turned on 'authoritarian' Boris Johnson as he ordered the British public to obey his draconian new coronavirus restrictions  or face an economically devastating second national lockdown

It was a far cry from nine years ago when the PM, as then Mayor of London, said he was 'delighted' as he appointed Mr Metcalfe as the leader of a taskforce for Croydon following riots in the area.

Speaking today, the hospitality entrepreneur praised Chancellor Rishi Sunak for his efforts to help struggling businesses, before aiming his focus on the Prime Minister.

Mr Metcalfe said: 'Unless we get some clarity from the government we end up having to keep many, many  I dread to think how many - people will end up being made redundant, it's heartbreaking.

'It's hundreds and thousands of hospitality businesses. The knock on effects are on the people who look after them, who service them, who bring them food, and clean them - it's hundreds of thousands, millions of jobs.

'What we need is the government, particularly our Prime Minister, this man sitting down with his Union Jack talking utter nonsense, that's where we need leadership

'What I would advise our Prime Minister to do, number one is get aligned with his team.

'To turn to an entire nation and say stay at home for six months and to spout off some Churchillian nonsense about we'll make it through, it's terribly unhelpful to this country

'This talk of six months is criminal, it should be we will review it, we are here to serve you as civil servants. We will review the information and the data each week, each hour, we will behave like responsible people.'

Sir Keir Starmer put the pressure on Mr Johnson on the issue during PMQs today as he said ending furlough meant 'health measures and economic measures are now dangerously out of sync'.

Mr Johnson replied: 'Let's be in absolutely no doubt that the work that this Government has done to protect the economy of this country, to support the jobs of 12 million people through the furlough scheme and overall expenditure of about 160 billion has been unexampled anywhere else in the world.

'I think he should pay tribute to the Chancellor and his work and we will go forward with further creative and imaginative schemes to keep our economy moving.'

The Government's furlough scheme has helped support almost 10 million jobs during the crisis, covering up to 80 per cent of an employee's wages up to a maximum of 2,500 a month.

It is now in the process of being wound down and will formally close at the end of next month after racking up a bill of more than 39 billion.

There were already calls from opposition politicians and business groups for the scheme to be extended even before Mr Johnson announced his latest coronavirus curbs yesterday.

But the Prime Minister's decision to encourage workers to work from home where they are able to and impose a 10pm curfew on the hospitality sector, potentially for the next six months, has spooked businesses and accelerated calls for more help to be brought forward.

Luke Johnson, an entrepreneur and former Pizza Express boss, told BBC Newsnight he believed one million furloughed workers could be axed if the Government does not put in place new financial support measures.

He said: 'Rates relief and loans to businesses have made a hell of a difference and if they are extended they will help.

'There are still three million people probably on furlough and many of those jobs are at risk if lockdowns in some form or fashion continue and severe restrictions remain in place.'

He added: 'It may be that they are simply, all the subsidies are cut off and in which case I would estimate that of the perhaps three million at least a million maybe more will be made redundant because I think those companies will be feeling very demoralised and not confident about investing and rebuilding and possibly they are insolvent therefore they close down altogether.'

Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey said yesterday it was time to 'stop and rethink' the end of the furlough scheme as he advocated adopting a new more targeted approach.

The Trades Union Congress (TUC), which outlined its furlough replacement proposal last month, said the Government must 'fast-track a new plan' to protect jobs.

TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: 'We have published detailed proposals for a new short-time working and upskilling scheme.

'With the right approach we can stop mass unemployment scarring millions.

'My message to ministers is clear: let's get around the table and fast-track a new plan.'

One option reportedly being considered is a scheme similar to Germany's highly-praised Kurzarbeit, or shorter work-time policy, under which firms can radically cut working hours in economic downturns with the state replacing part of their lost income.

The TUC has proposed a similar scheme that would see workers receive 80 per cent of their salary for the hours they are not in work.

Companies would get a 70 per cent subsidy from the Government, provided they bring back every worker on the scheme for a minimum proportion of their normal working hours.

Another proposal put forward by the CBI business group would see subsidies for firms that can offer staff at last 50 per cent of their normal hours, with the cost for non-working hours shared equally by the company, the Treasury and the employee.

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.

'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.'
RESTON, Va., Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Leidos (NYSE: LDOS), a FORTUNE 500 science and technology leader, has scheduled a conference call for Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, at 8 a.m. (ET) to announce its third quarter financial results for the period ending Oct. 2, 2020. The company plans to issue its quarterly earnings press release before the conference call on Nov. 2, 2020.

The details for the earnings conference call follow:

Date: Nov. 2, 2020

Time: 8 a.m. (ET)

To Listen via the Internet:

The company offers a live and replay audio broadcast of the conference call with corresponding supplemental information at http://ir.leidos.com.

To Listen via Telephone:

877-869-3847 (toll-free U.S.)

+1-201-689-8261 (for International Callers)

Replay:

A telephone playback of the third quarter earnings conference call is scheduled to be available beginning at 11:30 a.m. (ET) on Nov. 2, 2020, through 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Nov. 9, 2020. The replay will be accessible by calling 877-660-6853 (International callers: +1-201-612-7415), and entering conference ID 13710584.

An archived version of the webcast will be available on the Leidos Investor Relations website at http://ir.leidos.com.

About Leidos:

Leidos is a Fortune 500 information technology, engineering, and science solutions and services leader working to solve the world's toughest challenges in the defense, intelligence, homeland security, civil, and health markets. The company's 38,000 employees support vital missions for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $11.09 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2020. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

Media contact:

Melissa Duenas

571.526.6850

[email protected]

Investor Relations:

Peter Berl

571.526.7582

[email protected]

SOURCE Leidos

Related Links

http://www.leidos.com


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.
Then-Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden attend an NCAA basketball game between Georgetown University and Duke University in Washington on Jan. 30, 2010. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)

Obama Admin Knew Hunter Bidens Ukraine Work Was Suspect, but Ignored Warnings, Senate GOP Report Finds

Top Obama-administration officials were aware that Hunter Bidens position on the board of directors of a Ukrainian gas firm was problematic but ignored repeated warnings from senior officials, according to a report (pdf) by Republicans on two Senate committees.

In 2014, Hunter Biden, son of then-Vice President Joe Biden, joined the board of Burisma, a Ukrainian gas company owned by an oligarch whom U.S. authorities viewed as corrupt. The Senate Finance and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committees concluded that the problems with Hunter Bidens role with Burisma extended beyond mere perception of a conflict of interest and had an impact on U.S. policy in Ukraine.

What the Chairmen discovered during the course of this investigation is that the Obama administration knew that Hunter Bidens position on Burismas board was problematic and did interfere in the efficient execution of policy with respect to Ukraine, the report states.

Moreover, this investigation has illustrated the extent to which officials within the Obama administration ignored the glaring warning signs when the vice presidents son joined the board of a company owned by a corrupt Ukrainian oligarch.

While adding little of significance to what was already known about Bidens involvement with Burisma, the Senate report provides additional evidence about what the Obama administration, including Joe Biden himself, knew about the apparent problem and how little was done to remedy it.

The report notably skirts by the episode during which Joe Biden, as vice president and lead official on Ukraine, forced the ouster of a top prosecutor, Viktor Shokin, who was at the time investigating Burisma. The report devoted a single sentence and one footnote to the incident and doesnt mention that Shokin, in a sworn statement, has said that he was removed due to pressure from Biden because of the investigation into Burisma.

The offices of Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), chairmen of the two committees that led the investigation, didnt immediately respond to requests for comment.

According to the report, the vice presidents staff prepared talking points for Biden that called for non-answer to questions involving the owner of Burisma, Mykola Zlochevsky.

Im not going to get into naming names or accusing individuals, the talking points said.

While it was known that senior State Department official George Kent had brought up his concerns about Hunter Biden and Burisma to the office of Vice President Joe Biden in early 2015, the Senate report found that Kent reiterated his concerns to senior State Department officials more than a year later. The report found no evidence that the Obama administration took any action in either case.

The presence of Hunter Biden on the Burisma board was very awkward for all U.S. officials pushing an anti-corruption agenda in Ukraine, Kent wrote in an email to senior State Department officials, including Deputy Assistant Secretary Bridget Brink and U.S. Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch.

Kent and Yovanovitch testified in the impeachment proceedings late last year. In his testimony, Kent told lawmakers about a $7 million bribe given to the office of Shokins predecessor to drop the investigation into Burisma. The new Senate further illuminated the episode, showing that a senior Justice Department official referred Kents information about the bribe to the FBI. The committees are now looking into what the bureau did with the referral.

The committees found that another senior State Department official, Amos Hochstein, raised his concerns about Burisma directly with Vice President Joe Biden in 2015.

We were starting to think about a trip to Ukraine, and I wanted to make sure that he was aware that there was an increase in chatter on media outlets close to Russians and corrupt oligarchs-owned media outlets about undermining his messageto try to undermine his message and including Hunter Biden being part of the board of Burisma, Hochstein told the committees.

Victoria Nuland, who was also a senior State Department official at the time, told the committees that Hochstein aired his concerns to Biden because he was concerned that the Russians were using Hunter Bidens role with Burisma to sow disinformation.

Hochstein also spoke about the issue to Hunter Biden, who had contacted him shortly after he raised the issue with the vice president. Hunter Biden invited Hochstein to discuss the issue at a coffee shop in Georgetown in November 2015.

Well, he asked me for a meeting. I think he wanted to know my views on Burisma and Zlochevsky. And so I shared with him that the Russians were using his name in order to sow disinformationattempt to sow disinformation among Ukrainians, Hochstein testified.

The committee found that Hunter Bidens role with Burisma was particularly troublesome because the U.S. was simultaneously pushing an anti-corruption agenda in Ukraine.

Because the vice presidents son had a direct link to a corrupt company and its owner, State Department officials were required to maintain situational awareness of Hunter Bidens association with Burisma. Unfortunately, U.S. officials had no other choice but to endure the awkwardness of continuing to push an anti-corruption agenda in Ukraine while the vice presidents son sat on the board of a Ukrainian company with a corrupt owner earning tens of thousands of dollars a month, the report states.

The report also provides additional evidence to show that then-Secretary of State John Kerry was aware of the BidenBurisma nexus, despite his public statements to the contrary. Kerrys chief of staff told investigators that he personally discussed the issue with the secretary of state, according to the report.

Beyond Ukraine, the committees discovered a number of other suspicious financial connections between Hunter Biden and foreign entities, including Chinese nationals with ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the former wife of the mayor of Moscow.

The female Russian billionaire Elena Baturina wired $3.5 million to a company co-founded by Hunter Biden on Feb. 14, 2014, days before the uprising in Ukraine that toppled the nations President Viktor Yanukovych.

The report also details extensive financial ties between Hunter Biden, other members of the Biden family, and Chinese nationals with CCP ties.

The records acquired by the Committees show consistent, significant, and extensive financial connections among and between Hunter Biden, James Biden, Sara Biden, Devon Archer, and Chinese nationals connected to the Communist regime and PLA [Peoples Liberation Army] as well as other foreign nationals with questionable backgrounds, the report states.

These connections and the vast amount of money transferred among and between them dont just raise conflicts of interest concerns, they raise criminal financial, counterintelligence and extortion concerns.

Republicans released the report with less than six weeks left before the presidential election on Nov. 3, in which Biden is running against Trump. The Biden campaign accused the Republicans of releasing the report to help Trumps reelection. The Trump campaign insinuated that the money pouring into Hunter Bidens accounts was meant to influence U.S. policy.
While indicators at the end of the second session of Book 3 at the Keeneland September yearling sale seemed to indicate a more stable environment according to our Ron Mitchell, others suggested that the leading buyer of Book 3 was RNA. Nobody has ever said the sale game is easyespecially during a pandemic.

Through six sessions some $208 million had been spent on yearlings out on Versailles Road, a figure down from the more than $326 million that had passed hands at the same point a year ago. Everyone knew this years sales were going to be different, and this can be looked at two ways. On the down side, sales are off by about a third; on the bright side, buyers have been optimistic enough to spend more than $200 million on horses.

Selectivity and a narrowing of the market have been in force for some time, with many buying outfits landing on the same horses while other seemingly good horses to consignors go unsold, proverbially slipping through the cracks.

One who gave everybody the slip is Starship Jubilee, the gritty 7-year-old mare who took the boys to the woodshed Sept. 19 in winning the Ricoh Woodbine Mile Stakes (G1T) in Canada. A full-length film could hardly cover her career. The Florida-bred with the less-than-fashionable pedigree has now earned more than $2 million after exchanging hands for $6,500 at the 2014 Ocala Breeders Sales August yearling auction, then was left behind as a $34,000 RNA the following year at the OBS April 2-year-olds in training sale.

Five of her first nine starts came in the claiming ranks, and trainer Jorge Navarro took her for $16,000 in January 2017 at Gulfstream Park. Canadian-based trainer Kevin Attard won a three-way shake for her for the same price in her next start in South Florida and got her on track at Woodbine where she proved a worthy adversary in graded stakes on the turf.

So good for so long, she scored her first graded win in the Nassau Stakes (G2T) in May 2017. The runner-up that afternoon was Involuntary. The day after Starship Jubilees Woodbine Mile score, Involuntarys first foal, a colt by Point of Entry, sold to Margaret OToole for $45,000 at Keeneland.

Starship Jubilee was offered for sale yet again at the 2018 Keeneland November sale during the horses of racing age portion and RNAd again, albeit for $425,000. She now races for Bonnie Baskins Central Kentucky Blue Heaven Farm, and instead of being bred to Medaglia dOro earlier this year she was kept in trainingso we can chalk up one good thing for 2020. Shes won five of six, earning $921,682. Her lone defeat came against a deep cast in Saratogas Diana Stakes (G1T).

Eight furlongs is a specialty distance for Thoroughbreds, with runners requiring the right balance of flat out speed and the ability to carry it 1,760 yards. Most top milers are rarely asked to step outside their preferred trip, but Starship Jubilee has proved an outlier. Her win at Woodbine was the first at the trip since winning the 2017 Nassau. Since then shes landed victories at 1 1/16 miles, nine furlongs, about nine furlongs, and 1 1/4 miles. Talk about a Renaissance woman.

This is, of course, the classic tale of little-wanted-horse-done-good. They dont come along very often, but when they do, its a reminder that horses dont have to tick all of the boxes at the sale.

Sellers all the time talk about how much more savvy and discerning buyers are than a decade ago. But for the most part they are landing on a lot of the same horses. Starship Jubilees success is a reminder that not every yearling has to tick every box to be a grade 1 winner.

Happy shopping.
BAMAKO: West African leaders may lift painful economic sanctions against Mali once an interim president is inaugurated on Friday in the wake of the Aug. 18 military coup, the blocs envoy said, praising the juntas leadership.

The comments suggest the 15-nation Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) could accept the candidates picked this week to lead the transition of power, although they do not have the fully civilian background the bloc had demanded.

The easing of sanctions would be a relief for Mali, whose imports have slumped 30% since its neighbours closed borders and halted financial flows after the ouster of President Boubacar Ibrahim Keita.

I am very happy with what is happening now in Mali. The young soldiers who have taken power are doing a job in line with what the (ECOWAS) leaders wanted," said Nigerias former president, Goodluck Jonathan, after landing in Bamako for talks as head of a delegation from the bloc.

It had not previously been clear if ECOWAS would agree with Mondays nomination of former defence minister and retired colonel Bah Ndaw as interim president, particularly as the leader of the junta that seized power, Colonel Assimi Goita, is set to be vice president.

But Jonathan told journalists: I hope that after the inauguration of the president on Friday the sanctions will be lifted."

International powers feared the coup could further destabilise the country and undermine a joint fight against Islamist insurgents there and in the wider Sahel region.

Underscoring the insecurity, three Malian soldiers were killed on Wednesday when militants ambushed their patrol in Mopti region near the border with Burkina Faso, the defence ministry said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the Malian Council of Shippers said the country faced economic crisis if the ECOWAS sanctions were not eased.

In the coming days stocks will be exhausted, and we will see supply disruptions, production stoppages, layoffs, a paralysis of economic activity," the groups president, Ousmane Babalaye Daou, said in an interview with Reuters.

Mali imports 5 million tonnes of goods every year, from woven cotton to cement, some of which arrive at ports across West Africa and are trucked hundred of miles inland.

Stockpiles have cushioned the blow so far, but new orders from Asia or Europe take up to two months to arrive, Daou said.

Essential imports, including petrol, food and medicine, are exempt.

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
Chandan Roy Sanyal Says Irrfan Khan's Tomb Had Some Magical Power

The actor told the tabloid, "In the past few months, COVID-19 kept rising and I was missing him, thinking why don't I visit his tomb, what is stopping me! So I went to a flower shop and on a friend's advice, bought Rajinigandha for him. When I visited his tomb, Irrfan Khan was just lying there beautifully. I stood there for a while, it felt very nice. It had some magical power."

Chandan Roy Sanyal Talks About The Condition Of Irrfan's Tomb

Chandan shared, "Irrfan Khan's tomb is not fancy but has a vibration of its own, just like the actor. It is sort of nicely molding with nature."

Chandal Roy Sanyal On His Viral Post

"People were touched by the gesture but I did not do it for social media. My post made fans emotional. At a time when everyone is fighting on social media, here's Irrfan Khan, bringing calm. Irrfan Khan's journey has been inspirational, he kept rising in his career and why? Because the audience loved him. The audience is not going to watch his film because he happens to be an outsider. So I don't understand this debate," the Kaminey actor told the daily.

Chandan Roy Sanyal Recalls Working With Late Irrfan Khan In D-Day

While speaking with Times of India, Chandan revisited his memories of working with the late actor and said, "Just like a common man, I am also a big fan of late Mr Irrfan Khan. I admired his films and happened to know him as we had worked together. We didn't have many scenes but had forged a good relationship. It was through Rishi Kapoor that I met Irrfan Khan, while we were shooting for D Day. Every day in the evening after shoot, I would sit with them and we would chat. I remember Rishi Kapoor had said at that time, "You'll are very exciting actors, I enjoy working with actors like you'll". We lost Irrfan Khan on April 29 and the next day Rishiji passed away, I was devastated."
Tsukuba, Japan - Normal brain development requires a precise interplay between neuronal and non-neuronal (also called glial) cells. In a new study, researchers from the University of Tsukuba revealed how the loss of protein arginine methyltransferase (PRMT) 1 causes disruptions in glial cells and affects proper brain development.

PRMTs modify specific amino acids of other proteins regulating key cellular functions, such as survival, proliferation and development. Of the many members of the PRMT family that have been identified to date, PRMT1 is one of the most common and controls tissue development and lifespan, as well as stress responses. Because total knockout of PRMT1, i.e., the loss of the protein in all tissues during development, results in failure of embryonic development, recently tissue-specific knockout of PRMT1 has been under increasing scrutiny, in an effort to understand how PRMT1 contributes to tissue development and function.

"We previously discovered that PRMT1 is critical for the function of one type of glial cell, oligodendrocytes, during brain development," says corresponding author of the study Professor Akiyoshi Fukamizu. "The goal of this study was to understand how other glial cells may contribute to the hypomyelination phenotype we observe in PRMT1 conditional knockout mice."

To achieve their goal, the researchers used the same mouse model as in their previous study, in which PRMT1 was knocked out in neural stem cells (NSCs) and cells that are derived from NSCs. These include oligodendrocytes and astrocytes, but not microglia, all of which are important glial cell types in the brain. The researchers performed RNA-sequencing of the outer region of the brain, called the cortex, where these cells reside in neonatal PRMT1 knockout mice. By doing so, they were able to survey changes in gene expression in the brain of mice lacking PRMT1. Interestingly, the researchers found increased expression of genes regulating inflammation, pointing towards the involvement of astrocytes and microglia. Looking closer at markers of inflammation, the researchers found that among a panel of inflammation markers the expression of Interleukin-6 in particular was significantly increased in PRMT1 knockout mice.

The researchers next asked how there is increased inflammation in the brain of neonatal mice lacking PRMT1 and looked closer at astrocytes and microglia. By assaying the brains for markers of astrocytes and microglia, they found signs of severe ongoing inflammation: massive astrogliosis, which is an increase in astrocyte numbers, and an increase in the number of microglia. The latter is particularly intriguing because microglia are not derived from NSCs and hence showed normal expression of PRMT1.

"These are striking results that show how a single protein controls such essential developmental processes in the brain. Our results provide a novel insight into the molecular control of brain development," says first author of the study Assistant Professor Misuzu Hashimoto (Gifu University).

###
As the US death toll from the coronavirus eclipses 200,000, President Donald Trump 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, Mr Trump suggested only older Americans with heart problems and pre-existing 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," he 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."

Read More

Mr Trump's sentiments go against the guidance of most public health experts. They also contradict the statements he made to journalist and author Bob Woodward in an interview in March.

In one of his interviews with Mr Woodward for his book Rage, Mr 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," Mr Trump told Mr Woodward.

"But just today, and yesterday, some startling facts came out. It's not just the old."

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.
The entire Concerned Youth of NPP Western Region together with its various Volunteer Groups call on the Parliamentary Disciplinary Committee to call Mr. George Mireku Duker to order, he doesn't deserve to be called honorable at the House of Great men and women who understand the concept of politics and governance.



We by this special notice, petition the parliamentary Disciplinary Committee to call him to order, for attacking his own Regional Secretary and a Presidential Staffer Mr. Charles Bissue with a club leaving with a badly bruised face.



This incident took place on Monday 21st of September at Workshop organized for NPP Parliamentary aspirants by the NPP at KINSTEL HOTEL, Apollo, Takoradi.



This same Mr. Charles Bissue in 2016 supported him (George Mireku Duker) even in opposition to annexing the Tarkwa-Nsuaem seat.



Lest we forget, one of the most disturbing and distasteful character traits of Mr. George Mireku Duker, MP for Tarkwa-Nsuaem Constituency is, he has consistently displayed from being a Municipal Chief Executive to a Member Of Parliament is promiscuity, what I will term as a complete lack of self-discipline. Mr. Duker is morally not fit to criticize or spread falsehood about people because issues surrounding him is beyond criticism.



As a Member of Parliament, he has caused unforgivable wrath on his own hometown concerning the chieftaincy issue.



Mr. Duker is a nonperforming MP, hence is the torchbearer of evil doings in Tarkwa-Nsuaem, no wonder he physically attacked a Presidential Staffer who also doubles as the Western Regional Secretary of the NPP in a meeting held two days ago at Kingstel Hotel, Apollo, Takoradi.



The violence we say is the hallmark of Mr. Mireku Duker, we the indigenes of Western Region and true members of the New Patriotic Party will not endorse such wrongdoing which is denting the image of the party as well as the President. Arise Western Region.



Mr. George Mireku Duker, MP for Tarkwa-Nsuaem Constituency should be called to order for attacking the Western Regional Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party at a workshop held two days ago. Our question is should a sitting member of Parliament do this to a whole Regional Secretary and a Presidential Staffer. Mr. Mireku Duker is evil and must be punished if not we the staunch members of the Party will campaign tirelessly and massively against him to lose. After attacking Mr. Bissue, Duker immediately rushed to the media for a cover-up, claiming he has been attacked by the Regional Secretary which is false.



Mr. George Mireku Duker doesn't respect his personality, he sleeps with young girls in the constituency and pays them off with millions of cedis from the MP's common fund, which is to be used for developmental projects and others, paying goro boys to attack Regional Executives and some youth in the Constituency. Mr. George Mireku Duker must resign. We don't want Mr. Mireku Duker as our Member of Parliament. Tarkwa-Nsuaem deserves better. We don't want such an arrogant, wicked selfish-centered and evil man as our MP. Mr. George Mireku Duker can't point to the public any single project he has constructed. He has mismanaged the funds from the NHIS, 1 million per Constituency, MPs common fund, and others. Therefore he has made the party unattractive and useless in the Constituency.



*In the 2016 Elections, Charles Bissue played a major role in the election, and based on that, His Excellency President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo mentioned him as one of the best hardworking people who helped in the 2016 elections Victory in the Western Region and in Ghana.*



Because of his love and selflessness for the NPP, Charles Bissue has been an example for us ( especially the youth in Western Region)



*Indeed the People of Western Region are grateful to you and as you continue to work hard for the victory for His Excellency President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and to win majority of the Parliamentary seats in the Western Region.(AGENDA 14 seats)*



Long Live Mr. Charles Cromwell Nanabayin Onuawonto Bissue



Long live NPP

Signed

Political Prince

0507275748









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
Government officials have rushed to replace a New Zealand flag displayed above a bridge after a driver noticed a mistake with its design.

Motorists on Sydney's Anzac Bridge spotted the flag with a unique design pattern displayed on top of one of the two towers above the motorway.

Both the Australian and New Zealand flags are flown atop the bridge and both show the Southern Cross and Union Jack.

But in the version seen above the bridge, the New Zealand flag's Southern Cross pattern is wrong.

The final red star that normally appears at the bottom of the Southern Cross is seen below the Union Jack.

A New Zealand flag with a mistake on it (pictured) has been displayed above Sydney's Anzac Bridge

The wrong flag has been flying above the bridge for more than a month.

New Zealand Flag Association President John Moody was unimpressed.

'I think New Zealanders would feel a certain disrespect,' he told 7News.

Mr Moody was unsure as to why the wrong flag had been put up.

'It could be laziness, ignorance... it may have been somebody who thought somehow the New Zealand flag was similar to the Australian flag,' he said.

A Transport for NSW spokesperson said the wrong flag had been changed.

'Transport for NSW was made aware of an incorrect New Zealand flag flying on the ANZAC Bridge and replaced it overnight,' they said.

'The issue arose due to a manufacturing fault by the supplier.'
FLORENCE, Italy and NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Classes in a historical cafe, among the most elegant in the city. It's happening in Florence, where on Monday September 28th, Rivoire, a famous cafe in Piazza della Signoria, will host the first class for students of University of Florence degree in "Fashion System Design." Caffe' Rivoire will set up an outdoor space in the iconic Florentine piazza.

Carmine Rotondaro owner of Caffe' Rivoire CAFFE' RIVOIRE undergoing high profile restyling

"Schools and universities need to experiment with new forms of teaching and knowledge transmission. After the long months in lockdown, we are rediscovering and giving new value to relationships, that are the basis of school life. But COVID forces some rules on us, to contain the spread of the virus, and this is why the University of Florence is coming up with new ways of interpreting its teaching mission," explains a note from the Department of Architecture and Design of the University of Florence.

HISTORY AND CULTURE

Between the end of the 1800 and the beginning of 1900, Florence was the city of literary cafes. Artists, writers, and musicians who made the history of literature and of the most innovative artistic movements in Italy and beyond, used to populate the Rivoire tables.

"When I acquired the prestigious Caffe' Rivoire, I had in mind exactly this: to bring back to life the splendid tradition of literary cafes, of cafes as a place where intelligence and beauty can meet and engage each other, in an accessible and stimulating environment. Long live culture, long live Rivoire!" exclaims Carmine Rotondaro, owner of the historic Florentine cafe.

"After a hundred years, this city has the chance to redesign its mission, recovering the cultural values of innovation and creativity that belong to it," concludes the note from the University of Florence.

ARTS, FASHION, AND PUBLICATIONS

Mr. Rotondaro adds his promise to surprise Florentine citizens and all lovers of Firenze around the world with a calendar of upcoming high-profile initiatives linking fashion with arts, and communication, framed by Rivoire's newly restyled setting and sweetened by its legendary chocolate.

FOR INFO AND INTERVIEWS:

Carmine Rotondaro's office

+1.786.232.8949

[email protected]

SOURCE Caffe Rivoire
Saudi Arabia has banned flights to and from India from Tuesday amid a surge in coronavirus cases, according to an official document.





In a circular issued on Tuesday, Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation said it was "suspending travel to and from the following countries: (India, Brazil and Argentina) including any person who has been in any of the mentioned countries above in the last 14 days prior to their arrival to the Kingdom".

However, it excluded "passengers who have official government invitations".

The GACA circular -- titled: 'Suspension of travel to countries where the COVID-19 virus has outbreak' -- was marked to all the airlines and chartered flight companies operating at the Saudi Arabia's airports.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE host a significant Indian migrant population.

Five days back, Air India Express had said the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority suspended its flights for 24 hours for bringing two passengers with COVID-positive certificates on August 28 and September 4.

Dubai is the most populous city of the United Arab Emirates.

Scheduled international passenger flights have been suspended in India since March 23 due to the outbreak. However, special international flights have been operating between India and Saudi Arabia since May 6 under the Vande Bharat mission.

India's COVID-19 caseload has reached 56,46,010, and the death toll has climbed to 90,020 with 1,085 people succumbing to the disease in the past 24 hours, the health ministry's data updated at 8 am Wednesday showed.

After one-day suspension for bringing passengers with COVID-positive certificates, Air India Express resumed its Dubai flights on Saturday.

According to rules of the UAE government, every passenger travelling from India is required to bring an original COVID-negative certificate of an RT-PCR test done within 96 hours prior to the journey.

Hong Kong has banned Air India flights from Sunday to October 3 after a few passengers on its flight on Friday tested positive for COVID-19 post arrival, a senior government official said on Sunday.

Air India passenger flights were barred from landing in Hong Kong between August 18 and August 31 after 14 passengers on its Delhi-Hong Kong flight of August 14 tested positive for COVID-19 post arrival.

Passengers from India can arrive in Hong Kong only if they have a COVID-19 negative certificate from a test done within 72 hours prior to the journey, according to rules issued by the Hong Kong government in July.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Aerospace engineering graduate student Pranay Thangeda relies on the bus system in Champaign-Urbana to get to class and other meetings. He wanted to understand why, despite arriving at the bus stop well ahead of the schedule, he was sometimes late. He developed a tool that considers transportation variables weighed against how great a margin of error bus riders are willing to accept. The basic concept can also apply to getting a lunar rover where it needs to be, and with a high degree of reliability.

"I was following the real-time bus schedule but still ended up being late to my destination almost half of the time and being early the other half. I wanted to know what was happening," said Thangeda, who studies under faculty member Melkior Ornik in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.

Thangeda realized that most navigation apps only cared about the expected travel time: they only announce how long the trip is expected to take. If the expected travel time is 20 minutes but half of the time it takes them 10 minutes and half of the time takes 30 minutes, that is often unacceptablethe rider would be late half of the time.

"We started the research with Pranay's experience: sometimes bus riders care about reliability and not just the expected fastest route. They want to have a 90 percent or 95 percent certainty that they'll get there in time for their meeting," Ornik said.

When Thangeda and Ornik began building the model, they wanted real time data and a lot of it.

"We could have collected our own data, but I noticed that MTD's website had a good web application programming interface with open access, so we reached out to their operations manager," Thangeda said. "We met with Jay Rank at MTD's office, talked over the data and he got it for us in less than a week. He and Evan Alvarez were both very gracious and accommodating. We used the data to train the model to determine the underlying distribution of travel times on different road segments and their correlation."

Thangeda said there were a lot of variables to consider in the data.

"Each factor has its own unique implications on the distribution and uncertainties," Thangeda said. "Variations in pedestrian traffic, changes to road conditions due to the weather, bus breakdowns, and other conditions. What we focused on is how these factors are distributed by using the overall distribution of historical data and live data from all the bus apps available. That enhanced the model and reduces the uncertainty making it more feasible to predict what's going to happen next."

This first step in the research resulted in a proof-of-concept implementation.

"We showed the model can calculate the tradeoff between reliability and expectation between any starting bus stop and destination," Thangeda said. "The next step would be to develop an app so users can get the optimum route from any starting point to any ending point. Developing an app will depend upon resources and the time to create it."

Ornik said they'd like to develop an app that provides complimentary functionality to currently available apps.

"Google Maps has a public transit planner. You enter your starting and ending points and it tells you the route it wants you to take. But that route might be expected to be fast but have a low reliability. We want users to be able to set their starting and ending point, the exact time they need to be there, and a tolerance such as I'm okay with being late 5 percent of the time," Ornik said.

Given that many of the current apps are free, Ornik added that there's no incentive to develop a new app. "The hope is however that this work can steer us toward an academic or industry transport partnership," he said.

Thangeda and Ornik both described some surprises in the research.

"There were a few surprises in the data," Thangeda said. "We have a static model of the entire city that's updated every three months. There were a few errors that had to be fixed. There was also some noise possibly because of the way the sensors on the busses publish the data. Sometimes the stops were recorded in an uneven order, so we had to spend a lot of time on pre-processing the data."

Ornik said he was surprised at a specific point-to-point solution the tool recommended for a trip from downtown Urbana to the Illinois Terminal in Champaign where connections can be made to Amtrak and other bus services.

"Champaign-Urbana is a fairly tame environment in terms of trafficthere isn't a rush hour or even the high pedestrian numbers you have in cities like Chicago or New York City," Ornik said. "And yet, if you want to be more certain about your arrival time, it is better to take the Orange line that takes a longer route on University Avenue and avoids campus than to take the Green line that goes through campus. That route becomes questionable because of the large fluctuation of students on campus, which increases the variance of travel times. Consequently, it makes sense to take the Orange. I never thought of that. It was very satisfying to work with these data and demonstrate specific practical features like this one in Champaign-Urbana."

Ornik said the study only looked at peak times when school is in session. The Green line may be a good choice during the summer months when the student population in C-U is lower.

The same issues addressed in the study can be said of car travel.

"We are looking for ways to translate this work further away from public transit," Ornik said. "The big difference with cars is that there are no fixed routes. In a car, if you realize that the traffic is moving slowly you can switch to a different road. In a bus, there's not much you can do."

This work was partially funded by a 2018 NASA Early Stage Innovation Award, which is not directly related to public transit but has to do with optimal planning.

"The original case study was on a lunar rover which has the same principles," Ornik said. "The rover has an origin and a destination. We look at the reliability and expectation tradeoffs between the expected amount of energy or the expected amount of time that the rover will take to reach its destination based on the terrain and what we know of the agent's energy consumption. There's also the question of reliability. Can I ensure, not just expect, that the rover will reach its destination without running out of energy. I want hard guarantees here."

The study, "PROTRIP: Probabilistic Risk-Aware Optimal Transit Planner," was presented this week by Pranay Thangeda and Melkior Ornik as part of the 23rd IEEE International Conference on Intelligent Transportation Systems.

Explore further Predicting in-flight air density for more accurate landing

More information: PROTRIP: Probabilistic Risk-Aware Optimal Transit Planner, PROTRIP: Probabilistic Risk-Aware Optimal Transit Planner, mornik.web.illinois.edu/wp-con  nt/uploads/TO20B.pdf
Less than 24 hours after he and his officers seized 22 million dollars in cash from a Pyramid Scheme in La Horquetta, Police Commissioner Gary Griffith wants to know who has ordered the return of the funds
Update (1135ET): Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) has responded to the Biden probe, saying that after Trump was impeached "for directing a scheme to extort a foreign partner to announce an investigation into Vice President Joe Biden's son," that "Trump's most willing allies in Congress quickly took up that mantle, and carried out his demand..."

Schiff accused the two Senate Committee Chairs of "promoting the same Russian disinformation," adding "the Kremlin must be very pleased."

The California lawmaker notably didn't address any of the core claims in the report.

* * *

A long-awaited Senate report on Hunter Biden's financial dealings with Ukrainian, Chinese and Russian businesses created potential "criminal financial, counterintelligence and extortion concerns," and alarmed US officials who perceived an ethical conflict of interest and flagged potential crimes ranging from sex trafficking to bribery.

The findings are contained in a joint report by the GOP-led Senate Homeland and Government Affairs and Senate Finance Committees, released just six days before the first Presidential Debate between Joe Biden and President Trump.

OUT TODAY: Report with @chuckgrassley found millions of dollars in questionable financial transactions between Hunter Biden & his associates and foreign individuals, including the wife of the former mayor of Moscow. https://t.co/R1MxQ4xGKP  Senator Ron Johnson (@SenRonJohnson) September 23, 2020

According to the Daily Caller's Chuck Ross, suspicious financial transactions between Hunter Biden's firms and foreign nationals from Russia and China - including a CCP-linked Chinese businessman, raised serious concerns. What's more, Hunter's seat on the board of Ukrainian energy giant Burisma while his father served as the Obama administration point-man for Ukraine, worried State Department officials in 2015 and 2016.

One official, Amos Hochstein, told the Senate Homeland Security and Senate Finance committees that he said to then-Vice President Joe Biden in October 2015 that Hunter Bidens position on the board of Burisma enabled Russian disinformation efforts and risked undermining U.S. policy in Ukraine. Hunter Biden, now 50, joined Burismas board of directors in April 2014, shortly after his father, Joe Biden, took over as the Obama administrations chief liaison to Ukraine. -Daily Caller

As Ross notes, while the report does not produce direct evidence of wrongdoing by Hunter Biden, Republicans say the evidence paints a troubling picture of Biden receiving "millions of dollars from foreign sources as a result of business relationships that he built during the period when his father was vice president of the United States and after."

Hunter Biden also received a $3.5 million wire transfer from Elena Baturina, the wife of the former mayor of Moscow, according to the report.

And as Just The News' John Solomon writes, "Perhaps the most explosive revelation was that the U.S. Treasury Department flagged payments collected overseas by Hunter Biden and business partner Devon Archer for possible illicit activities."

The so-called Suspicious Activity Reports flagged millions of dollars in transactions from the Ukrainian gas company Burisma Holdings, a Russian oligarch named Yelena Baturina, and Chinese businessmen with ties to Beijing's communist government, the report said. Senate investigators have yet to determine if the FBI or others investigated the concerns. -Just The News

"The Treasury records acquired by the Chairmen show potential criminal activity relating to transactions among and between Hunter Biden, his family, and his associates with Ukrainian, Russian, Kazakh and Chinese nationals," reads the 87-page report. Other transactions involving Biden-controlled firms were flagged for "potential criminal financial activity," including wire transfers to Hunter's Uncle, James Biden.

The report focuses on millions of dollars in wire payments that Hunter Bidens firms received from Ye Jianming, the founder of CEFC China Energy Co., and Gongwen Dong, a U.S.-based associate of Yes. According to Republicans, Ye has extensive connections to the Chinese government. The Senate report says that on Aug. 4, 2017, a subsidiary of Yes company called CEFC Infrastructure Investment (US) LLC, wired $100,000 to Owasco, the Biden law firm. A month later, on Sept. 8, 2017, Hunter Biden and Gongwen Dong applied for a $100,000 line of credit under a shell company they formed called Hudson West III LLC, according to the Senate report. Biden, his uncle James, and Jamess wife, Sara Biden, accessed the account through credit cards, and spent $101,291 on what Republicans call extravagant items, including plane tickets, hotels, restaurants and items at Apple stores. -Daily Caller

Meanwhile, according to US government records cited in the report, concerns were raised over potential ties to sex and human trafficking rings.

"Hunter Biden paid nonresident women who were nationals of Russia or other Eastern European countries and who appear to be linked to an Eastern European prostitution or human trafficking ring," the report reads.

Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Ron Johnson told Just The News that the sheer volume of potentially illegal activity in Hunter Biden's foreign dealings left Joe Biden vulnerable to illicit influence or extortion.

"The report raises serious questions that former Vice President Biden needs to answer. There are simply too many potential conflict of interest, counterintelligence and extortion threats to ignore," he said.

The Biden campaign has called the Senate report an effort to "subsidize a foreign attack against the sovereignty of our elections with taxpayer dollars" and to push a "long-disproven, hardcore rightwing conspiracy theory."

Biden campaign's @AndrewBatesNC calls Sen. Ron Johnson's report on Burisma/Hunter Biden an effort to "subsidize a foreign attack against the sovereignty of our elections with taxpayer dollars" and to push a "long-disproven, hardcore rightwing conspiracy theory" pic.twitter.com/LRDKEdu0fK  Johnny Verhovek (@JTHVerhovek) September 23, 2020

And of course Biden's media defenders are hard at work today:

A totally laughable headline from Politico, which was the go-to outlet for Democrats to pre-empt and undercut the Biden probe. https://t.co/vy7rfX6fZ2 pic.twitter.com/yqkLGla8GY  Chuck Ross (@ChuckRossDC) September 23, 2020

The findings, as compiled by the Daily Wire's Ryan Saavedra:

In early 2015 the former Acting Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, George Kent, raised concerns to officials in Vice President Joe Bidens office about the perception of a conflict of interest with respect to Hunter Bidens role on Burismas board. Kents concerns went unaddressed, and in September 2016, he emphasized in an email to his colleagues, Furthermore, the presence of Hunter Biden on the Burisma board was very awkward for all U.S. officials pushing an anticorruption agenda in Ukraine.

In October 2015, senior State Department official Amos Hochstein raised concerns with Vice President Biden, as well as with Hunter Biden, that Hunter Bidens position on Burismas board enabled Russian disinformation efforts and risked undermining U.S. policy in Ukraine.

Although Kent believed that Hunter Bidens role on Burismas board was awkward for all U.S. officials pushing an anti-corruption agenda in Ukraine, the Committees are only aware of two individuals  Kent and former U.S. Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs Amos Hochstein  who raised concerns to Vice President Joe Biden (Hochstein) or his staff (Kent).

The awkwardness for Obama administration officials continued well past his presidency. Former Secretary of State John Kerry had knowledge of Hunter Bidens role on Burismas board, but when asked about it at a town hall event in Nashua, N.H. on Dec. 8, 2019, Kerry falsely said, I had no knowledge about any of that. None. No. Evidence to the contrary is detailed in Section V.

Former Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Victoria Nuland testified that confronting oligarchs would send an anticorruption message in Ukraine. Kent told the Committees that Zlochevsky was an odious oligarch. However, in December 2015, instead of following U.S. objectives of confronting oligarchs, Vice President Bidens staff advised him to avoid commenting on Zlochevsky and recommended he say, Im not going to get into naming names or accusing individuals.

Hunter Biden was serving on Burismas board (supposedly consulting on corporate governance and transparency) when Zlochevsky allegedly paid a $7 million bribe to officials serving under Ukraines prosecutor general , Vitaly Yarema, to shut the case against Zlochevsky. Kent testified that this bribe occurred in December 2014 (seven months after Hunter joined Burismas board), and, after learning about it, he and the Resident Legal Advisor reported this allegation to the FBI.

, Vitaly Yarema, to shut the case against Zlochevsky. Kent testified that this bribe occurred in December 2014 (seven months after Hunter joined Burismas board), and, after learning about it, he and the Resident Legal Advisor reported this allegation to the FBI. Hunter Biden was a U.S. Secret Service protectee from Jan. 29, 2009 to July 8, 2014. A day before his last trip as a protectee, Time published an article describing Burismas ramped up lobbying efforts to U.S. officials and Hunters involvement in Burismas board. Before ending his protective detail, Hunter Biden received Secret Service protection on trips to multiple foreign locations, including Moscow, Beijing, Doha, Paris, Seoul, Manila, Tokyo, Mexico City, Milan, Florence, Shanghai, Geneva, London, Dublin, Munich, Berlin, Bogota, Abu Dhabi, Nairobi, Hong Kong, Taipei, Buenos Aires, Copenhagen, Johannesburg, Brussels, Madrid, Mumbai and Lake Como.

Andrii Telizhenko, the Democrats personification of Russian disinformation, met with Obama administration officials, including Elisabeth Zentos, a member of Obamas National Security Council, at least 10 times. A Democrat lobbying firm, Blue Star Strategies, contracted with Telizhenko from 2016 to 2017 and continued to request his assistance as recent as the summer of 2019. A recent news article detailed other extensive contacts between Telizhenko and Obama administration officials.

In addition to the over $4 million paid by Burisma for Hunter Bidens and Archers board memberships, Hunter Biden, his family, and Archer received millions of dollars from foreign nationals with questionable backgrounds.

Archer received $142,300 from Kenges Rakishev of Kazakhstan, purportedly for a car, the same day Vice President Joe Biden appeared with Ukrainian Prime Minister Arsemy Yasenyuk and addressed Ukrainian legislators in Kyiv regarding Russias actions in Crimea.

Hunter Biden received a $3.5 million wire transfer from Elena Baturina, the wife of the former mayor of Moscow.

Hunter Biden opened a bank account with Gongwen Dong to fund a $100,000 global spending spree with James Biden and Sara Biden.

Hunter Biden had business associations with Ye Jianming, Gongwen Dong, and other Chinese nationals linked to the Communist government and the Peoples Liberation Army. Those associations resulted in millions of dollars in cash flow.

Hunter Biden paid nonresident women who were nationals of Russia or other Eastern European countries and who appear to be linked to an Eastern European prostitution or human trafficking ring.

Imagine if this was anyone with the last name Trump?
Simon Coveney's the latest government minister to restrict his movements.

The Foreign Affairs Minister returned from Brussels yesterday, after meeting a group of EU Ministers for European Affairs about Brexit.

The Department of Foreign Affairs says he's following all protocols.

Earlier, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar has tested negative for Covid-19 after being informed that he was in close contact with someone who tested positive.

Mr Varadkar said that he would be restricting his movements in line with advice from public health officials.

A statement issued by the Tanaiste said he was "swabbed yesterday and the test has come back negative."

He added: "There are no implications for anyone who has been in close contact with me.

"I am perfectly well and will be working from home.

Public health advice is to restrict one's movements after being identified as a close contact as the virus can take from 10 - 14 days to manifest, even if the test comes back negative.

A close contact, according to the HSE, is spending more than 15 minutes of face-to-face contact within 2 metres of someone who has coronavirus, indoor or outdoor, living in the same house or shared accommodation as someone who has coronavirus, or sitting within 2 seats of someone who has coronavirus on public transport or an aeroplane.

Mr Varadkar said that he would be restricting his movements in line with advice from public health officials. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire The news comes as the Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe yesterday announced he would be 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.

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.

Last week, the entire Cabinet was briefly forced to self-isolate because Health Minister Stephen Donnelly became unwell.

Mr Donnelly was referred for a Covid test shortly after he became unwell in the wake of the Cabinet meeting and press conference at Dublin Castle. He received a test the same evening which came back as negative a few hours later.

TDs were back in the chamber on request of Taoiseach Micheal Martin hours later.

Green party leader Eamon Ryan was also forced to restrict his movements after a member of his household awaited a Covid-19 test.

The test came back as negative and Mr Ryan returned to work last week.
President Donald Trump praised Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron's 'fantastic' handling of the Breonna Taylor case after a grand jury indicted a single officer in connection with her killing.

Trump called Cameron 'really brilliant' and a 'star' when asked about the result of the attorney general's investigation on Wednesday afternoon.

It came after Cameron announced that fired officer Brett Hankison had been indicted on three charges of wanton endangerment for the no-knock raid that killed 26-year-old Taylor on March 13.

The charges related to Hankison shooting into the homes of Taylor's neighbors, not her death. The other two officers involved in the raid were not charged.

The grand jury decision was met with immediate backlash as hundreds of protesters began marching through downtown Louisville and clashing with police.

Trump, who has repeatedly railed against Black Lives Matter protesters, applauded Kentucky Gov Andy Beshear's decision to deploy the National Guard as tensions mounted in the city.

President Donald Trump (left) praised Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron (right) for his 'fantastic' handling of the Breonna Taylor case at a press conference on Wednesday after a grand jury indicted a single officer in connection with her killing

The president's press conference came to an abrupt end when he said he had to take an 'emergency phone call' as a reporters tried to ask him more questions about the Taylor case.

'Mr. President, just one more question if I can about Breonna Taylor. People are protesting in the streets. What is your message to that?' a reporter asked right before Trump walked out.

Trump briefly addressed the case earlier in the afternoon, but punted when asked if he believed justice had been served.

The president spoke instead about his own record  once again comparing it to Abraham Lincoln's  and said he would comment on the case later.

A reporter had asked Trump: 'Do you believe that justice was served in he Breonna Taylor case in Kentucky, and what is your message to the black community who believe that perhaps justice was not served by the decision which was rendered by the decision that was rendered by the grand jury in Kentucky?'

He responded: 'Well, my message is that I love the black community. And I've done more for the black community than any other president. And I say, with the possible exception of Abraham Lincoln,' Trump said, before rattling off accomplishments, some of which built on existing programs or included Democratic buy-in.

'And mean that with opportunities zones and with criminal justice reform, with prison reform, with what we've done for historically black universities, colleges, schools, what we've done  nobody has done more.

'Abraham Lincoln, let's give him the nod, but beyond that, nobody's done more. I love the black community.'

He steered clear of any substantive language on the verdict itself, as authorities in Louisville declared a curfew and lined the streets to quell unrest.

'I don't know enough about it. I heard the decision was just made. We've been together here, and so we haven't discussed it. But after I see what the decision is, I will have a comment on it,' Trump said.

Fired officer Brett Hankison (left) was indicted on three charges of wanton endangerment for the no-knock raid that killed 26-year-old Taylor (right) on March 13

The grand jury decision was met with immediate backlash as hundreds of protesters began marching through downtown Louisville and clashing with police

Rival Joe Biden made similarly vague remarks when asked about the grand jury decision on a tarmac in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The Democratic presidential nominee claimed he hadn't received enough information to comment fully but said: 'My heart goes out to [Taylor's] mother.'

He also urged protesters to keep their demonstrations peaceful.

'Do not sully her memory or her mother's by engaging in any violence. It's totally inappropriate for that to happen,' Biden said. 'She wouldn't want it, nor would her mother, so I hope they do that.'

Biden's running mate, Sen Kamala Harris, also declined to share her opinion on the indictment.

'I haven't read it fully yet, but there's no question that Breonna Taylor and her family deserve justice yesterday, today and tomorrow so I'll review it,' said the Senate Judiciary Committee member.

Harris tweeted back in June: 'The officers who murdered Breonna Taylor nearly three months ago still have not been charged. We can't forget about Black women in our quest for justice.'

Joe Biden made vague remarks when asked about the grand jury decision on a tarmac in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Wednesday evening (pictured)

Kamala Harris also declined to offer her opinion on the indictment, saying: 'I haven't read it fully yet, but there's no question that Breonna Taylor and her family deserve justice yesterday, today and tomorrow so I'll review it'

Discussing the findings of his four-month investigation, Cameron said officers were not serving a no-knock warrant, and cited a witness who said the officers identified themselves when they broke down Taylor's door.

He also said Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly and Detective Myles Cosgrove, who were not charged, were 'justified' in returning fire 'to protect themselves' when Taylor's boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, fired at them.

In the Capitol, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez issued expansive comments that took about the outcome, saying that the 'system' failed Taylor, as well as the 'entire community'.

'I think that her family deserves so much more...it's just weighing really heavy on my heart, and because we know that her death is not just the result of one person but the system, structure, and department that failed their entire community,' the first-term lawmaker said.

'And you know, we know that this fight to prevent deaths like hers is going to be so much broader in terms of the systemic change, the political change,' she added.

'We're talking about an essential worker, a young woman that had her whole life in front of her, that served her community as an EMT, that her job was to save lives. And it wasn't one person that you know, knocked down her door and entered in the wrong apartment and was responsible for her death.

'So my heart breaks for her family because we know that her death is the result of something much bigger than just one person, but we also, we fight and will continue to fight to not just in her memory but in order to prevent this from happening.'
Tamil Nadu: Mechanised boat from Kanniyakumari stranded in Azhikkal

September 23,2020 | Source: The Hindu

A mechanised boat, which ventured into the sea for fishing with 11 fishermen on September 14, is stranded in Azhikkal in Kerala and has sought assistance for a rescue by the naval authorities from Tamil Nadu and Kerala. In a mail sent to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, International Fishermen Development Trust president P. Justin Antony said that the boat had set off from Thengapattinam Fishing Harbour with 11 persons. The fishermen then made contact through a satellite phone that there was a technical snag in the engine and sought rescue at the earliest. According to the INFIDET, 10 among them were from Kanniyakumari district, while one was from Thiruvananthapuram district.



When contacted, officials at the office of the Deputy Director (Fisheries) here said that they have communicated to their counterparts in Kerala. The Naval authorities and the Indian Coast Guard too would be intimated, they added.
Johnson & Johnson has now announced the global phase 3 human trials of its version of the coronavirus vaccine. Compared to others, this vaccine is a one-shot drug that may mark America's first in the medicinal area. The trial is expected to invite at least 60,000 volunteers and may soon allow the company to seek emergency authorization next year.

COVID-19 vaccine update

As of now, J&J is the fourth vaccine maker in the country that leveled up into late-human stage trials, as reported via Bloomberg.

The company has announced that the human trials had already started to reach volunteers of up to 60,000 people.

If there's one thing that makes their vaccine more effective, the study shows that J&J's vaccine only needs one dose per person to work.

This means, compared to other pharmaceutical companies, the patient only needs to take a single dose shot of the vaccine to prevent acquiring Coronavirus.

Once this works and proven effective, this drug could be the very first in America to be a one-shot medicine.

"We are convinced that the single-dose could be very efficacious," said Johnson & Johnson Chief Scientific Officer Paul Stoffels on a call with the press, citing promising results from earlier research.

Could the one-shot vaccine be effective?

Most of the vaccines (other than COVID vaccines) require more than one dose shot on each human being. Hospitals do an annual test in order for it to be effective.

So can J&J push through with their original plan? Early studies say yes.

According to the report, the drug's early experiments were seen effective with non-human primate models (NHP). Six of the NHPs received single immunization with the drug and had shown no detectable virus in the lower respiratory tract despite exposure to SARS-CoV-2.

Johnson & Johnson is expected to seek emergency authorization from the government early next year.

ALSO READ: [BREAKING] Coronavirus Is Becoming Stronger: Researchers Discover It's Heat-Resistant and Can Heal Itself

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Jamie Pancho

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Bengaluru, Sep 23 : Lauding Karnataka for conducting Covid tests in a scientific way, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday told the southern state to increase surveillance and ramp up testing to check the pandemic.

"Increase surveillance and ramp-up RT-PCR tests to three-fold. Focus more on nine districts which have the highest number of deaths," Modi told state Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa during a video conference from New Delhi.

Advocating a mission mode approach over the next six months, Modi called for strict enforcement in containment zones across the state to check the virus spread.

"Re-test all symptomatic negative results of anti-gen tests and ensure wide publicity on precautionary measures through the media," he said.

Advising the state to regularly monitor those who are in home isolation after testing Covid positive and under treatment for being asymptomatic, Modi told Yediyurappa to organise awareness programmes on Covid-19 across the state.

"Jeevan bhi aur jeevika bhi (graded opening of economic activities after ensuring adequate testing and hospital infrastructure), asserted Modi.

State Health Minister B. Sriramulu, Medical Education Minister K. Sudhakar, Chief Secretary T.M. Vijaya Bhaskar and Additional Chief Secretary E.V. Ramana Reddy participated in the two-hour long meeting at the Chief Minister's office in the city centre.

Though new cases have been moderating of late and recoveries increasing, the state ranks second after Maharashtra across the country in terms of active cases at 94,652 till date, while 5,40,847 have been infected since March 8 when the pandemic broke.

With 5,460 discharged during the day across the state, 4,37,910 patients have been treated so far, while the death toll has gone up to 8,266 till date, including 38 in the last 24 hours.

The state has registered 6,997 new cases in the last 24 hours.

As the epicentre of the communicable disease, Bengaluru has registered a whopping 2,04,275 positive cases till date, including 39,971 active cases and 3,547 new cases in the last 24 hours. With 3,536 discharged in the day, 1,61,565 have been treated so far, while 2,738 succumbed to the infection since March 8, including 23 during the day.

Briefing the Prime Minister on slew of measures the state government has taken to fight the coronavirus, Yediyurappa said testing have been ramped up to 70,000 samples per day and 43 lakh at 136 labs across the state so far.

"The fleet of ambulances has been increased to 2,000 from 800 to rush symptomatic positive patients to hospitals at the earliest after knowing their results. All contacts of positive cases are identified within 24-48 hours to quarantine them," the Chief Minister told PM Modi.

Noting that ramping-up tests was helping the state to reduce positivity, Yediyurappa said the case fatality rate was at 1.54 per cent and the death rate only 1.3 per cent.

"Fatality rate will be reduced to less than 1 per cent, the goal the Prime Minister had set for all states," said a statement from the Chief Minister's office on the outcome of the video conferencing.

Besides normal medicines, the Covid patients are given 'Novel Drugs' for free though expensive.

"The number of oxygenated beds have been increased to 18,000 from 7,000 in state-run hospitals and 10,000 general bed have been reserved for Covid patients in state-run and private hospitals in the state," Yediyurappa said.

Similarly, 1,811 ICU (intensive care unit) beds have been reserved in the state-run hospitals and 1,269 in private hospitals for Covid patients.

The state government has given permission to convert industrial oxygen cylinders for medical purpose to ensure its supply to needy hospitals across the state in time.

"Liquid oxygen for medical purposes is 375 tonne per day, while the peak demand is 870 metric tonne a day across the state," he added.

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
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
RACINE  In the 20 years that Heidi Fritz tended bar at Teezers Bar and Grill, 1936 Lathrop Ave., she said she had never been robbed. That was until June 17, 2019.

Fritz recounted her memories of that evening during the trial of Dalquavis Ward, who is accused of conducting the robbery and in the process, shooting and killing Racine Police Officer John Hetland. Ward faces charges of intentional first-degree homicide with a deadly weapon, armed robbery and possession of a firearm by a felon.

Tuesday, the first day of Wards trial, included opening arguments from the state and the defense as well as testimony from one of Wards family members and from a Racine Police investigator who was close to Hetland.

Opening arguments and first witness

One of the challenges facing the prosecutors in this case is that the armed robber who shot Hetland was wearing a mask over his face, a hood covering his hair and dark clothes. Witnesses saw that he was Black because his forehead and hands were uncovered but as the defense argued, whether he was dark-skinned or light-skinned and also details about his height and build varied among witnesses.

Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Graveley, who is prosecuting the case so that Racine County prosecutors avoid a conflict of interest, stated in his opening remarks that the reason suspicion turned to Ward was because of DNA evidence.

Because Teezers had high-quality video surveillance, officials from the state crime lab were able to see which surfaces the suspect touched and gather DNA. The DNA was run through a database and was matched with Wards, which was added to the system after he was convicted of ammunition of possession of a weapon. Ward had been released from prison four days before the incident at Teezers and had ties to the Racine area.

The first witness to testify was Wards aunt, Artesia Ward, who stated her nephew had visited her house the weekend before June 17. Because he had just got out of prison, he didnt have permanent housing, so he would go to Artesias home to shower and eat. Artesia testified that Ward stayed there that weekend and then left Monday afternoon.

Defense attorney Charles Glynn asked Artesia what Ward brought to her house, to which she answered he had a small bag with toiletries such as shampoo and deodorant. Glynn asked what he was wearing and if he had any other clothes and she said the whole time he was there he wore red shoes, a red shirt and red hoodie, attempting to cast doubt on whether Ward could have obtained the outfit the suspect wore and a gun in time for the robbery.

Police searched the residence where Ward was staying when he was arrested but none of the items the shooter used were found, though Graveley pointed out that it was 10 days after the shooting. Ward was also swabbed for an updated DNA sample, which Graveley said matched with the DNA found on the scene.

Connected to Ward and Hetland

Racine Investigator Steven Diener starting working at the Racine Police Department the same year that Hetland did. On the witness stand he said that he and Hetland were close; they had been in each others weddings and he was the godfather of Hetlands daughter.

Diener has also known Ward for a considerable amount of time. He investigated an armed robbery that Ward was convicted of in 2008 when he was a juvenile. Years later, one of Dieners colleagues, Investigator Chad Stillman, told Ward that hed been investigating some robberies committed between 2012 and 2014 which Stillman believed were perpetrated by Ward.

Diener said he reviewed all the known robberies Ward had committed and had seen some patterns. Ward typically would dress in dark clothing, wear at least one glove and a hood over his head and would at least partially cover his face. He would hold the gun in his right hand and have clerks hand him the money to his left. He would then leave on foot.

The defense pointed out that the robber at Teezers was not wearing gloves. Glynne also pointed out that a sophisticated and professional, according to Diener, robber would have conducted the robbery someplace where he would have had an easy time escaping, somewhere closer to where he lived as opposed to somewhere close to an aunts house.

Another unique thing about Ward, according to Diener, was that he did not seem to be deterred by whether customers or other bystanders were in the location that he planned to rob, which Diener said is uncommon  most robbers prefer to wait until all the customers leave.

The night in question

Teezers was pretty busy on Monday, June 17, 2019, because it was the first night of a pool league. Owner Dino Paros was there to collect fees for the league when he recognized Hetland at the bar and offered to buy him a shot. Fritz recalled that Hetland asked her what was good to eat and she recommended the tacos. She didnt remember what he ordered but that Hetland and Paros were chatting for a bit at the bar.

Fritz went down to one of the computer screens to separate some tabs when she noticed that someone else was behind the bar.

I just remember looking up and someone was there with a gun pointed at me, Fritz said. When asked how he asked for the money Fritz said, Just quiet. He wasnt loud like, Give me the (expletive) money

She opened the register and gave him the cash and then he asked for the money bag. As she moved toward the money bag she said she, heard a commotion to the left of me.

I didnt see who came over the bar but I knew someone did, she said. I heard a commotion and saw somebody had come over the board.

In a panic, she ran to other side of the bar and as the pair were scuffling, she jumped over the bar and ran outside.

I heard a gunshot, she said. From behind the bar.

She hid behind a garbage can and peeked in the window to see what was happening. She couldnt see anything.

First investigator on scene

Racine Police Officer Richard Stettner, one of the first officers who responded to the scene, became emotional when recounting the events of that night.

When Stettner entered Teezers, he saw Hetland lying on his back behind the bar and immediately recognized him as a coworker.

While on the stand Tuesday afternoon, Stettner paused to maintain his composure before saying he observed a bullet hole in Hetlands chest. A firefighter was attempting to perform life-saving measures on Hetland when Stettner arrived.

Once the firefighter told him that Hetland had died, Stettner called multiple area law enforcement agencies for assistance as he knew another agency would have to take over the investigation since an officer had died.

The trial is set to continue on Wednesday. Check JournalTimes.com for ongoing coverage.

This article has been changed to accurately reflect the charges for which Dalquavis Ward was sentenced and served time.

Caitlin Sievers contributed to this report.

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BarcelonaThe Swiss government will have to address a parliamentary motion tabled on behalf of Catalan grassroots group Omnium Cultural calling on the Swiss authorities to freeze the accounts where Juan Carlos had allegedly stashed away the proceeds of his shady business dealings. That will be so because socialist MP Christian Dandres has submitted several questions to Switzerlands Federal Assembly urging the Federal Council to state its official position in parliament on the situation of the former Spanish king, who recently fled to the UAE.

At his request, a further twenty socialist MPs have joined Dandres, as well as the Green Party and the Swiss Party of Labour. Omnium vice president Marcel Mauri indicated that its not just Omnium Cultural, but three Swiss political parties that believe it is urgent to investigate the Bourbons corruption. Once again, Europe will have to sort out what Spains powers-that-be have been trying to muddle up, he remarked. We have no doubt that Switzerlands justice and the Federal government will honour their international commitment to the struggle against graft.

On July 14 Switzerlands Federal Council began to review the demand to freeze Juan Carlos Swiss assets after Omnium Cultural submitted their request as part of a campaign against the Spanish monarchy. Omnium submitted a legal and political report to the Swiss authorities and the president of the country invoking Swiss legislation that allows the authorities to seize and return assets that were obtained unlawfully.

Omnium launched their campaign in early July, together with a criminal lawsuit against the former Spanish monarch lodged with Spains Supreme Court for the crimes of corruption, tax fraud, influence peddling, unlawful dealing by a public servant and money laundering. At a press conference Marcel Mauri stressed that Juan Carlos wealth is still a very well kept state secret.
Coal consumption, which had declined from 2013 to 2017, driven in part by a push to improve Chinas notorious air quality, began to rise again in recent years as the economy faced economic headwinds and the government sought to stimulate industrial growth.

The rise was interrupted by the Covid-19 shutdown, but Chinas economy is recovering more quickly than others. Research by Mr. Myllyvirta has shown that by May, carbon dioxide emissions from energy production, cement making and other industrial uses were 4 percent higher than the year before. China also granted more construction permits for coal-fired power plants in the first six months of 2020 than it had each year in 2018 and 2019.

Mr. Xi, in laying out his countrys plans in a speech at the United Nations, did not detail how China would meet the targets. Li Shuo, a policy adviser for Greenpeace China, said that the lack of specificity was probably intended to leave the Communist Party leadership flexibility in the short term to pursue an economic rebound following the pandemic.

The governments next five-year plan, to be released soon, will be a key document, detailing the necessary economic, industrial and environmental changes that will be necessary.

They really need to roll up their sleeves from today to capture the level of ambition we heard last night in our daily practices, Mr. Li said in a telephone interview from Beijing, referring to Mr. Xis U.N. speech.

The impact could affect all 1.4 billion people in China
The vaccine against coronavirus disease (Covid-19) is likely to be anywhere between 50 to 100% effective, according to the director-general of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).



Image For Representation

All the vaccines for respiratory viruses are not 100% effective. The World Health Organisation (WHO) says that there are three things key for a vaccine: safety (how safe it is for human use), immunogenicity (whether it is able to provoke bodys immune response) and its efficacy (how effective it is against the virus), said director general, ICMR, Dr Balram Bhargava.

Also Read: Scared Of The Jab? Needle-Free Coronavirus Vaccine Trials Set To Start In Australia

And WHO says even if we get 50% efficacy that is more than acceptable. So for respiratory viruses we will never get a vaccine with 100% efficacy. We are obviously aiming at 100% efficacy but we may get anywhere between 50 to 100%, he added.

According to TOI, 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.

Image For Representation/Reuters

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.

Also Read: Russia Received Requests To Supply 1.2 Billion Dozes Of 'Sputnik V' COVID-19 Vaccine



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.

Imaqge For Representation/Reuters

"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 the appropriately alpha-adjusted confidence interval around the primary efficacy endpoint point estimate is (greater than) 30 per cent," the guidelines stated.



Also Read: We Could Have A COVID-19 Vaccine In India By Early 2021 But It Will Take Time To Reach Everyone

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.
N icola Sturgeon has slammed the Government's decision to boycott Good Morning Britain.

The Scottish First Minister said leaders must be held accountable during the ongoing crisis.

She told ITVs Good Morning Britain: Right now, communicating directly with the public is a real public duty on the part of leaders.

GMB host Piers Morgan had told her: As a rule of thumb, you come on pretty much whenever we ask you to be accountable for your decision making. We have not had a member of the UK Government on here for 148 days.

Nicola Sturgeon slammed the government's decision to boycott GMB / GMB

He asked if that is a dereliction of their duty to the electorate.

Ms Sturgeon said: I think that is pretty disgraceful actually. I think particularly at a time like this. We cant be on all the programmes all the time. There is a limited number of hours in the day.

But generally speaking, particularly at a time like this, leaders have to be accountable. And not just accountable, we have to be explaining the decisions we are taking.

We are asking people to do extraordinary things and if we are not prepared to explain the reasons for that, we cant expect people to comply.

Morgan then said: I do like a straight answer to a straight question.

Actually I like asking leaders questions, it is a nice change from the British Government.

As Nicola Sturgeon just said, it is a disgrace that they do not come on this programme and do not inform you the viewers what is going on in this crisis. An absolute disgrace.

You pay their salaries, they have a fundamental duty to inform you in a public health crisis what is going on and through petty pique, because they couldnt deal with tough questioning, they have not been on for 148 days.
"The global partnership with TuSimple is another step towards becoming a Global Champion. Innovative future technologies that provide additional value to our customers represent a key part of our strategy," said Matthias Grundler, Chief Executive Officer at TRATON GROUP . The first test vehicles underway are aiming for Level 4 (high automation). TuSimple has already been trying out its technology since 2015 with several million test kilometers on public roads and is a leading developer of autonomous driving, for example in the fields of perception and night vision.

"Our partnership with TRATON GROUP accelerates the introduction of autonomous truck technology to new international markets, and we look forward to our global partnership," said Cheng Lu, President, TuSimple. "The TRATON GROUP has an excellent reputation and established a portfolio of world-class truck brands, their strategic investment in TuSimple is a powerful testimony to our technology and approach."

Developers at TRATON GROUP and TuSimple are working closely to develop SAE Level 4 autonomous systems for trucks of the TRATON brands, which can achieve full automation without human intervention under defined driving conditions and applied in all markets. The use of self-driving trucks offers customers powerful advantages for long-distance freight transportation and can increase safety and efficiency while reducing fuel consumption and operating costs.

TRATON's goal is to test driverless truck fleets on roads throughout Sweden, Germany and other countries. This could serve as a means of counteracting the increasing lack of drivers in the medium term. Experts estimate a shortage of around 60,000 drivers in Germany alone. Moreover, autonomous trucks would increase the overall truck capacity utilization. It is conceivable that the first cases of deployment could be conducted outside of the specially demarcated areas, particularly for highly frequented hub-to-hub routes.

About TRATON GROUP

TRATON SE is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG and a leading commercial vehicle manufacturer worldwide with its brands MAN, Scania, Volkswagen Caminhoes e Onibus, and RIO. In 2019, TRATON GROUP's brands sold around 242,000 vehicles in total. Its product range comprises light-duty commercial vehicles, trucks, and buses that are produced at 29 facilities in 17 countries. The company had a workforce of around 83,000 worldwide across its commercial vehicle brands as of December 31, 2019. The Group seeks to transform the transportation system  with its products, its services, and its partnership with its customers.

About TuSimple

TuSimple is a self-driving technology company headquartered in San Diego, California with facilities in Tucson, Shanghai, and Beijing. TuSimple is developing a commercial-ready Level 4 (SAE) fully autonomous driving solution for long-haul heavy-duty trucks. TuSimple is the only self-driving truck company capable of driving on highways and surface streets without human intervention. The company was founded in 2015 with a mission to improve the safety and efficiency of the trucking industry and today is considered the industry leader in autonomous trucking technology.

SOURCE TuSimple
Two British holidaymakers were killed when they plunged over a promenade on to a beach as they were 'larking' around and dangerously 'posing on the edge of cliffs for pictures'.

The good friends - Jayden Dolman , 20, and Daniel Mee, 25 - were 'embracing' each other as they fell to their deaths - as a third pal Lewis Higgins was taking their photos on his mobile phone.

Just before the tragedy happened, a local police officer had warned the trio to 'take care' as he saw them acting dangerously close to the cliff edge.

An inquest heard on Wednesday that the three friends had flown to Alicante in Spain for a holiday last July.

The three friends (from left to right) - Jayden Dolman , Lewis Higgins , and Daniel Mee - had flown to Alicante in Spain for a holiday last July

On their third night there, the trio had been drinking alcohol all day and were walking along the Punta Prima beach promenade in Orihuela Costa in Alicante when the incident happened around 7.15pm.

The senior Somerset coroner Tony Williams was holding the inquest into 25 year old plumber Daniel's death but not that of Jayden because his body was not brought back to the UK.

The three friends had been staying in a villa in Alicante and the inquest heard that toxicology showed that Daniel had taken some cocaine in the days before his death, and Lewis said they had smoked hashish the night before.

But Mr Williams said drink played a much larger factor in the incident and Daniel was 2.5 times the legal drink driving limit at the time.

Lewis Higgins witnessed the incident along with an off duty Civil Guard police officer on the beach below.

Mr Higgins needed hospital treatment because of the severe shock he suffered at seeing the incident unfold.

The trio had been due to meet some people they had met on the flight over from the UK and had been 'larking around' when the two men 'tumbled' over railings and fell nine metres or 30 feet on to the beach below.

Daniel suffered head injuries and died at the scene, Jayden, 20, was flown by an air ambulance to hospital but died later.

The tragic accident happened on Punta Prima beach, near Torrevieja. A report by the Spanish investigators said the trio were walking along the promenade in an 'inebriated state' taking pictures and were engaging in 'dangerous activities, posing by the edge of cliffs for pictures'

The Spanish authorities said there were no criminal issues for them to investigate.

A report by the Spanish investigators said they were walking along the promenade in an 'inebriated state' taking pictures and were engaging in 'dangerous activities, posing by the edge of cliffs for pictures'.

The Spanish police officer said he saw the trio walking along the prom in a'jovial mood, leaning over the cliffs and taking pictures' in a dangerous way.

He urged them to 'take care' before he went down to the beach. Later he looked up to see 'two of them falling, embracing and hit the beach'.

He said: 'Both bodies were side by side' and their personal possessions were scattered around the scene.

Mr Higgins said in a statement to the Spanish investigators he was carrying all their possessions in his rucksack because the other two had burned their backs in the sun.

He said they were taking pictures as they walked and Dan embraced Jayden.

'He saw them both close to the railings at the beach. Both seemed to lose their balance and I saw how both of them fell embracing towards the beach. They fell into space.'

Mr Higgins was so anxious he had to be immobilised and taken to hospital and could remember nothing.

But he said they 'did not jump over the railings' but just 'lost their balance'.

He said the trio 'had been drinking during the day' and had consumed hashish the previous day.

The unnamed Spanish police officer said he saw them 'taking pictures on a mobile phone very close to the edge of the cliffs' and one woman was 'startled' by it.

The trio carried on walking along the prom and the officer said they were 'lively, shouting and laughing'.

They appeared to be drunk and one of them swigged from a water bottle as they continued 'shouting and laughing'.

Daniel Mee, 25 (left), died at the scene of the accident on Punta Prima beach, near Torrevieja, while 20-year-old Jayden Dolman (right) died later in hospital the following day

Coroner Mr Williams said the alcohol level in Daniel was 'reasonably high' but he was a 'pedestrian and not driving'. And he said the cocaine level was only an incidental finding.

He recorded an accidental death conclusion on Daniel who lived in Bridgwater, Somerset.

He said: 'All three had a few drinks on holiday enjoying themselves. They were walking along the promenade and Daniel and Jayden were hugging close to the railings and lost their balance.'

He said they plunged nine metres over the railings and fell down the 'steep drop' to the beach below and both sustained injuries that proved fatal.

'All three lads were having a good time and tragically it ended in this way,' Mr Williams said as he addressed Daniel's mother and sister, and Jayden's mother who all attended the hearing at Taunton's coroner's court.

After the tragedy, friends paid tribute to Daniel saying he was a 'top bloke and good friend' and 'such a lovely, funny boy.'
On day two of the General Assembly, Erdogan dubbed the Kashmir conflict 'key to the stability and peace of South Asia', calling it a 'burning issue'

United Nations: India has termed as "completely unacceptable" references to Jammu and Kashmir by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during his address to the high-level debate at the UN General Assembly, saying Ankara should learn to respect the sovereignty of other nations and reflect on its own policies more deeply.

"We have seen remarks by President of Turkey on Indian UT (Union Territory) of Jammu and Kashmir. They constitute gross interference in India's internal affairs and are completely unacceptable. Turkey should learn to respect the sovereignty of other nations and reflect on its own policies more deeply," India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador TS Tirumurti said in a tweet on Tuesday.

Erdogan, in his pre-recorded video statement to the General Debate at the 75th session of the UN General Assembly, made a reference to Jammu and Kashmir, saying the issue of Kashmir, "which is also key to the stability and peace of South Asia, is still a burning issue. Steps taken following the abolition of the special status of Jammu-Kashmir further complicated the problem."

He said that Turkey was in "favour of solving this issue through dialogue, within the framework of the United Nations resolutions and especially in line with the expectations of the people of Kashmir".

The Turkish President, a close ally of Pakistan, had last year also raised the issue of Kashmir in his address to the high-level General Debate in the General Assembly Hall.

India has rejected any third-party intervention in the Kashmir issue and has maintained that all outstanding matters in Indo-Pak ties should be resolved bilaterally.
BALTIMORE, MD / ACCESSWIRE / September 23, 2020 / The International Foundation of Research and Education (iFred), today introduces an updated Hopeful Minds curriculum, the only free global program aimed at teaching hope as a skill to youth around the world.

"Hopelessness is a consequence of many adverse life experiences including the very current and prominent concern with race-related discrimination, and the consequences of Covid 19 for the pursuit of a normal life These are critical times for focusing on what can make us have hope for the future," said Kathryn Goetzke, Chief Mood Officer, The Mood Factory, Founder, iFred and creator of Hopeful Minds.

The updated curriculum targets grades K-6, is adaptable for all age lessons, and the recent improvements are based on the last six years of extensive research conducted in Suriname, Northern Ireland, Malaysia, Chicago, and more. The new Hopeful Minds Overview is three, 45-minute lessons on the how, why, and what of hope, and now features celebrity Hope Heroes including John Krasinski, Earvin 'Magic' Johnson, and Selena Gomez, about how they used the strategies for hope and a hopeful mindset to overcome challenges and obstacles in life.

The Hopeful Minds curriculum is remote learning adaptive, meets National Health Education Standards, Social Emotional Learning (SEL) guidelines, is Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) informed and is an anti-bullying strategy. The World Health Organization and World Bank released a report in 2016, stating In 2010, the global cost of mental disorders was estimated to be approximately US$2.5 trillion; by 2030, that figure is projected to go up by 240%, to US$6.0 trillion. Research suggests the return on investment for prevention programs in youth is 18:1, and the time to invest is now.

"The consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic and the death of George Floyd and others sent the world into a spiral of despair and hopelessness. The social isolation triggers complications, including depressive symptoms, anxiety, stress, sleep disorders, and emotional disturbance. The heightened awareness of racial discrimination, where hopelessness is a known consequence, has added to the despair and sense of helplessness of many," Goetzke goes on to state.

Myron Belfer, MD, MPA, an advisor for the Hopeful Minds and, and Professor of Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry, Children's Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School, has shown from a review of research that, "Hope is tangible and teachable, and it is an essential ingredient for a successful life trajectory." He has cited the clinical approach of the Nobel Prize winner Dr. Joseph E. Murray, who helped his severely ill patients not by talking about prognosis but by offering a future orientation embodying hope.

Hopeful Minds is built on the research about what it takes to create, maintain, and grow a hopeful mindset, and combat the feelings of despair and the sense of helplessness, the two key ingredients of hopelessness.

John White, Chief Executive Officer of Biosupplies and Compass Marketing, is a key program sponsor helping to launch a national ad campaign highlighting the Hopeful Minds program through advertisements to targeted audiences, including the National Parent Teachers Association.

"We are excited to help get hope skills into the hands of parents, teachers, and kids that need them right now," said White. "Our world is in a state of drastic change and the ability to navigate the disruptions is key to our collective forward movement. I credit my success and competitive advantage with the skill sets I've learned in handling stress using the 90-second rule, practicing gratitude, and setting SMART goals, the same skills I look forward to passing along to the next generation of leaders."

Hopeful Minds provides parents and educators with free, downloadable curriculums and support materials that are easy to use both in the classroom and in a remote learning environment. The Hopeful Minds Parents Guide introduces parents to the idea of hope and activities they can do at home to reinforce hope skills. The Educator Guides come in both an Overview (Three 45-minute Lessons) and Deep Dive (16 45-minute Lessons), and can be used by parents, teachers, mentors, after-school leaders, nurses, or others and provides students with a broad introduction to hope, including what hope is, why it is important, how feelings affect hope, and how hope skills, including Stress Skills and Happy Habits, combat worry, failure, and hopelessness. There is no specific training needed to teach hope, and iFred also offers a presentation for those passionate about teaching hope to share in their communities on the science, and need, for hope.

Hopeful Minds Deep Dive series contains 16 lessons on hope, featuring these known icons and showcasing how they used hope strategies in life. It includes Hope Hero features of The Rock, Lady Gaga, Chrissy Teigen, Mr. Rogers, Sam Walton, John McCain, Ken Jeong, Serena Williams, Bill & Melinda Gates, Oprah, Arianna Huffington, Shaka Senghor, Bruce Springsteen, Zak Williams, George Bush, and Michelle Obama. These stores show how hope skills allowed them to navigate some challenging times in their lives. Hope is an equal opportunity strategy and must be free and available to all.

The Hopeful Minds Deep Dive series, in addition to the core curriculum content, teaches the meaning and power of hope, mindfulness, emotional self-regulation techniques, gratitude, the importance of brain nutrition, biology and behavior, HRV, the meaning of success as the journey and not the destination, giving hope to others, how to address failure, ending rumination and worry, finding purpose, practicing wonder and awe, navigating change, setting SMART goals, chunking down goals, controlling the controllables, creating a network for hope, and much more. All lessons are for either in-classroom study, or remote learning, and no special certification is needed to teach and can be downloaded free at www.hopefulminds.org.

About iFred:

The mission of International Foundation for Research and Education on Depression (iFred) is to shine a positive light on depression and eliminate the stigma associated with the disease through prevention, research, and education. iFred is creating a shift in society's negative perception of depression through positive imagery and branding-establishing the sunflower and color yellow as the international symbols of hope.

Hopeful Minds, created by a world-renowned advisory board, is the first, free global program to operationalize and teach hope. The program was featured as an innovation by the World Bank, and the BBC did a documentary featuring it called 'Teens on the Edge' in Northern Ireland. The new, updated program is now available for download at www.hopefulminds.org.

About Kathryn Goetzke

Kathryn Goetzke is an entrepreneur, strategic consultant, and global depression advocate. She is the entrepreneur and innovator behind Mood-lites, a brand that achieved over 35 million dollars in retail sales and ran the first national cause marketing campaign for mental health. As her role as Chief Mood Officer at The Mood Factory, she is committed to getting people into the present moment through her new line of product based on how scents impact moods, 21 Day courses teaching habits of how to live a positive, engaged, productive life, and conducting workplace training on strategies for improving workplace wellness.

Ms. Goetzke is the Founder of iFred, creator of Hopeful Minds, is a regular contributor to the Thrive Global and PsychCentral, She has presented at the United Nations on including mental health in the Sustainable Development Goals, and was published in a peer-reviewed journal on that topic. She has presented globally at conferences on the science of hope and is the author on The Biggest Little Book About Hope. Kathryn also serves on advisory boards for FundaMentalSDG, Y Mental Health, Women's Brain Project, and the Global Mental Health Movement.

FOR PRESS INQUIRIES:

Nancy Thompson

Vorticom, Inc.

212.532.2208

nancyt@vorticom.com.

SOURCE: iFred

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/607331/The-International-Foundation-of-Research-and-Education-iFred-Introduces-Hopeful-Minds-a-Free-Global-Program-on-Teaching-Hope-as-a-Skill
                                             

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Residents of Omege Agalegu village, Ndufu-Alike, in Ikwo local government area of Ebonyi State, on Wednesday raised alarm over what they described as the continuous pollution of their land and water source by a company operating in the area.

They alleged that the pollution of their land and water source has been going on for over three years.

According to them, no effort has been made by the said company to reverse the ugly trend.

This development has led to the poisoning of their major source of potable water, land, and the death of aquatic life within the environment.

The community stated this in a letter titled, Re: The Devastating Effect of Your Companys Waste Disposal on Our Land and Water Environment and Demand for Compensation.

The letter was addressed to the director, First Patriot Nigeria Ltd, Ndufu-Alike-Ikwo and signed by the chairperson, Omege Development Union, Sunday Nwewor and secretary, Ogbonnaya Nweke.

The community lamented that the unwholesome activities of the company have brought untold hardship to the livelihood of the people.

We have watched helplessly the destruction and devastation of our plants, animals, crops and economic livelihood, the degradation of our land and water environment caused by the waste discharged into our water through the companys activities of mineral exploration and exploration, the community wrote.

The company through her numerous activities of improper discharge and deposition of waste into our river have destroyed our plants, economic trees, flora and other aquatic lives, thereby denying the people their fundamental right to enjoy their God-given natural resources, they added.

The community alleged that because of the environmental contamination of the land and water, it will take many years before the environment is useful and productive again.

The action of the company is condemnable, absurd and an infringement to the communitys fundamental right to live and utilise its natural resources.

They, therefore, demanded compensation to the tune of N300 million from the company within 30 days.

We, the people of the community hereby demand immediate compensation for the damages, pains, trauma caused us by the companys waste disposal into our stream. We demand a compensation of N300 million.

The compensation should be within 30 working days from the day of the receipt of this letter. We demand the company from today henceforth to stop polluting our land and water environment. We demand the company to build their own waste disposal facilities to avoid more damages to us, they said.

It was gathered that the community had engaged the legal services of E.E.Denis and Associates.

The lawyers have also written to the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, the coordinator, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, Ebonyi State Field Office, as part of measures to ensure quick dispensation of justice to the people of the community.

However, the project manager of First Patriot Nig. Ltd, Neelam Sada denied the allegations.

He explained that the owners of the land where the exploration work is taking place are not complaining of any ugly situation.

Omege community is not within our area of operation. They didnt give us land directly and so, they are not our land owners. What they are claiming is not correct.

Where the community is busy writing and claiming environmental hazard is almost five kilometres away from our operations base after our host community. Our host community doesnt have any complaint on any kind of effluent discharge or any damage, he said.
As the country celebrates its 73rd birthday this year, we go track people who were born in 1947 and went on to join the Defence Forces to ensure that the countrys borders remain safe.

Commodore BK Ahluwalia (Retired)

Commodore BK Ahluwalia, who has retired from the Indian Navy, feels privileged to have been born on August 21, 1947 in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, just after a few days after India gained Independence.

UP wasnt much affected but I was part of the 1971 War, so I have seen how it could have been for India. I am proud of the nation, the way it is turning out. We have the moral and physical courage to safeguard our boundaries. I am happy and satisfied to be born in the nation that was born just a few days before me, shares Commodore Ahluwalia.

Air Commodore RM Sreedharan, VM (Retired)

Commodore RM Sreedharan, who retired from the Indian Air Force, feels honoured to have been born on November 6, 1947 in Kunnur, in the newly-independent India. My father was in the Indian Army, so when I was born, he wasnt with my mother, he was posted in J & K. My mother raised me by herself till I was two years old. It was an enriching experience, growing up seeing the country developing after Independence, says the Commodor.

Recalling the 1971 Indo-Pak war, he said, That was so exciting and I feel good that being born in an independent nation, I helped breathe life into another nation, Bangladesh.

When I was growing up, there was so much uncertainty; but now things are better. Individuals are free to enjoy their rights, he says.

Commodore Shyam Kaushal (Retired)

Born on August 6, 1947 in Amritsar, Commodore Shyam Kaushal feels privileged to share his birth month and year with Independent India. I think its a wonderful feeling being among those who were born just before India attained freedom., he says.

Commodore Kaushal recalls the stories his mother told him about the challenges she faced in raising him during the time of turmoil. I was born at home in Amritsar, which is just 22 kilometres away from Lahore. It was a time of turmoil. Communities were fighting and there was a lot of bloodshed. My uncles took me from one place to another to keep me safe, travelling on the roofs of trains, he recounts.

Ruing the loss of life during the Partition, he says he wishes the step could have been avoided.

My father was in the Royal Indian Navy and I wanted to join the defence services, says the Commodore. Talking about life today, he feels people have changed since the early days of Independence. The approach has changed. Earlier, the nation was everything, but now people have become more materialistic, he laments.

Lieutenant Commander Jagbir Singh (Retired)

If Lieutenant Commander Jagbir Singh had a choice, he would perhaps not have come into this world just a few days before the split of India and Pakistan. Born on July 21 in a village in Hazira district of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK), Singh, while feeling privileged to have started life in the same year that India attained freedom, also feels upset that his parents had to live a tough life.

We were uprooted from our homes. I was two months old when my family was shifted from POK. We came to a border town in Poonch in 1947. We were the first to be accommodated in an open area. Rations and other supplies were limited.

The city was under lockdown for 14 months before some military help came, says the officer, who joined the Indian Navy, following the trend set by his father, who was in the Indian Army.

We had to put food on the table and so my father joined the defence services because it was paying. And when my father retired, I had to look after the family, explains the Lt Commander matter-of-factly. Growing older with the nation gives much satisfaction after the suffering our families underwent, he adds.
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."

Also Read: In major move, China sets 2060 goal to go carbon neutral

"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.

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.

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.

Also Read: What a gift: Russia offers UN staff free Covid-19 vaccines

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.

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."
New Delhi, Sep 23 : Was the numbers game responsible for the ruckus witnessed in the Rajya Sabha on Sunday over the two agriculture-related contentious Bills? That could be the case, if one were to believe the opposition, even though the government asserted that it had the required numbers.

When Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said in the Rajya Sabha that the government did not have sufficient numbers and thus created chaos to "hide its failure" in mustering a majority to get the farm Bills passed, the charge was vehemently denied by the treasury benches.

Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi asserted that the Bill would have been passed since the government had 115 members in support of the proposed legislations. He, in turn, pinned the blame on the opposition for the bedlam.

The House strength on Sunday was 243, with two vacancies, making 122 the majority mark. However, the situation became tricky for the government after a few supporting parties like the BJD, TRS and the SAD voiced opposition to the Bills.

Biju Janata Dal (BJD) lawmaker Prasanna Acharya demanded that the Bills be sent to the Select Committee whereas Telangana Rashtra Samithi totally opposed the Bills.

If one were to go by the numbers game, the Bharatiya Janata Party had 86 members, Janata Dal-United 5, and nominated three. With one each lawmaker from the BPF, RPI, LJP, PMK apart from the NPP, MNF, SDF and an Independent, the government had the support of total 103 MPs.

But the opposition had 107 lawmakers on its side, the Congress claimed. The party pointed out it had 40, AAP 3, TMC 13, BSP 4, SP 8, Left parties 6, DMK 7, apart from those of the RJD, NCP and SAD and other regional parties.

So, the non-NDA and non-UPA parties were key to the passage of the Bills. These included BJD's 9 and TRS' 7. YSRCP and AIADMK, which supported the Bills, have around 40 members in the Rajya Sabha.

The ruling party pointed out that many opposition MPs were not in attendance, and hence the government would have got passed the Bills, but the opposition pointed out that the BJD, TRS and the SAD with 19 members could have stalled the farm Bills.

On Sunday, a pandemonium broke out in the Upper House as the opposition protested over the farm Bills. Trinamool MP Derek O'Brien even approached the Chair and tried to snatch a mike while citing the rule book.

When his objections were overruled, O'Brien allegedly tore the rule book and called the Bills "Kala Kanoon" or black laws. As the aides of the Deputy Chair, tried to shield Harivansh Narayan Singh, many opposition members reached the Well of the House to register their protest.

When the House met on Monday, Naidu suspended eight lawmakers -- Derek O'Brien and Dola Sen of the Trinamool Congress, Rajeev Satav, Ripun Bora, and Syed Naseer Hussain of the Congress, Sanjay Singh of Aam Aadmi Party, and KK Ragesh and E Kareem of the CPI-M.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky would like to see Moscows greater desire to speed up achievement of peace and believes that Russia must take key steps to do so.

"Ukraine is most interested in peace because the war is on our territory. But there must be a two-way movement on the path towards peace, and key steps must be taken by Russia which controls the occupied territories of Ukraine. We would like to see Moscows greater desire to speed up the achievement of peace," Zelensky said in an interview with the Hospodarske noviny Slovak economic media outlet.

Zelensky noted that Ukraine has "difficult relations" with Russia and recalls that the war in Donbas has been going on for seven years. Russia has annexed Ukrainian Crimea, while historically there have been many economic and human contacts between the two countries, he said.

The war in eastern Ukraine has claimed more than 14,000 lives, crippled tens of thousands of lives, destroyed families, and deprived millions of people of their home. To talk about normalization is to stamp complex processes. In this case, it is a process of negotiations to achieve peace, Zelensky believes.

He also said that he has different formats of communication with Russian President Vladimir Putin - the Normandy four-party format and the bilateral format.

Communication with the President of Russia is limited but substantive. Being a perfectionist, I would like our dialogue to be more efficient, the President of Ukraine added.

As Zelensky noted, the war is ongoing on 3% of Ukrainian territory, and Ukraine still needs the support of the West as the war in Donbas destabilizes the situation across the continent.

"All wars end someday. The question is how long they last, how many lives they claim, how much suffering they bring. We are 100% sure that the Ukrainian cities - Donetsk and Luhansk - are our cities, and our people live there, as well as in Crimea, by the way. And if the external intervention had not happened, Donetsk, Luhansk and Crimea would normally live in our unified state system, Zelensky is convinced.

As reported, President Volodymyr Zelensky plans to make a state visit to Slovakia on September 24.

ol
A 15-year-old Brazilian girl has baffled doctors after allegedly crying blood from her eyes for over a week, for reasons that doctors cannot understand.

The girl, identified only Doris, started feeling sick on September 12, and her mother took her to a hospital in her home city of Sao Paolo. She complained of pain in her abdomen and doctors diagnosed her with kidney stones. She was given medication for the pain and was sent home shortly after. However, on Sunday morning she was again rushed to the emergency room with blood coming out of one eye. Doctors examined Doris, but couldnt determine the cause of the blood tears, and since she reported no pain or discomfort, she was once again sent home.

My daughter did countless tests, but they couldnt find any problems. The doctors released her and we returned home at dawn on Monday, the girls mother, Juliana Teixeira de Miranda, said. We are going to do whatever the professionals ask, we want to find out whats really going on.

Juliana claims that hours after returning from the hospital, blood started flowing from both the girls eyes, worrying the family even more. Once again, she was taken to the hospital, but no one had any answers about her condition.

She underwent a tomography and several other tests, but the doctors found nothing that could justify the blood tears. As there are no answers, the doctors asked her to do some more tests this week to try to find the cause, Doris mother said.

Doris says that she has been experiencing blood tears ever since September 13, and that the bizarre symptom can appear at any time during the day. The hospital where she has been examined has issued a statement saying that they need to conduct more tests in order to determine the cause of the unusual tears.

The presence of blood in the tear is called hemolacria, a condition already described in medical literature. Treatment depends on the cause, but sometimes it disappears as suddenly as it appeared, without treatment and without a conclusive diagnosis, ophthalmologist Rafael Antonio Barbosa Delsin told UOL.

Most of the time it is a problem in the patients body, doctor Leandro Fonseca added. Although it causes a certain amazement, they are not complicated cases to treat. Depending on the cause, it can be treated with antibiotics and hormonal remedies. This situation rarely causes other health problems for the patient.
On the lines of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA), the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has issued a new set of guidelines for Covid-19 vaccine candidates, focussing on safety, immunogenicity and efficacy parameters.

According to the guideline, a Covid-19 vaccine candidate should have at least 50 per cent of efficacy in the Phase-3 clinical trial for it to be widely deployed. Additionally, the pharma companies developing the vaccines must provide adequate data informing the potential risk of vaccine-associated Enhanced Respiratory Disease (ERD).

Also Read | 30 Covid-19 vaccine candidates under development, Govt informs Lok Sabha

DCGI has also asked the pharma companies to keep pregnant women and women of childbearing potential in mind as they are developing the vaccines. Safety assessments throughout clinical development and all pregnancies in study participants for which the date of conception is prior to vaccination or within 30 days after vaccination should be followed for pregnancy outcomes, including pregnancy loss, stillbirth, and congenital anomalies, it said.

Fifty per cent efficacy is a global standard as WHO, in its guidelines, mentioned 50 per cent efficacy fro a vaccine to be accepted and pharma giants like Astrazeneca, too, in its trial blueprint asserted that the company is working towards a vaccine with 50 per cent efficacy. 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, Dr Balram Bhargava, ICMR, Director-General said.

The DCGI has also asked pharma companies to present a final analysis plan before closing the trail database. This should include any planned interim analyses, which should be adequately addressed in terms of purpose, timing, and any statistical adjustments required, the guideline said.

If a trial fails to meet the predefined criteria for superiority and/or non-inferiority with respect to any of the antigenic components, the possible reasons for the result and the clinical implications of it should be carefully considered before proceeding with clinical development or licensure, DCGI said.

(With ANI inputs)
23.09.2020 LISTEN

Leadership of the Greater Accra Chapter of the NPP Loyal Ladies and 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 Akufo-Addo NPP led government to be given another four year mandate to do more towards the nations development whiles 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.
DUBLIN, Sept. 23, 2020 The "Automotive Wheel Manufacturers (Global) - Industry Report" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

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Big Joke set to file case against PM

BANGKOK: Adviser to the Office of the Prime Minister, Pol Lt Gen Surachate Hakparn, on Tuesday (Sept 22) assigned his attorney to file a complaint against Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha in the Administrative Court for unlawfully transferring him in 2019.

politicsimmigration

By Bangkok Post

Wednesday 23 September 2020, 08:43AM

Pol Lt Gen Surachate Hakparn. Photo: Bangkok Post

Pol Lt Gen Surachate said there had been no formal probe against him by investigative agencies such as the Public Prosecutor Commission, the National Anti-Corruption Commission or the State Audit Office. The transfer was also against his will, the former Immigration Bureau chief said, reports the Bangkok Post.

The PM said he had asked his legal team to defend the case on his behalf.

More than 90 officials have been transferred to the Office of the Prime Minister. Around 80 have returned to their original posts and some of them will retire in October this year.

Pol Lt Gen Surachate, who goes by the nickname Big Joke, was the commander of the Immigration Police Bureau until last year, when he was suddenly shunted out of law enforcement to the civilian position of adviser at the Prime Ministers Office. The reason for his sudden fall from grace was never explained.

He recently made the headlines again after a gunman fired at least seven shots at his parked car while he was in a nearby restaurant in Bangkok.

Some people, including police, suspected the shooting was staged. Pol Lt Gen Surachate profusely denied this, saying there was no reason to stage it and whether he would be transferred back to the police agency depended on the premier.
Alyssa Milano says shes being targeted by right-wing trolls over her police reform stance, after officers were called to her neighbourhood during a recent incident.

The actor and activist shared a statement on her Twitter account on Wednesday, writing: Apparently, right-wing media and trolls have decided that they should target me because my neighbour called the police after seeing a person dressed in black holding a rifle behind my home where I live with my young children and husband. Here is my statement and what really happened.

The actor, who regularly speaks out on social justice issues, has supported police reform in the past. Due to that position, some called her a hypocrite after seeing media reports of a police intervention in her neighbourhood.

In her statement, Milano sought to explain what happened while reiterating her stance on police reform.

She said that her neighbour noticed a man dressed in all black, walking in the woods between our properties with a gun on Sunday morning.

Milano explained that this is a rare sight in the area, and the neighbour called the police. According to Milano, she and her family then received a call alerting them to the situation, and her husband called 911 to inquire on when police would be arriving.

The responding officers were amazing and made my family and I feel safe and secure as we sheltered in place until we knew exactly what was happening, she added.

Milano said the officers searched the woods for some time, until it emerged that a man who fit the description had called the police himself to say he had been hunting squirrels and apologise for the incident.

The actor extended thanks to the officers, adding: These are exactly the types of situations that police officers are trained for and should be responding to, and we will always support police having the resources they need for appropriate policing actions.

Access unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up

Milano then elaborated on her stance on police reform, writing: Wed love to see equally trained non-police professionals respond to addiction and mental health crises and non-violent events so that these brave officers can do the jobs they are so good at handling, as they demonstrated this weekend.

The Independent has contacted Milanos representative for further comment.
The relatively minor accusation joins a longer list of corruption allegations that have threatened the 70-year-old leaders hold on power and triggered protests in Israel this month. Netanyahu was indicted in November in a corruption trial involving gifts from wealthy friends and allegations that he sought regulatory benefits for media magnates in return for positive coverage. He is accused of accepting nearly $200,000 worth of gifts from business executives including cases of champagne and boxes of cigars. The trial opened in May and is scheduled to resume in January.
A grand jury has indicted one officer on criminal charges six months after Breonna Taylor was killed by police in Louisville, Kentucky.

Officer Brett Hankison was indicted on three counts of wanton endangerment for shooting into neighbouring apartments during the police raid on March 13.

But the grand jury did not move forward with charges against any officers for their role in Ms Taylor's death.

The 26-year-old was shot several times by police officers after they burst through the door to her apartment.

Breonna Taylor was shot on March 13 / Courtesy of Family of Breonna Taylor

A so-called "no-knock" warrant that was reportedly used to search her home was connected to a suspect who did not live there. No drugs were found inside.

In open court on Tuesday, Jefferson Circuit Judge Annie O'Connell read the grand jury's decision to indict Hankison.

But later at a news conference, state Attorney General Daniel Cameron explained that the indictment was in relation to shots fired into neighbouring apartments and not directly in relation to the shooting of Ms Taylor.

Mr Cameron also said the police shots fired in Ms Taylor's apartment were "justified" under the law.

He said Hankison and the two other officers announced themselves before entering Ms Taylor's apartment and did not use a no-knock warrant.

Brett Hankison has been charged with wanton endangerment / AP

Mr Cameron told reporters: "According to Kentucky law, the use of force by (Officers Jonathan Mattingly and (Myles) Cosgrove was justified to protect themselves. This justification bars us from pursuing criminal charges in Miss Breonna Taylor's death."

Regarding the inevitable disappointment by those who wanted criminal charges brought in Ms Taylor's death, he said: "The decision before my office as the special prosecutor in this case was not to decide if the loss of Ms Taylor's life was a tragedy. The answer to that is unequivocally yes."

Mr Cameron added: "I understand that Breonna Taylor's death is part of a national story, but the facts and evidence in this case are different than others" involving police shootings.

"If we simply act on emotion or outrage, there is no justice," Mr Cameron said. "Mob justice is not justice. Justice sought by violence is not justice. It just becomes revenge."

He added that the FBI is still investigating potential violations of federal law in the case.

Immediately after the announcement, people were expressing frustration that the grand jury did not do more.

Her death sparked widespread protests against racial inequality and police brutality / AP

"Justice has NOT been served," tweeted Linda Sarsour of Until Freedom, a group that has pushed for charges in the case. "Rise UP. All across this country. Everywhere. Rise up for #BreonnaTaylor."

Attorney Ben Crump, who is representing Taylor's family, tweeted that the charges involved "NOTHING for the murder of Breonna Taylor. This is outrageous and offensive!"

Ms Taylor's death, alongside that of George Floyd, prompted a nationwide wave of protests demanding racial justice and an end to the use of excessive force by law enforcement.

Earlier, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer announced a 72-hour curfew for the city beginning at 9pm with exceptions for those going to work or to seek medical treatment.

Before charges were brought, Hankison was fired from the city's police department on June 23.

A termination letter sent to him by interim Louisville Police Chief Robert Schroeder said the white officer had violated procedures by showing "extreme indifference to the value of human life" when he "wantonly and blindly" shot 10 rounds of gunfire into Ms Taylor's apartment in March.

Black Lives Matter protests across the world - In pictures 1 /28 Black Lives Matter protests across the world - In pictures A banner and a US. flag are placed on the Monument a la Republique in Paris REUTERS Protesters in Perth Australia Getty Images Speakers at the Black Lives Matter Rally at Langley Park in Perth Getty Images Police officers are seen during a protest against police brutality and the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd, in Paris REUTERS Perth protests Getty Images Speakers take to the stage during the Black Lives Matter Rally in Perty Getty Images Protesters show their support during the Black Lives Matter Rally at Langley Park in Perty Getty Images Demonstrators march through the streets in Perth AFP via Getty Images Demonstrators march through the streets in Perth AFP via Getty Images Demonstrators march through the streets in Perth AFP via Getty Images Demonstrators march through the streets in Perth Getty Images Demonstrators march through the streets in Perth Getty Images Thousands of people take part in a demonstration against police brutality and racism in Paris AP French riot police forces detain a protester during a rally as part of the 'Black Lives Matter' AFP via Getty Images French riot police forces detain protesters AFP via Getty Images The crowds in Paris AFP via Getty Images A man wearing a protective face mask and googles walks past a broken store window in Paris REUTERS Assa Traore (C), the sister of Adama Traore, who died in police custody in 2016 in Paris AFP via Getty Images Protesters hold flares as they stand next to a banner reading 'Confronted to police brutality - Self defence' in Paris AFP via Getty Images A house facade with a graffiti against police in Paris. AFP via Getty Images An injured demonstrator is helped away in Paris AFP via Getty Images

Mattingly, Cosgrove and the detective who sought the warrant, Joshua Jaynes, were also placed on administrative reassignment after the shooting.

Ms Taylor's boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, opened fire when police burst in, hitting Mattingly and he was charged with attempted murder of a police officer.

However, prosecutors later dropped the charge.

He had told police he heard knocking but did not know who was coming into the home and fired in self-defence.

On September 15, the city settled a lawsuit against the three officers brought by Ms Taylor's mother, Tamika Palmer, agreeing to pay her $12 million and enact police reforms.

Protesters across the country have been demanding justice for Ms Taylor and other Black people killed by police in recent months.

The release in late May of a 911 call by Ms Taylor's boyfriend marked the beginning of days of protests in Louisville, fuelled by her shooting and the violent death of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis on May 25.

Several prominent US celebrities including Oprah and Beyonce have joined those urging that the officers be charged.
In a major boost for Indian defence forces, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Tuesday (September 29) successfully testfired its Laser-Guided Anti Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) from MBT Arjun Tank at KK Ranges, Armoured Corps Centre and School (ACC&S) Ahmednagar.

According to DRDO, in these tests, ATGM successfully defeated a target at 3 km. "The missile employs a tandem HEAT warhead to defeat Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA) protected armoured vehicles. It has been developed with multiple-platform launch capability and is currently undergoing technical evaluation trials from a gun of MBT Arjun," said the DRDO.

On Tuesday, the DRDO also 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.

Live TV

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh called the the successful flight test of ABHYAS a milestone and said that ABHYAS can be used as a target for evaluation of various Missile systems.

DRDO has designed Abhyas on an in-line small gas turbine engine and it the device uses indigenously developed micro-electro-mechanical systems-based system for navigation and guidance.DRDO has adopted its Lakshya tow body to design the fuselage for the Abhyas. The fuselage consists of five sections, namely the nose cone, equipment bay, fuel tank bay, air intake bay and tail cone.
New Delhi, Sep 23 : The CBI on Wednesday carried out searches at 15 locations in Delhi, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, including the residence of Border Security Force (BSF) Commandant Satish Kumar, in an illegal cross-border cattle trade case.

A senior Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) official told IANS: "The agency carried out searches at 15 places in Kolkata, Murshidabad, Ghaziabad, Raipur, Delhi, Siliguri, and Amritsar in connection with the case." The official said that the agency carried out searches in Raipur, Ghaziabad, Delhi, Murshidabad and the Siliguri premises of Kumar, who is currently posted in Raipur.

The CBI registered a case against Kumar, Mohammad Enamul Haque, Aranul SK, Mohammad Golam Mustafa and other unknown persons on charges of misconduct by public servants after a Preliminary Enquiry revealed the involvement of officers posted on the India-Bangladesh border in the illegal trade.

The CBI official said that cattle were taken from India to Bangladesh after paying illegal gratification to BSF personnel manning the International Border.

Kumar, during his posting in West Bengal between December 2015 and April 2017, allegedly seized over 20,000 cows before they could be transported to Bangladesh, but the vehicles involved were not seized.

The CBI alleged that the BSF officer in connivance with Customs officials and smugglers auctioned the seized cattle within 24 hours.

"The smugglers named in the case paid money to accused officials. Customs officials also used to take bribe of 10 per cent of the auction price from successful bidders named in the case," the CBI said.

"Bhuvan Bhaskar, a son of the BSF officer, was employed in Haque Industries Pvt Ltd, a company promoted by Haque. Bhuvan was paid Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000 as salary per month between May 2017 and December 2017, which reflects his links with the cattle smuggling racket," the CBI said in its FIR.

The CBI claimed that only certain smugglers were allowed to buy cattle at very low prices in auctions. After showing in the records that the cattle were disposed off in the local markets, the animals were smuggled to Bangladesh.
On Sept. 18, the United Nations Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) announced a report on human rights violations allegedly committed by various factions in the Syrian conflict, including Turkish-backed armed groups in northern Syria operating in areas that are controlled by Turkey. Among other things, the U.N. report documents kidnappings, illegal population transfers, killings and theft of property.

People living in these areas whose rights have been violated are entitled to protection and a remedy, said U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet.

Bachelet called on Turkey to immediately launch an impartial, transparent and independent investigation into the incidents we have verified, account for the fate of those detained and abducted by the affiliated armed groups, and hold accountable those responsible for what may, in some instances, amount to crimes under international law, including war crimes.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry responded:

"We categorically reject both the baseless allegations of human rights violations claimed against the Syrian opposition, which operate on the ground to combat terrorism and ensure the return of Syrian refugees, and concerning our country in relation to them, as well as the groundless criticisms by the [U.N.] leveled against Turkey on the basis of the said allegations.

This is misleading.

First, it is not true, as the Turkish Foreign Ministry claims, that the report ignores alleged atrocities by the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG), which worked with the United States to combat Islamic State and also joined the fight against the Assad regime in the long-running Syria conflict.

Turkey views the YPG as a front for the Kurdish Workers Party (PPK), a separatist group that has operated in southeastern Turkey and which the United States and European Union have also designated as a terrorist group.

The U.N. report refers to the YPGs past recruitment of child soldiers and states that the opposition Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), in which the YPG plays a major role, also uses child soldiers. The report accuses the SDF of detaining and torturing civilians.

The U.N. report mentions an April car bombing attack in the northern Syrian city of Afrin. The attack killed four Turkish soldiers and several dozen civilians, wounding some 50 others. Turkey blamed the YPG for the attack, and although the U.N. report does not assign blame it does not exonerate the YPG.

Regarding alleged abuses by Turkish-backed units, the report gets specific. A sample:

The Commission has reasonable grounds to believe that Syrian National Army fighters, in particular members of Division 14, Brigade 142 (the Suleiman Shah Brigade), Division 22 (the Hamza Brigade) and Division 24 (the Sultan Murad Brigade), repeatedly perpetrated the war crime of pillage in both the Afrin and Ras al-Ayn regions ... and may also be responsible for the war crime of destroying or seizing the property of an adversary.

Describing systematic looting in detail, the report states:

Throughout the Afrin region, multiple accounts indicate that the property of Kurdish owners was looted and appropriated by Syrian National Army members in a coordinated manner. For example, in September 2019, civilians in the Shaykh al-Hadid subdistrict (of the Afrin region) described how members of Division 14, Brigade 142 (the Suleiman Shah Brigade) of the Syrian National Army had gone from door to door instructing Kurdish families with fewer than three members to vacate their houses to accommodate individuals arriving from outside of Afrin.

Elizabeth Tsurkov, a fellow and Syria expert at the Center for Global Policy, a Washington D.C.-based policy research institute, says that while Turkey publicly denies the accusations against its Syrian proxies, it has privately acknowledged excesses.

In a Sept. 19 Twitter thread, Tsurkov detailed a meeting between a Turkish intelligence officer and commanders from Syrian rebel groups that receive Turkish financing and aid. According an attendee identified as Abu Said, the Turkish officer brought up crimes committed by rebel fighters and told commanders to halt the abuses against civilians.

Tsurkovs source said that Syrian rebel commanders were told theyd be held responsible for their subordinates crimes, but he did not say how Turkey would enforce this. She noted that Turkey supplies these groups with arms and salaries but thus far hasnt used this leverage to modify any of the groups behaviors.

Turkey was an early supporter of the Syrian opposition after the uprising against Bashar al-Assads regime began in 2011. Turkey not only provided refuge for defectors from the Syrian Arab Army who went on to form the Free Syrian Army, but subsequently took in 3.6 million Syrian refugees. Since 2016, the Turkish military has operated inside Syria.

In January 2018, Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch, aimed at driving the U.S.-backed Kurdish YPG/YPJ from the Afrin region. In October 2019, it launched another offensive against the YPG/YPJ and its allies in the Syrian Democratic Forces, dubbed Operation Peace Spring, which expanded Turkeys area of control in northern Syria.

The Turkish military also maintains observation posts in the besieged northwestern Syrian rebel enclave of Idlib and conducts joint patrols with Russian forces in the area.
Delegates at the workshop (Photo: TDO)

At the workshop, participants agreed that Sri Lanka and Vietnam have good relations in bilateral, regional and multilateral diplomacy. The cooperation between the two countries has expanded to other areas such as politics, trade, economic investment, defense, culture, education, tourism and agriculture.



The strong bilateral relationship has been also marked by high-level visits by leaders of the two countries. Since 1975, 59 visits by political leaders above the deputy minister level have taken place between the two countries. In addition, the Sri Lanka - Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Group has maintained a close friendship between the Sri Lankan Parliament and the National Assembly of Vietnam.

The two countries have also signed 31 bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding to further promote cooperation.

Sri Lanka and Vietnam have also shared a close commercial relationship over the years, with total trade from January to November 2019 of nearly USD320 million. Vietnam ranks as Sri Lankas 23rd in export markets and 19th in its import market. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka ranked Vietnams 56th in export market and 58th in its import market.

According to Professor Dang Nguyen Anh, Vice President of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, the two sides should boost their trade balance through Sri Lanka's increased imports of commercial products from Vietnam; encourage Sri Lankan enterprises to invest in Vietnam in the fields of infrastructure development, high technology, renewable energy, technology transfer and development of supporting industries, creating opportunities for both Vietnamese and Sri Lankan enterprises to participate in global production and supply chains.

Apart from bilateral diplomacy, the two countries can also strengthen cooperation in multilateral cooperation frameworks such as the World Trade Organization (WTO), the United Nations and regional institutions in the Indian and Pacific Ocean.

Speaking at the workshop, Mr. Jayanath Colombage, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, emphasized that Sri Lanka would be a bridge for Vietnam's cooperation with important partners in the Indian Ocean, while the relationship between Sri Lanka and Vietnam would also pave the way for Sri Lanka to connect with Southeast Asian countries./.
What can we learn about organizational politics from the most successful Allied deception of the Second World War?

Operation Mincemeat, by Ben Mcintyre, is a meticulously researched book, and also an unintended case study of organizational politics in the 21st century.

What was Operation Mincemeat? In the winter of 1943, the tide had turned in the North African campaign. The Allies were pushing the enemy back and were planning to invade occupied Europe. Sicily was the assumed target for this invasion; this attack would be the largest amphibious invasion in history. But the Axis powers had anticipated this attack and were fortifying their positions in southern Italy. The Allies needed a distraction. They needed to convince the Germans that the invasion would not land in Sicily.

British analysts knew that Hitler feared an invasion of Greece, and for good reason. A landing in Greece could become the lower arm of a huge vise that could trap the Germans on the eastern front between an army from North Africa and the advancing Soviets. How could the British convince the Germans that this invasion would land in Greece, and not Sicily? British spy agents devised an audacious scheme.

The plan started with an unclaimed body in London. The body was dressed in the uniform of a Royal Marine officer, and a briefcase was handcuffed to his wrist. This briefcase held letters between senior British commanders describing a plan for an Allied invasion of Greece. A wallet containing shopping receipts, ticket stubs, fake identification, a picture of a girlfriend and even a love letter was planted on the body. This body was released from a Royal Navy sub off the Spanish coast. A sardine fisher picked it up and informed authorities.

The Spaniards, neutral but supportive of the Nazis, notified the German embassy. Wishfulness then took over; Nazi intelligence agents believed the plans for an invasion of Greece. Eager to please Hitler, these agents made sure that copies of these concocted plans were soon on their Fuhrers desk. When the invasion of Sicily took place in July 1943, Hitler had reinforced his army in Greece with five Panzer divisions to wait for an invasion that never came. The Germans had swallowed this deception hook, line and sinker. Why?

Adm. John Godfrey, the former director of Britains Naval Intelligence Division, identified two major weaknesses of the Nazi espionage bureaucracy: wishfulness and yesmanship. Wishfulness is the tendency to believe whatever supports a favoured worldview while simultaneously rejecting all contradictory views. Godfrey believed that the Nazi high command, when presented with two contradictory analyses, would believe the option that best matched their preconceptions.

Yesmanship is the tendency of those with less power to agree with those who have greater power, mainly out of ambition, but also out of fear. In organizations which have dire consequences for defying authority, like the Nazi command bureaucracy, wishfulness can give rise to deadly levels of yesmanship.

When I read Godfreys analysis, it struck me that his dynamics of wishfulness and yesmanship are still at work in every organization I have ever been a part of, either as a client, an employee, a contractor or a consultant.

How can we inoculate ourselves against wishfulness and yesmanship? Our intuition tells us when we are in an organization that is too careful. An extreme sense of cautiousness, combined with a paralyzing fear of sending the wrong message can stifle innovation. Do we understand the costs of being too careful?

Wishfulness and yesmanship can sabotage any organization. Only vigilance, a willingness to take risks and authentic trust can stop self-deception from becoming a gateway to self-destruction.
The claim: Ruth Bader Ginsburg was 'anti-Indian'

A post on Instagram claims that Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died Friday, was "anti-Indian."

"She enforced the racist 'Indian character' of stolen land in cases such as Sherill v. Oneida," the post reads. "She wrote the majority opinion, saying the court must prevent 'the Tribe rekindling the embers of sovereignty that long ago grew cold.'"

The user behind the post did not respond to a request from USA TODAY for comment.

Fact check: Sen. Chuck Schumers statements about Supreme Court vacancies, 2016 vs. 2020

In Sherrill v. Oneida, Ginsburg delivered blow to Native American sovereignty claims

It's true that in 2005 Ginsburg wrote the majority opinion in City of Sherrill v. Oneida Indian Nation of New York. The high court ruled 8-1 in favor of the city of Sherrill.

At issue in the case was whether land parcels granted to the Oneida Nation by a treaty in 1794, which had since been sold and only recently repurchased by the tribe, should be considered part of its reservation and therefore be exempt from local taxes.

In her opinion, Ginsburg held that the Oneida Nation could not reassert its sovereignty over the land, and had to pay taxes to the city.

"Given the longstanding, distinctly non-Indian character of the area and its inhabitants, the regulatory authority constantly exercised by New York State and its counties and towns, and the Oneidas long delay in seeking judicial relief against parties other than the United States, we hold that the Tribe cannot unilaterally revive its ancient sovereignty, in whole or in part, over the parcels at issue," Ginsburg wrote. "The Oneidas long ago relinquished the reins of government and cannot regain them through open-market purchases from current titleholders."

Her opinion also included the quote in the post; she wrote that standards in federal law and equity practice "preclude the Tribe from rekindling embers of sovereignty that long ago grew cold."

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Carole Goldberg, a law professor at the University of California, Los Angeles who wrote an analysis of Ginsburg's decisions on tribal law, told USA TODAY that based solely on her opinion in that case, it'd be reasonable to say Ginsburg was anti-Indian.

Goldberg said the language in the decision was "very offensive," because it "implies that Native nations are a relic of America's past, that tribal sovereignty is nonexistent in the present day."

"If you look just at that decision, it's accurate," Goldberg added. "But if you take a broader look at her record, I would say the record is mixed. And her record improved from a tribal perspective over time."

Fact check: In 2016, Ginsburg said president is 'elected for four years not three years'

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the first Jewish woman to be appointed to the Supreme Court, talks with filmmaker David Grubin in Washington about his PBS series "The Jewish Americans" in 2008.

Other decisions  including her last  affirmed Native American rights

In her nearly three decades on the Supreme Court, though, Ginsburg adjudicated hundreds of cases, and wrote dozens of opinions.

Some, like Sherrill v. Oneida, did not uphold tribal sovereignty. Others did.

In its reflection on her death, for example, the Spokane Spokesman-Review noted two close decisions  both 5-4  in which Ginsburg voted to affirm tribal rights.

In her analysis in 2009, Goldberg wrote that her more recent opinions "suggest greater appreciation for the realities of tribal histories, aspirations, and struggles within a colonizing nation."

Goldberg told USA TODAY that the "most revealing" instance of how her record on tribal rights changed was in the United States v. Bryant in 2016.

In her opinion, which was 9-0 for the U.S., Ginsburg upheld the legitimacy of two convictions for domestic violence in tribal court.

"It was a decision that upheld protection for women who are victims of violence, but it also posed very starkly the choice between individual rights, particularly of criminal defendants, and tribal sovereignty," Goldberg said. "And she came down on the side of affirming tribal sovereignty."

And in what became one of her last votes, Ginsburg voted in the 5-4 majority in McGirt v. Oklahoma, which ruled that the eastern half of Oklahoma can be considered Native American territory, per USA TODAY.

Fact check: Ginsburg planned to stay on Supreme Court at least a few more years

Prominent Native Americans offered kind words upon her death

Despite her mixed record on tribal law, numerous prominent members of the Native American community reacted to her death with heartfelt tributes.

All four members of Congress who belong to tribal nations issued statements commemorating her time on the bench, per Native News Online.

Rep. Sharice Davids, D-Kan., for example, called her "a tireless champion for justice and a fierce advocate for the rights of all people under the law."

Jonathan Nez, the president of the Navajo Nation, also called Ginsburg "a true champion of justice."

"Her compassion for all people will always be cherished," he told Indian Country Today. "We are stronger because of her contributions to the Supreme Court and Indian Country.

Stacy Leeds, a law professor and dean emeritus at the University of Arkansas, who is Cherokee, also told Indian Country Today that Native American lawyers held Ginsburg in "very high regard."

"Justice Ginsburg was incredibly smart and brave. She carried immeasurable stress with such grace. Thats why so many Native attorneys held her in very high regard, despite her mixed record in Indian law cases," Leeds said. "Her vote to reaffirm Muscogee (Creek) Nation boundaries on the final day of her final term will long be remembered."

Fact check: Ginsburg wanted gender-neutral language, not lower age of consent

Our rating: Missing context

Based on our research, the claim that Ruth Bader Ginsburg was "anti-Indian" is MISSING CONTEXT, because it could be misleading. Though she did author a much-critiqued decision in Sherrill v. Oneida that denied tribal sovereignty and was considered "offensive" to some, she also authored opinions that affirmed tribal law. Her record overall was "mixed." Nevertheless, upon her death, prominent members of the Native American community paid tribute to her character and legacy.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: Ruth Bader Ginsburg had 'mixed' record on tribal law
EDWARDSVILLE  Anderson Healthcare has unveiled plans for a $20 million, 50,000-square-foot addition to its Anderson Healthcare Goshen Campus in Edwardsville.

This unique two-story building will help us consolidate many of our Anderson Medical Group primary care practices into one convenient location, said Anderson Healthcare President and CEO, Keith Page. The facility will have clinical space for approximately 20 providers.

In addition to Anderson Medical Group physicians, the building will house several outpatient services including an imaging center, urgent care, lab services and outpatient rehab therapies.

The imaging center will be known as the Goshen Imaging Center and will be an affiliate of the Maryville Imaging Center located in Maryville, said Page. We are also in discussions with a healthcare partner to offer urgent care services specific to pediatrics.

The building is being designed by The Korte Company. The project is being developed by Triple Net Management led by Terry Johnson, a veteran commercial real estate broker and developer with 35 years experience in office, retail, investment, and land sales.

We have had the opportunity to work with Terry in the past on a similar project and know that it will be a first class facility, said Page.

The project will require approval from the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board. The certificate of need program promotes the development of a comprehensive health care delivery system that assures the availability of quality facilities, related services, and equipment to the public.

Anderson Healthcare plans to submit the CON application by years end with a 1st quarter 2021 review date. It also is working with Edwardsvilles Planning and Zoning Division to obtain required licenses and permits. With approvals in place, the project should break ground in summer 2021 with construction complete in 2022.

The building would be on the northwest quadrant of the Anderson Healthcare Goshen Campus. The campus is on Goshen Road across from the Meyer Center YMCA and adjacent to District Drive. Access to the medical building will be via the main entrance on Goshen, as well as another entrance off of District Drive.

The Anderson Healthcare Goshen Campus recently finalized its first building anchored by Anderson Surgery Center and SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Childrens Hospital Specialty Clinic. A free-standing rehabilitation hospital, known as Anderson Rehabilitation Institute, is currently under construction in a joint venture between Anderson Healthcare and Kindred Healthcare, LLC.; an opening is planned in Summer 2021.
Transplants from pigs have long been explored as a solution to the global shortage of human organs for patients with organ failure. AP



By Coco Feng




Washington: Senator Bernie Sanders is planning to mount an aggressive campaign to counter potential attempts by President Donald Trump to delegitimise the results of the November election, warning that Democrats and Republicans alike must do "everything that we can to prevent that from happening."

In a phone interview this week, Sanders said he would spend the next six weeks urging the country to prepare for a "nightmare scenario" in which Trump declares himself the winner of the election and refuses to step down even if he loses.

Senator Bernie Sanders is sounding the alarm of Donald Trump's attempt to deligitimise the election. Credit:AP

As part of his effort, he is set to deliver a speech in Washington on Thursday (Friday AEST)  his first in-person appearance related to the election since before he dropped out of the presidential race  to outline in stark terms the danger that he says Trump poses to the nation's democracy.

"We are living in an unprecedented and dangerous moment  extremely dangerous moment  in American history," Sanders said. "And what this speech is going to be about is whether or not the United States of America will continue to be a democracy and a nation ruled by law and our Constitution."
Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly on Wednesday said he is optimistic that Congress can pass a national coronavirus relief package that includes airline aid despite a monthslong impasse between lawmakers and the White House.

Airlines earlier this year received $25 billion in federal payroll support which prohibits job cuts and requires minimum service levels through Sept. 30.

With that date a week away, airline CEOs, including Kelly, have met with government officials and lawmakers in Washington in a last-minute plea for additional aid for the sector struggling with demand at less than a third of last year's levels because of the pandemic. Like other airline chiefs, Kelly said the carrier doesn't expect a strong rebound in air travel anytime soon.

"We're very hopeful they can come to an agreement and get that passed and help the economy and obviously help the travel industry," Kelly told CNBC's "Squawk on the Street."

The proposal has won bipartisan support on Capitol Hill and from the White House, but lawmakers and the Trump administration have repeatedly failed to reach a deal on a new national coronavirus package that would include that aid.

Even without additional aid Southwest is reluctant to further cut capacity because it could end up causing more pain for the airline, Kelly said.

"At a point, if we cut our flights too much then we cut a lot of itineraries and the revenue loss accelerates much faster than the cost cuts do," he said. "We have to strike the right balance."

He said the airline is sticking with capacity cuts of about 40%-45% from a year ago.
The Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) has accused the Department of Education of a fundamental breach of trust over the release of class ranking information to Leaving Cert 2020 students.

The union said it showed scant regard for vulnerable students and had the potential to be extremely damaging to them.

The Department announced yesterday that students could access the information on a website next Monday.

The manner of the release of the information has been the subject of a bitter dispute between the Department and teacher unions, who were previously told that it would be available only on foot of a data access request.

However, following legal advice, the Department said that it was putting in place a system to allow students to gain access to the information.

It is understood that the legal advice centres on the issue of students being entitled to access their own personal data.

But in an angry response, the TUI said the release of class rankings in such a manner has the potential to be extremely damaging for more vulnerable students, reinforcing stereotyping and stigmatisation, embedding disadvantage and serving absolutely no useful practical or moral purpose.

The union said it engaged with the Calculated Grades process on a good faith, once-off basis and sought and received certain assurances.

One such assurance was that the student ranking provided by a school would only be available to a student in response to a data access request.

In this regard, it is worth noting that FAQs outlining this understanding were formally endorsed by the Department before they were posted on the TUI website.

Ranking students in such a manner runs completely counter to the values of inclusive teaching and was only agreed upon on the understanding that it was to improve the accuracy of the data collected and would not be released in the manner now planned.

It said the the departure from this agreed position is a fundamental breach of trust by the Department and is profoundly damaging to the student/teacher relationship.

Last week, students had access to both the estimated marks provided by their school as well as the final marks awarded by the Calculated Grades office that gave rise to their published grades.

As part of the assessment process that replaced the June exams teachers also rated each students against others in their class and this is the information that will be available on Monday.


Jason Priestley says Shannen Doherty has "always been a fighter" as she battles cancer.

The 'Beverly Hills, 90210' star is battling stage four cancer and her former co-star has been incredibly supportive of Shannen and knows she will "fight".

Speaking to Australia's Studio 10, he said: "I reach out to Shannen every few months, just to check in on her and say hi. Shannen's a real tough girl, and Shannen's a fighter and she's always been a fighter and I know that she will continue to fight as hard as she can."

Meanwhile, Jason previously admitted he was "heartbroken" over Shannen's cancer diagnosis.

The 50-year-old actor said: "I reached out to her yesterday when the news broke. She's overwhelmed with well wishers and with people reaching out to her. I haven't heard back from her yet, but I'm sure that I will very soon. Shannen was a big part of my life. Shannen and I will always have a bond that is very meaningful. I'm very heartbroken about the news and I wish her and her family the best in this very difficult time."

Shannen revealed her diagnosis this week, when she admitted she's still struggling to "process" the news.

The 48-year-old actress 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. I definitely have days where I say why me. And then I go, well, why not me? Who else? Who else besides me deserves this? None of us do. But I would say that my first reaction is always concern about how - how am I going to tell my mom, my husband."
Britons woke up to a drenching this morning as showers brought an end to summer - with poor weather set to last much of the week and temperatures plunging 10C.

The mercury hit 26C in East Anglia during sunny conditions yesterday, but by later this week maximum temperature will drop to a miserly 16C as gales and thunder lash much of the country.

Today will see rain across much of southern England, with brighter spots in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Squally showers will linger over much of Britain by the end of the week, before the skies clear for a brighter - though still chilly - weekend.

People brave the wind and rain at the Plymouth Hoe in Devon as the weather took a turn for the worse

Squally showers will linger over much of Britain this week (pictured are walkers by Plymouth Hoe)

Today will see rain across much of southern England, with brighter spots in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Met Office forecaster Marco Petagna told MailOnline: 'Things are turning more unsettled and cloudy now.

'We're seeing showery rain across the south-east at the moment, which will clear but by lunchtime another band of rain will sweep in.

'They'll be plenty of bright weather in Scotland and Northern Ireland and it will be low to mid-teens in the north and west.

'Conditions will turn quite cold overnight, with air temperatures dropping down to freezing in parts of Scotland.'

Things are unlikely to improve until Saturday, the forecaster explained.

'Tomorrow is looking like a very unsettled day with squally showers and thunder in places,' he said.

'The highest temperatures will be around 13C to 15C, which is about 10 degrees down from what there's been recently.

'Then on Friday the showery weather will push towards the east but temperatures will continue struggling in the mid-teens.

'The weekend looks much more promising with bright weather around but it will stay chilly.'

Today will see rain across much of southern England, with brighter spots in Scotland and Northern Ireland (pictured: Plymouth Hoe)

Met Office forecaster Marco Petagna told MailOnline: 'Things are turning more unsettled and cloudy now'
He is all those things. And he will continue to win at the expense of our democracy unless Democrats decide to get down in the gutter with him and fight like everything America stands for depends on it.
New Delhi : What do you do when Vladimir Putin offers you Russia's new coronavirus vaccine, for free? United Nations staff in New York and around the world are now facing that choice, after the Russian president offered to provide them the Sputnik-V vaccine in a speech to this year's General Assembly marking the body's 75th birthday.

"Russia is ready to offer UN workers the necessary, qualified help, and in particular we propose to supply our vaccine for free to employees of the organisation and its subsidiaries who volunteer for vaccination," said Putin, who announced the vaccine to broad fanfare last month and said his own daughter is among those who have taken it.

He described the offer as a response to popular demand: "Some colleagues from the UN have asked about this, and we will not remain indifferent to them."

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said, "We thank President Putin for his generous offer which will be studied by our medical services."
My 16th year in the Legislature may have been the most difficult one yet. Far too many Tennesseans are struggling with unemployment, caring for themselves or a loved one with COVID-19, or simply experiencing the loneliness that comes from lack of community. Amid this global pandemic, however, I think you can be proud of the work being done by our state.

Right to Work

One of the best ways we can help bring jobs back in Tennessee is to strengthen our Right to Work law, which guarantees you the right to hold your job, whether you choose to join a union or not. Im proud to report my proposal to add the Right to Work law to our state constitution passed both houses of the General Assembly this year. This will protect future generations of Tennessee workers.

Twenty-seven states are Right to Work, and nine of those have constitutional amendments. Three of those are our neighbors: Arkansas, Mississippi, and Alabama. But one of our other neighbors, Virginia, also enacted Right to Work when we did back in 1947 and seriously debated repealing it this year until the governor put a stop to efforts.

We can avoid such threats to our law in Tennessee by passing a constitutional amendment. Constitutional amendments are hard to repeal. But they are also hard to pass. Next year, the amendment must pass a second time by an even higher threshold: a two-thirds majority. Then it will appear on the ballot in November 2022. We will need your support to get this across the finish line.

Right to Life

The life of the unborn is precious, and I was proud to cast my vote this year in favor of protecting life. After two years of discussion, Tennessee passed a comprehensive life-affirming bill as part of Governor Lees legislative priority to ban abortions when a fetal heartbeat is detected. Its a simple concept. The definition we use for life at the end of life, the detection of a heartbeat, should be the same one we use at the beginning of life. The law also prohibits discriminatory abortions based on the unborn childs race, sex, or diagnosis of developmental disability. It represents the strongest protections for the unborn since Roe v. Wade was decided.

I have always been a strong supporter of the Right to Life, but this was my first vote cast on the subject as a father. Having heard my daughters heartbeat in the womb at a very early stage makes me have even greater clarity and conviction for my pro-life position.

Unfortunately, the new law has been put on hold by a federal judge. But its important for Tennessee to push back against judges who overstep their constitutional roles. This decision is being appealed and could reach the Supreme Court. While I was disappointed that Chief Justice John Roberts cast his first vote in favor of abortion this year, I am prayerfully hopeful that his courage will be bolstered by the addition of a new Supreme Court Justice who will vote to protect the most vulnerable in society.

Protection from Frivolous Lawsuits due to COVID-19

Tennessee businesses need help reopening, so they can hire back all their workers and get the American economy roaring again. The Tennessee Legislature did our part to help last month by passing legislation to ban frivolous lawsuits based on flimsy claims due to COVID-19. No one knows for sure where they catch the coronavirus from, so businesses shouldnt have to worry about being sued for spreading the virus, especially since we included an exception for really bad behavior that amounts to gross negligence or willful misconduct. Im proud of Governor Bill Lee for calling a special session to address the issue. Its time to get our economy moving again in a responsible way.

Fiscal Responsibility

Even in the face of an economic downturn, the Legislature was able to pass a balanced budget that keeps conservative fiscal management at the center our focus. Im happy to report that our state sales tax collections came in $100 million higher than projected for the first month of our new fiscal year. Because we buckled our belt and remained focused on the necessities, we will weather this storm.

Health Care Funding

As the world moves through the Coronavirus pandemic, health care sits at the front of the minds of many Tennesseans. That is why the General Assembly provided $150 million to specifically address public health and safety issues related to COVID-19. The state also helped out local governments in Shelby County by sending over $10 million in direct aid. We take this pandemic seriously and are doing our part to combat it. I hope you will too.

K-12 Education

Amidst the difficult budget predictions for next year, I am proud that Tennessee kept education funding as our #1 priority. By finding cuts to other areas, we were even able to increase funding for K-12 education by $50 million next year. That will fully fund the K-12 education system throughout Tennessee, as well as the pension plan for teachers and state employees.

I am glad that all our suburban school systems were able to open to some form of in-person learning this year. It is important for children to have social interaction while they grow and develop their brains. And science tells us they face little risk from COVID-19. As we have already seen, some schools may be forced to shut down temporarily, but that is okay and to be expected. Outbreaks among children are as inevitable as outbreaks among adults. I remain hopeful that Shelby County Schools will join the ranks of those meeting in person. Our children cannot afford to fall a whole year behind in learning. We need them to be ready to tackle the new economy.

Unemployment Insurance

I am sorry the state unemployment insurance program was overwhelmed with the number of claims from people losing their jobs due to the pandemic. On top of that, the software had to be adjusted to add the extra $600 a month payments from the federal government. The Administration hired more workers to try to handle the overflow, but unfortunately that effort was not enough to meet the needs of our citizens. Therefore, if you or a loved one from Cordova, East Memphis, or Germantown needs help receiving your benefits, please never hesitate to call or email the office. We will do our best to assist.

Conclusion

Its hard to believe, but Tennessees nickname, the Volunteer State, was not officially recognized by state government until this year. Thankfully, we Tennesseans dont need a resolution from the General Assembly to know of our volunteer spirit. We see it every day in fundraising drives and work campaigns after natural disasters. We see it in the volunteers who celebrated passage of the 19th Amendment, allowing womens right to vote at the Tennessee Capitol, even in the midst of a pandemic. And we see it among our health care workers, police, and first responders who are working to keep us all safe at this time. Thank you for doing your part to keep us forever known as the Volunteer State!

Sincerely,

Brian Kelsey
She always knows how to turn heads with her sensational looks.

And Helena Christensen was sure to set pulses racing as she posed with turtles and tortoises at the Turtle Conservancy in Ojai, California, on Wednesday.



The Danish model, 51, showed off her slender figure in a green swimsuit as she posed beside the animals during her trip.

Wow! Helena Christensen, 51, showed off her stunning figure in a green swimsuit as she posed at a turtle conservancy in Ojai, California, in snaps shared via Instagram on Wednesday

Helena's ensemble fell off the shoulder and was cut high on her waist to show off her lithe legs as she modelled in the luscious landscape.

Her brunette locks were brushed into a tousled style, and she wore dark red lipstick to accentuate her plump pout while she smiled for the camera.

Gushing about her day out, Helena said: 'Spent the day in the mountains of Ojai at the @turtleconservancy which is a magical sanctuary for hundreds of turtles, some of them on the most endangered list.

'We have to take care of nature and the animals we are so fortunate to live with,' she added, hoping her followers would take note.

Gorgeous: Helena's ensemble fell off the shoulder and was cut high on her waist to show off her lithe legs as she modelled in the luscious landscape

Stylish: Helena's brunette locks were brushed into a tousled style, and she wore dark red lipstick to accentuate her plump pout while she smiled for the camera

Last month, Helena revealed that spending lockdown with her 20-year-old son Mingus had been 'really special'.

The model quarantined with her only child and close friends at her home in the Catskills, in upstate New York.

Speaking with The Telegraph, she explained how they passed time going on treks and watching films, adding that 'being in nature saved me physically and mentally'.

Great cause: Gushing about the conservancy, which also homes tortoises (pictured), Helena called it a 'magical sanctuary'

Close: Last month, Helena revealed that spending lockdown with her 20-year-old son Mingus had been 'really special' (pictured together in May)

Helena said: 'I was lucky to spend months on end [in lockdown] with close friends and my son Mingus.... it was very special.

'I think nature saved me physically and mentally. Being in nature I realise is as important to me as breathing.

Helena shares her son with her ex-partner the American actor Norman Reedus, who is known for his role in The Walking Dead. The couple were together for five years but split in 2003.

Mingus, who is with the Unsigned Group modelling agency, is also making a name for himself in the fashion industry after walking in several high profile runway shows.
AUSTIN, Minn., Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL) today announced the launch of its 14th annual corporate responsibility (CR) report. The report is available online at https://csr.hormelfoods.com/ and includes information about the company's CR progress in fiscal 2019.

"As part of Our Food Journey, we focus on producing food responsibly for customers and consumers around the world by investing in our people and partners; improving communities and the world; and creating products that improve the lives of others," said Jim Snee, Chairman of the board, President and Chief Executive officer of Hormel Foods. "In 2019, we continued to make outstanding progress in the achievement of our corporate responsibility goals. The recognition we receive as a top corporate citizen is due to the incredible efforts of our inspired team, who continually looks for new ways to apply innovation to our sustainability efforts."

Hormel Foods was once again named one of the 100 Best Corporate Citizens by Corporate Responsibility magazine. In addition, the company was recognized as one of America's Most Responsible Companies by Newsweek, one of the World's Best Employers by Forbes and a Best for Vets Employer by Military Times.

Highlights of the company's progress in 2019 include:

After surpassing its goals to reduce solid waste sent to landfills, water use and nonrenewable energy use by 10 percent by 2020 in previous years, the company continued to implement projects to achieve further reductions. The company also surpassed its goal to reduce product packaging by 25 million pounds by 2020.

To ensure its high standards for animal care are being met throughout its supply chain, more than 1,800 audits were conducted. In 2019, Hormel Foods made a commitment to report the antibiotic usage for some of the farms in its supply chain. This report will be published in January of 2021, and the company will share its report and recommendations through this pilot project with others in the industry.

Hormel Foods launched over 500 new retail and foodservice items, with many targeted toward our sodium reduction and clean-label initiative efforts.

Hormel Foods continues to place great emphasis on its inclusion and diversity efforts and has nine employee resource groups in place. The company also continues to put the safety of its employees first by focusing on training, audits and improving its safety performance year over year.

Hormel Foods donated $7 million in cash and products. This includes $5.9 million in donations to fight hunger, its donation of 2.5 million cans of SPAMMY (a shelf-stable poultry product to help prevent childhood malnutrition in Guatemala ), and more than $780,000 in education donations.

"I would like to thank all of our team members as well as our partners and suppliers, as it takes everyone working together to achieve these outstanding results," Snee said. "And while we celebrate these achievements, we realize there is more to accomplish on this journey. In fact, we look forward to advancing our efforts even more and announcing our new corporate responsibility goal set in the near future."

The 2019 Hormel Foods Corporate Responsibility Report follows the Global Reporting Initiative's standards and is developed in accordance to the core option. The report is designed to allow stakeholders to easily view top-line highlights. A downloadable PDF will be available in the near future as well.

To view the entire report, please visit https://csr.hormelfoods.com/.

ABOUT HORMEL FOODS  Inspired People. Inspired Food.

Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minn., is a global branded food company with over $9 billion in annual revenue across more than 80 countries worldwide. Its brands include SKIPPY, SPAM, Hormel Natural Choice, Applegate, Justin's, Wholly, Hormel Black Label, Columbus and more than 30 other beloved brands. The company is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, was named on the "Global 2000 World's Best Employers" list by Forbes magazine for three straight years, is one of Fortune magazine's most admired companies, has appeared on Corporate Responsibility Magazine's "The 100 Best Corporate Citizens" list for the 12th year in a row, and has received numerous other awards and accolades for its corporate responsibility and community service efforts. The company lives by its purpose statement  Inspired People. Inspired Food.  to bring some of the world's most trusted and iconic brands to tables across the globe. For more information, visit www.hormelfoods.com and http://csr.hormelfoods.com/.

Contact: Kelly Braaten

507-434-6352

[email protected]

SOURCE Hormel Foods Corporation

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Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg lay in state at the Capitol on Friday, the first woman and the first Jewish American to be given the honor. The justice, who died on Friday at 87, was honored with a private ceremony in Statuary Hall, where lawmakers and other dignitaries later took turns paying their respects. The women of Congress lined the steps of the Capitol as her coffin was carried out one final time.

She was to be buried next week in Arlington National Cemetery.

Earlier in the week, Justice Ginsburg lay in repose outside the Supreme Court, where mourners from near and far lined up past the Capitol and toward the Library of Congress to pay respects to a legal titan who became a liberal icon and champion for equal rights.

Friday, Sept. 25
President Clinton applauds Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the White House on June 15, 1993, after he announced he would nominate her to the Supreme Court. (Doug Mills / Associated Press)

When Ruth Bader Ginsburg joined the Supreme Court in 1993, she was its lone Democratic appointee, the first in 26 years. Her eight colleagues were named by the four Republican presidents from Richard Nixon to George H.W. Bush.

They were not all conservatives, however. Ginsburg voted regularly with John Paul Stevens and David H. Souter, nominees of Gerald R. Ford and Bush, respectively. And in her later years, she aligned with President Obama's two picks, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan as well as Stephen G. Breyer who, like her, was named by President Clinton.

But throughout her 27-year tenure, Ginsburg was a liberal voice on a court that leaned right. As a result, she rarely spoke for the court in major cases, though she often did so in dissent.

By contrast, if President Trump succeeds in putting a conservative woman in her place, the new justice will join five other Republican appointees and could play a major role in shifting the law to the right on abortion, religion and guns.

That prospect, compared with Ginsburg's career, shows how fully a justice's legacy depends on the timing of her appointment and the politics of the era. More broadly, Trump's third justice  if the Senate confirms his pick  could trigger the sharpest ideological shift at the court in nearly three decades, since conservative Clarence Thomas replaced liberal Thurgood Marshall in 1991.

Trump has said he would announce his choice Saturday. Senate Republicans tentatively plan to hold a hearing the week of Oct. 12 and vote by month's end, just before the presidential election.

When Ginsburg was nominated, she was compared to Marshall. He had been a legendary civil rights lawyer from the 1930s through the 1950s before becoming an appeals court judge and the first Black justice. She had been a pioneering women's rights attorney in the 1970s before becoming an appellate judge and then the second female justice.

Their tenures on the court also had similarities.

Story continues

Marshall arrived in 1967 at the height of the liberal Warren court era, but he served throughout the 1970s and '80s as the court became more conservative, and increasingly cast dissenting votes. He was exhausted and in poor health when he decided to retire in 1991.

After a bruising confirmation fight, Thomas was confirmed to succeed him by a 52-48 vote in a Senate where Democrats held the majority. The most liberal justice had been succeeded by one who became its most reliable conservative.

Much the same story could be repeated in the next few weeks if Ginsburg, formerly the court's leading liberal, is replaced by a young conservative who will all but certainly vote often with Thomas.

As a leader of the court's liberal wing, Ginsburg devoted her efforts to defending past victories, including rulings that protected abortion rights and contraceptives for women and that allowed colleges to pursue affirmative action for racial minorities. She dissented when the court's conservatives struck down the laws limiting campaign spending by corporations and the wealthy and when they voided the key part of the Voting Rights Act that had long protected Blacks and Latinos in the South.

The success of the gay rights movement was the lone significant civil rights advance during Ginsburg's time on the court. Yet she shrewdly stood just to the side and allowed Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, a moderate Republican, to speak alone for the court in all the major rulings on the issue.

In 1992, the year before Ginsburg arrived, Justices Antonin Scalia and Thomas issued angry dissents when the court fell one vote short of overturning Roe vs. Wade. Both vowed they would continue the fight and never accept the right to abortion as a settled precedent.

Now, one of Scalia's favorite law clerks  Amy Coney Barrett, an appellate judge from Indiana  has emerged as Trump's leading candidate. If confirmed, she could join Thomas and the other conservative justices in finally repealing the nearly half-century-old right to abortion.

After Thomas' confirmation 29 years ago, the fierce fights over Supreme Court seats had mostly subsided until 2016.

Partly because of the accident of timing, Presidents Clinton, George W. Bush and Obama made appointments that largely maintained the court's ideological balance. Each of the three presidents served eight years and filled two vacant seats on the high court.

Clinton nominees Ginsburg and Breyer replaced Byron R. White, a moderate Democrat, and Harry A. Blackmun, a liberal Republican. The court's balance stayed about the same.

Bush named John G. Roberts Jr. and Samuel A. Alito Jr. to replace two Republican appointees  Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist and Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. Alito proved more conservative than O'Connor and created a 5-4 majority to strike down the laws on campaign spending, most notably in the Citizens United case opening the gates to spending by corporations and groups of wealthy individuals.

Obama chose Sotomayor and Kagan to replace the two liberal Republican appointees  Souter and Stevens  and again left the court's ideological balance largely unchanged.

Scalia's death in February 2016 could have shifted the court to the left and created the first Democratic majority since 1969. But Senate Republicans blocked Obama's nominee, Judge Merrick Garland, from having a hearing or a vote because it was an election year. "The American people deserve a voice in such a momentous decision," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said then.

Now McConnell and the Senate Republicans are determined to fill Ginsburg's seat before the voters speak in November. With only two party defections, they appear to have the votes to do so, 51 to 49.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 19:21:27|Editor: huaxia

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People watch Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's televised speech at a restaurant in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sept. 23, 2020. Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on Wednesday said opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim needs to prove he had gathered the support of a majority of members of parliament, otherwise it would only be an allegation. (Photo by Chong Voon Chung/Xinhua)



KUALA LUMPUR, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on Wednesday said opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim needs to prove he had gathered the support of a majority of members of parliament, otherwise it would only be an allegation.

Anwar needs to follow the proper ways and processes stipulated by the constitution to prove he had indeed gathered the support of a majority of members of parliament (MPs), Muhyiddin said in a statement.

"Until proven otherwise, the Perikatan Nasional government still stands firm and I am the legitimate Prime Minister," he said, referring to his ruling coalition.

"I urge the people to remain calm to face this situation. This issue will be handled in good order in accordance with the legal processes and federal constitution," he said.

Earlier, Anwar, a former deputy prime minister and the leader of the opposition Pakatan Harapan coalition, told a press conference that he has a "strong, formidable and convincing majority" in the lower house of the parliament to establish a "stable" government.

But he declined to reveal how many members of the 222-seat lower house supported him, saying he is seeking an audience with Malaysia's king Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, who has the right to appoint a new prime minister.

The National Palace confirmed that Anwar had indeed been granted an audience with Sultan Abdullah on Tuesday, but was postponed after the latter was admitted to the hospital.

At the moment, the King will continue to receive treatment in the hospital, said the statement. It added that the King advise the public to stay calm and take care of their personal health by abiding by the standard procedures because the country was still facing the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, while urging all parties to prioritize the people's wellbeing and the country.

Muhyiddin became prime minister in March, following the abrupt resignation of his predecessor Mahathir Mohamad, which led to the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government that had been in place since 2018. But Muhyiddin's coalition only command a slim majority in the lower house of parliament.

According to Malaysia's constitution, the King shall appoint a prime minister who in his judgement is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of the house.

The constitution also stipulates that if the prime minister ceases to command the majority, the prime minister shall tender the resignation of the cabinet unless at his request the King dissolves the parliament. Enditem
New Delhi, Sep 23 : The strategy for the upcoming Assembly polls was discussed in the BJP's West Bengal core committee meeting held on Wednesday at the residence of BJP national president J.P. Nadda.

The issue of law and order in West Bengal was also discussed at the meeting. Party leaders told Nadda about the violent incidents in West Bengal. After the core committee meet, another meeting was also held at the residence of Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh where a plan was formulated to implement the instructions received from Nadda on the ground in West Bengal.

BJP's West Bengal in-charge Kailash Vijayvargiya, national coordinator Shiv Prakash, national secretary Rahul Sinha, Ghosh, and Mukul Roy, attended the core committee meeting.

Nadda said the vision of Modi government must be conveyed to the people Mamata Banerjee's misrule should be exposed. Party sources said that the leaders decided to spread awareness in the state about self-reliant India. It was also observed that at present the opposition is trying to spread confusion among the farmers on all the three farm Bills passed by Parliament, so the party should also carry out a public awareness campaign on this issue.

Nadda instructed party leaders to take care of the morale of the party workers in the wake of the violence of the ruling Trinamool Congress. Assembly polls are due in the state in 2021. The BJP is constantly attacking the Mamata government due to deteriorating law and order in the state. The BJP also blames the TMC government for Bengal lagging behind in the race for development.

BJP national general secretary and in-charge of West Bengal Kailash Vijayvargiya said, "Keeping in mind the upcoming Assembly election in West Bengal, a 'core team' met with the state in-charge under the leadership of the BJP national president."
As of today, the Dutch competent authority has ordered the company Sakol Nederland B.V. ("Sakol") to cease importing tropical face plywood from Jiangsu High Hope Arser Co. Ltd. ("Arser"), one of the largest plywood exporters in China. This decision sets an important precedent in the effort to protect European markets from the import of illegal and high-risk tropical timber hidden behind complex global supply chains. EIA commends the enforcement of the European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR) in the Netherlands and calls on other European countries that are major importers of the same type of product, in particular the United Kingdom (UK), Belgium, Greece and France, to follow suit in a well-coordinated approach.

European countries import enormous quantities of plywood from around the world. Plywood has been the fourth largest type of timber product imported into Europe (including the UK) by value dating back to 2015. In 2018, European Union countries imported US$4.7 billion worth of plywood, of which 12 percent the largest share came from China. This trade is also very significant for China: for the past decade, plywood has been China's second largest timber export to Europe, just after wooden furniture.

Plywood supply chains are clear examples of the global turn the timber industry has taken in recent years. While direct trade to Europe from high-risk countries of origin has diminished, indirect routes have proliferated, making illegal and high-risk timber flows increasingly opaque and often impossible to trace. It is now common to cut trees in one continent, ship the logs to another for processing, and re-export the finished product to a third continent. For most tropical face plywood products, trees are cut in distant tropical forests such as the Congo Basin or Solomon Islands, processed in Asian manufacturing hubs like China, and then placed on European markets.

European countries have had plywood imports on their radar for years. A 2015 investigation into plywood imports from China by the UK National Measurement Office (NMO) revealed that the majority of imports did not comply with the EUTR and that importers' due diligence systems were insufficient. In 2016, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) found that companies importing wooden furniture from complex supply chains involving China were noncompliant with the EUTR.

The decision by Dutch authorities to mandate Sakol to stop importing tropical face plywood made in China takes effect on September 23, 2020. Lisa Handy, Director of EIA Forest Campaigns, explains, "This decision is significant as it delivers a blow to the protective cover that these global supply chains have provided for high risk and illegal tropical timber for years. It shows that European authorities are rising to the challenge posed by complex timber supply chains."

The cease and desist order in the Netherlands sets a precedent for the rest of Europe, as Arser the Chinese company which exported the noncompliant tropical face plywood has many clients in the region, primarily in the UK, Belgium, France and Greece. Handy explains: "For the European Union to demonstrate it is truly a level playing field, and if the UK does not want to become the open back door for illegal tropical timber in the region, the decision taken in the Netherlands should trigger a domino effect across Europe. We look forward to other authorities taking similar actions."

As the European Commission is undertaking a Fitness Check of the EUTR, the decision by the Netherlands' authorities provides a timely reminder that EUTR, when duly implemented, is a powerful tool against the global trade in high risk and illegal timber. The UK, Belgium, France and Greece now have to show how they make the best use of this tool to combat illegal logging in some of the most threatened rainforests in the world.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200922006060/en/

Contacts:

Lindsay Moran, Head of Communications, EIA, lmoran@eia-global.org
Iran announced another 184 deaths caused by the coronavirus on Wednesday, raising its total to close to 25,000. The number of confirmed cases is now around 433,000.

According to health officials, the country has been hit with a third wave of the pandemic, a period they say could prove even more disastrous than the previous peaks. Hospitals in many cities, including the capital Tehran, have reached capacity. Local officials in the central city of Isfahan are lamenting a situation beyond critical. A video went viral earlier this week showing a number of people at a hospital in the western city of Yasouj loudly arguing with fatigued medical staff, who had to turn them away due to a lack of beds.

Payam Tabarsi, the top infectious diseases specialist at Irans biggest hospital for COVID-19 patients, has painted a bleak image of a tough four months ahead. With the current spiking trajectory of cases and fresh clusters nationwide, Tabarsi predicts, Irans daily mortality rate may soon hit the 600 mark.

Those estimates have prompted the ministers of health and interior to sound the alarm on an extremely worrisome situation. The description marks a shift from the narrative promoted by the government of President Hassan Rouhani, which has been under fire over its confusing and chaotic handling of the coronavirus crisis. A long list of flawed policies has been growing: a cover-up of the outbreak in the early days, refusal to place lockdowns on epicenters, failure to impose stringent measures, a delayed introduction of protective masks and a premature resumption of normal business.

But perhaps the most contentious decision was made on Sept. 5. Ignoring persistent pleas from medical experts and worried parents, the government went ahead with reopening schools nationwide. At least two provinces have now reported alarming figures of schoolchildren contracting the virus.

Massive hoarding of masks, disinfectant and medical supplies has also worried the Iranian public that prevalent corruption is hampering a proper response to the pandemic. Early in the outbreak, the cash-strapped and sanctions-hit government had to tap its National Development Fund. Access to the fund is reserved for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, who after 11 days of deliberations, approved of the government request for 1 billion euros to be injected into pandemic management programs.

Seven months on, Health Minister Saeed Namaki is now complaining that despite the supreme leaders directive, his ministry has received a tiny portion of the promised amount. We cannot curb a pandemic by begging, Namaki said, wondering if there is currently any other emergency to be prioritized over the coronavirus. The minister did not specify which official or institution he thinks is blocking the aid package.
MUMBAI : Oil-to-retail conglomerate Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) is said to be in the race to acquire Debenhams, a British multinational retailer operating department stores in the UK with franchise stores in other countries, Sky News reported on Wednesday.

The Reliance Retail empire, which last year bought the world-famous British toy store Hamleys, is among a small number of parties in discussions with advisers to Debenhams about acquiring part or all of the 242-year-old retailer," the Sky News report said, adding that people close to the process had indicated that the chain was keen to agree to a takeover by the end of September. However, better-than-expected trading has relaxed the urgency of that timetable in recent weeks, they said.

Debenhams, which is currently owned by a consortium of lenders, has been in administration since April, with investment bankers at Lazard responsible for coordinating talks with potential buyers, Sky News said.

RIL subsidiary Reliance Brands had acquired Hamleys for 620 crore last July in an all-cash deal. Reliance Brands operates joint ventures with global brands.

Mukesh Ambani, the worlds fourth-richest man, is betting his companys future on retail and digital platforms, reducing the emphasis of its mainstay chemicals and refining business. Last month, RIL acquired the retail and wholesale business and the logistics and warehousing business of domestic rival Future Group for a cash consideration of 24,713 crore, expanding its reach in the countrys retail market. It is also expanding in the online space through its new commerce strategy through JioMart.

Reliance Retail on Wednesday said it has raised 5,550 crore by selling a 1.28% stake in its retail business to US private equity (PE) firm KKR and Co., as Indias most valuable company creates a war chest for its push into e-commerce.

The latest transaction, the second such in about two weeks, brings the total funding into Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd (RRVL) to 13,050 crore and follows a record 1.52 trillion of investments into RILs digital assets unit Jio Platforms Ltd earlier this year.

The KKR investment values RRVL at an equity value of 4.21 trillion, RIL said. The PE firm had also bought a 2.32% stake in Jio Platforms for 11,367 crore. On 9 September, California-based PE fund Silver Lake picked up a 1.75% stake in RRVL for 7,500 crore.

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Floridas attorney general asked state and federal law enforcement on Wednesday to investigate possible election law violations after billionaire and former Democratic presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg helped raise more than $16 million for Florida felons to pay their debts so they can vote in the presidential election.

Attorney General Ashley Moody sent letters to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the FBI saying that further investigation is warranted. Gov. Ron DeSantis had asked Moody to review allegations that Bloomberg and the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition had violated the law by offering incentives for voting. DeSantis and Moody are both Republicans.

I have instructed the Statewide Prosecutor to work with law enforcement and any Statewide Grand Jury that the Governor may call, Moody said in a written statement.

In 2018, voters approved a constitutional amendment to restore most felons voting rights once theyve completed their sentences. The exception was for murderers and sex offenders. But when crafting the law to implement the amendment, the Republican-dominated Legislature said that rights wouldnt be restored until all fines, court fees and restitution were paid.

Bloomberg announced this week that he raised more than $16 million to help pay off the financial obligations for felons so they can vote. While the coalition says it doesnt target people based on their political affiliation, Moody is questioning whether the donation violates laws that prohibit giving people incentives to vote.

Spokespeople for Bloomberg and DeSantis didnt immediately reply to phone calls seeking comment.

A federal appellate court ruled on Sept. 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 Trumps hopes of staying in the White House.

Moodys letter was sent on the same day DeSantis and the independently elected Cabinet, acting as the state clemency board, decided not to act on a pardon petition sought by Florida Rights Restoration Coalition President Desmond Meade. Moody is a Cabinet member, but declined to vote on Meades request for a pardon. DeSantis said he wanted more time to review his case.

The money Bloomberg raised 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, his 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 former Vice-President Joe Biden in a dead heat.

The Florida Rights Restitution Coalition had raised about $5 million before Bloomberg made calls to raise almost $17 million more, according to Bloomberg staffers.

Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, Floridas only statewide elected Democrat and a member of the Cabinet, criticized the decision to investigate Bloomberg.

Florida Republicans will stop at nothing to prevent people from voting, and this is another ploy to suppress the voices of those trying to regain their right to vote, Fried said in a statement. Whether Mike Bloomberg, John Legend or Lebron James, these are are contributions made legally.

After not being pardoned Wednesday, Meade said the clemency process is supposed to be about recognizing that people have turned their lives around and contributed to society, and he feels hes done that.

They said they werent going to go into retrying the past, but it feels like there was a slight attempt to do so, Meade said. In spite of whatever Ive done in the past, Ive clearly demonstrated over the last 20 years that my life has been committed and dedicated to giving back to society, to make my community a better place, to bring people together.

Meade has his voting rights, but he is hoping to have all his civil rights restored. He served prison time for drug charges and other offences, but began turning his life around when he was released in 2005. He earned a law degree, but cant work as a lawyer because of felony convictions. Thats one of the reasons he wants his rights restored.

Neil Volz, the groups executive director, has also had his voting rights restored and the clemency board restored his other civil rights Wednesday. But he lamented that Meade wasnt given the same privilege. He noted that Meade was selected on Time magazines 2019 list of most influential people in the world and chosen as the University of Floridas Bob Graham Center for Public Services Floridian of the Year. Graham is a former governor and U.S. Senator.

Heres a guy who got his law degree and is unable to practice law, Volz said. It just seems like, then what is enough?

The question of satisfying financial obligations before voting rights are restored continues to be battled in court. On Sept. 11, a federal appeals court reversed a lower court ruling that gave Florida felons the right to vote regardless of outstanding restitution, court fees and fines.
This month, Facebook Campus, a college-only section within Facebook, has launched with 30 schools in the United States. With schools largely shifting toward online classes this semester, Facebook hopes the new section will help students connect with their classmates despite not being on campus.

Creating a Campus profile requires a college email and graduation year. Having a profile offers you access to a section dedicated to your university, where you can find campus-related groups, events, and chatrooms to socialize. Basically, its a lot like what Facebookor the Facebook, as it was first calleddid in 2004 when it first launched as a platform for college students.

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In recent years, the social network has struggled to keep the attention of younger users who are more into Instagram and TikTok. According to a 2018 Pew Research study, only 51 percent of U.S. teens use Facebook, and that figure could have cratered further in the past two years. In 2013, that number was 94 percentbut they didnt all love it. As Amanda Hess wrote for Slate at the time, the majority complained of an increasing adult presence, high-pressure or otherwise negative social interactions, or feeling overwhelmed by others who share too much. 

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Seemingly aware of the uphill battle it faces, Facebook is giving away free merch to people who make Campus profiles. But as I discovered when I talked to friends at Northwestern University, where I graduated from with a masters in August, that approach might have some drawbacks. To attract students, Facebook released a four-point to-do list: add classes to your profile, join a club group, post an introduction to a campus group, and invite a classmate. After that, students receive a code to redeem for free swag, such as beach towels, T-shirts, and water bottles. Campus users have indeed been completing the checklistbut as these screenshots show, they dont seem to be engaging so much as doing the bare minimum.

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Part of the challenge, of course, is that many of Facebook Campus features have already been established on other apps, or even within Facebook itself. For example, college student organizations have had Facebook groups for years, and the Campus feature does not relocate these groups to its section. The chat function, where students can create chat rooms for their dorm or club, might be useless to returning students, who are more likely to already have friend groups and not feel the need to meet new people. Youre also able to see a class roster, a feature also available on the popular school site Canvas, but its incomplete if not every person has a Campus account.

Its easy to look at those students posts and dismiss Facebook Campus as a failure in the making, but the thing is: It isnt a ghost town. Students are signing up, and some are using it to start groups and interact with their classmates. Even students who are creating profiles for the free merch are basically signing themselves up to be walking billboards for the website. So maybe Facebook will win at the end after all.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
"We are grateful to Deanna and Andrew for working closely together to ensure a smooth transition," said Guardian Lead Director, Deborah Duncan. "With Deanna acting as Chair, Guardian is taking the final step in our CEO transition. We thank her for her exceptional leadership over the last 10 years. Deanna strengthened the company in so many ways, creating a solid foundation on which Andrew will build the Guardian of the future. Andrew's growth mindset, focus on putting customers first, deep industry experience and digital expertise are critical to our success going forward."

Ms. Mulligan joined Guardian in 2008 to lead the company's Individual Life & Disability business. She was named President and Chief Operating Officer in November 2010 and appointed CEO in July 2011. Her experiences as CEO of the company led her to author a book, "Hire Purpose: How Smart Companies Can Close the Skills Gap," which will be released in late October.

"I am honored to be named Board Chair, and grateful to everyone at Guardian for their support and hard work over the last 10 years," Ms. Mulligan said. "There is no one better suited than Andrew to take Guardian forward, and I am excited to pass the leadership of Guardian to him. He has proven himself to be a dynamic leader who understands the acceleration of change in our industry and is committed to furthering the values-driven culture that has guided Guardian for 160 years."

Mr. McMahon joined Guardian in 2017 as Executive Vice President, Strategy and Customer Development, and took on leadership of the Individual Markets business in 2019. He was named President last November, and successor to Ms. Mulligan in May.

"Thanks to Deanna, I will be operating from a position of strength on day one," Mr. McMahon said. "She has done so much for Guardian - particularly in shaping its culture and embedding our values in everything we do. My job is to build on those accomplishments, continue to evolve Guardian and find new ways to serve fast-changing consumer and business demands in an increasingly competitive, digitally-driven environment."

About Guardian

Every day, Guardian provides Americans the security they deserve through our insurance and wealth management products and services. Since our founding in 1860, our long-term view has helped our customers prepare for whatever life brings whether starting a family, planning for the future or taking care of employees. Today, we're a Fortune 250 mutual company and a leading provider of life, disability, dental, and other benefits for individuals, at the workplace and through government sponsored programs. The Guardian community of over 9,000 employees and our network of over 2,500 financial representatives are committed to serving with expertise when, where and how our clients need us. Our commitments rest on a strong financial foundation, which at year-end 2019 included $9.3 billion in capital and $1.7 billion in operating income. For more information, please visit guardianlife.com or follow us on Facebook , LinkedIn , Twitter and YouTube .

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Citibanks's head of consumer banking in the country, Shinjini Kumar, has stepped down after three years at the helm, the American lender said on Wednesday. Kumar, 53, had joined the bank in 2017 from Paytm Payments Bank, where she was the chief executive. "We confirm Kumar will be retiring from Citi at the end of September 2020.

We wish her all the very best in the next stage of her career," a spokesperson for the lender said. Kumar worked in consultancy firm PwC before joining Paytm, and had a long stint with the Reserve Bank of India before that.
WASHINGTON (AP) - A huge international study of a COVID-19 vaccine that aims to work with just one dose is getting underway as top U.S. health officials sought Wednesday to assure a skeptical Congress and public that they can trust any shots the government ultimately approves.

Hopes are high that answers about at least one of several candidates being tested in the U.S. could come by year's end, maybe sooner.

"We feel cautiously optimistic that we will be able to have a safe and effective vaccine, although there is never a guarantee of that," Dr. Anthony Fauci, infectious disease chief at the National Institutes of Health, told a Senate committee.

President Donald Trump is pushing for a faster timeline, which many experts say is risky and may not allow for adequate testing. On Wednesday he tweeted a link to news about the new Johnson & Johnson vaccine study and said the Food and Drug Administration "must move quickly!"

"President Trump is still trying to sabotage the work of our scientists and public health experts for his own political ends," Sen. Patty Murray, a Democrat from Washington state, said before ticking off examples of pressure on the FDA.

FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn pledged that career scientists, not politicians, will decide whether any coronavirus vaccine meets clearly stated standards that it works and is safe. Vaccine development usually takes years but scientists have been racing to shorten that time, in part by manufacturing doses that will have to be thrown away if studies find they dont work.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health, testifies during a Senate Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Hearing on the federal government response to COVID-19 on Capitol Hill Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020, in Washington. (Graeme Jennings/Pool via AP)

"Science will guide our decisions. FDA will not permit any pressure from anyone to change that," Hahn said. "I will put the interest of the American people above anything else."

FDA has faced criticism for allowing emergency use of some COVID-19 treatments backed by little evidence, but Hahn said if vaccine makers want that faster path to market, additional standards will be coming soon. Vaccines, unlike therapies, are given to healthy people and thus usually require more proof.

But Trump made clear at a Wednesday evening White House news conference that he was skeptical of any regulatory changes that might delay a vaccine's authorization, even if those changes are aimed at increasing public trust. Asked about the FDA considering stricter guidelines for emergency approval, Trump suggested the effort was politically-motivated.

"I think that was a political move more than anything else," he said, arguing that that the companies testing the vaccines, such as Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson and Moderna, are capable of determining whether they work. "I have tremendous trust in these massive companies," he said.

A handful of vaccines already are in final testing in the U.S. and other countries. In one of the largest studies yet, Johnson & Johnson aims to enroll 60,000 volunteers to test its single-dose approach in the U.S., South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru. Other candidates in the U.S. require two shots.

J&Js vaccine is made with slightly different technology than others in late-stage testing, modeled on an Ebola vaccine the company created.

Final-stage testing of one experimental vaccine, made by AstraZeneca and Oxford University, remains on hold in the U.S. as officials examine whether it poses a safety risk.

As for the testing of vaccine candidates, Fauci added: "There is no cutting corners."

Beyond vaccines, Trump regularly undercuts confidence in his own public health agencies, such as falsely tweeting about a "deep state, or whoever at FDA" - and in recent weeks, some political appointees were forced out after allegations they interfered with scientific advice.

Conspiracy theories are sapping the morale of disease fighters working 24/7 at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Robert Redfield, its director, told the Senate committee on health, education, labor and pensions.

"It's offensive to me when I hear this type of comment," said Redfield, noting that CDC, like the military, strives to be nonpartisan.

Yet Redfield struggled to defend against criticism that CDC bowed to political pressure with guidelines that discouraged testing of people without COVID-19 symptoms. Asymptomatic people do spread the virus and CDC, under fire, later changed the guidelines' wording. Redfield insisted it all amounted to misinterpretation and stressed Wednesday: "More tests will actually lead to less cases."

More than 200,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 so far this year, and in many states, infections still are climbing. The U.S. is confirming an average of 41,968 new daily cases, up 13% compared with the average two weeks ago.

Fauci was blunt: More lives could have been saved if everyone in the country better followed recommendations to wear masks, avoid crowds and keep 6 feet apart.

"We know some states did a good job. Some states did not so good a job. Some states tried to do a good job but people didnt listen," he said, singling out mask-less crowds in bars. Going forward, "we need uniformity throughout the country."

In a testy exchange, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky insisted public health officials were wrong that a lockdown could change the course of the pandemic. A visibly angry Fauci accused the Republican of repeatedly misconstruing his statements.

"I dont regret saying that the only way we could have really stopped the explosion of infection was by essentially - I want to say shutting down," he said.

Fauci dismissed Paul's contention that hard-hit New York has become largely immune because so many people were infected: "If you believe 22% is herd immunity, I believe you're alone in that."

Fauci also called attention to so-called "long-haulers," COVID-19 survivors who continue to struggle with a range of symptoms such as pain, fatigue, even heart damage. He warned much remains unknown about the long-term effects of the virus.

Democrats warned those survivors are at risk of being denied insurance if the Trump administration succeeds in overturning an Obama-era health law that forbids companies from turning down people with pre-existing health problems or charging them more. The death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg means there are no longer five justices on the Supreme Court who have upheld the Affordable Care Act.

"We will see rates skyrocket for anybody who has had COVID," predicted Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn.

A vaccine "will go a giant step" in controlling infection, but Fauci warned people still will need to take those precautions for a while after the first vaccine arrives because it won't change conditions overnight.

Why? It's unusual for a vaccine to be 100% effective. There won't be enough at first for everyone, and even once there is, it will take months to get the shots into the arms of every American who wants one - an effort CDC's Redfield sees stretching into June or July.

Because of the enormous logistical challenges, CDC wants states to get ready now and on Wednesday, announced they would get $200 million to help begin setting up those operations.

"We want to do that the instant it is approved. Not the following day but the following moment," Trump said.

___

Neergaard reported from Alexandria, Virginia. AP Writer Linda Johnson contributed from Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania.

___

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.

Dr. Stephen Hahn, commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, testifies during a Senate Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Hearing on the federal government response to COVID-19 on Capitol Hill Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020, in Washington. (Graeme Jennings/Pool via AP)

This September 2020 photo provided by Johnson & Johnson shows a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine being developed by the company. Johnson & Johnson is beginning a huge final study to try to prove if the single-dose vaccine can protect against the coronavirus. (Cheryl Gerber/Courtesy of Johnson & Johnson via AP)

FILE - In this July 30, 2013, file photo, large banners hang in an atrium at the headquarters of Johnson & Johnson in New Brunswick, N.J. Johnson & Johnson is beginning a huge final-stage study Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020, to try to prove if a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine can protect against the virus. (AP Photo/Mel Evans, File)

Dr. Stephen Hahn, commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, testifies during a Senate Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Hearing on the federal government response to COVID-19 on Capitol Hill Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020, in Washington. (Graeme Jennings/Pool via AP)

Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health, listens during a Senate Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Hearing on the federal government response to COVID-19 Capitol Hill on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020, in Washington. (Graeme Jennings/Pool via AP)

Dr. Stephen Hahn, commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, testifies on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020, in Washington. (Alex Edelman/Pool via AP)

Sen. Christopher Murphy, D-Conn., speaks during a hearing on COVID-19 on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020, in Washington. (Alex Edelman/Pool via AP)

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, speaks during a hearing on COVID-19 on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020, in Washington. (Alex Edelman/Pool via AP)

Adm. Brett Giroir, assistant secretary of Health and Human Services, testifies during a Senate Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Hearing on the federal government response to COVID-19 on Capitol Hill Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020, in Washington. (Graeme Jennings/Pool via AP)
CDC director says he was quoted accurately in the Washington Post saying second wave of virus would be 'even more devastating' (AP)

More than 90 percent of Americans remain susceptible to contracting Covid-19, according to the director of the CDC, making the idea of achieving herd immunity in the US all but impossible without massive death.

Robert Redfields comments appeared to pour cold water on President Donald Trumps hopes the country could combat the virus with herd immunity, which experts have said would require anywhere from 60 to 80 of the entire population to contain antibodies for the novel coronavirus.

The CDC director shared preliminary results from an ongoing study that sought to determine the true spread of Covid-19 across the US, which Mr Redfield has previously suggested was likely much higher than the two percent figure that has been reported by Johns Hopkins University and the US Census Bureau.

The preliminary results in the first round show that a majority of our nation, more than 90% of the population, remains susceptible, he told the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. A majority of Americans are still susceptible.

Mr Redfield spoke on Wednesday after it was reported that more than 6.8 million people in the US have been infected with the novel virus, and over 200,000 Americans have died due to complications resulting from Covid-19.

Sen. Alexander: Just so I understand, youre saying that based on preliminary indications from your serological testing and studies that as many as 90% of Americans still havent had the virus yet?



CDC Director Redfield: Yes, sir. pic.twitter.com/52D6kVeLd2  NBC News (@NBCNews) September 23, 2020

This is a breaking story and will be updated.
Director Sofia Coppola, left, with Rashida Jones and Bill Murray in "On the Rocks." (A24/Apple+)

It was just another Saturday for a pair of working mothers when Sofia Coppola and Rashida Jones got together on a recent conference call. Jones had been dealing with a flat tire as she was driving from Ojai to Los Angeles. Coppola was in Northern California, concerned about nearby fires as the clatter and chatter of life with a husband and two daughters carried on around her.

They were both preparing to travel to Tuesday nights world premiere of On the Rocks as part of the New York Film Festival. The picture is opening in select theaters on Oct. 2, distributed by A24, and then streaming on Apple TV+ starting Oct. 23.

Written and directed by Coppola, the film stars Jones as Laura, a working wife and mother of two young girls living in New York City. With little time to herself, she struggles to write the book she's contracted for and generally feels stuck in a rut when she begins to suspect that her husband, Dean (Marlon Wayans), is having an affair with a co-worker. Enter her dashing, bon vivant father, Felix (Bill Murray), a semi-retired art dealer with a high-flying lifestyle and devil-may-care charisma, who persuades Laura to spy on Dean. Soon, Laura and Felix are sharing long meals over drinks, talking about life and relationships, as they try to get to the bottom of whats up with Dean.

Similar to Coppolas films Lost in Translation and Somewhere, many aspects of On the Rocks are drawn from her own life, yet she wouldnt call her work autobiographical. Though yes, she did once catch her father, Oscar-winning filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, watching Breaking Bad with her young children while babysitting, just as Murray does in On the Rocks.

When you're writing something personal or original material, I always draw on my life, and it's a way to figure things out, said Coppola. I started working on [this script] a while ago when my kids were little  just that moment of trying to find my way as a creative working person ... navigating a new moment in my life.

Story continues

Jones and Coppola met nearly 20 years ago when Jones read what would become Scarlett Johansson's role in Lost in Translation during an extended workshop of the script. Their paths crossed socially over the years, and Jones appeared briefly alongside Murray in the Coppola-directed 2015 holiday special A Very Murray Christmas.

The two have more than a few things in common. Coppola is the daughter of a famous filmmaker and has two children with her husband, Thomas Mars, of the band Phoenix. Jones is the daughter of musician Quincy Jones and has a child with Ezra Koenig of the band Vampire Weekend.

I feel like we have things in common just about stages of life, said Jones. The conversations that we've had as friends about processing certain moments in life, and the era of being a woman of a certain age who has a family on both sides, both generations, and kind of juggling identity relative to other people.

Once you've gotten to a certain point in your career and you actually have these things that are seemingly wonderful surrounding you  what's your true purpose and how is that unique to you and not connected to all the people that surround you all the time? I think it's something that a lot of people grapple with, and certainly women.

Bill Murray and Rashida Jones in Sofia Coppola's "On the Rocks." (A24/Apple+)

On the Rocks is Coppolas most straightforwardly comedic film  she mentions the work of Blake Edwards and banter-fueled classic screwball comedies as reference points. Yet even while Felix and Laura speed about the city eating caviar in a convertible, their conversations are often quite vulnerable and heartfelt  the sort of exchanges you expect in the filmmaker's work.

As a middle-age wife and mother, Laura often feels unseen in her own life. When the two of them follow Dean down to Mexico, the happy-go-lucky Felix suddenly turns melancholic as he recalls the death of his former mistress, the affair that broke up his relationship with Lauras mother.

The themes we're talking about are important to me and deep, and then I was trying to do it in a kind of light, fun way, said Coppola. I wanted to do like a father-daughter buddy movie with martinis discussing life and relationships. And I was missing that kind of smart, sophisticated comedy that I grew up with and trying to embrace something a little sillier than my usual realm of what I know how to do. It's sort of out of my comfort zone.

Even after collaborating with Murray on A Very Murray Christmas, Coppola had long been anxious about reuniting for a film, for fear of somehow tarnishing the affection toward Lost in Translation.

I needed to just get over it, said Coppola. I had to put my worries aside.

When Coppola cast Murray in Lost in Translation, it took a year to pursue and persuade him to do the part, and she still wasnt entirely sure he was going to turn up to the first day of shooting. This time, it was a little easier getting him to commit.

He's still a man of mystery, but now hes someone that's a friend and I know I can count on, said Coppola. And I think Rashida was a big draw to get him to show up. Although he was a little disappointed that he had to play her dad and not her leading man.

Though the movies story has a basis in elements of Coppolas life, Jones also found herself connecting deeply to the material.

It was personal for me on the page. And then it was even more personal when we filmed it, said Jones. There's a dynamic for sure with my dad where I grew up loving being in the bask of his love and his charm. I love my dad so much. And I had completed a six-year project directing a documentary [2018s 'Quincy'] about his life.

So all of that kind of intensity and of feeling, and also really being able to put that on screen in a way where I was like, 'OK, you know what? I think I've done a good job as a daughter, whatever happens, that's forever immortalized, that I made a movie about him,' Jones said. And now I can try to be my own person in a way that doesn't feel like it's completely tied up in him and his success and his love for me and his love for the world and all that stuff.

But it wasnt just feelings about her father that she found herself dealing with. Jones mother, actress Peggy Lipton, died in May 2019, not long before On the Rocks went into production.

Just in terms of processing, there's something kind of sad about this character. And I think she's really searching and confused, said Jones. And to be really candid, I lost my mom right before I started shooting, which is one of the most difficult things that's ever happened to me. And I still have waves of intense grief. I certainly did when we were filming, and Sofia and Bill were so tender and sensitive to that and to whatever I needed to do to kind of process that.

But to show up and be this character who does have this sadness and 'What's the point of life?' and 'What's it all for?' and 'How am I my own person?,' just the timing of that, it was very bittersweet, said Jones. But it was a very nice, safe place for me to be really, really, really grief-stricken.

Rashida Jones and Marlon Wayans in Sofia Coppola's "On the Rocks." (A24/Apple +)

When Coppolas adaptation of The Beguiled came out in 2017, it sparked criticism and controversy for the decision to excise a Black female slave character from its story of a group of women surviving on a Virginia plantation during the Civil War. Coppola says her decision to focus On the Rocks on a Black couple was not a direct response to that.

It's not related or intentional, she said. I always wanted to work with Rashida. And then looking at Rashida, I wanted to build a family around her and make a portrait of this attractive American family.

With Beguiled, that was hard, and I'm glad to have that discussion. But no, it wasn't a reaction to that. I had started working on this before.

For Jones, On the Rocks marks only her second leading role in a film. Her first, 2012s Celeste & Jesse Forever, was one she had to write for herself. It was meaningful to her to see a Black family at the center of the picture and to have her character have biracial parents, as she does. (Former model Alva Chinn plays her mother in the movie.)

We talked about it a lot  because my family is so blended, I wanted it to feel like my family and also I'm aware of the fact that representation is important, Jones said. That's not something that's lost on me. At the beginning of my career, I didn't have a lot of say as to how I was portrayed, what my family looked like.

And it was important to me to have a Black family. We had a lot of discussions about what that meant, Jones said. We wanted to build a real family and a real relationship that felt like it could exist right now in a way that felt complex and complicated, but you know that they love each other. And that, to me, is part of filling in the spectrum of representation. It doesn't always have to look exactly the same to be Black on-screen.

The picture was shot on film by cinematographer Phillippe Le Sourd, who also shot The Beguiled; much of the creative team for On the Rocks had worked with Coppola before, including producer Youree Henley, costume designer Anne Ross, production designer Stacey Battat, longtime editor Sarah Flack and music by the band Phoenix.

On the subject of Coppola's father and his work, the elder filmmaker announced this month that he would be releasing a new edit and restoration of 1990s The Godfather: Part III to be retitled Mario Puzos The Godfather Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone. Sofia Coppola, who had appeared in small roles in many of her fathers movies while she was growing up, took on her most substantial role at age 19 as Michael Corleones daughter, Mary, stepping in for Winona Ryder, after she had to drop out of the picture.

Asked if she is ready for a new round of conversations about her performance in the film, which was widely panned and ridiculed when the movie originally came out, Coppola replied, Not really.

I don't really want to relive 'Did she ruin her father's movie?' and having to go through all that again, she said. But I'm at such a different point in my life. I don't really care, because I don't want to be an actress. And it's weird to have all my young awkwardness on film again.

Rashida Jones and Bill Murray in Sofia Coppola's "On the Rocks." (A24/Apple+)

Coppola is an Oscar winner for writing Lost in Translation, won the Golden Lion in Venice for Somewhere and the Cannes directing prize for The Beguiled, yet for all her successes, the filmmaker can still be a startlingly controversial figure. Some see her work as empty exercises in style and unexamined privilege, while a 2019 New York Times headline asked the question Why hasnt Sofia Coppola gotten the respect an auteur deserves? When asked about the divisive response to her work, she demurs.

I don't really think about it, she said. I'm happy that I get to make my work and I get to work with great people that respect me enough to work with me. And I feel like I get to put my voice out there.

Yet for all Coppolas unassuming quiet and polite reserve, there is obviously a well of strong-willed vision that allows her time and again to make movies that are 100% unmistakably her own. She seems to know the secrets to get what she wants.

I'm still trying to figure that out, Jones interjected. I'm literally studying and trying to figure that out. How to say little and get everything  a great skill that she has.

I mean, I'm very stubborn, said Coppola. I have something in my mind and I'm determined to get it made the way I want it to be done. But like all creative people, I'm filled with self-doubt, and even with the movie coming out, I was like, Oh, now I have to show people. You know, it's always scary. I think that keeps you from getting too full of yourself.
Parliament on Wednesday passed a Bill for inclusion of Kashmiri, and Hindi in the list of official languages in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, in addition to the existing Urdu and English.

The Official Languages Bill, 2020 was passed by Rajya Sabha through voice vote. Lok Sabha had cleared the legislation on Tuesday.

Replying to a debate on the Bill, Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy said it was a long-standing demand of the people of that the language they speak should be included in the list of official languages.

The minister pointed out that around 74 per cent people in the Union Territory spoke Kashmiri and languages.

He said that according to 2011 census, only 0.16 per cent population in spoke Urdu, while 2.3 per cent spoke Hindi.

Reddy said the government would also take steps to encourage other local languages like Punjabi, Gurjari and Pahari in the region.

Participating in the debate on the Bill, Naresh Gujral (SAD) termed it "unfortunate" that Punjabi was not included in the Bill and urged the government to reconsider it.

The J&K Constitution included Punjabi and the first Chief Minister of J&K was a Punjabi, he said and added: "It hurts the feeling of those who are settled there. I would urge the government to reconsider because language is the basis of cultural heritage of the community."



He said 13 lakh Punjabis live in Jammu and Kashmir.

Mir Mohammad Fayaz (PDP) demanded inclusion of Gurjari, Punjabi and Pahari in the Bill, saying that the motto of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas was lacking in the state.

"Include Punjabi, Gurjari and Pahari so that we win the trust of everyone in J&K," he said.

Ramdas Athawale (RPI) expressed "support to and Kashmiri languages" and in his poetic style said that a day will come when PoK will come to India.

Mamata Mohanta (BJD) said the bill will facilitate integration of the UT into mainstream. Shamsher Singh Manhas (BJP) spoke in Dogri. Surendra Singh Nagar (BJP) supported the Bill.

(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 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.

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Linkedin Ivany Atina Arbi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, September 23, 2020 06:08 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c4688848 1 National COVID-19,coronavirus,COVID-19-test,swab-test Free

The government has committed to providing periodic COVID-19 tests for health professionals working closely with coronavirus patients.

We commit to give protection to health workers, who have been a big help in fighting the COVID-19 outbreak, by providing them with free periodic swab tests, National COVID-19 task force spokesperson Wiku Adisasmito said at a daily press briefing on Tuesday.

He added that testing would start that day in Jakarta, the countrys COVID-19 epicenter, and would later be extended elsewhere, especially to high-risk areas.

Wiku said hospitals had become the core of the outbreak as they were accommodating about 24,400 patients.

The Indonesian Medical Association (IDI) has been urging the government to provide better protection for medical workers.

The association noted that at least 114 doctors and nine dentists had died of the virus, in addition to at least 70 nurses, as reported by the Indonesian Nurses Association (PPNI).
In this autumn of horrific fires and deadly floods, its easy to overlook one bit of promising news on the climate front: Some major US media coverage of the crisis is finally getting better.

Were seeing the evidence this week as Covering Climate Nowa collaboration of four hundred-plus news outlets, with a combined audience of two billion peoplepublishes and broadcasts a profusion of stories about climate change and the 2020 US elections. Climate change has been largely overlooked in general-election coverage to date, with one exception: September 14, when Donald Trump said of Californias record wildfires, inaccurately, that science doesnt know whether the earth will keep getting hotter and his Democratic opponent, Joe Biden, warned that re-electing a climate arsonist to the White House would ensure worse blazes in the future.

Covering Climate Nows week of coverage, which runs September 21 through 28, aims to give climate change the attention it deserves. The collaborative, co-founded last year by CJR and The Nation in association with The Guardian, aims to help news organizations increase and improve coverage of the crisis as well as its solutions. Even amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the looming Supreme Court battle, and the other huge news stories of 2020, the climate emergency remains the central question facing the world, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said in a September 8 interview with Covering Climate Now. As Justin Worland wrote in a landmark special issue of Time magazine on July 7, the US elections will shape whether we keep driving off the climate cliff or take the last exit.

NBC News, which joined Covering Climate Now in April, kicked off this current week of joint coverage by launching a new series, Planet 2020. Al Roker, the networks chief climate correspondent and long-time weather forecaster, has been talking about climate change on the Today show for months, describing its links to wildfires and hurricanes without wiggle words or alarmism. Now, Roker and cohost Savannah Sellers, the host of NBCs daily digital news show Stay Tuned, are connecting the dots between extreme weather, climate change, and the 2020 elections where, as Sellers reported, millenials and Gen-Z will make up 37 percent of eligible voters and concern over climate change is  shaping up to be more important to all voting blocs than ever before. Also this week, our partners at Reuters and Agence France Presse delivered a story to their thousands of newsroom clients around the world that puts the Paris Agreement goals in a new light, reporting, The richest one percent of people are responsible for more than twice as much carbon pollution as the poorest half of the worlds population.

Good climate coverage by Covering Climate Now partners is begetting good climate coverage among the media as a whole. More of Americas leading newspapers are speaking more loudly and plainly about climate change, notably The New York Times, the Washington Post, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Arizona Republic, and the Los Angeles Times. The latter headlined a September 14 story about the states wildfires A Climate Apocalypse Now. Among magazines, Bloomberg has launched a new digital outlet and accompanying print edition, Bloomberg Green, that is a must-read for the far-reaching economic aspects of the climate story.

On television, Covering Climate Now partner PBS NewsHour continues to set the pace for sustained, informed climate coverage. And on August 8, CNN rebroadcast climate correspondent Bill Weirs The Road to Change, a documentary that we praised in April as perhaps the best piece of climate journalism ever done by a mainstream US news outlet.

Sign up for CJR 's daily email

The problem is, these and other examples of first-rate climate coverage remain the exception.

Despite recent orange skies over the West Coast and fearsome storm surges in the Gulf of Mexico, not to mention the 32 years since NASA scientist James Hansens US Senate testimony that man-made global warming had begun, the climate crisis remains a marginal afterthought in most US news coverage. Chris Wallace of Fox News has announced that he will not even raise the subject of climate change when moderating the first presidential debate between Trump and Biden next week.

And consider the scandalous absence of climate change from most coverage of the wildfires, Hurricane Laura, the Iowa derecho, and countless other extreme weather events of 2020. Only one of the ninety-three news segments that ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, Fox, and MSNBC aired during the week after Laura slammed the Louisiana coast connected the storm to climate change, according to a study by the watchdog group Media Matters. Of forty-six segments ABC, NBC, and CBS aired on the California wildfires, only seven mentioned climate change.

This is media malpractice. It is also, from a business point of view, foolish: the public actually wants more, not less, climate coverage. According to a poll released today by our partners at The Guardian and VICE Media, 74 percent of likely voters want the moderators to ask climate questions at the upcoming presidential debates.

We are heartened by the progress Covering Climate Now has made in helping the media rise to the existential challenge of the climate crisis. Yet even as we celebrate that progress this week, we recognize how far there is to go, and how little time we have to get there. The first presidential debate takes place on September 29, and five weeks later is Election Day. Between now and then, newsrooms should follow the advice of Washington Post media columnist Margaret Sullivan: This subject must be kept front and center, with the pressure on and the stakes made abundantly clear at every turn.

ICYMI: A pipeline runs through Southern news deserts

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

Mark Hertsgaard and Kyle Pope are the authors. Hertsgaard is Covering Climate Nows executive director and co-founder, and the environment correspondent of The Nation. Pope is the editor and publisher of Columbia Journalism Review, and a co-founder of Covering Climate Now.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath came in for praise from Prime Minister on Wednesday for the measures taken by the Uttar Pradesh government to tackle COVID-19 and handling the migrants crisis, according to a statement.

During his meeting with the chief ministers over video conference, the prime minister acknowledged the efforts of Adityanath and his team for taking "proactive steps" in reducing the fatalities, it said.

The statement said Modi singled out Uttar Pradesh for doing the most tests -- 1.50 lakh per day and having tested 90 lakh people so far, the highest in the country among all the states.

Modi said the high tests by the state did manage to keep the deaths to the "minimum", according to the statement.

The prime minister complimented Adityanath for "adept handling" of the migrants crisis, mentioning that in such a big state like Uttar Pradesh with the largest population in the country, the number of migrants was also on the higher side.

In his address, Adityanath apprised him of the situation in the state.

He said out of about 1.50 lakh tests per day, around 50,000 tests are by the RT-PCR method with a positivity rate of four per cent and overall recovery rate of 82 per cent, according to the statement.

(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.)
Even as dealmakers bicker over who will actually 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 dealmakers 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 and 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. government's intense focus on the app's data privacy policies, said Dan Ives, a technology analyst at Wedbush Securities.

"From a security and infrastructure perspective, they're 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 Inc and Twitter's headcount, said Abishur Prakash, a geopolitical futurist at the Center for Innovating the Future, a technology and geopolitics consulting firm, raising questions about what job 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 deal 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 factory in the United States 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

The ambition of TikTok's hiring goals can better be understood by comparing it against the revenue that workers make for other internet companies. On average, Twitter's 4,800 workers each generated close to $720,000 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, TikTok's new total of 26,000 U.S. workers would be expected to make between $14 billion to $19 billion annually.

Even at the low end, such revenue targets will be difficult for TikTok, Prakash said. "We're 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. "It's going to take them that much longer and be that much harder to reach 14x (revenue)."
Julia Louis-Dreyfus says Joe Biden called her after she was diagnosed with cancer to offer advice and help.

The actor recounted the phone call on Tuesday during a virtual conference hosted by CNN. Dubbed Citizen by CNN, the event consisted in a series of discussions on issues pertaining to the upcoming presidential election.

Louis-Dreyfus joined Jake Tapper in the morning for a talk titled Politics, Parody & Participation: Activism in 2020.

During the chat, Tapper brought up the topic of empathy, and asked the actor about her previous experience talking to the Democratic nominee after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017.

He did reach out to me in the most touching way, and he called and he was  I mean, it was incredible, she said.

I kept thinking I didnt want to take up his time, but he was giving me doctors names and this institute and that hospital and have you talked to such and such, and it was just so kind. It was kind."

Louis-Dreyfus, who spoke at the Democratic National Convention in August, said shes not supporting Biden because of the call, but for a million other reasons.

Thats just an example of his kindness and attention to others besides himself, she added.

Louis-Dreyfus announced in 2018 she was cancer-free and feeling very strong.

The actor played Vice-President Selina Meyer on Veep for second seasons. She told Tapper shes currently developing a bunch of projects as part of a deal with Apple TV+.
Members of the Upper East Regional branch of the Unemployed Distance Graduate Teachers Association (UDGTA) have appealed to the President to intervene to ensure that the Ghana Education Service (GES) stops the practice of recruiting teachers from the colleges of education to the neglect of teachers from the public universities who hold similar or even higher qualifications.



They further threatened legal action in the next two weeks if their grievances were not addressed.



At a press conference at Bolgatanga on Tuesday, September 22, 2020, the Convener of the UDGTA, Mr Daniel Asakibokire pointed out that the Education Act 2008 (Act 778) established the national teaching council to among other things issue professional license to Ghanaian teachers".



As published on the national teaching council's website, to be a licensed teacher by the teaching council means one must possess the minimum competencies needed to qualify to teach in Ghana," Mr Asakibokire stressed.



He wondered why they were being trained through distance learning yet they were sidelined any time there was an opportunity to recruit teachers?



Permit me to ask; is it a crime to become a teacher through distance education? Is distance education illegal? he further asked.



Mr Asakibokire expressed displeasure over the complete disregard for this Act in recent recruitments which for us is completely unacceptable".



According to him, due to the observance of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) protocols, only a few members were asked to come and support the press conference but there are the over 6,000 unemployed distance graduate teachers in the Region.



Members



Miss Victoria Adongo, a member of the UDGTA, said for now, life was very difficult for her as she is currently struggling to feed her children. She said she was currently selling some vegetables and salt in the Bolgatanga market just to survive.



The Secretary and Organizer to the UDGTA, Messrs Samuel Awuba and Issahaku Muniru respectively both expressed concern about the unfair treatment being meted out to them.









Source: graphic.com.gh









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The Vatican called euthanasia "an intrinsically evil act," no matter the circumstances

The Vatican on Tuesday underscored its unyielding opposition to euthanasia and assisted suicide, calling it an "act of homicide", as more and more countries consider legal reforms on the controversial issue.

Several countries from Spain to New Zealand are debating widening access to euthanasia and assisted suicide.

"Euthanasia... is an intrinsically evil act, in every situation or circumstance," it said.

"Abortion, euthanasia and wilful self-destruction... poison human society" and "do more harm to those who practice them than those who suffer from the injury," it said.

Those who elect euthanasia cannot receive Roman Catholic sacraments, including anointing of the sick, it added.

"Although the text may not offer any surprises for those familiar with Catholic teaching on end of life issues, it appears notable for its firm language," said Vatican expert Joshua McElwee for the National Catholic Reporter.

The Vatican said euthanasia was "an act of homicide that no end can justify, and that does not tolerate any form of complicity or active or passive collaboration".

Pope Francis met Saturday with bishops from Spain, where a bill to legalise euthanasia is in the Senate.

Should it pass, Spain would become the fourth in Europe to legalise doctor-assisted suicide following Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

Italy's top court ruled last year that in cases of "intolerable physical and psychological suffering," it should not be considered illegal.

New Zealand is due to hold a referendum on both euthanasia and assisted suicide next month.

The Vatican's top official on life issues, Italian Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, caused a stir last year when he said that he would hold the hand of someone dying from assisted suicide, according to religious website Cruxnow.com.

The new text said those assisting people who choose euthanasia in a spiritual capacity "should avoid any gesture, such as remaining until the euthanasia is performed, that could be interpreted as approval of this action".
Ahmedabad-based fintech start-up EasyPay is confident of becoming a $100 million (about Rs 730 crore) revenue company by FY22, driven by strong growth in number of transactions as well as merchant additions on the platform.

The company started offering 'Paisa Nikal service in late March this year which allows users in tier-II and III cities and rural parts of the country to get cash by visiting local retailers, instead of ATMs.

"Retailers have cash coming in as revenue which we help disburse to customers, and the amount is credited to the merchants accounts digitallyATMs are scarce in remote towns and villagesBy integrating with Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AePS), Paisa Nikal enables customers to get cash without looking for ATMs, EasyPay founder and MD Nilay Patel told PTI.

He added that Paisa Nikal facilitated about Rs 2,000 crore of cash withdrawals during April-August 2020.

"Pre-COVID, we were witnessing about 50,000 transactions a day and 6,000-7,000 bank balance inquiries. This zoomed to 3,00,000 transactions a day and 50,000-60,000 bank balance inquiries post the lockdown was lifted."

"In FY21, we are looking at 6-7X growth in the number of transactions, making it around 1 million transactions a day, Patel said.

He said the bootstrapped company, which is already profitable, expects to be a $100 million revenue company by the end of FY22.

He added that the companys focus has been on empowering small retailers, especially in rural areas.

However, a major challenge was to scale up as transaction volumes increased and to keep transaction time low.

"Our challenge was to bring down transaction time from 1 minute to under 5 seconds to make it a seamless product. That is when we engaged with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and developed a solution that brought down the transaction time to under 5 seconds, he added.

Patel noted that Amazon CloudFront solution helped improve transaction time and scalability, while Amazon Aurora facilitated scalability and reliability as a database.

"We expect 50X growth  a combination of increase in revenue for merchants, increase in number of transactions and increase in merchant base  in the coming two years and the partnership with AWS will take us to the next level, he said.

Also, being governed by RBI rules, AWS has helped EasyPay with the right security specs to ensure safety and security of transactions on the platform, he added.

Apart from facilitating cash payments to customers via merchants, Easypay also supports payments via Aadhaar Pay, domestic remittances and fund transfers.

EasyPay Director Strategic Alliances and Communication Hrishikeish Shirodkar said the company had started a pilot run just before the pandemic hit the world, and during April-June period, it was fully active and operational with a sizable penetration in three states.

"While the pandemic brought on its own set of challenges, we could do real-time testingToday, we have expanded to a total of 14 states primarily across north and central India with a small presence in the east with West Bengal(Additionally) our recent pilots have already begun in the southern markets and the response has been fabulous, he said.

Beginning from April, EasyPays growth rate is 250 percent in terms of transactions and revenue (April-August period), he added.

Patel said currently more than 1 million merchants have downloaded the app.

"We are onboarding 1,000-2,000 merchants daily. We expect growth in merchant base to be 5-6X by FY21, to grow from current 3,00,000 to 1.5 million merchants who are active on our platform, he added.

The company also intends to expand headcount from 45 currently to 100 by the end of FY21.
Now is the time for the citizens of Springfield to dig deep and share their thoughts and concerns about their Police Department.

On Saturday, there will be a community outreach program on police reforms, hosted by the city and its Community Police Hearing Board. For 90 minutes, beginning at 10:30 a.m., the forum, offered via Zoom, will take comments from anyone and everyone, residents, civic leaders, even police officers willing to share their opinions about the Police Department.

Participating in this forum will be retired state Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Roderick L. Ireland, a native son of Springfield whos been hired by Mayor Domenic J. Sarno to serve as an advisor to help move the Springfield Police Department forward in enhancing community trust and department accountability.

This forum is one of several steps being initiated to help guide the Police Department on a path forward in grappling with issues of civil rights.

Last week, Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood and Sarno shared with the public some of the initiatives taken already to address the findings of the U.S. Department of Justice report that documented a pattern of excessive force and violating peoples rights by members of the Police Departments narcotics bureau. Clapprood called the efforts a work in progress.

Community input is critical for Springfield to move forward in addressing the issue of systemic racism and the need for police reforms. All voices must be heard, and all people must feel comfortable in sharing their opinions and believing that their opinions will be respectfully considered.

We trust the presence of Ireland will help ensure this happens.

Likewise, we trust the mayor when he acknowledges that past police misconduct was wrong and hurtful and has created a cloud of negativity on the values and reputation of our city. He also says the (goal) going forward is to make sure that this type of behavior does not happen again in the future and that all our police officers follow the laws and the constitution.

Its long past time for the entire city to come together and move forward in addressing police reform in a fair, equitable and transparent manner.

Related:
The cover for issue 38 of Oncotarget features Figure 3, 'Summary of the time and cost for drug development (modified from DiMasi et al [2016],' by Katayama, et al. which reported that Pancreatic cancer is the most aggressive common cancer and is desperate

The cover for issue 38 of Oncotarget features Figure 3, "Summary of the time and cost for drug development (modified from DiMasi et al [2016]," by Katayama, et al. which reported that Pancreatic cancer is the most aggressive common cancer and is desperately in need of novel therapies.

In this study, the Oncotarget authors perform the first comprehensive analysis of the current clinical trial landscape in pancreatic cancer to better understand the pipeline of new therapies.

In this study, the Oncotarget authors perform the first comprehensive analysis of the current clinical trial landscape in pancreatic cancer to better understand the pipeline of new therapies.

Studies were curated and categorized according to the phase of the study, the clinical stage of the study population, type of intervention under investigation, and biologic mechanism targeted by the therapy under study.

As of May 18, 2019, there were 430 total active therapeutic interventional trials testing 590 interventions.

The vast minority of trials are in phase III testing. 189 interventions are immunotherapies, 69 target cell signaling pathways, 154 target cell cycle or DNA biology, and 35 target metabolic pathways.

Dr. Jordan M. Winter from The Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine as well as The University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center and Case Comprehensive Cancer Center said, "Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most aggressive of the common cancers."

The institute allocates roughly $6 billion annually to cancer research, and just over $100 million is dedicated to studying pancreatic cancer.

Other agencies and organizations like the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, American Cancer Society, and the Department of Defense contribute significantly to this mission, likely adding more than $20 million per year in totality.

Along these lines, the authors have likely neared a survival ceiling for our patients in the absence of new discoveries that target other aspects of cancer biology, due to the additive toxicities of chemotherapeutic combinations.

Patients, family members, primary care providers, and oncologists battling together against pancreatic cancer often consider the same important questions: what new treatments are coming down the pike, and how soon will they arrive?

This work is necessary to better anticipate the timeframe for novel therapies against pancreatic cancer to reach the market. More importantly, this 20,000-foot view provides a foundation to discuss optimal resource allocation, with a principal goal to accelerate the pace of innovation, with an eye towards improving patient outcomes.

The Winter Research Team concluded in their Oncotarget Research Paper that the majority of PDAC trials are focused on immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and radiation.

Following the herd has not yet worked well for PDAC research; immunotherapy and precision therapy have yet to strongly impact this disease.

Finally, this compendium focuses on therapeutic studies and not early detection.

It is possible that the greatest advance in the future could be the discovery of an effective PDAC biomarker.

If the authors can detect PDAC at the PanIN 3 stage, therapeutic trials of invasive cancer become inconsequential.

###

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DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.27727

Full text - https://www.oncotarget.com/article/27727/text/

Correspondence to - Jordan M. Winter - Jordan.Winter@UHhospitals.org

Keywords - pancreatic cancer, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, clinical trial, novel treatment, drug development

About Oncotarget

Oncotarget is a weekly, peer-reviewed, open access biomedical journal covering research on all aspects of oncology.

To learn more about Oncotarget, please visit https://www.oncotarget.com or connect with:

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Oncotarget is published by Impact Journals, LLC please visit http://www.ImpactJournals.com or connect with @ImpactJrnls

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"Tribal law is a cornerstone of Native Americans' quest for equality and inclusion within the U.S. justice system," said Greg Sarris , FIGR Tribal Chairman. "UCLA's commitment to educating and preparing the next generation of tribal legal advocates is personally known to me, as an alumnus and former UCLA professor. We hope this gift will begin the drive for equality for our people in our native land. It's particularly fitting that our announcement coincides with this Friday's California Native American Day, which celebrates and honors the historic and cultural contributions by California Native Americans."

The Graton Scholars Endowment at UCLA School of Law's Native Nations Law and Policy Center (NNLPC) will support five full-tuition scholarships for each of the law school's three classes  15 scholarships altogether. This transformational endowment gift will be the first of its kind at the NNLPC and will help recruit and retain the best and brightest Native students and others interested in pursuing careers as tribal legal advocates.

"This is one of the largest gifts to support scholarships in UCLA history, and we are incredibly grateful to the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria for their visionary investment, which bolsters our university's longtime commitment to service in Indian country and the success of Native people everywhere," said Gene Block, UCLA Chancellor. "This gift allows us to recruit the very best candidates to pursue their legal education at UCLA and prepare for careers as impactful advocates for Native Nations."

Jennifer L. Mnookin, UCLA Law's Dean and Ralph and Shirley Shapiro Professor of Law, said, "We at UCLA Law are immensely proud of our national leadership in Indian law. Thanks to this extraordinary contribution, our faculty, staff and students will have far greater opportunities to collaborate in promoting tribal sovereignty, cultural resource protection, Native American child welfare and economic development in Indian country  work whose impact will last for generations. I am tremendously grateful to the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria for this vision, generosity and recognition of UCLA Law's strength in this area."

For more than 50 years, UCLA Law has been the national leader among elite law schools in developing courses, programs and scholarships addressing the legal standing and rights of Native Nations. The first legal casebook in federal Indian law was written by UCLA Law faculty, and the school developed the first joint degree program in law and American Indian studies. UCLA Law's Tribal Legal Development Clinic provides free legal services to tribes in the areas of constitution drafting and revision, tribal code development, establishment and operation of tribal court systems, and negotiation of cooperative agreements with local cities, counties and states to coordinate initiatives and services. Students in the clinic have acquired vital understanding and skills through on-site collaboration with tribal leaders, officials and community members.

"For decades, Native American students and those seeking a way of serving Native Nations have come to UCLA to gain an unparalleled education in Indian law and American Indian studies, launching them into influential careers in the field," said Carole Goldberg, the Jonathan D. Varat Distinguished Professor of Law Emerita and founding director of the joint degree program in law and American Indian studies. "This exceptionally generous gift will enable the most talented and committed students to join them as powerful tribal advocates."

About the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria

Graton Rancheria is a federally recognized Indian tribe comprised of Coast Miwok and Southern Pomo Indians. Legislation restoring federal recognition to the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria was signed into law in December 2000. Tribal lands are located in Rohnert Park, Sonoma County, CA. For more information, visit www.gratonrancheria.com.

About UCLA Law

Founded in 1949, UCLA School of Law is one of the top-ranked law schools in the country. Its faculty are among the most influential scholars in business law, constitutional law, critical race studies, environmental law, Indian law, evidence, immigration law, public interest law, tax law and other fields. UCLA Law's 18,000-plus alumni work in nearly every state and more than 50 countries as leaders in government, industry, social justice and the legal profession. Committed to the University of California's mission of teaching, research and service, UCLA Law offers students a strong foundation in the law and practical training through a robust experiential education program. For more information, visit law.ucla.edu.

MEDIA, PLEASE NOTE: To request an interview with Chairman Greg Sarris or for additional images, please contact Brianne Miller at [email protected] or by phone at (650) 575-7727.

Media Contacts:

Brianne Miller for Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria

(650) 575-7727 [email protected]

Kathy Wyer for UCLA Law

(310) 206-1766 [email protected]

SOURCE Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria

Related Links

http://www.gratonrancheria.com


By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Hours after the Tatas offered to buy Shapoorji Pallonji groups entire stake in Tata Sons, the Mistry family-led group said it was ready to exit the Tata group. The salt-to-Jaguar cars conglomerate told the Supreme Court on Tuesday it was open to buying out the 18.37% stake held by Shapoorji Pallonji in its holding firm Tata Sons.

The Tatas made the offer verbally during the hearing on whether the Shapoorji Pallonji group can pledge Tata Sons shares to raise funds. The Shapoorji group issued a statement saying it had stated before the Supreme Court that a separation from the Tata Group is necessary due to the potential impact this continuing litigation could have on livelihoods and the economy. The statement said The Mistry family believes that a separation of interests would best serve all stakeholders. It added the Mistry family was in the midst of raising funds against the security of their personal assets to meet the crisis arising from the global pandemic but the Tatas were blocking this.

The statement also alleged several issues identified years earlier, continue to plague the group... Be it the operations of Tata Steel UK, where over the last three years alone the operational losses have increased by an additional Rs 11,000 cr. Appearing for the Tatas, senior lawyer Harish Salve said if SP group wishes to sell the shares, Tata is willing to buy but the shares need to be protected.

SC orders SP Group to keep status quo on Tata share pledges

Senior advocate Aryama Sundaram appearing on behalf of Cyrus Investments said the Articles of Association of Tata Sons bars a transfer of shares, but not their pledging. At this, the CJI said it has been held on various occasions that pledging is in fact a limited transfer itself. The bench, then, adjourned the case for hearing after four weeks on October 28, indicating status quo be maintained till then.

Cyrus Mistry, son of real estate and construction tycoon Pallonji Mistry, has been locked in a bitter fight with the Tata group ever since his ouster from the chairmanship of Tata Sons in 2016. Several cases were filed by the two sides against each other.

The latest legal dispute is a challenge by the Tatas to the Shapoorji Pallonji Groups right to pledge Tata Sons shares to raise funds. According to the Tatas, the SP Group has already pledged shares held by Cyrus Investment amounting to 9.19 per cent of Tata Sons with Axis Trustee Services and with IDBI Trustee Services.

Temporary bar on share pledging

SC has restrained Shapoorji Pallonji and Cyrus Mistry from pledging or transferring their shares in Tata Sons till Oct 28. The court also directed Tata Sons and SP Group not to take any action on the shares already pledged

ALSO READ | SC restrains Shapoorji group, Cyrus Mistry from pledging or transferring Tata Sons shares
Minister Coveney & Minister Byrne to attend meeting of General Affairs Council

Press release

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.

ENDS

PRESS OFFICE

21 SEPTEMBER 2020

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 18:02:38|Editor: huaxia

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BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- A flag handover ceremony for 30 Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) personnel was held on Wednesday at Bolkiah Garrison, the country's defense ministry said.

According to the defense ministry, the 30 RBAF personnel will join the Malaysian Battalion 850-8 peacekeeping mission to the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

The ceremony was presided with the handing of Brunei's national flag by Major General (U) Haji Hamzah, Commander of RBAF to Major Zulazri, Head of Brunei's Contingent. The contingent of 30 RBAF personnel will leave Brunei on Wednesday.

The defense ministry said RBAF has served UNIFIL since 2008 and has sent 34 officers and 278 RBAF personnel. Brunei will continue to support the United Nation's initiatives in maintaining peace and stability in Lebanon. Enditem
The phase 3 Johnson & Johnson study will be one of the world's largest coronavirus vaccine trials so far, testing the shot on 60,000 volunteers in the US, South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru. The vaccine is being developed by Johnson & Johnson's Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies division. If trials prove successful, Janssen plans to produce more than 1 billion doses of the vaccine for distribution throughout 2021. Manufacturing will be centred on the company's main plant in Leiden, the Netherlands, with additional manufacturing capacity at external third-party plants in the US, Italy and elsewhere. A handful of other vaccines  including shots made by Moderna and Pfizer  are already in final-stage testing in the US. Testing of another experimental vaccine, made by AstraZeneca in partnership with Oxford, remains on hold in the US after a patient experienced an adverse reaction during the phase 3 trial. Studies have resumed in other countries. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine could offer significant advantages over other candidates owing to a single-dose regimen that would help cut distribution times and maximise manufacturing capacity. Patients would not need to return for second or third 'booster' doses, meaning vaccine doses could be spread across more patients.

The vaccine is also kept in refrigerator storage rather than deep-freeze, which should reduce cold storage transportation issues that usually result in vaccine waste. Even if the FDA were to allow emergency use of a vaccine by year's end, supplies would be limited and given first to vulnerable groups such as health workers. Most Americans aren't likely to receive a vaccine until next year. J&J's vaccine is made with slightly different technology than others in late-stage testing, modelled on an Ebola vaccine the company created. Loading

France to tighten virus measures, unveil new colour-coded map The French government is expected to unveil a new colour-coded map of regions where the coronavirus situation is deteriorating, a government source said, paving the way for local authorities to tighten restrictions, in Paris in particular. Like other European countries where the infection rate has soared in the past month, France is tightening limits on public and private gatherings in the hardest hit areas. A medical worker takes a COVID-19 swab at a drive-through testing site in Wambrechies, northern France. Credit:AP After a summer lull, President Emmanuel Macron's government has been keen to let local authorities adopt measures locally depending on the severity of COVID-19 outbreaks, rather than taking broad measures from the central government in Paris.

Loading The government source said the health minister would unveil a new "national framework" later on Wednesday, with government recommendations to local authorities depending on where they stand on a new colour-coded map of the country with "red", "super-red" and even "scarlet" areas. "There are several cities that are going to switch to a higher category, not only Paris," the government source said. The new "scarlet" category would be for areas where very restrictive measures just short of a new lockdown are advised. Local prefects  officials representing the central government in regions  will then unveil the concrete measures.

Two government sources said Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo was strongly resisting restrictions to opening hours of bars and cafes in the capital, arguing that would be devastating economically for the sector. Hidalgo's councillor in charge of health issues confirmed the mayor's resistance against the measures, because they would not be sustainable over the long term. "Saying we'll restrict yet again the possibility of having even the smallest social life, that's becoming problematic," Anne Souyris said. "What we can do is being stricter, more rigorous in how we apply existing restrictions." Czechs pay for summer of fun with new restrictions In June, hundreds of Czechs sat down along a 500-metre table on Prague's Charles Bridge to celebrate overcoming the coronavirus pandemic with little loss of life.

Three months later, the country has Europe's second-fastest pace of new cases, hospitals are filling up and authorities are racing to catch up. Prague residents dine on a 500-metre long table set on the Charles Bridge in June. Credit:Getty Images In May and June, the government lifted most coronavirus restrictions whose quick imposition in March had helped the country of 10.7 million fare much better than most in Western Europe. Bars and discos reopened, face masks largely disappeared and thousands were allowed at cultural and sports events. Regulations became some of the most relaxed in Europe. With 345 COVID-19 deaths by the end of June, there was a feeling among some Czechs that the measures had been too strict, an overreaction.

Loading The past seven days have seen 14,271 cases, as many as in more than four months in the initial wave. Last week, a record 3128 new infections were reported in a single day. The number of hospital patients has risen more than threefold in September. Prague's General University Hospital's intensive care unit was 70 per cent full on Tuesday, department chief Martin Balik said. His main worry was potential school closures cutting staff numbers. "When I don't get three nurses coming to work because they have to cover for their children at home, then I am one ICU bed short," Balik said.
KALAMAZOO, MI -- Kalamazoos first 24-hour childcare is set to open in 2021.

The Creamery, located at the corner of Lake and Portage streets, is Kalamazoos latest affordable housing venture with 7,800 square feet dedicated to childcare. The $14.7 million brownfield development will be handicap-accessible throughout and include three apartments specifically for residents with disabilities.
Tandon Researchers develop method to create colloidal diamonds

BROOKLYN, New York, Wednesday, September 23, 2020 - The colloidal diamond has been a dream of researchers since the 1990s. These structures -- stable, self-assembled formations of miniscule materials -- have the potential to make light waves as useful as electrons in computing, and hold promise for a host of other applications. But while the idea of colloidal diamonds was developed decades ago, no one was able to reliably produce the structures. Until now.

Researchers led by David Pine, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering and professor of physics at NYU, have devised a new process for the reliable self-assembly of colloids in a diamond formation that could lead to cheap, scalable fabrication of such structures. The discovery, detailed in "Colloidal Diamond," appearing in the September 24 issue of Nature, could open the door to highly efficient optical circuits leading to advances in optical computers and lasers, light filters that are more reliable and cheaper to produce than ever before, and much more.

Pine and his colleagues, including lead author Mingxin He, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Physics at NYU, and corresponding author Stefano Sacanna, associate professor of chemistry at NYU, have been studying colloids and the possible ways they can be structured for decades. These materials, made up of spheres hundreds of times smaller than the diameter of a human hair, can be arranged in different crystalline shapes depending on how the spheres are linked to one another. Each colloid attaches to another using strands of DNA glued to surfaces of the colloids that function as a kind of molecular Velcro. When colloids collide with each other in a liquid bath, the DNA snags and the colloids are linked. Depending on where the DNA is attached to the colloid, they can spontaneously create complex structures.

This process has been used to create strings of colloids and even colloids in a cubic formation. But these structures did not produce the Holy Grail of photonics -- a band gap for visible light. Much as a semiconductor filters out electrons in a circuit, a band gap filters out certain wavelengths of light. Filtering light in this way can be reliably achieved by colloids if they are arranged in a diamond formation, a process deemed too difficult and expensive to perform at commercial scale.

"There's been a great desire among engineers to make a diamond structure," said Pine. "Most researchers had given up on it, to tell you the truth - we may be the only group in the world who is still working on this. So I think the publication of the paper will come as something of a surprise to the community."

The investigators, including Etienne Ducrot, a former postdoc at NYU Tandon, now at the Centre de Recherche Paul Pascal - CNRS, Pessac, France; and Gi-Ra Yi of Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea, discovered that they could use a steric interlock mechanism that would spontaneously produce the necessary staggered bonds to make this structure possible. When these pyramidal colloids approached each other, they linked in the necessary orientation to generate a diamond formation. Rather than going through the painstaking and expensive process of building these structures through the use of nanomachines, this mechanism allows the colloids to structure themselves without the need for outside interference. Furthermore, the diamond structures are stable, even when the liquid they form in is removed.

The discovery was made because He, a graduate student at NYU Tandon at the time, noticed an unusual feature of the colloids he was synthesizing in a pyramidal formation. He and his colleagues drew out all of the ways these structures could be linked. When they happened upon a particular interlinked structure, they realized they had hit upon the proper method. "After creating all these models, we saw immediately that we had created diamonds," said He.

"Dr. Pine's long-sought demonstration of the first self-assembled colloidal diamond lattices will unlock new research and development opportunities for important Department of Defense technologies which could benefit from 3D photonic crystals," said Dr. Evan Runnerstrom, program manager, Army Research Office (ARO), an element of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command's Army Research Laboratory.

He explained that potential future advances include applications for high-efficiency lasers with reduced weight and energy demands for precision sensors and directed energy systems; and precise control of light for 3D integrated photonic circuits or optical signature management.

"I am thrilled with this result because it wonderfully illustrates a central goal of ARO's Materials Design Program -- to support high-risk, high-reward research that unlocks bottom-up routes to creating extraordinary materials that were previously impossible to make."

The team, which also includes John Gales, a graduate student in physics at NYU, and Zhe Gong, a postdoc at the University of Pennsylvania, formerly a graduate student in chemistry at NYU, are now focused on seeing how these colloidal diamonds can be used in a practical setting. They are already creating materials using their new structures that can filter out optical wavelengths in order to prove their usefulness in future technologies.

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This research was supported by the US Army Research Office under award number W911NF-17-1-0328. Additional funding was provided by the National Science Foundation under award number DMR-1610788.

"Colloidal Diamond" is available at ____:

About the New York University Tandon School of Engineering

The NYU Tandon School of Engineering dates to 1854, the founding date for both the New York University School of Civil Engineering and Architecture and the Brooklyn Collegiate and Polytechnic Institute. A January 2014 merger created a comprehensive school of education and research in engineering and applied sciences as part of a global university, with close connections to engineering programs at NYU Abu Dhabi and NYU Shanghai. NYU Tandon is rooted in a vibrant tradition of entrepreneurship, intellectual curiosity, and innovative solutions to humanity's most pressing global challenges. Research at Tandon focuses on vital intersections between communications/IT, cybersecurity, and data science/AI/robotics systems and tools and critical areas of society that they influence, including emerging media, health, sustainability, and urban living. We believe diversity is integral to excellence, and are creating a vibrant, inclusive, and equitable environment for all of our students, faculty and staff. For more information, visit engineering.nyu.edu.

This story has been published on: 2020-09-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Mombasa, Kenya (PAN) - President Uhuru Kenyatta has called for the rebuilding of the United Nations (UN) system to better address global crises including the COVID-19 pandemic that has unevenly affected poor countries
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 01:04:24|Editor: huaxia

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European Council President Charles Michel attends a press conference after a special EU summit in Brussels, Belgium, July 21, 2020. (European Union/Handout via Xinhua)

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 Michel's spokesman Barend Leyts. The in-person summit, originally scheduled for Sept. 24-25, is postponed to Oct. 1-2.

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.

A woman wearing a face mask walks past the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, July 7, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Cheng)

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.




Californias youngest voters are three times more likely to have their mail ballots rejected than voters as a whole, a new study has found, highlighting a problem that could grow as more of those inexperienced voters turn out in November.

A study by the nonpartisan California Voter Foundation of three California counties  Sacramento, San Mateo and Santa Clara  found that in the November 2018 election, voters ages 18-24 made up the smallest number of mail voters of any age group, but had by far the highest number of rejections.

With young and new voters the high rejection rate persists, even though the state has made a lot of changes to bring it down, said Kim Alexander, the foundations president and author of the report.

The number of rejected ballots is likely to grow in November, if only because the state will try to ease coronavirus pandemic concerns by mailing a ballot to every active voter in the state.

While the percentage of rejected mail ballots has stayed pretty constant over the years, the number keeps rising as more people vote by mail, Alexander said.

Cutting the ballot rejection rate for young voters is also likely to remain a problem.

Im worried that voting by mail incorporates elements viewed as old-fashioned by young voters, Alexander said, whether its writing their signatures or even using the mail.

While mail voting is safe and secure and has plenty of advantages during the pandemic, it comes with its own concerns, she said.

Voting by mail shifts the responsibility for getting it right from the election officials to the voter, Alexander said. Voters need to make sure they know what theyre doing.

Todd Trumbull

Its not just young voters who run into problems. Newly registered voters of all ages in the three counties were twice as likely to have their ballots rejected.

In the March 2020 primary, 70% of the 102,428 California ballots that were rejected went uncounted because they either werent postmarked by election day or they arrived more than three days after the election. In San Francisco alone, 9,115 of its 9,407 rejected ballots didnt get to the election office under the deadline.

In Sacramento County, there were 1,514 late ballots in the June 2018 primary. The study by Alexanders group found that 93% of them were postmarked June 6, the day after the election.

For some people, the idea is that if you drop your ballot into the mailbox by midnight, youre good, Alexander said. Thats not true  if the mail has already been picked up that day, the ballot wont be postmarked in time.

Late arrival wasnt the only reason ballots were rejected. In the March 2020 primary, 14,528 ballots statewide werent counted because the signature on the ballot envelope didnt match the one in the voters registration file.

Thats an area of concern for young voters, Alexander said.

A lot of signatures, including those of people who registered at the (Department of Motor Vehicles), were made with a stylus and a signature on a pad or a cell phone and looks very different from a wet signature made on a piece of paper, she said. People should look at the signature on their drivers license and make their ballot signature look like that.

Voters dont get all the blame for the problems. In the 2018 general election, a startling 40% of the rejected ballots in Sacramento County went uncounted because the signatures didnt match, compared with 4% in San Mateo County and 10% in Santa Clara County.

The likely reason for Sacramentos signature problems was a change in procedure in the election office, which for that election did not require a second review by election staff or an election supervisor of challenged signatures, the report said.

While most counties require a second or even a third review of a signature before a ballot is tossed out, thats almost beside the point, Alexander said.

Theres an absence of statewide regulations to guide signature-checking procedures, she said. Rules for checking signatures should not be left up to election officials in each individual county.

The California secretary of state is preparing those statewide standards with an eye toward having them in place for the Nov. 3 election.

Since 2018, counties have been required to notify voters if their ballots have been rejected because of a missing or mismatched signature, giving them a chance to correct the problem and have their ballots counted.

Advice to voters The California Voter Foundation suggests some ways voters can ensure their ballots are counted: Verify your registration status and voter address at voterstatus.sos.ca.gov. Update your registration if you've moved or changed your name. Sign up for BallotTrax at WheresMyBallot.sos.ca.gov to see if your ballot has been counted. Don't mix up your ballot envelope with other voters' envelopes, since there is an individual identification code on each envelope. Remember to sign and date your ballot envelope before returning it. If you're unsure what your registration signature looks like, check your driver's license or state identification card. If you registered online or at the DMV, that's the signature on file with the county election office. Mailing a ballot on election day doesn't guarantee it will be postmarked by election day. If you're voting close to election day, return your ballot in person to a drop-off location, a polling place or the county election office. See More Collapse

In the June and November elections in 2018, the study found that 13,543 voters in the three counties were told of their signature problems. Only 7,318 people responded, leading to a correction rate of 54%.

While the number of rejected ballots is a problem, its also proof that the current voting system works, Alexander said.

Late ballots dont get counted, ballots are rejected for mismatched or missing signatures, and duplicate ballots are caught, she said.

John Wildermuth is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jwildermuth@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jfwildermuth
The Delhi state assembly told the Supreme Court on Wednesday that it had summoned Facebook Indias vice president and managing director Ajit Mohan only as a witness to hear his suggestions on devising a system to prevent misuse of the social media company in the backdrop of the misuse of the platform during the communal riots that flared in the city in February.

Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the legislature, said Mohan had not been summoned as an accused and no coercive action had been intended against the company or its officials.

He was called as a witness, not as an accused. No coercive steps were intended. It had come to light that Facebook was misused (in connection with the communal riots). So, we want to get suggestions from them and devise a mechanism so that Facebook is not misused, Singhvi said.

The apex court was hearing a petition filed by Facebook India and Mohan against notices issued by the Delhi assemblys Peace and Harmony Committee on September 10 and 18 asking Mohan to present himself before the panel on Wednesday in connection with the social media companys failure to curb hate speech that may have played a role in fuelling the Delhi riots.

Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul said the notices issued to Mohan by the committee did not give an impression that no coercive action was intended against Facebook.

Singhvi offered to file a counter-affidavit clarifying the stance of the Delhi assembly. He also said the meeting of the committee, scheduled for Wednesday, had been deferred and no further meeting with Facebook officials on this subject will be held for the time being because the apex is seized of the case.

The court recorded Singhvis submissions, asked the Delhi Assembly to file its response within a week and posted the case for further hearing on October 15. This would mean that Facebook officials cannot be summoned by the Delhi assembly until then.

The Peace and Harmony Committee, in a statement on Wednesday, said: In view of the issues of law pending before the Supreme Court, todays proceedings before the Delhi Legislative Assemblys Committee on Peace & Harmony has been deferred. Further course of action and next date of sitting of committee will be notified in due course.

The committee chairman Raghav Chadha could not be reached despite several phone calls and texts. The Delhi government did not react.

The committee is investigating Facebooks alleged complicity in the Delhi riots after it received several complaints from the public pursuant to 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, in the social media platform refraining from applying its hate-speech rules to at least four individuals and groups linked to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) although the entities had been internally flagged for promoting or participating in violence. Das, according to the reports, said Facebooks business interests may be harmed if it against them.

Mohan was first summoned by the committee on September 15 in connection with complaints alleging deliberate omissions and inaction by Facebook in removing hate speech. The committee had earlier said that in its meeting of August 31, it had prima facie (at first sight) 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.

Facebook officials failed to appear for the September 15 meeting after which a second notice was issued on September 18 asking Mohan to appear before it on September 23 (Wednesday).

Facebook India and Mohan approached the top court on Tuesday, challenging the notices. They contended that the subject matter under investigation by the Delhi assembly falls within the exclusive domain of the central government and a state legislative assembly cannot compel witnesses to appear and provide evidence on such subjects.

It was also highlighted that regulation of intermediaries like Facebook falls within the Union list of the Constitution under the Entry Communication (Entry 31). Parliament, in exercise of that power, enacted the Information Technology Act, 2000 to regulate intermediaries. Any assessment of the veracity of allegations against Facebook as an intermediary is exclusively a Union government subject, it was submitted.

The petitioners also argued that the summons violate the right of the petitioner to remain silent and right to privacy, which are fundamental rights under Articles 19 and 21 of the Constitution.

The committees insistence on compelling Mohan to speak, and its categorical threat that his non-appearance would be a breach of privilege of the committee and [to take] necessary action as deemed fit gives rise to a clear and present danger to the fundamental rights and liberties of petitioners, Mohan claimed in his petition.

Senior counsel Harish Salve, representing Mohan, submitted that right to free speech under Article 19 of the Constitution includes the right to remain silent.

I am not affecting the working of your committee. As a house, you may do whatever you want to do. But you cannot compel me to appear and give my views. I am not a public servant. I work for an American company. The matter involves serious issues with political overtones. I do not want to get into the middle of all this, Salve said on behalf of the Facebook executive.

Facebook India, through senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi, submitted that a private party cannot be forced to appear before the assembly or parliament.

Can a private person be asked to go before the Parliament and answer questions even if he does not want to do so? Can he be penalized if he does not appear? Rohatgi asked.


Artist, Marie Lyons is selling a beautiful array of her oil paintings to help raise funds for Offaly Hospice.

Marie began painting the eye catching pieces at her home in Rath during lockdown while cocooning during the initial days of the Covid-19 pandemic.

During this time, she created beautiful pieces including the 'Cathole Waterfall' in the Slieve Blooms and several pieces protraying scenic locations in county Kerry.

With an array of over 25 pieces of work for sale, Marie is hoping to sell the pieces to raise funds for Offaly Hospice and has arranged for her work to be displayed in the windows of the former 'Frawley's' store in Birr. Marie is also hoping to find an location to display her work in Tullamore next week.

With all proceeds for the sale of her work going to Offaly Hospice, Marie can be contacted at lyons.marie@gmail.com if you wish to purchase a piece of her beautiful work. Keep an eye out in Birr and Tullamore for her paintings!
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

California 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 Commission's 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 panel's 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 California's climate change goals by shifting the state's 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 projectthat's a pretty good indication you've put it in the wrong place."

Shannon Eddy of the Large-scale Solar Association 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 tree's 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 Association 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 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 Power's 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.

Explore further Conservationists seek protection of California Joshua trees

2020 Los Angeles Times

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Jahia is delivering a powerful platform that provides a more engaging, personalized customer experience, and we are thrilled to recognize the Company for their innovation and success in this space" - James Johnson, MarTech Breakthrough

MarTech Breakthrough, a leading market intelligence organization that recognizes the top companies, technologies, and products in the global marketing, sales and advertising technology industry, today announced that Jahia Solutions Group, a global provider of digital experience platforms (DXP), has been selected as the winner of the Best Content Management Platform award for its jContent solution in the third annual MarTech Breakthrough Awards program.

Jahia's jContent solution is a fully integrated, cloud-based Content Management System that acts as the centerpiece of the entire digital experience. With its power to deliver omnichannel experiences, jContent helps customers create, manage, and publish content on a global scale. Part of the larger Jahia DXP, jContent allows users to take advantage of the wider platforms capabilities while still focusing on their content management needs.

Founded on open-source principles, customers can transform jContent to fit the needs of their organization. Whether through features such as Roles & Permissions, Multi-Site Management, or Multi-Language Capabilities, jContent brings the entire content ecosystem under one roof so bothmarketing and IT teams can better collaborate and deliver results. Plus, with its hybrid publishing model allowing customers to freely choose what digital channels their content goes out on, teams can focus more on quality and speed and less on process.

As weve worked alongside our customers, weve seen first-hand how varied the content challenges across individual organizations can be, said Michael Tupanjanin, CEO, Jahia. Sometimes its an issue of having their CMS work in cohesion with legacy software. Other times, they need to start from scratch and scale quickly. More and more, companies are growing at a global scale and struggling to meet all of their region-specific customer needs. Our solution is designed around the idea that one-size-fits-all is just not feasible in the digital experience space, and that customers need a flexible and easy-to-use solution that they can customize to fit their needs.

The mission of the MarTech Breakthrough Awards is to honor excellence and recognize the innovation, hard work, and success in a range of marketing, sales, and advertising technology related categories, including marketing automation, market research and customer experience, AdTech, SalesTech, marketing analytics, content and social marketing, mobile marketing, and many more. This years program attracted more than 2,750 nominations from over 15 different countries throughout the world.

The right content combined with accurate and timely customer data is truly at the heart of an amazing Digital Experience, said James Johnson, Managing Director at MarTech Breakthrough. Jahia is delivering this combination in a powerful platform that provides a more engaging, personalized customer experience, and we are thrilled to recognize Jahia for their innovation and success in this space. We extend our hearty congratulations to the entire Jahia team on their well-deserved 2020 MarTech Breakthrough Award.

Jahias platform comes out-of-the-box with over 400 connectors, all tied to industry-leading technologies like Salesforce, Marketo, and Slack. Coupled with jContents robust developer tools and in-house support team, Jahia has ensured that if there is ever an integration a customer needs, they can work together with them to make it a reality.

About MarTech Breakthrough

Part of Tech Breakthrough, a leading market intelligence and recognition platform for global technology innovation and leadership, the MarTech Breakthrough Awards program is devoted to honoring excellence in marketing, ad and sales technology companies, products and people. The MarTech Breakthrough Awards provide a platform for public recognition around the achievements of breakthrough marketing technology companies and products in categories including marketing automation, AdTech, SalesTech, marketing analytics, CRM, content and social marketing, website, SEM, mobile marketing and more. For more information, visit MarTechBreakthrough.com.

About Jahia

Jahia Solutions Group makes digital experiences simpler. Built on a cloud-based platform, Jahia helps organizations all across the world leverage their content and customer data to fully engage with their customers. With an unparalleled level of flexibility and connectivity, Jahia integrates into existing technology stacks and can be customized to meet each organizations specific business needs and challenges.

Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Switzerland, Jahia has offices in Boston, Toronto and Paris. Jahias customer community includes hundreds of global brands and organizations, including Ben & Jerrys, Nationwide, NASA and General Motors. For more information, visit jahia.com, read our blog and follow us on LinkedIn.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin is signaling the White House is willing to work on a COVID-19 relief bill even as hopes for the measure  including another round of stimulus payments  appear to be dying until at least after the November election.

Mnuchin and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell will testify before the House Financial Service Committee today on the possibilities for another stimulus package. Talks on the package have been stalled, though Republicans and Democrats have indicated they are in favor of greater financial assistance for businesses and the unemployed, as well as direct stimulus payments like those issued in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic.

Those stimulus payments provided up to $1,200 for individuals and $2,400 for married couples and $500 for dependent children.

Any additional payments are in limbo, bogged down by other issues. Congress must pass a continuing resolution to fund the government before the end of September and the fight over the replacement for the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is likely to be all-consuming. There is also the looming election with both sides appearing eager to get out of Washington, D.C.

As Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby told Politico: I think both parties want to get out of here and campaign.

Mnuchin holds out hope

Mnuchin signaled despite nearly two months of stalled talks, the possibility for a compromise exists.

We continue to try to work with Congress on a bipartisan basis to pass a Phase IV relief package, Mnuchin said, according to prepared remarks that will be presented today. I believe a targeted package is still needed, and the administration is ready to reach a bipartisan agreement.

Democrat leader Nancy Pelosi said she isnt abandoning hopes for a stimulus package either.

Im optimistic, she said, when asked if she thought a stimulus package would be passed by the end of September.

The specifics of how that agreement could come together remains unclear. And, barring a breakthrough, it does not appear there will be a vote on the second stimulus check until after the Nov. 3 election.

There is a bright side, however. When  and if  a stimulus payment is approved, the IRS said the process of delivering the money to U.S. bank accounts should be smoother this time around. The agency said it has most banking information for recipients on file and direct deposits could begin as soon as two weeks after a bill is approved.
White House coronavirus advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci pushed back Wednesday against Sen. Rand Paul's claim that New York has overcome the coronavirus pandemic because it achieved herd immunity, telling the Republican lawmaker he's "not listening."

In an exchange at a Senate hearing on the nation's coronavirus response, Paul claimed that New York's death rate is among the highest in the world despite shuttering businesses and schools earlier this year to curb the spread of the coroanvirus.

He also compared New York's response with that by Sweden, which decided to keep its economy relatively open. Public health experts have said that Sweden's vulnerable population paid a price for that decision. The Kentucky U.S. senator also said New York has achieved enough herd immunity from the coronavirus and is "no longer having the pandemic."

"To those who argue that the lockdown flattened the curve in New York and New Jersey, the evidence argues otherwise," Paul said, accusing Fauci of being a "big fan" of Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York's "shutdown" despite its high number of Covid-19 deaths.

"No, you misconstrued that senator, and you've done that repeatedly in the past," Fauci responded at the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions hearing.

"They got hit very badly, they made some mistakes. Right now if you look at what's going on right now, the things that are going on in New York to get their test positivity 1% or less is because they are looking at the guidelines that we have put together from the task force of the four or five things of masks, social distancing, outdoors more than indoors, avoiding crowds and washing hands," said Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

He also said he "challenged" Paul's claim that New York has achieved herd immunity, saying around 22% of New York's residents have likely been exposed to the coronavirus. Sixty to 80% of a population needs to be vaccinated or develop antibodies through natural infection to achieve herd immunity, top World Health Organization officials have said.

Earlier in the hearing, Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, warned that more than 90% of the U.S. population "remains susceptible" to Covid-19. The coronavirus has spread across America at varying rates since it crossed U.S. shores in January, infecting as much as 15% to 20% of the population in some states and less than 1% in others, he said.

"You are not listening to what the director of the CDC said," Fauci told Paul. "If you believe that 22% is herd immunity, I believe you're alone in that."

CNBC's Berkeley Lovelace Jr. and Will Feuer contributed to this report.
Launching a scathing attack on the Chinese Community Party, US Secretary of State on Wednesday said the CCP and its proxies aim to make Americans receptive to Beijing's form of authoritarianism.

The remarks came against a backdrop of deepening mistrust and sharply deteriorating relations between the US and China.

"The CCP has a much more sinister vision of engagement. The Party and its proxies aim to make Americans receptive to Beijing's form of authoritarianism, Pompeo said in his speech titled 'State Legislatures and the China Challenge' at the Wisconsin State Senate.

Pompeo said he said CCP because he wants to draw a distinction between China's leaders and the Chinese people who want to live in freedom, peace and prosperity and "whose vibrancy is also evident in the many Chinese-American communities wonderfully woven into the fabric of America".

Beijing's best-laid plans are no match for American determination, he said, asserting that the Trumps administration rejects the idea that China is destined for hegemony.

"No top-down totalitarian regime can ever best the ingenuity, will, and power of the American people," he said.

Pompeo said CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping in August told a group of government economists and sociologists in that China must actively develop cooperation with all countries, regions and enterprises willing to cooperate with it, including states, localities and enterprises in the US.

This, Pompeo said, means that Xi knows that the federal government is pushing back the CCP's malign influence. "He (Xi) sees that here in the US, and increasingly, around the world."



Xi thinks you're the weak link. For him, 'cooperation' and 'opening-up' means the CCP wants to create arrangements that only benefit it. We know that because for decades, the CCP deployed friendly language while stealing from our innovators, building military strength, and co-opting our elites, he said.

Later in that same speech, Xi explicitly confirmed that the purpose of his entreaties is to put China "in an undefeatable and invincible position", the top American diplomat said.

"This isn't the Cold War. It's different in kind. The CCP's effort is more sophisticated, multi-layered, and nuanced. That's why we have to have a conversation in our state legislatures about this China challenge. It's as important in Wisconsin as it is in Washington, he asserted.

Pompeo said all over America, Chinese sister-city programmes fall under the authority of the Chinese People's Association of Friendship with Foreign Countries. That group is part of China's United Front Work Department the CCP's official overseas propaganda tool.

It's one of the CCP's three Magic Weapons, in the words of Chairman Mao, along with armed struggle and party-building. In other words, it's not so friendly to American interests, he said.

While the US has formally designated the Confucius Institute's US headquarters as a foreign mission, Pompeo said right now the State Department is reviewing the activities of two United Front Work Department organisations operating in America -- the US-China Friendship Association and the China Council for the Promotion of Peaceful Reunification.

Our concerns include their apparent attempts to exert influence on groups across the public sphere, including schools, business associations, local politicians, media outlets and Chinese diaspora, he said.

Observing that protecting American interests requires vigilance, starting with all state legislators, regardless of party, Pompeo told the State senators that they should know when they are approached by a Chinese diplomat, it is likely not in the spirit of true cooperation or friendship.

Know that if you are offered a trip to China when pandemic travel restrictions are lifted, you should ask who is paying for that trip, and if they are linked directly or indirectly to the CCP, he said.

Pompeo urged State Assemblies to pass laws to codify closer cooperation with federal agencies in IP protection, investment screening and counter infiltration operations. He also urged them to ignore CCP threats and encourage mayors and business people to engage with a free and democratic Taiwan.

(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.)
Reliance Jio on Tuesday unveiled a slew of new postpaid plans for mobile users in an attempt to lure customers from its rivals in this most profitable segment for telecom operators. The new plans will be bundled with subscriptions such as Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney + Hotstar.

Jio, the telecom unit of Reliance Industries Ltd, also introduced offers for postpaid mobile users of other telcos to carry over their credit limit to the Jio network if they port to Jio connections, along with home delivery of new SIM cards.

The latest move by Jio comes at a time when telcos are struggling to find ways to increase tariffs in an intensely competitive and price-sensitive market.

According to data from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), just about 5% of wireless subscribers are postpaid users, but they generate around three times higher average revenue per user (Arpu), when compared with prepaid users.

In the March 2020 quarter, Trai reported postpaid Arpu of 244 compared with prepaid Arpu of 84.

According to industry experts, postpaid plans also foster better brand loyalty, a concern that Jio has struggled with so far.

Jios existing base of postpaid subscribers comprises just around 1% of its total user base who have an entry-level plan of 199 per month with 25GB data. In comparison, Vodafone Idea Ltd and Bharti Airtel Ltd have around 5-7% customers on postpaid plans.

There cant be a more opportune time to introduce JioPostpaid Plus. 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," said Akash Ambani, director, Jio in a statement.

The new postpaid plans called JioPostpaid Plus will be available from Thursday, and they will start from 399 per month with 75GB data, unlimited messaging and Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney Hotstar subscriptions.

Postpaid plans at Airtel start from 499 per month plan, offering 75GB data and unlimited voice calling. Offers include a one-year free subscription to Amazon Prime, Zee5, and Airtel Xstream app. Vodafone Ideas postpaid plans start from 399 which offers 40GB data along with 100 messages and unlimited calling for one month with free Vodafone Play subscription and Zee5 Premium access for a year.

Jio is also expected to launch affordable smartphones soon to complement its new postpaid plans.

According to a 21 September survey by Bofa Global Research, 68% of users indicated that they wouldnt mind paying telcos 15-20% more for the same data allowances.

Telecom experts had expected a second round of tariff hikes from September after the recent Supreme Court decision on adjusted gross revenue dues. That has not happened yet.

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Tony Spell refuses to wear mask in courthouse, skips hearing for gathering ban violation

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Louisiana Pentecostal Pastor Tony Spell, who was charged for violating state orders by holding in-person worship services during the coronavirus pandemic lockdowns, was prevented from entering a courthouse Tuesday because he refused to wear a mask.

Spell, the pastor of Life Tabernacle Church in Baton Rouge, appeared at the 19th Judicial District Courthouse as he faced six misdemeanor charges for violating Gov. John Bel Edwards social distancing orders banning worship gatherings of more than 10 people by holding services attended by hundreds over the spring.

The pastor told reporters outside the courthouse that he missed the hearing because he refused to comply with the requirements to wear a face mask in the courthouse. Through his lawyer, Spell pleaded not guilty to the charges as he was not required to appear in court. A hearing for the case has been set for January 2021.

Outside the courthouse, Spell gathered with unmasked supporters.

I was refused entry into the courthouse because I refuse to put a mask on, Spell said, according to WVLA. Take a look at our church, we are healthy, we are strong, we are unmasked, we are not social distancing and we are not complying.

The Advocate reports that Spell also said that the court fight is over religious and civil liberties.

"What is at stake? We lose our right to assemble, he said, according to Louisianas largest daily newspaper.

In the spring, Spell was one of the first pastors to gain national notoriety for continuing to hold in-person worship services in defiance of Edwards order to shut down in an attempt to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

In Louisiana, there have been over 160,000 coronavirus cases and nearly 5,400 coronavirus-related deaths among a population of more than 4.64 million residents, according to Johns Hopkins University and Medicine.

An elderly member of Life Tabernacle died after contracting coronavirus in April, according to a coroners report. But Spell shot down the report as a lie.

Spell has faced much scrutiny for his defiance of health orders and other behaviors.

In addition to the misdemeanor charges, Spell was arrested earlier this year and charged with aggravated assault after he allegedly backed up a church bus toward a man protesting his churchs defiance of the governors orders.

The pastor has previously claimed that he simply approached a man who had verbally assaulted my wife and little girls and argued he was being persecuted for the faith.

While the church bus matter remains pending, Spell had been ordered to remain at home as a condition for his bail. However, Spell broke house arrest by continuing to hold in-person church services.

According to The Advocate, Spell was charged with two counts of being a fugitive from justice because he violated his house arrest. No future court date has been set in that matter.

In May, Spell sued local and state officials. He has maintained that the states worship restrictions violated the First Amendment rights of his congregation. However, a federal judge refused his request to halt the governors stay-at-home order.

In a video statement to his congregation on Sept. 3, Spell announced that he was served a day earlier with the six arraignment notices. He did not express regret over his defiance of the order.

I only regret that I dont have more of these since we have 33 of these to go, meaning that is how many times we broke the governors emergency orders, Spell explained, adding that he plans to frame the court notices and add them to the collection in his trophy case of other legal and criminal documents.

Spell said he had great attorneys who sit around all day praying about ways to sue these other attorneys who have charged me.

He ended the video by encouraging followers to keep those masks off of your smiling faces.

Dont let anybody intimidate you, bully you and make you feel less than who you are, he said. You are peculiar, royal, chosen and holy.
EMERYVILLE, Calif., Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Nutcracker Therapeutics, Inc., a company developing and producing mRNA therapeutics on its proprietary, microfluidic, biochip-based platform, today announced that it has raised $60 million in Series B financing led by ARCH Venture Partners with participation from other top healthcare investors including Bluebird Ventures, a firm associated with Sutter Hill Ventures.

Nutcracker has combined the productivity of RNA biology with innovations inspired by semiconductor manufacturing techniques to develop a proprietary miniaturized platform that enables the rapid discovery, development and manufacturing of mRNA therapies and vaccines. The "GMP-in-a-box" ACORN platform is a first-of-its-kind, computer-controlled RNA manufacturing system that starts with a nucleic acid sequence of interest and produces optimized nanoparticle-encapsulated RNA therapeutics on dedicated, single-use biochips. All steps are performed in an automated, fully isolated microfluidic path, enabling rapidly scalable, efficient manufacturing of high-quality products within smaller footprint facilities with reduced operating costs compared to conventional bioreactor manufacturing.

Igor Khandros, Ph.D., is co-founder and chief executive officer of Nutcracker Therapeutics. Khandros previously founded three publicly traded companies including FormFactor, Inc., and Berkeley Lights, Inc.

"RNA-based therapeutics are emerging as an important new class of medicines," said Dr. Khandros. "We founded Nutcracker based on our conviction that to fulfill the promise of RNA therapeutics, we must meld the productivity of RNA biology with semiconductor-like development and manufacturing controls and discipline. Our platform can efficiently create both patient-specific and broadly applicable RNA medicines and enables the rapid scaling of GMP manufacturing. We are applying the platform to develop Nutcracker's own RNA medicines, with an initial focus on mRNA therapies for oncology, and these programs will incorporate our proprietary delivery vehicles and mRNA designs. We are also establishing partnerships with other biopharma companies across a range of indications and RNA therapeutics."

Dr. Khandros adds, "Bob Nelsen and ARCH Venture Partners are unique investors who possess a founders' mindset, and are determined, as we are, to enable delivery of these life-saving medicines to all patients in need, at any time and in any part of the world."

"The field of RNA therapeutics has tremendous potential, and Nutcracker's platform is ideally positioned to rewrite the rules of what is possible with RNA, from the design and optimization phase through manufacturing and ultimately, through delivery to patients worldwide," said Robert Nelsen, co-founder and managing director of ARCH Venture Partners.

ACORN Platform

The ACORN system uses proprietary hardware and software to manufacture nanoparticle-encapsulated mRNA therapies on biochips. In development mode, it can rapidly perform the efficient selection of lead therapeutic candidates with optimized delivery vehicles out of a vast number of combinations, increasing the quality of leads and the probability of success.

In manufacturing mode, the ACORN system delivers optimized mRNA therapies using an exact, repeatable and easily scalable and deployable process which is fully executed on biochips with enclosed fluid path.

Nutcracker has also developed, and continues to grow, a library of unique proprietary delivery vehicles for RNA medicines, designed to optimize delivery for different indications. A proprietary mixing and formulation on biochips result in optimized nanoparticles containing single or multiple RNA molecules.

About Nutcracker Therapeutics, Inc.

Founded in 2018, Nutcracker Therapeutics is bringing the combined power of high-technology engineering and advanced biosynthesis to RNA therapeutics through its push-button mRNA synthesis and formulation platform. Armed with this high-tech advantage, we will advance mRNA therapeutics into the clinic and engage in strategic partnerships with clinical institutions and pharmaceutical/biotech companies. Our GMP-in-a-box approach to manufacturing is expected to offer significant cost, cycle time, capacity and point-of-care execution advantages over other RNA manufacturing approaches. Supporting our initial focus on mRNA therapeutics for oncology, our platform will ultimately enable the development and manufacturing of all RNA therapeutics to benefit patients worldwide.

About ARCH Venture Partners

ARCH Venture Partners invests in advanced technology companies and is one of the largest early stage technology venture firms in the United States. The firm is a recognized leader in commercializing technologies developed at academic institutions, corporate research groups and national laboratories. ARCH invests primarily in companies it co-founds with leading scientists and entrepreneurs, bringing innovations in life sciences and physical sciences to market.

Media Contacts

Sarah Sutton

Glover Park Group

[email protected]

202-337-0808

Danielle Cantey

Glover Park Group

[email protected]

202-337-0808

SOURCE Nutcracker Therapeutics, Inc.
New Delhi: TIME magazine has published a list of 100 most influential people in the world on Wednesday (September 23), featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with others. The list also includes the name of 82-year-old Bilkis, who shot into the limelight during the months-long anti-citizenship law protest in Delhi's Shaheen Bagh.

The magazines' conceited mindset is exposed in what it has written on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "The key to democracy is not, in fact, free elections. Those only tell who got the most votes. More important is the rights of those who did not vote for the winner. India has been the worlds largest democracy for more than seven decades. Its population of 1.3 billion includes Christians, Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and other religious sects. All have abided in India, which the Dalai Lama (who has spent most of his life in refuge there) has lauded as an example of harmony and stability," wrote Karl Vick, who is TIME's editor.

Karl Vick further adds, "Narendra Modi has brought all that into doubt. Though almost all of Indias Prime Ministers have come from the nearly 80% of the population that is Hindu, only Modi has governed as if no one else matters. First elected on a populist promise of empowerment, his Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party rejected not only elitism but also pluralism, specifically targeting Indias Muslims. The crucible of the pandemic became a pretense for stifling dissent. And the worlds most vibrant democracy fell deeper into shadow."

These sentences clearly state the anti-India mindset of the Western media, knowing well that India is the largest democracy in the world where elections occur every five years and the countrys Parliament had passed the Citizenship Amendment Act. The rumours and fake news spread against this law that Muslims would lose their citizenship under this new law led to a months-long protest in Delhi's Shaheen Bagh that culminated into Delhi riots.

The planning of the Delhi riots was made during the anti-CAA protests has now been revealed and the charge sheet has been filed revealing the larger conspiracy. Time magazine, however, deliberately ignored the democratic process of India and gave importance to 500 people sitting on an illegal dharna.

The DNA analysis will expose the agenda of Time magazine, which on its 2012 edition's cover page had written - Modi Means Business. It also wrote - But Can He Lead India? to create confusion in people's minds. Narendra Modi was then the Chief Minister of Gujarat, and discussions were about him becoming the Prime Minister. Time magazine had then tried to question Narendra Modi's ability to become Prime Minister.

In the year 2015, the magazine's cover story page once wrote - Why Modi Matters, when the Narendra Modi government completed its first year. Notably, below this headline, it questioned-Can He Deliver? Once again, the magazine tried to create doubt in people's minds. Such questions were raised against PM Modi, who got the mandate of people in general elections after remaining a successful Chief Minister of Gujarat for 12 years.

During the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the magazine once again published a cover story on PM Modi with the headline 'India's Divider in Chief', and below the cover title, it wrote -Modi The Reformer. The magazine's conceited mindset was explained through its cover title, but it was unable to ignore PM Modi's massive popularity.

In the latest issue, the magazine has once again pointed out that winning elections in a democracy is not enough and added that most of the Indian prime ministers were Hindus while ignoring the fact that in the 200-year history of the United States, there has not been any non-Christian President.

Anti-India thinking is not new to Time magazine, rather it is a part of its hidden agenda against India. To understand it better, you should read what it has written about 82-year-old Bilkis. "She had been sitting there ever since Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis government passed the Citizenship Amendment Act, which could block Muslims from citizenship in the country, in December, and she continued through the cold winter," the TIME quoted a journalist as saying.

Bilkis shot into the limelight during the months-long anti-citizenship law protest in Delhi's Shaheen Bagh. During the protest, which began in December 2019, she sat under a tent with hundreds of women and children. She emerged as the face of the protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act and the proposed National Register of Citizens.
A promotional video for a Mazda dealership in Queensland has been ridiculed after copying TikTok's viral 'Savage' dance.

Grand Prix Mazda Aspley, in Brisbane, posted the ad to social media on September 17 and declared 'September's Savage' would be a month packed with savings.

The video showed three staff members performing the choreographed dance routine while one of them promoted the sale.

But the ad was immediately slammed by perplexed social media viewers, who declared the marketing idea missed the mark.

'Omg I don't know what's worse, that the company think this marketing works or the fact these people actually did this,' one Facebook user wrote.

A cringeworthy advertisement from Grand Prix Mazda Aspley (pictured) has been ridiculed online after copying TikTok's viral 'Savage' dance

Another said: 'Why do I feel like a middle aged man named Greg thought this would be a good idea?

'Probably saw his niece watching it on TikTok and thought it was an excellent sales pitch.'

Some social media viewers said the footage turned them off Mazda vehicles forever.

'Is there a firing squad behind that camera? That is literally the only logical thing I could think of,' an amused Facebook user wrote.

'Unfortunately this ad has made me never want to buy a Mazda for as long as I live,' another added.

Others went so far as to say they wanted to return or sell their cars.

'Y'all just made me want to sell my Mazda,' one customer joked.

'Oh dear I bought my cars from these guys, I can't even watch the whole thing,' another replied.

In the video (pictured) three employees perform the choreographed dance while one of them touts the dealership's 'September Savage' sale

It wasn't all bad for the dealership, with some viewers throwing their support behind the creative advertising.

'Marketing strategy is working, as funny and awkward these ads are, they are actually working,' one Facebook user wrote.

The video has been shared almost 2,000 times and has received more than 6,000 comments.

The 'Savage Challenge' swept video-sharing platform TikTok at the beginning of the year, with users performing the viral dance to Megan Thee Stallion's single Savage.
Speaking during the General Audience in the Vatican, Pope Francis looks to a post-pandemic world and reflects on the principle of subsidiarity, whereby every level of society has a role to play in revitalizing the social fabric.

By Vatican News

Continuing in his series of catecheses on the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic in light of the Churchs teachings, Pope Francis said, Every one of us is called to assume responsibility for his or her part, and he highlighted the fact that we must look to the future working for a social order in which the dignity and the gifts of all of its members are respected.



Speaking during the weekly General Audience in the Vatican, the Pope reflected on the principle of subsidiarity.



From top to bottom and from bottom to top

To better explain its meaning, he recalled how after the great economic depression of 1929, Pope Pius XI explained that this principle has a double movement: from top to bottom and from bottom to top.



To emerge better from a crisis, the principle of subsidiarity must be enacted, respecting the autonomy and the capacity to take initiative that everyone has, especially the least, the Pope said elaborating on the fact that this principle allows everyone to assume his or her own role for the healing and destiny of society.



He decried the fact that many people are unable to participate in the reconstruction of the common good because they are marginalised, excluded or ignored.

Certain social groups do not succeed in making a contribution because they are economically or socially suffocated. In some societies, many people are not free to express their own faith and their own values, he said.



Elsewhere, he continued, especially in the western world, many people repress their own ethical or religious convictions: This is no way to emerge from the crisis, or at least to emerge from it better.



Pope Francis said that it is right that the highest levels of society, such as the State, should intervene to provide the necessary resources to progress. He noted that public institutions are trying to help through appropriate interventions; however, he continued, societys leaders must respect and promote the intermediate or lower levels.

Pope Francis: Principle of subsidiarity gives hope for healthier post-pandemic future

The decisive contribution of all

The contribution of individuals, of families, of associations, of businesses, or every intermediary body, and even of the Church, is decisive, he said.



The Pope said that we all need to assume responsibility in the process of healing the society of which he or she is a part, but the injustice of exclusion happens often in those places where huge economic and geopolitical interests are concentrated.



He recalled the reality in the Amazon region, for example, where he said the voices of the indigenous peoples, their culture and world visions are not taken into consideration.



The hegemony of large multinational companies

Today, this lack of respect of the principle of subsidiarity has spread like a virus. Lets think of the grand financial assistance measures enacted by States. The largest financial companies are listened to rather than the people or the ones who really move the economy, he said.



He also turned his thoughts to the current race for a cure for the new coronavirus noting that the large pharmaceutical companies are listened to more than the healthcare workers employed on the front lines in hospitals or in refugee camps. This is not a good path.



Reflecting on St. Pauls First Letter to the Corinthians, in which the apostle says that all the parts of the body are necessary and that those parts that may seem the weakest and least important, in reality, are the most necessary (1 Cor 12:22), Pope Francis said that only by implementing the principle of subsidiarity will we all be able to assume our role for the healing and destiny of society.



Implementing it gives hope in a healthier and more just future. Lets construct this future together, aspiring to greater things, broadening our horizons and ideals, he said.



Pope Francis recalled previous catecheses in which solidarity was upheld as a way out of the crisis, but he pointed out this path of solidarity needs subsidiarity. In fact, there is no true solidarity without social participation, without the contribution of intermediary bodies: families, associations, cooperatives, small businesses, and other expressions of society.



During the lockdown, he recalled, the spontaneous gesture of applauding for doctors and nurses began as a sign of encouragement and hope.



Lets extend this applause, he said, to every member of the social body, for their precious contribution, no matter how small. He also had special words of thanks and gratitude for the millions of volunteers who have given their all during the crisis.



Lets applaud the elderly, children, persons with disability, workers, all those who dedicate themselves to service, he said. But lets not stop only at applauding.



Hope is audacious



Pope Francis concluded by looking ahead, beyond the crisis, with the invitation to be hopeful:



Hope is audacious, he said. Lets encourage ourselves to dream big, seeking the ideals of justice and social love that are born of hope, trying not to reconstruct an unjust and unhealthy past, but a future in which mutual enrichment allows the beauty and the wealth of smaller groups to flourish, and where those who have more dedicate themselves to service and give more to those who have less.
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.
AUGUSTA, Maine - Maine has lifted restrictions on travellers from Massachusetts that had required the visitors to produce a negative coronavirus test or quarantine for two weeks.

Democratic Gov. Janet Mills said the change went into effect Wednesday. Massachusetts joins New York, New Jersey and all the New England states except Rhode Island on Maines exempt list.

The governors office said the state made the change after examining the prevalence of coronavirus cases in Massachusetts. The state has similar rates to Connecticut and New York, the office said.

We congratulate our friends to the south on their progress in mitigating the spread of the virus and ask them to continue to take all the appropriate precautions, as we know they will, to protect their health and safety and that of Maine people, Mills said.

Maine was part of Massachusetts until 1820. A host of celebrations had been planned for this year, but they were scuttled by the pandemic.

In other news related to the pandemic in Maine:

___

NURSING HOME OUTBREAK

An employee at a nursing home where a coronavirus outbreak has killed seven residents worked an overnight shift while she had COVID-19 symptoms, a newspaper reports.

The certified nursing assistant at Maplecrest Rehabilitation & Living Center in Madison documented her symptoms  a sore throat, cough, chills and muscle aches  in a written log but apparently didnt tell her supervisors, and supervisors apparently didnt review the log, the Bangor Daily News reported. She tested positive for the coronavirus a few days later.

A coronavirus outbreak to which the employee is believed to have contributed has since infected at least 39 residents and employees, and seven residents have died.

Its one of several secondary outbreaks linked to an Aug. 7 wedding in the Katahdin region thats responsible for more than 170 cases of COVID-19 across the state. The employee is in the same household as someone who attended the wedding, state officials have said.

Maplecrest had passed an inspection in July, but the nursing home was cited for the Aug. 11 lapses following a series of follow-up inspections in late August and early September, the newspaper reported.

An official with Maplecrests parent company didnt immediately return a message seeking comment on Wednesday.

___

THE NUMBERS

An additional 38 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in the state, the Maine Center for Disease Control said Wednesday.

The total number of confirmed cases is more than 5,100, the Maine CDC said. The number of deaths remained 140. The average number of new cases per day increased to 34. It was 29 a week ago.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.
The Welsh Government has banned all alcohol sales across the whole country after 10pm in their own draconian coronavirus crackdown.

Pubs, cafes, restaurants and casinos in Wales must operate as table service only and close from 10pm, First Minister Mark Drakeford announced.

Off-licences including supermarkets will also be stopped from selling alcohol at the same time as part of new restrictions which come into force at 6pm tomorrow.

Mr Drakeford confirmed the measures as part of a televised address last night, following a similar announcement by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Earlier on Tuesday, he told the Welsh Parliament that he would be encouraging people in Wales to only make essential journeys.

He said reducing the amount of journeys and meetings with others resulted in 'less danger' being posed to people.

Pubs, cafes, restaurants and casinos in Wales must operate as table service only and close from 10pm, Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford announced

Off-licences including supermarkets will also be stopped from selling alcohol at the same time as part of the measures, which come into force at 6pm on Thursday (pictured, Cardiff)

England may need to follow Scotland's lead and BAN households from visiting each other if Rule of Six doesn't work, Chris Whitty 'warns Boris Johnson' England may need to follow Scotland's lead and ban households from visiting each other, Boris Johnson has been told by his chief medical officer. Chris Whitty, who threatened to break 'unnecessary links between different households' on Monday, is understood to have recommended Nicola Sturgeon's hardline approach to coronavirus to the Prime Minister. England's chief medical officer reportedly believes that further restrictions are inevitable this winter and that draconian new measures  including a 10pm curfew on pubs and restaurants  will not bring the virus under control. The Scottish First Minister claimed that advice from her chief medical officer and national clinical director was that Mr Johnson's programme 'on its own will not be sufficient to bring the R number down'. Chief medical officers from all four home nations met on Monday to agree advice to each of the devolved administrations, according to The Times. It is understood that Prof Whitty concurred with his Scottish counterpart, Gregor Smith. Jonathan Van Tam and Jenny Harries, Prof Whitty's deputies, are thought to believe that the tough new restrictions in England did not go far enough  but accepted that the Prime Minister would have to try less strict measures to save the economy first. A source told the paper the plan was a 'phased approach', adding: 'We're still in early autumn and we shouldn't be optimistic that this won't get worse.' It comes as Ms Sturgeon admitted that banning Scots from visiting each other's homes is a 'step backwards' but will stop coronavirus from 'spiralling out of control'. Advertisement

In the televised address, Mr Drakeford said rising cases of coronavirus infections were being seen in different parts of Wales, with people being admitted to hospital with 'serious illnesses because of this deadly virus'.

Yesterday, Public Health Wales said a further 281 positive cases of Covid-19 were recorded  the highest daily figure since April 17.

'In the weeks and months ahead of us, there is a very real possibility that we could see the virus regain a foothold in our local communities, towns and cities,' Mr Drakeford said.

'Now none of us wants to see that happen again. 2020 has been an incredibly difficult year. We have all sacrificed so much.

'Families have lost loved ones. People have lost jobs and livelihoods. This is a highly infectious virus. We cannot let it take a hold of our lives again. We have come too far to let that happen.'

During a Cobra meeting on Tuesday morning, the leaders of the four UK nations agreed to take 'coordinated action' to stop the spread of the virus.

Mr Drakeford said some of those measures being introduced elsewhere were already in force in Wales, such as working from home where possible.

Only six people are able to meet indoors and must be part of a single extended household. Face coverings must be worn on public transport, in shops and in enclosed public spaces across Wales.

'And please think carefully about making journeys  only travel when you need to do so,' Mr Drakeford said. 'The fewer people we meet, and the fewer journeys we make, the safer we all are.'

A 500 payment to support people on low incomes who are asked to self-isolate will be provided, he confirmed.

According to real estate adviser Altus Group, 3,118 pubs in Wales will be affected by the curfew.

Six areas of south Wales  Caerphilly county borough, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil, Newport and Blaenau Gwent  are under stricter restrictions as part of local lockdowns.

Under the measures, people must not enter or leave the areas without a reasonable excuse. They are only able to meet outdoors and must not meet members of their extended households indoors.

Adam Price, the leader of Plaid Cymru, called for further measures on pubs in areas subjected to local lockdown restrictions.

'In those areas, we should also restrict the sales of alcohol from off licences at 6pm and either close pubs indoors completely or close pubs that don't serve food like they've done in Ireland,' Mr Price said. 'Crucially, these steps must be backed up by sector-specific financial support to affected businesses.'

Mr Price also called for a ban on non-essential travel from lockdown areas in the rest of the UK into Wales, as well as 'Covid-free areas' and areas of low community transmission that would be exempt from nationwide changes.

Mr Drakeford confirmed the measures as part of a televised address last night, following a similar announcement by Boris Johnson. Earlier on Tuesday, he told the Welsh Parliament that he would be encouraging people in Wales to only make essential journeys (pictured, Cardiff)

Six areas of south Wales  Caerphilly county borough, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil, Newport and Blaenau Gwent  are under stricter restrictions as part of local lockdowns (pictured, a view of Caroline Street in Bridgend, Wales, now in lockdown)

Six areas of south Wales  Caerphilly county borough, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil, Newport and Blaenau Gwent  are under stricter restrictions as part of local lockdowns (pictured, people walking in Merthyr Tydfil, now in lockdown)

Andrew RT Davies MS, shadow health minister for the Welsh Conservatives, said any restrictions had to be proportionate and have time limits.

'However, it's time to consider hyperlocal lockdowns based on the best available data  which means that the Test, Track, and Protect scheme must be equally hyper-accurate  so that as little of Wales and its economy as possible is closed, even temporarily,' Mr Davies said.

'Safeguarding lives as well as livelihoods, and sheltering the economy, must remain the priorities.'

Of the new positive cases on Tuesday, 77 were in Rhondda Cynon Taf, 34 were in Bridgend, 30 were in Cardiff, 28 were in Swansea and 20 were in Merthyr Tydfil.

During a Cobra meeting, the leaders of the four UK nations agreed to take 'coordinated action' to stop the spread of the virus. Mr Drakeford said some of those measures being introduced elsewhere were already in force in Wales, such as working from home where possible

A series of measures have been introduced in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan to stem a 'sudden increase' in cases across the two counties, local authorities said.

These include indoor visits to care homes and hospitals being limited to essential visits only and increased engagement with businesses on their responsibility to ensure social distancing is followed.

Higher education and further education sectors will strengthen messages to students on the importance of complying with regulations.

The importance of social distancing and not mixing with people indoors will also be communicated in the areas.

No further deaths were reported on Tuesday, with the total number of deaths in Wales since the beginning of the pandemic remaining at 1,603.
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg speaks at Georgetown University in a 'Conversation on Free Expression" in Washington, DC on October 17, 2019.

Facebook said Wednesday it would not allow people to run ads on its services that declare victory in the November election before news organizations have declared a winner.

Facebook will be rejecting political ads that claim victory before the results of the 2020 election have been declared, company spokesman Andy Stone said in a tweet.

The tech company has been fine-tuning its rules for what politicians, campaigns and potentially others can say on Facebook out of concern that people could try to manipulate its online social network to spread false information or sow unrest.

Read more from NBC News:

Facebook has said it has signed partnerships with the Reuters news agency and with the National Election Pool, a consortium of news organizations including NBC News, to determine winners in the election.

Susan Rice, former national security adviser in the Obama White House, is among the people who have expressed concern that President Donald Trump could claim victory wrongly and prematurely.

For non-advertising posts that seek to declare victory, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said earlier this month that the company would add a label to such posts noting that official results were not yet in.

The news organizations, Zuckerberg said in a Facebook post, would provide authoritative information about election results.

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A phantom pandemic has gripped the world, and this has wreaked havoc on the economy, people's health, and caused financial ruin. Confined to the spaces of the four walls of their abode, many people have lost their jobs, unemployment rates are at a record high, and government institutions are scurrying to save the economy. In the crypto sphere, this does not look good at first glance. However, upon close inspection, this pandemic might very well be the cause for the next big boom, the next bitcoin bubble - and it is at our doorsteps.

Let us look at the various circumstances that might contribute to the next bitcoin bubble. Happy reading!

India

In March, the Supreme Court of India overturned a two-year ban on cryptocurrencies in a historic verdict. Since then, buying and trading in bitcoinchampion.io have increased manifold, and the COVID-19 induced economic lethargy and lockdown has added fuel to the fire.

Immediately after the imposed ban was lifted, several exchange platforms saw an explosive increase in trading volumes. One particular platform, "Cashaa India," saw an 800% surge in volumes within two days of lifting the ban.

India is currently plagued by record unemployment levels that are worsened by the lockdown, and many believe that cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology could help a stagnant economy by creating new jobs.

One of the main reason RBI imposed the ban was to curb the onslaught of scams that swept the country. Many were worried that enthusiastic investors could lose money to scams, as reports suggested that hundreds of thousands of people were joining crypto trading platforms every month. In 2017-28, news outlets consistently published stories of eager people with minimal knowledge of crypto being duped of colossal amounts of money.

India and elsewhere

In 2017, as stories of early investors becoming millionaires became the hot topic everywhere, many speculators were driven by the 'fear of missing out' motto. Retail investors scrambled to get a piece of the cake. This led to the eye-gouging rally, as the price of bitcoins rose from $1000 per coin to around $20,000 within one year.

Moreover, the 'halvings' that happen every four years, and this technical event has become a catalyst for substantial bitcoin rallies in the past. Though the May 2020 halving proved to be anticlimactic, top trading platforms have had a significant increase in new users since the beginning of the lockdown.

Additionally, the benefits of bitcoins come to the forefront when looking at the myriad of issues traumatizing the economy now: People in many parts of the world and especially in China are afraid of paper currency for fear that it might contain the virus. Central banks and government authorities all over the world are currently pumping humongous amounts of 'freshly-minted' money into the economy to revive the dormant economy.

Moreover, due to the dilution of currency ensued by the pandemic, asset scarcity is widespread. All these points are giving making investors feel bullish about bitcoins.

This points to one thing: a significantly high chance for a new bitcoin bubble. Who knows, this might even put the 2017 bitcoin rally to shame.
The G-4 nations of India, Germany, Brazil and Japan on Wednesday called for a "decisive push" for the long-delayed reforms of the UN Security Council. "Participated in G4 Foreign Ministers Meeting that called for a decisive push for UNSC reforms during UN75. Unanimous call for text based negotiations in a fixed time frame. Reformed Multilateralism guides India's approach to the United Nations, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar tweeted.

The meeting of G4 Foreign Ministers is held on the sidelines for the annual UN General Assembly. With the high-level session being held virtually this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, all meetings on the sidelines of the General Assembly are also being held on a virtual platform. In the 75th year of the United Nations, India will begin its two-year term as elected non-permanent member of the powerful Security Council from January 1 next year.

Effective response to international terrorism, reforming multilateral systems, comprehensive approach to peace and security, technology with a human touch and inclusive solutions to foster development are India's priorities for its UNSC tenure. In a video address to the High-Level meeting of the General Assembly to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the United Nations on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the world body faces a "crisis of confidence" without comprehensive reforms. He asserted that today's interconnected world needs a reformed multilateralism that gives voice to all stakeholders, addresses contemporary challenges and focuses on human welfare.

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.
Four police officers from the anti-kidnapping unit of the Rivers State Police Command and one sergeant attached to a supermarket have been detained for shooting a 20-year-old Chibuike Daniel Dominic, aka Sleek, in Elelewo axis of Obi-Akpor Local Government Area of the state.

Sleek, a musician, was allegedly shot dead by police operatives on Saturday, sparking a wave of protests two days after by angry youths, who demanded justice for the slain musician.

Sources narrated that the deceased and his friend, simply identified as Reuben, were waiting outside a hotel for a car to convey them to a destination when policemen confronted them.

The source said: They were unarmed, there was nothing incriminating about them, but out of sheer fear of being arrested, the duo took to their heels. Following a chase that ensued, a riot policeman at De Topic Supermarket shot the musician.

Another source told The Guardian that the armed officers, who were on a patrol, sighted the victim and two of his friends walking down the street, beckoned on them to come, but the boys, having seen that the men were with guns, ran away.

While fleeing, the officers shouted thief oh, thief oh and on hearing that, a police sergeant attached to a supermarket within the area, came out, chased and shot Dominic. He died before he could be taken to the hospital.

Governor Nyesom Wike has condemned the killing and called for the reformation or outright dissolution of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

Reacting to the sad development, Wike, on his official twitter handle, @NyesomWike, yesterday said the brutal killing by SARS operatives in Port Harcourt is unacceptable.

We have and will continue to clamour for reformation or outright dissolution of SARS because they have become a menace to the society, the governor stated.

Spokesman for the state police command, Nnamdi Omoni, who confirmed the killing, said the officers had been moved to the state CID for further investigation. He said: On September 19, about 2:30p.m., the leader of the Anti-Kidnapping unit on patrol along Elelenwo took one Daniel Ikeaguchi with Sgt Isaiah Ben, attached to 35 PMF Jigawa but on guard duty at an estate in Elelenwo, who allegedly shot the deceased, took the boy to the Elelenwo police station.

On the receipt of the report, the DPO, CSP Chima Nnaji, immediately ordered that the boy, who was bleeding, be taken to the hospital, but he eventually died and was deposited at the UPTH mortuary.

The DPO, after his preliminary investigation, transferred the sergeant and the four policemen from Anti-Kidnapping to the state CID for further investigation, he said.

But a sister to the diseased, Mercy Dominic, expressed shock that since the death of Chibuike, the police had not contacted them. She lamented that they were denied access and locked out from the Elelenwo Police Station when they went to inquire about the death of their brother.

She said: We were blocked and denied access to the police station. We went there to make inquiries after hearing of my brothers death, but they refused us entrance. While roaming in front of the gate, I saw an officer in a police van where the other two of my late brothers friends were kept and I asked, where is my brother. The officer heartlessly told me to go to University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital mortuary, saying that was where they dumped his body.She described the incident as heartbreaking, adding his aged father had seriously been affected following the sad news.

The way they were parading with his body bleeding all over, instead of taking him to the hospital is inhuman. I want them to face the law. We want justice. She, therefore, called for thorough investigation into the incident and prosecution of any officer found culpable.

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D onald Trump has demanded that the United Nations holds China accountable for the coronavirus pandemic, blaming Beijing for unleashing a plague onto the world.

In his recorded video address to the annual UN general assembly, the US President described Covid-19 as the invisible enemy that has claimed countless lives.

His remarks 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.

"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 administration's track record in battling coronavirus, now a top issue in his bid for re-election.

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 virus's 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 China's environmental record and the UN itself.

"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," 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 one's head in the sand like an ostrich in the face of economic globalisation 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."

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.
A lmost 500 whales have been found beached on Tasmania's coast in the largest mass stranding ever recorded in the country.

Authorities had already been working to rescue survivors among an estimated 270 whales found on Monday on a beach and two sand bars near the remote west coast town of Strahan on the island state of Tasmania.

Another 200 stranded whales were spotted from the air on Wednesday less than 10 kilometres (6 miles) to the south, Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service Manager Nic Deka said.

"From the air, they didn't look to be in a condition that would warrant rescue," Mr Deka said. "Most of them appeared to be dead."

Stranded Pilot Whales off the coast of Tasmania 1 /10 Stranded Pilot Whales off the coast of Tasmania Hundreds of pilot whales were seen stranded on a sand bar in Strahan, Australia Getty Images Rescuers work to save a pod of whales stranded on a sandbar in Macquarie Harbour POOL/AFP via Getty Images Getty Images RYAN BLOOMFIELD/AFP via Getty Im Getty Images POOL/AFP via Getty Images POOL/AFP via Getty Images POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Further assessment of their condition would be made by boat and crews would be sent if the whales could be saved, he said.

About 30 whales in the original stranding were moved from the sandbars to open ocean but several got stranded again, Mr Deka said.

About a third of the first group had died by Monday evening, and an update on the death toll and condition of survivors was expected later Wednesday.

Tasmania is the only part of Australia prone to mass strandings, although they occasionally occur on the Australian mainland.

Australia's largest mass stranding had been 320 pilot whales near the Western Australia state town of Dunsborough in 1996.

The latest stranding is the first involving more than 50 whales in Tasmania since 2009.

"In Tasmania, this is the biggest (mass stranding) we've recorded," Marine Conservation Program wildlife biologist Kris Carlyon said.

People helping a whale in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania / TASMANIA POLICE/AFP via Getty Im

Rescue crews remained optimistic about freeing more whales, Mr Carlyon said.

With cool weather helping, "we've got a very good chance of getting more off that sandbar," he added.

Why the whales ran aground is a mystery. The pod may have been drawn into the coast to feed or by the misadventure of one or two whales, which had led to the rest of the pod following, Mr Carlyon said.

Members of a rescue crew stand with a whale on a sand bar near Strahan, Australia / AP

"It's really likely this was the one stranding event of a big group. This would have been one big group offshore," Mr Carlyon said.

Marine scientist Vanessa Pirotta said there were a number of potential reasons that whales might become beached, including navigational errors.

"They do have a very strong social system, these animals are closely bonded and that's why we have seen so many in this case unfortunately in this situation," Ms Pirotta told Australian Broadcasting Corp.

Numerous stranded whales along the coastline / AP

And rescuing them doesn't always work "because they are wanting to return back to the pod, they might hear the acoustics for the vocalizations of the sounds that the others are making, or they're just disoriented and in this case extremely stressed, and just probably so fatigued that they in some cases don't know where they are, " she added.

In neighbouring New Zealand, more than 600 pilot whales washed up on the South Island at Farewell Spit in 2017.
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
Fast hummingbirds are slow sleepers

Hummingbirds have the fastest metabolisms among vertebrates, and to fuel their lifestyle, they sometimes drink their own body weight in nectar each day. But the hummingbirds of the Andes in South America take that extreme lifestyle a step further.

Not only must they work even harder to hover at altitude, but during chilly nights, they save energy by going into exceptionally deep torpor, a physiological state similar to hibernation in which their body temperature falls by as much as 50F (10C). Then, as dawn approaches, they start to shiver, rocketing their temperatures back up to 96F.

Now, Andrew McKechnie, a professor of zoology at the University of Pretoria in South Africa, and his colleagues are reporting in Biology Letters that the body temperatures of Andean hummingbirds in torpor and the amount of time they spend in this suspended animation vary among species, with one particular set of species, particularly numerous in the Andes, tending to get colder and go longer than others.

They also report one of the lowest body temperatures ever seen in hummingbirds: just under 38F.

On a trip to the Andes about five years ago, Blair Wolf, a professor of biology at the University of New Mexico and an author of the new paper, and his colleagues captured 26 of the little birds for overnight observation. They measured the hummingbirds body temperatures as they roosted for the night and found that almost all of them entered torpor, showing a steep decline in temperature partway through the night.

They also kept track of the birds weights, because hummingbirds, like many other birds, lose weight between dusk and dawn, as they burn through the calories they have consumed during the day.

These birds were held in captivity overnight, but McKechnie says he thinks that in a natural setting, there is more to learn about how hummingbirds save energy.

There are stories of hummingbirds in the Andes that will enter a cave during cold spells and not emerge for several days, a pattern that, if confirmed, would suggest that the birds are capable of hibernation, he notes. Similar to torpor, hibernation saves an organism energy, but it goes on longer than a single night.

The extent to which birds can save energy by going into torpor might well affect how well they do at these high altitudes, McKechnie said.

 Veronique Greenwood

The hidden history baked into a cooking pot

Sure, astrophysicists have big telescopes, and oceanographers use underwater robots, but some researchers get to cook venison, lots of it, in the name of science.

A team of archaeologists and chemists recently released a report in the journal Scientific Reports describing how they had spent a year cooking a variety of meals in clay pots, and then examining the residues left behind. The researchers found that while some residues traced just the last round of ingredients, others reflected the long-term cooking history of each pot. By documenting the results of these experiments, the team hopes to help other scientists reconstruct ancient culinary practices.

Although preparing and consuming food are integral parts of the human experience, culinary traditions often get lost in the record, said Jillian A Swift, an archaeologist in Honolulu and one of the co-authors.

One way of getting at food practices over time is to look at whats left behind after a meal. As they are used, cooking vessels naturally build up organic residues such as charred bits, thin coatings known as patinas, and absorbed fats.

Swift and her colleagues designed a culinary experiment using unglazed clay pots from central Colombia. Clay can absorb food residues and therefore provides a record of past meals, said Melanie J Miller, an archaeologist at the University of Otago in New Zealand and another co-author. But that is the case only if the clay is unglazed, she said, adding, When you have a glaze on a pot, it serves as a barrier.

Seven members of the research team volunteered to cook. Each archaeologist-cook received a pot and prepared the same meal in it once a week for 50 weeks. Each then switched to a different meal for an additional one to four weeks. The preparations were based on wheat and maize. Venison also made an appearance in three of the meals.

Much can be learned from studying these leftovers, said John P Hart, an archaeologist in Albany, New York, not involved in the research: Its a way to get a better understanding of how people lived in the past and what they ate.

 Katherine Kornei

The Przewalskis horse is the only horse species that has never been domesticated (DPA/AFP/Getty)

Extinction is not inevitable. These species were saved

The Przewalskis horse is the only horse species that has never been domesticated, and it also managed to narrowly escape a brush with extinction.

By 1969, agriculture, hunting and a string of severe winters had caused the species to disappear from its last range in Mongolia. Some horses survived in captivity, but in the 1960s, they were being inbred to the point of no return. The horse was saved, however, by a captive breeding program in zoos and by conservationists who reintroduced it to Mongolia in the 1990s. Today, more than 760 Przewalskis horses roam Mongolia.

As the horses story exemplifies, extinctions are not inevitable. Since 1993, conservation efforts have saved up to 48 mammal and bird species from extinction, a new study published last week in Conservation Letters says. Without such efforts, extinction rates for mammals and birds over the past 27 years would be three to four times as high.

In general, wildlife is disappearing rather than rebounding. From 1970 to 2016, populations of nearly 4,400 species declined by an average of 68 per cent, according to a report also published last week by the World Wildlife Fund. A study published in June found that mass extinctions are accelerating and that 500 species are likely to become extinct over the next 20 years.

Its nice to have these positive stories to show that, actually, we can make a difference, said Rike Bolam, a postdoctoral researcher in biodiversity policy at Newcastle University in England, who led the study on Przewalskis horses. There is so much negative press about biodiversity loss, but the knowledge that we can turn things around, even if its just for a small number of species, is quite powerful.

Many species, however, are still critically endangered. At last count, for example, only six vaquita  the worlds smallest porpoise, which are killed as bycatch in illegal fishing in Mexico that is driven by demand in China  still exist.

 Rachel Nuwer

How old is this ancient vision of the stars?

The Nebra sky disk has been hailed as the oldest known representation of the cosmos. Uncovered by looters in 1999 and then recovered in a sting by archaeologists and law enforcement a few years later, the bronze artefact, inlaid with gold decorations of the night sky, has provoked heated debates.

Now, a pair of German archaeologists are calling into question the disks age and origin.

The disk had been judged to be about 3,600 years old, dating it to the Bronze Age. The looters who uncovered it said it was buried on a hilltop near the town of Nebra in Germany, next to weapons from the same era.

Rupert Gebhard, director of the Bavarian State Archaeological Collection in Munich, and Rudiger Krause, a professor in Frankfurt, now say that the disk is a product of the Iron Age, making it about 1,000 years younger. They also say the disk was most likely moved by looters to the Nebra site from another location, meaning it may not be associated with the other artefacts or Nebra itself, according to a new study. We regard the disk as a single find, as a single artefact, Krause said.

The State Museum of Prehistory in Halle, Germany, which exhibits the Nebra sky disk, called the teams conclusions demonstrably incorrect.

 Becky Ferreira

Power struggles are major events in the woodpeckers social calendars (DPA/AFP/Getty)

In this woodpecker kingdom, war is a spectator sport

Every fall acorn woodpeckers stash as many as thousands of acorns in holes drilled into dead tree stumps in preparation for winter. Guarding these granary trees against acorn theft is a fierce, familial affair. But all hell breaks loose when there are deaths in a family and newly vacant spots in prime habitat are up for grabs.

The news travels fast. Nearby woodpecker groups rush to the site and fight long, gory battles until one collective wins, according to a new study in Current Biology. These wars also draw woodpecker audiences, who leave their own territories unattended, demonstrating the immense investment and risks the birds are willing to take in pursuit of better breeding opportunities and intelligence gathering.

I think these power struggles are major events in the birds social calendars, said Sahas Barve, an avian biologist at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and lead author of the study. Theyre definitely trying to get social information out of it.

Acorn woodpecker societies are complex. Each family consists of up to seven adult males, often brothers, which breed with one to three females, often sisters but unrelated to the males. They live with nest helpers who are typically their offspring from previous years. Together they defend 15-acre territories, on average, encompassing one or more granaries in the oak forests along coastal Oregon down into Mexico.

In Californias Hastings Reserve, Barve and his team follow 50 acorn woodpecker groups. In 2018 and 2019 the researchers observed three power struggles, all involving female vacancies. Each combat site lured up to 50 helper females representing a dozen or more competing coalitions. The birds spread their wings to put on a show of superiority and strength and engaged in incessant bickering; at times the war got bloody.

Barve and his team suspect that spectator birds show up in order to understand other birds around them. They must immediately see all the big sibling coalitions in the area, gauge their body conditions and the quality of the territory theyre fighting over, he said.

As the research team continues to understand how and why woodpecker societies make these decisions, Damien Farine, a behavioural ecologist at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior in Germany, said that the study shows the value of tracking individual birds.

With studies like this one, were starting to understand how populations are structured as an outcome of all its individuals behaviours, he said.

 Priyanka Runwal

 The New York Times
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Issuer: Commerzbank AG Guarantor (if any): none ISIN: DE000CB0HRQ9 Aggregate nominal amount:  500,000,000 Description: 0.75% green non-preferred Senior Notes due 24 March 2025 5.5NC4.5 Stabilisation Coordinator:

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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.
Salman hails from an era of leadership that holds with high regard the ideals of pan-Arab and pan-Islamic multilateralism. He was born just four years after his father founded the country by unifying tribes and establishing control over the western Hijaz region, where Mecca is located. He also witnessed the countrys oil-fueled transformation, and as the governor of Riyadh helped to turn the desert capital into a city teeming with skyscrapers, highways, universities and malls. His reign marks the final chapter of power being passed from brother to brother from among the sons of King Abdulaziz as a new generation prepares for the throne.
Activists and racial justice campaigners reacted with anger on Wednesday after a grand jury revealed that only one police officer involved in the killing of Breonna Taylor would face charges, and none of those charges relate to her death.

Following months of protests over the killing of the 26-year-old medical technician inside her home, officer Brett Hankison was charged with three counts of wanton endangerment  a felony charge which fell far short of what campaigners had hoped for.

"It does not deal with the fact that the life of Breonna Taylor was taken, said civil rights leader Reverend Al Sharpton, following the announcement on Wednesday.

It does not address her being a victim of being killed. The value of her life is not at all addressed. When we say Black Lives Matter, this indictment says it does not matter."

The charges handed down do not relate to the killing of Ms Taylor, but to bullets fired by detective Hankison that hit neighbouring apartments. Mr Hankisons bail was set at $10,000.

Jonathan Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove, the two other officers involved in the shooting, and who fired the shots that hit Ms Taylor, will face no charges.

Ms Taylor was struck by six bullets fired by the officers after they forced their way into her apartment. Her death, and the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, sparked nationwide protests calling for racial justice.

Ben Crump, attorney for Ms Taylors family, called the indictment offensive.

Brett Hankison with 3 counts of Wanton Endangerment in 1st Degree for bullets that went into other apartments but NOTHING for the murder of Breonna Taylor. This is outrageous and offensive!, he wrote.

If Brett Hankison's behavior was wanton endangerment to people in neighboring apartments, then it should have been wanton endangerment in Breonna Taylor's apartment too. In fact, it should have been ruled wanton murder! he added.

Ms Taylors sister, Juniyah, wrote on Instagram: Sister I am so sorry.

The African American Policy Forum, a think tank that campaigns to raise awareness of police violence against Black women, said: We have a system of criminal justice that would rather arrest every protester and every person who dares cry out for justice than hold accountable the officers who murdered Breonna Taylor."

We will continue to fight for a world in which Black women are free from the twin terrors of racism and sexism, it added.

In the immediate aftermath of the announcement, protesters began marching through downtown Louisville chanted Ms Taylors name.

Kentuckys attorney general, Daniel Cameron, said in a press conference on Wednesday that a ballistics test had determined that detective Cosgrove fired the fatal shot, but that the officers were justified in their use of force after having been fired upon by Kenneth Walker, Ms Taylors boyfriend.

This is "not fully what we wanted", he added, but it "brings us closer to justice."

In June, the Louisville Metro Police Department fired Hankison. Interim Police Chief Robert Schroeder, who is retiring on 1 October, wrote in the termination notice that Hankison "displayed an extreme indifference to the value of human life" when he "wantonly and blindly fired" 10 rounds into Ms Taylor's home.
As we reach six months since the initial UK lockdown, many are still wondering how and when the global spread of the coronavirus may subside, especially as a vaccine is still a long way from rollout ready.

What about other approaches? Is there a way we could avoid constant lockdown until a vaccine is ready?

In March it was claimed that the British government was hoping to allow the virus to pass through the entire population so that we acquire herd immunity like other illnesses.

Matt Hancock later denied this was the case, and emails seen by the BBC on 23 September, reportedly reveal alarm among the governments top scientific advisers at references made to herd immunity by scientists in media interviews in March.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care separately said that herd immunity is a natural by-product of an epidemic but the government denied herd immunity was ever part of government policy.

On 15 March, a statement read: We have a plan, based on the expertise of world-leading scientists. Herd immunity is not a part of itthat is a scientific concept, not a goal or a strategy. Our goal is to protect life from this virus, our strategy is to protect the most vulnerable and protect the NHS through contain, delay, research and mitigate.

But what exactly is herd immunity and was it ever a possible strategy for the UK? Here is everything you need to know.

What is herd immunity?

When enough people in a community are vaccinated against a disease, this can make it more difficult for the disease to spread to susceptible individuals who have not yet been or cannot be vaccinated. This, the NHS outlines, is called herd immunity.

Academics from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine wrote in a 2011 paper that while some authors use the term to describe the proportion of individuals in a community who are immune to a condition, others use it in reference to a particular threshold proportion of immune individuals that should lead to a decline in incidence of infection.

A common implication of the term is that the risk of infection among susceptible individuals in a population is reduced by the presence and proximity of immune individuals, they added.

The Vaccine Knowledge Project at Oxford University uses the analogy of a person being infected by measles.

If someone with measles is surrounded by people who are vaccinated against measles, the disease cannot easily be passed on to anyone, and it will quickly disappear again, the organisation states.

This is called herd immunity, community immunity or herd protection, and it gives protection to vulnerable people such as newborn babies, elderly people and those who are too sick to be vaccinated.

However, the organisation stresses that herd immunity only works if the majority of a population have been vaccinated against a condition, adding that it does not protect against all vaccine-preventable diseases.

Unlike vaccination, herd immunity does not give a high level of individual protection, and so it is not a good alternative to getting vaccinated, the Vaccine Knowledge Project says.

Professor Mark Woolhouse, a professor of infectious disease epidemiology at the University of Edinburgh, told The Independent that the concept of herd immunity is the basis of all vaccination programmes.

But what happens if there isnt yet a vaccine?

Herd immunity can also occur naturally. Prof Woolhouse explained: If youve been exposed to any infection, enough people have already been exposed to it, have developed antibodies and theyre immune to it, you can have natural herd immunity, and that particular virus will not be able to cause an epidemic in the population.

It doesnt mean it wont be able to spread as therell still be some susceptible people, but it wont take off and cause an epidemic, he said.

But this approach for coronavirus would have required a large proportion of the population becoming ill first making it a non-starter.

Tonia Thomas, Vaccine Knowledge project manager, explained that the prospect of developing immunity to a condition through infection, rather than through vaccination, could be harmful, as people may risk developing complications from the disease.Vaccines are a safer way to develop immunity, without the risks associated with the disease itself, Thomas stated.

And, as time as gone on, there is still questions about how long-term Covid antibodies are anyway. Chris Witty said evidence suggests in some Covid-patients that these antibodies fade after a period of time.

How many people need to have immunity to develop herd immunity?

Professor Paul Hunter, a professor in medicine at the University of East Anglia, added that herd immunity is an indication of the proportion of people who are immune in a population.

The relationship of the proportion of people that are immune that you need to prevent an epidemic varies from infection to infection, he outlined.

With something like measles that is very infectious, you need something like 90 per cent of people immune, but with other infections you can get away with much less.

Is herd immunity a possibility amid the coronavirus outbreak?

On Tuesday 3 March, a statement released by the World Health Organisation (WHO) said that while many people around the world have developed immunity to seasonal flu strains, the same could not be said for the coronavirus.

Covid-19 is a new virus to which no one has immunity, the statement read. That means more people are susceptible to infection, and some will suffer severe disease.

In a scientific brief published by WHO in April, it further stressed that while antibodies may be detected among people who have previously tested positive for the virus, there is currently no evidence that people who have recovered from Covid-19 and have antibodies are protected from a second infection.

On 28 August, WHOs chief scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan explained the implications of allowing Covid-19 to spread around the population, stating that it is believed that at least 60 to 70 per cent of the population would need to be immune to really break the chain of transmission.

If you allow this to happen naturally, it will take a long time, of course, but more importantly, its going to do a lot of collateral damage. So even if 1 per cent of people who get infected are ultimately going to die, then this can add up to a huge number of people, if we look at the global population, Dr Swaminathan said.

And that is why we believe its not a good idea to try to achieve herd immunity by just letting the infection run wild in the population and infect a lot of people and that we should talk about herd immunity in the context of a vaccine.

In March, The Independents health correspondent Shaun Lintern said that there was no chance of herd immunity with coronavirus.

As a brand new virus, no one has immunity to it, so every human being is susceptible to the virus, he explains. Herd immunity will only come into effect once a huge majority of people have had it and survived so their bodies create antibodies to the virus.

Lintern affirms that in order to achieve a good herd immunity, approximately 90 to 95 per cent of the population would need to have recovered and become immune to the infection, such as in the case of measles, which could subsequently result in a rise in the number of deaths and people in intensive care.

There is also a risk coronavirus becomes seasonal and like the flu will mutate each season and therefore again herd immunity cant come into play.

In Professor Hunters opinion, herd immunity is unlikely to happen until next year when we hopefully will have a vaccine.

I am just making effectively educated guesses at this point, but I suspect we wont see the last of it this year, he stated.

I suspect it will become whats called endemic where the virus circulates forever into the future, and in those circumstances in the future herd immunity will have a big impact, the professor said.

The US-based Centres for Disease Control and Prevention states on its website that the immune response for Covid-19 is not yet understood, and so it is not completely certain whether patients can be infected again.

Recommended How to feel less anxious about the coronavirus

In July, a study conducted by researchers at Kings College London concluded that coronavirus patients may lose immunity to the disease within months.

The researchers found that 60 per cent of patients had a potent level of antibodies in the two weeks after their symptoms first showed. However, after three months, their antibody levels dropped to less than 17 per cent.

In August, scientists at Hong Kong University claimed they had discovered the first human being reinfected with Covid-19, stating that the man had been infected twice by different versions of the coronavirus months apart.

If the research proves correct, it may mean that patients may not necessarily be immune to Covid-19 after recovering from the virus.

The Independent contacted the governments Department of Health for comment when this article was first published in March.
As a partner in the Microsoft Azure Networking MSP program, Orange can now help enterprises meet these challenges with a full set of cloud and hybrid networking services from Azures extensive portfolio. At the same time, Orange offers the innate capabilities to manage all cloud connectivity, from the local partner site through to the cloud network.

Paul Joyce, Executive Vice President of Global Solutions, Orange Business Services, said, As a network-native digital services company we are positioned as a full-stack player, providing an end-to-end journey to the cloud via our network to cloud offers. Our partnership with Microsoft enables us to now go a step further enriching our value proposition within the Azure ecosystem, allowing us to provide our customers with products and services to advance their cloud strategies for even better, more resilient business outcomes.

There is no cloud without the network. This relationship enables Orange to address customers needs starting at the LAN, and through to the cloud beyond our own infrastructure. It will enable them to put down the essential building blocks for network transformation that are essential to harvest the benefits of cloud.

Sunil Kishen, Principal Program Manager, Azure Networking at Microsoft, said, We welcome Orange Business Services into the Microsoft Azure Networking MSP program. Enterprises can benefit from Oranges extensive networking expertise and service capabilities to leverage the power of Orange Flexible SD-WANs native cloud connectivity combined with Microsoft Azure Virtual WAN automation value proposition. Azure networking managed services developed for our mutual customers will reinforce their autonomy and agility from the edge to the cloud.

Becoming an Azure Networking MSP enables Orange to develop managed services within the Azure network. This includes network transformation, connectivity, monitoring and performance managed services and security for Azure traffic. Orange will also be able to offer end-to-end management of ExpressRoute and Azure Virtual WAN services. This reinforces Flexible SD-WANs value proposition for multicloud connectivity and application visibility end-to-end.

The collaboration will look to develop and offer managed services for Microsoft Azure Cloud Networking solutions, providing a flexible one-stop approach to managing cloud complexity that guarantees performance and visibility for enterprises. These services will be positioned and marketed in Azure Marketplace, promoting Oranges cloud connectivity expertise through a new channel to both current and new customers.
Mumbai: Actress Rhea Chakraborty , arrested in a drugs case related to actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death, has said in her bail plea filed in the Bombay High Court that she is innocent and NCB is "deliberately" trying to invoke stringent charges against her and her family.

She also said that she has been subjected to a "witch-hunt".

In her bail application filed in the HC on Tuesday, Chakraborty said she is just 28 years of age, and besides the probe by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), she has been subjected to three more investigations by police and central agencies, and a "simultaneous media trial".

These probes refer to the ones conducted into Rajput's death by the Mumbai Police, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Chakraborty said all of this has taken a "severe toll on her mental health and well being".

Any further custody will worsen her mental health, she said in her plea filed through her counsel Satish Maneshinde.

Her bail plea was scheduled to be heard by a single bench presided over by Justice Sarang Kotwal on Wednesday.

However, since the High Court suspended the day's hearings owing to heavy rains in the city, the plea is likely to be heard on Thursday.

Chakraborty further said in her plea that Rajput had been in the habit of consuming drugs, particularly, "ganja" since even before she got into a relationship with him.

While she would sometimes procure drugs for him in "small quantities", and would also "occasionally pay for them herself," she was in no way a part of any drug syndicate.

She also said Rajput was the only one who was consuming the said drugs.

"The applicant (Chakraborty) is innocent and has not committed any crime whatsoever," the plea said.

She also said in her plea that she has been subjected to a "witch-hunt," and after the CBI and the ED failed to gather any evidence against her, the NCB was "brought in to somehow implicate her and her family".

Chakraborty has been booked by the NCB on several charges, including financing illicit trafficking of drugs under Section 27-A of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance (NDPS) Act.

Section-27 A brings along a bar on the grant of bail to an accused.

The actor said she has been wrongly booked under the NDPS Act Section 27-A.

Besides, since no drugs were seized from her possession and since the NCB has managed to seize only 59 grams of drugs from all accused persons, the bar on grant of bail cannot be applied to her, she said in the plea.

The actress said a bar on grant of bail can come into play only if the drugs seized are in commercial quantities.

Last week, a similar argument was made by lawyers of Samuel Miranda and Dipesh Sawant, co-accused in the case, before a bench of Justice Kotwal.

Justice Kotwal had then pointed out that a plain reading of the NDPS Act showed Section 27-A could be imposed irrespective of the quantum of drugs recovered by the NCB.

He had, however, directed Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, who represent the NCB in the high court, to clarify the same on September 29, the next date of hearing on the bail pleas of Miranda and others.

Chakraborty said some others accused in the case had faced identical allegations, but they had not been booked under the stringent Section 27-A.

She also said that at best, she can be accused of having procured drugs in small amounts for her boyfriend.

However, she was trying her best to wean Rajput off his habit of consuming drugs, the actress said.

Besides, if Rajput was alive today, he would have been charged merely for consumption of drugs and would have invited a maximum sentence of just one year, while she has been charged under sections imposing a maximum sentence of up to 20 years, Chakraborty said in the plea.

On a similar argument last week on the other pleas, Justice Kotwal pointed out that the NDPS Act adopts an "empathetic approach" towards the drug addict with view towards his rehabilitation.

However, it aims at ending all illicit trafficking of drugs and therefore, carries stringent punishment for those involved in procurement, financing and production of drugs.

Earlier this month,a special NDPS court in the city rejected the bail pleas of the actress and her brother Showik Chakraborty, saying if let out on bail, they might tamper with the evidence.

The actress is currently lodged in the Byculla women's prison in the city.

Rajput (34) was found hanging in his home in suburban Bandra on June 14.

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Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 23 : Finally, after close to two months, the Pinarayi Vijayan government in Kerala on Wednesday decided to order a Vigilance probe into the 'Life Mission' project.

For Vijayan, the Life Mission project has been a pet one ever since he assumed office in 2016. It was floated to build houses for the homeless and landless using funds from sponsorships, and the role of the state government was to provide the land only.

The project, however, ran into trouble when Anil Akkara -- the Congress Legislator from Wadakkanchery in Thrissur -- first raised questions about the wrong doings in a building project in his constituency, which was cleared with funds from a UAE based charity organisation -- the Red Crescent.

Vijayan all along, since Akkara raised this case, has been defending that the state government apart from handing over the land, had no role in the project.

But, after the now infamous Kerala gold smuggling surfaced with prime accused Swapna Suresh being arrested by the NIA from Bengaluru in July, following recovery of Rs one crore from one of her lockers, things started to change. Suspicions were also raised after Bineesh Kodiyeri, son of the powerful CPI-M state secretary was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate --whether there was more than what was being heard in the case.

This particular project was routed through the UAE Consulate, here, where Swapna and another arrested -- P. S.Sarith both worked. It turned murkier, when news surfaced that the son of state Industries Minister E. P.Jayarajan was also close to Swapna.

Vijayan, for the past one month has been beating around the bush whenever the media put questions about the Life Mission project. He even vented out his ire at a woman journalist representing the Congress backed TV channel -- 'Jaihind', when she asked why he was not handing over the documents of the Life Mission to Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala, despite several requests from him.

Speaking to the media, Akkara said it was he who had first raised this fraud and he approached Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan seeking justice.

"Vijayan has been silent for long and despite repeated requests from the Congress side for a probe, I first approached the Governor. Then, I wrote to the CBI and today Vijayan has ordered a Vigilance probe because it's now come to light that the CBI is all set to probe this case. There is no point in the Vigilance probe, as it is headed by Vijayan himself," said Akkara.

Presently the Customs, NIA, ED and the Income Tax are probing the gold smuggling, drug and the Life Mission case. But, since in the Life Mission project funds have come from the UAE, the appropriate agency to probe that is the CBI and in all likelihood, it will also be roped in, thus leaving Vijayan in a tight spot.

Vijayan's powerful secretary and top IAS official M. Sivasankar and Vijayan's IT key person Arun Balachandran, have all been removed from their posts for their closeness to Swapna.

Already state BJP president K.Surendran has demanded a probe into the dealings of Vijayan's daughter -- Veena Vijayan.

The coming days for Vijayan are crucial, as NIA has started another round of questioning of Swapna and is expected to counter her with all the digital evidence which they have recovered from her WhatsApp and Telegram accounts.

Both the Congress and the BJP are up in arms and for the past eight days they are out in the streets demanding the resignation of Vijayan.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
AstraZeneca's late-stage coronavirus vaccine trial in the U.S. remains on hold as federal investigators seek "answers to important questions" over its safety for patients, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar told CNBC on Wednesday.

Global clinical trials for AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine, called AZD1222, were placed on hold Sept. 6 after one of the participants in the U.K. reported a serious adverse reaction. Following an investigation, AstraZeneca said on Sept. 12 that it had resumed trials in the U.K., though the U.S. trial has since remained on hold.

"Look at the AstraZeneca program, phase three clinical trial, a lot of hope. Single serious adverse event report in the United Kingdom, global shutdown and hold of the clinical trials," Azar told CNBC's "Squawk Box" in defense of the Trump administration's quick development of a Covid-19 vaccine amid safety concerns.

"Still on hold here in the United States as the (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) seeks answers to important questions to verify safety information around those vaccines. Plan is by the book, we're keeping patient safety at the center of everything we do," he said.

AstraZeneca spokeswoman Michele Meixell confirmed that the vaccine's trial in the U.S. remains on hold.
AFPTV

The Taliban stage a demonstration with around 300 men, chanting "We want Sharia law" and "We want the hijab, even if we die for it". The crowd accuses women's rights activists who have taken to the streets in recent weeks of being hired "mercenaries", especially after they stamped on a burqa during a recent protest.
Philip Lynch was the central personality in the evolution of IAWS and its spin-offs for almost four decades, with his own personal fortunes closely matching those of the companies he led.

Lynch transformed IAWS from a sleepy feed and grain supplier to a global baked goods behemoth, creating substantial value for shareholders along the way. By 2010, his personal wealth was estimated at 22m.

It was all a far cry from the West Cork town of Bandon where Lynch was born in 1946. One of his early jobs was as a sales manager for the old, established Cork grain firm of R&H Hall.

Lynch left when he was passed over for promotion in favour of a candidate he felt was less able but a socially better fit for advancement. According to legend, Lynch's parting shot was that he would return one day and fire all of those who had overlooked his talents.

He was to get his revenge sooner than he might have expected. Lynch became chief executive of IAWS, one of Hall's competitors, in 1983. In 1990, a hole appeared in the Hall accounts and IAWS struck - launching a 42m takeover bid which most of Hall's shareholders quickly accepted.

In a plot twist that could have been plucked from Jeffrey Archer, the spurned country boy, returned as conqueror.

However, it was the takeover of Cuisine de France in 1997 that showed Lynch at his buccaneering best, when he snatched the highly innovative frozen bakery supplier away from a slow-moving Greencore for 51m.

While this was widely thought to be a 'toppy' price at the time, it turned out to be transformational and everything that soon followed at IAWS and Aryzta flowed from it.

In 2003, after two decades as IAWS chief executive, Lynch moved upstairs to become chairman. His retirement was a bit like a Frank Sinatra farewell concert and he became chief executive of the rump IAWS co-op, which was renamed One51.

Lynch's reputation ensured that it had no problem raising 150m from investors.

Unfortunately Lynch was unable to repeat his previous successes.

One51's bid for ferry operator ICG failed and, with the share price having lost almost two-thirds of its value, he was deposed in July 2011.

There was worse to come as Lynch's personal wealth was massively exposed to the property crash. In December 2011, the High Court ruled that Lynch was liable for a 25m AIB loan - borrowed to purchase land in Co Waterford.

The ruling was appealed to the Supreme Court, which upheld it in January 2014. It was a sad epilogue to one of the most distinguished Irish business careers of recent decades.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 18:52:49|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- China firmly opposes the United States' fabrication of lies and groundless accusations against China, motivated by shady political purposes, at the United Nations (UN) podium, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday.

"Facts have proven once again that unilateralism and bullying are the most serious threats facing the world," Wang Wenbin said at a press briefing in response to a U.S. leader's remarks about China at the general debate of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.

"Lies can in no way replace truth. China's COVID-19 response efforts are clearly recorded, and people will make fair judgments," said Wang, adding China reported the epidemic, identified the pathogen and shared its genome sequence with the world all at the earliest possible time.

Wang said after confirming the human-to-human transmission of the novel coronavirus, China immediately made the resolute decision to shut all exit routes from Wuhan, and imposed the most stringent controls on the exit routes from Wuhan and Hubei Province.

Furthermore, China's customs authorities promptly halted, in accordance with the law, overseas travel by Chinese people belonging to four groups, namely confirmed cases, suspected cases, close contacts with the former two and people with a fever, he added.

Wang pointed out when China closed the exit channels from Wuhan on Jan. 23, only nine confirmed cases were identified outside China, of which only one was in the United States.

On Jan. 31, the United States suspended direct flights to and from China. When the United States closed its borders to all Chinese citizens on Feb. 2, only a dozen confirmed cases were reported in the United States, he said.

"China's COVID-19 response efforts have been open and transparent with a clear timeline. The facts and figures are an open book for all to see," said the spokesperson.

It is "utterly futile" for the United States to level groundless accusations against China concerning the pandemic in an attempt to shift blame for its mishandling of the virus onto others, Wang said.

The United States' arbitrary attacks on and withdrawal from the World Health Organization have jeopardized global anti-epidemic cooperation, which will bring harm to people around the world and see the American people incur a heavy cost, he added.

"It is imperative for the United States to cease its political manipulations and put an end to labeling or politicizing the virus, and join the rest of the international community in this common fight, rather than scapegoat or smear others," said Wang. Enditem
A 40-year-old British man was arrested by National Police at Malaga Airport last Friday in connection with a European Arrest and Surrender Order issued by authorities in the UK.

The individual, with initials D. J. H., was born in Glasgow and was wanted for alleged crimes of arms and drug trafficking and membership of a criminal group.

He faces between 14 years and a life sentence behind bars.
Colombia's President Ivan Duque told the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday that the parliamentary elections planned in Venezuela in December are a "pre-fabricated" process designed to "perpetuate the dictatorship" of President Nicolas Maduro.

Duque said in a pre-recorded speech that Venezuela needed elections that were truly free.

"We must make a strong appeal to all the nations of the world to raise their voices and demand truly free elections in Venezuela, and not this prefabricated electoral process, to which they intend to take the Venezuelan people this December, simply to perpetuate the dictatorship," he said.

Duque made a reference to a recent report by UN human rights experts which accused Maduro's government of crimes aginst humanity, and highlighted cases of torture and murder allegedly perpetrated by security forces.

"What Maduro seeks with these crimes against humanity is to perpetuate his tyranny, so everyone, absolutely everyone in the international community, must reject that situation," he said.

Venezuela will hold its legislative elections on 6 December for the seats of the National Assembly.

The election offers Maduro and his allies the opportunity to retake the majority in the National Assembly that they lost in 2015 to the opposition led by Juan Guaido.

"Maduro's dictatorial regime is sustained by drug trafficking resources, is home to terrorists and is a constant threat to democracy in the region and around the world," Duque said.

Maduro himself is expected to address the UN General Assembly on Wednesday.
We do not see human evil in this pandemic in the way we did in the perpetrators of 9/11, he said. But the challenge of our response is not so different ... to unite in the face of a shared crisis in a way that might have seemed unlikely a year or two ago.
House Democratic Caucus Chairman Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) speaks as House Democratic Caucus Vice Chair Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) listens during a news conference after a caucus meeting at the U.S. Capitol in Washington in a Jan. 9, 2019, file photograph. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Democrat Caucus: Republicans Push to Fill Supreme Court Seat is to Repeal Obamacare

The House Democrat Caucus on Tuesday criticized President Donald Trump and Senate Republicans for hurrying to fill the Supreme Court seat before Nov. 3 election for one main purpose, to repeal Obamacare.

The Trump administration has filed a lawsuit to repeal Obamacare, also known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The Supreme Court will hear the case on Nov. 10 in which the Justice Department argues, that the ACA is unconstitutional and therefore should be wiped out.

Before the country has even had an opportunity to appropriately mourn Justice Ginsburg and send her off, theyre already trying to jam a right-wing conservative judge down the throats of the American people as part of a scheme to take away the health care of millions of Americans, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, told reporters in the Capitol on Tuesday.

Republican Senators have said they will vote for and approve a conservative judge before the election on Nov. 3. If the new GOP justice is confirmed, the high court would go from 5-4 to 6-3, in favor of conservatives.

Democrat leaders claim repealing the ACA is the main reason for GOPs urgency in filling Justice Ginsburgs seat.

This fight for a Supreme Court justice really is about health care and the upcoming ACA hearing, said Rep. Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), the vice-chair of the Caucus.

Meanwhile, at a press conference on the same day, Senator Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said that the Senate will vote on President Trumps nominee who is likely to be a highly qualified woman. Sen. Thune (R-S.D.) added that the GOP is mainly looking for a nominee who will uphold the constitution and not take a political stand.

Most of us came to the Senate, ran for the Senate, in a lot of ways for big moments like this, for an opportunity to fill seats on the Supreme Court in with nominees that believe in the constitution, the rule of law and want to ensure that its applied in the work that they do on the court, Thune stressed at a press conference Tuesday.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) (C) speaks to the media on Capitol Hill in Washington on March 21, 2017. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Ginsburgs passing has sparked intense controversy, with Democrats saying that Republicans (who controlled the Senate in 2016) opposed former Democratic President Obamas pick in 2016 for the supreme court.

McConnell and Senate Republicans argue 2020 is different from 2016 because the same party controls the White House and the Senate now. The GOP also argue that Democrats would do the same if they were in their position.

What matters most to Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell and as our chairman put it, the boys. His power, not saving lives or jobs, not preventing millions of Americans from spilling into homelessness, not defending our Constitution, Clark said.

Some Experts estimate that repealing Obamacare would eliminate health coverage for close to 20 million people, while others say the ACA has significantly increased premiums for those privately insured, and close to 7 million have lost their health coverage under the ACA.

The members of the Democratic Caucus criticized the president for his handling of the pandemic and for wanting to repeal the ACA.

They dont have an alternative to the Affordable Care Act. Theyre in court right now trying to declare it unconstitutional and they want to put a justice on the Supreme Court who will strip away the protections that millions of Americans, over 100 million Americans with preexisting conditions, currently have under law, Jeffries said.

However, President Trump has argued that ACA is too expensive and gives little or no choice to people for the quality of care, choosing their doctor and drives up health care costs for the individual. Trump also criticized Democrats for wanting to socialize healthcare, which he said, would get rid of coverage for pre-existing conditions.

And we are not going to hurt anything having to do with preexisting conditions. Were not going to hurt preexisting conditions. And, in fact, just the opposite, President Trump said at a town hall event Sept. 15. Were going to be doing a healthcare plan very strongly and protect people with preexisting conditions, the president added.

When pressed by New Anchor, George Stephanopoulos about his administrations court battle over repealing Obamacare President Trump responded, Obamacare was a disaster. Obamacare is too expensive; the premiums are too high. Its a total disaster.

Trump told Stephanopoulos that his soon to be released healthcare plan will be better and cover pre-existing conditions.

The White House argues that replacing Obamacare will force insurance companies to compete for their customers, providing people with lower costs and higher-quality service.
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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.
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The Election Observation Mission of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) starts its work in Ukraine on September 23.

First Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Emine Dzheppar met with Head of the OSCE ODIHR Election Observation Mission Ingibjorg Gisladottir on September 22, the Ministrys press service informs.

In accordance with the invitation of the Ukrainian side, the OSCE ODIHR Election Observation Mission to the local elections in Ukraine, scheduled for October 25, will start working in Ukraine on September 23.

"Emine Dzheppar stressed that Ukraine had consistently supported the impartial, autonomous and depoliticized activities of the ODIHR in monitoring elections in the OSCE participating states. She also stressed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine was ready to provide full assistance to international observers in fulfilling their mandate," reads the statement.

The First Deputy Minister informed Ingibjorg Gisladottir that the local elections in Ukraine would be held in new conditions as part of the decentralization reform for the first time, so the country saw an unprecedented level of attention to the elections. Dzheppar also stressed that the elections would be held amid the ongoing armed aggression and temporary occupation of parts of Ukraine by the Russian Federation.

The Head of the ODIHR Election Observation Mission praised Ukraine's invitation to the local elections and informed about the main stages of the Mission's work in the pre-election and post-election periods.

The parties stressed the importance of international election observation as a key element in the development of democratic processes and further improvement of electoral systems in the countries.

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Cake Boss star Buddy Valastro injured his right hand so badly he has had to endure two surgeries.

And now the 43-year-old TV standout will be spending the next few months in recovery as he tries to regain use of his hand.

The injury, which he has described as 'terrible,' happened on Sunday when he was bowling with his wife Lisa and their kids at his home in New Jersey.

After surgeries: Cake Boss star Buddy Valastro injured his right hand so badly he has had to endure two surgeries. And now the 43-year-old TV standout will be spending the next few months in recovery as he tries to regain use of his hand; seen in the hospital

Buddy shared the news on Facebook when he uploaded a photo of himself in a hospital bed with his arm propped up.

'I was involved in a terrible accident a few days ago,' he wrote in the caption. 'What do you think of my new accessory?' he joked about his cast.

'Hey guys, Buddy here, I had a really bad accident the other day at my house with my hand ... thank you for all your love and support, we're going to get through this together,' he added on Instagram.

He was released from the hospital on Wednesday and is recovering at home.

Painful: 'I was involved in a terrible accident a few days ago,' he wrote in the caption. 'What do you think of my new accessory?' he joked about his cast.

Sweet things: Valastro is best known as the star of the reality television series Cake Boss, which premiered in April 2009

Gruesome: His rep told People how the accident took place. 'There was a malfunction with the bowling pinsetter, a common fix in the past, but turned into a terrible accident,' the rep said. 'After trying to release the bowling pin from the cage mechanism, his right hand became lodged and compressed inside the unit,' they continued; seen in 2019

His rep told People how the accident took place. 'There was a malfunction with the bowling pinsetter, a common fix in the past, but turned into a terrible accident,' the rep said.

'After trying to release the bowling pin from the cage mechanism, his right hand became lodged and compressed inside the unit,' they continued.

'Unable to remove his hand, he can see a 1-1/2' metal rod slowly and repeatedly impale his hand three times between his ring finger and middle finger.'

He endured five minutes of the same move, crushing his hand.

She was by his side: His wife Lisa Valastro helped him after the accident; seen at the 2019 E! People's Choice Awards in November 2019 in Santa Monica, California

His cute kids: His sons Buddy Jr., 16, and Marco, 13, sprung into action by using a reciprocating saw 'to cut through the metal rod and relieve his father from the machine,' according to the rep; with all three kids, including daughter Sofia, in 2016

His sons Buddy Jr., 16, and Marco, 13, sprung into action by using a reciprocating saw 'to cut through the metal rod and relieve his father from the machine,' according to the rep.

He was rushed to Morristown Memorial in New Jersey for his first surgery then Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan for his second operation where orthopedic surgeon Dr Michelle Carlson worked on him.

'It will be an uphill battle as it's Buddy's dominant right hand and he will need prolonged recovery and therapy,' Valastro's rep added.

With his pals: Valastro, poses with Duff Goldman, and Ted Allen at the Discovery Upfront 2018 at the Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center in New York City in 2018

Valastro is best known as the star of the reality television series Cake Boss, which premiered in April 2009.

In 2018 he said talked to People about how much he likes to stay at home.

'Honestly, I don't like to go out,' he noted.

He revealed that in addition to a fully-stocked refrigerator his kitchen, he also has an industrial-sized fridge and freezer in their garage. 'All Italians got a refrigerator in the garage,' he told the magazine. 'That's what we do.'
The strike action by nurses and midwives to demand better conditions of service has compelled some Security Personnel and casual workers in some hospitals in the Cape Coast Metropolis to take up minor roles to support health care delivery.

Some security personnel were seen assuming some minor roles like ensuring COVID-19 protocols were observed while some casual workers also were engaged in calling out the names of patients to the consulting rooms.

The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) and its allied groups are demanding better conditions of service from the government and hope the strike action would compel the government to heed to their demands.

The Ghana News Agency visited the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital (CCTH) and other health facilities observed that, the doctors and specialists who were attending to the few patients at the emergency department took up the roles of nurses by doing weight and temperature checking before proceeding to their main duties.

The story was not different at the Ewim Poly Clinic, where there was low patient patronage with zero nurse attendance and few patients left to their fate at the premises.

A security personnel who pleaded anonymity said: we have no other option than to assume certain responsibilities, but we can only do the minor ones.

Consequently, he pleaded with government to meet the needs of the nurses so they could attend to humanity.

Mr. Adonu Victor, a patient who appeared distraught said he had been at the facility since morning but it appeared the services had been slow as he was in a short queue for quite a long time.

When told about the strike, he indicated that the role of nurses in health care was very vital and wondered how many lives could be lost in just few days if nothing was done about it.

---GNA
(Photo : Photo by Roberto Cortese on Unsplash) Shopify Breach Affects 200 Merchants Customer Data: Should You be Alarmed? (Photo : Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Lt. Mike Baute from Florida's Child Predator CyberCrime Unit talks with people on instant messenger during the unveiling of a new CyberCrimes office March 7, 2008 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. One of the people on the other side of the chat told Lt. Baute, who is saying he is a 14 year old girl, that he is a 31 year old male and sent him a photograph of himself. According to current statistics, more than 77 million children regularly use the Internet. The Federal Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force says Florida ranks fourth in the nation in volume of child pornography. Nationally, one in seven children between the ages of ten and 17 have been solicited online by a sexual predator.

Canada's online shop Shopify recently announced 200 merchant customer data might have stolen by two of their 'rogue' employees. No sensitive personal information or credit card details were included on the breach, but it may have accessed transaction records from the merchants themselves. Should you be alarmed?

Shopify breach alarm: What happened?

Hundreds of merchants selling items in one of the most popular shopping app Shopify were recently alarmed by the company over a data breach.

On Tuesday, Sept. 23, Shopify's blog post revealed two of their 'rogue' employees tried to access the store's database. It was said that the hackers might have exposed to the customers' data, including names, email and postal addresses, and order details.

Luckily, other more sensitive personal data such as financial information of credit card payments were not accessed by the two.

Shopify did not clarify when did the breach start. It was only quoted 'recently' by the store. Since it was also too early on the investigation, the e-commerce store did not explain how their employees had access to the database. Or if the data were used against the customers.

They also reiterated that "this incident was not the result of a technical vulnerability in our platform, and the vast majority of merchants using Shopify are not affected."

As of now, the two 'rogue' employees were fired from their positions as the investigation started.

"We don't take these events lightly at Shopify. We have zero-tolerance for platform abuse and will take action to preserve the confidence of our community and the integrity of our product," said on the blog post.

Should you be alarmed?

Nowadays, cybercrimes, including security breaches, are rampant in all kinds of businesses.

In this recent Shopify breach, the company said that the majority of Shopify customers should not be alarmed by the incident. They also talked with the merchants affected to address any other issues caused by the breach.

If you're still worried, though, you can do all the basic user-protection methods. This includes changing your passwords, checking your log-in details, or making sure you're accessing legitimate websites and pages.

ALSO READ: [Update] Instacart Clarifies 'No Customer Info Compromised' on Recent Data Breach; Here's What Happened

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Jamie Pancho

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The son of a coronavirus victim has launched a class action lawsuit against Melbourne's bungled hotel quarantine company.

Dragan Markovic, from St Albans in the city's northwest, watched his 83-year-old father Nenad die through a glass window at Brunswick Private Hospital in August.

He passed away 10 days after being transferred to hospital from Kalyna Care nursing home, in Melbourne's northwest.

About 99 per cent of Victoria's second wave - accounting for more than 700 deaths - has been traced back to the quarantine program where private security firms were hired to guard returned travellers.

Dragan Markovic, from St Albans in the city's northwest, watched his 83-year-old father Nenad die through a glass window at Brunswick Private Hospital in August

Mr Markovic described being forced to watch his father take his dying breaths from outside on a footpath as 'incredibly distressing and traumatic'.

'Had the security firms hired to look after infected travellers not failed to do their job, Mr Markovic's father and hundreds of other Victorians would still be alive and families would have been spared this unimaginable pain,' Mr Markovic said.

'He died in such a horrible way. I watched the ordeal which was incredibly distressing and traumatic.'

The private security guards contracted to patrol quarantining travellers at Melbourne hotels are accused of ignoring COVID-19 public health orders.

COVID-19 spread widely across the Victorian community through ongoing transmission of the hotel quarantine clusters.

Mr Markovic's father had been a resident of Kalyna aged care home, but was moved to Brunswick Private Hospital in mid-August following an outbreak of coronavirus.

'Shortly, after my father tested positive we found out we could see him by going outside the hospital and looking through the window as his room was on the ground floor,' he said.

'When we arrived the first time we could see through the window that he had an oxygen mask on. They told me he was on the full dosage of oxygen allowed. However, I did not notice any other sort of monitoring equipment hooked up to him.

'I questioned how my father was being fed. The doctor said they were not feeding him as he was unconscious and they did not want him to choke.

'I found this very distressing and was in utter disbelief. How could he fight the virus if he was not being fed? I felt as though the hospital had given up on him and they were not interested in doing everything to help his condition.'

On August 30, Nenad passed away whilst his son and wife watched him through a window.

Lawyer Kim Price said Arnold Thomas and Becker law firm is representing a number of Victorians who have been impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak, and said 1,000 people are covered by the class action.

Security guards contracted to Melbourne's hotel quarantine were pictured sleeping on the job

'Some clients we are representing have suffered psychiatric injury as a result of the COVID-19 related death of someone close to them. Others have suffered ongoing health issues as a result of contracting the virus,' Mr Price told Daily Mail Australia.

'We have also been approached by people who are the legal personal representatives of those who have died from COVID-19, as well as people who were dependents of people who have died.

'It's been such a distressing time for Victorians  so many lives lost and some families have suffered and all of this could have been avoided.'

Arnold Thomas and Becker have commenced building a register for people wanting to join the class action and will continue to follow the developments of the inquiry into the Hotel Quarantine Outbreak.

Mr Price said that a significant number of class members will make claims in the hundreds-of-thousands of dollars.

The class action was filed in the Supreme Court of Victoria on 22 September.
MEP Charlie Weimers (ECR) answers questions about free trade and the functioning and role of the single market after the Corona crisis.

Many believe that the inherent weaknesses of the single market became more apparent during the Coronavirus crisis, for example through the closure of borders and the introduction of export bans. What do you see as the role of the single market in the future? What should be done, and what actions should the EU take to counteract the likelihood of further problems? Is the single market likely to cease to function in the event of future crises?

The single market should be the main focus of EU cooperation. The European Union must refocus on the basics. The EU regulatory burden must be reduced, and the European Commission must live up to its promise to phase out one rule for each new one it introduces. The administrative costs facing companies must also be reduced. Before the EU focuses on the next crisis, it should take action to restore its proper functioning after this most recent one.

What measures at EU level do you see as particularly important for the economy to recover from the Coronavirus crisis? What will be the role of the EUs single market and free trade in the recovery?

The EU must withstand the pressure from those who want to use the crisis to fundamentally change the Union. More rules, greater integration, the transfer of power in more areas and transfers between countries are not the ideal breeding ground for a recovery. Instead, the EU should signal stability; this should begin with complying with its own regulations. In times of crisis, it is our task as elected conservative representatives to slow down those proposals that are not legally sustainable or effective.

It is now standard to sign free trade agreements that contain clauses on, for example, the environment and labour law issues. Do you think that it is a good or bad thing to use free trade agreements to influence other countries actions on issues that are not directly related to trade? How should these clauses be formulated in the future, if at all?

Trade agreements should focus on rules for trade. Otherwise, there is a considerable risk that the overall goal of reducing barriers to trade in goods and services across borders will be undermined - or even cut short - by short-term political agendas. Ultimately, there is no end to the good intentions that can be baked in to trade agreements.

There is currently an ongoing discussion regarding climate tariffs or the carbon border adjustment mechanism. What is your position on the EU imposing such duties / charges? How would this affect Sweden and Swedish companies?

For decades, federalists have pushed for additional resources of their own, sent directly to EU coffers. Direct revenue to the EU budget would mean that the central institutions can gradually free themselves from the last remaining controls held by the Member States. In Sweden, the popular opposition to tax law at EU level is strong. Therefore, we are first softened up through fees and duties that would be introduced on supposedly good grounds. Climate tariffs are hardly compatible with the World Trade Organizations regulations and will undoubtedly have an adverse impact on Swedens international trade flows. Swedish export companies will be negatively affected if our largest trading partners take countermeasures such as punitive duties.

The relationship between the EU and China is currently somewhat strained. What do you think the EUs approach to China should look like?

In order to gain due respect and earn concessions from the great powers, the EU must begin by getting its own house in order. We need to clean up our over-regulated economies. The Augean stable of regulations must be cleaned to allow our companies to regain their global competitiveness. Overall, we require a new realistic approach to the communist regime in China. We must not jeopardise Swedish strategic interests; therefore decisions - for example on the acquisition of companies or infrastructure with a significant impact on national security - must be decided by Swedish authorities. The Swedish Transport Agency scandal shows the importance of Swedish authorities placing greater focus on national security vis-a-vis other interests.

In June, the European Commission presented a White Paper on foreign subsidies in the internal market. Among other things, this contains proposals on how to handle distortive competitive effects from companies that receive subsidies from countries outside the EU. What is your view on this?

China increased its state business support to record levels in 2018. The increase, which is part of the countrys industrial strategy, has led to overproduction and has given Chinese companies a competitive advantage. The starting point for EU policy should be clarity and proportionality.

It is not uncommon for the implementation of trade agreements to be hampered by individual countries - or even regional parliaments  failing to give their approval. Is it a problem that, for example, the parliaments of Wallonia or the Netherlands can block free trade agreements?

It is unfortunate when regional parliaments block free trade agreements. However, the fact that the parliaments in the Swedish-speaking territories of Finland or the German-speaking region of Belgium can, in theory, block international agreements is part of the internal power relationship that has developed in various EU countries. Respect for national constitutional law is both a cornerstone and a prerequisite for the EU if it is to have the opportunity to enjoy general support.
The Democrats vow to burn everything down if they dont get their way is allegedly being fulfilled. Last night in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, unknown arsonists attacked the home of two Trump supporters, burning the familys garage and several vehicles and destroying a large Trump sign in their yard:

As shown in one of those photos, the arsonists apparently spray painted Biden 2020, BLM and the Antifa symbol on a garage wall. This is the Brooklyn Center Police Departments press release:

A GoFundMe page has been set up for the Molla family. On Facebook, liberals are claiming that the Mollas set the fire themselves and spray painted the BLM/Antifa graffiti as an insurance fraud scheme. Their rationale is that BLM is a peaceful, law-abiding organization and Antifa members dont like Joe Biden.

Not all the facts are in on this incident, obviously. It could be that the arson was committed by someone other than BLM/Antifa. But when those groups vow to burn down America, it is not surprising that many people find credible the possibility that they have done just that.
The COVID-19 pandemic began to make news over six months ago. And it wasnt long before questions began to arise around cannabis use and the new virus. There were concerns over whether cannabis could increase infection rates, warnings against smoking, claims from brands that it could cure or prevent the illness, and debates over whether dispensaries should be considered essential.

While we still dont have answers to all our questions about cannabis and coronavirus, the past six months have brought more insight through scientific studies. These new studies shed some light on cannabis potential, but are still in very early phases  in animal and lab studies  rather than the human clinical trials that would more conclusively answer these questions.

Only a clinical trial of CBD in COVID-19 patients could provide real answers to this question, says Dr. Donald Tashkin, a professor of medicine at UCLA who has extensively researched cannabis effects on the lungs.

Some studies have found potential for cannabis to help with a dangerous excess of immune system substances called cytokines that trigger inflammation and can lead to death in COVID-19 patients. Others suggest that cannabis users may be more susceptible to catching COVID-19.

While these two lines of research seem at odds, experts say cannabis may have potential to both help and hurt in COVID-19  depending on when and how it is used.

When it comes to cannabis benefits for COVID-19, the majority of the research points to its anti-inflammatory potential and how that might treat a dangerous symptom of the virus called a cytokine storm.

Cytokines are an important part of the bodys natural immune response, producing inflammation that normally helps to fight off infections. But in cases of severe infection, the body can get overwhelmed and release a dangerous amount of cytokines, which can cause too much inflammation. This is a cytokine storm, and it can cause fever, fatigue, swelling, difficulty breathing (also known as ARDS or acute respiratory distress), nausea and death from organ failure.

Cannabis is a cytokine inhibitor, and thus may be able to calm cytokine storms before they overwhelm the patient. In particular, scientists are looking at CBD, a cannabis-derived chemical called a cannabinoid that is known for its medicinal benefits without the usual mind-altering effects people experience with cannabis.

CBD looks promising in reducing the cytokine storm, which seems to be the most damaging aspect of COVID-19 infection, says Dr. Frank Lucido, a family practice physician in Berkeley who works with medical cannabis patients. He adds that any of the cannabinoids might have the anti-inflammatory property, but CBD is the most widely found one that is not THC.

He says that THC, the most common chemical in the cannabis plant, is less likely to be ideal as a treatment because a lot of people dont care for the intoxicating parts of that. And even those of us that do dont want to do it all the time.

Researchers from the University of Nebraska and the Texas Biomedical Research Institute first brought up the possibility that CBD could help, in a peer-reviewed article in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, based on previous studies of the chemical. But since then other studies have added evidence to the theory.

One peer-reviewed animal study from Augusta University in Georgia, aimed at investigating CBDs potential for COVID-19, found that CBD was able to calm cytokine storms in mice that were in respiratory distress, and even reverse some of the damage left in the lungs from the cytokine storm.

Two Israeli cannabis R&D companies, Eybna and CannaSoul Analytics performed a study investigating the same question. They studied the effects of both CBD and anti-inflammatory terpenes (a class of chemicals found in cannabis). Using a cell model of cytokine storms, they found both were able significantly reduce cytokines. In fact, both CBD and terpenes outperformed dexamethasone, a steroid recently deemed effective for reducing COVID-19 mortality for patients on ventilators.

These studies give researchers hope that CBD could be an effective way to treat severe cases of COVID-19. Still, there is much research left to do. Whether the anti-inflammatory properties of CBD or THC have an impact in damping down a hyperimmune response (cytokine storm) to SARS-CoV-2 (the coronavirus) is entirely hypothetical, says Tashkin.

While most research has been positive, one recent study has given some cause for concern as well. Researchers at the University of Western Australia looked at two groups of cannabis consumers in the U.S.  those who used cannabis daily and those who had used cannabis in the last month  comparing the data with those who had contracted COVID-19. After adjusting for other factors like international travel, ethnicity, income, population, population density and drug use, the researchers found that both groups of cannabis users in the U.S. were more likely to have contracted COVID-19.

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The authors argue that this study shows that cannabis is a risk factor for COVID-19. But others, such as Dr. Peter Grinspoon, a cannabis expert who teaches at Harvard Medical School, says the study doesnt tell us much. There are many factors that could cause the correlation between cannabis and COVID-19 other than direct causation  and the study has yet to be peer reviewed.

Grinspoon says that there are some reasons why cannabis might be a risk factor when used in mild cases of COVID-19  even if it could help with cytokine storms.

If you get a severe case ... its your system going haywire and you need immunosuppressants, Grinspoon says. But in the first part of the disease you need to mount an immune response to fight off the virus. The same cytokine inhibition that helps fight off cytokine storms could also harmfully reduce immune function early in the infection.

Grinspoon and Lucido agree that this risk factor hasnt been well established.

Cannabis smoking may also pose a special risk. Studies on smoking tobacco suggest it can increase risk, so experts like Tashkin are urging patients to reduce any smoking when possible.

I dont believe that we have the data to answer this question as yet, Tashkin says, but adds that in the absence of evidence to the contrary, it would be safest to avoid smoking any product during the COVID-19 pandemic.

While cannabis shows potential to both help and harm in cases of COVID-19, scientists say much more research needs to be conducted before there are conclusive answers.

Emily Earlenbaugh, Ph.D., is a writer and educator focused on bringing scientifically backed cannabis news to the public. Follow her writing at instagram.com/emilyearlenbaugh.
At least half the government school toilets built by central public sector enterprises (CPSEs) under a scheme launched by the education ministry do not have even the basic hand-washing facility, an even greater necessity in COVID-19 affected times, a survey of over 2000 schools by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has found.

Lack of running water, poor maintenance and unavailability of separate toilets for girls continue to be the bane of Indian school goers, according to the CAG report tabled in Parliament on Wednesday.

The report mentions that the HRD ministry (now named the Education ministry) had, under the Swachh Vidyalaya Abhiyan (SVA) sought the help of CPSEs for construction of toilets in government schools.

As many as 53 CPSEs participated and constructed 1,40,997 toilets.

Seven CPSEs , National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL), National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), Power Finance Corporation (PFC), Rural Electrification Corporation (REC), Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Coal India Limited constructed 1,30,703 toilets in total, at a cost of 2,162.60 crore. CAG examined the construction of toilets by these seven by surveying 2,695 toilets across 2048 schools in 15 States.

According to the findings, the CPSEs did not construct 83 toilets though these toilets were identified by them for construction. Of the remaining 2,612 toilets which were reported to have been constructed, 200 toilets were not found constructed in the respective schools and 86 toilets were only partially built.

The non-existing and partially constructed toilets constituted 11 % of toilets surveyed, CAGs report pointed out.

Of the 1,967 co-educational schools, 99 schools had no functional toilets while 436 schools had only one functional toilet. The aim of providing separate toilets for boys and girls was not fulfilled in 535 schools, a sizeable 27 % of the sample.

Out of 2,326 constructed toilets surveyed, 691 or 30 % were found not in use mainly due to lack of running water, lack of cleaning arrangements, damages or other reasons such as the toilets being used for other purposes.

During the survey, 1,679 (72 %) out of 2,326 constructed toilets were found without running water.

Further, hand washing facility was not available in 1,279 (55 per cent) out of 2,326 constructed toilets, according to the report. The audit also found that 75% of selected toilets were not maintained hygienically.

CAG recommended the concerned ministries to look into the issue of non-existing and incomplete toilets that were claimed as constructed. It also asked the Navratanas and the ministries to address absence of basic amenities in the toilets .

Since the survey covered 2% of total toilets, the CPSEs are advised to review the remaining 98% and take appropriate action, the report said.
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.




A farmer harvests African marigolds in a field in Jietou township, Tengchong on Aug 17. ZHANG WEI/CHINA DAILY

From tourism to silk production, Yunnan province has devised different ways to help impoverished people

Tengchong and Longling in Baoshan city, and Ruili and Longchuan in the Dehong Dai and Jingpo autonomous prefecture are home to many ethnic groups in the mountains of Yunnan province. With the exception of Longling, they sit on China's border.

Because of their remoteness and a lack of flat farmland, all the areas are a major challenge for Yunnan's poverty eradication campaign.

Over the years, local governments have helped many of the residents shake off poverty by developing tourism, agriculture and the jade industry.

Palian village in Tengchong was once only known for being rundown, however, it has become popular with visitors due to the development of tourist attractions.

Residents of Tengchong's Jietou township have cultivated hundreds of hectares of African marigolds.

A visitor is drawn by a fresco on a wall in Palian village, Tengchong, Yunnan province, on Aug 17. ZHANG WEI/CHINA DAILY



When the flowers are in full bloom in late summer, it becomes a tourist hot spot, with 200 restaurants opening to cater to visitors. Tourism has created jobs for nearly 2,000 local people, with 500 them from poor families.

In Ruili, the prosperous jade industry has created jobs for more than 60,000 people.

The Longchuan county government has helped 1,956 poor families develop silk production and the rearing of silk worms.

So far, 5,000 families have cultivated 3,400 hectares of mulberry trees in the county to meet the demands of the industry.

Jade items are prepared for sale via livestreaming at a trade center in Ruili on Aug 19. ZHANG WEI/CHINA DAILY



Nang Fenzhi (right) of the Dai ethnic group sings a folk song to welcome visitors at Palian village on Aug 27. ZHANG WEI/CHINA DAILY




By Express News Service

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government on Tuesday approved several relief measures for the Marathas giving them same benefits which are reserved for those from Economically Weaker Section (EWS).

The benefit for the EWS will be given to the candidates from the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC)  Marathas. Similarly, the Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Tuition Fee Scholarship Scheme will be made available for SEBC students.

The state government has sanctioned Rs 600 crore as a budget for this financial year. If requires, additional funds will be provided, a note from the CMO reads. The Punjabrao Deshmukh Hostel Subsistence Allowance Scheme will be again made applicable for SEBCs.

The provision of Rs 80 crore has been sanctioned for this. Adequate funds and manpower will be provided to Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Research, Training and Human Development Institute (Sarathi), Pune. A sum of Rs 130 crore was sanctioned for Sarathi, the note said.

The Annasaheb Patil Economic Backward Development Corporation can now provide financial assistance to unemployed entrepreneurs among the Marathas. The community has been angry after the Supreme Court recently announced a stay on the Maratha quota brought in by the BJP government last year.
Nick Cordero was just 41, married and the father of a newborn son when he got sick with what turned out to be the coronavirus.

He was a Broadway performer who stood out, not just because he was six feet five inches tall but also because he managed to charm castmates even while playing menacing characters: an abuser in Waitress, a mobster in A Bronx Tale, a gangster in Bullets Over Broadway. At Bullets, he met his future wife, Amanda Kloots, and scored a Tony nomination.

The couple, with their infant son, Elvis, moved to Los Angeles in the fall of 2019, where Cordero was performing in an immersive production of Rock of Ages and Kloots was building a fitness business. In March, shortly after returning from a trip to New York, he got sick.

Kloots, who had mastered social media while growing her business, chronicled his journey on Instagram, and hundreds of thousands of people followed along, with many joining her, virtually, in singing Live Your Life, a song Cordero had written, each afternoon. But his medical odyssey was unrelentingly tough  in April, a leg was amputated  and his suffering, alongside her determination, became, for many, a face of the pandemic.

On July 5, he died. Kloots and Elvis, after months living in a guest house owned by Bullets co-star Zach Braff, have moved into the home where the couple had planned to make a new life in a new city. Instead, this month brought an online memorial and a posthumous album release. In a phone interview, Kloots, who is 38, was warm, poised and direct, breaking down only when asked how she saw her own future. These are edited excerpts from that conversation.

Q: What do you want Elvis to know about Nick?

A: Oh, gosh. I want our son to be curious because Nick was very curious. I want him to know Nick struggled to make his dreams come true and he never quit. I want him to know his dad was a hard worker. And Id love for him to know about all the people that he touched, the lives that he touched, and what a good guy he was.

Q: What is your best understanding of how Nick got COVID?

A: Its almost impossible to know, unfortunately. I asked the doctor that many a time. Its impossible to pinpoint.

Q: Why do you think the disease hit him so hard?

A: This is the other thing I will rack my brain about sometimes at night. Its not fair. He was getting better. They were almost going to take him off the vent. And then he got a terrible infection in his lungs and his fever spiked, his blood pressure dropped, his heart stopped and he died for two minutes, and that was the start of the spiral down. It just felt like he could never catch a break.

Q: Do you believe the hospital handled his case well?

A: Yes, I do. But it was a different time, and Nick just got trapped. I think it would be different if he went to the hospital now.

Q: Do you think that if America had responded differently at the start of the pandemic, his situation would have turned out differently?

A: Yeah, sure. I mean, we werent prepared. I think anyone working in the hospital would say that, and Im not even trying to get political. Im just saying, were we prepared for the pandemic? No. Did we have the information to be prepared? I dont know, and Im not even going to go there. But we should have been prepared better, and I do think that if we were, it could have made a difference in a lot of peoples lives, not just Nick.

Q: It was amazing to see how the casts you and Nick had worked with rallied with support.

A: In theatre, Day 1 is hello, and youre shaking a hand, and by Day 2 youre dancing with them, holding hands, climbing on top of them, kissing, singing. You become this little family. Nick would always tell me about the Rock of Ages crew, and the minute Nick got sick, I was on a Zoom call with the cast. How can we help? Do you need food?

The Waitress crew put together that beautiful rendition of Live Your Life. The whole cast of A Bronx Tale would get together and lead prayers. And Bullets Over Broadway  I mean, we were living in Zachs guest house. And as Nick got sick, hes like, Dont you even think about going anywhere else. I got ya.

Q: Youve seen how dangerous this disease is. What do you think Broadway should do about reopening?

A: Thats so hard right? I think if theres anybody that can figure out how to do it and how to do it safely, its the Broadway community, because were creative and were relentless and we want to perform.

Q: How did you start enlisting people to sing Live Your Life each day?

A: I thought, if anythings going to wake him up, its going to be the whole world singing his song. He always wanted to be a rock star, and were going to make him a rock star. And then it caught on like wildfire.

Q: You and your sister started a T-shirt line together, and now youre going to collaborate on a book?

A: Yes, Im writing a memoir about this time, and Im writing it with Anna Kloots, my sister. Its about everything I went through, and about positivity and faith and resilience. I started writing when I was in Ohio, with my mom and dad, right after Nick passed. Ive actually found it to be incredibly therapeutic.

Q: It seems like religion has also been an important part of the way youre getting through this.

A: I grew up Lutheran, and Ive been pretty religious my entire life. Im non-denominational right now, but Ive always prayed, Ive always felt comfort going to church, and I dont know how I would have gotten through without my faith and prayer.

Q: You talk about accepting Gods will, but that has to be hard now.

A: It is hard. You know, to say, Everything happens for a reason, and youre like, Really? Like, Why? Why Nick? But there were so many times in the hospital, or on a phone call, when I was talking to the doctors, and they would tell me Nick wasnt going to make it; they would tell me he has an hour or two left to live. And I would pray so hard because its how I was able to help. And he would live and he would fight and he would hold on.

But one of the times that that happened, I was praying, and I said, God, thy will be done. I will never understand if you take him. But it isnt my will, its your will. It helped me in the hospital, and it helps me today. Its not that the hospital didnt do enough. Its not that I didnt do enough. Its Gods will.

Q: I know you hear this over and over, but it is striking how positive you seem.

A: I cant be in a hole in my life right now, because I have a beautiful little boy that relies on me. And on top of that, its what Nick would want me to do. There are parts of every day that I get sad, and there are parts of every day where I cry. But I also have to find the little things throughout the day that make me happy, or else I know I wont survive.

Q: Tell me about choosing to chronicle Nicks illness on social media.

A: Nick was sick and in our home for a good week, and I wasnt saying anything. And then when he went into the hospital, I thought it was important to share: My husband, who is 41 and has no pre-existing conditions, is now in the ICU after just being tired. Also, my business was online, and I was trying to make money for our family, and I thought if I dont go public, Ill be living a lie.

Q: Sharing your life on social media leaves you so exposed.

A: So many people will say to me, Was it so exhausting? Was it just so awful? And Im like, Are you kidding me? It was the exact opposite. I only received help and positivity and prayers and community. Cedars-Sinai would deliver boxes filled with things from people all over the world. I would stand over him, and I would read card after card: Were praying for you. Weve made this for you. My daughter drew this picture. Heres a frame of our favourite prayer.

Q: A GoFundMe drive has raised more than $1 million. What will you do with the money?

A: Medical bills have been coming in. And thanks to that money, Ive been able to basically make a little separate living quarters in our house for my family to come and help me through this transition. And Id also love to take a chunk of that money to help me start an idea that I want to do for Nick.

Q: Whats next for you?

A: Were heading into the fall and the holidays, so I think that will be hard. But I just try to stay happy and positive, and Ive been doing little getaways with Elvis where we just go away for the night, just to see parts of California and be by the water. I just plan on getting through these next couple months in the best way I can.

Q: Elvis must help.

A: He does. Hes the cutest little thing. And hes a very happy little boy. Even when I want to be sad, hes just so cute that you end up smiling and laughing. He looks like Nick, and he has a lot of Nicks personality. I can already tell.
Cameroonian security forces have violently suppressed opposition party demonstrations throughout the country, beating protesters and killing one person in Douala, the economic capital, according to opposition party members. RFI correspondent Polycarpe Essomba was severely beaten and arrested for covering the protests in the capital Yaounde.

Essomba was kicked and beaten with batons before being arrested. He was released from a police station more than two hours later.

Radio France Internationale deplores this violence by the Cameroonian police, which seriously undermines press freedom, RFI said in a statement.

In Douala, police fired tear gas and used water cannon on hundreds of protesters who were shouting Biya must go! Reuters reported.

President Paul Biya, in power for 40 years, recently banned opposition party demonstrations. The Cameroon Renaissance Movement (MRC) called on people to take the streets to protest.

The home of MRC's leader, Maurice Kamto, was under siege on Tuesday, according to MRC member Joseph Ateba. He said that hundreds of people had been arrested, including party members Olivier Bibou Nissack, Kamto's spokesperson, and treasurer Alain Fogue.

Security forces amassed on the streets of Yaounde and other cities in anticipation of demonstrations.

Pre-electoral repression

Biya announced on 7 September that regional elections would be carried out in December. Four days later, governors from Littoral and Centre regions banned demonstrations.

Nonetheless, Kamto called for peaceful demonstrations on 22 September against the elections, with a number of other opposition parties and civil society groups joining the movement.

Territorial Administration Minister Paul Atanga Nji wrote a letter to governors saying that the security forces would break up the protests, citing concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.

These steps are a thinly veiled attempt by the Cameroonian government to use Covid-19 pandemic and the draconian anti-terror law as a pretext to quell the right to assemble, said Lewis Mudge, Central Africa director at Human Rights Watch.
A Kentucky grand jury indicted Detective Brett Hankison, one of the three police officers involved in the fatal shooting of 26-year-old emergency medical technician Breonna Taylor, on three counts of first-degree wanton endangerment but did not bring more serious charges against Hankison or the two other officers involved.*

The charges against Hankison stem from shots fired accidentally into another apartmentand not those that killed Taylorduring the raid on Taylors apartment in March. The grand jurys decision means that none of the three officers involved were charged with any form of homicide. Instead, the charge of wanton endangerment indicates recklessness but not an intent to kill and carries a potential sentence of one to five years in prison. Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly and Detective Myles Cosgrove, the other two officers who fired their guns that night, escaped criminal prosecution entirely.

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The use of force by Mattingly and Cosgrove was justified to protect themselves, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron said in a press conference Wednesday. This justification bars us from pursuing criminal charges in Ms. Breonna Taylors death.

According to Cameron, an investigation found that Mattingly shot six times into Taylors apartment; Cosgrove shot 16 times; and Hankison shot 10 times. Taylor was hit six times, but its not entirely certain which of the officers fired the fatal shot. The attorney generals office declared the matter inconclusive, but the FBI attributed it to Cosgrove, Cameron said.

Its also not clear if Hankison fired any of the bullets that hit Taylor, Cameron said. Hankison was fired in June for violating department policy, having been accused of wantonly and blindly firing into Taylors apartment. Unlike Cosgrove and Mattingly, Hankison fired not from the hallway but from outside a sliding glass door and through a bedroom window. The investigation found some of his bullets pierced an apartment where a man, pregnant woman, and child were living. None were harmed.

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Louisville has already ordered a curfew and declared a state of emergency in preparation for protests over the announcement. Police have blocked off downtown Louisville after protesters marched there Tuesday. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said he was prepared to deploy the National Guard.

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Taylor was killed in her apartment when plainclothes police officers, serving a warrant related to a drug investigation, entered her apartment after midnight, when Taylor and her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, were in bed. The details of the shooting have remained unclear, and one central dispute in the case has to do with whether the police announced themselves before forcing their way into her apartment, as they claim, or whether they did not, as Walker and some neighbors say. According to the New York Times, while most neighbors said they had not heard police identify themselves, one neighbor did say he heard the officers shout police a single time, raising the possibility that they had announced themselves, but not loud enough for Taylor and Walker to hear. The attorney generals investigation sided with the police in the matter, concluding that the officers had not executed a no-knock warrant.

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Walker has said that he believed the person entering Taylors apartment might have been Taylors former boyfriendthe person whose activities were at the center of the police investigationand appeared in the hallway with a legally owned gun as a matter of self-defense against intruders. He then fired one shot, hitting Mattingly in the leg. Police fired back. In a 911 call, Walker can be heard telling a dispatcher that he didnt understand what was happening and that somebody kicked in the door and shot my girlfriend. An ambulance arrived to care for Mattingly, but no medical aid was given to Taylor. She died in her apartment, minutes after being shot.

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Mattingly and Cosgrove have been placed on administrative leave. Walker was charged with attempted murder of a police officer, but the charges were dropped in May.

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Taylors death, along with that of George Floyd, helped spur a protest movement directed at police violence. It has also led to a movement against no-knock search warrants, which police use to surprise suspects in their homes. Louisvilles City Council voted to ban no-knock warrants in June.

Taylors family has also settled a wrongful death lawsuit with the city for $12 million. As part of the settlement, the city has agreed to a number of procedural reforms. A separate internal review is investigating six Louisville police officers over whether they violated department policies.
This is usually a busy month for the luxury industry. Not long after glossy fashion magazines publish their all-important September issues, thousands of retail buyers, journalists and clients embark on a tour of New York, London, Milan and Paris.

Rolling from city to city to attend fashion weeks, they decide the trends that will power a global luxury goods market worth hundreds of billions  in 2019, 281 billion euros, or $459 billion.

Not this year. The ground beneath the industry is heaving under the weight of a pandemic that has caused a plunge in sales, shocked global supply chains and pushed American household names such as Brooks Brothers and Lord & Taylor to bankruptcy.

Dark days for fashion designers: The COVID-19 pandemic has forced luxury brands to rethink the way they present their collections and question their business models. Credit:AP

Those shifts have prompted big questions about the business model of luxury fashion. Should fashion weeks be dismantled and rebuilt? Are cycles of new items every six months still the best approach, at a time when garment overproduction is under scrutiny, restricted lifestyles are commonplace and runway spectacles can feel out of step in a world with different priorities?
ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Bloomberg Law announced today the availability of new resources to aid attorneys dealing with the increase in bankruptcies caused by the effects of Covid-19 on the U.S. economy, including new Practical Guidance topic pages and an on-demand webinar that discusses findings from the Bloomberg Law 2020 Bankruptcy Survey. These resources are available to Bloomberg Law subscribers at no additional cost. For more information and to request a demo, please visit http://onb-law.com/GCqD50Bzd0G.

The new Practical Guidance topic pages guide users through the stages of filing a voluntary Chapter 11 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy. They provide broad subject overviews, as well as detailed annotations for filling out the schedules and forms, timelines for steps taken prior to filing, guidance for maintaining debtor's operations post-petition, and guidance for managing and closing the case.

These Practical Guidance suites are the newest additions to Bloomberg Law's Bankruptcy Practice Center, which fully integrates analysis, practice tools, news, case law, and other primary and secondary sources to give users a comprehensive, nuanced understanding of critical issues in bankruptcy law. The Chapter 11 and Chapter 13 Practical Guidance topic pages join a library of bankruptcy-related Practical Guidance suites including involuntary petitions, transferring venue, and section 363 asset sales, with more to come later this year.

Also now available is an on-demand webinar, Emerging Bankruptcy Trends from the Pandemic. This virtual event examines how the pandemic-induced economic downturn has impacted the practice of bankruptcy. Attendees will get insight into initial results of the 2020 Bloomberg Law Bankruptcy Survey to learn how law firms are preparing for an increase in workflow. Expert presenters share best practices for preparing attorneys new to this practice area and share their insights on guiding clients through the decision to file. Attendees receive 1.0 General COA and 1.0 CLE credit. The full 2020 Bloomberg Law Bankruptcy Survey Summary Report will be available this fall.

"Bloomberg Law's 2020 Bankruptcy Survey confirms and provides insights into how most bankruptcy practice groups are expanding, or planning to expand, in response to the current economic downturn," said Alex Butler, vice president of content and analysis, Bloomberg Law. "Bloomberg Law's broad resources in this field  including Practical Guidance, Dockets, the Bloomberg Law Bankruptcy Treatise, and data-driven market insights and financial information from the Bloomberg Professional Service via the Bloomberg Terminal  meet the evolving needs of our bankruptcy customers as they face this increase in demand."

About Bloomberg Law

Bloomberg Law helps legal professionals provide world-class counsel with access to actionable legal intelligence in a business context. Bloomberg Law delivers a unique combination of comprehensive primary and secondary source material, real-time news, expert analysis, time-saving practice tools including Practical Guidance, market data, and business intelligence. For more information, visit pro.bloomberglaw.com.

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More than 100 French news outlets have published an open letter to warn against the threat to freedom of speech. It comes after the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, which was attacked by gunmen in 2015, received new death threats.

The magazine Charlie Hebdo republished cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed earlier this month at the start of a trial of suspects in the 2015 attack on their Paris office.

While the edition sold out in France, it provoked condemnation from several Muslim countries, and al-Qaeda militants reportedly threatened a repeat of the 2015 massacre of the magazine's staff.

On Wednesday, Charlie Hebdo published an open letter on the front page of its new edition, denouncing "new totalitarian ideologies, sometimes claiming to be inspired by religious texts".

France Medias Monde, the parent company of Radio France Internationale, France 24 and Monte Carlo Doualiya, is among the letter's signatories.

Urging people to support the magazine, the letter says: "The enemies of freedom must understand that we are all, together, their steadfast opponents, regardless of our differences of opinion or beliefs."

"Today, in 2020, some of you are being threatened with death on social networks when you expose singular opinions. Media outlets are openly targeted by international terrorist organisations. States are putting pressure on French journalists "guilty" of publishing critical articles."

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 7 January, 2015, when brothers Said and Cherif Kouachi went on a gun rampage at the magazine's office.

Death threats

Charlie Hebdo's head of human resources Marika Bret told Le Point magazine that police had rushed her from her home after she received death threats they judged to be credible. She told Le Point there was "crazy amount of hatred" towards the magazine.

Marika Bret, who has been living under police protection for nearly five years in the aftermath of the deadly assault on Charlie Hebdo in January 2015, said the threats were "sufficiently concrete to be taken seriously".

"I had 10 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 Monday.

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".

"Charlie Hebdo is once again threatened by terrorist organisations," said editorial director Laurent Sourisseau, who was badly wounded in 2015. "Threats that constitute a real provocation in the midst of the trial of the January 2015 attacks."

"It seemed necessary to us to suggest to the media to think about the collective response," Sourisseau added.

The letter supporting Charlie Hebdo is signed by major newspapers, magazines and broadcasters, who will republish it.

(with AFP)
Three Labour MPs have quit Sir Keir Starmer's team after voting against a government bill designed to shield soldiers from prosecution.

Beth Winter, Nadia Whittome and Olivia Blake voted against the Overseas Operations bill's second reading despite being ordered to abstain.

The MPs, who had all previously criticised it, were reportedly told if they voted against they would be forced to resign their positions.

Ms Winter was Parliamentary Private Secretary to Rachel Reeves, Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

Ms Whittome was the same for the Shadow Health Secretary and Ms Blake was for Shadow Scotland and at Shadow Digital Culture Media and Sport.

They were among 19 Labour MPs to break ranks with the party and vote against the bill alongside Mr Corbyn, who had criticised it.

Beth Winter (left), Nadia Whittome (centre) and Olivia Blake (right) voted against the Overseas Operations bill's second reading despite being ordered to abstain

They were among 19 Labour MPs to break ranks with the party and vote against the bill alongside Mr Corbyn (pictured), who had criticised it

The MPs, who had all previously criticised it, were reportedly told if they voted against they would be forced to resign their positions. Pictured: Sir Keir Starmer

The former Labour leader, who oversaw one of its worst ever election defeats, made his views clear in a tweet earlier today.

He posted: 'I have grave concerns that, as it stands, the #OverseasOperationBill the House of Commons is discussing today defies and undermines international law.'

Other dissenters included his allies Richard Burgon and Rebecca Long-Bailey, who was booted from Sir Keir's front bench for tweeting praise for an 'antisemitic' article.

Mr Corbyn tabled an amendment saying the bill 'violates essential rule of law principles such as judicial and prosecutorial independence and the absolute and effective prohibition of torture'.

But a Defence source told the Mirror: 'Labour can't make their mind up as a party - either they can't stretch to support it or they are so against supporting our troops they break the whip. It's lose-lose.'

It comes after Defence Secretary Ben Wallace triggered a row last night by suggesting British troops had taken part in 'illegal wars'.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace triggered a row last night after he appeared to question the legality of the Iraq invasion while standing at the Commons despatch box

Mr Wallace appeared to question the legality of the Iraq invasion while standing at the Commons despatch box.

In a heated exchange with his Labour counterpart, Mr Wallace said: 'What we should recognise is much of the mess we are having to come and clean up today is because of your [Labour's] illegal wars, your events in the past.'

Labour defence spokesman John Healey replied: 'That is not worthy of the office of the Secretary of State for Defence.

'This is too important for party politics. It should be beneath the Secretary of State to reduce this to party politics.'

The row came as MPs debated legislation the Government has said will mean service personnel will be protected from 'vexatious claims and endless investigations'.

Mr Wallace said that the Overseas Operations Bill would provide 'certainty' for troops.

The Bill seeks to limit false and historical allegations arising from overseas operations by introducing a statutory presumption against prosecution, making it exceptional for personnel to be prosecuted five years or more after an incident.

Mr Wallace (pictured with Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick) suggested British troops had taken part in 'illegal wars'

To override the presumption, the consent of the attorney general will be required.

The prosecutor must weigh up the 'adverse impact of overseas operations on service personnel' and, where there has been no compelling new evidence, the public interest in cases coming to a 'timely conclusion'.

But campaigners and some senior military figures have warned that the legislation will create a presumption against prosecution of torture and other serious crimes, except rape and sexual violence.

General Sir Nick Parker, former commander of land forces, last week said he was worried the focus on prosecutions 'risks us being seen as setting double standards'.

Mr Wallace, a former soldier who served in Northern Ireland, rejected claims the Bill could decriminalise torture and murder.

He said: 'We've been told that this Bill is controversial. Some have gone as far to have said it decriminalises torture or prevents veterans from receiving compensation. Both allegations are untrue.

'It is our intention should new or compelling evidence be brought forward to prosecute for those offences. It is not decriminalising torture, it is not decriminalising murder.'

Mr Wallace added: 'We want the ability if necessary to allow soldiers to focus on the danger and job in hand in operations, not on whether they will have a lawsuit slapped on them when they get home.'

Afghanistan and Iraq were the major military campaigns in which Tony Blair sent British troops into combat. The latter proved particularly controversial.

In 2010, Nick Clegg was forced to clarify the government's position on the Iraq war after he denounced the invasion as 'illegal'.

The then deputy prime minister made the remarks while standing in for David Cameron at Prime Minister's Questions.

Mr Clegg later stressed his opinion was a 'long-held' personal one and Downing Street said he was not speaking for the government.

The Tories backed the then Labour government's decision to commit troops to Iraq in 2003, with current key figures including Boris Johnson all supporting the war.
If the outcome is preordained, the hearings held by Mr. Grahams committee are simply a matter of going through the motions. By laying out the result before hearings are even scheduled, Mr. Graham is effectively making a mockery of the Senates constitutional powers and his own role in the institution.

Now, Ive been through a few of these hearings before, so Im hardly naive to the ways of Supreme Court votes. I know, just as well as everyone in Washington and probably all of America at this point, that it is likely that nearly every Republican will vote for Mr. Trumps nominee, just as almost every Democrat supported President Barack Obamas Supreme Court picks.

Republicans do have a pretty good sense of whom Mr. Trump may select. Earlier this month, he updated his list of potential Supreme Court picks  another breaking of a norm. No other presidential candidate has ever released a list of possible picks, fearing it could influence those judges future decisions and inject partisanship into the bench.

Mr. Trump has also made clear that he wants a ninth justice confirmed quickly because he believes the Supreme Court will decide the outcome of the election. The presidents thinking is that a conservative justice would favor him in any kind of electoral dispute.

I think having a 4-4 situation is not a good situation, if you get that, he told reporters today. Just in case it would be more political than it should be, I think its very important to have a ninth justice.

So, the politics are pretty clear. Mr. Trump wants to increase his chances of winning the election. Mr. Graham and Mr. Tillis, who face their own tough re-election races, want to hold their seats by energizing the presidents base. (Worth noting: In that Fox News interview, Mr. Graham repeatedly injected requests to contribute to his campaign between his comments on the court.)
Photo: The Canadian Press

Canadian exports of crude oil by rail fell to another eight-year low in July despite the gradual recovery of North American fuel demand from low levels due to measures taken to control the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Canada Energy Regulator says rail shipments of oil in July fell to about 39,000 barrels per day, down from 42,820 bpd in June (also an eight-year low).

Shipments were more than 10 times as high in February, when they reached a record 412,000 bpd.

July shipments represented an 88 per cent drop from 325,000 bpd in July 2019.

Rail transportation of crude oil is considered to be more expensive than shipping by pipeline so shippers tend to use it only when pipelines are full or if the destination market offers much higher prices than can be achieved in Canada.

Western Canadian producers shut down as much as one million barrels per day of oil production at times earlier this year to avoid selling at low prices, thus freeing up space on export pipelines.
Indian shares fell on Wednesday for a fifth straight session as surging coronavirus cases fuelled investor concerns, with Bharti Airtel driving losses after rival Jio stepped up competition with new postpaid plans, while Tata Consultancy Services slid over 2%.

The broader NSE Nifty 50 index slipped 0.2% to 11,131.85 and the S&P BSE Sensex fell 0.17% to 37,668.42. Both the indexes have shed more than 3% so far this week.

Shares of telecom operator Bharti Airtel Ltd fell as much as 10% to their lowest since April 3, after rival Jio, the telecom unit of Reliance Industries, rolled out new postpaid plans on Tuesday bundled with video-streaming services.

TCS fell as much as 4.5% after, Shapoorji Pallonji (SP) group, the largest minority shareholder in Tata Group, said on Tuesday it wanted to separate interests from the autos-to-steel conglomerate.

Tatas have to make some back to back arrangements for raising money if they are parting ways with Shapoorji Pallonji and investors may be asked to contribute directly or indirectly, said Deepak Jasani, head of research, HDFC Securities.

Meanwhile, Indias coronavirus infections surged again on Wednesday. Britain re-imposed some lockdown measures as a second wave of coronavirus infections sweeps across Europe, while the death toll in the United States crossed 200,000.

As the fresh covid cases are rising day by day ... it is increasing tension among retailers as well as big players in the market, said Rahul Sharma, head of research, Equity99 Advisors in Mumbai.

Both the benchmark indexes had earlier risen nearly 1%, boosted mainly by Reliance that rose as much as 3%, after it said U.S. private equity firm KKR would invest 55.50 billion rupees ($755.09 million) in the conglomerates retail arm.
Malmo: Sweden's public health agency is discussing imposing new coronavirus restrictions on Stockholm after the city's health chief warned of "worrying signs of increasing infection".

It came shortly after Bjorn Eriksson, Stockholm's health chief, said the long decline in cases in the city had ended.

"The downwards trend is broken," he said. "We can only hope this is a blip, that the spread starts decreasing again." According to the Public Health Agency, 1200 new cases and five deaths have been reported since Friday, a sharp increase on the average of 200 cases a day in recent weeks.

A commuter cycles in Stockholm, Sweden, where COVID-19 cases have begun to rise again. Credit:Bloomberg

Sweden, which chose to keep most schools, restaurants, bars, offices and shopping centres open throughout the pandemic, has suffered one of the highest death rates in Europe, at 580 per million - just behind the UK and Italy. Its rate is 10 times more than Norway and five times more than Denmark. More than 5850 people have died from COVID-19 in Sweden from nearly 90,000 cases.
Mathematical modelling by Queensland scientists has sent accepted time-travel theory for a loop, proving that paradox-free time travel is theoretically possible.

A new paper by University of Queensland advanced science student Germain Tobar and his professor, physicist Fabio Costa, details the complex mathematical proofs that show a person travelling from the present to the past would still be able to act freely without creating paradoxes.

Time travel is mostly in the realm of science fiction like Doctor Who (pictured) but scientists say mathematical modelling shows it is theoretically possible. Credit:Ben Blackall/BBC

The most famous time-travel paradox is the grandfather paradox - what happens if you travel back in time and kill your own grandfather? If you do, you cease to exist, but if you cease to exist then you never existed to kill your grandfather.

The scientific consensus about time-travel paradoxes is that even if you were able to travel to the past you would not be able to do anything differently to what had already occurred, ensuring paradoxes do not occur.
Shoppers, some wearing a face mask or covering, walk past a sign alerting pedestrians to social distance to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19, in Newcastle. (Getty)

A leading scientist has warned that any attempts to achieve herd immunity for coronavirus in the UK could lead to lasting health problems for the young.

Herd immunity is the belief a population can be protected from infection if a certain proportion of people have been exposed to it and developed immunity.

However, Professor Devi Sridhar, scientific adviser to Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon, said the policy was a minority view among scientists  and could potentially lead people to suffer long-term conditions, otherwise known as long COVID.

She explained to Sky News: This is these young people aged 30 to 59, previously healthy, who are now suffering for months with chronic fatigue, heart issues, lung issues.

Devi Sridhar said the policy of herd immunity was a 'minority view' among scientists. (Getty)

"Why would you let a virus go through the young? It just shows complete disrespect for young people to say to them, not only are you going to have to pay for all these furlough packages and all the borrowing that has taken place, youre also going have to endanger your health by being exposed to the virus and being part of the herd.

"I actually dont think that is an appropriate way forward.

Sridhars comments come as emails show the policy of herd immunity caused alarm within the governments circle of scientific advisers at the start of the pandemic.

According to the BBC, the government's chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance referenced herd immunity  which both he and the government insist was never official policy.

In an interview with Sky News in March, Vallance talked about not suppressing the virus completely, to "allow enough of us who are going to get mild illness to become immune to this.

Vallance added that probably around 60% of the British population would need to contract coronavirus for herd immunity become effective.

Sridhar, chair of global public health at the University of Edinburgh, said other measures were needed in the fight against the illness.

She added: I would say the majority of scientists are aligned that maximum suppression of this virus is the optimal strategy.

Story continues

Boris Johnson and Nicola Sturgeon announced new measures to tackle an increase in coronavirus cases on Tuesday. (PA)

"Theres a small group of very vocal scientists who are advocating what you could call herd immunity shield the vulnerable, but I would just push back and say that we dont have herd immunity against many infectious diseases that have been a problem for mankind for centuries like plague, cholera, malaria, measles, TB, and I could go on.

On Tuesday, Sturgeon announced a raft of measures in response to an increase in coronavirus cases.

While many are broadly the same as those that Boris Johnson announced on the same day, Sturgeon went a step further and banned households from visiting each other.

The move prompted former health secretary Jeremy Hunt to call for the Scottish government and Westminster to have the same rules to avoid any confusion over what the law is.

Coronavirus: what happened today

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Re: Should I even go now

177. Re: Should I even go now

Dear Swans.

Go to London.

I was in London two weeks ago and i would go again tomorrow if possible.

Yes,it was different but i really needed to be back.

For the first time i rented a bike and went around London and i had a fantastic time.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order Wednesday that will ban the sale of new gasoline-powered cars and other passenger vehicles in the state by 2035. The move was among a number of actions the Democratic governor announced aimed at slashing the states greenhouse gas emissions and other pollution.

The executive order will not prevent Californians from owning gasoline-powered cars or selling them on the used car market, according to the state.

Hydraulic fracturing, a method of oil and gas extraction known as fracking, could also be on the Golden State's chopping block. Newsom said he was working with the California Legislature to ban the practice by 2024. The order also aims to create new health and safety regulations "that protect workers and communities from the impacts of oil extraction."

What does ban mean for you? California's governor, Gavin Newsom, wants to ban gas cars by 2035.

What could life be like it 2025? Futurists think Americans may eat, fly and go to school differently post-COVID

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, left, flanked by Gov. Gavin Newsom, discusses the lawsuit the state has filed against the Trump administration's new rules blocking green cards for many immigrants who receive government assistance, during a news conference in Sacramento, Calif., Friday, Aug. 16, 2019. California, three other states and the District of Columbia filed the suit Friday against some of the administration's most aggressive moves to restrict legal immigration that are supposed to take effect in October. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

Newsom announced his order standing in front of a line of electric vehicles from brands including Audi and Tesla and flanked by California Air Resources Board Chair Mary Nichols.

"Of all the simultaneous crises that we face as a state and Id argue as a nation  for that matter from a global perspective  none is more important, none is more forceful than the issue of the climate crisis," he said.

Newsom's order begins by stating that "the climate change crisis is happening now, impacting California in unprecedented ways, and affecting the health and safety of too many Californians." It goes on to note the impact of the economic devastation wrought by COVID-19, saying that "as our economy recovers, we must accelerate the transition to a carbon-neutral future," including an emphasis on getting climate solutions to low-income areas.

A live stream of Newsom's announcement, scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Pacific time, can be viewed here.

Story continues

According to the state, the transportation sector accounts for more than half of California's carbon emissions, 80% of its smog-forming pollution and 95% of diesel emissions. California, the nation's most populous state, has about 40 million people and there were more than 36 million paid vehicle registrations in the state in 2019, according to the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Although California makes up about 12% of the country's population, it accounted for nearly 50% of the new electric vehicles sold around the country between 2010 and 2017, according to research from International Council on Clean Transportation. Newsom said that roughly 726,000 electric vehicles are on California roads.

How soon is Autopilot coming?Tesla's Elon Musk says it's soon and it's 'clearly going to work'

He added that there are 34 manufacturers of electric vehicles in California, the most of any state in the country, with a combined market capitalization of nearly $500 billion. He said the state's second-largest export is electric vehicles, and the green economy "broadly defined" accounts for five times as many jobs in the state as the oil and gas industry.

"This is the next big global industry," Newsom said, "and California wants to dominate it. He noted that California-based Tesla, for example, had said just this week that it expects to produce a $25,000 electric car within three years because of advances in battery technology.

Newsom said California's move would push U.S. auto manufacturers to "enhance and advance" their competitiveness globally and noted that other countries including China, Japan and Israel have also set benchmarks for adopting electric vehicles. He praised Ford as one automaker that "gets it" but said others have yet to. "They are on the wrong side of history," Newsom said.

The California Air Resources Board will be tasked with developing the regulations mandating that all cars sold in-state beginning in 2035 are "zero emission" vehicles. The state predicts that the move will result in a more than 35% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and an 80% reduction in certain toxic fumes present in vehicle exhaust.

The board will be responsible for creating additional regulations mandating zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty trucks by 2045 "where feasible," the governor said. Newsom's order also instructs the state to greatly expand charging infrastructure to support the expected surge in electric vehicles.

Sales of plug-in electric vehicles have grown quickly over the past decade, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, although the number sold across the country dropped slightly between 2018 and 2019.

The five hottest years on years in recorded human history have been the past five years, and atmospheric carbon dioxide emissions have spiraled well above what scientists labeled as safe levels. While Newsom was touring one of the fires that have torched more than 3 million acres in California this year, shattering the previous record, he said, "This is a climate damn emergency."

More: These 1990s vehicles are hot on the collectible car market

According to the state, Wednesday's executive order "continues the governors commitment to strengthening Californias resilience while lowering carbon emissions  essential to meeting Californias air quality and climate goals."

In June, the air resources board passed new rules calling for all new trucks sold in the state to be zero emission by 2045. The state is also locked in a legal battle with the Trump administration over passenger vehicle fuel efficiency standards, one of about 50 environmental lawsuits that state Attorney General Xavier Becerra has launched against the Trump administration.

Newsom said he had recently heard a pundit describe California as a nature hike through the Book of Revelations, and the governor said the state needed to deliver more than platitudes on climate change.

His order, he said, was intended to be as bold as the problem is big.

Janet Wilson and Mark Olalde cover the environment for The (Palm Springs) Desert Sun, part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow them on Twitter: @janetwilson66 and @MarkOlalde.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Gov. Gavin Newsom bans gas-powered cars in California by 2035
An elephant that died in the Okavango Delta in Botswana. National Park Rescue

At least 330 elephants have been found dead in Botswana since May.

After months of investigation, researchers figured out the elephants died because their drinking water was contaminated with toxic cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae.

As the world warms, such toxic blooms are expected to proliferate.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Since May, hundreds of elephants near Botswana's Okavango Delta have died suddenly and inexplicably.

"Conservationists on the ground have reported horrific scenes of dying elephants walking around in circles and others dying flat on their faces," Mark Hiley, a cofounder of the conservation organization National Park Rescue, told Business Insider in July.

Researchers considered many possible explanations for the mass die-off  was it poaching? Poison? COVID-19?  but they weren't able to pinpoint the pachyderms' cause of death until now.

On Monday, Botswana officials announced the killer.

"Our latest tests have detected cyanobacterial neurotoxins to be the cause of deaths. These are bacteria found in water," Mmadi Reuben, the principal veterinary officer of Botswana's Department of Wildlife and National Parks, said in a press conference.

The cyanobacteria, also called blue-green algae, bloomed in local watering holes.

The algae's toxins affect both humans and animals  they can be inhaled or swallowed, or they can seep through the skin, leading to gastrointestinal problems, paralysis, and even death in dogs, fish, and cattle.

Hundreds of dead elephants

At least 330 elephants have died in Botswana since the spring.

To figure out what killed them, researchers studied samples from the elephant carcasses for months across labs in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Canada, and the US.

Initially, officials dismissed the idea that algae blooms were fueling the elephant die-off, since no other animals in the Okavango Delta  even the hyenas that ate the dead elephants  died en masse. Elephants in other parts of the country remained healthy too.

Story continues

But about 70% of the deaths occurred near watering holes containing algae blooms, according to The Guardian  compelling evidence for the conclusion that cyanobacteria is indeed to blame. The die-off also seemed to end in June, after the poisoned watering holes dried up during the area's dry season.

A dead elephant on the shore of a watering hole in Botswana's Okavango Delta. National Park Rescue

The physiological effects of cyanobacteria align with what researchers observed among elephants in the Okavango. Some of the animals lost control of their motor functions, a clue that toxins were affecting their nervous systems, Hiley said.

Deadly algae blooms are spurred by climate change

When algae multiply quickly, they can form a layer of scum on the surface of ponds, lakes, and even oceans; that's called a bloom.

The trigger for these specific toxic blooms and the reason elephants were hit hardest are mysteries officials have yet to solve.

"We have many questions still to be answered, such as why the elephants only and why that area only," Reuben said. He added that researchers had several hypotheses, but he didn't elaborate on them.

An elephant that fell before dying in Botswana. National Park Rescue

One guess, according to The Guardian, is that elephants are more susceptible to the algae's effects than other animals because they spend more time bathing in watering holes and drink larger quantities of water.

Researchers also know that, in general, toxic algae proliferate faster when the water they live in is warm and rich in nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen. These chemicals can come from fertilizer runoff.

"It amounts to having the right conditions, in the right time, in the right place, and these species will proliferate," Patricia Glibert, an environmental scientist who has studied cyanobacteria, told Reuters.

As the planet warms, scientists expect such blooms to occur more often.

A girl uses a stick to scoop algae from an algal bloom at Maumee Bay State Park in Oregon, Ohio, in August 2014. Ty Wright for The Washington Post via Getty

Temperatures in southern Africa are rising twice as fast as the global average, so it's likely that the number of cyanobacteria blooms in Botswana will rise.

"These conditions are coming together more often, in more places, so we are seeing more of these toxic blooms around the world," Glibert added.

That means toxic algae could plague elephants again in the future.

"It is important to monitor now to effectively detect the growth of these algal blooms in the water," Reuben said.

Ecotourism is the second-biggest sector of Botswana's economy, after only diamonds, Hiley previously told Business Insider, so it's especially important that officials keep tabs on potential cyanobacteria outbreaks to prevent another die-off.

"It's one of the biggest disasters to impact elephants this century, and right in the middle of one of Africa's top tourism destinations," he said.

Botswana is home to about 130,000 elephants, representing the largest chunk of Africa's elephant population. However, that number is decreasing sharply; the animals were classified as vulnerable in 2016.

Mia Jankowicz contributed reporting to this story.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Clive Thompson Jr. sits outside the First United Methodist Church of Germantown, where his parents have been living in sanctuary since August 2018. He was accepted to Columbia University, and has moved to New York City to begin studies, but is not eligible for federal aid because he is a DACA recipient. Read more

Clive Thompson Jr. has made it all the way to Columbia University, thanks to an outpouring of love and money from people who want a hardworking DACA recipient to have a chance at a world-class education.

The question now: Will he get to stay?

For Thompson, 23, donations topping $25,000 have enabled him to move to the campus in New York City and start classes, to begin his pursuit of a career in movie-making. But hell need continued fund-raising if hes to afford an Ivy League education.

The 700,000 young, undocumented immigrants permitted to live and work in the United States under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals are ineligible for federal school aid. Thompson and other DACA students say that means while theyre allowed to work, it becomes almost impossible for most to attain the education they need to markedly improve their lives.

Some schools offer financial help, but for the most part, if DACA recipients want college degrees, they must find ways to pay for it on their own.

That has been a daily uncertainty for Thompson, whose acceptance into Columbia was the subject of a July 31 Inquirer article.

His struggle has been particularly stressful. After fleeing death threats in Jamaica and building a life in South Jersey, his parents have spent the last two years inside First United Methodist Church of Germantown, where they took sanctuary to avoid deportation.

Rather than fear what lies ahead, he said he concentrates on the people, many of them strangers, who donated money for college costs and sent messages of hope and encouragement.

Its truly a blessing, said Thompson, known as C.J. People have come out of nowhere to help. Like Jocie.

Thats Jocie Dye, an accountant active in Northwest Philadelphia Immigrant Action and Mobilization who helped organize a GoFundMe campaign. Since July, more than 200 individuals and organizations have given  $5 or $10 or $20, while several donated $1,000, and one person even gave $5,000 toward the $70,000 goal.

Dye sees in C.J. and his family a pure level of faith, that Well just do what needs to be done, and have faith that the rest will come, " she said. " I dont think he ever doubted that he was going [to Columbia]. This bold belief that this is going to happen.

Now, a South Jersey supporter, Cynthia Eisen, is hoping to supercharge that fund-raising effort, offering everyone who donates or has donated from Sept. 13 forward a chance at a weeklong stay at her six-bedroom manse in the resort town of Hilton Head, S.C. A winner will be picked on Oct. 15.

Thats me looking at the donors and saying, Thank you,  she said.

Columbia provided aid of $17,000. Thompson still needs $33,389 for tuition and $31,833 for housing and mandatory health insurance, according to the GoFundMe page. Hes looking for a job in film, but will take whatever work is available to help pay for school.

Thompsons move into university housing ended a wandering existence that saw him living between the church and a sisters house. While Columbia has moved to virtual teaching during the pandemic, he now has his own space to study for classes that include ancient empires, Western art, and introduction to film.

He has written a script, about a father and son who take refuge in a church as a coronavirus-like disease destroys the world, turning human beings into blind, bat-like creatures. What sounds like a horror movie is, at core, the story of a boy learning to live on his own after the death of his father. When the film is shot, Thompson said, hell make sure the lead character is Black, since people who look like him are too often absent from fantasy fiction.

Thompson accomplished something extraordinary simply by getting admitted to the elite university. Some days, he cant believe hes there.

Its surreal, he said, noting that many immigrants started anew in New York. I see it as starting my life, where I want to go, to see Im headed in that direction, as an immigrant, as a film student.

Thompson was about 7 when his parents brought him to this country. They fled Jamaica in 2004 after gang members burned their farm and threatened to kill them. They then built an American life in far South Jersey. The U.S. government denied them asylum, yet allowed them to stay, to hold jobs, pay taxes, buy a house, and raise seven children here.

C.J. was 14 when President Barack Obama created DACA in 2012. His mother saw the opportunity and made sure he enrolled. All of the Thompson children have permission to be in the U.S.

DACA recipients, who were illegally brought into the country as children, can obtain work permits and renewable, two-year deferments from deportation. But they get no U.S. citizenship or legal status, and no path to achieve it.

For 14 years, the Thompsons lived peacefully and productively in the Cumberland County community of Cedarville  until the Trump administration put them on a fast track to deportation. The parents sought sanctuary in the church in August 2018, and younger siblings Christine and Timothy, both U.S. citizens by birth, moved in with them.

Churches are considered safe because ICEs sensitive location guidelines generally bar agents from taking action in houses of worship, hospitals, and schools. Those in sanctuary can continue to fight their legal cases from inside.

C.J. Thompson has become an advocate for DACA recipients and for his parents, cooking at their fund-raisers and speaking on their behalf at rallies, churches, and schools.

Thompsons father worked as a heavy-equipment operator at Bridgeton-based Cumberland Dairy. His mother, Oneita, enrolled at Cumberland County College, and became a certified nursing assistant at Friends Village retirement home in Woodstown. Neither has been able to work since taking sanctuary. So they cannot help their son with college costs, as they did for two older children, whose DACA status likewise barred them from federal aid.

C.J. stayed in the family home, worked the 3-11 p.m. shift at meatball-maker Buona Vita Inc. to help his parents hold onto their house, and took classes at Cumberland College. After earning his associates degree, he left the empty home  fund-raising events now pay the mortgage  and moved to Philadelphia.

He enrolled full-time at Drexel University in fall 2019 and winter 2020, which he paid for with loans, scholarship money, and servers wages at the South Philly Barbacoa restaurant. He lost that job due to the pandemic.

Thompson calculates that, with his credits transferred, he should finish his schooling at Columbia in three years.

Thats if DACA survives.

In June, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the Trump administrations attempt to end DACA, but left open the possibility that the president could try anew. The decision, recipients say, was a reiteration of how DACA strands them half-in, half-out of America, the future always uncertain.

Today, Thompson judges himself very optimistic, even with college funding uncertain and his parents in sanctuary.

Seeing my parents go from nothing to building themselves up is very influencing, he said. I developed this work ethic that stops me from quitting, when it seems that quitting is the only choice.
A television reporter has hit back at his critics after coming under fire for challenging 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.

Hitchcock delivered the perfect response to his critics with a post on Instagram on Wednesday.

The reporter wrote: 'Journalist asks tough questions to a politician at a press conference? Reasonably certain thats part of my job description.....'

Seven News reporter Denham Hitchcock clashed with the Victorian premier on Tuesday

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.

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 delivered the perfect response to his critics with a post on Instagram on Wednesday. The reporter wrote: 'Journalist asks tough questions to a politician at a press conference? Reasonably certain thats part of my job description.....

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.'

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.

The heated exchange between the reporter and the Premier sparked a divided reaction

Denham Hitchock (right) sparked the heated exchange when he asked Premier Andrews whether he would wreck his state's economy to save lives

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

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.
Buckingham Palace has washed its hands of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after they 'told Americans to vote out Trump'.

A spokesman said it refused to comment on 'not a working member of the Royal Family' in a stinging response to the couple.

It comes after Royal insiders said the Duke and Duchess of Sussex 'crossed a line' by speaking out about the US election on November 3.

Prince Harry told voters to 'reject hate speech' while Meghan called the presidential race the 'most important election of our lifetime'.

Speaking in a Time 100 video message, apparently filmed from their California home, Harry admitted he was not eligible to vote - adding that he had never voted in the UK either where convention dictates that royals keep well clear of politics.

While Harry and Meghan did not name their favoured candidate, many viewers thought it 'obvious' they were backing Joe Biden over Donald Trump - although a source close to Harry denied this.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: 'We would not comment. The Duke is not a working member of the Royal Family and any comments he makes are made in a personal capacity.'

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have spoken out about the upcoming U.S. election, in a stark break with British tradition that prohibits royal involvement in politics

For his part, Harry said: 'As we approach this November, it's vital that we reject hate speech, misinformation and online negativity'

Royal experts told MailOnline the couple should give up their titles and sever their links to the monarchy for good if they wanted to comment on US politics, while insiders told the Times palace aides would be concerned about their intervention.

MailOnline editor-at-large Piers Morgan said: 'Prince Harry poking his woke nose into the US election and effectively telling Americans to vote against President Trump is completely unacceptable behaviour for a member of the Royal Family.'

Former Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker, the author of the book And What Do You Do? What The Royal Family Don't Want You To Know, said Harry should not speak out about US politics while he is still a 'representative' of the UK.

'I think it's appropriate for any private citizen to comment on the US election. The problem is that Harry has retained his HRH status and is not a private citizen but still a representative of this country,' Mr Baker told MailOnline.

'He needs to stop trying to have a foot in both camps - royal when it suits him and private when it doesn't.

'Or to turn on its head the old phrase, I agree with what he says but disagree with his right to say it.'

Royal biographer Robert Jobson told MailOnline it 'may be easier' for Meghan and Harry to give up their royal titles altogether given the 'business and political agenda they appear to want to pursue'.

Mr Jobson, whose latest book is called The Royal Family Operations Manual, said the couple were now 'completely detached' from the British monarchy and would be best off abandoning their titles altogether.

'Meghan, after all, holds American citizenship and has always voted,' he said. 'The business about royals not getting involved in politics is less clear when it comes to Meghan or what the protocol should be in this case.

'But as she is now back living in her country I am sure many would think it wrong that she is not allowed to exercise her democratic right to vote.

How British royals are expected to keep out of politics Under Britain's constitutional monarchy, powers which theoretically belong to the Queen - such as appointing ministers and approving legislation - are exercised in her name by political leaders. This system means that political decisions are taken by the elected government rather than unelected royals, while keeping the monarchy as a symbol of the British state and its traditions. The royals' political neutrality, which the Queen has scrupulously observed for 68 years, is key to maintaining this balance and to preserving the monarchy's popularity. A YouGov poll earlier this year found majority support among both Conservative and Labour voters as well as Brexiteers and Europhiles for maintaining the British monarchy. The Queen's uncle King Edward VIII had to abdicate in 1936 because the government refused to support his planned marriage to American divorcee Wallis Simpson - fatally compromising his neutrality. While there is no law explicitly preventing the royal family from voting in UK elections, doing so would be an unacceptable breach of protocol. The Queen holds weekly conversations with her prime ministers and she is entitled to 'advise and warn' them when necessary, but the nature of her advice is never made public. Even her guarded comment that voters should 'think very carefully about the future' ahead of the 2014 Scottish independence referendum was seen as an unusual intervention. Prince Charles is known for writing lengthy letters to ministers on policy subjects such as agriculture, some of which were made public in 2015. William and Kate have also spoken out on the environment, launching a prize to tackle climate issues last year. Princess Diana - who like Harry and Meghan became semi-detached from the monarchy - was known for her campaigning on land mines, once allegedly describing the UK government's policy as 'hopeless'. Her involvement sparked criticism from some Conservative MPs, but the Labour government that took office shortly before her death was more favourable to her campaign. Advertisement

'Royals even in this country are entitled to their opinion and, such as the very vocal the Prince of Wales and Prince William voice them, particularly on the environment and the natural world. They see this as leadership.

'The important part is that they are not partisan, as for the monarch or her direct heir to be partisan could cause a constitutional crisis.'

Mr Jobson said he was 'increasingly open' to the idea of stripping the Sussexes of their royal titles for their own benefit and that of the royal family.

'Frankly, I think it would be better for Harry to withdraw, along with his son, from the line of succession to avoid further confusion,' he said.

'By saying they are HRHs and the Duke and Duchess, but not allowed to use the titles, just confuses the situation.

'With that issue out of the way, Meghan encouraging people to vote is something that would be praised not criticised.

'She speaks well and has passion for political issues. Without a royal title to hold her back it may set her free to pursue a political career.

'Ditching his title, and that includes 'Prince' would free up Harry too, in the land where he says he is happy and wants to make this life and where titles mean nothing.'

A former palace adviser told The Times that Harry and Meghan's comments were likely to cause 'concern' among royal aides.

'The political arena is very sensitive for all members of the royal family. You cannot have an apolitical institution, which is what a hereditary monarchy is, and have members of the royal family making even slightly political comments,' they said.

'Courtiers would be extremely concerned that if they are going to continue to comment on what could be the most contentious US presidential election in living memory, how difficult could that get?'.

Another source in palace circles said the couple had 'crossed a line' with their intervention on Tuesday.

Harry and Meghan spoke in a video clip which was broadcast as part of TIME's publication of its annual list of the world's 100 most influential people.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were included in the 2018 list, but not in this year's edition.

'We're just six weeks out from Election Day and today is National Voter Registration Day,' said Meghan, 39.

'Every four years we are told the same thing, that this is the most important election of our lifetime. But this one is,' she said.

'When we vote, our values are put into action and our voices are heard. Your voice is a reminder that you matter, because you do and you deserve to be heard.'

For his part, Harry said: 'As we approach this November, it's vital that we reject hate speech, misinformation and online negativity.'

Harry urged Americans to be careful about what kind of content they consume online.

'When the bad outweighs the good, for many, whether we realize it or not, it erodes our ability to have compassion and our ability to put ourself in someone else's shoes. Because when one person buys into negativity online, the effects are felt exponentially. It's time to not only reflect, but act,' he said.

Harry also referenced the fact that, because he is not a US citizen, he will not be able to vote in November.

Markle has made her position on the 2020 election clear in a number of appearances in recent weeks, expressing enthusiasm for the Democratic ticket

He added he had never been able to vote in the UK, despite being theoretically eligible in the last five general elections since he turned 18.

Although British law does not explicitly forbid members of the royal family from voting, the expectation that royals remain apolitical is considered sacrosanct, and in practice they never participate in elections, by voting or otherwise.

But since announcing plans to step down as senior royals in January and moving to North America, Meghan and Harry have quietly expanded their involvement in politics as they forge their own path.

Their comments led to criticism from some US officials after it was broadcast on Tuesday.

Trump's former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski teed off on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after they recorded a video plug urging Americans to register to vote and Harry urged Americans to 'reject hate speech.'

'They made Britain great again by leaving, I hope they do the same for us,' Lewandowski, a senior 2020 advisor to the Trump campaign, told DailyMail.com Wednesday.

Trump campaign spokesman Jason Miller indicated he saw no such preference in Prince Harry's words.

Will Prince Harry take US citizenship? He says he won't vote in 'this' election Prince Harry appeared to leave the door open to taking up US citizenship in the future by saying that he would not vote in 'this' presidential election. 'This election, I'm not going to be able to vote here in the US,' the Duke of Sussex said, adding that he had never voted in the UK either. Harry's remark left the possibility open that he might seek to vote in a US election in the future, where royal partisanship would not cause a constitutional crisis as it would in the UK. Meghan and the couple's one-year-old son Archie are both US citizens, but Harry has not announced any plans to take up dual nationality. A source told the Sunday Times earlier this year that Harry had not applied for dual citizenship and was not expected to request a green card in the US. Green cards offer a route to citizenship because the spouse of a US national can apply for naturalisation after being a permanent resident for three years. Harry's current immigration status is unclear but a range of visas are available to UK nationals. Advertisement

'I'm assuming you're asking me because of Joe Biden's record of hateful and divisive language, particularly toward the African American community?' he responded when asked by DailyMail.com for comment.

Then he wrote: 'I read this as warranted criticism of Joe Biden's racist policies. He's the only person I know of who has spoken at a Klan member's funeral!'  a reference to Biden's eulogy for former the late Senate leader Robert C. Byrd, who was a klan member in West Virginia in the 1940s but later apologized for what he called a 'sad mistake.'

Viewers also lamented the Sussexes, as they saw it as a thinly-veiled plea to remove Trump from office.

However, a source close to Harry insisted the Duke was not referring to Trump or any other individual.

'The duke was talking about the tone of debate in the run-up to an election which is already quite febrile,' they said.

'He is not talking about any candidate or specific campaign. He is building on a lot of stuff that he's said before about online communities, how we engage with each other online, rather than specifically making any political points.'

Harry also appeared to open the door to taking up US citizenship in the future by saying that he was not eligible to vote at 'this' election.

His remark leaves open the possibility that he could seek to vote in a future election, which would likely require him to obtain a 'green card' and stay in America for at least three years.

A source close to Harry declined to comment on whether his words suggested he would be applying for dual citizenship.

'They are not working royals. They are private citizens and it's understandable they want to keep those matters private,' the source said.

Meghan is eligible to vote in US elections as an American citizen - as her son Archie will be when he is old enough.

Harry's current immigration status in the US is not clear, but there are a range of visas available to British nationals.

If Harry chose the three-year green card route, he could theoretically naturalise as a US citizen in time for the 2024 presidential election.

However, it also requires that the applicant be 'physically present in the United States for at least 18 months' out of the preceding three years.

When 'Megxit' was announced in January, the couple said they would split their time between Britain and North America after quitting royal duties.

But the coronavirus pandemic has limited their mobility and the couple have been staying in California since relocating from Canada earlier this year.

Meghan's involvement in the video follows a separate intervention last month in which she urged women to turn out at the election.

The Duchess spoke about the need for 'change' at the When All Women Vote Couch Party, an online event organized by non-profit organization When We All Vote, which was founded by Michelle Obama.

Speaking directly to the volunteers and workers tuned into the summit, Meghan continued: 'It is fair to say that we are all very grateful for your work because we need it now really more than ever.

'When I think about voting and why this is so exceptionally important for all of us, I would frame it as: We vote to honor those who came before us and to protect those who will come after us because that's what community is all about and that's specifically what this election is all about,' she said.

This week, feminist activist Gloria Steinem revealed that Markle had joined her in cold-calling Americans and urging them to vote.

Last month, Markle (left) joined Gloria Steinem for a 'backyard chat' in which she made it incredibly clear who she plans to vote for come November

Steinem told Access Hollywood: '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 I'm Meg' and 'hello I'm Gloria' and 'are you going to vote?' That was her initiative.'

Meghan has also told Steinem she was 'so excited' to see fellow mixed-race woman Kamala Harris nominated for vice president, in another strong hint that she is backing the Democratic ticket.

Before marrying Prince Harry in 2018, Markle was no stranger to politics, ridiculing then-presidential candidate Donald Trump during a 2016 appearance on The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore.

She said Trump was 'misogynistic and divisive' and indicated her support for Hillary Clinton.

Harry is a friend of former president Barack Obama, interviewing him on a guest-edited episode of BBC Radio 4's Today Programme in 2017.

'Part of my role and part of my job is to shine a spotlight on issues that need that spotlight, whether it's people, whether it's causes, issues, whatever it is,' Harry said at the time.

'So I will continue to play my part in society and do my job to the best of my abilities so that I can wake up in the morning and feel energised.'

Despite the Obama friendship, the couple avoided a constitutional row by inviting neither the Obamas nor the Trumps to their 2018 wedding at Windsor Castle.

Over the past few months, Markle has moved to become more politically active and taken part in multiple interviews and summits - having reportedly grown 'frustrated' at her inability to get involved in politics while she was working as a senior royal

Earlier this year, two Russian pranksters said they had duped the Duke of Sussex into criticising Trump in a phone call where they posed as climate activist Greta Thunberg.

'I don't mind saying this to you guys, I think the mere fact that Donald Trump is pushing the coal industry so big in America, he has blood on his hands,' Harry allegedly said.

Buckingham Palace did not confirm or deny the authenticity of the call.

Over the past few weeks, Meghan has taken part in multiple interviews and summits - having reportedly grown 'frustrated' at her inability to get involved in politics while she was working as a senior royal.

Last month, she joined Gloria for a 'backyard chat' in which she made it incredibly clear who she plans to vote for come November, expressing her excitement at seeing a woman of color on the Democratic ticket - Joe Biden's running mate, Kamala Harris - and explaining that the nomination was particularly meaningful to her because she is biracial.

'I'm so excited to see that kind of representation,' she said. 'You know, for me, being biracial, growing up, whether it was a doll or a person in office, you need to see someone who looks like you in some capacity.

'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 we're starting to break-through in a different way.'
Press Release

September 23, 2020 Bong Go expresses full support to DOF budget; urges leadership to crack down on corrupt BOC, BIR officials and personnel Senator Christopher "Bong" Go expressed his full support to the proposed budget of the Department of Finance during its budget hearing at the Senate on Wednesday, September 23. That said, the Senator also sounded a stern warning against corrupt personnel of the DOF's attached agencies, Bureau of Customs and Bureau of Internal Revenue, saying that "their days are numbered." "I express my full support to the Department of Finance, headed by a very capable financial manager in Secretary Carlos Dominguez," Go said during his manifestation of support to the department. The Senator further expressed his confidence to the leadership of DOF and remarked that the country's financial policies are in very capable hands with them at the helm. "As the Philippines reels from the devastating effects of the pandemic not just on public health, but also on our economy and financial stability, it is important that the country's finances are managed properly and efficiently," Go explained. "I am positive that we will see this crisis through and emerge stronger than ever," he added. During the early phase of the community quarantine in the country in response to the pandemic, the DOF heeded the call of President Rodrigo Duterte and Go to assist small businesses that were forced to stop operations while many are only able to operate with skeletal forces as a result of the measure. The department implemented the Small Business Wage Subsidy program which provided a wage subsidy monthly to eligible employees of small businesses to help mitigate the impact of the pandemic. "Malaking bagay po sa ating mga kababayan 'yung SBWS program ng DOF. Habang sarado pa ang mga negosyo, 'yung subsidy na matatanggap nila ay makakatulong sa kanilang pang-araw-araw na gastos," Go said in an earlier statement. In addition, the DOF has also secured funding from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office to support the Department of Health in fighting COVID-19. Earlier, the Senator also appealed to the DOF and the BIR to consider a one-month extension on the filing of Income Tax Returns and which can be extended further when necessary depending on the extent of the COVID-19 situation to assist affected taxpayers. "Bigyan po natin ng palugit ang ating mga kababayang apektado ngayon. Maraming halos wala nang kita o kabuhayan ng isang buwan, hindi alam paano papakainin ang pamilya, hindi alam hanggang kailan magtatagal ang krisis. Tapos dadagdagan pa natin ang iniisip at aasikasuhin nila dahil sa tax requirements," Go explained. In the hearing, Go thanked Finance Secretary Dominguez and the rest of DOF employees for their "diligence and perseverance in keeping the country afloat in the financial sense." "Let us work together to strive for the betterment of our beloved country," encouraged Go. Despite heaping praises on DOF, Go warned the corrupt personnel within its two attached agencies, BOC and BIR. "However, let me also reiterate a warning to the corrupt in the BOC and the BIR. Sa mga corrupt dyan, your days are numbered," Go warned. "The public will exact accountability and you will have your day of reckoning. We will not let you tarnish the laudable efforts of the good people in your agencies," he added. Go further warned that the finance chief and commissioners of BOC and BIR should not let corruption take place in their respective agencies. "Alam ko pong hindi papayag si Commissioner (Caesar) Dulay and Commissioner (Rey) Guerrero na may mga corrupt na lulusot diyan sa inyong ahensya and ,of course, si Secretary Sonny Dominguez, galit rin 'yan sa mga corrupt," Go said. "Sa mga corrupt, ingat kayo. Bilang na mga araw ninyo," he added.
The government recently introduced three labour codes-on social security, industrial relations, and Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions, which were passed by the Lok Sabha. They are now tabled in the Rajya Sabha. The fourth Wage Code bill was earlier cleared by the Parliament.

But these Codes have not gone done well with the trade unions. To protest against these changes, The Central Trade Union Organisations have decided a nationwide protest today. They have programmes conducted all over India to protest codification of labour laws and other changes.

Ten central Trade Unions says they are protesting "against disinvestment and privatisation of public sector enterprises including 100 per cent FDI in some of the core sectors of our economy." It adds, "These policies of the central government are against the interests of the working people of the country."

They trade unions are demanding lockdown wages for workers, no retrenchments of the workers and no wage cuts during the lockdown period, Universal Public Ration Distribution to all needy citizens, cash transfer of Rs 7500/- pm to all unorganised sector workers and self employed workers for at least 6 months for their sustenance.

The letter was signed by Amarjeet Kaur, General Secretary, AITUC, on behalf of trade unions: INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF, UTUC and Independent Sectoral Federations and Associations.

There is also a symbolic protest at Jantar Mantar on 23rd September 2020 at 11:00 am.
A man holds a banner that reads "Respect your constitution" at a Sept. 15, 2020, protest in Ulan Bator, Mongolia, against China's plan to introduce Mandarin-only classes at schools in Inner Mongolia. (Byambasuren Byamba-Ochir / AFP/Getty Images)

The herder couldnt speak for long. His phone was being monitored, he said, as were those of many other Mongols around him.

We have no way out. Theres nothing we can do, said Gangbater, a herder in Xilingol League, a central part of Chinas Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, where mass protests broke out three weeks ago when the government implemented a new bilingual education program to replace the Mongolian language with Chinese in half of Mongolian school classes.

Demonstrations against the program appear to have been largely suppressed. More than 90% of children who had boycotted school in Xilingol were back in class  including his own, said Gangbater, who asked that his full name not be used for fear of retribution from authorities.

If you dont send the kids [to school], they take away your jobs," said Gangbater. "You cant get subsidies or loans from the banks. They put you on a blacklist. They are arresting the people who signed petitions. They have all kinds of methods.

The Chinese governments crackdown on Inner Mongolia has been swift and unsurprising, using a familiar arsenal of tactics  surveillance, financial and occupational threats, detention, social credit blacklisting and media control  often deployed against ethnic minorities and others deemed a threat to social stability.

But it is remarkable for taking place in what has long been known as Chinas model minority region. The bilingual program has raised criticism from Mongols within China and across the border in Mongolia, but it has also drawn a rare rebuke from Communist Party elite in Beijing.

Mongolians in Ulan Bator march against China's plan to introduce Mandarin-only classes at schools in the neighboring Chinese region of Inner Mongolia. (Byambasuren Byamba-Ochir / AFP/Getty Images)

The protests, however, have not deterred the government's resolve to erode minority cultural identity. Last week, local authorities in the city of Xilinhot, the seat of government in Xilingol, announced via WeChat that parents who did not send their children to school by Sept. 17 would lose access to government subsidies. High schoolers who did not attend classes would be expelled and blocked from taking the college entrance exam. Banks would stop loans for the next five years to any parents who did not comply.

Story continues

A separate government notice stated that parents who did not abide would be placed on an untrustworthy persons list, and face restrictions on jobs, special market transactions, cross-border travels, home reconstruction and other actions requiring good social credit standing.

Xilinhot authorities announced last week that they had successfully brought all 3,469 students in the areas Mongolian-language schools back to class. Chinese ethnicities as one close family, building the China dream with one heart, declared bright white Chinese and Mongolian letters against a red background on top of the announcement.

A police source within Inner Mongolia told the Los Angeles Times that most students had returned to school, but officers were tracking down people who had posted anything harmful to the government online. He shared images of police orders that included people's names, ID and phone numbers, addresses and workplaces, and required officers to implement education and stability control on the individuals.

Several of the individuals were targeted for "stability control" because they'd called for protests or posted messages on WeChat about apparent Mongolian suicides. The Southern Mongolian Human Rights Information Center, a New York-based rights group, said that nine Mongols, mostly teachers and students, had committed suicide in recent weeks after coming under government pressure.

Mongolians protest in Ulan Bator, their capital, on Sept. 15, 2020, against China's plan to introduce Mandarin-only classes at schools in the Chinese region of Inner Mongolia. (Byambasuren Byamba-Ochir / AFP/Getty Images)

The Times was not able to reach families of the deceased but reviewed two government documents acknowledging the suicides of a 17-year-old girl and a 33-year-old woman in early September. The government notices claimed that the girl had jumped from the fourth floor of a school building after fighting with a classmate during a dance rehearsal, and that the woman, suffering depression, had also jumped from a building.

The crackdown on Inner Mongolia is startling because Mongols have long been better integrated and more loyal to China than most other ethnic minorities, said a historian from Inner Mongolia who now lives abroad. She asked not to use her name to protect her family in China.

The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region was created in 1947  two years before the Peoples Republic of China was formed  and its leaders allied with Mao Zedongs Communist Party, in part because Mao promised genuine autonomy for Inner Mongolia.

They were convinced that the communist system would work for them," the historian said. "They are resentful because they feel they have been betrayed.

Inner Mongolia was the model for other minority autonomous regions, all of which have a right to self-governance, including in education, culture and language, according to the Chinese Constitution. But Chinas constitutional guarantees for minority autonomy have never been fully upheld, according to Uradyn Bulag, an anthropologist at Cambridge University who is also from Inner Mongolia.

Within a few years of the formation of the People's Republic, large numbers of Han Chinese settlers moved into the region, soon outnumbering the Mongols. During the Cultural Revolution, calls for Inner Mongolian autonomy prompted Chinese officials to accuse Mongols of separatism  and more than 20,000 Mongols were ultimately killed, according to official numbers, in a purge against a so-called secret party that the Communist Party later acknowledged did not exist.

Mongolians protest outside the Foreign Ministry in Ulan Bator on Sept. 15, 2020. (Byambasuren Byamba-Ochir / AFP/Getty Images)

Despite such traumas, many residents of Inner Mongolia, more so than ethnic Uighurs or Tibetans, have embraced integration into Chinese society and willingly sent their children to Chinese-language schools in hopes of securing better economic opportunities.

Yet anxiety over losing their mother tongue is deep despite government assurances that some classes will still be taught in the native language. Past promises from the Chinese government have proved hollow.

They have a way of saying, Nothings changing, but in reality you know things are changing, said James Leibold, a specialist on Chinese ethnic policy at La Trobe University in Australia.

The new regulations in Inner Mongolia are part of a broader change in ethnic policy that started in academic discussions a decade ago and gained momentum after a 2014 speech by China's president, Xi Jinping, Leibold said. The speech called for a new stage of ethnic work, with accelerated employment and education policies, interethnic mingling and a shared consciousness of the Chinese nation.

The constitution has not changed. But in practice, Chinas policies have abandoned the original promises of autonomy and moved toward assimilation by force. The Chinese state frames this move as a civilizing drive, Leibold said, in which minorities assumed to be backward are molded into supposedly superior Han Chinese ways of life.

The shift has drawn attention from Mongols across the border in Mongolia, where protesters wearing traditional tunics gathered in the main square of Ulan Bator, the capital, shouting, Protect the mother tongue! as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited last week.

You cannot separate a persons language and culture from the person, said Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj, the former president of Mongolia. This is a widely discussed issue, widely supported by Mongolians.... If someone hurts in Inner Mongolia, we feel it in Mongolia in the same way.

Wang told Mongolian media last week that Elbegdorj was two-faced for speaking in support of Inner Mongolian protesters, using a term authorities deployed in Xinjiang, a region in northwestern China, against Uighur intellectuals detained in camps on suspicion of being disloyal to China.

Meanwhile in Beijing, Ma Xiaoli, an elite party member whose father was close to Xi's father, spearheaded a public letter protesting the crackdown on Inner Mongolia. It called for a retraction of the order, an apology to Mongols, an end to coercive methods and arbitrary arrests and no labeling of protesters as political criminals or tools of foreign anti-China forces.

The letter was signed by 18 former sent-down youth whod spent years laboring in Inner Mongolia during the Cultural Revolution, when urban young people were sent to rural regions. They'd witnessed how those in Inner Mongolia suffered in that era, yet remained loyal to China afterward, they said.

"Most Mongol comrades are patriotic, law-abiding citizens.... Loving the country and loving ones ethnic group are not in conflict, the letter said. We are deeply concerned that if this situation continues, a peaceful Inner Mongolia will be turned into a second Xinjiang! How that would pain the heart!

Ma could not be reached for comment, but a source directly acquainted with several of the letters signatories confirmed its authenticity to The Times.

Despite the extraordinary resistance, there are no signs that the language policy or Chinas broader shift in ethnic policy are going to change. Last week, Chinas State Council released a white paper on what rights groups have called forced labor in Xinjiang, stating that about 1.29 million mostly ethnic Uighur workers had gone through vocational training annually from 2014 to 2019 and that this had improved the peoples material and cultural lives.

Chinese authorities have continued to block foreign journalists from reporting in Inner Mongolia, harassing, following and pressuring them into leaving the region.

On Tuesday, authorities sentenced real estate tycoon Ren Zhiqiang, an elite party insider who criticized Xis handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, to 18 years in prison  sending a signal that even the partys princeling elites are not safe from punishment.

The police source in Inner Mongolia said he was on the edge of breakdown. He knew a musician who had been detained and a friend working at a TV station who had been forced to write a self-criticism under threat of losing her job. A classmate of his and that classmates father were under 24-hour surveillance.

He feared for his own safety, he said, but had no way out.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Chime is shocked to learn that a significant number of HSE audiologists, including paediatric audiologists, have been redeployed to provide Covid-19 testing, with potentially significant consequences for some deaf children.

According to the national charity deafness and hearing loss, nationally the number of audiologists in the HSE is relatively low at approximately 70 posts.

Chime has learned that five of the nine Community Healthcare Organisation (CHO) areas have been affected. Furthermore, Chime is particularly concerned about reports that across Galway, Mayo and Roscommon, paediatric audiologists are being redeployed.

Commenting this Wednesday, CEO of Chime Mark Byrne said that the redeployment of audiologists is disproportionate, will add significantly to waiting lists and will have lifelong consequences for some of the children affected.

Communication for all children is vital for their development  and children who use hearing aids need regular appointments with their audiologist to ensure they have access to high quality sound to support their education and development. On behalf of the families who Chime support, we are concerned about the impact caused by redeployment where no alternative service is available.

Mr Byrne added that national guidance is needed to inform decisions that are balanced, consistent and have the least impact on the individual and their quality of life. He said that pre-Covid-19 audiology services were already stretched with considerable waiting lists for adults in particular, and that while it is somewhat reassuring that in some CHO areas there has been no redeployment of audiologists, the redeployment in some areas is alarming.

Laura Grant, chairperson of Our New Ears, an organisation supporting families of deaf and hard of hearing children, added: All parents in this country are concerned about their children contracting Covid-19 and the consequences it may have for them. However, for our children who are deaf and hard of hearing, the consequences of Covid-19 will be lifelong, even if they never contract it because their essential service has been effectively withdrawn due to redeployment and lack of staff and the destruction of a meaningful audiology service.

"Parents are under unbelievable pressure to bridge gaps that are so far beyond what could be expected of anyone. These children are suffering and will continue to suffer for many years as a result of the decisions being made by HSE management and the lack of any ring fencing around this precious lifeline for our children.

Evelyn Casserly, who lives in County Galway, has a seven-year-old daughter, Hollie, who has complex hearing loss that requires regular review. Even before Covid-19 arrived, Evelyn said that they had to "fight" for every audiology appointment, and that the service in Galway is very under-resourced.

Hollie has not been seen by the HSE audiology service since August 2019. Luckily, Hollie is also a cochlear implant user and she had an appointment scheduled in Beaumont Hospital in June. Evelyn said that Beaumont provided Hollie with new ear moulds and helped us out of a fix.

Regular appointments for children is essential to replace ear moulds, which must fit growing ears snugly for hearing aids to work effectively. For those children with complex or progressive hearing loss, regular reviews are vital to ensure the childs hearing aids are providing them with high quality sound.

Rosie Gardner, a listening and spoken language specialist, pointed out that the early years is a critical time-sensitive window for a childs auditory brain to develop pathways for sound processing and for the brain to begin to develop language.

She said: If this development does not happen within this window, it can have lifelong consequences for the child. The audiologist plays a critical role in ensuring the child with hearing loss has access to sound of high integrity to maximise their language development potential, so redeploying audiologists and delaying access to appointments for these children makes no sense whatsoever.

Chime is calling on the Minister for Heath to intervene and ensure that children with deafness and hearing loss are not disproportionately impacted by the redeployment of clinicians to Covid-19 testing. In particular they are asking that immediate steps are taken to restore the paediatric audiologist to their post in CHO 2 with immediate effect.
The Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB) in Delhi has been working with four states to set up megalabs that can sequence up to 3,000 viral genomes of the Sars-CoV-2 that causes the coronavirus disease (Covid-19). The states, which are expected to make separate announcements to the effect, werent named.

Not only will genome sequencing be more accurate than the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test at detecting infection in clinical samples, but the data will also be used for routine surveillance of the virus and where it originates to help the government in devising more effective strategies to control its spread. RT-PCR is now considered the gold standard for diagnosis of the coronavirus disease.

The megalabs will automate genome sequencing, allowing us to process a large number of samples  a couple of thousand  a day. This is being permanently used for routine surveillance in Kerala and has been able to give us very useful information. As we will be sequencing the complete genome, the results of the test will be more accurate than the RT-PCR test, which looks for certain identifying parts of the genome to say whether a person has the virus or not. It will also be immune to any mutation by the virus, said Dr Anurag Agarwal, director of the IGIB.

The entire sequencing process will not cost more than 2,000 per sample and can be easily implemented by state governments, Dr. Agarwal said. In comparison, a patient pays 2,400 for an RT-PCR test at a private laboratory in Delhi.

Kerala, where the machine used in the megalabs was first field-tested in August, is one of the four states that would be using genetic sequencing data for routine surveillance of Covid-19 cases. The state has already benefitted from genetic sequencing data from IGIB for one of is projects. An analysis of 200 samples from the state revealed that most of the infections in the state were brought in by domestic inter-state travellers rather than international ones, according to the researchers.

Analysis of the genetic sequencing data collected by our clinical partner from three districts in northern Kerala shows that most of the infections in the state were brought in by domestic travellers, with three distinct clusters from infections imported from Odisha, Maharashtra, and Karnataka. This also validates the quarantine norms that the state followed with foreign travellers, preventing the importation of the disease from other countries, said Dr Sridhar Sivasubbu, head of business development at IGIB and a member of the Indian CoV2 Genomic and Genetic Epidemiology consortium.

He added, The Kerala government has now committed to continuing the study in all 14 districts as part of regular surveillance using the megalab. We are working with three other states to set up similar labs. The constant surveillance will tell the government of the origin of clusters of infections, helping them in developing strategies to prevent it at the source.

The researchers found that 94.6% of the genomes sequenced in Kerala spread locally after three distinct introductions  the K1 group where a traveller from Maharashtra introduced it in mid-July; K2 from Odisha, introduced in the first week of March; and K3 from Karnataka, introduced in the beginning of April.

The researchers also found a variation in the S-gene  which encodes the defining spike protein the virus uses to enter human cells  associated with the higher infectivity of the virus. There were also five variants in areas of the genetic sequence that are used as probes for the RT-PCR test, which might result in reduced efficacy of the tests, according to the research paper that is currently on the pre-print server BioRxiv.

The routine surveillance using genetic sequencing of the virus will also help in detecting cases of re-infection. IGIB is the first institute in the country to have confirmed eight cases of re-infection  two in Noida, two in Delhi, and four in Mumbai.

The cases of re-infection were detected in health-care workers through routine surveillance that allowed us to sequence genomes of the viruses during both the infections, said Dr Sivasubbu.

Dr Agarwal said: We used to think re-infections were very rare, but we are seeing a few cases now. We were able to establish re-infection in at least eight cases where samples from both the infections were available, we could ensure that there was sufficient genetic differences in both the viruses, and where we were clearly able to show that neither of the samples were positive due to possible contamination. This makes us think that re-infection is not very rare {as thought earlier} but very uncommon.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 23

By Klavdiya Romakayeva - Trend:

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases for September 23 in Uzbekistan increased to 53,051, Trend reports with reference to the statistics of the Uzbek Ministry of Health.

To date, 49,224 patients have fully recovered in the country, while 443 have died.

At the moment, 3,384 patients are treated in medical institutions in Uzbekistan in accordance with the standards.

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
EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT REPLACES THE PREVIOUS EDIT, 3056-SOCCER-SUPER-BAY-SEV/PREVIEW, WHICH HAD A TECHNICAL ISSUE

VIDEO SHOWS: PLANE CARRYING BAYERN MUNICH SQUAD ARRIVING TO BUDAPEST AHEAD OF THE SUPER CUP, SQUAD GETTING OFF PLANE, BUSES TAKING SQUAD AWAY FROM THE AIRPORT

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (SEPTEMBER 23, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)

1. AIRCRAFT CARRYING BAYERN MUNICH SQUAD SITTING ON TARMAC AFTER LANDING IN BUDAPEST

2. VARIOUS OF SQUAD GETTING OFF OF PLANE AND ON TO WAITING BUSES

3. VARIOUS OF BUSES CARRYING SQUAD LEAVING AIRPORT

4. AIRPORT TERMINAL

5. EXTERIOR DOOR TO TERMINAL

STORY: Champions League winners Bayern Munich landed in Budapest on Wednesday (September 23) ahead of Thursday's (September 24) Super Cup match against Europa League champions Sevilla.

Hosted at Budapest's Puskas Arena, the competition will be Europe's first international match open to fans since the coronavirus pandemic began and comes amid a growing second wave of COVID-19 infections.

Although some countries have begun allowing spectators back in small numbers, Thursday's match in Hungary is more ambitious, and arguably riskier, with UEFA and local authorities allowing the arena to fill up to one third of its 67,000 capacity.

It will also feature travelling fans with 3,000 tickets available to followers of each club.

Bayern are unbeaten since December 7, a run of 31 competitive matches which has seen them steamroll several opponents -- including Barcelona who were beaten 8-2 -- on their way to completing a Bundesliga, German Cup and Champions League treble.

Sevilla's form has been almost as impressive with no defeats since February 9 -- a run of 21 matches -- as they finished the season by lifting the Europa League.

(Production: Kurt Michael Hall)
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Grizzly bears were photographed viciously attacking each other as they battled over a fish in southwestern Alaska.

The two brown-haired bears became aggressive as they came to blows over their food, digging their paws and teeth into each other. Photographer Kevin Dooley spotted the female bear, thought to be about 16 years old, fighting with the younger five-year-old male bear.

The younger bear initially caught a fish but when it was snatched away by the female, who had been tending to her two cubs, the male bear retaliated.

Mr Dooley, a 59-year-old safari leader, from Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S., said: 'The female is the senior bear in the area. The younger male moved into the fishing area and caught his own fish while the mother was busy with her cubs.

'The mother bear saw all the action of the younger bear catching a fish in her area and attacked him and took the fish - she ended up with it.'

The mum having caught the fish is attacked by the other bear. The two brown-haired bears became aggressive as they came to blows over their food

The younger bear initially caught a fish but when it was snatched away by the female, thought to be about 16 years old, pictured in the foreground

The mum having caught the fish is attacked by the other bear sending the fish flying through the air. Photographer Kevin Dooley spotted the female bear, thought to be about 16 years old, fighting with the younger five-year-old male bear

The fish is pictured flying through the air as the bears fight each other. Mr Dooley, a 59-year-old safari leader, from Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA, said: 'The female is the senior bear in the area'

The mother bear and other bear tussle. 'The younger male moved into the fishing area and caught his own fish while the mother was busy with her cubs,' Mr Dooley said

The mum and other bear tussle. 'The mother bear saw all the action of the younger bear catching a fish in her area and attacked him and took the fish - she ended up with it,' Mr Dooley said

The mum and other bear tussle before he manages to grab the fish

The other bear grabs the fish in his mouth. The two brown-haired bears became aggressive as they came to blows over the fish
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Soon, a robot is going to work on the International Space Station. Developed by GITAI, a Japanese space robotics startup, the task-specific system called the S1, is going to travel to the ISS in 2021.

According to the official website, the GITAI S1 is a semi-autonomous/ semi-teleoperated robot designed to conduct specified tasks internally & externally on space stations, on-orbit servicing, and lunar base development.

The robotic hand can independently carry out multiple tasks at the space station. This includes manipulating switches, controlling tools or soft objects, conducting science experiments and assembly, and high-load operations.

S1 has an arm that can freely move up to 8 degrees and has a 1-metre reach. This is powered with an integrated sensing and computing system that can be wall-mounted. Next year, GITAIs creation will be part of a demonstrative experiment in collaboration with NanoRacks developed module.

The robotic hand will be mounted in the airlock module called Bishop, which will be installed on Node 3 of the International Space Station (ISS). There, S1 will have to perform two experiments. The first task concerns Intra-Vehicular Activity or IVA where S1 will be required to switch and cable operations and assembly of structures and panels to demonstrate its capability for In-Space Assembly (ISA).

All the operations conducted here will be autonomous. While GITAI has been managing the technical development of the space robotic arm, Nanoracks is responsible for arranging the launch opportunity. They are doing this as part of their Space Act Agreement with NASA. The firm will also manage on-orbit operations and data downlink.

By means of this technical demonstration, GITAI is trying to develop a robot that can conduct versatile tasks in space. This demo will also be helpful for future missions with autonomous robots so that these devices can brave the alien space environment and carry on tasks of repair and maintenance.
ALBANY  More than 4,400 lawsuits have been filed against alleged child abusers under New Yorks Child Victims Act, but there are still many victims remain unable to access the court system in order to seek justice.

A decade-long political fight preceded the passage of the CVA last year. It expanded the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse and rape cases and opened a look-back window for bringing lawsuits against alleged abusers who had previously been immune from civil liability because of the time that passed.

The look-back window was extended this summer for another year due to COVID-19, but activists, politicians and alleged survivors of childhood sexual abuse say the law didnt go far enough and that many who suffered abuse as children are still unable to seek justice.

Every single attorney on Google that we called in New York  downstate and upstate  told us that they are not interested in taking on a case like this because they will only take on cases from big organizations, said one woman, 34, in a phone interview with the Times Union. It feels like abandonment all over again. Over and over again.

In that womans case, her alleged abuser was her mother. Theres no deep-pocketed institution behind her with insurance that a lawyer can look at to potentially foot the legal bill and pay a settlement or judgment.

In general, cases that dont have a pot of gold at the end, its hard to find attorneys for unless you have the money to pay them, said Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal, a Democrat.

Despite the fact that upwards of 90 percent of child sex abuse is perpetrated by people who know the child, such as a family friend, neighbor or parent, a vast majority of the cases brought under the CVA are against institutions including schools, hospitals, the Catholic church, Boy Scouts or others.

A Times Union analysis a year ago found that more than 95 percent of cases named institutions as defendants. Since then nearly 4,000 more lawsuits have been filed, so a new, full analysis was not feasible, although it is obvious that there has not been a flood of cases against individuals to even out the numbers.

Ive heard from many victims that they cannot find a lawyer, said Gary Greenberg, one of the activists who helped lead the fight to pass the CVA and is mounting a write-in campaign for the New York 46th Senate seat. Theyve attempted, you know, in multiple numbers to contact attorneys, and attorneys tell them that since their case does not involve an institution, they cannot represent them because its just not cost-effective for attorneys to take these cases.

Greenberg said he has been in touch with many people who are having trouble finding lawyers who will take their cases. Because the lawyers would be unable to bank on winning big settlements at the end and taking their pay out of that, they either refuse the cases outright or ask for expensive payments throughout the legal process that many people cannot afford. Several members of the Legislature said these difficulties are a broader issue.

A common practice in litigation is to go for the deep pockets, said state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi, a Westchester County Democrat. I really feel that its troublesome to leave these types of survivors without recourse.

One proposed policy measure to address that problem has been introduced by Sen. James Gaughran, a Suffolk County Democrat. Biaggi is a co-sponsor on the bill.

The bill would add a box at the bottom of state tax refund documents that New Yorkers could check to donate to a fund that provides grants to legal nonprofits that represent people who want to bring sex abuse claims. The bill would also establish fines for people found criminally responsible of certain sex crimes, and those fines would also go into the fund.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Whats falling through the cracks is that there are a lot of people who clearly, I believe, have legitimate cases they want to bring and cant find a lawyer to do it, Gaughran said. This would then give these folks a vehicle to do this.

But for some who experienced abuse, overcoming this financial hurdle to the legal system may still not be enough to obtain justice.

A second woman, 23, who lives in Albany, said in a phone interview with the Times Union that she was molested once by her father when she was about 5 or 6 years old. Its common for memories of childhood to be fuzzy for anyone, and traumatic experiences. She has been turned down by more than 10 law firms, she said.

She said she has been grilled by lawyers when shes discussed her case on the details of her abuse, asking how her father could only have abused her a single time.

Usually the attorneys say theyre too busy to take the case or just stop returning her calls, she said; some have told her that lawyers arent going to take her case because claims against individuals are too much work for too little compensation.

I think theres a lot of hurdles to probably any case in this realm, but particularly when it comes to child sexual abuse, we are seeing law firms being reluctant to take cases not only for the reasons of finances, but also because of evidence, Biaggi said.

For child sexual abuse cases brought forth decades later, memories of the events are often fuzzy  blurred by the passage of time and the effect of trauma on the human brain. And when the alleged abusers are individuals operating outside of a system, there isnt a paper trail of personnel records to look at the way there would be at a school, for instance. For many, the best case scenario is he-said-she-said, which is often not enough to hold up in court.

Its like (district attorneys) dont prosecute every case because they think they wont win, you know? Rosenthal said. I guess thats inherent in the system that not everyone has access to justice if theres a cost involved. Thats the sad truth.
ATHENS, Greece - Greeces government spokesman says more than 200 people have tested positive for the coronavirus among thousands of asylum-seekers admitted to a new camp on the island of Lesbos after the old one burned down.

Speaking during a regular briefing Monday, Stelios Petsas said 7,064 people who entered the new camp at Kara Tepe had been tested, and 243 of them were found positive.

The average age of those confirmed positive was 24, and most were asymptomatic, Petsas said. A further 160 people, mainly police and administrative staff who had come into contact with the migrants, were tested and all were negative for the virus.

Petsas said the positive cases from Lesbos would be added to Greeces official coronavirus figures Monday. Health authorities release daily statistics of the viruss spread every evening.

More than 12,000 asylum-seekers were left homeless nearly two weeks ago after fires on two successive nights destroyed the notoriously overcrowded Moria camp. Greek authorities have said the fires were deliberately set by a small group of Afghans angered by lockdown and isolation orders imposed after 35 people in the camp tested positive for COVID-19.

The migrants spent several nights sleeping rough by the side of a road in makeshift shelters, and held at least two protests, attended by thousands, to demand to be allowed to leave the island.

Authorities have constructed a new facility consisting of family tents erected on an old shooting range in a coastal area of the island. They launched a campaign over the weekend to persuade those who had been sleeping rough to go to the new camp, and thousands have complied.

But others are still sleeping rough in fields and in an olive grove outside the remnants of Moria. Authorities were expected to attempt to have them move into the new camp over the coming days.

Nationwide, Greece has been experiencing a resurgence of the virus, with the number of new daily cases often topping 300, and both deaths and the number of those in intensive care units rising.

Greece has had just over 15,000 confirmed positive cases and 338 deaths in this country of nearly 11 million people.

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Fine, tell me more. In a follow-up Twitter post , Kaya said he'd first heard the news back in June. "At that point, Hardy's casting wasn't official but he had been auditioning and was basically locked into the role," he wrote. He says the franchise's producers are set to officially announce the news in November, after the release of the COVID-delayed No Time to Die, Daniel Craig's fifth and final outing as Bond  unless the film is delayed again, at which point we won't find out till early next year.

Oh sure, that sounds legit. Your scepticism is noted. But the blog's author, Emre Kaya, has been described as a "respected scooper" and "reliable source" in the British TV and film industry, and the post quickly piqued the interest of the UK's entertainment media.

Okay, let's pretend I'm convinced. This isn't the first time Hardy's been tipped for the role. That's right. Way back in 2017, he was already deflecting suggestions he was set to slide into Craig's tuxedo. "There's a saying amongst us in the fraternity of acting... that if you talk about it, you're automatically out of the race. So I can't possibly comment on that one. If I mention it, it's gone," he told The Daily Beast. In another convincing wrinkle, there were also tabloid suggestions that Hardy's Dark Knight Rises director Christopher Nolan would eventually take over the franchise. "He'd be amazing. He really would," Nolan said of Hardy's Bond chances while promoting Dunkirk that same year.

Tom Hardy in Mad Max: Fury Road. Credit:Jasin Boland

This is all lining up quite conveniently. What's Hardy been up to lately anyway? You mean you haven't heard him narrating Amazon Prime's new doco All or Nothing: Tottenham Hotspur, featuring his regal pronunciation of "Tanguy Ndombele"? Get onto that. His last film Capone released straight to streaming in the midst of the pandemic and was roundly panned, but his sequel to blockbuster Venom has been completed and is due out next year. Beyond that he has a couple of projects lined up with Aussie filmmakers: Andrew Dominik's War Party, and George Miller's prequel to Mad Max: Fury Road, The Wasteland.

So what's the general consensus? Are people feeling this latest rumour? Of course! It's Tom Hardy, a generational acting titan and beloved oddball. Online publication Screen Rant, for example, said "Tom Hardy is perfect for James Bond", dispelling wowser concerns on social media that at 43 he's already too old for the role and suggesting the actor's "charm and humour" could help tilt the series away from the gritty, realist tone that's characterised Craig's tenure. The Guardian had some reservations, suggesting Hardy  with his creative eccentricities (remember the trashed selfies and gutter poetry of his MySpace phase?) and anti-Hollywood baulk  might be "too complicated" for a people-pleasing blockbuster franchise like Bond. Anyone who saw his magnetic, idiosyncratic turns in films like Bronson (2008) and The Revenant (2015) might have to agree. Others have been more succinct:
The pound fell by over 0.3% to $1.26 in early trading and remains choppy as investors navigate the likelihood of a stricter lockdown. Photo: Getty

The pound sank against the US dollar (GBPUSD=X) in the early hours of trading on Wednesday, following UK prime minister Boris Johnsons address to the nation.

On Tuesday, Johnson revealed that the government was imposing a new set of rules on England to help battle the spread of COVID-19 across the country, which has got scientists worried about a rapid increase of cases in the winter months.

The new measures are:

Working from home: After telling people to get back to the office, the government now says that if you can work from home, you should avoid going into the workplace. It said that for jobs where its not possible, like construction and retail, then people should go into work but employers should adhere to health and safety protocols to make it as safe as possible.

New closing time and rules for pubs, bars and restaurants: There is now a strict closure time of 10pm local time. These establishments will also be restricted to table service only and bar staff and non-seated customers, shop workers and waiters will be obligated to wear face masks.

Reduction in wedding guests: Guest numbers are reduced to 15 from 30.

Sporting events paused: Due to the nature of sporting events drawing large crowds, fans returning to sporting events are paused until further notice.

"Rule of six: Now applies to indoor team sports.

Fines increased: The level of fines has ramped up. It is 200 for the first offence and up to 10,000 for repeat offenders.

Johnson later addressed the nation in a televised speech and said that tougher measures were on the horizon if people did not follow the latest restrictions. He also warned that stricter rules could be enforced over the period of six months if the reproduction number (R) number  the average number of secondary infections produced by a single infected person  did not fall below 1.

The R number is currently between 1.1 and 1.4. The number of UK cases rose by 4,926 on Tuesday and deaths rose by 37. The UK chief science adviser and Englands chief medical officer warned on Monday that while these numbers seemed low compared to the onset of the rapid spread of the pandemic earlier this year, if the virus is not controlled in its spread, then the doubling on cases could be fatal when it comes up to winter months where flu season starts.

Story continues

The pound fell by over 0.3% to $1.26 in early trading and remains choppy as investors navigate the likelihood of a stricter lockdown over the next month or so, if the R number does not fall.

Chart: Yahoo Finance

Neil Wilson, analyst at markets.com said: GBPUSD traded under 1.27 in early European trade after the downside breach of the 200-day EMA presented bears with an obvious momentum play.

Yesterdays move under the 1.2760 level has opened up the path to further losses and today the pair is trading through the 100-day line and testing the 38.,2% retracement at 1.2690.

Whilst Andrew Bailey attempted some push back on negative rates, saying they are not imminent, the takeaway from his comments was that this unorthodox and dangerous tool is very much being actively considered by the banks Monetary Policy Committee.
(CNN) The Vatican has condemned euthanasia in its strongest language yet, calling it an "act of homicide" that can never be justified, in a document issued Tuesday.

The 17-page document, published by the Vatican's doctrinal office and titled "The Good Samaritan," reaffirms the Catholic Church's prohibitions on euthanasia and assisted suicide -- just as some traditionally Catholic countries are considering laws to legalize them.

In the document, euthanasia is described as a "crime against human life," and an "intrinsically evil act in every situation and circumstance."

Its authors say those who approve laws in favor of euthanasia and assisted suicide are "accomplices of a grave sin that others will execute."

Euthanasia involves a physician administering a drug to end the life of a patient, who is suffering, while assisted suicide allows the patient to administer his or her own lethal drug, usually with a doctor's supervision.

Some form of assistance with dying is currently legal in nine US states and Washington DC, and euthanasia is legal in three European countries: The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. Spain and Portugal, traditionally Catholic countries, are currently considering laws that would make euthanasia legal.

The Catholic Church opposes assisted suicide as a violation of divine law, and leading figures have consistently spoken out against the practice.

"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," Pope Benedict wrote in 2004 when he was still a cardinal.

Pope Francis -- who succeeded Pope Benedict in 2013 -- has previously condemned assisted suicide and euthanasia and asked doctors to "reject the temptation" to facilitate the procedures.

Tuesday's release of "The Good Samaritan" encourages health care workers and families to accompany a terminally ill patient in his/her suffering and blames a culture which values "autonomy and individualism" over community for allowing and assisting terminally ill patients to end their lives. To participate in euthanasia, the document says, "is to take the place of God in deciding the moment of death."

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Vatican strongly condemns euthanasia, calling it an 'act of homicide'."
Restaurants in Massachusetts can expand seating of up to 10 people per table and utilize bar seating starting Monday, Gov. Charlie Baker announced on Wednesday.

An applause echoed throughout Mill City BBQ and Brew in Lowell when Baker announced the new regulations. Baker emphasized that bars and nightclubs will remain closed, though.

The governor also stressed that patrons must be sitting at the bar area.

No standing around the bar, OK," Baker joked.

The new regulations apply to both indoor and outdoor seating. Tables still must be socially distanced at at least 6 feet.

We want to help restaurants use their space more effectively, Baker said. ...The evidence from other states with respect to this issue is clear, restaurants can use bar seating for regular food service with appropriate distance in place.

Baker applauded the states work in reopening industries across the state while also lowering the positive test rate - something other states have failed to accomplish.

The low positive test rate allowed for new regulations to allow the restaurants to expand seating.

COVID is still with us and until there is a medical breakthrough like a vaccine, we have to do all we can working with our colleagues in the food service business to keep our restaurants and our businesses safe, Baker said.

Baker said he hoped the new regulations would also trickle down to help other small retail shops that neighbor restaurants.

Massachusetts guidelines previously limited tables to no more than six people. Baker didnt mention any changes regarding overall capacity at restaurants.

Indoor gatherings are capped at 25 people and should not exceed more than eight people per 1,000 square feet.

The limit on outdoor gatherings is limited 50 people. Outdoor gatherings should not exceed 25% of the permitted occupancy of the facility or space documented on the occupancy permit on record. When no occupancy limitation exists, the order says, there should be no more than eight people per 1,000 square feet.

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2 1 of 2 Eric Gay/STF Show More Show Less 2 of 2 Steve Gonzales, Houston Chronicle / Houston Chronicle Show More Show Less



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.
New Braunfels, TX (78130)

Today

Sunny to partly cloudy. High 56F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy skies. Low around 40F. Winds light and variable.
PITTSFIELD  A 44-year-old man from Maine was sentenced on Monday to 10 years in state prison after pleading guilty to a 2016 armed robbery at the Credit Union of the Berkshires in Pittsfield.

Clinton Damboise of Belgrade, Maine, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a single count of armed robbery while masked, according to the office of Berkshire District Attorney Andrea Harrington.

The robbery was part of a spree where he robbed four banks in three states in a span of three weeks.

Damboise robbed the bank in Pittsfield at 12:30 p.m. on Sept. 13, 2016. According to police, he walked up to a window, placed a gun on the counter and demanded the teller give him cash.

Damboise is already serving an 11-year sentence in Connecticut after his 2019 conviction in connection with a robbery of a Suffield bank on Sept. 20, 2016. He was arrested on Oct. 1, 2016, at motel in a Southington, Connecticut.

The Massachusetts and Connecticut sentences will be served concurrently, according to Harringtons office.

Damboise has also been indicted on federal charges in U.S. District Court in Bangor, Maine, but has not yet gone on trial on charges he robbed multiple banks in that state.
They start arriving around 5 p.m. every night to the Cosmopolitan Kitchen, a makeshift community gathering spot that has been set up underneath a tent behind a vacation rental house within the water-logged Fort Morgan peninsula.

Each night, a meal is served by the resident chef, Adam Williams who, himself, is a cook at the Sassy Bass Amazin' Grill in Fort Morgan. Williams' wife, Candy, is a wedding planner who has utilized her professional skills to decorate the kitchen.

It opened Wednesday night, less than 12 hours after Hurricane Sally slogged through Alabamas Gulf Coast and devastated Fort Morgan with powerful winds and flooding. Six days later, on Tuesday, some of the neighborhoods still have standing water on their driveways. Much of the peninsula remains without power, though utility crews have arrived and can be seen throughout the area working to get electricity restored.

The Williams cannot get to their home because its flooded. The vacation rental is being lent to them by a friend.

We had some friends, maybe 12 to 15 who came over, said Adam Williams, recalling that first night at the kitchen. We put food together and we all ate and celebrated the beautiful weather. That was the 16th, and we said, man, lets do this tomorrow and put this stuff together we have that wed have to throw out. We had 65-70 people show up and so we decided we had to feed people. Some of them had food, but they could not cook it.

Its taken off from there, with a nightly menu and guests showing up for meals that include Baldwin County Sheriffs deputies and the utility workers.

The same story is taking place on the opposite side of Baldwin County in the tiny unincorporated town of Seminole that sits on the Alabama-Florida state line. Each night, pastor Kenny Ping is helping to lead an effort that includes gathering up food supplies and cooking meals that are being donated to him. The people are coming in droves. On Monday, 3,150 meals were served to residents who are still without power and struggling with their recovery efforts.

We have a lot of folks to feed, said Ping, who also is the chief of Seminoles volunteer fire department and is pastor of Seminole Holiness Church. Ive seen a lot of tears here. There are a lot of saddened people.

It was slow

The stories in Fort Morgan and Seminole also include a troubling reality for residents in both regions of Baldwin County: The lack of food and supplies that have been passed down from government agencies to the countys most remote areas. In Seminoles case, Ping was supposed to be overseeing one of 10 points of distributions for food and supplies provided by emergency management agencies. But ample amounts of those supplies did not start arriving until Tuesday, more than six days after the storm.

For Fort Morgan residents, the drive to the nearest distribution point is more than 20 miles away in Gulf Shores. In the aftermath of Hurricane Sally, traveling along the peninsulas roads has been dangerous due to the massive flooding, downed trees, and power lines.

When fuel is already scarce and roads are flooded out, that is an issue, said Joe Emerson, who is president of Fort Morgans civic association.

Mayors in some of the larger cities in coastal Alabama said they did not receive ready-to-eat-meals and supplies like tarps and shovels until Tuesday  long after people were in need of the supplies and around the same time that 80% of Baldwin Countys electricity was restored. In Elberta, Mayor Jim Hamby said he got a shipment of ice sent to the city on Monday and he is not sure what the city will do with it.

We needed that last week, Hamby said, adding that the city was appreciative of the supplies sent to the city but that the timing was off. That shouldve been here 72 hours after the storm, and basically shouldve been en route on Day 1. It was slow.

In Gulf Shores, where anonymous donors and churches have provided meals, the city spent $30,000 out of its budget to purchase blue tarps and to distribute them to people who are still in need. Tarps are typically provided by emergency management agencies.

With rain coming this week and Thursday, we went ahead and pulled the trigger and bought the tarps, said Grant Brown, spokesman for the city. He said the tarps are available to anyone who needs them and are being distributed at Gulf Shores United Methodist Church.

Collaboration

12 Fort Morgan damage

Questions are swirling over how the logistical supply chain of providing items issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency was stalled for days while tens of thousands of people spent were without electricity and searched for a limited supply of protective tarps for their storm-torn roofs.

Mary Hudak, external affairs director with FEMA, said the federal agency established a pre-identified incident support base in Selma ahead of Sallys arrival last week. She said the agency pre-positioned commodities in Selma in preparation of the unpredictable storms landfall that forecasts believed would strike anywhere between coastal Mississippi to the Florida Panhandle.

Hudak said that FEMA provides supplies to the support base depending on the request from the Alabama Emergency Management Agency. According to Rueben Brown, spokesman with FEMA Region 4  which includes Alabama  Alabamas EMA requested 345,000 liters of water, 33,000 tarps and 420,000 meals.

Hudak said the request is pretty typical based on the storm and the resources that are generally provided to support the state in its recovery efforts.

She said that FEMA doesnt provide ice any longer following storm events and has not done so for more than a decade.

Greg Robinson, spokesman with the Alabama EMA, said the ice deliveries  which are managed by the state and local EMAs -- are based on a need from the previous day and is dependent on the number of people who are without electricity.

There is a collaboration, said Hudak. They are getting information from the electrical co-op, the power company and others based on estimated return of service.

Other projections are made in determining how much quantity of certain items are needed, such as meals. Those projections are based on the populations characteristics such as the percentage of people who are elderly. A surplus of supplies, according to FEMA, can be utilized by local agencies the next time there is a disaster they are in need.

What is unclear is why the supplies took so long in getting to South Baldwin County, and long after makeshift kitchens popped up in driveways or church parking lots.

Robinson said there are points of distribution set up throughout Baldwin County, and that they are managed by the counties. He said the state helps fill the gaps with resources, but notes that the distribution system includes exhausting local resources first before the state steps in. He said the state delivers meals and supplies to a central point of distribution, which is in Robertsdale.

If the county asked for support in the points of distribution  we will surely help out, said Robinson. But the primary responsible (party) for distributing commodities is that we rely on the locals.

Critical failure

State Senator Chris Elliott, R-Daphne, said a lot of the commodities had been requested of the state on Wednesday, right after the storm hit. He said that resources were throttled back by the state, which meant that that fewer resources were sent than what was requested, or that those resources were not sent at all.

Sherry-Lee Bloodworth Botop, a spokeswoman for the Baldwin County Commission, said that Items were requested by Baldwin County EMA beginning on Wednesday, after the storm hit. She said the state has been communicating with designated staff about the supply distribution chain on a regular basis, and commodities received have been distributed to the point of distribution sites immediately upon receipt in coordination with emergency managers on the ground.

Assets that should have been on the ground a day or possibly two days after the storm only arrived five days after the storm, said Elliott, a former Baldwin County commissioner.

Elliott visited the Seminole fire station on Monday afternoon at a site where Ping was supposed to be receiving meals and supplies from the state EMA. He said that when he got there, I saw a few cases of water, some of which I brought in the back of my truck directly. No tarps, a few bags of ice and some (National) Guardsmen who were milling around. It was problematic.

Some parts of Baldwin County have since closed their points of distribution sites, such as Fairhope, where residents lined the streets late Tuesday to give a celebratory sendoff to utility crew workers who fully restored power on Tuesday.

Related: Hurricanes bring heroes. Here are a few I found this week

But in Seminole, Elliott said, there are clearly people in need.

There was a line (of vehicles) down Highway 90, he said, who added that he contacted Alabama EMA Director Brian Hastings to request that the state release more of the goods from the Selma location to Baldwin County. By Tuesday afternoon, the site was filled with tents and meals and tarps, just as it should be, Elliott said.

The problem with this is that those assets arrived four to five days later than they should have, he said. Fairhope might have shut their point of distribution site down, but Seminole has hundreds standing in line. People needed the assets.

He said the faith-based organizations, restaurants and banks have helped fill the void in assisting residents with meals and supplies.

This is what we have to look at as an after-action report (on Hurricane Sally) is why the state was throttling the resources back or not sending them at all, said Elliott. Thats a critical failure in emergency management.

Redistribution center

Meanwhile, the state delivered 7,500 blue tarps to Baldwin County on Monday or five days after Hurricane Sally slammed into the area and following a soggy and wet weekend in the Gulf Coast. Robinson said that 7,500 more tarps will be delivered soon.

Brown, with Gulf Shores, said believes the large geographical size of Baldwin County has led to the slowness in the response to outlying areas of the county that are not within an incorporated city. Baldwin County is the largest county by area in Alabama, encompassing a total of 2,027 square miles. It is larger than Rhode Island.

The county is so large and there are so many areas that are remote, said Brown. It took a while for the county EMA to define and look where they needed to get the most aid to and then get it to the points of distribution.

Brown said that the countys EMA has been great in their response, but noted that churches have ramped up and jumped in to help whenever needed. He said that cities like Gulf Shores and Orange Beach have been able to step up and assist their residents with anything that they have needed.

Has it been perfect? No, said Brown. Has it been good? Absolutely. People are getting things in our community. We are doing well. About 85% of our city has power restored. Its been a fast recovery effort within the last week.

In Orange Beach, city officials are loading up the government-provided supplies shipped to them on Tuesday and delivering them to Fort Morgan, where they are most needed. The drive from Orange Beach is about 40 minutes.

Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon said the city has more than 80% of its power restored, and that there is not as much of a need for the items the city received on Tuesday.

We are a redistribution center, said Kennon. We feel like we can help because we have so many resources. We are at 85% (with electricity restored). I feel bad (for the more remote areas) that they cannot get a hot meal. We are packing up the hot food and taking it out to those places. We are talking thousands of meals per day.

Inside the "Cosmopolitan Kitchen" in Fort Morgan. Pictured are Adam Williams (far left) and his wife, Candy, with Joe Emerson and two Baldwin County Sheriff's deputies. (photo submitted by Joe Emerson).

Back at the Cosmopolitan Kitchen, Andy and Candy Williams say that they have no intention of slowing down nightly meals and plan to continue cooking as long as the need is there. Beyond the food, people have told the couple that they are happy to have camaraderie with others after long days of cleaning up properties.

The couple spent $185 of their own money at a grocery store in Gulf Shores on food items that were cooked up as part of one of the evening meals within the past week. Others who are joining in the nightly meals have donated money, and Fort Morgan restaurants like Sassy Bass and Tacky Jacks have donated hamburgers and sandwiches.

Anyone who pulls up will get fed, said Adam Williams.

On Thursday, the couple will cook up a Thanksgiving dinner to celebrate the hard week of recovery. Turkey will be replaced by chicken breasts. Candy Williams plans to make a stuffing, green beans, and a sweet potato casserole.

Im hopeful someone will bring pumpkin pies, she said.

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The Marines' 5th-generation fighter jets have just departed on an unprecedented deployment -- embarked not on a U.S. Navy ship, but on the United Kingdom's newest aircraft carrier.

Ten F-35B Joint Strike Fighters embarked the carrier Queen Elizabeth on Tuesday from Portsmouth, England, as part of a multi-month training deployment, according to a Marine Corps news release. It's in preparation for the Queen Elizabeth's inaugural full-length deployment, set to take place next year.

Read Next: Marines New Amphibious Combat Vehicles Will Start Arriving at Units Ahead of Schedule

The Marine Corps F-35s, from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211, out of Yuma, Arizona, will be joined in training by British F-35Bs from the U.K.'s 617 Squadron, "The Dambusters." The Marine Corps and the U.K. are the only two entities that fly the B-variant of the F-35, which comes equipped with lift fans that allow for short takeoff and vertical landing -- a crucial feature when operating from short flight decks at sea.

The Marines' Joint Strike Fighters typically deploy aboard amphibious ships, which have smaller flight decks than Navy carriers. The Queen Elizabeth is a "ski jump" ramp-style carrier; part of preparation for the delivery of F-35Bs to the U.K. involved certifying the aircraft for ramp takeoffs.

"HMS Queen Elizabeth will be operating with the largest air group of 5th-generation fighters assembled anywhere in the world," Commodore Steve Moorhouse, commander of the U.K. carrier strike group, said in a statement. "Led by the Royal Navy, and backed by our closest allies, this new Carrier Strike Group puts real muscle back into NATO; and sends a clear signal that the United Kingdom takes its global role seriously."

Military.com reported last year that this rare joint deployment was being planned, hailed by U.K. and Marine Corps officials as an opportunity to strengthen alliances and highlight how well the two powers can interoperate.

"It's going to be a wonderful new way -- and I will offer, potentially a new norm -- of doing coalition combined allied operations with a maritime partner," Lt. Gen. Steven Rudder, then-head of Marine Corps aviation, told an audience at the Sea Air Space conference in 2019.

According to the new release, VMFA-211, nicknamed "the Wake Island Avengers," will use the deployment as a chance to try new and innovative techniques to combine resources with their international partners "while collaborating on complex mission sets to maintain our Nations' global maritime military advantage."

The Queen Elizabeth carrier strike group will be joined on the full deployment by U.S. Navy ships, as well as warships from the Royal Netherlands Navy, making up the largest U.K.-led multi-national force in recent times, according to the release.

During the current underway period, the American and British squadrons will participate in NATO exercise Joint Warrior in Scotland, highlighting the stealthy capabilities of the highly networked F-35.

"This deployment demonstrates that our forces are more than interoperable -- we are integrated," Col. Simon Doran, senior national representative to the U.K. carrier strike group, said in a statement.. "During this special partnership, the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy will conduct carrier strike group operations, training to maritime power projection, and ultimately supporting shared security. Our alliance is stronger because we can deploy and fight together as truly integrated NATO allies."

The Marine Corps took delivery of its first F-35Bs in 2014 and declared initial operational capability in 2015. The first F-35B squadron deployed aboard Navy ships with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit in 2018. The U.K. received its first F-35B in June 2016 and plans to have 24 aircraft by 2023.

Editor's note: This story was updated to correct a description of HMS Queen Elizabeth.

-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck.

Related: A US Marine F-35 Squadron Will Deploy on a British Aircraft Carrier in 2021
The prime minister's last trip abroad was to Brazil, in November last year, to attend the BRICS Summit

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 13 and 14 November 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 Indias 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, cybersecurity 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 Indias age-old ties with the neighbouring country are "unique and special", based on shared history, geography, culture, close peopletopeople 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.

"Twothirds of Nepals global trade is with India and over 90 percent of Nepals 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.
Facebook Removes Fake Chinese Accounts That Posted on US Election, Spread Beijing Propaganda

Facebook has shut down more than 180 fake accounts, groups, pages, and Instagram accounts that it determined to be run in China, which posted content on the U.S. presidential election and spread Beijings talking points on a range of topics, from the South China Sea to Hong Kong protests.

The U.S. social media giant announced the takedown in a blog post published on Sept. 22, saying that these accounts were a violation of its rule against coordinated inauthentic behavior on behalf of a foreign or government entity.

In total, 155 Facebook accounts, 11 pages, nine groups, and six Instagram accounts were shut down. The Instagram app is owned by Facebook.

Nathaniel Gleicher, Facebooks head of security policy and author of the blog post, explained that while people behind these accounts tried to conceal their identity and location, including by using virtual private networks (VPNs), the company was able to trace the account operators to southern Chinas Fujian Province.

Chinese netizens commonly use VPNs to bypass Chinas internet blockade and access websites banned in China, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Google.

Content

According to Facebook, this Chinese-created network focused most of its posts on Southeast Asia, posting news about global events such as Chinese and U.S. naval activities in the South China Sea, protests in Hong Kong, and support for current Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte and the possible 2022 presidential bid of his daughter, Sara Duerte, who is currently the mayor of Davao city in the Philippines. People behind these accounts posted in Chinese, Filipino, and English.

On the upcoming U.S. election, these accounts posted content both in support of and against presidential candidates Pete Buttigieg, Joe Biden, and Donald Trump, Gleicher stated.

In terms of the campaigns appeal, about 133,000 Facebook accounts followed one or more of these fake Facebook pages, and around 61,000 people joined one or more of these groups. However, the network gained almost no following in the United States, according to Gleicher.

Facebook also found a second inauthentic network, originating from the Philippines. The firm took down 57 accounts, 31 pages, and 20 Instagram accounts in connection with it.

This isnt the first time that Facebook has removed Chinese-affiliated fake accounts; in August 2019, Facebook removed five accounts, seven pages, and three groups from a network that originated in China. The accounts used a number of deceptive tactics to post misleading information about the Hong Kong protests, including managing pages posing as news organizations. In this case, Facebook said that its investigation found links to individuals associated with the Chinese government.

Investigation

U.S. network analysis firm Graphika released its own investigative report on the recently deleted Chinese-linked accounts, revealing more information about their tactics. Graphika is commissioned by the social media company to conduct such analyses.

It found that the operation behind these accounts began in late 2016 and it repeatedly went back to the theme of maritime security, in particular, the achievements of the Chinese navy.

For example, one Facebook account named Modern Chinese Warship posted on March 21, 2018, about the recent return of the Chinese navy after completing a mission in the Gulf of Aden.

When the operation began in 2016, a cluster of accounts focused on Taiwan. One Facebook page named Things About the Taiwan Strait first began posting comments about the prowess of mainland China and the benefits that Taiwan would reap from reunification, according to the report.

The Chinese regime claims that Taiwan is a part of China despite the fact that the island is a de-facto independent country with its own constitution, military, and democratically elected officials. Beijing has threatened to use military force to bring the island under its control.

Previously, documents from the Beijing city government that were leaked to The Epoch Times revealed that authorities maintained several proxy Facebook pages to promote the regimes claim of sovereignty and the idea of a military invasion of Taiwan.

In April 2019, the network began focusing on U.S. politics. One Facebook group called Go for Pete Buttigieg was created on April 27, 2019. Buttigieg officially launched his presidential bid on April 14, 2019. He ended his campaign in March.

According to Graphika, the Facebook group changed its name to For Pete Buttigieg on July 4, four months after he dropped out of the presidential race.

Graphika also found that the network had begun creating accounts and pages with apparently American names and personas by April 2019. For example, one account, under the name Kate Selina, posed as a conservative American, with posts criticizing Medicare for All and gun-control policies.

Another account, named Brian E. Gerald, posed as a liberal American, posting memes mocking President Donald Trump.

The network also included a Facebook group named Trump KAG 2020 that supported Trump, and a group called Biden Harris 2020 that supported the Democratic presidential running mates.

Only the BidenHarris page had a significant following before it was taken down by Facebook. According to Graphika, it had about 1,400 members.

The firm gave two hypotheses as to why the operation posted such content.

It is possible that the intention was to further polarize Americas political landscape by affirming each sides view of the other, Graphika said, but pointed out that it was strange the operation didnt pay attention to more progressive groups and candidates, such as senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. The two also vied for the Democratic presidential nomination, on more radical platforms.

The firm also surmised that the networks intention could be to use election-related messaging to infiltrate online communities on both the right and the left, especially those communities that were interested in the U.S. Navy and maritime issues more generally.

The network also defended the Chinese regime, such as touting its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and amplifying the unfounded claim that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus, didnt originate from China.

The virus originated from the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019, but Chinese authorities hid the outbreak from the public, holding back key informationsuch as the viruss capability to spread among humans. In March, as the outbreak grew severe outside of China, Beijing launched a global propaganda campaign, trying to change the narrative on the disease, such as accusing the U.S. Army of carrying the disease to Wuhan.

Masking Fake Accounts

Graphika also found evidence to suggest that the network might have purchased or otherwise acquired some of its accounts from real users, after observing that some of the profile names differed from the name that appeared in its URLs. Facebook generates a unique URL for each users profile, which usually contains the users name.

Some accounts also posted photos generated by a form of artificial intelligence (AI) known as generative adversarial networks (GANs) to avoid being detected as fake accounts.

Doing a reverse search on photos can expose accounts that use borrowed pictures, which confirms they are fake.

This form of AI is readily available online, and its use (or abuse) by covert operations has exploded in the last year, the Graphika report stated.

However, these images arent foolproof, as there are subtle anomalies that can be detected with the human eye, such as distortions in the ears and hair.

For example, in the photo of an account named Polo Kalia Sota, the photo background is distorted, and the glasses and ears appear asymmetrical.

Graphika identified a dozen of these GAN-generated images among the networks accounts.
Hadi al-Bahra has said that recent escalations in Idleb are part of the ongoing negotiations and that each party is working to secure the greatest political gains writes Step Agency.

Co-chair of the Syrian Constitutional Committee, Hadi al-Bahra, revealed in a post he published on his official Facebook page on Monday, the reason for the recent escalation in Idleb.

He stressed that the escalation is linked to the negotiations, and is actually considered one of the negotiating tools, as he described it.

Bahra wrote in his post, Any negotiation is a constant and continuous process, but its tools differ according to the specific stage of the negotiations, and according to the ability of each party at the negotiating table to achieve their respective goals.

He explained that, the tools of the negotiation process may sometimes be of a military nature, war operations, economic tools, diplomatic tools, and sometimes even legal, but most of the time a mixture of all of those.

Bahra added, From time to time, the parties return to the negotiating table to harvest preliminary or final political gains.

He considered that, as long as there are discussions and negotiations running in parallel to the use of the [aforementioned] tools, this means that the parties involved learn with certainty that no party can achieve a final political win through any of the negotiation tools.

Rather, one of them [negotiating parties] can improve their negotiating power by using the negotiation tools in a temporary and limited fashion, confirming that this is what is now happening in Idleb.

Bahras post coincided with Russian warplanes bombing Idleb. Last Sunday, Russian warplanes targeted the vicinity of Idleb city with 28 airstrikes, which led to some civilian casualties, in addition to fires in the area.

It is worth noting that Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, announced in his statements on Monday evening that Russia and Turkey had stopped their joint patrols on the M4 highway in northern Syria, which actually began last March.

He indicated that the control of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham is beginning to shrink in the Idleb Governorate, a spot he described as hot.

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.
Watch: Tesco boss urges no return to panic buying as rules are tightened

The chief executive of Tesco (TSCO.L) has urged customers not to panic buy in response to tighter coronavirus restrictions.

The outgoing supermarket boss told Sky News that stockpiling was unnecessary and asked the public to shop normally.

Dave Lewis reassured shoppers there was no disruption in the supply chain as a result of the new measures announced by Boris Johnson in a public address last night.

We just don't want to see a return to unnecessary panic buying because that creates a tension in the supply chain that's not necessary, said Lewis.

Empty supermarket shelves were a common sight just weeks before the UK lockdown in March. Credit: Getty.

Weeks before the lockdown began in March supermarkets found their shelves wiped clean of essentials such as toilet roll, pasta and rice as households stocked up.

READ MORE: No-deal Brexit to hit UK economy 'three times as hard' as COVID-19

Supermarkets were forced to implement purchase limits on a range of items to help stocks recover.

Lewis said there was very good supplies of food and consumers should be reassured by how well the food industry managed last time.

Watch: What it's like to be part of the NHS supermarket shopping hour

But fears of another national lockdown have seen reports of panic buying rising again in recent days. And high demand for home delivery slots have been reported by Sainsbury's (SBRY.L), with Ocado (OCDO.L) also warning of a three-day waiting list.

The UK's leading supermarkets have confirmed purchase limits won't be reintroduced in the near future and store bosses insist they have enough stock.

Meanwhile Tesco has doubled its online order capacity over the weekend from 600,000 to 1.5 million.

Andrew Opie, head of food and sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, said: We urge consumers to be considerate and shop for food as they would usually during this difficult time.
Jewish women pray at the Jaffa Gate to the Old City of Jerusalem, after they were turned away by police on their way to pray at the Western Wall, during a nationwide three-week lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020,. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

Israel on Wednesday reported a new record level of daily cases of the coronavirus, shortly before government officials were to meet to discuss tightening a new nationwide lockdown.

The Health Ministry reported 6,861 new cases on Wednesday as a raging outbreak showed no signs of slowing. Israel, a country of some 9 million people, now has one of the world's highest rates of coronavirus on a per capita basis, and health officials say hospitals are quickly approaching capacity.

The government last week imposed a nationwide lockdown that closed schools, shopping malls, hotels and restaurants. The coronavirus Cabinet was to meet later in the day to discuss further tightening the restrictions.

Ahead of the meeting, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that in light of the rapid spread of the virus, he would seek a "a broad general closure and significant tightening of restrictions immediately," including the closure of large parts of the economy, his office said.

Israel won international praise for its handling of the outbreak last spring, moving quickly to seal its borders and impose a lockdown that appeared to contain the virus. But the government reopened the economy too quickly, and a new outbreak has quickly spread throughout the summer. The economy, meanwhile, has not recovered from a serious downturn caused by the first lockdown, and the new lockdown has led to a new wave of layoffs.

A woman wearing a protective face mask plays with her daughter next to a statue of the first Israeli Prime Minister David Ben Gurion, during a nationwide three-week lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus at the beach in Tel Aviv, Israel, Tuesday, Sept 22, 2020. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

A new poll released Wednesday by the Israel Democracy Institute, a respected think tank, found that only 27% of Israelis trust Netanyahu to lead the country's effort against COVID-19. That compares with 57.5% who trusted him in early April. The survey interviewed 754 adults and had a margin of error of 3.7 percentage points.

The Health Ministry has instructed hospitals to delay non-essential surgeries and to open additional coronavirus wards as the number of serious cases continues to rise.

Beyond further limiting economic activity, officials have been discussing shuttering synagogues and clamping down on protestsboth of which risk sparking a public backlash.

The limits would come at a time when Israeli Jews are celebrating the High Holidays and when weekly demonstrations have been held against Netanyahu and his handling of the coronavirus crisis.

A man practices jumps on his skateboard during a nationwide three-week lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus, on Tel Aviv's promenade, Israel, Tuesday, Sept 22, 2020. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

Israelis play paddleball under a closed hotel during a nationwide three-week lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus, on Tel Aviv's promenade, Israel, Tuesday, Sept 22, 2020. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

Israelis play paddleball under a closed hotel during a nationwide three-week lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus, on Tel Aviv's promenade, Israel, Tuesday, Sept 22, 2020. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

The ongoing protests have bitterly divided the country, with religious leaders saying their public is being unfairly targeted by restrictions on public prayer while Netanyahu's opponents continue to hold large public demonstration. Demonstrators say Netanyahu's supporters are using the outbreak as an excuse to muzzle their democratic right to protest.

Deputy Health Minister Yoav Kisch said restrictions would have to be tightened in the near future.

"Educational institutions will be closed, the economy will be limited to essential work, synagogues will have no indoor prayers, with arrangements for outdoor prayer, and demonstrations will be allowed without protesters traveling between cities," he told Channel 12 TV. "Everyone will demonstrate where he wants, will pray where he wants and will stay at home. That is what is required now."

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
New York (United Nations) 22 September 2020 (SPS)- The President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, called in his video speech before the 4th Plenary meeting of the UN general Assembly Today, for an end to the illegal occupation of Western Sahara.

As we celebrate the founding of an organisation dedicated to freedom and equality, the people of Palestine and Western Sahara continue to live under occupation, President Ramaphosa regretted.

In this context, he added we repeat our call for an end to the illegal occupation of Western Sahara and for the Palestinian peoples right to self-determination.

On another hand, the President of Cuba, Miguel Diaz Canel Bermudez, stressed in his speech before the same session Today, his countrys principled and steadfast support to the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination and independence. (SPS)

090/500/60 (SPS)
Nicola Sturgeon has complained she does not have the financial powers required to shut pubs - PA

Nicola Sturgeon has complained she lacked the financial powers to shut all pubs and restaurants as Scotland recorded its highest ever number of daily coronavirus cases.

The First Minister said she would have preferred to have gone further than the 10pm curfew she will impose from Friday on all hospitality settings as this was not enough to get the virus under control.

Speaking on the six-month anniversary of lockdown, she claimed she was "hamstrung" as her government lacked the money to compensate businesses and protect jobs in the sector if they were forced to close again.

She said she would write to Boris Johnson requesting more financial powers but the Scottish Tory leader noted the Treasury has handed her SNP administration billions of pounds extra to tackle the pandemic.

Douglas Ross said the middle of a pandemic was "the wrong time to raise long-standing constitutional grievances" and urged her to refrain from "making the usual, tired political points.

One UK Government insider said the First Minister had been happy to take the credit when cases were low in Scotland during the summer but now wanted to deflect the blame after they had surged to a record high.

738,733 people in Scotland have been tested for #coronavirus



The total confirmed as positive has risen by 486 to 25,495



Sadly 2 more patients who tested positive have died (2,508 in total)



Latest update  https://t.co/bZPbrCoQux

Health advice  https://t.co/l7rqArB6Qu pic.twitter.com/6609V6JVsf  Scottish Government (@scotgov) September 23, 2020

Scotland recorded 486 new cases including 225 in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde health board area, 124 of which have been traced to a "significant" outbreak at Glasgow University. Two more people died from the virus.

Story continues

The proportion of tests coming back positive surged to 7.8 per cent, well above the World Health Organisation's five per cent threshold for the virus being under control.

Ms Sturgeon noted that "many more people are being tested now than was the case in the spring" but admitted the record total was "obviously a real cause for concern."

She boasted at the end of June that Scotland was "not far away" from eliminating Covid-19 but suggested on Wednesday that would be difficult without a vaccine.

Her complaint she could not go further with her current powers came as:

University students were warned not to hold house parties.

SNP ministers examined asking entire households to self-isolate if one member comes into contact with a carrier.

Ms Sturgeon faced questions over why areas with few cases were included in a nationwide ban on indoor visits to other households.

She reiterated her warning not to book a foreign holiday in the October half-term.

Ms Sturgeon said she would have preferred to have shut pubs - PA

Although household visits have been banned, up to six people from two households are still being allowed to meet in pubs.

The First Minister copied Mr Johnson's decision to impose a 10pm curfew on hospitality premises from tomorrow but she said many people had questioned "why we dont just close pubs completely right now."

She said: "Actually, that is not an unreasonable question. If the Scottish Government had the power to borrow money or to extend the furlough job retention scheme - so that we could mitigate the impact on jobs - it is very possible, perhaps even likely, that we would have reached a different decision yesterday on hospitality.

But we went as far as we could within the powers that we have. She claimed she did not want to make a political point, but express a genuine worry she had as First Minister.

Ms Sturgeon added: "We mustn't be hamstrung in essential public health decisions by the lack of necessary economic mitigations."

She won support from Devi Sridhar, professor of global public health at Edinburgh University and one of her key Covid advisers.

During the summer the academic argued that Scotland could eliminate the virus and urged Ms Sturgeon to examine introducing quarantine for English visitors if the number of cases increased south of the Border.

Calling for the UK Government to extend furlough or provide more support, Prof Sridhar tweeted: "Far better for controlling the virus to shut indoor hospitality, but Scottish govt does not have power to provide economic package or borrowing power. Without this, condemning an entire sector to going out of business & unemployment."

Far better for controlling the virus to shut indoor hospitality, but Scottish govt does not have power to provide economic package or borrowing power. Without this, condemning an entire sector to going out of business & unemployment. UK gov't has to extend furlough/support.  Devi Sridhar (@devisridhar) September 23, 2020

But Mr Ross said: "The UK Government has protected nearly a million Scottish jobs through the furlough scheme and other measures while delivering billions of pounds in Barnett Consequentials over and above the biggest Scottish Budget ever.

"The middle of the pandemic is the wrong time to raise long-standing constitutional grievances. When Covid cases are rising again, its never been more necessary for all of us to work as one, instead of making the usual, tired political points.

A UK Government source said: "It's frustrating to see Nicola Sturgeon again playing politics with a pandemic that has cost so many lives. We need to pull together to beat back the virus."

John Swinney, the Deputy First Minister, yesterday said a ban on household gatherings for more than 1.75 million people in the west of Scotland was "tempering" the rise in cases but not cutting them.

Ms Sturgeon said the "significant outbreak at the University of Glasgow" had impacted on the daily Covid-19 infection figure for the area.

She warned her government was holding talks with university chiefs over whether there are "further steps we need to take" and appealed to students to respect the ban on visiting other households.

In a direct message to them, Jason Leitch, Scotland's national clinical adviser, said: "We need you not to have house parties, I could not be more clear."

A Glasgow University spokesman said: "The total number of reported cases since the start of term is 124 but the actual number is likely to be higher.

"Over 600 students are isolating across all residences. We are not aware of any students who have had to receive hospital treatment."

He and Ms Sturgeon also warned that the Scottish Government was considering whether to make entire households self-isolate for 14 days if one member is identified as a contact of a Covid carrier.

This currently applies in the restricted parts of the west of Scotland, but elsewhere only the contacts have to isolate and not the rest of their households.
Millie Bobby Brown, known for her breakout performance in Stranger Things, recently opened about the financial difficulties she and her parents faced. During the interview, the actor also revealed that her parents could barely afford to get her to auditions before she booked her big role as Eleven. Apart from that, Millie Bobby Brown also went on to reveal some more details about her past.

Millie Bobby Brown has recently been quite busy promoting her upcoming film Enola Holmes. And during an interview with BBC News, the actor spilled the beans about the financial problems she faced while growing up. Millie revealed that her cash-strapped father Robert would only drive her to auditions if she knew all her lines. She said that they did not have enough money for gas and hence her father would not drive her to London until and unless she knew each and every line. The actor also added that she was very desperate to be on camera.

Millies good deeds

Millie also revealed that after winning an abundance of success and getting so much of fame she never looked at herself and thought that she is famous. Even after getting fame, the actor did not forget her roots, she said. In the month of March, the actor took to her Instagram handle to reveal that she and her family had donated 20,000 meals each to food banks in New Mexico and Atlanta.

She wrote saying, While we stay home and do our part to flatten the curve, we must not forget those in need, She added, In appreciation of this community, my family and I have donated 20,000 meals to The Food Depot, which will provide meals for those hungry in the Northern New Mexico service area. Take a look.

Also read | Millie Bobby Brown Reveals She Achieved Major Teenage Accomplishment During Pandemic

About her upcoming movie Enola Holmes

The Netflix movie is helmed by Harry Bradbeer and penned by Jack Thorne. The film is set to release on September 23, 2020, exclusively on Netflix. Enola Holmes stars Henry Cavill, Helena Bonham Carter, Millie Bobby Brown and Sam Claflin in leading roles. The film will also star Fiona Shaw, Frances de la Tour, Adeel Akhtar, and Susie Wokoma in supporting roles. The movie is reported to be based on a novel written by Nancy Springer.

Enola Holmes is an original character developed by Nancy Springer and is not part of the work of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Enola Holmes tells the story of Sherlock Holmes' younger sister, who runs away from home to start her own investigative agency after she learns that her brothers are planning to send her away to school.

Also read | Where Is Millie Bobby Brown From? Lesser Known Fact About The 'Stranger Things' Actor

Also read | 'Enola Holmes' Gets Rave Early Reviews, Millie Bobby Brown Showered With Praises

Also read | Millie Bobby Brown's Has A Brand New Connection To The Letter E; Here's How
KYODO NEWS - Sep 23, 2020 - 19:20 | World, All

Despite criticisms from environmental activists, Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo is set to embark on a national food estate program to deal with a possible food crisis in the future due to the ongoing new coronavirus pandemic.

Citing repeated warnings from the Food and Agricultural Organization over the global food crisis, Jokowi told his Cabinet ministers during a meeting Wednesday that besides the pandemic, food estates are needed due to "climate change and more importantly, to reduce our reliance on imported food."

According to Jokowi, the provinces of Central Kalimantan on Borneo Island and North Sumatra will be piloting the program.

For the first stage, the president said, paddies will be planted on 148,000 hectares of land, while another 622,000 hectares will be set aside for cassava, corn and other crops, as well as farms, in Central Kalimantan.

By the end of 2025, however, the food estate will be expanded to cover a total 1.4 million hectares in Central Kalimantan, according to Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, who has been assigned to lead the program.

If the pilot projects succeed, Jokowi said, the program will expand to three other provinces, including restive Papua in the easternmost part of the country.

Agricultural Minister Syahrul Yasin Limpo said planting is expected to start by the end of this year in Central Kalimantan.

The food estate plan, however, has since the very beginning sparked criticism from environmentalists because the farmland will be developed on degraded peatlands.

They were degraded under the regime of late strongman Suharto who launched an ambitious 1-million-hectare mega rice project in 1995, similar to Jokowi's one. It was deemed a total failure by experts, environmental activists and the local Dayak tribe.

Without proper environmental studies, Suharto's administration dug 4,695 kilometers of canals and smaller waterways for the project, draining and damaging peatlands. The development of the project cleared pristine forests and destroyed wildlife habitat.

Due to the drainage, the peatlands can no longer store water, leading to flooding during the rainy season and forest fires during the dry season.

Suharto's successor Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie terminated the project in 1999, but by then the damage was done.

In 2016, the government established the Peatland Restoration Agency to restore the degraded peatlands, But before the restoration was completed, Jokowi revived Suharto's plan.

Dimas Novian Hartono, of the Central Kalimantan branch of nongovernmental organization Friends of the Earth Indonesia, said environmental studies have been done by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, but they are "legally defective due to the lack of public consultation."

"Efforts to develop a food estate in Central Kalimantan show that the administration of President Jokowi has broken its promise to protect and rehabilitate peatlands," Dimas said.

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Japan team of scientists develop salt-resistant rice variety
The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has submitted detailed plans for flight schedules and requirements for airlines to bring international passengers into Vietnam, awaiting approval from Ministry of Transport and concerned authorities.

Vietnam Airlines check-in counter at Noi Bai International Airport, Hanoi.  VNA/VNS Photo Huy Hung

The country has recently decided to reopen international flights to and from six Asian destinations  Japan, South Korea, China, Chinas Taiwan, Laos and Cambodia  six months after the country closed its border on March 22 to battle the spread of the coronavirus.

According to the aviation authority, there will be nine total inbound flights a week landing in Hanoi and HCM City.

National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and budget airline Vietjet Air will conduct four flights to Hanoi every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday with a maximum of 1,304 seats, and five flights to HCM City on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday with a maximum of 1,290 seats.

Earlier on September 11, the agency sent letters to their Japanese, Chinese, Taiwanese and South Korean counterparts detailing the plans.

The Asian partners all agreed with Vietnams plan.

China designated China Southern Airlines (code CZ) to operate the Guangzhou-HCM City route with one flight per week.

Japan designated Japan Airlines (code JL) and All Nippon Airways (NH) to alternately operate the Tokyo to Hanoi and HCM City route on a weekly basis, with the frequency of one flight per week per route.

Chinas Taiwan selected China Airlines (code CI) and Eva Air (BR) to run the Taipei to Hanoi and HCM City route with the frequency of one flight per week per route.

South Korean airlines are still working on a plan to submit to the Vietnamese authority.

The aviation authority also proposed tweaks to flights between Vietnam and Laos and Cambodia based on the request of the Vietnamese foreign ministry and the two neighbouring countries authorities.

Accordingly, Vietnam Airlines will operate the Phnom Penh-HCM City route (instead of Can Tho originally) and Vientiane-Hanoi (instead of Van Don).

Requirements

The aviation authority has also submitted entry procedures for foreign arrivals on international flights.

Airlines are asked to only process bookings for passengers who provide all necessary information  including the names and phone numbers of the passengers contacts in Vietnam, address and phone number of the quarantine facility they will stay in, and the phone number of the host organisation who will receive the passengers at the airport.

Passengers must produce documents proving they have been allowed to quarantine in facilities such as diplomatic representatives buildings, factories, business headquarters, hotels or other similar accommodations, or centralised quarantine facilities managed by the military.

To this end, local governments in Vietnam must publicise the list of all certified quarantine facilities in their jurisdiction as well as transportation services that can bring passengers to the quarantine facilities, in addition to the cost of each quarantine option and coronavirus testing, according to the aviation authority.

All localities must be uniform in their reception of foreign entries and not introduce separate procedures for flights that have already got permits to operate, the agency said.

During check-in procedures, the airlines must ask passengers to present their passport, entry visa, and proofs of a negative SARS-CoV-2 PRC test obtained three days prior to boarding.

The negative test must be certified by the Vietnamese diplomatic representative in their country or locality.

Before boarding, passengers must wear masks, install the Vietnamese contact-tracing app Bluezone and the Vietnam Health Declaration app on their mobile devices, and fill out the health forms.

Airlines must carry out temperature checks and deny boarding for anyone with a temperature of more than 37.5 degrees Celsius.

Vietnamese and foreign airlines can only complete flight procedures for passengers with valid visas.

Airlines are told to monitor the health of the flight crewmembers after arrival into Vietnam, if the members show no signs of COVID-19 after 48 hours they could continue to work on other flights.

Currently, permitted entries to Vietnam are limited to foreign investors, business executives, experts, highly skilled workers, diplomats, international students  and their family  along with returning Vietnamese and their relatives.

International tourists are still not allowed in yet.

Earlier in a cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc asked for higher frequency of international commercial flights with the details to be approved by Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, who heads the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh.

Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet have registered with the aviation authority to conduct these flights from September 21 however as authorities have not fully fleshed out screenings, entry and quarantine protocols, the flights have not been implemented.

Vietnam Airlines has only carried out a one-way flight bringing 60 passengers from Vietnam to Japan last Saturday. VNS

Passengers must spend 6 days at concentrated quarantine centers after entering VN With two continuous tests of negative results after their entry, those who enter Vietnam to work for a period of over 14 days can go home or to their accommodations for self-isolation, according to the latest Ministry of Healths temporary guide.
Between frequent asides about everything from windmills and Elizabeth Warrens ancestry to the physical pivoting of cable news TV cameras and his opponents mental acuity, President Donald Trump gave a rundown of the nations political tenor  as he sees it  at a rally in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, giving insight into his upcoming Supreme Court nomination and framing the election as a struggle between American values and radicalism.

In a speech that lasted more than 90 minutes, Mr. Trump, speaking to a crowd at Atlantic Aviations hangar at Pittsburgh International Airport in Moon, praised the Republican Party for uniting around his eventual Supreme Court nominee  whom he insisted will be a great woman when he announces the pick on Saturday.

Theyre brilliant, great scholars, Mr. Trump said of his options, one of whom likely will succeed the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg upon consideration in the Republican-controlled Senate.

Hours after Republican senators, one by one, coalesced behind the presidents constitutional right to nominate a justice during an election year, Mr. Trump said the GOP has never been this unified before, ever.

He said voters should unify around him for four more years because Democratic leadership would lead to an end to fracking and an end to economic prosperity  a common refrain from Mr. Trump and his running mate, Vice President Mike Pence, in recent trips to Pennsylvania.

Warnings about fracking took up a large chunk of Mr. Trumps speech. He alleged that an administration led by Democrat Joe Biden would result in no more oil or gas industry, which would instantly shut down all fracking and all mining in Pennsylvania, sending your jobs overseas and sending your money to somebody else, not you.

Although Mr. Biden has reiterated in recent weeks that he doesnt want to ban fracking and though his policy calls for an end to new oil and gas drilling permits on federal land, not private, Mr. Trump said the radical left wont let him get away with it.

American energy independence, Mr. Trump said, is what the country should keep striving for.

No longer is America at the mercy of these foreign suppliers and all the people who took advantage of us for so many years, Mr. Trump said.

The November election  42 days away as of Tuesday  is a matter of economic survival for Pennsylvania, the president claimed. He said Pennsylvania had the best year its ever had economically in 2019.

Mr. Biden countered  in a statement earlier in the day  that Mr. Trump didnt bring the jobs he promised to the Pittsburgh region in 2016, but that he brought economic turmoil instead.

President Trumps failed leadership didnt bring jobs back, Mr. Biden said in a statement. Instead, his tax breaks for the super-wealthy, his reckless trade wars, and his refusal to act to stop COVID-19 from spreading  even when he knew how dangerous the virus was  has led to the worst jobs crisis in close to a century and 200,000 deaths.

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., met the presidents visit with a tweet pointing out unemployment statistics in Western Pennsylvania, and asked Mr. Trump, Will you be telling Pennsylvanians your plan to help put them back to work, or more of the same smears directed at your political opponents?

Mr. Trump did hit his opponent frequently, claiming hes done more in 47 months than [Mr. Biden] did in 47 years.

That includes doing more to fight pandemics, Mr. Trump said. He criticized Mr. Biden for doing the worst job in history with the swine flu.

While the H1N1 virus killed an estimated 12,500 people in the U.S. from 2009 to 2010, the COVID-19 pandemic passed more than 200,000 deaths in the U.S. on Tuesday.

But Mr. Trump said the nation is turning the corner on COVID-19, and that the number of hospitalized virus patients is down, as well as visits to the emergency room.

President Donald Trump points to the crowd as he walks off stage after speaking at a campaign rally at Pittsburgh International Airport, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020, in Moon Township, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)AP

We closed it up, we saved millions of lives, thats the bottom line, Mr. Trump said of his administrations handling of the pandemic.

Mr. Trump quipped, Your governor hasnt been so great, you know?

Are your churches still closed? Theyre still closed? the president followed, although religious gatherings were exempt under Gov. Tom Wolfs mitigation orders.

Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, on a call with Pennsylvania Democrats early Tuesday, criticized the president for holding the event  with a large audience in close quarters  while the region continues to recover from the pandemic and while people at schools and workplaces are trying to be responsible.

Im very disappointed that we are going to have thousands of people who listen to this president and believe his falsehoods when it comes to science when it comes to this virus when it comes to how we should be spreading out and wearing masks, Mr. Fitzgerald said. I wish he would just do a virtual event  the responsible way to do it.

Outdoor gatherings of more than 250 people are now legally permitted in Pennsylvania, pending the Wolf administrations appeal of a federal ruling. The state continues to discourage those events from happening, though, as a mitigation against COVID-19.

Mr. Trump painted an optimistic picture of 2021, which he said will be the best year economically yet. On Nov. 3 of this year, Pennsylvania will play a key role in deciding if we end this pandemic, defeat the virus and return to economic prosperity, Mr. Trump said.

This is Mr. Trumps second rally at an airport hangar in Western Pennsylvania this month. He did one in Latrobe on Sept. 3, a speech largely centered on his support for law enforcement.

Law and order was a topic again on Tuesday, as Mr. Trump alleged that Democrats are joining forces with flag burners and anti-police extremists. He claimed that the opposing party continues to say that non-peaceful protests for racial justice are peaceful.

Mr. Biden hasnt held a traditional campaign rally here this year, but hes said he wont do in-person rallies this cycle because of COVID-19.

Julian Routh: jrouth@post-gazette.com, 412-263-1952, Twitter @julianrouth.





Julian Routh of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote this story.

2020 the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Visit the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette at www.post-gazette.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Representative image (Source: Reuters)

As China's ByteDance raced to seal a deal with Oracle Corp and Walmart Inc to keep its video-sharing app TikTok operational in the United States, an apparent breakthrough came last Wednesday in a phone call to US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin.

A top ByteDance lawyer spoke to Mnuchin to convey that the Chinese company would agree to terms put forth by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), a government panel he chairs that scrutinizes deals for potential national security risks. US officials are concerned that the personal data of as many as 100 million American TikTok users could be passed on to China's Communist Party government.

What appeared as a coup clinched by Mnuchin, a former Goldman Sachs Group Inc investment banker, did not hold. ByteDance would subsequently announce a deal under which TikTok would remain its subsidiary, contradicting Oracle and Walmart, which said the majority owners would be Americans.

ByteDance's version of the deal would also defy President Donald Trump's order last month calling for the Beijing-based company to relinquish ownership of the app in the United States.

Four sources familiar with the frenzied negotiations, who spoke on condition of anonymity, explained how a preliminary deal for TikTok announced by Trump on Saturday remains in dispute.

With ByteDance and TikTok's suitors angling for an agreement that both the United States and China can approve, key elements of what would be the social media industry's biggest-ever deal, potentially worth more than $50 billion, were not spelled out in a comprehensive contract that is typically seen in high-stakes mergers.

Instead, the companies were asked to agree in principle at breakneck speed to a CFIUS 20-page revision, awash in red font with mark-ups, to a proposal that ByteDance had submitted only four days before. If ByteDance did not have a deal by Sunday, the Commerce Department would block downloads and updates to the TikTok app.

Oracle and the Treasury declined to comment. ByteDance and Walmart did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

After Trump got assurances from Oracle and Walmart on Friday that they would create 25,000 new jobs at TikTok and a launch an educational initiative for children, he decided to announce the deal himself, without a contract drawn up or a plan for how it could be presented to bring China onboard.

He delayed the announcement until Saturday, following the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

With Trump providing scarce detail, Walmart and Oracle scrambled to issue a statement outlining the key terms of the deal as they understood them. When ByteDance then issued a statement about the deal on Monday, it conflicted with Oracle and Walmart's statement.

All the sides agree that Oracle would take a 12.5% stake in TikTok Global, a newly-created US company that will house TikTok's Global business and store US user data on its cloud, with Walmart Inc taking a 7.5% stake. But the fate of the remaining 80% stake in TikTok Global is in dispute.

ByteDance said it would hold an 80% stake in TikTok Global itself, until it launches an initial public offering in the next twelve months, and that it would then gradually reduce its stake.

Oracle said on Monday that ByteDance would not have a stake in TikTok Global, and that it would be ByteDance's investors who would be awarded the remaining 80% stake. This is also how some Trump administration officials, and even a top ByteDance investor, have privately described the deal.

This discrepancy could be enough to scuttle the deal. If the Beijing-based company gets to keep a majority stake, it would represent a major reversal for the White House. If ByteDance got no stake in TikTok Global, it would be a blow to China, where officials have been opposed to stripping ByteDance of one of its most prized assets.

"The divergent messages from ByteDance and Oracle reflect the difficulty of trying to thread the needle of pleasing Washington and Beijing, if that is a needle that even exists," said John Kabealo, a regulatory lawyer not involved in the discussions.

SUNDAY DEADLINE

It remains unclear whether the conflicting descriptions of the deal, which still requires further CFIUS review, are the result of ambiguity in the terms or a push by ByteDance to alleviate Chinese concerns about caving in to US pressure.

One way Oracle and ByteDance had tried to minimize differences over TikTok Global's ownership is by stressing that the new company will be majority American-owned. About 41% of ByteDance's current investors are from the United States. By counting indirect US ownership alongside Oracle and Walmart's direct ownership, ByteDance could claim that TikTok Global would be majority American, even if the Chinese firm owns an 80% stake.

The clock is ticking for the companies to come to terms. The Commerce Department has extended until Sunday its deadline for the companies to finalize a deal before TikTok is banned from app stores in the United States. A deal is unlikely by then, and the companies may ask for a new extension, two of the sources said.

Ownership of TikTok Global is not the only issue that has to be ironed out. While CFIUS has approved a broad plan on how Oracle will store US user data and inspect TikTok's source code, details such as precise protocols for security fixes have yet to be hammered out.
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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Los Angeles, United States  Wed, September 23, 2020 15:32 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46ae43f 2 Entertainment Netflix,film-industry,Diversity,Latin-America,Latinx Free

Netflix has stepped up to encourage more diversity in the film industry.

The leading streaming platform has joined forces with the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival to provide five movie makers who identify as both African and Latino with production grants of US$20,000.

In the future, the new annual program will promote the advancement of members of the Latinx community in their bid to gain recognition in the exclusive world of the movie industry.

Hot on the heels of the announcement of new standards for inclusion in the Academy Award for Best Picture, the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival announced a new annual Inclusion Fellowship program, which will turn a spotlight on under-represented groups in the Latinx community.

For its first year, the program plans to provide funding for five Afro-Latino filmmakers, who will each receive grants of US$20,000 to produce a short film that will premiere at the next Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF) in 2021.

Along with cash funding, the selected applicants will also be offered guidance from professional directors, a chance to consult with industry leaders and a host of other opportunities. Last but not least, Netflix itself will be offering the support for the development of the films.

Read also: Netflix teams up with Nia Dinata, Hadrah Daeng Ratu for original Indonesian films

All in all, this is a fine initiative, which is all the more welcome given that it comes at a time when the Black Lives Matter movement has highlighted the cause of minorities in the United States.

Discovering new voices behind the camera will lead to bringing fresh and diverse perspectives in front of the camera, and we can't wait to see what these new filmmakers will create, said the manager of original series at Netflix, Pete Corona.

To enter into competition for one of the grants, young filmmakers have until Oct. 14 to submit their applications to the festival website.

As to the evaluation criteria, the festival organizers have said that they are looking for artists who have a clear vision of what they want to execute and accomplish, with a powerful voice.

The winning applicants will be announced on November 16.

For Latino representation in Hollywood to change, we need to create funding and distribution opportunities for our storytellers. The LALIFF Inclusion Fellowship is exactly that. For our first fellowship, we are proud to highlight Afro-Latino voices because Black lives are Latino lives, points out Edward James Olmos, the co-founder of the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival and Latino Film Institute.
on Wednesday said it has won contracts worth over Rs 400 crore from Ministry of Railways.

The contracts pertain to works of nine road over bridges.

" Limited has secured works of total 9 Road Over Bridges (ROBs) valuing more than Rs 400 crore from Ministry of Railways, Government of India," the company said in a filing to BSE.

The work has been awarded through a competitive bidding among PSUs, it said.

"The scope of work is to provide project management consultancy (PMC )services for construction of ROBs in lieu of existing Level Crossings. The period of completion is 24 months from the date of signing of MoU with Zonal Railways," the company said.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be executed between the PSU and the concerned Zonal Railway, 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.)
Pakistan must take sustained and irreversible action against terrorism, and needs to demonstrate that it is prepared to live up to international commitments on weapons of mass destruction, a US diplomat, nominated to be the next envoy to Pakistan, told lawmakers on Tuesday and hoped that both Islamabad and New Delhi would take the necessary steps to reduce tensions.

During his confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, William Todd, who has been nominated by President Donald Trump as the next US ambassador to Pakistan, told the lawmakers that peace in Afghanistan is in both the countries' best interests, and effective US-Pakistani cooperation is essential to achieve that objective.

"In terms of regional dynamics, although we have a strong relationship with India, that does not need to come at the expense of Pakistan. I believe that under the right conditions, we can have a strong relationship with both countries," Todd said. "Our hope is that both countries will take the necessary steps to reduce tensions and as President Trump has offered, we are prepared to facilitate dialogue if both sides request it," he said.

"To truly reduce regional tensions and rebuild a strong relationship with the United States, Pakistan must take sustained and irreversible action against terrorism," Todd asserted. Senator Bob Menendez, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he remains deeply concerned about the prevalence of terrorist groups in Pakistan and their impact on the region.

"Progress has been made, but Pakistan must take further action to address this insidious threat, especially Lashkar-e-Toiba. For too long, this group has been able to operate in different forms over the years. If Pakistan wants us to take its counter-terrorism commitments seriously, it must completely eradicate this group," he said.

"While we hope for a forward progress with Pakistan, we must be clear-eyed about the significant challenges in the relationship, including the stubborn presence of terrorist groups in the country, tensions with India, treatment of religious minorities and concerns about Pakistan's growing nuclear stockpile," Menendez said.

Noting that Pakistan has suffered terribly itself at the hands of terrorists and has committed publicly to ensure that terrorists cannot use Pakistani territory to operate, Todd told the lawmakers that Islamabad has taken important steps toward fulfilling that commitment, but needs to continue with that work.

"If confirmed, I will work with Pakistan to advance our shared interest in eliminating terrorism from its territory and advancing security in the region," he said. If confirmed, Todd told the senators that he will actively engage Pakistan on these issues as well as strategic stability and non-proliferation, carrying a clear message on the threat that nuclear weapons pose to the US, the region and "our allies and partners".

"Pakistan needs to demonstrate that it is prepared to live up to international commitments on weapons of mass destruction," Todd said. Acknowledging that Pakistan played a critical role in creating the conditions that brought Afghan leaders and the Taliban to the historic start of the Afghan Peace Negotiations, he said Islamabad has an even more important role to play in supporting efforts toward a negotiated political settlement that ends 40 years of war.

"This is a moment of opportunity for Pakistan to continue to forge a new and better role in the region and if confirmed, will be one of my highest priorities," Todd said. Menendez also expressed concerns about the plight of religious minorities in the country. He called upon the Pakistani authorities to respect the religious rights of all in the country.

Todd told the senators that his first goal will be advancing human rights, particularly freedom of religion and expression. "I was shocked and heartbroken that US citizen Tahir Naseem was killed in a Pakistani courtroom in which he was facing an accusation of blasphemy.

"I grieve with the family of Naseem and if confirmed, will engage Pakistani authorities on full accountability for the perpetrators. I am also concerned about the increasing restrictions on the civil society, including the growing harassment and disappearances of journalists without accountability, which undermines the exercise of the right of peaceful assembly and freedoms of expression and association," Todd said.

Also read: NIA busts Pakistan-sponsored Al Qaeda module; arrests 9 terrorists from Kerala, West Bengal

Also read: Pakistan to hold National Assembly, Senate sessions next week to get FATF bills passed
The Renault new Arkana / Courtesy of Renault Samsung



By Nam Hyun-woo



Renault Samsung, the Korean unit of Renault Group, will manufacture the XM3 small SUV for the European market here, a crucial deal for the company's sustainability.



In an online event, Renault Group announced Wednesday (KST) that Renault Samsung will export the XM3 to European and other global markets from next year after producing the vehicle at the latter's Busan plant.



The XM3 will be named the new Arkana and will be available in hybrid and 1.3-liter turbocharged gasoline models. The company will target France, Great Britain, Italy, Spain and Germany for sales of the new car, and will expand this to Chile, Japan and Australia afterwards.



The new Arkana is different from the Arkana, available only in the Russian market, in terms of platform, engine and multimedia systems, Renault Group said.



The announcement is important news for Renault Samsung. It was facing serious sustainability questions as its contract to manufacture the Nissan Rogue for export ended in March.



The Nissan Rogue accounted for nearly half of the Busan plant's output, and more 100,000 vehicles were exported annually from 2015 to 2018. Renault Samsung sought to fill the production void by winning a manufacturing order for the XM3 for shipment to global markets.



Renault Group was expected to decide on the allocation of XM3 production last year, but postponed its decision over concerns to about the Busan plant's plunging productivity amid Renault Samsung's rising labor costs and prolonged strikes over wages.



While the headquarters delayed making a decision, Renault Samsung launched the XM3 here in March, and sales hit their stride with 22,252 sold in the first half.



Industry officials said COVID-19 also affected the headquarters' decision, as the Korean automobile industry remained relatively intact from the pandemic.



Renault Samsung said the decision came after domestic customers highly evaluated the quality of the vehicle, and Renault Group also acknowledged that the company's production capability was also competitive.



"The group's decision is the first step toward the XM3 becoming Renault Samsung's main export model," Renault Samsung CEO Dominique Signora said in a statement. "The volume of XM3 exports depends on how we can improve product competitiveness and satisfy global customers."


Pranksters dressing up as 'plague doctors' have returned once again as police in Gloucester confirmed they are investigating a sinister figure seen scaring children near a duck pond.

Officers said they want to offer advice on the 'appropriateness' of the outfit, which is similar to those seen a number of times up and down the country throughout the pandemic.

A member of the public posted on social media on Sunday alerting people that a man wearing the mask was in Saintbridge near Coney Hill.

The mask is similar to what doctors wore when they were treating people affected by the Bubonic Plague in the 17th Century.

Police are investigating a sinister figure wearing a 'plague doctor' costume around Gloucester

Officers said they want to offer advice to the individual on the 'appropriateness' of the outfit

Plague doctors thought beaked masks containing lavender would protect them During the plague doctors dressed in certain clothes they believed protected them from the airborne diseases. They wore long, ankle-length overcoats and bird-like beak filled with plants and herbs that had a smell, usually lavender. They also wore gloves, boots and wide hat. Historians think the outfit was invented in 1619 by Charles de Lorme who got the idea for head-to-toe clothing from a soldier's armour. Advertisement

Chloe, from Coney Hill, said: 'I was there chilling at the duck pond on Sunday and I saw a man when I was walking on top of the bridge.

'He was talking to the kids, and one child ran off because they were so scared.

'The group of children were very young and small, the one who ran off must have been about 10 years old.'

The man has been spotted wearing the mask and a long brown overcoat.

A Gloucestershire police spokesperson said: 'We are aware an individual has been seen wearing medieval style costumes in and around Gloucester.

'While it is not an offence to dress in this way, we will be looking to speak to the individual to give advice on the appropriateness of the costume at this time.'

Plague doctor costumes have appeared a number of times since the start of the pandemic earlier this year.

At the end of April, concerned locals in Norwich reported a prankster to police after seeing them wearing a long black cloak, hat and pointed beak-like mask.

Norfolk Police later unmasked the ghoulish figure as a local teenager who had dressed up in the outfit as a joke.

Officers said they have spoken to the boy about the 'consequences of his actions', but he will escape prosecution unless he defies police to continue his display.

Just days later, another eerie figure wandered through London's Crouch End, much to the amazement of locals who peered through their windows.

As he went about his business in the capital, the prankster popped into a local supermarket and 'tipped his hat' to people as he passed them.

A plague doctor was then also spotted at a protest in Hyde Park in July, where hundreds of activists had gathered to oppose the imminent policy of making face coverings mandatory in shops.

A prankster in Norwich dressed up as a 17th century plague doctor on their daily walks during the coronavirus lockdown - the perpetrator was later found to be a local teenage boy

A 17th-century cloaked plague doctor was seen walking the streets of London during the coronavirus lockdown

A plague doctor was then also spotted at a protest in Hyde Park in July, where hundreds of activists had gathered to oppose the imminent policy of making face coverings mandatory in shops
Caribbean

A t least 12 people have been killed as two storms tore through the Caribbean on Sunday.



Hurricane Marco and Tropical Storm Laura brought high winds and rough seas leaving at least nine people dead in Haiti and another three in the Dominican Republic.



Heavy rains have also battered Cuba and the US territory of Puerto Rico.

Marco is expected to make landfall in the US state of Louisiana on Monday, with Laura hitting Texas by Thursday.



The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said that Laura was expected to strengthen into a hurricane by early Tuesday.



Forecasters also say that Laura may swing east towards Louisiana, and it could be the first time in recorded history that the state has been hit by two back-to-back hurricanes.



What's known about the victims?



Nine people were killed in Haiti. Two more, a mother and her child, are missing after being swept away by flood waters, according to Civil Protection Director Jerry Chandler.



Local media say the missing woman works as a paediatrician at a hospital in the capital, Port-au-Prince.



Among those killed is a 10-year-old girl who was hit by a falling branch in Anse-a-Pitres, on Haiti's southern coast near the border with the Dominican Republic.



A woman died in floodwaters in Jacmel, also on the southern coast, while a man and two more women died in and around Port-au-Prince.



Footage shared on social media showed Haitians trying to get to safety as the flood waters were rising quickly.



No details of the other Haitian victims have so far been released.



In neighbouring Dominican Republic, a 37-year-old woman and her nine-year-old son died when a wall in their home west of the capital, Santo Domingo, collapsed during heavy rains.



A 22-year-old man died when his home collapsed under the weight of a falling tree.



In total, 200 homes were damaged in the Dominican Republic and 1,000 people had to be evacuated.



Meanwhile in Cuba, many residents in the country's eastern regions have been evacuated and housed in shelters or safer buildings on higher ground.

Where are the storms headed?



Marco strengthened to a hurricane on Sunday, with sustained winds of up to 75mph (120km/h), and is moving north between Cuba and Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula.



Laura is predicted to head northwest towards Houston, America's fourth-largest city.



The US National Hurricane Centre has warned that back-to-back hurricanes arriving in the US within days of one another could result in prolonged periods of hazardous weather.



The US Coast Guard has issued a warning for the Port of New Orleans, and called on ships to make plans to evacuate some areas.



US President Donald Trump has issued a disaster declaration for Louisiana, ordering federal assistance to coordinate relief efforts. On Saturday, a similar declaration was made for Puerto Rico.






Simran actress Kangana Ranaut, who has been supporting actress Payal Ghosh, has recently shared a video of film director Anurag Kashyap. Last week, Payal had leveled allegations of sexual misconduct on Kashyap. Ranaut tweeted, "I spoke about emotional vultures/ suicide gang who killed SSR and tried to push me to kill myself, many asked but why do they do this to others? Listen to Anurag he is explaining how he used to molest a kid, they are people who are hurting but they think hurting others is the answer."

In this video, the Dev D director says how he would take the kid aside and slap. He added that he later hugged the kid and cried out loud in front of him.



I spoke about emotional vultures/suicide gang who killed SSR and tried to push me to kill myself, many asked but why they do this to others? Listen to Anurag he is explaining how he used to molest a kid, they are people who are hurting but they think hurting others is the answer. https://t.co/yQ4llst6aq Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) September 22, 2020 Ranaut tweeted, "Every voice matters #MeToo". She also said Anurag Kashyap needs to be arrested. Every voice matters #MeToo #ArrestAnuragKashyap https://t.co/Pv1kGZIRr6 Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) September 19, 2020

Ghosh, who is known for her role in the film Patel ki Punjabi Shaadi, claimed that the director had 'forced himself' on her and 'tried to sexually assault her' during the shooting of Bombay Velvet in 2014. Payal Ghosh has registered a police complaint against Kashyap under the charges of rape, wrongful restrain, wrongful confinement and outraging a woman's modesty at Versova Police station.

Meanwhile, Bollywood celebs like Taapsee Pannu, late Irrfan Khan's son Babil, Hansal Mehta and Tisca Chopra have come out openly in support of Anurag Kashyap. Kashyap has also received support from his former spouses, Kalki Koechlin and Arti Bajaj.
Researchers from the University of Tsukuba have categorized barthelonids, a group of microscopic anaerobic flagellates, as an early branching Metamonada lineage based on their genetic identity and mitochondrial evolutionary history

Tsukuba, Japan - New species of microbial life are continually being identified, but localizing them on a phylogenetic tree is a challenge. Now, researchers at the University of Tsukuba have pinpointed barthelonids, a genus of free-living heterotrophic biflagellates typified by Barthelona vulgaris, and clarified their ancestry as well as evolution of their ATP-generation mechanisms.

A phylogenetic tree portrays species by lineage. The trunk represents a common ancestor and the branches all its evolutionary descendants; together, a monophyletic group or clade. The eukaryotic Tree of Life represents the phylogeny of all organisms with nucleated cells, ranging from unicellular protists to blue whales. Where would the barthelonids fit?

The researchers established five strains of Barthelona species from different parts of the world. Analysis of the transcriptome of one strain (PAP020), its RNA "signature," localized it on the phylogenetic tree to the base of the Fornicata clade. This indicated that the last common ancestor of the barthelonids evolutionarily diverged very early in the evolution of Metamonada.

Senior author Professor Yuji Inagaki explains: "We analyzed small subunit ribosomal DNA as well as phylogenomic data to confirm the commonality of all Barthelona strains. In order to deduce their phylogenetic position, we matched transcriptome data from PAP020 against a eukaryote-wide dataset containing 148 genes."

The transcriptome data of PAP020 also indicated the evolutionarily adapted metabolic pathways of ATP generation. The research team suspected that barthelonids, being anaerobic, possessed mitochondrion-related organelles (MROs) instead of full-fledged mitochondria, a suspicion upheld by electron microscopy. Comparison with MROs in fornicates predicted that PAP020 could not generate ATP in the MRO, as no mitochondrial/MRO enzymes involved in substrate-level phosphorylation were detected. However, PAP020 possesses a cytosolic ATP synthase, acetyl-CoA synthetase (ACS), suggesting that PAP020 generated ATP in the cytosol.

"We have furthered current hypotheses around the evolutionary history of ATP-generating mechanisms in the Fornicata clade in light of data from Barthelona strain PAP020," says Professor Inagaki. "Interestingly, the sequence ACS2 was formerly believed to be acquired at the base of the Fornicata clade, but we propose that this event occurred earlier with the common ancestor of fornicates and barthelonids. Indeed, it may have occurred further back with the last common metamonad ancestor. Loss of substrate-level phosphorylation from the MRO in the clade containing barthelonids with other fornicates could well be two discrete events."

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Bollywood 'heroes' have always been held up in great esteem, and have been regarded as style icons, for obvious reasons. However, when a villain ends up being more worthy of that, as compared to the hero, that is an occurrence worthy of attention.

Here are 6 such Bollywood villains, who successfully gave most heroes a complex with their style game and fitness.

6. Nikitin Dheer

 Instagram - Nikitin Dheer

Having acted in superhit movies like Ready, Dabangg 2, and Jodhaa Akbar, Nikitin Dheer proved his mettle as a capable villain in Chennai Express with the character of Thangaballi. He is also playing a negative role in the upcoming Sooryavanshi.



 Instagram - Nikitin Dheer

With a face and physique like that, he always manages to confuse the audience into reconsidering him as the hero instead, even when he's playing the villain.



5. Ronit Roy

 Twitter - BollyFC

Essentially a household name because of his role as Mihir Virani in Kyun Ki..., Ronit Roy is also an actor par excellence, and has played impressive roles as a villain in Ugly, Boss, and Udaan.



 Twitter - IndiTVFC

Apart from his acting chops, he has always impressed us with his style game.



4. Gavin Packard

 Instagram - Erika Packard

Gavin Packard was one of the most famous actors who got recognized for their negative roles. He was mainly noted for the villainous roles he portrayed in many Bollywood films of the 1990s like Mohra, Tadipaar and Chamatkar. He had also acted in several Malayalam films like Aayushkalam, Season, Aanaval Mothiram and Aryan.



 Twitter - Bollyflicks

He was blessed with the looks and the charm that supermodels would kill for.



3. Danny Denzongpa

 Twitter - BollyFC

Danny Denzongpa is an institution when it comes to acting. Having acted in a number of movies in different languages, and even some international projects, he was also awarded the Padma Shree. His role as Kancha Cheena in the original Agneepath with Amitabh Bachchan remains as iconic as ever, even today.



 Twitter - BollyFC

He is regarded as one of the OG style icons of Bollywood.



2. Rahul Dev

 Instagram - Rahul Dev

Rahul Dev started out as a supermodel, and even though he has established himself as an accomplished villain in a number of movies, his 'supermodel physique and style' has never not impressed us, irrespective of what role he played.



 Twitter - BollyFC

One of the best physiques in the industry, hands down!



1. Sonu Sood

 Instagram - Sonu Sood

2020 has catapulted Sonu Sood at a position higher than any reel life hero. Even though he played a number of negative roles, it will be very difficult for the audience to watch him play a negative role because of his lockdown-messiah avatar.



 Instagram - Sonu Sood

Apart from that, his charming persona as well as that jacked physique, can give the biggest stars a huge complex on screen. He deserves the numero uno position in this list, for sure.



Who else would you add to this list?
(Natural News) A book being released today by Breitbart News senior tech reporter Allum Bokhari, #DELETED: Big Techs Battle to Erase the Trump Movement and Steal the Election, brings together sources from Google, Facebook, Twitter, and other tech companies to expose Big Techs hidden efforts to sway the coming election.

(Article republished from Breitbart.com)

When voters find out what Big Tech companies have done to meddle in the coming election, theyll be rightly furious said a Google whistleblower interviewed for the book.

#DELETED can be ordered online from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other retailers. It is available in hardcover, digital, and audiobook formats.

Bokhari, author of #DELETED, has spent four years developing a network of whistleblowers in Silicon Valley. In the book, these sources tell the inside story of how the most powerful information technologies ever devised have been weaponized against President Trump and his movement.

Through this network of sources, Bokhari has already published a number of explosive stories exposing Big Techs rampant anti-conservative bias, including:

The Google Tape, a 1-hour recording of Googles co-founders and executives lamenting Trumps election and vowing not to let it happen again.

The Good Censor, a smoking-gun document from within Google admitting to a shift towards censorship on the part of major tech companies.

YouTubes covert search manipulation, in which pro-life and other conservative videos were deliberately downranked in search results in response to complaints from left-wing journalists.

Facebooks Hate Agents list, in which Candace Owens, Brigitte Gabriel, and other top conservatives were added to an internal watchlist that kept track of their political activities for examples of hate.

As editor of Breitbart News, I like scoops, but I love scoops that hold the most powerful people on Earth accountable, and thats what Allum Bokhari does better than anyone in tech journalism, said Alex Marlow, editor-in-chief of Breitbart News.

#DELETED is the book the Silicon Valley Masters of the Universe dont want you to read because Allum clearly explains why they pose a dire threat to the republic. This is essential reading on arguably the biggest issue of our time, added Marlow.

Many conservatives are already aware of the overt censorship  prominent conservatives getting banned by social media platforms, and the president himself having his posts hidden by Twitter.

Less well-known is the covert censorship  subtle tweaks to artificial intelligence algorithms that can suppress entire political movements without them realizing.

Bokhari reports that everything you post online will be scanned (and potentially suppressed) by hate speech algorithms, whether youre aware of it or not.

The book also reveals how elites in progressive advocacy organizations and the media aligned with Big Techs most radical employees to push for the censorship of social media platforms, effectively ending an era of unprecedented internet freedom.

#DELETED is released today, and can be purchased at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and a number of other retailers.

Read more at: Breitbart.com
The home's property tax value has climbed from $684,000 in January 2003 to $1.11 million in January 2019.

Meanwhile, the property tax value of the lot has increased from $94,000 in January 2003 to $154,000 in January 2019.

K&W wants permission to hire Leonard Ryder Burr Real Estate to list the properties.

The filing said Molly Allred, wife of Bill Allred and a 6.3% shareholder in K&W, would be the listing agent. Molly Allred also is a sister-in-law to Dax Allred, K&W's president, but the company said she is not considered as an insider.

"The debtor owns certain real property, which is not essential to the operation of the debtors business, the marketing and sale of which would be in the best interest of creditors," according to the K&W filing.

Dax Allred said last week the two properties are listed as "real estate investments."

"More specifically, K&W invested in the Cornelius real estate in the late 1980's and went on to develop the waterfront community, Pointe Regatta."
SAGE says hospital admissions for women aged 20 to 40 are rising steeply

These women more likely to work in retail, hospital and other front-facing jobs

Experts say increased exposure and fraying adherence to rules causing spike

Young women are 'bearing the brunt' of coronavirus during the disease's resurgence, government scientific advisers have warned.

Analysis of hospital records shows there has been a significant rise in the number of females aged 20 to 40 being admitted for serious Covid-19 infection since August.

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SAGE suspects the rise is due to women in this age group being more likely to work in customer-facing jobs that make them vulnerable to contracting the disease.

The problem is being compounded due to fraying adherence to social distancing rules putting young women at risk, according to Professor Calum Semple, an infectious disease expert at Liverpool University and a member of SAGE.

During the first wave of the pandemic in Britain, men were disproportionately struck down by coronavirus  a trend that has been seen worldwide.

Professor Semple's analysis shows that, from January to August, 56 per cent of the 130,000 Covid-19 admissions were men and 44 per cent were women.

But, since August 1, women have made up 48 per cent of those treated in hospital, with the vast majority of admissions among women aged between 20 and 40.

From January to August, 56 per cent of the 130,000 Covid-19 admissions were men and 44 per cent were women. But, since August 1, women have made up 48 per cent of those treated in hospital, with the vast majority of admissions among women aged between 20 and 40

Young women are 'bearing the brunt' of coronavirus during the disease's resurgence. Experts say this is because they work in customer-facing jobs in retail and hospitality (file)

Professor Semple believes the problem has been caused by a combination of women being more likely to work in hospitality and retail  where they come into contact with customers regularly  and people ignoring social distancing rules.

He told the Guardian: 'Were seeing a big excess. Something is wrong in the way society is being managed because women between 20 and 40 are currently taking the brunt of this second wave.

Click here to resize this module

'Its clear to me that these working women are being exposed to the virus and that can only be because other parts of society are not taking heed of the guidance. The message is that Covid is real and it does affect younger adults.'

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Professor Semple spotted the trend in data he has been gathering from hospitals in England, Wales and Scotland throughout the crisis for the Covid-19 Clinical Information Network, or Co-Cin.

Office for National Statistics data from 2013 shows women are disproportionately more likely to work in the care, leisure, retail and hospitality sectors

Dominic Raab warns second national shutdown is on the cards if Britons don't obey new laws Dominic Raab today warned the UK 'could end up in a national lockdown' if Boris Johnson's new coronavirus crackdown fails to get the disease under control. The Foreign Secretary said a second shutdown 'is what we want to avoid' but the nuclear option remains in the Government's 'arsenal' if all else fails. Mr Raab said he hoped 'if everyone plays by the rules' then the nation will be able to go into the Christmas period without a national lockdown being imposed. He also defended the Government's plans to allow the police to ask the Army for help in order to boost Covid-19 enforcement. Mr Raab said military personnel could be drafted in to 'relieve capacity' and allow officers to concentrate on enforcing rules as he dismissed claims that soldiers will be patrolling the streets as 'scaremongering'. The Foreign Secretary's intervention came as critics blasted the Government for seemingly failing to take any of the responsibility for the spike in cases despite ministers presiding over numerous chaotic U-turns and policy changes in recent months. Tory MPs said the Government's handling of the crisis has been a 'total shambles' and that repeated shifts in official guidance had left many people across the country confused as to what the rules actually are. Meanwhile, it was claimed that Professor Chris Whitty has told Mr Johnson that England will likely have to follow Scotland's lead in banning visits between separate households.

Co-Cin has been feeding weekly updates on the disease's trajectory to the Department of Health and Social Care.

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Professor Semple believes there has been an uptick in young women who work in the care and leisure sectors testing positive for the virus, which has contributed to the rise.

But there was no evidence that the reopening of schools has had any effect on infections.

Women's charities said the finding was 'deeply concerning' and claimed measures to kick-start the economy over summer had disproportionately affected women.

Sophie Walker, the chief executive of the charity Young Womens Trust, told the newspaper: 'It is deeply concerning that women who have been on the front line of our care response and economic recovery might also be at increased risk from the virus.

'We urge the government to analyse closely the impact on young women from close contact with the virus via the paid and unpaid work they have been asked to shoulder  from work in care homes, shops, pubs and restaurants to unpaid caring for children who are sent home from school.

'If directives such as eat out to help out and the focus on the school return are having a disproportionate impact on womens health we need to have an urgent response plan.'

In the last month, daily hospital admissions in England have risen by five-fold. On August 30, there were just 38 patients taken to hospital after falling ill with the virus.

Whereas 205 people with Covid-19 were admitted on Friday  the most since June 27, when the figure was 209.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has warned hospitalisations are doubling every eight days, a trend which, alongside other troublesome statistics, has prompted the rollback of draconian social curbs.

Yesterday Boris Johnson imposed a 10pm curfew on all restaurants, bars and pubs across England from Thursday with the hospitality sector also being restricted to table service only.

A requirement to wear face coverings will be extended to include retail workers and customers in indoor hospitality settings, except for when they are seated at a table to eat or drink.

He also announced the end of the Government's back to work drive as he said he is now 'asking office workers who can work from home to do so'.

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The Government has been actively encouraging workers to ditch working from home and yesterday's U-turn represents a humiliating climbdown for the PM who earlier this month had told his Cabinet that 'people are going back to the office in huge numbers across our country and quite right too'.
Copper prices edged lower to Rs 528 per kg on September 23 as participants increased their short position as seen by the open interest. Base metals traded lower tracking uptick in the US dollar.

The US Dollar Index, measured against a basket of six currencies gained 0.14 percent to 94.15.

Copper prices came under pressure amid a buildup of inventory at SHFE warehouses, but lower stocks at LME warehouses and widening deficit in the physical market may cap the downside.

Priyanka Jhaveri, analyst, Kotak Securities, said, LME 3-month forward copper prices continue to trade higher hitting June 2018 high of $6,875 and at $6,700 are up more than 8 percent year to date.

The rally in prices has been on the back of improving macro-economic outlook following the reopening of global economies and supportive fundamentals.

Going forward we expect the uptrend in the metal to persist as prices may continue to seek support from demand optimism, especially from top consumer China. The recent spate of upbeat data from China along with signs of improvement in global factory activity has fanned hopes of a rebound in demand.

In the futures market, copper for September delivery touched an intraday high of Rs 530 and a low of Rs 525.50 per kg on the MCX. So far in the current series, the precious metal has touched a low of Rs 486 and a high of Rs 539.80.

Copper delivery for September contract slides Rs 3.35, or 0.63 percent, to Rs 528 per kg at 18:55 hours with a business turnover of 2,629 lots. The same for October contract declined 4.25, or 0.81 percent, to Rs 520.45 per kg with a turnover of 3,053 lots.

The value of September and Octobers contracts traded so far is Rs 1,576.47 crore and Rs 396.99 crore, respectively.

Jhaveri suggests going long on LME three-month forward copper prices between $6,220-6,250 levels for target of $6,900-7,050 for September-November 2020 quarter maintaining stop loss at $5,850.

On domestic market, we recommend going long on MCX active contract between Rs 488-490 for a target of Rs 538-545 with a stop loss at Rs 458.

At 1330 (GMT), the red metal price slipped 1.69 percent quoting at $6,655 per tonne in London.
A medical center in Lavapies, which has an incidence rate above 1,000 cases per 100,000 inhabitants but has not been subject to any new restrictions.

The coronavirus pandemic continues to rapidly expand across Madrid. According to data published on Tuesday by the regional government, 16 health areas in the region have a Covid-19 incidence rate above 1,000 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Despite this, these hotspots are not subject to the new restrictions on mobility that came into effect in 37 basic health areas on Monday.

A basic health area is much smaller than a city district and can include several primary healthcare centers. There are around 286 basic health areas in the Madrid region, according to the regional health department.

The 16 health areas with an incidence rate above 1,000 cases but that are not under the new restrictions are: Lavapies, Canillejas, Garcia Noblejas, San Isidro, Rafael Alberti, Orcasitas, Vicalvaro-Artilleros, Campo de la Paloma, Villaamil (all located in the city of Madrid); Doctor Trueta and Miguel Servet (both in Alcorcon); Las Fronteras (Torrejon de Ardoz); Panaderas (Fuenlabrada); Villa del Prado (in the municipality of the same name); Alcalde Bartolome Gonzalez (Mostoles); and Sierra de Guadarrama (Collado Villalba).

While health experts have called for more drastic measures to control the spread of the coronavirus, the Madrid regional government has opted for more surgical and less-extensive restrictions

Although the incidence rate of Covid-19 was not the only data point used to decide which areas should be placed under selective lockdown, it was an important factor. Under the new restrictions on mobility, people in the affected areas are only allowed in and out for essential activities such as going to school or work, or to care for dependents. Public parks in the restricted zone have been closed, capacity at stores and other commercial establishments reduced to 50% and closing time set at 10pm, with the exception of pharmacies and gas stations.

In a radio interview with Onda Cero on Tuesday morning, Madrid premier Isabel Diaz Ayuso acknowledged that the restrictions may need to be extended to new areas and even to the entire region.

Im clear that [the measures] will have to be brought to more areas of Madrid and also other sectors, she said. Speaking on Monday after a meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on how to control the situation, the Madrid premier also said: If we see that the measures are working and we see that there is a worrying trend in other areas, we will apply them as well.

Diaz Ayuso, however, ruled out making a decision on extending restrictions on Tuesday  a point Madrids regional health chief Enrique Ruiz Escudero appeared to contradict.

Normally we release the weekly [epidemiological] report on Tuesday, meaning that over the course of today we will be assessing if one area needs to be extended or if another type of decision needs to be made, he said in the interview with Onda Cero.

It was yet another example of the tense relationship between health experts and politicians in the regional government. While the former have called for more drastic measures to control the spread of the coronavirus, the latter have opted for more surgical and less-extensive restrictions in the hopes of curbing contagion while protecting the economy.

Residents recommended to stay at home

Meanwhile, Health Minister Salvador Illa recommended on Tuesday that all residents in Madrid stay at home in a bid to curb contagion in the region, which is the hardest hit by the pandemic in Europe.

We would recommend Madrilenos restrict their movement as much as possible in the coming days, that they scrupulously respect measures from the regional health authority, restrict non-essential travel and limit contact to the closest cohabitants, Illa said in a radio interview with Cadena SER.

Minutes later, the mayor of Madrid, Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida, backed the health ministers suggestions in a separate interview with the same radio network. I would recommend the same as Minister Illa, he said. At this point in time, limit all mobility that is not essential.

English version by Melissa Kitson.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The national flag will be flown at half mast on Thursday in all government offices in Delhi due to the death of Union Minister of State for Railways Suresh Angadi, the Home Ministry announced on Wednesday.

Angadi passed away at AIIMS here, days after he tested positive for COVID-19.

ALSO READ | Suresh Angadi an unbeatable MP from Belagavi for four terms

"Due to the sad demise of Suresh Angadi, the minister of state for railways, it has been decided that the national flag will be flown half mast on September 24, 2020 in all government offices in Delhi where it is usually flown," a Home Ministry spokesperson said.

Minister of State for Railways Suresh Angadi, who died due to COVID-19 at the AIIMS, was a four-time Member of Parliament from Belagavi consecutively since 2004.

The 65-year-old, survived by his wife and two daughters, was associated with the RSS from a young age.
WILLIAMSPORT  A Philadelphia drug dealer will serve an extra year in prison because a judge said he took advantage of the court by failing to report to prison when directed.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey MacArthur was even harsher when he said Warren Jahleel Johnson, 28, disobeyed the court in a brazen matter.

Johnson was sentenced Tuesday by U.S. Middle District Judge Matthew W. Brann on a charge of failure to surrender for the service of sentence to which he had pleaded guilty.

The one-year term is to run consecutive to the 6 years he is serving on a charge of possession with intent to deliver heroin, crack cocaine and methamphetamine.

Brann last October when he sentenced Johnson in drug case allowed him to remain free so he could take a test to become a certified electrician technician.

Johnson never reported to the prison at Fort Dix, New Jersey, on Nov. 15 as ordered and was not apprehended until Nov. 23 in Philadelphia.

I was scared, he told Brann. I meant no disrespect. The judge questioned that, however.

Failure to report is one thing but cutting off an ankle monitor and throwing it on the steps of the building that houses the federal probation office in Philadelphia is something else, he said.

Johnson admitted he had done that the day he was to report to Fort Dix.

MacArthur, who argued for a top-of-the-guidelines sentence that Brann imposed, alleged Johnson used drugs while he had been free.

Brann defended his decision to allow Johnson to have time to take the electricians test, saying it was important he had a trade to turn to when he got out of prison.

Johnson claimed he passed the electrician test but MacArthur said the government cannot confirm it has been unable to contact the firm that administered presumably due to COVID-19.

Johnson had tested the judges patience in April 2019 when he was an hour late for his guilty plea in the drug case.

He apologized then saying he got stuck in traffic on Interstate 80 coming from Philadelphia.

Brann responded by telling him he should have been aware of the traffic from driving that highway to peddle your heroin.

Johnson and co-defendant Tarron Anthony Davis, also of Philadelphia, admitted traveling from Philadelphia to the Williamsport area to distribute heroin to hundreds of customers with whom they contacted by mass text messages.

Dennis pleaded guilty to a charge of distribution of a controlled substance that resulted in death and is serving a 16-year prison sentence.

He admitted being responsible for the heroin and fentanyl that caused the death of Joshua Breon, 24, of Bellefonte, who was found unresponsive inside a parked vehicle in a suburban Williamsport shopping center on Dec. 9, 2016.
Flames engulf the Paradise Inn hotel as the Camp fire tears through Paradise, north of Sacramento, on Nov. 9, 2018. (Josh Edelson / AFP/Getty Images)

The National Weather Service said Wednesday that strong gusts, hot temperatures and low humidity from Saturday through Monday morning will place parts of the Bay Area and other regions in Northern California in critical fire danger.

The service issued a fire watch notice for the East Bay hills, the I-680 corridor and I-580 east of Altamont, as well as the Highway 4 corridor, starting Saturday morning. The region includes the Oakland hills and Orinda and stretches from Martinez to Pleasanton to Livermore, said meteorologist Drew Peterson.

The hills of northeast Sonoma and Napa counties above 1,000 feet also will face critical fire danger. The strongest winds are expected near Mt. St. Helena and in Marin County, Mt. Tamalpais, a service advisory said.

Another watch was issued for parts of the interior of Northern California, including the west side of the Sacramento Valley, the coastal range, the Sierra Nevada foothills and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

Peterson said the regions are forecast to experience sustained winds of 14 mph to 25 mph and gusts up to 55 mph.

"The atmosphere is going to be dry and warm, and all these ingredients together lead to critical fire weather," he said.

The warning comes as fire crews have mostly contained the lightning-sparked wildfires that exploded several weeks ago. As of Wednesday, the SCU Lightning Complex fire, south of Livermore, was 98% contained, as was the LNU Lightning Complex fire in the North Bay. But the big winds could mean trouble for firefighters battling the North Complex fire in Butte County, which was only 75% contained as of Wednesday.

Peterson said the weather service issued the warning Wednesday "to get the word out there quickly and as widespread as we can so everyone is prepared."

"Unfortunately," he said, "once fires start we have all the conditions that will lead to rapid fire spread."

Air quality in the Bay Area will also deteriorate as shifting winds bring more smoke to the region, he said.

Story continues

Jeff Smith, a spokesman for PG&E, said its meteorologists were closely monitoring the conditions but the utility has made no decision about possible power shutoffs.

Still, he said, "It is important for our customers to prepare as much as they possibly can for the possibility of public power shutoffs during this season."

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
J.M. Smucker Co., the $7.8 billion food company based in Orriville, Ohio, unveiled a new corporate logo and branding identity intended to better reflect the company as it is now and where it will be in the future.

The J.M. Smucker Co. wants the world to better recognize it is more than a maker of its heritage jams and jellies.

In recent years it has added major peanut butter, coffee and most recently pet food brands to its portfolio  with plans to expand into additional categories when the price and timing is right.

And that's why the $7.8 billion food company based in Orrville, Ohio unveiled a new corporate brand identity that, while paying homage to its 123-year history, intends to show that its present and future involve much more than spreadable fruit products typically spooned between a couple of slices of bread.

Employees got a look at the colorful new logo on Tuesday, with the company making its full public splash Wednesday. It aims to separate Smucker the corporation from being totally identified with Smucker's brand food items.

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"It's been actually under development for over a year," said Mark Smucker, the company's president and chief executive officer. "It all stems from the fact that over the last two decades we transformed ourselves from a jam and jelly company to a multi-category marketing powerhouse of brands."

At one point in the process, employees were looking at as many as 50 concepts for a new corporate logo as well as a system that went with it. The company partnered with New York-based branding and creative firm CBX on the project.

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"What we realized around the year 2000 or so was that what we were really good at was marketing brands," Smucker said. "And even though we were good at fruit-based products, we were really good at marketing brands, which unlocked the ability for us to enter into multiple food categories. And that transformation of our business isn't reflected in our corporate identity."

Story continues

The new corporate logo and branding are intended to rectify that.

"We wanted to separate the company of Smucker from the brand Smucker's, something that represents more holistically who we are, represents our momentum, our aspiration to continue to grow," Smucker said.

The new logo also is intended to show the company is diverse and progressive, and is reinventing itself and evolving. As part of the design transition, "J.M. Smucker Company" becomes a more concise "J.M. Smucker Co."

So, out as a corporate logo is the two-strawberry design, the well-recognized logo, which will still be used for Smucker's food products.

And in is a design that features in part a red strawberry-like element  the homage to company heritage  with other bright, colorful leaf-like figures clustered about it that represent "spark," growth, people and culture, and creativity.

The new corporate logo projects energy, Smucker said.

"It sort of has movement in it," he said. "That's supposed to represent different elements of our culture, like creativity and kindness, and just the movement or apparent movement of the image is supposed to represent growth."

The new logo is something employees can rally around, Smucker said. The logo and what it symbolizes should also help the company recruit top talent, he said

J.M. Smucker Co., the $7.8 billion food company based in Orrville, Ohio, unveiled a new corporate logo and branding identity intended to better reflect the company as it is now and where it will be in the future.

"It's definitely aspirational," he said. "It truly is symbolic. I think it's a great representative of who we are. Honestly, I'm so excited about it. I think it does symbolize our growth, our aspirations to continue to ...acquire other brands. Who knows. At some point, we may be in a new category."

The J.M. Smucker Co. gained 3.7 million households that purchased its brands for home consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic, Smucker said. The challenge is to retain those households, using such things as social media and other digital solutions, to help grow their business, he said.

The company has made progress with its pet food and pet snack brands, including overcoming some challenges in its dog brands, he said.

"So, yes we have paid down our debt to a point where we are able to continue to do acquisitions," Smucker said. "We are always looking. And it's all about getting the right thing at the right price, being prudent in making sure we can get a return. We're always looking. It's been a little quiet out there recently. At some point in the future, I would expect there would be some acquisitions. We've got to wait for the right thing."

J.M. Smucker at its core is a food company, he said.

"Strategically, we would be most interested in categories that are growing and where we could acquire a leadership position," Smucker said. "It's pretty simple."

Follow Jim Mackinnon @JimMackinnonABJ on Twitter or www.facebook.com/JimMackinnonABJ.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: New JM Smucker Co. corporate logo aims for the future
Amid worry about the coronavirus and growing interest in the presidential race, hundreds of St. Louis area residents cast early ballots Tuesday as in-person absentee voting got underway for the Nov. 3 election across Missouri.

About 700 people voted throughout the day at the St. Louis County Election Board in St. Ann, about 150 during the first two hours after the office opened at 8 a.m.

That surpassed the 300 to 400 who did so on the initial absentee-voting day in the last presidential election in 2016, said Eric Fey, the countys Democratic director of elections.

I think theres enthusiasm like there is for any presidential election but theres a heightened sense this time around, Fey said.

Fey said a third of the people who voted in the county Tuesday already had requested an absentee ballot to be cast by mail but decided instead to vote early in person.

He said he assumed that these were people that didnt want to wait on the post office. That was a reference to concerns about expected delays by the U.S. Postal Service in delivering ballots mailed in close to Election Day.

He said while there always are some people who vote in person after requesting a mail ballot, the percentage doing so Tuesday was unusually high.

County officials said lines outside the election office in St. Ann were as long as 100 people Tuesday morning.

Tuesday also was the first day that election authorities in Missouri began mailing out early ballots. Fey said the county sent out about 80,000 on Tuesday. More than 100,000 applications have been received so far in the county.

Among early voters at the county board Tuesday was Bridgette Saundersel of St. Ann. She said she voted absentee because of her homeschooling duties.

Another in-person absentee voter, Floncie Witherspoon of Jennings, said a family surgery is expected around the time of the Nov. 3 election so she was unsure if she would be able to vote that day.

And Sharon Hayes, of Berkeley, said she voted Tuesday because she will be working Election Day as a poll judge.

Election officials in St. Louis city and in St. Charles and Jefferson counties also reported larger than usual first-day absentee numbers.

Close to 300 people voted in St. Louis at city Election Board headquarters downtown.

Gary Stoff, the citys Republican elections director, said he assumed that some people preferred to vote absentee in person because they expected less of a wait at the board office than they might encounter at their assigned polling place on Election Day.

When we opened this morning, we already had a line going out the door, but that dissipated pretty quickly, Stoff said. After that, he said weve had a steady stream in the building lobby but not a long line.

Jefferson County officials reported getting more than 100 absentee voters Tuesday at the county clerks office in Hillsboro.

We had 25 people the first hour, said Jeannie Goff, chief of staff for the office. On the first day for absentee voting in 2016, Goff said, the office only had 18 voters all day. In 2012, only two showed up.

Goff said she believed that worries about coronavirus was the main reason for the increase Tuesday. One reason: people are required to wear masks if they enter the building in which the clerks office is located but wont have to do so at Jefferson County polling places.

County Clerk Ken Waller added that some voters he talked with Tuesday told him that they dont trust the mail to get ballots in by Election Day, the deadline under Missouri law.

In St. Charles County, Elections Director Kurt Bahr said more than 760 people voted on Tuesday at his office in St. Peters.

Weve probably had more today than we had on a typical week before the August primary election, he said.

Part of the reason for the surge in absentee voting is an emergency bill passed by the Legislature in May to address pandemic-spurred concerns among some voters about coming in close contact with other people at the polls.

That law, which will expire Dec. 31, created a new absentee voting option allowing any registered voter age 65 and older to qualify. Also covered are people with certain underlying health conditions. Those two groups are considered to be at particular risk of contracting the coronavirus disease.

Those are in addition to five other reasons for voting absentee previously outlined in Missouri law, such as absence from a voters home county on Election Day.

Absentee voters can either vote by mail or show up in person on specified days before the election at locations designated by their local election agencies. Those appearing in person dont have to apply in advance.

Also set up just for this year is a temporary mail-in voting option for any voter, regardless of age. But critics say that process is difficult to use because verification by a notary is required before the ballot can be mailed in.

The last day to register to vote in Missouri is Oct. 7 and requests for mailed ballots must be received by local election authorities by Oct. 21.

Robert Cohen of the Post-Dispatch staff contributed to this report.

Updated at 6:45 p.m.

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With thousands of students starting the school year from home due to COVID-19, some parents feel overwhelmed.

Parents feeling confused, hesitant or at a loss at what to do this school year are not alone. College Nannies, Sitters and Tutors - the largest employer of nannies, sitters and tutors in the U.S. - says their phones have been ringing off the hook with requests for help.

On a Facebook Live, MassLive reporter Heather Adams spoke with Delilah Atkinson from College Nannies, Sitters and Tutors in Boston to talk about tips and tricks for virtual learning on Tuesday.

For more tips from College Nannies, Sitters, Tutors tune in to our Facebook Live Tuesday at 1 p.m. when we answer your questions about virtual learning. https://trib.al/3wW7XuU Posted by MassLive on Monday, September 21, 2020

Be sure to watch the full video above and check out some of the tips below.

1. Take brain breaks

Its important for children to be aware of their break time and to use it wisely.

Its really hard for kids to stay engaged all day long online, Atkinson said. And parents have to have a little bit of an understanding for that being quite challenging for them.

The best way to spend a break is by getting outside, she said. And its good for parents too.

Walking around outside for 15 minutes and getting some fresh air, she said. I think for anybody staring at a screen all day, it does a lot.

The break activities can include playing tag, a scavenger hunt where the children find five yellow items outside or playing with toys.

The break doesnt have to be long but parents should avoid allowing more screen time during this part of the day. For indoor activities she suggests creating a craft, dancing to music or baking cookies.

2. Create situations where children can be independent

While young students need extra help throughout the day, there are ways to create situations where children can be independent. But parents will be need schedule and plan ahead of time, Atkinson said.

College Nannies, Sitters and Tutors gives their employees monthly and weekly schedules for activities.

This is something that can be replicated at home for anybody, she said, adding that interested parents can reach out for those templates.

The schedule helps parents make sure they have all the items needed for activities, snacks and lunches. And it also lets the students know what is available.

3. Establish a learning environment

There needs to be a designed space for where your child is going to do their at-home learning, Atkinson said. It shouldnt be the couch that they can sprawl out on but it also doesnt have to be a new desk. She suggests making sure the children have access to good lighting and snacks and drinks.

It just needs to be an area where someone feels comfortable, she said.

For some kids, this might look like sitting in a giant bean bag, while others will be sitting at the kitchen table. Its also OK for kids to move locations throughout the day, she said.

The key is to not have distraction," Atkinson said.

That means that while remote learning is happening, the iPad is put away.

4. Use online resources

There are a number of free online learning tools that parents can utilize.

College Nannies, Sitters and Tutors uses K12, Atkinson said, which has helped many of their employees be able to assist childrens education, even if its on a subject that they might not remember as well. And it can help parents too, she said.

For other online resources, Atkinson suggests just doing your research to see if its the right fit for your family. A good sign its a tool to use is if other teacher or educators are using it. Also check to see if its accredited, she said.

5. Know what is expected of your child

Online learning can be difficult to stay on track for any age, Atkinson said, which is why its important for parents to stay involved with what is expected of their child and their childs schedule each day.

Its time consuming, she said. And this is where its really hard for the working parent.

For families that are working with College Nannies, Sitters and Tutors, that responsibility is often taken over by the nanny or sitter so they can focus on their jobs and we can focus on the kids.

But for other families, its important to schedule time each day to go over Google Classroom assignments, whats been done and what hasnt. Then to work with the child to schedule time to complete those tasks, she said.

For working parents, a lot of it comes down to planning ahead.

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Schumer Blocks Election Security Briefing Over Supreme Court Fight

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Tuesday blocked an election security briefing from taking place due to his frustration with Republican plans to move forward with replacing deceased Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Acting Senate Intelligence Chairman Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) on the Senate floor in Washington asked for unanimous consent that the committees scheduled briefing with National Counterintelligence and Security Center Bill Evanina be allowed to take place.

Unanimous consent requests avoid a full vote but can be blocked by a single senator.

Schumer blocked the request.

Reserving the right to object because the Senate Republicans have no respect for the institution, we wont have business as usual here in the Senate. I object, he said.

Rubio responded by saying the meeting with Evanina would not take place because of Schumers objection.

Election security is a priority of many senators, Rubio said.

We are scheduled to have the director of National Intelligence tomorrow to discuss that, and many more topics of great importance that I know a lot of people here have been saying we need to be having briefings over. And I hope that, if in fact, the Democratic leader intends to object to that, that we should know that today as well, I hope so that the members will know that and make arrangements accordingly, he added.

Schumers office didnt respond to a request for comment.

Acting Senate Intelligence Chairman March Rubio (R-Fla.) talks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington on Sept. 22, 2020. (Stefani Reynolds/Getty Images)

Other Republicans on the committee criticized the top Democrat in the Senate for the move.

Its disappointing to see Sen. Schumer prevent our committee from conducting vital oversight of our intelligence community. After the FBIs gross mishandling of the investigation into the 2016 election, counterintelligence reform is bipartisan, timely, and relevant, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said in a statement.

Just a few weeks ago Democrats were demanding intel briefings. Now, Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is putting partisan politics ahead of secure elections. We know that Vladimir Putin and Chairman Xi are looking to sow more distrust and chaos in America as we turn towards the ballot box. Schumers tantrum is short-sighted and despicable, added Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.).

Evanina announced in July that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence had been giving election security briefings to members of Congress, political committees, and presidential campaigns.

But John Ratcliffe, the director of national intelligence, said the next month that in-person briefings would be scaled back because of leaks.

Within minutes of one of those briefings ending, a number of members of Congress went to a number of different outlets and leaked classified information for political purposes, Ratcliffe said, referring to a congressional briefing.

Top Democrats, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), objected to the scaling back, calling it a politicized effort to withhold election-related information from Congress and the American people at the precise moment that greater transparency and accountability is required.
Local coffee entrepreneur Kait Brown, founder of craft decaf and half caffeine brand Savorista, won the University of Dayton Flyer Pitch competition and the grand prize of $25,000 cash and $25,000 of in-kind support from the Entrepreneurs Center through Ohios Entrepreneurial Services Provider program.

Brown, a Centerville native, was selected from among more than 50 teams that pitched ideas during the competition, one of the largest at the college level. Her team included University of Dayton 2020 accounting and entrepreneurship graduate Julia Harbach.

The judges chose Savorista as the winner because the business plan was really well thought-out and Kait is already gaining traction in terms of sales, said Vince Lewis, director of the university's L. William Crotty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership. We look forward to Kait adding to Flyer Pitchs successful legacy, which includes 71 businesses and $24.1 million of capital raised.

Brown, whose first job was as a barista in Dayton, said the idea for Savorista was born during a time in her life when she was working a high-stress consulting job and her father was diagnosed with cancer.

I realized the coffee I was drinking really amplified my stress, she said. I switched to decaf, but it was really terrible. This was the first time in my life I was drinking coffee only for the taste and I couldnt find flavorful coffee. This idea wouldnt let go of me: Could we do coffee with less caffeine that tastes delicious?

Brown and her husband, Daniel, traveled around the world, including to Colombia and Ethiopia, to find the right coffee, and launched Savorista in 2018. The Flyer Pitch prize will help her expand the business, including more marketing, Brown said. More information on Savorista is available online.

Flyer Pitch will begin accepting applications for the 2020-21 competition Oct. 4. The contest, which will be held virtually because of the pandemic, will expand thanks to new sponsors PNC Bank and an anonymous donor to award $112,000, including $20,000 in new prizes for social ventures that advance social justice and equity in the Greater West Dayton area where UD is opening a new business incubator.

The competition also has been revised. In the first round, judges will review all applications and select 10 teams to receive funding to research and flesh out their ideas. The next round will be a conversation with the judges; five teams will advance and receive a mentor.

For more information, email flyerpitch@udayton.edu.
Bharat Biotech on Wednesday has announced a licensing deal with Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis for a novel chimp-adenovirus, single dose intranasal vaccine for Covid-19.

Vaccine Innovator, Bharat Biotech announces today, a licensing agreement with Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis for a novel chimp-adenovirus, single dose intranasal vaccine for COVID-19. Bharat Biotech owns the rights to distribute the vaccine in all markets except USA, Japan and Europe.

While the Phase I trials will take place in Saint Louis Universitys Vaccine & Treatment Evaluation Unit, Bharat Biotech, upon obtaining the required regulatory approval, will pursue further stages of clinical trials in India and undertake large scale manufacture of the vaccine at its GMP facility located in Genome Valley, Hyderabad.

We are proud to collaborate on this innovative vaccine. We envision that we will scale this vaccine to 1 billion doses, translating to 1 billion individuals vaccinated receiving a single-dose regimen. An intranasal vaccine will not only be simple to administer but reduce the use of medical consumables such as needles, syringes, etc., significantly impacting the overall cost of a vaccination drive.

Also Read: China has no intention to fight either Cold War or hot war, says Xi Jinping

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Our experience in viral vaccines, manufacturing capabilities, and distribution continue to be our strong suit in ensuring safe, efficacious, and affordable vaccines. It is prudent for Bharat to be involved in diverse but tenable projects to provide a much-needed vaccine against COVID-19 reaches all citizens of the world. Dr. Krishna Ella, Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Biotech, stated.

This intranasal vaccine candidate has shown unprecedented levels of protection in mice studies; the technology and data having been recently published in the prestigious scientific journal Cell and in an editorial in Nature.

Dr. David T. Curiel, MD, Ph.D., Director of Biologic Therapeutics Center and Professor of Radiation Oncology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and Precision Virologics Interim CEO said, The ability to accomplish effective immunization with a single nasal dose is a major advantage, offering broader reach and easier administration. An effective nasal dose not only protects against COVID-19, but it also prevents the spread of the disease by offering another kind of immunity that occurs primarily in the cells that line the nose and throat. Most other vaccine candidates currently under development cant do that.

This vaccine expands Bharats portfolio of vaccines that are currently being developed and are in various stages of clinical development including COVAXIN which is currently in Phase II human clinical trials in India.

Also Read: PLA recruits sob while heading to Ladakh border to face Indian soldiers, watch viral video
Luxair had to divert a flight from Stockholm to Luxembourg on Friday evening due to a technical issue.

"Flight LG5782 bound for Luxembourg coming from Stockholm was diverted to Copenhagen due to a technical problem", Luxair reported.

As a precautionary measure, the statement continued, the captain made the decision to land in Copenhagen.

De Havilland Q400, registered LX-LGG, landed safely and without incident. The 29 passengers are currently being picked up from Copenhagen Airport. An alternative flight will be operated, allowing all customers to be repatriated to Luxembourg. The flight is expected in Luxembourg at 22:20, according to Luxair.
Kannada actor Diganth Manchale has been summoned by the Central Crime Branch (CCB) of the Bengaluru Police for further questioning in connection with a case related to alleged drug abuse in the Kannada film industry. (Image: Instagram)
Pressure from China is driving the campaign for Barbados to become a republic, a Conservative MP has claimed.

Tom Tugendhat, chairman of the foreign affairs committee, said Beijing was playing a large role in the island nation's decision to remove the Queen as head of state.

Barbados signed on to China's 'Belt and Road' initiative in 2019, opening up trade between the two countries.

Meanwhile CIA intelligence in the US about Chinese activities in Barbados has now reportedly been shared with Britain.

The Queen pictured with Governor-General of Barbados Dame Sandra Mason at Windsor Castle in 2018

Mr Tugendhat told the Times: 'China has been using infrastructure investment and debt diplomacy as a means of control for a while and it's coming closer to home for us.

'British partners have long faced challenges from rivals seeking to undermine our alliance.

'Today we're seeing it in the Caribbean. Some islands seem to be close to swapping a symbolic Queen in Windsor for a real and demanding emperor in Beijing.'

China has poured billions of dollars of investment into the Caribbean in recent years while signing tax and trade deals in an attempt to wrest the region out of the West's sphere of influence and bring it under the sway of Beijing.

The Chinese government has invested at least $7billion in six Caribbean nations since 2005, records complied by the American Enterprise Institute show - building roads, ports and the five-star Baha Mar casino and resort in the Bahamas.

However, the true scale of Chinese investment in the region - which can often be opaque and funneled through private companies - is thought to be much higher.

Meanwhile eight countries have signed on to Beijing's Belt and Road initiative, including Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago.

Agreements have been signed place to deepen trade ties along with building bridges and airports, an improving energy and telecommunications networks.

China has been particularly generous with nations that have agreed to cut relations with Taiwan - a country in the East China Sea which Beijing claims as a province - and recognise the Communist Party as the supreme authority.

In 2005, China rewarded Grenada, which has an annual GDP of just $1.8billion, with a brand new $55million cricket stadium after it cut relations with Taiwan.

Similarly, in 2018, the Dominican Republic was lavished with Chinese investment thought to have topped $3billion after it also cut ties with Taipei.

Tom Tugendhat (pictured), chairman of the foreign affairs committee, said Beijing was playing a large role in the island nation's decision to remove the Queen as head of state

Barbados, meanwhile, is has received at least $490million, mostly as investment in the tourist sector, but is also thought to be benefiting from private deals.

The country has established beneficial tax deals with Beijing in recent years in an attempt to make itself a hub for Chinese financial looking to invest in South America.

In 2019, a permanent branch of Invest Barbados was established in Beijing to help attract this investment.

Also last year, Barbados signed a Memorandum of Understanding with China, making it part of the country's Belt and Road initiative - otherwise known as the new Silk Road.

The agreement promises development of Barbados's shipping, aviation, infrastructure and agriculture sectors.

Barbados has maintained strong relations with Britain even after gaining independence in 1966, but last week announced it would become a republic in 2021.

A speech written by Prime Minister Mia Mottley quoted the Caribbean island nation's first premier Errol Barrow's warning against 'loitering on colonial premises'.

Buckingham Palace has said Barbados' intention to remove the Queen as head of state and become a republic is a 'matter' for the Caribbean nation.

Reading the speech, Governor-General Dame Sandra Mason said: 'The time has come to fully leave our colonial past behind. Barbadians want a Barbadian Head of State.

'This is the ultimate statement of confidence in who we are and what we are capable of achieving.

'Hence, Barbados will take the next logical step toward full sovereignty and become a Republic by the time we celebrate our 55th Anniversary of Independence.'

Asked to comment on the Commonwealth country's plans a palace spokesman said: 'This is a matter for the government and people of Barbados.'

Left: Queen Elizabeth ll smiles with a young girl in Barbados on November 1, 1977. Right: The Queen on a walkabout during a visit to Bridgetown

Downing Street said it was a 'decision for Barbados and the Government there' but that Britain would continue to 'enjoy a partnership' with the Caribbean island nation as members of the Commonwealth.

A Number 10 spokesman said: 'We obviously have a shared history and remain united with Barbados in terms of history, culture and language, and we will continue to have and enjoy a partnership with them as members of the Commonwealth.'

The country gained its independence from Britain in 1966, though the Queen remains its constitutional monarch.

In 1998, a Barbados constitutional review commission recommended republican status, and in 2015 Prime Minister Freundel Stuart said 'we have to move from a monarchical system to a republican form of government in the very near future'.

Most Caribbean countries have kept formal links with the monarchy after achieving independence.

Barbados would join Trinidad and Tobago, Dominica and Guyana if it proceeds with its plan to become a republic.

Jamaica has also flagged such a transition, with Prime Minister Andrew Holness saying it is a priority of his government, but has yet to achieve it.

Barbados took another step towards independence from the UK in 2003 when it replaced the London-based Judicial Committee of the Privy Council with the Caribbean Court of Justice, located in Trinidad and Tobago's Port of Spain, as its final appeals court.

Former Prime Minister Owen Arthur promoted the idea of a referendum on becoming a republic in 2005, however the vote was called off due to concerns raised by the Electoral and Boundaries Commission.
Congress in Karnataka has come down heavily on the State government over spending on combating COVID-19 pandemic and urged the government to moot a judicial inquiry into irregularities that has taken place during the last six months.

Raking up the issue in the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, KPCC President D K Shivakumar said that even the packages announced by the government for the poor during lockdown had not reached even 10-20% of the beneficiaries.

"The opposition has cooperated with the government throughout its fight against COVID-19. However, the government has treated farmers, poor and laborers in an inhuman way. The Prime Minister gave four hours notice before locking down the country, but gave four hours for lighting lamps and ringing bells. But, we can not be mute spectators for all the irregularities," he said.

During lockdown, organisations like Akshaya Patre and Infosys gave food kits. However, people like MLA Aravind Limbavali and the BJP party itself printed their photos on the kits before distributing them. Even on nutrition kits distributed for pregnants and children, which were distributed by the government, BJP symbols were printed, he charged.

The Chief Minister had promised a Rs 1610 crore package for giving monetary assistance for poor, farmers, barbers, drivers and so on.

However, not more than 10-20 per cent of the beneficiaries got the money. The government also said that it had provided markets for the farmers who grew flowers, vegetables and fruits. However, there are no records of the government purchasing any of them, he said.

When Congress tried talking about these issues, Medical Education Minister Dr Sudhakar threatened to expose corruption during Congress ruling.

"Let him expose or even tear apart all the Congress, if any lapses are there. Even if there are irregularities committed by Siddaramaiah, myself or even H K Patil, initiate action. However, people will not forget this government's handling of COVID-19 pandemic. Besides, BJP General Secretary spoke of issuing notice for raking up illegal hoarding and transportation of PDS ration. Let the Chief Secretary issue a notice and we will face it," he added.
Judy White, 74, is serving a life sentence in Iowa Correctional Institution

She was involved in the murder of family friend Ady Jensen in 1979

Judy recommended a 'crazy' hitman to his wife, who wanted him dead

Cynthia Dengue has insisted her mother 'doesn't deserve' her lifelong sentence

Told Stacey Dooley: 'She wasn't even present when the crime itself took place'

The daughter of a woman who has served more than 40 years in prison for a 'recommending' a hitman in a murder-for-hire plot has said she does not deserve her lifelong sentence and remains 'hopeful' she'll be released.

Judy White, 74, is imprisoned at Iowa Correctional Institution for her role in the 1979 killing of family friend Ady Jensen, after she recommended a 'crazy' hitman to his wife and her friend, Jeanne Jenson, who wanted him dead.

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The hitman, Andrew Oglevie, was an associate of Judy's second husband Robert Kern, and prosecutors alleged that White, along with Jeanne, Oglevie and Kern conspired to kill Ady to collect a $50,000 life insurance payout.

Judy, whose story featured earlier this year on Stacey Dooley's programme Locked Up With The Lifers, has long-admitted that she should have been punished for the crime but said she should not have received a life sentence because she had no role in his actual killing, while Jeanne only received a ten-year sentence for her part in the plot and ended up serving just four years.

One of Judy's five children, daughter Cynthia Dengue, has now insisted her mother doesn't deserve to be in prison, telling Stacey on her BBC podcast Stacey Dooley Revisits: 'She wasn't even present when the crime itself took place.

'Of course she should have served time, it is undeniable, but she served over 40 years when she didn't actually kill this man.'

The daughter of woman Judy White, 74, who has served more than 40 years in prison for a'recommending' a hitman in a murder-for-hire plot said she does not deserve her lifelong sentence (pictured, with Stacey Dooley in a recent documentary)

Judy was a friend of Jeanne, Ady's wife, who she had met in church with Cynthia revealing she and her family 'went to their house all the time'.

She said that her mother had a conversation with Jeanne about the fact the second woman was not happy in her marriage to Ady.

Cynthia explained: 'She wanted her husband dead. So apparently, my mother mentioned Bob knew somebody crazy enough to do this.'

Ady, 39, of Iowa City, was fatally shot in April 1979 at his parents farm in West Branch.

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When he arrived at the house, his parents, Ferdinand and Olga, had already been tied up and kept hostage for 12 hours by a hitman who had been paid $50 to kill their son.

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When Oglevie was tried for being the shooter  he was acquitted May 3, 1983  details emerged about the plot in which Jeanne, Ady Jensens wife, Robert and Judy, then married to Kern, planned to collect a $50,000 insurance policy.

It emerged Robert, who was an insurance agent, had sold the policy to Jeanne without her husband's knowledge.

Speaking of the moment her mother was arrested, when Cynthia was aged just nine, she said: 'It was a beautiful summer day, all these cars streamed down the street.

Judy is imprisoned at Iowa Correctional Institution for her role in the 1979 killing of family friend Ady Jensen after she recommended a 'crazy' hitman to his wife, Jeanne Jenson, who wanted him dead. Pictured: The mother (bottom left) with Cynthia (top right) and her other children during a brief guarded day release from jail in 1985

'Some police cars, some undercover cars. And I told this older girl, "They are going to my house", and she said, "Do you need me to go with you?"

'I just started running towards the house and she did follow me and sure I enough i get to my house and there's flashlights going through the windows.

'Furniture had been torn apart and I just had that feeling of panic in my chest. I saw a sheriff that used to go to our church and then my mother in handcuffs.

'She was crying and I said "Mom, what is going on?" and she said, "They think I killed Ady Jensen" and I just sat there not knowing why or what.'

The trial went to court in October 1979 with Judy, who had only recently married Robert and was pregnant with her youngest child, Brandon, at the time, agreeing to agreed with Robert's plan they would not testify against each other at his trial.

The woman (centre with Stacey and other inmated), whose story featured earlier this year on Stacey Dooley's programme Locked Up With The Lifers, has long-admitted that she should have been punished for the crime but said she should not have received a life sentence because she had no role in his actual killing

Although she had arguably played a larger role than Judy in her husband's killing, Jeanne received a lesser sentence in exchange for testifying against Robert and Judy.

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Cynthia continued: 'Judy knew about it, she definitely did, does that deserve punishment? Yes.

'But, this woman, Jeanne, wanted her husband killed, admitted that in the trial and in the case was able to bargain out of that and then turn the story against my mother and Robert (Kern).

'And they got life sentences. I don't know if a better lawyer or something else would have been the miracle to not have her go to prison for life.'

Judy pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder and was given a ten-year sentence, which she ultimately only served four years of.

On Locked Up With The Lifers, the moment was shown where Judy was with Stacey and received a letter saying Iowa's parole board would hear her case to be freed from jail

Speaking to Stacey, Cynthia said being without her mother permanently changed her life, explaining: 'As children, to have your parent taken away at such a young age, it definitely alters your life, it has changed forever.

'I have tried not to think of my mum as gone, we have been able to have a very close relationship. That is on the part of both of us making a huge effort.'

'I carried with me a lot of shame for many, many years. I went through rage and trouble and depression and anxiety, all of those things.

'We didn't go to counselling as children [and] that probably would have been helpful.'

On Locked Up With The Lifers, the moment was shown where Judy was with Stacey and received a letter saying Iowa's parole board would hear her case to be freed from jail.

Stacey said she formed a bond with Judy after visiting her in prison, where she has been for more than 40 years

The 74-year-old was seen in tears as her hopes were raised that she may finally be able to leave prison.

At the parole hearing, four of the five members recommended Judy for commutation. But one did not. The decision therefore rested with Governor Reynolds.

Sadly, much to the extreme distress of Judy and her children, the Governor opted in August not to commute Judy's sentence.

This was despite Iowa's Attorney General, Tom Miller, recommending that she should be released.

He told the Governor that Judy was the 'least culpable' of all parties involved in Ady's murder.

In a second conversation after the verdict, Cynthia told Stacey: 'We were really shell-shocked, we really were. All of us had our hopes up.

'For each of us it brings up different trauma from childhood. But I was mostly worried about my Mom. She definitely had a breakdown.

'That's how we have all dealt with it. Then you have to realise, what is the obstacle exactly?

'Apparently, in her letter, a few things that the governor wrote her, one is that she doesn't have unanimous support from the parole board.

'The second thing was the seriousness of the offence, but again we could argue she had the least part to do with that crime.'

However, Judy continues to have hope that she will one day be released from prison, saying: 'My mum is still very positive. She is still very hopeful. I don't think that's blind faith. Whether her faith is blind or eyes wide open, either way it is faith.

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'So I respect that about her. I tell people she is the strongest person I know.'
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday congratulated the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for successfully test firing its Laser-Guided Anti Tank Guided Missile (ATGM).

Congratulations to @DRDO_India for successfully conducting test firing of Laser-Guided Anti Tank Guided Missile from MBT Arjun at KK Ranges (ACC&S) in Ahmednagar. India is proud of team DRDO which is assiduously working towards reducing import dependency in the near future, Singh tweeted.

Congratulations to @DRDO_India for successfully conducting test firing of Laser Guided Anti Tank Guided Missile from MBT Arjun at KK Ranges (ACC&S) in Ahmednagar.



India is proud of Team DRDO which is assiduously working towards reducing import dependency in the near future. pic.twitter.com/WuBivV7VYU  Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) September 23, 2020

Earlier, DRDO announced it had successfully test fired the missile at the Armoured Corps Centre and School (ACC&S) in Ahmednagar on Tuesday. The agency further said in these tests, the missiles--fired from MBT Arjun Tank--successfully defeated a target at three kilometre.

The missile employs a tandem HEAT warhead to defeat Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA) protected armoured vehicles. It has been developed with multiple-platform launch capability and is currently undergoing technical evaluation trials from a gun of MBT Arjun: DRDO https://t.co/6CqggD8chi  ANI (@ANI) September 23, 2020

On various features of the missile, DRDO said ATGM employs a tandem HEAT warhead to defeat Explosive Rear Armour (ERA) protected vehicles. The missile has been developed with multi-platform launch capability and is currently undergoing technical evaluation trials from a gun of MBT Arjun, the agency further explained.

ATGM has been developed by the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune, in association with High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), Pune, and Instruments Research & Development Establishment (IRDE), Dehradun.

Also on Tuesday, DRDO had carried out a successful flight test of ABHYAS High Speed Expandable Aerial Target (HEAT) vehicles from a test range in Balasore, Odisha.
Correlation does not equal causation isnt always a fun thing to say at parties, but it is always a good phrase to keep in mind when approaching survey data. Does the study really show that? Might it show the opposite? Does it confirm pre-existing biases or fail to acknowledge valid counterevidence? A little bit of critical thinking can turn away a lot of trouble.

Ill admit, a new study, The Role of Education in Taming Authoritarian Attitudes, confirms many of my own biases, suggesting that higher education, especially the liberal arts, reduces authoritarian attitudes around the world. The claim comes from Georgetown Universitys Center on Education and the Workforce, which analyzed and aggregated data from World Values Surveys conducted between 1994 and 2016. The study takes it for granted that rising authoritarianism is not a social good, or at least that it poses a distinct threat to democratic republics, and it aims to show how higher education can protect democracy.

Authoritarianismdefined as enforcing group conformity and strict allegiance to authority at the expense of personal freedomsseems vastly more prevalent among those with only a high school education. Among college graduates, Elizabeth Redden writes at Inside Higher Ed, holders of liberal art degrees are less inclined to express authoritarian attitudes and preferences compared to individuals who hold degrees in business or science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields.

The valuable bulwark of the liberal arts seems more effective in the U.S. than in Europe, perhaps because American higher education places a strong emphasis on a combination of specific and general education, the full report speculates. Such general education includes exposure to the liberal arts. The U.S. ranks at a moderate level of authoritarianism compared to 51 other countries, on par with Chile and Uruguay, with Germany ranking the least authoritarian and India the mosta 6 on a scale of 0-6.

Higher education also correlates with higher economic status, suggesting to the study authors that economic security reduces authoritarianism, which is expressed in attitudes about parenting and in a fundamental orientation toward control over autonomy.

The full report does go into greater depth, but perhaps it raises more questions than it answers, leaving the intellectually curious to work through a dense bibliography of popular and academic sources. There is a significant amount of data and evidence to suggest that studying the liberal arts does help people to imagine other perspectives and to appreciate, rather than fear, different cultures, religions, etc. Liberal arts education encourages critical thinking, reading, and writing, and can equip students with tools they need to distinguish reportage from pure propaganda.

But we might ask whether these findings consistently obtain under actually existing authoritarianism, which tends to arise under conditions of threat to social norms or personal security. In the 2016 U.S. election, for example, the candidate espousing openly authoritarian attitudes and preferences, now the current U.S. president, was elected by a majority of voters who were well-educated and economically secure, subsequent research discovered, rather than stereotypically working class voters with low levels of education. How do such findings fit with the data Georgetown interprets in their report? Is it possible that those with higher education and social status learn better to hide controlling, intolerant attitudes in mixed company?

Learn more at this report summary page here and read and download the full report as a PDF here.

Related Content:

How a Liberal Arts Education Helped Derek Black, the Godson of David Duke, Break with the White Nationalist Movement

20 Lessons from the 20th Century About How to Defend Democracy from Authoritarianism, According to Yale Historian Timothy Snyder

Why We Need to Teach Kids Philosophy & Safeguard Society from Authoritarian Control

Critical Thinking: A Free Course

Josh Jones is a writer and musician based in Durham, NC. Follow him at @jdmagness
The House on Tuesday overwhelmingly voted to extend federal funding through Dec. 11, while punting the threat of a government shutdown until after the presidential election.

The bipartisan vote comes hours after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin clinched a last-minute deal to include billions in nutrition assistance and trade relief payments for farmers, capping weeks of contentious negotiations.

The short-term funding fix now goes to the Senate, where its expected to easily pass before the Sept. 30 deadline. If signed by President Donald Trump, it would also postpone a slew of contentious funding fights  from the border wall to the renaming of Confederate monuments at military installations  to the lame-duck session of Congress.

We have an agreement that will keep the government functioning for the people, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said on the floor, recapping the back-and-forth of negotiations in recent weeks. There was a lot of to and fro-ing, a lot of people wanted this, a lot of people wanted that, a lot of people didnt want this... This is the best we have, so we need to take it.

The bipartisan accord represents a remarkable turnaround after negotiations collapsed late last week after Democrats objected to the GOPs demands for trade relief payments, prompting some lawmakers and aides to privately worry that Washington was coming perilously close to the Sept. 30 deadline with no agreement to keep the government open.

Congressional leaders relaunched funding talks on Tuesday, scrapping plans to vote on the Democrats own version of that bill the same day. Ultimately, Hill leaders agreed to include $8 billion in nutrition assistance  four times what Democrats had originally pushed for  in exchange for tens of billions of dollars in farmer trade relief payments requested by the White House.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer speaks at an event hosted by Maryland Democrats.

Democrats also secured key pandemic-related nutrition extensions, including a year-long extension of a program that allows families with school-aged children to buy groceries during the pandemic. Pelosi said in a statement that the farmer aid includes guardrails to ensure that the money doesnt bail out oil refiners, although the Trump administration already said this week that the funds wouldnt flow to the oil industry.

Story continues

The deal on a funding measure comes as Democrats and Republicans remain at a stalemate in the broader negotiations over exactly how to deliver more aid to millions of Americans suffering from the economic fallout of the pandemic.

Lets be clear, the fact that we are passing a CR without having already passed an additional Covid stimulus bill represents cruelty and gross incompetence of the highest order, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) said on the floor.

Some lawmakers said that progress on the funding deal  while more limited in scope  could help spark goodwill between Democratic and GOP leaders on more coronavirus relief legislation.

Rep. Kay Granger (R-Texas), the top Republican on the House spending panel, said she was hopeful that the Congress and the administration will continue this spirit of bipartisanship as we continue working towards a deal to help other industries, specifically citing airlines.

Both Democrats and Republicans had been eager to reach a deal to avert last-minute drama, though the two parties squabbled for weeks over various funding and policy provisions in the temporary funding bill.

Pelosi had originally planned to push through her party's version of a short-term spending fix, despite fierce GOP objections over the lack of aid for farmers amid the ongoing trade war. But Pelosi told her caucus Tuesday morning that she was again in talks with Republicans.

A deal had appeared to be coming together last Friday, including tens of billions of dollars in farmer payments that Republicans sought in exchange for $2 billion in pandemic-related nutritional assistance that Democrats wanted.

But last-minute objections to the trade relief  including Democratic concerns that the president is leveraging the money to boost his reelection chances  tanked the talks. House Democrats ultimately released legislation without the GOP demands, drawing the ire of McConnell, who tweeted that it shamefully leaves out key relief for farmers.

Earlier last week, Democrats had dropped requests to extend the Census Bureaus Dec. 31 deadline to turn over apportionment data used to divvy up House seats to the president  potentially punting the final handling of census data to Democratic nominee Joe Biden if hes elected this November. Democrats had also failed to secure $3.6 billion in election security grants.

Heather Cayle and Helena Bottemiller Evich contributed to this report.


Three days before Donald Trump's first indoor campaign rally during the coronavirus pandemic - at an arena in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in June - the director of the Tulsa Health Department marvelled at the wave of abuse that was cresting in his direction.

"It's been crazy since the announcement of the presidential rally," Bruce Dart wrote to Lori Freeman, a colleague who led an association of local public health officials. "It's amazing how people strike out against anyone who they assume is not supportive of the president instead of listening to our messaging around staying safe in this pandemic."

"You're doing a fabulous job," Ms Freeman wrote back. "Be strong (as will I)."

With the coronavirus still spreading, Mr Trump has now restarted campaign rallies, bringing fresh controversy to new communities. This month, thousands of people, many without masks, crowded into an indoor manufacturing facility in Nevada to hear the president speak, defying a state directive to limit gatherings to 50 people. Nevada governor Steve Sisolak, a Democrat, called Mr Trump's actions "shameful, dangerous, and irresponsible". The director of the state's coronavirus response predicted a spike in cases because of the campaign event.

Tulsa's experience before and after the Trump rally show the difficulty that many communities face in balancing the desire to protect residents from the pandemic while catering to a president and Republican Party that have consistently cast doubt on and flouted health recommendations. Mr Dart, a medical doctor and public health expert who has spent his career working for local governments, was one of the few city officials who publicly warned of the danger of an indoor rally. Those warnings earned him angry emails from Mr Trump supporters about his health recommendations as well as those who thought he did not do enough to stop Mr Trump's rally, according to emails obtained by the Post through a records request.

Mr Dart has since said the rally, as well as large protests that weekend, probably led to some coronavirus infections, but he has avoided going into detail. Some attendees have tested positive, including several campaign staff members and Secret Service agents, as well as Oklahoma governor Kevin Stitt, a Republican, and former presidential candidate and pizza executive Herman Cain, though it is not known where they contracted the virus. Mr Cain later died of Covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

The rally was not just a health concern for Tulsa. The highly publicised event attracted about 10,000 attendees, according to an estimate by the Tulsa World, including many from surrounding states. There were also crowds of protesters in Tulsa at that time.

"Unfortunately, I think spread occurred elsewhere from being in Tulsa that weekend," Mr Dart said in an interview.

After the Tulsa rally, which attracted a smaller crowd than the Trump campaign expected, the president stopped holding indoor rallies. His appearances have predominantly taken place virtually or at outdoor venues. But the event in a Las Vegas suburb raises the possibility that Mr Trump will revive the indoor rallies that were a mainstay of his 2016 campaign - again putting pressure on state and local officials.

Trump has defended his choice to hold indoor gatherings, telling the Las Vegas Review-Journal last week: "I'm on a stage, and it's very far away."

In Tulsa, the criticism of Mr Dart and the health department did not end when Mr Trump flew home from his rally at the 19,000-seat BOK Centre. Mr Dart and his department have been buffeted by subsequent political battles over his department's recommendation that face masks be required in public and that schools start virtually instead of in person.

"Wearing masks is harmful!" one resident wrote to Mr Dart on 14 July. "Why are you hell bent on forcing Tulsans to muzzle up?! We are not your serfs or guinea pigs!"

Mr Dart has received threatening calls and emails from residents who "have not been pleased with the recommendations made by the health department," said Reggie Ivey, the department's chief operating officer.

Mr Dart filed a police report about the threats, and the department reviewed security protocols, but no arrests were made, a health department spokesperson said.

"Unfortunately, during Covid, I think we've seen the best of human nature, and we've seen the worst of human nature," Mr Dart said.

Distrust and anger toward local public health officials has sprung up in jurisdictions nationwide, including in many conservative areas. For a profession long seen as providing important if unglamorous work - restaurant inspections, immunisations - the scrutiny has added another layer of pressure on top of gruelling hours and staffs stretched thin by the pandemic.

"This is a brutal time for them," said Ms Freeman, the chief executive of the National Association of County and City Health Officials. "They've always been so trusted in their community. And now so much of their advice is not trusted or [is] ignored."

Ms Freeman keeps a database of the more than 50 public health officials nationwide who have resigned, been fired, or faced threats and intimidation because of their work during the pandemic.

Protesters, including militia-style groups, have held rallies in opposition to stay-home orders and business closures. Early in the pandemic, the top public health official in Georgia was given an armed guard after threats were made against her. One health director in rural Colorado has had her car vandalised twice since the pandemic began, the Colorado Sun reported.

"I've never seen this rapid loss of experienced expertise, leadership, at a time that we need it most, in the thick of a worldwide pandemic," Ms Freeman said. "It's very demoralising."

In the days ahead of Mr Trump's 20 June rally, increasingly agitated emails poured into Mr Dart's inbox from people who thought he should cancel Mr Trump's event. If he did not, many said, he would have blood on his hands.

"Do you want this on your conscience the rest of your life," one person wrote to Mr Dart the day before the rally. "Just for a job?" A doctor from Long Island, NY, wrote that Mr Dart had a "moral responsibility" to demand that the mayor cancel the event or he would be "complicit".

"This is truly a matter of life and death for many people," wrote one person who described herself as a Tulsa resident for more than 65 years. "The thought of our community being used as a guinea pig experiment is very disheartening."

Recommended Trump administration eyes scientist who downplays climate change for top NOAA job

Not everyone was worried. One Tulsa County resident wrote to warn Mr Dart not to insert himself into politics: "Trump supporters pay your salary just as much, if not more, than Trump haters."

At the time of the rally, Tulsa Mayor G T Bynum, a Republican, chose to let Mr Trump proceed though coronavirus cases had been spiking in the weeks leading up to the event and despite Mr Dart's recommendation that it be postponed until a safer time. At a news conference before the event, Mr Bynum said that the venue manager had "sole discretion" on whether to hold the event and that "it's not my decision to make".

Mr Bynum did not respond to a request for comment.

In July, while discussing a measure to require future large gatherings to have a coronavirus safety plan approved by the health department, Mr Bynum suggested that he would not want a repeat of Mr Trump's rally.

"Am trying to avoid a future situation in which, just to pull an example out of the air, the BOK Center books a rally for 19,000 people without a requirement for a safety plan being on the books as a local regulation," Mr Bynum wrote to Mr Dart and other health department officials in July.

Mr Dart's email correspondence also shows that ASM Global, the company that managed the BOK Centre arena, did have a plan to keep attendees a safe distance apart. In addition to having 400 hand sanitiser stations, 47,800 gloves and 34,960 disinfectant wipes, the plan submitted to the health department before the rally said the venue would "decommission every other fixed seat to limit seating capacity" in the arena's inner bowl. On the day of the event, members of Mr Trump's campaign removed thousands of "Do not sit here, please" stickers and the attendees sat shoulder-to-shoulder.

"I support your efforts to recommend additional public safety requirements for events within the BOK Center facility," Mr Dart wrote to the arena management after reviewing the safety plan. "From a public health perspective, I have shared my concerns about the inherent risks of all large gatherings at this time."

In July, Mr Bynum, on Mr Dart's recommendation, proposed an ordinance requiring adults to wear masks in public places. Mr Dart had expressed that such ordinances are a tough sell to the public and that Mr Trump was one reason.

"It's going to be hard to require masks in Oklahoma as political as the issue is with the president and governor refusing to wear masks," he wrote to Dale Bratzler, the chief coronavirus officer at the University of Oklahoma.

The city council ultimately voted 7 to 2 to approve the ordinance.

George Monks, president of the Oklahoma State Health Association, credited Mr Dart and the health department with "brave leadership through a really challenging time", adding that "there's a lot of misinformation and fear". Masks ordinances have saved lives and allowed businesses to stay open, he said.

Although no known coronavirus cases have been definitively linked to the rally, cases spread in Tulsa at a greater rate after the event. The seven-day rolling average, which stood at 112.1 cases on the day of the rally, peaked at 253.9 cases by 29 July, before declining to 129 cases as of 17 September, the most recent data available from the Tulsa Health Department. Tulsa has had 152 deaths related to Covid-19, more than double the number when Mr Trump held his event.

Although the health department does contact tracing on all coronavirus cases in the county, including those linked to that Trump rally, it does not make public those findings because it is often hard to isolate where a person contracted the virus, department officials said.

"The bottom line - and this continues, it was true then and it continues to be true - when people come together in large groups, transmission occurs," Mr Dart added. "It's best not to have large gatherings."

The Washington Post
On Friday, September 18, the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) ordered all federal agencies to patch a critical privilege escalation flaw that affects Windows servers and could allow hackers to take over Windows networks. A patch has existed for the vulnerability  dubbed Zerologon  since August, but recently released technical details allowed hackers to create easy-to-use exploits. If your organization hasn't patched this flaw yet because Microsoft's original patch notes said exploitation was "less likely," you should do so immediately.

What is Zerologon?

Zerologon, tracked as CVE-2020-1472, is an authentication bypass vulnerability in the Netlogon Remote Protocol (MS-NRPC), a remote procedure call (RPC) interface that Windows uses to authenticate users and computers on domain-based networks. It was designed for specific tasks such as maintaining relationships between members of domains and the domain controller (DC), or between multiple domain controllers across one or multiple domains and replicating the domain controller database.

One of Netlogon's features is that it allows computers to authenticate to the domain controller and update their password in the Active Directory, and it's this particular feature that makes the Zerologon flaw dangerous. In particular, the vulnerability allows an attacker to impersonate any computer to the domain controller and change their password, including the password of the domain controller itself. This results in the attacker gaining administrative access and taking full control of the domain controller and therefore the network.

Zerologon is a privilege escalation vulnerability and is rated as critical by Microsoft even though the company said in the original advisory that exploitation was less likely. It is not a vulnerability that allows attackers to break into Windows networks, but it is highly valuable as a second-stage exploit for lateral movement.

A crypto implementation mistake

Researchers from Dutch security firm Secura, who found this vulnerability, released a whitepaper last week that explains in detail why the flaw exists and how it works. MS-NRPC's handshake and authentication involves the use of AES-CFB8 (8-bit cipher feedback) mode. This is a more obscure variant of the AES block cipher that is designed to work with blocks of 8 bytes of input instead of the regular 16 bytes (128-bit).

"In order to be able to encrypt the initial bytes of a message, an Initialisation Vector (IV) must be specified to bootstrap the encryption process," Secura researcher Tom Tervoort said in the whitepaper. "This IV value must be unique and randomly generated for each separate plaintext that is encrypted with the same key. The ComputeNetlogonCredential function [of the MS-NRPC protocol], however, defines that this IV is fixed and should always consist of 16 zero bytes. This violates the requirements for using AES-CFB8 securely: Its security properties only hold when IVs are random."

Tervoort figured out that because of this implementation error for 1 in 256 keys, applying AES-CFB8 encryption to an all-zero plaintext will result in all-zero ciphertext. In the context of MS-NRPC, the attacker impersonating a client can send a challenge during the handshake made up of 8-bytes of zeros and keep retrying for 256 times until the server will accept it, bypassing authentication. This is a simplification of the whole process, which is detailed in the whitepaper, because the goal of a handshake in a key exchange protocol is to establish a shared secret between two parties that is used to secure the connection without actually exposing passwords or secret keys before the communication channel is secure.

Bypassing authentication in this case means the attacker can trick a domain controller to believe it's communicating with a certain authenticated user without actually knowing the real password of that user. This is just the first step in the exploit chain. Another step is to disable signing and sealing  encryption for the communication channel  which is optional and can be controlled by the client as the server will not refuse clients that don't request encryption.

Finally, attackers can request a password change for the user they impersonate, but this will only change the password in the Active Directory, not the password stored locally in the registry of that computer. Impersonating the domain controller itself and changing its AD password will cause a mismatch with the local password and the DC can stop responding or start behaving in unpredictable ways.

To complete the attack and obtain domain admin access, additional steps are required. The attacker can use their MS-NRPC authenticated access to run a tool that dumps the locally stored password hashes and then executes a pass-the-hash attack to authenticate as domain administrator and change the DC's computer password stored in the local registry.

"Implementing cryptographic protocols is tricky: One small oversight can lead to all kinds of methods to bypass the intended function of the scheme (in this case: computer authentication and transport security)," Tervoort concluded.

The Zerologon patch

Microsoft rolled out a patch in August, but said at the time that it was only the first part of a phased rollout that is expected to be completed during the first quarter of 2021. The reason for this is that the flaw is at the protocol level and changing the way a protocol works can create major disruptions on networks if not all servers and clients are updated to be aware of the changes.

The patches are only available for versions of Windows Server that are still supported and receive security updates, but in practice, many networks have legacy Windows devices or non-Windows devices that communicate with domain controllers using the protocol.

"The updates will enable the Domain Controllers (DCs) to protect Windows devices by default, log events for non-compliant device discovery, and have the option to enable protection for all domain-joined devices with explicit exceptions," Microsoft said in its advisory. "The second phase, planned for a Q1 2021 release, marks the transition into the enforcement phase. The DCs will be placed in enforcement mode, which requires all Windows and non-Windows devices to use secure remote procedure call (RPC) with Netlogon secure channel or to explicitly allow the account by adding an exception for any non-compliant device."

Even though secure channel will not be enforced by default until next year, Tervoort confirmed that the patch also blocks step 1 of his attack, which involves sending zeroes as the handshake challenge. Microsoft's protocol specification has also been updated to read: "If none of the first 5 bytes of the client challenge is unique, the server must fail session-key negotiation without further processing of the following steps."

The attack as it is now will be blocked just with the August patches, but mechanisms are in place to allow non-compliant clients that don't yet support channel encryption to keep communicating with domain controllers in order to avoid disruptions.

Researchers from 0patch, a company that develops in-memory micropatches for binary files, have also reverse-engineered Microsoft's fix and created their own that can be applied to Windows Server 2008 R2 without Extended Security Updates. Standard support for Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2 ended in January. However, the micropatch developed by 0patch can only be applied through their software agent by paying customers.

The DHS emergency directive

The Department of Homeland Security, through CISA, issued emergency directives to federal agencies ordering them to take certain actions in response to high-risk information security threats, but this is not a frequently used mechanism. Since 2016, the agency has issued only 13 such directives; four of them were issued this year.

Emergency Directive 20-04 was issued on September 18 after Secura published its whitepaper and hackers created proof-of-concept exploits, which significantly increased the risk of Zerologon being exploited in the wild. It said, in part:

CISA has determined that this vulnerability poses an unacceptable risk to the Federal Civilian Executive Branch and requires an immediate and emergency action. This determination is based on the following:
P Ramdas By

Express News Service

KOCHI: Kerala has 333 cases registered against former and sitting MPs and MLAs and, among these, 310 cases are against sitting lawmakers. According to a report, more than 100 cases were registered in 2012 and 2013 but charges have not been framed yet as the accused persons are politicians or elected representatives.Kerala, which boasts of a high literacy rate, is in the third position among the states for the number of cases pending against MPs and MLAs. The report, which was submitted in the Supreme Court by the amicus curiae appointed related to the speedy disposal of cases against legislators and accessed by TNIE, said that four legislators in Kerala face offences punishable with life imprisonment.

The report stated that Uttar Pradesh has the most number of pending cases against MPs and MLAs -- 1,217 -- of which sitting legislators are accused in 446 cases. Bihar comes second with 531 pending cases, of which sitting legislators are accused in 256 cases.The number of sitting legislators involved is more than the total number of cases in Kerala since there are more than one accused in one case, and the same legislator is an accused in more than one case.

Besides the offences punishable with life imprisonment, the cases in which the legislators are the accused relate to offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988; Prevention of Money Laundering Act; Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984; defamation under Section 500 of IPC; and cheating under Section 420 of IPC. The most number of cases is for violation of Section 188 of IPC (wilful disobedience and obstruction of orders promulgated by a public servant), stated the report.

Two of the cases in which the accused could be punished with life imprisonment were registered for incidents of 1997 and 1992. However, trial in both cases has been stayed by the High Court. Another case relates to an incident in 2009, but the charges have not been framed yet, stated the report.The first special court in the state was established in Ernakulam in 2018 and several cases including the case involving LDF MLAs who had created a ruckus in the state assembly in 2015, breaking chairs, snapping mikes and climbing atop tables, were referred to it. Initially, the assembly case was considered by the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in Thiruvananthapuram and it was transferred to the Special court in Ernakulam based on the Supreme Court directive to dispose of the cases against MPs and MLAs as early as possible.

Considering the increasing number of such cases, the Supreme Court later directed the Kerala High Court to allocate the cases to the sessions courts. Following this, the assembly case file was again transferred to the CJM Court in Thiruvananthapuram in 2019. The trial in this case was adjourned 30 times in the courts for one reason or the other. T Asaf Ali, former director-general of prosecution, said no purpose will be served by constituting a special court for expediting trial unless there is constant monitoring by the High Court. He also pointed out that fast-track courts were established across the state spending crores of rupees, but these had not achieved the expected results.
NEW DELHI: Members of the G20 grouping for the first time have disagreed that consensus-based decision making, considered a founding principle of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), is core to the multilateral trading system.

This could have far-reaching consequences as India has always supported a consensus-driven approach at the WTO and has often been able to stall key multilateral trade deals citing that they go against the interests of poor and developing economies. Under the present WTO principles, even one member can stall a decision on a fresh multilateral rule.

In the just-concluded G20 virtual meeting of trade ministers on Tuesday, host Saudi Arabia in its chairs summary said all members agreed on eight core principles of WTO such as the rule of law, transparency, non-discrimination, inclusiveness, fair competition, market openness, resistance to protectionism and reciprocal and mutually advantageous arrangements, acknowledging that agreements provide for differential and more favourable treatment for developing economies, including special attention to least developed countries.

Members noted the practice of consensus-based decision making in the WTO, expressly carried over from the GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade) in the Marrakesh Agreement. Some members consider this practice to be a principle of the WTO," the chairs summary said, signalling that only a few members like India uphold the principle of consensus-based decision making while the majority of the 20 member grouping oppose it.

Another WTO principle dear to Indiaspecial and differential treatmentwas also supported only by a few G20 members. Some members stressed that special and differential treatment (S&DT) is a principle that is integral to and underpins the WTO and that should be preserved. Many members, highlighting that WTO rules contribute to economic growth and development, expressed the view that S&DT is a tool to facilitate the achievement of WTO objectives and should be applied on the basis of demonstrable needs," the statement said.

There is also no agreement on issues like sustainability and market-oriented policies among G20 members with most" supporting the ideas. India is expected to have opposed these principles as it has long believed that issues like sustainability should be kept out of the remit of WTO.

It also has maintained that policy making at the WTO should be development-oriented" rather than market-oriented".

The G20 chairs summary also noted that while all" members reaffirmed the importance of multilateral approaches to negotiations, most" members suggested using the flexibilities of open plurilateral" negotiations provided by the WTO framework by members who were ready to move ahead on particular issues.

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But all is not lost for womens reproductive rights. Thats because the Supreme Court is the last word only on constitutional questions. It is likely, sooner or later, to rule that there is no constitutional right to abortion. But there is no constitutional right to all sorts of things that federal and state governments provide, from public parks to health care coverage. Those exist because Americans want them.
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 virus's 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.

'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, China's 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)
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- As New York City reopens amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, there are state protocols in place for retailers to help ensure that, if an employee tests positive, the deadly illness is not spread to customers or others in the store.

These protocols were recently put into effect at the Macys store in the Staten Island Mall, New Springville, when an employee tested positive for the coronavirus.

A colleague at Macys Staten Island in Staten Island, N.Y., has advised us that they tested positive for COVID-19. While this colleague has not been in the store since September 16, we remain in close contact as this colleague recovers, said Carolyn Ng Cohen, a Macys spokeswoman, who added that the store followed the state guidelines when an employee at a retailer tests positive for coronavirus.

While the protocols do not involve closing a store when there is a positive case of the illness, the state guidelines include thorough cleaning and disinfection of exposed areas -- especially high-touch surfaces. In addition, the infected person may not return to work until fully recovered.

Customers or others who were in contact with an infected employee at a retailer may be notified through contact tracing efforts. In that case, state and local health departments will implement monitoring and movement restrictions on those who were exposed, including home isolation or quarantine.

The health and safety of our colleagues and customers is always our top priority. We have implemented enhanced safety and wellness procedures to help alleviate any potential health concerns, following the Centers for Disease Controls recommended protocol, said Cohen, referring to the daily safety protocols in place for both employees and customers.

These safety protocols include: social distancing guidelines to maintain six feet between all customers and colleagues; hand sanitizer stations in frequently visited locations throughout the store, and plexiglass at select registers. In addition, the company is conducting daily employee wellness checks.

To further enhance safety, Macys also requires our customers to wear a facial covering while shopping in our stores. If the customer does not have a mask, we will be happy to provide one, Cohen added.

The Macys at the Staten Island Mall opened when New York City entered Phase 2 in June, when non-essential business were able to start reopening. During Phase 2, stores with external entrances were able to open at the Mall.

On Sept. 9, the entire Mall reopened to customers after being shuttered for six months. In early September, Gov. Andrew Cuomo gave the green light for malls in New York City to open at 50% capacity.

HEALTH DEPARTMENT MANDATES

The following are the state Health Department protocols to be followed if an employee of a retail store tests positive for coronavirus:

Responsible parties [store operators] must provide for the cleaning and disinfection of exposed areas in the event of a positive case of COVID-19 of an employee or customer, with such cleaning and disinfection to include, at a minimum, all heavy transit areas and high-touch surfaces (e.g. vending machines, handrails, bathrooms, door knobs).

An individual who screens positive for COVID-19 symptoms must not be allowed to enter the workplace, and must be sent home with instructions to contact his or her health-care provider for assessment and testing. Responsible parties should provide such individuals with information on health care and testing resources. Responsible parties must immediately notify the state and local health department about the case if test results are positive for COVID-19. Responsible parties must notify the state and local health department immediately upon being informed of any positive COVID-19 test result by an employee at their workplace. In the case of an employee, visitor, or customer who interacted at the business testing positive, the responsible parties must cooperate with the state and local health department to trace all contacts in the workplace and notify the state and local health department of all employees logged and visitors/customers (as applicable) who entered the retail location dating back to 48 hours before the employee began experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or tested positive, whichever is earlier, but maintain confidentiality as required by federal and state law and regulations. State and local health departments will implement monitoring and movement restrictions of infected or exposed persons including home isolation or quarantine. Individuals who are alerted that they have come into close or proximate contact with a person with COVID-19, and have been alerted via tracing, tracking or other mechanism, are required to self-report to their employer at the time of alert and shall follow the protocol referenced above.



*** CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK***

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 14:49:34|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- World leaders have urged efforts to champion multilateralism and strengthen international cooperation to tackle global challenges, as this year marks the 75th anniversary of the United Nations' founding.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday called on countries to uphold the multilateral trading regime with the World Trade Organization as the cornerstone.

Countries should pursue open and inclusive development, remain committed to building an open world economy, say no to unilateralism and protectionism, and work to ensure the stable and smooth functioning of global industrial and supply chains, Xi said at the general debate of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly, which was held mainly via video conference this year.

Calling for the removal of barriers to medical cooperation, Russian President Vladimir Putin said "as to healthcare, just like in economy, we now need to remove, as many as possible, obstacles to partner relations."

"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 Tuesday at the general debate.

"We must together lay the foundations for a fairer, more balanced, more equitable, more sustainable globalization," French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday in his video remarks to the general debate.

Championing multilateralism, Macron said the reconstruction of the foundations of the international order requires the establishment of functional international cooperation based on clear rules, defined and respected by all.

"Multilateralism is not just an act of faith, it is an operational necessity," Macron said.

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera said Tuesday that the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the need to strengthen international cooperation and governance, and laid bare the sheer degree of interdependence within the international community, as the virus shows no respect of borders, nationalities or ethnicities.

"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.

"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," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Tuesday in his centerpiece address to the 75th session of the UN General Assembly.

Guterres underscored the need for solidarity at this moment, particularly as countries least capable to address COVID-19 have received far too little assistance, and urged the UN's 193 member states to move forward in humility and unity in the face of the disease.

"We are confronted with a triple challenge: recovering from COVID-19, realizing the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) and avoiding the looming climate catastrophe," said Munir Akram, president of the UN Economic and Social Council.

The response to these challenges must be collective, Akram, who also serves as permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, said Monday at a high-level meeting to commemorate the UN's 75th anniversary.

Noting that "unprecedented" level of international cooperation is required, Akram said "such cooperation cannot be promoted anywhere except within the United Nations and its family of organizations." Enditem
Image: Shutterstock





A series of events, as they unfolded.https://t.co/SXuLSbX5u2



- Paytm (@Paytm) September 20, 2020

Last week, Google kicked out Paytm from the Play Store for "repeated policy violations". Two days after the temporary ban, Paytm has now finally opened up about the incident accusing Google of 'arm-twisting.Paytm says, "we were forced to comply with Google's mandate of removing our UPI cashback offer and scratch cards to get re-listed." The blog states that suddenly UPI cashback is now being termed as an "online casino" by Google.The Paytm app has since been restored. However, the Paytm First Games app is still off the list. Paytm had to remove the cashback campaign which was subject of concern for Google.The blog further explained that on 11 September, Paytm had launched a campaign that allowed users to collect stickers and scratch cards that further resulted in UPI cashback. This was applicable on recharge, utility payments, UPI money transfers and adding money to Paytm wallet.On 18 September at 11.30 AM, Paytm received an email from Google Play Support informing them that the Paytm app has been taken down from the platform. The email read, "Your app contains content that doesn't comply with the Gambling policy as it offers games with "loyalty" (e.g. engagement or activity) points that (1) are accrued or accelerated via real-money purchases which (2) can be exchanged for items or prizes of real-world monetary value."According to Paytm, this was the first time that Google had approached it regarding UPI cashback and scratch card campaigns. Moreover, it was not given an opportunity to respond to the concern raised. As per the Paytm blog, "We maintain that our cashback campaign was within guidelines, as well as all laws of the land. We did not break any rules and there was no violation. It is not related to gambling in any manner whatsoever."Paytm also responded regarding the "repeated" policy violation. It said, "The Google Play Support team had written to us on 3 occasions (on 20 August, 28 August and 1 September) with some concerns on a separate matter of Paytm First Games' promotion through the Paytm app. While we strenuously disagreed with the allegation that we are breaching the policy (and we disagree with the policy itself too), we immediately complied with the diktat that barred us from promoting our gaming subsidiary."Paytm also stated that since Google owns Android, it owns 95 percent of smartphones in India and hence, it has "enormous control" overs apps via its Play Store policies.The blog added, "There is a bigger question here that the Indian startup ecosystem and developers should think about. As a startup, we are running law-abiding businesses and building for India. Google and its employees are making policies which are over and above the laws of our country, and are arbitrarily implementing them."Original Source:
Apple recently unveiled the Apple Watch Series 6, new iPads, Apple Watch SE, and more at the Time Flies event. The company is now rumored to launch the iPhone 12 on October 13. Meanwhile, Eddy Cue has made an appearance on an iPhone 12 internal presentation for a UK carrier.

Apple is expected to hold an event in the coming weeks. Latest leak suggests Apple will be holding an event on Tuesday, October 13, and the preorders will start on October 16. A leaked screenshot shows Eddy Cue in an internal presentation video. The tipster works for a carrier, and Eddy Cue was allegedly explaining iPhone 12s 5G capabilities in the leaked video. On closer inspection, the tip was sent from an IP address that belonged to the carrier. Yet another rumor from a European carrier confirms 5G capability on iPhone 12. The internal presentation by British Telecom CEO Marc Allera claims Apple will soon launch a 5G phone.

In the presentation, Allera told employees, We are just days away from Apples next major launch, a 5G iPhone, which will be a huge boost for 5G. He further added, Teams in all parts of consumers have been preparing all year to win this launch, and be Europes number one partner for Apple.

Eddy Cue appeared in the presentation and congratulated EE for being the first carrier to offer bundled smartphone plans with Apple services. There was no direct reference to 5G, which is not surprising considering Apples secretive nature.

Apple is expected to launch four new iPhone 12 this year. It includes the much-rumored 5.4-inch iPhone 12 mini, 6.7-inch iPhone 12, 6.11-inch iPhone 12 Pro, and 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max. Furthermore, iPhone 12 Pro is expected to come equipped with a LiDAR sensor to facilitate depth mapping and advanced AR functionality.

[via Apple Insider
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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse)  Wed, September 23, 2020 13:04 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46a2a0d 2 Entertainment Fortnite,Epic-Games,BTS,Dynamite,K-pop Free

This is an event that will probably be followed by millions of K-pop fans around the world.

Epic Games has announced that the South Korean boyband BTS will unveil the new video of their hit "Dynamite" on September 25 in the hit video game Fortnite.

The video for "Dynamite", in which RM, Jin, J-Hope, Suga, Jimin, V and Jungkook will perform elaborate choreography set to their first single in English, will be broadcast from the main stage of the party royale island of Fortnite.

It's a violence-free gaming mode where the 350 million players registered for the popular video game have already been able to attend concerts by Dillon Francis, Steve Aoki, Travis Scott and Marshmello.

More recently, Dominic Fike and Anderson .Paak performed some of their hits on the virtual stage of the party royale island as part of the "Spotlight" concert series.

By previewing the new BTS choreographed video, Fortnite hopes to surf on the craze that K-pop artists are igniting around the world. Indeed the BTS single "Dynamite" quickly climbed to the top of the prestigious Hot 100 ranking when it was released in August, dethroning the daring "WAP" by Megan Thee Stallion and Cardi B.

This achievement was even hailed by South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who said on Twitter that BTS has written "a new chapter in the history of K-pop" thanks to "Dynamite".

Read also: K-pop juggernaut BTS talks road to success on South Korea's Youth Day

Following in the footsteps of Travis Scott and Marshmello

It will be interesting to see what two pop culture mega powers can achieve in terms of numbers as the ultra-popular video game Fortnite already managed to attract more than 12 million simultaneous players in April thanks to a virtual concert by American rapper Travis Scott.

More than ten million players also gathered on Fortnite in April 2019 to witness an exceptional performance by American DJ Marshmello.

These two figures could be easily eclipsed by those of BTS within a few days' time.
There is much talk of Versailles as the epicenter of European politics, art, design, fashion, food, culture and trends in the 18th century, thanks to, of course, money, and lots of it. In turn, the art produced there was intended to display that wealth and power. This is well-articulated by Bard professor Deborah Krohn, who becomes Ottolenghis academic guide. In the 18th century, decadent, luxurious and rare foods like fruit and refined sugar were melted, mixed and molded into elaborate confectionary that screamed status, afforded to King Louis XVI. Today that status goes to the individual chefs who become celebrities on social media, and the event, which is more Met Gala than Great British Bake Off, underscores that. This is sugar theater, ready to be gobbled up.
Lets Go to College CA We are hearing loud and clear that students across California are struggling to find financial resources, timely information, and support networks that will help them attend and complete college, said Monica Lozano, President & CEO of College Futures Foundation.

SoCal CAN, a network of nearly 100 organizations working to promote a college-going and completion culture in Southern California, today announced Lets Go to College California (Lets Go), a student-led virtual hub that prioritizes California student needs during COVID-19 and promotes resources to support them on their journey to pursue higher education.

Lets Go supports students based on their lived experiences, concerns and life aspirations. It provides timely resources in the areas of evolving campus plans, financial aid, distance learning, mental health needs, transfer options, campus climate, academic tips and meeting administrative deadlines so that students can make informed decisions about their college plans. It is a growing online community connected through social media and virtual programming that helps students engage and receive information. The Lets Go goals produce positive education outcomes for all students and include:



Addressing equity in education

Student-centered tools and systems

Increased collaboration across higher education systems, elected officials and partner organizations for the benefit of students and their families

Advocacy and increased student participation

"COVID-19 caused students, families, individuals and businesses to shift from what was normal and comfortable to a new way of learning, working and living, said Alison De Lucca, executive director, SoCal CAN. While shifting was more fluid for some, we recognize that within the communities we serve, many students are feeling the gaps in equity widen as they try to move forward with navigating college. To better support them, we launched Lets Go as a virtual hub that would reconnect students with like-minded students, supports and resources to inspire them to continue pursuing their dreams.

Lets Go provides information for students across all public higher education systems and focuses particularly on the needs of underrepresented students, including those from low-income families, first-generation college-goers, communities of color and undocumented immigrants.

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on students have been complex, profound, and widespread, said Marcos Montes who leads the Let's Go to College CA work at SoCal CAN. Millions of students in our state are working hard to achieve their college dreams, and they should be able to focus their efforts on their studies, work, and familiesNOT on struggling to find the right information and resources necessary to access and continue their education.

Lets Go To College CA was launched with the generous support of the College Futures Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, and the California Community Foundation. We are grateful for their partnership in supporting students on their college journeys during these turbulent times. This fast-moving work is generating new opportunities to support students and the Lets Go to College CA efforts.

We are hearing loud and clear that students across California are struggling to find financial resources, timely information, and support networks that will help them attend and complete college, said Monica Lozano, President & CEO of College Futures Foundation. If California is to recover from the pandemic with a healthy and inclusive economy and society, we need to do everything we can to ensure those who have been hit the hardestlow-income students, first-generation students, and students of colorstay enrolled and graduate. Were proud to support SoCal CAN in launching Lets Go to College CA, and applaud the student voices who are shaping how our state and the educational institutions can best respond to the crisis.

"Entering my last year of college, I know the uncertainty of being a student during this crisis very well, said Kimberly F., a student at UCLA. Let's Go gives me strong hope and encouragement to reach my higher-ed goals. I hope that others feel the labor of love put into this project and are inspired to continue their education despite turbulent times."

The Lets Go To College CA virtual hub meets an urgent need to help Californias students get critical information and make informed college decisions during this tumultuous time, said Caroline Altman Smith, deputy director of Kresges Education Program. In addition to helping students navigate this COVID-19 storm, the hub will function as a perennial guide for students and help to continually improve how campuses and agencies statewide coordinate critical supports.

A grand virtual launch will take place on September 24, 2020, 4-5:30 p.m. For event details or to RSVP, please visit: http://www.bit.ly/LetsGoCA. Interested in building a partnership? Contact us at hello@letsgotocollegeca.org

About Lets Go to College CA

Lets Go to College CA, a project of SoCal CAN, is a virtual hub for students navigating higher education. It focuses on the needs of underrepresented students across the states public higher-ed institutions. Lets Go to College CA provides support to students based on their lived experiences, concerns and higher-ed aspirations. It provides timely information and resources in the areas of evolving campus plans, financial aid, distance learning, mental health needs, transfer options, campus climate, academic tips and meeting administrative deadlines so that students can make informed decisions about their college plans. It is a growing community connected through social media, e-newsletters, and virtual programming that helps students engage and receive information.

About SoCalCAN

Formed in 2005, the Southern California College Access Network (SoCan CAN) is a network of over 85 organizations working to promote a college-going and completion culture in Southern California. Our mission is to increase the rate at which students from underserved communities access and complete post-secondary education.
College Students Protest Harsh COVID-19 Lockdown Measures in Xian, China

A video of loud midnight protests at college dorm buildings in Chinas northwestern Xian city recently went viral on Chinese social media.

On Sept. 20, at around 11:30 p.m., students at the Xian International Studies University (XISU) who were under COVID-19 lockdown broke out into half an hour of screaming and shouting. They angrily exclaimed, No more lockdown! from their dorm windows.

Though provincial authorities have claimed that COVID-19 outbreaks in China are under control, a number of schools are continuing their lockdown restrictions, including XISU. However, according to students, the university did not prepare enough basic necessities for them. Thus, discontent erupted among the student body.

Li Qiang (alias), a university senior, said in an interview with The Epoch Times that students were not allowed to move around freely since Aug. 28, the school reopening day after the summer break. Students reported their challenges to the school authorities, but no substantial change took place.

The shouting first broke out from the girls dorm buildings. Then it flared up and spread to all the other buildings, lasting about half an hour, from 11:30 to 12 a.m. No school officials showed up at all. Only dorm staff were seen walking to and fro, Li said.

Li was frustrated at the double standard at his universityas faculty are allowed to move about freely. Only we students are banned from going outNo one can guarantee that theyll [faculty] never get infected with COVID-19. That makes no difference from a non-lockdown. Even nearby local residents are allowed inside [the campus oftenWere very dissatisfied, he said.

Li added that the only remaining open shopping center was recently shut down by authorities for selling outdated items. Students have no other option but to order online. However, your ordered parcels can only reach the west gate of the university. No further. When it is meal time, its terribly crowded and hard to pick up your package, he complained.

Some students told the Beijing News, a state media outlet, that courier companies are the only channel for them to buy daily necessities. However, parcels often pile up due to sorting pressure at the pickup points. Some parcels were damaged, students said.

Another XISU student surnamed Chen complained that girls living in the dorms have to wait for quite a long time in line before they get a chance to take a bath. This is because there is only one public bathroom open to them, whereas there were four prior to lockdown.

A junior surnamed Guo said that during the lockdown, vegetables, bread, and other food items became more expensive. The price of a slice of watermelon jumped from two yuan ($0.29) to five yuan ($0.74). Even meals provided by the school dining halls went up in price.

On Sept. 21, university authorities issued a notice, promising that they would simplify registration procedures that are required for every student who wishes to leave the campus premises; add a makeshift campus shopping center; enhance logistic capabilities; and ensure that overcharging will be treated seriously. But soon after on the same day, netizens reported that XISU was beginning to probe who were the students who exposed the schools actions, and encouraged students to provide intel, according to Focus News EU.
Under a presidency that, perhaps more than any in recent memory, tends to be rendered in starkly moralistic terms, there is perhaps no better case study of the rise-and-fall character arc than Robert Mueller. Where the right always hated Muellers probe into Trump, Russia, and the 2016 campaign, liberals once lionized himsticking his rumpled face on everything from protest placards to prayer candlesand many members of the mainstream press cast him as a redoubt of institutional rectitude in a world gone mad. All of this, of course, was projection. Amid the frenzied interest in his character and his investigation, Mueller worked in complete silence.

These days, hes seen differently. His report, which failed to dent Trump politically, is now viewed, in many quarters, as a tragically missed opportunity; with the passage of time, Muellers by-the-book stoicism has come to look less heroic, and more like witlessness. Over the summer, Jeffrey Toobin outlined the bones of such a case in a book and New Yorker article. Toobin argues that Mueller failed in two defining respects: he did not issue a subpoena for Trumps testimony, and he refused to state, one way or another, whether hed found prosecutable evidence that Trump obstructed justice. (Muellers office agreed to abide by a Justice Department rule that a sitting president cant be indicted; Mueller felt that accusing Trump of crimes would be unfair since Trump wouldnt have the chance to defend himself in court.) The reports final judgment, consequently, was confusing and inconclusiveand William Barr, the attorney general, seized on the ambiguity to spin the report in Trumps favor, releasing a misleading summary several weeks before the full report was made publicly available. Trump shouldnt be denouncing Muellerhe should be thanking him, Toobin concludes, in the New Yorker article. Muellers investigation was no witch hunt; his report was, ultimately, a surrender.

ICYMI: Tech journalisms on background scourge

Toobins criticisms and others like themincluding the reaction to a forthright recent Senate report that many pundits thought did Muellers job better than Mueller didare the observations of outsiders. This week, an insider weighed in, and basically echoed them. Andrew Weissmann, who was a key staffer in Muellers office, started to promote a new book (due out next week) in which he makes the case that he and his colleagues could have stated clearer legal conclusions, and that their failure to do so left the playing field open to the president and his spinners, a state of affairs that was ultimately exacerbated by Muellers aversion to the spotlight. Muellers team, Weissmann writes, failed to probe Trumps financial records, and shied away from stepsinterviewing Ivanka Trump, for examplethat they feared might end in a mauling from right-wing media (look how theyre roughing up the presidents daughter) and/or Trump furiously shutting the probe down. We were left feeling like we had let down the American public, who were counting on us to give it our all, Weissmann writes.

If our contemporaneous Mueller coverage was a first draft of history, the present wave of Mueller revisionism feels like a second or third draft. (Though in some ways, of course, Muellers report is still a first-draft concern, given ongoing Russian interference in US politics.) Implicitly, at least, the latest draft says much that is useful about the excesses of the medias initial Mueller frenzy, which was marked by much excellent, careful reporting, but also by a torrent of breathless speculation. The portrait the liberal media painted of Mueller, its long been clear, was hagiography, and Toobin, Weissmann, and others present a convincing case that, in many key respects, he and his team made consequential and avoidable missteps.

The new draft of the Mueller story, however, can still feel overly personalized, even if its emphases are new. Mueller wasnt a superhero, but nor, arguably, was he principally culpable for letting Trump wriggle off the hook. Barrs dishonesty wasnt primarily Muellers faultit was Barrs. Mueller had to labor, too, under restrictive Justice Department guidelines that make it hard to hold scandal-plagued presidents to account. In his book, Weissmann outlines institutional reforms that would make help with that. But, according to the Washington Posts Devlin Barrett, he doesnt grapple with why so much of Trumps behavior is forgiven or forgotten by a significant portion of the country, or whether the criminal justice system is an effective tool against the perceived moral bankruptcy of a president. The press has a major stake in such matters. Any comprehensive account of Muellers failures must also account for the failures of the medianot just on the right, where propagandists smeared Muellers entire effort, but among mainstream outlets, too.

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Muellers report could certainly have reached clearer conclusionsbut it did contain reams of damning details that were unavoidably complicated, no matter how they were presented. It wasnt Muellers job to hand us a pre-written story; it was our job to sieve conclusions out of the minutiae. When the report was released, many outlets did a good job of that. By then, however, Barrs spin exonerating Trump had been baked into the public consciousnessthanks, in no small part, to credulous media coverage that was entirely avoidable. (As I wrote at the time, we were given ample warning of Barrs intentions, but often ignored them.) And the many scandals outlined in the report quickly slipped from the headlines once it became clear that Trump wouldnt face meaningful political blowback for them. Last summer, we hyped Muellers appearance before Congress as a possible turning point in the story, even though he gave us fair warning that he was going to stick to his script; when he did just that, many pundits graded him not on the alarming substance of what he said, but on the dry optics of his delivery.

Whatever draft of the Mueller story were now working on, political consequences for Trump remain central to its telling. As other recent episodesthe furor over Bob Woodwards book, for examplehave shown, its tempting to imagine that, if those tasked with holding Trump to account had only done x or y better, things may have turned out differently. As it pertains to Mueller, specifically, such thinking strikes me as wishful; its worth keeping in mind that Trump was subsequently impeachedover brazen misconduct whose central, simple facts he openly concededyet got away with it. When future drafts of the Trump story are written, his prolific evading of accountability will fill volumes, and they will be populated by a wide array of characters, from Republican senators to social-media tycoons. Muellers failureswhile more than worthy of reflectionmay come to look comparatively small. The failures of the press may loom larger.

Below, more on Mueller and Russia:

Read the report: In April 2019, just after the Mueller report was published, Michiko Kakutani, the former chief book critic at the New York Times, reviewed it for CJR, and did not judge it to be insufficiently compelling. Muellers team laid out a minutely detailed narrative that authoritatively exposes the lies and false storylines that we have been living with since the 2016 campaign, Kakutani wrote. Its a riveting account that has the visceral drama of a detective novel, spy thriller, or legal procedural.

In April 2019, just after the Mueller report was published, Michiko Kakutani, the former chief book critic at the New York Times, reviewed it for CJR, and did not judge it to be insufficiently compelling. Muellers team laid out a minutely detailed narrative that authoritatively exposes the lies and false storylines that we have been living with since the 2016 campaign, Kakutani wrote. Its a riveting account that has the visceral drama of a detective novel, spy thriller, or legal procedural. Comparing Mueller to the press: Last week, James Fallows wrote, for The Atlantic, that in repeating the mistakes they made during the 2016 campaign in 2020, many in the media are erring in the same ways that Mueller did. Both have been guilty of observing proprieties that would have made sense when dealing with other figures in other eras, Fallows wrote. But now theyre dealing with Donald Trump, and he sees their behavior as a weakness he can exploit relentlessly. (Last Wednesday, I responded to Fallowss broader arguments in this newsletter.)

Last week, James Fallows wrote, for The Atlantic, that in repeating the mistakes they made during the 2016 campaign in 2020, many in the media are erring in the same ways that Mueller did. Both have been guilty of observing proprieties that would have made sense when dealing with other figures in other eras, Fallows wrote. But now theyre dealing with Donald Trump, and he sees their behavior as a weakness he can exploit relentlessly. (Last Wednesday, I responded to Fallowss broader arguments in this newsletter.) Still at it: Yesterday, Josh Rogin, an opinion writer at the Washington Post, reported that a CIA assessment (per two sources who have viewed it) has concluded that Vladimir Putin and his top aides are probably directing Russias interference in the 2020 election, which, so far, seems mostly to have taken the form of efforts to smear Joe Biden. NBC News subsequently confirmed Rogins story.

Yesterday, Josh Rogin, an opinion writer at the Washington Post, reported that a CIA assessment (per two sources who have viewed it) has concluded that Vladimir Putin and his top aides are probably directing Russias interference in the 2020 election, which, so far, seems mostly to have taken the form of efforts to smear Joe Biden. NBC News subsequently confirmed Rogins story. On the subject of smearing Biden: Shortly before we published todays newsletter, the Republican senators Ron Johnson and Chuck Grassley, who both chair Senate committees, published a report containing a long-anticipated attack on Bidens son Hunter and his work on the board of the Ukrainian energy firm Burismaa matter that was at the heart of Trumps impeachment. According to the Post, the new report concludes that Hunter Bidens conduct was awkward, problematic and interfered with efficient execution of policy for the Obama administration, but also offers few specific examples that it affected Joe Bidens work as vice president.

Shortly before we published todays newsletter, the Republican senators Ron Johnson and Chuck Grassley, who both chair Senate committees, published a report containing a long-anticipated attack on Bidens son Hunter and his work on the board of the Ukrainian energy firm Burismaa matter that was at the heart of Trumps impeachment. According to the Post, the new report concludes that Hunter Bidens conduct was awkward, problematic and interfered with efficient execution of policy for the Obama administration, but also offers few specific examples that it affected Joe Bidens work as vice president. Alexei Navalny: Also this morning, Alexei Navalnythe Russian opposition leader (and sometime journalist) who was poisoned in the country last month, and has since been receiving treatment in Germanywas discharged from hospital. He has said that he intends to return to Russia.



Other notable stories:

ICYMI: Journalisms Gates keepers

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, Foreign Policy, and The Nation, among other outlets. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop.
SAO PAULO, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Embraer S.A. (" Embraer ") (NYSE: ERJ) informs the early results of previously announced cash tender offers (each offer, a " Tender Offer " and, collectively, the " Tender Offers ") by its indirect subsidiary, Embraer Netherlands Finance B.V. (" Embraer Finance "), for up to US$250,000,000 (the " Maximum Tender Amount ") in aggregate principal amount of outstanding (1) 5.150% notes due 2022 (the " 2022 Notes ") issued by Yabora Industria Aeronautica S.A. (" Yabora ") and guaranteed by Embraer and (2) 5.696% notes due 2023 (the " 2023 Notes " and, together with the 2022 Notes, the " Notes ") issued by Embraer Overseas Limited and guaranteed by Yabora and Embraer.

The Tender Offers are being made on the terms and are subject to the conditions set forth in the offer to purchase dated September 8, 2020 (the " Offer to Purchase "). Embraer informs that the financing condition for the Tender Offers was satisfied and settlement for the Notes tendered prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on September 21, 2020 (the " Early Tender Date "), and accepted for purchase, occurred on September 23, 2020.

The following table sets forth certain information regarding each series of the Notes and the Tender Offers, including the aggregate principal amount of the Notes validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) as of the Early Tender Date, according to D.F. King & Co., Inc., the tender agent and information agent for the Tender Offers (the " Tender Agent and Information Agent "):

Title of

Security CUSIP/ISIN Acceptance

Priority Level Aggregate Principal

Amount Tendered Aggregate Principal

Amount Accepted

for Purchase Aggregate Principal

Amount Outstanding

Remaining 5.150% notes due 2022 29082AAA5 / US29082AAA51 1 US$167,711,000 US$167,711,000 US$332,289,000 5.696% notes due 2023 Rule 144A: 29081YAD8 / US29081YAD85; Regulation S: G30376AB6 / USG30376AB69 2 US$138,810,000 US$82,289,000* US$458,229,000



*Prorated as described in the Offer to Purchase.

Withdrawal rights with respect to each of the Tender Offers expired at the Early Tender Date.

As the aggregate principal amount of the Notes validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) as of the Early Tender Date exceeded the Maximum Tender Amount, the 2023 Notes that were accepted for purchase by Embraer Finance were prorated so as to accept the maximum principal amount of the 2023 Notes that did not result in the Maximum Tender Amount being exceeded. The Tender Offers will expire at 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on October 5, 2020, unless extended by Embraer Finance. Since the aggregate principal amount of the Notes validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) as of the Early Tender Date exceeded the Maximum Tender Amount, Embraer Finance will not accept for purchase any Notes tendered after the Early Tender Date.

Embraer Finance reserves the absolute right to amend or terminate either or both Tender Offers in its sole discretion, subject to disclosure and other requirements under applicable law.

Embraer Finance has engaged BB Securities Limited, Banco Bradesco BBI S.A., Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Natixis Securities Americas LLC and Santander Investment Securities Inc. to act as the dealer managers (the " Dealer Managers ") in connection with the Tender Offers. Questions regarding the terms of the Tender Offers may be directed to BB Securities Limited at +44 (207) 367 5800, Banco Bradesco BBI S.A. at +1 (646) 432-6642, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC at +1 (800) 624-1808 (toll free) or +1 (212) 761-1057 (collect), Natixis Securities Americas LLC at +1 (212) 891-6100 and Santander Investment Securities Inc. at +1 (855) 404-3636 (toll free) or +1 (212) 940-1442 (collect).

Disclaimer

None of Embraer Finance, Yabora, Embraer, the Dealer Managers, the Tender Agent and Information Agent, the trustee for the 2022 Notes or the trustee for the 2023 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 Tender Offers or expressing any opinion as to whether the terms of the Tender Offers are fair to any holder. Holders of the Notes 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 each Tender 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. Each Tender Offer is being made solely by means of the Offer to Purchase. The Tender Offers are not being made to holders of the 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 Tender Offers will be deemed to be made on behalf of Embraer Finance 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 U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including those related to the Tender Offers. 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.

Embraer S.A.

Antonio Carlos Garcia

Head of Investor Relations

+55 (11) 3040-6874

SOURCE Embraer S.A.
Donald Trump has vowed to nominate a woman to replace late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

The death of Ginsburg last week has given the president the chance to appoint a third justice to the bench, and add a sixth conservative to the court.

Mr Trump updated his list of candidates earlier this month and these three women have all been tipped as the potential nominee to go forward for confirmation in the coming weeks.

Amy Coney Barrett

Devout Catholic Amy Coney Barrett is a mother of seven who adopted two children from Haiti and who has a son with Down syndrome.

Ms Barrett is reportedly a member of the ultra-conservative charismatic Christian group People of Praise."

Ms Barrett was a former clerk to late Justice Antonin Scalia and was appointed by Mr Trump to a seat on the 7th US Circuit Court of Appeals.

She was reportedly on the shortlist to fill the 2018 vacancy created by the retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy, that eventually went to now-Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

Pro-life Ms Barrett, 48, grew up in a suburb of New Orleans, Louisiana before graduating from Rhodes College and attending law school at Notre Dame on a full-tuition scholarship.

Ms Barrett graduated from Notre Dame summa cum laude in 1997 and eventually returned to the university in 2002 as a law professor.

During her Senate hearing for the 7th Circuit she became embroiled in a heated exchange with Senator Dianne Feinstein of California over her religion.

You have a long history of believing that your religious beliefs should prevail. The dogma lives loudly within you, Senator Dianne Feinstein, Democrat of California, told her.

Liberal groups have raised concern over how Judge Barrett might rule on the Affordable Care Act and abortion rights.

Ms Barrett and husband Jesse Barrett, a lawyer, live in South Bend, Indiana, and she is known to do a CrossFit -style workout with university faculty members.

Barbara Lagoa

Barbara Lagoa is the Miami-born daughter of Cuban exiles who fled the island to escape Fidel Castros Communist revolution.

If appointed she would become the first Supreme Court Justice from the politically important swing state of Florida.

Ms Lagoa, 52, sits on the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals and before that she was the first Cuban American woman on the Supreme Court of Florida.

If appointed Ms Lagoa would become the second Justice of Latin descent joining Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who was appointed by Barack Obama in 2009.

Ms Lagoa was a member of the pro-bono legal team representing the Miami relatives of Cuban boy, Elian Gonzalez, whose mother drowned while they tried to escape to the US.

She has given judgements in more than12,000 cases and written 400 opinions and is close to the Federalist Society, which promotes conservative judges.

Catholic Ms Lagoa has not written extensively on abortion but during her Senate confirmation she wrote that she would faithfully applyprecedents on Roe v. Wade.

Florida congressman , Rep. Matt Gaetz, has described her as very pro-life, reliably pro-life.

Supporters have described her as an originalist who would interpret the Constitution like the late Justice Antonin Scalia.

Ms Lagoa and husband Paul Huck Jr, have three daughters, and her father-in-law is US District Judge Paul Huck.

Allison Jones Rushing

Allison Jones Rushing would become the youngest member of the Supreme Court at just 38-years-old if appointed.

Ms Rushing hails from Hendersonville in western North Carolina and after graduating from Duke law school she clerked under Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and Justice Neil Gorsuch, before he was promoted to the bench.

Both Thomas and Gorsuch hold conservative views on issues such as abortion, affirmative action, prayer in schools and LGBT rights.

Ms Rushing was appointed by Donald Trump to the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia, in 2018 and confirmed by the Senate in March 2019.

While in private practice she spent a lot of time on Supreme Court litigation, filing 47 briefs.

Ms Rushing has also worked with the Alliance Defending Freedom a conservative group that fights to protect religious liberty.

The ADF was called an anti-LGBTQ hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center in 2016.

Ms Rushing, who is marred to Blake Rushing, was also a volunteer legal advisor for Mitt Romneys 2012 presidential campaign.

Her supporters like Senator Thom Tillis have called her a strong conservative choice who would uphold the constitution.

But liberal critics such as Vanita Gupta, the president of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights say she has denounced marriage equality, opposed remedies for discriminatory lending practices, and rejected efforts to end housing discrimination against domestic and sexual violence survivors.
Sometimes in business, something just isnt working, despite the best efforts of everyone involved. This is when founders have a choice: Either close up shop, or consider a strategic pivot into a new direction. If the founding team isnt quite ready to call it quits, there are certainly a few telltale signs that a pivot should be considered. According to Chris Porteous of Business.com, some of these reasons could include losing passion, dissatisfaction with growth rates, inability to retain employees, and an unattractive brand. The reason why you decide to pivot will be entirely up to you and your team, but theres power in the potential of a change in strategy.

The power may just be in keeping the company afloat. As stated in a 2018 article on this site, Though pivoting incorrectly can lead to failure, not pivoting at all can be nearly as bad, with 7 percent of failed startup entrepreneurs wishing they would have pivoted when they needed to.

Pivots will happen in varying sizes and extremities to every business owner, and they can turn out to be the best decision youve ever made in your company.

Think of building a business as hypothesizing

Sometimes, we consider needing to pivot as some type of failure. And while it certainly arises from something that needs fixing within the business, Adam Alpert, the CEO of Pangea.app, which connects companies with remote college talent, offers a different consideration. Pangea.app recently underwent a pivot in strategy that paid off big time, securing $400,000 in a pre-seed round investment for their new business model.

In business, you start with a hypothesis: a theory about how to solve a problem you know exists, explains Alpert. But most hypotheses are wrong, and in our case, we learned that what we had initially come up with wasnt the solution the world needed. In running that test, we discovered a solution that actually works and decided to pursue a new direction."

Since Alpert and his team made their own pivot, they didnt just secure funding  they grew to 500 campuses and onboarded 1,00 clients. Dont be afraid of being wrong; be open to learning! Alpert encourages. The only way to learn is to try, and then listen to what people have to say.

Challenges can lead to success

Pivots may arise from challenges, but they can also give you the perspective and education you need to succeed even more in your career or business. We learn from success, but we learn even more from failure. Entrepreneur Tiana Nicole Burse launched her social media consulting agency, District Media Press, with zero capital.

At first, the business didnt yield any profits for the first several years, Burse shares. However, I stayed focused on growth at all costs and learned a lot through the pivoting process. That experience led to my Facebook Watch Series and acquiring a few new brands.

These experiences have also emboldened Burses public speaking career, where she speaks about her unorthodox mindset on entrepreneurship.

If youre in a season of your business where things arent going well, think about what you can learn from the situation, as well as what you learn can be helpful to your future self and to others. Its also a practice in staying the course and innovating, which takes strength and perspective, reflects Burse. These are the trials and errors that will help you make the right decisions in the future.

Some of todays greatest companies came from pivots

Companies like Twitter, Starbucks, Instagram and Pinterest were all born from pivots. Twitter was originally a podcast sharing network called Odeo, and its idea was born out of a two-week brainstorming period for Odeo employees to come up with new ideas. Before Starbucks was a wildly beloved store, it solely sold espresso makers and coffee beans. Howard Schultz then pivoted in the direction of a European style coffee house where people could enjoy their coffee. Instagram began as a check-in app with a photo functionality until it pivoted to just one main feature: sharing pictures. And Pinterest was originally a way for online shoppers to follow their favorite retailers and "pin" new items.

Businesses need to be prepared to pivot at any time. Even in the tech industry, the rapidly changing times prove that a seemingly solid productcan only be a frontrunner for a bit. The companies that are consistently strategizing new and innovative solutions are the ones that will come out on top.

Related: 5 Ways to Pivot Your Business During a Crisis

Reframing the pivot may be worthwhile. Consider it not as a sign that you were previously failing, but rather, a new beginning in your business. A pivot puts you ahead of starting fresh with another idea, too; youre learning what works and what doesnt for your industry and target customer, and trying again in a new direction may just unlock the magic your company needs to succeed.

Related:

What Do Successful Sales Look Like for the Rest of 2020?

Five Tactics That Can Help Entrepreneurs Get Through The COVID-19 Crisis

How to Build Rapport With Customers Online



Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
Apple has started selling its Watch Series 6, Watch SE and iPad (8th Gen) through its own online store that opened today, as it had promised. These products were introduced at its Time Flies event last week. Apple is offering 6% cashback (up to 10,000) on all orders over 20,900 for HDFC Bank Credit Cards & Credit Card EMI till 16th October 2020.

There are EMI offers, AppleCare+ for up to 2 years, trade-in program, special pricing for students and discounts on accessories and more. Online Apple Specialists will help with anything from custom-configuring any Mac to setting up new devices. Customers can get advice, receive guidance, and learn about new products directly from Apple, both in English and Hindi.

In October, it will offer free online Today at Apple sessions led by local Creative Pros, focused on photography and music. Signature gift wrap and personalized engraving of emoji or text in English, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Marathi, Tamil, and Telugu for AirPods, and English engraving will be available for iPad and Apple Pencil will be available during the festive season.

All orders from the Apple Store online will ship with contactless delivery. Apple says that products ship within 24 to 72 hours, but this might vary for Macs. Payment options include credit and debit card, credit card EMI, RuPay, UPI, net banking and credit card on delivery.

Apple Watch Series 6 pricing

Apple Watch Series 6 Aluminium Case 40mm GPS with Sport Band  Rs. 40,900

Apple Watch Series 6 Aluminium Case 44m GPS with Sport Band  Rs. 43,900

Apple Watch Series 6 Aluminium Case 40mm GPS + Cellular with Sport Band  Rs. 49,900

Apple Watch Series 6 Aluminium Case 44mm GPS + Cellular with Sport Band  Rs. 52,900

Apple Watch Series 6 Stainless Steel Case 40mm GPS + Cellular

with Sport Band  Rs. 69,900

with Sport Band  Rs. 69,900 Apple Watch Series 6 Stainless Steel Case 44mm GPS + Cellular

with Sport Band  Rs. 73,900

with Sport Band  Rs. 73,900 Apple Watch Series 6 Stainless Steel Case 40mm GPS + Cellular with Milanese Loop  Rs. 73,900

Apple Watch Series 6 Stainless Steel Case 44mm GPS + Cellular with Milanese Loop  Rs. 77,900

Apple Watch Series 6 Titanium Case 40mm GPS + Cellular with Sport Loop  Rs. 79,900

Apple Watch Series 6 Titanium Case 44mm GPS + Cellular with Sport Loop  Rs. 83,900

Apple Watch SE pricing

Apple Watch SE Aluminium Case 40mm GPS with Sport Band  Rs. 29,900

Apple Watch SE Aluminium Case 44mm GPS with Sport Band  Rs. 32,900

Apple Watch SE Aluminium Case 40mm GPS + Cellular with Sport Band / Sport Loop  Rs. 33,900

Apple Watch SE Aluminium Case 44mm GPS + Cellular with Sport Band / Sport Loop  Rs. 36,900

Apple iPad (8th Gen) pricing

Apple iPad 8th Gen 32GB Wi-Fi  Rs. 29,900

Apple iPad 8th Gen 128GB Wi-Fi  Rs. 37,900

Apple iPad 8th Gen 32GB Wi-Fi + Cellular  Rs. 41,900

Apple iPad 8th Gen 128GB Wi-Fi + Cellular  Rs. 49,900

Apple iPad Air (4th Gen) pricing

Apple iPad Air 4th Gen 64GB Wi-Fi  Rs. 54,900

Apple iPad Air 4th Gen 256GB Wi-Fi  Rs. 68,900

Apple iPad Air 4th Gen 64GB Wi-Fi + Cellular  Rs. 66,900

Apple iPad Air 4th Gen 256GB Wi-Fi + Cellular  Rs. 80,900

These products should also be available through other online stores and authorized offline retailers in India soon. Apple also confirmed that the Apple iPad Air (4th Gen) will be available only in October.
live bse live

nse live Volume Todays L/H More 

Emkay Global Financial's report on Camlin Fine Sciences

CFIN has commissioned the Diphenol manufacturing plant at Dahej, Gujarat, at a total cost of Rs1.8bn (as per estimates). CFIN has started production of Hydroquinone (HQ) and Catechol (CT), key raw materials for the business, at this facility. CFIN will produce HQ and CT at the lowest cost in the world at the Dahej facility, which shall benefit margins to the tune of $1-1.5/kg (300-400bps). It also plans to gradually add downstream products such as MEHQ and Ethyl Vanillin. Such incremental capacity plans would enhance its addressable market share and expand its footprint globally. The commissioning of the Dahej plant would also lead to a structural reduction in inventory days, given that the bulk of HQ will be sourced from the India plant. CFIN currently imports HQ from Italy, which takes ~49 days to reach India. Dahej remains the key catalyst for margin expansion, while improvement at subsidiaries will maximize the benefits. We expect revenue/EBITDA/PBT to grow at 18%/27%/45% CAGR over FY20-23E.

Outlook

We retain Buy with a TP of Rs115 (15x Sept22E) and OW in EAP.

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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Our Prime Minister is in thrall to a group of blinkered scientists

What has happened to the Boris Johnson I used to know  a man of open mind who welcomed debate and resisted the groupthink of government drones?

Our Prime Minister is in thrall to a group of blinkered scientists.

When his views are not shaped by them, they are influenced by perpetual opinion polling carried out by No 10, to which Dominic Cummings ascribes the authority of Holy Writ.

One week we are enjoined to go back to work, a few weeks later we are told to stay at home.

One moment Dishy Rishi is picking up the tab, the next its table service only in pubs, and they and restaurants must close early.

Confusion, contradiction, mixed messages: these are the hallmarks of Boris Johnsons unhappy administration.

And then, of course, there are the manifold and predictable failings of testing and tracing.

Let me make a prediction. Despite the new measures announced on Tuesday, the number of daily cases of Covid-19 will continue to rise.

Within weeks further coercive measures will therefore be announced.

Why, Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty has reportedly already told Mr Johnson as much, and he and his medical colleagues are effectively running this Government.

He is said to believe that, like Scotland, England will have to impose a ban on visiting between households.

Having succeeded in tandem with Sir Patrick Vallance (left) in terrifying us, not least by brandishing scary graphs, Professor Whitty (right) asserted that science will in due course ride to our rescue in the form of a vaccine

Bit by bit, over the coming weeks and months, there will be a tightening of the rules until were almost back in the grim world of lockdown, with dire consequences for the economy, our mental health and the ability of the NHS to treat non-Covid patients who have serious illnesses.

Scary

And this stop-start pattern  relaxation of rules followed by tightening, followed by relaxation, followed by tightening  could theoretically go on for ever so that the wellbeing of our society is slowly eroded.

Ah, I hear some ask: What about a vaccine? Wont that save us from this endless circuit of despair? Maybe. But maybe not.

On Monday, having succeeded in tandem with Sir Patrick Vallance in terrifying us, not least by brandishing scary graphs, Professor Whitty asserted that science will in due course ride to our rescue in the form of a vaccine.

But as anyone who watches westerns knows, when the cavalry finally arrive its often too late.

The beleaguered garrison holding the fort has been wiped out. Dead bodies are strewn everywhere.

We need a new approach, a different strategy, so that if there is no effective vaccine, or if it arrives later rather than sooner, society will be able to function without the economy disintegrating.

What has happened to the Boris Johnson I used to know  a man of open mind who welcomed debate and resisted the groupthink of government drones?

This is my proposal for Boris and the Government. It is shared by some scientists, though not those penning in Mr Johnson, and by many economists.

It recognises Covid-19 for what it is, and fights it where it is lethal.

The extraordinary thing about the disease is that its usually harmless for the healthy young, and normally pretty mild for the healthy middle-aged.

It is chiefly those over 65 who are potentially at risk, into which group I fall.

Even for oldies, the danger is unevenly spread.

The other day, I heard the admirable Sir David Spiegelhalter, a statistician at Cambridge University, say that at his age  67  the likelihood of dying from Covid-19 is between one and one and a half per cent. For a person aged 80, it is 10 per cent.

Roughly 18 per cent of the UK population are over the age of 65. That means 82 per cent of people are at low risk of dying from the disease.

(I exclude the obese and those with serious underlying health conditions.) Many  say those under 30  are at practically no risk at all.

Sacrifices

In effect, the vast majority of people, who have little or nothing to fear from the disease, are being made to accept life-changing economic and other sacrifices on behalf of a minority of the population. This is too high a price.

My suggestion is not that caution should be thrown to the wind so that the low-risk majority does as it pleases.

Everybody should observe basic precautions such as social distancing and wearing masks and avoiding large gatherings  provided that rules do not chop and change all the time.

But the Government should concentrate on protecting the vulnerable and elderly while encouraging the economically active to get back to normal life without living under the threat of successive lockdowns.

Its perfectly true that hitherto the authorities have been hopeless at safeguarding the old, letting the pandemic run riot in care homes during the spring at a cost of thousands of lives.

But just because the Government failed the elderly in the past, it doesnt mean it is bound to do so in the future.

One moment Dishy Rishi is picking up the tab, the next its table service only in pubs, and they and restaurants must close early

Much more rigorous testing in care homes would be a good start.

In fact, the whole system of testing and tracing infected people remains a shambles, and seems very unlikely to improve under the limp direction of Baroness Harding. Boris Johnson must get someone competent.

Most older people, by the way, need little persuading to minimise social contact. They know the risks and dont want to die.

But the Government could offer them specific help  for example, by ensuring they receive adequate supplies of food.

Ive no doubt there are all kinds of reasonable objections to these ideas. What depresses me is that they cant even be discussed, let alone adopted.

Guided by a coterie of scientists, the Prime Minister is leading us ineluctably towards another lockdown, and possible economic disaster.

It cant be said too often that these scientists have frequently been wrong. And are still.

Professor Whitty declared on Monday that there is no evidence that the disease is milder than it was in April.

This view is at odds with that of one of Germanys leading virologists, Professor Hendrik Streeck.

He says: People are getting infected with a lower dose because of social distancing, and they are getting a less severe illness. Whom do you believe?

Why cant the PM see the shortcomings of those advising him?

The Boris I knew 20 years ago  with whom I used weekly to discuss the affairs of the world, after we had quickly agreed the subject of my column for the Spectator magazine  would never have kow-towed to the likes of Chris Whitty.

Prisoner

Somehow this most independent-minded of men has become a prisoner of the system.

Has he been affected by his gruelling bout of Covid-19? Has he lost his nerve because of the undoubted mistakes he made back in March?

Whatever the cause, he has become doctrinaire and resistant to debate.

Why, Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty (left) has reportedly already told Mr Johnson as much, and he and his medical colleagues are effectively running this Government.

His Tuesday evening address to the nation was more I-know-best nanny than Churchill, despite the clankingly deliberate echoes.

Trapped in the bubble of No 10, he governs by diktat, and ignores the insights of his own MPs.

We should applaud Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee of backbench Tory MPs, who is challenging the Governments right to apply new Covid rules without a parliamentary vote.

An autocrat and a dogmatist? This isnt the Boris we knew. Its not the Boris voters thought would make an inspired Prime Minister.

We are only asking him to open his mind and accept that there could be another, better way.
HOUSTON, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Texas-based energy company Max Midstream announced the acquisition of the Seahawk Pipeline and Terminal from Oaktree Capital at the Port of Calhoun ("the Port") with plans for a historic pipeline that will connect the Port directly to both Eagle Ford and Permian Basins to transport up to 20 million barrels a month to a revitalized terminal at the Port. Exports will begin with completion of the first phase in late 2020, and the second phase project is expected to be completed by 2023.

"This is a great day not only for the Texas oil industry, but for the state as a whole, as more than 1000 jobs will be created," said Todd Edwards, President of Max Midstream. "At a time when the oil and gas market is down, this project and partnership reflects proof that Texas is bouncing back and will remain resilient in being the world's leader in oil production."

Specifically, Edwards noted that the Impact Data Source consultants have performed a comprehensive economic impact study and found the project will create 474 direct new jobs and another 598 construction related jobs over the next ten years. These new jobs will span across the state, as there will be work building the pipeline all throughout parts of Texas. During this process, Max Midstream will be investing up to $1 billion into the overall project.

The key to exporting Texas oil is transporting the commodity at an economic price from the sources to the ports, either through Houston or Corpus Christi ports, which are typically at or near full capacity with congestion. This project represents a game-changer, as it will open a third optionthe Port. Currently, Max Midstream has agreements for three pipeline interconnectsone with Kinder Morgan Crude and Condensate, one to the Gray Oak, and one to the Victoria Express. Max Midstream currently operates the Seahawk pipeline that connects the Kinder Morgan Crude and Condensate Interconnect in Edna, Texas to its Seahawk terminal at the Port. Future expansion with new pipeline connections with Gray Oak and Victoria Express to Max Midstream's Edna terminal, will allow Permian and Eagle Ford basin crudes to export via the Port as well.

"By November of 2020 we will have 1.5 million barrels of storage built at Edna and 600,000 barrels of storage at the Port and the existing Seahawk pipeline, with the ability to export up to 4.2 million barrels a month," Edwards said. "By the time the project is fully complete in 2023, we will have 9 million barrels of storage at Edna and 6 million barrels at the Port, with multiple pipelines to export crude through the Port." Edwards added that Max Midstream would have nine 16-inch loading arms and three 8-inch barge loading arms at the Port.

"By developing the Seahawk Terminal at the Port," Edwards continued, "we will be able to offer a deep-water terminal with little congestion and the ability for producers to get their product to the Port at a very reasonable price."

Max Midstream and the Calhoun Port Authority have reached an agreement on a public/private partnership, in which Max Midstream will invest $360 million to finance the deepening and widening of the Port by 2023. In the interim, Max Midstream has secured its own lightering zone to perform reverse lightering to export crude onto larger ships like Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs). Max Midstream will initially load Panamax ships and reverse lighter to larger ships in its lightering zone. Once the widening and deepening project is complete, Aframax and Suezmax ships will also be able to load at the Port, making it a viable option for any exporter seeking a port other than Houston or Corpus Christi.

"We, the Calhoun Port Authority, could not be more excited about this project," said Charles R. Hausmann, the Port Director of the Port. "This will transform our port into a major oil exporting center, and it will transform our area with new jobs and new growth. This is an exciting day for the Port, the community and the state of Texas."

To complete the project, Max Midstream has engaged SGS to provide expertise on supply chain management, metering and custody transfer, and laboratory design and management solutions. SGS will consult with Max Midstream on best-in-class technologies to include online real-time blending and quality assurance. Max Midstream's vision is to develop a unique state-of-the-art facility suited for the 21st century marketplace.

"SGS will leverage our global experts across our divisions to support Max Midstream on this aspirational project to ensure its success," said Charudatta Malusare, Vice President of SGS Oil, Gas, and Chemicals (OGC).

SGS will oversee the design of its laboratories at both the export terminal at the Port of Calhoun and at Edna, Max Midstream's pipeline interconnection terminal. SGS will work closely with Max Midstream to design crude blends that are stable and compatible with other international crude oils. Max Midstream is the only independent group that has designed its pipelines and storage to accomplish this feat.

"Today's announcement is a groundbreaking moment in the history of the Texas oil industry," Edwards added. "It represents a new pipeline, a new port option for exporters and brings new jobs for Texans."

For a video with additional detail on the project, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5K45Zcg_Ww&feature=youtu.be

A fact sheet is attached with additional information on the project. Also, please visit www.maxmidstream.com.

SOURCE Max Midstream

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http://www.maxmidstream.com


MoonRanger, a suitcase-size lunar rover being developed by Carnegie Mellon University and Astrobotic, will search for signs of water during a NASA mission to the moon in 2022. Credit: Carnegie Mellon University

MoonRanger, a small robotic rover being developed by Carnegie Mellon University and its spinoff Astrobotic, has completed its preliminary design review in preparation for a 2022 mission to search for signs of water at the moon's south pole.

Whether buried ice exists in useful amounts is one of the most pressing questions in lunar exploration, and MoonRanger will be the first to seek evidence of it on the ground. If found in sufficient concentration at accessible locations, ice might be the most valuable resource in the solar system, said William "Red" Whittaker, University Founders Research Professor in the Robotics Institute.

"Water is key to human presence on and use of the moon," explained Whittaker, who is leading development of MoonRanger. "Space agencies around the world are intent on investigating it."

Whittaker and his team first approached NASA about using robots to search for lunar ice in 1996, and they will fulfill that vision a quarter century later by landing in 2022.

"This hasn't been quick or easy," Whittaker said. "It is stunning that after these many years we will have the first look."

NASA will follow MoonRanger at a later date with its more capable Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER), which will perform more rigorous and sustained exploration and scientific characterization of the ice.

MoonRanger's lander will be the Masten Space Systems' XL-1, supported by the NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services program. The rover will be one of eight science and technology payloads, which are supported by the NASA Lunar Surface Instrument and Technology Payloads program.

The space agency said the payloads support its Artemis program, which aims to return U.S. astronauts to the moon in the coming years.

Last month, reviewers determined the viability of the design for the rover and its mission. Lydia Schweitzer, a master's student in computational design who led the systems engineering team, said the two-day review involved more than 60 peopleincluding veterans of the Apollo program and Mars rover projectwho provided important suggestions and feedback.

Schweitzer said the project involved a dozen faculty and staff members, as well as at least 90 students, including three semesters of enrollees in Whittaker's project course. Disciplines represented on the team comprise engineering, robotics, computer science, software engineering, human-computer interaction, architecture and design. The team also has taken advantage of a network of CMU alumni with expertise in space robotics to solve problems and optimize the rover's design.

Even as MoonRanger takes shape, Whittaker and another student team continue to prepare for a 2021 mission in which a four-pound CMU rover called Iris and a CMU art package called MoonArk will travel to the moon on Astrobotic's Peregrine lander.

MoonRanger features a number of technical innovations. About the size of a suitcase, it is designed to repeatedly explore at the rate of 1,000 meters per Earth day in both sunlit and dark conditionsunprecedented speed for a planetary rover. By contrast, a Chinese robot now on the far side of the moon has averaged less than a meter per Earth day.

Unlike other rovers, MoonRanger doesn't carry isotope heating, so its battery and electronics will fail when night falls and cryogenic temperatures set in. Hence, the robot must accomplish its mission in less than the 14 sunlit Earth-days of the lunar month. It also is light and can't carry a big radio for communicating directly with Earth. It thus must return to the lander, with which it will establish short-range wireless communication so the lander's radio can relay the robot's findings to Earth.

"MoonRanger is going to be on its own for long periods of time," said David Wettergreen, research professor of robotics and co-investigator for the rover project, noting the rover will be out of touch with controllers on Earth as it does its explorations

The mission was originally designed to demonstrate the capability of the rover. But NASA expanded it this spring to include the search for ice by adding its Neutron Spectrometer System (NSS) to MoonRanger. The NSS, developed by NASA Ames Research Center, measures the amount of hydrogen in the upper layer of the moon's soil, called regolith. Hydrogen abundance is correlated with the concentration of buried water ice. The NSS will be along for the ride, "ticking like a Geiger counter" when the rover passes over buried ice, then falling silent in bone-dry areas, Whittaker said.

The rover's solar array is oriented vertically to capture the low sun angles experienced at the pole. The low sun also means that craters and dips cast deep, pitch-black shadows. The rover, therefore, will need to sense and navigate through darknessanother first. Since LIDAR sensors used commonly by Earth robots aren't yet available for small space rovers, MoonRanger achieves night vision by projecting laser line stripes ahead of it to model the darkened terrain, much as stereo cameras do in sunlight.

Once it lands on the moon, MoonRanger will evaluate its driving, navigation and mapping capabilities in short jaunts near the lander. It will then attempt a series of distant treks to seek ice.

"If we could make a one-kilometer trek, we'd be very happy," Wettergreen said. "If we could do it twice, that would be amazing."

Uncertainty is inescapable for a mission as ambitious as MoonRanger, Whittaker said.

"In the face of that, there is only the question of whether to do it anyway," he added. "This has all the elements of purpose, technology, exploration, science and fulfillment of vision. These leave no question about going for it and giving it our all."

Explore further NASA selects Astrobotic to fly water-hunting rover to the moon
Foolish, risky and irresponsible.

Thats how the Ontario Nurses Association describes a decision by Southlake Regional Health Centre and other hospitals to cut registered nurse jobs in the middle of a pandemic.

The Newmarket hospital is experiencing the biggest reduction thus far after announcing to staff Tuesday the layoff of 97 registered nurses, according to a news release by the association representing more than 68,000 RNs and health-care professionals.

It amounts to more than 176,000 hours of RN direct patient care, ONA president Vicki McKenna said in an interview.

This kind of massive reduction . . . it takes your breath away, she said. I cannot fathom how Southlake Regional Health Centre CEO Arden Krystal can justify cutting front-line registered nurses during a global pandemic.

In an emailed statement, Southlake said the hospital is hopeful to avoid any involuntary frontline employment loss, and that the reduction in nursing jobs would be done through current and potential future clinical vacancies. Southlake is planning to reduce a total of 95 RN positions.

The plan is to add 49 registered practical nurse positions, 29 patient services partner positions and three social workers.

The email said Southlake is facing a substantial deficit unrelated to COVID-19 that predates the pandemic and is doing everything it can to mitigate any negative impact to staff.

To address a significant financial challenge,, the statement said, Southlake is making a series of changes, including an updated model of care.

As well, ambulatory care programs will focus on acute services to reduce hallway health care, avoid admission and promote an earlier discharge, while moving care into the community, it said.

In a number of programs, we will be actively hiring more frontline unionized clinical staff. The organization is also reducing 34 management and administrative/clinical positions.

Its not yet clear what units or programs will be impacted, but McKenna fears those nurses left behind will bear the burden of an already overtaxed hospital.

On top of that, McKenna added, there is already a shortage of nurses across the province  and at overcrowded Southlake, in particular.

There is such a need for care at this hospital, she said. Its huge. Something needs to give and in this case, its the nurses.

Bargaining unit president Jill Moore said nurses at the hospital are working short-staffed, but one of the biggest concerns is surge capacity.

When our patient numbers increase, as they typically do during a pandemic, we often do not have enough staff resources to provide quality patient care, let alone trying to serve a population that is growing by leaps and bounds.

No time is a good time to do this, lets be honest about that, but Southlake has had a problem for a number of years, McKenna said, referring to preventable problems such as violence against nurses on the job and an ongoing court battle stemming from an incident in which a nurse and security guard were critically injured.

Rather than comply with an order to prevent an incident such as this from happening again, Southlake chose to fight the charges, McKenna said.

Theyre racking up tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees. They are clearly having a problem with their operating fund. Its not meeting the needs of care theyre trying to provide.

She called on the province to immediately step in and conduct an audit of the hospital budget.

In an email, Southlake said the hospital is partnering with Ontario Health Central Region on an independent external review by a third party. It aims to review the funding position and actions to date and gain an understanding of funding needs for the future.

Further cuts to nursing staff were announced earlier this month at Lakeridge Health and Toronto Rehab and McKenna said they may not be the last.

Im worried. Im hearing rumblings across the province. Its budget time. I can only hope the government takes a closer look.

These cuts will devastate the Newmarket community, she added. I would like to know what the Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Christine Elliott thinks about these disastrous frontline RN cuts as they are happening right within her riding of Newmarket-Aurora.

In an email to YorkRegion.com, ministry spokesperson Miriam Mohamadi said Southlake received a funding increase from the province of more than $5 million this year to expand frontline services.

Hospitals are in charge of their own operations and operational decision-making. That said, when making planning decisions, we expect all hospitals to minimize impacts on frontline care, she said.

The government will continue to work with Southlake Regional Health Centre to understand their systems needs as we continue to battle COVID-19.
The identity of The Bachelor Locky Gilbert's winner is supposed to be a well-guarded secret.

But a body language expert believes the 31-year-old may have unwittingly spoiled the outcome days ahead of the finale.

Matchsmith founder Holly Bartter told Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday that while each of the final four contestants share a strong connection with Locky, Irena Srbinovska will ultimately steal his heart.

Spoiler alert! Matchsmith founder Holly Bartter has revealed why body language cues prove Irena Srbinovska (right) will ultimately steal The Bachelor Locky Gilbert's (left) heart

'Irena feels like she's driving her relationship with Locky. Although Locky and Bella have something really special, I think Irena's confidence will draw him in,' Holly said.

After viewing the trailer for Wednesday's hometown dates, Holly noted that Locky's body language suggests he feels more 'in sync' with Irena than Bella.

'Locky is good at being equally attentive to both women, but I do see a sense of more alignment between him and Irena,' she explained.

'I think her confidence will draw him in': Locky and Irena's emotional alignment is displayed through body language cues such as relaxed shoulders, strong posture, constant eye contact and mirroring of one another's expressions

This dynamic is displayed through body language cues such as relaxed shoulders, strong posture, constant eye contact and mirroring of one another's expressions.

'[Locky and Irena] are on the same level, close together but both confident. I think it comes down to them being able to be close but not all over each other, being able to sit next to one another or in close quarters and still have that connection without touching,' said Holly.

Conversely, Bella and Locky's body language betrays an emotional imbalance between the pair.

Not in sync: Holly believes Bella (left) and Locky's body language betrays an emotional imbalance between the pair

Movements such as leaning backwards into Locky's arms suggest that Bella is a more vulnerable character, while Locky is more protective.

'I think he cares about her well-being and is looking after her, and he's very sensitive to her needs - but with Irena they seem to be more in sync,' she explained.

On the other hand, Holly believes Bec Cvilikas and Izzy Sharman-Firth are unlikely to progress to the grand finale.

Not an equal partnership: Movements such as leaning backwards into Locky's arms suggest Bella is a more vulnerable character, while Locky is more protective

According to the dating expert, Locky's body language indicates his connection with Bec is primarily physical.

'From the moment she and Locky met, there was lots of chemistry and eye contact... but there's less emotional connection here for the two, although lots of touching and playfulness,' Holly noted.

The expert added that footage from Wednesday's hometown dates trailer speaks volumes about the status of Bec and Locky's connection.

'She's enjoying herself but not emotionally invested': Holly said that footage from Wednesday's hometown dates trailer proves Bec and Locky's relationship is purely physical

'With her family, Bec is happy to lean back in her chair, but there's more space between her and Locky. She's enjoying herself but not emotionally invested,' Holly said.

Holly similarly believes Izzy has been placed squarely in the 'friend zone' and therefore doesn't stand a chance against front-runners Irena and Bella.

'It took some time for Locky and Izzy to share a kiss, and I think that's due to them having fun together but him not seeing her as a potential partner,' Holly observed.

Holly noted Locky and Izzy's lack of romantic chemistry was evident on their 'stages of life' themed solo date.

'Locky seemed to laugh off a lot of it, commenting on how bubbly and positive Izzy is, but not sharing a kiss until the very end. They have a laugh together, but it's unlikely to go much further,' she said.

Sorry, Izzy! Similarly, Holly believes Izzy doesn't stand a chance against front-runners Irena and Bella. Pictured: Izzy introducing Locky to her family during hometowns
Brunettis Pizza and Deli opened in Scranton, Pa., in 1958 and was so beloved by the community that customers would volunteer to shovel its sidewalk on snowy days. Mike Brunetti, the son of the founder, and his wife Therese took over the operation. They got engaged in the shop and their kids all worked there.

Then came COVID. Shuttered in March, Brunettis had no revenues until May, when it reopened. The owners kept up their payments to suppliers, but sales were vastly reduced because of the shops small size and social-distancing requirements. Even a $14,000 loan under the federal government's Paycheck Protection Program wasn't enough.

This summer, with just $100 in the bank, Therese said they had no choice but to shut Brunettis permanently.

The couple has only a small nest egg and no pension. Therese is now looking for work.

My husband and I sat many nights in tears, Therese told NBC News.

Small businesses like Brunettis are vital to the American economy. They employ 60 million people, almost half the nation's private-sector workforce, and create prosperity for U.S. families. They generate tax revenues that fund public safety, schools, parks and other municipal services and bring local color to their communities.

Image: Mike and Therese Brunetti (Therese Brunetti)

But misery has swept through Main Street, thanks to COVID, dealing body blows to owners, workers, landlords and town budgets. And although the Paycheck Protection Program supplied almost $700 billion to help small businesses crushed by COVID, many merchants operations  and futures  remain in peril.

Even in late 2019, before the virus hit and when the economy was thriving, small businesses were ill-equipped to deal with setbacks. Federal Reserve Bank of New York research from April showed only one in five healthy small firms had sufficient cash reserves to continue normal operations if they experienced a two-month revenue loss.

So it was no surprise that 1.4 million small businesses either closed or suspended operations in the three months that ended in June 2020, according to figures from Oxxford Information Technology Ltd. The Saratoga, N.Y., company tracks more than 26 million U.S. businesses with less than $10 million in annual sales and says it expects that 4 million small businesses could be forced to shut down permanently this year. Such closures would equal 13 percent of the 30.7 million small businesses that operate nationwide, as counted by the Small Business Administration.

Story continues

Around a dozen have already shut in Scranton, a former coal and steel city of 76,000 in northeastern Pennsylvania. With 3,256 businesses, several universities, a Black merchant community and historic Main Street, Scranton is Exhibit A for the impact COVID is having on families, merchants and municipalities across America. Some of its businesses have been around for almost 100 years.

The viruss human toll on Scranton has been high. As of mid-August, Lackawanna County, where Scranton is located, averaged 100.6 deaths per 100,000 people, the fourth-highest death rate from COVID in Pennsylvania. For now, the situation is better than in the early days of the pandemic, however; since Aug. 14, the county has registered three new COVID fatalities, according to the Pennsylvania Health Department.

"Scranton has had its tales of woe," said Donna Simpson, consultant manager at The University of Scranton's Small Business Development Center, a unit that advises merchants. "We were doing so great this year and then boom  this hit. Now were worse off than weve ever been."

A 'distressed' city

Before COVID struck, Scranton was on the upswing. In each of the past two years, city budgets had been balanced and improvements in its financial management had led to higher debt ratings and, therefore, lower borrowing costs. Although Scranton remained on Pennsylvanias list of distressed cities, under a 1987 law requiring the state to help counties and municipalities experiencing severe financial difficulties, sufficient progress had been made that the state had planned to take Scranton off the list in July 2020.

That didnt happen. And lower expected tax receipts, a result of COVID-19, caused Standard & Poors to cut Scrantons debt rating in June.

A glimpse of the challenges faced by local area businesses and nonprofits is evident in a May survey taken by The Institute for Public Policy and Economic Development, a partnership of 13 local universities and the business community.

Of the 160 entities surveyed, 86 percent reported reduced revenues as a result of COVID, with 24 percent of those reporting declines of between 90 and 100 percent in the period. Approximately 58 percent said they had laid off employees permanently, without pay, and over 80 percent said they had sought financial assistance, including from the Paycheck Protection Program. Almost half said they were having problems meeting expenses.

Coney Island Lunch in 2015, a Scranton stalwart until COVID-19. (Peter Ventura)

Peter Ventura knows how that is. The third-generation owner of Coney Island Lunch, a hot dog joint in the heart of downtown Scranton since 1923, his business went into freefall in March, when the city shut down.

Even during the Great Depression Ventura's forebears had never failed to meet an obligation, such as rent or taxes on the restaurant. But at the end of March, when the quarterly property tax payment was due, Ventura decided against making it.

I thought, I can't send them $2,500 and not know how much cash Im going to have on hand, Ventura told NBC News. So he's waiting until December to get current on his property tax bills, knowing that he will also owe a 10 percent penalty.

In the meantime, Ventura worries that foot traffic wont return to downtown, post-COVID. One thing that kept us going was the fact that you were always getting younger customers in here, he told NBC News. They remember when their father brought them here, and so you wonder if you're still going to get that when its over.

Trying to help merchants and residents hit by COVID, the Scranton community has come together, said Paige Gebhardt Cognetti, the citys mayor. Landlords have let Scranton merchants defer rent payments, she told NBC News, and in June, the city offered $560,000 in grants and loans to small businesses.

Image: Mayor Paige Cognetti (NBC News)

But these are temporary fixes, Cognetti acknowledged; revenue shortfalls in the city could reach $8 million this year, she said, or 8 percent of expected revenues for 2020.

Like many cities, Scrantons biggest financial challenge involves costs it cannot trim, such as pension and retirement benefits owed to current and former municipal workers. In Scranton these are 20 percent of total city outlays, double the average, according to Cora Bruemmer, an analyst in S&Ps local government group. Other expenditures bring Scrantons fixed costs to 30 percent of its budget.

Early on in the crisis, Scranton furloughed 43 employees, but some have recently returned to work. Cognetti has cut other spending.

Of course, I would like to pave every street in Scranton, but weve scaled that back, she said. Its hard to make these decisions  some of them are about peoples livelihoods.

'Their job no longer exists'

Some bright spots have emerged in the Scranton merchant community since the crisis. Some Black-owned businesses, for example, have seen a boost in revenues, said Glynis Johns, founder and chief executive of the Black Scranton Project, a nonprofit supporting local Black-owned merchants since 2008. Interest in the organizations list of Black businesses exploded, Johns said, after the protests related to the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

People love the history of the city and love the cultural dynamics of Scranton, Johns told NBC News. More people are interested in Black perspectives and Black stories, so that has amplified what we're doing.

The Black-owned Vanity Boutique Salon has seen its revenues rise, said Koni Bennett, its owner. Since reopening in June, the response has been overwhelming. The pandemic just created a bigger demand for us, Bennett said. We were able to fully recover the hit of the pandemic within a month.

Local real estate agents are also reporting a boom as an influx of New Yorkers seek lower-cost homes there. Jackie Ruddy, a realtor, said buyers are willing to pay above asking price, a big change from pre-COVID days when demand was soft owing to the citys relatively high wage and transfer taxes.

Unfortunately, local area food banks and charities offering help with rent and utility bills are also fielding big increases in demand.

Meghan Loftus is president and chief executive of Friends of the Poor, a nonprofit founded in 1986 to help supply food and financial assistance to people in Scranton.

Image: Meghan Loftus (Ann Montoro Williams / Friends of the Poor)

Since March, the nonprofit has operated drive-through food distributions at Scranton High School and a local church, Loftus said. For the first food drive, the organization expected 400 to 500 families to show up; 1,000 came. Between April and July, it served 70,000 people, compared with 24,000 during the same period in 2019, according to Loftus.

Scranton has a large working-poor population that doesnt qualify for help from the city, Loftus said. And her organization has seen demand from people seeking help with water bills and rents  those figures are more than double last years.

Still, Loftus said she saw people donate their stimulus checks to help the community.

On Sept. 1, a COVID-related moratorium on evictions in Scranton expired, so local charities are bracing for an increase in the homeless population.

There are a lot of people who are laid off, are still not back to work, or their job no longer exists, Loftus told NBC News. Most people are one or two paychecks from crisis.

Related: When trillion-dollar companies go up 5 percent, theyre literally going up $50 billion  and that winds up being much more important to the direction of the stock market," said one economist.

Like other communities across the country, those in Scranton are hopeful that this fall will not bring further woes. Even before COVID, Scranton had lost more than 1,500 small businesses since 2012.

I am most concerned about our small businesses and the feel of our downtown and our neighborhoods, Cognetti said. We cant be blind to fact that if we lose some of the small businesses they may be gone forever.

Brunetti's is one of them. On Aug. 15, the restaurant sold at auction for less than half last year's appraised value. Repayment of the PPP loan will come out of those diminished proceeds.

"It's best for us to walk away, standing tall, than to crawl out the door," Therese said.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary Peter Szijjarto have agreed to launch the work of intergovernmental groups on national minorities, education, and cross-border cooperation.

I had a very intensive dialogue with my Hungarian colleague, the goal of which is to ensure rich, dynamic, and effective cooperation between Ukraine and Hungary. Today's meeting is also effective. We have reached several agreements, and now we will work together to successfully hold meetings of three intergovernmental groups: on national minorities, education, and cross-border cooperation, within which the construction of new entry-exit checkpoints on the border is discussed," Kuleba said at a briefing in the Zakarpattia Regional State Administration after the meeting with Szijjarto, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

As noted, the foreign ministers also agreed to hold a business forum of Ukrainian and Hungarian companies and discussed the development of tourism in Zakarpattia region.

"To sum up, we want more trade, interpersonal, infrastructural, and political contacts between Hungary and Ukraine," minister Kuleba said.

In turn, Peter Szijjarto noted that the countries needed to take several important steps to channel the Ukraine-Hungary relations in the right direction.

Clearly, the current situation is not good for Hungary, Ukraine, or Hungarians living in Zakarpattia region. To solve our problems, we need to take many small steps. For our part, we will continue to help the Hungarians of Zakarpattia region. Over the past six years, Hungary has invested 90 billion forints in the development of Zakarpattia. We recognize the territorial integrity of Ukraine, support gas supplies to Ukraine, provide transit for citizens travelling to Europe. I support the opinion of my colleague that Zakarpattia should be made a common heritage of Ukraine and Hungary, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary said.

Szijjarto also noted that the Hungarians expected great results from the work of the three intergovernmental groups mentioned by Ukrainian minister Kuleba.

Today, September 23, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary Peter Szijjarto make a joint visit to Zakarpattia region, western Ukraine.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 02:41:14|Editor: huaxia

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TASHKENT, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on Wednesday called on the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to create a permanent UN committee on Afghanistan to assist the peace process and economic recovery in the country.

President Mirziyoyev delivered his speech by video call at the general debate of the 75th session of the UNGA from Uzbek.

Mirziyoyev outlined the steps his nation has taken to try to promote peace in Afghanistan, starting with a major international forum held in Tashkent in March 2018.

Since then, Uzbekistan has invested heavily in power line, railway and other infrastructures in Afghanistan, the president said.

"We consider Afghanistan as an integral part of Central Asia ... We fully support the peace talks among the Afghan political forces launched this year in the city of Doha in September," the president said in his address.

"We believe that the issues of ensuring peace and stability in Afghanistan must remain a constant focus of the United Nations. Only together and through close cooperation we can realize all the dreams and aspirations of the Afghan people," he said.

"Therefore, we need to establish at the UN a permanent committee that will listen to the hopes and aspirations of the Afghan people. The main aim of the committee should be to assist the economic and social development in Afghanistan," the president said. Enditem
Brad Pitt had a string of high-profile relationships before marrying Jennifer Anniston in 2000.

The "Ad Astra" actor met the Emmy Award winner in 1994 after being introduced by their managers.

In an interview with Rolling Stone, the "Friends" alum described Pitt, who was dating another Hollywood actress at the time, as a "sweet normal guy from Missouri."

Four years later, the newly single Pitt found himself on a blind date with Anniston, which was arranged by their managers.

In 1999, news broke that the duo got engaged, and soon after, Hollywood's golden couple tied the knot in July 2000 at an extravagant ceremony in Malibu, California.

Unfortunately, Pitt and Anniston's fairytale romance ended after five years of marriage.

The "Horrible Bosses" actress filed for divorce in 2005, citing irreconcilable differences.

Back then, Pitt was rumored to be dating his now-ex-wife Angelina Jolie after the duo met on the set of their 2005 action comedy film "Mr. and Mrs. Smith."

Now, it appears that the "Once Upon A Time in Hollywood" star is back in the dating scene after Pitt is reportedly seeing the 27-year-old German model Nicole Poturalski.

The pair was spotted boarding a private jet in Paris as they headed to the South of France.

Prior to his highly publicized marriage and relationship fallouts, the "Troy" actor had a star-studded dating history, and with that said, here's a list of Brad Pitt's girlfriend before Jennifer Anniston and Angelina Jolie.

Gwyneth Paltrow

Perhaps, one of his famous relationships was with the "Shallow Hall" star in 1994.

Gwyneth Paltrow and the "12 Years a Slave" actor were both chosen as cast members in the neo-noir psychological crime thriller film "Seven."

During the previous Golden Globes awards that year, Pitt described the blonde beauty as "the love of his life."

After two years of dating, Pitt decided to pop the question; however, after being dialed by paparazzi, the couple called it quits.

According to Us Weekly, Paltrow had a hard time moving on from her relationship with the actor. In fact, she almost turned down the movie "Shakespeare in Love" that earned her Academy and Golden Globe award.

Geena Davis

The award-winning actress Geena Davis also made it to the list of Brad Pitt's girlfriends.

The two met on the set of 1991 film "Thelma & Louise," which is the film that paved the way for Pitt to put his name on the Hollywood map.

According to reports, Pitt and Davis unofficially dated for a year after filming their iconic movie.

In addition, the actor's former roommate, Jason Priestley, revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that the pair's legendary love scene in "Thelma & Louise" was inspired by a real-life romance between the two.

Christina Applegate

One of Pitt's celebrity flings was the "Dead to Me" star, Christina Applegate.

The couple briefly dated in 1989 until she reportedly ditched him at the night of the MTV Video Music Awards in the same year for another guy.

In 2015, Applegate appeared in "Watch What Happens Live" and confessed to host Andy Cohen that the rumors were true.

READ MORE:Emmys 2020: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of the Awards Show
T he lawyer for Breonna Taylor's family has branded a grand jurys decision to bring no charges against police for her killing as outrageous and offensive.

Prosecutors on Wednesday said that two officers who fired their weapons at Ms Taylor were justified in using force to protect themselves.

The only charges brought were three counts of wanton endangerment against fired officer Brett Hankison for shooting into Ms Taylor's neighbours' homes during the raid in Louisville, Kentucky, on March 13.

Benjamin Crump, a civil rights lawyer representing the Taylor family, said it was outrageous that none of the officers would be criminally charged for Ms Taylors death.

File photo provided by the Louisville Metro Police Department of officer Brett Hankison / AP

He said: "Brett Hankison with 3 (sic) counts of Wanton Endangerment in 1st Degree for bullets that went into other apartments but NOTHING for the murder of Breonna Taylor.

"This is outrageous and offensive!"

"If Brett Hankison's behaviour was wanton endangerment to people in neighbouring apartments, then it should have been wanton endangerment in Breonna Taylor's apartment too. In fact, it should have been ruled wanton murder!"

The FBI is still investigating potential violations of federal law in the case.

Attorney General Daniel Cameron announced the Louisville grand jurys decision at a news conference as protesters against racial injustice and police brutality massed on the city's streets.

Former detective Hankisons indictment for wanton endangerment in the first degree represents the lowest level felony crime in Kentucky and carries a maximum sentence of up to five years in prison.

Breonna Taylor / Courtesy of Family of Breonna Taylor

Ms Taylor, 26, was killed in front of her armed boyfriend shortly after midnight on March 13 at her Louisville apartment after Hankison and his two colleagues forced their way in with a so-called 'no knock' warrant.

The two other officers, Sergeant Jonathan Mattingly and Detective Myles Cosgrove, were not charged because they were justified under Kentucky law in returning fire after Ms Taylors boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, shot at them, wounding Mattingly in the thigh, Cameron said.

There is no doubt that this is a gut-wrenching, emotional case, Attorney General Cameron said at a news conference. Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron addresses the media following the return of a grand jury investigation (AP)

Hankison fired his weapon 10 times. Some of the bullets travelled through Ms Taylors apartment into adjacent apartment three, where a man, a pregnant woman and a child were at home.

There was no conclusive evidence that any of Hankisons bullets hit Ms Taylor, the Attorney General added.

Organisers of the protests against police brutality that have become a daily occurrence expressed frustration at the outcome.

People react after a decision in the criminal case against police officers involved in the death of / REUTERS

About 400 protesters wound their way out of downtown Louisvilles Jefferson Square Park and marched through the streets chanting, Out of the homes, into the streets!

Tonight, tempers may flare, said community organiser Reece Chenault, 40.

People are going to be sad and I think you are going to see a lot of tears with folks who are marching.

Ahead of the announcement, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer announced a 72-hour curfew for the city beginning at 9 pm.

I urge everybody to choose peaceful and lawful protest," he said

Louisville has agreed to pay $12 million to Ms Taylors family to settle a wrongful-death lawsuit, the mayor announced earlier this month.
SAN FRANCISCO - Tesla has focused on squeezing as much energy as possible out of its batteries, with industry-leading range figures that have bested its competitors by dozens of miles per charge. Now it has its sights set on a different goal: building batteries that cannot only beat rivals' range -- or how far their cars can travel on a single charge -- but far outlast the life span of a vehicle.

It's the latest innovation push by the Silicon Valley car builder that has aimed to rewrite the rules on electric vehicles, making them performance-oriented and aspirational in a way that has eluded competitors. But electric vehicles constitute a small slice of the overall car market, and to expand, Tesla will need to reign supreme over not only the manufacturing of vehicles but also their lifeblood: batteries. Elon Musk announced Tesla's plans for tackling that issue at a widely anticipated "Battery Day" event Tuesday.

"Today, [electric vehicles] account for about 3% of cars sold globally," Gene Munster, an investor and managing partner of Loup Ventures, wrote in an analyst note ahead of the event. "Tesla has an opportunity to parlay its current 80% [electric vehicle] market share in the US, along with about 20% in Europe and Asia, into a massive business in the years to come. To be successful, the company needs to ramp its production of batteries."

Musk has said any development unveiled Tuesday "will not reach serious high-volume production until 2022." But he also hinted that it involves a serious ramp-up of battery production to power vehicles the company has announced, such as its Semi, Cybertruck and Roadster. Tesla would need to seriously advance its battery technology to make some of those offerings possible, given that it has announced a range of more than 500 miles for one variant of its Cybertruck pickup. A range of that distance would be roughly enough to drive from Washington, D.C., to New York City and back again.

By contrast, Tesla says its current highest-range offering - the Model S - can travel as far as 402 miles on a single charge. Competitors such as start-up Lucid Motors have announced energy-dense electric vehicles with ranges topping 500 miles.

Batteries are one of the most complex ingredients to electric vehicles, thanks in large part to the resource-intensive process of manufacturing them. A battery with a longer life span presents one route to reducing the environmental footprint of electric vehicles, making them a more viable proposition at the scale needed to start seriously phasing out internal-combustion cars.

Still, the mining of rare metals, including those needed to build electric vehicles, can expose local communities to significant environmental impacts, including toxic elements that can lead to respiratory issues and birth defects.

The battery event was set to take place following an annual shareholder meeting at Tesla's Fremont, Calif. manufacturing facility. It was an unusual setting tailor-made for the covid-era.

Rows of Tesla cars filled with shareholders lined up in a parking lot near the presentation stage. The drivers gave a rousing honk of approval when Musk took the stage and proceeded to beep their horns whenever Musk made a proclamation they liked.

"We've got the Tesla drive-in movie theater, basically," Musk said.
They have precisely continued to strike targets that we have precisely identified to them as being on a no-strike list, said Representative Tom Malinowski, Democrat of New Jersey and a former top State Department official overseeing human rights in the Obama administration. He was speaking at a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing last week with R. Clarke Cooper, the assistant secretary of state in charge of weapons sales, and two other senior department officials.

If you were teaching me to drive for five years and I continued to hit passers-by, continued to total my car, would you continue to give me the keys? Mr. Malinowski said.

The rationalization offered by Trump administration officials is one that has occurred throughout the history of American foreign policy: When a partner or an ally is found to be committing horrific acts, U.S. officials say they must continue the relationship in order to curtail the damage. This was one justification past administrations put forward for supporting the South Vietnamese government and Latin American dictatorships.

But the Yemen war has again shown the limits of that thinking.

And as the failures of so-called mitigation efforts to reduce civilian casualties in Yemen become more evident, the risk is growing that American officials could be charged with war crimes by a foreign court or an international tribunal.

Mr. Malinowski said that as a former assistant secretary, he had seen a 2016 memo from the State Departments legal office that stated that top agency officials, including the secretary of state, could plausibly be charged with war crimes in Yemen because of their knowledge of the pattern of civilian killings. Before the congressional hearing last week, a New York Times investigation documented in detail the secret legal finding and the anxieties of U.S. officials arising from the legal risk, which has grown over two administrations, as well as the State Departments efforts to conceal the finding.
New Jersey loves bagels with Taylor ham or pork roll. Apparently, New York City likes theirs with beef.

On Tuesday, our neighbors to the east took an unprovoked shot at our bountiful bagels on Twitter, comparing them to large outdoor gatherings and suggesting they should be avoided at all costs.

We dont know who needs to hear this, but large indoor gatherings are SO 2019. Treat them like a bagel from New Jersey, and avoid them at all costs.  City of New York (@nycgov) September 22, 2020

You didnt think New Jerseys snarky, snippy Twitter account was gonna let this slide, did you? Of course not.

delete ur account https://t.co/onZWi7U2I7  New Jersey (@NJGov) September 22, 2020

Dont get me wrong, I look forward to the opportunity to defend New Jerseys food honor the way Batman looks forward to beating up criminals  its one of the biggest perks of the job. And the New Jersey-New York bagel battle might be second only to our forever-raging pizza war.

So allow me to defend. Take a trip to OBagel in Hoboken, Sunrise Bagels in Montclair, Boxcar Bagels & Deli in Bogota or Bagel Hut in Matawan and tell me New Jersey bagels arent just as good as New Yorks. I know theyre actually better, but Ill even let you save face and call it a draw.

But something about this installment of the rivalry feels off to me. Maybe its the fact that the @nycgov account feels like its doing a bad impression of our hilarious @NJGov account with this tweet. As a longtime Montclair resident and legendary Yankee catcher (in that order, right?) Yogi Berra once said, if you cant imitate him, dont copy him.

Cmon NYC, being irreverent and sardonic is kind of our Twitter thing. And calling something so (insert year)" is so, well, older than 2019, thats for sure. Its so cheesy I wouldnt even put it on one of your bagels.

But thats okay, were used to our big brothers across the river imitating us occasionally  you even took our Taylor ham to Brooklyn and put it on a bagel! Whats actually kind of irksome is bringing the coronavirus into this rivalry. Comparing our bagels to a potentially deadly event, like an indoor gathering during a pandemic, that has killed thousands of both of our citizens? Thats a bit gauche, even in jest.

Look, I know its all in good fun. Rivalries arent as fun if both sides arent good  ask the Rangers and Devils. And frankly? If this libelous tweet inspires New Yorkers or New Jerseyans to avoid large indoor gatherings, then its a victory for both of us.

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.
(Natural News) A mosaic said to depict one of the Bibles most enduring stories has been uncovered in the Holy Land.

The mosaic, which dates back 1,500 years and is said to depict the Feeding of the Multitude, was found by a team of archaeologists from the University of Haifa among the ruins of the ancient city of Hippos, which overlooked the famed Sea of Galilee.

According to the team, the mosaic, which shows elements pertaining to the miracle otherwise known as the Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes, once adorned a church built in the late fifth or early sixth century.

This structure, unfortunately, was burned to the ground during a raid by the invading Sasanian empire at the beginning of the seventh century  an incident that led to it becoming known by another name: The Burnt Church.

But the researchers believe that this unfortunate event was what saved the mosaic from falling into ruin, noting that the fire caused the churchs roof to collapse on top of it, eventually covering the mosaic with a protective layer of ash.

A mosaic filled with references to the Multiplication of Loaves and Fish

The mosaic, as described by the archaeologists, was crafted from brightly-colored tiles and had two Greek inscriptions that described the church as a martyrion, or a house of prayer originally built for a martyr named Theodoros.

In addition, the mosaic was covered in geometric patterns depicting birds, fruits and baskets, some of which were filled with loaves of bread and fish  likely a reference to the story of Jesus multiplying five loaves of bread and two fish in order to feed 5,000 men. (Related: Scientists uncover invisible ancient Hebrew inscription that can only be seen with advanced technology.)

Cementing the mosaics link to the story, the archaeologists said, was its depiction of 12 baskets filled with both bread and fish, which, according to scripture, were what the disciples were left with after Jesus fed the hungry.

Community who created the mosaic likely to be familiar with the original miracle

According to the archaeologists, the perfectly-preserved piece was part of a series of mosaics that adorned the church, with this particular one essentially functioning as a decorative carpet.

Looking down, they must have thought of the miracles and works of Jesus around the lake just below, said Michael Eisenberg, co-director of the Hippos-Sussita excavation.

The miracle, which was first mentioned in the Gospel of Saint John, is believed to have taken place north of Hippos.

There is no doubt that the local community was well familiar with the two miracles of Feeding the Multitude and perhaps knew their estimated locations better than us, Eisenberg said, adding that whoever commissioned the mosaic must have done so in order to establish an affinity of sorts to the miracle.

Eisenberg noted, however, that the mosaic does have some differences from the source material, the most notable being the number of fish in some of the baskets.

According to Eisenberg, this is important, given that depictions of fish have many symbolic meanings in the Christian tradition.

Aside from the mosaic, the excavation at the Burnt Church has also unearthed several other relics, such as burnt doors and bronze door knockers shaped like roaring lions.

How important is the city of Hippos?

Located in the heart of the Holy Land, Hippos, according to the late archaeologist Vassilios Tzaferis, was one of the most important cities in the East during the Roman-Byzantine period and was a part of the famous Decapolis, or League of Ten Cities.

Tzaferis, an expert in monks and monasteries in the Byzantine period, has since described the city as the most significant archaeological site on the eastern bank of the Sea of Galilee.

According to historical records, Hippos can be traced back to the Hellenistic period when it was first built as a fortified city in 200 BC .

By 80 BC, however, Hippos found itself conquered by the Hasmonean king Alexander Jannaeus, who then converted its citizens to Judaism.

Two decades later, the city fell to the Romans. As a sign of goodwill, the city was given back to King Herod as a gift from Augustus Caesar.

In 600 AD, the city was conquered by the Arab population. As noted by historians, while the citizens themselves were left relatively unharmed, the city was left to its own devices and allowed to fall into decline.

The city ultimately just languished before it fell victim to a powerful earthquake that led to its near-total abandonment.

Read more about the latest archaeological findings at Artifacts.news.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

Israel21C.org

LiveScience.com

Haaretz.com

TheTimesOfIsrael.com
The number of people requesting absentee ballots in Michigan has skyrocketed, but the tedious, time-consuming process of securely processing those ballots remains the same.

Clerks across the state are urging the Michigan legislature to adopt laws that would give them at least seven days before Election Day to prepare and starting processing absentee ballots. Current law prevents them from opening envelopes until 7 a.m. on the day of an election, which could lead to results being delayed for days.
A woman is in the hospital with serious injuries after someone shot her at a Southeast Portland home.

Police arrived at a home on Southeast Center Street and Southeast 146th Avenue around 5:45 p.m. Tuesday, and found a woman with gunshot wounds. She was taken to the hospital in an ambulance.

Portland police said they have arrested the suspect in the shooting, and that given the circumstances of the incident, there is no threat to the community. They would not comment on what those circumstances were, or whether the suspect and victim knew each other.

Jayati Ramakrishnan; 503-221-4320; jramakrishnan@oregonian.com; @JRamakrishnanOR

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
In a huge makeover of the eastern Uttar Pradesh's image, Chief Minister on Tuesday announced the start of international flights from Kushinagar airport by Deepawali.

Also known as Padrauna airport, it is situated in Kushinagar district, around 52 km east of Gorakhpur, the home turf of Chief Minister Adityanath.

The Union Cabinet, in its meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had, in June this year, decided to recognise Khushinagar as an international airport, the 29th in the country and fourth in Uttar Pradesh, including the upcoming Jewar airport.

Dwelling upon the strategic importance of the Kushinagar airport, located close to the international border, Chief Minister Adityanath, in a statement, said this entire region is part of 'Buddha Circuit' and this facility will increase the inflow of foreign tourists.

He said there is an immense potential of tourism in the eastern UP region and so, officials have been directed to prepare an action plan in consultation with public representatives to showcase it as an international tourist hub.

Amid a growing number of youths from Bihar and eastern UP flying to various Gulf countries for employment, this airport would also become handy to them in reaching their destinations, an official said.

In his statement, the Chief Minister also announced his decision to celebrate the upcoming centenary of the 1922 Chauri Chaura movement with fanfare.

The incident involving freedom struggle had taken place at Chauri Chaura in Gorakhpur district on February 4, 1922, when a large group of protesters, participating in the non-cooperation movement, had clashed with police, which had opened fire on them, killing three civilians.

The demonstrators in retaliation attacked and set afire the Chauri Chaura police station, killing all its 22 occupants. Following the violence in Chauri Chaura, Mahatma Gandhi had halted his nationwide non-cooperation movement.

The chief minister made the two crucial announcements while reviewing the developmental projects of the Gorakhpur division, comprising eastern UP districts of Gorakhpur, Deoria, Kushinagar and Maharajganj.

Public representatives of all districts were present in the meeting presided over by the Chief Minister through video conferencing.

The CM also interacted with the representatives and received their feedback on developmental projects in their constituencies.

Adityanath also directed officials to make an integrated action plan to devise a permanent solution to the nagging flood menace in the eastern part of the state.

He asked officials to undertake dredging of rivers in the region to extract dual benefit -- relief from floods and availability of sand which will fetch revenue for the district administration.

He said his government has controlled the Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and Acute Respiratory Syndrome (AES) to a great extent.

He also said pure water is the key to effective control over JE and other communicable diseases.

"Make a project for house-to-house water supply in every JE-affected village,'' 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.)
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday virtually inaugurated two major green projects worth around Rs 1226 crore to be built by European Union countries in Kolkata and East Midnapore district.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) for these projects were signed at the global business summit held at the beach town of Digha in East Midnapore in December 2019.

The ambassadors of Italy, Netherlands and the European Union and the deputy ambassador of Germany took part in the virtual inauguration.

One project involves waste management and sustainable development at the Kolkata Leather Complex at Bantala in the eastern outskirts of the city. It involves foreign investment worth three million Euros (around Rs 26 crore), said the chief minister and will be built in collaboration with Dutch partners.

The second is a solar power project worth Rs 1200 crore to be set up in East Midnapore by a German company. The West Bengal government will invest Rs 200 crore in the project. Once complete, it will generate 350 million units of power annually.

I am happy to announce that the projects are being inaugurated within six months of signing the MoU. Where there is a will there is a way. The leather complex project will create five lakh jobs and help medium, small and micro enterprises grow. Several leather companies from other states have also set up units at Bantala, said Banerjee.

State finance minister Amit Mitra said the solar power project will save the climate from 50,000 tons of carbon emission every year.

Sustainability is the way to go forward in future. We look forward to friends and partners. India is the largest exporter of leather goods in the world and Europe is the largest market, said Ugo Astuto, the EU ambassador to India.

Addressing Banerjee, Italian ambassador to India Vincenzo de Luca said, Without your leadership we could not have promoted our objective in West Bengal and could not have been able to share our expertise and technology. The challenge is to promote green energy in India and Europe.

Marten van den Berg, the ambassador of Netherlands, said, We look forward to work internationally with West Bengal, Italy, Germany and European Union.

For Banerjee, who has been accused on numerous occasions by the opposition parties of failing to bring in foreign investment despite her trips to many countries since 2011, Wednesdays development could help the Trinamool Congress politically in the run-up to the assembly polls to be held in 2021.

Recently, even governor Jagdeep Dhankhar had taken up the issue and sought details of the outcome of the Global Business Summit that the state government holds every year.

WORRISOME (ELOQUENT) SILENCE of otherwise vocal FM @MamataOfficial on details of Bengal Global Business Summit speaks volumes. Baffling- Why not give details of claimed resounding success investment of over Rs 12.30 lakh crores investment! Is there nothing to showcase! Dhankhar tweeted on August 31.

Surely there should be accountability of spending crores on futile extravaganza @MamataOfficial. Corruption by way of favoritism and patronage calls for probe. My worst fear- was it dream merchant affair! Just a PR exercise! Awaiting CM response! he said in another tweet, tagging the chief minister.
on Wednesday bid farewell to 11 of its members who will retire in November this year.

When the House met, Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu mentioned that 11 MPs from Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand will be retiring in November.

They include Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav, BSP's Veer Singh and Raj Babbar of Congress.

Others who will retire are: Javed Ali Khan (SP), P L Punia (Congress), Rajaram (BSP), Neeraj Shekhar (BJP), Arun Singh (BJP), Ravi Prakash Verma (SP) and Chandrapal Singh Yadav (SP).

Naidu said some of the members will return to the House after re-election.

Wednesday is the last date of the current monsoon session after the government decided to curtail the 18-day session in view of the pandemic.

The session that started on September 14 was to continue till October 1.

Naidu asked retiring members if they wanted to speak.

None of the SP, BSP and Congress members were present in the House because of the opposition boycott of the proceedings against the suspension of eight MPs.

Neeraj Shekhar, who last year switched over from SP to BJP, said he has been fortunate to have been first elected to Lok Sabha and then to

"As a kid, I used to come to Parliament House with my father (former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar) and we used to play in and Lok Sabha... There wasn't much security in those days. Since then, I aspired to become an MP," he said.

Stating that bringing legislations that will change the future of children should be a priority, he said he prays for a clean, educated, and strong country.

"We will be missing you and other members retiring in November," Naidu 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.)
Wadala Government railway police arrested a 26-year-old robber who chased a constable with a chopper in his hand from Wadala station to Kasaiwada in Kurla a week ago.

Rajendra Pal, senior inspector, Wadala GRP, said the incident took place when constable Kishor Partole, 29, was on patrolling duty at Wadala railway station and noticed a robber moving towards platform number 4 at the station. Partole identified the accused, Mohammed Sayyed Shaikh, from several CCTV videos. Partole, who was in casual attire, began following Shaikh. Shaikh, however, noticed him.

Partole did not even have time to react when Shaikh pulled out a chopper from his pocket and pounced on him, said Pal. Partole then ran across the platform as commuters stared in shock and hopped on a train moving towards Kurla. Shaikh, too, managed to board the train.

Shaikh realised that Partole would shout for help as the train approached Kurla station, and hence jumped onto the tracks. This time, Partole started chasing Shaikh, but lost him near Kasaiwada, said Pal.

The police then registered an offence against Shaikh and started looking for him.

We traced a mobile phone that Shaikh was seen stealing a few days ago on a CCTV footage and tracked the phone to a resident of Titwala. The resident, who had bought the stolen mobile phone, knew Shaikh and gave us his address, said Pal.

However, the police were unable to arrest Shaikh from his house, and laid a trap in Kurla and Wadala. He was arrested on Monday at Kasaiwada for trying to attack a constable and possession of a weapon.
The Accra High Court has ordered the Electoral Commission (EC) to register as a voter the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for Cape Coast North, Dr Kwamina Minta Nyarku, who was disqualified from registering in the voter registering exercise.

In a ruling delivered Tuesday, [September 22, 2020], the court, presided over by Justice Stephen Oppong, issued an order of mandamus compelling the EC to register the politician on the basis that he had not been barred from registering as a voter by a court.



It is hereby ordered that a writ of mandamus be issued compelling the respondent (EC) to register the applicant (Dr Nyarku) as he has not been barred by any court of competent jurisdiction from registering, the court held.



The court gave the ruling after it upheld a judicial review application filed by the legal team of the politician led by Mr Godwin Tamaklo.



Registration withheld



During the voter registration exercise, Dr Nyarku registered at the Nkanfoa Electoral Area in Cape Coast and was duly issued with a voter ID card.



However, his registration was challenged on the basis that he was not a resident of the electoral area, leading the EC to direct him to hand over the voter ID card until the completion of the challenge process.



The District Registration Review Committee upheld the challenge, which subsequently Mr Nyarku appealed to the Chief Registration Review Officer of Cape Coast North, but the appeal was dismissed.



Judicial review



Dr Nyarku then marched to the High Court with a judicial review application on the grounds that his right to be registered as a voter as guaranteed under Article 42 of the 1992 Constitution could not be curtailed because of a challenge on his residency.



Per Article 42 of the 1992 Constitution, every citizen of Ghana of eighteen years of age or above or of sound mind has the right to vote and is entitled to be registered as a voter for the purposes of public elections and referenda.



He argued that his chances of becoming a Member of Parliament would be severely hampered if he was not registered as a voter because per Article 94 (1)(a) of the 1992 Constitution, a person is not qualified to be MP unless he is a citizen of Ghana, has attained the age of 21 and is a registered voter.



That in the interest of justice and in giving effect to my constitutional right as a citizen of Ghana to be registered as a voter, I pray that the honourable court compels the respondent (EC) to register me as a voter, he argued in his affidavit in support.

Source: Graphiconline.com









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But as we started to settle in, I realized that furnishing our house was not going to be simple. With bricks-and-mortar stores closed, we couldnt shop in person for the pieces we needed, so we had to buy online. Overseas furniture manufacturing and shipping have been disrupted because of the pandemic, leaving many items back-ordered or out of stock. And the thought of navigating a big furniture return during these times was daunting.
At its core, the 2020 Census is simply a count of everyone living in the United States. But its how this data is used that has so many community leaders encouraging everyone to stand up and be counted. The population data obtained through the census helps determine how much, and where, tax dollars are distributed across the U.S.

In short, by counting everyone living in New Mexico, we bring critical federal dollars into each and every community across the state. Resources for things our families depend on, like firefighters, teachers, nurses and childcare workers  all of whom depend on federal funding determined by the census.

Unfortunately, with only a few days left in the once-in-a-decade effort, New Mexico is in danger of losing billions of dollars. A mere 1% undercount would result in an estimated loss of $780 million. Currently, New Mexico is near a 10% undercount.

Were close to 100%, but this is a case where close will not be good enough.

For perspective, every single person not counted in the census is equivalent to being offered a $10 bill every day, for 10 years and not accepting it. Instead those dollars will flow to other states with higher response rates, like Colorado, Arizona or Texas.

While New Mexicos philanthropic sector is robust, it wont be able to fix the economic impact that New Mexico would see from such an undercount. The funding gap would be just too large to fill.

For the past two years, NM Counts 2020 has raised and distributed over $1.2 million to support a complete count, including $731,500 in grants to nonprofits and tribal governments to support census outreach in New Mexicos hardest to count communities.

Despite severe challenges brought about by COVID-19, organizations have used those funds to connect with the communities and people they know best through phone banking, literature drops, newspaper and radio campaigns, and many other tactics.

Now, on behalf of the 23 philanthropic organizations that fund NM Counts 2020 and the dozens of nonprofits we support, we are asking for your support with two simple requests  complete your census and then call or text friends and family to make sure they complete theirs, too.

The census is our once-a-decade opportunity to make a difference in New Mexico, and it will take a combined effort from all of us to ensure our future is funded and supported for the next 10 years. New Mexico deserves to be counted.

To complete your census, visit 2020census.gov or call 844-330-2020 (English) or 844-468-2020 (Spanish) today. We only have until Sept. 30 to stand up and be counted.
Four white people were charged Tuesday in the alleged murder of a Black man whose body was found burning in a ditch in rural Iowa earlier this month, but authorities said it did not appear that he was targeted because of his race.

Speaking at a joint press conference with local civil rights leaders, Dennis Reilly, police chief in the small town of Grinnell, said he understood why the death of Michael Williams, 44, had created a "heightened sense of danger" among the town's Black residents.

"I want to be clear to say: This was not a random act of violence," he said. "Those responsible for this heinous act, they knew each other. They were associates. They hung out together. Mike was part of their circle."

The four people charged in Williams' killing are Steven Vogel, 31; his mother, Julia Cox, 55; Roy Garner, 57; and Cody Johnson, 29. Vogel was charged with first-degree murder and abuse of a corpse, according to a criminal complaint filed in Poweshiek district court.

Video: Murders rise in cities run by both Republicans and Democrats

The others have been charged with destruction of evidence, abuse of a corpse and accessory after the fact, according to Adam DeCamp, Special Agent in Charge at the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

It wasnt immediately clear if Vogel, Cox and Garner have lawyers. Cox and Garner were being held at Poweshiek County Jail, DeCamp said. Vogel was at Marshall County Jail, where he had already been in custody on unrelated charges, DeCamp said.

Authorities declined to discuss a potential motive, and DeCamp said it wasnt clear when Williams was killed. He said the last time Williams appears to have talked with anyone was between Sept. 11 and Sept. 13.

Williams, who was from New York state, moved to Grinnell about 12 years ago, according to his aunt Paula Terrell. She told the Des Moines Register that he worked at fast-food restaurants but had recently been unemployed because of health problems.

The complaint cites a witness who told investigators that on Sept. 13, Vogel allegedly showed him Williams body, which was wrapped in plastic in the basement of Cox's home. Vogel allegedly admitted strangling Williams and asked the witness if he could help move his body, according to the complaint.

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On the same day, Vogel allegedly asked Cody Johnson to help him move Williams body. Johnson told investigators that he tried to help, but they were unable to move Williams, according to the complaint. Two days later, Vogel asked Johnson for help again, the document says.

According to the complaint, Cox told investigators that her son loaded a long object covered with a brown blanket into the truck of a man she lives with, Roy Garner. Vogel, Garner and Cox then drove to a gas station, where Vogel bought fuel. They traveled several miles east before Cox allegedly helped Vogel move Williams body into a ditch, the police documents state.

Williams' body was found Sept. 16, shortly before 6 p.m., when firefighters responded to a report of a blaze in a ditch on the side of a road. Authorities found that he had been bound by rope and duct tape, and wrapped in cloth and plastic. The medical examiner identified Williams the next day and later determined that he had likely been strangled before his body was set on fire.

Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Betty Andrews, president of the Iowa-Nebraska NAACP, said that it was understandable that having a body of an African American man found burning in a small town in Iowa would raise several red flags and concerns.

Andrews said her office had received numerous calls and inquires about the slaying, but she added that there appeared to be no indication that Mr. Williams was targeted because of his race.

Williams aunt, Paula Terrell, told the Des Moines Register that her family had been pleading with him to return to New York.

"All we wanted was for him to come home, she told the newspaper. Now we have to bring him home in the worst possible state.

"We will fight for justice," she added. "This is our family's mission, no matter what  we 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."
Asmit Trivedi, who runs a textile business in Surat, had 24 workers in his manufacturing unit before the Coronavirus lockdown. Trivedi had, in fact, hired six more workers ahead of the 2019 general elections and decided to retain them as business was booming. Cut to September, his manufacturing unit is running at 25 percent capacity with 15 workers having headed home.

I had seven workers from Bihar, four from West Bengal and the rest from Uttar Pradesh. They moved back home soon after the lockdown. Even as restrictions ease, they are not ready to come back and business is suffering, he said.

While the Covid-19 lockdown has been eased across the country in a bid to boost manufacturing activity and small businesses, reverse migration has hit the latter hard. Though workers have started to return, about 20-30 percent of these employees still dont want to return due to virus fears and worries that there may be no work for them.

Levers of the economy

The Ministry of Employment and Labour said in a reply to a Lok Sabha question that 10.46 million migrant workers have returned to their home towns. Here, Uttar Pradesh topped the list with 3.25 million workers returning, followed by Bihar with 1.5 million and West Bengal, with 1.38 million.

India has close to 130 million migrant workers, meaning these individuals move away from their homes in search of employment.

When the lockdown began on March 25, cities such as Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru struggled for even for basics amid the worker exodus. Mumbai, for instance, started running short of bread since bakeries were finding it tough to produce amid the worker shortage.

Jayesh Dastidar belongs to Nadia district in West Bengal and worked as a roti (flatbread) maker in the kitchen of a Mumbai restaurant. He told Moneycontrol over a telephonic conversation that he hasnt returned because he feels his employer may not need his services. It is a reality that not everyone wants to order food from outside due to virus fears. The owner called me several times saying business is getting affected because three of us have not yet returned. But what is the guarantee that they wont fire me if I go back? How will I be able to live in Mumbai without a job, asked Dastidar.

He has applied with a staffing firm for temporary jobs in and around his home-town but hasnt had any luck in finding a relevant role.

No immediate change expected

Human resources consultants are of the view that the labour shortage could continue for longer. RP Yadav, CMD of Genius Consultants, confirmed that there are some migrant workers who have decided to stay back. About 5-25 percent of workers are still in their home towns, depending on the client. The government has also offered some packages to these workers who have gone back home, he added.

It is not just textile units, food stores or restaurants that are being impacted. Production units of consumer goods such as bags, shoes and cosmetics have also been hit.

Ismail Akhtar, who produces leather shoes at his workshop in Dharavi, Mumbai, told Moneycontrol that seven people in his 10-member team are not yet back. My workers used to typically sleep in the workshop. But that is no longer permitted due to social distancing norms. Sanitisation costs are also high and workers find it unsafe to live in these conditions, said Akhtar.

Dharavi is among Asias largest slums and hence is at a much higher risk of Covid-19 spreading due to unsafe sanitation and lack of proper toilets.

While Akhtar agrees that adequate grain supply being facilitated by the government under the PM Garib Kalyan package would motivate workers to stay home longer, he felt this wouldnt be sufficient to sustain them. There is a reason why workers from smaller towns come to places like Mumbai or Delhi in search of a livelihood. Yes, my business is suffering ahead of the peak festive season but I firmly believe that the workers will be back by January, he added.

Refusing carrots

Even special incentives like cash bonuses or accommodation havent been able to lure workers back. Delhi-based staffing consultant Sanket Ahuja told Moneycontrol that he has been getting close to 20 cases a month since July where companies contact individuals like him to help convince workers to return.

I had a client who manufactures Kannauj perfume in Uttar Pradesh. Merely two days before the lockdown, 18 of his 35 member workforce moved back home. Of them, eight were from Srinagar and they simply cut all contact. The rest belonged to Rajasthan and indicated that they would not return, he added.

Ahuja explained that the perfume business owner was not only ready to pay for their travel and quarantine expenses, but also offered a 10 percent pay hike since the gifting season had begun. But the workers refused, citing virus fears. One worker had just had a baby in August and thought it was too risky to bring his wife and child along.

I am now desperately scouting for replacements. Perfumery is a niche business and we need at least semi-skilled talent for this purpose. It is really a challenge due to the reverse migration, he added.

As India moves into the festive season with expectations of a pick-up in demand across consumer-facing segments, the labour woes of business owners in cities appear to have just begun.
Chennai, Sep 23 : Chennai Air Customs has seized gold, drones and iPhones worth Rs 62.6 lakh from four international passengers who flew into India over the past two days, the Commissioner of Customs said on Wednesday.

On Wednesday morning, Customs officials searched a passenger who flew in from Dubai and found two plastic pouches of gold paste stitched inside his underwear. A total of 412 gm gold of 24 Carat purity valued at Rs 21.4 lakh was seized from him.

A gold 'kada' weighing 98 gm and valued at Rs 5 lakh and five drones, two iPhones-11 valued at Rs 5.6 lakh were also seized.

On Tuesday, three passengers -- one from Virudhnagar in Tamil Nadu and two from Kadappa in Andhra Pradesh -- who arrived from Doha and Kuwait by air were searched by the Customs officials and gold weighing 586 gm and valued at Rs 30.6 lakh was seized from them.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs undersecretary and National Committee on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and their Destruction chairperson Dr. Shaikha Rana bint Isa bin Daij Al Khalifa delivered virtually yesterday Bahrains message at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference in its 64th session, being held in Vienna until Friday.

Dr. Shaikha Rana thanked the IAEA and its director-general for their support in facing the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and congratulated the sisterly UAE for its inauguration of the first nuclear reactor for peaceful energy in the Arab world.

She stressed the Kingdoms interest in technical cooperation activities since its accession to the IAEA, as its technical cooperation program for the years 2020- 2021 aims to strengthen the infrastructure for radiation safety and nuclear security, through the development of a legal system and the preparation of specialized inspectors, within the framework of a carefully prepared national project.

Dr. Shaikha Rana also talked about other important topics and expressed appreciation for the existing cooperation between Bahrain and the IAEA and member states in order to achieve the noble goals for which the agency was established to serve all humanity
The Director of Elections for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Elvis Afriyie Ankrah says the party has detailed reports on the number of names omitted in the voters register.

Speaking on Eyewitness News, Mr. Ankrah said the partys flagbearer, John Mahama called off his tour of the Bono Region for a meeting where the reports will be presented to him to decide on the next line of action.

When you have an EC that did not meet with political parties before the exhibition exercise and when you have a register that has been badly compiled, with tens of thousands of names missing from the register, there is no point in being out on the field campaigning. We are going to present him [Mahama] with detailed reports. We have detailed reports from every single region. We will meet with our flagbearer and decide on the next course of action.

According to him, the party collated numbers during the voters registration exercise.

What they [EC] dont know is that we have generated our own register. We put together daily reports from the registration exercise.

In any case, when the [Ashaiman] MP went to check his name on the register, wasnt the EC there? Did they object then that his name was not in the register? It does not make sense. Why will an MP go to a registration centre, EC officials are there, his name is in the register, and he says his name is not on the register? The EC subsequently picked the MPs name and picture and published it. That is deceitful, he added.

Reports of omissions of names of registered voters from the provisional voters' register

Minority Leader, Haruna Idrissu has complained about the omission of names in the Tamale South Constituency.

Outgoing Tamale Central MP, Inusah Fuseini, alleged that the National Democratic Congress' national monitoring revealed an omission of 1,200 names from the South Day constituency alone, while Ashaiman MP, Ernest Norgbey also alleged over 7,000 names were omitted from his constituency's register.

Ernest Norgbey, in particular, alleged that the Electoral Commission was deliberately deleting the names of registered voters from perceived NDC strongholds.

But the Electoral Commission has denied the claims and insisted that voters who duly registered and were issued with Voter ID Cards but cannot find their names on the provisional register can rectify the situation.

---citinewsroom
French veterans who landed at the beach on D-Day have expressed their anger at an 'immersive' memorial that will offer live re-enactments to guests.

Hubert Faure, 106, and Leon Gautier, 97, echoed public outcry as they criticised the proposed tourist attraction in Normandy as a commercialised spectacle.

The Homage to the Heroes memorial, which was initially announced in January, is set open in time for the 80th anniversary of the Allied invasion in 2024.

The creators of the project are currently searching for a 35-hectare site near the historical beaches which could accommodate 600,000 visitors per year.

It is thought that they will introduce mobile grandstands on rails to transport spectators through re-enacted battle scenes.

French veterans Hubert Faure, 106, and Leon Gautier, 97, echoed public outcry as they criticised the proposed tourist attraction in Normandy as a commercialised spectacle

Gautier and Faure were former soldiers of the Kieffer commando which served in the Second World War under Captain Philippe Keiffer of the Free French Navy.

It was the only uniformed French soldier unit to participate in the embarkment with the allies on June 6, 1944, during which almost 10,000 soldiers were killed or injured.

Gautier previously told AFP: 'I am against the project.'

An appeal against the memorial, published in Le Monde, has since been signed by 154 descendants of those in the Kieffer commando.

The families said that they were 'deeply shocked' by the commercial proposal on the site where thousands gave their lives in the battle against Nazi occupation.

The Homage to the Heroes memorial is set to be opened in time for the 80th anniversary of the Allied invasion in 2024. Pictured: Troops take positions on Sword Beach after Allied forces stormed the Normandy beaches in north-western France on D-Day on June 6, 1944

It said: 'The memory [of the historical event] cannot in any case be shared in a way that is dramatic, festive or commercial.'

'This runs against the message transmitted by our fathers and grandfathers when they showed great modesty and solemnity when talking about the fighting.

'Their message never sought to make us "relive" these events.'

Speaking about the proposals, British Army officer Colonel Richard Kemp, who was the commander of British forces in Afghanistan in 2003, said: 'I think its a good thing to make people aware of and educate people as to what happened at Normandy.

'But this sounds like it is turning into a theme park which is not the right thing to be doing.

Retired British Army officer Colonel Richard Kemp told MailOnline: 'I think to turn it into a money-spinner and a theme park is a mistake'

'It is a battlefield on which many British, American, Canadian soldiers died. I don't suggest it should be preserved as it was I think it is right that people should be able to go as their forefathers might have seen it.

'I think to turn it into a money-spinner and a theme park is a mistake - I am fully in favour of having a museum to educate people and having guides but I think it is at risk of becoming a kind of Disneyland.'

Herve Morin, president of Normandy and a former defence minister, is set to open the park if it is given the go ahead.

He joined other MPs and local authorities who dismissed the criticism of the proposed attracted as uninformed.

'There has never been any question of a theme park. We have taken all the necessary precautions to guarantee the ethical dimension,' he said according to The Times.

Mr Morian had initially estimated that the attraction would cost 100million (92million) but promoters have predicted it will be much lower and argued that it will boost the economy as well as creating new jobs in the area.

The project - proposed by television producer Stephane Gateau, musical producer Roberto Ciurleo, and promoter Regis Lefebvre - also has the support of British military historian Sir Antony Beevor.

Mr Lefebvre denied the experience would be a 'theme park' and said: 'It will be a 50-minute living documentary mixing archive imagery, immersive techniques and living paintings.'

He added that there will be 'no carousels' and 'no commercial areas', although an onsite shop is planned 'as in all museums'.

Every year an average of five million tourists visit the Normandy battlefields.
SARATOGA SPRINGS  Within his first two weeks of heading Shelters of Saratoga, its new executive director fulfilled one of the nonprofits long-sought after goals  a daytime drop-in center for the homeless.

There, men and women who find themselves without a roof can meet with career counselors, social service and mental health professionals, veteran and domestic violence advocates, as well as others who will help the citys homeless find a path out of their personal crisis, said executive director Duane Vaughn.

People have had a rough go of it, said Vaughn, who was hired last month. Addiction, loss of a job, domestic violence, mental health issues. They are people, but some of them have trust issues and may resist help. We want to build those relationships and provide services where they can access them.

Vaughns army of counselors will move into 31 Woodlawn Ave. on Oct. 1, thanks to the Saratoga Countys Board of Supervisors who unanimously agreed to allow Shelters to use the first floor of its building. They can stay there for six months, rent-free, in the vacant building which used to house the county's Public Health Department.

Saratoga Springs Supervisor Matthew Veitch, who brokered the deal, said the location is ideal. It's in the heart of the city in an area where many of the homeless already hang out. He said the 17,000 sq.-ft. brick building will also serve as the overflow for the Code Blue program, which serves up to 70 people on cold nights, but can only accommodate 40 in its current Adelphi Street location.

As chair of the county's building and grounds committee, he floated the idea and won the needed consensus through to the full Board of Supervisors.

No one was opposed," Veitch said. "Im glad that my colleagues were open to the idea.

The three-story building, erected during the 1920s by the Delaware Hudson Railroad, has housed the countys probation office, the Department of Public Works and Department of Motor Vehicles. Most recently, it was the home of the Department of Public Health, which has since moved to the countys new public safety building in Ballston Spa. Once the short-term lease with Shelters is up, the county plans to sell the building.

This is not the first time Shelters tried to open a drop-in center. In 2018, plans were approved to build a center that would also house all of Code Blue residents. It was supposed to be built next to Shelters' sober living home on Walworth Street, but neighbors successfully blocked its construction. Soon after, then Executive Director Michael Finocchi left. Plans languished under his successor, Karen Gregory.

Some residents, knowing how important a drop-in center is to the homeless, lobbied the county for the Woodlawn building. Attorney Eric Lawson, one of the advocates of the effort, said it's a perfect location and that it could also be designated as the main winter shelter, similar to the original Walworth Street plan.

"It's in the center part of the city, it's got the size and capacity," Lawson said last March when he was pushing the idea. "What has happened in this community is they think by providing temporary housing in the winter that's all they need to do. It doesn't work. They need other support and services ... and the first thing they need is a location where they can focus their efforts in taking the first step to provide homeless people with the resources to get their lives back on track."

While city commissioners and Lawson applauded the county's decision for the Woodlawn building, Mayor Meg Kelly said at a recent city meeting no one discussed it with the city....I feel there is big a disconnect here."

She said she foresees difficulty with staffing, which she was insufficient last winter. However, many of Shelters staff and volunteers resigned during Gregorys stint with Shelters, citing that she created a hostile, confrontational and unprofessional work environment. Shelters' board fired her in June.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Vaughn said he understands the importance of adequate staffing, as he has been establishing and managing homeless shelters since 2003. With that in mind, he said Shelters is seeking to hire between 20 to 50 people. He realizes that overnights can be the toughest to staff and is willing to hire people who will take one or two nights a week.

It needs to be safe for everybody," he said.

Veitch said he doesn't know why Kelly appears unhappy about the plans for the Woodlawn site. But he does know that Kelly's offer to buy the building for the city at $1 is nonstarter. The county, he said, will look to sell at closer to the appraised figure of $2 million.

If the city is interested or Shelters is interested, thats fine, Veitch said. The county isnt going to turn anyone away if they offer what the county is looking for. There are no favorites. It will be whoever will come and agree to terms.

Meanwhile, Vaughn said he doesnt want to get into a political fight between the county and the city. His hope is that the community can unite to solve the problem of homelessness.

Its not a homeless issue, its a human issue, Vaughn said. It's not a political issue to me. Lets try to work together to de-politicize it and see the humanity. I believe the mayor and county want best for everyone."
A murder prone has been launched after a man was stabbed to death in a "particularly violent" attack near Manchester.

Police said the victim was attacked in Wythenshawe close to a busy junction with Southmoor Road, which has a number of businesses and homes nearby.

The ambulance service, which had been called out to reports of a stabbing on Royal Oak Road, contacted police on Tuesday at about 5.10pm.

The man was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later. His next of kin has been informed.

Detective chief inspector Stuart Wilkinson, of GMP's major incident team, said: "This was a particularly violent incident and the consequence is that a man has sadly lost his life.

"Our thoughts are with his loved ones as specially trained colleagues support them."

He said: "We are appealing for information - this incident happened near the busy junction with Southmoor Road, where there are a number of businesses as well as homes so it is highly likely that members of the public who were leaving work, commuting or arriving home saw or heard something of significance."

Residents will see dedicated investigators and patrols in the area for the coming days "at least".

DCI Wilkinson said: "I hope this reassures members of the public but anyone who is worried should speak directly with those officers."

Anyone with information should contact police on 0161 856 9908 quoting 2251 of 22/09/20 or call Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Violence continued in Afghanistan even after peace talks between the Kabul government and the Taliban opened in Doha (seen here)

At least 14 Afghan soldiers and police were killed during intense fighting with the Taliban in southern Afghanistan, officials said Monday, as unabated violence gripped the country despite ongoing peace talks.

Taliban fighters launched an overnight assault late Sunday on several Afghan security force positions in the southern province of Uruzgan, inflicting a heavy toll that left Afghan troops vulnerable to being overrun.

The government-controlled district of Gizab also risked falling into insurgent hands, officials said.

"Intense fighting is ongoing. Our forces have retreated from several outposts," Zelgai Ebadi, a spokesman for the provincial governor, told AFP.

Officials said 14 Afghan security forces had been killed and more than a dozen more wounded.

"The fighting is now close to police headquarters. We need more reinforcements," said Amir Mohammad Barekzai, head of the Uruzgan provincial council.

The battle comes as Taliban and Afghan government negotiators are meeting in Doha, where they are trying to find a way to end 19 years of war.

A hopeful start to the talks more than a week ago was immediately marred by fresh violence across Afghanistan, and negotiators have made little tangible progress.

On Saturday in the northeastern province of Kunduz, the Afghan air force conducted multiple strikes on Taliban positions that killed more than 30 insurgent fighters, military officials said.

However, local officials on Monday said the strikes killed at least 17 civilians.

Esmatullah Muradi, spokesman for the Kunduz provincial governor, said the civilians died as they gathered at the site of an initial strike against the Taliban.

"Based on our initial investigation, 17 civilians were also killed and 15 more injured in the second air strike," Muradi told AFP, saying an "unknown number" of militants had been killed.

The defence ministry has not confirmed any civilian casualties and said it was investigating the case.

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The interior ministry meanwhile said the Taliban had killed 98 civilians and wounded 230 more over the past two weeks in Afghanistan.

In Kabul, at least one person was killed and three more injured Monday in three separate explosions caused by so-called sticky bombs -- homemade devices attached to vehicles with magnets that are regularly used to target security forces.

No group immediately claimed responsibility.

Speaking in Kabul, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani however appeared hopeful about peace talks.

"Peace is not possible without compromise," he told a gathering to mark International Peace Day.

"Peace talks are like playing chess. Be patient," he said.

strs-us-wat/sst
Barcelona have lost one of their star figures of recent years in the shape of Luis Suarez, and former Atletico Madrid striker Hugo Sanchez has been hugely critical of the club for allowing him to leave.

He points in particular to the Uruguayan's friendship with Lionel Messi as a key reason to keep hold of him.

"They made a mistake letting him go, if they want him to be smiling in training, they need to give him a shell to protect him," Sanchez told Radio MARCA.

"Messi feels comfortable with people who understand and accompany him, if you take Suarez away you're going to affect Messi as well as Suarez.

"If you have Suarez as your right-hand man and no left-hand man, you can't let him go."

Sanchez was clearly unimpressed by the decision which leaves Messi isolated only weeks after expressing his unhappiness at the club.
A recent fire at an Armenian church is now one of three incidents levied against the citys Armenian community over the past two months that police are investigating as hate crimes.

The San Francisco Police Departments Arson Task Force is investigating the fire that burned the parish office adjacent to the St. Gregory Armenian Apostolic Church in Laurel Heights on Sept. 17 as a hate crime, officials said this week.

The other two incidents are tied to the KZV Armenian School in the Parkmerced neighborhood.

On Sept. 19, two days after the fire, police officers heard gunshots outside the school and discovered bullet damage on a sign out front. The school was previously vandalized with hateful graffiti in July.

The series of what appears to be anti-Armenian crimes has been deeply troubling to the Bay Areas tight-knit Armenian community.

The community is really jarred and looking for answers in the aftermath, but remains dedicated to working with the authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice with the full power of the law, said Khatchig Tazian, a parishoner at St. Gregory.

Public officials including Gov. Gavin Newsom, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Burbank, and Rep. Jackie Speier, D-San Mateo, who is of Armenian descent herself, have condemned the violence against the community in recent days.

San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin called the incident an outrage and an act of cowardly, hateful, criminal conduct.

The fire last week destroyed Sunday school classrooms, a library, meeting rooms and church offices as flames tore through the building before dawn. No one was injured, but the fire incinerated baptism, marriage and other historical records that community members called irreplaceable.

Police have not taken into custody any suspects in relation to the suspected arson or the two incidents at the KZV Armenian School, SFPD Spokesman Robert Rueca said Wednesday. The department has stepped up security at around the city, performing nighttime patrols at Armenian churches, the school and the Armenian genocide memorial cross at Mt. Davidson Park.

Last month police released surveillance video of the vandals who spray painted messages such as F ARMENIA, U WILL PAY on the schools walls and gates, as well as sexist slurs against the Kardashians, a celebrity family of Armenian heritage. The video, taken on the night of July 24, showed four vandals jumping over the school fence with paint cans while two others stood as lookouts.

Nora Mishanec / The Chronicle

Blanca Moran, who lives near the church, was awoken by the sound of male voices and shattered glass around 3:30 a.m. on Sept. 17, the morning the fire broke out at the church office. She smelled smoke drifting through her open window and quickly checked to see if her own house was on fire, but found nothing.

Hearing voices outside, Moran walked to the lawn in front of the church offices, where she met two men who were taking video of the building on their phones. They pointed to the offices when she inquired about their presence in the neighborhood. It remains unclear if the two men played any part in the suspected arson.

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.

Moran returned to her home, and the men disappeared before police and fire crews were called to the scene half an hour later.

The church fire and school vandalism appear to be part of a series of attacks on Armenian meeting places around the world following a flareup of tensions on the Armenian-Azerbaijan border. European media outlets reported that a Turkish nationalist group in France disrupted an Armenian demonstration and desecrated a statue of a priest who was imprisoned during the Armenian genocide. Police in Moscow reportedly arrested more than 30 people after groups of Azerbaijanis beat up Armenians and attacked Armenian-owned stores.

The Armenian Cultural Foundation is offering a $25,000 reward to anyone with information that leads to an arrest and conviction of those involved in the incidents, said foundation board member Abraham Panossian.

Moran, the church neighbor, said she is aware of the reward. But, like the Armenian community, she would prefer to see a resolution.

I am not interested in money, I am just interested in justice, she said.

Nora Mishanec is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: nora.mishanec@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @NMishanec
Google has unveiled its take on the market for highly customizable work-tracking apps with the beta launch of Tables.

Created in Googles Area 120 project incubator, Tables combines spreadsheet and database functionality with a no-code approach that lets users create simple apps to meet individual needs. This could mean anything from a tailored timesheet forms to a support ticket queue or even serve as a lightweight CRM.

Its an approach heralded by San Francisco Calif.-based Airtable, which recently attracted $185 million in Series D funding; Microsoft has launched a similar service to Office 365 customers with Lists.

As with those apps, Google Tables lets users automate repetitive manual tasks, such as collating data or pasting information into another document, in an intuitive spreadsheet interface.

Tables also features familiar work-tracking elements such as kanban board layouts to monitor team progress. It integrates with other Google productivity tools  it can import data from Sheets, for instance  and share data with colleagues in Google Groups.

Tracking work with existing tech solutions meant building a custom in-house solution or purchasing an off-the-shelf product, but these options are time-consuming, inflexible, and expensive, Tables general manager Tim Gleason said in a blog post Tuesday. Tables helps teams track work and automate tasks to save time and supercharge collaboration  without any coding required.



The launch of Tables allows Google to close the gap with rival Microsoft following its own launch of Lists, said Raul Castanon, senior analyst at 451 Research / S&P Global Market Intelligence. More importantly, it highlights the emphasis that Google is placing on enabling user productivity, he said.

While the feature might appear simple at first glance, it can be quite powerful given that it adds a layer of functionality that allows users to work with other team members across different applications.

In this respect, Tables helps employees address key challenges, said Castanon, namely dealing with a growing number of business applications and having to constantly switch between them to accomplish routine tasks.



The features in Google Tables provide lite project management capabilities, which, combined with low code/no code automation, have the potential to elevate collaboration to a different level, he said.

Tables is currently available in beta in the U.S. A free version is available to try out, alongside a $10 per user/month version that removes certain usage and feature limitations.
Making raw data more usable

Computers play a significant role in data science and analysis, but despite their speed and accuracy, they are unable to understand nuance and mitigating factors that could make raw data more usable.

Gautam Das, a computer science professor at The University of Texas at Arlington, is leading a team of researchers working to address that shortcoming by increasing the role of humans in the data science pipeline.

Won Hwa Kim, an assistant professor of computer science, is co-principal investigator on the project, which is funded by a $309,583 share of a larger $498,762 grant from the National Science Foundation. UTA alumna Senjuti Basu Roy, a former doctoral student under Das and now an assistant professor of computer science at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, also is collaborating on the project.

The data science pipeline is a sequence of steps by which raw data is collected, cleaned, organized and stored in databases with appropriate features and attributes, then modeled and analyzed for unknown patterns and insights. It can help solve problems in a variety of areas, including the business world and scientific domain.

Humans are involved in the data pipeline at its beginning and end, while automated processes and artificial intelligence algorithms do the majority of the work in between. At the beginning, human contributions are mostly in leveraging a large number of workers for menial tasks, such as labelling photos and noting whether their content is positive, negative or neutral in tone. At the end, a few highly trained data scientists and AI experts create predictive models, deploy them and interpret the outcomes.

The computers' contributions include organizing and storing data in ways that make it easier to search and find patterns. A significant component of data organization is attribute or feature engineering, which is accomplished through cumbersome automated processes using machine learning or reliant on domain experts that can be slow and expensive.

Das and his team are working to optimize the process by developing a human-in-the-loop framework that makes people a larger part of the attribute engineering segment. Their focus is on medical data and tabular information, where, for instance, a computer can look for information about lengths of hospitalizations but won't make note of whether and why a patient is readmitted shortly after being released. Such additional information could be used to detect patterns in patient care that otherwise go undetected.

"If a human can look at a dataset and add another column that adds context, it could be very useful in future algorithms," Das said. "Once the information is labelled, it helps the computer determine what it is, making the process faster and less labor-intensive for the algorithm."

This new approach to humans-in-the-loop computing is an important step in data analysis, says Hong Jiang, chair of UTA's Computer Science and Engineering Department.

"Massive amounts of data are available to end users, and the ability to make that data usable and contextual through humans-in-the-loop computing is an important step in making the data pipeline more accessible," Jiang said. "The work that Dr. Das and his team are doing will make it easier for data scientists to make the best use of the information at their fingertips."

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This story has been published on: 2020-09-22. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
By Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala government has ordered a vigilance probe into the allegations pertaining to the irregularities in the LIFE( Livelihood, Inclusion and Financial Empowerment) Mission project at Wadakkanchery in Thrissur district. The order was issued by Home secretary TK Jose to the Vigilance director late Tuesday.

As per the order, the allegations regarding the bribery related to the project and the deal with the Red Crescent authority will also be investigated. The government issued the order following a month-long controversy and allegations by the Opposition parties in which many political leaders and officers accepted bribes for the implementation of the project.

Meanwhile, Wadakkanchery MLA Anil Akkara said that the vigilance probe could not be accepted. The vigilance probe was announced at a time when the CBI was coming up with an investigation.

ALSO READ | Allegation against Life Mission ploy to tarnish government: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan

The final agreement for the project of the state government to construct the housing scheme with the hospital at Wadakkanchery in Thrissur district was signed between UAE Consulate and Unitac Builders. As per the norms in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the contract should be signed between Red crescent authority based in UAE and Unitac builders.

The controversial agreement was signed on July 31, 2019, between UAE Consul General and Unitac builders managing partner Santosh Eapen. The agreement was to construct a housing complex and hospital on the government land.

On July 11, 2019, UV Jose, LIFE Mission Chief Executive Officer under state government signed the MoU with Red crescent authority which is selected as the consultancy for the implementation of the project. However, the final agreement did not specify who the project consultant would be.

The deal between the UAE Red Crescent Authority and the state government stated that the MoU would form a framework so that the Red crescent would provide 1 crore UAE dirham to the state for constructing housing complexes and hospitals.

ALSO READ | Life Mission: Make papers of deal public, says Chennithala

However, the UAE Consulate was involved in the two agreements with the builder directly. One is a contract worth Rs 14.24 crore ( 70 lakh UAE dirham) with Unitac builders for the housing complex and other is the contract for a women and children hospital adjacent to the plot for Rs 6.10 crore ( 30 lakh UAE dirham) Unitac' sister company Sane ventures in Ernakulam.

The controversy on the deal was triggered after allegations that a large sum of money was handed over as commission to the facilitators of the project.This comes following the revelation of a key accused of gold smuggling case , Swapna Suresh to National Investigation Agency that she allegedly received Rs 1 crore as commission from the builder.
A woman arrested by U.S. 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 Canadas 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, where U.S. 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 [sic] USA and lead them to disaster.

The message referred to the poison in the envelope as a special gift, adding that if it didnt 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 centers 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 U.S. 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 U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder Jr. at 4 p.m. EDT (2000 GMT).

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.

By Christinne Muschi in Longueuil, Steve Scherer in Ottawa, Mark Hosenball and Sarah N. Lynch in Washington and Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Additional reporting by David Ljunggren in Ottawa
by Nirmala Carvalho

The lockdown cuts domestic and foreign demand. Prices plummet by 60-70%, the most drastic drop in a decade. The textile sector employs 45 million people nationwide. Local authorities intervene, providing subsidies to producers.

Bengaluru (AsiaNews) - The coronavirus pandemic has plummeted Indias silk industry into great difficulty. The People's Archive of Rural India reports that the government-imposed lockdown to fight Covid-19 has hit silk producers, sellers and weavers hard. The supply chain has imploded and low demand has caused prices to drop by 60-70%, from 450-480 rupees (5.2-5.6 euros) to 150-160 (1.7-1.9 euros). euro) per kg.

Textiles are a key sector of the Indian economy. According to the India Brand Equity Foundation, it employs around 45 million people and contributes to 7% of industrial production and 2% of GDP. In 2019, silk exports generated revenues of 31.3 billion euros, 15% of the earnings deriving from national exports.

The crisis is clearly visible in the market of Ramanagara (Karnataka), one of the largest in Asia for the sale of silk cocoons. Farmers from all over the state gather here to sell their produce. The facility is open 24 hours a day, as many farmers go there at night for the next day's auction.

Deputy Market Director Munshi Basaiah explains that on average 35-40 metric tons of cocoons are sold per day. Karnataka supplies about one third of all silk produced in India, the world's leading producer of fine fabrics, after China. The sales reduction is mainly due to the postponement or cancellation of weddings and other events of great social importance in the country.

Hemanth PR, a 33-year-old second-generation farmer from Ramanagara whose family has been producing silk cocoons for over 30 years, says this is the most drastic price drop he has ever seen in a decade.

Since April 1, the government of Karnataka has been supporting the sector with a subsidy of 50 rupees for every kg of cocoons sold. Local authorities hope that at the end of the health emergency the situation will settle; until then, those in the silk industry must find alternative means to survive and feed their families.
LATEST Sept. 25, 7:15 a.m. San Francisco Mayor London Breed announced Thursday expanded COVID-related support for the Latino community, which has been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, according to a release form the city.

Of the nearly 11,000 cases reported in the city, 50% have been among Latinos, despite the demographic making up 15% of the population.

The funding effort will help with testing, contact tracing, housing, food access, family support, loans for small businesses and more.

Read the full statement from the city.

Sept. 25, 7 a.m. Free COVID-19 testing will be available this weekend in Oakland's Fruitvale District, organizers said.

Testing will be available to families in the 94601 zip code on Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the La Clinica de La Raza parking lot at 35th Avenue and East 12th Street.

The area is disproportionately affected by the virus, so community groups are holding a Test and Respond campaign-Sanando Juntos: Fruitvale (Healing Together: Fruitvale).

"This event will help identify those individuals who are COVID-19 positive but do not know it," said Chris Iglesias, CEO of The Unity Council, which is a partner in the project.

As of Thursday, there were more than 2,100 cases in zip code 94601, according to the Alameda County Public Health Department. Oakland has the most cases of any city in the county with about 8,300 cases.

Sept. 23, 8:15 a.m. Nail salons are now allowed to resume business indoors across California regardless of their tier in the state's reopening structure.

Dr. Mark Ghaly, the state health secretary, said at a press briefing Tuesday that even counties in the most restrictive purple tier can choose to permit nail salons to reopen, though he cautioned that California's reopening must remain slow and stringent and residents cannot let their guard down as flu season arrives and cases rise in Europe and other parts of the U.S.

Counties can opt to move more cautiously through reopening, so people should check with their county health departments to determine the status of salons.

Sept. 23, 8 a.m. San Francisco's Aquarium by the Bay reopened Monday. Tickets for a specific entry day and time must be purchased in advance.

Sept. 23, 7:45 a.m. More indoor businesses, including movie theaters, gyms and restaurant dining rooms, may be able to reopen in Contra Costa County as soon as next week, should COVID-19 case trends continue, the county's health officer said Tuesday.

Dr. Chris Farnitano said that, as of Tuesday, Contra Costa County has met the state's "red tier" criteria for one week. The county, currently in the purple tier, will have to show it meets those standards again on Sept. 29 to join most of the rest of the Bay Area in the less constrained red tier. Sonoma County is the only other Bay Area county still in the purple tier as of Tuesday; Alameda, San Mateo and Solano counties made the move to the red tier this week.

Two key numbers registered Tuesday were the county's "cases per day per 100,000 population" number (6.5 cases), and its testing positivity rate (3.4 percent). Similar numbers recorded on Sept. 29, Farnitano said, will enable Contra Costa's move into the red tier.

Among the openings allowed in "red tier" counties are indoor gyms (at 10 percent capacity), museums and movie theaters (at 25 percent capacity), restaurant dining rooms and houses of worship and other cultural spaces (25 percent capacity or 100 people, whichever is fewer).

Bay City News and the Associated Press contributed to this story.

Coronavirus in the greater Bay Area: Links you need

COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS

Alameda County: Find the latest COVID-19 numbers and health order.

Contra Costa County: Find the latest COVID-19 numbers and health order.

Lake County: Find the latest COVID-19 numbers and health order.

Marin County: Find the latest COVID-19 numbers and health order.

Monterey County: Find the latest COVID-19 numbers and health order.

Napa County: Find the latest COVID-19 numbers and health order.

San Benito County: Find the latest COVID-19 numbers and health order.

San Francisco County: Find the latest COVID-19 numbers and health order.

San Mateo County: Find the latest COVID-19 numbers and health order.

Santa Clara County: Find the latest COVID-19 numbers and health order.

Santa Cruz County: Find the latest COVID-19 numbers and health order.

Solano County: Find the latest COVID-19 numbers and health order.

Sonoma County: Find the latest COVID-19 numbers and health order.

Amy Graff is the News Editor for SFGATE. Email her: agraff@sfgate.com.
The US Food and Drug Administration is expected to soon announce new, more stringent standards for an emergency authorization of a COVID-19 vaccine, lowering the chances that one might be cleared for use before the Nov. 3 election, the Washington Post reported on Tuesday.

The agency is issuing the guidance to boost transparency and public trust as health experts have become increasingly concerned that the Trump administration might be interfering in the approval process, the newspaper said.

According to the report, the FDA is expected to ask vaccine manufacturers seeking an emergency authorization to follow trial participants for a median of at least two months after they receive a second vaccine shot. It also said the agency is asking that trials identify a specific number of severe cases of COVID-19 in patients who received a placebo in the trials.

Few vaccine developers were expected to have definitive trial results before the presidential election. Pfizer Inc had been the exception, although its timetable could slip with the new guidance.

Moderna Inc has said it is unlikely to have data in October. AstraZeneca Plcs trial in the United States is halted while investigators try to determine whether a serious neurological problem suffered by one participant in the companys U.K. trial was caused by the vaccine.

Moderna and Pfizer began their late-stage trials on July 27, and took about a month to enroll 15,000 people, the halfway point for their initial planned enrollment.

The trials are designed for people to receive their second shot either three or four weeks after the first. Two months of follow-up would make it unlikely the companies would have enough data before mid-November.

Pfizer said on Tuesday that based on current infection rates it still expects to know whether or not their vaccine works as early as the end of October. Pfizers trial protocol calls for an early look at the data after just 32 participants become infected.

We anticipate providing FDA with safety data, including the median of two months safety data after the second dose, on a rolling basis to help inform FDAs ultimate determination of authorization or approval, the drugmaker said in an emailed statement.
Scott Morrison personally wrote to Daniel Andrews three times urging the Victorian premier to accept 1,000 Australian Defence Force troops to help the state's fight against coronavirus, bombshell letters have revealed.

Details of the strongly-worded letters, obtained by Sky News through Freedom of Information laws, were revealed on Wednesday night.

They were written by the prime minister as Victoria's second horror coronavirus wave that would later send the state back into lockdown began to spiral out of control.

Mr Morrison first wrote to the premier on July 4.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison urged Victorian premier to accept 1,000 Australian Defence Force troops to help the state's fight with coronavirus. Pictured are ADF troops and police patrolling Melbourne during the second wave of the virus

Mr Morrison noted 'with concern' cases in Victoria that day spiked to 108 as 'part of an increased trend of cases during the past week'.

'This has necessitated a further two postcodes being listed as hotspots and new hard lockdowns of nine residential public housing buildings in North Melbourne,' he wrote.

'I recognise the new measures and support the significant efforts underway. The Commonwealth stands ready to provide any support needed on top of the existing measures in place, including Australian Defence Force support to support planning and logistics, and Commonwealth staff to support clinical efforts, community engagement and contact tracing.'

He added ADF personnel could also help with patrolling affected suburbs already in lockdown and residents do not travel outside from hotspot zones.

Scott Morrison urged Daniel Andrews to accept the offer of extra ADF support numerous time. Pictured are ADF personnel manning a Princes Highway checkpoint outside Melbourne

'As we have seen with the previous outbreaks in North-West Tasmania and Sydney, these types of outbreaks can quickly overwhelm local health systems. I reaffirm the offer of Commonwealth for on-the-ground support and help in co-ordinating support from other states while acknowledging Victoria's leadership,' he continued.

Mr Morrison also expressed concern about the number of cases where such travellers have been identified entering NSW, sparking a spike in fresh cases there.

The prime minister followed up with another letter three days later on July 7, followed by a third on July 11.

'It is critical to the containment of the virus that the now thousands of people in isolation and quarantine are carefully tracked by phone and personal visits to ensure compliance (and to ensure their welfare),' Mr Morrison stressed.

He added the remainder of ADF personnel Victoria requested on July 7 could still be deployed. The request was later withdrawn.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison (pictured) expressed concern about Victoria's rising number of new cases in his first letter to the Victorian Premier on July 4

Up to 1,000 ADF personnel were offered to Victoria as the state's second coronavirus wave hit. Pictured are Australian Defence Force troops patrolling Melbourne's Fitzroy Gardens

'An estimated 1,000 ADF could be progressively deployed in this way over the next week, with greater scope beyond. Given the escalating COVID-19 outbreak in Victoria, I recommend you again consider further ADF deployment to Melbourne over the coming days to assist in the enforcement of public health compliance.'

Mr Andrews responded to the Prime Minister on July 5, 7, 12 and 14 regarding offers Commonwealth support.

The Commonwealth submission to the Victorian governments hotel quarantine inquiry revealed that Victoria's emergency management commissioner Andrew Crisp sent an email on June 24 requesting the assistance of 850 ADF troops.

The offer was withdrawn a day later, citing 'changing operational and resourcing requirements'.

Victoria recorded 15 new cases and five more deaths on Wednesday as Melbourne's 14-day average finally dipped below 30.
"It is time for Congress to strengthen the bedrock of our democracy and ensure our laws are strong enough to withstand a lawless president," the statement says. "These reforms are necessary not only because of the abuses of this president, but because the foundation of our democracy is the rule of law and that foundation is deeply at risk." Loading The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. It is unclear precisely when lawmakers would take up the legislation, though it will almost certainly be after November's election or sometime in the new year.

The Protecting Our Democracy Act, as it is titled, is being rolled out almost a year to the day after Speaker Nancy Pelosi, announced the House would pursue impeachment charges against the president. It faces long odds in the current Congress, where the Republican-led Senate is all but guaranteed to eschew the legislation. Yet its release less than six weeks before Election Day signals the changes congressional Democrats envision pursuing under a possible Joe Biden presidency, or if the party seizes a majority of Senate seats in November. The measure includes several provisions to speed up judicial rulings on congressional subpoenas and emoluments cases, in which the House or Senate alleges that a federal official violated constitutional prohibitions on accepting gifts without congressional permission. The bill states that both types of cases should be decided by a panel of three judges, and that any appeals would go directly to the Supreme Court. Loading The slow process of judicial review has been a frequent stumbling block for House Democrats attempting to subpoena Trump administration officials, leading the party to decide to avoid court battles entirely during Trump's impeachment process, for fear of getting bogged down.

The package mirrors several measures to better regulate the relationship between the White House and Justice Department, which Democrats believe has been too cozy under the leadership of Trump and Attorney-General William Barr. It reflects a proposal from Representative Hakeem Jeffries, requiring the attorney-general to keep a log of certain communications with the White House and periodically share it with the DOJ inspector general and Congress, and a bill from Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler, exempting the time a president or vice president spends in office from the statute of limitations for any federal crime. Nadler's measure seeks to ensure that the Justice Department's policy against indicting sitting presidents does not become a means for avoiding prosecution entirely. The measure also includes several provisions to limit the president's ability to interfere with congressional appropriations, by putting a time limit on emergency declarations and prohibiting the president from holding back congressionally-approved funding any later than 90 days before it expires - a change that aims to close a loophole the administration has used to effectively cancel unspent funds, particularly foreign aid, near the end of the fiscal year. The bill incorporates several other pieces of existing legislation as well, such as Intelligence Committee Chairman Representative Adam Schiff's measure requiring the administration to give Congress materials related to any pardon within 30 days and expressly prohibiting self-pardoning. It also includes Administration Committee Chairwoman Representative Zoe Lofgren's measure requiring political committees to report attempted foreign influence operations to the FBI. Finally, the package includes a new measure inspired by the recent parade of Trump administration officials using their federal office to engage in overt campaigning, a practice that was on stark display during last month's Republican National Convention. The bill gives the Justice Department's Office of the Special Counsel express authority to investigate suspected violations of the Hatch Act, and issue fines of up to $US50,000 for every violation that the president fails to discipline himself.
President Akufo-Addo Wednesday underscored Ghana's commitment to promoting ties and cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran for the mutual benefits of both countries.

He emphasized that both countries had many shared values and interests, saying: We have a very good feeling about Iran and we continue to cherish our relationship with Iran."

The President was interacting with the outgoing Iranian Ambassador, Dr Nosra Tollah Maleki, who had called on him at the Jubilee House, Accra, to bid him farewell after his duty tour of the country.

He congratulated the Persian envoy for a successful tour of duty in Ghana and commended his efforts at strengthening the relations between the two countries.

It's common in your business but it's always a sad thing to say goodbye to a good friend, President Akufo-Addo said.

He told Dr Maleki that Ghana was keenly aware of the positive collaborative steps between the two nations, particularly in education and health, where his country had offered scholarships, both in Ghana and in Iran.

"Our countries continue to share many common things; we belong to international associations and organisations that have many shared values and interest between us, the President said.

We want to continue to build a world in which all the people are accorded the dignity that should be accorded everybody and to a world where the rule of law is also operational.

"So we see that there are many many areas of collaboration between our two countries.

The President was happy of Dr Maleki's appreciation of the treatment and assistance he received from government officials in Ghana, saying; "That's what they are meant to be and it's good to hear the Ambassador saying that. They are good memories you are taking away."

We will also count upon you to be an Ambassador of Ghana in Iran and wherever you may be; take the opportunity to extend my warmest greetings to the President, Rouhani, he said.

Dr Maleki, who described his stay in Ghana as "wonderful," thanked the Government and people for the love shown him during the period.

He said he had witnessed, during his sojourn in Ghana, marked improvements and positive developments in the country's economy, politics, peace, security, unity and governance, and expressed the hope that Ghana would have a free, fair and peaceful elections.

---GNA
U.S. President Donald Trump has mocked Democrats over their criticism of his plan to put forward a Supreme Court nomination as soon as possible.

Did you hear, today, the latest? They impeached me for a perfect phone call.

Now they want to impeach me again if I nominate somebody as Im constitutionally obligated to do to serve on the Supreme Court of the U.S., Mr Trump said.

Go ahead. I want them  I want them to do that, he added.

Speaking in Dayton, Ohio, Mr Trump said he was going to announce his Supreme Court nominee on Saturday, or maybe even as early as Friday.

It will be a brilliant person, I have five [people] that were vetting right now  it will be a woman, Mr Trump said.

Colorado Republican, Cory Gardner said that he was ready to vote on Mr Trumps Supreme Court nominee and would vote to support the presidents pick if the nominee is qualified.

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, Mr Gardner said.

Mr Trump said earlier on Monday that he may choose his nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court by the end of the week and is considering picking from a list of five women candidates to replace the deceased justice Ruth Ginsburg.

The president reiterated that he wants to see a vote on his U.S. Supreme Court nominee at the Senate before the November 3 presidential election.

He added that he had already spoken to some of the candidates and plans to hold more meetings soon.

ALSO READ:

According to U.S. media reports, Mr Trump has met with Judge Amy Coney Barrett, 48, who is a circuit judge on the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Chicago.

Colorado Judge Allison Eid is also among those on President Trumps short list for the Supreme Court nomination.

On Friday, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Ginsburg died of complications from metastatic pancreatic cancer at her home in Washington.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on Friday that the Senate would vote on Mr Trumps pick to replace Ginsburg regardless of criticism by Democrats who are calling for a postponement of the vote because of being in an election year.
" " Look at that resemblance! You're not alone if you've wondered if these two towering beastmen  Bigfoot (left) and Chewie  were related. Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP/Getty Images; RichLegg/E+/Getty Images

It's Sunday, Feb. 26, 1984, and like millions of other kids in the United States, you're watching the network TV debut of "Star Wars" (aka "Star Wars: Episode IV  A New Hope") on CBS.

"Is that Bigfoot?" asks your dad, when Chewbacca appears onscreen.

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"No, Dad," you manage.

You've told your dad about Chewbacca before. He's seen the action figure. For that matter, he's seen actual depictions of Bigfoot before on "In Search of" and "The Six Million Dollar Man," so your dad should know better.

"He looks like a Bigfoot," Dad contends, walking out of the room.

And you can only sigh.

That was more than 36 years ago. Today, with eight more films in the series released, you reflect on your dad's confusion and you can't help but wonder: What IS the connection between these two, towering beastmen?

"Bigfoot," of course, is another name for Sasquatch, a folkloric North American being said to resemble a shaggy, upright ape. The creature has roots in the folk beliefs of various native North American tribespeople and is part of a familiar trope in global folklore: the beastman, a form neither entirely human nor entirely animal that inhabits the wild, untamed and sacred parts of the world. In modern times, Bigfoot has also come to symbolize a longing for the unexplored and an embodiment of environmental concern. It's also a frequent obsession of pseudoscientific investigation and unsubstantiated sightings.

Wookiees (like Chewbacca), at least within the lore of "Star Wars," have nothing to do with Earth. It's a galaxy far, far away, remember? As we know from 1978's "The Star Wars Holiday Special" and subsequent treatments, the Wookiees hail from the forest planet Kashyyyk. While many observers mistake them for a primitive species, the Wookiees boast both a rich culture and an aptitude for advanced, spacefaring technology. They fought in one of the final, crucial battles during the Clone Wars, and Chewbacca became a prominent rebel hero during the Galactic Civil War that followed.
It is not uncommon to see companies perform well in the years after insiders buy shares. Unfortunately, there are also plenty of examples of share prices declining precipitously after insiders have sold shares. So we'll take a look at whether insiders have been buying or selling shares in Compass Group PLC (LON:CPG).

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.

Insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing. 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'.

Check out our latest analysis for Compass Group

Compass Group Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider purchase was by Senior Independent Non-Executive Director John Bason for UK42k worth of shares, at about UK17.31 per share. That means that even when the share price was higher than UK12.01 (the recent price), an insider wanted to purchase shares. While their view may have changed since the purchase was made, this does at least suggest they have had confidence in the company's future. In our view, the price an insider pays for shares is very important. It is encouraging to see an insider paid above the current price for shares, as it suggests they saw value, even at higher levels. John Bason was the only individual insider to buy during the last year.

You can see the insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below!

There are plenty of other companies that have insiders buying up shares. You probably do not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying.

Story continues

Does Compass Group Boast High Insider Ownership?

Another way to test the alignment between the leaders of a company and other shareholders is to look at how many shares they own. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. Compass Group insiders own about UK9.4m worth of shares. That equates to 0.04% of the company. We've certainly seen higher levels of insider ownership elsewhere, but these holdings are enough to suggest alignment between insiders and the other shareholders.

So What Do The Compass Group Insider Transactions Indicate?

It doesn't really mean much that no insider has traded Compass Group shares in the last quarter. On a brighter note, the transactions over the last year are encouraging. We'd like to see bigger individual holdings. However, we don't see anything to make us think Compass Group insiders are doubting the company. In addition to knowing about insider transactions going on, it's beneficial to identify the risks facing Compass Group. Case in point: We've spotted 2 warning signs for Compass Group you should be aware of.

Of course Compass Group may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of high quality companies.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.



Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com.
For an American working class ravaged by Covid-19s economic destruction, the promise of tens of thousands of new, high-paying jobs in the offshore wind industry sounds like welcome news. Sadly, however, the economic benefits of job creation will be more than offset by increased energy prices and decreased growthadding up to, dare I say it, so much hot air.

Seven Atlantic Coast statesMassachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Virginiahave enacted mandates to subsidize development of thousands of megawatts of offshore wind turbines. In addition to making bold claims about environmental benefits, proponents promise the mandates will create new offshore wind manufacturing and service industries that will create jobsand lots of themalong the eastern seaboard.

In its 2017 Master Plan, for example, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority claims that developing 2,400 megawatts (MW) of offshore wind will create 5,000 new jobs, and $6.3 billion in infrastructure spending. Similar claims of economic grandeur have been made in New Jersey and Virginia. Not to be outdone, the American Wind Energy Association claims the offshore wind industry will create between 45,000 and 83,000 new jobs by 2030.

Maryland is leaving nothing to chance. That state is forcing US Wind Inc., which intends to build a 750 MW facility off the Maryland coast, to invest $51 million in a new steel fabrication plant and create at least 1,298 construction jobs. A second offshore wind facility, Skipjack Wind, has similar requirements. Mandating minimum numbers of construction workers used to be called feather-bedding because it raised costs. Today, Maryland calls it economic development.

Taxpayers also have been forced to open their wallets. In Massachusetts, for example, state taxpayers paid $113 million for the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center to develop the New Bedform Marine Commerce Terminal, almost double the original $60 million estimated cost, to serve the offshore wind industry.

Claims that offshore wind will invigorate these seven states economies are thin gruel. Given its high cost relative to wholesale electricity prices, offshore wind energy will lead to job-killing higher electricity prices. For example, in 2019, the average wholesale price of electricity in New England was less than $31 per megawatt-hour. In New York, average prices ranged between $22 per MWh Upstate to $51 per MWh in New York City. By comparison, the initial price for the Southfork Wind Project, to be built off the coast of Long Island, starts at $160 per MWh, over three times higher than the market price of electricity in New York City. Higher priced offshore wind power means higher-priced electricity for consumers and businessesand fewer dollars to spend or invest.

Moreover, claims by offshore wind proponents that the higher costs of offshore wind projects will have minimal economic impacts less than a cup of coffee a monthare laughable. Such reasoning ignores the cumulative economic impacts of those higher costs. Sure, a $3 cup of coffee sold by Starbucks may not sound like much. But according to its 2019 annual report, Starbucks revenues were $26.5 billion last year and its profits were over $5.7 billion. Thats a lot of coffee.

Back in 2010, the Rhode Island Public Utility Commission rejected a power contract application for the 30 MW Block Island Wind Farm, stating It is basic economics to know that the more money a business spends on energy, whether it is renewable or fossil based, the less Rhode Island businesses can spend or invest, and the more likely existing jobs will be lost to pay for these higher costs.

But the PUCs straightforward economic logic was no match for politics. Two months after the PUCs ruling, the Rhode Island legislature forced it to accept the contract terms$244 per MWh in 2016, when the project first began generating electricity, escalating at 3.5% per year. By comparison, the average wholesale price of electricity in New England in 2019 was less than $31/MWh.

Do offshore wind advocates truly think the post-Covid working class wont feel a pricing difference of that magnitude in their day-to-day business operations and lives?

Whether or not an offshore wind manufacturing industry emerges to serve subsidized offshore wind development doesnt matter. What matters is that the increased energy prices will reduce economic growth, not increase it. The well-connected will benefit, while everyone else will bear the costs. Bitter medicine indeed for those trying to recover from the economic ravages of Covid-19.

Dr. Jonathan Lesser is the president of Continental Economics, adjunct fellow with the Manhattan Institute, and author of Swept Away: The Dismal Economics of Offshore Wind.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday urged greater African representation at the UN Security Council as well as a stimulus package for the continent as it confronts Covid-19.

Ramaphosa, who holds the rotating leadership of the continental body, the African Union, made the call in a remote speech to the United Nations General Assembly.

"The current composition of the Security Council does not reflect the world in which we live," Ramaphosa said by video.

"We repeat our call for greater representation of African countries on the Security Council, and that this be taken up with urgency at the intergovernmental negotiations."

"It is only through a reformed and inclusive UN Security Council that we will be able to collectively resolve some of the world's most protracted conflicts," he said.

South Africa is serving its second year as an elected non-permanent member of the Security Council.

It has long pressed for reform of the Security Council, which has five veto-wielding permanent members -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a similar pitch in remarks Monday.

"Without comprehensive reforms, the UN faces a crisis of confidence," he said.

Ramaphosa also called for a "comprehensive stimulus package for African countries" and the freezing of interest payments on external and public debt for African countries, as the continent battles to recover after reallocating resources to fight Covid-19.

His country -- the worst affected by the coronavirus on the continent, recording more than 660,000 cases and nearly 16,000 deaths -- is faced with scandals over corruption and missing funds earmarked for the pandemic.

"We must deal decisively with the rot of corruption that is robbing our people of the opportunities and services that are their right," said Ramaphosa, who won last year's elections on promises to fight graft.

He also called on the UN to curb racial prejudice and intolerance.

"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.
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A group of street artists in St. Petersburg created a stunning mural expressing solidarity with protests against election rigging in Belarus. The group worked overnight to avoid potential problems with Russian police.
New Delhi, Sep 23 (UNI) Pointing finger at Dassault Aviation, makers of Rafale fighter jets 36 of which India has contracted to purchase, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has come down heavily on foreign vendors who fail to fulfill offset commitments in defence sector.

In its report titled CAGs Performance Audit Report on Management of Defence Offset, the CAG pointed out that the French fighter jet manufacturer and MBDA which supplied armaments for Rafale jets have not yet discharged 30 per cent of their offset obligation.

India has already received five Rafale fighter jets from the French manufacturer in the first batch of the delivery on July 29. They were formally inducted to Indian Air Force (IAF) on September 10.

The Rafale deal is worth Rs 59,000 crore and the opposition Congress party has criticised the BJP government for what it alleged were irregularities in the fighter jet deal.

In many cases, it was found that the foreign vendors made various offset commitments to qualify for the main supply contract but later, were not earnest about fulfilling these commitments, the financial watchdog said in its report.

For instance in the offset 4 contract relating to 36 Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA), the vendors Dassault Aviation and MBDA initially proposed (September 2015) to discharge 30 per cent of their offset obligation by offering high technology to DRDO. But they have not confirmed the technology transfer till date, it observed.

DRDO wanted to obtain Technical Assistance for the indigenous development of engine (Kaveri) for the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas. Till date the Vendor has not confirmed the transfer of this technology, it said.

As per the deal, the company has to invest 50 per cent of the worth of the deal back in India as offset obligations. The French manufacturers have to invest around Rs 30,000 crore for which a numbers of Indian firms, including Anil Ambanis Reliance Defence Limited were chosen.

Selection of Reliance Defence evoked controversies since the company had no experience in the defence sector.

The auditor added that in view of the fact that the offset policy has not yielded the desired results, the ministry needs to review the policy and its implementation. It needs to identify the constraints faced and find solutions to overcome these constraints, the CAG added.

UNI ASH/VT SHK2055
This simple and easy to use marketplace will be designed and developed by Napollo's top Business & IT experts comprising of PHD's from Germany and Research Faculty from world's leading universities. Partnership will deliver most cost effective and reliable solutions for exotic car companies overcome their day to day challenges in providing fast and effective service to their high-end customers.

XCAR has the vision to simplify & automate the complete user experience from booking to drive the luxury cars in UAE & solve the real-world challenges of rental companies through creating this new market place.

"The search for a luxury car is filled with high expectations. Undoubtedly, there are many cars which you are dreaming and cannot drive in affordable way, but XCAR has the vision to fulfil all your luxury car rental needs by offering promotions and deals to rent any kind of vehicle through only one name in entire UAE XCAR Rental," said Mr. Jassim Muhammad, President of XCAR Rental.

XCAR and Napollo Software Design also plan to join hands in becoming UAE's # 1 Software Design company to fill up the gap of high quality & reliable software development in the region.

Announcing the move, Napollo Software Design's CEO said the agreement marks a key step forward in its strategy to offer enterprise-grade technology solutions to businesses of all sizes.

"We are committed to better support small and medium enterprises and national corporate sized businesses in UAE & Saudi Arabia as they transform and 'future-ready' their organization," said Ahmad J. Butt, CEO of Napollo Software Design L.L.C in Dubai.

"Working with XCAR, we will leverage our combined capabilities and global experience to deliver digital solutions, offering access to technologies that until now were only available to companies with large IT budgets."

Local Businesses will have access to a global technology player located in Business Bay Area of Dubai, as well as managed technology services such as Software Development, Mobile App Development, Web Application design & Security Solutions at the ease of their local language and distance.

"This strategic relationship brings together two leading local & global players and will give access to leading technology talent and industry expertise locally."

Napollo Software Design L.L.C will launch in Saudi Arabia later this year, with the Kuwait and Bahrain to follow, the firm said.

Visit www.napollo.ae to learn more about Napollo Software Design UAE.

Contact:

Moazzam Ali Shammas

+971 4 330 4505 / +971 50 890 7149

[email protected]

SOURCE Napollo Software Design L.L.C

Related Links

http://www.napollo.ae


The travel and tourism industry and government in India need to work together for the growth of the sector, the worst affected by disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Booking Holdings President and CEO Glenn D Fogel said on Wednesday.

Booking Holdings provides online travel and related services to customers and partners in over 220 countries and territories through consumer-facing brands, including Booking.com, Rentalcars.com, among others.

"The industry and the government can work together to create what's great for the entire community...There'll be tremendous growth in all areas of travel. There's no part of travel that won't grow in the long run, how fast it grows, of course will be dependent on a lot of issues, one of which is the government," Fogel said at the virtual Economic Times Global Business Summit.

"The draft National Tourism policy 2.0 is a great start. The government recognises that it can help build up an industry," he added.

However, the draft policy does not talk about the role of online travel agencies, he said.

"The draft of the tourism proposals doesn't seem to be talking about people like us, the online travel agencies, which I think can add a great deal of help in bringing travel and tourism to India, so I really would like to continue to work closely with the Indian government to help make the industry incredibly big as it should be," Fogel said.

When asked about his prediction for the industry, he said the journey for the sector will continue to be a roller-coaster ride.

"Sometimes it's going to be really good and great, and sometimes people will get all scared and not travel. It will all depend on the levels of the infection," he added.

Talking about layoffs in Booking Holdings, Fogel said the company had to let go about 25 per cent of its employees.

"We did have to restructure the organisation, we'll talk publicly about this...Approximately about 25 per cent of our employees, unfortunately will have to go on to other things...," he said.

"It's incredibly sad, but I know there's a future for all of us. This pandemic will end at some point and economies will come back," 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.)
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President Trump looked every inch the adoring grandfather as he hugged his grandchildren following a raucous rally in Pennsylvania last night.

The President was rushed by granddaughter Arabella Kushner, nine, and her younger brother Joseph, six, as he stepped off the stage at Moon Township in a touching moment that was captured by waiting photographers.

The scene, which appeared to be carefully planned, painted the commander-in-chief, 74, in a softer, family-friendly light following a tough-talking address during which he taunted Democratic rival Joe Biden and boasted about his first-term achievements to a crowd of more than 1,000 supporters.

It was a family affair for the President with daughter Ivanka, who was elegantly dressed in a cream coat and matching nude heels, lending her support from the side of the stage with her husband Jared and their children.

Ivanka beamed and clapped as her father spoke from the podium after joining him briefly in front of the crowd.

The moment echoed shots of JFK and his wife Jackie, who often included their children in their public outings.

The President was rushed by granddaughter Arabella Kushner, nine, pictured, and her younger brother Joseph, six, as he stepped off the stage at Moon Township in a moment that was captured by waiting photographers

President Trump looked every inch the adoring grandfather as he hugged his grandchildren following a raucous rally in Pennsylvania last night. Pictured, with Arabella (left) and Joseph (right)

President Trump was joined by daughter Ivanka, son-in-law Jared Kushner and their two eldest children at the Pennslyvania rally. Ivanka put on a typically stylish display in a cream double-breasted coat and nude heels

Ivanka touched daughter Arabella's cheek in a tender moment on the White House lawn before the family departed for the rally alongside the President

While Jared stayed behind-the-scenes, Ivanka strutted across the stage after being introduced to cheering fans by her father

Making memories! Arabella was seen snapping some precious moments on her iPhone during the rally

The family-friendly image projected by President Trump last night had echoes of John F. Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy, who regularly brought their children to official events with them. They are pictured with son John and daughter Caroline in 1963

First Daughter Ivanka shared a touching moment with her eldest child Arabella on the South Lawn of the White House before the family boarded Marine One with the President.

Ivanka was seen touching her palm to Arabella's cheek in a moment of reassurance as her daughter gazed up at her lovingly.

Both mother and daughter were impeccably dressed for the occasion, with Arabella copying her mom's style by donning her own double-breasted coat - although the youngster went with red instead of cream. Meanwhile her brother Joseph looked smart in slacks and a navy coat, just like his father.

Wrapping up against the cold weather, Ivanka layered her stylish designer coat over a red turtleneck that perfectly matched her daughter's ensemble.

The mother-of-three - who appears to have left her youngest son, Theodore, four, at home - wore her long blonde hair in a sleek down 'do and completed the polished look with a slick of berry-colored lipstick.

Nine-year-old granddaughter Arabella, wearing a stylish red coat, hugged her grandfather following his appearance on stage

The commander-in-chief also gave a hug to his six-year-old grandson Joseph as he made his way to Air Force One

The foursome were seen on the tarmac in Pittsburgh on Tuesday night. The youngest member of the family, four-year-old Theodore, appeared to have stayed behind back in Washington, D.C.

The President appeared triumphant as he was cheered on by daughter Ivanka following his rally

Jared pulled daughter Arabella in for a hug while smiling Joseph and Ivanka looked towards the President at the rally

The President left the rally alongside his daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren following the family-centered appearance

Late night! Ivanka is seen arriving back in D.C. with Arabella and Joseph late on Tuesday night

The First Daughter joined her father on stage at the rally, waving and smiling at the cheering crowds; Jared stayed behind-the-scenes with their children but was seen enthusiastically clapping his father-in-law at the end of the stump speech.

Jared and Ivanka - who both serve as Senior Advisers to the President - appeared eager to introduce their eldest children to the rough and tumble of politics by bringing them along for the quick campaign trip.

Arabella was seen whipping out her iPhone to record her grandfather's speech, before she snapped pictures of him surrounding by his Secret Service detail.

Earlier in the afternoon, Jared and Ivanka were photographed walking along the White House lawn with Arabella and Joseph before they flew out of the nation's capitol bound for Pittsburgh.

Earlier in the afternoon, Jared and Ivanka were photographed walking along the White House lawn with Arabella and Joseph before they flew out of the nation's capitol bound for Pittsburgh

Proud parents Jared and Ivanka (right) took their two children to yesterday's event. Pictured left, Ivanka with Arabella

The family-of-four walked hand-in-hand to board Marine One with President Donald Trump ahead of yesterday's rally

Ivanka looked chic in a grey coat and dressed daughter Arabella in a mini-me design. Right, son Joseph with mother Ivanka

The Kushner's looked camera-ready in co-ordinated outfits with touches of red for the president's rally in Pennsylvania

Jared smiled at daughter Arabella as they chatted on their way to Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House

Ivanka took Joseph's hand as they followed Jared and Arabella to join President Trump on Marine One yesterday evening

The family smiled at waiting photographers as they made their way to the helicopter ahead of the Pennsylvania engagement

Ivanka placed an affectionate hand on the back of Joseph's head as they made their way onto Marine One with the family

Ivanka looked radiant as she turned to look at Jared while boarding Air Force One on their way to the rally

The family boarded Air Force One to travel to the rally in Moon Township, PA, on Tuesday evening

Ivanka and Jared followed their children up the steps of Air Force One on a clear and pleasant evening in Maryland

During his appearance in Moon Township, Trump took aim at presidential rival Joe Biden, saying he would destroy Pennsylvania's energy industry because he will be pressured by the 'radical left' and their plans for a Green New Deal.

He also mocked Biden for wearing a face mask, and made a joke about the Democrat nominee's alleged plastic surgery.

Elsewhere, the Commander-in-chief also professed his love for fracking and the police, before he mocked Elizabeth Warren over her claims that she had Native American ancestry.

The family were all immaculately dressed as they made their way across the tarmac in Pittsburgh in the autumn sunshine

The Kushners before departing for campaign travel to Pennsylvania at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland

The family strolled hand-in-hand to Air Force One, with Jared placing a hand on his son Joseph's shoulder

The First Daughter looked chic in a beige coat and bright red turtleneck, as she waved to the crowds and sported a beaming smile

During his hour-long stump speech, Trump taunted Joe Biden and boasted about his first-term achievements as the crowd cheered

During his appearance in Pittsburgh, Trump took aim at Presidential rival Joe Biden, saying he would destroy Pennsylvania's energy industry because he will be pressured by the 'radical left' and their plans for a Green New Deal
Still, OHare dropped one place from last year, ranking 18th out of 19 among mega airports, ahead of Newark Liberty International Airport. Midway moved up a place from last year, coming in 17th out of 27 in the large airport category. OHare was the busiest airport in the world by operations through the first half of 2020, according to Chicago Department of Aviation spokesman Matt McGrath.
(Natural News) With big tech firms facing increasing scrutiny under the Trump administration, experts are now saying that a Biden-Harris administration could benefit Silicon Valley.

Tech companies are currently facing a number of probes and investigations. Facebook and Google are currently facing probes from dozens of state attorneys general in separate cases amid broad concerns about the effects the companies have on competition and consumers. In addition, the House Judiciary Committee has also put the four Big Tech companies  Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google  under scrutiny over potential anti-competitive behavior.

A Biden-Harris administration, experts say, could signal a return to a friendly stance held during the Obama era  where Biden served as vice president  negatively affecting or even ending the ongoing probes. The pair, they note, has made little mention of antitrust or other tech industry concerns.

Biden-Harris would likely back down from harsh anti-trust punishments in favor of more transparency

Neither Biden nor Harris has made antitrust issues a key policy issue. While they have leveled some criticism against monopoly power, theyve stopped short of calling for an outright breakup of Big Tech. (Related: Sen. Tom Cotton urges DOJ to investigate Google over antitrust violations.)

During Bidens tenure as vice president, President Barack Obama reportedly cultivated deep relationships with tech industry leaders such as Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg and other Silicon Valley leaders. Since then, a number of Obama administration alumni have taken up high-ranking positions in Silicon Valley.

Harris, meanwhile, also cultivated relationships with the tech industry during her tenure as district attorney of San Francisco and attorney general in California. In addition, she has also sided with tech firms on issues such as net neutrality and taken a far less severe stance compared to Sen. Elizabeth Warrens call to break up Big Tech.

Experts believe that Harris is more likely to back up proposals that increase accountability and transparency among Big Tech firms, rather than harsh punishments that would break up business units. She and Biden may be more likely to support broader policies to rein in the companies collective market power rather than single out any one of them.

In addition, both are likely to unwind many immigration policies implemented by President Donald Trump, who views immigration as a threat to the U.S. economy. Many tech companies rely heavily on high-skilled immigrant visas to recruit workers.

I think she will find a middle that attempts to enforce more accountability versus breakup, said Nicol Turner-Lee, director of the Brookings Institutions Center for Technology Innovation, about Harris. I would see her in support of transparency and visibility of Big Tech practices and pushing for more anti-discrimination frameworks and potentially putting in place regulation if it means more competition for small businesses.

Biden-Harris would allow Big Tech to continue their censorship of conservatives

In light of a Biden-Harris administrations perceived friendliness to Big Tech, the Trump campaign has piled on their concerns about what would happen should they pair win. In particular, they continue to emphasize the anti-conservative bias shown by Silicon Valley.

Big Tech has proven time and again its willingness to censor conservatives while turning a blind eye to Democrats, stated Samantha Zager, deputy national press secretary for Trumps reelection campaign, in an interview with The Epoch Times on Sept. 17.

Its no secret that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have Big Tech in their pockets, Zager said, adding that across social media platforms, the arbitrary rules these companies create do not apply equally to every account and instead are used to silence any views in opposition to those held by the liberal coastal elites in Silicon Valley

Zager then emphasized that, should President Donald Trump be elected to a second term, he would continue to advocate for free speech on the internet. She said that a Biden-Harris victory would enable the toxic cancel culture weve come to see online and allow Big Tech to silence free speech for millions of Americans.

For more on how a Biden-Harris ticket would benefit Big Tech, follow TechGiants.news.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

SPGlobal.com
Coronavirus cases in Northern Ireland could reach 500 a day in just four weeks without immediate action, the Chief Medical Officer has warned.

Dr Michael McBride issued the stark figures at a Stormont briefing, telling the public they had a narrow window of opportunity to avoid the ultimate consequences of a second wave.

Read More

It comes as a further 220 cases of coronavirus have been reported in Northern Ireland, while the death toll remains at 577.

Dr McBride explained there were currently around 150 new cases of Covid-19 a day in Northern Ireland, which has been doubling every ten days.

I ask you now not to give up, I ask you not to give in. Do not be deflected, do not lose your commitment, he said.

We have a few short weeks to reduce the spread of this virus and avoid much worse to come. We have a narrow window of opportunity, we must all act now or we will all face the ultimate consequences that we saw in the first wave.

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Health Minister Robin Swann spoke of meeting the family who had lost a loved one during the recent outbreak in Craigavon Area Hospital.

I challenge anyone who still doubts the seriousness of this virus to sit across the table from such a family for even one minute and see how sorely mistaken they are, he said.

He said restrictions on hospital visits will soon be announced, meaning one visit from one family member per week.

This will include flexibility for things like end of life care, maternity services and for paediatrics.

On care homes, he said every effort to maintain visiting was needed. He said his department had been working on the concept of care partners allowing families to assist in caring for loved ones.

With new restrictions on mixing households, he urged the public to use common sense and discretion where grey areas existed in the rules as it wasnt possible to police Covid-19 out of existence.

Read More

Dr Paul Johnston, clinical lead for intensive care services in Antrim Area Hospital, set out the reality of how Covid-19 was affecting seriously ill patients.

He started with assurances that 80% of those with Covid-19 were asymptomatic or very mildly symptomatic.

But he warned that the increasing numbers of Covid patients needing intensive care at Antrim Hospital would soon follow elsewhere.

Clinically our experience with this condition points to severe and prolonged respiratory failure, necessitating in some cases several weeks of intensive care support on a ventilator.

A high number also require dialysis for kidney failure and others from severe blood clotting which can lead to more severe organ failure.

He said the first wave showed that a high number of patients with multiple organ failure can die despite the best care.

In the UK, he said there were around 10,000 Covid admissions into intensive care with around 40% not surviving.

This is roughly double the mortality rate associated with other viral pneumonias in intensive care over the past three years.

Age remains the biggest risk factor in these patients, with those over 70 having a 60% chance of dieing of Covid-19 without considering other factors.

For under 40s in intensive care, the mortality was still as high as 15%.

Of around 1,200 Covid-19 hospital admissions In Northern Ireland up until the end of July, generating around 130 intensive care admissions.

He said any patient admitted to hospital with Covid-19 had a one in ten chance of needing intensive care, bringing with it the previously mentioned chances of death.

Dr Johnston urged the public not to underestimate the current risks or become fatigued by prevention measures.

Covid-19 is very much still with us and preventative measures are recommended for good reason. They work to reduce the spread of the disease.

Front line staff and colleagues are worried about whats coming down the line with a second wave, he said.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, September 23, 2020 17:19 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46b796d 1 National Saudi-Arabia,COVID-19,coronavirus,virus-corona,virus-korona-indonesia,umrah,umrah-pilgrims,pilgrimage,Religious-Affairs-Ministry,haj Free

The Religious Affairs Ministry is preparing health protocols and a regulation for Indonesians going on umrah (minor haj) to Saudi Arabia as the Middle Eastern country plans to reopen to international worshippers.

Noer Alya Fitra, an official from the ministry overseeing haj registration, said the ministry was working with the Health Ministry while waiting for more information from Saudi Arabia.

We will [adjust] the health protocols with the guideline issued by the Saudi Arabian government, Noer said on Wednesday as quoted by kompas.com.

He added the ministry was drafting a regulation stipulating technical instructions to be obeyed by Indonesian congregations when participating in the ritual. The regulation would, among other provisions, prevent the elderly from taking part in the pilgrimage given that they are more susceptible to succumbing to disease.

The policy would also regulate cost and determine whether people with congenital diseases or comorbidities would be allowed to visit.

Read also: Indonesia prepares 3 scenarios for haj amid pandemic

Noer said whether Saudi Arabia would include Indonesia on the list of countries allowed to send umrah pilgrims would depend on coronavirus cases in the country.

We hope that when umrah is allowed again at 100 percent [capacity], Indonesia is in a position in which the number of COVID-19 cases is decreasing, he said, urging people to be patient.

Saudi Arabia will allow pilgrims residing inside the country to go on the pilgrimage starting Oct. 4, following a seven-month pause due to coronavirus concerns, Reuters reported. The Middle Eastern country would also allow visitors from specific countries deemed safe starting Nov. 1.

Saudi Arabian authorities recorded that 19 million people participated in umrah last year. Official data show that the haj and umrah earn the kingdom about US$12 billion a year.

As of Tuesday, Saudi Arabia has confirmed 330,798 COVID-19 cases and 4,542 deaths, as cases in the Gulf region topped 800,000. (syk)
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Iran's army spokesman said the country will "definitely" cooperate in strengthening Syria's air defense, as agreed by both countries in July, semi-official Fars news agency reported on Tuesday.

"During a recent visit to Syria by Chief of Staff of Iran's Armed Forces (Mohammad Hossein Baqeri), it was decided that the country's air defense be strengthened at the demand of the Syrian government," Iranian Armed Forces spokesman Abolfazl Shekarchi said in a state TV program.

The agreement was announced in Damascus on July 8 in a joint press briefing by Baqeri and Syria's Defense Minister Ali Abdullah Ayyoub.

Iran, said the high-rank spokesman, will help "any country which opposes Israel or the United States."
Gonzales published the statement in agreement with a former PCC board member, Luis A. Gonzales, who claimed the college has previously misspent its funds, which included acquisition of nearby aging hotels as part of a $65 million commitment in construction and renovations to expand the colleges campus, according to Arizona Daily Star archives.

2 vie for board seat

Voters in November will decide who will occupy one seat on PCCs five-member Board of Governors.

The newly elected member will serve a six-year term in the District 1 seat now held by Mark Hanna.

Ethan Orr, a Republican, is a native of Tucson and a fourth-generation Arizonan who has worked in economic and community development for the city of South Tucson and the city of Tucson, operated a nonprofit, owned a small business, served in the Legislature and currently works for the University of Arizona.

With Ethan Orr serving Pima College, our students will be taught how to thrive in industrial trades, our qualified workforce will attract new businesses, and our families will have the skills they need to lead successful careers in industry, Orrs campaign website said.
Amy Coney Barrett criticised Obama for trying to dramatically flip the balance of power ((Via Reuters))

President Donald Trumps potential nominee to the Supreme Court previously rejecting the idea of former President Barack Obama filling a vacancy during an election year that she said could dramatically flip the balance of power in a recently-resurfaced interview.

The interview shows Amy Coney Barrett, a federal judge who sits on the Seventh Circuit, discussing the former presidents nomination of Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court in 2016 following the death of the late Justice Antonin Scalia, a conservative stalwart.

Ms Barrett suggested in the interview with CBS News that she was against the idea of Mr Obama selecting Mr Garland, often considered an apolitical nominee and centrist judge, because he was not a conservative like justice Scalia.

Were talking about justice Scalia, the staunchest conservative on the court, Ms Barrett said in the interview, a clip of which went viral this week after it was reported that she was a top choice to the nations highest court.

Were talking about him being replaced by someone who could dramatically flip the balance of power on the court, she continued. Its not a lateral move.

The comments gained renewed backlash throughout the week against Ms Barrett, who previously was featured on the presidents shortlist of potential Supreme Court nominees before the death of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who passed away on Friday at the age of 84.

Justice Ginsburg, one of the most liberal Supreme Court justices and a trailblazer for civil, womens and LGBTQ+ rights, died from metastatic pancreatic cancer after battling multiple bouts of cancer over the course of her life. She had previously called Mr Trump an aberration and vowed to stay on the court until 2021.

In a statement dictated to her granddaughter just days before her death, the Supreme Court justice said: My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed."

Mr Trump declined to honour that wish, along with his Republican allies on Capitol Hill who have mostly said they will support any nomination he puts forward to fill the vacancy just six weeks ahead of the next presidential election.

Story continues

Ms Barrett has been at the White House on multiple occasions and meeting with the president, according to multiple reports, though he is also still considering several other nominees.

Read more

Amy Coney Barrett: The most controversial decisions by Trump's Supreme Court frontrunner

Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Mourners camp overnight to honour Justice before she lies in repose on Supreme Court steps

Supreme Court replacement: Barbara Lagoa rises to top of Trump's list as president seeks Florida campaign edge
Its not about how you can get around the rules as First Minister asks people to stay local to stop the spread

This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Sep 23rd, 2020

First Minister Mark Drakeford has said the Welsh government thought hard yesterday about whether to bring back the five mile stay local regulations in Wales.

The guidance required people in Wales to stay within five miles of their homes was scrapped by the Welsh government in July as lockdown measures eased.

Yesterday Mr Drakeford made a televised addresses to the people of Wales to talk about measures being introduced to prevent a fresh Coronavirus crisis.

The First Minister asked people to only travel when you need to do so and reiterated people needed to continue working from home wherever possible.

During todays Welsh government press conference the First Minister was asked what the specific guidance with regards to his only travel when you need to do so message.

Mr Drakeford said: The key guidance is for people to think carefully about what they are doing and to make sensible judgments in their own circumstances.

We thought hard yesterday about whether we should go back to a regulation on a stay local basis, Ive decided that that is not proportionate in Wales at this time.

He said: What I am doing is just asking people in Wales to think carefully. It is not a message about not going shopping or not going to hospitality or not going to a holiday.

It is just asking people to think about the journeys they make, if you can visit a pub or a restaurant close to home where you dont need to make the journey, that is preferable than getting in your car and going for the same experience further away from home. He said.

Mr Drakeford added: It is a common sense piece of advice and its rooted in this isnt it, coronavirus regulations and the advice, its not a game, Its not a matter of thinking about how you can get around the rules and how far you can stretch them.

Its about asking yourself what contribution you can make by acting sensibly and avoiding things that are not necessary and which in themselves pose a risk.

Commenting on the COBR meeting held yesterday with Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Mr Drakeford said: I did try to persuade the Prime Minister yesterday to echo our message here in Wales, of asking people to think carefully about journeys that they are making and to ask themselves whether those journeys are necessary.

I noticed that he didnt do that in the messages that he has given to people in England, but I think its a good message in all parts of the UK.

The First Minister was also asked why he didnt go further with the restrictions announced last night. In both Scotland and Northern Ireland it has been announced that indoor household visits have been banned.

Similar restrictions on people mixing are in place in the local lockdown areas in South Wales, however the First Minister said he was keen to focus on local measures to reflect local circumstances.

Previously it has been noted that there are parts of Wales  including Wrexham  that are not seeing sharp increases in cases. In Wrexham just eight confirmed cases have been recorded out of the 930 tests carried out in the last seven days.

Mr Drakeford said: As much as possible, our aim in the Welsh Government is to have a small number of national measures supplemented when necessary by local action.

Those people in the six local authorities in South East Wales who are living under far tighter restrictions have seen the impact in their lives.

In terms of the measures that are being introduced, such as the 10pm closure time on restaurants and pubs, the First Minister explained that it created consistency with England and would reduce the temptation of people from Chester potentially travelling over to Wrexham after that time to visit hospitality here,

You can view the full briefing on the below video:
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A South Carolina state health official who grew up in the Cleveland area will be the next director of the Ohio Department of Health, Gov. Mike DeWine announced Thursday.

Dr. Joan Duwve, currently director of public health for South Carolinas Department of Health and Environmental Control, will take over as Ohios health department director around Oct. 1, DeWine said Thursday.

Duwve previously worked in the Indiana state government, including while current Vice President Mike Pence was governor of the state, DeWine said. She took her job with the South Carolina state government in April, according to the Post and Courier. Immediately before that, she was an associate dean for the Indiana University public-health school in Indianapolis.

She graduated from North Olmsted High School and is an Ohio State University graduate. She holds a medical doctor degree from Johns Hopkins University and a master of public health from the University of Michigan, according to her professional profile on the South Carolina state website.

Duwve will take over for Interim Director Lance Himes. She is Ohios first permanent health department director since Dr. Amy Acton resigned in June amid rising criticism of the DeWine administrations coronavirus policy and increasing politicization surrounding public health.

Duwve, whose name will appear on the DeWine administrations public-health orders imposing coronavirus-related restrictions, could step into a volatile political environment. Acton was just one of many public-health officials who resigned in the face of threats and public harassment.

State officials didnt immediately provide a salary figure for Duwve.

I am very confident in her ability," DeWine said Thursday during his coronavirus briefing, where he announced Duwves hiring. I think she will be someone the 113 local health departments in our state will be happy to get to know, and she will provide leadership that we need.

DeWine said Duwve has been dealing with the coronavirus pandemic in South Carolina, including participating along with Ohio officials in national coordinating calls with the White House.

Shes been immersed in this battle just like we have been immersed in this battle," he said.
The curtains came down on the on Wednesday, eight days ahead of schedule, as both Houses were adjourned sine die, bringing an end to a stormy and heated session where the government and Opposition parties sparred over the contentious farm Bills.

On the last day of the Session, the Rajya Sabha approved three key labour reform Bills that will remove impediments to winding up of companies and allow firing of staff without government permission in firms with up to 300 workers from the existing 100, a move aimed at attracting more investments and job creation. These Bills were cleared by the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

The three Bills  Code on Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions, Industrial Relations Code, and Social Security Code  were passed in the Upper House by voice vote amid boycott by Opposition parties, including the Congress and the Left, over the suspension of eight MPs.

The Opposition parties, upset over the handling of the vote on the farm Bills in the Rajya Sabha, continued their boycott and met President Ramnath Kovind and urged him to not approve the Bills.

The Rajya Sabha passed 15 Bills in the last two sittings with the Opposition parties boycotting the proceedings to protest the suspension of eight members on Monday for their unruly behaviour in the House.

Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said it is extremely unpalatable when Bills are passed amid a boycott of proceedings by some sections of the House, but not taking up legislative work may legitimise their action as an instrument of blocking legislation. Naidu was speaking before adjourning the Upper House sine die, eight days ahead of schedule, because of the Covid-19 pandemic.





Naidu said the 10-day session was productive and 25 bills passed and six introduced.

The productivity of the House during this session has been 100.47 per cent. As against the scheduled available time of 38 hours and 30 minutes, the actual functional time of the House has been 38 hours and 41 minutes, said Naidu.

Labour codes

With passage of these three Bills, 29 central labour laws have been codified into four broad codes (the first code on wages was approved by Parliament last year) as contemplated by the government under to improve ease of doing business and providing universal social security to workers as well. These Bill will now be sent to the president for his assent.

Replying to a debate on the three bills, Labour Minister said, "The purpose of is to provide a transparent system to suit the changed business environment." Referring to a provision in The Industrial Relations Code relating to increase in the threshold for retrenchment, closure or lay off for a firm (without government permission) to 300 workers from existing 100, Gangwar explained that labour falls in the concurrent list of the Constitution.
T he widow of the late Republican Senator John McCain has publicly backed Joe Biden in his bid to wrest the White House from Donald Trump in Novembers election.

Cindy McCain said she decided to endorse the Democratic nominee after reading recent reports of how Mr Trump denigrated dead US soldiers.

She said she had become more and more frustrated with the President, adding: The most important thing that moved me a great deal was talking about troops being losers.

She said: You know we have children in the military, as did the Bidens. I want my president to have my back and I dont believe thats the case right now.

Mrs McCain was referring to an article in The Atlantic magazine earlier this month which said Mr Trump had called US soldiers who died in combat losers and suckers after cancelling a visit to an American First World War grave in France in 2018. Mr Trump has denied making the comments.

Donald Trump / AP

She said she was planning to actively help Mr Bidens campaign and would join him when he appears in Arizona, a key swing state which Mr Trump won in 2016 but where opinion polls currently put Mr Biden four points ahead.

Declaring her support for Mr Biden on Twitter, she wrote: My husband John lived by a code: country first. We are Republicans, yes, but Americans foremost. Theres only one candidate in this race who stands up for our values as a nation, and that is @JoeBiden.

Mrs McCains support for the former vice-president is not surprising given her husbands frequent clashes with Mr Trump, who has disparaged his military service, saying in 2015 his years spent as a prisoner of war in Vietnam meant he was not a war hero. However commentators said her willingness to share a platform with Mr Biden illustrated the depth of anger among military families towards Mr Trump over his reported comments.

Mr McCain, who twice ran for president, died from cancer in 2018 aged 81. Mr Trump held a campaign rally in the battleground state of Pennsylvania last night as the death of liberal US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Friday continued to reshape the presidential contest. Earlier he said he would reveal his pick on Saturday in the hope of scheduling a Senate confirmation vote before the election, despite criticism from Mr Biden and congressional Democrats.

Joe Biden / REUTERS

Were going to pick an incredible woman, Mr Trump said at the rally.

His hopes of securing a pre-election confirmation were boosted after Republican Senator Mitt Romney, who has clashed with the President, said he would be willing to vote on Mr Trumps candidate, dashing Democrat hopes that enough rebels would join them in the chamber and end the nomination process.

Meanwhile, Mr Trump said the US passing 200,000 coronavirus deaths was a shame, 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, he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 23:56:26|Editor: huaxia

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NAIROBI, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Small houses made of iron sheets and timber characterizes Kihunguro, a low-income settlement in Ruiru, a populous suburb on the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya's capital.

Living in the informal settlement are people who do odd jobs for survival. Some wash clothes for income, others work as hawkers, bar workers, house cleaners and motorbike riders.

The residents were among the worst affected when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the east African nation.

For many of them, their sources of income ended abruptly as the government and citizens instituted several measures to curb the spread of COVID-19.

The cleaners, for instance, were no longer welcomed in peoples' homes to do the tasks for fear of spreading the disease and for those working in bars, the facilities have been closed since April to date.

As parents lost their sources of livelihoods, the children were no longer assured of their next meals.

"I visited the area and saw the level of suffering and decided to do something," said Caroline Ndung'u, who runs Jewell Souls Hope Foundation, a charity organization established to assist vulnerable members in the Kenyan community.

One of the programs she runs is called hot lunch feeding, through which she feeds street families in Nairobi city center and another where she feeds needy children from Kiandutu slums in Thika.

"I did not have a plan for any new program but I was touched by the plight of the children, some who were starving because their parents could not provide for them," said Ndung'u, adding she wrote letters to various donors for help.

But she did not wait for the donations to start coming before she could do something. Ndung'u recounted that she mobilized the community members, some who offered cooking pots and others plates and with the little food she had, she started cooking for the children.

"We started with about 20 in August and the numbers have been increasing since then. We now offer lunch to 100-120 children aged between three and 16 every day," she told Xinhua in an interview on Tuesday.

Among donors who have come to her aid recently is the Chinese Embassy in Kenya.

"The children were extremely happy to the embassy that we will ever be grateful. The parents are equally appreciative. We are now guaranteed at least two-half-months of lunch. We have also been able to buy our own equipment that includes cooking pots, which means we will not borrow again," said an ecstatic Ndung'u, noting the embassy has been one of their biggest donors so far.

From Monday to Friday, she normally offers the children lunch that includes a mixture of beans and maize with cabbage added, rice and traditional vegetables or with green grams.

"On Friday after lunch, we offer them a 2 kg packet of maize meal so that they can take home. This assures them and their parents of a meal during the weekend," she said.

As in many of her other lunch programs, at the Ruiri initiative, her target are children with disabilities, including autism or deafness, and those whose parents are single mothers or widowers.

"The program has employed three volunteers from the community who are given a token for cooking for the children, taking care of them when they arrive at the feeding station at about 11 a.m. and until they leave," she said.

But the children do not visit her to eat only, she also mentors them, teaching them how they can avoid nefarious activities like crime and teenage pregnancies that have been rampant in Kenya during the pandemic period.

Kenya's schools are set for reopening next month, but this will not stop her program, says Ndung'u.

"I will move to the nearby school where the children attend and run a lunch program. I have already talked to the officials to ensure the learners stay in school," said Ndung'u, who gets happiness from helping others.

While the children are currently comfortable, they still have more needs, according to Ndung'u, noting they lack fruits, which they should eat at least twice a week and the girls also do not have sanitary towels. Enditem
New book shares the truth about policing. Follow an officer's 24-year quest to defend her overpoliced community while coping with the personal trauma of working for a racist police department. Black officers walk a thin Black line every time they put on their uniforms. On one side is the Black community they strive to serve and protect from unjust treatment; on the other, a racist institution where they experience ongoing discrimination themselves.

One underrepresented voice in the police reform movement thats swept the country this summer is that of the Black police officer. In her new memoir, Walking The Thin Black Line: Confronting Racism in the Columbus Division of Police, Melissa McFadden tells the story of her 24-year career, currently as a Black lieutenant with the Columbus Division of Police.

Black officers walk a thin Black line every time they put on their uniforms. On one side is the Black community they strive to serve and protect from unjust treatment; on the other, a racist institution where they experience ongoing discrimination themselves.

McFadden shares her 24-year quest to defend her overpoliced community while coping with the personal trauma of surviving in a racist police department in this new book available now on Amazon.

Growing up, McFadden dreamed of becoming a police officer  but when she landed a job with the Columbus, Ohio Division of Police, she learned that policing was something very different than what shed envisioned. As a Black woman from the coal country of West Virginia, she found herself confronting a big city racist police culture that was born in the slave patrols of Reconstruction, emboldened through the Jim Crow era, challenged in the Civil Rights era, and still gaining momentum in the Black Lives Matter era.

McFaddens memoir Walking The Thin Black Line is about her journey through the thicket of systemic racism that hides in union contracts, unfair assignment practices, and discriminatory disciplinary decisions. She shares how racism thrives within police culture because the purpose of policing has never shed its original focusa war on Black people. McFadden never imagined the day that she would be standing in solidarity with young Black activists and their white allies, holding a sign saying, Police Reform Now, while shouting, BLACK LIVES MATTER! Her voice had been silenced for over 20 years of her career through threats of retaliation that included taking her entire pension from her.

This historic book documents a perspective not widely known by the politicians, activists, faith leaders and citizens searching for answers to the mistreatment of Black people by our police. The Black officer is often categorized as a turncoat, while at the same time lauded as the hope to solve the problem. Many minority officers remain silent. Many leave the profession. A few who have stayed are beginning to speak out and fight back. McFadden is still in it and inviting you to join her.

About Melissa McFadden

Melissa McFadden is an activist and author whos spent 24 years as a police officer in the Columbus, Ohio Division of Police. In her years in this profession, shes witnessed racism throughout the police culture. Silent no more, McFadden shares her journey in, Walking The Thin Black Line. Buy the book on Amazon, learn more at https://www.walkingthethinblackline.com/, follow @ThinBlackLine2 on Twitter, or email info@walkingthethinblackline.com.
NSW Planning Minister Rob Stokes is working to prevent a showdown in cabinet over the contested koala policy, with the acting Nationals leader initiating new discussions ahead of the debate.

Mr Stokes had his first meeting with acting deputy premier Paul Toole on Wednesday to discuss the policy since the Deputy Premier John Barilaro went on mental health leave for a month.

NSW acting deputy premier Paul Toole says the National Party is united. Credit:Nick Moir

Mr Toole, who asked for the meeting, will lead the negotiations for the Nationals over the policy, which has caused deep division in the Coalition after Mr Barilaro threatened to take all his MPs to the crossbench over the issue.

The koala planning policy, which sparked the bitter civil war in the Coalition, will be debated at the next cabinet meeting on October 6, with the Nationals demanding a raft of changes.
Alexei Navalny, Russias most prominent opposition politician, has been released from hospital following 32 days of treatment for severe poisoning by nerve agent.

The unexpectedly quick discharge, coming just a week after leaving intensive care, was accompanied by predictions the 44-year-old could eventually make a full recovery.

The patients state of health has improved to such an extent that acute medical treatment could be ended, a Wednesday morning statement by the Charite clinic in Berlin read. Any long-term consequences of the severe poisoning can only be assessed later.

In an Instagram post, Mr Navalny thanked his German doctors and described his immediate plans to walk, spend time with his family, and play computer games.

I asked them what to do to get back to where I was not only physically but mentally too, he wrote. I liked their response: read more, write social media posts, and play computer games. I need to find out if they can prescribe me a PlayStation.

Mr Navalny, an outspoken Kremlin critic, fell into a coma shortly after take-off on a flight from Tomsk, Siberia to Moscow early on 20 August.

The quick actions of the pilot, who performed an emergency landing in nearby Omsk, and attending paramedics, who administered an antidote, seem to have averted much worse consequences. Mr Navalny was eventually evacuated to Berlin following a protracted battle with Russian authorities, and the intervention of foreign leaders.

In Germany, doctors came to the conclusion the opposition leader had been poisoned by a nerve agent first developed by the Soviet military complex. According to German authorities, the substance in question was a similar, though not identical Novichok agent used in the poisoning of double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury in 2018.

The Kremlin has denied any role in the poisoning of its most obvious rival. It claims doctors found no evidence of poisoning while Mr Navalny was being treated in Russia. But their position appears undermined by dubious medical reports and the decision of first responders to administer an antidote.

On Tuesday, Le Monde reported wild claims that Vladimir Putin suggested, during a phone call to French president Emmanuelle Macron on 14 September, that Mr Navalny may have taken the poison himself. Judging by the French presidents speech at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday evening  in which he talked about red lines and the need for swift clarification from Russia  the argument, if it was made, has fallen on deaf ears.

Mr Navalny filed his own Instagram response to the reported suggestion. Employing trademark sarcasm that once again demonstrated his own recovery was well underway, the Kremlin foe congratulated Mr Putin on a great theory.

I cooked up the Novichok in my kitchen, then quietly swigged it on the plane, and fell into a coma, he wrote on Instagram. But the trick failed! Putin outplayed me. You cant fool Putin!
Turkish police are investigating what they are describing as the suspicious death of a Russian-American journalist who died early on Tuesday while on holiday with his wife in Istanbul.

Andre Vltchek, described as an investigative journalist, passed away as the couple arrived at their hotel in a chauffeured vehicle. According to reports she tried to revive him, thinking he was sleeping, but he was unresponsive.

Turkish police, quoted by local media, say he had arrived at his hotel in a Mercedes minivan in the trendy Karakoy district of Istanbul at 5.30am after a nine-hour trip from the Black Sea city of Samsun.

Police dispatched a crime scene investigations team after medics announced he was dead and officers are questioning his wife and the two drivers transporting them.

Vltchek, 57, had written for The Guardian and other mainstream publications. But he was also a contributor to 21st Century Wire and Veterans Today, conspiracy theory websites which often propagate Kremlin messaging, and a frequent guest on Iranian and Russian state television.

Police did not immediately say why they thought the death was suspicious.

Several high-profile foreign journalists and media figures have been assassinated in Istanbul, most notably Jamal Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist who was slaughtered in the Saudi consulate in October 2018.

Others to have died in Turkey include Iranian dissidents Saeed Karimian, a TV executive, and Masoud Molavi, a blogger, who were gunned down in what appeared to be professional assassinations.

Vltchek, a Russian immigrant to the US, was a staunch and outspoken supporter of Moscow and Beijing. In an interview with Turkeys nationalist Aydinlik newspaper on 12 September, he called for Turkey to turn to China and Russia instead of the west.

He also appeared to have health problems, which he described on social media.

I came to Europe, on a speaking tour, and collapsed from exhaustion, he wrote on Twitter on 22 August. My feet refused to carry me. Absolute downfall.

In recent months, Vltchek appeared to find inspiration in the Black Lives Matter protests in the US as well as anti-government surges in Chile.

For years, decades I was documenting [the] suffering of our world, exposing [the] horrid crimes of western imperialism, he wrote in June. I gave all I had, including health. Only [a] few of us dared. But I am glad I did. Now [the] world is waking up.
For the last 10 years, Paul Martin slept in a stuffed rooming house, waking at a set time and eating a set menu.

He lost his sense of self.

Its easy to be gripped by the idea of independence  to crave it, cherish it  when youre one of thousands on Hamiltons wait list for affordable housing, he says, like a blinking number on a screen waiting to be clicked.

But Martin felt like his own man Tuesday.

The Muskoka-native is one four dozen people to recently move into a three-storey apartment complex wedged on top of a North End church that promises tenants affordable rent and community support.

Hughson Street Baptist and Indwell  a Christian supportive housing provider  opened the 45-unit, energy-efficient apartment building at 500 James St. N. in August.

They welcomed 48 tenants to ready-made, 450-square-foot units, nine of which are fully accessible, at the low price of $550 per month  about 67 per cent of the average rental price in the area.

I feel like I have my independence back, said Martin, who was on Indwells 1,500-plus wait list for housing for more than five years. Youre not stuffed together here like a rooming house. Theres way more space. And the apartments are really nice.

Indeed, the units  while furnished by tenants  offer a spacious design, replete with a wraparound bath and bedroom suite, walk-in closet, kitchen and appliances. Each floor has common room to make coffee and relax, as well as a storage room to store bikes.

Indwell executive director Jeff Neven said the building has a passive house design, developed in Germany, which uses 80 to 90 per cent less energy than a normal building.

It doesnt release carbon emission because theres no gas heating, Neven said. The primary heat source is actually our bodies and appliances like fridges or computers, and we achieve that with a really insulated building envelope.

Take the buildings windows, for instance, which are triple-paned and designed to keep heat inside when its cool and keep it out when its warm. An otherwise simple feature, said Neven, but part of a broader strategy to ensure the building remains cost-effective.

Indwell, who is leasing the three floors for $2 a year, is responsible for maintenance on the affordable units. They also have day staff on-site to provide support to tenants with disabilities, special challenges or health needs.

Hughson Street Baptist pastor Dwayne Cline likened the opening of the affordable housing building  once a strip plaza  to a full-circle moment.

In 2016, the church had building permits in hand for a new space at the corner of James and Picton streets, but construction plans were halted when the congregation realized a need for supportive housing in the neighbourhood.

We needed to consider what we could with the (new) building we already have, Cline said. We spoke with Indwell and said, Where could we help with housing?

The idea for the partnership grew out of conversations with church members and financially struggling residents who often spoke of the challenges of living in a gentrified area, Cline added.

Many were being displaced and didnt know where to live, he said. Its been a quite a journey, but were very excited weve been able to help find those people a place to go.
City Market police have arrested the kingpin of a brown sugar peddling racket in Bengaluru and his associate who delivered the drugs to his clients.

They recovered 1.2 kg of brown sugar, 32 grams of MDMA, 25 LSD strips and 475 grams of opium, all worth around Rs 3.3 crore. Police also seized rolling papers, three mobile phones, two bikes and three weighing machines.

The arrested are Rajaram Bishnoi (31), of Magadi Road, and Suneel Kumar (21), from Kumbalgodu. Both are from Rajasthan. The duo was caught on Tuesday morning when they arrived near the KR Market metro station to sell drugs, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Sanjeev M Patil.

Inspector Kumaraswamy B G had checked a bag with double stitching the two men had carried and found drug hidden inside the bottom and side chambers which they had re-stitched. Police recovered 125 grams of opium, 150 grams of brown sugar, 32 grams of MDMA and 25 LSD strips. The rest of the drugs were seized from their residence.

The duo was transporting drugs in hollow railings and had been in the business for two-and-a-half years, Patil said. An investigating officer said 25 grams of pure brown sugar was among the seized items which can cause brain haemorrhage if inhaled directly. The duo wanted to dilute and sell the drug, the official said.

Rajaram was sourcing the drugs from Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat. The duo then brought the drugs by public transport. While selling it to local peddlers and consumers, they packed them in the hollow railings to avoid police scrutiny. Rajaram supplied drugs to customers in southern, western and northern Bengaluru, besides students at reputable colleges. He sold drugs to medical college students and smaller peddlers of his own community and did not entertain calls from unknown numbers. Sometimes, he couriered the drugs hidden in the railings, since the scanning would only show the railing.

Stored drugs above school

Rajaram and Suneel lived in separate rented houses and changed locations once in three months. Nine days ago, Rajaram rented a house in KP Agrahara where he hid the drugs. The portion he rented was located on the terrace of a multi-story building where a private school functioned.

Police watched Rajaram and Suneel after they recently caught the drug peddler Vikram Khileri from Rajasthan with brown sugar. They are making efforts to nab two others who were part of the racket. All of them are relatives. Though they came to the city to work as labourers, they began selling drug. These men lived lavishly in their native place. They owned cars and buildings. One of the accused, who is still at large, had bought an SUV during the lockdown.
Bazaar Corporate Radar | Feb 22, 2021, 12:00 AM IST

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DUBAI, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Israeli officials visited Bahrain on Wednesday to discuss areas of cooperation between the two countries, a Bahrain government spokesperson said.

Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates this month signed agreements to establish formal ties with Israel.

Israeli carrier Israir operated a flight from Tel Aviv to Bahrain on Wednesday, flight-tracking website FlightRadar24 showed.

Israeli media reported an Israeli government delegation was onboard the flight. There are no direct scheduled commercial flights between the two countries.

The Bahraini spokesperson gave no further details, while Israel's foreign ministry declined to comment on the flight. (Reporting by Alexander Cornwell; editing by John Stonestreet)
Leon Bacon.

MADISON, Miss.

(Sept. 17, 2020)Vertex Aerospace LLC, a mid-level aerospace leader, announced today that it has opened a new operational site at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in St. Mary's County, Maryland, due to growth from several recent contract awards. Some of those awards include a prime seat on the Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) Full Rate Production (FRP) Multiple Award Contract (MAC) and several task orders from the Contracted Maintenance, Modification, Aircrew, and Related Services (CMMARS) indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract.Vertex also recently welcomed Leon Bacon as the new vice president of Business Development for the Company's USN programs. Bacon is based at the new Pax River office and will provide customer liaison and oversight of naval aviation contracts, including recent CMMARS task orders for the RESET of the U.S. Marine Corps' CH-53E Super Stallion fleet, Contractor Logistics Support (CLS) services for U.S. Navy C-26 aircraft, and CLS services for the USMC' AV-8B Harrier II fleet."Regarded as an expert in the total cradle to grave lifecycle support of major aviation weapon systems, Leon will be a true asset for Vertex," said Ed Boyington, Vertex CEO and president. "He is uniquely capable and strategically positioned to oversee Vertex's naval aviation portfolio and we look forward to the new business opportunities he'll manage from our Pax River site."Bacon, a native of San Jose, California, brings over 30 years of naval aviation and acquisition experience to the Vertex team. His perspective of Fleet operations and business acumen have allowed him to translate documented requirements into delivered products and capabilities. His operational experience is well recognized within the Naval Air Systems Command and throughout the Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance community."I feel privileged to receive this opportunity to lead our USN efforts and leverage Vertex's proven capabilities to alleviate pressure on the Fleet Squadrons," said Bacon. "I'm committed to continually fostering an environment of mutual understanding with our customers to keep optimization at the forefront of all we do."Some highlights of Bacon's military career include service as commanding officer of an operational P-3 Orion squadron, deputy program manager for the Acquisition Category (ACAT)-1 P-8 Poseidon developmental program, and as the ACAT-1 program manager for all USN training aircraft.Vertex Aerospace offers a global capability and complete solution for government and commercial customers. The mid-level aerospace Company operates in over 100 locations worldwide providing aftermarket aerospace services for more than 2,400 fixed and rotary wing airframes. Vertex's agility, rapid deployment capability, and customer optimization have distinguished it from competitors for over half a century. With a 50 percent veteran workforce, the Mississippi-based company understands the challenges faced by the defense sector. Information about Vertex can be found at vtxaero.com.
Mosher has an outstanding performance record, running sales organizations that consistently meet or exceed quarterly sales targets, and delivering high growth and linearity. His proven management and sales practices have resulted in explosive revenues, M&A and IPOs in multiple companies, both large and small, including at ArcSight, where he oversaw growth from $4M to $700M in seven years to a 600-person team.

"As the world navigates unprecedented times, we're pleased to welcome Kevin to the organization to help capitalize on the growing business opportunities for our channel partners and customers," said Gregory Webb, Chief Executive Officer at AppViewX. "I'm very excited to be working with Kevin again, especially after witnessing firsthand the added value and impact he has on an organization's sales engine. His stellar leadership and immense industry knowledge will play a pivotal role in advancing AppViewX's go-to-market strategy and generating top-line revenue growth."

Prior to joining AppViewX, Mosher was the Chief Revenue Officer at Bromium, where he played a vital role in the company's acquisition by HP. He was also an integral part of a data security company, Delphix and cyber security start-up ArcSight where he demonstrated extensive experience in expanding the companies' global market share. Mosher also held key Leadership roles at Oracle, Portal Software, and Accel Partners.

"The shift to remote work has increased the need for low-code automation solutions that ensure critical application availability and infrastructure lifecycle management," said Kevin Mosher, Chief Revenue Officer at AppViewX. "Global organizations have realized the power of the AppViewX automation and orchestration platform for security, scalability and compliance in an increasing digital arena, and AppViewX claims an impressive array of Fortune-ranked global customers including 6 of the top 10 financial services companies and 5 of the top 10 media, telco and managed healthcare companies. I am keenly impressed with the company's unique vision and proven ability to add value to some of the largest global enterprises and help them achieve their infrastructure automation, crypto center of excellence and business goals."

Veteran channel leaders Chris Poulos and Mark Washburn were also brought onboard to oversee the increasing demand for the company's network automation and cyber security solutions among its rapidly growing Global 5000 customer installed base. Both Poulos and Washburn join AppViewX with extensive industry experience along with a keen understanding of the Asia Pacific Japan and US markets respectively.

About AppViewX

AppViewX is revolutionizing the way NetOps and DevSecOps teams deliver services to Enterprise IT. The AppViewX Platform is a modular, low-code software application that enables the automation and orchestration of network infrastructure using an intuitive, context-aware, visual workflow. It quickly and easily translates business requirements into automation workflows that improve agility, enforce compliance, eliminate errors, and reduce cost. AppViewX customers are among the world's most demanding Fortune 1000 organizations in financial services and banking, healthcare, oil and gas, manufacturing, and high tech.

Today, with Gartner Peer Insights rating of 4.9 out of 5, AppViewX automates NetOps, SecOps, and DevOps for six of the top ten global commercial banks, five of the top ten global media companies, and five of the top ten managed healthcare providers. AppViewX is headquartered in New York, U.S. with additional offices in U.K., Australia and three development centers of excellence in India. For more information, visit https://www.appviewx.com.

Contact:

Suvesha Vengatesh

+1 (212) 400 7541 x 2220

[email protected]

SOURCE AppViewX
Lockdown and Boris Johnson's address to the nation delayed the start of Great British Bake Off's series 11.

But it was worth the setbacks for Channel 4 as overnight ratings show the series opener, which aired on Tuesday night, scored record viewers for the broadcaster.

7.9 million tuned in to see Matt Lucas' first episode as the new co-host and 12 home bakers compete in the first drama-filled challenges.

Ready, set, bake! Lockdown delayed the start of Great British Bake Off's series 11 but it was worth the setbacks for Channel 4 as ratings show the series opener scored record ratings

The show marked the biggest Great British Bake Off launch Channel 4 has seen since it started airing the show in 2017, following seven years at the BBC.

Tuesday night's series premiere beat last years opening episode by a huge 1.3 million viewers, and surpassed the broadcasters first ever episode in 2017 by 500,000.

The peak of 7.9 million (average audience 6.9 million) marks Channel 4s biggest broadcast of 2020 to date and the channels highest rating broadcast since the series nine final of Bake Off in 2018.

The start of Tuesday night's show was delayed by 15 minutes to make room for Prime Minister Boris Johnson's address at 8pm, which three million people tuned in for on Channel 4.

He's a hit! 7.9 million viewers tuned in to see Matt Lucas' first episode as the new co-host and 12 home bakers compete in the first drama-filled challenges

Bake Off played up to the schedule clash, opening the episode with new presenter Matt Lucas impersonating a bumbling Boris who urged viewers to 'Stay Alert, Protect Cake and Save Loaves.'

The series had already seen it's start date pushed back by a month from its usual late August slot after filming was delayed by lockdown.

The production worked to ensure COVID-19 restrictions would not impact the close-knit nature of the show.

Light-hearted relief: Bake Off opened with Matt impersonating a bumbling Boris who urged viewers to 'Stay Alert, Protect Cake and Save Loaves'

All 12 bakers, presenters Matt Lucas and Noel Fielding, judges Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood along with the entire crew lived together in an isolation bubble for six weeks in order to film.

The production took over luxury hotel Down Hall in Hertfordshire with all cast and crew living together on site for the duration of the shoot, undergoing regular COVID-19 testing and living away from their families.

This allowed the bakers and the judges and presenters to forgo social distancing in the famous tent.

Happy to be back: The production worked to ensure COVID-19 restrictions would not impact the close-knit nature of the show

Cake-gate: The opening episode provided plenty of drama when it eventually got underway, with the stand-out moment coming during the Technical Challenge

Wow! Elsewhere, in the Showstopper challenge the 12 home-bakers were tasked with replicating a bust of their heroes in sponge cake - including a jaw-dropping Marie Antoinette

The opening episode provided plenty of drama when it eventually got underway, with the stand-out moment coming during the Technical Challenge.

Baker Sura accidentally knocked Dave's pineapple upside-down cakes onto the floor while attempting to shoo away a fly, leading to plenty of tears.

Elsewhere, in the Showstopper challenge the 12 home-bakers were tasked with replicating a bust of their heroes in sponge cake, leading to a collapsing Freddie Mercury and a jaw-dropping Marie Antoinette.

In the end Durham-based radiographer Loriea was sent home after failing to impress Paul and Prue with her overly-flavoured bakes.

Great British Bake Off continues on Channel 4 on Tuesday nights at 8pm.
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Linkedin Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Medan  Wed, September 23, 2020 11:33 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c469e539 1 National death-penalty,PremeditatedMurder,Medan-District-Court,Medan-High-Court,Jamaluddin,murder,murder-case Free

The Medan High Court in North Sumatra has handed down the death sentence to two murder convicts found guilty of assassinating judge Jamaluddin in November last year.

The sentence in the appellate case is heavier than the initial sentence from the Medan District Court, which had sentenced the two defendants, Jefri Pratama and Reza Fahlevi, to life imprisonment and 20 years of jail time, respectively.

The ruling of the high court judges was announced on the Supreme Courts website mahkamahagung.go.id on Monday.

Judges Ronius, Purnowo Edi Santosa and Kosbin Lumban Gaol argued that Jefri and Reza, who happened to be brothers, had committed such a sadistic and inhuman act by carrying out a premeditated murder against Jamaluddin, a judge with the Medan District Court, that they deserved the capital punishment.

Read also: Jamaluddin murder trial opens, defendants face death penalty

Jefri and Reza reportedly smothered judge Jamaluddin to death while the victim was asleep at his house. The killing was apparently spearheaded by the judges wife, Zuraida Hanum, who had found out about her husbands affair with another woman.

The incident took place at around 1 a.m. on Nov. 29 at the judges residence in the Royal Monaco housing complex, Medan. Jamaluddins body was found on the same day at around 1 p.m. inside a black car parked on an oil palm plantation in Suka Dame village, Deli Serdang regency, North Sumatra.

The Medan District Court has sentenced Zuraida to death, which was affirmed by the high court. All three defendants were charged under Article 340 of the Criminal Code on premeditated murder. (vny)
An outdoor furniture maker is planning to move its headquarters and manufacturing operations from California to the Texas Hill Country.

O.W. Lee bought a 412,000-square-foot building on 44 acres in Comfort and anticipates relocating in early 2021, pending upgrades to the structure, according to local officials.

The location of O.W. Lee to Comfort will be a strong addition to Kendall County and brings a high-quality company to one of the largest buildings in the county, Amy Story, president and CEO of the Boerne Kendall County Economic Development Corp., said in a statement.

The family-owned business plans to invest $24 million, which includes the purchase of the property at 1206 Fifth St. and about $6 million worth of improvements to it.

On ExpressNews.com: Manufacturers weigh in on Trump vs. Biden

Its unclear how many of the roughly 200 jobs O.W. Lee is expected to provide will be new or relocated positions.

Company officials are determining that now, said Terri Lee Rogers, president and vice present of sales. Rogers estimates that about 8 to 10 percent will relocate to Comfort. The manufacturer will recruit locally to fill the rest of the jobs.

Wages depend on the job, with the average production position starting at around $15 per hour with benefits, Rogers added.

O.W. Lee is set to receive a 7-year tax abatement, which will average 40 percent of the increased value of the property, Story said.

On ExpressNews.com: Navistar to make electric trucks in San Antonio

Local officials are also nominating the business for the Texas Enterprise Zone program. Projects can receive state sales and use tax refunds through the program, which is supposed to encourage private investment and job creation in economically distressed areas, according to the states website.

Ontario, Calif.-based O.W. Lee is moving to Texas because of its favorable business incentives and policies, and for the central location for shipping, Rogers said in a statement.

The San Antonio area can meet our need for high-quality metalworkers and welders, and we feel we can provide a good wage and be a positive business member in this community, Rogers added.

The company designs and manufactures outdoor furniture and fire pits.

madison.iszler@express-news.net
ALBANY  The State Liquor Authority battled back against criticism from two Capital Region members of the state Assembly, who on Tuesday said an agency-led task force appointed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo is being overzealous in its enforcement of health and safety regulations imposed on New York's bars and restaurants to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

"It's easy to forget that New York is only reopening because of the hard work of state government to enforce strict public health guidelines and bring infection rates down," said SLA spokesman Bill Crowley.

According to agency records, of the more than 1,800 bars and restaurants in the Capital Region licensed to sell alcohol, over the past six months only 15 have been cited for violating new pandemic-related regulations. The measures include requiring restaurant and bar staff to wear masks at all times, having customers masked except when seated, ordering food along with initial alcohol orders, and seating separate groups at least 6 feet apart if dividers are not in use and limiting them to a maximum of 10 people.

Of those local businesses cited by the SLA, eight have had their liquor licenses temporarily suspended by the agency board following enforcement agents observing what were seen as egregious violations of pandemic-related safety measures or, in the case of Lebanon Valley Speedway in West Lebanon and Liberty Ridge Farm in Schaghticoke, preemptively suspended for advertising Fourth of July events that would have flouted those regulations. The latter two had their licenses reinstated with no penalties; two other local bars suspended for flagrant violations, Loopies Pub in Tribes Hill and Hudson Brewing in Hudson, paid $10,000 fines to get their licenses back, according to the SLA. Liquor licenses remain suspended at The New Elbo Room and Andy's Place in Albany and at Mark's Grill and Wolff's Biergarten in Schenectady.

While the law allows penalties for up to $10,000 for initial violations that do not result in suspensions, records show the SLA board generally imposes fines of between $1,500 and $4,000 on first-timers. The average in the Capital Region is $1,800, Crowley said.

For weeks a multi-agency task force of state investigators and other employees has been making thousands of compliance checks per week at bars and restaurants. Statewide, such spot visits have resulted in more than 1,000 citations issued for lesser violations, and about 200 liquor licenses that have been temporarily suspended for more flagrant failure to enforce current regulations. But such violations have been consistently found at a tiny number of the places visited. According to the governors office, nearly 6,000 investigator visits during the last week of August, for example, produced 35 violations, or or a rate of 0.5 percent; last weeks 1,585 checks resulted in seven citations, or 0.4 percent.

Assembly members Pat Fahy and John McDonald, Democrats who represent districts in and around Albany, said Tuesday during a roundtable with area restaurateurs that such widespread compliance among nearly all bars and restaurants visited suggests enforcement resources would be better deployed elsewhere.

We have to let up on the gotcha mentality, Fahy said, adding, "lets put some of those enforcement things into our colleges or where we are seeing other problems.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

In fact, said Crowley, the agency and other state departments are doing just that. Cuomo earlier this month ordered more patrols and other enforcement efforts be directed to areas around colleges and where students carouse. The stepped-up measures resulted in temporary suspensions for bars catering to college students in Cortland, Dutchess, Madison, Monroe, Oswego and Schenectady counties, with the latter being the Erie Boulevard location of Wolff's Biergarten.

With significant outbreaks linked to colleges and universities across the country, Crowley said, New York's additional efforts will help keep students, faculty, staff and the surrounding communities safe.

The SLA said that informing Cuomo's continuing insistence on vigilant enforcement at bars and restaurants are nationwide accounts tracing outbreaks to the hospitality industry. The agency pointed to a New York Times report in August that about a quarter of all of Louisiana's COVID-19 cases outside of prisons and nursing homes since March were attributable to eateries and watering holes, as were 12 percent of cases in Maryland in July. In other examples, the SLA cited Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who said in late June, "If I could go back and redo anything, it probably would have been to slow down the opening of bars," and Michigan, where 174 cases have been tracked to one barpopular with college students.

"We cannot lose sight of the forest for the trees," Crowley said. "We are still in the middle of a global pandemic, the threat of a second wave is on the horizon, and it is far better to be unhappy with enforcement than sick or worse."
Actor Rhea Chakraborty in her bail plea has alleged that Sushant Singh Rajput was doubtful about the motivations of his sisters. Rhea has said that the late actor believed his sisters were not worried about his mental health, and were merely after his money.

Rhea is currently lodged at Byculla Jail, after being arrested for procuring drugs for the late actor, whom she was dating at the time of his death on June 14. Her bail hearing will take place on Thursday, after todays hearing was called off due to heavy rains in Mumbai. Sushants family has also accused Rhea of abetting the actors suicide and misappropriating his funds.

According to The Times of India, Rheas lawyer in her bail application said, Sushant had been routinely contacting his family to inform them about his bouts of depression and other issues but Sushants family members did not seem overly concerned regarding the same. Ultimately in the third week of November 2019, his three sisters came to Mumbai and informed him that they would be taking him to Chandigarh for further treatment.The Applicant (Rhea Chakraborty) did not interfere with their decision and was in fact relieved to see his family members finally take some interest in his well being and health. However on 26th November 2019, Sushant called the Applicant and informed that he would not be travelling to Chandigarh with his sisters as he doubted their motives and felt that they were merely after his money. That very same night, all three sisters left Sushant along at the peak of his depression.

Also read: Sushant Singh Rajput took advantage of those closest to him to sustain drug habit: Rhea Chakraborty in bail plea

In January, however, Sushant did travel to Chandigarh with one of his sisters. In an interview to India Today, Rhea had refuted the claim that Sushant had come back to Mumbai from Chandigarh at her behest. She said: In January, he went to meet his sister in Chandigarh but returned after two days. Maybe he didnt like them, and returned on his own. I was not even aware that he was returning.

Sushants US-based sister Shweta Singh Kirti had provided proof that she was always willing to go the extra mile for her brother, and shared pictures of a ticket to India that she had purchased for January. She wrote in a social media post that the actor returned to Mumbai abruptly because Rhea kept calling him. She wrote: As Rhea mentioned in her interview,We didnt love our brother!! Yeah right, thats why I flew all the way from USA to India in Jan as soon as I got to know Bhai is visiting Chandigarh and is not keeping well. I had to stall my business and leave my kids behind! The worst part was I didnt even get to meet my brother coz by the time I reached, Bhai had already left Chandigarh because of the constant pestering calls of Rhea and some work commitments. Family was always there standing rock solid for him!! Dare anyone ever doubt it for a moment!! #JusticeForSushantSinghRajput #Godiswithus.

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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)

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.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, learns about the operation and employment situation of Ximalaya company, which operates a popular audio sharing platform, in east China's Shanghai, Sept. 21, 2020. Li made an inspection tour in Shanghai from Monday to Tuesday. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visits SAP Labs China, a foreign-owned enterprise operating in the Shanghai pilot free trade zone (FTZ), and learns about its cooperation with Chinese companies in east China's Shanghai, Sept. 21, 2020. Li made an inspection tour in Shanghai from Monday to Tuesday. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, chairs a symposium at the Bank of Communications on financial support for the real economy in east China's Shanghai, Sept. 21, 2020. Li made an inspection tour in Shanghai from Monday to Tuesday. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, conducts in-depth exchanges with professors and scientists on stimulating the creativity of scientific research personnel at Shanghai Jiaotong University in east China's Shanghai, Sept. 22, 2020. Li made an inspection tour in Shanghai from Monday to Tuesday. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)
Bishop Michael Curry gave an impassioned address on the power of love when Harry wed Meghan in 2018.

He told People magazine: After I preached the sermon, I just remember it was like I could feel slaves around the place.

I dont mean to be spooky, but it was like their voice was somehow heard that day.

I included one of their songs There is a Balm in Gilead.

It was like their voice, one of their songs, one of their descendants was there that day.

The presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church in the US, who is a descendant of slaves and the son of a civil rights activist, was discussing his new book Love Is The Way.

He described the Queen as most gracious and said the experience was a sign of hope.

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He added: That one of their descendants was in the presence of the Queen of England, and he quoted one of their songs.

Thats hope that we dont have to be the way weve always been.

The bishop said he is not in touch with Meghan and Harry, who quit as working royals less than two years after the wedding and moved to the US, but he continues to pray for them.

He praised the duchess for her activism and for lifting up women.

Former Suits star Meghan became the first mixed-race person in modern history to marry a senior British royal.

She has described how her great-great-great-grandfather created his own identity when freed from slavery, choosing his own last name Wisdom.
US President Donald Trumps recorded speech delivered to the opening session of the United Nations General Assembly Tuesday consisted of a hysterical anti-Chinese rant combined with a lying coverup of the disastrous US response to the COVID-19 pandemic and boasting about the prowess of the American military and its ability to blow up the world.

The unprecedented character of the session, which is being held almost entirely virtually, with world heads of state having sent in recorded remarks rather than making speeches from the assemblys green marble rostrum, is a graphic expression of the impact of the global pandemic, with nearly one million deaths recorded worldwide.

The assembly marked the 75th anniversary of the UN, which was formed after the end of the Second World War and its slaughter of more than 70 million human beings with the pledge of saving succeeding generations from the scourge of war.

The bodys organic incapacity to make good on this promise under the existing capitalist order has been made abundantly clear over the course of its three-quarters-of-a-century existence. It directly participated in the US war that claimed the lives of two million Koreans, was incapable of preventing Washingtons war against Vietnam that killed three million and has facilitated three decades of uninterrupted US wars in the Middle East that have killed millions more, while creating the greatest refugee crisis since World War II.

Trumps speech and US actions in recent days have confirmed once again that the ravages of the coronavirus have done nothing to curb the drive toward imperialist war, but on the contrary have only accelerated it.

While the allotted time for speeches from heads of state to the General Assembly is 15 minutesand most traditionally substantially exceed this limitTrumps speech clocked in at barely seven minutes. Nonetheless, he managed to mention China no less than 12 times, beginning in his first few words with the description of the global pandemic as the China virus.

He went on to demand twice in his brief address that China be held accountable, while blaming the country for lying about the coronavirus, subverting the World Health Organization, polluting the environment, over-fishing and destroying vast swaths of coral reef.

With the recorded US death toll from COVID-19 having passed the 200,000 mark, Trump absurdly claimed that his administration had carried out the most aggressive mobilization since the Second World War to combat the virus, even as he was telling a campaign rally the day before that it affects nobody.

He stated that the US was a leader in human rights, as protests against police murders continue to erupt across the country. And he asserted that American prosperity is the bedrock of freedom and security all over the world. For billions across the planet, American prosperity, by which Trump means the rise of the stock market and the fortunes of the billionaire oligarchy, has come at the cost of brutal oppression, hunger and war.

Trump boasted of the massive resources that have been diverted from pressing social needs in the US to Washingtons war machine, stating: We spent $2.5 trillion over the last four years on our military. We have the most powerful military anywhere in the world, and its not even close.

He went on to bluster that Our weapons are at an advanced level like weve never had before like frankly, weve never even thought of having before. And I only pray to God that we never have to use them.

The implicit threat of military aggression in Trumps remarks were an expression of the policies being pursued by US imperialism from the South China Sea to the Persian Gulf and the Caribbean.

On the eve of the General Assemblys opening, the Trump administration announced a new set of sanctions against Iran, a further escalation of its maximum pressure campaign that is tantamount to a state of war and has devastated the Iranian economy.

Washington has maintained the pretense that it is unilaterally enforcing the snapback of United Nations sanctions that were in effect before the 2015 nuclear accord between Iran and the major powersknown as the JCPOA, or Joint Comprehensive Plan of Actionin particular an embargo against conventional arms sales to Tehran. The current 15 member nations of the UN Security Council, with the sole exception of the Dominican Republic, refused to recognize any legal standing for the US to reimpose the sanctions, after it unilaterally abrogated the nuclear agreement in 2018.

At a press conference on Monday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo proclaimed that Our actions today are a warning that should be heard worldwide, adding that anyone who violated the UN arms embargo that will be lifted next month under the terms of the nuclear accord will risk sanctions.

New sanctions were announced against two dozen Iranian officials and entities allegedly associated with the countrys nuclear and ballistic missile programs as well as conventional weapons purchases. Additional sanctions were also thrown in against the government of President Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela, a country also groaning under a US maximum pressure sanctions regime, on the pretext that Venezuela is somehow involved in arms transfers with Iran.

Even as the new sanctions were being unveiled, the Pentagon announced the deployment of the USS Nimitz carrier strike group into the Persian Gulf. The US aircraft carrier, accompanied by two guided-missile cruisers and a guided-missile destroyer, sailed through the strategic Strait of Hormuz last Friday. It marked the first such deployment of a carrier strike group since last November and followed Trumps threat that any Iranian attack on US forces or interests would be met with a response 1,000 times greater in magnitude.

In his recorded speech to the UN General Assembly, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani drew a connection between US aggression against Iran and the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The footage broadcast to the world concerning the treatment of an African American by the US police is reminiscent of our own experience, he said We instantly recognize the feet kneeling on the neck as the feet of arrogance on the neck of independent nations. For decades, the valiant Iranian nation has paid a similar high price for its quest for freedom and liberation from domination and despotism.

US aggression against Iran and Venezuela are aimed at rolling back Chinas influence in both the energy-rich and strategically vital Middle East, as well as in Latin America, long regarded by US imperialism as its own backyard.

This is not merely a policy of the Trump administration, but rather the drive by the whole of the US ruling capitalist oligarchy to offset the decline of US capitalisms global economic hegemony through a resort to militarism. Trumps ostensible chief political opponent, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, has repeatedly criticized the Republican president for being too soft on both Russia and China.

Trumps saber-rattling in his recorded speech to the UN must be taken with deadly seriousness. The threat of war is intensified by the need of the capitalist ruling class to divert outward the immense social tensions building up under conditions of the continuing pandemic, mass unemployment and deepening deprivation for tens of millions. An October surprise in the form of a new US war aimed at rallying support for Trump or creating the conditions for martial law in the US is a real threat.

The fight against the threat of war cannot be waged within the confines of the electoral contest between the two major capitalist parties, the Democrats and Republicans. It requires the independent mobilization of the working class on the basis of a socialist and internationalist program.
Two Republican-led Senate committees issued a report Wednesday on the work Democratic presidential nominee Joe Bidens son, Hunter, did in Ukraine.
Researchers from six countries in the Americas explored bromeliad microcosms, showing how drought and flood affect the functioning of aquatic ecosystems, especially at the bottom of the food chain. Credit: Gustavo Quevedo Romero/UNICAMP

To understand how climate change may affect different ecosystems, 27 researchers from Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, French Guiana and Puerto Rico, among other countries, conducted experiments in seven different locations involving the aquatic environment in the tank (centrally-located water-holding cup) of bromeliads, a habitat for insect larvae and other small organisms.

They discovered that, in contrast with what might be thought, the smallest organisms at the bottom of the food chain suffer the most from rainfall instability, one of the expected effects of climate change, rather than the large organisms at the top. The study was supported by Sao Paulo Research FoundationFAPESP, and the findings are published in Nature Communications.

According to ecologist Gustavo Quevedo Romero, first author of the article and a professor in the Animal Biology Department at the University of Campinas's Biology Institute (IB-UNICAMP) in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, multiple-site studies designed to understand how climate change may affect ecosystems are rare. This type of approach is necessary to achieve a better understanding of how each geographic region and ecosystem will be affected. The findings from the experiments with bromeliads contradict those of much previous ecological research focusing on climate change and species resilience.

"We manipulated the quantity and frequency of rainfall in the microcosms [in the bromeliad tank] according to climate change models for the decades ahead. In the same experiment, we created both drought and flood conditions, as well as an index of hydrological stability in each bromeliad. The sample, therefore, included bromeliads with more stable hydrological conditions, in which water volume varied little over time, and others with more unstable conditions," Romero said. "We found that hydrological instability affected smaller organisms negatively. The largest amounts of these were found in microcosms with more stable conditions. The largest predators were found in bromeliads exposed to the worst periods of drought."

The scientific literature suggests larger animals suffer most from climate changes, especially because they have less room to forage. "But we showed that in this case the bottom of the food chain may be more sensitive, and changes there can modify the trophic levels above," he said.

The researchers were surprised to find a single consistent pattern of susceptibility to climate change across all seven study sites despite local variations: predators always benefited from drier conditions, while small organisms were adversely affected in small environments and favored in larger environments with more rainfall. "Our study sites included Santa Fe, Argentina, which is arid, and locations in Costa Rica and French Guiana where drought is unusual, and the pattern was the same," he said.

Other results were also geographically consistent. "The predator biomass to prey biomass ratio, or the biomass pyramid representing the amount of potential food available for each trophic level in an ecosystem, was the same in all plants in all study sites and consistent throughout the geographical space regardless of species pool and the degree to which the organisms were drought-adapted," he said.

Instability

The study shows that climate change causes instability in food webs, especially when it is associated with drought. "More predators in a bromeliad with less water intensify the top-down predation effect on prey communities. This destabilizes the food web and may lead to local extinction of both predator and prey species," Romero said. In sum, although predators benefit in the smaller habitats caused by drought, these environments are more unstable and more vulnerable to extinction and ecosystem collapse.

The study methodology classified the fauna inhabiting bromeliad aquatic ecosystems into apex (top) predators, mesopredators (mid-ranking predators), and detritivores (small animals that feed on dead organic material, especially plant detritus). "We saw no impact of climate change on mesopredators, which were not affected by the treatments we administered," Romero said. In the bromeliad microcosm analyzed, mid-ranking predators were represented by small insect larvae that feed on other small organisms and are generally considered opportunistic species.

Like detritivores, filter feeders are small organisms. These are aquatic animals that feed on particles or other small organisms strained out of water and circulated through their system. Both of these groups benefited from steady hydrological conditions but were adversely affected by unstable conditions and exceptionally heavy rainfall.

"For example, heavy downpours in lakes and in bromeliad tanks lead to overflowing and loss of microorganisms and other nutrients via flushing," Romero said. "We showed in other studies that flushing and flooding can lead to significant losses of bacteria, microinvertebrates, and nutrients such as nitrate and phosphate."

Microcosm

Bromeliads, Romero explained, are natural environments in which scientists are able to explore various aspects of ecosystems, thanks to their small size and the ease with which they can be handled, as well as the fact that the results obtained in them can often be extrapolated for larger systems such as lakes or lagoons. Studies conducted in these larger environments tend to produce similar results to those performed in the bromeliad microcosm.

"Bromeliads are found throughout the Neotropics, and although their tanks are small environments a forest bromeliad community can accumulate as much as 50,000 liters of water per hectare, serving as a water source for birds, mammals and other terrestrial animals, and as an entire ecosystem for organisms that live in aquatic environments," he said.

This aquatic environment, mainly inhabited by small insects and crustaceans, is what the researchers explored. "The apex predators, especially dragonfly larvae, are larger animals, while the detritivores are tiny insects like mosquitoes and midges," he explained. "The apex predators feed on these smaller organisms, which feed on particles in suspension and detritus that falls from trees."

Common protocol

The research group, which also included scientists from France, Canada, the US, and the UK, held two meetings to decide on the experiment design. The same protocol was implemented at all seven study sites. At each site, they selected 30 bromeliads with more than 100 ml of tank capacity so that they could be colonized by the large predators. The species were the most common locally, as each region's bromeliad community comprises different species.

The 210 plants were washed and disinfected to remove all detritus and macroorganisms, as well as microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. "We cleaned the bromeliads out very thoroughly so as to start from scratch," Romero said. "To initiate colonies and communities in the experimental ecosystems, we evenly divided the previously removed fine and coarse detritus among the 30 plants and stocked each bromeliad with the same community in terms of invertebrate families and functional groups. We then took them back into the field and installed them under individual transparent plastic shelters to ensure that the results were not affected by rain."

Each site's rainfall regime was simulated in terms of a five-year regional average for volume and frequency. "We manipulated the amount and frequency of rainfall during a two-month period at each site," Romero said. "We had an average for each geographical region. Below that we considered drought, and above it flooding. We manipulated the extremes, drought, and flood. No one had done that previously."

After two months the plants were taken to the laboratory, where the researchers recorded water turbidity (organic and inorganic suspended matter resulting from detritivore activity), a surrogate for total nutrient availability in freshwater ecosystems. They then dissected each bromeliad by removing each leaf, washing it separately in running water, and filtering this water through sieves before analyzing its content.

Explore further Extreme rainfall events cause top-heavy aquatic food webs

More information: Gustavo Q. Romero et al, Extreme rainfall events alter the trophic structure in bromeliad tanks across the Neotropics, Nature Communications (2020). Journal information: Nature Communications Gustavo Q. Romero et al, Extreme rainfall events alter the trophic structure in bromeliad tanks across the Neotropics,(2020). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17036-4
The President of Afghanistan is asking the United Nations and its members for their support in the upcoming peace talks with the Taliban.

Ashraf Ghani said it is an urgent priority to get a ceasefire and "an urgent end to the violence."

Ghani said the decision to start talks with the Taliban took "courage."

He said a deal with the Taliban won't be enough to bring peace, but that the world must get to the "root of the terrorism problem" and address it as the "global phenomenon and threat that it is."

(Representative Image)(Image Credit Pixabay)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 15:37:58|Editor: huaxia

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China's commitment to upholding multilateralism is very encouraging, said UN officials in interviews with Xinhua during the 75th session of the General Assembly. After decades of globalization and integration, the world is facing widening fragmentation in response to salient risks and challenges, due to the return of unilateralism, protectionism, treaty withdrawals and military and economic bullying practices. 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."
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The Rajya Sabha was adjourned sine die on Wednesday, eight days before the Monsoon Session was scheduled to end. The Lok Sabha, that resumes at 6 pm today, is also expected to be adjourned sine die.

The stormy session, that began on September 14, was cut short in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and witnessed unruly scenes during the passage of three controversial farm bills, followed by a boycott of the proceedings by the Opposition.

In its nearly four-hour-long last sitting on Wednesday, the tenth day of the Session, the Upper House passed seven bills, including three key labour reforms legislations, the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2020 and the Jammu and Kashmir Official Language Bill, 2020, amid Opposition boycott. Likewise on Tuesday, the House passed seven bills while the Opposition parties were boycotting the proceedings.

We are concluding the 252nd session of the Rajya Sabha today, Chairperson M Venkaiah Naidu said, before announcing that the House stands adjourned sine die.

Earlier in the day, Union Minister of State (MoS) for Parliamentary Affairs, V Muraleedharan, told the Upper House that the government had recommended adjournment of the Rajya Sabha sine die.

The Opposition parties that boycotted the Rajya Sabha session, are, in the meantime, meeting President Ram Nath Kovind later in the day over the contentious farm bills. The three bills -- the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020  passed by both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha will now go to the President for final approval before becoming law. The Opposition has accused the government of passing all three bills without following due procedure.

The Rajya Sabha witnessed unruly scenes on September 20 after Opposition MPs 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 deputy chairman Harivansh 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 the Parliament.

Next day, eight Opposition MPs were suspended for a week. The suspension followed adjournment of Rajya Sabha and an overnight protest by the MPs. The MPs even snubbed an offer of tea from the deputy chairman.

On Tuesday, the Opposition decided to boycott the remaining session of the Upper House pending three demands, including revoking the suspension of the MPs. Later, the Opposition boycotted the Lok Sabha proceedings for the day as well.

The government is also expected to recommend sine die adjournment of the Lok Sabha session.

As many as 30 members of both 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 and on Rajya Sabhas last sitting today, while Home Minister Amit Shah, who tested positive for the virus before the session, has not attended any session so far.

Congress MPs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, who are back from an overseas trip, could not attend any session either, 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.
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.

Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android and sign up for the Yahoo Finance Canada Weekly Brief.
President Muhammadu Buhari has stated that the death of 23 people, as confirmed by the Federal Road Safety Commission, represents another disturbing and saddening incident in the litany of tragedies that have befallen our country.

Mr Buhari was reacting to the petroleum tanker explosion earlier this Wednesday in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, which claimed the lives of travellers, school children, bystanders, and some students of Kogi State Polytechnic.

President Buhari said that I am seriously worried about the frequency of these unfortunate and large scale tragedies in the country which cause needless deaths.

According to him, these frequent incidents that result in loss of lives and property are a national scandal caused by our indifference to safety standards.

He explained that many accidents are preventable if proper proactive and precautionary measures are put in place or properly observed as routine policies.

The president regretted that ours is a country where we move on whenever tragedies occur instead of taking preventive safety measures to forestall future calamities.

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President Buhari called on the countys transport authorities, traffic and road management agencies as well as law enforcement officials to sit up and enforce safety standards with more seriousness, adding that refusal to do the right thing can cause potential tragic problems that harm innocent people.

According to him, Nigeria is not having a shortage of laws and regulations, but our problem is lack of zeal to enforce those laws and regulations for the sake of public safety.

He condoled with Kogi State government and the families of the victims of the tragedy.

The Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, in an earlier statement, had blamed the tragedy on the deplorable state of federal roads in the state.
The warmer it gets, the faster Antarctica loses ice - and much of it will then be gone forever. Consequences for the world's coastal cities and cultural heritage sites would be detrimental, from London to Mumbai, and from New York to Shanghai. That's what a team of researchers from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Potsdam University and New York's Columbia University has found out in their new study, published in Nature (cover story), on how much warming the Antarctic Ice Sheet can survive. In around one million hours of computation time, their unprecedentedly detailed simulations delineate where exactly and at which warming levels the ice would become unstable and eventually melt and drain into the ocean. They find a delicate concert of accelerating and moderating effects, but the main conclusion is that unmitigated climate change would have dire long-term consequences: If the global mean temperature level is sustained long enough at 4 degrees above pre-industrial levels, Antarctic melting alone could eventually raise global sea levels by more than six meters.

"Antarctica holds more than half of Earth's fresh water, frozen in a vast ice-sheet which is nearly 5 kilometers thick," explains Ricarda Winkelmann, researcher at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and University of Potsdam, and corresponding author of the study. "As the surrounding ocean water and atmosphere warm due to human greenhouse-gas emissions, the white cap on the South Pole loses mass and eventually becomes unstable. Because of its sheer magnitude, Antarctica's potential for sea-level contribution is enormous: We find that already at 2 degrees of warming, melting and the accelerated ice flow into the ocean will, eventually, entail 2.5 meters of global sea level rise just from Antarctica alone. At 4 degrees, it will be 6.5 meters and at 6 degrees almost 12 meters if these temperature levels would be sustained long enough."

Long-term change: it's not rapid, but it's forever

The paper's title refers to the complex physical phenomenon of hysteresis. In this case, that translates into irreversibility. Anders Levermann, co-author and researcher at PIK and Columbia University describes: "Antarctica is basically our ultimate heritage from an earlier time in Earth's history. It's been around for roughly 34 million years. Now our simulations show that once it's melted, it does not regrow to its initial state even if temperatures eventually sank again. Indeed, temperatures would have to go back to pre-industrial levels to allow its full recovery - a highly unlikely scenario. In other words: What we lose of Antarctica now, is lost forever."

The reasons behind this irreversibility are self-enforcing mechanisms in the ice sheets' behavior under warming conditions. Co-author Torsten Albrecht lays out: "In West Antarctica for instance, the main driver of ice loss is warm ocean water leading to higher melting underneath the ice shelves, which in turn can destabilize the grounded ice sheet. That makes glaciers the size of Florida slide into the ocean. Once temperatures cross the threshold of six degrees above pre-industrial levels, effects from the ice surface become more dominant: As the gigantic mountains of ice slowly sink to lower heights where the air is warmer, this leads to more melt at the ice surface - just as we observe in Greenland."

The fate of New York, Tokyo, Hamburg is in our hands

Ice loss and melting have accelerated significantly over the last decades in Antarctica. The authors however have explicitly not addressed the question of time scale in their work, but rather assess the critical warming levels at which parts of the Antarctic Ice Sheet become unstable. Winkelmann explains this approach: "In the end, it is our burning of coal and oil that determines ongoing and future greenhouse-gas emissions and therefore, if and when critical temperature thresholds in Antarctica are crossed. And even if the ice loss happens on long time scales, the respective carbon dioxide levels can already be reached in the near future. We decide now whether we manage to halt the warming. So Antarctica's fate really lies in our hands - and with it that of our cities and cultural sites across the globe, from Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana to Sydney's Opera House. Thus, this study really is another exclamation mark behind the importance of the Paris Climate Accord: Keep global warming below two degrees."

Levermann adds: "If we give up the Paris Agreement, we give up Hamburg, Tokyo and New York."

###

Article: Julius Garbe, Torsten Albrecht, Anders Levermann, Jonathan F. Donges, Ricarda Winkelmann (2020): The hysteresis of the Antarctic Ice Sheet. Nature [DOI:10.1038/s41586-020-2727-5]

Weblink once the study is published: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2727-5
Bhopal, Sep 23 : The Madhya Pradesh government has issued a clarification, two days after it accepted the debt waiver for farmers by the previous Congress government in the state. The government said that "authorities gave the wrong information".

The opposition Congress has termed the government's statement as irresponsible.

In the Assembly, it was accepted by the government two days ago that the debt waiver of about 27 lakh farmers has been approved in the Jai Kisan Karzmafi Yojana under the Congress rule. The Congress targeted the ruling BJP as the saffron party has accused it of not waiving farmers' debt.

On Wednesday, on behalf of the government, Urban Administration Minister Bhupendra Singh gave a clarification on the issue. He said that as officials had given wrong information about the farmers' loan waiver, the government is probing the matter.

The government's statement has been termed as "irresponsible" by former state Agriculture Minister Sachin Yadav. He said that the Assembly is a Constitutional body and each word spoken there is significant. There is a process for answering a question and the minister concerned receives a briefing before the answer is given in the House.

The minister himself signs the reply, followed by the reply in the House. In the case of farmers' loan waiver, the officials are only stating the facts. The truth is that the debt of farmers has been waived, he said.
A Lehigh Valley woman sued the Walt Disney Co. after her 7-year-old autistic son was barred from entering the Disney Store in the Lehigh Valley Mall because he wasnt wearing a face mask.

The lawsuit filed on behalf of Allen Township resident Shea Emanuel says masks bother her sons skin so she wont force him to wear one. His skin is highly sensitive to touch, especially on his face, the suit says.

The suit says she was at the store in Whitehall on Aug. 20 to celebrate her older sons birthday. The lawsuit says the boy and his brother were humiliated by being denied entry in front of about a dozen people waiting in line to enter.

Pennsylvania Health Secretary Rachel Levine issued an order requiring people to wear face coverings to stop the spread of COVID-19. The order allows exemptions, however, for individuals with mental health conditions or disabilities. No one must show proof or documentation to take advantage of the exemptions, Levines order says.

A Disney spokesman emailed the following statement to lehighvalleylive.com:

Disney stores operate in accordance with the ADA, and we will respond to the plaintiffs allegations in court at the appropriate time. We are always focused on the health and safety of our guests and employees, which is why we implemented a number of enhanced measures, including a face covering requirement, at our stores during this unprecedented time.

The lawsuit was filed in federal court Tuesday by Allentown attorney William P. Mansour. It seeks an order stopping the Walt Disney Co. from enforcing its face covering policy or practice at the Whitehall Disney Store against individuals who cannot wear face coverings because of an ADA-covered disability.

It seeks costs, attorney fees and any other relief deemed proper and just.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to Lehighvalleylive.com.

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.
By Tom Allard

JAKARTA, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Indonesia's President Joko Widodo used his first address to the United Nations General Assembly to warn on Wednesday that global stability and peace could be "destroyed" if growing geo-political rivalries persist.

"War will benefit no one. There is no point of celebrating victory among ruins. There is no point of becoming the largest economic power in the midst of a sinking world," said the president, widely known as Jokowi.

His comments came as tensions between the United States and China escalate, including in the South China Sea.

China claims sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, a position rejected by Washington and some Southeast Asian states, including Indonesia, citing provisions in the U.N. Convention of the Law of the Sea.

Earlier this month, Indonesia's government protested when a Chinese coast guard vessel entered the portion of the South China Sea it claims. It was the latest of several Chinese incursions in the past year.

"The principles of the U.N. Charter and international law are often neglected, including the respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity," Jokowi told the U.N.

The dangers of U.S.-China tensions was picked up by Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte. The Philippines has competing claims with China in the South China Sea.

"Given the size and military might of the contenders, we can only imagine and be aghast at the terrible toll on human life and property that shall be inflicted if the 'word war' deteriorates into a real war of nuclear weapons and missiles," he told the U.N. general assembly.

Jokowi said the coronavirus pandemic was a time for global unity.

"What we see, instead, is one of deep division and growing rivalries," he said. "If division and rivalries continue to persist, then I am concerned that the pillars of stability and sustainable peace will crumble or even (be) destroyed."

He said that Indonesia would be a "bridge builder" and advocate for global equality. (Reporting by Tom Allard Editing by Ed Davies)
Rio de Janeiro: Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has defended his administrations record protecting the Amazon rainforest, telling the United Nations virtual meeting of global leaders that his country has been wrongly portrayed as an environmental villain.

As the first speaker in the UN General Assembly's general debate, Bolsonaro said the South American nations agribusiness sector has succeeded in boosting agricultural exports to feed a growing global population, which has made it a target.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro speaks in a pre-recorded message played during the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly. Credit:UNTV/AP

"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.

Last week, a group of European countries  the Amsterdam Declarations Partnership, led by Germany  published a joint statement urging Brazil to take action in the Amazon. They said deforestation was making it increasingly difficult for businesses and investors to fulfil their environmental, social and governance criteria.
By PTI

SRINAGAR: Dubbed Cargo, the headquarters of Jammu and Kashmir's elite Special Operations Group buzzes with activity as various teams work 24X7 to track terrorist activity, suss out the ground situation in the Valley and plan operations.

With each team working on a dedicated task, the SOG is moving full steam ahead with its efforts to hit out at terrorists trying to make Srinagar their base, said senior officials anxious to recast the image of the force.

The idea, said Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh, is to ensure that Cargo becomes a centre of excellence rather than a place that evokes fear.

"I wanted to ensure that Cargo, a name which sent chills down people's spines earlier, becomes a centre for excellence and I guess that dream has been realised now," Singh said on Tuesday after congratulating SOG personnel for successfully completing an operation.

The building -- which once housed Indian Airlines cargo, hence the name, and is usually out of bounds for journalists, carries the tagline of the SOG, also known as Special Task Force (STF).

The sign outside says 'CARGO: In pursuit of excellence'.

"Hum awam ke dost hain (We are people friendly)," Singh said with Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar by his side as the successful SOG squad saluted him.

The SOG commandos, dressed in black and wearing masks in view of the COVID-19 crisis, have adapted the slogan "How's the Josh" from the Bollywood film "Uri: The Surgical Strike".

This year, the SOG conducted seven special operations within Srinagar city limits and eliminated 16 terrorists of various outfits, significantly higher than previous years.

Singh brushes off questions about controversies, including the alleged intimidation of journalists, saying it is not possible in this day and age with so many CCTVs present.

"Every one summoned here is shown charges and after hearing their side of the story they are escorted out with full respect. We are doing our job and that's all.I think the SOG is doing a good job," Singh told PTI.

A Cargo unit, headed by Superintendent of Police Tahir Ashraf, is using scientific methods during interrogation and has deployed dedicated teams for specified anti-terror activities, officials said.

Among the recent additions is a "command vehicle, providing a 360-degree view of the area where an operation is taking place so it can provide complete backup to its men on the ground.

"The vehicle has been designed by the SOG taking into consideration the need of its men involved in the operations. Today, every person involved in an operation carries a body camera so we can monitor his activity and pass necessary instructions on a special wireless headset," said Ashraf.

A tour of the SOG headquarters gives a sense of how the force works. In one part of the building, designated teams are working on the terror group 'assigned' to them.

"If a youth disappears from any locality in Kashmir Valley, we immediately start monitoring his previous activity and his associations so we can pinpoint his possible recruiter. We have gained success in many cases, many boys have been returned safely to their family members," Ashraf said without divulging details on grounds of security.

Another section closely monitors social media platforms, which have been used by terror recruiters to identify vulnerable youths.

"This section has been doing exemplary work. Here, too, we have had many successes when a young boy is continuously visiting any site propagating radicalisation and it comes to our notice, we inform the parents. The boy is also counselled," Ashraf said.

Sometimes, their efforts fail.

The DGP cited the example of an encounter in the last week of August in which the SOG lost Assistant Sub-Inspector Babu Ram.

"My boys traced the parents of the holed up militant to make an appeal to him to surrender despite the fact that he had killed one of their own. We brought the parents from Pampore in south Kashmir to the encounter site on the outskirts of Srinagar city to appeal to their son to surrender. However it failed and we had to go for a final assault," he said.

The 'Cargo' building was taken over by Jammu and Kashmir Police in the initial days of militancy in 1994.

Subsequently, it became the headquarters of the STF.
A combination picture shows Alexanda Kotey and Shafee Elsheikh, who the Syrian Democratic Forces claim are British nationals, in these undated handout pictures in Amouda, Syria released, on Feb. 9, 2018. (Syrian Democratic Forces/Handout via Reuters)

Britain Turns Over Evidence to US in ISIS Beatles Case

LONDONBritain says it has turned over to U.S. authorities evidence against two members of an alleged terror cell known as the Beatles, ending a drawn out legal battle to block the handover of the information.

The evidence against Shafee El Sheikh and Alexanda Kotey was given to U.S. prosecutors after the High Court of Justice in London refused to allow El Sheikhs mother to appeal earlier rulings that paved the way for the move.

Home Secretary Priti Patel wrote on Twitter late Tuesday that the further evidence to support the prosecution of Kotey & El Sheikh has now finally been transferred to the U.S. I sincerely hope that justice for the victims and their families will now be served.

El Sheikhs mother had sought to block the evidence transfer for more that two years, arguing that turning over the information would violate data protection laws because it could lead to the execution of her son.

U.S. Attorney General Robert Barr last month promised that the two suspects wouldnt face the death penalty if they were tried in American courts.

Kotey and El Sheikh are alleged to have beheaded 27 people, including three U.S. and two British hostages, while fighting for the ISIS terrorist group in Syria. They are believed to have been part of a four-man cell that became known as the Beatles because all four spoke with British accents.

Both men were raised in London before traveling to Syria to join ISIS. British authorities revoked their citizenship because of their actions in Syria.
It should come as no surprise that "ardent Catholic" Nancy Pelosi is once again at odds with a bishop. This time, the disagreement is with her local shepherd, archbishop of San Francisco Salvatore Joseph Cordileone. The archbishop has started to complain publicly at the way California's lockdown rules are specifically aimed at keeping houses of worship shuttered, and he wants his churches re-opened. Pelosi, on the basis of no scientific evidence at all, says that because it's not yet "scientifically safe" for people to attend Mass in person, it will be "jeopardizing people's health" to follow Archbishop Cordileone's rash counsel. "With all due respect to my archbishop," Pelosi says, "I think we should follow science on this." But the archbishop hasn't got any problem with science. He just wants an answer to one parishioner's question: "I can spend three hours indoors in Nordstrom, why can't I go to Mass indoors?"

Speaker Pelosi is entitled to correct her bishop because, if it's possible, she's an even more dedicated Woman of Science than she is an adherent of the Catholic faith. It's thanks to her profound mastery of both science and Christian teaching that she's able to know exactly when to listen to one and flatly ignore the other, since, as she explains, "faith and science, sometimes they're countered to each other." Even if centuries of devout believers smarter than her would argue that the Christian faith and science can never be in opposition (because "truth cannot be contrary to truth"), Pelosi is a modern Catholic not trapped in the Dark Ages. She knows how to keep her deeply held faith in its antiscientific place. Her real creed is, "I believe in science."

Or at least, science as far as she understands it  which might be almost as far as she understands the faith she consistently misrepresents. Recall that Pelosi said it was her intense study of the Church's teaching on abortion, undertaken as "an ardent, practicing Catholic," that led her to the astonishingly lazy and lukewarm rationalization that, "over the centuries, the Doctors of the Church have not been able" to define when human life begins. Could she really have missed with all that study that the Church has always taught that abortion and infanticide are sinful, in documents teaching not to "procure abortion, nor commit infanticide" dating as early as A.D. 65 to 80?

And if "when human life begins" were the real issue for her, then why couldn't she simply "follow the science," which leaves no shred of doubt on the matter?

Funnily enough, one of the last times Pelosi was in a disagreement with Archbishop Cordileone, he was the one explaining the science to her. At a press conference on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Pelosi boasted "great standing" to defend abortion, because as a "Catholic and a mom of five," she knows "more about having babies than the pope." Yet somehow, neither as a mother of five nor with her Ph.D. in Science could she answer a reporter asking if an unborn child at 20 weeks is a "human being." It took the same Archbishop Cordileone to clarify the "scientific fact that human life begins at conception." Which one is following the science?

All last year, it was the word "morality" Pelosi was abusing daily, 'til it was nothing but a scrap of hack gibberish. She anointed herself the supreme arbiter on what is and isn't "moral," condemning in particular the immorality of all laws that protect a national border, or might reduce the slaughter of unborn babies, or otherwise oppose her political goals. But the cause for her sainthood never caught on, maybe because anyone who appeals to the "basic morality" and even "sacredness" of mothers killing their unborn children doesn't deserve her own feast day.

Now she's dragging "science" through the muck. Virtually every time she opens her mouth, she's blaming Republicans in general, and President Trump in particular, for all the disasters caused by our "rejection of science." A few weeks ago, while blaming Trump for, well, every world problem, Pelosi showed her command of the facts: "Let me just say three words about the wildfires, and the hurricanes and about the coronavirus. Three words. Science. Science. And science. The science that the administration has chosen to ignore..."

This doesn't say much for Pelosi's math skills, because "science" is only one word.

We haven't forgotten how often the party of science ignores evidence it doesn't like. That's what its members have done with climate change and coronavirus, either censoring the other side to the argument or trying to criminalize dissent. Thanks to science reporting by liberals, the average American thinks 9% of the population has died from the virus  30 million people. Progressive science says a man can menstruate and have babies, and if he feels like a woman, he is actually a woman and must be treated as such in law and in fact, while all the little boys mistakenly "assigned at birth" into little-girl bodies can be fixed with hormones and surgical castration. Denying the empirical evidence of over 700 injured or killed police officers and a billion dollars in property damage  just so they can deny the existence of BLM riots  may be something, but it ain't science.

That's because Democrat science isn't real science, because it's really religion. As for what Pelosi's religion really is, science hasn't been able to solve that.

T.R. Clancy looks at the world from Dearborn, Michigan. You can email him at trclancy@yahoo.com.

Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0.
After Iran delivered condensate to Venezuela via an Iran-flagged tanker, the same tanker is now loading Venezuelan crude oil at a terminal in the Latin American country, in defiance of the U.S. sanctions on both countries oil industries and exports, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday, citing a shipping report.

The tanker currently known as Honey had offloaded condensate from Iran at the Venezuelan port of Jose earlier this month, Bloomberg reported last week, quoting a source with knowledge of the matter and a report.

Now the same tanker, according to the shipping report seen by Bloomberg, is preparing to ship Venezuelas Merey crude grade, helping the country with the worlds largest crude oil reserves to export more of its oil while U.S. sanctions have scared off many buyers, shippers, and insurers from doing business with Venezuela.

Despite sitting atop of the largest oil reserves in the world, Venezuela is in the grips of a severe gasoline shortage as refineries are unable to operate normally because of a shortage of diluents necessary for the production of fuels as well as an urgent need for repairs.

Lack of diluents, lack of maintenance, lack of money, and lack of spare parts have forced Venezuelas refineries to operate at very low processing rates, if at all, and the holder of the worlds biggest oil reserves doesnt have enough gasoline for its people.

Iran, as a fellow target of U.S. sanctions, has declared its readiness to help Venezuela deal with the shortage, and earlier this year managed to send cargoes of fuel to the Latin American country.

Iran is also reportedly helping Venezuela to reverse the decline of its crude oil production. Iran has sent professionals to help Venezuela repair its crumbling refineries and it is now sending to Venezuela the superlight crude grade known as condensate to blend it with the heavy crude and produce exportable grades of crude oil.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
NEW YORK : The G-4 nations of India, Germany, Brazil and Japan on Wednesday called for a "decisive push" for the long-delayed reforms of the UN Security Council.

"Participated in G4 Foreign Ministers Meeting that called for a decisive push for UNSC reforms during UN75. Unanimous call for text based negotiations in a fixed time frame. Reformed Multilateralism guides India's approach to the United Nations," External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar tweeted.

Participated in #G4 Foreign Ministers Meeting that called for a decisive push for UNSC reforms during #UN75 . Unanimous call for text based negotiations in a fixed time frame.

Reformed Multilateralism guides India's approach to the United Nations. pic.twitter.com/9MdI4FFNqz  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) September 23, 2020

The meeting of G4 Foreign Ministers is held on the sidelines for the annual UN General Assembly. With the high-level session being held virtually this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, all meetings on the sidelines of the General Assembly are also being held on a virtual platform.

In the 75th year of the United Nations, India will begin its two-year term as elected non-permanent member of the powerful Security Council from January 1 next year.

Effective response to international terrorism, reforming multilateral systems, comprehensive approach to peace and security, technology with a human touch and inclusive solutions to foster development are Indias priorities for its UNSC tenure.

In a video address to the High-Level meeting of the General Assembly to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the United Nations on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the world body faces a "crisis of confidence" without comprehensive reforms.

He asserted that today's interconnected world needs a reformed multilateralism that gives voice to all stakeholders, addresses contemporary challenges and focuses on human welfare.

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.

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One must remember that it is all to easy to saddle an incoming government with an unenviable task of solving eons of mismanagement of debt. This is known to the public as passing the baton.

by Victor Cherubim

With a second wave of Coronavirus expected to last up to April 2021, governments around the world have been advised to move hard and fast. What happens when governments move hard and fast has become well known to some, if not many of their citizens, especially during this pandemic.

There is confusion, there is denial of liberty, there is no accountability.

Some say people all over are losing trust in politics. Citizens may have legitimate reasons not to trust politics or rather is it the politicians given what we have seen of their performance over the last few months. But can you judge a book by its cover?

Others say one of the principal causes of distrust in politics is the likelihood of poor leadership, which has moved power over our affairs to others, not to our national governments but rather to supranational bodies and especially to financial markets, as many argue?

What really has happened?

On the one hand, perhaps, we are becoming more suspicious of authority generally. In the past, we accepted the dictates of governments as final. We never, hardly questioned authority. After the changing whims and fancies of governments over the recent months of COVID-19 restrictions, with rules and regulations, arbitrarily taken, later changed without consent of Parliament, perhaps for our own good, there appears to be a cycle of distrust, strangely in democratic countries with autocratic majorities in Parliament.

The media has recently also run stories about the veracity of decisions of politicians with different motives, agendas, when these decisions are not in the public interest. Some decisions are not based on principles of ethics, or agreed policies, but on expediency, whilst others are ruled in for self-interest.This makes it more difficult to build a positive relationship between ordinary working people and decision makers?

There are some others who say that policies stay the same no matter who is votedin to power. This is partly due to all politicians being tarred with the same brush as overpromising the moon and the stars, to get elected, and under delivering or sometimes becoming dictatorial to show they are able to deliver, when they have a hells chance with the accompaniment of burden of debt. It is better to come clean with the ordinary citizen who cannot be hoodwinked for ever.

One must remember that it is all to easy to saddle an incoming government with an unenviable task of solving eons of mismanagement of debt. This is known to the public as passing the baton.

Are we losing economic sovereignty for geographical sovereignty?

Sovereignty is the most important, if not sacred feature which differentiates the State from other associations in the land? If the State has no sovereign power, the State cannot maintain unity and integration in the land. Thus, it cannot be ignored that sovereignty is an essential ingredient for a state to be called or identified as a State, in both internal and external matters.

A State can only be independent if it enjoys sovereignty. People of a sovereign state may become disillusioned over time if this sovereign power resides elsewhere.

For this to never to occur, it is not important whether sovereign power in a Constitution resides solidly and solely in a President or in a Parliament. The People of a State are the custodians of sovereign power as in the Democratic Peoples Republic of Sri Lanka.

For this to be perceived by the people of the State as well as recognised by the world of nation States, the priority is to prove both to its own people and to the world that it has the capacity first and foremost to honour its obligations and commitments.

Sovereignty and Sustainability

Conditions imposed by IMF and international creditors usually focus on problematic and generally unfruitful policy strategies such as:

1. Export oriented growth

2. Liberalisation of FDI

3. Promotion really overpromotion of tourism

4. Privatisation of State owned enterprises (SOE)

5. Liberalisation of financial markets

Each of these strategies is a trap disguised as an economic solution. We in Sri Lanka must be and are fully aware of it.

Of course, we recognise when economic sovereignty is lost, geographical sovereignty is not worth the paper it is written on, or worth talking about, with one qualification, of the States international obligations.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 23)  President Rodrigo Duterte highlighted the threat of terrorism and defended the Philippines' controversial anti-terrorism law at his first appearance at the United Nations General Assembly.

"Terrorism looms large," he began his speech Wednesday at the historic virtual event marking the UN's 75th anniversary. "Our 2020 Anti-Terrorism Act shores up the legal framework by focusing on both terrorism and the usual reckless response to it."

He said the law was born out of the 2017 Marawi siege  the five-month-long battle with local and foreign Islamist extremists in Lanao del Sur which highlighted the need for a tougher law against terrorists.

The President, before various world leaders, said the law will address the root causes of terrorism and violent extremism in the country. He asserted that it adheres to the policies of United Nations.

"Its enactment was done pursuant to our commitment and the strict adherence to the relevant Security Council resolutions and the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy," he added during his debut at the UN event four years into his six-year term.

Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III, one of the authors of the Anti-Terrorism Act in the Senate, lauded Duterte's decision to bring up the issue before the UN assembly.

"UN members know we had the weakest law before," he said.

At least 35 petitions have been filed by legal luminaries, law professors, and rights advocates, among others before the Supreme Court to halt the implementation and nullify the Anti-Terrorism Law.

Critics have previously voiced out concerns over the measure, saying it may be open to abuse and lead to possible human rights violations. Government officials and lawmakers have repeatedly dismissed these claims, saying citizens have their rights and there are several safeguards under the Constitution.

The anti-terrorism law signed by Duterte in July  which repealed the Human Security Act of 2007  gives more surveillance powers to government forces. Among its contentious features is a provision allowing suspected terrorists to be arrested without warrant and detained without charges for up to 24 days.

He also said the Philippines remains committed to rebuild communities torn by terrorism. However, the government has released barely half of the rehabilitation funding requirement set for Marawi, three years after the conflict that left the city in ruins.

Secretary Eduardo del Rosario of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development said Tuesday the government has released 22.2 billion of the 60.5 billion budget allocated for the rehabilitation. The delays have been blamed on red tape and lockdowns to contain the spread of COVID-19.
Babies born to mothers infected with the coronavirus generally do well, according to a new UCSF study that examined infants during their first eight weeks of life.

The study found few adverse outcomes and no reports of pneumonia or lower respiratory tract infection through the first eight weeks of age for babies born to women with COVID-19, UCSF officials said in a statement on Tuesday. The study analyzed 263 infants born to 179 mothers who tested positive for COVID-19 and 84 mothers who tested negative, officials said. The babies were born at more than 100 hospitals across the country.

Among 263 infants in the study, adverse outcomes  including preterm birth, NICU admission and respiratory disease  did not differ between those born to mothers testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 and those born to mothers testing negative, UCSF officials said.

Researchers did find a higher rate of babies admitted into the neonatal intensive care unit if the mothers had COVID-19 up to two weeks before they gave birth, UCSF officials said. Of the 263 infants, 44 were were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit, officials said, but no pneumonia or lower respiratory tract infections were reported during the study.

Among the 56 infants assessed for upper respiratory infection, it was reported in two infants with COVID-positive mothers, and in one with a COVID-negative mother, UCSF officials said.

Valerie J. Flaherman, the lead author of the study and a UCSF associate professor of pediatrics and epidemiology and biostatistics, said researchers didnt know what to expect for the babies, so this is good news.

When coronavirus first hit, there were so many strange and unfortunate issues tied to it, but there was almost no information on how COVID-19 impacts pregnant women and their newborns, Flaherman said.

Officials said the study is part of a national project led by UCSF researchers called Pregnancy Coronavirus Outcomes Registry, or PRIORITY. The project was launched in March and aims to understand how the coronavirus affects pregnant and postpartum women and their infants, UCSF officials said.

Stephanie L. Gaw, a senior author of the study and UCSF assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences, said in a statement that the study results are reassuring but that its important to note that the majority of these births were from third trimester infections.

Two babies born to mothers who tested positive in their third trimester had birth defects, each with multiple congenital anomalies reported (one had cardiac, vertebral, renal and pulmonary anomalies, while the other had facial, genital, renal, brain and cardiac anomalies), UCSF officials said, and one mother who tested negative reported an infant with gastrointestinal, renal and cardiac anomalies.

Officials also noted that among infants born to mothers who tested positive for COVID-19, the estimated incidence of a positive infant SARS-CoV-2 test was low at 1.1 percent and the coronavirus did not appear to impact those infants.

UCSF officials said the study marks the first report in the country analyzing infant outcomes through their first eight weeks.

Researchers said the study had limitations, though, referring to how coronavirus tests could have been based on false-positive or false-negative results, and noted how Black and Latina mothers were underrepresented in the study.

The PRIORITY study in May launched a new project to increase enrollment of underrepresented groups, officials said.

Lauren Hernandez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: lauren.hernandez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ByLHernandez
Mandatory face masks have helped contain the COVID-19 surge in Victoria  but as masks increasingly become part of the new normal, businesses and authorities face new challenges as face-recognition vendors race to update algorithms that cant cope with masks.

Masks were contentious long before COVID-19, when Hong Kong authorities banned their wearing by protestors who were donning masks to avoid the watchful eye of artificial intelligence (AI)-powered surveillance cameras.

The technologies have become endemic to public safety, with increasing use of AI-powered surveillance cameras helping police monitor crowds and rapidly identify potential offenders.

But ongoing testing by the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has shown the efficacy of conventional face-recognition algorithms  which have become widely used in everything from smartphones to Customs systems and surveillance cameras  declines dramatically when simulated masks are digitally added to test photos of subjects.

False match rate (FMR) figures in the Ongoing Face Recognition Vendor Test (OFRVT) surged tenfold or more when 138 different face-recognition algorithms were tested against the NIST data set of more than 6.2 million photographs.

A range of digitally applied mask shapes, colours, and nose coverage was tested, and recently submitted algorithms showed wildly different results as authors tried  with varying degrees of success  to adapt their algorithms for increasingly common face-mask wearing.

FMR rates of around 0.3 per cent increased to an average of around 5 per cent when masks were applied, with some algorithms failing to authenticate up to half of the images they were presented with.

Interestingly, one analysis of the testing concluded, full-face-width masks, such as widely-used disposable surgical masks, blocked twice as many recognition attempts as rounder N95-type masks, which dont obscure as much of the face.

Black masks were more likely to block face-recognition attempts than light blue masks, for reasons the researchers couldnt identify but flagged as important for future research.

Anonymity in the COVID-19 era

The results of ongoing face-mask testing are more than academic: as societies fight to grapple with the new normal and cities like Melbourne seem poised to require universal mask wearing for some time, businesses must revisit their security protocols around identification of individuals.

In the US, reports suggested security-conscious businesses, including banks and casinos, were requiring customers to momentarily raise their face masks for identification by security cameras  and calling police when customers failed to comply.

Such businesses have long banned motorcycle helmets and many other face coverings to ensure that patrons can be identified; however, given the strict public-health directives requiring masks be continuously worn while outside, they have gradually moved towards a compromise.

The Commonwealth Bank, for example, asks customers to please wear a mask and maintain physical distancing if they visit a branch while the NAB advises that customers are welcome to come into our branches with a face mask, but we may ask you to remove it for identification purposes.

Competitors like ANZ and Westpac offer no specific guidelines on mask wearing  but the issue is much larger than banks because similar issues can apply in any public place, as highlighted in a 2017 bill proposed by Senator Jacqui Lambie.

Full face coverings conceal the identity of the wearer, disrupting the authorities ability to track down a perpetrator in the event of a crime, notes the bill, which would have criminalised those who intimidate or force an adult into wearing identity concealing garments.

Fast-forward three years, and millions of Australians are now required to wear identity-concealing masks on a daily basis  and face-recognition vendors face a mammoth task in adapting to the post-COVID normal.

Research has already shown that the algorithms can be tricked in certain circumstances, but firms like Tryolabs are making progress by refining surveillance techniques to automatically monitor whether individuals are complying with public-health guidance or not.

Mask awareness is being built into everyday devices using face-recognition, with even Apple recently releasing a software update that can detect when a user is wearing a mask.

Greater use of the technology, Tryolabs founders believe, could make monitoring of healthcare compliance easier  helping single out individuals that are refusing to wear face coverings, or providing data to shape public-health authorities policymaking.

Yet as the surveillance state adapts to the wearing of masks, surging concern over widespread facial recognition may reignite a debate that has seen the likes of Facebook and Instagram sued, tech giants pausing their efforts, and police backing away from overuse of facial-recognition technology in public.
Communications team member of the National Democratic Congress [NDC], Alhaji Mohammed Naziru has defended his partys decision to build some 300 morgues in the Zongo communities across the country.



Some have described the promise by the Mahama led campaign team as unreasonable but the NDC man in an interview with NEAT FMs morning show Ghana Montie maintained that the Zongo communities are in dire need of the mortuaries.



We need a proper morgue for befitting burial for our collogues, he told Mac Jerry Osei Agyeman





NDCs flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, has said he will construct more morgues  not less than 300  in Zongo Communities if he comes to power again.According to him, these structures are part of mediation programmes the NDC plans for Zongo Communities across the country.Mr. Mahama said the funeral homes will help contain the stress in handling the dead in Zongo Communities.He said his administration intends to set up a fund for this.

Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Striking Liberian health workers who are demanding salary increases and hazardous pay for working during the Covid-19 pandemic are to be fired and replaced, following a new directive by President George Weah.

The government says that despite initial steps to peacefully resolve the situation, the leadership of the National Health Workers Union of Liberia (NAHWUL) refuses to compromise during negotiations.

The Ministry of Health has been instructed to solicit applications from qualified health workers of various grades, including nurses, nurse aides, midwives, laboratory technicians, etc. in order to fill the temporary vacancies that have resulted from the strike action, read a government statement.

NAHWUL is demanding an immediate pay rise for over 9,000 health workers that could cost the government 12.8 million in direct benefits, and 6.8 million in hazardous benefits pay.

Despite their demands, Information Minister Lenn Eugene Nagbe said the government had already allotted an initial 1.7 million in hazard benefits but that the striking health workers had refused to return to work, hence the threat to replace them.

He acknowledged the sacrifice health workers continue to make and said the government emphasises that there are limits to its capacity to handle all of the workers demands in the short term.

Measures 'intended to exacerbate'

Health volunteers have already been assigned to some public health centres across the country, providing volunteer services, said Health Minister Wilhelmina Jallah.

Volunteers filling in the gap during the strike action will be given preference in the recruitment process as negotiation with the striking health workers continue, Jallah explained.

Despite the threats from the government, the leadership of the National Health Workers Union of Liberia say the government is not serious in trying to resolve the stalemate.

Story continues

According to the unions Secretary General, Deemi T. Dearzrua, the president's mandate is a joke, only intended to exacerbate the situation.

The Liberian Medical and Dental Association (LDMA), an umbrella group of all doctors and dentists in Liberia, has frowned on the government decision to replace the striking health workers.

Given that the health workers are absent, its just a matter of time before the entire healthcare delivery system crumbles and the death toll among patients increases exponentially, LMDAs President, Dr. Emmanuel K. Ekyinabah told a news conference Monday.

Minister Nagbe said the government welcomed calls for dialogue but maintained that the vigorous recruitment exercise intended to replace those on strike had already started.

Although Liberia is replacing striking health workers, health workers in Nigeria who continued to strike during the pandemic have not been fired.

Despite the stalemate, LMDA and many Liberians are calling on both parties to negotiate or call off the strike in order to avoid a breakdown of vital health services.
Addressing the need to set up IIIT campus in Visakhapatnam, YSRCP Parliamentary Party Chief and party General Secretary Vijay Sai Reddy said since the capital of Andhra Pradesh would be shifted from Amaravati to Visakhapatnam, the port city will be an ideal place to establish a IIIT campus.

YSRCP Parliamentary Party Chief and party General Secretary Vijay Sai Reddy raises many issues related to the state of Andhra Pradesh in Rajya Sabha. While speaking on central bills , he raised the developmental issues on the floor of the house. He has appealed the union government to set up an IIIT campus in the port city.

Addressing the Rajya Sabha, the MP stated Visakhapatnam meets most of the parameters to set up an IIIT campus while he was speaking on the passage of the Indian Institutes of Information Technology Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2020 in the upper house by Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal.

He informed the Education Minister that already an IIIT campus was established in Chittoor Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model to grant degrees and get statutory status. Vijayasai Reddy said since the capital of Andhra Pradesh would be shifted from Amaravati to Visakhapatnam, the port city will be an ideal place to establish a IIIT campus.

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Sai Reddy feels that top notch professionals will come out of these IIITs. They should be made like IITs in standards. He also informed the education minister that the temporary campus of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) is currently being run at Andhra University premises. Vijay Sai Reddy appealed to the Union education minister to build a special and permanent campus for the existing IIM institute in Vizag. He reminded them that Central University at Anantapuram also is in temporary campus

Vijay Sai Reddy also demanded that that the Union government to constitute a Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) bench in Visakhapatnam. Participating in debate during the Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha, Vijaysai Reddy said setting up of CAT bench in Viskahapatnam has become a dire necessity as 50 thousand central Government Employees are there and they are are forced to travel to Hyderabad to resolve their disputes. He reminded that the house that all metro cities and most state capitals have a CAT bench, which deals with disputes related to salaries, promotions, pension issues, and arrears.

He said most of the central Government Employees reside in Visakhapatnam even after retirement they prefer to reside in Vizag since its become a pensioners paradise. He stated that thousands of employees are employed in various public sector companies such as Steel Plant, Shipyard, Customs, Port, Dredging Corporation, Railways, Airport, HPCL and LIC. He informed the House that setting up of a CAT bench was essential since Andhra Pradesh has been bifurcated.

Vijay Sai Reddy said in the Rajya Sabha that the Co-operative society in Visakhapatnam is role model for the country. the other banks which are in crisis should learn lessons from the Visakhapatnam Co operative bank. He informed that the Visakhapatnam Cooperative bank has 88 thousand members and 6 thousand crore annual turn over. He asked to central Government to consider to set up a forensic sciences University in Andhra Pradesh as it has done in Gujarat. He reminded the union home minister that there a sophisticated forensic lab in Hyderabad but Andhra Pradesh lacks any.

Also Read: PLA recruits sob while heading to Ladakh border to face Indian soldiers, watch viral video
Delhi Assembly's peace committee, which had summoned Facebook India Vice-President Ajit Mohan with regard to the northeast Delhi riots, deferred its meeting on Wednesday after a Supreme Court order in this regard. The apex court, hearing a plea by Mohan challenging the summons issued to him, ordered the panel not to hold any meetings in this matter till further orders. The apex court will hear the matter next on October 15.

The Facebook India head had moved the Supreme Court against a notice sent to him by the Delhi Assembly Committee to appear before it on September 23. Mohan had requested the apex court to stop the Delhi Assembly from summoning him.

Lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Delhi Assembly's peace committee, told court that Mohan was called as a witness and no coercive step is intended by Delhi Assembly against Facebook.

The Delhi Assembly committee, chaired by AAP MLA Raghav Chadha, had served a second notice to Ajit Mohan to appear before it in connection with complaints about the social media giant's alleged deliberate inaction to curb hateful content in the country. The panel is probing the communal violence in February and the social network's role in spread of alleged hate speeches.

The apex court also issued notice to the Delhi Assembly secretary on the plea by Ajit Mohan, who contended that the committee lacked the power to summon or hold petitioners in breach of its privileges for failing to appear and it was exceeding its constitutional limits.

The top court has also summoned the central government, the secretary general of Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, and the Delhi Police in the matter.

Following the court's directives, the committee said it would notify its further course of action and the next date of sitting in due course of time.

The panel had earlier said it took cognisance of allegations against Facebook for its alleged complicity in the riots on the premise of "incriminatory material" produced on record by the witnesses, as well as their depositions in its previous meetings.

The committee had begun its hearing in the backdrop of a ''Wall Street Journal'' report that claimed that one of Facebook India's senior policy executives intervened in internal communication to stop a permanent ban on a BJP lawmaker from Telangana after he allegedly shared communally-charged posts.

With PTI inputs

Also Read: Facebook India VP moves SC against Delhi Assembly panel's notice

Also Read: Facebook non-partisan, politically neutral: India chief Ajit Mohan
Sir Van Morrison will donate profits from his new collection of anti-lockdown songs to musicians impacted by measures he says do more harm than good.

The musician, 75, has faced criticism for announcing a trio of protest songs calling for an end to rules aimed at stopping the spread of coronavirus.

Money from downloads of Born To Be Free, As I Walked Out and No More Lockdown will be distributed by his arts charity, the Van Morrison Rhythm and Blues Foundation.

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A written statement issued alongside the announcement said: Lockdown is taking away peoples jobs and freedoms across all sectors of society.

I believe live music is essential, and I worry that without positive action it will not survive.

Without live music the world would be a much poorer place.

It makes a huge contribution to the economy and you cannot put a price on what music does for peoples wellbeing.

Pilot events have shown there are ways in which venues can reopen safely at full capacity.

Its essential for their survival that the government allows them to do so.

Surely, there is a debate to be had around whether lockdown is doing more harm than good.

Sir Van will debut the tracks this week during three consecutive and socially distant shows at the London Palladium on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

The Belfast musicians announcement last week prompted Northern Irelands leaders to urge the public not to be swayed by his views.

Van Morrison was given the Freedom of Belfast - the highest honour the city can bestow. His most recent lyrics undermine the guidance in place to protect lives and are ignorant of established science as we grapple with #COVID19



So I've asked @belfastcc to consider revoking it.  Emmet McDonough-Brown (@EmmetMcDB) September 18, 2020

Belfast councillor Emmet McDonough-Brown called on the local authority to revoke his freedom of the city, which he was given in 2013 in recognition of his storied career.

The song No More Lockdown labels those who are disturbing our peace as fascist bullies.

The lyrics also include reference to an unsubstantiated conspiracy theory that scientists are making up crooked facts.

He criticised celebrities telling us what we are supposed to feel as he called for an end to the status quo.

The tracks will be released between Friday September 25 and Friday October 23.
Healthier Lifestyles Competition Program Launches Through UW Extension

A free eight-week, team-based health program to increase physical activity and improve eating habits begins Sunday, Oct. 11, offered through University of Wyoming Extension.

FitEx is designed to help start and maintain healthier lifestyles. The program is inclusive of all people, including those with a range of physical and intellectual abilities. More information about the program is available at www.parcilab.org/fitex.

Registration will open Oct. 1-9. To register, visit fitex1.cs.vt.edu/#/register and select the appropriate county. Participants can create a team of five -- friends, family or co-workers -- and select a team captain and name. A contest for the best team name will be available.

If a participant would like to compete but cant find enough members for a team of five, the person can email Denise Smith, UW Extension nutrition and food safety educator, at desmith@uwyo.edu. She may be able to combine participants to create a team, but individuals also can participate.

Participants set goals for how many miles a team will finish in eight weeks. A FitEx mile is equal to 1 mile of walking or running, or any 15-minute bout of moderate physical activity such as an aerobics class. Participants also can set goals for how many cups of fruits and vegetables they will eat during the eight weeks.

Participants can sign in to FitEx at www.fit-ex.org starting Oct. 11 to log the number of miles and cups of fruits and vegetables eaten every day or once a week. Teams can view the FitEx tracking charts to monitor progress toward their goals and compare progress to other teams across Wyoming, as well as some across the country.

With this self-monitoring, feedback and awareness, FitEx can help Wyomingites start and maintain a healthy lifestyle, Smith says.

Facebook posts, newsletters, feedback, competition for motivation and prizes for the winning team are part of the program. A FitEx Facebook Live presentation will feature a fun physical activity and healthy snack demonstrations Wednesday, Oct. 21, Smith adds.

The competition ends Saturday, Dec. 5.

Smith advises speaking with a health care provider if a participant has questions about safe and appropriate activities for individuals or team members. Email the research team at program@fit-ex.org to discuss any needs for individuals or team members.

For more information about the program, call Smith at (307) 334-3534 or email desmith@uwyo.edu.
The nation was ordered to homeschool their children when the country went into coronavirus lockdown earlier this year.

Yet Nadia Sawalha has revealed she has already been educating her children at home for the past six years, after they struggled with 'school phobia' and 'bullying' during their time at school.

The Loose Women panellist, 55, revealed that they decided to pull their two daughters, Maddie, 17, and Kiki, 13, out of school when their youngest stopped eating and sleeping because she was so distressed about it.

Homeschool life: Nadia Sawalha has revealed she has already been educating her children at home for the past six years

Nadia and her husband Mark Adderley appeared on Wednesday's episode of Lorraine, where they discussed their decision to homeschool their daughters.

Nadia confessed: 'Parenting teens can be so lonely because everyone stops sharing all the things that go wrong when they become teenagers Our children haven't been to school now for five or six years.'

On why they made the decision, she explained: 'Well, firstly our youngest got to the point really where she had school phobia. It was a nightmare, she wasn't eating, she wasn't sleeping. We were in that real cycle of the private school cycle.'

Admitting that they now wish they had never put their kids into private education, Nadia said: 'We say, don't we, that our biggest parenting mistake was to send our kids to private school. We regret that hugely.'

Distress: The Loose Women panellist, 55, revealed that they decided to pull their two daughters, Maddie, 17, and Kiki, 13, out of school when their youngest [pictured] stopped eating and sleeping

Appearance: Nadia and her husband Mark Adderley appeared on Wednesday's episode of Lorraine where they discussed their decision to homeschool their daughters

Nadia explained that the couple are in no way 'anti-school' and believes that it is the right place for 'most' children to be.

However she added for her daughters it wasn't the right choice, saying: 'But some children struggle with it more and Kiki really was. She was a summer baby, she was a year younger than everybody else, she wasn't ready.

'It was a highly academic school. We were on the cycle of picking them up from school, then extra lessons and extra tutoring and she was only six and a half! We just felt like we were on this treadmill and there was a shadow, not only over her but over the whole family.'

Lonely: Nadia confessed: 'Parenting teens can be so lonely because everyone stops sharing all the things that go wrong when they become teenagers

The couple, who tied the knot in 2002, said initially they had only done homeschooling after a private tutor suggested it and they thought it would be a stop-gap until they found a bigger school that suited their daughter better.

Nadia said: 'It went so well, so here we are five or six years later.'

She went on: 'I don't think I've met a wealthy home schooler.'

Struggles: On why they made the decision, she explained: 'Well, firstly our youngest got to the point really where she had school phobia'

Mark added: 'There are a lot of logistics but it's not just financial logistics.'

Asked if the initial decision had been an easy one with them both on the same page, Nadia confessed: 'We had another trip to our marriage guidance counsellor, I'm going to be honest Lorraine.'

Mark said at the beginning his 'head almost exploded' and that he had ordered white boards, blackboards and text books in a frenzy. But he soon settled into it, adding the key was: 'Dive into their passions, in everything there is an opportunity to learn.'

Admitting that they now wish they had never put their kids into private education, Nadia said: 'We say, don't we, that our biggest parenting mistake was to send our kids to private school. We regret that hugely'

Nadia explained their eldest daughter was homeschooled after suffering bullying at school. She concluded: 'For people to know there is an option if your child is so unhappy at school is a major thing [but] school is the best thing for most kids.'

Nadia laughed that despite an early worry about her daughters making enough friends, she has relaxed into it and they have lots of strong connections with friends through many different groups.

Speaking about his eldest daughter Maddie's reaction to lockdown, Mark laughed that she had told him in amazement, 'They are calling our life quarantine!', adding she told her sister 'The world is homeschooled.'

Honey, I Homeschooled the Kids by Nadia Sawalha and Mark Adderley is published by Coronet, 14.99, out now.
The Great British Baking Show returns this week with a fresh batch of amateur bakers, and its not just the contestants that are new in Season 11. Host Sandi Toksvig has been replaced by comedian Matt Lucas, and the shows signature white tent has been traded for a pandemic-friendly biosphere where cast and crew were required to quarantine for six weeks. It wasnt that long ago that even these changes wouldnt have dampened my enthusiasm for a show that functions largely as a sugar rush for weary souls. But after a gradual decline leading to a disastrous last season, another host change and the potential loss of pastoral B-roll make the arrival of the new season as appealing as underbaked pastry.

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For most of its history, The Great British Baking Show was a wholesome standout in an ultra-competitive field otherwise dominated by expert chefs with tragic backstories desperate to convince the judges and audience that they deserve to win $10,000. (Yes, Im looking at you, Chopped.) The Great British Baking Show winners receive only a cake plate, a bouquet of flowers, and the exposure; the lack of a massive prize has usually kept the stakes low, so that when one of the hosts once consoled a flagging baker by telling them, Its just a cake, it didnt read as patronizingit really was just a cake. The shows focus on home bakers rather than professionally trained patissiers means that the contestant pool usually has a broad range of experience. Retirees bake alongside stay-at-home parents and 16-year-olds finishing up their exams, with plenty of good-natured, cross-generational ribbing. Perhaps most importantly, there was always the sense that a hobbyist could actually win. The challenges were challenging, but they werent Olympian feats of dough-making.

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All that went up in smoke last season. Much of the shows recent decline can be chalked up to the second act of each episode, the technical challenge, where bakers are given a limited recipe and have to rely on their prior knowledge and experience to fill in the blanks. Early technical challenges featured familiar baked goods like English muffins, ciabattas, and tiramisu cakes. In contrast to the other two challenges in each episode, where ingenuity wins the judges favor, the technical challenge is designed to test the contestants grasp of basic baking principles. From an audience perspective, one of the joys of watching the show as an amateur baker is believing that, with enough time and willpower, you might actually be able to re-create some of the recipes. And even if youre not going to attempt a wedding cake, at least the down-to-earth nature of the show meant that it was possible to actually learn something from watching itthe basics of how to achieve the all-important layers in puff pastry, for example.

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But by Season 10, the showand in particular, the technical challengeshad mutated into something altogether crueler. The transformation began as early as Season 9, when the judges required the finalists to make pita bread over an open fire, begging the question of exactly what technical skills (besides endurance for high temperatures) were being tested. The same question arose within the first three episodes of the most recent season, Season 10, when, along with having to bake hamburger buns, contestants also had to make veggie burgers. Hamburger buns and pita bread themselves arent far out the realm of a home bakers kitchenthe ninth seasons trial by fire was actually the second technical challenge appearance of pita in the shows historybut the same cant be said for Season 9s puits damour and bleskiver or Season 10s Moroccan-style pies that necessitated warka pastry.

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The technical challenges now feel less like a means to test bakers practical skills and more a way to get them and the audience to say in bemused unison, Ive never heard of thisand theres data to back that up. One Reddit user analyzed all the technical challenges from Season 1 through Season 9 and found that they were getting more complicated and obscure over time. The Great British Baking Show isnt like Nailed It, where the point is to watch contestants fail. If all the contestants bungle the technical challenge to the point where one of the judges almost walks out upon seeing the end resultsomething that actually happened in week four of Season 10, when the bakers were charged with making a Tudor-era dessertthen the problem is not the bakers but whats being asked of them.

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The increasing strain of the technical challenges demonstrates the trend away from the homey and familiar of The Great British Baking Show toward the spectacle and inflated stakes that define so many other cooking competitions. Reality shows, of course, have to innovate and change. As the audience broadens with each passing year, it only makes sense for the show to evolve with it. The breakout success of Season 6 winner Nadiya Hussain has changed the show for better and for worse: The producers have chosen increasingly diverse casts year over year (though of course, a host of color would be a much stronger signal of their commitment), but contestants now also know just how high their star can rise after the final bake. It wasnt uncommon in the early seasons to hear contestants say that their family had convinced them to audition. Now, more than a few already have cultivated the kind of camera-ready persona that comes with knowing that Instagram fame could await them.

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In juggling these new dynamics and attempting to keep the show relevant, The Great British Baking Show seems to have forgotten what made it so special in the first place. Its impressive when a competition show manages to feel friendly. Few manage it. That Great British Baking Show fostered an environment where contestants regularly wander over to someone elses workstation and help them plate at the last minute is something to applaud. But producers seem determined to ramp up the drama by perplexing contestants, not just in arduous technical challenges but in weekly themes that have strayed from tried-and-true pudding and caramel weeks to themes like Roaring 20s or a festivals week that had six white British bakers making traditional layered Malaysian cakes. Compare that with the final technical challenge for Hussains season, which was mille-feuille, an undoubtedly difficult undertaking that is nonetheless easily recognizable.

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The move toward the obscure doesnt just belie the shows status as a comfort watch, it fundamentally changes the aim of the show. If all the contestants are constantly being thrown headfirst into the deep end, what the judges are ascertaining is not their skill but their resourcefulness and resolve under pressure. Thats finebut there are already other shows that do that. With the new season already airing in the U.K. (Americans can start watching on Netflix on Friday), theres hope that the producers have wised up: The first technical challenge for this season is a simple pineapple upside-down cake. But the true curveballs normally come later, and theres enough unfamiliar in the world right now. With the change to format that our new normal necessitates, The Great British Baking Show would do well to take the advice its own judges frequently give: to focus less on style and more on substance.
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Starting daycare as early as six months old is especially good for boys, a new Canadian study suggests: more go on to complete high school and do better economically as adults than those who start later or don't attend daycare at all.

Published in July in Pediatrics, the study led by researchers at Universite de Montreal followed a Quebec cohort of some 2,900 francophone children born in 1980 and 1981 to see how attending daycare affected their success later in life.

The results were revealing: the earlier they started daycare, boys were 8-per-cent more likely to finish high school and 4-per-cent less likely to have low income as young adults. For girls, attending daycare early had no effect on their graduation rate and incomes.

"Daycare is very prevalent in our society, so although a few percentage points difference may not seem like much, the effect can be widespread," said lead author Sylvana Cote, a professor at UdeM's School of Public Health and researcher at the CHU Sainte-Justine children's hospital.

"Dropping out of high school has a major economic cost, both for individuals and for society in general," she added. "That's why early child care is important: it can be a cost-effective way to spur social development, economic opportunity and to protect against poverty."

Co-written with first author Pascale Dumond, the study is the first to follow up into adulthood children from all walks of society, not just from lower-income neighborhoods who started daycare as infants and went on to complete high school.

It is also the first to use official income-tax data, not just self-reported data from questionnaires and surveys, to show that boys who went to daycare do better economically as adults.

A role in social-equalizing

"Boys are most at risk at dropping out of school, said Cote. "Other studies have shown children of lower socioeconomic status benefit the most from child care. So on the whole, child care may play a role in social-equalizing."

Carried out with help from researchers at McGill University, Statistics Canada, Sciences Po in Paris, Universite de Bordeaux and University College Dublin, the study paints a detailed socioeconomic portrait of children who attend daycare.

Among the findings:

Children who started daycare in infancy, as compared with starting as toddlers or never having been exposed, were less likely to come from families with low levels of education or low occupational prestige. Mothers were more likely to be working; they were also less likely to have had a teenage pregnancy.

When compared with male, females in the study had higher high-school graduation rates (79 vs 59 percent, had lower personal earnings ($32,500 vs $47,000 a year), were more likely to be married or cohabiting, and were more likely to have children living in the household by age 35.

"To our knowledge, this study provides the first evidence of an association between early child care, increased rates of high school graduation, and lower risks of poverty in young adulthood, particularly for boys," the authors conclude.

"The findings suggest that benefits of formal child care may extend well beyond school readiness and parental participation in the workforce, including a reduction in high school drop-out rates for boys, for long-term socioeconomic gain."

Explore further Daycare doesn't lead to aggressive behavior in toddlers

More information: Pascale Domond et al. Child Care Attendance and Educational and Economic Outcomes in Adulthood, Pediatrics (2020). Journal information: Pediatrics Pascale Domond et al. Child Care Attendance and Educational and Economic Outcomes in Adulthood,(2020). DOI: 10.1542/peds.2019-3880
A man was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries Tuesday afternoon after a shooting in North Portland.

Portland police said they responded around 3:30 p.m. to North Schmeer Road near North Whitaker Road. They found a man with a gunshot wound that was potentially life-threatening.

Police have not released any information about the identity of the victim or his current condition, a suspect, or the circumstances of the shooting.

This story will be updated.

Jayati Ramakrishnan; 503-221-4320; jramakrishnan@oregonian.com; @JRamakrishnanOR

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
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It has the purpose and personality of the original Beetle, it drives like a GTI, and its packaged like a Tiguan. That being said, is the ID.4 any good on paper?For the time being, Volkswagen is right about the best-in-class promise it has made thanks to 82and 250 miles for the 1st Edition. This specification relies on a single electric motor that drives the rear wheels with 201 horsepower and 228 pound-feet of torque. In the second half of 2021 for the 2022 model year, a dual-motor drivetrain with electricwill level up the output to 302 horsepower.Priced at $39,995 for the rear-drive Pro trim level before destination charge and the federal tax credit of $7,500 is applied, the compact crossover is pretty much on par with the Tiguan SEL. The value for money, therefore, is pretty good and serves as a warning to the Tesla Model 3 sedan and slightly more costly Model Y crossover.To be sold across all 50 states, the ID.4 is already available to reserve for $100. When production starts, customers can confirm the order with Volkswagen by paying a $400 deposit. Zwickau in Germany is where the first units will be made, and Chattanooga will follow suit in 2022 thanks to an $800 million investment. The U.S.-built model is expected to start at $35k.Every ID.4 customer is gifted three years of fast charging with Electrify America at no additional cost, and the 11-onboard charging system adds 33 miles of range in one hour at a home or Level 2 public charger. Switch to 125-kW fast charging, and 5 to 80 percent takes about 38 minutes according to the German company.Very similar to the ID.3 compact hatchback inside, the ID.4 comes with IQ.DRIVE advanced driver assistance technology as standard. Goodies that are included in the asking price include wireless phone charging and App-Connect, rain-sensing wipers, a heated steering wheel, and dual-zone climate control. If you want SiriusXM satellite radio, the Statement Package is the one to get because it also adds an adjustable trunk floor and a power tailgate with Easy Open & Close.
Saudi Arabia's king Salman bin Abdulaziz on Wednesday called for a comprehensive solution on Iran, disarming its affiliate Hezbollah in Lebanon, and expressed support for US efforts to start talks between Israel and the Palestinians during his first address to the UNGA. "A comprehensive solution and a firm international position are required," he told General Assembly in a video statement, pre-recorded due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Senator Joe Manchin (D., W. Va.) on Wednesday criticized fellow Senate Democrats for their scrutiny of Judge Amy Coney Barretts religious beliefs, saying religion should not enter into the conversation over who will fill the Supreme Court vacancy left by the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Barrett, the reported front-runner for President Trumps nomination, has been attacked over her Catholic beliefs, with some comparing her purported membership in People of Praise  which she has never confirmed  to the dystopian novel The Handmaids Tale.

In an appearance on Fox & Friends, Manchin defended Barretts right to her religious beliefs.

I have heard your colleagues in the Senate query her about her religion, which makes you wonder should a persons religion disqualify them from a job on the Supreme Court? Because it sounds like some people on your side think that it should, host Steve Doocy asked.

Well, I guess whatever side youre on, they can pick whatever they want to pick. Im Catholic, OK? And religion should not enter into it. It sure doesnt with me, Manchin said.

When asked if anything about her Catholic background bothered him, the moderate Democrat replied, Not at all.

No. We are who we are, how we were raised, where we were raised, and who raised us, Manchin said. That being said, whether youre Catholic, whether youre Protestant, whether youre Jewish, evangelical, whatever it may be, God bless you. You worship who you want. You worship how you want. You worship the same God, all of us do.

He continued: So with that being said, its awful to bring in religion. It truly is.

Barretts religious background was also center-stage in her 2017 confirmation hearing for the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals when Senator Dianne Feinstein (D., Calif.) criticized her religious background.

Why is it that so many of us on this side have this very uncomfortable feeling that, you know, dogma and law are two different things? And I think whatever a religion is, it has its own dogma, Feinstein said. The law is totally different, and I think in your case, professor, when you read your speeches, the conclusion one draws is that the dogma lives loudly within you, and thats of concern.

Story continues

Manchin called for a return to civility and bipartisanship in the Senate.

Lets keep it bipartisan, please. Lets try to bring this country back together. Were too darn good for this, he said.

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CARLSBAD, Calif., Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Thermo Fisher Scientific today introduced the Oncomine Clinical Research Grant Program to support clinical research projects in oncology and reproductive health. The program aims to provide support for high-quality molecular profiling studies focused on the generation of data that may improve clinical outcomes for patients in the future.

As part of an initial pilot focused on oncology, the company is calling for proposals dedicated to gene fusions in solid tumors and molecular testing in blood cancers. Grant proposals are now being accepted through Oct. 31, 2020. Through the program, Thermo Fisher will award selected independent clinical research teams with financial support. The applications will be reviewed based on scientific merit by a panel of external experts and members of the Thermo Fisher Medical Affairs team. Each proposal has the opportunity to receive an award worth up to $200,000 in reagents and funding, along with the opportunity to work with the Ion Torrent Genexus Systems for the duration of their project. The Genexus System is the first next-generation sequencing (NGS) platform featuring an automated specimen-to-report workflow that delivers results economically in a single day.

"Thermo Fisher Scientific is deeply committed to supporting independent research within the life sciences field and this program is yet another example of how we can enable the community to advance its knowledge, this time by focusing our efforts in molecular oncology," said Dr. Luca Quagliata, Ph.D., BCMAS, Global Head of Medical Affairs at Thermo Fisher Scientific. "Additionally, the program will provide grantees access to our cutting-edge NGS system, which has been designed to accelerate molecular profiling and generate data through an automated, simple-to-use workflow."

"The successes seen with precision medicine diagnostics and treatments over the past few years would not be possible without the work of global research teams striving to increase our understanding of the genetics behind serious diseases such as cancer," said Dr. Gabriela Fernandes, an oncologist at the Pulmonology Department, Sao Joao University Hospital Center, Porto, Portugal. "Research grants are fundamental tools for supporting independent thinking and applying new technology to help advance medicine."

For more information on the Oncomine Clinical Research Grant Program and how to submit proposals, please visit www.oncomine.com/grants.

About Thermo Fisher Scientific

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science, with annual revenue exceeding $25 billion. Our Mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. Whether our customers are accelerating life sciences research, solving complex analytical challenges, improving patient diagnostics and therapies or increasing productivity in their laboratories, we are here to support them. Our global team of more than 75,000 colleagues delivers an unrivaled combination of innovative technologies, purchasing convenience and pharmaceutical services through our industry-leading brands, including Thermo Scientific, Applied Biosystems, Invitrogen, Fisher Scientific, Unity Lab Services and Patheon. For more information, please visit www.thermofisher.com.

Media Contact Information:

Mauricio Minotta

Phone: 760-805-5266

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Ken DiCienzo

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US Agency for Global Media Reopens Office of Internet Freedom

News Analysis

The U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees U.S. government broadcasters such as Voice of America and Radio Free Asia, reopened its Office of Internet Freedom (OIF) last month.

OIF, which began operations in 2016, had been closed by leadership prior to the June 4 confirmation of current USAGM Chief Executive Michael Pack.

There is a critical need to support technologies that allow individuals to securely access and share information online, the agency said in an Aug. 18 statement.

OIFs mission is to support the testing, deployment, and management of technologies that circumvent internet blocking, filtering, and other censorship techniques principally used by repressive regimes, such as China and Iran, the agency said in the release.

Unlike prior USAGM leadership, which sidelined OIF, I consider bolstering internet firewall circumvention to be a top priority, Pack said. Blocking access to information is a horrible thing.  Thats why were funding a range of internet firewall circumvention tools.

With the announcement that OIF is back in business, Pack is moving to reestablish control over USAGMs circumvention efforts, which had been challenged by a previous attempt to establish a shop called the Open Technology Fund (OTF) independent of USAGM control.

At least one issue central to the conflict within USAGM is a debate over whether to use open-source or closed-source technology. As Pack has sought to regain control, the USAGM and a key staff member have come under attack.

Circumventing Censorship

Mechanisms that censor the internet are principally used in authoritarian countries such as China and Iran. Circumventing those mechanisms is a common goal of government agencies and nonprofit organizations that attempt to empower citizens in repressive regimes by opening up access to the internet, but the means for doing so are often hotly debated.

One major point of contention is the use of open-source versus closed-source software (often called proprietary).

OIF will begin its new existence by funding one of each type. Open-source Psiphon and Ciscos closed-source proprietary ACI are the first beneficiaries of the revived OIF.

In exclusive remarks to The Epoch Times, Katrina Lantos Swett, a noted human rights expert and president of the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice, said that the Lantos Foundation advocates for all classes of internet freedom tools to be funded, including circumvention tools.

Freegate and Ultrasurf are both large-scale circumvention tools that have received U.S. government funds in the past, and we would be happy to see future awards go to field-tested technologies like these that have undergone rigorous security vetting, she said.

We also believe all internet freedom technologies that receive funding should be thoroughly evaluated on an ongoing basis, to ensure that funds are being spent on the most effective tools available, Lantos Swett said.

USAGM also includes under its funding and supervisory umbrella an entity called the Open Technology Fund (OTF). It, like OIF, has been in the business of supporting internet firewall circumnavigation tools.

OTF, however, has been firmly in the camp of using open-source solutions exclusively since its inception as a program within Radio Free Asia (RFA).

Going Rogue

OTFs adamant exclusion of any internet freedom tools that are closed-source may have been one of the reasons that leadership of the program seemed to go rogue last year.

In September 2019, U.S. records show that Libby Liu, at that time the head of RFA and the OTF program, incorporated Open Technology Fund as a domestic nonprofit corporation under her own name.

Liu is listed as incorporator under the beneficial owners listing of the corporations registration file.

Senior officials at USAGM maintain that Liu had no authorization from either the agency or from any government organization to spin OTF off into its own entity. OTF receives its entire budget from USAGM.

In addition, OTF vacated its location within the USAGMs Radio Free Asia in downtown Washington, D.C., taking up new office space about a block away. However, according to officials, OTF didnt leave a forwarding address, and officials at the USAGM say they had to search for the new offices themselves.

When Pack took office just over nine months later, he fired the heads of the USAGM networks and the OTF, including Liu and some board members.

Now, a lawsuit seeks to invalidate those firings, and to unfreeze grant money, which dismissed officials claim is being withheld.

Senior officials at USAGM dispute the lawsuits claims that Pack didnt have the authority to fire network directors and Liu at OTF. In addition, senior USAGM officials say that money isnt being withheld from the OTF, stating that it is being paid on a revised schedule.

Open-Source Versus Closed-Source Software

Some experts differ with OTFs dogmatic rejection of closed-source circumvention technologies.

CoreDNA, a Australian company that provides a unified cloud platform for digital businesses, according to its website, states that open source software is available for the general public to use and modify from its original design free of charge.

What it means is that a piece of software can evolve and be iterated upon by other developers anywhere in the world.

Therefore, CoreDNAs blog on the subject continues, open-source software should also come with a warning label.

Whilst an open and peer-to-peer-oriented web is to be applauded philosophically, it can leave us vulnerable to rogue developers who choose to break things for their own benefit. Hence, the need for a warning label.

Closed-source software doesnt need that warning label.

The source code of closed-source software is not shared with the public for anyone to look at or change, the company states.

Next Frontier of Human Rights

Internet freedom is the next frontier of human rights, Lantos Swett also told The Epoch Times. Shes also a former chair and vice-chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, and teaches human rights and American foreign policy at Tufts University.

She says there are a few clear goals that the foundation she leads strives to achieve.

Open the internet to those in closed societies. Provide funding and tools to empower people to see beyond the censored views of their own totalitarian governments. Give them the freedom to learn, to organize, and to thrive the same way we do in open societies.

Unlike OTF and its supporters, however, Lantos Swett said that we are proponents of internet freedom in all its forms.

This encompasses both open and closed source technologies.

The key is to have a large and flexible toolbox of technologies and approaches that not only protect a users privacy, including those under repressive surveillance, but that also, and critically, currently circumvent firewalls for millions of users in closed societies.

Its funding for those circumvention tools thats concerned Lantos Swett for years.

Circumvention tools offer one of the most effective ways to bring down, for example, the Great Firewall of China, she said.

At the very least, Lantos Swett said, those tools can punch large holes into Chinas infamous digital barricade.

Despite their effectiveness, however, recent years have seen a trend of reduced funding, and in some cases a complete lack of funding for large-scale circumvention tools.

We dont view funding for internet freedom as an either-or scenario, where we have to fund only open-source or exclusively circumvention tools. But we feel strongly that the latter should receive adequate funding to ensure that there is enough capacity to meet the demand coming from closed societies.

We also support the continuing development of new technologies, she said.

Lantos Swett also weighed in on the controversy between USAGM and its erstwhile spinoff, the OTF.

In The Hill in May, Lantos Swett wrote, It is folly to think that the 2019 re-establishment of OTF as an independent nonprofit and the sole grantee of the USAGMs internet freedom funds will lead to any meaningful change.

We have been advocating since 2009 to re-direct a portion of the U.S. governments internet freedom funds to what is now the USAGM.

Since then, despite potential breakthroughs, we have equally often been disappointed when we have seen obfuscation, misdirection, and at times even blatant discrimination vis-a-vis decisions about funding.

Despite ongoing dialogue with the former leadership of both USAGM and the OTF that Liu headed, we have generally witnessed a lack of follow-through in support for some of the most effective circumvention tools currently available.

When OTF was re-established as a nonprofit in late 2019 under the same leadership, we had little confidence that we would see meaningful change and this fear was borne out.

Lantos Swett is cautiously optimistic, however, that the changes at USAGM may result in increased funding for circumvention tools, alongside continued funding for other types of internet freedom tools.

We welcome a move in this direction, but given what we have witnessed in the past, were going to reserve our judgment until we actually see what action the leadership at USAGM takes.

Again, our goal is to open up the internet in closed societies. We look forward to working with anyone who shares this goal, and were supportive of pursuing the full range of tools and approaches that hold promise for reaching it, she said.

Attacks on USAGM

Since the firings, USAGM and one member of Packs staff, in particular, have come under attack on social media and in the press.

Mora Namdar, vice-president of legal compliance and risk at USAGM, has been a key focus of disparagement on Twitter.

One Twitter user, Nima Fatemi, wrote:

This is an absurd intimidation tactic being employed by Michael Pack and his disgrace of acting VP for legal matters; A new low standard for the US government. Big congrats to Mora Namdar for becoming a sock puppet for the fascists. #saveinternetfreedom

The tactic to which Fatemi refers is likely the planned inspection, coordinated with OTF, which Namdar made to OTFs new offices, once its location had been identified.

Fatemi is described as an independent security researcher, focused on encryption, privacy and censorship circumvention technologies, on the website Dxfest.com.

Pack came to Namdars defense in a press release and on Twitter.

The attempts of those with money and power to disparage her are transparent, weak, and without merit. I am lucky to have Ms. Namdar on my team, Pack wrote.

The campaign being waged by individuals who seem more concerned about covering up corruption and past failures than working on behalf of the American people should outrage every American citizen. In particular, the personal and false attacks launched against Mora Namdar and other members of my staff working to advance freedom and human rights are totally without merit, he wrote on Twitter on Aug. 21.

One can only surmise that OTFs desire to foment scandal is to distract from its numerous serious lapses and unwillingness to be transparent about its activities.

Namdar is a lawyer, a daughter of Iranian immigrants who came to the United States prior to the 1979 Islamic revolution, remaining in America thereafter. Namdar is also a recognized human rights activist.

Namdar told The Epoch Times that all of the people who have attacked me have never met me.

Im an ardent supporter of rooting out corruption.

Namdar has been heartened, though, by some of the responses to social media slurs directed at her.

On Twitter, people I dont know have jumped on the bandwagon to defend me.

Pack, a Trump appointee whose nomination languished in the Senate for more than two years, had already withstood one spate of fierce media criticism earlier in the summer from Democrats and some never-Trump Republicans as a tool-in-waiting of the president who would pursue a policy of selective speech in favor of the administration.

The predictions of interference from the White House into the journalistic process at networks such as Voice of America to date havent been realized.

In the meantime, on July 1, the Open Technology Fund posted a notice on its website titled Pause in September Round. The notice went on to say:

Due to the current lack of clarity around the availability and timeline of the remainder of our FY2020 funds, we have decided to postpone the opening of the upcoming rounds of the Internet Freedom Fund and the Core Infrastructure Fund and will not accept submissions.

It goes on to tell readers, We are always available for your questions  feel free to contact team members directly or get in touch via hello@opentech.fund.

However, no one replied to a request for comment sent to that email address. In addition, an email sent to the email address for press inquiries that is listed on OTFs website bounced back. No phone number for the organization is listed on the website. The LinkedIn listings for Liu and Laura Cunningham, the principal director of OTF under Liu, dont include a messaging function.
Egyptian Minister of Trade and Industry Nevine Gamea discussed on Wednesday with Japanese Ambassador in Cairo Noke Masaki boosting economic relations between the two countries, especially in the sectors of industry and trade as well as small and medium enterprises, the trade and industry ministry said in a statement.

Gamea hailed the two countries relations, saying that Egypt and Japan are linked by distinguished bilateral relations based on achieving the common interest of the Egyptian and Japanese peoples alike.

She stressed, according to the statement, that President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisis visit to Japan last year paved the way for starting a new phase of strategic cooperation between the two countries in various political, economic and scientific fields.

The naming of one of the axes in eastern Cairo after the former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe confirms the depth of the distinguished bilateral relations between Egypt and Japan, Gamea said.

On 17 September, a presidential statement said that El-Sisi has ordered that a new road that links El-Shahid Axis with Suez Road be named after Abe, Japan's longest serving prime minister.

In late August, Abe announced his resignation for health reasons, saying he did not want his illness to get in the way of decision making, and apologised to the Japanese people for failing to complete his term in office.

The Egyptian minister of trade and industry indicated that the government is keen on attracting more Japanese investments to work in the Egyptian market and benefit from the advanced Japanese industrial expertise.

She also highlighted investment opportunities in Egypt and its strategic location as a hub for access to the markets of the Middle East and Africa.

Gamea stated that a study is currently underway to implement a Japanese financing program worth $150 million, of which $100 million is to be allocated for industrial and digital transformation projects, and $50 million for agricultural projects and projects with high credit risks, the statement noted.

She called on Masaki to follow up on the implementation of the Japanese authorities lifting of a ban on Egyptian citrus exports to the Japanese market, especially in light of the high quality of Egyptian citrus and its good international reputation in foreign markets.

According to a statement in May by Ahmed El-Attar, head of the Central Administration of Plant Quarantine, Egypt is the current leader in the worldwide exports of citrus fruit, mainly oranges, with annual exports of 1.8 million tons and accounting for nearly 40 percent of the global exports of oranges.

Masaki, who was appointed as Ambassador of Japan to Egypt in July 2018, said his country is keen on cooperating with Egypt in different fields as Egypt is a strategic partner to Japan in the Middle East and Africa.

Masaki also expressed hope that the coming stage will witness a qualitative leap in the level of economic relations between Egypt and Japan in order to rise to the level of the historical political relations that bind the two countries.

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With the coronavirus devastating jobs across the country, desperate Indonesians are flocking to illegal gold mines

With the coronavirus devastating jobs across the country, desperate Indonesians are flocking to illegal gold mines as the soaring price of the precious metal overrides the risk to their lives and the environment.

Spooked by the economic destruction wrought by the pandemic, consumers and investors around the world have been snapping up gold, which is seen as a hedge against volatility, sending its price to a record above $2,000 an ounce last month.

The surge in demand has fuelled a boom in mineral-rich Indonesia's illegal mining industry, with workers ignoring the threat of arrest, mercury poisoning or being caught in the middle of gun battles.

Father-of-two Mustafa is among the hundreds who play a daily game of cat-and-mouse with authorities in the restive Papua region as they pan for nuggets in a river near US-based Freeport's sprawling Grasberg site -- one of the world's biggest gold mines.

On a good day, Mustafa collects a gram of gold by sifting through the mud with a fabric filter, which he can sell to a local trader for about 800,000 rupiah ($55) -- no small sum in one of Indonesia's poorest regions.

A surge in the price of gold during the pandemic has fuelled a boom in mineral-rich Indonesia's illegal mining industry

The miners here don't use mercury, he said, but there are plenty of other dangers lurking in Indonesia's rugged easternmost territory.

Fear of arrest is ever-present and so is being caught in the middle of deadly fights between security forces and independence-seeking rebels locked in a decades-old insurgency.

"There are more of us here now during the pandemic because the price of gold has jumped," Mustafa told AFP in a telephone interview.

"We're risking arrest by security forces, but we don't have any option because we need money to support our families."

The arduous job also carries the risk of catching the coronavirus or skin infections from wading through waters chock full of waste from the nearby mine.

"This is very dangerous for our health. Me and some of my friends have skin diseases," Mustafa said. "But thank god, so far no one has got the virus."

- 'Ecological disaster' -

Thousands of kilometres to the west in Kalimantan -- Indonesia's section of Borneo island -- police this month arrested 400 gold miners accused of operating illegally in a conservation area, a crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

Here, the dangers of mercury to both miners and the environment is severe, said Sustyo Iriyono, the environment ministry's director of prevention and forest protection.

"The recent arrests in Kalimantan show that illegal activity was huge," he said.

The arduous job of gold panning carries the risk of catching skin infections from wading through waters chock full of waste from the nearby mine

While the ministry does not yet have hard data, Iriyono said illicit mining has spiked nationwide, including on the densely populated Java island and remote Sumbawa.

"The high price of gold during the pandemic is the stimulus behind this... illegal activity," he said.

"They're making profits by destroying the environment. We're trying to find a solution."

Environmental activist Aiesh Rumbekwan said the "massive increase" in unsanctioned mining was being driven by people desperate to feed their families in the pandemic-battered economy.

Government aid has been slow to reach many parts of the sprawling archipelago nation.

"Illegal miners (often) use mercury to speed up the process and that will harm the environment and places where this activity connects to water sources like lakes or rivers," said Rumbekwan, who heads the Papua chapter of environmental network Walhi.

Spooked by the economic destruction wrought by the pandemic, consumers and investors around the world have been snapping up gold, which is seen as a hedge against volatility

"It could lead to an ecological disaster."

Indonesia banned the use of mercury for artisanal miners in 2017. But the dangerous metal, which can affect the nervous system and cause disabilities in newborn children, can still be purchased on the black market.

The livelihoods of at least one million Indonesians are supported by small-scale mining, according to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which promotes mercury-free technologies.

Despite pandemic restrictions, there are reports of unlicensed operators bringing scores of domestic migrants to makeshift mines sites across the country, which have long been prone to fatal accidents.

"There's no control from the authorities," Rumbekwan said.
India on Wednesday rejected Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans comments that Kashmir is a burning issue for the stability of South Asia, saying the remarks were tantamount to gross interference in the countrys internal affairs.

This was not the first time that India and Turkey have engaged in a terse exchange on the Kashmir issue  Erdogan has repeatedly raised the matter after the Indian government scrapped Jammu and Kashmirs special status in August last year, and India has pushed back on each occasion.

In a video message for a special session marking the 75th anniversary of the UN, Erdogan said: The Kashmir conflict, which is also key to the stability and peace of South Asia, is still a burning issue. Steps taken following the abolition of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir further complicated the problem.

We are in favour of solving this issue through dialogue within the framework of the UN resolutions and especially in line with the expectations of the people of Kashmir.

Soon after, TS Tirumurti, Indias permanent representative to the UN, tweeted that Erdogans remarks were totally unacceptable.

We have seen remarks by President of Turkey on Indian [union territory of} Jammu & Kashmir. They constitute gross interference in Indias internal affairs and are completely unacceptable. Turkey should learn to respect sovereignty of other nations and reflect on its own policies more deeply, Tirumurti said.

Erdogans remarks were welcomed by his ally, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, who said in a tweet: Deeply appreciate President Erdogan once again raising his voice in support of the rights of the Kashmiri people during his address to UNGA.

Turkeys unwavering support remains a source of strength for the Kashmiris in their legitimate struggle for self determination.

Erdogan was among the few leaders who had raised the Kashmir issue at last years UN General Assembly session and he subsequently also raised it during a visit to Pakistan in February. He raised the matter despite Indias external affairs ministry warning that such remarks would affect bilateral ties.

In February, India made a strong demarche with the Turkish government on Erdogans remarks on Jammu and Kashmir during his visit to Islamabad.

These remarks reflect neither an understanding of history nor of the conduct of diplomacy. They distort events of the past to advance a narrow-minded view of the present, the external affairs ministry spokesperson had said at the time.

The remarks in February were also described as one more example of a pattern of Turkey interfering in the internal affairs of other countries, and India also rejected the repeated attempts by Turkey to justify the cross-border terrorism practised so blatantly by Pakistan.

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Editors note: This story contains explicit language.

Frank De La Cruzs to-do list for September wasnt too different from the goals of many other Texas military veterans navigating life through a pandemic and economic uncertainty. He needed to renew his ID with Veterans Affairs, send out job applications and, time permitting, look for a reliable used car. He also needed to register to vote.

None of those things seemed possible just a few weeks ago for De La Cruz, 51. For years, hes been living in Ciudad Juarez, across the Rio Grande from El Paso, after being deported twice following driving while intoxicated arrests. He said he didnt even know he wasnt a citizen before he was deported.

But on Sept. 9, after years of working odd jobs in Juarez while his wife and three children lived in El Paso, U.S. immigration officials had a surprise for him: They were going to let him return to the country where hed lived since he was 6 years old.

De La Cruz is one of a small number of deported veterans who have been allowed to return to the U.S. The Washington Post reported last year that there are more than 2,000 deported veterans still living abroad, but thats just an estimate because U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement doesnt have a policy to identify military veterans it encounters during deportation proceedings, according to a 2019 study by the Government Accountability Office.

The number of deported veterans applying for naturalization has dropped since 2017, and the number approved declined from 7,303 in fiscal year 2017 to 4,309 the following fiscal year, the report found.

For noncitizens, offenses ranging from entering the country illegally or overstaying a visa to being convicted of an aggravated felony or violating gun laws can lead to deportation. And veterans arent immune to deportation if theyre not U.S. citizens.

Texas lawmakers have for years tried unsuccessfully to pass legislation to help deported veterans. U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen, has twice introduced legislation to repatriate deported veterans, but the legislation died in both 2017 and 2019. U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso, has also raised the issue and publicly supported De La Cruz.

De La Cruzs attorney, Jennie Pasquarella, said her clients good fortune was made possible by a 2004 U.S. Supreme Court decision in a Florida case, Leocal v. Ashcroft, that took driving while intoxicated off the list of crimes that blocked deported immigrants from the chance at naturalization.

That meant that because he served in wartime, which is a provision that allows for people to naturalize, he was allowed to naturalize, said Pasquarella, a senior staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California who was introduced to De La Cruz in 2016 during an ACLU project aimed at helping deported veterans. Pasquarella stayed in touch with De La Cruz and agreed to represent him free of charge.

There are people out there like Frank who are eligible for some relief and have avenues to come home, and our hope is that we can help everyone who is in that situation, she said.

Military veteran Frank De La Cruz at his home Sept. 17, 2020, in El Paso. De La Cruz was deported to Mexico after being arrested more than a decade ago. Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune

Navy Veteran Frank De La Cruz's flag and U.S. Naturalization Certificate he received after becoming a citizen last week. De La Cruz was deported to Mexico after being arrested more than a decade ago. Sept. 17, 2020. Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune

First: Military veteran Frank De La Cruz looks at a photo of himself in uniform during his time in the Navy. Second: De La Cruz received a miniature U.S. flag and Certificate of Naturalization after becoming a citizen in September. Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune

De La Cruz was born in Ciudad Juarez, and his family migrated to El Paso legally when he was 6 in search of better economic opportunities in Texas. He graduated from an El Paso high school in 1989, then enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving a tour during the Persian Gulf war in the early 1990s. At that time, De La Cruz was a legal permanent resident.

He said drinking became a habit to alleviate the pressure of being at war  a habit he couldnt kick after he left the Navy. I didnt know how to cope with it, and drinking was a way out, he said.

He was honorably discharged and returned to El Paso, where he joined the Army National Guard and worked part time at the VA and as a refrigeration technician.

Then he got his first DWI in 1998, and the federal government deported him to Ciudad Juarez.

I never realized I could get deported. Shit, I was in the military  they cant deport me. That was my thinking.

He spent seven years in Juarez working odd jobs and laying low, he said. Then in 2005, he said he crossed the border illegally with the help of a smuggler after his mom became sick. He lived in Texas illegally until he was arrested again for DWI and deported once more in 2010.

De La Cruz said he worked jobs at factories and in construction, and his wife and children lived with him there for about five years. But cartel violence in Mexico and long wait times to cross the bridge to go to school forced his family back to El Paso.

My family didnt want to go to Juarez [to visit] anymore because of the crime, he said. I was like a hobbit. Id go to work and then come home and stay inside.

Pasquarella and De La Cruz filed his citizenship application in 2016.

He said everything changed when he went to the international port of entry for what he thought would be a routine meeting with U.S. immigration officials about his case. Instead, they told him that his request had been approved. And earlier this month, he became a citizen after a quick and private swearing-in ceremony at the El Paso port of entry.

I was surprised. I wasnt prepared for it, he said.

De La Cruz said its up to veterans to put in the work to get back to the U.S.

Were taught not to quit in the military. You keep grinding at it, he said. Jenny [Pasquarella] helped a lot, but you got to make the phone calls, you got to want it bad enough.

Frank De La Cruz has the U.S. Navy emblem tattooed on his forearm. Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune

De La Cruz said hes determined to make the best of his opportunity to live in the U.S. again, despite the mental whiplash hes experienced the last few weeks. One of his priorities was bringing to Texas his dog Luna, who he joked was also an American citizen because she was born in El Paso.

But it all happened so quickly that he didnt even get to grab his uniform or other keepsakes. Hes since been back to collect a few items but acknowledges the adjustment will take time. His youngest son, 17, is studying remotely, and De La Cruz said hes been slacking off a bit with his schoolwork. But De La Cruz isnt sure how heavy handed he should be.

I cant just jump in there, its a slow process, he said. But its something I am dealing with.

In less than a month as a U.S. citizen, De La Cruz has found a job as a heating, ventilation and air conditioning technician. And he says he would enlist again again if he could.

Despite everything that I went through, it was heartbreaking, but I would [serve] all over again, he said. You know why? My family is American.
Dominic Raab, First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs walks in Downing Street on September 3, 2019 in London, England.

Britain is not taking a Swedish approach to COVID-19 said foreign minister Dominic Raab when asked if new measures were part of a plan to live with the virus, rather than try to get rid of it.

"I don't accept that characterization," Raab told BBC Radio when asked if Britain was now taking a more Swedish approach.

Earlier this year, Sweden avoided a lockdown and instead emphasized personal responsibility, social distancing and good hygiene in a bid to slow rather than eradicate a disease deemed here to stay.

Britain announced new measures on Tuesday to try to control the rapid spread of the virus, but those restrictions have been criticized by some scientists for not going far enough.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Two-thirds of American employees (66%) consider their company somewhat or very diverse according to a new survey from The Manifest, a business news and how-to website.

In comparison, only 15% of workers do not believe their company is diverse.

Nearly 80% of employees in the U.S. said their company's diversity did not change in 2020, according to a new study from The Manifest. Benefits of workplace diversity vary, but the top ones are learning from co-workers, creativity, and a sense of belonging, according to The Manifest's study.

Experts say that when employees judge if their workforce is diverse, they consider if they feel personally comfortable at their company and if they work with colleagues from different backgrounds and experiences.

Diversity Largely Hasn't Improved in 2020, but Experts Say There's Hope for 2021

Despite the spotlight on diversity and inclusion following George Floyd's death, employees have not noticed an increase in diversity in their own workplace. More than three-quarters of workers (78%) have seen no change in their company's diversity over the past 12 months, according to The Manifest's study.

Business professionals believe there's hope for increased diversity in the future. Bisma Farrukh, a marketer for One Day Event, an insurance company, said that events such as the death of George Floyd happened recently, so companies are still creating strategies to increase their diversity. Plus, the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing economic tumult have reduced hiring, making it more challenging to quickly diversify a workplace.

Still, Farrukh believes that employees will observe more diversity in the future. She said that companies will eventually make more diverse hires, in part because employees are becoming more comfortable in diverse workplaces.

Millennials Prioritize Diversity for an Improved Feeling of Belonging

Diversity in the workplace is becoming a priority for America's youngest workers. More than half of millennial employees (57%) say workplace diversity improves their sense of belonging  a priority for the newest in the workforce.

Fewer than half of baby boomer (48%) and Generation X (45%) employees agree that diversity fosters a feeling of belonging.

However, a majority of all American employees (59%) believe that diversity helps them learn more from their coworkers.

Other benefits cited by a minority of workers include increased creativity (46%), increased company pride (44%), and feeling safer at work (34%).

Diversity allows for employees to learn from each other and solve problems through innovation.

Julia Spence is the business development manager for LivaFortis, a biotech startup. LivaFortis is a women-owned business, and each of its five employees are from a different country.

"In meetings, we all have unique experiences to draw on," Spence said. "We can take the best ideas from different countries and continents and be highly innovative."

Despite not seeing improvement over the past year, diversity is increasingly cited as a benefit to the workplace by America's employees.

Read the full report here: https://themanifest.com/hr/what-does-diversity-mean-to-employees.

For questions about the survey or a comment on the findings, contact Matthew Miller at [email protected].

About The Manifest

The Manifest is a business news and how-to site that compiles and analyzes practical business wisdom for innovators, entrepreneurs, and small and mid-market businesses. Use The Manifest as an approachable tour guide through every stage of the buyer journey. With three main offerings  data-driven benchmarks, step-by-step guides, and agency shortlists  The Manifest strives to make your business goals a reality.

Media Contact

Matthew Miller

[email protected]

(202) 350-4344

SOURCE The Manifest
Edison, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/23/2020 -- COVID-19 Outbreak- Rubber Spatulas Market Research Study .

The exploration report comprised with market data derived from primary as well as secondary research techniques. The solicitation of proposals by the governments and publicprivate companies across the world to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is considered to be market forces. The aim is to get premium insights, quality data figures and information in relation to aspects such as market scope, market size, share, and segments including Types of Products and Services, Application / end use industry, SWOT Analysis and by various emerging by geographies. Some of the profiled players in standard version of this study are The vollrath company (United States), Carlisle foodservice products (United States), Tupperware (United States), Tablecraft (United States), Rosle (United States), Tigerchef (United States), Cuisinox (United States), Newell brands (United States), OXO (United States) and American Metalcraft (United States)

A rubber spatula is a kitchen tool made up using rubber. It is used to scraping the fillings from a bowl without scratching the apparent. Rubber spatula also used for mixing, blending, stirring batters and others. It is available with heat resistance and nonstick properties. The rubber spatulas are highly available with low cost and increasing adoption of homemade food due to rising health-conscious people are the major driver for the market. Additionally, the emergence of new styles and designs have been supplementing the growth of the market. However, the presence of alternatives such as silicon spatulas and continuously fluctuation in the prices of raw material have been limiting the market. Moreover, increasing production of natural rubber by about 4% and increasing awareness about benefits associated with rubber spatulas can create a big opportunity for the market.

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This research is categorized differently considering the various aspects of this market. It also evaluates the upcoming situation by considering project pipelines of company, long term agreements to derive growth estimates. The forecast is analyzed based on the volume and revenue of this market. The tools used for analyzing the Rubber SpatulasMarket research report include SWOT analysis.



Market Trend

- Rising Trend of New Styles and Designs of Rubber Spatula



Market Drivers

- Low cost and High Availability of Rubber Spatulas

- Increasing Disposal Income and Adoption of Home Made Food



Opportunities

- Increasing Production of Nature Rubber by Approximately 4% year over year will grow Rubber Spatulas Market

- High Availability of Raw Material and Increasing Awareness about Benefits Associated with Rubber Spatulas



Restraints

- Rising Use of Silicon Spatulas over Rubber Spatulas



Challenges

- Fluctuation in the Prices of Raw Material



The Rubber Spatulassegments and Market Data Break Down are illuminated below:

Type (Turner Rubber Spatulas, Scraper Rubber Spatulas, Frosting Rubber Spatulas), Application (Kitchen (Commercial, Residential), Laboratory, Others), Distribution Channel (Online Channel, Offline Channel (Supermarket, Retail Stores)), Size (Small Size Rubber Spatulas, Medium Size Rubber Spatulas, Large Size Rubber Spatulas), Rubber Type (Synthetic Rubber, Nature Rubber)

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The regional analysis of Rubber SpatulasMarket is considered for the key regions such as Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, Latin America and Rest of the World. North America is the leading region across the world. Whereas, owing to rising no. of research activities in countries such as China, India, and Japan, Asia Pacific region is also expected to exhibit higher growth rate the forecast period 2020-2025.



Highlights of the report:

- A complete backdrop analysis, which includes an assessment of the parent market

- Important changes in market dynamics

- Market segmentation up to the second or third level

- Historical, current, and projected size of the market from the standpoint of both value and volume

- Reporting and evaluation of recent industry developments

- Market shares and strategies of key players

- Emerging niche segments and regional markets

- An objective assessment of the trajectory of the market

- Recommendations to companies for strengthening their foothold in the market



Strategic Points Covered in Table of Content of Rubber Spatulas Market:

Chapter 1: Introduction, market driving force product Objective of Study and Research Scope the Rubber Spatulas market

Chapter 2: Exclusive Summary  the basic information of the Rubber Spatulas Market.

Chapter 3: Displayingthe Market Dynamics- Drivers, Trends and Challenges of the Rubber Spatulas

Chapter 4: Presenting the Rubber Spatulas Market Factor Analysis Porters Five Forces, Supply/Value Chain, PESTEL analysis, Market Entropy, Patent/Trademark Analysis.

Chapter 5: Displaying the by Type, End User and Region 2014-2019

Chapter 6: Evaluating the leading manufacturers of the Rubber Spatulas market which consists of its Competitive Landscape, Peer Group Analysis, BCG Matrix & Company Profile

Chapter 7: To evaluate the market by segments, by countries and by manufacturers with revenue share and sales by key countries in these various regions.

Chapter 8 & 9: Displaying the Appendix, Methodology and Data Source

finally, Rubber Spatulas Market is a valuable source of guidance for individuals and companies.

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Key questions answered

- Who are the Leading key players and what are their Key Business plans in the Rubber Spatulas market?

- What are the key concerns of the five forces analysis of the Rubber Spatulas market?

- What are different prospects and threats faced by the dealers in the Rubber Spatulas market?

- What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?

Definitively, this report will give you an unmistakable perspective on every single reality of the market without a need to allude to some other research report or an information source. Our report will give all of you the realities about the past, present, and eventual fate of the concerned Market.

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Thanks for reading this article, we can also provide customized report as per company's specific needs. You can also get separate chapter wise or region wise report versions includingNorth America, Europe or Asia.
Theresa Raborn tweeted a video of Gen. Michael Flynn, Trumps former national security adviser, in which Flynn recites the QAnon hashtag. Raborn said she retweeted the video because she comes from a military family and respects Flynn. She told The Washington Post she could not definitively debunk or definitively confirm the theory. When we asked Raborn if she supports QAnon, she had plenty to say, but nothing bad about its theories and adherents. Im not just going to tell someone they are crazy or a conspiracy theorist until I know for certain, and I just dont have time to research it. The little bit I do know is there is Q and theres people that take those posts and are trying to decipher it like its some coded thing. ... One tweet and all of a sudden Im supposed to support it? I dont really support it and Im not going to make fun of it.
New Delhi, Sep 23 : As thousands of Indian farmers protest against the three contentious agriculture-related Bills passed by Parliament, banned US-based secessionist group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) is trying to fish in troubled waters, declaring a grant of $1 million for farmers in Punjab and Haryana in lieu of their support for Khalistan.

This new offer from the SFJ has alerted security and intelligence agencies, which have promptly shared the latest inputs with law-enforcement wings in both the states.

Authorities have directed the state police forces for "quick action" against such elements trying to pursue an anti-India agenda amid a critical situation vis-a-vis the farmers.

Capitalising on the ongoing protests by farmers, the SFJ said it would distribute $1 million among farmers who had defaulted on agricultural loans.

"From October 1 to October 8, any farmer -- irrespective of his faith -- can register 25 votes for the Khalistan Referendum 2020 and get a grant of Rs 5,000 as assistance to repay their agricultural loans," SJF said. The security agencies have since received inputs on the latest offer by SFJ.

Dubbing the Indian government's new farms Bills as a "colonial agenda to ultimately turn the farmers landless", SFJ General Counsel, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, said in his announcement that "the Modi government wants to enslave the farmers of Punjab and Haryana by turning them into destitutes. The SFJ has included farmers of Haryana also because we consider Haryana as part of Khalistan".

The two Houses of Parliament have passed 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. The Bills, after President's assent, will be notified as laws.

Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, a leader of NDA ally Shiromani Akali Dal -- which enjoys significant support among the Sikh peasantry in Punjab and Haryana -- had resigned from the Union Cabinet, hours ahead of voting in the Lower House on the two earlier Bills on September 17.

It is pertinent to mention here that in furtherance of the SFJ's "door-to-door" voter registration drive between September 21 and October 20, the Sikh radical group is learnt to have so far recruited more than 400 'Referendum Ambassadors' to register votes from 12,000 villages across Punjab. Each such recruit is paid Rs 7,500 for registering votes from his assigned geographical area.

The SFJ adopted the new tactic as its online 'Referendum 2020' voter campaign on Canadian and Russian portals could not gain much traction, an intelligence officer as well as two National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials had earlier told IANS on the condition of anonymity.

The SFJ had earlier announced to hold its 'Referendum-2020' campaign in November this year. Earlier this month, the group had offered Rs 3,500 each as grant on monthly basis to woo Punjab farmers ahead of its anti-India 'Referendum-2020'.

Based on the National Investigation Agency's recommendation, the Ministry of Home Affairs had, in the beginning of September, ordered attachment of properties of SFJ's key leaders -- Gurpatwant Singh Pannun and Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Pannun is the SFJ's General Counsel while Nijjar is 'Referendum 2020' Canada coordinator.

The NIA said that the SFJ, headed by Pannun, is presently making efforts to propagate the 'Referendum-2020' on the social media.

The SFJ is also trying to hold meetings in the US and other countries to instigate and mobilise the Sikh diaspora for its illegal activities.

The MHA declared the SFJ as an 'unlawful association' under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act through a notification dated July 10 last year. The MHA, in a notification dated July 1, had designated Pannun, Nijjar and seven other pro-Khalistanis as 'terrorists' as per the Act's Fourth Schedule.

The SFJ had chosen Punjab, Delhi, and Jammu and Kashmir to launch its online voter registration on July 4 for 'Referendum 2020' through different portals but reportedly did not succeed.

The SFJ is backed by Pakistan-based handlers in providing money and logistic support to radical Sikh elements in Punjab to carry out subversive activities. Even though Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence has been backing the malicious SFJ campaign, with a large number of Pakistani Twitter handles tweeting in favour of the exercise, the secessionist agenda of the SFJ has been rejected by the Sikhs across India.

(Rajnish Singh can be contacted at rajnish.s@ians.in)
The U.S. government is now interested in Tencents past deals. A 2018 law gave the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S., or Cfius, more resources to investigate transactions  including minority investments  that closed without being reviewed by the panel. The law also more specifically defined control of personal data as a national security concern. It gives the government the ability to investigate any deals that Tencent did not submit to government review.

 People involved in the creation of the rules said that they were developed largely to deal with a surge in Chinese investors taking minority stakes in Silicon Valley companies and a new appreciation of the power of personal data.

There are limits to the governments powers. The Cfius panel cant simply investigate any deal  it first must determine whether one qualifies as a covered transaction. Theres no specific calculus for arriving at that conclusion, but the panels staff asks about corporate governance, access to certain kinds of personal data (credit card information, for example, doesnt typically qualify) and nonpublic financial information. If the panel determines that a deal is both reviewable and a potential concern, it can proceed with a full investigation (which is not always made public). That could lead to a recommendation that the president unwind the transaction.

The Tencent inquiries have already begun, with Cfius reaching out to gaming companies, including Epic Games and Riot Games:

 Tim Sweeney, the C.E.O. of Epic, described Tencent, which bought a 40 percent stake in his company in 2012, as a really awesome partner, purely supportive, never hostile  and never in the least bit attempting to insert China influence into anything we do in the world outside of China. He acknowledged a Cfius inquiry, adding that his company would be participating in the process wholeheartedly.

 A representative for Riot declined to comment.

Unwinding Tencents past deals would be a major escalation in the U.S.-China tech war. Along with Alibaba and Baidu, the company is a global symbol of Chinas might. Chinese officials have said that the threat of a U.S. ban on WeChat undermined the global market order. They are said to be assembling a list of American companies to ban in China, including Cisco, should they need to respond in kind.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Ukraine seeks full integration into the European Union and wants to receive from the EU a clear membership perspective.

He stated this in an interview with Slovak economic newspaper Hospodarske noviny, the presidential press service said.

"Ukraine wants full integration into the EU. We are a European country and we can give a lot to Europe, working together. A lot on the European continent depends on the situation on Ukraine, so it would be logical if Ukraine became a full member of the European Union. We want to get from the EU a clearly formulated membership perspective for Ukraine. It is important for Ukrainians that the European Union recognizes and supports our aspirations," Zelensky said.

He also stressed that the European Union is a key partner in restoring sovereignty and territorial integrity and supporting reforms in Ukraine.

He recalled that since the signing of the Association Agreement the EU has become Ukraine's main trading partner, which already accounts for more than 40% of foreign trade, and since the introduction of the visa-free regime in 2017 Ukrainians have made 50 million trips to EU countries.

At the same time, Zelensky said that Ukraine is now working to use the potential of the Association Agreement as much as possible to further deepen integration with the EU, as well as to adapt the trade part of the Agreement to modern economic realities.

According to him, this will be one of the important topics of the EU-Ukraine Summit in Brussels on October 1.

Zelensky plans to pay an official visit to Slovakia on September 24.

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Pittsburgh Pirates star prospect Oneil Cruz has been arrested in the Dominican Republic after he was involved in a traffic accident which left three people dead - as prosecutors allege he was driving drunk.

Police say a preliminary investigation showed the 21-year-old was under the influence of alcohol when his SUV crashed into a motorbike, killing its three passengers.

Authorities have requested three months of preventive prison during the investigation in a motion before a virtual court hearing scheduled for Wednesday.

A police report indicated that Cruz was driving in Bani approximately at 1am Monday when he allegedly rear-ended the bike on the left lane of the Sanchez highway that connects Bani and San Cristobal.

Jons Sabab, 23; Daniela Perez, 19; and Deby Beato, 20, were killed in the accident.

Oneil Cruz, ranked as the third-best prospect in the Pittsburgh Pirates minor league system, was arrested in the Dominican Republic on Monday after he crashed into a motorcycle and killing its three passengers. Authorities have said that the 21-year-old was driving under the influence of alcohol

Pictured is the SUV belonging to Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Oneil Cruz after he crashed into a motorcycle and killed its three passengers

The Department of Transit Safety and Ground Transportation incident report indicated the motorcycle's lights were not turned on before Cruz crashed into in the Bani town of Los Mercaditos de Paya.

Cruz was apprehended at the scene of the accident.

A woman, who identified herself as Beato's aunt, told Dominican television station Telesistema 11 that he was sleeping in his room when Sabab and Perez picked him up at his home in the San Cristobal town of Sabana Grande de Palenque.

Sabab's mother told Telesistema 11 that her son and his two other friends had planned to travel to Bani for a night out.

Daniela Perez (left) and her friend Jons Sabab went to Deby Beato's (right) home in Sabana Grande de Palenque on to pick him up and travel to Bani to enjoy a night out despite a 9pm curfew set in place by the Dominican Republic government to combat the coronavirus pandemic. All three died in a motorcycle accident

Jons Sabab (pictured) is one of the three people killed Monday when the motorcycle they were riding on was hit by a SUV driven by Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Oneil Cruz

Peravia province prosecutors confirmed that Cruz and the victims had ignored the 9pm curfew set in place by the Dominican Republic government to combat the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A resident who spoke to network alleged that Cruz had a habit of driving at an excessive speed throughout the streets of Bani.

'He has to pay because he was under the influence of alcohol' the man said.

Cruz, a shortstop, is ranked the third-best prospect in the Pittsburgh minor league system, according to MLB Pipeline.

Oneil Cruz, a shortstop, is ranked the third-best prospect in the Pittsburgh minor league system, according to MLB Pipeline

Cruz had been working out at the Pirates' alternative training site in Altoona, Pennsylvania, and returned to the Dominican Republic last week.

He hit .286 with eight home runs and stole 10 bases in 70 games while playing for Class A Advanced Bradenton and Class AA Altoona in 2019.

'The Pirates are aware of the tragic accident in the Dominican Republic involving Oneil Cruz,' Pirates senior vice president of communications Brian Warecki said in a statement Tuesday. 'We have been in contact with Oneil and he is cooperating fully with the local authorities. We will provide an update as more information becomes available.'

Cruz could face up to five years in prison if he is convicted.
Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP sponsored the 2020 Good Lawyers to Great Lawyers Strategic Professional Development Virtual Retreat. The three-day event, Sept. 21-23, hosted by the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) Foundation, offered the opportunity for in-house counsel, law firm partners, and business professionals to further develop leadership skills and network with leading members of the legal profession.

Nikki Lewis Simon, Shareholder and Chief Diversity Officer at Greenberg Traurig, spoke at two of the retreats sessions focusing on diversity and social justice at the intersection of business and law. She served as moderator for the Brown Bag Lunch panel: This is Not Your Grandparents Corporate America, on Sept. 22. The discussion featured key insights from Brad Hanson, the CEO of Meta Financial Group, Meta Bank, and Meta Payment Systems, and Anthony Sharett, the Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary of Meta Financial Group, Inc. and Meta Bank, on balancing business objectives with the need to meet social justice concerns in the workplace. On Sept. 23, she moderated the Brown Bag Lunch panel: Leading from In Front: Developing and Exercising Cultural Competency as a Core Leadership Trait, which focused on best practices to help law firm and corporate legal department leadership increase their cultural competency to amplify diverse teams to help drive success in business in our everchanging social and political climate.

Simon, a commercial litigator based in Miami, has more than 20 years of experience. In her capacity as Greenberg Traurigs Chief Diversity Officer, Simon designs and guides strategic initiatives and programs to deepen firmwide diversity and inclusion efforts that further enrich client engagements and community investments. Her role is indicative of, and integral to, Greenberg Traurigs core values of collaboration and inclusion.

About Greenberg Traurigs Diversity Initiative: From its inception, Greenberg Traurig has been committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Greenberg Traurig is a uniquely empowering and diverse firm built on a foundation of fairness, equality, and authenticity. Through its Social, Racial, and Economic Justice Action Plan, the firm has committed $5 million over five years to help combat systemic racism and support impoverished communities. In addition, the firms efforts have been recognized through its Mansfield Rule 3.0 certification, administered by the Diversity Lab, and by local, national, and global publications and organizations including Chambers and Partners. Web: https://www.gtlaw.com/en/general/our-firm/diversity Twitter: @GT_Drives

About Greenberg Traurigs Womens Initiative: Greenberg Traurig is committed to its women lawyers success, which includes a firmwide womens affinity group encompassing recruiting, retention, and business development. The firm regularly collaborates with like-minded organizations to address these issues on a broader scale in a variety of industries and communities. Greenberg Traurig also takes thoughtful action to address issues such as maintaining a healthy work-life balance, breaking the glass ceiling, mentoring, creating and maintaining healthy lifestyles, and giving back to the community. Twitter: @GTLawWomen.

About Greenberg Traurig: Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GT) has approximately 2200 attorneys in 40 locations in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. GT has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, diversity, and innovation, and is consistently among the largest firms in the U.S. on the Law360 400 and among the Top 20 on the Am Law Global 100. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com Twitter: @GT_Law.
Retirees in Ogun State under the aegis of Nigeria Union of pensioners (NUP), on Tuesday staged a peaceful protest to register their grievances against what they described as government insensitivity to their plights.

The protesting pensioners were armed with placards with various inscriptions: We say a big no to the killers of pension reform, Gratuities are not meant for burial expenses, 33.4% pension increment is statutory, implement it now,  N5,000 minimum pension is humiliating, increase our pension, Pay our gratuity to provide succour for our jobless children, Reserve the obnoxious pension bill now, N2billion annual releases takes 34 years to offer N68billion debt, so a 60 years pensioner will take gratuity at 94 years. Abomination

Addressing newsmen, the Chairman of the NUP, Comrade Waheed Olayiwola Oloyede said the union rejected the proposal of Governor Dapo Abiodun to release N500million quarterly to offset outstanding gratuities. suggesting release of N1billion monthly as against the N500million.

Oloyede insisted that with the N500million, it would take the State 34 years to clear the outstanding N68billion arrears.

The State government had on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to earmark N500million for the clearance of gratuities of pensioners in the State.

Follow Us on Facebook  @LadunLiadi; Instagram  @LadunLiadi; Twitter  @LadunLiadi; Youtube  @LadunLiadiTV for updates
Former Secretary of State John Kerry falsely claimed in 2019 that he had no knowledge of Hunter Bidens role on the board of Burisma Holdings, Inc., according to the Senate report on Bidens financial dealings released on Wednesday.

Kerry was asked by a reporter from NBC News on December 8, 2019, whether he knew of Hunter Bidens activities during his tenure as secretary of state in the Obama administration from 2013-2017. Biden From 2014-2019 held a seat on the board of Burisma, a Ukrainian natural gas company whose former head and founder Mykola Zlochevsky is suspected of bribery and various other crimes. (Zlochevskys whereabouts are currently unknown.)

Vice president Joe Biden led the Obama administrations Ukraine policy after Russias 2014 annexation of the Crimean peninsula and subsequent war in eastern Ukraine. Hunter Bidens position at Burisma led American officials to worry about the appearance of a conflict of interest in their Ukraine policy.

I had no knowledge about any of that. None. No, Kerry told the reporter regarding Bidens position on the Burisma board. What would I know about anyno. Why would I know about any company or any individual? No.

However, Kerrys former chief of staff David Wade testified to the Senate Homeland Security Committee that he informed Kerry personally of Bidens role at Burisma. Wade received an email on May 13, 2014, from Kerrys stepson, Chris Heinz, telling him that Hunter Biden and associate Devon Archer had joined Burisma.

Additionally, former Kerry adviser David Thorne told Wade on May 14, 2014, that he had forwarded news articles on Hunter Bidens Burisma position directly to Kerry himself, according to emails uncovered by the Senate committee. The emails included links to serveral articles, including one titled White House says no issue with Bidens son, Ukraine gas company.

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WINNIE  Mell Williams III awoke Wednesday morning in a Hampton Inn where he and his wife had hunkered for two nights in case Beta flooded their home a third time. They lived at the hotel next door for six months after Harvey and four months after Imelda. He still remembers the room number: 113.

Bands from Beta overnight passed this area by, dropping some rain but nothing the region couldnt handle. It still had been worth it to stay at the hotel for Williams, 73. A neighbor rescued them from their Winnie-area home during Harvey, and the sheriffs department got them during Imelda. His 68-year-old wife, Wanda, has multiple sclerosis and cannot walk; he worried they would drown.

Williams was among those glued to the news while Beta filled roadways some 60 miles west in Houston. And though weather predictions here were not dire, he and others still worried and prepared in case heavy rain headed east next. Their actions demonstrated the lasting impact of storms on property and mental health - and they showed the strain storms cause even when they dont hit, with concern about COVID-19 layered on too.

Williams felt safe when he got the room reservation and knew he wouldnt again need to be rescued. But the days before the storm still were stressful, he said. At home, he stacked chairs on tables and piled belongings on the bed. Worry persisted about his idyllic red home surrounded by pasture and built to suit his wifes needs; then there was the potential of catching the coronavirus in a hotel, too.

Lucky my heart is strong, he joked Wednesday, holding a cup of coffee with cream after packing up and getting his wife back home. (He and his wife are both retired, he from Motiva, she from teaching.)

Williams was not alone in his anxiety. The local justice of the peace, Yale Devillier, woke up only twice overnight, listening for pounding rain. But one of his clerks came in late because she stayed up worried. Devillier could understand that: He just moved back into his home two months ago after Imeldas damage. His wife also fell sick from COVID-19.

Always something, it seems like now, Devillier said. Ever since Harvey, its been one thing after another for me and my family.

Blake Fischer, 36, was still living with his aunt and uncle in Winnie while he rebuilt in nearby Hamshire after Imeldas floods. Much of this neighborhood, known as Teacherville because of the teachers who live there, flooded in Imelda and Harvey too. So there was always some anxiety around storms, he said.

Between the coronavirus and an especially active storm season it had been a double whammy for our part of the country, Fischer said. He watched the news about Beta wondering, Is this a repeat of last time? What if this one would stall out again? He hoped not and tried his best to stay positive.

A neighborhood yard sign stoked optimism too: Nothing can stop a HFE teacher, it read, referring to a local school district, not a flood, not a stay at home order.

There had also been the threat of Laura to contend with: On 80-year-old Mason Breauxs porch sat the plywood for boarding up windows in that storm. His daughter remained unable to live in her home after Imelda. Many had simply given up moved. He pointed out houses all around.

Walt Stelly, 41, felt tired of the storms, too. He didnt yet have cabinets replaced in his kitchen. But he put all the energy he had into trying to find a solution to keep his house dry. Ahead of Laura, he encircled his twice-flooded home with an irrigation tube and pumped it full of water to act like a dam.

He filled it back up ahead of Beta, too, and hooked up two pumps to bail out any water inside the barrier. (One pumped up to 800 gallons a minute.) On Tuesday, several others came over to eat steaks from the barbecue pit and man the pumps overnight if they had to.

We constantly waited on the rain, he said. We got lucky. We got lucky.

His wife, Mindy, 43, made contingency plans. She pulled things from the walls to put in the attic. She had cinder blocks and outdoor furniture ready to stack indoor furniture on top of. She considered what shed lift first.

Any time a hard rain was coming, neighbors called each other worried, she said. Are you picking stuff up? they will ask each other. One often left.

Its always a guess, she said. Its always, Is it going to hit us or is it not? Its constantly in the back of our minds This time of year especially, everyone worries constantly.

On Wednesday, the couple still had to decide: would they leave that barrier across the lawn until the end of storm season?
Liwa Plastics Industrial Complex (LPIC), Oman's biggest petrochemicals investment to date, is on track to commence commercial production later this year, a report said quoting a senior official.

The commissioning phase of the project began in May and marks the execution of the final stages of construction leading up to commercial production in the last quarter of this year, said an article in the website of Anglo-Omani Society (AOS).

The venture, set up with an investment of $6.7 billion, takes OQs Downstream portfolio in Oman a step closer to realising Oman's vision for diversification.

We are establishing a state-of-the-art, integrated refinery and petrochemical facility combination, said Ahmed Saleh al Jahdhami, Chief Executive Officer (Downstream) at OQ, the sultanates integrated energy group.

With LPIC coming online, we are one step closer to realising our vision for diversifying our Downstream portfolio in Oman. This transformational project will firmly put the Sultanate on the global petrochemicals map and enhance OQ contribution to the national GDP, he said.

LPIC comprises a gas extraction plant in Fahud, in Omans central plains; a 300 km pipeline from Fahud to Suhar on Omans Arabian Gulf coast, near Liwa, for which the complex is named; a steam cracker plant; and polymer plants (high-density polyethylene - HDPE), linear low-density polyethylene - LLDPE), and a polypropylene plant) in Suhar Industrial area.
An effort by Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack Tuesday to delay moving forward with advertising for the construction of a new county forensics center garnered no support as fellow commissioners approved the action in a 3-1 vote.

Noack, who wanted to wait to vote on the item until County Judge Mark Keough returned after recovering from a car accident, was the lone nay vote.

Keough remained hospitalized Tuesday following a car accident earlier this month that fractured his pelvis. He is continuing to undergo physical therapy after surgery.

Along with concerns about moving forward without Keough, Noack said there has been little discussion by the court on the design of the building he says has increased in cost since the court approved a $1.2 million contract with Houston-based PGAL in September 2019.

I tried to find exactly what we were advertising for so I was hoping to get some more information and defer that action until the judge is back so he can participate in that discuss as well, Noack said.

However, Precinct 2 Commissioner Charlie Riley, who along with Precinct 4 Commissioner James Metts and several county staff members is a part of the committee formed to oversee the project, said while there was not presentation to the court on the design of the building, the committee had plenty of information to move forward.

We have been striving to get to this point, Riley said noting the project has been on the countys radar for several years. We have had meeting after meeting and we have talked about the forensic center here in this court room trying to get to this point, we are finally there, we have construction plans and we are ready to go.

Purchasing Director Gilbert Jalomo told the court the construction would be done in phases.

The plan is to put this out as a competitive sealed proposal divided up into two sections with a section A and B identified and then a total, Jalomo said adding the court could award the project in phases or in total. The goal was always to put it out in September and we are on that goal.

Well we will have to because we dont have the money to do it all, Precinct 1 Commissioner Mike Meador said.

In July, the court moved an additional $4 million to its Capital Improvement Projects to help fund the forensics center. County officials had already earmarked about $6 million for the project.

Riley said one reason to move forward is to take advantage of the current cost of materials.

Metts said it was time to get the project underway.

We have been kicking the can down the road for years and it is a vital tool for law enforcement, we need to get started, he said.

Noack maintained the design has not been shared with the public.

We have no idea, publicly, what is the cost, Noack said. When we started it was $6-8 million, now it is up to $18.9 million. And some of the things we are building in this, are they really necessary for today. I looked at the plan, this is going to be one of the most impressive forensics enter ever built.

Riley balked at Noacks statements.

Thats not true, he said.

According to the estimate summary from PGAL, the grand total for the project is $18.1 million. Jalomo said the court would have the opportunity to remove items from the project to lower the cost.

According to the design contract, the new 22,000-square-foot center will include the medical examiners office and morgue, the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office Crime Lab and forensic lab at Carl Pickering Boulevard and Airport Road.

PGAL will be responsible for the medical examiner and morgue portion along with parking, site development and detention pond. The facility will also include lobby, waiting area, two meeting rooms, staff offices and conference rooms and a full autopsy complex and storage.

The building and site will be designed to accommodate the future addition of the crime and forensics labs.

A timeline for the project was not provided.

cdominguez@hcnonline.com
SOUTHINGTON  Town officials are considering an injunction to stop gatherings at a DeFashion Street house that included a sex party, busloads of guests and New York City-area visitors.

Possible legal action follows a cease and desist letter from the Planning Department and numerous visits from police due to noise complaints from neighbors since the beginning of the summer. None of those visits resulted in arrests or citations.

Gary Levine owns the 10,000 square-foot house on more than six acres at 375 DeFashion St. Town records show the seven-bedroom home was last sold for $550,000 in 2013. Levine couldnt be reached for comment Wednesday.

His son, Adam Levine, said its a family house thats occasionally used since he and his father, who have a Golden Bridge, New York address, have rental properties in the area. Offering the house for short-term rentals was a way to pay the mortgage while their business suffered during the pandemic. They used Airbnb, a short-term rental company.

Airbnb is legal. Were not doing anything wrong, Adam Levine said.

Town Planner Rob Philips said the property is operating as a boarding house, which isnt permitted in the area. He sent a cease and desist letter to Gary Levine in August.

They had an event where they had two busloads of people show up, Phillips said. Some of the events looked like they were parties.

In addition to noise complaints and zoning problems, Philips said the gatherings in the midst of a pandemic were also a concern.

We should all be pulling our weight when it comes to preventing superspreader events, he said.

Gov. Ned Lamonts executive orders set a limit of 25 people for indoor events and 100 for outdoor.

Town Attorney Jeremy Taylor said the town is working to stop the activities at 375 DeFashion St. and was considering a court injunction to prevent the Levines from renting the house.

Rentals have shut down

Since receiving the cease and desist letter, Adam Levine said he hasnt been renting the property. He and his house manager, New York resident Fatih Saat, said they were misled by tenants about the number of guests whod be staying.

Airbnb renters said they would abide by the 16 person limit but hosted much larger gatherings on occasions, leading to loud parties that disrupted neighbors, Adam Levine said.

Theyre not wrong to get mad, Adam Levine said of neighbors, some of whom hes since apologized to.

The most recent large party happened in late August. The renter, a woman from New York, told police that she thought thered be no more than 20 to 30 people in attendance. A police report on the incident didnt estimate the crowd but Saat said there were between 150 and 200 people.

We kicked them out with police. We told them to leave, Saat said.

Adam Levine said he hopes to continue renting the house with better oversight of tenants. Not only did the large parties bother neighbors and violate pandemic restrictions, the guests also did $500,000 worth of damage, according to Adam Levine.

They had at least 100-plus people in my kitchen, he said. They destroyed everything.

Anything GoesWeekends, weddings

Police reports and online listings show a wedding ceremony, reception and after-party at the DeFashion Street home in July. Neighbors complained about music and police asked the wedding organizers to keep the music and DJ microphones at a reasonable level.

After 15 noise complaints and one vandalism complaint between June and the beginning of September, police Detective Jonathan Lopa investigated what was happening at the house. Saat told him that guests scheduled for that month were informed about the limit of 16 people and intended to abide by it.

Lopa also wrote in his report that he found an advertisement for an Estate Parties Anything Goes Weekend on Facebook. The event at 375 DeFashion was scheduled for June 18 to 20 during which Lopa said police were dispatched to the house for a noise complaint. Arriving officers found 30 cars in the driveway. Levine told police that night that hed turn the music down according to the report.

Lopa also referenced additional information found online by the Zoning Department about estate parties held at the DeFashion Street house. That included a list of rules for parties. The report did not detail the rules, but a review of the document online indicates that they include temperature checks to prevent infection, a recommendation that guests get tested for COVID-19 and a requirement that guests bring masks and condoms.

It is not known when these rules were created but they do show that (hosts) Adam and Mildred intend to have parties involving sex with consenting adults over the age of 21 years old, Lopa wrote. (The rules and advertisement) do not have any information that would suggest a criminal law was being violated.

Adam Levine said on Wednesday that hes been in Ecuador with his wife and son for much of the summer but was at the house with around five friends from New York City this summer. He said theres often a lot of cars in the driveway since everyone in his family has a car. Levine declined to discuss details of specific parties.

In police complaints, renters who were identified with an address came from the New York City area including Brooklyn, Woodhaven and Brunswick, New Jersey.

jbuchanan@record-journal.com203-317-2230Twitter: @JBuchananRJ
Personal attacks by politicians against each other have intensified as the by-election for 28 assembly seats in Madhya Pradesh (MP), which are likely to be held with the upcoming Bihar polls in end-November, draws closer.

Though the Election Commission of India (ECI) had earlier announced that polls would be held in end-November, no dates have been announced yet.

Several ministers of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and belonging to chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhans cabinet are involved in personal attacks. But the ministers claim that themselves and the CM have been at the receiving end of the personal attacks by rival Congress leaders.

Suresh Raje, who is slated to contest the upcoming assembly by-polls from Dabra constituency on a Congress ticket in MPs Gwalior-Chambal region against state minister for Woman and Child Development (WCD) Imrati Devi, has been accused of making provocative personal comments against his opponent and her family members a few days ago.

Devi and the ruling BJP also fired a salve at Raje amid the Congress distancing itself from his alleged comments.

Raje denied that he insulted the minister. Devi slammed the Congress and alleged that the comments exposed the opposition partys mindset.

In another incident, state minister for tourism, culture and adhyatm Usha Thakur regretted her statement that she had made against a tribal youth organisation in MPs Malwa region on Saturday.

Thakur reportedly described Jay Adivasi Yuva Shakti (JAYS) as an anti-national outfit while speaking at a programme in her assembly constituency Mhow. She questioned the organisation for working among tribals and urged the public to take a pledge not to allow the outfits alleged anti-national activities in the region.

The ministers statement drew condemnation from JAYS and the Congress, who demanded her resignation from the Chouhan cabinet.

The BJP was quick to dissociate itself from Thakurs remarks. The minister also put out a statement on Monday, where she regretted for her momentary lapse of reason.

I respect all such organisations that are working for the uplift of the tribals. I apologise for my statement, if it has hurt anyone. My statement stemmed from my pain and anguish that I had undergone due to certain elements making attempts to mislead tribals and convert them to other faiths while creating hurdles in the way of my public welfare work.

However, JAYS members were not assuaged by the ministers apology and staged a protest at Mhow on Tuesday.

Heeralal Alawa, a founder member of the organisation and a Congress lawmaker, said, The ministers statement ahead of the by-polls is not a coincidence. It is a part of the BJPs pre-planned strategy for the upcoming by-polls. The party wants to provoke the tribals against the organisation and better its prospects on those by-poll seats, where the indigenous people of the state hold the sway.

Similarly, state minister for cooperatives Arvind Bhadauria, who belongs to the Gwalior-Chambal region and had played a key role in the defection of the Congress lawmakers to the BJP in March, is in his parent partys crosshairs.

Former CMs Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh and ex-minister Jitu Patwari have all piled up on him for his act of betrayal by switching sides that led to the collapse of the Congress government in MP.

However, Bhadauria has not fallen for his former party leaders provocative jibes.

Kamal Nath and CM Chouhan have also locked horns over the Congresss claims that it had waived loans of over two million farmers when the party was in power.

The slanging match is restricted to the alleged use of the word nalayak by Kamal Nath against the CM.

Shivraj ji says Congress didnt waive farmers loans in 10 days. Shivraj ji, are you so incapable (nalayak) that you cant see the loan waiver in the records? Its for the first time that not only current loans but also those of the defaulters were waived off (by the then Congress government). Kamal Nath, who heads the MP Pradesh Congress Committee (MPPCC), had reportedly said at an election rally in Gwalior on September 19.

Chouhan reacted to Kamal Naths use of the adjective.

I have no objection, if Kamal Nath ji likes to indulge in mudslinging. Its the public which decides who is capable and who is not. He himself should think about the capability quotient. Who takes care of the state with an unbiased outlook, respects the poor, formulates schemes for farmers welfare and ensures uplift of girl child, the CM had hit back at his predecessor.

Political analyst Dinesh Gupta sees a pattern and discernible trend in these personal attacks.

Its unfortunate that whenever elections draw closer, we see a similar surcharged atmosphere. Instead, political parties and leaders should discuss the development issues and welfare of the public. There is seldom any debate on lack of roads, electricity, irrigation, poverty, farmers, unemployment etc. Serious issues are always glossed over and trivial matters take a centre stage in the run up to an election.

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A man who crossed the Queensland border illegally to see his girlfriend spent 15 days locked up in a watch house.

Dale Vincent Symons, 26, was refused entry to the Sunshine State after driving to a border checkpoint at Goondiwindi, in New South Wales, on September 6.

An hour later, he illegally snuck through to Queensland at another location which was unmanned.

Mr Symons was refused entry to the Sunshine State after driving to a border checkpoint at Goondiwindi on September 6, before later sneaking in at an unmanned location

Mr Symons was caught on CCTV crossing the border, before being arrested two days later near Hervey Bay, about 550km away from Goondiwindi.

But because he couldn't afford hotel quarantine, police placed Mr Symons in a watch house to isolate for 15 days, 7News reported.

He later tested negative to COVID-19.

In Hervey Bay Magistrates Court on Wednesday, the 26-year-old was sentenced to 60 hours of unpaid community service.

Mr Symons avoided a fine due to being unemployed and unable to pay.

Outside court, he said he was remorseful for his actions.

'I'm very sorry (to the community). I would go about things the right way next time,' he said.

'I don't recommend it to anyone. Don't do what I did.'
Hydro Ottawa Keeps Customers Energized With Avaya OneCloud CCaaS

During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, energy company, Hydro Ottawa, was immediately confronted with the possibility of disruption to their contact center operations while outsourced partners were forced to send their employees home.

To help mitigate any potential challenges, the company turned to Avayas CCaaS solution.

Read this case study to see how Avaya helped ensure the safety of Hydro Ottawas employees while enabling customers to engage with the company they depend on.
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.
JACKSONVILLE, Ill., Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- A public auction of the MacMurray College campus will take place on site this fall, with an anticipated bidding audience to include a diverse group of investors, end users, non-profits and educational entities, according to Williams & Williams Real Estate Auctioneers, which has been chosen to sell the historic campus. Bidding will be available both on site and online and is open to the public.

The historic campus is located 25 miles west of Springfield. Founded in 1846, MacMurray's Board of Trustees voted unanimously in March to close at the end of the spring semester after determining there was no viable financial path forward in the wake of declining enrollments, rising competitive costs, and an insufficient endowment. The COVID-19 pandemic and economic disruption it caused complicated MacMurray's financial condition, but they were not the principal reasons for the Board's decision to close.

The auction will take place in the Gamble Campus Center, 613 E. Beecher Ave., at 10am on Nov. 12. The sellers are open to receiving pre-auction offers on any of the parcels being auctioned.

"We are honored to be chosen to conduct this auction for the 'Mac Family' and to help with the re-stewarding of this important real estate," said Fontana Fitzwilson, Executive Vice President of Williams & Williams. "The college has been an important part of Jacksonville and we hope to bring in new owners who will continue to support the community."

"We're delighted to have access to the services of a firm with the reputation and resources of Williams & Williams as we fulfill our fiduciary responsibilities for an orderly closure of MacMurray College," said John Nicolay, Chairman of the Board of Trustees ('90). "Working with their team takes some of the sting out of a difficult and emotional process for the Mac Fam."

Fitzwilson said the auction is structured to give individual buyers an opportunity to acquire various buildings, although one parcel includes multiple buildings that would be suitable for a smaller school or other educational use. School officials say there has been interest in the auction already due to the pre-auction publicity.

The real estate will be available for public inspection from 11-3pm on Oct. 23 and 30. The buildings are not currently open, although interested parties are able to walk the exterior of the campus during daylight hours. On auction day, high bidders will be required to place a 10% down payment and go under contract immediately. Terms of the auction require a 30-day close.

Terms, maps, and photos can be found at https://www.WilliamsAuction.com/MacMurray. Bidders may participate on site or online simultaneously during the live auction. Online bidding is powered by AuctionNetwork.com. There is no deposit required to register to bid.

SOURCE Williams & Williams
Royal wedding preacher Bishop Michael Curry has said he could 'feel the presence of slaves' in St George's Chapel while the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were exchanging their vows.

Bishop Curry, from Chicago, who delivered a 14-minute sermon during Prince Harry, 35, and Meghan Markle's, 39, wedding, said in an interview with People: 'After I preached the sermon, I just remember it was like I could feel slaves around the place. I don't mean to be spooky, but it was like their voice was somehow heard that day.'

He explained that the Queen was 'gracious' about including the hymn Balm in Gilead, which was sang by slaves to lighten their misery.

Bishop Curry added that the move had all been 'a sign of hope' and he felt it was a positive sign of 'change' to come.

Royal wedding preacher Bishop Michael Curry, 67, has said he could 'feel the presence of slaves' in St George's Chapel while the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were exchanging their vows

The royal preacher explained: 'It was like their voice, one of their songs, one of their descendants was there that day.'

Bishop Michael Curry said the combination of things that occurred throughout the wedding was a marker of hope revealing how one 'who descends from people who were captured in the slave trade, probably the British slave trade, is brought from the shores of West Africa, to the shores of America.'

He added: 'That one of their descendants was in the presence of the Queen of England, and she quoted one of their songs.

'That's hope that we don't have to be the way we've always been.'

The royal wedding preacher, from Chicago, previously said he could feel the presence of love between the Duke and Duchess of Sussex (pictured) by just look at them

The Bishop added that he sees many of his own values displayed by Meghan and hopes her platform will encourage others.

Speaking about Meghan's recent activism, he said: 'We need people to lift up other people.

'There's enough negativity and enough putting people down, there's enough hurt. We don't need any more hurt.'

In Britain alone over 17 million viewers tuned in to watch the royal wedding, in addition to many more people in a variety of countries across the globe.

The 67-year-old said the Duchess of Sussex (pictured, with Prince Harry) shares many of the values he believes in

Bishop Michael Curry, who was labelled passionate after being given the opportunity to speak freely about whatever he thought would be appropriate at the wedding, presented a sermon entitled 'The Power of Love'.

While he is no longer in contact with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, the 67-year-old has spoken on numerous occasions about the love he felt between the couple and its power to bring unity across borders.

Speaking during the sermon, he said: 'Oh there's power, power in love. Not just in its romantic forms, but any form, any shape of love.'

He claims to have had more conversations about life and love since the wedding than in the past 40 years.

Bishop Michael Curry has penned a book (pictured) featuring the same themes of love, hope and power that he preaches

Bishop Michael Curry has now penned a book featuring the same themes of love, power and hope, which includes his fight to gain recognition of LGBTQ people in the Episcopal Church.

The royal preacher also delves into the challenges he has experienced throughout his life and the work he has done as a civil rights activist.

He explained the main lesson his book aims to teach is that it's possible to live a life based in an unselfish love, that seeks the best interest of others as well as yourself.
One hundred and twenty-five members of the Oregon Air National Guard have deployed to wildfire sites across the state to assist in relief efforts.

Operation Plan Smokey, in collaboration with the Oregon Military Department and the Oregon Department of Forestry, aims to help quell the most recent and devastating West Coast wildfire season in years.

An Oregon Air National Guard member from the 142nd Wing packs his gear before leaving with a team of Airmen in support of Operation Plan Smokey at the Portland Air National Guard Base, Portland, Ore., on Sept. 13, 2020. (Senior Airman Valerie R. Seelye/U.S. Air National Guard)

We have the federal mission, Lt. Col. Anthony Victoria, 142nd Wing Emergency Operations Center director, told the National Guard. This is the other part of what it means to be in the Guard, thats to support our state and local communities.

Of the 125 Guard members sent to join Operation Plan Smokey, 75 represent the 142nd Wing at Portland ANG Base and 50 represent Kingsley Field Air National Guard Base in Klamath Falls. For the Guards, who both live and serve in Oregon, the impact of the wildfires is personal as well as professional.

Victoria commended the deployed troops for keeping the task at hand at the forefront.

Oregon Air National Guard members from the 142nd Wing load their gear in a truck before leaving from the Portland Air National Guard Base, Portland, Ore., on Sept. 13, 2020. (Senior Airman Valerie R. Seelye/U.S. Air National Guard)

Their professionalism, the focus that they put on it, and their performance have been completely outstanding across the board, he said. It just demonstrates that were there for our communities when they need us.

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. William Wilkinson, representing the Oregon Military Department, commended his Airmen for stepping up beyond all expectations to support their fellow Oregonians during these dire times. These are real citizens leaving their homes and their families to protect their state, he told Herald and News.

The Oregon Air National Guard volunteers would serve in various ways including helping with fire teams, performing search and recovery, and even helping with general support to the Joint Operations Center in Salem.

Oregon Air National Guard members from the 142nd Wing load busses before leaving from the Portland Air National Guard Base, Portland, Ore. (Senior Airman Valerie R. Seelye/U.S. Air National Guard)

The West Coast wildfires hit fever pitch in early September.

At the time of writing, reports the Oregon Department of Forestry blog, wildfires have ravaged nearly double Oregons annual average acreage. Ten major active fires persist, and approximately 1 million acres of land have been scorched.

A reported 40,000 Oregonians have been displaced from their homes, and 10 times that amount have been under some level of an evacuation order, reports KGW 8. Several cities in the state are recording air quality levels that rank among the worst in the world.

These are levels where everybody should be taking precautions, Andrew Wineke with the Washington State Department of Ecologys Air Quality Program told KATU 2. Everybody can see [the smoke]. They can taste it.

Oregon Air National Guard members from the 142nd Wing listen to a briefing before leaving from the Portland Air National Guard Base, Portland, Ore., on Sept. 13, 2020. (Senior Airman Valerie R. Seelye/U.S. Air National Guard)

There have been studies linking exposure to wildfire smoke to increased mortality, Wineke continued, advising all Oregonians who can do so to stay indoors.

Having all hands on deck to quell the spread of the wildfires has never been more crucial.

Master Sgt. Haina Searls, an avionics supervisor for the 142nd Wings Maintenance Group, explained the role of a volunteer Guardsman in the ongoing relief effort. Were checking for hot spots, Searls told the National Guard, making sure its not going to spark up and cause a spot fire somewhere else.

Oregon Air National Guard members from the 142nd Wing load their gear in a truck before leaving from the Portland Air National Guard Base. (Senior Airman Valerie R. Seelye/U.S. Air National Guard)

A lot of times, we might be helping people evacuate out of their homes, he added, making sure theyre out of harms way.

All Oregon Air National Guard volunteers will serve a minimum of two weeks on the front lines of the wildfire relief effort. However, if needed, some could stay for up to a month.

We would love to hear your stories! You can share them with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.nyc
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson (R) and First Lady Teresa Parson tested positive for coronavirus, the governor's office announced Wednesday.

The big picture: The 65-year-old Parson is the second governor known to have contracted COVID-19, after Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R). Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) tested positive in August prior to meeting with President Trump, but it was later determined to be a false positive.

The state of play: The first lady was tested "after displaying minor symptoms," before Parson, who has not displayed symptoms, took a test of his own.

He continues to work "without interruption," according to the news release.

The governor's staff has been tested and is waiting for the results.

Worth noting: Parson has opposed a mask mandate in his state. He previously said "You don't need government to tell you to wear a dang mask."
BRIDGENORTH  Some Bridgenorth businesses are once again begging for the Bridgenorth bypass not to be built.

At Wednesday morning during Peterborough County councils virtual meeting, council members will discussed a letter written to them by the chair of the Selwyn Business Association, Fred Koster, reiterating opposition to the bypass from Bridgenorth businesses.

Once again the transportation master plan is due for review and it is our responsibility to bring the issue of the proposed Bridgenorth Bypass to your attention. This is an issue that has negated and stymied all economic development in Bridgenorth, and continues to hover a black cloud over the economic life of our village, wrote Koster.

According to Koster, the proposal was developed during a period when it was believed that no matter what was done to a business community, it would continue to grow.

We now know differently. The evidence is all over Canada. Wherever there is a bypass, there has resulted the virtual death of an economic heart of a town, he wrote.

County council decided Wednesday to receive the letter from the association and refer it to the transportation plan committee with comments Selwyn Township Deputy Mayor Sherry Senis made during the meeting.

Council knows that we have a $93-million deficit in our asset management plan for infrastructure as it sits today, and adding to it with unnecessary work and assets will only help to balloon this amount; especially if we arent going to do the work, Senis said.

Id like to take it off the books. This cloud has effected the business community in Bridgenorth for far too long and it stunts any potential growth going forward.

Since the bypass concept emerged over 20 years ago, it has continued to be a controversial subject.

When the idea was brought to councils attention in February 2019, Asphodel-Norwood Township Mayor Rodger Bonneau said he believed the total cost for the bypass would be around $53 million, which he called far too expensive.

The proposed project would build a new road off Chemong Road to bypass Ward Street in Bridgenorth on the way to the James A. Gifford Causeway as part of an updated transportation plan.

The Selwyn Business Association has, in the past, presented economic impact studies to county officials but to no avail. County council continues to believe in the concept of a bypass rather than widening Ward Street through the village, which would cost a fraction of the price, wrote Koster. The latter incidentally, would create a positive economic impact for Bridgenorth.

For the most part, the idea of bypasses has been relegated to the past reality of economic mistakes, according to Koster.

Hundreds of thousands of dollars of our hard-earned tax dollars have been spent on this madness in the name of environmental assessments and studies in an effort to keep it on the planners desk, he wrote.

Its time to do the right thing and let the idea of establishing a bypass go, Koster wrote.

Admit that the idea was a mistake, and accept responsibility for doing just that. In the present terms of 2020, when the economy has never been more fragile, we certainly cannot keep this chaotic proposal in the future plans for the business community of Bridgenorth, Koster said.
Cross border LoC trade to facilitate terror: NIA raids various locations

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Sep 23: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has conducted raids at multiple locations in Baramulla-Uri and Srinagar in connection with a case relating to Naveed Baba, a Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist.

The case in question relates to cross border trade under the garb of which money was being raised for terror-related activities. The case was registered on January 11, 2020, when Babu and Rafi Ahmed Rather were apprehended with now suspended DSP Devender Singh.

The probe revealed a deep-rooted conspiracy hatched by the Hizbul Mujahideen leadership in Pakistan and the ISI. An overground workers network was facilitating the supply of funds, arms and ammunition to the terror group in Jammu and Kashmir.

Defence/ISI case: NIA raids suspects home

Earlier the NIA investigators grilled self-styled commander of the banned Hizbul Mujahideen terror group Syed Naveed Mushtaq Ahmed alias Naveed Babu, who was caught with Singh, about the funding of the organisation and the way they had been in touch with their masters in Pakistan.

The agency has stumbled upon "evidence" of terror financing through cross-LoC trade during Naveed Babu's questioning, they said.

The NIA had registered a case against unknown people in connection with the trade across the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir in 2016 and carried out raids at trade facilitation centres in Salamabad in Kashmir's Baramulla district and Chakan-da-bagh in Poonch district of Jammu.

During its probe in the past four years, the NIA had been unable to find the final beneficiary of the money received from traders, the officials said, adding that after Naveed's questioning the agency had got a vital link.

The officials said that some more people were likely to be picked up for questioning in the case as the probe in the DySP's case has brought the four-year-old case to focus.

Recently LoC trade organisation president Tanveer Ahmed Wani was arrested by the NIA and was being questioned.

The cross-LoC trade, started in 2008 as a confidence building measure between India and Pakistan, was stopped in April last year by the Centre citing "funnelling of illegal weapons, narcotics and fake currency".

"The action has been taken after reports that the cross-LoC trade routes are being misused by Pakistan-based elements for funnelling illegal weapons, narcotics and fake currency, etc.," the government had said then.

The officials said that they did not rule out the possibility of arrested police officer Singh having knowledge about the funding pattern through trade as he had been associated with Naveed Babu for long.

Only Sushant took drugs, Rhea claims in latest plea | Oneindia News

Singh was arrested last month along with Naveed, Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Rafi Ahmed Rather and Irfan Shafi Mir, who claims to be an advocate. He is at present in judicial custody.

The officials said that if need be Singh and others could be summoned in connection with the LoC trade case as well.
The decision by the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain to normalize relations with Israel has prompted an internal political realignment in the Palestinian territories, especially in the West Bank.

The two gulf countries' decision to turn away from the Arab Peace Initiative has brought Hamas and Fatah closer than ever to each other, at least for now, and has increased the chances of general Palestinian elections. At the same time, it has increased tensions within the ruling Fatah movement. Supporters of exiled Fatah leader Mohammed Dahlan appears to be taking the brunt of the Fatah leadership's anger.

Dahlan has been living in the United Arab Emirates since 2011. His ambition of one day becoming the leader of the Palestinians has fed concerns of a coup.

When US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman was asked if Washington supports the replacement of President Mahmoud Abbas with Dahlan, the US official initially answered in the affirmative, but later insisted that he meant to say the opposite. The pro-Netanyahu newspaper Israel Hayom, which had published the initial statement, printed a retraction, but by then the damage to Dahlan and his supporters was done.

The turmoil has forced Dahlan and his supporters to come out of the shadows and declare themselves.

Dimitri Diliani, a Dahlan supporter in East Jerusalem, declared himself the spokesman of a reformist wing of Fatah. Dahlan himself addressed Friedman's words, insisting, Whoever is not elected by his people will not be able to lead and accomplish national independence. I  am convinced that Palestine desperately needs to renew the legitimacy of all Palestinian leaderships and institutions, and this will only be achieved through comprehensive and transparent national elections. No one has yet been born who can impose his will on us."

While many of Dahlans supporters are based in Gaza or East Jerusalem just outside the reach of Abbas security forces, some who live in the West Bank have been feeling pressure to choose between Dahlan and the central leadership. In some cases, Abbas security forces have arrested Dahlan supporters, including the Sept. 20 detention of four Dahlan supporters and a member of the Fatah Revolutionary Council, which acts as a sort of legislature for the movement and elects the powerful Central Committee. The full scope of the arrest campaign is unclear.

Jibril Rajoub, the secretary of the Fatah Central committee, heads a Fatah delegation that is carrying out negotiations in Istanbul between Fatah and Hamas to mend the split and pave the way for general elections.

From Turkey, Rajoub said that elections will take place based on proportionality, insisting that everyone will be allowed to participate. There will be no veto on any individual or faction, he said. It was unclear whether Rajoub was sending a message to Dahlan, his former deputy in the Preventative Security Service, or if it was a general statement encouraging all Palestinian to participate.

While the Fatah movement will find it difficult to win reelection, the possibility of a reconciliation with Dahlan and his supporters as well as an agreement with the imprisoned Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti would certainly improve the chances of victory for Fatah.

A recent poll conducted by the Palestinian Center for Studies and Research shows that Abbas would lose to Hamas Ismail Haniyeh in a head-to-head vote for presidency, while other Fatah leaders such as Rajoub or Barghouti would do much better. Dahlans chances of winning a presidential election are very low.

Not only do the Palestinians need to reformulate their goals and liberational strategy, they also need to prepare for a new era. The arrests of Dahlan supporters might be the last, desperate acts of a leader who knows he is not popular.

Abbas, 84, has repeatedly said he doesnt plan to run for president. If he does not, then the ruling Palestinian movement must get its house in order. Arrests and blocking of factions and activists run contrary to the democratic electoral process.

If an election date is indeed set, the most important component of the elections will be the internal struggles within the various Palestinian factions. The democratic or top-down choice of lists will prove to be as important as the general elections.
Politics The Daily Beast

Chip Somodevilla/Getty ImagesWeve been lulled into believing Donald Trump is made of Teflon. He was, after all, the guy who boasted that he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and not lose a vote.But Trumps luck began to run out in early 2021when he lost the White House, Air Force One, and his Twitter account inside a few weeks. His days of getting away with conduct that would sink anyone else appear to be over. He could even start losing so much that hell get sick of losing.Trump was met wi
Food insecurity is even more prevalent now due to the pandemic, so we were eager to step up with the other two Virginia Farm Credit Associations and contribute to the Farmers to Families Food Box Program, says Tom Truitt, CEO of MidAtlantic Farm Credit.

MidAtlantic Farm Credit, along with Colonial Farm Credit and Farm Credit of the Virginias, made a collaborative sponsorship totaling $50,000 to the Federation of Virginia Foods Banks to support their participation in the U.S. Department of Agricultures (USDA) Farmers to Families Food Box Program.

The Farmers to Families Food Box Program was established by the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) to support producers negatively impacted by the pandemic. More than 75 million food boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products and meat products have been distributed to food insecure families in the United States. The collaborative donation made by the three Virginia Farm Credit associations will fund the Federation of Virginia Food Banks transportation and cold storage expenses associated with the Farmers to Families Food Box Program.

Time and again our partners at Farm Credit have stepped up to the plate and supported our work in meaningful ways, says Eddie Oliver, Federation of Virginia Food Banks Executive Director. Partners like Farm Credit are essential to our work in the state. With their help and support, we are able to better ensure that Virginians have access to healthy meals year-round.

Food insecurity is even more prevalent now due to the pandemic, so we were eager to step up with the other two Virginia Farm Credit Associations and contribute to the Farmers to Families Food Box Program, says Tom Truitt, CEO of MidAtlantic Farm Credit. The Farm Credit System as a whole supports hunger relief efforts across the country by providing time, volunteers, and many other resources.

About MidAtlantic Farm Credit

MidAtlantic Farm Credit is an agricultural lending cooperative owned by its memberborrowers. It provides farm loans for land, equipment, livestock and production; crop insurance; and rural home mortgages. The co-op has over 11,900 members and over $2.8 billion in loans outstanding. MidAtlantic has branches serving Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. It is part of the national Farm Credit System, a network of financial cooperatives established in 1916 to provide a dependable source of credit to farmers and rural America.

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Nearly six decades after a Navy submarine plummeted to the bottom of the sea during a deep-dive test, families of those lost in the tragedy are finally getting a look at hundreds of documents about the accident the service has long kept under wraps.

The Navy on Wednesday released the first 300 pages of a court of inquiry on the catastrophic 1963 loss of the nuclear-powered submarine Thresher. The documents provide details into the Navy's worst undersea accident, which claimed the lives of 129 men onboard.

While Navy leaders say they're committed to being transparent with the families and the public about what caused the Thresher -- the first sub in its class -- to sink, it took a court order to reach this point.

Read Next: Marine' 1st-Ever Littoral Regiment Will Include Combat, Logistics and Anti-Air Personnel

Capt. Jim Bryant, a retired Navy submarine officer, sued his former service in 2019 to get it to release the full 1,700-page report on the Thresher accident. A federal judge ordered the Navy in February to begin releasing portions of that report monthly to the public.

"I think I'm doing the Navy a favor," Bryant told Military.com this week. "This is a significant historic event ... and the reactions were very sound. It's a really good story here for the Navy."

Rear Adm. Bill Houston, director of the Undersea Warfare Division at the Pentagon, told reporters Tuesday that Navy leaders don't believe the newly released Thresher documents "will shed any additional light on her loss." Still, he added, the Navy is committed to releasing additional portions of the report monthly, despite much of it remaining classified.

"This process requires coordination between many organizations, and takes time to be done correctly," Houston said. "But the Navy knows this is the right thing to do."

He declined to comment on Bryant's lawsuit prompting the documents' release.

The first batch of documents released this week includes witness and exhibits lists, findings of facts, opinions, recommendations and initial testimony. Families were notified in a letter sent last month from Vice Adm. Daryl Caudle, commander of Naval Submarine Forces, that the Navy was working to declassify the documents and make them public.

Joy MacMillan and her brother Tim Noonis lost their father, Walter "Jack" Noonis, to the Thresher accident. Both credited Bryant for the time he put into pushing the Navy to release the documents. The decision to do so "should have been automatic," MacMillan said.

"We would definitely want to know," she said. "We know it won't bring them back, but it does help to understand how something like that could have happened to our family."

MacMillan's mother, who passed away in 2016, had four children under the age of 10 when the Thresher sank.

"It was intense, but I think my mom did a fabulous job picking her boots up and marching forward, but I would never say that it was easy," MacMillan said. "I feel that it would've been an honor to all the moms to get this information."

Bryant said the families -- along with the rest of the public -- deserve access to the answers.

"Naval history is important," he said. "And when the technology is no longer of danger to national security -- well, I think we should know about it."

How Tragedy Led to Change

The Thresher had just completed a months-long overhaul period when -- on April 10, 1963 -- the sub began dive tests off the coast of Massachusetts.

It was accompanied by the submarine rescue ship Skylark, which received garbled communications about the Thresher experiencing minor difficulties.

The court of inquiry determined that the Thresher sank due to a piping failure that resulted in a loss of power and the inability to blow ballast tanks quickly enough to avoid sinking. Houston said this week that the Navy stands by those initial determinations.

Bryant wanted to know more, though, and was unsatisfied with the Navy's original decision to publicly release just 19 of the 1,700 pages of documents from the court of inquiry. It was only after a Freedom of Information Act request failed to shake loose the documents that he took the Navy to court.

The families and the public have a right to know more about the decisions that led up to the accident, he said. In 2018, Bryant wrote a piece for the U.S. Naval Institute's Proceedings magazine arguing that data showed the Thresher "very likely had already sunk below her 1,300-foot test depth limit when she reported minor difficulties."

"The result," he wrote, "was a hull collapse that could have been avoided with more testing and better planning."

Noonis, who said he's read everything he could find publicly on the Thresher, said he'd like the Navy to further analyze acoustical recordings of the Thresher accident that were picked up by the Navy's Sound Surveillance System, known as SOSUS.

Bryant described an analysis Navy Reserve Lt. Bruce Rule provided during 1963 testimony about what the SOSUS picked up on the Thresher's sinking. According to Bryant's April 2020 Proceedings article titled "USS Thresher (SSN-593) Disaster: Ten Questions Our FOIA Lawsuit Hopes to Answer," Rule's observations reject the Navy's assessment that there was major flooding on the sub before implosion.

While Noonis said he'd like to see the Navy take another look at that claim, he isn't holding out much hope -- especially since the service isn't releasing the documents by choice.

"They were forced to release it," he said. "I don't have a lot of faith in the government coming out and changing their conclusion. ... Bureaucracies aren't fond of finding fault with themselves."

People who study technology need access to any information available about major accidents to understand the decisions leading up to them, so they don't repeat the same mistakes, Bryant said this week.

Despite the battle over the documents, though, Bryant credits the Navy with taking important steps in the aftermath of the Thresher tragedy to help prevent other undersea mishaps. That's why he said he wants to see the service share any documents it has that can help others understand what went wrong.

Houston said the Thresher remains a defining event for the submarine service. Every new Navy submariner learns about the vessel.

"From day one, every new submariner checking onboard discusses the impact of Thresher to the submarine force, and the significant improvements that transpired as a result of her loss," he said.

The Navy's Submarine Safety program, known as SUBSAFE, was born out of the Thresher accident. SUBSAFE has "drastically improved quality control and assurance in the fabrication, construction and maintenance of submarines," Houston said.

"Since the program's inception, no SUBSAFE-certified submarines have been lost at sea," he said.

MacMillan said she's grateful the accident led to change, but said without the Navy releasing the full probe, no one can be certain all possible steps have been taken to prevent something similar from happening again.

"Was it the main coolant pump? Was it just a push too fast for a deeper dive in the Cold War?" she said. "It really does feel like it's been [more than enough] time to know what really occurred."

Now, as the Navy begins releasing never-before-seen documents on the accident that prompted those changes, Houston said the service must balance being transparent while still protecting information relating to national security.

Bryant said he and his attorney feel the Navy's plan to release about 300 pages connected to the Thresher probe every month is reasonable, but noted they'll be closely monitoring what is held back or redacted.

If the Navy refuses to declassify information they feel should be made public, Bryant said, "We're going to fight them over it."

MacMillan said she hopes the documents being released prove to the public that it's possible to take on powerful organizations that might be reluctant to release information. Bryant didn't have a stake in the Thresher accident, she said, but fought to do the right thing.

"If you work long and hard enough, you can get to the truth," she said. "... As a 6-year-old child kind of still frozen in that time period, I think it's high time that they come up with something."

-- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins.

Related: With Pending Release of USS Thresher Records, Some Families Hope for Answers
Political candidates in California can use up to three words on the ballot to describe their current or recent principal profession, vocation or occupation. When Alameda County voters elect a new Superior Court judge on Nov. 3, their choices, according to the ballot descriptions, will be Elena Condes, trial attorney, and Mark Fickes, civil rights attorney.

Fickes self-designation, approved by local elections officials, isnt far-fetched, but its open to debate: A former prosecutor, he now works at a law firm that handles a variety of civil litigation, including a number of discrimination cases hes tackled in the past few years. Several commentators say its an illustration of the need for voters to do their own research on candidates in low-profile races.

Its hard to tell voters who are so overwhelmed already, now you have to do a spreadsheet of your judicial candidates, said Jessica Levinson, a Loyola Law School professor in Los Angeles whose specialties include election issues. But thats where it leaves us.

Fickes, an Oakland resident and UC Hastings law school graduate, began his legal career as a Santa Clara County prosecutor in 1995, and later was on the legal staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Since 2014, he has been a partner in Cannata, OToole, Fickes and Olson, a small San Francisco law firm.

In the past few years, Fickes said in an interview, a substantial number of his clients have been employees, renters, small-property owners and others claiming discrimination under federal civil rights law because of their race, age, ethnicity, national origin or sexual orientation.

One client, Fickes said, claimed to have been targeted for unfounded disciplinary investigations at work for being nonwhite and gay. Another said she was fired because of her Asian-Pacific origin. Another client, a Laotian immigrant in Lake County, was initially accused of environmental pollution, but said his foes later stole his property, sold it and painted a swastika on a tree, Fickes said.

He was also one of the lawyers for Joanne Hoeper, a San Francisco deputy city attorney who was fired in 2014 after investigating questionable city payments to plumbing companies. A judge found that Hoeper had been a victim of retaliation and awarded her more than $5 million in damages and attorneys fees. Fickes said he considered it a civil rights case for whistle-blowers.

My practice is diverse, but civil rights cases represent the majority of what Ive done over the past several years, Fickes said. I stand 100% behind my ballot designation.

Such designations have been challenged in other elections  Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Tulare, successfully defended his self-description as a U.S. Representative/Farmer in 2018 on the grounds that he earned some income from farming, though he no longer owned a farm. And Rep. Gil Cisneros, D-Fullerton (Orange County), won election in 2018 after a lawsuit that forced Democratic rival Sam Jammal to drop his civil rights attorney ballot label because he had not handled rights cases for about a decade.

Condes, a criminal defense lawyer for 26 years, said she considered Fickes ballot label problematic but hadnt known much about his practice before the March primary election and couldnt have afforded the $20,000-plus it would have taken to mount a legal challenge. After she and Fickes ran first and second in the primary, she raised the issue with the county registrar but said she was told she had waited too long.

How he presents himself  before he signed up for the election, it wasnt as a civil rights attorney, Condes said.

Fickes, in return, noted that Condes had described herself only as a trial attorney and not as a criminal defense lawyer.

Fickes, a gay man, is endorsed by the California Democratic Party and a number of local elected officials, including Assemblyman Rob Bonta, D-Alameda. Condesis backed by retiring Judge Carol Brosnahan and 20 of her court colleagues, along with labor unions, four county supervisors, farm labor leader Dolores Huerta and civil rights attorneys Eva Paterson and Walter Riley.

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.

A dispute over ballot labels may not matter much in most political campaigns, where candidates generally have well-established records on the issues and take positions in public debates. But rules of ethics largely prohibit judicial candidates from taking public stances on controversial issues, and their campaigns are generally conducted in obscurity.

Its a problem with having elected judges, said attorney Michael Risher, who has handled civil rights cases and described himself as an open-government lawyer. The electorate is not likely to be well-informed about the particulars of their career, and its easy to manipulate.

Natasha Minsker, a San Francisco attorney and criminal justice advocate who supports Condes, said the average voter knows absolutely nothing about the judicial candidates. They frequently skip judicial candidates. If they do vote, theyre limited to what they read on the ballot.

Minsker, like Loyolas Levinson, said the solution, if there is one, depends on voters willingness to take a closer look.

The good news is, people are going to be filling out their ballots at home and they have time to do the research, Minsker said. Google every one of these candidates for judge. See whos supporting them. Even just reading the voter guide that has their candidate statements. Dont do the vote based on their name and what it says on the ballot.

Note: An earlier version of this article incorrectly said Elena Codes would be the first Latina on the court if elected.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko
Key indices traded with modest gains in mid-morning trade. IT, auto and realty shares advanced while PSU banks, metal and pharma stocks witnessed some bit of profit taking.

At 11:23 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was up 201.76 points or 0.53% at 37,935.84. The Nifty 50 index added 61.75 points or 0.55% at 11,215.40.

In the broader market, the S&P BSE Mid-Cap index rose 0.51% while the S&P BSE Small-Cap index gained 0.86%.

The market breadth was strong. On the BSE, 1389 shares rose and 842 shares fell. A total of 126 shares were unchanged.

Primary Market:

The initial public offer (IPO) of Computer Age Management Services (CAMS) received bids for 5.22 crore shares on Wednesday, 23 September 2020, as against 1.28 crore shares on offer, as per the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) website data at 11:15 IST. The issue was subscribed 4.07 times.

The issue opened for bidding on Monday, 21 September 2020 and will close today, 23 September 2020. The price band for the IPO is set at Rs 1229-1230 per share.

The initial public offer (IPO) of Chemcon Speciality Chemicals received bids for 11.12 crore shares on Wednesday, 23 September 2020, as against 65.59 lakh shares on offer, as per the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) website data at 11:15 IST. The issue was subscribed 16.96 times.

The issue opened for bidding on Monday, 21 September 2020 and will close today, 23 September 2020. The price band for the IPO is set at Rs 338-340 per share.

The initial public offer (IPO) of Angel Broking received bids for 1.25 crore shares on Wednesday, 23 September 2020, as against 1.37 crore shares on offer, as per the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) website data at 11:15 IST. The issue was subscribed 0.91 times.

The issue opened for bidding on Tuesday, 22 September 2020 and it will close on Thursday, 24 September 2020. The price band for the IPO is set at Rs 305-306 per share.

Buzzing Index:

The Nifty IT index rose 1.06%, extending gains for second day. The index has added 1.76% in two days.

Coforge (up 2.79%), Info Edge India (up 2.66%), Mphasis (up 2.36%), Infosys (up 2.26%), HCL Tech (up 1.94%), Wipro (up 1.62%) and Larsen & Toubro Infotech (up 1.60%) advanced.

Meanwhile, TCS (down 1.27%) and MindTree (down 0.98%) lagged behind.

Global Markets:

Asian markets mostly advanced on Wednesday as investors react to recent comments from Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell.

In a prepared testimony, the Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell reportedly said the central bank remains committed to supporting the economy through its tools for as long as it takes. He also noted that many economic indicators show marked improvement, though the path forward continues to be highly uncertain.

In Europe, U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced new restrictions that are likely to last six months and told people to work from home, if possible. The announcement comes after a surge in coronavirus cases in the country, with a further 4,368 daily cases reported on Monday.

The US stock market finished higher on Tuesday, 22 September 2020, with two of the three major averages snapping four days of losing streak, as the recent market pullbacks triggered a bargain buying opportunity for growth companies in the US. However, market gains capped as a likely delay in new fiscal stimulus by the United States Congress and concerns about faster economic recovery after an increase in the number of coronavirus cases.

Seven of the 11 major S&P 500 sector indexes closed higher, led by information technology and consumer discretionary. Shares of megacap technology stocks which have suffered brunt of declines in September all closed in positive territory on Tuesday. Microsoft Corp, Apple Inc, Alphabet Inc, and Facebook Inc all rose more than 1.6%. They had carried the brunt of recent declines.

US existing home sales jumped 2.4% to an annual rate of 6.000 million in August after skyrocketing by 24.7% to a rate of 5.860 million in July, according to a report released by the National Association of Realtors on Tuesday. With the sharp increase, existing home sales reached their highest level since December of 2006.

Chicago Federal Reserve Bank President Charles Evans, in remarks at a forum, reportedly warned that it's important for Congress to pass more spending or risk a downward economic spiral.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Welcome back to Tech Chronicle. Get your head out of the clouds and subscribe to this fine newsletter now.

Move fast and break ... glass?

Thats the approach Facebook is taking to the prospect of post-election chaos in the U.S., should disputes arise over the results as a huge number of mail-in ballots threatens to delay the revelation of a clear-cut victor in the presidential race.

The social network could move to dramatically reduce the spread of information, policy chief Nick Clegg told the Financial Times, deploying what he called break-glass options.

Tobias Schwarz / AFP / Getty Images 2019

Heres the problem I have with that: The glass is already broken, and were walking all over it. Facebook is acting like election chaos is the outcome of external forces its reacting to defensively, as opposed to something it has had a huge role in creating. If Facebook throws the kill switch on election night, or in the days after, it will be shutting down a swamp of polarization and misinformation that it fostered for years.

Why didnt Mark Zuckerberg & Co. reduce the spread of false claims, propaganda and dangerous rhetoric years ago?

Paul Kuroda / Special to The Chronicle

We could talk about how Facebook, hobbled by claims that its Bay Area workers were hopelessly biased against conservatives, failed to react as its feeds became overrun with damaging content, and then flailed from overreaction to overreaction, pleasing no one and accomplishing nothing. Or how Zuckerberg for too long outsourced these thorny policy issues to Sheryl Sandbergs side of the company, making them an inevitable sideline in an engineering-first culture.

But I think it really goes back far in Facebooks history, nearly to its founding. I recently discovered an interview with Randi Zuckerberg, Marks older sister and an early marketing employee at the company, in the Journal of International Affairs Fall/Winter 2010 issue. It makes for fascinating reading.

Virginia Mayo / Associated Press 2010

Social media is inherently democratic, she said. Offering free tools for expression across the globe has tremendous ramifications for democratization, she added, alluding to Egypts Arab Spring and antiterrorism demonstrations in Colombia.

I believe Facebooks ability to occupy the space of a free and unmoderated media and civil space will bring many more opportunities for meaningful democratic change.

The interview is heartbreakingly painful to read in retrospect. Randi Zuckerberg cites the work of a Canadian student who organized other Facebook users against state-sponsored violence in Myanmar. It would not take long before Facebook became a tool for Myanmars authoritarian leadership to foment more violence.

The waves of change Facebook sent out into the world have rippled back home. The companys youthful illusions have vanished. Any dreams Facebook had of being a free and unmoderated space, a force for positive change int he world, have evaporated against the reality of just how dangerous Zuckerbergs unruly creation has become.

 Owen Thomas, othomas@sfchronicle.com

Quote of the week

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

The extreme difficulty of scaling production of new technology is not well understood.  Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Twitter, discussing the challenges of producing enough batteries for his vehicles

Coming up

Amazon is expected to reveal new Alexa devices Thursday.

What Im reading

Clive Thompson on YouTubes battle against borderline videos. (Wired)

Gregory Thomas on how hotels are repurposing themselves as temporary offices and short-term getaways. (San Francisco Chronicle)

Biz Carson examines the persistent belief in Silicon Valley that IPOs leave money on the table. (Protocol)

Tech Chronicle is a weekly newsletter from Owen Thomas, The Chronicles business editor, and the rest of the tech team. Follow along on Twitter: @techchronicle and Instagram: @techchronicle
U.S. News & World Report looked at more than 24,000 public high schools across the nation and ranked nearly 18,000 of them. Seven Lakes High School led the way in Katy Independent School District.

Rankings were based on six factors. College readiness taken from the proportion of high school seniors that completed and passed an Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) exam accounted for 30 percent. Math and reading proficiency accounted for 20 percent. For another 20 percent, math and reading performance on state assessments was compared with U.S. News expectations when looking at the percent of students that are Black, Hispanic and come from low-income households.

Long history: Creech Elementary a second home for Katy family with six children

Another factor for 10 percent looked at the performance of underserved students (Black, Hispanic and from low-income households) on state tests as compared with scores typical for students that are not underserved. For 10 percent, the study evaluated college curriculum breadth, or the proportion of seniors that passed AP and IB exams in more than one area. Finally, 10 percent of the rankings came from the proportion of ninth graders that graduated four years later.

Here are the Katy ISD high schools ranked:

1. Seven Lakes High School

Seven Lakes High School ranked 68th among Texas high schools and 20th in the greater Houston area, with a 98 percent graduation rate. With an overall score of 97.48 out of 100, it had an enrollment of 3,526 students and an 18-to-one student-to-teacher ratio. Sixty-two percent of the seniors took at least one AP exam, and of those, 58 percent passed at least one exam. On state assessments, students had a mathematics proficiency of 97 percent and a reading proficiency of 93 percent. For demographics, the schools student population was 39 percent white, 27 percent Asian, 24 percent Hispanic, 7 percent Black and 3 percent two or more races. Ten percent of the students are economically disadvantaged.

Free food for students: Katy ISD to distribute free meals for virtual learners, area children

2. Tompkins High School

With a graduation rate of 98 percent, Tompkins High School received an overall score of 96.7. It ranked 81st among Texas schools and 26th among Houston-area schools. It had 3,375 students and a 19-to-one student-to-teacher ratio. Sixty-six percent of Tompkins seniors took an AP exam, of which 59 percent passed at least one exam. Students showed a 93 percent proficiency in both mathematics and reading on state assessments. Demographically, Tompkins student body was 44 percent white, 24 percent Hispanic, 20 percent Asian, 8 percent Black and 3 percent two or more races. Seven percent of the students are economically disadvantaged.

3. Cinco Ranch High School

With an overall score of 95.13, Cinco Ranch High School ranks 105th among Texas schools and 29th among Houston-area schools. Its graduation rate was 98 percent. The school had 3,144 students and an 18-to-one student-to-teacher ratio. Fifty-three percent of its seniors took at least one AP exam, and 47 percent of those passed at least one. Cinco Ranch students showed 95 percent proficiency in mathematics and 89 percent in reading on state assessments. For demographics, the schools students are 46 percent white, 25 percent Hispanic, 17 percent Asian, 8 percent Black and 4 percent two or more races. Of its students, 24 percent are economically disadvantaged.

Children with cancer: Film available on YouTube shines light on childhood cancer

4. Taylor High School

With a graduation rate of 96 percent, Taylor High School received an overall score of 91.9, ranking at 149th among Texas schools and 46th among Houston-area schools. Taylor had 2,940 students and a 17-to-one student-to-teacher ratio. Of its seniors, 49 percent took at least one AP exam, and of those, 41 percent passed at least one exam. On state assessments, its students showed a 91 percent proficiency in mathematics and 84 percent in reading. Demographically, the student body is 47 percent white, 25 percent Hispanic, 16 percent Asian, 8 percent Black and 3 percent two or more races. Twenty-three percent of Taylor students are economically disadvantaged.

5. Mayde Creek High School

Mayde Creek High School received an overall score of 85.24 and had a graduation rate of 91 percent. With 2,705 students, it ranked 236th among Texas high schools and 68th among Houston-area schools. Mayde Creek had a 16-to-one student-to-teacher ratio. Of its seniors, 40 percent took at least one AP exam, and 28 percent of them passed at least one. Its students showed a 92 percent mathematics proficiency and 72 percent reading proficiency on state assessments. In demographics, the Mayde Creek student body was 57 percent Hispanic, 18 percent black, 17 percent white, 7 percent Asian, 2 percent two or more races and 1 percent American Indian/Alaskan Native. Sixty-one percent of its students are economically disadvantaged.

COVID-19: Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital discusses COVID-19 in virtual town hall

6. Katy High School

With a graduation rate of 96 percent and an overall score of 84.89, Katy High School ranked 241st among Texas high schools and 71st among Houston-area schools. The high school has 3,401 students and a 17-to-one student-to-teacher ratio. From its seniors, 39 percent took at least one AP exam, of which 30 percent passed at least one. On state assessments, students performed at an 86 percent proficiency in mathematics and a 79 percent proficiency in reading. Demographically, its students were 48 percent white, 35 percent Hispanic, 9 percent Black, 4 percent Asian and 3 percent two or more races. Thirty percent of its students are economically disadvantaged.

7. Morton Ranch High School

Morton Ranch High School has 3,081 students and ranked 382nd among Texas high schools and 96th in the greater Houston area. It earned an overall score of 74.22 with a graduation rate of 93 percent. The school has a 16-to-one student-to-teacher ratio. Thirty-nine percent of its seniors took at least one AP exam, and from those, 28 percent passed at least one. On state assessments, students showed an 83 percent proficiency in mathematics and a 64 percent proficiency in reading. On demographics, the student body was 54 percent Hispanic, 19 percent Black, 18 percent white, 6 percent Asian and 2 percent two or more races. Fifty-eight percent of its students are economically disadvantaged.

Growth despite COVID-19: University of Houston-Victoria sees growth in enrollment even amid pandemic

8. Raines High School

With 218 students and a graduation rate of 67 percent, Raines High School received an overall score of less than 25. Ranked 1,206th among Texas high schools and 181st among Houston-area schools, Raines has a 10-to-one student-to-teacher ratio. Five percent of its seniors take at least one AP exam, and of those, 100 percent passed at least one exam. On states assessments, students performed at a 50 percent mathematics proficiency and 26 percent reading proficiency. Demographically, the student body was 49 percent Hispanic, 34 percent white, 15 percent Black and 1 percent two or more races. Fifty-three percent of Raines students are economically disadvantaged.

Raines provides an alternative pathway toward graduation where students can work to recover lost credits and earn new ones. Students learn at an accelerated pace as they get ready for state testing.

Unranked: Opport Awareness Center

With 62 students, Opport Awareness Center had a three-to-one student-to-teacher ratio. Thirteen percent of its seniors took at least one AP exam, and of those, 100 percent passed at least one exam. Demographically, the students were 40 percent Hispanic, 28 percent Black, 26 percent white, 4 percent two or more races and 3 percent American Indian/Alaskan Native. Fifty-six percent of its students are economically disadvantaged.

Unranked: Paetow High School

Paetow High School had a total enrollment of 725 students and an 11-to-one student-to-teacher ratio. In demographics, its student body was 49 percent Hispanic, 22 percent Black, 21 percent white, 6 percent Asian and 1 percent two or more races. Forty-nine percent of Paetows students are economically disadvantaged.

tracy.maness@hcnonline.com
Cracks have emerged in Pakistans newly formed opposition alliance over Gilgit Baltistan, with PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz Sharif saying the issue of giving provincial status to the disputed region should have been discussed in parliament and not at the GHQ, the military headquarters.

They (leaders of the Pakistan Democratic Movement) were called (to the GHQ) on the issue of Gilgit Baltistan. This is a political issue that should be settled by the people's representatives.... These issues should be decided in the parliament, not in the GHQ, she told media on Wednesday.

Her comments came a day after Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa and Inter-Services Intelligence director general Lt Gen Faiz Hameed discussed the prospects of giving GB the status of a province in a meeting with the opposition alliance leaders.

Leader of the opposition in parliament Shehbaz Sharif, who is Maryam Nawazs uncle, along with his party colleagues Khawaja Asif and Ahsan Iqbal, attended the meeting on behalf of the PML-N while the PPP was represented by party chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and senator Sherry Rehman.

She also pointed out that no representative of her father, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, met the army chief. This statement is seen as an attack on Shahbaz Sharif, who is also the president of the PML-N party.

Shehbaz Sharif confirmed the meeting with the military leadership ahead of the opposition parties all parties conference but made no further comments.

Reacting to Maryam Nawazs statement, railways minister Sheikh Rasheed said that the PML-N leadership held two, not one, meetings in the last two months with the military leadership, adding a rift had emerged between Maryam Nawaz and Shahbaz Sharif over the leadership of the PML-N party.
Senior Andrews government ministers have admitted they had little or no knowledge of key decisions about the ill-fated hotel quarantine program until after they were made  and in some cases their departments did not brief them on developments.

The head of the Health Department, Kym Peake, told the inquiry into the program on Wednesday that she had not briefed her minister, Jenny Mikakos, on safety concerns with the program, even after a suspected suicide and a delay in transferring a COVID-19 positive quarantine detainee to intensive care.

Lisa Neville taking an oath on the Bible before giving evidence at the hotel quarantine inquiry.

And Police Minister Lisa Neville gave evidence that she was "pretty cranky" after her bureaucrats failed to inform her about a proposal in June to replace security guards in the program with 850 Australian Defence Force troops. She said she had read the news on the front page of the newspaper.

Jobs Minister Martin Pakula, whose department set up the quarantine program in its first few days, said he was not briefed that private security would be hired and was not consulted before the contracts with security companies were signed. He was only told that his department had been displaced by the Health Department as the agency in charge of the ill-fated program after the decision was made.
Guinean President Alpha Conde has urged his base to rally behind him in next month's election, where he is controversially seeking a third term, referring to a "war" between his government and the embattled opposition.

Voters go to the polls on October 18, where 11 candidates are contesting Conde's leadership of the West African state.

The 82-year-old president is also running after pushing through a constitutional referendum this year which reset the two-term presidential limit to zero.

In a speech broadcast Tuesday evening, Conde warned that "this election is not just an election, it's as if we were at war".

"The other candidates have formed a bloc to fight me," he said in the Malinke language, referring to an agreement between opposition candidates to highlight credibility issues in the election.

Conde normally speaks French during official national addresses.

The speech comes amid suspicions about the credibility of Guinea's electoral roll, which opposition figures have suggested includes an inflated number of registered voters in Conde strongholds in the east.

It also comes after the president made an apparent appeal for ethnic support, in a similar campaign speech broadcast on Saturday.

He warned voters not to back an opposition Malinke candidate, for example, arguing that this would amount to a vote for Cellou Dalein Diallo, from the leading opposition party UFDG.

Guinea's politics are mostly drawn along ethnic lines. President Conde's party is largely backed by Malinke people, and the UFDG by Fulani people, although both insist that they are pluralist.

"You haven't forgotten what happened after the death of Sekou Toure," Conde said on Saturday, referring to instability following the death of Guinea's first president in 1984, when looters targeted Malinke homes.

'Fuelling divisions'

Conde became Guinea's first democratically-elected president in 2010, and won re-election five years later.

Despite initial hopes of a new political dawn in the country, rights groups have accused the octogenarian leader of drifting authoritarianism.

For example, an anti-Conde coalition called the National Front for the Defence of the Constitution (FNDC) argued that the plan for a new constitution was a Trojan horse to allow Conde to stay in power.

The FNDC led rolling protests against that possibility from October last year, but security forces cracked down and several dozen people were killed in the following months.

Conde won the March 22 referendum -- which had been delayed weeks earlier after observers found 2.5 million unverifiable voter names on the electoral roll -- with 91.59 percent of the vote, according to the official results.

At least 10 people were killed during unrest on polling day, according to the FNDC.

On Tuesday, FNDC lawyers warned the International Criminal Court in a letter that Conde's recent statements on Malinke candidates risked unleashing ethnic violence in the polarised country.

"These statements reflect Mr Alpha Conde's desire to shift the debate to the ethnic arena with the risk of fuelling divisions within the population," the letter said.

"These factors make us seriously fear new electoral violence with an ethnic flavour," it added.
The job security of Oregons top government transparency official is in question this week, after journalists raised concerns that Becky Chiao, who is serving as Oregons public records advocate but has yet to be confirmed to the role, vehemently opposed a plan to make her office independent from the governor in writing and public comments last week.

Chiao, a former city of Portland risk management analyst whom Gov. Kate Brown appointed to the advocate post in July, was scheduled for a confirmation vote at a Senate committee meeting Monday afternoon.
The streets of Mumbai were waterlogged and local train services cancelled as the city witnessed heavy rains between Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning, in what was its second-highest September rainfall in 26 years.

Waterlogging at Kings Circle (Photo by Vijayanand Gupta)

Between Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning, the Maximum City received 273.6 mm rain. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the citys civic body, has asked residents of the city to not venture out unless absolutely necessary.

Waterlogging at Kings Circle (Photo by Vijayanand Gupta)

Due to the rains, Central Railways and Western Railways have both suspended services , while the Harbour line has also been affected. Services between Andheri and Virar, however, are operational.

Waterlogging at Kings Circle (Photo by Vijayanand Gupta)

Before this downpour, the heaviest rainfall for Mumbai suburbs was recorded between August 3 and 4 at 268.6 mm. For south Mumbai, however, the heaviest spell was between August 5 and 6, at 331.2 mm.

Waterlogging at Kings Circle (Photo by Vijayanand Gupta)

For the rest of the day, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy rains across isolated areas in the city. Mumbai witnesses some of its heaviest rains in the months of July, August and September.
NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The United States Mint is honoring Gerber Technology's dedication to innovation by featuring the Gerber Variable Scale on the American Innovation Coin for Connecticut. The American Innovation $1 Coin Program is a multi-year series to honor innovation and inventors from each state and U.S territory. The company's innovative heritage is thanks to their founder, Joseph Gerber, who invented the Gerber Variable Scale in 1945 while a student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. During his lifetime, Gerber was driven by his passion for innovation, holding over 600 patents and his inventions transformed manufacturing. Today, the company continues to build on the spirit of innovation by partnering with their customers to drive change across the manufacturing sector. As digital transformation becomes critical in the new world, Gerber is committed to being the partner their customers can trust to continue to be successful.

"When you look at Gerber Technology and the many industries we serve, nobody has had a greater and broader impact than Joe Gerber in automation," said Leonard Marano, Chief Commercial Officer of Gerber Technology. "Gerber's 72-year history in Connecticut began with the Gerber Variable Scale. It is a great symbol of ingenuity and set the foundation for Joe's innovations in computable plotting, graphic printing and flexible material manufacturing."

On September 18th, Gerber Technology was honored by government officials during a celebration at MBI Inc, the company who is responsible for marketing and distributing the Connecticut American Innovation Coin. During the event, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont highlighted Joe Gerber's dedication to innovation and lauded the company's recent efforts and commitment to helping people develop personal protective equipment (PPE) by saying, "that's what innovation is all about."

The American Innovation Coin was made possible by Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04) and U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) who introduced the American Innovation $1 Coin Act to the House of Representatives and the Senate, respectively.

"It's a really great way for us to highlight our country, highlight our state, highlight a couple of great businesses here in the state of Connecticut," said Senator Murphy. "It's a triumphant day for Connecticut and Connecticut's innovation."

Before the graphing calculator, there was the Gerber Variable Scale which allowed scientists and engineers to quickly and easily understand and solve problems of scale. Just a few short years after he and his mother escaped Nazi-controlled Austria, Gerber developed the first version of the variable scale using an elastic band from a pair of pajamas. By the 1950s, the Gerber Variable scale was a major success and a universally accepted tool for engineers and architects worldwide.

"I think it's really important that we remember and celebrate the folks who make this country happen. You heard loud and clear that Connecticut has been one of the innovation capitals in America for many, many years," said Lamont. "We have a lot more Joe Gerbers in different spheres and industries, helping Connecticut to be a continued leader of innovation. Our best days are ahead of us and that's what this coin represents."

About Gerber Technology

Gerber Technology delivers industry-leading software and automation solutions that help apparel and industrial customers improve their manufacturing and design processes and more effectively manage and connect the supply chain, from product development and production to retail and the end customer. With customers in 134 countries, Gerber Technology has a global team of passionate experts to support companies in apparel and accessories, personal protective equipment, home and leisure, transportation, packaging and sign and graphics industries.

Based in Connecticut in the USA, Gerber Technology is owned by AIP, a New York-based, global private equity firm specializing in the technology sector and has more than $3.0 billion assets under management. The company develops and manufactures its products from various locations in the United States and Canada and has additional manufacturing capabilities in China. Visit www.gerbertechnology.com and www.gerbersoftware.com for more information.

Contact: Ketty Pillet

Tel: +1 860-896-6036

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Gerber Technology

Related Links

http://www.gerbertechnology.com


Regional and political disputes were the cause of this war. According to AFP reports, five years earlier, in March 1975, a deal signed in Algiers between the Shah of Iran and Saddam Hussein - then Iraq's vice president - had tried to settle the argument. The Algiers accord ruled that their border ran along the centre of the Shatt al-Arab, a 200-kilometre (125 mile) long river formed by the meeting of the Tigris and the Euphrates, that flows into the Gulf. But in April 1980, Baghdad accused Tehran - after the 1979 toppling of the Shah - of plotting attacks. Iraq called for the evacuation of three strategic islands in the Strait of Hormuz, claimed by both Iran and the United Arab Emirates. On September 17, Baghdad said the Algiers accord was null and void. It demanded all of the Shatt al-Arab. On September 22, Saddam Hussein sent soldiers into Iran. His air force bombed airports including that of Iran's capital Tehran as well as military targets, and oil industry infrastructure.
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A recent market study published by the company  'Oral Antiseptics Market: Global Industry Analysis 2013-2017 and Opportunity Assessment 2018-2028', consists of an inclusive assessment of the most important market aspects to understand oral antiseptics. A direct market overview provides the growth scenarios and market potential with maximum precision adjudged with suitable assumptions. The report features unique and relevant factors that may have a huge impact on the development of the Oral Antiseptics market during the forecast period. This report includes a detailed and considerable amount of inclusion, which would help emerging manufacturers with the most comprehensive way for better understanding

For more insights into the Market, request a sample of this report@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-8871

Chapter 1  Executive Summary

The report commences with the executive summary of the Oral Antiseptics market report, which includes a summary of the key findings and key statistics of the market. It also includes the market value (US$ million) for leading segments in the oral antiseptics market with current demand and supply side trends.

Chapter 2  Market Overview

Readers can find a detailed market structure and definition for Oral Antiseptics in this chapter, which helps in understanding the basic information about the Oral Antiseptics market. The definition section considers the factors included and excluded for the purpose of this report.

Chapter 3  Key Success Factors

Key pointers such as Epidemiology (By Region), Parent Market Analysis, Product Adoption vs. Effectiveness are included in this oral antiseptics market report section

Chapter 4  Global Oral Antiseptics Market Analysis 2013-2017 and Opportunity Assessment 2018-2028

This section highlights the overall global market value (US$ Mn) forecast and analysis of the Oral Antiseptics market, with detailed incremental opportunity and absolute opportunity.

Chapter 5  Market Background

Readers can find the outlook of the global Oral Antiseptics market, considering various factors associated with the growth, which would help in tracking the markets current scenario, with key inferences drawn from historical data, current trends, and future prospects. Macro-economic factors influencing the market are also discussed in this segment. A brief understanding of the global healthcare sector is also provided in this section. This chapter highlights the key market dynamics, including drivers, restraints, opportunities, and trends.

Chapter 6  Global Oral Antiseptics Market Analysis 2013-2017 and Opportunity Assessment 2018-2028, by Product Type

Based on product type market analysis, the Oral Antiseptics market is segmented into Cetylpyridinium Chloride Based, Chlorhexidine Gluconate Based, Herbal and Essential Oils

Chapter 7  Global Oral Antiseptics Market Analysis 2013-2017 and Opportunity Assessment 2018-2028, by Distribution Channel

Based on distribution channel, the Oral Antiseptics market is segmented into Supermarket/Hypermarket, Drug Store, Retail Pharmacy and E-commerce

Chapter 8  Global Oral Antiseptics Market Analysis 2013-2017 and Opportunity Assessment 2018-2028, by Region

This section highlights Oral Antiseptics in the overall global market by value (US$ Mn) forecast and analysis, by region. It includes North America, Latin America, Europe, East Asia, South Asia, MEA and Oceania

Chapter 9  North America Oral Antiseptics Market Analysis 2013-2017 and Opportunity Assessment 2018-2028

This chapter includes detailed analysis of the growth of the North America Oral Antiseptics market, along with a country-wise assessment of the U.S. and Canada. Readers can also find historical trends and market attractiveness based on product type, distribution channel, and country in the North American region.

Chapter 10  Latin America Oral Antiseptics Market Analysis 2013-2017 and Opportunity Assessment 2018-2028

This chapter includes detailed analysis of the growth of the Latin America Oral Antiseptics market, along with a country-wise assessment, including Brazil and Mexico. Market attractiveness based on various segments is provided for the Latin American region.

Chapter 11  Europe Oral Antiseptics Market Analysis 2013-2017 and Opportunity Assessment 2018-2028

Important growth prospects of the Oral Antiseptics market can be found with market attractiveness based on product type and distribution channel. European countries such as Germany, Russia, Benelux, France, Italy, Spain, and the U.K. are included in this chapter for industry analysis.

Chapter 12  South Asia Oral Antiseptics Market Analysis 2013-2017 and Opportunity Assessment 2018-2028

This chapter includes detailed analysis of the growth of the South Asia Oral Antiseptics market, along with a country-wise assessment, including India, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia.

Chapter 13  East Asia Oral Antiseptics Market Analysis 2013-2017 and Opportunity Assessment 2018-2028

China, Japan and South Korea are covered in the East Asia region that are assessed to obtain the growth prospects of the Oral Antiseptics market in this chapter. Readers can find thorough information about the growth parameters. Market attractiveness based on product type and distribution channel for Oral Antiseptics in the East Asia region is also provided in this section.

Chapter 14  Oceania Oral Antiseptics Market Analysis 2013-2017 and Opportunity Assessment 2018-2028

This chapter includes detailed analysis of the growth of the Oceania Oral Antiseptics market. Market attractiveness based on product type, country and distribution channel is present for this region

Chapter 15  MEA Oral Antiseptics Market Analysis 2013-2017 and Opportunity Assessment 2018-2028

This chapter provides information on how the Oral Antiseptics market will grow in major countries of the MEA region, such as GCC Countries and South Africa, during the period 2018-2028.

Chapter 16  Emerging Countries Oral Antiseptics Market Analysis 2013-2017 and Opportunity Assessment 2018-2028

This chapter provides information on how the Oral Antiseptics market is behaving in three emerging countries. Countries mapped in this report includes India, Brazil and Australia. A brief understanding with market value in US$ Mn is provided in this section. A Market Value Proportion Analysis, By Key Countries and globe is present in this section with each countrys separate market attractiveness index, during the period 2018-2028

For Information On The Research Approach Used In The Report, Request Methodology@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-8871

Chapter 17  Competitive Assessment

This section provides company market share analysis for the period. It is done for some of the leading companies present in the oral antiseptics market. This chapter includes a comprehensive list of all the leading manufacturers in the Oral Antiseptics market, along with detailed information about each company, including company overview, revenue share, strategic overview, and recent company developments. Market players featured in the report include Revive Personal Products Company, Procter & Gamble, 3M, Dentsply Sirona, Colgate-Palmolive, Johnson & Johnson, Dentaid SL, ICPA Health Products Ltd, Cipla Inc. and Church & Dwight Co., Inc.

Chapter 18  Assumptions and Acronyms Used

This section consists of a glossary of the assumptions and acronyms used in the Oral Antiseptics market report.

Chapter 19  Research Methodology

This chapter helps readers understand the research methodology that is followed to obtain various conclusions, important qualitative information, and quantitative information about the Oral Antiseptics market.
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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Michael K. Chen Architecture (MKCA) has completed the interior architecture and design of a 600-square-foot luxury apartment aboard a residential yacht...

Architect : Michael K. Chen Architecture (MKCA)

Year : 2019

Project Architect : Michael K. Chen

Project Team : Michael Chen & Braden Caldwell

Total square footage : 600 sf

Photography : Alan Tansey

From the architect: Drawing on Le Corbusiers interest in streamlined, mid-20th century steamship design and MKCAs own expertise in creating compact, multifunctional spaces in contemporary urban environments, the apartment is simultaneously adaptable, efficient, and strikingly elegant.

Playfully dubbed by MKCA as a pied-a-mer, the residence serves as a holiday home for a couple and their grown children, transforming seamlessly from a spacious one-bedroom to a two-bedroom apartment through tables and beds that fold away and unfurl as necessary.

As a jumping off point for the project, MKCA looked to modernist architectures fascination with nautical design, which optimized for small-scale living, modular organization, and efficiency. In particular, Le Corbusiers belief that a home should be regarded as a machine for living, as well as his fascination with cruise ships as models for self-sufficient, utopian apartment complexes, like his famed 1952 Unite D'Habitation, offered inspiration, as did Gio Pontis work on cruise ships and ocean liners, and Eileen Grays villa E-1027 in the South of France for its embrace of earthy materials contrasting against smooth, planar surfaces of the building.

The convertible layout of the apartment pulls from these concepts, enhanced by what Chen describes as a streamlining and smoothening of its functional dimensions. Movement, and the unfolding and concealing of different functional zones, is carefully choreographed. By elongating the path of circulation, the space appears to expand and compress as one moves around, ultimately appearing, and feeling, more spacious.

Upon entering the apartment, one moves from a bright foyer towards a broad wall of oceanfacing glass, flanked by two separate ribbed aluminum pod-like volumes, each containing private bath and storage areas. The volumes organize the space and create paths for circumnavigation and movement between and around them, where living spaces are tucked, allowing for peeking around corners. Despite the small footprint, private zones, such as the master bath and dressing room, still feel remote from the entry and living spaces, and there is an experience of moving down long corridors and peeking around corners.

Within the 600-square-foot space, MKCA has included two bedrooms, two baths, a kitchen, a dressing room, a sitting area, a trunk room, and a landing zone. When needed, the dining area converts easily into the second bedroom, with the dining table collapsing into the wall to make way for a sleek cantilevered fold-up bed. When converted into a two-bedroom space, a sliding screen divides the apartment, allowing privacy for guests. All custom architectural elements were largely prefabricated in the shop of yacht builders outside of Vienna, and installed during a five week dry-dock period in Spain.

Concepts of motion and multi-functionalism underpin all aspects of the residences organization and aesthetic. In addition to disappearing tables and beds, MKCA has incorporated hidden lighting and integrated appliances that can be boldly revealed or neatly tucked away. The modernist embrace of industrial materials like chromed tubular steel was the inspiration for the extruded, continuous aluminum ribs that help conceal panel divisions, doors, and appliances, and also accentuate a sensation of height in the relatively low, 8-foot tall space.

Unlike a modernist villa on land that references the streamlined forms and surfaces of a ship, here the ship itself is always present. The aesthetic and conceptual presence of the machine exists in the form of the hard industrial materials against the counterpoint of softer finishes and furniture, as well as in the actual engineering of custom mechanisms.

Finishes across the apartment are either impervious or designed to patina over time. This dichotomy extends to the furniture selection, whose surfaces are highly tactile, shifting from polished metals and stones to more plush materials such as mohair, velvet, and suede, and serve as sculptural elements within the space.

Rounded forms, tough but elegant materials, translucency, reflectivity, and tactility were important to us says Michael K. Chen. We wanted the furnishings to make it clear that you are on a seafaring vessel, but primarily through materiality and subtle details - soft forms, crisp edges, and a balancing of heft and lightness.

Contemporary pieces were mixed with several vintage items, in largely natural materials and rich, warm colors, as a counterpoint to the cool blue and grey, slightly machine aesthetic of the custom-fabricated elements. For example, the Vuelta sofa by Jaime Hayon through Avenue Road is custom-upholstered in high performance velvet by Holland and Sherry, and juxtaposed with vintage saddle leather and stainless steel lounge chairs by Pierre Thielen, sourced from dealers in Holland. The ships furnishings were specified in the spirit of collaboration, whether sourced from independent designers, commissioned or customized specifically for the project, or custom-designed by MKCA.

Motion, and a sense of spaciousness, are further encouraged through light and reflection. The aluminum ribbing along the central volumes facilitates the play of natural and artificial light across the lacquered surfaces, while LED cove lighting embedded into the top of the ribbed surfaces gives the impression that the capsules are floatingtheir edges luminous. The apartments continuous glass wall, which leads to the private terrace and view beyond, allows for vast horizons to shapeshift from sea to land and from day to night.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Park Avenue Prewar Apartment by Michael K. Chen Architecture
WASHINGTON  Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, forcefully pushed back on assertions about COVID-19 made by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., during a Wednesday hearing, telling the senator he misconstrued the facts and had "done that repeatedly in the past."

During a hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, Paul asked Fauci if he had "second thoughts about your mitigation recommendations." Paul made several claims about herd immunity, Sweden's attempts to fight the pandemic, Asian countries having greater resilience against COVID-19, and virus death rates.

Fauci declined to engage with the senator on his terms.

"You know senator, I'd be happy at a different time to sit down and go over detail. You've said a lot of different things. You've compared us to Sweden and there are a lot of differences....compare Sweden to other Scandanavian countries. It's worse. So I don't think it's appropriate to compare Sweden with us."

The current U.S. case-fatality rate, or the deaths as a percentage of total cases, is 2.9% according to Johns Hopkins University coronavirus tracker. Sweden's is 6.6%. Some conservatives who opposed virus mitigation measures in the United States hailed Sweden's virus strategy, which did not shut down much of the country's economy but led to spiking death rates from the pandemic.

Fauci said he and his colleagues had made their earlier decisions and recommendations based on the data available at the time, but he and his colleagues would make new recommendations as new data arrived.

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 23: Anthony Fauci, director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at NIH, testifies at a Senate Health, Education, and Labor and Pensions Committee on Capitol Hill, on September 23, 2020 in Washington, DC.

"I don't regret saying that the only way we could have stopped the explosion of infection was by essentially, I want to say shutting down, I mean essentially having the physical separation and the kinds of recommendations that we've made," he said.

Dr. Anthony Fauci to Senator @RandPaul: "I challenge that Senator...Please sir, I would like to be able to do this, because this happens with Senator Rand all the time. You are not listening to what the Director of the CDC said." pic.twitter.com/plfzNH2iLO  CSPAN (@cspan) September 23, 2020

Paul asked Fauci another question about his praise for New York's efforts to contain the pandemic, but Fauci batted away the question.

Story continues

"No, no, you misconstrue that, Senator, and you've done that repeatedly in the past. They got hit very badly, they made some mistakes," he said.

"The things that are going on in New York to get their test positivity 1% or less is because" they followed the coronavirus task force's recommendations about hand-washing, mask-wearing, social distancing, and outdoor activities, Fauci said.

More: Time 100: Anthony Fauci, Donald Trump, Megan Thee Stallion, Michael B. Jordan make list for 2020

Paul said New York City had achieved a high enough infection rate that the city could achieve herd immunity and mitigate the pandemic, but Fauci said Paul was not listening to the experts.

"Please sir, I would like to be able to do this, because this happens with Sen. Rand (sic) all the time," Fauci said as committee chairman Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., tried to move proceedings on. "You are not listening to what the director of the CDC said, that in New York it's about 22%. If you believe 22% is herd immunity, I believe you're alone in that."

Paul, for his part, seemed to take the exchange as a victory, posting a video on Twitter and saying he took Fauci "to task."

Following the hearing, Paul told reporters on Capitol Hill, "Theres a possibility that virtually everything hes recommended hasnt worked."

It's not the first time Fauci and Paul have sparred on the Hill. The last time Fauci came before the panel, in May of this year, Paul lambasted the expert, telling him, "I don't think you're the end-all" in another testy exchange.

More: 'I don't think you're the end-all': Rand Paul slams Anthony Fauci at Senate hearing

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coronavirus: Fauci pushes back against Rand Paul at COVID-19 hearing
While Vietnam offers human resources, Singaporean partner companies bring technology and knowhow to the table, photo: Le Toan

While numerous countries are engrossed in the fight against COVID-19, resuming international flight routes and opening the market is good news for not only the country but also overseas investors. The Vietnam-Singapore online investment promotion conference themed Leveraging on Vietnam for your investments last week, which was joined by 500 representatives from the Lion Island, indicates how hot Vietnam is.

Douglas Foo, president of the Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF) and co-chairman of the Vietnam-Singapore Business Council confirmed, Thousands of Singaporean manufacturers are interested in Vietnam, which is an ideal destination to invest in manufacturing, particularly in smart cities, energy, and new areas involving Industry 4.0 and startups.

The SMF champions the Singaporean manufacturing sector. With over 3,000 corporate members ranging from multinational corporations to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), such as Absotech, Daishin Engineering, Equiptest Engineering, Flexspeed Technology, and Hydratech Industries, the federation, which has successfully carried out a myriad of mutually beneficial investment and trade promotion activities with regional countries, will bring billion-dollar investment projects to Vietnam in the time coming.

Taking note of the free trade agreements that Vietnam has signed with partners, as well as the agreements that both countries are party to, Foo highlighted the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership as a powerful driver of cooperation.

He said the agreement will enable tariff eliminations for many products and offer businesses from the two countries greater opportunities to pool their respective capabilities and partner up to bid for government projects.

Meanwhile the upcoming Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership will also lower trade barriers and improve market access for goods and services, enhance transparency in trade and investment, as well as facilitate ASEAN SMEs to join global and regional supply chains.

Singaporean manufacturers desire to collaborate with Vietnamese counterparts and work together to expand business across new frontiers made by existing and upcoming agreements, as well as the reopening of markets, he added.

Last week, some international flights connecting Vietnam to Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan have been resumed for non-recreational visitors (such as students, employees, and business visitors), in addition to simplified immigration procedures and quarantine requirements. These moves made it easier for foreign investors to directly explore the market and make investments.

Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Quoc Phuong said that opening the market will accelerate economic recovery and development in the new normal. Vietnam encourages Singaporean companies to invest in high-technology sectors, innovation centres, research and development facilities, infrastructure in industrial zones (IZs), as well as the processing and manufacturing industries, supporting industries, and the equitisation of state-owned enterprises, he said.

Singaporean investors have found success in infrastructure and IZ development in Vietnam. Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park, a joint venture between a Singaporean consortium led by Sembcorp Development Ltd. and local group Becamex Corporation, is developing nine projects covering 8,600 hectares in total and has grown into a symbol of the two countries friendship. Besides this, Singaporean names like Ascendas, Boustead Projects Ltd., and Mapletree also operate large-scale industrial property projects in Vietnam.

Utilising the strengths of Singaporean investors, Vietnamese authorities can access valuable expertise as well as advanced technologies for infrastructure development, industrial clusters, and smart cities.

While Singapore has advantages in financial resources and science-technology knowhow, Vietnam has market potential, land, and human resources. There are great opportunities for cooperation and investment to capture the gains of these synergies, stated Tao Thi Thanh Huong, Vietnamese Ambassador to Singapore.

She also called on Singaporean SMEs to explore investment opportunities in many cities and provinces in Vietnam, besides big cities like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and the central city of Danang, where there is little vacant land left and competition is quite fierce. Vietnam welcomes all Singaporean investors and corporations to invest in its cities and provinces that offer great development potential and ample land, along with strong support from the local government to ensure the good performance of investment projects, Huong added.

Singapore is now the third-largest foreign investor in Vietnam with more than $55 billion in the total investment capital and 2,554 projects. Especially, in the first eight months of the year, Singapore was the largest investor with $6.54 billion in registered investment, making up 33.5 per cent of the countrys total foreign investment inflows. Singapore is also a country through which other foreign investors invest in Vietnam, with $5.75 billion in the total investment by almost 100 projects from South Korean, the United States, and Taiwan.
Five units successfully supplied, installed and commissioned at a major oilfield in Argentina

Injection units minimize mechanical degradation of the polymer and are part of chemical flooding projects to increase oil recovery rates

New installations are part of BASFs lab-to-well chemical solution to extend reservoir life

Buenos Aires, Argentina - September 1, 2020  In the oil and gas Industry, production declines as oilfields mature. With its enhanced oil recovery (EOR) technologies, BASF offers solutions that help revive oilfields in decline by maximizing extraction efficiency from the reservoir. Recently, BASFs high molecular weight polymer and polymer injection technologies for EOR were selected to extend the life of a major oilfield in Argentina.

The design, supply, installation and commissioning of five modular polymer injection units were previously successfully completed in close collaboration with the operator. These units can minimize mechanical degradation of the polymer used in the EOR process and are part of chemical flooding projects to help increase oil recovery rates.

BASF combines standard and high-performance polymers and surfactants into EOR formulations which are tailored to specific field conditions. A key success factor for chemical EOR projects is the multifaceted partnership with the operator throughout the life of the project, said Damien Caby, Senior Vice President, Oilfield Chemicals and Mining Solutions, BASF. This is where our lab-to-well chemical solutions make a difference.

Lab-to-well means that BASF supports its customers along the entire product development and implementation process, starting in the lab. During the design phase, BASF Enhanced Oil Recovery customizes the chemical solution to reservoir conditions through modelling and laboratory testing. The well operating conditions are considered to ensure the product is easy to implement in the field. For the implementation phase, BASF offers suitable dissolution equipment which supports product efficiency and ensures seamless well operations. Furthermore, BASF provides field support during injection.

In such a polymer flooding project, hydration and injection of the polymer solution with minimal mechanical degradation is essential. The modular polymer dissolution units were designed using BASFs vast experience in field hydration. They preserve the polymer chains and are extremely robust. The units operate remotely with minimal maintenance requirements to ensure continuous operation, said Michael Bueschel, responsible for the enhanced oil recovery business at BASF. The project in Argentina had a very tight schedule. We were able to meet the very challenging deadlines, while fully complying with the budget. Especially in the final phase of this project, our on-site field support was crucial for the flawless commissioning of the injection units.

Argentina is pursuing enhanced oil recovery projects in various regions of the country. These polymer flood projects involve supply of BASFs high molecular weight polymer (HPAM) and polymer injection units.

Receive up-to-date news releases from BASF via push notification on your smartphone. Register for our news service at basf.com/pushnews.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 23

By Zhale Qasimova  Trend:

Ukrainian International Airlines (UIA) has resumed the sale of air tickets on the Kyiv-Baku-Kyiv flight, Trend reports with reference to UIAs website.

The first flight is scheduled for October 4.

A one-way ticket costs 214 manat ($125.8) without luggage and 256 manat ($150.5) with luggage.

(1 USD = 1.7 manat on Sept. 23)
China is pushing growing numbers of Tibetan rural labourers off the land and into recently built military-style training centres where they are turned into factory workers, mirroring a programme in the western Xinjiang region that rights groups have branded coercive labor.

Beijing has set quotas for the mass transfer of rural labourers 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 2016-20 and reviewed by Reuters. The quota effort marks a rapid expansion of an initiative designed to provide loyal workers for Chinese industry.

A notice posted to the website of Tibets regional government website last month said over half a million people were trained as part of the project in the first seven months of 2020 - around 15 per cent of the regions population. Of this total, almost 50,000 have been transferred into jobs within Tibet, and several thousand have been sent to other parts of China. Many end up in low paid work, including textile manufacturing, construction and agriculture.

This is now, in my opinion, the strongest, most clear and targeted attack on traditional Tibetan livelihoods that we have seen almost since the Cultural Revolution of 1966-76, said Adrian Zenz, an independent Tibet and Xinjiang researcher, who compiled the core findings about the programme. These are detailed in a report released this week by the Jamestown Foundation, a Washington, DC-based institute that focuses on policy issues of strategic importance to the US. Its a coercive lifestyle change from nomadism and farming to wage labour.

Reuters corroborated Mr Zenzs findings and found additional policy documents, company reports, procurement filings and state media reports that describe the programme.

In a statement to Reuters, Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly denied the involvement of forced labour, stating China is a country with rule of law and that workers are voluntary and properly compensated.

What these people with ulterior motives are calling forced labour simply does not exist. We hope the international community will distinguish right from wrong, respect facts, and not be fooled by lies, it said.

Moving surplus rural labour into industry is a key part of Chinas drive to boost the economy and reduce poverty. But in areas like Xinjiang and Tibet, with large ethnic populations and a history of unrest, rights groups say the programmes include an outsized emphasis on ideological training. And the government quotas and military-style management, they say, suggest the transfers have coercive elements.

China seized control of Tibet after Chinese troops entered the region in 1950, in what Beijing calls a peaceful liberation, Tibet has since become one of the most restricted and sensitive areas in the country.

The Tibetan programme is expanding as international pressure is growing over similar projects in Xinjiang, some of which have been linked to mass detention centres. A United Nations report has estimated that around one million people in Xinjiang, mostly ethnic Uighurs, were detained in camps and subjected to ideological education. China initially denied the existence of the camps, but has since said they are vocational and education centres, and that all the people have graduated.

Reuters was unable to ascertain the conditions of the transferred Tibetan workers. Foreign journalists are not permitted to enter the region and other foreign citizens are only permitted on government-approved tours.

In recent years, Xinjiang and Tibet have been the target of harsh policies in pursuit of what Chinese authorities call stability maintenance. These policies are broadly aimed at quelling dissent, unrest or separatism and include restricting the travel of ethnic citizens to other parts of China and abroad, and tightening control over religious activities.

Recommended China confirms plummeting birth rate in Xinjiang but denies accusations of forced sterilisation of Uighur women

In August, Xi Jinping said China will again step up efforts against separatism in Tibet, where ethnic Tibetans make up around 90 per cent of the population, according to census data. Critics, spearheaded by Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, accuse the Chinese authorities of carrying out cultural genocide in the region. The 85-year-old Nobel Laureate has been based in Dharamsala, India, since he fled China in 1959 following a failed uprising against Chinese authorities.

While there has been some evidence of military-style training and labour transfers in Tibet in the past, this new, enlarged programme represents the first on a mass scale and the first to openly set quotas for transfers outside the region.

A key element, described in multiple regional policy documents, involves sending officials into villages and townships to gather data on rural labourers and conduct education activities, aimed at building loyalty.

State media described one such operation in villages near the Tibetan capital, Lhasa. Officials carried out over a thousand anti-separatism education sessions, according to the state media report, allowing the people of all ethnic groups to feel the care and concern of the Party Central Committee", referring to Chinas ruling Communist Party.

The report said the sessions included songs, dances and sketches in easy to understand language. Such education work took place prior to the rollout of the wider transfers this year.

The model is similar to Xinjiang, and researchers say a key link between the two is the former Tibet Communist Party secretary Chen Quanguo, who took over the same post in Xinjiang in 2016 and spearheaded the development of Xinjiangs camp system. The Xinjiang government, where Mr Quanguo remains Party boss, did not respond to a request for comment.

In Tibet, he was doing a slightly lower level, under the radar, version of what was implemented in Xinjiang, said Allen Carlson, associate professor in Cornell Universitys government department.

Around 70 per cent of Tibets population is classified as rural, according to 2018 figures from Chinas National Bureau of Statistics. This includes a large proportion of subsistence farmers, posing a challenge for Chinas poverty alleviation programme, which measures its success on levels of basic income. China has pledged to eradicate rural poverty in the country by the end of 2020.

In order to cope with the increasing downward economic pressure on the employment income of rural workers, we will now increase the intensity of precision skills training ... and carry out organised and large-scale transfer of employment across provinces, regions and cities, said a working plan released by Tibets Human Resources and Social Security Department in July. The plan included 2020 quotas for the programme in different areas.

Some of the policy documents and state media reports reviewed by Reuters make reference to unspecified punishments for officials who fail to meet their quotas. One prefecture level implementation plan called for strict reward and punishment measures for officials.

As in Xinjiang, private intermediaries, such as agents and companies, that organise transfers can receive subsidies set at 500 yuan (57.70) for each labourer moved out of the region and 300 yuan (34.62) for those placed within Tibet, according to regional and prefecture level notices.

Officials have previously said that labor transfer programmes in other parts of China are voluntary, and many of the Tibetan government documents also mention mechanisms to ensure labourers rights, but they dont provide details. Advocates, rights groups and researchers say its unlikely labourers are able to decline work placements, though they acknowledge that some may be voluntary.

These recent announcements dramatically and dangerously expand these programmes, including thought training with the governments coordination, and represent a dangerous escalation, said Matteo Mecacci, president of US based advocacy group, the International Campaign for Tibet.

The government documents reviewed by Reuters put a strong emphasis on ideological education to correct the thinking concepts of labourers. There is the assertion that minorities are low in discipline, that their minds must be changed, that they must be convinced to participate, said Mr Zenz, the Tibet-Xinjiang researcher based in Minnesota.

One policy document, posted on the website of the Nagqu City government in Tibets east in December 2018, reveals early goals for the plan and sheds light on the approach. It describes how officials visited villages to collect data on 57,800 labourers. Their aim was to tackle cant do, dont want to do and dont dare to do attitudes toward work, the document says. It calls for unspecified measures to effectively eliminate lazy people.

A report released in January by the Tibetan arm of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference, a high-profile advisory body to the government, describes internal discussions on strategies to tackle the mental poverty of rural labourers, including sending teams of officials into villages to carry out education and guide the masses to create a happy life with their hardworking hands.

Rural workers who are moved into vocational training centers receive ideological education - what China calls military-style training - according to multiple Tibetan regional and district-level policy documents describing the programme in late 2019 and 2020. The training emphasises strict discipline and participants are required to perform military drills and dress in uniforms.

It is not clear what proportion of participants in the labour transfer programme undergo such military-style training. But policy documents from Ngari, Xigatze and Shannan, three districts which account for around a third of Tibets population, call for the vigorous promotion of military-style training. Region-wide policy notices also make reference to this training method.

Small-scale versions of similar military-style training initiatives have existed in the region for over a decade but construction of new facilities increased sharply in 2016, and recent policy documents call for more investment in such sites. A review of satellite imagery and documents relating to over a dozen facilities in different districts in Tibet shows that some are built near to or within existing vocational centres.

The policy documents describe a teaching programme that combines skills education, legal education and gratitude education, designed to boost loyalty to the Party.

James Leibold, professor at Australias La Trobe University who specialises in Tibet and Xinjiang, says there are different levels of military-style training, with some less restrictive than others, but that there is a focus on conformity.

Tibetans are seen as lazy, backward, slow or dirty, and so what they want to do is to get them marching to the same beat ... Thats a big part of this type of military-style education.

In eastern Tibets Chamdo district, where some of the earliest military-style training programmes emerged, state media images from 2016 show labourers lining up in drill formation in military fatigues. In images published by state media in July this year, waitresses in military clothing are seen training at a vocational facility in the same district. Pictures posted online from the Chamdo Golden Sunshine Vocational Training School show rows of basic white shed-like accommodation with blue roofs. In one image, banners hanging on the wall behind a row of graduates say the labour transfer project is overseen by the local Human Resources and Social Security Department.

The vocational skills learned by trainees include textiles, construction, agriculture and ethnic handicrafts. One vocational centre describes elements of training including Mandarin language, legal training and political education. A separate regional policy document says the goal is to gradually realise the transition from I must work to I want to work.

Regional and prefecture level policy documents place an emphasis on training batches of workers for specific companies or projects. Rights groups say this on-demand approach increases the likelihood that the programmes are coercive.

Workers transferred under the programmes can be difficult to trace, particularly those sent to other parts of China. In similar mass transfers of Uighur people from Xinjiang, workers were discovered in the supply chains of 83 global brands, according to a report released by the The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI).

Researchers and rights groups say transfers from these regions pose a challenge because without access they cant assess whether the practice constitutes forced labour, and transferred workers often work alongside non-transferred counterparts.

Tibetan state media reports in July say that in 2020 some of the workers transferred outside of Tibet were sent to construction projects in Qinghai and Sichuan. Others transferred within Tibet were trained in textiles, security and agricultural production work.

Recommended China denies forced labour accusations after message found in Tesco Christmas card

Regional Tibetan government policy notices and prefecture implementation plans provide local government offices with quotas for 2020, including for Tibetan workers sent to other parts of China. Larger districts are expected to supply more workers to other areas of the country - 1,000 from the Tibetan capital Lhasa, 1,400 from Xigaze, and 800 from Shannan.

Reuters reviewed policy notices put out by Tibet and a dozen other provinces that have accepted Tibetan labourers. These documents reveal that workers are often moved in groups and stay in collective accommodation.

Local government documents inside Tibet and in three other provinces say workers remain in centralised accommodation after they are transferred, separated from other workers and under supervision. One state media document, describing a transfer within the region, referred to it as a point to point nanny service.

The Tibetan Human Resources and Social Security Department noted in July that people are grouped into teams of 10 to 30. They travel with team leaders and are managed by employment liaison services. The department said the groups are tightly managed, especially when moving outside Tibet, where the liaison officers are responsible for carrying out further education activities and reducing homesickness complexes. It said the government is responsible for caring for left-behind women, children and the elderly.

Reuters
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / September 23, 2020 / Glenbriar Technologies Inc. ("Glenbriar" or the "Company") (CSE:GTI.X) announces that Mr. Charlie Lamb has resigned from the Board of Directors to pursue other ventures.

"The Company would like to thank Mr. Lamb for his service to the Company as a Director, and we wish him well in future endeavours," said Mr. Doug Taylor, President of Glenbriar.

A replacement director will be announced in the near future.

About Glenbriar Technologies Inc.

Company Description: Glenbriar Technologies Inc. (CSE: GTI.X) sold its IT business to Uniserve Communications Corporation (TSX-V: USS), and is actively seeking new business opportunities.

For further information, please contact:

Doug Taylor, President and CEO

Investor Relations

Telephone: 1-778-724-1301

E-mail: irglenbriartech@gmail.com

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.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Glenbriar Technologies Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/607452/Glenbriar-Technologies-Inc-Announces-a-Change-to-Its-Board-of-Directors
Cai Changpan was sentenced to death in 2017 for trafficking 230-pound meth

The Chinese man escaped from a Indonesian jail after digging a 100-foot tunnel

He even invited his cellmate to join him breaking out of the prison, police said

The inmate had managed to escape another cell before while being on remand

A Chinese drug trafficker on death row has escaped from a jail near Indonesia's capital after digging a 30-metre (100 feet) tunnel from his cell, police said.

Cai Changpan, sentenced to death in 2017 for trafficking 110 kilogrammes (230 pounds) of methamphetamine, broke out of Tangerang prison in Banten last week via the narrow tunnel, which connected to a sewer, officials said.

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Authorities said they had recovered a crowbar, chisel, screwdriver and other tools used to dig the hole, speculating he may have got them from building work being done on a prison kitchen.

Cai Changpan, sentenced to death in 2017 for trafficking 110 kilogrammes (230 pounds) of methamphetamine, broke out of Tangerang prison in Banten last week via the narrow tunnel

Officers checking the culvert used by a Chinese death-row prisoner to escape in Tangerang

The drugs smuggler dug the tiny 50cm-wide passage after stealing the tools from the jail's kitchen workshop before eventually reaching the sewage system.

CCTV footage showed the desperate fugitive emerging from the pipe network and calmly walking away before disappearing into a dark alleyway.

Jakarta Police spokesman Yusri Yunus said it appears Changpan, 53, had been planning his incredible escape for around ''five to six months''.

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Officials said the 37-year-old, who also used the name Cai Ji Fan, had invited his cellmate to join him, but the inmate had declined.

The Chinese inmate reportedly timed his jail break to coincide with the changing of the guards.

'This is the second time he escaped,' said Tangerang police's chief Sugeng Hariyanto, adding he also managed to get out of the National Police Criminal Investigation Department cells in Jakarta while on remand.

Cai's first escape was in January 2017 via a hole he made in a bathroom wall using an iron rod.

Along with other prisoners, he then climbed a 2.5-metre (eight-feet) wall, but was recaptured in West Java three days later.

Authorities said they had recovered a crowbar, chisel, screwdriver and other tools used to dig the hole, speculating he may have got them from building work being done on a prison kitchen. CCTV footage shows the fugitive emerging from the pipe network and walking away

Although rare by foreigners, jailbreaks are common in Indonesia, where most prisons are overcrowded and poorly staffed.

In 2018, some 90 inmates escaped a prison in Banda Aceh after tearing down a fence during a prayer gathering.

A year earlier more than 400 inmates broke out of an overcrowded prison in Riau province.

Also in 2017, four foreigners dug their way to freedom from Bali's notorious Kerobokan jail.

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A Bulgarian and Indian were captured in East Timor a week later, but an Australian and Malaysian were never found.

His bid for freedom is being compared to that of Andy Dufresne who escaped from prison after spending years tunneling out of his cell in The Shawshank Redemption (above)

His bid for freedom is being compared to that of Andy Dufresne who escaped from prison after spending years tunneling out of his cell in The Shawshank Redemption.

He finally escaped after crawling through 400 metres of sewage emerging into a river.

Changpan is now on Indonesia's most wanted list and immigration officers have put bans in place to stop him fleeing the country.

Cops said he was put on death row in 2017 after being found guilty of smuggling 110 kg of crystal methamphetamine into the country.

Officers also revealed this was not the first time that the convict has managed to escape detention.

While being held in a police cell during his trial he fled along with other prisoners by creating a hole in the bathroom using an iron bar.
Police are calling for more witnesses after rustlers stole more than seventy sheep from Derbyshire farmland.

Twenty-seven ewes and 46 lambs were stolen from land at Shatton village between 1 September and 3 September.

PC Paul Gamble, of the Derbyshire Rural Crime Team, said livestock rustling carries a 'significant financial loss' to farmers.

"It can also cause some concern around not knowing what has happened to the animals, and the time and effort it takes to establish a flock," he added.

While it is quite a remote area, we would like to hear from anyone who may have noticed any suspicious vehicles or activity during that time or who may have information around the illegal trade in livestock.

Get in touch if you have any information, no matter how small, as even if it turns out the individuals are legitimate, we would rather be made aware so we can check all is well.

It comes after thieves stole more than 100 lambs from a farm near Penrith, Cumbria between September 3 and 12.

And in other rustling incidents to have occurred recently, thieves stole 50 lambs and 71 lambs in Dorset and Devon respectively.

Figures show rural crime costs have reached an eight year high in the UK - totalling 54m in 2019.

NFU Mutual's report shows that livestock theft increased last year, with the cost going up 9% to 3 million.

Gangs taking large numbers of sheep, which are thought to enter the food chain illegally, are driving the increase.

How can I better protect livestock?

To deter livestock thieves, NFU Mutual advises farmers to:

 Padlock field gates

 Ensure stock is clearly marked and records are up to date

 When possible graze livestock in fields away from roads

 Check stock regularly - and vary times of feeding/check ups

 Consider a high-tech marking system such as TecTracer which puts thousands of coded microdot markers into a sheeps fleece

 Ask neighbours to report any sightings of unusual vehicles loading sheep

 Join a FarmWatch scheme

The rural insurer has established that there are three distinct types of livestock thefts currently taking place:

 Large scale theft  organised crime with livestock destined for the food chain

 Pedigree  rams stolen for their high value as breeding stock

 Money laundering  organised criminal gangs buying and selling on sheep at auctions to launder money
COLUMBIA  Senators questioned Wednesday why South Carolina's public health agency hasn't moved quicker in finding a new director to lead the state through the coronavirus pandemic.

The agency's governing board intends to name a replacement for Rick Toomey in November, Chairman Mark Elam told a Senate panel.

That's six months after the director of the agency that's supposed to be guiding South Carolina's COVID-19 response announced his resignation. It likely won't be until January that his successor officially takes the helm.

Senators seem stunned the Department of Health and Environmental Control didn't begin the search until sometime within the last month. Elam couldn't recall exactly when the agency hired an outside job-recruiting firm.

"We felt comfortable with our acting director," Elam said of Marshall Taylor, who stepped into the role in June for the second time this year and his fourth time overall at the agency. Toomey took a two-week absence in April for health reasons.

Senators commended Taylor but noted he's an attorney, not a health expert.

"It's disturbing that the position's been vacant since May and we're in the middle of the worst health care crisis in a hundred years, and there doesn't seem to be any urgency on the part of DHEC to fill the top spot," said Sen. Dick Harpootlian. "(Taylor is) not a health care professional, and they need somebody whose background is health care and medicine. I'm concerned that DHEC is not in a hurry."

The agency is looking mostly in-state for a new director. Applicants include DHEC employees, Elam said.

"I strongly believe we have enough great people in South Carolina to focus our search on South Carolinians," he said.

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The search also didn't start sooner, he said, because the board didn't want to hire someone and have that person on the job for several months only to be rejected by senators. The board's nominee must be approved by the Senate. The agency's timeline expected the confirmation process to occur in January, Elam said.

Harpootlian called that excuse "inexplicable." If the board had moved quicker, senators almost certainly would've come back to take up such an important appointment, he said.

The Legislature has been in special session the past two weeks  a session created by law back in May  and senators are expected to confirm several appointments to other agencies before adjourning Thursday. The Senate also met the first week in September.

"The message I want to deliver is, considering the situation were in, I think its extremely important that DHEC have a full-time director as soon as possible," said Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, chairman of the panel questioning DHEC officials. "DHEC is the point agency on most of the things happening in the state right now. ... I think its important for us and the public to understand theres strong capable leadership at DHEC with a permanent director."

In hearings over the past few months, senators have been vocally frustrated with DHEC for not drastically expanding COVID-19 testing across the state quickly and not presenting concrete plans to do so. Taylor has repeatedly said the lags are part of national shortages.

South Carolina ranks 10th worst nationwide with newly diagnosed COVID-19 cases per capita, and second highest in the percentage of people being tested having the virus, according to a report Sunday from the White House coronavirus task force.

The agency's had several leadership turnovers this year while struggling to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

It's also operating with an interim public health director  also for the second time this year  after Dr. Joan Duwve, who arrived in April from Indiana, decided earlier this month to take a job leading Ohio's public health agency. Hours later, she withdrew from that role but, after some confusion, DHEC announced she wasn't staying there either.

The last search for a DHEC director took 17 months. Toomey, a former hospital administrator, was named director in late 2018. He was a DHEC board member at the time.
Kin Man Hui /Staff file photo

Celebrity Fan Fest teased on social media Tuesday that it will host a "Freaky" four-weekend show at Six Flags Fiesta Texas in October.

In its Facebook post and on its Twitter account, the fan fest gave few details about the new event but stated the show will start Oct. 9. The post added the admission for two people comes with access to Six Flags' Hallowfest, which began on Sept. 1.
Five years after the peak of Europes migrant crisis, EU nations are meeting Wednesday to work out more shared responsibility for asylum seekers, a move actively backed by France.

The issue of migrants risking their lives to find safe haven in Europe was brought to the fore once more on Tuesday as French rescuers plucked 88 migrants from the English Channel in five different operations off Frances northern coast.

The authorities said they were trying to reach UK shores.

The rescues highlight the strain placed on European countries trying to deal with an influx of asylum-seekers fleeing war and poverty at home.

Figures published by France's immigration services showed that while there had been a slight rise in the number of asylum applications between July and August this year, 37 percent fewer applications were made in 2020 compared to the previous year.

'Compulsory' solidarity mechanism

The European Union is set to unveil a long-awaited asylum plan (New Pact on Migration and Asylum) Wednesday that will seek to get its 27 member states to commit to sharing the handling of asylum claims from migrants arriving on European shores.

The most contentious part of the plan is the compulsory solidarity mechanism.

"It's obvious to everybody that ad hoc solidarity or voluntary solidarity is not enough. That has been proven for many years now," said Ylva Johansson, European Commissioner for Home Affairs. "It has to be mandatory."

The plan will make showing solidarity with all EU countries on the front lines  often Greece, Italy or Malta  compulsory when they are "under pressure" from arrivals.

It could mean that aid will no longer be limited to EU countries where asylum seekers are relocated to, but instead will be directed to other nations so they can return refused asylum seekers back to their country of origin.

It is hoped that this measure will pacify EU countries such as the Visegrad group (Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovakia) who have declined to welcome asylum seekers.

Story continues

Sharing the burden

Frances Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin on Wednesday called for more "European solidarity" in the handling of asylum applications.

"The migration question can only be settled at the European level" the minister told France Inter ahead of the EU announcement.

"We still want a European solidarity. There is no reason why only Italy, France and Germany, broadly speaking, with Greece share this solidarity," said Darmanin.

All countries should share the burden of relocating arriving migrants, he insisted.

Resistance

The measure may prove tough to pass however.

Austria's chancellor Sebastian Kurz has already warned the EU against forcing states to take in asylum seekers.

"We find that the distribution in Europe (of asylum seekers) has failed and many states reject this. It won't work like this," the 34-year-old conservative leader said Tuesday.

His country and other smaller nations have spoken out in the past against any mandatory asylum-seeker distribution.

The proposal follows a devastating fire earlier this month at an overcrowded camp for migrants and asylum seekers on the Greek island of Lesbos that left thousands homeless -- and put EU migration policy back in the spotlight.

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said last week that the new proposals would include plans to strengthen border security and return failed asylum seekers, which Kurz and allies are in favour of, while also including "a new strong solidarity mechanism".

The commission also wants to speed up asylum procedures, to quickly determine whether a person is eligible, and to prevent applicants from an uncertain life in camps.

(with AFP)
Cindy McCain speaks onstage during the U.S.VETS Salute Gala on November 05, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. FilmMagic/FilmMagic for U.S.VETS

Cindy McCain, the wife of the late GOP Sen. John McCain of Arizona, formally endorsed Joe Biden for president.

"My husband John lived by a code: country first," McCain wrote in a tweet. "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 Joe Biden."

Biden initially announced McCain's endorsement during a fundraiser Tuesday.

McCain's support could make waves in the battleground state of Arizona ahead of the heated 2020 election.

"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 [Trump] 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 during the fundraiser.

Biden's announcement referred to The Atlantic report earlier this month that claimed Trump had privately disparaged Americans who had died in combat.

Cindy McCain narrated a video at the Democratic National Convention detailing the friendship between her late husband and Biden, who worked together at the Senate for two decades.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Cindy McCain, the wife of the late GOP Sen. John McCain, endorsed Democratic nominee Joe Biden for president,

"My husband John lived by a code: country first," McCain wrote in a tweet Tuesday evening. "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 Joe Biden."

McCain's support could make waves in the battleground state of Arizona, for which her husband served as a US senator, ahead of the 2020 election.

Biden initially announced McCain's upcoming endorsement during a fundraising event Tuesday, saying she is endorsing him because of Trump's alleged remarks about fallen members of the military.

Story continues

"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 [Trump] 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 during the fundraiser.

Biden's announcement referred to The Atlantic report earlier this month that claimed Trump had privately disparaged Americans who had died in combat, calling them "losers" and "suckers."

When Sen. John McCain died in 2018, Trump reportedly said "we're not going to support that loser's funeral," three sources familiar with his remarks told The Atlantic. The president also became furious when he saw flags at half-staff in response to McCain's death, saying "What the f--- are we doing that for? Guy was a f---ing loser," according to The Atlantic report.

In response to the report, White House spokesperson Alyssa Farah told The Atlantic that Trump's remarks were "false" and that he "holds the military in the highest regard."

"He's demonstrated his commitment to them at every turn: delivering on his promise to give our troops a much-needed pay raise, increasing military spending, signing critical veterans reforms, and supporting military spouses," Farah continued in the statement. "This has no basis in fact."

Cindy McCain narrated a video at the Democratic National Convention detailing the friendship between her late husband and Biden, who worked together at the Senate for two decades. Former McCain staffers, alongside ex-staffers for Bush and Romney, also formally endorsed Biden last month.

"Given the incumbent president's lack of competent leadership, his efforts to aggravate rather than bridge divisions among Americans, and his failure to uphold American values, we believe the election of former Vice President Biden is clearly in the national interest," they wrote in the endorsement.

Read the original article on Business Insider
This amendment was the product of a bipartisan compromise. It had to beVirginia law dictates that a constitutional amendment must pass the General Assembly twice in two successive years with an election in between. In 2019, Republicans were in charge, and in 2020, Democrats had the majority.

It is not surprising that some Democrats now want to draw legislative districts to benefit themselves. A few of these politicians are throwing any obstacle or argument they can in the way of passage in November.

They warn that if maps wind up in the hands of a conservative Supreme Court of Virginia, we will have a Republican gerrymander. These are fear tactics, plain and simple.

Yes, there is a provision in the amendment that makes the Supreme Court the arbiter if the commission cannot agree on new maps after two attempts. This clause was meant to incentivize bipartisan compromise.

Consider the facts: The last time the courts drew the maps, a special master was hired, and the maps benefited Democrats. If the amendment fails and a minority party sues (they normally do), the high court will decide on the lines anyway. The only other option is for the maps to go back to the legislature, which gerrymandered them in the first place.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Green solvents for making biodiesel would reduce the environmental impact of such fuels still further. Writing in the World Review of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development, a team from India discussed the potential of ionic liquids in this field.

Biodiesel is a sustainable alternative to conventional oil-derived biodiesel in that it can be manufactured from resources such as waste organic matter from agriculture, the food industry, or even household refuse. It can also be made from crops grown especially for its production. There is, however, a need for volatile organic solvents at various stages of the manufacturing process and these liquids usually come with their own environmental impact. Biodiesel is usually made by trans esterifying vegetable oil or animal fat feedstock with the help of organic and inorganic solvents.

As such, "greener" alternatives are keenly sought. A. Anitha and D. Jini of the Department of Chemical Engineering at the Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science in Chennai, explain how ionic liquids might represent such an alternative.

Ionic liquids are non-volatile and non-flammable. They also have low toxicity. This is in sharp contrast with highly volatile, flammable, and toxic organic solvents currently used. Such green credentials have made them a focus for a number of research teams around the world in a wide range of chemical disciplines. Intriguingly, they are nothing more than ionic salts that happen to be liquid at or close to room temperature. However, this character endows them with some unique solvating properties that make them ideal for many applications.

"Energy utilization around the world has been increasing at a steady rate from 1971 and the demand for energy is projected to increase by 55% at the end of 2030. Fossil fuels are not renewable and would be exhausted within 4060 years even if the rate of consumption remains constant," the team writes. So, not only are alternatives more environmentally friendly they will ultimately be essential to keep up with energy demand. Ionic fluids can support the enzymatic conversion of feedstock to biodiesel as well as being useful in product purification. They can even be the catalyst themselves for carrying out the necessary reactions. Despite their current high price when compared to organic solvents, they are much more readily reusable, which would reduce environmental impact still further and ultimately costs.

Explore further Cleaning up with cellulose

More information: A. Anitha et al. Ionic liquids as solvents in biodiesel production, World Review of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development (2020). A. Anitha et al. Ionic liquids as solvents in biodiesel production,(2020). DOI: 10.1504/WRSTSD.2020.109723
The Quick Ship Collection reference guide includes a select group of tile products from Spanish manufacturers that are available for immediate purchase in the U.S. for delivery within 4-8 weeks. Established in 2013, the collection is updated annually to ensure the most up to date information and on trend selections are available to purchasers.

"As new trends in architecture and design continue to emerge year-to-year, it is exciting to see how Spanish tile manufacturers evolve their production and design processes to adapt to the ever-changing styles," says Rocamador Rubio, Director for Tile of Spain. "We are thrilled to expand the Tile of Spain USA Quick Ship Collection for the eighth consecutive year and provide a resource for U.S. based architects, designers, installers and homeowners to discover cutting-edge ceramics from Spain."

New Tile of Spain companies added to the Quick Ship Collection for 2020 include: Alaplana, Cristacer, Living Ceramics, and Onix Mosaico. These new collections, along with updates from additional ceramic tile companies, are available online at http://tileofspainusa.com/quickship/. The Quick Ship Collection's interactive catalog makes it easy to search for Spanish Tile. Users can search by product category or by company name. Each entry includes the series name, a color image, a detailed description of each design, sizes available and the U.S. contact information for purchasing.

Tile of Spain companies in the Quick Ship Collection include:

Adex USA

Alaplana

Aparici

Arcana Ceramica

Argenta Ceramica

Azteca

Azulev

Bestile

Ceramica Elias

Ceramica Saloni

Cristacer

Dune Ceramica

El Barco. S.L.

Equipe Ceramicas

Gayafores

Grespania

Grupo Greco Gres

Harmony

Inalco

LaPlatera

Land Porcelanico

Living Ceramics

Museum

Onix Mosaico

Peronda Group

Porcelanicos HDC

Realonda

Roca

Small Size

Undefasa

To view the Quick Ship Collection, visit http://www.tileofspainusa.com/quickship.

Social Media Captions:

Facebook:

Are you eagerly awaiting your next adventure to Europe? Curb your hunger for wanderlust with the new Quick Ship Collection from @tileofspainusa.

Featuring over 113 series from 30 Spanish tile manufacturers, the 2020 update to @tileofspainusa's Quick Ship program invites the invigorating flavors of Spanish architecture and design to your next project with a select group of tiles that are available for immediate purchase in the U.S. and available for delivery within 4-8 weeks.

To shop the collection, visit: https://tileofspainusa.com/quickship/

Instagram:

Are you eagerly awaiting your next adventure to Europe? Curb your hunger for wanderlust with the new Quick Ship Collection from @tileofspainusa.

Featuring over 113 series from 30 Spanish tile manufacturers, the 2020 update to @tileofspainusa's Quick Ship program invites the invigorating flavors of Spanish architecture and design to your next project with a select group of tiles that are available for immediate purchase in the U.S. and available for delivery within 4-8 weeks.

To shop the collection, visit: https://tileofspainusa.com/quickship/

#TileofSpain #TileofSpainUSA #Spain #SpanishArchitecture #SpanishDesign #SpanishTile #QuickShip

Twitter:

Curb your hunger for wanderlust with the new Quick Ship Collection from @TileofSpain.

Invite the flavors of Spanish design to your project with with a select group of tiles that are available for immediate purchase in the U.S. ship within 4-8 weeks:

https://tileofspainusa.com/quickship/

Pinterest:

Are you eagerly awaiting your next adventure to Europe? Curb your hunger for wanderlust with the new Quick Ship Collection from @tileofspainusa.

Featuring over 113 series from 30 Spanish tile manufacturers, the 2020 update to @tileofspainusa's Quick Ship program invites the invigorating flavors of Spanish architecture and design to your next project with a select group of tiles that are available for immediate purchase in the U.S. and available for delivery within 4-8 weeks.

To shop the collection, visit: https://tileofspainusa.com/quickship/

About Tile of Spain

In Spain, tile makers labor as they have for centuries  pushing their passion for design and innovation to new levels of artisanship. With one of the purest and strongest domestic clays available, Spanish manufacturers have an unparalleled ability to make the end product more diverse. From rustic handmade forms; to technical facades that cool buildings and clean the air; to the impossibly slim, sustainable recycled and ink jet masterpieces that fire the imagination. The Spanish Ceramic Tile Manufacturers' Association (ASCER) is the private organization whose primary objective is to support Spain's ceramic tile manufacturers and the industry as a whole by stewarding and promoting the Tile of Spain brand worldwide. A strong global leader, the ceramic tile industry of Spain is comprised of over 120 manufacturers concentrated primarily in the province of Castellon. For more about tile produced in Spain, contact Tile of Spain Center at the Trade Commission of Spain, 2655 Le Jeune Road, Suite 1114, Coral Gables, FL 33134. Call 305-446-4387 or visit http://www.tileofspainusa.com.

SOURCE Tile of Spain

Related Links

http://www.tileofspainusa.com


Donald Trump will face Joe Biden within days for the first of three presidential debates, and some of the presidents supporters are already bracing for a humiliating loss.

White House allies, Republican donors and some of Trumps closest advisers worry that a recent, frenzied push by his top lieutenants to portray Biden as a seasoned debater  with the goal of raising expectations for the Democratic presidential nominee  is too late and too disingenuous to have an impact when the two meet on the debate stage next Tuesday.

They worry Trump has set a trap for himself by incessantly attacking Bidens age and mental acumen. Its a tactic the president has maintained even as his campaign publicly insists the former vice president is fully capable of a satisfactory performance. Unlike the president, who has spuriously claimed Biden is probably on performance-enhancing drugs, Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh attributed Bidens quite good performance in past debates to the Democrats ability to turn it on when the cameras come after years of experience in politics.

Eight years as vice president, three decades in the Senate, two debates as vice president and he just came through about a dozen debates in the Democratic primaries where he vanquished two dozen opponents  thats the Joe Biden were expecting, Murtaugh said.

Its this type of expectation-setting that some of the presidents allies believe he and his campaign should have engaged in all along, an approach theyre now frustrated to see deployed so close to the Sept. 29 debate in Cleveland. The Trump campaign spent the bulk of this summer questioning whether Sleepy Joe is fit for office and accusing the Biden campaign of trying to circumvent the traditional debates to avoid a potentially embarrassing situation for their candidate.

This idea of Biden not knowing how to debate is ridiculous. The more that expectations are lowered for him the worse, said former White House press secretary Sean Spicer.

Story continues

A lot of folks are looking for a reason to declare him the victor and now theyll be able to use Trumps words as a way to justify their verdict that Biden won, added Spicer, who believes Biden will land a punch or two against Trump but doubts either candidates performance will affect the race all that much.

Ed Rollins, a veteran GOP strategist who currently runs a pro-Trump super PAC, said the Trump campaign has so diminished Biden that he is virtually guaranteed to be perceived as the winner once he and Trump emerge from their first debate.

Biden has clearly shown he can function, the bar is low and the expectations are so low, all he has to do is exceed those expectations, Rollins said.

Several Trump allies pointed to Bidens sharp debate earlier this year against Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, his last remaining opponent in the Democratic primary and a skilled sparring partner, as the clearest indication that he is capable of going toe-to-toe against the president. Biden scored slightly higher than Sanders in a poll following their March debate, where the former vice president delivered a strong case against Trumps handling of the coronavirus pandemic and a practical rebuke of Sanders so-called political revolution.

We have problems we have to solve now. Whats a revolution going to do? Disrupt everything in the meantime? asked Biden in one memorable line.

Trump has been studying his opponents past debate performances and working with a small team of advisers for several weeks to prepare for the trio of fall debates.

The presidents advisers expect Biden will use the current political landscape  as voters face a battered economy, global pandemic, social upheaval and a Supreme Court battle that is likely to sow further division on Capitol Hill  to build a case during each of the debates that Trump has created problems he is incapable of solving.

While they dont expect Biden, who is prone to verbal blunders and often stumbles over his words, to maintain a strong posture for the entire 90-minute televised debate, they acknowledge that it will take only a couple of stinging soundbites and memorable zingers to surpass the bar Trump has set for him.

The danger with [Trumps] sustained attack against Bidens cognitive abilities is that hes now created a situation for himself where he has no excuse to fall back on if Biden lands a few punches and he struggles to return blows, said a Republican close to the Trump campaign.

I get why the president has gone after Biden for his age and gaffes  no reasonable person can ignore those things  but at some point he should have flipped the script to increase expectations heading into the debates, this person added.

Democratic presidential candidates Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders speak at the same time during the Democratic primary debate June 27, 2019.

To some degree, Trump allies and campaign officials have already previewed ways in which they plan to undercut Biden and defend the president if his opponent delivers a passable performance. Beyond attacking the substance of Bidens anticipated answers to questions about China, climate change, taxes and law enforcement  issues that campaign officials said they will pay close attention to in the first debate  they are already laying the groundwork to attack the pundit class if Biden emerges from the first debate as the declared winner.

While most of the Trump aides who spoke with POLITICO for this story conceded that the presidents insistence that Biden is mentally unfit has made it easier for his opponent to do well in the first debate, they have simultaneously accused the media of predetermining the winner in next Tuesdays debate.

People understand that the media is dying to just declare Joe Biden the winner when instead he should be judged the same way that any presidential candidate should be judged on the debate stage, said one adviser to the Trump campaign.

Its going to be a very low bar for the Washington elite to say Biden did well and because he didnt fall down, he won. That is partly because of Trump and partly because they want to prop Biden up, added Spicer.

Others have chalked up Bidens recent performances  including his closing speech at the Democratic National Convention and his participation in a CNN town hall last week  as non-challenging. They point to his use of a teleprompter during the convention (something Trump also used in his own acceptance speech for the Republican nomination) or, in the case of the televised town hall in Scranton, Pa., argue that he was handed softball questions.

Virtually every question for Joe Biden was an invitation for him to attack President Trump, while moderator Anderson Cooper offered almost no pushback, giving Biden a total pass on his lies and misrepresentations, said the Trump campaign in a statement after Bidens appearance on the network.

Another Trump supporter accused Biden of receiving advance notice of the questions in a bid to rationalize his performance last week. Looks to me that Biden had an idea of what the questions would be, at least areas of questioning, tweeted former Fox News host Bill OReilly during the town hall. In a subsequent tweet, OReilly said he had simply tweeted an observation.
Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz met with US Defense Secretary Mark Esper at the Pentagon on Tuesday to discuss maintaining Israels qualitative military edge in the region amid a Trump administration proposal to sell the United Arab Emirates the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft.

The defense relationship between the US and Israel has never been stronger. And we intend to keep it that way, Esper said.

Esper called the long-standing US policy to maintain Israels regional military superiority a cornerstone of the US-Israel relationship. The United States is committed to that and the Department of Defense is committed to that, he said.

Al-Monitor had earlier reported that Gantz was likely to request that Israel be given additional hardware to ensure its military edge, and that it be given the option to sell advanced US-Israeli drone technology to the UAE.

Reuters reported Tuesday that US officials are exploring ways to enable Israeli radar to detect the UAEs potential future F-35s, but could not determine whether that meant modifying Israeli systems or the F-35s.

The United States is reportedly hoping to have an agreement signed by UAE National Day on Dec. 2.

Israels Ynet news reported that Gantz arrived in Washington seeking additional US military hardware to compensate for the proposed UAE sale, including expediting an existing $2.4 billion sale of KC-46 refueling aircraft and future access to the new F-15 EX, an updated variant of the F-15 with larger payload capacity and updated electronic systems.

Gantz on Tuesday emphasized the centrality of Washington militarily favoring Israel to the two countries relationship.

It is in our interest to share with you anything we can possibly share, and we will continue those relations into the future, he said. We see both as a privilege but also as a  strategic necessity. And were going to make sure it stays like this.

Irans increased military adventurism in the region is one reason for closer defense and intelligence coordination between the United States and Israel in recent years.

But a number of Israeli officials vocally criticized the US offer to sell the F-35 to the UAE amid negotiations aimed at getting Abu Dhabi to normalize relations with Israel.

Gantz, too, was reportedly incensed after news of the potential arrangement leaked last month, but seemed more assured after meeting with President Donald Trumps son-in-law and senior Middle East adviser Jared Kushner and US national security adviser Robert OBrien late last month.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi, White House adviser Avi Berkowitz and special envoy for Iran Brian Hook were also in the Aug. 30 meeting.

The defense minister opened his trip to Washington on Tuesday with a meeting with Kushner, who is leading efforts to convince Arab states to recognize Israel ahead of the Nov. 3 US presidential election.

Last week the foreign ministers of the UAE and Bahrain signed their countries normalization agreement with Israel alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin's wife Louise Linton paid tribute to 'regal' and 'stunning' First Lady Melania Trump on Tuesday after attending a luncheon for cabinet spouses at the White House.

The Scottish actress, 39, took to Instagram to post a photo of herself holding up a glass of bubbly while toasting Melania, 50, at the event, which was held in the State Dining Room.

'There is no one more elegant, beautiful, regal, and kind than our stunning First Lady, Melania. Her poise, grace, and strength touch and inspire me,' Louise wrote in the gushing caption.

All smiles: Louse Linton, 39, took to Instagram on Tuesday to share a photo of herself toasting First Lady Melania Trump, 50, at a White House luncheon for cabinet spouses

Fan club: In the photo's caption, Louise wrote a gushing tribute to Melania, calling her 'elegant, beautiful, regal, and kind'

'Thank you for hosting spouses of the cabinet today,' she added. 'It was an honor to toast you and to sit by your side.'

For her afternoon at the White House, Louis donned a pink tweed skirt suit by designer Alessandra Rich and wore her blonde hair pulled back in a loose chignon.

Melania also wore pink for the occasion, though she opted for a cap-sleeve sheath dress. Her highlighted brown hair was styled loosely around her shoulders, and she stuck with her signature makeup: dark, smokey eyeshadow and a pink lip.

In the image Louise shared, she is standing next to the first lady, who is seated and looking up at her with a smile on her face.

Meanwhile, Catharine Cypher, the director of media affairs for the first lady, tweeted a group photo of the cabinet spouses at the luncheon on Tuesday.

Say cheese: Catharine Cypher, the director of media affairs for the first lady, tweeted a group photo of the cabinet spouses at the luncheon on Tuesday

Hitting back: In the comments, Louise fiercely defended Melania from critics as a number of people referenced the Trump administration's 'zero-tolerance' immigration policy

Defense: Louise insisted that Melania was the one who put a stop to the 'horrid practice' of putting migrant children in cages at the border

'@FLOTUS was delighted to host a luncheon for Cabinet Spouses at the @WhiteHouse today. She & @POTUS are grateful for their continued friendship,' she wrote.

Not only did Louise sing Melania's praises on Instagram, but she also fiercely defended President Donald Trump's wife while shutting down her critics.

A number of commenters referenced the Trump administration's 'zero-tolerance' immigration enforcement policy that led to migrant children being separated from their parents and put in cages.

'Kind? Excuses locking kids in cages. I don't call that kind,' one person wrote, prompting Louise to hit back.

'SHE didn't lock kids in cages. SHE returned from her visit to the border and demanded an end to the horrid practice. Get your facts straight,' she responded.

Confused: Louise was also asked how she could praise Melania as an animal activist, pointing out that the first lady's stepsons Donald Jr. (left) and Eric (right) are trophy hunters

Making her point: Louise admitted that she doesn't agree with Don Jr.'s passion for trophy hunting, but she noted that it has nothing to do with Melania

During the trip Louise was referring to, Melania infamously wore a jacket with the phrase 'I really dont care, do u?' scrawled on the back when she boarded a plane to visit migrant children at the Texas-Mexico border in 2018.

'Louise, you are the only kind and elegant person here. You are a true animal rights hero. If Melania was a good person, she would speak out against the poor children in cages. Or speak out against animal abuse. Sorry, not my kind,' someone else commented.

Louise once again defended Melania, writing: 'She did speak out about the children in cages and as a result the president reversed/ended the practice.'

'Arent you an animal rights activist? Have you seen this familys proud legacy of trophy hunting giraffe and lions  elephants?' another asked. 'Have you paid attention to the land that is getting ripped away from our wild horses because of the corporate agendas they back? I wish you clarity in your efforts.'

Louise admitted that she doesn't agree with Donald Trump Jr.'s passion for trophy hunting, but she noted that it has nothing to do with Melania.

Husband and wife: The Scottish actress is married to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin

Throwback: President Donald Trump and Melania (left) attended the couple's wedding in 2017 along with Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen (right)

'I appreciate your passion for our animals. Yes, I share that passion. I have advocated for our wild horses with DOI and have personally rescued horses from the Bureau of Land Management,' she commented. 'I also campaign against trophy hunting and financially contribute to numerous anti-poaching charities.'

'I have also spoken publicly against Don Junior's hunting habits. I have clarity and I spend half of my day every day fighting on behalf of animal welfare. That does not mean I cant appreciate Melania as an individual.'

Last November, Louise attacked President Trump and his administration for allowing a U.S. hunter to import a lion trophy from Tanzania.

She slammed her husband's boss in a scathing Instagram post after a Florida man was given permission to bring back a lion's skin, skull, claws, and teeth from an African hunting trip.

'Americans should not be permitted to kill exotic animals for fun!' Linton captioned a photo of a lion.

Linton included part of a statement released by the Center for Biological Diversity from September 2019 that referenced the government's authorization for the hunter to bring back the lion trophy.

In her post, she urged her followers to pressure Congress to pass the Conserving Ecosystems by Ceasing the Importation of Large Animal Trophies (CECIL) Act.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held talks with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron over the phone on September 22. The two leaders discussed bilateral relations between Turkey and France, Turkey, and the European Union, regional developments including tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean. The conversation between Erdogan and Macron is the first since tensions escalated between Turkey and Greece in the Mediterranean, in which France sided with its European Union ally.

President @RTErdogan held a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron.



During the phone call, the relations between Turkey and France as well as regional developments including particularly the Eastern Mediterranean were discussed.https://t.co/WyFS2NBZeA  Republic of Turkey Directorate of Communications (@Communications) September 22, 2020

Read: European Union Leaders Urge Turkey To End "illegal Activities" In Mediterranean Sea

President Erdogan indicated during the conversation that the ignorance of the legitimate rights of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots in the Eastern Mediterranean was the reason for the tension in the region, and stated that he failed to understand Frances support for the maximalist claims and steps of Greece and the Greek Cypriots that served to further escalate the tension, said Turkey's Communications Directorate in a statement on Tuesday.

Read: EU Warns Of Imposing Fresh Sanctions On Turkey Over Mediterranean Crisis

Tensions in the Mediterranean

Tensions between Greece and Turkey have risen amid both countries claims to the same parts of the eastern Mediterranean Sea over significant gas reserves and maritime rights. The dispute in the eastern Mediterranean stems from the fact that Greece believes that the small Greek islands that are located near Turkeys coasts should not be taken into account when deciding maritime boundaries, which is disputed by Turkey. Turkey has repeatedly accused Greece of trying to take a larger than its appropriate share of the resources present in the eastern Mediterranean.

Read: Germany Urges To Cease Naval Exercises Amid Rising Tensions Between Greece, Turkey

Tensions between Turkey and Cyprus have also escalated in the recent past after the Turkish military on September 6 began its annual exercise in the breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, an entity that is recognized only by Ankara. Following the announcement of the drills, Turkey garnered criticism from the European Union, which threatened to impose sanctions on Ankara.

Read: Turkey Begins Annual Military Drill In Cyprus As Tension Escalates In Mediterranean


The Rajasthan High Court on Wednesday stayed the arrest warrant issued against former Union disinvestment minister, Arun Shourie, and another person by a special CBI court in connection with alleged corruption in the 2002 sale of a hotel in Udaipur.

On Tuesday, the court provided relief to three other persons from arrest in the same case.

The courts decision came on petitions filed by Arun Shourie and Kantilal Vikamsey, then head of valuation firm Kanti Karamsey & Co.

The single bench of Justice Dinesh Mehta noted that Shourie because of his age, his wifes ailments and a child who requires his care would find it difficult to appear before the Court, particularly in the present scenario.

Considering the age and family circumstances of the petitioner, a small indulgence of appearing any time by October 15 is granted to him. The petitioner (Shourie) shall not be arrested in pursuance of the arrest warrant issued in relation to the order passed by special judge, CBI cases, Jodhpur. The petitioner may appear before the Court on any date by October 15 and furnish a personal bond of 2 lakh and two sureties of 1 lakh each. The petitioner shall be permitted to appear before the court with his counsel, justice Mehta said.

Prashant Bhushan, appearing for Shourie, said that the trial court has committed an error in holding that the prosecution sanction under Section 19 of the Prevention of Corruption Act is not required. He further said the petitioner was not even named in the FIR.

Meanwhile, the CBI clarified its stand on the matter on Wednesday. Addl. Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the CBI, said that the order of the Special Judge, CBI is not in conformity with law. He emphasised that the CBI is reiterating its stand that no irregularity had been committed and the very order of taking cognizance is not proper.

On September 15, along with Shourie and Pradip Baijal, the special CBI court ordered the registration of cases against Ashish Guha, the managing director of Lazard India Ltd who was the financial adviser, valuer Kantilal Karamsey of Kantilal Karamsey & Company and Jyotsana Suri, director of Bharat Hotels Ltd.

The CBI courts order came despite the agency filing a closure report.

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 the government lost 244 crore in sale as the hotel was evaluated at 252 crore and was sold for 7.52 crore.
The first presidential debate is next Tuesday, and I don't see Biden surviving. His campaign has been playing "hide the Crypt-Keeper" since spring, occasionally proving to the public that he's still ticking by having him tussle with a teleprompter while "objective journalists" participate in make-believe interviews. Biden's cognitive decline is now so steep that he begins reading pre-written answers to pre-written questions, forgets what he's doing halfway through, and settles for stringing syllables together that sound English-y in a nonnative speaker sort of way. He is a man forever in search of a thought but finding none, while the press corps propping up his campaign pretends otherwise. All I hear when Old Joe speaks is Grampa Simpson saying, "If I'm not back at the home by nine, they declare me legally dead and collect my insurance." That might be his best excuse for getting out of the debate in Cleveland. If America sees the real "Sundown" Joe after dusk, this race is over.

Don't do it, Joe! Getting murdered on national television is no way to end a 47-year career as a Washington welcome mat. It would be better to concede the contest right now than to endure the beating coming your way. Even if he plays nice, President Trump is going to smack you around so viciously that you'll forget that China's Xi is your real daddy. You'll leave the debate stage looking more charred than a Kenosha business after a BLM "peaceful protest." Better to get in the ring with UFC fighter Colby Covington and endure his beating than take what President Trump has on tap. Run, Joe, run! You don't want what's coming.

With only days remaining to find a good place to hide, though, Slow Joe sure does sound as though he's gonna show. Isn't that why his campaign has been airing him out lately and dragging him from one painted circle in desolate isolation to the next while he struggles through limited remarks before running away from handpicked reporters who ask only flattering "yes or no" questions? We haven't seen this much energy from the Biden campaign since Jill chose Kamala to be her running mate. There's been speculation for months that the basement-dwelling, hair-sniffing groper would never submit himself for examination next to President Trump where the nation could so easily judge the president's vitality against Biden's rigor mortis. Standing side by side, President Trump will appear to have sucked the life right from Biden's Washington establishment corpse. But here we are only days away from Round One of Trump vs. Chump, and Team Grope still hasn't thrown in the towel.

I can think of only three explanations.

(1) Hidin' Biden is about to announce the mother of all dog-ate-my-homework excuses for not showing up. The smart money was always on some last-minute demand that Joe be surrounded by Candy Crowleylike "fact-checkers" to interrupt President Trump's answers with Ministry of Truth real-time spin. (It's amazing that having 99% of "journalists" actively working on their behalf still isn't sufficient for the Democrats to win this election; in their minds, a fair debate requires President Trump to go up against his opponent, the moderator, and a team of Democrat political operatives posing as reporters all at once while he's busy bringing peace to the Middle East.) But now the more likely subterfuge would take advantage of Justice Ginsburg's passing. If the Biden campaign releases a statement in the next few days claiming that Joe refuses to debate unless President Trump agrees to hold off on nominating a new Supreme Court justice, the press will be absolutely giddy. How brave! And smart! What a real leader! The grifters at the Lincoln Project will be beside themselves. Ol' Hidin' can run away from the coming beating under the cover of Justice Ginsburg's funerary procession, and Jake Tapper and Chris Wallace will applaud his cowardice. It will be just like when Obama prostrated himself before Iran and called it courage, so it would be nothing new for Joe.

(2) Perhaps the Democrats don't expect their Trojan horse candidate to survive the first debate, either. There's no faster path toward swapping Kamala Harris for the Washington relic with a segregationist past than to push Old Joe's body past its natural limits. Obama's former sidekick can sacrifice himself on the altar of diversity by ensuring that Obama's preferred candidate is crowned queen before voting has really begun. Kamala was always the candidate of the deep-pocketed money class, the Hollywood glams, and the "new guard" Obama loyalists running the DNC, but she failed so spectacularly during the campaign that she was forced to bow out of the race two months before the Iowa caucuses. Now the power behind the Democrat curtain can turn one of last year's biggest losers into the official nominee just by riding Old Joe Biden to his grave. For the Democrats, everything's for the "greater good," right? From their point of view, what could possibly be better than juicing Ol' Sundown with one of "Dr. Feelgood's" magic concoctions of steroids and amphetamines that sends him up the debate stage in such euphoria that he hardly notices when his heart explodes? There's a reason President Trump keeps bringing up the possibility of a drug test for Joe before next Tuesday. Joe Biden on speed doesn't make his incoherence suddenly comprehensible. It pushes him right to death's door and leaves Kamala Harris, a woman who has proven she will say and do anything for power, one ballot-harvested election away from the Oval Office.

(3) Hidin' Biden and the Democrats may actually believe that Joe can beat President Trump mano a mano. That seems crazy, but then again, it seemed crazy six months ago when the Democrats decided to run for election by looting small businesses, beating up strangers, and burning American cities to the ground. Never underestimate the power of the Democrats' "reality distortion field" to convince them that real, everyday Americans are behind their radical agenda to rip up the Constitution, topple the Washington Monument, and usher in a Marxist utopia that rules over the heartland for a thousand years. Every step of the way, the Democrats have underestimated Donald Trump. They expected Hillary to destroy him with ease. They expected the Mueller-Weissmann special counsel inquisition to save Washington from the voters' reckoning. They expected President Trump to cower from their use of the CIA and FBI to remove him from office. They expected his use of tariffs against China and his realignment of power in Asia to backfire against him. They expected his push for Middle East peace to fail. They expected his moves to strengthen our relationship with Poland and other Central European countries to achieve nothing. They expected his pro-American economic growth policies, strong defense of America's heritage, and bold support for the unborn to somehow turn off black and Hispanic Americans. Every step of the way, they've miscalculated.

So maybe they're really about to send Joe Biden into his own bloodbath at the hands of President Trump this Tuesday, and they really are too stupid to know what's about to happen. One way or another, come September 29, it's lights out for Sundown Joe.

Hat tip to "Surfthewaves."

Image: Marc Nozell via Flickr, CC BY 2.0.
By Joseph Sipalan

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said on Wednesday he has secured a 'formidable' majority from lawmakers to oust Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and form a new government, heralding a fresh bout of political drama in the Southeast Asian country.

The power struggle comes at a difficult time for the multi-ethnic nation, as its export driven economy has been badly hit by the coronavirus pandemic. The Malaysian ringgit and stocks fell after Anwar's comments.

Anwar now has to convince Malaysia's king, Sultan Abdullah, that he has the numbers to form a government, but as yet no major political party has come out in his support.

The king could instead choose to call for elections on Muhyiddin's advice to end months of political volatility.

Muhyiddin, whose seven-month-old coalition has survived on a razor-thin majority, dismissed Anwar's claims as a "mere allegation", telling him to prove his majority through a constitutional process.

"Until proven otherwise, the Perikatan Nasional government remains steadfast and I am the rightful prime minister," Muhyiddin said in a statement referring to his ruling coalition.

Muhyiddin also unveiled an additional economic stimulus package worth 10 billion ringgit ($2.41 billion).

The six major political parties supporting Muhyiddin dismissed Anwar's claim as "cheap publicity" and said in a joint statement that they were firmly behind Muhyiddin, who emerged as leader after the resignation of the previous prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad.

If Anwar finally succeeds in winning power it would mark the culmination of a 22-year long struggle, during which he spent almost 10 years in jail.

"We have a strong, formidable majority. I'm not talking about four, five, six (seats), I'm talking about much more than that," Anwar told reporters. "With these numbers, Muhyiddin has fallen as PM."

Story continues

Anwar said he commanded support from close to two-thirds of the legislature's 222 lawmakers, without giving actual numbers or disclosing who had pledged support.

He also said he has the support of some lawmakers from Muhyiddin's coalition and that he was open to working with the premier.

Mahathir, whose past feud with Anwar charted the course of Malaysian politics over the past 20 years, said he will "wait to see if this is another episode of making claims that cannot be substantiated," the Edge newspaper reported.

NEXT STEPS

Anwar's next step would be to meet with the king, Sultan Abdullah. The king plays a largely ceremonial role in Malaysia but he could appoint a prime minister who in his view is likely to command a majority in parliament. He could also dissolve parliament and trigger elections on the premier's advice.

Anwar and the palace said he was scheduled to meet with the king on Tuesday but it had to be cancelled as the king was unwell and had to be taken to a hospital.

Analysts said elections were more likely to end the political uncertainty.

"If Anwar has the numbers, snap polls will be very likely," said Adib Zalkapli, director at political consultancy BowerGroupAsia.

Muhyiddin came to power in March after securing a majority with the support of UMNO, which was defeated in the 2018 election. His opponents have accused him of grabbing power by shifting alliances instead of earning it at the ballot box.

Anwar, 73, has had a tumultuous political career. At first a rising star of Malaysian politics and UMNO, he was jailed for sodomy and corruption after being fired as deputy prime minister by Mahathir in 1998.

He was again jailed on sodomy charges in 2015, when Najib Razak was prime minister.

Anwar has described all the charges brought against him as a plot to destroy his political career. He was granted a royal pardon in 2018, as part of the deal with Mahathir for him to succeed the premiership, after the two had forged an alliance to defeat Najib in the 2018 election.

(Reporting by Joseph Sipalan; Additional reporting by Rozanna Latiff; Writing by Ed Davies and A. Ananthalakshmi; Editing by Martin Petty & Simon Cameron-Moore)
Baton Rouge, La.  Fencing materials will be delivered to an emergency livestock supply distribution site at the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestrys (LDAFs) Lacassine Industrial Park located in Jefferson Davis Parish off of Interstate-10. The LDAF established the location in collaboration with the Louisiana Cattlemans Association (LCA), Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation (LFBF) and LSU AgCenter. The site is also currently being used as a staging area to fuel emergency response vehicles.

Our livestock producers in Hurricane Laura impacted areas experienced drastic losses of hay, feed and supplies during the storm. Weve established a small but secure location at Lacassine to assist in this response effort, said Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Mike Strain, D.V.M. It never ceases to amaze me how in times of need, our ag community always steps up to help one another.

Many individuals and industry entities want to donate supplies or have already, said Dusty Pendergrass, LCA Executive Vice President. Weve collaborated with LDAF to secure the Lacassine staging location and were currently coordinating with individuals to bring in donated items. We are also accepting monetary donations to our LCA Foundation 501(c)(3) which will be used to bring continued relief to producers in affected areas.

According to Pendergrass, more supplies will arrive next week from South Florida. To donate or request supplies, contact Dusty Pendergrass with LCA at dpendergrass@labeef.org or call (225) 405-4157. To determine eligibility to receive donated items, go to www.lsuagcenter.com/applicationforassistance. The deadline to apply is September 30, 2020. Eligible producers will be notified when they can pick-up their supplies

When disaster strikes and times are tough, thats when those in agriculture really come together to help one another, said Louisiana Farm Bureau President Jim Harper. Its really one of the great things about Louisiana Farm Bureau. As a grassroots organization, we can coordinate and direct help from the people who can give directly to the people in need.

To request or donate hay, contact the LFBF Hay Clearinghouse at https://lafarmbureau.org/hayclearinghouse-forms or call (225) 922-6200.

Were here to assist our membership and assist our industry in the state, said Louisiana Farm Bureau 1st Vice-President and Caddo Parish rancher Marty Wooldridge. I know firsthand what it's like to have a natural disaster kill the grass in your pastures at a time when hay is in short supply.

According to the LSU AgCenter, there were 16,359 head of cattle in Cameron Parish prior to the storm. Cameron Parish was one of the hardest hit areas. Cattle in Louisiana is valued at $465.4 million annually.
Company to Offer a New Smart, Fun and Eco-Friendly Means of Travel

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Segway-Ninebot, a global leader in short-distance transportation solutions and robotic service industries, continues to traverse new technological fronts with the release of its chic and innovative smart eBike, the Segway eMoped C80.

The revolutionary Segway eMoped C80, equipped with a 24Ah battery, transforms the modern-day commute with its capacity to travel up to 52.8 miles on a single charge. The eMoped provides this extended range all while remaining compact- its newly-designed 1152Wh lithium-ion battery is both portable and lightweight with the ability to be removed effortlessly and carried anywhere with ease for charging.

Eco-friendly:

Show your true colors with the Segway eMoped C80. This new consumer product combines the latest in transportation and electric motor technology and is composed of only the finest physical materials. The eMopeds body panels are made up of 100% eco-friendly PP plastics, allowing its raw material and color to peek through. Whether youre a cross-town commuter, lover of the earth, or are simply looking for a new way to spark up some daily excitement, this vehicle is for you.

Feature Highlights

The Segway eMoped C80 has a top speed of 20mph and a range of up to 52.8 miles. Weighing 121lbs and measuring in at less than 5.3ft, the vehicle can be taken effortlessly into elevators and other small areas.

The Segway eMoped C80 comes equipped with an electric handlebar lock, allowing riders to lock the vehicle in a single second. By using the Segway-Ninebot App, riders have access to their eMoped security, which features the eMopeds inaugural AirLock system, simply unlocking the eMoped by approaching the vehicle- allowing drivers to hop on and ride off in fluidity. The AirLock system also locks the eMoped automatically when the rider walks away from the vehicle. In addition, the eMopeds handlebars can be locked for an extra boost of safety.

Story continues

The Segway eMoped C80 comes with four built-in anti-theft mechanisms when its parked and locked: The lights of the handle bars will flash red and green; the alarm will sound; the wheels will lock after 3 to 4 seconds, and a message will be sent to the riders phone saying their eMoped is being tampered with.

The Segway eMoped C80 is also rigged up with a regenerative anti-lock braking system. The vehicle's front disk brake is paired with a rear drum brake to ensure fast, stable and reliable braking. The eMopeds EABS System recoups energy to the battery to extend the range, taking riders further.

The Segway eMoped C80 also features a two-stage central shock absorber, built-in front LED lights and patented anti-skid tubeless tires.

Coming Soon on Indiegogo

Segway eMoped C80 will be available to pre-order via Indiegogo at 11 a.m. EST on Sep. 29th, 2020, with an exclusive launch day special price of $1,899 paired with free shipping. Consumers can sign up for the pre-launch page at HERE.

*Special offer valid launch day only

It will then become available to the mass market in the U.S. during Q4 2020.

For further information, please find the Segway eMoped C80 press kit and factsheet linked HERE.

# # #

About Segway-Ninebot.

Segway-Ninebot is a global enterprise in the fields of intelligent short-distance transportation and service robots. In 1999, Segway was established in Bedford NH, US, which is the world leader in commercial-grade, electric, self-balancing personal transportation. Ninebot is an intelligent short-distance transportation equipment operator integrating R&D, production, sales, and service, established in Beijing, 2012. As Segway and Ninebot completed a strategic combination in 2015, Segway-Ninebot came into being. At Present, the companys businesses are all around the world and have subsidiaries in Beijing, Seattle, Bedford, Los Angeles, Amsterdam, Seoul, Singapore, Munich, Changzhou, and Tianjin, selling products in more than 80 countries and regions. With the world-renowned intellectual property, Segway-Ninebot will create more products that will lead the users and the entire industry into the future. For more information, please visit http://www.segway.com.

Attachments

CONTACT: Jamie Peng Segway jamie.peng@segway.com




Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 23:42:22|Editor: huaxia

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BANGKOK, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's Immigration Bureau on Wednesday issued a grave warning that foreign tourists who over-stayed and have not renewed their visas will face hefty fines and imprisonment.

Foreign nationals need to have their tourist visas renewed by Sept. 26 or face a charge of overstaying, warned Pol. Col. Pakpong Sai-ubol, deputy spokesman of the Immigration Bureau.

Pakpong said there are currently more than 150,000 foreign nationals who have over-stayed their visas in Thailand, with many citing the inability to return to their homeland because of air travel restrictions and the pandemic ravage back home.

"Overstaying the tourist visa is punishable by both a jail term and fine under the Immigration Act," Pakpong said, adding that offenders would also be deported to their countries of origin.

According to the Thai immigration 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.

Pakpong said the Thai Immigration had already extended the foreign visitors' visas several times free of charge due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic since late March when international flights were suspended.

"The Immigration Bureau has been very generous in giving a reprieve to the foreign tourists by automatically extending visas," said Pakpong, "however the grace period will end this Saturday."

Failure to report to obtain a visa renewal by the deadline will incur a daily fine and lead to authorities tracking down tourists at addresses kept in the Immigration Bureau's database, he said. Enditem
By Polina Devitt and Tatiana Voronova MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian bank TCS Group Holding is in talks to sell its online bank Tinkoff to Russian internet group Yandex 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 ...
Press Release

September 23, 2020 POE PANEL SCRUTINIZES 11 FRANCHISE BIDS The Senate public services committee, led by Sen. Grace Poe, scrutinized on Wednesday the application of 11 companies for fresh franchise to continue operations. "By authority under the Constitution and as practiced here in the Senate, we grant a franchise only after establishing that there is a public need for such a service and that the applicant has the means to adequately provide it," Poe said. The applicants are composed of three telecommunications companies, five broadcast companies and three others from various industries. Government regulators were also present in the hearing to determine if the applicants have faithfully complied with all the duties and deliverables attached as conditions for enjoying their franchise. "Ang mga prangkisa ay hindi lamang pribilehiyo kung hindi isa ring checklist kung nagawa ba ng mga aplikante ang kanyang mga obligasyon at tungkulin sa publiko," Poe said. Poe said the applicants will be given opportunity to prove that their services are crucial to serving the public needs. "We want to make sure that all applicants are fit to offer their avowed public service so as to encourage competition and drive companies to provide better service. For those services that are natural monopolies, we will evaluate if they truly deserve the exclusive privilege of the franchise," she said. "If the public wants or needs it, we will grant it," Poe added. The three telco franchises are Cruztelco, Bayantel, and Tandag. The five broadcast franchises are FBS Radio Network, Inc., Century Communications Marketing Center, Inc., Caceres Broadcasting Corporation, Negros Broadcasting and Publishing Corporation, and Philippine Collective Media Corporation. The three other applicants are San Miguel Aerocity, Davao Light and Power Company Inc., and Metro Manila Turf Club, Inc. The application of Metro Manila Turf Club Inc., which operates the racecourse in Batangas, was deemed approved after getting support from members of the panel. Poe said the committee is waiting for pertinent documents from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Securities and Exchange Commission on the compliance of the applicants seeking franchise renewal. "When they are found compliant, we will submit our committee report," she said. During the hearing, Poe reprimanded the BIR for coming to the hearing unprepared after several senators called out the bureau's absence of assessment on the compliance of applicants to their franchise's terms. "I'm really disappointed because they always come to our hearings unprepared or sending even the wrong representative. I don't understand why you are doing the crosschecking only now. If for some reason, we pass these franchises and then you start running to us and telling us that you are mistaken, then that's your loss," she said. "I am not going to sabotage the opportunities, the jobs for our countrymen because the government agencies are inefficient," Poe added. Summary of information on franchise applications: Cruz Telephone Company, Inc. Operates a telecommunications system under Manila East Holding Corporation and J.S. Cruz Construction and Development Inc. Franchise expired on March 29, 2020, seeking renewal of 25-year franchise.

Tandag Electric and Telephone Company, Inc. Operates a public domestic telecommunications. Franchise to expire on July 16, 2023, seeking renewal of 25-year franchise.

Bayan Telecommunications, Inc. Operates domestic telecommunications, radiophones, broadcasting and telecasting under the same company name and Globe Telecom Inc. Franhise to expire on August 9, 2021, seeking renewal of 25-year franchise.

FBS Radio Network Operates radio and television broadcasting. Franchise expired on July 9, 2020, seeking renewal of 25-year franchise.

Century Communications Marketing Center Inc. Operates radio and television broadcasting. Franchise expired on July 16, 2020, seeking renewal of 25-year franchise.

Caceres Broadcasting Corporation Operates radio and television broadcasting. Franchise expired on July 9, 2020, seeking renewal of 25-year franchise.

Philippine Collective Media Corporation Expanding to digital television. Franchise to expire on November 14, 2034, seeking renewal of 25-year franchise.

Negros Broadcasting and Publishing Corporation Operates radio and television broadcasting. Franchise expired on September 23, 2020, seeking renewal of 25-year franchise.

San Miguel Aerocity Inc. Applying for a 50-year franchise to operate domestic and international airport in Bulacan.

Davao Light and Power Company Operates electric light, heat and power system. Franchise to expire on September 7, 2025, seeking renewal of 25-year franchise.

Metro Manila Turf Club Inc. Operates racetrack for horse racing. Franchise expired on April 22, 2020, seeking a 35-year franchise.
The U.S. Justice Department will unveil later on Wednesday a proposal that seeks to limit legal protections for internet platforms on managing content, a person briefed on the matter confirmed.

The proposal, which takes aim at Facebook Inc., Twitter Inc. and Alphabet Inc.s Google, would need congressional approval and is not likely to see action until next year at the earliest.

President Donald Trump in May 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 will meet on Wednesday with a group of state attorneys general amid his criticism of social media companies. Twitter has repeatedly placed warning labels on Trump tweets, saying they have included potentially misleading information about mail-in voting.

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.

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.

Trump directed the Commerce Department to file a petition asking the Federal Communication Commission to limit protections under Section 230 after Twitter warned readers in May to fact-check his posts about unsubstantiated claims of fraud in mail-in voting. The petition is still pending.

A group representing major internet companies including Facebook, 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.

The Wall Street Journal reported the planned Justice Department proposal earlier.

(Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington and Ayanti Bera in Bengaluru; editing by Patrick Graham, Chizu Nomiyama and Jonathan Oatis)

Topics New Markets
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 23

By Elnur Baghishov  Trend:

As many as 3,605 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, 184 more people have died from the coronavirus over the past day.

Sadat Lari added that the condition of 3,948 people is critical.

So far, more than 3.82 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 432,700 people have been infected, and 24,840 people have already died. Meanwhile, over 365,800 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.
Scientists strive to solve the worlds most urgent problems, leading to further discovery, innovation, economic growth, and societal progress. - Len Blavatnik

Today, during National Postdoc Appreciation Week, the Blavatnik Family Foundation and the New York Academy of Sciences announced the three Winners and six Finalists of the 2020 Blavatnik Regional Awards for Young Scientists. The Blavatnik Regional Awards honor outstanding postdoctoral scientists from academic research institutions across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut and recognize researchers in three scientific categories: Life Sciences, Physical Sciences & Engineering, and Chemistry. A distinguished jury of leading scientists and engineers from across the New York region selects, in each category, one Winner, who is awarded a $30,000 unrestricted prize, and two Finalists, who are each awarded $10,000. For the 2020 competition, there were 154 outstanding nominations from 24 academic institutions in the New York metropolitan region (Tri-State area). The 2020 Blavatnik Regional Awards Winners and Finalists will be honored alongside the 2020 and 2021 Blavatnik National Awards honorees on September 27, 2021, at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

The 2020 Blavatnik Regional Awards Winners are:



Life Sciences: Antonio Fernandez-Ruiz, PhD, nominated by New York University

Antonio Fernandez-Ruiz has expanded our understanding of how neurons in the brain coordinate their activity to support our ability to form and recall memories. By uncovering the mechanisms of this coordinated activity in the brain, he was also able to alter how neurons are reactivated, demonstrating that memory can be improved artificially. Fernandez-Ruiz will be transitioning to a tenure-track position at Cornell University in July, 2021.



Physical Sciences & Engineering: Adrian Price-Whelan, PhD, nominated by Flatiron Institute Adrian Price-Whelans innovative use of advanced statistical analysis and computational techniques has unlocked one of the biggest mysteries of the universedark matter. Utilizing satellite data to analyze the motions of stars throughout the outer regions of the Milky Way, Price-Whelan's work has provided the first clear evidence of dark matter substructure in the outskirts of our galaxy.

Chemistry: Ning Jia, PhD, nominated by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Ning Jia has unlocked key biological mechanisms that govern the function of enzymes and CRISPR-Cas systems, such as those used in gene editing. Jias research has provided scientists with an enhanced understanding of the functions and structure of individual atoms in biological molecules. In the case of her work on CRISPR-Cas systems, this detailed knowledge is necessary if we are to demonstrate that gene-editing can be used in the future to cure certain genetic diseases.

Scientists strive to solve the worlds most urgent problems, leading to further discovery, innovation, economic growth, and societal progress, said Len Blavatnik, Founder and Chairman of Access Industries, head of the Blavatnik Family Foundation, and member of the Presidents Council of the New York Academy of Sciences. Our nations thriving scientific ecosystem is reliant, to a large degree, on scientists and engineers coming to America to study and conduct research. Im pleased that our 2020 honorees hail from multiple countries, highlighting yet again how essential it is for scientists the world over to work together to address humankinds greatest challenges and improve the quality of life for everyone.

Nicholas B. Dirks, the New York Academy of Sciences new President and CEO said: Postdocs are the fuel running the engines of scientific research. We are incredibly proud to announce these outstanding postdoctoral Winners and Finalists of the 2020 Blavatnik Regional Awards, especially during National Postdoc Appreciation Weeka week dedicated to recognizing the significant contributions that postdoctoral scholars make to American research and discovery. The Academy, through administering programs for postdoctoral scientists such as the Blavatnik Regional Awards and Science Alliance, is committed to supporting these young investigators as they transition to the next stages in their career and beyond.

The following postdoctoral researchers have been named Finalists in their respective categories:

Life Sciences



Amelia Escolano, PhD, nominated by The Rockefeller University

Amelia Escolano was recognized for her groundbreaking HIV research, designing a novel immunization procedure that could lead to a vaccine against HIV-1. By sequentially exposing mice to several different forms of a protein found on the HIV-1 virus over a five month period, Escolano was able to train the immune system to make antibodies that neutralize a broad diversity of strains of the rapidly mutating HIV-1 virus.



Marc Schneeberger Pane, PhD, nominated by The Rockefeller University

Marc Schneeberger Pane has discovered that a specific area of the brain usually associated with mood and wakefulness also controls energy balance and body weight by regulating feeding behavior and body temperature. Two types of neurons in this area are activated by different energy states (hunger, satiety) or with temperature challenges (heat). Importantly, activation of these neurons leads to strong effects in feeding or temperature regulation. As a result body weight is changed. Obesity is a disease in which energy balance is dysregulated, so this new finding offers promise for developing novel drugs to treat this chronic, widespread condition.

Physical Sciences & Engineering



Zahra Abdollahnejad, PhD, nominated by University of Connecticut

Zahra Abdollahnejad was recognized for the design and development of green construction materials for buildings. Concrete is responsible for 4-8% of the worlds global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Through her development of specialized mixtures of environmentally-friendly concretes, mortars, and insulating foams, Abdollahnejad could significantly reduce the impact of concrete on global warming by a 50-90% carbon footprint compared to cementitious compositions, making newly constructed buildings more energy-efficient. She is also trying to develop sustainable construction materials with near-zero CO2 emissions. Her work is re-shaping how the construction industry uses concrete, creating more sustainable buildings for our future.



Shruti Puri, PhD, nominated by Yale University

Shruti Puri was recognized for her extraordinary theoretical discoveries in quantum information storage and quantum computing. In quantum computing systems, error (noise) is an obstacle to accuracy and computational advantage. Puris rigorous theoretical and mathematical treatment of error led to the discovery of a completely new way of storing information in microwave photons (quanta of light), known as the Kerr-cat quantum bit. Puris discovery makes the path towards scalable quantum computing technologies truly possible, by tailoring the errors affecting the quantum bit in such a way that they become relatively easy to correct. Puri has recently been promoted to a tenure-track position at Yale University.

Chemistry



Xianwen Mao, PhD, nominated by Cornell University

Xianwen Mao has developed a first-of-its-kind technique called COMPEITS (competition-enabled imaging technique with super-resolution) that allows for real-time optical imaging of non-fluorescent processesprocesses that do not give off energy in the form of visible light. His groundbreaking technique allows for the visualization of various classes of non-fluorescent systems and processes, such as surface reactions, neurotransmitters, and chemical warfare agentsall with high resolution and under realistic conditions. This technique could be extremely useful in fields including neuroscience, materials engineering and nanotechnology, where many critical processes are non-fluorescent.



Yifei Zhang, PhD, nominated by Columbia University

Yifei Zhang has uncovered the principles that govern the overall activity of enzyme cascade reactionsa sequence of successive chemical reactions naturally occurring in living cells. By understanding the interplay between reaction and transport, he has shown that it is possible to engineer cellular components to perform programmable and predictable functions in vitro, including the synthesis of small molecule drugs and therapeutics.

About the Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists

The Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists, established by the Blavatnik Family Foundation in the United States in 2007 and independently administered by the New York Academy of Sciences, began by identifying outstanding regional scientific talent in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. The Blavatnik National Awards were first awarded in 2014, and in 2017, the Awards were expanded to honor faculty-rank scientists in the United Kingdom and in Israel. By the close of 2020, the Blavatnik Awards will have conferred prizes totaling over $10.2 million to 321 outstanding young scientists and engineers from more than 46 countries, representing 36 scientific and engineering disciplines. For updates about the Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists, please visit http://www.blavatnikawards.org or follow us on Facebook and Twitter (@BlavatnikAwards).

About the Blavatnik Family Foundation

The Blavatnik Family Foundation is an active supporter of world-renowned educational, scientific, cultural, and charitable institutions in the United States, the United Kingdom, Israel, Russia, and throughout the world. The Foundation is headed by Len Blavatnik, a global industrialist and philanthropist and the Founder and Chairman of Access Industries, a privately-held industrial group based in the US with global strategic interests. Visit: http://www.accessindustries.com or http://www.blavatnikfoundation.org.

About the New York Academy of Sciences

The New York of Academy of Sciences is an independent, not-for-profit organization that since 1817 has been committed to advancing science for the benefit of society. With more than 20,000 Members in 100 countries, the Academy advances scientific and technical knowledge, addresses global challenges with science-based solutions, and sponsors a wide variety of educational initiatives at all levels for STEM and STEM related fields. The Academy hosts programs and publishes content in the life and physical sciences, the social sciences, nutrition, artificial intelligence, computer science, and sustainability. The Academy also provides professional and educational resources for researchers across all phases of their careers. Please visit us online at http://www.nyas.org.

Media contact:

Kamala Murthy

Kmurthy@nyas.org

212-298-3740
B.C. has now seen more than 8,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced Monday.

Her daily briefing covered three days since the latest update on Friday, a period that saw 366 new cases of the disease caused by the novel coronavirus confirmed and four more deaths recorded.

The number of cases of active infection in B.C. has hit another record high of 1,987, out of a total 8,208 cases to date. A total of 227 people have died.

In light of a continuing spike in new cases, Henry once again urged British Columbians to stick to a social bubble of six people for any gatherings. She stressed that indoor gatherings are always more risky that outdoor ones.

"It has been a long haul and we have a ways to go in this storm," she said.

As of Monday, there are 60 patients in hospital being treated for the disease, including 21 who are in intensive care.

A total of 3,233 people are now being monitored by public health officials because of possible exposure to the virus and 5,972 have recovered from their illness.

Monday's update included one new outbreak in long-term care at Yaletown House in Vancouver. There are currently 15 active outbreaks in the health-care system.

B.C. may be in 2nd, 'smaller' wave

Henry addressed news from Quebec, where officials say the province has officially entered a second wave of infection. Henry acknowledged that there has been a surge in cases in B.C., but she's not quite ready to call it a full wave.

"I think I've called it a mogul before but maybe a smaller wave," Henry said.

She said that about 80 per cent of new confirmed cases are currently connected to other known cases or outbreaks, B.C. health officials are able to follow up on each new infection within a reasonable amount of time and the province still has enough resources and hospital space to deal with outbreaks as they arise, she said.

Story continues

The latest numbers come as British Columbians prepare for the reality of a provincial election during a pandemic. Earlier Monday, NDP Leader John Horgan called a snap election for Oct. 24, arguing that delaying the vote until 2021 risks "instability" in the government's pandemic response.

Horgan insists that management of the COVID-19 response will remain stable throughout the campaign, with deputy premier Carole James taking the government's reins and public health officers remaining in their current roles.

Henry said Monday that she will be meeting with James and Health Minister Adrian Dix daily throughout the campaign, but Dix will no longer appear with her at COVID-19 briefings.

"The B.C. COVID-19 response will continue uninterrupted, and it is, of course, my priority," she said.

She added that she has worked with Elections BC to ensure that the vote will be conducted safely, but "Premier Horgan did not ask for my advice on calling an election."
JPMorgan Chase is moving about ^200 billion ($230 billion) from the UK to Frankfurt as a result of Britains exit from the European Union (EU), a shift that will make it one of the largest banks in Germany. The US bank plans to finish the migration of the assets to its Frankfurt-based subsidiary by the end of the year, people familiar with the matter said.

The change could boost its balance sheet enough to become the countrys sixth-largest bank, based on the assets of the biggest commercial lenders last year. A spokeswoman for JPMorgan in Frankfurt declined to comment. The ...
Seems like a clear case of mistaken identity: Kangana Ranaut's recent attack on Congress

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

Mumbai, Sep 23: Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut on Wednesday slammed Congress and questioned the ongoing protests against her in the country and said it must have been a case of "mistaken identity".

Taking to Twitter, Ranaut said, "Am I some minister or a great opposition leader? Who they think I am? this is rather flattering."This comment comes after Punjab Congress burnt the effigies of Kangana for "disrespecting farmers by labelling them terrorists".

Sushant Singh Rajput case: Maha Congress raises questions over central agencies probe

"First congress in Maharashtra threatened me and beat my posters with chappals now congress in Punjab burning my effigies, seems like a clear case of mistaken identity," the actor said in a tweet.

The protests came after the actor allegedly equated the protesting farmers with "terrorists".

In the previous tweet, Ranaut said, "People who spread misinformation and rumours about CAA that caused riots are the same people who are now spreading misinformations about Farmers bill and causing terror in the nation, they are terrorists. You very well know what I said but simply like to spread misinformation."

Coronavirus: India records 83,347 new COVID-19 cases as recoveries cross 4.5 million-mark in India

Only Sushant took drugs, Rhea claims in latest plea | Oneindia News

Meanwhile, Kangana is engaged in a war of words with the Shiv Sena government in Maharashtra after an allegedly "illegal" portion of her Mumbai office was razed on September 9.

On Tuesday, the Bombay high court asked actor Kangana Ranaut to implead Shiv Sena chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut in her petition for threatening her with 'Ukhad diya' - the title of an article in Sena mouthpiece Saamana.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Wednesday, September 23, 2020, 14:15 [IST]
A lack of firefighting resources in the hours after it was sparked allowed a fast-moving wildfire to make an unprecedented run through Southern California mountains and eventually find fuel in old-growth trees to become one of Los Angeles Countys largest fires ever, an official said Tuesday.

The Bobcat Fire has burned for more than two weeks and was still threatening more than 1,000 homes after scorching its way through brush and timber down into the Mojave Desert. Its one of dozens of other major blazes across the West.

This is a stubborn fire, Angeles National Forest spokesman Andrew Mitchell said. Only about 100 firefighters were initially dispatched on Sept. 6 when the Bobcat Fire broke out and swiftly grew to about 200 acres, he said.

To put that into perspective, normally for a fire that size wed have at least double or triple that number of firefighters, Mitchell said. At the time, many Southern California ground crews and a fleet of retardant- and water-dropping aircraft were assigned to multiple record-breaking blazes in the northern part of the state.

By the time staffing was ramped up, flames had found their way deep into inaccessible forest. Embers floated across mountain ridges, igniting towering trees and creating an expanding wall of fire.

A lot of that old growth hadnt seen fire in 40 or 50 years. The fire had a lot of places to go, Mitchell said. The blaze had more than doubled in size over the past week to 170 square miles.

As of Monday, the fire was still advancing at one to two miles per hour at times and threatened the desert town of Pearblossom after burning into the Antelope Valley foothill area, across the San Gabriel Mountains from Los Angeles.

The blaze 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.

The Bobcat Fire was one of more than two dozen major wildfires burning across California, including five of the largest in state history.

Related:

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

Topics California Catastrophe Natural Disasters Wildfire
The Allahabad High Court has dismissed a plea to rename itself either as the Prayagraj High Court or the Uttar Pradesh High Court. A Lucknow bench of the high court dismissed the lawsuit, filed in the form a Public Interest Litigation, terming it as a publicity stunt litigation.

The petition filed by advocate Ashok Pandey was dismissed by a bench of justices P K Jaiswal and D K Singh. The petitioner had raised the plea to rename the high court on the ground that the state government rechristened Allahabad district as Prayagraj on October 16, 2018.

In its recent order, the bench said renaming its name is within the powers of the Legislature under the Constitutional scheme and hence it cannot interfere in the issue. The high court, however, restrained itself from imposing cost on the petitioner for filing unnecessary petition, saying the petitioner was a practising lawyer of the court.
[September 23, 2020] Telefonica awarded the 2020 European Competitive Strategy Innovation and Leadership Award for Hosted IP Telephony and UCaaS by Frost and Sullivan

LONDON, Sept. 23, 2020 /CNW/ -- Based on its recent analysis of the European hosted IP telephony and UCaaS market, Frost & Sullivan recognizes Telefonica with the 2020 European Competitive Strategy Innovation and Leadership Award. Telefonica stands out with its diversified hosted IP telephony and UCaaS portfolio, which delivers feature-rich, reliable, scalable, and secure solutions for businesses looking to outsource their communications capabilities. Industry-leading technologies from key partners such as Cisco, Microsoft Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise (ALE), and Unify enable Telefonica to compete aggressively in a continually evolving cloud communications market. Click here for the full multimedia experience of this award: https://cloud.telefonica.com/en/frost-and-sullivan/ "Telefonica presents customers with options that address functionality, security, customization, existing technology investments, and IT expertise. Based on discussions with customers, it recommends and designs a solution anchored by the platform that best fits each specific customer. It bundles its communications services with productivity and business tools as well as extensive implementation and solution lifecycle support," said Elka Popova, VP of Connected Work Research. "Overall, Telefonica's hosted IP telephony and UCaaS solutions are competitively packaged and priced, and the company is positioned to serve the different customer segments both in Spain and globally." Telefonica Tech Cloud Director, Hugo de los Santos adds, "We are proud to be recognized with the 2020 European Hosted IP Telephony and UCaaS Competitive Strategy Innovation and Leadership Award, and believe this is strong reflection of our customer centricity and continued focus on pushing the boundaries of innovation to support our cstomers achieve their business objectives whatever they may be."



With more than a million hosted IP telephony and UCaaS installed users across European countries at the end of 2019, Telefonica is one of the leading cloud communications providers in all of Europe. Channel partners in different world markets help tailor its cloud solutions and assist with implementation, integration, and ongoing management. Telefonica's track record in the communications market and its large geographic footprint positioned it as a reliable provider of high-quality voice, data, and video solutions. "Network ownership and a vast portfolio of services differentiate Telefonica from smaller, next-generation providers offering hosted IP telephony and UCaaS services in Europe. However, Telefonica also remains nimble and highly innovative," noted Popova. "In 2020, with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Telefonica was quick to respond with a variety of connectivity, secure remote access, and collaboration solutions.

Telefonica offers customized solutions to businesses of all sizes and technology requirements. These solutions are complemented by a broad portfolio of fixed-line and mobile connectivity services, session initiation protocol (SIP) trunking services, cloud contact center services, productivity solutions, Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, and more. Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that has leveraged competitive intelligence to successfully execute a strategy that results in stronger market share, competitive brand positioning, and customer satisfaction. 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: Kristen Moore

P: 210.247.3823

E: [email protected] About Telefonica Telefonica, a leading provider of a wide range of integrated communication solutions for the B2B market, manages globally the Enterprise (Large Enterprise and SME), MNC (Multinational Corporations), Wholesale (fixed and mobile carriers, ISPs and content providers) and Roaming businesses within the Telefonica Group. Telefonica develops an integrated, innovative and competitive portfolio for the B2B segment including digital solutions (Cloud or Security) and telecommunication services (international voice, IP, bandwidth capacity, satellite services, mobility, integrated fixed, mobile, IT services and global solutions). Telefonica is a multicultural organization, working in over 40 countries and with service reach in over 170 countries. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/telefonica-awarded-the-2020-european-competitive-strategy-innovation-and-leadership-award-for-hosted-ip-telephony-and-ucaas-by-frost-and-sullivan-301136306.html SOURCE Frost & Sullivan

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / September 23, 2020 / IMC International Mining Corp. (CSE:IMCX) (OTC:IMIMF) (FRA:3MX) (the "Company" or "IMC") announces that its Board of Directors (the "Board") has appointed Dave McMillan as a Director and Interim President. Mr. McMillan rejoins the Company having previously served as a director (August 2018 - December 2019).

Greg Hawkins, Chairman of IMC, commented, "On behalf of the Board, I am very pleased to welcome Dave McMillan to the Company. We look forward to having access to his long and varied history in the financial markets and, particularly, his experience in the junior mining space. We are confident that Mr. McMillan's proficiencies, experience and perspective will be of great value to IMC as the Company grows."

Mr. McMillan has been involved in the mining and financial markets for over 40 years and has, since his retirement from the securities industry in 2000, held numerous director and executive roles in public and private companies. During his 17 years in the securities industry, Mr. McMillan was an investment advisor, vice president, director and senior partner in one of the top, private brokerage firms in Canada. During this time, Mr. McMillan was instrumental in the financing of many junior exploration companies in North and South America, including the junior exploration companies that originally discovered the mineral resources that led to the development of the Kemess and the Mount Milligan mines, both of which are located in the same geological trend as the Company's Thane Project, in British Columbia.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Greg Hawkins

Chairman of the Board

ABOUT INTERNATIONAL MINING CORP.

IMC is a junior exploration and development company focused on creating shareholder value through the advancements of its current assets that include the Thane Property in north-central British Columbia, and the Bullard Pass Property in Arizona. Utilizing its experienced management team, IMC continues to source and evaluate assets to further generate shareholder value.

INVESTOR RELATIONS:

ir@internationalmining.ca

1 (604) 588-2110

https://imcxmining.com

The CSE has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the content of this press release.

SOURCE: IMC International Mining Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/607463/IMC-International-Mining-Corp-Appoints-Dave-McMillan-as-Director-and-Interim-President
Henry Cavill is tackling the iconic literary sleuth Sherlock Holmes in Netflixs new movie, Enola Holmes. But the actors version of the character isnt sitting well with Sir Arthur Conan Doyles estate. Earlier this summer, the estate filed a lawsuit, claiming the films version of Sherlock violates copyright laws.

Henry Cavill, Millie Bobby Brown, and Sam Claflin in Enola Holmes | Robert Viglaski/LEGENDARY/Netflix

Enola Holmes is based on a YA book series

Netflixs Enola Holmes is an adaptation of Nancy Springers young-adult book series of the same name. It borrows characters from Doyles classics, including Sherlock (Henry Cavill) and Mycroft Holmes (Sam Claflin). But it is centered around its own original character, Enola Holmes (Millie Bobby Brown).

Enola is introduced as Sherlock and Mycrofts young teen sister. While her brothers were off solving mysteries, Enola was raised and educated by her mother, Lady Eudoria Holmes (Helena Bonham Carter). The teen proves to be just as good a sleuth as her sibling, and she cleverly conquers the chauvinistic ideals of her time.

RELATED: 7 Sherlock Holmes Film and TV Adaptions for Mystery Lovers

In an interview with BookYurt, Springer noted that shes been a huge fan of Doyles Sherlock Holmes series, but always felt it lacked a strong female presence. While Doyle was a very good writer, he was also quite a misogynist, the author explained.

Occasionally and with difficulty he represents women positively, but much more often he has Holmes dismiss them as hopelessly vapid, hysterical and illogical, she added. I exploited with glee Sherlocks complete ignorance of the feminine sphere of Victorian society.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyles estate is filing a lawsuit against Enola Holmes creators based on Sherlocks emotional state

The Sherlock Holmes mysteries are by far Doyles most notable works, but the authors estate only has rights to his last 10 works. This is, because, in 2014, a judge ruled that any Sherlock Holmes novels published before 1923 are considered public domain.

But the Conan Doyle Estate is now suing Enola Holmes creators for copyright infringement. The lawsuit claims that the films version of Sherlock shows emotion, which is similar to the characteristics he displays in Doyles later works still bound by copyright law.

The complaint was filed with the New Mexico federal court in June 2020. It targets Springer, director Harry Bradbeer, Netflix, Legendary Pictures, and Penguin Random House among others.

The estate has sued before

This isnt the first time Doyles estate has taken aim at a Sherlock Holmes project. In 2015, they sued Miramax over the Ian McKellan film, Mr. Holmes, but eventually settled.

The estate has been otherwise supportive of many Doyle adaptations, including Benedict Cumberbatchs Sherlock and Will Ferrells Holmes & Watson. On their website, the estate notes that theyve only issued two lawsuits in 40 years and that they hope to foster projects like Enola Holmes as long as they follow proper copyright guidelines.
With the arrest of four people last week, six have now been charged in federal court in an ongoing investigation into methamphetamine trafficking in west-central Illinois.

Jerel J. Guarin, 42, of Colchester and Shawn T. Connelly, 46, Trenton L. Sealock, 25, and Amanda S. Edwards, 40, all of Bardolph, were arrested Sept. 18 and made their initial appearances via video before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jonathan E. Hawley.
The topics for the first presidential debate were revealed on Tuesday, and they include timely and important topics that voters don't want to miss.

Fox News' Chris Wallace will serve as the moderator for the first presidential debate.

The Commission on Presidential Debates is also the one to announce the six topics of focus for the date, said USA Today.

Some of the topics include the Supreme Court, the coronavirus pandemic, and unrest over racial issues.

President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden will be doing the first presidential debate for 90 minutes. It will be held at Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio.

The debates will start at 9 p.m. E.T. on September 29.

How the Debates Go

In 15 minute segments, Wallace will ask the candidates about six issues. These issues include their records, the high court, the pandemic, the economy, race and unrest in the U.S., and the election's integrity.

The commission also warned that the topics may still change depending on any "new developments."

The nonpartisan commission had been organizing and conducting debates for years. They work on the presidential and vice-presidential general debates for more than three decades.

They said the topics were getting announced ahead of the election to "encourage deep discussion of the leading issues facing the country," reported Fox News.

Apart from this debate, Trump and Biden will also face off twice more. One debate will be held on October 15 in Nashville, Tennessee. The other will be held on October 22 in Miami, Florida.

Meanwhile, the vice-presidential bets Sen. Kamala Harris of California and Vice President Mike Pence will debate once. Their debate will take place in Salt Lake City in Utah on October 7, reported New York Post.

The other three showdowns will also air at 9 p.m. E.T. for 90 minutes. There won't be any commercial interruptions during this period.

Candidates' Preparation

According to CNN, both Trump and Biden are preparing for the debates in their own ways.

Trump, for example, said he was preparing for the debates "every day" by "just doing what I am doing." Trump told Fox News that he's been "all over the place."

"I watch this guy sitting home, and I think, maybe I'm doing it wrong," he added.

On the other hand, Biden is also "looking forward" to the debates with Trump, adding that he will be "holding him accountable."

In a fundraiser this month, he said, "I know how to handle bullies -- we'll find out."

"I hope I don't get baited into getting into a brawl with this guy. It's going to be hard because I predict he's going to be shouting," he added.

Trump, Biden's Stand on Topics

The first debate comes shortly after the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg last week. It opened a partisan battle on who gets to pick her replacement and when.

Trump said he wants to his nominee announced by Saturday, with the GOP promising a swift confirmation. Meanwhile, Democrats want the nomination to be left to whoever wins the 2020 presidential election.

According to John Hopkins University, the coronavirus pandemic is also a hot issue for the two candidates, as the U.S. has surpassed 200,000 deaths as of Tuesday.

Racial injustice is also expected as protests against systemic racism are still continuing in the country.

The debates could be one of the most important chances for both candidates to appeal to voters.

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When next you meet an existentialist, ask him what kind of existentialist s/he is. There are at least as many varieties of existentialism as there have been high-profile thinkers propounding it. Several major strains ran through postwar France alone, most famously those championed by Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, and Albert Camus  who explicitly rejected existentialism, in part due to a philosophical split with Sartre, but who nevertheless gets categorized among the existentialists today. We could, perhaps, more accurately describe Camus as an absurdist, a thinker who starts with the inherent meaningless and futility of life and proceeds, not necessarily in an obvious direction, from there.

The animated TED-Ed lesson above sheds light on the historical events and personal experiences that brought Camus to this worldview. Beginning in the troubled colonial Algeria of the early 20th-century in which he was born and raised, educator Nina Medvinskaya goes on to tell of his periods as a resistance journalist in France and as a novelist, in which capacity he would write such enduring works as The Stranger and The Plague. Medvinskaya illuminates Camus central insight with a well-known image from his earlier essay The Myth of Sisyphus, on the Greek king condemned by the gods to roll a boulder up a hill for all eternity.





Camus argues that all of humanity is in the same position, says Medvinskaya, and only when we accept the meaninglessness of our lives can we face the absurd with our heads held high. But Camus contemporaries werent so accepting of futility. (Here the Quentin Blake-style illustrations portray a couple of figures bearing a strong resemblance to Sartre and de Beauvoir.) Many existentialists advocated for violent revolution to upend systems they believed were depriving people of agency and purpose. Such calls havent gone silent in 2020, just as The Plague  one of Camus writings in response to revolutionary existentialism  has only gained relevance in a time of global pandemic.

Last month the Boston Reviews Carmen Lea Dege considered the recent comeback of the thought, exemplified in different ways by Camus, Sartre, and others, that rejected religious and political dogma, expressed scorn for academic abstraction, and focused on the finitude and absurdity of human existence. This resurgence of interest is not entirely surprising. The body of work we now think of as existentialist emerged during the first half of the twentieth century in conflict-ridden Germany and France, where uncertainty permeated every dimension of society. As much as our societies have changed since then, uncertainty has a way of returning.

Today we define ourselves and others on the basis of class, religion, race, and nationality, or even childhood influences and subconscious drives, to gain control over the contingencies of the world and insert ourselves in the myriad ways people have failed and succeeded in human history. But the existentialists argued that this control is illusory and deceptive, an alluring distraction from our own fragility that ultimately corrodes our ability to live well. For the existentialists, pursuit of good life first demands an acceptance of not just fragility but futility, meaninglessness, absurdity, and ambiguity, among other conditions that strike us as deeply unacceptable. As Camus put it, we must imagine Sisyphus happy. But can we?

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Based in Seoul, Colin Marshall writes and broadcasts on cities, language, and culture. His projects include the Substack newsletter Books on Cities, the book The Stateless City: a Walk through 21st-Century Los Angeles and the video series The City in Cinema. Follow him on Twitter at @colinmarshall, on Facebook, or on Instagram.
Niagara has hit a COVID-19 milestone, with the region crossing the 1,000 case mark as it increasingly appears Ontario might be entering a second wave of infections.

The seven cases confirmed Tuesday by Niagaras public health department pushed the regions pandemic total to 1,006 cases, including 42 currently active, a level not seen since early August.

However, Niagaras acting medical officer of health Dr. Mustafa Hirji said the region does not need to feel the same kind of COVID-19 sting it did in the spring, if residents take infection control measures to heart.

We have seen sustained periods where we brought the cases down to one or two a day, so I know Niagara is capable of that, Hirji said. We can bring the cases down to that baseline and keep it there.

On Tuesday, Ontario recorded its highest number of new COVID-19 cases since May 2  478  with the majority coming from Toronto, Ottawa and Peel region.

Hirji said there is no precise definition or threshold that identifies the start of a second wave of COVID-19 infections, but a steady increase in the infection rate is a telltale sign.

The daily case count in Niagara has bounced up and down over the past week, with a low of a single case and a high of 12. He said despite the day-to-day statistical variance, the current baseline is floating around five cases as day.

Of Tuesdays seven cases, five are linked to previously known cases while two are from an unknown source.

That five of these seven cases are from previously identified cases is somewhat reassuring, because it means those are not cases that we cannot identify, meaning there are more unknown infections out there, Hirji said.

Last week, many new Niagara cases were spawned in personal gatherings where people were not distancing and wearing masks. The more recent cases, Hirji said, are the result of spread in a household and those cases are hard to control.

A person can spread the virus one or two days before they show symptoms, so in a household situation that can be very difficult to prevent, he said.

Once you know you have someone in the house with COVID-19, you want to isolate that person with their own bedroom and even their own bathroom if possible.

Hirji said there have been several weddings in the past two weeks and if cases arise from those events, they will show up in the daily data soon.

Politicians and public health officials alike have been warning the public has to engage with COVID-19 control measures  including physical distancing, wearing masks and handwashing  to keep infections down and avoid more restrictive actions.

In other parts of the world, governments have aggressively enacted measures to tamp down a new wave of infections.

In Australia, an explosion of cases in the city of Melbourne prompted authorities to impose a highly restrictive lockdown since July that has been extended to the end of the month. That lockdown  which closed many businesses, imposed stay-at-home orders and restricted travel in and out of the city  reduced the case count from more than 600 a day to 11 on Monday.

In Ontario, the provincial government recently reduced the allowed size of gatherings indoors and out. Neither the provincial nor municipal governments in Ontario have ruled out imposing restrictions on Halloween or Thanksgiving.

However, Hirji said, more onerous measures are likely to be imposed in Ontario on a region-by-region basis, and Niagara residents as responsible citizens can take action to prevent it from happening.

He points out that by early July, Niagaras case count rose from around two cases a day to five or more. However, by the end of the month and into much of August Niagara residents were able to tamp the infection rate back down.

But, he said, a second wave will present different challenges from the first.

He believes long-term care homes, which were hit hard by the first wave, are better prepared to resist COVID-19 outbreaks now. And because residents 39 years old or younger make up the majority of recent cases  this is a demographic less likely to be hospitalized by the novel coronavirus  it is possible the hospitals wont see as many cases in the short term.

There are currently no COVID-19 patients at Niagaras hospitals.

However, these people also have had more contact with others than the residents of a long-term care home and that complicates the contact tracing process that helps stop the train of virus transmission.

Niagaras neighbours, particularly Halton, Peel and Toronto, also present a risk.

It seems likely we will see cases come from those places, where they have a much higher infection rate than Niagara, particularly if people from those communities continue to come here to visit the tourist district in Niagara Falls or Niagara-on-the-Lake.
NASA's terra satellite confirms Paulette's second post-tropical transition

NASA's Terra satellite passed over post-tropical storm Paulette after it had transitioned for a second time. Using infrared imagery, Terra found no strong storms remained.

Paulette has had quite a history. Paulette formed in the Central Atlantic Ocean on Sept. 6 as Tropical Depression Seventeen and became a tropical storm the next day. Paulette became a hurricane on Sept. 12. As a hurricane, Paulette's eye passed directly over Bermuda, then weakened and became a post-tropical cyclone on Sept. 16 in the North Atlantic Ocean when it was located 450 miles (725 km) east-southeast of Cape Race Newfoundland, Canada. A Post-Tropical Storm is a generic term for a former tropical cyclone that no longer possesses sufficient tropical characteristics to be considered a tropical cyclone. Then on Sept. 22, the remnants of Paulette organized and re-formed into a tropical storm. Only to devolve again to a post-tropical storm later that day.

At 11 p.m. EDT on Sept. 22 (0300 UTC on Sept. 23), Dan Brown, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, Senior Hurricane Specialist at NOAA's National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla. noted, "Paulette had been devoid of deep convection since early Tuesday and the shallow convection mentioned in the previous advisory has also waned. Therefore, Paulette has again become a post-tropical cyclone."

NASA's Terra Satellite Examines Paulette

NASA's Terra satellite uses infrared light to analyze the strength of storms by providing temperature information about the system's clouds. The strongest thunderstorms that reach high into the atmosphere have the coldest cloud top temperatures.

On Sept. 23 at 8:45 a.m. EDT (1245 UTC), the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer or MODIS instrument that flies aboard NASA's Terra satellite gathered infrared data on Paulette. There were no strong storms on the infrared MODIS imagery. The imagery found only one small area of convection where cloud top temperatures are as cold as minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 45.5 Celsius).

Final Status of Paulette

The last public advisory issued by the National Hurricane Center on Paulette was posted on Sept. 22 at 11 p.m. EDT (0300 UTC). At that time, the center of Post-Tropical Cyclone Paulette was located near latitude 34.8 degrees north and longitude 20.0 degrees west. That is about 445 miles (720 km) east-southeast of the Azores Islands. The Azores Islands are a Portuguese archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean. They are located about 930 miles (1,500 km) from Lisbon, Portugal.

Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph (65 kph) with higher gusts. Slow weakening is forecast. The post-tropical cyclone was moving toward the east near 12 mph (19 kph). An eastward to east-northeastward motion is forecast through midday Wednesday. A decrease in the forward motion along with turns to the southeast then south are expected late Wednesday through Thursday. A west-southwestward motion is forecast to begin by late this week.

Paulette's Final Forecast

Post-tropical cyclone Paulette is expected to become a remnant low later today, Sept. 23.

###

NASA Researches Tropical Cyclones

Hurricanes/tropical cyclones are the most powerful weather events on Earth. NASA's expertise in space and scientific exploration contributes to essential services provided to the American people by other federal agencies, such as hurricane weather forecasting.

For more than five decades, NASA has used the vantage point of space to understand and explore our home planet, improve lives and safeguard our future. NASA brings together technology, science, and unique global Earth observations to provide societal benefits and strengthen our nation. Advancing knowledge of our home planet contributes directly to America's leadership in space and scientific exploration.

For updated forecasts. visit: http://www. nhc. noaa. gov

By Rob Gutro

NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

This story has been published on: 2020-09-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  OK, federal lawmakers. Summer recess is over. Time to get back to the business of the people.

And by business, I mean lets get those second stimulus checks out to American families.

That means you, President Donald Trump, GOP Senate Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Right now things are at a stalemate.

Earlier this month, a proposed GOP aid package did not include another stimulus check, even though the Republican HEALS Act proposal in July did include another $1,200 check to Americans.

Cmon, Mitch.

In May, Republicans balked at the cost of the House Dems' $3 trillion HEROES Act aid package, which also included a stimulus check.

So here we are.

House Dems during hearings this week with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell renewed their call for a new round of $1,200 stimulus checks.

According to CNBC, Mnuchin told lawmakers that the Trump administration supports a second round of stimulus payments.

Powell had earlier said that new coronavirus aid is needed sooner rather than later, according to The Hill, even though there has been some modest economic improvement.

Without further aid, Powell said we could see foreclosures, evictions and other serious displacements that could truly scar the economy going forward.

Hopefully this will all spur Trump, McConnell and Pelosi to get back to the negotiating table in earnest.

I only hope that the coming battle for the ages over filling the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburgs seat on the Supreme Court doesnt distract lawmakers from getting those checks in the mail.

Because lets face it: Another stimulus check is political gold for both sides.

Trump certainly wants a check with his name on it in every American mailbox before Election Day on Nov. 3. And Dems wont want the president to be able to take all the credit for the windfall.

Besides the political benefit, putting more money in our pockets will be good for the economy, even if every sector of the economy isnt fully open yet from coast to coast. The initial COVID-19 aid package earlier this year is credited with keeping the economy from totally cratering during the worst of the pandemic.

The economic need certainly remains. The coronavirus pandemic has calmed, but its not over.

And even if the virus is no longer a four-alarm health crisis in the United States, the economic fallout is truly monumental. And that fiscal damage isnt going to be fixed any time soon or all by itself.

Businesses all across the country have gone under, never to return. Thats jobs lost. Even businesses that have reopened following pandemic lockdowns are struggling. Theyve laid off workers. Some businesses couldnt pay the rent in August. That has massive ripple effects. They need help.

And here in New York City, restaurant owners are hanging on by their fingernails. The coming colder weather is going to wreak havoc on outdoor dining, while indoor dining at 25 percent capacity wont be nearly enough to cure all ills.

Meanwhile, bars, theaters and performance venues arent even allowed to be open yet.

The message couldnt be clearer: Help! Get me my check!

Shouldnt we worry about ever-larger federal budget deficits? After all, this orgy of stimulus money has to come from somewhere.

Spare me. Ive been hearing about the structural dangers of the deficit for decades now. Such worries havent gotten in the way of bull markets and havent been the cause of economic displacements. So I think well be OK if Trump breaks out the checkbook.

And the bottom line is that whatever stimulus funds Americans receive are actually just our own tax dollars coming back to us from Washington. Its only right that we spend it. We earned it.

Get busy, lawmakers.
A Baytown-based Mexican restaurant group thought it had come up with a catchy, perfectly cheesy phrase for its newest billboard: Dont Mess with Tex-Mex.

El Toros corporate leaders were so taken with it, they applied for a trademark on the phrase.

Nacho fast, the Texas Department of Transportation said.

TxDOT lawyers on Tuesday filed a claim with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office opposing El Toros application, saying the restaurants slogan is too close to the highway agencys well-known anti-litter campaign.

Any confusing misuse of the phrasing infringes on our trademark in violation of federal law, TxDOT spokeswoman Veronica Beyer said.

In other words, you could find yourself enchilada trouble.

Folks in the corporate office of El Toro came up with the slogan while talking about other tag lines the six-restaurant company uses on many of its materials, such as we put the Tex in Mex.

We thought it sounded great, said John Mayes, vice president for operations for El Toro, a mainstay of Mexican food on Houstons east side since 1960.

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So great, in fact, that the company put the slogan on a billboard as it sought the trademark, Mayes said, never thinking anyone would object.

We are proud we are in Texas, and we are proud of what we do, Mayes said. We dont want people messing with Texas or Tex-Mex.

El Toros attempt to grab the bull by the horns and apply for a trademark, however, only made TxDOT see red.

Officials do not want anyone messing with TxDOTs anti-littering message, Beyer said. For decades, transportation officials have protected the prized slogan seriously because of its role in reducing highway litter since 1986.

State lawyers have messed with people trying to sell everything from belt buckles to real estate, sending dozens of cease and desist letters for unauthorized use of the slogan.

El Toro was not even all that original.

Two years ago, TxDOT told El Fenix  a Tex-Mex staple in Dallas  to remove a mural that mixed the Texas flag with Dont Mess With Tex-Mex.

Beyer said the same logic applies to El Toro.

A private business is attempting to profit from a well-known brand that is paid for and funded by Texas taxpayers, Beyer said. The bottom line is Dont mess with Texas always means dont litter.

TxDOTs trademark covers all manner of items, from paper products and promotional materials to beverage koozies, keychains and coolers, all aimed at beautification efforts. Transportation officials also plaster the slogan anywhere and everywhere related to trash cans, while maintaining a website that includes a link to report unlicensed vendors and uses of the phrase.

By virtue of the widespread use, TxDOTs lawyers wrote in their filing opposing El Toros trademark, (the slogan) is famous, and is entitled to broader protection than simply within the classes for which it is registered.

El Toro lawyer John Rawls said he has not fully reviewed TxDOTs opposition. Often, he said, trademark disputes are cleaned up with a coexistence agreement that allows for limited uses in specific cases.

The way theyre using it is very different from how the state uses the mark, Rawls said. Nobody is going to look at us and think we are TxDOT.

dug.begley@chron.com
We regularly hear of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). The mental image created is one of advanced computers, robotics, artificial intelligence, and so on. This is wrong. The 4IR is much more than a case of just using intellect to come up with good than functional solutions, but using the tools now available in modern society. I like to think of it as bricklaying with atoms, associated with using sophisticated systems integration.

Let us think of the systems part first. If anyone looks at a picture of an ox-wagon, one can see how it works. If someone were to give an instruction to build an ox-wagon virtually any company can agree and then get together people who can make the wheels, shape the wood, and so on. One good foreman plus a few technical skills like how to make metal wheel rims, will ensure product delivery.In contrast, think of an Airbus aircraft. Imagine that someone says: build one. That is a totally different situation. There is not one single human being on the entire planet, who knows how to build an Airbus.

An Airbus is built by means of large-scale systems integration. There are groups of people who know how to fabricate wings, groups who can produce the avionics, others who can make the pressure-resistant fuselage, and many more. Then there are the systems people. These are the ones who know how to bring the wings and the fuselage together, but only after the electrical wiring has been integrated into the wings. Eventually this whole giant complex system results in an aircraft which flies. A significant part of the 4IR is the ability to conceive of complex system, and then to assemble functional teams. Before I get on to the bricklaying with atoms part, let us think of the other industrial revolutions. The first Industrial Revolution is recorded as being from about 1760 to 1830. That was when cottage industry collected into groups. So instead of 20 women in 20 cottages all spinning cotton, it was found that if you collected all 20 into one place and formed them into a production line, in which they didnt all do the same job, then productivity went up. New machines came about to aid spinning and weaving, and so the systems combination improved the total output and reduced prices.

The second Industrial Revolution was from about 1870 to 1914 when the First World War started. During this time period oil and electricity were developed. Oil led to petrol for cars, and lubricants for large machines. Electricity led to communications and other machines. People in England could send messages to America, with astounding speed. These new tools revolutionised communications and transport, as other people figured out how to use them commercially.The third Industrial Revolution was from 1969 to 2000, the historians tell us.

Rise

That was the period of electronics development. Integrated circuit chips gave rise to all sorts of possibilities.Now we are in the next phase, which future historians will possibly record as lasting for about three or four decades, post-2000.We now have the ability to do bricklaying with atoms. The term nanotechnology is thrown around a great deal. Nano essentially means atom size. A hydrogen atom is a tenth of a nanometre (nm) in size, while a Caesium atom is three times larger. Some silicon chips have advanced 0.5nm layers built into them, but when someone refers to a 22nm chip, it means the distance between the tiny embedded electronic devices.Nano, or atom bricklaying, is not confined to electronics. Technology now makes carbon-fibre for example. That is the same carbon that is in braai charcoal. The difference is how the carbon atoms are arranged. Carbon-fibre construction is really strong. Strong enough to make aircraft wings and bodies, as was done in South Africa years ago. A South African-developed carbon-fibre aircraft was built and flew really well. Fibre optics is essentially just long glass strands, through which laser beams are passed. The laser is imprinted with communications messages. Staggeringly there are incredibly long glass fibres which travel under the ocean from Mtunzini on the KwaZulu-Natal coast, through to London and Mumbai.So now we have atomic-level tools to build electronic and mechanical things.

Atoms

We can see atoms with microscopes, as is done in Port Elizabeth, and we can move atoms around to build a precise atomic pattern. We have the systems intellect to put these together to make aircraft and robots, and to integrate Artificial Intelligence into them so that they effectively think for themselves. We see the results in an aircraft autopilot, and the robotic car-body welding in the Ford plant in Pretoria.

The country requires African solutions for African conditions. Solutions which work for us. So 4IR is a case of deep creative thinking, using atomic level tools plus the ability to build complex systems. This brings multiple elements together to produce a resulting productive output. The 4IR concept is not a case of buying fancy things from somebody else, and then putting robotics into the school syllabus so that our kids know which buttons to push. Constructive thinking, using advanced techniques to tackle our challenges is what the 4IR frame of mind is all about. Thinking at an atomic level and conceiving of complex systems at the same time, is where the future lies.






Delhi Chief Minister on Wednesday directed officials to explore the implementation of a low-cost technology developed by scientists of Indian Agriculture and Research Institute (IARI) here to manage crop residue across all farms in outer Delhi.

Dr A K Singh, the director of IARI, and several senior scientists from the institute presented the technology to the chief minister on Wednesday.

Commending the innovation, Kejriwal said, "Crop stubble is the major source of pollution in Delhi in winter. I congratulate IARI scientists for developing a low-cost, effective technology to deal with stubble burning. Governments need to listen and work hand in hand with scientists to address the issue of stubble burning."



The meeting was also attended by Environment Minister Gopal Rai, officials from the Development Department and Dialogue and Development Commission.

The chief minister instructed the officials from the Development Department to carry out detailed cost-benefit analysis and explore the implementation of this technology across all farms in outer Delhi that face the issue of crop stubble.

Kejriwal will visit the Pusa campus on Thursday to witness a live demonstration.

The technology, called Pusa Decomposer, involves a liquid formulation prepared using Pusa decomposer capsules and readily available inputs, fermenting it over 8-10 days, and then spraying the mixture on crop residue to ensure speedy bio-decomposition of the stubble.

Capsules worth Rs 20 can effectively deal with 4-5 tonnes of raw straw per acre.

The use of this approach by IARI in Punjab and Haryana have shown very encouraging results over the last four years. It also reduces fertilizer consumption and increases farm productivity.

(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 0.1% dose of NCX 470 was selected in the adaptive stage of the Mont Blanc Phase 3 trial

This dose selection enables the second part of the Mont Blanc Phase 3 trial with a 1:1 head-to-head comparison vs latanoprost

The dose selection also enables the start of Denali, the second NCX 470 Phase 3 trial, before the end of the year September 23, 2020 - release at 5:40 pm CET

Sophia Antipolis, France



Nicox SA (Euronext Paris: FR0013018124, COX), an international ophthalmology company, today announced the selection of the 0.1% dose of NCX 470 for Phase 3 following the completion of the adaptive portion of the Mont Blanc Phase 3 clinical trial. As is customary for adaptive design trials, in order to maintain the integrity of the trial, no data from the adaptive portion of the trial will be disclosed until the completion of the trial. NCX 470, Nicox's lead clinical product candidate, is a novel second generation nitric oxide (NO)-donating bimatoprost analog. NCX 470 is licensed to Ocumension Therapeutics for the Chinese, Korean and South East Asian markets.



"Selecting the dose for the remaining Phase 3 trials is an important milestone in the development of this high potential, novel molecule, and progress on the overall program continues to meet our expectations. This progress demonstrates excellent performance by our development team and clinical sites in the current environment, allowing us to maintain our targeted timeline and announce top-line results from Mont Blanc by the end of 2021." said Dr. Jose Boyer, Vice President and Head, Clinical Development at Nicox.



NCX 470 Phase 3 Clinical Program



Mont Blanc is a Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating NCX 470 for the lowering of intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. It was initiated on June 1, 2020, and currently has 48 clinical sites enrolling patients. Following the completion of the adaptive design portion of the trial announced today, Mont Blanc will continue as a multi-regional, double-masked, 3-month, parallel group trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of NCX 470 ophthalmic solution 0.1% compared to latanoprost ophthalmic solution, 0.005%, the most widely prescribed first-line therapy for glaucoma and ocular hypertension, randomized in a 1:1 ratio. The primary efficacy evaluation is based on time-matched IOP at 8 AM and 4 PM at Week 2, Week 6 and Month 3. The Mont Blanc trial is expected to randomize approximately 670 patients, at approximately 50 clinical sites in the U.S. and at a small number of clinical sites in China. At current recruitment rates, top-line results from Mont Blanc are expected in Q4 2021.



Denali, the second Phase 3 glaucoma clinical trial, which will be jointly managed and equally funded by Nicox and our partner Ocumension Therapeutics, is expected to start before the end of this year, and will compare NCX 470 ophthalmic solution, 0.1% to latanoprost ophthalmic solution, 0.005%, randomized in a 1:1 ratio. It will include clinical sites in both the U.S. and China, with the majority of the patients being in the U.S. Ocumension Therapeutics has exclusive rights for the development and commercialization of NCX 470 in the Chinese, Korean and South East Asian markets. The Denali trial was designed to fulfill the regulatory requirements to support NDA filings in the U.S. and China.



We continue to closely watch the spread of COVID-19 and its impact. We do not currently anticipate delays to our clinical timelines but we are monitoring the situation and will provide updates if there is an impact on our development projects and timelines.



NCX 470 Phase 2 Clinical Data



In the Phase 2 Dolomites trial, NCX 470 ophthalmic solution, 0.065%, demonstrated both statistical non-inferiority and superiority to latanoprost ophthalmic solution, 0.005%. We believe the 7.6 to 9.8 mmHg IOP reduction from baseline at 8 AM, 10 AM and 4 PM across the Week 1, 2 and 4 Visits for the 0.065% dose of NCX 470 in the Dolomites trial is the highest reduction demonstrated by an eye drop in a glaucoma clinical trial to date.
The cyber wing of the Jammu and Kashmir Police summoned and abused Auqib Javeed, a Kashmir based journalist, over a news report about police intimidation of social media users. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its India affiliate Indian Journalists Union (IJU) condemn the polices highhandedness and urge the Indian authorities to stop such the violence and intimidation of journalists.

Javeed was assaulted and harassed by Jammu and Kashmir Cyber Police on September 19 for his news report entitled Police Question Kashmir Twitter Users For 'Anti-Govt' Posts published on the Article 14 online site. His article highlights cases of the intimidation by the Jammu and Kashmir police to civil society members, journalists and students for their tweets critical of government actions on article 370 and the internet shutdown in Jammu and Kashmir. The article claims that dozens of Twitter users in Kashmir have been forced to maintain their silence after being interrogated by the police about their posts on Article 370 and the Internet shutdown. The police have accused Javeedsreport of being fake and baseless.

According to Javeed, after being summoned he was abused and assaulted at the cyber-polices police on September 19 along with two members of the Kashmir Press Club. He said two masked police slapped him and Tahir Bhatti, the Superintendent of Police who is in charge of the polices cyber cell, abused him. The journalist was released after five hours. The police have refuted his allegations of abuse.

Journalists in the J&K region are frequently harassed, threatened and summoned particularly over any criticism of the Indian government revocation of article 370 which lead to the imposed internetshutdown in August 5, 2019.

On July 31,Qazi Shibli, the editor of news portal The Kashmiriyat , was detained whileFahad Shah, editor of news portal Kashmir Walla, was summoned on May 20. The police in Srinagar also filed separate investigations or First Information Reports (FIR) against Kashmiri photojournalist Masrat Zahra and journalist Gowhar Geelani on April 18 and April 21 respectively. And, cyber police in Srinagar questioned journalist Peerzada Ashiq on April 19 in relation to the journalists news articles.

The Kashmir Journalists Association (KJA) said:The KJA strongly condemns the polices highhandedness. We demand the J&K administration end such illegal practices of attacking the media and journalists and to ensure to the creation of an environment where journalists can work freely and fearlessly.

The IJU President Geetartha Pathak said: The summoning of journalists by police and security persons has become common practice in the valley. The higher ups in the police and security agencies must sensitize the subordinates to respect freedom of expression rights of media.

The IFJ said: The IFJ has documented a disturbing series of attacks and harassment of media and journalists in Jammu and Kashmir following extended internet shutdown. The IFJ demands that authorities stop persecuting journalists and media workers for doing their jobs and ensure that any internet restrictions are lifted.
Hyderabad, Sep 23 : The opposition Congress party in Telangana will stage state-wide protests on September 25 against the farm bills passed by the Parliament.

Protest demonstrations will be held in all district headquarters and Assembly constituencies to demand the Centre to withdraw the "anti-farmer" legislation.

Ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and the Congress have common ground in opposing the farm bills. While the TRS protest is confined to the Parliament, leaders of the main opposition party are gearing up to hit the streets over the issue.

Stating that the new laws would cause a huge loss to the farmers, state Congress chief Uttam Kumar Reddy said the party would organise massive protests.

Party leaders are working to mobilise large gatherings of workers for the protests.

Uttam Kumar Reddy demanded the government should amend the law by inserting a clause to ensure that farmers get Minimum Support Price (MSP), whether they sell their produce in market yard or outside.

"Sales inside and outside mandis/market yards should be subject to the regulation of state government and local bodies. Buyers should be registered and transactions should be subject to rules and regulations," he demanded.

The Congress leader said states which used to regulate prices and mandi fees will no longer be able to do so with the new enactments.

"These bills are going to cause the collapse of the system of selling farm produce in market yards. Because of the interference of the centre, the states have to lose their constitutional right of agricultural markets which is under the state list," he said "The BJP government should have named the bills as APMC market collapse bill, contract farming promotion bill and corporate hoarding of food commodities bill. The intention of the government in passing these bills is to benefit Adanis, Ambanis, Amazon, Walmart and push farmers into severe losses," he added.

TRS leader in Rajya Sabha, K. Keshava Rao slammed the BJP-led NDA government for not consulting the state governments and farmers before formulating the bills.

"The cultural country, whose culture is agriculture, is now being sold to the corporate sector," he said in the Upper House.

While the TRS will not be staging protests, its leaders said the party will go to any extent to oppose the new laws.

Animal Husbandry Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav said that if required, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao will lead a farmers' agitation at the national level.

Claiming that a revolt is brewing against the BJP-led government across the country, the minister remarked that no government which played with the lives of farmers has ever survived their wrath.

The minister alleged that the Centre was trying to kill democracy in the country by bulldozing the proceedings in Rajya Sabha despite its poor numbers in the House.

A day after the passage of the bills in the Rajya Sabha on Sunday, TRS Working President and state minister K.T. Rama Rao had disputed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement that passage of farm bills in the Parliament is a "watershed moment" for the agriculture sector.

"If the agriculture bill is truly a watershed moment, why is no farmer celebrating and why are NDA allies resigning?" Rama Rao asked.
FILE - In this June 6, 2017 file photo, a Drug Enforcement Administration official holds a vial of fentanyl after a news conference about deaths from fentanyl exposure, at DEA Headquarters in Arlington Va. Read more

News articles containing misinformation about fentanyl  falsely suggesting that people can overdose and die from simply touching the synthetic opioid  are shared and spread far more widely on social media than stories that attempt to correct such myths, a new study from researchers at Northeastern University finds.

Fentanyl has approved medical uses as an anesthetic during surgery and an analgesic for severe pain. But an illicit form has been turning up in the heroin supply in cities like Philadelphia for the last several years. Stronger and cheaper than heroin, it was initially used to cut the less powerful drug, and contributed to skyrocketing overdoses among heroin users unaccustomed to fentanyls potency.

Now, fentanyl has replaced most of the heroin supply in Philadelphia, and is present in most overdose deaths in the city.

Fentanyl is scary enough without making stuff up. Its a highly potent drug, and the public health implications of fentanyl proliferation in the drug supply have been absolutely catastrophic, said Leo Beletsky, a professor of law and health sciences at Northeastern in Boston and lead author of the study published last week in the International Journal of Drug Policy.

But since fentanyls emergence into the drug market, he said, law enforcement agencies, federal officials and credulous news outlets have spread the idea  refuted by addiction and toxicology experts as scientifically impossible  that a person can overdose from accidental, casual contact with fentanyl.

In 2019, an officer in Harrisburg searched a book bag containing an open Ziploc bag, crack cocaine, and a wet napkin or paper," and then became pale and disoriented, with dropping oxygen levels, the Harrisburg Patriot-News reported. He was dosed with the overdose-reversing spray naloxone, and police officials characterized the incident as an accidental opioid exposure.

In a follow-up article, experts pointed out that the incident likely wasnt driven by opioids, and said people who regularly come into contact with fentanyl  from drug dealers and distributors to nurses and doctors in surgical settings  are not overdosing from their casual contact with the drug.

In a 2017 article, experts told The Inquirer that, though just two to three milligrams of fentanyl would make most people stop breathing, thats only true if the drug found its way into the bloodstream.

Fentanyl just isnt absorbed through skin into your blood quickly or efficiently enough to make this kind of dose possible from incidental contact, Andrew Stolbach, an emergency physician and medical toxicologist at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, told the paper.

The study looked at 551 news articles on the topic from 48 states, published between 2015 and 2019. Researchers categorized 506 as spreading misinformation about fentanyl: in other words, endorsing the idea that just touching or inhaling small amounts of fentanyl could cause overdose or death.

Those articles spread widely on Facebook, racking up hundreds of thousands of shares and potentially reaching nearly 70 million people between 2015 and 2019, the study found. Most of the articles were published in Texas and Pennsylvania.

The remaining 45 articles in the study tried to correct or at least counterbalance misinformation about fentanyl. They received about one-tenth of the exposure that articles spreading misinformation garnered, the study found.

This media trope, that you can overdose by touching fentanyl, is one of the most evidently false  and its a myth that refuses to die. Its not a debatable point from a scientific perspective, Beletsky said.

Much of the misinformation, he said, is spread by reporters uncritically repeating law enforcement accounts of encounters with fentanyl, without consulting other addiction experts or people who deal with addiction themselves.

What youre seeing is really an illustration of how big a megaphone law enforcement has when it comes to drug policy or drug issues, Beletsky said. They have oftentimes a direct line.

Many of the articles examined in the study dealt with anecdotes of police officers coming into contact with fentanyl, or even simply an unknown powder that an officer believes is fentanyl, and experiencing a physical reaction. A 2016 video produced by the Drug Enforcement Administration  cited in 80 of the articles examined in the study  featured two officers from Atlantic County, N.J., who said they had inhaled airborne fentanyl.

Symptoms described include loss of blood flow to the face, disorientation, and shortness of breath  consistent with panic attacks," the study authors wrote.

A typical opioid overdose involves a loss of consciousness; unresponsiveness to outside stimuli; blue or grayish skin; slow, shallow, erratic, or no breathing; and slow, erratic, or no pulse, according to the National Harm Reduction Coalition.

The panic around fentanyl can have far-reaching consequences, the study authors wrote.

An effective public health response directly depends on having an accurate understanding of the risks and the dynamics of the emerging public health problems, Beletsky said. If we dont have accurate information, our responses wont hit the mark. And thats exactly what has happened with fentanyl.

Fear of overdosing themselves might prevent first responders and bystanders from helping overdose victims in a timely manner. Overestimating the risk of overdose through casual contact with drugs can lead to unnecessary stress and other mental health issues," the study authors wrote, and can trigger more widespread use of punitive measures like drug-induced homicide laws.

This kind of misinformation crowds out effective responses," Beletsky said. Instead of spending money on things like naloxone, effective substance use treatment, and supportive services that can prevent overdose in the first place, like housing, fentanyl panics have fueled funding for things like decontamination equipment, or HAZMAT suits. Its like security theater.

Beletsky said its key for advocates to help educate the public, and reporters, on fentanyl and drug policy in general, to track how misinformation about drugs spreads online, and to help correct the record on articles that uphold such myths.

Theres always going to be fringe news sources and social media posts that are going to fuel misinformation, but at the very least, mainstream media should not be repeating this," he said. "And they continue to.
Acrimony between Mr. Macris government and family members of the crew of the submarine, the San Juan, grew as weeks and then months passed without news of the vessels fate. At one point, several family members set up a makeshift camp outside Government House in Buenos Aires to try to get answers.

Family members have long said they suspected they were being spied on because their phones acted strangely and officials somehow were always one step ahead of them, seemingly knowing when they were going to carry out protests and which questions they were going to pose to officials.

Isabel Polo, the sister of Daniel Alejandro Polo, 32, one of the sailors aboard the San Juan, said she had thought someone had gained access to her phone, which would restart on its own, losing messages and images.

We were demanding answers and their answer was to follow us and spy on us, she said. Its so infuriating.

Those suspicions were warranted, Ms. Caamano said, saying that the agency had photos of agents following family members and evidence of them investigating relatives activity on social networks.

The documents dated from 2018 and 2019, meaning that the spying continued even after the submarines wreckage was found.
TEHRAN, Iran, Sept. 23

Trend:

Iran's plan to develop and renovate paddy fields in Mazandaran Province has been put on hold, thanks to the coronavirus spread, thus delaying the growing season, Trend reports citing IRNA.

The plan was aimed to develop rice cultivation in north of Iran but the coronavirus spread and lack of funds have affected the plan, and farmers in the Babol County have demanded compensation from the officials.

Thus, the farmers have postponed rice cultivation by 75 days due to delay in the renovation plan and their late access to paddy fields.

The fields were presented by farmers to a contractor of the renovation plan in August 2019 and the contractor started to implement the renovation in February 2020. The fields were ready by June, and this delayed the rice growing season in the new Iranian year (started March 20,2020).

The farmers have faced heavy losses and have not harvested anything in the current Iranian year (started March 20,2020). Some of the farmers could not even cultivate rice for their own consumption and had to purchase it.

The coronavirus spread has postponed the process of cultivation in various regions of Mazandaran province for three weeks. Another major damage was done by the heavy rainfall in the region.
MINNEDOSA  The sentencing hearing for the final person involved in the 2018 shooting of an RCMP officer near Onanole has been delayed until at least October.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/9/2020 (486 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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MINNEDOSA  The sentencing hearing for the final person involved in the 2018 shooting of an RCMP officer near Onanole has been delayed until at least October.

Shane Beaulieu was scheduled for a sentencing hearing in Minnedosa on Tuesday for his role in the shooting of RCMP Cpl. Graeme Kingdon on Aug. 29, 2018.

Beaulieu pleaded guilty in December 2019 to two counts of break and enter, possession of a motor vehicle obtained by crime and two firearm-related charges.

The charges stem from an incident in which he and three co-accused broke into two properties near Onanole, stealing numerous items including firearms and ammunition.

After loading up the truck with stolen items, the group headed down the road, where they were met by RCMP  Kingdon in one cruiser and Const. Mitch Thompson in another  responding to the report of a break and enter in progress.

Kingdon forced the truck off the road and into a ditch, where it became stuck. Three of the accused, including Beaulieu, jumped out of the vehicle and fled with Thompson in pursuit.

When Kingdon approached the vehicle to clear it for officer safety, Beaulieus co-accused, Therae Racette-Beaulieu, shot him from a nearby hill with a stolen 12-gauge shotgun, hitting him in the back of the head.

After hearing the shot, Thompson returned to the police cruisers to find Kingdon wounded.

As Thompson tried to secure his injured partner, Racette-Beaulieu repositioned himself and fired another two rounds at the officers, hitting the front of the truck and narrowly missing them.

Beaulieu was later arrested after he was found by police walking down a road in the area.

He has been out on bail since October 2018 and is the last of the four co-accused to be sentenced.

Racette-Beaulieu was sentenced to a total of 18 years in jail in April 2019 after pleading guilty to one count of attempted murder, breaking, entering and stealing firearms and robbery of a motor vehicle.

Tommy Edward Beaulieu, 23, who pleaded guilty in August 2019 to robbery with violence, two counts of aggravated assault against a peace officer and break, enter and theft of a firearm, was sent to prison for 13 years for his role.

Delaney Houle, 25, who appeared in court in August, is also still waiting to be sentenced. Crown attorney Daniel Chaput recommended a sentence of three years in jail after Houle pleaded guilty to possession of a weapon obtained by crime, unauthorized possession of a firearm in a vehicle and two counts of break and enter.

Defence lawyer Tara Walker suggested Houle serve a total of one year in jail.

Houle is expected to be sentenced at a later date.

Shane Beaulieu is next scheduled to appear in court in Brandon on Oct. 8.

 dmay@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @DrewMay_
Small, historical towns are great places to stay, as joen says. My tips for two on Jutland:

Ebeltoft - stay at the the apartments next to the Ebeltoft Strand hotel (the hotel also has apartments) looking over the bay. Enough to do in Ebeltoft for a couple of days (Glass Museum, Frigate Jylland, the town in general and the coastline). Outside of the town - Jernhatten, Grenaa, Mols, several manor houses. You could also use Ebeltoft as the base for trips to Aarhus - or of course stay in Aarhus and visit Ebeltoft as one of your day trips.

Kolding - Castle in the centre of the town. Interesting museums (Trapholt and Nursing museum). Trips out to Christiansfeld (Unesco Heritage site), the Viking stones and museum at Jelling, and the old town of Fredericia where you can do a great bridge walk over the sea between Jutland and Fyn. Two towns to visit - Ribe and Tonder further south. Kolding Hotel Apartments are almost directly next to the castle (but parking can be an issue). A good budget alternative - Zleep Hotel is nearby, has all you need and is clean and comfortable.
The fight started inside the small two-seat plane when it was roaring over the Atlantic Ocean.

The pilot struggled with his co-pilot, finally unbuckling the mans safety belt. Taking hold of the control wheel, he jerked the nose of the plane down, throwing the co-pilot against the cockpits ceiling.

Unmoored and terrified, the planes first officer grabbed the radio microphone. Help! Help! he screamed.

Watching this pathetic attempt to call for assistance, the 22-year-old pilot had had enough.

I pulled the mic out of the socket and belted him one, he later testified.

Canby flier Roger Hannagan punched his co-pilot and financial backer, 53-year-old Milwaukie osteopath Dr. Lawrence Dennis, while in the midst of a challenging London-to-Victoria, B.C., air race in 1971. After thumping Dennis, he turned the single-engine Mooney aircraft around and landed in Prestwick, Scotland, where he tossed his battered co-pilot onto the runway and immediately took off again -- without securing the airport towers clearance.

What led to the fisticuffs in the plane, which was named the Spirit of Portland? Dennis' lawyer would say his client developed increased misgivings about flying with Hannagan and, fearing for his life, panicked as Hannagan pushed the screeching, overtaxed plane toward a planned Iceland refueling.

Sitting in a small room in Portlands downtown federal courthouse a month after the incident, Hannagan frequently grinned and shook his head as he listened to testimony. Federal Aviation Administration officials had taken away Hannagans commercial pilots license as soon as he landed the plane and stepped onto the runway at Portland International Airport on July 13, and now the FAA was holding a hearing to determine if the emergency revocation should be upheld.

Even under the dim courthouse lighting, Hannagan cut a memorable figure. The lanky 6-foot, 6-inch pilot sported an explosion of blond curls. He wore a leather jacket and a tie over a deep-purple shirt. (The look worked for him. He had enchanted a pretty young woman during a stopover in Quebec City in the last leg of the air race, taking her along to the finish line in Victoria.)

Roger Hannagan, 22-year-old Canby pilot who flew from Scotland to Victoria, B.C., solo in the British Centennial air race after fighting with his co-pilot, talks with girlfriend Toots Johnson.

When the time came to give his side of the story at the Portland hearing, Hannagan said that Dennis, who owned the plane, wasnt prepared for the rigors of a competitive air race.

His co-pilot arrived at the airfield in London, Hannagan said, in cowboy hat and boots wearing a big, broad belt with a huge silver buckle, a Welcome to Portland shirt, carrying cameras and a wicker basket like some elderly lady going to Disneyland.

Hannagan, who grew up in Lakeview, had spent weeks working on Dennis' plane at Portland Community Colleges mechanics' shop, trying to improve its speed. He wanted to win this race, seeing it as a ticket to fame and a career. I want a job flying, he told The Oregonian before the race. I want to fly a big air machine.

But he said he realized at the eleventh hour that his benefactor viewed the race as a lark. As soon as the plane took off from London, the two men began bickering.

During the flight he fussed around and figured we were 300 miles off course when we were right on course, Hannagan said.

Annoyed that the planes owner kept asking him questions, he turned off the cockpit speaker so Dennis couldnt hear the radio. He slapped at his co-pilots hand every time the man reached for the navigation dials. (Under questioning at the hearing, he would admit he also played tricks on Dennis, giving the impression that they were off course and that there was something wrong with the plane.)

That this behavior would escalate into a physical fight seemed inevitable; indeed, Dennis, an experienced pilot, started to think this was what Hannagan wanted. The osteopath said that Hannagan hit him with a fire extinguisher and threatened to throw him out of the plane over the Atlantic.

Dr. Lawrence Dennis, still sporting a black eye from the fight over the Atlantic, with wife Alice. (The Oregonian)Oregonian

Hannagan had his supporters at the hearing. They insisted he was a talented young pilot and that some of his airborne actions were misunderstood. One of those actions took place six months before the fight with Dr. Dennis. In February, Hannagan had spontaneously flown a loop over the Aurora Airport outside Portland. His Citabria monoplane had grazed the ground, smashing the crafts landing gear.

Let me get this straight, National Transportation Safety Board examiner Bill Fowler said, interrupting the testimony of one of Hannagans character witnesses. Youre saying that, other than the place where the loop was performed, and the execution of the loop -- such as hitting the ground at the bottom -- it was just a normal maneuver.

Yes, sir, said the witness, a local pilot.

In July, after flying solo over the Atlantic, Hannagan made it to Victoria ahead of the races other competitors in his class, with some of the planes rivets popped and wrinkles streaking the wings -- the result, experts later determined, of a combination of high air speed and abrupt maneuvering. Hannagan buzzed the sole reporter standing near the runway at the Victoria airport.

But the young flier did not get the trophy and $50,000 prize money -- he had been disqualified for changing crews during the race. Infuriated, Hannagan began spinning stories, hoping to change officials' minds. He argued that Dennis had been a passenger, not a member of the crew, and that Dennis had started the fight.

Dr. Dennis threw the first punch, and as pilot I deterred him the best way I saw fit, he said.

He insisted that Dennis came into a bar in Abington [England] two days before the race, red-faced, polluted to the gills, with a beautiful English broad on each arm. He said as they headed off over the Atlantic at the beginning of the race, Dennis was still drunk: I could smell it on his breath.

These arguments did not win over race officials, who upheld the disqualification. A month later, at the FAA hearing, Dennis and other witnesses testified that the osteopath did not drink.

As evidence stacked up against him, Hannagan became testy.

When presented with an audio recording of his communication with the Aurora airport tower during the February incident, on which he could be heard admitting he was exceeding speed limits and breaching other airport rules, Hannagan barked: Someone doctored the tape.

When the pilot came out of the courthouse on the hearings last day, a reporter asked him if he thought hed lose his license. Hannagan scoffed. They dont have a case, he said.

Later that day, the FAA formally approved the revocation of Hannagans license.

The fight over the Atlantic earned newspaper headlines around the world. Hannagan appeared on a talk show in Canada, and a small record label produced a single about his exploits, called The Ballad of Punch Hannagan. By the fall, the brouhaha had finally settled down, with Hannagan, his pilots license gone for at least nine months, forced to take a job selling cars.

That was when a far more bizarre airborne event took place: The Thanksgiving Eve hijacking of Northwest Orient Flight 305 out of Portland.

James Long, an Oregon Journal reporter who had sat in on the Hannagan hearing in August, reported on the skyjacking the night it happened. In fact, he was the reporter who mistakenly put down the skyjackers nom de guerre as D.B. Cooper rather than Dan Cooper, having misheard a source at Northwest Airlines thanks to a pocky phone connection.

The D.B. Cooper wanted poster: Could the skyjacker have made an appearance at an FAA hearing in August 1971? (AP Photo/FBI, File)AP -WR

Long soon moved on to other stories and retired in 2003, but all these years later he finds himself thinking about that FAA hearing and wondering if there possibly could be a connection to D.B. Cooper, who remains a folk hero and an enduring mystery. The skyjacking started at the same airport where Hannagan had his pilots license abruptly revoked on the runway, but Long knows Hannagan wasnt Cooper. Flight 305s passengers and crew provided a solid description of the skyjacker, and he wasnt a bone-lanky six-and-a-half-feet with a shock of blond hair.

But Long figures that D.B. Cooper, whoever he was, was the kind of man who would have enjoyed Hannagans devil-may-care attitude. He cant shake the suspicion that the soon-to-be skyjacker showed up at the hearing to offer support.

I remember during the hearing that this guy was standing in one of the doorways watching, Long told The Oregonian/OregonLive in an email. And I thought it was odd because he was wearing sunglasses and, as I looked back on it, bore a startling resemblance to the FBI Cooper sketches given to the media.

Long says he has always believed Cooper was probably a local, noting that in the early 1970s the CIA was starting to close up its then-secret air operations and cutting loose former Northwest smokejumpers it had recruited. Some were pretty wild guys, and the Cooper hijacking sounds like the kind of harebrained idea one [of them] might come up with, he says.

Hannagan, who died in 1981 at just 32, was a wild guy too. He didnt come up with an idea harebrained enough that its being pursued by true-crime fans to this day, but in the months before that famous skyjacking he proved he knew how to get attention.

For weeks in July and August of 1971, a besieged official with the London-to-Victoria air race used a new greeting when answering his phone:

Roger Hannagans publicity agent.

-- Douglas Perry

dperry@oregonian.com

@douglasmperry
The daughter of jailed Uyghur scholar Ilham Tohti called on Wednesday for his immediate release from a Chinese prison, speaking on the sixth anniversary of his sentencing to a life term in prison for separatism for his advocacy for greater rights for the Uyghur people.



Tohti, a former professor of economics at the Central University for Nationalities in Beijing, was sentenced by the Urumqi Intermediate Peoples Court in northwestern Chinas Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) on Sept. 23, 2014, despite having worked for more than two decades to foster dialogue and understanding between Uyghurs and Han Chinese.



For the past six years, Ive tried my besteverything I canto fight for his release. [Now], we need to see what we can all do together to get my father out, Tohtis daughter Jewher Ilham said, speaking in a panel discussion hosted by the Ilham Tohti Institute.



We need to find some sort of way to ask the [Chinese] government to review my fathers case, and to ask for a change in his verdict. The best circumstance would be releasing my father immediately, she said.



Ilham said she recently learned that Chinese authorities had played a video for students at Tohtis former university presenting evidence that he was guilty of the offenses for which he was jailed. That video has not yet been publicly released, though, Ilham said, and may have been edited to brainwash students to believe that Tohti is now where he deserves to be.



If that so-called evidence is not fabricated, and not just used for brainwashing, I would like to be brainwashed too, so I dont have to have these sleepless nights and figure out why my innocent father is still locked up after six years, Ilham said.



'World is waking up'



Also speaking on the panel, Wuer Kaixian ethnic Uyghur and veteran of the 1989 student-led Tiananmen Square democracy movementsaid that now, with the spread of COVID-19 in a pandemic beginning in China, the world is slowly waking up to the global threat the country poses.



[All along], I have been telling the world the simple message that the Chinese communist regime is the very threat to the civilization were living in," Wuer Kaixi said.



The little information we have learned about the Uyghurs has also contributed to the world waking up, he said, adding, It aches my heart to say that more than one million Uyghurs [have been] rounded up in concentration camps in the 21st century. The little information we learned about the Uyghurs has also contributed to the world waking up.



Human rights groups and foreign government have repeatedly voiced concern in recent years over the situation in the XUAR, where authorities are believed to have held up to 1.8 million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities accused of harboring strong religious views and politically incorrect ideas in a vast network of internment camps since April 2017.



China has sought to justify its network of camps as voluntary vocational centers despite reporting by RFA which has found that detainees are mostly held against their will in poor conditions, where they are forced to endure inhumane treatment and political indoctrination.



Though momentum has been gained in the past few years in calling the worlds attention to the plight of Ilham Tohti and the Uyghur population in China, much more remains to be done, Jewher Ilham said in an interview with RFAs Uyghur Service on Wednesday.



Yesterday, the House passed the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which is good news. And previously two months ago, the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act was also passed and signed by the president, Ilham said, referring to recent moves by the U.S. Congress and President Trump to sanction Chinese officials responsible for abuses in Xinjiang.



But until every innocent soul in the prisons, in the concentration camps, is released, my answer is that this is not nearly enough, Ilham said. I would like them all to gain their freedom and be reunited with their families again.



Reported by Mihray Abral for RFAs Uyghur Service. Written in English by Richard Finney.
DRDO successfully test fires laser-guided anti-tank guided missile

India

pti-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Sep 23: An indigenously developed laser-guided anti-tank guided missile has been successfully test fired by the DRDO at a firing range in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar, officials said on Wednesday.

The weapon, having a range of up to four km, was test fired from an MBT Arjun Tank at KK Ranges in Armoured Corps Centre and School (ACC&S) in Ahmednagar on Tuesday, they said.

Rajnath Singh congratulates DRDO for developing hypersonic technology

The laser-guided anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) is likely to significantly enhance the fire-power capability of the Indian Army particularly along the frontiers with Pakistan and China, the officials said.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on successful test firing of the ATGM.

"Congratulations to @DRDO_India for successfully conducting test firing of Laser Guided Anti Tank Guided Missile from MBT Arjun at KK Ranges (ACC&S) in Ahmednagar. India is proud of Team DRDO which is assiduously working towards reducing import dependency in the near future," he tweeted.

Rajnath Singh congratulates DRDO for developing hypersonic technology

The officials said the ATGM hit the targets with total accuracy and precision. "The missile employs a tandem heat warhead to defeat explosive reactive armour protected armoured vehicles. It has been developed with multiple-platform launch capability and is currently undergoing technical evaluation trials from gun of MBT Arjun," said an official.

Only Sushant took drugs, Rhea claims in latest plea | Oneindia News

The Arjun is a third generation main battle tank developed by the DRDO. Pune-based Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) developed the ATGM in association with High Energy Materials Research Laboratory and Instruments Research and Development Establishment (IRDE).
Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia's Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim said on Wednesday he has secured a 'strong, formidable' majority from lawmakers to form a new government and oust Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin from power.

However, it remains uncertain if he would be able to form a government as he is yet to receive the nod from Malaysia's king, who could instead choose to call for elections on Muhyiddin's advice to end months of political volatility.

Malaysia's Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim after a press conference in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday. Credit:AP

Muhyiddin has a razor-thin majority in Parliament and has already hinted at polls to win a stronger mandate.

And there is a risk that political upheavals could delay delivery of government support measures for an export-focused economy that has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.
Undefeated UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya has revealed the reason why he famously writes his opponent's name in the air seconds before a fight.

The 31-year-old, who was born in Nigeria and bases himself in New Zealand, is a huge fan of Japanese animation, in particular the manga series Death Note.

The series is a popular fantasy show where a student discovers a notebook allowing the holder to kill anyone by writing the person's name on the page.

UFC fighter Israel Adesanya (pictured right) with fellow New Zealander Rower Beth Ross has developed a cult following in his short career in the Octagon

Adesanya clearly was taken in by the work of Japanese author Tsugumi Ohba.

He famously adopted the persona of 'Anime' in his UFC 243 battle against Australian Robert Whittaker last October.

The former professional boxer and kickboxer comfortably won that fight via knockout in the second round to become the undisputed UFC middleweight champion.

'You see me try something I've seen in cartoons or video games,' Adesanya told ESPN when quizzed on his unique pre-fight routine.

'I'll pull it out in the Octagon (this weekend) because, I don't know, I can do it. 'I blur the lines between reality and fantasy.'

Adesanya, who is yet to taste defeat in 19 fights, is planning to put on another clinic this weekend (Sunday, September 27) when he takes on unbeaten Brazilian Paulo Costa in the United Arab Emirates in UFC 253.

New Zealand based UFC athlete Israel Adesanya is yet to taste defeat in the Octagon
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media as National Security Adviser John Bolton listens during a meeting with President of Romania Klaus Iohannis in the Oval Office of the White House August 20, 2019 in Washington, DC. Alex Wong/Getty Images

A former career official on the National Security Council accused White House aides of falsely claiming that former national security adviser John Bolton's explosive book contains classified information, according to a new court filing.

The former official, Ellen Knight, alleges that politically appointed aides hijacked the review process to block Bolton from releasing his book, which paints a damning picture of President Donald Trump.

Knight's lawyer said that she and several other agreed the Trump administration was suing Bolton not because of legitimate national security concerns but "because the most powerful man in the world said it needed to happen."

Knight said that after she refused to go along with the politically motivated review process or sign a declaration that contained false claims about Bolton's book, she was told she had "no path forward" at the NSC.

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A career official who served on the National Security Council has accused White House aides of intervening in the review process for former national security adviser John Bolton's book to falsely claim that it contained classified information, according to a letter the official's lawyer filed in court this week.

The official, Ellen Knight, previously served as the senior director for records access and information security management at the NSC and oversaw the prepublication review process for Bolton's book. Bolton and the White House are in a protracted legal battle over the release of his book and allegations that it contained classified information.

Knight is not involved in the matter and has not been in touch with Bolton or the government. But her lawyer's letter said she felt "compelled" to weigh in for several reasons:

She is a "central actor in this matter" because of her role in managing the White House's prepublication review and interactions with the NSC's legal office.

The government contended that she and her staff left "substantial amounts of classified national security information in Bolton's manuscript," which "directly challenges the quality of her team's work, and therefore calls for a response" from Knight.

She is "very concerned" about the politicization of the prepublication review process because if authors believe their manuscripts are being reviewed "for political considerations, they will lose confidence in the integrity of the process and find ways to publish or release their works without submitting them for review." This could result in the disclosure of sensitive or classified information.

Most importantly, Knight said, she is concerned the government is "positioning" the legal process surrounding Bolton's book "in a way that will prevent disclosure of information that might be at odds with the narrative it has propounded since the initiation of this litigation."

Story continues

Knight's lawyer said that after she followed protocol, reviewed Bolton's book, and cleared it for release in April, she had "extraordinary" interactions with the NSC's legal office, which refused to send Bolton a letter confirming his book had been cleared for release.

"At no time was Ms. Knight ever advised that the delay was due to any further review that was being conducted on the Bolton manuscript."

Six weeks after she had cleared the manuscript, Knight was called to review a letter that the NSC's senior lawyer, John Eisenberg, had drafted to send to Bolton's lawyer, Charles Cooper. The letter mentioned media reports that said Bolton intended to publish his book "without final written NSC authorization, and pointed out that the review process was still ongoing. The letter then asserted that 'the current draft manuscript still contains classified material.'"

The last assertion "caught Ms. Knight by surprise, as nobody had ever said so much as one word about any remaining classification concerns since her April 28 request that NSC Legal authorize her to clear the manuscript," the letter from her lawyer said. She then told Eisenberg that she was confident the manuscript did not contain classified information and recommended he "amend" the portion of his letter that said Bolton's book "still contains classified material." Eisenberg "noted" the recommendation and ended the meeting, her lawyer's letter said.

Two days later, on June 10, Knight said she was called into a meeting with the NSC legal office's deputy adviser and four Justice Department lawyers. "The attorneys then asked Ms. Knight a series of questions which clearly indicated they were preparing for litigation," and "they also asked questions suggesting that Ambassador Bolton had acted in bad faith during the prepublication review," the letter said. Knight responded that she believed Bolton had conducted himself "in good faith overall and that she had never seen any indication during their work together that he was trying to circumvent the process."

Knight said that the lawyers then asked what Bolton and his lawyer knew about "the reason for the delay in granting the clearance of the manuscript." At that point, her lawyer said, Knight realized the delay was "not due to competing priorities brought about by the COVID crisis," which was what she had originally been told.

She also learned that Michael Ellis, a political appointee on the NSC who had no experience with classification review, was conducting a second review of Bolton's manuscript at the direction of national security adviser Robert O'Brien. "Between May 2 and June 9, Mr. Ellis reviewed the manuscript and flagged hundreds of passages that, in his opinion, were still classified," the letter said. They included several conversations with foreign heads of state and Bolton's opinion and analysis.

Knight's lawyer added that between her final review on April 28 and the June 10 meeting with DOJ lawyers, "none of these political appointees  ever raised these classification concerns with Ms. Knight and her team or sought to learn about their analysis of the concerning passages."

When the DOJ's lawyers presented her with Ellis' review of the Bolton manuscript and asked her if her team had "missed this much classified information," Knight "firmly responded that that was not possible" and that Ellis' review was "fundamentally flawed," her lawyer's letter said. Specifically, Knight said Ellis had conducted a "classification review" rather than a "prepublication review." The former is a broad term applied to government records  not books  that allows for the redaction of substantially more information.

Three days later, Knight was called into a meeting with the deputy White House counsel, Patrick Philbin, who "walked her through" Ellis' review and asked her to "explain how she and her team could have cleared each passage." Knight recognized that Philbin was trying to get her to admit that her team had "missed something or made a mistake," which the White House could then use to support its litigation against Bolton, the letter said.

Over the next several days, "a rotating cast" of Justice Department and White House lawyers tried to convince Knight to sign a declaration explaining her role in the process and chalking up the discrepancies between her review and Ellis' review to a "difference of opinion." Knight refused to sign the declaration on June 16 because it falsely implied that her team's work was not up to par, the letter said. Knight also believed the discrepancies did not stem from a difference of opinion but existed because her review was an "appropriate prepublication review" while Ellis' was "an inappropriate classification review of a private citizen's work."

Overall, Knight's lawyer said in the letter, Knight suspected that the litigation was taking place "because the most powerful man in the world said it needed to happen." When she voiced that speculation out loud, the letter said, "several registered their agreement with that diagnosis of the situation."

Six days after Knight refused to sign the declaration, she was told her White House detail would end in 60 days. Shortly after, she was told that the NSC chief of staff and legal adviser had determined that "there is no path forward for [Ms. Knight] at the NSC."

Read the original article on Business Insider
STL has been driving towards building advanced solutions for digital networks. These include converged access network offerings, both for optical and wireless networks, with disaggregated software and hardware capabilities. In line with this strategic shift, the company has transformed into an Account Based Organisation with a suite of integrated end-to-end solutions.

STL recently enhanced the technology leadership with the addition of Dr.Krish Prabhu to its Advisory Board. Continuing with these macro shifts, STL announced a series of customer segment leadership appointments. Stephen Szymanski has joined STL as General Manager and Regional Commercial Executive, Americas; Luis Fernando Leon, Sales Manager, Central America; Mayur Tanna, Head- Enterprise Business, India; and Tushar Shah, Key Account Manager, United Kingdom. These accomplished professionals will drive the next phase of growth globally for STL.

These seasoned leaders bring in extensive experience in driving the growth of technology and services that support the digital experience needs of todays consumer. They have been credited to collaborate with customers and offer technology solutions and businesses in their zones of expertise and continually deliver sustainable growth in Optical Interconnects, virtualised Radio wireless networks and many other technology verticals.

Stephen has over 25 years of experience in business development, product management, and executive leadership. Before joining STL, Stephen was Senior Vice President- Telecom, for Prysmian Group in North America, where he managed a large portfolio of responsibilities with a keen focus on strategy and operational execution. He has been associated with organizations like EIS Inc., Fiber Optic Sensing Association (FOSA), and Fiber Broadband Association (FBA). Stephen graduated from College of Charleston, and has pursued executive education from SDA Bocconi School of Management and Rutgers University School of Business.

Luis joined STL from Corning Incorporated where he was a top performer excelling throughout in business development and account management areas. With over 24 years of work experience, he has also been associated with organizations like 3M, Prysmian, and Siemens. Luis holds a Masters degree from the National University of Colombia.

Mayur comes with extensive experience in digital transformation, Enterprise IoT, and telecom infrastructure. He has over 25 years of experience spanning Telecom, 4G/5G Networks, IoT Business and Enterprise business strategy in companies like Siemens, Marconi, Ericsson, Augere, Aircel and Mobilogix. In his last role, he was the Vice President with Mobilogix, a global IoT company. Mayur is an Engineering Graduate from the Manipal Institute of Technology.

Tushar joins STL from Infinera, where he handled key accounts and built deep and extensive relationships with customers across Telecom, Government and Technology sectors. Tushar has also extensively worked with large tech organisations like Lenovo, Huawei, Ciena in various sales and business development roles. Tushar holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) from the University of Hertfordshire.

On these key appointments, Anand Agarwal, Group CEO, STL, said, I am excited to welcome Stephen, Luis, Mayur, and Tushar to the STL family. STL will benefit from their global experience and domain expertise in driving our customer engagement through the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Our customers worldwide depend on us now more than ever to drive end-to-end solutions for their specific needs. I am sure these global domain leaders will help us continue to empower our customers and execute our strategic growth plans.
Barcelona will turn their attention to Sergino Dest once Nelson Semedo's move to Wolves is completed.

The Ajax defender is their first choice to replace the outgoing Portuguese right-back, but they face competition from Bayern Munich.

Bayern are the only club to have made a formal offer to sign the 19-year-old at the moment, while Barcelona continue to wait for the money from Semedo's transfer.

According to De Telegraaf, Ajax are more convinced by Bayern's proposal because they believe the German club are in a better position financially than Barcelona and would be able to get the deal done more quickly.

As for Dest, he's made it clear that he would prefer a move to Barcelona.

Ronald Koeman would like to bring the American international to the Camp Nou, with the transfer likely to cost 15 million euros.
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.
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.
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Linkedin Ghina Ghaliya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, September 23, 2020 14:43 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46aa5a4 1 Business COVID-19,investment,renewable-energy,French,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,MEDEF,RUEN,energy-and-mineral-resources-ministry,ESDM Free

Bilateral cooperation between Indonesia and France remains strong amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The two countries will finalize several bilateral cooperations in the energy sector, Indonesian Ambassador to France Arrmanatha Nasir says.

Arrmanatha said in a statement on Wednesday that the embassy with the French Business Confederation (MEDEF) had held an investor gathering for the energy sector in Indonesia on Tuesday. Sixty French companies participated in the virtual forum, at which Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Arifin Tasrif was the guest speaker.

"Potential French energy investors showed their interest in Indonesias energy sector potential. In the question and answer session, prospective French investors questioned the minister about many things, especially Indonesia's future plans in renewable energy, he said.

They also discussed the B40 national biofuel production program, divestment plans in the energy sector, emission reduction commitments, the Mining Law amendment and its impact, and the ease of doing business in the energy sector.

Arrmanatha asserted that Indonesia had a strong commitment to move toward a clean and sustainable energy system as reflected in the countrys General National Energy Plan (RUEN).

Read also: Geologic time: Indonesias geothermal dreams deferred for 5 years

Indonesia is also one of the countries with the largest gas and geothermal reserves in the world, as well as other energy sources such as wind, ocean waves, solar heat and biomass.

"Another important thing is our political stability and the government's commitment to create a conducive investment climate and increase the ease of doing business.

In his Tuesday presentation, Minister Arifin conveyed the opportunities and challenges of energy development, especially renewable energy in Indonesia.

The minister said the COVID-19 pandemic had caused a decline in global demand for oil and gas, which in turn made it harder for the country to achieve its target of a new and renewable energy mix.

On the other hand, the pandemic had presented an opportunity for the country to start implementing low-carbon development and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, he added.
A plane carrying US vice-president Mike Pence was forced to make an emergency landing after a suspected collision with birds.

Air Force Two was forced to return to an airport in New Hampshire shortly after taking off for Washington DC.

The plane had just left the Manchester-Boston regional airport when it was struck by a bird, CNN reported.

Mr Pence and other passengers were unharmed, as well as the crew.

The vice-president and his entourage later flew back to the US capital in a C17 cargo plane.

A picture posted to social media by assistant health secretary Brett Giroir showed Mr Pence in the less luxurious jet.

Mr Giroir added in a caption: "Air Force 2 has a little different look tonight. Now in a C17 and happy for it!

"Thanks to the pilots and crew for getting us safely back on the ground."

Mr Pence was seen earlier to inspect Air Force Two after it returned to the airport.

He had been in the town of Gilford on a campaign trip. New Hampshire is a battleground state, with Hillary Clinton beating Donald Trump with a margin of just 0.4 per cent in 2016.

"So many of you said yes to Donald Trump in 2016, but I'm here, 42 days from Election Day, because I know New Hampshire's going to say yes to four more years of President Donald Trump," Mr Pence said.
There are calls to halt lectures at Liverpool University after 80 students and and seven staff caught coronavirus - while 500 undergraduates are isolating at halls in Dundee after a single confirmed case.

NHS Tayside in Scotland is contacting any close contacts of the student at Abertay University - with all residents of their halls being told to self-isolate until tracing has been completed.

Dr Daniel Chandler, associate director of public health, said: 'We know from outbreaks in other university settings across Scotland that the virus can spread very quickly in student accommodation.

All 500 students at Parker House halls in Dundee are self-isolating after one of their peers contracted coronavirus

'Therefore, as a precautionary measure, we are contacting all residents of Parker House and advising them to self-isolate immediately.'

'Further investigation and contact tracing are continuing and we will review this advice in the coming days.'

Meanwhile union members in Liverpool are seeking assurances they will not vulnerable staff will have to arrive in campus.

At least 80 students at Liverpool University have contracted coronavirus, along with seven staff

Martyn Moss, UCU regional official, said: 'Liverpool's universities have to immediately heed the call from staff and halt unnecessary in-person teaching.

'The safety of staff, students and the local community has to be the number one priority.

'More widely, the university sector and the government must address this public health crisis immediately. It is not enough to plan to manage Covid outbreaks when we could be working to prevent them.'

He added: 'Without urgent action, it will be impossible for universities to avoid becoming incubators of Covid and university communities becoming transmission hotspots.'

Boris Johnson last night assured the country that schools and universities would remain open, despite tighter coronavirus restrictions coming into force from Thursday.

Jo Grady, general secretary of the UCU, said: 'For Boris Johnson to say that universities should stay open whilst we are seeing reports of Covid outbreaks on campuses throughout the UK is an abdication of responsibility and it shows how disconnected he is from the facts on the ground.

'Our institutions never closed, even during the national lockdown. Staff moved teaching online and continued to deliver for their students and support them.

Abertay University in Dundee said it is supporting students while they are self-isolating due to the outbreak

'The Prime Minister should go back to that arrangement and instruct all staff to work from home.'

Professor Louise Kenny, executive pro-vice-chancellor for the faculty of health and life sciences at the University of Liverpool, has said face-to-face teaching is 'an essential component' of many degree courses.

She said: 'Like other members of Liverpool's population, university students and staff members are also experiencing more Covid-19 cases.

'Our investment in an on-campus testing facility for staff and students displaying symptoms means that we are in a position to report on the numbers in our community who test positive and, importantly, to act quickly to stop the spread.'

Professor Nigel Seaton, principal of Abertay University, said, 'Our students in Parker House are being supported to self-isolate safely and we will remain in regular daily contact with them.

'The university already has enhanced cleaning and safety measures in place on campus, in line with national guidance, and the campus will remain open.

'We have contacted students and staff to remind them of their personal responsibilities in relation to Covid safety and to inform them of today's changes in Scottish Government guidance.'
Aminu Wali, 79, was Nigerias ambassador to China (2009  2014) before he was appointed foreign affairs minister by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2014. Mr Wali had earlier served as Nigerias permanent representative to the United Nations. In this interview, he speaks on challenges of managing foreign relations especially in times of crises and the politics of foreign aids and loans.

Excerpts:

PREMIUM TIMES: As a retired diplomat and former foreign minister, how do you assess Nigerias current foreign policy thrust especially in the light of recent happening; xenophobic attacks in South Africa and recent altercation with Ghana?

Aminu Wali: Nigerias diplomatic relations concerning global approach has been fairly consistent over a long period. But the cardinal principle of our foreign policy is, what is best for our country and also for Africa. That is the centrepiece of our foreign policy. But of course with a lot of happenings today, we have lost a lot of grounds as far as our impact internationally or even in Africa.

I know some years back, Nigeria was the country that was always reckoned with. Any action by any country, particularly in Africa, they always look towards Nigeria to see where it is heading. I think we have lost a lot of grounds in that respect. Maybe because of internal problems that we have, maybe we have not been able to give the importance that international relations require, as far as the current administration is concerned. I dont blame them because the problems are multiple. As a former foreign minister, I understand the principles that we always operate on. The type of foreign policy that we always want to pursue is to make sure that we drive maximum benefits out of our relationship with any country in the world.

As for problems you have mentioned in South Africa, these have always been there. Its been perennial in South Africa and China and some other Asian countries like Indonesia, Malaysia [and] Thailand. We have always had problems as far as relationship is concerned, not on normal day to day relationship with those countries but its more consular issues relating to our nationals in those countries.

I am being brutally honest about it; wherever you hear of problems with our nationals in any of those countries that I have mentioned, you find out that the host authorities mainly are not to be blamed, because the kind of situation faced internally here is what is translated into those countries, particularly disregard for law and order.

A lot Nigerians do not understand these situations, they cover their acts [by saying] Nigerians are being messed up. First of all, you have to dig and find out why these things are happening. Some of us that are exposed in our missions have first-hand experience and understanding of the situation. For example, I was in China for four and a half years. I handled a lot of consular issues, 90 per cent of the problems were caused by our nationals. Im being blunt.

Ive tried to make lots of efforts to create some awareness on the traditional leadership of our people to understand and how to relate with their subjects to ensure they dont get involved in what they get involved in. that they should know how to treat their subjects and not start dishing out chieftaincy titles to people simply because they have money. First of all, you have to try to find out how they made the money.

A lot of our problems particularly in Asia is drug trading by our nationals. A lot of them in Asian prisons are still there. The same kind of problem is what is happening in South Africa.

PT: A lot of people believe all these are happening because Nigeria has lost the leadership that we used to exercise. Would you say we have lost that leadership?

Wali: That is very true, one would need to be honest in this respect. We used to lead the whole of Africa in terms of foreign policy, in pursuing the best interest of Africa. We used to be the spokesperson of Africa, but we have lost that ground. Maybe because some of those countries have come up and they can stand on their own and fight for themselves. But the leader of the vanguard had always been Nigeria.

PT: Chinas increasing incursion into Africa, especially in terms of loans and development aids. Generally speaking, what is your take on China-Africa relationship?

Wali: There are lots of misunderstandings in terms of Chinese interests. When we talk about international relations, the benefits are two-way: the benefits of the receiver and the benefits of the donor. Nobody gives you anything for nothing. The only thing is that you have to be in a very strong position to be able to negotiate well so that we get the best out of the situation because they will also be negotiating for the best. This is what we call diplomacy.

China is about the only power today with the resources to spare for our needs. Therefore, we cannot sit down and say because there is a problem between the East and West we should not get involved. Take from whichever side so that it benefits you. We have to be aware that the Chinese also, whatever they are doing there are certain benefits that they want to reap out of the relationship, which is becoming more apparent now.

As far as Nigeria is concerned, we are not selling out to the Chinese, neither is China trying to take over our resources. They would want to get involved in some of the activities that we do in this country for the resources that we have. At the same time, they are prepared also to give us the kind of support that we need also, particularly in infrastructural development. What is happening to Nigeria is also happening even in Europe and some other parts of the world.

PT: There are concerns that the level at which we run to China for loans, some believe we are mortgaging the future of the country to China.

Wali: I am not very sure that may be true. China gives the softest loans to Africa. There is what they call FOCAC. Through this, the Chinese government routinely put down money for soft loans to Africa. These are very soft loans. But like I said, whatever you do, you have to have representatives that can negotiate in such a way that the fear being expressed does not materialize. It all depends on the condition under which you take those loans. For example, if we had finished the Abuja light rail project long ago I am sure by now we would have paid back. But we have to be very careful to take loans for white elephant projects.

PT: What can be done to improve this relationship?

Wali: I know that any right-thinking person coming to power in Nigeria cannot ignore the importance of Chinese involvement in our economic development. I believe we will continue dealing with China. The only thing that I would have to repeat, is the quality of our negotiators that will be able to negotiate with the Chinese to be able to get the best deal for our country. They should be able to get the best deals for our country.

PT: How do you see the developing trade war between the U.S. and China as regards development in Africa?

Wali: I do not want us in Africa to get involved in that war. This is a war between elephants, we are the grass. We should maintain our relationship with China and with the U.S. We should not be caught in the middle trying to take aside. Of course, this is a war of supremacy, the world is being unipolar for some time, but with the emergence of China, it is gradually becoming bipolar. The U.S. is not comfortable with China encroaching into the areas of authority.

In terms of the economy, China has already made in-roads into the U.S. system. Go to any department in the U.S, 80 per cent of the things you see are likely to be from China.

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PT: In case escalation of this dispute, what do you think best protects Nigerias interest?

Wali: People are talking about loans. What matters is how we negotiate them. Yes, the U.S. do give us certain technical support and some financial, but in certain institutions like under the USAID, not in the way China does.

So, their war is their war, not ours. We should try as much as possible to maintain good relations with both sides. Even China and the U.S. that are involved in the war, they still have not given up in finding solutions and get a situation where they can be able to operate successfully for the benefits of each other.

PT: During your time as a minister, you had this lingering issue of the fight against Boko Haram, leading to some western countries blacklisting or not selling weapons to Nigeria. Why were you not able to resolve that problem?

Wali: You see, we discussed the problem of Boko Haram with various countries especially those who are in a position to give us some kind of support. But unfortunately, the approach in Nigeria now, which I believe it is still when it comes to insecurity in the country, the opposition (parties) wants to always be blasting the sitting government. They dont give the right support and advice. They portray the whole thing as the fault of the government such that the western countries fell for these kinds of propaganda, and we entered lots of problems.

For example, we (wanted) cobra helicopters from the U.S. they refused to sell it to us during my time. We headed elsewhere to get these helicopters. I visited Turkey. They said they are willing to sell to us those type of aircraft but, unfortunately, they cannot go ahead and sell to us because the engines are American, therefore, they have to have a license from the US. But the U.S. was not prepared to help.

PT: How was the engagement with the U.S. like?

Wali: My last engagement was very disappointing. I sat with the undersecretary of state at the States Department in Washington, their main concern was about the (then) coming election. They said is the election going to happen, I said yes. As far as they were concerned, they were not interested (in the request), all they were interested in was a change of government.

PT: Concerning this is the story of Chibok girls. A lot of stories came out that the Nigerian government refused offers for help. How true was this?

Wali: Its not true. There is no way a government would say we do not want assistance from any quarters. It was something that was being said to blackmail the sitting government at the time.

What happened in Chibok if you go deep you would not even blame the central authorities. This was something that happened in Borno State and most of the persons involved were persons that were in [the state] government and they knew when this started happening.

As far as Boko Haram is concerned, I can boldly say, by the time we left government we had brought down Boko Haram to a standstill.

If you recall, when the election was postponed for four weeks, it was because of insecurity. At that time, our operation in the North-east was succeeding. We brought Boko Haram where we want them that is why there was no single polling unit in the northeast where election did not take place.

It was after we had left that a lot of things started to get bad again. Goodluck Jonathan government did a lot to stop Boko Haram. Though, we had our misfortunes with Boko Haram; they attacked a motor park in Abuja, they had attacks in Kano but before we left all those types of attacks were eliminated.

PT: Would you attribute that to the support from the international communities because aside from the former ones, we learnt there were some informal arrangements like the mercenaries brought from South Africa?

Wali: I would not be in the position to tell you that, because I was not involved in any of those issues. But as a member of the national security council, I know that we had a lot of support from a lot of countries that were sympathetic to our cause. That is why we were able to stop Boko Haram in their tracks.
Amid rising COVID-19 cases in Madhya Pradesh, state home minister and BJP leader Narottam Mishra on Wednesday caused a flutter saying he doesnt wear a face mask in any programme. However, as the Congress attacked him, the minister later tempered his remarks, saying he cannot continue to wear a face mask for a long time due to a medical condition.

I dont wear a mask in any programmes. Isme kya hota hai? (so what)," the home minister told reporters when they asked him why he was not wearing a mask at a function here. Mishra was in Indore to participate in a programme for distribution of assistance under the state governments Sambal Yojana, which provides social security cover to the poor and the SC and ST communities.

However, Mishras cabinet colleagues Tulsiram Silawat and other BJP leaders, who also attended the event, were wearing masks. The Congress launched a pointed attack, asking are COVID-19 norms meant only for the common people.

Is there anyone who has the courage to take action against him (Mishra). Are rules only for common people?" Madhya Pradesh Congress spokesman Narendra Saluja tweeted. As his remarks drew fire, the home minister told reporters in Bhopal, I normally wear a mask but I cant sport it for a long time, as I am suffering from Polypus and if I wear a mask it leads to suffocation".

Indore is among the worst-hit districts in Madhya Pradesh which has reported 20,834 COVID-19 cases and 516 fatalities so far. An Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) official said the civic body penalises people without masks with Rs 200 fine.
San Franciscos Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on Tuesday to make mandatory daily cleanings of hotel rooms permanent beyond the coronavirus pandemic.

A 60-day emergency ordinance passed in July established the measures before hotels reopened and was strongly supported by Unite Here Local 2, the union that represents hotel workers. Hotel owners sued to invalidate the requirements in July.

Supervisors and supporters called the measure a way to boost tourist confidence as the city continues reopening, while hotel groups said it would add significant financial burdens and endanger workers by potentially exposing them to guests who are infected. They support cleaning hotel rooms once after a guest leaves.

Hotels were allowed to reopen for leisure travelers on Sept. 14, a sign of progress after being shuttered in mid-March, with the exception of some hotels providing housing for homeless people and essential workers.

The last few months have been very difficult, Kevin Carroll, CEO of the Hotel Council of San Francisco, told The Chronicle last week. Financially, its been devastating. Carroll estimated that hotel occupancy rates are 15% compared with 85% a year ago.

Guests can decline to have rooms cleaned and disinfected daily but cannot receive any financial incentives to do so. Hotel worker unions opposed programs that rewarded fewer cleanings, which were established before the pandemic and often touted environmental benefits. Workers have said they struggled to clean rooms that werent tidied up for days.

The average 250-room hotel would pay an additional $220,000 per year to comply with the measure, according to Hotel Asset Value Enhancement, a hotel adviser.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

San Francisco is projected to lose $10.7 billion in tourism spending in this year and next year after leisure and business travel froze for six months. Leisure and business travelers are expected to drop to 12.9 million this year, less than half of last years record-high.

The measure also requires high-traffic common areas in office buildings over 50,000 square feet to be cleaned multiple times a day, which building managers said would be a financial burden at the same time the office market is softening.

Roland Li is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: roland.li@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rolandlisf
Beecher Hunter, president of Life Care Centers of America since 2006, is retiring, and he will be succeeded by Todd Fletcher, vice president of Western Division Operations for Life Care. Those administrative changes were announced Wednesday by Forrest L. Preston, chairman and CEO of the company.



Effective date of the transition in responsibilities will be Monday, Nov. 2. Mr. Hunter will continue in an advisory and support role until Dec. 31, Mr. Preston said.



Both individuals have long tenures with Life Care. Mr. Hunter caps a 34-year career, having joined the company in 1986 after 20 years with The Cleveland Daily Banner. Mr. Fletchers service began in 1990, coming directly out of college, when he was named executive director of Rimrock Villa Convalescent Hospital in Barstow, Ca.



Beecher came to us on March 3, 1986, as vice president of communications, and he didnt even report to work at the office on that first day, Mr. Preston said. Instead, he met me at the Cleveland airport for a three-day trip to visit facilities in Kansas and Missouri.



Since then, he has been a faithful advocate of the highest quality of care for the men and women we serve, and a leader in recognizing and praising the work of their caregivers, whom he calls Gods chosen angels to deliver His message of love and compassion.



As vice president of Western Division Operations, Mr. Fletcher has had responsibility for 84 skilled nursing facilities in three of Life Cares divisions  Northwest (31 facilities), Mountain States (30 facilities) and Southwest (23 facilities).



From his very first day on the job, Todd has shown natural leadership abilities, honed by valuable experience in his relationships with residents and their families, and deep appreciation for the passion and commitment of his co-workers for the mission to which they are called, Mr. Preston said. Not only does he bring talent and energy to his new assignment, but he also has a genuine heart for those he serves and leads.



Mr. Hunter is a 1961 graduate of Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville, Tennessee, with a B.A. degree in English. He and his wife, Lola, moved to Cleveland in 1962, when he accepted a job as news and wire editor of The Banner. He was promoted to editor of the newspaper in 1973.

He is a former president of the Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce and the Cleveland Family YMCA and is currently a member of the board of trustees of the Tennessee Aquarium. He has been a member of the board of directors of the Better Business Bureau of Chattanooga since 1983. He received an honorary fellowship from the American College of Health Care Administrators in 2012 for distinguished service in the field of long-term care. The Hunters are members of First Baptist Church of Cleveland.



I have had the blessing of two careers  in newspapering and for the past 34 years with Life Care  that I have enjoyed, Mr. Hunter said. Its hard for me to put into words the love and respect I have for the people I have met and worked with  residents like Gen. Robert Copsey, a confidante of Charles Lindbergh, or Mary Denton, the woman featured in the Life Care logo, or Mr. Life Care, Claude Ogle, whose wit and wisdom were infectious.



Then there are thousands of associates across the country  certified nursing assistants, nurses, workers in housekeeping, laundry and maintenance, activities directors, administrative leaders  whom I look into their faces and see the earnestness of their desire to serve our Lord by caring for others. I will miss them all, but now I owe Lola and my family more opportunities to travel and explore what else God has in store for us.



Mr. Fletcher steps into the role of president with extensive knowledge of the company and its philosophy.



In 1970, Forrest Preston founded and created the legacy of Life Care Centers of America based on his vision and commitment to serving seniors, Mr. Fletcher said. Mr. Preston established high standards of leadership and a legacy of unmatched courage.



For over 34 years, Beecher Hunter has made an invaluable impact on Life Care with his authentic and unique brand of servant leadership, particularly in his role as president of the company for the past 14 years, Mr. Fletcher continued.



Beechers compassion and genuine empathy for our residents and associates over the years has left an indelible mark on our company, he added. I am honored to continue this legacy by serving our Life Care Centers of America family and leading with the same compassion and excellence that have become our cornerstones. We have challenging times ahead, but we also have a strong foundation to draw from. I believe that if we can continue to focus on our calling to serve our residents and associates selflessly and with excellence, we will overcome.



A 1989 graduate of Walla Walla University in College Place, Washington, with a bachelors degree in business administration, Mr. Fletcher went on to Southern Adventist University in Collegedale to earn a degree in long-term health care management.



His career has included an appointment as executive director of La Habra Convalescent Hospital in La Habra, Ca., and later Life Care Center of Bothell and Cottesmore of Life Care, both in the State of Washington. He served as a senior executive director, regional vice president and vice president of the Northwest Division before accepting the leadership of Western Division Operations.



Mr. Fletcher and his wife, Cheri, will be relocating from Auburn, Wa. to Cleveland. The couple has three children.
But its only a matter of time before Illinois math no longer works and extreme financial circumstances make pension reform politically expedient. Illinois finances have been declining for decades, and the pandemic has brought the state to the brink. Senate President Don Harmons $42 billion bailout request to Congress, Illinois abandoned $1.2 billion bond issuance and the states reliance on $5 billion from the federal government to fill its budget hole are all proof that Illinois is running out of options.
Mobile, AL -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/23/2020 -- Premium shopper participants will be among the first to view the newest Secret Scientist gear and will have a chance to purchase items before they are released in the store to customers. As a result, premium shoppers are not forced to wait in lengthy lines.



Secret Scientist premium shoppers are required to spend at least $400. Access to the warehouse will be available Monday through Wednesday. A visit to the store is necessary as premium shoppers will not be provided photos of upcoming releases.



For those interested in becoming a Secret Scientist premium shopper, more information on the number to text is available on the Secret Scientist Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/secretscientistclothing/.



About Secret Scientist Clothing

Launched in 2009, Secret Scientist Clothing is an urban streetwear brand based in Mobile, Alabama providing a range of products from t-shirts, hoodies, jackets, and footwear to accessories and more. The brand recognizes and embraces individuality while making fashion fun, accessible, and always trendy. For more information, please call 251-680-0429. Customers can also visit the store located in The Shoppes at Bel Air.
A 54-year-old woman from Six Nations has been charged with arson in connection with the ongoing Land Back demonstrations in Caledonia.

Police say the woman turned herself in to the Haldimand OPP station on Monday and was charged with arson, two counts of mischief, disobeying a court order and failure to comply with an undertaking.

She becomes the 23rd person that police say has been arrested and charged with violating ongoing court injunctions that prevent Six Nations land defenders and their supporters from entering the McKenzie Meadows construction site in Caledonia or blocking roadways in Haldimand.

Land Back spokesperson Skyler Williams says that  by his count  at least 26 people have been arrested.

Haldimand OPP Const. Rod LeClair said in an email that the arson charge against the Six Nations woman is in relation to demonstration activities off-site from McKenzie Meadows.

LeClair declined to provide more details about the alleged arson, citing an ongoing investigation.

I am not able to provide evidentiary information or circumstances which resulted in any of the individuals being charged, he said.

The accused was held for a bail hearing at the Ontario Court of Justice in Cayuga before being released.

Supporters of the group living at McKenzie Meadows, which they renamed 1492 Land Back Lane after moving in July 19, put up barricades on Argyle Street and Highway 6 and lit several tire fires on the street in response to police forcibly moving land defenders off the site on Aug. 5.

Protesters also blocked a rail line running through Caledonia and lit an excavator on fire.

The court orders remain in force, while an online legal fund for arrested land defenders and their allies has raised over $133,000.

Weve got lots to do to support all those who have been dragged into the courts, said Williams, adding that criminal courts are not the place to address the issue of Indigenous land sovereignty, which underpins the dispute.
Joel Frushone with the U.S. Economic Development Administration and Anthony Foti with the U.S. Department of Commerce toured the building on Tuesday and spoke to local entrepreneurs about struggles and opportunities in Billings.

All of them agreed that making connections with business owners and experts is an important step to business development.

Chantal Hale is the founder of Malax Massage, a mobile massage platform that allows clients to get a massage where they want and when they want. She said that if it werent for an event through Rock31, she wouldnt have met her developer who has helped her continue to form the idea.

Without that event, I wouldnt have had those opportunities, Hale said.

Drew Gerber recently founded Take Initiative, a service that brings students and small businesses together to give students more options in their career path, especially in rural parts of the state. As he develops his business, one obstacle will be finding capital and scaling to provide access to services across the state. Finding the right people to do it is another issue.
Caribbean

Time is running out for the autonomous Dutch islands in the Caribbean to do a deal with their former colonizer.



Coronavirus has brought tourism, the mainstay of the island economies, close to a standstill. Tax revenue has dried up while unemployment has soared. Without support from the European Netherlands, the governments of Aruba, Curacao and Sint Maarten will run out of money in weeks.



The Dutch are willing to help, but only if the islands accept temporary Dutch administrators to manage reforms. For most of the Caribbean politicians, this goes too far.



Aruba



Medical personnel on Aruba, whose salaries have been cut 12.5 percent, warn that the health system is on the brink of collapse. Of the three islands, it has had the most cases of COVID-19: more than 2,400 on a population of 105,000.



The government expects to run out of money halfway through September. It needs 320 million to plug its shortfall this year and 270 million next year. Debt as a share of GDP is projected to rise from 63 to 93 percent.

Aruba has met most Dutch demands, excepting capping public-sector wages at 130 percent of the prime ministers salary. A similar rule was introduced in the European Netherlands in 2013.



Employers and the Aruba Chamber of Commerce have urged the government to comply.



Curacao



Although Curacao has only 92 known infections of coronavirus disease, the economic situation on the largest of the three islands is dire. The government must already choose between paying civil servants and suppliers. Its deficit is projected to equal 43-46 percent of GDP this year. Economic output is projected to shrink between 20 and 24 percent. 50,000 of the islands 160,000 residents are dependent on food aid. Half are unemployed.



Curacao has so far received 180 million from the European Netherlands. Another 50 million is on hold, pending approval of Dutch demands for economic reform.



The government expects it will need another 250 million next year.



Sint Maarten



Sint Maarten, which shares an island with French Saint-Martin, was still recovering from Hurricane Irma when COVID-19 hit. It has some 500 cases on a population of 40,000. Government revenues have fallen 50 percent. The economy is projected to shrink by a quarter.



Sint Maarten has received 26.5 million in COVID aid from the Netherlands, but it doesnt yet meet the requirements for the next round of support.



Dutch demands



The islands have already agreed to cut wages in the public sector, including the salaries of politicians. Companies are required to pay one-fifth of wage subsidies for the unemployed.

Terms for additional aid include cutting red tape, lowering the cost of doing business and speeding up permits.



The islands arent opposed to these conditions per se. Aruba has put together a comprehensive plan that calls for harmonizing employment regulations between the public and private sectors, investing in education and retraining, simplifying the tax code and shifting to e-government to reduce bureaucracy.



What they cannot accept is that the reforms would be monitored by Dutch officials, who would answer to The Hague rather than the local parliaments.



Falling short



The Dutch argue the islands have time and again fallen short of their commitments, and appointing Dutch administrators is the only way to guarantee the reforms will be made.



Recent events give some credence to that argument.



While Aruba was drafting its reform plan, politicians on Curacao were playing political games. Opposition lawmakers  the majority of whom want complete independence from the Netherlands  tried to use the death of a ruling party lawmaker to change the majority in parliament. They failed, but not before encouraging riots.



The Netherlands gave Sint Maarten 470 million in support after the hurricane, but three years later less than 6 percent of the aid money has been spent.



Chris Johnson, the Dutch representative on the island, and Gwendolien Mossel, Sint Maartens ombudswoman, agree a dearth of local government expertise is to blame. Since Sint Maarten became a separate country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 2010, it has held five elections and gone through nine governments.






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
TUCSON, Ariz., Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Sonoran Institute, a leading U.S.-Mexico conservation organization, has appointed Mike Zellner as Chief Executive Officer. His decades of leadership, proven management skills, and passion for the Sonoran Institute's mission will drive the organization to deliver on its ambitious missionconnecting people and communities with the natural resources that nourish and sustain them.

Sonoran Institute CEO Mike Zellner trekking. Photo courtesy Mike Zellner.

"With its deep pool of talent and rich history of community-based, conservation success, I am honored to have the opportunity to collaborate with the Sonoran Institute team in protecting and restoring rivers and working to secure clean, ample water for all people and the environment," says Zellner. "The first thing I want conservationists, friends and supporters of Sonoran Institute to know is that we are going to build a better future together."

Zellner joins the Sonoran Institute with 30 years of experience building award-winning collaborations for global organizations. At the Nature Conservancy, Zellner collaborated with global, regional and local stakeholders to conserve more than 450,000 acres, fundraise more than $30 million, build advisory boards in Latin America, and secure the largest corporate partnership in the history of the organization. Before joining The Nature Conservancy, Zellner worked for more than two decades as a business journalist in Mexico and the Americas. At the end of the 1990s, Zellner made the shift from editor-in-chief to owner, buying Miami-based business magazine Latin Trade and leading the publication to 27 editorial awards in seven years.

Beginning September 28, Zellner will be based at the organization's headquarters in Tucson. Zellner replaces Stephanie Sklar, who retired in August 2020. Fluent in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Zellner has lived in Miami, Santiago, Sao Paulo, and Mexico City and will champion the Sonoran Institute's cross-border collaboration, uniting diverse groups in conservation success.

"Mike Zellner brings to the Sonoran Institute business and conservation expertise with an inclusive, multilingual, collaborative leadership style that will propel our team and partners to even greater impact in the Mexico-U.S. borderlands," says Mary Alexander, chair of the Board of Directors of the Sonoran Institute.

About the Sonoran Institute

Founded in 1990, the Sonoran Institute's mission is to connect people and communities with the natural resources that nourish and sustain them. We envision resilient communities living in harmony with the natural world, where flowing rivers and healthy landscapes enable all people and nature to thrive. Our work transcends borders, bringing together diverse communities to promote civil dialogue about complex conservation issues that know no boundaries. All aspects of our work are guided by inclusivity and collaboration to create positive environmental change in the western United States and northwestern Mexico. For more information visit: www.sonoraninstitute.org.

Contact: Corinne Matesich

(520) 290-0828 x 1105

[email protected]

Sonoran Institute

100 N. Stone Ave., Suite 1001

Tucson, AZ 85701

SOURCE Sonoran Institute

Related Links

http://www.sonoraninstitute.org


Belarusians have been protesting for over a month to demand the resignation of President Alexander Lukashenko following national elections that his opponents and international governments widely consider fraudulent. Artists in Belarus and across the globe created dozens of illustrations inspired by the protests.

What is happening in Belarus? We explain the historic pro-democracy protests

Protests began Aug. 9 when Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994, emerged as the winner of a presidential election with about 80% of the votes, according to official exit polls. The rallies are unprecedented in scale and have been largely peaceful. The protesters dress in white and red  the colors of the opposition flag  and bring flowers and balloons. Protests have been held in more than 30 cities. A historic rally in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, drew more than 200,000 people. Thousands of people continue to demonstrate across the country, from big cities to small villages.

Stop the violence. Belarus, 2020.

The government has cracked down on dissent since protests swept the country. Since the rallies began, around 6,700 people have been arrested. Two people have died in police custody.

TOPSHOT - Law enforcement officers detain participants of a rally to support detained opposition figure Maria Kolesnikova in Minsk on September 8, 2020. - Authorities in Belarus tried to forcibly expel leading opposition figure Maria Kolesnikova from the country but she tore up her passport in defiance and jumped out a car window to stay, her allies said on September 8, 2020. Kolesnikova, one of the last of the figures leading mass protests against President Alexander Lukashenko who is still in the country, was detained at the border early on Tuesday after going missing in Monday. (Photo by - / TUT.BY / AFP) (Photo by -/TUT.BY/AFP via Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 0 ORIG FILE ID: AFP_1X3031.jpg

Riot police have been seen pummeling unarmed protesters with their boots and batons Plain-clothed law enforcement officers have reportedly abducted protesters, forcing them into vans.

Belarusian artist @kastus.suprac is a member of a national art resistance movement

Both riot police and military forces have used tear gas, water cannons, rubber bullets and stun grenades. Some have shot live rounds at unarmed protesters. Police detained hundreds of women participating in peaceful marches over the weekend.

       .         .  ,   .      .



      ,    pic.twitter.com/HlqhM2DiPT    (@novosyolov) September 14, 2020

Protesters released from detention appear to have been subjected to widespread torture, according to Amnesty International. The organization says detained protesters were forced to kneel with their hands behind their backs for hours in overcrowded cells. Men and women were reportedly stripped naked, beaten and raped with truncheons.

Story continues

The famous trio - Svetlana Tsikhanouskaya, Maria Kolesnikova and Veronika Tsepkalo

They line up peacefully, rally in white robes and flowers and help and support each other - this is how Belarusians protest

Women have been playing a crucial role in the movement against Lukashenko. Thousands of women dressed in in white and carrying flowers have been rallying against the outcome of the election and the ensuing violence. They have been gathering for women's marches and forming human chains that stretch for miles. Three women became the leaders of the opposition movement.

Svetlana Tsikhanouskaya was Lukashenko's main rival in last month's election. She emerged as a rallying figure for the opposition after election officials refused to add male candidates seen as Lukashenkos strongest potential challengers to ballots.

One, Viktor Babariko, the head of a major Russian-controlled bank, was jailed in May on money-laundering and tax-evasion charges that he believes to be politically driven. Another, Valery Tsepkalo, fled to Russia last month, fearing arrest and losing custody of his children.

Tsikhanouskaya has formed a united campaign with Tsepkalos wife Veronika Tsepkalo who stayed in Belarus, and Maria Kolesnikova, Babarikos campaign manager. A joint photo of the three became a symbol for protesters.

Veronika Tsepkalo, the wife of opposition figure Valery Tsepkalo, who was barred from running for presidency, presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya and Maria Kolesnikova, Viktor Babaryko's campaign chief, pose during a press conference in Minsk on July 17, 2020. (Photo by Sergei GAPON / AFP) (Photo by SERGEI GAPON/AFP via Getty Images) ORIG FILE ID: AFP_1VC2A8

Tsikhanouskaya was forced to go into exile in neighboring Lithuania shortly after the vote. She was allegedly left alone for three hours with security officials after going to the Central Election Commission to request a recount of votes from the presidential election. On Monday, she met with EU foreign ministers at the EU headquarters in Brussels and urged them to sanction those involved in the brutal suppression of protests in the country.

Tsepkalo fled to Russia for safety reasons before the election took place. She is now in Ukraine.

Maria Kolesnikova says she was forced into a van by masked men in the center of Minsk. In a statement delivered by her lawyer, she describes being told that if she did not leave willingly she could be removed "alive or in bits".

Motherland calls

Koleshikova was driven to the Ukrainian border with two opposition activists to be forcibly deported. She prevented officials from expelling her by tearing up her passport and throwing it out of a car window, according to those who traveled with her. Kolesnikova is currently in custody. She has been charged with calling for actions that threaten the national security of Belarus.

Svetlana Alexievich, a Nobel Prize-winning writer and journalist, is the last leading member of the opposition Coordination Council still in Belarus who has not been detained. She said masked men attempted to break into her apartment. A group of European diplomats rushed to protect the 72-year-old woman.

The inspiration for this illustration is 73-year-old Nina Baginskaya

Nina Baginskaya gained wide popularity after a video of her encounter with Belarusian riot police at a protests went viral. In the videos, a 5-foot-1, 73-year-old woman with a white-red-white flag in her hands walks right past riot policemen blocking her way saying, "I'm walking".

As in walking. It is a symbolic phrase and a tribute to Nina Baginskaya. She was stopped by a riot police but she just told them: I am walking and moved forward. https://t.co/RGkiMjsHpv  Voices from Belarus (@VoicesBelarus) August 29, 2020

Baginskaya was well-known in Minsk well before the video, and has been attending opposition rallies since 1988. She has been ordered to pay more than $16,000 in fines for participation in rallies over the years, according to local media. The state withholds money for fines from her pension, halving it to around $75 a month. Her two country houses were confiscated and put up for sale. In 2016, bailiffs even seized a microwave oven and washing machine from Baginskaya. But five days later, activists and supporters on the internet raised money to buy her new household appliances. Baginskaya was detained on September 19 and later released.

Opposition activist Nina Baginskaya, 73, center, struggles with police during a Belarusian opposition supporters rally at Independence Square in Minsk, Belarus, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020. Police in Belarus have dispersed protesters who gathered on the capital's central square, detaining dozens. The crackdown in Independence Square on Wednesday comes on the 18th straight day of protests pushing for the resignation of Belarus' authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky) ORG XMIT: PEA403

The last European dictator

Belarusians are cats, not rats

Lukashenko has repeatedly denigrated the protesters and the opposition movement. He called the demonstrators "sheep" controlled by "puppeteers" from other countries and said that it is mostly "people with a criminal past and unemployed" taking part in the protests.

This grab taken from a video released by Belarus state agency "Belta" shows President Alexander Lukashenko holding an automatic rifle and wearing body armour as he arrives, on August 23, 2020, at his residence in Minsk, not far from where opposition protests are taking place. - Tens of thousands of demonstrators massed in central Minsk on Sunday to demand the resignation of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who flew over the scene of the banned protest in a helicopter and called the marchers "rats". (Photo by - / BELTA / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / BELTA " - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS (Photo by -/BELTA/AFP via Getty Images) ORIG FILE ID: AFP_1WP433

Lukashenko also said that many of the Belarusians detained during the protests were stoned and drunk. Flying by helicopter to his Minsk residence, he inspected a location of a protest rally with thousands of people. Lukashenko said that its participants "fled like rats."

"You are rat yourself" has become another popular slogan of the uprising.

Why Belarus protesters will prevail (thread)



1. The protest is creative. People do use technologies and to use arts. Every protest looks like the festival. It is engaging and fun. In the video, you can see the improvised show about Luka. pic.twitter.com/GhBw06Ofqw  Franak Viacorka (@franakviacorka) September 6, 2020

After Lukashenko met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi, Putin agreed to provide an emergency loan of $1.5 billion to Lukashenko's administration. Belarus' situation is reminiscent of Ukraine's in 2013. Then, Russia offered to lend $15 billion to former Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych during a series of pro-European Union demonstrations around the country.

Pray for Belarus

While Russia and China have voiced support for Lukashenko, the United States is considering enacting sanctions on Belarus for regime's violent response to protests. The EU parliament has passed a non-binding resolution to impose sanctions on Belarus' leader Alexander Lukashenko over the disputed re-election and violence against protesters. However, European Union foreign ministers failed to impose sanctions on Monday.

Once the term of office for the incumbent authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko expires on 5 November, parliament will no longer recognize him as the president of the country, the parliament said in a statement.

Lukashenko has reportedly announced that Belarus is closing the western border with Lithuania and Poland. Security at the border with Ukraine will be strengthened. Lukashenko was sworn in for a sixth term on Wednesday in an unannounced ceremony. Streets were repotedly sealed off as his motorcade raced through the city.

Nothing says "love and support of 80% of the population" like a secret inauguration. https://t.co/4F3brwmZKF  Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) September 23, 2020

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Belarus protests as seen through the artists' eyes
Pureos Bioventures, a St. Peter Port, Guernsey and Zurich, Switzerland-based newly formed venture capital firm, advised by Bellevue Asset Management, closed its first fund BB Pureos Bioventures LP, with committed capital of USD 170m.

The supporters of the first fund include strategic limited partners, such as pharmaceutical and biotech companies as well as a large contract manufacturer, and family offices, institutional investors, and fund-of-funds.

Led by Founding partners Klaus Breiner, Dominik Escher, and Martin Munchbach, Pureos will exclusively invest in innovative private drug development companies with an emphasis on novel biological drugs and emerging modalities such as nucleic acid, cell, and gene therapies.

The vehicle invests globally, with a primary focus on Switzerland and Europe. For its first fund, the firm is building a balanced portfolio of 15-20 pre-clinical and clinical-stage companies. Its initial investments include Alentis Therapeutics AG, AM-Pharma BV, Eyevensys SAS, Imcheck Therapeutics SAS, Lava Therapeutics BV, NovaGo Therapeutics AG and Vico Therapeutics BV.

Pureos also is a Partner of BaseLaunch, a start-up accelerator in Basel and together with a team of Entrepreneurs-in-Residence, is working on translating ground-breaking science into novel companies.

FinSMEs

23/09/2020
Attorneys representing the family of Dijon Kizzee on Tuesday presented the findings of an independent autopsy. Kizzee, a 29-year-old Black man, was shot and killed by deputies from the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department on August 31.

Kizzee was fatally shot after deputies tried to stop him for riding his bicycle on the wrong said of the road, police said last week. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Captain Kent Wegener said Thursday that Kizzee fled from the officers who tried to cite him for a traffic violation, according to CBS Los Angeles. At one point, Kizzee dropped a pistol and, according to Wegener, he "bends over, reaches, picks up the gun and is shot while he stands with the gun in hand."

Wegener also claimed the gun was stolen during a 2017 burglary in Las Vegas.

Attorneys for Kizzee's family disputed the LASD's version of the fatal incident, claiming Kizzee was trying to surrender when he was shot.

"He put his hands in the air," famed civil rights attorney Ben Crump said Tuesday. "He put his hands in the air, dropped the bag, and they continued to shoot him, even though he posed no threat."

Dijon Kizzee / Credit: Family Handout via CBS Los Angeles

According to attorney Carl E. Douglas, an autopsy commissioned by Kizzee's family found that he was shot a total of 15 times. Seven of those shots hit Kizzee in the back and three struck him while he was already on the ground.

Douglas also heavily criticized the LASD, saying that there were no attempts by the officers to deescalate the situation and no warnings were ever given. Douglas also claimed LASD isn't supposed to be conducting traffic stops in Los Angeles County, where that responsibility falls to the California Highway Patrol.

"What this shows is Dijon Kizzee was not holding a gun in his hand when 15 shots struck him," Douglas said. "What this shows is he was alive and bleeding and writhing in pain when the officers continued to stay away. When they got a shield first, and they had a shield walking up to the man while he was writhing in pain. All too often, law enforcement officers misinterpret writhing in pain as some sort of act of resistance."

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Douglas also called last week's press conference by LASD investigators a "sideshow" by LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva to "save his embattled skin."

Kizzee's family has called on LA County District Attorney Jackie Lacey to charge the officers who shot Kizzee. The shooting also prompted demonstrations outside of the South Los Angeles Sheriff's Station, leading to dozens of arrests between demonstrators and deputies and accusations of excessive force, CBS LA previously reported.

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Investigation finds CDC minimized coronavirus pandemic under White House pressure

Family of Dijon Kizzee hold emotional press conference
iSC's Assessment center provides a detailed analysis of the test-takers actions and highlights any malpractice occurring during the test iSchoolConnect's AI-proctoring tool is a turning point for institutions that conduct educational assessments. Organizations can now switch from traditional methods of conducting assessments to online AI-powered Assessments. This will allow students to take exams from the comfort of their homes.

iSchoolConnect Inc., a US and India based technology company recently launched an AI-proctoring tool that helps organizations and institutions conduct millions of online tests proctored using a combination of AI and human power. During a time when COVID-19 has forced every institution and organization to go online, this online assessment solution has proved immensely beneficial. As of August 2020, the tool has proctored over 500,000 tests.

Digitalization of a labor-intensive task such as invigilating tests, was inevitable, says Ashish Fernando, Founder and C.E.O of iSchoolConnect. COVID-19 only emphasized the need for it. Traditionally, a human invigilator would be responsible for conducting and overseeing every test held by an organization. To that end, iSCs unique implementation of AI in proctoring is a game-changer. Organizations will now be able to conduct a higher number of assessments, be it low-stake internal tests or high-stake graded tests. This makes the whole process faster, more efficient, and globally accessible.

In response to the challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, some popular global education enterprises such as ETS, GMAC, and the British Council have realized the need for alternate testing options. These organizations have since implemented new online testing methods that would allow candidates to be administered tests within the safety and privacy of their homes. Since March 2020, students worldwide have been taking their GRE, TOEFL, and GMAT tests online. By April 2020, the IELTS exam governed by the British Council and IDP International also adopted the at-home testing module.

The Assessment Center as the iSchoolConnect proctoring service is aptly named, is capable of conducting tests and assessments online with very minimal human intervention. The test takers computer webcam or even their mobile phone camera feed can be used to monitor the student and detect usage of objectionable test practices.

iSchoolConnect's solution is highly functional yet simple to implement. Once a student has finished attempting their test, the captured video stream from the webcam or the mobile phone is directly uploaded to iSCs Proctoring Service for analysis. These videos are run through iSCs computer vision models which analyze it for any cheating, malpractice, or use of unfair means during the proctored tests.

The AI then automatically generates a report with a detailed analysis of the test-takers actions and highlights all the breaches that have occurred. Actions such as people speaking, or the test-taker reading from a book, suspicious hand gestures, and other determining factors are captured and listed on the basis of their severity. The report generated for each test taker is sent back to the institution for qualification.

iSchoolConnects clients have observed that the Assessment Center generates a cost-saving of roughly one-fourth the conventional price for proctoring tests. Immediately following its launch, 500,000 tests have already been proctored by iSCs Assessment Center solution across the globe. This serves as a testimony to the scale that the solution provides to its clients.

iSchoolConnects vision is to make the test-taking process convenient for the test-taker and to assure the organization conducting these tests, that the tests were taken fair and square.

About iSchoolConnect Inc.: iSchoolConnect is an AI-product company that assists students across the globe to fulfill their study abroad aspirations. They also help educational institutions and enterprises scale their domestic and international processes as well as recruitment/sales through the smart use of cutting-edge technology, and in-country expertise. Reach out to them on LinkedIn or email them at support@ischoolconnect.com.
Theres a reason Democratic leaders arent leaning into the possibility of adding judges to the Supreme Court: they might not have the votes to do it.

A growing number of Democratic candidates in competitive Senate races say they are unlikely to support expanding the court as retribution for President Donald Trump and Republicans plan to quickly fill the vacancy created by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburgs death. And that could hamstring Democratic Leader Chuck Schumers potential majority from following through on liberals most explosive threats.

I'll evaluate any proposals based on whether they'll help us return the judiciary to an independent body free from politics. At this time, I have doubts that expanding the Supreme Court would do that, said Maine Democrat Sara Gideon, whos in a close race with GOP Sen. Susan Collins.

Gideons skepticism about expanding the Supreme Court is shared by at least five other Democratic Senate challengers. A spokesman for Mark Kelly in Arizona confirmed he opposes adding new justices to the court. Jon Ossoff, who is challenging GOP Sen. David Perdue in Georgia, said Democrats shouldnt expand the court just because a justice may be confirmed with whom we disagree on policy. Al Gross, an independent candidate running with Democrats support in Alaska, said on MSNBC Wednesday that he opposed adding new justices.

These candidates, looking to prevail in key swing states, join sitting moderate Democratic senators like Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona who oppose adding more justices. Of course, senators could always change their minds. But for now, the Democratic Party has a math problem if it hopes to add more liberal justices to the court under a prospective President Joe Biden.

Democrats will need at least 50 votes to pass any legislation to expand the court  and thats assuming a new Democratic majority already took the contentious step of eliminating the filibusters 60-vote threshold first, which moderate senators oppose and challengers are mixed on. Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority, and Democrats need a net three seats to take the Senate if Biden wins.

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In fact, most of the politicians talking about expanding the court these days are Republicans, who are trying to paint their Democratic challengers as out of step with their constituents. During a debate Tuesday night, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) pressed Democrat Cal Cunningham on court packing, and Cunningham cited Ginsburgs own comments on keeping the court at nine justices to underscore his opposition.

This I think sends Democrats around the exact wrong path. We dont need more partisanship in our judiciary, Cunningham told reporters following the debate.

Incumbent Senate Republicans said that voters shouldnt buy Democrats statements about expanding the court. Sen. Martha McSally (R-Ariz.) called Kelly a trojan horse for liberals agenda.

First he refused to answer. And then once he got hammered then he probably looked at some polls and called Schumer and asked what to do. Who are we trying to kid? McSally said in an interview. He is going to enable the most radical agenda weve seen in our lifetime to include their crazy ideas about packing the Supreme Court.

I dont believe him, said Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) of Gross. My opponents first vote if he won is to make Schumer Senate majority leader. And then, thats it. You empower the radical left, which is what Schumers become, and you have no control.

Republicans focus on the courts and the cautious posture by Democratic candidates reflects the tough terrain that the Democratic Party faces in its fight for the majority, with only two GOP incumbents in states won by Hillary Clinton up for reelection. Many of these potential majority-makers have sought to distance themselves from the partys liberal wing, shunning proposals like the Green New Deal and Medicare for All.

Senior Democrats on Capitol Hill are giving them backup, too.

We are not pursuing that at this point. At all, said Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) of changing the Supreme Court. Usually the reality is that there will be members within the caucus that are more conservative. We even have that now.

Despite the steep odds of cobbling together the votes for a Supreme Court overhaul, liberals pushing for ambitious change in the post-Trump era are unbowed by key candidates running away from the idea.

Im not worried about what they say about this in September 2020, said Brian Fallon, a former aide to Schumer who now runs progressive legal group Demand Justice. For now, these candidates should worry about their campaigns, while we on the outside continue to build grassroots support for doing what will be necessary if Republicans steal another seat.

Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) is pushing his party to promise revenge, but right now he has few takers. Put simply for most Democratic senators, structural changes to the Supreme Court are low on the priorities list.

Schumer has simply said that all options are on the table.

Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) said that talking about payback is totally crazy given that an election is looming and that circumstances surrounding the court can always change by the time Democrats gain back power.

You guys [in the media] are the only people talking about this. Who is going and giving speeches on the floor of the Senate in the Democratic Caucus on this? said Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.). Literally 75 percent of the questions Ive been asked over the last three days have been on this topic. When theres one United States senator who has mentioned it.

Democrats have opened the Supreme Court fight by attacking Republicans hypocrisy in not filling a vacancy four years ago  or criticizing others, like Michigan Republican candidate John James, for not taking a clear position on whether the nomination should move forward.

Senate challengers are using the Supreme Court fight to pressure Republicans on other issues, including the legal threat to the Affordable Care Act and pre-existing conditions protections  a matter that was already central to their campaigns. Kelly, Democrats candidate in Arizona, opposes adding new justices to the court, and criticized the focus on hypotheticals rather than the need for Covid-19 relief legislation.

The Senate should be focused on passing urgently needed coronavirus relief for Arizonans  something theyve pushed off for months  not rushing a vote on a lifetime nomination to the Supreme Court or issuing hypothetical threats about what will happen if the vacancy is filled, Kelly said in a statement.

Still, some others have left the door open even as they decline to directly confront the question about the courts. Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock in Montana, whos seeking a Senate seat in November, told the Washington Post during his presidential bid he was open to discussion on different ways we can depoliticize the Supreme Court, including expanding the court.

Bullock spokeswoman Olivia Bercow said in a statement Wednesday that Republicans view the court through a political lens, and Bullock "doesn't believe that in this hyper-political time that it's a conversation to be having or that this is a solution to the challenges we face now."

Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper hasnt endorsed or outright opposed adding seats. He said during his Democratic presidential bid he was concerned about the precedent for each party one-upping the other on adding seats, but also that he was open to it.

But this week Hickenlooper told the Colorado Sun he was not discussing hypotheticals in his challenge to GOP Sen. Cory Gardner, which he said would distract from Republicans decision to fill a vacancy in an election year.

Theresa Greenfield, who is challenging Iowa GOP Sen. Joni Ernst, was dismissive of adding seats to the court during a virtual candidate forum Wednesday afternoon. She said she didn't think that's "what we need to be doing" but also that she hadn't formed an opinion on it. Her spokesman clarified afterwards in a statement that she opposes adding new justices.

"Its not something that Iowans are certainly talking about at this point in time," Greenfield said. "Theyre talking about health care, and they know that health care is at stake at the Supreme Court.
The helicopter was carrying Russian mercenaries and ammunition.

Four members of Russia's PMC Wagner Group have been killed in a helicopter crash in Libya.

"A helicopter carrying Russian mercenaries and ammunition fell in the town of Sukna, in the city of Al-Jufrah," military spokesman Abd al-Hadi Dara told Anadolu Agency on September 23.

Read alsoPMC Wagner members explain why they arrived in Belarus

The helicopter exploded at 08:00 local time on September 23.

The spokesman noted that, "the helicopter was heading towards one of the oil fields used by the mercenaries as an operations room."

No other details of the incident have been reported.

Wagner PMC exposed in Belarus
Unlike many from a northern nationalist background, saying the words 'Northern Ireland' has never stuck in my craw. Northern Ireland is a reality as much as the stone edifice of Stormont.

The constitutional position of Northern Ireland within the United Kingdom is both secure and underpinned by the principle of consent. And it has been so since the Government of Ireland Act through to the Good Friday Agreement, in which it was reinforced in capital letters.

Despite the slow learners among militant republicans and the tone-deaf fear-mongers in loyalism, the future of Northern Ireland lies wholly in the hands of its own citizens. No amount of violence, threats or financial bungs will change that.

But is the creation of Northern Ireland worth celebrating? The simple answer for me is no. Northern Ireland has been a shored-up political failure and societal basket case since its inception.

Pluralism and inclusivity were as alien to the founders of Northern Ireland as they were to the creators of the 1937 Irish constitution.

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To those founding fathers of the sub-divided Ulster, this was about protecting their privilege and hegemony, rather than promoting the benefits of any union with Great Britain.

Northern Ireland was then and is now a game of numbers.

Craig thought the establishment of a statelet which was two-thirds loyalist/Protestant would ensure unionism's future - and it did for a time.

Thanks to the political abandonment of Northern nationalists by the southern political establishment, whose actions fell way behind their rhetoric, the absence of any meaningful nationalist leadership with the new Northern Ireland and the implementation policies of separatism and inequality, the then Ulster Unionist party got away with the creation of a sectarian and discriminatory state until the civil rights movement blew the lid off Britain's shameful secret.

Our dark history remains within the limits of touch and memory. It is a history of segregated and scarred experiences for both communities in Northern Ireland.

In June 1921, as the Northern Ireland Parliament was opened by George V, my grandfather Tom Kelly had been arrested only a month before for his activities during the War of Independence. His treatment was miles away from the themes of reconciliation and forgiveness uttered by the King.

The past is a different country, and the wrongs of the past to varying degrees have been acknowledged by successive leaders of unionism like Trimble, Paisley and Robinson. But a shared future remains beyond our grasp.

These days unionism is not the force it was. Stormont and Belfast do not have unionist majorities and the rest of Northern Ireland sadly remains Balkanised. Sectarianism is never far beneath the surface, and it is a two-way street. In some quarters it is as rampant and openly espoused as it as was 100 years ago. Therefore the notion of celebrating the formation of Northern Ireland will be an anathema to many nationalists because it represents political failure and partition.

There is a palpable fear that, unless handled sensitively, any celebration could turn into a glorification of the historical supremacy of one community over another, rather than a genuine and legitimate expression of cultural and political identity.

None of this means the creation of Northern Ireland should go unmarked. The place, context and relevance of Irish unionism and/or British identity has not been diminished by powersharing or a handful of cross-border institutions.

When addressing the new Parliament of Northern Ireland, King George hoped, "This historic gathering be the prelude of a day in which the Irish people, North and South, under one parliament or two, as those parliaments may themselves decide, shall work together in common love for Ireland upon the sure foundations of mutual justice and respect".

The best way to commemorate Northern Ireland's foundation would be for our political classes to match these aspirations by demonstratively working together for the benefit of all.
More than $6bn will be added in revenue over the next 4 years

CAMBRIDGE, UK / ACCESSWIRE / September 23, 2020 / Cambashi, a leading global industry analyst and market consulting firm, today announced the release of the 2020 BIM (Building Information Modeling) software market observatory - adjusted for the impact of COVID-19.

The market for software in the construction sector is witnessing rapid growth, forecast by Cambashi to grow at 13% CAGR over the next 4 years, driven by technological, economic and institutional change. Key to this is the emerging adoption of BIM as a framework to support efficiency, working practice improvements and new business opportunities across the Design, Construct, Operate lifecycle.

While COVID-19 is having a negative impact on new office space development, it is providing new opportunities especially around modeling air flow, people movement, and space organization in any kind of building. This could be a factory, a museum, an office, transport, etc. - anywhere that people spend significant amounts of time in close proximity. The need to provide a safe working environment to get businesses back to some kind of normal situation could also result in new linkages between BIM and CAE (computer aided engineering) vendors as well as IIoT/Connected Application technology providers.

Cambashi is making a briefing on the impact of COVID on BIM available to its clients and other companies involved in engineering and manufacturing software. To arrange such a briefing, please visit www.cambashi.com/BIM

Cambashi's BIM Observatory is the result of a 30-year, proven track record in the provision of market numbers to the AEC/BIM (architecture, engineering construction and building information modeling) industries.

The Cambashi BIM Design Observatory provides accurate, detailed, consistent market numbers to support coordinated strategy and planning activities.

Visit www.cambashi.com/BIM

About Cambashi

Cambashi is a global market research, industry analysis, consulting & training firm, focused on engineering and industrial software markets (IoT, BIM, PLM, CAD/CAM/CAE, GIS).

We provide in-depth market intelligence and analysis, either in the form of licensed data services or custom consultancy projects, based on our comprehensive, consistent and multi-perspective datasets containing detailed information on software investment by country, industry and provider, and on the size of potential user communities. Executives rely on Cambashi for qualified, impartial intelligence for better plans & strategies and to align internal resources, capabilities, and product planning.

We apply our extensive industry knowledge to each client's unique situation and datasets can be customized to reflect your view of the market.

Our research also informs our unique suite of world class online industry training courses, which provides a comprehensive introduction to manufacturing and the various manufacturing industries.

For further information, please contact:

Dawn Fontaine

Ripple Effect Communications

dawn@rippleeffectpr.com

Tel: 617-536-8887

SOURCE: Cambashi

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/607391/Cambashi-Forecasts-Market-for-BIM-Software-Will-Reach-10bn-in-2020-Growing-at-CAGR-13-Between-2020-2024
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. 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." 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

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.
EX-health minister Lord Owen has admitted the health department's actions contributed to the tainted blood scandal.

Speaking at the Infected Blood Inquiry yesterday, the peer said the governments of the day failed to take action despite knowing imported blood supplies were contaminated.

Thousands of Britons were infected with HIV and hepatitis in the 1970s and 1980s after being treated with blood products imported from America.

As Labour health minister between 1974-1976, Lord Owen said he tried to reduce the number of tainted products coming from the US.

Ex-health minister Lord Owen admitted the health department's actions contributed to the tainted blood scandal

But after he left in 1976, he said the department quietly abandoned the policy.

'It's maladministration... I am appalled this commitment was never secured  as a result infected blood was introduced long after it needed to be,' he told the first day of the reopened inquiry.

The contaminated blood scandal has been labelled the worst treatment disaster in the history of the NHS amid claims of a government cover-up.

The current inquiry comes after two previous ones were branded whitewashes.

The peer said he had later 'kicked' himself for not realising earlier that something was 'seriously wrong' with the self-sufficiency policy he had pledged to pursue in the mid-1970s through the commitment of 500,000 in funding.

Lord Owen said he understood the 'anger' and 'resentment' of those affected.

The inquiry heard that at the time Lord Owen was at the Department of Health and Social Security (DHSS), a new therapeutic treatment for haemophilia patients had emerged, known as anti-haemophilic globulin concentrate (AHG), an example being the product Factor VIII, which were commercially available.

It also heard how the UK had insufficient amounts of AHG to meet the demand from clinicians.

Lord Owen, a qualified doctor, explained the new treatments relied on pooled human blood that could carry the risk of passing on infections such as hepatitis.

'The bigger the pool of donors, the greater the risk, because one donation in a thousand will contaminate,' he said.

Asked by counsel to the inquiry Jenni Richards QC if he recalled any discussions within the department over these risks, Lord Owen replied: 'Yes.'

Lord Owen said he wanted to end a reliance on imports largely from America, but the move to self-sufficiency was going to take two to three years.

'What I did feel was that you've got to stop this blood coming in from, mainly America,' he said.

He explained he had realised it was 'dangerous' to 'rely on blood coming in from abroad, from people who were giving their blood for money'.

'We wanted to get to that point at the earliest possible opportunity because you were doing what you didn't want to do, which was buying contaminated (products),' he added.

The inquiry continues.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, today called on the United Nations General Assembly to create a Permanent UN Committee on Afghanistan to coordinate peace efforts and to facilitate a lasting political settlement in the country.

In a precedent-setting move, President Mirziyoyev delivered his address to the General Assembly's opening session in Uzbek, the first time Uzbekistan's national language has been used in the UN.

In his address, the President outlined the steps his nation has taken to try to promote peace in Afghanistan, starting with a major international forum held in Tashkent in March 2018. During that conference, President Mirziyoyev set a settlement in Afghanistan as a top priority for his administration, terming it "the linchpin of stability and prosperity of the entire greater region of Central and South Asia."

Since then, Uzbekistan has invested heavily in rail and transport infrastructure in Afghanistan, as well as in the energy sector and in education.

The President and his envoys have held extensive talks with all political parties and movements within Afghanistan, including the Taliban, discussions which led to the recent start of direct negotiations between the Afghanistan government leadership and the Taliban in Doha.

In today's address, delivered by video call, President Mirziyoyev said:

"We consider Afghanistan as unalienable part of Central Asia. The high-level Tashkent conference on Afghanistan in March 2018 became a new stage to consolidate international efforts to solve the Afghan problem.

"We fully support the intra-Afghan peace talks which started this September in Doha. We hope these negotiations will help in establishing peace and stability in the much suffering land of Afghanistan.

"In order to facilitate the involvement of Afghanistan in regional economic integration we have started the implementation of large infrastructure projects such as building the 'Surkhan-Puli-Khumri' power transmission line, and the railway network from Mazari-Sharif to the ports of the Indian Ocean.

"We believe that ensuring peace and stability in Afghanistan will always remain at the centre of the UN's attention.

"The hopes and aspirations of the Afghan people can only be realised if we work together and in close cooperation. We need to work based on the principle, from instability and destruction to peace and creation.

"Therefore, we need to establish at the UN a Permanent Committee that will listen to the hopes and aspirations of the Afghan people. The main aim of the committee should be to assist in the economic and social development of Afghanistan."

He noted that there is still no clear international strategy for dealing with the aftermath of four decades of strife within the country and that he was proposing a "new format" through which a consensus in support of the peace process could be achieved.

Diplomats in the region fear that once NATO troops leave, international interest in Afghanistan will fade. An authoritative international structure is needed to ensure Afghanistan is not now overlooked.

Experts believe a UN Permanent Committee could:

- Coordinate international efforts to assist the peace process in Afghanistan and its economic recovery.

- Keep the Afghanistan issue as a priority topic within the UN, ensuring that international assistance is systematic and efficient.

- Act as a platform to discuss relevant issues among global powers and regional states to avoid geopolitical rivalry in Afghanistan and find common interests.

- Serve as a channel for information exchange on terrorism and security threats.

- Mobilise international efforts to implement infrastructure and socio-economic development projects in Afghanistan, strengthening its connectivity with other states in the region

President Mirziyoyev also proposed convening an International Conference dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the Joint Plan of Action of the Central Asian Countries on the Implementation of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. He suggested Tashkent as the site for the conference.

The President touched on several other subjects from his list of priorities. Issues of particular relevance to the Central Asia region included the future of the Aral Sea. He called for a special resolution of the UN General Assembly on declaring the Aral Sea area a zone of environmental innovation and technologies.

He also noted plans for a major UNESCO-backed forum in Khiva, Uzbekistan, on the theme "Central Asia at the Crossroads of World Civilizations". The international forum is scheduled for 2021 but dates have not yet been fixed.

Focusing on weaknesses in transport links between Central Asia and Europe, President Mirziyoyev called for establishment under the auspices of the United Nations of a Regional Centre for the Development of Transport and Communications Connectivity.

He called on the world community to work more closely together to strengthen cooperation in the development of drugs and vaccines against the Covid-19 virus. He advocated an international code of voluntary commitments by states during the pandemic, supporting international initiatives for widespread access to the results of the development of vaccines against the coronavirus.

He highlighted the significance of a current initiative to adopt a UN Convention on the Rights of Youth. More generally, he backed the adoption of a special UN General Assembly resolution on enhancing the role of parliaments in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and ensuring human rights.

The President also described the elimination of poverty across the world as a key issue for the UN and suggested it as the main topic for a future UNGA session and proposed holding a global summit on the topic.

Regarding food security, President Mirziyoyev conveyed Uzbekistan's support for UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres' proposal to convene a Summit on Food Systems in 2021.

SOURCE Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan - London
Businesses are demanding more taxpayer cash to help them survive new lockdown restrictions, as the Treasury revealed the bill for propping up struggling firms has topped 100billion so far.

Six trade associations have written to Chancellor Rishi Sunak urging him to extend the emergency loan schemes due to end this month.

Sunak has also come under mounting pressure to prolong the furlough scheme to avoid a wave of job losses.

Six trade associations have written to Chancellor Rishi Sunak (pictured) urging him to extend the emergency loan schemes due to end this month

Business leaders are calling for an extension for firms which will be hardest hit by new lockdown measures, which include 10pm curfews for pubs and restaurants in England and an instruction to work from home if you can.

This has raised fears of mass redundancies in the hospitality sector and among High Street retailers, which rely heavily on office workers.

As Premier Inn owner Whitbread announced plans to cut up to 6000 jobs, Nick Mackenzie, Greene Kings chief executive, said: Pubs are just starting to get back on their feet after lockdown and these new restrictions are a significant setback.

We urgently need the Government to extend the furlough scheme for hospitality venues and confirm what additional support it will provide to protect jobs and the future of pubs.

Yesterday, Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey, who recently backed Sunaks decision to end the Job Retention Scheme on October 31, urged the Government to stop and rethink the approach.

In a webinar hosted by the British Chambers of Commerce, he said that future schemes should be targeted at the sectors most in need.

His intervention came as the Chancellor received a joint letter from a group of trade bodies including the Finance & Leasing Association, and the Consumer Credit Association, calling for extensions to emergency loan schemes. They said: Now is not the time for the British Business Bank to curtail its support schemes.

The Chancellor is already expected to extend the loans schemes, which were due to expire at the start of November, to the end of November.

But the plea for more support came as official figures revealed that more than 105billion has been dished out in emergency loans and wage subsidies for furloughed workers so far.

Banks have handed out 15.5billion to 66,585 firms under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme.

These loans are 80 per cent backed by the Government  meaning if firms become unable to pay, the taxpayer is on the hook.

And almost 1.3m Bounce Back loans, worth 38billion and which carry a 100 per cent Government guarantee, have been handed to smaller companies.

A total of 39.3billion has so far been claimed by 1.2m employers under the Coronavirus Jobs Retention Scheme, which has supported 9.6m jobs at some stage during the crisis.
White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator Dr. Deborah L. Birx visited Texas A&M University Tuesday, praising the college for its low COVID-19 positivity rate and its efforts to manufacture a vaccine.

Birx, who wore a mask throughout the afternoon press conference, said seeing A&Ms progress at its vaccine production facility was reassuring. She praised A&Ms forward-leaning behavior and its efforts to take on vaccine development, revealing that the plan is to vaccinate the most vulnerable populations as soon as possible.

Because of this once we have the vaccine, (college) presidents really need to plan for their spring semester to look similar to their fall semester, Birx said.

Much related to the vaccine is still to be determined, she added.

Despite those unknowns, Birx, who met with A&M and community leadership Tuesday and visited classrooms to see the colleges set-up amid COVID-19, said she felt encouraged.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Texas colleges use testing as one method to ensure safe return to campus this fall

Birx said A&M, which reported more than 570 positive cases this month and a 10 percent positivity rate, has one of the lowest infection rates that weve seen.

She emphasized that she was impressed to see A&M students prioritizing the health of others, their deep understanding of the populations most at risk COVID-19, and the need to social distance, wear masks, and upkeep hygiene.

Im moved by the administration, the students and the community who have been working together since March and April to realize this goal, Birx said.

Her A&M visit followed dozens of visits to colleges around the country, including a tour of Baylor University in Waco Monday. She praised the private Baptist colleges efforts to combat COVID-19 and its performance of contact tracing, according to reports from KXXV Channel 25.

On HoustonChronicle.com: An inside look at Rices outdoor classrooms for in-person classes

Baylor reported 72 active COVID-19 cases on Sept. 21  a sharp decline from the 603 active positive cases reported on Sept. 3.

The goal of Birxs tour of colleges around the country is to compile all that shes learned and determine the secret sauce needed to open schools and keep them open through the spring. Partnerships for contract tracing, testing and spaces for isolation and quarantine have been crucial, she said she has determined. And important plans on how to further support students academics, mental health, and access to food and medication have also been vital.

Birx said shes confident that these colleges work will help prepare them for future issues concerning health, including flu season and preventing transmission.

There are things well take away from this, she said.

The work, however, continues, said Birx, who encouraged more testing on campuses, even after the A&M System inked a deal earlier this year to deliver 15,000 tests to its 11 institutions each month.

Until we have a vaccine, really learning from students and leadership of how to protect each other, that is a message well try to take across the country, Birx said.

She concluded the press conference, encouraging Texas A&M to keep it up.

Well make it to Thanksgiving together, she said.

brittany.britto@chron.com
Two Senate Republican committees have released a report claiming that work done by Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden's son in Ukraine created a potential conflict of interest that undermined U.S. policy.

The controversial report comes just weeks before November's presidential election and with the elder Biden leading incumbent Republican President Donald Trump in most polls.

Released on September 23 by Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Ron Johnson and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, the report also alleges that Hunter Biden had dealings with Ukrainian, Russian, Kazakh, and Chinese nationals of questionable backgrounds, including the wife of a former Moscow mayor.

But it also said it was "unclear" whether the former vice president altered U.S. policy or took any other actions to assist his son.

Democrats say that the Republican exercise is a politically motivated attack on Biden to boost President Donald Trumps chances in the election and they warn it could spread Russian misinformation.

In response to the release, Biden campaign spokesperson Andrew Bates slammed Johnson for diverting his committees attention away from the coronavirus to subsidize a foreign attack against the sovereignty of our elections with taxpayer dollars."

Those allegations stem in part from the U.S. Treasury blacklisting of Ukrainian lawmaker Andriy Derkach, described as an active Russian agent, who has been helping Trumps personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani find compromising information on the Bidens.

The chairmen have dismissed the Democrats criticism, describing their investigation as necessary government oversight.

The Republican senators acknowledge in their 87-page report that it is not clear to what extent Hunter Bidens position on Ukrainian gas company Burismas board affected the Obama administrations policy on Ukraine.

However, the report said the millions of dollars Hunter Biden received for his role with Burisma negatively impacted U.S. diplomatic efforts to battle corruption in Ukraine at a time when then-Vice President Biden was leading Ukraine policy. The senators described Burisma as having a long-standing reputation for corruption.

Hunter Bidens position on the board created an immediate potential conflict of interest that would prove to be problematic for both U.S. and Ukrainian officials and would affect the implementation of Ukraine policy, the report said.

Potential Conflicts Of Interest

The report references the concerns of two officials -- George Kent, the former acting deputy chief of mission at the Kyiv embassy, and another State Department official, Amos Hochstein -- about Hunter Bidens work and potential conflicts of interest that could undermine U.S. Ukraine policy.

Trump has repeatedly drawn attention to Hunter Biden's work in Ukraine, including an allegation that the former vice president pressured Ukraine to fire its top prosecutor, Viktor Shokin, in an attempt to block an investigation into Burisma's owner.

The Ukraine allegations were thought to be among activities that Trump asked Ukraine's president to ask his attorney general to investigate as part of a conversation that led to Trump's impeachment trial earlier this year.

Trump became the third U.S. president to be impeached after a whistle-blower complaint and accusations that he had improperly withheld congressionally allocated spending and improperly pressured new Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy into trying to dig up dirt on the Bidens.

The report does not expose new information about Shokin's sacking and provides no conclusion that Joe Biden pressured Ukraine to fire its top prosecutor as a way to protect his son.

Democrats have pointed out there was no active investigation into Burisma at the time of Shokin's ouster in 2016, and European governments also supported the policy.

In addition to examining the Obama administrations Ukraine policy, the Republican report made stinging allegations that Hunter Biden and his associates received millions of dollars from foreign nationals with questionable backgrounds.

The Treasury records acquired by the Chairmen show potential criminal activity relating to transactions among and between Hunter Biden, his family, and his associates with Ukrainian, Russian, Kazakh and Chinese nationals, the report states.

These foreign nationals have questionable backgrounds that have been identified as being consistent with a range of criminal activities, including but not limited to organized prostitution and/or human trafficking, money laundering, fraud, and embezzlement.

Additionally, the report states these financial transactions pose serious counterintelligence and extortion concerns.

The report used financial records to find that Hunter Biden and business partner, Devon Archer, received a wire transfer of $3.5 million in 2014 from Russian businesswoman Elena Baturina, the wife of late Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov.

It also stated that Archer received $142,300 for a car from Kenges Rakishev, the son-in-law of former Kazakh politician Imangali Tasmagambetov. The payment occurred around the time when former Vice President Joe Biden was visiting Ukraine in April 2014.

With reporting by AP
Some 20,000 ghost names have been expunged from the payroll of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) over the past three years.

An audit conducted by YEA further revealed that the presence of the ghost names cost the taxpayer GHS82.5 million annually.

The YEA is mandated by law to coordinate, facilitate and supervise employment for the youth and related matters in the country.

Speaking at the maiden nation-building updates in Accra, Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah commended the Agency for conducting the audit.

One of the most significant things the Youth Employment Agency has done is, just by doing due diligence, to save us about GHS82. 5 million a year for the last three and half years. For all the numbers that they were claimed to have been on the Youth Employment Programme, by doing an audit, about 20,000 ghosts have been exorcised from that roll and that translates to about GHS82 million a year.

In 2017, an internal audit carried out by YEA exposed a huge financial malfeasance believed to have cost the country GH $50 million.

The amount was believed to be a sum of unearned salaries paid to unposted beneficiaries, funds for official use which were paid into personal accounts, and procurement without adherence to due process.

Some employees of YEA were subsequently transferred to various regions following the malfeasance.

The transfer was part of an ongoing restructuring exercise to reposition the Agency for higher productivity.

 citinewsroom
The of India (ECI) on Wednesday clarified that it has not issued any direction to the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) to issue a notice to Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief in connection with his income tax declaration.

"In some sections of media, it has been reported that Income Tax notice has been issued to Sharad Pawar, Member of Parliament on the directions of of India. In this context, it is stated that the of India has not issued any such direction to to issue a notice to Pawar," ECI said in a release.

Several media house reported Pawar as saying that that the has served him a notice in connection with the declarations made by him in poll affidavits submitted to the Election Commission.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In the last one month, 16 people, including eleven villagers, four security personnel and one forest guard were killed by Maoists in the districts of Bastar division. Bijapur witnessed 10 killings, including six civilians. These killings are a matter of serious concern for both the senior police officials and human rights activists working in the Maoist-hit region.

On Wednesday, a 22-year-old villager was killed by Maoists on suspicion of being a police informer in Jagargonda area of Sukma district. Similarly, a villager was killed in Bijapur on Tuesday for the same reason.

Police officers posted in the region said that there are several reasons for the increase in killings by the Maoist cadres.

The state policy of going soft on frontal organisations of Maoists in the past one year has emboldened militia commanders. Second, the Maoists have realised that they have suffered heavy casualties in past few years due intelligence-based operations conducted by security forces. The intelligence is mainly human intelligence, so Maoists have started a brutal campaign to eliminate civilians, said a senior intelligence officer.

An IPS officer posted in one of seven districts of Bastar region said that Maoists are now not afraid of any public outcry over killings of civilians.

Maoists want to create an environment of fear among villagers which can help them increase recruitment. There has been a decrease in recruitment of sentries in 2017-18. The other very important factor behind the killings is that there is total indiscipline in ranks of Maoists, with local cadres now doing mass executions without even taking approval of senior cadres. And lastly, there is total ideological disarray with movement becoming an armed war with no ethics, the officer added.

Sunderaj P, Inspector General of Police ( Bastar range ), said that as a result of conducting an effective campaign against Maoists, many of their camps were demolished.

Realising that there is no future in Maoism, a large number of Maoists have also surrendered due to which the Maoists are frustrated and are trying to terrorise by killing and beating innocent villagers, said the IG.

He further said that roads, bridges, culverts and other basic facilities have been provided to the villagers in the Bastar region in the last few years even in situations of lockdown and floods, which has increased the confidence of the villagers in governance, administration and security forces.

They panicked after losing the confidence of the villagers and they are killing them, said the IG.

Another IPS officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that for Maoists this is part of their extreme terror strategy.

The present government is not that aggressive in comparison to the earlier one towards Maoists. Hence in 2016-17, the recruitment almost stopped. Now due to government policies, many lower cadres are surrendering and villagers are supporting the government which is rattling them, said the officer.

What activists and tribal leaders say about the increase in killing?

Human Right Activist Bela Bhatia said the killings going on in Bastar should be condemned.

Maoist killings of police informers must also be condemned. Most of those who get implicated are also from the same villages or area, often the same ethnicity and class. The police put a lot of pressure on locals for information and some people do succumb. The question is whether these villagers have a choice in the matter. Can they say No to the police? or the Maoists?, Bhatia said.

Soni Sori, the tribal leader of Bastar division, also said that Maoists should be condemned for the killing.

I dont know why Maoists are killing villagers but this should be stopped. If Maoists claim they are here for tribals why are they killing them? Maoist should answer this question? Second, most of the killings took place in Bijapur district from where I am getting information that local police, specifically district reserve guard ( DRG) are beating common villagers which should also be condemned, said Sori.

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GREENWICH  A Greenwich family that has worked for decades to help their children battle Niemann-Pick type C disease, a rare genetic disorder with no cure, has adapted their largest fundraiser for the coronavirus era.

Phil and Andrea Marella lost their daughter Dana to the disease, which is characterized by the bodys inability to transport cholesterol and other fatty substances inside of cells. But clinical trials of new drugs have slowed the progression of the disease in their son, Andrew.

Our story has been a sad one, but we remain positive and hopeful, Andrea Marella said. People really feel for us as a family, having lost our daughter after 12 years of fighting for her and now having to battle to save our son. We touch a lot of people with our story.

The Marellas formed the nonprofit Danas Angels Research Trust to support research into a cure. And this week, they will hold their latest fundraiser  the DART To The Finish Charity Walk  with a few changes due to the pandemic.

But instead of gathering for a large charity walk as in years past, this years walk will be held virtually from Sept. 26 through Oct. 3. Participants can join the effort anytime and anywhere by taking a 2-mile walk at the beach, around the neighborhood or even on a treadmill.

The funds raised will support the medical advances the Marella family is hoping can save their son and other children with the rare and deadly disease.

DART is an all-volunteer effort and our overhead is as minimal as it possibly can be, Phil Marella said. We just try to get the money out with our fellow family-founded foundations around the country to fight Niemann-Pick. We want to get the money in the hands of the researchers.

Funding for research into rare diseases can be scarce, so families such as the Marellas and others are committed to the cause to support research and clinical drug trials that could lead to medical breakthroughs.

The family said they have had loyal sponsors and donors for years, who have stood by them, even during the pandemic. It has made a big difference, Andrea Marella said.

Dana Marella lost her battle with Niemann-Pick type C in 2013 at the age of 19. But Andrew Marella, who turned 21 in June, is beating the odds. The drug trials he is now participating in have slowed the diseases progression.

The family hopes that soon, perhaps as early as next spring, two drugs used to treat the disease will have approval of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The research into treating Niemann-Pick type C disease could also help people with HIV/AIDS, Alzheimers disease, Parkinsons disease, Ebola and even heart disease, which all are related to cholesterol, just like Niemann-Pick type C disease, the Marellas said.

In 2019, the charitys walk at Tods Point raised nearly $140,000, they said. With supporters able to take part in the virtual event in safe ways at their own convenience, the family is hoping for success in 2020.

Phil Marella said they considered holding a walk with masks and social distancing. But ultimately they decided this was the best way to proceed.

Weve always had a virtual option so, for example, if we had a supporter in California or Colorado who wanted to walk in their own neighborhood they could sign up and do that, and this way gives us an opportunity to explore some of the tools at our disposal, he said.

Hopefully its a wonderful learning experience so next year we can do both and have a few hundred people walk locally and a few hundred people walk all over the country and maybe all over the world.

Registration is $25 for adults and $10 for youth ages 10 to 21. All registered participants get a DART to the Finish T-shirt and will be eligible for $25 or $50 local restaurant gift certificates when they get friends to sign up, too.

No donation is too small, Andrea Marella said. Were grateful for any level of donating. It all adds up.

To sign up for the event and learn more about DARTs efforts, visit www.danasangels.org or runsignup.com/Race/CT/Greenwich/DARTToTheFinish.

kborsuk@greenwichtime.com
The absence of a stable fiscal environment for the petroleum industry is inhibiting growth in the upstream sector of the industry, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mele Kyari, has said.

This is amid the continuous agitation by civil society groups for the National Assembly to pass the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) without further delay.

Mr Kyari lamented that international investors in the oil and gas industry were fast losing confidence in Nigeria as a result of the absence of a petroleum industry law to guarantee a stable investment environment.

He was addressing members of the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream) who were on an oversight visit to his office at the NNPC headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.

Need for quick passage of PIB

We need to act quickly to move from this unstable situation to a very stable one by getting the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) to work so that countries and investors can work with us. The PIB can work if it is passed into law immediately to regulate the operations of the industry, the GMD said.

Mr Kyari, who underscored the significance of foreign capital in the operations of the upstream sector of the petroleum industry, said the only way to attract it was to have stable laws and a friendly business environment that guarantees cost recovery and a decent return on investment for investors.

He said the uncertainty in the petroleum sector as a result of the long delay in the passage of the PIB has forced a number existing multi-national partners in the country into divestments from the country in the recent past, while prospective investors that could have come to Nigeria are compelled to look elsewhere due to unstable legal and fiscal terms.

The NNPC Chief said if the PIB were to have been in place, it could have enhanced the drive by the NNPC management to entrench the culture of transparency and accountability in the corporations operations.

The policy of transparency, accountability and performance excellence (TAPE), he said has significantly improved the corporations business fortunes and creditworthiness as lenders are now willing to grant credit to it to support its operations.

Why PIB passage is delayed

Recent reports said the restructured draft PIB sent to the National Assembly for consideration and approval was withdrawn as the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) was said to have made the request to ensure the new amendments in the fiscal terms in the 2020 Finance Act as they affect the oil and gas industry were accommodated in the petroleum law.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipreye Sylva, said the restructured PIB submitted by the present administration are broken into two  the Petroleum Industry Governance, Administrative and Host Community Bill (PIGAB) and the Petroleum Industry Fiscal Bill (PIFB).

While the PIGAB covers the governance and administrative issues, the minister said the PIFB covers the details relating to the fiscal provisions relating to taxes.

Since the withdrawal of the draft PIB sent to the National Assembly, a consortium of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) led by the Nigeria Natural Resource Charter (NNRC) have continued the advocacy for the return of the PIB to enable the lawmakers do the needful and pass it into law, without further delay.

The consortium include Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), BudgIT, Connected Development (CODE), Media Initiative for Transparency in Extractive Industries (MITEI), Order Paper Advocacy Initiative, Women in Extractives (WiE), Extractive 360, and the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA).

Others include the Youth Forum on Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (Youth Forum on EITI), Publish What You Pay (PWYP), Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), African Centre for Leadership Strategy and Development (CentreLSD), Centre for Development Support Initiatives (CEDSI), Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA) and Koyenum Immalah Foundation (KIF).

In a recent statement, the CSOs noted that apart from the effective operations of the upstream sector of the petroleum industry, the effective running of the downstream sector of the industry have equally suffered with the continued delay in the passage of the PIB.

The groups drew attention to the hiccups currently experienced in the implementation of the deregulation policy in the downstream sector of the petroleum industry, saying with the PIB, the appropriate legislation would be available to regulate the process.

The consortium called for the repeal of the PEF(M)B Act and PPPRA Act that established the Petroleum Equalization Fund and the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) to signal the governments commitment to the implementation of full deregulation of the sub-sector.

Lawmakers give commitment

The Chairman of the Committee, Musa Sarki Adar, in his response said the lawmakers were ready to provide the necessary support necessary to assist the Corporation to discharge its duties without hindrance.

Mr Adar acknowledged the Corporations efforts at deepening transparency and accountability, and commended the level of professionalism exhibited by the NNPC management, particularly the leadership role played by the GMD in rallying the oil and gas industry to provide support for the Federal Governments fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
In this July 30, 2013, file photo, large banners hang in an atrium at the headquarters of Johnson & Johnson in New Brunswick, N.J. Johnson & Johnson is beginning a huge final-stage study Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020, to try to prove if a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine can protect against the virus. (AP Photo/Mel Evans, File)

Johnson & Johnson is beginning a huge final study to try to prove if a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine can protect against the virus.

The study starting Wednesday will be one of the world's largest coronavirus vaccine studies so far, testing the shot in 60,000 volunteers in the U.S., South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru.

A handful of other vaccines in the U.S.including shots made by Moderna Inc. and Pfizer Inc.and others in other countries are already in final-stage testing. Hopes are high that answers about at least one candidate being tested in the U.S. could come by year's end, maybe sooner.

U.S. health officials insist the race for a vaccine isn't cutting corners.

"We want to do everything we can without sacrificing safety or efficacywe're not going to do thatto make sure that we end up with vaccines that are going to save lives," Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, told reporters.

But many vaccine specialists question whether the Food and Drug Administration will stick to that goal under intense pressure from the Trump administration. President Donald Trump has consistently presented a faster timeline for a new vaccine than experts say is adequate to fully test the candidates.

Trump on Wednesday tweeted the link to a news report about the Johnson & Johnson study and said the FDA "must move quickly!"

Meanwhile, testing of still another experimental vaccine, made by AstraZeneca, remains on hold in the U.S. as officials examine a safety question, even though studies have resumed in other countries.

This September 2020 photo provided by Johnson & Johnson shows a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine being developed by the company. Johnson & Johnson is beginning a huge final study to try to prove if the single-dose vaccine can protect against the coronavirus. (Cheryl Gerber/Courtesy of Johnson & Johnson via AP)

Earlier this week, Vice President Mike Pence urged state governors to "do your part to build public confidence that it will be a safe and effective vaccine."

And Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top U.S. infectious disease expert, added in the call to governors that he is confident in "a tried and true process" that has checks and balances built in, including an independent board evaluating the progress of each vaccine trial, as well as "the integrity of the FDA."

A recording of the call was provided to The Associated Press.

Senators were scheduled to question FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn, Fauci and other administration officials later Wednesday about the pandemic response.

Even if the FDA were to allow emergency use of a vaccine by year's end, supplies would be limited and given first to vulnerable groups such as health workers. Most Americans aren't likely to receive a vaccine until sometime next year.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention wants states to get ready now to roll out vaccinations, which will present enormous logistical challenges. On Wednesday the CDC was set to announce distribution of $200 million in congressionally approved funds to help begin setting up operations.

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said the COVID-19 vaccine campaign will build on longstanding cooperation between the federal government and the states on immunizations.

J&J's vaccine is made with slightly different technology than others in late-stage testing, modeled on an Ebola vaccine the company created. Unlike the other three vaccines that started late-stage testing in the U.S., it requires only one shot, not two. Despite a later start to testing than some of its competitors, Dr. Paul Stoffels, J&J's chief scientific officer, told reporters that the study was large enough to yield answers possibly by early next year.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
CAIRO - Three Egyptian police officers were killed when four men, convicted on terror-related charges and awaiting their death sentences, attempted on Wednesday to escape from a notorious Cairo prison, the Interior Ministry said.

The ministry, which oversees the countrys police and prisons, said in a brief statement that security forces killed the four convicts while they were trying to flee the heavily fortified Tora Prison complex on the southern outskirts of the Egyptian capital.

The statement did not elaborate how the convicts attempted to escape.

The four were sentenced to death in separate terror-related cases. Three of the convicted were tried and convicted in 2014 for the killing and attempted killing of several members of the Egyptian security forces. They were among over 20 defendants charged with carrying out militant attacks following the militarys 2013 overthrow of a freely elected but divisive Islamist president, Mohammed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood.

The fourth man, allegedly a supporter of the Islamic State group, was convicted of stabbing to death a Coptic Christian doctor at his Cairo clinic in 2017. The defendant was sentenced to death in 2018.

Egypt has for years been struggling to contain an Islamic insurgency spearheaded by a local affiliate of the Islamic State group. The insurgency however gained strength since the removal of the Muslim Brotherhood from power in 2013.

Since then, Egyptian courts have held mass trials and sentenced hundreds of people to death. However, rights groups have repeatedly criticized such mass sentencings in Egypt and called on authorities to ensure fair trials.

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The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has called on the government to take liability for the shortage in the payment of lump sums to pensioners who started retiring from this year under the new pensions law, the National Pensions Act, 2008 (Act 766).

The Secretary-General of the TUC, Dr Yaw Baah, made the call in an interview with the Daily Graphic in Ho yesterday on the sidelines of the Volta/Oti Regional Council Forum on Pensions.



He said it was the stance of the labour union that the government topped up the shortage on pensioners past credits and second tier contributions computed under the new law.



Act 766, which replaced PNDC Law 247 that created the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), established a three-tier pension regime, with the mandatory first tier managed by SSNIT and the second and third tiers by private fund managers.



The past credit is the contribution of workers to SSNIT whose retirement took place 10 years after the coming into force of Act 766.



Although the law was promulgated in 2008, its implementation took effect from 2010, making the first batch of retirees who are no longer eligible for SSNIT lump sum being those who retired from this year.



Those people are only entitled to a fraction of contributions they had made since joining the mandatory SSNIT pension scheme, based on a formula approved by the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA), which the TUC and other labour unions kicked against.



They argued that the past credits of pensioners in 2020, in addition to the second-tier lump sum from private fund managers, did not tally with the benefits they would have received if they had remained under PNDC Law 247.



Wrong computation



Dr Baah said it had come to the notice of labour that the computation of past credits done by SSNIT created shortage in the lump sums received by pensioners in 2020 under Act 766, compared to those who retired and received their benefits in 2019 under the PNDC law.



According to him, it was unjustified for people who retired in 2020 to be paid amounts far lower than what they would have made if they had retired under PNDC Law 247.





He gave instances of some members who retired in 2020 and received paltry lump sums, compared to their juniors in the same organisations who retired in 2019, under PNDC Law 247.



The secretary-general said the one who retired this year took home a lump sum of GH39,000, compared to his junior who retired in 2018 with a lump sum of GH57,000, even though the seniors SSNIT contribution was higher and he had contributed more months than the junior.



"The only crime of those receiving these low lump sums is that they retired in 2020, under Act 766, so they deserve to receive their difference back.



That difference must be paid by somebody, and that somebody is Ghana; therefore, the government must, with immediate effect, pay the difference to pensioners who have suffered this shortage, he stressed.



Engagement



According to Dr Baah, the TUC was engaging the government on how to get the right computation of past credits to enable people who might retire in subsequent years to get better lump sums.



"We will do whatever it takes to ensure that every worker who retires is not made worse off. We have written to the President and he has responded. We expect the President to continue the dialogue with us, as we have called for a stakeholder meeting to solicit views and support to be able to address the challenges with regard to past credits, and we hope they will get back to us, he said.



New law



The secretary-general also pointed out how the objective of the new law to rope in more people into the pension scheme was not working due to low patronage of the third tier designed for individuals to register for personal pension schemes.



Although the workforce in Ghana is about 13 million people, as I speak to you, only about 1.8 Ghanaians have access to pension, and it is not right; it means the law is not working, he said, while calling for an action that would enable the large workforce to access pension.



Resolution



The regional meeting saw the passage of a resolution to demand that the amortisation method used in calculating workers lump sum pensions be replaced with PNDC Law 247 to calculate retirees lump sum payments to enhance pensions in the country.



The workers again called on the government to take immediate steps to release the Temporary Pension Fund Account which had been locked up at the Bank of Ghana to fund managers.



The TUC also elected new regional executives, with Ms Janet Emefa Obroadibo being elected the new Volta Regional Chairman.









Source: graphic.com.gh









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The video-sharing platform TikTok has spawned many stars over the years, but none shine brighter than Charli DAmelio. DAmelio was a competitive dancer prior to turning to TikTok, and even though she has only been active on social media for a few years, fans of all ages know and recognize her talent.

DAmelio has started to broaden her horizons, and recently she has announced several exciting new business ventures. Still, DAmelio has big ambitions  and in a recent interview, she dished on what fans might expect to see from her next.

Who is Charli DAmelio?

Charlie DAmelio | Jason Kempin/Getty Images

RELATED: How Much Are Charli and Dixie DAmelio Worth?

DAmelio was born in Connecticut in 2004. Raised by a father who worked in the political space and a mother who had worked as a photographer and model, DAmelio got involved in competitive dancing when she was only a toddler.

For nearly a decade, DAmelio trained and performed as a dancer  until, in early 2019, she turned to TikTok to start expressing herself creatively.

DAmelio posted her first TokTok video in early 2019, but it took a few months before she really took off. By the end of the year, DAmelios videos had amassed millions of views, with one of her most popular videos being a dance performance to the song Renegade.

She began doing meet and greets with fans, and even opened for music stars like Bebe Rexha and the Jonas Brothers. By the time 2020 rolled around, Charli DAmelio had become one of the biggest stars on social media, all thanks to her talents at lip-syncing and dancing.

Charli DAmelio is one of TikToks biggest stars

As DAmelios star continued to rise, her personal life started creating a great deal of interest. In January 2020, it was revealed that DAmelio was dating another TikTok personality, Chase Hudson.

Fans loved their relationship and eagerly followed any updates on social media  still, by April, the two had broken up. DAmelio has made it a habit to be transparent with her fans in every stage of her life and has even talked openly about her struggles with an eating disorder.

These days, DAmelio is one of the biggest stars on TikTok, and one of the highest-earning young women on social media. Reportedly, DAmelio brings in about $149,000 per post. Not only does DAmelio bring in the big bucks, but her sister, Dixie DAmelio, has joined her on TikTok, and the two frequently perform in videos together.

What does Charli DAmelio want to do next?

In September 2020, DAmelio announced her exclusive collaboration with Dunkin Donuts, the popular coffee and breakfast chain. DAmelios signature drink was dubbed The Charli, and consists of cold brew coffee, whole milk, and three pumps of caramel swirl.

In addition to her coffee collab, DAmelio is set to release her first book in December. DAmelio and her sister also recently announced an exciting new makeup collaboration with Morphe cosmetics, a sub-brand called Morphe 2.

With all of these money-making ventures, it could be easy for DAmelio to lose herself to fame and fortune. Still, as she revealed in a recent interview, she has ambitions beyond the world of makeup and coffee.

Ive been a competition dancer my entire life. I know a lot of people dont know that I study dance outside of TikTok, but it is something that I definitely want to do more of, DAmelio admitted.

While she didnt reveal any concrete plans for competing in the future, its clear that the young woman knows that there is more to life than hustling and making bank  and that she doesnt intend to lose sight of what truly makes her happy.
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.

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.

"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.
Outdoor summer barbecues, socially distanced hikes, and mask-wearing play dates at the park have helped people maintain in-person contact with friends and family during the coronavirus pandemic.

But those outdoor gatherings will become less feasible as the pandemic stretches into the fall and temperatures drop, leaving many grasping for an alternative.

Enter pandemic pods. Also known as quarantine bubbles or quaranteams, they are becoming increasingly popular among families and extended family as a way to socialize safely.

A pandemic pod is a group of friends or families who agree to strict safety rules  both for when they are together and when they are apart  that enable them to socialize while reducing the risk of contracting or spreading the coronavirus. A group of single adults may create a pod for the ability to socialize with others, while families with children may use a pod to share education and child-care responsibilities. Extended family may agree to pod rules to ensure older, at-risk family members are able to remain in close contact with grandchildren or family caretakers.

The approach isnt without risk, but epidemiologists say that as the pandemic continues, people must weigh the risks of exposure to the virus with the risks social isolation poses to our mental and emotional health.

Risk exists on a spectrum, said Melissa Hawkins, an epidemiologist and director of the public health scholars program at American University in Washington. The longer were living in a pandemic, alongside COVID-19, its prudent and reasonable to think about how to safely manage risk, and not practical to eliminate all risks.

Pandemic pods are a harm reduction tool for reducing the risk of spreading COVID-19, akin to safe-sex education being more effective in reducing the risk of sexually transmitted diseases and unintended pregnancy than abstinence-only education, Hawkins said.

While pandemic pods can be beneficial, they take careful planning, communication and commitment from all members to follow the rules. Here are the steps to take and questions to ask to create your own.

What should be in your pod?

Choose families or friends with similar risk and exposure levels, and who are already taking a similar approach to safety as you.

People have different risk thresholds. Do you let your son climb to the top of the tree? Maybe its too risky for you, but someone else allows it, said Alison Drake, an epidemiologist and assistant professor at the University of Washington in Seattle.

The same is true for the pandemic  some people feel strongly about wiping down all their groceries at home, while others may focus instead on following guidelines for limiting exposure when out and about, she said.

Before agreeing to pod together, have a frank discussion about your familys risk tolerance and whether you will realistically be able to adhere to rules set by the group. Thats a good conversation to have over video chat, where you can better interpret facial expressions and body language, said Theresa Chapple, a Maryland-based epidemiologist.

How many people should be in your pod?

Chapple suggested families in the Philadelphia area consider sticking to a group of no more than six people. Groups of up to 12 people may be safe in areas where the virus spread has slowed the most, she said. Keep tabs on your areas coronavirus statistics, such as the number of cases controlled for population, rate of positive tests, and whether these numbers are improving or worsening. The size of your pod alone doesnt dictate its risk level; it also depends on how strict the rules are for pod members.

Establish rules for your pod

Pods will need ground rules for how members interact both when they are together and when they are apart. Some pods may be comfortable with a higher level of risk than others. Whats most important is that everyone is in agreement.

Some topics to consider:

- Social interaction outside the pod and what precautions members will take. Can pod members interact with other friends and family, or will the pod be their only social contacts? Is it acceptable to go to the grocery store, or will everyone have food delivered? Will members practice mask-wearing and social distancing for any activity outside the pod?

- Defining what non-pod activities the group should be notified about. For instance, one pod may decide that members can freely go shopping or visit a relative with proper safety protocol without notifying the group, while another may decide that type of activity is acceptable, but that pod members should be alerted.

- Guidelines for how pod members will interact with each other. Will everyone wear masks? Will gatherings take place outside or inside? Is it acceptable to share food and touch?

Write down the rules and make sure everyone has a copy.

What happens if someone gets sick?

Consider a process to screen for COVID-19 or other illness before gathering, such as taking temperatures or random coronavirus testing, if tests are readily available where you live.

Be specific in defining what constitutes being sick and how the pod will respond when a member meets that criteria. What symptoms should keep a pod member at home? How long will they need to isolate before rejoining? The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends people who have been exposed to the virus or believe they have been to quarantine for two weeks, the virus incubation period.

It is helpful to have a plan in place for how pod members can stay connected virtually if they are required to isolate.

Pods may also want to establish extra screening when creating their pod, to ensure everyone is healthy. For instance, pod members may agree to isolate for two weeks or get a COVID-19 test before meeting up for the first time.

Prioritize communication

Honest communication is a pillar of successful pandemic pods. Rules are effective only if everyone follows them  and is honest about when they are unable to.

Establish a plan for how members will re-enter the group after an unapproved activity. For instance, if the group agrees that no one will travel outside the state, how will a family rejoin the pod after a vacation? Perhaps they will socially isolate for two weeks.

Its important that pod members do not feel that they will be penalized or shunned for reporting any signs of illness or departure from the groups rules. People who think their pod will be angry with them may be more likely to withhold information.

Members should be encouraged to share any instances when they will be going against pod rules in advance to avoid feelings of guilt or shame, Chapple said. A weekly administrative meeting can be a time to share this type of disclosure.

A majority of time, your weekend plans are set  you know if youre going to that barbecue. Disclosing up front takes away the shame of being caught, she said.

Revisit and revise

Public health guidance on how best to protect your family during the pandemic is constantly changing, as researchers learn more about the virus. While infection rates are improving in many parts of the country, including Pennsylvania and New Jersey, doctors have warned that the upcoming flu and cold season, paired with more indoor activity during cooler weather, could lead to an increase in coronavirus cases. Whatever rules you set for your pod, it is important to re-evaluate every so often, to be sure the plan youve established is still working for all members and remains an effective approach to keeping everyone safe, healthy and happy.
The distribution of the additional $300 unemployment checks has ended in at least 10 states as federal funding for it has dried up.

Among the states who made the announcement were Texas, Utah, Iowa, Arizona, Alabama, Montana, Tennessee, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Missouri.

Unless a legislation for another stimulus package is passed, or President Donald Trump would be able to bypass the Congress once again for additional funding, the next months for the unemployed workers will be bleak.

With six months into the COVID-19 pandemic, there are about 30 million people who are still collecting jobless benefits.

Economics assistant professor Ioana Marinescu of the University of Pennsylvania said the additional $300 unemployment checks were just a stopgap measure and would not last for long. However, it was better than nothing.

The additional $300 unemployment checks were offered by the Lost Wages Assistance Program (LWAP), which was created by a memorandum signed by Trump when it became clear that the Republicans and the Democrats will not be able to reach a deal on a second stimulus package.

Trump signed the memorandum on August 8 after the $600 weekly boost to the unemployment benefit, which was part of the CARES Act, ran out near the end of July. The President had allocated $44 billion from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the LWAP.

The additional $300 unemployment checks were to be given for six weeks, between weeks ending August 1 until September 5, for a lump sum of $1,800. It is given on top of the regular unemployment benefits provided at the state level.

Earlier this month, the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget had said that it was expecting the federal budget to last only until the week ending on August 29.

FEMA has approved a total of 48 states for the LWAP, and Arizona was the first to send out the enhanced checks on August 17. Nevada applied for the program on September 2 and is awaiting approval.

While the 10 states have already disbursed their six-week allocation of checks, other states are still in the process of distributing the additional $300 unemployment checks for those who are eligible to receive it.

Both Republicans and Democrats have said they are willing to continue negotiations for another COVID-19 relief aid. However, these are empty words as they continue to butt heads regarding passing a new legislation.

As both parties are locked up on that issue, another crisis has come up, which was caused by the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The Republicans and Democrats are once again at loggerheads as to the replacement of Ginsburg.

Trump wants to immediately fill the seat left by Ginsburg while the Republicans urge that it remain vacant until after the November 3 general election.

Without federal aid, either an extension of the additional $300 unemployment checks or another COVID-19 relief aid, the inequality exposed by the current economic downturn would deepen, said Marinescu.

Check these out:

Additional $300 Weekly Unemployment Checks to End as Soon as Next Week

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CDC Halloween Guidelines Discourage Trick-or-Treat, Costume Parties, Haunted Houses
ST. JOHNS, N.L. - Fortis Inc. has announced the coming retirement of CEO Barry Perry, who will be succeeded by David Hutchens effective Jan. 1.

The company owns a variety of utility businesses across Canada, in parts of the United States and in the Caribbean.

Hutchens was named chief operating officer at Fortis in January while continuing to serve as chief executive of UNS Energy, a Fortis subsidiary based in Tuscon, Ariz.

He was previously executive vice-president of Fortiss western utility operations, with oversight of FortisBC and FortisAlberta.

Perry has been CEO of Fortis since 2015 and with the company for more than 20 years, a period that included several major acquisitions including electricity transmission company ITC Holdings Corp. in 2016.

The transition was announced as Fortis outlined its five-year capital investment plan, and its intention to have average annual dividend growth of six per cent through 2025.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 23, 2020.

Companies in this story: (TSX:FTS)
The Delhi high court has directed the state forest department to set up a telephone helpline and create a link on its website where people can lodge complaints against concretisation or other kinds of damage to trees.

Justice Najmi Waziri said that on receiving a complaint, the tree officer will promptly initiate measures by coordinating with the land-owning agency concerned and the police to redress the problem.

Hearing a plea on unauthorised construction and damage to trees filed by one Nitin Gupta through advocate RK Kapoor, the court said, The tree officer and the land-owning agencies shall ensure all concrete around trees is removed, as per the directions of the National Green Tribunal, and that a damaged tree is restored to good health. It said the system should be notified to the general public through newspapers, electronic publications, etc.

The courts order came after the tree officer said several trees in old Delhi had been choked with concrete. He said that to save them from premature death, the current deconcretisation exercise will have to be extended till all such trees are freed and hence such a system has to be put in place.

A senior forest official, who did not wish to be named, said, Though we recently launched a new helpline to cater to complaints of both trees and wild animals in distress, and queries are being addressed in the shortest time possible, in this case, since we havent received the court order yet, we will be in a position to comment once we examine it in detail.

On an earlier occasion, the court had said it cannot be denied that there are hardly many trees in the Walled City, especially in the densely populated and heavily built-up area of Chandni Chowk.

Each tree in that neighbourhood is valuable and would need protection, the court had said, and asked the tree officer and the municipal corporation to jointly embark on a tree-census exercise in the Walled City.

The corporation submitted a list of old trees in Dariba Kalan, Urdu Bazaar, Jama Masjid and Jagat Cinema on the orders of the court, which was hearing a plea for the restoration of a 300-year-old tree damaged by unauthorised construction.

On September 16, the north Delhi municipal corporation showed photographs of deconcretisation around trees in Urdu Bazar on the forest departments orders.

The court, after looking at the photos, said while the corporations work needed to be acknowledged, it had to be pursued and extended further. The judge said some of concrete cleared was evidently not enough.

The court then asked the corporation to free more space around the trees to facilitate percolation of water and absorption of nitrogen and other minerals by the tree roots.

The matter would be now heard on October 7.

Aditya N Prasad, an environment lawyer who had petitioned against concretisation of trees, said, Even if a dedicated helpline is set up, the question is who will attend the complaints as limited staff is available with the department. Concretisation or any other tree offence is directly linked to boots on the ground and hence the department must fill up the vacancies first to address these complaints.

The forest department had recently launched a tree and wildlife helpline number to attend to complaints regarding trees and animals in distress. The helpline launched on September 10 has received a high number of calls regarding trees. Of the over 300 odd calls till Monday, around 160 were related to trees.

Prasad said the tree and animal helpline should not be mixed as it wont be able to cater to the large volume of tree-related queries.
40% of the world's population has bought online, which makes up more than a billion people.

Businesses are increasingly looking to reach this large online consumer audience.

DesignRush, a B2B marketplace connecting brands with agencies, determined the leading web design companies who specialize in eCommerce capabilities that enable brands to grow revenue online.

The top eCommerce web design companies are:

1. FMEextensions

FMEextensions is a Magento eCommerce development firm operating since 2007. With a team of eCommerce developers and consultants, FMEextensions has served over 10,000 customers. FME offers various development, installation and consultancy services for Magento.

fmeextensions.com

2. PixoLabo

PixoLabo is a multilingual WordPress web design lab, focused on English and Japanese mobile-first web design and eCommerce solutions. They create information design strategies for global companies and product brands. Their designers have over 15 years of WordPress web design experience.

pixolabo.com

3. Digital Operative

Digital Operative, founded in 2008, is a full-service digital commerce agency specializing in customer experience, performance marketing and marketplace practices. Their experience spans industries like cpg, beauty, active lifestyle, outdoors, consumer electronics, home and travel.

digitaloperative.com

4. RedAlkemi Online  redalkemi.com

Expertise: Website Design, UX Design, SEO and more

5. Comrade Web Agency  comradeweb.com

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6. Hooked On Code  hookedoncode.com

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7. Ziggle Tech Inc.  ziggletech.com

Expertise: Website Design, eCommerce Development, Website Development and more

8. Catapult Revenue  catapultrevenue.com

Expertise: Website Design, eCommerce Development, eCommerce Marketing and more

9. UPQODE  upqode.com

Expertise: Website Design, eCommerce Development, UX Design and more

10. Shawn DeWolfe Consulting  shawndewolfe.com

Expertise: Website Design, eCommerce Development, Website Development and more

11. Netwise  netwise.jp

Expertise: Website Design, eCommerce Development, Website Development and more

12. Dogo Creativo, Corp  dogocreativo.com

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13. Eltrino  eltrino.com

Expertise: Website Design, eCommerce Development, SEO and more

14. Storm Brain  stormbrain.us

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15. Ahy Consulting  ahyconsulting.com

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16. Afritech Media  afritechmedia.com

Expertise: Website Design, Website Development, SEO and more

17. Lion's Share Digital  lionssharedigital.com

Expertise: Website Design, Website Development, UX Design and more

Brands can explore the top website design companies by location, size, average hourly rate and portfolio on DesignRush.

About DesignRush: DesignRush.com is a B2B marketplace connecting brands with agencies. DesignRush features the top agencies around the world, including the best Digital Agencies, Logo Design, Branding, Digital Marketing, Website Design, eCommerce Web Design Companies and more.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A former Staten Island resident, hit by a car and injured while crossing a Brooklyn street three years ago, has settled his lawsuit for $630,000, his lawyer said.

Sigmund Blau, then 63, was struck between 3 and 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 6, 2016, said court papers.

Blau was in the crosswalk at the intersection of Avenue M and East 16th Street, when he was struck by a 1999 Mercury, attorney Michael H. Bush said.

Kalman Streicher was driving the vehicle, which was proceeding westbound on Avenue M, said Bush.

Blau suffered a fractured right ankle and was taken to New York Community Hospital for treatment, Bush said.

He underwent surgery and remained in the hospital until Nov. 14.

Blau sued Streicher in Brooklyn state Supreme Court.

Blau recently settled the case for $630,000 with Streichers insurance carrier, said Bush, a principal in the New Dorp law firm of Chelli & Bush.

The carrier also paid $50,000 of Blaus medical bills, making his total compensation $680,000, Bush said.

Blau, who previously lived in Grasmere, was residing in Brooklyn at the time of the incident, said the attorney.
The number of new active COVID-19 cases in publicly funded schools across the province has jumped by another 30 per cent from the previous day to a total of 180.

In its latest data released Wednesday morning, the province reported 42 more school-related cases  21 more students were infected for a total of 77; five more staff members for a total of 38 and 16 more individuals who werent identified for a total of 65.

There are 153 schools with an active case, which the province notes is 3.17 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.

Premier Doug Ford told reporters Wednesday that he wouldnt hesitate to shut down all the schools again if needed like he did back in March, pointing out that he was the first in Canada to do so.

Ford said everything is on the table but the system is working.

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.

For instance, the Toronto District School Board reported on its website late Tuesday that a student at Harbord Collegiate Institute has tested positive but that case isnt reflected in the latest provincial numbers.

Epidemiologists have told the Star 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 335 new cases of COVID-19 overall on Wednesday. Locally, there were 102 new cases in Toronto with 79 in Peel and 65 in Ottawa.

Dr. Ashleigh Tuite, an epidemiologist with the University of Torontos Dalla Lana School of Public Health, told the Star on Wednesday that the number of cases in schools were expected. The challenge now, she said, is with the delays in getting tested because of long lines at testing centres.

Theres a lot of uncertainty and anxiety right now because if your child has symptoms you cant go to school, Tuite said.

You also know if you want to get them tested, theres a chance youre going to be waiting in line for a long period of time or you might not even be able to get tested on the day that you need to.

Despite the long delays for testing, Tuite urged parents not to send their kids to school if they do have symptoms.

This is a bumpy start to the school year (but) parents and kids need to be patient as much as possible and adhere to the public health recommendations, Tuite said.

Ontarios current school COVID-19 screening checklist includes: fever, chills, cough thats new and worsening, shortness of breath, sore throat, runny nose, congested nose, headache, pink eyes, digestive issues, fatigue and sluggishness.

The TDSB updates its information on current COVID-19 cases 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.

Positive cases at private schools arent included in the daily provincial numbers. On Monday, two students at the York School tested positive for COVID-19 as well as a faculty member at Branksome Hall, according to notices put out by the school.

With files from Breanna Xavier-Carter

Libaan Osman is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Stars radio room in Toronto. Reach him via email: losman@thestar.ca
NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- On September 22, The New York Supreme Court in Manhattan dismissed in its entirety price gouging claims brought by the office of Letitia James, the New York State Attorney General, against Quality King Distributors, Inc. and its CEO, Glenn Nussdorf. The court absolved Glenn Nussdorf and Quality King of any wrongdoing, concluding that the parties did not violate the price gouging statute. Ruling from the bench, Judge Rakower stated "I do not find Quality King unconscionably raised its prices." Moreover, the court found that the Attorney General had not provided any evidence to support its allegation that Glenn Nussdorf had violated the price gouging statute.

Glenn Nussdorf comments, "On behalf of Quality King Distributors, we are grateful to the court for its thorough analysis, pleased that our positions have been vindicated and our names have been cleared. We have been supplying our customers for 60 years by offering dependable services and value. The company looks forward to continuing to serve both our retail partners and consumers in New York and throughout the nation with integrity, providing them with quality products at competitive prices. We are pleased that justice has been served."

SOURCE Quality King Distributors
An investigation conducted by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the alleged cattle smuggling at Indo-Bangladesh border has revealed that the Border Security Force (BSF) and Customs Department takes play an active role in the illegal trade for which huge bribes are paid.

The agency on Wednesday conducted raids at 15 places in several cities including Delhi, Kolkata, Siliguri, Murshidabad, Ghaziabad, Amritsar and Raipur after filing a case against a BSF Commandant - Satish Kumar and three traders  Mohammad Enamul Haque, Anarul SK and Mohammad Golam Mostafa.

Interestingly, Enamul Haque was also involved in bribing another BSF Commandant Jibu D Mathew, who was arrested by CBI in January 2018. It was alleged that Enamul had paid Rs 50 lakh to Mathew for letting the illegal cattle smuggling trade run smoothly at the border. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had also raided Enamuls premises in January this year.

Based on the 2018 probe, CBI had launched a preliminary enquiry to investigate a larger conspiracy as well as role played by Kumar. The agency decided to register an FIR on Monday, which not only indicts Kumar but the border guarding force at large.

The FIR states  The enquiry revealed that cattle from India to Bangladesh across the International Border of these two countries are sent in large numbers not through ports of trade but illegally by paying bribes to the BSF personnel responsible to prevent cross border movement of men and property, safeguarding interests of India.

Citing alleged bribe paid to Satish Kumar, CBI FIR says when the Commandant was posted in 36th battalion of BSF at Malda, West Bengal between December 2015 and April 2017, more than 20,000 cows were seized by the BSF before they could be transported across the border to Bangladesh. However, BSF didnt seize any vehicle carrying these animals or arrest the smugglers.

Further, due to close nexus between the BSF and Custom officials with traders like Enamul Haque, Anarul and Golam Mostafa, the seizure list of such seized cattle was prepared arbitrarily categorizing the breed and size of animals with an intention to reduce the upset price of the cattle during auctions, said CBI FIR.

Describing the role played by BSF and Customs after the seizure, CBI FIR says that these cattle were auctioned immediately (within 24 hours of seizure) with the help of nearest Customs station i.e. Jangipur, Murshidabad. Since the cattle were shown mostly small in size/common breed in the seizure memo of BSF, the auction value of such cattle were reduced which were then procured at a considerable lower price by the above named traders due to their unholy nexus with the officials of Customs department.

The agency further alleged that Enamul Haque used to pay Rs 2,000 per cattle to BSF officials and Rs 500 to concerned Customs officials. Besides, Customs officials used to take 10% of the auction price as bribe from successful bidders like Enamul Haque, Golam Mostafa and Anarul SK etc, CBI FIR adds.

Subsequently, BSF was to be paid Rs 50 per seized cattle for feeding it by the successful bidders.

After showing the auctioned cattle to have been disposed of at local market, the same were illegally smuggled across the international border.

Commandant Satish Kumar, according to CBI, got his son Bhuvan Bhaskar employed in the company of Enamul Haque at a salary of Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000 per month.

When contacted, BSF refused to comment. A query sent to Customs remained unanswered.
New Delhi: One of the most popular and longest-running sitcoms on television, Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah actress Palak Sidhwani shot back at her haters on Instagram. Palak plays the role of Sonu on the show.

The young telly actress warned her detractors from using her photoshopped images for spreading hate against her. She put up the message on her Instagram story. Take a look:

Palak replaced Nidhi Bhanushali on the show last year.

Sometime back, Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah began shooting with all the necessary social distancing norm amid the deadly novel coronavirus pandemic which had earlier disrupted all the TV and film shoots.

The popular sitcom is loved by the audiences for its hilarious content.
Japanese home appliances and supplies are favoured by locals, photo Le Toan

Home appliance trader Awa Co., Ltd. is looking for Japanese suppliers of healthcare and beauty products to complement its distribution system as its customers highly appreciate their quality and safety due to the use of natural ingredients. Awas director, Tran Duc Hung, said that he wants to directly negotiate with Japanese suppliers to reduce intermediary costs.

However, since travel restrictions caused by the pandemic are mostly still in place, going to Japan to find such suppliers in person remains complicated. In addition, Vietnamese buyers cannot make their decisions through online negotiations, said Abe Tomofumi, project director at the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Hanoi.

Nevertheless, JETROs efforts through events such as the Good Goods Japan 2020 fair, which is taking place in Hanoi from August 24 to October 30, can help Vietnamese traders get a taste of many available product groups, including consumer and household goods, cosmetics, and baby supplies, even though orders will have to wait until the pandemic is under better control.

Japanese goods have earned their fair share of respect among Vietnamese consumers and have a reputation for being durable and flawless. According to the General Statistics Office (GSO), last year Vietnams retail market reached a value of $162 billion, a 12.7 per cent increase on-year.

Nonetheless, COVID-19 has changed local consumer behaviour. A survey conducted by JETRO in mid-June showed that 89 per cent of them prioritised price when making a choice.

Meanwhile, 84.3 per cent of respondents also looked at the overall quality, whereas a products features were only important for half of them (52.8 per cent).

Vu Ngoc Tu, CEO of Osaka-based Sakuko Vietnam, is considering using cosmetics as a new magnet to lure customers to supermarkets. In his eyes, the price is not the only factor when competing with similar products from Europe, South Korea, and China.

When it comes to Japanese consumer goods, Sakuko is almost dominating the Vietnamese market. With its first retail shop opened in 2011, succeeding the 2009 Vietnam-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (VJEPA), the company came way before many competitors who were patiently waiting for the agreements 10-year period that led to tariff reductions of up to 88 per cent for many types of goods.

However, popular Japanese consumer goods have their price, a weakness when it comes to their competitiveness in the Vietnamese market as JETROs survey showed. Therefore, CEO of Viet Han Hair Accessories Nguyen Tien Phan continues to research alternative suppliers to diversify his companys product range and reach the price level of similar domestic products, which currently come at around 20-30 per cent less.

Vietnams retail market is increasingly attractive for Japanese wholesalers and suppliers and its traditional retail channels remain diverse, with 210 commercial centres, over 1,000 supermarkets, around 3,000 convenience stores, and more than 8,400 markets. Besides, modern online channels are becoming more and more popular through the participation of several e-commerce platforms, such as Lazada, Shopee, Tiki, and Sendo.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), large foreign retail groups like Lotte, Central Group, and AEON are continuously pressing market penetration and expansion. Meanwhile, some local players like Masan are trying to challenge these foreign groups to get their share of the profitable market.

Le Viet Nga, deputy director of the MoITs Domestic Market Department commented, The rising competition among local and overseas groups in the retail market is only demonstrating its potential.

In the first eight months of the year, Vietnams imports from Japan totalled $12.8 billion, up 3.2 per cent on-year, according to the GSO. Among these imports, baby supplies are becoming increasingly attractive for Vietnamese as a new trend about the Japanese parenting style emerged in recent years, JETROs Tomofumi said.

Because of their quality and reputation, local consumers who can afford these baby supplies from Japan prefer them over cheaper products from Thailand, China, and South Korea.

Meanwhile, environmentally-friendly cleaning products from Japan enjoy a similar prestige among Vietnamese consumers. However, Tomofumi said that Japanese suppliers need to pay more attention to the price that end-users have to pay when competing with domestic alternatives.

According to Tomofumi, Japanese companies who want to be successful in the Vietnamese retail market need to adjust their price policies, be more flexible with product sizes, and provide expiry dates and other crucial information following international standards.

For example, some cleaning products should be offered in volumes around 200-300ml instead of 500ml to better meet the local demand. Moreover, local consumers need to be convinced that the price they pay equals the value they receive. Only then will Japanese businesses profit from the VJEPA.
Jharkhand school education and literacy department minister Jagarnath Mahto on Wednesday gifted cars to overall toppers of Class-10 and Class-12 board examinations, conducted by the Jharkhand academic council (JAC), at state assembly premises in Ranchi. The stated purpose of doling out expensive gifts is to encourage government school students to excel.

The minister had announced the intention to gift cars to state toppers when matriculation results were released. The JAC on September 18 declared the names of the state toppers after a scrutiny of the mark sheets. The council had not declared the toppers name during the announcement of results.

As per the JAC declaration, a student of SRSSR high school, Saria Giridih, Amit Kumar, who emerged state topper in science stream of class-12 board examination, has turned out to be the overall state topper in all three streams. Kumar scored 457 marks in aggregate out of the total 500 marks (91.4%).

Similarly, a student of Netarhat residential school, Manish Kumar Katiyar was declared the overall state topper in class-10 board examination by the JAC. Katiyar scored 490 marks out of 500 (98%).

The education minister and Jharkhand assembly speaker Rabindra Nath Mahto handed over the keys of the cars to Amit and Manish. The promise I made was fulfilled today. The objective of giving cars to toppers is only to encourage the children for academic betterment, said the 53-year-old education minister, who recently took admission in class-11 to continue his education almost after 25 years.

The minister, who sponsored the gifts along with a few social organizations, announced, From next year onwards, I have decided to bear all educational burden of state toppers for higher education.

Class 12 topper Amit Kumar, said, I am very happy with the gift, which I had never thought of. The act of the education minister will encourage many students.

Class 10 topper Manish also expressed similar feelings. It is a unique feeling, which I cannot define in words. The gift will encourage me to labour hard for further education.

Education minister Mahto also gifted a motorbike and several bicycles in his assembly constituency to meritorious students in a separate event at Bhandaridah in Bokaro district on Wednesday. He gifted a motorbike to the student who topped from Bokaro district in matriculation and 340 bicycles to the students, who scored more than 75% marks in aggregate.

Jharkhand cabinet on July 22 approved a proposal to award commendation prize of Rs 1 lakh each to class-10 and 12 board exam toppers of JAC, CBSE and CISCE (Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations) boards in a bid to promote meritorious children to perform better in academics.

This year, 2,31,300 students in Jharkhand appeared for the class-12 examinations, out of which, 1,71,647 passed. Similarly, 3,85,144 students wrote class-10 board examinations, out of which, 2,88,928 students cleared it.
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

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European airlines are pinning hopes on pre-flight COVID-19 tests that deliver results as fast as pregnancy tests to help restore passengers' confidence in taking to the skies in confined spaces with shared air.

Germany's Lufthansa, at the mercy of government bailouts for survival, is in talks with Swiss drugmaker Roche over deploying so-called antigen tests, according to two people familiar with the discussions, as the airline aims to make them available next month.

Italian operator Alitalia, meanwhile, told Reuters that from Wednesday it would add two flights from Milan to Rome, to the two it is already offering from Rome to Milan, exclusively for passengers with negative tests.

The tests are administered by health authorities at the airports and included in ticket prices. If they prove popular and safe, these antigen-tested flights will be expanded to more domestic, and later international, routes, the airline said.

Unlike laboratory-based molecular tests that have been the staple of health authorities in the pandemic, antigen tests do not require machines to process. Much like pregnancy tests, they can produce results in about 15 minutes.

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

However the tests require an uncomfortable nasal swab and are not as accurate as the molecular, or PCR, tests. They generally produce more "false negatives" which could mean sick people could slip through the cracks and onto planes.

An increasing number are hitting the market, from companies such as Abbott Laboratories, Becton Dickinson & Co and Quidel Corp and Roche, which is rebranding antigen tests from South Korea's privately held SD Biosensor.

Airlines are pressing governments to embrace alternatives to blanket travel restrictions amid a resurgence of COVID-19 cases in Europe.

Rapid antigen tests that can be administered by non-medical staff are expected to become available in coming weeks for as little as $7 each, the head of industry body the International Air Transport Association said on Tuesday.

NEGATIVE-ONLY FLIGHTS

Despite the drawbacks of such antigen tests, carriers hope they could tip the balance in convincing people to fly.

"It is to give ... confidence, at a specific point in time, that the result is positive or negative," said Christian Paulus, a Roche research and development manager.

"The PCR remains the gold standard. Therefore if there are any questions open, or if the clinical appearance of the person who had a negative test, if the person has symptoms like a fever, then you would for sure do confirmatory testing."

Alitalia launched its "COVID Tested Flights" programme from Rome to Milan last week, and will expand it from Wednesday. Only passengers with negative COVID-19 results can board.

"So far no positive passengers have been found," said an Alitalia spokesman, adding that many chose to take the airline's antigen tests the night before the flight. Travellers can access airport-testing facilities via a preferred lane with their tickets.

The airline plans to analyse findings around the middle of October, but already expects antigen-tested flights will be expanded to domestic and later international routes. "First, we have to see how this experiment goes," the spokesman said.

The pre-flight antigen tests follow a scheme in Italy where such tests were used defensively.

SD Biosensor said its tests had been deployed at Italian airports for incoming tourists, to avoid a renewed COVID-19 wave imported from infection hotspots.

'BETTER THAN QUARANTINE'

Lufthansa Chief Executive Carsten Spohr last week told employees during a townhall meeting that the airline was in talks with Roche. The drugmaker started selling the rapid tests this week, and said SD Biosensor could initially supply it with about 40 million tests per month.

The Lufthansa tests could initially go to cabin crews, a spokeswoman said, though Bjoern Becker, a senior director of product management, ground & digital services for the Lufthansa Group, said the tests could also be made available to first-class and business-class passengers.

"We think the tests would be a better option than putting somebody into quarantine," the airline spokeswoman said.

Beyond airlines, Germany is eyeing broader antigen test use from October, including in nursing homes where older patients have been hardest hit by the deadly virus.

Regulators still worry about test accuracy, which typically detect the virus 80 percent to 90 percent of the time, below the 95 percent rate of lab tests.

Still, some officials don't want the perfect to be the enemy of the pretty good as they pursue some semblance of economic normality.

"They're good enough," German health minister Jens Spahn said, pledging antigen tests in "significant quantities". The state of Bavaria has already ordered 10 million.

Follow our full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic here
Vietnam should not look forward to receiving foreign travelers soon after it reopens international air routes, but it needs to prepare well to get them back.

At a meeting on September 18, the government agreed on increasing the number of controlled international flights to investors and specialists who need to come to Vietnam to work.



According to David Ho from Beibaogo, specializing in serving Taiwanese and Chinese travelers, the number of foreign travelers to Vietnam still remains zero. Many foreign travelers are still not willing to travel abroad because of two major reasons.

All countries are applying necessary measures to stimulate domestic travel and the COVID-19 pandemic still exists.

Statistics show that more than 90 percent of Covid-19 cases in Vietnam have been individuals entering Vietnam. If Vietnam doesnt apply measures to prevent imported cases, the epidemic will spread among the community.

Nhu Thi Ngan, chair and CEO of Hanoitourism, said all foreign travelers to Vietnam will be put in quarantine for 14 days, which will be an obstacle to foreign travel.

Statistics show that more than 90 percent of Covid-19 cases in Vietnam have been individuals entering Vietnam. If Vietnam doesnt apply measures to prevent imported cases, the epidemic will spread among the community.

Asked when Vietnam will receive foreign travelers, not just specialists and investors, Pham Ha, president of Luxury Group, said this depends on the markets.

As for some Asian markets, reopening international air routes to explore the situation is a necessity, and if there are no travelers, Vietnam needs to create demand, provided that it can ensure safety for travelers and prevent coronavirus spread to the community.

In addition to the air routes between Vietnam and Asian countries such as China, South Korea and Japan, Ha proposed reopening other air routes as well and focus on potential markets such as Australia, New Zealand and European countries, including Germany, the UK and France.

According to Ha, many of his clients booked tours in March, but they had to postpone the tours because of Covid-19. The travelers are waiting for air routes to reopen to implement their plans.

Ha believes that demand exists in Germany, which is not affected severely by the epidemic. Germans want to travel when the weather gets cold.

Vietnam is a trustworthy destination as it has been doing well in fighting against the epidemic, while procedures for visas have become simple.

Nguyen Duc Chi, a tourism expert, said that foreign travelers would bring a new lease of life to Vietnams tourism, saying that demand would not be strong, but that it exists.

He said Vietnam wont be able to receive foreign travelers immediately, but it needs to pay attention to the key markets which have controlled the epidemic.

Changing the way of receiving travelers

David Ho said the first thing that needs to be done is to define which markets would be key markets for Vietnam in the immediate time.

He cited China, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan. The numbers of travelers from these markets always account for a large proportion of total tourists. The cultural similarities would make it easier to stimulate demand.

After defining the key markets, Vietnam will need suitable advertisement strategies to attract travelers, design reasonable preferences, and improve service quality.

It would be better to advertise Vietnam as a hospitable and safe destination through a series of narratives. This will be more convincing, he said.

He went on to suggest that Vietnam should advertise tourism through foreign specialists, investors and expats. They can provide trustworthy information about Vietnam to their friends and relatives.

Ha thinks that as tourism trends have changed, travelers will not like to visit crowded places. It would be better to introduce to foreign travelers places with wild beauty and islands.

David Ho also thinks that instead of crowded, bustling places or shopping, travelers will prefer slow living tours, such as wellness, social or nature tours.

Ngoc Ha

Vietnam resumes stimulus tourism activities as Covid-19 put under control To develop sustainably the tourism industry in the new normal, besides stimulating demand, the most important thing is to ensure safety for tourists.
NYCs de Blasio Says 9,000 More Workers to Be Furloughed

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio says another 9,000 city employees will be subjected to a compulsory five-day furlough in a bid to save the city $21 million, amid a broader drive to balance the budget.

Speaking at a press conference on Sept. 23, de Blasio said both managerial and unrepresented employees would be among those who must take an unpaid week off between next month and March 2021, citing the need to confront the citys budget crisis.

As we know about this pandemic, it is hitting us on so many levels all at onceso many crises wrapped within the bigger crisis, and one of them, of course, is the challenge this city faces because of the economic crisis, because of the budget crisis, de Blasio said.

The city faces a $9 billion deficit over the next two years.

The economy of New York City, which was the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic at its onset, has been hit harder than the nation thus far, wrote city Comptroller Scott M. Stringer, in recent comments on the citys adopted budget for fiscal year 2021.

In New York City, employment plunged by about 20 percent from February to April and grew by a smaller 3.4 percent from April to June, he wrote. The FY 2021 Adopted Budget reflects the ravaging of the Citys economy and tax revenues by the pandemic.

According to the most recent tax revenue projections from the Independent Budget Office, a nonpartisan agency that assists New York City authorities in their budgeting process, expected tax collections for fiscal years 2020 and 2021 have, since January, been revised downwards by $8.5 billion, while the forecast for 2022 has dropped by nearly $5 billion.

We have to keep taking action to address this situation, de Blasio said, adding, none of them are pleasant, none of them are things wed want to do at all in normal times.

De Blasio called the latest round of furloughs a difficult and painful decision.

Its a difficult one because it will affect real people and their lives, de Blasio said. It will affect their families and these are the people who have been working non-stop for months trying to protect all of you and look out for the whole city.

Its something very sad when the people who have worked so hard have to sacrifice further, he said, adding that layoffs remain a possibility.

We need to keep finding savings to keep bridging us to give us a chance to get something better than layoffs. No one wants to see layoffs, but unfortunately, theyre still on the table, de Blasio said.

Last week, the mayor announced he and nearly 500 mayors office employees would be subjected to a five-day furlough. He warned that, without federal stimulus funds or additional borrowing authority from Albany, the city may have to lay off 22,000 municipal workers.

De Blasio also took aim at the federal government, as well as Gov. Andrew Cuomo, for so far failing to help bail out the Big Apple.

Look, what would really solve thisfederal stimulusand its shocking that it still hasnt happened, and hope continues to dim for anything in the next few months. And then long-term borrowingAlbany, I continue to say it is a straightforward time-honored option, it is something that makes so much sense to stop this uncertainty, and were going to keep fighting for that as well, he said.

The issue of whether New York City can borrow billions of dollars to cover red ink in the city budget will be decided in Albany, where legislation would have to be passed to allow borrowing to cover long-term expenditures.

Some fiscal experts have pushed back against calls to expand New York Citys long-term borrowing powers.

There is no need for de Blasio to borrow, said Stephen Berger, an investment banker who once served as the executive director of the New York State Emergency Control Board for the City of New York, in remarks to The City.

You can take 4 [percent] or 5 [percent] out of the budget, Berger added.

Borrowing will likely be used to prop up unaffordable spending, leaving gaps in subsequent years, said Andrew Rein, president of the Citizens Budget Commission, in remarks to The City. This sets the stage for more borrowing, and more borrowingthe dynamic that got New York into so much trouble 50 years ago.
DGAP-News: HENSOLDT AG / Key word(s): IPO



The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Final offer price for shares in HENSOLDT AG set at EUR 12 per share - Total offer volume of approx. EUR 460 million (assuming full exercise of greenshoe option) - Indicating a total market capitalization of EUR 1.26 billion and enterprise value of EUR 2.29 billion - Expected free float 37%, if greenshoe option is fully exercised - First day of trading on September 25, 2020 on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange Taufkirchen, September 24, 2020 - The final offer price for the shares of HENSOLDT AG ("HENSOLDT"), Europe's largest pure-play electronic sensor solutions house, has been set at EUR 12 per share by HENSOLDT and its current owner Square Lux Holding II S.a r.l. ("Selling Shareholder"), a company indirectly owned by funds advised by KKR ("KKR"), in consultation with the underwriting banks. In total, 38,333,333 ordinary bearer shares (Inhaberaktien) with no par value (Stuckaktien) are being placed with investors. The placement comprises 25,000,000 shares to be newly issued by HENSOLDT by way of a capital increase and 13,333,333 existing shares from the holdings of the Selling Shareholder, the latter consisting of 8,333,333 secondary base shares and 5,000,000 over-allotment shares in connection with the greenshoe option. Assuming full exercise of the greenshoe option and based on the final offer price, the total offer volume amounts to circa EUR 460 million, indicating a total market capitalization of HENSOLDT of EUR 1.26 billion and an enterprise value[1] of EUR 2.29 billion. Upon completion of the offering and assuming full exercise of the greenshoe option, the expected free float amounts to 37%. HENSOLDT expects that its gross proceeds from the capital increase will amount to EUR 300 million. HENSOLDT will use its proceeds, amongst other uses, to support its highly visible growth trajectory, sustain its existing investment strategy and strengthen its balance sheet. The Selling Shareholder will receive all proceeds from the sale of the existing shares, which are expected to amount to EUR 160 million, assuming full exercise of the greenshoe option. Thomas Muller, CEO of HENSOLDT, said: "The successful IPO is not only a great affirmation of our work over the last three and a half years. With the tailwinds from our successful IPO we will make a big step to further strengthen our position as Europe's leading, platform-independent provider of defence and security sensor solutions with global reach." HENSOLDT shares are expected to be trading on the regulated market (Prime Standard) of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange from September 25, 2020. HENSOLDT's trading symbol is HAG, the German securities code (WKN) HAG000, and the international securities identification number (ISIN) DE000HAG0005. The settlement and completion of the offering is planned for September 29, 2020. BofA Securities, J.P. Morgan, KKR Capital Markets, and Deutsche Bank are acting as Joint Global Coordinators in connection with the planned transaction. Citigroup, COMMERZBANK, UniCredit Bank AG, and Credit Agricole CIB will support the transaction as Joint Bookrunners, with Mizuho International acting as Co-Manager. About HENSOLDT HENSOLDT is a pioneer of technology and innovation in the field of defence and security electronics with more than 150 years of heritage from companies like Carl Zeiss, Airbus, Dornier, Messerschmitt and Telefunken. Based in Taufkirchen near Munich, the company is a German Champion with strategic leadership positions in the field of sensor solutions for defence and non-defence applications. HENSOLDT develops new products to combat a wide range of threats based on innovative approaches to data management, robotics and cyber security. With more than 5,400 employees as of December 31, 2019, HENSOLDT generated revenues of EUR 1.11 billion in 2019. www.hensoldt.net About KKR KKR is a leading global investment firm that manages multiple alternative asset classes, including private equity, credit and real assets, with strategic partners that manage hedge funds. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns for its fund investors by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people, and driving growth and value creation with KKR portfolio companies. KKR invests its own capital alongside the capital it manages for fund investors and provides financing solutions and investment opportunities through its capital markets business. References to KKR's investments may include the activities of its sponsored funds. For additional information about KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE: KKR), please visit KKR's website at www.kkr.com and on Twitter @KKR_Co.

Press contact HENSOLDT

Joachim Schranzhofer Tel.: +49 (0)89.51518.1823

joachim.schranzhofer@hensoldt.net

Press contact KKR

Raphael Eisenmann Tel.: +49 (0)69.9218.7486

reisenmann@heringschuppener.com Thea Bichmann Tel.: +49 (0)69.9218.7415

tbichmann@heringschuppener.com Disclaimer



This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe for securities. The offer period for the securities referred to herein has already ended.

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Passengers connect with drivers at the ride-hailing lot at LAX on Aug. 20. (Los Angeles Times)

Proposition 22, which would classify drivers for app-based services such as Uber and Lyft as independent contractors but guarantee them certain benefits, is an ink-blot test.

If you think these companies are predators that exploit workers and compete unfairly, you'll see the measure as yet another effort by the tech industry to circumvent the rules by which responsible corporate citizens play. If you think the apps provide workers an easy means to make extra money and consumers an affordable alternative to taxis, you'll see Proposition 22 as a way to hold onto a service you value.

In reality, the measure is a fix designed by Uber and its counterparts for a problem the California Supreme Court created when it issued its Dynamex decision in 2018, making it harder for employers to classify workers as independent contractors. The Legislature, which is dominated by labor-friendly Democrats who see the gig economy as exploitative, embraced the Dynamex decision as a way to force changes in Uber and Lyft's business model and promote unionized work.

But the ruling affects a broad array of industries, and the Legislature has failed to come up with a response that meets the needs of the state's 21st century workforce. Unfortunately, Proposition 22 doesn't provide a good answer either, offering a solution that's too narrow and rigid.

Voters should reject the measure  even if doing so might wreak havoc on these services and their drivers, as Uber and Lyft say. Rather than accepting the bad bargain Proposition 22 presents, voters should demand a better, broader answer from Sacramento.

The heart of the problem here is that the state clings to an outdated idea of employment. It relies on decades-old statutes and legal decisions that divide workers into two types: employees and independent contractors. But as the late economist Alan B. Krueger and former Labor Secretary Seth D. Harris laid out in a 2015 paper for the Brookings Institution, technology has created a third type: independent workers who choose jobs made available through a variety of intermediaries, often blending personal and occupational pursuits. These workers exert more control over when and where they work than the typical employee, but they may have less control over their prices and other terms of service than the typical independent contractor. Krueger and Harris called on lawmakers to recognize this new category and provide labor protections equivalent to what employees enjoy while still preserving their flexibility.

Story continues

The Dynamex decision, however, stuck with the 20th century framework and made it an even worse fit for the current economy. The court dramatically shifted the line separating employees from independent contractors, holding that anyone who performs work that is not "outside the usual course of the hiring entity's business" is, in fact, an employee entitled to a minimum wage, overtime pay, workers' compensation, unemployment insurance and any other benefit the state required employers to provide. Suddenly, companies across the state were faced with the prospect of having to hire as employees all the freelancers, casual laborers and other independent workers that performed tasks within the "usual course" of their businesses.

(The Los Angeles Times, like newspaper publishers across the state, were among those affected by the ruling. Along with full- and part-time employees, we use freelance reporters, writers and photographers, and independent contractors deliver copies of our papers to subscribers.)

The Legislature responded to the ruling last year with Assembly Bill 5, writing the ruling into state law with exceptions primarily for white-collar jobs (doctors, lawyers, investment advisors) and professional services. After a barrage of lobbying, the Legislature provided even more exemptions this year in AB 2257, including bigger carve-outs for freelance writers and photographers.

Notably absent from either list were app-based drivers, which is why Uber et al. pushed Proposition 22 onto the ballot. In effect, the measure would create a third category of employment: independent contractors who drive for app-based ride-hailing and delivery services. These workers would have to be paid at least 120% of the local minimum wage for the time they spend driving, receive a subsidy for health insurance if they drive more than 15 hours a week on average, be reimbursed for some expenses, be insured for medical costs and some loss of income if they're injured on the job, and be protected against workplace discrimination.

The benefits are modest at best. Because drivers spend about a third of their time waiting to be summoned by a customer, the measure's pay floor would translate to about 80% of the minimum wage. Drivers would be reimbursed at an initial rate of only 30 cents per mile, a little more than half the rate recognized by the Internal Revenue Service. They would have no paid sick days or family leave. There's no provision to let them form a union.

Crucially for drivers, though, the proposition would preserve what they like most about working for these services: the complete control they wield over their hours. They decide when and where they work and for how long. The vast majority do so intermittently  part time in most cases, full time for a short period in others. But even drivers who put in full days behind the wheel say they like the flexibility to stop working at a moment's notice and attend to family needs or other personal business. Although the value of that flexibility is hard to quantify, research shows that it's real and significant.

It's hard to imagine how the app-based services will be able to provide that same flexibility to drivers if they have to treat them as employees and provide the full panoply of protections, which would add 20% to 30% to the costs. The companies argue persuasively that if Proposition 22 fails, they will have to slash their driver rolls and assign workers to shifts and territories to make sure the service was available where it made economic sense to provide it. They also contend that they'd have to raise prices significantly in suburbs and rural areas.

More immediately, both companies assert that it would take them months to adapt their technology  which is designed to match riders on demand to whatever drivers are available  to a shift-based, AB 5-compliant model. That's why, after the state won a court order in August compelling Uber and Lyft to comply with AB 5, both companies said they'd suspend their operations in the state unless an appeals court put the order on hold. (It did so.) If both Proposition 22 and the companies' appeal fail, all drivers could find themselves without app-based work for some time. That could cost hundreds of thousands of Californians  many of them lower-income Black and brown workers  opportunities they count on to help make ends meet.

That would be a terrible outcome, but the alternative is even worse. Proposition 22 would cement into state law a measure that fails to deliver on a number of important fronts.

Not surprisingly for a labor law proposed by the app-based companies, the measure would continue to give transportation and delivery services a powerful incentive to cut costs by assigning core tasks to nonemployees. This is a particular problem for workers who put in a significant number of hours per week on the apps' platforms.

Granted, it would be tricky to design a system that delivered a set of protections for these workers that were the functional equivalent of the ones for employees, but Proposition 22 doesn't come close. Even conceding that Uber and Lyft have not been profitable, the sub-minimum-wage floor that the proposition would set under drivers' earnings is unacceptable. And the proposition would bar the Legislature from making any changes to its terms without an all-but-impossible seven-eighths majority vote.

More important, the measure addresses only the app-based workers who drive, not the many other workers whose ability to work flexibly is threatened by the Dynamex decision and AB 5. A UC Berkeley study in 2017 found that 1 in 12 California workers listed their main source of income as independent contracting in 2016; only about 1 in 100 did work on "on-demand labor platforms," such as Uber or TaskRabbit.

For all the hype about the gig economy and fears about it hollowing out the middle class, tax returns and other data don't show a significant increase in the percentage of Americans doing "informal" work. Researchers say that about a quarter of adults 18 and older are earning income outside of a main job through such activities as babysitting, cleaning houses and yard work, with app-based work making up a very small percentage. According to a study by Dmitri Koustas of the University of Chicago, people take on this work primarily because they've lost a job or some of their income  and particularly for younger workers, app-based services have been significantly more lucrative than more traditional side hustles.

One of the key innovations of app-based companies is their ability to match whatever workers are available to the customers seeking services, enabling individual workers to come and go on their own schedule. The challenge for the state is to preserve that innovation while guarding against the exploitation of those who rely on app platforms for their livelihoods. And it's a balance that must be struck broadly, not just for companies that lawmakers or voters favor. Proposition 22 doesn't meet that challenge.
Shawn Steffee, the business agent of Boilermakers Local Union 154, located in Pittsburgh, Pa., announced that Local 154 endorsed President Trump for re-election. Local 154 has about 1,500 members who work in the power plants and other similar plants. He said:

Joe Biden's ban on fracking would put me and everyone I know out of work. Crap trade deals. And now this. Gimme a break, we're not asking for much. But Joe Biden is a disaster.

Mr. Steffee spoke at the Pennsylvania CPAC event on September 19, 2020 in Washington, Pa.

He said the journeyman welders in his union are averaging over $100,000 per year. Business is booming thanks to President Trump, and his members are all working. They support President Trump because he supports the job-creating industries in coal, oil, and natural gas. These are the industries that the Democrats want to abolish in favor of wind and solar.

What struck me as unbelievable was Mr. Steffee's statement that the natural gas from Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia is not shipped to Massachusetts and other New England states because those states refused to build pipelines because of "environmental" reasons, which means Democrats adopting the leftist agenda to oppose coal, oil, and natural gas.

So, what did Massachusetts do? It imported natural gas from Russia. The state of Senator Warren AKA Pocahontas; the Kennedys; Ed Markey; etc. imported gas from Russia instead of buying American gas from Pennsylvania. Even worse, the Massachusetts Democratic attorney general said that buying Russian gas is better for the environment: "Continuing to rely on pipelines is too risky for ratepayers and our climate."

The Massachusetts Democrats all charged that President Trump colluded with Russia, but they support the Russian economy by buying Russia's gas.

Massachusetts, like California, is the poster child of the modern Democratic Party. It has abandoned private industry workers, such as the boilermakers, in favor of the "environmentalists" who will sacrifice the workers for their vision of a world run by wind and solar.

Massachusetts, ruled by the Democrats, bought natural gas from Russia instead of Pennsylvania.

"Crap trade deals ... Joe Biden is a disaster." This boils down the reasons to vote for President Trump.

Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0.
In the desperate early morning hours of Sept. 10, as the out-of-control Riverside fire seemed on a collision course with Estacada, Oregon State Trooper Zach Cole came across what everyone most feared: Fire crowning in the trees on the west side of Highway 224, about a half-mile from the small timber towns commercial core.

Cole parked there on the shoulder and waited for help. But it wasnt firefighters who showed up. It was private citizens, three of them, each driving flatbed trucks equipped with water tanks and hoses. They stopped and dumped thousands of gallons of water, keeping it at bay.

There wasnt a professional firefighter in sight.

The three locals went into town to refill their tanks. To their shock, they saw about 30 firefighters and several fire engines idling in front of Estacadas fire station. Luke Youngberg and Jeff Goodrich were steamed. Theyd both been working through the night with their friends and neighbors trying to protect homes from the flames.

Despite their best efforts, the fire was now just blocks from their town.

And here were the professionals having a meeting. Goodrich jumped out of his truck and confronted them.

You see firefighters who are supposed to be out on the front lines, and they are all sitting there, Goodrich said later. I dont know what kind of strategy meeting you need when the town is about to go up.

Hours later, the professionals issued what is known as a tactical pause. The fire had grown too dangerous and everyone was ordered to pull out.

The weather turned just in time and Estacada was largely spared. Firefighters have made significant headway over the succeeding two weeks to corral the unprecedented blitzkrieg of giant wildfires. At least nine people have been killed, whole towns have been destroyed and more than a million acres statewide were charred.

Estacada lost an untold number of homes, but the downtown survived unscathed.

Yet the fires generated hard feelings and harsh talk about the performance of the firefighters and their managers among some city leaders. The recriminations reflect a common flashpoint in wildfires: Residents who take it upon themselves to protect their homes, sometimes defying evacuation orders, while professional firefighters often take a more cautious approach that prioritizes saving lives.

Professional firefighters took a cant-do approach in Estacada, said Mike Platz, a local engineer. I hate to say that. They told the citizens why they couldnt do stuff. So the citizens said, OK, then we will.

As the giant fires multiplied, the states firefighting infrastructure was swiftly overwhelmed. There were five major forest fires in Clackamas County alone, which local fire officials acknowledge contributed to communications issues.

The fires drew hundreds of citizen firefighters into the woods in an effort to protect their families and their property and their neighbors. Some made their living in the woods and had experience fighting fire. They came with bulldozers, water-trucks and chainsaws. Others were equipped with little more than shovels and buckets.

The professionals try to discourage local freelancers, arguing that they are putting themselves and possibly others in danger. In 2018, a fast-moving range fire killed a man near The Dalles who had been trying to cut a fire line between the flames and area wheat fields.

There is the possibility that they can make a difference, said John Bailey, a forestry professor at Oregon State University. The problem is, when heroes step forward, sometimes they die in the process.

Estacada Mayor Sean Drinkwine likely spoke for many local residents when at a Sept. 21 city council meeting he profusely thanked both the professional firefighters and their citizen counterparts for fending off the fires. He ended his remarks giving a shout out to the locals .

They did an amazing job of keeping this out of our backdoor, Drinkwine. If it wasnt for them I have a feeling the backside of our city would be on fire.

The battle for Frog Pond

The Riverside fire started on Sept. 8, driven by freak winds from the east. Flames traveled more than 20 miles down the Clackamas River drainage in three days. There were also several smaller fires that had broken out elsewhere in the area. One was dubbed the Dowty Road fire.

It was that smaller blaze that produced a red glow outside the window as Jenn King was putting her two sons to bed on Sept. 7. She looked again. The forest in the back of the house was ablaze.

It wasnt a complete surprise. The National Weather Service, citing ferocious winds from the east, low humidity and bone-dry forests, issued a rare extremely critical fire weather warning for much of Oregon.

Frog Pond Lane, a dusty gravel road in Eagle Creek, has about 15 homes, many of them tucked between large Douglas fir and maple trees. The chickens, horses and dogs may outnumber the human residents.

Fire is no stranger here. Still, to see flames 100 yards from her sons' bedroom was terrifying. Kenji King, Jenns husband, hopped on his 4x4 to warn neighbors. Jenn King called 911 and made arrangements to evacuate the kids. Forty-five minutes later, the first fire engines arrived.

Firefighters saved the homes of two of Kings neighbors that first night. Three firefighters remained at the scene in case new problems arose.

But the local topography proved a problem. The fire had apparently started in a deep gully behind the Frog Pond homes. The blaze stayed alive down in the gully and would periodically burn its way to the top of the hill where the homes were.

If the blaze managed to get out of the gully and onto Frog Pond Lane, King figures that 15 to 25 homes would be at risk.

Nevertheless, King said the three firefighters, all from the Clackamas Fire District, declined to attack the flames in the gully. King said they told her they intended to let the fire burn itself out.

They were very nice and polite, King said. They just wouldnt do anything.

That wasnt good enough for King or her husband. They called Brent Parries, a friend who ran his own forestry company and had experience with wildfire. He arrived with a large tractor, water truck and other gear. He and his crew spent parts of the next three days doing what the professionals didnt: They went down into the gully and built firebreaks and doused any hot spots.

Brian Stewart, division fire chief at Clackamas Fire, said the districts firefighters were under no restrictions to not engage the fire in the surrounding trees.

We were there to protect lives and properties and I think thats what we all did, he said.

King stands by her account.

Later, Alex Davis, Parries' business partner, arrived at the scene and headed toward the gully where Parries was at work. One of the professional firefighters at the scene told him to stay out, according to Davis and others at the scene.

He said you should probably stay out of there, we want the fire to burn itself out, he recalls. He claims they threatened to have him arrested if he disregarded their orders.

Davis proceeded down the embankment.

It took them several days, in all, before the stubborn fire was fully extinguished.

The neighbors fought this thing diligently, with water, with sprayers, with barrels of water, they were fighting for everything they had, Parries said.

The main event

The Riverside fire started a day after Dowty Road in a far more remote location far up the Clackamas River drainage. But it quickly grew to become bigger and badder and more dangerous. By Wednesday, it was threatening houses in several outlying areas around Estacada.

George Youngberg got the call at home at about 9:40 p.m. Tuesday night. Fire was approaching his home in the Garfield area, a rural neighborhood of about 1,000 people several miles up the Clackamas River from Estacada. Youngberg, 58, is the patriarch of a five-generation Estacada family. He joined friends and neighbors in a battle to save their homes. Both Youngberg and his 25-year-old son, Luke, were driving water trucks.

They cruised around looking for homes in imminent danger. Some were already charred or engulfed.

Members of a local Mennonite community arrived to help. While most of the group was driving tractors, bulldozers and other motorized rigs, the Mennonites had just shovels and water sprayers on their backs.

They developed a system. The 'dozers and tractors carved fire breaks, the water trucks would try to douse flames that seemed headed toward homes, and the Mennonites would mop up on foot.

Things looked bleak on Sept. 9. Authorities predicted the Riverside fire could merge with the Beachie Creek fire coming out of the Santiam River drainage to the south. The merged fire could gather momentum and create its own weather and wind.

Flames were less than a mile from Estacada.

Then, in the pitch-dark early morning hours of Thursday, an extraordinary bit of good luck: the east wind that had been driving the fire settled down. Nolan Bechtel, a leader in the local Mennonite community, said it seemed to him that a mild breeze from the north was actively pushing against the east wind.

It was the hand of God, he said.

Protecting downtown

But the fire was not done.

While the locals fought off the flames on Falls Creek Road north of Highway 224, no one was patrolling the narrow strip of land between the highway and the Clackamas River.

And it was there, near the highways intersection with Faraday Road, that OSP Trooper Cole came across a wall of flames coming down an embankment toward the highway. He realized that if the fire managed to cross the highway, a small mobile home park sat directly in the fires path.

At about 4 a.m., Doug Davidson, an Estacada real estate developer and home builder, was driving his water truck along Highway 224 when he came upon the blaze. He quickly pulled over and dumped all his water on the blaze.

Minutes later, Luke Youngberg and Jeff Goodrich arrived at the scene and dumped more water on it. Then, they said, came their heated altercation with the firefighters debating strategy in the fire station parking lot.

Mike Corless, a captain with Clackamas Fire District, confirmed that the strategy meeting took place. It lasted just 30 minutes, according to Corless, who said he doesnt recall any interaction with local residents. He did send a contingent of firefighters to Faraday Road.

A tactical pause

At around noon that Thursday, Parries was convinced the tide had turned. The east wind had calmed. The dense smoke that settled over the region was testament to that.

But at just about the same time, a parade of professional firefighters came driving by in a big hurry.

Get out, Parries remembers someone calling. Its about to explode.

Early that afternoon, the Oregon state Fire Marshals Office, which had been leading the Riverside effort, declared what is known in the business as a tactical pause. The danger of a potential merger of the Riverside and Beachie Creek fires was too high. It was time to retreat.

Rudy Owens, spokesman for the state fire marshal, said the decision was in keeping with the firefighters' highest priority: human safety.

There was a discussion with Incident Command leadership at both the Riverside and Beachie Creek fires prior to decisions being made that afternoon of Sept. 10, Owens said in a statement. That day saw erratic wind behavior and fire growth on all sides. The two large fires were threatening to merge, would have created a plume with the potential of a plume dominated fire that could result in erratic fire behavior.

Oregon Fire Marshal Jim Walker quit on Sept. 12, in the middle of the wildfire crisis, after being put on administrative leave. He said he was being disciplined for he entered the Beachie Creek wildfire zone east of Salem to look for missing people.

In Estacada, firefighters turned their attention to evacuating anyone who was left in town and other areas subject to level 3 evacuation orders.

The local citizen firefighters were ordered out of the woods. Most begrudgingly followed authorities' commands, fearful they were surrendering their town and resentful that professional firefighters hadnt done more to save it.

But the catastrophic wind conditions failed to materialize. The Riverside and Beachie Creek fires had expanded to the point just a single mile separated them. They never merged.

By Friday, the tactical pause ended, and the state fire marshal gave up control of the Riverside fire to a new incident command team led by the U.S. Forest Service.

Aftermath

The bitter feelings are still keenly felt by the locals.

I know a lot of things happened that shouldnt have happened, Drinkwine said. From what Im hearing, there were words exchanged, there were threats to call the police. There just wasnt a good working relationship between local residents and the department.

Clackamas Fire District officials appeared this past Monday night at a virtual meeting of the Estacada City Council. Clackamas Fire Chief Fred Charlton was diplomatic. We cant say enough about the community members stepping up to protect their neighbors.

The district will take a close look at what happened in Estacada, he added.

Coincidentally, Estacada residents will vote in November on a measure that would merge Clackamas Fire and the Estacada Fire Department. Once considered a virtually certainty, the proposal now faces a new level of opposition.

Jenn King, whose house was threatened by the Dowty Road fire, has joined the opposition. Shes convinced local control would translate to better service and better protection she said.

That was a huge disservice, King said. I dont want it to happen again to someone else. Im in this until something changes.
Delhi riots: No coercive action against Facebook VP until Oct 15 says SC

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Sep 23: The Supreme Court has directed that no coercive action be taken against the India Vice President of Facebook, Ajit Mohan in connection with the Delhi riots case.

The court also issued notices to the Delhi Assembly, Centre on a plea by the VP questioning the summons issued to him to depose in the Delhi riots case.

The panel counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi told the court that it is not proper for the court stay the proceedings qua Facebook and that is he assuring that no further proceedings summoning Mohan is being taken until the Supreme Court decides on the issue.

Delhi riots: Conspiracy grew in organic manner after formation of Muslim Students of JNU

The court also took adverse notice of the coercive summons issued to Mohan by the Delhi panel headed by Raghav Chadha, which forces the panel to adjourn proceedings till October 15, when the court will hear the matter again.

On September 20, a fresh notice was issued by the Delhi assembly's peace and harmony committee to Mohan to ensure his presence for deposing before the panel on September 23. Any defiance to the subsequent notice for appearance will be deemed to be an act of "breach of the constitutionally-guaranteed privileges" of the committee, warned a statement issued by the panel on Sunday.

The final warning to the social media giant was issued by the committee chaired by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Raghav Chadha as Mohan did not appear for his deposition during the last meeting of the panel.

Chadha had said the non-appearance of the top Facebook official to depose before the committee was a contempt of the Delhi Legislative Assembly as well as the people of the national capital.

He had insisted that Facebook must honour the proceedings taking place under Delhi's state legislature in the same manner as they did for a parliamentary standing committee.

"Any rebuttal or disregard to this subsequent notice shall be deemed as a wilful act of breach of privilege and thus, shall entail various proceedings initiated against Facebook India," the statement said.

The committee had taken cognizance of the accusations against Facebook for its alleged "complicity" in the northeast Delhi riots of February on the premise of the "incriminatory material" produced on record by the witnesses as well as their depositions in its previous meetings.

Only Sushant took drugs, Rhea claims in latest plea | Oneindia News

"In the interest of natural justice, the committee had decided to call Ajit Mohan as an official representative of Facebook to dispel the allegations levelled against the platform and enable the aggrieved citizens to restore their faith on their platform and services offered by them," the statement said.

The hearing by the Assembly panel started in the backdrop of a Wall Street Journal report that claimed that a senior Facebook India policy executive had intervened in internal communication to stop a permanent ban on a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmaker from Telangana, after he allegedly shared communally-charged posts on the social media platform.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  Drop boxes for collecting election ballots have made the news in Ohio as politicians and election officials quibble over how many boxes can be used and where.

That, in turn, raises questions for Ohio voters who plan to vote absentee for perhaps the first time because of concerns about the coronavirus pandemic, and want to save on the postage required to vote by mail.

When will boxes be available? Where will they be located? Will they be secure?

With all the misinformation circulating about the November election, The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com asked Northeast Ohio elections officials to answer those questions and others about how the process works as part of a myth-busting series called Election Truth.

Are boxes available in my county?

Yes, and elections officials in Northeast Ohio tout the boxes as a quick, secure way to deliver ballots, as well as requests for absentee ballots and voter registration cards. Read on to find out how they work and how safe they are, from elections directors in Cuyahoga, Summit, Lake, Lorain, Geauga and Portage counties.

Keep in mind, though, that early voting doesnt begin until Oct. 6. Thats when the first ballots will be mailed out.

Where are drop boxes located?

One ballot drop box is available outside of each Ohio countys board of election offices, per an order from Secretary of State Frank LaRose that banned counties from offering more than one. An Ohio judge last week said restricting the number of boxes is arbitrary and unreasonable, but the judge didnt bar LaRose from enforcing the order. LaRoses office later said the order remains in effect, and it plans to appeal the judges opinion.

Addresses for your countys board of election office can be found online.

What can be placed in drop boxes?

Drop boxes are designed to collect absentee ballots, but voters can also use them to return applications for absentee ballots and voter registration cards.

Who can place items in drop boxes?

Anyone can place voter registration cards and absentee ballot applications in the drop box on your behalf, but ballots must be delivered by close relatives.

Per Ohio law, the following people are allowed to drop off a ballot on your behalf: spouse, father, mother, father-in-law, mother-in-law, grandfather, grandmother, brother, sister, half-sibling, son, daughter, adopting parent, adopted child, stepparent, stepchild, uncle, aunt, nephew, or niece .

Do I have to use a drop box if Im voting absentee?

No. You can mail your absentee ballot to the board of elections. But Northeast Ohio elections directors expect drop boxes will be a popular option, especially among people concerned that a mailed ballot may not be delivered in time due to issues with the U.S. Postal Service.

Absentee ballots returned in-person on Election Day must be taken to the drop-box by 7:30 p.m. You cannot drop them off at your local precinct.

When should I drop my ballot off?

Absentee ballots wont start getting mailed until Oct. 6. But once you receive and complete your ballot, it can be placed in the drop box immediately. Elections officials ask that you return completed ballots as soon as possible, which ensures extra time to remedy any potential issues with your ballot, and gives workers more time to process ballots.

Drop boxes are open 24/7 between now and the 7:30 p.m. deadline on Election Day. At that time, boxes are locked and the public can no longer place ballots inside.

When will my absentee ballot be counted?

Absentee ballots will be scanned into computers as they are received in the run-up to Nov. 3, but results wont be tabulated and made until polls close on Election Day.

As during prior elections, absentee ballots will be among the first results made public on election night.

In Cuyahoga County though, ballots dropped off shortly before polls close on Election Day might not be counted that night. In that case, they would be counted among official results that are released later.

In smaller counties, such as Geauga, ballots dropped off late on Election Day likely wont be included in the first batch of results, but they will be part of the unofficial tally released later in the night.

How are drop boxes secured?

Ballot drop boxes are secured in a number of ways, as are ballots that are retrieved from drop boxes.

In Cuyahoga, Summit, Portage, Lorain, Lake and Geauga counties, drop boxes are monitored 24/7 via surveillance cameras.

In Cuyahoga County, a county protective services officer also keeps tabs on the box during business hours. Once early voting starts Oct. 6 in Lorain County, elections officials will be posted in a tent near the drop box, to help answer questions and provide additional security.

Boxes are specifically designed for election use, and are fastened to the ground with large bolts. Similar to drop boxes for library books, election drop boxes are designed so that a ballot cannot be retrieved after it is fed into the slot.

Cuyahoga County Elections Director Anthony Perlatti described the Cuyahoga box as beefy; Summit elections Director Lance Reed described Summits new box as a monster that weighs 800 pounds  to discourage theft and tampering.

Lake County elections Director Ross McDonald also noted that his countys box contains an internal security alarm that shows whether someone is trying to tamper with the box. So, if someone tried to use a chain and truck to pull it out of the ground, an alarmwould go directly to the local police department, McDonald said.

How often are boxes emptied?

Boxes are emptied at least once a day, depending on the volume of paperwork.

How do officials securely retrieve and store ballots received via drop boxes?

Most parts of the process related to ballot handling require a bipartisan team of election officials  one Democrat and one Republican.

Such teams retrieve ballots from drop boxes in Cuyahoga, Summit, Geauga, Lake, Lorain and Portage counties. In most cases, boxes must be accessed with two keys, one held by a Democrat and the other held by a Republican. Some boards require signatures or initials on a log sheet showing that one Republican and one Democrat had emptied the box, or had overseen a staff member that emptied the box.

Ballots are then stored in locked rooms (or, in Lorain County, in locked cages) that again can only be accessed by two keys at the same time  one operated by a Democrat, and one by a Republican.

Read more Election Truth stories:

Introducing Election Truth: A Plain Dealer and cleveland.com series about voting in Northeast Ohio and how the system is secure

How to apply for Ohios vote-by-mail option, and why its secure: Election Truth

Using a state ID to apply for an Ohio absentee ballot? You should know this: Election Truth

Want to ensure you are properly registered to vote in Ohio? Heres how: Election Truth
A Texas medical assistant is suing nearly a dozen Houston and Texas-area Clinica Hispana locations over unpaid wages in a recently filed collective-action lawsuit in the Southern District of Texas.

The suit filed in late August by a former employee who worked at two of the locations -- one in Cypress and another in Amarillo -- accuses the parent company of the clinics, listed in the suit as AMD Freedom Enterprises, of failing to pay overtime compensation to medical assistants in direct violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The suit also alleges that none of the clinics have accurate timekeeping records for employees.

"This isnt an isolated incident, this is a culture and a practice that this company has," said Genevieve Estrada, an employment law attorney with Alonso and De Leef and attorney for the plaintiff. "We are in the middle of a global pandemic ... everyone is dependent on their job right now and every dollar counts."

The clinics mentioned in the suit focus on serving the Hispanic community and include locations in Houston, Cleveland, New Caney, Porter, Cypress, Conroe, Lufkin, Lubbock, Amarillo and Nacogdoches. The plaintiff listed in the suit and former employee Yamileidis Ferrer is seeking to be a representative for other medical assistants "that have been wronged as well," Estrada said.

Estrada said according to Ferrer's interactions with other colleagues and staff at the two locations she worked at from November 2019 through June 202o, she thinks all of the medical assistants employed by the parent company have been treated the same.

"She worked with other medical assistants and she was aware of the culture, the environment, her experiences arent isolated incidents," Estrada said. "This is the way her employer treated her as a medical assistant and all other medical assistants."

AMD Freedom Enterprises has until Oct. 2 to respond to the lawsuit. The suit seeks unpaid overtime wages dating back three years, in addition to liquidating damages, which is double the overtime that is allegedly owed, as well as court costs and mitigation costs.

Shannon Lang, an attorney for AMD Freedom Enterprises and Clinica Hispana, said the company " complies with the law and looks forward to resolving the litigation."

Correction: An earlier version of this story, along with a photograph, implied that AMD Freedom Enterprises Inc. operates Clinica Hispana La Porte, which has been accused by the Texas Attorney Generals office of falsely advertising as COVID-19 tests. AMD Freedom Enterprises does not operate and has no affiliation with Clinica Hispana La Porte. AMD Freedom Enterprises and its clinics have not been accused by the Attorney General of any wrongdoing. The Chronicle regrets the error.

rebecca.hennes@chron.com
By IANS

MUMBAI: Actor Manoj Bajpayee is being praised for his rapping skills in the new single, Bambai main ka ba. The song has been very well received and the National Award-winning actor says the reason behind its success is because the track is in a native language and that it deals with the migrant issue.

Talking about the song becoming popular among all age groups, Manoj told IANS: "It's very unique rapping, because it's in a native language. Nobody could think of rapping in Bhojpuri and that too about something that is prevalent."

WATCH TRACK:

The actor, who joined hands with filmmaker Anubhav Sinha for the number, says the migrant issue is something that is not the product of today.

ALSO READ | Manoj Bajpayee starts dubbing for 'The Family Man' season two

"The migrant problem has been there all this time. People leaving their houses and going to big cities in search of life -- this problem has always been there and that's why people are loving the song. These factors are working and it came together very well," he said.
PARIS  Man Rays Surrealist experiments with photography not only revolutionized the medium, but also transformed the way that fashion was represented in magazines during the Twenties and Thirties, a new exhibition in Paris shows.

Man Ray and Fashion, which opened at the Musee du Luxembourg on Wednesday, takes the viewer on a journey from his early society portraits through to his daring work for Harpers Bazaar, set against vintage film footage and original creations by the likes of Elsa Schiaparelli, Madeleine Vionnet and Chanel.

Curator and art historian Catherine Ormen says the aim of the exhibition is twofold: to illustrate a lesser-known aspect of Man Rays work, and to reflect the evolution of fashion over the course of two decades. When it was originally unveiled in Marseille last year, the photographs and clothes were shown in two separate venues.

The condensed show presented in Paris, which runs until Jan. 17, was conceived by renowned set designer Nathalie Criniere, assisted by Lucile Louveau. It features objects as diverse as Obstruction, a mobile made of coat hangers, and rare hairdressers busts showcasing the styles of the period.

In the Twenties, fashion takes on a considerable importance and its not just about the clothes: its also the way you hold yourself, the makeup and the hair, and this is reflected in advertising and fashion photography, which go from strength to strength during this period, says Ormen.

Upon arriving in Paris in 1921, Man Ray initially shot fashionable figures like his lover, artists model Kiki de Montparnasse, and influential women like art patrons Peggy Guggenheim and Marie-Laure de Noailles  the latter posing for a masked ball wearing a colander on her head.

At the time, magazines ran photos of society ladies, but they had illustrators draw the clothes. Ormen notes that as a result, Man Rays first fashion shoots were lackluster. They are indentured to illustration, and the photos dont add anything. Theyre not creative. And gradually, you see how he breaks free from that, she says.

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In 1925, he photographed clothes on specially designed mannequins for a report for Vogue on the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts. One of the looks  Lanvins extravagantly tiered Apollon dress  is presented alongside a black flapper dress trimmed with marabou feathers by Charles Frederick Worth.

By the Thirties, Man Ray toyed with abstract beauty compositions focusing on hands, feet or Grecian busts. His aura as a Surrealist artist enabled him to get a lot of advertising contracts, says Ormen. Arguably his most famous photograph, Tears, was in fact an ad for Cosmecil waterproof mascara, she points out.

Through his relationship with designer Elsa Schiaparelli, Man Ray also began to introduce more Surrealist elements into his fashion shoots. The arrival of editor in chief Carmel Snow and art director Alexey Brodovitch at Harpers Bazaar in 1934 coincided with an explosion in demand for photography.

They pushed him to be increasingly inventive and creative, says Ormen. Print media was all-powerful between the wars, and fashion photography  and the work of Man Ray in particular  was absolutely decisive. He managed to emancipate the discipline and make it prestigious.

Using solarization, double exposures and other technical experiments, the photographer created dreamlike images that were set off by Brodovitchs graphic layouts. For a spread titled Fashion by Radio, he used a facsimile of a photo to striking effect.

The image is totally deformed, synthetic, but its a fabulous fashion image because the silhouette is as abstract as a fashion drawing, the curator says. He manages to convey the same thing as a fashion sketch.

This approach peaked in 1934 with his distorted shot of a black Vionnet evening gown, mirrored in the diagonal layout of the text. To me, this is an absolute masterpiece, says Ormen. The dress, stretched beyond recognition, becomes the sheer essence of a dress. Its no longer about a dress, but about an idea of fashion.

Launch Gallery: Man Ray Exhibition of Fashion Work Opens in Paris

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Aging is a process, which starts when the body begins losing its actual capabilities, and its impacts become visible through degrading health and physical appearance. Anti-aging products can slow or limiting this process with the help of the body, especially face, and hair cosmetics. The growing aging population and increasing health consciousness are the major factors driving this market. On observing the current market trends, the global Anti-Aging Cosmetics Products Market by application is projected to touch a 06 % annual growth mark during the survey period. As the demands for these products surged, the companies started to look for more efficient and health-friendly products, which received good response from the users and as a result, boosted the overall market.

Good physical appearance is the first impression that defines a person. To maintain and attain this, the use of cosmetics is growing at remarkable speeds and is increasing the demands for better products. The companies observe the response and competition within the market, are continuously investing in the research & development programs moving in the direction of making products better, and find new alternatives. This has boosted the market and increased its global shares.

Apart from all the benefits and adoption of these products, the presence of fake products is damaging this market's overall structure because they are responsible for decreased revenue generation and are harmful to the skin due to the presence of toxic ingredients. Secondly, the original products are costly, which makes it difficult for all sections to adopt these products, which is also responsible for the limited growth of this market.

Get a FREE Sample Copy of Market : https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/8026

The Global Anti-Aging Cosmetics Products market segments

The global anti-aging cosmetics products market is segmented into three parts, which are:

Types of products: Skincare, hair care, eye care, and other types of products are available.

Forms: These products are available in cream, serum, lotion, and other types.

Distribution Channel: these cosmetics are available through offline (retail-based) and online portals.

Regional Market Summary

The global anti-aging market is observed based on four regions, namely America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and The Middle East & Africa.

Among all regions, the American region is the current market leader and will maintain its lead during this period. Increasing numbers of aged people, awareness, disposable incomes, and other factors are propelling this market.

The European region is the next in this tally due to the presence of major fashion houses, growing health consciousness, vast research & development initiatives, and other factors.

The Asia Pacific region is the third-largest market but will emerge as fastest-growing during the projected period. Vast population, growing awareness, increasing old-age numbers, rise in disposable incomes, and other factors are helping the market in reaching these speeds.

The rest of the regions are also showing progress but will remain slow due to less disposable incomes and high costs of original products.

Access Full Report Details and Order this Premium Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/anti-aging-cosmetics-products-market-8026

Recent Industry News

The global anti-aging cosmetics products market is going through a successful period and will continue on this track, but factors like the presence of counterfeit products and higher product costs are damaging the market. The companies are searching for less harmful products and less expensive products. The American market is the current market leader, whereas the Asia Pacific region will experience the highest growth rates during this period.

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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Saudi Arabia has barred flights from India, Brazil, and Argentina where the coronavirus pandemic is continuing to spread. The kingdoms civil aviation regulator General Authority of Civil Aviation (Gaca), however, did not say for how long the ban would continue in a note to airlines on Wednesday.

Gaca said any person who has visited India, Brazil and Argentina in the last 14 days prior to arrival in Saudi will not be allowed in except for those with government invitation.

A copy of the note has been reviewed by Mint.

A senior official of an Indian airline said the Gaca directive was received on Tuesday.

Indian airlines will not be allowed to operate flights to Saudi nor will any flights from the Gulf nation be allowed to fly to India from 24 September," said the airline official, requesting anonymity.

We hope the government intervenes and talks with the Saudi government to revoke the order," the official said.

Most Indian airlines, including Air India, SpiceJet and IndiGo, have operated charter flights and repatriation flights to Saudi in the past few months.

Spokespersons for Air India, IndiGo and SpiceJet did not respond to queries.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong has suspended flights of Air India till 2 October in the wake of rising coronavirus infections in India.

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As the 2020-21 school year started under new and challenging circumstances, Conroe ISDs Armstrong Elementary was gifted $10,000 from Burlington Stores through AdoptAClassroom.org. The money was distributed to the schools teachers to purchase new items for their classrooms.

When Burlington opens a new store, part of its celebration is to raise funds for education and gift those funds to a local school. Earlier this year, Burlington opened a new store in the Conroe area and with the help of Conroe ISD and AdoptAClassroom.org, chose to give the funds to Armstrong Elementary.

During this pandemic, teachers have been stretched beyond their limits with learning new technologies and then having to teach virtually and face-to-face, so being able to bring some good news to the teachers, to bring a smile to their face, was exciting, said Theresa Waller, principal of Armstrong Elementary. We needed that in the moment.

AdoptAClassroom.org is a nonprofit organization based in Minnesota that serves all 50 states and U.S. territories. The online platform started as a way for teachers to crowdfund for classroom necessities, which teachers can still do through the site, and partners with corporate sponsors like Burlington to raise and donate funds to gift to schools in need.

At AdoptAClassroom we believe that these partnerships are crucial to helping and supporting schools and ensuring they have what they need, said Sarah Fowler, account manager at AdoptAClassroom.org. Community support is really important and thats one of the things that we really love about our partnership with Burlington because they obviously really care about educators and teachers and students in the communities where they live and work.

The funds raised by Burlington are given to AdoptAClassroom.org, which then gives them to the school teachers through credits to an online market where they can purchase new items for their classrooms. Books, furniture, science equipment, musical instruments, and various other school supplies can be found in the market.

Each teacher at Armstrong was able to use around $200 to purchase new items for their class. So far, Waller has seen her teachers order books, bookends, games, whiteboards, and markers, with more boxes of stuff yet to arrive.

Its been a major blessing for our campus, for our student population, to have those extras, and for our teachers to get some things that they would probably have purchased on their own, because teachers spend a lot of their own money, Waller said.

This year, because of the coronavirus pandemic, a few things have changed about the AdoptAClassroom.org process. Originally, Armstrong Elementary was supposed to be adopted in the spring, but the pandemic delayed that until the fall semester. But, because it was supposed to be adopted earlier, Armstrong received the full $10,000. Fundraising was not as successful this semester because of COVID and some adopted schools will be receiving $5,000 instead.

The announcement ceremony for the adoption was also adjusted for health and safety. Instead of receiving the news and the ceremonial big check in a community celebration, Armstrong heard the announcement virtually. This didnt see to dampen any of the excitement.

The teachers were just ecstatic, said Crystal Dozier, store manager for the new Conroe Burlington location, of the reaction the school had when she presented the check. They had so many great comments, they were thrilled.

For Dozier, it means a lot to be able to give back to the community in this way.

It really heightens our focus on the commitment to community and families, she said, describing the experience as rewarding. Especially during these challenging times.

jamie.swinnerton@chron.com
If you spend time enjoying the marshes, inlets and beaches along South Carolinas spectacular coast, youll have little doubt why our region is experiencing exponential growth. The Lowcountrys unsurpassed quality of life is increasingly hard to find but easy to appreciate, in large part because of the commitment of those in our community to protect the natural resources we all treasure.

Conserving our natural resources and the invaluable benefits they afford requires thoughtful and innovative approaches. The more arrows we have in the conservation quiver, especially those that boost our economy and create jobs, the better our chances of hitting the target and achieving our conservation goals. This is why we strongly support expansion of solar energy in South Carolina.

We approach this issue from different perspectives  one as the chairman of the Senates Fish, Game and Forestry Committee with jurisdiction over our natural resources, the other as executive director of Audubon South Carolina, an avian conservation organization. Despite our differing perspectives, we wholeheartedly agree that increasing renewable energy sources such as solar has far-reaching economic, consumer and environmental benefits for our state and region.

A recently released Audubon report, An Economic Analysis of the Solar Industry in South Carolina, found that the solar energy industry has a $1.5 billion economic impact in the state, contributes more than $58.8 million in state and local taxes annually and supports 7,250 S.C. jobs. We have nearly 1,000 solar-related jobs in the Charleston region alone, according to the Solar Foundation, a three-fold increase in just the past four years.

As South Carolina recovers from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, expanding access to solar energy and the prosperity it brings should be at the forefront of our recovery effort. Solar energy protects the air and water that birds, other wildlife and people rely upon. It reduces emissions associated with a changing climate, which Audubon has identified as the No. 1 threat to coastal plain birds such as the American oystercatcher, brown-headed nuthatch and red-headed woodpecker. And in the aftermath of severe natural disasters, solar has proven to be an incredibly reliable and resilient source of power.

We are proud of South Carolinas solar leadership, which has helped our state become a national solar energy leader. The Energy Freedom Act that overwhelmingly passed the General Assembly and was signed into law by Gov. Henry McMaster last year made solar more competitive, cost effective and accessible; we now enjoy one of the highest solar growth rates in the country.

Nevertheless, we still have much work to do, as we continue to reduce our dependence on traditional fuel sources and approach energy independence. Audubons economic study portends a bright future for South Carolinas increasing ability to reap economic and conservation benefits from solar energy.

The General Assembly can help this along with the decisions made next year regarding Santee Coopers future. Whether the utility is sold, privately managed or reformed as a state-owned utility, we must ensure it puts taxpayers and ratepayers first. This starts with Santee Cooper continuing to ramp up investment in affordable solar energy, and reduce its dependence upon expensive, emissions-emitting coal plants. Greater legislative oversight of Santee Cooper is crucial to ensure it is more accountable and transparent and that its decisions make both environmental and fiscal sense.

We also must continue removing hurdles to solar industry growth with net-metering policies that allow all consumers generating more solar power than they use to receive credit for that excess. We should prioritize innovative ways to expand access to solar among low- and middle-income communities across the state. As a percentage of income, they stand to benefit the most from cost savings associated with solar.

As a growing source of innovative, good-paying jobs and increased tax revenue, the solar energy sector is a powerful economic driver for South Carolina. With the right policies in place, solar will continue leading the way to sustainable economic growth while playing a vital role in protecting our beloved Lowcountry and its abundant natural resources.

State Sen. Chip Campen represents District 43. Justin Stokes is executive director of Audubon South Carolina. Sen. Campsen was a co-sponsor of the Energy Freedom Act and was the only senator to vote against the Base Load Review Act that led to the V.C. Summer nuclear plant disaster.
Kargo Sidekick unit

Now available on AMP

Now available on AMP

SYDNEY, Australia, Sept. 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kargo, the leader in mobile advertising, is announcing a partnership with the AMP Project to offer media buyers access to a selection of Kargos mobile optimised ad product suite, including the Kargo Sidekick unit, across AMP pages starting in October. The partnership gives Kargo the ability to bring their proprietary ad units to unique AMP inventory, which advertisers can now take advantage of on AMP. The partnership is in response to requests from advertisers and publishers to increase media buying opportunities and creative ad executions on AMP. Kargo is the first integration partner to offer optimised custom-ad formats on AMP.



We are so excited to have Kargos unique ad format available through their integration with AMP on our properties. Not only does this add flexibility to better monetise our AMP-enabled pages, it also brings differentiated inventory to our advertising partners," said Corey Wong, Director of Revenue Operations at Leaf Group.

"With this Kargo integration, we have additional and unique inventory to offer on our AMP pages. Advertisers get a more impactful opportunity on pages coming from organic search, and we can drive more value through our accelerated and optimised pages, which is a win-win," said Victoria Laemmel, Director of Operations at Bauer Media Group.

Kargos contributions to the open-source have been phenomenal, said Jeffrey Jose, Product Manager at Google who works on AMP. We are dedicated to giving advertisers and publishers more opportunities to transact on AMP and believe that Kargo brings unique creative value to do just that.

AMP is an open-source javascript framework for publishers, originally created by Google and now a part of the OpenJS Foundation, that speeds up page load times and keeps the pages consistently performant over time. With the new partnership, advertisers can reach their preferred audience across AMP environments with high-impact, mobile-first creatives. This will bring publishers new opportunities to monetise AMP traffic, a major goal for many publishers using the technology.

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Advertisers will now have the ability to specifically buy AMP inventory while running custom mobile-optimised creatives, said Paola Conery, Director of Business Development at Kargo. Were excited to help publishers better monetise their AMP inventory with this new offering.

About Kargo

Kargo is a mobile-first advertising company that creates innovative campaigns for over 200 of the worlds best-known brands. Our marketplace is an invitation-only collection of quality publishers while ensuring brand safety, exceptional viewability and maximum security against ad fraud. Additionally, Kargo is the first mobile platform to achieve 100% ads.txt compliance. Kargo is TAG certified and a member of the Coalition for Better Ads. We are 200 diverse people strong across offices in New York City, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Auckland, Sydney and Singapore.

Contact:

Emily Riley

Riley Strategic LLC

emily@rileystrategic.com

914-330-1128

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3c06a375-8e1a-4063-8e9e-4d0aa1034019




Immigration advocates rally outside the Supreme Court in Washington. (Chris Kleponis / AFP/ Getty Images)

The Supreme Court could soon have its most conservative majority in almost a century  created by a president who just lost an election and confirmed by a lame-duck Senate.

President Trumps vow to name a successor to the late liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnells decision to hold hearings and a floor vote on the nomination make sense only by the logic of our increasingly partisan politics.

Since Trump took office in 2017, the Republican-controlled Senate has confirmed nearly 200 conservative judges with lifetime appointments to lower courts  almost one-fourth of all active federal judges  plus two Supreme Court justices, Neil M. Gorsuch and Brett M. Kavanaugh.

Adding a third Supreme Court justice would lock in a 6-3 conservative majority on the high court for years to come.

But if voters turn Trump out of office and elect a Democratic House and Senate in six weeks, the contrast will be grotesque: a nation swinging to the left while its Supreme Court steers hard right.

No wonder so many Democrats are outraged  not only by McConnells glib reversal of his own 2016 rule against election-year nominations but by the prospect that Trump's legacy  even if he loses  will be a Supreme Court ready to curb abortion, overturn Obamacare, restrict voting rights and turn back the clock on civil rights.

So Democrats are seriously considering changing the rules if they win both houses of Congress  either by imposing term limits for Supreme Court justices or by adding more seats to the court.

Term limits are eminently sensible. They would end the ghoulish system of waiting, in most cases, for justices to get sick or die to change the lineup. But it would require a constitutional amendment and take far too long to satisfy Americans who believe the court is out of step.

That leaves court packing, a brute-force remedy that can be accomplished by an act of Congress. The idea would be to add (in one version) four seats, to enable the next president  Joe Biden, presumably  to swing the courts majority from conservative to liberal.

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To be fair, theres nothing sacred about nine justices sitting in black robes. The first court had six justices, and Congress added and subtracted seats repeatedly between 1789 and 1869.

But it has been nine justices since then, so adding more would shatter a norm  something we've seen a lot of in the Trump years. If Democrats force it through, its a little late for Republicans to flap their arms over a lack of bipartisan support.

Biden is not on board, at least not yet. Hes an institutionalist by instinct and history. Last year, he said he opposed court packing because it would harm the courts credibility. But momentum is growing among Democrats, especially progressives.

Sen. Edward J. Markey of Massachusetts, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Rep. Jerrold Nadler of New York, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, say theyre in favor.

Senate Democratic Leader Charles E. Schumer of New York says enlarging the high court will be on the table if Republicans confirm another justice this year.

Whats missing? Most of the public isnt behind the idea  not yet, at least.

A Marquette University Law School Poll last year found that voters oppose enlarging the Supreme Court by 57% to 42%, with Democrats evenly divided. Term limits for judges, by contrast, had broad bipartisan support.

But those numbers will probably change  both because Democrats will begin campaigning for court packing and because the new Supreme Court may alarm voters once it begins to issue conservative rulings.

The public isnt there yet, Maya Sen, a Supreme Court scholar at Harvards Kennedy School of Government, told me. But if a new majority on the court strikes down" the Affordable Care Act, which established Obamacare, and takes up a direct challenge to Roe vs. Wade, the 1973 decision that established the right to abortion, we will be having a different conversation.

Those rulings are all but certain if the Senate confirms Trump's new nominee, which Republicans already have the votes to do.

This is all about Roe vs. Wade, Barry Friedman, a professor at New York University Law School, told me. Thats the promise Trump and McConnell have made to Republican voters and evangelicals.

The last time the court was this conservative was in the 1930s, when a Republican majority struck down much of President Franklin D. Roosevelts ambitious New Deal economic program in the depths of the Great Depression.

After winning reelection in 1936, Roosevelt retaliated by proposing to add as many as six justices to the court, touching off a national furor. His court-packing plan failed, but only after the court stopped blocking his New Deal legislation.

Roosevelt lost the battle over court packing but won the war, because the court flipped, Friedman said.

This time, that kind of happy ending seems improbable. A new conservative majority is likely to chip away at abortion rights, even if it doesn't overturn Roe vs. Wade in its entirety.

And this generations Democrats arent likely to be deterred by Roosevelts failure. It didnt hurt FDR too badly; he went on to win reelection two more times.

If Trump gets the 6-3 conservative majority he seeks, his judicial legacy will appear assured, even if he is sent packing.

But if the results prompt Americans to support a Democratic court-packing plan, his achievement could be short-lived  except for the damage it does to the legitimacy of the court.
Weve seen all kinds of data breaches from outside hackers, and occasionally, as happened with Twitter, breaches that occurred as outsiders phished employeee credentials for access, but for Shopify, the threat came from inside. The companys software enables online shopping for other businesses, and in a blog post it revealed that two employees were caught in a scheme to obtain customer transactional records of certain merchants.

Its unclear how much data they actually stole, which the blog post said came from fewer than 200 merchants. The information access included stuff like contact information as well as order details of what was purchased, but for now, the company says it did not include payment information like credit card or account numbers.

Shopify didnt list the affected stores, but says it did inform them directly. Bloomberg reports that Pure, a cosmetics seller, notified customers of the breach, saying it occurred on September 15th. For now, youll probably have to keep an eye on your inbox, as it may not be obvious which sellers you interact with rely on the popular Shopify software kit.
In a speech praising confrontation with the media, Donald Trump mocked reporters who were thrown around like a little bag of popcorn whilst covering protests this summer.

Speaking in Moon Township, Pennsylvania, the US president praised the National Guards actions against Minneapolis protesters as he attacked those sent to report on racial unrest.

Repeating well-worn attack lines against the media, Mr Trump said on Tuesday that reporters being manhandled by law enforcement was beautiful.

Providing supporters with an impersonation of reporters being pulled down, Mr Trump told the crowd: They were grabbing them left and right,

Sometimes theyd grab  they grabbed one guy, mocked the president. Im a reporter, Im a reporter. Get out of here. They threw him aside like he was a little bag of popcorn,

I mean, honestly, when you watch the crap weve all had to take so long, when you see that its actually  you dont want to do that  but when it, its actually a beautiful sight, added the president.

He repeated: Its a beautiful sight,

The same phrase was used to decide the moment Minneapolis police shot an MSNBC reporter with rubber bullets amid protests, which Mr Trump said on Sunday was another beautiful sight.

Speaking at a campaign rally in Minnesota on Saturday, the president had also praised the deployment of the National Guard to stop demonstrations this summer, following anger over the killing of George Floyd by police.

The US president has repeatedly accused the media of being fake news and an enemy of the people, saying recently in an interview with Fox News that it was not as bad as the others.
Cody Bahn, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Those electioneering at two south Montgomery County locations for the upcoming Nov. 3 general election will have new regulations to follow after commissioners approved a resolution regarding parking lots and green spaces.

Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack said early this year crews resurfaced the parking lots at the South Montgomery County Regional Library and the South County Community Center. That work resulted in many buried water and electrical lines that could be damaged by candidates putting up campaign signs.
BRUSSELS  The European Union on Wednesday unveiled a new attempt to cajole reluctant member nations into participating in a common system for handling asylum seekers, offering them both cash incentives to take in refugees and quicker deportation of people who are denied asylum.

The proposal by the European Commission, the blocs executive branch, would end the quotas adopted five years ago that set the number of refugees each country should accept  quotas that some countries, like Hungary, have simply ignored without penalty.

The commission would replace that system with one it hopes would win the cooperation of all 27 member states, but it omitted crucial details about how the new arrangement would work. It did not make clear, for example, what penalties, if any, there would be for any E.U. countries that refuse to take part.

It would also continue to place a large burden on Greece, Italy and Spain  countries at Europes southern edge, where undocumented migrants most often arrive on the continent. Those countries have chafed at taking the lead in processing asylum applications, which can take more than a year, and at hosting thousands of migrants until they are either granted asylum or deported.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 02:00:37|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday urged joint efforts to address the infodemic, mitigating the harm done to people by misinformation and disinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic.

"COVID-19 is not just a public health emergency -- it is a communications emergency too," Guterres said in a message to a World Health Organization event on infodemic management.

He noted that as the virus spread across the globe, "inaccurate and even dangerous messages proliferated wildly over social media, leaving people confused, misled and ill-advised."

"The antidote lies in making sure that science-backed facts and health guidance circulate even faster, and reach people wherever they access information," said the UN chief, adding this is even critical "as we work to build public confidence in the safety and efficacy of future COVID-19 vaccines."

He also underscored the importance of fighting misinformation with truth by working with media partners, individuals, influencers and social media platforms.

"Only together in solidarity, with a well-informed public, will we emerge from this pandemic safe, and better," he said. Enditem
A watchtower overlooks a high-security facility on the outskirts of Hotan, in northwestern China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, May 31, 2019.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill on Tuesday to that would block imports from in northwestern Chinas Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) unless proof can be shown that they are not linked to forced labor.

The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act was introduced in March, amid growing evidence that internment camps in the region have increasingly transitioned from political indoctrination to forced labor, with detainees being sent to work in cotton and textile factories.

The House vote of 406-3 for the bill, which requires the Secretary of State to determine if imposing forced labor on Uyghurs and other Muslim Turkic groups constitutes crimes against humanity or genocide under U.S. law, clears the way for a vote in the Senate.

The bill follows a year of heightened U.S. scrutiny of Beijings sprawling network of camps in the XUAR, where authorities are believed to have held up to 1.8 million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities since April 2017.

Washington is also taking measures to block imports of suspect goods and to sanction and hold to account Chinese officials responsible for human rights violations in the XUAR. The U.S. has warned U.S. firms to ensure supply chains in China do not involve forced labor.

The legislation says that supplier vetting in the XUAR is unreliable due to the extent forced labor has been integrated into the regional economy, the mixing of involuntary labor with voluntary labor, the inability of witnesses to speak freely about working conditions given government surveillance and coercion, and the incentive of government officials to conceal government-sponsored forced labor.

The bill notes that goods made by forced labor are illegal under the Tariff Act of 1930, which rules that such products are subject to exclusion or seizure and may lead to criminal investigation of the importer.

The bill would ban as products of forced labor all goods, wares, articles, and merchandise mined, produced, or manufactured wholly or in part in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China, the legislation says.

Exceptions for XUAR goods will be made when the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection determines, by clear and convincing evidence, that any specific goods, wares, articles, or merchandise  were not produced wholly or in part by convict labor, forced labor, or indentured labor under penal sanctions, it said.

Tuesdays vote follows the announcement on Sept. 14 of new customs actions to block imports of Chinese products believed to be produced with forced labor.

The Withhold Release Orders, measures intended to prevent goods suspected to have been made with forced labor from entering the United States, targeted a vocational school and three hair, apparel and fabric entities from Xinjiang, as well as a computer parts firm from Anhui province in eastern China.

The Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP) welcomed Tuesdays approval of what it called the the first national legislation anywhere in the world enforcing human-rights standards to end the import of goods made with Uyghur forced labor.

Americans do not want to be complicit in buying products made by Uyghurs locked in Chinese forced-labor factories, said UHRP Executive Director Omer Kanat in a statement.

The Senate must also act, and all governments must enact measures to counter the Chinese governments mass atrocities, committed on a scale not seen since World War II, added Kanat.

From Germany, World Uyghur Congress President Dolkun Issa called the vote a historic day for the Uyghur people and urged swift follow-up.

I hope the US Senate pass the Act in a speedy manner and President Trump to sign it into law, he told RFA.

Reported by Alim Seytoff for RFAs Uyghur Service. Written in English by Paul Eckert
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Linkedin Oscar Lopez (Reuters) Mexico City, Mexico  Wed, September 23, 2020 14:30 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46a9738 2 People Queer-Eye,Antoni-Porowski,Poland,LGBTQ,crackdown,reality-show,Netflix Free

Attacks on LGBT+ rights in Poland, where towns are declaring themselves LGBT-free zones, are "absurd", said Queer Eye star Antoni Porowski, an actor with Polish roots who on Tuesday called on the country to respect its gay and trans citizens.

The actor and reality TV star has been promoting a petition from advocacy group All Out that asks the European Union to condemn the crackdown.

The petition, with more than 300,000 signatures, was delivered on Tuesday to European Commissioner for Equality Helena Dalli, the same day the small Polish town of Krasnik voted itself "free from LGBT ideology".

It is one of dozens of municipalities making similar declarations in Poland, where President Andrzej Duda is a vocal critic of gay and trans rights and campaigned against same-sex adoption and LGBT+ education in schools.

"If Poland wants to be part of the EU, then they have to behave accordingly," said Porowski, who was born in Canada to Polish parents. Poland has been an EU member since 2004.

"To have its own people excluding its own population, it seems so absurd and counterintuitive to Polish history, Porowski told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in an interview.

LGBT+ rights are divisive in Poland, where the ruling Law & Justice party and the powerful Catholic church have denounced them as a foreign "ideology" threatening traditional values.

The issue has become increasingly contentious among Polands more progressive European neighbors.

Norway said last week that none of the nearly 100 Polish municipalities that have issued LGBT-free resolutions would be getting grants under a program funded by Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

Read also: Gay couple fights prejudice and coronavirus in Poland by distributing rainbow face masks

Porowski, who grew up in Montreal speaking Polish at home, said the conflict contradicts Poland's proud history.

"I remember my father telling me that Poland wasn't on the map for 400 years, yet they kept their faith, they kept their country," he said. (Now) theyre fighting against their own. For me its incredibly frustrating.

The 36-year-old actor admitted he wasnt always proud of his ancestry. Working in New York, he said he felt pressure to anglicize his last name, something that would have left his father heartbroken.

But after his success as the food expert on Netflixs makeover show Queer Eye, Porowski began to embrace his heritage and speak up for LGBT+ people.

Hearing about rocks thrown at protesters at a Polish gay Pride march last year, Porowski said: "I feel like I have a responsibility."

"When you hear personal stories like that, it makes it a lot more difficult for me personally to turn a blind eye, and thats where you feel like you have to do something.

Porowski, who lives in the United States, also said he is concerned about what the upcoming presidential election could mean for LGBT+ people.

The administration of Republican incumbent President Donald Trump has sought to ban trans people from enlisting in the military, tried to walk back health-care protections and argued against workplace discrimination.

Im worried about my rights as well, Porowski said. Whats going to happen if we have four more years of that?
A political action committee backing a ballot measure aimed at taxing tobacco products racked up the largest contributions so far for the Nov. 3 election, state records showed Tuesday.

A $50,000 contribution by Gov. Kate Browns political action committee to the Democratic nominee for Secretary of State also attracted attention.

The rules for reporting campaign contributions changed on Tuesday, with campaigns required to report all fundraising and spending within seven days of the transactions.

Previously, campaigns could wait up to 30 days, though many recorded contributions quicker than the maximum time allowed.

Oregons campaign finance rules are among the least restrictive in the United States. Oregon courts have struck down attempts to regulate contributions, citing the expansive freedom of speech protections in the state constitution. There are no limits on the amounts that individuals, businesses, labor unions and political action committees can contribute.

Campaign contributions for the U.S. Senate seat held by Democrat Jeff Merkley, who is seeking re-election, and Oregon's five congressional districts are different. Those campaigns are regulated by the Federal Elections Commission, which limits individual contributions to $2,800 per election. Many political action committees not officially affiliated with candidates are involved in campaigns, skirting the limits.

For campaigns that fall under Oregon law, the biggest spending through Sept. 14 has been on Measure 108, which would increase cigarette and cigar taxes, create a tax on e-cigarettes and nicotine vaping devices and fund health programs.

Medical and health related companies and organizations backing the ballot measure have sent six-figure contributions to Oregonians for a Smoke Free Tomorrow, a political action committee urging a yes vote.

Many of the biggest contributions to Measure 108 came early in the current election finance cycle. In November and December 2019, Providence Health & Services gave $3.29 million, Legacy Health Systems CPC gave $1.73 million and Peace Health gave $1.05 million to back Measure 108.

Kaiser Permanente, Asante, St. Charles Health System, Salem Health Hospitals & Clinics, Samaritan Health Services, and the Oregon Association of Hospital & Health Systems each contributed more than $500,000. The hospital association also gave $500,000 on Sept. 9 of this year to a second PAC backing the initiative, Yes for a Healthy Future.

Though dwarfed by the ballot measure financing, a notable contribution was $50,000 that Gov. Kate Browns political action committee contributed to the Democratic candidate for Secretary of State, Shemia Fagan, on Sept. 11. The Secretary of State regulates elections and audits government agencies. The next secretary of state could also re-draw congressional and legislative districts if the Legislature cannot agree on a plan in 2021. The new districts go into effect in 2022.

Fagan, a state senator from the Portland area, will try to win back the only statewide office held by a Republican. She entered the May 19 primary at the last minute  on Feb. 29  after former House Majority Leader Jennifer Williamson, D-Portland, dropped out.

Fueled by large donations from labor unions, Fagan beat Sen. Mark Hass, D-Beaverton, and Jamie McLeod-Skinner of Terrebonne in the May 19 primary.

Fagan has raised just under $1.2 million, but the primary drained her coffers with spending of $962,425 to date. She has just over $241,000 available. Her largest contributors have been unions representing public employees, teachers, and other workers. Planned Parenthood has contributed $25,000.

Sen. Kim Thatcher, of Keizer, easily won the Republican primary. She has raised $345,000 and spent roughly $212,000, according to state campaign finance records. She currently has $153,000 in funds available.

No contribution to Thatcher's campaign has exceeded $10,000. Contributors include forest products companies and a gun rights group.

Fagan has been endorsed by the Working Families Party, while Thatcher is endorsed by the Independent Party.

Kyle Markley, an Intel engineer from Hillsboro, is the Libertarian candidate. Nathalie Paravicini, a naturopathic medicine practitioner from Tigard, is the candidate for both the Pacific Green and Progressive parties.

Treasurer Tobias Read and Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum  both Democrats  are both seeking re-election.

Read has raised $302,993 while spending $176,653. With additional loans, Read has $300,575 available. His three largest contributions came last year from out-of-state law firms: $25,000 from Pomerantz LLP in New York, $20,000 from Grant & Eisenhofer PA in Delaware, and $15,000 from Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check LLP of Pennsylvania.

Read's Republican opponent is Jeff Gudman, a Lake Oswego city councilor. He has raised $104,118 and spent $62,672. Including loans, he has $50,264 available. Gudman has no contribution of more than $5,000, with money coming primarily from individuals.

Read has also been endorsed by the Working Families Party. Others on the ballot are retired Keizer maintenance worker Michael P. Marsh of the Constitution Party and Oregon City union truck driver Chris Henry, who has the endorsement of the Independent, Progressive and Pacific Green parties.

In the attorney general's race, Rosenblum, the Democrat incumbent, has raised $363,646. and spent $310,082. Including loans, she has $170,305 available. Her largest contributions are several payments and in-kind contributions totaling $138,691 from the Democratic Attorney Generals Association. She received $10,000 from Nike Inc. and Affiliates, the Beaverton-based sportswear company. She's received contributions of $10,000 from the United Food and Commercial Workers union, and $5,000 from Anheuser-Busch, Amazon, the National Abortion Rights Action League, the PAC of Labor Commissioner Val Hoyle, law firms and labor unions.

Rosenblum is also endorsed by the Independent and Working Families parties.

Self-employed software designer Michael J. Cross is the Republican nominee. He lists addresses in Salem and Bandon. He's raised $6,511 and spent $4,746.95. He has $1,764 available. Records show no contribution over $500.

Also on the ballot for attorney general are Beaverton technical writer Lars Hedbor of the Libertarian Party.

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Months after Italys lockdown against the coronavirus ended, Enrica Grazioli still sanitizes everything that comes into her Milan apartment, wears face masks diligently and limits interactions between her sons and their grandparents.

Ms. Grazioli, a self-proclaimed social butterfly who loves to cook for guests, still hasnt had friends over for dinner since the virus struck. Am I overdoing it?" says Ms. Grazioli. Maybe, but we had a national tragedy of epic proportions and you dont quickly forget something like that."

Italy, the first nation outside Asia to suffer a major coronavirus outbreak, had one of the worlds worst death tolls this spring. Overflowing hospitals in parts of northern Italy had to choose which patients got the last intensive-care beds. The Italian army drove truckloads of victims out of the city of Bergamo, which couldnt cope with the dead.

That shocking experience helps explain why Italy is so far having greater success than many other European countries in limiting the pandemics second wave.

Infections in Europe are rebounding partly because millions of people have grown tired of social-distancing rules, mask-wearing and hand-sanitizing, and have relaxed their behavior, health experts said. The publics fatigue and yearning to get back to normal life are two of the greatest challenges facing governments as they try to keep a lid on infections as winter approaches.

Experts had hoped that mask-wearing and keeping a distance would become everyday habits, at least as long as Covid-19 remains a public-health threat. East Asian societies such as South Korea, Hong Kong or Singapore have been the model for widespread acceptance of such precautions.

That has proved a tougher sell in Western nations with less experience containing viral outbreaks and especially in politically polarized countries where face masks have become another focal point for antiestablishment anger. Protests against mask-wearing and government restrictions have drawn fewer people in Rome than in Berlin or London.

But both Italys left-leaning national government and right-leaning opposition, which governs northern Italian regions that were badly hit by the virus, cooperated in containing the worst phase of the pandemic. Across Italy, masks are mandatory in indoor public places, on public transport and outdoors in crowded areas.

In Italy, the new precautions have become a widespread part of everyday life, more than in many other Western countries. Millions of Italians continue to wear masks outdoors, even when it isnt obligatory, and carry hand sanitizer.

New habits and a relatively effective test-and-trace regime have helped Italy to limit the rise of infections since August. Increases in Europe have been driven by people traveling on their summer vacations and by more relaxed attitudes among young people who wanted to return to socializing.

Over the past week, Italy detected an average of under 1,500 infections a day, compared with about 3,700 in the U.K., 10,400 in France and 10,500 in Spain.

People were very afraid in March and April and that has an effect on short-term behavior, but its not clear how long it will last," said Guendalina Graffigna, a psychology professor at Milans Catholic University. Were a Mediterranean country and often we act on our emotions more than in other countries."

Giovanni Ferrante, a 30-year-old building manager from Rome, is among those who are being extra careful. When he visited his family in southern Italy over the summer, he self-quarantined for two weeks on arrival to avoid potentially infecting them, though it wasnt required by Italys rules and he had no symptoms.

There is a bit of fear and because of that we behave appropriately," said Mr. Ferrante, who was walking in central Rome wearing an N95 face mask, which provides more protection than a surgical mask.

Nearby, a bank put up a sign telling clients to stop applying hand sanitizer to its ATM keyboard because it was causing damage.

About 85% of Italians said they wear a mask in public places, more than anywhere else in Europe except for Spain, which is now battling Europes biggest outbreak, according to a coronavirus behavior survey by Imperial College London and YouGov. Italians are also more likely to say they avoid crowded public places than most other Europeans, according to the survey, which was updated last week.

It isnt just about individual behavior. Italy has done a better job than most at detecting infected people through its testing and tracing regime. Over two-thirds of Italians who tested positive for the coronavirus in recent weeks were identified not because they had symptoms, but through contact tracing and widespread screening tests, according to the National Health Institute.

The percentage of tests that come back positivea measure of whether testing is sufficiently comprehensiveis 2.1% in Italy, higher than it was in June but lower than in most of Europe, according to official data. A low positivity rate indicates that testing is widespread and not restricted to people who show symptoms. The World Health Organization recommends a positivity rate of 5% or less as a condition for reopening.

The percentage of positive tests is lower still in Lombardy, the epicenter of Italys pandemic, according to the regional government.

In Spain, by comparison, government data shows 11.9% of tests are positive, suggesting many infections go undetected.

Italian authorities fear infections could rise more strongly as a result of the reopening of schools on Sept. 14, and as fall weather leads Italians to spend more time indoors again. Italy was the first Western country to close its schools and was among the last to reopen them.

Italian schools have reorganized their classrooms to ensure social distancing, sometimes splitting up classes or moving them to other buildings.

In the Milan school attended by Ms. Graziolis two sons, some classes are held in the cafeteria, where there is more space, and lunch is served in the classrooms. Face masks are required except when students are seated. There is no interaction between classes, so that if a student tests positive for the virus, their class is quarantined at home, but the school stays open.

Despite the precautions, several classes were quarantined across Italy in the first week after reopening. Administrators at Ms. Graziolis school are waiting for test results from several students who turned up with fevers and coughs.

As schools reopen and children begin to socialize again, scientists say a priority for Italian families should be to keep the young away from the old. Ilaria Capua, an Italian virologist at the University of Florida, warned that big family dinnerspart of the fabric of Italian lifeare especially risky.

Families need to organize themselves differently: grandparents are still vulnerable," she said. Intergenerational segregation is key."

That has placed many Italian parents in a pickle as they manage the interactions between their elderly parents and school-age children. After school hours, many Italian grandparents look after children whose parents are working. Three-generation households are common.

But there are signs that Italys grandparents have absorbed the lessons of the pandemic.

I hear lots of grandparents saying, If you dont really need me, I think I wont pick up the children for now, " said Ms. Grazioli. I still have to see what my parents are comfortable with."

Young adults are much less attentive to the rules than their parents and grandparents, a problem that came to light this summer as infections surged among people in their 20s and 30s. The generational divide continues in September as balmy weather draws crowds of mask-free 20-somethings to bars and restaurants.

On a recent Saturday evening, Mirko Marin, who works in corporate relations at Milans Polytechnic University, headed out to the citys trendy Navigli canal district for a stroll with his wife and three children. They quickly returned home when they saw the crowds.

During the day the rules are respected, and then at night the young people suddenly forget what happened in March and April," said Mr. Marin. We have to remember so we never live that nightmare again."

Write to Eric Sylvers at eric.sylvers@wsj.com and Margherita Stancati at margherita.stancati@wsj.com

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The Nigerian high commission in Canada has announced it will resume operations on Thursday.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported how the high commission suspended its activities indefinitely in August amid the COVID-19 pandemic and overwhelming passport renewal requests from Nigerians in the country.

The embassy claimed the decision was reached because people show up at the chancery uninvited. It also accused some citizens of assaulting one of the embassys staff a few days before the closure.

This newspaper learnt that many Nigerians residing in different parts of Canada had applied for the renewal of their passports for the purpose of extending their work permits, study visas or seeking medical care abroad.

These people, after paying for the new passports, met a gridlock at the embassys only office in Canada located in Ottawa.

The commission had also been accused of poor communication and bad service delivery.

Reopening

Meanwhile, in a statement issued on its website on Wednesday, the mission said it would resume immigration and consular services on September 24.

According to the release, the passport renewal arrangement would now be treated after applicants had filled out the forms and met the online requirements for the passport process.

They were instructed to send an email to passportscheduling@nigeriahcottawa.ca to be given an interview date.

Please do not send more than one email to request for an appointment, it cautioned.

Also, each request sent in for an appointment must state the full name of the passport applicant as it appears on the Nigerian passport, the commission advised.

In a situation where you are requesting for an interview date on behalf of an applicant, kindly state the full name of the applicant. For family scheduling please indicate all family members that require renewal as you will not be recognised as one unit. Each member of the family will need to be given an appointment.

Upon arrival, all applicants must come with printed copies of their passport interview invitations, these must be presented to the security officials before entry into the chancery.

It said hours for passport renewals are 9:30 a.m.  12:30 p.m., warning that anyone who shows up at a later time would not be allowed into the chancery, even if such a person has an appointment.

The commission noted that anyone coming into the chancery must wear their face masks, sanitise their hands and practice social distancing as public health measures put in place to limit the spread of coronavirus.

Please note that anyone who shows up at the chancery without a printed invitation for an interview would not be attended to, it warned.
Donald Trump has boasted that he would award his administration an A-plus for its response to the pandemic, despite the fact that more than 200,000 people have now died from the virus in the US.

The president made the comment in an interview with Fox News on Monday, as the country was approaching the grim milestone.

"On public relations I give myself a D," Mr Trump said, blaming fake news for his performance in this area. "On the job itself we take an A-plus, he added.

This is not the first time that he has given himself a top score when evaluating his handling of the coronavirus crisis, after rating his response to the pandemic as 10 out of 10 in a press briefing in mid-March.

On Tuesday, the number of US deaths from Covid-19 rose above the 200,000 mark, with the White House claiming that the death toll would be much higher were it not for the president.

Kayleigh McEnany, Mr Trumps press secretary, said officials had predicted two million fatalities, a figure which had not previously been mentioned by the president.

"The fact that we have come nowhere near [two million dead] is a testament to this president taking immediate action," she said.

Mr Trump also defended his decisions, suggesting he has been doing it right and alleging that there would have been two and a half million deaths without him.

The president has admitted that he knew the severity of the pandemic from early on but chose to play it down to the public.

"I wanted to always play it down. I still like playing it down because I don't want to create a panic, Mr Trump told the journalist Bob Woodward back in March.

The US has so far recorded more deaths from coronavirus than any other country, ahead of Brazil and Mexico, which currently have the second and third highest totals respectively, according to data from John Hopkins University.
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Wish, one of the largest and fastest growing global ecommerce platforms, is today announcing the launch of a $2 million fund to support independent, black-owned retail businesses across the US.

Eligible business owners can apply for a $500 to $2,000 grant to help rebuild or reinvigorate their business. Funds can be allocated to a wide range of business needs, including workforce, operating costs, inventory and marketing.

The move follows the news that black-owned businesses in the US, which are highly concentrated in retail, food and beverage and other service industries, are amongst the hardest hit by COVID-19 lockdowns. Between February and April 2020, the number of black business owners in the US dropped by 41%, vs 17% for white business owners[1]. The challenges that face black-owned businesses in the US look likely to prevail well into next year.

Hassan Yahya, VP of Experience at Wish, said: "This is something we've wanted to do for some time but the COVID-19 pandemic crisis and the Black Lives Matter movement has really fast-tracked our mission. The Wish Local Empowerment Program provides a starting point for us to support independent, black-owned businesses who are often denied government aid and lack other financial resources to fall back on. By joining the Wish Local network, we can help black-owned businesses tap into the growing demand for ecommerce, as well as diversify their core revenue streams. We really hope we can make a difference and create a lasting impact on the equality and diversity of US businesses."

The fund is being financed by Wish Local - a partnership program between Wish and a global network of brick-and-mortar stores. Any small business owner can apply, as long as they meet the following criteria:

100% black-owned or majority black-owned

Brick-and-mortar store located within the US

20 or fewer full-time employees

Annual revenue of less than $1 million in the last twelve months

As part of the initiative, Wish has partnered with Official Black Wall Street and Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce (LIAACC) to help promote the program amongst their networks.

To apply, business owners must tell Wish about their store and why they qualify for the program. Our committee will then review all applications to select which stores will receive funds and allocate funds accordingly. All successful applicants join the Wish Local program - a global network of 40,000 partner stores around the world. Through the program they can sign up as a Wish Pickup point or take advantage of our Sell on Wish feature which gives small retailers an immediate digital presence by allowing them to trade their own inventory online. Sign up is free and Wish takes no cut of any product upload, sale or delivery fee.

The news further enhances Wish's ongoing drive to expand its merchant footprint in North America and Europe and, in doing so, revitalize local communities who are amongst the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

To apply for a grant, visit www.wish.com/local/empowerment . Download the Wish Local app or follow @WishLocal on Twitter , Facebook , Instagram and YouTube .

1. Reuters , June 16, 2020

SOURCE Wish

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The US death toll from coronavirus has topped 200,000, a figure unimaginable eight months ago when the outbreak first reached the world's richest nation with its 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, and it is still climbing.

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Deaths are running at close to 770 a day on average, and a widely cited model from the University of Washington predicts the overall 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 unavailable until 2021.

"The idea of 200,000 deaths is really very sobering, in some respects stunning," said Dr Anthony Fauci, the government's top infectious-disease expert.

The figure reflects America's unenviable spot, which it has held for five months, as the world's leader in 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. "In the case of our country, we failed miserably."

Blacks, Hispanics and American Indians have accounted for a disproportionate share of the deaths, underscoring economic and health care disparities in the US.

Worldwide, the virus has infected more than 31 million people and is closing in fast on a 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.

Earlier Donald Trump demanded that the United Nations holds China accountable for the coronavirus pandemic as he defended his own handling of Covid-19 in America.

He said: "As we pursue this bright future, we must hold accountable the nation which unleashed this plague on to the world: China."
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 13:37:52|Editor: huaxia

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CARACAS, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The success of China's poverty alleviation is due to its focus on human capital, said Tania Diaz, first vice president of Venezuela's National Constituent Assembly, in a recent interview with Xinhua.

China has worked hard to create jobs and educational opportunities in order to allow its citizens a "rewarding life," said Diaz, who is also a member of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela.

"The greatest capital that nations have is human beings. They are the citizens and that is where we have to invest, that is the resource we have to take care of," Diaz said.

Diaz added that China could help Latin American countries overcome poverty through the Belt and Road Initiative.

"The Belt and Road Initiative is, let's say, a trade and economic integration strategy that can contribute a lot," she said, adding that she sees the China-proposed initiative as a new vision for relations between nations.

Diaz said that "the greatest contribution is the possibility of offering fair trade and economic relations based on mutual respect." Enditem
New Delhi, Sep 23 : Lenovo-owned smartphone brand Motorola on Wednesday launched a new budget smartphone Moto E7 Plus with a dual rear camera setup for Rs 9,499 in the Indian market.

The smartphone will be available in two colours, namely misty blue and twilight orange starting September 30, 12 noon onwards, exclusively on Flipkart.

"Motorola's e series is known worldwide to provide exceptional value to smartphone users who are looking to upgrade to quality with a contemporary design and best in class features," the company said in a statement.

In terms of specifications, the smartphone features a 6.5-inch HD+ display with a 20:9 aspect ratio.

The device is powered by the octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 460 SoC, coupled with Adreno 610 GPU and 4GB of RAM 64 GB internal storage that supports expansion using a microSD card (up to 512GB).

The smartphone offers the dual rear camera setup that includes a 48MP primary sensor along with an f/1.7 lens and a 2MP secondary sensor with an f/2.4 lens.

The phone also comes with an 8MP selfie camera sensor at the front that is paired with an f/2.2 lens.

The device comes preloaded with camera features including Night Vision mode as well as artificial intelligence (AI) backed options such as Auto smile capture, Smart composition, Shot Optimization, Portrait mode, and Spot colour.

Connectivity options on the phone include 4G LTE, Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth v5.0, GPS/ A-GPS, Micro-USB, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

The Moto E7 Plus packs the 5,000mAh battery.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland is the worst-connected city with more than 100,000 households in the United States, according to a new analysis of census data.

The National Digital Inclusion Alliance ranks the worst connected cities each year. About 30.73% of Cleveland households had no broadband access, and 45.96% had no wired connection, according to the 2019 American Community Survey.

Clevelands digital divide is long-standing, but was recently thrust into the spotlight with the coronavirus pandemic. When buildings shut down to prevent spread, Ohioans were forced to move most communication, health care and business online -- a problem in a city where almost a third of households have no internet.

And, as Cleveland school leaders moved the first nine weeks of the year online, access to devices became even more of a high-profile problem.

Ohio recently gave out grants to districts throughout the state to increase access to broadband, either through wired connections, hotspots or public Wi-Fi.

Cleveland is followed by Miami and Newark as the worst-connected cities with over 100,000 households. The worst-connected city with more than 250,000 households is Detroit. Of the 625 communities included in the Digital Inclusion Alliances analysis, Pharr, Texas, is the least-connected, with 59.66% of households without broadband.

To be included in the analysis, a citys population must be higher than 65,000. Here are the statistics for Ohio cities, ordered from least to most-connected:

1. Cleveland - 30.73% without broadband access, 45.96% without any wired connection

2. Lorain - 27.27% without broadband access, 40.39% without wired connection

3. Canton - 24.96% without broadband access, 36.36% without wired connection

4. Youngstown - 22.35% without broadband access, 45.10% without wired connection

5. Dayton - 20.47% without broadband access, 44.21% without wired connection

6. Toledo - 18.56% without broadband access, 36.13% without wired connection

7. Akron - 15.18% without broadband access, 31.29% without wired connection

8. Cincinnati - 14.51% without broadband access, 28.82% without wired connection

9. Parma - 13.68% without broadband access, 25.97% without wired connection

10. Columbus - 10.34% without broadband access, 22.9% without wired connection
The CNY Film Fund, administered by Innovation Group of CNY Arts, has helped position Central New York as a desirable location for movie productions. Since January 2019, the CNY Film Fund has supported seven feature-length Hollywood projects, filmed, in part, at the Greater Syracuse Soundstage and throughout the region. The CNY Film Fund also helps support the work of the Syracuse Film Office and Visit Syracuse, who promote the advantages of bringing film productions here.

To date, projects supported by the CNY Film Fund have provided over 100,000 labor hours for Central New York residents, and on average 65 full-time equivalent jobs per production. In addition to hiring local crew members, these films also generated $2.7 million of local spending in various commercial sectors including retail, hospitality, lodging and transportation. Although COVID-19 temporarily halted production in March, filming has since resumed in CNY.

Film production returning to Central New York is welcome news when considering the positive economic impact of filmmaking in the region, said Stephen Butler, Executive Director of IGCNYA. Encouraging artistic enterprise is now more important than ever before. Providing jobs to artists and craftspeople while bringing new dollars to the economy is critical to the revitalization and success of our community.

A CNY Film Fund award recipient titled The Binge, starring Vince Vaughn and produced by the local production company American High, was recently released for streaming on HULU. Another Film Fund award recipient titled The Night House, directed by David Bruckner, premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival to widespread critical acclaim. Searchlight Pictures recently acquired distribution rights for the film, which currently enjoys an 86% favorable rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Other films that received support from the Film Fund are: Odd Man Rush, Confession, The Ultimate Playlist of Noise, and Paper Spiders.

The CNY Film Fund also sponsors the annual CNY Short Film Competition. Each year, the Competition awards four grants worth $40,000 each to aspiring filmmakers who are past graduates of area colleges and universities or current local residents. This enables award recipients to bolster their creative portfolios with a professionally produced project filmed entirely in CNY. Competition applicants are reviewed by a panel of industry-leading professionals, some of whom also share a personal connection to the region. This year, the panel included Michael Daley, a Clinical Professor of Screenwriting at Loyola Marymount University. Mr. Daley is a Syracuse native and graduate of LeMoyne College, and has an extensive resume of TV and film credits to his name, including CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, The X-Files and Big Love.

This years CNY Short Film Competition coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic quarantine. 45 script proposals were submitted by former students from the CNY region now working as film professionals across the country. Applications were received from graduates who have attended area schools, including Syracuse University, Cornell University, Ithaca College, SUNY Oswego and SUNY Mohawk.

Im incredibly grateful for this opportunity and excited to execute my vision and represent all Central New York has to offer for the arts. said Victoria Diana, a 2020 CNY Short Film Competition Finalist and graduate of SUNY Oswego. Im used to making short films on no budget, so to be given a $40,000 grant to make one is unbelievable to me.

Other winners of the 2020 CNY Short Film Competition include: Andrew Nimetz and Derrick Benton of SUNY Oswego, and Jane Bella Karkhover of Syracuse University. Josh Pitta of Syracuse University and Hobie Ramin, a current Syracuse resident and graduate of SUNY New Paltz, were selected as runners-up. The production experience for this years award recipients is ongoing and consistent with state and industry safety guidelines.

Incentive funding for feature film production and the CNY Short Film Competition are provided to Innovation Group of CNY Arts by Empire State Development, through the Regional Economic Development Council with resources from the Upstate Revitalization Initiative awarded to the CNY region.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 00:34:39|Editor: huaxia

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ADDIS ABABA, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia and China enjoyed "rapid development in every perspective" with strong mutual political trust, cooperation on the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as well as cooperation in international affairs, the outgoing Chinese ambassador to Ethiopia Tan Jian said on Wednesday.

"Ethiopia is an indispensable partner of China in jointly advancing the BRI on the African continent. Ethiopia is among the first African countries that signed cooperation documents in this regard," Tan told a press conference on Wednesday.

"Ethiopia firmly adheres to and actively supports the BRI. The significance of ties between the two countries goes beyond bilateral connotations, since it has become a model for China-Africa and South-South cooperation," said Tan.

Tan, who noted that China continues to be the biggest trading partner and the single largest foreign direct investment source for Ethiopia, stressed that the economic cooperation between the two countries will be promoted to a new high driven by the momentum gathered from the Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and BRI.

Reiterating China's "firm support" to Ethiopia's developmental path in line with its own national conditions, Tan stressed that China supports the East African country's efforts to safeguard sovereignty, develop its economy and improve people's livelihood.

"This position is steadfast and will not change," he said.

The Chinese envoy also echoed the Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali's previous remarks as he emphasized that "only the sky is the limit" to the ever-growing Ethiopia-China Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership.

As he finalized his service in Ethiopia, Tan also stressed that "during my tenure, we are glad to see the rapid development of our friendship in every perspective. Jointly, we made remarkable achievements."

According to Tan, regarding the Sino-Ethiopia bilateral ties, three areas that are mutual political trust, cooperation on BRI, and cooperation in international affairs "are mostly highlighted."

"The political mutual trust is the key foundation of our diplomatic ties," Tan affirmed, adding that the two countries have maintained frequent high-level exchanges, between governments, ruling parties, think tanks, social and cultural groups as well as the two peoples.

Tan also stressed that Chinese companies have continued to vigorously participate in Ethiopia's infrastructure projects, creating tens of thousands of jobs for local people and solidly promoting the country's economic and social development.

Regarding Ethiopia's China-aided Addis Ababa Riverside Green Development Project, dubbed Beautifying Sheger Project, Tan stressed that the first phase has been completed.

"It's a comprehensive modern project with tourism, relaxation functionalities. It is designed to meet the needs of the people, reflecting Ethiopian's civilization, cultural diversity and unity. I do believe it will be a new hallmark of Ethiopia and will promote the service economy, creating jobs and generating revenues," Tan told journalists.

According to Tan, Chinese businesspeople are investing heavily in Ethiopia, across sectors including textile, pharmaceutical, building materials, steel, ceramics, bamboo paper pulp, among others.

According to the recent figures from the Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC), until the end June 2020, Ethiopia approved over 1,500 FDI projects from China, the FDI by stock amounts to around 2.7 billion U.S. dollars, accounting for 25 percent of the total FDI projects in Ethiopia this year.

Noting that industrialization, investment and infrastructure are crucial for Ethiopia's development, the ambassador also stressed that "it is truly heartening to witness that all these areas are now more accessible and available in Ethiopia."

"The efforts to make necessary reforms are serving the purpose of creating a better business environment to promote the economy," Tan said. Enditem
As a result, the assessment may be the first major test of the Trump administrations intention, often referred to as its secret science proposal, to bar or give less weight to scientific studies that cant or dont publicly release their underlying data. This controversial policy would eliminate many studies that track the effects of exposure to substances on peoples health over long periods of time, because the data often includes confidential medical records of the subjects, scientists have said.
16 Arrested Human Trafficking, Drug Sting in Pennsylvania: Officials

Sixteen people are facing charges following a human trafficking investigation at hotels in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, over the weekend, officials announced on Wednesday.

Beaver County District Attorney David Lozier said the operation, which received FBI assistance, was focused on adult human trafficking and drug activity, according to the Beaver County Times.

Human trafficking is a serious problem in too many of our communities, FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Michael Christman said in a statement. The trauma caused by traffickers to their victims is inexcusable.

Many of the 16 people who were charged were not from Beaver County, said Lozier.

The victims of trafficking are being coerced into the world of prostitution to provide access to drugs, Lozier told the paper. In these cases, the person were looking to arrest, usually, is a male who is being sexually serviced against the law. And were looking to identify an individual who may be trafficked and trapped in that scenario to take them out of that situation and provide services as we identify if they have been trafficked.

Center Township Police Chief Barry Kramer said crime in hotels is commonplace, saying that the state of Pennsylvania should allow hotel taxes to fund law enforcement efforts.

Funding and resources have been very limited to address these challenges due to taxes paid by the hotels going to the Beaver County Tourism Department, he said in a statement, according to TribLive.

Beaver County is located near Pittsburgh.
Qantas chairman Richard Goyder has warned businesses with interstate or international operations "can't operate sensibly" in Perth until Western Australia's hard border comes down.

Speaking at a business function in Perth on Thursday evening, which was also attended by WA Premier Mark McGowan and Treasurer Ben Wyatt, Mr Goyder said he would tell global businesses not to move their head offices to Perth until border restrictions are lifted.

Qantas chairman Richard Goyder says he would recommend against big companies moving their operations to Perth while WA's hard border was in place. Credit:Getty Images

Earlier this week, Mr McGowan urged Rio Tinto to shift its headquarters from London to Perth.

"I actually agree that they should and, as the Treasurer knows, they take something like 90 per cent of their earnings from Western Australia," Mr Goyder said.
Lakshagriha, a religious site located in Handia development block of Prayagraj district in Uttar Pradesh, believed to date back to the Mahabharata era, would soon have a dedicated center of study for researchers, said officials.

Efforts have already begun to set up the Mahabharata research center at this site under the chief minister tourism promotion scheme and Ganga circuit development plan by the tourism department, they added.

According to mythological belief, during the Mahabharata era, the Pandavas had foiled an attempt by the Kauravas to burn them alive at Lakshagriha. It is believed that Kauravas built an entire house made up of lac (a resinous material) which catches fire easily, and burnt it down as part of their conspiracy to kill Pandavas, but they had escaped unhurt.

Swami Vasudevanand Saraswati, a member of the Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirtha Kshetra Trust, too supported this belief that the original Lakshgriha was in Prayagraj. Locals call this place by different names including Pandav Kutti, Meti kila (one which is made of mud), court (read fort) and Pandav Gufa (tunnel) etc.

The site has also been excavated by teams of Archeological Survey of India (ASI), once in mid 1970s and recently in 2004-05. The team in 2004 had excavated around half a dozen places in the entire stretch.

There had been demands made by Lakshagrah Vikas Samiti, an organisation led by its convener Onkar Nath Tripathi, to develop the place and put it on the tourist circuit.

Following a proposal by Dharmakshetra Lakshagriha Tirtha Kshetra Tourist Places committee for the development of the place, we have proposed the setting up a Mahabharata research center here. The proposal has been made and sent to the state government for approval, said Tripathi.

He further said that it was believed that Pandavas came to Lakshagriha and now scholars would be able to research on subjects spanning from their entry, their residence and evacuation etc. Some new facts regarding the Mahabharata eras Prayagraj can get revealed by studying this site of mythological importance, he claimed.

Also Read: Mosque in Ayodhya may be square-shaped like Kaaba: Trust official

A proposal worth Rs 79.27 lakh has been prepared for the proposed Mahabharat research institute. The Lakshagriha is currently being developed and its beautification work has already started. It is proposed to construct a modern hall, lab etc. for the research center from the budget proposed separately here, said Tripathi.

Also Read: Rajasthan govt to legalise mines supplying stone for Ram temple construction in Ayodhya

Work for the beautification of the site is already being carried out and a welcome gate has been constructed. Foundation of a Satsang hall too has been laid. Further development of the site will be carried out under the CM tourism promotion scheme, said deputy director (tourism), Dinesh Kumar.

Improving the facilities and opening up of the research center at this archeologically important site will also unearth other important facts on the artwork and culture that existed here during those times, said the former head of the department of medieval and modern history, Prof Yogeshwar Tiwari.
WASHINGTON  Chad Wolf, the acting secretary of homeland security, told senators at his confirmation hearing on Wednesday that white supremacist extremists represented a lethal domestic terrorist threat, even as he strongly denied suppressing a report that would have rendered that judgment more officially.

Its a fabrication, completely, Mr. Wolf said of charges that he buried a Homeland Security Department threat assessment that singled out racist extremists, as well as Russian election interference, because it would have reflected poorly upon President Trump.

Mr. Wolf, who has emerged as one of Mr. Trumps most loyal cabinet members, was pressed over how the agency had responded to unrest, election interference and domestic terrorism during a hearing that could propel him to become the first confirmed head of the department in more than a year.

Mr. Wolfs confirmation hearing before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, lasting just under two hours, came amid allegations from current and former members of his department that the agency had mishandled or downplayed the rising threats of Russian interference and violent white supremacy. The timing of the hearing, about 10 months after Mr. Wolf was tapped to lead the agency on an acting basis, was emblematic of the carousel of leadership at a department that has been riddled with vacancies throughout the Trump administration.
A whale has stunned scientists by staying submerged underwater for almost four hours.

The mammal belongs to the species Curvier's beaked whale, which is known for their diving prowess.

But researchers were amazed by the 222 minute dive time because it is more than seven times longer than the believed maximum duration of the animal's oxygen reserves, just 33 minutes.

The disparity between previous findings and the marathon dive meant this figure had to be recalculated, and the US researchers now believe Cuvier's beaked whales can stretch their oxygen levels to last for 77 minutes.

Scientists are unable to explain how a mammal can be without oxygen for so long but believe the species can use anaerobic respiration for several hours, if necessary.

As a result, Cuvier's beaked whales likely have an exceptionally low metabolism, larger than usual oxygen stores and the ability to withstand stinging lactic acid.

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A whale has stunned scientists by staying submerged underwater for almost four hours. The mammal belongs to the species Curvier's beaked whale, which is known for their diving prowess

Scientists are unable to explain how a mammal can be without oxygen for so long but believe the species can use anaerobic respiration for several hours, if necessary

A Cuvier's beaked whale has stunned scientists by staying submerged underwater for almost four hours, a new record

Previous calculations suggest these relatively diminutive whales should only remain submerged for about 33 minutes before their oxygen runs out.

At this point they switch to anaerobic respiration, a process done without oxygen which is less efficient and produces lactic acid.

Lactic acid is the same burning feeling in muscles people experience after prolonged or strenuous exercise.

However, researchers in the latest study refined this calculation and believe anaerobic respiration begins 77.7 minutes into a dive.

Researchers from Duke University in North Carolina tried to record some dives from this remarkable and little-known species.

This task was made tricky by the fact the whales spend less than two minutes at the surface after completing one of their dive, making the act of sticking a tag on a dorsal tricky.

A total of 23 tags were added to individual whales in the waters off Cape Hatteras, USA, recording more than 3,600 dives.

Researchers in the latest study believe anaerobic respiration begins 77.7 minutes into a dive, more than double the previous estimate of 33 minutes

The two longest dives were recorded in 2017 at 222 and 173 minutes. These were not included in the dataset for the study because the dives occurred just 24 and 17 days after a one hour exposure to a Navy sonar signal, respectively

How and why do Cuvier's beaked whales dive for so long? Cuvier's beaked whales are described as the 'true megastars' of the diving world. Researchers say they are capable of reaching depths of almost 3,000 metres (1.86 miles). Adults measure up to 7m (23 ft) long and weigh up to 3,000 kg (6,600 lbs). Cuviers have a cone-shaped head, with a stubby beak and the short mouth-line curves upwards and looks like a smile. The torpedo-shaped body is grey due to algae and appears to be highly scarred. This is caused either by fights with other males and the unique oval marks are caused by cookie-cutter sharks. They live in waters all around the world, except for around Antarctica and the Arctic, and eat fish and squid from deep in the ocean. They spend very little time o the surface between dives, often less than two minutes before submerging again. Advertisement

It revealed the shortest dive was 33 minutes. Experts know 95 per cent of all dives, from all marine mammals, are completed before the oxygen runs out.

Using the data from the 3,680 dives, the 95 per cent threshold puts the onset of anaerobic respiration  the point where oxygen reserves have been depleted  at 77 minutes.

However, the two longest dives were recorded in 2017 at 222 and 173 minutes.

In contrast to the Cuvier's beaked whale, other mammals are relatively poor at holding their breath under water.

The record for humans, for example, is 22 minutes and 22 seconds.

Emperor penguins and elephant seals, which are more adapted to life in the water than man, can stay submerged for up to 32 minutes and 90 minutes, respectively.

The two longest dives were not included in the dataset because the dives occurred just 24 and 17 days after a one hour exposure to a Navy sonar signal, respectively.

As whales use echolocation to communicate and direct themselves, this may have triggered an unusual response in the animal leading to unusually elongated dives.

However, the researchers say in the study that these extraordinarily long dives are 'perhaps more indicative of the true limits of the diving behaviour of this species'.

Their ability to stay submerged for so long can only be explained by an unrivalled ability to tolerate anaerobic respiration.

'It really did surprise us that these animals are able to go so far beyond what predictions suggest their diving limits should be', says Dr Nicola Quick, who led the study.

Referring to the exceptionally long dive of three hours and 42 minutes, Dr Quick said: 'We didn't believe it at first; these are mammals after all, and any mammal spending that long under water just seemed incredible.'

The findings were published in the Journal of Experimental Biology.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) speaks during a press conference before the vote on the 'Delivering for America Act' to protect the postal system on Capitol Hill in Washington on Aug. 22, 2020. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)

House Passes Bill to Avoid Government Shutdown, Sends It to Senate

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin came to an agreement on Tuesday night to avert a government shutdown at the end of September in the midst of several high-profile Congressional battles.

We have reached an agreement with Republicans on the [continuing resolution] to add nearly $8 billion in desperately needed nutrition assistance for hungry schoolchildren and families, Pelosi said in a statement Tuesday. We also increase accountability in the Commodity Credit Corporation, preventing funds for farmers from being misused for a Big Oil bailout.

Members of the House approved the deal by a measure of 359-57, with one member voting present. The legislation still has to be approved by the Senate and signed into law by President Donald Trump.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) previously said the Senate would not pass a bill that didnt include funds for the Commodity Credit Corporation.

To help the millions of families struggling to keep food on the table during the pandemic, Democrats have renewed the vital, expiring lifeline of Pandemic EBT for a full year and enabled our fellow Americans in the territories to receive this critical nutrition assistance, said Pelosi, elaborating on the measure. Democrats secured urgently needed assistance for schoolchildren to receive meals despite the coronaviruss disruption of their usual schedules.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin speaks during a news conference to announce the Trump administrations restoration of sanctions on Iran, at the U.S. State Department in Washington, on Sept. 21, 2020. (Patrick Semansky/Pool via Reuters)

Its not clear now when the Senate will take up the bill, with just over a week left to go in the month. The continuing resolution will fund the government until mid-December.

A lack of an agreement on government funding would further complicate a fraught congressional session with less than two months to go before the presidential election.

Mnuchin and Pelosi previously stated that the resolution would not be tied to broader stimulus aid. Talks between the White House and Pelosi stalled last month over several outstanding issues, with Republicans saying Democrats billthe HEROES Actis too expensive. Meanwhile, the two parties were at odds over funding state and city governments as well as unemployment benefits.

Its not clear when the two sides will meet again on stimulus legislature to offset damages caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic.

Meanwhile, Congress is largely focused on the aftermath of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburgs death last week. Trump and McConnell both have said they would attempt to nominate a new judge and appear to have enough votes in the Senate to confirm a new justice in the coming days. Democrats have cried foul, saying that a justice should not be nominated with only several weeks before the November election.
The government is now seen as using the covid19 quarantine rules to suppress a popular political opposition movement that seeks fundamental reforms in how Algeria is run. The new president has jailed over a hundred people for continuing to participate in the weekly demonstrations that began in February 2019 to overthrow the FLN party, which had held onto power since the 1960s. That protest movement put the current president into office, although many Algerians were unsure of how much a reformer the new leader was. The actual demonstrations were halted in March with the imposition of covid19 quarantine and suspension of court appearances. That did not stop all the protestors as many continued their activity online, especially on Facebook. There the discussion was more detailed and diverse than the agenda the weekly protests backed. With the courts closed the government allowed the olice to arrest and detain anti-government suspects for indefinite periods.

The physical demonstrations forced out the then current FLN president, Abdelaziz Bouteflika and that led to free elections at the end of 2019. The weekly demonstrations, nicknamed the Hirak, continued and were outlawed by the new government. That convinced many Hirak supporters that the demonstrations should continue because there were still government practices that needed to be changed. About the same time the actual demonstrations were halted by covid19 the government was demonstrating more hostility towards the complaints, many of them justified, that Hirak participants had.

The Facebook Hirak featured the Islamic parties more prominently as many of the leaders of those parties spoke from exile in the West (mainly France) and were unable to participate in the physical Hirak. No so in the online version and that upset a lot of the Hirak members from Algeria. The Islamic parties still remined Algerians of the horrific 1990s war against Islamic terrorists, whose goal was to establish a religious dictatorship. The Islamic parties had won a fair election in 1990 and the FLN refused to be replaced by Islamic politicians. The fighting was horrific and destroyed most popular support the Islamic parties once had.

Many of the surviving Islamic terrorist fighters and leaders fled into exile. Some continued their Islamic terrorism, others switched to non-violent Islamic politics. The most prominent example of this is the Moslem Brotherhood, and while the Moslem Brotherhood has been successful at getting elected, they soon lose power when their radical fringe starts demanding a religious dictatorship. Islamic party leaders insist they can prevent that from happening, most Algerians dont believe it and dont believe Islamic party politicians will be any better at dealing with corruption and bad government than the secular Moslem politicians. Covid19 restrictions have also eliminated any active Islamic terrorist activity, although such activity has been declining for over a decade.

The current government has devoted a lot of effort to identifying all the participants in these online Hirak activities and sought to arrest those still in Algeria. France wont even consider arresting and extraditing the Hirak posters living in France. Free speech and all that. The irony is not lost on the Algeria-based Hirak members. In Algeria it is still popular to criticize France for its colonial era crimes. Yet France remains a model for what Algeria would like to be. The newly elected government is going after corrupt officials and businessmen but has not yet proved that the new officials are any more effective and less corrupt than the old bunch. Arresting Hirak online critics and journalists who appear to support those critics does not inspire confidence among most voters.

Turkey Temptations

In 2013 Turkey made a major diplomatic and economic effort to improve relations with Algeria. That succeeded and now Turkey has a lot of investments in Algeria and is a major trading partner. That means about three billion dollars worth of trade a year. Turkey and Algeria are both Islamic democracies with elections and a tendency to favor other authoritarian states, like Russia and China. For that reason, Algeria has not criticized the Turkish military intervention in the Libyan civil war. Algeria opposes Egyptian and Gulf Arab efforts to support the secular (House of Representatives/Libyan National Army) faction in Libya. and would rather see the less popular GNA faction prevail.

Algeria has no interest in sending troops to Libya as peacekeepers or to eject the Turkish invaders. Like all the other North African countries, except Egypt, Algeria wants a peaceful settlement to the fighting in Libya. With the recent (since late 2019) Turkish intervention peace in Libya may be later rather than sooner.

The Covid19 Impact

Covid19 is most dangerous in crowded urban areas, which all North African countries have along the coast, while inland areas have far fewer people. In Algeria there have been about 38 deaths per million population, thats up from 33 a month ago. Thats much less than the world average of 125 deaths per million. Neighbor Tunisia had 14 deaths per million and Libya 67. For Morocco it is 51 and Egypt is 56. Many Algerians see covid19 movement restrictions as more political suppression than a public health move.

September 20, 2020: The president announced that Algeria will not consider establishing diplomatic and economic relations with Israel, as several other Arab nations have recently done or are considering. This includes Western neighbor Morocco, which has always been friendly towards Israel. Tunisia agrees with Algeria in opposing relations with Israel. Libya is still divided by a civil war, with Turkey intervening to assist the weaker pro-Islamic government faction while the UAE, Egypt and Russia back the more powerful secular faction.

September 6, 2020: In neighboring Tunisia three Islamic terrorists armed with knives attacked some soldiers, killing one and wounding another before being killed by other soldiers. The attack began when the three attackers in a car rammed the vehicle the soldiers were riding in. Except in Libya and Egypt, where Islamic terrorists are still active in northern Sinai, near Palestinian ruled Gaza, there has been little Islamic terrorist activity in North Africa this year. Libya has a lot of Islamic terrorists but they have largely been killed or suppressed by the Libyan National Army, which controls most of the country.

August 27, 2020: The government praised a ceasefire agreement in neighboring Libya. That is only a pause in the war because Turkey continues to enlarge its forces there and preparations for a major offensive.

August 25, 2020: The government announced there will be a referendum on November 1st to approve or reject a new constitution. Covid19 restrictions make it difficult to conduct meetings to discuss proposed constitutional changes, which would shift power from parliament to the president and allow the army to participate in peacekeeping missions. Army leaders oppose that, especially since that could mean getting involved in the Libyan Civil War. Since independence from France in 1962, Algerian law has banned use of the army outside Algeria. Since 1962 every new long-term (more than a year or two) president, and there have only been five, changes to the constitution were attempted, usually to make the presidency more powerful.
"Hi, remote workers! We'll pay you to work from Tulsa. You're going to love it here," reads the welcome message from Tulsa Remote.

The program, started by the George Kaiser Family Foundation, is paying people $10,000 to move to Tulsa, Okla., to work remotely, and a surge of applicants are now coming from the Bay Area.

"We've had over a thousand applicants just in the last two weeks alone. Over half of them are from California, many from the Bay Area, Grant Bumgarner, the program's community manager, told News on 6. It's been a wild time for us.

Even before the pandemic, there was a slowing in population in Oklahoma, largely due to the downturn in the energy sector. The last few years have been the slowest population growth since the late 80s, early 90s, Chad Wilkerson, of the Kansas City Feds Oklahoma City branch offic,e told Bloomberg when the program was launched in 2018.

Tulsa Remote is designed to put the small city on the map and give it a jolt of energy and diversity. The major shift to remote work after the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an unprecedented spike in interest in the program from "digital nomads," as the site calls them.

"Tulsa Remote is back and bigger for 2020. We're looking for 250 more remote workers," the program states.

The foundation says that it wants to make Tulsa more diverse, but not everyone can apply. Applicants must be a remote worker or self-employed.

Beyond the $10,000 in cash, the opportunity offers a free desk space at a co-working hub in downtown Tulsa that "provides a place to get work done and collaborate with other local entrepreneurs, remote workers and digital nomads."

The cash is handed out over the course of the first year in the city. Some money is given upfront to help with relocation expenses followed by a monthly stipend to keep things moving.

If selected, applicants are required to strictly stay in the Tulsa city limits. "Those selected for the program must live within Tulsa city limits. The city limits do not include surrounding areas such as Bixby, Broken Arrow, Sand Springs, Sapulpa or Jenks," the rules state.

The program's claim that "Tulsa has a great cost of living, and likely cheaper housing than where you currently live," is definitely true for those applying from the Bay Area. Despite the recent rental drop, the current rate for a two-bedroom apartment in San Francisco is still just shy of $4,000 a month  in Tulsa it's around $800.

One Bay Area resident who was selected to join the program, Jaleesa Garland, told KOCO News she is excited about the move after struggling to make ends meet in San Francisco, Its too hard to survive here and truly thrive here. And now, with everything else we have going on, its become even more difficult, she said. Ive lived with about 20 different people over that five-year period.

Find Tulsa Remote's application process here.

Andrew Chamings is an editor at SFGATE. Email: Andrew.Chamings@sfgate.com | Twitter: @AndrewChamings
(CNN)  Two prominent Chinese media outlets are urging Beijing to kill what they call a "dirty" and "unpalatable" deal intended to keep TikTok operating in the United States.

The editorial boards of China Daily and the Global Times  both state-run publications  this week blasted an arrangement that would give American companies at least some ownership in the short-form video app. TikTok's parent company ByteDance is based in Beijing.

"What the United States has done to TikTok is almost the same as a gangster forcing an unreasonable and unfair business deal on a legitimate company," China Daily wrote in an editorial published Wednesday, which called the deal a "dirty and underhanded trick."

The terms of the tentative deal for China's most successful global app have caused a lot of confusion.

The initial announcement last weekend implied that ByteDance would continue to own a majority of Tiktok going forward, raising questions about how that could resolve the Trump administration's national security concerns about Chinese control of the app and its data.

But Trump has since indicated that investors Walmart and Oracle would "own the controlling interest." A person familiar with the deal told CNN Business earlier this week that a new US entity  TikTok Global  will be partially owned by ByteDance's international and Chinese investors, but that ByteDance itself will hold zero percent of the company to be created by the deal to run the app outside of China.

"It seems as if TikTok can remain in the US. But only if ByteDance allows Oracle and Walmart to effectively take over the company," China Daily added. "China has no reason to give the green light to such a deal."

The Global Times, a state-run tabloid, also slammed the deal this week in two editorials calling on Chinese regulators to block it.

"It's hard for us to believe that Beijing will approve such an agreement," the Global Times wrote in one editorial. In a second piece titled "TikTok extortion deal is unpalatable gambit," the publication added that "we should not let Washington control the lifeline of China's technological development in the future. "

Chinese state media is a powerful tool in the country's propaganda machine, and the various outlets and their editorials are often looked upon as barometers of sentiment among senior officials. Some publications, like the Global Times, are more hawkish than others.

Notably, the China Daily and Global Times editorials were published in English  an indication that the TikTok editorials are likely intended for an overseas audience. State media editorials in China may also act as trial balloons for ideas, or to send a message to Western governments. (China Daily is an English-language paper, but Global Times also has a much more popular Chinese edition. Similar editorials were published in that edition, too.)

The extent to which Beijing still needs to review the deal is also not entirely clear.

Last month, Chinese regulators introduced new rules that govern the sale of certain kinds of technology to foreign buyers  a change that experts pointed out would likely require ByteDance to obtain government permission before selling TikTok to a foreign company. ByteDance has said that Oracle would be able to review the app's source code, but that the deal does not involve the transfer of its algorithms and technologies.

A source familiar with the negotiations, meanwhile, told CNN Business this week that ByteDance isn't concerned about regulatory approval from China. The source said there are still a few details left to sort out in the United States, indicating optimism that the deal could still close despite the media and political firestorm.

 Selina Wang contributed to this report.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Chinese state media slams TikTok deal as 'dirty' and 'unpalatable'."
Two Republican-led Senate committees issued a politically charged report Wednesday on the work Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden's son did in Ukraine.

Biden's campaign immediately panned the report, released six weeks before the election, as an effort by an ally of President Donald Trump to damage his election opponent.

Trump has repeatedly drawn attention to the issue even as his own administration has warned of a concerted Russian effort to denigrate Biden and asserted that a Ukrainian lawmaker who is involved in spreading anti-Biden claims is an "active Russian agent."

Republican Sen. Ron Johnson, whose Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee is one of the two panels that released the 87-page report, had acknowledged in interviews his goal of making the document public before the election because he expected it would paint an unflattering portrait of Biden.

The investigation produced stark political divisions, with Democrats accusing Johnson of a politically motivated initiative at a time when they said the Homeland Security Committee should be focused on the coronavirus pandemic response and other, less partisan issues. Even before the report was released, the Biden campaign issued a detailed statement aiming to rebut point-by-point allegations that it said had long been debunked by media organizations as well as by U.S. and Ukrainian officials.

The Senate report examines Hunter Biden's dealings in Ukraine, where he held a paid seat on the board of gas company Burisma, and alleges that that work posed a conflict of interest at a time when Biden was vice-president in the Obama administration and engaged in Ukraine policy.

The allegations were central to the impeachment case against Trump after the president asked Ukraine's president in a telephone call last year to investigate the Bidens.

One of the claims referenced in the report is that Biden, as vice-president, pressured Ukraine to fire its top prosecutor, Viktor Shokin, as a way to stymie an investigation into the owner of Burisma.

But the Biden campaign pointed to news reports and public statements showing there was no active investigation into Burisma at the time of Shokin's ouster in 2016, and that the firing of Shokin was broadly sought by U.S. and European officials and reflected the official Obama administration policy.

There is no evidence of wrongdoing by the Bidens, and Hunter Biden has denied using his influence with his father to aid Burisma. But Republicans who came to Trump's defense in this year's impeachment trial encouraged further investigations of his activities. Johnson, a close ally of Trump, took the lead.

"As the coronavirus death toll climbs and Wisconsinites struggle with joblessness, Ron Johnson has wasted months diverting the Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee away from any oversight of the catastrophically botched federal response to the pandemic, a threat Sen. Johnson has dismissed by saying that 'death is an unavoidable part of life,'" Biden campaign spokesman Andrew Bates said in a statement.
Jeremy will boost awareness of our technology and strengthen our partner relationships. We look forward to working with him as he leverages his prior success to bolster our brand outreach initiatives," said Sam Zietz, CEO of TouchSuite.

TouchSuite announced today that Jeremy Brooks has been appointed as Chief Marketing Officer, effective immediately. Brooks has over two decades of experience in global business and brand development.

As the CMO for TouchSuite, Brooks will have global responsibility for the companys advertising, digital marketing, partnerships, promotions, brand management and growth initiatives.

We are extremely delighted to have Jeremy join our team. His expertise and experience are unparalleled, said Sam Zietz, CEO of TouchSuite. Jeremy will boost awareness of our technology and strengthen our partner relationships. We look forward to working with him as he leverages his prior success to bolster our brand outreach initiatives.

TouchSuite is a tremendous brand with strong, revolutionary products, said Brooks. The possibilities for innovation are endless and I am looking forward to tapping into my previous experiences to create opportunities for growth and success for TouchSuite and its subsidiaries.

Brooks brings with him significant experience in worldwide business and brand development. Before joining TouchSuite, Brooks served as Managing Partner of Bonne Sante Group, a multinational company engaged in the development, manufacturing and sales of nutraceutical and lifestyle products. In addition, he co-founded Strayboots, a trailblazer in the corporate teambuilding and human capital engagement vertical which he grew to over 200 locations worldwide. Brooks is also co-founder of Public Reputation, Inc., a location-based listing services company that he successfully exited in 2018. As the Senior Vice President Global Brand Management for Qology, Brooks was responsible for building and managing partner relationships and call center operations which provided services for Comcast, Verizon, Clear, GE and ADT.

TouchSuite is an Inc. 500 financial technology and payment processing company headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida. Originally founded to serve as a merchant processor, TouchSuite has evolved into an award-winning company that provides solutions for businesses of all sizes.
For the third consecutive year, The Central Ontario Standardbred Association (COSA) has supported National Caretaker Appreciation Day (NCAD) events which took place this past weekend across the country.

Initiated by Standardbred Canada in 2018, NCADs objective is to recognize and reward caretakers in the harness racing industry.



Left: Justin Darling at Grand River Raceway (photo: Melissa Anderson)

Right: Gabby Sasso at Mohawk (photo: Kathy Wade Vlaar) Left: Justin Darling at Grand River Raceway (photo: Melissa Anderson)Right: Gabby Sasso at Mohawk (photo: Kathy Wade Vlaar)

COSA participated in this years events by sponsoring $100 HPI cards -- one for a caretaker in each race at each Ontario racetrack hosting a NCAD event. Random prize draws were conducted after each race for the card winners. The HPI cards can be used at any wagering terminals at HPI partner tracks across the country.

Congratulations to all HPI card winners at the following racetracks:

Clinton Raceway (hosted their event on August 30)

Flamboro Downs

Grand River Raceway

Kawartha Downs

Leamington Raceway

Woodbine Mohawk Park

National Caretaker Appreciation Day is a great initiative created by Standardbred Canada and supported by tracks, associations such as ours, and all facets of the industry. Supporting our caretakers is critical to the success of the industry and their role is often underestimated because for the most part they are in the background. Without caretakers, who are the foundation of our industry, we dont have an industry, said Bill ODonnell, President of COSA.



Left: Justin Turcotte at Flamboro Downs (photo: Flamboro Downs)

Right: Abby Harper at Kawartha Downs (photo: Racehorsephoto.com) Left: Justin Turcotte at Flamboro Downs (photo: Flamboro Downs)Right: Abby Harper at Kawartha Downs (photo: Racehorsephoto.com)

For a complete list of the HPI Card winners, click here.

COSA respresents the interests of horsepeople racing at Ontario racetracks and provides a Benefit program to its members. Groom/caretaker benefits are provided at no cost to eligible members provided the member is employed full-time by a trainer who has a minimum of one start per year at any Standardbred racetrack in Ontario. Caretakers working at breeding farms are also eligible for benefits.

To be eligible to enroll in the COSA Benefits Program, you MUST have the following:

OHIP card

Valid Standardbred Canada license

Valid AGCO license

In addition to the above requirements, Grooms/caretakers must provide one of the following when enrolling in the plan:

T-4 from the previous year

3 cancelled payroll cheques or,

3 proof of e-transfer deposits to their bank account

Grooms/caretakers who are paid cash by their employers are not eligible for COSA paid benefits.
Kathmandu, Sep 23 : A spontaneous protest erupted in front of the Chinese Embassy in Nepal's capital Kathmandu on Wednesday afternoon over encroachment of the Himalayan nation's territory by China in north-western part of Humla district.

A number of protesters, including youths, chanted slogans against the encroachment and demanded that the Chinese leave Nepal's territory immediately and respect the bilateral border treaty.

Some young protesters carried placards that asked China to back off.

Later, police dispersed the protesters who also demanded the reopening of two border points between Nepal and China that were shut 10 months ago.

Tatopani in Sindhupalchok district and Rasuwagadhi in Rasuwa district were shut even before the start of the coronavirus pandemic, due to which imported goods and stuff worth billions of rupees coming in from China are stuck there.

On Wednesday, the Nepalese media had widely reported the construction of 11 cemented buildings in the Himalayan nation's territory by Chinese security forces in a remote area of Humla district.

However, the Chinese Embassy maintained that the said buildings were verified to be on the Chinese side of the China-Nepal border and asked Nepal to reverify its position.

The occupied area is remote from Nepal's district headquarters concerned, barren, unused and treacherous, but the Chinese can easily access it easily due to proximity and road access.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Harrington HealthCare System and the Board of Trustees of UMass Memorial Health Care on Wednesday agreed to UMass Memorial acquiring Harrington Hospital, a deal that has been pending for months as hospitals treated coronavirus patients and felt financial strains amid the pandemic.

The groups reached an agreement on definitive terms for a corporate affiliation, officials said.

When we entered into our initial agreement with UMass Memorial in January, we had no idea what the next several months would bring. Our team performed exceptionally well and the community supported us every step of the way, but we could not have provided the outstanding care we did without the partnership and support of the clinical team at UMass Memorial, said Harrington President and CEO Ed Moore. This experience redoubled our confidence that becoming part of the system would offer maximum benefit to our community at a time that requires flexibility, scale, and resources.

UMass Memorial announced in January its plans to acquire Southbridge-based Harrington Hospital, with final approval expected to take six to nine months after a period of due diligence. Executives at both systems believe the two will be stronger together, bringing better health resources to Central Massachusetts residents.

Through the agreement, Harrington HealthCare System and Harrington Memorial Hospital will maintain local community boards with reserved powers held by a UMass Memorial subsidiary, which will become the sole member of HHCS. Further, the Harrington HealthCare Board will have representation on both the UMass Memorial parent and community hospital holding company boards.

The terms of the definitive agreement help protect access to local, high quality and affordable healthcare for our more than 200,000 patients, their family members and our community, Moore said. At a time when the number of independent hospitals has decreased dramatically and healthcare has grown increasingly complex, being part of UMass Memorials comprehensive, regional system anchored by an outstanding academic medical center is a clear positive for our community.

During the pandemic, either institution could have decided it was too risky to move forward. UMass Memorial initially was expecting its worst year financially as the pandemic halted elective procedures, but since has reported improved financials.

Now that final terms are in place, UMass Memorial and Harrington HealthCare must seek state regulatory approval.

Despite the unexpected challenges of the pandemic, leaders of UMass Memorial and Harrington both said this spring that they felt optimistic about the pending deal.

Harrington and UMass Memorial have maintained a beneficial working relationship for years, with many Harrington patients referred to the UMass system. Among the benefits of the acquisition would be getting Harrington access to Epic, considered one of the best health care record systems, which is used by UMass Memorial.

Other benefits of the agreement, officials say, include operating Harrington Memorial Hospital as an acute care hospital on the Southbridge and Webster campuses for a minimum of five years, as well as assistance to ensure there will be investment in facilities, equipment and other infrastructure to support clinical care and the community.

The vote to move forward with the corporate affiliation does not impact patient care services currently offered within Harringtons system, like routine appointments, emergency care and diagnostic testing, and other services.

Under the agreement, Harrington would become a member hospital within UMass Memorial Health Care, which already includes UMass Memorial HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital, UMass Memorial Marlborough Hospital and UMass Memorial Medical Center.

We are pleased with the terms of this definitive agreement and are absolutely ecstatic about the opportunity to formalize our longstanding, excellent relationship with Harrington HealthCare. I want to thank the board of trustees and the administrations of both organizations for their diligence and hard work to ensure we have an agreement that reaffirms the importance of Harrington HealthCare to its patients, employees and community, while integrating this important healthcare provider into the UMass Memorial system, said Doug Brown, President of UMass Memorial Community Hospitals and Chief Administrative Officer for UMass Memorial Health Care.

In the first six months of the fiscal year, UMass Memorial saw a loss of $28 million, CEO Eric Dickson previously told MassLive. Harrington Hospital CEO Ed Moore previously told MassLive that Harrington lost $4 million in March and about $5.5 million in April. In late July, Dickson said getting patients back into the hospital for screenings and procedures, as well as millions in federal funding, has helped bridge the financial gap.

During the pandemic, Harrington furloughed about 275 full- and part-time employees.

Harrington in 2018 formed a 10-member Strategic Executive Committee to evaluate long-term options to maintain the hospital. That led to a letter of intent with UMass Memorial in January and the start of the due diligence period.

Delays from the pandemic led to the due diligence period extending about three or four months longer then planned. Hospital executives have said that next steps include the signing of a definitive agreement and culmination of the deal in going through the regulatory process.

To the Harrington HealthCare communities, I am proud to welcome you to the UMass Memorial family," said Eric Dickson, the president and CEO of UMass Memorial Health Care. Your addition immediately strengthens not only our health care system, it further enhances high-quality, patient-centered care in our region. Harrington has always been a tremendous ally and we look forward to an even stronger relationship starting today.

UMass Memorial Health Care is the largest employer in Central Massachusetts. The medical center is the regions only Level 1 adult and pediatric trauma center, Level 3 NICU and certified stroke center.

Harrington is a regional healthcare system that serves more than 25 communities across south Central Massachusetts and northeastern Connecticut. The system includes the hospital in Southbridge, Harrington HealthCare at Webster and three medical office buildings.

Related Content:
Princess Martha Louise of Norway celebrated her 49th birthday yesterday

Norwegian royal was reunited with her boyfriend Durek Verrett, 45, in surprise

She shared a picture of them both with royal fans on her Instagram account

Princess Martha Louise of Norway was met with a sweet surprise for her 49th birthday as she was reunited with her Shaman boyfriend after six months apart amid the Covid-19 crisis.

Princess Martha, who celebrated her birthday yesterday, shared a gushing Instagram post praising her boyfriend Durek Verrett, 45, revealing he had flown from Los Angeles to surprise her for the big day.

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After a quick visit to the US in March to see Durek, Martha Louise spent lockdown with her daughters in Norway, while Durek remained in California.

Martha, who has three children with her first husband Ari Behn who died in 2019, aged 47, shared a sweet picture of herself and Durek online, saying: 'I love surprises. And the best surprise ever was you turning up for my Birthday, @shamandurek, after 6 long months of being apart.'

Princess Martha Louise of Norway shared a gushing post as she reunited with her boyfriend celebrity Guru Durek Verrett, 45, on her 49th birthday

The Princess shared a heartfelt message about the reunion with Durek on Instagram, along with a sweet picture

Martha wrote a heartfelt on her reunion with Durek in a message on Instagram as well as a picture of the pair holding hands, revealing: 'It has been so challenging yet wonderful to see how, even when not seeing each other, we have deepened our connection and understanding for each other.

'One of the main things this corona period has shown me, is that we humans are tougher than we think and can prevail anything, but its better when we have our loved ones close.'

Click here to resize this module

Smitten Durek replied with a message of its own in a comment to his beloved's Instagram post.

'Being with the woman I love with all my soul on her Birthday, is a blessing given by God to be by your side after six months apart,' he wrote.

The mother-of-three spent lockdown in Norway with her family while her boyfriend spent it in California (pictured in Oslo in 2017)

'We have been through so much together and we shall endure whatever challenges life throws our way,' he added.

'Till death do us part, I'm forever yours, baby  Happy Birthday, my sweet angel.'

Royal fans were touched to see the couple being reunited and professing their love on Martha's birthday.

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Her friend Tessy Antony de Nassau, the ex-wife of Prince Louis of Luxembourg, led the birthday wishes on social media, sending Martha 'virtual hugs.'

Durek replied with a sweet message of his own saying the coupe would endure any challenge life would throw their way

'Happy B day beautiful sou I wish you only blessings and joy. You trully deserve all the happiness and love at all times. I sent you a huge virtual hug,' she wrote.

'Aww! So happy to see you two together,' another said.

'Thus makes my heart so happy!!! I love you both. And happy birthday darling' one said.

It is believed the couple last saw each other in March, when the royal travelled to LA with her children, Maud Angelica, 16, Leah Isadora, 14, and Emma Tallulah, 10.

Royals fans were excited to see the couple reunited after being apart for six months. Tessy Antony de Nassau led the birthday wishes

In April, Durek revealed to Femail the couple planned to move in together in the US so that they could be together, explaining: I can tell you one thing. It (marriage) is definitely not off the table.

'Our plans are eventually to live together with each other. Not in Norway, but in the US.

And let me tell you, no matter what people say about us, it is our life. Martha and I are going to live the way we decide to live,' he added at the time.

He also said they kept in touch through video calls three times a day and both would cry because of how hard they found it to be separated.

The couple have spent the last six months apart and are believed to have last seen one another in March

Durek added that he calls Princess Martha first thing when he wakes up in the morning.

Theres a lot of crying and sadness that we cant see each other, but we also know whats happening in the world and we are willing to be patient.

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But we have each other and at least we have technology, so that we can see each other and talk all the time, he said.
Tristan MacManus started his new role as co-host of Studio 10 alongside Sarah Harris, last Monday.

And one Wednesday, the pair looked happy and relaxed as they were left the KIIS FM studios in North Ryde, Sydney.

The television hosts had just made an appearance on The Kyle and Jackie O Show.

Glowing and gorgeous! Studio 10's Sarah Harris showed off her slender figure in a fitted shift dress following an interview on The Kyle and Jackie O show on Wednesday with new co-host Tristan MacManus

Sarah looked stunning, showing off her slender figure in a beige shift dress paired with black heels and a black leather bag.

The 39-year-old completed the look with a pair of large earrings, but her best accessory was her beaming smile.

She wore her cropped blonde locks loose and had a full face of makeup on, including a smokey eye, bold brows and pink lipstick.

Dressed to impress: Meanwhile, Tristan, 38, was dashing in a navy suit he paired with a pale pink striped shirt and brown shoes

Meanwhile, Tristan, 38, was dashing in a navy suit he paired with a pale pink striped shirt and brown shoes.

He completed the look with a patterned pocket square and appeared to be in good spirits, smiling at the camera.

The Dancing with the Stars judge made his debut on Studio 10 last Monday, less than a week after former co-host Joe Hildebrand revealed he was leaving the show.

'Now I have a suit on!' Speaking on the radio program, Tristan admitted his job 'has been a bit difficult to get used to' because only recently he was working as a landscaper

Speaking on the radio program, Tristan admitted his job 'has been a bit difficult to get used to' because only recently he was working as a landscaper.

'It has been a bit difficult to get used to... I was labouring and now I have a suit on and I'm getting paid well,' he said.

The husband of Australian actress Tahyna Tozzi explained that he'd turned to labouring in March after the coronavirus pandemic left him without work.

'I'd been breaking my a**e for the last couple months landscaping when my work got cancelled,' he said.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Buildings have been boarded up and highway access restricted in Kentucky's largest city as residents brace for a possible announcement from the state attorney general on whether charges will be filed against officers involved in the death of Breonna Taylor, the 26-year-old Black woman who has become an international symbol of the racial-justice movement.

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, a Democrat, declared a state of emergency Tuesday in anticipation of an announcement and "the potential for civil unrest." Law enforcement leaders have canceled days off for police, and officers were told to prepare to work 12-hour shifts.

Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, a Republican, has given no public indication of when he will conclude his four-month investigation of the drug raid that led to the fatal shooting of Taylor in her apartment shortly after midnight March 13. "An investigation, if done properly, cannot follow a specific timeline," he said in a statement earlier this month.

One of the officers involved in the Taylor case, Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly, sparked more controversy in the city - which has experienced more than four months of protests - with an email to fellow officers Tuesday morning that characterized police as defenders of order against forces of evil.

"You DO NOT DESERVE to be in this position," Mattingly told the officers. "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."

Kent Wicker, an attorney for Mattingly, confirmed his client sent the email, which was first reported by Vice News.

Louisville police killed Taylor while executing a "no knock" search warrant. They uncovered no illegal substances in her apartment, which they entered using a battering ram. Taylor's boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, 27, who said he feared intruders, fired a shot with a legally owned gun, striking Mattingly. The officers fired back, and Taylor was struck five times.

Officer Brett Hankison was terminated in June in a letter from the department that alleged he "blindly" fired his weapon 10 times into Taylor's apartment. Mattingly and Officer Myles Cosgrove, who also fired into Taylor's apartment, have been placed on administrative leave.

Cameron's office began investigating the shooting after Louisville police turned over the results of an internal probe in May.

A decision about charges could hinge upon an interpretation of Kentucky's "castle doctrine." Legal analysts have said the law allows someone to use lethal force if they fear for their life when faced with a possible aggressor. But Kentucky's castle doctrine has an explicit exception for situations in which "a peace officer . . . enters or attempts to enter a dwelling, residence, or vehicle in the performance of his or her official duties, and the officer identified himself or herself in accordance with any applicable law."

Fischer, a Democrat, said Tuesday that he does not know when Cameron will announce his decision in the case, but he signaled it could be imminent.

"We don't know when the announcement will come, but we must prepare for it," Fischer said. "Our goal is ensuring space and opportunity for potential protesters to gather and express their First Amendment rights after the announcement."

Fischer said the city will close some streets in downtown Louisville to vehicular traffic, and he said that his emergency order gave him the power to impose a curfew. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, has said he is prepared to deploy the National Guard and state police to support Louisville police.

On Tuesday afternoon, downtown streets were mostly empty. Many city workers and office employees were ordered to stay home in anticipation of possible unrest related to the Cameron's decision.

Downtown hotels were turning away guests, and many parking garages were closed within five blocks of the city's Hall of Justice, where a small crowd gathered near a makeshift memorial to Taylor.

Taylor's mother, Tamika Palmer, visited the protest scene Tuesday afternoon.

"We've been waiting six months. Why should this day be any different?" she said, adding that she did not want to talk anymore, because it had been a difficult day emotionally.

Over the summer, amid the nationwide protests after the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Taylor's story became a defining symbol of how Black women also have suffered from police violence and systemic racism.

Celebrities including Oprah Winfrey and WNBA players took up calls for justice to be served in Taylor's case, plastering her face on billboards and emblazoning her name on uniforms. At the Emmy Awards on Sunday, several nominees wore T-shirts that paid homage to Taylor.

Last week, Taylor's family settled a wrongful-death lawsuit against the city for $12 million, among the highest payouts for a police shooting in U.S. history.

The settlement also required several changes to how city police execute search warrants: Commanders will be required to approve all warrant applications that are submitted to a judge, and police will have to conduct a detailed risk assessment before applying for a warrant. At least two officers will have to turn on their body cameras when they are processing money seized during an investigation. And officers will receive up to two hours of paid time to do community service in Louisville.

The city also has banned no-knock warrants.

But many protesters, as well as Taylor's family, have focused on criminal charges for the officers involved in the raid. Benjamin Crump, an attorney for Taylor's family, called on Cameron to charge them with second-degree manslaughter, at a minimum.

"To not have an indictment happen in this city is to say that no matter how much we pay, no matter how much reform we do . . . we'd rather cover it than to deal with the issue," Tamika Mallory, co-founder of the social justice group Until Freedom, said at a news conference last week, according to the Courier-Journal.

Wicker, however, noted that his client Mattingly "was shot and severely wounded while serving this warrant." He described the officer as "hopeful that this matter moves forward quickly."

In his email Tuesday, Mattingly said that regardless of the charging decision in the Taylor case, "I know we did the legal, moral and ethical thing that night." He added, "It's sad how the good guys are demonized, and criminals are canonized."

He wrote witheringly of "pencil pushers at the top" being "too scared to hold the line" and said police officers were placed in a position where if they "make a mistake" during a stressful moment, the department and FBI "go after you" while "the criminal has total autonomy."

But with federal buildings and courthouses now boarded up and with dump trucks blocking access to some areas, Louisville residents on Tuesday were not optimistic that violence can be avoided if Cameron declines to charge the officers.

"We teach that when you do something bad there are consequences," Christina King, a 44-year-old mother of four children, said as she looked at the boarded-up federal courthouse. "This is not what a celebration looks like. This looks like a war zone."
 Flash

The United States hit another grim milestone on Tuesday, becoming the first in the world to have reported more than 200,000 COVID-19 deaths.

As people across the country are mourning the losses, health experts have criticized the federal government's handling of the pandemic and urged officials to reflect on the failures as new challenges are ahead in fall and winter and the timetable for a coronavirus vaccine remains unclear.

Response under criticism

There have been 200,005 coronavirus deaths as of Tuesday noon, while the number of infections has exceeded 6.8 million, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. Both numbers account for roughly one fifth of the global totals, while the U.S. population is equivalent to less than 5 percent of the world's population.

"The idea of 200,000 deaths is really very sobering and in some respects, stunning," Anthony Fauci, director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told a virtual conference hosted by CNN on Tuesday.

Fauci, the country's leading infectious diseases expert and a member of the White House coronavirus task force, refused to grade how the United States has handled the pandemic but said instead the numbers speak for themselves. "Take a look at the numbers and make up your own mind," he said. "We don't need a soundbite from me. Take a look at the numbers."

Now the largest epicenter of the public health crisis, the United States was not the first to have an outbreak. U.S. health authorities reported the first coronavirus case on Jan. 20 and the first death in late February.

However, for weeks and even months, top government officials had tried to play down the threat of the virus to the U.S. public and thus wasted valuable time for preparation and mobilization despite early and repeated warnings from the international community and health pundits.

"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 (CDC).

After a wider outbreak, the U.S. federal government took a series of measures against the spread of the coronavirus but met with criticism for being late or not strong enough. Its messaging on the pandemic had largely been dominated by politicians rather than scientists whom polls have showed Americans appear to trust more. For example, the White House didn't endorse the use of masks against coronavirus until July, a measure that experts have agreed could help reduce infections and save more lives.

At times, the White House had tried to sideline or undercut its officials and scientists inclined to talk bluntly about the pandemic, while putting political pressure on health agencies and even interfered with their work, creating confusion and damaging public trust.

"Unfortunately we've seen scientists, public health officials and our government science agencies can be badly undermined," tweeted Tom Inglesby, director of the Center for Health Security at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. "We've witnessed scientific recommendations get changed by a political process."

Meanwhile, the White House has sought to deflect blame by engaging in wars of words with state officials and reshaping narratives of its response to the pandemic. That blame-shifting game has even gone beyond the borders. In July, the United States officially notified the World Health Organization (WHO) of its withdrawal from the specialized UN agency, a roundly criticized move that has put the global fight against the pandemic in danger.

According to a new 13-nation Pew Research Center survey, a median of just 15 percent say the United States has done a good job of dealing with the outbreak. In contrast, most have positive views on the WHO's response, and in nearly all nations, people give their own country positive marks for handling the crisis, with the United States being a notable exception.

New challenges ahead

After peaks in summer that saw daily coronavirus cases as high as more than 70,000 in the United States, the number of new infections a day has overall been on the decline, but in the past week there were still at least 33,000 diagnoses and hundreds of deaths in a single day. Several Midwestern states have recently reported record numbers of single day infections.

"We're all sick and tired of the pandemic, but unfortunately Covid is not tired of making us sick. It's still out there -- lots of people are infectious and the virus remains deadly," Frieden tweeted earlier. "We're not out of the woods. Another 100,000 people could die by the end of the year unless we improve our response."

Leana Wen, visiting professor of health policy and management at the George Washington University's Milken Institute School of Public Health, urged people not to let down their guard, tweeting that "the same public health measures we've discussed all along are still our best protection."

While most students are attending classes virtually this fall, others in some parts of the United States are returning to school. News of coronavirus clusters turning up on campuses has recently broken out one after another, frustrating local efforts to flatten the curve and dampening progress on reopening the economy and communities.

"The back-to-school season has brought new infections in colleges and universities nationwide. COVID-19 cases in students and children will continue to rise," Stanley Perlman, professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of Iowa, told Xinhua.

More than 150 colleges and universities in the United States have reported at least 100 coronavirus cases over the course of the pandemic, including dozens that have seen spikes in recent weeks, according to a survey conducted by The New York Times.

A total of 587,948 children in the country tested positive for the disease as of Sept. 17, the American Academy of Pediatrics and Children's Hospital Association said in a report released Monday, adding that 74,553 new child cases were reported from Sept. 3 through Sept. 17, a 15-percent increase over two weeks.

Experts also noted that the overlap of the coronavirus pandemic and the flu season, which started in fall, could strain health care capacity, making upcoming months very challenging.

"Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, reducing the spread of respiratory illnesses, like flu, this fall and winter is more important than ever," the U.S. CDC said on its website. "CDC recommends getting a flu vaccination in September or October but getting vaccinated anytime during the flu season can help protect you."

Ali Nouri, a molecular biologist and president of the Federation of American Scientists, a policy think tank dedicated to addressing pandemics and other global risks, tweeted that "everyone needs to have a plan and prepare for the winter months." "Without precautions, spending more time indoors, often in crowded and poorly ventilated spaces, will exacerbate the pandemic," he warned.

Vaccine timetable unclear

Perlman said he thinks "the numbers of cases may surge in fall and winter" in the United States but hopes that "with appropriate measures and perhaps a vaccine, the surge will be less than we fear." However, the timetable for a COVID-19 vaccine remains unclear and has been confusing.

U.S. President Donald Trump, who is seeking reelection this year, has been pushing for the distribution of vaccines before the Election Day in early November, as the pandemic is a key campaign topic and criticism of his administration's response has put a drag on the prospects of the Republican's second term.

Earlier this month, the U.S. CDC asked state officials to prepare for vaccine distribution for high-priority groups as early as Nov. 1. Moncef Slaoui, scientific head of Operation Warp Speed, a White House program designed to shorten the amount of time it takes to develop a coronavirus vaccine, has said that it is "possible but very unlikely" that a vaccine will be ready to distribute by then.

During a hearing with a Senate subcommittee last week, Robert Redfield, director of the CDC, said that a vaccine probably wouldn't be widely available to the American public until "late second quarter, third quarter 2021."

Several vaccines are currently in trials.

Trump has rejected Redfield's remarks, calling them "incorrect information." "I think he made a mistake when he said that," Trump told reporters last week. "I called him and he didn't tell me that. I think he got the message maybe confused, maybe it was stated incorrectly."

Fauci said on Tuesday that "people can have projections of what they think might happen" but no one really knows when a vaccine will be ready.

"The system is a double-blind, placebo controlled system -- which means that there's an independent data and safety monitoring board that has nothing to do with politics or politicians, that has nothing to do essentially with the company, or the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), or the people who are doing the trial," he explained. "Nobody knows what those data are because no one has looked at them. They are blinded."

It is also not sure how effective a COVID-19 vaccine will ultimately be. The U.S. FDA said in June that it would authorize a vaccine if it was safe and at least 50 percent effective in preventing the disease or decreasing the severity of infections. Fauci has previously acknowledged that chances of scientists creating a highly effective vaccine are "not great."

Lawrence Gostin, professor of global health law and director of the O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University, tweeted that "so much can go wrong" with COVID-19 vaccines, including the FDA approval, adequate supplies, equitable distribution, and vaccine hesitancy, as well as "concerns about liability and fair compensation for vaccine injuries."
WATERLOO REGION  Workshops aimed at preventing family violence will be offered in a variety of languages to reach diverse communities in Waterloo Region.

The two initiatives are part of the Keep Families Safe campaign, which aims to raise awareness about the increased risk of domestic violence due to stress and isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Coalition of Muslim Women of KW is providing online training to 10 women from different backgrounds, who will then each deliver information sessions in their own language in a culturally sensitive way to their community.

Were trying to start up this discussion, said Wisam Osman, special projects co-ordinator for the coalition.

Topics include: domestic violence and abuse as well as child abuse, including how to report it and where to turn for help; healthy relationships and parenting during the pandemic and beyond; and stress and anger management.

The aim is to let people know there is help in the community, and they can ask for it if needed.

Its OK to reach out to these services, Osman said.

Training is already underway, and the community sessions are slated to start in October.

Funding for the project came from the federal governments COVID-19 funding distributed by the Canadian Red Cross, and the coalition hopes to secure more to continue.

The Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council is working on three more instalments of the Porch Chats series in Turkish, Arabic and Kurdish. Preventing family violence is this years theme in partnership with the Keep Families Safe coalition, which has grown to 18 agencies and municipalities.

The November and December talks will be facilitated by Asmaa Cober, a Canadian Mental Health Association social worker at Sanctuary Refugee Health Centre who speaks five languages.

Cober said statistics show immigrant and refugee women are at great risk of domestic violence and abuse, and there are many causes for that.

Its not as simple as some people may think, said Cober, who grew up in Middle East and saw the impact of domestic violence on families as well as society in general.

Shell talk about the impact of migration on relationships, cross-generational and cultural conflict, how to relate to one another in a new society, and how to overcome identity crisis. Some newcomers adapt more quickly, while others struggle and that can lead to frustration and even violence.

That process is very risky, Cober said.

The added layer is the pandemic, which can trigger feelings from past trauma related to limitations imposed by the precautions intended to limit the virus spread.

Cober wants the talks to bring hope and to normalize the experience. She stressed that newcomers are resilient, and they can get through this as well.
Consistent growth

During the period between 2015 and 2020, An Giang Province focused on exceeding its growth targets as proposed under Resolution 8/15. The GRDP growth rate in the last five years is estimated at 5.25%, whereas during the period 2010 until 2015 the GRDP growth rate was at 5.07%. It is being seen that the standard lifestyles of the people in An Giang Province has seen vast improvements with the GRDP per capita reaching VND 46.8 mn in 2020. This has been an increase of VND 16 mn compared to 2015. The poverty rate also fell to 1.93% in 2020.

An Giang Province wants to improve and increase productivity, efficiency and competitiveness by restructuring agriculture and rural development, with an innovative growth model. The agricultural sector in the province already has a high growth rate and forms the core strength of the economy. The province now wants to take it many steps further by targeting brand marketing, improving on production and quality, and creating more value and competitiveness of all its agricultural goods. This would require restructuring at many levels by increasing rice acreage, and also increasing the breeding of more livestock, and growing fruits and vegetables by using latest high technology. Once the value-added chain is running efficiently the production too will improve and increase.

The province encourages large-scale production, calls for bigger investments in high-tech agriculture and specialized farming, and step by step focusing on enhancing the link between production, processing and consumption of agricultural produce. Simultaneously, An Giang Province is developing the trade, services and tourism sectors, which too contribute in large part to the economy, accounting for 49.09% of the growth in 2020, 5% higher than in 2015.

The retail market in An Giang Province has also been strong with sales of goods and services in the period 2015 to 2020, accounting for an estimated VND 502,000 bn, up by 17.1% over the period 2010 to 2015. The export sector is also strong with a turnover from goods out of the province showing revenue of USD 4.181 bn, with products from An Giang Province now available in almost 105 countries.

An Giang Province has constantly been upgrading the curriculum in education and training programs, and offering quality education at all levels. The current rate of students passing the national high school graduation exam rank is among the top ten in the country and the first in the Mekong Delta Region for the last three consecutive years.

This credit would go to the standing committee members who have worked diligently as a team to bring about a high level of administration that is focused on building a clean and strong State that will fight corruption and wastefulness, and instead lay more importance to mobilizing jobs and building people confidence. The good work by the leadership in An Giang Province has drawn the attention of the Politburo, the Secretariat, the Government, ministries, central agencies and other provinces.

Focus on efficiency

The Province is determined to build and maintain a clean, efficient, and effective State with a qualified, capable and a hard working administrative system. The focus is on making agriculture the foundation of the economy, while still remaining focused on a robust development of the services sector and the tourism industry.

The province wants to promote a growth paradigm shift from agriculture to industry and commercial services; increase quality and value of agricultural produce; enhance services and tourism sectors; improve level of production and competitiveness in economic enterprises; stress more on development of jobs to increase people's incomes and thereby generate more revenue for the State. By 2025, the province aims to be the lead economy in the Mekong Delta Region and by 2030 the province wants to compete as the most economically viable one in the country.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh, Chairman of the People's Committee of An Giang Province, believes that the province will make breakthroughs in quality investment in basic infrastructure, better transport infrastructure for industrial development and tourism, and promote innovation and competitiveness among enterprises in their localities. The province aims to strive for an average GRDP growth rate of 6.5% to 7% during the period 2020-2025. The average GRDP per capita by 2025 will then reach VND 70.4 mn to 72.2 mn per person per year.

Currently the province is looking at a total investment capital of about VND 176,000 bn, while export turnover is at USD 5.28 bn and State budget revenue from local economy has reached VND 41,303 bn. For the period 2025 until 2030, the province is targeting an average GRDP growth rate of 7% to about 7.5%, with the average GRDP per capita expected to reach VND 112 mn to 115 mn per person per year by the year 2030.

The Nam Viet Seafood Corporation has been successful in An Giang Province because of favorable conditions for production, business and export. Leaders of An Giang province have helped implement several large-scale projects that have helped improve the development environment in the province such as the 600ha Binh Phu high-tech aquaculture project with an investment capital of about VND 4,000 bn.

Mr. Doan Toi, Chairman of Nam Viet Seafood Corporation According to Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh, in order to achieve these targets, the province will set about drastically upgrading and innovating its growth model for agriculture, focus on building agricultural brands, expand its consumer market base with quality produce, and create more value and competitiveness in agricultural goods. The province plans to shift from pure agricultural production to agricultural economic development, with the motto based on marketing agricultural activities to stabilize output of agricultural produce; use agricultural technology to increase productivity and quality; enhance specialized agricultural services to improve efficiency; and adapt methods of sustainable development in agriculture.



With a fertile landscape, An Giang Province is well endowed and aims to build brands for its main agricultural goods with focus on three group products of sticky rice, aquatic products and fruit trees. To promote cooperation and development with other provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta region, key economic regions and other localities, An Giang Province will implement projects of sustainable development in the Long Xuyen Quadrangle sub-region. The focus will be on the development of the handicraft industry, while the role of the international border gates will help connect the Mekong Delta Region with Phnom Penh City in Cambodia to promote trade and develop border economy.

Huynh Loi
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 23, 2020) - Sweet Earth Holdings Corp. (CSE: SE) (FSE: 1KZ1) ("Sweet Earth") is pleased to announce that it has signed a Definitive Supply Agreement (the "Supply Agreement") with Thoughtful Brands Inc. ("Thoughtful Brands") to supply dog treats under Thoughtful Brands. On June 22, 2020 Sweet Earth announced a Letter of Intent with Mota Ventures Corp., which has subsequently changed its name to Thoughtful Brands Inc.

Under the Supply Agreement, Sweet Earth is to officially become Thoughtful Brands' exclusive dog treat provider, which will be marketed and sold on under the brand name Nature's Exclusive, a key line in Thoughtful Brand's rapidly expanding global natural health products and ecommerce technology platform.

Thoughtful Brands selected Sweet Earth as its exclusive dog treat supplier because of Sweet Earth's award-winning farm-to-shelf platform. The Supply Agreement was finalized after it became apparent that both parties are fully committed to providing high-quality certified organic canine treats at an affordable price.

Sweet Earth also maintains a portfolio of products that includes facial and body care, men's, spa, hemp, and muscle products that are sold on its website, https://sweetearthskincare.com. The Supply Agreement marks the first time the Company will market products under a different brand. In addition to the parties' mutual commitment to high-quality products, the Company was impressed with Thoughtful Brands' newly formed Ecommerce Tech LLC, a subsidiary operating a powerful ecommerce software platform (recently acquired from Unified Funding's Offer Space LLC).

"We are thrilled to be working with Sweet Earth, a renowned company whose sophisticated hemp-CBD offerings have long been celebrated," said Thoughtful Brands, Inc. CEO, Ryan Dean Hoggan. "We are eager to propel the success of their CBD canine products by utilizing our global eCommerce platform and enhanced technology capabilities. We look forward to adding the brand to our portfolio and are hopeful for future collaborations."

Sweet Earth canine products that will be sold under the Nature's Exclusive brand include the popular Beef and Cheddar Potato CBD Dog Treats. Each organic treat is fortified with Vitamin E as a natural preservative.

According to Dogs Naturally1, research shows that CDB dog treats are effective dog supplements for:

Arthritis and joint pain

Anxiety

Digestive issue

Neurological disorders (such as seizures and epilepsy)

Blood disorders

Sweet Earth is a vertically integrated company that uses exclusively organic ingredients for all its products.

According to BDS Analytics and Arcview Group's2 research, the pet CBD market is projected to grow five percent faster than the overall CBD market over the next four years, from $64 million in 2018 to $810 million in 2024.

Today's Veterinary Business3, a leading publisher on animal health, states that U.S. pet treat market reached US$6.7 billion in 2019. Within the pet treat sector, CDB products proved to maintain the highest growth rate4. In addition, online sales of pet snacks have also rapidly grown from 0% to 13%. A catalyst of ecommerce's rapid market expansion is attributed to the platform's ability to educate consumers on products prior to purchase.

Peter Espig, CEO of Sweet Earth, commented, "We are very excited to work closely with Thoughtful Brands Inc., a company that we feel maintains the CBD industry's premier ecommerce platform. Leveraging its powerful global platform and enhanced technological capabilities, we are confident that our dog treat business can expand rapidly. During our due diligence process, we were very impressed with our partner's commitment to product quality, pricing and customer services, all qualities that are also important at Sweet Earth."

About Sweet Earth

Sweet Earth is a vertically integrated "farm to shelf" hemp grower with a farm in Applegate, Oregon, that maintains a full line of hemp and CBD products for the US and global market. Its products combine CBD with herbal and organic ingredients, all of which are selected for their beneficial properties to soothe, rejuvenate, and reduce inflammation. In addition to high-end finished products, Sweet Earth prides itself on sustainability by minimizing the use of plastics in both production and packaging.

Sweet Earth's in-house genetics team has been working on its own proprietary hemp strain. This strain has been grown in its indoor greenhouse resulting in high yielding CBD rich flower. Sweet Earth products are sold on its website: https://sweetearthskincare.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Peter Espig"

CEO / Director

For additional information contact:

Peter Espig / CEO and Director

Telephone: (778) 385-1213

Email: info@sweetearthcbd.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

[1] Author Carol Dougal April 9, 2020: https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/cbd-dog-treats-are-they-worth-the-money

[2] Arcview Group is a leading research focused on the hemp and cannabis industry.

[3] Today's Veterinary Business is the first addition to the NAVC family of publications to focus on the business side of the animal health practice. With a dedication to leadership, innovation and success, Today's Veterinary Business provides content that will inspire veterinary practice teams to elevate overall practice performance.

[4] Source: Author Jordan Tyler, Adobe Stock Oct. 11, 2019

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/64402
Four men were remanded to the custody of the Pune rural police, after they were found in a truck with 312kg of cannabis in Baramati on Monday.

The seized drugs were estimated to be worth Rs 46 lakh, police said.

They have been remanded to five days in police custody, said Narayan Shirgaonkar, deputy superintendent of police (DSP) of the Baramati division.

The four have been identified as Vijay Jalinder Kanse (26) and Vishal Manohar Rathod (19), both residents of Sangli; Nilesh Tanaji Chavan (32) a resident of Maan in Satara; and Yogesh Shivaji Bhagat (22), a resident of Baramati.

While Kanse and Rathod are labourers, Chavan and Bhagat are farmers, according to police.

The vehicle they were travelling in was found to be registered in Sangli.

Baramati police officials had received information about a vehicle carrying sacks of ganja from Vishakhapatanam in Andhra Pradesh, heading towards Satara, and then Sangli.

The information of the police was that the truck was going to pass through Baramati, according to a statement issued by Pune rural police.

A case under Sections 20(b) and 22 of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act was registered against them at Baramati police station. Further recovery and arrests are expected in the case, according to the police statement.
HONG KONG, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- OrbusNeich Medical Co. Ltd. has announced that the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has granted market approval for the COMBO BIO-ENGINEERED SIROLIMUS ELUTING STENT in China. It is the first dual therapy stent to both accelerate endothelial coverage and control neointimal proliferation through the combination of the proven pro-healing technology with an abluminal sirolimus drug elution delivered from a biodegradable polymer that achieves full and complete dissipation by 90 days.

OrbusNeich's patented endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) capture technology promotes the accelerated natural healing of the vessel wall after the implantation of blood-contact devices such as stents. The technology consists of an antibody surface coating that captures EPCs circulating in the blood to the device to form an endothelial layer that provides protection against thrombosis and modulates restenosis.

"The market approval of the COMBO Stent in the People's Republic of China is a strategically important success for the OrbusNeich organization as we further expand into significant territories," said David Chien, OrbusNeich's Chairman, President and CEO. "We expect the approval of a unique product such as the COMBO Stent to allow OrbusNeich to strengthen our presence in China alongside our existing PTCA and PTA portfolio."

The ongoing randomized, multi-center RECOVERY trial [NCT02542007] comparing the COMBO Stent with the polymer-free sirolimus-eluting Nano stent (PF-SES) (Lepu Medical Technology, Beijing, China) in the treatment of patients with de novo native coronary artery lesions provided clinical data supporting the approval. A total of 432 patients were enrolled at 16 centers in China and randomized one-to-one to the treatment with COMBO Stent or the treatment with PF-SES. In this positive trial, the COMBO Stent was found to be non-inferior in the study primary endpoint of 9-month angiographic in-segment late lumen loss compared to the PF-SES, with in-segment LLL of 0.29  0.46 mm and 0.31  044 mm respectively (p = 0.57). At 1-year, clinical outcomes were similar between the groups for target lesion failure (TLF), a composite of cardiac death, target-vessel myocardial infarction, or ischemia-driven target lesion revascularization, and all TLF components. There was no stent thrombosis in either group.

"Since its launch, the COMBO Stent has played an important role in helping patients with coronary artery disease," said Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Alain Khair. "The COMBO Stent, with its unique pro-healing properties, is another example of OrbusNeich's commitment to providing innovative best-in-class devices to our physicians and their patients."

About OrbusNeich  Pioneers in life-changing technologies

OrbusNeich is a global pioneer in the provision of life-changing vascular solutions and offers an extensive portfolio of products that set industry benchmarks in vascular intervention. Current products are the COMBO Stent, together with stents and balloons marketed under the names of COMBO Plus, AZULE, SCOREFLEX, SCOREFLEX NC, SAPPHIRE II PRO, SAPPHIRE 3 and SAPPHIRE II NC, and the TELEPORT microcatheter, as well as products to treat peripheral artery disease: the JADE and SCOREFLEX PTA balloons.

OrbusNeich is headquartered in Hong Kong and has operations in Shenzhen, China; Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA; Hoevelaken, The Netherlands; and Tokyo, Japan. OrbusNeich supplies medical devices to physicians in more than 60 countries. For more information, visit www.OrbusNeich.com.

Related Links

https://orbusneich.com



SOURCE OrbusNeich Medical Co ltd
Watch Before Upgrading / Buying RTX 3000, RDNA2 - CPU vs GPU Bottlenecks

Nvidia RTX 3000 mania is likely soon to be joined by AMD RDNA2 mania. However, here's why you may in large parts be wasting your money if considering upgrading from your existing GPU, especially if it is a 2000 series RTX or 5000 series AMD, and may not be a wise choice to spend 700 for a new GPU even if your existing card is as old as a GTX 970. That's if you can get hold of a GPU courtesy of extremem demand and the scalpers.

Anyway watch this video first before paying upwards of 650 for the likes of an RTX 3080.

By HGR

http://www.howtoguidesandreviews.com

http://www.marketoracle.co.uk

Copyright  2005-2020 Marketoracle.co.uk (Market Oracle Ltd). All rights reserved.

Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes.

 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication.




Power Home Remodeling (Power), the nations largest full service exterior home remodeling company, launched Strive for 35, a call-to-action initiative to increase the companys pool of diverse candidates. Central to Strive for 35 is a newly expanded employee referral bonus offering an additional $1,000 on top of Powers existing $2,000 referral bonus, to employees who successfully refer candidates who identify as racial or ethnic minorities, or LGBTQ+.

Historically, jobs in the construction and home remodeling industries have not been known as welcoming or inclusive to women, people of color or LGBTQ people, said Olumide Cole, co-director of diversity & inclusion. To overcome that stigma, were putting our money where our mouth is to say we believe cultural diversity and inclusion makes our organization stronger.

Power has a track record of using recruitment strategies like referral and sign-on bonuses to achieve applicant and hiring goals. In 2019, the company instituted an additional $1,000 on top of Powers existing $2,000 referral bonus for employees who successfully referred women, to help the company overcome the construction and remodeling industrys average of 9 percent female inclusion. The referral bonus along with communicating the success of women at Power correlate with an uptick in female applications and therefore hires, so that today, 15.7 percent of Powers workforce are women.

This is all about expanding the applicant pool and encouraging employees to reach to and beyond their networks, said Jennifer McGlinn, Powers general counsel. Im proud that this company is never satisfied with the status quo, and continues looking for new incentives to attract diverse applicants.

Over the last three years, the percentage of veterans and military spouses employed by Power has quadrupled as a direct result of the Power Veterans Initiative (PVI), an employment and leadership development program tailored specifically for these individuals. Launched in 2016, PVI provides qualifying employees with a $3,000 sign-on bonus after 90 days, personalized communications during onboarding, opportunities for mentorship and customized programming including the annual Power Veterans Summit.

Your values are not in what you say, but in what you do. While weve always encouraged a diverse and inclusive workplace, our values and actions were not in complete alignment," says Co-CEO, Asher Raphael. "This additional incentive will help us reach our North Star of creating the best place to work for all.

As a people-first company, Power is consistently ranked among the nations best places to work. Since earning its #50 ranking on the 2020 Fortune Best Companies to Work For list, Power was named to Fortune Magazines Best Workplaces for Millennials 2020 list. Power was also recognized on Selling Powers 50 Best Companies to Sell For list (#11) and on the 2020 Inc. Best Workplaces List. To learn more about the companys award-winning culture and current career opportunities available, visit https://powerhrg.com/career/.

Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | LinkedIn

About Power Home Remodeling

Power Home Remodeling is a dream realization company  believing its purpose is to create positive change in everything the company touches  from customers homes to employees lives to the communities they live and work in. Power realizes this purpose by being people-first. Its employees and customers come before profit and their well-being factors into every business decision. Established in 1992, Power is the nations largest, full-service, exterior home remodeler with more than 2,700 employees, 500,000 customers and $700 million in annual revenue. Headquartered in the Philadelphia region, Powers primary product line includes windows, siding, roofing, doors, solar roofing panels, and attic insulation, providing energy-saving solutions to residents across its operating territories, including: Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington D.C. and Wisconsin.

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Two Policing Board members have expressed concerns over the rate of knife crime in Northern Ireland.

It follows a shocking incident on Monday afternoon when a man was stabbed in broad daylight at Castle Street in Belfast city centre.

The latest PSNI crime statistics show a total of 741 offences involving a knife or a sharp instrument in the 12 months leading up to June this year, an equivalent of two incidents a day.

This figure has remained largely static since 2015/16, with over 700 offences recorded each year.

In the 12 months leading up to June 2020, the use of a knife or a sharp instrument was involved in 10 homicides, 32 attempts to kill and 55 threats to kill.

The vast majority of incidents - 513 - resulted in actual bodily harm and grievous bodily harm. Knives and sharp instruments were also used in 125 robberies and six cases of rape/sexual assault.

In each category the overall figures have not changed significantly since 2015/16.

SDLP MLA Dolores Kelly and DUP MLA Mervyn Storey said the persistence of knife crime in recent years must be addressed.

Mrs Kelly said: "It's always worrying to hear about violent crimes with a knife, and it often seems to be with the younger population.

"We should, and we need to, have a look at it.

"In recent months Covid-19 has changed the focus of people's minds.

"But these knife crime stats need to be interrogated further by the Policing Board in terms of police performance.

"Obviously if figures aren't going down and remain static, it's safe to conclude there's more we can and should be doing.

"Secondly, it may be a bigger trend in some districts, so it would be useful to have a police analysis in terms of the hotspots of the knife crime and then to work with our partners in local policing to run specific campaigns".

Mr Storey said the statistics had become "a sad reflection on our society".

"I don't know how that compares per head of population to other jurisdictions, but it's still a significant number of incidents involving a very dangerous weapon and obviously people's lives are put at risk," he said.

"The second part of that is making sure the police do have the right resources in terms of legislation and preventative measures to take these weapons off the street, and that is something we have a duty to ensure we're looking at on a regular basis.

"It seems as though the police always have to stay ahead of these figures, because if they don't we just get to a place where it becomes the norm, and that's not what we want to see.

"We are beginning to see some parts of the system here - between the police, Ambulance Service, Departments of Health and Justice - becoming more focused on certain problems like knife crime.

"But, as always, it's breaking down those barriers between all of those organisations.

"Sometimes we hear about these incidents and they become part of a narrative, but it only (becomes real) when you realise the life-changing effect these attacks can have."

On Monday Scott McHugh was hospitalised after being stabbed in Castle Street.

Two men were arrested over the incident.

Originally from the Markets, McHugh survived being shot four times in west Belfast in 2016.

He was previously arrested and questioned in relation to the 2015 murder of IRA man Gerard 'Jock' Davison, but was released without charge.
Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced on Wednesday the availability of 25 units of affordable housing for Boston area veterans as part of the action plan to end veteran and chronic homelessness in Boston that he set up in 2015.

The city of Boston is incredibly fortunate to have a network of providers that deliver some of the highest-quality and most comprehensive services for homeless individuals in the U.S., said Walsh on Wednesday. Brighton Marine is a great example of the work being done to help these individuals who have served our country, and I thank all of our partners involved for their work in making this incredible facility available to our veterans.

In partnership with Brighton Marine, Boston Housing Authority, Boston Veterans' Services, Veteran Affairs Boston Healthcare and Soldier On, will provide permanent housing and supportive services to 25 eligible veterans under the Federal Housing and Urban Development Veterans Supportive Housing program.

Housing veterans has been a major priority for BHA for decades, said Kate Bennett, BHA administrator. We are thrilled to be able to provide critical support for this project.

The 25 apartments, known as The Residences are in a separate building across the Brighton Marine campus located at 1465 Commonwealth Ave. and is run by the charitable organization Brighton Marine. It has 102 mixed-income apartment homes for active service members and veterans and boasts that it is the largest development for veterans since World War II.

The complex is located near public transit and a local job center and will complement an existing initiative by the non-profit Brighton Marine that helps homeless veterans and their families with money for security deposits, rent, outstanding utility bills and moving expenses.

Each of the 25 studio apartments being made available is fully furnished with private kitchenettes and full bathrooms. The facility will be fitted with conferencing technology to support telehealth needs for veteran residents, according to a statement from the Boston Mayors office.

We could not be more thrilled to open additional housing options for veterans who have served our country, Michael Dwyer, president of Brighton Marine said.

As of a Jan. 23, 2019 count, there were 917 homeless veterans in Massachusetts, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Of those, 33 were unsheltered while the remainder were in emergency shelters or transitional housing. This is 68 less homeless veterans than in 2018 according to the data and 18 less unsheltered.

Bostons approach to homelessness is focused on giving people access to permanent housing without conditions like sobriety or entering treatment. The city offers immediate shelter and a path to permanent housing for veterans sleeping on the street.

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.
President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus was sworn in for a new term on Wednesday in an inauguration denounced as illegitimate by the opposition, which called for more protests against his 26-year rule. The sudden ceremony, which would normally be publicised as a major state occasion but was instead held without warning, followed a disputed election on Aug. 9 in which Lukashenko claimed a landslide victory.

The opposition accuses him of massive vote-rigging and has staged more than six weeks of mass protests demanding his resignation. The United States and European Union are drawing up sanctions against officials involved in the election and a subsequent crackdown by the security forces.

The official news agency Belta said Lukashenko placed his right hand on a copy of the constitution and swore the oath of office at a ceremony attended by several hundred people.

The 66-year-old leader said the country needed safety and consensus "on the brink of a global crisis", an apparent reference to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I cannot, I have no right to abandon the Belarusians," he said.

Rumours had swept Minsk that the 66-year-old leader, in power since 1994, was preparing for a snap inauguration ceremony when a motorcade swept through the centre of the capital earlier on Wednesday.

An opposition politician, Pavel Latushko, said the swearing-in was like a secret "thieves' meeting".

"Where are the jubilant citizens? Where is the diplomatic corps?" he posted on social media. "It is obvious that Alexander Lukashenko is exclusively the president of the OMON (riot police) and a handful of lying officials."

Latushko called for "an indefinite action of civil disobedience".

"SUCH A FARCE"

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius said on Twitter: "Such a farce. Forget elections...His illegitimacy is a fact with all the consequences that this entails".

Lukashenko, taking the oath for a new five-year term, promised to "faithfully serve the people of the Republic of Belarus, respect and protect the rights and freedoms of the person and of the citizen" and defend the constitution.

He has so far withstood the protests with backing from his ally, President Vladimir Putin of Russia.

Despite its population of only 9.5 million, Belarus matters to Russia as a buffer state against NATO and a conduit for Russian exports of oil and gas to Moscow.

At a summit last week, Putin granted Lukashenko a $1.5 billion loan, and the two countries are holding "Slavic Brotherhood" defence exerciseUN, s in Belarus.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the swearing-in was "absolutely the sovereign decision of the Belarusian leadership". Asked if Putin was invited, he said it looked as though the presence of foreign leaders had not been envisaged.

The United Nations agreed last week to step up monitoring of reported human rights abuses in Belarus. Rights investigator Anais Marin said more than 10,000 people had been "abusively arrested" since the election, with more than 500 reports of torture and thousands "savagely beaten".

Belarus authorities have said the police are humane and professional, and have declined to comment on specific allegations of abuses.

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GPs to take part in education session today

There will be no routine appointments at GP practices around the Island this afternoon as doctors take part in an education session.

The Department of Health and Social Care have confirmed urgent appointments will still be available.

Practices will remain open during the afternoon for patients to collect test results, make future appointments and order repeat prescriptions as normal.



The quarterly sessions have taken place since 2012 to give GPs a chance to discuss developments in medical care and best practice.
Dr Anthony Fauci has said that by the end of this year, government scientists should know whether they have a safe and effective vaccine for coronavirus. Fauci is among top officials testifying before the Senate Health, Education, Labour and Pensions committee on Wednesday.

As the government's leading infectious disease expert, Fauci has been a realist about the dangers of the coronavirus but also optimistic about the prospects for a vaccine. He said people who recover from the virus develop antibodies against it, giving him confidence a vaccine that triggers the immune system will work.

Fauci said several kinds of vaccines are in final-stage testing in the US. A single-dose candidate is the most recent trial, which requires thousands of volunteers.

Faucis comments came on the day Johnson & Johnson said it was entering the final Phase 3 stage of its Covid-19 vaccine clinical trial following positive results in earlier stages. The trial will seek to enroll up to 60,000 volunteers across more than 200 sites in the US and around the world, the company and the US National Institutes for Health (NIH), which is providing funding, said.

With the move, J&J becomes the tenth maker globally to conduct a Phase 3 trial against Covid-19, and the fourth in the US.

The company, which is developing the vaccine on a not-for-profit basis through its subsidiary Janssen, said it anticipated the drug would be ready for emergency approval by early 2021 if proven safe and effective.
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Attorneys for Kyle Rittenhouse have released new footage of the shootings he carried out during protests and riots in Kenosha, Wisconsin, arguing that they demonstrate a clear-cut case of self-defense.

Rittenhouse, 17, is charged with intentional homicide and other charges for fatally shooting two and injuring one during a confrontation on August 25, the third night of protests over the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a black man who was shot in the back and paralyzed.

On Tuesday, Rittenhouse's attorney Lin Wood released footage outlining the defense's version of events on the night of the shootings, in particular highlighting the events leading up to the first shooting, which was not captured on widely-circulated video of the subsequent two shootings.

In a slickly produced 11-minute video released by Wood's FightBack Foundation, the defense team argues that other shots were fired before and after the first fatal shooting, which killed 36-year-old Joseph Rosenbaum.

Rittenhouse's defense lawyers argue that the teenager was running away (above with his gun) from a group when he started being chased by 36-year-old Joseph Rosenbaum (the man pictured on the right)

As Rittenhouse was running away, his lawyers point to a single gunshot that rang out across the street. They circled the muzzle flash (above). Rittenhouse, who is not pictured above, was running away to the right of this frame when the shot was fired

The video shows Rittenhouse running into a parking lot, followed by Rosenbaum and journalist Richard McGinniss, who was filming the chase on his cellphone

Rittenhouse, a high school student and lifeguard in nearby Antioch, Illinois, has said that he and his friends were called upon by a business owner in Kenosha to help maintain the peace after several businesses were burned by protesters in preceding nights.

Video from earlier in the evening shows him with a first-aid kit offering medical aid to protesters. He also carries an AR-15-style rifle. The legal age to open carry in Wisconsin is 18.

Videos also show a dispute between Rosenbaum and men guarding a nearby gas station prior to the shooting.

Rittenhouse's lawyers say that Rosenbaum was enraged that the guards had put out a fire in a rolling dumpster that activists had tried to push toward the gas station, and that he was seen shouting 'Shoot me n***a' at a man with a rifle at the gas station, who was dressed similarly to Rittenhouse.

Some time later, Rittenhouse was spotted sprinting with a fire extinguisher to put out another fire, which his lawyers claim that Rosenbaum was involved in igniting.

Rittenhouse's attorneys say the teenager turned back and pointed his gun at Rosenbaum after that first gunshot rang out from across the street. McGinniss, who was filming the ordeal, later said Rosenbaum lunged at the barrel of Rittenhouse's gun in the seconds before the teenager fired

The lawyers say Rittenhouse fired four shots at Rosenbaum. The video captures three additional shots of unknown origin immediately after Rittnehouse fired. They point to this grab of Rittenhouse coming back to the scene (left) to check on Rosenbaum as McGinniss gave him aid (right)

His lawyers say this grab shows Rittenhouse attempting to call 911 as McGinniss continues to provide aid to Rosenbaum. They say an 'angry mob' were forming nearby as Rittenhouse was on the phone

Rittenhouse could be seen quickly fleeing from the shooting scene on foot as an angry crowd began to form. He was on the phone at the time and could be heard saying: 'I just shot somebody'

Then, the video shows Rittenhouse fleeing on foot as he is pursued by Rosenbaum. Rittenhouse's attorneys theorize that Rosembaum may have believed Rittenhouse was the other guard that he'd had an earlier dispute with.

The video shows Rittenhouse running into a parking lot, followed by Rosenbaum and journalist Richard McGinniss, who was filming the chase on his cellphone.

'Directly in front of Rittenhouse, armed with bats and other weapons, a mob is forming a barricade,' according to the voiceover on the video released by Wood.

As Rittenhouse fled, a single gunshot rang out nearby, with the muzzle flash captured on video. It's unclear who fired the gun. Rittenhouse then turns around to face Rosenbaum, and according to McGinniss, opened fire as Rosenbaum lunged at his rifle.

According to Rittenhouse's attorneys, he fired four times. The video captures three additional shots of unknown origin immediately after Rittenhouse fired.

Rosembaum was struck four times, and Rittenhouse's attorneys say that it has yet to be proven that he fired all of the shots that struck Rosenbaum.

Rittenhouse then attempted to call 911, but quickly fled from the shooting scene on foot as an angry crowd began to form.

What happened next is more widely known, thanks to dramatic video that circulated soon after the shootings. As Rittenhouse fled (above), he was pursued and struck from behind. Rittenhouse tripped, and several people began to attack him while he was on the ground

After falling, one protester was captured on cellphone video kicking Rittenhouse to the ground

Another man then approached and could be seen hitting Rittenhouse over the head with a skateboard

Rittenhouse fired a shot at the man brandishing the skateboard while he was still lying on the ground. The man who initially kicked the gunman to the ground can be seen running (right) as the gunshots broke out

The man with the skateboard stumbled away from the gunman clutching his chest (right) after being shot as another approaching man appeared to put his hands up in front of the shooter

The man who put his hands up can be seen above from a different angle attempting to cover himself as the gunman fired off his rifle

That same man was subsequently shot in the arm by Rittenhouse (above). The man who was initially shot in the chest can be seen collapsed on the ground behind him

Rittenhouse got back to his feet while the man who was shot in the chest laid on the ground and bystanders screamed and ran in terror

What happened next is more widely known, thanks to dramatic video that circulated soon after the shootings.

As Rittenhouse fled, he was pursued and struck from behind. Rittenhouse tripped, and several people began to attack him while he was on the ground.

As an unknown man tried to jump on him, Rittenhouse fired two shots into the air.

Then, as 26-year-old Anthony Huber struck him in the head with a skateboard and grabbed for his rifle, Rittenhouse fired once, striking Huber in the chest and killing him.

The video then shows Gaige Grosskreutz, 27, approaching Rittenhouse with a handgun in his right hand. Rittenhouse fires once, striking Grosskreutz in the right bicep and wounding him.

A social media post unearthed by Rittnehouse's legal team purports to show a social media post by a friend of Grosskreutz who spoke to him in the hospital after the shooting.

Rittenhouse's defense team are arguing that the lead up to the shooting proves their self-defense claim. They point to footage of a dispute between Joseph Rosenbaum (right in red shirt) and men guarding a nearby gas station prior to the shooting. The lawyers argue Rosenbaum got into a confrontation because he was starting fires

Rosembaum's argument was mainly with an armed man dressed in green (left). Rittenhouse's attorneys theorize that Rosembaum may have later mistaken Rittenhouse (right) for the other guard that he'd had an earlier dispute with

The lawyers argues this new footage shows Rittenhouse sprinting with a fire extinguisher to put out another fire, which his lawyers claim that Rosenbaum was involved in igniting

'His only regret was not killing the kid and hesitating to pull the gun before emptying the entire mag into him,' the friend claimed Grosskreutz had said.

Lin Wood and John Pierce, another attorney who has taken up high-profile cases championed by conservatives, started the #FightBack foundation in early August.

The fund is described as a way to 'bring lawsuits to check the lies of the left.' Pierce stepped back from the fund's board earlier this month, saying he wanted to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest.

The case has become a political flashpoint, drawing polarized reactions from different sides of the political spectrum.

Rittenhouse is charged with two counts of intentional homicide, reckless endangerment, attempted intentional homicide, and misdemeanor possession of a firearm by a person under 18.

He is due in Illinois court on Thursday for a hearing on his extradition to Wisconsin. In Wisconsin, his bail has been set at $2 million.

Anthony Huber (left) was later identified as the man shot in the chest. He later died from his injuries. Gaige Grosskreutz (right) was the man shot in the arm.
BRADY ANDERSON, Chariho, Wrestling, Sophomore; Anderson finished first in the 152-pound weight class at the Griswold Midseason Invitational tournament. Anderson went 3-0 in the tournament, pinning all of his opponents in the first period. Anderson is 10-4.

LYDIA LASKEY, Stonington, Gymnastics, Senior; Laskey finished first in all four events in meets against NFA and Westerly. Laskey had an all-around score of 33.75 against NFA and 34.60 against Westerly.

RILEY PELOQUIN, Westerly, Girls Basketball, Sophomore; Peloquin scored 22 points and had 19 rebounds in two games. Peloquin is averaging 7.6 points and 7.5 rebounds a game for the Bulldogs.

DEONDRE BRANSFORD, Wheeler, Boys Basketball, Sophomore; Bransford scored 25 points and had 28 rebounds in a pair of Wheeler victories. Bransford is averaging 10.6 points and 12.1 rebounds per contest for the Lions.

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Panaji: A Goa court granted conditional bail to film producer Sam Bombay, who was arrested for allegedly molesting, threatening and assaulting his actor wife Poonam Pandey, police said on Wednesday.

Judicial magistrate first class Shanoor Audi granted bail to Sam on Tuesday evening on a surety of Rs 20,000, an official said.

Pandey had filed a police complaint late on Monday night claiming that her husband had molested her and threatened her with dire consequences after assaulting her, he said. The couple is in Canacona village of South Goa for a film shoot.

Sam has been asked to report to Canacona police station for four days starting Wednesday and also not to interfere with witnesses.
These people behind scenesyou know, everybody sees Anthony MacDonald as the face. But theres a lot of faces to thestable.ca, and without all those guys pitching in it just wouldnt be possible.

Before Tuesday's card of harness racing at the Delaware County Fairgrounds, Anthony MacDonald of TheStable.ca was interviewed for the Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association's Trackside Live pre-show. MacDonald discussed why he and his wife Amy started thestable.ca, what they do as an operation, how COVID-19 has affected them, and what their goals are for 2021.

I cant begin to imagineI dont know all of our clients, let alone know what their financial situation is, MacDonald said in the interview. We have 12 babies bought already, that are in our possession. Thats fine, thats all done with. We still have Harrisburg, Lexington, a number of online sales we wanted to get to maybe 20 Ohio-bred yearlings this year, so hopefully we can fenagle our way to 20 here.

The feature is available for viewing below.
TWO people charged with perverting the course of justice during an investigation into a Dublin murder last year have had their cases adjourned to allow the DPP to finalise the book of evidence.

Wayne Whelan (42) was shot in the head before the Toyota car he was sitting in was torched in the Mount Andrew Rise area of Lucan, Dublin on November 18.

Mr Whelan, who was found on the passenger seat, was identified using DNA analysis.

Last May, Lacey OConnor (28) and Mark Casserly (45) both of Rowlagh Park in Clondalkin, were charged with perverting the course of justice.

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Ms OConnor is accused of perverting the course of justice during the criminal investigation into Mr Whelan's murder. It is alleged that she gave a false account on November 19 of the movements of another individual, who has since been charged with murder.

Mr Casserly is charged with two charges of providing false accounts to gardai, on December 5 and December 12, on the movements of the same murder accused.

This morning, Blanchardstown District Court heard that the book of evidence was not yet ready.

Defence solicitor Simon Fleming said Mr Casserly and Ms O'Connor would consent to an eight week adjournment for the book of evidence.

Judge Gerard Jones remanded the pair on continuing bail to a date in November.

Two men are already before the courts charged with the murder of Mr Whelan.




TOKYO, Sept 23, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE:6501) today announced that it will hold the "Hitachi Social Innovation Forum 2020 TOKYO ONLINE" from November 4 to 6 as a venue to seek out opportunities for Collaborative Creation with customers and partners, and work towards realizing a sustainable society through the Social Innovation Business.For its 2021 Mid-term Management Plan, Hitachi has chosen the key message of "Hitachi Social Innovation is POWERING GOOD", focusing all of its energies on working with customers and partners to improve customers' social, environmental and economic value as well as people's Quality of Life (QoL), and realize a sustainable society through the Social Innovation Business.This will be the 22nd Social Innovation Forum to be held since the event's inception. From the perspective of preventing the spread of COVID-19, this year's event will be held as an online event in which people can participate in various programs on the Internet, instead of the real event held at the venues in previous years, in order to give top priority to the safety and health of our customers, partners and everyone else involved in the event. Hitachi's vision and specific initiatives to lead social change, with an eye on the New Normal, will be introduced through more than 140 different programs.1. Keynote SpeechToshiaki Higashihara, President and CEO, will make a presentation titled "Social Innovation Now: Society 5.0 for SDGs". In the midst of accelerating social change, he will talk about how Social Innovation can create a sustainable future, develop a social infrastructure that can respond to pandemics, and continue to create new value for businesses and consumers alike.2. Special TalksModerated by Maoko Kotani, a business news anchor, these sessions will discuss the cross-cutting themes of the New Normal world with experts and Hitachi's initiatives in light of recent global trends.(1) The Future of Management and Happiness - Considering Essential and Universal Values -Dr. Yoshiki Ishikawa, a leading researcher in the field of public health, and Kazuo Yano, Fellow of Hitachi, Ltd., will introduce their efforts to create industry with a focus on human well-being in the New Normal society, and discuss the prospects for value creation in an era of unpredictability.(2) Innovation in the World of the New Normal - How to Attain Sustainable Growth -Naoki Shibutani, Senior Executive Vice President of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation in charge of Technology Strategy, and Norihiro Suzuki, Vice President and Executive Officer, CTO of Hitachi, Ltd., will discuss the prospects for how companies can accelerate digital transformation and customer experience toward value creation and create innovation while SDGs and Society 5.0 are being explored as major elements of the New Normal.3. Business Sessions/ Expert SessionsRepresentatives and experts from each business fields in Hitachi will talk with their customers about the themes related to five business sectors that Hitachi is focusing on: Mobility, Smart Life, Industry, Energy, and IT (14 sessions in total). These presentations will illustrate how Lumada is being used in the Social Innovation Business to realize ideas, such as a "Society Where People Can Live in Safety, Health and Comfort", a "Sustainable Society by Decarbonization", a "Society Co-created by Resilient Value-chains", and a "Society Co-created with Digital Technology".4. Seminars/ On-demand VideosIn these seminars (58 sessions in total) and on-demand videos (67 contents in total), the people in charge of each project will introduce specific initiatives on the themes of "MOBILITY, LIFE", "ENERGY", "INDUSTRY", and "DIGITAL INNOVATION" while sharing examples of Collaborative Creation with customers. Under the keywords such as "remote," "contactless" or "automation", we will introduce a wide range of solutions which contribute to solving management-related and social issues as human-centric innovation accelerates in the COVID-19 era.About Hitachi, Ltd.Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is focused on its Social Innovation Business that combines information technology (IT), operational technology (OT) and products. The company's consolidated revenues for fiscal year 2019 (ended March 31, 2020) totaled 8,767.2 billion yen ($80.4 billion), and it employed approximately 301,000 people worldwide. Hitachi drives digital innovation across five sectors - Mobility, Smart Life, Industry, Energy and IT - through Lumada, Hitachi's advanced digital solutions, services, and technologies for turning data into insights to drive digital innovation. Its purpose is to deliver solutions that increase social, environmental and economic value for its customers. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's website at https://www.hitachi.com.Source: Hitachi, Ltd.Copyright 2020 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
Mymetics has started a Covid-19 vaccine development project based on Mymetics' virosome vaccine carrier platform, which will evaluate different rationally designed SARS-CoV-2 antigens for an effective and safe virosome-based Covid-19 vaccine.

In May 2020 Mymetics and Baylor College of Medicine in Texas signed a Research Agreement to preclinically produce and test virosomes incorporating SARS-CoV-2 recombinant proteins.

As part of the Research Agreement, Mymetics has successfully produced several virosome vaccine formulations that will now be tested in a preclinical model at Baylor College of Medicine.

EPALINGES, SWITZERLAND / ACCESSWIRE / September 23, 2020 / Mymetics Corporation (OTCQB:MYMX), a pioneer and leader in the research and development of virosome-based vaccines against life threatening and life disabling diseases, announced today as part of the Research Agreement signed in May 2020 with Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Center for Vaccine Development, that Mymetics has piloted and successfully produced different virosome formulations which incorporate the SARS-CoV-2 recombinant protein. The Company has now shipped these formulations to Baylor College of Medicine where they will be tested and compared in a pre-defined preclinical model in accordance with the Research Agreement signed between the parties in May 2020. Results are expected in three months.

Since the end of April, Mymetics has started a project for the rapid development of a Covid-19 virosome-based vaccine and is partnering with leading academic institutions to explore and select the best SARS-CoV antigens, which could not only be efficacious in protecting against Covid-19 but are also safe, easy to administer and dose sparing. Additional preclinical studies at other sites will be announced in the coming weeks.

About Mymetics

Mymetics Corporation (OTCQB:MYMX) is a Swiss based biotechnology company, with a research lab in the Netherlands, focused on the development of next-generation preventative vaccines for infectious and life disabling diseases. It currently has several vaccines in its pipeline, among which are the HIV-1/AIDS, intra-nasal Influenza and malaria, and collaborative projects in the field of allergy immunotherapy and in oncology.

Mymetics' core technology and expertise are in the use of virosomes, lipid-based carriers containing functional fusion viral proteins and natural membrane proteins, in combination with rationally designed antigens. The company's vaccines are designed to induce protection against early transmission and infection, focusing on both the mucosal and serum immune response. For further information, please visit www.mymetics.com.

About Baylor College of Medicine

Baylor College of Medicine in Houston is recognized as health sciences university and is known for excellence in education, research and patient care. It is the only private medical school in the greater southwest and is ranked 22nd among medical schools for research and 4th for primary care by U.S. News & World Report. Baylor is listed 21st among all U.S. medical schools for National Institutes of Health funding and No. 1 in Texas. The Baylor pediatrics program ranked 6th among all pediatric programs, reflecting the strong affiliation with Texas Children's Hospital where our faculty care for pediatric patients and our students and residents train. Nationally our physician assistant program was ranked 3rd in the health disciplines category and our nurse anesthesia program ranked 2nd. Located in the Texas Medical Center, Baylor has affiliations with seven teaching hospitals and jointly owns and operates Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center, part of CHI St. Luke's Health. Currently, Baylor has more than 3,000 trainees in medical, graduate, nurse anesthesia, physician assistant, orthotics and genetic counseling as well as residents and postdoctoral fellows. Follow Baylor College of Medicine on Facebook and Twitter.

CONTACT:

Mymetics Corporation

Ronald Kempers, CEO

info@mymetics.com

Tel: +41 21 653 4535

Baylor College of Medicine

Dipali Pathak

Office of Communications and Community Outreach

Baylor College of Medicine

Main: 713-798-4710

Forward looking statements

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for forward-looking statements, which are identified by the words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan" and similar expressions. The statements contained herein which are not based on historical facts are forward-looking statements that involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect our actual results, performance or achievements in the future and, accordingly, such actual results, performance or achievements may materially differ from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements made by or on our behalf. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks associated with our ability to successfully develop and protect our intellectual property, our ability to raise additional capital to fund future operations and compliance with applicable laws and changes in such laws and the administration of such laws. See Mymetics' most recent Form 10-K for a discussion of such risks, uncertainties and other factors. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward- looking statements which speak only as of the date the statements were made.

SOURCE: Mymetics Corporation

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/607231/Mymetics-Starts-Preclinical-Studies-with-Baylor-College-of-Medicine-for-Virosome-based-Covid-19-Vaccine
The Governor of the Bank of England last night piled pressure on Rishi Sunak to provide more help for businesses hit by the latest Covid restrictions.

In a rare political intervention, Andrew Bailey asked the Chancellor to rethink the furlough scheme, which is due to finish at the end of next month.

Mr Bailey has previously backed the decision to bring the 40billion job subsidy scheme to an end.

But addressing a British Chambers of Commerce event yesterday, Mr Bailey said some sectors will need more help as the scheme ends.

The Governor of the Bank of England Andrew Bailey (pictured) last night piled pressure on Rishi Sunak to provide more help for businesses hit by the latest Covid restrictions

He said he did not want to tie the Chancellors hands by offering a specific remedy.

He said weve moved from a world of generalised employment protection to focused areas, so a blanket scheme was no longer needed  but that it was time to stop and rethink the approach going forward.

In the Commons yesterday, Boris Johnson hinted that Mr Sunak was preparing new assistance for the hardest-hit sectors, and said the Government would do everything we can to protect lives and livelihoods.

Labour yesterday stepped up its call for the scheme to be extended  something Mr Johnson and the Chancellor have repeatedly ruled out.

Mr Bailey has previously backed The Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak's (pictured) decision to bring the 40billion job subsidy scheme to an end

In its current form, the scheme pays 80 per cent of the wages of those signed up.

But with the restrictions now likely to last months, some Tories also urged the PM to come forward with more financial support.

Business groups yesterday warned that additional financial support would be essential, amid fears that the governments new Covid restrictions could stifle the economic recovery for months.

Carolyn Fairbairn, director-general of the CBI, said it was desperately urgent to have a successor to the furlough scheme.

She added: It has saved thousands and thousands of jobs but there is a cliff-edge looming. And, now, with todays announcement that is more urgent than ever.

We are calling for the Treasury to announce a successor scheme very quickly. It should be more targeted.

It doesnt need to be quite as generous. But, if we are going to protect jobs... in the medium-term it needs to be brought in within days or weeks.

Roger Barker, of the Institute of Directors, said the new restrictions would inevitably put the brakes on the economic recovery.

He said businesses would accept the clampdown if it helped head off even more draconian restrictions, but said ministers now had a duty to support the economy.

Carolyn Fairbairn, director-general of the CBI, said it was desperately urgent to have a successor to the furlough scheme

With the return of more restrictions, the onus is squarely on the Government to set out the next phase of its support.

Key schemes are set to wind down in the months ahead, but its clear that businesses arent out of the woods yet.

Even where the Treasury wants to move away from the current shape of flagship measures, it should look to fill the gap to prevent a steep rise in unemployment and insolvencies.

Douglas Ross, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, yesterday asked for a guarantee that the government will continue to support Scottish employers and workers in areas affected by the measures when the furlough scheme ends.
BETHESDA, Md., Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Aledade, Inc. announced that its accountable care organizations (ACOs) with commercial payers, Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, and the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) have saved more than $400 million across the health care system in five years by helping patients receive higher-quality care, with over half of that value created in the past year.

In 2019 alone, independent primary care practices in Aledade contracts with commercial and government payers saved more than $200 million in health care spending while delivering better care to more than 620,000 Americans. New data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) show that, in 2019, Aledade's MSSP ACOs prevented 10,000 hospitalizations for Medicare beneficiaries and saved Medicare more than $180 million in unnecessary health care spending. Nearly half of these savings were kept by CMS and the American taxpayer, and the majority ($55 million) of the remainder went directly to physician practices.

"Six years ago, we made a bold wager - that by empowering small, independent primary care practices you could change the face of health care," said Farzad Mostashari, MD, CEO and co-founder of Aledade. "Those primary care practices are delivering on that promise. Thanks to years of hard work and collective effort, our nationwide network of hundreds of primary care practices has proven, across states and across payers, that you can reduce spending in health care and you can do it the right way: by helping patients stay healthy rather than waiting for them to get sick."

By emphasizing prevention and expanding access to primary care services, every Aledade Medicare ACO achieved an average quality score of more than 90 percent for the year, with every single practice working with Aledade earning the "exceptional performance bonus" in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System. Aledade ACOs in Medicare Advantage have earned an average of 4 STARS, often making significant improvements. In North Carolina, for example, practices improved their Medicare Advantage STARS rating from 3.0 to 4.5 after just one year of working with Aledade.

These quality metrics reflect real-world improvements in patient care. For instance, the nearly 5,000 independent physicians practicing in Aledade's Medicare ACOs in 2019 reduced patient stays in hospitals by an average of nine percent, avoiding more than 10,000 hospitalizations. Aledade Medicare ACOs increased primary care services by 7.5 percent between 2018 and 2019, leading to 90,000 more visits between patients and their primary care physician. With Aledade's technology and on-the-ground support, patients of practices in Aledade ACOs received better blood pressure screening, A1C control, and rates of cancer screening. They got more flu shots, and finally got help quitting smoking.

These results, the 90,000 additional primary care visits, the more than 224,000 annual wellness visits, and the more than 17,000 transitional care management appointments, all mark the product of years of work by Aledade and its partner practices, resulting in best practices and workflow transformation insights that allow this model to be replicated across payers and in geographically diverse communities, to rapidly improve patient care and thereby earn shared savings.

Aledade ACOs are also proving that, with the right partner, value-based programs done right can produce impressive and accumulating results. Last year, every single one of Aledade's ACOs that started in 2016 earned shared savings. This year, every single one of Aledade's ACOs entering Medicare's brand new Pathways to Success program earned savings. Overall, more than 95 percent of ACOs in operation for three years earned shared savings.

Several of Aledade's MSSP ACOs saw especially impressive results last year:

As the MSSP program transitioned to its new "Pathways to Success" structure in 2019, Aledade successfully navigated the new rules to ensure that the growth of value-based care continued without interruption. In January 2019 , Aledade launched a multi-state ACO, called Opportunity ACO, which allowed physicians in Alabama , Pennsylvania , Georgia , Kansas , South Carolina , Florida , North Carolina , West Virginia , Virginia , and Maryland to come together and get the benefits of joining an ACO as soon as possible for the 75,000 lives in their care. By working with Aledade, they beat CMS cost expectations by $34 million in 2019, earning the physicians and the ACO $17 million in shared savings.

, Aledade launched a multi-state ACO, called Opportunity ACO, which allowed physicians in , , , , , , , , , and to come together and get the benefits of joining an ACO as soon as possible for the 75,000 lives in their care. By working with Aledade, they beat CMS cost expectations by in 2019, earning the physicians and the ACO in shared savings. Aledade ACO physicians in Louisiana , who have worked with Aledade since 2016, increased their 2019 Medicare revenue by 47 percent, and they also significantly improved blood pressure control for their patients. Over 82 percent of those with hypertension under the care of these physicians have achieved satisfactory blood pressure control.

, who have worked with Aledade since 2016, increased their 2019 Medicare revenue by 47 percent, and they also significantly improved blood pressure control for their patients. Over 82 percent of those with hypertension under the care of these physicians have achieved satisfactory blood pressure control. Practices and community health centers in the Appalachia region generated $7 million more in savings than expected in 2019, in just their second year of participation.

region generated more in savings than expected in 2019, in just their second year of participation. In Utah , the Aledade ACO earned a quality score of 99 percent while saving $7 million and increasing the Medicare revenue of the practices by 20 percent.

, the Aledade ACO earned a quality score of 99 percent while saving and increasing the Medicare revenue of the practices by 20 percent. Aledade's Kansas Health Center ACO has already generated $2.7 million in savings after starting under the new Pathways to Success rules in July of 2019.

Aledade's ACOs are creating a better experience for patients while lowering costs across the entire system. The results from 2019 show that, across the health care system, ACOs led by physicians, often called "low revenue," typically create more than twice the Medicare savings per beneficiary than hospital-led ACOs, often known as "high revenue." According to CMS data, in 2019, physician-led MSSP ACOs had gross per-beneficiary savings of $458 per beneficiary compared to $169 per beneficiary for hospital-led MSSP ACOs. Aledade MSSP ACOs had savings of $490 per beneficiary. In the new Pathways to Success program, physician-led ACOs had per-beneficiary savings of $429 while hospital-led ACOs had per-beneficiary savings of $258. Aledade ACOs had per-beneficiary savings of $663 in Pathways to Success.

These savings across Medicare and commercial contracts are supporting small and independent primary care practices across the country at a crucial moment. While lockdowns and social distancing measures have helped keep patients and primary care workers safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, the drastic reduction of in-person visits and the inability of telehealth to fully make up the difference put the finances of small, independent primary care practices in jeopardy. Primary care is traditionally the most underpaid specialty and many practices run on small margins with little in reserves.

At just this moment of financial stress, Aledade's practices will be receiving more than $55 million in shared savings checks from Medicare for 2019, roughly $150,000 per practice on average, an amount equating to about 23 percent of their annual Medicare fee-for-service revenue. Aledade's 15 commercial contracts will bring in an additional $16.5 million to more than 231 small, independent primary care practices in 15 states. These shared savings payments will provide a much-needed inflow of revenue to keep practice doors open and ensure physicians can serve their communities in this time of need.

Aledade's Accountable Care Organization network has grown since its founding in 2014 and now covers more than 810,000 lives, or patients, across 46 Accountable Care Organizations in 26 states with more than 500 participating practices. In addition to rapidly expanding its value-based model to more communities, payers, and populations, Aledade is also leading the industry when it comes to accepting higher levels of financial risk. In 2020, 32 of Aledade's 76 contracts are embracing risk, compared with 17 of 67 in 2019, and four of 31 in 2018.

About Aledade

Founded in 2014, Aledade partners with independent practices, health centers, and clinics to build and lead Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) anchored in primary care. Through these ACOs, Aledade empowers physicians to stay independent, practice medicine like they've always wanted to, and thrive financially by keeping people healthy. Aledade offers a comprehensive range of capabilities that includes cutting-edge data analytics, user-friendly guided workflows, unparalleled regulatory expertise, strong payer relationships, and local, hands-on support from attentive experts. In true alignment with more than 7,300 participating providers in 26 states, Aledade shares in the risk and reward across over 76 value-based government and commercial contracts representing more than 810,000 lives under management. To learn more, visit www.aledade.com or follow on Twitter orFacebook.

For more information:

Brian Chiglinsky

[email protected]

(540) 761-9786

SOURCE Aledade, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.aledade.com


SOUTHBURY  Police are seeking information on a Cobbler Lane residents missing license plate.

The resident told police Tuesday afternoon that the front plate of his vehicle was gone.

But it hadnt just gone missing, according to police  the resident said it had actually been missing about a week.

The number of the Connecticut plate is AS7-7400.

Anyone with information is asked to call Southbury police at 203-264-5912.
Utilties stocks were trading in the negative zone, with the S&P BSE Utilities index falling 28.64 points or 1.93% at 1457.21 at 13:54 IST.

Among the components of the S&P BSE Utilities index, GE T&D India Ltd (down 4.99%), GVK Power & Infrastructure Ltd (down 4.75%),Rattanindia Power Ltd (down 4.26%),Reliance Infrastructure Ltd (down 3.46%),NTPC Ltd (down 3.25%), were the top losers. Among the other losers were Jaiprakash Power Ventures Ltd (down 3.14%), A2Z Infra Engineering Ltd (down 3.1%), BF Utilities Ltd (down 2.85%), Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (down 2.82%), and Indian Energy Exchange Ltd (down 2.34%).

On the other hand, NHPC Ltd (up 1%), Tata Power Company Ltd (up 0.87%), and Reliance Power Ltd (up 0.74%) moved up.

At 13:54 IST, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 383.28 or 1.02% at 37350.8.

The Nifty 50 index was down 86.65 points or 0.78% at 11067.

The S&P BSE Small-Cap index was down 154.65 points or 1.07% at 14354.61.

The S&P BSE 150 Midcap Index index was down 61.36 points or 1.27% at 4763.44.

On BSE,953 shares were trading in green, 1534 were trading in red and 152 were unchanged.

Powered by Capital Market - Live News

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chinese President Xi Jinping says his country will aim to stop adding to the global warming problem by 2060.

Xi's announcement during a speech on Tuesday to the UN General Assembly is a significant step for the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases.

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.

The term "carbon neutrality" means releasing no additional CO2 into the atmosphere, though technically it allows countries to keep emitting if they ensure that an equal amount is captured again in some form.

The announcement was cheered by climate campaigners. Greenpeace executive director Jennifer Morgan called it "an important signal" that showed climate change is "top of agenda for China"." "A big shift for curbing emissions and a significant step forward in international cooperation," UN climate chief Patricia Espinosa said.

The goal will be a challenge for China, which relies heavily for its electricity on coal, one of the most carbon-intensive fossil fuels.

China released the equivalent of 10 billion tons of carbon dioxide, or CO2, into the atmosphere in 2018, according to the Global Carbon Project that tracks emissions worldwide. That was almost twice as much as the United States and three times as much as the European Union.

Several other major emitters have set earlier deadlines, with the EU aiming to be carbon neutral by 2050. Frans Timmermans, who leads the EU executive's efforts on climate change, welcomed Xi's announcement.

"We need decisive action from every country to keep temperatures under control, tackle climate change and keep our planet inhabitable," he said.

The United States has so far not set such a goal. President Donald Trump, who once described climate change as a hoax invented by China, has started the process of pulling the US out of the Paris accord.

If China fulfils Xi's goal, it could prevent 0.4 to 0.7 degrees (0.2 to 0.4 degrees Celsius) further warming for the world, according to "very rough estimates" by MIT management professor John Sterman, who models and tracks emission reductions and pledges with Climate Interactive.

But much depends on how they do their emissions reduction and how soon they cut them, he said, adding he has to do a more thorough analysis.

"That's a lot," Sterman said. "China's by far the world's big emitter. They're emitting more than the EU and US together. It puts a lot more pressure on the United States," he said.

Perhaps even more important than the carbon neutrality pledge is the effort to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 instead of by 2030, Sterman said. Carbon dioxide's more than 100-year lifetime in the air makes earlier emission cuts more effective than promises in the future, he said.

"Emissions that don't happen between now and 2030 are going to reduce warming a lot more than the same emission reductions after 2060," Sterman said.

However, pledges are not the same as actions. What is needed is signs of action, such as eliminating plans to build new coal-fired power plants, cutting subsidies for coal power and getting off coal entirely, Sterman said. Coal is the biggest carbon dioxide emitter of power sources.

Twenty-nine nations before China have pledged to achieve climate neutrality in different years, according to the Carbon Neutrality Coalition.

With China, the 30 countries that have some kind of carbon neutrality pledges, account for about 43 per cent of the world's carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of fossil fuels. The largest polluting countries not on the list are the United States, India, Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, South Africa, Turkey, Brazil and Australia.

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The two armies also agreed to strengthen communication on the ground. (PTI)

New Delhi: Announcing a slew of decisions to bring down tensions in eastern Ladakh, the Indian and Chinese army have decided to stop sending more troops to the frontline, refrain from unilaterally changing the situation on the ground, and avoid taking any actions that may further complicate the environment.

The decisions were mentioned in a joint statement issued by the two armies late Tuesday, a day after the sixth round of Sino-India Corps commander-level talks that lasted for 14-hours.

The two armies also agreed to strengthen communication on the ground, avoid misunderstandings and misjudgments and earnestly implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries.

"The two sides had candid and in-depth exchange of views on stabilising the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the India-China border areas," said the statement released by the Indian Army.

It said the two sides also agreed to take practical measures to properly solve problems on the ground, and jointly safeguard peace and tranquillity in the border areas.

It said both sides also resolved to hold the 7th round of military commander talks as soon as possible.

"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, 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 statement said.
An infamous ex-bikie boss will spend a year behind bars after threatening to kill police in a 'bizarre' and 'menacing' meth-fuelled rant.

Former Bandido Brett 'Kaos' Pechey was sentenced in Perth Magistrate's Court on Tuesday over a two-day incident that began on June 24, where he was seen in a video next to a shotgun saying 'coppers die today'.

The saga began when Pechey 'imitated the cocking' of a long-armed firearm toward two officers who were issuing the face-tattooed 34-year-old with a police order following a domestic violence incident involving his ex-partner.

Pechey (pictured ex-girlfriend Rikki-Louise) will spend a year behind bars after threatening to kill police in a 'bizarre' and 'menacing' meth-fuelled rant

'I'm not here to hurt anyone, if I was you wouldn't know about it. I could just turn up - click, click, boom,' Pechey told the officers, the West Australia reported.

Police were highly concerned by the mock threat and later discovered a video of Pechey sitting in the driver's seat of his Chrysler 300C with a firearm by his side.

'F**king c**t ... die today, coppers die today ... yeah boy, f**king maggots,' Pechey said in the clip.

The chilling video sparked 'genuine fear' among Western Australian police ranks, the court heard.

Police later tracked down Pechey at a short-term rental in Belmont, east Perth, following house-to-house searches in the area and drone surveillance.

Heavily armed officers from the Tactical Response Group surrounded the property and officers used a loud speaker to demand Pechey come out of the house.

Former Bandidos Brett 'Kaos' Pechey (pictured) was sentenced in Perth Perth Magistrate's Court on Tuesday for a two-day incident that began on June 24

He eventually gave himself up without a fight.

Pechey pleaded guilty to threatening to kill, possessing a firearm in circumstances of aggravation, possessing unlawfully obtained property and multiple police order breaches relating to domestic violence offences.

Defence lawyer Terry Dobson told the court Pechey suffered from schizophrenia and anxiety and that his meth 'binge' was sparked by a relationship breakdown.

Although Mr Dobson said Pechey had used cocaine before, he had not used meth until he moved to Western Australia a few years earlier.

Pechey had moved to Perth from the Gold Coast with his Instagram-influencer girlfriend Rikki Louise Jones after a string of high-profile offences on the east coast.

The court heard he moved west to get away from the motorcycle club and running into associates and members.

In 2018, the West-End Bandidos sergeant-at-arms barricaded himself inside his property and filmed a stand-off with 26 police officers.

Prior to that, in 2015, when he was the President of the notorious outlaw motorcycle club, he was arrested at Brisbane International Airport after being on the run from Australian authorities in South East Asia for two years over outstanding extortion charges.

Pechey was arrested at Brisbane airport in 2015 on charges of extortion after months on the run in Thailand

Pechey later developed ties with the Sydney-based Brothers 4 Life gang and even converted to Islam.

But despite his lawyer's claims that Pechey is no longer a member of any outlaw motorcycle gangs, police wrote a letter to the court stating they believe he is still a current member.

Mr Dobson argued that if Pechey really wanted to inflict harm or kill police officers, he would not have advertised himself making public threats.

Pechey submitted a letter to the court admitting he had a history of saying dumb things out of hurt or anger and apologised to the officers he had threatened.



Magistrate Gavin MacLean accepted that Pechey was emotionally upset, suffering from mental illness, under the influence of drugs and therefore saying things that he didn't necessarily mean.

But Magistrate MacLean ruled there was also a 'a menacing aspect' to his offending considering the threats involved firearms.
Joint project brings out creativity in children and promotes a sense of exploration, through play and interaction with nature

New recreational facility built using natural and strong materials such as wood and rope

Approximately 300 children in the community will benefit each year

Bangkok, Thailand  September 18, 2020  BASF and World Vision Foundation of Thailand (WVFT) have completed a joint Natural Playground project for a school in a remote area of the Rayong province. The project engaged community members to design and construct new recreational facilities using natural and sturdy materials such as wood and rope, for children at the Mab Chang Non School, Khao Cha Mao District.

The Mab Chang Non School currently hosts 65 children aged 6 to 12 years. Prior to this project, 90 percent of the playground equipment was damaged and unusable by the children. Recognizing that providing children with a safe play area is crucial to their physical and emotional development BASF and WVFT envisaged this project under the name, Natural Playground.

At BASF, one of our key focus areas of corporate citizenship is to provide quality education to the communities we operate in. We aim to create a healthy learning environment to support the physical and mental growth of children, said Petrus Ng, Managing Director of BASF (Thai) Ltd. We are excited to collaborate with WVFT for another year and do something meaningful for the community and the environment.

A conventional playground is usually installed with ready-made equipment made either from metal or plastic, with minimal lifespan. Once worn out, it becomes dysfunctional and often unrepairable. This project utilized natural materials, such as wood and rope, to design and construct the playground facilities, using traditional methods. With local wisdom from the community, the equipment can be easily fixed using materials from nature. The locals from the villages around also contributed in the building process of this project.

The Natural Playground project considered four key components: safety, convenience, fun, and maintenance. The playground encourages various aspects of child development, including fine and gross motor skills, emotions, and social behaviors. The variety of playground equipment installed can boost childrens imagination while cultivating a sense of gentleness and environment conservation.

Together with BASF, we have engaged teachers, students, and the community in every phase of the project. A natural playground can let children explore and interact with nature, said Phurit Yossundharakul, Public Engagement Department Manager, World Vision Foundation of Thailand.

Opportunities for outdoor play in nature are essential to childrens all-round development. With great support from BASF and WVFT, we are happy to see our new playground help our children develop to their full potential, said Pattama Chua-Rod, Director of Mab Chang Non School.
Leaked Council Leaders and Ministers meeting document says Wrexham came close to a local lockdown and the process was shambolic

This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Sep 23rd, 2020

A Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) meeting earlier this month was told Wrexham came close to a local lockdown and the process was shambolic.

The meeting on the 11th of September was attended by the majority of Council Leaders from councils across Wales, along with Health Minister Vaughan Gething, and Minister for Housing and Local Government Julie James.

The leaked restricted circulation readout notes of the meeting, produced by WLGA staff, say they provide a summary of discussions and are not an official or verbatim record of the meeting.

Under Questions/Points Raised over an item discussing increasing cases in Merthyr Tydfil, and after the Caerphilly local lockdown the document reads:



Locally we have been told that some councillors have been informed Wrexham was close to a lockdown, however this is the first time this has appeared in a document.

The document says Caerphilly asked for a complete lockdown as spike was so significant so we asked did Wrexham made such a request, if so who to and what was the response.

We asked for a Wrexham Council comment on the statement Wrexham came close to a local lockdown, asked how close and at what dates we were apparently close, what was the argument for and against, and who made the final call.

The document states the process was shambolic, so we asked what the process is, what was the shambles, and if it had been resolved.

Finally we quoted the line TTP  shambles and has not improved in Wrexham and asked Wrexham Council what the local issues that were being referred to, what elements of it were a shambles, and what needs to be done by whom to resolve them.

Cllr Hugh Jones, Lead Member for Communities, Partnerships, Public Protection and Community Safety, did not answer the specific points but said: The team has traced over 700 positive cases since the 1st June, identifying over a 1000 contacts in that time, ensuring they all self-isolate and keep Wrexham safe.

The success of the Test Trace Protect team in addition to the efforts of our community can be seen in the significant reduction of covid19 cases seen over the last few weeks in Wrexham. We will continue to work closely with colleagues in BCUHB and Public Health Wales in doing all we can to keep Wrexham Safe.

Although the Council did not say when the local lockdown was close, it is likely to have been in early August when community testing was rolled out in Caia and Hightown  and thankfully despite the higher number of tests no community transmission was found.

The process of local lockdowns appears to be discussed, with a point who is taking decisions? seemingly answered in terms of Caerphilly: PHW, LA and health board put a paper together collectively to propose to WG, WG look at paper through a legal lens, ultimately the decision is WGs. however it is noted, A framework of thresholds/triggers for LAs would be useful  framework to know what happens next when a LA hits a certain number of cases.

This issue seems outstanding, Anglesey asked for escalation framework in June when facing Two Sisters problem and still have not received anything.

The action from the meeting is listed as WLGA to seek clarity from WG on process around process for local lockdowns.

Council Leader Mark Pritchard was attending the meeting representing Wrexham, and is mentioned highlighting testing problems for not just Wrexham but North Wales, Cllr Pritchard expressed concern that residents in North Wales are being expected to travel large distances to get tested e.g. from Conwy Oldham (an area in lockdown). Testing capacity is a huge issue and Leaders should raise with the Health Minister later.

Cllr Pritchard is also cited a second time, Cllr Pritchard  Serious issues in Wales with testing  volume and capacity of testing within the system and timeliness in returning results Lighthouse testing has been running for months and problems need to be resolved. Where is the 32m funding going to be spent? Why are they not running 24/7? Constituents in Wrexham have been asked to go to Aberystwyth or Oldham for tests  no testing facilities for Wrexham again today. Winter pressures are coming and there is still no published plan.

It appears the Minister for Housing and Local Government answered the points by pointing to investment in labs including a 24/7 lab in North Wales, and pointing out that Lighthouse labs are being run as part of the UK programme, Lighthouse labs are an issue around the UK, WG have raised capacity problem with the Department for Health, several more weeks until this can be resolved.

Issues in Denbighshire were also detailed with the pace of Public Health Wales noted: Emerging outbreaks in school in Denbigh  gap between the routes that LA wanted to take in comparison to PHW. PHW have not adapted to the pace required to work on this.

Although not defined in the document it appears the Regional Partnership Board (RPB) and the Local Health Board is mentioned, again in a critical manner: Winter plans for RPBs should be in by the end of October, which is not good enough, LHB winter plan will be verbal, no paper that Leaders can scrutinise and The journey to lockdown, LHB has done a piece of looking at this and it can be shared with Leaders. North Wales are suffering with a failing LHB that is not up to the task at hand.

Recently we reported on pre-pandemic figures that show North Wales councils are owed 24.3 million in outstanding council tax, a position that is set to get worse if the line in the leaked document is correct: Council tax income is collapsing with extra pressure.

The impact of the pandemic on the day to day operations of councils is also hinted at, with one line talking about the budget process that says consultations will be more difficult as normal events with stakeholders wont be able to happen and online consultations will not be full and fair.

You can view the full PDF Leaders & Ministers Meeting notes document here.

Top pic: Wrexham in lockdown earlier this year.
Qantas sold off bar carts from its retired 747 jets, packed with copious amounts of wine, snacks, and candy. Qantas

Qantas listed 1,000 bar carts packed with wine, snacks, and candy for sale this week, and they all sold out within two hours.

The carts came off of the Australian airline's Boeing 747s, which it recently retired.

Qantas sold full bar carts for just over $1,000 and smaller half carts for around $685.

With demand for air travel down significantly, many airlines and suppliers have decided to sell excess inventory  like pajamas, meals, and snacks  to bring in some extra cash.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

With air travel decimated and revenues in the gutter, airlines and their suppliers have been selling off unneeded bits of inventory, to bring in whatever extra cash they can find.

Thai Airways and Cathay Pacific have turned to selling in-flight meals as standalone products. GNS Foods, a supplier to United Airlines, sold excess mixed nuts to the public for bargain-bin prices.

Qantas has outdone them all. After retiring its fleet of Boeing 747s, the Australian airline decided to sell off the bar carts that once rode aboard the Queen of the Skies. And it didn't just offer the hunks of metal and plastic: It packed the trolleys full of booze, candy, and savory snacks, among other treats.

In addition to 160 miniature wine bottles, two bottles of champagne, and various snacks, Qantas threw in four amenity kits, two first-class blankets, and four sets of pajamas with each purchase of a full cart. Smaller half carts with less booze and fewer snacks were also available.

Qantas sold full carts for just north of $1,000 and half carts for roughly $685. Qantas

"These pre-loved carts served Qantas and our customers well during their world travels from London and Los Angeles to Singapore and Santiago, with each one averaging around 2,000 flights," the airline's executive manager of product and service, Phil Capps, said in a press release. "While we no longer have use for them, they still have life in them, especially for those with an appreciation for aviation collectibles and an eye for design."

Story continues

Qantas listed the full carts for just over $1,000 at current exchange rates, while the half carts commanded around $685. All 1,000 carts sold out within two hours, a Qantas spokesperson told Business Insider.

Apparently, plenty of aviation fanatics are willing to spend top dollar to spruce up their home bars or make their flight simulators a bit more realistic, even if they showed the normal wear and tear you'd expect from a cart that took countless trips up and down the aisle.

Qantas has also attempted to shore up its coffers by selling business-class pajamas along with sightseeing flights that land right back where they started.

This article has been updated to include comments from Qantas.

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Press Release

September 23, 2020 Angara: There should be no delays in the implementation of Bayanihan 2 Senator Sonny Angara reminded all the government agencies involved in the implementation of Republic Act 11494 or the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan 2) to enforce the provisions of the law without delay. Addressing the Department of Finance (DOF) and its attached agencies during today's budget hearing by the Committee on Finance, Angara reminded the agencies concerned that Bayanihan 2 became effective immediately after it was published September 15. "We passed Bayanihan 2 and we put in there that it is immediately effective even without the IRR (implementing rules and regulations). But some of the stakeholders are still waiting for orders that are already enforced," Angara said. "Although the implementing rules are no longer needed for effectivity, I think they are waiting. BSP (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas) has issued an order but perhaps others like the Insurance Commission can issue compliance orders. That would be great for our borrowers and the affected sectors. Maybe we can remind them or inform them to issue these orders," he added. Section 18 of RA 11494 states that the law "shall take effect immediately upon its publication in a newspaper of general circulation or in the Official Gazette." During the bicameral conference committee meetings on Bayanihan 2, Angara noted there was an understanding among the members that an IRR was no longer needed for the implementation of the law. Many government agencies and private entities have been hesitant in implementing the provisions of Bayanihan 2 as they sought for guidance in the form of an IRR. Some agencies such as the BSP have already issued guidelines on the implementation of the pertinent provisions of Bayanihan 2. In the case of BSP, it already issued a memorandum for all covered institutions to "implement a mandatory, one-time, 60-day grace period to all loans that are existing, current and outstanding, falling due, or any part thereof, on or before December 31, 2020." Under Bayanihan 2, the grace period covers loans, amortizations, premium, lease and credit card payments of all banks, quasi-banks, financing companies, lending companies, real estate developers, insurance companies providing life insurance policies, pre-need companies, entities providing in-house financing for goods and properties purchased, asset and liabilities management companies and other financial institutions, public and private, including the Government Services Insurance System, Social Security System and Home Development Mutual Fund. Bayanihan 2 also provides for a minimum 30-day grace period for the payment of electric, water, telecommunications and other similar utilities bills that fall due within the period of ECQ and MECQ and a minimum 30-day grace period on residential and commercial rents. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III explained during the budget hearing that the DOF team has already submitted its draft IRR for Bayanihan 2 to Malacanang, a day after it was signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte last September 11. Dominguez said that he will ask Malacanang to "move ahead very quickly" in response to the appeal of Congress.
Alexei Navalny, Putin's arch-rival and critic, has posed for a photo in a park after being discharged from hospital following a failed Novichok poisoning.

The 44-year-old revealed that he is still in rehabilitation and is learning basic skills such as balancing, catching, throwing and writing following the attempt on his life, which has been blamed on the Russian state.

But he said the recovery will continue outside of hospital after doctors ruled he is healthy enough to leave, and that a 'full recovery' is possible.

It comes a month after the dissident politician fell into a coma while on a flight in Russia, spending a total of 18 days in a coma.

Navalny has vowed - via his spokeswoman - to return to Russia to continue his opposition to Putin's rule, though exactly how long that will take is unclear.

Alexei Navalny has been discharged from hospital in Germany after recovering from a failed Novichok poisoning (pictured, Navalny in hospital yesterday with what appear to be scars on his neck, similar to those received by Yulia Skripal after she was also poisoned with Novichok)

The news comes just over a month after Navalny fell ill after boarding a flight at Tomsk airport in Russia (pictured left) and had to be rushed off the plane in a coma (right)

Alongside the photo of himself in the park, Navalny gave an update on his recovery, saying that he looked like Gollum from Lord of the Rings when he first woke up and feared he would never be discharged.

Describing his recovery as a 'miracle', he said he will continue recovering at home - but has a long way to go until he reaches full fitness.

'The plans are still simple,' he wrote. 'A physiotherapist every day. Possibly a rehabilitation center. Stand on one leg. Take back control of my fingers completely. Maintain balance.

'It's funny, I dreamed of learning how to ride a wakeboard behind a boat on the wave and learned this summer. And now I'm learning to stand on one leg.

'All sorts of funny things showed up. For example, I cannot throw the ball with my left hand. I can even catch, but not throw. The brain just doesn't want to make this movement.

'Or write by hand. Until recently, it did not work in a line. All the time I started in a column. Rehabilitation, in general.'

After thanking his supporters, he added: 'By the way, I will try to spend a little more time in social networks.

'Yesterday a neuropsychologist came and did tests to see if I was stupid. I asked: what can I do to help myself recover from not only the physical symptoms, but also the neurological?

'I liked the answer: read more, write on social networks. Play video games. I need to find out if the hospital can get a PS5 prescription.'

The news that Navalny has been released comes five days after he last shared an update on his condition, which showed he could stand and walk.

Pictured standing on a hospital stairwell, the 44-year-old revealed that he had initially been unable to read or write after waking from an 18-day coma that he fell into after being poisoned on a plane in Russia on August 20.

'Until quite recently,' he wrote, 'I did not recognise people and did not understand how to talk.'

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny poses with his wife Yulia and their children at the German hospital where he is being treated after being poisoned with Novichok

Navalny arrives at Berlin's Tegel Airport after he was airlifted from Russia. Doctors at the German hospital say his condition has been improving

It is not clear where Navalny will stay until his eventual return to Russia.

The Kremlin continues to deny involvement in the poison plot, and has requested evidence from Germany to support its conclusion of Novichok poisoning.

Russia has also asked to send agents to interview Navalny, despite NATO warnings that the state 'will try again' to kill him.

NATO chief insist Russia was behind the poisoning, saying there is 'no other explanation', while France and Sweden have also concluded that Novichok - a Russian-made nerve agent - was used in the attack.

It was initially suggested by Navalny's friends that he was poisoned with a cup of tea that he drank at Tomsk airport shortly before boarding the flight where he fell ill.

But his political allies now believe the agent was slipped into a water bottle he drank from at a hotel.

After Navalny fell ill, the aircraft made an emergency landing in Omsk and he was initially taken to hospital in the Siberian city.

The following weekend he was airlifted to Berlin, where doctors at the Charite hospital treated him with the antidote atropine and kept him in a medically induced coma.

On September 2, the German government announced that a military lab had found evidence of Novichok, the Soviet-era nerve agent used to target Sergei Skripal in Salisbury in 2018.

Germany said there was 'unequivocal evidence' of Novichok which has since been independently confirmed by labs in Sweden and France.

Navalny's allies have pointed the finger at Vladimir Putin, saying that only the Russian government could use a military-grade nerve agent such as Novichok.

Western leaders have piled pressure on Russia to explain how Navalny was poisoned, but the Kremlin has denied involvement and played down Germany's findings.

Despite international calls for Russia to carry out a transparent investigation or risk sanctions, it has not opened a criminal probe.

'There are very serious questions now that only the Russian government can answer, and must answer,' Angela Merkel said earlier this month, describing what happened to Navalny as 'the attempted murder by poisoning of one of Russia's leading opposition figures.'

Doctors at the Charite hospital (pictured on Monday) say Navalny's condition is improving, two weeks after a German military lab found that he had been poisoned with a nerve agent

While Berlin stopped short of accusing Russia directly, Navalny's aide Ivan Zhdanov said Novichok 'can only be used by the state' - suggesting that the GRU or FSB intelligence agencies were responsible.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said today that everyone would welcome Navalny's recovery, adding that he was free to return to Russia.

'Any citizen of the Russian Federation is free to leave Russia and return to Russia. If a citizen of the Russian Federation recovers his health, then of course everyone will be happy about that,' he said.

Peskov said the Kremlin was open to clearing up what happened to Navalny, but needed access to information on his case from Germany.

Moscow did not understand why Russia was not being given the same access as French and Swedish laboratories, Peskov said.

A spokesman for Germany's foreign ministry previously countered the Russian line by saying that Russian medics had access to Navalny immediately after he fell ill.

Samples taken from Navalny have also been sent to the Organisation for the Prevention of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in The Hague for additional tests.

The head of Russia's foreign intelligence service claimed today that Navalny showed no signs of poisoning before he was flown to Berlin for treatment.

'It is a fact that the moment Alexei Navalny left Russian territory there were no toxins in his system,' Sergei Naryshkin said.

'Therefore, we have many questions to the German side,' he told reporters.

Hospital medics said in their sixth official update on Monday that Navalny's condition 'continues to improve'.

Navalny's allies have pointed the finger at Russian president Vladimir Putin (pictured) after the opposition leader fell ill, but the Kremlin has dismissed the claims

'The patient has been successfully removed from mechanical ventilation. He is currently undergoing mobilisation and is able to leave his bed for short periods of time,' the statement said.

'The decision to make details of Mr Navalny's condition public was made in consultation with the patient and his wife.'

Despite his recovery, doctors have said they cannot rule out long-term health issues associated with the poisoning.

The EU's diplomatic chief Josep Borrell today urged Russia to carry out a 'full and transparent procedure' to investigate what happened to Navalny.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has accused the West of using the incident as a pretext to introduce new sanctions against Moscow.

The apparent assassination attempt has fuelled calls to scrap the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, a Kremlin flagship project to bring more Russian gas directly to Germany under the Baltic Sea.

Navalny has been a thorn in the Kremlin's side for more than a decade, exposing what he says is high-level corruption and mobilising protests.

He has been repeatedly detained for organising public meetings, sued over corruption investigations and barred from running in the 2018 presidential election.

The 44-year-old has also served several stints in jail in recent years for organising anti-Kremlin protests.

The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that Russia's arrests and detention of Navalny in 2012 and 2014 were politically motivated.

French leader Emmanuel Macron's office said he had expressed 'deep concern over the criminal act' in a call with Putin on Monday.

The Kremlin said Putin 'underlined the impropriety of unfounded accusations against the Russian side' and reiterated Russia's demand for Germany to hand over samples.
A DRUNK man got into the driver's seat of an ambulance that was on a call-out in Dublin city centre and tried to drive off, it has been alleged.

Shane Price (28) is accused of putting his foot on the accelerator and trying to drive the vehicle away after the crew had got out.

The case against him was adjourned at Dublin District Court.

Mr Price, of St Fanahan's Place, Mitchelstown, Co Cork, is charged with public intoxication, threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour and unauthorised taking of an ambulance at Lord Edward Street last August 24.

He is also charged with refusing to provide a urine sample at Pearse Street garda station on the same date.

Garda Bryan Roche said the DPP had directed summary disposal of the case at district court level.

Judge Michael Walsh asked for an outline of the prosecution's case so he could consider the issue of jurisdiction.

Gda Roche said he was on patrol on August 24 when he was directed to the location.

removed

He was told a man had been removed from the Dublin Fire Brigade ambulance that had stopped at Lord Edward Street.

Gardai were told Mr Price had entered the vehicle by opening the driver's side door and got into the driver's seat.

It was claimed he put his foot on the accelerator and "tried to remove the ambulance from the scene."

Judge Walsh asked Gda Roche if it was alleged by the prosecution that the accused had succeeded in removing the ambulance.

"Not at that time," Gda Roche replied.

The accused was taken into custody.

Judge Walsh accepted jurisdiction after hearing details.

This means it can be dealt with at district court level instead of being sent forward for trial to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, which has tougher pot- ential sentencing powers on conviction.

Asked about disclosure material, the garda said CCTV footage and a summary of the evidence were both present in court.

Judge Walsh said the officer should bring the disclosure material on the next date.

He adjourned the case to next month.
(Natural News) Thousands of residents in the city of Lanzhou, the capital of Chinas northwest Gansu province, have been diagnosed with a highly infectious bacterial disease after exposure to contaminated fumes from a pharmaceutical facility. According to a Sept. 16 report by the South China Morning Post, health authorities announced that 3,245 people tested positive for Brucella bacteria antibodies out of the 21,847 they tested.

An investigation by the Lanzhou Health Commission found that fumes from the Lanzhou Biopharmaceutical Plant, a unit of the state-owned China Animal Husbandry Industry, caused the infections. The facility staff had used expired sanitizers while producing Brucella vaccines, allowing the bacteria to escape through the plants exhaust air and infecting people nearby. Many of those who tested positive for Brucella antibodies were those working at the Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute just a few meters away.

The Brucella bacterium is the pathogen responsible for the highly infectious brucellosis. The disease commonly occurs in livestock, but humans may contract it through close contact with infected animals or consumption of unpasteurized dairy products. Symptoms of brucellosis include recurring fever, joint pain and fatigue; while it can cause problems in the reproductive system leading to infertility in the long run, it is rarely deadly.

Brucellosis commonly affects people who have close contact with animals for extended periodssuch as farmhands, veterinary surgeons and slaughterhouse workers. However, the Brucella antibodies found in the more than 3,000 people who tested positive for the pathogen proved that they breathed in the contaminated air from the Lanzhou plant.

According to Zhu Guoqiang, a professor at Yangzhou Universitys College of Veterinary Medicine, the Brucella infections in Lanzhou were notable due to the number of people infected. He expressed uncertainty about whether the bacteria in the contaminated air were as toxic as the ones found in those directly dealing with infected animals.

Professor Zhu said that veterinarians were vigilant of brucellosis, as it was very difficult to treat, and recovering from the disease took a long time.

Even the Chinese are adopting an anti-vaccine stance

As a result of the infections, the Chinese government revoked the Lanzhou Biopharmaceutical Plants license to manufacture vaccines and chastised eight of its senior managers. Meanwhile, 11 hospitals were assigned as brucellosis treatment centers where patients can visit free of charge. Furthermore, the citys health commission announced that all affected individuals will be compensated financially starting October.

The Brucella infection in Lanzhou is another blow to Chinas vaccine industry, which is already reeling from the scandal surrounding vaccine maker Changsheng Bio-technology. In 2018, Reuters reported that the companys subsidiary Changchun Changsheng Life Sciences was slapped a hefty 9.1 billion yuan fine (about $1.3 billion) over falsifying data for a rabies vaccine it was developing for human use. Fourteen of its executives were also barred from working in the pharmaceutical sector.

Aside from data falsification, Changsheng also came under fire for producing an ineffective vaccine for babies. A Sept. 14 report from the South China Morning Post mentioned that the company sold more than 250,000 DPT vaccines in Shandong province. DPT vaccines given to babies as young as three months old in China protect against diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough) and tetanus. However, tests subsequently performed in November 2017 revealed that some of these vaccines did not work at all.

These scandals have made more and more Chinese skeptical of getting the jab for flu, leading the Chinese government to resort to propaganda just to convince people of the benefits of vaccination. If Chinese pharmaceutical companies still encounter issues with common vaccines for brucellosis, rabies and other diseases  it subsequently undermines their capability to fast-track a vaccine for the coronavirus. (Related: Coronavirus came from a Chinese lab and no vaccine will ever cure it, declares renowned scientist.)

Learn more about issues related to vaccines in China and other countries at Vaccines.news.

Sources include:

Breitbart.com

SCMP.com 1

Reuters.com

SCMP.com 2
Malco Products was recently recognized as a 2020 Great Game of Business All-Star Company at the 28th Annual Gathering of Games conference hosted by the Great Game of Business.

Based in Annandale, Minnesota, with operations in DeWitt, Malco manufacturers specialty hand tools for the HVAC trade (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning).

The GGOB promotes an open-book management approach to running a business, and encourages companies to set goals and participate in mini-games with associates aimed at reaching metrics. Tapping into the universal human need to win, GGOB educates employees in the rules of business, rallies them around a common goal, empowers them to see and improve the score and engages them with the opportunity to win or lose as a team.

They promote financial literacy and transparency which is appropriate in our company since we are 100% employee owned, said Mardon Quandt, Malco Chief Operating Officer and President. Malcos utilization of GGOB open-book management philosophies has ensured that we have had the resources needed, communication, and continuous improvement to make our expansion successful, and were proud to say that 90 percent of our Minnesota-based employees have participated in our challenge to spend time working at the DeWitt plant."

Quandt said that there is an application process for the GGOB award and at the conference they recognize 20 All-Star companies from around the world. Ten of those companies are chose as Champions.

Engagement has increased, which leads to more transparent information and communication," he said. "It has also taught me to be more transparent personally, communicate better, and to set personal goals and strive to achieve them.

This is the first year weve been recognized in the top ten, said Quandt.

The DeWitt site plans to begin shipment of Eagle Grip locking pliers within the next few months.

Were committed to a quality product and want to be sure that we have exceeded all of the standards, said Quandt.

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By PTI

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz vice president Maryam Nawaz on Wednesday said political decisions should be made in Parliament and not at the army headquarters.

The 46-year-old daughter of former premier Nawaz Sharif was responding to a question from a reporter about Army Chief Gen Qamar Bajwa and head of the ISI Lt Gen Faiz Hameed's meeting with key opposition figures at the army's General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi last week.

Maryam, who was at the Islamabad High Court for a hearing of an appeal against her conviction in the Avenfield property reference, was talking to media at the court premises.

Replying to a question on the last week's meeting, she said, "I heard about the meeting. From what I understand it was called to discuss Gilgit-Baltistan which is a political issue... These decisions should be made in parliament, not in GHQ."



Maryam said she was not aware whether her father was aware of the meeting.

"I don't know whether he was aware or learnt of it later...But the political leadership should not be called nor should it go to discuss such issues. Whoever wishes to discuss these issues should come to the parliament," she said.

The meeting was reportedly held on September 16 before the All-Party Conference of opposition on Sunday.

The meeting was attended by about 15 opposition figures, including Sharif's younger brother Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.

Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid told the media that the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the constitutional status of Gilgit-Baltistan, but other political issues were also discussed.
A day after the University Grants Commission (UGC) released guidelines for the new academic calendar for first year batch of the 2020-21 academic year, students and colleges in the city were unsure about the implementation of the new dates.

As per the latest schedule shared by UGC, the new academic session for the current first year batch should commence in the first week of November, however, going by the previous schedule, many colleges have already started their first-year batches online.

The previous UGC guidelines had scheduled start of the new academic year for all batches as September 2020, so colleges did exactly that and started lectures online. The University of Mumbai had also suggested the same so now we dont know how these new guidelines will be implemented, said Marie Fernandes, principal St Andrews College, Bandra.

MU had conducted admissions to first year undergraduate course batches in July and August months and most colleges had completed filling all their vacant seats by the end of August itself.

Many colleges that have already completed the orientation process for their students and are all set to start regular classes for their new batch are now confused about the dates and are waiting for clarity from the University of Mumbai.

Since its the UGC guidelines, we will have to follow the same. Hopefully the university will clarify our doubts soon, said Parag Thakkar, principal of H R College.

A spokesperson for MU said the previous circular by the varsity released in July 2020 in terms of start of the new academic year was based on the UGC guidelines of August 2020, which stated that classes for all batches should commence online from September itself. The new draft guidelines will have to be studied by our academic team before we share a circular with all the affiliated colleges, he said.

The UGC has also stated the fact that the new first year batch will end up without a summer or winter break until next year in order to make up for the loss of academic time in this year due to Covid-19 and the lockdown. Several students took to Twitter and other social networking sites to share their discontent with this rule.

With no clarity in place, some colleges are also worried about having to follow two separate academic calendarsone for the new first year batch and another for the rest of the batches. Weve scheduled first semester exams for our second and third year batches in December 2020-January 2021 and we aim to finish the final semester exams by May 2021. But the UGC circular for first year batches is suggesting first and second semester exams in March and July respectively, which means our teachers will be working on examinations for the next entire year, which is unfair to them too, said the vice principal of a suburban college.

New academic calendar--

Admissions to be completed byOctober 31, 2020

Commencement of classes for new batch (1st semester)November 1, 2020

Preparation breakMarch 1 to March 7, 2021

Conduct examinationsMarch 8 to March 26, 2021

Semester breakMarch 27 to April 4, 2021

Commencement of classes (Second semester)April 5, 2021

Preparation breakAugust 1 to August 8, 2021

Conduct examinationsAugust 9 to August 21, 2021

Semester breakAugust 22 to August 29, 2021

Commencement of next academic year for this batchAugust 30, 2021

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa on Tuesday spoke over the phone related to the normalisation deal.

Netanyahu said in a statement issued by his office that the talks focused on the implementation of the normalisation agreement signed by the two countries.

Israel's Ynet news site reported that the Crown Prince said during the discussions that the establishment of diplomatic ties with strengthens the region's stability.

The talks marked the first publicly-acknowledged conversation between Israeli and Bahraini leaders since US-brokered normalisation accords were signed in the White House last week between leaders of Israel, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

(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.)
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania Ballet announced today the appointment of four new board members for a three-year term: George Trammell, Cindy Bolt, Douglas Palmer and Evelyn Ebo. These members join an already generous and tenacious board committed to a strong and bright future.

"We are honored to welcome this exemplary batch of leaders to the Pennsylvania Ballet Board of Trustees whose unmatched expertise, passion for philanthropy and strategic planning will be instrumental in mapping out the long-term goals of this organization," says Shelly Power, executive director of Pennsylvania Ballet. "We'll work closely together to accelerate the growth and evolution of our storied institution, in addition to advancing important initiatives that drive diversity, inclusion and community engagement."

George Trammell

Trammell's professional career included serving as global chief controlling officer and senior vice president of SAP SE. Trammell also held various senior treasury and benefit administration positions at Sunoco. His current volunteer commitments include serving as a Trustee and a member of the Finance and Investment Committee of the Board at the Delaware Museum of Natural History. Trammell serves as Trustee to several independent Trusts. He also serves as a tutor and mentor to at-risk high school students at Urban Promise of Wilmington, Delaware. With deep affection for Pennsylvania Ballet and the art form, Trammell brings with him years of financial planning experience and expertise to the organization.

"I'm pleased to join Pennsylvania Ballet's board of directors and to complement the strengths of the existing board members who are immensely invested in the success and growth of this treasured institution," says Trammell. "I look forward to our collective efforts that'll pave the way forward for this company."

Cindy Bolt

A trusted innovation partner for Fortune 500 companies in the manufacturing, automotive and energy sectors for over two decades, Bolt is the senior vice president of manufacturing, automotive and energy industries at Salesforce. Bolt is also a member of the National Association of Manufacturers Board in addition to her advisory role for a Salesforce independent software company. Bolt will bring her corporate sales and customer engagement expertise, as well as a propensity for marketing and public relations, to this new position with the board.

"With this new appointment, I'm excited to bring a fresh perspective that'll complement the history and excellence of Pennsylvania Ballet," says Bolt. "We're faced with challenging times, but this incredible organization is very well positioned for continued growth and stability, especially with the help of its dedicated board of trustees."

Douglas Palmer

A well-known community figure who made history as the first African American to lead the city of Trenton, New Jersey, Palmer has served the public in several capacities including a 20-year term as mayor and president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors for two terms. Palmer currently holds the position of president and CEO of Douglas H. Palmer and Associates and specializes in inter-governmental and corporate consulting. Palmer continues to support the community, specifically at-risk and minority populations through the Trenton Literacy Movement that is dedicated to public school students between grades 2-4. Palmer aims to help Pennsylvania Ballet develop a larger African American audience in his new role within the organization.

"I'm excited to have this opportunity which enables me to contribute to Pennsylvania Ballet and the community at large in a meaningful way," says Palmer. "I look forward to advancing deliberative, strong and forward-thinking ideas that'll drive important social change and ultimately heighten the company's progressive wing."

Evelyn Ebo

An accomplished entrepreneur, dancer and all-around performer, Ebo's commitment to the arts and expertise in dance helped to carve her career as a dance instructor where she aids in the development of young, aspiring artists. Ebo began studying dance at the age of four and embarked on her professional dance career with the Philadelphia Dance Company where she later served as a teacher. In addition to touring and performing at various stage productions around the country, her credits also include appearing on well-known television shows. Ebo will bring her passion for dance along with her expert advisory skills to this new position.

"I'm eager to devote my time to this esteemed organization and to collaborate with existing members who bring a wealth of experience and energy to Pennsylvania Ballet," says Ebo. "The arts have always been my core focus and I'm thrilled to serve and continue my commitment to this dynamic industry."

The four new board member additions come on the heels of Tamsin Fast, Sarah J.M. Marshall and Robert 'Hob' Brooks' 2019 appointments as Trustees for the Pennsylvania Ballet.

For more information about Pennsylvania Ballet, please visit Paballet.org.

About Pennsylvania Ballet

Pennsylvania Ballet is one of the nation's premier ballet companies and one of Philadelphia's cultural treasures. Internationally renowned dancer Angel Corella took the reigns as Artistic Director at the start of the 2014/2015 season, bringing the company to a new level of excellence with 45 dancers from around the world and an ever-changing repertoire of works. In addition to its performances on Philadelphia's famed Avenue of the Arts, Pennsylvania Ballet serves more than 17,000 individuals across the Philadelphia region every year with hands-on, high quality arts education activities brought to children and adults alike regardless of socioeconomic background or abilities. For more information visit paballet.org or connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for a behind the scenes look at our dancers in the studio and onstage.

Pennsylvania Ballet is supported in part by a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Community & Economic Development and receives support from The Philadelphia Cultural Fund and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

SOURCE Pennsylvania Ballet

Related Links

http://www.paballet.org


Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks during a news conference at the U.S. State Department in Washington, on Sept. 21, 2020. (Patrick Semansky/Pool via Reuters)

State Department Reviewing US Activities of 2 Chinese Communist Party Front Groups: Pompeo

The State Department is reviewing the U.S. activities of two organizations supervised by the Chinese Communist Partys United Front Work Department (UFWD)a powerful agency tasked with overseeing the regimes foreign influence operations, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said.

Pompeo said the department is probing the U.S.-China Friendship Association and the China Council for the Promotion of Peaceful Reunification.

Our concerns include their apparent attempts to exert influence on groups across the public sphere, including schools, business associations, local politicians, media outlets, and Chinese diaspora groups, he said on Sept. 23, during a speech to Wisconsin state lawmakers.

Both of these groups fall under the UFWD. The Party unit coordinates thousands of groups to carry out foreign political influence operations, suppress dissident movements, gather intelligence, and facilitate the transfer of technology to China, according to analysts.

The remarks come as the United States steps up its responses to the regimes malign influence in the country. Last month, the Trump administration designated the Confucius Institute U.S. Center as a foreign mission, in recognition of its role in advancing Beijings propaganda in U.S. classrooms, and has encouraged universities to shutter Confucius Institutes on campus.

A recent report by the Washington-based think tank Center of Strategic and Budgetary Assessments explained that Beijing uses friendship groups, which are often disguised as homegrown organizations run by the host countrys own citizens, to promote its interests abroad. In fact, they are front groups for the regime under its United Front apparatus that act as mouthpieces and intermediaries for advancing Chinas domestic priorities and foreign policy goals.

Meanwhile, the China Council for the Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification is one of the main agencies under the UFWD and has country branches around the world.

Earlier this week, an New York City police officer, Baimadajie Angwang, was arrested for allegedly supplying intelligence on the Tibetan community in the city to Chinese consulate officials. According to court documents, Angwangs Chinese consulate handler worked under a UFWD division, China Association for Preservation and Development of Tibetan Culture.

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.
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.
Lockdown-like restrictions to return in Maharashtra? Here's what CM Uddhav Thackeray has to say

Maharashtras grouse of lack of Central support likely to be raised in meeting with PM

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Sep 23: Maharashtra is likely to raise the issue of lack of support from the Centre during the meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Chief Minister, Uddhav Thackeray will raise the issue of the lack of Centre's support in the state's fight against COVID-19. While citing officials, Hindustan Times said that the lack of Centre's assistance has added to the state's finance burden. The Centre is yet to pay the compensation for the GST to the state. Over and above, it has stopped providing assistance to the battle against the outbreak of the pandemic, the report further added.

Here is why PM Modi is all set meet chief ministers of these seven states today

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 per of the active cases in the country are concentrated in these seven states.

They also account for 65.5 per cent of the total confirmed cases and 77 per cent 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 2.0% Case Fatality Rate (CFR). Other than Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, their positivity rate is observed to be above the national average of 8.52 per cent," 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.

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.

Only Sushant took drugs, Rhea claims in latest plea | Oneindia News

The statement said high-level reviews have ensured adequate availability of medical oxygen in hospitals and COVID 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 the positive cases.
(Bloomberg) -- TikToks Chinese owner asked a federal judge to stop President Donald Trump from enforcing a ban that would remove the viral video-sharing network from U.S. app stores this weekend.

ByteDance Ltd. filed on Wednesday for a temporary block on the ban even as it continues to pursue approvals from the Trump administration for a sale of its U.S. operations to Oracle Corp. and Walmart Inc. The Chinese company asked the Washington court to set a hearing before the rules take effect at 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 27 and proposed that both sides file additional briefs this week.

ByteDances request deploys many of the same arguments a group of WeChat users made to win their own preliminary injunction last weekend against a similar ban. Both TikTok and WeChat, owned by Chinas Tencent Holdings Ltd., have been labeled national security threats by the Trump administration, which is seeking to stop their use in the U.S. -- or, in TikToks case, force a sale to U.S. companies -- on the grounds they could allow Chinas government to gain access to personal data from millions of Americans.

The TikTok ban, proclaimed in an Aug. 6 executive order by the president, is part of a wider effort by the Trump administration to take a hard line against Beijing, betting that a tough approach will help win the president re-election. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo has urged U.S. companies to bar Chinese applications as part of his Clean Network guidance.

ByteDance also needs Chinas approval to proceed with the deal. The company submitted an application this week, though its unclear how long Beijings review will take.

Ticking Clock

ByteDances preliminary-injunction request challenges new Commerce Department rules that would remove TikTok from app stores and require changes to the viral networks core functionality that the company says would effectively shut it down in the U.S. by mid-November.

Filing in response, the U.S. said there is no need for the parties (or for this court) to conduct emergency proceedings and wade into sensitive issues of national security and foreign policy on the basis of a limited record prepared on an extremely short time frame.

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Justice Department spokeswoman Mollie Timmons declined to comment on whether the department would challenge the injunction. The Commerce Department didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

ByteDance argues that the TikTok ban exceeds the Trump administrations legal authority. Its filing echoes a number of the arguments made by WeChat, which said a ban would infringe on its First Amendment rights and cause irreparable harm to the company.

Irreparable Harm

TikTok has made extraordinary efforts to try to satisfy the governments ever-shifting demands and purported national security concerns, ByteDance said in its filing. In the absence of preliminary injunctive relief, the August 6 order and the prohibitions will cause plaintiffs irreparable harm.

Trump has given his conditional blessing to the plan for Oracle and Walmart to take a stake in TikTok, but the arrangement is by no means final. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. still needs to sign off, as do officials in China, where the state-run news media have denounced the plan as an American trap and an underhanded trick.

There are also significant disagreements over the specifics of the deal. ByteDance says it plans to retain 80% of TikTok Global, the new company that would result from the deal. Oracle says the company will be mostly owned by U.S. entities and that ByteDance will have no ownership.

U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols set a hearing for 10 a.m. Thursday to discuss the scheduling dispute.

(Updates with ByteDances request for China approval in fifth graph)

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A Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision to void so-called naked ballots mailed without envelopes that conceal the voters identity could cause electoral chaos and protracted legal battles, state election officials have warned.

The decision  part of a series of rulings that extended vote-by-mail deadlines, allowed ballot drop boxes and removed Green Party candidates from the ticket  could force as many as 100,000 votes to be tossed out in a state that Donald Trump carried by just 44,000 more votes than his opponent Hillary Clinton.

Another slim margin, with thousands of ballots cast but determined invalid, could prevent a Joe Biden victory in the state.

While everyone is talking about the significance of extending the mail-ballot deadline, it is the naked ballot ruling that is going to cause electoral chaos, Lisa Deeley, who chairs the Philadelphia commissioners office, wrote in a letter to state lawmakers on Monday.

She warned that the courts decision could create a post-election scenario the likes of which we have not seen since Florida in 2000.

In 2019, the Philadelphia Board of Elections received 3,086 absentee ballots, but 197 of them were so-called naked ballots and included in the final tally.

Under the Supreme Courts ruling, those ballots  more than 6 per cent  would be thrown out.

Election officials across the US are bracing for a massive uptick in mail-in and absentee ballots ahead of November elections, already underway for thousands of Americans, to avoid voting in person on Election Day during the coronavirus pandemic.

"If you carry that percentage over, we would have received 11,211 naked ballots in the 2020 Primary," she said. "Under the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's recent ruling, that would amount to 11,211 votes that would not have been counted."

Roughly 1.5 million people submitted mail-in ballots during the states June primary, elections.

"That number could rise to more than 100,000 votes statewide  votes that will not be counted, all because of a minor technicality," Ms Deeley told state legislators. "When you consider that the 2016 Presidential Election in Pennsylvania was decided by just over 44,000 votes, you can see why I am concerned."

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The Trump campaign had sued the state over Pennsylvania voting rules.

Democrats argued that while election laws told voters to use the secrecy envelope, it did not direct officials to discard votes cast without them. Pennsylvanias Republican Party, however, said that that counting those ballots would compromise the vote and encourage voter fraud.

The secrecy envelope properly unmarked and sealed ensures that result, unless it is marked with identifying information, in which case that goal is compromised, Justice Max Baer wrote in his ruling on 17 September. 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.

He ruled that the extra envelope is mandatory" and a voters failure to use it renders the ballot invalid.

Read more

Twitter adds disinformation warning to Trump tweet hectoring FBI chief on mail-in ballots

Republicans to ask Supreme Court to curb mail-in voting in Pennsylvania as first key post-RBG decision

Trump rages against voter fraud after three courts rule against him
GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING

Strawberry was subjected to intensive breeding before she was even one

The dog breeding business in northern NSW, was raided by the RSPCA last week

Strawberry was covered in flies and maggots inside her mouth and vagina

Two of her puppies were flown to Western Australia and sold in a pet shop

There is legislation under debate in parliament that would ban sale in pet shops

A young dog who died giving birth had puppies rotting inside her and 'smelt like death' claims a whistleblower who worked at the breeding mill which RSPCA officers have raided multiple times.

The boxer named Strawberry was used for breeding before she was even one year old, according to animal rights group Oscar's Law.

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The puppy farm in northern NSW was raided by the RSPCA last Wednesday for the second time since 2015 over allegations of animal cruelty.

It has now been alleged by a previous worker that a boxer named Strawberry (pictured was used for breeding before she was even a year old

A former worker said Strawberry was used for intensive breeding despite her young age before falling ill and dying in February, WA Today reported.

She managed to give birth to three pups which activists believe are now being sold at pet shops in some of the country's wealthiest suburbs while other pups rotted inside of her.

Strawberry was allegedly covered in flies and maggots were found inside of her mouth and vagina.

Click here to resize this module

'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,' the former employee 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.'

The employee claimed dogs were often left in squalid conditions and their pens were often covered in faeces as they were only allowed out for 20 minutes a day.

The woman said two months after Strawberry's death two of her pups were advertised for sale at Claremont Puppies and Pet in Perth, Western Australia.

The woman said two months after Strawberry's death two of her pups were advertised (pictured) for sale at Claremont Puppies and Pet in Perth, Western Australia

Claremont Puppies and Pets owner Victor Finklestein said he visited the Inverell farm every year

Owner Victor Finkelstein didn't deny getting the dogs from the business but denied it should be classified as a puppy farm.

'I deal with this breeder because the conditions are good and they care for their animals,' Mr Finkelstein told Nine News.

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'I visit them every year. Their conditions are good. I wouldn't be buying off them if I thought they were a puppy farm.'

A farm in Inverell, NSW, was raided by the RSPCA on allegations of animal cruelty (pictured, dogs at the Inverell farm)

The business, which was charged in 2015, has also been accused of breaching breeding regulations (pictured, a boxer on the farm)

However, he did admit he hadn't been to the business in 18 months.

'I got some boxer puppies but I dont know about the mum; it sounds like a load of c**p,' he told WA Today.

Mr Finklestein said he was aware of the RSPCA raid on the breeder but believed animal activists pushed for the raid so legislation could be pushed through WA Parliament.

There is currently a Dog Amendment (Stop Puppy Farming) Act 2020 being tabled in WA.

It would require breeding records to be kept, stop the sale of dogs in pet shops and force an adoption model.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Claremont Puppies and Pets for comment.
Thousands of people took to the streets of Sofia on Bulgaria's independence day on Tuesday, calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Boyko Borisov.

They renewed their demand for Borisov and the country's chief prosecutor to step down over allegations of corruption.

The protesters said they want real steps to limit corruption and are fed up with Borisov, who has been at the helm of three consecutive governments since 2009.

They called for parliamentary elections to be brought forward.

Police were present in greater numbers than in previous protests after organizers said Tuesdays gathering would turn into a new great national uprising.

Riot police cordoned off government buildings.

Although all previous rallies in recent months have been mostly peaceful, there have been occasional clashes with police and some arrests.
In 1988, a group of South Fork naturalists formed a membership organization called the South Fork Natural History Society, better known as SOFO. The objective of this organization was to increase public awareness about the past, present, and future of eastern Long Islands natural history and to share their joyful experiences of exploring and learning with others in the community. SOFO used to operate out of a small building referred to as the Nature Clubhouse where children gathered to examine different species, research for school projects, and just hang out. The Clubhouse served as a prototype...
The nation's recovery out of the coronavirus recession faces a $350 million a week hit from Thursday when the Morrison government slashes a special supplement paid to more than 2.2 million welfare recipients.

The $550 a fortnight coronavirus supplement, paid to people including those on on JobSeeker, Youth Allowance, Austudy, the parenting payment and the widow allowance, will be reduced to $250 a fortnight.

More than 2.3 million people receiving the coronavirus supplement will start to see their $550 a fortnight payment reduced from Thursday. Credit:Jason South

It is the first of the reductions in the suite of support measures put in place by the Morrison government in April as it sought to protect the incomes of people facing unemployment.

Analysis by Deloitte Economics shows there are about 2.3 million receiving the supplement, with the cut in the payment reducing their collective monthly incomes by $1.5 billion.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  The Ohio National Guard will be back in Cleveland Tuesday as the city hosts the first 2020 presidential debate between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden.

Cleveland Public Safety Director Karrie Howard, responding to a question Wednesday about whether the state of Ohio will help Cleveland with security around the debate, told City Council that the Guard would be on hand. Howard did not say specifically what role the Guard will play.

The debate will be held at the Cleveland Clinics Sheila and Eric Samson Pavilion on the Cleveland Clinics Heath Education Campus. The Clinic and Case Western Reserve University are co-hosting the debate.

The Guard has been a familiar sight in Cleveland in 2020.

Gov. Mike DeWine deployed the Guard at the request of Mayor Frank Jackson after downtown demonstrations on May 30 over the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police devolved into a riot.

Jackson imposed a curfew that remained in effect several days, during which time the Guard maintained a presence in Cleveland.

Earlier in the year, the Guard was deployed for humanitarian efforts as the state grappled with the impact of the COVID-19 coronavirus crisis.

In March, more than 50 National Guard coalition members helped load boxes and bags of food for the Greater Cleveland Foodbank and distribute it to families. They also supported other logistical needs to protect public health and safety.

More from Cleveland City Hall

Cleveland to close several streets around the Cleveland Clinic to prepare for presidential debate

Tax incentive package for Tremont development nears final approval from Cleveland City Council

Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson seizes moment, using Health Department restructuring to advance programs to address racism, crime

Cleveland councilman raps Health Department shakeup, saying people should have been fired

I-X Center closure could cost Cleveland Hopkins International Airport more than $2M a year
She regularly shows off her impeccable skin on social media.

And Alessandra Ambrosio proved her commitment to clear skin on Tuesday as she arrived for a skincare appointment in Los Angeles.

The 39-year-old former Victoria's Secret Angel marked the end of summer by arriving for her session in a lovely pale blue sundress that showcased her trim figure.

Clear skin: Alessandra Ambrosio, 39, looked lovely in a blue sundress as she arrived for a skincare appointment in Los Angeles on Tuesday

Alessandra's sleeveless dress featured pale blue and white stripes running vertically, with lacing on the neckline.

She kept up the summery vibe with a pair of tan leather sandals, and she accessorized with a boxy white handbag with a graphic design on the side.

The 5ft 9in beauty arrived with her brunette locks tied up in a top knot with a scrunchie, but she let her shoulder-length locks down before departing.

She kept the sun out of her eyes with round-frame sunglasses and wore a tan cloth mask to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Blue mood: Her sleeveless dress featured pale blue and white stripes and had a string-tied top. She also wore sandals and carried a boxy white handbag

In April of last year, Alessandra delved into her home skincare routine in an interview with Vogue.

'Brazilian beauty to me means natural; it means glowy,' she explained, after showing that she begins every day with a moisturizing SPF20 sunscreen.

Her routine extended beyond her face to cover her limbs and chest, as she said, 'I live in my bikini.'

On Monday, Alessandra showed off her elegantly bronzed skin in a series of Instagram photos taken at a beach in Malibu.

The catwalk star soaked up the sun while posing in a pink button-up shirt wit double breast pockets and set of white shorts that highlighted her tanned legs.

Beach beauty: On Monday, Alessandra showed off her elegantly bronzed skin in a series of Instagram photos taken at a beach in Malibu

Pretty in pink: The catwalk star soaked up the sun while posing in a pink button-up shirt wit double breast pockets and set of white shorts that highlighted her tanned legs

Alessandra has been quarantining for much of the pandemic with her two children, Anja, 12, and Noah, eight, whom she shares with her former fiance Jamie Mazur.

In 2018, it was revealed that she had split from Jamie following a decade-long engagement.

'They [have] been trying to keep their split on the down low,' an insider told Us Weekly at the time.

'But Alessandra has been out and about ready to mingle and hasn't been taking Jamie to anything.'

Family time: Alessandra has been quarantining during the pandemic with her two children, Anja, 12, and Noah, eight, whom she shares with former fiance Jamie Mazur; shown in 2017

'If I have been engaged to him for eight years, then it's not my priority,' Alessandra admitted to Cosmopolitan UK in 2016. 'I have a lot of things going on, and I haven't got married because I'm so busy. I'll think about that when I have time off.'

More recently, she has been spending time with her Italian businessman beau, Nicolo Oddi, whom she's dated since 2018.

Last month, she and Jamie left California for a vacation with her two children to the crystal clear waters of the Maldives, where they celebrated Ana's 12th birthday.
VistaJet

VistaJet Sustainable Aviation Fuel

VistaJet Sustainable Aviation Fuel

 Introducing new partnership with SkyNRG, pioneer and global leader in sustainable aviation fuel



 Success of its current sustainability plan, which has seen 80% of Members join plan to reduce carbon footprint

 Technology-led optimization, reducing fuel consumption by an average of 8% per flight since January 2020



LONDON, Sept. 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VistaJet, the first and only global business aviation company, today announces the progress it has made on its Sustainability in Aviation pledge, launched in January 2020, to rapidly and meaningfully reduce its carbon footprint, and to explore all routes to higher levels of sustainability. The company is also announcing a market-leading partnership with SkyNRG, pioneer and global leader for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

The SAF industry has made advancements since its inception, yet the availability of sustainable fuels for jet airplanes is still limited due to financial, technical, and regulatory reasons. With air travel centered around hubs and the 20 busiest airports in the world handling nearly one-fifth of all air passenger traffic, this should make it easier for the new energy source to be fully adopted by operators*. However, a decade after their introduction, there are only a few hubs globally where sustainable biojet fuel is available and it still only accounts for less than 0.1% of total aviation fuel consumption.

As a fundamental step to further increase sustainability, VistaJet has signed a new partnership with SkyNRG, offering all VistaJet customers around the world access to sustainable aviation fuel. This will promote substantial reductions in aviation carbon emissions, and increase stable demand and availability around the world. Partnering with SkyNRG will offer VistaJet customers the most sustainable, cost-effective and scalable solution to decarbonize their flights, while helping to grow adoption across the entire industry.

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As a core component of the Sustainability in Aviation program, VistaJet undertook a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions audit with South Pole, an award-winning project developer and global provider of climate action solutions. To coincide with Climate Week NYC, VistaJet provides its first progress update on its eight pillars of sustainability, and key findings are as follows:

VistaJets Carbon Offset Program  Since introducing the Sustainability in Aviation pledge, 80% of VistaJet Members have opted in to compensate for their fuel use-related emissions by investing in certified carbon credits around the world. This meaningful step has allowed VistaJet, with the help of South Pole, to already offset almost 100,000 tons of CO2 (tCO2)** on behalf of its customers  equivalent to over 21,600 passenger vehicles driven for one year or over 12.7 billion smartphones charged***. Additionally, through the EU ETS, emissions of all flights between European countries will be offset by April 2021, which between January to August 2020 totals 21,500 tCO2. Sustainable Aviation Fuel  The VistaJet brands main emission source is aviation fuel, representing 89% of the total GHG emissions and comprising emissions from the production, processing, delivery and combustion of aviation fuel. While offsetting indirectly reduces carbon footprint, using a fuel with a lower carbon intensity would significantly and directly reduce the industrys emissions  in its neat form the use of SAF can reduce carbon emissions by up to 85% compared to conventional jet fuel. VistaJets innovative new plan will secure SAF availability for its customers globally  sourced and delivered by SkyNRG from World Energys refinery  supporting fast adoption of this crucially important energy solution. Most Technologically Advanced Aircraft  VistaJets shared fleet model means less aircraft being produced and enables higher utilization of each existing jet. VistaJets global infrastructure also allows for a reduction in repositioning flights. Additionally, the companys young fleet benefits from the latest technology for the most efficient flying and secures better fuel burn than older aircraft. Its new Global 7500 fleet is the most technologically advanced aircraft available today. The aircraft was manufactured with design for the environment in mind, including its new GE Passport engines that produce less noise and fuel consumption of approximately 2.5 litres per functional unit  and even lower for some longer-range missions. Its high-speed transonic wing cuts down on drag, further reducing fuel burn and emissions. Fuel Consumption Reduction Technology  VistaJet Ltd launched a comprehensive program to automate flight optimization and global fleet management. Through investment in AI and machine-learning technology, the company is working on predictive route algorithms to minimize ferry flights and reduce fuel consumption. To date, using the FLIGHTKEYS 5D flight management system, the company has been able optimize route, level and speed to reduce fuel consumption by 8% per flight. The heightened system automation allows VistaJet dispatchers to increase efficiency in flight re-planning, while 3D optimization in congested airspace minimized the possibility of slot issues and delays. Fuel Efficient Booking System  Booking with at least one weeks notice helps to further improve fleet management, reducing unnecessary fuel burn. For VistaJet Members, the early booking program can mean a discount on their rates and is available as an option for new contracts. Customers who are more flexible on departure city airport selection have already helped to reduce movement around London airports by 20% in 2019, cutting several tons of CO2. Partnering with Leaders in Sustainability  VistaJet partners with carbon neutral companies wherever possible and has implemented new requirements for all purchasing partners, including sustainability accreditation for third parties across all departments in the business. Additionally, over 100 onboard stock vendors have been contacted to introduce more sustainable products. Sustainable In-Flight Products  VistaJet has removed over 90% of single-use items across its fleet and replaced items on board with sustainable alternatives. Examples of these include packaging products using starch that fully biodegrades in one year, replacing plastic toothbrushes with those made of bamboo, sourcing low-impact detergents and cleaning products, and switching to beauty products packaged in glass. This is in addition to serving meals on porcelain and crystalware, available onboard for many years. Moving to Renewable Electricity On-the-Ground  The extensive company audit enabled VistaJet to identify the carbon footprint of its operations and offices worldwide in order to define further GHG reduction opportunities and priorities. Electricity consumption represents 24% of the total emissions for VistaJet offices specifically. To decrease these levels, VistaJet has adopted electricity supplied from renewable sources for two of its largest offices and is assessing solutions for the others. Further schemes such as cycle to work and flexible location working are being rolled out to decrease employee emissions.

Next Steps for the Industry: VistaJets Call to Action

Although private aviation plays a relatively limited role in the global landscape of carbon emissions, producing around 0.04%**** of all human-induced CO2 emissions, demand for mobility is increasing, despite a decline in passenger demand this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

While the aviation industry has started discussing on multiple fronts with regulators, leaders in aviation cannot wait and must lead the way by investing in all available, robust solutions to drive the transition to zero carbon. VistaJet has dedicated itself to reducing its environmental footprint and affect positive change through innovation. Thomas Flohr, Founder and Chairman of VistaJet, said VistaJet is committed to making aviation better. Today, this means changing the way we operate, to benefit not only our customers, but the whole global community. In this spirit, I hope our private aviation partners and peers will do the same, working collaboratively to bring change faster, as this is the only way for the fragmented industry to take full responsibility for the long-term health of the planet. In addition to adhering to market-based measures and improving existing infrastructure, enhancing operational procedures and developing new technological innovations is crucial. We are positive about the future, and we believe together we can transform business aviation for the long-term good.

Information

Jennifer Farquhar | VistaJet | press@vistajet.com

Notes for Editors

For more information on VistaJets sustainability promise, its priority to reduce its carbon footprint meaningfully and fast, and to download the Sustainability in Aviation whitepaper, visit vistajet.com/sustainability.

* https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/08/carbon-neutral-flying/

** Between 1 January 2020 and 30 June 2020

*** https://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gas-equivalencies-calculator

**** The global aviation industry produces around 2% of the worlds total human-induced CO2 emissions. Private aviations current share of the aviation industrys global carbon footprint is 2%  so 0.04% of the total emissions.

About VistaJet

VistaJet is the first and only global business aviation company. On its fleet of over 70 silver and red business jets, VistaJet has flown corporations, governments and private clients to 187 countries, covering 96% of the world. Founded in 2004, the company pioneered an innovative business model where customers have access to an entire fleet whilst paying only for the hours they fly, free of the responsibilities and asset risks linked to aircraft ownership. VistaJets signature Program membership offers customers a bespoke subscription of flight hours on its fleet of mid and long-range jets, to fly them anytime, anywhere.



VistaJet is part of Vista Global Holding  the worlds first private aviation ecosystem, integrating a unique portfolio of companies offering asset-light solutions to cover all key aspects of business aviation. More VistaJet information and news at vistajet.com

VistaJet Limited is a European air carrier that operates 9H registered aircraft under its Maltese Air Operator Certificate No. MT-17 and is incorporated in Malta under Company Number C 55231. VistaJet and its subsidiaries are not U.S. direct carriers. VistaJet-owned and U.S. registered aircraft are operated by properly licensed U.S. air carriers, including XOJET Aviation LLC.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/54939574-b614-46db-89c2-c7e033d7c6a5




Recently, the Atlantic magazine cited four witnesses as hearing President Trump say that dead and wounded U.S. military are suckers and losers.

When I read this, I remembered the day as a little boy long ago when my mother shut the front door and began to cry.

Your brother Bob is missing in action, she said. I went to my room and knelt by the side of my bed.

What are you doing? she asked. Im asking God to find Bobby and bring him back home to us. Hardly a prayer for a sucker.

And thus began a year and a half of hospitalizations and surgeries for my brother Robert who was a Navy PB-Y spotter and gunner. His plane went down on May 21, 1944 off the waters off Samarai, New Guinea. After floating on a rubber raft for several hours, his stomach ripped open, he was rescued by a Dutch freighter. He and the pilot were the only survivors.

Another brother, Wallace, was deployed by the U.S. Army to Korea. Im not sure if he saw any action, but he did serve, though he, too, was not a sucker.

A third brother, Kenny, was a U.S. Marine serving as a helicopter mechanic aboard the U.S.S. Boxer, a small aircraft carrier, during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Like so many other Marines, also not losers and suckers, he was proud to serve his country.

It is estimated that a little more than one million Americans have died in wars, from the Revolutionary War to the Persian Gulf War. According to Trump, we then have more than one million suckers and losers.

Recently, we are being asked to vote for Trump for being what he does, and not for what he says. In either case, what he says and what he does are equally about himself.

Unbelievable, he likes to say about what he does. True, he is unbelievable, that is, he lies so much that we cannot believe him.

Like so many others, I hate war. Killing each other in order to resolve disagreements is as old as mankind. I was personally reminded of this several years ago when I visited a tribal village in the Amazon whose chief was elected on a platform of having killed six men over disagreements about women and land.

Ironically, I go to many of the war sites where our military have fought and died, not because they are losers or suckers. I go to these places because I honor the courage and heroism of some of the million who have fought and died for our country.

Ive sat on the sands of Iwo Jima and thanked the 6,000 Marines who died there. Ive gone to Guadalcanal, to Gavutu and Tulagi. Ive walked in the waters of Tarawa where 1,000 Marines died in a day and half in order to take the small airfield that controlled the central Pacific. Ive gone to Okinawa where 12,000 Marines lost their lives. It goes on  and on.

To call my brothers suckers and losers is equivalent to calling them stupid, like lambs to a slaughter.

The satirist H.L. Mencken says, As democracy is perfected, the office of the president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their hearts desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.

I think we have reached that day.

Gerard Brooker is a Bethel resident and a retired teacher from Staples High School in Westport.
Surfside Beach Police Chief Gary Phillips surveyed the damage Tuesday morning and found some flooded streets and beach erosion in the wake of Beta, but overall his coastal community looked OK.

"We fared well, he said. Better than the night before."

Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo, however, was Tweeting warnings early Tuesday: Turn around, dont drown isnt a slogan, it is a strategy to stay safe and alive.

Lots of street flooding in our area, he wrote. Please do not go out unless you need to. If you need to drive wait until daylight if at all possible. Do not cross flooded roadways or go around barricades.

Police and fire departments had made nearly 100 high-water rescues by late Tuesday morning, according to city officials.

Tropical Storm Betas coastal flooding was expected, with residents in Galveston, Surfside Beach and other communities braced for higher tides and plenty of rain. But the inland flooding was stronger than some residents anticipated as Beta dumped hours and many inches of rain on Houston-area residents.

Some endured 13 to 14 inches by Tuesday afternoon. And they were facing more rain as the storm continued its slow trek across Texas.

We just have to get through tonight, Dan Reilly, warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather Service's Houston/Galveston office, said during a presentation Tuesday afternoon.

He said an additional 4 to 8 inches of rain is possible. Some higher amounts of 10-plus inches could occur, too.

Isolated storm totals could reach 20 inches when combined with the rain that has already fallen.

Flash flooding is the remaining threat with Beta, Reilly said.

Prior to Tropical Storm Beta making landfall Monday night near Matagorda Bay, Reilly said coastal counties could receive 5 to 10 inches of rain. Inland communities  roughly north of the U.S. 59 to U.S. 90 route connecting Wharton to Houston to Dayton  could see 2 to 4 inches of rain, though higher amounts up to 15 inches could occur anywhere a heavy rain band sets up.

Beta was downgraded to a tropical depression on Tuesday.

Eric Berger, the editor of Space City Weather, said the National Weather Services forecast was pretty good. North of I-10 largely saw 2 to 4 inches of rain. Communities closer to I-10 and south of I-10 had more of the 5 to 10 inches of rain. Then there were some isolated areas  south of 610, Friendswood, Pearland  that had higher amounts.

Now Playing: Here's how Tropical Storm Beta has affected parts of the Houston region on Sept. 21 and 22. Video: Houston Chronicle

I think its fair to say this came within the higher end of expectations, Berger said, but within the realm of what was predicted.

The main issue Monday and Monday night was a potent rain band, some 10 to 20 miles wide. Berger said its difficult to know where rain bands will ultimately set up. This one happened to choose the Gulf Freeway, and it parked there when the storm stalled.

Waterways overflowed. Stranded drivers required high-water rescues, and some homeowners had water rushing under their front doors. Brays and Buffalo Bayous sent water onto roadways and climbing toward residences.

In Friendswood, many streets were impassable, including major thoroughfares that crossed over Clear Creek, which rose so much that it crested over the bank and onto the roads.

Apryl Sandoval has walked the neighborhood enough over the years to know where the consistent flooding spots are. Indeed, roads dip at random places and the elevations of houses vary, even on a single residential block.

Just depends on where the rain bands are, Sandoval said, joking that after Harvey we were saying, the builders must have been high on something. The elevation is very different house to house.

Additional rain and rain bands were expected Tuesday night, which could cause flash flooding or flooding of already elevated streams and creeks. But the effects of Beta will likely pass Houston by Wednesday afternoon, forecasters said.

According to the National Hurricane Center, the center of Beta is expected to move over southeastern Texas through Wednesday and then over Louisiana and Mississippi Wednesday night through Friday. It could dissipate over Mississippi or Alabama by Saturday, if not sooner.
There is a hilarious episode of Frasier titled "The Candidate" (1994) that resonates today. Supercilious limousine liberal brothers Frasier and Niles are horrified to learn that their dad has filmed a political TV spot for the conservative running for Seattle's congressional seat. Ex-cop Marty likes the law and order candidate who wants more cops on the street, while his snooty pseudo-environmentalist sons naturally support the bleeding-heart liberal running against him. To assuage their guilt over their dad's ad, Frasier agrees to star in an ad for the Democrat. During a break in the filming, the Democrat reveals to Frasier that he had once been kidnapped by aliens. Psychiatrist Frasier is forced to admit to himself that the man is mentally disordered. He goes through with the ad, but it is so obviously at odds with the scripted words that it is clear that he no longer supports the man. After one more vaudevillian misunderstanding, Frasier inadvertently destroys the man's chances altogether, and the candidate gets only eight percent of the vote.

This old piece of television comedy from when sitcoms were actually very funny is relevant because Frasier's alarming epiphany about his candidate's mental stability is surely how many Democrats feel as they come to realize that Joe Biden's mental capacity is fast declining, his cognitive ability vanishing with each passing day. In their zeal to prevent Bernie Sanders from winning the nomination, they've boxed themselves into a corner of their own making and accidently nominated the oldest white male in the pack  and he is senile to boot.

But the Democrats' dilemma is not at all amusing; it is deadly serious. Biden's handlers seem to think that as long as the media prop him up, aid and conceal his dependence on his teleprompter, ask only the softest of softball questions, and pretend his answers are coherent when they are gibberish, they can drag him across the finish line in November. They may be fooling some of the people who have had neither the time nor inclination to watch the countless videos of Biden's mash-ups, but if the debate takes place and people begin paying closer attention, everyone will know that the Democrat candidate is damaged goods. When they learn that a Biden/Harris administration means to keep abortion legal up to the moment of birth, decent people will balk at voting Democrat. When they become aware that Biden has vowed to open our borders to all comers and bill U.S. taxpayers for their medical care, and that our taxes will be raised by $4T to accommodate this and other giveaways, they will vote their own pocketbook. Biden and Harris both support the defund-the-police movement, one of the dumbest campaigns in American history, one that has set in motion unspeakable violence against law enforcement personnel around the country. Only the most berserk people support that dangerous nonsense.

Biden was never a decent or a substantive member of Congress, but nearly all members of his family have managed to enrich themselves thanks to Joe's behind-the-scenes machinations. He has always worked for himself, never for his constituents or the American people. Much of their family wealth has come from China; President Trump is right when he says Biden is owned by China, which explains his refusal to criticize, let alone condemn, that country's ongoing attempt to take over the planet by undermining the West. Neither Biden nor Harris spoke out against the riots across the nation that were organized and paid for by the leaders of Black Lives Matter and Antifa, all members of which are their supporters, until the polls revealed that most people have been horrified by the violence, theft, and murder. That was a week ago, after billions of dollars in damage, devastated cities, and ruined lives. Biden and Harris have made common cause with the Marxists who are pulling the strings of BLM and Antifa, but Joe may very well be unaware of this. He is a front for the party's most radical puppetmasters, most especially George Soros.

Joe refuses to provide a list of people he would consider for the Supreme Court. He went so far as to say voters don't deserve to know whom he would appoint until he is elected. He was against the Democrats' plan to add justices to the SCOTUS; now he refuses to answer that question when asked. This is a plan so absurd that the mere fact of the Democrats threatening to do it shows how frantic they are. They are flailing.

Like so many other days, Biden's campaign on Tuesday called a "lid" early in the day, which means he would not be appearing anywhere. Will he show up for the debate on the 29th? As Trump mused, perhaps there is a shot of something that can bring him around, and he can perform, but he will have a hard time competing with the president who has energy to spare and prodigious knowledge of any issue that is likely to be addressed.

As for COVID, it is the virus the left has embraced with an ardor only totalitarians could muster. For the Democrats, it has been manna from Heaven. It has provided Democrat governors and mayors around the nation an excuse to unleash the petty tyrant within. Rather than quarantine the vulnerable, they have relished their power to shut healthy people in their homes and out of their businesses, all in the name of "pandemic." Yes, it is a pandemic, but healthy people, especially young people, are not at risk. But masks are mandated, schools remain closed, religious gatherings banned, gyms shuttered. The exception to these rules is the protest demonstrations of BLM and Antifa, no matter how violent they become. It's a scam, a leftist scam to promote fear and divisiveness among the American people. Joe's confusion as to the number of people who have died only adds to the certainty of his failing mind, as does his insistence that if it were not for President Trump's handling of the crisis, no one would have died!

The Democrat hysteria of the day is the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Trump's constitutional right and duty to fill her seat on the Supreme Court. If, as many suspect and hope, he selects Amy Coney Barrett, the left's vicious anti-Christian mindset is likely to create problems, as Biden is trying to redeem himself by touting his "Catholic faith." NPR is only too happy to puff him up in this regard. This is not going to fly as long as he supports abortion up until the moment of birth. He was banned from taking Communion in South Carolina because of his pro-abortion stance. Nancy Pelosi too pretends to be a Catholic. In her dreams. There is not a single Christian tenet by which she conducts her life or her office as speaker of the House.

It will be interesting to watch how the Democrats conduct themselves in the coming battle they are going to lose. Will even one of them have a bit of class? We shall see. Doubtful.

Most of Biden's contributions have come from billionaires, while most of Trump's have come from small donors who actually vote. Trump's rallies are attended by thousands; Biden's appearances are attended by fewer than a dozen. There is a line in the Frasier episode where Niles tells the liberal candidate that he and Frasier are supporting: "The Crane family has a long history of political involvement. My wife Maris has all her servants down at your headquarters licking envelopes." That pretty much sums up the Democrat party today. It is the party of the Wall Street rich and corporate, the elitist and authoritarian, the folks for whom the word "ethics" has no meaning. They know that, if elected, Joe Biden will do their bidding as directed. All those actual voters who show up and support Trump know he will do their bidding. He has proven he can and will keep his promises. The Trump-deranged aside, Americans are not going to elect the feeble and senescent Joe Biden. He's toast as surely as Frasier's abducted-by-aliens candidate was toast.

Image: Kelly Kline via Flickr.
High flying Kenyan musician Guardian Angel has released the accompanying video for his single dubbed Kijito.

Initially released two weeks ago, Kijiti is an inspiring praise and worship song produced by Douglas. The songs video is produced by K Thomas and has been shot simply devoid of distractions as if to amplify the songs message.

In Kijito, Guardian Angel also showcases his strong vocals that set him apart from other contemporary gospel acts.

The song is earning Guardian Angel rave reviews, with listeners pointing out that the self-proclaimed music doctor is one of few urban gospel stars who is genuinely rooted and grounded in Christ.

Been waiting for this video. This song brings me closer to God everytime I listen to it. I loop it daily nasiwezi choka nayo. Thanks GA for blessing my Sunday ??, said one YouTuber user.

A second internet user said: You always bring us close to the feet of Jesus Christ, we still remember you when you visited the university of Embu.. Ubarikiwe!!!

I have been playing this song daily ever since you posted the audio.. Glad to see its video.. Its a good one, wrote another.

This song just makes you feel like the holly spirit is with you. Keep it up Guardian Angel, God will really bless you, said another commenter.

A fifth YT user added: Bahati,Willy Paul, Ringtone Apoko, come see a boy who is grounded in Christ. #ChristWins #Lovewins #ThemoretheytrollThemoreHeRises.

My Dad loved this song so much and finding it here reminds me of a man who would get so broken inthe presence of God. Thanks Guardian, said another.

Check out Kijito below.
Longtime logger Johnny Williamson knew his true calling in life was spreading kindness. An inspiration he had in 1999  to create a Jesus statue with the help of his artist friend Willie Logan  led to people in his community near Northport, Ala., to spread love and kindness in ways hed never dreamed.

Although Johnny died in 2013, the wooden Good Shepherd statue is set beside Alabama Highway 43 to spread his message.

The statue

In 1999, after the death of his mother, Williamson was compelled to commission a statue of Jesus with a lamb  the Good Shepherd, says his daughter, Becky Williamson-Martin of Samantha, Ala. The 23rd Psalm was his mother Pearlie Mae Williamsons favorite scripture. The statue now stands in a protective glass box along Alabama Highway 43 in Samantha, 20 miles north of Northport, where it can spread Williamsons message.

Williamson asked his friend Willie Logan  a well-known wood carver who created a statue of Chief Tuskaloosa that stands in front of the Tuscaloosa Public Library  to use cypress for the statue.

Details of the Good Shepherd statue near Northport. It was commissioned by Johnny Williamson and carved by Willie Logan. (Becky Williamson-Martin)

Becky explains on the Good Shepherd website: A cypress log was chosen for The Good Shepherd Statue because of the longstanding belief that the cypress is the gopher wood (or kopher which is the Hebrew word for waterproof) that Noah used to build the ark.

The statue at 19858 Highway 43 North in Northport (the postal address  it is actually in the community of Samantha). Becky says visitors are welcome to stop and take photos. Fliers telling the story of the Good Shepherd statue are usually available at the site.

Before his death, Williamson said: The statue is a testimony of my faith. It isnt meant to be an idol. You dont worship it, but it gets people to think and do good deeds.

The Good Shepherd Foundation

Following Williamsons death in 2013, his children decided to spread the message even further by creating the Johnny Williamson Good Shepherd Foundation, which collects food for those in need.

Johnny Williamson (Becky Williamson-Martin)

Johnny Williamson was driven to help others and he practiced the act of giving daily, Becky said. He was always prepared to provide a need for his neighbor, never asking for anything in return. It was out of his love for his Savior (The Good Shepherd) that he loved others.

Becky Williamson-Martin said she and her siblings  Larry Williamson, Ricky Williamson, Phyllis Olive and Ken Williamson  saw the need for the organization. It is our desire and prayer to fulfill this legacy of love, she said.

The foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, holds a variety of community events to raise funds for its mission, including concerts and an annual festival. Groups also rent the space for events, which are listed on the Good Shepherd website.

For information on the foundation, call 205-872-4719, or visit the website here.
To develop and validate a model to predict 12-month continence status after robot assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) from preoperative and 3-month postoperative data; this model could help in informing patients on their individualized risk of urinary incontinence (UI) after radical prostatectomy in order to choose the best treatment option.

Data on 9421 patients in 25 Belgian centers were prospectively collected (2009-2016) in a compulsory regional database. The primary outcome was the prediction of continence status, using the International Consultation on Incontinence Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI-SF) at 12-months after RARP. Linear regression shrinkage was used to assess the association between preoperative, 3- month post-operative characteristics, and 12-month continence status. This association was visualized using nomograms and an online tool.

At 12 months the average value of ICIQ-UI questionnaire was 4.3 (SD: 4.7), 3- fold higher than the mean pre-op value (1.4). For the preoperative model, high EAU risk classification for biochemical recurrence (Est 0.606 (SE 0.165)), post-operative radiotherapy (Est 1.563 (SE 0.641)), lower preoperative EORCT QLQ-C30/QoL (Est -0.011 (SE 0.003)), higher preoperative ICIQ-UI-SF (Est 0.214 (SE 0.018)) and higher age (Est 0.058 (SE 0.009)) were associated with a higher 12-month ICIQ-UI-SF. For the 3-months model, higher preoperative ICIQ-UI-SF (Est 0.083 (SE 0.014)), higher age (Est 0.024 (SE 0.007)), lower 3-month EORCT QLQ-C30/QoL (Est -0.010 (SE 0.002)) and higher 3-month ICIQ-UI-SF (Est 0.562 (SE 0.009)) were associated with higher 12-month ICIQ-UI-SF.

Our models set the stage for a more accurate counselling of patients. In particular our pre-operative model assesses the risk of UI according to preoperative and early post-operative variables. Our post-operative model can identify patients who most likely would not benefit from a conservative treatment and should be counselled on continence surgery.

BJU international. 2020 Sep 15 [Epub ahead of print]

Manuela Tutolo, Frank Van der Aa, Luk Bruyneel, Nancy Van Damme, Ben Van Cleynenbreugel, Steven Joniau, Enrico Ammirati, Gigi Vos, Alberto Briganti, Dirk De Ridder, Wouter Everaerts, Belgian RALP consortium

Department of Urology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium., Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leuven Institute for Healthcare Policy, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium., Department of Neuro-Urology, CTO-Spinal Cord Unit, Citta della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Turin, Italy., Division of Oncology, Unit of Urology, Urological Research Institute, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy.

PubMed http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32929874
It has surprised many, as coming from BJP, there doesnt seem to be much communalism involved in its NEP notwithstanding the fact that since coming to power at the center some six years ago it has introduced far reaching changes in syllabus. The content of history depicting Muslim rule in the country has been substantially cut and BJP has introduced its own versions, in many cases.

On July 29, Narendra Modi government revealed its inventive and novel national education policy. There is no denying the fact that from outset National Education Policy 2020 looks non-toxic and innocuous, even to the extent of looking like appealing and attractive.

The efforts to saffronize education began immediately after BJP came to power at the Center. In August 2014, merely a few months after BJPs landslide victory in Lok Sabha elections, the RSS formed a committee, the Bharatiya Shiksha Niti Aayog in order to Indianise the countrys education system. The man heading this Bhartiya Shiksha Nti Ayog was none other than Dinanath Batra, an old RSS hand who has earned fame in trying to come up with RSS version of Indian history.

Now as the new education policy has come, there hasnt been much of effort to analyze the NEP from this perspective. Muslims who have been at the receiving end of the RSS efforts to indianise the education system dont have much to say about it and its impact.

However, Muslim educational institutions are trying to prepare themselves for the far reaching changes that the new education policy will entail in the days to come. Muslims run hundreds of thousands of education institutions from primary level to university level and they dont want to be left behind by latest changes in the educational policies. From primary schools to degree colleges and universities, these educational institutions cater to a huge number, mostly from poor background.

The National Education Policy (NEP) has been largely welcomed across the country. The last education policy was formulated some 34 years ago, though there were some modifications introduced to the 1986 NEP in the year 1992. Since then academia has undergone a metamorphosis of sorts. However, in more than three decades, this is the first time when wide ranging changes have been proposed in the education policy. It is needless to add here that these will have far reaching implications on how education is imparted in our part of the world.

Apparently, the implementation of the new National Educational Policy has been given a go ahead and the government is already taking steps to launch it at the earliest. It has been announced now that kids studying in class 7 right now will be the first to write their school-leaving board examinations using a fully transformed examination pattern in 2025-26. Meanwhile the ones studying in class 8 at the moment will be the first batch to experience the new curricular framework and assessment system beginning next year. This has been confirmed by the Department of School Education and Literacy.

There are apprehensions among Muslims as to how the brand new National Education Policy will impact the 200 million strong Indian Muslim community. Given the fact that the changes are overwhelming and will have far reaching impact on how education is imparted, there is obvious discomfiture among many sections of the populace including the Muslim community.

There is confusion, not just among the Muslim community, but across a wide spectrum of population due to widespread changes or rather transformation of education. Department of School Education and Literacy, according to reports, has identified some 300 tasks for a wide range of implementing agencies that need to be implemented over the next five years.

Hasan Ghias, an Advanced Leadership Fellow at Harvard University says that we first need to map the architecture of Muslim-managed educational institutions in India from Madrasas through primary and secondary to tertiary education. We should classify them into distinct categories and subject each category to a detailed and thorough SWOT analysis. Once we have clarity on their Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats, then we will be able to chart our way forward.

While talking about it further, Ghias tells me, NEP 2020 may have many gray areas, possibly concealed motives and hidden agendas. We have to find the silver linings in the clouds. Instead of wasting time and energy arguing the toss, lets find ways to cut along the grain. In my opinion, the Policy might open up some opportunities that we can, with imagination and motivation, use to our advantage.

He further says that in the context of higher education, the Policy states higher education can lift individuals and communities out of cycles of disadvantage. This Policy envisions ensuring equitable access to quality education to all students, with a special emphasis on SEDGs........Earmark suitable Government funds for the education of SEDGs ........Set clear targets for higher GER for SEDGs.....Provide more financial assistance and scholarships to SEDGs in both public and private HEIs......Conduct outreach programmes on higher education opportunities and scholarships among SEDGs.......Make admission processes more inclusive. He goes on to add that this emphasis on Socio-economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs) actually opens up more vistas of opportunity for marginalized groups at both school and higher education levels. There must be well-planned efforts by community leaders to engage with MHRD, the Ministry of Minority Affairs and other relevant agencies to ensure that the rules, regulations and schemes formulated with regard to SEDGs reflect the intent and emphasis so clearly articulated in NEP.

Dr Tayyaba Qidwai an academician based in UAE says while the recent NEP document does seem to have taken into consideration the improving of learning of school students, they reflect a lack of understanding of the seriousness and depth of the school learning crisis in underprivileged children. I have found during my work that the learning crisis extends beyond the school and is impacted by earlier developments in infancy and childhood. So a more holistic approach is required, that can articulate the extent of learning deficit in different groups of children and youth which hinder them from meeting the contemporary challenges of engaging constructively with the development changes they face in contemporary India.

As a religious block Muslims remain among the most backward communities in the country. According to 2011 data on education level by religious community and gender the level of illiteracy among Muslims in at 42.7 per cent. For Hindus it is 36.4. According to the data, the percentage of illiterates is 32.5 for Sikhs, 28.2 for Buddhists and 25.6 for Christians. The overall percentage of illiterates is 36.9 for all communities. According to the same data Christians have 74.3 per cent literacy level, while Buddhists have 71.8 per cent, Sikhs 67.5 per cent, Hindus 63.6 per cent and Muslims 57.3 per cent. There are reasons to believe that the overall literacy level has gone up for all the communities including Muslims.

A slightly updated study by Employment and Unemployment Situation among Major Religious Groups in India has a bit better picture, though this too shows Muslims behind others.

According to this report literacy level among urban Muslims was around 81 percent while it was 91 percent for Hindus, 94 percent for Christians and 86 percent for Sikhs 86. This report definitely shows that despite being behind other groups, Muslims were actually catching up.

Ms Qidwai says most Muslim kids come from disadvantaged groups and so special attention needs to be given to them and in resolving their issues. One needs to understand the life trajectories of the underprivileged and Vulnerable Muslim children from that of the children from affluent backgrounds, because that has a tremendous effect on the Learning of these children in later life. While many young vulnerable children enter with poor language and cognitive skills, the benefits of pre- primary education are almost none at all for them. Thus by the time they enter school, which sometimes may be very late for their age, they will be already disadvantaged and then, in addition to the poor quality of education provided by inferior government schools and low cost private schools, it results in subsequent acquisition of substandard reading, writing and arithmetic skills.

Qidwai tells me that while the recent NEP document does seem to have taken into consideration the improving of learning of school students, they reflect a lack of understanding of the seriousness and depth of the school learning crisis in underprivileged children. I have found during my work that the learning crisis extends beyond the school and is impacted by earlier developments in infancy and childhood. So a more holistic approach is required, that can articulate the extent of learning deficit in different groups of children and youth which hinder them from meeting the contemporary challenges of engaging constructively with the development changes they face in contemporary India.

There are other major issues that need to be taken into account, especially for deprived sections of the population. Muhammad Sajjad, who teaches history at Aligarh Muslim University, says that NEP doesnt seem to be serious about implementing the policy of imparting education in mother tongues/ Indian languages. This is evident from its language policy. In this era of massive internal migrations, we have linguistic minorities in large number of our cities. Where would the money for teachers and books come from, to provide education to those linguistic minorities in Indian languages? Then there is a lot of confusion about Urdu and the fate of Urdu medium schools. Where Urdu will fit in new education policy is a mystery and many Muslims are worried about it.

More Columns by Syed Ubaidur Rahman:



Despite muted denials, NRC will target Muslims



Bhagwat, Madani meet: End of the maddening divide



Ahmadullah Shah: Hero whose head and body are buried



Muslim women's entry in mosques: What is the truth?



Syed is a New Delhi based author and commentator. His forthcoming book 'Ulema's Role in India's Freedom Movements with Focus on Reshmi Rumal Tehrik will be out in October
More than 230 years after George Washington purportedly tried - and failed - to knock over Holliston's Balancing Rock in Massachusetts, the iconic boulder has fallen.

The five-ton slab, measuring 20 feet in length, 10 feet in width and 6 feet in thickness, was first observed to have been displaced from its ancient perch atop an even larger rock on Tuesday afternoon.

It is unclear what exactly caused the famous rock to lose its balance and come crashing down after 10,000 to 15,000 years, but retired geologist and Holliston resident Carol Hildreth attributed the landmark's downfall to 'time and weathering,' also known as erosion.

Balancing act: Holliston's Balancing Rock in Massachusetts is seen resting on its side on Tuesday after toppling over

The 5-ton, 20-foot-long boulder had been perched atop a larger rock for 10,000-15,000 years

The now-toppled Balancing Rock is located in Holliston, which is a town of 14,000 situated 30 miles west of Boston. It has been towering over the surrounding area off Route 16 from the time a glacier had melted and deposited it there, reported WCVB.

The hulking boulder has been a part of local lore for centuries, reported MetroWest Daily News. A possibly apocryphal story has it that in 1789, while touring Massachusetts and other eastern states with his troops, Washington encountered Holliston's Balancing Rock after having a drink at a nearby tavern, and attempted to knock it down.

In 1789, George Washington purportedly tried to knock it down after having a drink at a local tavern with his soldiers during a tour of Massachusetts

Town historian Joanne Hubert described the comical scene starring the Founding Father and first president of the newly formed United States in a column published in Wicked Local in 2011.

'Suitably refreshed, they continued along that indifferent road a short distance to the massive perched boulder known locally, and rather simply, as the Balancing Rock,' Hubert wrote. 'Here he paused to contemplate the precariously tilted rock and, as tradition has recorded he made a valiant attempt to dislodge the boulder. He was probably not the first to attempt it, and he certainly wasnt the last.'

Some of the victorious general's men also purportedly tried to dislodge the gargantuan slab of rock, but to no avail.

When asked if heavy machinery could be used to remount the Balancing Rock, Hildreth said no.

'It's gonna stay like that because I think gravity won,' she said with a chuckle.

But a town official has not ruled out restoring the rock to its rightful place.

'The Town of Holliston has received some indications that local excavation companies would be interested in helping to restore the position of the rock, but that is to be seen as it is on private property and there are obvious safety concerns that would need to be addressed before a decision,' the official told DailyMail.com in an email on Wednesday.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 00:53:51|Editor: huaxia

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SANAA, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Clashes between the Yemeni government forces and Houthi rebels intensified in Yemen's Red Sea port city of Hodeidah on Wednesday, military sources from both sides told Xinhua.

The clashes took place in the village of al-Shab in the district of Hays in the south of the port city.

Local residents said tanks, artillery and heavy machine guns were used in the ongoing battle, forcing many families to flee the village.

There were no reports yet about casualties. Both warring sides blamed each other for breaching cease-fire.

Part of the province, including the port city, is under control of the Houthi rebels, while the government forces have advanced to the southern districts.

Hodeidah has seen a shaky cease-fire between the government and the Houthi rebels since the two sides reached a United Nations-sponsored truce agreement in Stockholm in December 2018.

The United Nations is trying to end the conflict that has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced 4 million and pushed the country to the brink of famine.

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
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Linkedin News Desk (Reuters) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia  Wed, September 23, 2020 17:30 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46b949d 2 SE Asia Malaysia,politics,Muhyiddin-Yassin,Anwar-Ibrahim Free

A year of Malaysian political maneuvering has taken another turn with opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim saying he now has enough support in parliament to be able to form a government and replace Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

Does this mean Anwar becomes prime minister?

No. It's far from certain Anwar will take the position he has tried to get for more than two decades.

Anwar's first step needs to be convincing the king he has the support of the majority of lawmakers. To do that he would need to see the king, who is currently hospitalized, though not for a serious problem.

The king could make him premier if he is convinced Anwar can command a majority, or he could dissolve parliament and trigger elections on the prime minister's advice.

So far, no major political party has come out in support of him.

Major parties in Muhyiddin's coalition dismissed his claim as "cheap publicity" and said they firmly supported the premier.

Anwar's own party only has 38 lawmakers - which means he would need to win over other parties or factions within them to get majority support from the 222-seat parliament.

How did it get to this point?

Malaysian politics tumbled into turmoil in February when Anwar's perennial rival, nonagenarian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad resigned in a growing power struggle within their alliance that won a surprise victory in a 2018 election.

Both ended up sidelined while Muhyiddin emerged as prime minister of a government in which the biggest party is the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) - which ruled Malaysia for decades until 2018 and to which Anwar, Mahathir and Muhyiddin all once belonged.

But Muhyiddin's position has remained precarious with a single digit majority in parliament, while UMNO withdrew some of its backing after former leader and former Prime Minister Najib Razak was found guilty of corruption in the multi-billion 1MDB scandal.

The opposition, including Anwar and Mahathir, had vowed to oust him, saying he won power by shifting alliances instead of earning it at the ballot box.

How do the political forces stack up?

Malaysian politics revolves around coalitions, but the strongest single party is likely to be UMNO - which stands for the interests of majority Malays in the multi-ethnic country.

Although it was voted out amid anger over the 1MDB scandal in 2018, it has improved its showing at more recent by-elections. Many Malays were unhappy with what they saw as too much focus on non-Malay interests, and particularly those of ethnic Chinese, under the Mahathir-Anwar coalition. Anwar remains allied to a largely Chinese party.

Kingmakers in any coalition, whether through elections or not, could well be the parties from Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo - who have long asked for more autonomy and a bigger share of oil and gas revenues from state oil giant Petronas.

What does this mean for the economy?

Malaysia's economy plunged into its first contraction since the 2009 global financial crisis as a result of the impact of the coronavirus on trade and tourism.

While all governments are likely to promise large stimulus packages, political turmoil could hold up prospects for delivering on them and being able to find the financing for them.

If whoever forms a government is beholden to the Borneo parties, that could also mean that central government revenues take a heavier knock as they could end up getting smaller revenue from Petronas.

Muhyiddin, whose coalition relies on the ruling coalition from Sarawak for support, had already agreed to pay a sales tax they demanded and had shown willing to give them a bigger share of revenues.
The topics for the first presidential debate focus on issues that have dominated the news throughout 2020 - the economy, the coronavirus pandemic and the records of the two leading contenders.

But the framing of one of the debate topics has set off alarms and objections.

"Race and Violence in our Cities" - the title of one of the segments announced by moderator Chris Wallace of Fox News on Tuesday - seems to echo President Donald Trump's contentious characterization of the protests that have swept American cities this summer and gives a false sense of the issue, critics say.

Instead of alluding to the concerns about racial justice and police brutality that inspired the protests, liberal commentators and advocacy groups complained the phrasing suggests Trump's framing of Black Lives Matter as an inherently violent movement.

" 'Race and violence in our cities' as a topic is really leaning hard into the Trump narrative," former Obama administration spokesman Tommy Vietor wrote on Twitter. The political arm of liberal Jewish group Bend the Arc called it "barely-coded language that reinforces anti-Black fear-mongering."

"We should be talking about the threat of white nationalism - from right-wing militias to extremists in Congress & the White House," the organization tweeted.

"'Race and violence in our cities ... ???' Seriously??" tweeted MSNBC host Joy Reid. "Is this a debate or an episode of Fox & Friends?"

Wallace did not respond to a request for comment. The veteran newsman selected the topics that will occupy each 15-minute segment of the 90-minute debate on Tuesday from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. The other topics are more generically named: "The Trump and Biden Records." "The Supreme Court," "Covid-19," "The Economy," and "The Integrity of the Election."

All summer, cable networks have been scrutinized and second-guessed for their coverage of protests and rioting. Fox News critics contend that the network has been overly fixated on the relatively small number of rioters and ignored the largely peaceful protests against police violence, while other critics have accused CNN and MSNBC of downplaying or ignoring the violence that has occurred.

Trump has made "law and order" a campaign catchphrase and has repeatedly sought to tie looting and violence that occurred during organized protest marches to Joe Biden and Democrats. At the same time, Trump has tried to appeal to what he often refers to as "suburban" voters by claiming that they are at risk if he isn't re-elected. "If I don't win, America's Suburbs will be OVERRUN with Low Income Projects, Anarchists, Agitators, Looters and, of course, 'Friendly Protesters,'" he tweeted on Sept. 10.

Hence, "Race and Violence in our Cities," in the view of many liberal critics, suggests that the primary issue surrounding the protests this summer is violence - not justice, as its supporters say - and that it is explicitly race-based and urban-centered. It also shifts the focus away from the cause of the protests themselves: the use of deadly force by police against African Americans, and racial inequities in general.

In Kenosha, a Wisconsin city of 100,000 people, protests erupted after a White police officer shot 29-year-old Jacob Blake, who is Black, seven times in the back, paralyzing him. In response, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat, called in the National Guard. Authorities later arrested and charged a White counterprotester, 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse, with homicide after the fatal shooting of two protesters.

In the aftermath, Trump continued to promote the image of riot-torn cities and defended Rittenhouse, saying he acted in self-defense. "Far-left politicians continue to push the destructive message that our nation and our law enforcement are oppressive or racist," Trump said during his visit to the small city.

Biden, who also visited Kenosha and met with the Blake family, denounced rioting and looting as "not protesting" and signaled support for demands to end systemic racism in policing.

Recent surveys indicate starkly differing views about the protests, depending on respondents' locations and party affiliations. A USA Today/Ipsos poll released Tuesday found that 64 percent of those surveyed believed cities were "under siege" by protesters and counterprotesters, with those living in rural areas more likely to hold this view than people living in cities. The view also split clearly along partisan lines; 83 percent of Republicans agreed, compared with 48 percent of Democrats.

The poll also found 61 percent of Americans agreed most protesters have been peaceful. In fact, about 93 percent of demonstrations linked to the Black Lives Matter movement between May 26 and Aug. 22 were peaceful, according to a report released earlier this month by the nonprofit Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project.

The same report found that law enforcement officials intervened to stop or confront protesters in 10 percent of this summer's demonstrations.
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Linkedin Mangadar Situmorang (The Jakarta Post) Bandung  Wed, September 23, 2020 08:53 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c468f181 3 Opinion Insight,COVID-19,pandemic,international-relations,foreign-policy Free

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.

Influenced by Andrew Linklater and other critical theorists, the late Indonesian scholar Bob S. Hadiwinata (2017) proposed reflectivist perspectives that required international relations to better accommodate humanitarian issues, such as global justice, human rights protection and human emancipation.

Departing from mainstream theories such as realism and liberalism, which are contaminated by distorted thoughts, Bob insisted that sociological-anthropological and contemplative views would enable non-superpowers, nonstate entities and the people at large not only to prevent unnecessary wars but also contribute to world peace and order.

The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated that there are neither powerful nor weak states. The United States, the remaining superpower, is not exempt from the impacts of the pandemic. Its economy and international reputation as the global sheriff have been severely damaged. Those who have died of COVID-19 in the US outnumber American soldiers killed in operations around the world.

While President Donald Trump is trying to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic and maintain high defense spending, there is no guarantee the US will win the fight against the pandemic or the race to find COVID-19 vaccines. The much-awaited results of the presidential election in November will prove the sensitivity or vulnerability of the US, or at least the Trump administration.

China, where the pandemic started, on the other hand, has managed to secure a high profile as an emerging superpower. Beijing tries to look solid, strong and capable in handling the pandemic and in dealing with external criticism, particularly regarding the issues of Hong Kong and the Uyghur people. It is also joining the race for the desperately needed COVID-19 vaccine.

Other nations like Russia, India, Japan, Brazil and European Union members have walked their own paths to cope with the virus both domestically and internationally but still without significant impacts. Many have closed national borders or imposed lockdowns, yet the pandemic has remained unabated.

The pandemic has made what Kenneth Waltz calls an anarchic system vulnerable. The struggle for power is the main characteristic of an anarchic world, in which national interests and sovereignty are the drivers of international politics and relations.

A states bilateral or multilateral relations are indicative of its power. But when states lose power in dealing with a devastating crisis like the pandemic, the anarchic propositions sound irrelevant. Keeping such a classical view in our references might mislead international relations and lead the world into a plausible serious danger.

Indonesia has been consistently pushing for a world order based on universal freedom, eternal peace and social justice. For Indonesias foreign policymakers, anarchy might be workable to prevent the world from fighting each other, but it does not help when all countries are powerless. This is a justified moment for Indonesia to call for international cooperation, much more so than ever.

Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said, All great powers are important and strategic partners for Indonesia. We will not allow ourselves to be forced to take sides. (The Jakarta Post, Aug. 20)

While maintaining good intentions for international collaboration, her statement clearly conceives of the centrality of sovereign Indonesia in vulnerable interdependence with a critical view of traditional realism.

To make such collaboration fruitful in global uncertainty, mutual trust is the key (Teuku Faizasyah, the Post, May 30).

Sovereignty and trust, however, are not solely legal, ethical or moral terms, but also political and executive concepts that must come into effect. In the context of global vulnerability, state solidity should be looked after carefully. It is already evident that our society hesitantly complies with health protocols.

While Indonesia is short of health system capacity and medical supplies to tackle the rising number of COVID-19 patients, tougher enforcement of social and physical distancing may raise human rights concerns and would undoubtedly hit our economy harder.

Social order and security might in turn be in jeopardy and invite political spoilers and the opposition to take advantage of it for their own interests. Cohesive and well-coordinated policies among the executive in Jakarta and the regions is key to state solidity. The government needs to prove commitment and goodwill in the fight against the pandemic and its repercussions, build shared concern and empathy in society and, at the same time, show appreciation for community solidarity and harmony.

Respect for the opposition, including by accommodating their criticism, is part of the endeavors to maintain national strength and resilience. Instead of appealing for power in its realist doctrine, national resilience is the credo to multilateral cooperation and global governance. To conclude, national resilience is the start and end of our foreign policy.

---------

Rector of Parahyangan Catholic University in Bandung and senior lecturer at the universitys Department of International Relations

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.
Meet the burly ex bodybuilder who was at such a low he tried to commit suicide before his life was completely transformed by opening up his home to tiny dogs.

Bobby Humphreys, 48, from Boonsboro, Maryland, was devastated when last New Year's Eve his now-ex-wife left him for somebody else that she was already in a relationship with.

The combination of no comprehension, closure, or understanding as to why things had got as bad as they did and the guilt of her blaming him for everything pushed him to the edge and left him with no faith in humanity, and he attempted to end it all by committing suicide.

Lifesaver: Former bodybuilder Bobby Humphreys has revealed how he was saved from a brutal battle with depression by adopting more than 50 tiny dogs

Heartbreak: Bobby, from Maryland, was left devastated when his wife left him for another man, and he was pushed to attempt suicide

Helping hand: The former bodybuilder had lost the will to live when a close friend stepped in and asked him to care for her son's dog Lady, who he formed an immediate bond with

It was then like a guardian angel his best friend Connie stepped in and everything began to turn around.

Bobby told Jam Press: 'One person above all, Connie, kept me on this planet. A true friend that was always there.

'In fact, she wouldn't leave me alone long enough to do what I wanted to do. She literally just wouldn't go away no matter how much I told her to.

'She had lost friends to that before and wasn't going to lose me.

'She became so close to my situation and I trusted her so much that I would ask her to watch the house while I was out of town for work. So I entrusted her with a key.'

After Connie helped Bobby get through that low point in his life, he was still extremely depressed - and once again she stepped in to provide comfort in the form of a personal favor.

'She was moving in between homes in her new place and she could not keep her son's dog, Lady,' he said.

'She asked me if I would mind temporarily keeping her until she could find another place. Of course, I accepted. Lady is a special case who did not like people very much, especially men.

'I was warned about her at first and she was placed in a kennel in my house when I was at work one day.

'Unfortunately, that kennel was placed right underneath my television that I sit at when I get home so it only took me about 15 minutes of watching this poor girl sitting in the kennel before I decided that I was going to let her out because I could not stand seeing her there.

Support: Bobby's friend Connie (pictured) stepped in to help him in his time of need, offering support and help when he was at his lowest, while also asking him to care for her son's pup

Dark place: Even when he was at the top of his game, Bobby says he was 'treated horribly' by society, and by the people in his life

Comfort: After caring for Lady, Bobby knew that he needed to get his own chihuahua, and in his quest to find one, he learned more about how many of the dogs need good homes

Message: 'I know what it's like to not have anyone there to protect you or be there for you so I made a promise that once with me, they'd never feel that way again,' he said of his dogs

'Lady came with me and literally made me whole again with unconditional love and affection.

'Connie came over to check on her an hour and a half later that evening and could not believe her eyes when she found Lady in my lap and we have been inseparable ever since.'

Left with the feeling that Lady had saved his life, Bobbie went to find his own version of the pup.

He said: 'During my quest, I saw how badly chihuahuas are treated.

'I too was treated so horribly by people in my life and this society that I tried to commit suicide.

'Again, one of them saved me, and I know what it's like to not have anyone there to protect you or be there for you so I made a promise that once with me, they'd never have to feel that way again.

'Those that have known me for years, know that through my adult life, that not only am I an animal lover but that I've owned nothing but very large dogs  Rottweilers to be exact.

'They are beautiful animals and just nothing but big lapdogs.

'I actually would poke fun at any of my guy friends who happened to date someone who owned a small dog. I had truly just never had given one a chance.'

Bobby's first adoptee was a chihuahua called Kira, that he found on Craigslist who went from trying to bite his hand off to sitting on his lap.

He has now rescued over 50 pups since opening his Big Guy, Littles World Sanctuary.

Work: Bobby has since rescued more then 50 small dogs, and even started his own animal rescue, Big Guy Littles World Sanctuary

Brave: The former bodybuilder also ran a successful hardwood flooring business, but he gave it all up in order to dedicate himself to his animal sanctuary

Fear: Bobby admits that he was nervous about what people might think when he decided to become a full-time dog carer

Nerves: 'I was concerned about what people would think. Would they think I am the male version of the crazy cat lady? Would they think I've gone completely insane?' he said

Bobby said: 'I have an incredible relationship with a local animal control who is in charge of my kennel license and they adore what I do, they just simply asked to take some of the pressure off of them because of my social media status.

'This is a full-time job at all levels. A typical day starts at 7:30 am and we finish around 9 pm.

'We sleep there, we eat there unless I am taking the dog to vet appointments which gives them one on one time or for other various reasons such as rescuing them, we are interacting with them all day long every day.

'I went from doing this myself with only the help Connie to officially having five full-time staff members including two that live there full-time.

'We have tried to develop systems for everything to make it both efficient and comfortable for the dogs. Of course, that is a constantly changing entity of its own.'

As well as being an ex bodybuilder, Bobby also used to have a successful hardwood flooring business but he left that behind to pursue the purpose closest to his heart.

He added: 'I have to be honest with you, I was very nervous about this.

'I was concerned about what people would think. Would they think I am the male version of the crazy cat lady? Would they think I've gone completely insane?

'I can tell you this, almost every single friend of mine, not even just the close ones and every single family member as well, have been nothing but supportive across the board of me doing this.

'To see my mother's face when she told me when she was so proud of what I was doing is a moment I'll cherish always.'

But the dog-lover has no regrets.

He said: 'As far as hobbies go, all the different aspects of this industry and everything that needs to be revamped about it from the shelter system to breeders to everything else is going to keep me busy enough over the next several decades that I'm never going to have to worry about losing interest.

Praise: In the end, Bobby's fears were unfounded, and he said that his family and friends were all incredibly supportive of his new career

Heartwarming: 'I can tell you this, almost every single friend of mine, not even just the close ones and every single family member as well, have been nothing but supportive,' he said

Fan club: Bobby frequently shows off his gorgeous dogs on Instagram and people love them  and the great work that the ex bodybuilder does

'I do try to get away from time to time but it seems that most of my trips end up coinciding with rescuing a dog.

'I have made several to Puerto Rico for this purpose and I'm going back to be filming a documentary here in the coming months.'

Bobby has big plans for the future of his sanctuary.

He said: 'First and foremost, I need to have a monstrous following behind me so that when I go to make changes that I have an army behind me to back me up.

'I am developing a prototype for a new sanctuary that I want to start setting up in areas around the country to help handle the epidemics in those areas.

'Eventually, I'd like to get into the dog food industry and slowly try to revamp that. The way that dogs are treated in the world, is nowhere near as good as it should be.'

Bobby frequently shows off his gorgeous dogs on Instagram and people love them  and the great work that the ex bodybuilder does.

One person wrote: 'Heaven on earth to me! Thank you all at Big Guy Littles World for all you do!!!'

Someone else said: 'Keep doing the good work you do cuz those little guys need a big sweet caring kind-hearted guy like you.'

Another person wrote: 'You are amazing! The little misfits are so lucky to have lots of love.'

'Squad goals,' added someone else, commenting on a snap of lots of the chihuahuas cosying up together.
China on Wednesday hit out at US President Donald Trump for his hard-hitting remarks against Beijing at the UN General Assembly session, saying his allegations were full of "fabricated lies" driven by "shady political motives".

In his address on Tuesday, Trump blasted China 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.

Slamming Trumps speech, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said the American leaders UNGA remarks about China "disregarded facts and fabricated lies".

"And driven by shady political motives, President Trump used the UN podium to level unfounded accusations against China. China firmly opposes these smears. Such acts have again shown that unilateralism and bullying are the biggest threat to the world, Wang said.

"Lies can in no way masquerade as truth. The world is fully aware of Chinas record in containing COVID-19, and the people have their fair judgment," he said, adding that the virus was common enemy of humankind.

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

"China is a victim of the virus and made its contribution to the global fight against the virus," he said.

In his hard-hitting speech, 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.

Denying allegations of delay in acting against the virus when it broke out in Wuhan in December last year, Wang said China reported the epidemic, identified the pathogen and shared its genome sequence with the world all at the earliest time possible.

"When the human-to-human transmission was confirmed, China immediately made the resolute decision to shut all exit routes from Wuhan. The most stringent closure was imposed on the exit routes from Wuhan and Hubei Province and traffic control was put in place, he said.

When China closed the exit channels from Wuhan on January 23, only nine confirmed cases were identified outside China, of which only one was in the US, Wang said.

On January 31, the US suspended direct flights with China.

And when the US closed its borders to all Chinese citizens on February 2, only a dozen of confirmed cases were reported in the US, he said.

"In repeatedly smearing China on COVID-19-related issues, the US is attempting to shift the blame for its bad handling of the virus onto others. This is totally futile, he said.

Wang also defended the World Health Organisation (WHO) following Trumps allegations that the UN health agency is virtually controlled by China.

"The US also arbitrarily attacked and pulled out of WHO. This has put global anti-epidemic cooperation in jeopardy, which will bring harm to people in the world and incur a heavy cost for the American people, Wang said.

"What the US needs to do now is stop the political manipulation, stop labelling or politicising the virus, and join the rest of the international community in this common fight, rather than scapegoat or smear others, he said.

Trump had 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.

"Chinas carbon emissions are nearly twice what the US has, and its 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.

Refuting Trumps allegations, Wang said that on climate change and environmental protection, China has actively fulfilled the international responsibilities consistent with its stage of development and national conditions, and carried out a host of policies and actions.

"The outcomes achieved are widely recognized, he said.

"We attained our 2020 climate action targets ahead of schedule, a major contribution to the global response to climate change, he said.

"Non-fossil fuel now takes up nearly 15 percent in Chinas total energy consumption. China has 30 percent of the worlds installed capacity of renewable energy, accounting for 44 percent of the world increase. Its new energy vehicle stock is more than half the worlds total, he said.

"China has contributed 25 percent to the increased afforestation areas worldwide since 2000, he said.

China will update and enhance its nationally determined contribution targets and introduce stronger policies and measures.

"We will strive for the peaking of CO2 emissions before 2030 and carbon neutrality before 2060. Such objectives are consistent with Chinas vision of a vibrant, clean and beautiful world through joint efforts and its commitment to fostering a community with a shared future for humankind, he said.

Follow our full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic here
South Africa: Unilever to increase SMME investment

Unilever Southern Africa has agreed to collaborate with the Department of Small Business Development to increase investment in small, micro and medium enterprise (SMME) development.

Unilever [has] already identified input materials which can be manufactured locally and committed to work with the department to build the capability of SMMEs, particularly black, women and youth-owned, and those owned by people with disability, to participate meaningfully in this manufacturing, the department said on Wednesday.

Other commitments include increased SMME access to Unilevers third-party manufacturing, logistics platforms and SMME products 'route to market' assistance.

Unilever CEO Luc-Olivier Marquet made the commitment during a recent meeting with the Minister of Small Business Development, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni.

The meeting followed the publication of a racially offensive advert on the Clicks website by Unilever hair brand, TRESemme.

Unilever has since also set up an advisory board with internal and external experts to review how Unilever hair care products in South Africa can offer consumers the solutions they want in positive and empowering terms.

Working with the new advisory board, Unilever will develop programmes to deliver immediate support to Black hair stylists and small professional salons.

It was noted that although 95% of Unilever products sold in South Africa are manufactured within the country, the bulk of the input materials for such manufacturing are imports, which significantly dilutes the benefits to South Africa in the Unilever supply value chain, the department said.

Ntshavheni said the current R80 million Enterprise Development Fund of Unilever is not sufficient for SMME development. However, she accepted that if commitments on value chain participation made by Unilever are fulfilled, it will improve this contribution.

The department undertook to also use its existing support mechanisms to accelerate the qualification of SMMEs to participate in the Unilever value chains, such mechanisms include the Manufacturing Support Scheme, and fast-tracked certification of products with the relevant standards bodies.

The department will partner with Unilevers programme to support Black hair stylists and small professional salons through its programmes to support informal and micro personal care services.

The Minister accepted the offer by Unilever to partner on the Spaza and General Dealers Support Programme to ensure the success of spaza shops as the next frontier for convenience shopping in townships and rural areas.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2020-09-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
A U.S. Postal Service employee in Corfu has been charged with mail fraud for allegedly acting as a "money mule" for several international internet scams involving phony rental listings, the U.S. Attorney's office announced Wednesday.

Julie Keller, 55, is accused of "accepting and redirecting thousands of dollars to Africa" and could face up to 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted, a statement from the U.S. Attorney's office said.

The case came to the attention of U.S. Postal Service inspectors in July when a detective from the police department in Boston, Mass., reached out about a woman who said she'd been duped into sending money through a cash app and a money order for a rental property listed on Craigslist, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan P. Cantil said in a statement. The "landlord" she thought she was texting told her to send the money order to a Julie Keller in Corfu, who she was a told was an accountant.

But after sending the money, the "landlord" cut off all communication and the woman never was able to occupy the apartment, Cantil said.

An investigation showed that the address in Corfu was the post office in that Genesee County village and that other people had also paid money for the rental property.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-22 23:39:03|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on Sept. 22, 2020 shows a COVID-19 sniffer dog at a press conference held at Helsinki Vantaa International Airport in Finland. Four specially trained dogs demonstrated their ability to sniff COVID-19 in people even before showing symptoms during a press conference held at Helsinki Vantaa International Airport on Tuesday. The pilot project is scheduled to commence later this week. (Photo by Matti Matikainen/Xinhua)

HELSINKI, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Four specially trained dogs demonstrated their ability to sniff COVID-19 in people even before showing symptoms during a press conference held at Helsinki Vantaa International Airport on Tuesday. The pilot project is scheduled to commence later this week.

The dogs showed the assembled journalists the whole process of how they sniff the samples and identify the suspected COVID-19 infections.

When passengers arrive at a COVID-19 dog sampling point at the airport, they would enter a small, screened area where they would be required to swab their skin with a wipe and drop it into a designated container as instructed. A dog and its handler would wait behind a wall where the dog would sniff the swabs.

The whole procedure would take about a minute. If the test result is positive, the passenger would be directed to the health information point for further instructions.

Later this week, four dogs called Kossi, Miina, ET and Valo -- all different breeds -- would start working at the airport, according to Wise Nose -- Finland Smell Detection Association, which is responsible for the training and deployment of the dogs.

Participation in dog-assisted COVID-19 testing is currently voluntary. All passengers and airport staff can apply for testing, which is effortless and painless, Wise Nose told Xinhua.

In spring this year, the University of Helsinki had tested a group of trained sniffer dogs, and found them to be able to learn and work fast and even perform better than the current COVID-19 tests that are based on molecular techniques. The trained dogs had previously been employed to identify different types of cancer, said the university.

Dogs can also detect the novel coronavirus from a significantly smaller sample than the commonly used PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests. In practice, therefore, a dog is expected to be able to identify COVID-19 infection in a human earlier than laboratory tests, Anna Hielm-Bjorkman, a veterinarian from the University of Helsinki, was quoted by the Finnish national broadcaster Yle as saying.

The trial at Helsinki Airport will last four months. Timo Aronkyto, deputy mayor of Vantaa, told the press that the dogs will definitely begin their "official activities" once the trial is deemed to be successful.

Employing dogs to identify COVID-19 is also of interest elsewhere in the world, noted Aronkyto, saying that they have received numerous inquiries from health authorities of various airports.

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.
Demonstrators show their support for the military three days after rebel officers ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita

Mali faces mountainous economic and political challenges more than a month after the military coup that toppled president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, analysts say.

Plagued by graft and poverty, the Sahel state was already battling a severe downturn, aggravated by a jihadist insurgency and ethnic violence, when the military seized control on August 18.

Mali is now barrelling into a recession as the coronavirus pandemic and sanctions imposed by its neighbours take effect, economist Etienne Fakaba Sissoko said.

The 15-nation bloc ECOWAS, fearing the restive country could spiral into chaos, immediately shuttered Mali's borders and imposed trade restrictions, putting pressure on the junta to swiftly hand over power.

The impact on the landlocked, undiversified, under-industrialised and import-dependent economy will be severe, said Fakaba Sissoko, a professor of economics at the University of Bamako and a former presidential adviser.

"The immediate consequence is a reduction in public expenditure. This has a direct impact on the population," he said.

After a 2012 putsch which overthrew then president Amadou Toumani Toure, a trade embargo which lasted one week sent the country's economy plummeting into recession.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) had in May revised Mali's growth rate for 2020 from five percent down to less than one percent because of the coronavirus pandemic.

"If we add the sanctions to this, there is no doubt that we will unfortunately be in recession. Mali will not escape recession," Sissoko said.

- 'Crisis of morality' -

Compounding the country's political problems is a "crisis of morality" sparked by the issue of the return to civilian rule, said Lamine Savane, a researcher in political science at the University of Segou.

A group of officials selected by the junta have chosen a 70-year-old retired colonel, Bah Ndaw, as interim president, with the junta's leader, Colonel Assimi Goita, as vice president.

The transitional government would stay in place for a maximum of 18 months until nationwide elections take place.

Ndaw is due to be sworn in Friday, when ECOWAS is also likely to decide whether to lift the sanctions, the bloc's mediator, former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan, said on Wednesday.

The long wrangle over the transition could drain the dynamism for accountability and justice, said Savane.

The so-called June 5 Movement, or M5, an alliance of political parties, trade unions, religious figures and NGOs, has pushed repeatedly for equal status with the junta in the interim government.

But Savane said the lure of top jobs sapped and divided the M5, prompting some to look the other way when it came to issues that were once at the heart of their movement.

These are the same mistakes which were made in 2012, Savane said, which plunged Mali into crisis for years.

That coup was followed by an insurrection in the north of the country which developed into a jihadist insurgency that now threatens neighbouring Niger and Burkina Faso.

Calls against corruption and impunity during this year's protests have quieted, and some of the most-criticised figures of Keita's regime, including his son Karim and intelligence service chief Moussa Diawara, have escaped accountability, Savane noted.

"These people aren't being troubled," he said. "This raises the question of whether those who took power really want to change things."
Dwight Mitchell 5 million American children have been taken based upon U.S. DHHS reporting! The separation of children from parents is becoming normalized. Your child could be next, unless we act to stop this now, by urging Congress to pass this bill!

A new We the People petition at the Whitehouse.gov website would call on the current administration to urge Congress to take up Resolution H.J.Res.36 - Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to parental rights.

Over 5-million American children have been separated from their parents in the last 20 years as reported by the U.S. Department of Health & Human services Childrens Bureau. The separating of children from fit parents is becoming normalized and must be stopped!

While the 14th Amendment somewhat address parental rights, the Parental Rights Amendment will ensure that our country's interpretation of parental rightsthat parents have a fundamental interest in directing the upbringing and education of their children and a right to the care, custody and management of their childrenwill become an explicit constitutional right, superior to the laws of every state and treaty. In other words, it will ensure that the right to parent is treated as a right and not taken away without compelling government interest. Simply put, The Parental Rights Amendment limits the power of government. It puts a giant Stop Sign up to Congress and the States, telling them that they may not intrude on the rights of parents.

The website program first launched by President Obama, was relaunched by President Trump, and any petition that obtains 100,000 signatures in its first 30 days, will get reviewed, made sure it gets in front of the appropriate policy experts, and will receive an official response from the Whitehouse. When the White House responds, everyone who has signed the petition will get an email from the White House to let you know that they reviewed and responded to the petition. The more signatures the petition gets the better.

This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment stating that



the liberty of parents to direct the upbringing, education, and care of their children is a fundamental right;

the parental right to direct education includes the right to choose, as an alternative to public education, private, religious, or home schools, and the right to make reasonable choices within public schools for one's child;

neither the United States nor any state shall infringe upon these rights without demonstrating that its governmental interest as applied to the person is of the highest order and not otherwise served;

the parental rights guaranteed by this amendment shall not be denied or abridged on account of disability; and

this amendment shall not be construed to apply to a parental action or decision that would end life.

The Rep. Jim Banks (IN-3) introduced the Parental Rights Amendment in the U.S. House joined by fifteen cosponsors.

Original cosponsors include:

Rep. Alex Mooney (WV-2), Rep. Bill Posey (FL-8), Rep. Vicky Hartlzer (MO-4), Rep. Jeff Duncan (SC-3), Rep. Doug Lamborn (CO-5), Rep. Brian Babin (TX-36), Rep. Pete Olson (TX-22), Rep. Steve Watkins (KS-2), Rep. Debbie Lesko (AZ-8), Rep. Ron Wright (TX-6), Rep. Mark Meadows (NC-11), Rep. Ted Budd (NC-13), Rep. Doug LaMalfa (CA-1), Rep. Ted Yoho (FL-3), and Rep. Tim Walberg (MI-7).

Executive Director Dwight Mitchell who launched the petition says, This Resolution needs immediate action from Congress now. Whats even more alarming is that a staggering 84% of all child removals are not related to any physical harm to the child whatsoever, but investigator discretion, and up to 83% of all investigations are ultimately concluded to have involved no abuse or neglect whatsoever as reported from the U.S. DHHS link above.

"The really scary part about all of this for me, as it should be for all parents, is that this taking of children from their parents is becoming normalized. Its traumatizing to children, their families and a form of systemic violence. Whats even more alarming, is that the good citizens of this country are sitting back silently and allowing it to happen. Dont they realize their children might be next unless we stop this now?

In June of 2018, the Children's Defense Fund, along with 540 organizations from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico which have well-recognized expertise in the fields of child welfare, juvenile justice and child health, development and safety, reported that the separation of children from their parents will have significant and long-lasting consequences for the safety, health, development, and well-being of children.

Since the introduction of the Family First Prevention Services Act in 2018, which prioritizes keeping families together, the Nation Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) has identified only 25 states that have enacted 51 bills in 2018 and 2019.

We believe that parents have the fundamental right to the care, custody and control of their children so long as the child is not harmed. The liberty interest is perhaps the oldest of the fundamental liberty interests recognized by Courts. This includes, but is not limited to home schooling, educational material, religious freedom, vaccination choice, medical decisions and discipline. Families with children are the elemental unit of a society, the reproductive cell; without healthy families, the entire U.S. enterprise unravels. Parental rights are essential to a healthy, happy productive free society says Dwight Mitchell.

Citizens 13-years old and above can review and sign the petition at https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/amend-constitution-include-parental-rights-acting-house-bill-36-congress-session or through the website https://familypreservationfoundation.org/about/amendment

About the Family Preservation Foundation

Throughout the United States, Family Preservation Foundation feels children are needlessly removed from parents for infractions that have traditionally been accepted practices in many homes. Family Preservation Foundation was forged out of necessity because we were concerned that parental rights were slipping away in America. Children need to be raised by loving nurturing parents, and not the government. If fact, based upon federally reported statistics and child welfare outcomes, the government has done a horrible job at raising children by any measure. (Federal Statics)

Each day we see that parental rights are not being upheld in the courts. This includes, but is not limited to vaccination, religion, education, medical and other parental rearing choices. To combat this, we are empowering parents by providing free legal assistance, education and support, while defending the rights of children and their families that are being traumatized by family separation due to the government overreach. The nonprofit seeks legal reform and to decrease racial disparity in the Child Welfare system.

For more information visit familypreservationfoundation.org.
NASA has divulged its Artemis Program update involving the most recent Phase 1 plans to send the first woman and the next man on the surface of the moon by 2024.

The Bold Challenge

In the one year and six months since NASA accepted a defiant challenge to speed up its exploration plans by over four years and initiate sustainable exploration by the end of the decade, it has continued to sustain sending humans to the moon again for the first time since the 1972 Apollo lunar mission.

Prompted by recent memorandums from the United States government, the Artemis program involves research into economic opportunities including commercial partnerships in space travel. NASA aims to allocate the research and revenue into further analysis of Mars. The planet is 139 million miles farther from Earth than the moon, reported New York Post.

The American space agency has formally outlined its $28 billion plan. But the agency's schedule coincides with Congress releasing $3.2 billion for a landing system to be constructed, reported Saudi Gazette.

Space Program

In the space program, astronauts would launch on a rocket named SLS and they will travel in a spacecraft named Orion. This is similar to capsules used in earlier Apollo missions.

Phases of the Space Program

The first phase is named Artemis-1 that will involve an uncrewed test flight surrounding the moon in the fall of 2021. This will allow all critical systems, including communication capacity and life support to be tested.

According to NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine regarding the funding for NASA to send the first woman on the moon, "The $28 billion represents the costs associated for the next four years in the Artemis program to land on the Moon," reported Evening Standard.

Also Read: Asteroid Makes Staggering Approach to Earth, NASA Did Not See It Coming

"[Space launch system] funding, Orion funding, the human landing system and of course the spacesuits - all of those things that are part of the Artemis programme are included," he added.

According to NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, "With bipartisan support from Congress, our 21st century push to the Moon is well within America's reach," reported NASA.

He continued that they are going back to the moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and inspiration for a new generation of explorers.

Details About the Artemis Moon Landing Program

The space agency detailed its budget, project timelines, and a demanding plan to build a permanent lunar south pole base.

For the US to return to the Moon by 2024, the cost would be shouldered by American taxpayers of $28 billion of which $16 billion would be allocated to the Human Landing System program.

In 2019, it was Vice President Mike Pence who dared NASA to send their first woman to the moon four years into the original goal, according to the updated Artemis Plan on NASA's website. They have stated that the target date shift would be remarkably dependent on new technology progress and are currently working with scientists and vendors to evaluate where and how their initial timeline could be accelerated by NASA sending the first woman on the moon.

Related Article: Could Future Pandemics Come From Space?

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The Florida-born rapper says that his treatment in jail has been dehumanizing and abusive



Rapper Kodak Black and his legal team are suing the Federal Bureau of Prisons, alleging that the treatment hes receiving in a Kentucky prison amounts to torture. The 23-year-old rap star, born Dieuson Octave but who legally changed his name to Bill Kapri, was sentenced to 46 months on federal gun charges in December 2019, according to the New York Times.

Read More: Da Brat on dating Allen Iverson: Never talked about my bisexuality

TMZ reports that The Dying to Live artist has been in the Big Sandy federal prison in Kentucky since Oct. 2019, when he was transferred there from a Miami, Florida facility after a fight with another inmate that resulted in an injury to a corrections officer. Big Sandy is a maximum-security prison in Inez, Kentucky.

Black alleges that since hes been in Kentucky, hes been tortured, citing several incidents of abuse. He says he was put in a four-point restraint in a backless hospital gown for over 6 hours without bathroom access and as a result, urinated and defecated on himself. He says correction officers joked and laughed during the incident.

Kodak Black attends the 4th Annual TIDAL X: Brooklyn at Barclays Center of Brooklyn on October 23, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for TIDAL)

He says that medical records document that he suffered with vomiting, mouth bleeding and lacerations. He also alleges that he received a gang beating when he first got to the prison as retaliation for the officer being injured in Florida. He says guards flicked his testicles in the beating.

He alleges as well, reports TMZ, that hes been placed on his knees execution-style while wet, which has humiliated and injured him. A practicing Hebrew Israelite, Black has also been denied access to a rabbi although he alleges other prisoners have received access to the clergy.

However, according to the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center, many Hebrew Israelite sects are classified as hate groups and are anti-Semitic in their beliefs.

Story continues

Kodak, a 2018 Grammy nominee for Cardi Bs Bodak Yellow, had released two albums before his imprisonment, Painting Pictures which went to #3 in 2017, and Dying to Live which was #1 in 2018. He grew up with reigning NFL MVP Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson in Pompano Beach, Florida.

Read More: Amanda Seales slams The Real for being low class, and even lower vibration

While imprisoned on gun charges, Black has a pending sexual assault case in South Carolina, stemming from an allegation of assaulting a woman in a hotel room after a show in Florence in 2016.

The post Kodak Black sues Federal Bureau of Prisons for alleged torture appeared first on TheGrio.
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Viral and bacterial pathogens wield pathogenic or virulent proteins that interact with high-value targets inside human cells, attacking what is known as the host interactome. The host interactome is the network map of all the protein-protein interactions inside cells.

Such networks have been studied in organisms as diverse as plants, humans and roundworms, and they show a similarity to social networks like Facebook or airline route maps. In Facebook, a few people will have a huge number of friend connections, some will have many, and a vast majority will have much fewer. Similarly, airlines have a few hubs that many passengers pass through on the way to their destinations.

Host interactomes show a limited number of high-powered hubswhere a protein has a large number of connectionsand a limited number of important bottlenecks, which are sites with a large number of short paths to a node. These are key targets for pathogens as they seek to seize control of the infected cell, so it can rewire the cell's flow of information and cause disease.

University of Alabama at Birmingham researchers, led by Shahid Mukhtar, Ph.D., associate professor of biology in the UAB College of Arts and Sciences, have now built an interactome that includes the lung-epithelial cell host interactome integrated with a SARS-CoV-2 interactome. Applying network biology analysis tools to this human/SARS-CoV-2 interactome has revealed potential molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis for SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. The UAB research, published in the journal iScience, identified 33 high-value SARS-CoV-2 therapeutic targets, which are possibly involved in viral entry, proliferation and survival to establish infection and facilitate disease progression. These molecular insights may foster effective therapies, using combinations of existing drugs, for patients with COVID-19.

So far in 2019, the SARS-CoV-2 virus has killed nearly 1 million people worldwide and 200,000 in the United States.

The UAB researchers took many steps to generate the Calu-3-specific human-SARS-CoV-2 interactome, or CSI, that was the starting point for their network biology analyses.

They began from a comprehensive human interactome of experimentally validated protein-protein interactions, posted online in 2015, and then manually curated other protein-protein interactions from four subsequent interactome studies. The resulting human interactome contained 18,906 nodes and 444,633 "edges"the term for the links between protein nodes.

From two 2020 studies, the researchers compiled an exhaustive list of 394 host proteins that interact with the novel human coronavirus; these host proteins were called SARS-CoV-2 interacting proteins, or SIPs. The SIPs included 332 human proteins associated with the peptides of SARS-CoV-2 and 62 host proteins interacting with the viral factors of other human coronaviruses, including SARSCoV and MERS-CoV, the causes of SARS and MERS, which could also aid understanding the molecular pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2.

By querying these 394 SIPs in the human interactome, they generated a subnetwork of 12,852 nodes and 84,100 edges that covered first and second neighbors of the 373 SIPs.

Finally, they filtered these interactions in the context of temporal changes during COVID-19 infection, using a high-resolution temporal transcriptome derived from cultured human airway epithelial cells, or Calu-3, treated with SARSCoV and SARS-CoV-2 over time. Integrating this Calu-3 expression data with the SIPs-derived protein-protein interaction subnetwork resulted in a Calu-3-specific human-SARS-CoV-2 interactome, or CSI, that contained 214 SIPs interacting with their first and second neighbors, and forming a network of 4,176 nodes and 18,630 edges.

The CSI had a power law degree distribution with a few nodes harboring increased connectivity compared to a random network, and thus exhibited properties of a scale-free network, similar to the other, previously generated human-viral interactomes.

The robust, high-quality CSI was then further utilized for network-aided architectural and functional pathway analyses.

Topological clustering and pathway enrichment analysis showed that the SARS-CoV-2 virus attacks central nodes of the host-viral network that participate in core functional pathways. Network centrality analyses discovered 33 high-value SARS-CoV-2 targets for possible drug therapy; these targets are possibly involved in viral entry, proliferation and survival to establish infection and facilitate disease progression. A probabilistic modeling framework elucidated critical regulatory circuitry and molecular events pertinent to COVID-19, particularly the host modifying responses and cytokine storm.

"In summary," Mukhtar said, "our integrative network topology analyses led us to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms and pathways of SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis." Mukhtar's lab continues to work on network medicine and artificial intelligence to battle COVID-19 and other human inflammatory diseases.

Co-first authors of the study, "Integrative network biology framework elucidates molecular mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis," are graduate students Nilesh Kumar and Bharat Mishra, UAB Department of Biology.

Explore further Glycans in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein play active role in infection

More information: Nilesh Kumar et al. Integrative Network Biology Framework Elucidates Molecular Mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 Pathogenesis, iScience (2020). Journal information: iScience Nilesh Kumar et al. Integrative Network Biology Framework Elucidates Molecular Mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 Pathogenesis,(2020). DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101526
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"What's in a name? That which we call a rose

By any other name would smell as sweet'"

While according to Shakespeare's eternal question, names shouldn't matter, sometimes they actually kind of do -- especially if the name in question is that of the town of Asbestos in Quebec, Canada, and you're one of its approximately 7,096 residents that literally can not find a suitable substitute.

Once home to the Jeffrey Mine that in its heyday, which provided half the world's supply of Asbestos, according to the BBC, the town's namesake has since become disgraced as the substance gained infamy for its status as a dangerous carcinogen that has been banned in many countries around the globe. As the world turned on Asbestos, however, members of the Canadian community, like Bart Simpson and his fourth grade classmates at Springfield Elementary School, stayed true to their roots, keeping around the relic of their town's past.
LANSING, MI - Members of Michigans COVID-19 oversight committee wanted to know what data Gov. Gretchen Whitmer uses for her decisions.

So Dr. Sarah Lyon-Callo, the states epidemiologist, delivered a nearly two-hour data presentation Wednesday morning, which Rep. Vanessa Guerra, D-Saginaw, called one of the most informative sessions this committee has heard.

Lyon-Callo and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director Robert Gordon testified Sep. 23 before the Joint Select Committee on the COVID-19 Pandemic.

In one of the more pointed exchanges, Sen. Kim LaSata, R-Bainbridge Twp., asked Lyon-Callo and Gordon why most of the state isnt in Phase 5, or the least restrictive phase of Whitmers MI Safe Start Plan. This would mean the entire state would allow expanding capacity in gyms and the opening of places of amusement such as movie theaters.

Related: Michigan movie theaters make plea to reopen before its too late

Related: What is, isnt allowed as gyms reopen under Gov. Whitmers latest order

Gordon pointed to Lyon-Callos presentation slide that showed cases per million in the state are at an elevated plateau," and the numbers are not declining enough to give Whitmer confidence to change phases.

The determinations are based on multiple factors, Gordon said. As Dr. Lyon-Callo said, they include the level of epidemiological spread, positivity rates, hospitalization rates, disease surveillance and if you look statewide at the case levels that we have, we are at what you would call an elevated plateau relative to where weve been.

Gordon pointed to a graph showing that while cases per million are fewer than they were at the diseases peak in April and May, the numbers remain higher than the levels seen in June.

Looking at a seven-day moving average as of Tuesday, Sep. 22, Michigan was reporting 675 new cases and 10 new deaths per day. A week earlier, the state was averaging 767 new cases and 10 new deaths per day. On June 13, the average was 150 new cases.

With that data in mind, which Lyon-Callo said she provides weekly to Whitmer, her epidemiology team needs time to determine how recently lifted restrictions have affected infection rates.

If youve made a change, you need two weeks to understand what that change did, Lyon-Callo said. We try to make incremental changes with that in mind.

It has been three weeks since Whitmer allowed gyms outside Northern Michigan to operate at 25% capacity. When LaSata pushed back on her frustration over some businesses still being barred from reopening, Lyon-Callo said because the medical community is still learning how COVID-19 spreads, caution is recommended.

COVID-19 is a novel virus to human beings. Weve been dealing with it for less than a year, and theres still a lot we dont understand, Lyon-Callo said. It can cause an exponential amount of growth like we saw in Michigan in the spring in terms of infections. We know we didnt have enough tests in the spring for us to count how many cases (we actually had). We dont want to end up in that situation again.

Sen. Aric Nesbitt, R-Lawton, asked why casinos were allowed to open. Gordon said that the state doesnt have legal authority to restrict tribal casinos, so the three under state jurisdiction in Detroit were few enough to effectively monitor for COVID-19 precautions.

It is possible for them to take entry-exit cleaning and for us to see how theyre doing, Gordon said. With thousands of arcades across the state, it is much harder to supervise their standards.

Related: With Michigan casinos operating at limited capacity, state officials look to move up start of online betting

Other interesting data points that emerged from the testimony:

Nesbitt asked Lyon-Callo about the average wait time for test results to return to patients. She said the average was about by 2.9 days, but could be longer without an adequate sample.

Fewer than 3% of patients visiting emergency rooms statewide are reporting COVID-19-like symptoms, Lyon-Callo said. The only region where that number is increasing is in the Upper Peninsula. Lyon-Callo said since the symptoms are similar to pneumonia or the flu, it isnt necessarily a sign that COVID-19 cases are increasing at higher rates there than the rest of the state.

Outbreaks in schools are defined as two or more people that test positive for the disease, Lyon-Callo said. Committee Chair Rep. Matt Hall, R-Marshall, asked why school outbreak information is not provided daily. Lyon-Callo said MDHHS delegates outbreak notification to local health departments, and the task of updating the state database daily would take away from other work the department is doing.

COVID-19 PREVENTION TIPS:

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus.

Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible.

Use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and carry hand sanitizer with you when you go into places like stores.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has also issued executive orders requiring people to wear face coverings over their mouth and nosewhile in public indoor and crowded outdoor spaces. See an explanation of what that means here.

Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

For more data on COVID-19 in Michigan, visit https://www.mlive.com/coronavirus/data/.

Read more on MLive:

Michigan pandemic death toll is thousands higher than official counts

WMU reports 72 new coronavirus cases; university now at 235 infections

23 students at 10 University of Michigan buildings test positive for COVID-19, public health notices say

Coronavirus cases more than tripled among Michigan residents under age 25 since July 5

Michigan school and college outbreaks infect more than 1,400 students and staff so far, state reports
Gyeonggi Provincial Government building located in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province / Courtesy of Gyeonggi Province



By Lee Hyo-jin



The Gyeonggi Provincial Government is planning a test run of a basic income program for local farmers starting next April, according to officials,Tuesday.



The plans will provide periodic cash payments to farmers in the region to support their long-term livelihoods.



The municipal government launched preparations for the trial in June when it designated two institutions, Korea Regional Development Foundation (KRDF) and Nyeoreum, an agricultural policy research institute, to design the scheme and set criteria through which the authorities will designate a suitable town for the experiment.



The province held a meeting with the two organizations on Monday to receive reports on current developments and discuss the details.



During the session, KRDF proposed to give monthly cash handouts to all residents in the designated town for two years in the form of a "regional currency." The currency would only be valid in traditional markets, eateries or cafes in the area, in order to support small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the local economy.



All residents, regardless of age, gender or amount of assets, will be eligible to receive the payments. The recipients will be granted a monthly cash payment of 100,000 won to 500,000 won, depending on their household income.



The authorities also discussed how they plan to choose a town for the trial. They came up with 49 specific indices to measure the quality of life of residents, such as work-life balance, economic stability, mental and physical health and level of happiness.



Based on the discussion, KDRF and Nyeoreum will finalize the details of the experiment by the end of October. The local government will designate one town following preliminary findings, and roll out the trial next April.



"The project will show the socio-economic effects of basic income based on universality, individuality and regularity, which will allow us to measure the feasibility of the policy," said an official at Gyeonggi Provincial Government.


CEDARBURG, Wis.  As many suburban Americans reject President Trump, threatening his re-election like no other bloc of voters, the suburbs outside Milwaukee, among the most racially segregated in the country, remain a bulwark of support.

The well-educated, affluent counties north and west of the city have for decades delivered Republican landslides, defying a Democratic shift in suburbia in other Northern states.

And voters in these neighborhoods seem to be cleaving to the president even more tightly as he has stoked fears of anarchists and looters imperiling the suburbs, including after the unrest in nearby Kenosha. Their enduring support is one reason Wisconsin offers Mr. Trump a still-open path to re-election, even as his opportunities in other battlegrounds have dwindled.

For at least two decades, demographic changes in most American suburbs  an influx of nonwhite, well-educated and younger voters moving out of cities or immigrating from abroad  have pushed former Republican strongholds to become Democratic-trending regions.
The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe is now available at Carl Black Kennesaw! The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe would be a great option for those who are looking for a larger vehicle that offers space for seven to nine people and has an array of interior and safety features.

The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe officially made its debut at Carl Black Kennesaw. The full-size SUV is larger than the Traverse, but not quite as large as the Suburban. The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe would be a great option for those who are looking for a larger vehicle that offers space for seven to nine people and has an array of interior and safety features.

The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe is available in six trim levels which include the LS, LT, RST, Z71, Premier and High Country. There are two engine options available depending on the trim level that is chosen. The first option is a 5.3-liter V-8 engine that produces 355 horsepower and 383 pound-foot of torque.

The second option is a 6.2-liter V-8 engine that produces 420 horsepower and 460 pound-foot of torque.

Inside of the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe, the were many updates made to the infotainment center. Now there is a 10.2-inch diagonal multicolor configurable infotainment screen that comes with a Chevrolet Infotainment 3 system, 4G LTE Wi-Fi, Sirius XM and Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capabilities.

Finally, safety is a big priority to Chevrolet, and this is reflected in the safety features that are available and standard in the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe. It is available and standard with Following Distance Indicator, Forward Collision Alert, Front Pedestrian Braking, Park Assist, Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert and Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning.

Individuals who would like to see the selection of 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe vehicles available at carl Black Kennesaw can visit the dealerships website, https://www.carlblackkennesaw.com/. The dealership can also be reached by phone at 888-457-2417. Finally, Carl Black Kennesaw is conveniently located at 1110 Robert Blvd. for those who are looking for a more personal experience.
Burma Chinese Media Say Western Groups Paying Myanmar NGOs to Oppose Investment Projects

Local residents attend an anti-dam rally in Myitkyina, Kachin State on Feb. 7, 2019. / Supplied

YANGONChinas state-run media have accused Western organizations of helping local NGOs in Myanmar and elsewhere in Southeast Asia mount anti-China campaigns and oppose China-backed projects under the guise of promoting human rights and democracy.

On Tuesday, the Global Times, which is put out by Chinese Communist Party mouthpiece the Peoples Daily, said some NGOs in Southeast Asia have become vehicles for Western propaganda and even engage in China-bashing campaigns, adding that such activities were far outside their purview of advancing the public good.

It said that among Southeast Asian countries, Myanmars tumultuous political situation had for years created a paradise for Western NGOs. Quoting a Chinese person surnamed Zhao in Naypyitaw, the capital of Myanmar, the Global Times claimed local NGO staff played a role in discrediting China-aided or invested infrastructure projects by releasing reports that were critical of them.

The Global Times also quoted Zhu Zhenming, a professor at the Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences, who accused Western NGOs of using various tools to criticize China including stirring up public anger among local residents to reject China-initiated projects due to environmental concerns.

The news outlet alleged that the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), an independent nonprofit foundation, had been funding NGOs in Myanmar to oppose Chinese development projects.

The Global Times claimed that the Rakhine State-based Shwe Gas Movement (SGM), with the help of funding from NED, had been active in attacking Chinese-Myanmar cooperative developments including a crude oil and gas pipeline project,

SGM is a community-based organization in Rakhine campaigning against the Shwe Gas Project and Chinas Trans-Burma Pipeline, while promoting human rights, environmental justice and revenue transparency in the oil and gas sector in Myanmar. It has produced a series of reports revealing the ordeals of local people due to the pipeline project, in particular land confiscation, labor abuses, loss of livelihoods and environmental degradation.

SGM cofounder Wong Aung told The Irrawaddy the Global Times claim is totally false, adding that the organization had never received financial support from NED.

We did the reports because people in Rakhine are suffering the effects of the project including human rights abuses and losing their livelihoods. We serve as a bridge for the Rakhine people, as they dont receive any benefits from the project, Wong Aung said.

I want to tell both the Chinese government and the Chinese company [state-owned China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC)] that we understand responsible investment is essential for the development of Rakhine State. We dont oppose responsible investment, Wong Aung added.

In Myanmar, the Chinese twin oil and natural gas pipeline project has been controversial since construction work began on it in 2009, provoking opposition from local communities and environmental organizations. Myanmars then ruling military regime signed an agreement on the project with CNPC, which is the main shareholder in the pipelines project, in 2008.

The oil and natural gas pipelines run in parallel for 771 km in Myanmar from the port of Kyaukphyu in Rakhine State on the Bay of Bengal through Magwe and Mandalay regions and northern Shan State before entering China. A series of protests have been held along the route in Rakhine, Shan and Magwe due to concerns over safety, as the route passes through farms and near homes. Protesters have demanded fair compensation for loss of land and livelihood.

Responding to the Chinese medias accusations, the executive director of Equality Myanmar, U Aung Myo Min, told The Irrawaddy that NGOs by their nature rely on foreign aid and other donors. However, he said, We are not puppets. We stand up for the needs of the people.

He said the majority of natural resources exploitation and environmental destruction in Myanmar were caused by mega investments backed by Chinese companies, not by Western companies.

Thats why they [the Chinese] are receiving the most criticism [from local NGOs]. It has nothing to do with [China itself], he said.

Our position is to uphold human rights and to stand up for the truth by listening to the voices of oppressed people, he added.

You may also like these stories:

Economic Clouds Gathering on Chinas Horizon

Political Party Withdraws Election Broadcast After Censorship by Myanmar Authorities

Despite Chinas Wishes, a Canal Across Southern Thailand Is Still a Distant Prospect
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Linkedin (Reuters) London, United Kingdom  Wed, September 23, 2020 17:15 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46b77a5 2 People Prince-Harry,Meghan-Markle,Britain,united-states,election Free

Britain's Prince Harry and his American wife Meghan have called on Americans to register to vote in the upcoming US presidential election, entering into political territory where British royals traditionally do not venture.

In a video for 2020 Time 100, the US magazine's list of the world's most influential people, the couple said people who were able to cast their vote, should do so.

Harry and Meghan now live in California, having stepped down from their senior royal roles in March.

"Every four years we are told the same thing that this is the most important election of our lifetime," Meghan said.

"But this one is. When we vote, our values are put into action and our voices are heard, your voice is a reminder that you matter, because you do, and you deserve to be heard."

Meghan, who married Queen Elizabeth's grandson in 2018, criticized US President Donald Trump during his 2016 election campaign as being misogynistic and divisive.

Last year, Trump, on being told of Meghan's criticism, said: "I didn't know that. What can I say? I didn't know that she was nasty."

Read also: Meghan, Harry 'did not collaborate' with recent book: Lawyers

Under Britain's unwritten constitution, the royal family are expected to remain politically neutral and do not vote in elections. The queen, 94, has rarely strayed into current affairs issues during her 68-year reign.

"This election, I'm not going to be able to vote in the US, but many of you may not know that I haven't been able to vote in the UK my entire life," Harry said in the video. "As we approach this November, it's vital that we reject hate speech, misinformation and online negativity."

While Harry did not endorse Trump's opponent, Democrat challenger Joe Biden, his comments led to criticism he was interfering in politics.

"Prince Harry poking his woke nose into the US election & effectively telling Americans to vote against President Trump is completely unacceptable behavior for a member of the Royal Family," Piers Morgan, a former CNN television host and now a British breakfast show presenter, wrote on Twitter.

Prince Harry poking his woke nose into the US election & effectively telling Americans to vote against President Trump is completely unacceptable behaviour for a member of the Royal Family.  Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) September 23, 2020
The Director of Research and Postgraduate Studies at Kenyas Daystar University, Sr. Prof. Agnes Lucy Lando, has been appointed as Co-ordinator and Lead Consultant in assisting the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) to establish a national Catholic TV station.

Rose Achiego - Nairobi

The new Ukweli Television Kenya, whose motto is bringing Christ to the people and people to Christ, was recently issued with a commercial free-to-air broadcast licence by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA).

KCCB delighted to own television

In an interview, Chairman of KCCB  Commission for Social Communications, Bishop Joseph Obanyi, disclosed that the Kenyan Bishops were delighted to own a national TV station of their own, finally.

On behalf of the Bishops, I am excited that finally, we have something to begin with, said Bishop Obanyi. We thank the team in Nairobi for their commitment in helping acquire the broadcast licence.

TV to start transmissions soon

Bishop Obanyi said Ukweli TV would soon start transmitting programmes and called on Christians across the dioceses to support the new TV and team appointed to run it.

He paid tribute to Sr. Lando for her commitment and acceptance in helping the Bishops relaise their dream.

Ecumenism and proclaiming the Gospel

Meanwhile, speaking at Ukweli TV which is based at the National Youth Centre (Mji-Wa Furaha) along Thika Road, Sr. Lando congratulated KCCB and thanked the Bishops for the appointment. She said she was grateful for the confidence in her despite her other engagements at Daystar University, which is a non-Catholic institution.

To me, it is an appointment of Daystar University. I see an element of ecumenism where different faiths are working together for the common good of humanity and the proclamation of the great news, she said.

Ukweli TV more relevant in COVID-19 era

Sr. Lando said the closure of Churches early in the year due to the Covid-19 pandemic influenced the establishment of the new TV station.

"There was the forceful withdrawal of the Shepherd from the Sheep, said Sr. Lando. It was the desire of the Bishops to remain in touch with the Christians. They, therefore, requested that the establishment of Ukweli TV be accelerated so that it would be used as a tool for evangelisation and reach out Christians with messages of hope and encouragement.

Daystar Vice-Chancellor Prof. Laban Ayiro hailed Sr. Lando as a leader who is self-driven, responsible and with the capacity required to run the TV station due to her qualification as a professor in communications and involvement in Church matters.
Governor Abdullahi Ganduje says Kano State has flattened the curve of the spread of COVID-19 following the N5 billion intervention fund made available to it by the federal government.

Mr Ganduje made this known to State House correspondents after a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja, on Tuesday.

He stated that he was in the Presidential Villa to thank President Buhari over the federal governments assistance to tackle the pandemic.

He said the massive testing which yielded negative results was confirmation that the curve has been flattened in Kano.

He said: On COVID-19, I came to thank the President for assisting Kano State with N5 billion to fight the pandemic. That has assisted the state. We have opened five testing centres which are functional, the curve is now flattened.

We carried out testing maximally but at the same time the positivity ratio is very low. So, it (COVID-19) is dying down almost on a daily basis. So, I came to thank the President for that assistance.

The governor said he updated the president on the security situation in the state, especially the millitary training facility provided by the state government at the Falgore Forest at the cost of over N500 million.

We are providing infrastructure for military training in the Falgore Forest in order to prevent the bandits from colonising that particular environment.

The infrastructure will include auditorium, houses, dining hall, kitchen, shooting range and many other amenities to enable the military train continuously, he added.

Mr Ganduje announced that his administration had embarked on the construction of a Ruga settlement in the forest, as well as a dam, to halt the movement of the nomadic Fulani from one place to the other.

A modern system of animal husbandry will also be in place at the forest, for which 75 sons and daughters of Fulani herdsmen have been trained in Turkey for artificial insemination.

Once the Ruga is completed, they will be settled there and then modern animal husbandry will be practiced, he said.

Mr Ganduje added that he also updated the president on the blasphemy case in Kano.

He said the house of the father of the accused was burnt by locals but the boy was secured, charged to court and sentenced to death.

The boy can appeal the judgement and he has since done so, he said.

(NAN)
NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- PhosAgro has today been announced as a Global Compact LEAD participant for its ongoing commitment to the United Nations Global Compact and its Ten Principles for responsible business.

PhosAgro was identified as being among the most highly-engaged participants of the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative. PhosAgro first received LEAD status in 2019, and is now one of 41 companies in the world that have been granted LEAD status under the UN Global Compact.

Sanda Ojiambo, CEO and Executive Director of the UN Global Compact, said, "LEAD companies represent the highest level of engagement with the UN Global Compact. More than ever before, the world needs businesses of all sizes  like the ones announced as LEAD today  that continuously work to improve their sustainability performance and take action to build a better world."

PhosAgro CEO Andrey Guryev said: "Obtaining LEAD status under the UN Global Compact is an important recognition of PhosAgro's progress in terms of compliance with the Compact's Principles in the areas of human rights, labour relations, environmental protection and fighting corruption.

"Sustainable development is one of the priorities outlined in PhosAgro's Development Strategy to 2025. We aim to achieve even greater progress in this area and will continue to further contribute to ensuring global food security through supplying our environmentally friendly mineral fertilizers that are free from heavy metals concentrations to farmers in 102 countries."

To be eligible for LEAD, a company must:

Be a participant in at least two UN Global Compact Action Platforms to demonstrate the company's engagement with the UN Global Compact and commitment to defining and fostering leadership practices in line with the Ten Principles and the Global Goals; and Submit or commit to submitting an Advanced Communication on Progress  an annual sustainability report detailing progress on implementing the Ten Principles.

Phosagro has demonstrated its commitment to the UN Global Compact this year by participating in Action Platforms on Reporting on SDGs and Pathways to Low-Carbon & Resilient Development.

Each UN Global Compact Action Platform convenes business, Global Compact Local Networks, leading experts, civil society, Governments and UN partners to solve complex and interconnected issues and innovate around the Sustainable Development Goals. PhosAgro's Communication on Progress (CoP) and other related information is available in its Participant profile on the UN Global Compact website http://www.globalcompact.ru/participants/pao-fosagro/.

Since joining the UN Global Compact in 2018, PhosAgro has been proud to be part of a global movement of sustainable companies and stakeholders. By adopting a principles-based approach to sustainability, PhosAgro is taking shared responsibility for building a better world.

About PhosAgro

PhosAgro (www.phosagro.ru) is one of the world's leading vertically integrated phosphate-based fertilizer producers in terms of production volumes of phosphate-based fertilizers and high-grade phosphate rock with a P 2 O 5 content of 39% and higher. PhosAgro's environmentally friendly fertilizers stand out for their high efficiency, and they do not lead to the contamination of soils with heavy metals.

The Company is the largest phosphate-based fertilizer producer in Europe (by total combined capacity for DAP/MAP/NP/NPK/NPS), the largest producer of high-grade phosphate rock with a P 2 O 5 content of 39%, a top-three producer of MAP/DAP globally, one of the leading producers of feed phosphates (MCP) in Europe, and the only producer in Russia, and Russia's only producer of nepheline concentrate (according to the RAFP).

PhosAgro's main products include phosphate rock, over 50 grades of fertilizers, feed phosphates, ammonia, and sodium tripolyphosphate, which are used by customers in 102 countries spanning all of the world's inhabited continents. The Company's priority markets outside of Russia and the CIS are Latin America, Europe and Asia.

PhosAgro's shares are traded on the Moscow Exchange, and global depositary receipts (GDRs) for shares trade on the London Stock Exchange (under the ticker PHOR). Since 1 June 2016, the Company's GDRs have been included in the MSCI Russia and MSCI Emerging Markets indexes.

More information about PhosAgro can be found on the website: www.phosagro.ru.

SOURCE PhosAgro
The Workforce Alliance is offering a broad range of programs for workers in need of training, and for employers willing to train.

The Workforce Alliance will reimburse up to 75 percent of wages for providing on-the-job training to new hires in full-time, permanent positions filled by workers displaced by COVID-19-related closures or layoffs.

Additionally, nonprofits, municipalities, small and minority-owned businesses are also invited to host temporary workers and interns paid by Workforce Alliance. The workers will provide short-term help while gaining experience. Those performing humanitarian or disaster-relief jobs may be placed until as late as June 2021.

This initiative addresses an immediate need and removes common financial barriers faced by employers who want to rebuild their workforce, said Bill Villano, president and CEO of Workforce Alliance. This is one of many ways were responding to the COVID-19 crisis and providing meaningful support to connect workers and businesses.

The Workforce Alliance which serves south central Connecticut, operates out of four American Job Centers in New Haven, Middletown, Hamden and at 87 W. Main St. in Meriden. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the centers are open by appointment only, but are working to slowly reopen for more walk-in traffic, said Ann Harrison, director of communications.

In the meantime, enrollment for worker and employer programs is available through the Workforce Alliance website https://www.workforcealliance.biz/

For the employers, we have options for you to hire the help you need. To non-profits, we will provide you with the workers and we will pay them, Harrison told the Record-Journal during a recent Facebook live interview.

Workforce Alliances latest offerings called Fight COVID With a Career are funded by a National Emergency Disaster Relief Grant from the U.S. Department of Labor and a CT Governors Workforce Council COVID-19 Response grant made possible by the federal CARES Act.

Many of the job training and work experience interships will begin before the end of September and be completed before the end of 2020. Eligible candidates may include dislocated workers, low-income adults or young adults not connected to work or school.

Were trying to turn 2020 around for people, Harrison said. We have three new training initiatives for people who are still looking for work that may have been impacted by the shutdown.

Training opportunities are available in information technololgy, for certified nurses assistants specializing in geriatric nursing and for distribution and logistics workers. The agency is developing warehouse worker training into a career track by offering certifications in forklift driving and OSHA compliance.

It is also offering a $200 per week stipend for those enrolled in the training programs.

This is to help keep them on track, Harrison said. People want to start a new career but may say, I cant afford it, I really need to be earning.

On-the-job training reimbursements are for employers who hire for permanent positions with defined career pathways. Workforce Alliance will reimburse up to 75% of the wages paid to the new hire during the 8-12 week on-the-job training period while missing skills or knowledge are gained through employment.

Workforce Alliance staff will work with each employer to determine which option best suits their needs, Harrison said.

Interested employers should contact Workforce Alliances Business Services Coordinator Wanda Lary at 203-867-4030 x 254. Interested employees are asked to visit the website and click on the Fight Covid With a Career button to get started.

mgodin@record-journal.com203-317-2255Twitter: @Cconnbiz
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, today called on the United Nations General Assembly to create a Permanent UN Committee on Afghanistan to coordinate peace efforts and to facilitate a lasting political settlement in the country.

In a precedent-setting move, President Mirziyoyev delivered his address to the General Assembly's opening session in Uzbek, the first time Uzbekistan's national language has been used in the UN.

In his address, the President outlined the steps his nation has taken to try to promote peace in Afghanistan, starting with a major international forum held in Tashkent in March 2018. During that conference, President Mirziyoyev set a settlement in Afghanistan as a top priority for his administration, terming it "the linchpin of stability and prosperity of the entire greater region of Central and South Asia."

Since then, Uzbekistan has invested heavily in rail and transport infrastructure in Afghanistan, as well as in the energy sector and in education.

The President and his envoys have held extensive talks with all political parties and movements within Afghanistan, including the Taliban, discussions which led to the recent start of direct negotiations between the Afghanistan government leadership and the Taliban in Doha.

In today's address, delivered by video call, President Mirziyoyev said:

"We consider Afghanistan as unalienable part of Central Asia. The high-level Tashkent conference on Afghanistan in March 2018 became a new stage to consolidate international efforts to solve the Afghan problem.

"We fully support the intra-Afghan peace talks which started this September in Doha. We hope these negotiations will help in establishing peace and stability in the much suffering land of Afghanistan.

"In order to facilitate the involvement of Afghanistan in regional economic integration we have started the implementation of large infrastructure projects such as building the 'Surkhan-Puli-Khumri' power transmission line, and the railway network from Mazari-Sharif to the ports of the Indian Ocean.

"We believe that ensuring peace and stability in Afghanistan will always remain at the centre of the UN's attention.

"The hopes and aspirations of the Afghan people can only be realised if we work together and in close cooperation. We need to work based on the principle, from instability and destruction to peace and creation.

"Therefore, we need to establish at the UN a Permanent Committee that will listen to the hopes and aspirations of the Afghan people. The main aim of the committee should be to assist in the economic and social development of Afghanistan."

He noted that there is still no clear international strategy for dealing with the aftermath of four decades of strife within the country and that he was proposing a "new format" through which a consensus in support of the peace process could be achieved.

Diplomats in the region fear that once NATO troops leave, international interest in Afghanistan will fade. An authoritative international structure is needed to ensure Afghanistan is not now overlooked.

Experts believe a UN Permanent Committee could:

- Coordinate international efforts to assist the peace process in Afghanistan and its economic recovery.

- Keep the Afghanistan issue as a priority topic within the UN, ensuring that international assistance is systematic and efficient.

- Act as a platform to discuss relevant issues among global powers and regional states to avoid geopolitical rivalry in Afghanistan and find common interests.

- Serve as a channel for information exchange on terrorism and security threats.

- Mobilise international efforts to implement infrastructure and socio-economic development projects in Afghanistan, strengthening its connectivity with other states in the region

President Mirziyoyev also proposed convening an International Conference dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the Joint Plan of Action of the Central Asian Countries on the Implementation of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. He suggested Tashkent as the site for the conference.

The President touched on several other subjects from his list of priorities. Issues of particular relevance to the Central Asia region included the future of the Aral Sea. He called for a special resolution of the UN General Assembly on declaring the Aral Sea area a zone of environmental innovation and technologies.

He also noted plans for a major UNESCO-backed forum in Khiva, Uzbekistan, on the theme "Central Asia at the Crossroads of World Civilizations". The international forum is scheduled for 2021 but dates have not yet been fixed.

Focusing on weaknesses in transport links between Central Asia and Europe, President Mirziyoyev called for establishment under the auspices of the United Nations of a Regional Centre for the Development of Transport and Communications Connectivity.

He called on the world community to work more closely together to strengthen cooperation in the development of drugs and vaccines against the Covid-19 virus. He advocated an international code of voluntary commitments by states during the pandemic, supporting international initiatives for widespread access to the results of the development of vaccines against the coronavirus.

He highlighted the significance of a current initiative to adopt a UN Convention on the Rights of Youth. More generally, he backed the adoption of a special UN General Assembly resolution on enhancing the role of parliaments in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and ensuring human rights.

The President also described the elimination of poverty across the world as a key issue for the UN and suggested it as the main topic for a future UNGA session and proposed holding a global summit on the topic.

Regarding food security, President Mirziyoyev conveyed Uzbekistan's support for UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres' proposal to convene a Summit on Food Systems in 2021.
Ripple Science today announced the availability of new communication features in Ripple. These features better enable clinical research teams to work remotely and support virtual trials during this time of COVID-19. It is also timely as decentralized clinical trials (DCTs), in general, are gaining a foothold in industry.

The new communication features include bulk emails, calendar integrations for Microsoft Outlook and Google Calendar, and text messaging. These features provide significant time savings for study teams. The calendar integration enables teams to sync scheduled Ripple Events with an existing external calendar allowing seamless participant scheduling. Amanda Zimmerman, Sr. Clinical Research Coordinator at Tulane University explains, Ripple plays an integral role in coordinating the completion of our patient's study visits. With the Outlook-Ripple integration, scheduling visits is intuitive and efficient: the system allows for multiple staff members to simultaneously schedule for a coordinator. Each coordinator can link their own calendar to the main study calendar, allowing them ownership and visibility of their own work, while replicating to the Ripple calendar. This integration has improved our recruitment, retention, and management abilities.

Text messaging within Ripple utilizes all stored participant contact information allowing study teams to send direct text messages quickly and easily from a dedicated Ripple phone number. This feature, along with the ability to send templated emails in bulk establishes further communication efficiencies for Ripple accounts.

President and CEO Peter Falzon commented, Crisis is a catalyst for change and technology drives that change. The Ripple Science team is committed to supporting our customers through challenging times so that research can continue to move forward with the help of technology.

All communication features are available today with a Ripple subscription. Please contact sales@ripplescience.com for more information.

About Ripple Science: Ripple Science accelerates clinical research with its secure, HIPAA-compliant suite of tools. By adapting sales and marketing automation to the process of patient recruitment, Ripple helps our customers recruit more participants, faster and reduces patients lost to follow-up.

Ripple Sciences flagship product, Ripple, is currently being used by research investigators at more than 100 academic and research centers around the world, including Johns Hopkins University, Pennsylvania State University, University of California Los Angeles, the Brain Research Foundation Canada, University of East Anglia (UK), Cognito Therapeutics (Boston, MA) and the University of Michigan.
Overview

The Nokia 2.4 has been launched in India and comes with a waterdrop-style display. The device is touted to deliver two-day battery life on a single charge according to the company.

The Nokia 2.4 comes with a Nordic design and has three distinct colour options. For photos and videos, the Nokia phone has dual rear cameras. Under the hood, the phone has a MediaTek MT6762 Helio P22 (12 nm) processor. The Nokia 2.4 was unveiled along with the Nokia 3.4.

The Nokia 2.4 price in India has been set at Rs. 10,399 for the lone 3 GB RAM + 64 GB storage variant. The phone is available in Charcoal, Dusk, and Fjord colours. The phone will be available in offline stores as well as on online e-commerce stores.

Design

The phone comes with a 6.5-inch HD+ display that has a 20:9 aspect ratio and 720 x 1,600 pixels resolution. The phone is available in Charcoal, Dusk, and Fjord colours. It has an 80.6% screen-to-body ratio and has 270 ppi density.

Camera

The smartphone has a dual rear camera setup that houses a 13 MP primary sensor with an f/2.2 lens and a 2 MP depth sensor. For selfies, the phone has a 5 MP camera sensor at the front, with an f/2.4 lens.

Performance

The dual-SIM (Nano) Nokia 2.4 smartphone runs on Android 10 and the company has stated that it will be releasing two years of OS updates, including Android 11 and Android 12 update. Under the hood, the phone is powered by an octa-core MediaTek Helio P22 SoC paired with 3 GB of RAM. It has PowerVR GE8320 GPU. The phone comes with a Fingerprint (rear-mounted) sensor, an accelerometer, and a proximity sensor.

The Nokia 2.4 features a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor and also has a dedicated Google Assistant button.

Battery and Storage

The Nokia 2.4 has 64 GB of onboard storage that is expandable up to 512 GB via a microSD card slot. The phone has a Li-Po 4500 mAh battery. The company has stated that the phone can deliver two-days of battery life on a single charge.

Connectivity

Connectivity options included on the phone are 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v5.0, GPS/ A-GPS, and a Micro-USB port. It comes with FM radio support as well as includes a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Configuration

The Nokia 2.4 smartphone runs on Android 10 OS and the company has also promised two years of OS updates, which will be Android 11 and Android 12. Under the hood, the Nokia 2.4 comes with an octa-core MediaTek Helio P22 processor, coupled with 3 GB of RAM.
Vietnam is the second-largest coffee producer but could still improve promotions, photo Le Toan

The Singapore Coffee Association (SCA) is about to launch the first-ever micro lot Specialty Coffee Online Auction, making dozens of individual coffee lots available to international buyers online on October 1. However, instead of using this opportunity to promote domestic products, Vietnamese coffee exporters including Phuc Sinh Corporation announced they would not participate in the auction.

That is not the market that we target, said Phuc Sinhs general director Phan Minh Thong.

According to Thong, Singaporeans are good at marketing and built a decent-sized rubber market, but failed in the coffee and pepper segment. Singapore is not a big coffee market, and coffee is not a daily drink for Singaporeans. Thus, Phuc Sinh will not push into this market, Thong said.

Still, Thong seems to miss that the event is not specifically targeting Singaporean but mainly international suppliers. Moreover, to participate at the auction, producers only need to provide 33kg of quality green beans and do not have to pay any fees.

The reveal of the SCAs first virtual auction has received enthusiastic reactions from global producers with 56 lots of speciality coffee from 12 countries being registered for participation. This feedback exceeded the SCAs expectations as they initially only considered a maximum of 40 lots and expected between 150 and 200 bidders to participate in the virtual auction.

Stefan Muller, CEO of Cafe Don Benjie and producer of the worlds most expensive coffee bean, Panamanian Geisha, hopes the auction will be a great success because its unique way of organising it via Zoom could possibly open doors for similar events. For Muller, it is an honour to introduce the best Panama Geisha to the Asia-Pacific market.

The pandemic has reduced coffee exports across the world, of which the largest drop occured in the British market with a fall of 24.6 per cent since early this year, amounting to $33.1 million. Meanwhile, the Chinese coffee market dropped 13.7 per cent in the first six months of 2020.

Nevertheless, Xenia de Ameglio, owner of Cafelino S.A. and also producer of Panama Geisha, said that business will continue for the industry and that the auction is taking place at the right time. She hopes that the event will help promote her products to Asia.

Online coffee auctions are nothing new, but to run a virtual live auction on a videoconferencing platform may be the first time in Asia, if not worldwide, with COVID-19 pushing the SCA to innovate sales for a new market environment.

SCA president Victor Mah believed that the virtual auction will also be different from other online coffee auctions as bidders will enter into the act as if they were participating physically in an auction, so they can interact in real time with each other.

Coffee auctions usually offer the flexibility and convenience of an on-site coffee tasting before the actual auction. In the SCAs case, since the event happens online, the organisation must submit a green bean sample to potential bidders in advance so that they can evaluate them. Thus, a longer preparation is required before the actual auction.

Mah said that organising the auction virtually, is a bold idea as coffee is something you need to smell and taste before you decide to buy it.

In addition to sending samples in advance, the SCA has implemented an internationally recognised grading system that will provide contractors with a clear indication of the quality of the beans.

Mah believed the SCAs partnership with Singapores largest hospitality trade show organiser Food & HotelAsia will also amplify the events reach to contractors.

Nguyen Quang Binh, coffee market analyst at the New York and London exchanges commented, It is unfortunate that Vietnamese speciality coffee is not on the list, adding, Domestic speciality coffee makers have been making a lot of efforts in the last few years but to my surprise their associations do not see such a big event as a good opportunity for acquiring new distribution channels.

According to the SCA, the auction will feature some globally prized coffee varieties from many of the worlds most renowned growing regions, including Mundo Novo and Yellow Catucai from Brazil, Bourbon from Guatemala, Ateng Super from Indonesia, and Catuai and Catimor from Myanmar, among many more.

It is the first time the SCA is holding the event online, and a missed chance for Vietnamese producers to promote their products to the world, Binh concluded. I hope if the Vietnam Coffee and Cocoa Association is not interested in participating in the next iteration of the event, perhaps the Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Association will be.
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
Instead of adhering to congressional intent by building up the nation's inadequate supply of N95 masks and other equipment to combat the Covid-19 crisis, the Pentagon has funneled hundreds of millions of dollars in appropriated taxpayer funds to private defense contractors for drone technology, jet engine parts, Army uniform material, body armor, and other purposes not directly related to the pandemic.

As the Washington Post reported Tuesday morning, the Department of Defenseheaded by former Raytheon lobbyist Mark Esper"began reshaping how it would award the money" just weeks after Congress in March approved a $1 billion fund under the Defense Production Act to help the nation "prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus."

"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," the Post noted. "Some defense contractors were given the Pentagon money even though they had already dipped into another pot of bailout funds, the Paycheck Protection Program."

As the U.S. still faces major shortages of testing supplies and N95 masks six months into the pandemic, the Post reported that the Pentagon has used congressionally approved funds to dish out $183 million to luxury carmaker Rolls-Royce and other companies to help "maintain the shipbuilding industry," tens of millions for "drone and space surveillance technology," and $80 million to "a Kansas aircraft parts business."

A subsidiary of Rolls-Royce also received $22 million from the Pentagon "to upgrade a Mississippi plant," according to the Post.

If you cant get a COVID test or find an N95, its because these contractors stole from the American people to make faster jets and fancy uniforms. After all, Trump did say we were at war.https://t.co/a1wth7pvKV  Dr. Emily Porter, M.D. (@dremilyportermd) September 22, 2020

Mandy Smithberger, a weapons industry analyst at the Project on Government Oversight, told the Post, "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."

The Pentagon's misuse of taxpayer funds aimed at addressing the Covid-19 pandemic has drawn a rebuke from the Democrat-controlled House Appropriations Committee, which characterized the Defense Department's rewards to defense contractors as a clear violation of congressional intent.

"While the Department plans to execute a portion of that funding for personal protective equipment (PPE) as intended by Congress, most of the funds will be used to address the impact of Covid19 on the [defense industrial base], which was not the original intent of the funds," the committee said in a July report (pdf).

Pentagon officials insisted to the Post that the funds were allocated appropriately, citing the need to "protect key defense capabilities from the consequences of Covid," but Slate's Elliot Hannon argued the Defense Department's generous taxpayer-funded gifts to private corporations amount to little more than "a colossal backdoor bailout for the defense industry."

Pointing to the Pentagon's handouts to Rolls-Royce and other major companies, Hannon wrote, "That doesn't exactly sound like PPE."
Iltija Mufti has again approached the Supreme Court against the detention of her mother and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti under Public Safety Act (PSA) as the Peoples Democratic Party leader continues to be in jail since August 5 last year, when the Centre revoked the special status of J&K.

Iltija Mufti filed a habeas corpus petition in the apex court last week challenging her mothers detention under PSA since February 5 and the two subsequent extensions. Habeas corpus is a writ seeking production of a person, who has allegedly been in illegal detention, before a court.

Mehbooba Mufti was booked under PSA on February 5 after her preventive detention of six months had expired. Under PSA, a person can be put behind bars without trial from three months to two years.

Iltija said that her mothers detention is illegal and questionable in a democracy. A key opposition leader has been jailed for over a year without recourse to trial, she said.

The former CM is currently lodged in her Gupkar home, which has been turned into a sub-jail, where she was shifted on April 27.

Iltija has challenged the detention on several grounds, including that the dossier based on which grounds of detention have been framed are  stale, vague and that they suffer from non-application of mind, malice in law and that they violate the provisions of sections 8(3)(b) of the PSA.

Iltija had filed the petition in February and the case was scheduled to be listed for March 18 when countrywide lockdown was announced to contain the Covid-19.

She said she was bringing to the top courts notice that despite its order in February, the J&K administration is yet to even file a reply. And it shows you the respect they have for courts and SC, she said.

The applicant has prayed before the court to command the respondents i.e respective representatives of government of India and the union territory to produce Mehbooba Mufti before the court to set her free.

She has also urged for quashing of her detention orders and award compensation for her illegal detention.

Iltija has argued that the detention of her mother was extended on February 5 as she declined to sign a bond asking her not to make any statement on the recent events in J&K.

This bond and surety which she was repeatedly asked to sign, included the promise that: In case of release from detention, I will not make any comment(s) or issue statement(s) or make public speech(s) hold or participate in public assemblies related to the recent events in the State of Jammu and Kashmir, at the present time, since it has the potential of endangering the peace and tranquility and law and order in the State or any part thereof, the petition says.

Thus, the admitted basis of the detention is a blanket undertaking not to make any comment on the recent events in the State, it says.

The petition says that the detenu has not been allowed any visits by her close relatives, barring a solitary visit by her brother and her sisters husband on August 19 after multiple requests.

Furthermore, the detenu has not been accorded a chance to attend to her duties as the president of her party, the Jammu and Kashmirs Peoples Democratic Party. Even party officials and cadres who had applied to visit her on several occasions have not been granted permission by the respondent administration, it says.

Nearly all of Kashmirs mainstream political leaders were detained in August 2019, hours before the central government nullified Article 370 of the Constitution, which accorded special status to the region, and bifurcated the state into two union territories  Jammu and Kashmir with a legislature and Ladakh without one.

Farooq Abdullah and his son Omar Abdullah, the two former chief ministers, were released on March 13 and March 24, respectively.
An indigenously developed laser-guided anti-tank guided missile has been successfully test fired by the Defence Research and Development Organisation at a firing range in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar, officials said on Wednesday.





The weapon, having a range of up to four km, was test fired from an MBT Arjun Tank at KK Ranges in Armoured Corps Centre and School in Ahmednagar on Tuesday, they said.

The laser-guided anti-tank guided missile is likely to significantly enhance the fire-power capability of the Indian Army particularly along the frontiers with Pakistan and China, the officials said.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the Defence Research and Development Organisation on successful test firing of the ATGM.

"Congratulations to @DRDO_India for successfully conducting test firing of Laser Guided Anti Tank Guided Missile from MBT Arjun at KK Ranges in Ahmednagar. India is proud of Team DRDO which is assiduously working towards reducing import dependency in the near future," he tweeted.



The officials said the ATGM hit the targets with total accuracy and precision.

"The missile employs a tandem heat warhead to defeat explosive reactive armour protected armoured vehicles. It has been developed with multiple-platform launch capability and is currently undergoing technical evaluation trials from gun of MBT Arjun," said an official.

The Arjun is a third generation main battle tank developed by the DRDO.

Pune-based Armament Research and Development Establishment developed the ATGM in association with High Energy Materials Research Laboratory and Instruments Research and Development Establishment.
Boris Johnson faced a backlash from police today over plans to use soldiers to help his latest coronavirus crackdown.

The Prime Minister announced that troops could be brought in to free up officers to help enforce measures like mask wearing and the new 10pm pub and restaurant curfew, which comes into effect tomorrow.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab defended the plan this morning, saying military personnel could be drafted in to 'relieve capacity' and allow officers to concentrate on enforcing rules.

But he dismissed claims that soldiers will be patrolling the streets as 'scaremongering'. The last time soldiers were deployed on UK streets was in 2017 following a terror attack on an Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena.

However, Martin Hewitt, chairman of the National Police Chiefs Council, said: 'Any military support must be assessed carefully.

'At the moment, no military involvement is necessary, nor do we anticipate this will be needed.'

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab defended the plan this morning, saying military personnel could be drafted in to 'relieve capacity' and allow officers to concentrate on enforcing rules

The last time soldiers were deployed on UK streets was in 2017 following a terror attack on an Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena

Martin Hewitt, chairman of the National Police Chiefs Council, said: 'At the moment, no military involvement is necessary, nor do we anticipate this will be needed'

Mr Raab today warned the UK 'could end up in a national lockdown' if Boris Johnson's new coronavirus crackdown fails to get the disease under control.

The Foreign Secretary said a second shutdown 'is what we want to avoid' but the nuclear option remains in the Government's 'arsenal' if all else fails.

Mr Raab said he hoped 'if everyone plays by the rules' then the nation will be able to go into the Christmas period without a national lockdown being imposed.

Discussing Mr Johnson's plans for the Army, he said: 'The reality is there will be stronger enforcement, more powers for the police, higher levels of fines, mainly for the small minority who haven't complied always with the rules.

'We don't want them to blow it for the vast majority of people and end up in a second lockdown.

'The issue with the army, as throughout this pandemic they have been used to backfill, to support, for example local authorities with testing, delivery of PPE and if they can relieve any capacity for the police to do the very difficult job that they have done incredibly well, they will be there to do that.'
Since June 19, there have been five floods in the Yellow River this year, according to the Yellow River Conservancy Commission of the Ministry of Water Resources.

As the only major water control project downstream of the Sanmenxia Reservoir on the Yellow River, Xiaolangdi plays a key role in controlling floods.

"Floods are more frequent this year, but since we freed up the storage of the reservoir in advance, we have a clear idea about what to do with the situation," said Zhang Jiansheng, engineer at the Xiaolangdi Project Construction & Management Center, which is located 40 kilometers north of Luoyang city in Henan province.

"Although recent peak flows were much smaller than the flood control limits of the project, we still stayed on high alert and fully prepared," Zhang said in an interview on Sept. 15. "We work around the clock, carrying out inspections of facilities to make sure they are in effective operation."

According to the engineer, solving the problem of silt build-up is critical to the control and development of the Yellow River. Floods in the river are mainly caused by heavy concentrations of silt and sediment.

The Yellow River is the most silted river in the world  its long-term average silt level is 37.6kg/m3, and 1.351 billion tons are carried to the sea per year. The silts received from the upper and middle reaches form sediments down river, elevating the riverbed above the surrounding ground.

The Xiaolangdi project helps reduce sediments by retaining them in its silt-discharge tunnels. "The project features a sediment deposit storage of 7.55 billion m3, which was projected to fill up by 2020," Zhang introduced.

"However, progress in environmental protection and vegetation restoration has led to a substantial drop in the amount of sediment. In addition, the retained sediment can be removed from the reservoir by flushing. Xiaolangdi currently holds 3.29 billion m3 of sediment deposits," Zhang said.

The Xiaolangdi project is composed of three main sections, namely a reservoir dam, silt-discharge tunnels and a power generation system. The construction of the main part started in September, 1994, and the whole project was completed by the end of 2001.
President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday told the UN General Assembly that declaring a formal end to the Korean War will open the door to complete denuclearization and permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Speaking at the virtual session of the assembly, Moon stressed that the war should finally end completely and that peace on the peninsula can ensure cordial relations in Northeast Asia.

The war never officially ended but was halted by an armistice in 1953.
An Indiana wife allegedly used deadly mushrooms to poison her husband after researching toxic fungi online.

David Fouts, 50, was found dead in a ditch close to their home in Hamilton County in April and had consumed poisonous mushrooms at the time of his death, an autopsy has revealed.

Wife Katrina Fouts, 54, of Pendleton, and her alleged accomplice Terry Hopkins, 64, of Williamsburg, have been arrested and charged in connection with the incident.

David Fouts, 50, (pictured) was found dead in a ditch in April and had consumed poisonous mushrooms at the time of his death, an autopsy has revealed

Video courtesy of Fox59

Fouts' body was discovered on April 24 in a ditch near the 21500 block of Overdorf Road in rural Noblesville, several days after he was last seen.

He was found with lethal amounts of toxic mushroom chunks in his system as well as cuts on his hands, and duct tape residue on his wrists and ankles.

According to a court affidavit, the mushroom he had ingested was identified as the potentially lethal Lyophyllum connatum, or white domecap mushroom.

Wife Katrina Fouts, 54, left, of Pendleton, and her alleged accomplice Terry Hopkins, 64, right, of Williamsburg, have been arrested and charged in connection with the incident

Lyophyllum connatum Lyophyllum connatum, also known as White Dome Cap mushrooms, are commonly found growing in clusters in woodland. They are prolific in summer and fall until spring on the U.S. West Coas and is widely distributed in North America. White domecap, Lyophyllum connatum The species is edible when cooked. The plant contains muscarine, which is a naturally-occurring product found in certain mushrooms, which due to its toxicity makes it dangerous to consume. When ingested raw, White Dome Cap mushrooms may cause symptoms including sweating and producing excess saliva and tears. Depending on the toxicity of the mushroom and the dosage, effects can be potentially lethal to humans without medical intervention. They can also cause liver failure, nausea, and diarrhea. If muscarine reaches the brain it can cause tremor, convulsions and hypothermia. If the substance is administered intravenously, it can cause circulatory failure with cardiac arrest. Advertisement

It is unclear if David had been forced to eat the fungus, or if it had been given to him as part of a meal.

'Lyophyllum connatum is poisonous due to muscarine, a well-known mushroom toxin,' the affidavit states.

Katrina Fouts did not report her husband missing or try to call him in the days after he had disappeared, according to investigators.

When Hamilton County deputies went to the Fouts home early on August 25, to inform Katrina Fouts about the discovery of her husband's body, she claimed that he had threatened suicide multiple times over the years.

'Katrina Fouts stated that the previous weekend, David Fouts had been saying everyone would be better without him,' the affidavit states.

'Katrina Fouts said repeatedly that she felt guilty for not having done enough to help him.'

A probe by the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office led to the discovery of a screenshot on her phone showing she had researched deadly mushrooms.

Investigators say the screenshot contained information on a similar poisonous mushroom known as Amanita virosa, which was described as 'among the deadliest plants known to mankind.'

Investigators became suspicious when they discovered evidence that David Fouts' body had been dumped in the ditch after he had died.

'Specifically, the lividity marks on the decedent did not match the location and position in which the body was discovered,' one investigator said.

Fouts reportedly also offered conflicting information about the location of her husband's phone, which was found inside their house.

Fouts and her alleged accomplice were arrested earlier this week. Terry Hopkins was accused of aiding and abetting Fouts after traces of his DNA were found on the victim's shirt, according to a report by Fox59.

Investigators have not yet shared a possible motive for the killing.

Fouts and Hopkins remain in prison ahead of their next court appearance.
The University of Toledo's Human Trafficking and Social Justice Institute will give University of Dayton Human Rights Center Director of Advocacy Tony Talbott its Champion for Human Rights and Social Justice Award at the institute's 17th Annual International Human Trafficking and Social Justice Conference virtually on Sept. 24.

"We commend Tony for his commitment to advocating for the needs of the vulnerable in our society," said Celia Williamson, executive director of the institute. "Tony is an influential social justice leader in our community. Many anti-trafficking advocates across the U.S. and around the world have learned from Tony. We are lucky to have such a knowledgeable and compassionate leader in our state."

In his role at the UD Human Rights Center, Talbott also directs Abolition Ohio, an anti-human trafficking coalition in the Miami Valley. Among many initiatives, Talbott helped lead the School Trafficking Outreach Program (STOP) in local schools to help students identify and avoid signs of human trafficking. He also was part of a UD group that helped lobby on behalf of an Ohio bill to make human trafficking a felony and researched and wrote a report on online commercial sex activity in the greater Dayton, Ohio, region.

In addition to his work in the UD Human Rights Center and Abolition Ohio, Talbott is a credentialed Not For Sale Campaign citizen investigator of human trafficking and he serves on the Ohio Attorney Generals Human Trafficking Commission.

For interviews, contact Shawn Robinson, associate director of news and communications, at srobinson1@udayton.edu. Talbott is available via Zoom today, tomorrow and Friday for interviews.
The first official weekend of fall is still full of outdoor activities, despite the coronavirus pandemic. We will continue to include both live and virtual activities on our weekly list as the landscape of events continues to change.

Know of an event you would like to see on this list? Email us at features@syracuse.com.

Downtown Living Tour

After being postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Downtown Living Tour is back on. See inside eight downtown tour stops, including new upscale apartments and historic buildings recently transformed into residential developments. There will be new protocols to promote a safe and socially distanced event. Online ticket sales have ended, but a limited amount of tickets available on the day of the event at Washington Place, 300 E. Washington Street. Masks must be worn at all times inside buildings. Occupancy in all buildings will be limited to 50%, and the amount of people allowed in each unit will be displayed via signage.

Where: Downtown Syracuse; see preview of all stops at DowntownSyracuse.com/DowntownLivingTour

When: Sept. 26 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

How much: $12, available on a first-come, first-serve basis at 300 E. Washington Street

Follow these easy steps () to get going on the #Syrac_se Scavenger H_nt! Posted by Downtown Syracuse on Thursday, September 3, 2020

Downtown Syracuse scavenger hunt

The Put the U Back in Syracuse campaign invites the CNY community back to downtown Syracuse to eat, shop, and have fun. Part of the project includes a socially-distanced, digital Syracuse Scavenger Hunt which includes completing tasks like visiting businesses, restaurants and exploring iconic landmarks throughout Onondaga County. Participants must download the Scavify app and complete tasks to earn points to be eligible to win prizes from local businesses.

Where: www.ubackinsyracuse.com/Hunt

When: Now through Sept. 30

How much: Free to play, full details can be found on the website

Folks gathered at Owasco Lake near Auburn to listen to patriotic music by Symphoria and see a fireworks display over the lake, July 3, 2019. Lawrence Loh conducts. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.comDennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com

A Grand Overture with Jon Nakamatsu

Symphoria returns for their 2020-2021 season with a series of virtual concerts. Celebrate opening night and Beethovens birthday with pianist Jon Nakamatsu. This concert is part of our season-long Beethoven Festival celebrating the 250th anniversary of his birth. The concert will be performed live from Inspiration Hall and live-streamed right to your home. A private link will be sent to all ticket holders the week of the concert.

Where: Tickets available at experiencesymphoria.org

When: Sept. 26 at 7:30 p.m., pre-concert programming begins at 6:45 PM

How much: $25 per individual or $35 for a family

The Fan

The Cherry Arts presents The Fan by Carlo Goldoni, a family-friendly farce from the 18th-century author of The Servant of Two Masters. This production will feature a socially-distanced cast with elaborate, comic COVID masks, and heightened movement. The show will be available to be watched online or in (distanced, outdoor, masked) person.

Where: Stewart Park, 1 James L Gibbs Dr., Ithaca, NY 14850

When: Sept. 24-26 at 5:30 p.m., additional Saturday matinee at 2 p.m.

How much: Free, but reservations are required at www.thecherry.org

Kane Brown will perform March 6 at The Times-Union Center in Albany and on March 7 at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo.MLive Media Group

Kane Brown drive-in concert

Encore Drive-In Nights featuring Kane Brown will air at drive-in theaters across the U.S. The never-before-seen show was recorded live, exclusively for a one-night-only event. It will be showing in Auburn, Cortland, and Syracuse. Both Auburn and Syracuse will offer a VIP fast pass with VIP entry and parking. In Syracuse this will be combined with the Orange Lot Madness fair food 2event at the New York State Fairgrounds.

Where: Finger Lakes Drive-In, Auburn; Greek Peak Outdoor Cinema, Cortland; Orange Lot, NYS Fairgrounds, Syracuse

When: Sept. 26 at 8 p.m.

How much: Early bird $56, general admission $76, VIP pass $176; six people per vehicle max, tickets available at ticketmaster.com/encore-kanebrown

Please consider this your invitation to the RRDC Food Truck Fest on September 26th. The dancers would love your support. Posted by RRDC Booster Club Food Truck Fest on Wednesday, August 26, 2020

RRDC Booster Club Food Truck Fest

River Rhythms Dance Center Booster Club is hosting a food truck festival to raise money for the competitive dancers to compete at the national level in the summer of 2021. This is a grab and go event and all local and state COVID recommendations will be followed. Food trucks include Limp Lizard, Via Napoli, Oompa Loompyas, Papa Gallo, Birdsong Cafe, and more.

Where: River Rhythms Dance Center, 6 Lock St., Baldwinsville, NY 13027

When: Sept. 26 from 3-7 p.m.

How much: Free to attend

Virtual Magnificent Monarchs

Every year thousands of monarch butterflies undertake an epic journey which spans much of the continent and involves many generations of butterflies. Baltimore Woods is offering a Tune virtual program which follows five monarch generations on their seasonal voyage. Registration is required and all participants will receive an email invitation with a YouTube link. Registration for this program will be rolling through Oct. 9 and will be available to view until Oct. 10 at noon.

Where: Register at baltimorewoods.org/event/virtual-magnificent-monarchs

When: Now through Oct. 10 at noon

How much: Free, but donations are appreciated

A behind-the-scenes look into PUSH Physical Theatre's  , available on demand during #rocfringe20. : https://rochesterfringe.com/tickets-and-shows/push-physical-theatres-trunk-show Posted by Rochester Fringe Festival on Sunday, September 13, 2020

Rochester Virtual Fringe Festival

Typically held at various performance spaces throughout downtown Rochester, the 9th annual Fringe Festival will take place online with more than 170 performances from Sept. 15 to 26. Some productions will be available to stream on demand while others will be live at specific times. This years Fringe includes a wide variety of genres such as comedy, dance, Kids Fringe, multidisciplinary, music, spoken word, theatre, and visual art and film. Artists will perform on various platforms, including YouTube, Vimeo, Twitch, Zoom, and Facebook Live.

Where: rochesterfringe.com

When: Sept. 15-26

How much: Events range from free to minimal fee, tickets available on their website now

Diaper Run Virtual 5k

The CNY Diaper Bank is hosting a virtual 5K for National Diaper Need Awareness Week. All registration fees will go directly toward diaper purchases for an increased number of local families facing financial hardship. Runners, walkers, and crawlers can complete the 5k or shorter distance any time during the event week. Participants who fundraise have their registration fee waived if $100 or more is raised and every $100 provides 1,000 diapers to local babies and toddlers in need.

Where: Register at cnydiaperbank.org/events/run

When: Any time between Sept. 21-27

How much: $25 for adults, $15 for youth (13-17 years old), children 12 and under can participate for free

Fall Harvest Celebration

Critz Farms begins their weekly fall celebrations with the start of apple picking this week. The tasting room is open every day while their cider mill will open on weekends only for donuts & fritters. The petting zoo animals will be available to be seen, but not pet. There will be wagon rides and a new tent for expanded outdoor seating. Guests are asked to book tickets in advance as there will be a capacity limit. Masks will be required for when six feet of social distancing is not possible.

Where: Critz Farms, 3232 Rippleton Rd, Cazenovia, NY 13035

When: Festival activities will run Saturdays and Sundays beginning Sept. 19

How much: $8.00 per person, children age two and under are free. Visitors must arrive at the farm during their ticketed time slot, but are not required to leave by a specific time.

Pumpkin Chuckin'

Varick Winery & Inn in the Finger Lakes celebrates fall with their annual Pumpkin Chuckin' which launches pumpkins at targets with a giant slingshot. This activity is offered on weekends only. Call ahead to schedule large groups at 315.549.8797. Tasting room and country store will also be open.

Where: Varick Winery and Inn, 5102 State Route 89 Romulus, NY 14541

When: Saturdays and Sundays from 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m.

How much: $2 for one pumpkin, $5 for three pumpkins, $20 for 13 pumpkins

People jam the corner of Bridge Street and Erie Blvd. to purchase the New York State Fair staple Pizze Frittes during a pop-up sale, Friday April 24, 2020, DeWitt, N.Y.Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com

Orange Lot Madness

Villa Pizze Fritte is extending their New York State Fair food event through the month of September. They will be joined by the Big Kahuna food stand, Ashley Lynn Winery and Carnival Eats. You will be able to order pizza frittes, gyros, funnel cakes, deep fried Twinkies and Oreos, corn dogs, and more. This weekend, Big Kahuna is adding Philly Cheesesteak and loaded fries based on customer requests. Its also adding a noon-to-2 p.m. lunch special (Choice of Greek Gyro, Chicken Gyro, Spicy Gyro, Italian Sausage or Philly Cheesesteak with fries) for $10.

Where: Orange Lot, NYS Fairgrounds, 581 State Fair Blvd, Syracuse, NY 13209

When: Each Friday, Saturday and Sunday through the end of September. This weekend, the hours are noon to 7 p.m.

How much: Free to attend

Rochester-area artist William Keyser talks about the process he used to create his two sculptures that are featured in the Schweinfurth Art Center's Made in NY 2020 exhibition. Posted by Schweinfurth Art Center on Tuesday, September 8, 2020

Made in NY exhibition

Made in NY is an annual juried exhibition which features artwork by artists residing in New York State. This exhibition is open to all mediums, such as photography, sculpture, ceramics, painting, drawing, fiber, installation, and video. Jurors reviewed 330 artworks and they selected 77 works for the exhibit. Visitors are required to wear a mask to enter the Schweinfurth, and the art center will have hand-sanitizing stations available.

Where: Schweinfurth Art Center, 205 Genesee Street, Auburn, NY 13021

When: Now through Sept. 26, the art center will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays

How much: $7, available at schweinfurthartcenter.org

Taste of the State Fair in Canastota

The Big Kahuna will be back in Madison County this weekend to give people a chance to experience some New York State Fair favorites with an autumn-kick, alongside Canastotas beloved Basilio Buda Sausage. Get a taste of pumpkin funnel cakes, apple caramel funnel cakes, spicy Greek gyros, and bacon cheddar cheese fries. The Big Kahuna and Basilio Buda Sausage will make a donation from the event to the CNY Childrens Foundation to build an ADA-compliant playground in Canastota.

Where: The parking lot of the Tops Supermarket on Route 5 in Canastota

When: Friday, Sept. 25 to Sunday, Sept. 27, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

How much: Free to attend, Big Kahuna will offer $1 off each item to all First Responders with ID
By Christopher Welsh and Sean Fogler



Times Guest Columnists

As overdose deaths from the opioid crisis surge during the pandemic, the policies meant to prevent unnecessary deaths are moving in the wrong direction. In 2014, the Legislature passed Davids Law, commonly known as the Good Samaritan Law, to encourage people to call 911 to report an overdose when a person is in crisis. The law provides immunity from arrest and prosecution to 911 callers and drug overdose victims where the caller reports an overdose to prevent death or serious injury, shares their name and location, remains with the overdose victim, and cooperates with authorities.

The fundamental purpose of Davids Law  to remove the threat of criminal penalties when someone is in the midst of an overdose  has been undermined by recent Superior Court decisions, the prosecutors office that argued for the narrowest interpretation of the law, and recently proposed amendments to the statute in the Pennsylvania Legislature.

As its name implies, the law encourages people to render aid to those in need. When someone is overdosing, the law prioritizes the moral imperative to care for a strangers wellbeing over societys desire to arrest and prosecute. By removing fear of arrest and prosecution, the law encourages people to focus on the emergency at hand and call for help. Removing that fear saves lives.

The need for this law has only increased during the pandemic. During the pandemic there have been significant increases in overdose deaths in almost every state. Social isolation, unemployment, and a distressed economy during COVID-19 outbreaks are sending diseases of despair to unprecedented levels and have exacerbated a deadly environment for people who use drugs.

As the situation on the ground worsened, a three-judge panel of the Pennsylvania Superior Court issued a pair of decisions that struck a blow to Davids Law and undermined its intent. Following the arguments advanced by the Delaware County District Attorney, the court upheld criminal convictions in Commonwealth v. South and Commonwealth v. Nunez, in which fast food employees called 911 to report that customers struggled to maintain consciousness inside their restaurants. In South, a syringe and silver spoon visibly protruded from the overdose victims coat pocket. In Nunez, the 911 caller described the overdose victim as extremely high. Fortunately, first responders arrived quickly, (in one case administered Narcan) and both overdose victims survived.

Unfortunately, police arrested both overdose victims, the Delaware County District Attorney prosecuted them, a trial judge convicted, and the Superior Court panel affirmed. The District Attorney and judges at each level claimed immunity should not apply because it was unclear whether the 911 callers knew that the victims were actually overdosing. As the Superior Court stated in a previous case, this position is divorced from reality, and it undermines the entire purpose of the law.

The average layperson is not a health care expert, and the law does not require them to be one. The statute requires only a laypersons reasonable belief that someone is experiencing a drug overdose at the time of the 911 call. In both South and Nunez, it is not only reasonable to believe that the 911 caller thought they were witnessing an overdose, it requires speculation to find an alternate reason for calling 911.

In addition to this step backwards in the Superior Court, the Pennsylvania House recently passed House Bill 137, introduced by state Rep. Chris Quinn, R-168 of Middletown, which would reauthorize law enforcement to arrest and prosecute an overdose victim in all circumstances. The legislation offers immunity as a reward only if the victim later proves they sought drug treatment.

These amendments miss the point. Our moral obligation to our fellow citizens is to save their lives, not make sure they answer for their disease through the criminal justice system. If these amendments become law, they might cause a witness to hesitate before calling 911, and lives might needlessly be lost.

COVID-19 is exacerbating the opioid epidemic. Arrest is not the answer. Prosecution is not the answer. Shame, stigma, and discrimination are not the answers. There is no better moment to permanently eliminate obstacles to treating drug overdoses and saving lives.

Pennsylvanias appellate courts should revisit and reverse the decisions in South and Nunez to restore the lifesaving potential of Davids Law. The Pennsylvania Senate and Governors Office should likewise reject House Bill 137.

That moment is today. Tomorrow could be too late.

Christopher Welsh is the Chief Public Defender in the Delaware County Public Defenders Office. Sean Fogler, MD is the former director of Development and education at the Pennsylvania Harm Reduction Coalitions and Co-founder of Community Health Strategies.
VANCOUVERBritish Columbias chief coroner is hoping a recent decline in fatal overdoses after a record number of illicit-drug deaths is a positive sign but she says its time the province developed a standard of care for substance users after the fifth year of a public health emergency.

Its one of the things that our inquest juries and death review panels have recommended over and over, that there needs to be an evidence-based continuum of care for those who are reaching out, Lisa Lapointe said in an interview.

The coroners service released data Wednesday showing 147 people fatally overdosed in August compared with 86 deaths during the same month last year. However, the monthly deaths are lower than the 176 confirmed for July and the record of 181 fatalities in June.

Data also show overdose deaths began increasing in B.C. just as the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March, when 113 people died, up from 73 in February.

Border closures have stopped the flow of drugs that typically come into the province and have been replaced by even more toxic substances, putting a greater number of people at risk of overdose, Lapointe said.

But gaps in services remain even as the province has increased the availability of the overdose-reversing medication naloxone and there are plans to soon allow certain nurses to prescribe safer drugs as an alternative to potentially deadly street drugs containing higher concentrations of fentanyl, she said.

In terms of the bigger picture for treatment and recovery and the wraparound services people need, its pretty chaotic.

Someone who wants to detox from illicit substances can be on a wait list for two to three weeks while getting a treatment bed can take two months, Lapointe said.

On the one hand theres fingers pointed at those using substances and I think theres some sentiment out there that they should be helping themselves. But on the other hand, the services just arent available to help them, she said.

Even those services that are available arent bound by provincial standards, Lapointe added.

If you break your leg there is a standard treatment. Youll get an X-ray, and presumably a cast and there will be some followup. And if you need physiotherapy for rehab that will be down the line. But there is no standard right now for treatment for those experiencing problematic substance use.

Multiple unregulated services have set up shop around the province and require staff to have minimal training of about 16 to 20 hours, Lapointe said.

Families in this province have spent tens, hundreds of thousands of dollars for treatment and theres no basis in evidence for it.

Lapointe said drugs shouldnt be used alone, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Right now is not the time to be pushing people away. If you have a family member or a good friend whos a substance user, they need the support because the toxic supply is lethal.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry issued an order last week allowing registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses to prescribe safer drugs as an alternative to those bought on the street.

The board of the BC College of Nurses and Midwives is scheduled to meet Thursday to discuss standards, which will then be published on the colleges website. Spokeswoman Johanna Ward said suboxone, a medication that is currently prescribed by doctors and nurse practitioners, will be the one initially prescribed, likely in a month.

Read more about:
How to download Covid Alert PA

For Android, click here.

For iOS, click here.

On the day that the United States' death toll reached 200,000 Americans, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf and Secretary of Health Rachel Levine gathered in Philadelphias Franklin Square to announce the states latest initiative in combating the coronavirus.

The pair, accompanied by Philadelphia Health Commissioner Thomas Farley, announced on Tuesday the launching of COVID Alert PA, an app that will use Bluetooth technology to alert a person when they have come in close contact with someone who has tested positive for the coronavirus.

The free app, created by Irish software firm Nearform, uses Bluetooth wireless technology to detect when two users are within at least six feet of each other for 15 minutes or more. The app exchanges a random set of Bluetooth handshakes, or Bluetooth keys, officials said Tuesday, measuring proximity, not location. Both phones must have the app downloaded.

 READ MORE: What is contact tracing and why is it back in vogue for tracking coronavirus?

If an app user comes in contact with someone who later tests positive for the coronavirus, they will be alerted on their phone and have the option to talk with a public health representative. Users can also receive health information about the coronavirus like testing locations and symptoms.

It is similarly used in Delaware and some European countries, and New Jersey and New York are expected to sign on in October, Levine said. The openly sourced apps code is fully available online to increase transparency behind how the app functions and stores and extracts data, officials said.

The identity of app users will be protected by encryption and anonymous identifier beacons that change frequently, the companies have said.

Someone who tests positive in Pennsylvania is reported to either the Department of Health or a municipal health department agency and contacted by a case investigator.

That case investigator will ask the infected person if they have the app and if they are willing to use it to notify any mobile phone users who have been in close contact with them in the past 14 days, state officials said.

If they are willing to use it, they are given a six-digit code to enter to then issue a notification, state officials said.

A person who receives a notification will get something like an alert to check the app, with instructions from the Department of Health on how to protect themselves and others, including information about staying at home, quarantining and seeking medical help.

The identity of the person who was infected is shielded from people receiving a notification, and vice versa, they said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Lucknow, Sep 23 : Webley & Scott (W&S), the iconic British firearms manufacturing company, will start blazing its guns in Uttar Pradesh from November when its new unit in Hardoi district becomes functional.

This will be the first foreign company to manufacture firearms in India.

The handgun manufacturing giant has joined hands with Lucknow-based Sial Manufacturers Pvt. Ltd. for the project and will begin operations with the production of revolvers. The new unit will manufacture its .32 revolver in the first phase.

Joginder Pal Singh Sial of Sial Manufacturers, the all-India distributor of W&S products, said, "The government's support and the Centre's 'Make in India' policy helped the project take final shape." He further said, "The cost of the .32 revolver will be Rs 1.6 lakh. We will give stiff competition to the arms manufactured by ordnance factories. People will now get world-class weapons at their doorsteps." According to the government spokesman, John Bright, the co-owner of Webley & Scott has said that they would later manufacture pistols, airguns, shotgun and ammunition as well.

"We decided to invest in India and in the state of Uttar Pradesh keeping in view the vast market potential. The idea to expand our business got shape after discussions with the Sial family in 2018. We entered a new joint venture for the manufacture of firearms and airguns in India for the Indian domestic market. We got the licence to manufacture firearms in India in 2019," said Bright in a statement.

He said the original design of the Mark IV .32 pistol of 1899 would be used to cater to the Indian market in the first phase.

Webley & Scott, which armed the Allied forces during the two World Wars and produced weapons for at least 15 countries, will now mark its presence in the Indian subcontinent with the new unit in Sandila (Hardoi), barely 30 km from Lucknow.
by Dr. Ruwantissa Abeyratne in Montreal

Judges ought to be more learned than witty, more reverent than plausible, and more advised than confident. Above all things, integrity is their portion and proper virtue. ~ Francis Bacon

Someone once said our work reflects what we do, and our life reflects who we are. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (RBG) who inspired the world with her moral rectitude, judicial righteousness and fairness showed us that what she did was also who she was. Two words best describe RBG integrity and righteousness. Integrity is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles, moral uprightness. Righteousness is doing the right thing and fighting for the downtrodden.

This is not the time RBG should have left us, particularly when the world is reeling under an unsettling trepidation wrought by a globally manipulated and lopsided value system mired in casuistry. In her life and in her work RBG would have none of it. Just two causes, among the many she fought for, illustrate her life and work best, although she exuded integrity and righteousness in all the cases she heard on the Bench of the Supreme Court of The United States for 27 years. The first was the issue of the rights of women which were in a parlous state at the time she was one of nine women in a male dominated law school at Harvard University. The second was the rights of the mentally handicapped or disabled.

Natalie Gontcharova writes: Part of what propelled Ginsburg toward the fight for equal protection for women under the law was her own experience of discrimination. As one of only nine women at Harvard Law School in 1956, she recalled the dean asking why she and her classmates were taking up seats that could be filled by men. After leaving Harvard and graduating at the top of her class at Columbia Law, she was initially rejected from every job she applied to. And after joining the faculty at Rutgers Law School in 1963, she found out her salary was lower than that of her male colleagues and campaigned for equal pay, which resulted in a raise not only for herself, but also for other women at the university. Ginsburg was not the kind of person who was satisfied with improving her own lot in life  she made sure that she was bringing others along with her.

In 1971 when the case of Reed v. Reed was heard, RBG was a volunteer lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union. The case concerned a law enacted in Idaho in 1864 which required that when the father and mother of a deceased person both sought appointment as administrator of the estate, the man had to be preferred over the woman. When their son died at the age of 16 both the parents filed a petition seeking to be appointed administrator of their son's estate. The probate court, relying on the language in the 1864 statute, chose the father. RBG stringently supported the argument that there was a compelling need to subject gender classifications such as the one at issue to strict scrutiny under the Equal Protection Clause. The Supreme Court was unanimous in agreeing with the argument and striking down the discriminatory statute.

Two years later, in the case of Frontiero v. Richardson, RBG successfully argued before the Supreme Court that a woman could not be denied the position of a provider for her dependent husband. This was a case where RBG argued that there could also be discrimination against a woman as well as a man. When a woman in the U.S. Air Force applied for benefits for her dependent husband, she was told shed have to prove he was a dependent, even though men in the Air Force didnt have to prove that their wives were dependent on them. RBG argued that inasmuch as the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution was against racial discrimination, there should be no discrimination based on gender.

RBG was equally forceful on the Bench. When the 1999 case of Olmstead v. L.C. came up before the Supreme Court, Justice Bader Ginsberg interpreted the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), which defined the isolation and segregation of individuals with disabilities as a serious and pervasive form of discrimination in its true context. The Act proscribes discrimination in the provision of public services, and specifies, inter alia, that no qualified individual with a disability shall, by reason of such disability, be excluded from participation in, or be denied the benefits of, a public entitys services, programs, or activities.

Two mentally retarded women in this case, one also diagnosed with schizophrenia, and the other, with a personality disorder, were voluntarily admitted to Georgia Regional Hospital at Atlanta (GRH), where they were confined for treatment in a psychiatric unit. Although the professionals who treated them eventually concluded that each of the women could be cared for appropriately in a community-based program, the women remained institutionalized at GRH. The women pleaded that they be placed in community care which the state failed to respond to, resulting in the institution of action against the State officials by the plaintiffs. In her judgment Justice Bader Ginsberg opined that States are required to place persons with mental disabilities in community settings rather than in institutions when the States treatment professionals have determined that community placement is appropriate, the transfer from institutional care to a less restrictive setting is not opposed by the affected individual, and the placement can be reasonably accommodated, taking into account the resources available to the State and the needs of others with mental disabilities.

The Honourable Justice Bader Ginsburg who delivered judgment on behalf of the Court was emphatic that the denial of community placements to individuals with disabilities is precisely the kind of segregation that Congress sought to eliminate in passing the ADA. It was correctly noted by the Honourable Justice that unnecessary segregation and institutionalization constitute discrimination and violate the ADA'S integration mandate unless certain defenses are established. Jurists are appreciative that the decision presents new opportunities for advocating for community-based services and supports for people with disabilities.

To adapt an earlier comment made by the author on the passing of another judicial officer and apply it to describe the Honourable Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg: She had a clear understanding of what is moral and the right thing to do. She acted categorically and not consequentially. Her judgments reflect that the moral worth of judicial decisions must be unconditionally and universally acceptable as being for the good of the people. Her approach to justice was that an effective judicial system must apply the universal and categorical principle of the dignity and freedom of every individual. She did not treat the individual as a means but considered him an end. She believed that overall public interest in good governance is now a common feature in the modern state, and is not restricted to the academics and practitioners who bore the burden of evaluating governance in the past. Similarly, she believed that an empirical demonstration of justice is now a compelling need that could provide the necessary tools for the public to develop their own desired models of society which are capable of delivering equity that accord with their expectations.
More than 90 percent of Americans remain susceptible to contracting Covid-19, according to the director of the CDC, making the idea of achieving herd immunity in the US all but impossible without massive death.

Robert Redfields comments appeared to pour cold water on President Donald Trumps hopes the country could combat the virus with herd immunity, which experts have said would require anywhere from 60 to 80 of the entire population to contain antibodies for the novel coronavirus.

The CDC director shared preliminary results from an ongoing study that sought to determine the true spread of Covid-19 across the US, which Mr Redfield has previously suggested was likely much higher than the two percent figure that has been reported by Johns Hopkins University and the US Census Bureau.

The preliminary results in the first round show that a majority of our nation, more than 90% of the population, remains susceptible, he told the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. A majority of Americans are still susceptible.

Mr Redfield spoke on Wednesday after it was reported that more than 6.8 million people in the US have been infected with the novel virus, and over 200,000 Americans have died due to complications resulting from Covid-19.

The CDC director also said he expects there to be about 700 million doses of vaccines available by late March or April, enough for 350 million people.

I think that's going to take us April, May, June, you know, possibly July," Mr Redfield said, "to get the entire American public completely vaccinated.

Mr Redfield, US Food and Drug Administration head Stephen Hahn, US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases head Anthony Fauci and Health and Human Services official Brett Giroir were testifying on the COVID-19 pandemic when the comments were made on Wednesday.

There is no vaccine for COVID-19 yet, but there are several in late stage trials, including from Pfizer Inc, Moderna Inc and Johnson & Johnson. Companies have begun manufacturing the vaccine in anticipation of a fast regulatory authorization once they are shown to work.

Dr. Fauci said he expects 50 million doses to be available in November and 100 million by the end of December. He expects a total of 700 million doses by April.

Health officials and Mr Trump have presented different views about when the vaccines will be ready for most Americans. The process for deciding how to distribute vaccines falls largely to the CDC.

Mr Redfield said Operation Warp Speed, the government group with officials from the departments of Health and Human Services and Defense, will ultimately decide how to allocate the vaccines.

Reuters contributed to this report
EQS Group-News: Bellevue Asset Management AG / Key word(s): Funds/Private Equity





Media release

Kusnacht, September 23, 2020

Pureos Bioventures closes first fund with USD 170 mn

Pureos Bioventures, a newly formed venture capital firm, advised by Bellevue Asset Management, announced the closing of its first fund BB Pureos Bioventures L.P. ("Pureos") with committed capital of USD 170 mn. Pureos will exclusively invest in innovative private drug development companies with an emphasis on novel biological drugs and emerging modalities such as nucleic acid, cell, and gene therapies. The fund's portfolio companies are built on scientific excellence with strong teams to develop therapies across a broad indication spectrum including oncology, immunology, ophthalmology, rare diseases, and neuroscience. The fund invests globally, with a primary focus on Switzerland and Europe. The Pureos team consists of experienced venture capitalists, biotech entrepreneurs, and drug developers.

For its first fund, Pureos is building a balanced portfolio of 15-20 pre-clinical and clinical-stage companies. Its initial investments include Alentis Therapeutics AG, AM-Pharma BV, Eyevensys SAS, Imcheck Therapeutics SAS, Lava Therapeutics BV, NovaGo Therapeutics AG, and Vico Therapeutics BV. Company building is an important part of Pureos. It is a Partner of BaseLaunch, a start-up accelerator in Basel and together with a team of Entrepreneurs-in-Residence, Pureos is working on translating ground-breaking science into novel companies.

Founding partners Klaus Breiner, Dominik Escher, and Martin Munchbach stated: "We are extremely pleased with the successful closing of our first fund. This would not have been possible without the trust and support of our investors to whom we are tremendously thankful. With the entrusted monies, we want to build and support great teams developing innovative therapeutics for devastating diseases that make a true difference for patients."

The supporters of the first Pureos fund include strategic limited partners, such as pharmaceutical and biotech companies as well as a large contract manufacturer, and family offices, institutional investors, and fund-of-funds.



For more information:

Bellevue Asset Management AG, Seestrasse 16 / Postfach, 8700 Kusnacht/Zurich

Tanja Chicherio, Tel. +41 44 267 67 09, tch@bellevue.ch

BB Pureos Bioventures

Dr. Klaus Breiner, Tel. +41 44 267 67 00, kb@bellevue.ch

Dr. Dominik Escher, Tel. +41 44 267 67 00, des@bellevue.ch

Dr. Anja Harmeier, Tel. +41 44 267 67 00, ahr@bellevue.ch

Dr. Martin Munchbach, Tel. +41 44 267 67 00, mam@bellevue.ch

www.pureosbio.com

About Pureos Bioventures

Pureos Bioventures is a newly formed venture capital fund, advised by Bellevue Asset Management. Pureos invests exclusively in private innovative drug development companies, with a special emphasis on the next generation of biological drugs and drug formats. The fund's portfolio companies are built on scientific excellence to develop therapies across a broad indication spectrum including oncology, immunology, ophthalmology, rare diseases, and neuroscience. Pureos has built a team with deep investment, operating, and clinical expertise, that strives to impact patients' lives by advancing innovative treatments for devastating diseases.

Disclaimer

The state of the origin of BB Pureos Bioventures L.P. (the "Fund") is Guernsey.

For Switzerland: The Representative in Switzerland is ACOLIN Fund Services AG, Leutschenbachstrasse 50, CH-8050 Zurich, whilst the Paying Agent is Quintet Private Bank (Schweiz) AG, Bahnhofstrasse 13, 8001 Zurich, Switzerland. In Switzerland, the Fund documents may only be distributed to qualified investors within the meaning of Art. 10 Para. 3, 3bis, and 3ter CISA. In respect of the units distributed in or from Switzerland, the place of jurisdiction is Guernsey. The basic documents of the Fund as well as the annual and the quarter-annual reports may be obtained free of charge at the registered office of the Swiss Representative.





End of Media Release


BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 23

By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend:

Kazakhstan has exported 3.9 billion tons of crude oil worth $1.503 billion to the Netherlands in 1Q2020, a source at Kazakhstans oil and gas market told Trend.

The exported volume was 24.5 percent more than during 1Q2019 (3.1 billion tons), whereas the value was 3.5 percent less than in 1Q2019 ($1.55 billion).

During the reporting period, Kazakhstan has also exported 627,824 tons of petroleum products to the Netherlands, for a total of $230.1 million.

Petroleum products export volume was 42.6 percent less than in 1Q2019 (1.09 million tons), whereas export value was 40.6 percent less than in 1Q2019 ($388.03 million).

Kazakhstans overall export of crude oil stood at 33.3 million tons worth $15.08 billion in 1H2020 which is compared to 34.6 million tons worth $16.4 billion in 1H2019.

Kazakhstans overall export of petroleum products stood at 364,459 tons of products worth $1.04 million in 1H2020 which is compared to 574,297 tons worth $1.6 million in 1H2019.

The value of trade turnover between Kazakhstan and the Netherlands amounted to $1.9 billion over 1H2020, compared to $2.1 billion during the same period of 2019.

Kazakhstans export to the Netherlands amounted to $1.7 billion over the period from January through June 2020, compared to $2 billion during the same period of 2019.

In turn, Kazakhstans imports from the Netherlands stood at about $120.7 million over the reporting period, compared to $99.1 million during the same period of 2019.

---

Follow the author on twitter: @nargiz_sadikh
A biography published by the Van Raalte Press at Hope College about Zeeland native Dr. Paul de Kruif, whose 1926 book Microbe Hunters became an international bestseller, has won a 2020 State History Award from the Historical Society of Michigan.

The annual awards are the highest recognition presented by the Historical Society of Michigan, and honor individuals or organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the appreciation, collection, preservation and/or promotion of state and local history. The biography, A Constant State of Emergency: Paul de Kruif, Microbe Hunter and Health Activist, by Dr. Jan Peter Verhave, was published by The Van Raalte Press in 2019 as number 98 in the Historical Series of the Reformed Church in America.

The Historical Society of Michigan will be presenting 18 awards in multiple categories during annual Michigan History Conference, which will be held on Oct. 2-3, and will be a virtual event this year due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. A Constant State of Emergency is one of three publications being honored in the Books: Private Printing category.

Although De Kruifs career as a microbiologist and writer spanned decades, he hadnt previously been the subject of a book-length biography. A Constant State of Emergency explores his work, impact, and professional and personal struggles. The title is from a comment about him by writer John Steinbeck: Paul is in a constant state of emergency.

De Kruif, who lived from 1890 to 1971, informed, educated and disturbed the public at large with 318 articles in popular magazines and 12 books. His 112 articles in Readers Digest, which had 16 million subscribers at its peak, earned him immense influence.

He had strong West Michigan roots  his grandfather came to America on the same ship as the Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte, founder of Holland  although Verhave notes that the arc of his personal life didnt reflect his conservative Dutch-Calvinist upbringing. Professionally, De Kruif first pursued a career in microbiology after earning a doctorate from the University of Michigan, but then, in the early 1920s, decided to write for the public on medical matters and science.

Verhave, whose own career has been in microbiology, was the first Netherland-America Foundation Visiting Research Fellow at the Van Raalte Institute during 2006-07 and has been an honorary research fellow with the institute since 2009. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Nijmegen Medical School in 1975. His teaching and research in vaccination, immunology, and the epidemiology of malaria took him to Senegal, Burkina Faso and Cameroon, Africa. He taught for many years at Radboud University Medical School, where he became an internationally recognized authority in parasitology. His scientific publications include The Moses of Malaria: Nicolaas Swellengrebel, Abroad and at Home (2011), The Medical Journal of the Indies 1852-1942, editor (2017), and some 250 articles in scientific journals. He also is the author of five books in church history and art. He lives in Malden, the Netherlands.

Established in 1994, the Van Raalte Institute specializes in scholarly research and writing on immigration and the contributions of the Dutch and their descendants in the United States. The institute is also dedicated to the study of the history of all the people who have comprised the community of Holland throughout its history. In 2007, then-director Dr. Jacob E. Nyenhuis established The Van Raalte Press as a vehicle to publish the publications developed by the institute. The Van Raalte Press is also the official publisher of papers presented at the biennial conferences of the Association for the Advancement of Dutch American Studies.

The Historical Society of Michigan is the states official historical society and oldest cultural organization, founded in 1828. A nongovernmental nonprofit, the Society focuses on publications, conferences, education, awards and recognition programming, and support for local history organizations to preserve and promote Michigans rich history.

The Michigan History Conference explores significant people, places and events in Michigans past through a diverse offering of keynote speakers, breakout sessions, workshops and tours. Normally, the conference moves to a different location every year to feature the local history of that area and to address notable statewide historical matters. Though this years conference is a virtual event, many sessions will focus on the history of Lansing. Standard registration ends on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2020. Registration details and full session descriptions are available on HSMs website: hsmichigan.org.

A Constant State of Emergency: Paul de Kruif, Microbe Hunter and Health Activist is in paperback and retails for $35. The book is available online and at the Hope College Bookstore on the lower level of the DeWitt Center, which is located at 141 E. 12th St., facing Columbia Avenue between 10th and 13th streets, and can be visited online at hope.edu/bookstore. The book can also be purchased at Readers World in downtown Holland.
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.




MBABANE - Branding Design has been ordered to pay Globeflight Swaziland (PTY) Limited a sum of E375 673.42

This comes after the Supreme Court dismissed its appeal where it was denying liability.

Globeflight Swaziland (PTY) Limited is an incorporated company which conducts business as a courier.

In its particulars of claim the applicant (Globeflight Swaziland (PTY) Limited averred that an oral agreement was made whereby it would provide its services to Evolution Media (PTY) Limited trading as Branding Design.

Dispute

The dispute which was sought to be raised by the defendant was that Branding Design was not party to the agreement. Instead it averred that it was entirely different legal entity, being the same company, but trading as Embroidery Specialists.

In its simple summons the plaintiff, now respondent in the appeal (Globeflight Swaziland (PTY) Limited, instituted action for payment of two claims for services rendered, with a total amount of E375 673.42 together with interest at nine per cent.

Plaintiffs declaration together with the invoices attached to the summons detailed numerous transactions wherein the Globeflight Swaziland invoiced Evolution Media for courier services provided during the period of December 26, 2017 and March 8, 2018. Various credit entries were also reflected wherein the defendant made diverse payments on both of its accounts.

The discrepancy between the originally claimed amounts and the reduced amounts as per its declaration and application for summary judgment was explained to be based on acknowledgment of indebtedness to the plaintiff.

Denied

The Supreme Court stated that importantly, the acknowledgment of debt was not denied in the affidavit resisting summary judgment. The court observed that what was stated as a point of law was that Branding Design was no liable for any debts, that it was a misjoinder. Instead the defendants director, Dean van Zyl reportedly had it that the agreement was between the plaintiff and Evolution Media (PTY) Limited trading as Branding Design.

The court said it seemed to it that Evolution Media was an incorporated company with Dean van Zyl as a director and that it trades as both Branding Design and Embroidery Specialists. The Supreme Court judge stated that at the hearing of the appeal, the appellants attorney was adamant that there were two separate legal entities, individually and separately registered, each with the same company name, but with one trading as Branding Design and the other as Embroidery Specialists.

persuaded

The court said it was not persuaded that the appeal had any merit.

It found that the trial court correctly and justifiably held that there was bona fide defence to the claims and that there was also no triable issue which ought to be dealt with in the course of a trial. The summary judgment, according to the Supreme Court was correctly ordered. The court then dismissed the appeal with costs and further ordered that the balance in the amount of E11 190.50 was referred to trial in the event it had not been settled and it the plaintiff a quo is so advised and inclined.

The appellant was represented by lawyers from Musa M Sibandze Attorneys while appearing for the respondent was Sikhumbuzo Simelane.






I guess I would like to give some more information on us and our likes.

We arrive late on the 10th October, we will pick up hire car at airport and check into a nearby hotel for the night. We will then be looking for a villa or apartment for 6 nights. No more than 2ish hours from drive from Palermo airport.

We do not really want to be in a touristy area, we cook for ourselves rather than eat out. Would like to explore by car, find small villages, prefer simple food than High end restaurants.

Would like to be able to drive to beach to swim (we are quite used to the North Sea, so can handle the water being cooler).

My wife's really wants a pool at our accommodation, if have said the water will be cold in October, but then we have swam in an unheated pool in Tunisia in March, Morocco is November...so maybe...

We have found a villa, like I said near Mazara del vallo, but it does seem really cheap...350 for 6 nights with pool...

Visited many places on the Italian mainland, but first time to Sicily...I welcome ay thoughts or advice.
Safe, affordable housing is a human right, according to the United Nations. However, all levels of government in Canada have failed to ensure this right is equitably available to all Canadians.

"Affordable housing" is defined by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) as less than 30 per cent of household pre-tax income spent on adequate shelter (not 80 per cent of market value, as developers would have you believe).

In Peterborough's existing Official Plan, new or redeveloped rental properties are to make 10 per cent of the units as "affordable housing." Developers push back on this, and the city has not been asking developers to meet this goal, both saying that "developers can't afford it." I disagree.

To demonstrate, here is a simple math problem.

1) Assume a government-supported basic livable income for a single adult of $2,000 per month (in line with the current federal CERB payments). Thirty per cent is $600.

2) Assume a developer is building a 100-unit rental property, where all 100 units are one-bedroom, and the monthly "market" rent is $1,200. The monthly income would be $120,000.

Question: If 10 of the 100 units are rented at $600 per month ("affordable"), how much would the rent on the other 90 units have to increase to maintain an income of $120,000?

The math formula: (10 units x $600) + (90 units x ($1200 + $?)) = $120,000.

Solve for $? = $66.67

For per cent of the units to be rented at $600 per month, the other 90 units would have to be rented at $1266.67 per month, an increase of less than 5.6 per cent (less than the current average annual rent increases in Peterborough of about 7 per cent).

Alternatively, the difference in income could be made up by subsidies from one or more levels of government. In the example, the annual subsidy per unit would be about $7,200. As a comparison, for someone on ODSP, the province currently provides $5,964 annually for shelter. For a single person on OW, the annual amount is $4,680.

Based on this example, I believe Peterboroughs Official Plan goal of 10 per cent truly affordable housing with all new or redeveloped rental properties is not only socially and morally the right thing to do, it is also very affordable for the government, the developer, the landlord and the other tenants. Governments at all levels need to make this happen. After all, safe, affordable housing is a human right.
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Aloe Vera Gel Market: Introduction

According to the latest market report published by Future Market Insights, titled 'Aloe Vera Gel Market: Global Industry Analysis (2013 - 2017) & Opportunity Assessment (2018 - 2027)', revenue generated from the aloe vera gel market has been estimated to be valued at US $ 251.3 Mn in 2018, which is projected to increase at a CAGR of 7.8% by value during the forecast period (2018-2027).

Aloe vera gel is derived from the inner leaf of the plant, comprising majorly of water content and minerals, hormones, enzymes, vitamins, amino acids, and sugars in small amount, and is gaining popularity worldwide owing to its herbal, medicinal, and remedial properties. Aloe vera gel offers a wide range of benefits, owing to its diverse beneficial properties and applications in several industries such as cosmetics, healthcare, personal care, baby care, food and beverages, and others. The nature of aloe vera gel makes it a profoundly trend-driven market, and has a lucrative potential to grow in the coming years. The rising consciousness among consumers to look good and enhance their outer appearance has led to the growth of the cosmetics and personal care industry, thus, paving the way for the aloe vera gel market. Further, increasing awareness among consumers about the ill-effects of chemically-composed cosmetic products has fuelled the market for aloe vera gel possessing several medicinal and herbal properties. Aloe vera gel is also used for juices, and as a food ingredient for providing additional nutritional supplement and instant energy.

Request a Sample Report with Table of Contents and Figures: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-7521

Growing Focus on Product Promotion through Various Consumer Platforms Surging the Demand for Aloe Vera Gel

In recent years, the number of health and fitness shows and events has increased, worldwide, which, in turn, is driving the growth of the aloe vera gel market. Aloe vera gel product manufacturers are focused on targeting these shows for product promotions. Moreover, aloe vera gel manufacturers are also laying emphasis on increasing brand visibility through various promotional events. The promotion of aloe vera gel drinks in direct selling channels is also helping foster revenue growth and awareness.

The advertising of natural ingredient-based products in magazines, TV lineups, and newspapers is increasing consumer awareness about the potential benefits of aloe vera gel.

North America to Dominate the Global Aloe Vera Gel Market

The North American region is estimated to account for around 44.5% of the market share for aloe vera gel in 2018 by value, with the U.S. having the highest share in the region, with an estimated value share of 90%, and the projected aloe vera gel market value to be US$ 100.9 Mn in 2018. In addition, the APAC region also is estimated to showcase prominent growth in the aloe vera gel market during the forecast period, with a CAGR of 8.8% by value, owing to growing urbanization, increase in the disposable income of consumers, high millennial population, and changing lifestyle and food & beverage preferences.

e-Commerce One of the Fastest Growing Distribution Channels in the Aloe Vera Gel Market

The fastest-growing distribution channel in the aloe vera gel market during the forecast period is projected to be e-Commerce platforms, which is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 10.4%, with a BPS of 436, owing to technological and digital advancements, and increase in the number of consumers, especially the millennial population using smartphones and other digital mediums to buy various food and beverages, cosmetics, homecare, and grocery products with just a click while sitting at their places.

Aloe Vera Gel Market Segmentation By Nature - Organic Aloe Vera Gel, Conventional Aloe Vera Gel; End Use - Hair Care, Skincare, Toiletries, Baby Care, Healthcare; Distribution Channel - Direct, Supermarkets/Hypermarkets, Specialty Stores, Pharmacy Stores, Convenience Stores, Online Retail, Food and Beverages: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/aloe-vera-gel-market

Global Aloe Vera Gel Market: Competition Dashboard

FMI has profiled some of the prominent market participants in the global aloe vera gel market identified across the value chain, such as Terry Laboratories, Inc., Aloe Laboratories, Inc., Lily of the Desert, Patanjali Ayurved Ltd., Aloecorp, Inc., Pharmachem Laboratories, Inc., L'Oreal S.A., Herbalife International, Inc., Aloe Farms, Inc., Natural Aloe De Costa Rica, S.A, Foodchem International Corporation, Real Aloe Solutions Inc., Now Health Group, Inc., Aroma Treasures, Fruit of the Earth, Inc., Nature's Essence Pvt. Ltd., Forever Living Products International, Inc., and a Improve USA, Inc., among others.

Our advisory services are aimed at helping you with specific, customized insights that are relevant to your specific challenges. Let us know about your challenges and our trusted advisors will connect with you: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-7521

Global Aloe Vera Gel Market: Key Insights

Companies in the cosmetic and personal care industry are focusing on using aloe vera gel as an ingredient in their product lines, owing to its rising demand worldwide due to the beneficial properties offered by aloe vera gel, such as anti-inflammatory, acne removing, anti -oxidation, herbal, and several others. In addition, consumers are increasingly shifting their preferences towards healthy lifestyles and practices such as gymming, yoga, and healthy food consumption. This has led to an increase in the demand for health-related products such as organic food and natural ingredient-based cosmetics, thus, paving the way for the aloe vera gel market. The aloe vera gel market is segmented by the nature of aloe vera gel, end uses of aloe vera gel, and by distribution channel. Further, these days, aloe vera gel is also being used for animal care and baby care. The high nutrient level in aloe vera gel makes it a good nutrient supplement, providing essential nutrients such as vitamins, amino acids, enzymes, minerals, and others. The market for aloe vera gel is anticipated to surge in the upcoming years, owing to the diverse applications of aloe vera gel and beneficial attributes in the cosmetic and healthcare industries.

More from Food and Beverage:

Tortilla Market Segmentation By Nature-Organic, Conventional; Processing-Fresh, Frozen; Source-Wheat, Corn; Product- Tortilla Chips, Taco Shells, Tostadas, Flour Tortillas, Corn Tortillas: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/tortilla-market
"This settlement between the county and the Mendoza and Lawrence families has been sealed from public view," Bailey said. "The public still does not know and the question is, why? The availability of court files for public scrutiny is essential so the public can monitor the court system, which is for the benefit of the citizens of this county. It is impossible for citizens to monitor the honesty and integrity when court settlements are sealed. Taxpayers have a right to know what settlements are being made on their behalf and what they are paying."

Villarreal said Tuesday the Mendoza and Lawrence families requested the settlement amount to be sealed from public view through their legal counsel. She said it was not the county's decision to seal the record.

"We ask that the victims and their families' wishes be respected," Villarreal said. "It was sealed pursuant to that agreement."

Bailey also alleged Villarreal is costing taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars by hiring outside legal counsel to represent the county when the state's attorney's office could represent the county in civil matters. Accounts payable documents from the county show $393,000 was paid to private attorneys from Dec. 1, 2018, through Nov. 30, 2019.
The staff of Alaris Health at Boulevard East  who care for nearly 100 residents and weathered the COVID-19 pandemic at the nursing home in Guttenberg  got the news in a federally mandated notice.

The long-term care facility is shutting down in November and their jobs are being eliminated.

Meanwhile, union officials who represent workers at the facility said residents are already being moved out.

It is the first nursing home in the state to close since the pandemic, state officials said.

Many long-term care facilities have run into mounting financial difficulties stemming from the viral outbreak. The operators of Boulevard East gave no indication that money was behind the move, although they had once considered a plan to demolish the 108-bed facility and replace it with a 15-story residential building with scenic views of the Manhattan skyline. They also denied they were permanently closing, but offered no specifics of their plans.

This is a temporary suspension of services to better serve its residents during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Alaris Health said in a statement. Were making these changes for the benefit of our residents and to improve their care during these challenging times. These changes are in no way connected to any labor issues or real estate transactions. Additionally, employees have been offered employment by other Alaris Member Health Centers.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage

But the nursing home last week sent out formal notices to 100 Alaris workers under the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, known as WARN notices, which require at least 60 days advance warning of any plant closing and mass layoff affecting 50 or more employees at a single site of employment.

New Jersey Department of Health officials confirmed the nursing home notified the state of the imminent closure, and had sent a letter to Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli in May regarding issues at the facility, built in the 1960s, and the need to modernize.

The department has received verbal notification of the facilitys plan, including the movement of residents, said spokeswoman Donna Leusner. They expect a formal application to be filed within 30 days.

Alaris Health is headed by Avery Eisenreich and has 16 other nursing long-term care facilities in Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Union counties in New Jersey. Each is operated under separate corporate entities, according to state records.

The facility in Guttenberg is relatively small, licensed for 108 beds. In its most recent quarterly census with the state, it had been averaging 91 residents. In addition, officials there said it was hard to isolate patients with COVID-19 at the height of the pandemic, with many three-and four-person rooms.

There have been ongoing labor issues at the facility. According to union officials, their members have been working under an expired contract at Boulevard East since 2014 and some who were sickened on the job by the coronavirus have found themselves responsible for thousands in medical bills.

We are deeply concerned by the haste by which this closure is being carried out, said Milly Silva, executive vice president of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East. Our members report witnessing residents leaving the building in tears because they didnt want to leave, and at least two being brought back to the facility after demanding to be returned.

She said workers felt betrayed, in addition to the trauma the situation may be causing long-time residents.

Workers' jobs are now being abruptly terminated after they spent so many months serving on the frontlines of COVID-19, Silva said. Some workers report that they have been instructed by the company to write their own letters of resignation, which would jeopardize their ability to collect unemployment.

At least 11 residents died of the coronavirus at the Guttenberg nursing home, according to state records. There were 35 residents who tested positive, along with 42 staff members, those records show. No members of the staff died.

Earlier this year, Alaris Health came under fire in connection with allegations by healthcare staff that administrators at its Hamilton Park facility in Jersey City withheld personal protective gear and pressured employees to work even when they were sick. Alaris has denied the allegations.

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Ted Sherman may be reached at tsherman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TedShermanSL.
(Natural News) One of the things that I think we and other media need to start doing is preparing the American people that theres nothing illegitimate about this election taking additional days, or even weeks to make sure that all of the votes are counted.

(Article by Allum Bokhari republished from Breitbart.com)

Those were Mark Zuckerbergs words in a recent video with Axios on HBO.

Silicon Valley tech whizz kids arent known for their social skills, so perhaps Zuckerberg revealed more than he meant to.

Nevertheless, the elites plan for you, the American public, is now laid bare. This is going to be the most rigged, manipulated election in history  and they are going to prepare you ahead of time. They are going to make you think its normal.

In fact, Zuckerberg went further. He said that Facebook plans to tell the American public that claiming victory on election night is not normal.

If one of the candidates in any of the races claims victory before theres a consensus result, then were going to add some informational context to that post directly saying that theres no consensus result yet.

Zuckerberg and other progressive elites are aware that a Biden victory could hinge on vote-by-mail. They also know how vulnerable vote-by-mail is to fraud.

Democrats, in particular, are aware of this, because they take advantage of it. A former operative for the party turned whistleblower recently told the New York Post how he spent years leading a team of staff that replaced voters mail-in ballots with fraudulent ones, paid homeless people to vote for Democrats, and made connections with nursing homes so that they could fill out ballots on behalf of elderly residents.

A local news station in Pennsylvania, a swing state, conducted a vote-by-mail experiment that showed up to 3 percent of mock ballots were lost in the mail  a margin that could easily influence a tight race.

In Michigans primary election, over 10,000 ballots were rejected  846 because the voter linked to the ballot was dead.

The mainstream media has largely ignored these bombshell stories exposing the vulnerabilities of the system, because they have no interest in making them widely known. They want a Democrat win, and the Democrats are all-in on cheat-by-mail.

But cheat-by-mail isnt the only factor that could make this a rigged election.

As Zuckerberg no doubt knows, Big Techs stranglehold on the flow of information will also manipulate votes in favor of the Democrats. In interviews for my book, #DELETED: Big Techs Battle to Erase the Trump Movement and Steal The Election, sources inside Facebook, Google, and other big tech companies spoke of a relentless effort inside Silicon Valley to harness technology to prevent the re-election of Donald Trump, often in ways that cant be detected from the outside.

Over the past four years, Facebook has banned countless pro-Trump voices from its platform, preventing some of the Presidents most vocal and effective supporters from spreading their message to voters on Facebook.

Conservative media still does well on Facebook, for example, but high engagement levels from fans of conservative media doesnt tell us anything about how often conservative messages and conservative links reach undecided voters on the platform. Facebook could quite easily stop that from happening  there is no law or system of oversight preventing them from doing so  and it would be difficult to detect such an effort if they did.

Google

Like Facebook, Google is going to suppress information that suggests voting outcomes. The worlds most powerful conduit of information will have an Intelligence Desk monitoring election-related information around the clock, presumably to make sure the wrong information doesnt reach voters. Google also recently announced that that it plans to block certain election-related search results if Google deems them misinformation. But who is there to oversee Googles time-critical decisions about what is and what is not misinformation?

The company is now openly purging political search suggestions that benefit conservatives. One of the suggested search results on Google for you can vote was until recently you can vote yourself into socialism, the first part of the phrase you can vote yourself into socialism, but you cant vote yourself out. Google has now removed this search term as election misinformation.

This is the first time the tech giant has openly admitted to meddling in political search suggestions, even though the company has been caught doing it on multiple occasions. The company removed negative search suggestions about Hillary Clinton in 2016, and, more recently, did the same for Black Lives Matter.

Psychologist Dr. Robert Epstein has, for several years, conducted experiments showing the vast impact that this type of search manipulation can have on undecided voters. In a recent interview with Glenn Beck, he warned that millions of votes could be shifted.

This is very powerful, said the psychologist. You just suppress negatives, when youre showing people [search] suggestions, you suppress negatives for the candidate, or the cause, or the company that you support  and that shifts hundreds of thousands, and ultimately millions of votes. It shifts the votes of people who are undecided.

Dr. Epstein also warned of the potential influence of YouTube, another Google-owned platform with vast reach.

70 percent of the videos that people watch on YouTube around the world  are suggested by their up next algorithm, said Epstein. The power they have to shift opinions and votes is unbelievable.

If youre strongly opinionated, yeah, theyre just going to feed you what you want because they can keep your eyes on the screen and thats traffic, thats worth money The issue is, what are they showing the undecided people, the vulnerable people, the uncommitted people? How much power do they have to shift opinions, purchases, votes, with those people? I am telling you, I think this is going to be the largest behavioral effect ever discovered.

Epstein is currently raising funds for a monitoring project that he hopes will be able to detect Googles attempts to manipulate political search results and influence undecided voters. Such efforts are sorely needed to stop the tech giant, whose executives denounced the 2016 election result as offensive and declared their intention to make the populist movement a blip in history.

Twitter

The least influential of the big social platforms, Twitter still reaches millions of Americans. Its also important because its President Trumps megaphone  his way of bypassing the mainstream media and getting his message directly to supporters.

Twitter, like Facebook, says it will censor politicians that claim an early victory on election night  a measure clearly announced in anticipation of large numbers of mail-in votes not being counted until after the election.

And lets not forget that Twitter picked this year, the election year, to start regularly censoring the Presidents tweets. The Presidents messages about Coronavirus, mail-in votes, and the violent riots have all faced censorship by the platform.

Its hard not to draw parallels between the behavior of Americas tech elites and authoritarian nations like Turkey and China, which tightly control the flow of online information. On election night, only the elites version of events will be allowed to proliferate online. If the results are in question, the masses will be prevented from seeking out their own answers. Elites hope that youll accept the Democrat-CNN-Big Tech narrative, because you wont be able to find any other narrative.

At a time of such profound manipulation by the tech giants, remember to bookmark www.breitbart.com in advance of election night, and keep a note of all the undecided, independent voters you know too. The big tech platforms wont let conservative messages reach the masses  so, with the old-school devices of email, text, and word of mouth, ordinary grassroots conservatives will have to pick up the slack. With the technological might of Silicon Valley on their side, elites are more powerful than ever before. But the power of the people can still beat them.

Read more at: Breitbart.com
New Delhi, Sep 23 : In spite of the PM stressing the Rajya Sabha Chairman's 'humility' and the JDU claiming how 'simple' he is, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh is a powerful man whose role isn't restricted to the conduct of the Upper House. The genesis of Singh's prominence goes back to the days when he covered the fodder scam involving former Bihar CM Lalu Prasad as a journalist, the treasury bench's wrong floor management strategies and the forthcoming Bihar elections.

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', a leading daily in Bihar and Jhharkhand. As Chief Editor, Singh has been instrumental in giving Lalu Prasad's role in the fodder scam wider coverage.

With the former Bihar CM now behind bars after being convicted in a number of fodder scams, the importance of being Harivansh Narayan Singh is huge.

So when a Derek O'Brien (TMC) tears documents in front of his face shouting, "You cannot do this" or a Sanjay Singh (AAP) snatches the mic and upturns a desk not far from the Deputy Chairman's seat, animatedly clapping at him -- the message that is communicated back home in Bihar is unfavourable for the non-NDA parties.

The BJP has immediately 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.

Later in Rajya Sabha, NDA MPs also claimed that people in Bihar were "filled with rage".

While the opposition may have got united, derived enough air time on TV with their protest and has made plans of backing farmer protests across India, the symbolism may prove costly for them in Bihar which will go to polls in a few months.

Harivansh Narayan Singh's role became even more important after the government's floor management plans went awry. Tasks allocated to certain top leaders on Sunday did not go as planned and the BJD's opposition added to the government's woes.

The Odisha-based party which has been backing the government on many legislations, argued that the Bills did not have any provisions to benefit small and marginal farmers.

While the opposition claims the government lacked the numbers and hence a ruckus suited it, the treasury benches insist that on the given day, it was the opposition members who were absent.

Be as it may, the rest as they say was history -- Pandemonium, adjournments, bringing a no-confidence motion against Harivansh Narayan Singh and then suspension of the eight erring MPs.

While the opposition tried to build a 'biased and killer of democracy' narrative against Singh, in Bihar he was portrayed as a 'victim'.

Moreover, coming from the Rajput community, it adds insult to injury, given the community's new found sense of victimhood after another son of the soil and fellow Rajput -- Actor Sushant Singh died in Mumbai under mysterious circumstances.

In a state where caste plays a dominant role in polls, this could mean further trouble for the opposition.

The importance of the 'simple' Harivansh Narayan Singh is enormous in today's polity.
A new report warns of 'significant disruption' if the UK government fails to strike a trade agreement with the EU before the end of the year. Photo: Alberto Pezzali/NurPhoto via Getty Images

The economic damage of a no-deal Brexit would be two to three times greater than COVID-19 over the long run, a think tank has warned.

A report by think tank UK in a Changing Europe warns of significant disruption if Britains government fails to strike a trade agreement with the EU before the Brexit transition period expires at the end of the year.

It sets out a string of potential headwinds facing the UK economy if no deal is reached, including:

UK manufacturers including carmakers risk becoming uncompetitive if likely EU tariffs force European importers to raise prices.

UK firms will face a full panoply of checks and formalities trading with the EU, with HMRC estimating a 15bn ($19bn) cost from filling in millions more customs declarations.

Just-in-time supply chains from retailers to carmakers to chemicals face disruptive border delays, risking cash-flow problems or pharmaceutical products becoming unusable.

Food price hikes are highly probable from new tariffs and other barriers to trade, in a damaging move for low-income households. One study cited suggested prices could rise by up to 4%.

The dairy sector in Northern Ireland faces severe disruption, with higher costs for exports to the Republic of Ireland for processing and then from Ireland to the UK market.

Older travellers may find it harder and more costly to travel, as European Health Insurance Cards will no longer be valid.

No agreement will be reached to preserve current access and co-operation on key sectors like aviation, transport, fishing, security and justice.

The UKs financial services sector may face new barriers to European trade if the EU does not give the UK the go-ahead on data adequacy or equivalence rules.

Watch: What is a no-deal Brexit and what are the potential consequences of it?

The report highlights analysis by the think tank and London School of Economics (LSE) academics on the economic hit to long-term GDP from the coronavirus and from a no-deal Brexit.

Story continues

The analysis said Bank of England forecasts suggest the economy will recover quickly over the next 18 months from the pandemic, and it will have few, if any long-term impacts on GDP despite the record decline in the second quarter.

READ MORE: Signs UK economic recovery fading as coronavirus 'suffocates' firms

By contrast the effects of Brexit are expected to emerge slowly, but to be permanent. It highlights the governments own analysis, which suggests a no-deal Brexit would wipe 7.6% off GDP compared to existing trade arrangements over a 15-year period.

Watch: What is a V-shaped economic recovery?

Many analysts are less optimistic than the Bank of England about the damage caused by COVID-19, however, and discussion by policymakers of a V-shaped recovery raised eyebrows.

Professor Anand Menon, director of UK in a Changing Europe, said: While the prime minister said no deal is a good outcome our report shows that it may lead to significant disruption and will have a significant negative economic impact.

As significant will be the political fallout of no deal, particularly with the UK and EU, but also inside the UK, particularly Northern Ireland, and internationally too.
- Constant investments by medical device manufacturers on meeting the patient needs of COPD and sleep apnea drive prospects in North America PAP devices market, with the region accounts for a prominent share in 2018

- Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP) and Continuous PAP are highly lucrative segments and are witnessing constant product advancements

ALBANY, N.Y., Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Transparency Market Research, New York: Long-term economic and health consequences of untreated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have been driving strides in the positive airway pressure devices market. Rise in rate of diagnosis of sleep apnea especially in developing economies has helped drive revenue potential of the PAP devices market. High prevalence in such countries is a key factor shaping the growth dynamics.

The global positive airway pressure (PAP) devices market stood at US$ 1.56 Bn in 2018 and is projected to a CAGR of 7.8% from 2019 to 2027.

The Asia Pacific PAP devices market is expected to clock CAGR of 8.3% from 2019 to 2027. BiPAP is a highly lucrative segment, find analysts at TMR.

Request for Analysis of COVID-19 Impact on Positive Airway Pressure Devices Market - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/covid19.php

Key Findings of Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) Devices Market Report

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine was the leading segment in 2018

Hospitals and sleep accounted for the leading share in PAP devices market in 2018

Home care is also a lucrative end-use segment

Sleep apnea held a prominent share in 2018

North America and Europe held prominent share in 2018

and held prominent share in 2018 Asia Pacific PAP devices market is expected to rise at most attractive CAGR during 2019 - 2027

BiPAP a remarkable effective treatment for central sleep apnea, boosting its popularity among sleep specialists

Explore 223 pages of top-notch research, incisive insights, and detailed country-level projections on Positive Airway Pressure Devices Market (Product - CPAP, BiPAP, APAP; Application - Sleep Apnea, COPD; End user - Hospitals and Sleep Labs, Home Care Settings) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 2019 - 2027 at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/report-toc/16337

Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) Devices Market: Key Driving Factors and Promising Avenues

Growing number of sleep centers and sleep labs in developed economies, such as in the U.S., is a key trend that underscores the lucrativeness of the PAP devices market.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) pose a huge public health burden, and there have been an assortment of PAP devices in use by sleep specialists for managing the health condition.

The OSA condition affects about 2-4% of the adult population

Growing demand for PAP devices for managing COPD is also boosting opportunities for manufacturers in the market.

Demand for better therapies for sleep apnea has set the pace for technological advancements in the PAP devices market.

Sleep apnea has a marked prevalence in African American, Asian, and Hispanic populations, per a recent statistics published in NCBI.

Bilevel PAP ventilation is a popular option for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as well as in patients who are intolerant of CPAP, although continuous positive airway pressure therapy (PAP) is a gold standard for PAP.

PAP devices are seeing substantial uptake among home users, thus augmenting the revenue potential in the PAP devices market.

Request Brochure of Positive Airway Pressure Devices Market Report - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/brochure.php

Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) Devices Market: Competitive Landscape

Technological advances have been made in PAP devices market. The growing efforts to make PAP devices portable and of high performance has brought innovations in the market. An example is the advent of portable neonatal CPAP device. Such product advances have come to occupy a key positon in the competitive dynamics. Mergers and acquisitions between companies of similar competencies to this end.

The PAP devices market is expected to see incessant focus of top players to meet the unmet medical need in patient populations. They are leaning on developing easy-to-use and effective devices.

Purchase Positive Airway Pressure Devices Market Report - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php

Some of the well-entrenched players in the PAP devices market are Lowenstein Medical, Drive DeVilbiss Healthcare LLC, 3B Medical Inc., Philips Healthcare, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited, and ResMed Inc.

Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) Devices Market: Regional Assessment

Marked prevalence of sleep apnea has made Asia Pacific a lucrative regional market. The regional market is expected to clock CAGR of 8.3% from 2019 to 2027. The presence of large patient population in China and India is bolstering the demand. The revenue potential is driven by the presence of large elderly population.

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The Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) Devices Market is segmented based on:

By product

CPAP

BiPAP

APAP

By Application

Sleep Apnea

COPD

Others

End-user

Hospitals & Sleep Labs

Home Care Settings

Others

Region

North America

U.S.



Canada

Europe

U.K.



Germany



France



Italy



Spain



Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

China



India



Japan



Australia and New Zealand

and

Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America

Brazil



Mexico



Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa

& GCC Countries



South Africa



Rest of Middle East & Africa

Explore Transparency Market Research's award-winning coverage of the global Healthcare Industry:

Orthopedic Devices Market: According to the report, the global orthopedic devices market was valued at US$ 46.2 Bn in 2018 and is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 4.3% from 2019 to 2027, rise in percentage of population requiring orthopedic devices, increase in incidence rates of injuries related to accidents, sports, and adventure, surge in adoption of technologically advanced products are projected to drive the market

Laparoscopy Devices Market: According to the report, the global laparoscopy devices market was valued at US$ 5.3 Bn in 2019. It is projected to expand at a CAGR of ~7% from 2020 to 2030, increase in incidence of target conditions for laparoscopic surgery is anticipated to drive the global market in the near future

Surgical Retractors Market: The global surgical retractors market is expected to expand at a CAGR of ~5% during the forecast period. The market growth is largely driven by research & development activities, technological advancements in the manufacturing techniques, entry of new metals and materials, expanding healthcare ecosystem worldwide, and rise in the number of invasive as well as minimally invasive surgeries worldwide

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Beijing (Gasgoo)- Li Auto, an innovator in Chinas new energy vehicle market, signed a strategic partnership with NVIDIA and Desay SV Auto, the chip giants partner.



(Signing ceremony; photo source: Li Auto)

NVIDIA Orin chips will be used in Li Autos new full-size smart SUV model to be launched in 2022. Based on NVIDIA chips computing power, Desay SV will provide domain controller for Li Auto, who will complete independently all program design and algorithm logic setting for autonomous driving features. Thus, Li Auto will become the first new energy vehicle company in China to develop its own Level 4 autonomous driving system.

Introduced in 2019, the NVIDIA Orin system-on-a-chip (SoC) will be mass-produced from 2022 on. The Orin can deliver 200 TOPS with a single NVIDIA Orin SoCnearly 7X the performance of NVIDIA Xavier. The scalable Orin product family enables developers to build, scale, and leverage one development investment across an entire fleet, from entry Level 2+ systems all the way to Level 5 fully autonomous vehicles.

Li Auto will provide end customers with upgradable solutions. Upgraded to one single Orin chip with 200TOPS of computing power, vehicles can provide Level 2+ advanced driving assistance functions while with two Orin chips, computing power of the vehicles can be up to 400TOPS, providing Level 4 autonomous driving. In the future, the integration of dGPU will further strengthen the computing power with an expected maximum to 2000TOPS.

(Wang Kai, CTO of Li Auto; photo source: Li Auto)

In its IPO prospectus, Li Auto made it clear that it intends to continue to enhance its smart-vehicle solutions, particularly by increasing computing power and bandwidth. What's worth mentioning is that Li Auto plans to gradually enhance its Level 2 autonomous driving, and ultimately, to develop Level 4 autonomous driving technology. Just like what Wang Kai, the recently-appointed CTO of the automaker, said at the signing ceremony, they will improve the user experience step by step.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Various opposition parties Wednesday took out a silent protest march in the Parliament complex against the contentious farm Bills passed recently.

The protesting MPs carried placards with messages such as "Save Farmers, Save Workers, Save Democracy" during their march from the Mahatma Gandhi statue to the Ambedkar statue on the premises.

They also stood before Gandhi's statue in a line.

Members of the Congress, Trinamool Congress, CPI, CPI-M, DMK, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Samajwadi Party and the NCP participated in the protest.

"All MPs of the Congress and like-minded parties are marching from Gandhi statue to Ambedkar statue in Parliament protesting the anti-Farmers, anti-Workers Bills that have been rubberstamped in Parliament in the most undemocratic manner by the Modi government," Congress chief whip in Rajya Sabha Jairam Ramesh said in a tweet.

Opposition members earlier held a meeting in the chamber of Ghulam Nabi Azad, the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, to formulate their further strategy against the farm Bills.

Various Opposition parties have protested the passage of the farm Bills in Parliament and have boycotted the proceedings of both Houses.

They have also written to President Ram Nath Kovind, urging him not to sign the contentious Bills because, they have said, the proposed legislations were passed in the din without division of votes.

Azad would be meeting President Kovind at 5 PM to put forth their demands.
Members of the St. Clair County Drug Task Force Sept. 22 arrested a man who was wanted out of Texas for multiple crimes, authorities said.

St. Clair County Sheriff Tim Donnellon said the DTF was alerted by the Lubbock Police Department in Texas concerning a man wanted for sexual assault with a child and parole violation. He is also a suspect in a car-motorcycle crash in Lubbock, Texas, that killed two people.

Lubbock police had received information that the suspect, a 29-year-old man from Shallow Water, Texas, was believed to be in the Port Huron area.

Shortly before 4:30 p.m. Sept. 22, members of the DTF located the vehicle the suspect had driven up from Texas. The car was located in the 2900 block of 22nd Street in Port Huron, police said.

Several members of the DTF conducted surveillance on the vehicle for a short period of time. The suspect came out to the car and was arrested without incident.

A search of the suspect found that he was carrying crystal methamphetamine. He was expected to face arraignment Sept. 23 in 72nd District Court in Port Huron on charges of possession with intent to deliver crystal methamphetamine, bringing contraband into a jail, maintaining a drug house, driving with no license and being a habitual third offender.

He is also expected to face extradition to Texas on the other charges.

The Port Huron Police K-9 Unit and Homeland Security Investigations Division also assisted in the arrest.

 Katelyn Larese, MediaNews Group
Books about Donald Trump just keep coming, week after week. Six of the Top 10 hardcover nonfiction volumes on the latest New York Times bestseller list are about the 45th president or his administration.

For readers who like presidential tomes but are looking for something a little different, theyll soon be able to read a new book by Trumps predecessor. Barack Obamas memoir, A Promised Land, will hit bookshelves on Nov. 17, two weeks after the election that pits Trump against Joe Biden, who served as Obamas vice-president.

Theres no feeling like finishing a book, Obama tweeted last week.

A Promised Land is now available for pre-order.

Publisher Penguin Random House calls the 768-page book a riveting, deeply personal account of history in the making, tracking the first Black U.S. presidents improbable odyssey from young man searching for his identity to leader of the free world.

The memoir, which has an unusually hefty list price of $45 thanks to its size, focuses on Obamas political career up through his first term as president. This includes his handling of the 2008-09 financial crisis, passage of the Affordable Care Act and his authorization of the operation that led to the killing of terrorist leader Osama bin Laden. A second volume will tackle the rest of his presidency and his life after the White House.

With A Promised Land, Obama said, he has tried to provide an honest accounting of my presidency, the forces we grapple with as a nation, and how we can heal our divisions and make democracy work for everybody.

Obama long ago proved hes a skilled writer. When he was a young Chicago community organizer in 1995, he published the coming-of-age memoir Dreams of My Father, which Kirkus Reviews called honest, often poetic.

Obamas wife Michelle published her memoir, Becoming, two years ago. It has sold more than 10 million copies.

-- Douglas Perry

dperry@oregonian.com

@douglasmperry
A Massachusetts father has said that his son was sent home from his elementary school for sneezing and was told to stay home until he gets a negative COVID-19 test.

Nine-year-old Lancinet Keita told CBS Boston he was in class at John Bishop Elementary School in Arlington on Tuesday morning when he sneezed twice.

Alarmed, the boy's teacher immediately sent Lancinet to the school nurse and called his father, informing him that his son was sneezing and had a stuffy nose, and asking him to come and take the child home.

Scroll down for video

Nine-year-old Lancinet Keita was sent home from school in Massachusetts and told to get tested for COVID-19 after sneezing a couple of times in class on Tuesday

Keita was sent to the nurse's office at John Bishop Elementary School in Arlington after a teacher became alarmed by his sneezing

'I was thinking I didnt have anything, just a couple sneezes,' Lancinet said.

Thierno Keita said his son was in good health when he left for school that morning, and also he had no symptoms when he picked him up from the nurse's office.

'And I checked his temperature: everything was perfect,' Keita said after repeatedly checking that Lancinet had no fever.

The father now plans to get Lancinet tested for the coronavirus so he could return to school as soon as possible.

Keita said he is upset about what happened and believes that his son's teacher has overreacted, causing him to miss work and his son to miss school.

Officials at Bishop Elementary School have confirmed the incident, saying that a student was sent home early on Tuesday after 'he displayed COVID-19 related symptoms.'

Thierno Keita got a call from school asking him to come and pick up his son

The father said repeated temperature checks showed that Lancinet had no fever

A thermometer displays Lancinet's temperature of 98.3 degrees, which is considered normal

The statement continued: 'This decision was made both out of an abundance of caution and in accordance with district protocols related to COVID-19. This isolated incident is not indicative of any need for wider concern of COVID-19 exposure.

'Per district protocols, the student will either have to produce a negative COVID-19 test, written documentation from a health care provider stating it is an alternative illness or be symptom free for 10 days following the start of the symptoms.'

As of Wednesday afternoon, Massachusetts has reported more than 128,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 9,328 deaths.
The Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday urged his Edo State counterpart, Godwin Obaseki, to forgive all those who opposed his re-election bid.

The erstwhile APC chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, and estranged political mentor of Mr Obaseki was one of those who opposed the re-election of the governor after they fell out.

Their unending battle led to the ouster of Mr Oshiomhole, who is a former governor of the state and the defection of Mr Obaseki to the opposition party, the PDP, under whose banner he eventually won the polls.

Mr Wike made the appeal during Mr Obasekis thank you visit to him at Government House in Port Harcourt, on Wednesday.

He also urged Mr Obaseki to forgive those who stood against him in the buildup to the election, noting, I want to specially thank Edo people for their show of solidarity at the polls.

Mr Wike also commended Governor Obaseki and his deputy, for standing firmly by Edo people, adding that it was a motivating factor for them to join hands in solidarity.

The governor said he is excited that all the states in the South-south geopolitical zone now belong to one political party and can now speak with one voice.

Meanwhile, Mr Obaseki praised Edo people, Mr Wike, and other Peoples Democratic Party Governors for their role in his re-election at the September 19 gubernatorial poll.

Mr Obaseki was accompanied on the visit by his wife, Betsy Obaseki; Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, and his wife, Maryann Shaibu, with members of the Edo PDP Campaign Council led by Dan Orbih.

He said Edo people were instrumental to his re-election for a second term.

I want to thank Edo people for their doggedness and determination in ensuring that their votes counted and the will of the people achieved. The victory at the September 19 poll was made possible by God and God used the people as an instrument to actualise my second term ambition.

Mr Obaseki expressed appreciation to the Rivers governor who served as the Chairman of PDP National Campaign Council for Edo gubernatorial election, for his immense contribution to his victory at the poll, adding that Edo people recognise his strategic role.

He assured that Edo will be better with his re-election as his administration will concentrate on delivering development to Edo people.
RTHK: Hold China to account for 'this plague'  Trump

President Trump told the UN General Assembly on Tuesday that China must be held accountable by the world for its actions over the Covid-19 pandemic.

In a recorded message played to the annual meeting of the UN, Trump accused Beijing of allowing the coronavirus to "leave China and infect the world."

"The United Nations must hold China accountable for their actions," he said.

Trump, who faces a difficult re-election fight on November 3, has sought to deflect overwhelming voter criticism of his handling of the pandemic by blaming China.

Broadcast over a large screen in the UN General Assembly hall, the US president effectively transferred his hawkish campaign stump speech to the global stage.

"We must hold accountable the nation that released this plague upon the world," he said.

Trump accused China of only looking after its own interests when the potentially lethal virus first appeared in the city of Wuhan late last year.

And he said "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."

"Later, they falsely said people without symptoms would not spread the disease," he added.

World leaders are speaking virtually to the UN session in New York, due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Trump, who has frequently downplayed the risks posed by the virus, had previously said he would visit anyway, before apparently changing his mind. (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2020-09-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Ghanaians woke up on the morning of Monday, the 7th September, 2020 to learn that their president, His Excellency William Addo Dankwah Akufo-Ado is elected the chairman of ECOWAS, in a faraway land of the Republic of Niger. He was said to be elected by his peers, in an electoral college, to serve as the chairman of ECOWAS for one year, when a very good number of Ghanaians are itching to vote him out of office in the December 2020 General election in Ghana.

Despite our disapproval of using the word "elected" to make the role of the chairmanship of the ECOWAS seem competitive, and therefore personal than ceremonial, the ECDRA (ECOWAS Citizen Democratic Right Advocate) join all well-wishers in congratulating the Republic of Ghana and its president, on the assumption of ECOWAS Chairmanship.

President Akufo Ado on behalf of Ghana replaces the outgoing chairman, President Mahamadou Issoufou of the Republic of Niger at the 57th Ordinary Session of the Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS. The occasion mark the end of one year term of ECOWAS member state of Niger playing the traditional role of ECOWAS chairmanship, and the ECOWAS member state of Ghana taking a turn.

Although the handing over event was very brief, the incoming ECOWAS chairman seize every opportunity in his inaugural speech in demonstrating how much the role meant to him and how democratic the process was.

In seeing the glass half full than totally empty, one cannot deny president Akufo Addo has been dedicated to the West African body and the wider continental Pan African union. Since his assumption of the Ghanaian presidency, Akufo Addo has never missed any opportunity offered to him by the ECOWAS to provide leadership. The Ghana president spent his first few months of his office shuttling across the West African countries, to motivate his peers to up their game in their common effort for a better West Africa.

By the end of his one year in the Ghanaian presidential role, President Akufo Ado put himself forward for the ECOWAS chairmanship, after President Sirleef Johnson of Liberia has completed her one year ECOWAS chairmanship term.

In going by the ECOWAS protocol, the member state whose turn it is was actually the state of Togo, for the Togolese President Foure Gnassingbe Enyadema to provide the ceremonial leadership for the regional authority. In sustaining the ECOWAS tradition, other members of the authority of heads of state and government of the ECOWAS prevailed, for Faure Gnassingbe to assume the one year chairmanship term of ECOWAS, on the 7th of June 2017 to 31st July 2018, than allowing the Ghanaian president to have his way.

Most people did see the president's intent of assuming the ECOWAS chairmanship role at the time as ambitious, since his predecessor President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana has just occupy the position from the 28th of March 2014 to 19th May 2015, on behalf of the state of Ghana. It is therefore out of order in 2020 for another president of Ghana to attempt to seek for the chairmanship, as it will have to take another 15 years to be the turn of Ghana again. But, to President Akufo Ado, it is just an opportunity resulting from the disorderly ECOWAS, waiting for grabbing, to place one's self in a strategic position of making a lasting impact on the West African Union. You can call the Ghanaian president your "Boris Johnson of ECOWAS", but that is if he and his hard-core admirers who excuse the process of ECOWAS chairmanship as a collegial system, give a dime.

The ECDRA did not fail to note the strong emphasis the president placed on the word "elected" in his brief inauguration speech. The ECDRA could not think of any motive for the use of "elected", than to make a false impression of a democratic ECOWAS by collegial system. The use of "election" gives an impression that the ECOWAS tradition of member states taking turn, for the head of each state to serve as the ECOWAS chairperson, is no more the case. Rather, the system has changed into a democratic process, of a collegial form, in which fierce contest for the position take place among contending heads of states as political candidates, for the best person to emerge a winner.

Of course, the use of "elected" in describing the assumption of the ECOWAS ceremonial office did not start with President Akufo Ado assuming the role of chairmanship of ECOWAS, for any one to blame the Ghanaian president for being the first, but ECDRA believe it is time to consider the challenges associated with the use of "elected" instead of "assume".

It will be understandable to have the core sympathisers of deceit, questioning why anyone will be making a farce on the use of "election" in place of the traditional "appointment", when these words are easily interchangeable.

In highlighting some of the genuine reasons for why the use of "election" is misleading, when "assumes" was the right word, let us consider the following;

The ECOWAS Chairmanship is a Ceremonial Position. The chairmanship position of the ECOWAS is a ceremonial position by tradition and purpose, and therefore non-electable position. So the chairmanship of the ECOWAS is not a position to contest for. Rather it is meant to rotate on annual basis, among the fifteen states, for each of the fifteen leaders of the ECOWAS member nations to take turn on behalf of their state, to play a ceremonial role of providing a form of leadership to the region.

The leadership role is by Member State, than the head of the member state. The role of providing leadership to ECOWAS is actually for the member state, and not the head of the state, for any form of competition to be necessary. The chairmanship is therefore not personally by the president, for him or her to think it is personal, but done on behalf of his or her nation for ECOWAS.

The chairmanship role of the state is an Affirmation of ECOWAS Membership. The ECOWAS consist of fifteen member countries, officially referred to as states. Each of the fifteen states taking turn to assume the role of leadership symbolizes an affirmation of membership and commitment to the objectives of the Union.

The automatic chairmanship role affirms the Equality of all Member States. The automatic assumption of leadership role of the ECOWAS member state, with the head of such state stepping in to assume the role of ECOWAS chairmanship, is an act that symbolizes the equality of all the 15 member countries. So regardless to size, population and riches, the automatic assumption of the ceremonial role, affirm all the states are equal stakeholders of the Union.

The Ceremonial Chairmanship role helps to remove the sense of marginalization within the Union. This use of the word "elect" for the role of ECOWAS chairmanship defeats the objective of the union of equals, where the larger, stronger and richer states of the ECOWAS like Ghana, Nigeria, Cote 'Ivoire, Guinea Conakry and Senegal, will be hiding behind "election" to get more than their fair share in this unholy competition, while smaller ones like Sierra Leone, Gambia, Togo, Cape Verde and Guinea Bissau, suffer a sense of being marginalize.

The falsification of a democratic ECOWAS is unfair on West Africans. The word "elected" in arriving at the chairmanship of the ECOWAS gives a falsify impression of a democratic ECOWAS as an institution, when that is not actually the case. The current nature of democratic practice within the ECOWAS, only exist at the member state level than at the level of ECOWAS itself. So if the members of the 15 authority of ECOWAS heads of state and government genuinely believe in a need for a democratic ECOWAS by election, then now is the time to have the electorates of ECOWAS member countries voting directly for their ECOWAS MPs (Members of ECOWAS Parliament), than faking an unnecessary election to the ceremonial chairmanship role.

Constitutional rule of law by democratic governance, at the level of ECOWAS, is overdue in West Africa. The biggest challenge currently facing the whole of West Africa is the adherence to constitutional rule by democratic governance. Since constitutional rule of law by democratic governance of the ECOWAS mean, the ECOWAS institution observing constitutional rule by democratic governance, as well as having every one of the 15 member countries living by constitutional rule of law by democratic governance, putting a spin on the ceremonial role of chairmanship to make the authority of heads of state and government seem democratic, is a nonstarter. The challenge of almost every country in West Africa operating by constitutional rule of law base on democratic governance, except the ECOWAS institution pretending to be an exception, is morally disturbing. So while the demand on the ECOWAS institution is being mounted to democratise by having the West African electorates of the ECOWAS member countries voting directly for their ECOWAS MPs on the basis of universal adult suffrage, as they do with their national MP, the use of the word "election" for the assumption of the office of any ECOWAS institution, is psychologically detracting.

The ECOWAS makes mockery of democracy. The use of the word "elected" by incoming ECOWAS chairman makes mockery of the concept of democracy. It gives an impression of an ECOWAS that does not understand democracy or does not believe in it. It gives an impression of an ECOWAS consisting of pretenders who are being force to be democratic by interest external to West Africa, than genuine independent people who are being democratic because they believe in it.

Every politically inform person knows the word elected is not the same as appointed. Despite the fact that the two words are interchangeable, every politically informed person knows well that election is not the same as appointment in all cases and certainly not in the ECOWAS as an institution. Election is a word use to indicate a process of fair play in a contest within a democratic context, for a winner to emerge. The process of appointing the ECOWAS Chairman does not meet any democratic standard. Electing the chairman of ECOWAS is not necessary, as the role is equally to the country of the incoming chairman. One does not think the president of Ghana, will refer to the assumption of office of his ministers as elected, despite having all presidential nominees to face the parliament of Ghana to be vetted and voted on by MPs, before they assume their role. This president will also not say his vice president, is elected into his role when there were other contenders, for one person to emerge. If it is not right for the president who chooses his ministers among other contenders, to refer to any of them as elected minister, why must it be alright for the president of Ghana or any one assuming ECOWAS chairmanship, to tell West Africans that he or she has been elected as chairman of the ECOWAS?

The use of the word elected by an incoming ECOWAS Chairpersons misleads the media. Every media report on the Ghanaian president's assumption of the ECOWAS Chairmanship, had its head line and content as "elected", than assume. In fact those that reported the act as appointment at the initial stage had to retrieve their news post and updated them with "elected". Interestingly, none of the media report on the chairmanship gave any detail on the processes involved in the so call election. They all base their version on the Ghanaian president referring to his "peers" consisting of the 15 heads of states, as those who elected him, thereby portrays a form of participatory democracy of collegial nature. None of the news reporters knew that only 8 (eight) of the 15 (fifteen) heads of states and governments of ECOWAS, were present at the Niamey event, to give an indication that only eight people voted, if indeed any voting took place to elect an ECOWAS Chairman.

The president of Ghana was fully aware he is to be the next ECOWAS chairman, due to some challenging circumstances, when the one year term of Niger is ended. It is therefore unfortunate to use the word "elected" when he is aware of his turn to assume the chairmanship, a year in advance, despite the awareness that the president risk being replace in the Ghanaian general election to take place on the 7th of December, 2020. So if the president loses his role as the president of Ghana, he automatically loses the ECOWAS chairmanship role barely four month into the office, since the assumption of the office is by his personal merit of winning an election at the ECOWAS authority level. This means, the successor will not automatically continue the role of chairmanship of ECOWAS on behalf of the state of Ghana but, the authority have to elect another person after four months, to fill up the vacuum.

Ironically, the role of the ECOWAS MP is rather the ceremonial one, where the seat is for the country, than the individual. So as long as one wins an election into the Ghanaian national parliament, the ECOWAS seat is guaranteed and when an ECOWAS MP loses his or her Ghanaian parliamentary seat, the new MP who wins the seat, automatically assumes the role of an ECOWAS MP in replacing the loser.

Finally, the use of "elected" by the president in his speech, referring to his peer as the electorates in a form collegial system, down play the seriousness of democratic challenge in West Africa. The average West African is losing confidence in the word "democracy" as a tool for the solution to his or her political and economic challenges. The word "election" to the average West African, is synonymous with the word "democracy". The West African is therefore dangerously uncomfortable with the ECOWAS as untrustworthy institution that forces its member countries to be democratic by engaging in questionable activities called election, while the Union exempt itself from being democratic. So, as the ECOWAS and the President of Ghana are using the word "elected", when in actual fact no serious election took place for anyone to assume the office of the ECOWAS Chairmanship, the president and ECOWAS are confirming the suspicion of the West African of lack of trust in ECOWAS that make false claims of what it is not.

What the ECOWAS seriously need, at this critical phase of our West African Union, when we are grappling with faith in constitutional rule of law, by democratic governance, is to have an honest ECOWAS. If the ECOWAS is serious about constitutional rule of law by democratic governance to be at the verge of all-out war with her member state of Mali, then an honest ECOWAS must not be by deceit. What we desperately need in West Africa is not an ECOWAS of dictators pretending to believe in democratic governance enough to resort to the threat of using military force at the regional level to attack a member state, while this same regional authority is scared of doing the least of democratising the ECOWAS Parliament with the regional MPs elected directly by member nations' electorates.

Kofi Ali Abdul-Yekin

Chairman ECDRA

(ECOWAS Citizens Democratic Right Advocate)

[email protected]
B ritains failure to reach an agreement with the EU in post-Brexit trade talks could hit the economy three times harder than coronavirus, a think tank has warned.

Queues at the border, shortages of fresh food and medicine as well as more "hassle" travelling to the continent are also possible, it said.

A report by the UK in a Changing Europe group, based on modelling with the London School of Economics, said the impacts of coronavirus may mitigate or obscure the impact of a no-deal exit.

But it warned that not forming an agreement with Brussels would have a significant impact in the long term.

The authors wrote: "The claim that the economic impacts of Covid-19 dwarf those of Brexit is almost certainly correct in the short term.

"Not even the most pessimistic scenarios suggest that a no-deal Brexit would lead to a fall in output comparable to that seen in the second quarter of 2020.

"However - assuming a reasonably strong recovery, and that government policies succeed in avoiding persistent mass unemployment - in the long run, Brexit is likely to be more significant.

"Our modelling with LSE of the impact of a no-deal Brexit suggests that the total cost to the UK economy over the longer term will be two to three times as large as that implied by the Bank of England's forecast for the impact of Covid-19."

The transition period, which kept the UK aligned to the EU's single market and customs union rules to allow trade to flow smoothly after Brexit, expires at the end of the year unless both sides agree to an extension - something Boris Johnson has ruled out.

Trade deal talks between the two sides are continuing, but the Prime Minister has set a deadline of October 15 for an agreement to be reached, otherwise he has said he will simply walk away from the negotiating table.

Professor Anand Menon, director of the UK in a Changing Europe, said: "While the Prime Minister said no deal is a 'good outcome' our report shows that it may lead to significant disruption and will have a significant negative economic impact.

"As significant will be the political fallout of no deal, particularly with the UK and EU, but also inside the UK, particularly Northern Ireland, and internationally too."
Current Affairs

Researchers and conservationists who have been tracking turtle migration for over a decade believe their new study highlights the need for investment in conservation of vital marine habitats which play a key role in turtles formative years.



The study has found that sub-adult green turtles in the UK Overseas Territory of the Turks and Caicos Islands will stay within a Marine Protected Area (MPA) while they are growing, but as they near maturity will migrate hundreds of miles across the Caribbean to search out adult feeding grounds.



The research, conducted by the Marine Conservation Society, the University of Exeter, the Turks and Caicos Islands Governments Department of Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR), and other partners including the Amanyara Resort, used flipper tags and satellite transmitters to reveal the movements of sub-adult, or teenage, turtles.



Between 2002 and 2017 researchers, working with local fishermen, flipper-tagged 623 green turtles and fitted 16 of the larger teenage turtles with satellite transmitter tags on the top of their shells. The tagged turtles were released where they were captured on remote and pristine seagrass beds within the North, Middle, and East Caicos Nature Reserve MPA.



Four of the16 satellite-tagged turtles migrated away from the Turks and Caicos Islands, three of these having spent months after release within the MPA, while one turtle migrated away just 13 days after release. Two of the migrating turtles headed west to Cuba, one headed north to the South-East USA and the high seas, and another headed south to Central America. This turtle eventually settled at feeding habitat on the Colombia coast some 900 miles from the Turks and Caicos Islands after having swam through the territorial waters of eight Caribbean countries. Four of the flipper-tagged turtles were captured years after release by fishermen in Nicaraguas waters, and another was caught in Venezuelas coastal waters.



Dr. Peter Richardson, Head of Ocean Recovery at the Marine Conservation Society and project lead: This exciting, collaborative research shows how important this MPA is for green turtle populations in the Caribbean region.



These turtles are feeding and growing up on the seagrass beds at this one relatively small site for years, and then travelling to countries throughout the region to live the rest of their lives. Turtles from around the region really depend on these key seagrass and mangrove habitats, which are also important for blue carbon storage and climate change mitigation. The turtles have shown us why we should invest resources in protecting these special, wild and pristine places in our UK Overseas Territories now and for generations to come.



Dr. Phil Doherty of the University of Exeter and lead author: "This study shows the value of tracking and monitoring techniques which allow us to follow animals across distance from areas where they grow during early life, to adult foraging and breeding areas. This work not only highlights the importance of the Turks and Caicos Islands marine protected area network, but also reveals the connectivity of turtle populations throughout the region. There is a real need for regional cooperation to support effective sea turtle conservation."



Director of the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR), Lormeka Williams: The results of the study have shown a continued value of marine turtles in the Turks and Caicos Islands, as well as the importance of the MPA for the various life stages of turtles. It is important for the TCI and the entire region to be aware of the connectivity of the turtle species and how management measures can and do impact the species.



The research was generously funded by several private individuals, many of whom were guests at the Amanyara Resort, which also supported the study, along with The Peoples Trust for Endangered Species, Princess Yachts, Big Blue Unlimited and the National Marine Aquarium, Plymouth, United Kingdom. The analysis was funded by a NERC Knowledge Exchange Fellowship.



NidaAlfulaij from Peoples Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) adds: PTES is proud to have supported this research which compares and contrasts the movement of so many different individual turtles in the same region. The findings provide really detailed insights into the ecology of a species that is not easy to study.



The paper, entitled Spatial Ecology of Sub-Adult Green Turtles in Coastal Waters of the Turks and Caicos Islands: Implications for Conservation Management is an open access article and can be accessed here: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2020.00690






Tesla shares slumped around 10 per cent on Wednesday. The stock has soared more than 400 per cent this year.

"With the Battery Day in the rearview, we think there is a lack of upcoming catalysts and are cautious about demand given the recessionary environment," Kallo wrote in a report naming Tesla a bearish "fresh pick."

The chief executive laid out a plan Tuesday (US time) to build a $US25,000 car and cut battery costs in half over the next three years. While the technology and manufacturing breakthroughs outlined were impressive, Robert W. Baird's Ben Kallo wrote, Tesla's valuation already reflected its ability to disrupt.

Tesla's highly anticipated "Battery Day" fell short of expectations that helped fuel its $US320 billion ($452 billion) surge in market value this year, with Elon Musk outlining grandiose goals that will take time to pull off.

Musk, 49, said Tesla wants to eventually produce 20 million cars a year. He described a series of innovations that include using dry-electrode technology and making the battery a structural element of the car. Those incremental and longer-term advances belied expectations for a blockbuster leap forward, which Musk himself played up in the weeks leading up to the event.

"The challenge with the stock is that everything they are talking about is three years away," said Gene Munster, managing director of Loup Ventures. "I think traditional auto is in an even tighter spot, but Tesla investors want this tomorrow."

Vertical-integration improvements - from making its own battery cells on a pilot line at its factory in Fremont, California, to owning rights to a lithium clay deposit in Nevada - are designed to allow Tesla to cut costs and offer a cheap car as soon as 2023.

"This has always been our dream from the very beginning," Musk said at the event showcasing Tesla's battery technology. "In about three years from now, we are confident we can make a compelling $US25,000 electric vehicle that is also fully autonomous."

Musk, 49, is teasing prospects for a cheaper mystery model without ever having really delivered on the $US35,000 price point he had long promised for the Model 3. Three years after Tesla started taking orders for the car in early 2016, the CEO announced plans to close most of Tesla's stores as a cost-saving measure, allowing him to offer the car at that cost. He backtracked 10 days later, and the cheapest Model 3 available now is $US37,990.
She inked another six-figure deal with online fashion brand, PrettyLittleThing, earlier this year.

And Molly-Mae Hague looked every inch the style maven as she departed Novikov restaurant in Mayfair on Tuesday with an entourage of pals.

The Love Island star, 21, made sure all eyes were on her as she exited the swanky eatery and jumped in a taxi.

Fashionista: Molly-Mae Hague looked every inch the fashion influencer as she departed Novikov restaurant in Mayfair on Tuesday with an entourage of pals

She highlighted her slender frame in high-waist faux leather trousers and a cropped brown tank top.

Molly-Mae opted for ivory sandal heels which matched her perfect white manicure.

The reality starlet added a golden touch with hoop earrings and Cartier bracelets and rings.

Command attention: The Love Island star, 21, made sure all eyes were on her as she exited the swanky eatery and jumped in a taxi

The influencer draped her Louis Vuitton bag over her shoulder and clutched her two mobile phones as she walked down the restaurant stairs.

Molly-Mae sported a high ponytail and opted for a flawless makeup finish that highlighted her bronzed complexion.

The outing comes after Molly-Mae recently revealed that she was giving away a massive haul of goods  including Louis Vuitton bags  as she celebrated garnering 1million YouTube subscribers.

Leather look: She highlighted her slender frame in high-waist faux leather trousers and a cropped brown tank top

Arm candy: The influencer draped her Louis Vuitton bag over her shoulder and clutched her two mobile phones

Glamorous: Molly-Mae sported a high ponytail and opted for a flawless makeup finish that highlighted her bronzed complexion

However, she soon found herself to be the target of relentless trolling on Twitter, after several men complained that the competition post, which has been liked and shared more than 1 million times, was clogging up their feeds.

As the complaints ramped up on the site, the reality star clapped back and wryly tweeted: '10 to any boy thats not tweeted 10 to any girl thats not entered Molly-Maes giveaway..... terms and conditions apply x.'

However, Molly-Mae later revealed on her Instagram Stories that the negative comments had hit a nerve.

She said: 'I've been kind of trying to not look at Twitter too much just because even though it's meant to be a lovely thing and something we can all enjoy together people still have their mad opinions on it always.

Designer giveaway: The outing comes after Molly-Mae recently revealed that she was giving away a massive haul of goods as she celebrated garnering 1million YouTube subscribers

Backlash: However, she soon found herself to be the target of relentless trolling on Twitter after several men complained that the competition post was clogging up their feeds

Fiery: As the complaints ramped up, the reality star clapped back: '10 to any boy thats not tweeted 10 to any girl thats not entered Molly-Maes giveaway..... terms and conditions apply x.'

'I'm one of those people that do tend to read things and I do tend to let it get to me.

'But I just made this giveaway for something for us all to enjoy together, a way that we can celebrate having a million subscribers together and also a way for me to give back was the main thing.

'I wouldn't have any of this stuff without you guys, I wouldn't be able to do any of the things I do.

'Like even be where I am now in Milan, that wouldn't be happening without you guys, so it's just a way I can give back and say thank you, really.'

In the limelight: However, Molly-Mae later revealed on her Instagram Stories that the negative comments had hit a nerve

She said: 'I've been kind of trying to not look at Twitter too much just because even though it's meant to be a lovely thing and something we can all enjoy together people still have their mad opinions on it always'

She added: 'I'm one of those people that do tend to read things and I do tend to let it get to me'

On initially announcing the competition, the blonde beauty wrote: 'I cant put into words what this means to me. Since the age of 16 Ive had this dream and goal in my mind and today we did it.... my mind is blown.

'Without you guys this dream would never have become a reality, so its only right that I give back. THIS IS MY CRAZY GIVEAWAY!!!! The thought of one of you receiving all of these things makes me so happy, I cant wait to see who wins!

After sharing the terms and conditions  which included liking her post and tagging a friend, as well as subscribing to her YouTube channel and following her on Instagram  she also reiterated that the gifts were bought with her own cash.

She concluded of the contest, which ends on September 20th: 'This giveaway is not a paid partnership or in any way an affiliation of any brands that are included. Everything included has been purchased by me for this giveaway for you all to enjoy.'
Chicago

The U.S. government Tuesday executed a former soldier who said an obsession with witchcraft led him to kill a Georgia nurse he believed had put a spell on him.

William Emmett LeCroy, 50, was pronounced dead at 9:06 p.m. after receiving a lethal injection at the same U.S. prison in Terre Haute, Ind., where five others have been executed i n 2020 following a 17-year period without a federal execution.

Lawyers had asked President Donald Trump in a petition to commute LeCroy's sentence to life in prison, saying that LeCroy's brother, Georgia State Trooper Chad LeCroy, was killed during a routine traffic stop in 2010 and that another son's death would devastate the LeCroy family.

LeCroy, a blue sheet pulled up to this neck, kept his eyes fixed on the ceiling, not turning his head to look at any witnesses behind the death chamber's glass windows. His spiritual adviser, Sister Barbara Battista, stood inside the chamber, reading from a prayer book.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

LeCroy had told her last week that didn't want to play into what he called the "theater" surrounding his execution and may not make a statement before he died. When a prison official leaned over him Tuesday night, gently pulled off LeCroy's face mask and asked if he had any last words, he responded calmly and matter-of-factly. "Sister Battista is about to receive in the postal service my last statement," he said.
Tory MPs have accused the BBC of 'going out of their way to provoke the Government' after the broadcaster gave Sir Keir Starmer a prime time slot to slam Boris Johnson.

The Labour leader was given a 'right of reply' last night to the Prime Minister's coronavirus statement which Mr Johnson delivered to the nation on Tuesday evening.

Sir Keir used the broadcast to attack Mr Johnson's handling of the Covid-19 crisis, triggering Conservative fury as they pointed out the PM did not launch any political attacks in his address but the Labour leader branded his counterpart a 'failure'.

The BBC defended its decision but Tory MPs claimed the broadcaster was seemingly trying to be 'as awkward as it can be'.

Conservative figures suggested the BBC's actions could have consequences down the road when discussions begin on renewing the broadcaster's charter which is due to expire in 2027.

A senior Tory MP said: 'The BBC just seem to go out of their way to be as awkward as they can be to the Government. It was completely unjustified.

'It seems they are going out of their way to provoke the Government into doing something [on the licence fee].'

Relations between the BBC and No10 are already strained after ministers accused the broadcaster of 'stealing the Ovaltine from pensioners' night time drink' over a decision to force over-75s to pay for the licence fee.

In his message, Sir Keir said he supported the coronavirus measures announced by the Prime Minister but he also claimed: 'The return of this virus, and the return of restrictions, are not an act of God. They're a failure of Government.

'The British people have done everything asked of them. But I'm afraid the Government has not.'

In an accompanying BBC interview, he argued that the country does not have the leadership it needs.

He said of the Prime Minister: 'I don't think he has got the right character for this and I don't think he is up to it.'

The Labour leader (pictured during the address) demanded Boris Johnson unveil a 'Plan B for the economy' in his own address to the nation after the PM's last night

England, Wales and Scotland today posted 27 more Covid-19 deaths while Northern Ireland recorded none in the preliminary toll

Sir Keir's comments sparked a furious Tory backlash.

Tory MP for North West Durham Richard Holden said: 'This is a completely bonkers BBC decision that flies in the face of all logic.

'When the Prime Minister speaks as Prime Minister, he speaks as the leader of our country, not for a party.'

Fellow Conservative MP Tom Hunt added: 'This is clearly inappropriate. Politics aside, Boris Johnson is the Prime Minister during a global pandemic.

'It is clearly appropriate for the figure who holds this office to be able to communicate with the public.

'How does Starmer being given a platform to launch a political attack at this stage help the nation and the public?

Sir Keir Starmer's speech in full: Good evening. When I was elected Leader of the Labour Party I said I would always act in the national interest. That's why, as the nation continues to fight against this dreadful virus, my priority will always be the same as yours to save lives and protect our NHS. Sadly, despite all the sacrifices and heroism of the British people, it's clear we are not through this yet. The picture presented by the Government's medical advisers this week was stark and clear. Infections are rising. Hospital admissions are increasing. And we know from bitter experience where that could lead. That's why the Government had to introduce further restrictions last night. We support this. And I urge everyone to follow the new guidance and the rule of law. While these restrictions are now necessary. They were not inevitable. The return of this virus, and the return of restrictions, are not an act of God. They're a failure of Government. The British people have done everything asked of them. But I'm afraid the Government has not. We're a great country. We shouldn't have one of the highest death rates in the world, or one of the worst recessions. It's a national scandal that we still don't have a testing system that works. Or a plan to protect our care homes. It shouldn't be like this. People shouldn't have to travel hundreds of miles to get a test for their child for themselves or for their relatives. And we should be able to give our older people the dignity, security and respect they deserve. The Government needs to fix testing. Fast. Because that's the only we can get control of the virus. And prevent further restrictions. And we also need a 'Plan B' for the economy too. Because it makes no sense to bring in new restrictions at the same time as phasing out support for jobs and businesses. There was nothing in the Prime Minister's statement last night to protect people's jobs, businesses or our town centres and high streets. No clarity about what happens when the furlough scheme ends. That's a huge gap. It's a huge mistake. And it could lead to a wave of job losses this winter. We need a national effort to protect jobs and prevent a second lockdown. So I've offered to work with Prime Minister to do whatever we can to save lives and livelihoods. That offer remains open. My door is always open. The weeks and months ahead will be difficult. And I know there is real frustration and anger at the mistakes that the Government has made in the last few months. But, we will get through this. The darkness will lift. A better future is possible for our country. A country built on the values that have held us together during this pandemic. Decency, fairness, opportunity, compassion and security. A future where Britain is everything it can be. The best place to grow up in and the best place to grow old in. That's the future I want for my children and for my country. That's why I do this. Together, we can build it. Advertisement

'This does raise questions about the BBC and their impartiality. A lot of people will see this as very peculiar.'

Asked whether Mr Johnson supported the broadcaster's decision to give Sir Keir a platform, the Prime Minister's spokesman said: 'That's entirely a matter for the BBC.'

A BBC spokesman said: 'Under the BBC Charter and Agreement, the Government can require the BBC to transmit a ministerial broadcast.

'In those circumstances, under its Editorial Guidelines, the BBC has to consider whether to offer other parties the opportunity to respond.

'There has been a response on every occasion since the Suez crisis, bar one, most recently with Keir Starmer's response to the Prime Minister's last broadcast in May.'

Sources said the only exception  where the BBC considered it would not be appropriate to make such an offer to other parties  was following the Prime Minister's first Covid-19 statement in March.

Elsewhere in his speech, Sir Keir said: 'We need a ''Plan B'' for the economy. It makes no sense to bring in new restrictions at the same time as phasing out support for jobs and businesses.'

He also pointedly criticised Prime Minister Boris Johnson's handling of the crisis, stating while new restrictions 'are now necessary, they were not inevitable'.

The Labour leader said the increased restrictions are due to a 'failure of Government'.

Sir Keir said: 'Despite all the sacrifices and heroism of the British people, it's clear we are not through this yet.

'The picture presented by the Government's medical advisers this week was stark and clear.

'Infections are rising. Hospital admissions are increasing. And we know from bitter experience where that could lead.

'That's why the Government had to introduce further restrictions last night. We support this.

'And I urge everyone to follow the new guidance and the rule of law. While these restrictions are now necessary, they were not inevitable.

'The return of this virus, and the return of restrictions, are not an act of God. They're a failure of Government.

'The British people have done everything asked of them. But I'm afraid the Government has not. We're a great country.

'We shouldn't have one of the highest death rates in the world, or one of the worst recessions.'

He added: 'It's a national scandal that we still don't have a testing system that works.

'People shouldn't have to travel hundreds of miles to get a test for their child, for themselves or for their relatives.'

It comes a night after Mr Johnson warned Britons they faced a long, hard winter of police-enforced curbs on their freedom to see off coronavirus.

The PM said he was 'deeply, spiritually reluctant' to make new 'impositions, or infringe anyone's freedom' after unveiling new measures in Parliament yesterday.

He said it was necessary to reintroduce working from home rules and a swathe of social measures in order to avoid a dramatic surge in deaths.

The beleaguered premier faced fire from all sides as he U-turned on his push to reopen workplaces after just a few weeks.

He also faced barbs for introducing other swingeing new measures including a 10pm pub curfew and 200 fines for mask rule-breakers in England.

The British Army could also potentially be drafted in to help police in the face of a surge of coronavirus infections sweeping the country.

He said '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 he hit out at his critics, including Tory MPs and business leaders who warned of the economic impact of what he is doing.

He said: 'To those who say we don't 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 else's 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.'

The PM has already warned the new curbs could last into 2021 and said it could take until then to get mass testing up and running fully and a new vaccine available.

In a televised address to the nation last night the Prime Minister said he was 'deeply, spiritually reluctant' to make the changes he unveiled in Parliament yesterday

Labour leader apologises after Shadow Minister calls Covid a 'good crisis' Sir Keir Starmer has apologised after Labour's education spokeswoman said the party needed to make the most of the 'good' coronavirus crisis. Boris Johnson accused Labour of exploiting the Covid-19 pandemic for political gain at Prime Minister's Questions following comments by Kate Green, the shadow education secretary, that the party should not 'let a good crisis go to waste'. Labour leader Sir Keir, asked about the remarks in an interview with Sky News on Wednesday, said Ms Green 'shouldn't have said it'. He apologised for what was said, but stressed the MP's words had been 'taken out of context'. Following the exchange at PMQs, Conservative Party co-chairman Amanda Milling published a letter to Sir Keir calling on him to 'condemn' his shadow cabinet member's comment. Ms Green used the phrase during a Labour Connected event on Sunday, The Sun newspaper reported. In a recording obtained by the Guido Fawkes website, the shadow frontbencher said: 'I think we should use the opportunity... don't let a good crisis go to waste. 'We can really see now what happens when you under-resource schools, when you under-resource families and communities.' In his closing exchange at PMQs, Mr Johnson said: 'I think that the reality of the Opposition position has been exposed. The cat's out of the bag. 'Because it was his shadow education secretary (Kate Green) who said of the present crisis, she said, 'don't let a good crisis go to waste'. 'That's the real approach of the Labour Party. Seeking to create political opportunity out of a crisis.' Speaking to Sky News, Sir Keir pushed back against Mr Johnson's accusation. He said: 'I don't think the Prime Minister was right with his comments but equally the shadow education secretary, she didn't mean that in its proper context. 'The Labour Party has apologised and I'm very happy to do so (again).' Asked whether he had spoken with Ms Green, Sir Keir said: 'The team have spoken to her and we have apologised. 'I have apologised again - it was taken out of context, it wasn't what she meant. 'And in fairness, I think even the Prime Minister would recognise that we've been an instructive Opposition in the sense that I have openly supported him on the substantive decisions he's had to make.' Advertisement

He said: '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.

'That's the hope; that's the dream. It's hard, but it's attainable, and we are working as hard as we can to get there.'

He continued: '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.'

But Mr Johnson immediately faced criticism from his own backbenches, with Telford MP Lucy Allan questioning on Twitter whether the UK's 'collective health' was at risk.

She wrote: 'Measures to tackle #covid must be proportionate to the risk. The virus is a serious threat to certain vulnerable groups.

'We must protect these groups with targeted measures. Shutting down society causes massive damage to health, lives, and livelihoods of the whole population.'

Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage blasted Mr Johnson's 'authoritarian' response to the coronavirus crisis as he bemoaned: 'We didn't vote for this'.

He angrily tweeted: 'The PM says we are a 'freedom loving country', but will fine you 10,000 and send the army in if he likes.

'This is authoritarian  I don't believe his promises on testing or the competence of the government. We didn't vote for this.'

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: 'We all want nothing more than to beat this dreadful virus and get back to normal.

'Sadly, the statement from the Prime Minister confirms this is a long way off and there will be difficult times ahead.

'The Prime Minister must take responsibility for what has gone wrong, and apologise for the chaotic failure of his ''world beating'' test and trace system.

'It is inexcusable that this vital test and trace operation has been totally overwhelmed in recent weeks.

'Ministers must outline details of the practical steps they are taking to fix the test and trace system as quickly as possible. This is the only way to avoid yet more restrictions.

'With millions of people worried about their jobs, businesses and livelihoods, the Prime Minister must also urgently set out a new economic plan, including the extension of furlough and more help for the self-employed and small business.'

Labour MP Chris Bryant slammed the Prime Minister's tone, tweeting: 'The problem with Johnson is he can't deliver a tough message.

'By saying he hates doing this he effectively undermines what he's doing.

'And throughout his talk about people breaking the rules I just thought of (chief adviser Dominic) Cummings.'
CNBC's Jim Cramer advised investors Tuesday to sell shares of Nikola Corporation, the embattled electric vehicle company that has been the target of a short-selling firm.

Nikola ended Tuesday's session up 3.4% at $28.51 per share, following a roughly 19% decline one day earlier after the company's founder, Trevor Milton, voluntarily stepped down as executive chairman.

"Even though the stock bounced today on the Milton resignation, I don't like it," the "Mad Money" host said. "Ever since Nikola started trading, I told you there was much too much hype and not enough substance to this one."

Milton's resignation followed accusations from short-selling firm Hindenburg Research, which claimed Nikola made false statements about its technology in order to attract investors and land partnerships with other auto makers, including General Motors.

The Securities and Exchange Commission and Department of Justice are reportedly looking into the claims that Nikola misled investors.

Nikola has pushed back on Hindenburg's report, claiming it contained "dozens" of inaccurate claims. However, the Phoenix-based company acknowledged one allegation from Hindenburg: that it staged a video that showed a Nikola truck functioning on its own, when in fact the truck wasn't.

Even so, the company's CFO, Kim Brady, said Tuesday that "nothing has changed" about its mission or its future potential. "We recommend that investors really focus on the future and what we have delivered and what we're going to deliver," she said during a virtual conference.

Although Hindenburg has a financial incentive at play  by taking out a short position, it is basically betting the stock goes lower  Cramer stressed there is a place for short-selling firms in the market. "I'm not saying that shorts like Hindenburg are always right," said Cramer, noting he likes a company called J2 Global, which also has been a target of the firm.

"But when a short-seller brings highlights some major red flags, you've got to take it seriously. Even if you ultimately think that they're wrong, you have to contend with their arguments," he said. "In the case of Nikola, the bear case was overwhelming and I'm glad Hindenburg went after them."

Cramer, a former hedge fund manager, also noted he has been cautious about Nikola for months. "I think that you should stay away. There is much better places for you to put your money," he said on July 22, when the stock closed around $33 per share. It had soared to nearly $94 on June 9.

And in early August, shortly after Nikola reported its first quarterly results since going public through a reverse merger two months prior, Cramer again raised valuation concerns. "Most of the value here is in the idea, the concept, and that simply can't justify a $25 billion valuation, where Nikola was not long ago  or even a $14 billion valuation where it is right now," he said on Aug. 4.

On Tuesday, Cramer said he understands investors may be enticed to continuing owning Nikola due to the massive upside for a company that bills itself as one that can revolutionize transportation with its electric-battery and hydrogen-powered trucks. He noted the allure of comparing Nikola to Tesla, the electric vehicle leader.

"When you see a bunch of bright red flags, you have to sell and sell quickly, even if you still have conviction," Cramer said. "When you're investing, the only thing more important than making money is not losing money. As long as you contain your losses, the gains will take care of themselves," he added.

- CNBC's Yun Li contributed to this report.
Its great to see how the IsoTherming technology showcased sustained catalyst performance over the past few years with the unit still able to achieve start-of-run performance guarantees, said Kevin Bockwinkel, global business manager, IsoTherming hydroprocessing technology.

DuPont Clean Technologies (DuPont) is pleased to announce that an IsoTherming hydrotreating unit installed at the CNOOC Huizhou Refinery in Guangdong Province, China has successfully completed its performance test, certifying that the unit is meeting performance guarantees. The IsoTherming VGO hydrotreater at CNOOC is designed to process 51,419 bpsd (2,600 kmta) of a vacuum gasoil feedstock as feed for the FCC unit. The IsoTherming hydrotreater was designed for output of less than 1000 wppm sulfur and less than 600 wppm nitrogen.

The VGO hydrotreater was initially commissioned in late September 2017 but, due to the market-driven, reduced refinery throughput, the IsoTherming VGO hydrotreater ran at various lower rates until recently. The performance test results highlight the IsoTherming technologys ability to sustain catalyst activity over a long period of time with the unit still satisfying performance guarantees.

CNOOC has indicated the IsoTherming VGO hydrotreater had a lower investment cost and offered greater than $4,000,000 per year savings in utility costs compared to conventional trickle bed technology. This, along with sustained catalyst performance, has provided CNOOC both an economic and social benefit.

Operating costs savings in the form of reduced consumption of utilities, as well as capital cost advantages when compared to conventional technologies were key drivers for CNOOC to select the IsoTherming technology for this project. CNOOC also chose the IsoTherming technology for a 71,637 bpsd (3,400 kmta) ULSD hydrotreating unit (again at the Huizhou refinery) which was also commissioned in September 2017 after passing its performance test in 2018.

Its great to see how the IsoTherming technology showcased sustained catalyst performance over the past few years with the unit still able to achieve start-of-run performance guarantees, said Kevin Bockwinkel, global business manager, IsoTherming hydroprocessing technology.

IsoTherming hydroprocessing technology utilizes a novel liquid phase reactor system that is superior to conventional hydroprocessing technologies, as it uses the hydrogen and catalyst more efficiently. It also offers lower capital and operating costs compared to conventional hydroprocessing technologies in achieving the desired product quality. This technology is suitable for a wide range of applications, including kerosene hydrotreating, transmix hydrotreating, diesel hydrotreating, FCC feed hydrotreating (VGO hydrotreating), mild hydrocracking, dewaxing, gas-to-liquid (GTL) upgrading, and heavy oil upgrading for both grassroots and revamp configurations.

To date, DuPont has 27 IsoTherming hydroprocessing technology licenses globally, of which 15 are in commercial operation. These licensed units include a diverse set of applications ranging from 100 percent kerosene to 100 percent light-cycle oil (LCO), and various mixtures of distillates and heavy gas oils, including coker blends, with capacities ranging from 1,500 bpsd to 80,000 bpsd.

Growing global demand for cleaner transportation fuel continues to drive refiners toward operations that maximize hydroprocessing capacity and capability through unit debottlenecks or new unit construction. More stringent environmental regulations and the processing of cost-advantaged sour and heavy feed stocks make meeting this demand even more challenging. Licensed and marketed by DuPont, as part of its Clean Technologies portfolio in Overland Park, Kansas, USA, IsoTherming hydroprocessing technology provides a proven solution to meet this growing global demand.

About DuPont Clean Technologies

The Clean Technologies division of DuPont is a global leader in process technology licensing, engineering, and customer support. We offer critical process equipment, products and services that enable an array of industrial markets, including phosphate fertilizer, non-ferrous metals, oil refining, petrochemicals and chemicals, to meet their and their customer needs while minimizing the overall environmental impact and optimizing productivity. We provide extensive global expertise across our portfolio of offerings in key applications  MECS sulfuric acid production, STRATCO alkylation, BELCO wet scrubbing, and IsoTherming hydroprocessing. We are dedicated to helping our customers produce high-quality products used in everyday life in the safest, most environmentally-sound way possible and back our technologies by long-term customer service support over the full lifecycle of the assets. Our vision is to make the world a better place by creating clean alternatives to traditional industrial processes. We make everyday life better, safer, cleaner. http://www.cleantechnologies.dupont.com

About DuPont

DuPont (NYSE: DD) is a global innovation leader with technology-based materials, ingredients and solutions that help transform industries and everyday life. Our employees apply diverse science and expertise to help customers advance their best ideas and deliver essential innovations in key markets including electronics, transportation, construction, water, health and wellness, food, and worker safety. More information can be found at http://www.dupont.com.

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HONG KONG, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Ping An Healthcare and Technology Company Limited, a leading online healthcare service platform in China, announced that following an upgrade in strategies and products, it will launch "Ping An Doctor Home", a heavyweight sub-brand for establishing a professional communications bridge between doctors and patients, as well as upgrade of four major services (i.e. Private Doctors, Doctor Virtual Office, team of doctors and guaranteed insurance), which includes the meanings of "Doctor Home", "Family Doctors" and "Private Doctors", in order to build a dual platform that serves both patients and doctors.

Fang Weihao, Acting Chairman and CEO of Ping An Good Doctor, said that Ping An Good Doctor commenced a strategic upgrade in mid-2020, mainly targeting channel, service and capability. Its latest product, "Ping An Doctor Home" represents an essential move in consolidating the company's leading presence in the industry, in becoming a trendsetter, and in accelerating its development horizontally and vertically.

Comprehensive upgrade of private doctors and creation of a quality doctor ecosystem

In the second half of 2019, Ping An Good Doctor pioneered a family doctor product in China, namely, Private Doctors, which has quickly gained recognition from both the customer- and business-end since its debut one year ago. In the first half of 2020, 99% of comments it has received has been positive, which has established a strong reputation and influence. It has provided over 500 corporate customers from various fields, including real estate, medical and retail, with one-stop services comprising one-to-one online consultations with private doctors, offline hospital outpatient registration assistance, and escort services.

Enhanced based on its innovative Private Doctors product, "Ping An Doctor Home" targets individuals and families. A multi-layered membership system of health steward services has been launched to achieve personalized health management. Private Doctors of "Ping An Doctor Home" can help patients recover from minor diseases, while Family Doctors can track the entire family from children, adults to the elderly, offering all-round healthcare services. By leveraging world-leading AI technology and quality domestic and overseas medical resources, "Ping An Doctor Home" not only can designate a doctor to each user, and family doctor to each family, but can also provide 24x7 quality and personalized medical and healthcare services to users by conducting long-term tracking of the users' health condition and by building ongoing and complete personal health files.

It is worth noting that "Ping An Doctor Home" will also conduct a comprehensive upgrade of the Doctor Virtual Office in order to help doctors fulfill their dream of opening an online consultation room. By addressing the five needs of doctors in terms of research, income, brand, capability and efficiency, together with the support of a four-tier doctor system comprising AI doctor assistant, in-house doctors, external doctors and renowned doctors, "Ping An Doctor Home" strives to build the world's largest doctor ecosystem as well as adopt technologies to more effectively facilitate the work of doctors.

"Ping An Doctor Home" will also upgrade its team of doctors and introduce renowned doctors from outside sources to the team on a continuing basis. Furthermore, with the help of newly added voice and video consultation functions, "Ping An Doctor Home" will be able to match doctors and patients more accurately. Ping An Good Doctor can also break the time limit via "Ping An Doctor Home" and provide a real-time online one-to-one platform, facilitating exchange between patients and specialists or general practitioners; helping patients find skilled, renowned doctors in a convenient manner and realize efficient utilization and matching of quality medical resources between doctors and patients.

In the process above, "Ping An Doctor Home" will also concurrently upgrade guaranteed insurance in order to ensure the rise in standard of online medical services. By linking with insurance products, "Ping An Doctor Home" provides strong insurance system protection, addresses the concerns of doctors and patients, and also provides solid support for Internet medical services.

Build "service user + doctor" dual platform and professional communication bridge between doctors and patients

The medical and healthcare service industry in China still has many "pain points" that require resolution. They include tremendous pressure faced by medical institutions in providing services; insufficient and uneven allocation of medical resources; "overtreatment for minor illnesses"; and "remote treatment for critical diseases". Furthermore, 25% of patients are hospitalized in 0.25% of Tier III hospitals. Also, citizens need to bear with the inconvenience and expense of medical services and long waiting times. "Receiving a five-minute consultation after waiting three hours" is a common occurrence. In addition, there is a shortage of family doctors for providing long-term and sustainable health management and for compiling comprehensive personal health data and files. In China, general practitioners are relatively scarce, whereas specialists lack proficiency in terms of operational skills. Due to a general shortage of medical staff and heavy workload, 70% of doctors work 50 hours per week, and primary medical services are poor.

Ping An Good Doctor has focused on strategic upgrade in terms of channel, service and capability since mid-2020. With regard to channel, it has expanded from patients and insurance customers to corporate customers and Internet hospitals. As for service, the upgrade of its services has included from medical services to both medical services and health services, and from private doctors only to both private doctors and family doctors, covering individuals and families. In respect of capability, it has strengthened its in-house medical team and has continuously recruited more specialists and skilled doctors to establish a network of "in-house + external doctors". Furthermore, it has also changed its focus from online expansion to both online and offline expansion. Ping An Good Doctor has adhered to its mission of building a bridge for effective interaction between doctors and patients and aims at gaining trust, bringing expertise and providing convenience, in a bid to build China's largest online medical service platform with the best model and highest competitive level.

The new sub-brand "Ping An Doctor Home" is a dual platform to serve both users and doctors, building a professional communications bridge between doctors and patients. "Ping An Doctor Home" provides a dedicated doctor to all users, so that all users can have a complete health file. As such, it offers a full lifecycle solution to users as well as brings the best medical service experience to them. Moreover, "Ping An Doctor Home" is committed to building the most professional and largest doctor ecosystem, broadening the range of medical services provided by general practitioners and raising the professionalism of specialists, in a bid to enhance primary medical services and provide the best medical services.

Since its establishment in 2014, Ping An Good Doctor has completed a leap from zero to its current state in just six years. It has rapidly attracted customers, built a solid reputation, established an initial revenue model and landed on the capital market. Ping An Good Doctor has been at the forefront of the industry, both in terms of exploring business models and developing innovative products. The launch of "Ping An Doctor Home" will further strengthen its medical service capability and enable Ping An Good Doctor to maintain its leadership in the industry.

Ping An Healthcare And Technology Company Limited

Ping An Healthcare And Technology Company Limited ("Ping An Good Doctor", 1833.HK) is a leading one-stop healthcare ecosystem platform in China. It strives to provide every family with a family doctor, every person with an e-profile and everyone with a healthcare management plan through "mobile medical + AI technology". At present, Ping An Good Doctor has established key business segments including online medical services, consumer healthcare, healthcare mall, and health management and wellness interaction.

In April 2015, the App "Ping An Good Doctor" was officially launched. On 4 May 2018, Ping An Good Doctor became the No.1 listed internet health-tech company in the world when it joined the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, stock code 1833.HK.

As of the end of December 2019, there were 315 million registered users and the Company's MAU reached 66.9 million. Ping An Good Doctor is today the largest mobile medical application in China in terms of user scale. Ping An Good Doctor employs 1409 medical personnel in its in-house medical team and contracts renowned external doctors. This in-house medical team, empowered by proprietary AI technology, provides users with 24 x 7 online consultation services. In our offline partnership network, Ping An Good Doctor collaborates with over 3,000 hospitals (including more than 1,900 Class III Grade A hospitals) to provide services such as hospital referral, appointment and inpatient arrangements.

As of 31 December 2019, its healthcare ecosystem comprised over 3,000 hospitals, over 150 medical beauty clinics, 430 traditional Chinese medicine clinics, over 2,000 health check-up centers, over 1,800 dental clinics, over 48,000 clinics and 94,000 co-operative pharmacies.

SOURCE Ping An Healthcare and Technology Company Limited
Mr Haruna Iddrisu, the Minority Leader in Parliament, has reiterated the call on personnel of the Security Agencies to be neutral ahead of the December general elections.

He said per the mandate of the Services, the personnel were supposed to be professional and cautioned against misconduct and intimidation of opposition political parties.

A statement issued by Mr James Agyenim-Boateng, the NDC Campaign Spokesperson, copied to the Ghana News Agency, said Mr Iddrisu was addressing a gathering of chiefs, people and members of garage associations in Sunyani Magazine.

The meeting was before Mr John Dramani Mahama, the NDC Presidential Candidate announced the suspension of his tour of the Bono Region over concerns about the Electoral Commission's (EC) provisional voters register.

The statement said the Minority Leader said any abuse or misuse of the mandate by the Security Services would not be accepted by the Party and encouraged them to remain professional before, during and after the polls.

---GNA
A New Zealand flag with a mistake on it has been displayed on the Anzac Bridge

The red star from the bottom of the Southern Cross moved under the Union Jack

NSW Government authorities scrambled to replace the flag above the motorway

Government officials have rushed to replace a New Zealand flag displayed above a bridge after a driver noticed a mistake with its design.

Motorists on Sydney's Anzac Bridge spotted the flag with a unique design pattern displayed on top of one of the two towers above the motorway.

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Both the Australian and New Zealand flags are flown atop the bridge and both show the Southern Cross and Union Jack.

But in the version seen above the bridge, the New Zealand flag's Southern Cross pattern is wrong.

The final red star that normally appears at the bottom of the Southern Cross is seen below the Union Jack.

A New Zealand flag with a mistake on it (pictured) has been displayed above Sydney's Anzac Bridge

The wrong flag has been flying above the bridge for more than a month.

New Zealand Flag Association President John Moody was unimpressed.

'I think New Zealanders would feel a certain disrespect,' he told 7News.

Mr Moody was unsure as to why the wrong flag had been put up.

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'It could be laziness, ignorance... it may have been somebody who thought somehow the New Zealand flag was similar to the Australian flag,' he said.

A Transport for NSW spokesperson said the wrong flag had been changed.

'Transport for NSW was made aware of an incorrect New Zealand flag flying on the ANZAC Bridge and replaced it overnight,' they said.

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'The issue arose due to a manufacturing fault by the supplier.'
The Nam Tai Board of Directors and management team are committed to acting in the best interests of the Company and all Nam Tai shareholders, and are receptive to ideas that advance the Company's goal of enhancing shareholder value. However, in its recent letters, IsZo, a shareholder seeking to take control of the Nam Tai Board of Directors, has made a number of false and misleading allegations and assertions about Nam Tai in support of its opportunistic campaign. The Company is eager to present the facts and set the record straight about these misstatements.

Among the most glaring examples of IsZo's false and misleading claims are the following:

IsZo has made numerous false claims regarding Nam Tai's relationship with Kaisa, including:

"Kaisa has a well-documented and highly-publicized record of defaulting on financial obligations, mistreating investors and facing legal issues in the People's Republic of China ."[i]

."[i] "In 2015, Kaisa's stock price plummeted amidst allegations of corruption by the Kwok brothers. The Shenzhen government froze all of Kaisa's assets, its stock was delisted from the Hong Kong exchange, and the brothers fled to Hong Kong to escape detention by the PRC authorities"[ii]

government froze all of Kaisa's assets, its stock was delisted from the exchange, and the brothers fled to to escape detention by the PRC authorities"[ii] "The startling number of related-party transactions alone should raise alarm of self-dealing."[ii]

THE FACTS : THE STRATEGIC RELATIONSHIP WITH KAISA WILL SUPPORT LONG-TERM DEVELOPMENT

In its letters, IsZo makes a number of misrepresentations and inaccurate statements about Kaisa Group Holdings Ltd. ("Kaisa"), the Company's largest shareholder and a significant strategic partner. By way of background, Kaisa is listed on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (the "HKEX") with a market cap exceeding $3.3 billion and is a large, diversified investment group in China, with competitive advantages in real estate development and urban renewal, among others. Importantly, as a large and long-term oriented shareholder, Kaisa's interests are aligned with all Nam Tai shareholders, and its relationship with Nam Tai provides the Company with not only branding advantages, but also increased access to bank financing and operational support. In the field of urban renewal, Kaisa is constantly regarded as one of the national leaders. As of June 30, 2020, Kaisa had 167 urban renewal projects covering a site area of nearly 42 million square meters, the majority of which are in Guangzhou and Shenzhen, which are also key markets for Nam Tai. Notably, Kaisa is one of the top developers in Shenzhen, and in 2019, contracted sales attributable to Kaisa reached approximately $12.9 billion.

With respect to IsZo's claims about Kaisa's share price and stock listing, the fact is that Kaisa's stock was only suspended from trading, not "delisted". IsZo not only gets this history wrong, it also fails to mention that Kaisa resumed trading on the HKEX in March 2017 , and was cleared of all allegations and rumors of any wrongdoing. IsZo also fails to mention that Kaisa's share price reached a two-year high in September 2020 , demonstrating the market's confidence in the company despite the impacts from COVID-19 and volatile economic conditions. Kaisa is credited with an issuer's rating of "B1" by Moody's.

, and was cleared of all allegations and rumors of any wrongdoing. IsZo also fails to mention that Kaisa's share price reached a two-year high in , demonstrating the market's confidence in the company despite the impacts from COVID-19 and volatile economic conditions. Kaisa is credited with an issuer's rating of "B1" by Moody's. With respect to IsZo's accusatory claims against Kaisa and its Chairman Mr. Ying Shing Kwok , it is important to note that Kaisa was named "One of the Most Respected 40 Listed Companies" and Mr. Kwok was named "One of the Most Respected 40 Entrepreneurs" by Securities Times, the premier media outlet of record for news and information regarding listed companies designated by China Securities Regulatory Commission.

, it is important to note that Kaisa was named "One of the Most Respected 40 Listed Companies" and Mr. Kwok was named "One of the Most Respected 40 Entrepreneurs" by Securities Times, the premier media outlet of record for news and information regarding listed companies designated by China Securities Regulatory Commission. With respect to IsZo's claims regarding "self-dealing", it is again important to consider the facts. From a business standpoint, Nam Tai and Kaisa engage on numerous matters, including property management agreements. For example, following a competitive bidding process, Nam Tai selected the lowest bid, Kaisa Prosperity (SEHK: 2168), as its outsourced property management service provider. Kaisa Prosperity's expertise and local market knowledge provides Nam Tai with a cost effective and high-quality solution. The Company maintains full transparency in all of its engagements with Kaisa, including disclosure of current and anticipated fees paid to Kaisa in its most recent annual report on Form 20-F (the "2019 20-F"). As disclosed under the "Related Party Transactions" of Nam Tai's annual report for fiscal 2019 on Form 20-F, the sum that Nam Tai is expected to pay to Kaisa in 2019 to 2021 under existing contracts is expected to be no more than RMB 20 million (less than US$3 million in total, or US$1 million per annum on average).

In addition, it's important to consider the potential detrimental impact to Nam Tai and all shareholders as a result of IsZo's reckless and misinformed campaign. For example, following the resignation of Mr. Ying Chi Kwok, Nam Tai's lending banks expressed concerns that our relationship with Kaisa would be weakened. In fact, it is difficult for small real estate companies to obtain bank financing in China. If the Board were to lose its relationship with Kaisa, which would be the case if IsZo's majority slate of nominees were elected to the Nam Tai Board, it would run the risk of loans being canceled, while also severely limiting the Company's ability for future fundraising, consequently leading to significant liquidity issues with its operating and construction works. Importantly, Nam Tai's relationship with Kaisa provides it with access to bank financing and favorable rates for its industrial land redevelopment projects, none of which was possible prior to Kaisa's significant strategic investment in Nam Tai. The requisition notice and further actions related to potential change in control pursued by IsZo may even trigger an early repayment of outstanding loans demanded by the banks under relevant loan covenants. This is a significant risk to our business that all shareholders should consider before supporting IsZo's campaign.

IsZo has made numerous false claims about Nam Tai's stock performance, including:

Nam Tai's stock "has also significantly underperformed its industry peers along with the broader stock market based on a variety of metrics." [ii]

stock "has also significantly underperformed its industry peers along with the broader stock market based on a variety of metrics." "The Company's stock price is trading at just $4.05 per share for a total market capitalization of less than $160 million as of yesterday's close  a 70% decline in share value since Kaisa replaced NTP's former CEO with Mr. Ying Chi Kwok , the younger brother of Kaisa's CEO, on January 29, 2018 ." [ii]

THE FACTS : NAM TAI'S STOCK HAS OUTPERFORMED SINCE KAISA'S INVESTMENT

IsZo has attempted to show that Nam Tai's share price has been negatively impacted since Kaisa's investment. The facts show that this assertion is plainly false. The last closing price of Nam Tai's stock before Kaisa announced it was going to acquire a stake in the Company was $8.20. On the day of the announcement of the investment on July 12, 2017, the share price closed at $10.00. Of course, when IsZo issued its letter in May 2020, the market was suffering from the aftermath of one of the most significant market dislocations in recent history as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Importantly, when looking at the full time period starting with Kaisa's investment in July 12, 2017 until September 21, 2020, Nam Tai has outperformed not only the Russell 2000 but also the two other major US-listed Chinese property developers, China HGS and Xinyuan Real Estate.

Clearly demonstrating its lack of understanding of the Chinese real estate market and our development portfolio, IsZo makes unsubstantiated and misleading claims regarding Nam Tai's capital allocation and project development strategy, including:

"The most recent example of the Company's poor capital allocation strategy is the purchase of a $101 million residential development in Dongguan City using over 80% of the Company's cash. If the Company continues to recklessly deploy capital while ignoring opportunities to monetize existing assets, the Company's intrinsic value will be in jeopardy." [ii]

residential development in City using over 80% of the Company's cash. If the Company continues to recklessly deploy capital while ignoring opportunities to monetize existing assets, the Company's intrinsic value will be in jeopardy." "On March 23, 2020 , the Company revealed in a single, buried sentence in its over 100 page 20-F filing that it purchased a $101 million site for residential development in Dongguan City." [ii]

THE FACTS : NAM TAI IS FINANCIALLY AND STRATEGICALLY ALLOCATING CAPITAL TO HIGH-QUALITY LAND RESOURCES AND ITS ACTIONS ARE FULLY ALIGNED WITH ITS SHAREHOLDER INTERESTS

The Nam Tai Board has a strong track record of strategic foresight and sound decision-making regarding the Company's portfolio of assets. Nam Tai is a disciplined investor, focused on maintaining an efficient cost structure and executing a prudent capital allocation strategy. Nam Tai's Board and management team are committed to driving value and shaping the Company into a leading industrial ecosystem operator with a clear development strategy, including prudently managing financing and control costs and proactively investing in high-quality land resources. The Board has invested significant time and resources to position the Company to effectively take advantage of market opportunities and produce sustainable returns for shareholders, including pursuit of strategic development opportunities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The Company's investment in a land parcel in Machong Town, Dongguan is an example of this approach in practice.

Consider the facts:

Dongguan has been designated a leading advanced manufacturing hub in the region by the Chinese government while Machong is one of the fastest growing areas in Dongguan with the presence of a number of China's top 500 companies and strong local housing demand. In fact, residential prices in 2020 have hit record-highs in Shenzhen and nearby cities.

has been designated a leading advanced manufacturing hub in the region by the Chinese government while Machong is one of the fastest growing areas in with the presence of a number of top 500 companies and strong local housing demand. In fact, residential prices in 2020 have hit record-highs in and nearby cities. The Company carried out a comprehensive and rigorous assessment, conducted land surveys and surrounding market research in the local area before the land investment in Machong. We believe that this represented an attractive investment opportunity, and the favorable property market policies introduced by the local government at that time were conducive to our bidding.

As disclosed under the "Capital Resources" section of our 2019 20-F, as of December 31, 2019 , Nam Tai entered into various agreements with five banks and obtained a total credit line of $298.9 million , of which $ 98.0 million has been withdrawn. Furthermore, with pre-leasing of the first development project of Nam Tai Inno Park underway, the Company was and is generating cash flow. Contrary to IsZo's assertions, the Company's financial position remained strong even after the acquisition. Nam Tai's current ratio and debt ratio was 1.25X and 50.1%, respectively, as of December 31, 2019 . After the successful bidding and settlement of the land payment, as of the end of June 2020 , our current ratio and debt ratio were maintained at a healthy level of 1.23X and 57.5%, respectively. This reflects that this investment, as we planned, did not compromise the Company's financial conditions.

, entered into various agreements with five banks and obtained a total credit line of , of which has been withdrawn. Furthermore, with pre-leasing of the first development project of Nam Tai Inno Park underway, the Company was and is generating cash flow. Contrary to IsZo's assertions, the Company's financial position remained strong even after the acquisition. current ratio and debt ratio was 1.25X and 50.1%, respectively, as of . After the successful bidding and settlement of the land payment, as of the end of , our current ratio and debt ratio were maintained at a healthy level of 1.23X and 57.5%, respectively. This reflects that this investment, as we planned, did not compromise the Company's financial conditions. Contrary to IsZo's claims, in addition to the disclosure related to the Dongguan investment in its 2019 20-F, the Company issued and made available on its website a dedicated release regarding the investment on March 25, 2020 . Because the auction hosted by the local government for the Dongguan land parcel took place just a few days before the 2019 20-F was released, the Company felt it was prudent to initially disclose the investment in its 2019 20-F and follow up with a more fulsome release shortly thereafter. Of course, IsZo conveniently fails to mention the Company's follow-on disclosure.

This strategic investment is expected to produce attractive returns for the Company's shareholders, and also help Nam Tai expand to Dongguan, a key growth potential city in the Greater Bay Area, grow the Company's residential and commercial property portfolio, create powerful synergies with other existing projects in the nearby Shenzhen, form new relationship networks within the local communities and enhance brand awareness in Dongguan and Guangzhou.

This acquisition also leverages on the proven ability of Nam Tai to control project costs. For instance, the planned development cost of Nam Tai Inno Park has been significantly reduced by approximately $117 million from the original budget of $312 million, yielding substantial benefits for the Company.

IsZo has made numerous false and misleading allegations about the valuation of Nam Tai shares and its project portfolio, including:

"Two years ago, before any pre-sales or revenue, the Company's two commercial projects had three independent valuations ranging from $2 to $3 billion , implying a share price between $15 and $23 per share. Indeed, Kaisa itself purchased its shares in the Company for over $17.00 per share in July 2017 . Based on comparable raw land valuations alone, the stock should be trading higher than $20 per share." [ii]

to , implying a share price between and per share. Indeed, Kaisa itself purchased its shares in the Company for over per share in . Based on comparable raw land valuations alone, the stock should be trading higher than per share." " Nam Tai's most recent valuation reports imply that its project portfolio is worth up to $40 per share, which is approximately 4x the Company's current share price." [i]

THE FACTS : ISZO'S PURPORTED VALUATION ESTIMATES ARE WRONG AND LACK GROUNDING IN ANY CLEAR METHODOLOGY

Despite IsZo's attempts to characterize Nam Tai's portfolio valuation over the years, such range of share prices is not mentioned in the valuation reports and could also not be reasonably inferred from the reports. Further, IsZo's previous target share price based on the valuation reports was between $15 and $23, contradicting to $40 indicated in this statement. IsZo has provided no valuation methodology at all.

In April 2018, when the construction of Inno Park was starting and the redevelopment of Inno City (now renamed to Nam Tai Technology Center and Inno Valley) had not yet commenced, the valuation reports of JLL, Savills and DTZ assigned a total land value for the two commercial projects at, approximately, $505 million, $788 million and $685 million, respectively. However, these valuations relied on a host of varied and complex assumptions, some of which were later found to be inadequate. Rules governing the redevelopment of industrial land projects in Shenzhen have been evolving. Since 2017, and in contrast to the current residential market, the market for re-developed industrial land projects in Shenzhen has also been deteriorating with industrial office space in over-supply and dormitory sale and leasing subject to escalating restrictions. Furthermore, IsZo's previous target share price based on the valuation reports was between $15 and $23, contradicting to $40 indicated in the above statement from its September 18, 2020 shareholder letter. Again, no valuation methodology is provided.

IsZo falsely claims the Nam Tai Board Members lack independence and are unqualified, for example:

"The sixth director, Dr. Wing Yan Lo , is a career non-executive director who has served as a director of over 45 companies, whose share value, on average, declined more than 25% during his board tenure. While we do not know his exact affiliation with Kaisa, Dr. Lo's performance has indicated that he is mere rubber stamp for Kaisa's decision making." [i]

THE FACTS : THE NAM TAI BOARD AND NEW LEADERSHIP TEAM COMPRISES INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BROAD AND DIVERSE EXPERIENCE AND ARE COMMITTED TO EFFECTIVE, INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT TO LEAD NAM TAI ON ITS NEXT PHASE OF GROWTH

Nam Tai is at an important junction in its history with a number of development milestones and potential value drivers anticipated in the near- and mid-term. To capitalize on the opportunities ahead, the Company has appointed new leadership, including a new Executive Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Together, these appointments strengthen our leadership team and position the Company well for its next phase of growth.

Collectively, the Company's Board and management team are engaged in overseeing the Company's strategic direction and operational execution for the interests of all shareholders. Nam Tai's Board has the right expertise and is best-positioned to hold management accountable and guide the Company to success.

The Board is composed of seven members, six of whom are independent, with members from North America and China who collectively bring significant expertise in areas that are critical to the Company's business, including deep knowledge of the Chinese real estate market, international perspective, local government and regulatory affairs and capital allocation and finance.

Given the importance of its portfolio, Nam Tai's Board appreciates the need for real estate expertise representation on the Board. In its letters, IsZo even goes as far as to paint Dr. Wing Yan Lo as an unqualified director lacking independence. Nam Tai's Nominating and Governance Committee evaluated Dr. Lo's qualifications, which is especially important because the Board is entrusted by shareholders with providing oversight, guidance and credibility to our Company, employees and tenants. Contrary to IsZo's false claim, Dr. Lo a respected business figure and philanthropist in Hong Kong, who has held various senior executive positions and directorships in renowned companies. Indeed, Dr. Lo is one of the longest serving directors of Nam Tai, who has been on the Board since 2003.

The Board and the management team, through their extensive experience in the Chinese market and real estate industry, are implementing differentiated strategies to accelerate business growth and create value for shareholders. This has included unleashing the value of existing projects, providing tenants with innovative, high quality industrial space, prudently managing financing and control costs and exploring development opportunities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The sum of these efforts and our progress to-date reinforce the value creation opportunity for Nam Tai and our shareholders. The Board is and has been central to the successful implementation of Nam Tai's strategy, and is committed to enhancing value for all shareholders. The removal of any of the Board's directors would risk derailing the Company at a key inflection point.

IsZo is mischaracterizing Nam Tai's recent management changes.

"Shareholders should be outraged that Nam Tai has exacerbated its dismal corporate governance and laid the groundwork for more conflicts of interest by appointing three Kaisa-affiliated individuals  Dr. Lai Ling Tam , Jiabiao Wang and Wai Hang Wan  to the roles of Executive Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer."[iii]

THE FACTS : SUCCESSION PLANNING HAS ALWAYS BEEN A TOP PRIORITY FOR OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND IT HAS BEEN A PART OF AN ONGOING DIALOGUE.

Contrary to IsZo's claims, Dr. Tam, Mr. Wang and Mr. Wan were appointed because of their experience, industry knowledge and proven track records of success. The Company is excited to have Dr. Tam, Mr. Wang and Mr. Wan are three experienced leaders who are each ideally suited for their new roles, ready to step in and lead the Company at this important time in our history.

IsZo misleadingly claims that its own candidates have the requisite experience to deliver value to shareholders, for example:

"IsZo's slate of director candidates has the right strategy for unlocking the significant upside value trapped within Nam Tai's shares." [i]

THE FACTS : ISZO AND ITS CANDIDATES HAVE PRESENTED NO CREDIBLE PATH FOR HOW THEY WILL CREATE VALUE AND LACK THE EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS TO LEAD NAM TAI OR ANY REAL ESTATE COMPANY.

It is clear that IsZo lacks a clear understanding of the Company's strategic plan and project value, and that its nominees lack the in-depth knowledge and extensive experience required to successfully operate large-scale industrial real estate and urban renewal projects in China. Evidence of this comes from release of IsZo's "plan" on September 18, 2020, which essentially amounts to an admission that states that it will need to hire and install an entirely new management team based in China, ostensibly to bolster the lack of local market knowledge and China real estate development expertise of its director candidates. Further, IsZo has already publicly wedded its supposedly independent nominees to implementing its recently disclosed "plan", which lacks specific detail, is untested and highly speculative. Despite this fact, IsZo is asking shareholders to hand over control of the Board to a minority shareholder and its hand-picked nominees with no payment of a control premium and no proven ability to execute complex real estate development projects in China.

* * *

Nam Tai believes that IsZo is attempting to derail its significant progress and gain control of the Board at the expense of all Nam Tai shareholders. The Nam Tai Board and management team urges its shareholders to not be distracted by the steady drumbeat of false and misleading allegations made by IsZo. The Company is at a crucial moment of its development that calls for an experienced Board with a clear strategy, the right expertise and local market knowledge to lead.

[i] IsZo Capital letter to shareholders dated September 18, 2020 [ii] IsZo Capital letter to shareholders dated May 27, 2020 [iii] IsZo Capital press release dated September 22, 2020

Forward-looking Statement and Factors that Could Cause our Share Price to Decline

Certain statements included in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may", "might", "can", "could", "will", "would", "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "forecast", "intend", "plan", "seek", or "timetable". These forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, may include projections of our future financial performance based on our growth strategies and anticipated trends in our business and the industry in which we operate. These statements are only predictions based on our current expectations about future events. There are several factors, many beyond our control, which could cause results to differ materially from our expectation. These risk factors are described in our Annual Report on Form 20-F and in our Current Reports filed on Form 6-K from time to time and are incorporated herein by reference. Any of these factors could, by itself, or together with one or more other factors, adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition. There may also be other factors currently unknown to us, or have not been described by us, that could cause our results to differ from our expectations. Although we believe the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. These forward-looking statements apply only as of the date of this announcement; as such, they should not be unduly relied upon as circumstances change. Except as required by law, we are not obligated, and we undertake no obligation, to release publicly any revisions to these forward-looking statements that might reflect events or circumstance occurring after the date of this press release or those that might reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

ABOUT NAM TAI PROPERTY INC.

We are a real estate developer and operator, mainly conducting business in Mainland China. Our main land resources are located in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area ("Greater Bay Area") and Wuxi, China, of which the three plots in Shenzhen will be developed into Nam Tai Inno Park, Nam Tai Technology Center and Nam Tai Inno Valley. We plan to build these technology parks into landmark parks in the region and provide high-quality industrial offices, industrial service spaces and supporting dormitories to the tenants. Based on the experience of developing and operating technology parks and an industrial relationship network accumulated over the past 40 years, we have also exported the operation model of technology parks to other industrial properties. Through an asset-light model, we have leased industrial properties for repositioning and business invitation. We will also expand the commercial and residential property business in China as an auxiliary development strategy of the Company. As the growth prospects of China maintain, we shall seize development opportunities in the Greater Bay Area and other first- and second-tier cities in China, and continue to strengthen and expand the business of industrial real estate, and commercial and residential properties. Nam Tai Property Inc. is a corporation registered in the British Virgin Islands and listed on the New York Stock Exchange (Symbol: "NTP"). Please refer to our corporate website (www.namtai.com) or the SEC website (www.sec.gov) for our press releases and financial statements.

Contacts

Ed Trissel / Amy Feng / Mahmoud Siddig

Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher

212-355-4449

[email protected]

Investor Relations Department

Nam Tai Property Inc.

E-mail: [email protected]

SOURCE Nam Tai Property Inc.

Related Links

http://www.namtai.com


The Challenges of Running a Successful VoC Program

Improving the customer experience and interactions is one of the most challenging aspects of call center management. The Voice of the Customer (VoC) is becoming increasingly important, and call centers are shaping their customer experience programs and benchmarks around this methodology.

Very simply, VoC encompasses customers' feedback about their experiences with and expectations for a company's products and services. It centers on customer needs, understandings and expectations, as well as product improvement.

For call center managers, setting up and maintaining a successful VoC program can be a challenging endeavor, yet vitally important to maintaining successful customer interactions. One of the biggest barriers to success is missing context about the customer experience.

Customer context is essential to understanding the customer experience. Metrics like customer location, the device or method they are using to communicate and what they are trying to accomplish during their interactions are crucial for a VoC program. And yet many customers don't provide that information, leaving agents to guess how to route and process particular VoC interactions.

Setting up a VoC program with built-in customer context metrics is essential. Call center managers will also benefit from acting quickly when it comes to processing customer feedback and commentary.

Survey bias can be another major barrier to a successful VoC program. Surveys should ideally be anonymous and impersonal to achieve the best results, while also including enough detail and clarification to ensure an accurate response.

Leaving no room for guessing is essential, especially when benchmarking, Michael Sena, founder of consultancy Senacea, told CMSWire. Instead of asking the client how much would they pay for a coffee, it's better to ask how much would they pay for a double organic espresso consumed inside a non-chain cafe in downtown Chicago.

Finally, a lack of commitment throughout the call center organization can be a barrier to a successful VoC program. While the customer experience often begins and ends with front-line agents and managers, dedication to VoC initiatives must be a company-wide endeavor, from agents all the way through to the CEO.

When the entire organization is on the same page about VoC, it will become an important part of company culture. And that means VoC initiatives will become a priority, and programs will have the biggest chance of achieving success.

Edited by Maurice Nagle
THERE are some things I never want to live without again. Top of the list comes a cuddle with my mum, Joyce. She's in her 70s and has an autoimmune condition, which makes her particularly vulnerable.

Next comes the school run. I have literally been skipping to the car every morning since the schools reopened, even more excited than my three young passengers.

Then comes a good blowdry. Call me superficial, but one of the key lessons I've learnt from this pandemic is the curative power of soft, swishy hair.

I've always loved a good blowdry. One of the nicest things my mum ever did for me was to babysit all three of my children when the youngest was a baby, so I could escape to a salon for an hour or two. If my hair doesn't look right, I feel angsty.

Of course, even the very best blowdry doesn't last long. And with the threat of a second lockdown hanging over us, I'm dreading a return to my untamed tresses.

BEFORE: Beverley Turner before the smoothing treatment at Richard Ward salon in Sloane Square, London

So I was very eager to try out a new de-frizzing treatment that apparently takes just 90 minutes to apply  but lasts for up to eight weeks.

Memory Forme Original Formula Express has all the benefits of a Brazilian blowdry, but with a far more natural, and instant, result.

Where the much-hyped Brazilian leaves your hair super-glossy but poker straight, and requires you to wait three days without washing it, so that the chemicals used in the treatment have time to take effect, this  I'm told  lets you walk out of the salon perfectly primped. I can't resist, so book into hairdresser Richard Ward's London salon to try it.

Just like a Brazilian blowdry, Memory Forme rebuilds and restores the hair by sealing in keratin  the protein that keeps hair glossy and easy to style.

AFTER: Here Beverly showcases her incredibly soft, swishy hair, following the 185 treatment

Technician Ryan Hauxwell explains: 'Keratin is a natural protein in hair, which helps make it soft and manageable, but gets reduced over time through ageing and chemical products.'

So exactly how does keratin smooth your style? Think of your hair like Swiss cheese. Individual hairs contain air pockets which fill up with water molecules as you wash or expose it to the elements. The more there are, the weaker and frizzier your hair becomes.

But, by applying keratin and then heat to the hair, you can seal the air pockets  leaving your strands smooth and straight. Not too straight, though.

'Traditional 'Brazilian' keratin treatments can be very strong,' explains Ryan. 'They are left on the hair for 45 minutes and then you wait an additional three days to ensure the product 'hardens'.

Beverley Turner having haircut to improve the quality of her hair before the smoothing treatment

'The result often leaves hair looking flat and poker-straight  a sort of one-size-fits-all style that might not be remotely appropriate to your hair type.

'But Memory Forme, while also containing keratin, is a completely different formula.

'So, instead, you get a more natural 'just blowdried' look. Even better, because the treatment makes the hair so manageable, it's not only much easier to style your own hair, but it takes half the time,' Ryan says.

'Simply rough-dry your hair, then blowdry it as usual  your hair should be so malleable it will bounce back into shape every time you wash it.'

Wow!

Here Beverly's hair is sectioned off during the smoothing treatment at Richard Ward Salon

I know I'm not the only woman in Britain to have spent the last six months developing a look that bears more than a passing resemblance to an old sheepdog.

Left to go its own wild way, my thick hair  once my pride and joy  has become untameable. And home-dyeing it hasn't helped. When I first noticed greys coming through early in lockdown, I corralled my boyfriend, James, to help. Brave man that he is, he had agreed to spend lockdown with me and my kids: Croyde, 16, Kiki, 11, and Trixie, nine.

An eco-property developer, James  who, at 32, is 14 years younger than me  is a dab hand at all things technical. Dyeing your beloved's greying locks isn't usually on the job spec, but that wasn't going to put him off.

AFTER: The wavy and well conditioned look of Beverly's hair following the treatment

I normally pay around 70 every six weeks for a cut and colour at a salon, so I was nervous about using a home-dye. Still, I gave James a pair of rubber gloves and a couple of mixing bowls, and crossed my fingers. The result was such an unexpected success that I don't think I will ever go back to getting my hair professionally dyed.

But, while there's not a grey in sight, my hair has suffered. So I'm intrigued at the prospect of a chemical helping hand that could save me countless hours huffing and puffing with a hair dryer in front of the mirror.

My Memory Forme treatment at Richard Ward starts with a lovely stress-busting spell in a massage chair while my hair is washed with three different kinds of clarifying shampoo to prepare it for the ker- atin treatment.

While my hair is still wet, Ryan appears with what looks like the silicone pastry brush Mary Berry uses to glaze her apple puffs, and then starts coating my hair, section by section.

The product smells faintly of wet dog and shortbread biscuits. But its chemical powers are evident in my slightly stinging eyes.

The keratin needs heat to ensure it stays fused into the hair. With the product still on my hair and using special straightening irons heated to up to 180 degrees, Ryan meticulously 'irons' my hair in segments, from root to end. Don't worry, I can assure you that it's completely painless.

My hair is long and thick, and I have a natural wave. But, even so, we're done in the promised 90 minutes  barely longer than a traditional blowdry. My tresses are gloriously glossy and perfectly styled.

Ryan says that clients have been stampeding into the salon for the treatment since its launch.

Getting hair this good need not take all day says Beverly, who impressed her children with her 'fancy' new look

I can certainly understand why. This is the kind of hair-do that takes you straight back to that glossy pre-lockdown you, but also takes on board the lessons of the last few months. These days, we want to look good without too much effort. Going cold turkey has made us realise just how much time, money and energy we were spending on treatments we didn't really need.

And this could also be the answer to the looming threat of ever tougher measures from the Government this autumn.

When I arrive home, the kids narrow their eyes suspiciously. 'Why do you look so fancy?' they ask, which tells you something about how I've looked recently.

I only realise at bedtime the following night that I haven't brushed my hair all day. Unheard of, but it's stayed so smooth and untangled it didn't occur to me.

Now, a week later, the most thrilling aspect is that the keratin treatment really has left my hair much quicker and easier to blowdry. It's just like my normal hair . . . but, somehow, deliciously better. My hair looks so shiny and healthy, it makes me look and feel younger and sexier.

The price tag is a rather eye-watering 185. A regular blowdry might set me back 40, so it will need to last me as long as four or five of those.

But if it truly does keep my thick, wavy hair looking great for up to eight weeks, I reckon that's money very well spent.


CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The NZ dollar slipped against its major counterparts in the Asian session on Wednesday, as worries about the global economic recovery, the rising number of coronavirus cases in Europe and the U.S. as well as U.S.-China tensions dampened risk sentiment.



Tensions between the U.S. and China came to the fore of the annual UN General Assembly in New York, with U.S. President Donald Trump blaming Beijing for unleashing a 'plague' on the world, while Chinese President Xi Jinping said his country has no intention to fight either a 'cold war' or a 'hot war' with any country.



Earlier in the day, the kiwi briefly rose after the Reserve Bank of New Zealand kept its key rate and asset purchase programme unchanged and signaled additional stimulus including a negative rate as virus-led restrictions continued to dampen economic activity.



The Monetary Policy Committee of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand decided to hold its key Official Cash Rate at 0.25 percent and to continue with the Large Scale Asset Purchase Programme up to NZ$100 billion.



Policymakers assessed that further monetary stimulus would be needed going forward. They affirmed that the Funding for Lending Programme, or FLP, a negative OCR, and purchases of foreign assets remain under consideration.



The kiwi dropped to an 8-day low of 1.7710 against the euro, after rising to 1.7588 at 10:00 pm ET. If the kiwi slides further, 1.80 is likely seen as its next support level.



The kiwi touched a 4-week low of 0.6592 against the greenback, from a high of 0.6648 seen at 10:00 pm ET. The kiwi is seen locating support near the 0.64 region.



Retreating from near a 2-month high of 1.0750 hit at 10:00 pm ET, the kiwi was trading lower at 1.0798 versus the aussie. On the downside, 65.00 is possibly seen as its next support level.



The kiwi was down against the yen, at a fresh 4-week low of 69.29. This followed a 2-day high of 69.90 logged at 10:00 pm ET. The next likely support for the kiwi is seen around the 1.10 level.



Looking ahead, PMIs from major European economies are due in the European session.



U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency's house price index for July is set for release in the New York session.



At 10:00 am ET, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell will testify on the economic impacts of COVID-19 before the House Select Committee in Washington DC.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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Mr Humpherson said it is mostly an issue of "awareness" that figures need to be published once quoted

Health officials in Northern Ireland have been criticised for using Twitter to announce Covid-19 case numbers.

The UK statistics regulator has had to "step in" multiple times during the pandemic to alert UK Government departments to "transgressions" when ministers have quoted data that is not then quickly made available to the public.

The head of the Office for Statistics Regulation described such incidents as "disappointing" and said the principle of ensuring such data is published must be "more strongly embedded".

Read More

Ed Humpherson, director general for regulation, said there has been a series of occasions when he has had to intervene by contacting a department to tell them underlying data which is quoted by senior figures should be made available.

He told the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee: "We still find occasions where rightly, a minister from any one of the four administrations, a minister will answer a question using information that they have available to them and that's quite appropriate and right. Sometimes that information isn't available publicly. And again that's fine, if they know the answer to the question they should give the answer.

"But we see that that is not then followed up by their departments making the data available publicly, and you'll know chair that we've stepped in on seven occasions because I always copy you in to the interventions."

Mr Humpherson said it is mostly an issue of "awareness" that figures need to be published once quoted.

Giving an example, he said he had to contact the Department of Health and Social Care in England when a figure for the distance people were travelling to get a Covid-19 test was quoted "quite widely in the public domain, but the underlying data weren't available".

Read More

In Northern Ireland he contacted health officials when the daily dashboard publication was suspended earlier this year.

He said: "I wrote to the head of the Department of Health in Northern Ireland and said, you know, it's not sufficient just to announce your numbers by Twitter, you need to put them out in a structured, orderly way."

He also had to contact NHS Scotland and the Scottish Government when data on antibody testing had been quoted but was not available in the public domain.
The Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in New York is seen as spectators line the Hudson River in 2010 for the annual July 4 fireworks display. Neilson Barnard/Getty Images

Baimadajie Angwang, a 33-year-old NYPD officer and US Army reservist, was arrested on Monday and accused of spying for China, multiple reports say.

Federal prosecutors said in their complaint that Angwang spied on Tibetans living in New York and offered Chinese officials access to NYPD officials and information about the department.

He started working with a handler in the Chinese consulate in New York in 2018, but had been in contact with consulate officials as early as 2014, the complaint said.

Angwang became a naturalized US citizen after seeking asylum under the claim that he had been arrested and tortured in China "due partly to his Tibetan ethnicity," the complaint said.

In reality, both of his parents are Chinese Communist Party members and his brother is a reservist in the People's Liberation Army, the complaint said.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Baimadajie Angwang, a 33-year-old NYPD officer and US Army reservist, was arrested on Monday and accused of spying for China, multiple reports say.

Federal prosecutors said in their complaint that Angwang spied on Tibetans living in New York and offered Chinese officials access to NYPD officials and information about the department.

He started working with a handler in the Chinese consulate in New York in 2018, but had been in contact with consulate officials as early as 2014, the complaint said.

Angwang became a naturalized US citizen after seeking asylum under the claim that he had been arrested and tortured in China "due partly to his Tibetan ethnicity," the complaint said.

In reality, both of his parents are Chinese Communist Party members and his brother is a reservist in the People's Liberation Army, the complaint said.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

A New York Police Department officer and US Army reservist with a "secret" security clearance has been arrested and accused of spying for China, according to multiple reports.

Story continues

The man in this photo has been identified by CBS New York as Officer Baimadajie Angwang. Facebook

Baimadajie Angwang, a 33-year-old married father of one, was arrested at his home on Long Island on Monday, the New York Daily News reported.

He later appeared in Brooklyn Federal Court where he was charged with acting as an agent of a foreign government, wire fraud, and making false statements a" charges that could see him face up to 55 years in prison, the outlet said.

Federal prosecutors have accused Angwang of working with a handler in the Chinese consulate and passing on intelligence about Tibetans living in New York, according to a criminal complaint obtained by CBS New York.

The complaint also said that Angwang provided "information from NYPD systems" to Chinese officials and and gave them "access to senior NYPD officials through invitations to official NYPD events."

Angwang works as a community officer in the 111th precinct in Queens.

China has occupied Tibet, a region in the Himalayan mountains, since the 1950s. However, many Tibetans view the Buddhist Dalai Lama, who fled Tibet in 1959, as their leader and want independence from China.

According to the complaint, Angwang is said to have come to the country initially on a cultural exchange visa, overstayed a second visa, and then sought asylum in the US "on the basis that he had allegedly been arrested and tortured" in China "due partly to [his] Tibetan ethnicity."

But US officials threw that claim into question in the complaint, pointing out that both of his parents are Chinese Communist Party members, his mother used to work for the Chinese government, and his brother is a reservist in the People's Liberation Army.

All three still live in China, and Angwang has "traveled back to the PRC [People's Republic of China] on numerous occasions since his asylum application was granted," the New York Post reported, citing court filings.

The complaint added that Angwang started corresponding with Chinese consular officials as far back as 2014, became an NYPD officer in 2016, and started working with a handler at the consulate in 2018.

According to the complaint, Angwang told his handler in a recorded conversation in 2019: "Must bring glory to the Chinese."

The handler, whom Angwang called "Boss," is believed to work for the China Association for Preservation and Development of Tibetan Culture division of the Chinese government's United Front Work Department, the complaint said.

The United Front Work Department is an agency that collects intelligence from around the world for the Chinese government.

According to the complaint, it is also responsible for "neutralizing sources of potential opposition to the policies and authority of the PRC" and for maintaining "control over potentially problematic groups, such as religious and ethnic minorities."

Tibetans at a rally in Dag Hammarskjold Plaza in New York City on March 10, 2020. Gabriele Holtermann-Gorden/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images

It appears that Angwang was paid handsomely for this work.

According to CBS New York, which cited the complaint, Angwang has received nearly $120,000 by wire transfer from the Chinese government since 2016.

Meanwhile, during fiscal year 2019, the city of New York paid Angwang a salary of about $53,500, according to online records viewed by the Post.

Business Insider was unable to contact the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in New York outside its working hours on Tuesday.

In a Tuesday statement to Reuters, the consulate did not comment directly on Angwang's case but said its staff had been "fulfilling duties in accordance with international law and the law of the United States," and called their work "above board and beyond reproach."

'Violated every oath he took in this country'

Following Angwang's arrest, NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said in a statement cited by CBS New York: "As alleged in this federal complaint, Baimadajie 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."

Shea added that the NYPD's intelligence and internal affairs bureaus have been working with the FBI.

In a separate statement, FBI Assistant Director of New York William Sweeney Jr. also called Angwang "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 government's subversive and illegal attempts to recruit intelligence sources," Sweeney said.

"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. We want to thank the NYPD for its extraordinary partnership on this investigation."

Read the original article on Business Insider
HOUSTON, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- A-MAX Auto Insurance is proud to announce its expansion with two new locations opening in the Houston, Texas area. This adds to the company's offices across Texas, now with a total of 193 offices statewide. One new location is located at 9461 Hammerly Boulevard in Houston, Texas, and the other is located south of the Houston city limits at 525 West Main Street in Tomball, Texas.

New A-MAX Auto Insurance office located at 525 W Main St in Tomball, TX New A-MAX Auto Insurance office located at 9461 Hammerly Blvd in Houston, TX

Even during these uncertain times, A-MAX is able to open more locations. "Times are hard right now, and that is why it's even more important for us to be where our customers are," said Rick Genest, Senior Vice-President of Sales and Operations at A-MAX. "We provide insurance at affordable rates and want to save our customers money, plus give them many options for how they choose to do business with A-MAX, especially during these difficult times."

The A-MAX Houston team is excited these two new offices have opened and are ready to serve the local community. "We are so happy to now have over 40 offices in the Houston area," said Mayra Deleon, Regional Operations Manager at A-MAX. "Our team will continue to set an example for providing exceptional customer service."

A-MAX Auto Insurance is headquartered in Dallas, but has locations throughout Texas, including Dallas, Fort Worth and the metroplex, Houston and surrounding area, San Antonio, Austin, El Paso, Waco, Rio Grande Valley, and more. A-MAX acts as an independent insurance agency, which gives customers the ability to shop for the best prices and coverage options from multiple insurance carriers for auto, renters, homeowners, and more. For more information or a FREE quote, call 800-921-AMAX or visit amaxinsurance.com/findoffice to find a location near you.

Media Contact:

Troy Hall / Vice-President of Marketing

972-884-4100 / [email protected]

SOURCE A-MAX Auto Insurance

Related Links

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Moncef Slaoui, the former head of GlaxoSmithKlines vaccines division, listens as U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks about coronavirus vaccine development in the Rose Garden of the White House on May 15, 2020 in Washington, DC. Dubbed "Operation Warp Speed," the Trump administration is announcing plans for an all-out effort to produce and distribute a coronavirus vaccine by the end of 2020.

President Donald Trump's coronavirus vaccine czar told CNBC on Wednesday that he's had enough of accusations that his former work in the pharmaceutical industry creates a conflict of interest.

Dr. Moncef Slaoui, who was appointed May 15 to run the Trump administration's Covid-19 vaccine program, Operation Warp Speed, is a former executive at GlaxoSmithKline as well as a former board member of Lonza Group and Moderna.

All three companies are involved in the development of Covid-19 vaccines, and House Democrats have previously said he had equity in all three until recently. Democrats have said his Moderna stake was worth nearly $12.4 million before he sold it and he held roughly $10 million in GSK shares as of May, according to an Aug. 12 letter seeking more information on his investments.

Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren called for Slaoui's resignation Wednesday, accusing the White House of using a "loophole" in federal ethics law to hire him and keep his stock holdings private. The former GSK executive still holds shares in the company, even though it's developing a potential Covid-19 vaccine with Sanofi. She also cited a House committee report that said Slaoui may own stock in Lonza Group, a company partnering with Moderna on its coronavirus vaccine and where Slaoui was a board member.

Slaoui admitted in a phone interview with CNBC that he still holds shares in GSK, where he worked for nearly 30 years, and said he plans to use them as part of his retirement. But he said he's "never owned shares in Lonza."

He also said that he has divested all shares in companies that have interests in Covid-19 except for GSK. He said the decision to keep his GSK shares was discussed with ethics lawyers at the Department of Health and Human Services.

"I let go of significant value on a personal basis. I'm committed to public health and getting rid of this pandemic," he said. "It just blows my mind that on a repeated basis that I'm attacked on a personal basis for doing good. I think it's enough."

Warren said lawmakers need to strengthen federal ethics laws "to root out this kind of corruption."

"It should pass the Coronavirus Oversight Recovery Ethics Act, which is a bill that I introduced in order to prohibit conflicts of interest in the federal Covid-19 response. And the first person to be fired should be Dr. Slaoui," the Massachusetts senator said at a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing.

Slaoui said some politicians are quick to make claims.
Police in Mkaomoto area, Malindi sub-county are looking for a woman who reportedly dumped her newborn baby in a snake-infested septic tank.

The infant survived the ordeal after a passerby heard his cries, alerting residents who rescued the baby by going down the 15 feet septic tank using a ladder. Two snakes had surrounded the baby when he was rescued but they did not harm him, the Star reports.

A video shared by locals captured the rescue mission showing the rescuer wrapping the naked infant in a leso and handing him over to a group of women who were waiting outside the tank.

According to the publication, the snakes were killed after the child was rescued.

The baby was still crying when he was rescued and witnesses believed his mother dumped him soon after giving birth.

The newborn was taken to Malindi sub-county hospital where doctors gave him a clean bill of health.

Held Esliy, a Gender-Based violence activist from Malindi condemned the act and called on police to bring the perpetrator to book.

Police are looking for the mother of the child. As a mother I condemn the act, a child is an angel how does one do such an inhuman act to an innocent soul? she posed.
Photo credit: Ralph Freso - Getty Images

From Town & Country

On Wednesday, Cindy McCain, the widow of the late Sen. John McCain, broke with her party and endorsed Democrat Joe Biden for president over the Republican incumbent Donald J. Trump.

"My husband John lived by a code: country first," McCain said. "We are Republicans, yes, but Americans foremost. There's only one candidate in this race who stands up for our values as a nation."

Announced hours before her daughter Meghan McCain, a regular on ABC's The View, was set to interview on the program another Democrat in a closely-watched race, Mark Lee of Arizona, the elder McCain's decision followed her cameo at the Democratic National Convention narrating a video about her husband and Biden's friendship.

More to the point, the endorsement is in keeping with the longstanding and famously maverick values of the McCain family.

Photo credit: Photograph by Jonathan Becker

Mothers-in-Arms

When McCain was first elected to Congress, in 1982, Roberta Wright McCain, wife of a Navy hero, four-star Adm. John McCain Sr., and Cindy Hensley McCain, became mothers-in arms: Cindy stayed home in Phoenix determined to give her family a normal life. And Roberta, whod lived amid the abnormal denizens of Washington much of her life, took charge during the week throughout her sons nearly 40 years serving in the Capitol.

As a military wife all her adult life, Robertas job was to move at a moments notice and entertain, which she did with the grace of Jackie Kennedy and the wit of Dorothy Parker. She had raised John in Washington, which meant seeing her son through his raucous years at Episcopal High School, before handing him off to the Naval Academy, and then waiting as he refused early release from his five years in captivity, offered only because of her husbands rank. That patrician, white-haired woman, tall and thin, at age 106, sitting beside a flag draped coffin in the Capitol rotunda in 2018? That was a mother burying her son.

Photo credit: Tom Williams - Getty Images

As his family in Washington, Robertas main task was to ground her son, keep him from getting homesick, and make sure he got on the plane every Thursday night, often to head to the ranch at Sedona with the family where he grilled slabs of meat so massive the half dozen guests he always brought home couldnt consume it all.

Story continues

His only other foray into feeding people was on the McCain campaign bus which Roberta and Cindy boarded at their own risk, crowded with as many reporters who could fit, feasting on donuts with sprinkles at an oblong table full of notebooks waiting to be filled with stories that never ended. Its true that the press was the two-time presidential candidate's base.

Political Surrogates

Back in Moms jurisdiction, John lived in a small condo with thin walls, a stove he never turned on and a big boat of a car he zoomed around Washington in with Robertas other son-in-the-Senate, Lindsey Graham. Roberta advanced their receptions, pre-charming those they should meet, drink in hand.

In Phoenix, Cindy was busy working at her fathers company. She would come to chair as a major stockholder, managing a growing family, and running a charity she founded, American Voluntary Medical Team, that donated medicine to third world countries (the organization closed its doors in 1995 following Cindy's admission of a problem with prescription drugs, and she went on to found the Hensley Family Foundation). Cindy jetted off to such exotic countries delivering penicillin that her eldest daughter Meghan thought Mom worked with Indiana Jones.

Photo credit: Jonathan Becker

On one of those excursions, Cindy met a child who needed surgery for a cleft palate and who melted her heart. She and John adopted her, never imagining Bridget would be smeared during the ugly South Carolina primary of McCains presidential campaign that year. It goes to show our politics didnt become vicious yesterday.

It was a military manWorld War II bombardier, Jim Hensley, who came home and borrowed $10,000 to start what would become the largest beer distributorship in Arizonawho introduced his daughter, barely out of college in California, to Captain John McCain, barely out of a Tiger Cage in Hanoi, on a family vacation in Hawaii. The two went off on a dateCindy pretending to be four years older, John four years youngerand Dad, whod survived being shot down himself, crying Thats my daughter you have there.

The resttwo runs for president, six terms in the Senate, four children, hundreds of others saved by the medical miracles made possible by Cindy's foundation, and a mother at 108 still watching over allis history.

Photo credit: FilmMagic - Getty Images

The Endorsement

McCain stayed true to his reputation as a maverick until the end. During the 2016 presidential race, he criticized candidate Trump, who fired back in personal terms: "He is a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren't captured." McCain's sons, of course, John IV and James, followed him into the military. In 2017, less than a month after brain surgery for a glioblastoma, McCain again broke with his party and cast a crucial vote in the Senate that killed a Republican effort to strip the Affordable Care Act.

"I'm proud of the vote I cast tonight," he said then. "It's consistent with what we told the American people we'd try to accomplish in four straight election if they gave us a chance." Trump never forgot the betrayal, and continued to criticize the late senator after his death in 2018. The family took notice.

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.  Cindy McCain (@cindymccain) September 22, 2020

In endorsing Biden, Cindy is casting a vote that puts country over party, and she is also following her husband's proud tradition of contrarianism. She pointedly singled out the vice president's honesty and dignity in her statement, a not so subtle dig at the man in the Oval Office.

The statement had its intended effect, too, triggering yet another temper tantrum from the president: "Never a fan of John. Cindy can have Sleepy Joe!"

If her words accomplished anything today, at least they managed to irk her late husband's last great adversary, a maneuver that no doubt would have delighted McCain.

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KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - The Taliban launched a wave of attacks on security checkpoints in southern Afghanistan overnight, killing a total of 28 Afghan policemen, officials said Wednesday.

The violence comes even as Taliban leaders and Afghan government-appointed negotiators are holding historic peace talks in Qatar, a Mideast country where the Taliban set up a political office after they were toppled from power in the 2001 U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan. The negotiations, which started earlier this month, are meant to end the fighting and establish a roadmap for a post-war society.

According to the provincial governors spokesman Zelgay Ebadi, the attacks started late Tuesday in southern Uruzgan province.

A Taliban spokesman, Qari Mohammad Yousuf Ahmadi, claimed responsibility for the attacks and said the insurgents carried them out after the police in the area refused to surrender to the insurgents.

Ebadi, meanwhile, said the policemen were killed after they had surrendered. The discrepancy in their accounts could not immediately be resolved. The remoteness of the area makes it impossible to independently verify either version of events.

Reinforcements were not able to get to the outposts to save the besieged officers but Ebadi said Afghan security forces were later back in charge of the checkpoints. The Taliban seized weapons found at the scene before fleeing the checkpoints.

Taliban delegation attend the opening session of the peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban in Doha, Qatar, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020. (AP Photo/Hussein Sayed)

In the negotiations in Qatar, the two sides have so far have spent more than a week deciding agendas and the manner in which the two sides will be conducting the negotiations.

Both the government in Kabul and the United States have called for a reduction of violence while talks are being held in Qatar, but the Taliban have said they would not commit to a reduction of violence until the terms of a cease-fire are negotiated and resolved Deep mistrust exists on both sides of the table.
The Eurozone is still battling the damaging effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo: Getty

Business activity stagnated across eurozone manufacturers in September, according to market research firm IHS Markit.

After seeing a rebound in July and a little bump in August, the eurozones economic recovery stalled in September, as rising COVID-19 infections led to a renewed downturn of service sector activity across the region, said Chris Williamson, chief business economist at IHS Markit.

Its flash Eurozone Composite PMI dropped to 50.1 in September, from 51.9 in August, as rising infection rates and ongoing social distancing measures curbed demand, notably for consumer-facing services, IHS Markit wrote.

Faster growth of manufacturing, led by Germany, was offset by a renewed downturn in the service sector, which was often linked to resurgent COVID-19 infection rates, IHS Markit reported.

Watch: What is a V-shaped economic recovery?

The Eurozone recovery has stalled before it even reached third gear, Jarek Sklodowski, senior trader at financial Markets Online said in a note. Two months of surging growth and optimism have come screeching to a halt, with the summers impressively v-shaped recovery giving way to a flatlining sense of uncertainty in September.

READ MORE: More masks, less alcohol: German state that led first lockdown to re-impose rules as cases surge

In France, the flash composite PMI fell to 48.5, down from 51.6 in August  a four month low overall  amid renewed disruption from the coronavirus pandemic.

The country is experiencing a surge in new coronavirus cases. On Tuesday (22 September), it reported just over 10,000 new daily infections, and has had 468,069 to date.

The fresh downturn was predominantly driven by a solid reduction in activity at services firms, while manufacturers recorded a slightly faster output expansion than in August, IHS Markit said.

In Germany, Europes largest economy, the IHS Markits flash composite PMI showed a further increase in business activity in September, powered by a sharp rise in production. But it noted that the pace of growth was slowing for the second month in a row.

Story continues

Watch: What is a recession?

The Germany composite index registered 53.7 in September. While indicative of a solid rate of growth, the latest reading was down from Augusts 54.4 and further below the near two-year high seen in July, pointing to a continued loss of momentum in the recovery from the COVID-19 shutdown, IHS Markit said.

READ MORE: Coronavirus: German economy recovering more favourably than expected

Consumer morale in Germany stagnated heading into October, according to the latest data from German market research institute GfK on Wednesday.

It seems as if the massive stimulus packages for consumers and companies are the right measures to help Germany get out of the worst recession in post-war history, GfK consumer expert Rolf Buerkl said, noting that consumer confidence had stabilised despite the recent rise in COVID-19 infections and the prospect of fresh lockdown restrictions.

Bavaria, Germanys largest state by size, announced a raft of fresh coronavirus restrictions on Tuesday (22 September), to be applied to localised hotspots as they happen. The new rules include mandatory masks in crowded places, a ban on drinking alcohol in public places, and an 11pm curfew on bars and restaurants.
Unidentified terrorists on Wednesday shot dead the Block Development Council Chairman (BDC) of Khag in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir. He has been identified as Bhupinder Singh and was killed at his ancestral home in Dalwash village.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police said that he left alone on Wednesday for his ancestral home and kept his Personal Security Officers (PSO) in Khag Police Station without informing the police. The incident took place at around 7.45 pm when terrorists fired upon Singh who died on the spot.

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IGP Kashmir confirming the news said, "BDC chairman Bhupinder Singh left two PSO in PS Khag and left ancestral home alone without informing SHO Khag. He stayed at Aloochibagh Srinagar and went to Khag today.

A police statement read, "Today at around 1945 hours, terrorists fired upon BDC Chairman Khag Budgam Bhupinder Singh, who died on spot." He had two PSOs from DPL Budgam whom he dropped in the police station and proceeded towards his residence in Aloochibagh Srinagar. However, without informing the police, he further moved to Dalwash village (his ancestral home) where he was attacked.

Its said that he had contested an election independently and was elected as BDC of Khag area. The police have cordoned the area and launched a search operation to nab the attackers.
Johnson & Johnson on Wednesday kicked off a final 60,000-person trial of a single-shot COVID-19 vaccine that potentially would simplify distribution of millions of doses compared with leading rivals using two doses.

The company expects results of the Phase III trial by year end or early next year, Dr Paul Stoffels, J&Js chief scientific officer, said in a joint press conference with officials from the National Institutes of Health and the Trump administration.

Rival vaccines from Moderna Inc, Pfizer Inc and AstraZeneca all require two shots separated by several weeks, which make them much more difficult to administer.

The benefits of a single-shot vaccine are potentially profound in terms of mass immunization campaigns and global pandemic control," Dr. Dan Barouch, a Harvard vaccine researcher who helped design J&Js COVID-19 vaccine, said in a telephone interview. The companys shares rose 2% before the opening bell on Wednesday.

Big news. Numerous great companies are seeing fantastic results. FDA (Food and Drug Administration) must move quickly," U.S. President Donald Trump said in a tweet.

J&J published a detailed study protocol for its phase 3 trial Wednesday on the companys website, joining the three other vaccine makers that have made these study plans available in recent weeks after calls for increased transparency in the trials.

Stoffels said J&J started the phase 3 trial after seeing positive results in its phase 1/2 trial in the United States and Belgium. The company plans to release those results imminently.

Stoffels said the safety and level of protection in the study were on par with what was seen in the companys animal studies, and said the results showed a single dose could offer sufficient protection for a long time."J&Js late-stage trial will use as many as 215 sites in the United States, South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru. The company plans to manufacture as many as 1 billion doses in 2021, and more after that, Stoffels said.

The goal of the trial is to test whether the vaccine can prevent moderate to severe COVID-19 after a single dose, but it will also look to see if the vaccine can prevent serious disease requiring medical intervention and whether it can prevent milder cases of the virus.

Stoffels predicts it will take six weeks to two months to enroll the trial, and said the company hopes to get an answer on whether the vaccine works around the end of the year or early next year."

It is not clear how fast the company could get regulatory approval, but J&J plans to manufacture doses before approval, so it could start distribution quickly.

The trial will be overseen by an independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) that will review vaccine safety and effectiveness. In the press conference, Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, said all three of the vaccines being organized and supported by the federal governments Operation Warp Speed - J&Js, Modernas and AstraZenecas - share a common DSMB. Pfizer is running its own trial and has a separate DSMB, Collins said.

J&Js trial is designed to test for a vaccine that is 60% effective. In the study protocol, that could be determined after 154 people became infected with the virus. Stoffels said the company will start counting cases of COVID-19 infections within the study population 15 days after individuals are vaccinated.

The DSMB will take its first look at the vaccines efficacy after 20 people have become infected.

Collins said the DSMB does not include any federal employees and is made up of very highly experienced" scientists and statistical experts.

Until they are convinced that theres something there that looks promising, nothing is unblinded and sent to the FDA. So everybody should feel pretty reassured," Collins said. His comments follow concerns government scientists may be pressured to rush the vaccine testing process to boost U.S. President Donald Trumps re-election bid.
Bonhams has announced the items that will be part of a very special Presidential Experience auction on October 14 and, among them, is a 1963 Lincoln Continental convertible dubbed Limo One. This isnt the Lincoln in which JFK was shot, but the one he and the First Lady traveled in in Fort Worth, before they boarded the flight to Dallas.The Lincoln Continental in which JFK was shot was a 1961 model and is currently on display at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. It was actually kept in use as a Presidential limo until 1977 and has seen various modifications after that tragic day, serving no less than four other Presidents after JFK. Full armoring, bulletproof hardtoop and a new interior are among those modifications.This 1963 model now on offer was used by JFK on November 21 and 22 while he and Jackie were in Fort Worth. It was a loaner by Golightly Auto Sales and, for carrying the President to Carswell Air Force Base for his flight to Dallas, it is the last car he rode in alive.Bonhams notes that Limo One has a new engine now, and restored body and paintwork, but the interior remains original, including the red leather seats. It is expected to fetch between $300,000 and $500,000 when it hits the auction block next month.Also part of the lot is another JFK car, dubbed his personal car around the White House: a black 1960 Lincoln Mark V limousine, which is armored. Its mostly unrestored and has the original interior, and is expected to sell for $200,000-$300,000.A full-scale replica of the Kennedy Air Force One is also available. Its a piece of Boeing 707 fuselage retrofitted as the SAM 26000 JFK used for flying, and includes cockpit, workstations, the Presidents quarters and the stateroom where Johnson was sworn in, as well as a framed replica of Jackie Kennedys now iconic pink suit. Bonhams estimates it could go for $300,000.The auction takes place online on October 14.
A decade ago, a picture in an advertisement made Bihar chief minister cancel a dinner with the BJP top brass in a clear manifestation of his disapproval. It was a picture showing Nitish Kumar with the then Gujarat CM and present Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Cut to present, the two leaders are a version of best friends forever. At all the virtual functions to announce schemes and projects for the poll-bound state, PM Modi has been effusive in his praise for the Bihar CM. The roads are lined with posters of the two leaders who appear comfortable in each others company and a ready smile is seen playing on their lips.

PM Modis statement that Nitish jaisa sahyogi ho toh kuch bhi sambhav hai (Anything is possible with a partner like Nitish) has found a pride of place at the Income Tax roundabout in the city with the pictures of the two leaders, a tagline Nyay ke saath tarakki, Nitish ki baat pakki (Development with justice, Nitishs words are a guarantee) underlines the point.

In another poster, PM Modi is seen describing Nitish Kumar as the maker of modern Bihar, with pictures of the two leaders on either side of it.

There are also posters attacking the RJD, describing RJD chief Lalu Prasad, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav others for scams and lawlessness. From a bus named loot express with pictures of RJD chief Lalu Prasad, Tejaswhi Prasad Yadav and Misa Bharti, the caption says: Ek parvar Bihar par bhar (One family that is burden on Bihar) to Jungle raj and Thagbandhan, there is a lot visible on the streets.

The counters to these happy posters have also emerged, showing PM Modis earlier quotes questioning the DNA of Nitish Kumar. Another one says: Modiji, the mandate of the people was for your party to sit in Opposition. How could then it get into power? Nitish jaisa sahyogi ho kuch bhi sambhav hai (Anythingis possible with a partner like Nitish), it says.

Who is getting the posters prepared is neither known nor openly accepted, but the messaging clearly manifests the National Democratic Alliance vs Grand Alliance divide. Some also attribute it to internal divide.

Ahead of BJPs virtual rally addressed by home minister Amit Shah, Patna had witnessed a poster war. Picture of Lalu Prasad flanked by Md Shahabuddin and Raj Ballabh Yadav  all serving jail sentences  with a slogan Kaidi bajaa raha taali, Janata bajao taali. It was a reply to RJDs call to oppose BJPs virtual rally by beating utensils, though JD(U) feigned ignorance about it.

Last year in December, when Kumar set out for his third leg of Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali yatra to Kaimur, Gaya and Aurangabad, Patna district administration was busy removing posters attacking him for his stand on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Who got those posters placed at important locations could not be ascertained, as the opposition parties like the RJD and the Congress denied any knowledge about it.

Political analyst NK Choudhary said that the fight could only get more venomous through banners and posters in the days to come, as this election would not provide opportunities for rallies and public meetings due to Covid-19 pandemic.

Digital campaigning sounds good, but everyone knows about actual digital penetration and peoples choice to spend time on it when they are struggling with their daily needs, he added.

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Linkedin Michelle Nichols and Steve Holland (Reuters)  Wed, September 23, 2020 10:41 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c469a8ff 2 World UN-General-Assembly,Donald-Trump,US-China,US-China-tension,US-China-tension-COVID-19,Xi-Jinping Free

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 related to the outbreak.

By contrast, China's President Xi Jinping struck a conciliatory tone in his pre-recorded virtual address to the General Assembly, 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.

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 with the United States dealing with the world's highest official number of deaths and infections from the coronavirus, focused his speech on attacking China.

Trump accused Beijing of allowing people to leave China in the early stages of the outbreak to infect the world while shutting down domestic travel.

"We must hold accountable the nation which unleashed this plague onto the world, China," he said in remarks taped on Monday at the White House and delivered remotely to the General Assembly due to the pandemic.

"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," he said.

"Later, they falsely said people without symptoms would not spread the disease ... The United Nations must hold China accountable for their actions."

The president promised to distribute a vaccine and said: "We will defeat the virus, and we will end the pandemic."

In introducing Xi's remarks, China's UN ambassador Zhang Jun said China "resolutely rejects the baseless accusations against China."

"The world is at a crossroads. At this moment, the world needs more solidarity and cooperation, but not confrontation," he said.

'Get through this together'

In his address, in what appeared to be an implicit rebuke to Trump, Xi called for a global response to the coronavirus and giving a leading role to the World Health Organization, which the US president has announced 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 politicizing the issue, or stigmatization, must be rejected.

The death toll from the spread of the coronavirus in the United States surpassed 200,000 on Monday, by far the highest official number of any country.

Trump also attacked China's record on the environment, but leveled no direct criticism at Beijing over human rights.

The president, a frequent critic of the United Nations, said that if it was to be effective, it must focus on "the real problems of the world" like "terrorism, the oppression of women, forced labor, drug trafficking, human and sex trafficking, religious persecution, and the ethnic cleansing of religious minorities."

Earlier, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that 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."
Caribbean

Rich Europeans and Americans are flocking to the Caribbean, but not for the usual winter sun. More and more wealthy individuals are moving for longer periods than usual.



Citizenship advisers, government agencies and real estate developers say they have seen a rapid increase in business over the past few months. Even luxury hotels say they are booking in guests for long-term stays.



The increase in American arrivals has been most stark, they say. Mohammed Asaria, whose Range Developments is working on a new Six Senses resort, says U.S. citizens are coming to "hide it out.



"You've got the election coming. That's number one. You've had Covid and certain places in the U.S. have been challenged through that, and more working remotely."



U.S. inquiries for residential villas at Secret Bay in Dominica have jumped 66%. "Its the first time the U.S. has gone through a period like this and it's not just the Covid-19 situation," says Gregor Nassief, its proprietor. "It is the fear of what an extreme outcome on the left or right may look like after the presidential election."



Others are keen to escape with new-found working from home freedoms. "Digital nomad is not a new thing," says Petra Roach, head of Global Markets for Visit Barbados. "Before we didn't really think about it."



But then in July Barbados launched a new 12 month "Welcome Stamp" designed to attract remote workers to the country. Since its launch there have been around 1,100 applications, 42% of which are from the U.S. British and Canadians are the next largest nationalities to apply.



Hotels Run Out Of Rooms



Barbados's new temporary residents are checking into Airbnbs while real estate agents rush to find rental properties. Hotels are even offering long stays. Both the Hilton and Marriott in Barbados have announced month-long packages.



But the wealthier clients want something more than just a hotel room. Many want actual citizenship of the islands where they are staying. Barbados does not offer this but Grenada, Dominica and other Caribbean nations do.

"Citizenship By Investment," or CBI as it is known, first started in St Kitts and Nevis in 1984. Traditionally it attracts Chinese and Middle Easterners who want a passport with more travel freedoms.



But in the past few months it too has seen an increase in U.S. inquiries. "We have seen an uptick in applications from the U.S. for people who want an alternative passport," says Les Khan, chief executive of the St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Unit.



Normally the two-island nation hands out passports to investors who never visit their country. This year is different: Its new citizens actually want to come to the islands. Some want to stay.



This is putting a strain on the supply of government approved real estate projects that qualify for citizenship. A minimum of $200,000 must be spent on real estate to access citizenship, but currently only approved developments count and most of these are linked to hotels.



"We're looking at alternatives outside of our hotels," says Khan. "Individuals are looking for opportunities outside of those hotels and get access to our citizenship through private homes. Its something that we're exploring."



This is largely due to a change of lifestyle, he says: "Individuals who are from the U.S. apply for St Kitts passport are doing so to want to come and change their lifestyles and live on the island."



Grenada is also having to come up with more room. Range Developments Six Senses resort will include a branded residential component in Grenada. "People want a second or third home in a place where they're not going to be affected by any of this should a second or third wave come," says Asaria.



More Americans Renounce Citizenship



Real estate is not the only path to Caribbean citizenship. St Kitts and Nevis, Dominica and Grenada allow a contribution to a sovereign fund as an cheaper route. Citizenship advisers tout Caribbean passports for their visa-free travel freedoms, or, in Nassief's words, "A useful insurance policy" should things at home go awry.



However, more and more duel national Americans are renouncing their U.S. citizenship. A total of 5,816 Americans gave up their citizenship in the first half of this year, a 1,210% jump on the previous six months and more than double 2019's total says Bambridge Accountants.



"The huge increase in U.S. expats renouncing from our experience is that the current pandemic has allowed individuals the time to review their ties to the U.S. and decide that the current political climate and annual US tax reporting is just too much to bear," says Alistair Bambridge, partner at Bambridge Accountants New York.



Tax reporting plays a large part in this: The U.S. is unique in requiring its citizens to pay tax wherever they are domiciled. Most of those renouncing are likely to have moved abroad several years previously. However, some now armed with a Caribbean passport and the power to work from wherever they want may have decided to take the leap.






The Perspective

Atlanta, Georgia

September 22, 2020



The recent agreement between Kosovo and Serbia, brokered by the US, to normalize economic relations between the two countries fell short of the needed reconciliation process that would lead to full recognition of Kosovos independence by Serbia. Some elements of the economic normalization agreement are positive, including operationalizing the peace highway and the rail link between Pristina and Merdare, sharing Gazivode/Ujmani Lake and exploring its use as a reliable water and energy supply, and receiving financial support from the US International Development Finance Corporation and Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) for the above. These and other projects will create job opportunities for several thousand Kosovars and alleviate some of the economic hardship in the country.

Sadly, the agreement will prove to be superficial not only because it does not require Serbia to recognize Kosovo at one point in the future, but it does not even commit Serbia to renounce, once and for all, its illegitimate de-recognition campaign against Kosovo. The fact that Serbia agreed to refrain from formally or informally requesting any nation or International Organization not to recognize Kosovo [Pristina] as an independent state amounts to no more than lip service. Belgrade knows that Russia will veto any UNSC resolution to recognize Kosovo, which is the most important international body.

What is also disturbing is that there are several side-shows in the agreement designed to boost Trumps standing in his struggle for reelection that have little or nothing to do with the Serbia-Kosovo conflict. This includes mutual Israeli-Kosovo recognition, which requires Pristina to open its embassy in Jerusalem, to which the EU sternly opposes, and agreeing to designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. Furthermore, apart from these sidebars, there isnt anything in the agreement that wasnt already in the works or fully agreed to prior to US involvement. Finally, the agreement is not a treaty; either country can walk away from it without any penalty.

Customarily, Trump is fixated on economic development as if it were a panacea that can resolve all conflicts, irrespective of history, the psychological dimension (which continues to haunt Kosovo in particular), and the prevailing adversarial political environment they have been living with and continue to embrace. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict offers one example. At an economic summit in Bahrain, it was agreed that the Palestinians would be provided with a massive economic package as a part of the process to lead to peace; however, it fell flat on its face as it ignored past and current economic relations between the two sides, and did nothing to resolve their conflict.

The conflict between Serbia and Kosovo is deeply imbedded in their psyche, and as long as historic reconciliation is absent, no amount of economic normalization will mitigate deep-seated distrust and their fundamental demands. To end the conflict there indeed must be a process of reconciliation, and economic normalization is only one of several prerequisites for such a process to succeed.

The process of reconciliation, however, must be anchored on Serbias permanent renunciation of its de-recognition campaign against Kosovo. To simply suspend such a campaign for a year, as stipulated in the agreement, demonstrates Serbias lack of commitment to recognize Kosovo now or at any time in the future.

Kosovos Prime Minister Hoti made a terrible mistake by not making this requirement a prerequisite to any agreement with Serbia. Indeed, what is the point of developing economic relations when Serbia can after one year resume its de-recognition campaign? Hotis failure to insist that on this requirement makes a mockery of the whole agreement, which benefits Serbia economically without requiring it to make the commitment (central to reconciliation and building trust) to end its sinister campaign. Economic normalization should be treated only as a first step in a process of reconciliation, which must be based on the following to lead to mutual recognition:

First: People and goods should be allowed to move freely across the border in both directions to increase people-to-people interactions, which will gradually help heal wounds and nurture mutual trust. Serbians who have habitually looked down on Kosovar Albanians need to reorient themselves to the new reality. Equal treatment of their neighbors is central to reconciliation, especially because Serbia is larger, more affluent, and superior to Kosovo militarily. Kosovo cannot negotiate from a position of weakness and make any significant concessions without public outrage.

Second: A free trade agreement is vital not only to expand and improve relations from which both sides can greatly benefit but to maximize efficiency and production of items uniquely designed for export to the other. Moreover, without tariffs on all imported goods, they would become more affordable and receive greater demand. The imposition of a 100 percent tariff on Serbian goods imported to Kosovo, which has since been lifted, offers an abject experience from which both countries should draw an instructive lesson.

Third: Serbia must admit to and accept responsibility for the war crimes it committed against Kosovo during the war in 1999. Without such an admission, no economic normalization or any other interaction on any socio-political levels can be sustained. Serbian atrocities and the horror Kosovar Albanians endured during the war will not fade away simply because of economic normalization. Serbia should borrow a page from Germany. Had Germany not admitted to the crimes against humanity it committed during World War II, it would have never been able to move past the horrifying, historic stain, let alone integrate into the European community and become one of the top leaders of the EU.

Fourth: EU observers must be involved in the process of locat[ing] and identify[ing] the remains of missing personsand identifying and implementing long-term, durable solutions for refugees and internally displaced persons as stipulated by the agreement to ensure that this lingering and painful residue of the war is addressed, which is essential to reconciliation. Serbia has been reticent in this regard in the past, fearing that the uncovering of mass graves would provide further proof that it in fact committed war crimes on a large scale. Oversight is necessary to ensure the past is uncovered and wounds can begin to heal.

Fifth: Following this process, Serbia must commit to recognizing Kosovo as an independent state within three to four years, during which many of the conflicting issues should be resolved through direct negotiations. When deadlocked, the EU would mediate any disagreement, especially because both countries want to integrate into the EU. Ending their conflict with the EUs input would help facilitate an agreement, which is a precondition to integration.

In the final analysis, Serbia must accept the irreversible reality of Kosovo as an independent state and that there is nothing it can do to change that reality. Over 110 countries have recognized Kosovo, including the US and a majority of EU member states. It is time for Belgrade to stop dreaming about Kosovo as if it still is or can be restored as one of its provinces.

Serbia, just like Kosovo however, knows well that its future security and prosperity lay with the EU. Entering into good-faith negotiations to settle their conflicts with the objective of reaching mutual recognition will open up a new horizon for both countries, where they can grow and flourish and give the new generation a hopeful future instead of remaining enslaved by the past.




Sesa Sen By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The going may get tougher for the male-only board of the Murugappa Group as one of the female heirs  Valli Arunachalam  hinted at exploring the legal route after she was denied a board seat in the holding company.

At the Annual General Meeting (AGM), the board members of Ambadi Investments (AIL)  the holding company of the Rs.38,100 crore Chennai-based Group  rejected the appointment of the eldest daughter of former executive chairman M V Murugappan on its board as more than 90 per cent of the shareholders voted against the resolution.

Arunachalam, who has been waging a lone battle to unseat alleged gender bias in the century-old companys board for over a year now, said that the female heirs will not shy away this time from taking the ultimate step of dragging the matter to the court.

I am shocked at the manner in which the Family, which is the majority shareholder, in this case, has conducted itself. It is evident that the family cannot tolerate women in their boardrooms, and they have showcased their considered view in this regard. It is very unfortunate that the AIL shareholders, are not able to understand what contributions women can make on the board. It was always our wish that the family issues remain within and are settled at the family level, but clearly it seems the family is more concerned about protecting its draconian perspectives and practices, even if it means forcing us to take the battle to courts. We will not shy away this time, she said in an email response on Tuesday.

The promoter shareholding in AIL is collectively owned by seven branches of the Murugappa family. According to Arunachalam, the other six branches of the family are represented on the board and she is seeking a seat to represent her family by virtue of its stake in the holding company.

Along with her sister Vellachi Murugappan and mother MV Valli Murugappan, she holds an 8.15 per cent stake in AIL, which entitles them at least one board seat. Alternatively, attempts to sale the entire stake at a fair price so that they can exit the company also did not elicit a positive response, she added.

"It is clear indication that gender bias exists at the highest levels of the Murugappa group. I have been asking for a board seat, pending the settlement, to make sure our rights are preserved as a promoter and major shareholder. The question remains as to why a female heir with a doctorate degree, 24 years work experience in fortune 500 multinational companies, and numerous patents and publications to her name, cannot be inducted to the board, even three years after her fathers death, despite being representative of the same shareholding, whilst a 23-year-old male heir with a masters degree and no job experience can be inducted to the board soon after his fathers passing" said Arunachalam, the karta of the MVM Hindu Undivided Family. Under the Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act of 2005, women could become the head of the family (Karta) and daughters became coparceners, allowing them to inherit as much as sons.
Bloomberg, who supports Biden, has raised $16 million to help the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition pay outstanding court fines, restitution and other costs owed by felons. The Florida Legislature only allows ex-felons to vote if they have paid off all such debts, and many cant afford to do so. Bloomberg is focusing on Florida for Biden, and will also spend $100 million to help the Democratic nominees attempt to secure the states 29 electoral votes.
Kate Langbroek says that the cases of the COVID-19 are on the rise in Italy.

The radio personality, who lives in Bologna with her husband and four children, made the admission on Fox FM's Fifi, Fev & Byron on Wednesday.

'Our numbers are up now, well over the thousands I think,' the 55-year-old said.

Rising: Kate Langbroek (pictured) says that the cases of the COVID-19 are on the rise in Italy

'I haven't really checked, party because I don't want to know,' she continued.

Kate confirmed that her children have returned to school, but she's concerned that there could be an outbreak at her 15-year-old daughter Sunday's school.

She explained that Sunday's best friend's cleaner had tested positive for the virus, so she was staying out of school until the friend gets her test back.

As of Wednesday, there have been more than 301,000 cases of COVID-19 in Italy and 35,738 deaths.

Concerned: Kate confirmed that her children have returned to school, but she's concerned that there could be an outbreak at her 15-year-old daughter Sunday's (pictured) school

Back in May, Kate admitted that she regretted not leaving Italy for Australia before the pandemic got too bad.

During an interview on The Project, host Peter Helliar asked her: 'Are you looking at us going, "Maybe we should have returned earlier Why didn't we get out?"'

'What do you think, Helliar?' she sarcastically replied.

'You're like one of the people on the lifeboat on the Titanic yelling out at the band, who's still playing as the boat goes down, "Do you wish your violin was here, mate?"

'Thanks for the comfort!'

Regrets: Back in May, Kate admitted that she regretted not leaving Italy for Australia before the pandemic got too bad

During her interview, Kate also revealed she had stopped learning Italian because she felt 'frozen in this weirdly interior world' of her apartment.

'People use this opportunity to improve themselves, like you have just shown people being creative and people singing songs with their kids and TikTok-ing and la-la. I'm not one of those people!' she said.

'You get to know yourself under these circumstances, and my God, I'm an ordinary person! I'm just churning out meals, trying to keep the spirits up, but I'm not learning Italian.'
Going beyond mind mapping, MindManager enables teams to evolve ideas into actionable plans, projects, and processes

OTTAWA, Sept. 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The MindMa (https://www.mindmanager.com/en/?utm_source=MMnewsRelease&utm_medium=media&utm_campaign=SMPRMM&utm_content=MPSE) n (https://www.mindmanager.com/en/?utm_source=MMnewsRelease&utm_medium=media&utm_campaign=SMPRMM&utm_content=MPSE) ager (https://www.mindmanager.com/en/?utm_source=MMnewsRelease&utm_medium=media&utm_campaign=SMPRMM&utm_content=MPSE) (https://www.mindmanager.com/en/?utm_source=MMnewsRelease&utm_medium=media&utm_campaign=SMPRMM&utm_content=MPSE) team expands its suite of visualization tools, allowing users to take plans, projects, and processes from concept to completion. New MindManager for Microsoft Teams and MindManager Windows 21 drive team productivity, foster collaboration, and keep activities aligned for better-informed decision making and overall success.



"Often, teams are encumbered by disparate information and limited insight into their peers' activities. This lack of cohesion can contribute to stalled projects, poor communication, and derail strategies and plans," says Blair Young, Senior Director of Product, MindManager. "Delivering tools to organize data, track projects, and present information, the MindManager suite ensures smooth collaboration and communication flow, so no one misses a beat."

Enterprise subscription customersgetthefull MindManager product suite, including intuitive visualization tools that drive productivity and collaboration:

NEW MindManager Windows 21: Transform information into impactful and actionable diagrams with enhanced visualization capabilities.

Transform information into impactful and actionable diagrams with enhanced visualization capabilities. MindManager for Mac 13 : Organize data and information and take advantage of macOS-specific capabilities.

: Organize data and information and take advantage of macOS-specific capabilities. NEW MindManager for Microsoft Teams : Collectively edit maps, manage team dashboards, and keep tasks and projects on track within Microsoft Teams.

Collectively edit maps, manage team dashboards, and keep tasks and projects on track within Microsoft Teams. ENHANCED MindManager Snap : Capture links, images, and more anytime, anywhere. Boost team collaboration with the new capability to receive and share captured content among groups of users through the desktop app, Chrome browser, or mobile device.

: Capture links, images, and more anytime, anywhere. Boost team collaboration with the new capability to receive and share captured content among groups of users through the desktop app, Chrome browser, or mobile device. ENHANCED MindManager Go Mobile Viewer App : Narrow in on key topics with powerful filter and search capabilities, now with multi-user MindManager Snap support. Available for iOS (https://apps.apple.com/app/mindmanager-go/id1479415684) and Android (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.corel.mindmanagergo).

: Narrow in on key topics with powerful filter and search capabilities, now with multi-user MindManager Snap support. Available for iOS (https://apps.apple.com/app/mindmanager-go/id1479415684) and Android (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.corel.mindmanagergo). Co-Editing (Available exclusively onWindows): Host real-time, collaborative meetings in secure cloud-based sessions. Guests can attend from a Windows or Mac system and do not need a MindManager license to join the initiating user's Co-Editing session.

New MindManager Windows 21 integrates with the software and platforms businesses rely on. Updates make it easy to centralize data and gather collective team knowledge:

NEW Places Import & Export : Import and export any supported file type, including Microsoft Word, Excel, and Project files to and from OneDrive, Google Drive, SharePoint, Box, and Dropbox.

: Import and export any supported file type, including Microsoft Word, Excel, and Project files to and from OneDrive, Google Drive, SharePoint, Box, and Dropbox. REDESIGNED Microsoft Word Export : Employ greater customization and flexibility over your Word exports without the dependence on a native Word installation

: Employ greater customization and flexibility over your Word exports without the dependence on a native Word installation ENHANCED Slides & Presentations: Use diagramming capabilities on individual slides; add information from multiple maps, whether stored locally or in the cloud.

Use diagramming capabilities on individual slides; add information from multiple maps, whether stored locally or in the cloud. NEW Text Accelerators: Add resources and tags to topics by typing '@' or '#' followed by the resource or tag name.

Add resources and tags to topics by typing '@' or '#' followed by the resource or tag name. NEW Topic Info Style : Gain greater control over the display of your information in MindManager Windows and MindManager for Microsoft Teams. With a fresh new design, the new topic info style is more clear, concise, and customizable.

: Gain greater control over the display of your information in MindManager Windows and MindManager for Microsoft Teams. With a fresh new design, the new topic info style is more clear, concise, and customizable. NEW Topic Info Cards : Hide supplemental information to keep your map free of clutter, while retaining quick access to everything. Drag and drop info from cards to topics and vice versa.

: Hide supplemental information to keep your map free of clutter, while retaining quick access to everything. Drag and drop info from cards to topics and vice versa. NEW Object Shapes : Maximize the impact of your diagrams with industry-standard shapes including block arrows, chevrons, parallelograms, and trapezoids.

: Maximize the impact of your diagrams with industry-standard shapes including block arrows, chevrons, parallelograms, and trapezoids. NEW Powerful Flowchart Extensions : Add impact with improved relationship capabilities and simplify complex flowcharts with line jumps, including arc, bridge, and gap jumps.

: Add impact with improved relationship capabilities and simplify complex flowcharts with line jumps, including arc, bridge, and gap jumps. ENHANCED Usability and Productivity : Discover over 30 enhancements such as resource color coding, simplified horizontal scrolling, customizable snap-to-grid, and much more.

: Discover over 30 enhancements such as resource color coding, simplified horizontal scrolling, customizable snap-to-grid, and much more. ENHANCED Map Roll Ups: Aggregate data from multiple sources; map roll ups allow users to add single topics and complete topic structures from multiple maps, regardless of file location, into one master diagram.



MindManager Product Suite Availability

New to the MindManager suite, MindManager Windows 21 is available now in English, Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish as both a perpetual and subscription license. Subscription offer includes access to the full MindManager suite product lineup for Windows.

MindManager for Microsoft Teams is available now as a direct download to Enterprise customers.

Co-Editing is available exclusively to MindManager Windows customers as part of the subscription offering; as an add-on purchase for Enterprise customers with MindManager Software Assurance and Support (MSA); or for individual MindManager Windows license holders with Upgrade Protection Plan.

The MindManager Enterprise (https://www.mindmanager.com/en/product/mindmanager/enterprise/?utm_source=MMnewsRelease&utm_medium=media&utm_campaign=SMPRMM&utm_content=MPSE) offering also includes MindManager (https://www.mindmanager.com/en/product/mindmanager/windows/?utm_source=MMnewsRelease&utm_medium=media&utm_campaign=SMPRMM&utm_content=MPSE)Windows (https://www.mindmanager.com/en/product/mindmanager/windows/?utm_source=MMnewsRelease&utm_medium=media&utm_campaign=SMPRMM&utm_content=MPSE) 21 (https://www.mindmanager.com/en/product/mindmanager/windows/?utm_source=MMnewsRelease&utm_medium=media&utm_campaign=SMPRMM&utm_content=MPSE), MindManager (https://www.mindmanager.com/en/product/mindmanager/mac/?utm_source=MMnewsRelease&utm_medium=media&utm_campaign=SMPRMM&utm_content=MPSE)for Mac 13 (https://www.mindmanager.com/en/product/mindmanager/mac/?utm_source=MMnewsRelease&utm_medium=media&utm_campaign=SMPRMM&utm_content=MPSE), MindManager Reader (Windows & Mac) & MindManager Server App for SharePoint. Available to teams of five or more, MindManager Enterprise offers simplified admin setup and deep integration with Microsoft Office, Project, and SharePoint. Content Control capabilities ensure sensitive map content is protected.

To learn more about MindManager and to start a free fully-featured trial of MindManager, visit www.mindmanager.com/MyFreeTrial (https://www.mindmanager.com/myfreetrial/?utm_source=MMnewsRelease&utm_medium=media&utm_campaign=SMPRMM&utm_content=MPSE).

About MindManager

MindManager helps individuals, teams, and enterprises do great work faster by simplifying the way they capture, organize, and share information. Transforming scattered ideas and unstructured data into dynamic visual maps, MindManager gives people a clearer understanding and greater control over their time, work, and world. Millions of global users choose MindManager to brainstorm ideas, plan and execute projects, and communicate knowledge. MindManager is part of the Corel portfolio of applications. For more information, please visit www.mindmanager.com (https://www.mindmanager.com/?utm_source=MMnewsRelease&utm_medium=media&utm_campaign=SMPRMM&utm_content=MPSE).

Corel products enable millions of connected knowledge workers around the world to do great work faster. Offering some of the industry's best-known software brands, we give individuals and teams the power to create, collaborate, and deliver impressive results. Our success is driven by an unwavering commitment to deliver a broad portfolio of innovative applications - including CorelDRAW, ClearSlide, MindManager, Parallels, and WinZip - to inspire users and help them achieve their goals. To learn more about Corel, please visit www.corel.com (http://www.corel.com/?utm_source=MMnewsRelease&utm_medium=media&utm_campaign=SMPRMM&utm_content=MPSE).

 2020 Corel Corporation. Corel, MindManager, the MindManager logo, CorelDRAW, Snap, and WinZip are trademarks or registered trademarks of Corel Corporation in Canada, the U.S., and elsewhere. ClearSlide is a trademark or registered trademark of ClearSlide Inc. in Canada, the U.S. and elsewhere. Parallels is a trademark or registered trademark of Parallels International GmbH in Canada, the U.S. and elsewhere. All other company, product and service names, logos, brands and any registered or unregistered trademarks mentioned are used for identification purposes only and remain the exclusive property of their respective owners. Use of any brands, names, logos or any other information, imagery or materials pertaining to a third party does not imply endorsement. We disclaim any proprietary interest in such third-party information, imagery, materials, marks and names of others. Patents:www.corel.com/patent (http://www.corel.com/patent).

Media Contact

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Corel PR

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Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3f1ed302-4164-49df-8a10-6f40ebf157fe (https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3f1ed302-4164-49df-8a10-6f40ebf157fe)

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/82dd45b6-20f5-43f8-9d62-83cf0f46e339 (https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/82dd45b6-20f5-43f8-9d62-83cf0f46e339)

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/52ae8072-b152-419b-af28-7100e04d60ed (https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/52ae8072-b152-419b-af28-7100e04d60ed)

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4beef325-c6a2-4838-af04-955837c83bd8 (https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4beef325-c6a2-4838-af04-955837c83bd8)

A video accompanying this announcement is available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3786fd2e-c1fa-4c26-8101-49f41e97538e (https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3786fd2e-c1fa-4c26-8101-49f41e97538e)
Drew Angerer / Getty Images

Chevron Corp. has asked its global employees to remove Tencent Holdings Ltd.s WeChat from their work phones, making it one of the first U.S. companies to heed the Trump administrations executive order banning the Chinese social app on alleged national security risks.

The American oil giant identified WeChat as a non-compliant application in a staff email, asking those who installed the app on their work handsets to delete it within days -- or they will be disconnected from the companys network, according to the memo viewed by Bloomberg News.
India is conducting COVID-19 tests at a rate of 875 per million population per day, which is more than six times the figure recommended by the WHO, Lok Sabha was informed on Wednesday.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended testing of 0.14 samples per day per 1,000 population or 140 tests per day per million population, Union Minister of State for Health Ashwini Choubey said in a written reply in Lok Sabha.

In response to another question, Choubey said that average test conducted by a district in a day is 1,053.

Presently, the rate of COVID-19 test conducted per 1,000 persons in India is 0.875 test per day (as on September19)," he said in response to a question on whether the rate of tests is commensurate with testing levels in countries with similar number of active COVID-19 cases.

On whether the government is tracking the testing numbers at the district level, the minister said that tests conducted for detection of COVID-19 are being reported to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) data portal by laboratories, including the details of district where the sample was collected and tested.
Until now, seven genes were known to be involved in hearing loss in Israel's Jewish population. A new study led by Zippora Brownstein, PhD, and Prof. Karen Avraham from the Sackler Faculty of Medicine at Tel Aviv University has found that 32 genes are responsible for inherited hearing loss in Israeli Jewish families. The researchers also identified a mutation in a gene not previously recognized to cause hearing loss in humans. The research has immediate implications for genetic counseling for families with hearing loss and for care of children with hearing loss.

Researchers from multiple Israeli universities and hospitals, and the University of Washington in Seattle, the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethlehem University, the University of Iceland, and the University of Maryland contributed to the study. The study was published on July 20, 2020, in the journal Clinical Genetics.

More than 150 genes are known to be involved in hearing loss. Genetic diagnoses for inherited hearing loss have previously been difficult because any one of these different genes, and any of many mutations in each gene, could be the cause. Until now, mutations in only seven of the 150 genes had been detected among persons with hearing loss in the Jewish population of Israel. In the current study, which included 88 Israeli families with hearing loss, the researchers identified mutations in 25 additional genes.

Although 24 of the 25 genes are known to cause hearing loss in families worldwide, most of the specific mutations in Israeli Jewish families are newly observed and thus far known only the Jewish community. The 25th gene, called ATOH1, was found for the first time to cause hearing loss in humans.

"We know that ATOH1 has an important role in the ear," explains Prof. Avraham. "Without it, hair cells of the inner ear -- the cells responsible for our hearing -- cannot develop properly. Until now, a mutation in this gene was identified only in mice, and the mice had a hearing loss. We found a similar mutation in relatives with hearing loss in a large family in Israel, the first people in the world known to have a mutation in this gene. I believe we will find more families, both in Israel and abroad, with mutations in this gene that cause hearing loss. With this information, new treatment possibilities, including gene therapy, for people with hearing loss will be developed.

"We surveyed Jewish families throughout Israel with all types of hearing loss: from congenital to older age at onset, and from moderate to profound," Prof. Avraham adds. "Our survey exploited advanced gene sequencing technology, including a custom gene panel that we created called HEar-Seq. This custom gene panel allowed us to simultaneously sequence all 150 genes known to be involved in hearing loss, and many 'candidate genes' as well. HEar-Seq revealed the distribution of genes and their mutations responsible for hearing loss in all the Jewish communities that make up modern Israel. It led us to ATOH1.

"Our discoveries have immediate implications for genetic counseling, which can enable families to prevent additional cases of hearing loss through pre-gestational genetic diagnosis and in-vitro fertilization. Also, for many families, treatment and rehabilitation for hearing loss can be tailored to the family's specific mutation. The findings of this study allow doctors and audiologists in Israel to provide personally tailored treatment to patients with inherited hearing loss."

###

The study was funded by the National Institute of Deafness and Communication Disorders of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, the Israel Precision Medicine Program of the Israel Science Foundation, the Ernest and Bonnie Beutler Research Program of Excellence in Genomic Medicine, the Hedrich Charitable Trust, and travel grants from the University of Washington Virginia Bloedel Hearing Research Institute.
Nel corso del prossimo mese arrivera su PC con sistema operativo Windows 10 un nuovo update molto importante, noto genericamente come l'Aggiornamento di ottobre 2020. Nel momento in cui scriviamo alcuni utenti Microsoft con accesso alla versione beta hanno gia potuto dare un'occhiata alle novita in arrivo, che riguarderanno principalmente correzioni.



Vi anticipiamo dunque che l'aggiornamento di ottobre 2020 di Windows 10 non introdurra novita di particolare rilievo dal punto di vista dei contenuti (forse soltanto il nuovo menu Start) ma correggera tantissimi errori e problemi riscontrati nelle versioni precedenti.



Queste correzioni riguarderanno gli aspetti piu variegati del sistema operativo di Microsoft: saranno risolti problemi secondari di Windows Defender, errori con il riconoscimento facciale di Windows Hello, verranno introdotte modifiche minori per le reti VPN, e via dicendo. Verranno risolti anche tutti i problemi causati sul sottosistema Linux dagli aggiornamenti cumulativi di settembre 2020.



L'elenco con tutte le modifiche dell'aggiornamento di ottobre 2020 di Windows 10 e riportato qui di seguito: vi consigliamo di dargli un'occhiata. Probabilmente anche dei problemi che avevate riscontrato negli ultimi mesi ora verranno corretti.

We have fixed the issue where WSL fails to start with an "Element not found" error.

We added a notification to Internet Explorer 11 that informs users about the end of support for Adobe Flash in December 2020. For more information, see KB4581051.

We enhanced the system's ability to detect when Microsoft Edge IE Mode stops responding.

We fixed an issue that, in some instances, prevents the Language Bar from appearing when the user signs in to a new session. This occurs even though the Language Bar is configured properly.

We fixed an issue that fails to recognize the first East Asian language character typed into a Microsoft Foundation Class Library (MFC) DataGrid.

We fixed an issue the prevents you from reconnecting to a previously closed session because that session is in an unrecoverable state.

We fixed an issue that causes games that use spatial audio to stop working.

We fixed an issue that prevents the deletion of stale user profiles when you configure a profile cleanup Group Policy object (GPO).

We fixed an issue in which selecting I forgot my Pin from Settings>Accounts>Sign-in options fails in a Windows Hello for Business On-Premise deployment.

We updated 2021 time zone information for Fiji.

We fixed an issue that affects the Microsoft's System Centre Operations Manager's (SCOM) ability to monitor a customer's workload.

We fixed an issue that causes random line breaks when you redirect PowerShell console error output.

We fixed an issue with creating HTML reports using tracerpt.

We allowed the DeviceHealthMonitoring Cloud Service Plan (CSP) to run on Windows 10 Business and Windows 10 Pro editions.

We fixed an issue that prevents the content under HKLM\Software\Cryptography from being carried over during Windows feature updates.

We fixed an issue that causes an access violation in lsass.exe when a process is started using the runas command in some circumstances.

We fixed an issue in which Windows Defender Application Control enforces package family name rules that should be audit only.

We fixed an issue that displays an error that states that a smart card PIN change was not successful even though the PIN change was successful.

We fixed an issue that might create duplicate Foreign Security Principal objects for Authenticated and Interactive users in the domain partition. As a result, the configuration files (.cnf) for the original objects are damaged. This issue occurs when you promote a new domain controller using the CriticalReplicationOnly flag.

We updated the configuration of Windows Hello Face recognition to work well with 940nm wavelength cameras.

We reduced distortions and aberrations in Windows Mixed Reality head-mounted displays (HMD).

We ensured that new Windows Mixed Reality HMDs meet minimum specification requirements and default to a 90Hz refresh rate.

We fixed an issue that causes a stop error on a Hyper-V host when a virtual machine (VM) issues a specific Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) command.

We fixed an issue that might cause attempts to bind a socket to a shared socket to fail.

We fixed an issue that might prevent applications from opening or cause other errors when applications use Windows APIs to check for internet connectivity and the network icon incorrectly displays "No internet access" in the notification area. This issue occurs if you use a group policy or local network configuration to disable active probing for the Network Connectivity Status Indicator (NCSI). This also occurs if active probing fails to use a proxy and passive probes fail to detect internet connectivity.

We fixed an issue that prevents Microsoft Intune from syncing on a device using the virtual private network version 2 (VPNv2) configuration service provider (CSP).

We suspended uploads and downloads from peers when a VPN connection is detected.

We fixed an issue that prevents Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) management tools, such as IIS Manager, from managing an ASP.NET application that has configured SameSite cookie settings in web.config.

We fixed an issue with ntdsutil.exe that prevents you from moving Active Directory database files. The error is, "Move file failed with source and Destination with error 5 (Access is denied.)"

We fixed an issue that incorrectly reports that Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) sessions are unsecure in Event ID 2889. This occurs when the LDAP session is authenticated and sealed with a Simple Authentication and Security Layer (SASL) method.

We fixed an issue that might cause Windows 10 devices that enable Credential Guard to fail authentication requests when they use the machine certificate.

We restored the constructed attribute in Active Directory and Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services (AD LDS) for msDS-parentdistname.

We fixed an issue that causes queries against large keys on Ntds.dit to fail with the error, "MAPI_E_NOT_ENOUGH_RESOURCES." This issue might cause users to see limited meeting room availability because the Exchange Messaging Application Programming Interface (MAPI) cannot allocate additional memory for the meeting requests.

We fixed an issue that intermittently generates Online Certificate Status Protocol (OSCP) Responder audit events (5125) to indicate that a request was submitted to the OCSP Responder Service. However, there is no reference to the serial number or the domain name (DN) of the issuer of the request.

We fixed an issue that displays strange characters before the day, month, and year fields in the output from console commands.

We fixed an issue that causes lsass.exe to stop working, which triggers a restart of the system. This issue occurs when invalid restart data is sent with a non-critical paged search control.

We fixed an issue that fails to log events 4732 and 4733 for Domain-Local group membership changes in certain scenarios. This occurs when you use the "Permissive Modify" control; for example, the Active Directory (AD) PowerShell modules use this control.

We fixed an issue with the Microsoft Cluster Shared Volumes File Systems (CSVFS) driver that prevents Win32 API access to SQL Server Filestream data. This occurs when the data is stored on a Cluster Shared Volume in a SQL Server failover cluster instance, which is on an Azure VM.

We fixed an issue that causes a deadlock when Offline Files are enabled. As a result, CscEnpDereferenceEntryInternal holds parent and child locks.

We fixed an issue that causes deduplication jobs to fail with stop error 0x50 when you call HsmpRecallFreeCachedExtents().

We fixed an issue that causes applications stop working when they use Microsoft's Remote Desktop sharing APIs. The breakpoint exception code is 0x80000003.

We removed the HTTP call to www.microsoft.com that the Remote Desktop Client (mstsc.exe) makes at sign out when using a Remote Desktop Gateway.

We fixed an issue with evaluating the compatibility status of the Windows ecosystem to help ensure application and device compatibility for all updates to Windows.

We added support for certain new Windows Mixed Reality motion controllers.

We fixed an issue that causes apps that use Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) to stop responding when you attempt to close the app.

We added an Azure Active Directory (AAD) Device Token that is sent to Windows Update (WU) as part of each WU scan. WU can use this token to query for membership in groups that have an AAD Device ID.

We fixed an issue with setting the "Restrict delegation of credentials to remote servers" Group Policy with the "Restrict Credential Delegation" mode on the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) client. As a result, the Terminal Server service tries to use "Require Remote Credential Guard" mode first and will only use "Require Restricted Admin" if the server does not support "Require Remote Credential Guard".
New outreach Post Office service launches in Penley

This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Sep 23rd, 2020

A brand new outreach Post Office service to help meet customer needs has opened in Penley.

The Postmaster for Bryn Hafod will provide an outreach service at the Rainbow Centre, Whitchurch Road, Penley, LL113 0LR every Tuesday from 2  4pm.

The new branch offers customers services including posting letters and parcels to collecting and returning online shopping items.

Customers will also be able to take advantage of a wide range of banking services including cash withdrawals and balance enquiries for customers of all the main UK banks.

Carol Williams, Post Office Area Network Change Manager, said: We are pleased that the Postmaster for Bryn Hafod can provide this service for Penley and we know that the community will welcome this news.
Facebook announced this week it will provide 4.7 million to over 1,000 small businesses in Dublin, Cork and Meath where Facebook has offices and its Clonee data centre.

The grant is a combination of cash and ad credits to help small businesses as they reset, rebuild and recover operations during this challenging year.

As part of its support for small businesses in Ireland, Facebook is also working with local industry partners around the country to continue its virtual Boost with Facebook training programme. During the period of March to June, over 10,000 people in Ireland viewed the companys virtual training sessions.

The webinar series which featured experts from Facebook and leading creative, sales and marketing organisations including Core Media, Shopify and VidMob is available to view at Boost With Facebook.

The hub for SMEs also has details of future online training events, virtual networking and resources covering a range of topics from how to take a business online, build resilience, stay connected with customers and adapt in real time.

A recent survey conducted by OECD, the World Bank and Facebook revealed that cashflow is a concern for the majority of SMEs. Over half (54%) of operational SMEs on Facebook in Ireland said they expected cash flow to be a challenge in the coming months.

Facebooks SME grant programme aims to help businesses by providing cash for essential bills such as keeping the lights on and helping to pay employees and providing ad credits to help SMEs generate revenue through online marketing and sales.

Speaking this week, VP of Global Business Group for EMEA, Ciaran Quilty said, "The COVID-19 crisis is more than just a public health crisis, its an economic crisis. Small businesses in particular have been most affected and are facing the challenge of a lifetime. We recognise that SMEs need cash, training, digitalisation assistance and improved social connection infrastructure as consumer behaviour shifts online. We also know that a little financial support goes a long way and we hope the grants and online training programme will help SMEs survive and recover through this crisis."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
It really has proven we can bring the numbers down, and it is up to us in the next several weeks to show we are doing things in a different enough way that we keep those numbers down, Blank said on a videoconference with reporters. I would ask that all members of the campus community understand these health protocols and adhere to them.
SHANGHAI, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Twelve major industrial projects totaling an investment of nearly 10 billion yuan ($1.48 billion) were signed at a conference to promote industrial economy on Shanghai's Changxing island held in the municipality on Sunday.

A string of policies to boost high-quality development of industrial economy on Changxing were also unveiled at the conference themed "new smart manufacturing, new driving force, and new start".

Wu Qing, vice-mayor of Shanghai and head of the management committee of Changxing island, made a remark at the conference held by the management committee of the development and construction of Changxing island as well as the district government of Chongming, of which Changxing is a part of.

Chen Mingbo, deputy secretary general of the municipal government, and Li Zheng, party chief of the Chongming district, unveiled the nameplate of the Shanghai Changxing Industrial Investment Promotion Office at the conference. Wu Jincheng, director of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization, and Miao Jing, district governor of Chongming, unveiled the nameplate of the Eastern Center of Chongming District's Administrative Service Center.

The Changxing Industrial Park signed the twelve major projects with institutions, including Shanghai Jiao Tong University and China United Investment Holding Co., Ltd., covering areas of marine equipment, smart manufacturing, new materials, energy conservation and environmental protection, integrated circuit, biomedicine, and financial services.

The park has 10 major industrial projects totaling around 12 billion yuan currently under construction. The district government believed that such new propels will energize the area's development to a new height.

Also at the conference, the Changxing Island Development Office signed collaboration framework agreements with the Shanghai Investment Promotion Center of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the Shanghai branch of Huawei. The office, Chongming district government, and the Export-import Bank of China's Shanghai branch signed a three-party strategic framework collaboration agreement.

Li said that riding the wave of the opportunities of the change in management systems of the development and construction of the Changxing Island and the inclusion of the island in the municipality's metro network, the island is expected to undergo a new round of high-quality major progresses and upgrades in the upcoming years.

He said that by adhering to ecological priority and green development, the district authority will strive to build Changxing into a carrier of Shanghai's manufacturing namecard, a leader in marine technology innovation, a growth pole for industry-city integration, and an area with its own characteristics, functions, international competitiveness, and market influence.

Miao published the string of policies to boost high-quality development of industrial economy on Changxing. Chen Bo, deputy director of the Changxing Island Development Office talked about the development and construction situations of the island. Yu Cong, chairman of the Shanghai Changxing Marine Equipment Industrial Park, introduced situations about the industrial park.

Huang Wenfei, general manager of Jiangnan Shipyard (Group) Co., Ltd.; Chen Jianliang, chairman of Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co., Ltd.; Lin Zhongqin, an academician with the Chinese Academy of Engineering and president of Shanghai Jiao Tong University; and Lin Baojun, chief designer of the Beidou-3 satellite, gave keynote speeches at the conference.

Covering an area of 162 square km, Shanghai's Changxing island is at the mouth of the Yangtze River. The island functions as a reservoir for the world's marine equipment, Shanghai's ecological water source, and a destination for sightseeing. It is known as a national model base for new industries and a national-level demonstration zone for marine economy development.

The Yangtze River tunnel and bridge enables the Changxing island to be a key link between the city of Shanghai and the city clusters north of the Yangtze River and an important doorway for the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta region.

Changxing island is only 25 km from the Lujiazui financial area and the metro line from downtown area to Chongming island, which will go through Changxing, will make the island a part of city life in Shanghai that is easily accessible within 30 minutes.

Possessing rare deep-water seashores reaching 22 meters at the deepest point, the island has a particular advantage in the industrial development of marine equipment. Qingcaosha Reservoir at the northern part of the island is a main source of tap water for Shanghai.

Playing up its advantage in the industry of marine equipment against the background of the development of the municipality, the Yangtze River Delta region, and the Yangtze River Economic Belt over the years, the island has attracted leading enterprises in high-end manufacturing and technological innovation, such as Jiangnan Shipyard, Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding, Shanghai Zhenhua Port Machinery (Group) Co., Ltd., and China Cosco Shipping Corporation Ltd over the past years.

The island authority said that after the change in management systems of the development and construction of the Changxing island early this year, the development office of the island was relocated to the island. At the meantime, the Changxing branch of district environmental authority, the Shanghai Changxing Industrial Investment Promotion Office and the Eastern Center of Chongming District's Administrative Service Center were established on the island to further enhance the local governance capacity and optimize the comprehensive business environment, and thus promote a new round of development and construction of Changxing island.

The district government underscored three facades for Changxing's development for the next phase: embracing new smart manufacturing, playing up new driving force, and trailblazing a start for a new voyage.

The local industries should focus on the digitized, intelligent, and green development of marine equipment and marine economy so as to be integrated into the industrial chain of the world's marine equipment. They shall look for more opportunities for international collaboration and boost their international competitiveness, the district government said.

New technologies, including artificial intelligence, industrial internet, and new materials, shall be more availed of to prompt the local industrials and probably create cross-disciplinary combinations to drive the upgrade of modern industrial system, and thus reinvigorate the economic and social development of the Changxing island.

Service packages for business development and talent attraction should be taken into consideration at this hard-win opportunity regarding the island's development. World-class business environment, innovative industrials parks with their own characteristics, and talent for innovation and entrepreneurship will help build a batch of industry-leading enterprises featuring high technologies, according to the district authority.

Government officials from the city's authorities, executives from State-owned enterprises based in Chongming, and representatives from local towns, industrial parks, companies, and industrial associations attended the signing ceremony.

SOURCE The Government of Chongming District
(Natural News) You cant be woke enough to be safe from harm while the BLM/ANTIFA revolution is underway. You can only join their fight or be attacked. Even if youre a gay, liberal, D.C. resident carrying your rainbow flag.

(Article by Fred T republished from TheRightScoop.com)

You cant be ethnic enough, working class enough, average American laborer enough for the revolution. You can only be a part of the revolution or be sacrificed by it. Even if youre just driving a work truck in Portland.

But even that isnt enough if the mob gets hot enough. Even being out there protesting AGAINST TRUMP isnt enough, if you happen to be in the wrong spot at the wrong time with the wrong skin. Being an anti-Trump protester in Philadelphia STILL isnt enough, if youre white or hispanic.

Thats the lesson. Here are the videos.

BLM-antifa in Portland took over the street outside the central police precinct after smashing up businesses. Theyve blocked the road for hours. They make the passenger of this car give the black power salute & chant, Black Lives Matter. #PortlandaRiots pic.twitter.com/YHljeAAnQ3  Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) September 20, 2020

Philadelphia: #Antifa black bloc militants smash up a car that has a dog in the back. Far-left rioters gathered today to oppose a right-wing event at Clark Park. Video by @ElijahSchaffer: pic.twitter.com/glB4RNNTBk  Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) September 19, 2020

BREAKING: Antifa mistakingly attacks an Anti-Trump protester calling him a Nazi Destroys his car while he tried to escape after he tried to assault content creator @realJamesKlug w/ a bar A dog is in the back, clearly terrified, & barks as black bloc smashes his windows pic.twitter.com/P2eXbS1Ru9  ELIJAH RIOT (@ElijahSchaffer) September 19, 2020

BREAKING: DC BLM and Antifa descended upon a gay neighborhood tonight and began to intimidate and harass multiple gay people Including a man with his puppy accusing him of physically assaulting them and for not wearing a mask pic.twitter.com/R2AIDsEneb  Drew Hernandez (@livesmattershow) September 20, 2020

BREAKING: DC BLM and Antifa descended upon a gay neighborhood tonight A BLM activist can be seen getting extremely aggressive with the gay man to the point of threatening him by saying: You are mother f*cking lucky because the gay mans accomplice escorted him away pic.twitter.com/cu43u5XOkw  Drew Hernandez (@livesmattershow) September 20, 2020

BREAKING: A DC BLM activist physically assaults a gay man by hitting him in the face with her megaphone Antifa militants then trespass the front yard of his friend they are having a get together on and begin to lay hands on him pic.twitter.com/jRsIq6E2pv  Drew Hernandez (@livesmattershow) September 20, 2020

DC: Tonight a gay man stood up to Antifa by saying: You think Im afraid of you? After they trespassed his front yard and assaulted his friend pic.twitter.com/p9buhFNQLN  Drew Hernandez (@livesmattershow) September 20, 2020

DC: A BLM activist begins to harass a white man for recording the protest as an Antifa militant dressed in black armor proceeds to then film the man in return pic.twitter.com/bZ2ikWLSlD  Drew Hernandez (@livesmattershow) September 20, 2020

Tonight BLM and Antifa went full blown homophobic in DC Nobody is safe If you get put on the radar for any reason, the revolution will come after you too  Drew Hernandez (@livesmattershow) September 20, 2020

DC: Tonight a BLM activist was going ballistic screaming in the face of a white man with her mega phone as protesters chanted Black people used to live here at the house pic.twitter.com/G0he5wlPff  Drew Hernandez (@livesmattershow) September 20, 2020

DC: I bet your d*ck is tiny An aggressive BLM activist swarms a white couple eating dinner for simply recording their protest She accuses him of being racist for recording and proceeds to comment on his penis size pic.twitter.com/636xYhxeJX  Drew Hernandez (@livesmattershow) September 19, 2020

DC: Reporter @VenturaReport gets swarmed, threatened and 1st Amendment to free press suppressed by BLM activists You can hear one of the BLM lead activists say youre gunna get pummeled #tatumreport pic.twitter.com/WSg1hFt0BY  Drew Hernandez (@livesmattershow) September 19, 2020

DC: Tonight BLM and Antifa mobilized to remove a Hispanic photographer who they were randomly claiming was harassing women at their protest The photographer was @slestevez pic.twitter.com/js6A7YuOfa  Drew Hernandez (@livesmattershow) September 20, 2020

If you want to know how disingenuous the breathless declarations of the corporate media are about protecting a free and fair press, watch how they ignore actual threats and physical attacks on independent media by mobs and ANTIFA. Looking at you in particular @oliverdarcy https://t.co/NZmYT41FID  Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) September 20, 2020

This is the America Democrats want and have encouraged. And now they want you to vote for them AND give them a Supreme Court pick, even if it takes four years to get it.

UPDATE: Wanted to add this because Buck Sexton is correct.

Theres no embarrassment among mainstream Democrats over such tactics used in their name. These are their fellow Biden voters acting like violent lunatics, and theres no effort to disavow or condemn them- Thats because AntifaBLM are the direct action arm of the DNC https://t.co/A7bHI811Ny  Buck Sexton (@BuckSexton) September 20, 2020

Theres no embarrassment among mainstream Democrats over such tactics used in their name. These are their fellow Biden voters acting like violent lunatics, and theres no effort to disavow or condemn them- Thats because AntifaBLM are the direct action arm of the DNC https://t.co/A7bHI811Ny  Buck Sexton (@BuckSexton) September 20, 2020

Thats what they are.

Read more at: TheRightScoop.com
A Facebook tool that state election officials are using to find and report voting misinformation doesn't effectively monitor most posts on the social media service, including those in private groups or from most individual users, according to a watchdog group's report.

Facebook has been encouraging elections authorities to use CrowdTangle, a Facebook-owned content-monitoring system, to find voting misinformation in their states. CrowdTangle's dashboard covers public Facebook pages and groups but "doesn't include posts from most individual users or from private Facebook groups," according to the report from the Tech Transparency Project. It also doesn't include content from Instagram accounts with fewer than 75,000 followers.

"Facebook isn't providing states with all the data they need to spot disinformation, such as voter suppression efforts, ahead of the November election," the report concludes. The TTP is part of the Campaign for Accountability, a nonprofit research group that investigates corporate influence in Washington.

While the company uses its own machine-learning technology and fact checkers to flag misleading or inaccurate voting information, Facebook will be relying on election authorities to spot and report issues quickly during the vote, to help understand local issues and to decide what to prioritize. The social-media company has expanded its policies to label or remove more voting misinformation ahead of the U.S. election, including posts from politicians that claim victory before official results are available.

But Facebook has also been criticized for failing to enforce its voting misinformation policy against President Donald Trump, who has used the service to share misleading information about vote-by-mail efforts in various states. Experts fear voting misinformation could flourish in the lead-up to the election on social platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter Inc.

A Facebook spokeswoman said the company doesn't rely on election officials for the vast majority of its fact checking, but has established a dedicated reporting channel for those officials to report "suspicious claims about voting and polling conditions." The company said it doesn't allow most individual accounts to be monitored using CrowdTangle for privacy reasons.

"There is no silver bullet to combating misinformation, which is why we're taking a multi-pronged approach that includes a global fact-checking program and ongoing work with state election authorities to fight voter suppression," the representative said in a statement.

TTP said that Facebook has pushed CrowdTangle as a good tool for election authorities. Emails obtained using public records requests show Facebook was suggesting the service in March of this year, and also presented the tool to state officials last fall, according to the report. "We want to leverage the on-the-ground knowledge that you have on the threats to election integrity in your state," a Facebook employee told officials during a CrowdTangle training presentation last October.

But Facebook itself has questioned CrowdTangle's usefulness in detecting viral content on the service. CrowdTangle measures engagement -- likes, comments and shares -- but doesn't measure total impressions, or the number of times a story appears in front of a Facebook user, even if they don't engage with it. A Facebook product executive in July tweeted that popular story lists compiled using CrowdTangle "don't represent what most people see" on Facebook.

"That argument appears to undercut what Facebook has been telling state officials -- that CrowdTangle is an effective way to track the 'most seen content' on the platform," TTP wrote in its report.

Facebook has criticized previous reports from TTP, including one that suggested the company delayed a voter registration drive because of criticism from Republican officials. TTP was formerly the Google Transparency Project, which published several critical studies of the internet giant. Oracle Corp., a rival of Google, confirmed in 2016 that it was one of the funders of the project, but TTP Director Katie Paul said it no longer accepts corporate funding.
Asylum seekers and other migrants are being told to report to the Home Office in person again following a suspension of the measures during lockdown, prompting fears that vulnerable people are being placed at risk as coronavirus cases rise across the country.

People who are awaiting a decision on their application to remain in the UK  including modern slavery victims and torture survivors  are required to regularly sign on at their local reporting location.

This requirement was temporarily suspended in March because of the pandemic, but over the last two months the Home Office has been sending texts to people stating that they must start reporting in person again due to the easing of Covid lockdown measures.

Campaigners said the decision was placing some vulnerable and disabled people at risk, and that doing so at a time when coronavirus infections were rising suggested that the government was placing more importance on looking tough on immigration than keeping people safe.

A Home Office spokesperson said those who had been told they must start reporting again mainly comprised a small number of vulnerable people for whom reporting is beneficial, as well as foreign national offenders and recent small-boat arrivals.

However, lawyers said people who had been formally identified as modern slavery victims were among those being asked to report in person, as well as asylum seekers who were not receiving any financial support to enable them to pay to get to the reporting centres.

In one case, an asylum seeker currently placed in a hotel in Epping received notice from the Home Office two weeks ago that he must sign on at a reporting centre in Hounslow  a journey of one hour and 45 minutes on Tube and train.

As the man is being accommodated in a hotel where meals are provided, he is not in receipt of the weekly allowance usually granted to asylum seekers  meaning he had no money to travel to the reporting centre. In the end, a charity provided him with the funds to make the journey.

In another immigrants case, Farhad Rony, 32, has had to sign on with the Home Office three times since he was told on 10 August that he must start reporting in person again  requiring him to take a 45-minute train ride into central London each time.

The Bangladeshi national, who has lived in the UK for more than 16 years but had immigration status withdrawn in 2015 after he was accused of cheating in an English test  an allegation he vehemently denies along with thousands of others who were caught up in the Toeic scandal  said he felt that he was being put at risk.

The government is asking people to stay at home. There is a rule of six. Theyre trying to protect the country to save peoples lives. Yet I am being asked to go there, he said.

They stopped it for a couple of months and made phone calls to me instead. I havent gone anywhere because of that. I dont understand why it is necessary to start again. Everybody says if you dont have to go out, you shouldnt go out, but its a different situation for us.

The place I go to report is next to one of the major hospitals and one of the major stations in London. Im having to go through very busy places. It is very stressful going to sign on, on top of this pandemic. Its another thing to worry about, especially when there are fears of a second wave.

Victoria Marks, director of the Anti Trafficking and Labour Exploitation Unit (ATLEU), which provides legal advice to trafficking survivors, said a number of the charitys clients had been told they must go back to signing on with the Home Office in person, and that imposing immigration reporting at this time was pointless and dangerous.

She continued: Forcing victims to travel long distances unaccompanied, in fear that they will be detained, worsens their already fragile mental health, places them at increased risk of harm and creates significant mistrust in the system.

Potential survivors have taken an important step in coming forward to be identified by the Home Office. They should be provided with the time and space to recover in safety. If the government are serious about tackling slavery, they should not treat survivors like criminals.

Jennifer Blair, co-head of legal protection at the Helen Bamber Foundation, said it was "not appropriate to make the most frail and vulnerable travel long distances to reporting centres during a public health crisis.

She said the charity had recorded a downturn in the mental health and wellbeing of the survivors of torture and human trafficking during the pandemic, and that the anxiety and burden caused by reporting was unnecessarily adding to that.

We remain concerned that reporting conditions are applied in a blanket way to many people who pose no risk to the public or of absconding, placing some very vulnerable and disabled people at risk," Ms Blair added.

Nazek Ramadan, director of Migrant Voice, said: The last few months have given people a welcome respite from the terror of being detained and deported  and that the Home Office are now restarting this, despite rising Covid infections, suggests that looking tough on immigration is more important to them than keeping people safe.

 Home Office to carry out review of hostile environment following Windrush says Priti Patel

A Home Office spokesperson said: In accordance with the latest government guidance on coronavirus, we safely reopened our reporting centres in July and August 2020 following the temporary suspension due to the pandemic.

Those currently reporting mainly include a small number of vulnerable people for whom reporting is beneficial, as well as foreign national offenders and recent small boat arrivals.

Safety is of the upmost importance and we continue to monitor the impact of any potential Covid restrictions on physical reporting.
The Justice Department defended the review process and the White Houses decision to deem the materials in Mr. Boltons book classified, citing sworn statements by national security officials. The publication of a memoir by a former national security adviser, right after his departure, is an unprecedented action, and it is not surprising that National Security Council staff would pay close attention to ensure that the book does not contain the release of classified information, said a department spokeswoman, Kerri Kupec.

A lawyer for Mr. Bolton, Charles J. Cooper, declined to comment on the specifics of the letter, but he said that his client had not asked Ms. Knight to disclose her account of events and that he had received a copy of the letter unexpectedly on Tuesday evening.

The document was an extraordinary twist in the legal saga surrounding Mr. Boltons book. The Trump administration unsuccessfully sought to block distribution of the book this year after it was printed, claiming despite Ms. Knights assessment that it contained large amounts of classified information. It is moving to seize his $2 million advance and has opened a criminal investigation, threatening charges for unauthorized disclosures of secrets.

But the letter called into question the premise underlying those efforts  that the book contains any classified information.

Mr. Wainstein recounted a series of irregularities that he said were unlike any other prepublication review Ms. Knight had handled in her two years working at the National Security Council.

Ms. Knight, after extensive work with Mr. Bolton to change his draft to eliminate classified information, had told his team informally in April that it no longer had any unpublishable material. But the White House never sent a formal letter saying the process was over, and political appointees in the White House directed Ms. Knight not to communicate with them in writing about the book.

In June, as the delay dragged on, Mr. Bolton and Simon & Schuster published the book, arguing that Ms. Knights informal assurance fulfilled the legal commitment he had undertaken, as a condition of receiving his security clearance, to submit future writings about his job to prepublication review.
Electrochemical reactions, which will play an important role in the future of energy supply, can now be explained in detail, thanks to measurements carried out by TU Wien and DESY

Electrochemistry is playing an increasingly important role: Whether it is fuel cells, electrolysis or chemical energy storage, chemical reactions controlled by electric current are used. The decisive factor in all these applications is that the reactions are as fast and efficient as possible.

An important step forward has now been taken by a team from TU Wien (Vienna) and DESY in Hamburg: They showed that a special material made of lanthanum, strontium, iron and oxygen can be switched back and forth between two different states: In one state the material is catalytically extremely active, in the other less so. The reason for this is the behavior of tiny iron nanoparticles on the surface, which has now been demonstrated in experiments at the German Electron Synchrotron DESY in Hamburg. This finding should now make it possible to develop even better catalysts. The result has been published in the journal "Nature Communications".

Electrical voltage causes oxygen ions to migrate

"We have been using perovskites for our electrochemical experiments for years," says Prof. Alexander Opitz from the Institute of Chemical Technologies and Analytics. "Perovskites are a very diverse class of materials, some of them are excellent catalysts." The surface of the perovskites can help to bring certain reactants into contact with each other - or to separate them again. "Above all, perovskites have the advantage that they are permeable to oxygen ions. Therefore, they can conduct electric current, and we are taking advantage of this," explains Alexander Opitz.

When an electrical voltage is applied to the perovskite, oxygen ions are released from their place within the crystal and start to migrate through the material. If the voltage exceeds a certain value, this leads to iron atoms in the perovskite migrating as well. They move to the surface and form tiny particles there, with a diameter of only a few nanometers. Essentially, these nanoparticles are excellent catalysts.

"The interesting thing is that if one reverses the electric voltage, the catalytic activity decreases again. And so far the reason for this was unclear," says Alexander Opitz. "Some people suspected that the iron atoms would simply migrate back into the crystal, but that's not true. When the effect takes place, the iron atoms do not have to leave their place on the material surface at all."

Analysis with X-rays at DESY

The research team at TU Wien collaborated with a team at the Electron Synchrotron in Hamburg (DESY) to precisely analyze the structure of the nanoparticles with X-rays while the chemical processes take place. It turned out that the nanoparticles change back and forth between two different states - depending on the voltage applied: "We can switch the iron particles between a metallic and an oxidic state," says Alexander Opitz. The applied voltage determines whether the oxygen ions in the material are pumped towards the iron nanoparticles or away from them. This allows to control how much oxygen is contained in the nanoparticles, and depending on the amount of oxygen, the nanoparticles can form two different structures - an oxygen-rich one, with low catalytic activity, and an oxygen-poor, i.e. metallic one, which is catalytically very active.

"This is a very important finding for us," says Alexander Opitz. "If the switching between the two states were caused by the iron atoms of the nanoparticle diffusing back into the crystal, very high temperatures would be needed to make this process run efficiently. Now that we understand that the activity change is not related to the diffusion of iron atoms but to the change between two different crystal structures, we also know that comparatively low temperatures can be sufficient. This makes this type of catalyst even more interesting because it can potentially be used to accelerate technologically relevant reactions.

From hydrogen to energy storage

This catalytic mechanism is now to be further investigated, also for materials with slightly different compositions. It could increase the efficiency of many applications. "This is particularly interesting for chemical reactions that are important in the energy sector," says Alexander Opitz. "For example, when it comes to the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas, or to energy storage by producing fuel with electric current."

###

Contact

Prof. Alexander Opitz

Institute of Chemical Technology and Analytics

TU Wien

+43 1 58801 15860

alexander.opitz@tuwien.ac.at
Washington, D.C.--(Newsfile Corp. - September 23, 2020) - The Securities and Exchange Commission today voted to adopt amendments to modernize its shareholder proposal rule, which governs the process for a shareholder to have its proposal included in a company's proxy statement for consideration by all of the company's shareholders. The principal requirements for: (1) initial inclusion in the proxy statement - the amount and length of ownership of the proposing shareholder - and (2) for subsequent resubmission if the proposal is not approved - the amount of support from other shareholders - have not been substantively amended since 1998 and 1954, respectively.

The amendments will facilitate engagement among shareholder-proponents, companies and other shareholders, including preserving the ability of smaller shareholders to access the proxy statements of the companies in which they have demonstrated a continuing interest. Under the rules, any shareholder may submit an initial proposal after having held $2,000 of company stock for at least three years, or higher amounts for shorter periods of time. The rules also provide for a transition period so that shareholders who are currently eligible at the $2,000 threshold will remain eligible to submit a proposal for inclusion in the company's proxy statement so long as they continue to maintain at least their current holdings through the date of submission (and through the date of the relevant meeting).

"Today's amendments reflect many years of the staff's engagement with investors and market participants as well as their extensive experience with shareholder proposals," said Chairman, Jay Clayton. "These amendments ensure there is an appropriate alignment of interests between shareholder-proponents and their fellow shareholders and illustrate again why retrospective review and, as appropriate, modernization of our rules is necessary. There have been many significant changes in communication methods and technology, as well as the methods investors, particularly retail investors, use to access our markets in the 20 years and 75 years since the initial and resubmission thresholds were last revised. I would like to commend the staff for their dedicated efforts to improve the proxy process, and I thank Commissioner Roisman for his leadership on this initiative."

"I want to thank Chairman Clayton for making this rulemaking a priority on behalf of investors," said Commissioner, Elad Roisman. "The only constant in our markets is the fact that they will change. It is our job as regulators to make sure our rules keep pace. The amendments to Rule 14a-8 that the Commission adopted today aim to ensure that shareholder-proponents demonstrate a sufficient economic stake or investment interest in a company before they are able to submit proposals to be included in a company proxy's statement, paid for by all shareholders."

In updating the initial submission criteria, the amendments help ensure that a shareholder's ability to have a proposal included in a company's proxy materials-and thus to draw on company resources and to command the time and attention of the company and other shareholders-appropriately takes into consideration the interests of not only the shareholder who submits a proposal, but also the other shareholders who bear the costs associated with reviewing, considering and voting on such proposals in the company's proxy statement.

The amendments also update, for the first time since 1954, the levels of shareholder support a proposal must receive to be eligible for resubmission at future shareholder meetings, so as to relieve companies and their shareholders of the obligation to consider, and spend resources on, matters that had previously been voted on and rejected by a substantial majority of shareholders without sufficient indication that a proposal could gain traction among the broader shareholder base in the near future.

The amendments are based on the staff's extensive experience reviewing shareholder proposals. In 2018 alone, almost 5,700 proxy materials were filed with the Commission, and the staff in the Division of Corporation Finance received more than 250 no-action requests relating to shareholder proposals. As explained in the proposing release and referenced in the adopting release, as part of their efforts to appropriately calibrate the resubmission thresholds, the staff conducted a review of shareholder proposals that ultimately received a majority of the votes cast on a second or subsequent submission between 2011 and 2018. Of those proposals that ultimately went on to receive majority support, 98 percent of the proposals started with support of over 5 percent of the votes cast in their first submission. Of the proposals that obtained majority support on their third or subsequent submissions, approximately 95 percent received support of over 15 percent on their second submission, and 100 percent received support of over 25 percent on their third or subsequent submission.

***

FACT SHEET

SEC Open Meeting

September 23, 2020

Action

The Securities and Exchange Commission today adopted amendments to Exchange Act Rule 14a-8, the shareholder-proposal rule. The Commission's amendments are intended to help ensure that the ability to have a proposal included alongside management's in a company's proxy materials-and thus to draw on company and shareholder resources and to command the time and attention of the company and other shareholders-is appropriately calibrated and takes into consideration the interests of not only the shareholder who submits a proposal but also the company and other shareholders who bear the costs associated with the inclusion of such proposals in the company's proxy statement.

Background

The Commission's adoption of these amendments is part of its ongoing focus on improving the proxy process and the ability of shareholders to exercise their voting rights. SEC staff have been deeply involved in the proxy process for decades and review hundreds of unique shareholder proposals and other proxy materials each year. Over the years, the Commission has become aware of the need to update certain aspects of the rule, which have not been reviewed by the Commission in more than 20 years and not substantively changed since 1998 in the case of the initial submission eligibility thresholds and 1954 in the case of the resubmission shareholder support thresholds.

Highlights

The final amendments will, among other things:

amend Rule 14a-8(b) by: replacing the current ownership threshold, which requires holding at least $2,000 or 1% of a company's securities for at least one year, with three alternative thresholds that will require a shareholder to demonstrate continuous ownership of at least: $2,000 of the company's securities for at least three years; $15,000 of the company's securities for at least two years; or $25,000 of the company's securities for at least one year. prohibiting the aggregation of holdings for purposes of satisfying the amended ownership thresholds; requiring that a shareholder who elects to use a representative for the purpose of submitting a shareholder proposal provide documentation to make clear that the representative is authorized to act on the shareholder's behalf and to provide a meaningful degree of assurance as to the shareholder's identity, role and interest in a proposal that is submitted for inclusion in a company's proxy statement; and requiring that each shareholder state that he or she is able to meet with the company, either in person or via teleconference, no less than 10 calendar days, nor more than 30 calendar days, after submission of the shareholder proposal, and provide contact information as well as specific business days and times that the shareholder is available to discuss the proposal with the company.



amend Rule 14a-8(c) by: applying the one-proposal rule to "each person" rather than "each shareholder" who submits a proposal, such that a shareholder-proponent will not be permitted to submit one proposal in his or her own name and simultaneously serve as a representative to submit a different proposal on another shareholder's behalf for consideration at the same meeting. Likewise, a representative will not be permitted to submit more than one proposal to be considered at the same meeting, even if the representative were to submit each proposal on behalf of different shareholders.



amend Rule 14a-8(i)(12) by: revising the levels of shareholder support a proposal must receive to be eligible for resubmission at the same company's future shareholder meetings from 3%, 6% and 10% for matters previously voted on once, twice or three or more times in the last five years, respectively, with thresholds of 5%, 15% and 25%, respectively. For example, a proposal would need to achieve support by at least 5% of the voting shareholders in its first submission in order to be eligible for resubmission in the following three years. Proposals submitted two and three times in the prior five years would need to achieve 15% and 25% support, respectively, in order to be eligible for resubmission in the following three years.



What's Next?

The amendments will be effective 60 days after publication in the Federal Register, and the final amendments will apply to any proposal submitted for an annual or special meeting to be held on or after January 1, 2022. The final rules also provide for a transition period with respect to the ownership thresholds that will allow shareholders meeting specified conditions to rely on the $2,000/one-year ownership threshold for proposals submitted for an annual or special meeting to be held prior to January 1, 2023.
Boris Johnson is being urged to take action on 'long Covid' and formally recognise debilitating side effects of the disease that can last for months after recovery, such as fatigue, heart palpitations and breathing difficulties.

MPs have called on the Government to 'urgently' address the problem, saying that Number 10 must first acknowledge that it exists.

The group said it had heard 'incredibly moving and concerning' testimonials from hundreds of people with persistent symptoms, including those who had been fit and healthy before being struck with Covid-19.

Layla Moran, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) group on coronavirus, said Westminster must commit resources to a rapid inquiry.

Matt Hancock has already admitted that he is 'worried' about the long term impacts plaguing coronavirus 'long-haulers', and has used it as a warning to young people who think they are immune to the disease.

This graph shows how many patients reported each symptom when they were admitted to hospital and 12 weeks later. It shows the initial symptoms of a fever, cough and loss of taste/smell have reduced. But breathlessness, excessive fatigue and muscle aches have persisted

Ms Moran said the Government needed to take action to address the health, wellbeing and employment arrangements of people living with the effects of 'long Covid', and provide the necessary support.

Writing in the British Medical Journal today, the Liberal Democrat MP for Oxford West and Abingdon also warned that as the number of people with long Covid increases, the situation will become 'more and more urgent'.

She said: 'In August, we heard from people living with long Covid and hundreds more sufferers submitted written evidence to our inquiry.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF LONG COVID AND HOW BAD IS THE PROBLEM? Covid-19 is described as a short-term illness caused by infection with the novel SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. Public health officials tend to say people will recover within two weeks or so. However it's become increasingly clear that this is not the case for everyone, and that the two-week period is only the 'acute illness' phase. The North Bristol NHS Trust's Discover project, which is studying the longer-term effects of coronavirus, is just one of a handful of studies to have shown the long impact of Covid-19. However it only studied hospital patients. A total of 163 patients with coronavirus were recruited to the study. Nineteen of those died. The remainder were invited for a three-month check-up and 110 attended. Most (74 per cent) had at least one persistent symptom after twelve weeks. The most common were: Excessive fatigue: 39%

Breathlessness: 39%

Insomnia: 24%

Muscle pain: 23%

Chest pain: 13%

Cough: 12%

Loss of smell: 12%

Headache, fever, joint pain and diarrhoea: Each less than 10% Patients who had suffered more severe Covid-19 reported more symptoms on their follow-up. Other long term symptoms that have been reported by Covid-19 survivors, both suspected and confirmed, anecdotally, include: Hearing problems

'Brain fog'

Memory loss

A lack of concentration

Mental health problems

Hair loss The impact of long Covid on people who had mild illness have not been studied in depth yet. Data from the King's College London symptom tracking app shows that up to 500,000 people in the UK are currently suffering from the long-term effects of Covid-19. That's according to the founder of the Long Covid Support Group, Claire Hastie, who said the lasting effects of Covid-19 had left her wheelchair-bound after being diagnosed in March. A survey recently found a third of British doctors have treated patients with long term Covid-19 symptoms, including chronic fatigue and anosmia. Advertisement

'Their testimonials were incredibly moving and concerning.'

One of these people was Claire Hastie, who is the founder of the Long Covid Support Group on Facebook.

She described how she used to cycle 13 miles to work but since her Covid-19 diagnosis in March, can no longer walk 13 metres and is now largely confined to a wheelchair with her children providing much of her care.

Dr Jake Suett, a staff grade doctor in anaesthetics and intensive care medicine, said: 'I was doing 12-hour shifts in ICU.

'And now a flight of stairs or the food shop is about what I can manage before I have to stop... if I'm on my feet then shortness of breath comes back, chest pain comes back.'

Ms Moran said: 'What was clear was that we needed to make some urgent recommendations to the Prime Minister; the health, wellbeing and employment arrangements for those living with long Covid remain unaddressed.

'And as the number of people with long Covid grows, the situation gets more and more urgent.'

The recommendations include more research into the condition and its long-term effects, new guidelines for employers and GPs to help sufferers return to work, and the regular collection of data on the number of people living with long Covid.

Ms Moran said that general awareness of long Covid and its seriousness was too low in Westminster.

She said she had written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson on August 24 with APPG's recommendation but had not received a response.

'It all has to start with formal recognition and we're not even there yet,' Ms Moran said.

'At the time of writing, I have not received any response from the Prime Minister to our recommendations.

'If we can't even respect those suffering with this condition by formally acknowledging their plight, how are we supposed to put the support in place that is clearly needed?

'What's clear is that general awareness of long Covid, and its seriousness, is too low in Westminster.

'That's why as an APPG we will continue to work hard in the coming weeks to raise awareness of it in both Houses of Parliament.

'After all, we're doing this to save lives. That's what matters.'

The true scale of long Covid is not known, partially because there is not yet a database to keep track of those suffering, but also because so many people who are convinced they suffered with Covid-19 never got a formal diagnosis, and it is too late to take a test now.

This makes it difficult to pinpoint exactly who is unwell due to Covid-19. However, many people suffering long term health problems claim to have a multitude of tests for other conditions, all of which have come back negative.

There have been a few studies on hospitalised Covid-19 patients, which only give part of the picture.

One study in Bristol has found almost three quarters of Covid-19 patients admitted to hospital still suffer symptoms three months later, the most common of which were fatigue and breathlessness.

And more than half of patients who had heart scans while in hospital with Covid-19 showed abnormal changes to their organ, according to the British Heart Foundation.

But even people who weren't hospitalised, and were once healthy and fit before being struck with the coronavirus, are battling side effects such as constant fatigue and muscle weakness, making it difficult to carry out basic daily tasks.

A survey recently found a third of British doctors have treated patients with long term Covid-19 symptoms, including chronic fatigue and anosmia.

Data from the King's College London symptom tracking app suggests that up to 500,000 people in the UK are currently suffering from the long-term effects of Covid-19.

The Government has pumped 10million into studies into the long-lasting effects of the disease, which some experts have called 'this generation's polio'.

The Department of Health announced that up to 10,000 people will be involved in the Leicester-led study to look at how people who catch the coronavirus fare long-term.

The UK's Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty has said the longer term impacts of Covid-19 on health 'may be significant'.
FAIRVIEW PARK, Ohio -- For the better part of the last six months seniors have been calling city hall asking when they can return to the Fairview Park Senior Center.

Despite the fact Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine released guidelines earlier this month allowing for such venues to open on Sept. 21, Fairview Park Mayor Patrick Cooney said the city currently doesnt have an exact date when seniors can return to the Lorain Road facility.

I dont have a timeframe, but it will not be this month, Cooney said. "Were working on it, and it will be sometime this year. With our vulnerable population, we want to be careful to protect everybody.

When we do reopen the senior center were not going to have a lot of congregate activities in the beginning. Itll be more classes and activities that are spread out, maybe movies and things of that nature. Well see how things go.

The mayor said the city plans on taking the same measured approach to reopening the senior center as it took regarding the reopening of the Gemini Center in late spring.

Having been in contact with other similar West Shore venues during the shutdown, Fairview Park Senior Center Interim Senior Life Director Laura Brondos said she was surprised to learn of DeWines Sept. 21 reopening date.

We were all not expecting a date until the end of the year for reopening, Brondos said.

Its going to be a phased approach on the governors mandate. Im thinking possibly in October as long as the staff is willing to return. Right now, its just me.

The Fairview Park Senior Center is also looking at potentially restarting its van service for essential senior travel to stores, doctor appointments and the bank in October.

When the Fairview Park Senior Center does reopen, Brondos said it will have a soft-opening feel.

It will be no-touch activities, which rules out a lot such as bingo, card playing and board games, Brondos said. We can do a weekly movie, we can do an art class or a small classroom and individual exercise classes.

When it does reopen, the Fairview Park Senior Center will implement strict guidelines that adhere to COVID-related safety protocols. Face coverings will be mandatory while inside the building with six-foot social distancing observed.

Participation in limited non-contact activities such as lectures, exercise and movies are capped at 10 people or less. Entrance to the senior center is limited by appointment or activity pre-registration. Walk-ups will not enter the facility.

The pre-registering helps us keep an eye on who is in the building for contract tracing purposes, Brondos said. "Also, congregate meals wont happen until at the very earliest in January.

We know seniors are ready to get back in there. I feel very bad for them. I know how much they miss this place. We look forward to opening as soon as we can do it safely.

Read more news from the Sun Post Herald here.
FilmMagic/FilmMagic for U.S.VETSBy MOLLY NAGLE, ABC News



(WASHINGTON) -- Cindy McCain, the widow of Sen. John McCain, has crossed party lines to offer her endorsement of Joe Biden, the Democratic nominee for president.



I, like everyone else, want to have a president that will have my back, that shows empathy and compassion, who has courage and dignity in how they lead and that's Joe Biden, McCain said on ABC's Good Morning America Wednesday morning.



I've known Joe for over 40 years, and my husband and I were good friends with them. And I just felt like it was time to take a stand on this, she said.



McCain first offered her endorsement in a statement released Tuesday night.



"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 Joe Biden," Cindy McCain said.



"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. 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 continued. "There is too much at risk in this election to sit on the sidelines. Everything this country stands for is on the line. I'll be putting our country first and voting for Joe Biden, and I hope you will join me."



News of Cindy McCain's endorsement first came from Biden himself, who revealed during a virtual fundraiser Tuesday afternoon that he was speaking with her about her impending endorsement.



"Maybe I shouldn't say it, but I'm about to go on one of these Zooms with John McCain's wife, who... 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 [the president] said they're losers, they're suckers," Biden said, alluding to a report by the Atlantic that President Donald Trump made disparaging remarks about service members.



ABC News has not independently confirmed The Atlantic report, which cites four unnamed sources with direct knowledge of the claims.



You know, you can say a lot of things but men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice are not losers, and people that serve are not losers, McCain added Wednesday.



Prior to her official endorsement of Biden, Cindy McCain hinted at her support, lending her voice to a video highlighting Biden's friendship with her late husband during the Democratic National Convention in August.



Trump responded to McCains endorsement in a tweet Wednesday morning, saying in part, Never a fan of John. Cindy can have Sleepy Joe!



Trump and the late senator had an adversarial relationship throughout the 2016 campaign and Trump's presidency, with the president arguing that he did not view McCain, who was held as a prisoner of war for more than five years during the Vietnam War, a hero, because he was captured.



The Republican senator, in turn, withdrew his support for Trump during the 2016 election following the release of the Access Hollywood video that featured Trump making lewd comments about women. He also further angered the president by delivering a "thumbs down" vote to thwart efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act in 2017.



Cindy McCain joins a growing list of Republicans who have offered their support to Biden -- including former Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake, Former Ohio Gov. John Kasich, and former Pennsylvania Rep. Charlie Dent -- and could help Biden win over disaffected Republicans in the 2020 election, which is just 41 days away.



Her endorsement also comes as Biden is looking to expand his electoral map to include Cindy McCain's home state of Arizona, with recent state polling showing he and Trump are in a tight race in the state.



Im hoping that I can convince suburban women who are kind of on the fence about things to come with me on this and step out of their comfort zone and join Team Biden and, and vote a man in who would be not only a marvelous president, who shows the character the integrity, the values, and the wherewithal to be present, McCain said on GMA.



Biden and John McCain shared a bipartisan friendship throughout their long political careers that included facing off against one another in the 2008 presidential election. Following McCain's death in 2018 from Glioblastoma, Biden gave a tearful eulogy of his friend.



"My name is Joe Biden. I'm a Democrat. And I loved John McCain," said Biden, who lost his son Beau in 2015 to the same disease that claimed John McCain's life.



"I always thought of John as a brother," he added. "We had a hell of a lot of family fights. We go back a long way."



In a tweet Tuesday night, Biden thanked Cindy McCain for her support.



"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," he wrote.



Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
[September 23, 2020] Migration to Cloud-based Business Operations wil Boost Growth in Switzerland Data Center Market Sydney, Sept. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of Paul Budde Communications focus report on Switzerland outlines the major developments and key aspects in the telecoms markets. Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Switzerland-Data-Center-Market-Investment-Analysis-and-Growth-Opportunities-2020-2025 Switzerland is ranked 12th in the world for mobile internet speed and 4th for fixed broadband. Over 90% of consumers and businesses in Singapore will have access to over 80 Mbps internet speed by 2021. Cloud computing adoption has experienced a considerable rate of growth in Switzerland, with an increase in data volumes. Increased digitalization of business is leading to the adoption of the public cloud, which is expected to witness at least 10% growth YoY between 2020-2025. In 2019, the market witnessed a surge in the entry of cloud service providers to support local business adherence to the data protection law. Google, Oracle, and Microsoft opened their cloud regions in the country. The adoption of big data is increasing in Switzerland with 35% of enterprises using big data and analytics for business operational needs. Telecommunication, finance, and banking segments are the major sectors deploying big data technology in Switzerland. What is the Impact of the Current COVID-19 Pandemic in the Switzerland Market? The construction projects have continued in Switzerland amid the outbreak of COVID-19. The impact of the virus is low in the country. However, this is likely to vary based on the spread of COVID-19, and the impact on upcoming projects scheduled to be opened in Q4 2020and 2021 could be high. What are Key Factors Attracting Investments in Switzerland? In 2019, Switzerland public cloud spending grew by 15% YoY. SaaS service continues to dominate, however, the demand for platform as a service (PaaS) and infrastructure as a service (IaaS) related will experience a surge of over 15% YoY between 2020 and 2025. Switzerland is among the leading countries in the European region to deploy 5G network. Swisscom and Ericsson partnered to deploy the network across cities in Switzerland. The 5G network became operational on April 2020 in 54 cities. Swisscom is expected to cover 90% of the country with 5G connectivity by end of 2020. The increasing smart building initiatives is fueling the demand for sensor systems for preventive and predictive maintenance of buildings. Switzerland has become a hub for artificial intelligence (AI) with major cloud providers such as IBM and Google investing in AI research. What Business Intelligence does this Report Provide? The report provides Switzerland 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 Switzerland data center market is included in the report. Furthermore, the report also includes a detailed analysis of the colocation industry in Switzerland, and retail & wholesale colocation pricing in Switzerland. A detailed study of the existing market landscape, an in-depth industry analysis, and insightful predictions about the Switzerland data center market size during 2020-2025, is included in this exclusive report. The report further categorizes the Switzerland 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 Switzerland data center market. Key Developments Mission-critical and high-performance server systems are likely to dominate due to the increase in the implementation of IoT related technology.

The growing demand for smart devices, analytics cloud solutions has led several Switzerland organizations to invest in IoT technology.

The adoption of 200/400 GbE ports will increase and have a significant impact on data center interconnection solutions.

The majority of facilities are built to be of Tier III standards, with N+1 redundant configuration in UPS systems.

Monitored and metered/switched PDUs will experience strong adoption in the market owing to the growing awareness of end-to-end power monitoring solutions in data centers during the forecast period. Key Companies Mentioned in this Report Include IT Infrastructure Providers  Atos, Arista, Broadcom, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Cisco, Huawei, NetApp, Dell Technologies, IBM, Lenovo Construction Service Providers - cpcm Construction Project Cost Management Ltd., Arup, DPR Construction, Turner & Townsend, Gruner, ffbk Architects, Basler & Hofmann, steigerconcept AG, ISG Plc Support Infrastructure Providers  ABB, Caterpillar, Cummins, Eaton, Legrand, STULZ, Schneider Electric, Vertiv, Euro-Diesel (KINOLT), Rittal, KOHLER(SDMO), Trane (Ingersoll Rand), Socomec Data Center Investors - NTS Workspace AG, Equinix, Interxion, Green Datacenter, CKW, ewl energy water lucerne, Vantage Data Center

Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Switzerland-Data-Center-Market-Investment-Analysis-and-Growth-Opportunities-2020-2025 Nicolas Bombourg [email protected] Europe Office +44 207 097 1241 Oceania Office +61 280 767 665

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September 23, 2020 - More than two-thirds of women orthopaedic surgeons report experiencing sexual harassment during their residency training, according to a survey study in Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research (CORR), a publication of The Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons. The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.

Sexual harassment of women during orthopaedic training appears pervasive, and its frequency has hardly improved over the past several decades, reports the study by Emily Whicker, MD, of University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and colleagues. "Sexual harassment as reported by women orthopaedic trainees remains pervasive across training programs throughout the United States," the researchers write.

A 'Wake-up Call' for Orthopaedic Surgery: Women Surgeons Say #MeToo

The anonymous online survey targeted members of a professional society for women orthopaedic surgeons. Adapted from a general questionnaire about sexual harassment in the workplace, the survey included questions about the nature of the harassment, who the harasser was, and whether the incident was reported.

Two hundred fifty women orthopaedic surgeons completed the survey, representing a 37 percent response rate. While surveys are susceptible to non-response bias, even if all non-responders had nothing to report in terms of harassment, the proportion of women who experienced harassment would still be one in four. In addition, a large number of women's experiences were represented: of the 250 surgeons responding, 20 percent were current residents and the balance had trained sometime in the past 30 years.

Overall, 68 percent of women said they were sexually harassed during their orthopaedic training. Harassment was reported by 59 percent of current trainees compared to 71 percent for practicing surgeons. The authors had thought that current residents might be less likely to report harassment -at a time of growing awareness including the #MeToo movement. "However, this was not the case, and our results suggest that increased awareness has not yet translated to a decrease in proportion," Dr. Whicker and coauthors write.

Common types of harassment included obscene images, unwanted touching, and unwanted sexual invitations. While about 70 percent of women reporting harassment said they were harassed by other residents who were men, over 40 percent reported harassment by attending surgeons who were men. Rates of reported harassment were similar across US regions.

Only 15 percent of women who were harassed reported the incident. Current residents were more likely to report harassment than past residents: 26 versus 11 percent. The women's reasons for not reporting included negative impact on their careers, feeling that reporting was "pointless" because no action would be taken, or because the harasser was a superior.

The survey adds to previous evidence that women experience high rates of sexual harassment during medical training, and specifically in orthopaedic surgery: a specialty that historically has had low proportions of women surgeons. "In light of these findings, training programs should consider implementing specific training and awareness programs that target not only the trainees, but also attending surgeons," Dr. Whicker and coauthors write. They believe that efforts to recruit more women to orthopaedic surgery and to increase the number of women in leadership and mentorship positions will also be essential.

The new research "has clearly documented and confirmed that sexual harassment exists to a meaningful degree in orthopaedic surgery," according to a CORR Insights perspective piece by Joseph D. Zuckerman, MD, of NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital, and professor and chair of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York City.. He outlines an approach to correcting the problem - including his experience in recognizing and addressing sexual harassment in his own department.

Dr. Zuckerman believes the survey findings should be a "wake-up call" throughout orthopaedic surgery. "We need to listen to what our female colleagues have described and we need to learn from the experiences they have reported," he concludes. "And most importantly, we need to make it much, much better."

###

Click here to read "What Proportion of Women Orthopaedic Surgeons Report Having Been Sexually Harassed During Residency Training? A Survey Study."

DOI: 10.1097/CORR.0000000000001454

Devoted to disseminating new and important orthopaedic knowledge, Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research is a leading peer-reviewed orthopaedic journal and a publication of The Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons. CORR brings readers the latest clinical and basic research and informed opinions that shape today's orthopaedic practice, thereby providing an opportunity to practice evidence-based medicine. With contributions from leading clinicians and researchers around the world, we aim to be the premier journal providing an international perspective advancing knowledge of the musculoskeletal system.

About the Association of Bone & Joint Surgeons

The mission of The Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons is to advance the science and practice of orthopaedic surgery by creating, evaluating, and disseminating new knowledge and by facilitating interaction among all orthopedic specialties. Founded in 1947 as the "American Bone and Joint Association," ABJS membership is offered by invitation only to orthopaedic surgeons who have been certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery.

About Wolters Kluwer

Wolters Kluwer (WKL) is a global leader in professional information, software solutions, and services for the clinicians, nurses, accountants, lawyers, and tax, finance, audit, risk, compliance, 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.

Wolters Kluwer provides trusted clinical technology and evidence-based solutions that engage clinicians, patients, researchers and students with advanced clinical decision support, learning and research and clinical intelligence. For more information about our solutions, visit https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/health and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter @WKHealth.

For more information, visit http://www.wolterskluwer.com, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM), operator of financial markets for over 11,000 U.S. and global securities, today announced Altus Strategies Plc (AIM: ALS; TSX-V: ALTS;OTCQX: ALTUF), a precious metal focused royalty generator with a focus on Africa, has qualified to trade on the OTCQX Best Market. Altus Strategies PLC upgraded to OTCQX from the Pink market.

Altus Strategies PLC begins trading today on OTCQX under the symbol "ALTUF." U.S. investors can find current financial disclosure and Real-Time Level 2 quotes for the company on www.otcmarkets.com.

Upgrading to the OTCQX Market is an important step for companies seeking to provide transparent trading for their U.S. investors. For companies listed on a qualified international exchange, streamlined market standards enable them to utilize their home market reporting to make their information available in the U.S. To qualify for OTCQX, companies must meet high financial standards, follow best practice corporate governance and demonstrate compliance with applicable securities laws.

Steven Poulton, Chief Executive of Altus, commented: "Altus is a precious metal focused royalty generator with a number of notable institutional and retail shareholders who are based in the US. OTCQX is the highest tier of the OTC Market and we are delighted to be admitted to trading as a means of increasing our visibility to prospective investors and provide them with the opportunity to participate in our continued progress."

MCAP LLC acted as the company's OTCQX sponsor.

About Altus Strategies Plc

Altus is a mining royalty company generating a diversified and precious metal focused portfolio of assets. The Company's focus on Africa and differentiated approach, of generating royalties on its own discoveries as well as through financings and acquisitions with third parties, has attracted key institutional investor backing. The Company engages constructively with all stakeholders, working diligently to minimise its environmental impact and to promote positive economic and social outcomes in the communities where it operates. For further information, please visit www.altus-strategies.com.

About OTC Markets Group Inc.

OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM) operates the OTCQX Best Market, the OTCQB Venture Market and the Pink Open Market for 11,000 U.S. and global securities. Through OTC Link ATS and OTC Link ECN, we connect a diverse network of broker-dealers that provide liquidity and execution services. We enable investors to easily trade through the broker of their choice and empower companies to improve the quality of information available for investors.

To learn more about how we create better informed and more efficient markets, visit www.otcmarkets.com.

OTC Link ATS and OTC Link ECN are SEC regulated ATSs, operated by OTC Link LLC, member FINRA/SIPC.

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Pakistan's military said two of its soldiers were killed on September 23 by Indian fire in an unprovoked cease-fire violation in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir.

In a statement, it said Pakistani troops responded by targeting the Indian posts where the fire originated, causing substantial damage" on the Indian side.

The Indian military accused Pakistan of initiating the clashes, saying Pakistani troops fired bullets and mortar shells along the Line of Control in the southern Poonch district early on September 23. India did not report any casualties.

India and Pakistan have routinely accused each other of unprovoked attacks along the tense Kashmir frontier in violation of a 2003 cease-fire agreement. Pakistan says India has violated the truce more than 2,000 times this year alone.

The region is split between the two countries, which each claim it in its entirety. India and Pakistan have fought two wars over Kashmir.

Tensions soared in February 2019, when Pakistan shot down an Indian warplane in Kashmir and captured a pilot in response to an airstrike by Indian aircraft targeting militants inside Pakistan. India said the strikes targeted Pakistan-based militants responsible for a suicide bombing that killed 40 Indian troops in the Indian-controlled part of Kashmir.

Relations have been further strained since August of last year, when India revoked the Muslim-majority regions decades-old semi-autonomous status, touching off anger on both sides of the frontier. Since then, troops have frequently traded fire, leaving dozens of civilians and soldiers dead on both sides.
Johnson & Johnson is entering the final stage of its clinical trial to determine if its experimental single-dose COVID-19 vaccine can protect against the virus.

The Phase III study, beginning on Wednesday, will be one of the world's largest coronavirus vaccine studies so far, testing the shot in up to 60,000 volunteers at more than 200 sites in the US, South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru.

A handful of other vaccines in the US, including jabs made by Moderna Inc and Pfizer Inc - and others around the world are already in final-stage testing.

J&J says, if trials prove the inoculation is safe and effective, it could be ready for emergency approval by early 2021.

Hopes are high that answers about at least one candidate being tested in the US could come by year's end, maybe sooner.

Johnson & Johnson entered Phase III of clinical trials for its experimental coronavirus vaccine on Wednesday. Pictured: Lab technicians speak with each other during research on coronavirus at J&J subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceutical in Beerse, Belgium, June 17

Unlike those being tested by other companies, J&J's jab does not need to be frozen and may require one dose instead of two. Pictured: J&J's single-dose COVID-19 vaccine being developed by the company, September 2020

President Trump tweeted the news about J&J and said the FDA 'must move quickly' to approve a COVID-19 vaccine (above)

There are more than 170 coronavirus vaccine candidates in various stages of development around the globe, according to the World Health Organization.

At least 10, including J&J, are currently in large-scale trials in humans to prove the jabs are both safe and effective.

J&J's vaccine combines genetic material from the new virus with the genes of the adenovirus - which causes the common cold - to induce an immune response.

It is the same technology the company used to make an experimental Ebola vaccine for people in the Democratic Republic of Congo in late 2019.

Unlike those of other drugmakers, J&J's vaccine does not need to be frozen and may require only one dose instead of two.

Despite a later start to testing than some of its competitors, Dr Paul Stoffels, J&J's chief scientific officer, told reporters that the study was large enough to yield answers possibly by early next year.

US health officials insist the race for a vaccine isn't cutting corners.

'We want to do everything we can without sacrificing safety or efficacy - we're not going to do that - to make sure that we end up with vaccines that are going to save lives,' Dr Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, told reporters.

But many vaccine specialists question whether the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will stick to that goal under intense pressure from the Trump administration.

President Donald Trump has consistently presented a faster timeline for a new vaccine than experts say is adequate to fully test the candidates.

On Wednesday, Trump tweeted the link to a news report about the J&J study and wrote: 'Big news. Numerous great companies are seeing fantastic results. @FDA must move quickly!'

Meanwhile, testing of still another experimental vaccine, made by AstraZeneca, remains on hold in the US as officials examine a safety question, even though studies have resumed in other countries.

Earlier this week, in a call, Vice President Mike Pence urged state governors to 'do your part to build public confidence that it will be a safe and effective vaccine.'

And Dr Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, added in the call to governors that he is confident in 'a tried and true process' that has checks and balances built in, including an independent board evaluating the progress of each vaccine trial, as well as 'the integrity of the FDA.'

Senators were scheduled to question FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn, Fauci and other administration officials later on Wednesday about the pandemic response.

Even if the FDA were to allow emergency use of a vaccine by year's end, supplies would be limited and given first to vulnerable groups such as health workers.

Health experts say that most Americans aren't likely to receive a vaccine until sometime next year.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) wants states to get ready now to roll out vaccinations, which will present enormous logistical challenges.

On Wednesday the CDC was set to announce distribution of $200 million in congressionally approved funds to help begin setting up operations.

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said the COVID-19 vaccine campaign will build on longstanding cooperation between the federal government and the states on immunizations.
Master Trooper Chris Hollingsworth died in a car crash Tuesday hours after learning he would be fired for his role last year in the in-custody death of a black man

A Louisiana state trooper died following a single-vehicle highway crash that happened just hours after he learned he would be fired for his role last year in the in-custody death of a black man.

Master Trooper Chris Hollingsworth was pronounced dead Tuesday following a brief hospitalization, said Warren Lee, chief investigator for the Ouachita Parish Coroner's Office.

Hollingsworth had been airlifted to Shreveport after crashing his personal vehicle on Interstate 20 near Monroe at around 3am Monday morning while off-duty.

Police have not released any details about how the crash occurred but WBRZ reported that the vehicle had been traveling at a high rate of speed.

Monroe Police Department are investigating the wreck. The autopsy and toxicology reports are pending.

Hours before, Hollingsworth had received word that State Police intended to terminate him following an internal investigation into the May 2019 death of Ronald Greene, a case that has drawn mounting scrutiny and become the subject of a federal civil rights investigation.

Authorities initially said Greene died after crashing his vehicle into a tree following a high-speed chase in rural northern Louisiana that began over an unspecified traffic violation.

But Greene's family alleges troopers used excessive force and 'brutalized' him while taking him into custody.

State Police, despite growing pressure, have repeatedly declined to release body-camera footage and other records related to Greene's arrest.

Ronald Greene, pictured, died in May 2019 after authorities say he crashed into a tree following a high-speed chase in rural northern Louisiana that began over an unspecified traffic violation. His family claim that state police brutalized him and caused his death

This undated photo provided by the family of Ronald Greene in September 2020 shows Greene's vehicle after it was released by the Louisiana State Police. The police claim he denied from injuries sustained in the crash but Greene's family filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit in May 2020 alleging troopers 'brutalized' Greene and caused his death

State Police spokesman Capt. Chavez Cammon said it could not be released as it's the subject of an 'administrative and criminal' investigation.

Hollingsworth was placed on leave the same day that the Associated Press filed a records request for the footage.

Gov. John Bel Edwards said Tuesday he has not seen the footage but pledged to make it public once the ongoing investigations are concluded.

'When that happens,' he said, 'the videos will be shown.'

Greene's family called for 'the immediate arrest of the remaining men responsible for this tragic and unnecessary death'.

'Trooper Hollingsworth's family has the finality of knowing exactly how he died as their community mourns his loss,' said Lee Merritt, a prominent civil rights attorney representing the family.

'The family of Ronald Greene, however, is still being denied the same finality by the State of Louisiana.'

Police are investigating Hollingsworth's crash. He was off duty and in his personal vehicle

While Greene's death was ruled accidental, Merritt claimed 'the physical evidence we've been able to review is inconsistent with the manner of death that they've described'.

Greene's family filed a federal wrongful-death lawsuit in May alleging troopers 'brutalized' Greene, used a stun gun on him three times and 'left him beaten, bloodied and in cardiac arrest' before covering up his actual cause of death.

The controversy deepened last week when Greene's family released graphic photographs showing deep bruises and cuts to his face, and other photos showing his car with little damage.

That raised questions about whether Greene received those injuries in a car crash - as authorities initially told his family - or when troopers arrested him.

The pictures were widely shared after being posted on Facebook by the president of the N.A.A.C.P.'s Baton Rouge branch

The family of Ronald Greene, pictured, is fighting to have the body-cam footage of his death

State Police have said only that the 49-year-old Greene died 'after resisting arrest and a struggle with troopers' who took him into custody.

The single-page report says that the chase ended when he crashed his vehicle.

'Greene was taken into custody after resisting arrest and a struggle with Troopers,' the report says, adding that he 'became unresponsive' and died on the way to a local hospital.

The report doesn't describe any use of force by troopers.

'Obviously the body cam footage is critical,' said Mark Maguire, an attorney also representing Greene's family.

The agency opened an internal investigation into the case last month and placed Hollingsworth on paid leave September 9.

No disciplinary action has been announced against the other five troopers involved.

Two law enforcement officials told Associated Press that State Police are investigating whether one of the responding troopers improperly turned off his body camera during Greene's arrest.

Edwards said Tuesday he was 'not comfortable in saying that I'm happy' with the amount of time - more than 15 months - that passed between Greene's death and the opening of the State Police internal investigation.

He added, however, that 'there are reasons for that, and there's an approach that has been taken for as long as anybody can remember when you have criminal investigations that are ongoing'.

'Whether that continues to be the most appropriate approach to that, I'm not sure,' he said.

'We're going to be taking a look into that and whether some changes are necessary.'

Greene's death is also the subject of a civil rights investigation by the FBI and the U.S. Justice Department.

Family members of Ronald Greene listen to speakers as they gather at the Lincoln Memorial for the March on Washington on August 28. Greene died in police custody following a high-speed chase in Louisiana in 2019 but his family question the authorities version of events

State Police claim that the 49-year-old Greene died 'after resisting arrest and a struggle with troopers' who took him into custody in May 2019. They have not released body-cam footage

Capt. Cammon confirmed that the said the agency is 'cooperating with federal officials'.

It is unclear if Hollingsworth's termination was prompted by the federal investigation.

Greene's mother Mona Hardin described him as a well-liked barber who had a 'giving spirit'.

She says the family has been unable to properly grieve without knowing the full details around his death.

'This has gutted our family,' Hardin she said. 'How do people live with themselves after doing something like this?'

The American Civil Liberties Union last week blasted the death as an 'apparent cover-up by the Louisiana State Police'.

'We are deeply alarmed by what appears to be an 17-month-long cover-up by the Louisiana State Police and an intentional effort to deceive Ronald Greene's family about the circumstances of his death,' said Alanah Odoms Hebert, ACLU of Louisiana executive director.

'Once again, a Black man's family is grieving because of the actions of police officers who have never been held accountable. The fact that Ronald Greene's family is still waiting for answers more than a year after his death is a tragic and unacceptable miscarriage of justice that needs to be addressed now.

'This is especially concerning given that LSP is often charged with investigating allegations of excessive force and misconduct by local police departments. LSP must immediately release all body camera footage of the incident as well as the names of the officers involved,' she added.

The investigation into Green's death comes amid heightened racial tensions among the Louisiana State Police, which has been accused of several misconduct cases in recent years.

Earlier in September, Gov. Edwards said it was 'unacceptable' that State Police failed to discipline a trooper recorded using a racial slur against another officer on duty in 2017.

It also comes following months of protest and unrest following the death of 26-year-old black woman Breonna Taylor in a no-knock warrant in Kentucky in March and the death of 46-year-old George Floyd during arrest in Minneapolis on May 25.
Enhanced version enables small businesses to more easily access tools and resources to immediately improve cyber defences

LONDON, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Cyber Alliance (GCA), an international nonprofit dedicated to reducing cyber risk, announced today the release of an updated version of its Cybersecurity Toolkit for Small Business . This new edition builds on the original toolkit, released in February 2019, with an improved user experience and expanded educational resources.

The GCA Cybersecurity Toolkit for Small Business, sponsored by Mastercard, offers free effective tools to help protect against the most common cyber threats. The toolkit is aligned with the top recommendations made by the Center for Internet Security, the UK's National Cyber Security Centre, and Australia's Cyber Security Centre.

According to the 2020 Hiscox Cyber Readiness Report the risk to small businesses is on the rise with 59% of all cyberattacks targeting small businesses and 30% of small businesses likely to experience multiple attacks. Hiscox also estimates the average cost of an attack to come in at $200,000. The GCA toolkit provides small businesses a way to address these risks with free tools and resources that they can implement themselves. For government and industry, the toolkit is a valuable resource that can be provided to help secure their supply chain and vendors.

"Helping small businesses address cybersecurity challenges requires that we meet them where they are, with resources designed to match their resources and expertise. We worked with partners and stakeholders to develop the GCA Cybersecurity Toolkit for Small Business more than a year ago and since that time have evolved the toolkit to be even easier to use, either all at once or a step at a time," said Philip Reitinger, GCA's President and CEO. "This revision of the toolkit is a significant step forward on this front, and we are pleased to share it to further assist small businesses reduce cyber risk."

Since its initial launch there have been more than 105,000 visits to the toolkit. Key to the success of the toolkit has been partnerships with organisations such as Mastercard, ICTswitzerland, and the Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences (SATW), the latter two of which resulted in the German translation of the toolkit and makes an important contribution to the implementation of the National strategy for Switzerland's protection against cyber risks (NCS). The toolkit is available in English, French, German, and Spanish.

The updated toolkit incorporates feedback received from small businesses and focus groups. Each toolbox within the toolkit has been revamped to make it easier to identify the tools that are most relevant for a particular user. Additional content, including awareness videos donated by Wizer, Inc., is now part of the toolkit to help the user understand why a particular action will improve their cybersecurity posture. Additional support is available via the GCA Community Forum where toolkit users can gain further tips and advice while implementing any of the tools.

As the world grapples with COVID-19 and is increasingly depending on a remote workforce, the release of this enhanced toolkit is an important resource in offering businesses practical, operational tools to improve their security and protect their business and customer data.

"Small businesses face many of the same cyber threats as larger companies, but often without the same resources or expertise to combat them," said CISA Director Christopher Krebs. "The Global Cyber Alliance's toolkit can help small businesses invest their resources wisely to better manage risks to their systems. This toolkit is a perfect example of how the public and private sector can leverage our collective resources to close the gap between the haves and the have nots in cybersecurity. The Global Cyber Alliance under Phil's leadership has been a great partner in our collective defense efforts, and we're excited for our continued collaboration."

"The global pandemic has forced business owners and entrepreneurs to transform the way they do business. Many have had to quickly transition to online models, making safety and security both a priority and a significant challenge," said Ron Green, chief security officer, Mastercard. "To help small business owners pivot to meet their customer's needs, we've partnered with the Global Cyber Alliance to provide free access to security tools that will help them create a secure environment and improve their resiliency against cyber-attacks immediately."

Wizer CEO Gabriel Friedlander said, "Why would anyone want to hack a small business!? Unfortunately, this is a common theme among many small business owners. They just don't realize that it is more likely to happen than not and if it does it could take down their business. As a security awareness vendor, we feel we have a social responsibility to teach small businesses how to stay safe online. We designed our videos with a small business owner in mind and included practical advice. We also made them short and to the point. We are extremely happy about this partnership because it will allow us to help raise awareness to growing threats."

About the Global Cyber Alliance

The Global Cyber Alliance (GCA) is an international, cross-sector effort dedicated to reducing cyber risk and improving our connected world. We achieve our mission by uniting global communities, implementing concrete solutions, and measuring the effect. GCA, a 501(c)(3) in the US and a nonprofit in the UK and Belgium, was founded in September 2015 by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, the City of London Police, and the Center for Internet Security. Learn more at www.globalcyberalliance.org .

Aimee Larsen Kirkpatrick

Global Communications Officer

Global Cyber Alliance

alkirkpatrick@globalcyberalliance.org

(+1) 808 282 9850

Alejandro Fernandez-Cernuda Diaz

Director of Communications & Marketing

Global Cyber Alliance

afcernuda@globalcyberalliance.org

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1093443/Global_Cyber_Alliance_Logo.jpg

Related Links

http://www.globalcyberalliance.org



SOURCE Global Cyber Alliance
Facing criticism for long waits at COVID-19 assessment centres in Ontario, Premier Doug Ford tried to shift blame to the federal government for not giving the green light to more rapid saliva tests as the province experienced an unexpected 30 per cent drop in new cases.

They need to start moving on this, he urged Health Canada, which has expressed reservations about the accuracy of saliva testing.

If we had these saliva tests...we wouldnt be in this position right now, Ford added in Huntsville, where he confirmed some pharmacies will start offering nasal swab tests on Friday to take pressure off the lineups. Its frustrating to say the least.

Saliva tests used in British Columbia, however, will be offered soon in three Toronto hospitals  Womens College, Mount Sinai and the University Health Network  in conjunction with traditional nasal swab tests for COVID-19  in a trial to make sure they are reliable, said Health Minister Christine Elliott.

Federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu said last week that saliva tests must meet accuracy standards because false results can actually create further harms in communities as health officials fight alarming upswings in new infections in several parts of the country, including Ontario and Quebec.

There were 335 new cases reported in Ontario on Wednesday, down from a four-month high of 478 the previous day, and three more deaths as backlogs continued at testing sites amid the recent resurgence in infections.

In Waterloo Region, where there has been a spike in COVID-19 cases, one testing centre in Kitchener reached its daily capacity by 7:15 a.m. Wednesday.

People arrived at 3 oclock in the morning, New Democrat MPP Catherine Fife (Waterloo) said in the legislatures daily question period, slamming the government for a lack of resources.

The testing situation is going from bad to worse, Green Leader Mike Schreiner, the MPP for nearby Guelph, added in a statement. The failure to anticipate a surge in testing demand as schools and workplaces reopen is totally unacceptable seven months into this pandemic.

At a Shoppers Drug Mart in Huntsville, Ford confirmed about 60 pharmacies will begin offering COVID-19 tests on Friday by appointment only and for people without symptoms to help ease lines at the provinces 150 hospital-based assessment centres.

But it was not clear how much impact the move will have because officials could not provide details on how many drugstore tests can be conducted daily and how quickly backlogged labs will be able to process them.

While the province is aiming to process 50,000 tests daily by the end of September and has hit recent highs around 40,000 tests per day, labs produced results on 35,436 swab samples Tuesday with another 48,079 people awaiting results.

There were 42 new cases in schools, bringing the total to 180 since children returned to classrooms earlier this month, with 153 schools reporting students and staff with infections of the highly contagious virus, an increase from 116 schools the previous day. Two schools, in Pembroke and Ottawa, remain closed because of outbreaks.

Of the 335 new cases, 102 were in Toronto, 79 in Peel and 65 in Ottawa, where the local medical officer called in The Ottawa Hospital to take over the management of two nursing homes owned by Extendicare because of serious outbreaks.

One of those homes, West End Villa, has had 11 deaths since the end of August, along with at least 64 residents and more than two dozen staff testing positive for COVID-19.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said the Ottawa situation highlights that nursing homes are not ready for a second wave because of shortages of staff and personal protective equipment.

Long-Term Care Minister Merrilee Fullerton countered that there is more personal protective equipment available than during the first wave. She said broader testing now is catching cases in staff before they can spread it inside nursing homes, and that 99 per cent of our homes have no resident cases.

There are 28 outbreaks in Ontarios 626 nursing homes, with new infections in four residents and two staff. To date, more than 1,850 residents and 8 staff have died, accounting for two-thirds of the provinces pandemic death toll.

The surge in COVID-19 since August has raised the number of active cases in the province to 3,652 people, the most since early June when there were almost 600 infected people in hospital.

Hospitals now have 88 patients with the novel coronavirus, an increase of six from the previous day, with 24 people requiring intensive care and nine of them on ventilators.

Health officials say hospitalizations are lower because about two-thirds of people contracting COVID-19 lately are under the age of 40. Doctors have warned that the higher the case counts get, the more likely it is that older Ontarians will catch the virus and begin pushing hospital numbers higher.
Aung Moe Zaw (L), chairman of Myanmar's Democratic Party for a New Society, attends a new party branch office opening in Thingangyun township, Yangon region, Sept. 7, 2020.

Two small political parties in Myanmar have accused the countrys election commission of censoring their campaign speeches to be aired on state broadcast media before general elections in November, in what rights activists say is a violation of freedom of speech in the nascent democracy.

The Democratic Party for a New Society (DPNS) and the Dawei Nationalities Party (DNP) said Tuesday that the Union Election Commission (UEC) edited policy criticism from campaign speeches to be broadcast on Myanmar state television (MRTV) and radio. The DPNS cancelled its government-allotted broadcast.

The presidentially appointed UEC is responsible for organizing and overseeing the countrys elections and for vetting parliamentary candidates. Campaign broadcast rules require that political parties submit scripts of their speeches to the UEC for approval.

All parties are given 15 minutes of airtime on state TV and radio to present their platforms to voters during the election campaign period from Sept. 8 to Nov. 6. State-owned MRTV and radio channels are broadcasting the campaign speeches on a rotational basis, with fewer than 30 of the countrys 90 parties taking part so far.

DPNS candidates are vying for parliamentary sets in 16 electoral districts, while DNP candidates are contesting for eight seats in the 28-member regional parliament in southern Myanmars Tanintharyi region.

The DPNS, a political party associated with the countrys broader democracy movement, cancelled its broadcasts scheduled to be aired on Tuesday because the UEC cut the mention of controversial topics from its speech, said party chairman Aung Moe Zaw.

The deleted topics included the Letpadaung copper mining project in Sagaing region, disputes over farmland in a village in Ayeyarwady region, and a cement factory project opposed by residents of Aungthabyae village in Mandalay region, he said.

The UEC also deleted part of the campaign speech that quoted a UNICEF report to highlight the impoverished conditions of children in Myanmar and a reference to young people as an oppressed class who shun government employment because of discrimination, Aung Moe Zaw said.

Parties have the right to express their visions and statements freely, [but] now the UEC is limiting what they can say in their campaign speeches, he told RFAs Myanmar Service. This is problematic.

Limiting the contents of campaign messages is not good, he added. I dont think the UEC has the authority to limit our campaign speeches.

An abuse of power

Similarly, Thurein Hlaing, secretary of the DNP, said the UEC removed parts of his campaign speech on the rights of the Dawei (Tavoy) ethnic people and the higher cost of electricity in Tanintharyi region.

We are touching on issues about socioeconomic conditions, he told RFA. We are also speaking out about the rights of our ethnic group  our lack of self-determination and rights as a minority group.

The partys speech addressed inequities in power rates with Tanintharyi residents having to pay 200-1,000 kyats (U.S. $0.15-0.75) more per kilowatt per hour of electricity than people in other parts of Myanmar, and questioned whether they were considered second-class citizens.

The DNP also contended in the speech that ethnic Dawei groups had been incorrectly classified as one of the ethnically predominant Bamar groups, leading to losses of rights as a minority group and a lack of self-determination in their region.

Thurein Hlaing said he sees no reason why the election commission cut parts of the speech because the DNP had not violated rules on hate speech, or disregarded the sovereignty of the state or the unity of the people.

They dont have the right to do it. It is an abuse of their power, he said.

RFA contacted the UEC for comment, but no one responded as of publication time.

Myo Nyunt, spokesman of the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party, said he was not aware of the cases, and had no control over the UEC. The party is fielding more than 1,000 candidates in the Nov. 8 vote, about 80 percent of whom are seeking reelection to their parliamentary seats.

Violating right to free speech

Rights activists criticized the UECs move as an infringement on free speech and blasted the election commission for abusing its authority.

Maung Saungkha, executive director of Athan, an activist organization he founded to promote the right to freedom of expression in Myanmar, said censoring campaign speeches is a violation of freedom of expression.

The commission should evaluate the content on the basis of whether it is discriminatory or defamatory, he told RFA.

I found that the censored speeches did not fall into either category, he said. They were just touching on the issues of politically persecuted groups and the hardships of ordinary people.

The UEC is not only abusing its authority, but also violating the right to free speech, Maung Saungkha added.

Aye Kyaw, executive director of Open Myanmar Initiative, said censoring campaign speeches is not appropriate in terms of international standards and that the UEC doesnt have the right to do it.

In August, New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) called on the UEC to change its rules governing political parties access to state-owned broadcast media to ensure that all parties could present their positions without undue interference.

The UEC stipulated in a July announcement that it would pre-approve all political broadcasts under overly broad and vague restrictions on what political parties can say, thereby violating international standards for the protection of freedom of speech, according to HRW.

The UECs regulations hamstring the political opposition by effectively prohibiting any criticism of the government, existing laws, and the military, said Linda Lakhdhir, HRWs Asia legal adviser, in a printed statement.

Doing so strikes at the heart of political speech and campaigning, and seriously undermines the fairness of the electoral process, she said.

International standards call for a transparent and independent body that is separate from the UEC to set and regulate broadcast content during elections without prior approval or undue limitation on topics, HRW said.

Nearly 7,000 candidates from more than 90 parties, as well as independents, are vying during the elections for 1,171 seats available in both houses of the national parliament and in state and regional legislatures.

Reported by Kyaw Lwin Oo for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Ye Kaung Myint Maung. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
Helsinn supports the PhD program 2020-2021 of the Institute of Oncology Research (IOR) of the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences at the Universita della Svizzera italiana (USI)

Lugano, Switzerland, 23 September, 2020 - Helsinn, a Swiss pharmaceutical group focused on building quality cancer care and rare disease products, is pleased to announce that it will support the International PhD Program in Cancer Biology and Oncology dedicated to students enrolled in the doctoral school at the Universita della Svizzera italiana (USI) - Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, working at the Institute of Oncology Research (IOR) in Bellinzona.

The Lecture Series program, which consists of 10 seminars throughout the year 2020-2021 and involves internationally recognized speakers in the field of oncology, will start on September 25th, 2020. The full program is available at this link: http://ior.iosi.ch/site/?page_id=1285

Riccardo Braglia, Helsinn Group Vice Chairman and CEO commented:"The canton of Ticino is becoming an increasingly important hub for medical research, and specifically for oncology. I was very impressed by the Lecture Series program organized by the IOR to support doctoral students, and by the quality of the academic staff. Finding new ways to improve patients' quality of life remains a key mission for Helsinn, and we are pleased to support IOR in this highly scientific program for future researchers in oncology".

Franco Cavalli, President of the Foundation for the Institute of Oncology Research (IOR) commented: "The seminar program is a key element of our International PhD Program in Cancer Biology and Oncology. The speakers are all prominent figures in the field of oncological research. In addition to their lectures, during their stay in Bellinzona the speakers will work closely and in a tailored way with our PhD students, in order to help them structure their academic careers. We are therefore extremely grateful to Helsinn, which thanks to its financial support allows us to realize this extremely important program for the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences at USI".

About the Helsinn Group

Helsinn is a privately-owned Swiss Pharma Company which, since 1976, has been improving the lives of patients, guided by core family values of respect, integrity and quality. The Group has an extensive portfolio of marketed innovative cancer and rare disease therapies, a robust drug development pipeline and ambitions to further accelerate its growth through in-licensing and acquisition to address unmet medical needs. Helsinn operates a unique integrated licensing business model, achieving success with over 80 long-standing partners in 190 countries, who share our values. The Group's pharmaceutical business, (Helsinn Healthcare) is headquartered in Lugano, Switzerland with operating subsidiaries in the U.S. (Helsinn Therapeutics US) and China (Helsinn Pharmaceuticals China) which market the Group's products directly in these countries. The Group has additional operating subsidiaries in Switzerland (Helsinn Advanced Synthesis, an active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturer) and Ireland (Helsinn Birex Pharmaceuticals, a drug product manufacturer). Helsinn Investment Fund was created to enhance the future of healthcare by providing funding and strategic support to innovative companies.

Helsinn Group plays an active and central role in promoting social transformation in favor of people and the environment. Corporate social responsibility is at the heart of everything we do which is reinforced in the company's strategic plan by a commitment to sustainable growth.

To learn more about Helsinn Group please visit www.helsinn.com

About the Institute of Oncology Research (IOR)

The Institute of Oncology Research (IOR), directed by Carlo Catapano MD, PhD, was established in 2003 as the Laboratory of Experimental Oncology of the Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland (IOSI).

In September 2011, the Institute became independent and is now managed administratively through the Foundation for the Institute of Oncology Research. As of January 2017, IOR is affiliated to the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences of the Universita della Svizzera italiana (USI).

Research activities are divided into two main programs: the first dedicated to solid tumors, in particular prostate cancer, while the second program deals with hematological diseases.

About 80 researchers working in both programs integrate biological, genomics and molecular approaches with preclinical and translational studies to understand the disease and identify new treatment strategies.

IOR has a very active training program for undergraduate, graduate students, post-docs and medical fellows in collaboration with Swiss and foreign universities and, from 2017, with USI.

For more information: http://ior.iosi.ch

Helsinn Group Media Contact:

Paola Bonvicini

Group Head of Communication

Lugano, Switzerland

Tel.: +41 91-985-21-21

Info-HHC@helsinn.com

For more information, please visit www.helsinn.com and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Vimeo

Institute of Oncology Research (IOR) Contact:

Sarah Jane Ortelli Giannakis

Executive Assistant to Prof. Franco Cavalli

Tel.: +41 91-811-86-66

sarah.ortelli@ior.usi.ch
The great 19th century French writer Honore de Balzac once noted that behind every great fortune there is a crime. In the 21st century, one would have to say that behind the great fortunes of the worlds major banks there is a network of criminality. This reality is documented in the revelations published over the weekend concerning a small portion of the international operations of the worlds major banks.

Documents from the US Treasurys Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, known as FinCEN, obtained by BuzzFeed News and investigated by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, showed that between 1999 and 2017 more than $2 trillion in transactions were flagged as involving possible money laundering or other criminal activities.

But as the investigation revealed, the $2 trillion worth of suspicious transactions was just a drop in a far larger flood of dirty money gushing through banks around the world. The files examined in the investigation represent less than 0.02 percent of the more than 12 million suspicious activity reports that financial institutions filed with FinCEN between 2011 and 2017.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime estimates that $2.4 trillion in illicit money is laundered through the global banking system each year, equivalent to 2.7 percent of global output, but only 1 percent of the illegal traffic is detected by the authorities.

The banks involved are some of the biggest names in the world, including JPMorgan, HSBC, Standard Charter Bank and Bank of New York Mellon. In some cases, they continued to profit from the dirty money flow even after being previously fined.

Under existing laws, banks are required to file suspicious activity reports (SARs) that point to potential criminal activities. But any conception that this is a method of crime prevention would be completely mistaken. In fact, it is a means of crime facilitation.

As BuzzFeed News noted: Laws that were meant to stop financial crime have instead allowed it to flourish. So long as a bank files a notice that it may be facilitating criminal activity, it all but immunizes itself and its executives from criminal prosecution. The suspicious activity alert effectively gives them a free pass to keep moving the money and collecting the fees.

In the rare cases where authorities do decide to take action, it involves making a deal in which the bank agrees to pay a fine. But the fine is not imposed on the executives involved. It is paid for by the bank and treated as a minor operating cost, while the bank continues to obtain fees and profits from the dirty money transactions.

It would likewise be a grave mistake to conclude that the criminal money operations are somehow separate from the regular activities of the global financial and banking system. In fact, they are an integral component of them. There is no Chinese wall separating so-called legitimate activities from illegitimate ones.

In 2011, the US Senate report on the 2008 financial crisis revealed that major banks such as Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank were engaged in what amounted to outright criminal activity in the lead-up to the crisis. This included selling financial products they knew were going to fail, and then making deals to profit from the failure of the same financial products.

No one was even prosecuted, let alone jailed, and in an extraordinary admission to the Senate Judiciary Committee in March 2013, President Obamas attorney general, Eric Holder, revealed why, essentially acknowledging that criminality was not some extraneous activity, but was deeply embedded in the very foundations of the US and global financial system.

I am concerned, he said, that the size of some of these institutions becomes so large that it does become difficult for us to prosecute them, when we are hit with indications that if we do prosecuteif we do bring a criminal chargeit will have a negative impact on the national economy, perhaps even the world economy. 

A similar situation emerged in 2012. Then-UK Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne wrote to Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner about criminal proceedings against Standard Charter and HSBC. He expressed concerns that a heavy-handed approach could have unintended consequences, and warned of contagion.

The FinCEN files investigation details countless cases where authorities not only turned a blind eye to money-laundering operations, but facilitated them. One of the more egregious examples concerns UK-based HSBC, the largest bank in Europe. In 2012, it admitted it had laundered some $881 million for Latin American drug cartels. The US government deferred criminal charges for five years in return for the payment of a $1.9 billion fine and a pledge by the bank that it would halt such activities.

During the five-year probation period, HSBC continued to shift money from criminal sources, including Russian money launderers, but in December 2017 the government allowed the bank to declare it had lived up to all of its commitments and the criminal charges were dismissed.

What the FinCEN files investigation has revealed is that the criminal activities of the major banks do not take place in defiance of government authorities, but with their active cooperation because they are so integral to the entire financial system.

Consequently, the force of the state is not brought against the criminals at the top of the banking system but utilized against those who expose them. There is a direct parallel here with the case of the journalist Julian Assange, now facing extradition to the US and 175 years in jail for exposing the war crimes of US imperialism.

After the US Treasury Department received a series of questions on the FinCEN files, it issued a statement that it was aware that various media outlets intended to publish a series of articles based on unlawfully disclosed SARs. It said that the unauthorized disclosure of SARs is a crime that can impact the national security of the United States, compromise law enforcement investigations, and threaten the safety and security of the institutions and individuals who file such reports. It said Treasury was referring the matter to the Justice Department.

Back in the early 1970s, UK Prime Minister Edward Heath, confronted with the exposure of the corruption of the British company Lonhro in Africa, referred to the unacceptable face of capitalism. But the passing off of its activities as an excessin order to cover up the collaboration of the British government with Lonhrocannot be repeated today. The unacceptable or ugly face of capitalism has become the norm.

This transformation is rooted in the vast changes in the capitalist economy over the past 50 years, above all, the rise of financialization. The accumulation of profit through speculation, the creation of arcane derivatives, share buybacks and other forms of financial engineering means there is now a seamless transition from supposedly legitimate to outright criminal activity. They are virtually indistinguishable.

The FinCEN files exposure is yet another devastating refutation of all those who maintain there is some kind of reformist solution at hand. What has been revealed is that all the arms of the statethe financial regulators, the Treasury and the Fedare facilitators for the decay and rot that lies at very heart of the global financial system.

The banks occupy a central position in the commanding heights of the capitalist economy. Their activities determine the fate of billions of people around the world, wreaking havoc in the pursuit of profit. The case for their expropriation, bringing them into public ownership under democratic control, as the first step in laying the basis for a planned economy based on human need, is overwhelming.
Arjun Rampal is thrilled to be back to work. He shared a few stills from his forthcoming project, titled Nail Polish. The actor informed his fans that he has resumed shooting amid the coronavirus pandemic. Arjun urged everyone to pray for the crews health at work. Taking to Instagram, the 47-year-old shared his look from the film in the first image of the post. The picture caught Arjun in action, dressed in a royal blue outfit. He also shared a picture his co-actor Manav Kaul who is seen smiling.

So good to be back to work. Wait for this one it knocked my socks off. Pray for our health. On the sets of #NailPolish Coming Soon. #BehindTheScenes @zee5premium, wrote Arjun in the caption of the post.

Nail Polish will be a courtroom-drama based on a story of a murder trial. The legal thriller interlaces the backdrop and court proceedings to convey a journey of criminal discovery. Arjun who is headlining the venture will portray the role of a high-profile defence lawyer Sid Jaisingh. As per Manav, his character, whose name is Veer Singh in the film, is the most difficult and thrilling role he has essayed so far.

The producers of NailPolish are Pradeep Uppoor, Jahanara Bhargava, Seema Mohapatra of Ten Years Younger Productions along with Dhirajj Vinodd Kapoor. Directed by Bugs Bhargava Krishna, the ZEE5 Original also features Rajit Kapur, and Anand Tiwari.

Krishna, who is known for directing Amit Sadh-starrer mystery Barot House, revealed that the unit of the film is keeping all the precautionary measures in mind during the shooting. He added that he couldnt have asked for a better star cast for his upcoming venture.

Arjun Rampal was last seen in the 2018 film Paltan. He also features in the lead role in the ZEE5 web series titled The Final Call.
As the temperature starts to drop, its time to roll up a sleeve and get your annual flu shot.

The protection of the vaccine will also help health care workers who will have to determine whether someone who has upper respiratory symptoms has the flu or COVID-19, which may be gearing up for a cold-weather spike.

Infectious disease doctors say its not too soon for a flu shot, but the ideal time is in October, so that the six months of protection against influenza will last through April. Thats because there are more cases of flu in the spring than in early fall.

We want people to get their shots early enough so they are fully immunized and protected before flu starts to circulate in the community, said Dr. Richard Martinello, medical director for infection prevention for the Yale New Haven Health System.

He said people 6 months old and older should get their shots, or the nasal spray version of the vaccine, now through the end of October. It takes one to two weeks to build up immunity against the flu virus.

Its especially important this year to get vaccinated so flu and COVID-19 cases dont overwhelm the health care system. Also, Martinello said, One of our real concerns with this upcoming flu season is that any time somebody comes to us and they have cough, fever, we have to assume they have COVID.

But Martinello and others are hopeful that the safeguards people have used against the coronavirus  mask wearing, social distancing and hand-washing  will mean a milder-than-normal flu season.

We certainly hope that turns out to be the case, Martinello said. One thing were finding out is COVID, as bad as it is, is forcing us to realize that there were other things we could be doing to prevent the flu.

Martinello said reports from the Southern Hemisphere, where the flu season starts in May and June, are really encouraging that we will be spared a serious flu season.

The experience in the Southern Hemisphere is that they saw very little flu, he said. But he added, Flu is very unpredictable. The only thing predictable is that well have it each year.

Dr. Asha Shah, associate director of infectious diseases at Stamford Hospital, said it could be a more confusing respiratory virus season than usual because of COVID. Our recommendation is to try to get vaccinated as close to October as possible.

The flu season doesnt end until at least April. Because we see less flu on this side of October  there is an advantage of waiting to October because the vaccine will last a long period of time, Shah said.

Yale New Haven is providing immunizations to its employees starting in October; Stamford Health is offering them at the end of this month.

Its not wrong to get your vaccine early. Its just that we feel its best to get it in the month of October if possible, Shah said. You dont want to go too much beyond October because you want to protect yourself.

Once Thanksgiving rolls around, its really hard to get people vaccinated because they are very focused on school and home things related to the holidays, Martinello said. However, its better to get vaccinated later than not at all.

Preliminary estimates for the 2019-20 flu season total 39 million to 56 million cases nationally and 24,000 to 62,000 deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

This year, a quadrivalent vaccine will be readily available, protecting against four strains: two A viruses, H1N1 and H3N2, and two B viruses. The high-dose vaccine offered to people 65 and older will be quadrivalent this year, Martinello said.

The symptoms of flu are cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue, usually, but not always, fever, and sometimes diarrhea and vomiting, according to the CDC.

While COVID didnt act like the flu and go away in the spring and summer, it could get worse in the winter, when people are indoors more, unless they keep up with the precautions of wearing masks, physical distancing and hand-washing, health experts said.

I think it is likely that COVID will increase, Martinello said. As the weather cools down and as people are spending more time indoors and therefore in closer contact, it is expected that we will see more people coming down with COVID because of that close contact.

He said children wanting to play with friends and grandparents wanting to see their families are a risk, and that playing outdoors and staying apart are important.

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.

What you should avoid doing is going to other peoples houses, he said.

We were disappointed that COVID didnt take a deeper dip in the summertime, said Dean Sten Vermund of the Yale School of Public Health. Usually the cooler, drier air is friendlier to respiratory pathogens and warmer air is less friendly.

He said there are a lot of unknowns about whether COVID will surge during flu season, but it did rise in the South and West during the hot months, when people are staying inside with air conditioning. in some ways youre mimicking what the north does in the wintertime, he said.

There are these mysteries. If anything, you could say that this has thrived in diverse environments  hot and dry in Arizona, hot and humid in the Southeast, he said. Its also thrived in the New England and Middle Atlantic spring weather, as well as in India, Brazil and Spain in March.

I dont think coronavirus has been as temperature-humidity sensitive as we hoped, Vermund said. But he said people practicing physical distancing and more working at home may help hold down a surge.

Vermund also said that, rather than putting up lawn signs, the biggest thank you to health care workers is to get a flu shot. ... Flu shots do a great job keeping you healthier. Even if you do get flu, you have a much milder case than if you hadnt gotten the flu shot, he said.

As for COVID, Vermund said, We need to tide ourselves over past flu season and into the vaccine and treatment era.

He said treatments for coronavirus, similar to Tamiflu, to lessen symptoms of COVID, may be available in six to 12 months and that a vaccine may be available within a year.

Before that, he said, crowds who are not wearing masks are risking spreading COVID like a wildfire. The tinder is ready to burn, he said.

edward.stannard@hearstmediact.com; 203-680-9382
Shes been a hero of mine, this tiny woman whose face appears on coffee mugs, T-shirts, and now, face masks. When I got home from a walk last week, I found a package on my front porch. A friend had left a gift  an RBG mask.

The next day, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died at 87. She had five bouts with cancer. This would be her last. She wanted to change how things used to be to how things could be.

Some of us remember how things used to be. It was on a train trip from Baltimore to Birmingham that I was first told what little girls couldnt do when they grew up. The man who told me was a doctor, so why would I doubt him?

We were traveling to see family in Birmingham. I was eight or nine and my cough woke me from a nap. My mother put her hand on my forehead, said I felt hot, and the doctor opened his black bag and gave my mother a cough drop and a baby aspirin.

He leaned in and asked what I wanted to be when I grew up. When I told him I wanted to be a paleontologist, he said girls couldnt be that, only boys, and I probably didnt even know what that meant. He said I should be a ballerina instead.

That was the way things were back then.

When my husband and I were in graduate school together, the professor gave him an A on his paper, but gave me a B+. He said they were equally as good but the husband had to make a higher grade than the wife. Thats just how it was.

Years later, my child had strep throat. At the pediatric clinic, the doctor came in wearing her white coat, her stethoscope swinging around her neck. My son said he wanted to see a real doctor, not a lady one. They were rare back then. Thats just the way it was.

At a technology company where my husband worked, people were hired on the basis of ability and experience, but they were paid more if they were male. When he questioned this policy at a meeting, he was told that was just how it was.

And it was like this, too: Women couldnt get credit cards in their own name, much less a car loan or a mortgage. Women couldnt open a charge account at a department store, either, unless their husband signed for them, even if they had an income of their own.

If you were a school teacher, you had to quit in the sixth month of pregnancy, even if you felt just fine. You had no maternity leave or reassurance that youd get your job back. I was that expectant teacher. I was made to leave just when Id bonded with my class. Thats just the way things were.

With the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg this week, weve all been looking back over our shoulders at the way things used to be, whether they were legal or not. Weve been thinking about equal pay for equal work and remembering when that was something that had to be challenged, over and over again.

Weve been thinking about the tiny woman with the huge career who graduated from Columbia Law School but was denied a clerkship because of her gender. She taught at Rutgers Law School but was told she wouldnt make as much as the other male professors since her husband had a well-paid job. That was just the way it was.

Justice Ginsburg spent her career changing things, not just for women, but for all people. Why shouldnt a man get social security survivors benefits, she argued, if his wife died and he needed help to raise his children? Why should people with disabilities be forced into nursing homes, when that isolates them and denies their full humanity?

She spent her life changing the way things were to the way things could be. RIP, RBG. Thanks for asking why.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield told senators that he didn't mean to imply last week that it could take into the second half of next year for enough covid-19 vaccine to be available to inoculate all Americans.

Redfield said at a Senate health committee hearing Wednesday that about 700 million vaccine doses should be available by April, echoing a timeline laid out by Paul Mango, deputy chief of staff at the Department of Health and Human Services, last week.

The vaccine candidates that are furthest along in development will require a two-dose regimen. Redfield's comments last week, in an appearance before a different Senate panel, were "alluding to how long I thought it would take to get those doses into the American public," he said. It could take through July to disburse the vaccine to all Americans that want one, Redfield said.

President Donald Trump said last week that he had called Redfield after his earlier testimony to tell him his comments weren't correct.

Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, agreed Wednesday with the timeline of 700 million doses by April.

The heads of U.S. health agencies attempted during the hearing Wednesday to reassure the public that staff are making decisions, particularly surrounding a vaccine, based on science, not politics. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Stephen Hahn committed to taking any inoculation his agency authorizes.

"FDA will not authorize or approve a vaccine that we would not feel comfortable giving to our families," Hahn said.

The agency plans to "provide additional information so that it is clear what we expect" from vaccine manufacturers that apply for emergency authorization of a shot, Hahn said. Peter Marks, director of the FDA's biologics office that oversees vaccines, said Sept. 10 that the agency would put out guidelines for vaccine makers that will set a higher bar for emergency authorization.

Redfield said that CDC data indicates 90% of Americans are still susceptible to the virus.

Health officials also said they were dismayed at studies showing that "a disturbing number" of people who recover from covid-19 experience inflammation in their heart muscles, Fauci said. The inflammation is "really quite puzzling," Fauci told lawmakers, and it remains to be seen whether it will subside or whether those who have had the virus could suffer from cardiovascular issues later on.

"These are the kinds of things that tell us we must be humble," Fauci said, "that we do not completely understand the nature of the virus."

In another area of concern, hospitalization rates among children with covid-19 increased during the summer, according to CDC's prepared remarks for the hearing.

"Though the mortality rate is low for children aged 18 years and younger, covid-19-associated hospitalization rates increased among this age group during the summer," according to the testimony.

The CDC has previously reported that from March 1 through July 25, 1 in 3 children admitted to a hospital for covid-19 ended up in an intensive-care unit. The number of pediatric hospitalizations is still small compared with adults, but the data do highlight that kids aren't immune to the virus -- as President Donald Trump has claimed -- and can suffer serious illness.

The percentage of all hospitalizations for covid-19 that involve children rose from 0.8% May 21 to 1.7%, totaling 5,016, the American Academy of Pediatrics reported on Sept. 17. Children represented 10.3% of the more than 5.7 million covid-19 cases in the U.S., the academy said. When the coronavirus pandemic began earlier this year, the CDC originally said children represented 2% of covid-19 cases.

Redfield didn't immediately expand on the prepared remarks, but a CDC report shows that weekly hospitalizations for all ages related to covid-19 hit a second peak the week ending July 18. Weekly adult hospitalizations fell between the weeks ending Aug. 1 and Sept. 12, while the rates among children remained steady during that time period, the CDC said.
Orangeburg County Council has set the countys millage rate for the upcoming tax year, including a four-mill increase to fund county operations and pay debt service obligations.

Under the approved millage rate, owners of houses valued at $100,000 and assessed at a 4 percent property tax rate would pay $16 more on their tax bills. Owners of $100,000 homes assessed at a 6 percent rate would pay $24 more.

County Administrator Harold Young presented the millage chart for the 2020-21 fiscal year during Mondays virtual council meeting.

Council initially considered 95 mills for the general fund budget; four mills for capital improvements; 16 mills for debt service; nine mills for solid waste; 7.8 mills for special education and 18 mills for the fire district fund.

Council ultimately voted 5-2 to approve a chart which included shaving off one mill from the county's capital improvement fund. Councilmen Johnny Ravenell, Willie B. Owens, Heyward Livingston, Harry Wimberly and Chairman Johnnie Wright voted in favor, while councilwomen Janie Cooper-Smith and Deloris Frazier were opposed.

The change came after Wimberly questioned the increase in millage rates over last year.

While the millage rates for the county's special lighting districts remain the same as last year, this year's millage chart included an increase in the general fund's millage rate from 93 to 95.

It also called for a capital improvement millage rate increase from three to four mills, along with a two-mill increase in debt service from 14 to 16, which would have amounted to a five-mill increase.

"I thought we looked at about three mills: two on the general and one on the capital improvements. We were not $1.5 million out of budget when we did the budget. We were short. We still had to raise a couple of mills on general, but this is the first I've heard about five mills. I can't go along with no five-mill tax increase at one time," Wimberly said.

Orangeburg County Deputy Administrator Marion Lloyd had earlier explained that the general fund value of a mill at a 100 percent collection rate was $313,000.

Livingston said, "That's the first I've heard about five mills, too. I thought it would probably be around three mills."

Young said, "We discussed the general and the capital, but the debt service ended up having a need for the financial planning aspect of two mills based upon the schedule that we laid out when we started doing our IPRB bonds a couple of years ago as part of the jail funding."

He added, "So as part of the jail funding, they gave you recommendations on certain years you would have to add certain amounts to the debt service fund to keep it sustained because we're having to do the IPRB bonds every year to deal with the aspect of the debt for the jail."

The county recently completed a new, $29 million jail. Young also noted increased costs for protective personal equipment to keep both inmates and employees safe.

Lloyd said, "You will have some debt dropping off. I don't have those particular bonds, but you will have debt coming off the books, therefore having the ability to reduce millage in debt service going forward."

Young said, "If you take the mill off of capital improvement, we can defer construction. So that's probably the easiest way to deal with it."

Cooper-Smith asked, "What are our chances of having the increase to make up for this mill next year?

Young said, "It's hard to say because the budget with the state is the problem. Number one, we haven't gotten reimbursed for anything that we spent in the COVID environment yet. Even though they say it's out there and they talked about it, we haven't gotten any of those funds back.

"And we haven't received any money yet for the tornado response or the other disaster stuff that we've dealt with. So those types of things hit the budget, and that's why you have those issues."

The administrator added, "We're just trying to make it so that we can stay abreast with what we're trying to do to push the county forward as well as being safe. With the state not telling us anything about the revenues that they have coming forward, and you know the tourism industry was cut pretty well. So we don't know where the local government fund will stand next year."

"We're deep into September and we were promised, number one, funds from the CARES Act since March. It hadn't come yet and don't know when it'll come. So that does affect this budget year and what we've done prior," he said.

In other business, council also approved bringing forward $1,028,999 from last fiscal year.

"This is the carry forward in discretionary projects that we have to move forward to continue the projects that you have going on in your specific districts," Young said.

Council also approved an emergency purchase of $108,154.53 for the provision of broadband services in the county.

"Under the CARES Act broadband grant what we received, we have to do a purchase of fiber and other materials to get that project going because we have a deadline to get that part of the project done. This is the project bid to our vendor Kalix, who is the sole source for this project," Young said.

In other matters, council approved three recommendations from the county Planning Commission, including the denial of Norway resident Brandon Pough's request to rezone property located at 248 Bellance Road from forest agricultural to commercial general to establish a used car lot.

Council accepted the commission's recommendation to approve a request from CDP Eutawville LLC to rezone property located at 13532 and 13538 Old Number Six Highway in Eutawville from forest agricultural to commercial general for the establishment of a Dollar General.

Council finally accepted the commission's recommendation to approve a request from Vernon Jamison to rezone property located at 1161 Whaley St. in Orangeburg from residential general to commercial general to establish an all-in-one car care service.

No action was taken following an executive session.

Contact the writer: dgleaton@timesanddemocrat.com or 803-533-5534. Follow "Good News with Gleaton" on Twitter at @DionneTandD

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En espanol | Like so much else thats been altered by the coronavirus, voting in this years general election will be different. Many states have adopted new rules to make it safer to cast a ballot during the pandemic, including easier access to mail-in and absentee ballots and longer windows for early in-person voting. Some states are mailing applications for absentee ballots to all registered voters, encouraging everyone to safely cast ballots from home.

Of course, there are also new problems that the pandemic creates for voting. For instance, an expected shortage of poll workers  many of whom are the older Americans at increased risk for coronavirus  could mean fewer polling places in some states on Election Day. And voter turnout is expected to be higher than usual, which could mean longer lines at polling places at a time when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says we should still be social distancing and avoiding large indoor gatherings.

All of this means that this year, youll want to make a plan for how to vote as safely as possible. If youre accustomed to stopping by your polling place on Election Day and briskly casting your vote, its probably time to adjust expectations and consider alternatives.

Dont wait to explore your options. Some states, like North Carolina and Wisconsin, have already started mailing out absentee ballots. Others, like Virginia and Minnesota, have opened early in-person voting for the general election. Many more states are planning to do the same in the weeks ahead.
When news broke on Friday that Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg had died, President Trump was just five minutes into a campaign rally in Minnesota and aides opted not to pass word to him onstage. If he announced the death of the liberal justice from the lectern, they feared the crowd would cheer. But cheers that would have looked unseemly one night were welcomed in another form a night later as the next rally crowd chanted, Fill that seat! To a president lagging in the polls, the chance to fill a Supreme Court vacancy has become a political lifeline, a chance to mobilize ...
On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published new guidelines acknowledging that the virus causing COVID-19 is primarily transmitted through small airborne particles. This admission implies that people occupying poorly ventilated areas such as classrooms, meat packing factories, production lines, churches, grocery stores, etc., are at risk of acquiring COVID-19 if someone else in the room with COVID-19 is contagious. Airborne particles, unlike respiratory droplets, can linger in the air and concentrate throughout an enclosed room.

The CDC wrote in no uncertain terms that the most common modes of transmission for SARS-CoV-2 were through respiratory droplets or small particles, such as those in aerosols, produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, sings, talks, or breathes. These particles can be inhaled into the nose, mouth, airways, and lungs and cause infection. This is thought to be the main way the virus spreads. They also added that these airborne particles could travel beyond the six feet limit that has been the officially stated social distancing yardstick.

However, by Monday afternoon, the guidelines had disappeared off their pages, reverting to their previous position that the virus is spread mainly from person-to-person in close contact. There is no longer a mention of airborne or aerosol. Only a comment stating that a draft version of proposed changes to these recommendations was posted in error to the agencys official website indicates that a retraction occurred.

David J. Sencer CDC Museum in Atlanta, GA (Wikimedia Commons)

Given the recent controversies surrounding the CDC, the exposure by Politico over the administrations manipulation of the weekly reports, essentially being taken hostage by the Trump administration and the political establishment to censor the scientific data, it is apparent that the national public health institution is being used to provide a cover for the ruling class policy of herd immunity. The small window provided by this slip underscores the deeply criminal intentions that are at play.

Clearly, a statement that indicates the airborne nature of the SARS-CoV-2 virus brings into stark relief that the opening of schools is a dangerous initiative, one rooted in ensuring the factories and production lines are operating at breakneck capacity, and every productive hand is gainfully employed unadulterated by the needs of their children or families. From the perspective of the ruling class, schools are not primarily a place of education, but temporary safe holding locations for children and adolescents while their parents are laboring at work.

Children and young people infected with COVID-19 fair better than older adults, but they are not impervious to the dangers of the virus. There have been well-documented cases of infants, toddlers, teenagers and young adults succumbing to the infection and suffering from the morbidity it causes. They are also quite efficient at transmitting the virus, especially as asymptomatic carriers. By all accounts, school reopenings and children are a key element in the policy of herd immunity that is being embraced openly by every political spectrum of the capitalist class.

Behind this policy is the need to effectively cull the most unproductive sector of the populationthe retired and enfeebled who are a drain on the surplus value that is generated by the working class. If it happens to kill a few thousand children or hundreds of thousands of adults in the prime of their lives, the surplus population will quickly fill in these gaps.

The globe has, in a few short months, reached close to 1 million deaths, of which 200,000 have occurred in the United States, a byproduct of the criminal policies implemented by political parties at every level of the state. More than 60,000 of these deaths occurred in people under the age of 65. Yet, these deaths are glossed over as attention is directed to the nomination of the vacant Supreme Court seat, the upcoming elections, the state of the economy, or Russian and Chinese intrigue.

By all accounts, a significant majority of these deaths have occurred in the working class, as studies have shown that poverty has been a driver of the infection. As usual, Trump states most directly what the ruling class thinks of the working class, when he says that COVID-19 affects virtually nobody.

The data behind the aerosolization of the virus are numerous and have come from various sectors. A study of a video in a restaurant in China unequivocally demonstrated that an air conditioner was able to push virus-laden air infecting others who were seated more than six feet from an infected individual. A case study from Washington state found that one person infected 52 individuals. In South Korea, a single cluster of 346 confirmed cases occurred in February at a Shincheonji Church in Daegu, mostly attributed to just one person.

An NIH study published in May using highly sensitive laser light as a detector demonstrated that loud speech could emit thousands of oral fluid droplets each second that lasted eight to 14 minutes before disappearing from the window of view. A more recent study from the University of Florida confirmed viable virus particles isolated from respiratory droplets collected from SARS-CoV-2-infected patients up to 16 feet away.

The World Health Organization (WHO) updated its guidance in July after several hundred concerned scientists advised the international health agency to acknowledge the growing evidence that airborne transmission of the coronavirus can be a health hazard in indoor spaces.

The modified statement says, in effect, short-range aerosol transmission, particularly in specific indoor locations, such as crowded and inadequately ventilated spaces over a prolonged period of time with infected persons cannot be ruled out. However, the WHO has not entirely endorsed aerosol transmission as a primary route of infection, adding in their most recent press brief on a question about the CDC guidance change, we still, based on the evidence, believe that there is a wide range of transmission modes. However, as an agency of the United Nations, despite the sincerity on the part of their scientists, they are bound by the political noose that conditions their criticisms of the US and EU.

Among the signatories that wrote to the WHO in July have been Dr. Jose-Luis Jimenez, a professor of atmospheric chemistry at the University of Colorado, and Lidia Morawska, an engineer and the director of the International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health at the Queensland University of Technology, who have been vocal in asserting that the framework used by epidemiologists, such as at the WHO, is based on older science from the 1930s that no longer withstands the recent evidence on the physics of droplets.

Lydia Bourouiba, an MIT researcher who studies the spectrum of droplet sizes, explained to Vox, Were always exhaling, in fact, a gas cloud that contains within it a continuum spectrum of droplet sizes. The cloud mixture, not the drop sizes, determines the initial range of the drops and their fate in indoor environments. According to her study published in JAMA in March, the factors that determine how long the respiratory droplets linger in the air is based on the speed of the cloud, the temperature and humidity of the environment, and the individual droplet makeup of each cloud.

It is worth considering that Chinese researchers in a preprint study titled Indoor transmission of SARS-CoV-2 found that more than 7,300 cases were driven by 318 outbreaks, of which only one occurred outdoors. Empirical evidence of recent mass protests has confirmed that outdoor transmissions are rare, which points to the concerns being raised by health agencies on the arrival of cold weather in the Northern Hemisphere and crowding of the population indoors which will reignite the transmission of the pandemic.

The University of Colorado has called for classroom capacities not to exceed 20 to 30 percent of previous capacity. Fewer bodies also mean fewer aerosols and less work for the HVAC systems and viral countermeasures. Additionally, they further recommend running ventilation systems 24/7 and upgrading filters to MERV13, which was shown in a 2013 study to capture more virus-carrying particles. They also recommend portable air cleaners with HEPA filters matched to the size of the space involved.

However, a US Government Accountability Office (GAO) report from June noted that 54 percent of public school districts need to update or replace multiple building systems or features in their schools. About 36,000 schools nationwide need HVAC updates. Yet, according to a GAO survey of the 50 states and District of Columbia, most states do not conduct statewide assessments to determine school facilities needs and instead leave this task to the underfunded school districts. The need to renovate and retrofit public schools is an acute social need, but it is doubtful if funding for such a measure will see the light of day.

Ken Cook, president and co-founder of the Environmental Working Group, has recently called for the resignation of Dr. Robert Redfield, the head of the CDC, for his politicization of the institution and acquiescing to pressures. The whole point of the CDC is to stand firmly on scienceand science alonewhen rogue waves of political and economic expediency threaten to wash away concern for public health ... never before has a CDC leader dragged the agency through such a series of manifestly deadly misstatements of science, willful communications blunders and life-threatening guidance flip-flops, all at the behest of political leaders whose publicly avowed goal is to minimize the mortal danger the novel coronavirus poses to American people.

This statement is accurate to a point. Behind Redfields blunder and the political establishments deadly intent are the demands imposed by capitalism to ensure the markets are fully operational regardless of the inherent risk to the population. However, paraphrasing Marx, science owns us and should guide socially necessary work accordingly.

What will be critical is the character of the political leadership that must unite the struggles of all workers as a cohesive instrument to defend the population against the slaughter being planned by the capitalists.
[September 23, 2020] Attention Samsung Fans: Preorder the Galaxy S20 Fan Edition at U.S. Cellular on September 24 Devotees of Samsung's (News - Alert) flagship line-up of Galaxy devices will want to go to uscellular.com on Sept. 24 to preorder a new Galaxy S20 Fan Edition (FE) smartphone. This latest 5G device comes packed with features fans have been craving, and U.S. Cellular (News - Alert) will offer it in four new colors - Cloud Navy, Cloud Mint, Cloud Red and Cloud Lavender. For a limited time, new customers who switch to U.S. Cellular on an Unlimited with Payback Plan can get the Galaxy S20 5G FE for under $7 per month.1 The Galaxy S20 5G FE comes with select features of the original Galaxy S20 5G in a streamlined, premium design. These features include the super smooth scrolling display, AI-powered camera, advanced chipset, hyper-fast connectivity, all-day battery2 and expandable storage.3 "Samsung has done such a fun and unique thing by listening to its customers and creating a powerful smartphone with the most asked-about features at a great value," said Kyle Bedtelyon, director of the device and accessory portfolio at U.S. Cellular. "We are excited to add this device to our 5G line-up and continue to offer the latest technology that keeps our customers connected." U.S. Cellular's 5G network now covers parts of Iowa, Maine, North Carolina and Wisconsin, and it will expand to cover parts of California, Maryland, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia in the next few months. For more information about U.S. Cellular's 5G network and devices, please go to uscellular.com/5G. 1Offer requires new qualifying smartphone purchase on a 30-month retail installment contract with $0 Down and 0% APR. Port in and Everyday or Even Better Unlimited plan required. Discount comes via a monthly bill credit. Credit approval required. 2Based on average battery life under typical usage conditions. Average expected performance based on typical use. Actual battery life depends on factors such as network, features selected, frequency of calls, and voice, data, and other application usage patterns. Results may vary. 3Expandable up to 1TB with MicroSD card, sold separately. Taxes and charges such as USF and RCRF apply. 5G not available in all areas. Visit uscellular.com/coverage-map for coverage details. Additional terms apply. See uscellular.com for details. About U.S. Cellular U.S. Cellular is the fourth-largest full-service wireless carrier in the United States, providing national network coverage and industry-leading innovations designed to elevate the customer experience. The Chicago-based carrier is building a stronger network with the latest 5G technology and offers a wide range of communication services that enhance consumers' lives, increase the competitiveness of local businesses and improve the efficiency of government operations. It is ranked #1 in the North Central Region in the J.D. Power 2020 Wireless Network Quality Performance Study - Volume 2. To learn more about U.S. Cellular, visit one of its retail stores or www.uscellular.com. To get the latest news, promos and videos, connect with U.S. Cellular on Facebook.com/uscellular, Twitter.com/uscellular and YouTube.com/uscellularcorp. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200923005681/en/

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Officials in Kentucky's largest city were preparing Tuesday for more protests and possible unrest as the public nervously awaits the state attorney general's announcement about whether he will charge officers in Breonna Taylor's shooting death.

With timing of the announcement still uncertain, Louisville Mayor Greg 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.

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer (left) on Tuesday 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. State officials are expected to announce in the coming days whether they are bringing charges against the officers involved in the shooting death of Breonna Taylor (right)

A worker boards the windows of a restaurant as the community awaits the findings of the grand jury in the case of Breonna Taylor on Tuesday

Attorney General Daniel 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.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said the measures taken by Louisville police are due to the intense scrutiny of the Taylor case, in Louisville and around the country.

'The national attention here is so great, the potential for outsiders so significant, the possibility of someone taking something peaceful and trying to turn it into something that's not, is all there,' Beshear said during his daily COVID-19 briefing Tuesday.

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

Mayor Fischer said officials' 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,' he 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 for any inconveniences to workers and downtown residents.

'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.

Police first mentioned the barricades on Monday, when they also said they had canceled vacations and were denying officers requests for time off for the time being.

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 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

Federal officials closed the federal courthouse and other federal buildings for the week.

Sadiqa Reynolds, who heads the nonprofit Louisville Urban League and lives downtown, described the city's measures as 'overkill.'

'This is certainly an over-response to the local protests that have been happening in our community,' she said, noting that protesters have been demonstrating in and around the city for nearly four months.

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.

Taylor, a Black emergency medical worker, was shot multiple times 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.

Meanwhile, an officer who was shot in the leg by Taylor's boyfriend the night police entered her apartment wrote an email to fellow officers telling them that with their actions, Fischer and top police officials had 'failed all of us in epic proportions.'

In the email, published by news outlets Tuesday and confirmed by his attorney, Sergeant Jonathan Mattingly wrote, 'I know we did the legal, moral and ethical thing that night.'

'Regardless of the outcome today or Wednesday, I know we did the legal, moral and ethical thing that night,' Mattingly wrote.

'It's sad how the good guys are demonized, and the criminals are canonized.'

'I wish I were there with you leading the charge. I'll be praying for your safety. Remember you are just a pawn in the Mayors political game. I'm proof they do not care about you or your family, and you are replaceable.'

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

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.

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 thought someone was breaking into the house and didn't know that it was police who were entering.

Referring to protesters, Mattingly added that police officers should not be in a position 'that allows thugs to get in your face and yell, curse and degrade you.'

His attorney, Kent Wicker, told The Associated Press in an email that Mattingly's email was 'expressing his support for (fellow officers) and their work during these difficult times.'
WASHINGTON - The Department of Justice will ask Congress on Wednesday to adopt a new law that would hold Facebook, Google and Twitter legally accountable for the way they handle some controversial content on the web, as the Trump administration ratchets up its attacks on social-media sites entering the 2020 election.

The new request from the Justice Department is expected to come in the form of a rare, legislative proposal to be shared with lawmakers that specifically seeks to whittle down Section 230, a decades-old provision of federal law that spares websites from being held liable for content posted by their users - and their own decisions about what posts, photos and videos to leave up or take down.

Two sources familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe a proposal that has not yet been revealed, confirmed the agency's plans. The Justice Department declined comment for this story.

LITIGATION: The Justice Department could file a lawsuit against Google this month

The proposal comes as President Donald Trump is expected to huddle with Republican state attorneys general Wednesday at a meeting where he is expected to call on state officials to use state laws to potentially penalize social media sites over allegations that they censor conservatives online.

The attacks of political bias threaten to complicate any congressional action on the proposed reforms to Section 230, despite the fact Democrats and Republicans generally agree that social-media sites should be held to greater account for failing to police the web against a wide array of harmful content.

"Online censorship goes far beyond the issue of free speech, it's 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 in a statement earlier this week. "State attorneys general are on the front lines of this issue and President Trump wants to hear their perspectives."

The Trump administration's moves are likely to inflame tensions between Trump and the tech industry in a heated election year. Trump has continued to ratchet up his attacks, particularly as social media sites have grown more aggressive in responding to - and in some cases removing - his most controversial comments from their sites and services. Last week, for example, Twitter took action against a pair of tweets from Trump that had sought to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the 2020 election. The company "labeled" the comments, directing users to more accurate information that shows how "voting by mail is safe and secure."

Roughly 30 minutes after Trump sent the initial tweet - and another predicting election "mayhem" on the horizon - Trump called out Twitter itself, claiming the company deliberately surfaces and promotes "anything bad, Fake or not, about President Donald Trump."

RELEASE NOTES: Get Dwight Silverman's weekly tech newsletter each Monday

"So obvious what they are doing," he continued. "Being studied now!"

After Twitter first took action against Trump - labeling his tweet about racial justice demonstrations in Minneapolis for glorifying violence - the president responded days later by signing a sweeping, controversial executive order targeting social media sites broadly. The directive tasked the Federal Communications Commission to rethink the scope of Section 230 and the instances in which its legal shield applies to tech giants. It also called on the Federal Trade Commission to probe whether the companies' efforts to police the Web are in line with their public promises of political neutrality.

That order also directed Attorney General Bill Barr to convene his state counterparts and work together "regarding the potential enforcement of State statutes that prohibit online platforms from engaging in unfair or deceptive acts or practices." Trump further ordered the working group to develop "model legislation" to beef up state consumer protection laws so they can be used to penalize perceived instances of political bias.

States such as Texas in the past have suggested they could tap laws prohibiting unfair or deceptive acts and practices to hold companies accountable for the way they police content online. Aides to Ken Paxton, Texas's Republican attorney general, have publicly and privately signaled they have explored using such authorities to probe Google. The search and advertising giant, which owns YouTube, also faces an antitrust probe by state and federal competition watchdogs. A federal case could be filed in the coming days, The Post has reported.
By ANI

NEW DELHI: Since 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has visited 58 countries, and Rs 517.82 crores have been spent on them in total, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

The information was provided in a reply given by Minister of State (MoS), MEA, V Muraleedharan, to the query posed by MP Fauzia Khan.

The reply stated that the Prime Minister's visits abroad have "enhanced understanding of India's perspectives on bilateral, regional and global issues by other countries, and have strengthened our relations with them across a wide range of sectors including trade and investment, technology, maritime, space, defense 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 reply also added that the country is now increasingly contributing to shaping the global agenda at the multilateral level including on climate change, trans-national crime and terrorism, cybersecurity & nuclear non-proliferation, and offering to the world its own unique initiatives for global issues like the International Solar Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.
Death is about grief and sometimes pride too. Three weeks after he died when he stepped on a landmine from 58 years ago, the home of Tenzin Nyima echoes softly with remembrances from those who knew him well and also those who knew of him. The 53-year-old was a commando of the Special Frontier Force, an elite unit comprising mostly Tibetan refugees which was raised in 1962 following the war with China. On the intervening night of August 29-30, Tenzin was killed in a landmine blast around the Pangong lake area, which has seen an amassing of Indian and Chinese forces. His death was not related to the confrontation between Chinese and Indian troops the same night, official sources said.

The last rites of Tenzin, who leaves behind his wife, mother and four children, were conducted with military honours near his village in Sonamling Tibetan Settlement, Choglamsar, about five kilometres from Leh city. Many, many people came for the funeral, said his brother Nangdak. We are very sad, yet very proud. He laid his life for his motherland for Tibet and India, Nangdak said.

The low buzz of prayers can be heard in the quietude of mourning at their home. As relatives and lamas continue to throng to pay their condolences, Tenzins mother and wife are in one room praying the departed soul with a hand prayer wheel. In another, with a huge framed photograph of Tenzin in his uniform, lamas prepare for prayer. In a third, lamps burn 24X7, bringing much needed warmth from the nippy air outside.The lamps have to be kept lit for 59 days, said Tenzins brother-in-law Tundup Tashi. Tenzins death has brought pride to Tibetans refugees residing in India, said the villagers.

Tenzin died for Tibet and India. That makes us so proud of his sacrifice, said Tseten Wangchuk, chief representative officer of the Central Tibetan Administration of the Sonamling Tibetan Settlement housing nearly 7,500 Tibetans. Although the next generation is born in India, their roots are intact, Being away from Tibet has not reduced our love for Tibet. India is our second home, he said.

The SFF is also said to have participated in the 1971 India-Pakistan war and in the Kargil operations in 1999.Tenzin was born in India after his parents left following the Chinese occupation of Tibet in 1950. He later enrolled in the SFF and worked there for 33 years till his death, his brother said.

Nangdak, who was also born in India, said their village in Tibet must be some 600-700 kilometres from Leh across the border. Even if we are born here, we have not forgotten our motherland, Nangdak said.Every house in the village has someone working in the SFF, said a member of the force who did not want to be identified. So far, we were an anonymous force but now more people know about us. This worked for us, but now we are losing the strategic edge because of this, the SFF member, who claimed he was there when Tenzin was injured, added.

We are very proud that he laid down his life while defending his motherland Tibet and India, he said.
On the eve of last week's crucial judgment on women's state pensions, the Backto60 campaign declared 'full restitution' was on its way.

Thousands of women left poorer by the rise in their state pension age had invested their hopes and their money in a court victory that could see them receive their state pension backdated to the age of 60.

Hours later, a crushing blow was delivered as judges unanimously dismissed their legal challenge.

Where now? Campaigners on women's state pensions have been dealt a crushing blow after judges thew out their latest legal challenge

There is no doubt 1950s-born women were badly treated by successive governments over the state pension age hike.

And many rightly still feel a burning injustice. But now, after its resounding defeat in court, Backto60 is facing questions about its aggressive demands and how it spent supporters' money.

The campaign group's fight for full payment of their pension won support from thousands of women. Indeed, few would argue its moral cause was not just. Little wonder it has so far raised more than 230,000.

Last week's Court of Appeal judgment dismissed complaints of age and sex discrimination, but also underscored fundamental problems with the legal case.

Yet Backto60 is still determined to appeal to the Supreme Court, in a move that would cost supporters tens of thousands of pounds more.

In a YouTube video posted last week, campaign director Joanne Welch hit out at the judgment.

She said: 'We are strong and will never retreat.'

'Waste of money'

Backto60 raised more than 81,000 to take its challenge to the Court of Appeal after its defeat at the High Court last year. A message on the Crowdfunder website read: 'Our track record is exemplary: each time we have raised funds, we have delivered everything we promised and more. With your support, the win will be secured.'

But last week's judgment laid bare that 'full restitution' was never a possible outcome of the costly court case  even if Backto60 had won. The judges also ruled that the Government had no legal obligation to let women born in the 1950s know their pension age was rising.

Furthermore, the court said the legal action was launched more than 20 years too late for it to have any power to award compensation.

Fighting on: Backto60 campaign director Joanne Welch is still determined to appeal to the Supreme Court, in a move that would cost supporters tens of thousands of pounds more

Pension lawyer Jennie Kreser, former legal director at the Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority, told Money Mail: 'The Backto60 campaign was never ever going to succeed. Some very vulnerable women contributed as they felt hard done by. It was just a complete waste of their money.'

Asking too much?

Critics fear Backto60's unwillingness to accept 'crumbs', or anything other than 'full restitution', has done more harm than good.

Baroness Altmann, a former pensions minister (see her opinion, right), says: 'Maybe I would have been able to make some progress on helping those in hardship, but they [Backto60] made it clear they weren't going to accept that.

'I would not recommend anybody to put money in to take this case up to the Supreme Court. Even if they win, it's not a victory that will give them their pensions back to the age of 60. It's misleading to say it is a possibility, especially in the light of this strong clear verdict.'

The Government has estimated Backto60's demand to reverse the pension age increase for women would cost at least 200 billion.

Pensioner Judith Bywater, 66, says she was blocked from the Backto60 Facebook group for disagreeing with its militant approach.

She says: 'They have let the Government off the hook. They have stopped any reasonable debate on the subject with their greed.'

Q&A - Pension Ages After years of campaigning and fundraising, a legal challenge was dismissed by judges last week. Here, Ben Wilkinson explains what the case was about, and what hope there is left for the women forced to work longer. When did the state pension age go up? The Pensions Act 1995 changed the age a woman could start collecting her state pension from 60 to 65 - the same as for a man - from April 2010 to 2020. The Pensions Acts of 2007, 2011 and 2014 then accelerated this change, and raised the state pension age for some men and women to 66, 67 or 68. What was the legal challenge about? Julie Delve and Karen Glynn claimed the decision to hike their state pension age from 60 was unlawful discrimination based on age and sex. Their legal team, backed by Backto60, also said the Government was under a legal obligation to inform women affected by the rise in state pension age. The case went to Judicial Review last year and then the Court of Appeal this year after the High Court ruled against them. What was the result? The three Court of Appeal judges were unanimous in rejecting all claims by Backto60. They said adopting the same state pension age for men and women did not amount to unlawful discrimination under EU law or the Human Rights Convention. They said the Government had no legal obligation to inform women affected, and besides, the Department for Work and Pensions' (DWP) publicity campaign had been 'adequate and reasonable'. The court also said the application for a Judicial Review of the Pensions Act 1995 had been made 'substantially out of time' as it had not been made within three months of the law being passed. This meant the court had no power to order the Government to pay up anyway. Were women given enough warning? The Court of Appeal accepted that there was evidence 'many' women had not known that their state pension age had risen until shortly before they turned 60. The judges also said it was impossible to say whether the warning provided to 1950s-born women had been inadequate or unreasonable. Is the state pension a right or a benefit? Key to the Backto60 fight is the assertion that a state pension is a citizen's right - especially after they have paid National Insurance contributions for decades. Under the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 the state pension is defined as a 'contributory benefit'. It means a person's national insurance contributions go towards funding the state pension, and also other benefits. But because the state pension is a benefit, it means the Government has the power to change the rules  just like it can with other state handouts. Can Backto60 appeal? The Court of Appeal has refused permission to appeal against its judgment, so Backto60's only option is to ask the Supreme Court for permission to appeal. As of last night, the court had not received an application to appeal. What about Waspi? Waspi (Women Against State Pension Inequality) is pursuing a different course of action to Backto60. It has pressed the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman to investigate complaints of maladministration by the DWP in its handling of communicating the rise in state pension age to 1950s-born women. After a delay while Backto60's challenge was going on, now just six sample cases are being looked at as part of Waspi's case. But if the ombudsman recommends compensation is paid, then the DWP could have to pay up in similar cases, too.

A cause divided

Another group opposed to the way the Government handled the rise in state pension age is Waspi (Women Against State Pension Inequality).

Waspi had sought legal advice about the prospect of winning in court, but was advised to focus on political lobbying and asking the ombudsman to investigate fears women affected were not effectively warned of the hike in their state pension age.

As a result, the group concentrated its efforts on complaints to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman on grounds of maladministration.

But the investigation had to be put on hold when Backto60 launched its legal action.

Pensions consultant John Ralfe says: 'What [Backto60] have always been after is utterly bonkers politically and legally.

'Waspi were a little more circumspect and realistic. They have been completely overwhelmed by Backto60.'

Spending queries

Former supporters who donated to the Backto60 cause also now complain they are being silenced when they ask about strategy and spending.

One woman who donated said she was 'excommunicated' - removed from the Backto60 Facebook group and blocked on Twitter - after asking questions.

The 61-year-old, from the East Midlands, says: 'I have been asking on the site where our money has been spent and how much is left. I've been told it is not my concern. But it is.'

Backto60 is still determined to take an appeal to the Supreme Court, in a move that would cost supporters tens of thousands of pounds more

Another former supporter says she was blocked after donating 25. She says: 'They are really toxic.'

Liz Morris, 66, donated 30 for the Judicial Review, but was blocked on Twitter and Facebook after asking for information on spending. She says: 'They are asking for more and more money, but it's never been transparent.

'Backto60 has done more harm than good. Perhaps by now we could have had something for somebody.'

Kay Clarke, co-founder of the 1950s Women of Wales support group, says she has also been blocked by Backto60 online.

The 65-year-old, who donated 25 to the Judicial Review, says: 'A lot of followers think they are going to get every penny back. I subsequently found out this is not true and am very disappointed they have wasted so much of our precious time at our age.'

Margaret Rimington started the original petition to the Government to reverse the state pension back to 60 for women. She wrote on Twitter: 'I'm not happy about the way Backto60 has gone. It was a great group when I and others were moderators.

'To block anyone who has donated is a disgrace in my opinion. I was even blocked myself for asking to reduce the hours the moderators were working.'

Waspi raised money for legal fees using CrowdJustice  a site that ring-fences donations so they can only be spent on legal fees whereas Backto60 used Crowdfunder, which passes the donations directly to the fundraiser  after taking a 3 per cent fee.

Pensions denied: Judges have dealt the Backto60 campaign a crushing blow, unanimously dismissing their legal challenge

Academic and public health expert Allyson Pollock has reported Backto60 to Crowdfunder after being used, without her permission she says, in a campaign to raise money for a documentary about the women's plight.

She adds: 'It appears there is no record or accounts as to how funds have been spent.'

A Crowdfunder spokesman says: 'Our terms and conditions clearly set out that the agreement to support a project is between project owner and backer.

'And, whilst we always encourage projects to clearly state what they will do with the money they raise for the project, we do not promise a project owner will do as they say on their crowdfunding page.

'In practice however, we have very few examples of successful projects knowingly not delivering on their project aims.'

...but fighting on

Backto60 campaign director Joanne Welch told Money Mail she'd still go to the Supreme Court, adding: 'Crumbs are not acceptable.'

When asked about whether supporters might have been misled into believing the court case could bring full restitution, she said: 'We have a righteous cause and everything we do, we do with a clear conscience.

'Everything we have crowdfunded for, every promise, we have kept. These people who think they know better than a world-class legal team  sorry they don't.'

But Mrs Welch hung up before we could put any more questions to her. She did not did not respond when sent questions asking for information on spending and if she had taken a salary from donations.

The legal case was first launched by Julie Delve and Karen Glynn, but was supported by Backto60.

After losing the Judicial Review the two women were each ordered to pay costs of 10,000 each. The Court of Appeal loss will cost them no more than 50,000 extra.

A Department for Work and Pensions spokesman says: 'The Government decided 25 years ago that it was going to make the State Pension age the same for men and women as a long-overdue move towards gender equality.'

b.wilkinson@dailymail.co.uk
TORONTO, Sept. 23, 2020 /CNW/ - The second annual Canada's Total Mom Pitch presented by The Total Mom Show is expanding its reach across Canada. Sponsored by The Scotiabank Women Initiative and powered by Visa Canada , The Total Mom Pitch is Canada's exclusive pitch competition encouraging mom entrepreneurs to follow their dreams and launch their passion projects. Following an extensive application process from September 23 to November 12, 2020, the top five moms selected will compete for the Grand Prize of $10,000 in non-repayable cash and $20,000 in essential business services.

As children go back to school, moms are facing difficult decisions around balancing life and business. What started as a local event to help passionate, entrepreneurial moms in Toronto, has turned into a national initiative to empower, support and help women across the country build and launch successful businesses.

Canadian moms can submit their business online via thetotalmomshow.ca/total-mom-pitch. A select group of successful entrepreneurs & business executives will select the top five strongest applications for the voting round.

"It's helping ambitious moms across Canada by networking with powerful women, asking for recommendations, and getting valuable support when we need it most," says Anna Sinclair, CEO & Founder of the Total Mom Show Inc., which produces the Pitch initiative. "It was a no brainer to partner with The Scotiabank Women Initiative and Visa, both leading the industry with action to ensure women entrepreneurs have access to powerful resources."

The top five finalists will be announced on Friday, December 11, 2020, at 11:11am EST, kicking off the official start of the three-month-long Accelerator Program. The Accelerator will offer private mentorship with some of Canada's hottest incubators and receive special programming from organizations including Google, DMZ, EDC, Rebel Office, Henry Business Law, Buckley & Associates, Sinclair Creative Agency Inc, Shopify and more.

The Total Mom Pitch finale will be hosted on March 15, 2021 where the top five will compete for the grand prize in front of a panel of exclusive judges. Additionally, the top five will receive a membership with The Canadian Women's Chamber of Commerce and the Women's Executive Network.

About Total Mom Pitch, please visit our website and FB & IG @TheTotalMomShow

High-res images & logo, please click here

About The Total Mom Inc.

The Total Mom Inc. is a digital network, community, and event series that provide support to moms as they travel through their journey of motherhood both personally and professionally. The Total Mom Show which is Canada's first and largest holistic festival for moms focuses not on kids and babies, but on the overall well-being of moms and parents. The festival is expanding into major cities across Canada and hosts interactive digital and in-person micro-events. The Network brings together resources that empower women and provides global access to education and inspiration to meet the needs of moms and small businesses.

About The Scotiabank Women Initiative

The Scotiabank Women Initiative is a comprehensive program to help advance women-owned and women-led businesses across Canada through three key pillars: Access to Capital, Mentorship and Education. Since launching in December 2018, The Scotiabank Women Initiative has achieved several notable milestones. In September 2019, the Bank committed to deploy three billion dollars in capital to women-led businesses in its first three years. The program has engaged more than 1,500 women through our Boot Camps and group mentorship sessions across Canada. We formed The Scotiabank Women Initiative Advisory Board of Scotiabank executives, who provide expertise to help women grow their businesses through facilitated small group mentorship sessions and we developed an online Knowledge Centre for self-directed learning. For more information on The Scotiabank Women Initiative, visit scotiabankwomeninitiative.com.

About Visa Inc.

Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, reliable and secure payment network - enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. Our advanced global processing network, VisaNet, provides secure and reliable payments around the world, and is capable of handling more than 65,000 transaction messages a second. Our relentless focus on innovation is a catalyst for the rapid growth of digital commerce on any device for everyone, everywhere. As the world moves from analog to digital, Visa is applying our brand, products, people, network and scale to reshape the future of commerce. For more information, visit visa.ca, usa.visa.com/visa-everywhere/blog.html and @VisaCA.

THE TOTAL MOM PITCH - FACT SHEET

Official Partners

Recognition Awards Sponsors

Additionally, recognition awards will be given to applicants from the following partners:

EDC (Export Development Canada)





Export Rising Star Award





Reach Global Marketing





Zensurance





Visit North Carolina

2020 Judges

Mentors & Experts

Vivian Kaye-Biz- eCommerce, Shopify, Selling Online





Coach " Raia" Carey- Life Coach & Goal Setting, https://www.careycoach.com/





Raia" Carey- Life Coach & Goal Setting, https://www.careycoach.com/ Christine Buckley - Financial Forecasting, Taxes and Cash Flow, https://buckleyandassoc.ca/





- Financial Forecasting, Taxes and Cash Flow, https://buckleyandassoc.ca/ Andrea Henry - Business Legal, https://henrybusinesslaw.com/





- Business Legal, https://henrybusinesslaw.com/ Eva Redpath - Mindset & Confidence, https://www.evaredpath.com/





- Mindset & Confidence, https://www.evaredpath.com/ Sarah Williams -Entrepreneurship & Business Templates, https://rebeloffice.ca/





-Entrepreneurship & Business Templates, https://rebeloffice.ca/ Monique Bryan - Personal and Business Branding, https://www.moniquebryan.com/





- Personal and Business Branding, https://www.moniquebryan.com/ Anna Sinclair - Branding & design, Influencer Marketing, Sales Pitching & Negotiations

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Todibo back on Everton's radar

| Wednesday, 23 September 2020



The 20-year-old emerged as a potential target for the Blues earlier this year when they came very close to signing Gabriel before the latter ended up at Arsenal.

Speculation on Todibo went quiet, especially when Everton shifted their attention to Fikayo Tomori but with interest in the Chelsea man waning as his place at Stamford Bridge looks more assured, Todibo is back under consideration.

Paul Joyce of The Times says the Frenchman is on Marcel Brands's shortlist but there are suggestions elsewhere that the fee being quoted by Barcelona is too high.

Ideally, Everton are looking at loan options and have also been linked with Jerome Onguene of Salzburg by Telefoot.

Update Further reporting in The Independent claims that the sticking point with Barca over Todibo is that the Catalan club want the guarantee of a purchase at the end of the loan at a fee of around 18m which Everton aren't currently keen on agreeing to.

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer

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By Michelle Nichols and Ghaida Ghantous NEW YORK/DUBAI (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz took aim at Iran during his debut on Wednesday at the annual United Nations meeting of world leaders, calling for a united front to contain Riyadh's rival and stop it from getting weapons of mass destruction.

By Michelle Nichols and Ghaida Ghantous

NEW YORK/DUBAI (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz took aim at Iran during his debut on Wednesday at the annual United Nations meeting of world leaders, calling for a united front to contain Riyadh's rival and stop it from getting weapons of mass destruction.

He said Iran exploited a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers "to intensify its expansionist activities, create its terrorist networks, and use terrorism," adding that this had produced nothing but "chaos, extremism, and sectarianism."

"A comprehensive solution and a firm international position are required," the Saudi king, 84, told the 193-member General Assembly in a video statement that was pre-recorded due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The United States, a strong ally of Saudi Arabia, quit the Iran nuclear pact in 2018, with President Donald Trump calling it the "worst deal ever." Washington has since imposed unilateral sanctions on Tehran and asserts that all countries also should reinstate U.N. sanctions to try to push the Islamic Republic to negotiate a new deal.

French President Emmanuel Macron told the world body on Tuesday that Washington's sanctions campaign against Iran had failed.

All the remaining parties to the nuclear deal, including longtime U.S. allies, and 13 of the 15 U.N. Security Council members say the U.S. claim on U.N. sanctions is void. Diplomats say few countries are likely to reimpose the measures.

"Our experience with the Iranian regime has taught us that partial solutions and appeasement did not stop its threats to international peace and security," King Salman said.

'DISARM HEZBOLLAH'

Iran's U.N. mission spokesman Alireza Miryousefi rejected what he called "the baseless allegations."

"The unconstructive and unwarranted statement by the Saudi leader only emboldens certain powers who are intent in sowing discord among regional countries with the aim of creating permanent division and selling more deadly weapons to the region," he said in an apparent swipe at the United States.

Sunni Muslim-majority Saudi Arabia and Shi'ite-dominated Iran are locked in several proxy wars in the region, including in Yemen where a Saudi-led coalition has been battling the Tehran-aligned Houthi movement over five years.

Riyadh has blamed Iran for attacks on the kingdom's oil facilities last year, a charge Tehran denies. Iran denies arming groups in the Middle East, including the Houthis, and blames regional tensions on the United States and its Gulf allies.

Trump made only a passing reference to Iran during his U.N. address on Tuesday, focusing instead on attacking China. Iran's President Hassan Rouhani told the General Assembly on Tuesday Washington could impose "neither negotiations nor war" on his country. All U.N. statements are pre-recorded videos.

Gulf Arab states have also been alarmed by the rising influence of Iran's ally Hezbollah in Lebanon, withholding financial support to the government needed to tackle Lebanon's worst financial crisis in decades.

King Salman said a deadly blast in Beirut's port last month "occurred as a result of the hegemony of Hezbollah ... over the decision-making process in Lebanon by force of arms." Authorities have blamed the blast on a stockpile of ammonium nitrate unsafely stored at the port.

"This terrorist organization must be disarmed," the king said.

NO IRAQ 'PLAYGROUND'

Iraq has often been the scene of spillover violence from U.S.-Iran tensions, but seeks to avoid being drawn into any regional conflagration. A U.S. drone strike killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani at the Baghdad airport in January.

"We do not want Iraq to become a sort of playground for other forces which will kill themselves on our territory. We have witnessed enough wars and enough attacks on our sovereignty," Iraqi President Barham Salih told the General Assembly on Wednesday.

On attempts to mediate peace between Israel and the Palestinians, the Saudi monarch said a 2002 Arab Peace Initiative is the basis for a "comprehensive and just solution" ensuring the Palestinians obtain an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

"We support the efforts of the current U.S. administration to achieve peace in the Middle East by bringing the Palestinians and the Israelis to the negotiation table to reach a fair and comprehensive agreement," he said.

Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam and site of its holiest shrines, drew up the 2002 initiative by which Arab nations offered to normalize ties with Israel in return for a statehood deal with the Palestinians and full Israeli withdrawal from territory captured in 1967.

The king stopped short of endorsing recent U.S.-brokered agreements by the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain to establish ties with Israel, a strategic realignment of Middle East countries against Iran. Saudi Arabia has quietly acquiesced to the deals but has signaled it is not ready to take action itself.

Palestinian leaders have condemned the UAE and Bahrain's warming of relations with Israel, describing it as a betrayal of their efforts to win statehood in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.

(Additional reporting by Marwa Rashad, David Brunnstrom and Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Mary Milliken, Paul Simao and Howard Goller)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
That Day

By Maria Drayton

It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. Psalm 119:71

We had just celebrated Labor Day. The weather was still hot and humid. My mom had called and asked me to stop by for a visit after church. She lived in Delaware and I stayed in Pennsylvania but because my move to PA had been recent I still hadnt found a new church and still drove to Delaware on Sundays for service. Often I stopped by my mothers after church service so I did not think it was odd that she had requested the same this Sunday.

Service was exuberating as usual. I still was on my natural high of spending time in the Lords presence as I drove the 2 minutes to my mothers house. When I walked in I noticed quickly she had been crying. I found that odd considering it was Sunday and I knew what a devoted Christian woman she was. Hadnt she gone to church today? I thought to myself. All I noticed is that she was visibly upset. She asked me to come downstairs so that she could talk to me.

As she talked, my world began to close in around me. It seemed like the room was shrinking in size. She spoke quietly as she explained to me that she had been diagnosed with Stage VI Colon Cancer and that the condition was terminal. The rest of that day was a blur that I cant remember even though Ive tried.

After her diagnosis, I had resolved in my spirit that "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it." John 11:4. So, I committed myself to her and her daily needs of doctors appointments, cooking, cleaning, going to the pharmacy, whatever she needed, I did. I posted scriptures of healing all over her house and hospital room when she stayed there. I was standing on Gods Word and believed He would heal my mother. That was my belief and I was unwavering. I knew He would heal her and I waited for it.

Well, He didnt heal her. She passed. It was only 5 months later and she was gone. My whole world seemed to change in only 6 months. Only months before, things were great, I was learning all about the love of God, praising Him, walking with Him and just growing in His truths. Now I was mad. I wasnt just mad but angry, hurt, disappointed, and depressed. I felt like God abandoned me and all my hopes were gone. She had been my best friend, my mother, my father, my everything. How could I believe God anymore? How could I trust Him after this? I had believed, I had prayed, I had my Pastor go and pray over her and still she died. My faith had been shook. I wasnt sure what to believe anymore all I knew is that I was angry. Angry at God.

I wish I had more paper and time to fully explain everything The Lord did for me in the months after and the years to come. He literally carried me through the following years. My faith had been shattered, my hope all gone and I had given up. But God didnt give up on me. The Holy Spirit ensured me that if I got out of bed, He would do the rest. And He did.

Today it is 17 years after that day. Today, I love Jesus more than before. Not because of what He did for me but who He has been to me. He has been my mother, father, sister, friend, husband, doctor, lawyer, mechanic, decorator, and builder, just everything. Scripture has become alive for me. He carried me for many years after until I was able to walk on my own again. He blessed me with a son a year after my mother died. I named him after my mom. I am also married now (another answered prayer). Today I want to encourage the reader of this story. I dont believe in coincidence and if you are reading this, it was meant for you. Wherever you are in life, please know that He has not forgotten you, knows where you are and will bring you to an expected end in Him. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us, For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end. (KJV)

God has truly given me beauty for ashes.

Isaiah 61:1-3 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for The spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.

Heavenly Father, thank You for being everything to me. Thank You for working everything for my good. Although sometimes it doesn't feel good, allow me to keep my trust in You and Your ways. You are truly good and Your mercies endure forever! In Jesus name, I pray, Amen.

For more encouragement, visit Maria at mariadrayton.com.

 2020 by Maria Drayton. All rights reserved.

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Janelle Monae is over the "strong Black woman" trope. Although she's played impressive figures like the first Black woman engineer in Hidden Figures, Harriet Tubman's accomplice in Harriet, and, most recently, a successful author in the horror film Antebellum, the actor's end goal isn't to prove how powerful Black women areit's to get to a point where Black women don't have to prove anything at all.

"I don't think it should be Black women's jobs to be superheroes," Monae said in a September Zoom interview with :BLACKPRINT, Meredith Corporation's Black Employee Resource Group. Though the artist considers herself "someone who lives outside the binary" and has no particular pronoun preference, she said she's "always standing with Black women," especially right now. Over the past several months, Black women have been asked to take on an overwhelming load, becoming involuntary educators on systemic racismall while more Black lives, like Breonna Taylor and Oluwatoyin Salau, have been taken by police brutality and racial violence.

"The violence and the silencing that has been happening to Black girls and Black women needs to continue to be talked about and checked," Monae said. However, she doesn't want the responsibility of that task to fall solely on Black women.

"We need peace. Black women are owed so much. And at the very least, peace should be at the core. Give us peace."

Janelle Monae

Monae said her role in Antebellumin which she plays a modern-day scholar who gets trapped in a horrifying reality of having to confront the racist past, present, and futureis her way of letting people know, "Hey, this is what it's like to be a black woman trying to dismantle white supremacy every single day." The film, which is available now on-demand, features violent depictions of slavery in the antebellum period, and Monae warned that "it's going to trigger." She understands, she added, if some Black viewers choose to opt out.

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For a non-Black audience, however, she had another message. "If you're benefiting from the patriarchy and benefiting from racist policies, my hope is that after you watch this filmand it shouldn't even take this film for you to see thatyou need to be a better supporter and accomplice to black women," Monae said.

While the film is timely and ever-important ("We're in the middle of a revolution right now," as Monae noted), the artist and activist said she wants to someday have more freedom for herself and other Black people to make movies that aren't necessarily tied to race and racial trauma.

"We want to make quiet rom-coms. We want to make indie films. We want to make big blockbuster, science-fiction trilogy films," she said. "We want to see ourselves in the future more. We want to make documentaries. I'm ready for us to not always have to feel so heavy, and put so much pressure on ourselves to create art that just reflects our whole existence."

Currently, though, with constant devastation on the news, the climate has been unavoidably heavyand Monae revealed that balancing her mental health has been "a tight rope." She explained, "I have to balance out the amount of heaviness with some levity, some lightness, something that brings me joy. And I think that looks different depending on where I am because we're fighting COVID, fighting police brutality. We're fighting so many isms, and just trying to live a free, carefree and purposeful life."

To get to that point, though, Monae knows there's more work ahead, which is why she stressed the importance of voting in the upcoming election.

"What we do now will determine what kind of future we have," she said. "The decisions we make around voting absolutely will play into dismantling those racist policies. Right now, we don't even have an ear that is listening to us. And not just with voting, but the amount of pressure that we're going to be putting on even the police is important. So, I think we got a lot more to fight for."

Monae shared that she will be casting her vote for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. While "it's not like they're going to solve everything overnight," she explained, "I'm ready to hold them accountable. I'm ready to show up with a list of demands. I'm ready to work with some organizers who have really been doing the work, and say, 'Hey, if you want our vote, this is what we want.'"

If you want to show up with Monae, check this comprehensive guide to voting in the 2020 election and make sure you're prepared for November 3rd.
New Delhi, Sep 23 : India has successfully tested a laser-guided anti-tank missile, primarily designed to destroy heavily-armoured military vehicles, the Defence Ministry said on Wednesday.

"Laser-Guided Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) was successfully test-fired from MBT Arjun at KK Ranges, Armoured Corps Centre and School (ACC&S) Ahmednagar on 22nd Sep 2020," the DRDO said.

In these tests, the missile successfully destroyed a target located at a distance of 3 km.

Laser-guided ATGMs lock and track the targets with the help of laser to ensure precision hit accuracy.

Employing a tandem HEAT warhead to defeat Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA) protected armoured vehicles, the missile has been developed with multiple-platform launch capability and is currently undergoing technical evaluation trials from the gun of the Arjun main battle tank (MBT).

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh appreciated the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for successfully-test firing the missile.

India is proud of Team DRDO which is assiduously working towards reducing import dependency in the near future, he said.

The missile was developed by the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune, in association with the High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) Pune, and the Instruments Research and Development Establishment (IRDE), Dehradun.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
By Trend

Lasting peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict lies only in substantive and meaningful negotiations, Bulgarian MEP Ilhan Kyuchyuk told Trend.

Kyuchyuk explained that the European Parliament is well aware of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the situation on the ground.

I strongly believe that EUs commitment to the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of all Eastern Partnership countries within internationally recognized borders is a key for successful EU foreign policy towards them, he said.

In this sense, he said, MEP is concerned from the escalation of tensions in recent months and we should continue working that current conflicts in all Eastern Partnership countries are settled following international law, as enshrined in the UN Charter and OSCE Helsinki Fnal Act, as well as the related UN Security Council resolutions.

Attempts to involve a particular third country to the conflict by extending military activities across the state borders is dangerous and could result in tragic consequences to the region and beyond. We see the lasting peaceful settlement of this conflict only in substantive and meaningful negotiations and not with provocative statements and activities that undermine the peace talks, Kyuchyuk 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.

--

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
(Newser)  The widow of the 2008 Republican nominee for president is endorsing the 2020 Democratic nominee. Per Axios, Cindy McCain officially announced her intentions via Twitter on Tuesday night, noting late husband John McCain's code of "country first" and adding, "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 went on to call Biden a "good and honest man" who would be a dependable commander in chief, "because he knows what it is like to send a child off to fight." In the first of her talk show appearances Wednesday morning, McCain told Savannah Guthrie on Today that "Joe Biden is the better man," and that her decision was made because she's "deeply concerned" about the state of the nation. "I want to feel like my president cares about me and cares about this country, and Joe Biden does," she said.

story continues below

Biden himself said Tuesday that McCain was offering her endorsement due to President Trump's alleged remarks calling veterans "losers" and "suckers," Politico reports. The AP calls the endorsement a "stunning rebuke" to Trump from Cindy McCain, who spoke at the Democratic National Convention last month but stopped short of formally endorsing Biden. At the convention, she spoke about the "unlikely friendship" that blossomed when Biden was a young senator and McCain was assigned to be his military aide during overseas trips. McCain died in 2018 from glioblastoma, the same aggressive brain cancer that killed Biden's son Beau in 2015. Trump continued to attack McCain long after the senator's death. In 2016, McCain said he wouldn't be voting for Trump or for Hillary Clinton. (He also expressed doubts about whether Trump would put forward acceptable Supreme Court nominees.)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 23

By Zhale Qasimova - Trend:

The Food Safety Agency of Azerbaijan has granted the right to import fish products into the country to 11 Russian fish processing enterprises under the guarantees of the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor), Trend reports citing Rosselkhoznadzor.

At the same time, satisfying the requirements of Azerbaijan, the Food Safety Agency retained the right to inspect Russian exporting enterprises.

Thus, currently, 138 Russian enterprises have the right to export fish products to Azerbaijan.

The value of trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Russia made up $1.7 billion from January through August 2020, having dropped by 6.3 percent compared to the same period of 2019.
Lonita Baker asked that people push for justice, even though, it feels like we are being held hostage.

Lonita Baker, an attorney for the family of Breonna Taylor, is urging people to be patient as the country  and specifically, the city of Louisville, Kentucky  braces for an announcement about charges in the womans shooting death.

As Ive continued to say, Baker wrote on Facebook, please be patient and try to tune out the rumors. There are so many, Ive lost track. There has been no decision, we are all still waiting.

Lonita Baker, lawyer for the kin of the late Breonna Taylor, speaks at a Sept. 15 press conference at Louisville City Hall announcing the city will institute police reforms and pay $12 million to Taylors family.

(Photo by Jon Cherry/Getty Images)

Thank you for your continued support and continued prayers for indictments in the pursuit of #justiceforbreonnataylor, she wrote. I really do care about all who are committed to justice and I hate that our city is living on edge waiting.

Baker encouraged her followers to continue to pray and push for justice, even though, she wrote, it feels like we are being held hostage over this decision.

Read More: Regina King accepts Emmy for Watchmen wearing Breonna Taylor t-shirt

The preparations being made by authorities in the city, like barricading the downtown area and Mayor Greg Fischer declaring a state of emergency, have left many to question if charges will be filed.

If you have to prepare for a riot, thats how you know that youve made the wrong decision, tweeted Tay Anderson, an activist and community organizer.

Sadiqa Reynolds, CEO of the nonprofit Louisville Urban League, who lives downtown, told The Associated Press the measures were overkill.

This is certainly an over-response to the local protests that have been happening in our community, she said, noting that demonstrations have been taking place in the city for months.

Read more: Louisville anxiously waits for decision in Breonna Taylor case after 6 months

This city keeps meeting the desire for justice with this preparation for war, Reynolds added.

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Imagine handling something so badly, from the beginning and then for literally months, that the possible reaction of your own citizens to your decision so terrifies you that you barricade the heart of your city, wrote Marc Murphy, a lawyer and cartoonist for the Louisville Courier-Journal.

There has still been no timeline set for when Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron will make his announcement, but civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, who represents the Taylor family alongside Baker, tweeted Tuesday we expect that charges in the Breonna Taylor case be brought THIS week. We DEMAND #JusticeForBreonnaTaylor!!

Have you subscribed to theGrios Dear Culture podcast? Download our newest episodes now!

The post Breonna Taylors family attorney: Try to tune out the rumors appeared first on TheGrio.
In his latest book 'Rebels With a Cause: Famous dissenters and why they are not being heard', published by PenguinRandomHouse, IIM Professor T T Ram Mohan profiles well-known dissenters like Arundhati Roy, Oliver Stone, Kancha Ilaiah, David Irving, Yanis Varoufakis, U.G. Krishnamurti and John Pilger. Through their experiences, Ram Mohan illustrates how dissent tends to be severely circumscribed, and raises questions to challenge the way we view, and live in, the world.

Excerpt:

How economist Yanis Varoufakis failed in his attempt to get Greeces debt restructured during the Eurozone crisis

In the months that followed, Varoufakis engaged in hectic parleys with leaders in Europe and the IMF in an attempt to get the troika to move away from the MoU and accept the Greek governments proposals on the debt crisis. He flew from one capital in Europe to another, pleading, cajoling, at times taunting his interlocutors.

Pictures of Varoufakis wearing a black leather jacket and riding his motorbike became famous. In Germany, a TV news anchor gushed that Varoufakis reminded her of the actor Bruce Willis.

One magazine gushed about Varoufakis classical masculinity. His tieless appearance and his preference for not tucking in his shirts and leaving their tops unbuttoned evoked comment and admiration. What makes Yanis Varoufakis a sex icon was the headline in a German newspaper.

Varoufakis once showed up for an official meeting in Paris wearing a tight blue shirt and a leather overcoat. It created a splash in the media. Varoufakis suggests the sensationalism was misplaced. He had traveled without any change of clothes. Upon arrival in Paris, he had found that most shops were closed. The best he could do was to pick up two vaguely suitable shirts and borrow a coat from Greeces ambassador to France.16 To the world, it seemed that Varoufakis was trying to advertise his status as a maverick and outsider to the European establishment.

Varoufakis obtained support for his plans from American economists Jeffrey Sachs and Jamie Galbraith. He had the broad sympathy of former US Treasury Secretary Larry Summers. He was able to reach across to and win over Norman Lamont, the conservative former Chancellor of the Exchequer of the UK, and Frances economics minister and future President, Emmanuel Macron.

The key negotiators within the eurozone, including German finance minister Wolfgang Schauble, would make appreciative noises about Varoufakis approach and even say a few positive things in public. In private, the head of the IMF in Europe went so far as to propose a write-off of 53 bn of debtVaroufakis wondered whether he was dreaming.

When it came to the crunch, however, the officials of the eurozone were not willing to move away from the troikas basic position: Greece must practise extreme austerity in order to repay the debt it had been saddled with. None of the arguments that Varoufakis could muster, none of his appeals for reasonableness changed this reality one bit.

Tsipras

Tsipras met Germanys Chancellor Angela Merkel on 20 March. Merkel went over Greeces proposals in great detail. Then, she came up with an idea. Since the Greeks detested Schauble and Varoufakis was seen by the Eurogroup as a problem, why not let the two cancel each other? Merkel and Tsipras could then do a deal with each other.

Tsipras fell for the idea. A new group was created for carrying out negotiations. In the weeks to come, it was even insinuatedthrough inspired leaksthat Varoufakis and Schauble were plotting behind the backs of their leaders to get Greece out of the euro! Merkel had managed to drive a wedge between Tsipras and Varoufakis.

Varoufakis recounts an unsettling cabinet meeting on 3 April. Varoufakis had met Tsipras before the meeting and told him that, since there had been no progress in talks, it was time to announce that Greece would default on repayments to the IMF. Tsipras told him that the time had not yet come for a default. At the meeting, however, Tsipras changed his stance dramatically:

Greece is still a sovereign country and we, the cabinet, have the duty to say, Enough! . . . Not only are we going to default but you

It was arranged that Varoufakis would meet Lagarde over the Easter holidays. Even as Varoufakis was leaving the airport in Washington, he saw a text message from Tsipras on his mobile asking him to call. When Varoufakis called, Tsipras told him, Look, Yani, weve decided that were not going to default, not yet.Yet another volte-face!

An astonished Varoufakis asked him what he should then say to the IMF chief. Tsipras told him that he should go ahead and threaten a default. The threat of a default would get Lagarde to call the ECB president and get him to relax the liquidity squeeze he had imposed on Greece.

Varoufakis duly conveyed the message to Lagarde. He received no assurance from the IMF chief that she would lean on the ECB to ease the liquidity situation in Greece. Lagarde suggested coolly that it was up to the ECB president to decide how to respond. On yet another trip to Washington, Varoufakis got conflicting signals from the US government.

President Barack Obama was friendly but offered nothing more than a homily about Greece compromising with the institutions and meeting them halfway. The US representative at the IMF was more helpful. He asked Varoufakis to prepare his own plan for the IMF instead of a modified version of the MoU.

This was followed by another meeting with the Eurogroup in Riga in Latvia on 24 April. Varoufakis was told bluntly that there was no alternative to implementing the MoU in full. No interim measures or compromises could be considered. The media kept up a steady drumbeat of criticism against Varoufakis. Bloomberg reported:

Euro area finance chiefs said Varoufakis handling of the talks was irresponsible and accused him of being a time-waster, a gambler and an amateur . . .

A Reuters report said:

While other ministers were feted by their entourages with food and warm clothing during the meeting in Riga, Varoufakis was seen alone at almost every turn, eschewing aides or any security detail. He is completely isolated, a senior Eurozone official told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

In the meantime, the German Chancellery leaked the news that Merkel had given Tsipras the cold shoulder. Sensing that Tsipras was not as committed to their position as he was earlier, Varoufakis offered to step down. Tsipras assured Varoufakis of his continued support:

Yani . . . They are aiming at your undoing to undo me. They want to get you to get at me. We are not going to let them, right? We are going to stand together. I do not want to hearagain about this nonsense . Stay strong. We have a war to win.

Barely two days later, at a cabinet meeting, Tsipras was singing a different tune. He said he was replacing Varoufakis deputy with Chouliarakis. He said he had to offer the Eurogroup something as they had demanded Varoufakis head. Those who spoke at the meeting supported Tsipras. Varoufakis isolation in the cabinet was complete.

Varoufakis met Tsipras later that day with his resignation letter in his pocket. As he waited for Tsipras, he noticed a few papers lying on his table. One number on one of the pages caught his attention. Tsipras was committing himself to a primary budget surplus of 3.5 per cent for the next ten years. Tsipras intended to junk Syrizas position that the surplus could be 1.5 per cent at the most!

Tsipras offered the feeble defense that he was making the concession in the expectation that the troika would offer something in return. Incredibly, even at this point, Varoufakis could not bring himself to resign. He still clung to the hope that when Tsipras was confronted with the reality that the troika would not offer anything in returnwhen he faced complete ignominyhe

would be moved to defiance.

One episode that Varoufakis mentions stands out. He calls Jeffrey Sachs and tells him that his government is finally ready to default on its repayment on the IMF repayment. Half an hour later, Sachs calls him up. He says that five minutes after he hung up, he got a call from the US National Security Council asking whether Varoufakis had meant what he said. Varoufakis

phone had been tapped and the spooks were making no bones about it!

This should have alerted Varoufakis to the possibility that the Americans and the Europeans knew full well what was going on within the Greek government. They would have known that Varoufakis had been isolated in his cabinet. They would have also known that the Greek governments threats about Grexit were one big bluff.
Italian actress and film icon, Sophia Loren, will return to movies for the first time in over a decade. The international superstar will serve as the leading lady in the upcoming Netflix film, The Life Ahead.

Directed by one of Lorens son, Edoardo Ponti, The Life Ahead follows the story of a Holocaust survivor who helps to care for the children of prostitutes. This isnt the first time Loren has depicted characters torn apart by World War IIher role as a mother desperate to protect her daughter during the conflict in the 1960 drama, Two Women, landed her an Academy Award for Best Actress, making her the first person in a foreign-language performance to do so.

After a long and widely acclaimed film career (one which included a marriage proposal from none other than Cary Grant), Loren went on a hiatus, only appearing in one short film, La Voce Umana (The Human Voice) back in 2014. She reportedly jumped at the chance to star in the Netflix film, stating the character she plays reminded her of her own mother.

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 28: Director Edoardo Ponti attends 'All The President's Premiere' during the TCM Classic Film Festival 2016 Opening Night on April 28, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. 25826_006 (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Turner)Getty Images for Turner

Lorens mother, Romilda Villani, harbored the same interest in the film industry as her daughter. As a young girl, Villani even entered a Greta Garbo look-alike contest to jumpstart her career. After a few roadblocks along the way, Villani instead decided to channel her dreams of acting into her eldest daughters future. The two of them as well as Lorens younger sister, Maria, moved to Rome after the war to make this dream come true. It was here she met Carlo Ponti, her future husband, and where she landed her first few roles that would eventually launch a decades-long career.

The Life Ahead is scheduled to be released on Nov. 13.
LOS ANGELESAs AVN reported in July, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved a new bill aimed at regulating online speech, the Eliminating Abuse and Rampant Neglect of Interactive Technology Act, or EARN IT. The bill is sponsored by Republican Commitee Chair Lindsey Graham, but, two leading Democrats  Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Dianne Feinstein of California  have also signed on.

The bill has raised alarm among digital civil liberties advocates such as The Electronic Frontier Foundation, but also among the sex-worker community.

By stripping protections for sites, such as Facebook, that allow posts which could be broadly construed as sex trafficking, as well as scaling back end-to-end encryption, EARN IT will likely lead to increased surveillance and monitoring of sex workers online. In addition, the definition of sex trafficking in the bill remains so vague that almost any adult content could fall under the terms, and face an online ban.

According to a new report by the Washington D.C think-tank The Brookings Institute, however, the United States is far from alone in the world, in the effort to crack down on internet free expression.

We are witnessing a shift in the primary driver of regulation from protecting innovation at all costs to ostensibly protecting aggrieved citizens at all cost, wrote authors David Morar and Bruna Martins dos Santos, in the report published Monday by Brookings. The U.S., Europe, and Brazil are in the throes of a fundamental intermediary liability legislative fight: who deserves safeguarding, what are the major threats, and can government rewrite the rules without pulling the plug on the internet as we know it?

In the U.S. EARN IT would further roll back liability protections afforded to online platforms under Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act. The Brookings report details similar legislative efforts abroad.

In 2017, Germany passed the Network Enforcement Act, which requires sites with more than 2 million users  such as any of the leading social media sites  to remove obviously illegal or manisfestly unlawful content with 24 hours of receiving a complaint.

Earlier this year, France followed suit, with its own law, which it titled Fighting Hate on the Internet. But the countrys high court struck down the law just a few months after its passage. The court found it to be an attack on freedom of expression among many other concerns, according to the Brookings report.

The opposite happened in Germany, however, where in June the Bundestag, or parliament passed an even more strict version of the law, requiring platforms not only to remove unlawful content, but to file a report with law enforcement about any deleted posts.

In June, Brazil passed its own law, modeled on the German legislation, titled Brazilian Law of Freedom, Liability, and Transparency on the Internet. But Brazils law appears weaker than the German version, requiring only mandatory transparency reports, political content disclosure, and ensuring due process and appeals for content moderation decisions, as described by the Brookings report.

The Brazilian law is designed to combat so-called fake news, but otherwise is similar in many respects to the EARN IT Act, according to the Brookings report.

Brookings counted 13 countries that have passed some version of the German law, which is known as NetzDG. The most severe in cracking down on speech, according to an EFF report, was passed in Turkey on July 29. The law is a response by Turkeys president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, after several Twitter posts attacked his daughter and son-in-law.

The Turkish law requires platforms to remove content that allegedly violates personal rights and the privacy of personal life within 48 hours of receiving a court order or face heavy fines, according to the EFF summary.

The EARN IT Act has yet to come to a vote in the full Senate, however, despite Grahams intent to push it to a vote by the end of August. Brazils internet speech law also remains stuck in that countrys legislature, according to the Brookings report.

Photo by Pixabay
White House attacked Olivia Troye over her comments about president's handling of pandemic (AFP via Getty Images)

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."

Story continues

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.

Read more

She is a good person: Fauci backs Pence aide who says shes voting for Biden

Trump awards himself A+ on coronavirus despite 200,000 deaths
In a joint statement after key military talks on September 21, India and China agreed to stop sending more troops to the frontline, refrain from unilaterally changing the situation on the ground and avoid taking any actions that may complicate matters.

Also read: Deadlock at talks, China wants India to exit key heights

While the development is being seen as an effort by both sides to not allow the border row to escalate further, the situation on the contested Line of Actual Control (LAC) remains tense and there has been no thinning of military buildup in the eastern Ladakh theatre.

How things stand today

1. Both sides will soon hold a seventh round of commander-level talks with the aim of taking measures to solve problems on the ground, and jointly safeguard peace and tranquillity on the border. Expectations from the military dialogue are not very high as both armies have made their positions known to each other.

2. At the September 21 talks, Indian negotiators firmly demanded comprehensive disengagement at all flashpoints and restoration of status quo ante as the only approach towards de-escalation. However, China asked India to withdraw its soldiers from strategic heights on the southern bank of Pangong Tso to reduce friction.

3. 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.

4. Both sides are prepared for the long haul in the Ladakh theatre where they have made arrangements to provide logistics support to thousands of troops who are likely to remain deployed in the sector through the winter.

5. China has deployed sizeable military assets in the eastern Ladakh theatre including 50,000 troops, 150 aircraft, tanks, heavy artillery, missiles and air defence systems, with India matching every military move made by the neighbour. The combat ratio between the two forces is 1:1.
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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 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-monitor for any symptoms 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.

Editors note  Sept. 23, 2020: This story was revised with updated information from Branksome Hall that students will be self-monitoring, not self-isolating.
Authorities in the southern Vietnamese province of Dong Nai have found the body of a local woman who went missing after falling into a trench on Monday.

The body of Tran Thi Mung, 52, was discovered at Da Dung Stream in Gia Tan 2 Commune, Thong Nhat District on Wednesday morning, local authorities confirmed later the same day.

Mung was walking on Duc Huy-Thanh Binh Street at around 5:05 pm on Monday when she accidently fell into a ditch next to the road.

She was washed away by the water and went missing despite rescue attempts by local residents.

The case was reported to local authorities and a search was promptly initiated for the woman.

Hundreds of police and military officers in five communes of Thong Nhat District were mobilized to scout local ditches, culverts, streams, and lakes on Tuesday.

The search was expanded to more than 10 kilometers from the scene of the accident but the victims whereabouts remained unknown.

The effort was halted at 5:00 pm on the same day due to heavy rain.

According to Tran Quang Tuan, Duc Huy-Thanh Binh Street is 7.1 kilometers long and seven meters wide.

Rescuers search for Tran Thi Mung in Dong Nai Province, Vietnam, September 22, 2020. Photo: A Loc / Tuoi Tre

Two open ditches, each measuring 0.6 meters wide and 0.6 meters deep, were built on both sides of the road for water drainage, Tuan added.

The Peoples Committee in Thong Nhat District has approved a plan to upgrade the road, including expanding it to nine meters wide and building a trench system with covers to ensure safety for local residents.

The project will be added to the localitys mid-term development plan for the 2021-25 period, the official stated.

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Although the new citizenship law came as a ray of hope, civil society groups and activists say that the clause 6 committee recommendations and the continuing citizenship trials have disrupted their faith in the government.

Guwahati, Assam: With the Assam Assembly elections in 2021 drawing closer, the longest running mandate of citizenship has once again taken centerstage in Assams politics.

The most recent trigger is the clause 6 committee report leaked by two of its members, Samujjal Bhattacharya of the All Assam Students Union and senior advocate, Niloy Dutta, last month. AASU is a signatory of the Assam Accord, a tripartite agreement between them, the Union and State government signed in 1985. Per the agreement, 24 March, 1971 was set as the cut off date for citizenship.

The proposed cut off year to define who an Assamese is, however, has been recommended at 1951  the year when the first Census in post Independent India and the first NRC exercise were carried out.

Although it is still pending legislation, and the Assam government is yet to send its feedback to the Centre, Bengali Hindu groups are alarmed by it. Even the mere recommendation of 1951 as the cut off date, said Shyamal Sarkar a member of the Bengali Hindu Federation, reveals the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) governments double standard.

The Assam Accord  which is seen as such a holy accord that we had accepted  identifies the cut off year at 1971. They should follow this, Sarkar said. If 1951 were to be accepted as the cut off year, he added, it would reduce Bengali Hindus to second class citizens in the state.

According to clause 6 of the accord, constitutional safeguards were to be placed for the protection of Assamese people  a demand that remain unfulfilled by the Asom Gana Parishad, a political offshoot of AASU, and subsequently, Congress government in the state. A committee formed by the Home Ministry in July 2019, led by (Retd) Justice BK Sharma, drafted the set of recommendations based on state wide consultation.

Along with the definition, the committee has recommended 80-100 percent reservation for Assamese people in government posts, land rights, the implementation of the Inner Line Permit along with retaining Assamese as the official language of the state.

Sarkar, who heads the Bharatiya Gana Parishad (BGP), said that plans were on to contest at least 40 seats in the 2021 election after they lost all hope with the BJP-ruled government. A regional party formed in 2015, the BGP fought just 11 seats in the Assembly elections in 2016 and 4 seats in the 2019 general elections.

Subimal Biswas, the former President of BGP, said that the State Election Commission recognised the party a month after the polling date was announced, giving them only little time to campaign. However, we still managed a decent performance, falling short of only 1400 votes in Bijni, he told Firstpost.

Unlike previous election years, where the party contested seats in middle and lower Assam, Biswas said that they would not restrict themselves this time and fight in Upper Assam and Barak valley, too.

Bengalis are the second largest majority in Assam after the Assamese yet we were not given a single seat in the clause 6 committee, he said. Our politics is not about Hindu or Muslim. We stand with all oppressed people

Unlike the 2016 election, in which the BJP swept the polls in a strong majority using the NRC as a mandate to drive away illegal foreigners, regionalism will define the 2021 election.

Already, three fronts have been floated to oppose BJPs Citizenship Amendment Act  the Assam Jatiya Parishad by AASU and the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP), Anchalik Gana Morcha led by the journalist turned Rajya Sabha MP Ajit Bhuyan and United Regional Party Assam. The Akhil Gogoi led Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti is set to launch their own political party.

Biswas said that although CAA was supposed to be in their favour, they are yet to see its benefits. The rules still have to be considered and if this is again like the NRC where we have to show our papers, then it wont work for us, he said.

Moreover, he added, the Central government was supposed to frame the rules within 6 months and now they have asked for a 3 month extension.

Sensing the popular vote tilting against the BJP post the CAA, the Indian National Congress and All India United Democratic Front have joined hands to defeat the BJP and its communal agenda.

Congress spokesperson, Sushmita Dev, who lost the Lok Sabha seat from Silchar last year, told Firstpost that everything that was promised to the Hindu Bengalis only takes away from their rights.

Compare the accord signed by former Primer Minister Rajiv Gandhi, which gave deemed citizenship if you came before 71, she said.

In CAA, youll have to fill a form and theres no guarantee that you will be accepted or rejected but by then youve already identified yourself as a foreigner, Dev added. This half baked solution that has diluted the rights of Hindu Bengalis in a sly way, she said, is becoming more and more apparent now.

BJP State President, Ranjit Kumar Das said that the fate of Bengali Hindus would be secure once the CAA rules are framed. In terms of the proposed recommendations for clause 6, he said it wasnt needed in Upper Assam or Barak valley.

In my personal opinion, clause 6 should only be applied in the border districts, where not only the Assamese but the Hindus have been reduced to a minority, he said. If we reserve seats for the indigenous Assamese here, then the Bengalis will also be safe

Notices in the middle of the pandemic

A year since the National Register of Citizens was updated, which excluded 19.2 lakh applicants in the state, the rejection slips are yet to be issued to those excluded. The NRC authorities have cited the pandemic as a reason for delay in serving the speaking orders, which are to explain the reasons for an applicants exclusion needed for them to file an appeal in the Foreigners Tribunal.

Meanwhile, citizen groups have raised alarm over notices served by the foreigners tribunals, the quasi judicial courts in Assam that conduct citizenship trials.

The new citizenship law, however, revised the cut off date to 31 December, 2014 for non-Muslim religious minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. But despite the new statute, notices with references going back as early as 1998 have been served upon Bengali Hindu residents in the last several months, even during the lockdown.

The Citizen Rights Preservation Committee, Assam wrote to Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, saying that as the country is living through the COVID-19 pandemic, the foreigners tribunals in Cachar and other districts of Assam were issuing random foreigners notice to people. They requested to hold the notices until the pandemic was over.

It doesnt seem like the government is interested. Whatever the commitment of the CAA may be, in practice, they are doing the opposite, Secretary General, Sadhan Purkayastha said. Sarkar said that the BJP government is not Hindutvadi, its just playing politics.

We are Hindus but what is happening here? We are still in the detention centres and receiving notices to prove our citizenship in the foreigners tribunals, he said.
A re-opening of the Queensland border to all of New South Wales could be just two weeks away.

All NSW residents may be able to enter the Sunshine State sooner than expected after no untraceable cases of coronavirus were recorded in the last two weeks.

The Queensland Government have pledged to open the border if NSW goes 28 days without recording a coronavirus infection with no known source.

Queensland may open its border to all of NSW in two weeks. QLD has pledged to open when NSW goes 28 days without an unidentified COVID-19 transmission (pictured: Gold Coast)

NSW (Sydney Harbour pictured) has gone two weeks without recording a coronavirus infection with no known source. Six new cases in quarantine were reported on Wednesday

Current coronavirus restrictions demand NSW travellers to isolate for two weeks after crossing the border into Queensland (Jetstar flight in Melbourne pictured)

Queensland health authorities described the unknown cases as 'where the contact tracing and testing is unable to identify how the person was infected'.

NSW recorded just six new coronavirus cases in the 24 hours to Tuesday night and all infections were returned travellers in hotel quarantine.

It marks the second day in a row of no community transmission. The last time NSW had consecutive days without community transmission was July 3, 4 and 5.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she was hopeful the Queensland border restrictions would be completely removed sooner rather than later.

'I hope the Queensland government takes that final step in in getting rid of the border because the evidence is certainly indicating that it can.

'And I feel more confident after yesterday that that could be sooner than I anticipated,' she said on Wednesday.

Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said the last unknown local source of COVID-19 infection was recorded on September 7.

'So whilst we have had cases reported recently we have been able to identify the source of those,' she said.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has called on Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (pictured above) to ease the harsh border restrictions

Queensland (Gold Coast pictured) will open to 41 new postcodes in NSW next weekend

'So very pleasing numbers but it is now time for complacency. We do continue to as the community to work with us to get those testing rates up high,' she said.

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.

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.

It was also announced on Tuesday that South Australia would open its borders to residents in NSW from midnight on Wednesday.

Virgin Australia, Qantas and Jetstar have begun to add extra flights to their schedules in response to the relaxed restrictions.
KINGSTON, ON (September 23, 2020)- His resume already includes accolades for his performance in go kart and motocross racing, but there is nothing Tim McColman would rather do than add the hardware from a Northeast Fall Nationals win to the trophy case. In just his second season of racing with the Eastern Ontario Vintage Stock Car Club, the 34-year-old from Kingston, Ontario will be making his first career start  October 2 and 3  in the popular season-ending event at Brockville Ontario Speedway.

Tim McColman  who works as a sales and leasing professional at Subaru of Kingston  spent his 2019 season travelling with the Eastern Ontario Vintage Stock Car Club and Dirt Modified Nostalgia Tours. His No. 20 coupe, a tribute to former Kingston and Brockville Speedway track champion Walter Pennock earned a handful of main event wins at various tracks and was named 2019 Vintage Super Series 50/60s Champion.

Running with the Vintage clubs, we get to visit all the best tracks around, McColman said. Every place we go, I try to stay positive and keep the hammer down. I dont think there is any better kind of racing on a budget than youll find with the various vintage clubs. I love running a hard race against another driver and then giving each other a big thumbs up after the checkered flag.

Away from the track, Tim McColman says he enjoys off-roading in his RZR, drone flying, paintball, motocross, mountain biking and fishing. The Sydenham High School graduate is lucky to have a number of family members and friends to support his racing efforts, including his parents Garry and Angie McColman, Derrick and Tracey Larlee, Greg Hale, Jon Aarssen, Joe Nickel, Brian Powley, Diane Park and Chris and Mike Raabe. Behind the scenes and at the track, Garry McColman, Brandon Lamon and Mike Raabe make sure the No. 09T 1979 AMC Spirit is ready for battle.

The team is proudly supported by Kids For Kids Kingston, McColman Media, Colebrook Auto Services, CSN Kingston Collision, Draper Doors, Pro Strip Traffic Lines, Krown Rust Control, Double A-Ron Designs and Fat Bastard Fabrication.

Im looking forward to the chance to participate in a high profile event like Brockville Speedways upcoming Northeast Fall Nationals, admitted the driver. Its unfortunate that provincial restrictions have limited the number of spectators that will be there to see such an amazing weekend of racing but well have some fun and put on a great show.

Stay up-to-date with Tim McColman and the No. 09T Vintage Modified team by liking the Big G Racing page on Facebook.

Prepared by Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media

clarkemotorsports@hotmail.com, www.facebook.com/clarkemotorsports

613.968.6410
Russia: Russia's President Putin meets with Ukraine's Opposition Platform leader Medvedchuk

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Viktor Medvedchuk, Chairman of Ukraine's Opposition Platform during a meeting at the Moscow Kremlin. Credit - Alexei NikolskyTASS/Sipa

A pro-Russian political party in Ukraine sought to partner with one of the most important witnesses in a Republican-led probe of the Biden family whose final report was released on Wednesday.

The offer of cooperation came in the fall of 2019 from a political party in Ukraine that is co-chaired by Viktor Medvedchuk, a friend and trusted ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Medvedchuks party made the offer to Andrii Telizhenko, a former Ukrainian diplomat and political operative, who has been a key witness in the year-long U.S. Senate investigation into the Ukraine connections of the Biden family. The partys operatives, Telizhenko tells TIME, offered me to help them with the Republicans much more closely, to be a back channel to Moscow.

The offer, which Telizhenko says he turned down, marked the start of a complex influence campaign on the part of Putins allies in Kyiv, an effort that went further than has previously been reported. For over a year, agents and allies of the Kremlin in Ukraine have tried to feed information to President Trumps personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, and his Republican allies on Capitol Hill. The information passed through a variety of channels, including an indicted gas tycoon with deep ties to the Kremlin, and a Ukrainian lawmaker trained in a Russian spy academy.

Starting last fall, Medvedchuk and the political party of which he is co-chairman, Opposition Platform  For Life, also attempted to air their unsubstantiated claims of corruption against Biden in the Ukrainian parliament. They failed to get enough votes to open a parliamentary inquiry in Kyiv. Instead these claims about Biden found a far more prominent platform in the U.S. Senate.

The Republican chairmen of two Senate committees, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and Chuck Grassley of Iowa, teamed up to investigate the Biden family in August 2019. Their findings were published in an 87-page report on Wednesday, less than a week before the first presidential debate between Biden and Trump. The report centers around allegations that have been widely discredited and denied by senior officials both in the U.S. and Ukraine, including claims that Biden acted corruptly to help his son Hunter, who sat on the board of a Ukrainian gas company. The report found no evidence of wrongdoing by the former Vice President.

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Leading Democrats and some Republicans on Capitol Hill had repeatedly warned Johnson that Russia could use his investigation to launder false claims about Biden. In a lengthy statement issued last month, Johnson denied using any Russian sources or documents. None of it is Russian disinformation, he wrote.

The newly released report also defends the credibility of Telizhenko as a witness by citing his past meetings with U.S. officials. Andrii Telizhenko, the Democrats personification of Russian disinformation, met with Obama administration officialsat least 10 times, the report states.

In the fall of 2019, when Telizhenko received the offer of help from the pro-Russian political party in Ukraine, he had already been working with Giuliani for several months on an effort to dig up political dirt on the Biden family.

Telizhenko got in touch with Giuliani that spring with help from another U.S. lawyer aligned with President Trump, Victoria Toensing, a Republican stalwart and Fox News pundit. As Telizhenko recalled in an interview with TIME earlier this year, he met with Toensing at her home in Washington in May 2019 and asked for an introduction to Giuliani. Giuliani then invited the Ukrainian to meet with him in New York. Their subsequent discussion over cigars and whiskey in Manhattan lasted several hours, and it resulted in a long-running collaboration between Giuliani and Telizhenko.

Over the past year, Telizhenko has repeatedly aired his claims about corruption in the Biden family while appearing on Giulianis YouTube channel and podcast. The claims are drawn from Telizhenkos past work as a diplomat in the Ukrainian embassy in Washington, his employment with a DC lobbying firm and his stint in the office of the prosecutor general of Ukraine. While serving in these positions, Telizhenko claims to have witnessed signs of corruption and conflicts of interests involving the Biden family and other Obama Administration officials.

With help from Giuliani, these claims also found their way to the U.S. Senate, where Johnson and his staff have had repeated contacts with Telizhenko for over a year. The Wisconsin Senator first met with Telizhenko in July 2019, a month before Johnson teamed up with Senator Grassley to investigate allegations of corruption against the Biden family.

As that probe got underway in the U.S. Senate, Russian allies in Ukraine made repeated efforts to lend credibility to these claims of corruption against Biden. Some of these efforts involved Medvedchuk, a personal friend of the Russian President. Putin is the godfather to Medvedchuks teenage daughter, and their relationship serves as a primary channel of Russia influence in Ukraine. In March 2019, in the heat of a presidential election in Ukraine, Medvedchuk traveled to Moscow for talks with senior Russian officials that were meant to bolster ties between Russia and Ukraine.

As TIME reported last fall, Medvedchuks political party then began to call for the parliament in Ukraine to investigate Biden and other Obama Administration officials. It was my idea, says Oleg Voloshyn, a lawmaker from that party. While insisting the effort had nothing to do with Moscow, Voloshyn says Medvedchuk signed off on it. I came [with] it to Victor just to get green light. I doubt he ever discussed it with his friend, Voloshyn wrote to TIME in a text message in November, referring to Putin and Medvedchuk. As for his motives, he added: I just wanted to help [American] conservatives to pin down liberals.

At around the same time, Medvedchuks political party approached Telizhenko, who was then working both with Giuliani and Senator Johnson in their efforts to investigate the Biden family. They tried to go through me to get to Donald Trump or his team, says Telizhenko. He turned down the offer to work with Medvedchuk, he says, because it would toxify his work with Giuliani. I dont do the Russians, Telizhenko added.

In a statement to TIME on Wednesday, Medvedchuk said that he never met in person with Telizhenko and does not know him. His political party wanted to open a parliamentary inquiry into the Biden family, Medvedchuk wrote, as part of an effort to investigate Ukrainian politicians for corruption.

I never discussed this idea with Putin or other senior Russian officials, because I see it as an internal matter for Ukraine, Medvedchuk wrote. He also denied any attempt to set up a back channel to Moscow for President Trumps associates. The situation with corruption in the United States of America never interested me. That is an internal matter of the USA.

By the time they made contact with Telizhenko, Putins allies in Ukraine had other connections in Giulianis circle. Among them was Toensing, the lawyer and Fox News pundit who had introduced Giuliani to Telizhenko in May 2019. Less than two months later, Toensing went to work as a lawyer for a Russian-backed oligarch in Ukraine, Dmitry Firtash. In the early 2000s, Firtash became a middleman in the Russian-Ukrainian gas trade with the blessing of President Putin. From his current home base in Vienna, Austria, Firtash controls a vast network of energy and media assets in Ukraine, including one of its leading television channels.

As TIME reported in October, Toensing was among several associates of Giuliani who went to work for Firtash in the summer of 2019. Firtash hired Toensing and her husband, Joe DiGenova, to help defend him against felony charges of corruption in Chicago. The charges stem from an alleged bribery scheme related to a titanium deal in India. In calling for Firtashs extradition to stand trial in the U.S., prosecutors have accused Firtash of being among the upper echelon associates of Russian organized crime, a claim that Firtash vigorously denies, along with all charges against him.

While working on his case, Toensing got access to documents obtained by other members of the Firtash legal team, including statements that made discredited claims of corruption against Biden. Giuliani then used some of these documents to attack Biden on cable news and to call for investigations of the Biden family.

Giuliani has denied having any ties to Firtash, and has said all of his claims against the Biden family are based on reliable sources and documents he obtained through proper channels.

In February of this year, Attorney General William Barr confirmed during a press conference that the Justice Department is receiving documents from Giuliani and his sources in Ukraine. The Department has created an intake process, Barr said, to vet any information that comes from those sources with help from the Departments intelligence community partners.

In an interview with TIME in February, Telizhenko described Giulianis own vetting process for documents that they receive from Ukrainian sources. A lot of it is coming in, Telizhenko says. A lot of information from a lot of people who want to give evidence about what happened, politicians, NGOs, who saw whats going on. My role is also to help filter what is true and what is not.

Since the end of last year, one of Giulianis sources in Ukraine has been Andrii Derkach, a Ukrainian lawmaker whom the U.S. Treasury Department recently identified as an active Russian agent with close ties to Russian intelligence services. Before going into politics, Derkach studied at one of Moscows premier universities for spies. A secret CIA report issued Aug. 31 concluded that Putin was probably directing Derkachs efforts, according to a report in the Washington Post.

In a series of lengthy press conferences in Kyiv, Derkach has publicized documents and audio recordings that he claims support his theories of Bidens corruption in Ukraine. Giuliani met with Derkach in Kyiv in December to discuss these theories and, in an episode of his podcast in February 2020, he discussed Derkachs allegations in detail. Earlier this month, after the Treasury Department sanctioned Derkach for allegedly interfering in the U.S. presidential elections, Giuliani distanced himself from the Ukrainian lawmaker, telling NPR that the information Derkach provided was not unique. Derkach, who did respond to requests for comment for this article, has previously denied working on behalf of Moscow.

Senator Johnson, who chairs the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, has denied using any information from Derkach in his investigation of the Bidens in Ukraine.

Johnson defends his repeated contacts with Telizhenko. At the start of this year, the Senator prepared a subpoena for Telizhenko to testify before his committee. The Ukrainian even rented an apartment near Washington as he prepared to deliver that testimony and meet with Johnsons staff. In March, however, the FBI reportedly warned lawmakers in a briefing that Telizhenko could be a conduit for Russian disinformation about the Bidens, according to the New York Times. Johnson then shelved his plans to have Telizhenko testify.

In recent weeks, as he has prepared to release the findings of his investigation, Johnson has insisted that it relies on legitimate American sources. The report released Wednesday details repeated contacts between Telizhenko and the Obama administration National Security Council. The claims of Russian attempts to influence his work, says the Senator, are all part of a Democratic effort to tarnish his reputation. Because I am investigating corruption in the Obama administration, and they are afraid of what the results of that investigation is, so what they are doing is they are targeting me, trying to destroy me, so that any results of my investigation will be marginalized, he told a Wisconsin broadcaster last month. My question is, what are Democrats afraid of in my investigation?

As for Telizhenko, he denies the reported allegation that he could have served as a conduit for Russian disinformation, and says he feels vindicated by the release of the new report. I provided what I could provide to the U.S. Senate investigation, what I was asked for, he told TIME by phone from Kyiv on Wednesday. The facts I was talking about years before, with emails and documents, came out today, he says. This is supported by the U.S. government, by taxpayers money, and given to the U.S. public. Now it is up to American voters, adds Telizhenko, to decide in November what to do next.
Dassault Aviation has signed an agreement to support the Lebanese NGO Nawraj. Fouad Abou Nader (left) and Eric Trappier (right). Image: Dassault Aviation

Under the agreement, Dassault Aviation will buy and dispatch medical equipment worth 150,000 for a hospital in the Gemmayze district, which suffered extensive damage in the blast.

The agreement was signed today, at Dassault Aviation headquarters in Saint-Cloud, by Fouad Abou Nader, President of Nawraj, and Eric Trappier, Dassault Aviation Chairman and CEO. Rami Adwan, Ambassador of Lebanon in Paris, Ambassador Pierre Duquesne, Interministerial Delegate in charge of Mediterranean Affairs, and Gwendal Rouillard, member of the National Assembly representing Morbihan who co-chairs the study group on Christians in the Middle East and minorities, honoured the ceremony with their presence.

"We were greatly affected by the tragedy in Beirut. Dassault Aviation has a long history of friendship with Lebanon. The country's air force has been equipped with Mirage III and several Lebanese nationals are loyal Falcon customers", said Eric Trappier. "Contributing to the movement of solidarity initiated by the French President, Emmanuel Macron, is an obvious choice for us."
Oregon economists unveiled a shockingly large upward revision in tax and lottery revenue projections on Wednesday: $2 billion more than they predicted in May, around the start of the COVID-19 recession.

Income and overall financial inequality emerged as a theme in the forecast, as state economists and lawmakers struggled to reconcile the robust personal and business earnings underlying the windfall tax revenues with the plights of Oregonians struggling in the COVID-19 recession.

News of the windfall, which is largely based on actual income tax payments over the summer, comes one month after state lawmakers held a special session to close an anticipated $1 billion budget shortfall through a combination of program cuts and fund shifts.

State economist Mark McMullen attributed the dramatic change to a flood of 2019 personal income tax payments near the extended July filing deadline and economists' failure to fully appreciate the amount of federal COVID-19 aid to businesses.

Not until July 15 did we see this windfall of tax payments, McMullen said. By that time, the state had received and processed 95% of Oregonians' income tax returns and they werent sharing nearly this kind of income growth, McMullen said.

The 5% of filers who submitted their returns at the last minute include many of our highest income earners, McMullen said, which suggests they did particularly well financially in 2019.

McMullen called it somewhat shocking, this disconnect between personal income taxes and corporate taxes and the underlying income and jobs that are out there.

Major companies that file corporate tax returns reaped $200 million to $300 million in additional revenue through the federal Paycheck Protection Program  a loan program to maintain payrolls, that can turn into a grant  as well as the other corporate bailouts, McMullen said. That does not include businesses that file taxes using personal returns, which includes many doctors, lawyers, small businesses and even larger firms.

The huge infusion of federal dollars early in the pandemic will create some uncertainty as economists work to predict state tax revenues in future years. For example, McMullen said businesses and accountants are currently discussing whether those firms can deduct payroll and rent expenses on their taxes as they normally would, if the federal government rather than the business paid the costs. If firms can deduct the expenses paid by the federal government, that would mean less tax revenue for the state than if the deductions are not allowed. McMullen said he expects the question will be decided in the courts.

With the tax revenue boost, Oregon is now on track to end the current two-year budget in June 2021 with a $1.7 billion savings cushion, up from the $500 million in reserves lawmakers built in last year, economists said.

Oregon state economists updated lawmakers Wednesday on tax windfalls, which  along with legislative budget adjustments in the August special session  boosted the expected budget cushion from around $500 million as of 2019 to $1.7 billion.

Economists predicted the tax revenue picture will worsen in coming years, although their economic modeling did not predict as steep of drop-offs in tax revenue in upcoming budgets as in the May estimate.

Oregons two-year state budget is approximately $25 billion and the latest revenue forecast predicts general fund and lottery revenue will be more than adequate to fund that. The problem will come in future budgets, including the 2021-2023 budget for which Gov. Kate Browns administration and legislative budget writers are now planning, because economists do not expect tax and lottery revenues will grow fast enough to keep pace with spending levels necessary to maintain current government service levels.

Chris Allanach, an economist who serves as Oregons legislative revenue officer, said state spending on a biennium-over-biennium basis has grown by 13% to 15%. Allanach said revenue growth for the next two-year budget will likely be closer to 8%, which would force lawmakers to cut some state programs and services.

Escalating personnel costs are one reason taxpayers would have to spend more to buy the same level of public services in the next two-year budget. The state is phasing in $200 million worth of salary increases for everyone from front line workers to government executives in the current budget, for total pay increases that will average up to 15%. The full cost hits in the second year of the current budget but will apply to both years of the 2021-2023 budget.

On top of cost increases to maintain the status quo, lawmakers will face demands to boost spending on safety net and other programs to help Oregonians struggling during the recession. The federal government covers a large share of many of those program costs but the state typically must still chip in and those bills add up quickly.

In a statement on the forecast, the governor said the state must continue to sock away money in rainy day funds and should make prudent financial decisions.

We must prepare for the costs of continuing to provide critical services in the next bienniumfrom health care to affordable housing to wildfire readiness and response," Brown said. "This year, we must celebrate every piece of good news we can get. But even with the welcome news of increased revenue projections, my commitment remains to make prudent financial decisions and position our state to manage unforeseen economic challenges that may come our way.

Brown said during a wildfire briefing Wednesday afternoon that she still expects the Legislature to convene for a third special session after the November election to potentially consider the states wildfire response and other issues, and in the coming weeks she expects to work with lawmakers to approve interim housing assistance for people displaced by wildfires and funding for debris removal.

House Speaker Tina Kotek, D-Portland, said in a statement that income inequality is glaringly clear in this forecast" and our decisions in the next few months should be focused on supporting those most impacted by the recession and being wary of the potential volatility in revenue over the next year.

Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem, noted that despite the improved forecast, Oregon is facing hardships like weve never experienced before. Wildfires continue to burn across the state. We are still facing a global pandemic. We have lost too many lives, homes, and businesses. He urged lawmakers to work together to help struggling Oregonians.

In a statement, Senate Republican Leader Fred Girod of Gates accused the governor of creating deeper income inequality in the state through her pandemic response orders, such as restricting restaurant and bar operations.

Girod also said there is no need for the state to raise taxes.

Although lawmakers are not currently considering a specific tax proposal, left-leaning groups have urged the Legislature to undo Oregons automatic adoption of state tax breaks mirroring federal CARES Act breaks for businesses and wealthy individuals. Those tax cuts included allowing businesses to retroactively apply net operating losses to the five tax years preceding the loss and lifting the $500,000 cap on the amount of business losses that could be used to reduce taxes on other earnings, such as capital gains from selling stock.

Democratic legislative leaders declined to roll back the tax cuts in August.

House Republican Leader Christine Drazan of Canby also warned the Legislature against raising taxes. Rural Oregonians are still suffering disproportionately, as are women and those in starting wage jobs that lost so much with the shutdown orders," Drazan said in a statement. "We must oppose higher taxes and come together to advance policies that support full economic recovery for all Oregonians.

As state economists and lawmakers said repeatedly during the revenue forecast meeting Wednesday, the strong earnings of upper income individuals and businesses that fueled the surprise tax revenue rebound should not obscure the degree to which lower income workers are struggling.

Why are we having so much revenue when we know the underlying economy is not healthy? McMullen said. Part of the reason is that lower income employees such as restaurant and personal services workers have disproportionately borne the pain of COVID-19 economic shutdowns and changes in consumer behavior. People at the top of the economic ladder in Oregon and the rest of the country earn so much, McMullen said, that their income growth can hide the income losses for those closer to the bottom.

 Hillary Borrud
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.
Google Maps has removed virtual walking tours of Uluru almost a year after visitors were banned from climbing the iconic landmark.

Parks Australia asked Google to remove pictures of climbers scaling the culturally significant summit 'in accordance with the wishes of Anangu, Uluru's traditional owners, and the national park's Film and Photography Guidelines'.

A spokesperson for Parks Australia told the ABC they alerted Google 'the user-generated images from the Uluru summit that have been posted on their mapping platform'.

Google Maps has removed virtual walking tours of Uluru at the request of Parks Australia

The Uluru climb was permanently closed on October 26, 2019. Pictured: Two people are seen scaling the landmark

The Uluru climb was permanently closed on October 26, 2019, following a landmark decision made by the traditional owners of the land.

Google's street view allows users to click through roads and environments across the world as if travelling on foot.

The function once included 360-degree images from the top of Uluru, allowing online visitors to climb the landmark and enjoy the view from the top.

But Google has now removed pictures depicting the climb, following the request from Parks Australia - and in-line with the ban.

'We understand Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is deeply sacred to the Anangu people,' a spokeswoman told 9news.com.au.

Google's street view allows users to click through roads and environments across the world as if travelling on foot

Visitors are seen scaling Uluru before it was closed to climbers in October last year

'As soon as Parks Australia raised their concerns about this user contribution, we removed the imagery.'

Google Australia said it could take 24 hours for the changes to come into effect.

Thousands of Australians rushed to the Northern Territory this time last year to climb the landmark ahead of its closure.
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LEAD participation demonstrates a company's ongoing commitment to the United Nations Global Compact and its Ten Principles

NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- PhosAgro has today been announced as a Global Compact LEAD participant for its ongoing commitment to the United Nations Global Compact and its Ten Principles for responsible business.

PhosAgro was identified as being among the most highly-engaged participants of the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative. PhosAgro first received LEAD status in 2019, and is now one of 41 companies in the world that have been granted LEAD status under the UN Global Compact.

Sanda Ojiambo, CEO and Executive Director of the UN Global Compact, said, "LEAD companies represent the highest level of engagement with the UN Global Compact. More than ever before, the world needs businesses of all sizes - like the ones announced as LEAD today - that continuously work to improve their sustainability performance and take action to build a better world."

PhosAgro CEO Andrey Guryev said: "Obtaining LEAD status under the UN Global Compact is an important recognition of PhosAgro's progress in terms of compliance with the Compact's Principles in the areas of human rights, labour relations, environmental protection and fighting corruption.

"Sustainable development is one of the priorities outlined in PhosAgro's Development Strategy to 2025. We aim to achieve even greater progress in this area and will continue to further contribute to ensuring global food security through supplying our environmentally friendly mineral fertilizers that are free from heavy metals concentrations to farmers in 102 countries."

To be eligible for LEAD, a company must:

Be a participant in at least two UN Global Compact Action Platforms to demonstrate the company's engagement with the UN Global Compact and commitment to defining and fostering leadership practices in line with the Ten Principles and the Global Goals; and Submit or commit to submitting an Advanced Communication on Progress - an annual sustainability report detailing progress on implementing the Ten Principles.

Phosagro has demonstrated its commitment to the UN Global Compact this year by participating in Action Platforms on Reporting on SDGs and Pathways to Low-Carbon & Resilient Development.

Each UN Global Compact Action Platform convenes business, Global Compact Local Networks, leading experts, civil society, Governments and UN partners to solve complex and interconnected issues and innovate around the Sustainable Development Goals. PhosAgro's Communication on Progress (CoP) and other related information is available in its Participant profile on the UN Global Compact website http://www.globalcompact.ru/participants/pao-fosagro/.

Since joining the UN Global Compact in 2018, PhosAgro has been proud to be part of a global movement of sustainable companies and stakeholders. By adopting a principles-based approach to sustainability, PhosAgro is taking shared responsibility for building a better world.

About PhosAgro

PhosAgro (www.phosagro.ru) is one of the world's leading vertically integrated phosphate-based fertilizer producers in terms of production volumes of phosphate-based fertilizers and high-grade phosphate rock with a P2O5 content of 39% and higher. PhosAgro's environmentally friendly fertilizers stand out for their high efficiency, and they do not lead to the contamination of soils with heavy metals.

The Company is the largest phosphate-based fertilizer producer in Europe (by total combined capacity for DAP/MAP/NP/NPK/NPS), the largest producer of high-grade phosphate rock with a P2O5 content of 39%, a top-three producer of MAP/DAP globally, one of the leading producers of feed phosphates (MCP) in Europe, and the only producer in Russia, and Russia's only producer of nepheline concentrate (according to the RAFP).

PhosAgro's main products include phosphate rock, over 50 grades of fertilizers, feed phosphates, ammonia, and sodium tripolyphosphate, which are used by customers in 102 countries spanning all of the world's inhabited continents. The Company's priority markets outside of Russia and the CIS are Latin America, Europe and Asia.

PhosAgro's shares are traded on the Moscow Exchange, and global depositary receipts (GDRs) for shares trade on the London Stock Exchange (under the ticker PHOR). Since 1 June 2016, the Company's GDRs have been included in the MSCI Russia and MSCI Emerging Markets indexes.

More information about PhosAgro can be found on the website: www.phosagro.ru.
Two nationwide COVID-19 antibody seroprevalence studies from Brazil show that many cities along the Amazon were hit hardest at the beginning of the epidemic in May and June, along with poorer and Indigenous communities. The research is presented at this week's ESCMID Conference on Coronavirus Disease (ECCVID, held online 23-25 September) and published in The Lancet Global Health, as part of a special conference session featuring The Lancet journals.

"Brazil has become a global hotspot for the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of reported cases and deaths," explains lead author Professor Cesar Victora, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Brazil. "Existing seroprevalence studies in Brazil have focused on the more developed parts of the country, represented by the southern and southeastern regions. So it is vital that we have more accurate data on the national situation."

The researchers did two household surveys in the most populous cities in all 133 so called 'mesoregions' - regional hubs used by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics to report on demographic and socioeconomic data across Brazil, covering 26 states and the Federal District. The studies included more than 25000 participants in the period May 14-21 and over 32000 in June 4-7. At each location, the researchers randomly selected households and randomly selected one individual from all household members to test for COVID-19 antibodies.

Participants also answered short questionnaires on sociodemographic information (sex, age, education, ethnicity, household size, and household assets) and compliance with physical distancing measures.

For the 83 (62%) of cities with sample sizes of more than 200 participants in both surveys, the pooled seroprevalence increased by more than 50%, from 19% to 31%, from the first survey to the second survey. City-level prevalence ranged from 0% to 254% in both surveys. 11 (69%) of 16 cities with a prevalence above 2.0% in the first survey were located along a 2000 km stretch of the Amazon river in the northern region, including well-known cities such as Belem, Manaus and Macapa, which are all state capitals located along the Amazon.

In the second survey, the authors found 34 cities with prevalence above 2.0%, which included the same 11 Amazon cities plus 14 from the northeast region, where prevalence was increasing rapidly. Prevalence levels were lower in the south and centre-west, and intermediate in the southeast, where the highest level was found in Rio de Janeiro (75%).

In the second survey, prevalence was similar in men and women, but an increased prevalence was observed in participants aged 20-59 years compared to younger or older persons, and in those living in crowded conditions (44% for those living with households with six or more people). Prevalence generally increased the more individuals there were per household.

Prevalence among Indigenous people, at 6.4%, was more than four times higher than that found among White people (1.4%). The poorest 20% of the population had a seroprevalence of 3.7%, more than double the 17% found in the wealthiest 20%.

The authors say: "Our most remarkable finding was the cluster of high prevalence in 11 cities along the Amazon River, with levels that were among the highest ever reported in population-based studies. This finding of high prevalence in a tropical region contradicts common wisdom that continents such as Africa might be protected against COVID-19 because of high ambient temperature."

The authors believe the high rates of seroprevalence in Indigenous Brazilians are due to a cluster of factors, geographical region, household size (usually overcrowded living conditions), and poverty. Mortality rates for most medical conditions are higher in Indigenous Brazilians, and this population was largely left behind during Brazil's rapid economic and health advances that began in the 1990s.

Overall, the authors say: "Our results must be interpreted in terms of the controversial management of the pandemic by the national government. Testing was restricted to individuals with severe symptoms during the early stages of the pandemic and contact tracing was virtually non-existent. Two consecutive health ministers were either dismissed or resigned in less than 1 month because of their opposition to the president's stance regarding physical distancing and the use of hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19, and since May 15, the country has not had a health minister... The controversial handling of the epidemic by the federal government is likely to have contributed to the rapid spread of COVID-19 in the country's most susceptible populations."

While initially many state governors were supportive of social distancing measures and some form of lockdown, the country has now gradually reopened, despite the persisting high incidence of new cases and deaths.

The authors conclude: "The effect of relaxing these measures is still too early to assess, but further waves of serological surveys will allow monitoring of the progression of the pandemic and help assess the effectiveness of policy changes."

The authors have also carried out two additional seroprevalence surveys* since the two reported in this paper, with an average prevalence of 3.8% in the third study from June 21-24, followed by a sharp decline to 1.4% in the last survey round that was carried out from August 27-30, after an interval of 66 days. This surprised the researchers, since they were expecting cumulative seroprevalence to continue rising (seroprevalence measures the proportion of individuals who have had the infection at some point, not the proportion who are currently infected).

Professor Victora says*: "We don't know what this says about immunity. Even though circulating antibodies, especially those that are neutralising, can quickly decay, the immune system may retain a memory of the infection. In the case of new contact with the virus, B and T cells will then be rapidly activated to produce antibody and cellular protection. All we know so far, for sure, is that so called 'herd immunity' should not be solely assessed on the basis of circulating antibody levels. The full picture is much more complex."

###
The joint action committee (JAC) comprising local Bengali and Mizo-based organizations of Kanchanpur in North Tripura district on Tuesday held dawn-to-dusk strike protesting against permanent rehabilitation of Bru migrants in Kanchanpur.

The Bru migrants have been staying at six relief camps located at Kanchanpur and Panisagar sub divisions in North Tripura for more than two decades after escaping from an ethnic clash in Mizoram in 1997. After these years, the Centre signed an agreement with Tripura and Mizoram governments to settle Bru migrants permanently in Tripura.

The strike was peaceful. No violence was reported. And no picketer was detained, said Kanchanpur sub divisional magistrate Chandni Chandran.

She added that no prior permission was taken from the administration for the strike.

During the strike, the JAC also submitted a memorandum to chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb through Chandran, giving the government a seven-day deadline to reconsider the decision to rehabilitate Bru migrants, or else, they would choose the path of movement, said the protestors.

Also Read: Mizoram CM requests Tripura not to resettle Bru migrants in Mizo habitats

Chairperson of Nagorik Suraksha Mancha Ranjit Kumar Nath said, The resettlement of the Bru migrants in Kanchanpur area will put pressure on the residents who are living here for years. According to the state government, nearly 4,600 Bru families would be settled in Kanchanpur and its adjoining areas.

Mizoram Bru displaced peoples forum (MBDPF) secretary Bruno Msha said, Frequent strikes by the JAC are creating hurdles in our rehabilitation process.
The high court's order, which says refunds paid on service inputs can be restricted, runs contrary to Gujarat HC verdict and could complicate matters.

Businesses such as e-commerce, which face higher Goods and Services Tax (GST) on raw materials than on finished goods, are in a quandary over whether or not they will get refunds on taxes paid on services.

Contrary to a Gujarat high court verdict, the Madras HC on Monday held Rule 89(5) inserted by the government under the CGST Act on restricting such input tax refunds as valid.

This means that the companies facing an inverted duty structure - raw materials drawing higher GST rates than final goods - will not be able to get refunds over taxes paid on the services inputs they used, while they will get it for merchandise inputs.

The government had brought in the rule in 2018 by amending an earlier one that allowed all kinds of credits, regardless of whether the taxes were paid on goods or on services.

Delivering a verdict on a batch of petitions filed on the issue, the Madras HC upheld the validity of the rule as well as the main section of the GST Act.

The Department of Revenue argued that goods and services are in different categories and legislature has wide latitude in matters of taxation in terms of granting of refunds and can pick and choose whom they grant refund and whom they refuse.

On the other hand, petitioners argued that the main section and the rule create a distinction between two categories of assessees.

Earlier, the Gujarat HC had allowed a footwear company to claim credit for taxes paid on service inputs under the GST regime, striking down an explanation given under Rule 89(5).

The court, while hearing a petition filed by VKC Footsteps India, had said the intent of the government (framing a rule restricting input tax credit) cannot be the intent of law.

Footwear attracts GST of 5 per cent whereas majority of the inputs and input services attract GST at the rate of 12 per cent or 18 per cent, which results in accumulation of unutilised credit.

This makes refunds of this credit critical for the business.

The latest ruling makes the issue complicated. While the rulings by the HCs are valid in two separate states, what happens to those running their businesses in other states?

Now, either the higher benches of the HCs or the Supreme Court will have to settle the matter.

Both the rulings were given by two-member benches.

This (Madras) ruling comes as a jolt to many, who - after the VKC Gujarat HC ruling - were hoping to get the refund of accumulated input services, said Harpreet Singh, partner at KPMG.

Abhishek Jain, tax partner at EY, said the ruling would come as a substantial setback to businesses, including those in the mobile phone, fertiliser, government business space.

The industry would now await a final verdict from the apex court to settle this ambiguity.

Many dealers may still decide to file the refund claim for input services, but getting the same from tax authorities may not be easy on account of these two diametrically opposite rulings, Singh said.
Emily Ratajkowski recently dropped a bombshell on the fashion industry, as she recounted the alleged sexual assault she experienced during a photo shoot.

And the Inamorata founder is keeping her head held high, as her family, friends and fans rally around her in support.

She looked cozy in head-to-toe white Tuesday, as she stepped out with husband Sebastian Bear-McClard and dog Colombo for dinner at il Buco in the NoHo neighborhood of New York City.

Dining out: Emily Ratajkowski looked cozy in head-to-toe white Tuesday, as she stepped out with husband Sebastian Bear-McClard and dog Colombo for dinner at il Buco in the NoHo neighborhood of New York City

The 29-year-old donned an oversized jacket, layered over an equally oversized sweatshirt with sweatpants, tucked into tube socks with a pair of Converse kicks.

She completed the look with a black face mask, as she walked up to the outdoor dining area with Bear-McClard, 39, and their Husky/German shepherd mix.

It comes after Ratajkowski's recent sexual assault allegations against photographer Jonathan Leder were corroborated by actress Nola Palmer, who posted similar allegations Monday to Instagram.

She wrote: 'I have been carrying around the pain and trauma of Jonathan and his abuse for a decade now. I have gone so far as changing my name because in my mind he owned it and I could not look at that name without seeing him.'

White-out: The 29-year-old donned an oversized jacket, layered over an equally oversized sweatshirt with sweatpants, tucked into tube socks with a pair of Converse kicks

Multiple accusations: It comes after Ratajkowski's recent sexual assault allegations against photographer Jonathan Leder were corroborated by actress Nola Palmer

Bombshell essay: Ratajkowski opened up last week in a personal essay for The Cut about being allegedly assaulted by Leder in 2012, during a shoot at his home in Woodstock, New York (pictured in February, 2020)

The Titans actress added: 'But for the first time I am able to publicly say, Jonathan Leder was my abuser and that is thanks to Emily Ratajkowski and her bravery.'

Ratajkowski opened up last week in a personal essay for The Cut about being allegedly assaulted by Leder in 2012, during a shoot at his home in Woodstock, New York.

She detailed the lingerie he had her wear, before asking her to go nude, as he offered her one glass of red wine after another.

Later, after the makeup artist for the unpaid shoot went to bed, she and Leder sat on the couch, where she 'absentmindedly' began rubbing her feet against him for warmth.

The Gone Girl actress wrote: 'Most of what came next was a blur except for the feeling. I dont remember kissing, but I do remember his fingers suddenly being inside of me. Harder and harder and pushing and pushing like no one had touched me before or has touched me since.'

A few years later, she learned that he was selling a book of risque photographs from the unpaid shoot, which she originally only gave permission to use in a magazine.

Leder provided a copy of a release, which granted him the necessary rights, claiming it was signed by her agent at the time.

The photographer's representatives have since released a statement, denying her allegations: 'Mr. Leder completely denies her outrageous libelous allegations of being "assaulted." It is grotesque and sad that she is so vindictive about the publication of the photos.'

Traumatic experience: The Gone Girl actress wrote: 'Most of what came next was a blur except for the feeling. I dont remember kissing, but I do remember his fingers suddenly being inside of me'

Surprise book: A few years later, she learned that he was selling a book of risque photographs from the unpaid shoot, which she originally only gave permission to use in a magazine

Denied allegations: The photographer's representatives have since released a statement, denying her allegations: 'It is grotesque and sad that she is so vindictive about the publication of the photos' (Leder pictured in October, 2010)

Supportive fans: Ratajkowski took to Instagram after the essay was released, as she thanked her 26.8million followers for their support

Ratajkowski took to Instagram after the essay was released, as she thanked her 26.8million followers for their support.

She wrote: 'Its been nothing short of life-changing to see how many women (and men!) this piece resonated with.

'Thank you to every single person who read, shared, commented and tagged me. I cant tell you what it feels like to see my words in print and to hear from each and everyone of you. Thank you.'

The I Feel Pretty actress later expanded on the issue with V Magazine, opening up about how she's evolved over the years as a model and entrepreneur in the fashion industry, as well as how she's approached fragile masculinity.

She told friend and photographer Inez Van Lamsweerde: 'In general, you have no control. When I was younger, I just kind of let things happen. And I struggled with that.

'Im so glad that I dont [have to do that] now. Im not this passive person who is not in control. Im 29, so Im kind of leaving [that] behind.'

Ratajkowski continued: 'I understand, with love, that mens experiences have been really limited. The way that men feel and process shame is so different.

'You have to teach them about experiences that you, as a woman in the world, [have had]. Expose them to that.'
Everyone has a perspective of their own and that comes from the experiences theyve gone through, says Madhoo, talking about Bollywood being under the scanner for talks around nepotism, favouritism and drug abuse.

Recently, actors Kangana Ranaut and Ravi Kishan stated that majority of people in the industry are involved in drug business. Reacting to these statements, actor-turned-MP Jaya Bachchan, expressed discontent and said, People whove made a name in this industry have called it a gutter. Ranaut further hit back with a tweet and wrote, Jaya ji would you say the same thing if in my place it was your daughter Shweta beaten, drugged and molested as a teenager, would you say the same thing if Abhishek complained about bullying and harassment constantly and found hanging one day?..

Ask Madhoo about Bachchan-Ranaut spat, and she opines, It all depends on the colour of the glass youre wearing. Kangana might have been through bad experiences but Jaya ji probably didnt face such a thing. But because I havent been through anything bad, I cant say what the other person is saying is absolutely rubbish.

Stating that she worships this industry, and accepting the good opportunities and the ones I missed as destiny, Madoo asserts that she cant take sides because everyone has their own journey.

If Kangana has suffered badly in the hands of some people, she is coming from that experience, says the actor, who is part of Thalaivi, starring Ranaut in the lead.

Asked about working with Ranaut, Madhoo adds, I will definitely work with her. From my personal experience, shes a wonderful actor and doesnt throw her weight around on the set. Im a professional and for me its a great role and I want to play it as an artiste.

ALSO WATCH | Urmila called me a prostitute: Kangana Ranaut defends soft porn star remark

Madhoo further emphasises that the entire nepotism and insider vs outsider debate is being stretched too far. For the uninitiated, Madhoos father, P Raghunathan was a producer and she is the cousin of actor Hema Malini.

Yes, being an insider I did have an easy access but whether that turned into film projects, I dont think so. No one will work with you if your films dont do business. Thats how it works. But, if somebody has been treated badly, humiliated and hurt physically or emotionally then its his/her prerogative to be defensive or offensive. However, with my experience I cant say the whole industry is bad, she shares.

A mother of two daughters  Ameyaa Shah (19) and Keia Shah (17)  Madhoo says that tomorrow if her children want to be actors, shell be there to guide them.

Which parent doesnt help their children? So, if the need be, Ill make calls to people I know in the industry and request them to consider my daughters. But, ultimately youll have to be loved by the audience, says Madhoo.

As talks veer towards the drug controversy, and actor points that from a professional perspective, successes and failures of an actor are out there in public eye to be talked and discussed.

So mentally, everyone, even the most successful people, go through dark moments and somehow try to escape it. I didnt come across the drug culture, but back in the day when I was working actively, the alcohol culture was prevalent. Probably now it might have become the drug culture for the same reason. But then this is everywhere  youngsters are especially prone to it. So, the clean drive shouldnt just be about Bollywood but the entire society, she concludes.

Follow @htshowbiz for more

Author tweets @Shreya_MJ

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Emory University scientists will search for a way to convert sunlight into storable and transportable fuels as part of a multi-institutional research group receiving a $40 million grant from the U. S. Department of Energy.

The highly competitive five-year grant was awarded to the lead institution, the University of North Carolinas Center for Hybrid Approaches in Solar Energy to Liquid Fuels, or CHASE. Tianquan Tim Lian, Emorys William Henry Emerson Professor of Chemistry, will serve as the coordinator for the Surface Characterization and Dynamics portion of the project focused on developing new tools for solar energy conversion.

I am excited to be part of the CHASE team. It provides funding, expertise and infrastructure to enable transformative and impactful solar fuels research, Lian says. Advancing solar fuels science and technology is one of the most important scientific endeavors of today.

With the new funding, CHASE, in addition to Emory, is teaming up with researchers from North Carolina State University, Brookhaven National Laboratory, the University of Pennsylvania and Yale University to gain a fundamental understanding of fuels-from-sunlight systems and develop new design principles for them.

Their aim is to develop hybrid photoelectrodes, composed of semiconductor materials and molecular catalysts, that can convert carbon dioxide and nitrogen into liquid solar fuels.

Rational design of such hybrid photoelectrodes requires molecular understanding of how the absorbed solar energy drives chemical transformations needed for fuel generation.

To achieve such molecular level understanding, Lians Emory team will lead the effort to develop advanced spectroscopic tools for studying these photoelectrodes under device operation conditions, while providing technical guidance and coordinating with other researchers.

Renewable energy has long been a focus of Lians research. He received a $7.5 million grant in 2018 from the U.S. Department of Defense to study electrochemical processes underlying fuel-cell technology.

Transforming solar energy into chemical energy

Sunlight, while the sun is shining, is an ever-constant supply of renewable energy.

Solar fuel generation, also known as artificial photosynthesis, is the process of transforming solar energy into chemical energy. This process could generate sustainable, transportable and storable fuels.

Researchers hope to make progress with liquid solar fuels where carbon dioxide and nitrogen are chemically transformed into fuel targets. If successful, this approach could be valuable not only for the production of fuels, commodity chemicals and materials, but the generation of ammonia to be used in fuels and fertilizers.

Solar panel technology uses photovoltaic cells which generate electricity from sunlight. In recent years, great advances have made it more cost effective. However, if the sun isnt shining, the photovoltaics dont create energy.

Solar liquid fuels would allow all that untapped energy to be stored, transported and used.

In late July, the DOE announced this grant as part of a $100 million in funding over five years for CHASE and another award focused on advancing artificial photosynthesis for the production of fuels from sunlight.

Sunlight is the worlds most basic energy source, and an ability to generate fuels directly from sunlight has the potential to revolutionize the U.S. energy economy, said Under Secretary for Science Paul Dabbar. This effort will keep America at the forefront of artificial photosynthesis research, a field of great challenge but also huge promise.
China has been buying a lot of U.S. crude oil lately, perhaps in a belated attempt to fulfill some of the energy import quotas agreed with Washington last year or perhaps in a bid to take advantage of supercheap U.S. crude. But the buying spree is about to end.

This month alone, China could import between 867,000 bpd, according to Reuters Refinitiv data, and 900,000 bpd, according to oilfield services company Canary. And then the flow of U.S. oil into China will decline, and it will decline sharply, Reuters Clyde Russell wrote this week. The reason as simple as it is worrying. The U.S. crude that has been going into China since Julyand reaching major records in terms of volume, with the July daily average alone up 139 percent on the yearwas bought much earlier, in April, May, and June. This was oil bought when West Texas Intermediate was trading at multi-year lows. By June it had recovered to about $40, Russell notes, so purchases since then have been more modest.

But here is the worrying part: much of the oil price recovery weve seen since this spring was caused by rising Chinese imports, including from the United States. Rising imports are traditionally taken to mean improving demand, but this time this has not been the case entirely. Chinese refiners have been stocking up on crude more because of the historically low prices than to satisfy growing demand.

In all fairness, oil demand has been seen as recovering pretty faster after the end of the lockdowns there but since China is not an isolated economy, its refining industry needs a recovery elsewhere in Asia and globally, and this has been slow in coming. Now, none other than OPEC is warning that a second wave of Covid-19 infectionsalready visible in parts of Europe, for examplewill further slow down demand recovery, which will unavoidably affect Chinese oil imports.

Related: Will The Resurgence Of COVID In Europe Boost Gold Prices?



According to Canary CEO Dan Eberhart, however, China will continue buying a lot of U.S. oil ahead of the U.S. elections. Beijing, Eberhart wrote for Forbes, would want to stay on Trumps good side as much as possible in case he wins a second term. Reuters Russell is of a different opinion: he cites preliminary import estimates that point to a sharp decline in October to 500,000 bpd of U.S. oil flowing into China and a further decline in November. For Russell, its all about the price. For Eberhart, its also about politics and the trade war.

While importing U.S. crude often doesn't make commercial sense for China's refiners, Beijing has directed them to continue buying as the election approachesa sign that China knows that the trade issue with Trump will only intensify if the president wins a second term, Eberhart wrote.

Yet not everyone agrees that politics will trump the economy. In fact, data from Chinese market research firms suggests private refiners, if not the state giants, may sharply cut their intake of foreign oil this month and next. After all, storage space is finite and Chinese energy companies have been filling it up for months now while demand has been improving but is yet to return to growth mode, even in China with its rebounding economy.

It looks like the dominant opinion is for a decline in Chinese oil imports, from the U.S. and elsewhere, in the coming months, not least because of lower refinery run rates. Reuters reported earlier this week refinery runs are set to be cut by 5-10 percent beginning this month because of a crude oil glut and weak fuel export margins. This would mean more pressure on prices. And this is not all. Some analysts expect that China may start selling the oil it bought on the cheap in the spring. Now that would be really bad news for oil prices.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
By Express News Service

ERODE: In the current situation, there is no possibility of reopening schools across the State, said School Education Minister KA Sengottaiyan. Speaking to media persons at Gobichettipalayam on Tuesday, the minister assured action against private schools that charged full fees.

A week ago, the School Education Department received complaints against 14 private schools across the State for collecting full fees during the lockdown. Recently, these institutions were sent letters seeking an explanation. Action will be taken after analysing their responses, Sengottaiyan said.

On increasing enrolment in government schools, he said, Nearly 15.3 lakh students enrolled in government schools across Tamil Nadu for the 2020-2021 academic year. Of these, 2.5 lakh students were studying in private schools. The admission process will go on till September end. The minister further said that around 50 middle schools would be upgraded to high schools as per Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswamis order.

Similarly, 50 high schools will be upgraded as higher secondary schools. Steps are underway to open 15 new elementary and ten new middle schools this year. Besides, vacancies for technical posts in various schools will be filled soon, he added.

Earlier, the minister inaugurated the newly-launched mobile ration shops at Gobichettipalayam. He said that 20,000 people would be benefitted by this scheme in Erode. A press release stated that these mobile ration shops, which are facilitated by 27 cooperative societies, would cover 51 localities in the district.
According to Joseph Low, general director of Keppel Land (Vietnam), the company was honoured to have once again been voted Best Office/Business real estate developer in Vietnam.

As a pioneer and one of the largest foreign real estate investors in Vietnam, we will continue to deliver innovative and thoughtful real estate solutions that contribute to Vietnams sustainable urbanisation, said Low.

Saigon Centre, a mixed-use complex in Ho Chi Minh City invested by Keppel Land

In Vietnam, Keppel Lands quality portfolio includes Grade A offices, residential properties, retail malls, integrated townships, and award-winning serviced apartments.

Louise Bowman, editor of Euromoney, commented that the awards are voted by all constituents in the industry  developers, advisers, and banks. This makes them of particular importance in recognising strength in each individual sector. We congratulate Keppel Land for their achievement in winning Best Office/Business real estate developer in Vietnam for the ninth consecutive year; and for earning the respect of their peers and colleagues in the highly competitive global real estate market," Bowman said.

The Euromoney Real Estate Survey 2020 is the 16th annual survey of the global real estate market and canvasses the opinions of leading firms involved in the real estate sector worldwide.
In a bombshell letter filed with the court this week, attorneys for the National Security Council official who led the prepublication review of former National Security Advisor John Boltons bestselling memoir The Room Where It Happened detail a troubling chain of events appearing to bolster Boltons claim that political appointees in the Trump administration improperly hijacked the review process for political purposes.

In a 19-page letter, attorneys for Ellen Knight, former senior director for records access and information security management at the NSC, confirm her position that the book was in fact cleared of classified information after an intensive processonly to be blocked by political appointees, who later unsuccessfully pressured Knight to change her story and eventually removed her from her post.

As a career professional in the field of classified information management, Ms. Knight is very concerned about the politicizationor even the perceived politicizationof the prepublication review process, attorneys for Knight wrote in explaining why the official is putting her story on the record. Once authors start perceiving that manuscripts are being reviewed for political considerations, they will lose confidence in the integrity of the process and find ways to publish or release their works without submitting them for review. This could result in unchecked disclosures of sensitive information and the potential for serious damage to our national security.

The letter comes at a crucial juncture in the legal actions against Bolton, with judge Royce Lamberth poised to rule on the Department of Justices bid for summary judgment in the civil case against Bolton. A win for the DoJ would pave the way for the government to seize Boltons royalties for the book. Bolton, meanwhile, has asked the court to dismiss the case against him and, failing that, has asked the court to order discovery, alleging the government acted in bad faith in withholding his clearance to publish the book. The DoJ is said to also be investigating criminal charges against Bolton.

In her filing, Knight details a lengthy, iterative process that began with Bolton's submission of the manuscript on December 30, 2019. Despite Boltons stated belief at the time that his book contained no classified information, Knight says that the draft manuscript did in fact contain "voluminous amounts of classified information and required significant effort to put it into publishable shape.

Knight called the process the most intensive prepublication review process in recent memory at the NSC, in which she provided Bolton with extensive guidance and best practices for writing around classified information, held four in-person meetings with Bolton lasting a total of 14 hours, and spoke with him in 10 telephone conversations, two of which were hours long. Knight also held three lengthy telephone calls with Boltons attorney, Charles Cooper, and had extensive email correspondence with the author, his attorney, and his assistant throughout this process.

Ultimately, Knight confirms, her office determined in April that all classification concerns had been addressed and that publication of the manuscript, as heavily revised, would disclose no information that would cause harm to our national security. That conclusion, attorneys for Knight add, was confirmed by the final read-through of the manuscript by the acting director for access management at the agency.

Among the most eye-opening assertions in the letter is that Knight resisted pressure by political appointees in the Trump White House to reconsider her review and effectively sign off on the White House's own "flawed" review.

 Knight asked the attorneys how it could be appropriate that a designedly apolitical process had been commandeered by political appointees for a seemingly political purpose. 

In the letter, Knight says that administration officials pressured her to "admit that she and her team had missed something or made a mistake," or to at least concede that key determinations could be explained as a difference of opinion. "Ms. Knight responded that this was not a difference of opinion, but was rather a difference between a prepublication review process conducted with the goal of producing a publishable manuscript and a classification review process conducted with the goal of blocking publication," the letter states.

Further, over the course of five days and a total of 18 hours of meetings, "a rotating cast of Justice Department and White House attorneys" unsuccessfully tried to persuade Knight to sign a declaration they could use in their case against Bolton.

"Knight asked the attorneys how it could be appropriate that a designedly apolitical process had been commandeered by political appointees for a seemingly political purpose. She asked them to explain why they were so insistent on pursuing litigation rather than resolving the potential national security issues through engagement with Ambassador Bolton and her team. The attorneys had no answer for her challenges, aside from a rote recitation of the governments legal position that Ambassador Bolton had violated his contractual obligations by failing to wait for written clearance."

Shortly after refusing to sign a declaration, Knight says her interactions with leadership and the NSC's legal department "all but ceased" until June 22. That day, she received an automated email, informing her "that her detail would end in 60 days."

In a June 20 decision denying the DOJ's emergency application to block publication of Boltons book, judge Lamberth rebuked Bolton for opting out of the review process, concluding that his book likely jeopardized national security by disclosing classified information in violation of his nondisclosure agreement obligations. His remarks, however, were based on initial filings and were made before seeing the book, and without a declaration from Knight.
The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, ruled that President Muhammadu Buhari contravened the law by sending the names of 11 nominees selected for appointment as high court judges of the Federal Capital Territory to the Senate for confirmation.

Mr Buhari had in July sent a letter to the Senate seeking the confirmation of the 11 nominees recommended by the National Judicial Council (NJC).

The letter was read on the floor of the chamber by the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan.

The upper legislative chamber, however, declined to act on the presidents request saying it had no role to play in the appointment of FCT judges.

The judges have since been sworn in by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Tanko Muhammad.

An Abuja-based lawyer, Oladimeji Ekengba, filed a suit challenging the president, the Attorney General, Abubakar Malami, and the Senate on the matter.

Also joined as defendants were the CJN and the NJC.

Mr Ekengba contended that forwarding the names of the nominees by the president to the Senate was in violation of section 256 (2) of the 1999 Constitution (amended).

He also said the president lacked the power to pick and choose whom among the nominees to appoint as judges recommended by the NJC.

Ruling on the matter, the judge, Inyang Ekwo, agreed that Mr Buhari acted in contravention of the Constitution.

Mr Ekwo said the action of the president could only be permitted or allowed if the appointments concerned the nominees for the head of a court such as the position of a chief judge.

He, however, said despite the ruling, the presidents action would in no way affect the inauguration of the judges.
For the second time this week, Gov. Charlie Baker stressed the importance of getting Massachusetts children back to school.

Getting kids back to the classroom, obviously, is something that we believe is critically important to our success and to our kids' success going forward, said Baker at a press conference on Wednesday. Its very important for people and communities to look at three weeks worth of data, which is four weeks worth of information before they make decisions about changing their plans with respect to schools.

Twelve of 16 school districts that received a letter recently from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education have yet to announce that they will be holding in-person learning to the dismay of Baker and his administration. He highlighted the precautions that have been taken and the fact that the 16 communities are in low-risk COVID areas.

The 16 communities and school districts included:

Amesbury

Belmont

Berkshire Arts and Technology Charter Public (District)

Bourne

Boxford

East Longmeadow

Gardner

Gill-Montague

Hoosac Valley Regional

Manchester Essex Regional

Mohawk Trail

Hawlemont

Pittsfield

Provincetown

Watertown

West Springfield

Residents and community leaders that have little or no COVID in their communities have a different set of circumstances, said Baker. Theyre able to make certain safe decisions for their families, such as getting kids back to school.

The states weekly color-coded map launched at beginning of August is updated every Wednesday and classifies all 351 communities based on the average daily case rates per 100,000 residents. Each city or town is designated either higher risk or red, moderate risk or yellow, or lower risk or green. Communities with fewer than 5 cases are not given a designation.

Since we launched the COVID risk map, weve seen the vast majority of Massachusetts towns are in lower-risk categories, said Baker. The guidance for the medical and public health experts is clear for these communities. Its safe to return students to in-class learning.

The guidance, Baker asserted, was developed and endorsed by the Massachusetts Academy of Pediatrics and the Massachusetts Public Health Association.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released reopening guidance on June 25 that stated, There is a clear consensus from both education and medical groups: we must keep in mind not only the risks associated with COVID-19 for in-person school programs but also the known challenges and consequences of keeping students out of school.

Even as far back as June, the American Academy of Pediatrics released a statement stating that the coming school year should start with the goal of having students heading back to schools across the U.S.

The AAP points out that children spending a long time away from school and associated supportive services often results in social isolation, making it difficult for schools to identify and address important learning deficits as well as child and adolescent physical or sexual abuse, substance use, depression and suicidal ideation.

Remote only models should only be used for communities with three consistent weeks of red designations, said Baker. Unless there are extenuating circumstances. Last week the department (DESE) reached out to these communities and ask them to provide a timeline by which they will return.

The 16 communities and school districts are expected to respond to the Department of Education within 10 days. The districts responses could prompt an audit to assess efforts to provide in-person instruction and to ensure remote learning programs are consistent with the states guidelines.

Local officials run their local schools, said Baker. We understand that, but this data is an obligation to ensure that local officials are providing the best possible education in these difficult circumstances to kids and their communities.

Related Content:
Wits scientist on global commission that cautions against using gene-edited embryos for pregnancy

Wits Professor of Human Genetics Michele Ramsay has contributed to the international report on Heritable Human Genome Editing released in the UK on 3 September.

The report advises that heritable genome editing is not yet ready to be tried safely and effectively in humans and that initial clinical uses, if permitted, should be limited to serious single-gene diseases where it is known, with strong evidence, that a specific mutation is causing the disease.

Ramsay is the Director of the Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Wits University, and Chair of the Department of Science and Innovation National Research Foundation South African Research Chair Initiative (SARChI) in Bioinformatics and Genomics of African Populations.

Ramsay and the Co-Chairs of the commission, Professor Kay E. Davies, University of Oxford, U.K. and Dr Richard P. Lifton, The Rockefeller University, USA, and other fellow commissioners, discussed the report in a webinar.

Members of the commission, including Ramsay, will also participate in the American Society of Human Genetics Forum: The Clinical Use of Germline Genome Editing webinar on Friday, 25 September, 6pm (SA) and 12pm (Eastern). Click here to register.

Genome editing refers to the use of techniques that edit [alter] genetic material in a human germ cell or early embryo  resulting in changes in the germline [sperm and egg cells]  which means that the changes can be passed on to the progeny [offspring] through the genetic material.

Because clinical applications of germline genome editing are now possible, albeit not yet with sufficient accuracy and in the absence of unintended edits [changes], there is an urgent need to examine the potential of this new technology. However, the implications of how heritable human genome editing might affect future generations is not yet fully understood and needs to be the topic of wide societal debate.

Making edits to the human genome that will be passed on from generation to generation is a very big step. We have a responsibility to society and future generations to approach this with great caution and long deliberation, says Ramsay, who participated in the conversations when Wits University hosted the 1st South African Gene Editing Conference in November 2019.

Somatic vs. heritable genomic editing

Within the context of genome editing, it is important to distinguish between somatic genomic editing and heritable genomic editing.

Somatic genome editing is when just the cells from one organ are altered and the gene edit is not passed on from one generation to the next, says Ramsay. In heritable human genome editing, the germ cells  or the early zygote just after fertilisation  is edited so that all the cells in the body have that edit, which is then passed onto future generations.

Somatic genomic editing is already showing some success and several international biotechnology companies are developing the processes. It is still experimental, there is little data, and it is not yet clinically available. Ethically, somatic genome editing differs little from many other medical procedures.

Designer babies undesirable 

Heritable human genome editing, however, poses many ethical questions  because a gene or DNA sequence would be edited for the purpose of initiating a pregnancy.

Human embryos whose genomes have been edited should not be used to create a pregnancy until it is established that precise genomic changes can be made reliably without introducing undesired changes  a criterion that has not yet been met by any genome editing technology, says the report.

 but essential initial edits permissible only in the absence of other options

The commission concluded that should human genome editing technology advance according to specific criteria and should a country decide that it was desirable  neither of which has happened  it would be responsible to start with a small number of very specific cases that have the most to gain at what would be considered an acceptable risk. Proposed first-in-human cases of the application of heritable human genome editing technology would need to fulfil four criteria:

It should be to correct a mutation for a serious monogenic disease The edited change should be to a sequence that is common in a population and is not known to cause diseases No embryos that are unaffected by the mutation should be edited The technology should be available only to couples with no or very poor options for having their own biological child without a serious genetic disease.

The potential of genome editing technology after national debate and development of guiding criteria

It is not yet possible to define responsible translational pathways from research to clinical application for other potential uses of heritable human genome editing. However, the technology could potentially be used for less serious monogenic diseases or for enhancing certain traits where it is known that a single mutation is strongly correlated with the trait.

[But] using the technology for complex diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and most cancers would be much more complicated, as they involve thousands of variants and non-genetic factors and at present it is not possible to predict the outcomes," says Ramsay. "International cooperation and open discussion of all aspects of genome editing will be essential."
Most of the leaders are going to see this as a purely domestic exercise, said Philip Alston, a law professor at New York University. That is always the case to some extent, but given there is no opportunity for photo ops, for meetings with other presidents and so on, the only real value is getting speech out there which restates certain positions for domestic consumption.
Several hundred people were present at the ceremony.

Alexander Lukashenko has been sworn in as President of Belarus during an inaugural ceremony in the Palace of Independence in Minsk.

Several hundred people were invited to attend the ceremony. These were senior officials, members of the House of Representatives and the Council of the Republic, heads of government agencies and organizations, local executive and regulatory agencies, the national media, scientists, figures of culture and sports, the official BelTA news agency reported.

"Under the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus, the President assumes the office after taking the following oath: 'Assuming the office of the President of the Republic of Belarus, I solemnly swear to faithfully serve the people of the Republic of Belarus, to respect and protect the rights and freedoms of man and of the citizen, to observe and protect the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus, and to fulfill strictly and conscientiously the lofty duties that have been bestowed upon me.'"

Read alsoEU foreign ministers fail to reach deal on Belarus sanctionsHolding his right hand on the Constitution, Lukashenko took the oath in the Belarusian language. After that Lukashenko signed the act of taking the oath, and Chairwoman of the Central Election Commission Lidia Yermoshina gave him a Certificate of the President of the Republic of Belarus.

Recent developments in Belarus in brief
The Centre in May formulated policy guidelines for the empanelment of platforms with the Bureau of Outreach and Communication for release of government advertisements on social media, Lok Sabha was informed on Wednesday.

In a written reply to a question on whether the government has recently released policy guidelines for empanelment of platforms with the Bureau of Outreach and Communication, Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said the guidelines are available on the website of BOC, www.davp.nic.in.

"The government has in May, 2020 formulated policy guidelines for the empanelment of platforms with Bureau of Outreach and Communication (BOC) for release of government advertisements on social media, which inter-alia includes eligibility criteria and other terms and conditions," he said.

In response to another question, Javadekar said the government revised the rates for awareness campaigns to be undertaken by Bureau of Outreach and Communication (BOC) through private TV channels in January, 2019 on the basis of recommendations of the review committee constituted in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for this purpose.

The revised rates are valid for three years, Javadekar said.

Responding to another question, he said the modernisation and strengthening of basic infrastructure and network of Prasar Bharati is a continuous process under the scheme "Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development (BIND)".

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the extension of this scheme for the period 2017-20 with a provision of Rs 1054.53 crore for this duration, 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.)
Almost 400 pilot whales have died in Tasmania in what is thought to be Australias largest ever mass stranding.

An estimated 270 whales were first discovered on a beach and two sandbars on the west coast of the Australian state on Monday, before another 200 were then seen from a helicopter on Wednesday, stranded just six miles south of the first group.

Nic Deka, the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife service manager, confirmed on Wednesday afternoon local time that all the animals in the second group had died, bringing the total death toll to 380.

Well continue to work to free as many of the animals as we can, Mr Deka said. Well continue working for as long as there are live animals, he added.

Fifty animals were rescued on Tuesday and helped back to the open ocean, according to Mr Deka.

Kris Carlyon, a wildlife biologist at the Marine Conservation Programme, said that the beaching of 470 whales constituted the biggest mass stranding ever recorded in Tasmania.

Mr Carlyon was optimistic about the possibility of rescuing more whales, saying weve got a very good chance of getting more off that sandbar.

Although the cause of the mass beaching is unknown, Vanessa Pirotta, a marine scientist, said it could have resulted from navigational errors.

Ms Pirotta added that the whales very strong social system was the reason for the high number of beached animals.

It is the first time since 2009 that more than 50 whales have become stranded together in Tasmania.

In 1996, 320 pilot whales washed up in Western Australia, while 600 animals from the same species were beached on New Zealands South Island in 2017.

Additional reporting from AP
FAIRFIELD  Sacred Heart University will lift a quarantine order on a residence hall Wednesday where more than a dozen students have tested positive for COVID-19 after a student there had a positive test mislabeled by the lab.

The quarantine at Merton Hall will be lifted beginning Wednesday morning, university officials said in a message to the community Tuesday evening.

This applies to students who have had a negative test. Students who have tested positive will need to complete their isolation, the message reads.

The school also reported four new cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, since earlier on Tuesday. The school now has 22 cases among students living in campus housing and 96 cases off-campus.

Three of the new cases were at the Scholars Commons residence hall, and the fourth was at Park Ridge, university officials said.

In response to reports the university might send students home if new cases continue to climb, school officials clarified Tuesday that they evaluate the situation several times a day and will continue to act accordingly.

The majority of you and your parents have said you want us to continue with on-ground/hybrid learning, and that is what we want for you also, the message to the community said.

The school said it is holding suspension hearings daily as reports come in of students breaking COVID-19 guidelines.

So far the school has suspended 80 students, with 56 currently active.

In a video message to the community Monday, SHU President John Petillo said the university has received reports of student gatherings both on and off campus.

Merton Hall, the dorm where quarantine is being lifted, saw an outbreak after a student there tested positive and was not told until days later.

School officials said they only learned Sept. 15 that the student had tested postive the week before, and hadnt known they were infected over the weekend.

The student was quarantined but at least 12 other students living there have since tested postive, according to the schools data.
Heir to the Spanish throne Princess Leonor and her sister Princess Sofia have tested negative for Covid-19 after going into quarantine when it was revealed that a classmate at their school tested positive for the deadly illness.

Princess Leonor, 14, arrived for her first day of term at Madrid's Santa Maria de los Rosales' school alongside her father King Felipe, 52, earlier this month, while her sister Princess Sofia, 13, joined her days later.

However, by the end of the week, a classmate in Princess Leonor's year tested positive for the virus and the royal sisters were asked to quarantine for 14 days as a preventive measure.

According to Hola, the sisters have tested negative but will now continue isolating for the two week period.

It comes days after Spain became the first country in Western Europe to register 500,000 coronavirus infections, with a second surge in cases that coincided with schools reopening.

Heir to the Spanish throne Princess Leonor, 14, and her sister Princess Sofia , 13, have tested negative for Covid-19 after going into quarantine when it was revealed that a classmate at their school tested positive for the deadly illness

The heir to the throne, who returned to school for the first day of term earlier this month, will continue to isolate for two weeks as a preventative measure. Pictured: Princess Leonor and Princess Sofia arriving at Santa Maria de los Rosales' School

Although their daughters are quarantining at home, the King and Queen Letizia will continue their royal duties for the moment, a spokesman for the royal household said.

Princess Leonor arrived at school for the first day on Wednesday 9 September and was dropped off by her father King Felipe.

Both appeared relaxed as they arrived, before Princess Leonor stepped out of the vehicle and was temperature checked by a member of staff.

She went on to accompany her younger sister for her first day days later.

Princess Leonor (pictured) had appeared cheerful as she arrived at school in Madrid for her first day back earier this month amid the Covid-19 crisis

It is believed that Princess Leonor started her fourth year of secondary education, while her younger sister Princess Sofia began her second year at the school.

It has been a challenging summer for the Spanish royal family, after runaway former King Juan Carlos caused shockwaves around the country in August by announcing he was leaving his homeland.

Princess Leonor has now been deemed by some as a saviour of the monarchy, with The Times writing: 'Attention must turn to the future if the Bourbon monarchy is to survive.

'It is a responsibility that rests of the shoulders of Leonor, and the reigning king, Felipe VI, knows that, as he introduces her to the country while trying to modernise the monarchy.'

King Felipe, 52, accompanied his eldest daughter, who is heir to the throne (pictured), on the school run earlier this month

The publication went on to say the young princesses are 'the future for a modernised monarchy.'

'Leonor is still very young, but modern, well-educated and a woman  which is important as the feminist movement grows in Spain,' a palace source reportedly said. 'She is a great asset.'

Leonor made her public-speaking debut at at awards ceremony in Barcelona last November, where she gave comments in Spanish, Catalan, English and Arabic.

Meanwhile, she and Sofia read from Don Quixote on World Book Day in April, and addressed the nation in a video amid the coronaviurs pandemic.

Meanwhile Queen Letizia drove Princess Leonor, 13, (pictured) to school for her first day of term 10 days ago

Spain continues to struggle to control a recent spike in infections amid schools reopening across the country.

Recent infections have been more common among younger people who often develop no symptoms thanks to their stronger immune systems, and the death rate remains far below the March-April peak when daily fatalities routinely exceeded 800.

Despite the unwanted milestone, unlike then, hospitals have enough beds to treat Covid-19 patients.

Despite their daughters quarantining for 14 days, King Felipe and Queen Letizia will continue to perform royal duties (pictured, together in November 2019)

After a first wave in spring that ravaged Spain's elderly population and overwhelmed the hospital system, authorities brought the outbreak under control with the help of one of the world's toughest lockdowns.

But as restrictions on movement were lifted and mass testing began in late June, infections rose from a few hundred a day to a new peak of over 10,000 around 10 days ago, outstripping other hard-hit nations such as France, Britain and Italy.

The overall mortality rate since the pandemic first struck is around 6% in Spain, lower than in Italy, Britain and France.
A nonpartisan roundtable on voting Tuesday night in the Coulee Region proved informative and hopeful, as state and local officials discussed questions on the minds of many when it comes to voting this year.

The event, Vote Safe Project: Your Vote Counts, featured voices from both sides of the aisle who spoke about how to cast your ballot in the upcoming Nov. 3 election under circumstances that seem to change every day.

Regardless of our differences of party, or differences about specific issues, we all fundamentally believe that every voter in Wisconsin, whos eligible to vote, should be able to cast a ballot, and that they should be able to do so safely, said Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul, a Democrat.

No matter the outcome, making sure that its an outcome that reflects the will of the voters, thats a principal that crosses party lines, Kaul said.

Misinformation, fast-changing court rulings and a global pandemic have thrown a lot of worries in the way of voters this election cycle. But officials had a resounding message to curb those worries: Make a plan and vote early.

Take away any doubt about what will happen, with a possible last-minute court order or slow mail times, said former Attorney General JB Van Hollen, a Republican. Vote early.

Here are other topics and concerns panelists covered during the roundtable:

Ways to vote

Wisconsin has had for some time, several ways to vote in an election.

We can have a lot of confidence in our process because at its core is the same basic process that we here in Wisconsin have had for years and years and years, Kaul said.

Before voting, make sure youre registered. You can do that ahead of time, either online at myvote.wi.gov or by mail, both by Oct. 14, or at your clerks office by Oct. 30.

Wisconsin also offers same-day registration, so you can handle it when you go to your polling place to vote on Nov. 3. Youll just need proof of residence and your ID.

Here are ways you can cast your ballot this November:

By mail

You can request an absentee ballot through the mail until Oct. 29, but officials said dont wait that long to account for mail-time and other factors.

Typically, all absentee ballots must be received by your clerk by the time polls close on election night. But this week, a judge ruled to extend that deadline, so that any ballot postmarked for Nov. 3 had an additional six days to reach your clerk.

That ruling is likely to face appeal, though, so officials say dont count on extra time.

To request an absentee ballot youll need a state-issued ID, which you can upload a photo of to myvote.wi.gov to use.

Once you receive it in the mail, instructions are included, but make sure you have a witness who can sign the mailing envelope. Both you and your witness need to sign the envelope, otherwise it wont count and you might have to start the process over if theres time.

Voting early in-person

Wisconsin allows for early in-person voting at your municipal clerk offices between Tuesday, Oct. 20 through Sunday, Nov. 1.

You will need your photo ID on hand.

Check with your local municipal clerk to find out their office hours for early voting.

On election day

Voters still have the option to go to their polling place on election day and cast their ballot.

You can register same-day on election day, and make sure you have your photo ID.

Polling places across the state have been equipped with supplies to keep poll workers and voters safe on election day, and past elections have shown that with the right precautions, the chance of transmitting the virus is low at the polls.

All poll workers should be wearing a mask, there will be clean, single-use pens for each voter to use, specified social distancing marks, and workers will be wiping down surfaces often.

If you want to go to your polling place and you want to vote on election day, you can feel comfortable that there are going to be adequate polling places, Van Hollen said, that those polling places are going to be safe.

The Wisconsin Elections Commission unanimously recommends that everyone at a polling place wear a mask, but they cannot legally require a voter to wear one.

What if Im worried to mail my ballot?

Officials said there are options if youre nervous that sending your ballot through the mail wont be fail-proof.

I dont have concerns, Van Hollen said, but he noted that he understood the various changes happening to voting nearly daily, like a possible change in when your mailed ballot can be accepted or a political wrangling of the postal service that could slow your mail.

I think you have genuine reason to be concerned, he continued, saying thats why they are, strongly urging people to request your ballots now, and send them back as soon as possible. Theres plenty of time before election day. Get on the ball.

You can also track your absentee ballots journey through the mail online, using myvote.wi.gov.

The tracker will tell you when your absentee ballot was requested, approved, when the clerk begins to prepare it, when its sent to you, an anticipated delivery date, and finally once it makes its way back to the clerk.

Officials suggest allowing up to seven days to receive and return your ballot, and to check with your clerk if it has taken longer than seven days.

And, if mailing still isnt right for you, you can utilize a drop-off box if your clerk offers it.

I think if you give yourself seven days to get your ballot back, youll be fine. If for some reason you dont trust the post office, there are many ways to get your ballot back to your clerks office, said Reid Magney with the Wisconsin Election Commission.

Is there a chance for fraud in this election?

Officials said there is no reason to worry about mass fraudulent voting in any election, praising the integrity of the voting system in place.

Both attorneys general agreed that voter fraud isnt common because of rules the state has in place, and that often, its so miniscule it doesnt have a real impact on election results.

For somebody to risk committing a felony and go to jail for one vote is insane, Kaul said.

Magney said that the most common type of voter fraud is from felons who have lost their right to vote, but that even those individuals are usually removed from the poll books, and some just slip through the cracks.

La Crosse County Clerk Ginny Dankmeyer ran through the process of checking the count after the election to make sure its accurate.

The initial totals are tabulated by a machine and put together in a certain county and posted as they come in. But afterward, a board of canvassers double and sometimes triple checks the work, making sure that the amount of ballots matches the amount of signatures in the poll book or absentee ballots requested.

If theres any discrepancies or anything that doesnt match up, we want to know why, Dankmeyer said.

Taken from the voter list?

If youre worried youve been removed from the voter roll in Wisconsin, officials said its unlikely.

You shouldnt be worried that youre one of those, Magney said, suggesting to go to myvote.wi.gov to see if you can find your voting record. If not, you still shouldnt panic, he said, but contact your local municipal clerk to see if a typo was made.

Most people on that list had actually moved, Magney said.

Can people protest at the polls?

Leading up to the election, there have been reports of protesters outside of early polling places, some even attempting to block voters from going in.

The state of Wisconsin prohibits electioneering within 100 feet of polling places, including campaign signs or collecting signatures, or a candidate presence, and it is a federal crime intimidate voters or interfere with someones right to vote.

A law enforcement or military presence is also not allowed at polling places, but National Guard troops working the polls are allowed and will be dressed in civilian clothing.

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Days after private equity giant Silver Lake Partners said that it will invest Rs 7,500 crore in Reliance Retail, American buyout firm KKR & Co has said that it will invest Rs 5,550 crore in Reliance Retail.

RIL, an oil-to-telecom conglomerate, is expanding its retail business through acquisitions and lining up a scrum of global investors to take on rivals such as Amazon India and Walmart-owned Flipkart in Indias huge market.

Here are five things to know about the deal:

1. The investment values Reliance Retail at a pre-money equity value of Rs 4.21 lakh crore, RIL said in an exchange filing on September 23.

2. KKR is investing Rs 5,550 crore in Reliance Retail in exchange for a 1.28 percent stake.

3. This is the second investment that has been attracted by Reliance Retail in two weeks, earlier Private equity giant Silver Lake Partners picked up a 1.75 percent stake for Rs 7,500 crore.

4. This is the second investment by KKR in a Reliance enterprise. In May, 2020, KKR said it will invest Rs 11,367 crore in Jio Platforms, the digital services platform of RIL.

5. This deal will bolster Reliance Retail's aim of expanding and getting hold of a larger chunk in India's retail space and it follows the announcement in August to buy the retail and logistics businesses of Kishore Biyanis Future Group in a deal valued at $3.38 billion, including debt.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 19

Trend:

The activities of our oil workers serve the interests of the Azerbaijani people, and this is very important for them because they know that both the political and economic achievements of our country are largely based on the oil and gas factor, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said in an interview with Azerbaijani television channels after the groundbreaking ceremony for the Absheron field offshore operations at the Heydar Aliyev Baku Deep Water Jackets Plant on 19 September.

Highly appreciating the activities of oil workers, the head of state recalled his years of work at the State Oil Company and said that the experience gained at that time was very valuable for him.

Saying that he had worked alongside prominent oil workers, including the legendary oil worker Gurban Abbasov, President Ilham Aliyev described him as a very knowledgeable, professional and courageous specialist with a very principled position. He stressed that this huge derrick barge was named after him.

Recognizing the merits of Academician Khoshbakht Yusifzade, the head of state said that while he was working at the State Oil Company, he met with Khoshbakht Yusifzade every day and was meeting him today as well.
WSU Marks International Translation Day with Second Annual Translation Week Event

September 23, 2020

OGDEN, Utah  Students and community members will have the chance to learn more about Weber State Universitys new programs in localization and translation at a series of virtual events next week, Sept. 28-Oct. 2.

The events are all part of Weber States second annual Translation Week, hosted by the Department of Foreign Languages to mark International Translation Day, which occurs each year on Sept. 30. In addition to featuring Weber States localization and translation programs, this years events will include a panel on healthcare interpreting, a presentation on U.N. interpreting, a discussion of the movie Arrival and a bad translation contest.

Localization and translation are related disciplines, but localization is lesser known, despite its significance as part of the language-services industry, a global market worth about $50 billion annually. The industry also includes translation and interpretation.

Localization is about making a product or a service suitable and marketable to different global clients, taking into consideration language and culture, as well as legal and technological aspects of the country where the product or service is being marketed, said Youn Soo Kim Goldstein, the new Ambrose Amos Shaw Assistant Professor of Localization and Translation in the Department of Foreign Languages.

Weber State became the only higher education institution in Utah to offer an associates degree in localization in fall 2019, the same time it first offered a minor in the subject. It is the second institution to offer the minor, joining Brigham Young University, which first offered a minor in 2016. In fall 2018, the Department of Foreign Languages launched a bachelors degree in Spanish Translation.

Weber State University is one of the best universities for learning a language in the state of Utah, and were one of the first departments to recognize a real need for this localization minor, said Kacy Peckenpaugh, associate professor of German and French, in a department video about the new program.

The programs in localization are open to students in any major and are particularly beneficial for students studying subjects like technology, engineering or communications, Goldstein said.

We have so many students at Weber State who have high language abilities after they come back from being immersed in a language during their missions abroad for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Goldstein said, so Translation Week is a good way for them to explore whats available out there after college.

Senior Madison Johnson is one of these students. She returned in late 2016 from a church mission in Mexico and was the first student at Weber State to declare the major in Spanish translation. Studying translation opens up a field of more opportunities, she said, including a project shes working on for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Through Weber States R.E.A.L. Projects program (Real Experience Applied Learning), Johnson and a partner are creating translation guides for the church. The guides identify areas of church texts that might be difficult to translate and provide assistance to translators on those points. Her translation courses at Weber State have made the project much easier, she said.

She thinks she would have connected with the church project earlier if shed spent more time at Translation Week last year.

Go and participate in Translation Week and see what happens, Johnson said. Its definitely worth it because you meet some wonderful people.

Prospective participants should register for each event so they can be sent a Zoom link to join the event online. Links to registration are available on the Translation Week website.

The United Nations designated Sept. 30 as International Translation Day in 2017 in order to pay tribute to the work of language professionals, which plays an important role in bringing nations together, according to the United Nations . Weber States Department of Foreign Languages held its first Translation Week two years later, in the fall of 2019.

For more news about Weber State University, visit weber.edu/wsutoday.
A Reading police officer has been indicted in connection with the 2018 fatal shooting of an unarmed 43-year-old man, authorities announced Wednesday.

A grand jury indicted Erik Drauschke on a manslaughter charge for his alleged role in the death of Alan Greenough two years ago, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said in a statement.

Drauschke was placed on unpaid administrative leave as a result of the news from the district attorneys office, Readings town manager, Robert LeLacheur Jr., and police chief, David Clark, also announced in a joint statement Wednesday.

Prior to Wednesday, Drauschke was on paid administrative leave since the 2018 shooting, per department policy, the officials noted in their statement. Drauschke started working for the Reading Police Department in September 2006.

As a result of todays indictment for one count of manslaughter, the leave has been changed to unpaid pending the outcome of the court proceedings, the statement said.

An investigation into the shooting on Feb. 3, 2018 determined that Drauschke allegedly fired twice at Greenough, striking the man in the chest and killing him, despite the fact Greenough was unarmed, according to the district attorneys statement.

The prosecutor described how during the altercation, Greenough moved quickly toward Drauschke, refusing to take his hands out of his pockets and yelling, Shoot me, shoot me."

Before the shooting, multiple Reading police officers responded to the East Coast Gas and Auto Repair on Main Street around 4 p.m. The property is the location of both a gas and repair station as well as two residential apartments, the prosecutors statement said.

Authorities received a call that day claiming Greenough was involved in a domestic assault involving two other residents. Police had responded to the same location the previous night about similar accusations against Greenough, according to Ryans office.

When police arrived at the apartment on Feb. 3, 2018 officers sought to not only investigate the new allegations, but also arrest Greenough for what occurred the evening prior, the district attorney said.

However, Greenough reportedly locked himself in his home, forcing officers to talk with him through the locked doors and windows of the apartment, according to the prosecutor.

Officers pleaded with Greenough to surrender peacefully, but he grew agitated, authorities claimed. At one point, he is suspected of wielding a roughly 3-foot-long broken table leg as he yelled from a window to police.

Greenough eventually exited the apartment by climbing out a back window. Once officers saw the open window, they started to set up a perimeter to search the area, according to Ryan.

Drauschke looked for Greenough along the south portion of the property, where numerous cars in varying states of repair" were parked, the district attorney said.

The officer saw Greenough sitting in a car with the doors closed. The vehicle was parked in a way that made it unable to drive away from the scene, according to the prosecutors.

The officer is accused of approaching the car alone and not waiting for help, even though other officers were close by. Greenough did not try to run away from Drauschke, nor did he make any threatening gestures toward the officer while inside the vehicle, Ryan claimed.

Drauschke is accused of opening the car door, taking out his gun and ordering Greenough out of the vehicle, according to the district attorney.

Authorities claimed Greenough exited the car with both of his hands inside his sweatshirt pocket, moved quickly toward the defendant and yelled, Shoot me, shoot me."

It was in that moment, Ryans office claims, Drauschke backed up and shot Greenough. The man later died from his wounds.

The officer will be arraigned in Middlesex Superior Court at a later date.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 23

By Elchin Mehdiyev  Trend:

Speaker of the Azerbaijani parliament Sahiba Gafarova met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on September 23, Trend reports citing the Azerbaijani parliament.

A delegation headed by Gafarova met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on September 23.

Welcoming Gafarova and the delegation, Lavrov expressed confidence that the visit would be a valuable contribution to the further development of the Russian-Azerbaijani relations.

"The Russian side highly appreciates the fact that the delegation of the newly elected Azerbaijani parliament made one of the first visits abroad to Russia. Generally, such visits to Russia by high-ranking government officials, including new Azerbaijani foreign minister, are very important in terms of exchanging views on issues of mutual interest," Lavrov said.

Lavrov noted that during the talks with Azerbaijani officials, a decision was made to intensify joint efforts to resolve issues raised during the telephone conversation between the presidents of the two countries, Vladimir Putin and Ilham Aliyev, adding that Russia intends to further deepen relations with Azerbaijan in all spheres, including diplomacy.

Lavrov noted the importance of the relations of the Azerbaijani parliament with the State Duma of the Federation Council of Russia, the participation of the delegations of the two countries in international parliamentary organizations.

Gafarova said that the Azerbaijani-Russian relations have centuries-old traditions and have always been distinguished by the characteristic features.

Close cooperation has been formed between Azerbaijan and Russia, which is one of the first countries to recognize our independence, which over the years has risen to the level of strategic partnership, Gafarova added. Regular contacts and trusting relations between President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of Russia Vladimir Putin give dynamics to our relations, which can be characterized as relations of strategic partners.

Along with the ideal political dialogue, economic relations continue to develop dynamically between our countries, Gafarova said. Russia is one of the main trade partners of our country.

Focusing on the rapid expansion of the geography of interregional cooperation between the two countries, the speaker of the Azerbaijani parliament noted that Azerbaijan is actively cooperating with the subjects of Russia - Dagestan and Tatarstan, Astrakhan, Saratov, Sverdlovsk, Ulyanovsk, Vladimir, Volgograd and other regions.

Gafarova noted that the parliaments of the two countries also play an important role in the development of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Russia.

Relations between the parliament of Azerbaijan and the Federal Assembly of Russia, based on the provisions of the Cooperation Agreement dated January 9, 2001, are becoming more dynamic, Gafarova said. The national parliamentary delegations of Azerbaijan and Russia traditionally support each other on the most important and topical issues and successfully interact within various international organizations.

Friendship groups operate in the Azerbaijani parliament and the Federal Assembly of Russia, and there is a permanent bilateral inter-parliamentary commission between the structures, Gafarova said.

Gafarova stressed that Azerbaijan is the country with the biggest number of ethnic Russians in the South Caucasus, adding that there is a solid legal base between the two countries, consisting of more than 200 bilateral documents.

These documents include the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Security between Russia and Azerbaijan, as well as the Baku Declaration on Friendship and Strategic Cooperation, Gafarova added.

She pointed out that the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict continues to create serious obstacles to any development in the region.

Azerbaijan is committed to resolving the conflict peacefully. The conflict must be resolved within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan on the basis of the UN Charter, the relevant UN Security Councils resolutions and the Helsinki Final Act.

In general, amid the ineffective activity of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, being the co-chair of this group, actively participates in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Gafarova noted. The Russian side has made great efforts in this direction. Moreover, the absurd statements recently voiced by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan about "seven conditions", which, being an option of compromise, can be discussed, if Azerbaijan recognizes the right of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh to self-determination, shatter all efforts of the world community to resolve the conflict peacefully.

Pashinyan's statements on the accession of Nagorno-Karabakh "authorities" to the negotiation process cannot be criticized enough, Gafarova stressed.

"The Armenian leadership must not forget that in the modern world it is impossible to hide the fact of the occupation of Azerbaijani lands, presenting it as" the common security system of Armenia and "Artsakh", speaker of the Azerbaijani parliament said.

In particular, Armenia won't be unable to hide the fact of occupation after it itself initiated the battles in the direction of Azerbaijans Tovuz district and aimed outside Karabakh at infrastructure facilities that are of exceptional importance for the region as a whole, Gafarova said.

All this is serious violation of international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Convention of August 12, 1949 and its Additional Protocol of June 8, 1977, and is classified as a war crime, speaker of the Azerbaijani parliament said.

The illegal resettlement of Syrian and Lebanese Armenians to the occupied Azerbaijani territories, contrary to these conventions, is of particular concern, Gafarova said.

In connection with the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Sergey Lavrov said that Russia, as the co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, supports the solution of the problem and spares no effort in this area.

Pashinyans words about Nagorno-Karabakh create obstacles on the way to the process of the conflict settlement, this is Moscow's official position, Lavrov stressed.

Gafarova expressed confidence that Russia, as the co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, will do everything possible to mediate for the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Further, during the meeting, other issues of mutual interest were also discussed.

The visit of the parliamentary delegation of Azerbaijan to Russia continues.
New Delhi:

At least ten soldiers were killed as two avalanches hit Gurez Sector of Kashmir, an army official said on Thursday.A



An avalanche hit an army camp in Gurez sector of Bandipora district near the Line of Control last evening in which several soldiers were trapped, the army official said.A



He said rescue operations were launched and seven soldiers including a Junior Commissioned Officer were saved.A



"Bodies of three soldiers were retrieved his morning," he said. The official said another avalanche hit a patrol party which was on its way to a post in Gurez sector last evening.A



"Rescue teams have so far retrieved seven bodies from the spot of the incident," the official said.A

An officer was killed an avalanche on Wednesday at Sonamarg in central Kashmir Ganderbal district while four members of a family died in another avalanche in Gurez sector.A

Authorities have issued a high danger avalanche warning in hilly parts of snow-bound Kashmir valley in view of fresh snowfall which has been going on intermittently for past three days.A

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the deaths of army jawans. In a tweet, the Prime Minister said he was "deeplysaddened" at the death of the jawans.

Deeply saddened at the death of our Veer jawans in an avalanche in Kashmir. Have directed the authorities for speedy search and rescue ops. a Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 26, 2017

(With inputs from PTI)

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
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, the government's lead negotiator Abdullah Abdullah said Tuesday.

Abdullah, the chairman of Afghanistan's High Council for National Reconciliation, 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.

Story continues

"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.

sl/pmh/sst
Tania Kent opened the second online meeting of the UK Socialist Equality Partys (SEP) second Educators Rank-and-File Committee by welcoming those participating in many parts of the world, including the United States, France, Spain, Germany, Australia and many parts of the UK.

This attests to the global character of the issues that confront educators the world over and this is also expressed on the panel of speakers and contributors today, said Kent, a leading SEP member and special needs teacher.

The aim of meeting was to call on educators, students and parents to join and build the committee in your workplace, college or campus and communities.

Worldwide, the death toll from COVID-19 is fast approaching one million, with many hundreds of thousands of deaths to come as country after country witnesses a massive resurgence of infections.

At the committees first meeting one week previously, there had been eight schools in England that had reported COVID-19 infections since reopening. At the end of last week, 1,118 schools had been hit by coronavirus infections, forcing many to close partially or fully. This number is rising rapidly. Some 25,000 teachers in England had been forced out of the classroom and into self-isolation amid a national shortage of COVID-19 tests due to the inability to process them.

The world-beating test, track, and trace system which we were promised has collapsed in just two short weeks, unable to cope with the level of demand, which the government knew would happen. This had placed massive strains on teaching staff and managers. Four in five schools have children not attending because they could not get a test, and almost 50 percent of schools have staff off because they cannot get a test.

A survey from Education Support showed more than half of teachers saying their mental health had declined during the pandemic, with the lack of timely government guidance cited as their biggest challenge.

The essential demand that must be advanced is for the immediate closure of all schools and their reopening only when it is safe to do so. Walkouts and strikes must be called for in all schools, leading to the fight for a general strike across the UK. This will not take place through placing demands on the unions.  They support the reopening of schools and oppose any demand for militant action.

Evan Blake, a member of the Socialist Equality Party (US), reported how Educators Rank-and-File Committees had been set up in New York City, Detroit, Florida, and Texas, with plans to announce additional committees soon in Los Angeles, San Diego, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Hawaii and other parts of the US.

Blake showed a slide with the images of five teachers who had died since schools began reopening in the US. Millions of students and tens of thousands of educators had been sent back to schools for some form of in-person instruction, which, along with the widespread reopening of college campuses, had led to a surge in COVID infections.

There were hundreds of outbreaks of infections in July, which made national headlines and forced the closure of many schools, he said. In response, districts and states moved to quickly cover up future outbreaks, creating regimes of censorship and punishing teachers and students that spoke out.

No one was keeping accurate records of outbreaks in schools. Hundreds of protests have broken out among teachers, parents, and students. Over 100 Facebook groups have formed to oppose the reopening of schools, many with tens of thousands of members. Where schools have reopened, there is growing support for strike action to force them to close again.

The chief obstacle preventing this from taking place was the teachers unions.

Miles Driver, a member of the recently founded London Bus Drivers Rank-and-File Safety Committee, sent recorded greetings as he was working that day. As London bus drivers, we speak from experience about the deadly effects of COVID-19. Between March and May of this yearin little more than 12 weeks33 London bus workers, 29 of them drivers, were killed by the virus.

These deaths were the outcome of the Tory governments refusal to impose a national lockdown until March 23, more than one month after scientists warned such action was needed.

Driver indicted Labour Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, who had told the public that London passenger transport was safe, personal protective equipment (PPE) was not required, and all they needed to do was wash their hands to the tune of happy birthday.

The unions had signed a tripartite agreement with TfL (Transport for London) and the bus operators behind the backs of transport workers, then issued joint letters to drivers pledging industrial harmony and telling them that PPE was not required.

Alex Lantier, the national secretary of the Parti de legalite socialiste in France, said workers across Europe faced the malign indifference to COVID-19 of officials determined to force workers back to work, and children back to school, no matter what the cost in lives.

In France, 3,082 new COVID-19 cases were detected on August 31, as schools were set to reopen. Yesterday, there were 13,215. Since schools had reopened, new cases have roughly doubled each week, and COVID-19 emergency wards are filling up in Bordeaux and Marseille.

Together with the German unions, Frances General Confederation of Labour (CGT) had co-signed its approval of this Julys 750 billion European Union corporate bailout. Due to the collapse in their dues base, 90 percent of the French unions budgets came from business or public subsidies. French education unions have therefore made no strike calls, though one smaller union initially proposed to delay school reopenings by one week.

WSWS writer Alejandro Lopez told the meeting that the back-to-school drive implemented in Spain by the Spanish Socialist Party-Podemos government with trade union support was catastrophic. Last week, the Madrid region announced that 66,000 educators should undergo coronavirus antibody tests before school started. More than 2,000 tested positive.

The Spanish government was following a herd immunity policy, allowing the virus to spread without restraint. The Socialist Party and Podemos bear full responsibility for the tens of thousands of infections in recent weeks, and for the wave of deaths that tragically are ensuing and will ensue.

Retired tutor Kevin, with two school-age children, told the UK educators meeting, Like many families around the world, weve been horrified at the drive to return children into a setting that isnt safe.

Teachers and educators have been left completely unsupported by the unions, Kevin said. We sometimes feel, as concerned parents, that were just operating in our own bubble, on our own. And, of course, the World Socialist Web Site gives us some comfort when we read the news on there. But it just absolutely hammers home for me thisits absolutely crucial that theres an organised response to the crisis that we all face.

Another attendee, James, added, COVID-19 spreads in crowded, poorly ventilated spaces with no social distancing and little use of masks. How can the UK government continue with their messaging that schools and colleges and universities are safe when they know they are not?

Danny, a member of the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE), explained how he and hundreds of thousands of students were set to return to universities just as COVID-19 was spreading rapidly once again.

There has been a 43 percent increase in infections this week alone, driven by a huge spike in cases amongst 17- to 29-year-oldsthe same group that will be returning to campuses. The rate of infection among this age group is now more than double the national average and rising.

Students had been told they should return to their institutions, and if they did not, they were still expected to pay the same inflated tuition fees of 9,250 for online learning and only limited access to resources. This situation is even worse for foreign students, who have to pay 21,000 a year to attend university, even if they decided to not return to campuses. More and more students are struggling to support themselves, with one in five unable to pay their rent. Many universities are seeing up to an increase of 190 percent in applications for hardship funds.

Danny said it was urgent that students and educators take matters into their own hands and place no trust in the government, fake opposition parties or the university institutions. Campus safety committees must be built to ensure appropriate safety procedures are put in place to protect the health of students and staff, and fight for increased testing on campuses.

Stephen, who is about to begin his degree course, said, For students like myself, our experience of the governments handling of this pandemic and its impact on our education can be characterised as insincere and reckless.

Having recently finished his A-levels, Stephen related how the standardisation algorithm used to determine grades showed in black and white that the government did not care about our teachers judgements based on talent, work ethic, perseverance and evidence, and that it would be the backgrounds we came from which would be the deciding factor in what grades we should get.

The effect of the algorithm had raised the top grades obtained by students at private schools by 4.7 percent, whereas in Scotlands most deprived areas, the proportion of students receiving A-C grades was reduced by 15.2 percent. This was met by the outbreak of organised, student-run demonstrations, protesting the blatant classism with signs stating, Judge my schoolwork not my income. If there is something I have learnt from my experience through the A-level situation, it is that students can and must take back control of the terms on which their education proceeds.

University lecturer Simon described the measures taken by the universities and government as arbitrary and contradictory. While some learning is going ahead online, face-to-face classes are still going ahead, especially for medical and veterinary qualifications.

Although smaller class sizes were supposed to take place in large lecture theatres, to reduce the possibility of transmission, none of the universities, neither the Russell Group top tier, the redbrick establishments, nor the former polytechnics have enough lecture theatres to service the increased number of seminars created by smaller class sizes. This meant face-to-face teaching in normal size classrooms with inadequate ventilation.

The University and College Union (UCU) refuses to take any industrial action to protect the lives of its members in higher and further education, Simon said. This week, I received an e-mail from UCU leader Jo Grady containing pro-forma letters for union members to send to their employers if they do not feel safe at work.

Secondary school teacher Tom told how staff had been put into unsafe schools and had had to move around school grounds to teach in different classrooms across hundreds of children.

We are not told when a child is sent home with a suspected case of COVID-19 and there are huge problems with testing, so children are absent for days. The situation is unsustainableteachers cannot go on like this.

The role of the unions had been to provide the political cover to implement the governments back-to-work agenda, ensuring that their members went back to schools. At every point as the pandemic progressed, the education unions essentially sided with the government and against their own members.

The National Education Union (NEU) was complicit with the government in keeping schools open. As early as March, Mary Bousted, joint general secretary, had said she understood why the government wanted to keep schools open. They are a major public service. Having your child at school allows parents to work. The NEU understands the value of schools for the economy.

In conclusion, Tania Kent urged all those present to join the Educators Rank-and-File Committee and to attend the meeting on Saturday, September 26.

The video of the meeting can be viewed on YouTube.
French economist Esther Duflo shakes hands with Sweden's King Carl Gustaf as she receives the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel during the Nobel Prize award ceremony at the Stockholm Concert Hall in Stockholm, Sweden December 10, 2019. REUTERS-Yonhap



The traditional Nobel Prize ceremony in Stockholm has been cancelled for the first time since 1944 in favour of a televised event due to the coronavirus pandemic, organisers announced Tuesday.



Under normal circumstances laureates are invited to Stockholm to receive their medals and diplomas from the king of Sweden in person, at a formal ceremony in December.



"The current circumstances with the ongoing pandemic means that this is a unique year in the history of the Nobel Prize, as the idea is that medals and diplomas are handed over to the laureates safely in their home countries," the Nobel Foundation said in a statement.



It said that would likely be done "with the help of embassies or the laureates' universities."



In July, the foundation announced that the lavish banquet that traditionally follows the award ceremony would be cancelled this year and the events of the "Nobel Week" leading up to the prize ceremony would take on "new forms".



The award ceremony, which was last cancelled in 1944 due to World War II, would instead take the form of a televised event "where the awarding of this year's prizes will be woven together with features from different parts of the world."



During World War II, several prizes were not awarded and several were postponed, even though Sweden did not participate in the fighting. The 1944 prizes were awarded in 1945, according to Nobel historian Gustav Kallstrand.



"The last time there wasn't any ceremony in Stockholm was 1944, but this year there will be a ceremony, just a digital one," Kallstrand told AFP.



This year's laureates, in the fields of medicine, physics, chemistry, literature, peace and economics, will be announced between October 5 and 12.



Earlier on Tuesday, the head of the Nobel Institute in Norway said the ceremony for the Peace Prize  which is held in Oslo, also on December 10  would be scaled back and moved from the usual grand venue at Oslo's City Hall to the smaller Oslo University auditorium, due to the pandemic. (AFP)


Two Irish designers were selected for funding yesterday - the final day of the Spring Summer 21 collections at London Fashion Week.

Designer Richard Malone, from Co Wexford, and Sharon Wauchob, from Co Tyrone, were among 30 designers chosen by the British Fashion Council for second round funding of 500,000 (545,000), being allocated to viable businesses depending on their urgency and capability to come through and thrive post the Covid-19 crisis.

Meanwhile, designer Richard Quinn yesterday closed the London Fashion Week digital schedule with a one-minute teaser, which keeps fans guessing well into October.

The London-Irish designer, who made history when he was awarded the inaugural Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design in February 2018, shared a short trailer for his new-season film that will be revealed on October 9.

To add to the build-up, he added a countdown clock on his website.

Famous for his blown-out, saturated floral prints, the only clues he shared yesterday about what will come next were crashing roses, shattered glass and blue skies with floating clouds.

The in-demand designer's parents come from Meath and Donegal and his clients include Lady Gaga, Beyonce and Kendall Jenner.
The Turkmen governments inaction in response to the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic has drastically worsened the countrys preexisting food crisis, Human Rights Watch (HRW) and the exile group Turkmenistan Initiative for Human Rights (TIHR) said.

The tightly controlled Central Asian nation has been facing price hikes and a shortage of subsidized food since 2016.

The Turkmen government -- one of the most repressive in the world -- denies the existence of poverty in the country and has failed to provide relief to economically vulnerable groups, even as unemployment has skyrocketed during the pandemic, HRW and TIHR said in a report on September 23.

Titled Turkmenistan: Denial, Inaction Worsen Food Crisis, the report says that in the absence of a strategy to provide economic or social assistance to its people, the government is failing to meet its international obligations to ensure an adequate standard of living and the right to food.

With no effort to identify and assist the people most in need at this critical moment, Turkmenistan is callously neglecting the most basic norms of human rights, which include the right to food, said Rachel Denber, deputy Europe and Central Asia director at HRW.

Ordinary people describe in the report their plight amid the food shortages, price hikes, and poverty.

Compared to a year ago, our family eats less, a Turkmen father of eight told TIHR in July 2020. Thats because we have less money, and [food] prices have gone up. Weve had problems getting food due to the lines and the shortages.

A Turkmen student told HRW in November 2019 that his family was spending 70 to 80 percent of their income on food. A Turkmen pensioner said her family was spending almost all their income on food.

The governments only assistance program provides subsidized food in so-called state shops, an affordable alternative to privately owned shops selling food at market prices.

But supplies began to falter in 2015-16, after the global decline in oil prices started to hit the energy-rich nations state budget. Declining income from energy exports since 2014 and several poor harvests have constrained Turkmenistans food supplies.

Our mother is the one who waits in lines at the state stores, said Sapar, a father of eight. She gets up every day between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. and goes to stand in line. Someone else may come to relieve her closer to the time the store opens. Lines may be three to four hours long until its your turn.

State media do not report on the shortages. Instead, it strives to paint a rosy picture of living standards, claiming that the country is living in an era of greatness and happiness and frequently showing fully stocked, orderly shops.

Turkmenistans domestic food production only meets around 40 percent of national demand. The rest is imported, with 80 percent of the imported foodstuff coming from neighboring Iran.

In early 2020, the supply of subsidized food began to falter to an even greater degree, in part because of the border closure with Iran due to the pandemic. Some imported food products, such as potatoes from Iran, disappeared entirely, the report said.

In the past 12 months, the market price of flour rose by 50 percent and cooking oil by 130 percent, it said.

At the same time, the global economic downturn threw many Turkmen out of work and slashed the remittances upon which many Turkmen families survive, and Covid-19 travel restrictions prevented people from traveling abroad for work.

As a result, people in Turkmenistan faced even more uncertain, demeaning, and sometimes insurmountable obstacles to obtaining adequate food, the report said.

It called on the government to take immediate measures to make sure that people can get adequate food. The government should also commission an independent, nationwide household survey to assess poverty and food security, make the data public, and use the information to ensure effective, affordable access to adequate, nutritious food for all members of society, the rights groups said.

Beside the state stores, the government should consider other ways to protect people from food insecurity, TIHR and HRW said. These include food-voucher programs that allow people to purchase goods at private shops or the bazaar, or cash-transfer programs to people with incomes below the minimum subsistence level for an adequate standard of living.

The report said that Turkmen authorities should also reassess the contribution that currency controls -- limiting the ability to buy or sell foreign currency -- have on the rising prices of imported foods and the capacity to purchase food, and make appropriate changes to help ensure availability of and access to affordable food.
Chinas cabinet pledges greater access for foreign investors to the countrys domestically listed companies. China reopens its border to foreign nationals for work and personal matters. Huawei executive says the company has enough communications gear inventory to carry on. Meanwhile, Chinas BGI Group received an order for 1.5 million coronavirus testing kits from Ethiopia. And a major solar panel manufacturer is planning to spin off a subsidiary and list it on the STAR Market sometime over the next three years.

 By Lu Yutong (yutonglu@caixin.com) and Han Wei (weihan@caixin.com)

** TOP STORIES OF THE DAY

Cabinet vows to allow more foreign investment in listed companies

The State Council, Chinas cabinet, said more foreign investors will be allowed to make strategic investments in domestically listed companies as part of efforts to invigorate the countrys capital market. A cabinet meeting Wednesday chaired by Premier Li Keqiang proposed a set of measures to improve corporate governance of listed companies and expand investment in the capital market.

Huawei has enough communications gear inventory to carry on

Huawei Technologies Co. said it has sufficient inventory for its communications equipment business while it seeks out supplies of smartphone chips that have been cut off by a Trump administration ban. Huawei is developing new consumer devices to offset the hit to its smartphone business and is still willing to buy from American companies, said Guo Ping, Huaweis rotating chairman.

China lifts reentry ban on residence permit holders

Foreign nationals holding valid Chinese residence permits for work, personal matters and reunions will be allowed to enter China starting Sept. 28, the Chinese National Immigration Administration said Wednesday. The eased restrictions came six months after the country banned almost all inbound foreign nationals amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

China vows carbon neutrality by 2060 in major climate pledge

China President Xi Jinping said the country aims to be carbon neutral by 2060, as it tightens its greenhouse gas target, and spends more on green technologies in the next five years. The declaration represents a major pledge in the fight against climate change by the planets worst polluter.

Speaking during a virtual United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, Xi also reiterated his goal for emissions to peak before 2030 and urged all nations to work toward a greener economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

China, India agree to stop sending new troops to Himalayan border

China and India have agreed to stop sending new troops to the front line of their disputed Himalayan border as the powerful neighbors try to deescalate tensions. (Bloomberg)

The two governments will refrain from unilaterally changing the situation on the ground and avoid any actions that may cause complications, they said in statements Tuesday, a day after holding a commander-level meeting.

Chinas BGI wins 1.5 million coronavirus test kit order from Ethiopia

Ethiopia has agreed to purchase 1.5 million coronavirus testing kits that will be manufactured at a new domestic factory built by Chinas BGI Group. (Reuters)

The factory, the first coronavirus test production facility in Ethiopia, which opened earlier this month, was designed to be able to make 6 million to 8 million tests a year.

Chinas WH Group and Brazils JBS are behind surge in U.S. pork exports to China

U.S. pork exports to China have surged beyond pre-trade war levels, led by higher shipments from Brazil's JBS SA and Chinas WH Group Ltd., owner of Smithfield Foods Inc. (Reuters)

JBS may have shipped 370% more U.S. pork to China this year through Aug. 31 than during the same period in 2017, while exports linked to WH Group rose 90.1%.

Caixin New Economy Index falls on drop in capital inputs

The Mastercard Caixin BBD New Economy Index, which measures the contribution of high value-added industries to Chinas total economic inputs, came in at 30.4 in August, down from 31.5 the previous month. The decline came as capital and labor inputs dropped.

JinkoSolar eyes STAR Market IPO for its spin-off

JinkoSolar Holding Co. Ltd. announced it will spin off one of its subsidiaries based in East Chinas Jiangxi province and list it on Shanghais STAR Market in the next three years. The subsidiary specializes in producing solar panels and related components.





** OTHER STORIES MAKING THE HEADLINES

Finance & Economy

 E-commerce giant JD.com Inc. plans to spin off JD Health, its healthcare arm, and list it in Hong Kong. The timing for the spinoff and listing will depend on market conditions.

 Ant Group Co. Ltd. (link in Chinese) submitted its listing document to Shanghais market regulator on Tuesday, bringing it one step closer to the Shanghai part of its planned dual listing. The document showed that the groups preliminary gross profit for the first nine months of 2020 grew by somewhere between 67% and 73% year-on-year to a range of 66.8 billion yuan ($9.8 billion) to 69 billion yuan.

 Chinas top graft-buster has launched an investigation into the chairman of China Everbright Industry Group Ltd., Zhu Huimin, authorities announced Wednesday.

Business & Tech

 Huawei Communications Co. Ltd. has cut its research and development investment in Australia and will axe local jobs amid mounting tech tensions and a ban on the companys participation in the construction of the countrys 5G wireless network.

 PetroChina Co. Ltd.s refinery in the city of Daqing has started processing it first batch of Russian crude oil transported via pipeline, the company said Tuesday. (Reuters)

 Japan remains a powerhouse of battery innovation, with Panasonic Corp., Toyota Motor Corp. and other names applying for more than one-third of international patents in the field. China ranked fourth in patent filings.

 Tencent plans to add a new aggregation service in its navigation app Tencent Maps, which will free users from jumping between apps to secure a ride during rush hour. The move comes as Tencent seeks to compete with Baidu Maps and Alibaba-backed Amap.

 China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. (Sinopec), Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Co. and the U.K.s EnQuest Plc are among the bidders for Exxon Mobil Corp.s U.K. North Sea assets as the U.S. oil giant seeks to exit the aging region. (Bloomberg)

** ON THE CORONAVIRUS

 Researchers found evidence of multiple superspreading events of Covid-19 infections in Hong Kong, suggesting that timely identification of superspreaders may be a key to stopping a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

 On Wednesday, the Chinese mainland reported (link in Chinese) 10 new coronavirus cases, up from six infections a day earlier. All of them were imported, with four in southern Guangdong province.

Read more

Caixins coverage of the new coronavirus

 As of Wednesday afternoon Beijing time, the number of global Covid-19 infections topped 31.6 million, including more than 971,000 deaths worldwide, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

** AND FINALLY

Snow fell for the first time this autumn in the Changbai Mountains in Northeast Chinas Jilin province, covering the volcanic Tianchi Lake.

The snow covering Tianchi Lake in the Changbai Mountains was as deep as half a meter.

** LOOKING AHEAD

Sept. 24: Trip.com reports quarterly results

Sept. 30: Release of Caixin China manufacturing PMI

Oct. 9: Release of Caixin China services PMI

Contact reporter Lu Yutong (yutonglu@caixin.com) and editors Yang Ge (geyang@caixin.com) and Michael Bellart (michaelbellart@caixin.com)

Read more

China Business Digest: Regulator Piles Penalties on Luckin Coffee; Biotech Firm Raided for Alleged Import and Export Violations
Mexico could delay its planned energy sector reform until next year after President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador asked regulators this week to help prop up state oil major Pemex, Reuters reported, citing unnamed sources in the know.

According to the sources, Lopez Obrador asked regulators to suspend the issuance of new permits for private companies to reduce competition against Pemex as well as state power utility CFE. In addition, the President also said he planned to refinance Pemexs debt, which is the largest in the global oil industry.

Reports emerged earlier this month that the Lopez Obrador government planned to cut the access of foreign oil companies to Mexicos fields. The stipulation was expected to be made in a new infrastructure plan that was to be released later. This countered earlier media reports that Pemex was looking to farm out some fields to foreign partners, with the head of the energy regulator, Rogelio Hernandez, saying that the company was actively looking for such partners.

Lopez Obrador has been open in his efforts to stabilize Pemex and keep it as the dominant player on the Mexican oil market. Contracts with foreign oil field operators signed by the previous administration are currently under review for evidence of corruption and new oil and gas block tenders have been suspended until the review is done.

Pemex does not have the means and resources to develop the fields on its owna fact that has became clear after the company revised down its production target for 2021. The Mexican Ministry of Finance said it now expected Pemex to produce 1.857 million bpd in 2021, down from a projection of 2.027 million bpd made in April this year. Some believe even this would be hard to achieve given Pemexs financial problems. Production is still falling, reaching a record low in July on the back of a sharp output decline at the companys largest field.

By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
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.
Beirut resident Vany Bandikian once dreamt of travelling outside Lebanon, but after a massive explosion wrecked her neighbourhood, all she wants is to stay in the home her father built.

"Never will I leave this home," said the Lebanese Armenian retiree as she sat in her windowless living room.

"The walls speak to me," she said, the endless din of reconstruction work ringing from outside.

The August 4 blast at Beirut's port killed more than 190 people, injured thousands and ravaged dwellings in large parts of the capital.

Some of the worst-hit areas are home to the city's century-old Armenian community.

More than a month since the explosion, construction workers trudge up and down the stairs of Bandikian's 1930s villa.

Its tall white columns and cast-iron balconies are still standing, but its windows, now covered with sheets of white plastic, have been blown clean of glass.

Doors cracked in half lie on the tiled floor, and window frames have been dislodged from the walls.

"A lot of people rang me and said: 'Come and live with us'. But I can't. How am I supposed to leave an open house?" said the former French-language teacher, who lives with her sister.

Relatives in the United States have urged her to emigrate, but she is not interested.

"I really feel rooted in Lebanon," said Bandikian.

- 'It will pass' -

Some 140,000 Armenians live in Lebanon, mostly descendants of those who escaped the mass killings of their people under the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1917.

They are the largest such community in the Middle East, and have their own schools and university as well as seats in the Lebanese cabinet and parliament.

In Beirut, many live in the Bourj Hammoud neighbourhood, but also in the heavily damaged districts of Geitawi and Mar Mikhail close to the port.

Shop signs in the area are often in Armenian, residents use their own dialect, and the elderly often speak halting Arabic.

Story continues

Though some members of the Armenian community -- like many young Lebanese -- have emigrated in recent years because of the economic crisis, the older generation is bent on staying.

Berjouhi Kasparian, a frail 90-year-old with short white hair, said that even though she had three children living abroad, she would not leave the Geitawi apartment where she has lived on and off since she was 10.

"It will pass. Every country has problems," she said sitting in her living room, surrounded by family photos and handmade crochet doilies.

A scar to the side of her mouth is the only visible sign of the nightmare she experienced on the day of the explosion, four days before her birthday.

She was standing in her kitchen when a cascade of plates and glasses fell on top of her.

With Beirut's hospitals overwhelmed, she had to wait a whole day for someone to dress her wounds.

Bandikian and Kasparian have received help to repair their homes from the Lebanese branch of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), a century-old non-profit diaspora organisation.

The charity has fixed 100 homes and started work on 80 others in blast-affected areas, AGBU's Lebanon director Arine Ghazarian said.

It hopes to restore 600 homes in total, not all of them belonging to Armenians.

- 'Where else can we go?' -

In areas around the port, the explosion dealt a further blow to households already reeling from Lebanon's worst economic crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war.

Three times a week, AGBU distributes a total of 1,500 meals in the Bourj Hammoud and Mar Mikhail neighbourhoods, Ghazarian said.

At a home for the elderly in Bourj Hammoud, its manager Sebouh Terzian said he was grateful a donor had pledged $22,000 to fix the damaged building.

"Hopefully they will come next week and do all the repairs," said the head of the institution, which also relies on non-governmental organisations to feed its 119 residents.

But for others in the community, the pain of the blast is still very raw.

In Mar Mikhail, Dikran Geuzubeuyukian, 58, and his teenage children have received food aid and help to renovate their damaged flat.

But the cast-iron craftsman said he had mixed feelings about moving back in after the repairs have been finished.

From the kitchen, he can see what remains of the port's grain silos, while in the corridor, there is the place where he found his wife Liza, who died in the explosion.

Geuzubeuyukian said they had no choice but to move back in.

"Where else can we go?" he said. "It's a bit tough for the kids, but I don't know what else to do."

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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse)  Wed, September 23, 2020 16:32 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46b2f0c 2 Lifestyle Kenzo,WWF,tigers,fashion,collaboration Free

The tiger has been Kenzos signature animal for years.

However, as wild tiger populations continue to decline worldwide, the French label is partnering again with World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF, World Wildlife Fund in North America) to produce a ready-to-wear capsule collection to help double the number of these big cats by the end of 2022, thanks to the Tx2 initiative.

Previous Kenzo designers Humberto Leon and Carol Lim premiered a knit sweater with a tiger graphic on it for Kenzos Fall 2012 collection.

The motif turned out to be so successful that Jay Z, Selena Gomez and Kevin Hart were spotted wearing it.

The design duo decided to partner with WWF in 2018 on a capsule collection for wild tigers.

Although Lim and Leon left the luxury house in 2019, new creative director Felipe Oliveira Baptista is picking up the (tiger) torch with a new committed collection.

Read also: Floral prints make a comeback with Kenzo and Vans

Kenzo this week unveiled a new mens and womenswear collection in organic cotton with the big cat signature motif.

The capsule comprises T-shirts, sweatshirts, dresses and more. For each item sold, the French brand will donate $10 to the WWF Tx2 initiative to double tiger populations by 2022, the next Chinese Year of the Tiger.

Over a century ago, wild tiger populations totaled 100,000 worldwide, but plummeted to 3,200 in 2010. Various initiatives managed to increase their number to 3,900 in 2016.

The collection will start retailing on Sept 28.

Topics : Kenzo WWF tigers fashion collaboration
Lucknow, Sep 23 : A delegation of Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), on Wednesday, met UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow to discuss the problems of farmers.

Yogi Adityanath assured the delegation that his government would ensure that agricultural produce is not sold at a price lower than the minimum support price (MSP) fixed by the government.

He said that he has directed the private mandis to buy the crops of farmers at fixed MSP rate. The chief minister said that action will be taken against the mandis that buy at a lower price than MSP.

After the meeting, BKU leader Rakesh Tikait told reporters that the delegation also discussed the agrarian reform Bills recently passed from Parliament and other problems of farmers with the Chief Minister.

The Chief Minister has assured the BKU delegation that their problems related to electricity and water will be solved at the earliest.

The 6-member delegation of the BKU included national spokesperson of the organization Rakesh Tikait, vice president Rajesh Singh Chauhan, Manpal Singh Chauhan, Sardar Ajit Singh, Harnam Singh Verma and Dharmendra Malik.

UP Chief Secretary R.K. Tiwari and senior government officials were also present at the meeting.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
What started as justice for Sushant Singh Rajput has now turned into a circus. It first became a Mumbai VS Bihar issue, then transcend into a political issue wherein quite strangely even caste got involved. There was one foreign YouTuber claiming to be a paranormal expert trying to cash in on the situation too. Later it turned out, he had distorted one of SSR's old interview in order to make it sound like SSRs spirit.

A lot of people are pretending to (or maybe genuinely) care about case, but in past three months, we have all derailed from the actual issue.

In the past one month, Bollywood's drug consumption has become a topic of debate on social media, news channels and even dining table discussions. Several names have also cropped up. While NCB has neither confirmed nor denied any of the names doing the rounds, people on Twitter have noticed something strange recently.

afropunk.com

Also Read: 7 Celebs Who Bared All About Their Drug & Alcohol Addiction & Exposed The Ugly Side Of B-Town

A lot of people are wondering as to why only female actresses have been named in the drug probe and not the male stars, and they have some interesting insights. Take a look!

Millions of #youth believe in the on-screen heroes and be like them. It is sad to see the facts coming out regarding #drugs consumption in #Bollywood.



The current revelations in media are all around female actresses. Are there no male actors involved? #SushantSinghRajputCase  Madhish Parikh (@MadhishParikh) September 22, 2020

Why nearly all female (actresses) are found connected with drugs abuse..

Q1Are strong predators left free..

Q2 Are actresses physically by directors/ actors which make them psychologically weak with a fear of always at economic/ identity stake .  Smit Priya (@SmitSmitpriya) September 23, 2020

One of the reason for Bollywood actresses to use drugs such as MDMA (Ecstasy) could also be for weight loss and wanting to look skinny! This paper discusses how many young bulimic women also take to ecstasy. We know many big weightloss stories in BW!https://t.co/MMwWWBmEy4  Shivani Mohan (@Chevane) September 22, 2020

True..Not a single male actor...Are these actresses procuring drugs for their co-stars or friends..  pheonix (@101_PhoeniX) September 23, 2020

It is also strange that only female actresses are being accused of taking drugs, it is because they are easy to target n media can malign their image easily.  BaBu (@Babu90_) September 22, 2020

I m not surprised to see the name of celebs connected to drugs but what surprises me the most is only female actresses are involved, seriously Male actors are innocent or still media want to protect their stardom?  paripurn aryan (@ParipurnAryan) September 23, 2020

Female actresses are only doing drugs in Bollywood. All male actors are Raja Beta   Pawan Kumar IRS (@PK_IRS) September 14, 2020

Was #DeepikaPadukone's drug addiction was due to depression or she got depression because of drug addiction?



Is there a gang of male directors, actors, producers, music directors etc who pushed all these actresses in drug-trap?  ajitsinh Jagirdar  #We_The_Threadeans (@AjitsinhJagirda) September 23, 2020

#BollywoodDrugsGang as is called by media has become a new age witch hunt. Its like only actresses take drugs and high n mighty, highly paid male actores are just high on their testosterone. Tragic!!  andy_vox (@unintrupted) September 23, 2020

Kangana why male actors name are not coming out and only actresses in drug case...BIG ?  ssk15674 (@ssk47651) September 23, 2020

Do only female actresses consume drugs in Bollywood ?



Why is there no male actors being questioned ! #UDTABollywood  Saffron Tweeter (@Saffron_Tweeter) September 22, 2020

So you're telling me only Bollywood actresses take drugs? Male actors don't?  Gayatri (@ThatRelaxedGirl) September 22, 2020

Why did actresses like @deepikapadukone #diamirza take drugs???? To break free from male patriarchial societal norms.... simple  Rahul (@ecominindia) September 22, 2020

Also Read: If SSR Was Alive He Would Have Laughed At The Circus On His Name, Says Sonu Sood
DUBLIN, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Cloud Foundry Foundation , home to open source projects simplifying the cloud native developer experience on Kubernetes, today announced the schedule for its annual Cloud Foundry Summit Europe , which will be held online from Wednesday, October 21 through Thursday, October 22, 2020. Platinum sponsorship comes from IBM, SAP, SUSE, and VMware.

The 2020 European Summit will deliver a fast-paced, high-energy format with abbreviated sessions tailored to the virtual experience, along with a renewed focus on collaboration and community engagement. The Summit will be held online over two afternoons on Central European Time with tracks devoted to project contributors, developers and those new to Cloud Foundry.

Each day will feature special activities for the community, including a Day Zero event designed for first-time Summit attendees, the Diversity Conversation (formerly Diversity Luncheon) to continue the discussion on inclusivity and equity, and a Game Night for people to come together in a relaxed setting. To enhance the interactive experience, the Summit will offer a speed networking feature to attendees that mimics the organic meetings that take place at a physical event.

"Cloud Foundry Summit is all about collaboration  among our community and across the open source ecosystem," said Chip Childers, executive director, Cloud Foundry Foundation. "Our European event will highlight the rapid evolution of the Cloud Foundry project towards its Kubernetes-based future and our community's tireless work to ensure Cloud Foundry's architecture includes the most modern cloud-native infrastructure technology and simplifies the developer experience."

Confirmed technical talks include:

Deep Dive - cf push Comes to Kubernetes, Introducing cf-for-k8s: Paul Warren from VMware will provide an explanation of the Cloud Foundry for Kubernetes architecture and its benefits.

Comes to Kubernetes, Introducing cf-for-k8s: from VMware will provide an explanation of the Cloud Foundry for Kubernetes architecture and its benefits. Deep Dive - Cloud Foundry API on K8s: Piyali Banerjee and Michael Gresham from VMware will give an overview of how the Cloud Foundry API works natively with Kubernetes, including demos and a roadmap discussion.

and from VMware will give an overview of how the Cloud Foundry API works natively with Kubernetes, including demos and a roadmap discussion. Istio Community Roadmap: Craig Box from Google will lead a discussion of the service mesh architecture that helps reduce complexity of managing microservice deployments.

from Google will lead a discussion of the service mesh architecture that helps reduce complexity of managing microservice deployments. Open Service Broker API 101 - Getting to Know the Open Service Broker APi: Christian Brinker and Marco di Martino from evoila will speak on how to speed software development by taking advantage of OSBAPI.

and from evoila will speak on how to speed software development by taking advantage of OSBAPI. Our Scalability Journey with cf-for-k8s: Kesavan Subramanian and Pavan Sundareshan from SAP will give a talk on how to run Cloud Foundry from a single dedicated instance to leveraging Kubernetes to operate at scale.

and Pavan Sundareshan from SAP will give a talk on how to run Cloud Foundry from a single dedicated instance to leveraging Kubernetes to operate at scale. Quarks - A Set of Tools for Any Kubernetes Project: Mario Manno and Venkata Krishna Rohit Sakala from SUSE will deliver a talk about the effort to build an Operator that automates and deploys Cloud Foundry on Kubernetes.

and from SUSE will deliver a talk about the effort to build an Operator that automates and deploys Cloud Foundry on Kubernetes. Up and Running with Prometheus in cf-for-k8s: Kaitlin Barrer from VMware will demonstrate how to get up and running with Prometheus in CF for K8s via ytt.

Cloud Foundry Summit Europe will include digital booths sponsored by vendors for attendees to explore. In addition, Hands-On Labs, Project Office Hours, Community Awards and themed activity breaks will take place over the course of Summit.

The registration fee for the Cloud Foundry Virtual Summit is 40. Register for the event here .

Cloud Foundry is an open source technology backed by the largest technology companies in the world, including Google, HCL, IBM, SAP, SUSE, Swisscom and VMware, and is being used by leaders in manufacturing, telecommunications and financial services. Only Cloud Foundry delivers the velocity needed to continuously deliver apps at the speed of business. Cloud Foundry's container-based architecture runs apps in any language on your choice of cloud  Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform (GCP), IBM Cloud, Microsoft Azure, OpenStack, VMware vSphere, and more. With a robust services ecosystem and simple integration with existing technologies, Cloud Foundry is the modern standard for mission-critical apps for global organizations.

About Cloud Foundry Foundation

The Cloud Foundry Foundation is an independent non-profit open source organization formed to sustain the development, promotion and adoption of Cloud Foundry as the industry standard for delivering the best experience for developers to companies of all sizes. The Foundation projects include Cloud Foundry Application Runtime, KubeCF, cf-for-k8s, Eirini, Project Quarks, BOSH, Open Service Broker API, Paketo Buildpacks, ServiceFabrik, Stratos and more. Cloud Foundry makes it faster and easier to build, test, deploy and scale applications, and is used by more than half the Fortune 500, representing nearly $15 trillion in combined revenue. Cloud Foundry is hosted by The Linux Foundation and is an Apache 2.0 licensed project available on Github: https://github.com/cloudfoundry . To learn more, visit: http://www.cloudfoundry.org .

Contact:

Joe Eckert

Eckert Communications

[email protected]

SOURCE Cloud Foundry Foundation

Related Links

http://www.cloudfoundry.org


Have you been imploring people to wear a mask during the pandemic?

Maybe you tweeted a precious little zinger about mask culture.

How about this one?

'Im not working out with a mask on' is my new favorite excuse for not working out."

Or this: Masks are so mysterious, I love it. Do I have a mouth? Thats up for you to decide.

The tweets, posted on the boardwalk in Asbury Park, are part of a campaign from the state and Twitter to amplify the voices of New Jerseyans in order to encourage mask wearing and fight mask fatigue" during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Social media musings about face coverings are showing up on city streets, landmarks and billboards in Asbury Park and Jersey City, two of six cities participating in the effort.

One tweet, splashed across a billboard, comes from Princetons Aditya Sharma.

Mask up New Jersey  be a hero, he tweeted in July.

Proud to partner with @Twitter to amplify the voices of New Jerseyans to ensure we ALL continue to #WearAMask  for ourselves and for each other.



Learn more: https://t.co/st1X62blxM pic.twitter.com/gpnVQlP5lO  Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) September 21, 2020

We also found a fair few tweets in in the Jersey mix that originated from elsewhere in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Gov. Phil Murphy promoted the effort on Twitter  where else?  Monday.

Proud to partner with @Twitter to amplify the voices of New Jerseyans to ensure we ALL continue to #WearAMask  for ourselves and for each other," Murphy tweeted, sharing some examples of the campaign.

From the earliest days of this pandemic, New Jersey has been steadfast in our conviction that face masks are a critically important tool to limit the spread of this virus," Murphy said in a statement.

Mask up New Jersey - be a hero.  Aditya Sharma (@adityamsharma) July 4, 2020

People around the world are talking about masks and the real-talk happens on Twitter, said Nola Weinstein, Twitters global head of culture and brand experience. Were excited to bring these tweets to the streets, amplify peoples voices, and encourage everyone to mask up."

Some of the tweets can be found on the side of the Stone Pony in Asbury Park.

Best thing about these masks is I can sing along to my music without looking like a weirdo, reads one from @txnya_m of Liverpool and Birmingham, England.

Another tweet, pressed into the boards in Asbury Park, comes from writer Jill Gutowitz:

My ears are currently carrying sunglasses, headphones, and a face mask. ears are a purse.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com.
Photo: (Photo : Prem Pal Singh from Pexels)

A teen house party that violated a state law forced a local high school to delay in-person learning.

A couple from Massachusetts and their teenage child face criminal charges for hosting a teen house party, the Sudbury Police Department said. The incident forced Lincoln Sudbury Regional School High School to delay their in-person classes to avoid potential health risks to the school community.

On the evening of September 11, the police responded to a large drinking party report involving underage individuals. At least 50 high school students attended the party held in the basement of a private Sudbury residence in Massachusetts. It was not known if teens from nearby towns also attended the party.



Teen house party defied state-mandated social distancing and face mask-wearing

Sudbury Police Department says that people who attended the house party were not social distancing or even wearing face masks. Many of the students fled to the woods upon the police's arrival. Others provided false names while some made threatening remarks to the responding officers.

The couple and their child were charged with violating Massachusetts Social Host Law. Under this law, those who furnish alcohol to a person under 21 face a fine of up to $2,000 or imprisonment for up to one year, or both. Charges were already filed in Framingham District Court against the parents while their child was charged in Framingham Juvenile Court.

The Sudbury Board of Health said that there are no known positive COVID-19 cases involving the students that attended the house party. Due to the lack of information, the board cannot make an adequate assessment of the risk to the school community.

Local high school shifts to remote-learning for 14 days

Lincoln Sudbury Regional School High School was initially set to start their in-person classes on September 15. Due to the incident, they will go all-remote for 14 days.

The Board of Health and LSRHS advise those who attended the party to undergo COVID testing and notify the Board of Health and the Lincoln Sudbury Regional School High School health office should anyone show any symptoms.

"I just think it's a shame," a resident told NBC Boston, "You are not supposed to break the law period." "You don't want your kids to start drinking so young."

"I think they are simple rules to follow, and they should have followed that," commented another parent.

Other parents shared the same sentiment and expressed their disappointment. Others, however, are disappointed by the board's decision. They said that they don't think it is going to change much since the school is doing hybrid learning for half days.

Still, parents agree that the decision is going to make it difficult for parents and children. Especially that many parents are already planning to go back to work.

According to NPR.org, other Massachusetts high schools also delayed in-person classes because of similar incidents. Particularly in Dedham, Reading, and the Dover-Sherborn area.

Read next:

Newly Trained Guide Dog Helps Blind Teen Swimmer Prepare for 2021 Paralympic Games

College Student Donates Personally Decorated Crutches to Children in Need

How to Make Money as a Teen
SEATTLE (dpa-AFX) - Amazon said Wednesday that it has launched a 'Climate Pledge Friendly' program that will make it easy for customers to discover and shop for more sustainable products. The world's largest e-commerce company said that customers could see the Climate Pledge Friendly label when searching for more than 25,000 products to signify that the products have one or more of 19 different sustainability certifications that help preserve the natural world, such as reducing the carbon footprint of shipments to customers. The Climate Pledge Friendly selection includes grocery, household, fashion, beauty, and personal electronics products, as well as items from a range of other categories-from brands including Seventh Generation, Burt's Bees Baby, and HP. Amazon has also launched 'Compact by Design,' a new certification program for products designed to reduce carbon emissions through increased efficiency and better packaging. The Climate Pledge Friendly initiative supports the company's commitment to reach the Paris Agreement ten years early and be net zero carbon by 2040, Amazon said in a statement. The company stated that it has already committed to reaching 100% renewable energy by 2025, ordered more than 100,000 fully-electric delivery vehicles, and plans to invest $100 million in reforestation projects around the world. Amazon also launched the Climate Pledge Fund, a $2 billion fund to back visionary companies whose products and services will facilitate the transition to a low carbon economy. 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.
By PTI

SRINAGAR: It's a sonic boom! It's a pressure cooker bursting! It's a quake! And yes, the late night boom that reverberated across the city and several parts of south Kashmir on Tuesday was indeed a quake, seismologists later confirmed.

But before that, social media humour and rumour mills were already on overdrive with messages facetious, flippant and sometimes funny.

The National Centre for Seismology (NCS) confirmed that a 3.6 magnitude earthquake was recorded around 9.40 pm at a shallow depth of 5 km.

No one was quite sure till then what caused the loud noise and sudden shaking of houses in Srinagar, this was followed by another after 10 minutes.

Twitterati was unstoppable by then, using references from popular culture and current events for a series of posts.

One post blamed 'Rashi', a character from the 2,184-episode Hindi TV soap "Saath Nibhana Saathiya" which ran on Star Plus for seven years.

She put an empty pressure cooker on the gas stove and it eventually burst, it said, provoking mirth all around.

Amid continued tensions along the Sino-India border, another said it was "a missed call by China" and attached a string of smileys.

"Friends, we in #Kashmir are now in the era of municipality-limited earthquakes. 2-second tremor in 15 wards, with epicentre under galli no.420," said a tweet amid confusion over whether it was an earthquake or an aircraft breaking the sonic boom barrier.

The first post that appeared said in Kashmiri that there was an earthquake type feeling but the same is not confirmed by the officials.

"It wasn't an earthquake but earthquake-like, it wasn't a blast but blast-like, aur humari zindagi essi confusion mein rahi ki us nay iiqrar kiya k inkaar (And our life continues in this confusion as there was no confirmation nor a denial)," said another.

One Twitter user posted a picture of "Jadoo", the blue ET-style alien from Hrithik Roshan starrer "Koi Mil Gaya" and attributed the boom to his presence near "Ghantaghar" at the city centre Lal Chowk.

A notification in August issued by the Indian Air Force about night exercises also started doing the rounds of WhatsApp and people said it could be a war exercise.

Even a tweet from Deputy Commissioner Shahid Choudhury failed to put a lid on humour.

Some netizens, tongue firmly in cheek, said the Jammu and Kashmir administration was testing the restoration of 4G internet service, resulting in shocking the entire Union Territory.

The union territory, except for Ganderbal in Kashmir and Udhampur in Jammu, has been operating on 2G internet services since the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5 last year.

There were no reports of any casualties or damage to property from the tremors on Tuesday night.
Desmond Meade, president of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, holds a news conference in front of the Orange County Supervisor of Elections

Desmond Meade, president of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, holds a news conference in front of the Orange County Supervisor of Elections, on Jan. 7, 2019, in Orlando. Credit - Ricardo Ramirez BuxedaOrlando Sentinel/TNS/Sipa

I guess Im a public figure now, but I still havent gotten used to being recognized on the street. I still remember when I was homeless. How people would look right past me, sometimes it felt like they looked right through me on their way to wherever they were going. At my lowest, all I wanted was to be seen as an equal.

That was still true after I was released from prison and started to become an advocate. I knew there were others out there like me. Wed made a mistake, done our time and were ready to use our experiences to build a more just Florida.

In 2018, we made our case to the people of this state, and they agreed with us. Voters approved Amendment 4, restoring voting rights to 1.4 million Floridians. We all worked together to help our state move toward justice and equality.

But it was a short-lived victory.

The state of Florida and the federal courts have decided to put more hurdles in front of the people of Florida by ordering returning citizens (people with a previous felony conviction who have served their time) to pay all fines and fees before having their voting rights restored. In a cruel twist, they cant even inform people of the amounts they owe since there is no comprehensive database of fines and fees.

In a September decision overturning a ruling that declared this practice unconstitutional, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals referenced the common practice of excluding those who commit serious crimes from voting. It is this common practice of excluding people with past convictions that we at the Florida Rights Restoration Committee take issue with. Every returning citizen should have a pathway to the restoration of their civil rights, including the right to vote, the right to run for office and the right to serve on a jury, so that they can fully participate in our democracy.

Story continues

So much of American life is dictated by who you know  one of the few places where were all the same is in the voting booth. Thanks to the people of Florida and Amendment 4, earlier this year I stepped into the booth for the first time in 30 years. Other returning citizens have that dream, but the state of Florida continues to tell them to wait  to defer their dreams of equality.

Today, I went before the Florida clemency board  the governor and his cabinet and I had an opportunity to explain why I should be granted clemency, why my civil rights should be restored and why I should be made whole as a citizen. My petition was deferred. I was told to continue to wait  that I still need to prove I am worthy of my inalienable rights, that I am still not whole in their eyes.

But this is not just about me. No one who has served their time should be forced to jump through hoop after hoop, or spend years waiting for their clemency hearing, while they rebuild their lives.

The everyday people of Florida have used their voices and their votes to say that formerly incarcerated people like me deserve a second chance, and the state of Florida clemency board should heed that call and take action to grant timely clemency to all returning citizens  that is the spirit of Amendment 4 and the will of the people.

What were asking for is not complicated to understand nor implement. In fact, under Governor Charlie Crist, more than 155,000 Floridians were granted clemency and had their rights restored, and under Governor Jeb Bush, more than 76,000 returning citizens were granted clemency. Were just asking for equality. Were just asking for the will of the people to be respected. Gov. DeSantis, you and the Florida clemency board can make this right.

Let us remember some of the last words of Martin Luther King Jr.: All we say to America is, Be true to what you said on paper. The state of Florida has the opportunity to do just that for scores of returning citizens. It isnt always easy to be a champion for the truth, but it will set you, and so many of our fellow Floridians, free at last.
BOGOTA - Jose Manuel Mancilla was taking a break from his job at a local gold mine. So on Sunday he gathered with friends at a hillside home in his village of Munchique, where about 20 people were drinking and staging cockfights.

The 19-year-olds life ended abruptly when hooded men began to shoot at the improvised cockfighting arena with machine-guns and threw at least two grenades at the terrified crowd. Six men in all, aged 16 to 28, lost their lives during the attack on the western Colombian village, which is surrounded by small gold mines and coca fields.

Hours later, four people were killed in a similar attack in Colombias southern province of Narino. Video shared on social media showed men with assault rifles shooting at corpses floating on a pond.

With all that has been happening in Colombia its hard to expect any justice for these crimes, said Edilson Adrono, a town council member in Munchique who lost two cousins in that towns massacre. Weve been left alone here, as if we didnt exist on the map.

Alarms are sounding in Colombia over a rising tide of violence. More than 230 people have been slain in massacres this year.

The deaths signal a new chapter in the countrys long history of bloodshed. Rather than the previous national dispute between guerrillas and the state, violence in rural Colombia is now marked by a patchwork of local feuds between criminal groups that fight over drug routes, illegal mines and even gasoline smuggling routes.

These groups are less ideological than the leftist guerrillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, a movement known as the FARC that made peace with the government in 2016 after five decades of conflict that killed 250,000 people and chased millions from their homes.

The new groups can be just as violent, however.

There is less direct confrontation now between armed groups and the government, said Juan Carlos Garzon, an expert on Colombias conflict at the Ideas for Peace Foundation. But what you see are many attacks against civilians who are perceived to be part of the support structure of a rival group.

Garzon said this struggle for territorial control could explain Sundays attack at the Munchique cockfighting arena. No suspects have yet been captured.

The village lies in a corridor that connects coca fields in Colombias central mountain range with the Pacific Ocean, where cocaine is loaded onto fast boats that take the drug to Central America and Mexico.

Drug trafficking groups like the Gulf Clan and rebel groups led by former FARC members who did not sign the peace deal operate around the village of Munchique and elsewhere in Cauca state.

There are so many groups with interests here that we dont really know who to blame, said Clemencia Carabali, a spokeswoman for the Association of Afro Colombian Women of Northern Cauca, a human rights group.

Colombias government pointed to a group of former FARC members for the attack, and offered a reward of $300,000 for two of its leaders. On Monday, military commanders and officials from the defence ministry visited the area and said the army would step up operations against the FARC dissidents.

But there are many areas of Colombia where similar attacks have happened and perpetrators still havent been caught.

Camilo Gonzalez, president of the Colombian think-tank Indepaz, said that so far this year, there have been 61 incidents in which three or more civilians were killed by armed groups, compared to 35 for all of last year.

These crimes are described as massacres by Colombias Human Rights ombudsman, while the Ministry of Defence often calls them collective homicides.

Gonzalez said the spike in massacres is happening as armed groups reposition themselves around the country and fight for illegal resources abandoned by the FARC rebels.

These are smaller groups who have little political purpose, Gonzalez said. They are going after drug routes, gold mines, timber smuggling, and forming alliances with money launderers.

In Cauca, where there have been nine massacres this year, human rights leaders say slow implementation of the 2016 peace deal with the FARC rebels has made matters worse.

Under the accord, the guerrillas laid down their guns in exchange for reduced sentences and seats in Colombias congress. But areas hit hard by the conflict were also promised government funded programs to help farmers replace illegal crops like coca with legal ways to make a living.

Around Munchique that meant replacing coca with coffee, citrus fruit and cocoa. But while some payments were made to farmers who wanted to change from coca growing, roads are still poor, making it costly to transport new crops. Most homes in the county of Buenos Aires, where Munchique is located, still lack running water.

We can try to grow coffee beans, Carabali said. But how can we wash and process them without water?

The areas poor infrastructure makes it appealing for some farmers to continue growing coca, which is cheaper to produce and easier to transport than most legal crops.

That brings criminal groups into the area.

You see farms with illicit crops here that are located right across from police bases Carabali said. Theres not enough government here. And everyone wants to take the law into their own hands.
by Austin Bay September 22, 2020

Somewhere in a storage room, I've a World War II submarine recognition pamphlet framed to display its intriguing title.

Published circa 1943, the pamphlet is no frills -- black ink submarine silhouettes and captions on white paper. The silhouettes depict U.S., British Commonwealth, Free French and Soviet Union subs, and, as I recall, a Dutch and a Greek sub as well. The Netherlands, Greece and France had been defeated, but some ships escaped to fight for their "free governments in exile."

The document's title: "United Nations Submarines."

They were U.N. subs, not U.S and Allied subs, and it had a 1943/44 pub date, not 1945, the year the U.N. organization was established, according to those now commemorating its 75th anniversary.

Dates aren't the issue. The point is this: A military weapons pamphlet labeled "U.N." reinforced a strategic political message then-U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt thought had warfighting value. FDR first publicly used the U.N. nom de guerre on Jan. 1, 1942, in his "Declaration by United Nations," a statement signed by delegates from 26 countries committed to waging war against the Berlin-Tokyo-Rome Axis. FDR conceived of the "United Nations" as a political organizing tool that established an incorporative identity for a multilateral coalition that only excluded enemies like Imperial Japan, fascist Italy and Nazi Germany.

The U.S. was FDR's "lead nation." United States, United Nations? FDR admired the League of Nations concept, but its failure was obvious.

In April 1945, as the war in Europe concluded, the United Nations Conference on International Organization convened in San Francisco to write an organizational charter, which nations began signing in June. On Oct. 24, 1945, the same day the Soviet Union signed the charter -- the U.N. as we know it was established.

The warfighting U.N. had transformed into an international peacekeeping organization and a forum for mediating conflicts between or among nations.

But did it really move from war-making to peacekeeping?

In June 1950, the U.N. authorized combat forces under the U.N. flag (but led by the U.S.) to halt North Korea's invasion of South Korea. A United Nations Command still remains in South Korea.

Peacekeeper and observer forces were deployed in 1948 and during the 1950s. But in 1960, the U.N. Security Council authorized the U.N. operation in the Congo, and the era of large-scale, often-repetitive, often-apparently endless peacekeeping operations began. Sadly, the Cold War kept many small wars hot. Yet three decades after the Cold War ended, many continue to burn, particularly in anarchic "fake states" like Congo and Mali.

"Peacekeeping" sounds warm and fuzzy, but it relies on the ability to use armed force to affect physical and political circumstances. In truth, it is a euphemism for a type of warfare.

The U.N. Department of Peace Operations (DPO) understands the definitional problem and concedes that peacekeeping "defies simple definition." Many missions are "multidimensional" -- a squish word if there ever was one. Armed defensive operations, like inserting peacekeepers into buffer zones between warring factions or deploying them to protect defenseless civilians, are often violently multidimensional.

Over the years, other weaseling terms have appeared, like "robust peacekeeping," "peacekeeping with teeth," "hard peacekeeping" and "peace restoration." They are euphemisms attempting to camouflage offensive war waged by peacekeeper soldiers.

In 2013, the U.N. created a special Force Intervention Brigade, or FIB, for its latest Congo peacekeeping operation. The oxymoron "war-making peacekeeping" didn't appear in the resolution creating the unit. Probably too blunt for the diplomats.

The FIB deployed in eastern Congo to "neutralize" rogue militia factions that were murdering and raping poor Congolese en masse. Since 2013, the FIB has decimated two militias and is now battling other factions. However, the three nations providing brigade troops, South Africa, Tanzania and Malawi, have reservations about the unit's use. All three nations have excellent professional forces, but they seem frustrated and unappreciated. Why, these small lead nations almost sound like Americans, weary of the burden of war.
Painesville Schools and the Lake County YMCA Central Branch still will host their annual produce market.

Unlike years prior, this years market will be a drive-thru event in which Lake County residents must remain in their vehicles.

The event will take place from 3 to 5 p.m. Sept. 25 in the front of the Lake County YMCA Central Branch at 933 Mentor Ave.

Maribel Young, Painesville City Local Schools Family Resource Center coordinator, said each year the district partners with the Central YMCA and the Greater Cleveland Food Bank to provide the service.

However, due to COVID-19, this years event will be different, Young said.

Young said previously Lake County residents were able to walk around and pick produce from pallets. However, because of the novel coronavirus, measures had to be taken to prioritize safety.

Everybody will stay in their car, Young said. Its first come, first serve. We will put the groceries in their cars.

Young said this year it is especially important to continue with the event to help out those in need.

This is just another way to help put food on their table and have one less worry for many of our families here at the school district and in the community, Young said.

Suzanne Hall, Central YMCA Member Engagement director, said that several events this year were canceled that involve community engagement. Hall said that the YMCA and Painesville Schools still want to try and help out the community in any way possible.

With COVID, were not able to do as many things as we previously were able to do, Hall said. We want to be a location to provide services for the community in whatever capacity we can. Its a really great resource for people.

The Sept. 25 event will be for all Lake County residents, Hall said.
Princess Martha Louise of Norway was met with a sweet surprise for her 49th birthday as she was reunited with her Shaman boyfriend after six months apart amid the Covid-19 crisis.

Princess Martha, who celebrated her birthday yesterday, shared a gushing Instagram post praising her boyfriend Durek Verrett, 45, revealing he had flown from Los Angeles to surprise her for the big day.

After a quick visit to the US in March to see Durek, Martha Louise spent lockdown with her daughters in Norway, while Durek remained in California.

Martha, who has three children with her first husband Ari Behn who died in 2019, aged 47, shared a sweet picture of herself and Durek online, saying: 'I love surprises. And the best surprise ever was you turning up for my Birthday, @shamandurek, after 6 long months of being apart.'

Princess Martha Louise of Norway shared a gushing post as she reunited with her boyfriend celebrity Guru Durek Verrett, 45, on her 49th birthday

The Princess shared a heartfelt message about the reunion with Durek on Instagram, along with a sweet picture

Martha wrote a heartfelt on her reunion with Durek in a message on Instagram as well as a picture of the pair holding hands, revealing: 'It has been so challenging yet wonderful to see how, even when not seeing each other, we have deepened our connection and understanding for each other.

'One of the main things this corona period has shown me, is that we humans are tougher than we think and can prevail anything, but its better when we have our loved ones close.'

Smitten Durek replied with a message of its own in a comment to his beloved's Instagram post.

'Being with the woman I love with all my soul on her Birthday, is a blessing given by God to be by your side after six months apart,' he wrote.

The mother-of-three spent lockdown in Norway with her family while her boyfriend spent it in California (pictured in Oslo in 2017)

'We have been through so much together and we shall endure whatever challenges life throws our way,' he added.

'Till death do us part, I'm forever yours, baby  Happy Birthday, my sweet angel.'

Royal fans were touched to see the couple being reunited and professing their love on Martha's birthday.

Her friend Tessy Antony de Nassau, the ex-wife of Prince Louis of Luxembourg, led the birthday wishes on social media, sending Martha 'virtual hugs.'

Durek replied with a sweet message of his own saying the coupe would endure any challenge life would throw their way

'Happy B day beautiful sou I wish you only blessings and joy. You trully deserve all the happiness and love at all times. I sent you a huge virtual hug,' she wrote.

'Aww! So happy to see you two together,' another said.

'Thus makes my heart so happy!!! I love you both. And happy birthday darling' one said.

It is believed the couple last saw each other in March, when the royal travelled to LA with her children, Maud Angelica, 16, Leah Isadora, 14, and Emma Tallulah, 10.

Royals fans were excited to see the couple reunited after being apart for six months. Tessy Antony de Nassau led the birthday wishes

In April, Durek revealed to Femail the couple planned to move in together in the US so that they could be together, explaining: I can tell you one thing. It (marriage) is definitely not off the table.

'Our plans are eventually to live together with each other. Not in Norway, but in the US.

And let me tell you, no matter what people say about us, it is our life. Martha and I are going to live the way we decide to live,' he added at the time.

He also said they kept in touch through video calls three times a day and both would cry because of how hard they found it to be separated.

The couple have spent the last six months apart and are believed to have last seen one another in March

Durek added that he calls Princess Martha first thing when he wakes up in the morning.

Theres a lot of crying and sadness that we cant see each other, but we also know whats happening in the world and we are willing to be patient.

But we have each other and at least we have technology, so that we can see each other and talk all the time, he said.
In fact, we talk very little about anything. We have had zero intimacy for four years, and while she sleeps in the bed, I stay on the couch all night because she refuses to stop watching videos on her phone while I try to sleep, despite repeated requests for that to cease.
New ABC series Outback Ringer is coming to ABC next month.

The 10 part factual series follows a handful of brave men and women making a living catching feral bulls and buffalo in the outback.

Its described as a dangerous job  high-risk, but with high-reward and a hell of a lot of deal-making.

Produced by Ben Davies, the creator of the hit series Bondi Rescue, with Territorian Thomas Lawrence, the gripping 10-part series tracks the highs and lows of four teams of ringers  feral bull catchers. Liz and Willie Cook are a husband and wife team, Kurt Hammer is a master bull catcher worth around 40 million dollars, young gun Lach McClymont is looking to make his mark and Indigenous Australian Clary Shadforth is a 3rd generation bull catcher training up his 17-year-old son Francis.

Bull catching is big business, with some 300 thousand feral bulls and buffalo wandering Australias outback unclaimed. If caught, these animals are worth up to a staggering 150 million dollars. Its a major industry, especially for Indigenous Australians.

Each year, the Ringers strike a deal with the top-end landowners  in exchange for access to their land, theyll share the profits from selling the bulls in the livestock market. But its not easy work  these animals have never seen humans and will try to avoid capture. In extreme isolation the Ringers accept they can be gored by bulls or killed in vehicle or chopper accidents. In a high stakes world of boom or bust, they drive modified Mad Max style 4WDs at breakneck speeds as they seek their fortunes.

Cattle and buffalo were imported into Australia during early British settlement and with no real restrictions, their herds grew to massive numbers. They are now feral animals, large pests which destroy the natural environment. If theyre not caught by Ringers theyre shot-out in culling programs, so catching these feral animals not only benefits the land, but is also more humane.

This October join the Outback Ringers on a thrilling journey into the land that time forgot.

Production credit: Outback Ringer is a Ronde Production for the ABC. Principal production investment from Screen Australia in association with the ABC. Financed with support from Screen NSW with Screen Territory. Executive Producer: Ben Davies (Ronde), Producer: Thomas Lawrence (Ronde), ABC Manager of Documentaries: Stephen Oliver.

Tuesday October 20 at 8.00pm on ABC.
Coronavirus pandemic brought life to a halt in many regions across the world. The reduced human activities were bound to have an effect on the level of carbon dioxide reduction in the Earths atmosphere. Scientists, however, now point out that this change is just not enough to save the planet.

A research by scientists from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) monitors the reduction in the CO2 during the global lockdown this year. The idea is to match it to the extended emission goals as per the Paris Climate Agreement. Sadly enough, the reduction in emissions this year might not even make a mark.

(Representative Image: Unsplash)

The report points out that the current data measured in the energy, industry, and mobility sectors results in an estimated reduction of up to eight percent in worldwide carbon dioxide emissions this year. Based on this figure, the research highlights that cumulative reductions of around the same magnitude will be required every year to reach the goals of the Paris Agreement by 2030.



Negligible effect

The study also mentions that the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere has not yet changed as per the estimated emission reductions. "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.

"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," Sussmann adds.

(Representative Image: Reuters)

The ideal, or the only way to achieve the goal of the Paris Climate Agreement (restricting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius) is to keep on increasing this control on carbon emissions multifold every year. The eight percent reduction has to be increased to a complete 100 percent by 2055 for the same.



Sussman points out that while the corona-related restrictions resulted in a one-time reduction by eight percent, cumulative reductions of the same magnitude would be required every year to reach the target. This means a reduction of 16 percent in 2021, 24 percent in 2022, and so on.
Weve been focused on finding the right expansion opportunity in Long Island for some time now, and this opportunity fits the bill nicely, said Kevin J. Keane, Managing Partner at PKF OConnor Davies.

PKF OConnor Davies, LLP, one of the nations largest accounting, tax and advisory firms, announced today that Albrecht, Viggiano, Zureck & Company, P.C. (AVZ), a certified public accounting firm located in Hauppauge, New York, has joined the Firm. Led by co-managing partners, Joseph Ferreira and Jeffrey Davoli, the Long Island firm brings nine partners and 45 staff to the PKF OConnor Davies team and expands the Firms presence in the area. This is the latest move as part of PKF OConnor Davies ongoing strategic growth initiative focused on expansion by partnering with leading accounting firms and professionals in the Greater New York City area and beyond.

Weve been focused on finding the right expansion opportunity in Long Island for some time now, and this opportunity fits the bill nicely, said Kevin J. Keane, Managing Partner at PKF OConnor Davies. Joe and Jeff have done a tremendous job hiring really talented individuals and committing to terrific client service, and we are eager to combine our teams and our expertise and grow our presence in Long Island.

Joseph Ferreira and Jeffrey Davoli will continue to maintain their leadership positions and serve as co-leaders of the Hauppauge office. Additionally, Robert Quarte remains an integral, valued member of the team. Since 1950, AVZ has provided a wide range of accounting and advisory services to businesses with a focus on the government, construction, engineering and manufacturing and distribution industries.

PKF OConnor Davies is known throughout the industry for its great culture and steadfast commitment to client service, said Jeffrey Davoli, Co-Managing Partner at AVZ. Those markers have been the guiding principles of our work in leading the team at AVZ, and were excited to join forces with such a well-respected firm and enhance our capabilities in Long Island and beyond.

AVZs Wealth Management practice will continue to operate as an independent entity and is not a part of this transaction.

PKF OConnor Davies has 13 offices in five states and continues to expand through organic growth and acquisitions on the East Coast. It has supported this growth with a strategic combination of promoting from within coupled with tactical external hires.

About PKF OConnor Davies, LLP

PKF OConnor Davies, LLP is a full-service certified public accounting and advisory firm with a long history of serving clients both domestically and internationally. With roots tracing to 1891, 13 offices in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland and Rhode Island and more than 800 professionals led by over 100 partners, the Firm provides a complete range of accounting, auditing, tax and management advisory services.

PKF OConnor Davies is a top-ranked firm according to Accounting Todays 2020 Top 100 Firms list, and the Firm is also recognized as a Leader in Audit and Accounting, a Pacesetter in Growth and one of the Top Firms in the Mid-Atlantic. In 2021 rankings, PKF O'Connor Davies was named one of Vault's Accounting 50, a ranking of the 50 best accounting employers to work for in North America, and ranked among the top 50 most prestigious accounting firms in America in a complementary Vault survey. The Firm is the 12th largest accounting firm in the New York Metropolitan area, according to Crains New York Business, and the 10th top accounting firm in New Jersey according to NJBizs 2019 rankings.

PKF OConnor Davies is enrolled in the AICPA Peer Review Program and has central memberships in the Private Companies Practice Section (PCPS), the Employee Benefit Plan Audit Quality Center (EBPAQC), Government Audit Quality Center (GAQC) and Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB).

By consistently delivering proactive, thorough and efficient service, PKF O'Connor Davies has built long-lasting, valuable relationships with its clients. Partners are closely involved in the day-to-day management of engagements, ensuring a high degree of client service and cost effectiveness. The Firms seasoned professional staff members employ a team approach to all engagements to provide clients with the utmost quality and timely services aimed at helping them succeed. Continuity of staffing and attention to detail in all client engagements make the Firm stand out among its competitors.

PKF OConnor Davies is the lead North American representative of the international association of PKF member firms. PKF International is a network of legally independent member firms providing accounting, tax, and business advisory services in over 400 locations in 150 countries around the world. With its tradition, experience and focus on the future, PKF OConnor Davies is ready to help clients meet todays ever-changing economic conditions and manage the growing complexities of the regulatory environment. For more information, visit http://www.PKFOD.com.

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Defense Minister Suh Wook, right, poses with South Korean President Moon Jae-in for photo after being appointed to the ministerial position at Cheong Wa Dae, Sept. 18. Korea Times file



Defense Minister Suh Wook is likely to visit the United States next month for his first talks with U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper, officials said Wednesday.



Discussions are under way with the U.S. about the new minister traveling to Washington for annual defense ministers' talks between the two countries, known as the Security Consultative Meeting (SCM), defense ministry officials said.



The visit, if realized, will also be Suh's first overseas trip since taking office last week to replace Jeong Kyeong-doo as defense chief. It will also be the first time for a South Korean defense minister to visit a foreign country since February due to the COVID-19 pandemic.



South Korea and the U.S. have held SCM talks around October every year to discuss defense issues between the two countries, including threats from North Korea and the envisioned transfer of the wartime operational control of South Korean forces from Washington to Seoul.



The meeting is held alternately in each country, and it's the U.S. turn to host this year's meeting.



"We are preparing for Suh's trip to the U.S. as one option," a defense ministry official said, noting the meeting is likely to take place around late October.



"Consultations are under way with the U.S. side, and we are closely monitoring the coronavirus situation and other factors," he added.



The last bilateral meeting between the defense chiefs of the two countries was held by videoconference in July.



Amid the pandemic, the defense ministry is eyeing an option to use the country's KC-330 air refueling tanker for Suh's trip, rather than a commercial plane, another official said.



During the upcoming talks, the two sides are expected to discuss key pending issues, including how to strengthen their combined defense posture to militarily support peace efforts involving North Korea and their push for the OPCON transfer. (Yonhap)


Cartoonist Guy Gilchrist is on a road trip to visit family  and share a few pictures of his babies along the way.

Best know as Jim Hensons cartoonist, Gilchrists credits include the Muppets comic strip that he penned with his brother, Brad, from 1981 to 1986, and being instrumental in the creation of Hensons Fraggle Rock.

Those babies that he will bring to 217 Comics, Cards and Games in Springfield starting this afternoon?

Jim Hensons Muppet Babies, of course.

Definitely, I think of the Babies as my babies, Gilchrist said. Theyre certainly very close to my heart.

But Gilchrists heart may be a tad fickle. Or at least large enough to love many babies.

Then somebody comes along and wants to talk Tom and Jerry, and Im right there with you, he said. The joy I felt when I was offered the opportunity to work on those characters, draw those characters. All of a sudden Im right back there, Really?! Really?!  Can you draw Tom for me? Wile E. Coyote?  Really?! I got to do that.

In addition to the Muppets, Looney Tunes, and Tom and Jerry, cartoon characters on which Gilchrist has worked include Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the Tiny Toons, The Pink Panther, Minnie Mouse and Nancy, the comic strip created in 1938 by Ernie Bushmiller. He took over that strip in 1995 and continued it until 2018, when he stepped away to pursue other interests.

His Muppet artwork has been added to the Smithsonian Institution and former first lady Nancy Reagan deemed it a national treasure in 1984.

Gilchrist also is an award-winning writer and illustrator of childrens books (more than 40 of them) and a musician. His latest book, Madeleine Editions Monster Dance, which was written by Eva Lou and illustrated by Gilchrist, is due out Oct. 5.

Ive been lucky, very, very blessed, he said. When I came off the road in March like everybody else, I had work waiting. I got involved in the Monster Dance book. Ive been busy, but Ive certainly missed visiting with everyone. My year was supposed to be 40 appearances.  This year I wasnt going to do any books.

The plan was to spend the year making appearances and giving motivational talks, he said.

Man plans, God laughs, he said.

Monster Dance is a childrens book intended to inform, comfort and empower children ages 6 and under amid the pandemic, emphasizing that the patience and caution needed to fight the monster are not fear but courage. It will be available as a hardcover book and an e-book that blends read-aloud narration, animation and music. Copies of the book are being donated to childrens hospitals across the United States, and, for each book sold, three masks will be donated to healthcare workers around the world.

After finishing Monster Dance, Gilchrist was at a bit of a loose ends.

I told my agent I dont really want to do another book before the holidays; maybe Ill go visit my children, my daughter and my granddaughter, he said. I came up with this idea that, while I was going to visit them, I would stop in various states and visit with my Comic-Con family.

His conventions family has been eager for the reunion, he said.

Im very joyful that folks are just being excited and enthusiastic about getting to talk about their favorite characters with me, he said, noting that some of the stops so far on his tour have been a chance to reconnect with fans hes met elsewhere over the years.

On Sunday, for example, Gilchrist was in Indianapolis.

A mom and her son drove over 120 miles to be there for Gilchrists appearance, he said. How sweet is that? Thats like beyond-beyond. They were saying that every year for the past however many years, theyve come to a con, wherever Ive been. This was their opportunity.

My heart  it got my heart.

Talking to Gilchrist, its clear that he is enjoying his tour as much as his fans.

Its been six months of working in the studio at home, he said. Getting out and reconnecting with everyone, Im probably 10 times happier to see you all than you are to see me.

His appearances have been socially distanced, with masks and space required. Only one person or family group is allowed at the table with him at once.

Weve been safe, he said. The traffic has been even, and people are so gracious and so patient. Were all so happy (to interact). The first two days on a tour, youll have your real hard-core fans lined up, even if its the weekend, whatever time the store opens. I was wondering how it was going to go with one group of people at my table and several people waiting. But they started milling around the store, chilling out. Everyone is just happy to be there and we were figuring out the protocol as we went along.

Theyve been careful to work within the health guidelines of each county in which Gilchrist is appearing, and hes stretched each appearance from a few hours to a few days. His Springfield appearance, for example, runs today, Thursday and Friday.

This trip, I thought, Gee, lets do as long as we can, so that way we can be all socially distanced, spaced out  with everyone feeling safe, he said. The smiles will happen. Even though the smiles are behind the mask, the eyes will be smiling.

His Springfield schedule will include meeting fans, signing and drawing from 4 to 10 p.m. today and from noon to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday. Admission is free during those times. He also will lead a cartooning workshop from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, for which there will be a $10 charge.

With more time for each tour stop, Gilchrist is hopeful that hell get to see a bit of the area while in town.

Actually, what winds up happening when I get to a town, before the doors open and everything, Im usually preparing artwork, he said. But if I do have some time, Id truly like to visit the (Abraham) Lincoln landmarks.

Hes visited Lincolns birthplace in Kentucky and a courthouse in Kentucky  or possibly Ohio, he said  where Lincoln once argued a case.

Im a real history nut, he said. Anytime I see a sign on the highway 

But when its time to meet his fans, hell be in the moment. A fan once asked him if hed ever had a leave-it-all-on-the-field moment with a project.

His work is not like that but exactly like that and its like that all the time, he said. When you finish a book, youve given all you have. I think thats the key, if I have any key to success at all. Im not the best or even near the best at anything, but I do try hard.

The 217 Comics, Cards and Games shop is at 1820 Adlai Stevenson Drive in Springfield.
John Frances Carty pulls a pint for the first time since lockdown was lifted in his wet pub The Maypole Bar (Peter Morrison/PA)

Wet bar patrons have hailed their reopening as a special day.

Customers returned to hundreds of traditional pubs that do not serve food across Northern Ireland on Wednesday following a relaxation of the coronavirus regulations.

New rules in place at the hostelries include no standing at the bar, hand sanitising stations, a sign-in book and table service.

While the settings may have changed slightly, there were still smiles as the Guinness started flowing again, along with the banter between old friends who had been apart for six months over lockdown.

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At the Hole In The Wall bar in Armagh city, Casper the resident parrot returned along with the customers.

Landlady Joanne Shilliday joked the parrot had also been on furlough.

Ms Shilliday said the old building, which dates back to 1615 and originally housed the first jail in the city, had survived the bombings and fires during the Troubles and would also survive coronavirus.

We didnt expect that we would have had to close for so long but we survived and we got through it, and we just have to keep going, onwards and upwards hopefully, she told the PA news agency.

It feels a bit like being back at the beginning  you dont know what is ahead of you, but its nice to see the regulars back and have the staff back. Well get through it, well do whatever we have to do, whatever regulations are in, well do what we have to to stay open.

The first customer to return was pensioner Melvin Faulkner who plans to have his ashes brought there when he dies.

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Ive been coming here for 20 years, I havent had a pint of Guinness since this place closed, you come in here and the craic is good, he said.

At the Maypole Bar, known as Neds, in Holywood, Co Down, there were also sighs of contentment from patrons who had loyally waited for it to reopen rather than try one of the bars which sell food that were able to open in July.

John Francis Cartys family have owned the bar since 1967, and he has been working in it on and off since he was 14.

He said he had missed the craic but said it was a nerve-racking time because you dont know what is going to happen next.

Its not a normal day, for me anyway, he said.

Its about people coming in, seeing people, hearing the news, the drink helps, but its mainly about the social scene  funerals, weddings, parties, birthdays, winning a bet. I see everything here.

We have got house rules, if they dont abide by them, well not serve them.

Jerry Lang was the first customer to return, and described it as a special day.

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Its the kind of place were they dont take any nonsense, you can come in and enjoy your drink and enjoy your conversation without the annoyance of mobile  one of those old traditional proper pubs, he said.

It has been a very strange time, I would have been in on a Friday night and Saturday night, you meet your friends. Its been a long time between getting what I could call your therapy.

It is a special day, I think its long overdue. It was unfair on the pubs that dont serve food not being able to open. Pubs like this, family run pubs, things will be done properly because they cant afford the chance of being shut down again.

The reopening of the wet bars came the day after additional restrictions limiting domestic gatherings were imposed in the region aimed at curbing spiralling infection rates of the disease.

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The reopening had been pushed back on several occasions by the Executive, while pubs that do serve food were able to reopen at the start of July.

Northern Irelands leaders acknowledged on Tuesday that Stormonts latest Covid-19 messaging had become confused.

Deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill accepted that introducing region-wide restrictions on domestic gatherings just hours before the reopening of pubs that do not serve food appeared conflicting, while First Minister Arlene Foster conceded the moves could be seen as counter-intuitive.

Both leaders insisted there was sound scientific evidence to justify the contrasting steps.

They stressed that pubs provided more controlled environments where social distancing and infection control measures could be regulated and enforced.

The ministers said the data indicated that spiralling infection rates were linked to transmission in homes.
The Chandigarh municipal corporation (MC) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) for opening a retail petrol outlet, which will be operated by the civic body, in Sector 51 here.

The letter of appointment was exchanged between IOC deputy general manager Kamal Kunj and Champa Bhatt of MCs estate branch in the presence of municipal commissioner KK Yadav on Wednesday.

The MC chief informed that the Chandigarh administration has allotted plot number 4 on Vikas Marg in Sector 51-A to the civic body for opening and running the petrol pump.

The UT had invited expression of interest from government oil companies for the same, following which the IOC was selected to ink the deal with MC.

Work at the site is going on and the petrol pump would be commissioned shortly, the MC chief added.
A woman was seriously injured in a single-car rollover on Route 3 in Weymouth just prior to noon on Wednesday, according to Massachusetts State Police.

The crash occurred near Exit 16 on Route 3, police said. A woman involved in the crash suffered serious injuries and was taken to South Shore Hospital in South Weymouth, authorities said.

Police did not provide an update to her condition.

The right travel lane of the northbound side of Route 3 is closed as police investigate, authorities said. The closure has lead to a nearly 3-mile backup according to Google traffic.
The Seattle City Council voted on Tuesday to cut a number of police positions and some funding for the citys law enforcement, overriding a veto on the proposal from Mayor Jenny Durkan.

Calls to defund the police department entirely arose following the death of George Floyd, an African American man killed during his arrest by officers in Minneapolis. Demonstrators in Seattle set up an autonomous zone without police in the citys Capitol Hill neighborhood for several weeks in June, but the zone was disbanded after four shootings occurred in or near the area.

The City Council will cut up to 100 officers from the police, eliminate the forces navigation team that clears homeless encampments, and use $3 million in emergency reserves to fund a safety-research project. Seattle police currently operate with a budget of $400 million and 1,433 uniformed officers. Former police chief Carmen Best, Seattles first black head of the force, resigned last month after the City Council announced the intended reforms and cut Bests salary to well below that of her white predecessor.

Countless videos of Black and brown lives lost here in Seattle and across the country shows us that not everyone feels safe in our community, and not everyone is safe, Council President M. Lorena Gonzalez said during the veto-override session, in comments recorded by the Seattle Times.

Public comments during an hour-long session preceding the vote were mostly in favor of the Councils cuts, with some commenters urging councilmembers to hold the line in favor of the Black Lives Matter movement.

However, group of small business owners is currently suing the city over its decision to cede the Capitol Hill neighborhood to protesters.

More from National Review
Airlines were banking on summer travel to offset some of the steep losses from grounded flights in the second quarter.

Although everyone knew that air travel would take the longest to recover from the pandemic, it became painfully evident for airlines and aircraft manufacturers at the end of the summer travel season that global air travel is not rebounding as fast as they had expected when national lockdowns were lifted.

Global commercial air traffic slowed its recovery pace in August, sending a warning to the oil market that jet fuel demand would likely take at least three more years to reach pre-crisis levelsif it ever did.

The resurgence of COVID-19 cases in Europe has led to overnight quarantine measures, which have had many holiday takers scrambling home, making many consumers wary of booking flights to some popular destinations.

European air carriers and manufacturers are struggling with the slower-than-expected recovery which started to reverse at the end of the summer, warning that more job and cost cuts will be necessary than initially announced.

In the United States, airlines are seeking additional aid on top of the one received in March in order to avoid thousands of furloughs and job cuts that could come as soon as October 1.

European Air Travel Going Backwards

At peak lockdowns in Europe, when air traffic in the continent was down 89 percent from 2019 levels, air traffic management agency Eurocontrol had predicted that traffic would gradually recover to reach 15 percent below 2019 levels in February 2021. The latest estimate from Eurocontrol, however, sees traffic weakening after August and staying at 50 percent lower than 2019 in February next year.

Were going backwards now and its really worrying for the entire industry. Theres a lack of coordination between States on how to manage air travel, Eurocontrols director general Eamonn Brennan said this month. Brennan called for urgent harmonized testing and common epidemiological assessment criteria, which would give more predictability for passengers, airports, and airlines. Related: The World's Most Expensive Crudes Get Expensive Again

For example, the resurgence of coronavirus cases in France in August disrupted the holiday plans of thousands of UK travelers who cut their holidays short and rushed to return to Britain to beat quarantine measures that were introduced overnight. Other popular destinations for UK travelers, Portugal and several Greek islands, also found themselves back on the quarantine list in September, requiring travelers entering the UK from those destinations to quarantine for 14 days.

Europes Airlines, Aircraft Manufacturers Turn Even More Pessimistic

The reduced consumer confidence amid blanket quarantine measures in many European countries, some of which were (re)imposed overnight, has played a major role in the lack of meaningful air travel recovery since July. Major European air carriers and aircraft makers are now even more pessimistic than they were during the nearly Europe-wide national lockdowns in April.

The survival of Air France-KLM is not a given, Dutch Finance minister Wopke Hoekstra said on Dutch TV earlier this month. The Dutch and French governments, both of which hold minority stakes in Air France-KLM, have already helped the airline with financial aid packages. Air France-KLM and all airlines are cutting jobs and warn that those job cuts would deepen.

Germanys Lufthansa said on Monday that it would further cut its fleet and personnel numbers as the outlook for international air traffic has significantly worsened in recent weeks amid significantly lower air traffic recovery than what was expected in summer.

Frances aircraft manufacturer Airbus told employees that layoffs were coming as voluntary redundancies would not be enough to cut costs.

I owe it to you to be transparent: its unlikely that voluntary departures will be enough, CEO Guillaume Faury wrote in a letter to the 130,000 employees, seen by Reuters. Related: The Debt Crisis Is Mounting For Oil Economies

Unfortunately, the recovery in airline traffic over the summer period has not been at the level the industry was counting on, Faury wrote, adding that We must now prepare for a crisis that will probably be even deeper and longer than the previous scenarios suggested.

U.S. Airlines Seek $25B Additional Federal Aid To Avoid Layoffs

In the United States, airlines are pushing for US$25 billion more in federal aid so that they would not start redundancies on October 1, the date on which a ban on airline industry layoffs expires. Without additional aid, U.S. airlines could furlough or lay off up to 50,000 employees.

The White House is open to a stand-alone relief package for airlines, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows said last week after meeting with the CEOs of American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Airlines, and Southwest Airlines.

On Monday, Republican Senators Roger Wicker of Mississippi and Susan Collins of Maine introduced a bill proposing another US$28 billion in federal aid to airlines to stave off job cuts until March next year.

[T]he market has not turned around as much as we had hoped, and additional relief is needed to prevent more than 60,000 aviation sector employees from losing their jobs beginning October 1, Wicker said.

The significantly lower airline passenger traffic and the significantly lower-than-expected recovery in the summer is dooming jet fuel demand for years to come.

Aviation fuel demand accounted for just 8 percent of total global oil demand in 2019, but the slump in the industry means that jet fuel will continue to be a drag on oil demand for at least another three to four years, even if demand for road transportation fuels returns to pre-pandemic levels sooner.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Jaya Gomathi Mirra R By

Express News Service

Netflixs latest documentary on climate change, Kiss the Ground, directed by Josh Tickell and Rebecca Tickell, and narrated by actor and environmental activist Woody Harrelson, traces the history of mankinds relationship with the earth and its dependence on soil for sustenance. It triumphantly presents an effective means to mitigate the pressing crisis of climate change.

Kiss the Ground is unwavering in its focus on this primal and intimate relationship between man and earth, that has gradually grown exploitative. Shots of tender lush green plants sprouting out the earth recur in this documentary that reveals with awe the immensity of life that the soil holds.

Soil contains a universe of life, goes Harrelsons voice-over, as we see the formless microbial life alive and rich in a handful of soil. Kiss the Ground equates man and soil in their role in saving the world from an apocalypse. Whilst stressing on this notion, the film furthers our understanding of how real and rapid climate change is, and how close we are to harms end.

The interviews of conservationists and regenerative farmers are interspersed with grainy black and white footage from Nazi Germany, video records of Roosevelts visit to Texas following the great man-made disaster that struck American West, and newsreels in which stoic newsreaders reporting on wildfires and floods, question authorities on actions taken to address climate change.

The documentary ushers in a sense of history to communicate the gravity of the issue and place the potential and challenges of the solution in an essential socio-political context. As conservational agronomist Ray Archuleta says of his mission in the film, The message is simple but getting it out there is difficult. We have a social problem; we have an education issue and until we get that right, we cant fix our ecological issues. Tickells documentary probes the interconnection between socioeconomic and ecological issues by alerting us to the resultant problems of flawed agricultural practices including migration, displacement, poverty, terrorism and social disorder.

One of the most haunting sequences of Kiss the Ground is when a farmer walks in silence around his empty, parched land. Its arid, lifeless scape very much symbolises the old mans weariness and despair. Graphics show the fast disappearing greenery in the world, to ominous music bearing strains of melancholy.

Instructive and inspiring, the documentary delves into the viabilities and promises a solution to rethink modern agriculture through real-life accounts of regenerative ranchers and conservationists. When the film shifts to a positive note, there is a shot of a blazing orange sun rising from the towering mountains and the song I believe in miracles plays along, as we move to sunny California where change-makers show us how healing soil can help heal climate and hence the world. The documented stories of change exude the triumphant joy of man and nature flourishing together.

There is a strong promise of utopia in the spirit of Kiss the Ground that inspires us towards everyday solutions like healthy eating and management of food waste. You begin to see that the most feasible, fruitful solutions cannot be arrived at without getting your hands dirty. The title, Kiss the Ground, and the film itself denote a sense of reverence to the soil to which we are bound by gratitude.

There is also subtle romance in the act of kissing the ground, for nature has long been mans muse and lover. Maria Rodale from the Rodale Institute affirms towards the end in a voice trembling with emotion, It is not about politics, it is not about religion. It is about love. If you love somebody, you want to understand them, take care of them, protect them and keep them safe. That is what we are all here to do.
New Delhi: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has tightened its noose on the drugs racket running smoothly in Bollywood. A day after top names from movie business such as Deepika Padukone, Shraddha Kapoor, Sara Ali Khan, Rakul Preet Singh among others surfaced, the premiere agency reportedly sent summons to these actors on Wednesday.

Simone Khambatta, Karishma Prakash and Shruti Modi have also been called for a probe by the NCB.

According to sources, Rakul Preet Singh, Simone, Shruti Modi will appear before the agency tomorrow whereas Deepika and her manager Karishma are called for questioning on September 25.

Shraddha and Sara Ali Khan are reportedly going to be questioned by NCB on September 26, 2020.

Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death opened a pandora's box unravelling the underbelly of glamourous looking showbiz. In the related drugs angle, the NCB has found B-Town A-listers involved in consuming and procuring narcotic substances through many of their retrieved WhatsApp chats.

Today, the NCB probed Sushant's former manager and KWAN employee Jaya Saha, director of the management agency, producer Madhu Mantena.

Jaya Saha was first summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in August in connection to a money-laundering probe in Sushant's case. She was a consultant at the Kwann Talent Agency and also the talent manager for Sushant's actress girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty, who has already been arrested by the NCB.

Rhea and Jaya Saha's drug chat got leaked some days ago, after which she came under the central probe agencies radar. In a major development, Jaya on Tuesday confessed to buying CBD oil for Shraddha Kapoor, Sushant, Rhea Chakraborty, film producer Madhu Mantena and herself.

Meanwhile, Deepika's manager Karishma Prakash did not appear before the NCB on Tuesday due to ill-health. She has been exempted from appearance before the anti-drug agency till Friday.

Several Bollywood names have popped up in connection with the drugs angle in Sushant's death case. Deepika Padukone's drug-related conversation with her manager Karishma Prakash has also surfaced, after which the summons have been sent to the actress by the NCB.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Centre to clarify by Friday the modalities of refund of air tickets to be made to the passengers and travel agents in view of cancellation of flights during the COVID-19 induced lockdown period. The court asked the Centre to file a fresh affidavit by September 25, with regard to issues relating to modalities of ticket refunds on which Solicitor General Tushar Mehta conceded that the instant affidavit is poorly drafted.

A bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, R Subhash Reddy and MR Shah said it is only concerned with refund and non-refund of money for tickets booked during the lockdown period. It was hearing a plea which has raised the issue of air tickets refund owing to cancellation of flights due to COVID-19 induced lockdown which had commenced from March 25.

Senior advocate Sanjay Hegde, appearing for NGO Pravasi Legal Cell', said if one books tickets in airlines like Air India, Indigo etc and flies out of India then the affidavit filed by Director General Civil Aviation (DGCA) is applicable. He said the DGCA should also cover people for refund, who have booked flights on these carriers to come back to India like in the Gulf Countries and therefore the issue needs to be sorted.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Ministry of Civil Aviation and DGCA, said the government has taken a decision of refund keeping in mind the welfare of all and an appropriate solution has been worked out. Mehta said that a holistic view has been taken keeping in mind the interests of passengers and the airlines. The bench asked the Solicitor General that suppose prior to one day before the lockdown, a passenger has booked a flight ticket for travel during the period of lockdown, then what about his refund.

Mehta replied that he would not get the refund immediately. The bench then asked Mehta what happened to the refunds of a travel agent who has already paid to the airlines for the tickets booked. You say passenger will get a credit shell, here in case of travel agents what would happen if passenger is yet to pay for the ticket booked? the bench told Mehta.

Senior advocate Pinaki Misra, appearing for Air Vistara and AirAsia, said usually travel agents deposit with airlines a corpus of Rs 1 crore and its balance keeps coming down with the issuance of each ticket. He said that if the passenger has not yet paid for the ticket, then the corpus amount of travel agent will get reimbursed. Mehta said that under the prevailing circumstances this is the best solution which the government could arrive at keeping in mind the interest of all stakeholders including the passengers and the Airlines. The circumstances are such that this is the best which the government can do, he said, adding if some individuals have a problem then we cannot do anything as this is an exceptional situation and someone may have to bear the brunt.

Misra said DGCAs approach is one size glove fits all and the aviation regulator cannot say you must refund. If passengers accept my offer voluntarily then how can I be compelled to pay a refund? I can't pay nine per cent interest on the refund amount, he said, adding if this continues, then airlines may need a moratorium.

Senior advocate CA Sundaram, appearing for Passengers Association, said there is no question of entitlement of moratorium as this is the case of individual refunds. Senior advocate Arvind Dattar, appearing for some airlines, said that it is a question of collapse of airlines which will close down otherwise and it is also a question of 30,000 to 40,000 employees working in these companies.

Senior advocate Pallav Sisodia, appearing for travel agents federation, said that often the booking of tickets is only a part of the large bookings including hotels, food, etc and its part of a large trade channel.
Taliban attacks threaten to derail the already struggling Afghan peace talks aimed at allowing the full withdrawal of U.S. troops after more than 19 years of war in Afghanistan, U.S. Special Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad said Tuesday.

"By any measure, current levels of violence are too high," Khalilzad, the special representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, said at a hearing of the House National Security Subcommittee.

Read Next: $2 Million in Funds Earmarked for COVID-19 Went to Buy Army Greens Uniforms

"We know that reductions are possible" in the number of Taliban attacks on Afghan security forces and civilians, Khalilzad said in his first public testimony on the agreements reached between the U.S. and the Taliban in February and the subsequent peace talks with the Kabul government, which began Sept. 12.

Pentagon official David Helvey, who testified with Khalilzad, said the Taliban have not attacked American forces since signing the February agreements and noted that the U.S. has not suffered a combat death since then.

Under President Donald Trump's plan to end the "endless war" in Afghanistan, the U.S. is committed to reducing troop levels to about 4.500 by November, said Helvey, who is performing the duties of assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs.

He said Defense Secretary Mark Esper has not yet committed to troop withdrawals past November, although the initial agreements with the Taliban call for the last U.S. service members to leave in May 2021.

Helvey said additional withdrawals after November would be "conditions-based" and noted the misgivings of many Americans, who may feel that the Afghan war was fought in vain.

He said there is a clear understanding at the Defense Department that the troop withdrawals and fears that the Taliban will re-establish harsh rule "cause painful emotions to resurface for the families who lost loved ones on Sept. 11, 2001, and in Afghanistan over the subsequent years. Their sacrifices are not lost on us."

However, "there is no military solution to the conflict," Helvey said. The decisions that led to the U.S. agreements on withdrawals with the Taliban and the peace talks that began in Doha, Qatar, were difficult but are "focused on a noble end state for which so many have fought."

The peace talks' goal is to achieve a power-sharing agreement with the Taliban that would enable a permanent cease-fire, Helvey said, although the meetings in Qatar have yet to produce an agreement on the "rules of negotiation" for a settlement.

At the hearing, Khalilzad was repeatedly challenged on whether the Taliban had agreed to guarantee women's rights and the rights of girls to an education in a power-sharing arrangement, or would seek to ban work and education to women as they had before the U.S. invaded in 2001.

Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., chairman of the subcommittee, charged that priority status for women's rights is absent from the agenda for the peace talks. The U.S. should not accept a deal that "prevents little girls from going to school," he said.

Khalilzad responded with assurances that human rights, women's rights and the rights of minorities are "of the highest importance to the United States." Afghan women should know that "we are with them," he said.

Several subcommittee members cited former National Security Adviser H.R. McMasters recent statements that the Taliban and terrorist groups allied with them are stronger now than they were before 9/11 and would ignore any peace deal to reimpose harsh Islamic rule.

In TV appearances promoting his book "Battlegrounds: The Fight to Defend the Free World," McMaster, a retired Army lieutenant general, warned that the Trump withdrawal policy would enable a Taliban takeover and again allow terrorist groups safe havens to plot attacks against the U.S. and its allies.

On CBS' "60 Minutes" program Sunday, McMaster charged that Trump is in effect "partnering with the Taliban against, in many ways, the Afghan government."

"And so, I think that it's an unwise policy. And I think what we require in Afghanistan is a sustained commitment to help the Afghan government and help the Afghan security forces continue to bear the brunt of this fight," McMaster said.

Khalilzad told the panel members who cited McMaster, "I respectfully disagree that the terrorists in Afghanistan are stronger than they were" at the time of 9/11.

He also said that the Taliban are fully aware that if they don't deliver on their commitment to share power in a democratic government, "we don't withdraw" U.S. troops.

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.

Related: UN Welcomes Afghan Talks with the Taliban, Urges Cease-Fire
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Meanwhile, in the U.S., we hit a grim milestone on Tuesday: the death toll of the pandemic surpassed 200,000, by far the highest in the world. The Tribune has been working to chronicle those who have lost their lives in the Chicago area or who have connections to our region.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, September 23, 2020 19:06 485 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46bf36d 4 National pinangki-malasari,Attorney-General,ST-Burhanuddin,Supreme-Court,Hatta-Ali,bribery-case,djoko-tjandra,acquittal,indictment,corruption,Corruption-court Free

Prosecutors mentioned the names of Attorney General ST Burhanuddin and former Supreme Court chief justice Hatta Ali on Wednesday in their indictment against prosecutor Pinangki Sirna Malasari, who is accused of assisting graft convict Djoko Soegiarto Tjandra during his time as a fugitive from the law.

Pinangki is standing trial at the Jakarta Corruption Court on charges of money laundering and bribery after allegedly agreeing to accept bribes amounting to US$500,000 from Djoko for conspiring to secure an acquittal for him from the Supreme Court.

The court found Djoko guilty in 2009 for his involvement in the high-profile Bank Bali corruption case.

In the indictment letter, prosecutors said that Burhanuddin and Hatta were listed in Pinangkis action plan to secure the acquittal for Djoko, who was then on the run.

The defendant [Pinangki] and [another suspect] Andi Irfan Jaya drafted an action plan that would be shown to Djoko Tjandra, prosecutors said during a hearing on Wednesday, as quoted by tempo.co.

Andi was a NasDem politician who was named a suspect for allegedly being a middleman in Pinangkis case. The political party revoked his membership following his being named a suspect.

Pinangki and Andi allegedly showed Djoko the plan at a meeting with the convict in Malaysia in November 2019. The defendant initially demanded $100 million for the plan, but Djoko only agreed to pay her and Andi $10 million.

Read also: Djoko Tjandra allegedly prepared $10m to bribe Supreme Court, AGO officials

Part of the plan was to send a plea for the acquittal to Burhanuddin by Feb. 25. The attorney general was later expected to deliver the plea to Hatta, who was still serving as the Supreme Court chief justice, by March 1.

Should Burhanuddin deliver the plea to the Supreme Court, Pinangki would receive a commitment fee amounting to $250,000, from Djoko by March 5

According to the action plan, Hatta was expected to approve the acquittal plea from Burhanuddin by March 16. The move would be followed up with the Attorney General issuing an instruction to hand down the acquittal against Djoko.

If the plan went accordingly, Djoko would have to pay $10 million by putting the money into a bank security deposit box by April. Djoko was expected to return to Indonesia by the next month and pay an additional $250,000 as consultation fee to Pinangki.

However, prosecutors said Djoko later called off the plan despite already paying Pinangki $500,000 upfront, because neither step of the action plan was realized by December last year.

The Attorney Generals Office previously found Pinangki guilty of an ethics violation for going to Singapore and Malaysia in 2019, reportedly to meet with Djoko while he was still at large.

Djoko spent more than a decade on the run after evading imprisonment in 2009. He was arrested in Malaysia and deported to Indonesia in late July. (mfp)
Hours after a Kentucky grand jury brought no charges against Louisville police for Breonna Taylors death and protesters took to the streets, authorities said two officers were shot and wounded Wednesday night during the demonstrations expressing anger over the killings of Black people at the hands of police.

Interim Louisville Police Chief Robert Schroeder said a suspect was in custody but did not offer details about whether that person was participating in the demonstrations. He says both officers are expected to recover, and one is undergoing surgery.

He says the officers were shot after investigating reports of gunfire at an intersection where there was a large crowd.

Several shots rang out as protesters in downtown Louisville tried to avoid police blockades, moving down an alleyway as officers lobbed pepper balls, according to an Associated Press journalist. People covered their ears, ran away and frantically looked for places to hide. Police with long guns swarmed the area, then officers in riot gear and military-style vehicles blocked off roadways.

The violence comes after prosecutors said two officers who fired their weapons at Taylor, a Black woman, were justified in using force to protect themselves after they faced gunfire from her boyfriend. The only charges were three counts of wanton endangerment against fired Officer Brett Hankison for shooting into a home next to Taylors with people inside.

The FBI is still investigating potential violations of federal law in connection with the raid at Taylors home on March 13.

Ben Crump, a lawyer for Taylors family, denounced the decision as outrageous and offensive, and protesters shouting, No justice, no peace! immediately marched through the streets.

Scuffles broke out between police and protesters, and some were arrested. Officers fired flash bangs and a few small fires burned in a square thats been at the center of protests, but it had largely cleared out ahead of a nighttime curfew as demonstrators marched through other parts of downtown Louisville. Dozens of patrol cars blocked the citys major thoroughfare.

Demonstrators also marched in cities like New York, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Atlanta and Philadelphia.

Taylor, an emergency medical worker, was shot multiple times by white officers who entered her home during a narcotics investigation. State Attorney General Daniel Cameron said that while the officers had a no-knock warrant, the investigation showed they announced themselves before entering. The warrant used to search her home was connected to a suspect who did not live there, and no drugs were found inside.

Along with the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota, Taylors case became a major touchstone for nationwide protests that have drawn attention to entrenched racism and demanded police reform. Taylors image has been painted on streets, emblazoned on protest signs and silk-screened on T-shirts worn by celebrities. Several prominent African American celebrities joined those urging that the officers be charged.

The announcement drew sadness, frustration and anger that the grand jury did not go further. The wanton endangerment charges each carry a sentence of up to five years.

Morgan Julianna Lee, a high school student in Charlotte, North Carolina, watched the announcement at home.

Its almost like a slap in the face, the 15-year-old said by phone. If I, as a Black woman, ever need justice, I will never get it.

Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, said he authorized a limited deployment of the National Guard. He also urged Cameron, the state attorney general, to post online all the evidence that could be released without affecting the charges filed.

Those that are currently feeling frustration, feeling hurt, they deserve to know more, he said.

The case exposed the wide gulf between public opinion on justice for those who kill Black Americans and the laws under which those officers are charged, which regularly favor police and do not often result in steep criminal accusations.

At a news conference, Cameron spoke to that disconnect: Criminal law is not meant to respond to every sorrow and grief.

But my heart breaks for the loss of Miss Taylor. ... My mother, if something was to happen to me, would find it very hard, he added, choking up.

But Cameron, who is the states first Black attorney general, said the officers acted in self-defense after Taylors boyfriend fired at them. He added that Hankison and the two other officers who entered Taylors apartment announced themselves before entering  and so did not execute the warrant as no knock, according to the investigation. The city has since banned such warrants.

According to Kentucky law, the use of force by (Officers Jonathan) Mattingly and (Myles) Cosgrove was justified to protect themselves, he said. This justification bars us from pursuing criminal charges in Miss Breonna Taylors death.

Cameron said an FBI crime lab determined that Cosgrove fired the bullet that killed Taylor.

Taylors boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, opened fire when police burst in, hitting Mattingly. Walker told police he heard knocking but didnt know who was coming in and fired in self-defense.

Cameron, who is a Republican, is a protege of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and has been tagged by some as his heir apparent. His was also one of 20 names on President Donald Trumps list to fill a future Supreme Court vacancy.

At a news conference, Trump read a statement from Cameron, saying justice is not often easy. He later tweeted that he was praying for the two police officers that were shot.

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his running mate, Kamala Harris, are calling for policing reform.

Biden says that while a federal investigation continues, we do not need to wait for the final judgment of that investigation to do more to deliver justice for Breonna. He said the country should start by addressing excessive force, banning chokeholds and overhauling no-knock warrants.

We must never stop speaking Breonnas name as we work to reform our justice system, including overhauling no-knock warrants, Harris said on Twitter.

Hankison was fired on June 23. A termination letter sent by interim Louisville Police Chief Robert Schroeder said he had violated procedures by showing extreme indifference to the value of human life when he wantonly and blindly fired his weapon.

Mattingly, Cosgrove and the detective who sought the warrant, Joshua Jaynes, were placed administrative reassignment.

Last week, the city settled a lawsuit against the three officers brought by Taylors mother, Tamika Palmer, agreeing to pay her $12 million and enact police reforms.
Bengaluru: Karnataka government introduced Land Reforms (Amendment) Bill, aimed at removing restrictions on anyone purchasing agriculture land. Even though farmers are protesting against the move, farmer groups in the State are undecided whether to participate in the Karnataka Bandh on Friday or not.

Already, left parties, along with over 35 organisations have decided to participate in the bandh, which will be part of All India bandh called by various farmer organisations. However, two major farmer groups, which spearheaded massive rally on Monday, protesting against the Land Reforms Bill are yet to take a decision on participating in the Karnataka bandh.

As far as Karnataka is concerned, State government had brought two major amendments through Ordinance, that affected interest of farmers. First was to amend Land Reforms Act and the second one was amending APMC Act. Now, bills have been introduced in the Legislature to ratify the Ordinances, which is being opposed by farmer groups.

There are two factions of farmer group in Karnataka, which is known as Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha. While one is headed by Kodihalli Chandrashekhar and other is headed by Dr Prakash Kammaradagi. While Dr Kammaradagi said that his faction was interested in joining the Karnataka bandh, Kodihalli Chandrashekhar said that his group would take a decision by tomorrow morning.

Apart from farmer groups, even the Hotel Association and Autorickshaw Association has not taken any decision over participating in the bandh. While Hotel Association office bearers feel that the industry was in bad shape due to lockdown and participating in bandh again would put small hotel owners into hardship.

Meanwhile, JD(S) has decided to participate in the Karnataka bandh. Though Congress is not directly participating in the bandh, KPCC President D K Shivakumar went to agitating farmers and said that his party would support the bandh and oppose the bills in both Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council.

Meanwhile, like in Center, BJP also lack majority in the Upper House in Karnataka.

Congress and JD(S) have decided to join hands in the Upper House to defeat the bill. However, the two parties have not come to a formal decision over the issue.
An action-packed Wednesday is expected in Parliament with several bills to be passed, protests and a meeting of Opposition parties with the President of India on the cards before the two Houses end the curtailed monsoon session.

Representatives of Opposition parties plan to gather near the Gandhi statue in the Parliament complex at 12pm Wednesdaythe same place where the eight suspended Opposition MPs protested overnight on Mondayto oppose the farm bills, the three labour codes and other policies of the Narendra Modi government.

Also Read: New Parliament to cost Rs 971 crore, Centre informs Parliament

They will, however, not go inside the Rajya Sabha, where the three labour codeson occupational safety, industrial relations and on social securityare expected to sail through smoothly without any opposition. The Congress, Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Left parties had declared on Tuesday they will boycott the rest of the session in the Upper House over farm bills.

Representatives of the Opposition will meet the President of India at 5pm Wednesday to urge him not to give his assent to the farm bills to turn them into laws.

The Opposition had decided to oppose the three labour codes inside the House, but the quick passage of the farm bills coupled with the suspension of the eight MPs changed their plans.

Also Read: Rajya Sabha holds crucial meeting as Opposition boycotts Parliament proceedings

The monsoon session of Parliament is expected to end on Wednesday after another round of bills is cleared. The session had started on September 14 with a logistical overhaul due to the Covid-19 pandemic, including two separate shifts in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, the MPs of one House sitting in the other House to maintain social distance, a new sit-and-speak order and restrictions on the entry of visitors.

The Rajya Sabha will discuss passing five bills, including the labour codes, while the Lok Sabha, that will convene at 6pm to accommodate the sine die adjournment process in the Upper House, will discuss passing the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Bill, 2020, the Major Port Authorities Bill, 2020 and the Factoring Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2020.

The Upper House will also take up the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill and the Bilateral Netting of Qualified Financial Contracts Bill, 2020.

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The coronavirus disease (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), placed many countries into lockdown during the peak of the pandemic. Now, many nations have re-opened businesses to boost their economies, which have been negatively impacted by the outbreak.

With many countries lifting restrictions, and some schools opening their face-to-face classes, health experts warned that a second wave could occur, with expected surges in new COVID-19 cases.

In the United Kingdom, health experts said that the country could face an exponentially growing death rate from COVID-19 within weeks unless urgent action is taken to control the spread of the virus. At present, the country has the highest official COVID-19 death toll in Europe and the fifth-largest across the globe.

The U.K. has more than 406,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with more than 41,900 deaths.

Image Credit: rightclickstudios / Shutterstock

A second wave of virus spread

A couple of days ago, the U.K. Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, said that Britain is entering a second wave of the coronavirus, as scientists expressed fears the death toll could spike again.

COVID-19 cases are skyrocketing by at least 4,000 cases per day in the U.K., according to week-old data. Further, new evidence says that hospital admissions double every eight days, and the testing system is being overwhelmed.

The U.K.'s chief medical officer, Chris Whitty, and the country's chief scientific adviser, Patrick Wallace, warned that if the country does not impose restrictions, the outbreak could reach as many as 50,000 new cases per day by mid-October.

The deaths are expected to increase to about 200 per day by mid-November, the current trend continues, the two top health officials said during a nationally televised press conference.

What they plan to do

With the increasing number of new cases, Johnson said he is prepared to impose nationwide measures to stem the spread of COVID-19. At present, about 13.5 million people in the country face local lockdowns after the government implemented measures in areas affected by the pandemic, particularly parts of the north-west, the Midlands, and Yorkshire.

"We are now seeing a second wave coming in. We've seen it in France, in Spain, across Europe. It's been inevitable, I'm afraid, that we would see it in this country," Johnson said. "We want to keep the schools open  that's going to happen. And we'll try and keep all parts of the economy open, as far as we possibly can. I don't think anybody wants to go into a second lockdown," he added.

The U.K. first went into a strict lockdown in March, when the cases surged, and the death rate was increasing. In May, the restrictions were gradually lifted, allowing businesses to operate and people to go back to work. From there, the government reminded its constituents of measures to prevent infection, such as proper hand hygiene, social distancing, and the wearing of masks.

Earlier this month, Johnson imposed a "rule of six" in the country, wherein gatherings should include only a maximum of six people, whether these are held indoors or outdoors. Further, suggestions from experts said that a two-week lockdown might be imposed as a form of "circuit breaker" to curb the spread of the virus.

However, Matt Handcock, the country's health secretary, said that the restrictions this time will be different since many schools and workplaces will remain open.

Whitty, meanwhile, said that the challenge is to make sure the doubling time of cases does not stay at seven to eight days. Further, he added that the upcoming winter season would help the virus, wherein it is expected that more cases will be reported.

He added that people might be asked to work from home and reduce social contacts.

"We have to break unnecessary links between households because that is how this virus is transmitted," Whitty said. "And this means reducing social contacts whether they are at work, and this is where we have enormous gratitude to all the businesses, for example, who have worked so hard to make their environments COVID-secure to reduce the risk, and also in social environments," he added.
(Natural News) Police are now using location data from peoples smart devices to get warrants to arrest people for simply being close to a crime scene.

Called a geofence warrant, the system represents a virtual dragnet over crime scenes where police request to sweep up Google location data from users GPS, WiFi and cellular connections from everyone who happened to be near a crime scene. From this, police then try to figure out which phones may be tied to suspects or possible witnesses.

While the concept seems straight out of science fiction, police have already used it multiple times in some states. In more than a few of these instances, however, the police arrested what turned out to be innocent bystanders who were suddenly surprised to find themselves suspects in a case. (Related: NSA planned to hijack Google Play and place spyware on Android phones.)

Geofence warrants used to arrest innocent bystanders

This new form of blanket surveillance warrant  which has been equated to a kind of guilt by proximity  has been used to detain a number of innocent bystanders. For instance, a Gainesville, Florida man ended up being the primary suspect in a robbery because his bicycle route took him near the scene of the crime at around the same time it happened.

In March, Zachary McCoy received a letter from Googles legal investigations support team, informing him that local police had demanded information related to his account. The letter informed him that the company would release the data unless he went to court and tried to block it within seven days.

I didnt know what it was about, but I knew the police wanted to get something from me, McCoy said in an interview with NBC. I was afraid I was going to get charged with something, I dont know what.

McCoy, an avid bicyclist, explained that the data from an app he used to track his frequent loops around the neighborhood had put him at the scene of the crime.

It was a nightmare scenario, he recalled. I was using an app to see how many miles I rode my bike and now it was putting me at the scene of the crime. And I was the lead suspect.

Beyond McCoys case, as far back as 2018, a man had been falsely accused of and arrested for murder based on a geofence warrant.

Jorge Molina was arrested and jailed for six days by police in Avondale, Arizona on suspicion of killing another man. According to a police report, officers had told Molnia that they knew one hundred percent, without a doubt that his phone was at the scene of the crime, based on Googles location data.

Molina was not there, however. It turns out that hed lent an old phone to another man, who police later arrested. The phone, it turns out, was still signed into his Google account, and information about its location came from a geofence warrant.

While Molina was eventually released and the real killer actually arrested, he still lost his job as a result of the arrest. In addition, his reputation suffered irreparable damage as a result of the publicity that followed.

Earlier this year, Molina sued the city police, including the officers that arrested him, as well as the chief of police. In addition, hes also reportedly now suing Google for $1.5 million dollars.

Judges pushing back against geofence warrants

A couple of new developments look to help both Molinas efforts, as well as those of privacy advocates hoping to put a stop to the practice of geofence warrants. Two federal magistrate judges have, in three separate opinions, ruled that a geofence warrant violates the Fourth Amendments probable cause and particularity requirements.

Two of the rulings, which were recently unsealed, come from Chicago in a case where police had asked Google for unique device identifiers and location data for all devices within designated areas in a densely populated city near busy streets and restaurants, commercial establishments and a least one large residential complex.

U.S. Magistrate Judge M. David Weisman rejected the governments request, finding two obvious constitutional infirmities. The court held that while there was probably cause that a single user within the geofence may have committed a crime, there was no probable cause to believe that all the other devices in the area were connected to the crime.

The second infirmity was the fact that, according to Weisman, the warrant application failed to meet the Fourth Amendments particularity requirement. The court emphasized that there was nothing in the current protocol stopping the government from obtaining the user information for every device within the geofences.

In his opinion, Weisman wrote that [t]he governments undisciplined and overuse of this investigative technique in run-of-the-mill cases that present no urgency or imminent danger poses concerns to our collective sense of privacy and trust in law enforcement officials.

Learn more about how police are violating peoples privacy at Surveillance.news.

Sources include:

ZeroHedge.com 1

ZeroHedge.com 2

NBCNews.com

Wired.com

EFF.org
Matt Lucas has been lauded for his debut as new host of Great British Bake Off, following Tuesday night's episode of the show.

The Little Britain star, 46, who has replaced Sandi Toksvig as host, was praised by delighted viewers as the 11th season of the show kicked off, with the show starting with his impression of a bumbling Boris Johnson.

Fans flooded Twitter with praise, after his best moments included comforting a heartbroken Sura by speaking of his beauty, singing to a contestant and enjoying amazing chemistry with his co-host Noel Fielding.

He's a winner! Matt Lucas has been lauded for his debut as new host of Great British Bake Off, following Tuesday night's episode of the show

Thrilled fans on the show penned: '#gbbo on catchup. Matt Lucas can certainly do a Boris Johnson impression... The whole show was brill . Especially Matt...

'People need light relief and this show wraps you up and makes you smile . No need for negativity here please. Keep on carrying on.x...

'Best start to the series ever!. Loved it! Matt as Boris made all the family laugh out loud! Thank you as it's what the nation needed x... Agree! Theyre a great bunch and Matt Lucas fits in perfectly. Have a good, safe day, babe...

'Just when you think the Great British Bake Off couldn't get any better they put Matt Lucas on it- brilliant! This will get me through the next few months!...

Stamp of approval: Matt won near unanimous approval from Bake Off fans

'It really is. And I LOVED Matt Lucas. I wasn't sure when they first announced him but last night I thought he was lovely, and great with Noel... Matt Lucas - you are a star thats what i needed after boris's gloomy announcement... Oh god...

'@RealMattLucas you are just magical... If you could squeeze Wichita Lineman in at some point Id be eternally grateful #GreatBritishBakeOff'.

During his Boris take, Matt 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 left viewers in stitches as he impersonated a bumbling Boris Johnson (right)

In the skit Matt, who donned a platinum blonde 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. '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.'

Shocker: While comforting heartbroken Sura, Matt commented on his own beauty

Aside from his take on the Prime Minister, another stand out moment for the hilarious star was when pharmacy worker Sura, 31, collided with security guard Dave, 30, Hampshire and knocked over his tray of pineapple upside down cakes.

While he joined Noel in comforting the bereft baker after her gaffe, Matt said: 'It might be my fault because I was looking at you and I think you were probably hypnotised by my beauty', after which he was met with a stunned silence.

In another moment of cheeky comfort for the bakers, as he spoke to eventual evictee Loriea about her hometown of Durham, during which he belted out Roger Whittaker's Old Durham Town in her ear - much to viewers' delight.

Singing sensation: In another moment of cheeky comfort for the bakers, as he spoke to eventual evictee Loriea about her hometown of Durham, during which he belted out Roger Whittaker's Old Durham Town in her ear - much to viewers' delight

Joy of joys: Fans penned: 'I love Roger Whittaker and live in Durham. Great singing Matt Face with tears of joy... and singing Roger Whittaker....whistling next week?'

Fans penned: 'I love Roger Whittaker and live in Durham. Great singing Matt Face with tears of joy... and singing Roger Whittaker....whistling next week?...

'Petition for Matt Lucas to sing every episode of Bake Off cause i love his singing voice... Matt Lucas singing a song with 'Durham' in it... surely... not... #eyetest?...

'loriea being from durham, matt lucas singing 'old durham town', and mak making a cake of bill bryson all being shown in the first episode feels like a sign from the universe that i've picked the right uni to do my degree at #GBBO'.

Another highlight to the show saw Matt balance various items on his head during rallying calls to bakers - including a cup of tea and a rolling pin.
According to a tipster who got in touch with AppleInsider, the event might be held on Tuesday, October 13 with preorders for the new iPhones starting the following Friday - October 16.

Apples much-awaited Apple iPhone 12 event could be scheduled for October 13. While rumours continue to do the rounds, Eddy Cue, Apple's senior vice president of Internet Software and Services has been speaking at presentations for a UK carrier about the upcoming iPhone and its rumoured 5G capabilities, reports AppleInsider.

It is being anticipated that Apple will be holding a special event soon though the date is still not confirmed. According to a tipster who got in touch with AppleInsider, the event might be held on Tuesday, October 13 with preorders for the new iPhones starting the following Friday - October 16.

This tip was sent by someone who self-identified as working for a carrier in the Netherlands. While there is no concrete evidence to corroborate the tip, the Apple Insider says that the messages IP address is one within a range controlled by a carriers corporate network.

Also Read: New iPhones might be called iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max

Besides this, in Europe, another carrier is gearing up for Apples launch and is expecting 5G connectivity. According to AppleInsider and MacRumours, an internal presentation for BT and EE had British Telecom CEO Marc Allera declaring that Apple is very close to launching a 5G iPhone in a matter of days.

Allera told employees that they were just days away from Apples next major launch which is going to be a 5G iPhone. Allera added that teams have been preparing all year to win this launch and become Europes number one partner for Apple.

During the presentation, Cue appeared in a clip and congratulated EE for becoming the first carrier offering consumer smartphone plans that are bundled with multiple Apple services. It is ulcer though, if Cue mentioned 5G but given Apples love for secrets, it is highly unlikely.

Also Read: Apple iPhone 12 Pro to come in navy blue, red colours: Report

Besides this, other rumours have indicated that Apple is going to launch four iPhones - the iPhone 12, the iPhone 12 mini, the iPhone 12 Pro and the iPhone 12 Pro Max.

Rumors also suggest that the iPhone 12 is going to come with two 12-megapixel cameras while the Pro models will have three. The Pro models will also come with LiDAR sensors for depth mapping, enabling enhanced AR and photography functionality.
Andre Taylor, whose brother Che Taylor was killed by police in 2016 - AP Photo/Elaine Thompson

Seattle has hired a convicted pimp as a new "street czar" to help the city come up with policing alternatives after months of unrest between protesters and officers.

Andre Taylor, who once appeared in a documentary called "American Pimp", will help the city provide urgent de-escalation to the city's Capitol Hill area, the epicentre of recent protests, under his new contract.

As part of his role he will also come up with recommendations on community engagement and policing alternatives.

It comes after the city came under sustained criticism, including from Donald Trump, for allowing protesters to run amok in its downtown district in the wake of demonstrations against police brutality and racial inequality.

Several hundred protesters occupied the Capitol Hill area for almost a month, dubbing the makeshift encampment the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ), and declaring it a police-free zone.

Protesters stand at the entrance to the CHAZ - Anadolu Agency

Taylor, who created a police-accountability organisation called Not This Time after his brother, Che Taylor, was fatally shot by Seattle police in 2016, was a vocal critic of the CHAZ and called for protesters to leave the area.

Taylor and his non-profit have now been hired on a $150,000 salary for the year to help "de-escalate the ongoing situation" in and around the area.

A spokesman for the mayor's office, Kelsey Nyland, told the Seattle Times the city had sought the contract because of the organisation's lived experience with the criminal legal system, and their history of successful advocacy and activism on issues of policing and dismantling systemic racism.

Taylor first gained notoriety when he featured in the 2000 documentary "American Pimp", the same year he was sentenced to more than five years in prison for prositution-related charges, including one involving an underage girl in Las Vegas.

Andre Taylor has discussed how his background informs his optimism

Since moving to Seattle he has spoken about how his background has informed his activism in videos on his YouTube channel, telling viewers: I was born from the streets; I come out of the deep darkness.

Story continues

Taylor said he had come up with the "Street Czar" title himself, telling the Seattle Times that his background would help him engage with the community more effectively than other city officials.

Not too many people can go talk to gangbangers in their territory, and then go talk to the government in their territory, he told the newspaper.

However, some activists have accused Taylor of betraying them after urging demonstors in the CHAZ to demand millions from the city and later appearing at a press conference with the mayor to tell them to shut down the area - reportedly the same day he was given his six-figure contract.
Frustration is mounting inside the Trump administration as Russia gives little indication of whether it will agree to an arms control deal before President Donald Trump faces re-election, according to senior U.S. administration officials, who are trying to secure the deal.

U.S. officials presented a proposal to the Russians two weeks ago in Vienna as part of negotiations that began in June. Under the deal, the United States and Russia would extend the soon-to-expire New START pact for a limited time while negotiating a replacement treaty. Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin would sign a political agreement outlining a framework for the replacement treaty and what it would cover.

The administration's scramble to cut a deal with Russia before the election comes as the president's top diplomats have been rushing to securediplomatic achievements as U.S. voters begin going to the polls.

Trump has long sought to negotiate an arms control deal with Moscow, but so far his administration has only pulled out of pacts with the former Cold War foe, citing violations by Russia. In comments Sept. 4, Trump said arms control talks with Russia were a "very important thing"- more important than addressing global warming. Trump and Putin have been discussing a deal for months.

But the Russian government has given the U.S. negotiators little direct feedback outside public commentary since they presented their proposal about two weeks ago, according to U.S. officials. The result is U.S. frustration, which boiled over into comments in a Russian media outlet by Trump's top nuclear negotiator, Marshall Billingslea, and a response from his Russian counterpart.

The "price of admission" for Russia to secure the deal with the United States will go up if the Kremlin doesn't agree to terms before the U.S. presidential election, Billingslea warned in an interview Monday with the Russian newspaper Kommersant. Billingslea said the United States would insist on "a number of new conditions" if Russia waits until after the election to decide and Trump wins.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, Russia's main arms control negotiator, warned that such ultimatums wouldn't result in a deal.

"Either they can stop making their ultimatums and we can start to negotiate something, or there will be no agreement," Ryabkov told the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti. Ryabkov said the U.S. demands don't correspond to Russia's idea of what must be done to ensure strategic stability.

In his own separate interview with Kommersant, Ryabkov said "the offer made by the Americans does not look like a good deal" and rejected the U.S. preconditions. Still, U.S. officials didn't read Ryabkov's comments as the final word on whether Russia would agree to some sort of deal before the election or thereafter.

At stake is the future of New START, a 2010 treaty that expires in February and restricts the number of deployed strategic nuclear warheads and certain launch platforms. If the treaty isn't extended or replaced, the world's two biggest nuclear powers will return to an era without substantive restraints on their arsenals for the first time in decades, potentially paving the way for a new nuclear arms race.

Because the Trump administration didn't begin substantive negotiations until this year, the arms control standoff is colliding with the American political calendar. Moscow is probably calculating whether Trump or Democratic nominee Joe Biden would offer more favorable terms.

Russia has said it would like to extend the treaty, which includes a clause that can prolong the pact for five years without ratification if both presidents agree. In his online platform, Biden has said he would pursue an extension of New START, which President Barack Obama negotiated.

The Trump administration, however, has argued that New START is insufficient because it doesn't include China and regulates only a portion of Russia's nuclear arsenal. The administration is willing to extend the pact only if its replacement addresses those issues and others. China has rejected U.S. calls to join the talks with Russia, citing its smaller nuclear arsenal.

The proposal offered by Billingslea two weeks ago in Vienna goes beyond the parameters of New START to encompass all the nuclear warheads of both countries, a senior U.S. official said. It would include a complex monitoring system allowing both nations to observe which nuclear weapons are coming into Russian or American facilities for refurbishment and which are coming out of the facilities for deployment.

The proposal also allows for an increased number of inspections and faster access to sites that inspectors request to visit, among other things, the senior official said.

U.S. officials drafted the proposal in the form of a political agreement that would become a treaty once China agrees to join the accord - a goal that has eluded U.S. negotiators.

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.

"So far the proposal stands in the form that we made it in. If and when Moscow expresses a desire to go down this path that, frankly speaking, President Putin has already discussed multiple times with President Trump, then we are ready," Billingslea told Kommersant.

Promoting himself as a dealmaker, Trump has sought to undertake nuclear arms control negotiations with Russia since the 1980s, when he expressed an interest in conducting talks with the Soviets on behalf of the Reagan administration. When asked about the recent poisoning of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny at a Sept. 4 White House news conference, Trump instead emphasized that arms control talks were underway.

"With Russia, we're right now negotiating a nuclear nonproliferation treaty, which is very important. It's a very important thing. To me, it's the most important thing," Trump said. "Some people say 'global warming'; I don't. I say this is far more important."

The Trump administration began substantive negotiations with Russia over New START in earnest only this year, leaving insufficient time to hammer out an entirely new treaty.

The result is an attempt to extend the current treaty, likely for a year or two, on the condition that Russia agrees to certain elements in a follow-on treaty. Such a deal would allow Trump to tout a nuclear accord with Russia on the campaign trail, even if the specifics of a new treaty haven't actually been hashed out - and may not result in an actual follow-on pact.

The Trump administration has had little success securing arms control deals.

U.S. officials have failed to reach a formal pact with North Korea, which has tested nuclear warheads and intercontinental ballistic missiles. The administration has also been unable to negotiate a new deal with Iran, which has exceeded the restrictions on its nuclear program set by a 2015 international nuclear agreement that Trump abandoned.
Press Release

September 23, 2020 Drilon tells DSWD: Give P10-B 'ayuda' to poor families Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon hit the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for withholding P10 billion in financial aid to poor families as mandated under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act. Drilon raised the issue to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez during the Senate Committee of Finance's hearing on the proposed P4.5-trillion budget. "To stimulate the economy, the government should spend money so long as it is within the bounds that we have set. In yesterday's hearing of the DSWD, however, the secretary of the DSWD said they have not spent P10 billion out of what was given to them," said Drilon, referring to the P10 billion which was part of the funds released to the DSWD under the Bayanihan 1 as "ayuda" or special amelioration program (SAP) to 18 million families. The minority leader noted that government spending accounts for about 20% of the country's gross domestic product. Drilon said the decision of the DSWD not to spend the P10 billion contradicts the pronounced policy of the government to spend money in order to stimulate the economy. The DSWD said the P10 billion is still within the agency as it awaits instructions from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) whether to realign or return it to the treasury. "If this practice will go on, I am afraid that your policy of budget spending will not bear fruit," Drilon said. Dominguez, for his part, said he was quite surprised about the P10 billion unspent amount and vowed to take it up with the Development Budget Coordinating Council (DBCC), as he emphasized that under today's circumstances the government should spend, not save, its way to prosperity. Drilon said he fully supports the government's policy of spending, rather than tightening the belt, during the pandemic. "The government needs to spend within the remaining months of the year to jumpstart the economy. We must spend money to feed the 5.2 million Filipino households who are hungry, provide jobs to seven million Filipinos and give assistance to distressed businesses," Drilon said in a statement. Thus, Drilon said the DSWD should spend the money for the purpose intended for it and that is to provide financial aid to Filipinos heavily affected by the pandemic. "The DSWD should give the P10 billion to the poor which did not receive the second tranche of SAP. Huwag po nating tipirin ang tulong natin sa ating mga kababayan," he said.
United States President Donald Trump, on Tuesday, urged the United Nations General Assembly to hold China accountable for its actions over the coronavirus pandemic.

In a recorded message played to the annual meeting of the UN, Mr Trump accused China of allowing the coronavirus to leave their country and infect the world, AFP reports.

He said China concealed early evidence that showed that the deadly pathogen can be transmitted human-to-human and by asymptomatic people.

In the earliest days of the virus, China locked down travel domestically while allowing flights to leave China and infect the world, Mr Trump said.

China condemned my travel ban on their country, even as they cancelled domestic flights and locked citizens in their homes.

China hit back urging nations to reject any attempt to politicise the health crisis or stigmatise it, saying it is a fight for the world together.

This was not the first time that the U.S. president had attacked China for unleashing the virus to the world.

Critics said Mr Trump had often used such a narrative to fend off criticism of his own handling of the worst public health crisis the country has faced in 100 years, with the death toll crossing 200,000 on Tuesday.

This, analysts said, has cast a shadow over his re-election bid in November.

In recent months, tensions have soared between the U.S. and China with the pandemic compounding the economic hegemony between two countries.

Earlier, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres kicked off the six-day General Debate, urging the world to prevent a Cold War between the two biggest economies in the world and halt conflicts so it can focus on the Covid-19 pandemic.

As the body marks its 75 years of foundation, the annual meeting of world leaders at the UN started on Tuesday with no presidents or prime ministers physically present in New York, because of the pandemic.

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 II.
We will and we must continue to say her name, we will and we must continue to demand justice, and we will and we must do everything in our power to prevent any more names from being added to this roll like George Floyd or closer to home, Rekia Boyd, Laquan McDonald, too many others, she said.
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Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 23:57:08|Editor: huaxia

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TEHRAN, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Iranian foreign minister's senior assistant in special political affairs, Ali-Asghar Khaji, discussed on Wednesday the situation in Yemen in a virtual meeting with Swedish special envoy for Yemen, Iran Front Page news website reported.

"The bombings and military attacks against the innocent people of Yemen and the blockade imposed on them are an inhumane move in violation of international principles and regulations," Khaji was quoted as saying.

Khaji urged the international community to prevent the continuation of pressures on the Yemenis.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed the latest developments in Yemen, particularly the difficult conditions caused by the outbreak of the novel coronavirus and possible means for dispatching food and medical aid to the Yemeni people.

They also underlined the need for finding a political solution to end the Yemeni war by holding intra-Yemeni negotiations, according the the report.

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 Saudi-backed government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa. Enditem
New Delhi:

The Election Commission requested the Reserve Bank of India on Wednesday to increase the weekly cash withdrawal limit of candidates contesting polls in five states to Rs 2 lakh from the Rs 24,000 imposed post demonetisation as they would find it difficult to meet their campaign expenditure.

The Commission told RBI Governor Urjit Patel that it has been appraised of the problems candidates are facing due to withdrawal limits imposed after note ban.

It said the returning officer of the constituency will issue certificate that the person is a candidate in fray and he or she be allowed to withdraw Rs 2 lakh cash per week from the bank account opened specially to meet electioneering expenses.

Also Read: Asking for votes in name of religion, caste will be violation of model code of conduct: Election Commission to political parties

The EC said the facility should be extended till March 11, the day of counting.Candidates are bound to open an election account for meeting poll-related expenditure which is monitored by the EC.

The Commission said with a weekly withdrawal limit of Rs 24,000, a candidate would be able to withdraw Rs 96,000 in cash during the election process which lasts 3 to 4 week.

Also Read: EC order on cycle symbol to change dynamics of UP assembly elections 2017

It reminded the Central bank that as per law, candidates contesting assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Punjab can spend Rs 28 lakh for electioneering.

The limit in Goa and Manipur is Rs 20 lakh.The poll panel said despite paying amounts through cheques, candidates still need hard cash for petty expenses. Also the "issue is further adversely effected" in rural areas where banking facilities are "negligible".

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Westpac has agreed to pay a record $1.3billion fine for breaching anti-money laundering rules - and enabling the funding of child sex exploitation and potentially terror activities.

Australia's second biggest bank has told the Australian Securities Exchange it had reached an agreement with AUSTRAC, the federal government agency charged with tackling organised crime.

Westpac has admitted to 23million breaches of anti-money laundering laws over six years, including failing to report international funds transfers worth more than $11billion.

The bank has admitted an astonishing 284 customers were allowed to make micro-payment transactions linked to child sex exploitation rings in South East Asia.

A dozen accounts had been set up, enabling Australian paedophiles to travel overseas, abuse children and live stream their sick exploits on video.

Westpac has agreed to pay a $1.3billion fine for breaching anti-money laundering rules

Convicted Australian paedophile Peter Scully, who has been jailed for raping and trafficking girls in the Philippines, is understood to have used Westpac accounts to sell child exploitation videos.

Astonishingly, Westpac has admitted it knew about the risk of child exploitation before it launched its LitePay overseas micro payments product in August 2016, but it failed to introduce special security features for another two years.

Westpac also failed to act despite a warning in late 2016 from Austrac about how its new product, allowing transactions of up to $3,000, could be exploited by paedophiles.

Australia's oldest bank presented an agreed statement of facts to the Federal Court on Thursday morning.

This 94-page document was published on the ASX website, admitting how Westpac broke anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism laws between 2013 and 2019.

Westpac CEO Peter King offered an apology after agreeing to the biggest fine in Australian corporate history.

'I would like to apologise sincerely for the bank's failings,' he said.

Westpac CEO Peter King offered an apology after agreeing to the biggest fine in Australian corporate history

His New York-born predecessor Brian Hartzer resigned as chief executive in November after AUSTRAC, also known as the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre, alleged Westpac had allowed 12 customers to initially make almost 3,000 transactions involving child exploitation, adding up to $480,000.

That month, AUSTRAC chief executive Nicole Rose had presented evidence showing the bank failed to carry out due diligence on high-risk transactions to the Philippines and South East Asia that carried potential child exploitation risks.

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said Westpac had put Australia at risk.

'Banks have a responsibility to not let criminal activity go undetected and to protect Australians from serious and organised crime like child exploitation, drug trafficking and fraud,' he said on Thursday.

His New York-born predecessor Brian Hartzer (pictured) resigned as chief executive in November after AUSTRAC, also known as the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre, alleged Westpac had allowed 12 customers to make almost 3,000 transactions involving child exploitation, adding up to $480,000

'They should be able to trust their banks and financial services they use daily to have strong systems in place to protect the community from crime.

'In this case, Westpac breached that trust and let their customers down, ultimately putting Australians at risk.'

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said Westpac had put Australia at risk

On Thursday, Mr King promised Westpac would fix its accounting systems so money laundering laws would not be broken again.

'We are committed to fixing the issues to ensure that these mistakes do not happen again,' he said.

Mr King said on Thursday Westpac had closed down relevant products and reported all relevant transactions.

The bank's LitePay international money transfer service wasn't discontinued until November 2019 - three years after AUSTRAC had first warned Westpac management about illicit transactions.

Former Westpac chairman Lindsay Maxsted released a statement that month acknowledging special security features to pick up child exploitation in the Philippines weren't introduced until June 2018 - two years after LitePay was launched.

Westpac had put aside $1.027billion in the first half of fiscal 2020 to fund any penalty from the money laundering scandal as a precursor to Thursday's announcement.

The bank has admitted to contravening the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 for transactions between November 2013 and November 2019. Gail Kelly (pictured) was Westpac's South African-born CEO during one year of that period

The bank has admitted to contravening the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 for transactions between November 2013 and November 2019.

Gail Kelly was Westpac's South African-born CEO during one year of that period.

Alan Kirkland, the CEO of consumer group CHOICE, said no Westpac executive had been properly held accountable.

'Today's settlement between AUSTRAC and Westpac clearly demonstrates that personal executive accountability is still missing in the financial industry,' he said.

'No executives or senior management at Westpac have been held to account by either regulators or the courts for this abhorrent failure of management.'
H undreds of students have been told to isolate after a suspected Covid-19 outbreak in halls of residence at a Scottish university.

NHS Tayside is investigating a single positive case and a small number of suspected cases of coronavirus linked to private student accommodation in Dundee.

Close contacts of the positive case, who is a student of Abertay University, are being contacted.

All 500 residents at the accommodation, Parker House, have been asked to self-isolate until further contact tracing has been completed.

Dr Daniel Chandler, associate director of public health, said: "We know from outbreaks in other university settings across Scotland that the virus can spread very quickly in student accommodation.

"Therefore, as a precautionary measure, we are contacting all residents of Parker House and advising them to self-isolate immediately.

"Further investigation and contact tracing are continuing and we will review this advice in the coming days.

"It is really important that any residents who develop symptoms book a test as soon as possible."

Professor Nigel Seaton, principal of Abertay University, said, "Our students in Parker House are being supported to self-isolate safely and we will remain in regular daily contact with them.

"The university already has enhanced cleaning and safety measures in place on campus, in line with national guidance, and the campus will remain open.

"We have contacted students and staff to remind them of their personal responsibilities in relation to Covid safety and to inform them of today's changes in Scottish Government guidance."
A marquee Dail committee has sharply criticised the HSEs response to a request for information on procurement practices as being disappointing and unacceptable.

In response to a request for detail regarding the amount of its non-pay expenditure deemed to be non-compliant with public regulations, the HSE told the previous Public Accounts Committee that it could not comply as its procurement is reliant upon multiple legacy systems.

The executive said it hoped to be in a position to conduct the majority of its expenditure via one system in four years time.

The new PAC will meet to elect a vice chairperson and consider its backlog in correspondence tomorrow morning at Leinster House.

Under scrutiny will be the response from the HSEs assistant national director of its parliamentary affairs division, Ray Mitchell, regarding the level of procurement within the executive not in compliance with the standards for public procurement.

Mr Mitchells response, delivered to the committee on 10 January, stated that due to the HSE not having a single finance and procurement system it does not have full visibility of all procurement-related activity.

As a result (the) HSE is not in a position to provide the information requested by the Committee in relation to the number of non-compliant contracts and the reasons for same, the response said.

It said that the HSE has a plan to have roughly 80% of its procurement expenditure covered by a single system by the first quarter of 2024.

The committees chair, Sinn Fein TD Brian Stanley said that the response is disappointing and unacceptable as the HSE is one of the biggest spenders of taxpayers money on procurement.

This is something that I think we need to follow up with the HSE, Mr Stanley said this evening.

Public procurement in Ireland is governed by Irish and EU rules. Examples of non-compliant contracts include those awarded without a competitive process, those without a tendering procedure without justification, or those tailored so that only certain applicants may succeed.

In 2018 the Comptroller and Auditor General, the States accountant, found that just under a quarter of HSE expenditure from sample areas, or 15.2 million, was non-compliant. In 2016 the figure was 49%, albeit from a much smaller expenditure sample of 30.8 million, with the non-compliant total 15.1 million.

The HSE said that it had, at the time, 1,500 contracts and frameworks in place. It said to improve its compliance it had established a Procurement Compliance Unit and is actively working with budget holders to determine their compliance profile.

Its not clear how the Covid-19 crisis will have affected those procurement figures, given the unwieldy and unprecedented nature of the billions of euro in State spending approved since the beginning of March.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) alone is set to cost the HSE 1 billion next year, according to HSE chief executive Paul Reid.

The HSEs response was initially to have been considered by the PAC at its meeting scheduled for January 23 of this year. However, the meeting never took place after then Taoiseach Leo Varadkar called a general election on January 14.

Regarding the issue of PAC vice-chair, Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy and Fine Gael TD Jennifer Carrol McNeill are believed to be the frontrunners, with veteran representative Murphy likely the favourite to win.

The request for visibility regarding the executives procurement was one of a host of similar requests made of state bodies at the time.

A similar request of St Jamess Hospital in Dublin for example showed that 31%, or 38 million, of that institutions non-pay expenditure in 2018 was deemed to be non-compliant.
China doubles its military positions along Indian border: Reports

New Delhi, Sep 22 (UNI) As India and China having talks on the escalation, a new report says Beijing is building 13 new military facilities including three airbases and five heliports, along the border.

The report in Stratfor geopolitical platform says China's current move is similar to its activities in South China sea.

Titled A Military Drive Spells Out Chinas Intent Along the Indian Border, the report has been authored by Stratfors senior global analyst Sim Tack, with satellite imagery.
A California man says he was sexually abused by his art teacher over a 13-month period when he was a 14-year-old student at a Weehawken school 41 years ago, according to a lawsuit filed last week.

The man, who is not identified in the lawsuit, claims the abuse occurred on school grounds, in his teachers apartment and in the apartment of another teacher.

Janis Maltin, now 71, is named as the Woodrow Wilson school teacher who had alleged relationship with the man, who is now 55 years old. The lawsuit, filed in Hudson County Superior Court by Ari Taub, of the law firm Phillips and Paolicelli, names the Weehawken Board of Education, the Weehawken school district and the now-closed Woodrow Wilson school as defendants.

Maltin, whose name was Tepe at the time, was not named as a defendant in the lawsuit. Oh my god, I have nothing to say, said Maltin said when reached by telephone. I cant even validate this.

The district declined to comment on the lawsuit and refused to provide the years Maltin worked for the district.

Last year New Jersey passed two laws that extend the statute of limitations in civil actions for sexual abuse claims, a well as creating a two-year window for parties to bring previously time-barred actions based on sexual abuse they suffered as minors.

Taub said there are multiple reasons for the lawsuit being brought now, 41 years after the alleged abuse, one being the new law allowing such lawsuits. Taub also said his client is concerned with the growing number of child sex abuse cases and how common it has become.

The more claims, the larger impact it will have on institutions to monitor employees and place a greater emphasis on the safety of the children, Taub said.

According to the lawsuit, on multiple and numerous occasions Maltin used her position as a teacher to manipulate, abuse, influence and coerce plaintiff on the (Weehawken school district) premises for her own gratification and pleasure.

The sexual contact between the then 30-year-old art teacher and the eighth-grader is alleged to have occurred on school grounds after school hours. The relationship continued into the summer at various locations, including Tepes home and the home of another Weehawken teacher, the 27-page lawsuit says.

The lawsuit claims that two teachers, one of whom died in 2018, had actual knowledge of, or should have known, that Tepe was a danger to children before she sexually assaulted plaintiff and/or that the sexual abuse of the plaintiff was ongoing. Neither teacher notified the district of the alleged sexual abuse, the lawsuit says.

The board of education and the district failed in its duty to keep the eighth-grader safe, the lawsuit claims, adding that they were also negligent in hiring, training and monitoring Tepe.

The alleged victim has suffered, and will continue to suffer, great pain of mind and body, severe and permanent emotional distress, physical manifestations of emotional distress, embarrassment, loss of self esteem, humiliation, physical, personal and psychological injuries because of the abuse, the lawsuit says.

The lawsuit does not mention an amount being sought, but asks for punitive and compensatory damages, together with interest, attorneys fees and costs of suit, and such other relief that the court may deem just.

Taub said he is confident he can prove the sexual abuse occurred, even 41 years later.

There are witnesses. There are documents, he said. "The question of whether it occurred will be easily established.

With respect to proving liability, the facts of the abuse are sufficient in and of themselves. In this particular case, there are allegations that there are specific individuals who worked for school who knew what was going on and in some cases even facilitated it.
But, despite those announcements, American banking is dominated by leadership that is largely white and male. None of the six big Wall Street banks have ever had a Black or female CEO. Citigroup a few weeks ago announced it would promote a woman to CEO next year, the first on Wall Street to do so. Banks large and small are still regularly cited for discriminatory practices, including allegations of redlining toward Black homebuyers.
'Those students who are in the most difficulty right now are the students who failed to plan for all eventualities. Although I push this point to students and parents every year, it has never been as clear to me as it is this year.' (stock photo)

Q. Some of my friends in the years above me have found themselves with no college place this year. How do I prevent that from happening to me?

A. This year I have the experience of beginning to teach the nitty gritty of CAO and college application process to my current sixth years while still supporting the group who have just left us.

Those students who are in the most difficulty right now are the students who failed to plan for all eventualities. Although I push this point to students and parents every year, it has never been as clear to me as it is this year.

The CAO will open for applications for the 2021/22 year on November 5. But it is never too early to start gaining an understanding of the fundamentals of the process, including the flexibility it offers.

The CAO allows applicants to apply for their dream course while preventing able students from finding themselves in the position where they have received no third level offer.

Applicants may list up to 20 courses on their CAO form, 10 of which may be at Level 8 (honours degree) and another 10 at Level 7/6 (ordinary degree/higher certificate).

One of the best features of the Irish process for entering higher education is the ladder system created by the National Framework of Qualifications. This may facilitate progress from courses at Level 7/6 to Level 8 or, indeed, from Level 5 to Level 8.

CAO applicants can place their dream courses to the top of their Level 8 and Level 7/6 lists without risking an offer for what might be more realistic courses. Given that each applicant can apply for up to 20 courses there is scope to include some 'banker' courses. These are courses to which the applicant feels they are quite likely to gain access and will lead them towards their ultimate career goal.

In addition to the CAO, all applicants should apply for at least one further education course, generally referred to as post-Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses. These are Level 5 courses and can pave the way for an applicant to enter a desired Level 8 programme the following year.

It is the students who fail to cover these bases who find themselves in the position of having no offer or college place arranged come autumn.

The other issues we see are applicants who make mistakes while completing their CAO, HEAR or DARE forms. These forms are fairly straightforward to complete but it is important that all applicants give them due care and attention.

Applicants should ensure that they complete every section that is relevant to them and should check the correspondence section regularly.

If an applicant receives correspondence stating that there is an issue with their application, they must make sure they deal with this in good time. Applicants can always ask their guidance counsellor for help if they are not sure how to proceed.

When applying to the CAO it is absolutely better to be safe rather than sorry.

Q. I have a number of courses that interest me. My friend says I should put the highest points course first. Is this true?

A. It is very dangerous to place courses on your CAO form in order of last year's minimum points. However, every year this question comes up. I was even asked this in my own school this week by a student who was taught the ins and outs of CAO forms in class only this spring.

The CAO should be completed in order of preference only. This is because the CAO presumes that you have completed it in this way and will make decisions on which course to offer you on the basis of this presumption. You will receive an offer for the highest placed course on your list(s) for which you have the entry requirements, and meet the cut-off points.

The points that students are looking at in their current research are the points that were required for entry to this course in the preceding year and should be used as a guide only. Points can and do change year on year and it is really impossible to guess where specific courses will land.

If you complete your CAO in anything other than genuine order of preference you may find that minimum points change and you may not get the offer for the course you really wanted despite making the points and entry requirements.

Ask yourself which course would you like more than any other and list this in first place, even if you don't think you will make the points. Then ask yourself if you did not receive an offer for these courses what you would like to be offered instead and place this next. Carry on completing all the spaces in this way.

Dates for the diary

Today

CAO 2020 - Round 2 offers available

Tomorrow

Study in Poland 2021 - online open day with Medical Poland Admission Office

September 25

CAO 2020 - Round 2 reply date
Hamiltons school boards will cancel bus routes on a rotating basis to account for a critical shortage of drivers this semester.

In a memo sent to families Wednesday afternoon, the boards said they would begin planned rotations of cancelled bus routes beginning Sept. 28 to offset the ongoing cancellations faced by families whose children are supposed to ride buses to and from school along routes operated by Caledonia Transportation.

There were 14 Caledonia Transportation routes cancelled on Wednesday, with dozens of routes from other operators showing delays  some of more than 60 minutes.

We understand that this will cause considerable inconvenience and disruption to families at different points in the route rotations, said Pat Daly, chair of Hamiltons Catholic board.

As much as we regret having to cancel any of our routes, this measure is necessary to assure a higher level of service, albeit on a rotating basis.

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The boards have struggled significantly to attract drivers as fears of COVID-19 spreading within the vehicles have dissuaded potential workers from getting behind the wheel.

While all students are required to wear masks on buses and drivers are tasked with cleaning the vehicles three times a day, many buses are expected to be packed with students unable to maintain physical distance from their peers.

Hamiltons boards announced earlier in September that they need between 59 and 67 more drivers to take students to school and reduce serious delays and cancellations among several transportation routes across the city.

The boards say theyre continuing to offer driver incentives and develop recruitment programs.

This is our regrettable reality this year, and we apologize to all our impacted families, said Alex Johnstone, chair of the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB).

We foresaw a situation like this happening, and even with our increased funding to transportation, we need the support of the provincial government. This is an issue that I have been, and continue to raise, with the Ministry of Education since July.

The boards say they will share a cancellation schedule with families later this week.
LONDON, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- More families in the Commonwealth of Dominica will receive keys to their new homes as part of the nation's 'Housing Revolution' initiative. According to Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, a handing over ceremony will take place this Wednesday for thirty families in the village of Grand Bay. Separately, another thirty families will also receive keys to new homes in the neighbourhood of Jimmit this Friday.

The 'Housing Revolution' project is fully financed by Dominica's Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programme and aims to build thousands of hurricane-resistant and affordable homes for middle-income households. All housing units are built to the highest standards and can withstand natural disasters. The initiative aligns with the island's commitment to become the world's first climate-resilient nation, as pledged by Prime Minister Skerrit following Hurricane Maria in 2017.

Parliament Secretary in the Ministry of Housing, Mr. Reginald Severin offered more details on the Grand Bay housing units: "We see a situation where the individuals that now are benefitting from this housing come from our vulnerable groups. In Grand Bay we are assisting a hundred and thirty eight individuals; thirty homes, thirty families; and out of that 30 families, 138 individuals, we have counted that eighty children, that it is individuals under the age of 16, will be benefitting. So we are definitely addressing one vulnerable group in the Grand Bay area." Severin also noted that around 107 individuals would benefit from the Jimmit unit, 43 of which are children.

Over a thousand homes have been constructed under the 'Housing Revolution' project, accredited to funds generated by the island's CBI Programme. The Programme enables wealthy investors and their families to obtain Dominican citizenship once donating to the Economic Diversification Fund or buying into selected pre-approved real estate options. Once undergoing diligent vetting procedures, investors gain access to a range of benefits including visa-free or visa-on-arrival travel to approximately 140 destinations and the opportunity to pass citizenship down for generations to come. Investments generated under the Programme are then used to fund significant national development projects from education to tourism.

Dominica's CBI Programme has been ranked the world's best second citizenship offering for the last four years by the annual CBI Index report  conducted by specialists at the Financial Times' Professional Wealth Management magazine.

[email protected]

www.csglobalpartners.com

SOURCE CS Global Partners
ServiceNow (NYSE: NOW), the company that makes work, work better for people, today announced the expansion of its partnership with Microsoft to deliver elevated digital experiences that meet employees where they are. At Microsoft Ignite 2020, ServiceNow introduced new workflows embedded in Microsoft Teams to improve employee productivity with seamless self-service and faster case resolution. Powered by ServiceNows leading digital workflow platform, the Now Platform, the new capabilities also improve agent productivity by enabling them to more effectively collaborate and complete key tasks in Microsoft Teams.

Teams is Microsofts fastest-growing business app to date. This was true in 2018, long before lockdowns started driving up numbers for remote work and learning. As of April 29, Microsoft Teams had 75 million daily active users, up 70% from just six weeks prior. That month, Microsoft saw more than 200 million meeting participants in a single day, generating more than 4.1 billion meeting minutes.

We're helping customers solve for once-in-a-generation challenges as they capitalize on the promise of digital transformation, said Chirantan CJ Desai, chief product officer at ServiceNow. We are doubling down on Teams to find innovative ways for workflows to elevate engagement, culture, collaboration, and productivity  no matter where people are.

Now more than ever, people need to stay connected and organized together from anywhere, said Rajesh Jha, executive vice president, Experiences and Devices, Microsoft. ServiceNow is delivering end-to-end Teams experiences for the new normal. For example, meeting extensibility lets service agents more easily interact with the ServiceNow platform, collaborate in group chats, channels, and conferences, and respond to incidents.

The new capabilities announced today include:

Employee experiences in Microsoft Teams: Companies want to provide employees with support for whatever tools and devices they choose to use. By embedding ServiceNow natively within Teams, employees can submit requests, receive updates on in-progress requests, take action on notifications, chat with virtual agents for automated assistance, and connect with live agents when virtual agents cannot assist  all without ever leaving Microsoft Teams.

Agent capabilities in Microsoft Teams: Agents spend most of their time in ServiceNow IT Service Management but want to more easily leverage the collaboration functionality in Teams to communicate with employees and collaborate with other agents. Now, agents can use Notify to launch the Teams client to engage with peers directly, push major incident updates to business stakeholders, and open direct chats with employees from an incident or request. When used with the new Teams Meeting Extensibility feature, ServiceNow workflows enable agents to be more productive by resolving major incidents directly from within a Microsoft Teams meeting.

The new capabilities are available for select customers as part of the Beta program today.

Organizations are relying on collaboration platforms more than ever before. Companies like ServiceNow are creating tools that complement and enhance the Microsoft Teams experience. Accenture is eager to test and deploy this new offering, said Thomas Bruss, Director of Enterprise Services at Accenture.

Todays updates come on the heels of the ServiceNow Now Platform Paris release, which features several high-demand Microsoft integrations to help enterprises accelerate their digital transformation journeys. Customers can use these integrations to:

Optimize hybrid cloud spending and usage with Microsoft Azure support for ServiceNow Cloud Insights,

Streamline new hire onboarding with ServiceNow employee experiences and Microsoft Azure Active Directory, and

and and Gain greater control and visibility into organizational assets with ServiceNow Software Asset Management and Microsoft Azure Active Directory.

Additionally, the ServiceNow Virtual Agent Lite plugin for Microsoft Teams, also released in Paris, offers a limited version of Virtual Agent for IT Service Management standard customers. It launched with three prebuilt conversations for common IT support requests. These keyword-based conversations run in the web chat client and in a virtual agent messaging integration with Microsoft Teams.

Todays announcement furthers the companies partnership announcement from 2019 to accelerate digital transformation for joint customers. Customers are accessing the value of this partnership with more than 25 joint solutions available between Microsoft and ServiceNow today. The companies have committed to continued ServiceNow-Teams innovation to enable richer employee experiences from anywhere, at scale.
(Natural News) One of the Black Lives Matter founders has launched a new venture with a Chinese community advocacy organization.

(Article by Jackie Salo republished from NYPost.com)

Alicia Garza is behind the Black Futures Lab, which is backed by the Chinese Progressive Association (CPA), according to the website.

A report from The Heritage Foundation initially linked the San Francisco-based CPA to a group of the same name in Boston, which has hosted joint events with the Chinese consulate.

The Boston organization was described as pro-communist and supportive of the Peoples Republic of China.

Tax records, however, show that the two groups are separate entities. A spokesman for the Boston-based CPA also confirmed that the two nonprofits are unrelated, and denied that the group had any communist ties, the New York Times reported.

An earlier version of this article said the Black Futures Lab was affiliated with a pro-Chinese Communist Party organization called the Chinese Progressive Association. The BFL is in fact backed by an unaffiliated group of the same name, and both organizations deny being pro-communist. The story has been updated.

Alicia Garza

Getty Images

Read more at: NYPost.com
In a major boost for Indian armed forces, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Tuesday (September 22) 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 called the the successful flight test of ABHYAS a milestone and said that ABHYAS can be used as a target for evaluation of various Missile systems.

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

ABHYAS is is designed and developed by Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), DRDO and it is launched using twin underslung booster.

Design

DRDO has designed Abhyas on an in-line small gas turbine engine and it the device uses indigenously developed micro-electro-mechanical systems-based system for navigation and guidance.DRDO has adopted its Lakshya tow body to design the fuselage for the Abhyas. The fuselage consists of five sections, namely the nose cone, equipment bay, fuel tank bay, air intake bay and tail cone.

Live TV

How Abhyas operates?

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.

Transportation & storage

The Abhyas drone has box for its transportation and storage made of EPE (Expanded Polyethylene) and with an XLPE (Cross-linked polyethylene) foam material inside. It is weather proof, drop and vibration proof.

Usage

Abhyas's radar cross-section (RCS) and its visual and infrared signatures can be used to simulate a variety of aircraft for air-defense weapon practices. It can also function as a jammer platform and decoy.
A 13-year-old boy in Afghanistans southern Kandahar Province has died in a hospital after a local police commander and four of his comrades allegedly beat and raped him, officials said on September 23.

The suspects, who were guarding a checkpoint in the Dand district, have been arrested, a provincial police spokesman told dpa.

"The child died 12 hours after being taken to the hospital," the police official added.

The incident took place about a week ago. A video circulating on social media shows the boy describing the ordeal before he died.

Another official said the victim had been accused of having illicit relations with a boy known to the police commander and that the commander was punishing him for it.

"It is not true since they are both children," the official said.

Illicit sexual relations are a sensitive issue in Afghanistan. Families consider such relations a disgrace to themselves and their tribe and in order to remove the stigma, they turn to various forms of retribution. In many cases, the actions are punishable by death.
Description: A charming coastal pub nestled along the esplanade of the Devonshire town of Sidmouth. This soul-soothing sea-fronted pub offers an exquisite Italian menu coupled with local Otter Brewery craft beverages within a stylish and vintage west-country setting. Our outside dining is the perfect oasis for any passing visitor or returning local to take in views of the beautiful Jurassic coast.

Restaurant details Description: A charming coastal pub nestled along the esplanade of the Devonshire town of Sidmouth. This soul-soothing sea-fronted pub offers an exquisite Italian menu coupled with local Otter Brewery craft beverages within a stylish and vintage west-country setting. Our outside dining is the perfect oasis for any passing visitor or returning local to take in views of the beautiful Jurassic coast.
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President Trump has promised that his nomination to replace the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg will be announced on Saturday. And, now that Senator Mitt Romney has committed to support the process, it looks probable, perhaps likely, that Mitch McConnell could succeed in seating a new justice before the November election. Democrats will, of course, fight against this with, to quote Nancy Pelosi, every arrow in their quiver.

The death of Justice Ginsburg raises an incredible number of questions on a ton of issues, from the rules and norms of Supreme Court nominations, to the legacy of this historic member of the Court, to just how a Justice becomes a pop-culture icon to the future of Roe v. Wade. Earlier this week, Kim Colby, director of the Center of Law and Religious Freedom for the Christian Legal Society, joined me on a special edition of the BreakPoint Podcast to talk through each of those questions.

Justice Ginsburg was truly a historic figure as a pioneer for womens rights and womens equality. A towering intellect who relentlessly followed her worldview, she was also among the political lefts most effective champions. As Dr. Albert Mohler put it recently on The Briefing, This is for the left as big a loss as was several years ago experienced by the right with the sudden death of Justice Antonin Scalia.

Her legacy, however, will always be, to quote Kim Colby, very much tarnished by the fact that she equated womens advancement with abortion, something not good for women or the little girls who are aborted. Deeply committed to the sexual revolutions version of feminism, in which the procreative capacity of women is seen not as a good to be celebrated but as a problem to be solved, Ginsburg fiercely protected legalized abortion, including later-term, sex-selective, and disability-targeted abortions. In 2019, she even chided Justice Clarence Thomas on the topic, saying [A] woman who exercises her constitutionally protected right to terminate a pregnancy is not a mother.

Ginsburg was very much a protector of the dark and destructive legacy of Roe v. Wade, at least part of which has become the kind of brutal, divisive, and cruel confirmation hearings we are all now bracing for. As the Heritage Foundations Ryan Anderson has said, not only are abortion and Roe great evils against children, but they poison our entire political and judicial systems.

Like the dreadful Dred Scott decision on slavery, Roe is a decision that deals with the very heart of what it means to be human. And like Dred Scott, the Court got Roe wrong. This country, especially African American communities, are still paying the price for getting Dred Scott wrong, as weve seen even this summer. And, this country is still paying the price for the Court getting Roe wrong, both in terms of millions of lives lost and families destroyed, as well as our deeply poisoned political system.

Both Republicans and Democrats will appeal to principle, selective histories, and suddenly important so-called norms in order to blame the other side for the awful vitriol called Senate confirmation hearings. But make no mistake, it wasnt about principle in 2016 when Republicans refused to consider the nomination of Merrick Garland, and its not about principle now when Democrats wish they could refuse to consider the nomination of Ginsburgs replacement. Theres nothing unconstitutional about bringing a nominee before the Senate 40-some days before an election, any more than changing the 60 vote rule to 50, or refusing to consider a nomination in an election year.

Its never been about principle. Its always been about politics. And our politics have been deeply poisoned by abortion.

Amy Coney Barrett, thought to be among the finalists for the nomination, already experienced just how poisonous the nomination process is, when her Catholic faith was attacked by Senator Diane Feinstein during her confirmation hearings for the 7th Circuit Court. When you read your speeches, said the liberal Senator from California, the conclusion one draws is that the dogma lives loudly within you.

At a 2006 speech to the graduating class of Notre Dames law school, Barrett said, Your legal career is but a means to an end, and . . . that end is building the kingdom of God. . . . [I]f you can keep in mind that your fundamental purpose in life is not to be a lawyer, but to know, love, and serve God, you truly will be a different kind of lawyer.

Thats the kind of loudly living dogma that alarms her critics.

Catch my conversation with the Christian Legal Societys Kim Colby on the BreakPoint Podcast. And pray for the nominee whoever she is, as she will face personal attacks and blistering opposition. But most of all pray for our nationand for the lives at stake.

Originally published at BreakPoint
Leslie Mann and her filmmaker husband Judd Apatow ventured out in Malibu on Tuesday to take care of some shopping.

The 48-year-old Blockers star and the 52-year-old King Of Staten Island director were seen shopping for clothes at a store in the coastal Southern California city.

Afterward, the longtime couple drove to a restaurant for dinner in the area.

Stocking up: Leslie Mann, 48, and her filmmaker husband Judd Apatow, 52, stopped at a clothing shop in Malibu on Tuesday to do some shopping before heading to dinner nearby

Leslie stuck with a casual look while looking at new clothing.

She had on a white ribbed tank top that showed off her fit arms, and she tucked the top into her high-waisted black jeans.

The 5ft7in actress had her jeans rolled up slightly above her ankles, and she wore a set of black mule heels.

She had her golden blonde locks parted down the middle and cascading down her shoulders in gentle waves.

Black and white: Leslie wore a casual white ribbed tank top that showcased her fit arms. She paired it withh black jeans rolled up at the ankles and black mule heels

Leslie rounded out her look with a pair of black sunglasses, and she sported a mask in accordance with an order from California Governor Gavin Newsom requiring all people in the state to wear them when in public places.

Her husband Judd also had on a casual outfit with a gray striped polo shirt and a pair of dark blue jeans with white trainers, along with a navy blue cloth mask.

Leslie and Judd's professional lives have been nearly entangled as their personal lives, and she has worked as an actress for him multiple times.

She appeared in a small supporting role in his 2005 feature directorial debut The 40-Year-Old Virgin, but Leslie had a larger supporting role in his second feature Knocked Up (2007), which she reprised, this time as one of the leads with Paul Rudd, in 2012's This Is 40.

She appeared again in 2009's Funny People as the former fiancee of Adam Sandler's character, whom he tries to reunite with after he's diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukemia.

Simple style: Judd wore a gray striped polo shirt and dark jeans with white sneakers. He released his most recent film, the Pete Davidsonstarring The King Of Staten Island, in June

Family affair: Leslie has played lead and supporting characters in multiple films directed by her husband, but their daughters Maude, 22, and Iris, 17, have also regularly appeared in his films; shown in 2015

Judd's films have become a kind of family business, not just for his wife but also for their two daughters, Maude, 22, and Iris, 17.

Both have been featured in multiple films from the stand-up comic, but Maude has recently expanded into larger roles.

She currently appears as Lexi Howard on HBO's hit teen drama Euphoria, and she took on one of her biggest film roles to date in her father's Pete Davidson vehicle The King Of Staten Island, which was released in June.
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 ...
The Russian President spoke to the UN by video

Earlier Tuesday President Trump tore into China and blamed it for the 'China virus'

Putin said lifting sanctions would 'be a great help in revitalizing global growth and reducing unemployment'

The sanctions were imposed following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and were strengthened following 2016 election interference

Putin and his top aides are 'probably directing' the campaign to discredit Biden and interfere in the 2020 elections, according to top-secret assessment

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.

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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.

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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

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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.'

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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.

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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.'
The Electoral Commission (EC) has urged the general public to disregard misleading video circulating on social media purporting to show its officials printing new voters ID cards.



According to the EC, the video is false.



"We entreat the public to disregard this video as it is false."



A statement issued on Monday, September 21, 2020, by the EC further said the cards in the video belong to persons with the duplicate voter ID numbers. They were authorized by the Commission, printed at the Headquarters and subsequently sent to the District Offices for lamination and distribution''.



"During the just ended Registration Exercise, few centres experienced the production of duplicate ID cards which resulted from Registration kits bearing the same codes.



The EC called on the political parties to visit the affected District offices to monitor the distribution of the duplicate cards to the affected persons.



Read full statement below:







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.

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The Eiffel Tower was evacuated today after an anonymous bomb threat was made to police - which officers later ruled to be a hoax.

Cops cordoned off the Parisian landmark around midday Wednesday after the threat was made, with armed officers seen blocking roads.

Roads leading to the landmark, in Paris's 7th arrondissement, were closed while people were told to avoid the area.

Police have evacuated and cordoned off the Eiffel Tower in Paris after an anonymous caller claimed that explosives had been left at the tourist attraction

Les verifications sont en cours. Selon nos informations la @LaTourEiffel est evacuee pic.twitter.com/FiIK8TfxEM  Barthelemy Bolo (@B2Bolo) September 23, 2020

But around two hours later the cordon was lifted after bomb squads failed to find any explosives, leading police to conclude the call was a hoax.

A source said: There was an evacuation and checks were carried out, and a safety perimeter was set up.

;This was a routine precaution. The tower is now open as usual.

Videos posted on social media showed police cars at the foot of the tower, with one poster tweeting: Perimeter of Tour Eiffel cordoned off, police operation in progress.

Armed officers (pictured centre) could be seen stationed around the landmark while explosives teams swept the area

A source at the tower said the landmark would be closed until further notice while searches are carried out (pictured, officers at the tower)

The so-called 'Iron Lady' welcomes more than six million visitors a year, and regularly receives calls concerning security  many of which turn out to be hoaxes.

In 2018, perimeter defences including bullet proof glass screens were placed around the monument to protect against terror threats.

Terrorist groups which have threatened it in recent years include Al-Qaeda and Isis.

It has also been attacked by members of the anti-government Yellow Vest movement, which last year lit fires at the base of the tower, and destroyed perimeter fencing.
Micheal Martin was responding to calls in the Dail to reverse the reduction in the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP).

The 350-a-week payments have dropped to between 200 to 300. 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.

Ms 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.

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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 into the Pandemic Unemployment Payment  thats what it has cost. This year alone government will spend 28 billion 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.

Ms 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.

Ms 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 Ms 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 San Francisco Board of Supervisors approved a city budget Tuesday for the next two fiscal years, which closes a $1.5 billion deficit ripped open by the pandemic  for now.

The nearly $14 billion budget is very delicately balanced on some risky assumptions: that voters will pass a massive tax overhaul in November, the federal government will continue reimbursing some COVID-19 expenses and the local economy will start to recover soon .

Mayor London Breed and the board spent the summer negotiating the massive budget, and managed to balance it without resorting to layoffs or service cuts. Instead, some capital projects and vacant positions were cut. While each supervisor expressed some concern with the fragile budget Tuesday, it passed 10-1.

Supervisor Catherine Stefani was the lone dissenter. Stefani called the budget fiscally irresponsible and said she could not in good conscience support it.

Supervisor Sandra Lee Fewer, chair of the Budget and Finance committee, said she realizes this budget is not perfect, and that there is certainly, for every supervisor, items in this budget that we may not agree with, but it is our responsibility to come together to work out our disagreements.

The budget will now move to the mayor, who has until Oct. 1 to sign it. A spokesman for Breed did not respond to a request for comment.

But there is still a lot of uncertainty ahead. If Proposition F, the business tax overhaul on the November ballot fails, San Francisco could have to trim about $150 million from the budget, which is likely to be recouped through layoffs and service cuts. The citys current fiscal projections could also change, depending on how the citys economy fares.

That means the supervisors will likely have to reassess the budget in the coming months or year.

Supervisors say the budget addresses some of the pressing issues facing San Francisco. It includes $60 million to implement part of Mental Health SF, a massive overhaul of the citys behavioral health care system. It also took $120 million from the police department and sheriffs office and invested it in resources for the black community  including academic, health and wellness programs. It also gave $14.7 million in emergency relief to nonprofits, which are on the front lines of the citys homeless crisis and COVID-19 response.

Stefani took issue with balancing the budget on the assumption that Prop. F passes and said that the $5 million for small business relief is not nearly enough to help those whose livelihoods have been upended by the pandemic.

Like the mayor, Stefani also criticized the boards recent decision to yank $59 million from the reserves to fund a year of raises for city workers. There is still $750 million left in the citys rainy day fund.

Stefani, who often finds herself as the lone dissenting vote on the board, was sharply criticized by her colleagues for voting no. In particular, Supervisor Aaron Peskin questioned her criticism of the decision to dip into the reserves.

I've wrestled with that too, Peskin said. But if there was ever a rainy day, its pouring cats and dogs right now.

Stefani said that she and her colleagues were just going to have to agree to disagree.

I would budget within our means, and with the money that we have at the time that we have it, not based on tax measure on the ballot in November, and not based on reserves we shouldnt be dipping into, she said.

Trisha Thadani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tthadani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @TrishaThadani
(Newser)  President Trump offered his thoughts Tuesday on the US reaching the grim milestone of 200,000 coronavirus-related deaths, calling it "a shame" in an appearance at the White House, the AP reports. Well, I think it's a shame," he said in response to a reporter's question about the number, per a Washington Post video. "I think if we didnt do it properly and do it right, youd have 2.5 million deaths ... you could have a number that would be substantially more. With all of that being said, we shouldn't have had anybody. You saw my United Nations speech, China should have stopped it at their border. They should've never let this spread all over the world. And it's a terrible thing. But, had we not closed our country down, and reopened, and now we're doing well in reopening, the stock market's up, all of those things."

story continues below

"But I think it's a horrible thing," he continued. "But if we had not done it right, you could have 2 million, 2.5 million, or 3 million. But it's a horrible thing, should've never ever happened. China let this happen, and just remember that." Then, asked by another reporter whether he thinks the US could see another 200,000 deaths, he skirted the question, instead essentially repeating his first response. Later, at a Pennsylvania rally, he touted his administration's "A-plus job" handling the COVID-19 pandemic, and mocking opponent Joe Biden for wearing a mask, USA Today reports. He did not, during his 90 minutes of speaking, mention the death toll, but he did complain that with the current social distancing guidelines, "You can't meet. You can't congregate. You can't look at each other. You can't give your wife ... a kiss goodnight, you gotta wear a mask. You can't do anything!"

(Read more coronavirus stories.)
Massachusetts families with schoolchildren learning remotely might be eligible for funding to help cover the costs of meals under an extension of benefits granted by the federal government.

The state received approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to issue funds for September through the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer program, which offers money to families whose children receive free or reduced meals at school. That includes schools that offer free or reduced lunch for all students.

Each eligible family receives $5.86 per day, or up to $29.30 a week, per student. Families that receive other benefits, including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, will get the P-EBT funds in addition to whatever they normally receive.

We want to give students all the support we can as they return to learning this fall, said Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley. We know that COVID-19 continues to impact families, and these P-EBT funds will supplement the grab-and-go meals that schools and community organizations are offering.

The state Department of Transitional Assistance estimates close to 470,000 children could benefit from a collective $40 million in federal funds.

The eligibility requirements might affect students differently now than they did in the spring, when everyone was remote full-time. When the program was launched, it limited eligibility to families whose children are not in school for five consecutive school days.

With some schools implementing a hybrid model, students' eligibility might depend on their schedule. A child who is completely remote is eligible, as is a child who has class Monday and Tuesday one week but is remote until Wednesday and Thursday of the next week.

In August, Gov. Charlie Baker said 70% of school districts were starting in-person or on a hybrid schedule. About 30% were remote. Its unclear, however, whether those figures have changed in the past month.

Eligible families who already have P-EBT cards will get the funds at the end of the month, according to DTA. Newly eligible families will be notified of the option in October.

Massachusetts was one of the first states to launch a P-EBT program after the Families First Coronavirus Response Act created the federal P-EBT and authorized the USDA to let states opt in.

The Massachusetts program, launched in April, brought in more than $207 million in federal funds to families across the state. DTA estimates more than 522,000 students were covered through the program after schools closed in March to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

P-EBT proved to be a highly effective tool for helping families across the state directly access food early on in the states response to the pandemic, said Amy Kershaw, the Department of Transitional Assistance commissioner.

Through the P-EBT program, eligible families can buy food at local retailers that accept the benefits or they can order food through Amazon or Walmart, just like EBT card holders under the states SNAP.

Thanks to close coordination at the state and local level, Massachusetts was one of the first states approved for P-EBT and continues to be a leader on addressing food security and maximizing federally funded food assistance programs that support many of our vulnerable populations, including children, said Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders, who is director of the states COVID-19 Command Center. Every individual, family and community in the Commonwealth should have access to healthy food."

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September 23, 2020 Drilon asks NBI to file disbarment case vs legal assistance chief involved in 'pastillas' bribery scheme Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon urged the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to immediately file a disbarment case against Atty. Joshua Capiral, the agency's head of legal assistance division who was arrested in an entrapment operation for allegedly accepting bribes from individuals involved in the 'pastillas scheme'. "Bantay salakay ang tawag dito. Yung inatasan na mag-imbestiga sa katiwalian sila yung gumagawa ng katiwalian," said Drilon in an interview with Teleradyo on Wednesday. "This is one of the reasons why Filipinos are losing faith in the ability of the government to fight corruption," he lamented. "This only shows how rampant corruption is today." Drilon said aside from filing criminal and administrative charges, the NBI should file a disbarment case against Capiral. "He is a disgrace to the legal profession. We lawyers took an oath to tell nothing but the truth. Capiral violated that sacred oath of lawyers. All he did in the NBI is to enrich himself through corruption," he added. Asked whether the case of Capiral warrants a Senate investigation, Drilon responded that he will support an investigation if there is evidence of massive corruption in NBI - like in the case of PhilHealth and the Bureau of Immigration. "At this point I think there is no evidence of massive corruption in the NBI. This is a laudable move for the NBI to arrest one of its members. The NBI should make an example out of Capiral that corruption has no place in the agency," Drilon said. "If we do not address this, everybody will believe that they can bribe the NBI and having that perception is not good in the fight against corruption," he added.
Opposition MLCs on Tuesday demanded that the state government conduct an inquiry into the Rs 90 crore Aerospace Common Finishing Facility project that was rolled back in 2019.

JD(S) MLC Marithibbe Gowda sought to know why the state government had failed to implement the project, which was pitched as a platform for SMEs in the aerospace sector to market their products.

"The proposed project at an estimated cost of Rs 90 crore, was cleared by the Centre in 2015. Of this, the Centre's share was Rs 42 crore and the state government was supposed to invest the rest. The Cabinet had approved the project and work orders were also given. In spite of this, the project was rolled back in 2019, with the state having to return the partial grant given by the Centre," he said.

Even though the state government makes big claims about being prepared to attract investors from China, the ground reality is different, he alleged.

Industries Minister Jagadish Shettar said the project was stopped when the coalition government was in power.

"There is no point in blaming the current regime. It was only in 2019 that it was officially rolled back with the state government returning the Centre's funds. Companies did not show interest in investing," he said, assuring to inquire into the matter.
Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said Wednesday he has secured a majority in Parliament to form a new government that is strong, stable and formidable.

Anwar said he has been granted an audience with the king Tuesday but it was postponed because the king was in a hospital for treatment. He said he will not reveal details until after he has met the king.

Conclusively, we have a strong, formidable majority. I am not talking about four, five or six ... but much more than that, Anwar said. With a clear and indisputable support and majority behind me, the government led by ... Muhyiddin Yassin has fallen.

There was no immediate response from Muhyiddin, who is due to give a televised speech later Wednesday. Muhyiddin has been grappling to maintain support amid infighting in his coalition that has just a slim two-seat majority. He can ask the king to dissolve Parliament to seek early general elections.

Science and Technology Minister Khairy Jamaluddin countered Anwars claim. He tweeted a picture of the Cabinet meeting, saying: Cabinet meeting just ended. Nothing collapsed or fell. Anwar said it will be the kings sole discretion but noted that his government will not be an unelected one even though it involves new partners.

Anwars Alliance of Hope was elected in 2018 but collapsed after Muhyiddin withdrew his party and tied up with corruption-tainted opposition parties to form a Malay-centric government in March.

Then-Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad resigned in protest, but Anwar said Wednesday that Mahathir wont be part his new government.

If he succeeds, it will mark a dramatic comeback for Anwar after his roller-coaster political journey since the 1990s.

Once a high flyer in the ruling party, Anwar was convicted of homosexual sodomy and corruption after a power struggle with Mahathir in 1998. He was imprisoned for a second time for sodomy in 2014.

Anwar and his supporters have long denied the sodomy allegations, saying they were concocted to destroy his political career. Yet rather than give up, Anwar ended his feud with Mahathir from his prison cell to forge a new opposition alliance that won a stunning victory in May 2018 national elections.

Mahathir became premier a second time. Anwar was freed with a royal pardon days after the polls and was Mahathirs designated successor before their alliance fell apart.
Kellogg, IA - After the discovery of the burning body of a man in a rural area in Iowa, authorities have arrested three men and a woman as the suspects of the brutal incident.

According to the Department of Public Safety of Iowa, the 31-year-old, white guy, Steven Vogel, was one of the men arrested and he was already in jail for unrelated charges and now faces charges of first-degree murder and abuse of a corpse.

Despite Vogel's color and race, the Department of Public Safety mentioned in their statement that they want to clarify that no evidence supports that the act against Michael Williams was motivated according to his race nor that his death was related to a hate crime.

After receiving a report of a fire in a roadside ditch near the city of Kellogg in central Iowa, authorities responded at around past 5:30 p.m. last Wednesday wherein upon their arrival they have found the body that was put on fire, CNN reported.

The dead man was identified as Michael Williams, 44 years of age based on the information released by the authorities.

Read also: Business Tycoon, Prominent Communist Party Critic Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison in China

Based on the statement released after the police investigation, they have found that the victim was killed on or around September 12 in the neighbor city of Grinnell and his body was then wrapped using a cloth and plastic and secured by a rope and tape and after that, the wrapped corpse was taken to Kellogg on September 16 where it was set on fire in a roadside ditch.

In the affidavit which supports the criminal complaint against Vogel, a police officer in Grinnell wrote that a witness alleged that the suspect Vogel shared to him that he had strangled Williams and showed him the body which happened in the basement of the house of Vogel in Grinnell.

Based on the court documents available, the victim and the suspect knew each other for a number of years.

Mother of Vogel, 55-year-old Julia Cox, and 57-year-old Lee garner who shared the home with Vogel, will also be facing charges of obstructing prosecution or destruction of evidence, abuse of a corpse, and accessory after the fact based on the gathered court documents.

According to Fox News, in the affidavit which contains the statement of Cox, he told investigators that she helped Vogel taking an object out of the back of a pickup which was wrapped in a brown blanket last Wednesday before the Vogel put it in a ditch.

Garner also mentioned in the affidavit that he drove the pickup and dropped Vogel off in a different town, then after that, together with Cox, they drove to a rural area wherein they dumped then items from the back of the truck in a ditch.

The affidavit also states that authorities located the dumpsite where the items were thrown and they found carpet, plywood, rubber gloves, bleach bottles, socks, plastic, and a receipt wherein the name of Vogel is present.

Twenty-nine year old, Cody Johnson, who lives in Grinnell was the fourth person that got arrested in relation to the crime. He was accused of abuse of a corpse and accessory after the fact.

On the affidavit, Johnson told the police that he went to the house of Vogel on September 13 where they tried to move the body from the basement.



Related article: Jealous Boyfriend Kills Fiancee Because She Exposed Her Body on the Beach

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Gardai have been liaising with Interpol, Europol and the Romanian Embassy in order to confirm the identity of a man facing charges at Naas District Court.

Judge Desmond Zaidan heard that there is a question mark over the true identity of Ronaldo Lupu, aged 19, whose address in court documents was given as 218 Clonliffe Road, Dublin 9.

Mr Lupu is facing charges under the Public Order Act, allegedly committed at Brownstown near the Curragh Camp on July 5 last.

Sgt Brian Jacob said that investigating gardai have been conducting inquiries with law enforcement colleagues in Interpol and Europol as well as officials in the Romanian Embassy.

Experts within an Garda Siochana were also helping with the investigation.

The defendants barrister Sarah Connolly objected to delays in processing the case and claimed that her client is facing only Public Order charges and there are no other charges in relation to alleged false documents.

She said that gardai were satisfied enough with Mr Lupus identity when he was charged to enter his current details on court documents.

Ms Connolly applied for all charges to be struck out due to delays in the case.

She said: My client is in custody since July and we are now in the middle of September.

But Sgt Jacob said: The view of the state is that he is not Ronaldo Lupu. He had multiple personal identity documents for this jurisdiction. We want to confirm who he is and why he was in possession of these documents.

The sergeant applied for a two week remand in custody to finalise inquires on the matter.

He added that gardai were seeking the specific co-operation of the Romanian Embassy on the matter in recent days.

Judge Zaidan granted an adjournment to October 1.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 16:04:52|Editor: huaxia

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An international student (L) from Jamaica makes dumplings during a Chinese Spring Festival cultural event at Beijing Jiaotong University in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 20, 2020. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

China has made progress over the past decades "in a regular and constant way," said OACPS secretary-general, adding China's experience can help poor countries in their agriculture development and economic transformation.

BRUSSELS, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- China has been a "better listener" to poor countries and demonstrated great capacity for understanding, Secretary-General of the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti has said.

Pinto Chikoti made the remarks in an interview with Xinhua on the occasion of the high-level meeting to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the United Nations (UN) held on Monday.

China has made progress over the past decades "in a regular and constant way," said Pinto Chikoti, adding China's experience can help poor countries in their agriculture development and economic transformation.

"China, which has invested more resources in all of our countries than anyone else, can play a very important role," said the secretary-general.

A member of Chinese medical team greets a Haitian child in accordance with local custom in earthquake-hit Port-au-Prince, capital of Haiti, Feb. 3, 2010. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling)

Given its industrial and technological power as well as its huge market, China "can work not only with developing countries but also with developed countries," he said.

"From this point of view, China is an extremely important partner for the world to better respond to the challenges of health, climate, trade, peace and security, alongside the UN," said Pinto Chikoti.

While addressing the high-level meeting via video, Chinese President Xi Jinping said "China will continue to be a true follower of multilateralism. It will stay actively engaged in reforming and developing the global governance system."

A staff member (3rd R) introduces Suriname to visitors at the first China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 6, 2018. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)

The multilateral system has benefited both "the balance of the world" and "the well-being of everyone," said Pinto Chikoti, who however stressed that "this balance is being undermined."

Noting the World Health Organization has been undermined by the U.S. withdrawal and groundless accusations, the secretary-general said "this imbalance in the multilateral system" has made the small economies of the OACPS suffer.

He called on all parties to work together to save multilateralism.

"It is together that we can save the multilateral system. If we are looking for a vaccine, a drug ... let us all work together. I think this is a challenge for all countries," said Pinto Chikoti. 
Here are some thoughts from our chief reporter Chip Le Grand who was also watching today's hearing closely:

For two months the inquiry into hotel quarantine has been leading to this point; a political reckoning where government ministers responsible for a program that unleashed a second wave epidemic upon this state are held to account.

Now that we are here, two things are clear: a basic question about the program will remain unanswered, and ministerial responsibility in Victoria  at least in any traditional sense of what it is supposed to mean  was dead long before this virus struck.

Whose idea was it to use private security guards in quarantine hotels?

According to Lisa Neville, Victorias Police Minister responsible for the governance of our emergency services, and Martin Pakula, the Minister of Jobs whose department contracted the security companies, neither were consulted nor told about it.

Nor apparently, did either of them seek to find out.

Neville said she was first told about the hotel quarantine program by someone from within the Department of Premier and Cabinet. She said both she and police chief Graham Ashton learnt about the plan to enforce the program with private security guards rather than police from Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp.

How did Commissioner Crisp know? He disputes he did. Whose plan was it? If success has 1000 fathers, the hotel quarantine debacle was apparently delivered by stork.
BEIJING, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- GWM (601633.SS/02333.HK), a world-renowned SUV and pickup manufacturer, will showcase models from its three leading vehicle brands at the Beijing International Automotive Exhibition 2020 (Auto China 2020). Themed "Intelligence leads to the future", this event will take place between September 26 and October 5 at the China International Exhibition Center (New Venue) in Tianzhu, Beijing. GWM's 1700sqm booth will be located at Exhibition Hall E3 alongside Audi and Toyota.

This exhibition ushers in a new era for GWM as a global travel technology company. New vehicle concepts and technological innovations signal a shift from product value to consumer value, as products are defined and marketed from the customer's perspective.

In addition to the exhibition, GWM will host a global live stream on September 26. The live stream will be available on GWM's official social media accounts (Facebook: @GreatWallMotorsGlobal and Twitter:@GWMGlobal), as well as on its official website (https://www.gwm-global.com/).

"Auto China 2020 is a crucial industry event to bolster the recovery of the region's economy following the COVID-19 pandemic. During this exhibition, we hope to showcase how we are listening and adapting in this unique period by taking greater strides to understand customer's needs and working diligently to overcome challenges. GWM has integrated the latest digital and production technology in the rollout of core products to provide customers with more choices for intelligent and safe travel," says Tony Sun, Deputy General Manager of GWM international.

GWM will showcase models from GWM Pickup, HAVAL, and EV Leading the new global SUV trend, HAVAL will feature 10 vehicles including its 3rd-Gen H6 SUV, 2021 F7, F7x and H9 full-size SUV. Meanwhile, GWM P-series pickups will unveil its global name.

GWM's participation in Auto China 2020 marks another important step in the brand's globalization strategy, which has seen the company establish an R&D and production system spanning seven countries and ten locations. To date, GWM's overseas markets include Russia, South Africa, Australia, Central and South America, South Asia,the Middle East, Africa and other regions.

About GWM

GWM is a world-renowned SUV and pickup manufacturer. The firm was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2003 and the Shanghai Stock Exchange in 2011. With four brands, including HAVAL, WEY, ORA and GWM Pickup, the carmaker produces both conventional and new energy vehicles and focuses on the SUV and pickup truck categories. GWM can independently support its core components, including engines and transmissions. In 2019, GWM sold 1,058,648 new vehicles, an increase of 1.43% year-on-year, exceeding the one million mark for the fourth consecutive year.

For more information, please visit https://www.gwm-global.com/

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The issue received bids for 2 crore shares as against 1.37 crore shares on offer.

The initial public offer (IPO) of Angel Broking received bids for 2 crore shares on Wednesday, 23 September 2020, as against 1.37 crore shares on offer, as per the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) website data at 17:30 IST. The issue was subscribed 1.46 times.

The issue opened for bidding on Tuesday, 22 September 2020 and it will close on Thursday, 24 September 2020. The price band for the IPO is set at Rs 305-306 per share.

The IPO comprises of a fresh issue worth Rs 300 crore by the company and an offer for sale aggregating Rs 300 crore (including anchor portion of 52.82 lakh equity shares).

Ahead of the IPO, the company raised over Rs 180 crore from anchor investors on Monday, 21 September 2020. The company allotted 58.82 lakh shares at Rs 306 each to a total of 12 anchor investors.

The net proceeds from the fresh issue will be utilised towards meeting working capital requirements and general corporate purposes. The company proposes to utilise Rs 230 crore of the net proceeds to meet working capital requirements.

The company expects to achieve the benefits of listing of the equity shares on the stock exchanges through enhancement of company's brand name and the creation of a public market for the equity shares in India.

The company recorded sales of Rs 238.42 crore and profit after tax of Rs 48.26 crore in the quarter ended on 30 June 2020.

Angel Broking is one of the largest retail broking houses in India in terms of active clients on NSE. Its a technology-led financial services company providing broking and advisory services, margin funding, loans against shares and financial products distribution to clients.

Angel Broking is the fourth largest broker in terms of active clients on NSE with a market share of 6.29% end June 2020.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Firefighters continue to battle the Bobcat fire north of Mt. Wilson along Angeles Crest Highway. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Beleaguered fire crews made significant progress overnight on the Bobcat fire burning in northeastern Los Angeles County.

After weeks of struggling to keep up with the fires erratic, multidirectional growth, crews had achieved 38% containment of the blaze as of Wednesday morning  more than doubling the fire's containment from the previous day.

Today we had a pretty successful day, said Kerri Gilliland, of the California Interagency Incident Management Team organizing the battle against the Bobcat fire, in a Tuesday evening update.

Crews successfully placed several direct containment lines  barriers created with bulldozers and mechanical equipment to hinder the spread of flames  along the fires edge, Gilliland said.

The fires growth is also slowing. After ballooning to twice its size in the course of one week, it is now increasing in slower increments, growing by a little more than 1,000 acres overnight. The total acreage burned Wednesday was 113,307, according to the U.S. Forest Service .

Progress was so significant that the estimated containment date for the fire has been moved up by one month, to Sept. 30.

We finally got the resources, we got favorable weather, and the fuel transition was big, Forest Service spokesman Larry Smith said Wednesday. Once it came out of the really steep timber [of the Angeles National Forest], we were able to get more mechanized.

The northern portion of the fire, which seared through the foothills community of Juniper Hills and portions of the Antelope Valley , has been marked as contained, Smith said.

But the fight is not over. Mt. Wilson, home to an observatory and a reported $1 billion worth of communications towers, remains threatened by the fire, which is considered one of the largest in L.A. County history.

Still, fire crews progress atop Mt. Wilson held steady Wednesday afternoon. Pockets of terrain were smoldering, but few immediate flames were apparent.

The weather finally cooperated, said Capt. Dave Gillotte of the L.A. County Fire Department. We were finally able to see the fire and to get to the fire.

Story continues

The rugged landscape was painted with a stark mix of bright pink fire retardant and blackened trees, but the sky above the observatory was clear despite the lingering smell of smoke. Gillotte attributed much of the crews recent gains to hard work and preparation.

Weve been making a stand at Mt. Wilson, he said. Half the time is very intense, and half the time is preparing for it to be very intense.

Farther down the mountain, though, was a different scene. At the intersection of Highway 2 and Mt. Wilson Red Box Road, about five miles below the observatory in the Angeles National Forest, thick smoke had settled in like a blanket over the valley.

There are still a lot of variables at play, said L.A. County Fire Department spokesman Pono CQ Barnes, who was stationed at the intersection. Right now were looking at wind, fuels and topographical features.

And although progress on the blaze has been substantial, Barnes said the Bobcat fires containment lines are still very dependent on the direction of the wind. If it changes, he said, there is significant potential for reignition.

Im exhausted, said Thomas Meneghini, executive director of the Mt. Wilson Observatory.

Meneghini said observatory staff had been pretty well wiped out from seeing flames lap at Mt. Wilson for more than a week. At one point, the fire reached less than 500 feet from the storied structure.

Our stuff is priceless, its irreplaceable, he said of the observatorys equipment , which includes a 100-year-old telescope that played an important role in the history of astronomy, and the 2004-built CHARA array for digitized space study.

Theres no monetary value you could put on these items, he said.

The fire has destroyed 52 structures  27 of which were residences  and damaged 14 other buildings, officials said Wednesday.

Among the structures lost is the nature center at the Devils Punchbowl, a 1,310-acre rock canyon that receives a reported 130,000 visitors each year.

I'm sad to share that 90 percent of Devil's Punchbowl has burned from the #BobcatFire. The nature center and significant plant life and fauna across its 1350 acres have been lost. My office is working with @lacountyparks to see how we can rebuild and restore this beloved land. pic.twitter.com/0fsPriO7ho  Supervisor Kathryn Barger (@kathrynbarger) September 22, 2020

Evacuation orders remain in place for several communities in the Angeles National Forest and the foothills north of the blaze. Evacuation warnings also remain for Pasadena, Altadena and other areas threatened by the fire.

The Bobcat fire, which ignited Sept. 6, is one of more than two dozen fires burning across California, and resources are spread thin. In response, the Forest Service has mobilized 100 firefighters from across Mexico to assist with wildfire suppression throughout the state.

The firefighters are expected to arrive Wednesday and will receive orientation and training before traveling to the Castle fire within the Sequoia Complex in Sequoia National Forest.

Firefighters from Canada and the U.S. military are also deployed to fires around the state, the Forest Service said. More than 3 million acres have burned in California this year, and although the cause of the Bobcat fire is still classified as "under investigation," federal officials are investigating Southern California Edison utility equipment around Cogswell Dam that experienced an incident minutes before the reported ignition of the fire nearby.

But after what felt like weeks of playing whack-a-mole with the unpredictable Bobcat fire, officials said Wednesday's substantial gains could be the start of a new chapter.

"We're really starting to turn a corner on this fire and getting the upper hand," Forest Service spokesman Andrew Mitchell said Wednesday.

But, Mitchell said, officials are not celebrating just yet, as the forecast calls for hot, dry weather that could help reignite the blaze. The National Weather Service said Wednesday that "temperatures will be above normal into the weekend, then a significant warming trend is forecast for early next week."

"We are expecting elevated to critical fire weather," Mitchell said. "It all depends on this weekend."
Government's covid-19 free water to all Ghanaians has been extended for another three months.

The extension takes effect from October 1 and ends on December 31.

Landlords and tanker service providers are warned against charging or selling the free water to Ghanaians within the period.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Minister for Sanitation and Water Resource Cecilia Abena-Dapaah today.

The statement noted that the extension is to enable Ghanaians continue with the protocols especially regular hand washing under running water to help combat covid-19 entirely.

Read full statement below:
The Gyaasehen of Assin Wurakese in the Assin Central Constituency of the Central Region Nana Okubra Ampomah holds the view that whatever President Akufo Addo has to offer Ghanaians has been done in his four years in office.



He believes Ghana needs a change of government to advance the national development agenda.



I wont be surprised if Nana Akufo loses in my area because he has totally failed us in terms of development. Most of the projects started by the previous government have been abandoned such as the Mahama Day Senior High School., The Clinic in my community should be upgraded to a Policlinic, our roads are also bad, we have embarked on many demonstrations over that road but yielded no results. However, know the NDC will construct it for us if we vote them into power, Nana Okubra Ampomah stated when the NDC Running mate Prof. Naana Jane Opoku Agyeman visited the area.



He noted that all the projects in his area were done by the John Dramani Mahama led NDC government such as durbar grounds, pipe-borne water, toilet facility, adding that he and his people will work hard to ensure the NDCs victory come elections.



The NDC Running mate on her part promised that the NDC government will complete all their abandoned projects when it assumes power.



She slammed the NPP government for doing nothing to improve the living condition of the people.



We will invest more in agriculture, we will supply enough fertilizer, seedlings, farm input and many to Farmers to enable them do their farming without any hindrances. The NPP government has demonstrated that it cant perform. So I recommend the John Dramani Mahama led NDC to all Ghanaians. Vote us into power to continue with the good work we left off in 2016.







Source: kasapafmonline.com









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First complete sign language Bible available after nearly 4 decades

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After nearly four decades, the completeBible is now available in American Sign Language for the first time ever.

Deaf Missions, a ministry dedicated to communicating the Gospel of Jesus with Deaf people through their heart language, culture and identity, began the project in the early 1980s.

In 2016, the mission partnered with Wycliffe USA, American Bible Society, Deaf Bible Society, Deaf Harbor, DOOR International, Pioneer Bible Translators, and Seed Company to complete the project, according to Mission Network News.

The final books needed  Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel  were completed this fall. Now, the entire Bible is available to the worlds 70 million people who are deaf for free online, through social media, and on a smartphone app. The translation was led by people who themselves are deaf and trained in the biblical languages.

Roughly 98% of the worldwide population of Deaf people have never encountered the real Jesus, notes the Deaf Missions website. What is the number one issue Deaf people face when it comes to knowing Jesus? The answer boils down to two words: communication barriers.

Deaf Missions President Chad Entinger explained to MNN in an email that the ASL Bible has garnered a tremendous and exciting reaction from the U.S. Deaf Christian community.

Doing sign language Bible translation with video drafts takes longer than text or printed drafts, according to Etinger, who added: Thanks to Gods provision through the generosity of Deaf Missions donors and funding partners, we were able to overcome funding challenges and onboard more translators to accelerate completion of the Bible, thereby finishing in 2020 instead of our original projection of 2033!

The Deaf Bible Society President J.R. Bucklew previously told The Christian Post that although there are various text translations of the Bible available, some 95% of the world's deaf population is functionally illiterate. And only 20 of the world's 400 sign languages have some form of Bible content available.

Additionally, because ASL has a different syntax than English, its important for those in the deaf community to own a Bible in sign language, he explained.

[Even] for the deaf that learn to read, it's mostly just memorizing symbols that represent a sound that they have no way to identify with," Bucklew said. "Then they are just matching symbols with things that are tangible in front of them. The spoken language in a text form is always a second language to them. They are not able to identify with them as you would a sign language."

In recent years, numerous efforts have been made to make Scripture available to the deaf, a historically underserved population.

In March, Wycliffe Associates released a translation of the New Testament in a new concept-based language called SUN (Symbolic Universal Notation), a symbolic representation of the words in Scripture.

Developed by Wycliffe Associates, SUN aims to provide a pathway to Christ for millions of people who are deaf and blind and have no other way of effectively communicating with the world.

This is the first that I have seen or heard of anything like this in Bible translation, SUN Program Director Lori Jenkins told CP. Basically, we have taken the New Testament and broken it down into the main concepts of each of the verses and each of the chapters. For each concept, we have created a symbol.

Deaf Missions and the Jesus Film Project are seeking to raise millions to create a motion picture about the life of Jesus Christ featuring actors signing in ASL.

"The heart-language, it's related to a person's identity, Etinger explained to MNN. For a person to see something in their heart language that really will capture their heart, and that person will then feel like, 'Oh my goodness, they're actually communicating to me. This is my language.
That concludes our coverage of the fallout from today's momentous verdict in the Claremont serial killer trial.

Join us again in December for Edwards' sentencing, where we will learn more about his upbringing and hear victim impact statements from Jane and Ciara's loved ones.

We will leave you with a poem Ciara's mother, Una Glennon, took comfort in following the tragic loss of her daughter.

Resquiescat

By Oscar Wilde

Tread lightly, she is near under the snow

Speak gently, she can hear the daisies grow

All her bright golden hair tarnished with rust

She that was young and fair, fallen to dust

Lily white, white as snow, she hardly knew she was woman

So sweetly she grew

Coffin board, heavy stone lie on her breast

I vex my heart alone, she is at rest

Peace, peace she cannot hear lyre or sonnet

All my life's buried here, heap earth upon it
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To the rich and famous Victorian owners of some of Cambridge's most opulent private mansions, decorator David Parr was just another working-class labourer toiling on their homes.

But he hid an incredible secret behind the door of the humble two-bedroom terraced house where he lived with his family.

Every night after packing up his paints and brushes, he would trudge back from his moneyed employers, light a candle and begin work on his own labour of love.

Over 40 years he turned his own home into a masterpiece with all the craftmanship and artistry he had acquired through his employment.

This week his extraordinary achievements were recognised as Historic England awarded the building a Grade II* listing.

It was made possible by his descendants, who lived in the house until 2013 preserving it like a time capsule, and it has since been turned into a visitor attraction showcasing his craft.

Parr bought his two-bedroom terraced home at 186 Gwydir Street in the city in 1886 and worked on it tirelessly until his death in 1927.

Behind the door of this unassuming house is an extraordinary artistic masterpiece which can now be enjoyed by a much wider audience via the socially-distanced audio tours

Inside the home of David Parr: The working-class Victorian labourer created a work of art on walls and ceilings with all-over patterns adapted from schemes he painted for his employer

David Parr worked tirelessly on his two-bedroom terraced home at 186 Gwydir Street in Cambridge from 1886 until his death in 1927

It appears in passing to be an ordinary mid-Victorian worker's terraced house, but inside Parr created a work of art, with its walls and ceilings covered in intricate patterns adapted from schemes he painted for his employer.

Parr was employed by the nationally renowned firm of artistic workmen FR Leach & Sons, which had its showroom at 3 St Mary's Passage in Cambridge.

The two properties have been listed by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on the advice of Historic England.

The intricate details on the ceilings and walls are a true work of art which can be marvelled at by people through audio tours

The incredible intricate designs and paintwork have been preserved in full for members of the public to view

The patterns and colours are in a William Morris style and have been recognised by Historic England this week

Parr painstakingly recreated some of the designs he had been using during his day job as decorator to the rich and famous

The house has been meticulously crafted and designed both inside and out and is now open to the public and operating socially-distanced audio tours as The David Parr House

Arts and Crafts: From industrial-era chaos to beauty in the everyday The Arts and Crafts movement took off in the second half of the 19th century to elevate the way society viewed design and manufacture. It was born out of the damaging effects of industrialisation and the lack of appreciation of the decorative arts. In order to develop products in a less dehumanising way, designers started to adopt new principles to the manufacturing of objects. William Morris was seen as the the father of the Arts and Crafts movement, who by the 1880s became internationally renowned as a successful designer and manufacturer. He believed in the importance of creating beautiful objects that could be used in daily life. His belief was that makers must remain connected to their product and other people. The Arts and Crafts movement was also influenced by the work of Gothic revivalist Augustus Pugin (18121852). The interior designer and architect helped challenge the mid-Victorian fashion for ornamentation. Like Morris, he focused on the medieval period as a template for good design and good living. Other key influencers were George Bodley, the Gothic Revival architect and Charles Kempe, the stained-glass artist. Advertisement

His home, now open to the public and operating socially-distanced audio tours as The David Parr House, has been listed at Grade II*, while his employer's former showroom has been listed at Grade II.

Tony Calladine, regional director for Historic England in the East of England, said: 'The listing of David Parr House and 3 St Mary's Passage gives due recognition to the unknown highly talented artists and craftsmen who brought to life the creative inspiration of celebrated designers.

'In supporting David Parr House to create a digital tour, we hope this extraordinary artistic masterpiece will be enjoyed by a much wider audience.'

Historic England awarded a Covid-19 Emergency Response Fund Resilience Grant of more than 40,000 to enable David Parr House to offer the pre-bookable digital tours.

Tamsin Wimhurst, chairwoman of trustees of David Parr House, said: 'This is wonderful recognition for all the hard work shown by everyone who helped to save and conserve the David Parr House.

'It highlights the importance of having spaces where we can celebrate ordinary working people, the beauty of making and the comfort of home.'

Parr, who together with his wife Mary Jane raised their three children Mary, David and Sarah at their house, kept a notebook in which he recorded the transformation of the house.

Alongside the painted decoration, items of joinery designed and built by Parr also survive, alongside the original curtain rails, the late 19th century toilet and the 1920s oven, which provide an almost complete picture of a house of this period.

The recent conservation of the house, which was based on detailed research and carried out with scrupulous care, has ensured its ongoing preservation.

The house is described by Historic England as a 'physical embodiment of the renaissance of crafts encouraged by the Gothic Revival and, later, the Arts and Crafts movement'.

FR Leach & Sons, whose former showroom has been listed, received the keys to 3 St Mary's Passage in 1880.

The company worked in partnership with some of the country's best-known designers and architects, notably William Morris, father of the Arts and Crafts movement; George Bodley, the Gothic Revival architect; and Charles Kempe, the stained-glass artist.

It faced financial difficulties during the First World War and the company was placed into liquidation in 1916.

The building was acquired by King's College Cambridge in 1936 and it currently operates as a shop.

The working-class Victorian labourer decorated houses and colleges around Cambridge and spent decades designing his own with scrupulous care

A fireplace in St Mary's Passage, Camrbridge, the workshop of David Parr, the Vcitorian designer and decorator who transformed the mansions of the wealthy

No part of the house is undecorated, with the artistry of Parr evident throughout the two-bedroom property
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was on Wednesday hospitalised, more than a week after he confirmed that he tested positive for coronavirus COVID-19. Sisodia was admitted to the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) Hospital after he complained of fever and oxygen.

On September 14, taking to micro-blogging site Twitter, Sisodia had asserted that he had a mild fever after which he got himself tested. He had added that after the result came positive he isolated himself. Sisodia had said that currently he doesn't have a fever or any other difficulties and is completely fine.

Live TV

"After having a mild fever, the corona test was conducted today, whose report has come positive. I have kept myself in isolation. Right now there is no fever or any other problem, I am completely fine. Soon after getting all your blessings, I will return to work," he had tweeted.

Sisodia is the second minister in the Delhi government to have tested positive for the viral infection. Earlier, Delhis Health Minister Satyendra Jain had tested positive for COVID-19.
Fort Bend County Judge KP George is always on the lookout for opportunities in his county, this time reaching out to TikTok.

TikTok, a global social network where users share their own videos, is looking for a home for its United States headquarters. It is reportedly in the process of being sold by its parent company ByteDance to Oracle and Walmart. While negotiations are ongoing for the sale, a possible ban on the company in the U.S. is pending. While legal arguments are pending in courts, George is wasting little time in letting the company know that Fort Bend County is ready for its headquarters to be based in the county.

Related: Fort Bend County's Needville High School crowns homecoming queen

In a letter to interim TikTok CEO Vanessa Pappas, George touted Fort Bend County and its diversity.

As you look to employ 25,000 additional Americans, your company would greatly benefit from learning about Fort Bend County and our extremely diverse and highly qualified workforce in addition to one of the best qualities of life a community can boast, George said in his letter dated Sept. 21.

Fort Bend County is a unique place. From the home of the original 300 families led by Stephen F. Austin to establish the State of Texas, we have now become (one of) the most-diverse and fastest-growing communities in the United States, George said. Since then we catalyzed our business climate to now become a magnet for many technology companies - most recently welcoming Amazon.com Inc., with many of the other tech companies that call Fort Bend County home.

Related: Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office prepares for National Night Out

George also touted the quality of education and affordability in the county.

Moreover, we are proud to deliver extremely high graduation rates, are one of the top per capita purchasers in the state of Texas, have many affordable, wide-open spaces, and are strategically located for the most efficient distribution of goods domestically and internationally - all resulting in a highly qualified and educated workforce that is ready to embrace the jobs of the 21st century, the countys top executive said.

George went on to invite Pappas to visit the area and see why the company should establish its headquarters in the greater Houston area.

I invite you to visit Fort Bend County and see for yourself why our community is the best place for your new global headquarters and future programs, George concluded. My team and I look forward to hearing from you.

TikTok claims to have more than 100 million users in the United States.

Previously, when Elon Musk voiced frustration with the state of California in May amid the COVID-19 shutdown, George reached out to the billionaire and said Fort Bend County was ready and willing to be the new home of Musks Tesla company.

Over 38,000 veterans call Fort Bend County home because we are one of the most welcoming and best communities to work in and call home, George said in a video addressed to Musk. From pioneers like Stephen F. Austin who started the state of Texas here to the engineers that work at NASA and call Fort Bend home, Tesla and Elon Musk would benefit from our strategic location, highly educated workforce, and a friendly business climate.

Musk did not make any announcements about moving the company.

rkent@hcnonline.com
(Natural News) What has transpired over the past several months in far-left cities like Portland, Seattle and New York City is evidence that the governments in charge of these locales have allowed them to become anarchy zones, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

In a Sept. 21 announcement, DOJ officials suggested that all the protesting  meaning chaos, looting and rioting  has so degraded the quality of life in these cities that they can no longer be regarded as existing under the rule of law, especially since government officials are doing nothing to clean up the streets.

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, stated Attorney General William Barr.

We cannot allow federal tax dollars to be wasted when the safety of the citizenry hangs in the balance, he added. 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.

Following Barrs announcement, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio  all Democrats  issued their own joint statement suggesting that the Trump administrations efforts to strip federal funding from their respective cities is thoroughly political and unconstitutional.

The President is playing cheap political games with Congressionally directed funds, they contend. 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 weve seen all along: shirking responsibility and placing blame elsewhere to cover its failure, they added.

Defunding the police is fine, just dont defund the rest of the city

In her own separate statement to The Epoch Times, Durkan suggested that by trying to defund her city rather than just the police, President Trump is engaging in a gross misuse of federal power.

Trump, the Department of Justice, and Barrs obsession with Seattle and me is irrational and most importantly, a huge distraction, she is quoted as saying.

Durkan went on to explain that regardless of what Trump does, her city will continue to remain focused in addressing what she described as the four crises in front of us: the COVID-19 pandemic, an unprecedented economic downturn, the greatest civil rights reckoning in decades, and the continued threat of climate change.

De Blasio had similar things to say, arguing that there is no anarchy in NYC because upon visiting a borough of Queens on Sept. 21 he personally saw anything but anarchy.

The DOJs designation of these three far-left cities comes on the heels of a memo issued by Trump back on Sept. 2 directing his administration to reevaluate the allocation of federal funds to several of the hot cities where protests were creating mass chaos, destruction and death.

Several of the criteria used to determine whether or not a city permit anarchy and destruction included looking at which jurisdictions forbade police officers from intervening to restore order; which jurisdictions slashed funding to police departments; and which jurisdictions refused assistance from the federal government to try to fix the problem.

Portland, Seattle, and NYC have all seen skyrocketing crime in recent weeks, including not just property destruction and thefts but also violent behavior like assaults, rapes and murders. The mayors of all three cities have nevertheless declared that they are not President Trumps political pawns, and will not be deterred from continuing on with business as usual.

They whined, along with Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser, that Trump is attack[ing] them with unlawful and unconstitutional threats of federal defunding.

For more related news, be sure to visit Trump.news.

Sources for this article include:

TheEpochTimes.com

NaturalNews.com
Vietnam proposed the establishment of an ASEAN Military Intelligence Community (AMIC) at the 17th ASEAN Military Intelligence Meeting (AMIM) held via video conference on September 22.

Director of the General Department of Military Intelligence Lt. Gen. Pham Ngoc Hung (centre) chairs the meeting. (Photo: qdnd.vn)

Director of the Ministry of Defences General Department of Military Intelligence Lt.Gen. Pham Ngoc Hung, who was also AMIM Chairman, said the AMIC will help promote exchange and cooperation among military intelligence organisations in the ASEAN member states in a more practical and efficient manner.



He said the AMIC will act as an adviser for the governments and defence ministries to handle security challenges while supporting the building of the ASEAN Community.



Hung also mentioned various issues in the region in his speech at the session, including the COVID-19 pandemic, water security in the Mekong River, and situation in the East Sea.



At the event, heads of the military intelligence organisations sharpened focus on regional security, and outlined cooperation solutions in response to the challenges.



They also looked into an AMIC inception document, and finalise the draft joint statement of the 17th ASEAN Chiefs of Defence Forces Meeting (ACDFM-17), to be submitted to the ACDFM-17 for approval.



At the end of the meeting, Lt.Gen. Hung handed over the AMIM chairmanship to representatives of the Brunei army. VNA

Disputes at sea and on land must be restrained, and force must not be used Military officers from ASEAN member states exchanged views on issues regarding regional security and measures to enhance results-oriented cooperation between the operations departments of armies in the region,
Bharat Biotech, on September 23, said it had entered into a licensing agreement with Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis for a novel chimp-adenovirus, single dose intranasal vaccine for COVID-19.

Bharat Biotech owns the rights to distribute the vaccine in all markets except USA, Japan and Europe.

While the Phase I trials will take place in St. Louis Universitys Vaccine & Treatment Evaluation Unit, Bharat Biotech, upon obtaining the required regulatory approval, will pursue further stages of clinical trials in India and undertake large scale manufacture of the vaccine at its GMP facility located in Genome Valley, Hyderabad.

An intranasal vaccine will not only be simple to administer but reduce the use of medical consumables such as needles, syringes, etc., significantly impacting the overall cost of a vaccination drive.

"We envision that we will scale this vaccine to 1 billion doses, translating to 1 billion individuals vaccinated receiving a single-dose regimen," said Krishna Ella, Chairman and Managing Director - Bharat Biotech.

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

"Our experience in viral vaccines, manufacturing capabilities, and distribution continue to be our strong suit in ensuring safe, efficacious, and affordable vaccines. It is prudent for Bharat to be involved in diverse but tenable projects to provide a much-needed vaccine against COVID-19 reaches all citizens of the world, Ella added.

The intranasal vaccine candidate has shown unprecedented levels of protection in mice studies; the technology and data having been recently published in the prestigious scientific journal Cell and in an editorial in Nature.

The ability to accomplish effective immunization with a single nasal dose is a major advantage, offering broader reach and easier administration," said Dr. David T. Curiel, MD, Ph.D., Director of Biologic Therapeutics Center and Professor of Radiation Oncology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and Precision Virologics Interim CEO said,

"An effective nasal dose not only protects against COVID-19, but it also prevents the spread of the disease by offering another kind of immunity that occurs primarily in the cells that line the nose and throat. Most other vaccine candidates currently under development cant do that, Curiel added.

This vaccine expands Bharats portfolio of vaccines that are currently being developed and are in various stages of clinical development including Covaxin which is currently in Phase II human clinical trials in India.
Rolls Royce Gets Off EV Sideline And Will Deliver Electric Rolls (Within 10 Years)













Washington DC September 22, 2020; The AIADA reported that Rolls-Royce did not officially confirm that it is developing a standalone electric car to prepare for the closing of some city centers to combustion engine cars.

At least 20 major cities globally have said they plan to ban diesel or gasoline-powered vehicles from their centers by 2030. Rolls-Royce will offer the first full electric Rolls-Royce "within this decade," CEO Torsten Muller-Otvos told Automotive News Europe in a phone interview.

Rolls-Royce is focusing on full-electric cars and will not sell a plug-in hybrid car, he said. Roll-Royce customers will appreciate electric power, which "fits perfectly" with the brand, Muller-Otvos said. "Its silent and torquey and that is the reason to go directly from combustion to electrification," he said.

Rolls-Royce's first EV is currently under development and will be built on the same aluminum spaceframe platform as the automaker's current lineup. The EV could replace the Wraith coupe and Dawn convertible, both of which are coming to the end of their lifecycle, Rolls-Royce executives hinted at a recent launch event for the new Ghost sedan.

With a paid subscription you can read more on Automotive News.
With the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and controversies surrounding mail-in ballots, there's been a growing interest in the possibility of voting online. "It would theoretically make it simpler for people," said Lawrence Norden, director of the Election Reform Program at the Brennan Center for Justice.

"They don't want to have to enter a crowded polling place, and they may not even want to have to walk out to their mailbox, depending on where they live," Norden said.

Along with countries such as Australia, Canada and France, the United States has previously experimented with the format. Thirty-two states and the District of Columbia offer some sort of internet voting through fax, e-mail or an online portal. In many cases, state departments collaborate with private election technology companies to run online elections. However, they are still mostly limited to voters in special circumstances, such as military serving overseas or civilians living abroad. In some cases, voters give up their right to anonymity when casting their ballots online.

While the idea of an online election might seem appealing, many experts remain skeptical about its validity and safety. "We collectively, the computer security community, have been looking at online voting systems for decades, and it's considered an open problem," said Dan Wallach, a computer science professor at Rice University.

"Even though there are companies that sell products in this space, absolutely no computer security expert will tell you that they are secure, because we simply don't know how to build secure online voting yet," Wallach said.

Cybersecurity remains a major issue. Voting online could mean that hackers, including foreign adversaries such as Russia or China, could interfere or manipulate the election to their advantage. Several audits of past online elections in the U.S. have revealed many security vulnerabilities.

In February, MIT reported finding severe security flaws in the online election system from Voatz, the company that ran West Virginia's first mobile election, allowing the hacker to alter, stop or expose a user's vote. Another study from MIT and the University of Michigan also revealed security concerns in Omniballot, a system used by Delaware for their online voting options.

Voatz told CNBC that "100% of the known attempts to tamper with the live election system have been thwarted successfully." Omniballot told CNBC that "sending a ballot, hosted and secured in a federally approved cloud environment, is more secure than using fax machines or email attachments."

The cybersecurity concerns led the Election Assistance Commission, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to issue guidance in May 2020, warning of the serious security risks that could be involved with conducting an election over the internet.

Even though online elections have shown great track records in countries such as Estonia, which has been voting online since 2005, experts agree that we are still far from a future where voting is as easy as a click of a button.

"Right now, online elections are an academic research project," Wallach said. "And you know, maybe in a decade we'll finally know how to do it."
Students cant learn if they arent supported mentally, physically and academically, and staff cant help if they dont have access to the right resources. Partnering with Care Solace will help us bridge this gap and offer quality, trusted mental healthcare resources to our community.

Channelview Independent School District (ISD) has selected Care Solace, an organization determined to calm the chaos of mental healthcare coordination, to extend access to mental health care and resources for families and staff. Care Solace equips school districts with a web-based tool that makes it easier to connect with both community-based and virtual mental healthcare providers and programs.

"We are incredibly excited to partner with Care Solace, and know this partnership will benefit our community in a very unique way," said Greg Ollis, Superintendent at Channelview ISD. "Mental health is not something that should be taken lightly, and we are now able to offer our staff, teachers, parents, and students an outlet for them to seek the help they need."

Located in an unincorporated area outside of Houston, Texas, 80 percent of Channelview ISD students are economically disadvantaged (TAPR, 2019). Limited community-based care resources and an increased demand for student and staff mental healthcare led the school district to seek additional support through Care Solace.

With Care Solace, families and staff gain access to a dedicated Care Concierge team, with experts available around-the-clock to guide users through processes related to insurance, provider availability, wait times and scheduling. Care Solaces care navigation system uses proprietary technology and a vast database of behavioral and mental healthcare resources to find carefully vetted therapists and programs in minutes.

Students cant learn if they arent supported mentally, physically and academically, and staff cant help if they dont have access to the right resources, said Karen Bryant, Ed.D, Director of Testing, Counseling, 504, RTI, and Dyslexia at Channelview ISD. Partnering with Care Solace will help us bridge this gap and offer quality, trusted mental healthcare resources to our community.

More than 90,000 school staff and parents at partnering school communities of Care Solace used the pre-screening tool, with at least 40,000 students receiving mental healthcare support as a result. Care Solace has facilitated an estimated 4,500 crisis interventions.

Creating a healthy environment for learning in the 2020-21 school year has arguably never been more challenging for staff and families, said Chad Castruita, founder of Care Solace. We are proud to support Channelview ISD in prioritizing the wellbeing of its school community by providing timely access into mental healthcare services.

Care Solace is now available to Channelview ISD families and staff. For more information about Care Solace, please visit https://home.caresolace.com/.

About Channelview ISD

The Channelview Independent School District is a rapidly growing school district with 9,500 students. The mission of CISD is to provide an educational program which will develop and enhance our students' intellectual, social, emotional and physical growth in order to encourage them to become creative, responsible, patriotic contributing members of society. Inherent within this mission is the belief that all students can learn, and that school can make a difference in the lives of its students. Channelview ISD is a 6A school district located in an unincorporated area situated on the Houston Ship Channel approximately 15 miles east of downtown Houston. The district has twelve campuses, an administration building, fairgrounds, maintenance headquarters and a transportation facility. There is a Pre-K center, seven elementary schools, two junior high schools, one ninth grade center, one high school, an alternative high school.

About Care Solace

Care Solace is on a mission to calm the chaos associated with mental healthcare coordination for high school and college students. The organizations web-based system works alongside multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) as a tool for school staff and families to connect with community-based mental healthcare resources and providers. The proprietary care navigation system taps into a vast database of mental healthcare resources to find carefully vetted local therapists and programs in minutes. In 2019, more than 80,000 school staff and parents used the Care Solace pre-screening tool. At least 30,000 students received mental healthcare support as a result. To learn more, visit http://www.caresolace.com.
Second Lady Karen Pence will campaign on behalf of President Donald Trump in Holland and Grand Rapids Friday.

The Trump campaign is sending Pence, wife of Vice President Mike Pence, to West Michigan for events focused on evangelical and women supporters. The campaign stops target two traditionally Republican-voting counties where both parties are trying to increase turnout in November.

Pence will visit Baker Lofts in Holland at 11 a.m. Friday, then head to New Vintage Place in Grand Rapids for another event at 12:30 p.m. The visits come in the same week Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris visited Flint and Detroit.

The Trump campaign is allowing members of the public to register online for a ticket to both events. Doors open an hour before the events are scheduled to begin.

According to the campaign webpage, anyone who registers for the events must acknowledge that an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present. Anyone who attends the events cant hold the campaign liable for any illness or injury.

Trump won Michigan by 10,704 votes in 2016, the smallest margin of any state but enough to flip it after nearly 30 years of Michigan supporting Democrats for president.

Trump won Ottawa County, surrounding Holland, and Kent County, surrounding Grand Rapids.

However, Kent County was among a handful of counties where Trump gained fewer Republican votes in than the previous election. Trump earned less support in Kent than Mitt Romney in 2012, and only a 300 more votes in Oakland County.

Democrats are emboldened by a competitive U.S. House race in Michigans 3rd Congressional District. Outgoing U.S. Rep. Justin Amash, I-Cascade Township, left the Republican Party over its support for Trump, flirted with a presidential run and ultimately declined to run for reelection.

The Biden campaign sent Jill Biden, wife of the presidential candidate, to Grand Rapids last week. She toured a food bank, then traveled south to Battle Creek.
2020 Fox Media LLC. (LOS ANGELES) -- Liv Tyler has departed 9-1-1: Lone Star due to concerns surrounding COVID-19.

The 43-year-old actress, who starred as EMS Captain Michelle Blake for one season, will not return for season two of Fox series, according to Deadline.

Tyler currently resides in London with her partner and two of her children. The uncertainty of the fall transmission rates for COVID-19, in addition to having to travel from London to Los Angeles, were reportedly part of the reasons why she will not be a part of the new season.

Tyler's role will not be recast or killed off, with producers having an open door policy for her to return, should she choose to do so.

What a thrill it was having a movie star of Liv Tylers stature to help us launch the first season of 9-1-1: Lone Star. We loved working with Liv and will be forever indebted to her for her haunting, powerful portrayal of Michelle Blake," 9-1-1 co-creator Tim Minear says in a statement. "While we were able to tell a complete chapter in Michelles story, as with Connie Britton on our mothership, we also feel like there are more stories to be told. The door here will always be open for a return."

9-1-1: Lone Star stars Rob Lowe in the lead role of Owen Strand, a New York firefighter who moves to Austin, Texas, working to save lives while navigating his own personal problems.

Production on season two is expected to start next month.

Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.


UPPER THUMB  Before the state reached an agreement on the 2020-2021 budget agreement, Tuscola County Commissioners spent most of a recent meeting arguing over finances.

It is Tuscola County Controller-Administrator Clayette Zechmeister's job to put together next years budget. She explained to board members how the CARES Act payments the county receives are different from the standard revenue sharing counties receive from the state.

Zechmeister reported that according to the Michigan Department of Treasury, the state will use money it receives from the U.S. that exceeds what was originally projected to help fill the hole in the 2021 budget.

Where did you get that information?" Commissioner Dan Grimshaw asked. "Who said there would be increased revenue? Ive done research. Thats not true.

Zechmeister tried to answer, but Grimshaw spoke over her response.

During, the consensus report meeting on Aug. 24, it was announced a $936 million loss for this year," Grimshaw said. "For next year, for 2021-2022, the state is looking at a combined hole of $4.2 billion. Whatever person at the treasury tried to claim increased revenue is untrue.

She started to respond with an explanation when Grimshaw cut her answer off.

There is not a surplus," he said. "They are taking money out of fund balances. They took $2.7 billion of CARES money to fill the state budget, and they still have and estimated $936 million loss for this year. That is what is in the consensus report. I read it from three different sources. So whatever numbers someone is giving you, are not accurate at all.

She said she received the information from the economic director of the office of revenue and tax analyst with the Michigan Department of Treasury, which is part of the revenue consensus.

There are a lot of rainy-day funds left, she started to explain before she was cut off again.

No, there is not," Grimshaw said. "If there was, they would have back-filled all of this a long time ago. They are projecting a general fund decline of $384 million for next year, and a school aid deficit of $12.4 million. Do you really believe they will cut schools money to fund revenue sharing that isnt even mandated or required by law? Youre dreaming.

Grimshaw noted that revenue sharing comes from sales tax, so there could not be an increase in revenue when about 50% of the businesses are shut down.

Mr. Grimshaw, Im basing what Im saying on what Im seeing in front of me from the Michigan Economic Update that consumer spending is up 5.43%, where

Each time Zechmeister tried to explain, Grimshaw would cut her off.

Commissioner Mark Jensen asked Grimshaw to give her a chance to talk.

I am not denying the state budget will have a hole to fill for 2021, but the state projections are looking better than what they originally thought, Zechmeister said after the meeting was over.

Although Zechmeister has been the countys controller-administrator for a year, she worked for 20 years in the controller-administrators office, and had been the countys chief accountant since 2004 before changing positions.

Mr. Grimshaw brings a lot of outside information, but she has to go by what she is given and has to proceed with what the state says, said Commissioner Tom Young. She has to figure the budget on information she gets from Lansing.

Zechmeister also tried to address how she is developing the countys 2021 budget in trying to follow the commissioners directive about having departments cut 3% of their budget. In the confusion, it was not made clear about what was said about not denying pay increases but yet cutting 3% of the budget.

That is a quandary because the largest parts of budgets are typically wages and benefits.
A Sudbury, Mass., 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 told the high school to remain remote for 14 days from the date of the party. The district had planned for a hybrid model to start the school year, but the hybrid model will not happen 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 has said. 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.

The Washington Post reports that officers responded to the house party about 10 p.m. on Sept. 11 after someone called to report a large, underage drinking party, police said. They found at least 50 teenage partyers inside. The officers stepped over beer cans and cups full of booze strewn around the yard as teens sprinted away from the scene. Several of the partygoers threatened the officers, police said, and more than a dozen gave fake names.

More:

9 students suspended for posting porn, threatening teachers in virtual classes, N.J. school district says

Avoid traditional trick-or-treating, the CDC says in Halloween 2020 guidelines
A group of clinicians from the National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS), Singapore General Hospital (SGH), and Duke-NUS Medical School has partnered Biobot Surgical Pte Ltd, one of Singapore's pioneers in the field of medical robotics technology, to develop a robot that automates nasal swabbing needed to diagnose COVID-19.

Nasal swab is the preferred method of gathering the specimen as it gives the best yield for processing by laboratory.

Known as SwabBot, the robot was born to help address the limitations of manual COVID-19 swabbing by reducing swabbers' risk of exposure to the virus, reducing the need for trained manpower, standardising the consistency of swabs taken and providing greater throughput of swab tests, as the robot does not suffer from fatigue and remains efficient throughout the day.

Overall, the duration of the test is just 20 seconds from start to finish.

The project was initiated in April 2020, by a diverse group of clinicians from numerous specialties, including Head & Neck Surgery, Vascular Surgery, Internal Medicine and Otorhinolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery.

The team identified the need to perform nasal swabs for COVID-19 safely, quickly and consistently, in order to reduce swabbers' risk of exposure and improve patient experience.

They collaborated with Biobot Surgical to develop the concept into a clinical prototype within three months. Principal Investigator Dr Rena Dharmawan, Associate Consultant in Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Surgery and Surgical Oncology at NCCS, and Clinical Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Centre of Technology & Development (CTeD) at DukeNUS Medical School, said "Our team felt that we had to find a better way to swab patients to reduce the risk of exposure of COVID-19 to our healthcare workers, especially when patients sneeze or cough, during the swabbing process."

"With SwabBot, healthcare workers can assist with the swabbing process from a safe distance. It also helps to optimise resources as fewer healthcare workers are needed to do the swab collection, and less Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is utilised," said Dr Rena who is also an alumnus of Duke-NUS.

SwabBot is a self-administered robot which allows individuals being swabbed to activate and terminate the swabbing process at will. When ready, they use their chin to activate the robot and begin the swabbing process.

The robot extends the swab safely and gently through the nose to the back of the nasal cavity, which is typically about 10cm from the nostrils.

The robotic swabbing process takes about 20 seconds to complete. To ensure the safety of the individual, the robot has a built-in feature, which retracts the swab stick if there is resistance when moving deeper into the nasal cavity.

In the unlikely case that the individual is unable to tolerate the process, they can terminate it by moving their head away from the robot.

We are thankful for the synergistic collaboration between our team of clinicians and engineering inventors. SwabBotTM never needs to stop for lunch and never suffers from fatigue. Even after many swabs, it retains the same gentle touch and precision as surgeons who perform very delicate procedures. Furthermore, the sample quality remains consistent even though nose structures can vary in size and shapes. What's even better, individuals are in full control of the swabbing process throughout!" Dr Luke Tay, Consultant, Department of Vascular Surgery, SingHealth

To date, 75 SGH and Bright Vision Hospital patients have been recruited for the ongoing clinical trial comparing SwabBot to manual swabbing done by humans. Mr Ariata Elizer Ellevera, a 49-year-old migrant worker admitted to Bright Vision Hospital for COVID-19 who was recruited for the clinical trial said, "I'm glad I signed up for the trial. The experience was painless, and the process of swabbing by the robot was very quick."

22 year old Mr Sean Woon, who was a volunteer in the clinical trial shared, "I felt pretty comfortable throughout the process. Compared to my past swabbing experience I had with human hands, the process with the SwabBot was faster and less painful."

Using technology to improve diagnostic and treatment accuracy Mr Sim Kok Hwee, CEO of Biobot Surgical and its holding company ZIG Ventures, is thankful for the introduction to the SingHealth clinicians by a mutual friend, Mr Abel Ang, CEO of Advanced Medtech, and also the rapid pace at which the concept was rapidly prototyped by a diversified engineering company, Zicom Group.

"When we developed the SwabBot, we envisaged a self-swabbing device that could be deployed and used, similar to how self-check out systems are now prevalent in the supermarkets. This should be especially effective for rostered routine testing and reduce manpower involved in swabbing operations."

SingHealth, the public healthcare cluster which NCCS and SGH are part of, has filed a patent for this technology together with Biobot Surgical Pte Ltd. SwabBot has been registered with the Health Science Authority as a Class A medical device and BioBot is in preparation for CE marking for global commercialisation.

The team is confident that SwabBot will be an invaluable addition to Singapore's COVID-19 testing to complement manual swabbing in the near future.
Two hikers stopped to capture the grandeur of the middle falls on the Glen Onoko Falls Trail in Jim Thorpe in April 2019, just weeks before the Pennsylvania Game Commission closed the main trail for safety reasons. Nearly a dozen fatalities, along with numerous injuries, have been reported there over the last half-century. Read more

When Haley Briner took a day trip recently to a clear Pennsylvania stream that cut through deep, rocky gorges, she posted photos in a Facebook group dedicated to hiking and backpacking.

Thats when the usual questions came pouring in.

Where is that?

Can you please give a location?

Location? Beautiful!

Briner, 22, a Harrisburg native, didnt keep the bucolic swimming hole a secret: She told everyone she went to Rock Run, north of Williamsport in the McIntyre Wild Area. Its been described as the prettiest stream in Pennsylvania, and at least one person in the Facebook group chided Briner for divulging the name.

Dont tell the location!!!!! Its already too crowded, the member commented.

The debate over geotagging, which simply adds geographic data and location to photos of a scenic overlook, mountain summit, quaint cabin, fishing spot, or even a sunflower field, is worldwide.

Countless media reports have been written about people allegedly loving nature to death. Opponents of tagging locations on social media say the practice can lead to overuse, to crowds who leave trash and graffiti and even damage rock structures. Opposition hashtags including #nogeotags and #secretplaces have popped up on social media. Danielle Williams, founder of Melanin Base Camp, a group that aims to increase ethnic minority and LGBT participation in the outdoors, said opponents of tagging are acting as gatekeepers.

It involves individuals  usually those unaffected by structural racism and privileged to have grown up hiking and camping  asserting their self-proclaimed authority over who should and shouldnt be allowed into certain outdoor spaces, Williams wrote in 2019.

 READ MORE: Could a coronavirus shutdown of the Appalachian Trail threaten a historic Pennsylvania hotel?

Proponents of tagging say its only fair that choosing to keep those locations a secret goes against the spirit of the outdoors. Briner said she divulged her swimming hole because its not a well-kept secret, and because she thinks everyone has a right to visit.

Honestly, its bittersweet, she said. I was 13 when I started hiking and Ive seen a change over the last two years, with places being littered with graffiti and trash. But at the same time, I wouldnt know about these spots if someone hadnt told me.

 READ MORE: Millions of young men toiled in FDRs tree army to help end the Great Depression. Could it work again?

In Philadelphia, trash left behind at the popular Devils Pool swimming hole along the Wissahickon Creek have prompted complaints from locals. One city councilmember suggested filling in the hole with rocks. In 2018, the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics released guidelines for geotagging, which amounted to think before you do it and encouraged the ideal of leaving no trace of your visit behind, be it trash, the rocks you stacked atop one another, or even human waste.

Tagging difficult trails, knife-edge approaches to high summits, or waterfalls can get beginners into trouble. Many people have died while trying to take photos outdoors. Last year, the Pennsylvania Game Commission shut down one of the states most popular, Instagram-worthy trails  Glen Onoko Falls in Carbon County  because of ongoing injuries on the steep, rugged terrain. Nearly a dozen fatalities have been reported there over the last half-century.

In New Jersey, the Pinelands are both a playground for off-road enthusiasts and ATV riders  some of them riding illegally  and a sensitive and unique ecological home to species found in few other places.

We think it is great that people share their favorite places and experiences in the Pines, but we have to caution to not share location information of threatened or endangered species, said Jason Howell of the Pinelands Preservation Alliance. It is an unfortunate reality that some of the most at-risk wildlife in the Pine Barrens can be harmed by drawing too many people into certain critical habitats without careful management.

 READ MORE: Are social-distancing ambassadors any match for record Wissahickon crowds?

The Keystone Trails Association, a nonprofit aimed at protecting trails and promoting hiking in Pennsylvania, has not taken an official position on geotagging, according to executive director Joe Neville. He said the pandemic, however, has propelled many more people into the outdoors, where the risk of contracting COVID-19 is lower. Neville said the Lancaster County Conservancy has had to restrict usage of some of its trails because of overcrowding and overuse.

Does geotagging exacerbate these problems? Probably to some extent, Neville wrote in an email. However, does it also promote greater participation in outdoor activities? Probably.
The government has recommended the adjournment of Rajya Sabha sine die, Union Minister of State (MoS) for Parliamentary Affairs, V Muraleedharan informed the House during the ongoing Monsoon Session on September 23.

"I have to inform members that the government has decided to recommend adjournment of the House sine die today. Some important legislative business passed by Lok Sabha has to be disposed of before the adjournment," the MoS said.

A meeting of Business Advisory Committee (BAC) was convened on Tuesday to allow time for government legislative business, the Minister said.

"If the House agrees, the suggested time allotment to the Bills may be accepted," he told the House.

Rajya Sabha Chairperson M Venkaiah Naidu told the Minister in response that it was up to the chair to announce when to adjourn the House.

Once I am convinced that the business we have been given is totally completed, the House can be adjourned," Naidu said.

The decision comes amid Opposition parties boycotting Rajya Sabha over farm Bills and many parliamentarians testing positive for COVID-19. The BAC meeting held yesterday was boycotted by the Opposition.

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, who are back from 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 government is also expected to recommend sine die adjournment of Lok Sabha session, that resumes at 6 pm, according to reports.

Wednesday is the tenth day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament that began on September 14, under the shadow of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and is 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.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 10:33:41|Editor: huaxia

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CAIRO, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi said Tuesday that the various hotspot issues that weigh on regional peace and stability should be solved via political means based on relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

Sisi's remarks came during his address to the general debate of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly via videoconference.

Political settlement of such issues under the auspices of the UN is of particular importance, as it coincides with the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the UN and the outbreak of the novel coronavirus pandemic that has causes huge human losses and profound economic and social impacts, said Sisi.

On the Libyan crisis, he said Egypt adheres to the UN-brokered political settlement path to solve the conflict in the oil-rich country on the basis of the political agreement signed in Sukhirat as well as the outcomes of the Berlin conference and the "Cairo Declaration."

He noted that the repercussions of the crisis also affect the security of neighboring countries and international stability, stressing that Egypt is determined to support the Libyans to get rid of terrorist organizations and militias.

The Egyptian president also said that his country will also work to stop the blatant interference of some regional parties that intend to bring foreign fighters to Libya to achieve their ambitions.

Speaking about the Palestinian cause, Sisi said the Palestinian people are still looking for the most basic of human rights, which is living in their independent state side by side with the rest of the region.

The international community must reactivate its commitment to achieve the long-awaited peace and confront the measures of seizing Palestinian lands, stressing that such actions undermine the foundations of the peace settlement and the two-state solution adopted by international resolutions, the Egyptian leader said.

Meanwhile, Sisi said a comprehensive political solution to the Syrian crisis has become an urgent matter to extinguish the flames of war and implement all elements of a political settlement in accordance with Security Council Resolution 2254.

He said that the solution should be implemented in a way that achieves the unity and territorial integrity of Syria, the integrity of its institutions, and the aspirations of its people.

Regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), Sisi said Egyptians are concerned about the building of the mega project.

He said that Egypt has spent nearly a full decade in negotiations with Sudan and Ethiopia, seeking to reach an agreement that organizes the filling and operation of the dam and achieves the required balance between the development requirements of the Ethiopian people and safeguarding Egypt's water interests.

Over the course of the current year, Sisi said, Egypt has gone through successive rounds of intensive negotiations where the U.S. administration has made efforts to bring the positions of the three countries closer through the talks it sponsored with the assistance of the World Bank over a period of several months.

"We were also sincerely engaged in the discussions that took place at the initiative of my brother, the Prime Minister of Sudan. Afterwards, we participated in the negotiations that the Republic of South Africa called for as the current chair of the African Union, but unfortunately, these efforts did not lead to the desired results," Sisi said.

Sisi added that the Nile River is not the monopoly of a party, and its water is a necessity for the survival of Egypt.

The UN Security Council's response to Egypt's call to hold a consultation session on the GERD on June 29 confirmed the seriousness of this issue and its direct connection with preserving international peace and security, Sisi said.

"The Egyptian President stressed that the negotiation period should not be extended indefinitely," he said, noting that the peoples of the two countries yearn for stability, development, and a promising new era of cooperation. Enditem
A Perovskite thin film electrode, on a ZrO2 crystal. Credit: TU Wien

Electrochemistry is playing an increasingly important role: Whether it is fuel cells, electrolysis or chemical energy storage, chemical reactions controlled by electric current are used. The decisive factor in all these applications is that the reactions are as fast and efficient as possible.

An important step forward has now been taken by a team from TU Wien (Vienna) and DESY in Hamburg: They showed that a special material made of lanthanum, strontium, iron and oxygen can be switched back and forth between two different states: In one state the material is catalytically extremely active, in the other less so. The reason for this is the behavior of tiny iron nanoparticles on the surface, which has now been demonstrated in experiments at the German Electron Synchrotron DESY in Hamburg. This finding should now make it possible to develop even better catalysts. The result has been published in the journal Nature Communications.

Electrical voltage causes oxygen ions to migrate

"We have been using perovskites for our electrochemical experiments for years," says Prof. Alexander Opitz from the Institute of Chemical Technologies and Analytics. "Perovskites are a very diverse class of materials, some of them are excellent catalysts." The surface of the perovskites can help to bring certain reactants into contact with each otheror to separate them again. "Above all, perovskites have the advantage that they are permeable to oxygen ions. Therefore, they can conduct electric current, and we are taking advantage of this."

When an electrical voltage is applied to the perovskite, oxygen ions are released from their place within the crystal and start to migrate through the material. If the voltage exceeds a certain value, this leads to iron atoms in the perovskite migrating as well. They move to the surface and form tiny particles there, with a diameter of only a few nanometers. Essentially, these nanoparticles are excellent catalysts.

"The interesting thing is that if one reverses the electric voltage, the catalytic activity decreases again. And so far the reason for this was unclear," says Alexander Opitz. "Some people suspected that the iron atoms would simply migrate back into the crystal, but that's not true. When the effect takes place, the iron atoms do not have to leave their place on the material surface at all."

Analysis with X-rays at DESY

The research team at TU Wien collaborated with a team at the Electron Synchrotron in Hamburg (DESY) to precisely analyze the structure of the nanoparticles with X-rays while the chemical processes take place. It turned out that the nanoparticles change back and forth between two different statesdepending on the voltage applied: "We can switch the iron particles between a metallic and an oxidic state," says Opitz. The applied voltage determines whether the oxygen ions in the material are pumped towards the iron nanoparticles or away from them. This allows to control how much oxygen is contained in the nanoparticles, and depending on the amount of oxygen, the nanoparticles can form two different structuresan oxygen-rich one, with low catalytic activity, and an oxygen-poor, i.e. metallic one, which is catalytically very active.

"This is a very important finding for us," he says. "If the switching between the two states were caused by the iron atoms of the nanoparticle diffusing back into the crystal, very high temperatures would be needed to make this process run efficiently. Now that we understand that the activity change is not related to the diffusion of iron atoms but to the change between two different crystal structures, we also know that comparatively low temperatures can be sufficient. This makes this type of catalyst even more interesting because it can potentially be used to accelerate technologically relevant reactions."

From hydrogen to energy storage

This catalytic mechanism is now to be further investigated, also for materials with slightly different compositions. It could increase the efficiency of many applications. "This is particularly interesting for chemical reactions that are important in the energy sector," says Opitz. "For example, when it comes to the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas, or to energy storage by producing fuel with electric current."

Explore further Platinum and iron oxide working together get the job done

More information: Alexander K. Opitz et al. Understanding electrochemical switchability of perovskite-type exsolution catalysts, Nature Communications (2020). Journal information: Nature Communications Alexander K. Opitz et al. Understanding electrochemical switchability of perovskite-type exsolution catalysts,(2020). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18563-w
WASHINGTON, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Lupus Foundation of America and Lupus Canada today announced Leslie Skeith, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor in the Division of Hematology & Hematological Malignancies, University of Calgary and Megan Barber, MD, PhD, clinical lecturer in the Division of Rheumatology, University of Calgary as the 2020 Lupus Canada Catalyst Award recipients.

The award supports and provides funding for one year to Canadian researchers at any stage in their career as they embark on innovative research projects that can advance the field and significantly impact the lives of people with lupus.

"We are dedicated to uniting lupus researchers and experts to identify the cause, control the symptoms of and ultimately discover a cure for lupus," said Stevan W. Gibson, president and CEO, Lupus Foundation of America. "Our partnership with Lupus Canada for the Lupus Canada Catalyst Award increases the impact of lupus research in North America as we work to accelerate lupus research."

"As the only Canadian national organization dedicated to lupus research, Lupus Canada plays a leadership role in drawing upon the best resources from across the country and focuses on priorities that benefit all people impacted by lupus. We are confident our partnership with the Lupus Foundation of America through the Catalyst Grant program will help to further advance lupus research as we support the brightest researchers in North America," shared Tanya Carlton, President, Lupus Canada.

Under the mentorship of Dr. Ann Clarke, Dr. Skeith and Dr. Barber will be researching why pregnancy complications occur in women with lupus and antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), an autoimmune disorder and acquired blood clotting condition that is commonly seen in people with lupus.

Using a new test to study activation of the complement system  a system of proteins in the immune system  along with new high-resolution platelet imaging, Drs. Skeith and Barber will study the changes in the complement system and platelets in pregnant patients with lupus to see how the two systems may be linked. The study will help better identify how the problems of pregnancy happen in women with lupus and APS in order to better predict who may develop complications, and to study targeted therapies to improve outcomes for mothers and their babies.

"Despite standard treatments during pregnancy for people with lupus who have APS, there is still a high chance of serious problems like preeclampsia and pregnancy loss. With support from Lupus Canada's Lupus Canada Catalyst Award and the Lupus Foundation of America, our study will bring a better understanding to why these complications occur so we can predict and prevent these problems in future pregnancies," shared Dr. Skeith. "We are tackling this important problem with experts in different areas, including hematologists, rheumatologists, laboratory scientists and a patient representative with lupus, so we can also bring in the patient perspective."

Learn more about the Lupus Canada Catalyst Grant and the awardees.

About Lupus

Lupus is an unpredictable and misunderstood autoimmune disease that ravages different parts of the body. It is difficult to diagnose, hard to live with and a challenge to treat. Lupus is a cruel mystery because it is hidden from view and undefined, has a range of symptoms, strikes without warning, and has no known cause and no known cure. Its health effects can range from a skin rash to a heart attack. Lupus is debilitating and destructive and can be fatal, yet research on lupus remains underfunded relative to diseases of similar scope and devastation.

About the Lupus Foundation of America

The Lupus Foundation of America is the national force devoted to solving the mystery of lupus, one of the world's cruelest, most unpredictable and devastating diseases, while giving caring support to those who suffer from its brutal impact. Through a comprehensive program of research, education, and advocacy, we lead the fight to improve the quality of life for all people affected by lupus. Learn more about the Lupus Foundation of America at lupus.org.

About Lupus Canada

Lupus Canada is a non-profit organization dedicated to the mission and vision of improving the lives of Canadians living with lupus through research, advocacy, public awareness and education. No other Canadian organization provides a bigger opportunity to make an impact on lupus and those who live with this debilitating disease. Learn more about Lupus Canada at lupuscanada.org.

Contact:

Mike Donnelly

[email protected]

(202) 349-1162

SOURCE Lupus Foundation of America

Related Links

http://www.lupus.org


Kassanndra Cantrell (pictured) was found dead on Tuesday nearly a month after she went missing in Washington state

The body of a pregnant woman has been found 'wrapped up' and her ex-boyfriend arrested on a murder charge after a month-long search for her in Washington state.

Kassanndra Cantrell, 33, vanished in late August after nobody saw or heard from her in two days and she failed to attend a doctor's appointment despite her pregnancy.

Her car was found abandoned in Tacoma and detectives searched nearby houses in a desperate four-week hunt, which ended on Tuesday when her remains were found using GPS data from her ex-boyfriend's truck.

The ex-boyfriend, 37-year-old Colin Patrick Dudley, was arrested yesterday afternoon and is being held in a Pierce County jail on suspicion of murder.

Dudley was arrested by a SWAT team from the Pierce County Sheriff's Office after his truck was seized in a search warrant at his home earlier this month.

Detectives spotted the truck and identified its license plate in surveillance footage which showed him walking from Cantrell's car to a nearby parking garage.

Cantrell's white Mazda 3 sedan had been found abandoned near the Tacoma Dome with no sign of the 33-year-old nearby.

Her family raised the alarm on August 27 after she had 'not returned home and not been seen or heard from in two days'.

She had also missed a doctor's appointment which was reportedly the first ultrasound scan of her pregnancy.

A SWAT team took a suspect into custody on Tuesday after Cantrell's body was found nearly a month following her disappearance in Tacoma, Washington

The search for Cantrell ended on Tuesday when the pregnant 33-year-old's remains were found using GPS data from her ex-boyfriend's truck

On the day Cantrell went missing, friends said she may have planned to go to a grocery store, but detectives found no signs of financial activity to suggest that she did this.

Detectives said they were 'concerned' because there was no activity on her phone at all in what her family said was an 'unusual' lack of contact.

Dudley's home was searched on September 1 after he was identified as the man in the footage and his truck was seized.

According to Q13, Dudley raised further suspicion by claiming not to have seen or spoken to Cantrell in years - despite phone records allegedly proving this was untrue.

Cantrell was said to be 'over the moon' about her pregnancy and had already started buying baby clothes and toys.

Police cars on the side of a road during the investigation into Kassanndra Cantrell's disappearance in Washington state

However, although she had told relatives that Dudley was the father of her unborn child, she was reluctant to tell Dudley himself, it is claimed.

Cantrell was allegedly alarmed by Dudley's long-ago remark that he would take legal action if his girlfriend got pregnant 'just to spite the mother'.

Using the GPS data from Dudley's truck, detectives found a 'set of human remains that were wrapped and disposed of over a steep hillside along Chambers Creek', the sheriff's office said.

Rescuers 'performed a high-angle ropes operation to recover the remains, which are believed to be Kassanndra Cantrell' pending confirmation from a medical examiner.

Jail records show that Dudley was booked shortly before 6pm on Tuesday evening and faces charges in Pierce County's Superior Court.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 23

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

Exports of electrical goods from Turkey to Kazakhstan rose by 2.64 percent in the past eight months of 2020, compared to the same period of 2019, making up $55.6 million, the Turkish Trade Ministry told Trend.

In August 2020, Turkeys export of electrical goods to Kazakhstan surged by 55.62 percent compared to August 2019, having exceeded $16.7 million, said the ministry.

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.

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.

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
Asserting that India has accorded high priority to ending by 2025, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Wednesday said the number of missing TB patients significantly reduced from 1 million in 2016 to less than 0.5 million in 2019.

Addressing ministers of WHO member nations, heads and representatives of UN agencies and partner organizations via video conference, Vardhan spoke on India's role and contribution towards strengthening multisectoral action and progress towards ending TB, especially in the context of the COVID-19 crisis.

"Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has accorded high priority for ending by 2025, five years ahead of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)," he said



" has been in existence since time immemorial and continues to remain a major global public health problem. Despite the progress made over the last decade, TB remains the leading infectious killer disease worldwide," the minister was quoted as saying in an official statement.

Lauding India's efforts towards eradication of tuberculosis, Vardhan said with bold and innovative policies supported by commensurate resources, India has taken several critical steps towards ending the disease.

"We have significantly reduced the number of missing TB patients from one million in 2016 to less than 0.5 million in 2019, with 2.4 million cases notified during the year," Vardhan said.

Most importantly, a third of these notifications were contributed by the private sector, he said.

"With the scale-up of rapid molecular diagnostics in every district of the country, we were able to identify over 66,000 drug-resistant TB patients in 2019."



About the COVID-19 pandemic, Vardhan said it has "brought a dramatic shift in our lives in more ways than one".

He pointed out how public discourse on health has now taken centre stage.

"There is heightened public health awareness among the public today. COVID-19 and its highly contagious nature have created a huge health-related risk perception across the globe," Vardhan said.

The Union health minister also highlighted India's role and contribution towards ending TB in the context of the COVID-19 crisis, and the multi-sectoral actions taken by India to curb and manage the pandemic in the country.

"I would say the COVID-19 pandemic has given us the opportunity to structurally re-imagine our core public health delivery systems. Innovations, such as doorstep delivery of drugs to TB patients, teleconsultation, active screening for TB through outreach activities etc. have proved to be a boon for many patients during the lockdown," Vardhan said.

"We are also observing that from a mere patient-centric care approach, the systems may need strengthening around community-centric health approaches. Social and environmental determinants need to be addressed in the process too," he said.

Disease surveillance and enforcing public health regulations will become rigorous and not remain a matter of individual choice, Vardhan said.

"We all know that the onset of the pandemic has resulted in setbacks to case finding efforts during the lockdown period, but as soon as it was lifted, case finding numbers have started rising. In fact, we reached a historic low in April with lockdown in full force, but through sustained efforts, we have managed an increase of 43 per cent in May and another 25 per cent in June," Vardhan said.

"As we gradually unlock the country we will be back in full gear. To mitigate the impact, we have been issuing constant advisories to the states to ensure convergence of TB case finding with COVID-19 efforts," he said.

Vardhan also underlined that poverty is a powerful determinant of tuberculosis and undernutrition an important risk factor of developing active TB disease.

"To address this, we are providing cash incentives through Direct Benefit Transfers for nutritional support and since April 2018, Rs 7.9 billion (around USD 110 million) have been distributed to over 3 million beneficiaries. Affordable and quality TB care is a priority for our government," he asserted.

Vardhan reaffirmed the commitment of the Indian government to TB elimination and assured that the government has accorded topmost priority to this agenda.

He informed the participants that various steps have been taken by the government to boost the confidence of the public so that they join with complete enthusiasm to make this into a 'citizens' movement'.

"Community engagement is the hallmark of fighting a pandemic and we are ensuring this happens," the minister 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.)
With his beard, his burliness, his ready smile and his clear, steady, British-accented voice, the physician and writer Oliver Sacks was perhaps the Platonic ideal of the avuncular white male genius. But as comfortable and comforting a figure as he became, Sacks, who died in 2015 at age 82, of cancer, was for a long time a traumatized, troubled man.

The neurologist and author recounts anguish, alienation and drug addiction in the book On The Move, which this documentary, directed by Ric Burns, shows Sacks seeing to publication in the months before his death.

A deftly edited mix of archival footage, still imagery, talking-head interviews and in-the-moment narrative, His Own Life  which in a perfect world would be a companion piece to Sackss book, not the substitute some might make it  illuminates details of what can only be called an extraordinary existence.
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A former traffic police officer who claims to be the reincarnation of Jesus has been arrested in a special operation staged by Russian security agents.

Sergei Torop, who is known to his followers as Vissarion, was arrested along with two other leaders of the group, Vadim Redkin and Vladimir Vedernikov.

Russias investigative committee said it would charge him with organising an illegal religious organisation, alleging that the cult extorted money from followers and subjected them to emotional abuse.

A spokeswoman for Russias Investigations Committee said that the group is suspected of establishing a religious association whose activities involve violence against individuals and of inflicting grievous bodily harm to two or more people.

They used the money of [their followers] and also used psychological violence against them, she is quoted as saying by state media.

The 59-year-old cult leader, who lost his job as a traffic officer in 1989, claimed he experienced an awakening as the Soviet regime began to collapse. In 1991 he founded a movement now known as the Church of the Last Testament and has written a ten-volume sequel to the Bible.

In 2002, told the Guardian UK: I am not God. And it is a mistake to see Jesus as God. But I am the living word of God the father. Everything that God wants to say, he says through me.

Several thousand followers live in a series of remote hamlets in the Krasnoyarsk region in Siberia. Converts to the cult have included professionals from across Russia as well as pilgrims from abroad.

In an interview with the BBC three years ago, Torop said: We have a school of noble maidens here. Were 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.

Torop is reported to have two wives with six children. Veganism is enforced and monetary exchange is banned inside the commune. Followers wear austere clothing and count years starting from 1961, the year of Vissarions birth, while Christmas has been replaced by a feast day on 14 January, his birthday.

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Many frauds also sought cash and personal information from consumers. The F.B.I. issued a warning in June when scammers were advertising fraudulent coronavirus antibody tests.

The number of reports of fraud has declined since the spring, the data shows.

There is often an increase in fraudulent activity after disease outbreaks and natural disasters such as wildfires and hurricanes. Suspected fraud or fraudulent activity can be reported to the National Center for Disaster Fraud.

Charity Navigator and GuideStar, which rate nonprofits based on their effectiveness and financial condition, can also help consumers evaluate whether a solicitation of a charitable donation is legitimate.

Many scammers posed as sources of coronavirus stimulus relief or even marketed a cure or preventive treatment for Covid-19. They were crafty, experts said, sending out robocalls, text messages and emails to consumers.

Scammers are always going to go for your last dollar, no matter what, Ms. Baker said.

During a pandemic or natural disaster, consumers will move into flight-or-fight mode, said Stacey Wood, a psychology professor at Scripps College in California who studies consumer fraud. Increased stress can cause people to make more impulsive decisions, she said, rather than stopping to think about whether they should avoid clicking a link in a phishing email.

As a disaster persists, scammers will adopt new tactics and approaches, Professor Wood said.

The coronavirus has driven fraudulent behavior to levels she said she had never seen before. The duration of the pandemic and everything that comes with it  financial worries, loneliness and isolation, even depression  have created psychological vulnerabilities that may not be as widespread even in the aftermath of disasters like hurricanes or wildfires, she said.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Holocaust survivors have exhibited a wide range of emotional reactions to, and ways of dealing with, the COVID-19 pandemic. Some are dealing well with the current crisis while some experience considerable difficulties. The way they cope with the current crisis is largely derived from how they deal with their traumatic memories of the Holocaust.

For many Holocaust survivors COVID-19 pandemic health policy guidelines are reminiscent of various adverse conditions that existed during the Holocaust, among them prolonged isolation and separation from family members, but particularly the omnipresent risk of contracting infectious disease.

Previous studies have shown that survivors are more sensitive to various post-Holocaust stressful events, especially those that echo a past primary trauma. In a new study, Bar-Ilan University researchers examined whether exposure to specific Holocaust adversities would be related to amplified psychological reactions to COVID-19.

The study, recently published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research, focused on 127 Holocaust survivors and Jews of European descent who did not experience the Holocaust. All of them were born before 1945. Respondents were interviewed during the period of the gradual exit from Israel's first lockdown (April to June 2020).

PTSD and loneliness were more prevalent among survivors who contracted infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and dysentery during the Holocaust relative to older adults who did not experience the Holocaust (38.5% vs. 0% for PTSD; 53.8% vs. 22.6% for loneliness). Moreover, and surprisingly, worries related to COVID-19 were more frequent among survivors who contracted infectious diseases during the Holocaust (46.2%) relative to other survivors (22.1%) or those who were not exposed to the Holocaust (6.5%).

"We believed that most Holocaust survivors would manifest increased psychological distress during the pandemic because many of them still cope with PTSD symptoms and other impairments. However, heightened distress was evident mainly in a sub-group of survivors whose lives were endangered by infectious disease during the Holocaust," says Prof. Amit Shrira, of the MA Program in Gerontology and the Interdisciplinary Department of Social Sciences at Bar-Ilan University, who led the study in collaboration with Maya Frenkel-Yosef from the Nini Czopp Association, which provides social services to Dutch-Israeli Holocaust survivors and their families, and Bar-Ilan University Ph.D. student Ruth Maytles. "Most other survivors manifested impressive resilience and were similar in some markers of psychological distress to older adults who were not directly exposed to the Holocaust."

Shrira, who also studies intergenerational transmission of trauma, and colleagues are currently analyzing data from a new study focusing on how descendants of Holocaust survivors are coping with the current pandemic.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

More information: Amit Shrira et al, Suffering from infectious diseases during the Holocaust relates to amplified psychological reactions during the COVID-19 pandemic, Journal of Psychiatric Research (2020). Journal information: Journal of Psychiatric Research Amit Shrira et al, Suffering from infectious diseases during the Holocaust relates to amplified psychological reactions during the COVID-19 pandemic,(2020). DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2020.08.024
DALLAS (September 23, 2020) - Researchers at Center for BrainHealth, part of The University of Texas at Dallas, collaborated with scientists at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to examine whether the Strategic Memory Advanced Reasoning Training (SMART) program affects people's abilities to make informed decisions about their medical treatment options. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis, in particular, are often reluctant to take antirheumatic drugs because of perceptions about the drugs' risks and benefits. The findings from this study point to an approach that helps these patients, and other people, make more informed decisions about their health.

The study, accepted for publication in Arthritis Care & Research (August 2020), was authored by lead researcher Susan J. Blalock, PhD, a now-retired professor from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a research team that featured Sandra Bond Chapman, PhD, founder and chief director of the Center for BrainHealth, and Molly Keebler, former head of community programs at the Center for BrainHealth.

SMART teaches evidence-based strategies and techniques that improve strategic thinking, increase productivity and foster innovation. It was developed and tested by BrainHealth researchers over the past three decades.

The findings build on previous work that suggests the SMART program helps people understand the gist, or bottom-line meaning, of complex information. As part of the study, patients with rheumatoid arthritis were asked questions about how they value the risks and rewards of certain antirheumatic drugs. Six months after they participated in the SMART program, participants that initially had inadequate knowledge of the risks and rewards of treatment options made more informed decisions because they became more knowledgeable about the drugs.

The SMART protocol helps improve gist reasoning abilities - how well people can understand the overall gist or essence of complex information such as medication pamphlets and doctor's recommendations. "Rather than getting overwhelmed by the immense number of warnings, possible risks and outcomes, participants learn to focus on the major facts rather than all the less relevant details, to reach an informed decision aligned with their personal values," said Chapman.

This research has broader implications, such that the SMART methodology could help others with a variety of chronic conditions strategically focus on key inputs to make more informed decisions consistent with their belief systems about their health.

"We helped empower people to ask questions and focus more effectively on the most important facts within complex information by following a SMART protocol. We got them thinking about the big picture and gave them the confidence to be informed users of medical advice - actively engaged in making decisions about their healthcare," said Chapman.

###

ABOUT THE CENTER FOR BRAINHEALTH

The Center for BrainHealth, part of The University of Texas at Dallas, is a research institute committed to enhancing, preserving and restoring brain health across the lifespan. Scientific exploration at the Center for BrainHealth is leading edge, improving lives today and translating groundbreaking discoveries into practical clinical application. By delivering science-based innovations that enhance how people think, work and live, the Center and its Brain Performance Institute are empowering people of all ages to unlock their brain potential. Major research areas include the use of functional and structural neuroimaging techniques to better understand the neurobiology supporting cognition and emotion in health and disease.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 22:30:56|Editor: huaxia

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COLOMBO, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Sri Lankan government will draft a new bill to curb child pornography after a surge in such materials, local media reported here Wednesday.

The cabinet of ministers had approved a proposal by Justice Minister Ali Sabry to enact new legislation to curb child pornography in the country. The drafting process of the proposed Obscene Publication Prohibition Bill was expected to be proceeded this week, local media quoting government officials said.

Though provisions in the Penal Code and the Obscene Publications Ordinance already exist to deal with child pornography, they appear to be inadequate to meet current challenges, according to the officials.

As a solution, the Information and Communication Agency and the Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team have prepared a document containing the information required to draft a new bill, the government said in a statement. Enditem
Gemma Collins was spotted out in her native Essex on Tuesday, shortly after it was revealed she has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize.

The TOWIE star, 39, cut a low-key figure in a tracksuit as she picked up essentials while stepping out hot on the heels of news she has been tipped for the award.

Gemma has been put forward for the prestigious award by two YouTube pranksters, who have started up The Romford Research Institute For Peace to make themselves qualify to have the power to nominate.

Out and about: Gemma Collins was spotted out in her native Essex on Tuesday, shortly after it was revealed she has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize

Gemma looked unfazed by her new dizzying height of stardom as she emerged in a black ensemble while sporting a protective mask over her face.

The blonde beauty clutched an iced beverage and a bag from M&S as she headed to her swanky white Range Rover amid the news about her nomination.

Company directors Josh Pieters and Archie Manners insist the reality personality has spent much of her life dedicated to finding peace, and even referenced her relationship with James Argent as a point of her peace-finding ability.

The YouTube duo have hit headlines previously with such stunts as interviewing Carole Baskin and tricking Love Island's Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury into believing James Corden is interviewing them for America's The Late Late Show.

Prized possessions: The TOWIE star, 39, cut a low-key figure in a tracksuit as she picked up essentials while stepping out hot on the heels of news she has been tipped for the award

Winner: Gemma has been put forward for the prestigious award by two YouTube pranksters, who have started up The Romford Research Institute For Peace to make themselves qualify to have the power to nominate

Peaceful profession: Gemma looked unfazed by her new dizzying height of stardom as she emerged in a black ensemble while sporting a protective mask over her face

Drink up! She was getting her caffeine fix

One of the criteria to have the ability to nominate an individual is to be a 'director of a peace research institute'. This is the category Josh and Archie fall under.

Speaking to The Sun, the duo, both 27, said: 'The GC has spent 39 years promoting peace and harmony across Essex  and beyond. If you look at what peace really means, take for example her on-off relationship with James Argent  no one died....

'It was a conflict that did appear to be resolved peacefully and we at the Romford Research Institute think this is a great demonstration of world peace.'

Josh explained: 'We believe in the GC effect, which is a peer reviewed hypothesis that if Gemma spent a long weekend in North Korea she could use the skills as seen in Towie to attempt to bring peace to the region.'

A vision: The blonde beauty clutched an iced beverage and a bag from M&S as she headed to her swanky white Range Rover amid the news about her nomination

Pranksters: The YouTube duo have hit headlines previously with such stunts as interviewing Carole Baskin and tricking Love Island's Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury into believing James Corden is interviewing them for America's The Late Late Show

Peace out: Speaking to The Sun , the duo, both 27, said: 'The GC has spent 39 years promoting peace and harmony across Essex  and beyond. If you look at what peace really means, take for example her on-off relationship with James Argent  no one died'

Archie added: 'She is arguably more peaceful than Donald Trump. And it's the same with Kanye West. His nomination has been successful and he will be considered.'

The duo's pranks have become prolific, with their Carole and Molly-Mae pranks following on from them luring Katie Hopkins abroad to be given a fake award which spelled out the words 'C*NT'.

Trump's nomination has caused controversy after a Swedish legislator put the President's name forward for the 2021 awards.

A legislator nominated Trump for his efforts in the Middle East and has said he received a phone call of thanks from the US president.

The GC Effect: Josh explained: 'We believe in the GC effect, which is a peer reviewed hypothesis that if Gemma spent a long weekend in North Korea she could use the skills as seen in Towie to attempt to bring peace to the region'

Out and about: She was joined by a friend as she emerged

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.

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.

Finding peace: They referenced her relationship with James Argent as a point of her peace-finding ability
New Delhi, Sep 23 : Taking advantage of low prices in major oil-producing centres in Saudi Arabia and UAE, India has filled up its strategic crude oil reserves to meet its energy needs in times of emergency and saved a neat $685.11 million in the process.

It bought crude oil at an average price of $19 per barrel to fill its reserves in April and May when prices reached an all-time low while the US oil touched negative price levels in futures market.

The state-funded reserves are meant to tide over short-term supply disruptions and will take care of India's oil needs for 9.5 days.

The country was already holding half of its total 5.33 million tonnes oil reserves capacity when the government decided to take advantage of the low crude prices.

India's three petroleum reserve caverns at Visakhapatnam (1.33MT), Mangaluru (1.5MT) and Padur (2.5MT), managed by India Strategic Petroleum Reserves Ltd (ISPRL), are now full.

Another 6.5MT facility is coming up at Padur in Karnataka, and Chandikhole in Jajpur.

Work on two more facility at Bikaner in Rajasthan and Rajkot in Gujarat will be initiated soon. When complete, these facilities will hold enough oil to meet domestic requirements for over a month.

The oil ministry has also told the ISPRL to identify new sites so that the storage facility is increased to ensure oil stock of 90-100 days for use in an emergency at all times.

A large strategic oil reserve capacity can benefit even more from lower oil prices as these lead to huge savings for the exchequer.

The ISPRL has signed a memorandum of understanding with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) for the lease of half of its 2.5 million tonnes Padur facility. Last year, it signed an MoU with Saudi Aramco for the lease of a quarter of Padur SPR.

The ISPRL has already leased half of the 1.5 million tonne capacity in Mangaluru storage to ADNOC. It has also filled its 1.03 million tonne Vizag facility with Basra oil from another OPEC producer, Iraq.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Princess Sofia and Prince Carl Philip of Sweden looked loved up this evening as they attended the preview of a theatre performance in Stockholm.

The royal couple appeared to be in high spirits as they arrived for the preview of 'If I Say Something, It Only Gets Worse...' in Stockholm City Theatre in the country's capital.

Sofia, 35, donned a monochrome chiffon blouse, paired with a pair of mint green paper-bag tailored trousers and a chunky matching belt.

She wore matching court heels teamed with a grey leather handbag and wore minimal jewellery, other than her wedding rings.

Princess Sofia and Prince Carl Philip of Sweden looked loved up this evening as they attended the preview of a theatre performance in Stockholm

Princess Sofia looked pleased as she waved to royal fans while entering the theatre, with husband Carl close behind her

The royal couple appeared to be in high spirits as they arrived for the preview of 'If I Say Something, It Only Gets Worse...' in Stockholm City Theatre

Sofia wore her brunette tresses loose around her shoulders and showed off her glowing natural complexion with a natural makeup look.

Her husband Carl, 40, cut a handsome figure in a classic suit paired with a white shirt and pocket square, and a navy blue tie.

The couple waved at royal fans as they entered the venue and were pictured giving a speech before meeting the play's cast.

Sofia dated her husband for five years before walking down the aisle in 2015 and the pair have two sons Prince Alexander, Duke of Sodermanland, four and Prince Gabriel, three.

Sofia, 35, donned a monochrome chiffon blouse, paired with a pair of mint green paper-bag tailored trousers and a chunky matching belt

Sofia, pictured on stage with Carl, wore matching court heels teamed with a grey leather handbag and wore minimal jewellery, other than her wedding rings

The royal appearance comes several months after Sofia started working in a hospital to help Sweden's fight against coronavirus.

The royal took a three-day medical course at Sophiahemmet University College in Stockholm, where she is an honorary chair member, in April, to help with the pandemic efforts.

Sophiahemmet University, also based in the Swedish capital, helped to train 80 people per week to ease the burden on medics in hospitals.

Prince Carl Philip, Princess Sofia and their two sons have otherwise spent their summer enjoying staycations - with the family exploring local nature spots through walking, biking and swimming.

During the pandemic, shops, bars and restaurants in Sweden have stayed open throughout and the wearing of masks has not been advised by the government.

The royal couple (pictured) were seen giving a speech before meeting the play's cast on stage

Sofia wore her brunette tresses loose around her shoulders and showed off her glowing natural complexion with a natural make-up look
A 45-year-old man Emmanuel Kwakye has committed suicide after allegedly murdering his girlfriend, Georgina Sayel.

Deputy Superintendent of Police, (DOP) Irene Serwaah Oppong, the Regional Police Public Relations Officer, disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency.

She said on Monday, September 21, at about 1050 hours, a complainant from Akotokyir, a community at University of Cape Coast (UCC), reported at the UCC police station that he could not get through to his friend Kwakye on his cellphone.

He said after several calls, he visited Kwakye's residence at Kakumdo, a suburb of Cape Coast, but met his absence.

However, the complainant saw a lady lying dead in Kwakye's room, which was not locked.

DSP Oppong said the Police proceeded to the scene and found the body of a lady whose name was given as Georgina Sayel believed to be Emmanuel Kwakye's girlfriend lying in a prone position on the carpet in the sitting room.

She said the body was examined and a deep wound was found on the left rib with her brassier and dress soaked with blood.

DSP Oppong said when the room was searched a black blood-stained kitchen knife was found in the room.

In another development, DSP Serwaah said the Elmina District Police received information that a 45-year-old man had committed suicide by hanging at the Bronyibima M. A. Basic school.

The police proceeded to the location and found out that the same man suspected to have killed Georgina Sayel at UCC had committed suicide.

The bodies of the two have been deposited at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital (CCTH) mortuary pending autopsy, DSP Oppong said.

The police said investigations are ongoing.

GNA
Evening Standard

Brentford will be looking to get out of their recent slump as they take on Wolves in the Premier League this afternoon, coming off a midweek result that will be hard to take. Obviously, to expect a newly-promoted side to go out and match Manchester United with all of their resources would be ridiculous on first glance but the manner in which Thomas Franks side dominated in the first-half left the Dane ruining their second-half showing. Wolves, however, are unlikely to be anywhere near as bad as United were at times.
As pioneers in Microsofts 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 Phoenix, Arizona, United States and Quincy, Western Australia respectively

In anticipation of O3b mPOWER, SESs 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 Microsofts 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 Microsofts 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 SESs 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.

Todays 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 Microsofts 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 Microsofts 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, SESs O3b mPOWER communications system is proof of SESs 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 worlds 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 worlds leading telecommunications companies, mobile network operators, governments, connectivity and cloud service providers, broadcasters, video platform operators and content owners. SESs 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.
NBC News- SHANGHAI  Beijing is unlikely to approve an "unfair" deal Oracle and Walmart said they have struck with ByteDance over the future of its video-streaming app TikTok, state-backed newspaper Global Times said in an editorial.

The U.S. companies 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 Trump administration, 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 percent 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.

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 criticized 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 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.
Amid protests in front of the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu over Beijing's construction in Humla, China on Wednesday rebuffed reports that it constructed buildings on the Nepali side of the Nepal-China border. Reacting to a question, the Spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy called China and Nepal "friendly neighbours".

The protests erupted over Chinese construction in northern Nepal district of Humla with protestors carrying banners and chanting "Go back China" and "Back off China" slogans. The protestors were carrying pictures of the Chinese construction activity Humla as well.

However, China has completely refuted claims of it building structures in Nepal saying that "China has always respected Nepals sovereignty and territorial integrity".

The Spokesperson said, "The buildings mentioned by the media have been verified to be on the Chinese side of the China-Nepal border. The Nepali side may make verification again. China and Nepal have no territorial disputes. The two sides have always maintained close communication on border affairs."

According to Nepali media, China has built 11 buildings in Humla with a border pillar missing. In one of the building, Chinese security forces live, while others are empty. Chair of Namkha Rural Municipality told Kathmandu post that, "Chinese side claimed that the area where the houses are built falls within the Chinese territory".

Nepali Home Ministry is expected to come out with a report on the developments after a visit by a team of government officials to the area.

This issue came into light when the president of the local village council, Vishnu Bahadur Lama, went on a visit to this territory. He revealed that China soldiers had completed the building construction in the Limi village of Lapcha village. He was even prevented from going to the side of the village where the construction had taken place.

Lama claims that he even tried to speak to the Chinese forces in vain and they did not respond and he was even told to go back. After denied entry into the region, he took a few pictures of the newly-constructed building by Chinese PLA in the territory on his mobile phone  which show the buildings were erected nearly 2 kilometres into Nepali territory.
U.S. companies are notching a big Trump-era win Wednesday as regulators make it harder for small-time shareholders to put forth proposals aimed at cracking down on excessive pay, climate change and other corporate governance concerns.

The Securities and Exchange Commission rules overhaul follows years of C-suite complaints that proxy regulations are outdated and play into the hands of dissident shareholders. But investor advocates, religious groups and proponents of what's known as environmental, social and governance, or ESG, investing argue the changes are a gift to business lobbyists that will muzzle corporate critics.

At issue are the criteria that stockholders must meet in order to submit, or resubmit, proposals that investors vote on at companies' annual meetings. The regulations that SEC commissioners are set to consider Wednesday largely track with a plan first proposed in 2019, according to SEC officials.

Under rule, the value of stock that an investor needs to hold to submit a plan would generally increase, officials said. The level of support needed to resubmit failed proposals would also increase.

In a response to a question about concerns expressed by ESG advocates, SEC Chairman Jay Clayton told reporters ahead of the meeting that the requirements that smaller shareholders hold stock for longer before submitting plans was "not much of an incremental cost and it provides a demonstrable alignment of interests." He added that he was "completely comfortable that this was done by the staff in a content neutral way."

In July, the SEC approved a related rule that curbed the power of so-called proxy advisory firms, which are paid by pension funds to advise stockholders on how to vote their shares. Those advisers have drawn the ire of executives in part because of the outsize role they can play in determining whether activist campaigns succeed.

Key details:

- According to agency officials, the new SEC rule will require new shareholders who have only held stock for 1 year to have $25,000 worth to submit a plan for the first time. The previous threshold of $2,000 would apply to investors who have had their positions for at least three years.

- The regulations would also increase to 5% the support level needed to resubmit a plan within five years of it failing to pass, from 3% currently, the officials said. The amount of backing needed increases in additional attempts.

- Vanguard Group Inc., the Business Roundtable and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce wrote letters in support of the plan.

- The Council of Institutional Investors, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and Neuberger Berman were among those commenting in opposition.

- In a separate rule change, the SEC on Wednesday voted 3-2 on rule changes to give the agency additional flexibility in determining whistle-blower awards.

- Agency officials said that they don't expect the changes to diminish the program and that the final rule doesn't include a controversial plan to let commissioners reduce awards in cases where penalties are $100 million or more. Whistle-blowers are now eligible to get 10% to 30% of the amount collected in enforcement cases where penalties exceed $1 million.

democratic Commissioner Allison Lee said before the vote that she opposed the rule in part because it involved the SEC claiming additional "discretion" to reduce whistle-blower awards based on the size of the penalty involved.
The Wednesday directed a Delhi Legislative Assembly panel not to take coercive action against India VP and MD Ajit Mohan till October 15 in connection with a summon asking him to depose before it with regard to north east Delhi riots.

The panel is probing the social media firm's role in spread of alleged hate speech.

A bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Aniruddha Bose and Krishna Murari issued notices to the secretary of the Legislative Assembly; the ministries of Law and Justice, Home Affairs, Electronics and IT; Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, represented by the Secretary General, and Delhi Police, asking them to respond to the plea.

The apex court's order came on the plea by Mohan and others challenging the September 10 and September 18 notices issued by Delhi Assembly's peace and harmony committee that sought his presence before the panel which is probing the Delhi riots in February and FB's role in spread of hate speech.

(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 some private and charter schools in San Francisco being allowed to reopen for in-person instruction this week via a waiver application process, the city's Department of Public Health on Tuesday launched an interactive dashboard tool for parents and students to track school reopenings.

The new dashboard will be updated daily at 9 a.m. with real-time information such as which schools have applied for reopening, and whether they've been approved.
An influential property tycoon, who is a known critic of Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Communist Party has been sentenced to 18 years of prison in China due to charges of corruption.

Sixty-nine-year-old businessman Ren Zhiqiang was found guilty of accepting bribes totaling to $2.9 million in a span of 14 years. He was also charged with embezzlement of public funds by the Beijing court.

According to NPR, Ren's sentence was given in a trial that was not publicized. All his assets were also seized by the court and he was fined $620,000.

Several analysts have predicted that the sentence given to Ren is likely to further discourage the business elite in the country from disagreeing with the Communist Party.

Aside from Ren, there are also other critics of the Communist Party and Chinese President Xi Jinping who were given harsh punishment.

Back in July, a constitutional law professor who was very open with his criticisms on the Communist Party and the centralization of power by Xi's government, Xu Zhangrun was detained by the police over alleged solicitation of prostitutes. As of the moment, Zhangrun is still in house arrest.

Moreover, a friend of Xu, Geng Xiaonan, who is a filmmaker and publisher, defended Xu through giving interviews to international media. According to friends of Geng, she also became a victim of the political oppression in the country as she and her husband have been detained for illegal business activities in Beijing just this month. Many have suspected that her advocacies for Xu have been the main reason for the charges.

Read also: China Accuses US Aircraft as Spies Disguised as Airliners, Posing 'Serious Threat'

However, the downfall of Ren has served as one of the biggest warnings to the private business elite against speaking ill of the Chinese Communist Party.

Earlier this month, new guidance which advocates a greater control of the CCP to the Chinese private sector was issued by the party.

In a statement released by the CCP through its general office, it stated that private businessmen should be educated and guided in order to arm their minds with the thoughts of Xi Jinping regarding socialism. According to them, this is essential in order to maintain a high level of consistency within the political positions f the Party Central Committee for the new era.

In the past, Ren has balanced his critique and political survival as a part of the country's political elite. He was also a veteran member of the Communist Party being a son of a former vice-minister of commerce.

Ren built his business in the 1990s during the boom of China's infrastructure business. He also became a property magnate in the early 2000s and became chairman of the Huayuan Real Estate Group, a real estate developer.

Aside from his success in business, Ren also became famous for being outspoken about his views on the CCP.

After being detained in March, Ren was expelled from the Communist Party in June. He was then placed under investigation for criminal acts including staining the image of the Party and disloyalty to the CCP, The Financial Times reported.



Related article: Trump Criticizes President Xi After Allegedly Hiding COVID-19 Information in Cooperation with WHO

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
London-based skin care company MuLondon applauded for its innovation and dedication to societal change

LONDON, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The inaugural East London Innovators campaign celebrated 50 individuals for their commitment to social advancement. These include business leaders, teachers, start-up founders and artists working in the East London community.



The award-winning skin care company MuLondon and its founder and CEO Boris Zatezic were featured in the exhibition during the launch event. This showcased some of the most innovative and impactful individuals, businesses and community leaders from across East London.



"We seek to change the established world with our range of skin care products, questioning the status quo and doing things in an environmentally friendly, holistic way that benefits everyone. We are honoured and humbled by this accolade awarded to MuLondon by Here East." - Boris Zatezic, Founder and CEO at MuLondon.



The five judges' decision praised outstanding Londoners making a significant contribution to the business, cultural and social landscape of East London. East London Innovators are shaking up their sectors and using their skills, knowledge and passion to tackle real life problems.



MuLondon is known for its selection of naturally hydrating and soothing skin care products, formulated with certified organic ingredients, without fillers or additives. From people with sensitive skin to conscientious customers around the world, everyone that cares about their skin and the environment can enjoy the lush, 100% vegan products such as the 'White Chocolate Truffle Moisturiser' or the 'Rose, Rosehip & Rosemary Foaming Cleanser',



"The East London Innovator's scheme is about identifying and celebrating those individuals working collaboratively and creatively to make a difference within the local community. The work of MuLondon, with its dedication to environmentally-friendly skin care and support of local community projects, embodies this approach wholeheartedly." - Jasel Nanda, Community and Partnerships Manager, Here East.



The full list of Here East's East London Innovators is here.



More information about MuLondon and its range of award-winning skin care products is available at www.MuLondon.com.

About MuLondon

MuLondon brings joy and balance with its award-winning skin care range from London, inspired by traditional herbalism. Pure natural essential oils and herbal extracts are used to divinely scent and gently preserve the certified organic ingredients. MuLondon products include such luxurious essences as 'Marigold, Frankincense & Myrrh' and 'Rose, Rosehip & Rosemary'. The range is certified COSMOS organic by The Soil Association, cruelty-free by The Leaping Bunny and registered vegan by The Vegan Society. MuLondon is a member of 1% for the Planet and is a Certified B Corporation, while proudly supporting Stonewall.

Contact: Boris Zatezic, Founder & CEO

Address: MuLondon, 64C Evelyn Street, London SE8 5DD, United Kingdom

Website: www.MuLondon.com

Email: www.MuLondon.com/contact

About Here East

Here East is located at the heart of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and provides over one million square feet of dedicated and versatile spaces for creative and digital companies. It is designed as a place for start-up entrepreneurial businesses to co-exist and collaborate with global established businesses and support genuine innovation.



Born out of the ashes of the former Olympic Press & Broadcast Centre, Here East is a place for individuals and companies who embrace and pioneer cutting-edge technology to share expertise and to create the products and services of the future. In addition to this, it boasts a landscaped canal side and artisanal cafes, shops and restaurants that support the Here East community.



Here East is being developed by iCITY, a company owned by clients of Delancey, a specialist real estate investment, development and advisory company



Here East is living proof that the Olympic legacy can be a positive force for change in global cities, setting the standard for Olympic redevelopment.
Regulatory News:

Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. (LN:PSH) (LN:PSHD) (NA:PSH) today released its regular weekly Net Asset Value ("NAV") and performance returns on its website, https://www.pershingsquareholdings.com/company-reports/weekly-navs/. The NAV and returns were computed as of the close of business on Tuesday, 22 September 2020.

PSH NAV per share as of close of business on 22 September 2020 was 38.67 USD 30.35 GBP and year-to-date performance was 44.6%.

Weekly net asset value ("NAV") is calculated as of the close of business on each Tuesday and posted on the following business day. In the event that Tuesday is not a business day, the Company will calculate the close-of-business NAV as of the business day immediately preceding that Tuesday. The end-of-month NAV is calculated as of the close of business on the last day of the month and posted on the following business day. For weeks that include a month-end NAV report, PSH will provide only the month-end NAV and not report the Tuesday NAV. Monthly NAVs are published in accordance with the Decree on Conduct of Business Supervision of Financial Undertakings under the Wft (Besluit Gedragstoezicht financiele ondernemingen Wft).

Performance is presented on a net-of-fees basis and reflects the deduction of, among other expenses: management fees, brokerage commissions, administrative fees and accrued performance fees, if any. The performance figure includes the reinvestment of all dividends, interest and capital gains. Depending on the timing of a specific investment, net performance for an individual investor may vary from the net performance as stated herein. Net performance is a geometrically linked time weighted calculation.

Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. All investments involve risk including the loss of principal.

About Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd.

Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. (LN:PSH) (LN:PSHD) (NA:PSH) is an investment holding company structured as a closed-ended fund that makes concentrated investments principally in North American companies.

Category: (PSH:WeeklyNAV)

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200923005920/en/

Contacts:

Media

Camarco

Ed Gascoigne-Pees Hazel Stevenson +44 020 3757 4989, media-pershingsquareholdings@camarco.co.uk
U.S. pilots, in integration with Ukrainian fighter jets, are working to create collective defense capabilities to deter the aggressor state.

U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress strategic bombers have entered Ukraine's airspace, the Air Force Command of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported on Wednesday, September 23.

"Today, September 23, a pair of B-52Hs once again entered Ukraine's airspace. U.S. strategic bombers are being escorted by Su-27 and MiG-29 fighters of Ukraine's Air Force's tactical aviation brigades," the press service wrote on Facebook.

The Air Force's Public Relations Service also stressed that American pilots, in integration with Ukrainian fighters, are working to create collective defense capabilities and provide the United States, NATO Allies and key partners of the Alliance with the strategic and operational capabilities to deter the aggressor state.

"American partners of Ukraine once again demonstrate comprehensive support of our state in the international arena in the field of security," the statement says.

The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv wrote on Facebook that the USAF CV22B tilt-rotor planes flew over Kyiv on Wednesday. The planes were seen flying over the Dnipro River in the city center, much to the amusement of the locals.

At the same time, MC130J could be observed flying over the cities of Kherson, Zaporizhia, Dnipro, Poltava, and Cherkasy.

Fiction Urchin drills

U.S. Air Force's MC-130J Commando II multimission tanker and CV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor planes, assigned to the UK's 352nd Special Operations Group are taking part in the ongoing Fiction Urchin joint exercises of the two countries' special operations forces, practicing infiltration and exfiltration routine.

B52 bombers: memo

The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is an American long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber. It has been operated by the United States Air Force since the 1950s. The bomber is capable of carrying up to 70,000 pounds (32,000 kg) of weapons,] and has a typical combat range of more than 8,800 miles (14,080 km) without aerial refueling. It was built to carry nuclear weapons for Cold War-era deterrence missions, as per Wikipedia.

Russia's Caucasus 2020 drills underway

Meanwhile, on September 21-26, Russia is conducting its massive Caucasus 2020 (also called Kavkaz 2020) command post exercise.

The main actions will unfold at the Kapustin Yar and Ashuluk training grounds, as well as in the waters of the Black and Caspian Seas.

China, Armenia, Belarus, Iran, Myanmar, and Pakistan are reported to be taking part in the Russia-led drill.
Donald Trump announced Wednesday from the White House new sanctions that will prohibit Americans from staying at properties owned by the Cuban government.

It also will stop the import of Cuban cigars and liquor to the U.S.

'Today as part of our continuing fight against communist oppression I am announcing that the Treasury Department will prohibit U.S. travelers from staying at properties owned by the Cuban government,' Trump said at an East Room event honoring Bay of Pigs veterans.

'We're also further restricting the importation of alcohol and Cuban tobacco,' he continued.

The president described the announcement as part of his administration's 'continuing fight against communist oppression.'

Donald Trump announce Wednesday new sanctions on Cuba that will prohibit Americans from staying at properties owned by the Cuban government

'Today as part of our continuing fight against communist oppression I am announcing that the Treasury Department will prohibit U.S. travelers from staying at properties owned by the Cuban government,' Trump said at an East Room event honoring Bay of Pigs veterans

Trump used his remarks Wednesday to exhibit he will fight against repressive, socialist and communist regimes in Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela.

'The Obama-Biden administration made a weak, pathetic, one-sided deal with the Castro dictatorship that betrayed the Cuban people and enriched the communist regime. I cancelled the Obama-Biden sellout to the Castro Regime,' Trump told the small audience.

'We will not lift sanctions until all political prisoners are freed, freedoms of assembly and expression are respected, all political parties are legalized and free elections are scheduled,' Trump continued. 'They will have to go through a lot but things are happening.'

Although U.S.-Cuban relations improved under Barack Obama's presidency, as he relaxed sanctions on the nation, Trump has reversed many of that.

In December 2014, Obama and then-President Raul Castro announced they would begin normalizing relations between their two nations  it was dubbed 'the Cuban Thaw.'

Obama also became the first U.S. president in 88 years to visit the island in March 2016.

Ever since he began campaigning for president, Trump criticized aspects of the Cuban Thaw, claiming he would work to negotiate 'a good agreement.' He said Obama's policies granted Cuba sanctions relief with the U.S. receiving nothing in return.

In June 2017 Trump announced that he was suspending what he called a 'completely one-sided deal with Cuba'.

The sanctions were announced as part of Trump's remarks from the East Room of the White House on Wednesday to honor Bay of Pigs veterans.

The Bay of Pigs invasion was a failed landing operation on the southwestern coast of Cuba in 1961.

It was conducted by Cuban exiles who opposed Fidel Castro's Cuban Revolution.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel took over power for Raul Castro April 19, 2018.

However, Castro still serves as first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba, which continues to be the most powerful political position in Cuba.

Fidel Castro was both president and first secretary from 1976 to 2008.
24.9.2020

En la mayoria de los proyectos arquitectonicos, siempre existe un equilibrio entre la forma y la funcion. Esa delicada e intrincada maniobra entre lo que agrada esteticamente y lo que realiza admirablemente su programado objetivo sustenta gran parte de la arquitectura y el diseno modernos.

Con la sede de la firma de automatizacion de alta tecnologia Amplio, el trabajo de su arquitecto fue mucho mas claro en este sentido, ya que los dos estaban inexplicablemente vinculados: El diseno no es lo que parece, sino como funciona, explica Bence Turanyi sobre la inspiracion detras del diseno del edificio. Este es un espiritu que vive en todas las creaciones de Amplio, y la sede que Turanyi y su equipo disenaron pretendia reflejar eso.

En ese sentido, puede ser que el edificio Amplio sea escandaloso visualmente, pero de todos modos es austero y significativo. Ubicada en un centro industrial de Hungria, a poca distancia en automovil de su capital, Budapest, la nueva sede se destaca entre sus vecinos igualmente industriales.

Este contraste tambien es crucial para la experiencia del edificio. Amplio es una empresa con clientela internacional y fabrica piezas electronicas personalizadas, principalmente para la industria automotriz; su sede es tambien un punto de encuentro crucial para sus actuales y potenciales socios comerciales, y en ese sentido era importante contar con un edificio que pudiera impresionar y tambien albergar sus tareas funcionales. Estaban buscando algo que tambien les ayudara a crear una marca, dice Turanyi sobre las ideas de Amplio para el diseno del edificio.

El acercamiento al edificio es donde principalmente se descubre su esencia. Podria ser simplemente otra exportacion industrial de Japon, pero a medida que cambia la perspectiva, tambien lo hace la vista del edificio. Este dinamismo fue una eleccion consciente, inspirada en los productos de Amplio que estan disenados para ser ergonomicos y efectivos, una belleza nacida de su impresionante naturaleza mecanica. Los arquitectos disenaron un concepto similar, que se logra cuando un visitante llega a la entrada, por debajo del piso superior en voladizo de seis metros que alberga el area de la oficina principal. Grandes ventanas de vidrio envuelven la mitad del edificio para permitir que el espectador que se acerca vea la actividad dentro de las oficinas y pueda presenciar la bulliciosa actividad en el interior.

Al igual que los productos que crea Amplio, el proceso de diseno y construccion de la sede no fue estatico. La firma de alta tecnologia esta disfrutando de un momento de intenso crecimiento, lo que significa que tenia que reconocer que incluso mientras el proyecto avanzaba, seria necesaria la contribucion arquitectonica y de diseno del estudio. El fundador de Amplio tenia un plan para el edificio, pero no estaba terminado, dice el arquitecto Matyas Papp, a cargo del diseno tecnico y de la gestion del diseno in situ. La empresa estaba y continua creciendo muy rapidamente, y desde el principio sabiamos que no se ajustaba a las necesidades futuras de la empresa.

Se creo un modelo BIM de muy alto nivel durante la fase de planificacion y se desarrollo en una base de datos final durante el periodo de construccion. Esto fue posible a nivel tecnico porque el arquitecto del proyecto estuvo disponible y en el sitio durante toda la construccion, listo para realizar los ajustes y cambios necesarios. Esta fue la razon por la que gran parte del edificio es flexible en su proposito, y aunque esta separado en sus partes constituyentes de oficinas, pasillos o accesorios, los espacios en si son multifuncionales en su diseno. Esto ayuda a Amplio a posicionarse mejor no solo para su propio crecimiento, sino tambien para adaptarse mejor a lo que pueda suceder como parte de la naturaleza cambiante de la revolucion digital.

Es este sentido de empoderamiento digital lo que tambien guio los interiores. Se presto atencion a las particularidades de cada espacio, dibujando un aspecto limpio pero industrial que le da a la sede una notable modernidad. Los arquitectos imaginaron la capa exterior del edificio como el cuerpo, y en ese sentido consideraron los interiores como los organos. Los accesorios expuestos crean una honestidad sobre su diseno interior, haciendose eco de la idea de que el diseno es como funciona. Las columnas de acero cruzadas y las paredes de hormigon crean un aspecto industrial, mientras que las salas de reuniones y el espacio de oficina anaden un estilo mas contemporaneo.

La automatizacion tambien jugo un papel en las funciones del edificio. Si su interior son los organos, entonces el personal es el elemento vital, por lo que se adopto una actitud de Industria 4.0 para el movimiento efectivo de la fuerza laboral de Amplio. Una empresa que se especializa en robotica y sensores necesita tener una sede igualmente tecnologica. Las oficinas centrales corporativas de Amplio son de vanguardia en sus soluciones tecnicas, dice Turanyi. Toda la tecnologia utilizada en los edificios de oficinas mas avanzados del mundo esta aqui, desde el sistema de refrigeracion-calefaccion hasta la ventilacion y la iluminacion. En armonia con el perfil de la empresa, todos estos funcionan de forma centralizada y automatizada con su propio software, desarrollado a medida por Amplio. La sombra, el calor y la iluminacion se han coordinado para optimizar el uso de energia. El sistema de control de acceso detecta la presencia humana, por lo que el edificio sabe exactamente cuantas personas hay en cada habitacion y ajusta la iluminacion, la ventilacion y la calefaccion en consecuencia. Tan pronto como se va la ultima persona, la luz se apaga y se enciende el robot aspirador. Incluso en el gran espacio de oficinas sin costuras, la ingenieria visual y las alfombras se instalaron para proporcionar las condiciones acusticas adecuadas.

Los arquitectos en la creacion del nuevo centro se inspiraron en la tecnologia de fabricacion de Ampilo para crear maquinas y componentes unicos que aun no existian. Asi es como el propio centro se convirtio en un sistema altamente automatizado cuyo diseno, forma y ergonomia fueron impulsados por una operacion perfectamente pensada.

Lee la nota original en ingles > https://arqa.com/en/architecture/amplio-automation.html
Donald Trump has praised Kentuckys attorney general as a star after he announced criminal charges against one Louisville police officer involved with the killing of Breonna Taylor.

The president said Daniel Cameron, who addressed the 2020 Republican National Convention, delivered a brilliant statement about the role of justice following a grand jury indictment that revealed three counts of wanton endangerment against a Louisville Metro Police Department officer who fired several shots into the 26-year-old black womans apartment building in March.

Two other officers at the scene, who fired the fatal shots, have not been charged.

The president has said he will be speaking with Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear.

Asked earlier on Wednesday whether he had a message to black Americans following the indictment, the president said: "I love the black community, and I've done more for the black community with the possible exception of Abraham Lincoln."

Hours later, he abruptly left he lectern at the White House for an emergency phone call and refused to answer repeated questions from ABC News reporter Rachel Scott about the case.

Ms Taylor was in bed with her boyfriend Kenneth Walker after midnight in March when three officers  Brett Hankinson, Jonathan Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove  executed a search warrant by banging on her apartment door before ramming it open.

Mr Walker, who has said that police did not announce themselves and feared that someone broke into the home, fired one shot from a pistol, striking officer Mattingly in the leg. All officers returned fire. Ms Taylor was shot six times.

Now-former officer Hankison faces three counts of wanton endangerment for firing 10 shots into the building. He could face up to five years in prison in each count, if convicted.

Attorney general Cameron argued that officers Mattingly and Cosgrove were justified in their return of deadly fire" because Mr Walker had fired first, he said.

That justification bars the office from pursuing criminal charges against them, he said.

Protests erupted in Louisville following the announcement, continuing demonstrations demanding justice for Ms Taylor and her family for nearly 120 consecutive days.

A state of emergency was declared in Louisville the Kentucky National Guard was activated before the announcement, and police in riot gear threatened to deploy tear gas and conduct mass arrests after declaring demonstrations an unlawful assembly.

The president said a National Guard deployment is a positive thing.

Tank-link military vehicles joined police cruisers to clear and patrol streets. A curfew has been put in place for 9pm.
Wednesday, September 23, 2020 at 2:29PM

A new update has started rolling out will allow you to watch Disney+ content on Google Assistant-supported smart displays like the Nest Hub and the Nest Hub Max. All you need to do is issue a voice command like, "Hey Google, play The Mandalorian on Disney+."

You previously needed to cast to the smart display from a Chromecast-enabled Disney+ on another device to play content. But now, Disney and Google take away that additional step. You can use the touchscreen to play and pause the show or film you're watching as well as skip forwards or backwards. There doesn't seem to be a way to browse content for now.

Canada joins markets like the US, UK, Germany, Spain, Italy, Austria, Ireland, France, Switzerland, Netherlands, Australia, and New Zealand to gain access to the feature. Google says it will come to more regions in the coming months.

Source: The Verge
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.
Shay Mueller of Rusk, Texas, started making homecoming mums when she was in high school.

"Growing up, you always had a mum - and the bigger the better," Mueller, 47, said.

ONLY IN TEXAS: Houston-area students celebrate Texas homecoming tradition with outrageous mums

Her homecoming mum business started out as a hobby that she turned into a side hustle. Her latest designs delicately personalized, novelty face mask homecoming mumshave drawn attention far outside her small Texas town, leading to a major boom in business.

"I was laying in bed one night and it just literally popped into my head," Mueller said. "Everyone is having to wear masks, [so the mask mums are] as a keepsake for homecoming 2020."

Mueller's new take on face masks is the perfect homage to the over-the-top Texas tradition of homecoming mums in the age of the coronavirus. After she shared a photo of her masks - she conducts all of her homecoming business orders through her personal Facebook page - her post reached more than 3,000 people in a matter of days.

"My jaw dropped," Mueller said of the response. "Since then I have been getting messages and calls from [all over.] I have orders in Kentucky, Florida, Oklahoma, Arkansas, all over Texas of course."

On HoustonChronicle.com: Houston designers and artists apply skills to create stylish masks

Mueller's mum masks start at $13 and range in price depending on request. She said it takes her about three days to finish a mask.

Gov. Greg Abbott issued a face mask mandate earlier this summer after COVID-19 infections starting spiking around the state. Some Houston designers responded by creating stylish face masks, contributing to what some may call the new fashion trend for 202o.

For more on Mueller's mum masks, visit her Facebook page here.

rebecca.hennes@chron.com
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.
A man has been charged after police seized a firearm allegedly comprised of 3D-printed and imported parts from the US.

The 32-year-old man was arrested at his home in Newtown, in Sydney's inner west, just before 6.30am on Tuesday.

Drug and Firearms Squad detectives raided the home shortly after the arrest with assistance from the Public Order and Riot Squad.

A man has been charged after police seized a firearm allegedly comprised of 3D-printed and imported parts from the US

The 32-year-old man was arrested at his home in Newtown, in Sydney's inner west, just before 6.30am on Tuesday (Pictured: The 3D Printer)

Officers found and seized a 3D-printer as well as a semi-automatic pistol, which was allegedly made up of 3D-printed parts and components imported from the US.

They allegedly also found additional 3D-printed firearm parts, ammunition, electronic devices and cannabis.

Police seized the items for further forensic examination.

The 32-year-old was taken to Newtown Police Station where he was charged with manufacturing a pistol without a licence, possessing an unregistered firearm, not keeping the firearm safely and possessing ammunition without a licence.

They also found additional 3D-printed firearm parts, ammunition, electronic devices and cannabis

Detectives from the State Crime Command's Drug and Firearms Squad established Strike Force Myosoti in November 2018.

The strike force was tasked to investigate the movement of firearms across Australia.

Through ongoing investigations, police became aware of information about the importation of firearm parts from the US through registered post.

Inquiries led officers to the 32-year-old man, who was refused bail and will appear at Newtown Local Court on Wednesday.

Investigations are continuing.
Sona Says She Stands By Payal's Right To Tell The World Her Experience And Truth

Sona wrote in her tweet, "Asked by many for a pov having been at the forefront of @IndiaMeToo. Finally saw the video of Ms Payal Ghosh. I stand by her right to tell the world her experience & truth. Maligning other women publicly in the bargain basis heresay, in bad taste & wrong."

Sona Mohapatra Takes A Dig At Taapsee Pannu

Sona continued, "Also read the statement made by Ms Tapsee Pannu about Anurag Kashyap being the biggest feminist' she knew & I honestly buckled over gobsmacked. Shows how little she knows. Anyone would see otherwise if you just watched his films & his portrayal of women."

Sona Mohapatra Shares Her Experience Working With Anurag Kashyap

"The #MeToo movement is 1 where someone speaks their truth, in this case Payal is telling her story & for 100's to be asking me about this has been a harrowing.I've worked with Anurag Kashyap. Haven't experienced anything. Can't make up a story to please the mob & sorry (not)," Sona wrote on her Twitter page.

Sona Mohapatra Hints At Actresses Who Came Out In Support Of Anurag Kashyap

Sona wrote, "In the industry system that we have, convenience & coteries rule, not conscientiousness. Women; mostly pretty faces seeking opportunities' from men in the driving seats even after they achieve success. So @IndiaMeToo has had almost no working actor make a call out of consequence." "Forget about joining a movement like #Metoo , that didn't happen but not one Veteran,young Turk,Queen or Princess from Bollywood expressed any solidarity for the few of us who fought lone, punishing battles.Interesting to see the opposite.Actresses for AK..Tells you a lot," Sona continued in her next tweet.

'None Of This #SmashPatriarchy Sloganeering By Most Of Our Industry Rings True,' Says Sona

Sona tweeted, "So, yes, none of this #SmashPatriarchy sloganeering by most of our industry rings true therefore... There are exceptions to this but exceptions don't make the rule. I have met, even worked with some of these exceptions & feel grateful for that. Hope & pray that tribe grows."

Richa Chadha Reacts To One Of Sona's Tweet

"TY Sona, I fully support Ms.Ghosh's quest for justice,it's her right as a woman and as a citizen.Should he be found guilty after an investigation,the courts will take over.But I can't overlook this vulgar, unwarranted personal attack on me by Ms.Ghosh,so I shall protect my name," the Fukrey actress replied to Sona's tweet.
Yext is making its site search product Yext Answers available to a broader set of customers today with the launch of a new program that it calls Hitchhikers.

The company launched Yext Answers in October 2019 with the goal of making a brand's website  rather than whatever shows up via Google search  the authoritative source of information about that brand. And earlier this year, Yext also introduced a 90-day free trial, which CEO Howard Lerman said was designed to help more partners deliver coronavirus-related answers.

However, Lerman told me this week that Yext Answers has still been constrained by a setup process that requires a Yext employee "to understand our own software and build your knowledge graph," which meant that the company had to turn away many potential customers. With Hitchhikers, that's no longer the case.

Chief Strategy Officer Marc Ferrentino said the program is designed for digital marketers, SEO specialists and IT professionals. The goal is to provide everything they need to create their own site search experience  including starter "knowledge graphs" customized to specific industries that customers can populate with their own content.

And there's an educational focus  Ferrentino said Hitchhikers should be accessible to "someone who is a novice when it comes to technology," quickly getting them up to speed on topics like HTML, CSS and JavaScript, with different tracks and modules all brought to life with "hands-on learning" and quizzes.

Yext Hitchhikers

Image Credits: Yext

Like Yext Answers, Hitchhikers is available through a 90-day free trial. And if you're wondering about the name, Lerman said it's a reference to Douglas Adams' classic novel "The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy," specifically the idea of The Ultimate Question. Hitchhikers, then, is designed to help businesses answers their own Ultimate Questions.

One of the recurring themes in my recent conversations with Lerman has been the importance of brands and businesses as a source of knowledge and authoritative information. It's something he emphasized again when discussing Hitchhikers. For example, he pointed to a Google search about what qualifies as essential travel  the top result was an article from a popular travel blogger, rather than the official definition from the U.S. State Department (a Yext Answers customer).

"The ultimate authority how to claim your gift card from Krispy Kreme is Krispy Kreme," Lerman said. "The ultimate authority on an internet outage in a certain area is Cox ... Getting that information to the user is even more important in this terrible year of misinformation and disinformation."
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 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 American military threw cold water on Moscow's claim its supersonic nuclear-capable strategic bomber broke a world record for longest flight.

Over the weekend, Russian media reported that two Tu-160 'Blackjack' bombers set 'a world record for [the] longest non-stop flight' on Saturday totaling more than 25 hours.

'Two crews of the Long-Range Aviation have set a new record for distance and duration on Tu-160 supersonic strategic missile-carrying bombers,' Lieutenant General Sergey Kobylash, commander of the Russian Aerospace Forces, told TASS.

The pilots of the bombers flew non-stop for more than 25 hours, 'covering a distance of more than 20,000 kilometers,' Kobylash said.

Russian military officials over the weekend claimed that two Tu-160 'Blackjack' supersonic strategic bombers (like the one seen above flying over Moscow on June 24) flew a record flight of more than 25 hours

According to Russian media, two Tu-160 planes took off from their home base in Engels in western Russia on Friday. From there they flew more than 12,427 miles eastward over the Arctic and Pacific Oceans. It then turned southward and back toward the west before landing at Engels

US Strategic Command on Monday never mentioned the Russian claims. In a tweet, it said: 'A little #MondayMotivation to show what teamwork can accomplish.' STRATCOM then went on to list three non-stop flights by its strategic bombers that flew longer than the Russian aircraft.

RUSSIA'S TUPOLEV TU-160 BOMBER Length: 177ft 5in Wingspan: 182ft 9in (spread) Weight: 242,505lbs (empty) Range: 7,643miles (without refuelling) Speed: 1,380mph at 40,000ft Rate of climb: 13,860 ft/min The Tupolev Tu-160 is the world's largest operational bomber. With a crew of four men, the TU-160 can carry 12 Kh-55 cruise missiles as well as 24 Kh-15 attack missiles. The aircraft is part of the Long Range Aviation branch of the Russian Air Force which is involved with long-range nuclear weapons. It first entered service during the Soviet Union in 1987. In total, 35 were built with 16 remaining in service with the Russian Air Force. In 2015, Russia's Ministry of Defence announced plans to relaunch production, with a contract signed in 2018. Ten Tu-160M2 are set to be ready for delivery in 2027, costing the Russian government a rumoured 1.19bn. Advertisement

'Nobody has flown this type of aircraft longer.'

The Tu-160 is capable of carrying conventional or nuclear-tipped cruise missiles with a range of 3,410 miles and flying over 7,500 miles without refueling.

US Strategic Command on Monday never mentioned the Russian claims.

In a tweet, it said: 'A little #MondayMotivation to show what teamwork can accomplish.'

STRATCOM then went on to list three non-stop flights by its strategic bombers that flew longer than the Russian aircraft.

In 2014, the B-1 Lancer flew for 30 hours straight; In 2001, the B-2 Spirit logged 44 hours consecutively in the air; and the B-52 Stratofortress went 45 hours between taking off and landing in 1957.

'Together, the combatant commands set the bar for excellence,' the tweet read. It included the hashtags #Deterrence and #TogetherWeDeliver.

In 2001, the B-2 Spirit logged 44 hours consecutively in the air, beating the Russian 'record,' according to the US military

Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit Cruising Speed: Classified - believed to be high subsonic

Classified - believed to be high subsonic Range: 6,000 miles, 10,000 miles with one aerial refueling

Payload: Capable of carrying 16 B61 Nuclear free fall bombs or 80 conventional 500lbs bombs

Crew: Two One of the most advanced aircraft ever built, the B-2 Spirit America's premier strategic bomber. It's 'flying wing' design allows it to penetrate enemy radar systems to deliver either nuclear or conventional weapons. The project was originally conceived during the Carter administration in 1976 as a way to counter the Soviet threat. It was shrouded in secrecy and cost nearly $45billion to develop until it's first flight in 1989. With just one air-to-air refueling the B-2 is capable of flying an astonishing 10,000 miles. This means that there is rarely a need to deploy it outside the U.S., except in cases where the American government wants to project a show of force. Advertisement

According to Russian media, two Tu-160 planes took off from their home base in Engels in western Russia on Friday.

From there they flew more than 12,427 miles eastward over the Arctic and Pacific Oceans. It then turned southward and back toward the west before landing at Engels.

The Russian Ministry of Defense told The Drive that the Tu-160s were refueled in the air three times by six Il-78 Midas tankers.

Interestingly, the strategic bombers were escorted by Su-35S Flanker fighters as well as 'foreign aircraft along certain sections of their route.'

Those 'foreign aircraft' turned out to be US Air Force F-22A Raptors and an E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft.

The American planes identified the Russian aircraft as it flew in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).

The North American Aerospace Defense Command confirmed the encounters on its Twitter feed on Saturday.

'#NORAD F-22 Raptors and an E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft, supported by KC-135 air refuelers, positively identified two Tu-160 bombers and two Su-35 fighter aircraft entering the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) three times last night,' NORAD Command tweeted on Saturday.

The B-52 Stratofortress went 45 hours between taking off and landing in 1957, according to the US military

Boeing B-52 Stratofortress Top speed: 650mph

Range: 8,800 miles

Payload: Capable of carrying nuclear weapons or 70,000lbs worth of conventional weapons

Crew : Five The B-52 was initially designed as a high-altitude nuclear bomber. But when it was first introduced in 1955, few could have imagined it would still be flying more than six decades later. It has seen action in Vietnam - where it flew more than 120,000 missions - as well as in Yugoslavia, Iraq and Afghanistan. It was also the main strategic nuclear deterrent during much of the early Cold War. Pilots joke that the plane's air-frame is older then them or their father's - which is testament to the original engineers. The B-52 is nicknamed the BUFF (Big Ugly Fat Fellow) for its appearance and difficulty to fly. There are plans to keep the B-52 in service beyond 2040, which could mean it could have been flying for a full century. Advertisement

'Although the Russian aircraft loitered in the ADIZ for approx. four hours total over the three incursions and came within 50 nautical miles of Alaska's Nunavik Island, they remained in international airspace and at no time entered United States or Canadian sovereign airspace.

'The re-emergence of strategic competition between nations, and competitors who overtly challenge the free and open international order, characterizes our complex global security environment,' said General Glen VanHerck, the commander of NORAD.

'As competitors increase their reach, range and capability, our continental defense operations must be ready to detect, deter and defeat against threats in all domains.'

NORAD tweeted: 'NORAD employs a layered defense network of radars, satellites, and fighter and early warning aircraft to ID aircraft and determine the appropriate response.

'The ID and monitoring of aircraft entering US/CAN ADIZ demonstrates NORAD's aerospace warning and control missions.'

Meanwhile, the American military continues to fly its own strategic bombers not far from Russia's borders.

In 2014, the B-1 Lancer (like the one seen in the above file photo) flew for 30 hours straight

Rockwell B1-B Lancer Top Speed : 900-plus mph

Range : Intercontinental

Payload : Capable of carrying nuclear weapons and up to 75,000lbs of ordnance internally -the equivalent of 24 misiles

Crew: Four Nicknamed 'The Bone' for its sleek look, the swing-wing B-1B Lancer was originally designed as an incredibly fast strategic bomber that could penetrate the Soviet Union's airspace. However, the collapse of the USSR meant that there was a reduced need for the United States' nuclear bombers, so the B-1 was assigned a conventional role in the mid-1990s. In the 1999 bombing of Yugoslavia six B-1Bs flew two per cent of strike missions but dropped 20 per cent of the total ordnance. It has been nearly continuously deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq since 2001. It has also recently seen action in Libya and Syria. Upgrades will ensure the plane is in service up until at least 2040. Advertisement

Last Monday, three B-52 Stratofortress bombers flew a joint training mission over the Black Sea alongside fighters jets from NATO allies Ukraine and Romania.

Earlier this month, six US B-52s joined allied planes in a NATO exercise for the first time as air forces flew over all 30 nations in a single day.

Fighter jets took to the skies as the United States Air Force was joined by the UK's Royal Air Force and others in a huge training exercise.

Around 80 aircraft flew in Exercise Point Blank on September 10, including some from the Royal Netherlands Air Force.

The US B-52 bomber planes took part for the first time this year, with other aircraft joining from an American base in Italy and USAF's Europe and Africa units.

The annual operation is designed to hone tactics and ensure readiness among allied nations.

NATO said: 'Six US air force B-52 bombers flew over all 30 NATO allies in one day.

'They were escorted by 80 allied fighter aircraft, boosting their ability to train and operate together.'

Last month, the US military accused Russian fighter pilots of conducting an 'unsafe and unprofessional' intercept of a nuclear-capable B-52 bomber that was conducting 'routine operations' over the Black Sea.

According to a statement from the Air Force, two Russian Su-27 jets crossed to within 100ft of the nose of the B-52 multiple times as the US bomber flew over international airspace on August 28.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command confirmed that US fighter planes escorted the two Russian strategic bombers which approached Alaskan airspace

The US military said the Russian pilots' shift to afterburner mode caused turbulence for the American aircraft, limiting the pilot's ability to maneuver.

In modern aviation, when pilots activate afterburners, it injects fuel directly into the exhaust stream of a turbine engine, increasing the thrust so that the aircraft can accelerate.

'Actions like these increase the potential for midair collisions, are unnecessary, and inconsistent with good airmanship and international flight rules,' said General Jeff Harrigian of US Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa commander.

'While the Russian aircraft were operating in international airspace, they jeopardized the safety of flight of the aircraft involved.

'We expect them to operate within international standards set to ensure safety and prevent accidents.'

The Russian government did not share the American assessment of the incident.

On September 10, six US B-52s (one pictured leading a formation over the North Sea) joined allied planes in a NATO exercise for the first time as air forces flew over all 30 nations in a single day

Last month, video released by the Russian Ministry of Defense shows an American B-52 bomber being intercepted by Russian Su-27 jets over the Black Sea

The Defense Ministry in Moscow said in a statement that the American B-52 was 'approaching the state border of the Russian Federation.'

'To identify the air target and prevent violation of the state border of Russia, two Su-27 fighters were raised into the air,' according to the Russian Defense Ministry.

'After the foreign military plane turned away from the state border, the Russian fighter safely returned to the home airfield.

'The entire flight of Russian Su-27 fighters took place strictly in accordance with international rules for the use of airspace.

'The American aircraft was not allowed to violate the state border of the Russian Federation.'

The B-52 was conducting 'routine operations' over the Black Sea on the morning of August 28 when two Russian Su-27s crossed within 100ft of its nose multiple times in international airspace, the Air Force said in a statement Saturday. One of Su-27s is seen pulling up next to the B-52's left wing

The Su-27 is seen flying directly in front of the B-52 in a dangerous maneuver referred to as 'thumping' or a 'head-butt'

The Russian government claims that the B-52 was flying toward the Russian border, while the Americans say the bomber was in international airspace

Russia has bristled at US and its NATO allies deploying troops and weapons near its borders, and has used its nuclear-capable fighter jets in the past to flex its military muscles under the nose of the United States.

In 2018, two 'Blackjacks' flew over the Caribbean Sea during a 10-hour training mission with the Venezuelan Air Force amid escalating tensions between Moscow and Washington DC, coupled with allegations of meddling in Caracas.

The Russian bombers' deployment infuriated Washington, where US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo characterized the joint training session as 'two corrupt governments squandering public funds, and squelching liberty and freedom while their people suffer.'
Social media giant Facebook removed 155 Chinese accounts accused of exhibiting "inauthentic behaviour" and interfering in the Philippines and American politics, the company said in a statement on Tuesday.

Most of the banned accounts have been accused of spreading pro-China propaganda including posting content supporting China's aggressive posturing in the South China Sea. Some have been accused of spamming material opposing US President Donald Trump and favouring Demorct rival Joe Biden. Others, largely followed by accounts and pages from the Philippines, were in support of Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte.

Facebook cybersecurity policy chief Nathaniel Gleicher while addressing the issue revealed that the content posted by these Chinese accounts largely centred around fueling both sides of the American election while some aimed mainly at building an audience. Gleicher added that this was the first major takedown of Chinese-based accounts by Facebook and action was taken on the accounts of "foreign-interference with any engagement in US politics."

"The network of accounts, pages and groups used virtual private networks and other tools to make it appear they were operated from somewhere other than China," the company revealed.

Read: Facebook Will Take Aggressive Measures If US Election Descends Into Civic unrest: Report

Read: Restructure Google & Facebook Outside US Like TikTok As Well: Chinese Stooge's Novel Idea

The fake American accounts had around 3,000 followers while those centres around the Philippines politics had close to 100,000 accounts viewing their activities. The operation's US assets included a Facebook group called "Biden Harris 2020" that had around 1,400 members, posting content in support of the Democrat candidates. Earlier Trump and his intelligence officials had said that China was favouring Democratic challenger Joe Biden.

In the Philippines, accounts supported incumbent President Duterte and his daughter, who is said to succeed him in 2022.

The massive crackdown on Chinese accounts was also carried on Facebook's other social networking platform Instagram, where the company suspended six inauthentic accounts for the same reasons.

Read: Facebook India Head Moves Apex Court Challenging Delhi Assembly Summons

Read: Facebook India Chief Defends Hate Speech Handling, Says Company's Policies 'neutral'
The Hungarian government's measures taken during the first wave of the coronavirus epidemic were in line with international law and did not harm human rights or freedoms in any way, the foreign minister said.

Speaking by phone from Strasbourg after meeting leaders of the Council of Europe, Peter Szijjarto noted the unprecedented attacks on Hungary from international organisations and EU member states during the first wave of the epidemic, when the government was endowed with special powers to fight the spread of Covid-19.



All attacks have been proven to be unfair and based on lies, he said. International organisations should aid protection efforts against the pandemic, or at least refrain from attacking countries working to protect their citizens and economy by taking extraordinary measures, Szijjarto said.



Hungary expects to be free from such attacks while tackling the second wave of the pandemic, he said. Szijjarto said the Hungarian government was unwilling to bend to the expectations of international organisations or the international press.



In the coming weeks and months, Hungary will carry on protecting the lives, health and jobs of the Hungarian people while making sure the country is functional, regardless of its repercussions in certain international organisations, he said.





MTI Photo: Zoltan Mate
Democrats were anxious to have Bolton testify during the impeachment proceedings, believing he could provide a firsthand account to bolster the case that Trump withheld nearly $400 million in military assistance to Ukraine in a bid to force the country to open an investigation of Joe Biden, his political rival. Bolton has said he was not going to testify without a court order, in deference to the executive branch, and Democrats in the House did not seek to subpoena him and force a court fight. Republicans in the Senate chose to call no witnesses at all.
New Delhi, Sep 23 : Railofy, a Mumbai-based start-up, has launched India's first 'Waitlist and RAC Protection' service, aimed towards tackling the problems faced by the passengers travelling by trains after being put on the waiting list.

Trains remains the most preferred option for the majority of passengers mainly since tickets are less expensive compared to flights.

Unfortunately, on some occasions, passengers need to cancel their journey if their names do not appear in the journey chart, even after being put on the waiting list.

However, by using the Railofy app, or by visiting its website, a passenger can enter the PNR number of their ticket. The traveller also needs to pay a fee, which is determined according to each trip.

After this, Railofay keeps tracking the passenger's waiting list tickets. If the passenger's ticket is not confirmed until the last minute, the app provides a flight ticket to the passenger, at the same price as that of the train's.

Deepika Agarwal, a passenger, told IANS: "We had to travel from Mumbai to Delhi, and the tickets for six passengers were on the waiting list. After our tickets were not confirmed even at the last minute, we completed our journey through this app.

"The price of Tatkal ticket was Rs 4,000 and a flight ticket was around Rs 5,000. We took the waitlist protection from Railofy. We got a flight ticket for just 2,000 rupees after the chart was made." "About 30 crore passengers in India face the problem of being put on the waiting list. We want the travellers to have no hassles during the journey. We started the app in January 2020 and in the first few months, only about 100 passengers availed our services and completed their journey," Rohan, a founding member of Railofy, told IANS.

"Railofay service is currently available for all trains and across all its classes. The migrant labourers also took advantage of our facility amid the corona pandemic. Those who are returning to work again are also completing their journey through us," he said.

Rohan said Railofy also helps those passengers whose towns or villages are away from the airport.

He said though Railofy is making the long-distance journey easier, it has also started providing bus facilities for shorter routes so that passengers have the least trouble.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Delta Dental of Arkansas, the largest provider of dental benefits in the state, has again been named one of the Best Places to Work in Arkansas. The eighth annual program, created by Arkansas Business and Best Companies Group, was designed to identify and honor the best employers in Arkansas, benefiting the state's economy, workforce and businesses. Delta Dental of Arkansas has been among the honorees each of the program's eight years.

Delta Dental of Arkansas is committed to providing an outstanding employee experience. Beyond a generous benefits package, the company offers a comprehensive leadership development program, flexible scheduling to accommodate the needs of family, and an Employee Steering Committee where representatives from each department meet with company leadership to hear employees' suggestions.

"We're honored to win this award, especially because so much is determined by employee responses," said Kelly Carney, chief administrative officer at Delta Dental of Arkansas. "The positive feedback we receive through the survey is consistent with how we want employees to view us and how we want to be viewed in our community and by our customers. We are gratified that we have been recognized eight years in a row."

Companies from across the state entered a two-part survey process to determine the Best Places to Work in Arkansas. The first part consisted of evaluating each nominated company's workplace policies, practices, philosophy, systems and demographics. The second part, weighted more heavily, consisted of an employee survey to measure employees' satisfaction with their experience.

The full list of honorees includes 47 companies. For more information on the Best Places to Work in Arkansas program, visit www.BestPlacestoWorkAR.com.

About Delta Dental of Arkansas

Delta Dental of Arkansas is the largest dental benefits provider in the state, helping more than 800,000 Arkansans keep their smiles healthy through commercial and Medicaid coverage. As a not-for-profit company, Delta Dental is committed to improving the oral health of Arkansans through the philanthropic efforts of its Foundation, which donated more than $3 million to support oral health education initiatives in the last three years. For more information, visit deltadentalar.com.

Media Contact: Lauren Carrigan

Marketing & Communications Strategist

501-992-1814

[email protected]

www.deltadentalar.com

SOURCE Delta Dental of Arkansas

Related Links

http://www.deltadentalar.com


President Uhuru Kenyatta has rallied Kenyans to work together for the unity and development of the country.

At the same time, the President admonished leaders who are going around the country preaching hate and division saying Kenyans need development and not empty political rhetoric.

It is good to desire leadershipbut leadership must be about bringing people together. People should come together, love each other and walk the same journey because leadership belongs to the people, the President said.

The President spoke Monday, on the second day of his tour of development projects in the Coast region. The tour took the Head of State, who was accompanied by Governor Ali Hassan Joho and Infrastructure CS James Macharia, to Mombasa, Kwale and Kilifi Counties

In Mombasa, the President inspected the ongoing construction of the first segment of the Mariakani Highway which runs from Mombasa to Kwa Jomvu.

The Shs 8.5 billion project which is currently at 75 percent completion stage involves upgrading of the 11.3 kilometer two-way single carriageway to a three-lane dual road to ease up access of cargo trucks to Mombasa port.

Speaking to Changamwe residents who turned out in large numbers to welcome him, the President said the ongoing expansion of Mombasa port and the supporting infrastructure had grown its performance by approximately 15 million tonnes from 20 million in 2013 to a current annual output of 35 million tonnes.

The President said the jump in the port performance and the construction of ancillary infrastructure such as the SGR had helped create more jobs and business opportunities for Kenyans.

He warned politicians not to politicize development and reminded those preoccupied with endless politics that wananchi will choose their leaders at the right time.

I am telling the people saying the President has moved the port to Naivasha. When I took over the leadership of our nation Kenya, this port of Mombasa could only handle 20 million tonnes per year, thats from the time of the British colonialists until when I took the reigns of our nations leadership.

From the time I took over, we have moved from 20 million million tonnes to 35 million tonnes. An additional 15 million tonnes, the President said.

From Changamwe, the Head of State made a brief stopover on the Dongo Kundu by-pass to assess a section of the road back-slope that collapsed recently due to what engineers suspect is the presence of a water aquifer in the area.

The President instructed national and county government entities to quickly find a solution to the challenge including tapping the underground water for human use, if they confirm existence of the aquifer.

At Dongo Kundu, the Head of State inspected the ongoing construction of the 2790-meter Mwache-Tunza bridge and viaduct over the Indian Ocean which is part of the 9 kilometer four lane dual carriageway from Mwache to Mteza in Dongo Kundu where the Government is setting up a Special Economic Zone (SEZ).

The President said the road will open up the southern parts of Mombasa especially Dongo Kundu as well as Kwale County to become the new frontier of investment in the region.

From Mombasa, the Head of State flew to Kwale County where he inspected the now complete Mariakani to Kinango road and announced Government plans to extend the road to Kwale town.

The President, who was received in the count by Governor Salim Mvurya also inaugurated the Vigurungani community borehole which was gifted to area residents by the Kenya Defence Forces and visited the upcoming Kwale Teachers Training College, a project of the County Government of Kwale.

Speaking to locals at Vigurungani Primary School, the Head of State announced a Kshs 50 million national Government grant for the new 1,200 capacity teachers college in the current fiscal year, an amount he said will be raised to Shs 100 million next year.

Governor Mvurya said President Kenyattas impressive development profile in the Coast region especially Kwale County speaks for itself.

The Kwale Governor thanked the Head of State for the new road and several other complete and ongoing national Government development projects in his county.

The President concluded his busy day at Jilore in Kilifi County where he inspected the new 117 kilometer Malindi to Sala Gate road which was constructed at a cost of Shs 4.1 billion.

At Jilore Secondary School where he spoke to area residents, the President said the Government will increase electricity connectivity in the area while Governor Amason Kingi promised to utilise funding from the World Bank to supply are residents with clean water.

Speaking on national matters, the Head of State dismissed a section of political leaders saying they were self seekers who cared very little about the wellbeing of wananchi.

When you see leaders throwing words at each other, and abusing others, it is not because they care about wananchi, it is about their interests, the President cautioned.

Governor Kingi thanked the President for the various national government projects especially roads which he said are helping open up his county for investment.

The Governor termed President Kenyatta as an accessible leader who is always available and ready to listen to other leaders and dismissed busy-body politicians who he said are going around the country sowing division at the expense of national unity and progress.

He said frequent meetings held between the President and coast leaders had helped speed up development in the region and singled out the ongoing land titling programme as a successful intervention whose benefits Coastal people have started enjoying.

Governor Ali Hassan Joho who accompanied the Head of State on the entire tour and spoke at all stop overs said President Kenyatta has etched his name in the books of history as the leader who rolled out the highest number of development projects in the Coast region.

The Mombasa Governor cautioned politicians against misleading Coast residents on development matters saying it is clear to everyone that President Kenyatta was delivering his development blueprint for the region.

The President was accompanied on the day-long tour by Coast Regional Coordinator John Elungata and received in the Counties by respective Governors and local leaders including area MPs and MCAs.
1. Yes. Too many kids are staying home. They need a virtual learning option to keep up.

2. Yes. Teachers are out sick and subs cant handle the load. Online learning is needed.

3. No. Its too late in the school year to make a wholesale switch in teaching platforms.

4.No. Many parents arent in a position to stay home while their kids learn virtually.

5. Unsure. It may seem like a good idea from a health standpoint, but it has shortcomings.

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Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron (pictured) defended a grand jury's decision to clear three officers of charges in Breonna Taylor's killing by saying that 'law is not meant to react to tragedy'

Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron defended a grand jury's decision to clear three officers of charges in Breonna Taylor's killing by saying that 'law is not meant to react to tragedy'.

Cameron discussed the outcome of his four-month investigation into Taylor's death on Wednesday, after the grand jury chose to indict just one of the officers, Brett Hankison, on three counts of wanton endangerment in connection with the police raid where the 26-year-old EMT was shot and killed on the night of March 13.

The first-degree charge, a Class D felony which carries a penalty of up to five years in prison, relates to Hankison shooting into the neighboring apartments during the incident, not Taylor's death.

Sgt Jonathan Mattingly and Detective Myles Cosgrove, who were also present at the time of the fatal operation, were not charged.

Cameron, who is the state's first black attorney general, said that the officers were not charged for Taylor's death because they acted in self-defense after her boyfriend fired at them.

He said he understood why people were outraged by the incident, but said that had no bearing on the outcome of his investigation.

'I certainly understand the pain that has been brought about by the tragic loss of Miss Taylor. I understand that as an attorney general ... I understand that as a black man,' Cameron said.

'This team, myself, and the representatives of the Attorney General's office have taken a lot of criticism and scrutiny. But that scrutiny in many ways was misplaced because there was not a day that people in this office didn't go to sleep thinking about this case.

'Criminal law is not meant to respond to every sorrow and grief, but my heart breaks for the loss of Ms Taylor and I've said that repeatedly. My mother, if something was to happen to me, would find it very hard,' he added while choking up.

At another point in his news conference Cameron cautioned against retaliation over the decision, which had already sparked unrest in downtown Louisville.

'If we simply act on emotion or outrage, there is no justice,' he said. 'Mob justice is not justice. Justice sought by violence is not justice. It just becomes revenge.'

Fired Louisville detective Brett Hankison (left) was charged with three counts of wanton endangerment in connection to the police raid that killed Breonna Taylor (right) on the night of March 13

Officers Myles Cosgrove (left) and John Mattingly (right) who were present during the police raid on March 13, were not charged on Wednesday. Hankison was fired from the LMPD while the other two officers were placed on administrative assignment

A person reacts after a decision in the criminal case against police officers involved in the death of Breonna Taylor, who was shot dead by police in her apartment, in Louisville, Kentucky in March

People react in Kentucky following the grand jury's decision in the criminal case against police officers involved in the death of Breonna Taylor

WHAT IS WANTON ENDANGERMENT? What is the charge? Charges of wanton endangerment are brought when a person is found to have recklessly engaged in conduct, without concern for human life, that puts a person at risk of death or serious injury. 'A person is guilty of wanton endangerment in the first degree when, under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life, he wantonly engages in conduct which creates a substantial danger of death or serious physical injury to another person,' state law says. What is the penalty? Wanton endangerment in Kentucky is a class D felony. It can bring a sentence of up to five years in prison. How are the charges related to the Breonna Taylor case? The three counts of wanton endangerment were brought against Officer Brett Hankison after the bullets he fired inside Taylor's apartment traveled into a neighboring apartment. Crime scene photos show the walls of Taylor's apartment riddled with bullet holes. Advertisement

Hankison was fired by the Louisville Metro Police Department in June after officials said he violated policy by 'wantonly and blindly' firing his gun during the raid.

The FBI is still investigating potential violations of federal law in the case.

Cameron gave a detailed account of the months-long investigation into the events leading up to deadly shooting, which he said had been pieced together by ballistics reports, 911 calls, and witness interviews, due to the lack of bodycam footage.

The findings included:

Sergeant Mattingly and detectives Cosgrove and Hankison had no known involvement in the obtainment of the search warrant executed on March 13.

Mattingly was the first and the only officer to enter the residence, where he saw Taylor's boyfriend Kenneth Walker open fire.

There is no evidence to support that sergeant Mattingly was hit by friendly fire from other officers.

Mattingly returned fire with six shots. Almost simultaneously, detective Cosgrove also in the doorway, shot 16 times.

In total, six bullets struck Taylor, but only one was determined to be fatal.

Detective Hankison fired his weapon ten times, firing bullets into apartment 4 and apartment 3.

At the time, three residents of apartment 3 were at home including a male, pregnant female, and a child.

There is no conclusive evidence that any bullets fired from detective Hankison's weapon struck Taylor.

The ballistics analysis did not identify which of the three officers fired the fatal shot.

The FBI investigation later concluded the fatal shot was fired by detective Cosgrove.

Investigation found Mattingly and Cosgrove were justified in the use of force after Walker opened fire.

Investigators believe Cosgrove was responsible for firing the bullet that took Taylor's life. Taylor was shot six times after officers barged into her apartment while acting on a search warrant for a drug investigation.

Her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, opened fire when police burst in, hitting Mattingly. Walker was charged with attempted murder of a police officer, but prosecutors later dropped the charge.

Walker had told police he heard knocking but didn't know who was coming into the home and fired in self-defense.

Cameron said Cosgrove and Mattingly were not charged after investigators determined their actions were justified because Walker opened fire.

'According to Kentucky law, the use of force by (Officers Jonathan) Mattingly and (Myles) Cosgrove was justified to protect themselves,' he said. 'This justification bars us from pursuing criminal charges in Miss Breonna Taylor's death.'

The three officers did not take part in the obtaining of the warrant, he said.

The raid had been widely reported by the media as a 'no-knock' warrant however, further investigations later proved the cops had knocked before entering.

Walker had also told investigators he did hear knocking, but maintained the cops had not identify themselves as police.

They knocked on Taylor's apartment door and announced their presence outside, which Cameron said was corroborated by a neighbor who witnessed the arrival.

Getting no answer, Cameron said police officers 'breached the door' and gained entry into the apartment.

Mattingly entered first, and at the end of a corridor saw Taylor and with Walker who was pointing a gun.

Walker fired, injuring Mattingly in the thigh. Mattingly returned fire, and his colleagues began shooting soon after, Cameron said. Hankison fired 10 bullets, Cameron said.

Six bullets hit Taylor, though there is no 'conclusive' evidence that any came from Hankison's gun, Cameron said. Bullets fired by Hankison traveled into a neighboring apartment.

The charges drew immediate sadness, frustration and anger among the community over the grand jury decision not to go further

Protesters began marching through the streets of Louisville, where Taylor was killed, after the announcement, shouting 'No justice, no peace'

Some members of the community were seen chanting as they reacted. While others sat quietly and cried

Just one hour before the decision was announced, the National Guard was deployed to downtown Louisville amid fears of unrest and protests

Attorney Ben Crump, who is representing Taylor's family, called the grand jury's decision 'outrageous and offensive'

TIMELINE OF EVENTS LEADING UP TO BREONNA TAYLOR'S DEATH, ACCORDING TO AG'S FINDINGS In the early morning hours of March 13, officers from LMPD executed a search warrant at 3003 Springfield Drive, apartment 4. This was Ms Breonna Taylor's residence. The officers were advised by superiors to knock and announce their presence in serving this specific search warrant. Scope of the investigation did not include the attainment of the warrant by the LMPD criminal interdiction division. Federal law enforcement partners are conducting that investigation. Sergeant Mattingly and detectives Cosgrove and Hankison had no known involvement in the proceeding investigation or obtainment of the search warrant. They were called in to duty as the extra personnel to effectuate the service of the search warrant. They only had information conveyed to them in their prior briefing. They knock and announced the presence at the apart. Their statement are corroborated by an independent witness near to the proximity of apartment 4. In other words, the warrant was not served as a no-knock warrant. When the officers were unable to get anyone to answer, or open the door to apartment 4, the decision was made to breach the door. After breaching the door, Sergeant Mattingly was the first and the only officer to enter the residence. Sergeant Mattingly identified two individuals, standing beside one another at the end of the hall. Male and a female. In his statement he says that the male was holding a gun. Arms extended. In a shooting stance. Sergeant Mattingly saw the man's gun fire, heard a boom. Immediately knew he was shot as a result of feeling heat in his upper thigh. Kenneth walker fired the shot that hit sergeant Mattingly. There is no evidence to support that sergeant Mattingly was hit by friendly fire from other officers. Mr Walker admitted that he fired one shot and was the first one to shoot. In addition to all the testimony, the ballistics report shows the round that struck sergeant Mattingly was fired from a .9-millimeter handgun. The LMPD officers fired .40-caliber handguns. Sergeant Mattingly returned fire down the hallway. Mattingly fired six shots. Almost simultaneously, detective Cosgrove also in the doorway, shot 16 times. This all took place in a matter of seconds. In total, six bullets struck Ms Taylor. Medical evidence obtained by the team indicates that only one shot was fatal. Further medical evidence shows Ms Taylor would have died from the fatal shot within a few seconds to two minutes after being struck. Detective Hankison fired his weapon ten times including from an outside sliding glass door and through a bedroom window. Some bullets traveled through apartment four and in to apartment three before some exited that apartment. At the time, three residents of apartment three were at home. Including a male, pregnant female, and a child. There is no conclusive evidence that any bullets fired from detective Hankison's weapon struck Ms Taylor. The ballistics analysis did not identify which of the three officers fired the fatal shot. After receiving that information, I asked the FBI Crime lab to conduct its own analysis to see if they reach the same results. The FBI Ballistics analysis concluded the fatal shot was fired by Detective Cosgrove. Our officers looked at both reports to determine if there were major differences in the procedures used by each lab that would have led the FBI to identify who fired the fatal shot. Both law enforcement agencies used similar equipment and analysis. Each lab is highly respected for their work. There was nothing our investigators could point to nor anything provided by the respective agencies that directly explains why one lab made the call while another did not. I think it is worth repeating again that our investigation found Mattingly and Cosgrove were justified in their use of force after having been fired upon by Kenneth Walker. Secondary to this justification, the KSP and the FBI ballistics analysis reached different conclusions creating a reasonable doubt in the evidence about who fired the fatal shot. I certainly understand the public's desires for answers and many have questioned the length of the investigation. Simply put, we had to try every means necessary to determine who fired the fatal shot before the investigation could be completed. With a thorough and complete knowledge of evidence collected in this case, lawyers of special prosecutions presented the findings of the independent investigation before a grand jury comprised of Jefferson County residents beginning on Monday and concluding today. Advertisement

Along with the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota, Taylor's case became a major touchstone for the nationwide protests that have gripped the nation since May - drawing attention to entrenched racism and demanding police reform.

Her image has been painted on streets, emblazoned on protest signs and silk-screened on T-shirts worn by celebrities.

The case exposed the wide gulf between public opinion on justice for those who kill black Americans, and the laws under which those officers are charged, which regularly favor working police and do not often result in steep criminal accusations.

Wednesday's announcement drew immediate sadness, frustration and anger that the grand jury did not go further.

The wanton endangerment charges each carry a sentence of up to five years. Protesters began marching through the streets of Louisville, where Taylor was killed, after the announcement, shouting 'No justice, no peace.' Some sat quietly and cried.

Attorney Ben Crump, who is representing Taylor's family, called the grand jury's decision 'outrageous and offensive!'

'Justice has NOT been served,' tweeted Linda Sarsour of Until Freedom, a group that has pushed for charges in the case.

In the lead up to Wednesday's announcement, protesters have consistently pressured Cameron to act, and celebrities and pro athletes had joined them in calling on the attorney general to charge the police who shot Taylor.

Hankison had previously been placed on administrative reassignment, as were Mattingly, Cosgrove and the detective who sought the warrant, Joshua Jaynes.

At one point, demonstrators converged on Cameron's house and were charged with felonies for trying to intimidate the prosecutor.

The AG had previously refused to set a deadline for his decision on the investigation - which comes six months after Taylor's death.

Earlier, as the verdict loomed, Kentucky State Police were out in force outside the historic museum, with squad cars and orange cones blocking the building as the verdict loomed.

Meanwhile in Louisville, officials had been bracing for more protests and possible unrest as the public nervously awaits the decision.

In a midday press conference, Mayor Greg Fischer announced he will impose a 72-hour curfew in the city, from 9pm to 6.30am.

'No matter what Attorney General Cameron announces, I urge everyone to commit, once again, to a peaceful, lawful response,' the mayor told reporters.

While emphasizing he does not know the grand jury's finding, the mayor has declared a state of emergency in the city, and Louisville Metro Police Department has closed off much of downtown to vehicles.

A memorial to Breonna Taylor was set up in Jefferson Square Park in Louisville, as the city anxiously awaits the results of a grand jury inquiry into her death

Officials and local businesses in downtown Louisville braced for potential unrest on Tuesday, after Mayor Greg Fischer declared a state of emergency

Plywood covers the windows of downtown businesses as the city prepares for the grand jury findings in the case of Breonna Taylor

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.

Courthouses, offices and restaurants were already boarded up on Tuesday in the mostly deserted blocks around the city's Jefferson Square Park, the site of regular demonstrations against police brutality that have spread across the nation.

Concrete barriers ringed the area, with a handful of checkpoints manned by police who would only allow people with essential business to drive downtown.

'Our goal with these steps is ensuring space and opportunity for potential protesters to gather and express their First Amendment rights,' Mayor Greg Fischer, a white Democrat, said in a statement.

'At the same time, we are preparing for any eventuality to keep everyone safe.' He emphasized he did not know when any decision might come.

Taylor, 26, was killed shortly after midnight on March 13 when three plainclothes officers used a battering ram to force their way in to her Louisville home with a so-called no knock warrant.

Fearing intruders, her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, fired a gun. The three officers fired their guns, striking Taylor five times.

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

Taylor and her boyfriend Kenneth Walker (pictured together) were sleeping in bed when the officers served the warrant at around 1am on March 13

A timeline of events related to the shooting death of Breonna Taylor - March 13: Officers serving a narcotics warrant fatally shoot Taylor in her home in Louisville, Kentucky. - March 13, hours later: Police announce the arrest of Kenneth Walker in the wounding of an officer during an exchange of gunfire; Taylor is left unidentified at the news conference, described as 'an unresponsive woman who was later pronounced dead.' - March, April: The shooting stays out of the headlines as the COVID-19 pandemic spreads in the U.S. - April 27, Taylor's family files wrongful death lawsuit against police department and city, challenging the police narrative. - May 13: Top Louisville prosecutor Tom Wine recuses himself from reviewing police investigation, Attorney General Daniel Cameron named as special prosecutor. - May 22: Prosecutors announce they will drop attempted murder charges against Walker, who shot at officers in his girlfriend's home. - May 28: Walker's anguished 911 call is released, three days after the death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minnesota, sparking large protests in Louisville. - May 29: Mayor Greg Fischer suspends use of no-knock warrants by Louisville police. - June 1: Fischer fires Police Chief Steve Conrad after officers failed to turn on body cameras in shooting of barbecue cook David McAtee during protests in Louisville. - June 11: Louisville Metro Council unanimously passes 'Breonnas Law' which bans use of no knock warrants. - June 14: Pop star Beyonce writes Attorney General Daniel Cameron, urging him to charge police officers. - June 23: Officer Brett Hankison, one of 3 officers who fired shots the night of Taylor's death, is fired for 'blindly' firing into Taylors apartment. - June 25: Celebrities join hundreds of demonstrators outside state Capitol calling on Cameron to charge officers. - June 28: Photographer Tyler Gerth is fatally shot at site of ongoing protests in downtown Louisville. - July 14: Protesters are arrested for demonstrating on Camerons front lawn. - August 12: Taylors mother, Tamika Palmer, meets with Cameron. - September 5: Hundreds peacefully protest outside Kentucky Derby, urging Cameron to criminally charge the officers. - September 7: Fischer names Yvette Gentry, first Black woman to lead Louisville Police department, as interim chief beginning Oct. 1. - September 9: Cameron is included on President Donald Trump's shortlist of Supreme Court candidates. - September 15: City announces civil settlement providing Taylors family with $12 million and promising police reforms. - September 22: Louisville police set up blockades downtown in anticipation of Cameron's announcement. Advertisement

Cameron, a Black Republican, has said his investigation into Taylor's death is ongoing, but has declined to confirm media reports that he is convening a grand jury to vote on whether to bring criminal charges against the officers.

The city's main federal courthouse has also been closed all week in an order by Chief Judge Greg Stivers of the Western District of Kentucky.

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.

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.

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.

How the one Louisville police officer charged in the Breonna Taylor case could face five years in prison after being charged with wanton endangerment for firing into a neighbor's apartment

Officer Brett Hankison, who was fired in the aftermath of Taylor's shooting, was charged with three counts of wanton endangerment, Attorney General Daniel Cameron said at a news conference.

The charges stem from Hankison's bullets travelling into a neighboring apartment when he and two other officers opened fire.

They do not relate to the shooting death of Taylor.

Charges of wanton endangerment are brought when a person is found to have recklessly engaged in conduct, without concern for human life, that puts a person at risk of death or serious injury.

'A person is guilty of wanton endangerment in the first degree when, under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life, he wantonly engages in conduct which creates a substantial danger of death or serious physical injury to another person,' state law says.

Wanton endangerment in Kentucky is a class D felony and can bring up to five years in prison.

Hankison, who was indicted on three counts, could potentially face up to 15 years.

Before charges were brought, Hankison was fired from the city's police department on June 23.

Taylor's living room was left riddled with bullets after the March 13 shooting by police

The charges stem from Hankison's bullets travelling into a neighboring apartment when he and two other officers opened fire. Pictured above are the bullet holes found in Taylor's apartment

Crime scene photos from the investigation show a number of shell casings in and near the EMT's apartment after she was shot dead by police on March 13

A termination letter sent to him by interim Louisville Police Chief Robert Schroeder said the white officer had violated procedures by showing 'extreme indifference to the value of human life' when he 'wantonly and blindly' shot 10 rounds of gunfire into Taylor's apartment.

He is the only officer to be fired and charged in relation to the Taylor case.

Hankison's two colleagues, Sergeant Jonathan Mattingly and Detective Myles Cosgrove, were not charged because the investigation found their actions were justified, the attorney general said.

Those two other officers were reassigned to administrative duties in the aftermath of the shooting.

In creating his account of Taylor's death, the attorney general said his investigators had no video footage from the shooting.

'Therefore, the sequence of events had to be pieced together through ballistics evidence, 911 calls, police radio traffic and interviews,' Cameron said.

Cop who was shot by Breonna Taylor's boyfriend emails colleagues to say 'the good guys are demonized, and the criminals are canonized' as Louisville braces for AG's decision on whether to charge him and other officers over her death

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. It's sad how the good guys are demonized, and the criminals are canonized.

'I wish I were there with you leading the charge. I'll be praying for your safety. Remember you are just a pawn in the Mayors political game. I'm 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.

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.
The Archbishop of Canterbury warned yesterday of the devastating economic impact of a second lockdown.

Church of England leader the Most Rev Justin Welby declared that the UK is in 'a situation which threatens the recovery from the huge decline in the economy' during the first lockdown.

His warning came in a joint letter written by the archbishop and the Archbishop of York, the Most Rev Stephen Cottrell, on how the UK should deal with a second wave of coronavirus.

They wrote: 'The most vulnerable to this second wave are the small companies who employ the most people and especially those in the hospitality industry.

The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby declared that the UK is in 'a situation which threatens the recovery from the huge decline in the economy' during the first lockdown

'The poor, the elderly and isolated are especially vulnerable. There will be growing nervousness about Christmas, about mental health and many other issues.'

The archbishops said: 'There will also be a sense of tiredness  the weariness which comes with dealing with yet another threat and difficulty. To face this, we must continue to encourage one another and bear one another's burdens.'

They added: 'Our national situation is much more complicated than it was in March.

'The divisions are deeper. There is public and reasonable concern about hunger  especially amongst children  and homelessness, with an expected rapid rise in evictions. Domestic violence remains a major issue which is concealed.'

The letter said that banks should be 'encouraged' to be as merciful to customers in trouble as the UK was to them when taxpayers bailed out the banking system after the financial collapse of 2008.

The archbishops cited the New Testament parable of the unforgiving servant, suggesting that bankers who fail to treat customers as they were treated themselves should be punished.

The letter, sent to the bishops of the Church, also contained the first admission that Archbishop Welby and his advisers may have been too accommodating to Government demands when they agreed to close all churches during lockdown.

The letter said that banks should be 'encouraged' to be as merciful to customers. Pictured: The financial district skyline in central London

It said the Church was not 'in the same place as before' and added: 'We have learned a great deal.

'In our leadership of the Church and in the witness we show to our nation we need to be determined, resilient and hopeful. We will need to be more critical in our response to restrictions that are above and beyond Government regulations.'

Archbishop Welby has been a frequent critic of the banks and the City since his arrival at Lambeth Palace in 2013. He has blamed them for worsening poverty and inequality.

The letter yesterday said: 'It will be for us and others to encourage the banks, who received such help in 2009, to be equally merciful to others as the nation was to them. St Matthew 18:23-35 seems highly relevant.'

The parable tells the story of a servant who begs a king to write off a large debt. The king allows him to go free, but the servant then refuses to help a fellow servant who owes him a much smaller sum and has him thrown in jail.

The unforgiving servant is then delivered to 'tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him'.

The archbishop has suggested in the past that the 500billion taxpayer bailout for the banks after the 2008 collapse could have better spent.

However, he has sometimes found that criticism of bankers and big business has backfired because of the Church's financial links to companies such as payday lender Wonga.
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)
The training followed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on training human resources for Laos and Cambodia in accordance with a scholarship program by the Da Nang Peoples Committee, signed on September 22 between the Vietnamese citys Department of Foreign Affairs and the University of Da Nang.

At the MoU signing ceremony (Photo: SGGP)

The cooperation aims to support and train high-quality human resources to satisfy the demand for development in Laos and Cambodia, thereby promoting the traditions, strengths and experience in training foreign students of the University of Da Nang for the past 20 years, and contributing to Da Nang citys efforts to nurture the traditional friendship and cooperation between Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.

The Da Nang city Peoples Committee is expected to provide 58 full scholarships to Lao and Cambodian localities, including 4 PhDs, 21 masters and 33 university graduates; and 52 partial scholarships, including 26 masters and 26 university graduates.

According to Mr. Huynh Duc Truong, Director of Da Nang city Department of Foreign Affairs, the MoU will be applied for the next school year, promising to bring many practical benefits in improving the quality of selection and training as well as management of foreign students; and provide the premise to develop more diversified and comprehensive human resource training cooperation programs for Lao and Cambodian localities.

At the MoU signing ceremony, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Quang Son, Vice Rector of University of Da Nang, affirmed that it was an honor for the university to train Lao and Cambodian human resources. It also shows the universitys prestige and the international quality of training, he added.

So far, there have been about 170 Lao students studying at the University of Da Nang under the scholarship program of Da Nang city Peoples Committee. In addition, a number of local departments and agencies have begun to receive Lao students on probation, laying an important step for educational cooperation between the Vietnamese city and Lao localities.

There are currently more than 700 international students from Laos, Cambodia, the Republic of Korea, China, Thailand and many countries in the University of Da Nang./.
A cow looks up from its feed at the Johann Dairy farm in Fresno, California, U.S. September 10, 2020. Picture taken September 10, 2020. REUTERS/Nathan Frandino

Looking to improve milk production, California farmer John Verwey turned to a Swiss-made feed additive designed to make a cow more efficient while reducing methane emissions from cattle burps.

The more a cow belches, the more it spends energy that could be used instead for milk production, Verwey reasoned. So two years ago, he started feeding his cattle Agolin, made of coriander, clove and carrot extracts, and replaced costlier additives that promoted weight gain.

He is still determining whether the change has affected milk output, but Verwey figures he has positioned himself for a world where consumers care more about greenhouse gas emissions from livestock.

"We think we're ahead of the curve," he said from Fresno, California. "Everyone should be trying their best to prevent pollution."

Major food companies are stepping into the space. Nestle SA and chocolate producer Barry Callebaut have partnered with startup Agolin, while in July, Restaurant Brands International started serving burgers made from less gassy cattle at several U.S. Burger King restaurants.

Their plans hinge on farmers and the companies that buy the meat and milk they produce adopting cattle feed additives that inhibit gas. It is a tiny market that developers say is poised for multibillion-dollar sales.

Expand Close A tractor pushes harvested corn onto a silo that will be used for cattle feed at Johann Dairy in Fresno, California, U.S. September 10, 2020. REUTERS/Nathan Frandino / Facebook

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Whatsapp A tractor pushes harvested corn onto a silo that will be used for cattle feed at Johann Dairy in Fresno, California, U.S. September 10, 2020. REUTERS/Nathan Frandino

The shift comes as meat and dairy industries face competition from substitutes for their products due to the perception they are healthier and less damaging to the environment.

Livestock emit 14.5% of the world's greenhouse gases that are related to human activity such as farming, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. Nearly two-thirds of those emissions come from cattle, including through burps, flatulence and manure.

1 MILLION LOW-BURPING CATTLE

Ruminant animals like cattle produce methane as microbes ferment fibrous carbohydrates in their stomachs into digestible form.

Farmers feed Agolin to 1 million head of cattle in Europe, and another 250,000 head of American cattle, double its total sales volume five years ago, said Kurt Schaller, Agolin's managing director.

Feeding Agolin to some of the cows in Nestle's supply chain is one part of Nestle's net zero carbon commitment, said Robert Erhard, head of dairy sourcing for the maker of KitKat chocolate bars and Coffee-mate.

Generating more milk per cow reduces the animal's emissions on a per-liter basis, he said.

Barry Callebaut feeds Agolin to a "low single-digit" percentage of cows in its supply chain, said spokesman Frank Keidel.

Expand Close A mineral mixture containing the feed additive Agolin is seen on Johann Dairy in Fresno, California, U.S. September 10, 2020. REUTERS/Nathan Frandino / Facebook

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Whatsapp A mineral mixture containing the feed additive Agolin is seen on Johann Dairy in Fresno, California, U.S. September 10, 2020. REUTERS/Nathan Frandino

Within two years, feed company DSM intends to launch sales in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Latin America.

The global market for methane-inhibitor feeds could reach 1 billion to 2 billion euros ($1.18 billion to $2.37 billion) by 2030, said Mark van Nieuwland, director of DSM's "Clean Cow" program.

DSM is testing its Bovaer product with several food companies, including New Zealand dairy cooperative Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd and Arla Foods Amba.

Mootral, another Swiss startup, plans to launch commercial sales in 2021, feeding 300,000 head of cattle, and adding at least another 1 million head by 2022, said Chief Executive Thomas Hafner.

To be sure, a few million cattle producing less methane would amount to a tiny fraction of the global 1.3 billion-head cattle herd.

"Agriculture, and food in general, it's not a very fast industry," Schaller said. "A new concept needs time."

While global sales of methane-reducing feed may amount to just $30 million in 2021, such sales may hit several billion dollars within five years, Hafner said.

"If (all feed suppliers combined) aren't in 50 million animals by 2025, we've done something very wrong," Hafner said.

Cattle methane-reducing efforts made headlines when Restaurant Brands began selling lower-methane Whoppers.

The pilot project is a bet that reduced cattle emissions will soon matter to consumers, said Matt Banton, Restaurant Brands' head of global innovation and sustainability.

"We're preparing for a future where that becomes a much bigger criteria."

The U.S. livestock sector has become more efficient and less emissions-intensive in recent years thanks to better use of feed and veterinary care and due to improved animal genetics, said Frank Mitloehner, professor of animal science at the University of California, Davis.

Mitloehner sees promise in feed solutions, but he sharply criticized Burger King's methane-reducing claims as premature and noted its marketing materials wrongly identified flatulence, rather than burps, as a major emission source.

Banton, of Restaurant Brands, agreed the company needs to do much more research.

Investors, however, are starting to pay attention to cattle methane emissions.

A Sarasin & Partners fund invests in DSM because of its efforts to help produce more sustainable food, such as through Bovaer, said Jeneiv Shah, global equity analyst at Sarasin.

FAIRR, a global investor network focused on risks with intensive animal farming, is concerned that strategies like Burger King's "simply aren't ambitious enough," said research manager Faazi Adam.

But feed makers hope to benefit from the attention to methane that the burger giant generated.

"It's positive that Burger King goes in this direction," Schaller of Agolin said. "It shows the need - and for me, competition is healthy."
What was expected to be an unforgettable experience for a man who hooked up with a woman via Tinder turned out deadly. It ended with him getting beaten and stabbed fatally when he was consummating with the woman. To hide the body, they hacksawed the corpse into 11 pieces to conveniently carry them in cases.

Rinaldi Harley Wismanu,32, ended up all broken apart, after they eviscerated the corpse, dismembering him with a hacksaw. It did not stop there because the Indonesian couple stole $6,427 from their victim. Later, his 11-body parts quartered by hacksaw and machete was placed into plastic bags and were hidden in carrying cases in a Jakarta location. The murder and theft crime with extreme cruelty was shocking, reported Meaww.

When the family of the murdered man got the details of the corpse's evisceration and dismemberment, they declared the crime was terrible and inhumane. The victim was employed in a Japanese construction firm in the human resource department as the development manager, and he was not seen at work from September 9 onwards, told the Sun.

Alarmed over the disappearance of Wismanu, they initiated a search for the missing individual. Police were able to trace his last whereabouts in South Jakarta and his office in Pancoran where he was last seen. From his disappearance on September 9, on the 16th of September, the police were able to find his body parts in Kalibata. Investigators tracked down and arrested the couple who killed him. Those arrested are DAF, aged 26, and 27-year-old LAS, who are both known by initials only and prime murder suspects.

Also read: Russian Man Arrested for Taking Advantage, Slaying Two Underage Girls

The Jakarta Metro Police Chief Nana Sudjana, the 32-year old victim used the dating app Tinder to hook up. They chatted in WhatsApp, and made plans for their first date.They meet in an apartment in Pasar Baru, located in Central Jakarta at that time.

Sources detailed that the doomed victim and the suspect would rent a flat for five days, from September 7 to 12 though both of them went there on the September 9 when the victim was murdered.

Speculation is that DAF, the male, went ahead of LAS and Wismanu before they arrived there.

The suspect must have hidden in the bathroom. When the couple in the bed started getting it on, DAF hit him several times with a brick. Not satisfied, he stabbed the victim about seven times, killing him. Sudjana told the Coconut News in Jakarta.

After killing him savagely, the suspects did not think that far. They purchased a machete and saw the victim's corpse in transportable bits, literally. All body parts were packed in plastic bags and were concealed in two suitcases and a backpack. After slaughtering the victim, they lugged him to a flat in Kalibata City in rideshare.

Besides killing the man, they stole his money and spent on things including an apartment, where they would bury the dismembered remains nearby. However, the police caught them as they were trying to get away. DAF got shot in both lower knees. These ghoulish killers are charged with premeditated murder and stealing. If guilty, they will be executed by the courts, cited Mirror.

Related article: Russian Ballerina Dismembered, Dissolved in Sulfuric Acid Amid Fears of Lewd Picture Leak

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Local stocks drifted higher in early trade on buying demand in index pivotals. At 9:25 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was up 294.70 points or 0.78% at 38,028.78. The Nifty 50 index was up 77.75 points or 0.7% at 11,231.40. The Sensex regained the 38,000 level in early trade. Earlier, indices fell for fourth day in a row till Tuesday.

The S&P BSE Mid-Cap index was up 0.66%. The S&P BSE Small-Cap index was up 1.23%.

The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, is strong. On the BSE, 1191 shares rose and 318 shares fell. A total of 54 shares were unchanged.

Stocks in news:

Reliance Industries (RIL) gained 2.3%. RIL and Reliance Retail Ventures (RRVL) announced today that global investment firm KKR will invest Rs 5,550 crore into RRVL, a subsidiary of RIL. This investment values Reliance Retail at a pre-money equity value of Rs 4.21 lakh crore. KKR's investment will translate into a 1.28% equity stake in RRVL on a fully diluted basis.

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) fell 0.72%. TCS 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.

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries rose 1.25%. Sun Pharmaceutical Industries and its subsidiaries and/or associate companies today announced that its wholly-owned Japanese subsidiary has launched ILUMYA Subcutaneous Injection 100 mg Syringe (Nonproprietary name: tildrakizumab (genetical recombination), ILUMYA) in Japan for the treatment of plaque psoriasis in adult patients who have an inadequate response to conventional therapies.

HCC jumped 8.58%. HCC said that its infrastructure development arm HCC Concessions completed its 100% sale of Farakka-Raiganj Highways (FRHL) to Cube Highways and Infrastructure II Pte (Cube Highways).

PNB Gilts rose 1.22%. PNB Gilts said it has has fully redeemed and paid the redemption proceeds of the Commercial Paper (CPs) for an amount of Rs 400 crore.

Sequent Scientific advanced 4.72%. Sequent Scientific said the company will acquire 40% stake in Provet through Alivira Animal Health, Ireland, wholly-owned subsidiary of the company.

Global Markets:

Overseas, Asian stocks are trading higher on Wednesday after tech-fueled Wall Street gains.

Japan's factory activity extended declines in September largely due to a sharper fall in output. The au Jibun Bank Flash Japan Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) was largely unchanged at 47.3 in September compared with a final 47.2 in the previous month.

In US, Wall Street stocks rebounded on Tuesday, led by a jump in Amazon.com, even as a likely delay in new fiscal stimulus by Congress and an increase in the number of coronavirus cases dampened hopes of a faster economic recovery.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell on Tuesday told a congressional panel that the economy had shown marked improvement since the pandemic drove it into recession, but the path ahead remains uncertain and the U.S. central bank will do more if needed.

Chicago Fed President Charles Evans also warned that the economy risks a longer, slower recovery, if not another outright recession, if Congress fails to pass more stimulus.

Developments surrounding the coronavirus pandemic could also weigh on investor sentiment, with U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday reversing the lifting of some lockdown measures in England. That came following a surge in coronavirus cases in the country.

Back home, the benchmark indices extended losses for the fourth session on Tuesday. Investors sentiment was dented as rising coronavirus cases led to the possibility of fresh lockdowns in some European countries, which could further slowdown the pace of global economic recovery. The barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, tumbled 300.06 points or 0.79% at 37,734.08. The Nifty 50 index lost 96.90 points or 0.86% at 11,153.65.

Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold shares worth Rs 2,072.76 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs), were net buyers to the tune of Rs 878.91 crore in the Indian equity market on 22 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.)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept.23

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

Oil accounts for the major part of exports from Azerbaijan to Croatia, Croatian Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development told Trend.

Looking at the data for foreign trade in goods for the first six months of this year in comparison with the same six months of the last year, both imports and exports between our two countries have risen. This is especially evident when it comes to Croatian imports from Azerbaijan, which amounted to EUR 286.9 million, an increase of 542.1 percent. Most of these imports, worth EUR 286.7 million, fall on oil. With a 2.6 percent share, Azerbaijan ranks 12th in total imports. As for exports, in the same period, there was an increase of 11.5 percent compared to the same period last year, said the ministry.

Regarding Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation, the ministry said it is an excellent tool for further strengthening our cooperation in various fields, ranging from the machine and shipbuilding, pharmaceutical, and the tourism sector to energy, transportation, IT and agriculture. Unfortunately, because of the current epidemiological situation, the planned session in April has been postponed.

Croatia considers Azerbaijan as an important strategic partner. Partnership is confirmed in the Declaration on Strategic Partnership between the two countries signed in 2013. The strategic partnership obliges us to encourage more intensive exchange between our state bodies, businesses, non-profit organizations and citizens, said the ministry.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
Clay Lacy Aviation development at Orange Countys John Wayne Airport (KSNA).

Clay Lacy Aviation development includes aircraft hangars, offices, FBO terminal and OCSD Air Operations Facility.

Clay Lacy Aviation development includes aircraft hangars, offices, FBO terminal and OCSD Air Operations Facility.

SANTA ANA, Calif., Sept. 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Orange County Board of Supervisors has awarded Clay Lacy Aviation a thirty-five year lease at John Wayne Airport (KSNA) to build and operate a world-class Fixed Base Operation (FBO) that will serve as a business gateway for Orange County and contribute to a thriving general aviation ecosystem at the airport. Founded in Southern California by a Hall of Fame aviator, and celebrating 52 years in business, Clay Lacy Aviation is one of the most experienced and respected business aviation firms in the U.S., with the highest independent safety ratings and award-winning services. Prior to the Board of Supervisors selection, Clay Lacy was endorsed by the SoCal Pilots Association, the Airport Working Group of Orange County, and Still Protecting Our Newport and received unanimous support from the Orange County Airport Commission.



About the New Clay Lacy FBO at John Wayne Airport

Clay Lacy Aviation was awarded the 15-acre leasehold to design, build, and operate a full-service FBO featuring over 110,000 square feet of hangar, 42,000 square feet of class-A offices and a private terminal that incorporates the latest in sustainable design and meets Envision Gold certification standards. The development also includes new facilities for the Orange County Sheriffs Department Air Support Bureau and Orange Coast College Aviation Science Department. The new Clay Lacy FBO will bring additional services to the airfield while providing 180 high-paying jobs across a variety of career tracks. Opportunities will include openings for pilots, maintenance technicians, finance and accounting professionals, sales and marketing experts, human resources and information technology specialists and other rewarding positions.

Story continues

Over the previous four years, we had many productive meetings and established positive dialogue with the local community and stakeholders, said Scott Cutshall, SVP Business Operations at Clay Lacy Aviation and an Orange County native. As a direct result of these conversations, we incorporated many features into our development that will be appreciated by airport users and the community.

Today begins a new chapter for general aviation in Orange County, and we are extremely grateful to have the opportunity to be a part of it, said Brian Kirkdoffer, President and CEO of Clay Lacy Aviation. As Orange Countys newest Fixed Based Operator, Clay Lacy Aviation will build world-class facilities, provide award-winning FBO services, create good-paying jobs, and always be a good neighbor to the local community. This partnership will benefit the County, its residents, and airport customers for decades to come.

Clay Lacy CleanCheck Health and Safety Standard

Clay Lacy designed its CleanCheck Standard to eliminate the spread of COVID-19 and other diseases, providing customers and guests with the highest level of confidence at each phase of the flight experience. Learn about Clay Lacy CleanCheck.

About Clay Lacy Aviation

Founded in 1968 by legendary aviator and industry pioneer Clay Lacy. Today, Clay Lacy Aviation is considered the worlds most experienced operator of private jets. Prominent individuals and leading corporations trust Clay Lacy for aircraft management, charter, maintenance, avionics, interiors and FBO services. The company has aircraft operations and regional offices across the U.S., including a full-service FBO at Van Nuys Airport in Los Angeles a new FBO that begins operations at Orange Countys John Wayne Airport in January 2021, and FAA Part 145 aircraft maintenance centers in Los Angeles, San Diego and Oxford, Connecticut. With the most knowledgeable team in the industry, Clay Lacy delivers superior safety, service and value to aircraft owners and jet travelers worldwide. Visit claylacy.com

Press Contact

Scott Cutshall

Clay Lacy Aviation

+1 (818) 989-2900 X706

Email

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/323746cc-4dd8-4e55-9f3b-c2f22e9aeb20




Dr Anthony Fauci loses patience with Senator Rand Paul in coronavirus hearing (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Coronavirus expert Dr Anthony Fauci lost his patience with US Senator Rand Paul and accused him of not listening as he denied claims New Yorkers had herd immunity to Covid-19.

It is the latest in a string of public spats on the virus between the nations leading infectious disease expert and the Kentucky senator.

Sen Paul, himself a medical doctor, argued with Dr Fauci during Wednesdays Senate hearing on the US response to the Coronavirus pandemic, which has now taken more than 200,000 lives.

Mr Paul appeared to irritate Dr Fauci when he called the scientist a big fan of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and asked how given the states struggles with Covid-19 he could be jumping up and down saying Cuomo did a great job?

Youve misconstrued that, senator, and youve done that repeatedly in the past, said Dr Fauci.

They got hit very badly and they made some mistakes.

Right now, if you look at whats going on right now, the things that are going on in New York to get their test positivity 1 per cent or less is because they are looking at the guidelines that we have put together from the task force of the four or five things of masks, social distancing, outdoors more than indoors, avoiding crowds and washing hands.

Mr Paul then interrupted and told Dr Fauci it could be because they had developed enough community immunity.

A frustrated Dr Fauci then hit out at Mr Pauls line of questioning.

I challenge that, senator, Fauci replied.

Please, sir, I would like to be able to do this because this happens with Senator Rand all the time.

You are not listening to what the director of the CDC said that in New York its about 22 per cent. If you believe 22 per cent is herd immunity I believe youre alone in that.

The pair also clashed when Mr Paul compared the virus in the US to Sweden, which did not impose a lockdown, and asked him if he had second thoughts on his recommendations.

Senator, Id be happy at a different time to sit down and go over detail, Fauci replied.

Youve said a lot of different things. Youve compared us to Sweden and there are a lot of differences and you said, well, you know there are a lot of differences between Sweden, but compare Swedens death rate to other comparable Scandinavian countries.

I dont regret saying that the only way we could have really stopped the explosion of infection was by essentially, I want to say shutting down, essentially having the physical separation and the kinds of recommendations that weve made.
The Presbyterian Church of Ghana has called on the media, the security agencies and the Judiciary to keep their integrity intact in this years presidential and parliamentary elections and approach their work with critical sensitivity and a high sense of responsibility.



The PCG calls on such bodies as the media, security agencies and the judiciary to endeavour to respond promptly, appropriately and fairly to incidents that require their intervention. These are powerful bodies, and therefore, its members are prone to the temptation to misuse power



The Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rev Dr Godwin Nii Noi Odonkor made the call at the at a Press Conference organized by the Church to mark this years UN International Day of Peace under the theme Shaping Peace Together in Accra on Monday.



The Clerk called on all politicians, especially, Christian politicians to refrain from acts that have the potential to ruin the life of young people and cause violence in the communities. He said Acts such as buying alcohol and hard drugs for young people in order to misuse them are not only ungodly but wicked and destructive of the foundations of our society.



In keeping with the same spirit, the leadership of the Church would like to remind all Christians in the country, especially, members of the PCG, of their basic calling in the world as Peace Ambassadors of Christ Jesus, who is the Prince of Peace



The Clerk said the leadership of the Church had committed all Ministers, lay-leaders and the Youth, Women, Men and all the groups of PCG at the various levels to be Ambassadors of Peace.



Rev Dr Odonkor encourages communities and their leaders to protect the young ones from such immoral politicians.



Rev Dr Odonkor also said in an era of unregulated social media and a curious legitimization of fake news, extra caution has to be exercised by all citizens in their posting and sharing of stories and comments on social media.



It is important to always double-check before sharing, repeating, or reacting to, posts of political nature on social media he cautioned.



The Clerk proposed that in order to bring sanity to bear on or national political discourse in the public domain, all the major political players should always send to the media moderates and not extremists as spokespersons.



He said situations where sometimes, political discussions in the media are reduced to a competition for a trophy in the use of intemperate language and the most biting insult of ones political opponents must stop.



The Clerk also expressed concerned about issue of macho men and thugs which has been a perennial challenge on the countrys political landscape. He said despite promises from the leadership of the various political parties, especially, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the use of vigilantes appears to continue to be part of Ghanas political culture.



He pledged that the PCG will mobilize as one big movement to preach the message of peace and say NO TO VIOLENCE during this time of general elections.



We admonish all Christians in all the political parties not to forget their Christian identity and responsibility even on political platforms. Every betrayal of the cause of peace is a betrayal of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Prince of peace. Anytime, we subsume factional interests above the national interest, we disobey the Holy Spirit who admonishes Christians to be responsible patriots.



The PCG recently inaugurated a ten member Peace Ambassadors under the Presbyterian Peace Ambassadors Campaign Project towards elections 2020 at the Osu Ebenezer Congregation on Wednesday August 26th 2020 in Accra.



































Source: Rev George Larbi/ PRO for Presby Church of 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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OTTAWA - The minority Liberal government unveiled sweeping goals Wednesday to expand or extend supports for Canadians from nearly every sector of society in a throne speech billed as their ambitious plan for an unprecedented reality. But the plan hit political reality very quickly, with two of the three main opposition parties in the House of Commons immediately saying they wouldnt support it. The Liberals most likely dance partner, the NDP, waltzed around whether theyd vote yea or nay. If they dont, the country could head into an election just as public health officials are warning the country is on the cusp of a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, with some areas already there. The Liberals throne speech acknowledged that if they dont first tackle the pandemic, they cant move forward on previous commitments to fight climate change, address systemic racism and economic inequality.

We must address these challenges of today. But we also cannot forget about the tests of the future, said the text of the speech, read in the Senate by Gov. Gen. Julie Payette.

Her words hung over a near-empty chamber as COVID-19 restrictions limited the number of people who could be there. Not far from Payette sat Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, wearing a mask.

Later Wednesday, Trudeau spoke to Canadians in a nationally televised address, warning that the dreaded second wave of the pandemic is already underway in the four largest provinces.

Were on the brink of a fall that could be much worse than the spring, he said.

He noted there were well over 1,000 new cases of COVID-19 in Canada on Tuesday, compared to just 47 new cases on March 13, when the countrywide lockdown to curb the spread began.

Trudeau said its all too likely families wont be able to gather for Thanksgiving next month, but if Canadians do their part then he said there is hope on the horizon: We still have a shot at Christmas.

Trudeau used the televised address to summarize the contents of the throne speech unveiled just hours earlier.

The Liberals promised in the speech to do whatever they can to protect Canadian lives and help stave off another economically devastating lockdown, including creating a federal testing assistance response team to meet the surge in demand, and targeted support to businesses forced to close due to local public health orders.

With millions of Canadians lives and livelihoods still teetering after the pandemics first wave, the Liberals promised to move ahead with a shift from emergency benefits to a more robust employment insurance system to incorporate COVID-19 supports. Theyve also reversed course on a planned end to the federal wage subsidy program, now saying theyll extend it into next year.

But the immediate goals of the government to restart the economy and support Canadians are matched by the need of the Liberals, who hold a minority of seats in the House of Commons, to stay in power.

The eventual vote on the throne speech is a confidence motion and the Liberals need at least one of the three main opposition parties in the Commons to back their plan. The Conservatives said they would not be one of them. The prime minister had an opportunity to present a real plan to Canadians, and he didnt do that, deputy party leader Candice Bergen said Wednesday.

Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet currently in isolation due to COVID-19, said his party would give the Liberals one week to meet Quebecs demands for an immediate $28-billion increase in the annual federal transfer payments to provinces for health care.

Otherwise, we will vote against it, Blanchet said in an interview.

That left the fate of the government in the hands of NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh. He called the speech pretty words on paper and said his party has two conditions for its support: make sure that the end of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit in lieu of an expanded employment insurance program doesnt mean people actually get less money, and introduce paid sick leave.

Weve not decided yes or no on the throne speech, Singh said.

Im saying we need to see some actions to back up these words.

Trudeaus rivals dismissed his televised address as further proof the throne speech amounts to an election platform.

Conservative Leader Erin OToole, who is in isolation after he and his wife tested positive for COVID-19, videotaped his reply to Trudeaus address from the front porch of his home.

He slammed the throne speech for failing to mention Western alienation or offer support to the devastated fossil fuel industry.

We must show our fellow Canadians that we value them and respect their contributions to our country, he said.

The Conservatives, who had also said theyd like to see some measure of fiscal restraint included after months of unchecked spending, saw those demands unmet.

This is not the time for austerity, the speech says.

Trudeau expanded on that during his televised address.

Low interest rates mean we can afford it, he said.

And in fact, doing less would end up costing far more. Doing less would mean a slower recovery and bigger deficits in the long run.

The Liberals do hint, however, that the taps wont run forever, promising they will be guided by values of sustainability and prudence when it comes to longer-term economic recovery measures. They say they will provide a fiscal update in the fall.

They are also promising some new sources of revenue, including looking for ways to tax extreme wealth inequality, and addressing digital giants perceived not to be paying their fair share of taxes. The Liberals post-pandemic resiliency agenda also includes plans for broad national programs, including a decades-old Liberal promise to implement a national child-care program. They also say there should be national standards for long-term care.

There are also promises for tougher gun laws, legislation to address systemic racism in the justice system, more support for reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and a new disability benefit regime. But the cornerstone of the resiliency agenda is combating climate change, the Liberals said. There are a series of commitments on that score, including legislation a goal of net-zero emissions by 2050 and investments in technologies to help achieve that goal.

The promises all come with no firm price tags, nor many specific timelines.

The course of events will determine what needs to be done when. But throughout, protecting and supporting Canadians will stay the top priority.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 23, 2020.

 with files from Joan Bryden

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The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Jigawa State Command have arrested one Habibu Muhammad, 30, for the alleged rape of a minor.

The NSCDCs spokesperson for Jigawa State, Adamu Shehu, in a statement, said the suspect was arrested at Unguwar Gabas, in Karkarna, Yankwashi local government area.

He said the suspect was arrested on Saturday, September 19, 2020, for the alleged rape of a five-year-old girl of the same address.

The case was reported at the Yankwashi Divisional office by the father of the victim who accused the suspect of taking his child to his house and sexually assaulting her.

The official said upon interrogation, the suspect confessed that on Friday, September 18, 2020, at about 3:30 pm, he invited the young girl into his house with the intention of sending her on an errand and changed his mind to take advantage of her.

According to the victims mother, it was when her daughter was complaining of pain in her private area that she decided to have a look at the place, and then questioned the girl on how she sustained bruises at the area. The little girl started crying saying the person would kill her if she mentioned his name.

Medical report obtained from Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) at the General Hospital, Dutse, Jigawa states capital confirmed penetration and bruises in the minors private area.

Mr Shehu said that the suspect will be charged to court when a discreet investigation is completed.
Consumer rights group announced earlier today it had filed four civil lawsuits

Outbreak at ski resort in Ischgl was linked to coronavirus cases in 47 countries

Austrian authorities have said they acted based on what was known at the time

Tourists are suing the Austrian government over a mass outbreak of coronavirus at a ski resort in March that propelled the spread of Covid-19 across Europe.

A consumer rights group announced earlier today it had filed four civil lawsuits against the country following a Covid-19 outbreak in Ischgl, in the western Tyrol region, earlier this year.

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The outbreak at the ski resort in Ischgl, which calls itself the Ibiza of the Alps, was linked to cases in 47 countries after tourists returned home from crowded apres-ski bars.

The group added that it hoped to bring at least one class action lawsuit on behalf of thousands of people next year.

But Austrian authorities have said they acted based on what was known at the time.

Tourists are suing the Austrian government over a mass outbreak of coronavirus at a ski resort in Ischgl (pictured) in March that propelled the spread of Covid-19 across Europe

Ischgl's first case was detected on March 7 - just days after Iceland said that tourists had been infected there and 11 days after Austria's first infections were confirmed.

But Austria's public health agency has since said it believes the virus arrived in Ischgl far earlier, on February 5.

The authorities in the province of Tyrol say they responded appropriately given what was known at the time.

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The private Consumer Protection Association (VSV), a private organisation in Austria, argues they reacted too slowly and possibly gave in to pressure from the tourism sector not to act.

'Yesterday I filed - on behalf of the VSV and the affected tourists or those they left behind - the first four lawsuits against the Republic of Austria at the Provincial Civil Court in Vienna,' lawyer Alexander Klauser said in a VSV statement.

The lawsuits were on behalf of individuals, the statement added, with at least three related to the Ischgl area.

They are seeking damages of up to 100,000 (92,000).

The outbreak at the ski resort in Ischgl, which calls itself the Ibiza of the Alps, was linked to cases in 47 countries after tourists returned home from crowded apres-ski bars (pictured)

The VSV described the four civil suits as test cases and said that more than 6,170 people from different countries had signed up for potential class action suits next year.

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The latest tally includes tourists from 47 countries, including Britain, the United States and the Netherlands, though most are in Germany.

The VSV has also written to Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz in an open letter urging him to agree to a settlement because such lawsuits could take 'years if not decades'.

Kurz's conservatives also lead the provincial government in Tyrol.

Kurz himself announced an immediate quarantine in Ischgl and the surrounding Paznaun Valley on March 13, though tourists were allowed to leave, further fuelling the spread of the virus in what the VSV called a 'chaotic' process.
The Texas Democratic Party discussed in a press conference Wednesday the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the Latino population throughout the Rio Grande Valley and Laredo and using that to support their case for voting for Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.

The press conference held by the Biden for President campaign and the Texas Democratic Party focused on Bidens plan for the Latino community and the impact of COVID-19 in the Rio Grande Valley.

No community has been more affected by COVID-19 than the Latino community, Biden for President Texas State Director Rebecca Acuna said. We are seeing this impact in South Texas in places like Laredo and Nueces County and all over the Rio Grande Valley.

According to Nueces County Judge Barbara Canales, the area of South Texas from Brownsville to Corpus Christi has been the area hit the hardest by the virus in the state. She attributed this to faulty policies, lack of healthcare among the Latino community and a continued lack of policy to protect individuals from being infected with the virus.

Congressman Henry Cuellar said the effects of the pandemic are not just for the health of the individuals in the area but also for the local economies because the border with Mexico continues to remain closed for Mexican tourists.

We are facing something that we have not seen in 100 years which has affected us in two ways, Cuellar said. One is in the health of the individual, and two is the health of the economy. However, we must find the balance and the people to work together to get the solutions that we need. The areas that I represent are being hit very, very hard.

CARES Act money went to the state and not to cities, and it has not been distributed to cities, schools and other law enforcement entities. Instead, Cuellar said the state wants to save the money for later.

We know that President Trump did not have a plan when COVID-19 started and still does not now, but Vice President Biden has a plan that includes multi-inclusive PPE, increasing testing and vaccines, mandating masks and to ensure that people have access to healthcare, Acuna said.

Although the Biden campaign in Texas laid out their vision in fixing the problems that the pandemic has brought to the state and especially the Latino community, Acuna said the Latino vote is essential for Biden to win the presidency.

We know that there is no path to the White House without the Latino vote, she said. This campaign in Texas is run by Latinas as we got a Latina state director, a Latina deputy director and an organizing director and organizers all over the state. At the same time, we know that President Trump started his campaign attacking our community and have seen those attacks increase with his policies, which such policies have affected the community badly because of COVID-19.

Cuellar also said the Latino vote is vital to get Biden and other democrats into office.

It is important for Latinos to vote because who we elect as president is going to have an impact on their daily lives, he said. The state of Texas has been changing. The last time we had a census we saw an increase in population size in which 65% of those were Latinos, even though there were some that were Blacks and others showed that 90% of the growth in Texas was from minorities. However, we look at the voting and have to make sure that Latinos and Hispanics go out to vote.

According to Cuellar, even if the population of Latino people in the state continues to grow, if there is no increase in voting trends by Latino groups then they will receive little recognition and victories in policy as politicians fight for issues for those who do go out and vote.

Sandra Whitten, Cuellars opponent for his District 28 seat, disagrees with the idea that electing Biden would benefit the Latino community. She said Latinos for a long time have been taken for granted by democrats in office and that this time around they will be a voting bloc that will make their own decisions to choose leaders that align with their own views.

Former Vice President Biden and Congressman Cuellar have been in public office for a combined over three-fourths of a century, Whitten said. Latinos have never seen anything from either of them. Under President Trump, not only has the Latino community thrived, they have prospered. Under Trump's administration, Latinos now make up the highest percentage of minority homeownership and have more than three million new jobs.

If Biden and Cuellar really cared about the Latino community, then they would have actually done something to strengthen our community and not hinder them. This pandemic that the democrats only now acknowledge, so they can cheat their way into another term by mail-in voting isn't their concern now either. It is just a talking point to them. If they could actually help our communities, they should have already done so. Cuellar already lost this battle when he brought in over 20,000 fraudulent COVID-19 test kits that his brother escorted in with lights and sirens. He also has not fought for our district in the CARES Act by not knowing how the money would be distributed. He just signs blank checks.

According to Whitten, if she were to win the congressional seat, she would focus on making sure that she would support policies that help the people she represents and make sure that people are independent.

As your congresswoman, I will continue to back our presidents policies that are strengthening our district and communities. I will quit putting more government overreach and allow you to run your businesses and life the way the Constitution intended you to, not make you live in fear, Whitten said. I also won't sign trillion-dollar deals and not know where the money is going. To quote a former democrat president, Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country. Cuellar and Biden don't want you to succeed. They want you to continue to depend on them.

jorge.vela@lmtonline.com
Romania has invested 22 billion lei in infrastructure projects in the first eight months of the year, an absolute record for the past 10 years, Sebastian Burduja, secretary of state with the Ministry of Finance (MFP), told on Wednesday a profile conference.

"Economic growth means two things: increasing individual productivity and increasing population. What this Government has strived to do in the short term is to allow the economy to continue to function, to produce, hence the measures of furlough, the measures for employees to return to work and all the investment. In the eight-month budget execution, 22 billion lei were actually spent on infrastructure projects, an absolute record in the last ten years. In other words, facing what is likely the most complicated fiscal-budgetary situation in the last 20 years, but let's say in the last 10 years, the priority of those who are at the helm of the Government has been to invest in infrastructure," Burduja showed.

According to the MFP representative, investments in innovation, education and research are needed to increase productivity, something that can be achieved by interconnecting metropolitan areas.

"In order to have productivity, you have to connect people with opportunities, create interconnected metropolitan areas and link together Romania's economic engines, which are the cities. The big cities in Romania have grown well. Within the EU top 10 cities with the highest growth there are seven cities in Romania. For all those who say that it is not possible, I tell them go to Oradea and you will see a city more beautiful than the cities in Western Europe, or go to Cluj-Napoca or Resita," the secretary of state maintained.
J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot met and are in regular communication, officials say.

As the city of Louisville readies for an announcement related to Kentuckys investigation into the police shooting death of Breonna Taylor, locales in other states are bracing as well.

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has put his states national guard into a state of readiness in the event of any unrest in Chicago or other parts of the state.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker speaks and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot listens on during an April press conference held after they toured a facility to treat COVID-19 patients. (Photo by Chris Sweda-Pool via Getty Images)

The governor and (Chicago Mayor Lori) Lightfoot met this morning and are in regular communication, and the governor has spoken with leaders across the state, according to a statement from the governors office.

As the governor has always said, all of the states resources are available to municipalities if needed, and this includes additional Illinois State Police troopers and the National Guard, the statement continued. The governor is putting the Guard in a state of readiness to ensure they are available if municipalities request their assistance.

Read More: Officer accused of shooting Breonna Taylor calls protesters thugs in alleged email

Taylors death has been a galvanizing force in the national fight for police reform. The killing of the 26-year-old emergency medical technician on March 13, along with the death of George Floyd on May 25 in Minneapolis, has fueled the ban of no-knock warrants in several states.

The three Louisville Metro Police officers who entered Taylors home on a no-knock warrant fired at least 20 rounds into the home, and she was struck eight times. The officials involved  Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly, Det. Myles Cosgrove and then-Officer Brett Hankison, who has since been fired  have yet to be charged.

Read More: Regina King accepts Emmy for Watchmen wearing Breonna Taylor t-shirt

A grand jury decision is expected in the case, possibly this week.

The city settled a lawsuit with Taylors family recently, paying them $12 million and promising to reform police policies.

Story continues

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer has declared a state of emergency for the city due to the potential for civil unrest.

Read More: Judge Kevin Ross breaks down Breonna Taylor settlement, renewal of Americas Court with Judge Kevin Ross

Our goal is ensuring space and opportunity for potential protesters to gather and express their First Amendment rights after the announcement, Fischer said in a statement. At the same time, we are preparing for any eventuality to keep everyone safe.

Many streets in the downtown area of the city have been closed, and barricades are blocking others to prevent people from entering.

Corey Shapiro, the legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky, told the Louisville Courier-Journal that the barricades are creating an environment of fear  that theres going to be something more than just peaceful protesting, which doesnt seem warranted based on our view that its been peaceful protesting.

Have you subscribed to theGrios Dear Culture podcast? Download our newest episodes now!

The post Illinois governor places National Guard in state of readiness ahead of Taylor decision appeared first on TheGrio.
U.S. Attorney General William Barr returned to Wisconsin Tuesday, three weeks after a visit to Kenosha to see the aftermath of arson, looting and vandalism that followed protests over the police shooting of a Black man in the back.

This time, he was announcing the arrests of 26 people in Milwaukee and California, charged in a sprawling drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracy, as the latest victory in Operation Legend, launched in July to target violent street crime in a few major cities.

Barr's visit to election swing-state Wisconsin came a day before Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's scheduled foreign policy speech in the state Capitol in Madison on Wednesday and Vice President Mike Pence's planned visit to Eau Claire on Thursday, his third visit to Wisconsin this month.

It also comes the day after Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden visited a foundry in Manitowoc, and though Barr never mentioned the presidential race directly, he focused on the kind of law and order theme that's been central to President Donald Trump's campaign.

Barr and U.S. Attorney Matthew Krueger hosted a similar event last month, touting the number of arrests and charges resulting from the assignment of more than two dozen federal agents to Milwaukee and seven other cities to address violent crime.

USA TODAY/Ipsos Poll: A majority of Americans say cities under siege by protesters

Kenosha resident Porche Bennett protests peacefully in Kenosha on Tuesday while being tear-gassed and nearly hit with fireworks.

At Tuesday's news conference, Krueger said the roundup included seizures pursuant to 24 search warrants of at least 33 firearms  including one stolen from the Milwaukee Police Department recovered in California  at least $170,000 in cash and drugs, including 700 grams of heroin at a single location.

Barr thanked the cooperation of several agencies in the long-running investigation, including Milwaukee and Greenfield police, the Waukesha County sheriff's office, the state Division of Criminal Investigation and several federal agencies.

Story continues

He noted that Operation Legend will bring $12 million to the Milwaukee Police Department, enough to hire 30 officers, pay overtime and buy critical equipment.

That support should not take the place of local support for police, he said. "Public safety is the first duty of government. You can't scrimp on it."

Earlier Tuesday, Mayor Tom Barrett announced a budget that would lose 120 positions at MPD, but Barr  in response to a question denied his remarks about money for MPD were a critique of Barrett's spending plan.

"But I do oppose cutting back any funding for local law enforcement, " he said. "It's short-sighted."

Extra federal agents  from the DEA, FBI, ATF and the U.S. Marshals Service  arrived in Milwaukee in late July, with promises from Barr and Krueger that they were not there to arrest protesters, like federal agents did in Portland, Oregon.

In early August, Krueger said 32 people had been arrested in Milwaukee with help from Operation Legend, and a couple of weeks later announced that 11 had been charged with gun and drug trafficking crimes.

The activities of those arrested Tuesday are detailed in a 232-page criminal complaint. Krueger noted the leader of the local operation was Louis Rey Perez III, alias Eight Ball, and a member of the Mexican Posse.

Court records show that agents using a "sneak and peek" warrant in April looked at two packages Perez and others in his organization were sending to California, and each contained $20,000 in cash. He and his girlfriend and co-defendant Xina Yang mailed at least 87 packages, according to the complaint.

Barr said he felt the efforts of Operation Legend were making a dent in non-fatal shootings, and that while homicides in Milwaukee continue to occur at a pace that would top 200 by January, he expects the killings to also decline as a trailing statistic from the reduced shootings.

Operation Legend launched about a week after 4-year-old LeGend Taliferro was fatally shot while he slept early in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 29. It initially targeted Kansas City, then Albuquerque and Chicago and added Milwaukee, Cleveland and Detroit, all places experiencing spikes in violent crime during the coronavirus pandemic.

Barr said Tuesday that some 3,500 people have been arrested, and about 800 are facing federal charges nationwide as a result of Operation Legend activities now in nine cities. He said drug trafficking operations like the one busted in Milwaukee often lead to violent crime.

As part of his campaign, Trump has repeatedly pointed out violent crime in cities led by Democratic mayors.

Contact Bruce Vielmetti at (414) 224-2187 or bvielmetti@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ProofHearsay.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Operation Legend leads to arrests in drug, money laundering operation
22-year-old Tommy Cole who has this year been chosen as the Enable Irelands Life With No Limits champion and is asking the people to help support the charity and its work

From now until September 30, Enable Ireland are celebrating their annual fundraiser campaign, which is centred around the theme of living life with no limits.

One person who certainly embodies this motto is Tralee man Tommy Cole who is here encouraging the public to help support the work of Enable Ireland, a service that the 22-year-old says has been a huge support for him from a young age.

The 'Life With No Limits' campaign provides a platform for both children and adults with disabilities and who use the Enable Ireland services to share their experience of the service while also helping to raise vital funds for the charity.

Tommy lives in Tralee with his family and who attends the Enable Ireland Adult Day Services. He has attended Enable Ireland since he was a child, and later transferred to adult services when he turned 18.

The young man has this year been chosen as the 'Life With No Limits' champion and hearing about some of the work that the young man has done, you'll soon see why he was a clear choice for the accolade.

"Living with a disability can be tough, but Enable Ireland has been really good, the people are very friendly. I really enjoy my time there, I have been with Enable Ireland since I was a child. It was a big change going from children's services to adult services, it took a while to get used to it, but everyone has been really friendly," said Tommy.

"My disability means sometimes I can forget things, but not everything. And when I remember things, it can take a while for them to come back to me. My leg also gets sore if I play too much sports," he continued.

Tommy was part of a team that helped to successfully set up the RISE event in Tralee.

"Along with some other people in the service, I set up the RISE event in Tralee. RISE is a nightclub experience with a difference, where people with all levels of ability come to enjoy a night out with their friends. The event was one of the first of its kind in Ireland, designed for people with physical and intellectual disabilities from all over the county to get together and socialise safely with their friends, and most importantly have some fun," he said.

"We were already planning a second night, but Covid has put a halt to our plans. We want the second event to be even more inclusive than the first, where anyone can attend, we welcome mixed ability people," he continued.

Finishing up, Tommy said that he wanted to re-iterate his motto on life, and one which embodies the spirit of Enable Ireland's campaign:

"Don't let disability get in the way of what you want to achieve".

Donal Kitt, Enable Ireland National Fundraising Manager commented on the campaign saying:

"It is a really positive campaign and vitally important for raising awareness of living with a disability and raising funds for Enable Ireland's services.

Anyone who wishes to support this campaign can either purchase any of the 'Life With No Limits' merchandise from stores or they can make a donation online at Enable Ireland's website, www.enableireland.ie.
My mother told me to be a lady. And for her, that meant be your own person, be independent.

Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.

Dont be distracted by emotions like anger, envy, resentment. These just zap energy and waste time.

 Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Long before becoming the second woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was no stranger to New Mexico, and the affection and respect she had here was front and center when more than 200 gathered at Tiguex Park in Albuquerque Sunday night to honor her.

Ginsburg loved being a lawyer, a professor, a U.S. appellate court judge and then, for 27 years, an associate justice of the Supreme Court. Movies have been made about her amazing career, the discrimination she faced and the wrongs she righted. She was a champion of gender equality, eventually becoming the leader of the courts liberal wing.

Ginsburgs opinions, whether writing for the majority or in dissent, carried tremendous weight in law and in society, often leading to positive change. Her forceful dissenting opinion in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. in 2007 was credited with inspiring the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, which made it easier for employees to win pay discrimination claims.

She also wrote notable majority opinions, such as U.S. v. Virginia, a landmark 1996 case that struck down the male-only admission policy of the Virginia Military Institute.

Ginsburg traveled often to New Mexico, spending summers in Santa Fe since the 1980s with her husband, Martin Ginsburg, who died in 2010. They were often joined by their children and grandchildren. She was a regular at the Santa Fe Opera, which she called the finest summer opera company in the world. In 2018, she received a standing ovation as she made her way to her seat. She also spent time in museums and galleries, climbed ladders at Bandelier National Monument, hiked the hills and visited Georgia OKeeffes Abiquiu home.

Albuquerque resident Sally New told the Journals Edmundo Carrillo at Sundays memorial, I keep reading new things about her, and each time I read something new, Im amazed. Thats the sentiment of many who have been submitting letters to the editor in recent days honoring Ginsburg. Tributes also poured in from New Mexico leaders shortly after her death Friday.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a titan of justice, a trailblazing force for good. She is irreplaceable, said Sen. Tom Udall.

Throughout her career, Ruth Bader Ginsburg opened doors for gender equality across this country, and in New Mexico. She dedicated her life to the principle of equal justice under the law, said New Mexico Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael E. Vigil.

One of her greatest attributes was her ability to extend respect  even friendship  to those who disagreed with her, including the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, with whom she was close friends despite being ideological opposites. That trait is rare these days, and sorely missed.

She was known for her grit, courage, work ethic and passion for the law as well as her signature style of wearing lace gloves, scrunchies and neckwear collars she called jabots.

Who would have thought this serious, tiny Jewish grandmother from New Jersey would become a pop culture icon with I dissent and Notorious RBG splattered on aprons, T-shirts and now face masks. She appeared more surprised than anyone by her star status among young people in recent years.

Michaela Gallegos with the New Mexico Working Families Party told the crowd at Tiguex Park that Ginsburg was immortal. While not physically with us, she left an indelible mark on the court as a champion for civil rights and will be remembered for fighting, with grace, for the words carved on the front of the Supreme Court: Equal Justice Under the Law.

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.
By Express News Service

VIJAYAWADA: The Union government has revealed that discussions are underway with US-based Westinghouse Electric Company for the establishment of six nuclear power reactors with a capacity of 1,208 megawatts (MW) each at Kovvada in Srikakulam district.

In a reply to a query filed by TDP Rajya Sabha MP Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar, Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievance and Pensions, and Prime Ministers Office Jitendra Singh said, The site at Kovvada was selected after carrying out extensive studies by specialised national agencies and evaluation by the Standing Site Selection Committee (SSSC), Government of India, in accordance with the criteria laid down in the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) code on site evaluation of nuclear facilities.

Kovvada nuclear plant was proposed about a decade ago. The local fishermen and environmentalists strongly opposed the project, even as the state government managed to acquire about 450 acres of land as against the required 2,000 acres. The project remained a non-starter as the US firm, Westinghouse electric Company, almost went bankrupt in 2017. Later, as it was acquired by another firm in 2018, the talks have gained pace.
Investment by US PE firm KKR will add fire to Ambani's battle for dominance in the retail market that is also being eyed by Jeff Bezos' Amazon and Walmart's Flipkart.

US private equity firm KKR & Co will invest Rs 5,550 crore to buy a 1.28 per cent stake in Reliance Industries retail arm as the Mukesh Ambani-run conglomerate extends fundraising spree that has already netted more than $20 billion.

"KKR will invest Rs 5,550 crore into Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd (RRVL), a subsidiary of Reliance Industries Ltd," the Indian firm said in a statement.

The investment values Reliance Retail, which runs grocery stores and fashion chains, at a pre-money equity value of Rs 4.21 lakh crore.

"KKR's investment will translate into a 1.28 per cent equity stake in RRVL on a fully diluted basis," it said.

This is the second investment by KKR in Reliance Industries (RIL) units.

It had previously picked up a 2.32 per cent stake in the digital arm, Jio Platforms for Rs 11,367 crore.

For Reliance Retail, KKR is the second investor.

US private equity firm Silver Lake Partners had earlier this month agreed to buy 1.75 per cent stake in the venture for Rs 7,500 crore.

Reliance Retail, a subsidiary of RRVL, operates India's largest, fastest-growing and most profitable retail business spanning supermarkets, consumer electronics chain stores, cash and carry wholesale business, fast-fashion outlets, and online grocery store JioMart.

It operates almost 12,000 stores in nearly 7,000 towns.

The investment will add fire to Ambani's battle for dominance in the retail market that is also being eyed by Jeff Bezos' Amazon.com and Walmart Inc's Flipkart.

In May, Reliance launched an online grocery delivery service JioMart.

It has tied up with WhatsApp to connect customers with local kirana stores.

Late last month, Reliance acquired the retail and logistics businesses of Future Group for Rs 24,713 crore to boost its retail vertical.

Founded in 1976, KKR has $222 billion in assets under management as of June 30, 2020.

It currently has about $5.1 billion in private equity investments across more than 15 Indian companies, including Jio Platforms, JB Chemicals, Max Healthcare, Eurokids International and Ramky Enviro Engineers.

Mukesh Ambani, chairman and managing director of RIL, said, "KKR has a proven track record of being a valuable partner to industry-leading franchises and has been committed to India for many years.

We look forward to working with KKR's global platform, industry knowledge and operational expertise across our digital services and retail businesses."

Henry Kravis, co-founder and co-CEO of KKR, said, RRVL is empowering merchants of all sizes and fundamentally changing the retail experience for Indian consumers.

"Reliance Retail's new commerce platform is filling an important need for both consumers and small businesses as more Indian consumers move to shopping online and the company offers tools for kiranas to be a critical part of the value chain.

"We are thrilled to support Reliance Retail in its mission to become India's leading omnichannel retailer and ultimately to build a more inclusive Indian retail economy," he said.

KKR is making its investment from its Asia private equity funds.

The transaction is subject to regulatory and other customary approvals, the statement said.

Morgan Stanley acted as financial advisor to Reliance Retail and Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas and Davis Polk & Wardwell acted as legal counsels.

Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India LLP acted as financial advisor to KKR. Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co. and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP acted as legal counsel to KKR.

After monetising Jio Platforms -- which houses the firm's telecom arm and digital ventures, richest Indian Mukesh Ambani is roping in investors in the retail business.

All the 13 investors, who had poured in a combined Rs 1.52 lakh crore in Jio Platforms, have been offered a chance to explore investing in the retail unit.

Besides Silver Lake and KKR, the other investors in Jio Platforms include Facebook, Google, private equity groups Vista and General Atlantic and Abu Dhabi's sovereign wealth fund Mubadala.

With this, Jio Platforms and Reliance Retail account for over Rs 9 lakh crore of RIL valuation.

At the Reliance Industries' recent annual general meeting, Ambani had stated that it had been approached by strategic/financial investors for a stake in Reliance Retail.

Commenting on the transaction, Morgan Stanley said the KKR deal was "in line with the last transaction valuation announced with Silver Lake and compares to our retail base case valuation of $45 billion."

With industry consolidation picking up pace in telecom, retail, and global refining, Morgan Stanley expects RIL to emerge stronger post-COVID-19 and margins to surprise as pricing power rises.

Photograph: ANI
I am so pleased that Dan Carter is a candidate for state Representative for the 2nd District. I have known Dan for more than 15 years. I got a chance to really get some insight into how he thinks by joining him for a few hours talking to people during his previous successful campaign for State Representative.

He has an outstanding ability to truly connect with people by listening and understanding their viewpoints. His years of careful listening coupled with his previous experience as our Satate Representative make Dan extremely well qualified.
Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf defended the DHS Wednesday, saying at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee that a whistleblower's claims against the department are "patently false."

Former chief of intelligence at the DHS, Brian Murphy, filed a whistleblower complaint describing repeated instances in which he claims the Trump administration sought to "censor or manipulate" intelligence for political purposes, including information about Russian efforts to interfere in the 2020 elections.

The document, a copy of which was obtained by ABC News, alleges a pattern of behavior ranging from "attempted abuse of authority" to possible violations of federal law perpetrated by some of the administration's senior-most law enforcement and intelligence officials.

PHOTO: Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Chad Wolf speaks during an event at DHS headquarters in Washington, Sept. 9, 2020. (Susan Walsh/AP, FILE)

President Donald Trump formally nominated Wolf for the secretary job in August, but he has been serving as the acting secretary since November. If confirmed by the Senate, Wolf would be the first confirmed DHS Secretary in over a year.

Wolf was also adamant on Wednesday that he did not withhold an intelligence report on disinformation on former Vice President Bidens mental health.

ABC News previously reported that DHS withheld publication of an intelligence bulletin warning law enforcement agencies of a Russian scheme to promote allegations about the poor mental health of Biden.

MORE: Russia spreading disinformation about Biden's mental health: DHS

Wolf, asked specifically if he considers Russia to be advancing propaganda against Biden, said there are three countries are a concern.

"On everything that I've seen that there are three nation states that we have to be very concerned about one is Russia, one is China, and one is Iran and they all have different ways in different motivations of doing this," he said.

PHOTO: Chad Wolf, Secretary of Homeland Security, sits in the audience during the 2020 Republican National Convention on the South Lawn of the White House, Aug. 27, 2020, in Washington, DC. (Oliver Contreras/Sipa USA via AP, FILE)

On immigration, Wolf has been a loyal supporter of Trump's agenda even as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which falls under DHS, faces continued scrutiny over medical care in civil detention facilities.

Story continues

Democrats on the House Homeland Security committee announced last week the start of a new investigation into allegations from a detention facility nurse, including reports that ICE detainees in the Irwin County Detention Center were subjected to hysterectomy operations without their full understanding or consent.

MORE: Judge urges release of children from ICE detention centers

Wolf said he looks forward to this review.

"I look forward to that investigation. Some of what we have seen thus far on some of the most, I would say, dramatic allegations in that complaint regarding certain medical procedures," he said. "Some of the facts on the ground and the fact that we have seen do not back up those allegations."

ABC News has not independently confirmed the allegations.

MORE: Doctor who advised Homeland Security testifies against COVID-19 protocols in immigration detention

A new report from the House Committee on Homeland Security found that officials used the threat of isolated confinement in order to maintain control over detainees at the River Correctional Center in Louisiana and Otero County Processing Center in New Mexico.

Detainees who had submitted repeated medical requests or engaged in hunger strikes were segregated as a form of discipline, according to the report.

The findings suggest that officials at three facilities ignored mental health warnings from detainees by minimizing some suicide red flags despite evidence of self harm. Evidence of suicide attempts at Otero, River, and the LaSalle ICE Processing Center in Louisiana were written off as not serious, according to the report.

PHOTO: Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Chad Wolf arrives at the Eastern Iowa Airport for a briefing on derecho damage with President Donald Trump, Aug. 18, 2020, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (Evan Vucci/AP, FILE)

Wolf and the department's number two, Ken Cuccinelli, have also been in the hot seat after the Government Accountability Office found they were unlawfully appointed to their current roles.

Wolf said that he disagrees with the logic used by the GAO and said its decision is non binding.

We're certainly aware of the GAO's opinion regarding the order of succession at the department I will say that we very strongly disagree with that opinion," Wolf said. "I'll continue to say I respect the role that GAO plays. But that again does not dismiss the fact that we believe they have a faulty decision in the legal logic that they used is very inaccurate."

The DHS Inspector General declined to take action against the two leaders.

"While DHS OIG does not have a strict policy against reviewing matters that are the subject of litigation, under the particular circumstances presented it would be pointless for DHS OIG to add its voice to what has become a bitter inter-branch disagreement," the IG wrote in a letter to members of the House Homeland Security Committee. "Neither GAO nor DHS OIG can issue a binding determination on that issue, but a federal court can and probably will."

Wolf's profile rose earlier this summer when he sent federal agents -- against the wishes of Oregon Gov. Kate Brown and Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler -- to quell violence occurring outside the federal courthouse in Portland, Oregon, during protests over police brutality and racial injustice.

Wolf has largely defended the department's actions.

MORE: Acting homeland security secretary faults state officials for Oregon, Wisconsin protest violence

"We will be happy to provide resources to bring this violence to an end  across the ideological spectrum left or right, the violence needs to end." Wolf said in August on ABC's "This Week," adding a message to local officials, "If you see this activity, take early action, bring law and order to your streets, and we can address and really avoid some of the violent activity that we're seeing."

Wolf defends DHS at confirmation hearing, calling whistleblower's claims 'patently false' originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Reliance Industries has been a delight for investors since Mukesh Ambani-led (RIL) raised capital amid the pandemic. Ambani, the only Asian tycoon among the top 10 richest people in the world, has been able to renew investors' interest in the stock unlocking value deals with global investors in last six months.

This is despite the alarming coronavirus pandemic that has brought large economies to a standstill.

As the company builds up a dominant presence in refining, petrochemicals, telecom and retail businesses, most analysts have kept a BUY rating for the conglomerate and raised the target price to Rs 2,500.

Since the beginning of 2020, Sensex has dropped 8.5% while Reliance Industries shares have risen 46%. RIL share closed at Rs 1,500 on December 31, 2019. On Sept 22, RIL shares ended at Rs 2,211 on BSE.

While Sensex has fallen 0.74% in one year, RIL stock has risen almost 76%. The market cap of the Mukesh Ambani-led conglomerate stood at Rs 14,01,738.80 crore on September 21. Reliance Industries became the first Indian firm to scale market cap of Rs 16 lakh crore for the first time on September 16, 2020.

The stock hit its 52-week low of Rs 867.82 on March 23, 2020. Since then, RIL- India's most-valued company-has seen its stock jump 172% to its all-time high of Rs 2,368.80 on September 16, 2020.

Even after being rated as an overvalued stock, RIL has been among the top picks of investors and analysts with its strong franchises, partnerships and growth plans. Company's growth prospects have made investors chase the stock post any short-term profit booking.

With Reliance's highly liquid balance sheet during the tough times of pandemic, analysts believe that the stock will continue to rise in the coming quarters. RIL became debt-free this year months ahead of the March 2021 target.

In a drive to tap the fast-growing market for online shopping, RIL's recent fundraising and acquisitions have helped it not only become debt-free but also put the firm on par with global eCommerce giants such as Amazon & Walmart. The large cap stock currently trades at Rs 2,250 level on BSE.

Kotak Institutional Equities has rated 'ADD' to RIL stock at a fair value of Rs 2,256, with an upside of 5%.

While Motilal expects the TP to rise towards Rs 2,450-2,500 zones in the next few weeks and Rs 2,650-2,700 in the next few months.

Axis Securities also expects bullish momentum towards Rs 2,500-2,540.

Morgan Stanley said, "We have an OW on Reliance Industries as we believe the company will benefit from the undercurrents in the telecom industry and increasingly foray into other digital businesses."

The brokerage laid down Risks to Downside as 1. A potential ban on single-use plastic to hurt margins in the medium term; 2. Lower utilisation of recently started downstream energy projects; and 3. Delay in the monetisation of its energy and telecom assets.

Execution on Jio Mart, rising market share and reduced competitive intensity in the Indian telecom industry and improvement in encore energy margins were the 'Risks to Upside', as per the brokerage.

"The company bounced back sharply post hitting a low of Rs 864 on March 23, enriching its shareholders in the most spectacular way," said Aamar Deo Singh - Head Advisory, Angel Broking.

Reliance Industries telecom business to witness robust growth over next few years due to tariff hikes and shift of subscribers from Vodafone Idea to other telecom players, suggested Angel Broking and rated 'Accumulate' to RIL stock, at CMP of 2,306 and a TP of Rs 2,543, with an upside of 10.3%.

Share Market News Live: Sensex rises 350 points, Nifty at 11,276, RIL, SBI, L&T top gainers

Stocks in news: RIL, HDFC Bank, SBI, Future Enterprises, Indian Oil
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
WASHINGTON - Vice-President Mike Pences airplane struck a bird Tuesday on takeoff in New Hampshire, causing the pilot to return to the airport out of caution, the White House said.

Pence was flying home to Washington from a campaign event at an airport hangar in nearby Gilford, New Hampshire.

When Air Force Two took off from Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, it struck a bird. A senior administration official, who wasnt authorized to address the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, said the vice-president and his entourage were in no danger.

Pence ended up flying home on a cargo aircraft that the Secret Service uses to transport his vehicles during his travel.
Hundreds of people wait in line for hours at a COVID assessment centre at Women's College Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto on Wednesday, September 23, 2020. Premier Doug Ford says up to 60 pharmacies across the province will begin to offer COVID-19 tests starting Friday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Many animal species are currently changing their distribution range owing to global warming. The underlying mechanisms are still little known, especially in mammals. An international team of scientists led by the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW) has now demonstrated that in the common noctule bat, one of the largest European bat species, the colonization of hibernacula progresses from lower to higher latitudes over successive generations of young animals - especially first-year males. Because of their relatively high reproduction rate and the long-distance dispersal of male juveniles, it is probably relatively easy for common noctules to adjust to global warming. For species with lower reproduction rates and a limited migratory potential of the young - the majority of European bat species - the future might not look as favourable when facing continuing global warming. The paper was published in the scientific journal "Biology Letters".

The rapid pace of global warming is forcing animals to adjust their lives to ensure their survival and successful reproduction. Highly mobile species such as migratory bats could potentially shift their summer and wintering habitats to higher or lower latitudes according to how the regional climate is changing. This flexibility could enable migratory bats to stay within ideal conditions for reproducing and rearing of young or for hibernation. For example, in recent years common noctule bats have shifted their wintering area further north. Is this shift in the wintering range the consequence of adult bats moving further north for hibernation year after year, or are these shifts done by juvenile bats from successive generations? Scientists of the Leibniz-IZW and partners from the Ukraine - the "Bat Rehabilitation Center of Feldman Ecopark" and the "Ukrainian Independent Ecology Institute" - addressed this question in a long-term study.

"We showed that the northwards move of the hibernation area of the common noctule occurs over several generations of juveniles", says Christian Voigt, head of the Department of Evolutionary Ecology at Leibniz-IZW. "Especially young males, which usually migrate further from their birthplace than young females, are leading the way when colonising new hibernacula". Since common noctules have a short life span, a high reproduction rate and can disperse over long distances, they may be able to adjust relatively quickly to global warming, even if the wintering area only successively changes from generation to generation.

The investigation was carried out in the city of Kharkiv in northern Ukraine. Maternity colonies of common noctule females were long recorded north of the Kharkiv area, with hibernating animals moving to areas well south of Kharkiv. Then, 30 years ago the first individuals were encountered who hibernated further north close to Kharkiv, with increasing numbers of hibernating bats nearby since then. Over a ten-year period, the scientists collected data on the age and sex of almost 3,400 individuals. These data showed that young males dominated the early phase of colonisation of the new hibernation area. Gradually, the ratio of males to females and of young to adult animals became more balanced. "We also investigated the region of origin of the hibernating common noctules by analysing stable hydrogen isotopes in the fur keratin", says Kseniia Kravchenko from Leibniz-IZW, the first author of the paper. "The data of nearly 400 animals revealed that the number of long-distance migrants decreased in both females and males across all age groups". This showed that in the early years of colonisation the hibernation population originated from summer quarters in the far north. More recently, the "local" population with summer quarters nearby, who previously had flown further south for hibernation, increasingly used the same area as their summer quarters for reproduction and for wintering.

The rapid generational shift and the high dispersal capacity of young males seem to be an evolutionary advantage of common noctule bats in times of climate change, the authors conclude. "Mammal species with higher life expectancies, lower reproductive rate and lower dispersal capacity may have a much harder time in keeping up with the pace of global warming", suspect Kravchenko and Voigt. "If the distribution areas of these species only shift from generation to generation, the pace may be too slow and there is a chance that they will become extinct if global warming continues at the current high pace." Further research will be necessary to understand these mechanisms of spatial adjustment to climate change in other mammalian species.

###
WOOD RIVER  Police are seeking three people in connection with a home invasion and armed robbery Wednesday, Sept. 16, in Wood River.

On Thursday, charges were filed in Madison County Circuit Court against Aaron D. Harvey, 25, of Wood River; Corey W. Compton, 23, of Mitchell; and Aaron D. Pruitt, 22, of St. Charles, Missouri.
Kareena Kapoor Khan has left for Delhi for the shooting schedule of her upcoming film Laal Singh Chaddha. She has been accompanied by her husband, actor Saif Ali Khan and their son Taimur.

As can be seen in photos accessed by Pinkvilla, the diva is dressed in a floral print outfit while the Nawab of Pataudi is seen a plain white kurta pajama. Little Taimur looked adorable in black colour round neck T-shirt, which has been teamed up with a pair of denims.

All three of them can be seen wearing face masks as the same is a part of the guidelines issued by the government. The government has issued a certain set of guidelines that need to be followed by people in order to curb the widespread of the novel coronavirus.

Laal Singh Chaddha is a Hindi adaptation of Tom Hanks starrer Forrest Gump directed by Robert Zemeckis. The male lead of the movie Aamir Khan, will be seen playing the titular role. This is the first time that Mr Perfectionist will be seen with a turban on the silver screen.

The comedy drama is being directed by Advait Chandan. The film, apart from the lead actors, also stars Mona Singh, Vijay Sethupathi and Yogi Babu.

The initial release date of the movie was in December this year. But due to the coronavirus pandemic, the films shooting and other things have got delayed. Now, the film is said to be releasing on Christmas next year.

This film will also mark the third on screen collaboration between Aamir and Kareena. The first two being, Talaash and 3 Idiots.

Apart from that Kareena will also be seen in Karan Johars Takht which stars Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Vicky Kaushal, Bhumi Pednekar, Janhvi Kapoor, and Anil Kapoor.
Best-selling author Sheryl WuDunn and her husband, New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof, will speak at a virtual event Thursday evening organized by the Springfield Public Forum about their newest book that centers on the economic crisis facing working-class Americans.

The two Pulitzer Prize-winning authors will be interviewed by Brian Boyles, the executive director of Mass Humanities, about their latest book, TIGHTROPE: Americans Reaching for Hope."

The Springfield Public Forum, an independent nonprofit and one of the countrys oldest free public speaker series, will host the event on Thursday, September 24, at 7:30 p.m.

In their book, WuDunn and Kristoff look at the struggles of working-class Americans while focusing on solutions to mend what they describe as a half-century of governmental failure, the statement said.

Tightrope examines an other America," the forum said, with the authors telling the story through the lives of some of the children Kristof grew up with in rural Yamhill, Oregon.

The city, like so many across the United States, prospered for much of the 20th century but has been economically devastated in the past few decades as blue-collar jobs disappeared.

Roughly a quarter of the children on Kristofs childhood school bus died in adulthood from drugs, alcohol, suicide or reckless accidents.

While these particular stories unfolded in one corner of the country, they are representative of many places in the U.S., the Springfield Public Forum said. These accounts provide a picture of working-class families profoundly damaged as a result of decades of policy mistakes, but they also share stories about resurgence.

WuDunn and Kristof have coauthored several books together and were awarded a Pulitzer Prize in 1990 for their coverage of China. The couple also received the Dayton Literary Peace Prize for Lifetime Achievement in 2009.

Like Kristof, WuDunn also worked at the New York Times, serving as a business editor and foreign correspondent in Tokyo and Beijing. She currently works in banking, according to the Springfield Public Forum.

Now an op-ed columnist for the Times, Kristof was previously bureau chief in Hong Kong, Beijing and Tokyo. He won his second Pulitzer in 2006 for his columns on the genocide in Darfur.

Thursdays virtual event is free to the public and is being sponsored by Mass Humanities, which provides grants and partnerships to nonprofits. Registration for the webinar is available on the Springfield Public Forums website.

The Springfield Public Forum hosted a discussion earlier this month with attorney Evan Wolfson, widely considered the architect of the marriage equality movement in the United States.

The goal of the forum, which was established in 1935, is to illuminate the key issues facing society by bringing thought-provoking speakers to the Springfield community.

Related Content:
GUANGZHOU, China  When China faced previous economic slowdowns, it favored pharaonic, multibillion-dollar construction projects to quickly pump money into the economy. A bullet train network that now connects 700 cities. Ultramodern expressways longer than Americas interstate highways. And 81 of the worlds 100 highest bridges.

Now, a top Chinese official has a new idea to rev up growth during the coronavirus pandemic: elevators.

Chinas premier, Li Keqiang, and his allies in the government want to retrofit as many as three million older, walk-up apartment buildings, projects that usually cost less than $100,000.

The downsized ambitions reflect the evolution of China, from a youthful but impoverished country to a graying but increasingly middle-class one.
michael barbaro

From The New York Times, Im Michael Barbaro. This is The Daily.

[music]

Today: President Trump has now secured the support he needs from Senate Republicans to swiftly confirm a replacement for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court, all but assuring that he will cement its conservative majority. A conversation with the anti-abortion activist whose unlikely partnership with the president helped bring the court to this moment. Its Wednesday, September 23.

michael barbaro

Hey. How are you? Its Michael Barbaro.

marjorie dannenfelser

Hello, Michael. Its great to meet you.

michael barbaro

Very nice to meet you. And thank you for making time for us.

marjorie dannenfelser

Well, Im very grateful. Ive been looking forward to it.

michael barbaro

Really?

marjorie dannenfelser

I have. You think I havent?

michael barbaro

Not everybody looks forward to conversations with journalists.

marjorie dannenfelser

I do its actually one of the things I like the best. Im  Im not kidding. I really do.

michael barbaro

Well, were grateful for your time. And I want to start with the difficult but necessary question of asking you how to pronounce your last name.

marjorie dannenfelser

Its Dannenfelser.

michael barbaro

Dannenfelser. Is it OK if I call you Marjorie?

marjorie dannenfelser

Of course. Yes.

michael barbaro

OK. So Marjorie, the reason we wanted to talk to you, and talk to you right now, is because you lead an organization  the Susan B. Anthony list  that seeks to end abortion in the United States, in part by electing lawmakers who oppose abortion, and in part by confirming conservative justices to the federal bench and ultimately to the Supreme Court in order to eventually overturn Roe v. Wade. Does that summarize the groups mission accurately?

marjorie dannenfelser

Yeah. I think you got it. Yeah.

michael barbaro

So I have to imagine this is quite a day to be talking to you. Because it is now about 1:03 in the afternoon on Tuesday. And we have just watched as several Republican senators who seem to be on the fence about filling Justice Ginsburgs vacant seat said that they would seek to confirm a replacement for her in the coming weeks, the latest of those being Senator Mitt Romney.

marjorie dannenfelser

Yeah.

michael barbaro

And so it very much seems like you are on the cusp of a historic victory for social and religious conservatives and for the mission of your group.

marjorie dannenfelser

I think thats right. And I think, you know, no matter who you are, you feel the ground shaking underneath, wondering where the nation is going. For me. It is a surreal moment. It is actually very hard to put into words. Im feeling very optimistic for the mission that our organization launched on 25 years ago.

michael barbaro

I wonder if in 2015, when you were first facing the prospect of a Donald Trump presidency, if you could have ever imagined that just over four years later it would get you here to this point.

marjorie dannenfelser

Michael, I was deeply opposed to the candidacy of this president. He was the last on a very long list, and a distant last, of people that I thought should be among  I mean, I think there were 17 at the high point  candidates. And I put out letters in South Carolina and in Iowa saying not this guy. So I did get dragged kicking and screaming to the candidacy. And so the answer to your question is yeah, I would have been shocked to hear that this president would operate as the most pro-life president in history, and that he would be the one to be naming a self-described pro-life Supreme Court justice  three  that could turn the tide of events on abortion law after four decades since Roe v. Wade.

michael barbaro

Well, lets talk a little bit more about that journey that you and your organization went on  the kicking and screaming. I realize this is asking a lot of someone who now has a close relationship with the president. But if you could go back to your worst views and fears of him at the time, and describe for me what you were thinking about him and what he represented to you in that early period of 2015-2016.

marjorie dannenfelser

I dont mind talking about it. Because I actually, as a convert on this cause, I can say that its very much reflective of what people probably used to think of me, when I was very strongly pro-choice. You know my view changed pretty diametrically to the position I had. But whatever people felt about me at that point is exactly how I felt about this president. We cant possibly have somebody who just converted overnight be the candidate. And I didnt like the caustic comments to Carly Fiorina, who I adored at the time. So what I saw, I wasnt pleased with. And its the point, I would say, that in my entire life Ive never been so happy to be so incredibly wrong about the commitments that he would make and how he would actually govern.

michael barbaro

And when you say conversion, you mean his conversion from someone who supported abortion rights, supported candidates who supported abortion rights, to someone who was opposed to abortion, who was pro-life.

marjorie dannenfelser

Thats right.

michael barbaro

But before we get to those commitments, I want to slow down just a little bit and talk about the journey that you went on. And not linger too much on it. But I do think its important to understand. During the period when you had objections to him, you did not mince words. And I just want to put a pin in how strongly you doubted him during that period. Because you mentioned letters that you had issued against his candidacy. And there is a very pointed letter that I recall you addressed to Republican voters as the Iowa caucuses were about to get underway. And I was in Iowa during that time. So I remember this.

marjorie dannenfelser

Mhm. Mhm.

michael barbaro

And this is what you said, quote: As pro-life women leaders from Iowa and across the nation, we urge Republican caucus goers and voters to support anyone but Donald Trump. On the issue of defending unborn children and protecting women from the violence of abortion, Mr. Trump cannot be trusted. And there is thankfully an abundance of alternative candidates with proven records of pro-life leadership whom pro-life voters can support. And you went on to say, As women, we are disgusted by Mr. Trumps treatment of individuals, women in particular. So how were you able to get from there to the decision that you needed to build a relationship with the president and start talking about commitments and partnerships?

marjorie dannenfelser

Well, thats a double-edged question. One is: How could you form a relationship after saying that? From his perspective, right, thats one thing. And the other: How, from my end, right? So to me, there was no choice. It was a choice between someone who wanted to preserve abortion and expand it and have people pay for it  that was Hillary Clinton  and he, who made commitments to only pro-life judges and other things. So what do you do when youre given that choice? As imperfect as the choices looked, there was a better choice.

michael barbaro

So just to be clear, youre saying the journey was essentially Donald Trumps victory in the primaries. That once he started to win, you didnt feel you had a choice between his views on abortion and Hillary Clintons views on abortion. You had to make a compromise.

marjorie dannenfelser

Thats right. Thats what the world of politics is. But I would not have done it if he had not made those commitments. I mean, we had to have something to take door to door to over a million homes in battleground states to say, this is who this is. So yes, it was the primary. And it was those commitments. And then as we were moving into the general, he got stronger on the issue, not weaker. And the general direction of candidates is the opposite. That first they are all about you. They love you and youre the best person on the planet. And then they get into the general and they start to moderate. Well, that is not how he treated the issue. And he instead embraced it and communicated it and made sure that there was a contrast between his policies and his opponents  and Hillary Clintons. And thats what you hope and dream for, that there is that perfect clarity and the voters know the choice that theyre making. And hes the first person that did it like that.

michael barbaro

Well, lets talk about the commitments that youre referring to. What exactly were the commitments and how did they come to be?

marjorie dannenfelser

Well, we knew what our priorities were. So we wrote them down and said, these are the commitments we would like for you to make. And they were pro-life Supreme Court justices. Now Im very aware about how that term  pro-life Supreme Court justices  goes across to quite a number of people. One, they dont even know what that means, its not accurate. Does that mean Roe v. Wade? We wanted to be very clear that it means they take a position on abortion that is in alignment with our own. So that was the first commitment. And it was that it be very clear what type of Supreme Court justices youre going to have.

michael barbaro

And what else did he commit to. Because my sense is it wasnt just justices on the court?

marjorie dannenfelser

Thats right. The Supreme Court piece is the most important piece. But there was also a commitment to protect the Hyde Amendment, meaning no taxpayer funding of abortion, to sign a 20-week week Pain-Capable bill into law. That means no abortions on the national level after five months and also defunding and reallocating Planned Parenthoods funding to other qualified health centers.

michael barbaro

So pretty sweeping commitments  so were you surprised when he agreed to do all of this, when you got everything you wanted from him?

marjorie dannenfelser

I was a little bit surprised. Because we didnt have any leverage. He was already the candidate. Generally, candidates in that position arent going to put their name to anything because they dont have to anymore. But hes a different kind of candidate. And he had taken this position. And he wants the benefit of it. And all we needed was that letter. And we gave it to him. And then the rest is history. Our battleground state activity was incredibly helpful, and he knows it, in the win. Then it made everything worthwhile. Because every single thing he promised and beyond, he did.

michael barbaro

Well, lets talk a little bit about what you mean when you said, It made everything worthwhile. Because I have to say that the journey that you went on was a very long journey in a relatively short period of time. So 

marjorie dannenfelser

[LAUGHS] Yeah.

michael barbaro

 do you think that Donald Trump actually believed in what he was signing up for? Or in your mind, did it not really matter whether he, like, fundamentally in his heart believed it, because he was effectively signing up to be the vehicle through which you could try to achieve what you had always been working towards? In other words, did it not really matter if he maybe didnt believe what he was signing onto? It just mattered that he would do the things he signed up to do. And did it really matter if some of his actions were at odds with your faith in his personal life, especially.

marjorie dannenfelser

I think what really mattered is that hed take these positions. And yes, the constant question was: Does he really think this? Voters care if he really believes it. And I think its the unanswerable question whats deep in the chambers of your heart. You know, what are your intentions? You know, its very difficult to know. I know what 

michael barbaro

Do you care? Do you care?

marjorie dannenfelser

If youll notice, on this issue, people will say, well, hes always scripted on it. Well, hes scripted because he doesnt want to get it wrong. Its too important. This is one thing that I know. He knows how important it is. And it is important to him because hes done everything and beyond that he ever promised to do.

michael barbaro

I mean, what youre describing is  and tell me if you think this is uncharitable or too practical  but youre describing a very transactional understanding with a presidential candidate in this stage.

marjorie dannenfelser

Well, if it were only that, that would be fine. But I dont think it is only that. So thats how I look at it. You know, it does matter whats in the human heart. It also matters what the human does. So his actions, and our gambling with the idea that he was going to follow through on them, were far better than the gamble that we had with Hillary Clinton. There was no transaction possible with her. There was only one possible with him. And he grew into the commitment.

michael barbaro

But to the listener of faith who is hearing this conversation and is thinking, but how can you watch something like the Access Hollywood video, which came out at the end of the campaign  so after he had made this commitment to you  how could you watch that and support him, regardless of what you end up getting out of it? Im sure youve been asked this question before. But how do you answer it? Because here youre talking about someone boasting about sexually assaulting women. And soon after, women came forward and said, thats what he did to me. So Im just  how did you think about that?

marjorie dannenfelser

Well, I thought about it a couple of ways. One, it was painful. And were still left with the same choice: pain and two choices. There is a prudential choice that you have to make. And we knew what Hillary Clinton was going to do. And we knew the commitment that the president had. And so we had to make that choice and we did. And once were in, were all in. You know, I will never apologize for those actions or those comments. But I will, till the day I die, advance the policies that he committed to. And just around the corner, were seeing the fruits of having done that.

michael barbaro

You used the word prudential. And that caught me a little bit. Because youre not using a word that conveys morality or faith. Youre saying prudent, if Im hearing that word correctly.

marjorie dannenfelser

Yeah. I think actually religious people use that term quite a lot. Because it acknowledges a hierarchy of goods and evils involved in any decision. That decisions of great consequence often involved a blend of goods and bads.

michael barbaro

Mhm.

marjorie dannenfelser

And your job is to figure out where the highest good is found. Which choice leads to the highest good. And thats the choice we had to make in that moment.

michael barbaro

And in your mind, the highest good was a candidate who would fulfill your mission on the future of abortion in the United States.

marjorie dannenfelser

Thats right.

michael barbaro

When the president does go on to win the office, I wonder how much it felt like support from groups like yours mattered. I mean, my sense is that it was pretty meaningful. Ive spoken to a couple of my colleagues here at The Times who we really trust on this subject, and they said that the president likely would not have won several key states  like Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania  without support from Christian conservatives and groups like yours.

marjorie dannenfelser

Yeah. I think that he knows that. In fact, he called me right after the election to say that. And I, you know, take a little bit of exception sometimes. The pro-life people that are part of his election are sometimes Catholic, sometimes evangelical, and sometimes neither. Sometimes Democrats, sometimes Republicans, sometimes independents. Its one of those issues, especially in the Rust Belt states that you just mentioned, that transcends a lot of boundaries. And so I think he gets that. I know he gets that.

michael barbaro

And once in office, in part with your support, right away President Trump gets a chance to put a justice on the court, to kind of do what it is you care so much about. And he puts forward and gets confirmed a conservative jurist, Neil Gorsuch, who your group supported. He gets a second vacancy, he fills that with another conservative jurist, Brett Kavanaugh, who you again supported. So were you surprised by how quickly this promise was kept by President Trump? And did it start to feel that, in very short order, your work was more or less done?

marjorie dannenfelser

Thats a really good question. I think weve had so many disappointments over time, where you seem like were so close. You know, it looks just within reach. And then all of a sudden, something happens and its not. So the only way I know how to handle this is within the grace of daily obligation  doing the thing that has to be done today that is the best possible strategic and smart choice that you can make. And so therefore, even right now, I dont take anything for granted. So yes, Im very hopeful, very optimistic, but not wild-eyed.

michael barbaro

Well. I want to talk about where we are right now and what you have been fighting for over these past few days since Justice Ginsburgs passing. Another seat  the third seat  opening on the court during this presidency. And the question for most people was: Would a nomination to replace her happen before the election? Would it happen after the election, given the tactics and actions of the Republican leadership in the Senate in 2016? Or not until there was a new president or the re-election of President Trump? But I sense that for you, there was only one option, right?

marjorie dannenfelser

All right, you dont play roulette with that when the stakes are this high, in my opinion. And thats how were acting. So I think to be honest, to get wrapped up in what other presidents and Senates have done in other times historically, its not nearly as important as the result. They were elected to do a job. And they should be doing it now.

michael barbaro

So youre saying thats all beside the point to you, like, when people talk about the precedent of Merrick Garland or the promises that Lindsey Graham made very explicitly to the public. Im not trying to be cavalier about this. But it sounds like your approach is sort of, like, who cares? Thats process.

marjorie dannenfelser

Yeah. I mean, I think that nobody cares about process. But I also think that if you have a shot, you do it now. You dont wait.

michael barbaro

And so just to be clear, what did you made clear that you wanted to have happen when Justice Ginsburg died? That the president put forward a nominee, and that the Senate hold a hearing before November 3? I just want to understand what was conveyed to you.

marjorie dannenfelser

Yeah. That is what we are asking and hoping, what I talked to the president about, what I talked to the vice president about, what were talking to different senators that, yes  that it be from the list, which is not in question. And that it be quickly done. And thats what all of our conversations have been.

michael barbaro

And why exactly do you want it to be done so quickly and even before the election? Why not wait until post-November, even if Donald Trump loses, why cant he nominate the candidate or why cant the Senate hold hearings on the candidate between November and January? Why does it have to happen so quickly?

marjorie dannenfelser

Well, a couple of things. One is that you wait and you lose all the discipline, all the cats move in different directions. They behave differently in a lame duck. They just do. People arent under the gun of an election. You lose the pressure. You lose the leverage. Also, I think it will benefit the president to go in as a winner, and that being a compelling case at the ballot boxes. And also, if the Arizona election goes against Martha McSally, theyll seat immediately a Democrat there. And that changes the numbers. So its a very concrete and practical reason to go ahead and do it now.

michael barbaro

Right. You referred to roulette earlier. You just dont want to take any risk that might involve a changing dynamic or a changing electoral math in the Senate, which you believe right now favors getting this done before the election.

marjorie dannenfelser

Thats right. You dont play roulette when the consequences are that high.

michael barbaro

What do you think was the most important thing that happened over the last few days in convincing some of these senators to get on board with your desired path? Because there were, on paper, significant obstacles  including these public statements that had been made, these commitments that had been made by several of these senators, whether it was Chuck Grassley, whether it was Lindsey Graham.

marjorie dannenfelser

I think the weight of that decision and the consequence of delay is an argument in itself. It has to be made by several people. Its made by the president and the vice president. Its made from me and people like me directly. And also, look, I think about it this way too. Lamar Alexander, I think, said it better than anybody. And Lamar Alexander was somebody that was very much on the, oh, no, what is he going to do list. And he just made the most compelling statement that I think he really believes, and I think Romney believes the same, which is this is the constitutional duty that should be done now. And the consequences of not doing that will be felt for decades.

michael barbaro

I know I keep asking you if you were surprised. But were you surprised when Mitt Romney signed on? I think many people expected him to, as a frequent dissenter from the president, perhaps join with Senator Susan Collins, Senator Lisa Murkowski in being skeptical of this timeline?

marjorie dannenfelser

Yes. Im completely surprised when especially senators all line up and make the same decision. Im totally shocked when there is unity. Because Romney is a very independent person. Grassley is a very independent person. So yes, I am blown away with unity at a moment where it needs to happen. Im also very cognizant that it can be scattered. So thats why we remain very vigilant.

[music]

michael barbaro

Do you believe, Marjorie, that you are responsible in any way for what happened, whether thats a matter of having gotten President Trump where he is with your support in the first place, putting him in a position for this to happen, or the work youve done in the past few days? I mean, am I right in thinking that somewhere over the past 72, 96 hours, you and folks in your organization are on the phone with these senators, with their staff?

marjorie dannenfelser

I think  I think I and my team and our grassroots have a lot of influence. I think we can look at it and say were very much a part of it. I would never presume to say that were the reason. Because that just wouldnt be true and wouldnt acknowledge the efforts of other people. But yes, I think very much we are helping drive the center of this movement to a reclamation and a restoration of the court when it comes to Roe v. Wade.

michael barbaro

Well be right back. So Marjorie, the remaining questions now seem to only be some logistics, it feels like, around the vote and who the nominee for this vacancy will be from a pretty short list. Is there only one path forward in your mind on this issue? I mean, does it have to be  like when to hold the vote  when it comes to who should get this nod, does it have to be Amy Coney Barrett in your mind?

marjorie dannenfelser

No. It doesnt. Shes my favorite. Shes our favorite. Shes the movements favorite because the movement knows her. And shes been completely vetted. We know who she is, what shes about. And that is a real leg up when youre trying to move this fast. But the list I was very much a part of. So I feel like I own it in some ways. So Im very confident that no matter who he chooses, well continue in exactly the direction we are.

michael barbaro

So youre open to several possible judges on that list?

marjorie dannenfelser

Yes. Yeah.

michael barbaro

So I want to turn to public opinion on the question of abortion and the path that you seem to be setting for the president and for the Senate in this moment, which is a decision that may ultimately be at odds with where the majority of Americans are. And Im mindful of something that Justice Ginsburg said about Roe v. Wade. She had a critique of it, which is that she felt that in being so decisive and striking down so many state laws on abortion, that Roe had kind of raced ahead of where the country was. And she believes that the country was moving in the direction of Roe on its own, and that the ruling risked a backlash from Americans by doing this work from the bench. And it was a controversial critique. But Im curious if you worry about the same thing happening, but now in the other direction. Because your goal is to get Roe overturned. And I ask that because the statistics on how Americans view abortion are very consistent at this moment in the countrys history. And they show that a majority of Americans support legalized abortion and do not support overturning Roe v. Wade. And I could recite a bunch of polls. I dont think you need me to do that. So is this something you worry about doing and creating a backlash towards?

marjorie dannenfelser

I will acknowledge that the country is worried. But the country is worried largely because the contradictions in opinion. In other words, yes, I know that poll to be true, that the majority supports Roe v. Wade. But then, also, they support bans after the first trimester, which is completely inconsistent. And what will happen when Roe is overturned or eroded, to the extent that its not as applicable, will be that states will start to pass laws that reflect the laws of those states. Thats the immediate effect of Roe. And the only laws that will pass will be the laws that can be sustained by the majorities in those states. And I think that people will then see, OK, it wasnt this tsunami that we thought. Its actually just the bearing out of democracy on an issue of deep moral conviction, where peoples opinions get to make their way into the law rather than the Supreme Court telling them.

michael barbaro

I just want to summarize what you have been saying. Youre not worried, it sounds like, about a backlash or going against the will of the people. Because in your mind, if this issue returns to the state level, which is what would happen if Roe is overturned, and the people support abortion, then abortion will still be legal.

marjorie dannenfelser

Right.

michael barbaro

And that will be the will of the people. Is that what youre saying?

marjorie dannenfelser

That is. The only laws that will go into effect are laws that can be sustained by majorities of the people in the states in which they live.

michael barbaro

Some people will say that that may be a hard thing to measure. There are many states where legislatures may be solidly Republican and out of sync with the views of the majority of their residents. And so restrictions might emerge that would then be reducing the availability of abortion, that might be out of sync. I suppose you would argue that maybe an election would determine that then a few years later. But is there not a real risk that very suddenly state legislatures that have been gerrymandered, that have been made Republican in ways that dont reflect the views of the majority of voters in that state, would suddenly restrict abortion in ways that would not be in sync with the democratic principles youre talking about?

marjorie dannenfelser

Well. Look, I think democracy is the only institution that we have. There isnt a better one to gauge the will of the people and have that reflected in the law. I dont know a better one. So to get to some consensus in our nation, that stranglehold on our ability to pass laws that reflect our deeply held convictions about the life and death of human beings, has to let up. And if it doesnt let up, it will be exactly the way it is now, the never-ending battle that people are sick of. But its only occurring because its a matter of life and death. And were on the verge of getting to a place where we can say were victorious.

michael barbaro

To go back to the polling for just a minute, I think you agreed that those surveys show that the majority of Americans support Roe v. Wade, support access to legalized abortion. So I want to understand from your viewpoint how this process may play out and what the political repercussions may be, in some cases even for allies of yours, people who you have supported and who have supported you. And I assume thats something that youve been thinking a lot about.

marjorie dannenfelser

Yeah. I think what matters is what people really think. Were looking at the polls and were seeing contradictions. So what do we make of that. Theres only backlash if it really is going further than the consensus will allow. And if it goes further than consensus will allow, the democratic process picks up again and adjusts. So I think for people who are naturally afraid and risk averse, yeah, they wont like it that states are starting to enact laws that reflect the will of their states. Because theyll be afraid, perhaps. But that doesnt hold me up.

michael barbaro

So I wonder if you would just indulge me for a moment. And I want to ask you to imagine a future. Its November 4. A handful of Republican senators, perhaps, have lost their seats in part because of this process. And perhaps Republicans lose control of the Senate. Would it have been worth it?

marjorie dannenfelser

Im not going there. Because Im in those places. I mean, we are literally in those Senate battles right now. We have people going door to door in all of those Senate battles. Ive talked to Senator Daines, for instance, today, who says this confirmation, if its done before the election, he does not believe itll hurt his chances. I believe that they all think that. They dont think that thats going to be the case. And I think theyre absolutely right. So yes, there is a hierarchy of goals. But because of the way this is rolling out, thats a false choice that Im not willing to make. Were not just leaving things to fall where they will. I do not think that this hurts the presidents chances of winning. And I dont think it hurts senators chances of winning, the ones on the pro-life side.

michael barbaro

So it sounds like youre having these conversations. And I know you dont want to imagine that future. But if that were to happen, if you were to wake up and find that the Senate had been lost  and maybe a bunch of senators even candidly say, we got that third Trump conservative justice on the Supreme Court, but it cost us the Senate  I want to ask you to grapple with that for just a minute. Will it have been worth it?

marjorie dannenfelser

I dont think Im making that decision. And so Im not willing to make that call. I think that, look, changing the court for decades and saving millions and millions of lives is the most important thing that I do. And politics is the route to that. So in this particular case, I do not feel that its a choice that has to be made. I think were doing both at the same time. But you see the hierarchy of goods. The first most important thing is who sits on the Supreme Court.

michael barbaro

When you didnt want to engage the question of whether this confirmation battle might cost Republicans control of the Senate, it occurred to me that you would not want to imagine that future for the president either. But I have to ask what if, in the end, the president loses reelection, the autopsies and the retrospectives look back and say that it was, in part, because of an energized opposition? Because he rushed to get a third justice appointed to the Supreme Court, one who openly opposed abortion, and that was at odds with where the electorate was. If you end up losing this historic ally of yours in this battle, will that be OK? And will it have been worth it?

marjorie dannenfelser

Its not going to be OK to lose the presidency, and its not going to be OK to lose the Senate. The first priority is the Supreme Court, without question. And Im going to work for all three. Im not willing to cede any of it. Im not. But I am saying the most important thing is the Supreme Court. And I think all those people I just mentioned agree.

michael barbaro

Youre saying you think President Trump would agree that it would have been worth losing re-election 

marjorie dannenfelser

No.  to change the composition of the Supreme Court.? No. Im just saying the order of goods. In the order of goods, the lasting value of the Supreme Court is a legacy for the Senate and for the president. And I cant presume to speak for him or the senators. But Im just saying Im fighting for them all. Im not going to cede any of it.

michael barbaro

Right. This phrase that you used, when thinking about your partnership with President Trump, there was a practicality to it.

marjorie dannenfelser

Thats right. It will all have been worth it. Yeah. So I think this entire battle, all in sum, every single thing weve done for the last decade, everything weve done since 2016, everything we will do for this election, if we have one more Supreme Court justice that looks like Amy Barrett or one of the others, it will all have been worth it.

[music]

Were at a point of a major shift in this nation. And Im very happy to be in the place that I am.

michael barbaro

Well, I really appreciate your time.

marjorie dannenfelser

I appreciate yours too, Michael.

michael barbaro

Thank you, Marjorie.

marjorie dannenfelser

Thank you so much.

michael barbaro
Kathmandu, Sep 23 : After India, China is now embroiled in a fresh boundary dispute with Nepal in its remote Humla district that is close to the Nepal-Tibet border.

The dispute emerged after the Chinese side unilaterally constructed 11 cemented buildings in the Nepali territory and people in the Lapcha area where the buildings were constructed, brought it to the notice of the Humla administration.

The area that Nepal is claiming, is remote from the district headquarters, difficult to reach, barren, unused and a treacherous one but the Chinese side can easily cross the border due to the close proximity and road access.

After the Lapcha people brought the matter to the administration's notice that nine building have already been erected by the Chinese, who have also asked Nepalese to refrain from visiting across the bordering area, the Home Ministry of Nepal sent senior officials to the disputed site this week to ascertain the volume of the land encroached upon by the Chinese.

Though the officials have yet to submit their report to the Home Ministry but Bishnu Bahadur Lama, Chairman of the Namkha Rural Municipality who was the first to bring the matter to the administration's notice, said that they inspected the disputed area, interacted with locals and held brief communication with Chinese security officials.

"They (Chinese) told us that due to Covid pandemic, it was not possible to sit in a face to face talks urging that those 11 buildings were constructed inside Chinese territory and asked us to leave the place. Then we left. It is happening largely due to one missing pillar," Lama said.

According to Lama and other Nepali officials, during the road construction in that area some eight years ago, a boundary pillar no 11 was damaged and had not been erected since.

After we failed to ascertain the pillar no 11, the Chinese built the buildings whose purpose is not known, Lama said, now Chinese have barred Nepalese of that area from visiting the Lapcha area.

But as per locals, that particular territory belongs to us which has been used by the Nepalese for several purposes in the past, Lama said, it was basically used for grazing by both sides.

The Ministries of Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs of Nepal in Kathmandu are waiting the ground report from Humla before taking up the matter with the Chinese side.

After the Nepal media started reporting about the alleged Chinese encroachment, the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu on Tuesday issued a statement and clarified its position.

China and Nepal are friendly neighbours, the statement said, China has always respected Nepal's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"The buildings mentioned by the media have been verified to be on the Chinese side of the China-Nepal border. The Nepali side may make verification again. China and Nepal have no territorial disputes. The two sides have always maintained close communication on border affairs," the statement further reads.

There are news coming from Humla that China has encroached the Nepali territory and erected some buildings, former Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Kamal Thapa said: "I request the government to release the facts and truths regarding the land encroachment. Thapa has also requested with Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli to send back the Chinese from the Nepali territory immediately." Nepal and China do not have major boundary dispute except for their differences over the height of Mt. Everest. Since China came up with rock height of Mt Everest as 8,844 metre in 2005 and recognised it, Nepal declined to accept it. The accepted height of Mt Everest is 8,848 metre. Both Nepal and China are separately measuring the height of Mt Everest and the findings are yet to be announced.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
The California State University trustees named Joseph Castro, the president of Fresno State since 2013, as chancellor Wednesday. He becomes the first Mexican American to lead the nations largest university system.

The 53-year-old scholar of higher education leadership and public policy will be the eighth chancellor to head the $10.5 billion university with nearly half a million students spread over 23 campuses. Before joining CSU, Castro was a professor of family medicine at UCSF, and vice chancellor of student academic affairs. He grew up in the San Joaquin Valley.

In brief remarks to the trustees virtual meeting this week, Castro said he was honored to be the first California native and first Mexican American to serve as chancellor.

Like the majority of students that we serve at CSU, I was the first in my family to attend and graduate from a university, and thats a gift that Ive been paying back ever since, he said. I intend to continue paying that gift back over time as chancellor of the CSU.

Raised by a single mother with help from her farmworker parents, Castro graduated from UC Berkeley with a bachelors degree in political science in 1988, and earned his masters in public policy there two years later. He earned his Ph.D. in higher education and leadership from Stanford University in 1998.

California State University

Dr. Castro is a beloved figure in Fresno and the Central Valley, said Krystal Raynes, a student at CSU Bakersfield and one of two students on the Board of Trustees. Both served on the chancellors search committee.

His story is the story of many students and the alumni of the CSU, she told the trustees. She recalled that in Fresno, Castro once hosted the Cal State Student Association, which named him President of the Year in 2018 for helping very low-income students get enough to eat.

Castro told The Chronicle hed been moved to get involved after a graduate student showed him a survey in which large numbers of students reported having trouble making ends meet.

Soon we were serving 5,000 students a month at the food cupboard, he said. All privately funded.

Gov. Gavin Newsom said he was thrilled at the appointment. Michael Drake, the University of Californias new president, said hes known Castro for a quarter century and is delighted.

Michelle Siqueiros, president of the Campaign for College Opportunity student advocacy group, called the selection historic and said the trustees could not have chosen a more perfect chancellor.

Castro will take over CSU, headquartered in Long Beach, on Jan. 4 and succeed Timothy White, who was chancellor at UC Riverside before his appointment in 2012. White announced in October that he would step down in May, but postponed his retirement until 2021 to lead the university through the tumultuous early days of the coronavirus pandemic.

The trustees will pay Castro a base salary of $625,000, a 31% increase over Whites $477,771 base pay. Like White, Castro will also receive a monthly stipend of $7,917 for housing and $1,000 for car costs. The state pays additional pension and health benefits, $112,246 for each executive.

Dr. Castro is a passionate and effective advocate for his students, his campus and the CSU, said Lillian Kimbell, chair of the trustees. She called him the right leader for the California State University in our current circumstance and for our future.

The pandemic has been hard on CSU, whose state budget allocation fell by $300 million. The university got $262 million from the federal government, with a net loss of $38 million. Half of the federal funds were required to go to students as financial aid.

Its cash they can use, Castro said, noting that many students are now living with their parents, many of whom have lost their jobs in the pandemic. He said its particularly tough for students who lack a quiet place to study at home. Indicating that he can relate to the experiences of CSUs largely low- to middle-income student body, he said it would have been nearly impossible for him to finish college from his childhood home in Hanford (Kings County).

Today, many students also lack such basics as the broadband internet needed to access online courses.

Tuition is $5,742, with varying levels of campus fees that bring most annual costs to roughly $7,000.

Kimbell, who joined the interview with The Chronicle, said the trustees will try to do everything in our power to avert a tuition increase. But you never know.

Earlier this year, White said CSU expects three years of fiscal duress, even if another stimulus package is approved in October.

Although no faculty have been laid off, union leaders said 250 staff members have lost or are losing jobs on six campuses, including San Francisco State. Fresno was not one of those campuses, but Castro said he has laid off managers during the pandemic.

Another longstanding challenge for CSU has been how to improve its dismal four-year graduation rate of 28%. Even the six-year rate stands at just 62%.

A focus of Whites tenure has been his Graduation 2025 initiative, to get 40% of students a degree in four years, and 70% in six. Students who linger clog the pipeline, and in 2017, CSU turned away 31,000 qualified students  1 in 10 applicants. But the system has made progress since 2018, when it replaced no-credit remedial courses with credit courses so that lagging students could catch up and learn college-level material at the same time.

Castro said he will continue with a strong focus on graduation rates, and has pushed similar goals at Fresno State.

White said Castro has been an asset to CSU.

I enjoyed and benefited by working with Castro as president, and will watch with respect and admiration as he shepherds this magnificent university to higher heights, White said.

The universitys faculty association, representing 29,000 professors, instructors and librarians, issued a brief welcome statement and a 10-point wish list for the new chancellor.

The faculty asked that Castro consider students and employees concerns as he brings them back to campuses. About 7% of classes have been in person during the pandemic, a plan that White has extended through the spring semester.

Castro should also increase ethnic diversity among faculty, their statement said, and above all, be the loudest, most outspoken leader and advocate for anti-racism efforts at all levels of the CSU.

CSU serves 481,000 students and employs 53,000 staff and faculty. The university reports that 38% of employees and 60% of students are people of color.

Nanette Asimov and Vanessa Arredondo are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: nasimov@sfchronicle.com, vanessa.arredondo@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @NanetteAsimov, @v_anana
Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday endorsed Tony Gonzales, the GOP candidate running to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, also a Republican, in the 23rd Congressional District.

Its the latest in a series of endorsements from the Republican governor in the weeks leading up to Election Day. In the 23rd Congressional District  a perennial swing district stretching from San Antonio to El Paso  Gonzales is running against Democrat Gina Ortiz Jones, who is seeking the seat for a second time.

Tony knows what it means to serve others, and he will tirelessly defend Texas values in Congress, Abbott said in a news release. Tony will fight to secure more job opportunities for the people of his district, and he will work to improve higher education and strengthen our health care system.

The endorsement is one of several that have landed in the district in recent weeks. Jones was endorsed by former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democratic nominee for president, last week.

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Biden sang similar praises for Jones: A first-generation American raised by a single mom in San Antonio, I know shell fight every day to protect the opportunities that allowed her to grow up healthy, get a quality education and serve our country.

Gonzales was endorsed in the GOP primary by President Donald Trump.

I am honored to be endorsed by Governor Abbott, Gonzales said Wednesday. I signed his back the blue pledge to support our law enforcement, and I am proud to be endorsed by police groups in San Antonio and El Paso.

The race between Gonzales and Jones is expected to be one of Texas most competitive congressional elections this fall, and potentially one of Democrats best chances to flip a House seat that is now in Republican control. National groups on both sides of the aisle have already poured millions of dollars into advertisements in the district.

The nonpartisan Cook Political Report has deemed the contest lean Democratic. Jones came within 1,000 votes of upsetting Hurd in 2018.

Both candidates list their endorsements on their websites  Gonzales can be found here, and Jones here.
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- Behold the mighty European Union, second only to the U.S. in economic heft. But also witness what a minnow it is in world diplomacy. Is it any wonder the worlds hard-nosed autocrats and nationalists, practitioners of Realpolitik all, dont take the EU seriously, unless the subject is trade?

The ones laughing loudest right now are the presidents of Turkey and Belarus. Neighbors of the EU, each has been causing trouble. This week, Europe was supposed to impose sanctions against one of them, Belaruss Alexander Lukashenko, for his blatant manipulation of the countrys election in August and subsequent crackdown on protesters. Instead, Brussels did nothing. If that seems puzzling, ask the blocs third-smallest member state by population: Cyprus.

The island nation vetoed the sanctions, as any member state can because the EU still requires unanimity for all foreign policy decisions. This has been one factor, amid many, thats neutered European foreign policy over the years. China, for instance, has often been able to buy one or more small countries with lavish investment promises in return for their veto against EU censures over human rights.

But why would Cyprus block sanctions against Lukashenko? Is the government in Nicosia not outraged at this dictators brutal suppression of peaceful demonstrators, most of whom are women? Of course it is. But, as so often in EU affairs, Cyprus cares a lot more about another conflict: The rising tension with Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The ethnically Greek population of Cyprus has always had problems with Turkey, which invaded the island in 1974 and ultimately helped establish a rival Turkish republic in the territorys north thats recognized only by Ankara. Gas discoveries in the eastern Mediterranean have made these enmities more dangerous, because all adjoining powers are now tussling over maritime borders and drilling rights (see map).

Last month, with a characteristic lack of subtlety, Erdogan dispatched an exploration vessel escorted by military ships to the contested waters. This led to outcries from Greece, Cyprus and others. France even sent its own warship and two fighter jets as an unambiguous gesture.

Story continues

But Germany, which holds the EUs rotating presidency, and several other member states dont want to rush into additional sanctions against Erdogans government. They want to give negotiations a chance instead. Thats because the EU and Turkey have to talk about lots of conflicts simultaneously. These negotiations include the treatment of refugees, which Erdogan happily uses as geopolitical pawns. Turkey will be the main topic at the next EU summit.

Cyprus fears that Germany and the EU arent ready to be tough enough on Erdogan. So Nicosia grasped its only lever of power and is holding the Belarusian sanctions hostage until the EU also expands its measures against Turkey.

Its entirely understandable that different member states will have different foreign policy interests, often based on their geography, history and even (as in Cyprus) national identity. But this also used to be true in trade policy, where the interests, say, of French farmers and German carmakers arent remotely aligned. Nonetheless, a consensus eventually prevailed that Europe is stronger if it negotiates as one trading bloc, even if this means not every national interest gets equal priority.

So it should be possible for a similar consensus to take hold on foreign policy. After all, just as Cyprus can win one round this week, Poland or Lithuania could return the favor next time by blocking sanctions against Turkey unless Cyprus comes around on Belarus. France and Italy could veto each others interests in the name of Libya, where theyve been on opposing sides of the civil war. And various countries might like to block any initiative until the German government finally kills a controversial pipeline between Russia and Germany. As long as anybody can block everybody, all lose.

This insanity must stop. The solution, as the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, pleaded last week in her state of the union, is called qualified majority voting. The 27 members would impose sanctions or make declarations on human rights if 55% of member states representing at least 65% of the EUs population are in favor.

Majority voting wouldnt please every member state all the time. But its the only way to give the EU any chance of ever speaking with one voice in foreign affairs. And in a geopolitically strained world, Europe needs such a voice to be heard at all, as its finally realizing in its dealings with China. Ditching the unanimity requirement in European foreign policy is an idea whose time has come.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Andreas Kluth is a columnist for Bloomberg Opinion. He was previously editor in chief of Handelsblatt Global and a writer for the Economist. He's the author of "Hannibal and Me."

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion

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At some point this week, someone is going to say that members of Parliament are back at work  the idea being that when your elected representatives arent in Ottawa, theyre slacking off somewhere.

But the truth is that the most meaningful work that ordinary MPs do is when theyre back in their home ridings, dealing with citizens, and a new report out this week shows that this has become exponentially, intensely true in the era of COVID-19.

It is a report from the front lines of politics in a pandemic on what we didnt see while all the attention was on high-level briefings from political leaders and public health officers.

The Samara organization talked to 123 MPs, representing just under half the membership of the Commons, about what life was like for them while Parliament was in lockdown during much of this strange year. The responses came from MPs representing all parties, roughly similar to the breakdown of age, gender and political stripes in the Commons.

While the MPs were granted anonymity in the survey, the report directly quotes some of their descriptions of the dramatic increase in their workload when the pandemic hit. Some of the tales leap right off the page.

One MP talks about how the early days of the pandemic were consumed with getting constituents home to Canada from far-flung locations.

I was putting airfares for constituents on my credit card and making complex travel arrangements at all hours, the MP said, explaining how the new flood in constituency work happened in waves. Then it morphed into economic impacts for individuals and small business. By far, the number-one issue between MPs and their constituents has been economic aid for individuals, the survey showed, with aid for business as a close second.

The economic need that MPs were seeing was intense, far more so than the usual case work they do with their citizens. People were losing their businesses, their jobs, their lifes dreams, another MP wrote. The emotional intensity of the inquiries are so much higher that monitoring the mental health of my staff has been a new priority.

The MPs were doing most of this work from their homes, like many other Canadians, and feeling the pressure of personal and professional lives colliding. I do not work at home  I live at work, one MP said. The public has no idea how hard we are working and this adds to the fatigue.

Samara, which is a charity dedicated to improving democracy, did some digging into whether the extraordinary circumstances of the pandemic changed the rules of the political game, too.

The answer appears to be sort of or for a while. According to the survey, most MPs reported a high degree of cross-partisan co-operation in the early days of the pandemic, but all that were-in-this-together spirit faded after a couple of months.

Justin Trudeau, perhaps not surprisingly, was cited as one reason the truce didnt hold, but it wasnt the WE Charity controversy and the prime ministers involvement or the dramatic resignation of finance minister Bill Morneau According to the report, a small number of MPs said that Trudeaus daily news conferences outside Rideau Cottage allowed the Liberal government to hog all the attention.

One can probably assume, then, that Trudeaus scheduled national television appearance on Wednesday evening, following the throne speech, is not likely to revive the early days of pandemic peace among the parties.

Other MPs said that co-operation was made more difficult by the lack of in-person contact during the virtual sittings of the Commons in the spring. But that whole question, of whether Parliament should resume in person or online remains highly contentious.

Samara discovered a deep partisan divide on the question of whether Parliament should return virtually or in person  a very active issue now that two of the opposition leaders have tested positive for COVID-19 and are in isolation.

Conservatives have a markedly different opinion than MPs in all other parties about whether Parliament should be doing its business virtually or in person. When asked if most of Parliaments important business can be moved online, a full 96 per cent of Conservative MPs disagree, while a majority of MPs from all other parties agree, the Samara report states.

This explains why the shape of the fall sitting of the Parliament, which resumes on Wednesday, still isnt a settled issue.

But the Samara report also shows that the real work of MPs in this pandemic hasnt been in Parliament at any rate. As many Canadians have been discovering since March, the hardest work being done during COVID-19 is happening on the ground and in peoples homes, and the work of MPs is no exception.

Susan Delacourt is an Ottawa-based columnist covering national politics for the Star. Reach her via email: sdelacourt@thestar.ca or follow her on Twitter: @susandelacourt

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WEST HAVEN  A city woman was arrested in connection with an alleged threat against a police officer that was posted on Facebook, police said.

Kirsten Vega, 23, is charged with second-degree threatening, Sgt. Patrick Buturla said in a release.
Former National Security Adviser John Bolton reportedly tried to do his part during President Trump's impeachment hearings.

Bolton famously refused to testify during Trump's impeachment trial regarding the president's alleged quid pro quo with Ukraine, only confirming the deal months after the fact. But Bolton apparently did try to divulge some details from his book regarding Trump's Ukraine dealings  the White House just wouldn't let him, an official overseeing Bolton's book's prepublication review said in a Wednesday court filing.

Ellen Knight, a career federal official formerly overseeing the National Security Council's records, was tasked with reviewing Bolton's book and making sure it didn't contain classified information, The New York Times describes via the filing from Knight's lawyer. During that process, Bolton requested a speedier review of a part of his book regarding Trump and Ukraine so he could release it during the impeachment trial. Knight's lawyer said at that point, Bolton's memoir The Room Where it Happened didn't have any classified information and Knight was "prepared to clear the manuscript," but White House aides still denied his request.

Through her lawyer, Knight alleged that the "apolitical process" of prepublication review was "commandeered by political appointees for a seemingly political purpose." Bolton's book was the only time Knight had been asked to take several "unusual" steps within the review process, and she hadn't heard of predecessors having to do so either, her lawyer said.

The court filing comes a week after the Justice Department opened a criminal inquiry into Bolton's book to determine whether it shared classified information. The White House tried to shut down the publication of Bolton's book even after copies of it were already in the hands of journalists.

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


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Google on Tuesday took a step toward controlling spam voice calls on Android devices with a new addition to its phone app.

The Verified Calls feature will display a callers name, logo, reason for calling and a verification symbol indicating a business has been verified by Google.

Regular Call Experience (L) | Verified Call Experience (R)

This is done in a secure way  Google doesnt collect or store any personally identifiable information after verification, Google Product Manager Gal Vered explained in a company blog.

Google Phone, which will feature Verified Calls, comes preloaded on many Android phones. For those that dont have the app out of the box, the company announced the software will be available later this week as a download from the Google Play store.

The service will initially roll out in the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Spain and India, with more countries to follow.

Addressing a Significant Problem

Google is following a path that all carriers have to follow, said Liz Miller, vice president and a principal analyst Constellation Research.

These robocalls, these scam calls have become a significant problem, not only because theyre an invasion of privacy, but because theyre working, she told TechNewsWorld.

According to an FCC report, the median loss in 2019 for a consumer who fell for a phone scam was US$1,000.

At the carrier level, at the app level and at the device level, everyone is trying to figure out a way to combat this, Miller continued. I think Googles answer through this app fits into the mold of being part of the solution to this problem.

Bob ODonnell, founder and chief analyst with Technalysis Research, noted that Googles offering could be very useful. We all get spam calls from all kinds of places so more and more companies are trying to figure out ways to block them, he told TechNewsWorld.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

The one challenge is that the carriers are also trying to provide some of these services so theres a potential of overlap, but I think it makes more sense to provide it from the OS perspective, he continued.

The carriers dont have nearly as much information as Google, he added.

Efforts to Squash Spammers

Theres been a renewed interest in preventing scams and robocalls, which have exploded in the past few years, said Ross Rubin, the principal analyst with Reticle Research.

In March, for example, the FCC launched its STIR/SHAKEN initiative, which is supposed to be fully implemented in 2021. STIR/SHAKEN  Secure Telephone Identity Revisited (STIR) and Signature-based Handling of Asserted Information Using toKENs (SHAKEN)  takes aim at caller ID spoofing. Spoofing occurs when the caller ID number displayed on a phone isnt the one belonging to the caller.

With STIR/SHAKEN, calls traveling through phone networks will have their caller ID signed as legitimate by originating carriers and validated by other carriers before reaching consumers.

Google goes a step further than that by identifying the rationale for a call, Rubin told TechNewsWorld.

On the carrier side, T-Mobile has launched ScamShield, which gives its users control over a suite of protections against unwanted calls.

The T-Mobile approach is a classic filtering play, trying to block as many robocalls as possible, Rubin explained. Google is not only trying to validate the caller but the value of the call itself.

Apple, too, has joined the anti-scam party with its Silence Unkown Callers feature in iOS 13. When the option is enabled, all calls from unknown numbers are sent to voice mail automatically.

Privacy Concerns

Although Google isnt storing any personally identifiable information with Verified Calls, that doesnt mean Google isnt collecting data from the process.

What Google is telling businesses is if you register with us and tell us who youre calling and what the call is about, well forward that to the caller, explained Jack E. Gold, founder and principal analyst with J.Gold Associates.

The problem is calls have to be registered with Google to make that happen, he told TechNewsWorld. Do we trust Google to have that additional data about us?

The data isnt personal, but they still have your phone number, he continued. Its the same thing with web browsing. They dont retain any personal data with web browsing either, but they know what ads to serve you, dont they?

Google is saying its trying to help users of Android systems, which is probably true, he added. On the other hand, do I want Google to know that I have bank accounts with the Bank of America?

This is a double-edged sword, and raises all kinds of privacy concerns, he said.

Google doesnt do anything that doesnt benefit Google, Constellation Researchs Miller added.

Theres certainly data thats being collected and stored, its just falling outside the realm of personal identifying information, she said.

A Fee-Based Future?

Information gathered by Google during the verification process could also be used to gain a competitive advantage over rivals.

If Google can gain insights into the needs of the businesses doing these verifications, thats an opportunity to better tailor online advertising to those businesses, Rubin suggested.

Facebook is a very important marketing channel for a lot of small businesses, he continued. Google wants to be able to compete there. If it has a better sense of the products and services of a business, it can better tailor its online advertising offerings to that business.

Although Verified Calls is being launched as a free service, some experts believe it could be converted into a cash channel in the future.

A year from now, Google could go to companies and say, We increased your call pickups by X percent. Its time to start paying for this service, Gold speculated.

This is a great money-making opportunity for Google, Miller added. Its part of Google being part of the solution but also finding a nice revenue stream to help businesses get people to pick up the phone.

Technalysis Researchs ODonnell, though, maintained that getting businesses and consumers to use Verified Calls will produce revenue for Google without charging for the service.

Google wants to get people to use their services, he said. Using their services produces more data and information for them. More data and information can be turned into advertising revenue for them.
Mukesh Ranjan By

Express News Service

RANCHI: In a first of its kind in Jharkhand, state Education Minister Jagarnath Mahto on Wednesday handed over Alto cars to state toppers of Class 10th and 12th examinations.

On the result announcement day, Mahto had promised that he would gift cars to class 10 and 12 toppers.

The minister, who himself is a class 11 student of arts, also promised to adopt toppers from the next year so that they can complete their studies without any hurdle.

The programme was organized in Jharkhand Assembly building, where Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahto was present.

Today, I fulfilled the commitment made earlier and also promised to adopt the state toppers from next year so that they do not have to face any hurdle in completing their studies and excel in their lives, said the minister. Being a student of class 11, he might also be one among them next time, added the minister.

Mahto further said he has been gifting laptops to the toppers of his constituency for the last 15 years.

Earlier on Wednesday, the minister had gifted a motorbike to a class 10th topper, besides 340 bicycles to the students who scored more than 75 per cent in Bokaro, his Assembly constituency.

Manish Kumar Katiyar and Amit Kumar, who topped in class 10th and 12th this year, were handed over keys of Alto cars by the education minister. Both were overwhelmed and said that such gifts would encourage them to do better in their lives.

It is really a proud moment for us that such a grand programme has been organized for us which will prove to be an encouraging factor, not only for us but for the coming generations, said class 12th topper Amit Kumar.

Mahto, a matriculate, came into limelight last month by taking admission to Nawadih Devi Mahto Inter School in Bokaro, a school set up by him in 2006 after becoming MLA for the first time in 2005. According to Mahto, he decided to take admission in Inter-Arts only to remove the blot of being termed as

under-qualified education minister.

Notably, Jharkhand Cabinet has already approved a proposal to award commendation prize of Rs 1 lakh each to class-10 and 12 board examination toppers of JAC, CBSE and CISCE (Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations) boards in a bid to promote meritorious children to perform better in academics.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - An arrest warrant has been issued for a man accused of driving a pickup truck toward a group of people demonstrating against racism and police brutality in Virginia after he failed to show up for his trial a second time.

Virginia Beach General District Court Judge Sandra Menago issued the warrant on Tuesday for Emanuel Manny Wilder, The Virginian-Pilot reported.

The judge also added another failure to appear charge to the five misdemeanour counts Wilder is facing, which includes reckless driving, abusive language, disturbing the peace, disorderly conduct and failure to appear.

Wilder, 20, is accused of driving toward the protesters near the Oceanfront boardwalk area in Virginia Beach on May 31 as they protested against the police custody death of George Floyd earlier that month in Minneapolis, news outlets reported at the time.

It was not immediately clear if Wilder had an attorney who could comment.

A local Black Lives Matter chapter, which organized the march, posted videos of the incident on social media and called for police to arrest the driver, news outlets said. Wilder was then charged in late June and released pending trial. There were no reports of any injuries.

A warrant was issued for Wilders arrest after he missed a court appearance in July but it was withdrawn when he arrived at the court an hour later, the newspaper reported. Another judge added a failure to appear charge after Wilders late appearance in July and rescheduled his trial for September, The Virginian-Pilot reported.
{child_flags:featured}Former Ocean Casino executive files whistleblower suit

{child_byline}DAVID DANZIS

Staff Writer

{/child_byline}

ATLANTIC CITY  The former general counsel of Ocean Casino Resort filed a lawsuit Tuesday in state Superior Court claiming she was unjustly fired after raising concerns over a falsified document submitted to state gaming regulators.

Loretta Pickus, former senior vice president and general counsel for Ocean, alleged she faced retaliation and discrimination for raising concerns about factual discrepancies in a report by the casino audit committees report submitted to the state Division of Gaming Enforcement earlier this year.

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Ocean Casino Resort, Luxor Capital Group, as well as Cory Morowitz and Fred DeVesa  two members of the casinos Audit Committee  are named as defendants in the lawsuit. Ocean declined to comment on the lawsuit. Luxor, a New York City-based hedge fund, has yet to respond to a request for comment.
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Ive been known to smile a lot. When I was a little girl, I would win my schools Sunshine Award every year for having the brightest smile. To this day, my family calls me Sunshine more than they call me Leah. I dont get Sunshine Awards anymore, but I still usually have a bright smile on my face. In fact, if youve seen me any time in the past year, I probably smiled at you. But behind my smile and behind my Im fine, thank you for the past year, there has been a broken heart.

It didnt get broken all at once. It was kind of gradual. It was a bold move I thought I made for the Lord that didnt turn out at all like I expected. It was a concerning doctors report about one of my nearest and dearest loved ones. It was feelings of isolation and not belonging. It was fatigue. It was a joyful expectation that turned into a bitter sorrow. It was health issues. Disappointment after disappointment, blow after blow. And when it all added up, the result was brokenness. I felt broken.

How did I get here? I wondered. I had not tried to rebel against God. In fact, I was trying to live for Him fully. I kept trying to figure out what was happening to me. Did I do something wrong? If not, why is there so much brokenness in my life?What could possibly be the explanation for all of this? Despite feeling like I wanted to hit the PAUSE button on my life and just stay in bed some days, I resolved to keep putting one foot in front of the other and not give up. So I kept going, and I kept smiling. But deep down, in my quiet moments, I still had questions about the darkness I had walked through. Then one day, as I was driving home, I heard something.

I heard a sermon on YouTube in which the preacher explained the following:

Theres no word for tragedy in the ancient Hebrew language (which is the original language of the Old Testament). Why? Because it was assumed that if God had not redeemed the pain of any given situation, it only meant that He was not finished working yet. In other words, if it wasnt good yet, God wasnt finished yet. I turned off the YouTube video and tears began to stream down my face. In my heart, I could sense God telling me

Leah, I know that the circumstances Ive allowed into your life have caused you pain and discomfort. I dont like to see you hurting. I knew you wouldnt understand, and I knew you would question My love, but I had to let you walk through this season BECAUSE I love you. I had to let you see some of the flaws in your perception of Me and some of the areas where your faith in Me needed to be strengthened. I know that as you examine your life right now, several areas dont look very good to you. But Im asking you to keep pressing in and keep pressing through, because Im not finished working yet.

Do you have any unredeemed hurt or darkness or ugliness in your life right now? If you are a child of God, Hes not finished working yet. It wouldnt be fair to judge artists, authors, playwrights, or movie directors work before they were finished. Lets extend the same courtesy to our heavenly Father and trust that if He hasnt redeemed the hurt yet, Hes not finished yet. His redemption may not come in the way or timing we think it should, but it will be good. And its true that some hurts may not be fully redeemed until we leave earth and fully enter the presence of God. But I believe God will give us foretastes of His sweet redemption in the here and now. Lets briefly take a look at a few people who found themselves in ugly situations that turned out beautifully when God finished His work.

Ruth & Naomi

Ruth lost her husband in a time when women had few rights and almost wholly relied on men for their provision and safety. Her mother-in-law, Naomi, had lost her husband, too. After both her sons died as well, Naomi decided to go back to her hometown, Bethlehem. Instead of Ruth staying in her hometown and seeking to remarry there, she resolved to go with Naomi. They went back to Bethlehem alone, as two widows.

The situation looked bad.

But God wasnt finished yet

Ruth went on to marry a kinsman-redeemer of Naomis family, Boaz, and they had a son named Obed. The people praised God for how He redeemed Naomis pain, and how she gained a son through Ruth and Boaz. Obed would become the father of Jesse, who would become the father of King David.

If we judged Gods work based on Ruth 1:22, when Naomi and Ruth went to Bethlehem as widows, our assessment would have been flawed, because He wasnt finished working yet.

Hannah

Hannah was barren in a time when bearing children was viewed as womens chief contribution. To add insult to injury, her husbands other wife (yeah, that was a thing) would tease and provoke Hannah, because she had no trouble bearing children. Hannah cried so many tears.

The situation looked bad.

But God wasnt finished yet

In time and after fervent prayer, God blessed Hannah with a son named Samuel. Samuel would go on to become a great prophet of the Lord for many years.

If we judged Gods work based on 1 Samuel 1:2, when Hannah was barren and tormented, our view would have been incomplete, because He wasnt finished working yet.

Jesus

After three years of a public ministry full of miracles and teachings, Jesus was falsely accused, arrested, beaten, and sentenced to death by crucifixion. Soon thereafter, He did hang on a cross, and He did die. His followers had believed that He was God, but how could God die? Most of them fled in fear.

The situation looked bad.

But hallelujah, God wasnt finished yet!!!

When a few of Jesus followers went to visit his tomb three days later, He was not there! HE WAS RISEN!!! If we judged Gods work based on Friday, when Jesus died, our view would be incomplete, because He wasnt finished working yet. Fridays events appeared hopeless. But Sundays event brought hope to the entire world.

My friend, these are not stories from a storybook. We read about peoples lives in the Bible with chapters and verses, but they lived their lives in real time. These are real peoples testimonies of how God came through for them. Whatever the unredeemed hurts and pains and dark places are in your life, hand them over to God. It may still hurt, but keep moving forward. If its not good yet, Hes. Not. Finished. Yet.
TRAVERSE CITY, MI  As Michigan wine lovers know, nearly every turn down a winding road on Old Mission and the Leelanau peninsulas brings you to picturesque spots where you can savor a glass of Riesling, Pinot or even a splash of bubbly.

But if your adventures lean toward the urban, Left Foot Charley winery in the heart of Traverse City has created some unique new tasting adventures. Theyre designed to be a bit more private. Theyre offered in a historic setting and have a yummy twist for foodies.

For years, LFC has made its home on the edge of Yellow Drive in the sprawling Village at Grand Traverse Commons complex. Their main tasting room and outdoor patio are a staple in this mixed development that has been created at the site of the old Traverse City State Hospital. It rubs shoulders with upscale eateries, a bevy of retail shops, coffee stops, a bakery and more  all set against the backdrop of condos and apartments that now fill the Victorian Italianate buildings.

The areas history helped make way for LFCs new expansion. In addition to its main space, the winery has also been using a smaller building tucked into the hillside just a short walk away as a spot to store and age its wine in French oak barrels. That space used to be the root cellar when the former psychiatric hospital housed hundreds of patients and workers, functioning more like a small city that grew its own produce.

Now, this Barrel Room  with wooden barrels still lining the stone walls  and its outdoor patio are the newest tasting areas for LFC. The winery has designed three separate experiences wine lovers can enjoy in this quieter, more intimate setting.

The Barrel Room at Left Foot Charley. Photo by Alaina Leech with Think Fresh Consulting

#1 Bottles and Burrata

When: Thursday through Saturday, 5-7 p.m.

What: Reserve your spot for this little evening experience that features bottles of reserve wines or by-the-glass pours. Wine is served alongside a fresh mozzarella burrata and a seasonal small plate of goodies put together by nearby Trattoria Stella.

Cost: Depends on your wine order.

#2 Gold Medal Experience

When: Thursday through Saturday, at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

What: Left Foot Charleys winemaker, Bryan Ulbrich, will select some of LFCs most celebrated wines for this upscale 90-minute tasting experience. Your server will accompany each pour with some history of the unique varietals grown for these wines in Northern Michigan. Food from one of the nearby village restaurants will be paired with these pours.

Cost: $25 per person

#3 Best in Class

What: This two-hour tasting experience is designed for groups of 10 people or fewer. The emphasis here is on food and wine pairings. Each sitting will feature wines expertly paired with small plates created by nearby James Perry Catering.

Cost: $55 per person

To reserve a spot for any of these experiences, check LFCs website here.

The Barrel Room can also be reserved for private events, including small happy hours, tastings or meetings with 25 people or fewer.

The patio outside the Barrel Room at Left Foot Charley. Photo courtesy of Alaina Leech with Think Fresh Consulting

EXPANDING JUST STEPS AWAY

Using the circa-1900 Barrel Room to offer some different types of wine tastings seemed like a natural fit, especially after the pandemic created the need for social distancing and more space to accommodate guests, said Meridith Lauzon, the winerys operations manager. The new indoor and outdoor spaces opened in August.

People have loved it, she said. They are excited to try something new  especially in a special setting like Grand Traverse Commons. You get to soak it all in.

As Michigans earlier pandemic stay-home orders loosened and lifted, more people began traveling into Northern Michigan. For many, wineries were among their first stops. New guidelines are in place for safety and distancing across the area, but LFC wants to make sure theres a place ready for people who want to taste their wines. We are really excited to help people kick off their re-entry, Lauzon said.

And using food pairings from nearby restaurants and catering chefs is a win-win for the local businesses.

Tip: If you are reserving a spot for Bottles and Burrata, dont skip this lovely cheese dish from Stellas fine dining team. When you cut into the fresh mozzarella ball, a creamy inside layer spills out and mingles with a little homemade tomato sauce  perfect for dipping with the rustic bread. And it pairs so nicely with the wine.

A lot of our wines are on the drier side and more structured. That acidity goes really well with the creaminess of the burrata, Lauzon said, noting the delicious dish was the staffs hands-down favorite when deciding what to offer with the LFC wines.

The burrata, made by Trattoria Stella and served at Left Foot Charley's Barrel Room. Photo courtesy of Alaina Leech with Think Fresh Consulting.

PAMPERED VINEYARDS

Left Foot Charley crafts about 5,000 cases of wine each year, and this years harvest is looking pretty nice so far, owner Ulbrich said, with the same inherent caution all Northern Michigan winemakers use when uttering these words. Weve had a really good summer, he said, adding he is looking forward to seeing what tastes come out of the vineyards this fall, and how that will direct the upcoming wines.

Ulbrich started operations about 16 years ago, and now works with nearly 20 different growers across the region. They grow the wine grapes on mostly small plots, and exclusively for LFC. So far, its been a winning combination: The growers focus on bringing to harvest the very best wine grapes they can  12 varieties in all  and Ulbrichs team decides how best to express them in their different wines.

Because his 40 acres of vineyards are tended by so many different growers, Ulbrich knows that his fruit is getting lots of attention. The grapes might even be a bit pampered, and he reaps the benefits of creating boutique-style wines grown in specific micro-climates.

Strong sellers have been the Blaufrankisch, Pinot and Kerner  the latter a light German-style wine that not many people here are making.

LFCs six hard ciders have also been popular. Its Cinnamon Girl is a big favorite, but other dry and more complex ciders are finding their own fan base. Ulbrich says this expanding market is being pushed by a younger, more experimental crowd.

To see a complete list of Left Foot Charleys wines and ciders, check here.

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WINSTED  NCCC will host a virtual talk by Dr. Susan Herbst, former University of Connecticut president, award winning author, and political educator at 7 p.m. Sept. 24. The title of her talk is Presidential Elections 2020 - A View from Political Science. The event is free and open to the public.

Herbst served as the president of UConn from 2010 to 2019. Prior to that, she served in several top administrative capacities across the country including Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer of the University System of Georgia, Provost and Executive Vice President at The University at Albany (SUNY), and the Dean of College of Liberal Arts at Temple University in Pennsylvania.

Born in New York City and raised in Peekskill, N.Y., Herbst received her B.A. in Political Science from Duke University in 1984 and her Ph.D. in Communication Theory and Research from the University of Southern Californias Annenberg School for Communication in 1989. Herbst joined Northwestern University in Illinois as an assistant professor in 1989 and remained there until 2003, serving in many capacities including Professor of Political Science and Chair of the Department.

Dr. Herbst is a scholar of public opinion, media, and American politics, and is the author of four books and many articles. Her book Rude Democracy: Civility and Incivility in American Politics was awarded the Doris Graber Award from the American Political Science Association. Herbst currently teaches in the political science department at UCONN, Stamford, and co-edits the University of Chicago Press series in American Politics.

The appearance by Dr. Herbst is part of NCCCs student Welcome Week, hosted by the Student Activities Department. Welcome Week invites new and returning students to be informed and engaged in campus activities, including campus clubs and cultural events. This event is sponsored by the NCCC Cultural Planning Committee, which receives generous funding from The Northwestern Community College Foundation.

To attend the event, go to www.nwcc.edu/welcome-week and click on the link to join the virtual meeting at the scheduled time. For more information please contact Student Activities Director Andrew Wetmore at awetmore@nwcc.edu.

Rodriquez wins Independent endorsement

TORRINGTON  Democrat Noel Rodriquez, candidate for state representative for the 63rd legislative district, was recently given the endorsement from the Independent Party of Connecticut.

Many of the voters in the 63rd House District are neither registered Republicans or Democrats. Most voters identify as unaffiliated, Rodriquez said in a statement. The problems facing our community are not Republican or Democrat problems. It is time the solutions to our community echo what the majority of our residents want.

Rodriquez said he is amazed by the support he receives from voters from Torrington, Winsted, Colebrook and Goshen. People appreciate a candidate willing to have difficult conversations. They are excited to have an Independent voice in Hartford, he said.

Book-a-Children's Librarian with OWL

LITCHFIELD  The Oliver Wolcott Libary is offering Book-a-Children's-Librarian. The services is available to preschools, daycares, friend groups, and extended families, who can choose a theme and a time that works for your group and the librarian will design a storytime. Each 30 minute Zoom session will include introductions, songs, several books, and a puppet or two.

Email Patricia Moore at pmoore@owlibrary.org with Book My Storytime as the subject. There is a limit of one session per week.

OWL Friendly Bibliotherapy Program available

LITCHFIELD  The Oliver Wolcott Librarys Friendly Bibliotherapy Program with Dr. Caroline Ugurlu starts Oct. 4. Registration is required.

MindUP is an organization that empowers children through mindful practice based in neuroscience; learn more at mindup.org.

The intention of this program is to help us find the space within ourselves to grow and nurture strength and beauty from within using words and books, according to a statement. Each week, you will receive an email from Dr. Ugurlu that includes links to articles and/or videos that connect to our topic of the week, an aligned activity, and a curated therapeutic book list.

Week 1: How Our Brains Work Week 2: Mindful Awareness Week 3: Mindful Listening Week 4: Expressing Gratitude; ; Week 5: A Zoom Sharing Session, 7 p.m. Nov. 3. Visit owllibrary.org to sign up.

Library providing literacy kits

LITCHFIELD  Beginning Oct. 4, the Oliver Wolcott Library is offering literacy kids for parents and caregivers of children age 3-7.

Parents are childrens first and most important teachers, and reading is a childs first and most important subject. The goal of this program is to provide essential information for you, while at the same time providing you the tools that you need to help your child understand the letter/sound (grapheme/phoneme) relationship, an essential step for reading acquisition for all readers. This program will provide all the information that you need. When you register you will receive a free kit that includes hands-on multisensory activities to do at home. Each week you will receive an email to guide you in the process.

Registration is required to receive a kit. Questions? Email Caroline Ugurlu (aka Dr. Caroline) at cugurlu@owlibrary.org or go to owllibrary.org.
ROME - After years of feuding and failure, the European Union on Wednesday proposed a migration system overhaul that would strive to speed up deportations and allow asylum seekers to be more evenly relocated across the bloc.

Five years after a historic wave of refugees hit Europe, the continent is trying with its latest plan to help such front-line Mediterranean countries as Greece and Italy, which have carried a disproportionate burden of the influx under current E.U. rules.

But the proposal nods at the political divisions within the bloc and is full of concessions to hard-line nations that have resisted accepting migrants, even with flows down more than tenfold from that peak.

"We all have to step up," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said as she unveiled the package in Brussels. "It is now time to rise to the challenge to manage migration jointly."

The proposal, which was drawn up by the European Commission, the E.U.'s bureaucratic arm, still must be approved by the leaders of the 27 E.U. member nations, who routinely demand changes to such plans.

Recent European history is full of dead-on-arrival migration plans, but some analysts said Wednesday that this one comes at a time of slightly increased cooperation. Far-right parties, though still relevant, have lost some momentum in recent years. Data from Germany, which opened its doors widely and controversially in 2015, paints an encouraging picture of how refugees can integrate.

Leaders are also operating with a fresh reminder of Europe's grave problems. A fire earlier this month razed the continent's largest, most notorious camp for asylum seekers, on the Greek island of Lesbos. About 10,000 people from the destroyed Moria camp now live in a hastily built tent camp on the island.

"In a way, it's a key moment. If this migration pact doesn't work, it's the last roll of the dice," said Andrew Geddes, director of the Migration Policy Center at the European University Institute in Florence. "Europe will have tried and tried again."

German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer, who has been critical of Chancellor Angela Merkel's open-door refugee policy in the past, described the plan as a "fresh start" and called on other European countries to do their bit.

"There is currently no functioning European migration policy," he said. "The events in Moria recently made this clear to us."

This plan differs from an earlier, failed European attempt - drawn up in the aftermath of the 2015 crisis - that called for countries to host asylum seekers based on a quota system. In this instance, countries can still volunteer to host people.

But they also have other, far different, options. Notably, they can opt to sponsor the deportation of rejected asylum seekers, essentially taking responsibility for shepherding the onerous process. If a sponsor country is unable to return the migrant, it would then have to host him or her.

The option could be more appealing to countries such as Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Austria, which revolted against the quota idea and are traditionally the least welcoming to migrants.

But advocates for migrants' rights, as well as some politicians, accused the E.U. of twisting its values by offering deportation as an alternative to hosting asylum seekers. Guy Verhofstadt, a Belgian member of the European Parliament, said on Twitter that the E.U. could not afford to base its policies on "extremism" in Hungary and Poland.

Judith Sunderland, acting deputy director of the Europe and Central Asia division at Human Rights Watch, said that entrusting countries like Hungary to care for would-be deportees was like "asking the school bully to walk the kid home."

"It's this lowest-common-denominator approach, satisfying everybody at least a little bit," Sunderland said of the plan.

A spokesman for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban was noncommittal in his response to the plan on Wednesday, saying in a statement that "we should form alliances with countries of origin, so that they are able to provide proper living standards and ensure that their people do not have to leave their homelands," a suggestion that echoes in the proposal.

"Hungary does not support obligatory distribution," wrote the spokesman, Zoltan Kovacs, stopping short of endorsing the plan.

European Commission leaders said deportations were another way to ensure that the broader migration system was running smoothly, without bottlenecks.

The heightened focus on deportations is a response to changes in who has been arriving. Whereas in earlier years many were fleeing war-torn Syria - and almost universally earning protection in Europe - a growing number now are deemed economic migrants, not eligible for legal status. In one of the documents released Wednesday, the European Commission noted that the share of migrants coming from countries with low recognition rates for legal protection has risen from 13 percent in 2015 to 55 percent in 2018.

Groups that deal with migrants expressed concern Wednesday that some of Europe's proposals, like an attempt to fast-track deportations, could lead to increased detention, rights abuses and the mistaken return of at-risk people.

The plan calls for fast-track border procedures in which people with "low chances" for asylum are rapidly screened.

"They will have their return decision very quickly, and they will be returned," European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson. "I think this will have people think twice before paying a lot of money to smugglers and before risking their lives going into these dangerous boats."

Europe has struggled to carry out deportations, despite numerous pledges to improve numbers. Only about one-third of people who are given deportation orders are actually sent to their home countries. Countries in the Middle East and Africa, from where most migrants to Europe originate, have been reluctant to accept returns. In some cases, their economies rely on remittances from workers in wealthier countries. Countries also feel that Europe has not done enough to offer legal pathways for their citizens to come on student or work visas.

Hanne Beirens, director of the Migration Policy Institute Europe in Brussels, said it was a "blemish" on Europe that the continent has had such a hard time overhauling its migration system, even as the level of arrivals has become far more manageable. Even now, humanitarian rescue boats in the Mediterranean are often stuck for days as countries squabble over whether to accept the boat at port - and what to do with the migrants who arrive.

"We can't be seen as scrambling and not knowing what to do when even a small boat arrives," Beirens said. "If you look at the numbers now, they are manageable. This is something the E.U. should be able to manage. But because of the deep distrust of member states to make even the slightest move that could be seen as weakness, we have a very stalled process."

- - -

The Washington Post's Loveday Morris in Berlin contributed to this report.
SAN FRANCISCO - California State University trustees named Dr. Joseph I. Castro on Wednesday as the new chancellor of the CSU system, making him the first Mexican American and native Californian to lead the nations largest four-year public university system.

A seasoned university administrator, Castro, 53, has been president of CSU Fresno since 2013. Prior to that post, he spent more than two decades in a variety of leadership positions at University of California campuses, including as a professor of family medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, and vice chancellor of student academic affairs there.

A grandson of Mexican immigrants, Castro will lead the 23-campus system where Latino students are the largest ethnic group at 43% followed by 22% white students, 16% Asian and 4% Black.

Raised by a single mother, Castro graduated from UC Berkeley with a bachelors degree in political science in 1988, and earned his masters in public policy there two years later. He received a doctorate in higher education from Stanford University in 1998.

Castro thanked outgoing CSU President Timothy White for his mentorship and the board for its confidence in him as he takes over the system of 482,000 students and 53,000 staff and faculty.

Im excited and honoured to be the first California native and first Mexican American to serve as a chancellor of the California State University, he said. His voice quivered with emotion as he thanked his mother and his relatives, some of whom he said were watching a livestream of the CSU trustees meeting. To his family he said, I love you all.

White held the post since 2012 and had announced he would retire in June but delayed stepping down to help steer the system through the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic.

Castro will begin his new job in January, with an annual salary of $625,000, an increase from his predecessors salary of $477,771. The job also comes with a $7,917 monthly housing allowance and a $1,000 monthly auto allowance.

Lillian Kimbell, chairwoman of the board of trustees, called Castro the very embodiment of the CSU mission and a passionate and effective advocate for students, the campus and the CSU system.

He is a leader who inspires greatness in his students, his faculty and staff, she said during the meeting. Hes bold yet measured and collaborative, courageous and a proven innovator  but uncompromising in his core values.

For the first time in California history, the leaders of its two largest public higher education systems are people of colour. In July, Michael Drake became the first Black leader of the University of California system in its 150-year history.

Drake replaced Janet Napolitano in overseeing the sprawling, 280,000-student system that is dealing with issues of accessibility for Blacks and other minorities, along with slashed budgets and upended campus life because of the pandemic.

Castro is taking on CSUs highest position at a time of historic disruption, with most classes online due to the coronavirus, widespread unemployment in the state and wildfires that have disrupted the lives of many California residents.

Castro said his top priority in the new job will be to continue CSUs Graduation 2025 initiative, a focus of Whites tenure, to increase four-year graduation rates and close equity gaps.

We have many first-generation college students. And its vitally important that we serve them here and throughout the state as effectively as possible, so that would be the highest priority. And to do so safely during this pandemic is critically important, Castro said during a news briefing later in the day.

Castro said his great grandparents and grandfather emigrated to California about 100 years ago to work on the railroad and on land in the agricultural San Joaquin Valley.

Like the majority of students that we serve at CSU, I was the first in my family to attend and graduate from a university, Castro said at the meeting. Thats a gift that Ive been paying back, ever since. And I intend to continue paying that gift back over time as chancellor of the CSU.
Vegans are up in arms over a sign reading 'fish are food, not friends' at a local market.

The neon sign at Sydney's Paddington Markets depicted three fish swimming towards a fishing hook with the slogan emblazoned beside it.

The man who posted the image online said the sign was 'awful' and that it flew in the face of the 'sealife not seafood' motto.

Vegans slammed Sydney's Paddington Markets after a sign saying 'fish are food, not friends' was pictured inside the building and posted online (pictured)

A large number of other vegans echoed the man's sentiments.

'This is disgusting. Would be such a shame if someone came along and smashed the sign,' one wrote on social media, Yahoo News reported.

'Anything to stay afloat. When these industries feel threatened, they try so hard to stay relevant,' another added.

Plant eaters appeared to take exception to the sign, which was seemingly a play on a popular vegan term, 'friends not food'.

The sign was located in the main hall of the market so the man said he couldn't attribute it to any one business.
High school students in several cities on the Greek mainland and islands began occupying schools last week to protest the unsafe return to classrooms.

Among the earliest schools occupied were in the cities of Karditsa and Agrinio. According to the director of secondary education in Karditsa, last Wednesday four of the five General Lyceums in the city, were occupied. The two Vocational Lyceum (EPAL) schools in Karditsa are also occupied by students.

On Monday, dozens more schools nationally joined the protests; by Tuesday, more than 100 schools were being occupied nationally.

Despite the resurgence of the virus in Greece this summerfueled by the homicidal decision to let the tourist season proceedPrime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis right-wing New Democracy government sent teachers and pupils back to classrooms on September 14. Over 557,516 high school students and 64,000 permanent secondary school teachers, a large part of Greeces 10 million population, are in danger. The return to school has proceeded unopposed by the trade unions and the main opposition party, Syriza-Progressive Alliance.

A banner on a school fence with some of the demands of the occupying students. It reads: No more than 15 students per class, Give money to education, We are not expendable! (Credit: Pantelis Paspals/Facebook)

Within one week, this disastrous policy has let COVID-19 rip through the school system, leading to the closure of at least 59 schools. To suspend the operation of a school, at least three cases of coronavirusof people not directly related to each othermust be identified.

This is contributing to a surge in coronavirus cases nationally, with 453 new coronavirus cases announced Monday and six deaths. On Tuesday, 346 new cases were recorded (210 of them in the most populated region, Attica) and 8 deaths. Seventy-seven patients are intubated. This brought total cases to 15,928 and deaths to 352.

The demands of students occupying high schools include limiting classroom groups to at most 15 students; for immediately hiring more teachers to fill the gaps; that permanent cleaning staff be hired; and that cameras not be installed in schools for e-learning, as proposed by the government. At one school a banner put up by students read: No more than 15 students per class, Give money to education, We are not expendable!

The government is letting teaching proceed based on maximum class sizes of 25 for primary schools and the last class of secondary school. For other secondary school classes, the maximum size is 27. These numbers are routinely breached. Efimerida Ton Syntakton reported earlier this month that the Education Ministrys own figures showed 52 percent of all primary and secondary school students are in classes of over 21 pupils. Classes of 30 and 31 were also reported.

It added that 74 percent of all students (1 million out of 1.35 million) are in classes with more than 18 students; 52 percent (700,000 students) are in classes with more than 21 students.

This week, students in more than 40 schools in Thessaloniki, Greeces second largest city, occupied their classrooms. They were joined by students at schools in Serres and Sidirokastro with gymnasiums pupils joining at N. Petritsi and Lefkonas after a call was made online. ERT reported that junior high students joined their older schoolmates at the Sidirokastro Lyceum. Juniors at N. Petritsi and Lefkonas also joined the protests, reported Protothema. Throughout the EPAL system and in most of western Thessalonikis gymnasiums and lyceums, class sizes range from 25 to 27.

Schools are occupied in Volos, Nea Ionia, Agrinio, Kavala and Achaia. In the Achaia area, 39 schools were under occupation Monday, as students marched through the capital, Patra.

In the Ilia region of Western Greece, three schools occupied on Monday were soon joined by more with 13 occupied Tuesday morning in the capital, Pyrgos, and at least four other areas.

Occupations broke out in dozens of schools in Crete, Greeces largest island. Occupations are underway in schools in the capital, Heraklion, with 14 schools affected as of Tuesday, and in schools in Chania and Rethymno. In Chania at least nine schools were hit, including every year group at two schools, the General Lyceum and the High School.

The independent news site Press Project reported that the dire state of education in Thessaloniki has intensified the protests. Hundreds of students there must study in school basements in unventilated rooms.

In the High School of Kordelio, located alongside a primary school, students are being forced to study in the school yard, as two rooms in the schools basement are deemed unsuitable. At EPAL Stavroupolis, 1,200 students in overcrowded classes must sit together in the courtyard.

At another school, EPAL Ampelokipi, there is just one cleaner employed for the entire school in the middle of a pandemic.

School students are not only crammed into classrooms upon arrival, but also have to travel long distances, sometimes by busgiving the virus more opportunities to spread. Children unable to enrol at the EPAL Evosmos school were sent to Kordelio by bus.

Press Project reported, In Diavata, regardless of whether students go to a vocational high school (EPAL) or a general high school (GEL), they have to wake up two hours in advance and cram themselves like sardines on the bus alongside workers who at that time are travelling to work in local factories. This is because the closest schools are one or two villages away from Diviata.

Some are also protesting the mandatory use of masks. While there have been protests, in Greece as elsewhere, of a small, disoriented section of the population opposed to masks, students are mainly opposing them on the basis that wearing a maskin and of itselfis not enough to protect them in overcrowded, dilapidated, unventilated schools.

The Tovima newspaper cited a second year high school student involved in an occupation who said, We believe the use of masks does not have the desired effect if appropriate infrastructure and measures are not in place.

Moreover, the free masks provided by the state are of poor quality, forcing parents to buy masks for their children. To wear what were dubbed parachute masks, children have to cut holes for their eyes through the masks. Greek Deputy Health Minister Vassilis Kontozamanis said a resulting supply of 500,000 unusable masks the state bought at taxpayer expense arose from a misunderstanding between the government and the contractor.

The government is responding to the occupations with repression. On Monday, juvenile prosecutor Dimitra Tsiardakli filed an order for police to prevent the disruption of public services by targeting occupied schools in Thessaloniki prefecture.

The order was sent to Thessalonikis General Police Directorate and to local police stations. In order to keep teachers and parents from backing the protests, police were also authorized to apply the same penalties to them as to students.

Early Tuesday, a motorcycle police unit arrested 12 pupils at a school in Karatsini in the Piraeus areas of Attica, near Athens. The order for the arrest reportedly came from central police headquarters. The children were only released after their parents were called to the police station.

Yesterday, Efimerida Ton Syntakton reported that the arrests in Piraeus had led to strong reactions, as a similar event took place in Crete: there were complaints that uniformed officers demanded school principals in Heraklion hand over the names of students taking part in school occupations.

These nationwide protests in Greece are unfolding amid rising anger internationally among youth and workers at the back-to-school drive organised by capitalist governments. There is explosive opposition in every country that is waiting to erupt. The necessary step forward for students, educators and parents in Greece and beyond is to form independent organisations of struggle, joining the global network of Educator Rank-and-File Safety Committees that have emerged in the United States, Germany, the UK and Australia.
The Bar Council of Delhi (BCD) has asked activist-lawyer Prashant Bhushan to appear before it on October 23 following his conviction by the Supreme Court, which imposed a token fine of Re 1 on him, in a contempt case.

The BCD move has come in pursuance of the resolution of September 6 of the apex bar body, the Bar Council of India (BCI), asking its Delhi chapter to take a legally-mandated decision in this matter keeping in mind the conviction of Bhushan.

BCD has sought Bhushans response on as to why proceedings should not be initiated to revoke his enrolment as a lawyer in view of the conviction for his alleged contemptuous tweets against judiciary. Bhushan, who has to appear either personally or through video conferencing on October 23, has to respond to the Council within 15-days of receiving the notice.

A Bar Council of a state grants licence to a person to practice as a lawyer and has wide powers such as suspending or taking away the right of its members in certain situations to practice under the Advocates Act.

You are required to appear in person or through authorized advocate on your behalf on October 23 at 4.00 P.M. in the office of the Council... for personal hearing. You may appear physically or through virtual conferencing as suited to you, the BCD said in the notice.

It further said, you are also required to send your response to the Council within 15 days of the receipt of this letter as to why proceedings under section 24A (Disqualification for enrolment) and section 35 of the Advocates Act be not initiated against you in view of your tweets in question and conviction under Suo motu Contempt Petition by the Supreme Court of India. The BCD took the decision in a resolution passed on September 18.

Bhushan acknowledged receiving the notice on Twitter this morning.

It said that in case he does not choose to appear before the Council on the date fixed, the proceedings shall be taken ex-parte. A bench headed by Justice Aruna Mishra (since retired) had convicted him for his two tweets against the judiciary and imposed a fine of Re 1 on him.

As a punishment he was directed to deposit the fine with the Supreme Court registry by September 15, failing which he would have to undergo three-month jail term and debarment from law practice for three years.

Bhushan on September 14 paid the fine imposed upon him, even though he said he would file a review petition before the apex court against the verdict.

The apex bar body had said it deliberated upon the the apex court judgment in its general council meeting held on September 3 and held that the tweets and statements made by Bhushan and the SC judgment need thorough study and examination in the light of the statutory duties, powers and functions conferred on it under the Advocates Act and the rules framed thereunder.
Greg LeMond, a former professional cyclist that won the Tour de France three times, is jumping on the e-bike bandwagon. Today, his personal company  simply called LeMond  has launched two pedal-assist bicycles built almost entirely from carbon fiber. The Daily has a traditional double diamond design, while the Netherlands-inspired Dutch has a low-step frame and swept-back handlebars. Both have carbon fiber frames, seat posts and, unusually, barstems. It's painted the same color as the other carbon fiber components, giving the bikes a uniquely blocky look upfront.

LeMond Daily LeMond Daily

Both models are powered by a 250W Mahle ebikemotion X35 motor that can deliver up to 40Nm of torque. Theyll have an assisted top speed of 20MPH (26KMH), though you might be able to go a little faster if you leverage the traditional gears on the back. The Dutch and Daily will ship with a 250W battery in the downtube that should manage up to 50 miles on a single charge. Itll need to be topped up if you want to take advantage of the lights that have been cleverly integrated in the handlebars and seatstay. If you need more juice, LeMond has confirmed that both bikes will be compatible with a 250W add-on battery that attaches to the frame.

LeMond Dutch LeMond Dutch

You can order the Dutch and Daily today for $4,500 from LeMonds website. The Dutch comes in pink, mint and dark blue, while the Daily can be ordered in pink, dark and light gray. (Im really into the pink versions.) The company will ship to anywhere in North America and Europe, and expects to deliver the first bikes to customers in January. If you're not convinced, there are plenty of carbon fiber alternatives to consider, including Gogoro's Eeyo 1 and 1s, and the 3D-printed Superstrata bike.

Update 09/22/22 5:12PM ET: The website launch has been delayed. Pre-orders will now go live "in the next couple of days," according to a LeMond spokesperson. The first bikes are still scheduled to be delivered in January.
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.
Police responded to two deaths at an unlicensed Harris County group home in the 60 days before more than three dozen residents were found in deplorable conditions there, some without food and medication, according to authorities.

The deaths at the Caring Hands Group Home in the 14000 block of Long Meadow Drive were among several calls for service that Harris County Pct. 7 Constables Office deputies were dispatched to in recent months, said Pamela Greenwood, spokeswoman for the law enforcement agency. On Monday, authorities found 37 neglected and abused residents  most of whom were diagnosed with mental or physical disabilities  who lived in the home.

The residents were scattered among what property records stated was four bedrooms in the two-story home. The living area is an estimated 2,700 square feet. Some were forced to sleep in a garage without air conditioning. Deputies also found a cockroach infestation.

The discovery has prompted the Texas Attorney Generals Office and Social Security Administration to launch a criminal probe into the home, Greenwood said. The constables office has also identified the homes operator, Carroll Shelton Richardson, as a person of interest in that investigation.

The home  just northeast of Texas 288 and the Sam Houston Tollway  had been on the radar of several local and state agencies, including the Harris County Fire Marshals Office, since August when constables deputies and Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences investigators entered the home following the deaths  the first of which happened Aug. 3 when a 64-year-old man died of natural causes. During both occasions, deputies counted about two dozen residents.

The man who died did not have a room and was staying on a couch in a living area, according to medical examiner records. In the moments before his death, a roommate told police he had taken him outside to have a smoke. They were talking but he stopped responding and the roommate called 911, records show. Paramedics tried to save him but he died.

Police found no suspicion of foul play, abuse or neglect at the time of the deaths, said Sgt. Jon Meek, of the constables office. The deputies who responded, he continued, were focused on the death investigations and were not aware then that more people may have been living in the garage.

When each deputy arrived, there was an excess of 25 people in that group home, Meek said, adding that Adult Protective Services were notified after each death. We cant enforce occupancy.

Texas Heath and Human Services spokesperson Kelli Weldon said, We are actively investigating this unlicensed facility to determine whether it is illegally providing services without a required state license. If it is determined the facility should be licensed, it will be required to come into compliance or stop providing services.

Information about the second death  when in August it happened and the circumstances  was not immediately available.

Neighbors unaware of group home

The front door remained off its hinges Wednesday from when constable deputies kicked down the door after receiving a welfare check from the sister of a 62-year-old resident, who told her he was being held hostage on the second floor. Two employees were at the home when police arrived but refused to let them in.

Two days after the encounter, the lights were on inside the home but no one appeared to be there. A soaked adult diaper was left in the bushes next to the front entryway. Suitcases lined the hallway and a front room had a bed surrounded by medical waste.

The apparent disarray of the home followed an evacuation by authorities, Adult Protective Services caseworkers among them. The caseworkers were dispatched to help residents whose ages ranged from 38 to 82. Among them, 13 residents were transported to two different hospitals. Another 14 were taken to licensed personal care homes. Four were taken to assisted-living facilities.

Two residents were picked up by family members, and another two walked away to buy food but never returned, officials said.

Meek said he was among the deputies who responded Monday and that he encountered residents who were nonverbal and unable to provide their names and date of births. No medical records could be found for the residents, he said. The employees were questioned but released, according to officials.

Until this week, neighbors were unaware that an unlicensed group home was operating out of the residence. The current owners bought the property in December, according to property records, and one neighbor said she and others have called 911 multiple times since then about the residents.

The neighbor, who declined to be identified, said three residents urinated on her lawn and another tried to break into her home. She was unaware that as many as 30 people were living there or why.

After police responded to the August deaths in the house, the neighbor said she noticed bed frames piling up in the backyard.

It was like they were trying to clean up, she said.

Nothing seemed amiss

Following the deaths, the Harris County Fire Marshals Office on Sept. 9 received a tip warning of the home. Inspectors went to the home to have a look.

Nothing seemed amiss from outside the home, said Rachel Neutzler, spokeswoman for the fire marshals office.

During a visit, an inspector spoke with a resident and learned that several people were living there. The inspector was unable to find any record of a Harris County permit allowing the home to operate as a boarding home and left a violation notice. Inspectors tried repeatedly to meet with the operator, who the constables office identified as Richardson, at the home.

The (operator) would say, Yeah, Ill meet you there, but he would never show up, Neutzler said.

Their investigation is ongoing, she said. Richardson has not been charged with a crime in connection to the home. The Harris County Sheriffs Office has since taken over as the lead law enforcement agency, officials said.

The District Attorneys Office is also investigating. It is crucial to protect the most vulnerable in our society and our prosecutors are working with police agencies to ensure this deeply troubling incident is thoroughly investigated; as always, it is vital to get all the facts as we proceed, said Dane Schiller, spokesman for the agency.

Court records show Richardson has a lengthy criminal history in Harris County and had been wanted since March for bond forfeiture from an injury to a disabled individual charge filed last November.

The Houston Police Department handled that investigation, in which court documents show a resident accused him of elder abuse and neglect at another boarding home identified in court records as Blessed Homes at 5107 Kilkenny Drive. A resident of the home who had no longer wished to live there told police she asked Richardson to return her debit card after she discovered the poor living conditions.

Richardson and the woman met at a gas station, where surveillance footage captured a fight break out between the two. The resident was taken to the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Hospital for medical treatment.

Richardson was arrested in February on the charge.

Constables office officials said much of their knowledge of Richardson was pulled from HPD and run-ins their boarding-home unit had with him.

.

The citys boarding house unit tackles the issue of oversight on how the facilities, some of which have been found to be unregulated and unsafe, can be better monitored.

A Houston Chronicle investigation found that the city provided little scrutiny, spotty inspections and inadequate enforcement of regulations at such facilities following several fatal fires.

City ordinances adopted after the investigation required that boarding home owners keep a roster with resident names, medical history and prescribed medication. It required first-year building code inspections, a certificate of occupancy, framed beds and annual life safety inspections. The homeowners also are required to register the boarding home with the city.

Hannah Dellinger and Julian Gill contributed to this report.

nicole.hensley@chron.com
On Wednesday at noon Eastern, Future Tense will host an hourlong online discussion about the relationship between the U.S. government, national security, and private industry. For more information and to RSVP, visit the New America website.

When in 1791 Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton presented his plan to Congress to develop a U.S. manufacturing sector, he kick-started a debate about the role of the federal government in industrial policy that has run consistently through the history of the republic. In recent years, though, despite the examples of industrial policy enthusiasts like Abraham Lincoln and Dwight D. Eisenhower, the prevailing political climatedriven by the Tea Partys influence on congressional Republicanshas been to largely reject the idea that government should interfere with the free market at all. In practice, the federal government has continued a wide range of measures that support industry, especially in the defense sector. Nevertheless, such has been the political climate that even the Obama administrations investments to promote recovery from the 2008 financial crisis (especially under the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) became the fodder for bitter partisan controversy, with 2012 vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan declaring during the campaign that the big problems we have today  [is]  [p]icking winners and losers in the economy through spending, through tax breaks, through regulations does not work. As a result, not only has there been a lack of public discussion, beyond a small group of academic and think tankers, about how the U.S. should run its industrial strategy, but there has been even less effort to optimize the federal governments ability to do that.

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Now, however, the United States seems on course for a historic bipartisan embrace of an innovation-driven industrial policy and with it the opportunity for government to start facing up to the challenge of delivering such a policy. Recently, the Trump administration announced a $1 billion investment in a series of academic and private sector artificial intelligence and quantum information science hubs linked to federal agenciesone more step toward embracing a set of policies that in recent years has been politically toxic in the United States. Five of the hubs will be institutes focused on quantum information science, based around five Department of Energy national labs. Notably they will include staff from tech leaders like Microsoft and Intel. While additional research funding hardly represents a wholesale shift to a command economy, these investments represent a growing recognition that the federal government needs to help U.S. companies stay ahead in the race to build world-beating technologies. Meanwhile, the Biden campaigns Made in All of America economic plan indicates that it favors even bigger investments.

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What is lacking, however, is any clear sense of who should be directing this innovation-focused industrial policy, where they should sit within the federal government, and what will guide their strategic thinking. While ultimately the president is responsible for everything that goes on in the federal government, a successful industrial policy will require strong leadership below that levelin particular, the right support structure to deliver that leadership across a federal government that has relatively little experience of true industrial policy. Just as we should take a keen interest in the military commander appointed to command Americas wars, Congress, the media, and others should be interested in who directs this new area of government policy and how they are set up to do so.

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It is worth reiterating: It is notand has never beenthat the U.S. does not have a de facto industrial policy. Through regulation, foreign investment rules, trade barriers, and even subsidies (think ethanol), the federal government has found ways to support U.S. industry. And even the most ideological appropriators have not succeeded in removing millions of dollars of research funding channeled through the long-standing research agencies like the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency or through programs established to support development of that research, such as the Small Business Research Innovation program (now branded as Americas Seed Fund).

However, we do seem to be in the midst of a broader political shift with the potential to fundamentally alter the role of the federal government. Years of free market orthodoxy and Republican-driven budget politics in the U.S. have inhibited significant thinking on how best to leverage the U.S. federal government to support industry, even among many Democrats. Meanwhile, the success of companies like Google, Facebook, and Apple over the same period, apparently the result of private investment, has helped reinforce the idea that politicians should just let the market do its thing. As a result, according to American Association for the Advancement of Science figures, while overall federal government investment in research and development increased significantly over the past decades, as a proportion of GDP, it was allowed to drift down from 1.23 percent of GDP in 1976 to 0.94 percent in 2018. During that period rising private investment compensated, helping to keep the United States as the worlds leader in R&D investment (28 percent of the global total in 2016 according to the OECD), but relatively little of that investment has gone to supporting strategically important technologies. Instead, as you might expect, much of that money has gone to less risky, more short-term enterprisessuch as commercially focused software driven companiesat the expense of more difficult research problems and the development of hardware products, which take longer to pay off. Now, however, there appears to be political convergence, if not quite consensus, on the case for greater government investment in innovation.

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The reason for the shift is, of course, China, which is investing heavily in foundational technologies like A.I. and quantum information services that are set to define the 21st century. The publication of Chinas Next Generation AI Development Plan in 2017, which said that China would be a world leader in A.I. by 2030, signaled support at the highest levels of government for building new technology, and as commentators like Kai Fu Lee have pointed out, members of Chinas new generation are just as hard-working as their Silicon Valley competitors, if not more so. Meanwhile, Chinas deliberate focus on making all that technology available to the military has the Pentagon understandably concerned. For example, recent advances by Chinese researchers in the field of quantum communication threaten to deliver technology that would make communications uncrackablea revolutionary development with obvious military as well as civil implications.

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Trumps administration is more scared of China than of the Tea Party.

As a result, some of the more national securityminded Republicans have started to question whether, left to its own devices, the private sector will fund the research and then undertake the potentially long and uncertain development of the sort of technologies that will prove necessary to match China. Most notably, Sen. Marco Rubio, a Republican from Florida, argued in a speech delivered in December at the National Defense University for a 21st-century pro-American industrial policy, explicitly highlighting what he called the Perils of Free-Market Fundamentalism, arguing that sometimes the most efficient outcome is at odds with the common good and the national interest. Meanwhile Republicans Sen. Todd Young and Rep. Mike Gallagher both signed on to support the Endless Frontier Act, a bipartisan bill to reform the NSF by adding a Directorate of Technology and funding it to the tune of $100 billion over five years.

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Quietly but perhaps even more significantly, the Trump administration seems to have taken this point too. As author and blogger on big business Matt Stoller has written, despite consistently submitting budget proposals that massively cut R&D budgets across the federal government, the administration has repeatedly agreed to funding increases. For example, as Stoller shows using figures collected by the American Institute of Physics, while the administrations proposed fiscal year 2020 budget request would have reduced the Department of Energys funding for renewable energy by 86 percent, the actual FY20 appropriation saw an increase of 20 percent, a pattern repeated across other science-related funding lines. Meanwhile, additional funding for areas like artificial intelligence and quantum science appears to show that, put simply, President Donald Trumps administration is more scared of China than of the Tea Party.

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This shift in Republican sentiment has left the Democrats emboldened to make an even more bold and explicit case for an innovation-driven industrial policy. Joe Bidens former (and maybe future) national security adviser Jake Sullivan recently wrote with Jennifer Harris in Foreign Policy, [A]dvocating industrial policy  was once considered embarrassingnow it should be considered something close to obvious. With that in mind, in August, the Biden campaign released an economic plan promising a $300 billion investment in R&D, as well as a further $400 billion for federal procurement, which would be used to boost funding in key technology areas.

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In truth, a closer partnership between the U.S. government and U.S. industry has a strong historical precedent. There has been a strain of Jeffersonian resistance to government support of industry running through the history of the country. But that partnership has always come to the fore, especially when the country has come under threat. Each time, however, such policies have raised additional public policy questions. This is no exception. If such large amounts of government money are to be applied to supporting industry, how should that best be done? The problem is that with the speed with which the taboo on discussing a U.S. innovation-driven industrial policy has disappeared, there has been little time for a public debate about what such a policy should look like and still less consideration of how it might be implemented across the federal government. We now need to be ready to have those discussions.

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It hardly needs be said that it is difficult to predict what a second-term Trump administration would do in this or any other area, but it seems likely that it would continue the recent practice of devolving responsibility to federal agencies, especially the Department of Defense and Department of Energy, with what is left of the Office of Science and Technology Policy in the White House driving specific high-profile initiatives like the A.I. and quantum information sciences institutes. That can work, assuming that the appropriate senior government leaders are engaged, but it does carry the risk that relevant decisions affecting other departments (for example, the various executive orders targeted at Chinese tech firms like Huawei, TikTok and WeChat) are pursued in isolation from a wider innovation strategy.

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The Biden campaign has been much more explicit about what it seeks to do, but there is still an absence of any indication of how it plans to implement its agenda. To be fair, aspirational org charts do not win elections. But with a commitment to spend hundreds of billions of additional taxpayer dollars in just a few years, the details of the implementation plan will matter. How should funding be apportioned across the various sectors mentioned in the Biden plan (such as advanced materials, health and medicine, biotechnology, clean energy, autos, aerospace, A.I., telecommunications, and more)? Or should funding be allocated around DARPA-style missions as advocated by Italian economist Mariana Mazzucato, whose ideas on industrial policy have recently been influential in Europe? Such missions would likely include meeting the China challenge or addressing climate change, but what about pandemic response, or even other social challenges, such as dealing with an aging population or addressing mobility (as recommended in a recent Mazzucato-led commission on an industrial strategy for the United Kingdom)? What is the optimal balance between investment in research and measures to spur development of that into usable technology? And what is the right suite of policy tools to deliver the investment? Equally important, what is the right balance between investing in creating jobs and creating skilled workers to fill them? More broadly, the Biden plan at least suggests R&D investment should be distributed more evenly around the country, but how should such a policy be implemented in practice? And who is monitoring what is working and what is not, and who takes action to change course in light of new information?

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No doubt the clever people who wrote the Biden platform are busy writing their transition memos right now, with a view to addressing at least some of these points. Whatever that plan looks like, however, it should be built on a few key principles, which of course would be relevant to a second-term Trump administration, too.

Whoever wins the election, his administration should take a cross-government approach to implementing these policies. Effectively delegating responsibility for innovation strategy to a few big departments risks, at best, a suboptimal misallocation of resources and, at worst, creating policy dynamics (such as conflict with China) that might be avoided by a more holistic strategy. So campaign policy committee plans notwithstanding, the best way to do that might well be through a cross-government public/private review process. There will be real pressure for quick action, but as Eisenhower said, Plans are useless, but planning is everything. The benefits of building national buy-in through a deliberate strategy process should not be underestimated.

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Senior leadership of this effort is obviously critical, but perhaps even more important will be to get the right team to oversee policy implementation. As a practical matter that will need to leverage a diversity of backgrounds: There are very few people who can rightly be called industrial policy practitioners with the right blend of government, business, economic and political know-how. A Biden administration might feel pressure to keep business people out of the mix, but without that perspective, it will be much harder to develop and implement the right balance of new policies that help key industry sectors develop research into usable technology. At the same time, the team must be built from a good mix of government insiders to be bureaucratically effective. Similarly, the team culture of the implementers will be crucial: They need to be adaptable and willing to learn.

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Beyond that however, and perhaps most importantly, the federal government should not just be left to build this on its own: An industrial policy will need to be a whole of nation effort. If indeed we are moving to a period where the United States embraces industrial policy, as I believe it should, it will require a national effortfrom Congress, industry, academics, the media, and ultimately the electorateto make sure that it is done right. Quite apart from the hundreds of billions of dollars potentially at stake, it may not be too much to say that the future of the country literally depends on it.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
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Linkedin Dian Septiari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, September 23, 2020 09:45 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c4694655 1 World UNGA,multilateralism,diplomacy,COVID-19,UN-75th-anniversary,Foreign-Ministry Free

Indonesias top diplomat has raised concerns about diminishing faith in the multilateral order, as the United Nations commemorates 75 years since its founding in a largely virtual ceremony convening world leaders.

Overshadowed by the far-reaching impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, which has redefined ways people and nations work and interact with one another, global leaders kicked off the annual summitry of the UN General Assembly this week with a commemoration of the UNs 75th anniversary.

At the High-Level Meeting of the UNGA held on Monday, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said the anniversary had become a test for the organization to enhance its relevance and manage the worlds expectations.

In recent years, multilateral institutions have faced more challenges to their authority as more and more countries begin to favor self-serving policies and look inward at the expense of global multilateral collaboration.

The stakes are even higher as concerted global action seems more necessary than ever, as the current COVID-19 crisis illustrates.

Countries increasingly have higher expectations [for] the UN to strengthen collective global leadership and deliver concrete results. Yet, multilateral institutions are increasingly struggling to respond, leading to weakening trust in multilateralism, Retno said, according to a circulated transcript.

We cannot allow this to persist. Without multilateralism, the mighty takes all will prevail, she said during the meeting.

Read also: S.Korea's Moon proposes regional initiative to battle COVID-19, engage N.Korea

While existing multilateral platforms such as the World Health Organization (WHO) have had their limits and shortcomings exposed, observers have also noted that uncoordinated, unilateral actions are unlikely to be able to address the global repercussions of the pandemic.

Retno said the UN system must now deliver more than rhetoric and that its programs going forward must be meaningful and impactful.

In addressing the pandemic for the short term, facilitating access to affordable medication and vaccines for all is crucial. The UN must also synergize with other international institutions to accelerate global economic recovery, she said.

In the longer term, the UN should then work toward building global economic resilience and strengthening the global health system.

The call to strengthen the multilateral order was not only raised by the Indonesian foreign minister, but the majority of world leaders who took part in the virtual assembly.

In his remarks, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the world had a surplus of multilateral challenges and a deficit of multilateral solutions.

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 more effectively, Guterres said.

According to a global online survey collated by the UN, the majority of respondents are asking the international community to prioritize universal access to health care to recover better from the pandemic. Just over 1 million people globally have taken part in the ongoing survey as of Tuesday.

Mondays meeting also saw the adoption of a declaration in commemoration of the UN anniversary, which sets out an action-oriented global commitment to promote peace and build stronger trust among nations, advance an inclusive sustainable development, promote adherence to international law and human rights values, including womens empowerment, financing for development and digital cooperation.

The meeting was held as part of the UNGAs High-Level Week that is to be held until Oct. 2.

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo is expected to deliver a prerecorded address during the UNGA's general debate session early on Wednesday in Jakarta.

Because of COVID-19, this years UN meetings are being held in a hybrid arrangement, where only representatives of countries based in the United States participate in physical meetings at the UN headquarters. Other delegates, including world leaders, will attend the meetings virtually.

However, the event itself appears to have been snubbed by US President Donald Trump, as the mercurial leader was replaced by acting deputy US ambassador to the UN, Cherith Norman Chalet, to deliver remarks as the first speaker of the event.

Read also: Trump lashes China as UN warns against 'Cold War'

"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," Chalet said, as quoted by Reuters.

The US under Trump has been one of the countries that have challenged the multilateral order, having pulled out of the Paris Climate Agreement and terminated its membership of the WHO, among other things. On the other end of the spectrum, China has led a charm offensive championing global collaboration, despite largely Western concerns about its antiliberal bent.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has given an assurance that his country will continue to follow the multilateral path and actively engage in reforming and developing the global governance system.

[China] will firmly uphold the UN-centered international system, firmly uphold the international order underpinned by international law, and firmly defend the UN's central role in international affairs, Xi said in his remarks published on the Chinese foreign ministrys website.
Capitol Hill Baptist sues DC mayor over ban on outdoor worship with over 100 people

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The 850-member Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., is suing Mayor Murriel Bowser over her ban on outdoor church services of more than 100 people during the coronavirus pandemic, arguing that the gathering restriction has been applied unfairly.

Represented by attorneys at the First Liberty Institute and WilmerHale, LLP, the church led by 9Marks co-founder Mark Dever filed a complaint in federal court on Tuesday arguing that the city has violated the First and Fifth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

For CHBC, a weekly in-person worship gathering of the entire congregation is a religious conviction for which there is no substitute, the legal document reads. The Church does not offer virtual worship services, it does not utilize a multi-site model, and it does not offer multiple Sunday morning worship services.

In March, Bowser issued an executive order that, among other things, barred CHBC and other churches from gathering for indoor and outdoor in-person worship. According to the lawsuit, the city is prohibiting worship gatherings of over 100 people or 50% of building capacity (whichever is fewer) even if held outdoors and even if worshippers wear masks and practice appropriate social distancing.

Under the districts four-phase re-opening plan, the churchs in-person worship gatherings will be prohibited until a widely-available vaccine or an effective therapy for COVID-19 is available, the lawsuit explains. The city has been in phase 2 for over three months.

Justin Sok, a pastor at CHBC, said in a four-paragraph statement that CHBC had met in-person every Sunday since its founding in 1878, except for three weeks during the Spanish Flu in 1918.

That changed following Mayor Bowsers first orders concerning COVID-19 on March 11, 2020. Since that time, the members of CHBC  most of whom live in the District  have been unable to meet in person, as one congregation inside District limits (even outdoors), Sok detailed. Our simple desire is to have a community and one that meets together safely.

The church has applied for multiple waivers to the mayors policy. However, city officials refuse to provide CHBC with a waiver beyond 100 persons as part of a mass gathering, Sok added.

The lawsuit filed Tuesday simply asks that CHBC be permitted to meet in-person, with similar restrictions as area businesses and other gatherings have employed to protect public health, the pastor stressed. A church is not a building that can be opened and closed. A church is not an event to be watched. A church is a community that gathers regularly and that community should be treated fairly by the District government.

The lawsuit mentions that Bowser coordinated with organizers of the Commitment March on Washington to re-imagine the racial justice demonstration on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

Defendants have been discriminatory in their application of the ban on large scale gatherings, the lawsuit, which lists the city as a co-defendant, states. For example, on June 6, 2020, Mayor Bowser appeared personally at an outdoor gathering of tens of thousands of people at the corner of 16th and H Streets, NW and delivered a speech describing the large gathering as wonderful to see.

According to the court filing, the church made repeated efforts to contact Bowsers office, including direct efforts and indirectly through a city councilman. After initially filing for a waiver in June, the church resubmitted its waiver request on Sept. 1.

The district refused to rule on the Churchs application for months before rejecting the application last week, the filing explains.

The rejection of the waiver leaves CHBC subject to the civil and administrative penalties should it violate the order.

A representative of the church told The Christian Post that Dever is not available for interviews about the lawsuit.

9Marks, a ministry organization that provides resources for churches, previously posted an article in March about how churches in Washington, D.C., had complied with demands from authorities to close services for about a month during the 1918 Spanish Flu out of neighborly love to protect public health.

In a video posted on the churchs YouTube page in May, Dever said Christians have always gathered together to be with the fellow believers and do things that Jesus has called us to do.

In Hebrews 10, we are told that we shouldnt forsake the regular assembly of ourselves together, Dever stressed. That is why Christians, ever since the very first Christians, have begun the week by gathering, by coming together, like we do normally here in this space.

The pastor said that Christianity has always been a religion that gathers.

Some people would think of Christianity as basically an experience that a monk would have, where you are simply off by yourself having your own private devotions, Dever stated. Friends that is not really what we see in the Bible as normal for Christians.

What we are called to do as Christians is get together, he added. That is why we have [churches] like this all over the world. We always have. If you go back to the very first Christians, literally on the first day there were people called Christians, they were gathering.

According to The Washington Post, Capitol Hill Baptist has met for several months in a field near a Virginia church.

Thomas Bowen, the director of the mayors Office of Religious Affairs, told the newspaper that the city has engaged with congregations to ensure houses of worship can plan their services in a way that it is safe for everyone.

The pandemic has placed us all in a tough situation, leading us to make adjustments to all aspects of our lives, Bowen said.
Good News: dried-up desert riverbeds such as the Santa Cruz River in Tucson recently witnessed the resurgence of biodiversity when fed with treated effluent water.

Drying up the Rivers

In the late 1800s, the southwest U.S. saw rivers being diverted and parceled out. Dams and irrigation canals stopped and diverted river water flow. As human populations grew, there came more pressure on groundwater, and with the changing climate, previously perennial streams started running dry, and water tables began to sink.

Southeastern Arizona's Santa Cruz River had the same fate. Its banks used to have poplars, plantains, ash-trees, walnut trees, oak trees, and willows in the mid-1800s. By the mid 20th century, however, all these were gone.

Almost 70 years after Santa Cruz River's downtown reach ran dry, it finally tasted water once again, as reclaimed water amounting to 2.8 million gallons was released each day, thanks to Tucson City's Santa Cruz Heritage Project.

READ: Israel: Bacterial Infection and Rapid Temperature Rise Could Have Caused Fish Deaths

Return of Biodiversity

As the water valves were opened to release millions of gallons of treated water, the University of Arizona School of Natural Resources & the Environment researchers asked themselves how and when the biodiversity returned.

According to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences natural resources assistant professor Michael Bogan, they already saw seven dragonfly species on the first day of the water's return. Then, after just ten months, they already found more than 40 species. They concluded that putting water back to de-watered river systems will entice aquatic life to return even after such a long time.

They published their results after a year of the river being fed with treated effluent. It was published this week in PeerJ.

Better Treatment of Wastewater

School of Natural Resources & the Environment graduate student Hamdhani said that streams being fed with poorly treated effluent become degraded and have lower biodiversity due to the poor water quality from treatment facilities. His published study review of water quality in streams fed by effluent worldwide gave him insights on the matter. The review was published in the Freshwater Biology journal.

He says that water quality's critical parameters closest to effluent outfalls are lacking, such as nutrient content, high temperature, low dissolved oxygen, and trace levels of organic contaminants.

However, many wastewater treatment plants can better reclaim the water quality with upgraded facilities, which can surprisingly support a high level of biodiversity once they are fed to streams.

ALSO READ: How to Stay Protected from Toxic Drinking Water Caused by Wildfires

This is true with Santa Cruz River. According to Bogan, this is due to Tucson's many changes around eight years ago in the two treatment plants feeding Santa Cruz's northern reaches. Before 2012, low-quality water was discharged, and the river can be smelled by drivers passing on Interstate-10. They were upgraded during the 2010s, improving the water.

Bogan said that the smell disappeared after that, and the biodiversity came back. In Santa Cruz, they found more than 150 different insect species, thanks to better water treatment and higher quality of water.

Arid lands resource sciences doctoral student Drew Eppehimer said that the presence of caddisflies and mayflies shocked them, and the level of biodiversity now in the effluent-dependent river is encouraging. Caddisflies & mayflies indicate a healthy and regenerating water system.

This shows promise in regenerating and reviving the biodiversity of other dried riverbeds that can be fed with treated effluent water.

READ NEXT: How to Stay Protected from Toxic Drinking Water Caused by Wildfires

Check out more news and information on Potable Water on Nature World News.
On the UNs 75th Anniversary, Commemorate UN War Fighters

Commentary

Somewhere in a storage room, Ive a World War II submarine recognition pamphlet framed to display its intriguing title.

Published circa 1943, the pamphlet is no frillsblack ink submarine silhouettes and captions on white paper. The silhouettes depict U.S., British Commonwealth, Free French, and Soviet Union subs, and, as I recall, a Dutch and a Greek sub as well. The Netherlands, Greece, and France had been defeated, but some ships escaped to fight for their free governments in exile.

The documents title: United Nations Submarines.

They were U.N. subs, not U.S and Allied subs, and it had a 1943/44 pub date, not 1945, the year the U.N. organization was established, according to those now commemorating its 75th anniversary.

Dates arent the issue. The point is this: A military weapons pamphlet labeled U.N. reinforced a strategic political message then-U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt thought had warfighting value. FDR first publicly used the U.N. nom de guerre on Jan. 1, 1942, in his Declaration by United Nations, a statement signed by delegates from 26 countries committed to waging war against the Berlin-Tokyo-Rome Axis. FDR conceived of the United Nations as a political organizing tool that established an incorporative identity for a multilateral coalition that only excluded enemies like Imperial Japan, fascist Italy, and Nazi Germany.

The United States was FDRs lead nation. United States, United Nations? FDR admired the League of Nations concept, but its failure was obvious.

In April 1945, as the war in Europe concluded, the United Nations Conference on International Organization convened in San Francisco to write an organizational charter, which nations began signing in June. On Oct. 24, 1945, the same day the Soviet Union signed the charterthe U.N. as we know it was established.

The warfighting U.N. had transformed into an international peacekeeping organization and a forum for mediating conflicts between or among nations.

But did it really move from war-making to peacekeeping?

In June 1950, the U.N. authorized combat forces under the U.N. flag (but led by the United States) to halt North Koreas invasion of South Korea. A United Nations Command still remains in South Korea.

Peacekeeper and observer forces were deployed in 1948 and during the 1950s. But in 1960, the U.N. Security Council authorized the U.N. operation in the Congo, and the era of large-scale, often-repetitive, often-apparently endless peacekeeping operations began. Sadly, the Cold War kept many small wars hot. Yet three decades after the Cold War ended, many continue to burn, particularly in anarchic fake states like Congo and Mali.

Peacekeeping sounds warm and fuzzy, but it relies on the ability to use armed force to affect physical and political circumstances. In truth, it is a euphemism for a type of warfare.

The U.N. Department of Peace Operations (DPO) understands the definitional problem and concedes that peacekeeping defies simple definition. Many missions are multidimensionala squish word if there ever was one. Armed defensive operations, like inserting peacekeepers into buffer zones between warring factions or deploying them to protect defenseless civilians, are often violently multidimensional.

Over the years, other weaseling terms have appeared, like robust peacekeeping, peacekeeping with teeth, hard peacekeeping and peace restoration. They are euphemisms attempting to camouflage offensive war waged by peacekeeper soldiers.

In 2013, the U.N. created a special Force Intervention Brigade, or FIB, for its latest Congo peacekeeping operation. The oxymoron war-making peacekeeping didnt appear in the resolution creating the unit. Probably too blunt for the diplomats.

The FIB deployed in eastern Congo to neutralize rogue militia factions that were murdering and raping poor Congolese en masse. Since 2013, the FIB has decimated two militias and is now battling other factions. However, the three nations providing brigade troops, South Africa, Tanzania, and Malawi, have reservations about the units use. All three nations have excellent professional forces, but they seem frustrated and unappreciated. Why, these small lead nations almost sound like Americans, weary of the burden of war.

Austin Bay is a colonel (ret.) in the U.S. Army Reserve, author, syndicated columnist, and teacher of strategy and strategic theory at the University of TexasAustin. His latest book is Cocktails from Hell: Five Wars Shaping the 21st Century.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
WASHINGTON  The Justice Department sent Congress draft legislation on Wednesday that would reduce a legal shield for platforms like Facebook and YouTube, in the latest effort by the Trump administration to revisit the law as the president claims those companies are slanted against conservative voices.

The original law, Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, makes it difficult to sue online platforms over the content they host or the way they moderate it. Under the proposed changes, technology platforms that purposely facilitate harmful criminal activity would not receive the protections, the department said. Platforms that allow known criminal content to stay up once they know it exists would lose the protections for that content.

Attorney General William P. Barr, in a statement, urged lawmakers to begin to hold online platforms accountable both when they unlawfully censor speech and when they knowingly facilitate egregious criminal activity online. (While they are shielded from some civil lawsuits, online services are not protected from federal criminal liability by Section 230.)

President Trump and his allies have made criticism of major tech platforms a regular talking point in his campaign for re-election, attacking the firms over anecdotal examples of the removal of conservative content from online platforms. The companies have denied that political bias plays a role in removing posts, photos and videos.
Sharjah, Sep 23 : An Indian expatriate cannot believe that he can finally go home after 20 years, with Dh750,000 of fine waived off by Sharjah authorities.

What's in a name? Even a letter matters, says Thanavel Mathiazhaagan, an Indian worker in the UAE who is set to return home after being granted a waiver of nearly Dh750,000 in overstay fines, reports Gulf News.

The man from the Indian state of Tamil Nadu claims that he could not avail amnesty opportunities in the UAE in the last 20 years as his identity verification was not cleared from India due to a mismatch in his father's name in documents back home and that shown in his passport. As it turns out, there was a spelling error in his father's name in the documents in India.

Mathiazhaagan, 56, said he himself realised this (the reason for not getting the clearance) only after his latest request for repatriation was taken up by two social workers in the UAE after he sought their help to return home during the Covid-19 pandemic.

He told Gulf News that he had landed in the UAE in 2000 after paying Rs 120,000 (Dh6,048) to a recruitment agent for a job in Abu Dhabi. This could be verified from the stamp on his employment visa entry permit -- the only document that Mathiazhaagan has preserved, apart from a copy of the last page of his passport.

He said the agent had taken his original passport, claiming that his residence visa would be stamped in the passport once he gets the medical fitness certificate issued.

"I took the medical test and waited for my employment visa. But, the agent kept delaying it and later I got to know that the company, which was supposed to hire me, had shut down." Eventually, he said, the agent stopped answering his calls and could not be traced at all later.

"I stayed in a room with some people from my native place. I lived there for eight months with no job. After that I came to Sharjah and started doing odd jobs." Mathiazhaagan said he illegally stayed in the UAE to feed his family by doing part-time jobs for various households and companies.

He claimed that he did try for returning home during the previous visa amnesty offers in the UAE and lost more than Dh10,000 to people who promised to help him with clearance of his documents that never came through.

Prior to the fine waiver announced till November 17 this year for people with expired visas or who had their visas cancelled before March 1 during the Covid-19 pandemic, the UAE government had granted visa amnesties in 2003, 2007, 2012 and 2018.

Gulf News could not independently verify if Mathiazhaagan had indeed applied for an emergency certificate (EC), a one-way travel document issued to Indians without a valid passport, in order to facilitate their return home, during the earlier instances of amnesty.

However, A. K. Mahadevan and Chandra Prakash. P, who helped Mathiazhaagan get an EC through the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, said he had failed to get identity clearance from India during the pandemic. They said they found out the reason behind the rejection only after Mathiazhaagan met Mahadevan, seeking help to return home.

"His name is Thanavel Mathiazhaagan as per the copy of the last page of his lost passport and the UAE entry permit," said Prakash, the Vice-President of Indian People's Forum, a community organisation that also pitched to get a travel clearance for Mathiazhaagan.

"Unfortunately, the documents sent by Trichy Regional Passport Office to the Senthurai Police Station for his identity verification showed his father's name as Thangavel whereas his father's actual name is Thanavel -- according to all other records. The additional letter 'g' in the name created the problem," said Prakash.

The duo said they approached the Indian Embassy and the local departments in Mathiazhaagan's village to rectify the mistake and process his documents. "Indian Ambassador to the UAE Pavan Kapoor took special interest in solving this case after the issue was taken up with him," said Prakash.

Mahadevan said he was happy that Mathiazhaagan would be flying home soon and meeting his youngest daughter, who had not even been born when he left India for the UAE.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin on US Leader's UNGA Remarks about China

2020/09/23

Regrettably, the US disregarded facts and fabricated lies. And driven by shady political motives, it used the UN podium to level unfounded accusations against China. China firmly opposes to these smears. Such acts have again shown that unilateralism and bullying are the biggest threat to the world.

Lies can in no way masquerade as truth. The world is fully aware of China's record in containing COVID-19, and the people have their fair judgment.

The coronavirus is the common enemy of humankind. China is a victim of the virus and made its contribution to the global fight against the virus.

China reported the epidemic, identified the pathogen and shared its genome sequence with the world all at the earliest time possible.

When human-to-human transmission was confirmed, China immediately made the resolute decision to shut all exit routes from Wuhan. The most stringent closure and traffic control were imposed on the exit routes from Wuhan and Hubei Province.

China's customs authorities promptly halted, in accordance with law, overseas travels by Chinese people under four categories, namely confirmed cases, suspected cases, close contacts with the former two and people with fevers.

When China closed the exit channels from Wuhan on January 23, only nine confirmed cases were identified outside China, of which only one was in the US.

On January 31, the US suspended direct flights with China. And when the US closed its borders to all Chinese citizens on February 2, only a dozen of confirmed cases were reported in the US.

China's epidemic response has been open and transparent every step of the way. The time line is clear, and the facts and data speak for themselves.

In repeatedly smearing China on COVID-19-related issues, the US is attempting to shift the blame for its bad handling of the virus onto others. This is totally futile.

The US also arbitrarily attacked and pulled out of WHO. This has put global anti-epidemic cooperation in jeopardy, which will bring harm to people in the world and incur a heavy cost for the American people.

What the US needs to do now is stop the political manipulation, stop labeling or politicizing the virus, and join the rest of the international community in this common fight, rather than scapegoat or smear others.

On climate change and environmental protection, the facts are also clear. China has actively fulfilled the international responsibilities consistent with its stage of development and national conditions, and carried out a host of policies and actions. The outcomes achieved are widely recognized.

We attained our 2020 climate action targets ahead of schedule, a major contribution to the global response to climate change.

Non-fossil fuel now takes up nearly 15 percent in China's total energy consumption. China has 30 percent of the world's installed capacity of renewable energy, accounting for 44 percent of the world increase. Its new energy vehicle stock is more than half the world's total.

China has contributed 25 percent to the increased afforestation areas worldwide since 2000.

China will update and enhance its nationally determined contribution targets, and introduce stronger policies and measures. We will strive for the peaking of CO2 emissions before 2030 and carbon neutrality before 2060. Such objectives are consistent with China's vision of a vibrant, clean and beautiful world through joint efforts and its commitment to fostering a community with a shared future for humankind.

China takes an active part in global climate governance. China is one of the first signatories of the UNFCCC and has contributed significantly to the conclusion of the Kyoto Protocol, the Paris Agreement and related implementation guidelines.

Thanks to the concerted efforts by China and other parties, the 2019 UN Climate Change Conference in Madrid produced a string of decisions that reaffirmed the commitment to multilateralism and the consensus among all parties on climate governance, laying the groundwork for follow-up negotiations.

In contrast, the United States, as the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases in cumulative terms, not only failed to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, but also pulled out of the Paris Agreement. It has rejected binding quantified emissions reduction targets for itself and refused to take even the minimum steps to protect the planet.

By doing so, the US has completely disassociated itself from the global carbon emissions system and arrangements, and seriously held back such global processes as emissions reduction and green and low-carbon development.

The United States is the world's largest exporter of solid waste and a major consumer of plastics per capita. However, it has refused to ratify the Basel Convention and has set obstacles for the global governance process on plastic waste. It has even shipped a huge amount of waste to developing countries, doing enormous harm to the local and global environment. How is such a country in any position to blame China?

We urge the US to stop playing political games, abandon unilateralism, and live up to its due responsibility to the world.
NORWOOD, Colo., Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Only the furthest towns away from big cities get the International Dark Sky designation for the brightest, starry nights. As remote as Norwood is in this big sky corner of southwestern Colorado, it's blessed with a fire, EMS and public safety infrastructure on par with many metro areas  and in some ways better.

Four years ago, career big-city firefighter John Bockrath moved his family here from Illinois to take over as Norwood Fire Protection District Chief. Since then, he's rallied to improve the rural department's capabilities by orders of magnitude. But now, facing a series of health issues and operations, the community is rallying behind Chief Bockrath with a Go-Fund-Me campaign.

The campaign asks: "What do you do with an almost 60-year-old fire chief whose knees are shot, but who won't stop jumping in to fight every fire? Who won't stop dropping to his knees to care for every patient on every medical call? Who keeps climbing up and down fire trucks and ladders, wearing out the rest of us?

"Chief Bockrath is a treasure to our little community and we hate to think of doing without our fearless leader and ball of energy. We can't afford to lose his spirit, his tremendous knowledge, or his willingness to teach and share what he's learned after a career as a big city firefighter/paramedic.



"His limp gets worse, but he never quits, and never complains. He needs a knee replacement which will help alleviate his pain and other potentially life-threatening issues."



Despite the campaign achieving its early goals, health threats and costs keep growing. Fire department officers and volunteers have expressed their gratitude to the community for their help so far, and now look outward for more support.

"Anyone who knows a firefighter hero knows who this guy is," said NFPD Public Information Officer John Metzger. "We've got a lot of country to cover out here, and we can't afford to lose his leadership. We need his experience and the communal support of fellow rural districts that strive to professionalize their fire/EMS services as more people leave cities and move to small towns like Norwood."

Media contact: John Metzger, [email protected].

SOURCE Norwood Fire Protection District
Donald Trump has again refused to be drawn on questions surrounding the poisoning of Alexei Navalny, the Russian opposition politician and vocal critic of Vladimir Putin.

Speaking at the White House on Monday, Mr Trump said: "Ahhh, we'll talk about that at another time," when asked by a reporter whom he believed was responsible for poisoning Mr Navalny.

Mr Navalny collapsed on a flight to Siberia on 20 August after being exposed to the military-grade chemical weapon novichok. He was later flown to a Berlin hospital for treatment and remains in recovery.

German officials have said that laboratory tests in three countries have determined that Mr Navalny, 44, was targetted with novichok, which was used to poison former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, in the Salisbury attack of 2018.

Angela Merkel, German chancellor, said Mr Navalny was the victim of attempted murder, adding that the world would look to Russia for answers.

"It was an attempt to silence him. I condemn this in the strongest possible terms on behalf of the entire German government," Ms Merkel told reporters earlier this month.

There are very serious questions now that only the Russian government can answer, and must answer, she added.

Mr Trump has previously refused to condemn the Kremlin over the attack, saying he had not seen any concrete evidence to suggest Mr Navalny was poisoned.

"So I don't know exactly what happened. I think it's tragic, it's terrible, it shouldn't happen. We haven't had any proof yet but I will take a look," he told reporters on 4 September.

"It is interesting that everybody's always mentioning Russia and I don't mind you mentioning Russia but I think probably China at this point is a nation that you should be talking about much more so," he added.

There is currently no evidence to suggest China was responsible for or involved in the attack.

Over the weekend, Mr Navalny published a photograph of himself walking down a flight stairs at the Charite hospital in Berlin where he is receiving treatment.

There are many problems yet to be solved, but amazing doctors from the Charite hospital have solved the main one, Mr Navalny wrote in the post on Instagram.

They turned me from a technically alive human being into someone who has high chances to become ... a man who can quickly scroll Instagram and understand without thinking where to put his likes.
Colombian authorities have arrested four members of a sex trafficking ring and rescued four girls rescued four girls who were being held by them.

The Office of Attorney General said the suspects were forcing adult and underage women, many of them migrants from Venezuela, into prostitution at a bar in the southern Bogota town of Bosa.

Authorities confiscated a cellphone from one of the suspects and learned of a September 2019 incident in which one of the male suspects recorded a young girl being brutalized and tortured.

In the gruesome video - which the Daily Mail has decided not to republish - the girl is seen sitting on a bed with pliers gripping her feet and her hair cut off.

One man behind the camera them brandishes a drill in front of her face and threatens to kill her.

The punishment was allegedly in retribution for the girl telling a bar customer that the owners were selling fake liquor and drugs.

Silvia Yaney Castaneda (second from left), Danilo Pacheco (third from left), Exyerin David Vargas (third from right) y Leonardo Jesus Vargas (second from right) were charged with human trafficking, torture and instigating prostitution after they were arrested in Bogota, Colombia, on Sunday

A cellphone seized by the police in Colombia showed a girl from Venezuela being threatened with a drill by members of a sex trafficking ring. The underage girl was one of many who were promised employment at the bar before they were forced to have sex with customers. The girl later managed to escape her captors and returned to Venezuela.

A male accomplice then smacked the girl and told her, 'why didn't you cry when you went snitching?'

The man behind the cellphone camera then said, 'let's kill her with the drill,' before the other suspect pointed the drill at the terrified girl's face.

Footage recorded by the Colombian National Police showed the moment the suspects were captured Sunday after a judge granted an arrest warrant after gathering testimony from the four girls and surveillance camera footage near the bar.

The suspects were identified as Silvia Yaney Castaneda and Danilo Pacheco, both Colombian nationals. The cops also apprehended Exyerin David Vargas and Leonardo Jesus Vargas, both of Venezuela.

All four suspects were charged with with human trafficking, torture and instigating prostitution.

Colombian nationals Silvia Yaney Castaneda (left) and Danilo Pacheco (right) were among the four sex trafficking ring members arrested by authorities in Bogota, Colombia, on Sunday. The Office of the Attorney General said the group tricked adult and underage females, mostly from Venezuela, into working at a bar before they were force to have sex with customers

Exyerin David Vargas (left) and Leonardo Jesus Vargas (right) were reportedly responsible for recruiting the victims and promising them employment at a bar in Bogota, Colombia, before they obligated them to have sex with bar patrons. The girls were paid a small fraction of the money that was collected

Investigators claim the four were responsible for recruiting the victims and promising them employment at the bar.

They then forced girls to have sex with customers and received a portion of the moneys paid to the traffickers. The victims were also obligate to meet a certain quota and were required to work additional hours if they failed to meet the traffickers' expectations.

A police spokesman said all four girls have since returned to Venezuela. The girl who appeared in the frightening video managed to escape her captors and also returned to Venezuela.
PM praises esilience and unity of the Manipuri people

If you really want to honour him, implement his inclusive ideology: SC Bose's grandnephew

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At DMs meets, PM calls for direct, emotional connect between administration and public for good governance

PM Modi pays tribute to Hindi poet Dinkar

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Sep 23: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday paid tributes to legendary Hindi poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar on his birth anniversary, saying his timeless poems will continue to inspire all citizens.

"Humble tributes to 'rashtra kavi' Ramdhari Singh Dinkar ji on his birth anniversary. His timeless poems will continue to inspire not only literature-lovers but all countrymen," Modi tweeted in Hindi.

Watch: PM Modis touching tribute Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Born at Simariya in Bihar in 1908, Dinkar's nationalistic poetry was considered inspirational during the freedom struggle, and his work remained a source of motivation for politicians and others, including during the movement against Emergency.

Modi has often cited Dinkar's poetry.

Only Sushant took drugs, Rhea claims in latest plea | Oneindia News

The three-time Rajya Sabha member died in 1974.
GENEVA: Western diplomats and legal experts urged China on Wednesday to clarify the status of 12 Hong Kong residents arrested by China at sea last month and whether they have seen lawyers of their choice.

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.

All were suspected of committing crimes in Hong Kong related to the anti-government protests that erupted last year. Ten had been charged there, released on bail and forbidden from leaving the former British colony, and all are now being detained in the neighbouring mainland city of Shenzhen.

A senior Chinese official, speaking at an event organised by its mission to the U.N. in Geneva, said the 12 were entitled to access to lawyers and the presumption of innocence, but did not say whether they had seen lawyers of their choice.

I believe that the law enforcement bodies and judicial bodies in the mainland of China will strictly follow the criminal procedure law and the relevant regulations and have a fair trial in the case," Xi Junjian, deputy director of the law department of Chinas Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, said in response to a Reuters question.

Western envoys and academics voiced concerns during a separate event organised by Britains mission that focused on Beijing imposing a new national security law on Hong Kong.

Twelve Hong Kong democracy activists arrested in August off the coast have been denied access to lawyers of their choice. Local authorities have yet to provide information about their welfare or the charges against them," said Mark Cassayre, deputy U.S. ambassador.

Steve Tsang of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University in London, said: None of them have been accorded the normal legal rights that they would expect to enjoy as Hong Kong citizens."

(Reporting and writing by Stephanie Nebehay; additional reporting by Marius Zaharia in Hong Kong; Editing by Alex Richardson)

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, September 23, 2020 08:09 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c468bdf7 1 City COVID-19,COVID-19-Jakarta,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,PHRI,asymptomatic,COVID-19-patient Free

Thirty hotels in Jakarta are now ready to accommodate self-isolating asymptomatic coronavirus cases, the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) has said.

PHRI Jakarta chapter chairman Krisnadi said that initially 27 hotels had proposed their facilities as quarantine centers, but seven of them withdrew from the program. Ten more hotels later joined, he said.

"Our update [on Saturday evening] shows that we already have 30 hotels with 3,996 available rooms in total, Krisnadi said as quoted in an interview with Kompas TV on Sunday.

The government will rent the entire 30 buildings as self-isolation centers so that there will not be regular guests checking-in at the hotels, he said.

Among the criteria required for the hotels are that their rooms have to be equipped with en-suite bathrooms and proper air circulation, as well as windows that can be opened and closed.

Read also: Ministry to provide three-star hotels for COVID-19 patient quarantine

There will be a meeting room for the COVID-19 task force, as well as a place for the medical team since they will be staying at the hotels, Krisnadi said.

Well also provide parking lots that can accommodate ambulances, as well as the vehicles belonging to the task force members. We will also provide food that meets [health] standards, he said.

Krisnadi added that hotel employees would continue to work at the hotels.

Hotel employees will continue working in their respective roles as usual, but the hotels will be assisted by volunteers, medical teams and security staff too, Krisnadi said.

President Joko Jokowi Widodo previously said the government would provide more facilities to house asymptomatic COVID-19 patients or those with mild symptoms looking to self-isolate, as the number of infections continued to rise.

A number of one-star to three-star hotels and training centers will be transformed into self-isolation centers, the President said. (dpk)
ASBURY PARK, N.J. - Family and friends of Hasani Best rallied Wednesday and called on New Jersey authorities to bring criminal charges against one or more police officers involved in his fatal shooting last month.

Best, 39, was killed in Asbury Park after police responded to a domestic dispute. He was shot after he refused to relinquish a knife he was holding. Bodycam video was released Tuesday.

He didnt deserve it, said Carol Sanders, Bests mother as she blinked back tears and dabbed at her eyes during a news conference across the street from police headquarters.

He was talking to them and explaining his hurt, his feelings, she said. They didnt have to take his life. They shot him in his chest.

Best, who was known to officers from previous encounters, had barricaded himself in a room in his apartment after police responded to a 911 call about a domestic dispute. Several officers spent about 45 minutes trying to convince him to come out and drop the knife.

Finally, Best emerged partway and stood in the doorway, looked at one of the officers and said, Im going to stab him, though Best was standing still at the time. Police Sgt. Sean DeShader immediately fired from about 6 feet away, knocking Best back into the room. He died at a hospital about 20 minutes later.

Randy Thompson, CEO of the advocacy group Help Not Handcuffs, blamed impatient, trigger-happy cops for killing a disturbed man.

Today we stand here to condemn the senseless and avoidable killing of another Black man, he said. Who put an egg timer on this mans life, that after 60 minutes he would be killed?

DeShader currently is on administrative duty, a police department spokesman said in an email Wednesday. The department declined comment on the contents of the video.

The state attorney generals office is investigating the shooting and will present the video and other evidence to a grand jury when the probe is concluded, though grand juries havent been hearing cases during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a separate case in Asbury Park in 2019, police officers shot and killed a 27-year-old man who they said was acting erratically and was wielding a pair of scissors. That investigation also is ongoing.

Under guidelines issued by the attorney generals office, an officer is justified in using deadly force if he or she reasonably believes such action is immediately necessary to protect the officer or another person from imminent danger of death or serious bodily harm.

Officers shouldnt use deadly force if they reasonably believe an alternative course of action will avert or eliminate an imminent danger of death or serious bodily harm, according to the guidelines.
Gov. Kate Brown held a briefing today to discuss the states wildfires.

The briefing came as one of two large fires burning in Marion County became the first statewide to surpass 200,000 acres this year. The Lionshead fire west of Warm Springs is 15% contained.

At the same time, the Beachie Creek fire east of Salem has burned through 192,805 acres and is 46% contained.

Brown was joined by State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple; Doug Grafe, chief of fire protection at the Oregon Department of Forestry; state Emergency Management Director Andrew Phelps; Adjutant General Michael Stencel; and Gabriela Goldfarb, the Oregon Health Authoritys environmental public health manager.

Watch a replay of the press briefing in the video above.

 The Oregonian/OregonLive
Microsoft Teams saw a surge in users in the backdrop of the pandemic. As of April, Teams had 7.5 million daily active users, as per Venture Beat. While some people have resumed offices, most office-goers are confined within their homes. Microsoft Teams has brought in new features for such users, focussing on their mental health. Teams has also announced new features for better meeting experiences. The following are the tools Microsoft has announced for users.



Virtual commutes: Offices in real life require to and fro commute time and according to research done by Microsoft, commute time helps employees with productivity as they get time to reflect. The virtual commute feature will be brought about in 2021. The feature will schedule a virtual commute at the start and end of users' day.

"What we're finding is that that commute experience it's good for it not to be too long, but it did play a role in helping us clear our heads," Microsoft 365 corporate vice president Jared Spataro said in a press briefing.

Meditation breaks: Microsoft has also partnered with Headspace to let employees schedule mindful meditation sessions. "You can either schedule a meditation as part of your virtual commute or as part of a mindfulness break throughout the day," Spataro noted. Microsoft found that starting with meditation before a long workday reduces stress and the rate of burnout.

Starting October, Microsoft is also going to bring productivity insights for teams that will give an idea of after-hours collaboration, focus time, meeting effectiveness, and cross-company connections. Throughout the workplace analytics, users will get personalised recommended actions for changing habits to improve productivity and well-being.

Themes for Together Mode: Microsoft had earlier announced Together Mode that uses AI technology to place cutouts of participants in a shared background. Now, it has announced various themes for together mode like coffee shops, auditoriums, and conference rooms. Microsoft will also include machine learning in Together Mode to automatically scale and center meeting participants in their virtual seats, regardless of how close or far they are from their camera.

Custom Layouts for Dynamic view: Dynamic view gives users more control over what they share in meetings. Microsoft has announced custom layouts for dynamic view. Users will be able to present by being transposed on to the foreground of the powerpoint presentations. This feature, too, uses AI segmentation technology with background blur and Together Mode.

Breakout rooms, a feature seen in Zoom and Google Meet will now arrive on Microsoft Teams. The feature consisting mainly of smaller, informal groups is mainly used for brainstorming sessions or group discussions, etc. It is slated to arrive on Teams in October.

Users will be able to recap meetings that include the meeting recording, transcript, chat, and files shared in the meeting's Chat and Details tabs. The calling on teams is also slated to get more streamlined at the beginning of next year.
BOSTON, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Well-positioned to meet the surging demand for online certificates and micro-credentials, Cengage, an education and technology company, today announced plans to expand its Online Skills business. Through its current ed2go business, Cengage is already a recognized leading provider of online instructor-facilitated courses and career training programs for the adult continuing education and training markets. Leveraging its portfolio of globally recognized content and deep understanding of the digital learning experience, Cengage aims to build on current success and greatly broaden its offering in this rapidly growing segment.

"At Cengage, our mission has always been to meet students where they are and ensure they have access to affordable, high-quality learning materials that can help them succeed," said Michael E. Hansen, CEO, Cengage. "The need for continued career training and reskilling as individuals progress in their career is becoming essential for advancement. We see this expansion of our Online Skills business as a natural step for Cengage as we continue to innovate to meet the needs of learners."

In 2017, McKinsey estimated that as many as 375 million workers  14 percent of the global workforce  would have to switch occupations or acquire new skills by 2030 because of advancing technologies like automation and artificial intelligence. The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically accelerated the need for education alternatives to help the global workforce reskill in the face of unprecedented unemployment. A recent Strada Education Network poll found one in five Americans would pursue education or training within six months if they lost their job, with the majority (62 percent) preferring online training. To respond to this immediate need during the COVID-19 pandemic, ed2go offered several of its most relevant self-paced tutorials for free this past Spring. These courses focused on topics that help people acquire new skills such as website development, management, communications, and personal finance. In the course of 10 weeks, ed2go had more than 300,000 enrollments  a fifty-fold increase over historical enrollments.

Balraj Kalsi will lead the Online Skills business as General Manager reporting to CEO Michael E. Hansen. Kalsi has been with Cengage since 2014, most recently as Senior Vice President, Global Technical Product Management. In this role, Kalsi helped to accelerate the digital transformation of the business, including the launch of Cengage Unlimited in 2018. Prior to Cengage, Kalsi held leadership positions at Skype and Elsevier.

"Education is a powerful tool to change people's lives," said Balraj Kalsi. "However, there is a growing disconnect between the skills students have upon graduating with a traditional degree, and the skills needed to succeed and advance in their career. There is a pressing need for digital innovation to address this widening gap. Through the power of online learning, Cengage will help millions of people develop the knowledge and capabilities they need to advance their careers and improve their lives."

Cengage Online Skills will continue to focus on the growth and development of ed2go and other existing skills offerings. Additionally, the expanded Online Skills business will include dedicated R&D, working directly with students, employers and educators to remain at the forefront of innovation that best supports learners. For more information about current online skills offerings, visit: www.ed2go.com.

About Cengage and ed2go

Cengage is the education and technology company built for learners. The company serves the higher education, K-12, professional, library and workforce training markets worldwide. ed2go, a Cengage company, is a leading provider of online instructor-facilitated courses and career training programs for the adult continuing education and training markets. With a catalog of over 600 offerings and a network of more than 2,100 top colleges and universities, ed2go offers partner institutions and organizations the opportunity to provide unprecedented access to affordable online education. www.ed2go.com

Media Contact:

Emily Featherston, Cengage

617.757.8035, [email protected]

SOURCE Cengage

Related Links

http://www.cengage.com


Police officers in Ghana have been advised to limit their sexual urges ahead of the 2020 Elections.



According to the Accra Region Commander of the Ghana Police Service, DCOP Afful Boakye-Yiadom, cutting down on sex would provide the officers with the required energy to police the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections.



Control yourselves, we all need the energy to work during the elections. I, therefore, advise all of you to eat well, reduce your sexual rounds...," DCOP Boakye-Yiadom said to rapturous applause from Police officers.



"For you to get (the) energy to work well before, during and after 2020 elections".





Source: utv









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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Washington:

Acting on his campaign promises, US President Donald Trump has signed two executive orders for construction of a wall along the Mexican border and speeding the deportation of undocumented immigrants even as he said a nation without borders is not a nation.

A nation without borders is not a nation. Beginning today, the United States of America gets back control of its borders, gets back its borders, Trump said yesterday as he signed two executive orders at the Department of Homeland Security.

We are in the middle of a crisis on our southern border. The unprecedented surge of illegal migrants from Central America is harming both Mexico and the US and I believe the steps we will take starting right now will improve the safety in both of our countries, going to be very, very good for Mexico, Trump said.

He said the two executive orders will save thousands of lives, millions of jobs, and billions and billions of dollars.

These two orders are part of an immigration reform we outlined during the campaign. I want to emphasise that we will be working in partnership with our friends in Mexico to improve safety and economic opportunity on both sides of the border, Trump said.

Noting that he has deep admiration for the people of Mexico, he said he greatly look forward to meeting again with his Mexican counterpart.

Ill be doing that shortly. We will discuss close coordination on many, many important issues between our countries. This coordination includes the dismantling of cartels and keeping illegal weapons and cash from flowing out of America and into Mexico, he said.

Trump said his executive order directs federal agencies to immediately start working on construction of a border wall.

This will also help Mexico by deterring illegal immigration from Central America and by disrupting violent cartels networks, he said.

As Ive said repeatedly to the country, we are going to get the bad ones out; the criminals and the drug deals and gangs and gang members and cartel leaders. The day is over when they can stay in our country and wreak havoc, he said.

ALSO READ | US will build its own pipeline and pipes echoing 'America First' doctrine, says Donald Trump

We are going to get them out and were going to get them out fast and (Homeland Security Secretary) John Kelly is going to lead that wave, he added.

The other executive order, Trump said ends the policy of catch and release at the border, requires other countries to take back to their criminals, cracks down on sanctuary cities, empowers ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) officers to target and remove those who pose a threat to public safety.

It also includes calls for the hiring of another 5,000 border patrol officers, calls for the tripling of the number of ICE officers.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Images of presidential staffer Charles Cromwell Nanabanyin Onuawonto Bissue, with his swollen and bloodied eyes and face, have surfaced on the internet.

This follows media reports that the governing New Patriotic Partys Western Regional Secretary got into fisticuffs with the Member of Parliament for Tarkwa-Nsuem, Mr George Mireku Duker, after the lawmaker accused the former Secretary to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), of bankrolling an independent MP aspirant in his constituency to go against him in the 7 December polls.

Mr Bissue was also reported by some news houses to have inflicted bites on the lawmakers finger during the fight.

The brawl broke out during a meeting by regional executives of the NPP at Kingston Hotel in Takoradi.

Mr Bissue, was recently in the studios of Accra100.5FM and told Kwabena Prah Jr on the station's morning show, Ghana Yensom, that majority of the seized earthmoving vehicles were registered by foreigners and in the hands of foreigners.

In February this year, the leader of the team in charge of monitoring and securing all the heavy-duty machines and auxiliary equipment used for galamsey, revealed that 315 excavators had been seized as of 31 January 2020 but only 127 were left in the central pool in Accra.

According to Nana Boadu, some of the excavators found their way back into the forest reserves.

At the time, he said about 32 were back in the forests of Obuasi, Ashanti Region, while about 15 were back in Tarkwa, Western Region.

Nana Boadu said the trackers on some of the excavators were disengaged, thus, the difficulty in tracing them.

Apart from the excavators, Nana Boadu said the team was also in charge of all other mining equipment seized from the galamseyers by the Operation Vanguard team.

They included fuel pumps, batteries, and chan fans.

About a week before that, the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Prof Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, had disclosed that some of the 500 excavators allegedly seized by the Inter-Ministerial Committee Against Illegal Small-Scale Mining had gone missing.

In an interview with Accra-based Joy FM, Prof Frimpong-Boateng said: We were told that 500 [excavators] had been seized and given to the district assemblies but later on, when we went out to check, the figure was far less than that.

Asked the exact figures, Prof Frimpong-Boateng answered: I cannot tell you exactly what but I can tell you it was far lower than the 500 put out.

He, however, noted that the earthmoving equipment that went missing, were in the custody of the district assemblies. That was the case in most of the areas, so, we sent people out there to talk to the district assemblies and we got Vanguard involved and most of them had disappeared, Prof Frimpong-Boateng said.

On Tuesday, 4 February 2020, the CID issued a statement announcing the arrest of six suspects in connection with the missing excavators.

They included the suspended Central Regional Vice-Chair of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Horace Ekow Ewusie.

The others were Frederick Ewusi, Joel Asamoah, Adam Haruna, Frank Gyan and John Arhin.

Ekow Ewusi, Frederick Ewusi and Joel Asamoah were cautioned on the offence of stealing while Adnan Haruna, Frank Gyan and John Arhin were cautioned on the offence of abetment of stealing.

The CID statement said the suspects were arrested on Monday, 3 February 2020 at Abelemkpe in Accra.

---classfm
MILPITAS, California, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- SEMI Nano-Bio Materials Consortium (NBMC) today released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for innovations in ambulatory monitoring, wearable technologies for cognitive assessment, and innovative power sources for wearable monitors. Proposals are also welcome for new concepts to advance mobile human monitoring and diagnostic capabilities. Projects will be awarded with cash budgets ranging from $500,000 to $2 million. The RFP is funded by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).

SEMI-NBMC focuses on innovation challenges and opportunities during research and development (R&D) to increase the technology and manufacturing readiness levels (TRL/MRL) of nanotechnologies and biotechnologies. The SEMI-NBMC program and committee encourages submission of novel technical approaches that carry significant risk as well as those that represent evolutionary improvements on existing technical capabilities, which tend to be less risky and involve shorter development and delivery times.

Industry experts on the NBMC RFP Review Committee selected the RFP topics based on an analysis of strategic market gaps and will evaluate all white paper submissions against that gap analysis. To learn more about the aeromedical mission and the status of biomarkers and sensors for telemedicine, watch the SEMI-NBMC and AFRL August MedTech Workshop Series.

After evaluating white papers, the committee will invite select organizations to submit full proposals that will be rigorously evaluated on criteria including budget, collaboration value, dual-use (commercial and military/aerospace) applicability, relevance to the digital healthcare ecosystem, relevance to advancing nano-bio materials for human monitoring, schedule and milestones, deliverables, and overall proposal quality. See the complete SEMI-NBMC 2020 Request for Proposals for more details on the evaluation process.

The consortium strongly encourages partnerships among industrial companies, R&D organizations and university teams. SEMI-NBMC funding will be matched with funds provided by grant recipients to cover total project cost. Development partners retain ownership of intellectual property developed under a SEMI NBMC contract.

White paper responses, the first step in responding to the RFP, are due October 20, 2020. SEMI-NBMC staff will review the RFP topics and submission and review process during a live webinar on October 2, 2020 at 10:00am PDT. Registration is open to anyone considering submitting a proposal. A recording of the webinar will be available for those unable attend the live event.

About SEMI-NBMC

SEMI-NBMC was founded in 2013 to bring together scientists, engineers and business development professionals from industry, government and universities to collaboratively initiate research and development of electronic technologies to improve human performance monitoring and performance augmentation capabilities. To date, over 25 industry partners have advanced the state-of-the-art in human-performance monitoring in 26 projects. Advancements include subsystems designed for ECG, functionalized biomarker sensors, and hydration sensors.

About SEMI

SEMI connects more than 2,400 member companies and 1.3 million professionals worldwide to advance the technology and business of electronics design and manufacturing. SEMI members are responsible for the innovations in materials, design, equipment, software, devices, and services that enable smarter, faster, more powerful, and more affordable electronic products. Electronic System Design Alliance (ESD Alliance), FlexTech, the Fab Owners Alliance (FOA) and the MEMS & Sensors Industry Group (MSIG) are SEMI Strategic Technology Communities, defined communities within SEMI focused on specific technologies. Visit www.semi.org to learn more, contact one of our worldwide offices, and connect with SEMI on LinkedIn and Twitter .

Association Contact

Michael Hall/SEMI

Phone: 1.408.943.7988

Email: mhall@semi.org

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/469944/Semi_Logo.jpg
Police are hunting an Eastern European gang after a string of terrifying attempted abductions of young women and girls across Worcester.

Detectives are investigating six separate incidents which have taken place in the Arboretum area of the city since September 10.

On most of the occasions, young women or children were either approached, chased and even grabbed by men in silver-coloured cars.

Parents have also been warned after several incidents of suspicious men seen loitering outside the city's schools.

West Mercia Police say they don't believe all reports are linked but have stepped up patrols across the city following the spate of worrying incidents.

Victim Ellesse Robinson, 15, was left sobbing when she fled four men who tried to snatch her off the street on Sunday night.

Victim Ellesse Robinson, 15, was left sobbing when she fled four men who tried to snatch her off the street on Sunday night in Worcester, one of six separate suspicious reports in the city

Map showing the six separate incidents of suspicious behaviour reported to police this month

Ellesse Robinson, 15, says she was chased down Astwood Road by men 'who sounded Turkish or Romanian' after she had gone to the Premier shop to get sweets for her boyfriend

The schoolgirl was walking to a shop on Astwood Road in the Rainbow Hill area of the city at 7pm when a car pulled up next to her.

She said: 'I walked to Premier to buy my boyfriend some sweets and snacks because it was his birthday, which is the reason I was alone or I would've been with him.

'As I walked out of the shop and was waiting at the traffic lights, a grey Peugeot pulled up very slowly towards me.

'There were not many other cars around and as they pulled up I initially leaned in thinking they needed help but I saw them all laughing.

'Two men in the back told me to 'come.'

Ellesse took to social media to warn others about what happened as she reported it to police

'I stepped back then the man in the front passenger side opened his car door and I genuinely thought he was going to grab me.

'I felt so scared as they were all in their mid or early 30s and really big.

'They sounded Turkish or Romanian, they were all tanned. After he opened his door I basically shouted 'No! no! no!' repeatedly.

'I was edging backwards and then managed to run back into the Premier shop.

'The manager Sarah was stocking the shelves and I ran up to her and said: 'Sarah, some men just tried to pull me in their car.'

'She shot up despite having back problems and ran to the door, then she came back up to me and gave me the biggest hug I've ever had in my life.

Multiple reports of men approaching women and children in the Worcester area September 10: Strange man seen loitering outside St Barnabas Church of England Primary School. September 15: Man in a car seen following students walking to and from Bishop Perowne Church of England College. September 17: Asian man in BMW with private registration plate seen talking to a child near St Barnabas Church of England Primary School. September 20: Ellesse Robinson, 15, chased by four men as she walked to the shop in Rainbow Hill at 7pm. September 21: Keeley Austen-Marsden, 21, was followed by two men as she walked home from dropping off her brother at school in Astwood Road. September 21: Three young girls followed by men who tried to persuade them to get into their car in Barker Street. Advertisement

'I cried into her shoulder, my legs were shaking like crazy, it was like a really bad anxiety attack.

'Sarah walked me home, which I am so grateful for. When we got home we phoned the police.'

Ellesse Robinson's mum has told how her daughter was left 'in shock' after being targeted by the terrifying kidnap gang.

Katrina Spragg, 43, a housewife who has six other children and five grandchildren, said: 'She's gone in shock and is shaken by it.

'She won't go out and she's not allowed to go out on her own. She used to come and go from the house but not anymore.

'I'm not sure if it's the same people.

'Ellesse said these people were Turkish or Romanian.

'The police have said it's an ongoing investigation. They have been out in force with helicopters, police cars and everything.

'She was vague on that [the description of the car], it all happened a bit fast.

'But the police seem to know what they are looking for. Hopefully they will catch them.

'I can't say what I would like to happen to them. When she told me I was really, really shocked.

'It's disturbing that other incidents have happened within a mile of the house.'

The following day, Keeley Austen-Marsden, 21, was chased by two men as she walked along Astwood Road - a mile from where Ellesse was approached.

She said: 'It was 9am and I was walking back from the Lyppard Grange Primary School after taking my little brother in and I noticed these two blokes were behind me.

'I didn't think anything of it to start with until they got closer to me.

'They were within arms reach so I picked up my speed and so did they. I was terrified.

'I ran to the top of the road and when I looked back they had gone.

'I didn't see where they went and I couldn't see their faces as they had hoods on. They were about six foot and stocky.

'I'm just glad I got my brother into school first. I don't know what I would've done if he was still with me. He's only nine.

'I still feel shaken up now.'

Police were called to St Barnabas CofE primary school, pictured, after reports of a man behaving strangely outside the school's gates and headteacher Sarah Hanson confirmed several reports had been made to the school and staff had seen the man themselves

Later that evening three girls, including one aged just eight, were approached by men two miles away in Barker Street.

The girls were followed by the men before they ran into a Co-op shop where police were called.

An eyewitness wrote on Facebook: 'Three young girls, one aged eight, have just been followed and told to get in a car of men.

'They are safe, they ran in the Co-op and the police have taken them home and they have the car on CCTV.

'Just be vigilant of what your kids are doing and who they are with because it only takes a split second for them to be grabbed and taken.'

The investigations follow three more incidents at two schools in the city this month.

On September 10 police were called to St Barnabas Church of England Primary School after reports of a men behaving strangely outside.

Headteacher Sarah Hanson said: 'We did have several reports of a man behaving suspiciously outside our school.

'Members of staff saw this person and so did two workmen who were working on the grounds opposite.

'The man was approached and he moved on. He returned later and was witnessed again by members of staff.'

On September 15 Bishop Perowne Church of England College contacted parents with the message: 'Please be aware we have had reports of a male approaching and following the students in a car close to the school.

'Police have been notified and we are continuing to liaise with them as they follow this up.'

Two days later on September 17, an Asian man in his 30s, in a BMW with private plates, was seen talking to a child through the car window near Barnabas Primary School.

West Mercia Police have ruled out the incident involving the three girls in Barker Street being related to the gang who approached Ellesse in Rainbow Hill but have stepped up patrols across the city.

Detective Inspector Ed Slough, CID lead investigator said: 'We are aware of heightened concerns surrounding the reporting on social media and local news reports of a group of men in a silver/grey saloon vehicle approaching people in the Arboretum area of Worcester.

Staff from Bishop Perowne Church of England College contacted parents after reports suggested a man had been approaching and following students in a car close to the school

'Some incidents are reported to have happened whilst children have been walking home from school or in the early evening or a vehicle has appeared to be driving slowly past schools or children.

'We would like to reassure people that incidents such as this are rare, and we have an increased number of our safer neighbourhood officers in the area who can answer any questions or address any concerns you may have.

'I want to assure you that we are looking into all individual reports made to us, and would like to update you that at this time we don't believe all of the reports are linked and we are working to establish the nature and type of offences.

'We are treating each report separately, visiting and speaking with those that have reported incidents and viewing any CCTV in the area that they have been approached or had vehicles slow near them and have shown concern.

'We want to encourage the community to continue to be observant and report any suspicious activities to us as quickly as possible.

'We are working with local schools to ensure updates are provided to the community in a timely manner.

'If you have seen anything suspicious in your area please report online at WestMercia.Police.UK or by calling police on 101.

'I hope this helps provides you with some reassurance. We will continue to work with the school and partners to address any concerns.'
IZTAPALAPA, MEXICO  The man in the vegetable stall next to Christopher Arriagas died first. A longtime customer was next, then another. A few days later, an elderly carrot vendor got sick and died within the week.

Soon, the coronavirus was storming the vast, gridded passages of the Central de Abasto, the largest produce market in the Western Hemisphere, and Mr. Arriagas father fell ill, too. Dozens in the market died, perhaps hundreds. Not even the government knows for sure.

There is this moment when you start to see people dying, and the stress begins to destroy you, said Mr. Arriaga, 30. It made me realize what a trapped animal feels like.

Doctors and officials say the surge of infections nearly overwhelmed them, radiating far from the market to areas across the city and Mexico beyond. It became the epicenter of the epicenter, the teeming heart of a neighborhood that has registered more Covid deaths than any other part of the capital, which is itself the center of the national crisis.
Bars and restaurants in France's second-biggest city Marseille were ordered closed Wednesday as Europe surged past five million coronavirus cases, with France and its neighbours hoping tighter restrictions can slow the spread.

Worldwide nearly 32 million people have been infected and more than 971,000 have died since the virus emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019 and spread across the globe.

After appearing to bring cases mostly under control with economically devastating lockdowns, Europe now faces a resurgence, forcing governments to consider reintroducing tough measures.

More than half of Europe's infections have been recorded in Russia, followed by Spain, France and the United Kingdom.

The 380,000 cases reported in the past week represent the highest number in the region since the start of the pandemic.

- 'Be vigilant' -

As infection data worsen in France -- with more than 13,000 new cases reported and almost 800 hospital admissions on Thursday alone -- French Health Minister Olivier Veran said bars and restaurants must close in Mediterranean port city Marseille, now the only part of mainland France at "maximum alert".

One level down on a new sliding scale of infection control measures, at "elevated alert", eight major cities including Paris will see new restrictions, including limitations on public gatherings to 10 people and earlier closing hours for bars.

The data is "continuing to worsen" but there is "still time to act", Veran said.

The Madrid region, the heart of an explosion of infections in Spain, has already locked down roughly 850,000 people and plans to extend the measures on Friday.

Britain has also announced fresh steps to try to allay the rising toll.

"To help contain the virus, office workers who can work effectively from home should do so," the government said on Tuesday, despite fears of a devastating economic impact.

Story continues

British new cases mounted to more than 6,000 in 24 hours on Wednesday, with almost 42,000 dead since the pandemic began.

New rules come into force for pubs and other hospitality venues on Thursday, forcing them to close early, and plans to allow fans back into sporting events have been ditched.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned the new restrictions could last up to six months and called for a collective effort to "get through this winter together".

His scientific advisors had said the United Kingdom could see a devastating 50,000 coronavirus cases a day by mid-October if no action is taken.

Meanwhile UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Wednesday that the virus is "not just a public health emergency, it is a communications emergency too", urging the media and social media platforms to do more to battle harmful misinformation.

- Trump says deaths 'a shame' -

The World Health Organization reported late on Monday that almost two million infections were recorded around the globe in the week to September 20.

The United States has passed 200,000 deaths, the world's highest toll, with Brazil, India and Mexico the next most severely affected countries.

The world's most powerful nation hit the figure just 41 days before a presidential election.

US President Donald Trump -- who faces a tough re-election fight and is trailing Democrat Joe Biden in the polls -- said the 200,000 milestone was "a shame" and deflected blame on to China.

Trump used a Tuesday video address to the annual United Nations General Assembly to attack Beijing for not stopping the spread of what he called the "China virus".

"We must hold accountable the nation which unleashed this plague onto the world -- China," he told the UN's diplomatic showcase event, which is being held almost entirely online because of the pandemic.

Trump has repeatedly played down the seriousness of the coronavirus crisis.

The pandemic is taking a heavier toll on employment than previously feared, the United Nations said on Wednesday, with hundreds of millions of jobs lost and workers suffering a "massive" drop in earnings.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) found that by mid-year, global working hours had declined 17.3 percent compared with last December -- equivalent to nearly 500 million full-time jobs.

"The impact has been catastrophic," ILO chief Guy Ryder told reporters in a virtual briefing.

German finance minister Olaf Scholz said Wednesday that the pandemic response would see Berlin breach its self-imposed no-new-debts rule for the second year running in 2021, as it forks out vast sums to keep Europe's top economy afloat.

But with German output expected to fall less steeply than many neighbours this year, Berlin hopes to return to balanced budgets from 2022.

burs-arb/axn/tgb/har
Donald Trump has once again attacked the family of the late John McCain after his widow endorsed Joe Biden for the White House, saying he was never a fan of the senator in a Wednesday morning tweet.

The president targeted Cindy McCain a day after she officially endorsed the former vice president in the 2020 elections and described Mr Biden as a politician who stands up for our values as a nation in a statement.

Blasting the former senators wife, Mr Trump wrote: I hardly know Cindy McCain other than having put her on a Committee at her husbands request.

Joe Biden was John McCains lapdog, he added. So many BAD decisions on Endless Wars & the V.A., which I brought from a horror show to HIGH APPROVAL.

Never a fan of John, Mr Trump wrote. Cindy can have Sleepy Joe!

The comments come as Ms McCain finds herself at the heart of a burgeoning coalition of prominent Republicans both past and present who have endorsed Mr Biden for the presidency, not because of his positions on policy, but instead what she has said is his moral character and commitment to American values.

In a tweet of her own, Ms McCain wrote on Tuesday: 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.

Mr Trump regularly criticised Mr McCain while running for president and later when the two worked together in Washington, denying he was a war hero and saying he preferred veterans who werent captured by the enemy during their service.

He also rebuked the late senators position on health care and blamed him in part for the Republican Partys failure to repeal components of the Affordable Care Act in 2017.

He appeared to be once again sharpening his criticism of the prominent conservative political family as Ms McCain officially endorsed his opponent.

The Arizona Republican widow to the late senator spoke at the Democratic National Convention about her husbands friendship with Mr Biden, though she did not pledge her support to the Democratic nominee at the time.

Mr Trump remained in a close race against Mr Biden in Arizona, a state that some analysts have said has the potential of flipping to blue come the November election.

Other prominent Republicans like Ms McCain have also announced their support for Mr Biden, including Jennifer Horn, Rick Wilson and George Conway, all notable conservatives who launched the anti-Trump political group called Project Lincoln.

Mr Biden meanwhile thanked Ms McCain for her endorsement this week, writing in a statement posted to Twitter: 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.
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.
PEPPER PIKE, Ohio  Its uncertain what children who live in the Orange City School District will do on Halloween this year, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

But the mayors from the municipalities that serve the district seem to agree that the traditional trick-or-treat on Oct. 31 is not going to work.

I think its not a good time to have Halloween in so many ways, simply because of the passing of the candy, Pepper Pike Mayor Richard Bain said at the Orange Board of Educations meeting with the mayors Tuesday (Sept. 22). I dont want 30 different fingers going into a candy bowl.

Orange Mayor Kathy U. Mulcahy brought up the topic, noting that the five communities normally coordinate what theyre doing for Halloween.

Id like to cancel Halloween, she said. But what if we did like we did with the (Orange) High School seniors (earlier this year), and we just had some people driving through the communities, and the kids could stand at their driveways with their costumes, and they can throw candy at the kids?

Other mayors who participated in the virtual meeting, live-streamed on YouTube, were Bruce Mavec of Hunting Valley and Ben Holbert of Woodmere. Mayor Daniel Fritz of Moreland Hills was unable to attend.

Holbert said a representative of the Eton Chagrin Boulevard shopping center in Woodmere has indicated that they want to do something sort of like a drive by, or a distribution (of candy) in that way, in Eton.

Its still in the development stages, but they reached out to us to see if we would have our police available or any other resources, he said. Were still working on it.

Lynn Campbell, superintendent of Orange City Schools, said Jill Korsok, director of Orange Community Education and Recreation, has talked to him about a variation of the Trunk or Treat event that OCER has held in recent years at the Pepper Pike Learning Center on the Orange Schools campus.

I believe it involves the kids and their families staying in their cars, Campbell said. "I dont have all the details.

(It may involve) hiring a company to broadcast a big-screen movie, so they might watch a movie from their cars. But there wont be any kids walking around or anything like that; thats not going to happen.

Campbell said he would meet with Korsok soon to discuss the plan. He noted she may share her ideas about it with the school board at its next regular meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday (Sept. 29).

If they want to do that and they can do it safely, maybe just let them coordinate it and be done (with Halloween), Bain said.

School board member Melanie Weltman said, I think we would really have to think through the details of that event because how do you hand out candy? How is that happening?

Just because its somewhat better doesnt mean its good, she said.

Weltman said turnouts have been large for the Trunk or Treat event in the past, with possibly 1,000 children taking part.

Can we limit it to the community, perhaps, if we do it? she asked. I think people were coming from far and wide, and we need to keep the numbers down.

Return to school top priority

Weltman said whatever is decided upon, the Orange Schools should be coordinating it, because it really impacts our kids.

I have a lot of trepidation about kids congregating and moving around, she said. For me, I guess keeping (cases of the coronavirus) down and if we could possibly get these kids back in school is a higher priority.

Campbell had said earlier in the meeting that the Orange Schools are still aiming for a return to in-person learning  in a hybrid model  on Oct. 19, if Cuyahoga County remains at Level 2 (orange) or improves to Level 1 (yellow) on the Ohio Public Health Advisory Alert System.

The district opened the school year Aug. 27 in a fully remote model, based on the July 30 recommendation by the Cuyahoga County Board of Health to do so.

I dont want to be the person whos not fun, Weltman said. "But if we can come up with some kind of alternative event that could be fun for the kids, this might be the year to try and do that.

We have to think out of the box. I think its an important conversation that we have to have, sooner rather than later.

Bain said he agrees with Weltman.

I think the priority has to be on getting the kids back to school healthy, staying in school, and to throw in this random element seems pretty problematic to me, he said. "The Eton thing, it just sounds like a mass congregation event.

Everything concerns me about this idea  a lot of work to go into handing some children some candy.

Bain said he understands children will be disappointed if theres no trick-or-treat-type activity for them.

I dont know that the payoff is worthwhile, the risk thats involved in trying to engineer something like this, he said.

Board President Beth Wilson-Fish said if the districts plans go as anticipated, with a return to school buildings on Oct. 19, we will have just gotten a couple weeks under our belt of in-person learning.

To throw a wrench in like this and have something like this cause us to go remote would be disappointing, she said. We have to be extremely careful.

Weltman agreed.

I think we have to talk through the details and figure out what our priorities are and focus in on those, she said. Priorities to me would be, obviously, the health of the larger community, getting our kids back in school, if thats feasible and safe, and then we work from there.

Holbert said hell share the concerns expressed with his contacts at Eton Chagrin.

I dont believe this was something they were definitely going to do, he said. "They were checking to see what the possibility would be.

This is great feedback, and Ill share it with them to make sure that were all on the same page.

Mulcahy said the mayors and school board should continue to communicate about Halloween until a decision is reached  the sooner, the better.

She noted the Ohio Department of Health recently released some guidance on how communities should handle Halloween during the pandemic.

Let me take a look at what the state guidelines were, and we should communicate, Bain told Mulcahy.

Update on remote learning

Campbell said the districts remote learning is going rather well.

Weve gotten positive feedback, he said. "I mean, its not perfect. Some kids do better than others with remote learning. Wi-Fi issues can pop up, even in the best organized setting.

But overall, Id say the general feedback has been people are very happy with the improvements, especially considering what happened in the spring with things being flung upon all the districts across the state with full remote learning.

All K-12 schools in Ohio were forced into remote learning in March, when Gov. Mike DeWine ordered the closure of all school buildings statewide to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Campbell said enrollment in the district has remained steady, despite the full remote learning.

There have been some families leave, he said. "But our enrollment matches where we were last year, with students coming and going.

We also gained a lot of students from non-public schools around us. So all in all, in the year we are net up 34 students overall in our enrollment.

The largest area of decline in enrollment has been in kindergarten, Campbell said.

I believe we had 14 kindergartners whose parents opted to take them elsewhere, probably for a face-to-face option, because we dont have (that) for kindergarten right now, he said. But we gained a lot of students, too.

Campbell noted the district has held two Facebook Live sessions, in which he provided updates and community members were invited to send in questions.

Campbell and the districts principals will host another virtual town hall meeting to update the community and answer questions via Zoom from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday (Sept. 24). The Zoom link will be shared on the districts website and emailed to parents.

Campbell noted all K-12 school districts in Ohio are now required to report any confirmed cases of COVID-19 to their assigned local health department, which then reports them to the Ohio Department of Health.

He said the Orange district has had only one case of a student who tested positive for COVID-19, but the student has not been on the schools' campus. There was also one non-teaching staff member, who also has not been on the campus since August, who tested positive, he said.

No teachers have reported positive tests, he added.
The Trump administration has sketched out a framework that it hopes will avoid a three-way arms race as a deadline nears for extending the only remaining nuclear arms control deal with Russia and as China looks to expand its nuclear forces.

Marshall Billingslea, the special presidential envoy for arms control, spoke with The Associated Press about negotiations with Russia while touring some of the top nuclear research labs and production sites in the United States.

His visit earlier this month to New Mexico, Texas and Tennessee comes as facilities ramp up modernization of the countrys multibillion-dollar nuclear enterprise, which includes capabilities for producing the plutonium cores used in warheads and technology for aiding nonproliferation of weapons around the globe.

Billingslea said the proposed agreement would be ambitious and that the time is right to go down this path.

As President Trump has made clear, he intends to and has shown a way ahead with the Russian federation  and ultimately with China  that we can do something that no one has ever done before, he said.

Signed in 2010, the New START treaty limits the United States and Russia to no more than 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads and 700 deployed missiles and bombers. It represents the only remaining nuclear arms control deal between the two countries after they both withdrew from the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty last year.

Billingslea said the existing New START treaty has loopholes and that any new agreement with Russia should cover all nuclear warheads and bolster verification protocols and transparency. With such an agreement in place, he said China ultimately would not have much of a choice and would need to join such a framework.

The world is not going to sit by and allow China to simply do what it currently thinks its going to do in terms of more than doubling its nuclear stockpile, he said. So the president has made clear he doesnt want a three-way arms race. Its completely counterproductive and unnecessary.

Arguing that its stockpile is small, China has said it would participate only if the U.S. agrees to nuclear parity among all nations. Russia has suggested that if China were part of the pact, other countries would need to be included as well.

Billingslea said the U.S. wants to work toward joint verification experiments with Russia and China, noting that previous iterations of the treaty had allowed for such work before it was renegotiated a decade ago by the Obama administration.

We need to get the experts together to get comfortable with technical solutions that enable meaningful arms control going forward, he said, with the goal being security and stability in Europe and Asia.

Still, the Trump administration and Congress are pushing ahead with plans started during the Obama administration to ensure the United States own nuclear capabilities. Billions of dollars are being funneled toward work to replace aging plutonium cores in the arsenal and projects managed by the National Nuclear Security Administration at Los Alamos and Sandia national labs in New Mexico and other federal sites tied to the nuclear program.

Much of the infrastructure across the complex is decades old. NNSA Administrator Lisa Gordon-Hagerty, who also visited recently, said work has been deferred in some cases for as many as 30 years.
Chronic, prolonged stress can cause serious health problems, like anxiety and depression, high blood pressure, heart arrhythmias, obesity, and the list goes on, but could long-term stress, like what we are experiencing right now during this pandemic, impact the health of our next generation?
Robert Van Houweling cant remember seeing political flip-flopping like this before. And the UC Berkeley political science professor has studied doublespeak for a decade.

At least not this self-evident, Van Houweling said of the revisionist history that Republican senators have spun since Friday to justify their reasoning for when to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court.

Four years ago, Republican senators said one thing about confirming a new justice in the last year of a presidents term and today  when its their partys president in the White House  most of them are saying something else. Democrats have done their share of pirouetting from 2016, too.

But do voters care that senators are contradicting positions they once held? Or do they just expect that all politicians lie all the time and will ignore it after President Trump nominates Ginsburgs replacement Saturday?

The answer is complicated, said Stanford Professor Jon Krosnick, who has been researching the impact of candidates flipping their positions on policy issues.

Voters can care, said Krosnick, a professor of communication, political science and psychology. But the word hypocritical has five syllables in it. Its not something that people say in bars over beers.

Republican senators wont pay a price for their pretzel logic, he said, unless Democrats spend a lot of money making sure voters know about it in simple, straightforward terms.

The money has been rolling in to Democrats since Ginsburgs death  more than $160 million has come into the online fundraising site ActBlue alone  and commercials pounding home this message are starting to appear, featuring prominent Republicans including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham taking one line in past years and another now.

But even armed with video evidence, Krosnick said, it will be hard to get voters to care passionately about these contradictions because on one level, theyre about a procedural issue  when to schedule a Supreme Court vote. Voters care more about policy flip-flops, he said, such as when politicians first endorse, say, an expansion of Medicare and then back away.

Lets back up a minute to review how we got here.

Four years ago, then-President Barack Obama nominated Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia. But McConnell refused to let senators vote on Garland. His reasoning then: It was too close  237 days  to the election.

The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court justice, the Kentucky Republican said in 2016. Therefore, this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new president.

McConnell was betting the new president would be a Republican, and he won when Trump defeated Hillary Clinton. Trump went on to put Neil Gorsuch in Scalias seat.

But McConnells reasoning changed when Ginsburg died 46 days before this years election. This time, he isnt talking about the American people having a voice in choosing the next justice.

Since the 1880s, no Senate has confirmed an opposite-party presidents Supreme Court nominee in a presidential election year, McConnell said in justifying his switch.

This is the line GOP senators have adopted to protect themselves against accusations of flip-flopping: Its a different situation because the White House and Senate are controlled by the same party.

Democrats see it as a rationalization for a naked power play, but thats not necessarily what voters will conclude, said Christian Grose, a University of Southern California political scientist who has published research on how senators take positions. For people who arent hard-core partisans, he said, any explanation will do.

Senators can take contrary positions to what some voters want, but if they are able to explain that change of position clearly, then voters will not punish them, Grose said. Voters who agree with their position will support them and voters who disagree wont like their position, but are more amenable to the flip-flop if a clear and good explanation is provided.

The first polls suggest that voters are divided on the court issue. Half of the registered voters surveyed in a Poltico/Morning Consult poll released Monday said the November election winner should pick Ginsburgs replacement, while 37% said Trump should since he is the current president.

Democrats havent been flip-free in this story. Four years ago, for example, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York led his party in urging the Senate to vote on the Garland nomination, arguing that it is the Senates duty to hold hearings and vote on the nominee based on the merits.

But Schumer has done a 180 this time, even though McConnell has said almost exactly that same thing  that the Senate is obligated to vote on the nominee based on merits. Schumer justified his new stance by basing it on Ginsburgs reported last wish that her replacement be named by the next president.

Theres a danger that as partisans retreat to their respective corners with their respective justifications, independent and undecided voters will just shake their heads.

It will continue to make them feel that politicians are disgusting, said Laura Stoker, a professor emerita of political science at UC Berkeley who has done extensive research on political cynicism. This kind of thing does indeed fuel cynicism, and rightly so. People feel that this is what politicians do.

But will enough feel this way to affect the election? No, Stoker said. It will only move a few people at the margins.

All this flip-flopping isnt surprising from a psychological perspective, said Norbert Schwarz of the USC Dornsife Mind and Society Center, who studies how people make decisions. People  not just politicians  behave like this all the time through a process called motivated reasoning, he said.

McConnell offered a new reasoning for changing positions, saying the circumstances were different from 2016. Schwarz said people will agree with that if they like the result  a conservative justice on the court  and disagree if they dont.

Its like how you feel when a couple you know gets a divorce, Schwarz said. You may side with one person because you like them better and think the other is a monster.

But this isnt a bad marriage, its the nations future. When the dust settles, Schwarz said, the big loser is going to be trust in the Supreme Court. Even more people will see it as a place thats all about politics.

Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli
Members of the newly created Oti Regional House of Chiefs have expressed profound gratitude to President Akufo-Addo for fulfilling his campaign promise of creating the region.

The Oti Region was carved out of the Volta Region after an emphatic 'Yes Vote' in a referendum last year.

The process was completed with a historic inauguration of the Oti Regional House of Chiefs by Vice President Bawumia on Tuesday, September 22, at Dambai.

Nana Mprah Besemuna III, Paramount Chief of Karachi Traditional Area, at a colourful inauguration at Dambai, expressed the appreciation to the Government on behalf of the chiefs and the people.

The traditional authorities could not hide their excitement and gratitude to see their dream become a reality.

"Thank you for giving us an identity with the creation of the new region," Nana Besemuna said in an address.

He said the creation of the region had given them an identity, and they would remain thankful to President Akufo-Addo.

Vice President Bawumia, on his part, said the creation of the six new regions had re-demarcated the administrative boundaries of the country and would help speed up development.

He said government was committed to bringing democracy to the people and urged the chiefs to be part of the process, using their revered institution.

"As the President said in Goaso during the inauguration of the Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs, Government is determined to bring governance closer to the people, and expand the boundaries of democracy in our country, he said.

"We are counting on you to help shape and integrate yourselves into these developments. This way, the peculiarly Ghanaian contribution to the concept of governance, which emanates from the integration of royal, aristocratic institutions into the fabric of a republican, democratic framework, will be enhanced and strengthened to the benefit of the Ghanaian people."

"I urge you to speak out and join Government's fight against the ills of our society  corruption, social and economic injustice, crime, and the illegal mining menace, popularly referred to as galamsey.

"As chiefs, you have a responsibility, as was done in the days of our forefathers, to help preserve our lands, water bodies and environment."

As a new region, the Vice President assured the chiefs of government's readiness to build a new regional hospital as part of the Akufo-Addo government's Agenda 111 Health Project.

The Vice President updated the chiefs on the development projects in the region and said:

"There were 299 projects being executed in the Region, with 159 completed, and the remaining 140 ongoing. These are projects in education, health, roads, water and sanitation."

Fourteen flagship policies have been successfully implemented and these include the Free Senior High School, Planting for Food and Jobs, One District One Factory, One District One Warehouse, One constituency one ambulance, NaBCo, Zongo Development Fund, and provision of free electricity and water to reduce the suffering of the people due to the covid-19 pandemic.

The people of Oti have seen a lot of development and improvement in livelihoods in less than four years under President Akufo-Addo. We therefore need to protect all these achievements as we seek to do more in the next four years with your support, Dr Bawumia said.
Houston police are searching for a fisherman who went missing Tuesday evening in Brays Bayou.

The man waded into the water around 6 p.m. at East Navigation and Harrisburg, in Houston's East End, to fetch a fishing line and did not return, police said.

Houston police and the U.S. Coast Guard are searching the area with boats.

There does not appear to be significant flooding in that area from Tropical Depression Beta, according to the Harris County Flood Control District map. Photos shared by the Houston Police Department shows the bayou within its banks.
All is not well between the BJP and its allies, most of them regional parties, for the simple reason that they resent the fact that the saffron party is trying to expand its base at their cost. Even as the allies are leaving the NDA on some pretext or the other, the BJP is not worried because it has an absolute majority in the Lok Sabha and is close to the majority in the House of Elders.

Though Prime Minister Narendra Modi had included the allies in his cabinet, both in 2014 and also in 2019, the murmurs have not died down. PM Modi had said once that he believes that coalitions are necessary for Indian democracy and his government would combine national ambition and regional aspirations.

Pertinently, the BJP leadership did not go out of the way to stop the Telugu Desam Party or Shiv Sena from leaving the NDA last year. The leadership also did not persuade them from leaving. The same attitude was shown this week when the Akali Dals lone minister, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, resigned from the Modi cabinet, protesting against the three farm bills passed by Parliament. It was an attitude of Go if you want. In the past six years, many allies have left the coalition but new allies also joined the NDA.

The BJP had five main alliance partners  Telugu Desam, Akali Dal, Shiv Sena, PDP, and JD(U). Except for the JD(U), Sena and Telugu Desam left the coalition last year and the Akali Dal is in the process of doing the same. The BJP dumped the PDP. The result is that the NDA has weakened.

So what makes the BJP behave like this? It is not as if the BJP does not need the allies at all as in the Rajya Sabha, it has only 87 seats in the 250-member House though together with the allies it has crossed the 100-mark.

In the 17th Lok Sabha, the NDA has 335 members. The BJP does not need allies in 334 seats and is dependent on allies in 212 seats. When the BJP came to power in 2014, it had only 23 Rajya Sabha seats but today, it has 87. So far, the party has managed to push even controversial bills like the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir and CAA by dividing the opposition. The three farm bills were also passed in a similar manner.

Second, most of the allies are regional and small parties who have no influence in other states.

Third, the equation between the BJP leadership and their allies have changed. Vajpayee and Advani dealt with seniors like Bal Thackeray, Parkash Singh Badal and Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. The second generation has taken over and the BJP too has changed after Modi took over. Also, the ties in the Modi era are not that easy for the allies. That is why Telugu Desam and Shiv Sena left and the Akali Dal is worried.

The BJP has expanded its base in the past six years and has become the richest party. It has a major presence in most big states and is now eyeing the south and the northeast for expansion. It has replaced the Left in Tripura and edged Congress out in West Bengal and Odisha as the main challenger to the ruling party. Modi wants to keep the door open for any ally to come back.

Notwithstanding the concerns of its allies, the BJP is aggressively pursuing its objective of coming to power in states where it is not in the government. PM Modi is in a strong position right now as it is the allies who need the BJP and not the other way round when the BJP needed the allies. The only option for the party is to consolidate Hindu voters even further by eating into the votes of its allies.

There was a time the BJP was untouchable but it is not so anymore. States like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Punjab have proven to be more resilient to the BJPs expansion efforts than expected.

The NDA allies have many grievances. They feel that the BJP does not consult them on important matters. The allies often look back to the Vajpayee-era where an ally was chosen for the conveners post while Vajpayee remained the chairman of the NDA. There are no meetings of the NDA.

The Modi regime wants to have ties in which the BJP stands to gain from whatever losses the other parties suffer. This has mostly worked in the past six years.

The BJP is indeed well within its right to expand its base and in times to come, to go solo. In any case, before the next elections, new alliances might be forged and old allies might come back. Moreover, the BJP is preparing for going solo from now. The BJP leadership believes that as long as the party remains electorally strong and controls the levers of government at the Centre and in states, its allies will stick around. In any case, the next elections are four years away.
An application to allow a man currently awaiting trial on a charge of murdering his wife to return to the family home in Donegal was refused by a senior judge.

Stephen McKinney is accused of murdering his wife Lu Na (35), who died after entering the water in the Lower Lough Erne area of Fermanagh in April 2017.

The couple had been on a boating holiday when Mrs McKinney drowned, and her husband Stephen (44) was charged with - and denies - murdering the mother-of-two.

As part of his bail, the accused is currently residing at Castletown Square in Fintona.

Earlier this year, a trial was held at Dungannon Crown Court, but had to be aborted due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

McKinney - who has been on bail since January 2018 - launched an application to vary the conditions imposed, which would allow him to return to the family home in Convoy, Co Donegal.

The application was heard at Belfast Crown Court, sitting in the High Court.

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The application was objected to by the Crown, with a prosecutor saying that if conditions such as tagging, residency and curfew were removed, it would be impossible for McKinney to be monitored by the PSNI.

Defence barrister Martin O'Rourke QC said that when bail was first granted in January 2018, there was "very little evidence" of how McKinney would behave regarding the impending trial.

Pointing out that his client attended every day of the trial held earlier this year, Mr O'Rourke said it was through no fault of McKinney's that the hearing was aborted.

The defence barrister told Madam Justice McBride: "The position is that his trial is, realistically, not going to occur before the Spring 2021, and there is a very realistic chance that it could be substantially longer than that."

Pointing out that McKinney has adhered to all bail conditions, has not re-offended and turned up on time for his trial every day, Mr O'Rourke said "the court is in a position to re-assess the attitude of the defendant more clearly now."

Mr O'Rourke said McKinney was "extremely anxious to have his trial held at the earliest opportunity", adding "he was extremely disappointed the trial had to be aborted."

The barrister asked the Judge to vary elements of McKinney's bail, which would allow him to return to his home in Convoy.

Rejecting suggestions that his client was likely to abscond, Mr O'Rourke said McKinney could report to police in Strabane via a telephone call or via Zoom, or that the Guards could assist by ensuring McKinney was living in Convoy.

Madam Justice McBride raised Crown concerns that McKinney would abscond to China. After pointing out that McKinney surrendered his passport, Mr O'Rourke said that whilst his client lived and worked in China for a period, he didn't have property, business or financial interests there.

Crown barrister Michael Chambers re-inforced objections to the application to vary bail, and said that if the conditions of tagging, residency and curfew were removed, it would be very difficult for police to monitor him.

Expressing concerns that there would be nothing to stop McKinney from absconding, Mr Chambers said that should McKinney flee, the PSNI "would not be aware he had absconded for some period of time."

Mr Chambers added that should McKinney be allowed to return to Co Donegal, the PSNI would have "no way of ensuring he was adhering" to any bail conditions.

After listening to submissions made by both the Crown and defence, Madam Justice McBride said she accepted McKinney has not breached any of his bail conditions.

She also accepted that he turned up for trial daily, and that the halting of the hearing in March was in no way his fault.

However, she said that concerns McKinney may not turn up for trial remained a "real and substantial risk" given that he has links to China and has expressed an interest to return there.

The Judge said that due to this risk, and to ensure he does not abscond, she was "not prepared to accede to this application to vary the bail conditions at this time."

After she refused the application, Madam Justice McBride spoke of a lack of court accommodation required to host trials due to the current pandemic.

Saying she would re-list the case for review in November, the Judge expressed the hope that progress will have been made by then to secure a new trial date.
By Panarat Thepgumpanat

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Hundreds of Thai royalists marched to parliament on Wednesday to oppose calls from anti-government protesters for changes to the constitution as the assembly met to consider amending it.

The special session of parliament was convened after nearly two months of protests - the biggest of which drew tens of thousands of people at the weekend in the Southeast Asian country.

Protesters seek to change a constitution they say was engineered to ensure former junta leader Prayuth Chan-ocha stayed on as prime minister after last year's election.

They want his departure and some protesters also say the constitution gives too much power to King Maha Vajiralongkorn.

The 2017 constitution was written by a military-appointed committee and passed a nationwide referendum in 2016 at which opposition campaigning was banned. Prayuth said the 2019 election was fair.

Warong Dechgitvigrom, who led the march to parliament by the royalist Thai Pakdee group, said he had submitted a petition with 130,000 signatures opposing constitutional change.

"To amend the 2017 constitution, another nationwide referendum must be done," Warong told Reuters. "Nothing good would come out of this amendment. It will only benefit politicians."

The group's move came after Thai legal watchdog group iLaw submitted a charter draft to parliament on Tuesday ahead of Wednesday's consideration.

But the parliament secretary said that draft, backed by over 100,000 signatures, would not be considered this week because the signatures must be verified first.

Parliament will decide on Thursday how and what part of the constitution will be amended. Protesters plan to rally outside the parliament to apply pressure.

Parliament is made up of an elected lower House of Representatives, in which Prayuth's backers increased their majority after a ban on a major opposition party early this year.

Members of the Senate, parliament's upper house, were all selected by Prayuth's former junta.

(Writing by Patpicha Tanakasempipat; Editing by Matthew Tostevin)
VANCOUVER, BC, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Body and Mind Inc. (CSE: BAMM) (OTCQB: BMMJ) (the "Company" or "BaM"), a debt free multi-state operator focused on limited license markets, is pleased to report the launch of Pretzel Bites into the California market and engagement of Harbor Access LLC for investor relations services.

"We are excited to expand our California branded product portfolio with the addition of our popular Pretzel Bites edibles," stated Michael Mills, CEO of Body and Mind. "We have been selling Pretzel Bites in the Nevada market with strong customer feedback and special releases including Fourth of July and Electric Circus drops. We feel Pretzel Bites are a timely addition to the expanding California market of new and cannacurious consumers who are seeking tested, tasty alternatives to inhaled consumption. Our pretzel bites each contain 10mg of THC distillate in butter caramel squeezed between salted pretzels and dipped in milk chocolate. Pretzel bites add to our expanding California branded product portfolio, which includes BaM Stix prerolls, Body and Mind preroll packs, distillate and live-resin cartridges, G-Pen cartridges and concentrates including live resin, shatter and wax."

View pretzel bites at https://youtu.be/UoSM_ROiOWg

Ohio Dispensary and Production Facility

The Company is in the process of rebranding the Ohio dispensary to a Body and Mind branded operation. The Company continues to advance development of the Ohio production facility with the intent of expanding the Body and Mind product portfolio to Ohio when the facility is complete. The Company has secured a long-term lease on a facility near the dispensary and has secured a conditional use permit for the production facility.

Arkansas Cultivation Facility

Construction for the cultivation area of the Arkansas facility was completed prior to the opening of the dispensary in April and the Company is advancing procurement of cultivation equipment including lights, trays, and systems.

Investor Relations Update

The Company is pleased to announce the engagement of Harbor Access LLC to provide investor relations services in the United States and Canada. "We look forward to working with the Body and Mind team building upon their achievements to date. Michael and team have built an impressive MSO business which we believe will resonate with US, Canada and European institutional investors," stated Jonathan Paterson, Managing Partner of Harbor Access.

Harbor Access represents and advises micro to mega market cap companies. They have a measured approach to creating a strategic capital market communications program, which helps optimize their client's market visibility. Harbor Access brings extensive global experience and professionalism to each client and customizes every solution to meet their client's goals. For more information about Harbor Access, please visit www.harboraccessllc.com

About Body and Mind Inc.

BaM is a debt free publicly traded company investing in high quality medical and recreational cannabis cultivation, production and retail. Our wholly owned Nevada subsidiary was awarded one of the first medical marijuana cultivation licenses and holds cultivation and production licenses. BaM products include dried flower, edibles, oils and extracts as well as GPEN Gio cartridges. BaM cannabis strains have won numerous awards including the 2019 Las Vegas Weekly Bud Bracket, Las Vegas Hempfest Cup 2016, High Times Top Ten, the NorCal Secret Cup and the Emerald Cup.

BaM continues to expand operations in Nevada, California, Arkansas and Ohio and is dedicated to increasing shareholder value by focusing resources on improving operational efficiencies, facility expansions, state licensing opportunities as well as mergers and acquisitions.

Please visit www.bamcannabis.com for more information.

Instagram: @bodyandmindBaM

Twitter: @bodyandmindBaM

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Safe Harbor Statement

Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, the information presented in this news release constitutes "forward-looking statements" as such term is used in applicable United States and Canadian laws. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Any other statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans, "estimates" or "intends", or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and should be viewed as "forward-looking statements". Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others, the actual results of activities, variations in the underlying assumptions associated with the estimation of activities, the availability of capital to fund programs and the resulting dilution caused by the raising of capital through the sale of shares, accidents, labor disputes and other risks. 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 statements, 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 statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this news release and in any document referred to in this news release.

Certain matters discussed in this news release and oral statements made from time to time by representatives of the Company may constitute forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be achieved. Forward-looking information is subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Many of these factors are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict. Important factors that may cause actual results to differ materially and that could impact the Company and the statements contained in this news release can be found in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities.

SOURCE Body and Mind Inc.

Related Links

https://bamcannabis.com/


Recently, a paper published in the Ghanaweb.com indicated that Ghana is the largest producer of gold in Africa. But though this good news is the real truth about a rich Gold deposit, there is also other available information which shows that the country is very likely not receiving its fair share of wealth from gold exports.

While this unfortunate matter is being investigated by other external forces such as the USA, the activities of the Dubai-based gold trader and refiner, Kaloti Jewellery Group that is Ghana's trade partner has been closed without any action.

However, the investigation has unfolded that some Ghana gold exporters received part of the multi-billion-dollar payments made by Kaloti and other businesses to companies and individuals around the world. This new leak of confidential documents has been made apparent because of the strenuous effort put in by the United States Department of Treasury. Again here these exporters from Ghana, however, have not been cited for misconduct.

It will interest many Ghanaians that the five gold exporters in Ghana that have been mentioned in connection with these highly apprehensive dealings with businesses with Ghana government that includes Kaloti, had transferred of funds within the gold industry amounting to $2.8 billion. These have not been accounted for by the government.

But these are the things that President Nana Akuffo-Addo and his Vice President Dr. Bawumia have resolved to put an end to it. Following the mechanisms governing some of the rich resourceful countries in the northern hemisphere, they have adopted what has been termed the Agyapa deal so that funds from this potentially rich nation could not divert into wrong accounts by corrupt politicians that have preceded their government.

There is ample evidence that the experienced politicians of this well-to-do NPP party that includes the Yale University graduate, Kennedy Ofori-Atta, the nation will be geared toward success and prosperity. This time the party members know that it will be a big mistake to play with the power and through their negligence allow the destroyers to come to power so soon.

With the following developments and policies in place, Ghana will be counted in the future as members of those nations in the world that appreciate to live in their own country and support their government at home. The following will make Ghanaians one of the ten nations that reckon to be happy in the world. Some of these indicators have already been implemented, and the remaining ones are already been concluded. The President has already appointed committees to see it that they are implemented as soon as possible:

1. Free SHS

2. Access to student loans to study at a University of choice without a guarantor.

3. National Health Insurance

4. Unemployment insurance

5. Welfare for Cocoa farmers and pension schemes.

6. Rationalization of fair prices of tickets when all the Trotros have been banned from the big cities.

7. National Identification Card.

8. School Feeding Programme

9. Agyapa deal

Of course not individuals, but some Regions are going to be richer than others (e.g. read about Norway and Sweden) because of the manner they diligently exploit the resources in their areas (minerals, cocoa, and oil) and the ability they have to gather and improvise other taxes. Some regions such as the Volta region, despite their aggressive manner of wanting to lead the nation by their politicians, have virtually NOT developed their local economy in that part of the world. It is sad when you consider the fact that this is a region where water is available to be utilized for modern irrigation. The freshwater from the Volta Lake entering the sea at Kpone could be harnessed for major development in the area.

As Ghanaians become members of those that feel satisfied to be on this earth, they may have to combat discrimination that is going on in other parts of Africa. For instance, in the Republic of Togo even though the Ewe people are the majority, a smaller group that migrated from Nigeria somewhere along the line who are known as the Kable folk has monopolized power away from the Ewe majority. Ironically, the little Ewe group in Ghana are claiming to be independent of mother Ghana. God knows whether another minority will not come again from a neighboring country to oppress them as it is happening in the Republic of Togo!

MARKS OF A HIGH WELL-CULTURED SOCIETY

The following are marks of a well-cultured society. Ghanaians have to adapt to the use of these same institutions that have helped the United Kingdom and Germany to have developed their environments well the last 500 years ago.

The authorities must ponder on these factors which can help them to be considered well cultured in the world:

1. Take care of canals and fence them with concrete and stones.

2. Plant good trees to provide shades and ventilation for the city dwellers.

3. Build swimming pools for workers and pensioners to swim and relax during breaks.

4. Provide Sculptures and Statues to be admired and enjoyed in your cities by citizens.

5. Concert halls and theatres to be enjoyed and raise spirits.

6. City Libraries for readers, students, pensioners, and politicians.

7. Other essential activities to entertain those not in active duties such as Cafe, Restaurants, Bars, Cinemas, Boat Kryssning, or tour on the seas.

8. They take village life in the woods very essential because that is where they experience immense relaxation after hectic hustle in the cities.

DEVELOP A READING CULTURE LIKE THE UNITED KINGDOM

Apart from the introduction of Free SHS by the present government and the emergence of student loans for University students, politicians should carry out the message of a good development of reading habits.

The larger part of wisdom inhabits books. Not in what a person sees or hears. These could not protect our forefathers from selling their brothers and sisters. So if one is an SHS graduate, University graduate, or a newly sworn-in politician and one does not cultivate the habit of reading, one will still largely remain ignorant in many things. Lack of reading seems to be a disease not only among Black Americans but also among Africans in many countries. One great scholar described why blacks have not developed as whites to be lack reading to gain knowledge because wisdom in larger parts is hidden in books not what one acquires from being in the church services or sees around.

It will surprise you to discover that many gentlemen and women call themselves politicians but these do not read political journals, fiction, newspapers, and books that will make them sharp in their professions as politicians.

As an opposition member, it does not mean an individual should always say something negative about what the ruling government suggests or brings out. That is not the description of being in opposition. It seems many renowned politicians do understand the word, its meaning, and overall response of how to behave as an opposition member. People always have something to say about what is being suggested. They do not offer constructive criticisms about the case on the board for discussion. Rather than opening a person's mouth to oppose, one should be able to admit when something suggested is good for the community at the same time that one should be able to provide positive criticisms to imply the other way round.

Organize training and educative conferences for the novice politician are the usual manners they could shun the behavior of saying all the time negative things about what the ruling government comes out with that sometimes people do not comprehend in the first place.
French aerospace major Dassault Aviation and European missile maker MBDA are yet to fulfil their offset obligations of offering high technology to India under the Rafale aircraft deal, the Comptroller and Auditor General said in a report released on Wednesday.

The Dassault Aviation is the manufacturer of the Rafale jets while the MBDA supplied the missile systems for the aircraft.

India had signed an inter-governmental agreement with France in September 2016 to procure 36 Rafale jets at a cost of Rs 59,000 crore, and the offset obligations were part of the contract.

In its report tabled in Parliament, the national auditor said the Dassault Aviation and the MBDA proposed in September 2015 to discharge 30 per cent of their offset obligations by offering high technology to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), but the two firms are yet to do it.

The DRDO was looking for French technnology for indigenous development of an engine for the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas.

The CAG also painted a grim picture of efficacy of India's offset policy saying it did not find a single case of foreign vendors transferring high technology to the Indian industry, adding defence sector ranked 62nd out of 63 sectors receiving foreign direct investment.

'In the offset contract relating to 36 Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA), the vendors M/s Dassault Aviation and M/s MBDA initially proposed to discharge 30 per cent of their offset obligation by offering high technology to DRDO,' the CAG said.

The first batch of five Rafale jets arrived in India on July 29.

'DRDO wanted to obtain technical assistance for the indigenous development of engine (Kaveri) for the Light Combat Aircraft. Till date the vendor has not confirmed the transfer of this technology,' according to a press release issued by CAG.

Under India's offset policy, foreign defence entities are mandated to spend at least 30 per cent of the total contract value in India through procurement of components or setting up of research and development facilities.

The offset norms are applicable to all capital purchases above Rs 300 crore made through imports. The offset obligations can be made through Foreign Direct Investment, free transfer of technology to Indian firms and purchase of products manufactured by Indian firms.

The auditor said though the vendors failed to keep up their offset commitments, there was no effective means of penalise them.

'Non fulfillment of offset obligations by the vendor especially when the contract period of the main procurement is over, is a direct benefit to the vendor,' it said.

The CAG said as the offset policy has not yielded the desired result, the defence ministry needs to review the policy and its implementation.

'It needs to identify the constraints faced by the foreign suppliers as well as the Indian industry in leveraging the offsets, and find solutions to overcome these constraints,' it said.

The CAG said 48 offset contracts were signed with foreign vendors from 2005 to March 2018 with a total value of Rs 66,427 crore, and Rs 19,223 crore worth of offsets should have been discharged by the vendors by December 2018.

But the amount discharged by them was only Rs 11,396 crore, which was only 59 per cent of the commitment.

'Further, only 48 per cent (Rs 5,457 crore) of these offset claims submitted by the vendors were accepted by the Ministry. The rest were largely rejected as they were not compliant to the contractual conditions and the Defence Procurement Procedure.'

It said the remaining offset commitments of about Rs 55,000 crore would be due to be completed by 2024.

'The rate at which the foreign vendors have been fulfilling their offset commitments was about Rs 1,300 crore per year. Given this situation, fulfilling the commitment of Rs 55,000 crore by the vendors in the next six years remains a major challenge,' the CAG said.

The auditor found that of the total value of offsets, only 3.5 per cent was contracted to be discharged through FDI with Indian Offsets Partners or IOPs, adding it did not find a single case where the foreign vendor had transferred high technology to the Indian industry.

'The defence sector is ranked 62nd out of the 63 sectors in India in terms of FDI. Similarly, there was hardly any equipment supplied 'in kind' to the Indian industry by the foreign vendor. Thus, the objectives of the offset policy remain largely unachieved,' the report said.

The CAG said it undertook the performance audit of the offset policy after a decade of its roll out to assess the extent to which its objectives were met.
The first known direct commercial flight between Israel and Bahrain landed Wednesday in the island kingdom, just a week after it signed a deal alongside the United Arab Emirates to normalize relations.

Flight data showed an Israir Airlines Airbus A320 landed at Bahrain International Airport after a nearly three-hour flight from Tel Aviv's Ben-Gurion International Airport.

There was no immediate acknowledgement of the flight from the Israeli government, though Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday spoke by telephone to Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. Israel's Foreign Ministry declined to comment.

Bahrain's state-run media did not immediately acknowledge the flight. Officials on the island off the coast of Saudi Arabia did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The U.S. Embassy in Manama similarly did not respond to a request for comment.

The flight was made without ceremony, in sharp contrast to the first El Al flight from Israel to the United Arab Emirates at the end of August. That plane carried U.S. and Israeli officials, including President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, as well as media.

The flight Wednesday comes as Israel has gone back into a lockdown over the coronavirus pandemic. In Bahrain, civil society groups have criticized the move to normalize relations with Israel, saying that recognition should come only after Palestinians obtain their own independent state.

Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet and a British naval base, has a predominantly Shiite population ruled by a Sunni royal family. Arab Spring protests there in 2011 ended with authorities cracking down with the help of Saudi and Emirati forces.

Bahrain and the UAE signed normalization agreements Sept. 15 with Israel at the White House, part of a U.S. diplomatic push as Trump seeks re-election.

The UAE and Israel have moved quickly to explore commercial ties after their normalization deal. Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa previously had been quoted as saying he believed Arab countries should drop their boycott of Israel.

___

Associated Press writer Josef Federman in Jerusalem contributed to this report.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday is scheduled to meet the chief ministers of seven states, which are majorly contributing to the countrys Covid-19 caseload. The meeting comes just ahead of the completion of Unlock 4  the last phase of the unlocking, which will end on September 30. After the country went under a nationwide lockdown on March 25, PM Modi held several virtual meetings with the CMs to discuss the Covid-19 situation.

Here is all you need to know about todays meeting

* The chief ministers of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Punjab will attend the meeting.

* These seven states account for 63 per cent of the total Covid-19 cases in the country.

* Maharashtra, Punjab and Delhi are reporting a case fatality rate of at least 2 per cent.

* These states have recently reported a daily uptick in the number of cases as well.

* Centre is sending its team to states to help state governments in containment, surveillance, testing and efficient clinical management. Recently, a team was sent to J&K. The Covid-19 situation of Delhi is also being monitored by a Centre-delhi government joint team. It will be assessed whether these seven states need central guidance at this point of time.

On Tuesday, India crossed the 5.5 million-mark in terms of number of coronavirus disease cases. But the Union health ministry said that the countrys active cases are less than a fifth of the total tally.

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.

Delhi, on the other hand, has recorded 3,816 fresh cases on Tuesday, taking the tally to over 2.53 lakh, while the death count climbed to 5,051.
As per reports, Rhea in her bail appeal has stated that her late boyfriend used to smoke cigarettes containing ganja which he sourced himself and with the help of his working staff. The appeal also stated that she tried to get him off the habit but he developed a deep liking for cannabis cigarettes during the shoot of Kedarnath. There was also a mention of the June 2019 molestation incident that had taken place between her and Sushant's sister Priyanka Singh. Post the quarrel between Sushant and sister Priyanka, Rhea revealed that the late actor's eldest sister Neetu had called and threatened him saying she would file a false criminal case against him. This deeply affected Sushant as he knew Neetu's husband is an IPS officer and would use his connections. Rhea stated that later she reached out to OP Singh and Neetu and told them that they would go to the police about the molestation incident if they filed a false case against Sushant. As per her, this scared them.

Rhea also stated Sushant felt anxious and disturbed by this. Sushant then told her he had a similar incident in 2013 and was treated by Dr Harish Shetty back then.

Rhea Chakraborty judicial custody was extended to October 6 on Tuesday. Her lawyer filed an appeal for bail in the Mumbai High Court for her bail. However, the hearing for the same has now been pushed to tomorrow after Mumbai faced severe rains last night.
The SS Dundalk 1918 Centenary Commemorations group has paid tribute to local man Dessie Morgan, who passed away yesterday.

In a touching tribute on Facebook, the group described Mr Morgan as a "great man" who will forever be remembered as the man who lovingly restored the 'Clock' which was mounted into the memorial on the Navvy Bank in Dundalk.

"It is with great sadness that we confirm the death of the great man himself Dessie Morgan, who passed away yesterday 22nd September.

"Dessie will forever be remembered as the man who lovingly restored the 'Clock' which was mounted into the memorial on the Navvy Bank in Dundalk.

"The clock's arms mark the time 11.10pm when the cargo & passenger ship the SS Dundalk was cruelly struck by a German Submarine and she sank with the loss of 20 lives on 14th October 1918. One of those lost was Dessie's relation Vincent Morgan aged only 23.

"The Morgan family never forgot Vincent and restoring the clock for the memorial was a tribute to him and all hands on board, and Dessie felt very honored. Now we honor Dessie, and every time we pass the memorial it will now stand in his memory also.

"Ar dheis De go raibh a anam / May he Rest In Peace."
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Insomnia causing sleepless nights, daytime fatigue and poor health outcomes is a cycle worth busting, experts say, with depression, anxiety and stress a common co-occurrence.

A study of more than 450 insomnia patients in Australia has confirmed some positive results for such patients with insomnia.

The Flinders University researchers found not only that a program of targeted cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia helps relieve insomniabut also has a positive effect on symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress.

"With COVID-19 and many other stressors in life, treating the worst effects of insomnia may have a transformative effect on a person's wellbeing, mental health and lifestyle," says lead researcher Dr. Alexander Sweetman, from Flinders University's sleep research clinic, the Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health.

"We studied the impact of depression, anxiety, and stress on response to CBTi, in 455 'real world' insomnia patients, from pre-treatment to three-month follow-up," Dr. Sweetman says.

"Insomnia symptoms improved by a similar amount between patients with and without symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress."

Symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress show moderate-to-large improvement following CBTi, the results published in Sleep Medicine show.

Flinders Professor Leon Lack, who runs the insomnia therapy service at the Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health at Bedford Park, says CBT for insomnia ('CBTi') is recommended as the most effective and first-line treatment of insomnia.

As well as face-to-face CBTi therapy available at the Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health, the expert treatment is also available via telehealth options around Australia.

"The revamped insomnia treatment program at Flinders includes a range of treatments provided by experienced psychologists and physicians specializing in the management of sleep disorders, and treatment approaches which are directly based on the highest quality available scientific evidence," says Professor Lack.

"In line with many health services during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Flinders University insomnia treatment program is also available through online and telehealth platforms to people living in rural or remote areas of Australia."

The sleep research team is also rolling out the evidence-backed insomnia CBT program for general practitioners to support people with their sleep problems and avoid the use of sedative hypnotic medication over time.

Explore further Solutions for leading sleep woes

More information: Alexander Sweetman et al, Do symptoms of depression, anxiety or stress impair the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia? A chart-review of 455 patients with chronic insomnia, Sleep Medicine (2020). Journal information: Sleep Medicine Alexander Sweetman et al, Do symptoms of depression, anxiety or stress impair the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia? A chart-review of 455 patients with chronic insomnia,(2020). DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2020.08.023
Taking advantage of low prices in major oil-producing centres in and UAE, India has filled up its strategic reserves to meet its energy needs in times of emergency and saved a neat $685.11 million in the process.

It bought at an average price of $19 per barrel to fill its reserves in April and May when prices reached an all-time low while the US oil touched negative price levels in futures market.

The state-funded reserves are meant to tide over short-term supply disruptions and will take care of India's oil needs for 9.5 days.

The country was already holding half of its total 5.33 million tonnes oil reserves capacity when the government decided to take advantage of the low crude prices.

India's three petroleum reserve caverns at Visakhapatnam (1.33MT), Mangaluru (1.5MT) and Padur (2.5MT), managed by India Strategic Petroleum Reserves Ltd (ISPRL), are now full.

Another 6.5MT facility is coming up at Padur in Karnataka, and Chandikhole in Jajpur.

Work on two more facility at Bikaner in Rajasthan and Rajkot in Gujarat will be initiated soon. When complete, these facilities will hold enough oil to meet domestic requirements for over a month.

The oil ministry has also told the ISPRL to identify new sites so that the storage facility is increased to ensure oil stock of 90-100 days for use in an emergency at all times.

A large strategic oil reserve capacity can benefit even more from lower oil prices as these lead to huge savings for the exchequer.

The ISPRL has signed a memorandum of understanding with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) for the lease of half of its 2.5 million tonnes Padur facility. Last year, it signed an MoU with Saudi Aramco for the lease of a quarter of Padur SPR.

The ISPRL has already leased half of the 1.5 million tonne capacity in Mangaluru storage to ADNOC. It has also filled its 1.03 million tonne Vizag facility with Basra oil from another OPEC producer, Iraq.

--IANS

sn/tsb

(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.)
Knights of Columbus Announces Novena for the Cause of Life

NEWS PROVIDED BYSept. 22, 2020NEW HAVEN, Conn., Sept. 22, 2020 / Standard Newswire / -- 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 American 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 the 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 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 ColumbusCONTACT: Joe Cullen, 203-415-9314, joseph.cullen@kofc.org
The deposits of non-governmental residential clients have gone up in August 2020 by 1.6 pct over the previous month, up to the level of 389.6 billion RON and by 14 pct (11.1 pct in real terms) over the same months of last year, the National Bank of Romania informs through a release sent, on Wednesday, to AGERPRES.

The residents' deposits in RON, with a weight of 64.5 pct of the total deposits of non-governmental clients, have increased by 2.2 pct over July 2020, up to 251.169 billion RON, and by 12.7 pct (9.8 pct in real terms) over August 2019.

According to the National Bank of Romania, the deposits in RON of households increased by 0.2 pct over the previous month, up to 140.632 billion RON, and over August 2019 they recorded an increase of 12.9 pct (10.0 pct in real terms).

The deposits in RON of other sectors (non-financial societies and non-monetary financial institutions) rose by 4.8 pct (up to 110.537 billion RON) over the previous month and by 12.4 pct (9.5 pct in real terms) over the month of August of last year.

The deposits in foreign currency of residents, expressed in RON, representing 35.5 pct of the total deposits of non-governmental clients, increased by 0.5 pct over the month of July 2020, reaching the level of 138.496 billion RON (expressed in euro, they rose by 0.3 pct, up to 28.612 billion euro). Compared to the month of August 2019, the indicator rose by 16.5 pct, expressed in RON, and by 13.9 pct, if expressed in euro.

The deposits in foreign currency of households, expressed in RON, rose by 0.5 pct over July 2020, up to 100.179 billion RON; expressed in euro, they increased by 0.3 pct. Compared to the same period of the previous year, the increase of this indicator expressed in RON was of 16.2 pct and of 13.5 pct if the indicator is expressed in euro.

The deposits in foreign currency of other sectors, expressed in RON, recorded an increase of 0.4 pct over July 2020 (0.2 if the indicator is expressed in euro). Compared to August 2019, this indicator, expressed in RON, increased by 17.6 pct (if expressed in euro, the increase was of 14.9 pct).
Democratic leaders in the House of Representatives on Wednesday introduced an expansive reform package to curb presidential abuses and enhance Congresss ability to provide oversight and maintain the rule of law, which they argue President Donald Trump has repeatedly ignored while in office.

In a news conference, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, flanked by the chairs of several committees including Ways and Means Chairman Rep. Richard Neal of Massachusetts and Intelligence Chairman Rep. Adam Schiff of California, said the Protecting Our Democracy Act would blunt Trumps staggering litany of abuses and ensure they can never happen again by anyone.

The Congress has a sacred obligation for the people to defend the rule of law and restore accountability and basic ethics to our government, she added.

The bill would increase transparency around presidential pardoning powers; block the solicitation of foreign interference in elections by classifying information such as opposition research as a prohibited donation to a campaign; secure the work of inspectors general by barring their firing over political retaliation; increase protections for whistleblowers; and strengthen congressional subpoena powers.

The lawmakers accused Trump of rewarding friends and cronies with pardons; of coercing foreign leaders to help him win re-election; and of ousting inspectors general at the departments of State, Transportation, Defense and others when Trump allies or policies were under investigation.

Congressional subpoenas, Neal told reporters, are not requests that recipients can easily brush aside.

The rule of law applies to every single person in this country including the president and every member of the administration, Neal said.

The legislation would also add teeth to the Hatch Act, which Trump administration officials have violated several times by using their official office to campaign while on duty and through the posting of re-election campaign slogans on taxpayer-backed government social media accounts in defiance of warnings from federal investigators.

Rep. Carolyn Maloney, chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, said Trump officials have openly mocked and flouted the Hatch Act without any accountability from the president. The Democrats' bill would authorize the Office of Special Counsel, which enforces the Hatch Act, to fine senior political appointees who violate the law up to $50,000, Maloney said.

Schiff told reporters that lawmakers do not expect the bill to pass in a Republican Senate led by Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. But he said the provisions in the bill will find bipartisan support if former Vice President Joe Biden wins the White House.

Related Content:
Donald Trump would not commit to peacefully transferring power to Joe Biden if he loses the election in November, instead saying election officials must get rid of any illegal ballots.

Were going to have to see what happens. You know that Ive been complaining very strongly about the ballots. And the ballots are a disaster, Mr Trump said at a press conference on Wednesday, a continuation of his repeated attacks on the integrity of expanded mail-in voting programmes states have rolled out amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The reporter who asked the initial question pressed Mr Trump.

Do you commit to making sure that theres a peaceful transferral of power? the reporter asked.

We want to get rid of the ballots, and youll have a very peaceful  there wont be a transfer, frankly, therell be a continuation, Mr Trump replied.

The ballots are out of control. You know it, he said, to which the reporter objected, No, I dont know it.

Mr Trump continued: And you know who knows it better than anybody else? The Democrats know it better than everybody else.

The president indicated earlier in the day that he expects to contest the presidential election results if he is losing, a move that could send the case to the Supreme Court.

That potential outcome is one of the many reasons he believes Senate Republicans ought to ram through his nominee to replace the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg before 3 November.

I think it's better if you go before the election, because I think this scam that the Democrats are pulling  it's a scam  the scam will be before the United States Supreme Court, the president told reporters at the White House, referring to mail-in votes.

I think having a 4-4 situation is not a good situation, if you get that, Mr Trump said of a Supreme Court that could be stalemated on the election results without its ninth justice.

Study upon study has shown virtually no large-scale voter fraud in the US in recent elections.

Democrats have been warning for months that Mr Trump could try to steal the election by challenging results in key swing states based on bogus voter fraud claims related to mail-in ballots.

Republicans have already sought to curb mail-in voting through litigation at the state level, including in Pennsylvania.

That states supreme court ruled in favour of Democrats last week that election officials could count mail-in ballots that arrive as late as three days after Election Day as long they are post-marked on or before Election Day.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch 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.

Mr Trump plans to announce his selection of a woman to replace Justice Ginsburg on Saturday.
By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 09/22/2020



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alum Tenley Molzahn and her husband Taylor Leopold have welcomed their first child into the world.Tenley took to Instagram on Tuesday to announce she is now a mother of a precious daughter."We've been completely captivated & swept off our feet in love with our precious baby girl, we haven't gotten around to introductions. Please meet our little beauty, Rell Jaymes Leopold," Tenley, 36, captioned a family photo."We are soooo in love, she's absolute perfection. Now here comes the baby spam and all the story telling!"Tenley gave birth on Sunday, September 20 at 4:08AM and her baby was born weighing six pounds and 14 ounces, Us Weekly reported After Tenley her daughter's arrival on Instagram, comments of love and support poured in from members of Bachelor Nation."What a beautiful family!! Congrats, Tenley!!" wrote Jade Roper "SHES SO BEAUTIFUL!!!" gushed Carly Waddell . "Just like her mama!!!! Congratulations!!!!" Arie Luyendyk Jr. wrote, "Congrats!!! So dang cute," and Trista Rehn commented, "BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!! Congratulations mama!! Can't wait to meet her one day! Xoxo." Desiree Hartsock also expressed how "happy" she is for Tenley and Taylor, adding, "She's precious and love her name. Enjoy these special moments."The baby's middle name Jaymes represents both of Rell's grandfathers. Taylor's father is name Jay and Tenley's dad is named Robert James.Tenley announced she was expecting her first child in late March amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.Tenley shared her big news on Instagram at the time by posting three photos with Taylor that showed off her small baby bump."We can't hold this magical little secret in anymore!! Baby Leopold will be joining us in September!" Tenley captioned the slideshow, which featured Tenley looking gorgeous in a long, white dress as well as a strip of ultrasound photos."We've already been having a ton of fun with our little sidekick joining us on memorable worldwide adventures, and now keeping us hopeful in 'Quarantine life.'"Tenley continued by writing, "We pray that this special bit of news brings a little bit of joy & hope during a time of chaos and uncertainty our world is facing right now. And to any longing, & hopeful hearts, our hearts are with you, and prayers are for you. God's plans are always greater than we can ever imagine! Ephesians 3:20."As for Taylor, he wrote on his own Instagram account that he was "super excited to bring a quarentennial into this world!!""Baby Leopold coming in hot!!!" he gushed. "Beyond excited to enter this stage of life with the most wonderful person @tenleymolzahn. I too have been growing, I'm up 6 lbs 10 oz."Tenley and her husband announced they had a baby girl on the way in May.Tenley and Taylor got engaged in January 2018 after two years of dating and wasted no time tying the knot . They enjoyed a wedding ceremony in April 2018 right outside of San Diego, CA.Tenley met the love of her life through a mutual friend who attended the same church as Taylor.After dating the product-line manager for a sandal company for only three weeks, Tenley gushed about how she was "going to marry him."Tenley revealed she was dating a new guy -- and that she was "crazy" about him -- in early February 2016.Tenley told Us of her "gorgeous" Taylor at the time, "His smile is just contagious. He's amazing, his heart is what got me. I had the best first date of my life with him and in that minute of just meeting him, I knew there was something really special about him."Taylor was apparently unaware of Tenley's reality TV past when they began dating, which she saw as a big bonus."I think it's strange for him. He didn't know me from , which is really really cool," Tenley told Us at the time, adding that her man had no interest in watching old episodes of the ABC reality dating series.Tenley initially vied for Jake Pavelka 's heart on Season 14 of and finished as the runner-up After competing on Bachelor Pad's first season and experiencing traumatic heartbreak from her 2014 split with longtime boyfriend Kiptyn Locke , Tenley decided to put herself out there again and join the second-season cast of Bachelor in Paradise.The city girl fell in love with former ette suitor Joshua Albers in Paradise; however, she didn't think she could make a long-distance relationship work with him. Due to their different lifestyles, Tenley called it quits with the Idaho welder on the last day of filming."I'm not ashamed of anything I've ever done. I'm proud of myself and what I've learned and gained from it," Tenley previously told the magazine.Interested in more news? Join our The Bachelor Facebook Group
- Akua GMB has won a special award at the 2020 Ghana Outstanding Women Award (GOWA)

- She shared the good news to her Instagram page and captioned it that Grace was speaking for her

- Fans have congratulated her on the award

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Sally Akua Amoakoaa, popularly known as Akua GMB, has been recognised at the 2020 edition of the Ghana Outstanding Women Awards (GOWA).

She was given a special award and Akua cannot keep calm over this, knowing how hardworking she has been to deserve such recognition.

Akua shared the award to her Instagram page with an emotional caption that got many people consoling her. She wrote that Grace was speaking on her behalf while thanking the organisers of the award for the recognition.

The beautiful Akua GMB flaunting her beautiful body after having three children. Photo credit: @iamakuaamokoaa

Source: Original

READ ALSO: See Jackie Appiahs latest super classy photo that got the whole of Ghana talking

READ ALSO: Nadia Buari speaks Twi mimicking Diana Asamoahs Ceciria Marfo in new video

Many people have reacted to her post.

Kumawood actress Matilda Asare, for instance, said the award was a compensation for all that Akua had been through:

newmatildamensah: This is just a compensation for all that you have gone through. You have not seen anything yet, I love you. Congrats.

Ohemaa Woyeje also congratulated her:

ohemaawoyeje: Congrats .

Lily said Akua deserved the award and even more:

iamlilymohammed: My love . You deserve this and more.

READ ALSO: Sister Derby sadly tells pain she suffered with 4 exes and its painful

Nayaa wrote that seeing Akua excel makes her happy:

mznanayaa_1: Awww seeing your excel makes me happy. Grace.

Ivy also congratulated her and prayed for Gods blessings for Akua:

ivy.boakye.965: congratulations dear.God will continue to fill your cup with joy and blessings.

Omaa also prayed that God will give Akua the wisdom to excel:

omaa.16: may God continue give u wisdom n protect u n ur family I love like my blood go higher big sis the Lord is fighting for u as Exodus 14:14 says.

Kiddie also had her own comment:

dearest_kiddie_world_7: Enemies are not God.

READ ALSO: Captain Smart opens up on the truth Dr UN told Sarkodie and co before giving them the award

Akua GMB has trended for issues surrounding her marriage. Some people even speculate that her marriage with billionaire Dr Kwaku Oteng was over.

For some reasons that are still unknown, she has been stripped off her role as the General Manager of Angel Broadcasting Network (ABN), and that position has been handed over to Stacy Amoateng.

Akua was recently seen promoting her productions on TV Africa, ignoring her husbands ABN.

VGMA21 full performances | #Yencomgh

READ ALSO: Shatta Wale appears in Creative Arts textbook approved by GES

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Source: YEN.com.gh
Instant AI detection of automobile damage using Claim Genius By integrating Claim Geniuss advanced technology into our TrueSight analytics suite, Merimen will deliver the industry's most relevant and reliable AI solution to our global clients, driving improved accuracy and efficiency throughout the claims management process

Claim Genius (http://www.claimgenius.com) a leading AI InsureTech company, and Merimen Technologies (http://www.merimen.com), a market leader in providing SaaS platform for insurance ecosystems, today announced the signing of a strategic agreement for P&C Insurance services enterprises. As part of this agreement, Merimen will be bringing Claim Geniuss real time damage estimates for passenger vehicles into its TrueSight suite of analytics products, and introducing it to Merimens network of global and regional insurance carriers across 10 countries. This new product, TrueSight AI Imaging, will include an integrated workflow solution to drive better efficiencies, speed, accuracy and productivity improvements for the automobile insurance services sector. Once the service is implemented, clients will be able to get an instant estimate for repair of the damaged vehicle by utilizing the initial photographs or videos of the accident vehicles.

We are very excited to announce this partnership with Merimen, said Raj Pofale, founder and CEO of Claim Genius. The auto claims industry is in the midst of a global revolution, driven by advancements in digital and mobile technology, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. Claim Genius is leading the charge of this transformation through our advanced product capabilities and growing list of technology and delivery partnerships across the entire claims ecosystem. Today Claim Genius is working with large customers in 7 different geographies and becoming a global platform this partnership will further enable us to scale this vision and truly make touchless claims a reality for our customers worldwide.

Our vision is to reduce claims costs and to drive better efficiencies for our clients, said Trevor Lok, CEO of Merimen Technologies. By integrating Claim Geniuss advanced technology into our TrueSight analytics suite, Merimen will deliver the industry's most relevant and reliable AI solution to our global clients, driving improved accuracy and efficiency throughout the claims management process, he added.

About Merimen

Merimen is a market leader in providing a collaborative and information exchange platform for the insurance industry in 10 countries across Asia and UAE. As the pioneer in offering Software as a Service (SaaS) for the motor insurance industry, we have successfully deployed this model throughout the insurance ecosystem communities. We have enabled our clients to grow without disproportionate overheads and provided rapid transformation capabilities with lower risks and predictable cost using Merimens infrastructure.

About ClaimGenius

Based in Iselin, New Jersey, USA with development centers in Nagpur & Hyderabad, Claim Genius, Inc is a rapidly emerging leader of AI-based claims solutions for the auto insurance industry. Using Claim Geniuss patent-pending image analysis and predictive analytics tools, carriers can provide instant damage estimates and rapid processing of claims based on uploaded accident photos from its easy to use mobile app. Claim Genius aims to reduce claims processing time, increase carrier profitability, and revolutionize the claims experience for insurance customers worldwide. Claim Genius Makes Touchless Claims A Reality.
GPR Ventures has acquired a 33,719 square foot flex warehouse space in Sacramento, closing escrow on September 22. We are very excited to continue growing our Sacramento presence with this acquisition, which adds several unique benefits to our portfolio.

GPR Ventures has closed escrow on its 24th acquisition in Northern California with the purchase of a 33,719 square foot flex warehouse space located at 110-120 Main Avenue in Sacramento. The property is currently occupied by seven tenants from a variety of industries, and it features a combination of dedicated office space and warehouse and storage facilities. The well-maintained property requires no capital improvements, which allows GPR Ventures to focus on increasing occupancy with one or more additional tenants.

We are very excited to continue growing our Sacramento presence with this acquisition, which adds several unique benefits to our portfolio, said GPR Ventures co-founder and Managing Principal Phil Rolla. The combination of office and warehouse space within one property offers a lot of advantages to the current tenants as well as opportunity for new leases.

TWEET THIS: Real estate investment firm #GPRVentures has purchased a 33,719 sq ft flex warehouse space in #Sacramento. The property has seven tenants and features dedicated office space and warehouse facilities. #business #realestate

This property has a strong tenant base with an outstanding occupancy history, which was very attractive to us, said Glen Yonekura, GPR Ventures co-founder and Managing Principal. It indicates the steady nature of the Sacramento market, especially as many other major and mid-level markets are still in a state of uncertainty.

Key Features

The property is situated in a business park setting with lush landscaping and walking paths. Buildings at the rear of the property feature large, roll-up doors and loading areas, while the front entrances are highlighted by large windows.

GPR Ventures will immediately focus on increasing tenancy at the property from its current 73% occupancy rate.

For more information on GPR Ventures and its complete portfolio, visit https://www.gprventures.com/.

About GPR Ventures

Founded in 2011, GPR Ventures is a privately held real estate investment firm with offices in Silicon Valley and Sacramento that specializes in providing real estate opportunities for a select group of sophisticated investors. GPR Ventures uses a dynamic, fully developed process and the acquisition-to-disposition expertise of founders Glen Yonekura and Phillip Rolla to yield consistent results. GPRs portfolio includes 68 buildings totaling over 2 million square feet and an additional 26 acres of land. For additional information, please visit GPRVentures.com or call (916) 921-5005.
Nomination news

Regarding Cornyn says no rush to fill court vacancy, (A1, Sept. 22): On March 16, 2016, Sen. John Cornyn issued a statement on the subject of President Barack Obamas nomination of Merrick Garland to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court:

At this critical juncture in our nations history, Texans and the American people deserve to have a say in the selection of the next lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court. The only way to empower the American people and ensure they have a voice is for the next president to make the nomination to fill the vacancy.

As Texas voters prepare to make their selection for Senate in the coming election, Cornyn must show us if he is a man who stands by his words, who means what he says, who is honest and has integrity. Or is he an opportunist who will say and do anything to curry favor with Mitch McConnell?

The choice is yours, Cornyn. Show your true colors. And then we, the voters, shall make our choice.

Anita W Darras, Houston

Regarding Trump urges quick nomination, (A1, Sept. 20): Let me get this straight.

If the current sitting president were a Democrat and a supreme opportunity landed on his lap to nominate a left-leaning justice to the U.S. Supreme Court just 40 days from a presidential election, would Sen. Chuck Schumer vehemently scream loudly for delaying the nomination and Senate confirmation until after the election? Really? Do you really think he would? The senator would seek a delay despite his fervent disdain for the current sitting president, a Republican?

If you believe that absurdity, I have, for sale, ocean front property in Montana I will let go at a cheap price.

Mike Gonzales, Houston

What about the East Side?

I was just wondering why the East Side of Houston never gets any attention. Back in April or May when they did a flyover with the Blue Angels, they didnt come on this side. Its like the only attention we get in North Shore or Channelview is when someone gets shot or something bad happens, never any of the good stuff. We vote too. When they set up the COVID-19 testing sites, we didnt get any over here until later on, and we were some of the last to get a testing site. I know our income over here is a lot lower than the North, Northwest, West and Southwest sides, but still we are people who vote and help put these people in office.

Bobby Donald, Channelview
What is diaper need?

It can be a tough concept to wrap our heads around, especially for those who have never worried about affording our childrens diapers. It can be easy to assume that getting diapers is a simple process: you go to the store and buy them, or maybe you even have them delivered to your house through a subscription service, and get an ample supply to stock your home and diaper bag.

But for a growing number of Connecticut families, affording diapers is a real and daily struggle. During typical times, one in three families in our state struggles to pay for diapers. These days, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc, particularly on low-income families, there is unprecedented diaper need.

At the Diaper Bank of Connecticut, we are expanding our work to focus on period supplies as well as incontinence products for youths and seniors. All of these are basic needs that individuals need throughout their lifespans. But the crux of our mission continues to be distributing diapers to infants and toddlers who need them.

Depending on their age, babies and toddlers usually use between six and 12 diapers a day, which can cost families more than $100 a month. Unlike incontinence supplies for youths and seniors, infant and toddler diapers are not currently covered by Medicaid. And safety-net programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) dont cover the cost either.

For some low-income families, even getting to diapers is difficult. Many lack transportation to travel to big-box or discount stores where diapers are more affordable. Some have no choice but to buy them at neighborhood convenience stores, which can double or triple the cost of a months supply. For parents already struggling to make ends meet, this is a burden they cant bear.

What happens when parents cant afford diapers? In some cases, infants and toddlers are left in dirty diapers much longer than they should be, or parents resort to reusing previously soiled diapers, which increases childrens risk of developing severe diaper rash and other ailments.

But the ripple effects of diaper need spread far beyond the serious physical implications. Parents who cant afford diapers cant access free or subsidized licensed day-care centers, since most of them dont allow children to attend in cloth diapers. When caregivers cant use day-care services, they often are forced to miss work or forego educational opportunities, making it even more difficult to break the cycle of poverty.

As families continue to grapple with job loss or reduced work hours during the pandemic, a growing number are under severe financial stress. Buying diapers sometimes must take a backseat to other necessities, like food or rent, in a limited household budget.

At the Diaper Bank, our work is increasingly crucial in getting basic needs to infants and toddlers. Through our strategic network of more than 50 community partners statewide, we are getting more diapers than ever into the hands of those who need them  but the need is great and more must be done.

Its National Diaper Need Awareness Week (Sept. 21-27), and I urge you to consider taking action to help our neighbors. In the short term, you can support our annual Rock Your Baby celebration and fundraiser on Oct. 29 (more information at rockyourbaby2020.com) or host a virtual diaper drive to benefit The Diaper Bank of Connecticut. Those looking to make a longer-term impact can become diaper champions, advocating and raising awareness about this issue.

At a time when so many in our community are struggling, there are steps we can all take to help make diapers  a basic need  available to more families. No parent or caregiver should have to worry about how they will afford their next diaper purchase.

For information on how to help, visit thediaperbank.org.

Janet Stolfi Alfano is the executive director of The Diaper Bank of Connecticut. The North Haven-based nonprofit serves families throughout the state, distributing diapers and other basic needs through its network of more than 50 community partners.
By Tiemoko Diallo

DAKAR, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Mali faces "economic paralysis" if sanctions imposed by West Africa's regional bloc after a military coup are not lifted in coming days, the head of the customs agency lobby said on Wednesday.

Imports of goods into the landlocked, arid country have dropped 30% since the 15-nation Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) closed its borders with Mali and halted financial flows after the Aug. 18 takeover, said Ousmane Babalaye Daou, president of the Malian Council of Shippers.

Mali imports 5 million tonnes of goods every year, from woven cotton to cement, some of which arrive at ports across West Africa and are trucked hundred of miles inland.

"If the embargo is not lifted now, in the coming days stocks will be exhausted, and we will see supply disruptions, production stoppages, layoffs, a paralysis of economic activity," he said in an interview.

Essential imports, including petrol, food and medicine are exempt from the sanctions, however.

The tough commercial outlook raises the stakes for talks between the junta, which overthrew President Boubacar Ibrahim Keita after months of protests, and regional mediators who want a handover to civilian government before sanctions are lifted.

An ECOWAS delegation, led by Nigerias former president Goodluck Jonathan, was to land in the capital Bamako later on Wednesday.

Former Mali defense 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.

It was not clear if that arrangement satisfied ECOWAS, which did not respond to a request for comment.

Stockpiles have cushioned the blow so far, but new orders from Asia or Europe take up to two months to arrive, Daou said.

"Even if we lifted the embargo today and made orders ... we have to wait until November. This means that it is urgent that the embargo is lifted." (Reporting By Tiemoko Diallo; Writing by Edward McAllister; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
America needs a Republican Party that represents ordinary people and solves extraordinary problems. That would be a political party whose policies command a clear majority of votes cast in a national election.

The Republican Party got under way during the administration of President Abraham Lincoln. Republican legislators produced a national graduated income tax to distribute the burden of cos...
The countrys largest public sector lender, State Bank of India (SBI) and the largest private bank, HDFC Bank, have made the first move on loan restructuring. SBI took the lead and made an announcement yesterday. Under the resolution plan approved by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for COVID-19 pandemic-hit loans, HDFC Bank announced its own restructuring scheme for its loan and credit card customers. This comes days after SBI Cards had earlier announced its own restructuring scheme for its credit card holders. SBIs restructuring scheme will cover home, education, auto and personal loans, just as HDFC Banks would.

SBI has launched a facility on its website for customers to check their eligibility for the restructuring plan.

Customers will find it operationally convenient to check their eligibility on our website before going to a branch in these pandemic times, says C. S. Setty, Managing Director of Retail and Digital Banking at SBI.

If you are eligible, you will have to approach a branch with the reference number generated, to complete the restructuring process.

HDFC Bank too has launched a portal that allows customers fill an application form. An FAQ released by the bank suggests that it will shortly put up the link on its website.

What are the eligibility criteria to apply for the restructuring of my loan?

Under the resolution framework of the RBI, those borrowers whose loan accounts were classified as standard and not defaulted for 30 or more days as on March 1, 2020, and if their incomes are impacted by COVID-19 are eligible. This rule is common to all lenders.

The eligibility criteria for retail borrowers are as follows: reduction in your salary / income in the month of August 2020 compared to February 2020; suspension of salary during the lockdown period; job loss or closure of business during lockdown or reduced activity in business in the case of self-employed or professionals.

You need to apply for relief under the framework before December 24, 2020.

HDFC Bank has additionally said that all applications with a minimum outstanding loan balance of Rs 25,000 can be considered for this restructuring.

How do I check on SBIs website whether I am eligible for the loan restructuring?

If you are an SBI customer, after logging into the banks website, enter your loan account number. Once you do that, a one-time password (OTP) will be sent to you on your registered mobile number. After OTP validation, you need to provide other information as specified in the eligibility criteria earlier. You will get to know of your eligibility and receive a reference number.

This reference number will be valid for 30 days, within which you need to visit the banks branch to complete the required procedure. The restructuring process will be completed after verification of documents at the branch.

HDFC Bank has not specified which months salary slips are required specifically. But, presumably, since this is a loan restructuring scheme for COVID-19 affected borrowers, the loss of income has to be demonstrated through the period of the pandemic. In other words, loss of salary or income during, say, last year would not be entertained.

What are the documents to be submitted at the bank branch?

If you are a salaried customer, you need to submit your pay slips for the months of February and August 2020, letter of discharge from your workplace (in case of a job loss), and bank account statements of monthly salary credits.

If you are a businessmen or are self-employed, then you need to submit: the statement of operating account for the period from February 2020 till 15 days prior to the submission of your application, bank account statement and a declaration that your business income is affected or had to suffer closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Both segments of borrowers also need to provide a self-declaration of estimated salary / income after the end of the desired moratorium period (maximum 24 months).

As far as HDFC Bank is concerned, the process is not yet clear about what happens once you submit your documents. Further clarity is awaited.

I had not taken the loan moratorium option. But my income has reduced and am facing a financial crunch. Can I apply for restructuring of my loan?

Yes, borrowers who have not taken loan moratoriums can also apply for restructuring if their income is impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you are SBI customer, you can check the eligibility on the bank website. If you can establish your income is impacted due to pandemic then reference number will be generated and you need to visit the bank branch to complete rest of the process for restructuring.

Can bank reject my loan restructuring application even after generating the reference number online?

Yes, SBI can reject your loan restructuring application if they find a discrepancy in income entered online while generating the reference number to check the eligibility and in documents submitted to the bank branch.

The website only provides provisional eligibility. The decision conveyed by your bank branch is considered final after verifying the documents.

What is the restructuring plan like?

The relaxations which may be sanctioned under the framework are: a moratorium of up to 24 months, rescheduling of instalments and extension of tenure by a period equivalent to the moratorium granted, subject to a maximum of two years.

During the moratorium period, interest will continue to accrue in your loan account. The loan restructuring terms, which are decided by the bank after reviewing the application and agreed to by the borrower, cant be changed later.

Will there be any change in my EMI after opting for loan restructuring?

Yes. The tenure of the loan will be extended. The EMI payable after the moratorium will be recalculated and the exact amount would be conveyed to you by the bank.

Do I have to pay any additional cost?

Yes. SBI has specified an additional interest of 0.35 per cent point (35 basis points) over and above your current rate for the remaining tenure of the loan. These additional charges are applicable for loans linked with external benchmarks such as repo rates and marginal cost of funds-based lending rate (MCLR). HDFC Bank has also said that it may levy a fee, but hasnt specified the details.

Should I apply for restructuring of my dues considering the terms and conditions?

As far as possible, avoid opting for loan restructuring. You will have to bear an increased debt burden for up to two years, over and above what was your original loan tenure for SBIs and HDFC Banks schemes. Plus, there is an additional interest cost of 35 basis points a year (SBI).

A better strategy would be to dip in your liquid investments and also gold, if you have any. Try and liquidate these and pay off your debt. Just make sure that in the interim you do not take any additional loan and you have a definite plan to re-start your investments once your income gets back to normalcy again.
Democrat Joe Biden said Tuesday that Cindy McCain plans to endorse him for president, a stunning rebuke of President Donald Trump by the widow of the GOP's 2008 nominee.

Trump has had a fraught relationship with members of John McCain s family since he disparaged the Arizona senator during his 2016 campaign. But the McCains have stopped short of endorsing Trump's rivals.

McCain's backing could help Biden appeal to Republicans disaffected with the GOP president and give the former vice president a boost in Arizona, a crucial swing state that McCain represented in Congress for 35 years. He's remained a revered figure since his 2018 death from complications of a brain tumor, particularly with the independent voters whom Biden is courting.

Biden told donors on Tuesday evening that McCains endorsement was coming because of what (Trump) talks about how my son and John and others who are heroes, who served their country. You know, he said theyre losers, suckers.

Biden was referring to comments Trump reportedly made mocking the American war dead. Trump has denied making the remarks, first reported through anonymous sources by The Atlantic, but many of the comments were later confirmed by The Associated Press.

Cindy McCain had not initially been expected to offer an explicit endorsement of Biden, but she had already gone to bat for his presidential run. She lent her voice to a video that aired during the Democratic National Convention and was focused on Bidens close friendship with her late husband.

A Navy pilot, John McCain was shot down over North Vietnam in 1967. He was captured, beaten and held prisoner for more than five years, refusing to be released ahead of other American servicemembers.

During his 2016 campaign, Trump said of McCain, Hes not a war hero. He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who werent captured.

Cindy McCain has occasionally staked out positions to the left of her late husband. In 2010, she posed for photos with duct tape across her face and the phrase NO H8 written on her cheek, part of a high-profile campaign in support of gay marriage several years before the Supreme Court made it legal in all 50 states.

The McCains daughter Meghan McCain has been outspoken about the pain she feels when the president disparages her father. Trump wasnt invite to John McCains funeral.
A former soap star has been banned from the road after driving without his lights on to pick up a takeaway dinner just moments after downing two gins and a shot of rum during a 'difficult day' working at his bar.

Adam Rickitt, 42, was caught making a 650-yard trip home by car from the bar he runs in Knutsford, Cheshire, on August 22 - five months after he left Hollyoaks when his character Kyle Kelly took his own life.

He said he was working and drinking late at the Dexter and Jones bar when his wife, GMB presenter Kate Fawcett, called to say she had ordered a takeaway, reported The Sun.

Police stopped his Skoda Yeti car after he drove without any lights on to collect the food just 450 yards from his bar.

Adam Rickitt (pictured at his bar Dexter and Jones in June), 42, was caught making a 650-yard trip home by car from the bar he runs in Knutsford, Cheshire, on August 22 - five months after he left Hollyoaks when his character Kyle Kelly took his own life

He was breathalysed and found to have more than twice the legal alcohol limit.

At Stockport Magistrates Court Rickitt admitted drink driving and was banned from the road for 17 months.

He initially spoke to expensive 'loophole lawyers' who advised him on ways to avoid disqualification.

Prosecutor Lucy Bridge said: 'A PC and PCSO on uniformed duty become aware of the green Skoda with its headlights not illuminated.

'He was asked what time his last drank was and he responded: "two minutes ago".'

There was then a 15-minute wait for the test and during this wait, he said: 'I know I will probably be over the limit I had a 65 per cent rum shot prior to driving.'

Mr Rickitt with wife Katy as they started to prepare their bar for reopening after the Government announced restrictions on bars and pubs would be eased from July 4

At Stockport Magistrates Court Rickitt admitted drink driving and was banned from the road for 17 months. Pictured, with former co-star Leanne Battersby in Coronation Street in 1998

Tests showed Rickitt, who married Miss Fawcett in 2014 had 80 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath - more than double the 35mg limit.

In mitigation defence lawyer Victoria Thompson said: 'He is deeply ashamed to be appearing before the courts and is not someone who's whatsoever been in trouble.'

She added that Rickitt had 'a difficult day' after putting his savings into the bar before coronavirus hit.

Rickitt was also fined 230 and ordered to pay 119 in costs and surcharges.
NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- OnDeck (NYSE: ONDK), a leader in online small business lending, today announced it has surpassed $1 billion in financing to small businesses across the State of New York. Small businesses are the lifeblood of the American economy and have an enormous impact and influence on the communities in which they reside. This significant milestone demonstrates OnDeck's commitment to supporting thousands of small businesses statewide over the past 14 years.

As a New York City (NYC)-headquartered company, OnDeck makes this announcement in partnership with the New York City's Economic Development Corporation's (EDC) All In NYC Campaign. All In NYC is designed to remind the world of the spirit of New Yorkers and small business owners. During the two-week campaign, participating companies are highlighting how significant NYC small businesses are to the wellbeing of the city.

Since 2007, OnDeck has lent nearly $500 million to businesses in NYC. NYC has an abundance of small businesses that support, improve, innovate, and benefit the lives of New Yorkers daily. Now, more than ever, OnDeck remains committed to assisting these small businesses by providing them with the access, choice, and transparency in securing the financing they need to navigate the pandemic and the re-opening of the economy.

"I'm thrilled that OnDeck has been able to support so many New York-based small businesses over the past 14 years and that nearly half of that lending has gone to small businesses located in New York City, where we are headquartered," said Noah Breslow, CEO and Chairman, OnDeck. "We're proud to be a New York born and bred company and to be able to serve the small businesses that represent the unique and vibrant identity of NYC make it a great place to live and work."

As NYC and New York State look to recover and re-open from the global pandemic, serving and supporting small business owners has never been more important. We've supported New York businesses for over a decade and will continue to advocate for small businesses in New York and around the nation.

A fundamental part of OnDeck's advocacy for small businesses has been supporting legislation that advances transparency in small business lending disclosures. OnDeck is proud to have partnered with the NY State Senate and General Assembly to promote and pass SB5470, legislation that requires online lenders doing business in the State of New York to present small business borrowers with a clear, concise disclosure of the key terms and conditions of their loan. New York has some of the best and most resilient businesses in the world, and we believe this legislation ensures that New York small businesses receive clear and transparent terms from their lenders.

About OnDeck

OnDeck (NYSE: ONDK) is the proven leader in transparent and responsible online lending to small business. Founded in 2006, the company pioneered the use of data analytics and digital technology to make real-time lending decisions and deliver capital rapidly to small businesses online. Today, OnDeck offers a wide range of term loans and lines of credit customized for the needs of small business owners. The company also offers bank clients a comprehensive technology and services platform that facilitates online lending to small business customers through ODX, a wholly owned subsidiary. OnDeck has provided over $13 billion in loans to customers in 700 different industries across the United States, Canada and Australia. The company has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and is rated 5 stars by Trustpilot. For more information, visit www.ondeck.com.

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Chinese Leader Xi Jinping Thinks US State, Local Officials Are Weak Links: Pompeo

Chinese leader Xi Jinping believes sub-national-level officials are a weak link that can be exploited to advance the regimes interests in the United States, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Sept. 23.

In a speech at the Wisconsin state capitol, Pompeo urged U.S. politicians from state to municipal level to be alert to the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) influence and espionage activities.

Know that when you are approached by a Chinese diplomat, it is likely not in the spirit of cooperation or friendship, Pompeo said.

The secretary said the CCP has for decades deployed friendly language while stealing from our innovators, building military strength, and co-opting our elites.

For instance, he offered a translation of Xis remarks in August to a group of government economists and sociologists in Beijing: We must actively develop cooperation with all countries, regions, and enterprises willing to cooperate with us, including states, localities, and enterprises in the United States.

Pompeo said, Xi knows that the federal government is pushing back again the CCPs malign influence, so he thinks youre the weak link.

For Xi, cooperation and opening-up means the CCP wants to create arrangements that only benefit the CCP, Pompeo added.

The ultimate goal of the regimes malign influence activities is to make Americans receptive to Beijings form of authoritarianism, he warned.

CCP Pressure

The secretary of state said the CCPs efforts to sway state and local officials have intensified over the years.

He cited the example of a Californian state senator who in 2017 sought to introduce a measure denouncing the regimes persecution of Falun Gong, a spiritual practice suppressed by the CCP since 1999.

These are the folks who have suffered so tremendously under the CCPs crackdowns on religious freedom, Pompeo said.

The Chinese consulate in San Francisco wrote to the California legislature, saying the senators resolution might deeply damage the cooperative relations between the State of California and China, and seriously hurt the feeling[s] of Chinese people and the vast Chinese community in California, according to Pompeo.

As a result, the California State Senate bowed to the CCP pressure campaign and shelved the proposed bill, he said.

The secretary also referred to a Chinese officials attempt earlier this year to get Wisconsin Senate President Roger Roth to support a resolution supporting the regimes CCP Virus containment efforts. A consul of the Chinese consulate in Chicago, Wu Ting, emailed Roth twice to seek his backing. The attempts backfired, prompting an angry Roth to reject the proposal and instead introduce a resolution condemning the CCPs coverup of the outbreak.

The reality is that most every state legislature in the country has probably received a letter from the CCP like Senator Roths as part of a coordinated propaganda campaign, Pompeo said.

He also raised another example involving Wu, when she forwarded a letter from her husband, the Consul General in Chicago, to Wisconsin congressman Mike Gallaghers district director.

The letter was full of CCP propaganda and disinformation about the pandemic, Pompeo said.

But what really caught my eye was her declaration, We are firmly opposed to racial discrimination and xenophobia against the local Chinese community and stigmatization of China and the Chinese people over the virus.'

He decried this as an attempt by the CCP to drown out American cries for accountability with shouts of racism.

Americas righteous anger at the CCP over its handling of the coronavirus has nothing to do with race, and everything to do with citizens dead, children kept from school, and jobs lost, the state secretary said.

Pompeo added that the regime wants to foment the kind of strife weve seen in Minneapolis, and Portland, and Kenosha, where race-related protests and violent rioting have erupted in the past months.

Thats disgusting. We cant let that happen.
IZTAPALAPA, MEXICOThe man in the vegetable stall next to Christopher Arriagas died first. A longtime customer was next, then another. A few days later, an elderly carrot vendor got sick and died within the week.

Soon, the coronavirus was storming the vast, gridded passages of the Central de Abasto, the largest produce market in the Western Hemisphere, and Arriagas father fell ill, too. Dozens in the market died, perhaps hundreds. Not even the government knows for sure.

There is this moment when you start to see people dying, and the stress begins to destroy you, said Arriaga, 30. It made me realize what a trapped animal feels like.

Doctors and officials say the surge of infections nearly overwhelmed them, radiating far from the market to areas across the city and Mexico beyond. It became the epicentre of the epicentre, the teeming heart of a neighbourhood that has registered more COVID-19 deaths than any other part of the capital, which is itself the centre of the national crisis.

No part of the world has been as devastated by the pandemic as Latin America. Mexico, Brazil, Peru and other Latin American countries  hobbled by weak health systems, severe inequality and government indifference  have several of the highest deaths per capita from the virus in the world.

And unlike in Europe, the United States and many other regions, the outbreak in Latin American has not struck in waves. It hit furiously in the spring and has continued for months, with few of the respites savoured elsewhere, however briefly, around the world. By the first week of September, the 10 countries with the highest deaths per capita were all in Latin America or the Caribbean.

Here in Iztapalapa, the neighbourhood in southeastern Mexico City that holds the market, it was clear from the start that the virus would strike hard. Of all the districts in the Mexican capital, it is the most populous and densely populated, with some two million people packed into 116 square kilometres of heaving commerce and virtually uninterrupted construction.

Poverty circumscribes life, with chronic water shortages. Hundreds of thousands live day by day, far more fearful of hunger than any virus.

Over the months, that deep-seated skepticism among people like Arriaga  the workers who feed Mexico City and much of the nation  turned to shock and eventually to resignation as their neighbours, friends and loved ones died and their neighbourhood became ground zero for the outbreak.

Mexico City officials, fearful that the federal government was underestimating the epidemic, began calculating the losses on their own. Within weeks, they acknowledged that deaths in the capital were three times higher than what the public was being told. Now Mexico has the fourth-highest death toll in the world, with more than 70,000 lives officially lost to the virus. Experts say the real number may be tens of thousands more than that.

In Iztapalapa, the virus left few lives untouched  if not by illness, then by economic distress. Starvation haunted people who had never considered themselves poor, and rituals that had bound the community for generations were scrapped, including one of the biggest Christian celebrations in Latin America, which was cancelled for the first time in more than 150 years.

A new reality set in for many: A prolonged economic shutdown was clearly impossible. People could wear masks and distance as much as possible, but almost no one could afford to stay home. They had to keep working.

For the vast majority of people, risking illness or death has simply become the price of survival.

The region is now bracing for one of the worlds worst economic crises. The old wounds of inequality are growing worse, and the poor will add another 45 million people to their ranks, the United Nations says. Some officials are bracing for a lost decade.

Government spending to countervail the pandemic in Mexico is among the lowest in the world, and that will most likely condemn millions to sustained and, in the eyes of numerous economists, unnecessary struggles.

Arriagas own attempts to stay away from the market lasted only a month before he blew through his life savings and trudged back to work in fear.

Ive got nothing left, he said on a recent weekend, bracing himself for another long night in the market. Its either go out there and face the virus or sit here and starve.

Too Big to Close

No matter how bad the outbreak got, the market never shut down entirely. It couldnt. Mexico needs it too badly.

The Central de Abasto sprawls across three square kilometres, with endless corridors of fruit and vegetables that supply 80 per cent of the capital and 30 per cent of the nation. Every day, trucks arrive from practically every corner of the country, carting avocados, melons, pineapples and onions by the ton.

At first, when Mexicos epidemic began in March, more than 100,000 people worked there  vendors, buyers, drivers, cleaners  and even a month later, hardly anyone in the market wore a mask.

But casual foot traffic had slowed to a crawl, fuelling more anger at the drop in business than caution. Officials had posted signs warning of COVID-19 and urging workers to report illnesses. In the beginning, most ignored them.

I think they made it up to raise prices on the poor, Arriaga said of the virus in March, heaving a 23-kilogram sack of green beans onto a shelf. It wouldnt be the first time.

His neighbour, selling raw artichokes by the basket, nodded in agreement.

Look around, he said. You see anyone here dying?

Many would, very soon. By May, officials estimated that one of every 10 people put on a ventilator in Mexico City had been in the market.

Whispers on the Street

By late April, a full-blown outbreak was throttling Iztapalapa, with local news reports calling it the hardest-hit place in all of Mexico.

But while some of her competitors had closed, Maria de los Angeles Aquino Ramirez stood before a boiling cauldron, stirring a thick red stew of peppers and cow stomach, a local favourite she sold outside her butcher shop, hoping to hang on as long as she could.

We cant afford to close, she said.

Masks were still the exception among the hundreds of people on the street. Aquino wore one, but mostly to avoid being hassled by officials. The local government was taking things seriously.

But misinformation was as rampant as the virus itself.

Aquinos cellphone brimmed with clips sent via WhatsApp. Some claimed that the virus was a Chinese conspiracy, others that bleach was a cure. Even President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador offered his own theories, contending that a clean conscience helped prevent infection.

Ive heard government is paying people to claim their loved ones died from COVID, Aquino whispered. I have two friends who were offered money.

At best, the rumours sowed confusion and doubt. At worst, they were a death sentence.

So officials took a drastic step, doing the very thing that Aquino and her husband had feared. The Central de Abasto market remained open, but outdoor markets in Iztapalapa were suspended  all 354 of them  for a month, crippling small merchants like Aquino and 40,000 other workers in the neighbourhood.

Her neighbour in the market, Eusebio Galvan Arreola, nearly collapsed when he heard the news.

A father of two, he earned about $75 (U.S.) a week selling toys, nail clippers and brushes, and a week before, he had doubled his purchases of goods to last him through the pandemic.

Now he had nowhere to sell them and only $150  his life savings  to survive on.

I dont care about this virus, he said, dropping onto a plastic stool, nearly toppling over. I have no way to survive.

Back to Work

The empty corridors smelled of bleach and sour fruit. Sanitation workers marched in white Tyvek suits, dispensing gel and screaming into megaphones for the young, the old and the infirm to go home.

By May, the Central de Abasto was eerily empty. The bustle of previous weeks had vanished. Only the workers required to feed the nation remained. The virus had seeped into the surrounding areas; on a single street just behind the market, at least 40 people died from COVID-19 infections.

Police manned the entrances, taking temperatures. Health workers swabbed vendors. Smaller merchants like Arriaga had mostly left, the gates on their stalls drawn, the produce left behind beginning to turn.

Among the vendors, denial had given way to despair. Pedro Torres, the president of the union of fruit and vegetable producers, said 50 people he knew had died by the end of May.

Two brothers who had built a produce empire from scratch. A 90-year-old man who refused to stay home from work. A tomato and zucchini vendor who always wore masks and gloves.

We are a place that gathers hundreds of thousands of people, Torres said.

He, too, had fallen ill.

It spread everywhere, Torres said.

After his father got sick, Arriaga fled the city, decamping to his mothers house in the town of Chalco. For the first time in five years, he took time off. It felt strange, like a guilty pleasure. He used to joke that his dream was to sleep until 10 a.m., if only for one day.

It was really beautiful, just spending time with my mom and brother and sister, he said. For all the bad things that happened, at least this was a gift.

His father recovered, but Arriaga made it only a month before exhausting all his savings. With a heavy heart, he moved back to Iztapalapa and resumed work at the market.

Vendors there now run their stations with skeleton crews, the once kinetic energy muffled by fear. Masks are prevalent now. And at every level, there is simply less. Fewer clients. Fewer sales. And a looming sense that the worst still lies ahead.

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Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi used his speech to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday to criticise the international community for continuing to turn a blind eye to countries that support terrorism.

While not naming any nation specifically, he accused certain countries of sending foreign fighters to join the civil war in neighboring Libya.

They were doing this "to fulfill their well-known greed and long-standing colonial illusions", he asserted.

"Egypt is bent on supporting Libyans to rid their country of armed militias and terrorist organizations," el-Sissi declared.

In the past, the Egyptian leader has threatened military action against Turkish-backed forces in Libya.

He again threatened to intervene to protect Egypts western border.

During his speech, El-Sissi also called 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.

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.
Six months on from announcing she would return as a muse for Dave E Kelley, Nicole Kidman teased fans with a behind the scenes glimpse of their new project.

The Australian actress, 53, shared a sneak peek of 'what doing press looks like these days' ahead of the release of HBO series The Undoing on October 25.

The star, who announced that she would collaborate with the screenwriter in March, was pictured looking back at the camera as she face-timed on Wednesday.

Behind the scenes: Australian actress Nicole Kidman (pictured) shared a sneak peek of 'what doing press looks like these days' ahead of the release of series The Undoing on October 25

While the series was originally scheduled to debut in May, its date was pushed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nicole will star alongside Hugh Grant, Edgar Ramirez, Noah Jupe and Donald Sutherland in the drama adapted from Jean Hanff Korelitz's bestselling novel, You Should Have Known.

'Getting closer and closer to sharing @UndoingHBO with you,' she captioned her post on Instagram.

'Here's a little behind-the-scenes at what doing press looks like these days xxx.'

Nicole's post was accompanied by a comment by The Undoing HBO's official Instagram account, which stated 'all will be revealed ...' in time.

Multiple trailers of the taut and suspenseful six-episode series have been released the past six weeks.

Happy Birthday: Nicole (left) took some time out of her day earlier this month to wish a very happy birthday to her on-screen husband, Hugh Grant (right)

The latest, uploaded on Monday, shows a softer side to Nicole, who will play Grace Fraser - an Upper East Sider whose life as a therapist in New York is upended in the psychological drama.

She is playing the wife of Hugh Grant's character Jonathan, who is an oncologist and devoted father to their son.

The series follows the life their characters always wanted, which comes crashing down following a violent death and chain of revelations.

Mysterious: Nicole play the wife of Hugh Grant's character Jonathan, who is an oncologist and devoted father to their son. Pictured: Nicole and Hugh on set for The Undoing

Nicole shared a glimpse of how the duo were working together on set earlier this month by uploading a picture wishing the actor happy birthday as they crossed a bridge they were filming on.

She was pictured wearing a green dress while Hugh sported a dark blue button shirt and jeans.

Nicole is coming off staring in Bombshell and The Goldfinch, and playing Celeste Wright in HBO drama Big Little Lies.

Sneak peek: The HBO drama series follows the life characters Jonathan (left) and Celeste (right), which comes crashing down following a violent death and chain of revelations

The series explores the complex and disturbing marriage between Celeste and Perry Wright - played by Alexander Skarsgard.

In an emotional interview this month, Keith Urban opened up about what it was like watching his wife on Big Little Lies.

The country music star admitted it was 'very heavy' to see his wife portray domestic violence scenes, and had to remind himself Nicole was 'just acting'.

Emotional interview: Keith Urban (pictured) opened up about what it was like to watch his wife on Big Little Lies in an interview earlier this month, saying it was 'very heavy' to see his wife portray domestic violence scenes

'My soul is just alerted to this fear. [I have to tell myself] "It's okay, mate, It's okay. She's just acting. Just calm down, she's just acting",' the 52-year-old said.

'It's hard to tell your soul that she's an actor and she's acting.

'It was very heavy to watch, because she's so bloody good [at acting].'

For confidential domestic violence support in Australia, please call 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732.
President Trump repeatedly refused to say on Wednesday whether he would commit to a peaceful transition of power if he loses the election to Joe Biden, saying at a press briefing, "We're going to have to see what happens."

The big picture: Trump has baselessly claimed on a number of occasions that the only way he will lose the election is if it's "rigged," claiming  without evidence  that mail-in ballots will result in widespread fraud. Earlier on Wednesday, the president said he wants to quickly confirm a replacement for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg because he believes the Supreme Court may have to decide the result of the election.

The exchange:

REPORTER: "Win, lose or draw in this election, will you commit here today for a peaceful transferral of power after the election? There has been rioting in Louisville, there has been rioting in many cities across this country. Your so-called red and blue states. Will you commit to making sure that there is a peaceful transferral of power after the election?"

TRUMP: "We're going to have to see what happens, you know that. I've been complaining very strongly about the ballots, and the ballots are a disaster."

REPORTER: "I understand that, but people are rioting. Do you commit to making sure that there's a peaceful transferral of power?"

TRUMP: "Get rid of the ballots and you'll have a very peaceful  there won't be a transfer, frankly. There will be a continuation. The ballots are out of control. You know it. And you know who knows it better than anybody else? The Democrats know it better than anybody else."

Go deeper: Trump says he wants 9 justices in case Supreme Court must decide 2020 election
Rotunda Rumblings

Not so campy: Gov. Mike DeWine denied that he or President Donald Trump are establishing FEMA camps -- or concentration camps, as state Rep. Nino Vitale called them -- in the state due to the pandemic. Laura Hancock traced the rumors, which DeWine called garbage.

Once is enough: Secretary of State Frank LaRose urged voters on Tuesday to not show up on Election Day to cast a second ballot to make sure their mail-in vote would be counted, Andrew Tobias writes. Trump, a Republican, recently suggested that his supporters in North Carolina test the states mail-in voting by showing up at the polls, and cast a second ballot if their mail-in vote hadnt arrived. LaRose, a Republican, said doing something like that in Ohio could result in someone getting charged with voter fraud.

Outstanding: LaRose also said Tuesday he plans to publicize the number of outstanding mail-in votes on election night, in part to prepare the public for the possibility of an unclear result. Mail-in votes in Ohio are counted if they arrive up to 10 days after the election, as long as they are postmarked by Nov. 2. With a larger than expected number of Ohioans expected to vote by mail this year, that could mean the winner could be unclear on Nov. 3 if there is a slim margin and a large number of unreturned ballots.

Letter of the law: Ohios Democratic U.S. Congress members sent LaRose a letter on Tuesday urging him to use his existing authority to provide prepaid return postage on ballots and ballot applications. Their letter said that in an election where many citizens' only practical option is to vote by mail, forcing Ohioans to pay postage in order to exercise this right is akin to a modern day poll tax.

Take it up with management: Following a week where 40 people were shot across Ohio  21 of those fatally  DeWine again urged the legislature to take up his gun reform measures, Seth Richardson reports. DeWine, a Republican, hasnt been able to get any movement on his bills from the Republican-controlled statehouse since introducing them last year.

The poll world: Ohioans woke up to a pretty strange poll from Rasmussen  typically one of the more favorable polls for Trump  that showed Democratic former Vice President Joe Biden up by 4 percentage points. Its hard to tell how much stock to put into the Republican-leaning pollster, considering their methodology is always questionable, but its a strange data point when polls have typically shown either a toss-up race or one that slightly favors Trump. Even stranger when you realize another Rasmussen poll had Biden up 4 in July.

On track: To make the Rasmussen poll just a bit more confusing, Morning Consults tracking poll of Ohio remained virtually unchanged over the week, with Trump up 5 percentage points on Biden, the exact same spread from last weeks release. Morning Consult uses a 10-day rolling average for daily tracking of the race.

In the end: Both polls basically reinforce that Ohio is competitive, which was further exemplified by Decision Desk HQ officially moving the state into its list of toss up states.

Off message: "Repeated' cries of Impeach DeWine broke out at a Women for Trump campaign event in Westerville on Tuesday, according to the Columbus Dispatchs Darrel Rowland. I thought you were an interesting choice given we have a spineless governor in our state, Judi Phelps, owner of a weapons training center and shooting range in southeast Ohio, told South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, the events featured speaker. During the event, Noem described how she disdained a push by state health officials to require masks, limit business activities and take other actions to halt the spread of COVID-19.

Surrogate season: With election season in full swing (was it ever not?), surrogates are coming out in full force for both of the campaigns in Ohio. Donald Trump Jr., the presidents son, was in Cincinnati on Tuesday raising money for the campaign and will stump in Lima on Wednesday, per the Cincinnati Enquirers Scott Wartman. Democratic Sen. Kamala Harris' husband, Doug Emhoff, did a Zoom appearance for the Ohio kickoff of Jewish Americans for Biden, Rowland reports for the Dispatch.

Look here: The Ohio Consumers' Counsel has asked the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio to audit and investigate FirstEnergy to see whether any money collected from the public was improperly used as part of an alleged $60 million bribery scandal to pass House Bill 6, which gave a $1.3 billion bailout to two nuclear power plants owned by a one-time FirstEnergy subsidiary. FirstEnergy officials have denied any wrongdoing, and no charges have been filed to date against the company or its leadership.

Tax time: Ohios August tax revenues came in $69 million, or 3.2%, above estimates, the state Office of Budget and Management reported Tuesday. That was led by auto sales, which came in $14 million (9.9%) higher than estimates and personal income tax, which was $62 million (8.1%) higher. But commercial activity taxes missed estimates by $30.4 million (9.9%.) Consumer confidence reportedly declined in August, so the outlook for future sales tax revenues is unclear, the OBMs report said.

Empty beds at the hospital: Fewer people are hospitalized in Ohio with coronavirus than at any point since late June, with the patient count below 700 for each of the last three days. There were 691 coronavirus patients on Sunday, 687 on Monday and 687 in the preliminary count for Tuesday. These are the first days below 700 since it was 664 on June 29, reports Rich Exner. The count peaked at 1,122 on July 28.

Another low number: Just 656 new coronavirus cases were reported Tuesday, although Gov. Mike DeWine said thats likely due to lower reporting over the Labor Day weekend, Hancock reports.

26 and counting: 26 of Ohios 88 counties have each now had at least 1,000 coronavirus cases, Exner reports in mapping out the spread of the virus.

Rule of three: Dr. Aaron Hamilton of the Cleveland Clinic outlined three things people should consider when deciding whether an activity is safe or not safe when it comes to coronavirus: space, time and people. Jeremy Pelzer has more on how people can apply this thinking in practice.

On the way to the forum: All four candidates for the Ohio Supreme Court will participate in a forum on the issues Oct. 9, and a debate scheduled for September had to be cancelled. Hancock reports on how organizers are coming up with topics and avoiding ethical conflicts on potential cases before the judges.

Lobbying Lineup

Five groups lobbying on Ohio House Bill 329, which would prohibit sun lamp tanning services for people under age 18. The bipartisan bill is in the Ohio House Health Committee. State lobbying forms dont require people to disclose which side of the bill theyre on.

1. Cleveland Clinic Foundation

2. American Suntanning Association

3. Ohio Chamber of Commerce

4. Ohio Dermatological Association

5. American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

On the Move

State Rep. Dave Greenspan, a Westlake Republican, has received the 2020 Friend of Agriculture Designation from the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation Agricultural for Good Government Political Action Committee.

Birthdays

Bryanna Austin, Ohio House Commerce and Labor Committee clerk/legislative aide to state Rep. Gayle Manning

James Kennedy, Ohio House Ways and Means Committee clerk/legislative aide to state Rep. Derek Merrin

Aftab Pureval, Hamilton County clerk of courts

Straight from the Source

I believe God suffers with us all. God suffers with the unborn child being pulled from the womb. God suffers with the immigrant child pulled away from his family at the border. God suffers with George Floyd when he breathes his last. All of those people matter to God. My greatest fear is that in the pro-life movement and the evangelical church, weve become so tied to the Republican Party and President Trump, they dont all matter to us.

-Stephanie Krider, former executive director of Ohio Right to Life, who resigned because she doesnt support President Donald Trump and couldnt continue to work for the organization as it helped him win re-election. She was quoted in a story in Christianity Today.

Capitol Letter is a daily briefing providing succinct, timely information for those who care deeply about the decisions made by state government. If you do not already subscribe, you can sign up here to get Capitol Letter in your email box each weekday for free.
Monday 05 September, 2016 Reliable information reaching Biafra writers desk has it that the life of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indi...
Steve Smith marked his return from concussion by starring with the bat to give his Indian Premier League franchise a first-up win.

Ruled out of Australia's one-day international series against England, the superstar batsman whacked 69 off 47 balls at the top of the order against MS Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings. His knock included four sixes, making a mockery of his reputation as a player who does not have the power to clear the rope.

It was an encouraging performance by Smith, who was struck in the head taking throw downs at Old Trafford on the eve of the first ODI against England. Despite passing multiple concussion tests, Smith was rested with Australian team management taking no risks.

Smith missed the third Ashes Test last year after being felled by Jofra Archer at Lord's.
PHOENIX - Cindy McCain endorsed Democrat Joe Biden for president Tuesday in a rebuke of U.S. President Donald Trump by the widow of the GOPs 2008 nominee.

Trump has had a fraught relationship with members of John McCains family since he disparaged the Arizona senator during his 2016 campaign. But the McCains have until now stopped short of endorsing Trumps rivals.

Cindy McCain cited the decades-long friendship between her family and Bidens and their bond as the parents of children serving in the military.

He supports the troops and knows what it means for someone who has served, McCain said in a phone interview. Not only to love someone who has served, but understands what it means to send a child into combat. Weve been great friends for many years, but we have a common thread in that we are Blue Star families.

McCains backing could help Biden appeal to Republicans disaffected with the GOP president and give the former vice-president a boost in Arizona, a crucial swing state that McCain represented in Congress for 35 years. Hes remained a revered figure since his 2018 death from complications of a brain tumour, particularly with the independent voters whom Biden is courting.

I decided to take a stand, and hopefully other people will see the same thing. Other women particularly, McCain said. You may have to step out of your comfort zone a little bit, but Biden is by far the best candidate in the race.

McCain said she hasnt voted for a Democrat since she was 18 and followed the lead of her parents. She remains a registered Republican and has no plans to change, she said.

Biden told donors on Tuesday evening that McCains endorsement was coming because of what (Trump) talks about how my son and John and others who are heroes, who served their country. You know, he said theyre losers, suckers.

Biden was referring to comments Trump reportedly made mocking the American war dead. Trump has denied making the remarks, first reported through anonymous sources by The Atlantic, but many of the comments were later confirmed by The Associated Press.

Cindy McCain had not initially been expected to offer an explicit endorsement of Biden, but she had already gone to bat for his presidential run. She lent her voice to a video that aired during the Democratic National Convention and was focused on Bidens close friendship with her late husband.

John McCain was assigned to be a military aide for Biden, then a senator, during an overseas trip, and their families formed an enduring friendship. Biden and his wife introduced the McCains to each other,

They later shared a grim bond over glioblastoma, an aggressive cancer that killed Bidens son Beau three years before McCain succumbed to the same disease.

John McCain said in 2016 that he couldnt support Trump or Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016, citing Trumps demeaning comments about women.

Its not pleasant for me to renounce the nominee of my party, McCain said during a debate as he sought his sixth term in the Senate. He won the nomination fair and square.

A navy pilot, John McCain was shot down over North Vietnam in 1967. He was captured, beaten and held prisoner for more than five years, refusing to be released ahead of other American servicemembers.

During his 2016 campaign, Trump said of McCain, Hes not a war hero. He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who werent captured. McCain later angered Trump with his dramatic thumbs-down vote against repealing Obamas health care law.

The McCains daughter Meghan McCain has been outspoken about the pain she feels when the president disparages her father. Biden consoled Meghan McCain on an appearance on The View after her father was diagnosed with the cancer that eventually took his life. She has said Biden often reaches out to her to offer support, after losing his own son Beau to the same cancer in 2015.

Trump wasnt invited to John McCains funeral.
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Linkedin Dzulfiqar Fathur Rahman (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, September 23, 2020 18:56 485 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46be595 1 Business OJK,fintech,bad-loans,P2P-lending,COVID-19 Free

Indonesian peer-to-peer (P2P) fintech firms have reported an increase in bad loans to 7.99 percent in July as many borrowers have lost their sources of income due to the COVID-19 crisis, the Indonesian Fintech Lenders Association (AFPI) has stated.

The proportion of defaulted loan after 90 days has continuously worsened since March, when it stood at 4.22 percent. That figure already marked a significant increase from 2.62 percent in March last year, according to data from the Financial Services Authority (OJK).

Adrian Gunadi, the chairman of the AFPI, said he had expected the rise in the industrys nonperforming loan (NPL) ratio as a result of the economic impact of the pandemic on borrowers income.

The declining payment quality is not only happening in the fintech lending industry but also in other financial services, like banking and multifinance. This is in line with the coronavirus pandemics impact, Adrian was quoted as saying in a news release on Wednesday.

P2P lenders disbursed loans totaling Rp 116.97 trillion (US$7.86 billion) as of July 2020, more than double the Rp 49.79 trillion issued over the corresponding period last year, OJK data show.

Bank loan disbursement grew by 1.53 percent yoy in July, OJK data show.

The fintech lending industry is facing challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is both the associations and its members obligation to maintain the industrys growth, so that its role in increasing access to financing for underbanked people will keep growing, said Tumbur.
The farmers in the state henceforth would receive Rs 10,000 annually under the scheme launched by the Union government in 2019

Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday showered sops for farmers ahead of crucial by-elections in 28 assembly constituencies in the state, expected to be held by end of October this year.

In a major sop for the farmers, Chouhan announced that the beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Samman Nidhi Yojana, a scheme launched by the Centre guaranteeing minimum income support for the farmers, in the state would get additional Rs 4000 annually, in addition to Rs 6000 provided under it.

The farmers in the state henceforth would receive Rs 10,000 annually under the scheme launched by the Union government in 2019.

This is the first phase of the new chief ministers farmers welfare scheme, he said, indicating more sops for the farmers in the pipeline by his government.

He was launching the farm loan (at zero percent interest) and farmers credit card distribution programmes here.

He also announced to re-launch the zero percent interest farm loans in the state.

Chouhan had launched the scheme during his previous terms in power in the state.

All the farmers welfare schemes like crop damage relief, PM Samman Nidhi, zero percent interest loans, crop insurance and others would be implemented through a comprehensive package. The first phase of CMs farmers welfare scheme is in the direction, he said.

By-elections in 28 assembly constituencies in the state, necessitated following resignation of 25 Congress MLAs from the assembly and death of 3 legislators, may decide fate of Shivraj Singh Chouhan government.

Twenty two former Congress MLAs, supporters of Jyotiraditya Scindia, resigned from the assembly as well as from the party in March this year leading to fall of the 15-month-old Kamal Nath government.

They later joined BJP after Scindia switched over to the saffron party from Congress.
Citigroup Inc.s head of consumer banking in India, Shinjini Kumar, plans to step down from her role after three years with the U.S. bank.

Kumar, who handled Citigroups consumer businesses across India, including retail banking, wealth management, credit cards and mortgages, will leave at the end of September, according to a representative for the bank.

Kumar joined Citigroup in India in June 2017 from fintech firm Paytm Mobile Solutions Pvt Ltd., where she was the chief executive officer of Paytm Payments Bank.

She also spent 17 years working at the Reserve Bank of India handling foreign direct investments, as well as the supervision of banks and shadow lenders.

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LAKE GEORGE  An infestation of hemlock woolly adelgid discovered at a campsite off Lake George last month is more widespread than initially anticipated, an official from the state Department of Environmental Conservation said Tuesday.

Last months discovery of the invasive species at the Glen Island Campground now covers at least 250 acres on the eastern side of Lake George and dates back at least five years, said Rob Davies, DEC's director of Division of Lands and Forests.

The infestation that we are finding is older than we hoped, and larger than we had hoped, he said.

Last month's discovery is the second time hemlock woolly adelgid has been discovered in the Lake George basin in recent years. An infestation was discovered on Prospect Mountain in 2017 but has since been eradicated.

Davies said it's unclear which infestation came first, but noted that birds may have played a role helping spread the invasive insect from one part of the Lake George basin to another.

"It does seem as though birds played a role," he said.

Approximately 80% of the trees that surround the Lake George basin are hemlocks, making the discovery of the invasive insect all the more troubling.

The insect, which comes from Asia, can kill a tree within four to 10 years.

To combat the spread, DEC has entered into a public-private partnership to launch a pilot program that will use satellite imagery to detect the species early on, which will allow ground crews to be deployed to areas of the Lake George basin that may be infected by hemlock woolly adelgid.

The $125,000 program was made possible through a partnership with The Fund for Lake George, the Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program, Lake George Land Conservancy, City University of New Yorks Advanced Science Research Center, Cornells New York State Hemlock Initiative, U.S. Forest Service and Adirondack Research.

This is an all hands on deck ... effort to save our Lake George hemlocks, said Eric Siy, executive director of The Fund for Lake George.

The program is part of the Save Our Lake George Hemlock Initiative and will be rolled out in four stages over the next couple of months. Crews have already started the program's first phase, which is detection, and plan to begin treating infected trees in the coming weeks under the program's second phase.

During the program's third phase, surveillance crews will examine satellite imagery to detect changes in hemlock trees. From there, ground crews will be deployed to inspect any troubled areas, and insecticides will be deployed to kill any infestations that are found.

The program will cover 4,400 square miles and will extend to the northern portion of the Lake George basin to Troy in Rensselaer County.

Davies said detecting hemlock woolly adelgid is no easy task. The species can be hard to spot even when up close, and with so many trees that could possibly be infected, knowing where to look is vital.

"Early detection of hemlock woolly adelgid is a real challenge," he said. "It's very difficult to find on the ground."

The program will use freely available satellite sources, including NASA's Landsat and the European Space Agency's Sentinel, said Andrew Reinmann, an assistant professor with CUNY's Advanced Science Research Center.

"You can sort of think of these satellites as collecting just digital images much like our cameras would do," he said.

Healthy hemlock trees would appear a darker shade of green compared to those that are infected, Reinmann said.

There are plans to eventually roll the program out on a state level and incorporate other satellites and technologies to identifying infected trees, but nothing is set in stone just yet. Siy said plans will continue to be developed in the months ahead.

"This isn't a sprint, it's a marathon," he said.

Chad Arnold is a reporter for The Post-Star covering the city of Glens Falls and the town and village of Lake George. Follow him on Twitter @ChadGArnold.

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By Craig Murray

September 22, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - Monday was a frustrating day as the Assange Hearing drifted deep into a fantasy land where nobody knows or is allowed to say that people were tortured in Guantanamo Bay and under extraordinary rendition. The willingness of Judge Baraitser to accept American red lines on what witnesses can and cannot say has combined with a joint and openly stated desire by both judge and prosecution to close this case down quickly by limiting the number of witnesses, the length of their evidence, and the time allowed for closing arguments. For the first time, I am openly critical of the defence legal team who seem to be missing the moment to stop being railroaded and say no, this is wrong, forcing Baraitser to make rulings against them. Instead most of the day was lost to negotiations between prosecution and defence as to what defence evidence could be edited out or omitted.

More of which later.

PROFESSOR CHRISTIAN GROTHOFF

The first witness was Professor Christian Grothoff, a computer scientist based at the University of Berne Institute of Applied Sciences. Prof Grothoff had prepared an analysis of how and when the unredacted cables first came to be released on the internet.

Prof Grothoff was taken through his evidence in chief by Marks Summers QC for the defence. Prof Grothoff testified that Wikileaks had shared the cable cache with David Leigh of the Guardian. This had been done in encrypted form. It had a very strong encryption key; without the long, strong password there would be no way to access it. It was useless without the key. In reply to questions from Summers, Prof Grothoff confirmed that it was standard practice for information to be shared by an online cache with strong encryption. It was standard practice, and not in any way irresponsible. Banking or medical records might be securely communicated in this way. Once the file is encrypted, it cannot be read without the key, and nor can the key be changed. New copies can of course be made from the unencrypted original with different keys.

Summers then led Prof Grothoff to November 2010 when cables started to be published, initially by partners from the media consortium after redaction. Grothoff said that the next event was a DDOS attack on the Wikileaks site. He explained how a distributed denial of service attack works, hijacking multiple computers to overload the target website with demand. Wikileaks reaction was to encourage people to put up mirrors to maintain the availability of content. He explained this was quite a normal response to a DDOS attack.

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Prof Grothoff produced a large list of mirrors created all over the world as a result. Wikileaks had posted instructions on how to set up a mirror. Mirrors set up using these instructions did not contain a copy of the cache of unredacted cables. But at some point, some mirrors started to contain the file with the unredacted cables. These appeared to be few and special sites with mirrors created in other ways than by the Wikileaks instructions. There was some discussion between Grothoff and Summers as to how the cached file may have been hidden in an archive on the Wikileaks site, for example not listed in the directory, and how a created mirror could sweep it up.

Summers then asked Professor Grothoff whether David Leigh released the password. Grothoff replied that yes, Luke Harding and David Leigh had revealed the encryption key in their book on Wikileaks published February 2011. They had used it as a chapter heading, and the text explicitly set out what it was. The copies of the encrypted file on some mirrors were useless until David Leigh posted that key.

Summers So once David Leigh released the encryption key, was it in Wikileaks power to take down the mirrors?

Grothoff No.

Summers Could they change the encryption key on those copies?

Grothoff No.

Summers Was there anything they could do?

Grothoff Nothing but distract and delay.

Grothoff continued to explain that on 25 August 2011 the magazine Der Freitag had published the story explaining what had happened. It did not itself give out the password or location of the cache, but it made plain to people that it could be done, particularly to those who had already identified either the key or a copy of the file. The next link in the chain of events was that nigelparry.com published a blog article which identified the location of a copy of the encrypted file. With the key being in David Leighs book, the material was now effectively out. This resulted within hours in the creation of torrents and then publication of the full archive, unencrypted and unredacted, on Cryptome.org.

Summers asked whether Cryptome was a minor website. Grothoff replied not at all, it was a long established platform for leaked or confidential material and was especially used by journalists.

At this stage Judge Baraitser gave Mark Summers a five minute warning on Prof Grothoffs evidence. He therefore started to speed through events. The next thing that happened, still on 31 August 2011, is that a website MRKVA had made a searchable copy. Torrents also started appearing including on Pirate Bay, a very popular service. On 1 September, according to classified material from the prosecution supplied to Prof Grothoff, the US Government had first accessed the unredacted cache. The document showed this had been via a torrent from Pirate Bay. Wikileaks had made the unredacted cables available on 2 September, after they were already widely available. They had already passed the point where they could not be stopped.

Neither Pirate Bay nor Cryptome had been prosecuted for the publication. Cryptome is US based.

Joel Smith then rose to cross-examine for the prosecution. He started by addressing the Professors credentials. He suggested that the Professor was expert in computer analysis, but in putting together a chronology of events he was not expert. Prof Grothoff replied that it had required specialist forensic skills to track the precise chain of events.

Joel Smith then suggested that his chronology of events was dependent on material provided by the defence. Prof Grothoff said that indeed the defence had supplied key evidence, but he had searched extensively for other material and evidence online of the course of events and tested the defence evidence.

Smith then asked Grothoff whether he had withheld any information he should have given as a declaration of interest. Grothoff said he had not, and could not think what Smith was talking about. He had conducted his research fairly and taken great care to test the assertions of the defence against the evidence. Smith then read out an open letter from 2017 to President Trump calling for the prosecution of Assange to be dropped. Grothoff said it was possible, but he had no recollection of having signed it or seeing it. The defence had told him about it on Saturday, but he still did not remember it. The content of the letter seemed reasonable to him, and had a friend asked him to sign then he would probably have done so. But he had no memory of it.

Smith noted that Grothoff was listed as an initial signatory not an online added signatory. Grothoff replied that nevertheless he had no recollection of it. Smith then asked him incredulously and you cannot remember signing a letter to the President of the United States? Grothoff again confirmed he could not remember.

Quoting the letter, Smith then asked him Do you think the prosecution is a step into the darkness?. Grothoff replied that he thought it had strong negative ramifications for press freedom worldwide. Lewis then put to Grothoff that he had strong views, and thus was evidently biased, partial. Grothoff said he was a computer scientist and had been asked to research and give testimony on matters of fact as to what had occurred. He had tested the facts properly and his personal opinions were irrelevant. Smith continued to ask several more questions about the letter and Grothoffs partiality. Altogether Smith asked 14 different questions related to the open letter Grothoff had allegedly signed. He then moved on:

Smith Did you download the cables file yourself during your research?

Grothoff Yes, I did.

Smith Did you download it from the Wikileaks site?

Grothoff No, I believe from Cryptome.

Smith So in summer 2010 David Leigh was given a password and the cache was put up on a public website?

Grothoff No, it was put on a website but not public. It was in a hidden directory.

Smith So how did it end up on mirror sites if not public?

Grothoff It depends how the specific mirror is created. On the Wikileaks site the encrypted cache was not an available field. Different mirroring techniques might sweep up archive files.

Smith Wikileaks had asked for the creation of mirrors?

Grothoff Yes.

Smith The strength of a password is irrelevant if you cannot control the people who have it.

Grothoff That is true. The human is always the weakest link in the system. It is difficult to guard against a bad faith actor, like David Leigh.

Smith How many people did Wikileaks give the key in the summer of 2010?

Grothoff It appears from his book only to David Leigh. He then gave it to the hundreds of thousands who had access to his book.

Smith Is it true that 50 media organisations and NGOs were eventually involved in the process of redaction?

Grothoff Yes, but they were not each given access to the entire cache.

Smith How do you know that?

Grothoff It is in David Leighs book.

Smith How many people in total had access to the cache from those 50 organisations?

Grothoff Only Mr Leigh was given access to the full set. Only Mr Leigh had the encryption key. Julian Assange had been very reluctant to give him that access.

Smith What is your evidence for that statement?

Grothoff It is in David Leighs book.

Smith That is not what it says.

Smith then read out two long separate passages from Luke Harding and David Leighs book, both of which indeed made very plain that Assange had given Leigh access to the full cache only with extreme reluctance, and had been cajoled into it, including by David Leigh asking Assange what would happen if he were bundled off to Guantanamo Bay and nobody else but Assange held the password.

Grothoff That is what I said. Harding and Leigh write that it had been a hard struggle to prise the password out of Assanges hand.

Lewis How do you know that the 250,000 cables were not all available to others?

Grothoff In February 2011 David Leigh published his book. Before that I do not have proof Wikileaks gave the password to nobody else. But if so, they have kept entirely quiet about it.

Smith You say that after the DDOS attack Wikileaks requested people to mirror the site globally. They published instructions on how to do it.

Grothoff Yes, but mirrors created using the Wikileaks instructions did not include the encrypted file. In fact this was helpful. They were trying to build a haystack. The existence of so many mirrors without the unencrypted file made it harder to find.

Smith But in 2010 the password had not been released. Why would Wikileaks want to build a haystack then?

Grothoff The effect was to build a haystack. I agree that was probably not the initial motive. It may have been when this mirror creation continued later.

Smith As of December 2010 what Wikileaks are saying is they wish to proliferate the site as they are under attack?

Grothoff Yes

Joel Smith On 23 August 2011 Wikileaks start a mass release of cables?

Grothoff Yes. This is a release of unclassified cables and also ongoing release of redacted classified cables by media partners.

Smith They were releasing cables by country, and putting out tweets saying which countries they were releasing cables for both then and next? (Smith reads from tweets.)

Grothoff Yes. I have verified that these were unclassified cables by searching through these cables on the classification field.

Smith Were some classified secret?

Grothoff No, they were unclassified. I checked this.

Smith Were some marked strictly protect?

Grothoff That is not a classification in the classification field. I did not check for that.

Smith Wikileaks boast that they make the files available in a searchable form.

Grothoff Yes, but their search facility was not very good. Much easier to search them in other ways.

Smith You said Der Freitag stated that the encrypted file was available on mirrors. The article does not say that.

Grothoff No, but it says that it was widely circulating on the internet. That is done by mirroring. They did not use that word, I agree.

Smith The 29 August Der Spiegel article does not publish the password. Then Wikileaks publishes an article claiming these stories are substantially incorrect.

Grothoff It points to the password.

Smith Some cables were published classified Secret.

Grothoff These were cables that had been redacted fully by the consortium of media experts.

Smith Why do you call them experts?

Grothoff They knew the subject matter and the localities.

Smith Why do you call them experts?

Grothoff They were experienced journalists who knew what was and was not safe and right to publish. So experts in journalism. You need to distinguish between three types of cable published at this time: 1) classified and redacted; 2) unclassified; 3) the classified and unredacted cache.

Smith Are you aware that some cables were marked strictly protect?

Grothoff That is not a designation of a cable. It is applied to individuals. But it does not indicate that they are in danger, merely that for political reasons they do not want to be known as giving evidence to the US government?

Smith How do you know that?

Grothoff It is in the bundle I was sent, and the evidence of other defence witnesses.

Smith You dont know.

Grothoff I do know the strictly protect names you are referring to were in safe countries.

Smith Before 31 August you find no evidence of full publication of the entire cache?

Grothoff Yes.

We then went through an excruciatingly long process of Smith querying the evidence for the timing of every publication prior to Wikileaks own publication, and trying to shift back the latest possible time of publication online of various copies, including Cryptome, MRKVA, Pirate Bay and various other torrents. He managed to establish that, depending which time zone you were in, some of this could be attributed to possibly very early on 1 September rather than 31 August, and that it was not possible to put an exact time within a window of a few hours on Cryptomes unredacted publication early in the morning on 1 September.

[This exercise could cut both ways. The timing of a tweet saying a copy or torrent is up and giving a link, must be sent out after the material is put up, which could be some time before sending the tweet.]

Grothoff concluded that at the end of the day we do not know to the minute timings for every publication, but what we can say for certain is that all of the publications discussed, including Cryptome, were before Wikileaks.

Smith then noted that Parry wrote in his blog This is a bad day for David Leigh and the Guardian. I ran the password from David Leighs book in an old W/L file but did not give the location of the file. This was at 10pm on 31 August. Within 20 minutes Wikileaks was issuing a press release statement of the betrayal of Wikileaks passwords by the Guardian and 80 minutes later an editorial. [I think that Smith here was trying to say Wikileaks had published Parrys breakthrough.] Smith then invited Grothoff to agree that when Wikileaks themselves published the full documents later on 2 September, it was more comprehensible and visible than earlier publications. Grothoff replied it was not more comprehensive, it was the same. It was more visible but by that time the cat was well out of the bag and the unredacted cables were spreading rapidly all over the internet. There was no way to stop them.

Mark Summers then re-examined Grothoff and established that the evidence was that the encryption key for the full cache was given to David Leigh and to nobody else. The storage method was secure  Grothoff pointed out that precisely the same method was used to send around the court bundles in this case. Only David Leigh had revealed the password.

On mirror sites, Grothoff confirmed that the Wikileaks instructions created mirrors without the encrypted cache. All the copies of the encrypted cache he could find on other mirrors, were on sites which plainly were created using other methods, for example other software systems. Summers then got Professor Grothoff to explain the methodology he had used to verify the cables published by Wikileaks before the Leigh crash were all unclassified. Apart from dip sampling, this included a correlation of the number published for each country with the number listed as unclassified for each country in the US government directory. These matched in every case.

Summers then attempted to take Grothoff back over the timeline evidence which Joel Smith had put so much effort into muddying, but was prevented from doing so by Baraitser. She had interrupted Summers four times during his re-examination, on the extraordinary basis that this ground was gone over before; extraordinary because that is the point of a re-examination. Baraitser had permitted Smith to ask fourteen successive questions of Grothoff on the subject of why he had signed an open letter. The double standard was very obvious.

Which brings us to a very crucial point. The next witness, Andy Worthington, was at court and ready to give evidence, but was prevented from doing so. The United States government objected to his evidence, about his work on the Guantanamo Detainee files, being heard because it contained allegations of inmates being tortured at Guantanamo.

Baraitser said her ruling was not going to consider whether torture took place at Guantanamo, or if extraordinary rendition had happened. She did not need to hear evidence on these points. Mark Summers replied that the ECHR had ruled on these as facts, but that it was necessary they be stated by witnesses as appropriate as it went to the Article 10 ECHR defence. Lewis maintained the objection from the US government.

Baraitser said she wanted the prosecution and defence to produce a witness schedule that would get the case finished by the end of next week, including closing statements. She wanted them to agree what evidence could and could not be heard. Where possible she wanted evidence in uncontested statements with the defence just reading out the gist.

She also said that she did not want to hear closing arguments in court, but she would have them in writing and the defence and prosecution could just summarise them briefly orally.

What the defence should have said at this moment is Madam, the dogs in the street know that people were tortured in Guantanamo Bay. In the real world, it is not a disputed fact. If Mr Lewiss instructions were to deny that the earth is round, would our witnesses have to accommodate that? The truth of these matters plainly goes to the Article 10 Defence, and by pandering to the denial of a notorious and plain fact, this court will be held up to mockery. We will not discuss such ludicrous censorship with Mr Lewis. If you wish to rule that there must be no mention of torture in evidence, then so be it.

The defence did not say any of that, but as instructed entered a process with the prosecution lawyers of agreeing the shortening and editing of evidence, a process which took all day and with which Julian showed plain signs of being uncomfortable. Andy Worthington did not get to give his evidence. The only further evidence heard was the reading of the gist of a statement from Cassandra Fairbanks. I did not hear most of this because, having adjourned to 4.30pm, the court re-adjourned earlier than advertised, while Julians dad John Shipton, the musician MIA and I were away having a coffee. I commend this account by Kevin Gosztola of Fairbanks startling evidence. It was read quickly by Edward Fitzgerald in gist, agreed as an uncontested account, and speaks strongly of the political motivation apparent in this prosecution.

I am very concerned about the obvious collusion of the prosecution and the judge to close this case down. The extraordinary conflation of time management and excluding evidence which the US Government does not want heard in public is plainly illegitimate. The continual chivvying and interruption of defence counsel in examination when prosecution counsel are allowed endless repetition amounting to harassment and bullying is illegitimate. Some extraordinarily long prosecution cross-examinations, such as that of Carey Shenkman the lawyer, have every appearance of deliberate time wasting and distraction.

Tuesdays witness is Professor Michael Kopelman, the eminent psychiatrist, and the prosecution have indicated they wish to cross-examine him for an extraordinary four hours, which Baraitser agreed against defence objections. Her obsession with time management is distinctly subjective.

Obviously there is a moral question for me in how much of this medical evidence I publish. The decision will be taken in strict accordance with the views of Julian or, if we cannot ascertain that, his family.

Craig John Murray is a British former diplomat turned political activist, human rights campaigner, blogger and whistleblower. Between 2002 and 2004, he was the British ambassador to Uzbekistan during which time he exposed the violations of human rights in Uzbekistan by the Karimov administration.



Craig's ability to provide this coverage is entirely dependent on your kind voluntary subscriptions. Subscriptions to keep his blog going are gratefully received.


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The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has called off its strike effective 8 am on Thursday, September 24, 2020.



This was made known by the president of the Association, Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo at a press briefing today in Accra.



Madam Ofori-Ampofo said the decision followed the service of an interlocutory injunction on the GRNMA by the National Labour Commission (NLC) yesterday (September 22).



"In the face of the injunction, our respect for the court, coupled with our innate passion to serve our patients and clients and for that matter the good people of Ghana, we have decided to temporarily suspend our strike action with effect from Thursday, 24th September 2020 at 8 am pending the outcome of our negotiations," she said.



"For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to indicate that the strike action is merely suspended and our gallant nurses, midwives, PA's and CRA's are to begin full work on Thursday 24th September 2020 at 8 am with the morning shift".



It will be recalled that the GRNMA and its allied associations including the Ghana Physician Assistants Association and Ghana Association of Certified Registered Anesthetists withdrew their services on Monday, September 21, 2020, as part of their demands for improved conditions of service.



This was despite an interim injunction secured by the National Labour Commission (NLC) to restrain them from laying down their tools.



Halt intimidation



The Association has also warned all employers including the Ministry of Health to halt the intimidation of its members with immediate effect.



"We (GRNMA) will not tolerate any form of intimidation or victimisation from either our employers, their agents or representatives in any facility (health facility)," she said.



"We want them to note that an attack on any nurse, midwife, PA or CRA at any facility anywhere in the country is an attack on the entire fraternity in Ghana and that if it comes to our notice we shall deliver the appropriate response".



Watch the press briefing below;





Source: graphic.com.gh









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A CN freight train makes its way through the CN Taschereau Yard in Montreal in a file photo. (The Canadian Press/Graham Hughes)

Watershed Moment: Pandemic Underscores Urgency of Toppling Internal Trade Barriers

Provincial barriers give some foreign companies better access to provincial markets than Canadian companies in other provinces

News Analysis

Premiers have been calling for freer trade between the provinces and making moves toward it since before the pandemic. Now, with the economy in a shambles and unreliable international supply chains leaving many businesses scrambling, removing interprovincial trade barriers has taken on new urgency.

Ryan Manucha, a lawyer at Davies law firm who has studied the issue of internal trade at length, says the pandemic has crystallized the need to reduce trade barriers in Canada.

I think that COVID is a watershed moment for Canada on the internal trade front, he said. We saw supply chains disrupted and experienced the fallout of changing winds with respect to foreign trade. COVID gives us a moment to recalibrate and think about our internal markets.

In a 2019 assessment of Canadas internal trade barriers, analysts at the International Monetary Fund criticized the slow progress of efforts to liberalize internal trade, while international free trade agreements allowed foreign companies better access to Canada than Canadian companies.

Specifically, the authors criticized past efforts such as the 1995 Agreement on Internal Trade, for not achieving what it intended due to numerous factors including the lack of an adequate dispute resolution mechanism between the provinces, as well as Supreme Court decisions from 2011 and 2018 that helped stifle trade and the federal governments role in facilitating trade.

The assessment concluded that removing trade barriers would increase GDP by 4 percent, with smaller provinces such as Nova Scotia benefiting substantially.

Overall, larger gains in typically poorer regions implies trade promotes greater equality across provinces, it said.

The Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) came into force in July 2017 with the intent of resolving many of the issues of the 1995 agreement. But despite aims to eliminate trade barriers and establish an open and efficient domestic market, it includes 130 pages of exemptions, and numerous restrictions and protectionist measures at the provincial level continue to be irritants.

The nature of Canadas dominion means the federal government is limited in what it can do without agreement from the provinces. Some premiers have made interprovincial trade a higher priority.

In a speech to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in September 2019, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney announced that Alberta would remove eight exceptions out of the fourteen that remained in the CFTA, making Alberta the province with the fewest exemptions in the country. He noted that interprovincial trade barriers cost the Canadian economy an estimated $130 billion a year.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has also been an enthusiast for interprovincial trade, signing a memorandum of understanding and forming a Joint Red-Tape Reduction Working Group with the Saskatchewan government to improve trade relations.

In the current circumstances, Manucha says the provincial governments should continue to focus on strengthening their cooperation with one another.

Canadas leaders should capitalize on this moment of saliency and heightened interjurisdictional cooperation, he says, adding that when the CFTA was implemented, it included the Regulatory Reconciliation and Cooperation Table (RCT), where governments could come together to hammer out their differences.

This RCT process allows Canadas governments to get into the nitty gritty of regulation to make it easier for businesses and consumers to participate in free-flowing domestic tradethink first aid kits, textile and upholstery regulations, drug scheduling requirements, he says.

Perhaps the COVID pandemic will trigger the political will for governments to expend greater commitment on reconciling disharmonious relations.

Ben Woodfinden, a political theorist at McGill University, echoes Manucha in his assessment of the timeliness of addressing barriers to provincial trade.

Theres never been a more pressing moment to finally move to tear down the internal trade barriers we still have, said Woodfinden in an interview.

Growing regional divides and polarization, and growing skepticism and challenges around the world to some aspects of the global trading order make it vital that we strengthen east-west economic relations and trade within Canada.

Resolving internal barriers will also make it easier for Canada to engage in bilateral and international trade negotiations, he said.

We are one nation, and its simply unacceptable that these barriers still exist.

Woodfinden has made the case for a New National Policy on internal trade that includes federal leadership as well as provincial cooperation and collaboration. The idea is similar to Sir John A. Macdonalds National Policy, whose goal was to help build a national economy for a new nation.

Weve seen some trailblazing premiers, like Premier Kenney in Alberta, make a push for this both at the provincial and federal level, but ultimately its going to take both federal and provincial leadership, he says.

The pandemic has led to an unthawing of some federal-provincial relations, and this might be a good time to use that goodwill and capital thats been built up to put it towards something meaningful and lasting.
Press Release

September 23, 2020 Dispatch from Crame No. 918:

Sen. Leila M. de Lima on Duterte's Address to the UNGA 9/23/20 It is almost unbelievable that Duterte was able to behave in his pre-recorded address to the UN General Assembly last night and stuck to his written speech. But inasmuch as he did not have a live audience during recording, we all know that this is not the Duterte that we watch in his late night show every Monday. That is why we also highly doubt if what he said was his own, or simply what was fed to him. The only indication that it was Duterte speaking before the UN last night was his usual attack on human rights defenders and his claim of supposed "weaponization" of human rights by the international community when they condemn his policy of extrajudicial killings against the poor. However, the indications that it is not the Duterte we know who was speaking last night are several. Most surprising was his sudden invocation of the 2016 UNCLOS arbitral ruling on the South China Sea. After four years of betraying the hard-won UNCLOS decision in order to curry favor with China, he now asks the UN to recognize it as part of international law. Duterte did not have to ask the UN that. The UN recognizes the validity and legal force of international arbitral awards as a matter of international law. It is only Duterte who has renounced it in his four years of kowtowing to China. This volte- face before the UN and the whole world is therefore highly dubious and smacks of cavalier double-speak on a matter of foreign policy that he has long decided in favor of China. It is now too late for Duterte to act as the defender of the arbitral award and Philippine sovereignty after he has repeatedly bowed to China as its number one lapdog in Asia and the whole world in the past four years. He also had a lot to say about law, justice, and human rights. This is not what we hear Duterte say before a Filipino audience. We know that he hates human rights and has in fact instigated the summary execution of the poor countless times. He claims that Marawi must be rebuilt after the 2017 Maute siege. But we know that his regime has done nothing to rebuild Marawi three years hence. He also had a lot to say about climate change and the environment. But in reality his government has just dumped tons of harmful dolomite on Manila Bay as a window-dressing gimmick to counter public dismay over his regime's floundering response to the pandemic amidst corruption scandals in PhilHealth and other key government agencies. I have only one word to describe the Duterte who spoke last night before the UNGA. Plastic. As fake as the dolomite beach his government wasted millions on in the middle of a pandemic. (Access the handwritten copy of Dispatch from Crame No. 918, here: https://issuu.com/senatorleilam.delima/docs/dispatch_no._918)
Dog The Bounty Hunter and his new fiancee are opening up about their relationship and upcoming nuptials in an exclusive interview with DailyMailTV.

Sitting next to his new fiancee Francie, Dog gushed about how cupid shot him when he least expected it and how both of them connected by sharing the pain of being widowed.

'I'm a widower and she's a widow so the connection started there,' Dog, real name Duane Chapman, told DailyMailTV host Thomas Roberts. 'I spoke with her because her husband passed six months before my former wife and she had been through stuff, so I was asking for advice and all the sudden cupid shot me.'

The widower, 67, got down on one knee in May at a romantic dinner at their home in Colorado, ten months after the death of his wife, Beth, from throat cancer. Francie's husband Bob had past away six months prior.

'We didn't expect it,' Dog said.

'It was God for sure,' Francie added.

Dog The Bounty Hunter and his new fiancee Francie spoke to DailyMailTV about their relationship and upcoming nuptials in an exclusive interview

Dog gushed about how cupid shot him when he least expected it and how both of them connected by sharing the pain of being widowed

The widower, 67, got down on one knee in May at a romantic dinner at their home in Colorado, ten months after the death of his wife, Beth, from throat cancer. Francie's husband Bob had past away six months prior

Dog initially vowed that he would never remarry after losing the love of his life last year.

When asked what changed for Dog, he said: 'Well, Francie is a Christian and unless you marry you can't uh....' he drifted off, as Francie nudged him and said 'be nice'.

As far as the wedding, the couple have a few dates in mind but are struggling to invite as many people as they would like due to COVID restrictions

'What changed was I had no idea I was going to meet someone like Francie because a rancher was not in my black book,' Dog said.

'And when I did, she put down some rules - like you must go to church, you got to start eating grass and weeds, and you got to quit smoking, and you got to quit using the A-word every other sentence. And you just gotta get your heart rate because maybe someday you'll be gone.'

Dog said his late wife Beth is up in heaven laughing at all of those restrictions.

Francie said he's checked off all of her requirements and he wears a couple of nicotine patches. He said he's gone down from three packs a day to just one.

Francie said she feels she has her late husband Bob's blessing from above.

'Bob and I had a lot of conversations before he went about moving on and what that looked like and what he wanted,' Francie said. 'I didn't know who Duane [Dog] was when I met him. I actually think Bob is in heaven laughing that it's Dog The Bounty Hunter that God brought into my life.'

'I think Bob would be very happy about where I'm at and who Duane is in my life and how we've been walking alongside each other.'

Beth Chapman died at 51 in May 2019. Dog had vowed never to remarry, but was struck by cupid when he met Francie

'I think Bob would be very happy about where I'm at and who Duane is in my life and how we've been walking alongside each other,' Francie said of her late husband. She is pictured with her late husband Bob who dies six months before Dog's wife

As far as the upcoming nuptials, the couple are planning for several dates while trying to keep it safe.

'We are talking about a few different dates and we are starting to plan. It's a little difficult with all of the COVID going on or trying to have more than 20 people in a place,' Francie said.

'Dwayne has that many kids!' she joked.

'I want to leave it open,' Dog said. 'I want to have a wedding that anyone can come for free and try to set a record. So we're negotiating there. It seems like no.'

Dog also spoke about his new platform called Dog Unleashed.

'Unleashed means exactly that, there wont be someone there saying ''oh you cant do that''', he said.

'We aren't going after bail jumpers anymore, were going after the worst of the worst - rapists, murderers, child porn child molestation, wife beaters,' he said.

'We got one guy right now, it might be episode one, who beat up this lady really bad and it was his girlfriend's mother and when the girlfriend walked in he also beat her and put her in the hospital, so I think he needs a little Dog awakening.

The new platform Dog Unleashed launches on January 1.
Sigma Comics Logo Humans have superheroes. Animals dont. Thats about to change. Past News Releases RSS

SIGMA COMICS, LLC, a comic book publisher dedicated to fighting animal abuse, launched today with a logo that many comic book fans of the last century will recognize. The Sigma Comics logo features pioneering comic book dealer, Robert Bells, superhero figure, which was a prominent fixture in comic books from the 1960s through the 1980s. The figure was featured in all of Bells mail order business advertisements of the time, and ushered in the advent of purchasing past issues of comics books through the mail, which helped increase the popularity of comic books.

Company founder, H.H. German, feels honored to continue Mr. Bells legacy. I remember seeing Mr. Bells advertisements as a kid, in all my comic books, said German. Hes a fearless, rugged individual. I mean both the figure and Mr. Bell. We had lots of logo ideas but I wanted it to be a symbol of that rugged individualism that is at the foundation of what it means to be an American.

While Sigma Comics first title was still in development, German approached Bell with his special request. I just looked him up, called him and asked for his permission, said German. I explained who I was and what I was trying to do and he said yes. Needless to say, I was very happy. For his part, Bell said, I am honored to be remembered in the comic book industry after all these years.

Sigma Comics plans to release their first title, which features a character that German describes as one tough customer, by Christmas time. Humans have superheroes. Animals dont. Thats about to change, said German. Visit the Sigma Comics Website at https://www.sigmacomics.com.

About SIGMA COMICS

SIGMA COMICS, LLC is a comic book publisher dedicated to fighting animal abuse. The companys goal is to reach a growing audience of readers across the globe, in order to promote animal rights advocacy and provide a powerful mechanism for animal rights charities to promote their efforts. For more information, visit https://www.sigmacomics.com.

About Robert Bell

An absolute legend and pioneer of the comic book industry, Robert Bell inspired many of todays most respected comic book veterans, such as Chuck Rozanski, from the unrivaled Mile High Comics, to respected authors, such as Dan Gearino, author of Comic Shop: The Retail Mavericks Who Gave Us a New Geek Culture, available at Amazon.com. His legacy lives on through Sigma Comics.

Learn more about Robert Bell:

https://www.milehighcomics.com/tales/cbg186.html

https://dangearino.com/2017/09/16/682/

SOURCE: SIGMA COMICS LLC

Media Contact:

Heck Martinez

media@sigmacomics.com
Caribbean

Less than 24 hours after the Peoples National party (PNP) was trounced in the general election, Dr Peter Phillips has resigned as President of the party.



Preliminary figures show that the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), which was returned to office for a second consecutive term, had secured 49 of the 63 seats contested in the election that Prime Minister Andrew Holness had called six months before the fifth anniversary of the 2016 victory.



Phillips, 70, acknowledged that the results had been very unfavourable to the Peoples National Party adding as in all undertakings such as this, the person held responsible must rest with the leader of the party .



Accordingly I consider it my duty to demit office as President of the Party and I have written to the chairman of the Peoples National Party to ask that the National Executive Council and the Executive of the party make the necessary arrangements as soon as it is practicable to elect a new leader, Phillips said, thanking all those who voted yesterday for the Peoples National Party as well as those who worked on the campaign.



Phillips said that he expects the executive will establish a review committee shortly to analyse the causes of the defeat and to chart a path for rebuilding.



I would like to say in closing that I have had over the past four decades a tremendous opportunity to serve my country and my party giving public service and I relish this and I certainly will do all I can to ensure a smooth transition of the leadership of the party and a swift rebuilding of the Peoples National Party so that it can continue to fulfil its historic mission on behalf of the people of Jamaica.



Phillips served as finance and planning minister under a Portia Simpson Miller administration between 2012 and 2016.



Phillips who holds a Bachelors degree in Economics, a Masters in Government, and a Doctorate in Sociology from the State University of New York at Binghamton, first entered Parliament as an appointed senator after the PNP won the 1989 general elections.



He served as a government minister on numerous occasions while the PNP held office and when it lost the 2016 general election, Phillips won the subsequent leadership election in 2017. But two years later, he was challenged unsuccessfully for the leadership of the PNP by Peter Bunting, who was among the high profile casualties of Thursdays general election.



Phillips told the news conference that until a new leader is elected, he will continue to exercise all the responsibilities of the PNP president, including being Opposition Leader in the new Parliament.



He confirmed that he had been in touch with Prime Minister Andrew Holness on Thursday night offering his congratulations, reiterating that it is for the partys executive branches to determine the timetable of their operations and having the selection especially in the context of COVID-19.



I dont intend to influence the arrangements myself, but I am certainly available for consultationso that matters can be done in good order and with the appropriate expedition.



According to the preliminary figures released by the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ), the J LP won 406 764 of the popular votes, while the PNP won 305 157. A total of 1 161 votes went to independent candidates and third parties.



It said the overall voter turnout was approximately 37 per cent, compared to 48.37 per cent in the 2016 general election.






Pierre Troisgros, one of France s top chefs who helped reinvent the country s traditional cuisine, died Wednesday just weeks after his 92nd birthday.

With the deaths in 2018 of Bocuse and Joel Robuchon, France has lost three monumental chefs in just under three years.

He was a giant, equal to Paul Bocuse with whom he revolutionized cuisine, tweeted the Guide Michelin, which makes and breaks the reputations of chefs, handing out three stars to the best.

Troisgros, known for his mustache and broad smile, died at his home in Coteau, near Roanne in the Loire region where his restaurant was long located, the French press quoted the head of the Troisgros establishment, Patrice Laurent, as saying.

Born Sept. 3, 1928, in Chalon-sur-Saone, Troisgros learned his craft at his family's hotel-restaurant in Roanne before heading for Paris where he refined his skills under Lucas Carton  along with Bocuse, later to be acclaimed as the king of traditional French cuisine. The two chefs had an enduring friendship.

Troisgros returned to his home in the 1950s and took on the family hotel-restaurant with brother Jean, earning a first Michelin star in 1955.

The restaurant was renamed Les Freres Troisgros, and the cuisine changed along with the name, simple but creatively mixing flavors and often light, unlike traditional French gastronomy. The culinary offering proved to be a precursor to Nouvelle Cuisine The restaurant earned its first three-star rating in 1968.

Troisgros' son Michel joined his father in the kitchen with the death of brother Jean in 1983. Michel, helped by his own son, eventually took over the house, which moved to a countryside location outside Roanne, in Ouches.

The team has a heavy heart tonight after learning of the death of Troisgros, the Paul Bocuse restaurant outside Lyon tweeted.

Everyone knows that we were close friends, with parallel destinies, Troisgros told the regional paper Le Progres in 2018. Troisgros-Bocuse, Bocuse-Troisgros, it's part of a legend.
With less than 100 days until the end of the transition period, the Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar is urging businesses to be ready for the inevitable changes that Brexit will mean for their operations at the end of this year.

From 1 January 2021, the UK will no longer be in the Single Market or Customs Union. The Tanaiste warns how Ireland trades with Britain will be "starkly different." Even if a Free Trade Agreement is concluded between the EU and UK, he warns there will be significant and enduring change.

One of the areas where businesses will experience enormous change is customs. Calling on businesses to take action now, the Tanaiste said from the start of next year, customs declarations will need to be completed if businesses intend to continue trading with the UK, whether that is importing or exporting goods to the UK or using the UK as a landbridge to move their goods to or from mainland Europe.

The Government has made available a grant up to 9,000 per employee taken on or redeployed to enable businesses build their capacity to manage any customs changes through one of the agencies of my Department, Enterprise Ireland. Practical customs training is also available through Enterprise Ireland, Local Enterprise Offices and Skillnet Ireland.

Businesses have been warned that they need to ensure they have adequate cashflow as it could be impacted for a number of reasons including currency fluctuations, tariffs or potential delays.

Speaking yesterday, the Tanaiste said, "Businesses need to be sure their certifications and standards are EU compliant from the 1st January next year. While this may not affect every business, it is really important for some. I am sure we have all noticed the CE certification mark on various products which means they meet particular standards set out in EU law. These are assessed by notified bodies and you must ensure that a notified body within the EU is used. So, if you have depended on a UK notified body, you must change over to one in the EU."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
Mumbai, Sep 23 : Actress and Congress politician Nagma has raised the question why the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has not yet summoned Bollywood star Kangana Ranaut, who has admitted to having taken drugs in the past.

Nagma also said the NCB is trying to malign the image of top Bollywood actresses by sharing information of ongoing investigation related to them with the media.

"Why has the NCB not summoned Kangana Ranaut who has admitted to have taken drugs . If they could summon other actresses on basis of what's app chat ?? Hypocrite and is this the duty of NCB to leak out information to Press and malign the image of only female top actresses 56 inch," Nagma tweeted from her verified account on Wednesday evening.

Nagma's jibe at Kangana comes on a day when the NCB said that it has summoned Bollywood actresses Deepika Padukone, Sara Ali Khan, Shraddha Kapoor and Rakul Preet Singh for questioning in its ongoing probe on Bollywood's alleged links with drug traders.

The NCB is exploring the drug angle as part of the probe into the death of Sushant Singh Rajput.

Recently, a video featuring Kangana went viral on social media, where the actress admits that she became a drug addict once. The video was originally shared by Kangana on her Instagram account in March this year during Navaratri.

In the video, Kangana can be heard saying: "Jaise hi main ghar se bhaagi, dedh-do saal me main ek film star thi, ek drug addict thi. Meri zindagi mein itne saare kaand chal rahe the ki mein aise logo ke haathon mein lag chuki thi, jahaan itna sab danger ho chuka tha meri life mein (soon after I ran away from my house, in around one and a half to two years I became a film star and a drug addict. So much was happening in my life, I fell into the hands of such people, where all these dangerous things happened in my life)."
JOURNALIST: We have recently been seeing Ankara escalate its challenges. Which steps must Greece take next, and under which conditions can meaningful dialogue take place?



N. DENDIAS: In order for meaningful dialogue to take place, the provocations and threats must come to an end. You cannot claim to be ready to engage in dialogue while, at the same time, violating your interlocutors sovereignty and sovereign rights. This directly disproves what Mr Tsavousoglous oft-repeated claim that Turkey is ready for unconditional dialogue. Meaningful dialogue will take place on the basis of international law and good neighbourly relations, with no provocations and threats. Turkey cannot legitimately demand the forfeiture of sovereign rights as a prerequisite for dialogue. Should we see indications of an honest desire to engage in dialogue, without pretexts and PR ploys, we will be absolutely prepared to talk. After all, that is our modus operandi with all our neighbours, and that is what we wish to do with Turkey, as well.



JOURNALIST: Is the fact that Turkey did not issue a new Navtex regarding Oruc Reis a meaningful gesture of good will, or is it part of a short-term strategy in view of the Summit on the 24th and 25th of September? Given the foregoing, what decisions should we expect to see at the European level?



N. DENDIAS: This is a positive step in principle, which must be followed up on, i.e. complete abstinence from illegal actions and rhetoric. However, what we have sadly realised is that, in part, the provocative rhetoric has not ceased. The Turkish side must clarify why Oruc Reis was ultimately withdrawn and why the Navtex was not renewed: was it due to repairs and will it be returning once repairs are complete? Or is it a move that Greece must view as an opportunity, changing its position on the basis of Turkey's plans, as my Turkish counterpart recently stated? The contradiction at hand is obvious, but I believe that an answer is forthcoming, accompanied by the emergence of the Turkish sides actual intentions. As regards its relations with the EU, Turkey is faced with a choice: either dialogue accompanied by demonstrable, meaningful and immediate de-escalation, or a list of sanctions. During the upcoming European Council meeting, the situation will be carefully examined and conclusions will be drawn, serving as a basis for any future decisions.



JOURNALIST: During the meeting held in the context of Germanys mediation initiative, which issues were discussed? Was there actually an initial agreement from which Turkey withdrew?



N. DENDIAS: The Prime Minister has answered that question clearly. The content of this agreement had nothing whatsoever to do with what certain segments of the Press reported. It was an understanding reached after discussions between two officials regarding the steps to be followed, in order for exploratory talks to recommence  nothing more, nothing less. The understanding on that basis was effectively nullified by Turkey on the pretext of the wholly legitimate agreement signed between Greece and Egypt on the partial delimitation of an EEZ.



JOURNALIST: If these talks do not progress, how likely is an agreement to seek recourse with The Hague?



N. DENDIAS: If these talks do not lead to a solution, there is always the option of seeking recourse with a judicial body such as the International Court of Justice in The Hague in order to resolve the well-known, sole dispute. The International Court of Justice was created precisely in order to resolve issues that the party-states cannot resolve between them. In essence, it is International Law prevailing over gunboat politics. Of course, seeking recourse with he Hague presupposes that the parties will have signed a special agreement to refer a matter to the ICJ in The Hague, i.e. have agreed on the courts jurisdiction and on precisely what it will adjudicate. I must reiterate that Turkey has not accepted this, contrary to Greece, which has stated it is prepared to refer the matter to The Hague, if necessary. Our dispute with Turkey concerns the delimitation of the continental shelf and EEZ, which has and that always been the subject of exploratory talks. Sadly, we discern a persistent effort on the part of Turkey to unilaterally set the agenda, undermining these talks before they had even begun. A bad-faith observer might say that Turkey seems to be focusing on the blame game instead of on finding peaceful solutions. However, I hope that is not the case.



JOURNALIST: Do you believe Turkey will continue exploiting the migration issue? Could there be a new European strategy regarding this matter?



N. DENDIAS: Exploiting human suffering in order to extort the EU, Turkey once again exposed itself before the international community. This March, Greece proved that it is absolutely capable of protecting the external borders of Europe at Evros, enjoying the unanimous support of its partners. The migration issue concerns all of Europe. There must be a new European strategy addressing the challenges of the issue as a whole, particularly in first-reception countries. There must be a new agreement to replace the insufficient Dublin Regulation and overcome the reactions of certain Member States on the basis of equal treatment of the principles of responsibility and solidarity.



JOURNALIST: Following the EEZ agreements concluded first with Italy and then with Egypt, should we be expecting developments with other neighbouring states? Will we soon see an initiative for expansion of territorial waters to 12 nautical miles south of Crete, as well?



N. DENDIAS: Our goal is to gradually delimit all our maritime zones, always in the context of International Law and always in full agreement, where necessary, with our neighbours. Following the two agreements concluded with Italy and Egypt, the time is ripe for Greece to take the next steps forward. The competent services of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are processing the actions necessary to expand Greeces territorial waters to 12 NM in the Ionian Sea, at first, followed by preparation for other regions in the future. This constitutes exercise of an exclusive right of countries which is recognised by the International Law of the Sea and which is not subject to any kind of restriction or approval by third parties.



JOURNALIST: Recently we have seen a number of actions to strengthen the country's diplomatic position, as well as a meeting between the Prime Minister and the French President, focusing on developments in the Eastern Mediterranean. What initiatives should we be expecting on the diplomatic chessboard in the near future?



N. DENDIAS: The diplomatic strategy we have followed, establishing an extensive network of mutual understanding and cooperation with countries that respect international legality and face the same provocations, on one hand, and informing the international community of Turkey's aggressive actions, on the other, has proven fruitful. It has created a clear framework. It is important that we did not back down, we did not give into extortions, but also that we did not follow Turkey in the dangerous game of provocations. What I can tell you is that Greece will remain active at all levels, explaining its positions and actions to its partners at every stage of the process. These positions and actions will not surprise anyone, will not challenge common sense, will not violate and will not question international legality through legal abominations and illegal agreements. Instead, they will always take place in the framework of international law and the principles of good neighbourly relations, in which everyone will be invited to participate.



JOURNALIST: The government is increasing the country's defence budget. However, it is also employing measures to support enterprises and workers suffering the economic impact of the coronavirus. How easy is it to strike the balance required between defence spending and measures for the recovery of the economy?



N. DENDIAS: As you note quite correctly, it is a matter of balance. The government bears an obligation, towards both the present population and future generations, to bolster the country's defences on one hand, and to restore its economy and maintain social cohesion, on the other. These two aspects are not mutually exclusive. On the contrary, if properly planned, strengthening our defences can contribute to economic recovery, both directly, through the recovery of the domestic defence industry, and indirectly, by strengthening the climate of security which is a sine qua non for the growth of a national economy. Greece will not become involved in an arms race. The choices made to modernise our Armed Forces are those deemed absolutely necessary. In any event, it is certain that strengthening our National Defence, i.e. ensuring our national existence, is a fixed obligation of every Greek government.
New Delhi: Filmmaker Maqbool Khan, who directs the upcoming Ishaan Khatter-Ananya Panday starrer 'Khaali Peeli', says it was veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan who inspired him to enter the world of films.

"I am a die-hard fan of Mr. Amitabh Bachchan. I grew up watching his movies. In my childhood days, I used to imitate his style a lot. Basically, he inserted a 'filmy' keeda in me. He is a huge inspiration to me. His movies always kept me at the edge of my seat and ignited a spark in me to pursue career in film industry," Khan told IANS.

Before becoming a full-fledged director, Maqbool used to assist filmmaker Anubhav Sinha. He learned everything about films on the sets.

"I come from a small town in Rajasthan. When I came to Bombay, I assisted Anubhav Sinha sir for 10 years. I learnt everything about movies on the sets. I never visited any film institute. Anubhav sir is my real guru. After assisting him, I came up with my first film 'Kabootar' in 2006, and since then my real journey as a filmmaker started," he added.

Maqbool is extremely happy to direct the film "Khaali Peeli".

"It took almost 23 years to reach here. Slowly and gradually I have achieved my mark in the industry. It's totally worth the wait. Happy that I have directed film of such a great scale. Couldn't ask for more," he said while speaking about "Khaali Peeli".
The U.S. government on Tuesday executed a former soldier who said an obsession with witchcraft led him to kill a Georgia nurse he believed had put a spell on him.

William Emmett LeCroy, 50, was pronounced dead at 9.06pm after receiving a lethal injection at the same U.S. prison in Terre Haute, Indiana, where five others have been executed in 2020 following a 17-year period without a federal execution.

Lawyers had asked President Donald Trump in a petition to commute LeCroys sentence to life in prison, saying that LeCroy's brother, Georgia State Trooper Chad LeCroy, was killed during a routine traffic stop in 2010 and that another son's death would devastate their family.

William Emmett LeCroy, 50, (pictured) is the sixth federal inmate executed by lethal injection this year at the U.S. prison in Terre Haute, Indiana

Joann Lee Tiesler, left and right, was murdered by William Emmett LeCroy, who on Tuesday would be the sixth federal inmate executed by lethal injection this year at the U.S. prison in Terre Haute, Indiana

LeCroy, a blue sheet pulled up to this neck, kept his eyes fixed on the ceiling, not turning his head to look at any witnesses behind the death chamber's glass windows. His spiritual adviser, Sister Barbara Battista, stood a few feet away inside the chamber, her head bowed and reading from a prayer book.

LeCroy had told her last week that he didn't want to play into what he called the 'theater' surrounding his execution and may not make a statement before he died.

When a prison official leaned over him Tuesday night, gently pulled off LeCroys face mask and asked if he had any last words, he responded calmly and matter-of-factly. 'Sister Battista is about to receive in the postal service my last statement,' he said.

LeCroy kept his eyes open as the lethal injection was administered. His eyelids began to slowly close as his midsection quickly began to heave uncontrollably for a minute or two.

After several more minutes, color drained from his limbs, his face turned ashen and his lips tinted blue. After about 10 minutes, an official with a stethoscope entered the chamber, felt LeCroy's wrist for a pulse and then listened to his heart before he was officially declared dead.

A wave of federal executions by the Trump administration after a 17-year hiatus resumed this year at Terre Haute Prison in Indiana

LeCroy broke into the Cherrylog, Georgia, mountain home of 30-year-old Joann Lee Tiesler on Oct. 7, 2001, and waited for her to return from a shopping trip. When she walked through the door, LeCroy struck her with a shotgun, bound and raped her. He then slashed her throat and repeatedly stabbed her in the back.

LeCroy had known Tiesler because she lived near a relative's home and would often wave to her as he drove by. He later told investigators he'd come to believe she might have been his old babysitter he called Tinkerbell, who LeCroy claimed sexually molested him as a child. After killing Tiesler, he realized that couldnt possibly be true.

Two days after killing Tiesler, LeCroy was arrested driving Tiesler's truck after passing a U.S. checkpoint in Minnesota heading to Canada.

Authorities found a note LeCroy wrote before his arrest in which he asked Tiesler for forgiveness, according to court filings. 'You were an angel and I killed you,' it read. 'I am a vagabond and doomed to hell.'

After LeCroy was executed, the victim's father, Tom Tiesler said in a statement: 'Today justice was finally served. William LeCroy died a peaceful death in stark contrast to the horror he imposed on my daughter Joann.

'I am unaware that he ever showed any remorse for his evil actions, his life of crime or for the horrific burden he caused Joanns loved ones,' the statement read.

A few hours before the execution, Battista, waiting near the prison, held a bag of caramel chocolate that she said was LeCroys favorite. In conversations with him in the days leading up to the execution, she said he had been contemplating his likely death and sounded resigned.

'He said, "You know, once we were not and then we are and then we are not,"' she said. 'He was reflective. He didnt seem agitated.'

LeCroy joined the Army at 17 but was soon was discharged for going AWOL and later spoke about an interest in witchcraft that began during a previous stint in prison for burglary, child molestation and other charges.

He had ruminated for days before the slaying about how Tiesler was Tinkerbell and that assaulting her would reverse a hex she put on him. After he cut her throat, he went to Tieslers computer to search for books about witchcraft, court filings said.

Todd and Stacie Bagley, left and right, were murdered by Christopher Andre Vialva

He was convicted in 2004 on a federal charge of carjacking resulting in death and a jury recommended a death sentence.

LeCroy's lawyers had unsuccessfully tried to halt the execution and argued that his trial lawyers didnt properly emphasize evidence about his upbringing and mental health that could have persuaded jurors not to impose a death sentence. Their last-minute appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court was also rejected.

In a statement, Justice Department spokesperson Kerri Kupec said Tiesler's father and her fiance had witnessed the execution.

'Nearly 19 years after brutally ending the life of Joann Lee Tiesler, William Emmett LeCroy finally has faced the justice he deserved,' Kupec said.

Over previous 56 years, before the Trump administrations reboot of executions this year, the federal government had executed just three people - all in the early 2000s. Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh was among them.

Another execution, of Christopher Vialva, is scheduled Thursday. He would be the first African American on federal death row to be put to death in the series of federal executions this year.

Critics say the Justice Department's resumption of federal executions this year is a cynical bid to help Trump claim the mantel of law-and-order candidate leading up to Election Day. Supporters say Trump is bringing long-overdue justice to victims and their families.
TORONTO, Sept. 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

Closed Smith & Williamson merger.

Reported adjusted diluted EPS of $0.19 for the third quarter of 2020.

Announces intention to launch a substantial issuer bid.

Private alternative AUM increased 14% to $2.8 billion. Establishes new advisory committee for its alternatives business.

AGF Management Limited (AGF or the Company) (TSX: AGF.B) today announced financial results for the third quarter ended August 31, 2020.

AGF reported total assets under management (AUM) of $37.0 billion compared to $37.4 billion in the same period in 2019. Average daily mutual fund AUM remained flat at $18.9 billion compared to the same period in 2019. Ending mutual fund AUM was $19.2 billion. AUM related to AGF's private alternatives increased 14% to $2.8 billion compared to $2.4 billion in the same period of 2019.

Equity markets performed strongly in the third quarter with many regions recovering losses experienced during the market downturn in spite of high levels of volatility from the continued impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In this uncertain environment AGF's mutual funds held up well against the industry, reporting net redemptions of $22.0 million compared to net redemptions of $103.0 million in Q3 2019. Excluding net flows from institutional clients invested in mutual funds, net redemptions were $4.0 million for the quarter compared to $103.0 million in the comparative period of 2019.

"In the current environment we have been able to maintain our business trajectory in the retail space and close the Smith & Williamson merger providing us the ability to redeploy capital in a number of ways to ensure our resources remain focused against our stated strategic goals while delivering continued value to our shareholders," said Kevin McCreadie, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer, AGF. "We will be taking a three-pronged balanced approach to use our capital to return value to our shareholders through funding share buybacks, paying down our debt, and seeding continued areas of growth, including private alternatives."

The Board has authorized AGF to use up to $40 million of the cash received as a result of the merger between Tilney and Smith & Williamson in order to return capital to its shareholders through a substantial issuer bid made to all holders of AGF's Class B non-voting shares (the "Offer"). The Offer may be at a premium to the then-current market price of the Company's Class B non-voting shares. Holders of the Company's Class A voting shares and insiders of AGF are not expected to participate in the Offer. Subject to market and other conditions, AGF anticipates that the terms of the Offer will be finalized later this month, with the Offer expected to be completed by the end of November 2020.8

Focused on driving growth in its key strategic pillars, AGF has established a new advisory committee for its alternatives business, the AGF Alternatives Advisory Committee (Committee), comprised of individuals who have made a significant impact in an investment and/or leadership role in organizations noteworthy for their success in the alternatives sector. The Committee will provide strategic insight and advice to the Executive Management Team of AGF. Ron Mock, former President and CEO at the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, and Michael Latimer, former President and CEO of OMERS, have joined the newly established Committee.

"Now more than ever we have seen the value of alternatives as we navigate these uncertain times reaffirming this space as integral to AGF's growth strategy, delivering value for our shareholders while providing our clients access to the uncorrelated asset classes they are seeking," added McCreadie. "To have these two tenured industry leaders with substantial knowledge and experience at the table with us will be invaluable as we look to grow our alternatives capabilities and partnerships, including our recently announced expansion with SAF Group."

Business Highlights:



On September 1, the merger between Tilney and Smith & Williamson to create one of the U.K.'s leading integrated wealth management and professional services groups closed. As a result, AGF received total cash of 177 million (C$296 million), excluding tax and one-time expenses and subject to closing adjustments.



AGF has entered into a definitive option agreement with the SAF Group which grants AGF the right to acquire an indirect controlling interest in the management fee partnerships of select SAF Group (SAF) funds exercisable at any time in a 12 month period, in addition to any new private credit fund AGF and SAF bring to market together. Additionally, AGF announced that the General Partners will commit $15 million in capital to a new private credit fund the firms expect to bring to market together later this year.





AGF and WaveFront Global Asset Management Corporation announced on September 21 st the launch of AGFWave Asset Management Inc. (AGFWave), a new joint venture for providing asset management services and products in China and South Korea.





the launch of AGFWave Asset Management Inc. (AGFWave), a new joint venture for providing asset management services and products in China and South Korea. AGF reinforced its commitment to furthering responsible and sustainable investing practices across the organization with new dedicated investment management hires and a new industry membership focused on enhancing sustainability research.





AGF is a signatory to the United Nations supported Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) as a sustaining member of the Responsible Investment Association. In *PRI's 2020 Assessment Report, AGF maintained its overall "Strategy and Governance" score of 'A+', and its overall score of 'A' under "Listed Equity - Incorporation". In 2020, AGF also improved to an overall score of 'A' for "Listed Equity - Active Ownership" and "Fixed Income - Corporate Non-Financial". Overall, AGF either maintained or exceeded the median score in all six modules.





AGF filed prospectuses with the Canadian securities regulators for the launch of two ETFs (AGF Global Sustainable Growth Equity ETF and AGF Global Opportunities Bond ETF) and two mutual funds (AGFiQ Global Balanced ETF Portfolio Fund and AGFiQ Global Income ETF Portfolio Fund) to offer clients choice and expand its distribution reach through a variety of investment vehicles.

"During the quarter and throughout the pandemic we have been focused on delivering for our clients and strengthening relationships with our partners," said Judy Goldring, President and Head of Global Distribution, AGF. "This will keep us top of mind over the long-term and has led to strong results, increased engagement and a growing interest in many of our top performing global and liquid alternatives strategies."

For further information on AGF's pandemic response plan statementvisit AGF.com .

Financial Highlights:

Income for the three months ended August 31, 2020 was $138.7 million, compared to $107.4 million in the prior year and $89.0 million recorded in the three months ended May 31, 2020.





Income in the quarter includes $41.3 million in dividend income related to Smith & Williamson, comprised of an interim dividend of $8.8 million received in June and a special distribution of $32.5 million received September 2, 2020.





Adjusted EBITDA before commissions for the three months ended August 31, 2020 was $30.1 million compared to $30.2 million in the three months ended August 31, 2019 and $21.2 million in the three months ended May 31, 2020.





For the three months ended August 31, 2020, AGF reported adjusted net income of $14.8 million ($0.19 per diluted share) compared to adjusted net income of $14.6 million ($0.18 per diluted share) in the corresponding period in 2019 and net income of $5.3 million ($0.07 per diluted share) in the three months ended May 31, 2020.





Upon final close of the S&WHL transaction, the Company received total cash of 177 million (C$296 million), excluding tax and one-time expenses and subject to closing adjustments. On September 9, 2020, AGF received cash proceeds of 148.8 million (C$250.4 million), resulting in a gain on the sale, after tax and one-time expenses, of approximately $96 million. With the transaction now complete, AGF possesses no financial interest in the merged group.





On September 14, 2020, AGF used a portion of the proceeds from the sale of Smith & Williamson to pay down its credit facility in full.





(from continuing operations) Three months ended Nine months ended August 31, May 31, August 31, August 31, August 31, (in millions of dollars, except per share data) 2020 2020 2019 2020 2019 Income Management, advisory, administration fees and deferred sales charges $ 94.9 $ 88.8 $ 97.3 $ 283.2 $ 290.9 Share of profit of joint ventures 0.6 0.6 0.1 1.3 0.2 Share of profit of associate (S&WHL) - - 5.8 - 16.8 Dividend income, net of currency hedge (S&WHL) 41.3 - - 45.8 - Fair value adjustments and other income (loss) 1.9 (0.4) 4.2 4.3 14.3 Total Income 138.7 89.0 107.4 334.6 322.2 Selling, general and administrative 46.1 40.2 47.3 131.6 143.9 EBITDA before commissions1 62.6 21.2 29.0 114.1 71.2 Adjusted EBITDA before commissions1 30.1 21.2 30.2 81.6 89.1 Net income 47.3 5.3 14.4 63.5 25.7 Adjusted net income1 14.8 5.3 14.6 31.0 37.4 Diluted earnings per share 0.60 0.07 0.18 0.80 0.32 Adjusted diluted earnings per share1 0.19 0.07 0.18 0.39 0.47 Free cash flow1 15.5 6.1 9.7 36.1 34.4 Dividends per share 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.24 0.24 Long-term debt 194.3 199.9 158.9 194.3 158.9

(end of period) Three months ended August 31, May 31, February 29, November 30, August 31, (in millions of dollars) 2020 2020 2020 2019 2019 Mutual fund assets under management (AUM)2 $ 19,232 $ 18,259 $ 18,492 $ 19,346 $ 18,839 Institutional, sub-advisory and ETF accounts AUM 9,252 9,591 10,313 10,755 10,391 Private client AUM 5,773 5,624 5,905 6,100 5,778 Private alternatives AUM3 2,755 2,862 2,716 2,580 2,413 Total AUM, including private alternatives AUM 37,012 36,336 37,426 38,781 37,421 Net mutual fund redemptions2 (22) (93) (344) (181) (103) Average daily mutual fund AUM2 18,879 17,386 19,462 19,015 18,915

1 EBITDA before commissions (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and deferred selling commissions), adjusted EBITDA before commissions, adjusted net income, adjusted diluted earnings per share and Free Cash Flow are not standardized measures prescribed by IFRS. The Company utilizes non-IFRS measures to assess our overall performance and facilitate a comparison of quarterly and full-year results from period to period. They allow us to assess our investment management business without the impact of non-operational items. These non-IFRS measures may not be comparable with similar measures presented by other companies. These non-IFRS measures and reconciliations to IFRS, where necessary, are included in the Management's Discussion and Analysis available at www.agf.com (http://www.agf.com) . 2 Mutual fund AUM includes retail AUM, pooled fund AUM and institutional client AUM invested in customized series offered within mutual funds. 3 Represents fee-earning committed and/or invested capital from AGF and external investors held through joint ventures. AGF's portion of this commitment is $207.4 million, of which $146.1 million has been funded as at August 31, 2020.

For further information and detailed financial statements for the third quarter ended August 31, 2020, including Management's Discussion and Analysis, which contains discussions of non-IFRS measures, please refer to AGF's website at www.agf.com under 'About AGF' and 'Investor Relations' and at www.sedar.com .



Conference Call

AGF will host a conference call to review its earnings results today at 11 a.m. ET.

The live audio webcast with supporting materials will be available in the Investor Relations section of AGF's website at www.agf.com or at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/dfgu2kmg . Alternatively, the call can be accessed toll-free in North America by dialing 1 (800) 708-4540 (Passcode #: 49913104).

A complete archive of this discussion along with supporting materials will be available at the same webcast address within 24 hours of the end of the conference call.

8This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to buy or a solicitation of an offer to sell AGF's Class B non-voting shares. The substantial issuer bid referred to in this press release has not yet commenced. The solicitation and offer to buy the Class B non-voting shares will only be made pursuant to a separate issuer bid circular, which will contain full details of the substantial issuer bid and will be filed with the securities regulatory authorities and mailed to AGF's shareholders.

*The PRI works with its international network of signatories to put the six Principles for Responsible Investment into practice. Its goals are to understand the investment implications of environmental, social and governance issues and to support signatories in integrating these issues into investment and ownership decisions. The Assessment Report is designed to provide feedback to the signatories to support them in their ongoing learning and development in this regard. More information about PRI and its assessment reports can be found on the following website: https://www.unpri.org/reporting . To view AGF's PRI signatory page, please click here.

About AGF Management Limited

Founded in 1957, AGF Management Limited (AGF) is an independent and globally diverse asset management firm. AGF brings a disciplined approach to delivering excellence in investment management through its fundamental, quantitative, alternative and high-net-worth businesses focused on providing an exceptional client experience. AGF's suite of investment solutions extends globally to a wide range of clients, from financial advisors and individual investors to institutional investors including pension plans, corporate plans, sovereign wealth funds and endowments and foundations.

AGF has investment operations and client servicing teams on the ground in North America, Europe and Asia. With $37 billion in total assets under management, AGF serves more than one million investors. AGF trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol AGF.B.

AGF Management Limited shareholders, analysts and media, please contact:

Adrian Basaraba

Senior Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer

416-865-4203, InvestorRelations@agf.com

Baoqin Guo

Vice-President, Finance

416-865-4228, InvestorRelations@agf.com

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements about the Company, including its business operations, strategy and expected financial performance and condition and its intention to launch a substantial issuer bid. Forward-looking statements include statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, or include words such as 'expects,' 'estimates,' 'anticipates,' 'intends,' 'plans,' 'believes' or negative versions thereof and similar expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as 'may,' 'will,' 'should,' 'would' and 'could.' In addition, any statement that may be made concerning future financial performance (including income, revenues, earnings or growth rates), ongoing business strategies or prospects, fund performance, and possible future action on our part, is also a forward-looking statement. Forward-looking statements are based on certain factors and assumptions, including expected growth, results of operations, business prospects, business performance and opportunities. While we consider these factors and assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available, they may prove to be incorrect. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and projections about future events and are inherently subject to, among other things, risks, uncertainties and assumptions about our operations, economic factors and the financial services industry generally. They are not guarantees of future performance, and actual events and results could differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements made by us due to, but not limited to, important risk factors such as level of assets under our management, volume of sales and redemptions of our investment products, performance of our investment funds and of our investment managers and advisors, client-driven asset allocation decisions, pipeline, competitive fee levels for investment management products and administration, and competitive dealer compensation levels and cost efficiency in our investment management operations, as well as general economic, political and market factors in North America and internationally, interest and foreign exchange rates, global equity and capital markets, business competition, taxation, changes in government regulations, unexpected judicial or regulatory proceedings, technological changes, cybersecurity, the possible effects of war or terrorist activities, outbreaks of disease or illness that affect local, national or international economies (such as COVID-19), natural disasters and disruptions to public infrastructure, such as transportation, communications, power or water supply or other catastrophic events, and our ability to complete strategic transactions and integrate acquisitions, and attract and retain key personnel. We caution that the foregoing list is not exhaustive. The reader is cautioned to consider these and other factors carefully and not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Other than specifically required by applicable laws, we are under no obligation (and expressly disclaim any such obligation) to update or alter the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For a more complete discussion of the risk factors that may impact actual results, please refer to the 'Risk Factors and Management of Risk' section of the 2019 Annual MD&A.
Madam Tangoba Abayage, the Upper East Regional Minister, has called on the youth in the Region to preach peace as the country prepares towards the December 7, 2020, general elections.



She made the call at the Upper East Regional Tourism Awards night, which saw a lot of attendees from various districts across the Region.



Madam Tangoba urged Ghanaians to employ every available avenue to preach peace as it was the only way to ensure that the country remained stable before, during, and after the election.



"Ghana is the only country we have and should therefore not allow anything to destabilize our peace," she said.



Mr Henry Yeleduor, the Upper Regional Manager, Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), said the regional tourism awards night was an annual event to reward deserving industry practitioners and stakeholders who had demonstrated excellence and commitment towards the growth and development of the industry.



He said the event also aimed at affording industry players the opportunity to meet and network with potential clients as they continued to strive for excellence.



Mr Yeleduor said this year's theme: "Growing Tourism beyond the Return", alluded to the success chalked by the Year of Return programme, which was initiated by government in 2019.



He said the Region received people from the diaspora who visited some communities in the area, as part of the Year of Return programme and was hopeful that some benefits would begin to accrue from such engagements.



Mr Yeleduor called on the hospitality industry players to inculcate the habit of quality services as it was an element for sustainable development and success in their businesses.



The Regional Manager lamented over the negative impact of COVID-19 on the hospitality industry and urged members to continue to observe and enforce the safety protocols to protect lives.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
Twenty-five years since its release, Seven remains a cult classic because it inspired many copy-cat cliches in cinema, and launched several careers.

On the dusty, scarred hard drives of Indias college-going kids from the first decade of the 21st century, two films stood apart from the rest. To the Hindi speaking viewers from India, only just beginning to explore the virtues and vices of a broadband connection (read: torrents) they were a sort of initiation into the world of quality, but most importantly stylistic, cinema. One of these films is The Shawshank Redemption (1994). The other iss David Finchers Seven (1995), a grotesque portrayal of sin and the pervasiveness of evil. Twenty-five years since its release, Seven remains a cult classic because it inspired many copy-cat cliches in cinema, and launched several careers.

Its perhaps only coincidence that Morgan Freeman played a worn sage in both Seven and the Shawshank Redemption, overlooking the psychological transformation of younger men around him. Seven is nightmarish because its set in an unnamed city where it always pours and it could be the 90s but it is hard to tell, looking at the film. Its as if this sketch of urban grimness can teleport itself to whatever nook of the world you are watching it from, and claw into the sewers like your worst fears. Violence follows life. And naturally, life follows violence. Freeman plays Lt. Somerset, a retiring detective on the last day of his job, when an absurdly brutal case presents itself. Somerset is assisted by Mills, a less than dapper Brad Pitt, evidently trying to shake his sex icon image. While Freeman is old school - he uses a typewriter, reads in the library and thinks before speaking - Mills is tenacious and on the edge. Its almost as if Mills is what justice would look like in the hands of future generations  rushed and hot-headed.

After the two detectives find a man murdered by forced feeding they realise there is a pattern to the gruesome murders surfacing by the numbers, in the city. The murderer conveniently leaves clues intended for the detectives. Not because he wants to be caught, but because both detectives, as we learn later, are part of his masterpiece. Both Mills and Somerset, are of course, polar opposites. While the former follows his instincts, the latter trusts his knowledge and restraint. Because this a cruel world, neither is particularly happy, nor are the two without hope. Mills has a wife (Gwyneth Paltrow) he struggles to give time to, while Somerset is a lonesome, middle-aged man, with all the time in the world to reminisce about all that is decaying around him.

In Seven, Finchers cynical world view grabs you by the throat and pushes you against the wall. To look away is not an option because the director encloses us in a world from which there is no escape. Even Sevens solitary chase sequence happens inside the confines of an apartment building. There are times when you just can't see anything. I like that kind of movie, Fincher once said in an interview with The Guardian. The limits of space and our inability to shake an impending sense of dread are characters in the film. But Seven is gory without actually showing any blood, it suggests but doesnt descend into farcical bloodshed. Fincher builds his vision of hell more deftly, draining both light and optimism from his screen. The only time we see anything close to a bright horizon is in the shocking climax.

Finchers film is iconic for more than just its nightmarish vision of a fictional (could be yours) city from hell. Besides its stylish portrayal of a forbidding reality, it claims that sin is ultimately inevitable. The twist at the end is his way of confirming that given the right motivation, even custodians of law and justice can choose vengeance.

Seven has earned cult status for an array of reasons. Kevin Spaceys uncredited cameo as the killer John Doe is stupendously chilling. The film recast Brad Pitt as a "proper actor" and earned Fincher the pedigree to attract studio backing. Seven may never grow old, because cynicism never grows old.
Ivory Coast's former prime minister and presidential candidate Pascal Affi N'Guessan on Tuesday joined calls for "civil disobedience" ahead of next month's election in response to Alassane Ouattara's bid for a third term.

Former president Henri Konan Bedie, who will also be on the ballot, had launched the call on Sunday to thunderous applause at a meeting of the country's main opposition parties.

"Because of the dictatorship of Alassane Ouattara, I fully and totally subscribe to the disobedience advocated by president Henri Konan Bedie and all political and social forces in Ivory Coast," said Affi N'Guessan.

Neither candidate elaborated on the form the civil disobedience should take.

The election in the West African country is expected to be tense, with Ouattara set to defy a constitutional limit of two terms. The 78-year-old and his supporters argue that a 2016 constitutional tweak reset the clock on his time in office.

Violent protests against Ouattara's candidacy left around 15 dead last month, reviving memories of post-election bloodshed nearly a decade ago in the former French colony.

The ruling RHDP party's spokesman Kobenan Kouassi Adjoumani on Tuesday condemned the opposition's "irresponsible" and "inflammatory speeches".

"It is an admission of weakness on the part of the opposition which is afraid of the election," he said.

Bedie, Affi N'Guessan and Kouadio Konan Bertin, a dissident from Bedie's party, are the only challengers to Ouattara after the electoral commission excluded 40 other would-be candidates for the October 31 vote.

Ouattara had said in March that he would not seek another term, but made a U-turn just four months later when his preferred successor, prime minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly, died of a heart attack.

The world's top cocoa grower remains scarred by a brief civil war that erupted after 2010 elections, when then president Laurent Gbagbo refused to cede to the victor, Ouattara. Months of violence claimed around 3,000 lives.
(Newser)  After Evan Sotzing's girlfriend tested positive for COVID-19, the University of Cincinnati student says the school's health department instructed him to self-isolate. That meant he had to miss an in-person lab under adjunct professor John Ucker, per the Cincinnati Enquirer. The reaction Sotzing received from Ucker was not at all what he expected. "Not only did my professor give me a zero for not going, but this was his response," Sotzing tweeted last Thursday along with a screenshot of the email Ucker had sent to him. That message from Ucker, who, per his personnel file, has taught at the school for more than 25 years: "For students testing positive for the chinese (sic) virus, I will give no grade," the email noted, with additional instructions on further reading materials.

story continues below

Sotzing's post has since gone viral, and though he's since clarified he didn't know whether Ucker was giving him a zero or simply not awarding any grade, he was still offended by Ucker's "racist" wording and wants to see the school take "disciplinary actions." The school has placed Ucker on administrative leave as its Office of Equal Opportunity and Access looks into the matter. "These types of xenophobic comments and stigmatizations around location or ethnicity are more than troubling," John Weidner, dean of the school's College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, said in an email to CNN. But in a statement cited by Inside Higher Ed, a rep for free-speech group PEN America says that although Ucker exercised "poor [judgment]" and the college should decry it, he shouldn't face "a disciplinary response to a single statement." No comment yet from Ucker. (Read more University of Cincinnati stories.)
Sudhir Suryawanshi By

Express News Service

MUMBAI: Asking the Centre to provide all possible help, Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray told Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday that the state may face shortage of oxygen due to rising COVID-19 cases.

This request was made after PM Modi, who convened a video conference on Wednesday, addressed chief ministers of seven states, including Uddhav Thackeray, to asses COVID-19 siatuation

In the meeting, Modi praised the work of the state government and said, people of Maharashtra fight everything bravely and asked CM Uddhav to focus on 20 districts of the state which are witnessing high COVID-19 cases.

ALSO READ | Use oxygen judiciously: Maharashtra government tells hospitals treating COVID-19 patients

Uddhav Thackeray then shared the pressing problem of oxygen shortage in the state.

In Maharashtra, Pune is consuming the largest quantity  235 metric tonne of oxygen out of a total consumption of 953 metric tonne of oxygen across the state.

According to Maharashtra government oxygen demand and supply report, presently the demand for oxygen in 1,072 COVID-19 hospitals of Maharashtra is 953.21 metric tonne against the 953.470 metric tonne supply, while there is 458 metric tonne oxygen, has remained as a balanced stock in various hospitals.

Thackeray requested that the prices of the oxygen should be reduced and there should be control over the supply of the oxygen.

Maharashtra has reserved 80 per cent oxygen use for the medical purpose while remaining 20 per cent for industrial purpose. The vehicles that carry the oxygen have been given the status of ambulance so that they don't face traffic issues." Thackeray said.

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The mayor of Louisville, Ky. declared a state of emergency on Tuesday due to the potential for civil unrest as the city braces for a decision on charges against the police officers who fatally shot Breonna Taylor.

Our goal is ensuring space and opportunity for potential protesters to gather and express their First Amendment rights after the announcement, Mayor Greg Fischer said in a statement. At the same time, we are preparing for any eventuality to keep everyone safe.

Fischer issued two executive orders, one declaring a state of emergency in the city, which allows him to exercise any of his emergency powers including implementing a curfew if necessary, and another order restricting access to some downtown parking garages and banning street parking near Jefferson Square Park.

Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron is poised to announce whether he will bring charges against the officers who shot and killed Taylor, a black 26-year-old emergency medical worker, on March 13.

Fischer stressed that he is unaware of when the attorney generals decision will be revealed and does not know what it will be.

Taylor was shot eight times in her apartment as Louisville police officers executed a search warrant for two men who were known to reside there. The warrant was issued because police suspected that a man connected to a drug ring was receiving packages containing drugs at Taylors apartment.

Officers claimed they announced themselves when they entered Taylors apartment searching for illegal drugs and said they were immediately met by gunfire from Taylors boyfriend, Kenneth Walker. A wrongful death lawsuit levied by Taylors family said that Walker, a registered gun owner, thought an intruder was breaking into the apartment. Walker fired what he called a warning shot with his gun, for which he has a Kentucky conceal-carry permit.

One of the police officers involved, Brett Hankison, who shot Taylor, has since been fired by the department. Chief of Police Robert Schroeder said Hankison wantonly and blindly fired 10 rounds of gunfire into Taylors apartment, demonstrating extreme indifference to the value of human life. Two other officers involved in Taylors death have been placed on administrative reassignment as an investigation into the fatal incident progressed, but no officers have been charged.

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Louisville has since banned no-knock warrants, the type that was issued for Taylors residence.

Last week, Louisville settled the wrongful death lawsuit with Taylors family and agreed to pay the family $12 million as well as institute a series of police reforms for the Louisville Metro Police Department.

Taylors name became known nationally during the protests against police brutality and racism that erupted after the police custody death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

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Construction including one of two 'nuclear islands' is seen at the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station near Cannington in southwest England

By Foo Yun Chee

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Austria lost its fight against Britain's Hinkley Point C nuclear power station on Tuesday after Europe's top court said that British government aid offered to the project was legal.

Hinkley Point, which is scheduled to come online in 2025, will provide 7% of Britain's power needs and be the UK's first nuclear plant in more than two decades.

The European Commission approved the project in 2014, triggering a court challenge from Austria which has opposed nuclear power for decades, and from Luxembourg.

The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) rejected Austria's arguments, one of which was on environmental grounds.

"The Court of Justice confirms the Commission decision approving United Kingdom aid for Hinkley Point C nuclear power station," judges at the Luxembourg-based court said.

EU competition enforcers are not required to take into account any negative effects of state aid other than those impacting competition and trade between EU countries, they said.

The CJEU also cited EU laws which allows EU countries to determine the conditions for exploiting their energy resources, their mix of energy sources, and the general structure of their energy supply.

The case is C-594/18 P Austria v. Commission.

(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; editing by Jason Neely)
Bengaluru: Bengaluru police have arrested Shoib, who was one of the accused in the 2008 serial blast in the city, who was absconding after the blast.

Shoib is a native of Tiruvananthapuram and had fled the country after Bengaluru police started arresting his associates. Of the 32 accused in the case, against whom the charge sheet was filed in the court, police could arrest only 22 persons.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Sandeep Patil said that Shoib was one of the key players in the case. In 2018, other investigation agencies had tipped off the city police and a Red Corner Notice was issued against him.

Last week, police got a tip off that Shoib was returning to Tiruvananthapuram and CCB ATC cell officers were dispatched to Tiruvananthapuram. When he landed in Kerala, he was apprehended with the help of Kerala police, he added.

According to police, Shoib was an expert in preparing low intensity bombs and had trained many people who undertook subversive activities in manufacturing bombs using locally available material.

Sandeep Patil said that the city police would take him into custody for further inquiry, as he was also involved in other cases across the country.
British scientists will be the first in the world to carry out a controversial study where volunteers are deliberately infected with coronavirus in the race against time to find a vaccine, it was revealed today.

The 'challenge trial'  which could rapidly accelerate the approval of experimental jabs  is said to be set to begin in January at a clinic in east London.

Participants will be infected with a dose of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, a month after being jabbed with a vaccine, according to the Financial Times.

The study, reportedly funded by the government, could help drug-makers test their Covid-19 vaccines without having to wait for volunteers to naturally catch the virus in the community.

Between 100 and 200 participants are expected to be recruited for the trial, which is being run by a US advocacy group that has campaigned for human challenge trials throughout the pandemic.

It's unclear which vaccine candidate will be tested, but drug giants AstraZeneca and Sanofi have both insisted they aren't taking part. MailOnline has approached Imperial College London  Britain's other jab front-runner  for comment about its involvement.

Challenge trials are commonly deployed by scientists trying to develop a vaccine and have been used in malaria, typhoid and flu. But, unlike those illnesses, there is no proven treatment for people with mild coronavirus, so there is nothing to stop the participants falling seriously ill.

British scientists will be the first in the world to carry out a controversial study in which healthy volunteers are infected with coronavirus , according to reports

The vaccine to be tested in the project has not been named, and organisers are said to have earmarked a quarantine clinic run by hVivo in Whitechapel, London, to carry out the trials.

Drug researcher hVivo is linked to Queen Mary University of London, while Imperial College London is understood to be the project's academic leader.

Around 2,000 potential volunteers have signed up to take part in challenge studies in the UK.

They have done so through 1Day Sooner, a US-based advocacy group which is made up of 100 leading experts including Nobel Prize-winning scientists.

The group campaigns for Covid-19 infection trials and has enlisted 37,000 people worldwide.

It is currently petitioning for the controversial trials to be signed off by health regulators in the UK.

Any trials conducted in Britain have to be approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

The MHRA told the FT: 'Human challenge trials can be helpful for the development of vaccines and can provide early evidence of clinical efficacy, particularly when there are low rates of infection of the virus in the population.

hVivo's laboratory in Whitechapel, east London (under construction) where the initial trials are set to be held in

WHAT ARE CHALLENGE TRIALS? Challenge trials involve intentionally infecting healthy people with viruses then giving them a shot of a vaccine to see if the jab can clear the virus. These studies have been done with many illnesses, including malaria, typhoid and flu. But, unlike those illnesses, there is no treatment that prevents someone from falling badly ill with Covid-19. Because of the ethical implications, so far none of the 23 clinical trials of coronavirus vaccines currently being carried out around the world have used the controversial study method. Instead they are relying on participants who have caught the disease by accident in the community. But because international lockdowns have been so effective, the number of people actually contracting the illness in the public is falling. For this reason many studies are grinding to a halt. Many projects - including Oxford University's - have had to move their trials abroad where infection rates are higher. Oxford is now testing he vaccine on 6,000 people in Brazil and South Africa - and hopes to have conclusive results by the end of the year. This would mean a jab could be rolled out in early 2021. Advertisement

'The safety of trial participants is our top priority and any proposal from a developer to include a human infection challenge as part of a clinical trial for development of a vaccine would be considered on a benefit-risk basis, with risks monitored for and minimised in the proposed trial design.'

Scientists behind the challenge trial will have to select and purify a strain of coronavirus that is currently circulating among the UK population.

They will then need to decide on a dose that infects the volunteer without causing serious illness.

This has previously been a sticking point because experts are still divided about what qualifies a 'safe dose' of the virus, which only jumped to humans earlier this year.

Some people infected with large amounts of the disease experience no symptoms at all, while others fall seriously unwell with much smaller amounts - particularly the elderly and those with weakened immune systems.

It is also essential for there to be medication on standby that can prevent serious illness in participants - another roadblock in getting the trials approved.

So far, only a few steroids have been scientifically proven treatment for Covid-19 - but they are only effective in the sickest of patients and do nothing for those with moderate illness.

The London trial will initially use remdesivir, an antiviral drug which has shown promise in preliminary studies. But there is no concrete evidence to prove it works.

It is not clear if participants will be of a certain age. Younger people are much less vulnerable to the disease than over-60s.

Those who take part in the trial are likely to be paid upwards of 4,000, according to the FT. People who participate in hVivo's challenge trials of influenza receive up to 3,750.

Vaccines are normally tested using two groups of people, both of which need to contract the disease naturally, with one given the vaccine and the other used as a control.

Both of Britain's leading vaccine candidates are using the conventional methods, but they are being held up because so few people were being exposed to the disease during summer.

Traditional clinical trials require tens of thousands of participants to boost the chance of some of them being infected with coronavirus in the community.

But, in challenge trials, the pool of volunteers can be much smaller because every person is guaranteed to be infected with the disease.

Reacting to the news, Dr Claire Waddington, clinical lecturer in infectious diseases at the University of Cambridge, said: 'Challenge trials are well established as a way to accelerate the development of vaccines for a wide range of infections.

'As we gain more understanding of Covid-19, we are increasingly in a position to identify those people for who Covid-19 infection is a mild illness, and these people could safely participate in a controlled human infection study after a thorough medical assessment and consent process.

'Such a model could give us some extremely useful information on how the immune system responds to Covid-19 and what responses are protective, as well as providing a model for early testing of candidate vaccines.'
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 13:22:39|Editor: huaxia

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HANGZHOU, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- A cargo flight route has officially opened between Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, and Tokyo in Japan.

The first aircraft, loaded with exports, departed from Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport on Tuesday afternoon and arrived in Tokyo more than three hours later.

The aircraft was operated by YTO Express Group, a leading express delivery firm in China. The company will operate five cargo flights between the two cities each week. Enditem
An Action Hero: Ayushmann Khurrana is now joined by Jaideep Ahlawat as they kickstart shoot in London
Hexaware Technologies rose 1.56% at Rs 467.85 after the company in a newspaper advertisement announced that the promoter HT Global Holdings has accepted the discovered price of Rs 475 per share, as the final price for the delisting offer.

HT Global IT Solutions Holdings, the investment vehicle of Baring Private Equity Asia, that holds a little over 62% stake in Hexaware Technologies, had earlier announced delisting offer for acquisition of up to 11.38 crore equity shares, representing 37.92% of the total issued equity share capital ("offer shares") of the company from the public shareholders.

The acquirers had fixed a floor price of Rs 264.97 per equity share for the delisting proposal. The voluntary delisting process of Hexaware Technologies from the BSE and the NSE had started on 9 September 2020 and it closed on 16 September 2020.

The acquirer shall acquire 8,72,86,523 equity shares validly tendered at or below the exit price in the reverse book building process and post completion of the acquisition, the shareholding of the acquirer and promoter along with other members of the promoter group shall be 91.16% of the fully paid up equity share capital of the company, which would exceed the minimum number of equity shares required for the delisting offer to be successful.

By delisting, the promoter is looking to obtain full ownership of Hexaware, which will provide increased operational flexibility to support the business.

The Hexaware Tech counter hit a record high of Rs 468.95 in intraday trade today. The stock is up 131.9% from its 52-week low of Rs 201.7 posted on 23 March 2020.

The IT firm's consolidated net profit dropped 12.86% to Rs 152.45 crore on 1.77% increase in revenue from operations to Rs 1,569.12 crore in Q2 June 2020 over Q1 March 2020.

Hexaware Technologies is a leading global IT consulting & digital solutions provider.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Daisy Martinez

The Mexican Independence Day celebration in Kansas City, Missouri, drew 19-year-old Daisy Martinez out Wednesday night to enjoy a street festival and truck show.

An explosion of gunfire there that ended her life left her family bereft.

My heart dropped as soon as I heard the news," said her father, Heriberto Barraza, reports KMBC.

"I started crying and up to this day I still cant believe it," he said Sunday. "Its like if its a nightmare. I wish it was a nightmare."

Witnesses and video surveillance from the area showed that a black Silverado truck with a large Mexican flag on the rear bumper was involved in the shooting, according to the Jackson County Prosecutor's Office.

Officers who chased down the suspect vehicle took its owner and another man into custody, and spotted an AK-47 rifle "in plain view," according to a probable cause statement, reports KSHB.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

The owner of the truck alleged the second man, 30-year-old Diego Calderon-Guzman, shot the victim, according to the prosecutor.

The crime lab later matched the rifle to shell casings at the scene. Calderon-Guzman told police that after "people started fighting and shooting guns," he grabbed the rifle from the truck and began firing at "what he believed were individuals ... shooting at him," according to the probable cause statement.

He said he hadn't seen Martinez running in front of him when he fired, according to the statement.

Jackson County Detention Center Diego Calderon-Guzman

On Saturday the prosecutor's office said Calderon-Guzman has been charged with second-degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon, and two counts of armed criminal and unlawful possession of a weapon.

An attorney for Calderon-Guzman was not immediately identified, and it could not be determined if he had entered a plea. He was being held Monday in the Jackson County Detention Center, with the prosecutor's office seeking a bond of $500,000.

Story continues

Daisy was a person who had a good spirit, her laugh you could hear her across the room," said her father. "She had a smile, she was always joking, she was funny. She always had a good heart, a good soul, everybody loved her."

Over the weekend family members and others raised more than $6,000 in donations with a car wash to help cover the costs of a funeral, reports KMBC.

The irony of a young Mexican Latina got shot on Mexican Independence Day by another Mexican young gentleman, the irony of it, it's distasteful, the victim's aunt, Francesca Salas, told the outlet. "I dont think anybody has words for that.
Alveta Coats is trying to save Yosemite National Parks Mariposa Grove.

For two weeks in September, the 64-year-old Paiute grandmother has been leading her team of four in a scramble to prepare for the Creek Fire, a raging 332,000-acre inferno creeping steadily closer to the nations most treasured giant sequoia forest.

Coats is technically the foreman, but shes also in the thick of the hazardous smoke, clearing away the decomposing foliage thats accumulated at the base of the groves enormous trees. With a background in forest maintenance and a long line of ancestors who lived in the park, effectively managing the land for more than 7,000 years, Coats seems a good fit for the job.

Shes doing it because she needs the money. But Mariposa Grove is also part of her ancestral homeland, and she wants to protect it. Coats' employment within the park is part of a long overdue reckoning over the inhumane treatment of Native Americans in Yosemite's history. She also sees it as an opportunity to fix some of the problems that have arisen since her people were driven out of the park.

Theyre not burning like the Indians used to burn, Coats says of the federal and state agencies that now control Californias public lands. There are a lot of trees that are down  Its kinda ugly. And because the trees are just laid out, they are fuel for these fires.

National Park Service

Coats works for Calaveras Healthy Impact Products Solutions (CHIPS), a nonprofit organization that provides forestry jobs to people seeking employment in the Sierra Nevada foothills. Throughout the organization, 80% of the employees are Native Americans, and the crews around Yosemite are mostly staffed with Miwuk and Paiute people whose ancestors were forced from their homes by state-funded militias in the mid-1800s. During this little-discussed and brutal era, Native American settlements were burned, and villagers who didnt flee to the eastern Sierras or the foothills were captured, shot or hanged.

Today the National Park Service acknowledges that seven tribes inhabited Yosemite Valley, which back then was known as the Ahwahnee Valley. And though most of the Native Americans were displaced, a few families from two tribes  the Paiute and the Miwuk  found a way to remain in the park, working service jobs, weaving baskets and performing for tourists.

Coats parents were among the last members of the Paiute tribe to live inside the park. Her 93-year-old mother Helen grew up in Yosemite and lived there for many years as an adult.

We took the rocks for granted, says Helen, seated on the couch in her Midpines home. We saw them every day, so we never really thought much about what it meant to live there.

Unknown

When Helen was born in 1927, her family occupied a large tent in what's referred to as the "old village," near where Yosemite Village now stands. She lived there with her brother and her grandmother Lucy Telles  a talented basket weaver and pulverizer of acorns  until the early 1930s, when the Park Service relocated the tribe to a less visible spot, a new wahhoga (village) near Camp 4.

The rangers always had control over us, Helen says. They wouldnt sell us liquor  during the war years, we couldnt go out after 10 oclock. The rangers would be out and if they saw you, theyd haul you in. Sometimes wed hide.

Still, Helen has fond memories of living in the park  swimming every day in the Merced River, lying down and staring up at the shapes in Sentinel Dome, attending the Firefall at Camp Curry, when burning embers were sent over Glacier Points 3,000-foot waterfall and it glowed orange.

As was common for the tribe, Helen worked in Yosemite as part of the housekeeping staff, and her husband worked as a plumber. But by the late 60s they no longer held those jobs, and the Park Service began evicting people.

[The Park Service] said, when you are no longer employed by the Curry Company or the government, you have to move out, Helen remembers. Then they started burning down the cabins so we couldnt move back.

Ashley Harrell

She and her husband bought a home in Midpines, where the tribe was given a 160-acre allotment now dotted with mobile homes, dusty old cars and horse pastures. Helen raised four children there including Coats, her oldest.

Coats grew up fishing in the Merced River with her brother, but otherwise there wasnt much to do, she says. The Midpines community was small, with limited opportunities: Coats found herself working in logging for a while, until the industry fell out of favor, she says. She got a job at a casino but it closed; then she got a part-time job in home health care to support her two children and a nephew whom shes raising as a single mom.

Over the years, Coats has seen a shift in the Park Services dealings with her people. More than 30 years have gone by since members of the local Miwuk tribe first requested their wahhoga be reconstructed. For decades, they ran into issues with politics or leadership changes, but in 2018 Superintendent Michael Reynolds signed a 30-year agreement allowing the tribe to rebuild the village and use it for cultural events and spiritual ceremonies. Meanwhile, the tribe has continued fighting for federal recognition.

The best development for Coats came four years ago, when CHIPS founder Steve Wilensky showed up at a town meeting in Mariposa. He announced that he wanted to get a crew together for land management in Yosemite National Park.

Irene Vasquez

With a background in law, union organizing and county government (he served twice as a supervisor of Calaveras County), Wilensky has created numerous wildfire prevention teams that do prescribed burning, meadow restoration, forest thinning and the conversion of trees and shrubs into chips.

Were dedicated to forest restoration and stewardship, and employing folks from Native American communities to do it, Wilensky says. The same folks who were kicked out of the park are now going back and repairing some of the damage that was done since.

Coats missed the meeting where Wilensky made his presentation, but her sister filled her in and she quickly applied.

Nobody really wanted to do this kind of work, Coats says. But I like being outside.

With her background in logging, Coats was a natural choice. Wilensky asked her to round up a team of 10, which she did. Most were Miwuk or Paiute, but a few were not, and the composition of the team has varied over the years. Today, nine Native Americans work for Yosemites CHIPS group, and the team has split in two, with Coats people handling restoration and the other team taking care of the cutting and sawing.

National Park Service

For most of the last four years, Coats has been up in Tuolumne Meadows replanting meadow grass in areas where tourists walked off the trails and stomped vegetation. Like her great-grandmother once did, Coats gathers acorns and tries to grow black oaks. She also replants milkweed for the migratory butterflies.

I remember when I was younger there used to be a lot of them, Coats says. Replanting makes me feel good.

After the Creek Fire broke out on Sept. 4 and quickly spread over hundreds of thousands of acres, the southern stretches of Yosemite came under threat. That includes Mariposa Grove, one of the parks prime attractions, where more than 500 mature giant sequoias stretch to more than 285 feet high and date back over 2,000 years. The grove was first set aside in 1864 by President Abraham Lincoln as part of the nations first park, with California managing the land upon the express conditions that the premises shall be held for public use, resort and recreation [and] shall be inalienable for all time.

When winds started blowing the Creek Fire north toward the grove, Coats was asked to help protect it. For the last two weeks, the CHIPS teams have been clearing out excess fuels from the bases of the trees and helping to install a metal tub that helicopters can come grab water from. Theyve been working 10 hours days, four days a week, sometimes in thick smoke that clings to their clothes and seeps in through their masks.

The smoke has been so bad that Coats crew was called off, though the second crew has voluntarily continued. The fire has kept pushing north, but remains about 15 miles outside of Yosemite to the east, with 30% of its perimeter contained. Anything could happen, Coats says. But she believes that the crews have done everything possible to protect the grove.

When asked about Coats work in the park, her mother Helen beams.

Grandma would be proud, she says.

Ashley Harrell is an associate editor at SFGATE who covers Californias parks. Email: ashley.harrell@sfgate.com | Twitter: @AshleyHarrell3

We're launching a newsletter all about California's parks. For weekly updates, interviews, feature stories and profiles, sign up here.
The market failed to hold on to gains in the afternoon and corrected for the fifth consecutive session on September 23, ahead of the expiry of September derivative contracts on Thursday. Telecom, metals and select banking and financial stocks pulled the market down but buying in Reliance Industries, Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, HUL and Infosys capped losses.

The BSE Sensex was down 65.66 points at 37,668.42, while the Nifty50 slipped 21.80 points to 11,131.90 and formed a bearish candle on the daily charts.

"Nifty has broken a critical support level of 11,175. It is now expected to witness volatile moves in a small range before a positive setup matures. On the downside support is seen at 10,750-10,800  these are long term support levels for the index," Sahaj Agrawal, Head of Research- Derivatives at Kotak Securities told Moneycontrol.

"Value buying is suggested for long term investors while traders are expected to keep leveraged positions under check on account of the expected volatility," he said.

Ajit Mishra, VP - Research at Religare Broking expects volatility to remain high on Thursday as well, thanks to the scheduled derivatives expiry of September month contracts. "Indications are in favour of some respite but sustainability would be key."

The broader markets ended mixed with the Nifty Midcap index falling 0.33 percent and Smallcap index gaining 0.01 percent.

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

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

Key support and resistance levels on the Nifty

According to pivot charts, the key support levels for the Nifty is placed at 11,017.63, followed by 10,903.47. If the index moves up, the key resistance levels to watch out for are 11,252.73 and 11,373.67.

Nifty Bank

The Bank Nifty outperformed Nifty50, rising 39.40 points to 21,178.50 on September 23, but formed a bearish candle on the daily charts as closing was lower than opening levels. The important pivot level, which will act as crucial support for the index, is placed at 20,877.97, followed by 20,577.43. On the upside, key resistance levels are placed at 21,422.07 and 21,665.63.

Call option data

Maximum Call open interest of 45.42 lakh contracts was seen at 11,300 strike, which will act as crucial resistance in the September series.

This is followed by 11,200 strike, which holds 43.15 lakh contracts, and 11,500 strike, which has accumulated 43.09 lakh contracts.

Call writing was seen at 11,200 strike, which added 17.19 lakh contracts, followed by 11,100, which added 11.25 lakh contracts, and 11,300 strike, which added 8.65 lakh contracts.

Call unwinding was seen at 11,600 strike, which shed 9.37 lakh contracts, followed by 11,500 strike, which shed 6.4 lakh contracts and 11,800 strike which shed 5.2 lakh contracts.

Put option data

Maximum Put open interest of 44.95 lakh contracts was seen at 11,000 strike, which will act as crucial support in the September series.

This is followed by 10,500 strike, which holds 32.98 lakh contracts, and 11,100 strike, which has accumulated 27.16 lakh contracts.

Put writing was seen at 11,000 strike, which added 7.8 lakh contracts, followed by 11,100 strike, which added 5.74 lakh contracts and 10,900 strike which added 3.63 lakh contracts.

Put unwinding was witnessed at 11,200 strike, which shed 2.97 lakh contracts, followed by 11,300 strike which shed 2.46 lakh contracts and 11,400 strike which shed 2.41 lakh contracts.

Stocks with a high delivery percentage

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

14 stocks saw long build-up

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

49 stocks saw long unwinding

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

31 stocks saw short build-up

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

44 stocks witnessed short-covering

A decrease in open interest, along with an increase in price, mostly indicates a short-covering. Based on the open interest future percentage, here are the top 10 stocks in which short-covering was seen.

Bulk deals

(For more bulk deals, click here)

Analysts/Board Meetings

SH Kelkar and Company: The company's officials will meet Lucky Investment Managers (virtual meeting) on September 24.

Wonderla Holidays: George Joseph, Joint Managing Director and Satheesh Seshadri, CFO, will be participating in an Investors/ Analysts Conference call on September 25.

Blue Star: The company's representatives will interact with Nomura Securities (Virtual Meeting) on September 24.

PNC Infratech: Officials of the company will be attending the Investor Conference organised by Nomura Financial Advisory & Securities (India) on September 24.

Tube Investments of India: Officials of the company will be meeting institutional investors/analysts (virtual meeting) on September 24.

MM Forgings: Analyst / Institutional meeting by the company will be held on September 24 with Batlivala & Karani Securities India.

CESC: The company intends to attend the Motilal Oswal Ideation Conference 2020, on September 29.

Stocks in the news

Satin Creditcare Network: The board approved the elevation and appointment of Giridhari Behera, National Audit Manager as Chief Risk Officer of the company.

Shree Rama Newsprint: The company is taking necessary steps to resume operations of the paper division after Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) revoked the closure order.

Future Consumer: The company's 36.6 lakh pledged equity shares held by promoter entity Future Capital Investment invoked.

Jindal Steel & Power: ICRA removed its Rating Watch with Negative Implications on the bank facilities and NCDs, and assigned a Stable outlook.

TCS: The company and Yale University developed secure, private off-grid networking platform using blockchain.

NLC India: The company issued commercial papers to State Bank of India.

Ircon International: The company secured works of a total of 9 road overbridges (ROBs) valuing more than Rs 4OO crore from the Ministry of Railways.

Fund flow

FII and DII data

Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) net sold shares worth Rs 3,912.44 crore, whereas domestic institutional investors (DIIs) net bought shares worth Rs 1,629.23 crore in the Indian equity market on September 23, as per provisional data available on the NSE.

Stock under F&O ban on NSE

One stock -- Indiabulls Housing Finance -- is under the F&O ban for September 24. Securities in the ban period under the F&O segment include companies in which the security has crossed 95 percent of the market-wide position limit.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 05:50:48|Editor: huaxia

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DAMASCUS, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Syrian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday accused the rebels in the northwestern province of Idlib of preparing a chemical attack to frame the Syrian army, according to the state news agency SANA.

In a statement, the ministry said the rebels in cooperation with the so-called White Helmet group and under the Turkish support are preparing to fabricate a chemical attack in Idlib.

Two tonnes of chemical substances have been brought to a village in southwestern Idlib over the past two days as part of the preparation for the attack, it said.

The ministry urged the countries supporting the rebels to stop such "games that have only left civilian victims."

Meanwhile, the ministry repeated the government stance that the Syrian forces don't possess chemical weapons and have never used them.

The new claim comes as the shelling has resumed between the Syrian army and the rebels on Wednesday in the southern countryside of Idlib.

Idlib has emerged as the last major rebel stronghold in Syria.

In March, Turkey and Russia brokered a cease-fire between the Syrian forces and the rebel groups.

However, the clashes and shelling continued between the Syrian army and the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the umbrella group of the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front. Enditem
- Renowned United States televangelist Thomas D Jakes has traced his roots to Nigeria and discovered that his ancestors were Igbos

- Jakes, who made the disclosure during an interview, said he was hardworking just like the Igbo people

- The cleric said the Igbo people have strong business acumen and that he deeply relates to that

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Thomas D. Jakes, the bishop of Potters House, a church in the United States, has said he traced his roots to Nigeria and discovered that his ancestors were Igbos.

The renowned man of God made the disclosure during an interview with BBC Igbo, where he said he has the major attribute of the Igbo tribe, which is being hardworking.

Jakes said he eats fufu and jollof rice whenever he comes to Nigeria, adding that Nigerian cuisines make his head sweat.

READ ALSO: Exclusive: Kind police officer who rescued baby dumped in toilet holds heart-warming birthday party for her

TD Jakes. Photo credit: Pinterest.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Jesse Lingard: Man United reportedly set to give Englishman new deal

He said it is interesting to see how his personality is similar to how Igbo people are described.

Jakes said:

It gave me an understanding of my roots. It was interesting to see how similar my personality is to how Igbo people are described. Theyre described as hardworking, industrious and innovative".

READ ALSO: Huzuni na Majonzi: Akothee aposti picha za mazishi ya shemejiye

They have strong business acumen. I deeply relate to that. It explained me to me. Its odd that I was never born there, yet, see so many traces. Ive always had a strong business acumen," he added.

He noted that Nigerian food is always hot and spicy and he likes it.

READ ALSO: Lesbian professor urges teachers to stop saying moms and dads to their students

Meanwhile, A lesbian professor has since gone viral on social media after urging teachers to stop using moms and dads to kids.

The professor who is identified as Sirry Alang, from Pennsylvania took to Twitter to express her concerns on how some families are formed differently.

According to Alang, not all people have a mother and a dad and for some kids they totally have none.

"Lecturers, your class convos are broadcasted in all peoples homes. The number of situations the teacher has talked about your mother and pa to my babys class is infuriating," she tweeted.

The professor also praised a kid who bravely corrected the teacher about her own family setup.

"But a brave kid just said...But I only told my grandma at lunch time because my sister and I live with our grandma," wrote the professor.

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Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis President Neel Kashkari is scheduled to speak at a public health forum Wednesday hosted by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Kashkari will be joined by Michelle Williams, Dean of the Faculty at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, David Williams, Professor of Public Health and Chair of the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences as well as Margaret Hamburg, Foreign Secretary at National Academy of Medicine and former commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The event is part of the "When Public Health Means Business" series that "virtually convenes luminaries from the realms of finance, industry and health to map a new path forward and ensure a better, safer future for all."

The coronavirus, which was first confirmed in the U.S. 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.

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Neopentylglycol (NPG) capacity expanded in August 2020

Annual capacity to reach 80,000 metric tons per year

Market position further strengthened

Nanjing, China  September 22, 2020  BASF-YPC Co., Ltd. (BYC), a 50-50 joint venture between BASF and SINOPEC, has expanded the production capacity of neopentylglycol (NPG) at the state-of-the-art Verbund site in Nanjing, China. The plant was established in 2015 with an annual capacity of 40,000 metric tons. With the completion of the expansion in August 2020, the annual capacity will reach 80,000 metric tons.

The new expansion marks another milestone of long-standing partnership between SINOPEC and BASF. It reinforces our commitment to enhance local production and respond to the growing needs of Chinese customers for environmentally friendly powder coatings, said Dr. Stephan Kothrade, President and Chairman Greater China, BASF.

SINOPEC and BASF have been working closely together for many years. The start-up of the NPG expansion plant reflects a better cooperative relationship between the two parties and is also in line with the Chinese government's steer towards improving industrial restructuring and transformation to fulfil market demand with high-quality products, said Mr. Hong Jianqiao, Chairman of Sinopec Yangzi Petrochemical Company Limited and BASF-YPC Company Limited.

With NPG production facilities in Asia, Europe and North America, BASF is one of the worlds leading NPG manufacturers with decades of experience in manufacturing and supplying NPG to our customers across a broad range of industries. Customers will benefit from our regional presence, innovation strength and supply reliability they have come to know and trust, said Vasilios Galanos, Senior Vice President, BASF Intermediates Asia Pacific.

NPG is a unique polyalcohol offering superior performance in many end-use applications, especially in the production of polyester and alkyd resins for various coatings and plastics due to its high chemical and thermal stability. NPG has proven itself in many applications, especially in the production of polyester and alkyd resins for various coatings and plastics. An essential field of application is powder coatings, which prove particularly successful in the construction industry, as well as in the coating of household appliances. BASF has NPG production sites in Ludwigshafen (Germany), Freeport (USA), Nanjing (China) and Jilin (China).
Police in riot gear threatened to fire tear gas and arrest protesters after declaring ongoing demonstrations demanding justice for the killing of Breonna Taylor an unlawful assembly.

Louisville Metro Police Department officers fired pepper balls into crowds on Wednesday during protests over a grand jurys failure to charge three officers for the killing of the 26-year-old black woman in March.

Armoured officers were also captured using batons and tackling demonstrators, who have led memorials, marches and demonstrations without incident for 120 days following the killing of Ms Taylor on 13 March.

But with a grand jury announcement imminent, state and local officials activated the Kentucky National Guard and issued a state of emergency, while armed militia groups began patrolling streets to defend police and property. A curfew was put in place for 9pm.

A large memorial for Ms Taylor has been at the centre of nightly protests in downtown Louisville at Jefferson Square, where flowers, cards and messages have been displayed and maintained for several weeks.

That memorial has grown to include tributes to other victims of police violence in Louisville, including David McAtee, who was fatally shot by Kentucky National Guard members during protests in June, as well as Tyler Gerth, a photographer who was killed at the square later that month.

When the indictment was announced, people gathered at the memorial broke out in tears and embraced.

The protests, igniting a national cry to arrest the cops" who killed her, have demanded an end to police brutality and the brutalisation of black Americans and called for systemic reforms to US policing.

Ms Taylor was in bed with her boyfriend Kenneth Walker after midnight in March when three officers  Brett Hankinson, Jonathan Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove  executed a search warrant by banging on her apartment door before ramming it open.

Mr Walker, who has said that police did not announce themselves and feared that someone broke into the home, fired one shot from a pistol, striking officer Mattingly in the leg. All officers returned fire. Ms Taylor was shot six times.

Now-former officer Hankison faces three counts of wanton endangerment. He could face up to five years in prison in each count, if convicted.

He was fired three months after her death for "wantonly and blindly" firing 10 rounds into the building, according to then-interim Louisville Police Chief Robert Schroeder.

But Kentucky attorney general Daniel Cameron argued on Wednesday that officers Mattingly and Cosgrove were justified in their return of deadly fire" because Mr Walker had fired first, he said.

That justification bars the office from pursuing criminal charges against them, he said.

Demonstrations across the US are planned in response to the indictment.

State lawmaker Charles Booker, who lost a close Democratic US senate primary election against Amy McGrath in June to face against incumbent Mitch McConnell, said justice has failed" with the indictment.

It failed us in a way that it's been failing us for generations, he said at a press conference alongside Kentucky governor Andy Beshear. A woman  a black woman  was killed in her home by the agency paid for to protect and serve her. That's wrong. There is no justifying that. 

The governor told protesters that he will listen and hear and said he wants to be a better partner moving forward but warning against people trying to hijack what theyre trying to do in the streets.

The eyes of the world are on Louisville, he said.

Governor Beshear also demanded more information and transparency from the attorney general, including the public release of all information, evidence and facts including ballistic reports.

Everyone can and should be informed, he said. Those feeling frustration and feeling hurt deserve to know more.
By Trend

Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) chaired by Azerbaijan is becoming more progressive, an expert on geopolitics and international relations, Malik Ayub Sumbal told Trend on Sept. 23.

According to Sumbal, Azerbaijan has a balance of foreign policy between East and West and between Muslim and non-Muslim countries.

As he noted, Azerbaijan is delivering the best of its performance since chairing NAM.

Initiatives put forward by Azerbaijan have been highly appreciated by the NAM members. Especially the initiative of the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to call the UN General Assembly session is highly motivational, the expert said. NAM is a very effective body, but Bakus chairmanship makes it more progressive. With this pace, NAM will achieve great results.

--

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Overview Safety Rules Schedule FAQs

MSU Friday & MSU Saturday Information and Dates

In order to follow strict social distancing and safety protocols, MSU Friday and MSU Saturday programs have limited capacity. So, we encourage you to sign up early! Please note that you must register in advance for these events. No walk-on registrations will be allowed.

Overview

MSU Fridays and Saturdays are half-day programs which offer an in-depth preview of college life at Montana State University. MSU Fridays and Saturdays are free and open to prospective students and families. Prospective students and their families will have the opportunity to connect with faculty and students, learn more about academic facilities, explore campus and meet with MSU Admissions Counselors.

Dates

Our Spring 2021 MSU Saturday visit programs will be offered on:

Saturday, April 17, 2021 (FULL)

Our Summer 2021 MSU Friday visit program will be offered on:

Friday, June 18, 2021 (Registration coming soon)

Safety Guidelines

MSU will be taking several safety precautions for MSU Friday and MSU Saturday events, including limiting attendance. To ensure that this event is safe for our visitors, campus and community, we have outlined some guidelines and expectations for this event:

Attendees must agree that they have not experienced symptoms of COVID-19 in the last 14 days or been exposed to anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 14 days. Attendees will be asked to confirm this when they check in the morning of MSU Saturday.

Attendees will be asked to confirm this when they check in the morning of MSU Saturday. MASKS ARE REQUIRED. Face coverings are required for all students, faculty, staff and visitors to Montana State University. Masks must be worn at all times. Appropriate face coverings are those that cover the mouth AND NOSE of the wearer. The face mask requirement is supported by guidance from the Board of Regents of the Montana University System, the Gallatin City-County Board of Health's mask requirement, and CDC guidance for public events. The mask requirement is strictly enforced and attendees who are unable or unwilling to wear a mask for the entire event will be asked to leave the event.

The face mask requirement is supported by guidance from the Board of Regents of the Montana University System, the Gallatin City-County Board of Health's mask requirement, and CDC guidance for public events. The mask requirement is strictly enforced and attendees who are unable or unwilling to wear a mask for the entire event will be asked to leave the event. Attendees must stay with their registered group for the entire event. MSU Saturday has been organized according to strict social distancing and safety protocols. Attendees will stay in assigned groups of 25 people or less for the entire event. Re-entry will be very limited for safety purposes. Using the restroom, grabbing a coat from your car, etc. is acceptable and will not be included in the no re-entry guidance. If you leave campus during the MSU Saturday program, we ask that you do not re-join your group.

Attendees must agree to abide by social distancing and best practices. MSU Saturday is designed to keep staff, visitors and community members safe. We ask that you practice social distancing while in a group, wear your mask over your mouth and nose for the entire event, regularly wash your hands and use our hand sanitizer stations when available.

Please prepare for all weather possibilities and extended walks. This event includes a walking tour of campus and a great deal of walking between academic buildings. We ask that you plan for all weather outcomes and that you wear comfortable walking shoes.

Tentative Schedule of Events

Attendees will be divided into separate groups of less than 25 participants during each program, so your schedule may differ slightly from this sample schedule. All attendees will receive the same information in varying order.

7:45  8:00am  Check-in & Packet Pick-up

8:00  8:30am  Welcome to MSU Saturday/Schedule Overview

8:30  9:00am  "MSU Basics" presentation with MSU Admissions Counselors

9:00  9:45am  Campus Tours

9:50  10:20am  "Student Engagement" presentation with Office of Student Engagement (OSE)

10:25  10:55am  "Living & Dining on Campus" presentation with Residence Life & Dining Services Staff

11:00  11:30am  "Academics 101" presentation with Academic Advising Center

11:35am  12:05pm  "Life Outside the Classroom" presentation with various MSU Staff

12:05pm  Closing Remarks

Frequently Asked Questions



Want more information about MSU? We're here to help.

If you have questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to us! You can email our staff at [email protected], or call us Monday - Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm MT at 1-888-MSU-CATS.




New Delhi:

Ant Financial, e-commerce giant Alibaba's financial arm is all set to acquire American money-transfer major MoneyGram for USD 880 million, in a deal that will expand the firm's business in the US after India and Thailand.

"The acquisition of MoneyGram is a significant milestone in our mission to bring inclusive financial services to users around the world," Eric Jing, chief executive officer of Ant Financial Services Group in a statement last night.

The company owns Alipay, one of China's biggest online payment platforms and controls the company that manages the country's largest money market fund, Yu'ebao.

The transaction will connect MoneyGram's money transfer network of 2.4 billion bank and mobile accounts and 350,000 physical locations with Ant Financial's users, according to the statement.

MoneyGram will remain headquartered in Dallas and continue to operate under its existing brand, it said.

The transaction will help expand Ant Financial's business following its partnering with Paytm in India and Ascend Money in Thailand, it said.

Alex Holmes, CEO of MoneyGram, said Ant Financial is an ideal partner.

"We will be able to expand our business, and in doing so, offer people around the world access to a reliable financial connection to loved ones," Holmes said.

The transaction is subject to approval of MoneyGram's stockholders and regulatory approvals. The acquisitions is expected to finish in second half of 2017, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
Former EastEnders star Sean Maguire has become a permanent United States citizen so he can vote during the November Presidential election.

Taking to |nstagram on Tuesday, the actor shared an image of himself and wife Tanya Flynn wearing face coverings as they went through the process of becoming permanent US residents.

Explaining the decision, Sean, 44, admitted he was keen to make his voice heard at the ballot box when Americans cast their vote in the coming weeks.

Making it permanent: Former EastEnders star Sean Maguire and wife Tanya Flynn have applied for permanent United States citizenship so they can vote during the November Presidential election

He wrote: 'After calling America home for 20 years. Today we are now officially American citizens. I love this country. I believe in the constitution.

'I believe in what this country can be. What it strives to be. I want to be part of that change. First thing Im gonna do is register to vote.'

Sharing an update shortly after completing the process, he added: 'Only been a citizen for an hour and.....I AM REGISTERED TO VOTE!! Its so simple! Do it.'

Positive step: Explaining the decision, Sean, 44, admitted he was keen to make his voice heard at the ballot box when Americans cast their vote in the coming weeks

Staying put: Sean and wife Tanya, a former police detective, have lived in the United States for more than 20-years

High times: The actor starred as troubled drug addict Aidan Brosnan in EastEnders before leaving the Square after 11 turbulent months in 1993

The actor originally found fame in teen drama Grange Hill, his first notable role, before appearing as troubled drug addict Aidan Brosnan in EastEnders.

Sean left the soap in 1993 after a turbulent 11-months on the Square, during which he suffered homelessness and depression before returning to Ireland in an attempt to reconnect with his parents.

He has since enjoyed a successful career in the United States, with a steady stream of minor roles leading to recurring part in fantasy drama Once Upon A Time.

Popular: He has since enjoyed a successful career in the United States, with a steady stream of minor roles leading to recurring part in fantasy drama Once Upon A Time

Since moving to the US the actor has welcomed two children with Tanya - sons Flynn Patrick, five, and two-year old Leo James.

Confirming the birth of Leo in a December 2017 Instagram post, he wrote: 'Thank you to my incredible wife for giving me the best Christmas present imaginable. Leo James Maguire.'

The actor and his former police detective wife's baby boy weighed in at 7lbs 1oz and was named after Italian Renaissance painter Leonardo da Vinci.

'His name was inspired by da Vinci, who Ive been a lifelong admirer of,' Sean later told ET.

'We are so grateful to our amazing Doctor Purlow and all the staff at the hospital.'
LAS VEGAS, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth (NPHY) and Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS) today announced that the fourth annual Southern Nevada Youth Homelessness Summit will take place as a two-day virtual conference series with live events on Friday, November 13 and Friday, November 20. Themed "The Movement Fights Back," Summit 2020 will address the impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable youth and the role racism plays in perpetuating youth homelessness.

"We must continue to make the Southern Nevada Plan to End Youth Homelessness relevant and resilient by addressing the impact of these issues on the lives of our youth," said Arash Ghafoori, executive director of Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth. "These historic times have greatly exacerbated the challenges for young people experiencing homelessness, and it makes the Movement's work harder  but even more important."

In 2020, COVID-19 created new hardships for youth experiencing homelessness around housing, employment, education, healthcare and more. Additionally, the events of this year have put sharp focus on how systemic racism and oppression are shaping the youth homelessness crisis in our region and throughout the United States. Summit 2020 is focused on building responsive solutions to these developments in line with the goals outlined in the Southern Nevada Plan to End Youth Homelessness.

Summit 2020 will be a virtual event featuring two live panel discussions each week with topic-related informational and inspirational content distributed to attendees during the week leading up to the virtual panels. Live sessions will feature youth and experts addressing high-impact issues in a panel discussion format designed to propel solutions. Panels include:

What You Need To Know  A Conversation on Homelessness and COVID-19: 10 a.m.  12 p.m. , Friday, November 13 : Young people with lived experiences of homelessness and local and national experts on the COVID-19 pandemic will hold a roundtable discussion covering the real-world experiences and intersections of COVID-19 and youth homelessness, answering critical questions about how to support our vulnerable youth in our collective response to COVID-19.

Young people with lived experiences of homelessness and local and national experts on the COVID-19 pandemic will hold a roundtable discussion covering the real-world experiences and intersections of COVID-19 and youth homelessness, answering critical questions about how to support our vulnerable youth in our collective response to COVID-19. Be The Solution  Youth Homelessness and Anti-Racism: 10 a.m.  12 p.m. , Friday, November 20 : Social justice and anti-racism experts will address how systemic racism creates and sustains youth homelessness and how the public, nonprofit and private sectors can incorporate anti-racist practices into our work to end youth homelessness

Summit 2020 is presented by NPHY and Sands Cares, the community engagement and charitable giving program of Las Vegas Sands, with support from the UNLV Greenspun College of Urban Affairs and the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Since its inception in 2017, the Summit has coalesced the Movement to End Youth Homelessness into an organized, community-driven response to the significant prevalence of youth homelessness in Southern Nevada, which is among the highest in the nation for the rate of youth experiencing homelessness. The Summit created the impetus for and debuted the Southern Nevada Plan to End Youth Homelessness, which is the community's definitive guideline for driving toward the goal of making youth homelessness rare, brief, non-recurring and equitably addressed in our community.

The result of a collaborative community effort, the Movement to End Youth Homelessness is led by NPHY; Sands; the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Greenspun College of Urban Affairs; Southern Nevada's Youth Action Board, Young Adults in Charge (YAC); and Nevada Homeless Alliance.

Visit NPHY.org/Summit20 for more information and to register for the virtual conference series.

About Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth (NPHY)

NPHY is the most comprehensive service provider for the thousands of homeless youth in Southern Nevada, serving hundreds of youth through our core programs and touching the lives of thousands more through outreach each year. NPHY's programs stabilize homeless teens' lives, meeting their immediate needs and providing a safe, supportive environment and a path to self-sufficiency. Through our work with homeless youth, NPHY creates productive, healthy adults who contribute to society. Strengthening and complementing our high-quality direct services for homeless youth, NPHY is dedicated to advocating with and for the Vegas Valley's homeless youth population and serves as a leader in systems-level efforts to eliminate homelessness among Nevada's youth. For more information or to support our life-changing work for homeless youth, please visit www.nphy.org.

About Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS)

Las Vegas Sands is the world's pre-eminent developer and operator of world-class Integrated Resorts. We deliver unrivaled economic benefits to the communities in which we operate.

LVS created the meetings, incentives, convention and exhibition (MICE)-based Integrated Resort. Our industry-leading Integrated Resorts provide substantial contributions to our host communities including growth in leisure and business tourism, sustained job creation and ongoing financial opportunities for local small and medium-sized businesses.

Our properties include The Venetian Resort and Sands Expo in Las Vegas and the iconic Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. Through majority ownership in Sands China Ltd., we have developed the largest portfolio of properties on the Cotai Strip in Macao, including The Venetian Macao, The Plaza and Four Seasons Hotel Macao, Sands Cotai Central and The Parisian Macao, as well as the Sands Macao on the Macao Peninsula.

Sands is dedicated to being a good corporate citizen, anchored by the core tenets of serving people, planet and communities. We deliver a great working environment for our team members worldwide, drive social impact through the Sands Cares charitable giving and community engagement program and lead in environmental performance through the award-winning Sands ECO360 global sustainability program. To learn more, please visit www.sands.com.

Contacts:

Lanette Rivera

Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth

[email protected]

702-969-2196

Kristin Koca

Las Vegas Sands

[email protected]

702-414-3218

SOURCE Las Vegas Sands Corp.

Related Links

http://www.sands.com


Adam Floater Muldoon (23), who had cerebral palsy, was stabbed to death

A young man has denied murdering a homeless man with cerebral palsy who was found dead with 183 stab wounds in a Dublin park two years ago.

Opening the case for the prosecution Pauline Whalley SC told a Central Criminal Court jury that the prosecution will show that Philip Dunbar (20) stabbed Adam 'Floater' Muldoon multiple times and then went to a friend's house where he admitted to the stabbing.

Mr Dunbar, of Glenshane Drive, Tallaght, Dublin 24, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Adam Muldoon at Butler Park in Jobstown Park, Tallaght, on June 22 or June 23, 2018.

Outlining the prosecution case Ms Whalley said Mr Muldoon was 23 years old and homeless in the Glenshane area of Tallaght before he died.

He had a difficult early life, she said, and was supported by the local community who fed him and gave him clothes.

He sometimes used a walking stick or Zimmer frame.

He knew the accused, who was 17 at the time, as the accused also lived in Glenshane.

On Friday evening June 22, 2018, counsel said, it had been a lovely summer's day and a number of young people had gathered in the Glenshane area and were "doing the things young people do."

They had ordered pizza and some were smoking "weed", while others were drinking.

In the evening a row developed and, Ms Whalley said, Mr Muldoon and the accused went into Butler Park, an area within Jobstown Park.

Counsel said that in the park the accused stabbed Mr Muldoon 183 times causing his death.

She said a pathologist's report would show that many of the wounds were superficial but three major blood vessels in the neck were severed, causing injuries that would have been immediately fatal.

Other wounds, she said, had penetrated the liver and lungs and there were defensive wounds to his hands.

Mr Muldoon's body was found the following morning by a dog walker and a garda investigation was launched.

Ms Whalley said that following the stabbing the accused went to a friend's house where he admitted that he had "stabbed Floater" a number of times.

Cold

Counsel further told the jury that they must be "cold and surgical" when they consider their verdict having heard the evidence at the end of the trial.

She said that Mr Muldoon died in a "really awful way" but they must put aside any sympathy for the deceased or his family.

She also said that they might look at the accused and think, "he looks so young and innocent, he couldn't be guilty of this crime".

But she told them they must behave like judges and be cold and impartial in their consideration of the facts.

The trial continues in front of Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury.
New Delhi, Sep 23 : One enduring image connected to the tumultuous Rajya Sabha proceedings on Sunday that will remain etched in public memory is of Trinamool Congress MP Derek O'Brien tearing documents right in front of the Chair.

The former quizz master's act has made the BJP accuse him of emulating her party leader Mamata Banerjee, who angrily threw papers in the Lok Sabha in 2005.

"Mamata Banerjee has always been performing such acts -- be it in the Assembly or the Parliament. Derek O'Brien is just emulating what he has seen and learnt in all these years," BJP National Secretary Rahul Sinha told IANS.

In 2005, Banerjee, then a member of the 14th Lok Sabha, had moved a motion to discuss the issue of Bangladeshi infiltrators, calling it a "very serious matter".

Banerjee's motion was to drive home the point that Bangladeshi nationals were on the voters' list in West Bengal, implying this was helping the then ruling Left Front.

After veteran CPI-M leader and then Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee turned it down, Banerjee became aggressive. She not only accused the Chair of bias, but also approached the then presiding officer and Deputy Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal and flung a bundle of papers at the Chair. She later resigned from her seat.

On Sunday, an otherwise suave and composed Derek O'Brien had approached Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh and allegedly tore documents right in front of the presiding officer.

An aggressive O'Brien also shouted 'Kala Kanoon' (black law) at the Chair over the passage of the contentious agriculture-related Bills in the Upper House.

What followed was a bedlam, with House marshals trying to help restore normalcy even as other Opposition lawmakers trooped into the Well of the Rajya Sabha, leading to subsequent suspension of eight Rajya Sabha MPs, including O'Brien.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Billed a murder-mystery with ghosts, Dead is actually a stoner comedy that mixes genres as freely as the main characters father mixes marijuana with additives allowing humans to see ghouls.

Beginning on Sept. 25, Cleveland Cinemas (Cedar Lee, the Capitol and Chagrin Cinemas) is screening the fun film for movie fans who dont feel comfortable visiting a theater.

Also offering a virtual option to view first-run films online is Cleveland Institute of Arts Cinematheque, which beginning Sept. 25 is screening The Artists Wife.

Starring Lena Olin and Bruce Dern, the drama tells the other side of the On Golden Pond coin with baby boomers dealing with age, estranged relationships and lost dreams.

As far as the virtual screening rooms are concerned, half the proceeds from the virtual films go back to the local theater. Costs vary for each film, which are accessible for either 48 or 72 hours.

Heres a look at new and current films streaming this weekend through Cinematheque and Cleveland Cinemas:

Native Son (opening Sept. 25)

Pierre Chenals obscure 1951 film Native Son has not only been restored but also has been returned to its original length. The heavily-censored film made waves at the time of its release due to its story about a black man being the victim of institutional racism.

Myth of a Colorblind France (opening Sept. 25)

Myth of a Colorblind France explores whether Paris truly offered prominent African-American artists such as Josephine Baker, James Baldwin and Richard Wright a different experience when it comes to racism and acceptance. Alan Govenars documentary includes historical footage and new interviews.

The Disrupted (opening Sept. 25)

Documentarians Sarah Colt and Josh Gleason (American Experience, This American Life and All Things Considered) delve into how middle-class workers seeking the American dream are existing in uncertain financial times. One of the three stories highlighted in The Disrupted features a laid-off factory worker from Lorain.

Rialto (now showing)

Boasting a 100 percent critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Rialto stars Tom Vaughan-Lawlor (Avengers: Infinity War) and Tom Glynn-Carney (Dunkirk) in screenwriter Mark OHallorans screen adaptation of his award-winning play Trade. The sensitive drama involves the unraveling of a middle-aged Dublin dockworkers life.

The Wall of Mexico (now showing)

The notion of a wall keeping people out gets turned on its head in new feature film The Wall of Mexico, which finds a wealthy Mexican-American family walling off its ranch in order to keep poor white people from entering.

A Chefs Voyage (now showing)

James Beard award-winning chef David Kinch, (The Mind of a Chef) highlights three legendary French chefs at their iconic restaurants in new documentary A Chefs Voyage.

Faust (now showing)

Featuring claymation, stop-motion animation, life-size puppets, live action and special effects, 1994 film Faust -- which is not appropriate for children -- is the work of great Czech animator and surrealist Jan Svankmajer.

God of the Piano (now showing)

Gripping drama God of the Piano delves into parents living vicariously through their children. Having failed in her own career as a concert pianist, Anat makes sure her newborn son doesnt make the same mistakes.

Oliver Sacks: His Own Life (now showing)

Legendary neurologist and storyteller Oliver Sacks shares intimate details of his battles with drug addiction, homophobia and a medical establishment in new documentary Oliver Sacks: His Own Life.

Sibyl (now showing)

Not to be confused with the 1976 television mini-series of the same name, 2019 film Sibyl is a black comedy about a psychotherapist who leaves behind her profession to become a fiction writer using her former patients' stories -- and lurid details -- for source material.

Meeting the Beatles In India (now showing)

In 1968, Paul Saltzman -- who was studying transcendental meditation with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi -- unexpectedly crossed paths with the Fab Four. Now the Emmy Award-winning Canadian filmmaker has turned this experience into new documentary Meeting the Beatles In India, which is narrated by Morgan Freeman and includes never-before-seen personal photos.

Moroni For President (now showing)

Documentary Moroni For President follows young, gay and Mormon academic Moroni Benally, who decides to run for the presidency of the Navajo Nation. The film, which is funny at times, is not only a compelling look at the LGBTQ community within the Navajo nation, but also suggests a similarity between the power structure of Native Americans and the U.S. government.

African Violet (now showing)

Boasting a 100 percent critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes, African Violet finds an Iranian ex-wife -- after learning her children put her former husband into a nursing home -- taking care of her former spouse.

Buoyancy (now showing)

Australias official entry for the 2020 Oscar for Best International Film, Buoyancy is a thriller about a Cambodian teen who sneaks away to Bangkok to make money working in a factory but ends up an abducted, abused slave on a Thai fishing trawler.

#Unfit: The Psychology of Donald Trump (now showing)

Dan Partlands new documentary #Unfit: The Psychology of Donald Trump features mental health professionals analyzing the commander-in-chiefs behavior, psyche and stability in relation to whether he is fit to hold the office of President of the United States.

From the Vine (now showing)

Joe Pantoliano stars in new film From the Vine, which finds a tired CEO quitting the rat race and moving to his childhood hometown in Italy. The drama proves to be a celebration of heritage and happiness.

Ghost Tropic (now showing)

As one of the best movies streamed in this years Cleveland International Film Festival, Bas Devos' new dreamy film Ghost Tropic follows a Brussels cleaning womans unexpected discovery of nocturnal humanity.

Vinyl Nation (now showing)

After near extinction more than a decade ago, vinyl has made a comeback in a big way. Perfect for fans of Record Store Day, the new documentary Vinyl Nation explores its rebirth through interviews with vinyl-philes.

Mr. Soul! (now showing)

From 1968 to 1973, the hip, smart, political and gay Ellis Haizlip hosted the groundbreaking WNET/PBS program Soul!, which was created as a Black Tonight Show. The Emmy Award-winning show, which included high-profile guests such as Muhammad Ali, James Baldwin, Jesse Jackson, Toni Morrison, Sidney Poitier and Stevie Wonder, is examined in detail in new documentary Mr. Soul!

Driven to Abstraction (now showing)

Documentarian Daria Prices latest work Driven to Abstraction tells the story about one of the greatest art hoaxes of modern times. During a 15-year period, a respected New York City art gallery sold a series of fake Knoedler abstract expressionist paintings for $80 million.

Coup 53 (now showing)

Co-written and edited by Academy Award-winner Walter Murch, Coup 53 digs deep into Americas role in the 1953 overthrow of Irans democratically-elected Prime Minister Mossadegh in favor of the Shah. The documentary features never-before-seen 16mm footage and archival documents.

The Fight (now showing)

Theres nothing coincidental about the timing of the release of brand-new film The Fight. The documentary follows ACLU lawyers battling the Trump administration over voting rights, abortion, parent-child separation and the loss of a soldiers military career.

RBG (opening Sept. 25)

Due to the recent passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Cleveland Cinemas honors her legacy with a return engagement of the award-winning documentary RBG. The films distributor will be donating profits from the special return engagement to the ACLU Womens Rights Project, which Justice Ginsburg co-founded in 1972.

From the Vine (opening Sept. 25)

Joe Pantoliano stars in new film From the Vine, which finds a tired CEO quitting the rat race and moving to his childhood hometown in Italy. The drama proves to be a celebration of heritage and happiness.

Blackbird (now showing)

A remake of the 2014 Danish film Silent Heart, Blackbird is about a terminally ill mother who brings her family together one last time before she dies. The film stars Susan Sarandon, Kate Winslet, Mia Wasikowska, Lindsay Duncan, Sam Neill and Rainn Wilson.

Chuck Berry (now showing)

Inaugural Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Chuck Berry is the subject of a new documentary from award-winning filmmaker Jon Brewer (B.B. King: Life of Riley). The film includes the first-ever interview with Berrys widow, Thelmetta, as well as Gene Simmons, Alice Cooper, Joe Perry, Steven Van Zandt, Nils Lofgren, George Thorogood, Joe Bonamassa and Nile Rodgers.

Saul & Rubys Holocaust Survivors Band (now showing)

Tod Lendings new drama Saul & Rubys Holocaust Survivors Band follows two Holocaust survivors in South Florida. The duo form a klezmer band that not only celebrates life but also learns about the healing power of music.

Meeting the Beatles In India (now showing)

In 1968, Paul Saltzman -- who was studying transcendental meditation with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi -- unexpectedly crossed paths with the Fab Four. Now the Emmy Award-winning Canadian filmmaker has turned this experience into new documentary Meeting the Beatles In India, which is narrated by Morgan Freeman and includes never-before-seen personal photos.

Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President (now showing)

Nearly 40 years after he left office, President Jimmy Carters rock n roll legacy is examined in Mary Whartons new documentary. Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President includes interviews with Willie Nelson, Bono, Bob Dylan, Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Jimmy Buffett, Roseanne Cash and Paul Simon.
FMG Suite Logo As financial professionals establish their digital presence, they are able to use FMG Suite's tools to automate their marketing and grow their business, said James Johnson, Managing Director at MarTech Breakthrough. Were proud to award FMG Suite with Best Social Media Distribution Software.

FMG Suite, a SaaS company specializing in cloud-based marketing software and services for financial services professionals and insurance agencies, today announced that it has been selected as the winner of the Best Social Media Distribution Software award in the third annual MarTech Breakthrough Awards program conducted by MarTech Breakthrough, a leading market intelligence organization that recognizes the top companies, technologies and products in the global marketing, sales and advertising technology industry today.

FMG Suite empowers independent financial and insurance professionals, many of them small business owners who dont have the time or resources to also be effective marketers, with a suite of solutions to help automate simple, effective, content-rich social media marketing campaigns. FMG Suite also offers an integrated website solution where the social posts direct traffic back to a company's website. This creates a true inbound marketing experience to further engage the reader and increase conversion rates. Thousands of professionals trust FMG Suite to nurture leads, deepen client relationships, and help them grow their businesses.

As financial and insurance professionals increasingly realize the value and necessity of social media marketing programs, we are proud to provide a comprehensive marketing system that is shown to help small businesses attract new leads, said Scott White, FMG Suite CEO. Social media marketing is a game-changer for small businesses, and were proud to be the only vendor offering both financial and insurance professionals a seamless, end-to-end solution spanning content and coordinated distribution across the three social platforms. We are thrilled to receive this 2020 MarTech Breakthrough Award in recognition of our innovation and success in the MarTech space.

The MarTech Breakthrough Awards honors excellence and recognizes innovation and success in a range of marketing, sales, and advertising related technology categories. This years program attracted more than 2,750 nominations from over 15 different countries throughout the world.

As financial and insurance professionals establish their digital presence and experience FMG Suites powerful digital tools, they are able to automate their marketing and grow their business like never before, said James Johnson, Managing Director at MarTech Breakthrough. FMG Suite has certainly provided a breakthrough digital marketing platform for these professionals to grow their businesses, and were proud to award FMG Suite with Best Social Media Distribution Software for our 2020 MarTech Breakthrough Awards program.

Through the FMG Suite platform, users can select from a library of compliance-friendly content that includes videos, articles, infographics, and more. These posts are automatically sent on the professionals behalf while they dictate what topics and what cadence works best for their firm.

Additionally, due to stringent industry regulation, social posts must be compliance-reviewed by the financial professionals broker-dealer before publication. FMG Suite simplifies this with established relationships with more than 180 broker-dealers to create a direct compliance workflow to their teams. Social media content is automatically routed to the broker-dealer, and the system captures when the piece is approved and notifies the user that its ready to post. This saves financial professionals countless hours and headaches of keeping track of submissions and archiving them.

About FMG Suite

FMG Suite delivers the leading advisor marketing platform backed by an award-winning, FINRA-reviewed, and compliance-ready content library. Powering the industrys best websites, multimedia content, and communication tools for financial advisors and insurance agents, FMG Suite helps them deepen relationships with clients, stay connected with prospects, and grow their businesses. Rated first in market share and customer satisfaction in the 2019 and 2020 T3 Software Survey Report, FMG Suite solutions are designed to advance how advisors develop their marketing strategies and automate their most effective marketing tactics. FMG Suite is headquartered in San Diego, CA with satellite offices across the United States. Learn more.
There has been progress, and the teachers, the parents are doing all that they can with what we have to work with, but I echo some of the concerns that were shared about meeting the students where they are, Sotelo said. He added that can be traumatic to some of the students because their rooms are not as conducive to learning. ... Those are points we certainly need to continue to consider.
A months-long investigation into the death of Breonna Taylor has shed light on the 26-year-old EMT's final moments

A state investigation into the fatal police shooting of Breonna Taylor has laid bare the final moments of her life, revealing the 26-year-old EMT was killed while standing next to her boyfriend after she was shot by cops six times.

In a press conference on Wednesday, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron gave a detailed account of the sequence of events in the March 13 shooting, which he said was pieced together by ballistics reports, 911 calls, and witness interviews, due to the lack of bodycam footage.

It came after the Jefferson County grand jury announced Officer Brett Hankison, who was fired in June, has been charged with three counts of wanton endangerment for firing into Taylor's neighbors' homes.

Sgt Jonathan Mattingly and Detective Myles Cosgrove, who were also present during the deadly raid, were not indicted.

The results of the four-month investigation shed light on events leading up to Taylor's death andfound officers fired a total of 32 times after entering her apartment.

'In total, six bullets struck Ms Taylor. Medical evidence obtained by the team indicates that only one shot was fatal,' Cameron said.

'Further medical evidence shows Ms Taylor would have died from the fatal shot within a few seconds to two minutes after being struck.'

According to investigators' findings, Taylor was struck by the gunfire while standing in the hallway of her home alongside boyfriend Kenneth Walker.

Earlier reports had said Taylor was sleeping in bed when officers barged in and opened fire.

It also confirmed cops did indeed knock while serving a warrant at apartment 4 of 3003 Springfield Drive in the early hours of March 13.

In the early hours of March 13, Louisville police officers entered apartment 4 of 3003 Springfield Drive, firing 32 times. Breonna Taylor was shot six times, but only one was determined to be fatal

Officers Brett Hankison (left), Myles Cosgrove (center) and John Mattingly (right). Hankison, who was charged on Wednesday, was fired from the LMPD while the other two officers remain on the force on administrative assignment

'The officers were advised by superiors to knock and announce their presence in serving this specific search warrant,' Cameron said.

'Sergeant Mattingly and detectives Cosgrove and Hankison had no known involvement in the proceeding investigation or obtainment of the search warrant.

'They were called in to duty as the extra personnel to effectuate the service of the search warrant. They only had information conveyed to them in their prior briefing. They knock and announced the presence at the apart.

'Their statements are corroborated by an independent witness near to the proximity of apartment 4. In other words, the warrant was not served as a no-knock warrant.

'When the officers were unable to get anyone to answer, or open the door to apartment 4, the decision was made to breach the door,' Cameron said.

Mattingly was the only officer to enter the apartment, where he said he found Walker holding a gun.

'In his statement [Mattingly] says that the male was holding a gun, arms extended, in a shooting stance,' Cameron said.

Bullet holes and blood smeared on the walls could be seen in one evidence photo from inside Taylor's apartment after she was shot dead

The charges stem from Hankison's bullets travelling into a neighboring apartment when he and two other officers opened fire. Pictured above are the bullet holes found in Taylor's apartment

Crime scene photos from the investigation show a number of shell casings in and near the EMT's apartment after she was shot dead by police on March 13

'Sergeant Mattingly saw the man's gun fire, heard a boom and immediately knew he was shot as a result of feeling heat in his upper thigh.

'There is no evidence to support that Sergeant Mattingly was hit by friendly fire from other officers. Mr Walker admitted that he fired one shot and was the first one to shoot.

'In addition to all the testimony, the ballistics report shows the round that struck Sergeant Mattingly was fired from a .9-millimeter handgun. The LMPD officers fired .40-caliber handguns.'

Cameron confirmed Mattingly had fired six shots in return, Cosgrove fired 16, and Hankinson fired 10.

Taylor and her boyfriend Kenneth Walker (pictured together) were sleeping in bed when the officers served the warrant at around 1am on March 13

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

Taylor's living room was left riddled with bullets after the March 13 shooting by police

'Sergeant Mattingly returned fire down the hallway. Mattingly fired six shots. Almost simultaneously, detective Cosgrove also in the doorway, shot 16 times. This all took place in a matter of seconds. In total, six bullets struck Ms Taylor.'

Meanwhile, Detective Hankison, who was the only cop charged in the case, had fired his weapon ten times including from an outside sliding glass door and through a bedroom window.

'Some bullets traveled through apartment 4 and into apartment 3 before some exited that apartment,' Cameron said.

'At the time, three residents of apartment 3 were at home including a male, a pregnant female, and a child.

'There is no conclusive evidence that any bullets fired from detective Hankison's weapon struck Ms Taylor,' Cameron said.

The AG said initial ballistics reports were unable to determine which of the three officers fired the shot that killed Taylor.

Cameron then commissioned the FBI Crime lab to conduct a separate analysis to see if they reached the same results.

'Ballistics analysis concluded the fatal shot was fired by Detective Cosgrove,' he said.

'Our officers looked at both reports to determine if there were major differences in the procedures used by each lab that would have led the FBI to identify who fired the fatal shot.

'Both law enforcement agencies used similar equipment and analysis. Each lab is highly respected for their work.

'There was nothing our investigators could point to nor anything provided by the respective agencies that directly explains why one lab made the call while another did not,' Cameron said.

Although Cosgrove is believed to have fired the fatal shot, he and Mattingly were not charged after investigators determined their actions were justified because Walker opened fire first.

'According to Kentucky law, the use of force by Mattingly and Cosgrove was justified to protect themselves,' Cameron said.

'This justification bars us from pursuing criminal charges in Miss Breonna Taylor's death.'

The three officers did not take part in the obtaining of the warrant, he said.

The raid had been widely reported by the media as a 'no-knock' warrant however, further investigations later proved the cops had knocked before entering.

The FBI is still investigating potential violations of federal law in the case.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept.23

By Tamilla Mammadova  Trend:

Georgia exported 64 tons of butter to Azerbaijan, amounting to $3,840 during eight months of the current year, Trend reports via the National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat).

Export under trademark 0405 got carried out in all months except January and June by road.

During the same period, Georgia exported 2.9 tons of cheese and cottage cheese worth $17,800 under the trademark 0406.

In January-August of the current year, 0.2 tons of buttermilk, kefir, and yogurt worth $700 were put for sale under the 0403 trademark in Azerbaijan.

Georgia sold 643.1 tons of dairy products to Azerbaijan this year. The transit of products got carried out entirely by road.

As for the export of milk and cream, this product exported to Azerbaijan under the trademark 0402 in January, and was less than a ton, less than a thousand dollars in monetary terms, which is why it is not reflected on the National Statistics Office of Georgia foreign trade portal.

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


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Tuesday, coronavirus death toll in the United States crossed 200,000.



With 994 additional deaths reporting in the last 24 hours, the national total reached 200814, as per Johns Hopkins University's latest data.



After a lull in the number of infections, daily number of cases rose back to the levels seen at the beginning of this month.



With the addition of 39,465 coronavirus-related cases in the last 24 hours, total number of infections in the country reached 6897432.



Cases are increasing in 24 states, including North Dakota, Utah, Texas and South Dakota, according to CNN.



Even as the United States hit the ominous mark, President Donald Trump defended his record dealing with the pandemic, saying that if actions were not taken by his administration, 'you could have two and a half million deaths.' Trump repeated his blame on China for the global spread of the pandemic.



'China should've stopped it at their border. They should've never let this spread all over the world,' he told reporters during remarks he made before Marine One departure at the The White House.



At a White House news conference Tuesday, Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany was asked, 'At 200,000 deaths, shouldn't the President be telling people the truth about this virus at his rallies.'



'Europe has experienced a 28 percent higher excess mortality rate than the United States - it's a testament to the hard work done by the task force and this President,' she told reporters.



Speaking at the Citizen by CNN conference Tuesday, the U.S. government's top infectious diseases specialist Dr. Anthony Fauci said 'it's not acceptable to not realize that we are entering into a risk period and we've got to act accordingly.'



Meanwhile, a Democrat lawmaker said the House Oversight Committee is going to investigate the reason why the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention abruptly retracted its updated guidance that coronavirus often spreads through air.



'One way or another, we're going to investigate it and find out,' said Illinois Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, who is a member of the committee.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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Press Release

23 September 2020

The Covid-19 crisis has disproportionately affected tourism, a sector that accounts for millions of jobs around the globe. While no one can say with certainty when tourism will recover, people are starting to dream again of getaways whether closer to home or to remote destinations. As more and more people go online to search where and when they can travel, accelerating the digitalization of the tourism sector will be key to adapting to the new tourism reality.

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That is why the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and Google have partnered for an online Acceleration Program for UNWTO Member States' tourism ministers, top travel associations and tourism boards to further develop innovation and digital transformation skills.

Today, ahead of World Tourism Day, we hosted our first UNWTO & Google Tourism Acceleration Program focused on insights from South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria. Tourism is the backbone of many economies around the world. As data from UNWTO shows, tourism represents 9% of global trade for Africa and 1 in 10 jobs directly and indirectly. Moreover, the sector drives inclusive growth, as women make 54% of the workforce.

"UNWTO is committed to helping Africa grow back stronger," said Natalia Bayona, UNWTO Director of Innovation, Digital Transformation and Investments. "With the right policies, training and management in place, innovation and technology have the potential to foster new and better jobs and business opportunities for tourism in Africa while improving the overall wellbeing and prosperity of the region".

Africa is home to 30% of the world's population, adding every year hundreds of millions of new online users. Google is a highly trusted partner in Africa to find relevant and reliable information, and Search is one of the places they go when researching and booking travel.

"We're here to help the tourism sector rise up from this unprecedented crisis and emerge stronger. Our travel data insights and tools can help tourism authorities identify and understand the barriers and drivers to visit travel destinations for better tourism planning." said Doron Avni, Google's Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy for Emerging Market.

Below are some of the Sub-Saharan Africa travel data insights shared with participants in today's session:

South Africa

Google Search data shows some encouraging signs of increased interest in tourism in the region:

Photo: UNWTO

Travel by Province

Photo: UNWTO

Kenya

The top three questions users asked Google globally related to travel conducted in July comprised "When can we travel again," "when will international travel resume," and "when will it be safe to travel again." while top questions in August were related to where and when we can travel "right now". In fact, 45% of the top 100 questions related to travel focused on the impact of COVID-19, the need to travel as soon as possible and travel safety.

Photo: UNWTO

Travel Demand by Counties

Source: Google internal search trends data 2018 - August 2020  Photo: UNWTO

Source: Google trends data 2018 - August 2020  Photo: UNWTO

Photo: UNWTO

This slowdown presents a unique opportunity to rethink tourism, innovate and further develop the digital transformation of the sector so it can build the foundations for future sustainable growth.

Contacts

Katherine Vargas, Communications Department, Google, [email protected]

Belen Ramirez, Communications Department, UNWTO, [email protected]

RELATED LINKS
CBD cafes, travel agents, airline workers, traditional storefront retailers: how many of these will survive? Surely, not all. Interestingly, the number of companies entering insolvency in 2020 has been lower than last year  extraordinary levels of government support are helping to prevent even the usual level of business failures. No one is saying the taps will be turned off tomorrow but at some point, they will. Then the real pain will come. Already, banks are contacting customers  both households and businesses  whose six-month COVID-19 loan repayment holidays have come to an end. More than half-a-million loans remain on pause. These customers are being offered a choice: re-start payments; switch to an interest-only loan; or, if they can't, apply for another four-month reprieve. That gets us through Christmas. But soon in the new year, some households will be forced to confront the harsh reality that either by joblessness, or reduced income, they are unable to keep up with their old loan payments.

Loading The only question is how widespread resulting mortgage defaults and foreclosures will be, and what knock-on effect this will have on the wider property market. Australia's housing market is the tectonic plate upon which the future of our economic recovery sits. And it's looking shaky. For decades, Australians have built their wealth and funded their retirements through rapidly rising home values. In expectation of future gains, we've shackled ourselves to the biggest mortgages in the world, lulled into a sense of security about our ability to keep servicing them by a nearly 30-year non-stop economic run.

Loading That record run has come to an end, and our housing-centric growth model is about to be severely tested. Best-case scenario: mortgage defaults are contained and there is not a rush of forced sales into the market, limiting price falls. To date, home values have fallen only slightly since COVID-19, keeping a floor under household confidence. In a silent show of solidarity, we've held off on selling homes, reducing supply in the market and keeping prices supported.

Loading It only takes one distressed seller in a local area to set a lower benchmark price expectation for all buyers. Once they smell blood in the water, buyers can pounce with low-ball offers. If sellers are desperate enough, they will accept. Unlike other recessions and periods of rising joblessness, this drama of rising distress levels will play out against a backdrop of massively curtailed immigration. For years, strong migration and population growth have fuelled demand for housing, supporting prices. That source of demand has all but disappeared.

Developers will, and are, responding by putting the brakes on new developments  but it will take some time for the overhang of previous new developments to be absorbed. Of course, from a long-term societal point of view, falling home prices may be no bad thing. Unless they plan on becoming homeless, every seller must also become a buyer and inflated selling prices also imply inflated buying costs for the next purchase. And yet, with all their chips on property, Australian homeowners are easily spooked by the prospect of price falls. Without anticipated price gains owners must re-adjust plans, seeking returns elsewhere or curbing their spending to meet a more limited, anticipated future income stream. That bodes ill for household spending, which bodes ill for economic recovery. Which is not to get too gloomy, of course. It might not happen. We may beat the scourge of COVID-19 in a timely and permanent manner. A vaccine may arrive. The government may step in with sufficient gusto to create enough jobs to replace the lost ones  and ensure everyone who lost an old job gets a new one. Banks may show compassion and extend support for longer. Economists are divided in their expectations of future home price movements; some predicting further falls, some looking forward to price gains in 2021. Nobody really knows for sure.
RICHMOND, Va. - Record numbers of Virginians are voting early and requesting absentee ballots this year as the coronavirus pandemic and newly loosened election laws reshape Old Dominion voting habits in a presidential year.

About 100,356 people have cast ballots in person since early voting began Friday, while 884,032 have requested absentee ballots, state elections officials reported Wednesday. In all of 2016, just under 353,000 Virginians opted for early in-person voting and about 185,000 voted absentee by mail, according to an analysis by the nonprofit Virginia Public Access Project.

Voters in three solidly blue northern Virginia congressional districts, where President Donald Trump is unpopular, have requested the most absentee ballots, led by 140,465 requests in the 8th District, which is represented by Rep. Don Beyer, a Democrat.

That's nearly triple the 48,191 ballots requested in the bright red 9th District in the state's rural southwest, which Rep. Morgan Griffith, a Republican, represents and Trump carried by 19 points four years ago.

Democratic Party officials say the numbers portend continued Democratic support in Virginia, which chose Hillary Clinton over Trump by five points in 2016 and has trended more Democratic.

"After the first few days of early voting, we've seen an unprecedented surge in enthusiasm with tens of thousands of Virginians going to the polls," Susan Swecker, chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Virginia, said in a written statement. "And the data we've seen shows that Democrats are the ones driving record early voting numbers, a clear sign that enthusiasm is on our side and that voters are tired of Trump's broken promises and failures to keep Virginians safe during this pandemic."

John March, spokesman for the Republican Party of Virginia, said he was not convinced that Democrats were fueling the surge in early voting and absentee ballot requests.

"The great thing about Virginia is, you have no idea who's requesting these ballots," he said, noting that voters do not register by party in the state. "It could be every single Republican in those [Democratic] precincts requested those ballots."

In any case, March said Republicans are more inclined to wait until Nov. 3 to vote.

"Republicans are more likely to vote in person on Election Day," he said. "That's the sentiment I've gotten."

Early voting is not something Virginia has traditionally encouraged. Until this year, voters needed to have a qualifying excuse - such as business or vacation travel - to obtain an absentee ballot or vote early in person.

Democrats who took control of the state House and Senate this year passed legislation to allow "no-excuse" early voting, and Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat, signed that into law. The measure was one of several meant to ease restrictions on voting, but it has proved particularly popular during the pandemic, which has some voters worried about being exposed to the virus if polls are crowded on Election Day.

Virginia has one of the nation's longest early-voting periods - 45 days, from Sept. 18 through Oct. 31, the last Saturday before Election Day. Among the states that allow early voting, Maine, New Jersey, South Dakota and Vermont offer it for as long as 45 days before Election Day, according to the National Council of State Legislatures. The average span is 19 days.

Virginia voters can cast an early vote in person at their local registrar's office or at satellite voting locations. They can also request an absentee ballot, which they can return by mail or in person to the registrar's office or other drop-box locations, which are listed on local government websites.

The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Oct. 23 at 5 p.m.

In Virginia, absentee ballots can be "pre-processed" before Election Day, meaning they are periodically fed into voting machines - with representatives of both major political parties present as witnesses. That is intended to avoid a large backlog in a year like this one, when absentee usage is unusually high.

Absentee ballots returned to the registrar by mail arrive inside two envelopes. The registrar opens the outer envelope to make sure the voter has signed it and filled in his or her address. There is also a spot for a witness signature, but the General Assembly did away with the witness requirement because of the pandemic.

Registrars will contact a voter if there are any errors and or omissions. They will have until noon on Nov. 6, three days after the election, to make corrections.

Registrars may keep the ballots in the second envelope in a secure location until Election Day. But they also have the option to process them early, opening the second envelope and running the ballot through a voting machine. To do that, they must notify party representatives and elections officers so they can be present to observe. There is no tally of those votes before Election Day.
On a crisp autumn afternoon in Barnstead, New Hampshire, the Russell-Stovers said their I do's in an intimate ceremony among friends, family and ... lots and lots of chocolate.

Jessica Russell and Rich Stover have no relation to the chocolate company who shares their last names, aside from their love of its sweet treats. But when they tied the knot on Saturday, they officially became a match made in chocolate heaven.

Jessica Russell and Rich Stover tied the knot Saturday with a very chocolaty celebration. (Courtesy of Christian Patti for Russell Stover)

After Stover proposed to Russell in fall 2019, the bride's sister, Cassandra Russell, knew there couldn't be Russell-Stover wedding without, well, Russell Stover. So, she reached out to the company to inform them that an actual Russell Stover couple was going to be wed the following year.

"Russell Stover couldn't pass up the once in a lifetime opportunity to celebrate the real Russell-Stovers," a brand spokesperson told TODAY Food.

Because of COVID-19, the chocolatier's team wasn't allowed on-site at the wedding, which the couple hosted at Russell's parents home: a historic, 1700s New England farmhouse. Still, the company provided plenty of gifts from afar. From socks and bow ties for the groomsmen to a silky robe for the bride, and decorations and dinnerware to a chocolate lover's dream of a cake, the wedding had no shortage of Russell Stover-themed items.

The fall wedding came together beautifully with Russell Stover's classic logo on all the decorations. (Courtesy of Christian Patti for Russell Stover)

"I was completely overwhelmed with Russell Stovers generosity towards my daughter and her husband. Everything really came out wonderful from the charms on the bouquets, to the socks on the groomsmens feet," mother of the bride Jean Russell told TODAY.

Over the years, folks have become pretty clever when it comes to incorporating their favorite food brand into their special occasions. One family photographed their baby smashing a Starbucks Frappuccino-themed cake for her first birthday. And another couple, Joel Burger and Ashley King, went all out with their whopper of a wedding.

For Russell Stover, it was easy to complement the rustic, ruby-hued fall wedding, considering the brand's color scheme is copper and brown. But perhaps the most seamless pairing was the wedding cake.

Story continues

The Pecan Delight Russell Stover wedding cake was one of the bride's favorite parts of her wedding. (Courtesy of Christian Patti for Russell Stover)

The couple had originally planned to skip the cake and just serve Russell Stover chocolates for dessert. Instead, the company worked with a local New Hampshire baker to create a cake made from their favorite flavor: milk chocolate Pecan Delight.

"It was so special having Russell Stover chocolates part of our wedding day because we've always called it 'our chocolate,'" the bride told TODAY. "It's crazy how fast the day goes by, but it will certainly be memorable for us and our guests. The Russell Stover cake was the topic of our wedding conversation."

Jessica Russell and her family always loved Russell Stover chocolates  and then she met Rich Stover. (Courtesy of Christian Patti for Russell Stover)

According to Russell's mom, the wedding outdid the family's most memorable Russell Stover event. Every Christmas, her family buys a king-size Russell Stover box chocolate for their Yankee swap gift exchange (aka white elephant or Dirty Santa). It was something everyone looked forward to all year round  particularly Russell and Stover.

"I've always said we were the chocolate couple and thanks to [Russell Stover's] generosity, we definitely were on our wedding day," Stover told TODAY.
On the advice of my uncle in Poland, I tried to go to Poland via Romania - ex-journo spilled the beans





by Our Defence Correspondent

A man named Balasubramaniam Senduran, a resident in Colombo has visited a printing house in Kiribathgoda, Colombo suburb, on June 2020, requested a series of articles to be printed in a newspaper format. He told the owner of the printing house that he will come to collect the printed paper in a few days. He said that he worked as a journalist and told the owner that he was reporting on current affairs.

But he was arrested on suspicion by the CID in July 2020 when he arrived to pick up the printed fake newspapers. It has been revealed that he had paid around Rs. 24,000 to the printing press for printing these fake newspaper pages.

One of the fake news reports states,





 B. Sendhuran, a journalist of the Thinakkural newspaper and editor of a well - known Tamil newspaper in Canada, was assaulted at around 7 am yesterday. The journalist who was seriously injured in the incident has been hospitalized with head injuries. The Sri Lanka Press Association has condemned the incident."

However, during investigations, the man revealed that he had worked for the Thinakkural and Virakesari newspapers for some time. But no one has interfered with his duty. However, the salary he received from the company where he worked was not enough. Therefore he tried to go abroad by preparing fake documents and fake newspaper reports. He was found in possession of a forged identity card of a journalist and seven forged official stamps.

According to reliable sources, the forged documents were prepared on the instructions of his uncle who lives in Poland. He believed that these forgeries could easily deceive the foreign embassies in Colombo and other responsible parties. He planned to go first to Romania and then to Poland and seek asylum.

A significant number of similar incidents have reported in the past. But due to lack of reliable evidence, those cases were kept under the carpet. As a result, many have fled the country and sought refuge, claiming that they had been subjected to state repression.

International organizations have often accepted the views of these individuals and their brokers to blame the Sri Lankan security forces and other authorities. But most international organizations do not independently investigate the veracity of those allegations. Consequently, innocent parties came under severe criticisms merely based on assumptions.












The COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the need for brokers to add value to the insurance transaction, according to Toby Esser, chairman of AFL Insurance Brokers, a London-based independent broker.

Indeed, Esser said, the COVID-19-related coverage disputes involving business interruption pandemic exclusions have not reflected very well on either insurers or brokers. Esser spoke to Carrier Management for a podcast on the state of the insurance and reinsurance markets. (The full audio podcast is available below).

He speaks from experience in this matter because his wife has her own business just outside of London and bought a specific pandemic extension to her business insurance policy.

She made a claim to her broker and the broker dismissed it immediately, said Esser.

They decided to argue the point with the broker, which operates in personal lines and small commercial lines arena.

Related: UK Businesses Wait to See if Their Insurers Will Appeal COVID-19 Insurance Ruling London Court Rules Some Insurers Should Not Have Denied Business Interruption Claims Financial Conduct Authority Hails Business Interruption Ruling as Policyholder Win Insurers, Policyholders, Analysts React to UKs COVID-19 Business Interruption Ruling

The broker then put us in touch directly with the insurer. We had a debate backwards and forwards with the insurer over the extension, but they declined the loss, he said. We heard nothing more, other than from the various lawyers being in touch over class action suits until the case with the [UK Financial Conduct Authority] went to court.

At that point, his wife heard back from the broker who said: Actually, theres a chance that it might be covered.

(As a result of a test case brought by the FCA, a London court on Sept. 15 ruled that some of the worlds biggest insurers were wrong to reject COVID-19-related business interruption claims from more than 350,000 small businesses. The FCA, which brought the test case against eight insurers, said the court had found in favor of policyholders arguments on the majority of key issues. After the court decision, Esser provided an emailed update on Sept. 20, saying he and his wife have been informed by their broker of the FCA finding but have received no further details.)

Insurers and Brokers Criticized

During the interview, Esser criticized the broker for failing to add any value  an essential part of the role of an intermediary.

You have to add value, whatever level of business youre in, in our world. So, I dont know that any of [the business interruption coverage dispute] reflected very well on brokers or on insurers, he said.

If an insurer offers specific extensions for pandemic insurance for small businesses, it should be covered, he emphasized.

Thats what leads to very unhappy customers. And, I think its especially clear that the broker needs to explain to the customer what that coverage is and not just give them the [policy].

Staying Competitive with Specialty Expertise

Nevertheless, Esser is bullish about the future of independent Lloyds brokers  of course, those brokers that add value to the insurance transaction.

Although the large brokers appear to be dominating the market, Esser said theres always room for competition.

I was a small broker and then I was a fairly big broker, and then I was a small broker again. So, the argument is slightly different depending on where you are, but theres always room for somebody else. Theres always room for competition.

While bigger brokers clearly have leverage and are able to attract high volumes of quality business, smaller brokers can be hungrier and more aggressive, he said. Particularly in specialties, and particularly where you can be exceptional, theres room.

He acknowledged there has been a massive amount of consolidation amongst the largest retail brokers, such as Marsh and JLTs 2019 merger and Aons impending acquisition of Willis.

But were also seeing consolidation of the specialist wholesalers and reinsurance brokers, he affirmed.

Theres great consolidation continuing to go on, but thats always happened, and you will always get people who want to start up new businesses or who want to break off and start a new wholesaler.

Maybe there are fewer brokers today and maybe the cost of entry is more complex, he said.

Yes, he added, more money is required to start a new broker, and its more difficult to grow from a small broker to a big broker today, but there are still plenty of prospects out there for the smaller ones to compete with the bigger ones.

Visit the Big Re, Carrier Managements reinsurance hub, for complete reinsurance coverage. Launched during the week of what would have been the Reinsurance Rendez-Vous de Septembre, this special page aims to provide complete reinsurance coverage of, by and for reinsurance professionals and buyers including news, features, interviews, commentaries, white papers, videos, webinars and more.

This article first was published in Insurance Journals sister publication, Carrier Management.

Topics Agencies
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 22:56:51|Editor: huaxia

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TAIPEI, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Nineteen people had tested positive for COVID-19 shortly after leaving Taiwan, the island's epidemic monitoring agency said Wednesday.

According to the agency, it has launched an investigation after receiving notices from the Philippines and Japan about the cases.

A total of 18 Filipinos -- eight men and 10 women -- had tested positive for the virus when they returned from Taiwan to the Philippines between Aug. 19 and Sept. 11. The remaining individual, a Japanese national, tested positive when he returned to Japan on Sept. 14.

So far, 372 close contacts with the Philippine nationals have been identified in Taiwan, 202 of whom have tested negative for the virus.

Taiwan reported a total of 509 COVID-19 cases as of Wednesday with seven deaths and 22 still in the hospital, according to the agency. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 22:57:11|Editor: huaxia

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CAIRO, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi stressed on Wednesday the importance of settling the Libya crisis through a political solution without foreign intervention, according to the presidency's statement.

The remarks came during a meeting with the commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA) Khalifa Haftar and the speaker of the Libyan House of Representatives Aguila Saleh.

Sisi confirmed "Egypt's fixed stance of supporting any positive steps for reaching peace that pave the road for development and construction," the statement said.

The talks tackled the recent developments in Libya and the international efforts for the implementation of the ceasefire, it added.

The two sides also discussed the latest round of talks between the eastern-based House of Representatives and the UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA), with the target of reaching a political settlement.

In his speech on Tuesday to United Nations General Assembly, Sisi said "the crisis does not only affect the Libyan interior affairs but also the security of neighboring countries and international stability."

Egypt announced an initiative, dubbed the Cairo Declaration, in June for resolving the country's conflict by seeking a ceasefire between warring Libyan parties, a UN-supervised election of a Libyan presidential council and drafting a constitutional declaration to regulate elections for the later stage.

Libya has been locked in a civil war since 2011. The situation escalated in 2014, splitting power between two rivals with warring forces, namely the UN-backed GNA based in the capital Tripoli and the eastern-based LNA led by Haftar. Enditem
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Linkedin Estelle Shirbon (Reuters) London, United Kingdom  Wed, September 23, 2020 22:04 485 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46c239f 2 Art & Culture Britain,slavery,history,property,Winston-Churchill,colonialism Free

Feted for their fine architecture and often used as lavish backdrops for period movies, Britain's great estates came under the spotlight on Tuesday for a darker reason: their links to colonialism or slavery.

The National Trust, which runs some 300 heritage buildings, said about a third of them had past owners who had profited from slavery, opposed its abolition, been involved in colonial expansion or administration or promoted imperialism.

"These histories are sometimes very painful and difficult to consider," it said in a report. "They make us question our assumptions about the past, and yet they can also deepen and enrich our understanding."

The National Trust is a household name in Britain and promotes the properties it manages in England, Wales and Northern Ireland as family days out.

But like other British institutions from Lloyd's of London to Oxford University, the trust was jolted by this year's wave of anti-racism protests into a reckoning with the past that has led to statues being toppled and legacies debated.

The trust said its 115-page report, which was not exhaustive, would be used to ensure that links to colonialism and slavery were properly explained at relevant places.

But the report was met with an instant online backlash because among a list of 93 properties listed was Chartwell, Winston Churchill's home from 1922 until his death in 1965.

Churchill has long been revered as a British national hero for his leadership during World War Two, but his legacy in other areas has come under increasingly critical scrutiny.

The report noted that he had voted against a 1935 India Bill aimed at giving Indians greater autonomy from their colonial rulers, and cited the Bengal Famine of 1943, during which critics say Churchill denied food supplies to India.

Churchill biographer Andrew Roberts was among numerous people who went on social media to accuse the National Trust of "wokery".

Read also: Artist Banksy has new take on toppled statue of English slave trader

"White man's burden"

Another notable item on the list was Glastonbury Tor, a hill topped by a 15th century tower, close to the site of the famous music festival. It was one of 29 properties that had benefitted from a government scheme that compensated slave owners when slavery was abolished in 1833, the report said.

No compensation was paid to former slaves, but 20 million pounds, or about 40 percent of the government's annual expenditure at the time, was set aside for former slave owners. The loan needed to fund the compensation was only fully repaid in 2015.

The imposing Basildon Park mansion, featured in the 2005 film adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice starring Keira Knightley and Matthew MacFayden, was also on the list.

It was purchased in 1771 by Francis Sykes, one of the so-called "nabobs", British merchants who made huge fortunes on the Indian subcontinent in ways that would now be considered exploitative.

The list also included Bateman's, home of writer Rudyard Kipling from 1902 until his death in 1936. Kipling, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1907, is known for enduring works of fiction such as The Jungle Book.

But he was also an influential apologist for imperialism, as epitomized by his poem "The White Man's Burden" which suggested white people had a moral duty to civilize countries inhabited by people of other ethnicities.
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.


The Food and Drug Administration is set to announce new standards for approving a COVID-19 vaccine, according to a report.

This is part of an effort to boost confidence with the American people.

The FDA will ask manufacturers to follow clinical trial participants for at least two months to obtain an emergency authorization, according to a report.

In addition, trials will have to show proof surrounding more severe cases and older people.

This makes it unlikely that a vaccine will be released before the 2020 presidential election.

Moderna and Pfizer both started their trials in July.

Meanwhile, the enrollment process started about a month with the second round of shots being administered after three or four weeks in the trial.

The White House has said a vaccine could be approved by November.

U.S. President Donald Trump said earlier this month than an approval could be done within a matter of weeks.

Trump also noted during a press conference that distribution would likely start in October.

Centers for Disease Control Director Robert Redfield earlier told Congress that healthcare workers, first responders, and others at high risk would get the vaccine first.

This could probably be in January or even later this year.

However, it was unlikely to be available more broadly before spring or summer.

A poll showed that Americans have become increasingly hesitant to a potential vaccine.

Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, said that it is hard to imagine how an emergency use authorization could possibly before December.

Offit is also a member of the FDA's advisory board on vaccines.

Pew Research Center said last week that only 21 percent of U.S. adults say that they would get the vaccine.

It was down from 42 percent in May.

On the other hand, the percentage of people who said they would "probably" or "definitely" not receive the vaccine increased from 27 percent to 49 percent.

Trump's top advisers, Dr. Anthony Fauci, said that the administration could see results for a vaccine before the end of the year.

"I have said from the beginning, given the way the trials have emerged now, including the one on hold now, the projection that I've made - and will stick by it - is that we'll likely get an answer if it's safe and effective by the end of the year, likely November or December," he said was quoted in a report.

White House Deputy Press Secretary Judd Deere said that every decision the FDA has made during the Trump Administration has maintained the agency's gold standard for safety.

Deere added that it has also been data-driven to save lives.

Deere added that the false narrative that the media and Democrats have created is not only false but is a danger to the American public.

The said false narrative points to the reporting that politics in influencing COVID-19 vaccine approvals.

The press secretary also said that Trump believes all Americans should have access to proven, safe, and affordable treatment options.

Deere also said that the rapid research, development, trials, and scientific approvals are part of Trump's highest priority: the health and safety of the American people.

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The farm sector Bills offer



"revolutionary" changes benefiting the and help break the network of middlemen, money-lenders and market operators, an agriculture expert said on Wednesday.

Former Director of the Institute for Social and Economic Change, Prof.R S Deshpande said the farmer would now be able to sell produce across the country in any market of his or her choice at the price negotiated with the purchaser.

This price discovery by the will certainly benefit them and get them larger portion of the market margins, which was hitherto enjoyed by the traders, according to him.

"It will be completely erroneous to assume that the purchasers will be only the corporate sector and nobody else", Deshpande, who was Head of the Agricultural Development and Rural Transformation Centre between 1998 and 2008, told PTI.

At ADRTC, he steered a mega study on "Farmer at the Millennium" and completed many research works.

He was a policy supporting academic to both the Government of Karnataka and Union Ministry of Agriculture.

"This did not come as a surprise", Deshpande said on the Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and facilitation) Bill 2020, and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill 2020, which were passed by the Rajya Sabha on Sunday.

"It was long-pending reforms and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had the guts to do it", he said.

The problems of imperfections plaguing agricultural markets were being discussed since the mid-1960s and it was found that there is an urgent need for the reforms, he said.

"Before undertaking the enactment of APMC in 1967, there was enough discussion on the issues involved, especially the focus was more on imperfections and market operators.

The situation continued with individual states tinkering with the APMC, but the frame was kept the same.

After 1991, the economic reforms bypassed agricultural markets and these continued under the clutches of touts and middlemen", Deshpande said.

Reforms in the agriculture marketing sector have been long pending, and the market margins from the APMC to the consumers were actually anything between 50 per cent and 3000 per cent, he said.

When a farmer sells onion at Rs 2.50 per KG, the consumer gets it for anywhere between Rs 30 and Rs 50 per KG, he said, giving an example.

"A simple calculation of hundred lakh tonnes purchase of wheat by the Food Corporation of India creates a commission of Rs 6480 lakh to the commission agents", Deshpande claimed.

So, the Bills offer a few revolutionary changes, he said, adding, the farmer would now be not compelled to sell in the APMC yard alone and the clutches of the traders in the garb of money lenders would be relaxed.

"The infamous interlocking of product and credit market will be released and farmers will be freed to market the produce anywhere in the country or to the exporters", he said.

"Contract farming system will be covered under the act and there will be a full control of the state in case of any disputes", Deshpande said.

"The bill has very clearly brought out the dispute settlement mechanism and appellate bodies for the purpose of plugging the inadequacies", he added.

Deshpande said:"The bill may result in increased competition, which may also make APMCs more efficient in providing cost-effective services for marketing, make the farmer to get best possible price for the produce and control unnecessary speculative hoarding of certain commodities, and prohibit in creating supply bottlenecks".

But he said it will take time for farmers to reap the full benefits of the passage of the Bills in Parliament.

"...because the network of middlemen, money-lenders and market operators are so strong and built over so many years, generations, it will take a little time to break", Deshpande said.

"But once it breaks, farmers' income will start increasing".

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India's total tests for detection of COVID-19 has reached over 6.6 crore and tests per million have risen to 48,028 as on date with the national cumulative positivity rate being recorded at 8.52 per cent, the Union said on Wednesday.

The country's testing capacity has surged to more than 12 lakh tests daily. Up to September 22, a total of 6,62,79,462 samples have been tested with 9,53,683 samples being tested on Tuesday.

Fourteen states and Union Territories, including Gujarat, Odisha, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Assam, Haryana and Tripura, have demonstrated better COVID-19 response with higher tests per million and commensurate lower positivity rate than the national average, the ministry highlighted.

"A high level of testing leads to early identification of positive cases. As evidence has revealed, eventually the positivity rate will fall. The national cumulative positivity rate is 8.52 per cent and tests per million stand at 48,028 today," it said.

A total of 83,347 new infections have been reported in 24 hours, the ministry said, underscoring that 74 per cent of the new cases are concentrated in 10 states and Union Territories -- Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Kerala, Delhi, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh.

Maharashtra alone has contributed more than 18,000 cases followed by Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka with over 7,000 and 6,000 cases respectively, it said.

Also, 1,085 deaths due to COVID-19 have been registered in a day with 10 states and UTs --Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana and Chhattisgarh -- accounting for 83 per cent of the new fatalities.

Maharashtra reported 392 deaths followed by Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh with 83 and 77 deaths respectively.

India's COVID-19 caseload mounted to 56,46,010 with 83,347 infections being reported in a day, while the death toll climbed to 90,020 with 1,085 people succumbing to the disease in 24 hours, the data updated at 8 am on Wednesday showed.

(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.)
Boris Johnson waves at the media as he prepares to make a statement on new coronavirus restrictions. (AP)

After Boris Johnson announced new measures aimed at curbing the spread of coronavirus, a number of leading scientists have warned they dont go far enough.

On Tuesday the prime minister set out rules including encouraging office staff to work from home, pubs closing at 10pm and wedding attendance being cut from 30 to 15.

In a televised address to the nation, Johnson said the measures were necessary as there have been too many breaches, too many opportunities, for our invisible enemy to slip through undetected.

Professor Paul Hunter, from the University of East Anglia, said that while the new rules will have some impact on the transmissibility of COVID-19, it was nevertheless doubtful that they would bring down the R value below 1 before Christmas.

Watch: Boris Johnson addresses the nation

He added: The PM is correct in stating that we are unlikely to see much relaxation for six months, i.e. by March/April.

A complete lockdown would almost certainly have a big impact but that would involve closing schools and most commentators agree that that would be an unacceptable additional blow to our childrens education as well as to the economy.

Professor John Edmunds, a member of the government's Sage committee, also warned on Wednesday that a much tougher COVID-19 crackdown was needed.

Public information messages in central Manchester after Boris Johnson set out new restrictions to slow the renewed spread of coronavirus. (AP)

Edmunds told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: We have to put stringent measures in... as fast as possible.

We will at some point, but by then it will be too late again.

Read more: Four things we must all do to fight winter coronavirus spike

We didnt act quick enough in March. We havent learned from our mistake back then. Unfortunately were about to repeat it.

Dr Michael Head, senior research fellow in global health at the University of Southampton, said the 10pm curfew will likely have little or no impact.

Suggesting a stricter approach, Head added: A far better approach would be to shut all pubs and restaurants, and properly compensate businesses and employees for the loss of income.

Story continues

Watch: How to remove a face covering correctly

The warnings come as the British Medical Association (BMA) said that while it was encouraging that the government is facing up to the accelerating transmission rate, more still needs to be done.

It criticised ministers for previously hurrying staff back to offices as infection rates were rising and for failing to make it mandatory for retail and hospitality staff to wear face coverings.

Chairman Dr Chaand Nagpaul said: The BMA has consistently argued that it was illogical for staff not to be required to wear face masks in shops, pubs and restaurants as customers are, so were pleased to see this belatedly coming into force.

However, given that the infection is equally like to spread in all indoor settings, these rules should also apply to offices and other workplaces.

Customers at the Westminster Arms pub in London watch Boris Johnson address the nation regarding new coronavirus restrictions. (PA)

Nagpaul called on the government to do more to help employers make workplaces COVID-secure when home-working is not possible, and to cut the number of people permitted to meet indoors.

The prime minister missed an opportunity today to revise the rule of six which, as currently interpreted, allows members of six different households to meet indoors whereas previously members of only two households could do so, he said.

Read more: Scotland bans households from visiting each other, in stark contrast to England

Data suggests that transmission between households is by far the biggest driver of infection and this should therefore be rectified at the earliest possible opportunity.

Dr David Strain, senior clinical lecturer at the University of Exeter, went a step further, suggesting that different households should have a quarantine period in between visits.

Watch: What is the new Rule of six?

He said: The rule of six requires strengthening (or ideally replacing) with a mandate that only a limited and nominated number of individuals can get together at all, and that movement between these groups should only have with a quarantine period in between.

The new measures announced by the prime minister follow a surge in COVID-19 infections during September.

Johnson said he expected the measures to be in place for six months, including throughout the crucial winter period.

Coronavirus: what happened today

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The Congress on Wednesday alleged that chief minister BS Yediyurappas son, grandson and son-in-law had taken a 17 crore bribe in connection with the awarding of a 666.22 crore construction project of the Bangalore Development Authority in 2017.

Citing an alleged sting operation by a Kannada TV channel, Congresss national spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala  on his maiden visit to the state after becoming the partys general secretary for Karnataka  said: Is it correct that the CMs son Vijayendra was in clear knowledge of Rs 12 crore bribe having been taken by the BDA commissioner from the contractor, allegedly in the name of the CM and his son?

Vijayendra dismissed the allegations in a tweet, saying: Shocking that @rssurjewala...has come all the way to Bengaluru and ended up parroting the false charges & lies made...by a private TV channel with history of character assassination, blackmail, and extortion.

Surjewala demanded a judicial enquiry and the resignation of CM Yediyurappa.

Congress released extracts of alleged Whatsapp conversations, phone calls and bank transaction statements to make its point. HT could not independently verify the authenticity of the documents furnished.

Former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, who was accompanying Surjewala, said that Vijayendra demanded 17 crore of which 7.4 crore was transferred through RTGS to Shashidhar (Yediyurappas grandson) and the rest was delivered in cash to Virupakashappa (the CMs son-in-law) at his residence in Hubli.

On September 20, Vijayendra had tweeted: Being in public life is not easy. You refuse illegal demands & reject requests of News channel head and the channel turns vicious against you & your family members. I wont take this lying down.
More government help is needed to level-up the countryside to support the UK's economic recovery from the pandemic, rural groups have said.

The government has been urged to commit to more equitable funding in rural areas as the Covid-19 crisis in the UK worsens.

Harsher restrictions were unveiled on Tuesday (22 September) in all four UK nations, with the Prime Minister warning that they could last up to six months.

Pubs, restaurants and other hospitality venues will have to close by 22:00 BST, Boris Johnson announced.

But the Rural Coalition, which consists of 13 rural groups, said farmers and countryside businesses faced challenges of 'sparsity, remoteness and poor connectivity'.

Its new report Rebuilding Rural: Growing Back Better sets out priorities for a successful recovery by seizing the potential social and economic opportunities.

Rural areas are home to 9.3 million people  more than Greater London  but they have long faced a history of unequal funding and patchy service delivery.

Some communities which are heavily dependent on tourism and seasonal work are now at risk of being left further behind.

The Rural Coalition said that the Covid-19 crisis had 'exposed weaknesses in the narrow economic base of some of these areas'.

However, it also highlighted opportunities for rural economies to make a recovery through a 'programme of investment'.

The groups have urged a levelling-up of access to good quality jobs, homes, education and health services in rural areas with fair funding for public services

A more resilient rural economy is also needed - more investment in skills, retraining and digital infrastructure, to attract new firms to the area and increase economic diversity.

Finally, more support is needed in helping the countryside become net-zero by capitalising on opportunities for green rural growth.

Chair of the Rural Coalition, Margaret Clark said the pandemic had brought into focus a number of rural vulnerabilities.

"How we plan for building back better offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to address these issues but also to unlock the potential of rural areas to make a significant contribution to the nations economic recovery and ensure no one is left behind.

Members of the Rural Coalition include the NFU, the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) and the CPRE, the countryside charity, among others.
She started out as a child actress and found fame as Marissa Cooper on Fox TV's hit series The O.C.

And more recently, Mischa Barton returned to the spotlight as part of MTV's reboot The Hills: New Beginnings.

On Tuesday, the 34-year-old was spotted out and about in Pasadena, California, with boyfriend Gian Marco Flamini, an actor.

Famous face: Mischa Barton was spotted heading to dinner in Pasadena, California, on Tuesday wearing a tailored check jacket with black leather trousers and black boots

The couple were snapped heading to dinner together in the city to the east of Los Angeles.

They paused briefly on their way into the restaurant to share a cute cuddle and a kiss.

It's not known how long the two have been dating; Barton split from Australian male model James Abercrombie in August 2019 after more than two years together.

Packed on the PDA: The actress, 34, was with boyfriend Gian Marco Flamini, an actor. The couple paused to share a cuddle and a kiss as they made their way into a restaurant

Born in London and raised in New York, Barton divides her time between the U.S. and Europe.

Her most recent big screen role is as a passenger for a ride share driver played by Stranger Things star Joe Keery in the dark comedy Spree.

The movie, originally shown at Sundance, was released on video on demand last month also features Franke Grande, Lala Kent and David Arquette.

The O.C. is available to stream on Stan in Australia

Classic: Following early roles in Notting Hill and The Sixth Sense, Barton burst into the spotlight with her starring role on the teen drama The O.C., which premiered in 2003
This article is part of the Free Speech Project , a collaboration between Future Tense and the Tech, Law, & Security Program at American University Washington College of Law that examines the ways technology is influencing how we think about speech.

On Friday, Sept. 25, at noon Eastern, the Free Speech Project will host an hourlong online event examining TikTok, WeChat, and the threatened bans implications for the U.S.-China relationship. For more information and to RSVP, visit the New America website.

Amid the countless headlines about the possible TikTok ban in the United States, something far bigger has been overlooked: the parallel pending ban on WeChat, an app made by the Chinese company Tencent that has an estimated 1 billion users globally. Little known and understood in the United States, it forms the backbone of online social life for people in China and for those with ties to China, serving as a messaging app, social network, news site, and miniature app environment all in one. WeChat Pay is a critical piece of e-payment infrastructure, moving trillions of dollars annually around the world, while the app communicates seamlessly with Weixin, the identical Chinese-language app operated within mainland China.

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While a TikTok ban would disrupt the U.S.

influencer economy and eliminate a space of true joy during these pandemic times, a ban on WeChat would cut off one of the few social tethers between mainland China, which already has stringent internet control mechanisms in place, and the U.S. Because of Chinas Great Firewall restrictions on most popular messaging apps, people in the U.S. with familial, business, and social ties to Chinawhether Chinese Americans, Tibetan refugees, Uyghurs, or former expatsalready face severe restrictions to speaking with loved ones on the mainland. Equally troubling is how these bans allow executive powers to dictate the internet access of people in the U.S. with little oversight, breaking further democratic norms and processes.

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Like TikTok, the ban on WeChat was set to come in stepsfirst, a block on downloading via iOS and Android, which was originally slated for Sunday. Before it went into effect, however, a judge hearing a case challenging the ban issued an injunction, so WeChat is safe, for the moment. But many are already prepared: Users have identified simple workarounds, by establishing Apple IDs outside the U.S., using side load applications for Android, and, if it comes to this, planning to resort to virtual private networks to change their IP locationjust like users in China have long had to do to access apps banned within the mainland. Some of these workarounds expose users to further risk, working through a digital gray market where privacy and user security are not necessarily a top priority.

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WeChat has both connected families and torn them apart. Indeed, from a security and user privacy perspective, WeChat has long deserved significant international scrutiny. The app has served as a central tool for one of the worlds most effective and innovative practitioners of censorship and repression. In addition to employing human and A.I. censors for content both within and without mainland China, the app is a key part of how Chinese authorities enact relational repression. The government uses WeChat to silence critics outside of China by identifying and targeting friends and family members still within the country. Authorities have also stifled dissent by banning countless social media and messaging app alternatives, which creates a communications bottleneck around WeChat: If you dont use it, you cant communicate. The Chinese government enforces such widespread bans by requiring hardware routers, internet, and cellphone providers to reroute and manipulate the domain name system, the phonebook of the internet, alongside intrusive techniques like deep packet sniffing to prevent circumvention. To truly ban WeChat, the U.S. would likely have to implement similar restrictionswhich would have deep consequences for digital rights.

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Meanwhile, bans on WeChat and TikTok would do little to actually protect U.S. users data privacy or ensure national security. If the concern were simply about the potential for the Chinese government to access Americans data, then the government would have also blocked other popular applications, like Ant Financials Alipay and Tencents other messaging app, QQ. Chinese companies can continue purchasing customer data, even fertility data, from American tech companies without oversight, and devices such as Xiaomi phones, which have a history of unsavory data collection practices, continue to be sold on sites like Amazon. Even more incoherently, Tencent will still be allowed to operate the now-rebranded WeCom, a business application that allows users to port all their contacts and connect directly in group chats with WeChat users.

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Even better, the U.S. might have implemented policies to protect users from all invasive apps, regardless of where their companies are based. It might have regulated the alarming ways that U.S. police use social media and new hardware technology to surveil activistspractices led by China nearly a decade ago. Instead, we are seeing the use of foreign policy to justify political repression and control domestically, reinforcing American corporate interests.

Weeks before the WeChat ban was announced, rumors that something along those lines might happen began spreading, spurring frantic flurries of messages between people in the U.S. and people in China.

Having lived under authoritarian regimes, we know how power is consolidatedthrough nebulous threats, vague dictums, and the steady erosion of rights. Like many of the Trump administrations bans and sanctions, the disregard for democratic processes has been both unsurprising and ineffective. A clumsy piece of legislation pushed through Congress in 2019 banned Hikvision and Dahua, two Chinese companies with ties to human rights violations, from operating in U.S. government contracts. Yet these two companies still operate in the U.S. private and public sectors todaysupplying Amazon warehouses with employee temperature checking cameras, and continuing to be used by U.S. government agencies.

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Holding platforms like WeChat to account should not come at the expense of user rights and due processes, nor should it seek to replicate the very blanket bans on internet services that authoritarian nations enact. As U.S. Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler wrote in the preliminary injunction that granted WeChat a brief reprieve, the national security concerns are real, but so are questions regarding First Amendment rights: [T]here are obvious alternatives to a complete ban, such as barring WeChat from government devices, as Australia has done, or taking other steps to address data security.

The plaintiffs in the WeChat case have argued that the ban would violate their First Amendment rights. This is part of a much bigger ongoing test of the First Amendment and international human rights norms around free expression as they apply to the internet and social media. The Trump administrations cruel, ad-hoc approach of banning apps, one by one, is doomed to fail at both this test and the White Houses purported national security goals. The only way to pass it is to make a commitment to user data regulation and security that truly respects processes, rights, and standards, no matter whether an app or piece of technology comes from San Francisco, Shenzhen, or anywhere else.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
The Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre (DIEDC) recently held its third virtual board meeting of 2020 and reviewed the progress of strategic initiatives made in 2020.



Chaired by Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, the meeting convened all the members of the Centres board



Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Chairman of DIEDC, said that the Islamic economy is increasingly demonstrating the need to adopt sustainable practices, especially in times of crises. He noted that the world is going through unprecedented challenges following the outbreak of the Covid 19 pandemic and the resulting precautionary measures taken to mitigate its spread, including a partial closure of economic activities in most countries of the world.



Long-term development



The Islamic economy gains in value in times of crises, serving as a solid pillar of a stable economy based on the concept of sustainable growth. It is more than a just and transparent economic system that achieves the required balance in wealth accumulation and distribution. In doing so, it supports the goals of comprehensive and long-term development. As it contributes to sustainable growth, it also strongly commits to the goals of real development, yielding results that meet the aspirations of all nations and citizens, regardless of differences in factors or circumstances, Al Mansouri said.



He added that the Islamic economys increasing contribution to Dubais GDP, thanks to some great local successes in this sector, has effectively led to consolidating Dubais position as the global capital of the Islamic economy and a point of convergence for all stakeholders.



Dubai has also successfully positioned itself as a prestigious regional centre that offers significant opportunities to traders and investors. Through providing an attractive and effective ecosystem with facilities and incentives to national and foreign venture capitalists looking for viable investment opportunities, it enables them to achieve the highest levels of economic growth and showcase the pioneering Dubai experience as a model for diversifying the economy and creating new sectors with promising growth prospects.



An accurate forward-looking vision



Al Mansouri added that the growing global uptake for the Islamic economy in light of the current circumstances is testament to the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who launched the Dubai: Capital of the Islamic Economy initiative in 2013.



The initiative harnessed Dubai's advantages to enhance the growth of the sector and explore opportunities that contribute to its global sustainability. In doing so, it leveraged Dubais position as a major partner and influencer in the global economy, with assets qualifying it to play a leading role in the development of the Islamic economy.



He confirmed that DIEDC, along with its strategic partners involved in implementing the Dubai: Capital of the Islamic Economy strategy, will continue to achieve the leaderships vision for this initiative and consolidate the leading global position of Dubai and the UAE in shaping innovative initiatives and adopting policies that contribute to improving the performance of the Islamic economy. Through such efforts, the Islamic economy can continue to provide practical and effective solutions to meet global financial and economic challenges.



Al Mansouri noted that the strategy is witnessing remarkable progress and is on track to achieving the objectives set for 2020, due to the close cooperation and teamwork between the Centre and its strategic partners from the public and private sectors. He added that this spirit of collaboration has a positive impact on the overall industry, not only in boosting its contribution to the GDP, but also in its ability to attract more international partners.



Essa Kazim, Secretary General of DIEDC, stressed that Islamic economy sectors are performing well despite the prevailing challenges.



He also noted that in the context of the current circumstances, the world has become more aware of the importance of Islamic economy, especially of its just principles that prioritise basic commodities and real sectors to meet peoples every day needs, including food, beverages and clothing. In essence, Islamic economy is an ethical economy that supports comprehensive and sustainable development.



State of the Global Islamic Economy



DIEDCs board also received updates on the eighth State of the Global Islamic Economy Report that will be published in November 2020. The report is a reliable global reference for Islamic economy. As in previous editions, it will explore carefully defined opportunities for each of the sectors covered, with clear recommendations for governments, companies and investors, and with a special focus on the growth of startups and Islamic digital ventures, particularly in the fintech space.



Developed by DinarStandard, a research and advisory firm and one of DIEDCs strategic partners, the report will be published in English, with executive summaries available in Arabic, French, Indonesian and Spanish. Several virtual events and webinars will accompany its launch in many major cities across the globe.



DIEDCs board also discussed the GIES Virtual Series that is organised in collaboration with the Centres strategic partners, to prepare for the upcoming Global Islamic Economy Summit in 2021. With four webinars already held to date, the virtual series that aims to enhance Dubais position as a leading destination and global capital of Islamic economy, is set to continue until end-2020.



With the participation of leading local, regional and international industry experts, the virtual webinars have highlighted many topics of interest to Islamic economy stakeholders. These include the advantages of developing a unified global legislative framework for the Islamic finance sector, the future of the halal food sector that continues to thrive despite the disruptions to supply chains due to the measures taken to limit the global spread of Covid-19, the future of the job market and skillsets likely to witness greater demand in the future, and the opportunities and challenges in the sukuk market. The fifth webinar, which is scheduled for Tuesday, 13 October at 11am (UAE time), will discuss the new era of the digital retail sector in light of Covid-19.



Strategic developments



For his part, Abdulla Mohammed Al Awar, CEO of DIEDC, briefed the board on the recent developments of the Dubai: Capital of the Islamic Economy strategy. He highlighted the initiatives that will be launched through the remainder of the year while elaborating on the progress made in other strategic initiatives.  TradeArabia News Service
According to a recent EdWeek MarketBrief survey , 53% of administrators and teachers believe helping students cope with anxiety, depression, stress management and other mental illnesses, will be major needs as schools reopen during COVID-19. Additionally, 47% said that social-emotional support for teachers is a top priority as well. i

"With the ongoing pandemic and civil unrest that our nation is currently experiencing, the need to support our students and teachers' well-being is greater than ever," said Christy James, library and media services coordinator for CCSD. "The materials in Gale's SEL and DEI collections are timely and very relevant for what students and teachers need inside and outside of the classroom and equips them with the right trauma-informed approaches and culturally-responsive tools to meet their needs."

As the second-largest school system in South Carolina, more than 50,000 students and over 3,500 teachers across 87 schools and programs can privately access the collections from the district's library website, 24/7 from any location or device.

CSSD's Gale eBooks collections include:

For Students

Cameron's Collection : 1 in 5 teens suffers from mental health challengesand more than 75% don't seek help at all. ii Helping students cope with everyday stressors and stay in the present moment are at the core of this collection. More than 90 digital titles span a wide range of topics including: ADD, ADHD, alcohol, anorexia, anxiety, bulimia, caregiving, cutting, depression, divorce, drugs, eating disorders, homelessness, OCD, self-injury, stress, and suicide. Created in partnership with the Cameron K. Gallagher Foundation, this collection aims to inspire students affected by mental illness to seek help.

1 in 5 teens suffers from mental health challengesand more than 75% don't seek help at all. Helping students cope with everyday stressors and stay in the present moment are at the core of this collection. More than 90 digital titles span a wide range of topics including: ADD, ADHD, alcohol, anorexia, anxiety, bulimia, caregiving, cutting, depression, divorce, drugs, eating disorders, homelessness, OCD, self-injury, stress, and suicide. Created in partnership with the Cameron K. Gallagher Foundation, this collection aims to inspire students affected by mental illness to seek help. Cameron's Camp for Wellness: More than 100 eBooks provide targeted guidance on sensitive issues for K-5students, teachers and counselors with topics on managing emotions, teamwork, problem-solving, family issues, staying positive, being safe and much more. Helping students recognize and manage emotions, social skills, safety, and more are the core foundations of this collection.

For Educators

SEL and DEI Collection : Creating a sense of unity, even in the most diverse communities, impacts student achievement and inspires positive change. This online collection is twofold, with 57 titles specific to SEL and DEI. Topics support culturally responsive teaching, trauma-informed and mindful practices, self-management, empathy, differentiation, and more.

Creating a sense of unity, even in the most diverse communities, impacts student achievement and inspires positive change. This online collection is twofold, with 57 titles specific to SEL and DEI. Topics support culturally responsive teaching, trauma-informed and mindful practices, self-management, empathy, differentiation, and more. Administrator and Teacher Self-Care Collection: Teachers SEL is just as important as their students, yet meeting these needs can be challenging, especially in an evolving virtual environment. This digital collection of 26 titles is focused on the teachers as well as administrators in areas of self-care, mindfulness, stress-busting strategies, time management, and more.

"The impact of the pandemic coupled with the recent racial injustices has left many school districts scrambling to figure out how to support students and educators as they deal with the trauma, making social emotional well-being and instruction more important than ever," said Paul Gazzolo, senior vice president and general manager at Gale. "Gale eBooks SEL and DEI collections help learners develop the critical skills they need to cope with everyday challenges to improve academic achievement while providing educators with the teaching tools to help them succeed  in school or at home."

For more information, visit Gale's SEL webpage.

About Cengage and Gale

Cengage is the education and technology company built for learners. The company serves the higher education, K-12, professional, library and workforce training markets worldwide. Gale, a Cengage company, believes in the power and joy of learning. For schools, the company helps drive positive outcomes by providing essential, curriculum-aligned content that empowers educators to solve curriculum challenges and meet students where they are. Today, that includes supporting distance and social and emotional learning as well as equity and inclusion goals. Gale's K-12 offerings extend from educational databases and custom eBook collections to instructional tools and professional development resources. For more information, please visit www.gale.com/schools.

Follow Gale on:

About the Charleston County School District

Charleston County School District (CCSD) is a nationally-accredited school district that is committed to providing equitable and quality educational opportunities for all of its students. CCSD is the second-largest school system in South Carolina and represents a unique blend of urban, suburban and rural schools spanning 1,300 square miles along the coast. CCSD serves more than 50,000 students in 87 schools and specialized programs.

CCSD offers a diverse, expanding portfolio of options and specialized programs, delivered through neighborhood, magnet, IB (international baccalaureate), Montessori and charter schools. Options include programs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM); music and other creative and performing arts; career and technical preparation programs; and military.

i EdWeek MarketBrief Survey: As Districts Inch Toward Reopening, What Are Their Biggest Social-Emotional Needs? May 29, 2020



iiNational Alliance on Mental Illness: Mental Health by the Numbers

Media Contact:

Kayla Siefker, Gale, a Cengage company

248-699-8456

[email protected]

SOURCE Gale, a Cengage company
FILE  Signs are held up showing Breonna Taylor during a rally in her honour on the steps of the Kentucky State Capitol (Timothy D Easley/AP)

A Kentucky grand jury has indicted a single police officer for shooting into neighbouring apartments, but did not move forward with charges against any officers for their role in Breonna Taylors death.

A grand jury announced that Brett Hankison was charged with three counts of wanton endangerment in connection to the police raid on the night of March 13.

Neither the grand jury nor the presiding judge elaborated on the charges.

Immediately after the announcement, people were expressing frustration that the grand jury did not do more.

Justice has not been served, tweeted Linda Sarsour of Until Freedom, a group that has pushed for charges in the case. Rise Up. All across this country. Everywhere. Rise up for #BreonnaTaylor.

Jefferson County Grand Jury indicts former ofc. Brett Hankison with 3 counts of Wanton Endangerment in 1st Degree for bullets that went into other apartments but NOTHING for the murder of Breonna Taylor. This is outrageous and offensive! pic.twitter.com/EarmBAhhuf  Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) September 23, 2020

Lawyer Ben Crump, who is representing Ms Taylors family, tweeted that the charges involved Nothing for the murder of Breonna Taylor. This is outrageous and offensive.

At a news conference, state Attorney General Daniel Cameron said Mr Hankison and the two other officers who entered Ms Taylors apartment announced themselves before entering the apartment and did not execute a no-knock warrant.

According to Kentucky law, the use of force by Officers Jonathan Mattingly and (Myles) Cosgrove was justified to protect themselves. This justification bars us from pursuing criminal charges in Miss Breonna Taylors death.

Regarding the inevitable disappointment by those who wanted criminal charges brought in Ms Taylors death, he remarked: The decision before my office as the special prosecutor in this case was not to decide if the loss of Ms Taylors life was a tragedy. The answer to that is unequivocally yes.

Expand Close A woman reacts to news in the Breonna Taylor shooting (Darron Cummings/AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp A woman reacts to news in the Breonna Taylor shooting (Darron Cummings/AP)

Mr Cameron added that I understand that Breonna Taylors death is part of a national story, but the facts and evidence in this case are different than others involving police shootings.

If we simply act on emotion or outrage, there is no justice, Mr Cameron said. Mob justice is not justice. Justice sought by violence is not justice. It just becomes revenge.

He added that the FBI is still investigating potential violations of federal law in the case.

Expand Close Tamika Palmer, Breonna Taylors mother (Dylan Lovan/AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Tamika Palmer, Breonna Taylors mother (Dylan Lovan/AP)

Protesters have consistently pressured him to act, and celebrities and athletes had joined them in calling on the attorney general to charge the police who shot Ms Taylor.

At one point, demonstrators converged on his house and were charged with crimes for trying to intimidate the prosecutor.

Ms Taylor, an emergency medical worker, was shot multiple times by officers who entered her home using a no-knock warrant during a narcotics investigation.

The warrant used to search her home 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 Louisvilles Metro Council.

Mr Camerons office had been receiving materials from the Louisville Police Departments public integrity unit while they tried to determine whether state charges would be brought against the three officers involved, he said.

Before charges were brought, Mr Hankison was fired from the citys police department on June 23.

A termination letter sent to him by interim Louisville Police Chief Robert Schroeder said the white officer had violated procedures by showing extreme indifference to the value of human life when he wantonly and blindly shot 10 rounds of gunfire into Ms Taylors apartment in March.

Mr Hankison, Sergeant Johnathan Mattingly, Officer Myles Cosgrove and the detective who sought the warrant, Joshua Jaynes, were placed on administrative reassignment after the shooting.

Ms Taylors boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, opened fire when police burst in, hitting Mr Mattingly. Mr Walker was charged with attempted murder of a police officer, but prosecutors later dropped the charge.

Mr Walker told police he heard knocking but did not know who was coming into the home and fired in self-defence.

On September 15, the city settled a lawsuit against the three officers brought by Ms Taylors mother, Tamika Palmer, agreeing to pay her 12 million US dollars and enact police reforms.

Protesters in Louisville and across the country have demanded justice for Ms Taylor and other black people killed by police in recent months.

The release in late May of a 911 call by Ms Taylors boyfriend marked the beginning of days of protests in Louisville, fuelled by her shooting and the violent death of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis on May 25.

Several prominent African American celebrities including Oprah and Beyonce have joined those urging that the officers be charged.
By Choe Chong-dae





Whenever I visit my hometown, it reminds me of the poem "Nostalgia" written by Jeong Ji-yong.



Born in Okcheon, North Chungcheong Province, Jeong Ji-yong (1902-1950) displayed immense literary talent from a young age. He dreamed of a utopia that would be different from the frustrating reality of Korea's Japanese colonial period, which transformed his literary insight. In his Whimoon High School days in Seoul, Jeong began literary activities when he published Yoram, a youth literary journal, with his contemporaries in 1919. Pursuing higher studies, Jeong entered Doshisha University in Kyoto, Japan, majoring in English literature in 1921.



As an ambitious literary aspirant living in Japan, Jeong reflected a yearning for pastoral inspiration from his native home, Korea, which was depicted in his literary works. While at Doshisha University, he immersed himself in writing many volumes of essays, cultural literary critiques and poetry, and he wrote a thesis on British writer and artist William Blake.



He made his debut in the literary world by writing the poem "Cafe France" which reflects a separated, exotic atmosphere. This became a space for exploring his inner side. It was featured in the 1926 first edition of Hakjo, the institutional journal of Korean students abroad. The following year, his reputation grew as a promising young poet after he composed the poem "Nostalgia," which was published in the 65th edition of the Joseon Chikwang magazine.



Remarkably, drawing on his own child-like innocence, Jeong also wrote some children's poetry, such as "Where the meteorite has fallen" and "Lake." He shared his views, particularly on children's literature, with Cheong Soon-cheol, a musician who devoted his life to advocating for the welfare of Korean children and composed "Graduation Song."



Returning to Korea after graduating from university in 1929, he taught English at Whimoon High School, his alma mater, and Korean and Latin literature at Ewha Woman's University.



Jeong fell into oblivion when he was kidnapped by North Korean troops during the Korean War in 1950. Although he was considered a pioneer of modern Korean poetry, and his representative poem "Nostalgia" had been printed in Korean middle school text books, it was prohibited by the government to publicly refer to his literature, along with that of other writers who were abducted and taken to North Korea. Fortunately, his poetic legacy was restored in 1988. "Nostalgia" then received renewed publicity, and even became the lyrics of a popular song.



Jeong Ji-yong shared a great deal of literary knowledge with Yoon Dong-ju (19171945), a poet widely known for his resistance poetry against Japanese colonialism. While studying at Doshisha University, where Jeong had studied, Yoon was arrested for alleged involvement with Korea's independence movement. Sadly, he was imprisoned in Fukuoka where he died in 1945 at the age of 28. However, Yoon's anthology of handwritten poetry manuscripts was published posthumously in 1948, with the title "The Heavens and the Wind and the Stars and Poetry." The preface was written by Jeong Ji-Yong.



Two impressive poetry monuments commemorating Jeong Ji-yong and Yoon Dong-joo now stand at Doshisha University, their alma mater in Japan.



Jeong Ji-yong played a significant role in the development of modern Korean poetry through the use of distinctive metaphor and delicate poetic inspiration, while maintaining the traditions of Korean literature.



I hope "Nostalgia" can provide comfort and hope to those who cannot return to their hometown during the Chuseok holiday.



Choe Chong-dae is a guest columnist of The Korea Times. He is president of Dae-kwang International Co., and director of the Korean-Swedish Association. He can be reached at choecd@naver.com






As governments worldwide examine the possibility of restarting economic and social life without allowing a resurgence of the pandemic, travel barriers have been lowered in many places. This controversial measure has been discussed in many forums.

A recent study published in the journal Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease in September 2020 reports a series of cases following travel on a commercial airliner that heralded the earliest imported COVID-19 infections in Greece.

The Role of Air Travel in Pandemic Spread

Air travel has been an important risk factor for introducing new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections because airplanes carrying thousands upon thousands of people crisscross global airspace to and from many different countries. Either the plane itself or infected travelers may serve as routes of dissemination.

The risk factors for the in-flight spread of respiratory pathogens include the occurrence of a respiratory droplet or aerosol spread of the pathogens, and whether it can spread in the asymptomatic and presymptomatic periods, as well as the length of the incubation period.

COVID-19 in Greece began in Thessaloniki, at the end of February 2020, with an Italy-returned traveler followed by another four cases from outside in Athens. In the current report, the investigators looked at contacts of index patients on one international flight from Israel to Greece.

Tracing Contacts of In-Flight Cases

Contacts were traced on all flights to and from Greece in the period from February 26 through March 9, 2020, following the diagnosis of any index case who had traveled on any flight 1-4 days before the earliest symptom began or during the symptomatic phase. The mean incubation period was assumed to be about 5 days.

There were 21 index cases on the 18 flights, with about 86% being Greeks. Six of the index cases were symptomatic at the time of flight, while 12 developed symptoms at 1-3 days later. Two others had symptoms 5 and 7 days later.

Contact tracing was performed for 18 international flights to and from Greece. The flights mostly began from Northern Italy, Israel, and the United Kingdom. Most of these flights had detailed data on the flight passengers and aircrew. There were 891 contacts, 44% being Greeks.

All close contacts, including all those within two seats of the index case, and all aircrew who had close contact with the index case, as well as any other close companions, were traced and asked to observe a 14-day self-quarantine dating from the day they were most recently exposed to the infection. In case they developed fever or any respiratory symptoms, they could contact the public health hotline for further action.

Diagnostic reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing was carried out when necessary using nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal swabs.

Five Confirmed Infections Among Contacts

In the current study, the researchers found five cases of probable in-flight transmission. Four of these were passengers who had been seated within this contact range, and one was a crew member. Three of the positive contact passengers were from the same family who had visited Israel as part of a larger pilgrim group to Jerusalem. Two of them remained asymptomatic throughout. Two passengers and the lone crew member developed symptoms at 4 and 5 days, and 4 days after the flight, respectively. None of them were hospitalized.

Of the tour group which was returning from Israel, over 90% tested positive on further testing. Pilgrims are a high-risk group of travelers for the acquisition of respiratory diseases due to their exposure to crowded conditions and mixing with other people from different countries where local transmission of SARS-CoV-2 might have been documented. This appears to justify the bans on large public gatherings to help contain the virus.

Implications and Recommendations

Earlier studies in China and France showed that flights were promoting transmission. In the current flight study, local transmission of the virus to the aircrew in Athens or Tel Aviv is considered unlikely because, in both places, the number of cases was extremely low, and there was no mixing between the local population and the passengers or aircrew at either location. On the other hand, the two index cases who were symptomatic and COVID-19-positive on the flight had been part of the Jerusalem pilgrim group.

Given that in-flight transmission appears to be a reasonable possibility, albeit at a low frequency under the current conditions of extremely low passenger volume, the use of face masks on the flight, and temperature screening at the point of exit, are probably good recommendations. Moreover, it is important to ensure timely case detection and isolation of symptomatic cases in such a setting. All these measures, along with robust follow-up, may ensure that the spread of the virus is contained even as flight travel expands.
The first of three debates between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. is Tuesday, and some activists and lawmakers want a guarantee that, unlike 2016, climate change will be on the agenda.

Four years ago, presidential debate moderators didnt ask a single question about climate change. And it looks like that could happen again this year. According to the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates, the six topics selected by the moderator for Tuesday evening, Chris Wallace of Fox News, will be: the candidates records, the Supreme Court, Covid-19, the economy, race and violence, and the integrity of the election.

On Wednesday, a group of senators led by Edward J. Markey, Democrat of Massachusetts, called on the commission to ensure that moderators ask about climate change on Tuesday and in every debate after that.
The CPI (M)-led Kerala government on Wednesday decided to move the Supreme Court against the agriculture bills passed by the Parliament three days ago saying the move was a violation of the federal structure as agriculture falls into the concurrent list.

Earlier state agriculture minister V S Sunil Kumar had sought legal opinion and got advice that these bills can be challenged in the apex court. The state cabinet which met on Wednesday discussed the issue in detail and felt that the Union governments decision was interference into powers of states and against the spirit of federalism.

Agriculture falls into the state list as per the seventh schedule of the Constitution. Not a single state was consulted before bringing these bills and farmers bodies were also kept in the dark. We feel these legislation will only benefit big corporates engaged in the sector, said Kumar who attended the cabinet proceedings online after he tested Covid-19 positive. He is the third minister to test positive for Covid-19 after finance minister Thomas Issac and industry minister EP Jayarajan.

The minister said the state will introduce an alternate mechanism roping in agriculture co-operative societies and self-help groups in a big way. Lakhs of farmers across the country are eking out a miserable life and many have committed suicide. Reeling under the pandemic, now the Modi government has brought in a fresh set of policies in the name of reforms. They will only serve interests of big farming corporates, said the minister.

Though Kerala is not an agrarian state many farming bodies have pledged their support to the nationwide stir called on September 25. Two left MPs from the state, KK Ragesh and Elamarom Kareem, were among eight members from the Rajya Sabha suspended for making a noisy protest over the passage of these bills.
After unanimously approving the citys budget as it was presented, participating in three days of budget workshops and then approving the tax rate last week, City Council on Monday  with 30 minutes left in their meeting  suddenly did not have enough votes to approve the property tax rate.

Councilmembers Alberto Torres, Nelly Vielma, George Altgelt and Roberto Balli voted down the $0.634 per $100 value rate. Councilman Rudy Gonzalez had left the meeting, and councilmembers Vidal Rodriguez, Mercurio Martinez and Marte Martinez voted in favor of the tax rate. It needed a super majority to pass  six votes rather than the usual five. Either way, the motion failed. A moment passed where no one spoke.

Now being that thats the case, were going to have to make some very swift, bold budget decisions that are going to be very impactful to a lot of people, City Manager Robert Eads said.

This vote would immediately revert the tax rate to the no-new-revenue tax rate, which would cut the citys revenue this year by over $4 million, said Budget Director Gilberto Sanchez.

The citys available options to make up for that loss would be to not hold a fire department academy, saving $900,000; halting police contract negotiations, which would save an unclear amount of money since they are ongoing; terminating 33 full-time equivalent positions after federal aid runs out in December, saving $1.1 million; closing all city libraries and recreation centers through September 2021, saving $500,000; furloughing employees for seven days  excluding fire and police  saving $1.2 million; rejecting a federal grant that has already been awarded to 11 police officers, saving $678,000; and ending third-party funding, saving $442,000.

They cannot touch fire and police personnel due to their collective bargaining agreements, and their budgets combined make up 63% of the general fund. Any cost cutting to the general fund could affect only the other 37% portion, Eads noted.

Altgelt advocated for letting the chips fall where they may and not funding a fire academy this year.

I think its high time that we rethink these spending sprees that we do with the fire academy and the way we negotiate those contracts, Altgelt said. So yeah, slam the brakes on that one.

Other council members and the mayor voiced that it was unfair to have approved the tax rate last week and during the budget workshop only to pull the rug out at the last minute. The citys new fiscal year begins next Thursday.

However, Altgelt argued that this was a good negotiation strategy, as the police unions collective bargaining agreement is being sussed out right now.

Now you have the negotiating muscle that you need to negotiate a very competitive contract with the police department that is, in the words of their own union attorney, the best collective bargaining agreement in the state of Texas, Altgelt said.

Eads said he struggled with the idea that council wanted to upend their budget when they had three days to do so during the workshop in August.

At this point, what weve done is tilted the boat and turned it upside down by $4 million in the last 25 minutes before we actually pass a budget, Eads said.

It wouldnt be fair to the 33 employees who would be laid off or any other employees outside of the police and fire departments to suffer for bad deals that have been made in the past, the city manager said, referring to the fire unions collective bargaining agreement that was approved by council two years ago. This contract included $15 million in raises over the span of the four years of the agreement.

Altgelt suggested cutting the fire academy altogether, but the budget director noted that this would only cost the city in overtime  a cost attached to their collective bargaining agreement  and therefore affect payment to their pension.

Were going to have to pay that money anyway, just so everybodys aware, Marte Martinez added. Next years budget ... were going to have to fund their pension. This is not the time to be making these changes.

Mayor Pete Saenz asked what they can offer the police union in their current negotiations when the city has no money to spare. Altgelt warned that the city could become Detroit, bankrupted by their unions.

Mercurio Martinez said that when he came on board, his goal was to bring the tax rate down significantly. But he felt it was responsible to do the right thing during this pandemic.

Balli ended up changing his vote, feeling that it was unfair to renege at the last minute. Gonzalez logged on to the meeting virtually to vote in favor. And with five minutes left in the meeting, Saenz said he would vote to approve the tax rate with the understanding that the city cant give more to the police union in their new contract.

If you want to feel good about it, sure, tell yourself that, Altgelt replied. But we know whats going to happen. Historys going to repeat itself.

He added that if any union member approaches a council member who is up for re-election praising their vote for a union contract  that is quid pro quo, go-to-jail bull----, he said.

Julia Wallace may be reached at 956-728-2543 or jwallace@lmtonline.com
A woman accused of mailing a package containing ricin to the White House included a threatening letter to Donald Trump, telling him to withdraw from the election, according to court documents.

Pascale Ferrier allegedly sent an envelope containing the toxic substance with a threatening letter addressed to the White House. However, the package intercepted at a mail sorting facility on Friday.

Ferrier was arrested on Sunday at the New York-Canada border and is due to make her first court appearance in Buffalo on Tuesday.

During the investigation, the FBI discovered that six additional similar letters appeared to have been received in Texas in September, according to court papers.

Pascale Ferrier is expected to appear at the Robert H. Jackson US Courthouse in Buffalo on Tuesday / AP

Those letters contained similar language to the letter that was sent to President Trump.

They 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 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, Ferrier told Customs and Border Patrol agents that she was wanted by the FBI for the ricin letters, the complaint said.

Officers founded a loaded gun in her waistband and said she was also carrying a knife.
Dr. Matilde "Mattie" Castiel receives an injection from RN Bethany Trainor at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester, MA on September 04, 2020.

Most voters, both nationally and in six key swing states, worry President Donald Trump is pushing to release a coronavirus vaccine too quickly in order to boost his reelection chances this year, according to new CNBC/Change Research polls.

Across the country, 61% of likely voters said they are concerned the president is trying to push out the vaccine too early, to help his chances of winning a second White House term in November, the survey released Wednesday found. It included 52% of respondents who said they are "very concerned."

In the pivotal states of Arizona, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, a similar 57% share of voters said they worry Trump is pressing to release a vaccine too quickly. Among swing-state respondents, 46% said they are "very concerned."

At the same time, voters' willingness to get a Covid-19 vaccine at the earliest chance has fallen in recent months. Nationally, only 42% of likely voters said they will definitely or probably receive the inoculation when it first becomes available.

That figure has fallen from 58% in July. Democrats have contributed to the change: In Thursday's poll, only 30% said they would definitely get a vaccine, down from 57% in July.

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 has repeatedly predicted a vaccine could be ready by the Nov. 3 election, contradicting key officials in his administration. As the president struggles to contain a pandemic that has now killed 200,000 Americans, he has pointed to a vaccine as a solution to return to pre-outbreak life  and restart a struggling U.S. economy he once saw as his ticket to reelection.

"We think we can start some time in October," Trump said last week about distributing the vaccine. "So as soon as it's announced we'll be able to start. That will be from mid-October on. It may be a little bit later than that."

Earlier in the same day, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield told lawmakers that high-risk populations could start to receive vaccinations in limited quantities by November or December. It could take "six to nine months" to vaccinate the whole U.S. population, he said.

Trump claimed Redfield was mistaken in his comments.

Both Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris have said they worry Trump's comments could undermine Americans' confidence in a vaccine. Last week, Biden tried to make a distinction between listening to the experts in Trump's administration and believing the president's word.

"I trust vaccines. I trust scientists. But I don't trust Donald Trump," he said.
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Linkedin Stevie Emilia (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, September 23, 2020 13:59 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46a5b89 1 Art & Culture #art,#culture,#exhibition,#artists,#Indonesia,#singapore,#photography,#visual Free

A group exhibition has invited eight prominent contemporary artists from Southeast Asia, including five artists from Indonesia, to confront and engage with images that span the regions colonial era to the present.

In the (Re)Imagining The Image exhibition, held until Oct. 4 at Gajah Gallery in Singapore, the artists draw upon a plethora of photographs from present-day personal pictures they took themselves to archival photographs that shed light on lost histories in their country of origin.

They then reproduced, contrasted, concealed, distorted or subverted these original images into vivid, individual objects of art in their own right, from screen prints on fabric to watery ink on paper, to hyperrealistic oil paintings on canvas and three-dimensional, mixed media.

Mangu Putra, 'Vickers Carden' (oil and acrylic on canvas, 2014) (Courtesy of Gajah Gallery/-)

The shows curator Nicole Soriano said that the exhibition aimed to encourage curiosity and critical understanding of images that shaped cultures and histories.

It is crucial that both artists and audiences understand that they are part of these histories, not detached from them, Soriano told The Jakarta Post in an email interview on Tuesday.

For instance, she said that the original captions that accompanied colonial-era images were not fixed, and that they did not have the final say.

The artists, in manipulating these photographs and injecting their artistic hand, also partake in the captioning of these images and in the shaping of collective narratives, she said.

The five artists from Indonesia invited to exhibit their works are Ashley Bickerton, Fika Ria Santika, Jumaldi Alfi, Mangu Putra and Octora, along with their contemporaries Ahmad Zakii Anwar of Malaysia, Suzann Victor (Singapore/Australia) and Li Jin of China.

The artists each had a distinct interest in photographic images, whether colonial or contemporary. This reflected their strong awareness of how images affected their own understanding of their histories, identities and relationships to the present world, and how they constantly questioned the power of imagery through their art, noted Soriano.

Yet, though the artists are connected by this shared inclination, we also made it a point to bring together artists of different backgrounds and practices, she added.

While some artists reexamined colonial photographs from their hometowns or countries, others used photographs taken in places where they are foreigners, as in the case of Ashley Bickerton, who is among the best-known expatriate artists residing in Bali; and Chinese artist Li Jin, whose works draw from his daily life and his travels. Both of them are very self-reflexive about their roles as an expatriate or visitor in Bali.

Others staged and directed shoots specifically to produce the photographs they used in their exhibition pieces, while others stuck to archival images taken by other photographers.

Girl with pearls: Recasting herself as a portrait model in 'Give Me Pearls Necklace' (screen print on fabric, freshwater pearls, 2018), Indonesian artist Octora appears to gaze out from and on history, questioning how portraiture can be a tool of power and domination over colonial subjects. (Courtesy of Gajah Gallery/-)

Octora recreated an ethnographic portrait of a Balinese woman by casting herself in the role of the photographic subject. She then incorporated detailed accents like freshwater pearls to obscure her face in the finished work.

In altering and obscuring the original photographs, she radically intervened [in] the long-held narratives surrounding these images, and reclaimed control over the way images are used to define the past, Soriano said.

Meanwhile, Jumaldi Alfi, a founding member of one of Indonesias prominent art collectives, the Jendela Art Group, was drawn to an enigmatic black-and-white photograph of Mount Bromo dating back to the Dutch colonial era.

In his work, Jumaldi replicated the image in his work to reread the landscape and dig deeper into the stories and realities it concealed. In doing so, he questioned how such landscapes were used in a similar manner during the Mooi Indie phase of Indonesian art history to portray the country as romantic and picturesque.

In juxtaposing these diverse perspectives, we hoped to illuminate unexplored connections and nuances across the artists contexts both within Indonesia and across Southeast Asia, Soriano said.

We want audiences to feel they can also engage in a similar experience, that they can and should also ask questions like, Why does this picture intrigue me? Who was the person behind or before the camera? Do I agree with how this subject or scene was portrayed? How does this image relate to my present-day realities?

While these questions may never truly be answered, we hope to share the fulfillment in wrestling with them.

-- (Re)Imagining The Image is a free exhibition, with the gallery implementing health and safety measures including temperature checks, contact tracing and limited visitor admittance in line with the Singapore governments policies.
The deployment of at least 50,000 Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh and in the occupied Aksai Chin region, apart from heavy weaponry and missiles, is indicative of the Russian influence not only on Chinese military equipment, but also in war planning and execution, according to a top Indian Air Force (IAF) officer.

The officer, who dissected the Chinese positioning and war plan in a worst-case scenario for HT on condition of anonymity, said that a Chinese offensive, if and when it comes, is likely to involve troops moving forward under a barrage of artillery and rocket fire, with surface-to-air missile batteries giving protection to their weapon systems from IAF attacks. This is the old Soviet way of fighting a war, with troops based in depth areas (in this case, Hotan airbase 320km from the Line of Actual Control) providing the air-defence cover, the officer added.

While several strategic experts believe that any future war will be fought with stand-off weapons used to force Indian fighters to remain on ground, the IAFs disperse, absorb, recoup and retaliate strategy has been war-gamed enough times (including in the Gagan Shakti 2018 exercise) to repel Chinas plans, the officer said. He explained that the reaction of the IAF to any offensive is faster than that of the PLA Air Force due to the distance of the LAC from air bases such as Hotan, Lhasa or Kashgar, and that PLAs surface-to-air missile sites become vulnerable to the stand-off air-to-ground missiles of Indian fighters. Once air-defence missile systems are knocked out, the amassed artillery, rockets and troop concentrations become exposed on the Tibetan desert, where there is no natural camouflage cover for these systems, the officer said.

The officer cited above further said that while the PLA has packed depth areas with troops, any aggression on mountainous terrain will not be easy against a dug-in adversary like the Indian Army in Ladakh. The 1999 Kargil war taught the Indian army that when the aggressor is concentrated and exposed, it becomes vulnerable to air interdiction. This makes the effort to hit Indian troops, who are dominating strategic heights both in the north and south of Pangong Tso, harder in the winter months. Even a Chinese stand-off weapon, given its circular error of probability (a measure of precision) may find it hard to target dug-in troops sitting on mountaintops in sub-polar temperatures, and in the absence of cover from attacking forces in the cold Ladakh desert and the Soda Plains, he added.

The officer was confident that Indian forces could sustain a Chinese strike in a worst-case scenario.The military is prepared for a 10-day intensive war, with the Narendra Modi government allowing emergency purchases of critical ammunition and missiles after the 2016 Uri surgical strikes and 2019 Balakot strikes against Pakistan. Any India-China hostility is unlikely to continue at an intense level without global intervention beyond 10 days, the officer explained, adding that the indigenous ammunition is available for 40 days and conventional bombs for 60 days.

With four or five additional Rafale fighters, on which IAF pilots are training in France, ready to join the Ambala squadron next month, and a new Ladakh Corps Commander, Lt Gen PGK Menon, taking over, both the armies appear quite evenly matched, he said.

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. But 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 ridgeline on the northern bank of Pangong Tso where rival soldiers are deployed barely a few hundred metres from each other.

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, even as the focus of multiple diplomatic and military talks between the two sides has been to disengage and de-escalate.

Lieutenant General AS Lamba (retd), former Vice Chief of Army Staff, said: The situation on the LAC is escalating despite intense diplomatic efforts by India and talks between military commanders (of both the nations). It requires full operational readiness all along the LAC to pre-empt any reckless action by China.

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President Protects Children Who Survive Abortions

NEWS PROVIDED BY

Liberty Counsel

Sept. 23, 2020



WASHINGTON, Sept. 23, 2020 /Christian Newswire/ -- President Donald Trump announced today he will be signing a Born-Alive Executive Order "to ensure that all precious babies born alive, no matter their circumstances, receive the medical care that they deserve." The executive order, once signed, will legally protect babies born alive after a failed abortion.

The full text of the order has not been released but it is expected to be similar to the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act that would provide for criminal penalties for abortionists who fail to provide proper medical care for babies who survive abortions. Democrats in Congress refused to pass this legislation more than 80 times, allowing abortionists to essentially get away with infanticide. Through petition signatures and fax campaigns, Liberty Counsel has delivered over 14,500 names to House and Senate members urging them to support the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act.

Speaking at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast, President Trump called this "our sacrosanct moral duty."

President Trump said, "We believe in the joy of family, the blessing of freedom and the dignity of work and the eternal truth that every child born and unborn is made in the holy image of God. I will always protect the vital role of religion and prayer in American society, and I will always defend the sacred right to life."





The president also stated that his administration is increasing federal funding for neonatal research "to ensure that every child has the very best chance to thrive and to grow."

Abortion survivors are not "hypothetical." Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control, as well as the personal testimonies of nurses and abortion survivors themselves, provide evidence that babies survive abortions. According to the CDC, at least 143 babies were born alive after botched abortions between 2003 and 2014 in the U.S., though there likely are more. The CDC also notes that this number is likely underestimated because of unclear terminology and a lack of understanding about spontaneous abortions.

In addition to the CDC's findings, several states report that babies are born alive after botched abortions. In 2017, Florida reported that 11 infants were born alive following an abortion, and six were born alive in 2018. Arizona reported that 10 fetuses or embryos were born alive after an abortion in 2017 and Minnesota reported that three babies were born alive following an abortion in 2017.

In addition, during the preliminary criminal hearing for Liberty Counsel's client Sandra Merritt, the undercover journalist who exposed Planned Parenthood's trade in baby body parts, an expert in stem cell research testified that various studies involving baby human hearts had to have been conducted while the hearts were still beating when cut out. In other words, the babies had to have been born alive.

Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver said, "We applaud President Trump for once again protecting the lives of precious babies that have survived an abortion and are fighting for life. If this protection is not implemented, the abortionist simply backs away from the table and leaves the baby to suffer and die. We must continue the fight to make the womb a safe place once again in America."

Liberty Counsel provides broadcast quality TV interviews via Hi-Def Skype and LTN at no cost.

SOURCE Liberty Counsel



CONTACT: Mat Staver, 407-875-1776, Liberty@LC.org



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A total of 142.32 crore was spent between 2017 and 2019 for the implementation of the Environment Education, Awareness and Training scheme, the ministry of environment told Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

Under the National Green Corps programme of this scheme, about 1.6 lakh eco clubs have been established in schools and colleges across the country, Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Babul Supriyo said in a written reply to a question.

Nature camps are also organised for schoolchildren in protected areas under this scheme, he said.

The Ministry of Environment is implementing Environment Education, Awareness and Training Scheme with the objective to promote environmental awareness among all sections of the society, especially school and college level students and to mobilise peoples participation for conservation of environment, Supriyo said.

He said 49.65 crore, 39.49 crore and 53.18 crore have been spent for implementing this scheme during financial years 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20, respectively.

He added that a network of about 1.6 lakh ecoclubs has been established in schools and colleges across the country under the National Green Corps programme of the scheme and around 40 lakh students are actively participating in the programme.

Besides, under the National Nature Camping Programme of this Scheme, nature camps are organised for school students in protected areas (Wildlife Sanctuaries, National Parks, etc.). Training is also provided to teachers and students on various environmental issues like biodiversity conservation, pollution, waste management, etc. through capacity building programmes, the minister said.

He said Green Good Deeds (GGDs), a social movement, is one of the components of the scheme aimed at inculcating green good habits and behaviour among all sections of the society.

The GGDs initiative is about simple, practical steps that students/teachers/citizens can perform in their day to day life towards protection of the environment. Cleanliness drives as part of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, plantation drives, awareness on waste management, minimising the use of single-use plastic, celebrating Green Diwali, etc. are some of the activities undertaken by the school and college level students under the initiative, he added.

On whether assistance was sought from the World Bank to promote environment management capacity building project in various states, Supriyo said under the World Bank-aided project -- Capacity Building for Industrial Pollution Management (CBIPM) -- implemented by the environment ministry, 24 crore was spent in Andhra Pradesh, 2.28 crore in Telangana and 35.88 crore in West Bengal during 2017-18.
MONROE  A Monroe man who reported his gun missing from his vehicle last month was arrested on a warrant Tuesday for improper storage of the weapon, police said.

Luis Murillo, 50, of Spring Hill Road, called Monroe police about 7:45 p.m. Aug. 26 and reported that earlier that day, he noticed the drivers door to his 1997 Toyota Tacoma was ajar.

According to police, Murillo told officers he kept a .38-caliber revolver in the drivers seat, wrapped in a rag. The vehicle was parked unlocked in the driveway of his home since he does not use it, he told police.

He said he found the revolver was missing and it appeared as if someone rummaged through the glove box of the vehicle, Monroe police Lt. Stephen Corrone said.

Corrone said the last time Murillo saw the weapon was approximately 9 p.m. the previous day.

Murillo posted a $100,000 bond and is due in Bridgeport court on Oct. 1.

This latest theft from an unlocked vehicle has police urging residents to keep vehicles locked and remove all valuables.

The Monroe Police Department would like to advise residents to not keep any valuables in their vehicles and to lock them, especially during the overnight hours, Corrone said. We would like to also advise residents that it is illegal to leave unsecured weapons in their vehicles and doing such may result in their arrest.

brian.gioiele@hearstmediact.com
A tradie who rode a stolen horse into a pub before punching a patron in the head has admitted to dealing meth.

Matthew Lawrence Grimstone, 25, was arrested after officers raided a house in Gympie, Queensland under a warrant for another man and found he had been supplying the other man with the drug.

Officers examined the father-of-two's phone with text messages revealing a series recent of drug deals he had organised, according to The Gympie Times.

Matthew Lawrence Grimstone, 25, was arrested after officers raided a house in Gympie under a warrant for another man and found Grimstone who had been supplying the other man with the drug

The arrest was not Grimstone's first run-in with law - with the court hearing he had previously been sentenced for an escapade in which he stole a horse from the Gympie Showgrounds in 2019

The wanted man had given him $100 for 0.5 grams of methamphetamine in January 2020 and then repeated the same deal later that month.

Grimstone also sold 0.2 grams of meth to another person at the end of January.

The arrest was not Grimstone's first run-in with law - with the court hearing he had previously been sentenced for an escapade in which he stole a horse from the Gympie Showgrounds in 2019.

After hightailing through town he rode the steed into the Jockey Club Hotel before punching a customer in the face when he was not looking.

The victim suffered multiple facial fractures and a broken tooth.

Grimstone was on parole for those offences when he was charged with the drug offences.

Appearing in Gympie District Court this week, he pleaded guilty to three charges of supplying schedule one drugs.

Grimstone has two children - one to a former partner and one to his current girlfriend - and worked on andoff as a concreter, the court was told.

He had spent 83 days in jail over the drug charges before being granted bail on April 27.

He was handed a 12 month suspended sentence for one drug charge with the other penalties to be served concurrently.
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.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
MEXICO CITY - Mexico said Wednesday it will send 101 firefighters to the United States to help battle wildfires in California.

The countrys Environment Department said five teams of 20 trained, equipped firefighters from Mexicos national forestry commission will work with the U.S. Forest Service.

They will be sent first to work in Californias Sequoia National Park. The park is threatened by the SQF Complex of fires ignited by lightning in the Sequoia National Forest.

The department said Mexico can spare the crews because in 31 of Mexicos 32 states there are no active wildfires. The summer and early fall are rainy season in most of Mexico.

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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.
Photo: The Canadian Press

Volkswagen is unveiling a battery-powered sport-utility vehicle that is headed for global markets including the United States and China, as the company takes a major step forward in its campaign to make electric cars a mass-market choice.

The ID.4 combines the battery drive favoured by environmental rules in Europe and China with the compact SUV design that has drawn many consumers away from hatchbacks and sedans.

The new model comes close on the heels of the German company's first vehicle built on its electric-only platform, the ID.3 compact, that went on sale in September. The ID.3 is not, however, coming to the United States, where larger vehicles such as SUVs increasingly rule the market.

The ID.4 is by contrast "designed as a world car, according to Volkswagen brand head Ralf Brandstaetter. It will launch in the U.S. early next year, with Volkswagen offering three years free unlimited charging on 470 stations belonging to the Electrify America fast-charging network.

The company says prices start at $39,995 before the potential $7,500 U.S. federal tax credit. The first edition will have range of 250 miles, charging to full in 7 1/2 hours at home, or up to 80% in 38 minutes at a fast-charging station. Volkswagen says eventually it will have a lower-cost $35,000 version with less range.

Scott Keough, CEO of Volkswagen in America, said Teslas all-electric Model Y, which now starts at $49,990, is a competitor, but Volkswagen sees most of its customers coming from conventional compact SUVs such as the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V. The opportunity is to get people flipping from ICEs (internal combustion engines) to this car, he said.

The compact SUV segment is the largest part of the U.S. new vehicle market with 4 million sold every year, Keough said.

At first, U.S. versions of the ID.4 will be rear-drive and imported to the U.S. from Germany, but Volkswagens factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee, will begin building it toward the fall of 2022, he said.

Volkswagen says the ID.4 will have great handling and will be faster from zero to 60 mph (96.6 kilometres per hour) than gas engine competitors. It expects the rear-drive version to get there under eight seconds and the all-wheel-drive version under six.

The company's goal is to broaden electric cars' appeal beyond first adopters to buyers simply looking for affordable transportation.

Volkswagen hopes car buyers will be attracted by the advantages that come from designing a car as an electric vehicle from the ground up. Putting the battery flat below the passenger space gives the ID.4 about the same interior space as that of the longer Volkswagen Tiguan SUV, while the lower centre of gravity makes for better handling.

The new vehicle underlines the sharp turn the company has made after its 2015 scandal over diesel cars that for years were rigged to cheat on emissions tests so they could pollute more than U.S. rules allowed.

Only last week the company announced it had completed three years of monitoring as part of its guilty plea with the U.S. Justice Department. Under independent monitor Larry D. Thompson Volkswagen had to come up with a uniform ethics code and an expanded whistle-blower system. The company has also paid more than 30 billion euros ($35 billion) in fines and civil settlements. Former CEO Martin Winterkorn faces a criminal trial in a German court and has been indicted in the U.S., though he cannot be extradited under German law.
The Goa government has written to Union environment minister Prakash Javadekar seeking a solution to the recurring problem of tar balls that wash ashore before as well as after the monsoon.

State environment minister Nilesh Cabral said that he has sent a copy of a study on the sources of tar balls in Goa to the Union minister and that discussions are in progress.

We have tracked down the source of these tar balls after studying the phenomenon. We have written to the MoEF about the matter. The Central ministry will now study our findings before taking measures to address the issue which we have raised, Cabral said.

In 2013, a study by the National Institute of Oceanography had conducted a study on the source of the tar balls that wash ashore on beaches of Goa, sullying the water and the sand and coating it with a slimy coating that makes it unsafe to bathe in the sea.

The studies had said that the source of the tar balls was from passing tankers that wash their tanks en route between the Middle East and Southeast Asia or from accidental oil spills.

A subsequent study in 2016 found that the tar balls that washed ashore in late May were from Bombay High, but the ones seen in August-September after the monsoon were from the tankers on the high seas.

The soft and sticky tar balls are a huge deterrent to tourists visiting the beach and threaten the footfalls at beachside businesses.

Tar ball deposition along the West Coast of India (WCI) is a common phenomenon during the southwest monsoon season, particularly along the coast of Goa and Gujarat, and it is a major concern to the stakeholders especially tourism stakeholders.
The growing work-from-home movement amid the coronavirus and its likely continuing challenges has created the need for additional broadband capacity in more places. Mobile telco and other service providers are rallying around 5G wireless as the most promising solution for reliably faster Internet connectivity.

But the path to rolling out 5G  which is a vague reference to the fifth-generation wireless network technology  has been rocky and spotty. It remains to be seen, at least in terms of consumers expectations, how electronics businesses in various sectors can decrease their risk, deliver new products on schedule, and build resiliency into their products. This all takes addressing collaboration challenges and supply chain considerations during the product design phase.

5G networks, now in their early deployment phases, promise to be five times more responsive than todays networks. Download speed of 20 gigabits-per-second means 5G will enable more specialized tasks at the workplace, according to Saheen C. Najeeb, Digital Marketing Analyst at Fingent, an enterprise software development company headquartered in White Plains, N.Y.

But like anything new in the electronics world, the innovative higher-speed technology is much more complex when it comes to security concerns, he warned.

As per a research study by Purdue University and the University of Iowa, 5G inherits many security policies and subprotocols from its predecessors, which are more error-prone and thus raise privacy and other security concerns, he told TechNewsWorld.

That 5G speed bump itself could be worth the heightened security risks to some businesses and consumers if it helps launch a high-speed wireless alternative to wired broadband. Industry reports suggest the pandemic may fast-forward 5G adoption in the U.S.

If it does speed up the deployment process, 5G can have a big impact on overcoming 5G supply chain challenges. Meanwhile, the full implications that 5G holds for WFH across the entire electronics value chain are mostly speculative, some industry watchers suggest.

5G and the FUD Factor

Every technology upgrade comes with two sides. 5G is no different. Developers sing the praises of the better benefits, speed, and flexibility 5G will bring to business and everyday users. Politicians and broadband proponents paint a darker picture. Some opponents to the technology are painting with broad strokes a picture based on fear, uncertainty, and doubt.

Those just switching to remote working are indeed in for some research as they look to improve their home Internet connections, according to Jase Rodley, founder/CEO of Dialed Labs, a marketing firm in Casper, Wyo.

The problem with the long-promised and long-awaited 5G, and something that will likely stop it flying off the shelves into the houses of people who need it, is the fact that many politicians and officials have sparked rumors and debates about its safety, he told TechNewsWorld.

As a result, more people now are turning to unconfirmed news websites claiming that China will use it to hack into our lives and learn all of our secrets. This could seriously impede just how quickly 5G is taken on by the general public, he suggested.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Other naysayers take issue with some of 5Gs aesthetic and personal challenges. For instance, 5G will enhance location tracking and personal data collection, Fingents Najeeb explained.

Since 5G signals are short-range, it requires more cell towers covering a much smaller area. It means they know your exact location, which is a piece of sensitive information, he said. To be clear, however, Najeeb was not stating his personal opposition to 5G.

What 5G Does

The 5G network offers several key points to improve performance over earlier network technologies to help accelerate business capabilities, according to Najeeb. They are:

To connect more devices faster than is done now

Reduce the lag time between devices

Enable the bulk volume of data transmission from a large number of devices with better responsiveness

Provide higher bandwidth and lower latency

Make working from home more feasible by providing a higher-speed broadband Internet, video conferencing, and other technologies

Having ubiquitous Internet connectivity is great for resiliency and provides functionality that was not available even a few years ago, noted Drew Schmitt, senior consultant at Crypsis Group Crypsis Group, an incident response, risk management, and digital forensics firm with headquarters in McLean, Va.

But enterprise deployments should introduce security evaluations and feedback loops into product development, as well as go-to-market strategies. That will add protection against threat actors who evolve tactics against new opportunities, he suggested.

4Gs Needed Retirement

It is a non-disputed fact that the national broadband infrastructure is critical to keeping businesses running and remote workforces connected during the lockdown and the continuing WFH mandates of the lingering pandemic, according to Jamie Jefferies, Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) vice president at Ciena. His firm provides communications networking equipment, software, and services that power 85 percent of the worlds top 20 service providers.

This infrastructure must continue to evolve if our economy is going to bounce back, he told TechNewsWorld. With more and more businesses using distributed workforces located outside of city centers and central office locations strategies, the acceleration of 5G and fiber rollout must come from a nationwide strategy that benefits all areas.

In order to expand 5Gs rollout, service providers and the government will need to quickly facilitate new arrangements for digging more fiber into the ground, building radio towers, and developing networks that can intelligently shift Internet capacity to support demand in new locations, Jefferies added.

This will pave the way for growth and innovation across the nation, he said of the growing need for a 5G upgrade.

Mobile Needs Push Beyond Fixed Broadband

When 4G was developed, wireless systems were defined by essentially three major vendors. The standards were not open, and connections were established with fixed cabling. Cellular operators sourced equipment from these major vendors, and 4G became a reality, explained Dr. Lauro Rizzatti, consultant at Rizzatti, an electronic design automation (EDA) marketing and public relations firm in the Pacific Northwest.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

With the rise of applications such as connected vehicles  think cars, planes, trains, construction equipment farm tractors and so forth  and all the other connected devices that comprise IoT, the data volume for cellular networks has exploded. That spawns the need for 5G and, as everyone knows, 5G networks are being brought up by many carriers in all parts of the world right now, he told TechNewsWorld.

But there is an important twist in the way the new wireless network is being implemented. This time, cellular operators took control and defined open standards. This allows new companies to build hardware and software required for 5G networks, Rizzatti explained.

5G technology is more challenging to implement than 4G. For example, signal transmission requires an array of up to 64 X 64 multiple-input/multiple-output (MiMo) antennas that can support the beamforming required for 5G signals.

While WFH creates the need for more broadband capacity in more places, fast-forwarding 5G adoption will only happen if the chips powering 5G are fully tested, and verification, a huge and potentially underestimated challenge, said Rizzatti.

Chipping Away at 5G Challenges

New products for the 5G market have at their core a mission-critical system on chip (SoC). It is the verification of those SoCs that is challenging, according to Rizzatti. Pre-silicon verification requires more than the standard chip design verification flow.

One challenge is the need to develop robust and reusable tests for these SoCs. This involves solid, deterministic verification suites that can be run before silicon is available on prototypes of the hardware and, after silicon is available, on the real system.

In the pre-silicon stage of chip development, hardware emulation is required to run the requisite number of tests at speed. Once silicon is available, the focus moves to verification of the chip in the lab and in the field.

When these two technologies come from the same vendor, they can be created so both pre-silicon and post-silicon are mapped accurately to resolve problems at any point during design and deployment.

Due to the size of the 5G ecosystem, these verification test suites need to be shared to ensure interoperability, explained Rizzatti. To help alleviate this issue, an alliance of telecom industry companies created the Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) standard.

Faster Connectivity  With a Catch

5G technology promises increased Internet availability and performance with fewer strings attached. Its infrastructure is significantly less than fiber or DSL, according to Crypsis Groups Schmitt.

From a business productivity and continuity perspective, this means that businesses are better able to support remote work in a COVID-19 and post-COVID world, where remote work may remain as more of a mainstay business model, he told TechNewsWorld.

But it comes with a potential for higher security overhead, he warns. Many businesses are already struggling to keep security prioritized as users require flexible connectivity into business networks from home.

Security may have some trouble keeping up. As 5G becomes more prevalent and businesses adjust their strategies to include more, perhaps permanent, remote workers, this means that network defenders must be ready to account for this increased surface area, said Schmitt.

Traditional security measures have always been focused on the perimeter. There it could be controlled with users located in physical locations. With 5G technologies, defenders must also consider endpoint-focused strategies that provide protections for systems that may be connected to the organizations network or users home networks at any given time.

This becomes even more crucial when we consider IoT devices, he said.
Bengaluru, Sep 23 : Lauding Karnataka for conducting Covid tests in a scientific way, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday told the southern state to increase surveillance and ramp up testing further to check the pandemic.

"Increase surveillance and ramp up RT-PCR tests to three-fold. Focus more on 9 districts which have the highest number of deaths," Modi told Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa during a video conference.

Advocating a mission mode approach over the next six months, Modi called for strict enforcement in the containment zones across the state to check the virus spread.

"Re-test all symptomatic negative results of anti-gen tests and ensure wide publicity on precautionary measures through the media," he said.

Advising the state to regularly monitor those who are in home isolation after testing Covid positive and are under treatment for being asymptomatic, Modi told Yediyurappa to organise awareness programmes on Covid-19 across the state.

State Health Minister B. Sriramulu, Medical Education Minister K. Sudhakar, Chief Secretary T.M. Vijaya Bhaskar and Additional Chief Secretary E.V. Ramana Reddy participated in the two-hour-long meeting.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
The Marine Corps is moving into a three-year test phase for a new Hawaii-based unit that could serve as a model for specially designed regiments built to fight in the Pacific.

Plans are moving ahead to form the first-ever Marine littoral regiment, or MLR. It's one of several big shifts the Corps is making in preparation for a potential face-off with China or another sophisticated enemy.

The size and makeup of the MLR are still under review, but Maj. Gen. Kevin Iiams, assistant deputy commandant of Combat Development and Integration, said it will include more than ground forces.

Read Next: Fort Bliss Widens Search for Missing Soldier as Case Details Change

"Much like our [Marine air-ground task forces, or MAGTF] that we have now, there are support elements to it," Iiams told reporters during the annual Modern Day Marine expo, being held virtually this year. "So, we'll have a littoral combat team, we'll have a littoral logistics battalion, and we'll have an anti-air battalion."

Experimentation will center around the 3rd Marine Regiment, a Hawaii-based infantry unit with more than 3,000 personnel. Marine logisticians in Hawaii will join the test littoral regiment, Iiams said, along with anti-air elements based on the continental U.S.

"We need to experiment with how this force will be distributed, stay connected, employ fires, sense the battlefield, and be part of the overarching MAGTF and Marine Corps warfighting capability," he said.

The Marine littoral regiment concept was born out of Force Design 2030, which called for reorganizing the Corps to be lighter in preparation for battling in hotly contested maritime spaces. After nearly two decades of ground warfare, the Marine Corps has already disbanded several of its tank battalions as part of the redesign.

The plan also calls for shedding thousands of troops from the ranks so the service can pay for high-tech equipment leaders say will be needed to deter China, Russia, Iran and others.

Force Design 2030 calls for three MLRs. The other two may be based in Japan and Guam, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported in May.

Aside from experimenting with the way MLRs should be organized, Iiams said the regiment in Hawaii will also test new equipment. They want Marines in the MLR to identify problems and gaps with the construct, he said.

The Marine Corps is still reaching out to industry partners for help developing capabilities the MLR might need, he added.

"What assets would we be able to place in that battle space that are very low signature and that give us the firepower that we need to be a relevant force that provides consequences, should we get past the deterrence phase," Iiams said.

-- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins.

Related: The Marine Corps Is Forming a First-of-its-Kind Regiment in Hawaii
Bengaluru, Sep 23 : The Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Wednesday passed the Karnataka State Civil Services (prohibition of absorption of services of the employees of establishments in public sector into public service) Bill, 2020 against the court order.

The passage of the bill saw heated resistance not only by the opposition parties, but also by the ruling party (BJP) itself. The bill was passed by voice vote.

It can be recalled that the Karnataka High Court had directed the government to accommodate public sector employees who are on the payrolls in cases where PSUs are on the verge of closure.

Piloting the bill, state Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister J.C. Madhuswamy asserted that the bill is meant to prevent injustice that could possibly be meted out to existing state government employees.

"Absorption would create problems like seniority, promotions and pay scale issues. This being the case, we are bringing this Act," he explained.

Obliquely opposing the passage of the bill, senior ruling party MLA Araga Jnanedra said the state government's actions should be in favour of the people who are losing jobs, not for those who already have jobs.

"Across the state, there are so many vacancies that could be filled by absorbing such people. For instance, in government schools and colleges, there are no second division clerks, peons and Class D employees. We could have thought of accommodating some of these (those who lost jobs)," he said.

Intervening at this juncture, Madhuswamy asserted that the state government was very sympathetic towards those who lost their jobs. "We will act responsibly. They will be adequately compensated," he said.
NEW DELHI: A video showing Chinese soldiers crying while they are on their way to the disputed border with India has gone viral on social media. In the viral video, the young Chinese Army recruits can be seen crying and singing a Chinese military song called 'Green Flowers in the Army'.

The video indicates that the PLA troops which are being sent to Ladakh to fuel Chinas misadventures, are not quite happy with their governments move. The footage shows the young PLA recruits in a tense situation as they possibly fear the might of the Indian Army.

According to the Taiwan News, the footage was initially posted on the WeChat page of Fuyang City Weekly before it was taken down, and the original video showed that the 10 new recruits were from Fuyang Citys Yingzhou district in Chinas Anhui province.

All the young recruits were supposedly college students, while around five of them had volunteered to serve in Tibet, bordering Ladakh. The purported video was shot near Fuyang Railway Station as the troops headed to a military camp in Hebei province, according to the Taiwan News report.

Live TV

Taiwanese media has taken a swipe at the Chinese Army after the video went viral, insinuating that the emotional outburst was a sign of fear.

However, the Chinese state-run media house Global Times has countered the allegation, claiming that the video was shot when the soldiers had bid farewell to their families.

China is currently locked in a military stand-off with Taiwan, much like India in Ladakh. The tension at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) has persisted for months despite talks at multiple levels.

Violent clashes in Ladakh's the Galwan Valley on June 15 led to both sides losing soldiers. Recently, warning shots were also fired, after a gap of decades.

With the Indian Army and border security forces giving the Chinese side a taste of its own medicine, a panicky Beijing is building up its troop deployment along the international border.
NEW DELHI: India and three other countries with aspirations to join a reformed UN Security Council on Wednesday expressed disappointment at attempts to derail reforms at the UN including an expansion of the powerful council.

Indian foreign minister S Jaishankar held a virtual meeting with the foreign ministers of Japan, Germany and Brazil --the so called G-4 nations  calling for a revamp of the UN Security Council (UNSC) to make it more representative of the current global order than the 1945 system.

Participated in #G4 Foreign Ministers Meeting that called for a decisive push for UNSC reforms during #UN75. Unanimous call for text based negotiations in a fixed time frame. Reformed Multilateralism guides India's approach to the United Nations," Jaishankar said in a Twitter post on Wednesday.

A statement from the Indian government said that as part of reforming the Security Council, an expansion of the Security Council in both categories (permanent and non permanent) will be indispensable to make this body more representative, legitimate and effective, enhancing therefore its capacity to deal with the complex challenges the world faces today on questions of international peace and security."

 Only if we manage to reform the Security Council will we stop it from becoming obsolete. Broader membership of the Security Council, with increased and enhanced representation of countries with the capacity and willingness to contribute to the maintenance of international peace and security, including from Africa, will allow it to preserve its credibility and create the political backing needed for the peaceful resolution of todays international crises," the statement said.

Given that the UN General Assembly is holding meetings in the virtual format this year due to the covid-19 pandemic, the four ministers held talks via video link. The G-4 came together in the early 2000s to push for reforms in the UNSC and press their candidature. But even after many years, reforms at the UNSC have not materialized due to a lack of consensus among member states over who should be included and whether the new members should be given the veto power. Formulas suggested in the past have included adding permanent members to the current group of five  Britain, China, France, Russia and the US -- but without giving the new members the veto power. The reforms have also been stymied by opposition against countries within the G-4. For instance, Pakistan opposes India, Japans candidature is opposed by China while Germanys is opposed by Italy.

The G4 Ministers expressed their concern at the lack of any meaningful movement forward in the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) on Security Council reform and expressed their concern that  after two sessions in February and March  the IGN was adjourned due to COVID-19 and no further meetings were held thereafter. However, virtual meetings or a written process could have taken place to allow for progress to be made in the previous session," the statement said.

An overwhelming majority of UN Member States firmly support a comprehensive reform of the Security Council, and expect the IGN to deliver concrete outcomes in the 75th anniversary year of the United Nations. The IGN in the current session should start immediately as a direct continuation of the previous session," the statement said.

The ministers reiterated their support for each others candidatures as aspiring new permanent members in a reformed Security Council given the capacity and willingness to take on major responsibilities with regard to the maintenance of international peace and security. There is a clear need for an enhanced role of developing countries and of major contributors to the United Nations to make the Council more legitimate, effective and representative. Africa needs to be represented in both the permanent and non-permanent categories of membership of a reformed and expanded Security Council to correct the historical injustice against this continent with regard to its under-representation in the Security Council. What is needed is a representative UN Security Council to help us restore confidence in international cooperation and global governance  urgent more than ever in these testing times," it said.

According to a statement by the government in parliament this week, four permanent members of the UNSC support India ie Britain, France, Russia and the US. China is seen as opposed to India due to its ties with Pakistan as well as Beijings own frictions with New Delhi.

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Four years after a boardroom coup ended in the abrupt ouster of Cyrus Mistry as Tata Group chairman and sparked Indias biggest corporate feud, the tycoons family signaled its intent to sell its 18% stake in Tata Sons Pvt. -- a move that could trigger another fight over who buys the shares.

The Mistry clans cash-strapped Shapoorji Pallonji Group, the largest minority shareholder of the $113 billion Tata empires holding firm, wanted to borrow money by using a part of its Tata stake as collateral. Tata has opposed such a move that risk the possibility of shares ending up in the hands of unfriendly investors. In an ongoing legal battle, Tata told the Supreme Court Tuesday that its open to buying out Mistry instead, if the latter needed funds.

The action by Tata Sons to block this crucial fund raise, without any heed for the collateral consequences, is the latest demonstration of their vindictive mind-set, the SP Group said in a statement late Tuesday. It is with a heavy heart that the Mistry family believes that a separation of interests would best serve all stakeholder groups.

Although the statement didnt specify what a separation would entail, the intention was apparent. While a divorce would help put a stop to the acrimonious fight between the two sides, the main concerns still remain for closely held Tata Sons: how to arrange funds for a purchase, and even worse, the possibility of the Mistrys selling their stake to an investor who doesnt share the groups long-term vision.

A representative for Tata Sons declined to comment.

Tata Sons is likely to have the first right of refusal for SP Groups stake if they want to cash out, according to Harish H.V., managing partner at ECube Investment Advisors in Bengaluru. But valuation could be the bone of contention.

The bad blood between the two sides started when Cyrus Mistry, 52, who worked closely with Ratan Tata, 82, before taking over the chairman of Tata Sons Pvt. in 2012, sought to reduce Tata Groups debt. In the process, he threatened to undo the legacy of the conglomerates patriarch.

The two families belong to the Parsi Zoroastrian community, which fled persecution in Persia centuries ago before finding refuge in western India. The Tata Group has been traditionally headed by a Parsi until 2017, when Tata brought in a veteran executive from outside the close-knit community to replace Mistry.

Pallonji Mistry, 91 -- Cyruss father -- has a net worth of $22.8 billion, most of it from his holdings in various Tata companies, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Since his ouster, Cyrus has filed legal challenges to his removal from the board of Tata Sons and argued against Tata Sons turning into a private limited company -- a move that has restricted the Mistry familys ability to sell its stake freely.

Indias Supreme Court on Tuesday barred the Mistry group from pledging or selling any Tata shares until Oct. 28, when it starts hearing final arguments in the case.

Back in 2016, immediately after the ouster of Mistry as chairman of Tata Sons, Tata family trusts had reached out to sovereign wealth funds and other long-term investors to assess their interest in purchasing the Mistry family stake if it became available, people familiar with the matter said then.

This is the first time the Shapoorji Pallonji Group has expressed willingness to sell Tata shares, said Arun Kejriwal, director at KRIS, an investment advisory firm in Mumbai. The group is in a financial mess. The best option before the group is to sell the stake to the right suitor to tide over the crisis.

Mumbais Landmarks

Founded in 1865, the Shapoorji Pallonji Group has built some of Mumbais landmarks, including the Reserve Bank of India building. Its businesses span infrastructure and home appliances.

The SP Group had 92.8 billion rupees ($1.3 billion) in external debt at its main holding vehicle, Shapoorji Pallonji and Company Pvt., as of end-February, according to Care Ratings Ltd. The group-wide debt was estimated by the local credit rating firm to be more than 300 billion rupees as of March 2019.

The 155-year-old SP Group, which includes real estate, infrastructure and home appliances, was in preliminary discussions to borrow as much as $1 billion by pledging a part of its Tata Sons stake to pay maturing debt after asset sales stalled amid the coronavirus pandemic, Bloomberg News reported in March, citing people familiar with the matter.

The Tata Group has taken decisions that have destroyed value and total debt in its major companies has increased by about 1 trillion rupees over the last three years, according to the SP Groups statement.

The impact of these actions continue to hurt minority shareholders, it said, adding that the Mistry family were in the midst of raising funds against the security of their personal assets to protect the livelihoods of its 60,000 employees and over 100,000 migrant workers.
WASHINGTON - U.S. refineries have relied on waivers from the Trump administration to avoid a federal law requiring they blend billions of gallons of ethanol into their gasoline each year.

But their ability to continue using the so-called small refinery exemption  awarded to smaller refineries that can prove financial harm from the mandate is now falling into question.

Last week, the Environmental Protection Agency announced it would not award exemptions on more than 50 waiver applications. With roughly 50 applications pending, refineries have all but written off their hopes of getting further relief from the mandate.

Reading (EPAs) press release and what theyve done so far it doesnt look promising, said Derrick Morgan, senior vice president at the trade group American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers. Im sure companies will try to purse their objectives in court, but Im not expecting to see those waivers granted anytime soon.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Without a grand deal, Trump tries to dodge ethanol question .

Earlier this year the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver ruled that exemptions could only be granted to refineries that had been awarded them continuously since 2010, ruling out all but two refineries from consideration.

Refineries have since applied to the EPA for waivers from earlier years in the decade to establish a record, but EPAs decision last week virtually halted that gambit, drawing cheers from farmers in Iowa whose corn crops supply ethanol production.

Now ethanol lobbyists are calling on the EPA to reject the rest of the waiver applications, maintaining the practice has cut into ethanol demand, hurting farmers.

Last weeks action falls considerably short of undoing the damage EPA has done to our industry by essentially allowing refiners to cheat on the (ethanol blending mandates), said Brian Jennings, CEO of the American Coalition for Ethanol. It was a step in the right direction.

The administrations decision comes with the election just weeks away and the Midwest vital to the re-election prospects of President Donald Trump. Last week, Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, who is in a tight re-election race herself, praised Trump as helping to provide more certainty to our biofuel producers, who have for too long been yanked around by the EPA.

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In siding with farmers on waivers, Trump risks alienating oil and gas workers in states like Pennsylvania and Ohio. Fuel demand has dropped during the coronavirus pandemic, and refineries have watched profits plunge, raising the specter of layoffs.

But Trump, who has pledged to expand the U.S. oil and gas industry, appears willing to take that risk against a Democratic opponent in Joe Biden who is calling for a shift away from fossil fuels to combat climate change.

The presidents made promises to protect blue collar manufacturing jobs, and thats what refiners are, Morgan said. Its been one disappointment after another.

james.osborne@chron.com

twitter.com/osborneja
A highly-paid businessman who raped a drunken backpacker he picked up walking home has been brutally bashed in prison.

Alan George Vico, 54, was hospitalised with multiple facial fractures following the violent incident and required surgery.

Vico use to command a $290,000 annual salary while working for Ports North in Far North Queensland before his arrest.

He is now serving a five and a half year jail sentence at the Lotus Glen Correctional Centre west of Cairns where the assault took place on September 17.

Vico was jailed in the Cairns District Court last month following the opportunistic rape of a Norwegian backpacker in September 2018.

Convicted rapist Alan George Vico (pictured) was recently bashed in jail by a fellow inmate

Prisoners inside the Lotus Glen Correctional Centre, where Alan Vico is serving a five and a half year sentence after he raped a Norwegian tourist in 2018 (stock image)

A Queensland Corrective Services spokesman confirmed the bashing remains under investigation.

'QCS (Queensland Corrective Services) can confirm a prisoner in his 50s was transferred to hospital on September 17 after being assaulted by another prisoner,' he told the Cairns Post.

'He is being treated for facial injuries and remains in hospital.

'The matter will be reviewed by CSIU (Corrective Services Investigation Unit).'

Vico has formally launched an appeal against his conviction and sentence, arguing the outcome from the judge-only trial was 'manifestly excessive'.

A jury could not be used due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Judge Julie Dick reserved her decision for more than two months before finding Vico guilty in late August.

She ordered he serve half of his sentence before being eligible for parole.

Court documents revealed Vico picked up the highly intoxicated female tourist on the side of the road in his car in Cairns North two years ago before driving her to a nearby hotel in Earlville.

The Lotus Glen Correctional Centre in northern Queensland where Alan Vico was attacked by a fellow inmate (stock image)

The 20-year-old woke up naked and alone the next morning, unaware how she made her to the motel.

The woman, who cannot be named, then discovered an empty condom packet and a $20 note on the bedside table.

Vico took the used condoms from the motel room, which were later found by police in his bin at home.

DNA from Vico and the victim was discovered on the discarded condoms. A date for Vico's appeal is still to be determined.
In 2019, the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) delivered the first resolved images of M87*, the supermassive black hole in the center of the giant elliptical galaxy Messier 87 (M87). Those images were produced using EHT observations performed in April 2017. Additional observations were required to investigate the persistence of the primary image feature and to quantify the image variability. To address this need, astronomers analyzed M87* data collected with the proto-EHT array of telescopes in 2009, 2011, 2012, and 2013. The analysis reveals the behavior of the black hole image across this period, indicating persistence of the crescent-like shadow feature, but also variation of its orientation  the crescent appears to be wobbling.

EHT can detect changes in the M87* morphology on timescales as short as a few days, but its general geometry should be constant on long timescales, said Dr. Maciek Wielgus, an astronomer at the Harvard & Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.

In 2019, we saw the shadow of a black hole for the first time, but we only saw images observed during a one-week window, which is too short to see a lot of changes.

Combining proto-EHT data from 2009-2013 with data leading up to 2019 revealed that M87* adheres to theoretical predictions.

The shape of the black holes shadow has remained consistent, and its diameter remains in agreement with Einsteins theory of general relativity for a black hole of 6.5-billion solar masses.

In this study, we show that the general morphology, or presence of an asymmetric ring, most likely persists on timescales of several years, said Dr. Kazu Akiyama, an astronomer at the MIT Haystack Observatory.

This is an important confirmation of theoretical expectations as the consistency throughout multiple observational epochs gives us more confidence than ever about the nature of M87* and the origin of the shadow.

While the crescent diameter remained consistent, the new data also prove it was hiding a surprise: the ring is wobbling.

The gas falling onto a black hole heats up to billions of degrees, ionizes and becomes turbulent in the presence of magnetic fields. This turbulence causes the appearance of the black hole to vary over time.

Because the flow of matter falling onto a black hole is turbulent, we can see that the ring wobbles with time, Dr. Wielgus said.

The dynamics of this wobbling will allow us to constrain the accretion flow.

The accretion flow contains matter that gets close enough to the black hole to allow us to observe the effects of strong gravity, and in some circumstances, allows us to test predictions from general relativity, like weve done in this study, said Dr. Richard Anantua, an astronomer at the Harvard & Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.

Multiple years of ETH data allow the scientists to perceive the amount of variability in the rings appearance.

Actually, we see quite a lot of variation there, and not all theoretical models of accretion flow allow for this much variability, Dr. Wielgus said.

As we obtain more measurements in the future, we will be able to confidently put constraints on models and rule some of them out.

In the current study, the team used data from the proto-EHT, an array that included telescopes at three geographical locations: the Combined Array for Research in Millimeter-wave Astronomy in Cedar Flat, California; the Submillimeter Telescope on Mt. Graham in Arizona; and the Submillimeter Array, the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope and the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory on Maunakea in Hawaii.

These early EHT experiments provide us with a treasure trove of long-term observations that the current EHT, even with its remarkable imaging capability, cannot match, said Dr. Shep Doeleman, Founding Director of EHT.

When we first measured the size of Messier 87 in 2009, we couldnt have foreseen that it would give us the first glimpse of black hole dynamics.

If you want to see a black hole evolve over a decade, there is no substitute for having a decade of data.

The continued analysis of past observations, along with new observations, will lead to a better understanding of the dynamical properties of M87*, and black holes in general, Dr. Wielgus said.

Monitoring M87* with an expanded EHT array will provide new images and much richer data sets to study the turbulent dynamics, said Dr. Geoffrey Bower, an astronomer at the Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics.

We are already working on analyzing the data from 2018 observations, obtained with an additional telescope located in Greenland.

In 2021 we are planning observations with two more sites, providing extraordinary imaging quality. This is a really exciting time to study black holes!

The teams results were published in the Astrophysical Journal.

_____

Maciek Wielgus et al. 2020. Monitoring the Morphology of M87* in 2009-2017 with the Event Horizon Telescope. ApJ 901, 67; doi: 10.3847/1538-4357/abac0d

This article is based on texts provided by the Harvard & Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and the National Science Foundation.
Maharashtra BJP leader Pravin Darekar on Wednesday said that actor Kangana Ranaut is not above law and NCB should conduct probe if she had said that she was a "drug-addict".

"If Kangana has said she was a drug addict then the NCB (Narcotics Control Bureau) should probe. Law is equal for all in our country," the Leader of Opposition in the state Legislative Council told reporters here.

The NCB is probing the alleged Bollywood-drugs nexus and had arrested actress Rhea Chakraborty, who was booked by the Bihar police for allegedly abetting suicide of her actor boyfriend Sushant Singh Rajput. The CBI is probing that case.

In Mumbai, the NCB has summoned actors Deepika Padukone, Shraddha Kapoor, Sara Ali Khan and Rakul Preet Singh among others for questioning.

Also read: Sushant Singh Rajput death: NCB summons Deepika Padukone, Sara Ali Khan, Shraddha Kapoor, Rakul Preet Singh in drug case

The Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra government had earlier this month ordered a probe by Mumbai police into allegations by actor Shekhar Suman's son Adhyayan Suman that Ranaut took drugs.

Darekar said no one will support if new and budding actors in film industry are falling prey to drugs.

"Should'nt we take precautions if actors in one of the biggest film industries in the world are getting addicted (to drugs)?" he questioned.

Darekar said there should not be any problem if NCB summons any person who is consuming drugs for investigation.

The BJP leader also slammed the Shiv Sena-led Mumbai civic body for water-logging on Wednesday due to heavy rains.

"They had time of seven to eight months to fix the chronic water-logging spots. There is no dearth of funds; required machinery is also available...But despite all these things, if Mumbai is going under water, what have you done by being in the power in the BMC for the last 40 years?" he asked.
Halloween is almost here. However, as the coronavirus pandemic continues to rage around the country, trick-or-treating safety should be the top priority for children and families celebrating this spooky season. The fate of trick-or-treating in Connecticut remains uncertain, but Gov. Ned Lamont is optimistic about allowing Halloween to happen this year.

"I was talking to (state Department of Social Services Commissioner) Deidre Gifford and I told her, 'Halloween is outside and people are wearing masks, so it sounds like it ought to be doable,'" Lamont said. "And I think we'll get some guidance soon."

The governor did not elaborate on what restrictions might apply for people handing out candy, or how the rules would be enforced. And while those official guidelines have not yet been released, it's never too early to start preparing for a safe Halloween.

Here are some fun, creative and safe ways to celebrate the year's spookiest season, from the people who know a thing or two about Halloween, candy company Hershey.
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 vaccines 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 Russias 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 Russias 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.

Dmitrievs 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 Moscows 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 funds 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 Brazils 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 Bahias Vilas-Boas and the Parana state governors 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 vaccines approval by Brazils 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 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 Reddys and with Brazils Parana state, both pending regulatory approval.

Many people involved in the Sputnik-Vs 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 dont, he said. Simple.

($1 = 75.6640 roubles) (Reporting by Polina Ivanova in Moscow and Anthony Boadle in Brasilia; Writing by Polina Ivanova; Editing by Pravin Char)

Topics COVID-19 Claims
Opposition leaders on Wednesday met President Ram Nath Kovind over the much-debated farm bills. They had asked the President to return the bills so that they can be discussed again.

Amid Farm Bill chaos, opposition leaders of 18 political parties met President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday and later held a press conference. The opposition leaders have urged President to return the bills so that they can be discussed again.

Congress leader Gulam Nabi Azad said in the press conference that the leaders of 18 political parties decided on meeting the President bringing it to his notice that how the farm bills were passed in the Rajya Sabha. He added that the govt should have consulted all the political parties but it didnt.

Addressing their meeting with the President, Azad said that they told President that the farm bill wasnt sent to the select committee, hence, Govt was responsible for the chaos and not the opposition. He added that they have urged the President to return the bill so it can be discussed again.

Also read: Heavy rains lash Mumbai, suburban rail services affected

Also read: India slams Erdogans Kashmir remarks at UNGA, call it gross interference

The Rajya Sabha was adjourned sine die on Wednesday, leading to the closure of the Monsoon session, which was scheduled to go on till October 1, over COVID-19 pandemic concerns. Minister of State (MoS) for Parliamentary Affairs, V Muraleedharan read out the recommendation for the adjournment of the house.

Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said that they were concluding the 252nd session of the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, the session had been marked by several novel features induced by the outbreak of coronavirus at the beginning of this year. He added that they had to conclude this session eight sittings ahead, eighteen sittings had been planned they had completed 10.

He added that the August House had to function from six different locations, including chambers of both the houses, four galleries of the house, the first of its kind in the history of Rajya Sabha. He said that in another first, they functioned on Saturday and Sunday of the last week, without taking the usual break.

The Chairman said he was grateful that the MPs had adjusted themselves to the unique demands needed owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. Naidu said that in the 10 sittings a total of 25 Bills had been passed and six Bills had been introduced, the productivity of the House during the session had been 104.7 per cent.

The actual functional time of the house has been 38 hours and 41 minutes, as compared to the scheduled available time of 38 hours and 30 minutes, he added. The Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairman also raised the issue of the ruckus created by the Opposition over the farm Bills and urged all to think deeply over the issue.

Naidu said that though the session had been satisfying in terms of productivity there had been some areas of concern as well, they need to collectively ponder over the issues for making a difference in future. He said that for the first time in the history of this house, a notice for removal of Deputy Chairman had been given, it had to be rejected for reasons he had already given. He said that the developments surrounding the unprecedented move had been deeply painful for all those who hold the stature and dignity of this August House to their hearts.

The Rajya Sabha, earlier today passed three labour related Bills, Jammu and Kashmir languages Bill, the Bilateral Netting of Qualified Financial Contracts Bill, 2020 and the FCRA Amendment Bill by voice votes following discussions.

The Congress and other parties had boycotted the proceedings of the House on Tuesday following the suspension of eight MPs and the demand to revoke the farm Bills.

Opposition leaders staged a walk-out from the Rajya Sabha and held a protest before the Mahatma Gandhi statue in the Parliament premises. Congress and other parties had also boycotted the proceedings of the Lower House yesterday over the government not agreeing to Opposition suggestions on the agriculture Bills.

Eight Opposition MPs were suspended by the Rajya Sabha Chairman on Monday over the ruckus and the unruly scenes in the House on Sunday. While the Opposition members have expressed reservations over the manner, in which the agriculture Bills were passed, the government and the BJP leaders have accused them of not following the directions of the Chair.

Also read: Indias Covid-19 tally surpasses 56-lakh mark with spike of over 83K cases
Neverfail Continuity Engine is there to restore mission-critical systems with near zero downtime.

September 23, 2020, Austin, TX: Neverfail and RoundRobin Tech Services located in India, have reached a strategic distribution agreement for sales and services of Neverfail Continuity Engine in several markets around the world. These markets include; India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.

With business continuity and disaster recovery playing a key role in the survival of any business, it's essential to have proven world-class protection technology to ensure continued operation of the most critical IT systems. Neverfail Continuity Engine provides continuous availability powered by application-aware failover and its recovery orchestration process that already protects tens of thousands of application servers world-wide. This ensures that when something interrupts the delivery of the business service, Neverfail Continuity Engine is there to restore these mission-critical systems with near zero downtime.

RoundRobin represents a strategic alliance that is opening several regions of the world that we have not traditionally sold into like MEA, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, said Michael Wrightson, General Manager, Neverfail Group Software. We see these as emerging markets and are extremely excited to be working with a premier international organization to help us bring world-class business continuity software into these regions.

We are very excited to partner with Neverfail. Their products add critical components, which are currently missing from our portfolio, to the cutting-edge solutions we offer our reseller channel throughout South Asia. We will combine Neverfails solutions with our reputed pre and post-sales support to make it easier for our channel to sell Neverfail. stated Girish Ajoomal, Director, RoundRobin.

About Neverfail

Neverfail delivers Continuous IT Controls and Availability solutions to some of the most highly recognizable brands in the world. More than 5,000 customers in over 60 countries depend on Neverfail to reduce risk through zero trust compliance automation and continuity solutions without the worry, time, or cost of traditional methods.

Neverfail is headquartered in Austin, Texas with offices in Scotland, England, Romania, and Costa Rica. To learn more, visit http://www.neverfail.com.

About RoundRobin

Headquartered in Mumbai, India, RoundRobin Tech Services specializes in the IT security market with new, fresh, and straightforward solutions to provide their clients with a better way to avoid security problems. With over 20 years of distribution experience, RoundRobin excels at helping protect their customers from cyber threats.


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The Rajya Sabha on September 23 passed the Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Bill to include Kashmiri, Dogri, and Hindi as the official languages of the union territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir along with English and Urdu. The Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Bill became the sixth Bill to be passed in the Upper House of Parliament during the ongoing monsoon session.

The Lok Sabha had passed the same Bill a day earlier. It was introduced in the Lower House by Minister of State (MoS) for Home G Kishan Reddy. While introducing the Bill, Reddy had highlighted that the inclusion of these languages had long been a demand of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

He had further pointed out that 53.26 percent people of Jammu and Kashmir speak the Kashmiri language, while 26.64 percent people speak Dogri. Urdu, which has for so long been the official language of the UT, is spoken by only 0.16 percent of the population. Even Hindi is spoken by more people of Jammu and Kashmir at 2.36 percent, he said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah had lauded the passage of the Bill in the Lok Sabha earlier. A momentous day for the people of J&K as Jammu Kashmir Official Languages (Amendment) Bill was passed in Lok Sabha. With this historic bill...Long-awaited dream of the people of J&K comes true!" he wrote on Twitter.

He said that efforts will also be made to develop other major regional languages such as Gojri, Pahari, and Punjabi.

In a further tweet, Shah thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said the government would leave "no stone unturned" to restore the culture of Jammu and Kashmir.

(With agency inputs)
The Ministry of Health (MOH) on Wednesday (23 Sept) announced that the new legal cut-off age for children who are required to wear masks will be raised six years and above, up from two years old currently.

This comes after the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations International Childrens Emergency Fund (UNICEF) said that young children below the age of six may not have the coordination necessary for the proper use of masks.

Therefore consistent adult supervision is recommended to ensure appropriate and safe use of masks by these young children, MOH said in a press release.

Legal Cut-off Age For Children In Singapore To Wear Mask Raised to Six and Above

It is noted that the current existing guidelines on mask-wearing for children allow for some flexibility such as children 12 years old and below being permitted to use a face shield in place of a mask. The revised guidelines were announced in alignment with those of the WHO and UNICEF, MOH director of medical services Kenneth Mak said.

Children Under 6

Children aged 6 and above are required to wear a mask. | Image source: Ministry of Education (Facebook)

To protect young children from COVID-19, we continue to strongly encourage young children to use a mask or face shield, especially if they are in a group setting such as in preschool or when interacting with others, the health ministry said.

Children and other persons who may not have the coordination necessary for the proper use of masks or face shields should continue to be supervised when doing so, it added.

More Activities To Be Allowed

The raising of the legal cut-off age for children to wear masks was not the only safety measure due to be relaxed. MOH also announced on Wednesday, the easing of some restrictions on gatherings for weddings and in religious places, and enabling more employees to return to their workplaces safely.

More employees (presently working from home) to return to the workplaces. But employers must ensure that such employees continue to work from home for at least half their working time, and no more than half of such employees are at the workplace at any point in time, said MOH.

Story continues

For example, a full-time worker with a 6-day work week will be allowed to in the office for up to three days in a week. Alternatively, an employer with 10 full-time employees who are currently working from home may split the 10 employees into two teams, and ask each team to return to the workplace every alternate week while the other team continues to work from home.

But the health ministry reiterated that working from home remains the default mode of working.

Image source: iStock

Meanwhile, up to 100 attendees will be allowed at all worship services and weddings from Monday (3 Oct), up from the current limit of 50.

The pilot has shown that safe distancing measures can be effectively implemented, said Minister for Health Gan Kim Yong. We hope these measures will go some way to help support Singaporeans spiritual needs, especially during these difficult times.

Wedding receptions will also be allowed up to 100 unique attendees subject to venue capacity. This includes the wedding couple but not the vendors and service providers.

Participants in a wedding can be split into multiple zones of up to 50 persons each, or split by staggered timings with up to 50 persons in each slot. There should be at least 30 minutes between slots for cleaning and disinfection of the event space, MOH said.

Minister for Health Gan Kim Yong said: we have taken a cautious approach to events like weddings. Some couples have put off their wedding plans in the hope that they can ride out the pandemic and proceed with their original plans for a large wedding reception like what we used to do before the COVID-19 pandemic.

But the end of the pandemic is still some way off, and indefinitely postponing a wedding may not be practical or desirable.

The post Children Under 6 Years Old No Longer Legally Required To Wear Face Masks appeared first on theAsianparent - Your Guide to Pregnancy, Baby & Raising Kids.
The main equity benchmarks continued to trade with decent gains in morning trade. The Nifty regained the 11,200 level in early trade. Realty shares bounced on value buying after correcting by over 7% in the past two sessions.

At 10:25 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was up 248.12 points or 0.66% at 37,982.20. The Nifty 50 index added 66.70 points or 0.60% at 11,220.35.

In the broader market, the S&P BSE Mid-Cap index rose 0.50% while the S&P BSE Small-Cap index gained 0.93%.

The market breadth was strong. On the BSE, 1352 shares rose and 700 shares fell. A total of 105 shares were unchanged.

India-China Conflict:

The Indian and Chinese Senior Commanders held the 6th round of military commander-level meeting on Monday. The two sides had 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. 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.

Monsoon Session:

The Parliament is all set to be adjourned sine die today ahead of its scheduled time in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Monsoon Session, which had begun on 14th September, was scheduled to end of 1st of next month.

In Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, V. Muraleedharan announced that the government has decided to recommend adjournment of the Upper House sine die. He, however, said, some important legislation business cleared by the Lok Sabha has to be completed before it. The Lok Sabha will assemble at 6 PM and it is expected that the Lower House will also adjourn sine die today itself.

Buzzing Index:

The Nifty Realty index rose 1.36% to 212.85, amid value buying. The index lost 7.38% in the past two days.

Prestige Estates (up 5.46%), Sunteck Realty (up 2.93%), Brigade Enterprises (up 1.87%), Godrej Properties (up 1.85%), Indiabulls RE (up 1.75%), DLF (up 1.64%) and Sobha Developers (up 1.61%) advanced while The Phoenix Mills declined 1.45%.

Stocks in Spotlight:

Reliance Industries (RIL) rose 1.89% to Rs 2252.95 after the company announced on Wednesday that global investment firm KKR will invest Rs 5,550 crore into Reliance Retail Ventures (RRVL), a subsidiary of the company. This investment values Reliance Retail at a pre-money equity value of Rs 4.21 lakh crore. KKR's investment will translate into a 1.28% equity stake in RRVL on a fully diluted basis. This marks the second investment by KKR in a subsidiary of RIL, following a Rs 11,367 crore investment in Jio Platforms announced earlier this year.

Sequent Scientific rose 2.74% to Rs 147.90 after the company said it entered into definitive agreement with Dr. Huseyin Aydin for the acquisition of 40% stake in Provet for $17.10 million. Sequent will acquire the stake through its Ireland-based wholly-owned subsidiary, Alivira Animal Health. The transaction is expected to be completed on or before 31 October 2020.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Loudoun, which serves 83,000, has offered more specific dates. The school board had approved a plan in August that allowed 900 high-schoolers at the Monroe Advanced Technical Academy, which offers vocational classes, to return for in-person learning on Sept. 8  which they did. That previously approved plan also calls for schools to allow some children with disabilities to return to classrooms starting Oct. 13, which the school system still plans to do.
Chennai, Sep 23 : The Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) has floated a Request for Proposal (RFP) for leasing a land parcel of 3,700 square meter in East Tambaram in Chennai.

According to the RLDA officials, the land parcel is located along Bharathamadha Street, near Tambaram Sanatorium Flyover and is located just 7 km away from the airport, 3 km from the nearest bus stand and 2 km from Tambaram Railway Station which is the third busiest station and second-largest revenue generator in Chennai.

The reserve price of the site is Rs eight crore.

"It is permitted for uses under Institutional Land Area by CMDA for 45 years. An online Pre-Bid conference was hosted by RLDA on September 14 and elicited exceptionally good response from developers based in Chennai and nearby metros," an RLDA official said.

Ved Parkash Dudeja, Vice Chairman of RLDA said that bolstered by a spate of infrastructural developments, the growth of IT/ITes sector and a robust infrastructure of retail complexes, hospitals and schools, Chennai has carved an identity of a stable real estate market.

"Being well-connected to the railway station, bus stand and airport, the site located in East Tambaram, South Chennai, has immense potential for institutional development," he said.

Dudeja also stressed that the planned development on the site will boost infrastructure escalating prices of real estate projects in the vicinity and herald the socio-economic transformation of the region.

According to RLDA, the land parcel falls under the jurisdiction of Metropolitan Transport Corporation, Chennai, Tambaram has emerged as a prominent residential hub in South Chennai.

The site is owned by Southern Railway and it is surrounded by a lower mid-end residential colony on the east side of the site. It is permitted for institutional development and is also eligible for the construction of high-rise buildings.

The lessee will be mandated to provide buildings and building services, civic amenities, vehicle parking for users and visitors on surface and basements, internal security, roads and internal circulation network, and landscaping on the site. The lessee will be granted marketing & sub-leasing rights as per Terms and conditions of Agreement.

RLDA is a statutory body under the Ministry of Railways for the development of vacant railway land for commercial use in line with the objective to generate revenue by non-tariff measures.

Currently, Indian Railways has approximately 43,000 hectares of vacant land across the country and the RLDA has over 79 sites in different parts of India for leasing and the eligible developers for each will be selected through an open and transparent bidding process.
The EU Court of Justice (CJEU) will look at two more cases concerning political changes in the Polish Supreme Court. The decision proceeds from two legal questions issued with regards to the cases of two judges: Waldemar Zurek and Monika Frackowiak- members of the Polish Association of Judges Themis and Iustitia. Following the judicial reforms adopted by the Polish government in 2018, the president was free to appoint multiple new judges to the Supreme Court. All the nominees were selected by the politicized National Council of the Judiciary. The CJEU will now consider the legality of their appointment.

Judges who brought the cases before the EU Court of Justice addressed the court in Luxembourg on Tuesday. They explained that the questions concern whether persons appointed to the Supreme Court in the politicized procedure can be considered as independent judges and whether the Polish court may deliberate over the status of such persons.

In Mr. Zureks case, the question is essentially this: can we assume that a court chaired by a judge whose appointment was a blatant violation of the EU law is still a legitimate court? The question refers to the case of the former deputy minister and current member of the Extraordinary Control and Public Affairs Chamber of the Supreme Court (IKNiSP), Aleksander Stepkowski. The president appointed him despite a decision of the Supreme Administrative Court to suspend all recommendations of the disputed National Council of the Judiciary. It was an intentional violation of law  claimed the Supreme Court.

-We need to ask ourselves whether the people who serve in our courts are legitimate judges or just a bunch of judge impersonators. We picked up this fight so that verdicts issued by the Polish courts can be considered legally valid. Otherwise, theyd be nothing but a piece of paper - Mr. Zurek said before the hearing.

REKLAMA

In 2019, Stepkowski essentially ruled in his own case and dismissed Mr. Zureks appeal against his appointment by the National Council of the Judiciary. Following the disputed ruling, the Civil Chamber of the Supreme Court issued a preliminary legal question to the CJEU. The question asked whether the Court of which Stepkowski is a member can even be considered legal according to the EU law.

-The decision of the CJEU of these doubts is important not only with respect to Aleksander Stepkowski but also with respect to other people adjudicating in the Extraordinary Control and Public Affairs Chamber and other chambers of the Supreme Court appointed in the new procedure. say the members of the Free Courts Initiative (Wolne Sady) who represent Mr. Zurek. - The CJEU could now decide on the legal status of the Extraordinary Control and Public Affairs Chamber of the Supreme Court they add. Before, CJEU already considered the case of the Disciplinary Chamber of the Supreme court, ruling that Polish courts should be free to assess its independence.

- We propose that the response to the request for a preliminary CJEU ruling should be affirmative and decisive- said Sylwia Gregorczyk-Abram from the Free Courts initiative, adding that - a single-person bench consisting of a person appointed to hold the office of judge in gross violation of the rules of law of a Member State regarding the appointment of judges is not an independent and impartial judge.

REKLAMA

-A gross breach of the appointment procedure made intentionally should result in the refusal to extend protection to such a person who is not a judge in accordance with the law, which arises from the guarantee of irremovability of a judge- said the Polish Deputy Ombudsman, Maciej Taborowski, who was also present at the court on Tuesday.

The Polish government requested that the prejudicial questions issued by the Supreme Court be dismissed. According to the representatives of the Ministry of Justice and Public Prosecutor's Office, Mr. Zureks case does not fall under the jurisdiction of the EU law, and the Union itself has no authority to decide on the judicial system of its Member States. Moreover, new judges are protected by the constitutional principle of irremovability, they argue.

- A situation where the judges have to live in constant fear of having their status challenged in any way is simply unacceptable. Their security is guaranteed by the Polish law- said the Deputy Minister of Justice, Anna Dalkowska. She pointed out the possible outcomes of a CJEU ruling. It would affect 570 judges appointed with the help of the new National Council of the Judiciary who have already issued over 10,000 judgments.

- There are simply no legal grounds on which the judicial independence or the effectiveness of their appointment could be questioned- said the prosecutor Andrzej Reczka.

The legality of the new appointments is directly challenged in the second case brought before the CJEU. The question which proceeds from the case initiated by Monika Frackowiak can be summarized as follows: Is it valid for the Supreme Court to decide that the person whose appointment was the effect of a legally flawed procedure is not a judge?

A judge from Poznan filed a lawsuit with the Supreme Court asking it to recognize that one of the new judges is in fact not a judge. It is Jan Majchrowski from the Disciplinary Chamber. Majchrowski, as Acting President of ID, appointed the disciplinary court to hear the Frackowiak case. A spokesperson appointed by Zbigniew Ziobra is prosecuting her for failure to produce timely justifications.

Ms. Frackowiak has filed a lawsuit with the Supreme Court to asking it to recognize the illegal status of one of the newly appointed judges. The case concerns a member of the Disciplinary Chamber, Jan Majchrowski. As the acting chairman of the Chamber, Majchrowski initiated a disciplinary proceeding against Ms. Frackowiak.

-I speak in front of the court not as a judge, but as an EU citizen who has every right to have her case heard by an independent court. This case concerns guarantees for everyone- Frackowiak said in a press briefing before the hearing. - The question is whether a judge appointed in a flawed procedure by a politicized body can be treated as a judge within the legal context of European Treaties. It is a case that seems to be crucial for all judges appointed by way of the new procedure - she added.

Again, the Polish government requested that it be ruled inadmissible.

Assuming that the CJEUs verdict will be affirmative, it would shake the ruling camps judicial "reform" to its core. The Supreme Court itself has already decided four times that the Disciplinary Chamber is not a legal court, but has not yet decided to question the status of new judges. The governments narrative is that no one has the right to challenge the presidential appointments, and any potential flaws in the nomination process are annulled by the president's decision.  Controlling the process of appointments would be possible if the Constitution provided for it- Ms. Dalkowska said in the CJEU hearing. The Constitutional Tribunal compromised and controlled by the ruling camp ruled on several occasions that the nominations are legal and cannot be questioned.

Should the CJEU even decide to respond to the request for a preliminary ruling, its decision wont be announced before next year. Its ruling will be preceded by an opinion issued by the Advocate General of the CJEU in January.  We hope that the ruling will be universally applicable and lay the foundations for defining judicial independence within the legal context of the European Treaties. This would ensure that all EU judges respect the same legal standards - says a member of the Iustitia Association, judge Joanna Hetnarowicz-Sikora.

On Tuesday, attorneys from the Free Courts Initiative asked the CJEU to issue an unambiguous ruling that cannot be undermined by the Polish authorities (which had been the case before with regards to ruling on the Disciplinary Chamber) -We, in Poland, are witnessing a unique revolution in Poland against the rule of law. The Polish judiciary is currently relying on the heroism of the individual and the courage of individual judges, as the systemic protection of their independence has been dismantled. The CJEU is the last court whose judgment can save the independence of the courts in Poland. And this is precisely that moment  said Ms. Gregorczyk-Abram.

-CJEU has the sole and exclusive competence to give a binding response to the question of the criteria that an independent court should meet under EU law and specify the consequences of judgments issued by a person and body that do not satisfy these criteria. For this reason, the decision it issue is absolutely crucial to the whole of the European Union  she added.

***

Every day, 400 journalists at Gazeta Wyborcza write verified, fact-checked stories about the coronavirus pandemic for you.

They are on the front lines in 25 Polish cities. They work on the ground, reporting from hospitals and airports.

We have decided to open online access to our news stories and special guides focused on the issue of public health, for free.

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House Majority Leader Says Vote on Stimulus Should Be Held Without Bipartisan Deal

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said the House should vote on a pandemic relief bill even if it does not receive bipartisan support.

Hoyer told reporters that he hopes for a bipartisan deal on more stimulus funds that could pass in the Republican-controlled Senate and wont be vetoed by President Donald Trump.

There may not be any agreement; there may not be an ability to put a bill together in that time frame. But I have been urging for some weeks that we do an alternative response to the Senate, Hoyer said, reported The Hill.

Not because I think we ought to negotiate with ourselves, he added, saying Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has set the amount of resources that were prepared to deal with. And I think we ought to put that into legislation and  give it to the Senate. The Senate will do with it what they will, but I hope they will pass it and send it to the president and hell sign it.

Later, Hoyer said that if the Democrats win the Senate and White House, more stimulus funding will be passed.

Pelosi has said that a bill worth less than around $2.2 trillion will not pass in the House, while White House officials and Senate have rejected her offer. Last week, a group of bipartisan House lawmakers offered a $1.5 trillion bill that includes $450-per-week unemployment benefits, $500 billion to state and local governments, and $1,200 stimulus checks.

The bipartisan deal, which was co-sponsored by moderate Democrats and Republicans, was rejected by Pelosi. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump called on Republicans to pass a bill worth more than $500 billion and again said stimulus payments should be distributed.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told a House Democratic-led panel earlier this week that the Trump administration still supports the direct payments.

I think we ought to be taking up COVID-19 legislation before we leave here, and I dont think we ought to wait, Hoyer said Wednesday. People are really hurting.

But he warned that moderate Democrats should not support the bipartisan legislation because it would weaken the Democrats negotiation position with the White House.

I would hope that no Democrat would sign a discharge petition, which turns over control of the House floor to the other party, the minority party, he added. But what I hope they would do is urge that we pass a bill which reflectsperhaps it means a substantial reduction in what we thought was necessarybut nevertheless dealing with all of the issues that are critical if were going to confront COVID-19 and building the economy.
Praising Joe Biden as a longtime family friend and an ally to military families such as hers, Cindy McCain, the woman Republicans wanted to make first lady in 2008, endorsed the Democratic presidential nominee Tuesday, a few weeks before Arizonans will begin voting.

Follow Arizona politics? Our reporters stay on top of it all. Subscribe now to azcentral.com.

President Donald Trump had a stormy rivalry with her husband, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., that lingered even after McCain's death in 2018. Anonymous sources claimed to The Atlantic that Trump ridiculed McCain and others in the military.

Cindy McCain told The Arizona Republic in an interview Tuesday that her endorsement is in part attributable to the character she sees in Biden, who, like her, is a parent to members of the U.S. military.

The decision, she said, was not about honoring her husband's legacy. This was about her.

"I'm like everybody else: I like a good leader, and I feel like right now, the president doesn't have my back, he doesn't take a stand on things that are really important, and we have a time of crisis," McCain said. "I'm worried that this could go further than it should. My point in getting on board with Joe is that he's proven  he's been there. I've known him for 40 years. I know his character and his leadership and his honor and his integrity, and those things are very important to me."

McCain said she will remain a registered Republican. She said Biden practices the kind of bipartisan politics her husband did: "Joe shares our values and our concerns, and he cares about us. I'm a mother, I'm a business owner, I'm the mother of two military men, and I want someone that understands me and understands what's going on and knows what it takes to really make the tough decisions."

McCain said she thought about the decision for some time. She said Biden did not ask for her endorsement but was "excited" when she told him a few weeks ago.

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"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, noting 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."

McCain announced the endorsement from her home in Phoenix. Biden leads in national polls and more narrowly in Arizona, which is likely to be a critical battleground for the White House.

Biden announced the endorsement earlier in the day, saying she backed him because of The Atlantic's article.

"Maybe I shouldnt 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 Johns who are heroes, who served their country. You know, he said theyre losers, theyre suckers," Biden said Tuesday at a fundraiser. Trump denied the allegations in the article.

McCain largely avoided the disputes between Trump and her husband. Throughout her public life, she has advocated for less-partisan causes, such as ending human trafficking and aid to developing countries.

McCain could help Democrats reach undecided independent voters and Republicans uneasy with Trump, the kind who supported John McCain for more than three decades.

Cindy McCain talks about her husband, Sen. John McCain, almost a year after his death from her home in Phoenix on Aug. 19, 2019.

McCain said she hopes her endorsement gives voters the courage to cross party lines, particularly women.

"It is OK to look outside the box, it is OK to cross a party line and vote for someone else that's perhaps not of your party but is perhaps a better candidate," she said. "I hope I have an impact, I hope what I'm doing is important and I just hope that Joe wins."

McCain appeared in a video played during the Democratic National Convention last month that paid tribute to her husband and the long friendship he and Biden maintained in Washington. That video, overlaid with photos and footage of the two men, sought to remind America that bipartisanship and collegiality are possible in politics. It stopped short of an endorsement of Biden.

The McCain-Biden friendship extended to their home life: The families celebrated milestones, hosted get-togethers and, at the end of Johns life at the McCains' home in Cornville, Arizona, reflected on their adventures.

McCain joins more than 100 former staffers and campaign workers of her late husband to endorse Biden.

McCain, along with her daughter, TV commentator Meghan McCain, have been outspoken critics against Trump, whose feud with the senator dated to 2015, when Trump launched his first presidential bid. These days, the McCain women tend to speak out against Trump only when he re-airs his grievances.

Cindy McCain did not weigh in on Arizonas U.S. Senate special election, in which two well-funded candidates vie to fill the remainder of her late husbands term.

Sen. Martha McSally, R-Ariz., who lost her 2018 race for the states other Senate seat, faces an aggressive challenge by Democratic candidate Mark Kelly, a retired NASA astronaut and husband of former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz.

Kelly is scheduled to appear on ABCs The View, with Meghan and other co-hosts on Wednesday.

McCain told The Republic she would not get involved in Arizona politics this cycle.

Have news to share about Arizona's U.S. senators or national politics? Reach the reporter on Twitter and Facebook. Contact her at yvonne.wingett@arizonarepublic.com and 602-444-4712.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

Subscribe to our free political podcast, The Gaggle.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Cindy McCain endorses Joe Biden for president of the United States
3 1 of 3 Contributed Photo / Danbury Fire Department Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Contributed Photo / Danbury Fire Department Show More Show Less 3 of 3





DANBURY  There were non-life-threatening injuries in a two-vehicle crash that left one vehicle on its roof at a city intersection late Tuesday afternoon.

Police, fire units and medics headed to White Turkey Road Extension and Riverview Drive around 5 p.m. Tuesday for a reported collision.
By Laman Ismayilova

Azerbaijans national postal stamp agency (Azermarka) has issued a postage stamp timed to the 100th anniversary of representative of the anti-fascist Resistance movement Ahmadiyya Jabrailov.

The post stamp displays a Wehrmacht soldier pasting a wanted poster for Ahmadiyya Jabrailov in Paris. The stamp also features the images of Eiffel Tower and the emblem of Maquis, one of the groups of the French Resistance Movement.

Along with the postage stamp, envelopes were also released and put up for sale.

As one of the 240,000 Soviet soldiers taken prisoner whilst launching an offensive against the Nazis near the Izyum Bridge over the Don, Ahmadiyya was transferred to many camps, eventually ending up in a camp in Frankfurt-an-der-Oder.

Refusing to join the Nazis, he decided to escape and rejoin the Red Army. Ahmadiyya joined the Maquis of Cabertat in 1944. Following the liberation of Toulouse in September 1944, Ahmadiyya Jabrayilov met General Charles de Gaulle, and after the liberation of the MidiPyrenees, he joined the Third Hussars Regiment, with whom he participated in the Battle of the Vosges and the liberation of Mulhouse and Belfort. Thereafter, he was forcibly repatriated to the Soviet Union, following the FrancoSoviet Pact.

His bravery was belatedly recognized in 1966, when President General de Gaulle made his second visit to the Soviet Union. By this time, he had returned to Sheki, but General de Gaulles request to see him resulted in overnight fame.

He became a National Hero of France, and received the Croix de Guerre, the Cross of Military Valour and the Medal of the French Resistance, amongst other acknowledgements.

Nicknamed "Chargo", Ahmadiyya also toured the regions of France that he helped to liberate, and met many of his Resistance friends. His life was ended at the age of 74 by a car accident in Sheki.

The story of Ahmadiyya Jabrayilov was highlighted in many books and documentaries. One of the streets in Sheki is named after him.

Ahmadiyya Jabrayilov received the Legion dHonneur, one of the highest official recognitions. He was also declared National Hero of France.

There is also a house-museum of Ahmadiya Jabrayilov in Sheki, opened by his son, Javanshir Jabrayilov.

In November 2007, the French embassy in Azerbaijan, Baku French Cultural Centre and Sheki Museum organized the exhibition "He was called Armed Michele in France" dedicated to the hero. Photos, documents and film about the life of Ahmadiya Jabrayilov were presented at the exhibition

--

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
When times are tough, it's the little luxuries we relish. In which case, Queens of Mayfair might be on to something by offering a 50 cup of coffee.

The 15g of Ethiopian beans  which make slightly more than a Starbucks short cup serving  are so expensive a 25 deposit is required on booking at the London cafe.

At least part of the reason for the high cost is the rarity of the beans, which won the 2020 Cup of Excellence, a sort of Strictly Come Dancing for coffee suppliers globally.

Only two UK businesses  Difference Coffee Co (which supplies Queens of Mayfair) and Harrods were invited to bid for the exclusive batch at auction, which would retail at 2,000 per kilo.

India Sturgis (pictured) tries one of England's most expensive coffees at Queens of Mayfair coffee house, west London

Winning farmer Nigussie Gemeda Mude grows his crop in a three-hectare area of the Sidama region of Ethiopia and has a limited haul of 270kg. And 225g of his beans have filtered down to Queens of Mayfair, equivalent to 15 cups of coffee. When I call to book, six have already been sold in 24 hours.

But is it really worth 50? Only a tasting can answer this.

So it is that I find myself on a splendidly immaculate Mayfair street sitting in front of a beautifully ridged crystal goblet and feeling like a fish out of water.

Elia Cordaro, a senior barista at the recently opened artisan coffee shop, painstakingly weighs out the coffee beans, grinds them in a precise titanium mill (from Comandante, 205, if you're into that sort of thing), dampens some filter paper to stop the coffee tasting of the paper (which would be a slap in the face, says Elia) and delicately pours 250ml of water heated to 94c over the coffee for no more than two and a half minutes.

Here Elia Cordaro, a senior barista delicately pours 250ml of water heated to 94c over the coffee for no more than two and a half minutes

One of only two British buyers was the coffee shop Queens of Mayfair. The coffee is available on a first come first served basis, with only limited quantities available

This is so as not to scorch the coffee or extract too much of it, which leads to bitterness.

The highly thought of coffee, appearing more of an orange tone than most

He stops midway to allow something called a bloom  the bubbly, fast release of carbon dioxide that happens when ground coffee comes into contact with hot water  and which prevents sourness. I feel like I'm in both a chemistry class and theatre performance. Finally, a glass is filled.

I swill then smell it. The aroma is like that of watery tea but the taste is clean and bright. And I like it. Elia describes the brew as having hints of peach and apricot and subtle almond. Satsumas, I say hopefully? Maybe, he says, generously.

The fact is I can barely tell the difference between a cappuccino and a flat white, which is why I've brought along Bertie Sewell, coffee trader for Olam, a major food and agri-business company. He holds up the glass to the light and sips then slurps the coffee to the back of his throat, a technique to accentuate flavour. He gets a fruity, floral flavour profile.

It's lovely, but still, 50? I'm not sure.

'That's because the series of processes and requirements from a truly good cup of coffee are not well understood,' explains Sewell, patiently.

A view of the coffee filter. The coffee beans used (right, in packaging) are very sensitive to their environment

'Think about what you spend on excellent wine. It's the same for speciality coffee, which has many more flavour compounds and a complex value chain.

'Great beans require hand-picking, washing properly, drying properly (constant turning); they must be exported within time and under exact conditions.

'They require fermentation; roasting, which caramelises the beans and develops a whole other profile of flavour, then a barista must make it to a certain standard.

'The whole chain is reliant on one another to make amazing coffee. It's worth it because of the journey it has gone on and the expertise needed to brew it to perfection.'

There is also a drive to decommodify good coffee and pay those producing it more fairly. For example, Nigussie Gemeda Mude, the Ethiopian Cup of Excellence producer, rightly received full auction price as part of a fair-trade deal.

So maybe outrageously expensive coffee is actually a good thing?

I'm almost convinced.
Ron Cobb, the artist and movie production designer known for his work on the spaceship in Alien, the DeLorean in Back to the Future, and some tipsy aliens in Star Wars, died on Sept. 21 in Sydney, Australia. He was 83.

His wife, Robin Love, said the cause was Lewy body dementia.

Mr. Cobb, a self-taught designer who worked largely behind the scenes, advanced an aesthetic that still influences the spaceships and time machines of todays science fiction films: futuristic, yet retro; modular, but boundless; and bursting with meticulous detail.

He was hugely influential to myself and many of my peers in the business, said Francois Audouy, the production designer behind the 2019 movie Ford v Ferrari and the forthcoming Ghostbusters: Afterlife.
NATO said on Wednesday there had been "good progress" in military talks between Greece and Turkey aimed at avoiding clashes in the eastern Mediterranean, the scene of a dispute over energy resources.

Alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg said military officials from the two sides had held half a dozen meetings at NATO headquarters to try to agree a mechanism to prevent accidental air or sea clashes.

"These meetings are ongoing and good progress has been made," Stoltenberg said after talks in Brussels with the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

"These are technical military talks. They complement the diplomatic efforts led by Germany to resolve the underlying dispute."

Over recent months a standoff over gas exploration in contested waters has led to a dramatic ramping-up of tensions, with the two NATO members staging rival war games, stoking fears that conflict could erupt, perhaps by accident.

But the tone has softened this week, with Athens and Ankara on Tuesday agreeing to begin exploratory talks to resolve the dispute.

Stoltenberg welcomed the move, while Sanchez described it as "a significant step in the good direction".

Later Stoltenberg held phone talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, stressing the need for dialogue and de-escalation, NATO said in a statement.

He will hold phone talks on Thursday with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

The EU has stood by Greece and Cyprus -- which is also in dispute with Ankara -- and threatened sanctions if Turkey does not stop sending research vessels backed up by warships to disputed sites.

The bloc's leaders will debate the crisis when they meet for a summit in Brussels next week.

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HEALTH Minister Stephen Donnelly is continuing to work from home eight days after testing negative for Covid-19 as he is still unwell.

Mr Donnelly has dialled into two Cabinet meetings via video and phone link in the last five days from his home in Wicklow where he has been based since he began showing symptoms of the virus on Tuesday of last week.

He is one of four members of the Cabinet who is currently restricting their movements or isolating as a result of the ongoing pandemic.

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The Minister tested negative for Covid last week. He followed the public health protocols and self- isolated afterwards. He has been sick and so continued with his full programme of work from home this week," a spokesperson for Mr Donnelly said on Wednesday.

It is understood Mr Donnelly's illness is not serious and it is hoped he can return to work in the Department of Health next week.

Mr Donnelly began showing symptoms of the virus following the Cabinet meeting in Dublin Castle last Tuesday, September 15.

His Covid scare prompted a series of dramatic events with the Dail temporarily closed and all Cabinet ministers told to restrict their movements.

Mr Donnelly subsequently tested negative for the virus later that day and ministers were told they could resume their work. However, the Fianna Fail Minister has continued to work from home as he has been sick.

Elsewhere, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar is restricting his movements after coming into close contact with someone who tested positive for Covid-19. Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe is also restricting his movements after he learned one of his Eurogroup colleagues, France's Bruno Le Maire, tested positive for Covid-19.

Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney is partially restricting his movements after returning from a meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels earlier this week.

Mr Coveney was tested on re-entry. Once the re-entry test is negative he will be able to work in his Department and attend the Oireachtas as an office holder, a source close to the Minister said.

He will be tested again after seven days and will continue to restrict his movement from social settings. Mr Coveney is particpating in a number video meetings connected to Ireland's UN Security Council seat.
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - Sri Lankan authorities announced Wednesday that they will offer livestreams from the island nations wildlife parks, in a move to help revive a tourism industry that has been decimated by the coronavirus pandemic.

The governments Tourism Promotion Bureau said livestreaming will initially cover four national parks to showcase the South Asian countrys exotic wildlife, including leopards, bears, elephants, crocodiles and birds.

The project will offer eight wildlife streaming video sessions of one hour each which will be shown on social media platforms and shared further through broadcast media, the bureau said in a statement.

Tourism in Sri Lanka  which was named the worlds top travel destination for 2019 by Lonely Planet  has suffered severely due to the coronavirus, with authorities indefinitely postponing the reopening of the country to foreign tourists.

The government had planned to reopen to tourists on Aug. 1, but shelved the plan when a new cluster of COVID-19 patients emerged in July.

Tourism is vital for Sri Lanka, accounting for about 5% of its GDP and employing 250,000 people directly and up to 2 million indirectly. Several thousand hotel workers have been laid off since the pandemic started.

Sri Lankan health officials say they have prevented community spread of the virus, and that the patients now being reported belong to two known clusters. The country has reported 3,315 cases, including 13 deaths.

Sri Lanka imposed a nationwide curfew in March. The government gradually lifted the curfew in April and has taken steps to reopen the country in phases over the last three months, but schools and airports are still closed.

In an effort to contain the virus, Sri Lanka suspended all passenger flights and ship arrivals in mid-March, crippling the tourism industry.

According to the Tourism Development Authority, no foreign tourists arrived in Sri Lanka in April through August. There was a 60% decline in total tourist arrivals from January to August compared to the same period in 2019.

To meet the income loss, most hotels are offering discounted prices for local tourists.

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Authorities in Brazil have arrested an American man who allegedly supplied high-powered weapons, explosives and drugs to gangs in Rio de Janeiro.

Anthony David Schethtman was arrested by officers from the robbery and theft division unit on Tuesday night, according to Civil Police.

Schethtman, who reportedly holds American, British and Israeli citizenship, was being investigated for selling weapons and explosives which were used in bank robberies carried out by criminal groups in Rio de Janeiro, cops said.

The Civil Police said Schethtman, who was known as 'El Gringo', was driving a stolen vehicle when he was stopped in downtown Rio by cops assigned to the investigation.

News organizations in Brazil published social media photos purportedly showing Schethtman posing with firearms, including a machine gun.

Social media photos published by news organizations in Brazil reportedly show Schethtman posing with firearms. Schethtman is accused of selling high-powered weapons, explosives and drugs to gangs in Rio de Janeiro

Authorities also seized documents which they said were used by the individual to hide his real identity.

A Civil Police spokesperson told DailyMail.com on Wednesday that Schethtman was unarmed when taken into custody.

Schethtman is expected to appear before a judge, but a court date has not been set yet.

News organizations in Brazil published social media photos purportedly showing Schethtman posing with two firearms, including a machine gun.

DailyMail.com reached out to the United States Embassy for comment.
Hunter Water signs 3-year subscription to monitor Grahamstown Dam using Rezatec?s Geospatial AI Dam Monitoring product

Rezatec, in association with its partner Detection Services, will provide ground-breaking geospatial analytics to monitor structural and environmental change at Hunter Water?s Grahamstown Dam, Australia until 2023.

Following a successful initial deployment, which proved correlation of Rezatec?s analytical insights with previous events and subsequent works, Hunter Water has now moved forward with a 3-year subscription to monitor Grahamstown Dam.

Hunter Water?s Dams Safety Engineer, Daniel Turnbull, commented, ?From our first encounter with Rezatec, they have been great to work with. We are very confident in the capability of Rezatec?s technology and this subscription will help enhance our monitoring of Grahamstown Dam.?

Using sophisticated analysis of satellite derived imagery and geospatial data, Rezatec?s technology allows for a risk-based approach to monitor dams and reservoirs, with sub-centimetre precision. Due to the wealth of archive satellite data available, this technology is the only way for dam owners and engineers to look retrospectively at changes and trends over time. This enables a historic duty of care, with accurate insights to identify patterns of abnormal activity. Geospatial technology is critical in addressing asset repairs, maximising operational and infrastructure issues, while optimizing capital improvement and sustainability programs.

?It?s great to have Hunter Water on board as a client and continue to demonstrate our excellence in providing satellite solutions for dam owners and operators,? stated Philip Briscoe, Chief Operating Officer at Rezatec. ?Our mission is to help our clients make data-informed asset management decisions to dynamically manage the integrity and safety of their assets?.

Hunter Water has tried and tested other technologies however they have not been able to provide the same level of frequency and insight at such a competitive price, nor gain the retrospective insights via any other method.

Detection Services General Manager, Chris Evans, stated, ?As a long-term partner of Rezatec?s, the Dam Monitoring product is a game-changer for dam owners and operators, with the ability to remotely monitor infrastructure accurately and frequently, without sending teams into remote locations?.

Rezatec works with water leaders around the world to provide geospatial AI solutions that remotely monitor dams, waste and clean water pipelines, and water catchments. Each product fuses satellite and multiple data feeds with the most advanced AI on the market. Find out more here: https://www.rezatec.com/solutions/water-utilities/
Gregory and Subrina Collier, the owners of two restaurants in Charlotte, North Carolina, are on the council and are to join Biden on Wednesday at what the campaign is calling a Black Economic Summit. The group also includes the president of an accounting firm in Cincinnati and the owner of a marketing business in Henderson, Nevada, among others.
With the passage of 25 bills and introduction of six others, Rajya Sabha records showed 100% productivity during the monsoon session that was held amid the Covid-19 pandemic and adjourned sine die on Wednesday. This was also the second-shortest monsoon session of the Upper House since 1952. Instead of the scheduled 18 sittings, only 10 sittings were held between September 14 and 23. The House was scheduled to wind up on October 1.

Chairperson M Venkaiah Naidu said the session was concluded ahead of time as the Covid-19 pandemic continued to challenge humankind nine months after its outbreak.

He said Rajya Sabha consistently recorded its highest productivity in the last four sessions and it was praiseworthy. In his closing remarks, Naidu said a record amount of time (about 58% of the number of business hours) was spent on bills during the session, as against an average of 28% over the years.

Also Read: Parliament passes Bilateral Netting of Qualified Financial Contracts Bill

More allotment of time to bills, he said, justified the purpose of this session in which the Question Hour was dispensed with.

Opposition parties had protested the doing away of the Question Hour, pointing out that it infringed upon their right to seek answers from the government.

The monsoon session that was marked by many firstsincluding the schedule being limited to four hours, no weekend breaks and staggered sitting arrangements for MPsalso witnessed a ruckus on Sunday when some members of the Opposition surrounded deputy chairperson Harivanshs desk to protest against the decision of not spending more time discussing the contentious farm bills.

Referring to the ruckus that led to the suspension of eight Opposition MPs, their day-long protest inside Parliament complex, the Opposition parties subsequent walk-out and the deputy chairpersons one-day fast, Naidu said the session had brought forward some concerns, like the notice for the deputy chairmans removal.

It is our collective responsibility to avert such an unpleasant turn of events. The suspension of members is unpalatable but forced, he said, adding that while protesting was the Oppositions right, it was the manner of protest that needed attention.

Also Read: Rajya Sabha passes Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2020

According to Rajya Sabha Statistical Information 1952-2018; the 252nd session saw just 10 sittings, making it the second shortest of all the 69 monsoon sessions that have been held so far.

Records show that the 110th session held in July, 1979, and the 187th session held in October, 1999, which were also monsoon sessions, comprised six sittings each.

The 89th session of the House, the monsoon session, held during July-September, 1974, remains the longest monsoon session with 40 sittings. This is also the longest of all the 252 sessions of the House held since 1952.

So far, three sessions, including the current session, have had 10 sittings or less;16 sessions were held for 11 to 20 sittings each; 40 sessions had 21 to 30 sittings each; nine had 31 to 39 sittings each and one session had 40 sittings.

The 76th session of Rajya Sabha, also the monsoon session, had 18 sittings during August-September, 1976. Six other monsoon sessions had 16 to 17 sittings each.

Rajya Sabha records show only the 187th session with 6 sittings was held in October. This was the first session that took place after then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee assumed office for the third time.

Of all the 252 sessions of the Rajya Sabha so far, the 111th session remains the shortest with just one sitting on August 20, 1979. This was on account of then Prime Minister late Shri Charan Singh resigning the same day.

Typically, monsoon sessions are held during the months of July-August; this year, due to the pandemic, the session was delayed and Parliament could reconvene only in September. The budget session that precedes the monsoon session also had to be cut short in March when the Covid-19 outbreak occurred.

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Mumbai, Sep 23 : Heavy overnight rains lashed Mumbai and districts in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, seriously disrupting road and rail traffic, and affecting movement of people manning essential services, officials said here on Wednesday.

According to IMD, the city recorded over 12.20 cms rain while the suburbs notched over 27.50 cms rain most of it during the night.

The IMD Mumbai has forecast another wet day with heavy rain as the civic authorities urged people to avoid stepping out unless necessary.

Heavy water-logging was reported from the traditional flood-prone areas of central Mumbai like Sion, Matunga, Kurla, Chunabhatti, Mazagaon, Masjid Bunder and Byculla.

Image Source: IANS News

Besides several areas in the suburbs like Goregaon, Malad, Dahisar, Kurla, Ghatkopar, Mulund experienced waterlogging.

The Central Railway has suspended suburban services from Chhatapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus to Thane and Vashi. Special mail/express trains have been rescheduled, said CR Chief Spokesperson Shivaji Sutar.

Similarly, submerged tracks compelled the Western Railway to suspend all suburban services between Churchgate to Andheri.

Image Source: IANS News

"Heavy rains have been reported from Mumbai and Thane suburbs in last 12 hours with some places recording 150 mm plus rainfall," said KS Hosalikar, deputy director general of meteorology, IMD.

Mumbai's public bus service operator BEST has cancelled or diverted its operations in several routes.

-- Syndicated from IANS
GHAZNI, Afghanistan -- As the last Hindu resident of Ghazni, Raja Ram is making a stand. Despite fears for his safety following the recent departure of the citys last 21 Hindu and Sikh families to India, he insists on staying in his homeland.

The Hindus and Sikhs fled decades of uncertainty, attacks, and business losses in the capital of a province also called Ghazni, which once boasted a vibrant trading community of several hundred Hindu and Sikh families that sold spices, herbal medicines, and textiles in the city and beyond. The city of 270,000 is now mourning the loss of its Hindu and Sikh neighbors.

We all love our homeland, but they had to flee after the attacks, Ram told Radio Free Afghanistan, referring to a major attack on a Sikh temple this spring. The Islamic State (IS) militants claimed the March 25 attack, which killed 25 people in the capital, Kabul. The attack prompted the 250 families of Afghanistans tiny Hindu and Sikh community to begin the journey to India on special visas.

To everyone, their homeland is Kashmir, Ram said, quoting a Pashto proverb to illustrate that Afghanistans Hindu and Sikh minorities love their country as much as the fabled valleys of the disputed Himalayan region. Members of our community have left with broken hearts because of their worsening circumstances here. While members of two distinct faiths, Afghanistans tiny Hindus and Sikhs are considered one community.

While Afghanistans once 80,000-strong Hindu and Sikh community is on the verge of vanishing from the country, their Muslim neighbors and friends are saddened by their departure and long for the day when they can return.

Abdul Majeed, a shopkeeper, remembers growing up with Hindu and Sikh friends in Ghazni. We are really sad the attacks and insecurity ultimately forced them to leave, he said. I wish they could have stayed here and enjoyed living a normal life alongside us.

Ram, whose wife and four children have moved to India, is staying behind to look after a Hindu temple, a task for which the Afghan government pays him nearly $100 a month. He says his community has faced no persecution from Ghaznis ethnic Pashtun, Tajik, or Hazara residents but the fear of being targeted in attacks by Islamist militants or kidnapped by criminals made them leave.

Our forefathers have lived in harmony with local communities across Afghanistan, he said.

Last month, Sardar Gurbachan Singh Ghazniwal left Afghanistan. Like Ram, he lived in Ghazni but lost his business and property in the chaotic years of civil war in the 1990s. He resisted leaving Afghanistan and continued living at the Kabul temple, but after losing nine relatives in the March 25 attack Ghazniwal joined a group of exiled Afghan Hindus and Sikhs in India.

He tells Radio Free Afghanistan he began to feel alienated in his homeland. Whenever I rode in a bus or a taxi, my [Afghan] Muslim brothers asked me, Where do you come from in India Sardar?, Ghazniwal said. Even when I speak fluent Pashto and Dari, I am not considered an equal [citizen], he added, referring to Afghanistans two major languages.

In Ghazni, residents lament that their Hindu and Sikh neighbors have left. Sikhs are one of Afghanistans most peaceful communities, said Haji Basir, a textile merchant in Ghaznis Bazazi neighborhood. He says he often misses his neighbor, Otar Singh, who owned a shop next to his. I am very sad that he has left. I am sad for all our compatriots Sikhs and Hindus who have left, he told Radio Free Afghanistan.

Rahima, a housewife in Ghazni, misses her Hindu friend Sapna. We were very happy and often visited each others houses, she told Radio Free Afghanistan. I often miss Sapna and am very sad that she left.

Matiullah Kamalpuri, a local aid worker, says a large Hindu and Sikh community once thrived in the capital and provinces such as Ghazni, Helmand, Nangarhar, Khost, and Paktia. They were a part of our national fabric, he noted. They were a patriotic people and were committed to serving our country and their communities, he added. We are saddened over their departure; it is a major loss.

Wahidullah Jumazada, spokesman for the provincial governor, says the authorities are also dismayed over the departure of Ghaznis Hindus and Sikhs. They were a prominent fixture in our celebrations, but we now have no one to invite to our gatherings, he said.

But Narender Singh Khalsa, Afghanistans lone Sikh lawmaker, wants the authorities to act to provide security so that they can have confidence in their future. Four months after the attack on our temple, the government has done nothing to reconstruct it, so we do not see anything that can boost our confidence [that we are protected here], he told Radio Free Afghanistan last month.

Back in Ghazni, Ram hopes to reunite with his wife and their two sons and two daughters in a peaceful Afghanistan where Hindus and Sikhs can live as equal citizens. I hope that everyone will return to Afghanistan once there is peace here, he said. The Hindus and Sikhs are sons of this soil -- they are Afghans, too.

Abubakar Siddique wrote this story based on Habibur Rahman Taseers reporting from Afghanistan.
Chennai: Dr Sanket Mehta, a doctor ailing from COVID-19, who risked his life by offering his oxygen support to an elderly patient at a crucial time, is now out of danger. While performing his duties at his hometown Surat, he is said to have contracted coronavirus, following which he was hospitalized.

However, while admitted in the ICU, Dr Mehta, an anaesthetist is said to have offered the oxygen support (that he was dependent on) to an elderly person who was also in need of ventilator support.

This act of selflessness to save the 70-year old had deteriorated his own health condition and led to respiratory failure, after which he was airlifted to a private hospital in Chennai for further treatment.

The MGM hospital in Chennai had admitted Sanket at a time when he had fluctuating oxygen saturation and was ECMO dependent for oxygenation. His lungs were found to be stiff and not contributing to the respiration process. Owing to severe muscular weakness, he wasnt able to even move his limbs. After spending weeks under critical care, it was feared that he would require a lung transplant. But the MGM hospital has said that with continued ECMO support and clinical management, his condition has improved.

The Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treatment uses a machine that can perform the function of the heart and lungs when the patients heart is unable to pump enough blood and the lungs cant release carbon dioxide.

We had the option of doing a bilateral lung transplant in case the lungs do not recover. Fortunately, we could wean off of ECMO with the recovery of the lungs. Today, we are grateful to all based on how this has turned out, Dr Suresh Rao, Co-Director, Institute of Heart & Lung Transplant and Mechanical Circulatory Support said.

Live TV

Earlier on Tuesday, Dr Sanket was taken off ECMO support and his lungs with 40% oxygen support are able to sustain oxygenation at 100% oxygen saturation.

According to the hospital, he has been undergoing intensive physiotherapy and his muscle power has gradually increased, while his blood parameters are also within a normal range.

Dr Apar Jindal, Clinical Director & Consultant, Lung Transplant, Interventional Pulmonology & Chest Medicine said, The importance of physiotherapy and muscle movement in ICU especially in ventilated and ECMO patient is very crucial. If offered early and managed well, ECMO can help improve patients lungs and avoid escalation to transplant in COVID Acute Respiratory distress syndrome.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said the Irish Government will support any investigation into the loyalist murder of a Co Louth man 44 years ago.

An independent cross-border investigation will be carried out into the murder of Seamus Ludlow, 47, a forestry worker, who was killed on his way home from a pub in Dundalk in 1976.

Mr Ludlows family have led a campaign spanning decades to find the truth of the events surrounding his murder.

The investigation will be led by Jon Boutcher, a former police chief in England who heads Operation Kenova, involving a number of high-profile murders during the Troubles.

It is understood 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.

Sinn Fein TD Ruairi O Murchu called for the Taoiseach to commit Government support to Mr Ludlows family.

Seamus Ludlow was a man who was killed in May 1976 outside Dundalk by loyalists, including members of the British Army, the Louth TD told the Dail on Wednesday.

Yesterday, we heard the news that Jon Boutcher will lead a cross-border investigation, that is an investigation involving the North and South.

There were absolute failings on the part of the Garda, RUC and politicians north and south.

We have all seen Unquiet Graves in the past while and know the reality of British collusion.

We know the reality of the operation of death squads.

The Ludlow family has been failed miserably and told lies. It has experienced nothing but failed investigations, and even failures in this House.

Mr Martin said that Irish governments have successively been supporting the case of Mr Ludlow.

In fact, the Irish Government, in terms of all parties, has probably been the one that has honoured its commitments under the Good Friday Agreement as regards legacy issues, Mr Martin added.

I am also well aware of the murderous work of the Glenanne gang, the deeply poisonous legacy it left and the degree of collusion involved.

We are, and will remain, committed as a Government to getting through it and getting all groups involved who have lost loved ones as result of violence, terror and murder.

Mr Ludlows family has long maintained he 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 also confirmed new evidence that has emerged in recent weeks is with Mr Boutchers team.
 Introducing new partnership with SkyNRG, pioneer and global leader in sustainable aviation fuel



 Success of its current sustainability plan, which has seen 80% of Members join plan to reduce carbon footprint

 Technology-led optimization, reducing fuel consumption by an average of 8% per flight since January 2020



LONDON, Sept. 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VistaJet, the first and only global business aviation company, today announces the progress it has made on its Sustainability in Aviation pledge, launched in January 2020, to rapidly and meaningfully reduce its carbon footprint, and to explore all routes to higher levels of sustainability. The company is also announcing a market-leading partnership with SkyNRG, pioneer and global leader for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

The SAF industry has made advancements since its inception, yet the availability of sustainable fuels for jet airplanes is still limited due to financial, technical, and regulatory reasons. With air travel centered around hubs and the 20 busiest airports in the world handling nearly one-fifth of all air passenger traffic, this should make it easier for the new energy source to be fully adopted by operators*. However, a decade after their introduction, there are only a few hubs globally where sustainable biojet fuel is available and it still only accounts for less than 0.1% of total aviation fuel consumption.

As a fundamental step to further increase sustainability, VistaJet has signed a new partnership with SkyNRG, offering all VistaJet customers around the world access to sustainable aviation fuel. This will promote substantial reductions in aviation carbon emissions, and increase stable demand and availability around the world. Partnering with SkyNRG will offer VistaJet customers the most sustainable, cost-effective and scalable solution to decarbonize their flights, while helping to grow adoption across the entire industry.

As a core component of the Sustainability in Aviation program, VistaJet undertook a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions audit with South Pole, an award-winning project developer and global provider of climate action solutions. To coincide with Climate Week NYC, VistaJet provides its first progress update on its eight pillars of sustainability, and key findings are as follows:

VistaJets Carbon Offset Program  Since introducing the Sustainability in Aviation pledge, 80% of VistaJet Members have opted in to compensate for their fuel use-related emissions by investing in certified carbon credits around the world. This meaningful step has allowed VistaJet, with the help of South Pole, to already offset almost 100,000 tons of CO2 (tCO2)** on behalf of its customers  equivalent to over 21,600 passenger vehicles driven for one year or over 12.7 billion smartphones charged***. Additionally, through the EU ETS, emissions of all flights between European countries will be offset by April 2021, which between January to August 2020 totals 21,500 tCO2. Sustainable Aviation Fuel  The VistaJet brands main emission source is aviation fuel, representing 89% of the total GHG emissions and comprising emissions from the production, processing, delivery and combustion of aviation fuel. While offsetting indirectly reduces carbon footprint, using a fuel with a lower carbon intensity would significantly and directly reduce the industrys emissions  in its neat form the use of SAF can reduce carbon emissions by up to 85% compared to conventional jet fuel. VistaJets innovative new plan will secure SAF availability for its customers globally  sourced and delivered by SkyNRG from World Energys refinery  supporting fast adoption of this crucially important energy solution. Most Technologically Advanced Aircraft  VistaJets shared fleet model means less aircraft being produced and enables higher utilization of each existing jet. VistaJets global infrastructure also allows for a reduction in repositioning flights. Additionally, the companys young fleet benefits from the latest technology for the most efficient flying and secures better fuel burn than older aircraft. Its new Global 7500 fleet is the most technologically advanced aircraft available today. The aircraft was manufactured with design for the environment in mind, including its new GE Passport engines that produce less noise and fuel consumption of approximately 2.5 litres per functional unit  and even lower for some longer-range missions. Its high-speed transonic wing cuts down on drag, further reducing fuel burn and emissions. Fuel Consumption Reduction Technology  VistaJet Ltd launched a comprehensive program to automate flight optimization and global fleet management. Through investment in AI and machine-learning technology, the company is working on predictive route algorithms to minimize ferry flights and reduce fuel consumption. To date, using the FLIGHTKEYS 5D flight management system, the company has been able optimize route, level and speed to reduce fuel consumption by 8% per flight. The heightened system automation allows VistaJet dispatchers to increase efficiency in flight re-planning, while 3D optimization in congested airspace minimized the possibility of slot issues and delays. Fuel Efficient Booking System  Booking with at least one weeks notice helps to further improve fleet management, reducing unnecessary fuel burn. For VistaJet Members, the early booking program can mean a discount on their rates and is available as an option for new contracts. Customers who are more flexible on departure city airport selection have already helped to reduce movement around London airports by 20% in 2019, cutting several tons of CO2. Partnering with Leaders in Sustainability  VistaJet partners with carbon neutral companies wherever possible and has implemented new requirements for all purchasing partners, including sustainability accreditation for third parties across all departments in the business. Additionally, over 100 onboard stock vendors have been contacted to introduce more sustainable products. Sustainable In-Flight Products  VistaJet has removed over 90% of single-use items across its fleet and replaced items on board with sustainable alternatives. Examples of these include packaging products using starch that fully biodegrades in one year, replacing plastic toothbrushes with those made of bamboo, sourcing low-impact detergents and cleaning products, and switching to beauty products packaged in glass. This is in addition to serving meals on porcelain and crystalware, available onboard for many years. Moving to Renewable Electricity On-the-Ground  The extensive company audit enabled VistaJet to identify the carbon footprint of its operations and offices worldwide in order to define further GHG reduction opportunities and priorities. Electricity consumption represents 24% of the total emissions for VistaJet offices specifically. To decrease these levels, VistaJet has adopted electricity supplied from renewable sources for two of its largest offices and is assessing solutions for the others. Further schemes such as cycle to work and flexible location working are being rolled out to decrease employee emissions.

Next Steps for the Industry: VistaJets Call to Action

Although private aviation plays a relatively limited role in the global landscape of carbon emissions, producing around 0.04%**** of all human-induced CO2 emissions, demand for mobility is increasing, despite a decline in passenger demand this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

While the aviation industry has started discussing on multiple fronts with regulators, leaders in aviation cannot wait and must lead the way by investing in all available, robust solutions to drive the transition to zero carbon. VistaJet has dedicated itself to reducing its environmental footprint and affect positive change through innovation. Thomas Flohr, Founder and Chairman of VistaJet, said VistaJet is committed to making aviation better. Today, this means changing the way we operate, to benefit not only our customers, but the whole global community. In this spirit, I hope our private aviation partners and peers will do the same, working collaboratively to bring change faster, as this is the only way for the fragmented industry to take full responsibility for the long-term health of the planet. In addition to adhering to market-based measures and improving existing infrastructure, enhancing operational procedures and developing new technological innovations is crucial. We are positive about the future, and we believe together we can transform business aviation for the long-term good.

Information

Jennifer Farquhar | VistaJet | press@vistajet.com

Notes for Editors

For more information on VistaJets sustainability promise, its priority to reduce its carbon footprint meaningfully and fast, and to download the Sustainability in Aviation whitepaper, visit vistajet.com/sustainability.

* https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/08/carbon-neutral-flying/

** Between 1 January 2020 and 30 June 2020

*** https://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gas-equivalencies-calculator

**** The global aviation industry produces around 2% of the worlds total human-induced CO2 emissions. Private aviations current share of the aviation industrys global carbon footprint is 2%  so 0.04% of the total emissions.

About VistaJet

VistaJet is the first and only global business aviation company. On its fleet of over 70 silver and red business jets, VistaJet has flown corporations, governments and private clients to 187 countries, covering 96% of the world. Founded in 2004, the company pioneered an innovative business model where customers have access to an entire fleet whilst paying only for the hours they fly, free of the responsibilities and asset risks linked to aircraft ownership. VistaJets signature Program membership offers customers a bespoke subscription of flight hours on its fleet of mid and long-range jets, to fly them anytime, anywhere.



VistaJet is part of Vista Global Holding  the worlds first private aviation ecosystem, integrating a unique portfolio of companies offering asset-light solutions to cover all key aspects of business aviation. More VistaJet information and news at vistajet.com

VistaJet Limited is a European air carrier that operates 9H registered aircraft under its Maltese Air Operator Certificate No. MT-17 and is incorporated in Malta under Company Number C 55231. VistaJet and its subsidiaries are not U.S. direct carriers. VistaJet-owned and U.S. registered aircraft are operated by properly licensed U.S. air carriers, including XOJET Aviation LLC.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/54939574-b614-46db-89c2-c7e033d7c6a5
Travelers arriving at Helsinkis airport are being offered a voluntary coronavirus test that takes 10 seconds with no uncomfortable nasal swab needed. And the test is done by a dog.

A couple of coronavirus-sniffing canines began work at the Finnish airport on Wednesday as part of a pilot program that aims to detect infections using the sweat collected on wipes from arriving passengers.

Over the past months, international airports have brought in various methods to detect the virus in travelers, including saliva screenings, temperature checks and nasal swabs. But researchers in Finland say that using dogs could prove cheaper, faster and more effective.

After passengers arriving from abroad have collected their luggage, they are invited to wipe their necks to collect sweat samples and leave the wipes in a box. Behind a wall, a dog trainer puts the box beside cans containing different scents, and a dog gets to work.
Rochelle Chuck, a 12th-grade student, looks at a Facebook page during a break between online classes at her home in Dagupan City, Philippines, Sept. 23, 2020.

Updated at 4:35 p.m. ET on 2020-09-23

Social media giant Facebook said it has taked down more than 150 fake accounts that originated in China over interfering in Philippine politics, including those that promote Beijings interests in the South China Sea and that back President Rodrigo Dutertes daughter as his successor in 2022.

The accounts, which have a vast following in the Philippines, were traced to individuals from Fujian, China, who were operating using virtual private networks (VPN) to hide their identities, Facebook said.

In Southeast Asia where this network focused most of its activity, they posted in Chinese, Filipino and English about global news and current events including Beijings interests in the South China Sea; Hong Kong; content supportive of President Rodrigo Duterte and Sarah Dutertes potential run in the 2022 presidential election, Nathaniel Gleicher, head of Facebooks cybersecurity policy, said in a statement issued late on Tuesday.

The accounts also ran posts against Rappler, an independent Philippine online news organization that is critical of the Duterte administration.

In each case, the people behind this activity coordinated with one another and used fake accounts as a central part of their operations to mislead people about who they are and what they are doing, Gleicher said.

The Facebook official said the accounts were removed after they were found to have violated the companys foreign or government interference policy through coordinated inauthentic behavior on behalf of a foreign or government entity.

We identified several clusters of connected activity that relied on fake accounts to pose as locals in countries they targeted, post in groups, amplify their own content, manage pages, like and comment on other peoples posts particularly about naval activity in the South China Sea, including U.S. Navy ships, he said.

This campaign took operational security steps to conceal their identity and location including through the use of VPN. Some of this networks pages were previously removed for violating our inauthentic behavior and spam policies, Gleicher said, adding the accounts also interfered in U.S. politics.

Facebook said 155 accounts, 11 pages and nine groups linked to this cluster were taken down from its main social media platform, while another six accounts were removed from Instagram. These accounts paid Facebook U.S. $60 [2,900 pesos] for advertising.

In addition to China-backed accounts, Facebook also found that the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines were linked to accounts that actively campaigned against the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed-wing, the New People's Army.

We also removed 57 Facebook accounts, 31 pages and 20 Instagram accounts for violating our policy against foreign or government interference which is coordinated inauthentic behavior on behalf of a foreign or government entity. This network originated in the Philippines and focused on domestic audiences, the statement read.

This cluster, which used fake accounts to evade enforcement, was most active in 2019 and 2020. The accounts posted in Filipino and English about local news and events including domestic politics and military activities against terrorism.

They spent around $1,100 in spending ads on Facebook, paid for in [53,400] Philippine pesos.

Although the people behind this activity attempted to conceal their identities, our investigation found links to Philippine military and Philippine police, Facebook said.

These accounts targeted youth activists and the opposition. They uploaded several posts on the controversial anti-terrorism bill. More than 30 petitioners have questioned the bills constitutionality before the Supreme Court.

The Philippine military denied that accounts maintained by them were removed.

The AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] upholds truth and accountability of network and SocMed [social media] account managers as to the contents of postings in our websites, pages and accounts, military spokesman. Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said, in a statement.

On Wednesday, Facebooks Philippine policy team led by Clare Amador met with Philippine military chief Gilbert Gapay in what was described as an opportunity to establish how the armed forces could work with the social media platform.

We are pleased to inform you that we have similar advocacies with FB, among them the fight against drug trafficking, child exploitation and counter terrorism, the military said.

In March 2019, Facebook took down a cluster of 200 fake accounts operated by Nic Gabunada, the man identified by news reports as the strategist behind Dutertes social media campaign. Facebook said the accounts violated rules on fraudulent activities.

Facebook said at the time that the accounts linked to Gabunada were designed to look independent, but in fact we can see that they were coordinated. These accounts spent at least $59,000 (2.86 million pesos) on advertisements.

An estimated 74 million people used Facebook in the Philippines as of 2019, official government statistics showed.

Correction: The New People's Army was incorrectly identified in an earlier version of this story.
South Africa: President Ramaphosa to address Heritage Day celebration

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Thursday virtually deliver the 2020 National Heritage Day keynote address.

This years Heritage Day will be celebrated under the theme 'Celebrating South Africas Living Human Treasures'.

The theme is a recognition of the country's living human treasures, who embody repositories of knowledge, customs and traditions.

This years Heritage Month is dedicated to the living human treasures, namely Dr Esther Mahlangu, Mama Madosini Latozi Mpahleni and Mama Ouma Katrina Letsau.

As part of the celebrations and in their honour, three books have been launched, which acknowledge the efforts of these great women, who have distinguished themselves in their chosen fields of artistic occupation, putting South Africa on the global cultural map.

Throughout the month, government has promoted South African indigenous knowledge holders, who have been producing goods and services within local communities but have not received national or international acclaim and recognition.

Curbing GBV

Heritage Month is also being directed towards highlighting the fight against gender-based violence and femicide in the country.

As part of raising consciousness across society, government will continue to facilitate dialogues and hold panel discussions on GBV, aimed at engendering and sustaining positive behavioural change.

Heritage Month is a platform to promote the rich and diverse indigenous knowledge systems of South Africa.

It's an opportunity to create awareness around the scourge of GBV and encourage the country's living human treasures to champion the care of women and girl children within communities, and expose learners and youth to the richness of South African indigenous heritage.

It also seeks to advance the profile of South Africas outstanding indigenous knowledge holders as moral compasses in communities, promote the appreciation of and economic potential of products, goods and services made by indigenous knowledge holders, and enhance social cohesion and nation building through indigenous knowledge.

This years national day celebrations will also highlight the vastness and richness of indigenous knowledge systems represented by rites of passage, festivals, music, crafts, science, innovation, knowledge and our relations with the universe.

The celebrations will be televised on major news channels and streamed live across social media platforms.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2020-09-23. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 00:12:45|Editor: huaxia

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LONDON, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Massive queues of up to 7,000 freight trucks could form close to the British frontier in Kent if a Brexit deal with the European Union (EU) is not reached, British Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove said Wednesday.

Known as a staunch Brexit supporter, Gove outlined to MPs at the House of Commons (lower house of parliament) what he described as a worse case scenario without a deal, adding that the British government still hopes to reach a deal with the EU before Dec. 31, 2020.

Describing the end of the transition period as a moment of great opportunity with change and challenge ahead, Gove called on businesses in Britain to prepare for changes in customs procedures, noting that just 24 percent of businesses believe that they are fully ready for hard Brexit.

Attempts to negotiate a trade deal that would reduce the risk of delays were continuing this week, despite the arguments over the British government's apparent threat to break international law if they collapse.

The EU's chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, is preparing to travel to London for further informal talks with his counterpart Lord Frost in an effort to reach an agreement, which has stalled due to disputes on state aid and fishing rights.

"The consequences of a lack of business preparedness will be not just economic opportunities missed for those companies who don't prepare but, potentially, much wider disruption," said Gove.

He said the government's Reasonable Worst Case Scenario planning assumptions, indicated what could happen if Britain does not secure improved preparedness.

"The scenario builds on an estimate that only 50-70 percent of large businesses, and just 20-40 perent of small- and medium-sized enterprises, would be ready for the strict application of new EU requirements," he added.

It could mean that only between 30 and 60 percent of freight vehicles, laden with goods destined for Europe, would arrive at the border with the necessary formalities completed for the goods on board.

"They would therefore be turned back by the French border authorities, clogging the Dover to Calais crossing," Gove said, noting that in such a scenario flows across the critical Short Strait crossings from the Port of Dover could be reduced by up to 60 to 80 percent compared to the normal rate.

"In such circumstance, that could lead to queues of up to 7,000 HGVs (heavy goods vehicles) in Kent," said Gove.

Although Britain left the EU in January, it is still following the blocs single market and custom's union rules during a transition period ending after 100 days. Enditem
The Great British Bake Off

Rating:

With a transmission time pushed back 15 minutes because of the Prime Ministers Covid address to the nation, the Great British Bake Off cooked up some piping hot revenge.

Judges Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood, alongside new host Matt Lucas, began the 11th series with a spoof health warning press conference.

Under a blond wig, Lucas looked almost more like Boris than Boris, and succinctly parsed the confusing messages that emanate from Downing Street.

Judges Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood, alongside new host Matt Lucas, began the 11th series with a spoof health warning press conference

If you must bake in a tent, bake in a tent. But please dont bake in a tent, said Half-Baked Boris. Yes, it was as clear as mud pie as usual. Then it was back to the baking.

Same old Bake Off. Familiar, comforting, lovely, Prue Leith informed us. Oh really? Are you sure? That was before her dazzling toothy-pegs alighted on contestant Lorieas bubblegum and cream soda-flavoured Battenburg, sinking into a pelt of thick blue marzipan from which easy extraction seemed unlikely.

Thence to throb with dismay at a mint-flavoured cream filling (dismissed as toothpaste-y) elsewhere before being tormented again by Loriea, who had flavoured a chocolate cake with ginger and powdered Scotch bonnet chillies  because why not?

In this citadel of competitive cakery capers, vanilla is often too vanilla for the ambitious baker even if their boldness is not always appreciated.

Thats a little bit overwhelming, said judge Paul Hollywood, looking freshly dipped in icing sugar, as hot chilli tears sparked deep in his baby blues. Wheezing at his side, Prue could only concur.

When Lorieas technical challenge cakes were judged too pale and her cream topping too messy, her fate was sealed. She was the first to leave the Bake Off tent this year, a sad exit during Cake Week for a spirited soul.

Peter, a shy young Scot who survived being described as a 20-year-old badminton-mad accountancy student, was the first star baker of the series. His showstopper cake was flavoured with good old strawberries and cream, plus whipped egg whites  is there a moral in the simplicity of his meringue?

Before this, there was carnage and scandal at the conclusion of the technical challenge. Pharmacy dispenser Sura accidentally bumped into security guard Dave, tragically sending his pineapple upside-down cakes the right way up. She burst into tears and scrabbled through the mess on the floor trying to salvage his bakes. He walked off, quietly seething.

Pharmacy dispenser Sura accidentally bumped into security guard Dave, tragically sending his pineapple upside-down cakes the right way up

Accidents happen, he said later through gritted teeth, trying and just failing to be 100 per cent magnanimous. Could you blame him?

He was judged on the two perfect cakes that remained intact and squeezed through to the next round. This is the 11th series of GBBO, but the first one made under socially distanced rules. One can only pity poor Prue, who had to isolate with fellow judge Paul, plus hosts Noel Fielding and Matt. There is not a grown-up among you, she told them last night  and who would argue with that?

During his first outing on the show, former Little Britain star Matt wasted no time in declaring himself homosexual, unattractive and a lover of Super Noodles while balancing a rolling pin on his bald head. It was a bit try-hard but fine by me, as anything is an improvement on Sandi Toksvig.

All white on the night He has judged Bake Off since the show began in 2010 and some of the culinary disasters have been enough to turn anyones hair grey. But Paul Hollywoods crowning glory has gone further and turned white over the years. The 54-year-old son of a bakery owner from the Wirral was already going grey when Bake Off started a decade ago. But for the new series he has cooked up a new look, with a distinctly white topping. Paul Hollywoods crowning glory has gone further and turned white over the years Advertisement

To be honest, I had not been looking forward to this series very much. Once upon a time I loved Bake Off with a passion, but it has been stuck in a rut for the past few years  over-baked by a rigid format and strictly patrolled by its own catchphrases and customs, leaving little room for the unfamiliar or the pleasant surprise.

But this year, something is stirring in the flour sacks. It feels different already. Perhaps it was just the anarchic showstopper challenge, in which bakers were asked to make a cake bust of their personal celebrity hero.

The choices were bizarre  Louis Theroux, Charles Darwin, a lemon madeira Bill Bryson? Yes, its obviously Bill Bryson, said Prue, of a cake that looked nothing like the famous author, but bore a startling resemblance to Grandpa Simpson instead.

One baker produced a Coconut Ziggy  a depiction of David Bowie described as a fondant lightning strike decorating a chocolate sponge and vanilla buttercream reimagining of The Thin White Duke. Not quite. The end result looked like someone had taken an axe to Ronald McDonalds skull.

And we all know that the Bake Off is PC right down to its fair trade sugar supplies, but why didnt anyone say anything about Lindas Bob Marley cake? Not only did it look like a hunk of half-baked bread  poor Bob had turned suspiciously white. Have they forgotten that black loaves matter?

Overall, a strong start for the new series where there was comfort aplenty in the cinnamon-scented warmth of the familiar. Right now, at this exact moment, Bake Off answers to something yearning in our way of being.

What lies ahead of us? As we worry about the lives on hold, the troubling void, the uncertainty of curtailment, the home front seems even more important. Even if the cherry is off the pineapple upside-down cake. For the moment.
Fans can't get enough of Netflix's new hit series Ratched, but some horrified viewers are insisting the show's gruesome depictions of child sex abuse and asylum torture should come with 'trigger warnings.'

Developed by Ryan Murphy, the psychological thriller stars Sarah Paulson as Nurse Mildred Ratched, the sadistic villain from Ken Kesey's 1963 novel 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.'

The show has topped Netflix's charts since it debuted last Friday, and while many viewers have been quick to praise Paulson's performance, some were admittedly disturbed by the show's shocking content.

Scroll down for video

Famous face: Netflix's hit series Ratched stars Sarah Paulson as Nurse Mildred Ratched, the sadistic villain from Ken Kesey's 1963 novel 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'

Just saying: Viewers of the Netflix horror series Ratched are insisting the gruesome show should have 'trigger warnings'

Set in 1947, the eight-episode series follows Nurse Ratched as she arrives in Northern California to work at Lucia State Hospital, where she conducts experiments on her psychiatric patients.

The star-studded cast includes Finn Wittrock as mass murderer Edmund Tolleson, Cynthia Nixon as Ratched's love interest Gwendolyn Briggs, and Sharon Stone as eccentric heiress Lenore Osgood.

The series is rated TV-MA, for mature, adult audiences only, and at the beginning of each episode warnings of 'violence, sex, nudity, language, gore, [and] smoking' briefly appear in the corner of the screen.

However, some critics think the warnings don't go far enough, considering the horror show has scenes of child sex abuse, graphic conversion therapy, and torture.

Plot: Set in 1947, the series follows Ratched as she starts working as a psychiatric nurse at Lucia State Hospital, where she conducts experiments on patients

Backlash: The series is rated TV-MA, and the episodes feature brief warnings of 'violence, sex, nudity, language, gore, [and] smoking,' but critics don't think they go far enough

'Trigger warning if you want to watch Ratched: there is rape and conversion therapy in it. The sexual abuse (thus far, I'm only on episode 3) is mild but the conversion therapy is very intense and will be triggering!' one person tweeted.

'Sure, #Ratched has lesbians, but it also has: -gay conversion therapy/homophobia -lobotomys/disturbing views on mental illnesses -abuse -dubious consensual sex -too much gore/violence/graphic scenes -misogynistic men #RatchedNetflix should be cancelled, so should Paulson,' another commented.

Some viewers took it upon themselves to tweet trigger warnings for each episode, so people will know what to expect when they tune in.

'TWs for #Ratched I thought may be helpful' one person wrote, sharing episodes and time stamps for every triggering scene in the series.

Yikes: The horror show has scenes of child sex abuse, graphic conversion therapy, and torture

Helping out: Some viewers took it upon themselves to tweet trigger warnings for each episode, so people will know what to expect when they tune in

'S1:E3 TW gay conversion torture at 10:00-14:45 and sex scene that may be traumatic for lesbians 30:05-31:35. S1:E5 TW drug abuse 48:00-48:20. S1:E6 TW animal cruelty 14:10 to 15:05 and TW child sexual abuse 23:22-27:40 + CW 31:20-32:20.'

Someone else shared: 'Ratched's ep 6 "Got No Strings" has child physical and psychological abuse. It isn't so graphic, but still very triggering. It actually kinda ruined the show to me.'

The show has also been slammed by critics, with Variety saying it's 'inscrutable' and 'gratuitously unpleasant' and Mashable dubbing it 'the worst season of American Horror Story.'

Winning: Despite a less than stellar critical reception, Ratched has taken the number one spot on Netflix since it started streaming, and fans can't stop talking about Paulson's performance

Can't wait: A number of viewers are already eagerly awaiting the show's second season

However, viewers can't get enough of Ratched, which has taken the number one spot on Netflix since it started streaming, and there has been plenty of praise for Paulson's performance.

'@MsSarahPaulson is a damn powerhouse in #Ratched. Give this woman all the awards!!!' one person tweeted.

'P.S: Yes, I, a 22 year old man did bawl like a baby RE: the abuse storyline. I dont care though, it hit hard. B-E-A-U-TIFULLY DONE.'

'Ratched on Netflix was so good,' another gushed. 'Whens season 2[?]'

While the premiere date for Ratched's second season has yet to be released, it's definitely returning o Netflix. The streaming network ordered two seasons of the series back in September 2017.
Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, a member of Pakistans National Assembly and patron-in-chief of the Pakistan Hindu Council, called on the countrys foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Tuesday to discuss what he referred to as the Jodhpur incident, according to a statement issued by Pakistans foreign affairs ministry.

It was in reference to an incident in the Indian village of Lodta in Rajasthan states Jodhpur district on August 9, when 11 Pakistani Hindu migrants were found dead at a farm under mysterious circumstances, according to reports.

According to a PTI report, the family had moved to India from Pakistans Sindh province in 2015 on long-term visas. They had been living in Lodta for the past six months, where they were hired to work on a farm.

Earlier this month, Pakistan had summoned the Indias charge daffaires in Islamabad to convey the governments concern over the deaths, as per news reports.

The Pakistan foreign ministrys press statement said Vankwani briefed Qureshi about the anxiety in the Pakistani Hindu community over last months incident in Rajasthan. He said that Shrimati Mukhi, the daughter of the deceased head of the family, had filed an FIR in Sanghar over the incident.

As per the press statement, Vankwani claimed that according to Mukhi, her father, mother and other family members were murdered after refusing to spy on Pakistan and issue anti-Pakistan statements at the behest of an Indian intelligence agency.

The statement also said that the Pakistan foreign minister informed Vankwani that the government had taken up the issue with India through diplomatic channels in Islamabad and New Delhi.

Immediately after the incident, the Pakistan high commission in New Delhi had asked the Indian government for access to a surviving member of the family, sharing of copies of the FIR and initial investigation report, and facilitating the presence of the high commissions representatives during post-mortem of the deceased persons, the statement added.

According to the press note, Qureshi assured Vankwani that the safety and security of Pakistani nationals was the responsibility of the Pakistan government. He added that since the victims of Jodhpur incident were Pakistani nationals, it was incumbent upon Islamabad to be fully aware of the circumstances under which the Pakistani nationals died in India.

Appreciating the efforts made by the Pakistan government over the incident, Vankwani said the Hindu community would take necessary steps to register its protest over the deaths, the press statement concluded.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 22:44:29|Editor: huaxia

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BERLIN, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas went into quarantine on Wednesday as one of his bodyguards was infected by COVID-19, the country's foreign ministry announced.

A first COVID-19 test of Maas on Wednesday yielded a negative result, a spokesperson of the German Foreign Office said in a statement.

In cooperation with public health services, the ministry would now clarify whether and to what extent other people were affected and what measures, if any, were to be taken.

"All persons potentially affected will be contacted promptly," said the spokesperson.

In March, German Chancellor Angela Merkel had stayed in self-quarantine after learning a doctor who gave her vaccination was infected.

Merkel then took three tests and the results were all negative. Enditem
The family went back to the E.R. but, she was told not to worry. The balance issues were chalked up to the fever. My oldest was 8, Bradley said. I know I only had eight years of being a mom under my belt, but I had never seen anything like this. I was pretty upset and I told them I was upset, that they werent giving me any answers. Bradley went to a different E.R. that Friday evening, but was again sent home.

On Sunday morning, Ryleigh woke up, smiling, and said she was hungry. Bradley was thrilled at this apparent sign of recovery and proposed they all go out to breakfast. But Ryleigh was struggling to get up and out of bed. Bradley stood her daughter on her feet. She took two of the strangest steps Ive ever seen and then she just dropped.

This time, Bradley wasnt told to let the virus run its course.

Eventually, Ryleigh was diagnosed with acute flaccid myelitis, or A.F.M., a rare neurological disease that follows an infection with a common virus from the enterovirus family. Most kids get sick with enteroviruses at some point; a tiny fraction go on to develop A.F.M. Everybody else recovers, but the A.F.M. kid has this horrible catastrophe that affects the rest of their life, said Emily Erbelding, director of the Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health.

The condition affects the cells of the spinal cord, causing paralysis. Some recovery is possible  at her most affected, Ryleigh could only move her eyes, and today she can walk with assistance, speak and move both arms  but few kids see a full recovery.
A one-shot vaccine enters final testing in the U.S.

Johnson & Johnson has begun the final stage of clinical trials for a coronavirus vaccine that could have a big advantage over its competitors: It would require just one shot instead of two.

The trials, which began on Monday, will be the largest in the U.S., with plans to enroll 60,000 participants. It would be fabulous if we had something at a single dose, said Dr. Judith Feinberg, the vice chairwoman for research in medicine at West Virginia University, who was not involved in the study.

Only Phase 3 trials, which compare the effects of a vaccine with those of a placebo, can determine if a single dose is indeed effective, Dr. Feinberg said.

Another plus: The vaccine does not need to be frozen. The freezing requirement could make distribution difficult, especially to places without advanced medical facilities.
DIDCOT, UK / ACCESSWIRE / September 23, 2020 / Altus Strategies Plc (AIM:ALS)(TSX-V:ALTS)(OTCQX:ALTUF), announces that trading in the Company's Ordinary Shares will begin today on the OTCQX Best Market in the United States, under the ticker symbol "ALTUF."

Steven Poulton, Chief Executive of Altus, commented:

"Altus is a precious metals focused royalty and project generator with a number of notable institutional and retail shareholders, some of which are based in the US. OTCQX is the highest tier of the OTC market, and we are delighted to be admitted to trading as a means of enhancing our visibility to prospective US investors, who are increasingly looking for exposure to the royalty generator model. Trading on OTCQX will provide the opportunity for more investors to participate in our continued strong progress."

Altus was sponsored for OTCQX by MCAP LLC, a qualified third-party firm responsible for providing guidance on OTCQX requirements and recommending membership. Altus is upgrading to the OTCQX market from the OTC Pink Sheets, and the ticker symbol (ALTUF) remains. The shares of Altus continue to be listed on AIM and the TSX-V.

About OTC Markets Group Inc.

The OTCQX is the premier tier of the US OTC market that is operated by OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM). OTCQX is a trading platform designed for established, investor-focused US and international companies. To qualify, companies must meet high financial standards, follow best practice corporate governance, and demonstrate compliance with applicable securities laws. Current financial disclosures and Real-Time Level 2 quotes for Altus are available at www.otcmarkets.com.

For further information, you are invited to visit the Company's website www.altus-strategies.com or contact:

Altus Strategies Plc

Steven Poulton, Chief Executive

Tel:+44 (0) 1235 511 767

E: info@altus-strategies.com

SP Angel (Nominated Adviser)

Richard Morrison / Soltan Tagiev

Tel: +44 (0) 20 3470 0470

SP Angel (Broker)

Abigail Wayne / Richard Parlons

Tel: +44 (0) 20 3470 0471

Yellow Jersey PR (Financial PR & IR)

Georgia Colkin / Charles Goodwin / Henry Wilkinson

Tel: +44 (0) 20 3004 9512

E: altus@yellowjerseypr.com

About Altus Strategies Plc

Altus Strategies (AIM:ALS)(TSX-V:ALTS)(OTCQX:ALTUF) is a mining royalty company generating a diversified and precious metal focused portfolio of assets. The Company's focus on Africa and differentiated approach of generating royalties on its own discoveries as well as through financings and acquisitions with third parties has attracted key institutional investor backing. The Company engages constructively with all stakeholders, working diligently to minimize its environmental impact and to promote positive economic and social outcomes in the communities where it operates. For further information, please visit www.altus-strategies.com.

TSX Venture Exchange Disclaimer

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organisation of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Market Abuse Regulation Disclosure

Certain information contained in this announcement would have been deemed inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 ("MAR") until the release of this announcement.

SOURCE: Altus Strategies Plc

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/607294/Altus-Commences-Trading-on-OTCQX-Market-in-the-United-States
Skaneateles, N.Y. -- Hillrom, which bought medical equipment maker Welch Allyn in Skaneateles five years ago, is reducing its workforce because of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on sales.

The Chicago-based companys parent, Hill-Rom Holdings Inc., disclosed in a filing with the U.S. Security and Exchange Commission Sept. 15 that it was launching a workforce reduction plan as part of the Companys continued business optimization initiatives.

These initiatives are designed to advance the Companys strategy and growth platforms and improve its operations and cost structure, it said.

The plan includes a voluntary retirement program and involuntary severance actions, Hillrom said.

The company did not say how many jobs it expects to eliminate through the program. However, it estimated it will incur a restructuring charge of about $35 million related to employee termination and severance costs.

Hillrom spokesman Howard Karesh said Wednesday the number of job reductions company-wide and in Skaneateles will not be known until after applications for the early retirement offer are received and approved. Employees have until early October to apply, with departures to follow in November, he said.

Obviously, we prefer the reductions be voluntary, which is better for our colleagues, said Karesh.

Hillrom employs about 1,000 people in Skaneateles, where it purchased Welch Allyn from the Allyn family in 2015 for $2.05 billion.

Karesh said the impact of the pandemic on sales is driving the workforce reduction.

In its fiscal third quarter that ended June 30, Hillrom reported a surge in demand for products such as its medical, surgical and intensive care unit beds, and Welch Allyn vital signs monitoring equipment and thermometry.

However, reduced physician office visits led to a decline in certain product categories, including physical assessment and diagnostic tools, the company said.

The companys stock has taken a hit this year. It started the year at $113.74 and closed at $82.40 on Tuesday.

Rick Moriarty covers business news and consumer issues. Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact him anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-470-3148
The German cabinet on September 23 approved Finance Minister Olaf Scholz's draft budget for next year which envisages net new debt of 96.2 billion euros ($112.43 billion) to finance further measures to tackle the coronavirus crisis, an official said.

The additional borrowing marks the second-highest amount of net new debt in Europe's largest economy since the end of World War Two and comes after the government already took on record high borrowing of some 218 billion euros this year.

The budget underlines Scholz's determination to move Germany further away from its former image as Europe's austerity champion and secure Berlin's new role as the biggest spender in the euro zone's struggle to recover from the coronavirus shock.

The fiscal plans require Germany to suspend its constitutionally enshrined debt limits in 2021 after parliament already abandoned them this year.

From 2022 onwards, Germany plans to stick to its debt brake rules again, limiting borrowing to a tiny fraction of gross domestic product.

The government's mid-term fiscal plans envisage net new debt of 10.5 billion euros in 2022, 6.7 billion euros in 2023 and 5.2 billion euros in 2024. This means Germany is not planning to return to its ultra-prudent fiscal policy of keeping a balanced budget.
Priyanka Chopra has congratulated Jonas Brothers for their nomination at the upcoming Billboard Music Awards. The band comprises her husband Nick Jonas and his two brothers, Kevin and Joe. The three brothers have been nominated in four categories -- top artist, top duo/group, top radio song and top radio songs artist.

Sharing a picture of the Jonas Brothers on her Instagram Stories, Priyanka wrote, Congrats @jonas@bbmas noms!! along with a clap emoji.

Priyanka Chopra has congratulated Nick Jonas and his brothers for their BMA noms.

Meanwhile, the Bajirao Mastani actor has been predicted by Variety as one of the top contenders for the best supporting actress category at the Oscars this year. The Baywatch actor is expected to be nominated for her upcoming Netflix film, The White Tiger. Directed by Ramin Bahrani, the film is an adaptation of Aravind Adigas novel of the same name. Her character in the film is something fans have never witnessed her doing before and is already being touted as one of the best so far. Netflix is producing The White Tiger in association with Mukul Deora and Priyanka will also serve as an Executive Producer.

For the unversed, Varietys Awards Circuit is home to the official predictions of the upcoming Oscars. Priyanka is being listed with the likes of Meryl Streep (for The Prom), Han Yen-ri (for Minari), Kristin Scott Thomas (for Rebecca) and Olivia Colman (for The Father) amongst others.

An inspiration for several young women, the 38-year-old actor also came forward to support business run by inspiring women in different parts of the world amid the pandemic. The superstar was once quoted saying, When women are financially empowered, they can transform families, communities and countries.

Also read: Ayushmann Khurrana only Indian actor on Times 100 most influential list, Deepika Padukone praises actor

As per the latest development on her work front, Priyanka has joined HBO Maxs A World of Calm as one of the narrators. The series is based on the popular meditation app Calm and will also feature Oscar winner Kate Winslet, the streamer said in a statement. The two actors join an impressive list of global stars already aboard the show -- Mahershala Ali, Idris Elba, Oscar Isaac, Nicole Kidman, Zoe Kravitz, Lucy Liu, Cillian Murphy, and Keanu Reeves.

(With ANI and PTI inputs)

Follow @htshowbiz for more
New Delhi: The monsoon session of Parliament concluded on Wednesday, eight days ahead of schedule, due to concerns over the spread of the coronavirus disease among members. The session, which started on September 14 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, was otherwise scheduled to conclude on October 1.

In a first in Indian parliamentary history, some members of the Lok Sabha were also seated in the Rajya Sabha chamber and visitor galleries to ensure social distancing. The Rajya Sabha also followed similar practice with its members seated in the Lower House. During this session, while the Rajya Sabha met in the first half of the day, the Lok Sabha assembled at 3 pm.

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Members wore masks and face shields in both Houses. In Lok Sabha, fibreglass shields were placed in front of benches and on either side of the seats to prevent the spread of the virus. The members were not allowed to speak while standing. Many MPs including some ministers had tested positive for COVID-19.

Besides the legislative business, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's statement on the India-China standoff in east Ladakh in both the Houses was a key highlight of the brief session. He asserted that no force in the world can stop Indian troops from patrolling the country's border in the Ladakh region.

In perhaps one of its shortest sessions, Parliament passed key bills related to agriculture and labour reforms. Rajya Sabha witnessed bedlam during the passage of two farm sector-related bills. Eight opposition members of the Upper House were suspended for "unruly behaviour" following the ruckus.

Most opposition parties boycotted Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha proceedings to protest the suspensions. In the Lok Sabha, several opposition members were not present when the House was adjourned sine die in the evening. In his concluding remarks, Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said it is "extremely unpalatable" when bills are passed amid a boycott of proceedings by some sections of the House, but not taking up legislative work in such a situation may legitimise their action as an "instrument of blocking legislation".

Rajya Sabha passed 15 bills in the last two sittings with opposition parties boycotting the proceedings to protest the suspensions. "Though it is not the first time that some members are suspended and bills are passed when some sections of the House boycott the proceedings, I find it extremely unpalatable.

"This kind of situation needs to be avoided by all means," Naidu said in his remarks on the conclusion of the 252nd session of the Rajya Sabha. Expressing concern over the conduct of some of the members, he said it was "deeply painful" and all need to "collectively ponder" over these issues.

On the suspension on the eight members, Naidu said rules of the House provide for such action when it becomes inevitable. "If legislative work is not taken up during the boycott by some sections of the House, it may legitimise such boycott as an effective instrument of blocking legislation," he said.

In his concluding remarks before adjourning the House, Speaker Om Birla said the productivity of the session was a record high.

The productivity of the House was 167 per cent, which was much higher than the past session, he said while thanking all the members. During the 10 working days of the session including Saturday and Sunday, a total of 25 bills were passed, he said, adding, some of the important bills included those related to agriculture reforms and the labour sector.

Besides, the House also passed the first batch of Supplementary Demands for Grants empowering the government for additional spending of Rs 2.35 lakh crore, the highest ever so far. During the session, the House transacted 68 per cent legislative business and the remaining 32 per cent non-legislative business including discussions.

The House also took up a discussion on the coronavirus pandemic, which continued for over five hours, Birla observed. During the session, private members' business which is usually taken up on Friday evenings was done away within both the Houses to save time.

During private members' business, Bills brought by individual members are introduced and debated. The session also saw the two Houses doing away with the Question Hour in which members ask supplementary questions from the government. However, written replies were tabled.
Starting Monday, 276 teachers in Kenosha Unified School District (KUSD) in Wisconsin engaged in a sickout strike in opposition to increasing COVID-19 outbreaks and deadly conditions in the school district. The majority of teachers who called in sick did so on Sunday evening, forcing the district to close seven schools and switch to remote learning for this entire week.

With 104,170 COVID-19 cases and 1,251 deaths since the onset of the pandemic, Wisconsin has had a major surge in cases in recent weeks. In the past week alone, there have been a reported 4,200 new positive cases and 34 deaths. Among those who died last week was Heidi Hussli, a 47-year-old Bay Port, Wisconsin, German teacher who had been teaching in person under a hybrid model just prior to contracting the virus.

KUSD is the only large public school district in Wisconsin offering in-person education to start the academic year. The state is now averaging 1,792 new cases a day, with a 16.7 percent test positivity rate for the past week, among the highest in the US. In addition to K-12 schools reporting outbreaks, college campuses, including the University of Wisconsin-Madison, have become major hot spots adding to the surge in cases throughout the state.

Kenosha teachers protesting late last month. (Source: Kenosha Education Association)

As of Sunday, KUSD had seven confirmed cases of students and three staff members across multiple school sites. With at least three positive cases reported at Indian Trail High School and Academy, at least 16 staff members and 100 students are in quarantine through September 30. There are also reports of positive cases at Tremper High School, Lakeview Technology Academy, Prairie Lane Elementary and Bullen Middle School.

Each of these schools, except Prairie Lane Elementary and Bullen Middle School, has been closed for the week by the sickout. In addition, Bradford High School, Harborside Academy, Lincoln Middle School, and Reuther Central High School were also closed due to the sickout.

The new school year began on September 14, with parents and students given a choice of either in-person or remote learning. Roughly 58 percent of students returned to schools for in-person instruction, and within days confirmed cases began cropping up within the schools.

Teachers, parents and students have been protesting the reopening plans since August 31, after the district rescinded its plan to reopen with only remote learning and decided to offer the choice of in-person instruction under a hybrid model. Teachers, parents and students have protested at board meetings to voice their opposition, holding signs that read, One student or teacher funeral is too many and Dont make me choose between students and my health.

The sickout appears to have been organized independently from the Kenosha Education Association (KEA), which distanced itself from the initiative taken by rank-and-file teachers. In a statement released Monday evening, the KEA did not claim responsibility for organizing hundreds of teachers who called in sick and the unions Facebook page had no posts about the sickout, let alone any statements of support for the brave action by teachers.

School officials were notified Sunday night about the mass absences by teachers, and the district is quickly moving to victimize outspoken teachers and those who helped coordinate the sickout. Tanya Ruder, chief communications officer for the KUSD, told local media that absences that arent considered legitimate will be investigated.

In a Tuesday night update to its original Facebook post from Sunday, the district reported the results of its initial investigation, writing, Of the 276 teacher absences, 151 were preapproved with a valid reason, such as FMLA, jury duty or bereavement leave. The remaining 115 teacher absences were sick days that have since been researched. Of those who responded to date, 17 reported COVID-like symptoms and 83 reported other reasons, such as doctor appointments, sick child, etc. The remaining 15 individuals have yet to respond and the district will continue to follow up with them.

There is enormous opposition in Wisconsin, across the US and internationally to the campaign to reopen schools. On the KUSD Facebook post, one commentator wrote, Stop this in person class nonsense. [] The administration making the decisions are sitting at home in their pajamas or holed up in their offices at the well isolated ivory palace in 52nd street! [] Stop this nonsense and do the right thing. Stop in person classes now.

In South Carolinawhere there are now 622 student or staff COVID-19 cases tied to the reopening of K-12 schools, including 90 since last Fridaythe Facebook group SC for Ed is organizing a statewide sickout strike to be held today to protest unsafe conditions and low pay.

In Livingston Parish, Louisiana, the local teachers union is organizing a one-day sickout today, in an effort to placate growing opposition among educators. In Californias Irvine Unified School District, a petition calling for a halt to plans to reopen schools, has garnered over 2,000 signatures of teachers, parents and community members.

In Greece, high school students in several cities across the country began occupying schools last week to protest the unsafe return to classrooms. Across Europe, South America, Africa, and every continent where governments have rushed to reopen schools, there is mounting opposition among educators and a determination to fight.

This opposition to in-person instruction and the victimization of teachers must become consciously organized and directed toward mobilizing the entire working class against the back-to-work and back-to-school campaigns. This requires the formation of rank-and-file safety committees, which operate independently of the unions and fight to unite educators and broader sections of workers in a common struggle against this homicidal policy.

Decades of plant shutdowns by the auto and other manufacturing industries have ravaged the school system and the living standards of workers in Kenosha, a city located halfway between Milwaukee and Chicago where nearly one-fifth of its 100,000 residents live below the official poverty rate. The city, which is overseen by the Democratic Party, experienced the explosion of social tensions last month following the police shooting of 29-year-old Jacob Blake, which left him paralyzed from the waist down.

With preventable deaths soaring over 200,000 people and the economic and social crisis intensifying across the US, protests, strikes and other job actions will increasingly spread throughout every section of the working class. The logic of the political situation is leading towards a nationwide general strike to close schools and halt all nonessential production, in order to stop the spread of the pandemic and save lives.

The critical task is to build a network of independent, rank-and-file safety committees in every city and state, to unify educators, parents, students and the entire working class. Only through the formation of such committees, independent of the Republicans and Democrats, and their backers in the unions, will workers be able to assert their own interests and carry out the broadest struggle possible.

The Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committeehas been formed to help coordinate this work in the US, with local and statewide committees formed in New York City, Los Angeles, Detroit, Texas and Florida. We urge all educators and parents in and across the country to join the committee and contact us today to establish a local or statewide committee in your region to carry forward this struggle.
By Express News Service

CHANDIGARH: A war of words has broken out between Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut and NSUI Punjab over the former's comments on the farmers' protests against the three farm bills passed in Parliament.

Sharing pictures of yesterdays protest on tweeter, the Punjab Congress tweeted, "Under the leadership of @AkshaySharmaOrg, @NSUIPunjab burnt the effigies of Kangana Ranaut at Amritsar. They further criticised her for crossing all limits by disrespecting the farmers by labelling them terrorists.

#IRejectAntiFarmerAct #KisanVirodhiNarendraModi."

Reacting to the Punjab congress tweet, Kangana re-tweeted, "First congress in Maharashtra threatened me and beat my posters with chappals now congress in Punjab burning my effigies, seems like a clear case of mistaken identity. Am I some minister or a great opposition leader? Who they think I am? This is rather flattering @INCIndia."

Then Akshay Sharma of NSUI replied to her tweet: "This is a new low for you @KangnaTeam. Not only is your arrogance demeaning to our farmers, but it is such a shame for every Indian too. Enough with your half baked knowledge, and two faced bigotry."

To this, Kangana replied, "Can you please show me where I demeaned farmers? If you cant, will you apologise to me? You are spreading lies and doing nasty propaganda to suit your political agendas."

In a tweet on Sunday, she had termed the protesters as the same 'terrorists' who indulged in bloodshed even as no citizen lost citizenship due to CAA as she re-tweeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Subscribe to What Next on Apple Podcasts for the full episode.

Ever since Ruth Bader Ginsburgs death, congressional Democrats have been boxed inby President Donald Trump, who is committed to putting forward a new Supreme Court nominee, and by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who is committed to giving that nominee a vote. But just because it seems like Dems are cornered doesnt mean they dont have any moves left. They can absolutely strike back, if theyre willing to shift some old attitudes about norms and institutions that just dont apply in the current era. To figure out what the opposition can do next, I spoke with Jamelle Bouie, New York Times opinion columnist and former chief political correspondent for Slate, on Wednesdays episode of What Next. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

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Jamelle Bouie: I think we talk about Mitch McConnell as some sort of evil genius. But if you look back at the Merrick Garland blockade in 2016, if youre looking at this current attempt to fill the seat left by Ginsburg, these are both big gambles. Hes taking a risk, hoping he can keep his caucus unified enough to put a justice on the court and that this doesnt galvanize Democrats into action. Hes hoping that it doesnt lead to his party losing the White House and the Senate. If all these things go right, then well look back and say this was a bold, brilliant move. But if they dont, then we can look back and say this was an avoidable disaster for the Republicans.

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So if you take that perspective, that these steps are risks that maybe come with great rewards but also with real costs, then the response is, how do we raise the price of the risk? How do you make it cost even more? I dont think Democrats think enough about how you make the other side pay for the risks that theyre taking. There are never no moves available. The point at which therell be no moves available is when you know the United States is no longer a democracy. But as long as thats not the case, theres always going to be some move available. It may not have a high chance of success, but I am a strong believer that in politics you should not bind your behavior by its likelihood of success, because no one ever really knows whats going to end up being successful or not.

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Mary Harris: Id appreciated some of the writing that talked about how the Republican push to fill this seat reveals a weakness in the Republican Party: Theyre slamming something through when no ones voted for it. I wonder if you agree with that interpretation.

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I do agree with that interpretation. These are not the moves of a party that believes it could win popular majorities. This is not something you do if you think that in the next election, in the next several elections, youll be able to secure support from the public. This is what you do when you believe the public is against you, that the only way youre going to preserve your ideological project is by entrenching it in the least democratic part of the entire system.

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You call the judiciary the least democratic part of the entire system because of how heavily weve come to rely on judicial reviewthe idea that the Supreme Court is the arbiter of whats constitutional and what isnt. This is not a power thats laid out for the court in the Constitution itself. Its a power thats been cultivated for years, leading to what youve called judicial supremacy.

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I think if you look at the period since World War II, what youve seen is less pushback and contestation and more gradual acceptance of this idea of judicial supremacy. The courts say the Constitution means we all operate within those constraints. We may try to nudge things in the margins, but we accept the basic premise. And although I understand why it would unsettle many people to see that equilibrium disrupted, I think that it is a good thing for it to be disrupted, that we remind ourselves the United States is not actually a judge-ocracy. Its a popular government. So when popular government ceases to work for those purposes because of one institution, then the right thing to do is push back on it.

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What youre saying is thats the way its supposed to work.

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Abraham Lincoln and William Seward, ahead of the 1860 election, blasted Democrats for attempting to basically write slaveholders rights into the Constitution. They launched a fierce attack on the federal judiciary in an attempt to lay the ground for reversing this if they were to win office. And they did. They expanded the Supreme Court. They created new circuit courts. They created new states to secure Lincolns victory in 1864. This is how politics is played in the 19th century.

"When popular government ceases to work because of one institution, then the right thing to do is push back on it."  Jamelle Bouie

But the most famous example of this is FDR. We talk about court packing as if it failed, but it worked. Even if he couldnt secure a majority among alleged lawmakers, FDRs threat was credible, and it moved the Supreme Court to back down [from its challenges to New Deal policies]. If theres a President Joe Biden, if theres a Democratic Senate, I think this is the move they have to make.

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Youve written that, if Democrats are elected in the Senate and the presidency, one way to deal with the coming conservative supermajority on the Supreme Court is to simply ignore what it says, which seems like a pretty intense move. But its happened a lot in our past; in fact, states have done this relatively recently. There was an abortion case this year where Louisiana basically created a law that went against a Supreme Court ruling from just a few years ago. So, questioning the Supreme Court actually isnt all that rare, but it feels to me like the federal government ignoring the court would be a pretty major step.

Well, when I say ignore the court, I think its worth being specific about what that means. Take Shelby County v. Holder in 2013. Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act required select states to submit any election law changes for pre-clearance, meaning the Department of Justice had to look them over and make sure they were not violating anyones civil rights, and then the states can go forward. The Supreme Court said this was unconstitutional, that it violated some made-up doctrine about how states had to be treated equally. Thats not a real thing that exists, but the court said it does.

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The response the Obama administration had was basically, too bad, the court said it was unconstitutional, so it is. But the other response could have been: On the courts decision with regard to the DOJ and Shelby County, Alabama, we accept that the court thinks that Shelby County should not be held to the pre-clearance standard, but we do not think this applies to other places. So we are going to accept the ruling in this particular case, but we dont think it has any bearing on the law.

With something like this, youre making a distinction between the courts ability to settle cases and the courts ability to bind people to an interpretation. And the basis for making that distinction is that the Constitution doesnt actually say that SCOTUS is the sole arbiter of what is constitutional. It strongly suggests that other constitutional actorsthe president, Congresscan also interpret the Constitution. Thats implicit in the business of lawmaking and executing: Theyre making a statement about what they believe is constitutional. Sometimes theyre wrong, and the courts are there to say, hey, thats not right. But sometimes the courts are wrong, and Congress and the president have to say, hey, thats not right.

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So lets talk strategy. Theres a lot of talk of the idea that if Democrats win the Senate and the presidency, they should be talking explicitly about adding seats to the Supreme Court. Im wondering if you think thats the right place to start. Or do you start with the Senate, which is weighted to be more Republican even though that might not reflect whats actually happening in the country?

For priorities, I would go in this direction: D.C. statehood, offering referenda to Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American territories writ large over whether they want to be part of the American union or whether they want independence and then, based on the results of that, offering statehood and expanding the size of the House of Representatives, which is the sort of thing thats been needed for a very long time.

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And expanding the lower courts. On a practical level, the United States population has grown by about 100 million since the last time the courts were expanded under Jimmy Carter. So theres a very real need for more judges at the district and circuit court level. Create more circuits and create more districtsthat would have the side effect of basically nullifying most of Trumps additions to the judiciary. And that can stand as a threat to the Supreme Court, to say that if you stand in our way, we will just add more seats to your lower courts.

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Courts probably have to take it up when Democrats make these reforms. They are going to be busy. Do you have any sense that the people in power in the Democratic Party have the stomach for this kind of reform?

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I think some of the younger members do. The older members are still struggling to get beyond a world of politics that doesnt really exist anymore.

I think that, broadly, Americans treat the constitutional order as static: that this is what we got in 1787, and this is what we have. Thats just not true. The government we now have would be unimaginable to the Framers, unimaginable to the people who contracted the Reconstruction amendments. Theres arguably a second framing of the Constitution as a kind of an ongoing process, that each generation can add its own innovations to the constitutional system. I would argue its been a long time since weve had any innovations of the constitutional system. Were operating with a set of institutions that were made for that was made for the middle of the century. Part of the problem in our politics right now is that there has not been any real change either directly to the text of the Constitution via amendment or any quasi-constitutional changes, like civil rights legislation. I think Americans need to get into the habit of thinking of all of this as being much more flexible and malleable than they perceive.

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OSLO, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Vattenfall will focus on offshore wind power developments in Europe as the region seeks to boost green investments, instead of expanding globally, the Swedish utility said on Wednesday.

State-controlled Vattenfall said the European Union's plans to decarbonise its economy by increasing offshore wind power capacity provided enough opportunities for the Nordic region's largest utility.

"So, there is no need to go outside of Europe," Gunnar Groebler, Vattenfall's head of wind power, told investors during the online presentation of the company's strategy update.

While Vattenfall remains focused on its European home markets, others such as Denmark's Orsted have branched out to Asia or are investigating opportunities in the United States.

Groebler said Vattenfall was confident it would continue to secure projects in a competitive market, with offshore wind power also attracting interest from major oil firms, such as Equinor and BP.

"Even if there is a lot of capital in the market right now, you need to know where you're able to make money long term," Vattenfall's Chief Financial Officer and incoming Chief Executive Anna Borg said.

Vattenfall operates 2.1 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind capacity and plans to build a further 6.4 GW, including the 1.5 GW Dutch Hollandse Kust South wind farm which will be built by 2023 without subsidies.

Groebler said the company was currently looking to sign long-term power purchase agreements and potentially to sell some stakes in the Dutch farm to reduce the risk.

Vattenfall said the EU's Green Deal economic programme meant the region would need to boost its offshore wind capacity to 450 GW by 2050 from 22-24 GW today. (Reporting by Nora Buli, editing by Nerijus Adomaitis and Mark Potter)
To the Editor:

Re Coronavirus Update: More Than 200,000 Dead in United States (Sept. 23) and Senators Line Up to Aid President in Nominee Fight (front page, Sept. 22):

Some 200,000 have died, economic ruin is a reality for millions of unemployed people and there is still no national response plan.

The Senate must prioritize the pandemic over politics. The 9/11 tradition of reading the names of the departed is a moving reminder of the enormity of the loss.

To honor those who have succumbed to the virus and refocus senators minds, the names of some who have lost their lives during the pandemic  perhaps 50 from each state  should be read on the Senate floor before they take up any other business.

Steve Castleman

San Francisco

To the Editor:

My wife and I, who are both over 65, have been quarantining for the last six months. Recently, in what undoubtedly was the highlight of our week, we went to the drive-through at our local Wendys for lunch, and brought our food back home.
Amaravati, Sep 23 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan have expressed their sadness at the untimely demise of Minister of State for Railways Suresh Angadi on Wednesday.

"Reddy has expressed his profound grief over the sudden and untimely demise of Angadi," said an official.

Remembering Angadi, the Chief Minister recalled the recent video conference during the flagging off of the Kisan Rail from Anantapur Harichandan has also condoled the death of Angadi.

"Services of Angadi, who served as a member of Parliament from 2004 and as Minister of State for Railways from 2019 will always be remembered by the people of Karnataka and the nation," said Harichandan.

The Governor offered his condolences to Angadi's family, who succumbed to Covid in Delhi on Wednesday.
The Spanish Health Ministry is finalizing a deal with regional governments to reduce quarantine times from 14 days to 10 for close contacts of people who tested positive for Covid-19.

Health Minister Salvador Illa on Tuesday confirmed that central and regional authorities are discussing the measure and said that there is a broad consensus, though not a unanimous agreement. The proposal could be adopted sometime on Tuesday, the minister added.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Catalan government announced a reduced quarantine period for close contacts beginning next week.

Spanish Health Minister Salvador Illa. Andrea Comas

According to the Health Ministrys existing protocol, a person who tests positive for Covid-19 may reduce his or her isolation period to 10 days if more than 72 hours have elapsed without any fever or symptoms. Meanwhile, close contacts must quarantine for 14 days, although a shorter period is also contemplated if a PCR test is done on the 10th day and it comes back negative.

Under the new plan, close contacts of a positive case would be able to end their quarantine period after 10 days without the need for a PCR test.

The scientific community came up with the 14-day isolation period at the beginning of the pandemic because that is the maximum incubation period for the coronavirus. But new evidence has emerged in recent months suggesting that after the 10th day, the chances of contagion are substantially reduced.

To this must be added the social and economic difficulties of quarantining contacts, all of which has led government officials to consider shorter periods that would be easier to comply with. On September 7, the head of Spains Coordination Center for Health Alerts and Emergencies, Fernando Simon, explained that Spain was considering the option of reducing quarantine times to 10 days.

Catalonia, an early adopter

Catalonia has already taken the first step and announced 10-day quarantines starting next week. If we can ensure that quarantines become more compact and better, they will be increasingly observed, said Josep Maria Argimon, the Catalan secretary for public health, in recent statements.

On Tuesday, Argimon insisted that it is important to isolate properly in order to keep the pandemic in check. Isolation and quarantine need to be improved, he said. We have repeatedly told the Spanish government that a person who needs to care for children forced to stay home should receive some kind of aid in order to properly observe the isolation period.

Spain is not the first country to consider reducing quarantine times to make them easier to observe. A couple of weeks ago, France announced it would halve quarantine periods from 14 to seven days for people with symptoms of Covid-19, those whose PCR tests come back negative, and those in close contact with positive cases.

A committee of experts advising the French government said that in some parts of the country the quarantines were being unevenly observed, and that available scientific evidence shows that the likelihood of contagion beyond the eighth day is very low. The Netherlands have also reduced quarantine times to 10 days.

English version by Susana Urra.
Lynne Clarke, daughter of renowned Australian artist Russell Drysdale, has a vivid memory of going to the pictures as a young child in the 1940s.

I remember seeing Pinocchio and having nightmares for years, the 82 year-old says. I found it horrifying. I didnt like going to the cinema much.

Russell Drysdale 1941's Going to the Pictures (detail). Credit:Deutscher and Hackett

She laughs. Back then, the movies were a big outing, she says. Later, as a teen, she would treasure family movie nights on a Friday or Saturday.

The memories well up as she looks at a reproduction of her fathers 1941 painting Going to the Pictures.
Russia's increased presence in Belarus, where it's helping strongman President Alexander Lukashenko retain power amid a wave of demonstrations, is putting nearby countries on alert.

One is Estonia, which like its Baltic neighbors has been edgy since Vladimir Putin annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and backed a war on the two former allies' border. More integration between Belarus and Russia would lack "any popular mandate," leading to more violence and instability, according to Estonia's defense minister, Juri Luik.

"Any sizable movement of Russian troops to the region would increase the level of anxiety and of course NATO should take that into consideration," Luik, 54, said Monday in an interview.

Russia denies plans to open a military base in Belarus and says any soldiers there now for exercises will return home when they're completed. But it said this week that it sent TU-160 bombers flying along its neighbor's western border as part of drills.

Such activities are alarming some.

"Russia is strengthening and modernizing its military capacity close to the Latvian border and Belarus is also involved in these activities," Latvian Defense Minister Artis Pabriks said Tuesday in a statement. "Regular drills near our border, where aggressive scenarios against the Baltic states are played out, do not promote mutual trust and good neighborly relations."

In Lithuania, which like Latvia shares a border with Belarus, U.S. troops are stationed for training through June 2021, though Defense Minister Raimundas Karoblis says the training was pre-planned and is unrelated to what's happening in the region.

Luik said exercises this month involving American personnel and artillery in Estonia and Lithuania "also have an important political dimension, indicating U.S. support protecting NATO's eastern flank." The alliance's backing for the region, which retains large Russian-speaking minorities, was beefed up in the wake of the Ukraine conflict.

The three Baltic nations that were once unwilling members of the Soviet Union worry about a more aggressive Kremlin push coming just as the U.S. scales back its military footprint in Europe and President Donald Trump questions America's defense commitments there. The countries have been among the most obedient in terms of adhering to NATO spending rules -- a bugbear for the U.S. leader since he took power.

Estonia has met NATO's spending commitment of 2% of gross domestic product since 2015. In light of the region's current security situation, Luik considers it vital to maintain planned expenditure growth in absolute terms, even as the Covid-19 pandemic may lop 5.5% off economic output in 2020.

"If we can maintain the planned expansion of defense spending that we decided in 2019 for next year and the year after, that's already a sizable rise from 2%," he said. "It's a very important move, indicating the very complicated security situation around our borders, particularly the activities of Russia."

Having seen his advances toward merging Russia and Belarus into one nation-state snubbed, Putin has used the mass protests that followed Lukashenko's declaration of victory in elections widely deemed as fraudulent as a means of regaining the initiative. The demonstrations against Lukashenko's 26-year rule have left him reliant on Russian support that includes security guarantees and a $1.5 billion loan.

Lukashenko says he faces threats from abroad, and has sent troops to the borders with Poland and Lithuania. Luik calls such claims "propaganda," labeling the tactics "a total bluff."
Tesla is suing the U.S. government and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer over the Trump administration's tariffs on items Tesla imports from China.

The electric-car maker wants the court to declare two batches of Trump administration tariffs to be void, and refund Tesla the tariffs it paid with interest, according to the lawsuit filed in the U.S. Court of International Trade.

The specific tariffs at issue are known as List 3 and List 4. List 3 went into effect on 2018 and currently places 25% duties on $200 billion of imported goods from China. List 4 went into effect in 2019 and currently consists of a 7.5% tariff on $120 billion of Chinese imports. Both lists contain hundreds of very specific items, ranging from raw materials to electronic components. The lawsuit did not describe which items Tesla paid tariffs on, nor how much it paid. Tesla and the U.S. trade representative didn't immediately return requests for comment.

The U.S. trade representative's "imposition of List 3 and List 4 duties was arbitrary and capricious because USTR did not provide meaningful opportunity to comment, failed to consider relevant factors when making its decision, and failed to draw a rational connection between the facts found and the choices made," Tesla's lawyers argued in Wednesday's filing, which also named the acting commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Mark Morgan, as a defendant.
Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 23 : Kerala State Agriculture Minister V. S Sunil Kumar on Wednesday became the third Minister to test positive for Covid-19.

Kumar has been a very proactive minister leading the Covid activities in Ernakulam district and has been shuttling between the state capital and Ernakulam, since April.

Kumar thus became the third Minister in the Pinarayi Vijayan cabinet to test Covid positive.

State Finance Minister Thomas Issac was the first one, and was followed by state Industries Minister E. P.Jayarajan. Both have by now recovered and returned to their jobs.

Kumar turning positive comes at a time when Covid cases are spiking in the state by the day. Presently, there are 40,382 active cases, while 1,01,731 people have been cured.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Relief Gang has been on the move since the beginning of hurricane season, providing Houston and surrounding areas with tarps for homes in an effort to help people restore property, warm meals, and means of safety from floodwater.

Relief Gang was started by Houston hip-hop artist and philanthropist Trae Tha Truth, and Houston-based DJ and record producer DJ Mr. Rogers. During Hurricane Harvey, Trae could be seen on boats and monster trucks rescuing people trapped in their homes.

Relief Gang recently made a trip to Lake Charles to assist with the damage caused by Hurricane Laura.

ANGELS BY NATURE: Trae the Truth and 'Relief Gang' head out to Louisiana to help storm victims

Trae and Relief Gang are now helping out those affected by Tropical Storm Beta. The rapper has posted on social media about lending a helping hand to those in need during the storm.

In one post he writes, "Houston Texas and surrounding areas!! Tropical Storm Beta has hit already and certain places are already flooded!! It will be raining for the next 24 hours!! If you or anyone need help DM @reliefgang or call us at 3468579617. We Are One!! If u know areas tag get at me and @djmrroger."

The team has been rescuing families since yesterday, and was able to help a mom in need who couldn't get to her son due to severe rainfall.

In a video provided by ABC13, the woman says, "My son was stuck overnight with his provider and we had no way to get him. I tried to come get him and I got stuck in the floodwater."

If you need help, you can reach out to DJ Mr. Rogers or Trae The Truth on Instagram.

Anyone with lifted trucks or high-water vehicles is encouraged to join rescue efforts with the Relief Gang and can contact them on their Instagram page or call 281-300-4448.
A crowdfunding campaign to help cover Battlestar Galactica star Michael Hogans medical expenses blew past its initial $150,000 goal on Tuesday.

A GoFundMe page set up on behalf of Hogans wife says the Vancouver actor is unlikely to be able to work again after suffering a life-changing brain injury.

Susan Hogan writes in a note that her husband, who played Colonel Saul Tigh in the 2004 sci-fi series, fell and hit his head after attending a Battlestar Galactica convention in Vancouver in February.

She says Michael Hogan, a native of Kirkland Lake, Ont., went to bed without realizing that the impact had caused a massive brain bleed, and when he didnt wake up the next morning, was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery.

Susan Hogan says the accident has left him with paralysis on his left side, memory loss, cognitive impairment and inability to swallow.

She says the health crisis was complicated by COVID-19 restrictions on hospital visits by family and support workers.

Needless to say, this life-changing injury has sent a tsunami of heartbreak through the family, wrote musician Shari Ulrich, a friend of the Hogans who organized the GoFundMe.

With recovery relying heavily on contact with family as critical members of the health care team, the agony of separation is indescribable.

Ulrich said Hogan was transferred in June to a Vancouver residential care facility, where hes allowed limited visits and is being treated by a physiotherapist.

Still, Ulrich said there looks to be a long road to recovery ahead. Hogan still uses a feeding tube, and needs an overhead lift to be moved from his bed to a wheelchair, but has regained his speech and is largely coherent and cognizant, Ulrich said.

Though it is hard to imagine, I think its fair to say it is unlikely Michael will be able to work again, she wrote, but he is one tough guy, so it also wouldnt surprise me if he found a way.

Ulrich said the GoFundMe is meant to cover some of the costs associated with Hogans care, including long-term accommodation fees, mobility aids and physiotherapy.

On Tuesday, the crowdfunding goal was increased to $300,000 after surpassing its initial target of $150,000 within about a day.

Battlestar Galactica co-stars Mary McDonnell, Katee Sackhoff and Tricia Helfer have rallied fans to support the GoFundMe, which as of Tuesday evening, had raised roughly $200,000.
In a scathing statement aimed at both Democratic and Republican senators, Massachusetts Gov. Charle Baker on Wednesday lambasted both parities as lawmakers continue to debate over a potential vote on a Supreme Court nominee.

After the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg over the weekend, Republicans, who have a majority in the Senate, emphasized the importance of pushing a vote through prior to the presidential election in November. Meanwhile, the Democrats demanded a person be nominated by the winner of the presidential election.

Four year ago, when Democratic President Barack Obama nominated Merrick Garland, the two sides - in different positions of power - acted differently.

The Democrats all said it was incredibly important to move forward to put another person on the bench. Right? And the Republicans all said, no, thats a really bad idea. Four years later, only because the circumstances have changed, the Republicans say, we need to move forward, its a critical issue for the country and the Democrats say, no we should wait for after the election," Baker said. One-hundred percent the ends justify the means. Classic Washington behavior and its a big part of why most people in this country think Washington is a problem. Period.

Following the death of Ginsburg, Baker said a vote on a Supreme Court nominee should take place after the election in November.

President Donald Trump on Monday said he will nominate a woman on Friday.

When Baker spoke about the situation on Wednesday inside Mill City BBQ and Brew in Lowell during a press conference, his voice grew louder and he became quite animated.

We have been playing this hand around COVID the best we can with a really uneven, inconsistent response from the federal government, who has far more tools in their toolbox than any states ever going to have to manage their way through this, Baker said. And they are now going to wrap themselves up in a conversation about the Supreme Court, which is important. But nobody looks good in respect to how theyve chosen to position themselves over the course of the last four years on this issue.

Baker said the lack of cooperation in the nations capital has negatively impacted the countrys fight against the global pandemic.

On Tuesday, the death toll in the United States eclipsed 200,000.

What I would really like to see them focus on is the pandemic, which has killed 200,000 people in the United States of America so far and continues to wreak havoc on our economy and communities across not just the commonwealth but across the country, Baker said. So yeah, Id like to see them focus on the pandemic.

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Linkedin Philippe Rater and Shaun Tandon (Agence France-Presse) United Nations/Washington, United States  Wed, September 23, 2020 07:35 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c468ad94 2 World Donald-Trump,China,UN,UN-General-Assembly Free

US President Donald Trump angrily 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 full election campaign mode, even using his 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.

Trump, who pulled the United States out of the Paris climate accord, attacked China for its carbon emission as well as dumping of plastic.

"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," he said.

Trump renewed his criticism of China's role in the respiratory disease, news of which was suppressed when cases first emerged late last year in Wuhan.

"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 that it later revised.

Trump has given notice that the United States is pulling out of the World Health Organization.

Washington has been the greatest contributor to the health body, which has tackled polio, malaria and other illnesses around the world

Critics say Trump is trying to shift blame for his handling of COVID-19 in the United States -- where nearly 200,000 people have died, more than in any other country.

His Democratic rival in November 3 elections, Joe Biden, has vowed to keep the United States in the WHO if he wins.

'Great Fracture'

Leaders were asked to send in videos days in advance to avoid technical glitches, meaning Chinese President Xi Jinping could not offer a spontaneous response if he wished.

But China's ambassador to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, said as he introduced Xi's speech that Beijing "rejects the unfounded claims" from Trump.

Xi, in a mild-mannered speech delivered before a painting of the Great Wall, warned the world not to "politicize" the fight against coronavirus.

Xi said that China would contribute another $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."

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, opening the General Assembly, also warned of the risks of rising tensions between the United States and China.

"We must do everything to avoid a new Cold War," 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."

The Trump administration has launched a global campaign against the influence of China, pushing back on its claims in the South China Sea and warning nations of the risks of accepting its lavish infrastructure spending.

Guterres also 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."

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who has contracted COVID himself, used his address to accuse his nation's media of spreading panic.

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, which has claimed nearly 950,000 lives.

With no chance for in-person meetings and the give-and-take of negotiations, some UN-based diplomats wonder how much can be achieved, although side meetings are scheduled virtually on key issues including the coronavirus response.
GOTHENBURG, Sweden, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of SKF's goal to achieve Carbon Neutrality for its global manufacturing operations by 2030, the company is pleased to announce that it has joined the Renewable Energy 100 (RE100) initiative.

RE100 is a global initiative bringing together the world's most influential businesses committed to using 100% renewable electricity.

Kent Viitanen, President, Bearing Operations, says: "Achieving Carbon Neutrality by 2030 is an integral part of SKF's overall strategy. We see this as part of our responsibility and we are convinced that making this transition will create a long-term competitive advantage for SKF and our customers. We aim to achieve it by improving energy and material efficiency in our operations whilst increasing the sourcing or self-generation of renewable energy. Our aim to get to 100% renewable energy by 2030 or sooner is fully aligned with the RE100 ambition and approach."

Sam Kimmins, Head of RE100, the Climate Group, says: "We are delighted to welcome SKF to RE100. By transforming their global business operations to renewable electricity, SKF are demonstrating a strong commitment to combat climate change, whilst underlining the business case for renewables. We look forward to seeing other industrial businesses follow their example."

Johan Lannering, Director Group Sustainability & SKF Nova, says: "This is how we address our responsibility as a user of energy, and we are also proud that our products and solutions are key enablers of renewable energy systems such as wind energy and emerging technologies like tidal power. On the demand side, our Rotating Equipment Performance offer is helping industrial companies in all sectors around the world to improve energy efficiency and operational performance."

Aktiebolaget SKF

(publ)

For further information, please contact:

PRESS: Carl Bjernstam, SKF Group Communication

tel: 46 31-337 2517, mobile: 46 722-201 893, e-mail: carl.bjernstam@skf.com

INVESTOR RELATIONS: Patrik Stenberg, Head of Investor Relations

tel: 46 31-337 2104, mobile: 46 705-472 104, e-mail: patrik.stenberg@skf.com

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/skf/r/skf-joins-the-renewable-energy-100-initiative,c3201456

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M ayfair newcomer Kwant has been named best new bar at one of the cocktail worlds most prestigious global awards.

The bar is one of the multiple London winners at last nights US-based Spirited Awards, which were announced as part of the annual Tales of the Cocktail festival in New Orleans.

Kwant, which was launched last year by former American Bar cocktail guru Erik Lorincz, scooped the Best New International Cocktail Bar gong, beating fellow Londoner Tayer + Elementary to the prize.

Im incredibly proud to be surrounded by such an amazing team who have made my dream come true, said Lorincz on Instagram. Without you Im an unskilled worker.

The bar has not yet reopened after lockdown, but will reopen its doors tomorrow.

Fellow London winners include Scarfes Bar at the Rosewood London, which was named best international hotel bar, and the Connaught Bar, which scooped the award for best international bar team.

There was a London win across the pond too, as London bartender Ryan Chetiyawardana (also known as Mr Lyan) won the best new American cocktail bar accolade for his bar Silver Lyan, which opened in Washington DC last year. Chetiyawardana is best known in the capital for his south bank bar Lyaness.

Tayer + Elementary was also nominated for the worlds best cocktail menu award, and co-founder Alex Kratena was also among the shortlist for best international bar mentor alongside the Connaught Bars Agostino Perrone.

The bar at Mayfair restaurant Sexy Fish was shortlisted for two awards  worlds best spirits selection and best international restaurant bar  but came away empty handed. Soho bar Swift was nominated in the best international cocktail bar category, but lost out to celebrated Native in Singapore.
A total of 24,000 samples from 71 districts across the country were tested for IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in May and the nationwide seroprevalence was found to be less than one per cent, Minister of State for Health Ashwini Choubey told Lok Sabha on Wednesday. Smaller serosurveys conducted in Delhi, Ahmedabad, Indore, Chennai, Mumbai and Pune found seven to 28 per cent seroprevalence, he said in a written reply to a question.

The minister further said the second round of national sero-surveillance has commenced. A total of 24,000 samples from 71 districts were collected and tested for IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in May 2020 and the nationwide seroprevalence was found to be less than one per cent, Choubey said.

On whether there is a difference between the actual cases of COVID-19 reported and infections found in the population at large, the minister said infection is the entry and development or multiplication of an infectious agent (SARS-CoV-2 virus) in humans. It is not synonymous with infectious disease (COVID-19). "The result of infection may be inapparent or manifest. Hence there will be a difference between infections among the populations and the actual cases reported," he said.

The government of India followed a graded scientific approach to formulate a testing strategy. It followed the World Health Organisation's testing benchmark of 140 samples per million population per day, the minister said. India is testing 875 samples per million population per day which is more than six times the WHO recommendation, he said.

The Indian Council of Medical Research, in its latest strategy issued on September 4, has allowed "on-demand" testing.

.
Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps commander, Ali Reza Tangsiri said "All the IRGC navy operations are now carried out with homegrown drones"

The navy of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) on Wednesday received 188 new combat drones and helicopters, Tasnim news agency reported.

Among the naval drones, there are new unmanned aircraft capable of taking aerial images of fixed and mobile naval targets in combat operations.

Another drone that joined the IRGC navy's fleet was Mohajer-6, an all-weather pilotless aircraft with a range of 200 km, and it has been designed to carry a payload of four missiles.

Also, three Sepehr, Shahab-2, and Hodhod-4 vertical take-off and landing drones were delivered to the IRGC on the same day.

Other new military hardware include two amphibious helicopters and four combat choppers armed with missiles.

"All the IRGC navy operations are now carried out with homegrown drones," Ali Reza Tangsiri, the IRGC navy commander, said at a ceremony in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas.

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China Steals American Movies for Own Propaganda; Chinese Soldiers Crying While Sent to India Border

A video released by the Chinese Peoples Liberation Air Force on September 19 depicted nuclear armed bombers carrying out simulated attacks on a US Air Force base in Guam. Video was released as the regime carried out its second day of military drills near Taiwana move that was seen as a threat to the United States having a diplomatic visit in Taiwan.

Meanwhile, a video has been released showing Chinese soldiers crying as theyre allegedly being transported to the disputed border between China and India. The video was initially posted on Chinese social media app WeChat, but was deleted soon after.

And the Chinese government sent a message in a recent court case that criticizing its handling of the virus can result in lengthy prison terms. A Chinese tycoon was sentenced to 18 years in prison and has been fined around $620,000. He was charged for embezzling public funds, accepting bribes, and abusing power from his position at a state-run company. But the case, and Ren Zhiqiangs heavy sentence, are being interpreted as being meant to send a message to Party members that criticizing or defying Party leader Xi Jinping will not be tolerated. Mr. Ren had published an essay saying he saw the countrys leader as a power-hungry clown. And soon after his essay was published, he disappeared before facing official charges.

These stories and more in this episode of Crossroads.

Crossroads is an Epoch Times show available on Facebook and YouTube.

Join Patreon to Support Crossroads: https://www.patreon.com/Crossroads_Josh
Recipients in Brazil, where the bulk of profits were earned, included a congressman, a Cabinet minister and senior executives at state-run Petrobras during the administrations of former Presidents Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his handpicked successor, Dilma Rousseff. None of the foreign officials are identified by name in the plea agreement but Brazilian prosecutors in 2018 charged a former congressman, Candido Vaccarezza, for negotiating with Sargeant Marine the bribes paid to Petrobras. Vaccarezza at the time was leader of the ruling Workers Party in the lower house.
New York, US (PANA) - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday appealed for global solidarity to overcome the COVID-19, and again called for a global ceasefire during the pandemic, by the end of the year
By PTI

BEIJING: China on Wednesday lifted its ban on valid visas imposed earlier this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and said that foreign nationals holding Chinese residence permits in three categories are allowed to enter the country from September 28 without obtaining new visas.

On March 28, China temporarily banned the entry of foreign nationals with valid visas which, according to officials here, was aimed at restricting border entry to curb the surge of imported COVID-19 infections.

Effective from September 28, all foreign nationals holding valid Chinese residence permits for work, personal matters and reunion are allowed to enter China and there is no need to apply for new visas, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

If the three categories of residence permits held by foreign nationals expired after March 28, they may apply for new visas by presenting their expired residence permits and documents to Chinese embassies or consulates on the condition that the purpose of the holders' visit to the country remains unchanged, the statement said.

Hundreds of Indian students and professionals working in China could not return to the country following the visa ban as well as cancellation of flights.

China is yet to open for the return of foreign students studying in its colleges and universities.

Currently, a number of Indian professionals and businessmen have returned to China in five Vande Bharat flights organised by the Indian government to evacuate the Indians stuck in China.

Those returning to China needed to undergo 14-day quarantine in designated hotels under strict supervision of health officials.

The new adjustment is in view of the current COVID-19 situation, which is basically under control in China, and the need for epidemic prevention and control, the statement said.

It also said that while ensuring effective epidemic control, the Chinese government will continue to resume people-to-people exchanges in a step-by-step and orderly manner.

Such relaxed measures built on complete and strict epidemic control and prevention measures in China are necessary, Yang Zhanqiu, deputy director of the pathogen biology department at Wuhan University, told the state-run Global Times.

Yang believes that the entry of these foreigners would not cause an outbreak rebound.
Senate Republicans released a report Wednesday detailing the extensive business dealings that Hunter Biden pursued with politically connected foreign nationals while his father Joe Biden was serving as vice president.

The 87-page interim report is the product of a months-long probe in which members of the Senate Homeland Security and Finance Committees and their staff reviewed more than 45,000 pages of Obama administration records and interviewed eight witnesses, many of whom are current or former U.S. officials.

The Treasury records acquired by the Chairmen show potential criminal activity relating to transactions among and between Hunter Biden, his family, and his associates with Ukrainian, Russian, Kazakh and Chinese nationals, the report reads. In particular, these documents show that Hunter Biden received millions of dollars from foreign sources as a result of business relationships that he built during the period when his father was vice president of the United States and after.

That Hunter Biden served on the board of the Ukrainian gas company Burisma Holdings while his father was leading the Obama administrations efforts in Ukraine is well-established, but the $50,000-per-month board seat was just one component of the younger Bidens foreign ventures during the Obama years. According to Treasury Department records obtained by the committee, he also pursued business dealings with politically-connected Russian, Chinese, and Kazakh nationals.

In the course of his globe-trotting business career, Hunter Biden racked up more than $4 million in questionable financial transactions with well-connected foreigners. He partnered with Chinese businessmen connected to the Chinese Communist Party and the Peoples Liberation Army, he took cash from the wife of the corrupt former mayor of Moscow, and he sent funds to Ukrainian and Russian nationals living in the U.S. that are linked to what appears to be an Eastern European prostitution or human trafficking ring, according to the report.

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But it was only Hunters work for Burisma that caught the attention of Obama administration State Department officials, who said the role created counterintelligence and extortion concerns.

Acting Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, George Kent warned Vice President Joe Bidens office in early 2015 that Hunters work for Burisma undermined the administrations anti-corruption efforts in the country, since the gas companys owner Mykola Zlochevsky, who Kent described as an odious oligarch in his testimony, is famously corrupt.

Furthermore, the presence of Hunter Biden on the Burisma board was very awkward for all U.S. officials pushing an anticorruption agenda in Ukraine, Kent wrote in an email to his colleagues in 2016.

Kent told Joe Bidens staff that someone needed to talk to Hunter Biden, and he should [step] down from the board of Burisma, according to the report. But it doesnt appear Kents request was carried out, since Hunter remained on the board throughout the rest of Obamas term.

U.S. Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs Amos Hochstein also raised concerns about Hunters work for Burisma with the vice president. But his complaints went unaddressed, according to the report.

This investigation has illustrated the extent to which officials within the Obama administration ignored the glaring warning signs when the vice presidents son joined the board of a company owned by a corrupt Ukrainian oligarch, the reports executive summary stated.

While concerns over Hunters business dealings in Ukraine didnt prompt any decisive action from the administration, they did reach the desk of Secretary of State John Kerry, contradicting his later claim that he was never aware that Hunter served on the Burisma board.

The day after Hunter joined the Burisma board in May 2014, Kerrys stepson Christopher Heinz, who was a business partner of Hunters, emailed his father to inform him of Hunters appointment to the board and to distance himself from the decision. Kerrys staff followed up with a briefing on the press inquiries prompted by Hunters board seat, according to their testimony before the committees.

Neither Kerry nor anyone else in the administration appears to have intervened to put a stop to the younger Bidens influence peddling.

When asked by a reporter in 2019 whether he had any knowledge of Hunters work for Burisma, Kerry responded I had no knowledge about any of that. None. No.

Russia

Hunter Biden and his business partner Devon Archer joined with Heinz in 2009 to form the investment firm Rosemont Seneca. They then spun off a number of shell companies to accept funds from wealthy and politically-connected clients willing to pay for their corporate and governmental affairs expertise.

One such client was Elena Baturina, wife of former Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov, who was fired in 2010 by then-Russian president Dmitry Medvedev over corruption allegations. Baturina became Russias first female billionaire after her plastics company received a number of lucrative public contracts with the city of Moscow while her husband was mayor.

Luzhkov used his position as mayor to approve over 20 real estate projects that were built by a Baturina-owned construction company and ultimately generated multibillion-ruble profits for his family, according to the report.

In February 2014, Baturina wired $3.5 million as part of a consultancy agreement to Rosemont Seneca Thornton LLC  a consortium consisting of Biden and Archers Rosemont Seneca and a Massachusetts-based company with offices in Beijing known as Thornton LLC.

Then, between May and December 2015 Baturina wired another $391,968.21 to an account linked to a company called BAK USA, a Buffalo, N.Y., based start up that manufactured tablet computers with the backing of unidentified Chinese investors. The majority of that nearly $400,000, totaling $241,797.14, flowed through the Rosemont Seneca Thornton account before arriving in the BAK USA account.

Kazakhstan

On April 22, 2014, as Joe Biden joined Prime Minister Arsemy Yasenyuk in Kyiv to speak with Ukrainian lawmakers about the recent Russian aggression in Crimea, a holding company owned by the son-in-law of a prominent Khazak politician wired Archer $142,300 through yet another shell company, Rosemont Seneca Bohai. A currency report obtained by the committee states that the payment was For a Car.

The holding company that purchased Archer a car is owned solely by Kenges Rakishev, the son-in-law of Imangali Tasmagambetov, who was then serving as the mayor of Kazakhstans capital city, Astana. Tasmagambetov, who himself previously served as prime minister of Kazakhstan, was reportedly a close confidant of then Kazahk president Nursultan Nazarbayev. It is unclear why, exactly, Archer was purchased a car, but Kazakhstan was in flux politically at the time due to dissension over how to respond to Russias provocation in Ukraine.

Given Rakishevs close connection to political leadership in Kazakhstan, the tense political situation, Hunter Bidens longstanding relationship with Archer and involvement in transactions with Rosemont Seneca Bohai, and the fact that the payment was timed perfectly with Vice President Bidens visit to Kyiv to discuss U.S. sanctions against Russia for the invasion of Crimea, the April 22, 2014 payment from Rakishev to Rosemont Seneca Bohai raises serious questions, the report reads.

China

In order to sell their consulting services in China, Biden and Archer partnered with a Boston-based firm known as Thornton LLC. The firm advertises itself as a cross-border capital intermediary and counts a number of state-owned Chinese businesses among its clients, according to its website.

Through Thornton LLC, Hunter Biden and Archer formed business relationships with a number of wealth Chinese nationals who have connections the CCP and the Peoples Liberation Army.

Many of Hunter Bidens Chinese dealings flowed through Ye Jianming, the founder of CEFC China Energy Co. Ltd, a Chinese energy company that reported in excess of $33 billion in revenue in 2013. The company was acquired by the state in 2017 but even before that it hired a number of former top officials from state owned energy companies and had layers of Communist Party committees across its subsidiaries  more than at many private Chinese companies, according to Reuters.

Through Jianmings company, Hunter Biden was introduced to the CCP elite and those businessmen who operate with their blessing.

Pictures from an April 2010 event in China posted by the Thornton Group show Biden standing alongside the general manager of the China Investment Corporation, the vice president of the China Life Asset Management Company, the general manager of the Postal Savings Bank, among other Chinese business tycoons.

Hunter Biden and Archer capitalized on those connections some two years later by partnering with Jonathan Li the CEO of the Chinese investment firm Bohai Capital, to form BHR, an investment firm specializing in connecting wealthy Chinese investors, and state entities, with overseas business opportunities. The Chinese governments postal savings bank, its main development bank, and The Bank of China all invested in BHR. Months before the investors signed the documents committing to the fund, Hunter arranged for his father to meet Li briefly in the lobby of a Beijing hotel they were staying in after flying to China on Air Force II.

Hunter initially joined the BHR board in an unsalaried capacity but ultimately acquired a 10 percent stake in the company in 2017.

Yes relationships were not confined to Chinas business elite, he also had extensive connections to high-ranking members of the Peoples Liberation Army, including one of the countrys leading propagandists, Wang Shu, the CEO of the China Huayi Broadcasting. While Ye was rubbing shoulders with Beijings elite, Hunter was busy trying to solicit American investment in his firm.

A subsidiary of Yes company wired $100,000 to Bidens law firm, Owasco, in August 2017. And, one month later, on the day that Yes firm announced it would acquire a $9.1 billion deal in the Russian oil company Rosneft, Hunter filed for a $100,000 line of credit with one of Yes business partners. Hunter, his uncle James, and Jamess wife Sarah were all authorized as credit card users on the account. The foursome went on a spending spree, buying airline tickets, stays at expensive hotels, and meals at top restaurants.

Yes company would eventually funnel $4.8 million to Bidens law firm over the following year.

Joe Bidens spokesman, Andrew Bates, suggested the entire investigation was a partisan distraction in response to the report.

As the coronavirus death toll climbs and Wisconsinites struggle with joblessness, Ron Johnson has wasted months diverting the Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee away from any oversight of the catastrophically botched federal response to the pandemic, a threat Sen. Johnson has dismissed by saying that death is an unavoidable part of life. Why? To subsidize a foreign attack against the sovereignty of our elections with taxpayer dollars  an attack founded on a long-disproven, hardcore rightwing conspiracy theory that hinges on Sen. Johnson himself being corrupt and that the Senator has now explicitly stated he is attempting to exploit to bail out Donald Trumps re-election campaign, Bates said in a statement Wednesday.

Republican Senator Mitt Romney expressed a similar sentiment before the report came out, calling the investigation a political exercise that fell outside the legitimate role of government.

Homeland Security Committee chairman Ron Johnson, (R., Wis.), and Finance Committee chairman Chuck Grassley, (R., Iowa), said they faced many obstacles in their probe and added that there remains much work to be done.

Editors Note: This is a developing story and will be updated.

More from National Review
FILE PHOTO: Filipino activists, and relatives of people killed in the country's war on drugs, hold a rally in observance of Human Rights Day in Manila,

By Stephanie Nebehay

GENEVA (Reuters) - U.N. rights experts and activists called on Tuesday for launching an international investigation into unlawful killings in the so-called war on drugs in the Philippines and for the International Criminal Court to step up its preliminary probe.

Sanctions should be slapped on officials responsible for inciting killings or failing to prevent them, said Agnes Callamard, U.N. special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions.

Callamard, speaking on a panel, read out a statement issued by 32 U.N. experts in late June, which she told Reuters "is as relevant as ever" as the Human Rights Council meets in Geneva.

Tens of thousands of people in the Philippines may have been killed in the war on drugs since mid-2016 amid "near impunity" for police and incitement to violence by top officials, the United Nations said in a landmark report in June.

The chief presidential legal counsel and presidential spokesman did not respond immediately to Reuters' requests for comment. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said last June that the "rehashed claims" of impunity were unfounded.

The U.N. report said the drugs crackdown, launched by President Rodrigo Duterte after he won election on a platform of crushing crime, has been marked by police orders and high-level rhetoric that may have been interpreted as "permission to kill".

Callamard urged the 47-member forum to "establish an on-the-ground international investigation".

"I call on the International Criminal Court to prioritise the completion of its preliminary examination of the situation in the Philippines," she said.

She urged states to "apply sanctions against individual Filipino officials who have committed, incited or who have failed to investigate or prevent human rights violations including arbitrary killings."

Iceland, working with the Philippines, is proposing a resolution for consideration at the Council next week. But activists said that the draft text, which calls for technical cooperation, was weak as it fails to establish an international investigative mechanism.

Story continues

"The Philippines is hell-bent on getting itself off of the Human Rights Council agenda by any means except for actually improving the human rights situation on the ground," said Laila Matar of Human Rights Watch.

Rachel Chhoa-Howard, Amnesty International researcher, said: "Despite increased international attention over the years, killings continue and there appears to be no end in sight to the trail of blood."

"Amnesty and others definitely believe that the situation meets the threshold of crimes against humanity," she said, urging the Hague-based ICC to complete its probe this year.

(Reporting and writing by Stephanie Nebehay; additional reporting by Neil Jerome Morales in Manila, editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)
A firefighting jumbo jet is dwarfed by the smoke from the Apple fire in the hills above Beaumont on Aug. 1. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Gregory Malin remembers the night he realized a breath of fresh air could help sell a mansion.

The year was 2009. Some 2.8 million foreclosures were underway across the nation. Malin was hosting a party in San Francisco's tony Pacific Heights, where his real estate development and investment firm, Troon Pacific, had bought a house for $6 million to gut and renovate it as a showpiece. They'd turned it into the greenest residence in the city, scoring super-platinum points on the LEED certification scale. Now they were showing it off.

A woman approached him and asked: "Oh, my God. What do you do in this home? Do you produce oxygen? I feel so much better right now than I felt all year," Malin recalls. He had installed a state-of-the-art ventilation system for energy efficiency, but it also kept fresh filtered air moving through the building.

Something clicked. "My late wife looked at me and said, 'Truly, the greatest luxury in life is your health.'"

The house sold for more than $13 million, and Malin began marketing air as a health-and-wellness amenity, the same way builders of yore pitched hot tubs or home gyms.

Malin was early, but the world is catching up. Increasingly, the atmosphere is palpably dangerous. California is burning through the grand finale of its worst fire decade on record, with smoke clouds choking most of the state for much of the last month. The next decade is likely to be worse, as climate change steadily cooks the West Coast. A deadly pandemic is lingering in the air, keeping people cooped up at home, or anxiously thinking about aerosols and air flow whenever they venture outdoors.

For buyers at the upper reaches of the real estate market, peace of mind can be purchased in the form of deluxe air filtration systems that keep the world at bay.

Carl Gambino, a luxury real estate agent with Compass in Los Angeles, said that his clients had started bringing up clean air as a must-have amenity in the last year. "Suddenly its a topic of conversation," Gambino said. For two of his biggest recent sales  a $14.1-million house in the San Fernando Valley and a $23.5-million house in Brentwood  he said deluxe filtration systems helped seal the deal.

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Gambino says the luxury market as a whole has been hot during the pandemic, as wealthy clients perpetually stuck at home look to upgrade. "Now they're always in their house, their kids are always in their house," Gambino said. "So the thinking is, if they're locked in and theres a chance of fires or smoke," they want the best filtration system money can buy.

At Delos, a real estate wellness and technology company with an office and showroom on Wilshire Boulevard, demand for high-end air filtration tech has exploded.

"I think at this point now, you will not find one person in the developed world that doesnt have some awareness of indoor air quality and the risks and challenges there, particularly with this global pandemic," said Delos Chief Executive Paul Scialla. "The learning curve has literally evaporated."

But the comfort of luxury air doesn't come cheap. On a recent 12,000-square-foot project that Malin worked on in the Bay Area, the cost of the ventilation system alone ran to nearly $200,000  and the sensors, pipes, fans and filters were only half of the equation.

Good air begins at the foundation, Malin said, which must be sealed against radon or any other gases that could percolate up from the earth (a problem in a Bay Area rife with Superfund sites) and ventilated through the concrete to remove any that might still accumulate. The interior of one of his houses is built with materials that minimize off-gassing  paint and insulation are the most common risks. Weather stripping and tight construction seal the house up, and in some cases it's coated with an additional protective membrane.

Ventilation is key. When possible, Malin said, his company builds piping that sucks air from laundry rooms, trash areas and even under the kitchen sink, so that any potential source of toxicity is neutralized and replaced with fresh air piped in from outside (when the air outside is fresh).

Malin's projects use heat recovery ventilators: systems that monitor conditions inside and outside the house, then activate vents and fans to keep the temperature stable with a minimum of energy expenditure. "Our homes change the air anywhere from eight to 12 times a day," Malin said, and all that air is run through a MERV-13 filter to capture airborne particles.

A recent listing from Dvele, a high-end prefab-home builder, advertises "efficient 24/7 air filtration" and "solar and battery backup systems" for a $1.2-million house in Santa Rosa. The company is offering discount pricing for fire victims looking to rebuild in the area, which was burned to the ground in the 2017 Tubbs fire.

Brandon Weiss, chief innovation officer at Dvele, said prefabricating houses gives them an advantage when it comes to ventilation control. The clean assembly environment ensures no moisture or contaminants get into the house as it's built. "We have an airtight building envelope which doesnt allow contaminants to get in," Weiss said. "The ventilation system is the only connection from the outdoor to indoor environment, which gives us more control."

Dvele's homes are equipped with ventilation systems similar in design to Malin's, with constant airflow out of areas that might produce moisture or particulate matter  kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms  and into the rest of the house, passing through MERV-15 filters en route. A separate ventilation system in the garage goes into overdrive to create negative pressure when a car pulls in, ensuring that exhaust and outside air don't leak into the house.

More recent Dvele models are also equipped with indoor and outdoor sensors, Weiss said, which let residents monitor air quality and allow the system to react dynamically to contaminants. He says that the house's eco-conscious features also feed into maintaining healthy air: Without the solar and battery backup, the ventilation system would be useless during the blackouts that often accompany dire fire scenarios.

Real estate has capitalized on rarefied air in the past  Los Angeles itself was populated on the promise of healthier lungs. In the late 1800s, the quality of the mild air brought so many consumptive Easterners to the area that out-of-state newspapers started calling the region "sanatarium and fruit country."

But once polluting heavy industry and millions of cars arrived in the state, the price of clean air became bundled into the cost of real estate. The working class lived close to the factories, ports and highways, the middle class filled in the flats and suburban valleys, while bosses lived in the hills above the coughing crowds.

The result has been an unequal distribution of bad air for decades. "We see quite a consistent pattern that Black and Latinx people are exposed to higher levels of air pollution, particularly localized pollution," said Michael Jerrett, professor and chair of the Department of Environmental Health Sciences in the Fielding School of Public Health at UCLA.

In some ways, the pandemic and the fires are playing out in the same old grooves. COVID-19 has disproportionately killed poor, Black and brown people, and a UCLA study from 2016 found that even wildfires spark more acute illness in low-income areas when smoke blankets the basin.

Even outside the luxury market, however, recent state regulations have ensured newly constructed homes enjoy somewhat better air quality than in the past.

Since 2010, California has required all new homes to be built with a mechanical ventilation system  with a filter  to circulate air, regardless of whether the house has central heating or cooling. According to one scientist who helped draft the new standards, the change came about in response to a mounting body of scientific research showing that unventilated indoor air poses a major health hazard.

"A lot of people like to think that outdoor air is worse," said Max Sherman, a former scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and an active member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers. But outside of wildfire scenarios, "indoor air is almost always worse because we generate a lot of emissions indoors."

Plastics and cleaning chemicals emit fumes, gas stoves and furnaces spit off combustion byproducts, and cooking itself can create dangerous levels of small particles  especially in the 2.5 micron scale, the same type of particle afflicting Californians' lungs during wildfire season.

The 2010 regulations in California required house ventilation systems to have only a flimsy filter mounted at the intake, on the principle that diluting the air inside was enough to improve the atmosphere, and the filter was there to prevent the system from getting gunked up.

Just last year, however, the state body that oversees building regulations upped the standard. As of Jan. 1, new buildings in the state have been required to have a MERV-13 filter  the same as the filters in many deluxe systems.

Sherman says the new systems aren't always used properly. In a study, he found that a number of California homeowners didn't realize their new homes had a powered ventilation system at all and often accidentally turned them off.

Sherman himself lives in a Bay Area home from the 1960s that he's refitted with a mechanical ventilation system, although he hasn't gone through the process of sealing up all the cracks and drafts endemic to older California homes. On the day he spoke with The Times, the air quality index in his area was a moderate 80; indoors, with his system blowing air through a MERV-13 filter, it was a crisp 8.

For the majority of Californians who live in older, unventilated housing, Sherman said, sticking with an affordable portable air filter is the best bet. "You can put one in the room youre gonna spend most of your time in and make a cleaner zone for yourself," he said.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
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Read our full Opinion Policies here. Updated on 10/7/2020
09/22/2020

Contacts for media: UMass Lowell: Christine Gillette, 978-758-4664 or Christine_Gillette@uml.edu or Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu.

LOWELL, Mass.  In the wake of outrage across the nation and racial justice protests spurred by the deaths and injuries of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Jacob Blake and other Black Americans, more than half of Americans believe policing in the country is not fair, according to a new national poll released today by the UMass Lowell Center for Public Opinion.

The center conducted an independent, nonpartisan national survey asking 1,000 respondents about race, discrimination and systemic racism and found from policing, to the economy to the workplace, race divides Americans views of many issues.

A majority of American adults polled think that policing in this country is not fair  51 percent say that Blacks are treated less fairly than whites in their interactions with police, compared to 41 percent who say they are treated the same. Another 7 percent say whites are treated less fairly than Blacks. Among Black respondents, the perception that Blacks are treated less fairly is higher, at 73 percent, while nearly half of white respondents, 48 percent, think Blacks are treated less fairly than whites.

Among white respondents, there is a clear split in answers to this question by party identification, ideology, age and how a respondent scores on racial resentment, a metric political scientists often use to represent symbolic racism. Democrats, liberals, Americans younger than 50, and those who score low on the racial resentment scale are all far more likely than Republicans, conservatives, Americans older than 50, and those scoring high in racial resentment to think that Blacks are treated less fairly than whites by the police, the poll found.

When asked about police shootings and the effect on public discourse, Americans are divided: About 44 percent believe such an incident raises important issues about race that should be discussed, but 43 percent said police shootings are getting too much attention. Only 14 percent of Blacks surveyed said shootings are getting more attention than they deserve and 70 percent of Blacks thought shootings raised important issues on race. Four in 10 whites say shootings raise important issues but 49 percent say they are receiving undue attention. Racially resentful white Americans overwhelmingly (88 percent) said shootings caused race to get attention that was overblown. Racially progressive white Americans almost unanimously agreed that such incidents raised important issues about race.

The poll found many different experiences reported by respondents in their interactions with police based on race, whether white, Black or Latino. Fifteen percent of all respondents said they were treated poorly by police because of their race, nearly equal numbers said they received preferential treatment (12 percent) because of their race, while the vast majority reported no difference in treatment because of their race. However, Black respondents (38 percent) were more than five times as likely as white respondents (7 percent) to say they were treated poorly by the police because of their race. Similar results were seen for Hispanic/Latino respondents, 31 percent of whom reported being treated poorly by police because of their race. Only 7 percent of white respondents said they were treated poorly because of their race.

This finding is particularly noteworthy. The idea in this country that there is discrimination in law enforcement does not come from the news for many people of color  it comes from personal experiences, said Joshua Dyck, director of the Center for Public Opinion and associate professor of political science.

As a remedy to such issues, a majority of Americans polled do not support efforts to defund the police. Fifty-four percent said police budgets should be left as they are. However, a majority of Blacks polled, 52 percent, support reallocating funds from police budgets.

When asked about creating a citizen review board at the municipal level made up of racially representative community members to review police actions, the majority of Americans polled  65 percent  favor or strongly favor the idea. The idea is more popular among Blacks (52 percent) vs. whites (33 percent).

A central tenet of the American Dream is that hard work brings about professional success, but Blacks are less likely to say they can access jobs and Black respondents were twice as likely to say that they strongly disagree with the notion that their hard work directly contributes to their success (18 percent of Blacks vs. 9 percent of whites).

Blacks surveyed also reported having to work harder to get their jobs.

Overall, a slight majority of all Americans polled said that Blacks often face hurdles such as discrimination when looking for a job. Fifty-three percent of Americans say Blacks face job discrimination, 13 percent are unsure and 34 percent say there is no discrimination. Eighty-three percent of Blacks polled said that Blacks face discrimination and only 7 percent say Blacks have the same chance as whites, compared to 41 percent of whites who said Blacks and whites have the same chance.

Overall, 56 percent of Americans polled favor affirmative action programs and 44 percent oppose them. Eighty-four percent of Blacks polled are in favor of affirmative action.

A third of Americans, overall, believe that Blacks and whites are treated differently on the job and 58 percent said there is equal treatment. There was marked difference in the opinions of Blacks and whites polled: 64 percent of whites said everyone receives equal treatment, compared to 21 percent of blacks. Seventy-three percent of Blacks polled said Blacks are treated less fairly, compared to 26 percent of whites. Asked if they were ever treated differently at work because of their race, 76 percent of whites said no compared to 40 percent of Black respondents. Fifty-two percent of Black respondents said they have at some point on the job been treated poorly because of their race, compared to 15 percent of white respondents.

When asked how Blacks and whites are treated in shops or businesses, 60 percent of Americans said they feel both are treated the same, but while 66 percent of whites believe that is the case, only 25 percent of Blacks agree. Sixty-three percent of Blacks polled said they are treated less fairly.

Thirty-four percent of Americans said they believe that the educational playing field is equal. Eighty-one percent of Black respondents said they see education as unequal and only 10 percent said their children have the same opportunity as white children. Whites are four times as likely to believe Americas children start out on equal footing: 41 percent of whites believe the quality of education is the same for Black and white students and less than a majority (44 percent) recognizes education as a cause of inequality.

The poll found Americans are divided about government action to improve the social and economic condition of Blacks. A slight plurality of respondents says some help is needed (43 percent), but the majority (57 percent) are either undecided or opposed to systemic help. Blacks are more likely than whites to support government intervention on their behalf (66 percent vs. 40 percent) and are half as likely to say no government help is warranted (21 percent vs. 40 percent).

To me the biggest take-away from this survey is that our data show that whites do not connect the disadvantages faced by Blacks to their own advantage. Whites have yet to understand the full extent of the privileges structural racism bestows upon them. While many whites readily say that Blacks are discriminated against, they do not see how the lack of opportunity for Blacks translates into more opportunities for whites, said Mona Kleinberg, assistant professor of political science who designed and analyzed the poll, along with political science major Lindsey Kilpatrick of Manilus, N.Y., and Maddi Hertz, a 2020 graduate from Andover. Making the connection that when one group receives less another group gets more is what whites need to see more clearly if we want to end white dominance in the U.S.

By studying what people believe and highlighting differences through in-depth scientific public opinion polling, we are seeking to add to ongoing and much-needed discussions in this country of racism, social justice and discrimination. Our poll uncovers much in the different perspectives and experiences of whites and Blacks, and in the varying policy attitudes of Americans who believe that we have serious problems with racism and discrimination in this country and those who do not. We hope that this information is useful to the ongoing discourse on how to make our society a more just and equitable one, said Dyck.

More detailed poll results  including how ideology and the concept of racial resentment affect views  are available at www.uml.edu/polls, along with topline and methodology. The independent, nonpartisan poll was conducted by the UMass Lowell Center for Public Opinion using the latest technology and highest standards. The center is a member of the American Association for Public Opinion Researchs Transparency Initiative and presents events and polls on political and social issues that provide unique opportunities for civic engagement, experiential learning and research.

The poll surveyed 1,000 American adults. The poll was designed and analyzed by the Center for Public Opinion and fielded by YouGov from Aug. 20 through Aug. 25. The adjusted margin of error is plus or minus 4.0 percent. Full poll methodology is available at www.uml.edu/polls.
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been released from a Berlin hospital after more than a months treatment for poisoning, with doctors now believing that a complete recovery from the Soviet-era nerve agent is possible for him, the hospital said Wednesday.

Navalny spent 32 days at Berlins Charite hospital, 24 of them in intensive care, before doctors deemed his condition had improved sufficiently for him to be discharged from acute inpatient care.

As he was released Tuesday, the 44-year-old displayed his characteristic sarcastic sense of humor. In an Instagram post, he took swipe at Russian President Vladimir Putin, scoffing at reported comments by the Russian leader suggesting that Navalny might have intentionally poisoned himself.

Navalny, a politician and corruption investigator who is Putins most visible opponent, was flown to Germany two days after falling ill on Aug. 20 on a domestic flight in Russia. He spent those two days in a coma in a hospital in the Siberian city of Omsk, where Russian doctors said they found no trace of any poisoning.

German chemical weapons experts have determined that he was poisoned with the Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok  findings corroborated by labs in France and Sweden.

The hospital said based on Navalnys progress, physicians believe that a complete recovery is possible, but added it remains too early to gauge the potential long-term effects of his severe poisoning.

In recent days, Navalny has been posting regular photos of his convalescence from the hospital on Instagram, first showing him sitting up in his bed surrounded by his family, then up and about in the building.

In his post Tuesday night, he laughed off a report in the French newspaper Le Monde saying that Putin suggested to French President Emmanuel Macron in a call that he could have taken the poison himself.

Good theory, I believe it deserves the most careful attention, Navalny wrote in Russian. Cooked Novichok in the kitchen. Took a sip from a flask on the plane. Fell into a coma.

He wryly wrote that the ultimate aim of my cunning plan must have been to die in Siberia, where the cause of death would be lived long enough.

But Putin outmaneuvered me. You cant fool him, Navalny wrote. As a result, I lay in coma for 18 days like a fool, but didnt get my way. The provocation failed!

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Wednesday said the report about Putins conversation with Macron was inaccurate in its reported wording, but refused to elaborate as to which part was inaccurate. Macrons office refused to comment on the report.

The nerve agent used in the attack was the same class of Soviet-era poison that Britain said was used on former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury, England, in 2018. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called the poisoning attempted murder and she and other world leaders have demanded that Russia fully investigate the case.

Navalny was kept in an induced coma for more than two weeks as he was treated with an antidote. Members of his team accused the Kremlin of involvement in the poisoning, charges that Russian officials have vehemently denied.

Russia has bristled at the demands for an investigation, saying that Germany needs to share medical data in the case or compare notes with Russian doctors.

Germany has noted that Navalny was in Russian treatment for 48 hours and that Russia has its own samples from Navalny. Peskov said Wednesday that Moscow needs data from Germany to compare tests results.

Germany has also enlisted the Hague-based Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons for technical assistance in the case. The agency has collected independent samples from Navalny for testing but results have not yet been announced.

The Charite statement was released in consultation with Navalny and his wife, and the hospital would not comment further on any outpatient care for him.

Navalnys team has said he eventually plans to return to Russia, but had no immediate statement after his release from the hospital.

Peskov said Wednesday that Navalny, as any other Russian citizen, is free to come back to Russia at any moment. He reiterated that what happened to the him remains a big question for the Kremlin, as Russian investigators dont have any facts pointing to poisonous substances in Navalnys body.

Peskov once again called for Germany, France and Sweden to share their data with Moscow.

Were still expecting it and are convinced that it can help us make significant progress in this case, he said.
All bars, cafes and restaurants are to shut down in France's second city because of the worsening Coronavirus pandemic, the country's Health Secretary said tonight.

The closures in Marseille - which start on Monday - were announced by Olivier Veran on Wednesday as part of a nationwide series of tough new measures.

They also include bars in Paris, Lille and Grenoble having to shut at 10pm from Monday, while gatherings of more than 10 people will also be banned.

An even earlier closure of bars can also be sanctioned by local prefects, said Mr Veran.

A lowering of the number of people allowed to attend sports and cultural events from 5,000 to 1,000, and a temporary ban on renting party venues, including for weddings, were also announced.

The closures in Marseille (pictured) - which start on Monday - were announced by Olivier Veran on Wednesday as part of a nationwide series of tough new measures

'The Greater Paris health system is now strongly under strain' said Mr Veran, during a press conference broadcast live.

'The number of hospitalised patients within the region is increasing very rapidly. There are nearly 1,000 hospitalisations for Coronavirus over the last seven days, against 460 the previous week. A doubling.'

The total shut down of bars, cafes and restaurants in Marseille will last for a minimum of two weeks to begin with, and will be reviewed after that.

It will mean many businesses facing ruin, especially if the closures turn into rolling ones.

The total shut down of bars, cafes and restaurants will also be introduced in the French overseas territories of Guadeloupe, in the Caribbean.

'The Greater Paris health system is now strongly under strain' said Mr Veran (pictured), during a press conference

Mr Veran said the new measures were 'not aimed at scaring people too much, but it is to tell you that there is still time to act.

'The measures we are taking aim to make this curve flat, or rather to get off the path we're on, so as to protect our hospitals and intensive care units.

'If we do not take action quickly, we risk reaching a critical situation in some of the most affected areas in a matter of weeks.'

It followed ministers in Paris holding a series of crisis meetings to analyse the latest surge, which saw more than 10,000 cases and 78 deaths recorded in France on Tuesday.

The incidence rate of infection has risen to 204 per 100,000 inhabitants in the greater Paris area.

Mask wearing is already mandatory in public places in France, but there have been concerns about people flouting social distancing advice.

Young people have in particular been criticised for gathering in large groups, often without masks, at bars and cafes in the capital.

With more than 460,000 confirmed cases and over 31,400 deaths to date, concern is growing about hospital capacity to handle a second wave.

Admissions have started to rise again after being contained during France's lockdown between March and May.

Paris is set to be hit with new lockdown measures today that will ban gatherings of more than 10 people, along with alcohol consumption in public places after 8pm

France, Spain and the UK are all seeing spiking Covid cases - but only the UK has imposed new national measures, while France and Spain have used more-relaxed local lockdowns

The developments in France follow Prime Minister Boris Johnson introducing new restrictive measures in Britain.

The new rules mark a major step backwards for the French capital, but are more relaxed than those brought in by this week by the UK - which has banned gatherings larger than six across the country, and ordered all pubs to close by 10pm.

That is despite France having more than double the UK's daily coronavirus cases, based on a seven-day rolling average.

France, Spain and the UK are bearing the brunt of a second wave of coronavirus cases in Europe, which comes after countries across the continent eased lockdown.

Until this week, all three countries had been dealing with problem using local lockdowns, targeted at areas where cases were rising fastest.

But on Tuesday the UK suddenly broke ranks with a raft of new nationwide measures, which Prime Minister Boris Johnson said will last for the next six months.

In addition to cutting the size of gatherings and closing pubs early, he also urged workers to return to working from home - despite an earlier drive to get people back into offices - and banned indoor team sports.

He also increased fines for rule-breakers, and made the army available to help police enforce the measures.

That is not the case in Spain or France, where both countries have resisted imposing new nation-wide measures on focused on local lockdowns.

Parts of Madrid have been plunged back into full lockdown as coroanvirus cases in Spain have soared, but most of the city is still allowed to move around freely

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson insisted the new nationwide measures will need to remain in in place for the next six months to keep infections down over winter

In Spain, parts of Madrid with rapidly rising infections have been thrown back into full lockdown, with authorities calling on the army to help enforce the rules.

The remaining 6.6million residents have been encouraged to say indoors, though are not required to do so - yet. New measures are due to be announced next week.

Meanwhile Catalonia, where Barcelona is located, has also announced bans on gatherings larger than six people.

Spain saw 11,300 new cases of coroanvirus on Tuesday this week, based on a rolling seven-day average.

In France, the cities of Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, and Nice had all already been hit with tougher new lockdown measures, though country-wide restrictions have remained the same.

Measures include no drinking in public places after 8pm, all bars to close by midnight, and the size of gatherings cut.

Masks are already compulsory across France in all indoor spaces, though many cities have made them compulsory outdoors as well.

France reported 10,155 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, based on a seven-day rolling average. The figure for the UK was 3,928.
Service personnel will be protected from "vexatious claims and endless investigations" under legislation to be debated by MPs for the first time, the Defence Secretary has said.

Separate legislation will be introduced to cover veterans who served in Northern Ireland from fresh probes into Troubles-era cases.

The Overseas Operations Bill, which offers stronger legal protections for service personnel and veterans from prosecutions after serving abroad, is to be debated in Parliament today.

Ben Wallace, the Defence Secretary, said it would provide "certainty" for troops.

The bill, unveiled earlier this year, sparked controversy as it did not include protection for veterans who have served in Northern Ireland.

However, the Government said separate legislation will "address the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland", adding it will be delivered in a way that focuses on "reconciliation". It will end the "cycle of reinvestigations into the Troubles that has failed victims and veterans alike".

The Government said it remained "committed to moving this forward as quickly as possible".

The Overseas Operations Bill was introduced in March after operations in Iraq and Afghanistan gave rise to an unprecedented number of legal claims, contributing to nearly 1,000 compensation claims against the Ministry of Defence for unlawful detention, injury and death, as well as 1,400 judicial review claims seeking investigations and compensation for human rights violations.

The MoD said around 70% of allegations received by the independent Iraq Historic Allegations Team were dismissed as there was no case to answer.

Ahead of the Bill's second reading, Mr Wallace said: "This Government made a promise to the nation to protect service personnel and veterans from vexatious claims and endless investigations.

"We have not shied away from the challenge and today are one step closer to fulfilling that commitment."

He added: "Our Armed Forces risk their lives to protect us and it is vital we continue to progress this legislation, providing certainty for the troops who find themselves on the front line in the future."

Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer said: "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.

"It will put an end to lawfare and make sure personnel and veterans are not repeatedly and indefinitely called upon to give evidence about events that happened years ago."

He added: "Today we are one step closer to making the UK the best place in the world to be a veteran."

Steve Crawshaw, director of policy and advocacy at Freedom from Torture, said the Bill is "deeply flawed" and sends a "damaging signal" about the United Kingdom.
BAKU, Azerbaijan. Sept. 23

Trend:

In parallel with the rapid implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative in the last seven years, with the maturation of the "Debt Trap" theses on China's investments in Africa, a trend of "China-Skepticism" has started to take root in the international community against China's Belt and Road investments. Later, with the COVID-19 process, China-Skepticism began to deepen and gain ground due to accusations that China deliberately late informed the international community about the virus and distorted local case data. In addition to all this, due to WHO's obviously perceived pro-Chinese statements and China-related disinformation attempts on the pandemic, this perception of skepticism towards China continued to grow.

Despite the significant investments made within the scope of the Belt and Road strategy such as railways, roads and strategic ports and the international interest shown in these, criticism against Beijing's questionable strategic approach has increased in recent years. The high-profile cancellations of some projects such as the railway in Pakistan, Myanmar, and Malaysia were caused by enormous borrowing concerns that these countries would not be able to pay for the construction costs of major projects and massive debt to Beijing that could last for decades. The United States and other Western countries have warned potential Belt and Road partners that this "debt diplomacy" from Beijing will strengthen China's influence on the world and hinder democratic governments. In this regard, Pompeo in particular made visits to EU countries to warn against information technology investments under China's "Digital Silk Road" strategy, targeting Huawei's 5G project.

According to Bart Oosterveld, director of the Atlantic Council's Global Business and Economics Program, China does not understand or worry about debt diplomacy issues. Although Beijing publicly commends the benefits of Belt and Road projects for global trade and development in partner countries, he said that he sees the projects as infrastructure investments for (predominantly Chinese) investors that must earn money. Looking at the issues that fuel skepticism in terms of military, Washington has also expressed concerns over new agreements that would see China invest or even own strategic ports in Asia and Europe, such as Piraeus in Greece and Gwadar in Pakistan. The United States has tried to dissuade European partners from joining the initiative, fears that it could weaken transatlantic unity and allow China access to critical infrastructure for European defense, such as ports and road networks. Atlantic Council Senior Fellow Robert Dohner argued that the success of BRI and the challenges that it poses for the United States depend not just on the amount of resources that China brings to bear, but also how adroit China is in responding to the inevitable criticisms that it will face and in revising the BRI to make it more transparent and consistent with the developed standards and conditions of international and multilateral investment lending.[1] This new Chinese skepticism in internationally relevant environments continues to overshadow China's strategic investments under Belt and Road and its "Health Silk Road" initiatives through "Mask Diplomacy".

After the secret concentration camps in the Uyghur autonomous region, Chinese skepticism with the COVID-19 epidemic came back to the agenda of the international community on the grounds that China was distorting local pandemic case data. Some experts stated that China's Coronavirus data should be examined with suspicion. Despite all the measures taken by implementing the "national health code system" at the local level, many Chinese have remained skeptical. Not even the generation of retirees who were once so loyal to the party don't believe this nonsense. China is trying to prove to the West that it currently has zero cases. But this is nothing more than a slogan." said a Wuhan blogger. US-based Chinese blogger and biochemist Fang Zhouzi () heavily criticized official data from Beijing. In his criticism on Twitter, he said "no one should believe the local officials who lie about statistics on behalf of the economy."

Professor Xu Zhangrun (  ) from Qinghua University, in his article entitled "Angry People No Longer Fear" which caused him to be demoted by the university and banned from teaching, writing and publishing, had harshly criticized the CCP and Xi Jinping administration for their digital authoritarianism. In his article, Professor Xu emphasized that the country and its citizens are governed by big data totalitarianism (   ) and its WeChat Terrorism (  ). In the face of the epidemic, there are countless patients and who are wailing in Jiangxia city, throughout Hubey province, who have not been admitted to hospital and have nowhere to seek medical treatment. So how many people died is still unknown. The exclusion of society and people, cutting off all sources of information, and allowing only propaganda from the party media will leave this country forever a lame giant if it is truly a giant. [2]

Due to Trump's frequent use of the term "Chinese Virus" during the 2020 presidential election in the USA, China-skepticism has now found a macro ground at the global level. China should definitely abandon its lack of transparency towards the international community in the new period and learn to respect all constructive strategic criticisms against him in order to prevent China-skepticism from turning into a real "synophobia" in the international community. Otherwise, due to China's lack of transparency, this new China-skepticism process, initiated with the expression of the Chinese Virus, will evolve from synopathy to antisynopathy primarily towards Chinese citizens abroad. Then It will show its negative effect until it spreads wave after wave from economy to culture, art etc. fields and reaches high level diplomatic relations.

Note: In order to contribute to the international Chinese studies literature, as a new classification tools for political feelings related with international policy, the concepts sinopathy which describes individual or institutional interest, praise and love for China or Chinese citizens and antisinopathy which describes individual or institutional neglect, satire and hatred for China or Chinese citizens are first time used by author in this article.

Author: Mehmet Fatih Oztosun is an independent China expert and traveler researcher professionally focuses on China's Belt and Road Initiative.

Resources:

[1] David A. Wemer: Skepticism casts a shadow over Chinas Belt and Road Summit, Atlantic Council, April 25, 2019, https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/skepticism-casts-a-shadow-over-china-s-belt-and-road-summit/

2 20200706https://cfcnews.com/297321//

By Mehmet F. Oztosun
Could mild flu seasons in the past few winters be to blame for Britain's huge toll of Covid-19 deaths?

That is the controversial theory being hawked by the man responsible for Sweden's light-touch response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Anders Tegnell, Sweden's chief epidemiologist, won praise for his nation's low infection rates compared with the rest of Europe.

But he has been damned for its high death toll among the infected.

With 5,685 fatalities, Sweden's Covid-19 death rate is ten times higher than in neighbouring Norway and Finland. It is the fifth-highest per capita in Europe.

Could mild flu seasons in the past few winters be to blame for Britain's huge toll of Covid-19 deaths? Anders Tegnell (pictured), Sweden's chief epidemiologist, won praise for his nation's low infection rates compared with the rest of Europe

Unlike most of Europe, Sweden allowed shops, restaurants and schools to open throughout the pandemic.

Yet infection rates remained low  due in part to highly targeted social distancing, which is easier in a country whose population is six times smaller than the UK's but has nearly double the landmass.

However, among Swedes who did get infected, death rates soared. Why?

Tegnell is blaming flu. Or rather, the lack of flu in recent years.

He has said that normal flu epidemics kill large numbers of vulnerable (often older) people during winter. If that doesn't happen, the frail survive only to be killed by something else.

'When many people die of the flu in winter, fewer die in heatwaves the following summer,' he told a Swedish newspaper.

Unlike most of Europe, Sweden (pictured, Stranvagen in Stockholm) allowed shops, restaurants and schools to open throughout the pandemic

This time the pandemic did the killing instead of heat.

'In this case it was Covid-19 that caused many to die,' he argues. And the same is true for the UK, claims Tegnell.

'Countries that had a fairly low mortality rate for influenza in the past two, three years, have a very high excess mortality for Covid-19,' he says. 'That also explained the high death rate in the UK.'

But is this plausible? Tegnell is, after all, only the latest in a parade of virus tsars bandying science to explain why their original scientific policies didn't work.

Well, Tegnell is right about the UK's high mortality rate. Our deaths per capita, at 627 per million, outstrip Sweden's 575 per million.

Tegnell has said that normal flu epidemics kill large numbers of vulnerable (often older) people during winter

But that doesn't necessarily mean that his mild-flu theory tells the entire story.

Of course, there can be no doubt that in the past few years, the UK has seen peak flu seasons, with the winter of 2017-18 being especially bad.

From October to January, three times as many people died of flu in the UK compared with the previous winter.

This week researchers from Public Health England warned that patients who simultaneously get flu and Covid-19 are more than twice as likely to die than those who contract Covid-19 alone. Pictured, London

Indeed, the year saw 50,000 excess winter deaths, the highest recorded since 1975/76, according to the Office for National Statistics, which blamed the increase on virulent flu strains and cold temperatures.

Emerging evidence does, however, suggest that having a lot of flu around might actually help now to reduce Covid-19 deaths. But not for the reasons Tegnell suggests. For rather than just killing off vulnerable people, the flu infection may help to arm us against Covid-19. This is because having any viral infection boosts your immune defences' readiness to fight the next viral invader.

In fact, researchers at Yale University bolstered the theory this month by reporting in the journal, The Lancet Microbe, that catching a cold may help to prevent flu infecting us  because having a cold jump-starts the body's viral defences.

And earlier, in June, researchers at Germany's Tubingen University went so far as to suggest that respiratory viruses such as colds might even help to arm our defences against Covid-19.

So Tegnell might be partly right  though for the wrong reasons  about flu reducing Covid-19 death rates.

But if the theory about viral exposure boosting Covid-19 protection is correct, then we still have a problem.

For lockdown restrictions not only reduced infections of Covid-19  they also reduced our exposure to cold and flu.

In normal summers, we get only small doses of these viruses as we're not huddling together in fuggy rooms, so we usually shrug them off.

This year, however, we've been physically isolated, and hospital doctors are now reporting child and older adult patients coming in with aggressive colds, for which their defences were not prepared.

So how do we beat this? One way would be to kid our immune systems into thinking they are fighting a hard flu season by administering a flu vaccine.

Dr David Strain, a clinical senior lecturer at Exeter University Medical School who is helping to formulate the British Medical Association's guidelines on symptoms, says: 'There is soft evidence that a flu vaccine will stimulate your viral immune system and make Covid-19 infections less aggressive.'

And so as well as flu jabs being available free on the NHS for the over-65s and young children, the Government is aiming to give them to all over-50s  resources permitting  to protect hospitals from being overwhelmed by demand.

Meanwhile, vaccinations could also protect us from the threat of 'twindemic' infection. This week researchers from Public Health England warned that patients who simultaneously get flu and Covid-19 are more than twice as likely to die than those who contract Covid-19 alone.

All of which means that exposure to flu, in the form of vaccination, may prove a vital shot in the arm against the coronavirus pandemic  even if the Swedes don't understand why.
Common Ground

Common Ground is a newly established reading series devoted to the creative work of graduate and undergraduate students. Our goal is to engage the widest spectrum of the Binghamton student writing community as we gather in solidarity and share poetry and prose in a safe and welcoming environment. Three undergraduates and three graduate readers will be featured at each event, followed by conversation and literary friendship. Common Ground welcomes writers of color, the LGBTQ community, and people of all abilities, and finds fellowship in celebrating Binghamton's creative writers.

Fall 2021 Readings will take place:

Wednesday, October 13th at 7pm in UU (University Union) 209

Wednesday, November 17th at 7pm in UU (University Union) 209

If you are interested in reading your work at a Common Ground event or would like more information, please email Shin: swatana1@binghamton.edu or Nicoletta: nlamarc1@binghamton.edu.

Coordinators:

Shin Watanabe was born in Gainesville, Florida and has lived in New York, New Jersey, Minnesota, and Nevada. He studied philosophy at the University of Minnesota and received an MFA in poetry at the University of Las Vegas. Shin is currently a PhD candidate in English with a creative dissertation in poetry at Binghamton University.

Nicoletta LaMarca Sacco is passionate about languages and taught ESOL to speakers of 18-20 different languages for 27  years. She is in her first year of the Creative Writing doctoral program at Binghamton University writing poetry and CNF. Her writing has been published in New York Magazines The Cut, Honeysuckle, and Quill and Parchment, and forthcoming from PLR (Paterson Literary Review), issue #49, and parents.com.
SGD Pharma today announces the launch of its new full packaging solution dedicated to the cannabidiol (CBD) oil market. Combining the companys extensive pharmaceutical packaging expertise with the need for compliant, safe packaging for CBD oils, SGD Pharma has developed Ensiemo  a glass dropper and bottle offering that meets international regulatory standards.

The global demand for CBD for medical and wellness purposes is increasing substantially, driven by its therapeutic properties and a growing consumer preference for self-medication. The global CBD market was valued at USD 4.6 billion in 2018 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 22.2% from 2019 to 2025. This growth is driven by the move from governments in many regions towards legalizing CBD products.

To meet this increasing demand, French global pharma packaging expert SGD Pharma has developed a glass dropper bottle solution  Ensiemo  with the option for child-resistant closure (certified CRC ISO 8317 and US CFR 16 1700.20) and tamper evident (TE) seal to ensure safety and integrity, respectively. Ensiemo is ideally suited

to both prescribed and non-prescribed (Over The Counter) CBD products, and can be customized with graduated pipette .

The global CBD regulatory landscape is evolving rapidly. Our dedicated team has developed a full regulatory package to provide CBD producers with peace of mind that their packaging for new CBD oils complies with the necessary regulations, demonstrated by our CRC certifications and US and European Pharmacopoeia compliance. We are well placed to bring our knowledge of compliance in pharmaceutical packaging to the dynamic CBD market. Najet Mebarki, Senior Product Manager at SGD Pharma

Ensiemo is available in 10ml, 15ml and 30ml bottles, in clear or amber glass, with two teat types on offer for CRC, and a range of pipette tip shape options. Produced in a pharmaceutical environment, Ensiemo complies with:

Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards (ISO 15378)

All US and European Pharmacopoeia guidelines

REACH (1907/2006/EC)

CRC certifications (ISO 8317, Europe and Canada, and US 16 CFR)

Leakage and elemental impurity tests.

SGD Pharma provides a single source for improved supply chain efficiency and flexibility, while assimilating the responsibility of quality control and regulatory compliance.
23.09.2020 LISTEN

In unison with the Ghana Association of Certified Registered Anaesthetists (GACRA) and Ghana Physician Assistants Association (GPAA), the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) had declared total and nationwide strike on Monday, September 21, 2020. Their members in the public sector had therefore deserted the public hospitals ever since. The strike action emanates from governments inability to meet their required conditions of service (COS). One may assert with certainty that industrial actions or strikes and lockouts have become the language between the public sector employers and the public servants. Health workers are essential service providers per section 175 of the Labour Law, 2003 (Act 651) so naturally the employer should not toy with their COS let alone they proceeding on total strike. In this article, I will argue neutrally and place the hammer where I find the nail.

Intimidating the Nurses instead of Negotiating with them is Bad

So as indicated ut supra, public sector Nurses of all kinds, Midwives, Physician Assistants and Anaesthetists have begun a total nationwide strike since last Monday. They have stopped saving lives in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic. Are they heartless? Methinks no. They are human too. They are human like the article 71 public officers who are paid fat salaries and ex-gratia. They save lives. They provide essential services. They deserve good COS. Matters relating to their COS should not be brushed under the carpet. President Emeritus Kufuor was bold and frank when he said government pretends to pay public servants and the latter pretend to work. But in the case of the essential service staff like Nurses, Midwives, Anaesthetists and Physician Assistants, I do not think they pretend to work. They save lives.

We have seen in the media that the Police and other authorities are intimidating the striking Nurses and their allies. Such intimidations must be condemned unhesitatingly. We should not and we cannot force the striking Nurses, Midwives, Physician Assistants and Anaesthetists back to work, using intimidation. They save lives so intimidating and forcing them back to the hospitals can have serious implications for quality patient care.

This is not the first time and it will not be the last time we are witnessing such strikes in the public health sector. We witnessed so many of such strikes before and many of them in 2016 but nobody intimidated anyone so the MOH, GHS and central government should engage the striking health workers rather than using intimidation. Intimidation will not work.

Do the Nurses Deserve what they are asking for?

It is reported widely in the media (traditional and social) that the nurses and other striking health workers are making certain demands such as:

Book and research allowances for their tutors in the colleges of health and nursing. Fuel allowance Rural allowance On-call duty facilitation allowance Re-grading of Community Health Nurses, Enrolled Nurses and Principal Nursing Officers Placing Rotation Nurses and Midwives on appropriate grades (12L and 12H) on the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS) Resolution of issues relating to conversion difference due to migration of nurses and other striking health professionals onto the SSSS 8% Non-basic salary allowance Uniform allowance Rent allowance Professional development allowance Restoration of vehicle importation tax waiver for nurses and others

Much as I agree that the Nurses, Midwives, Anaesthetists and Physician Assistants deserve what they are asking for, it is better they negotiate an implementation road map so that we do not overload the gun with too much gunpowder and burst the barrel of the gun in the process. That can be suicidal.

Somehow, government is to blame for these huge demands at a go by the nurses and their allies. Most often, when health workers make demands, government approves some and instructs that the demands should be factored into the categories 2 and 3 allowances payable from Internally Generated Funds (IGF). The IGF is tied to payment of NHIS claims to the hospitals and other competing overhead costs make it difficult for hospital managements to pay such decentralised and localised allowances. This is why the nurses want their demands consolidated into their salaries payable from the Controller and Accountant Generals Department. Apparently, they do not want to be fooled.

Even though I agree with the striking nurses and others, they should reconsider their demands because the poor patients are suffering and any of them or their relatives can become patients even while strike is in force.

Be that as it may, strikes like this should teach government a lesson that placement of article 71 workers, the Members of Parliament and Ministers on huge salaries to the neglect of other public servants is wrong. But can government afford to meet the nurses demands or not? Methinks it will be difficult if not impossible but the nurses must be given reasonable and realistic assurances rather than intimidations.

Injunction by National Labour Commission

The National Labour Commission (NLC) ought to know that the Labour Law, 2003 (Act 651) makes provisions for legal and illegal strikes as well essential services. Where was the NLC when the striking health professionals were at the negotiation table until it got to a stalemate between them and their employers thereby leading to a total nationwide strike? Is the NLC in bed with government instead of speaking the ombudsman voice?

Placing injunction on the strike alone will not solve the problem. What will solve the problem is getting the GRNMA, GACRA and GPAA leadership back to the negotiation table with some hope to them from the employers.

The NLC should not be oblivious that health workers provide essential services so they should not have been treated unfairly to warrant a strike action. To me, the NLC has rather failed in upholding the tenets of the Labour Law proactively so they are now using a kneejerk approach in the form of injunction.

Be that as it may, the nurses and their allies (GACRA and GPAA) should also be measured and realistic in their demands should they return to the negotiation table. This is because the strike has morbidity and mortality implications for precious and innocent lives, knowing that no health worker has the power to resurrect those who may die because of the strike.

Fragmented Health Professional Associations

Somehow, the public sector health workers themselves are to blame for their poor and uncoordinated conditions of service. They are divided by forming fragmented and numerous professional associations that employ cynicism in their demands. Government is also happy that the public sector health workers are not united under the umbrella of one labour union.

Different health professional associations make demands by referring to what similar associations are enjoying. They undermine one another to government, each claiming to be the most important in the sector. It is shameful. In Nigeria and elsewhere, all the public sector workers are united so if it is strike they go en bloc.

The proverbial cotton thread says that it is only in unity that a stone is carried. The public sector health workers should learn a lesson from the proverbial cotton thread and get united with one negotiating voice. The Ghana Medical Association (GMA), which appears to be the most influential association in the health sector, should set the pace in placing all health workers in one labour union.

Conclusion

Even as news in is to the effect that the nurses have called off the strike, government should call them back to the negotiation table and should they go back, consensus should prevail over intimidation. The nurses deserve better than that. Again, the Nurses and their striking colleagues should also be considerate in their demands. I thank them sincerely for their timely call off of the strike.

~Asante Sana ~

Philip Afeti Korto

Email: [email protected]
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 00:20:44|Editor: huaxia

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ADDIS ABABA, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The total number of confirmed COVID-19 positive cases in Africa has reached 1,420,629 as of Wednesday, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said.

The continental disease control and prevention agency said in a statement that the death toll due to illnesses related to COVID-19 in Africa has reached 34,327 as of Wednesday.

The Africa CDC also said the number of people who have recovered from the infectious virus across the continent reached 1,168,444 so far.

Amid the uneven impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on African countries, the Africa CDC also disclosed that the most COVID-19 affected African countries in terms of the number of positive cases include South Africa, Egypt, Morocco, Ethiopia and Nigeria.

The Southern Africa region is the most COVID-19 affected region both in terms of the number of confirmed positive cases as well as the number of deaths, it was noted. The Northern Africa region is the second most COVID-19-affected African region, it was noted.

According to the latest figures from the continental disease control and prevention agency, Morocco, South Africa and Ethiopia reported the highest number of COVID-19 cases during the past week. Enditem
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Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech announced on September 23 that it has collaborated with the Washington University School of Medicine to develop an intranasal COVID-19 vaccine.

Here are seven things you need to know about the novel chimp-adenovirus vaccine candidate:

Bharat Biotech plans to make up to 100 crore doses of the intranasal coronavirus vaccine.

For live updates on coronavirus, click here

The Hyderabad-based company will own the right to distribute the single-dose vaccine in all markets except in the United States, Japan, and Europe.

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 intranasal novel coronavirus vaccine is expected to reduce dependence on needles and syringes and help overcome the potential difficulties that come with distributing a vaccine, while also negating the need for personnel to administer the vaccine shot.

Unlike most other coronavirus vaccines being developed, this vaccine will be administered via the nose, which is often the initial site of an infection. Researchers have claimed that the nasal route for vaccination has often seen a stronger immune response throughout the body.

Dr David Curiel, Professor of Radiation Oncology at Washington University School of Medicine has said an intranasal vaccine will not only protect against COVID-19, but also prevent the spread of the disease by offering another kind of immunity that occurs primarily in the cells that line the nose and throat.

Though the phase-I human trials of the intranasal COVID-19 vaccine will be conducted at the Treatment Evaluation Unit of Saint Louis University in the United States, Bharat Biotech is supposed to pursue the other stages of clinical trials in India.

This vaccine will expand Bharat Biotechs vaccine portfolio as the company is already developing coronavirus vaccine COVAXIN, which is currently in the second phase of human clinical trials.

Follow our coverage of the coronavirus crisis here
Zoe "Mala" Munoz, left, and Ariana "Diosa" Rodriguez, the L.A.-based podcast hosts of "Locatora Radio: A Radiophonic Novela." (Josie Norris / Los Angeles Times)

Zoe Mala Munoz was exchanging casual messages with a man on the Hinge dating app when he suddenly popped the question: So do you like anal?

It just came out of nowhere, Mala told viewers in a recent Instagram Live session where she and Ariana Diosa Rodriguez, her cohost for the podcast Locatora Radio: A Radiophonic Novela, answered questions from fans. A viewer wanted to know what Mala and Diosa thought about anti-dating culture, which prompted a discussion about the bold environment many women navigate on dating apps.

I cant imagine a conversation being like, What did you have for lunch? Do you like anal? in the same breath, Diosa said while laughing at the mans small talk with Mala.

Sex is a popular theme on their DIY indie podcast, but Mala, who graduated from Tufts University, and Diosa, an alum of UC Santa Barbara, inform their shows with an elevated discourse while making subjects accessible for their predominantly Latinx listeners. The show highlights the talents of women of color while covering topics including sex education and wellness, culture, arts, politics and intersectional feminism.

We had to be very intentional about the space that we were creating as podcasters, Diosa said.

Their socially conscious programming has resulted in a devoted following, especially in Los Angeles, where Mala and Diosa are based. One of their biggest supporters, renowned Salvadoran poet and writer Yesika Salgado, attributed the podcasts success to the hosts' ability to connect authentically with their audiences.

Everyone comes to art  yes, podcasts are art  looking for themselves, and Locatora Radio holds up a mirror to their listeners, Salgado said.

Salgado is such a fan of Locatora Radio that she always grants her first interview to them every time she launches a new book.

Locatora has been my go-to podcast for each of my book releases because I want my readers to experience my work through a natural lens, through our friendship.  I know that when I sit with the Locatoras to talk about my poetry, they already understand me, I dont have to translate or code switch my heart, Salgado said.

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"When I sit with the Locatoras to talk about my poetry, they already understand me, I don't have to translate or code switch my heart," Yesika Salgado said of Mala and Diosa's podcast. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

Elsewhere, appreciation for "Locatora Radio" has manifested on college campuses  UCLA, USC, Stanford, Williams, Northwestern  where the podcasters are often flown to deliver keynotes, speak on panels or record episodes in front of live audiences. The turnout tends to be overwhelming. Their visit to Cardinal Stritch University stands out as a fond memory. The podcasters said they didnt know what to expect from the Christian liberal arts school in Wisconsin because their analytics showed the majority of listeners are based in L.A. and New York.

People told us that they drove in from an hour away, from two hours away, Mala said. We had a full house in Milwaukee full of people of color and predominantly Latinx people.

Data on the demographics of podcast hosts are still scarce for the nascent medium, but a recent Edison Research study shows that 25% of Latinx people in the United States are monthly podcast listeners. According to Edison, the study is the first and only comprehensive research on Latino podcast listeners. It shows that 55% of U.S. Latinx podcast listeners identify as male  a reflection, some would argue, of the need for more podcasting content that specifically caters to Latinas.

We were very plugged into conversations happening online, which informed how conscious we were about creating a brand-new space, platform and project, Diosa said of their Latina focus.

Zoe "Mala" Munoz, left, and Ariana "Diosa" Rodriguez have used their "Locatora Radio" podcast to empower Latinas, providing a forum for conversations about sex, politics and intersectional feminism, among other topics. (Josie Norris / Los Angeles Times)

Last summer "Locatora Radio" reached 500,000 all-time listens across all streaming platforms. Diosa and Mala held podcasting workshops across 11 L.A. Public Library branches for the citys L.A. Made series, a collaboration that culminated with a grand Locatora Radio live event at the Central Librarys Mark Taper Auditorium downtown. In 2019, the podcast was nominated for Breakout Creator of the Year at the Tecla Awards for Hispanic content creators and influencers.

The pandemic hasnt slowed them down. Mala and Diosa hosted virtual events such as Grand Parks Our L.A. Voices 2020: Arts+Culture Fest, all while continuing to release episodes with notable guests including Linda Yvette Chavez and Marvin Lemus, the creators of the Netflix series Gentefied. In May, Mala and Diosa were interviewed by Zoe Saldana on Saldanas media platform, Bese, to talk about sexual wellness in the Latinx community.

Were not given sex education as Latinx folks, and specifically our demographic, Latinas, Diosa said.

She and Mala have used their podcast to promote sex positivity and to tackle topics that are deemed taboo in Latinx culture.

Latinas are hypersexualized [in the media], but we also tend to come from families and communities where we absolutely do not talk about sexuality and we do not have access to sex ed, Mala said. We are put into this predicament where were hypersexualized but also denied access to language and education and information about our bodies and sexualities. Its a conundrum.

"Locatora Radio" conversations about sexual health dont just center on lighthearted topics. When the podcast started in 2016, Mala was an on-call rape crisis counselor. The work was difficult, and it often entailed responding to medical centers for forensic administration of rape kits and SART (Sexual Assault Response Team) exams, helping victims go into immediate shelter, and accompanying survivors to court to testify against their rapists. The work took a heavy toll on her.

The thing that I needed to do was to scream into the void, she said, noting how terribly the system treats women and children, and knowing for a fact that the vast majority of rapists and abusers get away with it  never get arrested, never go to jail, never even get interviewed by police. Sometimes the biggest trouble was just getting the cops to write a report, so I needed to be able to go and vent and talk about it somewhere.

Mala sublimated all of that energy and used her experiences to steer Locatora Radio into the direction of advocacy and to create an environment where taboo conversations could unfold safely with support and understanding.

We knew that we wanted to not only talk about ourselves as Latinas but also center issues important to survivors of sexual violence and survivors of relationship violence, Mala said. From the beginning, our ethos  our whole thing is really about being survivor-centered through this Latinx lens that we have.

Another takeaway from Malas job was realizing which communities needed the most help in L.A.

The majority of my clients were Latinas, Black women, and children, Mala said, noting that women of color were not only disproportionately affected but also less likely to have access to an attorney or other types of help.

Racial awareness is evident in the Locatora Radio catalog, and the majority of the episodes chronicle socioeconomic issues that affect Latinas. The podcast has shared its platform with Black women and Afro-Latinas to call out anti-Blackness in the Latinx community, especially people of Mexican descent.

I think its important as non-Black Latinas to leverage our privilege and call in on our folks, and we have to call in on our Chicanos and Mexican folks being anti-Central American, xenophobic, anti-Black and anti-Indigenous, Diosa said. Theres a lot of work to be done in our own community, and if we have the audience and people are listening, we have to use that power and that platform.

Mala is a third-generation Chicana and Diosa is Peruvian and Mexican. Exploring the beauty of their distinct identities is often skillfully blended into conversations about marginalized experiences and histories. Episode 6, which was conducted entirely in Spanish, featured Afro-Peruvian dancer Nadia Calmet. The conversation explored African roots in Peruvian culture and detailed Calmets experiences as a Black woman in Peru.

Being able to weave that into the podcast was really important to me, Diosa said, adding that its one of her favorite episodes.

Their latest season has continued to shed light on racial issues, especially after this year's Black Lives Matter protests. Episode 83, recorded in the aftermath of George Floyds death by Minneapolis police, features testimony from Nadia Nibbs, a Black educator based in that city, who talked about the turbulence she was witnessing. In Episode 84, Diosa called for Black and brown unity during the protests, and Mala talked about the L.A. marches against police brutality that she attended.

The episode also included a conversation with Katelina Gata Eccleston, the Afro-Latina host of the show Reggaeton Con la Gata, who examined anti-Blackness in reggaeton and the genres connection to current conversations about race and identity. Diosa said she had been a fan of Ecclestons work and that Eccleston had been a slated guest long before the protests.

With our lifelong journey, youre in the struggle forever, its not just this hot moment coming into consciousness and learning about the Black Lives Matter movement, Diosa said. That is why it was important for us with the inception of Locatora Radio that we were including Black women in the conversation and never speaking for them or their experience.

At the end of the day, balance is key  so even when conversations turn uncomfortable or onerous, Mala and Diosa find a way to uplift their audience. They conclude episodes with the mantra that catapulted their success in the first place: archiving and celebrating the brilliance of women of color.

Prioritizing fun things, joy and art, thats just as important, Diosa said. Even when we have very difficult conversations, we never want our listeners to walk away feeling drained, feeling exhausted, feeling like they were in a lecture. We want them to feel empowered."
After years of shifting the Philippines closer to China, President Rodrigo Duterte appears to be leaning back toward the U.S.

The 75-year-old leader on Tuesday gave his most forceful defense yet of the Permanent Court of Arbitration's 2016 ruling in favor of the Philippines that said Beijing's expansive territorial claims in the South China Sea breached international law. Addressing the United Nations General Assembly, Duterte said the decision "is now part of international law, beyond compromise and beyond the reach of passing governments to dilute, diminish or abandon."

"We firmly reject attempts to undermine it," Duterte said, without naming China. "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 had resisted raising the tribunal ruling after he took power in 2016, embracing closer ties with China while announcing a "separation" from the U.S. -- his country's biggest military ally for decades. But in recent months his government has started to shift back toward America, which remains widely popular among Filipinos, as Beijing has increased assertiveness in the South China Sea and the Philippine economy suffers due to the covid-19 pandemic.

There's now "more space for those critical of China to be heard and to have influence," said Malcolm Cook, visiting senior fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute and coordinator of its Philippines project, adding that officials known to be more hawkish on China have stepped to the fore while Duterte has dialed back on anti-U.S. rhetoric. "The weights on the balance of Philippine foreign policy for good relations with the U.S. and good relations with China have shifted this year in favor of the U.S."

In June, the Philippines suspended its decision to end a 22-year old agreement that facilitates joint military exercises with the U.S. while starting to increase criticism of China's moves in disputed waters. Duterte this month pardoned a U.S. Marine found guilty in 2015 of killing a transgender Filipina.

This week the Philippines welcomed the U.S. and other nations to play a role in maintaining security in the South China Sea, following a similar statement from Vietnam earlier this month. China has accused the U.S. of intervening in territorial disputes and called it "the biggest driver of militarization of the South China Sea."

"I can swear to you, Western powers will be in the South China Sea," Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin told lawmakers in a hearing in Manila on Monday. "We believe in the balance of power, that the freedom of the Filipino people depends on the balance of power in the South China Sea."

Philippine officials have framed the recent moves as a reflection of the country's independent foreign policy more than siding with one particular camp. The U.S. alliance with the Philippines is its oldest in the region, with a mutual defense treaty signed in 1951 stipulating that either nation will respond militarily in the event of an attack on the other.

Duterte will "maintain friendly relations with everyone and make no enemies with anyone," presidential spokesperson Harry Roque told CNN Philippines Wednesday, adding that investment and trade ties with China will be pursued. Earlier this month, Roque told reporters that Duterte may have pardoned the U.S. marine to curry favor in an effort to gain access to coronavirus vaccines.

The quest to secure a vaccine shows that Duterte isn't abandoning Beijing: He said this month he would prioritize China and Russia in sourcing a Covid-19 vaccine over Western drugmakers, which require cash advances in exchange for supplies. The Philippines has been hit with the most infections in Southeast Asia with more than 291,000 known cases, and its economy is projected to fall by as much as 6.6% this year.

Duterte is "hedging his bets more at a time when he wants to keep several options open for access to vaccine and the Philippines is coming under more pressure from China in the South China Sea," said Peter Mumford, Southeast & South Asia practice head at risk consultancy Eurasia Group. "Duterte is ideologically more drawn to China than he is the U.S., but his foreign policy is also driven by political and economic pragmatism."

For University of the Philippines political science professor Herman Kraft, Duterte is still cautious about taking concrete steps against China -- proof of which was his decision to allow Chinese companies to continue projects. "We're critical of China as far as their actions in the South China Sea is concerned, but at the same time, we are not taking actions that go beyond the protests," Kraft said.

Given China's recent posturing in the dispute sea, it remains a difficult task for Duterte to convince stakeholders it doesn't pose a national security threat to the Philippines, said Rommel Ong, retired rear admiral in the Philippine Navy and professor at Ateneo de Manila University's school of government.

In recent months, the Philippines has accused Beijing of surveying waters claimed by both countries, using its coast guard to seize fishing equipment near a disputed shoal, announcing new coral reef research facilities and pointing a laser gun at a Philippine Navy ship. What's more, China's promise of billions of dollars for infrastructure hasn't materialized.

"If China had fulfilled its investment promises and taken less aggressive in its actions in the South China Sea, the president would be in a better position to convince the various domestic stakeholders to align with his pro-China stance," Ong said.
(Newser)  The Canadian woman who allegedly mailed a toxic letter to the White House has been charged with threatening the US president, CTV News reports. Pascale Ferrier, 53, of Quebec appeared in a Buffalo, New York, courtroom Tuesday to plead not guilty. Ferrier, who is accused of sending envelopes containing the poison ricin, is being held without bail. An affidavit filed Tuesday revealed that in a letter addressed to Trump, Ferrier allegedly wrote that if the ricin didn't work, she would find a recipe to create another poison, or just use her gun, which was allegedly loaded and in her waistband when she was arrested Sunday attempting to enter the US at the New York-Ontario border.

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Authorities say she used wording like #killTrump and called the president an "Ugly Clown Tyrant" in social media posts this month, and says one of her notes to President Trump accused him of having "ruin[ed] USA and lead [sic] them to disaster." The affidavit also says Ferrier's fingerprints were found not only on the letter to Trump, but on six similar letters sent to addresses in Texas that also contained ricin. Those letters were sent to people affiliated with facilities where Ferrier was jailed last year, authorities say. She was behind bars for three months in that incident, after illegally carrying a weapon and using a fake driver's license. CBS News notes that the federal defender Ferrier requested for her current case will be paid for by US taxpayers. (Read more ricin stories.)
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Indore: The body of an 87-year-old Covid-19 victim was allegedly nibbled by rats at a private hospital here in Madhya Pradesh, his family claimed, prompting the district administration to order a probe regarding the same.

The shocking incident came to light when a video surfaced on social media.

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Coronavirus In the video, injury marks on the face and legs of the corpse are visible, and a distraught person is seen complaining that the body handed over to them by the private hospital had bite marks made by rats.

Indore's Covid-19 nodal officer Amit Malakar said the elderly man, who was on oxygen support due to the severity of the infection, died in the hospital on Sunday.

"The district administration has ordered a probe into the incident," Malakar informed.

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The deceased's grandson said he was admitted in the hospital four days ago following fluctuation in oxygen levels and had tested positive for the coronavirus infection.

"The hospital management handed over his body to us on Monday. We found rat bite marks on his ears and thumbs," he claimed.
Some pictures of presidential staffer Charles Cromwell Nanabanyin Onuawonto Bissue, with his swollen and bloodied eyes and face, have surfaced following media reports that the governing New Patriotic Partys Western Regional Secretary got into fisticuffs with the Member of Parliament for Tarkwa-Nsuem, Mr George Mireku Duker, after the lawmaker accused the former Secretary to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), of bankrolling an independent MP aspirant in his constituency to go against him in the 7 December polls.



Mr Bissue was also reported by some news houses to have inflicted bites on the lawmakers finger during the fight.

The brawl broke out during a meeting by regional executives of the NPP at Kingston Hotel in Takoradi.



Mr Bissue on Accra FM recently said majority of the seized earthmoving vehicles were registered by foreigners and in the hands of foreigners.



In February this year, the leader of the team in charge of monitoring and securing all the heavy-duty machines and auxiliary equipment used for galamsey, revealed that 315 excavators had been seized as of 31 January 2020 but only 127 were left in the central pool in Accra.



According to Nana Boadu, some of the excavators found their way back into the forest reserves.



At the time, he said about 32 were back in the forests of Obuasi, Ashanti Region, while about 15 were back in Tarkwa, Western Region.



Nana Boadu said the trackers on some of the excavators were disengaged, thus, the difficulty in tracing them.



Apart from the excavators, Nana Boadu said the team was also in charge of all other mining equipment seized from the galamseyers by the Operation Vanguard team.



They included fuel pumps, batteries, and chan fans.



About a week before that, the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Prof Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, had disclosed that some of the 500 excavators allegedly seized by the Inter-Ministerial Committee Against Illegal Small-Scale Mining had gone missing.



In an interview with Accra-based Joy FM, Prof Frimpong-Boateng said: We were told that 500 [excavators] had been seized and given to the district assemblies but later on, when we went out to check, the figure was far less than that.



Asked the exact figures, Prof Frimpong-Boateng answered: I cannot tell you exactly what but I can tell you it was far lower than the 500 put out.



He, however, noted that the earthmoving equipment that went missing, were in the custody of the district assemblies. That was the case in most of the areas, so, we sent people out there to talk to the district assemblies and we got Vanguard involved and most of them had disappeared, Prof Frimpong-Boateng said.



On Tuesday, 4 February 2020, the CID issued a statement announcing the arrest of six suspects in connection with the missing excavators.



They included the suspended Central Regional Vice-Chair of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Horace Ekow Ewusie.



The others were Frederick Ewusi, Joel Asamoah, Adam Haruna, Frank Gyan and John Arhin.



Ekow Ewusi, Frederick Ewusi and Joel Asamoah were cautioned on the offence of stealing while Adnan Haruna, Frank Gyan and John Arhin were cautioned on the offence of abetment of stealing.



The CID statement said the suspects were arrested on Monday, 3 February 2020 at Abelemkpe in Accra.





Source: classfmonline.com









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Guest Column Economic Clouds Gathering on Chinas Horizon

People visit the display area of FAW-Volkswagen during the 17th China Changchun International Automobile Expo in Changchun, in northeast China's Jilin Province, on July 12, 2020. / Xinhua

Officially, China remains cautiously optimistic about its economic growth prospects in spite of the global pandemic, insisting that the worlds second-largest economy is steadily recovering from a virus-induced slump. However, analysts say policymakers will have a tough job maintaining a stable expansion over the next several years as the country looks to join the ranks of high-income nations.

President Xi Jinping said recently that Chinas economy remains resilient and that Beijing has ample policy tools at its disposal, despite rising external risks.

The basic characteristics of Chinas economy with sufficient potential, great resilience, strong vitality, large space for maneuver and many policy instruments have not changed, state-run Xinhua news agency quoted Xi as saying.

We must seek our development in a more unstable and uncertain world, he said, urging calm amid rising difficulties and challenges. The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation can never be achieved easily with the beating of gongs and drums, he said.

The Asian Development Bank said recently that Chinawhose central city of Wuhan, in Hubei province, was where the global coronavirus pandemic beganwas one of the few economies in the region bucking the downturn. It forecast China would grow by 1.8 per cent this year and 7.7 per cent in 2021, with successful public health measures providing a platform for growth.

At a deeper, structural level, however, Chinas economy is facing an uphill struggle.

China recorded its lowest GDP growth in almost half a century in 2019, at 6.1 percent, and 2020 has only been worse. As the countrys economic might began to wilt, Beijing in the first quarter of this year openly acknowledged an economic downturn for the first time since 1976, with the National Bureau of Statistics announcing on April 17 that the economy contracted by 6.8 percent compared to the same period a year earlier. Surprisingly, during the annual National Peoples Congress of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on May 22, no GDP growth target was announced for the first time in 30 years. Officials cited great uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic, an acknowledgement of the steep challenges the country faces amid a struggling economy and increasing international hostility.

Chinas GDP saw double-digit growth every year from 2003 until it peaked at 14.2 percent in 2007, but has been in a long decline since then. By 2018 it had dropped to 6.6 percent, followed by 6.1 percent in 2019. However, the COVID-19 pandemic is not to blame for this meltdown; it merely aggravated the difficult situation Chinas economy was already in, but which the CCP has sought to camouflage with its propaganda.

Experts note an even more serious development. Large banks such as the China Construction Bank and the Bank of China recently posted their biggest profit declines in a decade. While official figures put the drop in GDP at 6.8 per cent, the actual figures are likely to be higher, despiteor because ofthe governments US$559-billion (about 736.3 trillion kyats) revival package.

The reasons for the decline lie in the fundamental problems with the Chinese economy, which have accumulated over the years: excessive investment, low labor productivity, modest consumer spending and demographic changes. In the 1990s and 2000s, China created wealth in a way that was appropriate to that time. Factories grew, producing competitive products for the whole world; miles of bridges and roads were built connecting cities and towns. These in turn created jobs and income-generating opportunities for the population, while expanding the productive potential of the economy. But such methods do not always increase a countrys growth potential: bridges and roads are literally being built to nowhere, just like ghost towns.

In addition to excessive infrastructure costs, China is also increasing consumer and industrial spending by expanding its credit availability system. The country has accumulated a huge amount of debt, not just internally but externally as well. In 2019, Chinas total corporate, household and government debt rose to $40 trillion. This is about 300 percent of its GDP and about 15 percent of all world debt.

Heavy Chinese government borrowing led S&P to revise its estimated debt-to-GDP ratio to 273 per cent. Corporate debt, in particular, is massive, causing a closed loop of bad loans and bank stress. Data suggests that delays are likely in some Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects due to the pandemic, including in Pakistan, along with the cancellation of mega projects such as a $10-billion refinery by Saudi Arabia, while major powers have declared their intention to decouple from China.

As the economy begins to decline, many industries and enterprises in China have shut down, leading to massive layoffs, slowing wage growth and boosting unemployment. While the rate of unemployment was 5.3 percent at the beginning of 2019, the pro-government newspaper Global Times published a forecast as the year came to an end that the situation in 2020 would only get worse, with unemployment rising further and wages falling. The latest reports now point to 80 million workers being jobless post-pandemic; another 8.7 million joined the ranks of job seekers this year.

Over the past two years, the size of the Chinese consumer goods market has declined as the purchasing power of the population has fallen. Demand is declining for cars and real estate, and in other sectors accustomed to double-digit annual growth. The situation is aggravated by the huge income disparity between the wealthy coastal regions and the hinterland.

On May 28, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang admitted that there are over 600 million people in China whose monthly income barely reaches 1,000 yuan (about 194,000 kyats), which is not enough to rent a room in a Chinese city. If one of the top leaders of a communist stateone that is always seeking to hide its shortcomingsmakes such a statement, then it can be safely assumed that this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Additionally, Chinas demographics are not conducive to economic growth. China is agingits working-age population has been shrinking since about 2012. As the inevitable result of the 1979 One-Child Policy, according to experts, retirees will make up over 40 percent of Chinas population by 2050. This will test the CCPs ability to provide a decent life, stability and employment for its young people. These elements formed the basis of Xis Chinese Dream, under which China set itself the goal of eliminating poverty throughout the country by 2020 while improving the quality and standard of living for all its people.

However, the first nine months of 2020 demonstrate that this goal is far from being achieved, given the economic meltdown. Maintaining the pace of growth is going to be difficult in a pandemic-hit world. China is experiencing a major food crisis after heavy flooding hit farmlands, pushing the second-largest wheat producer in the world to import heavily. Domestic soya prices have doubled 30 per cent despite the release of inventories. China cannot feed itself, and imports of US corn are at their highest since 2014.

The economic crisis has led to a political crisis; a massive crackdown is underway to muzzle dissent. As a part of this, Xiwho, after getting rid of 1.34 million party officials in the name of corruption in his first tenure, in 2018 made himself president for life of the supposed Peoples Republichas ordered a fresh round of purges to eliminate potential rivals. In early September, marking a major shake-up in the country, over two dozen police and judicial officials were placed under investigation. This followed the removal of dozens of officials from their posts in August.

A senior ally of Xi told the Wall Street Journal it was time to turn the blade of a knife inwards, cure the poison by scraping it from the bones in order to cleanse the countrys justice system of corrupt elements and purge officials who only paid lip service to the CCP.

According to the WSJ report, millions of party cadres are potentially at risk of being targeted.

Yan Naing is the pseudonym of a regular observer on Myanmar affairs. The views expressed are his own.

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Victoria has recorded another drop in coronavirus cases with just 12 infections and two deaths.

Thursday's new cases bring the state's death toll to 773 and the national fatalities figure to 861, as infection numbers continue to fall.

Metropolitan Melbourne's crucial 14-day rolling average has dropped from 29.4 on Wednesday to just 26.7.

The case range must be between 30 to 50 for the state to move into the next phase of recovery on September 28.

Victoria has recorded another drop in coronavirus cases with just 12 infections and two deaths on Thursday. Pictured: Man wearing a mask walking past exhibition of healthcare workers in Melbourne

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has hinted Melbourne's coronavirus restrictions could be lifted quicker than first planned as the state slowly gets on top of its second wave

The regional Victorian average remains steady at 1.1.

There are currently 67 Victorians in hospital with eight people in intensive car and six of those on a ventilator. There are 532 active cases across the state.

Cases with an unknown source in Melbourne between September 8-21 were down to 37 and there were none in regional areas.

The figures come as the Health Workers Union called for the dismissal of Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos, accusing her of 'breathtaking incompetence'.

The union's letter to Premier Daniel Andrews has been made public ahead of Ms Mikakos's appearance before an inquiry into Victoria's hotel quarantine program, which led to the state's devastating second wave of coronavirus.

'Sadly, our union's relationship with your government is now officially dead, due solely to the breathtaking incompetence of your current Health Minister,' HWU Secretary Diana Asmar wrote.

'For the good of all Victorians, and health workers, I ask that you insist on Ms Mikakos' resignation, effective immediately.'

Meanwhile, Mr Andrews has hinted Melbourne's coronavirus restrictions could be lifted faster than planned as the state steadily manages down its second wave.

Beachgoers are seen basking in the sun during the COVID-19 crisis in Melbourne over the weekend

The figures come as the Health Workers Union called for the dismissal of Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos (pictured), accusing her of 'breathtaking incompetence'

With Melbourne's crucial 14-day new case average now well below the 30 level, it appears likely the city will soon move to the next phase of the state government roadmap.

In Thursdays press conference the premier admitted that further announcements will be made on Sunday, but it won't be a 'day of massive steps.

'The roadmap does not speak to that, it is not a day when we essentially throw the doors open,' Mr Andrews said.

'It will be, however, steady and safe steps, and that sense of gradual, continual progress is what we are able to do because we have a gradual and continued decline in these numbers.'

'At 12 cases or at an average just under 30, that is still too much for us to take steps. We have got to be safe, steady and cautious, otherwise those new settings simply will not last.'

Under the government roadmap announced earlier this month, the changes could include allowing public gatherings for five people from two households.

Schools, child care and some workplaces would open, along with outdoor pools, while personal trainers could operate with two clients.

There could be outdoor religious services for up to five people, plus a leader.

Locals wearing masks are see riding bikes and scooters along the Yarra during COVID-19 in Melbourne
Erode:

A country-made gun was seized and a farmer arrested for allegedly possessing it in a village in Kadambur forest region in the district, police said on Thursday.

The seizure was made during a raid conducted by police in Ozapalayam village in Wednesday following information that some persons were possessing unlicensed guns for hunting, they said.

Police found the country-made gun in the house of Annamalai and arrested him.

The 47-year old farmer allegedly told the police that the gun was meant for hunting animals like deer and rabbits.

Police said they have registered a case under the Explosives Act against the farmer.
U.S. oil giant Chevron Corp has asked employees globally to delete Tencent Holdings Ltds WeChat from their work phones, following the Trump administrations executive order to ban the social media app, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday.

A U.S. judge on Sunday blocked a government order requiring Apple Inc and Alphabet Incs Google to remove WeChat for downloads on national security grounds.

The U.S. Commerce Department said on Monday it would challenge the order.

WeChat is an all-in-one mobile app that combines messaging, social media, payment functions and other services and boasts more than a billion users globally.

Chevron, in a staff email, identified WeChat as a non-compliant application" and asked those with the app on their work handsets to delete it before Sept. 27 or face disconnection from the companys network, according to the Bloomberg report.

Chevron and Tencent, which has denied its apps pose a national security risk, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The United States has launched a series of measures in recent months cracking down on Chinese tech firms and apps, as the worlds two largest economies butt heads on issues ranging from trade and technology to the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Married troops are divorcing at about the same rate as they have for the previous five years, according to new data released by the Pentagon.

Since 2014 the divorce rate among men and women across the services has fluctuated between 3% and 3.1%. That trend continued for 2019 according to the Pentagon data, which measures the number of service members divorced during the fiscal year against the number married when the fiscal year began. The data does not include Coast Guard personnel.

"The message here is 'stability,'" said Benjamin Karney, a researcher with Rand Corp. who has long studied military divorce trends.

The divorce rate among female troops, both officer and enlisted, is historically much higher than that of their male counterparts, and that remained true in 2019. For example, the divorce rate among female soldiers is close to triple that of their male soldiers, at 7% compared to 2.5%. In the Marine Corps.

The overall divorce rate is also higher for enlisted troops, at 3.5%, compared to the divorce rate for officers, at 1.7%, regardless of gender.

Across the services, the highest overall rate among both males and females, officer and enlisted, is tied between the Air Force and the Marine Corps at 3.3%. The rate is lowest in the Navy, at 2.8%.

That the rate has been so stable could be a sign that the various support programs fielded by services to buoy military marriages are not impacting the divorce rate, Karney said.

"Over the last 15 years the military has done a lot to try to support military families, and what we've seen is that families are doing the same as they've always done over those 15 years," he said.

The military's divorce rate and the total U.S. divorce rate are not comparable because they are not measured the same way.

The total U.S. divorce rate, tracked by the Centers for Disease Control, is measured per 1,000 residents, but does not factor in five states including California or the District of Columbia. That rate sat at 2.9% per 1,000 population in 2018, the latest year for which information is available.
Four people, including the partner of one of the victims of the deadly August 25 protest shooting in Kenosha, are suing Facebook for enabling the violence that overtook the Wisconsin city.

The five-count civil complaint was filed on Tuesday in a state federal court, arguing that Facebook 'empowered right wing militias to inflict extreme violence and deprive Plaintiffs and protestors of their rights' by providing a space for groups to recruit and plan violence.

The suit also named alleged shooter Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, a follower of the fringe anti-government group 'boogaloo,' and a commander of a militia group Kenosha Guard as being a part of a violent conspiracy to violate the constitutional rights of Black Lives Matter protesters in attendance, Buzzfeed News reports.

Four plaintiffs are suing Facebook, 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse (pictured) and others for their part in inflicting extreme violence and depriving protesters of their constitutional rights during demonstrations on AUgust 25

Four people are suing Facebook for its alleged role in enabling the violence that overtook the city of Kenosha, Wisconsin, in August.

The suit, McNeal v. Facebook, Inc., slams Facebook as having allegedly abetted in the violence in Kenosha, especially on the night of August 25.

Rittenhouse allegedly shot and killed two men during an altercation as the demonstrations descended into chaos. Another person was injured in the shooting. The 17-year-old had crossed state lines from Illinois and had allegedly used a semi-automatic weapon in the confrontation.

Plaintiffs include Hannah Gittings, whose partner - Anthony Huber - was among one of the ones killed allegedly by the teen

He has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, one count each of attempted homicide, recklessly endangering the safety of two people, and possessing a weapon while under the age of 18.

'There is a failure on the part of Facebook to act based upon warnings that result[ed] in armed militias violating state law and in the case of Rittenhouse going to a peaceful protest to violently repress and deter American citizens from engaging in their constitutional rights,' Jason Flores-Williams, the attorney who filed the suit, said.

Plaintiffs include Hannah Gittings, whose partner was among one of the ones killed allegedly by the teen; Christopher McNeal, a longtime Black resident of Kenosha; Nathan Peer, a Kenosha resident who tried to assist one of the alleged victims; and Carmen Palmer, a Black Milwaukee resident who travelled to the protest with her kids and her church.

BuzzFeed News reported earlier in the month that a Facebook event page for the Kenosha Guard was flagged 455 times. CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that the failure to remove the event page, which advised attendees to bring firearms, was 'an operational mistake.'

After the shootings occurred, Facebook failed to remove the page, despite claims of the contrary made to the press. Facebook would later apologize for misleading the public.

Rittenhouse allegedly shot and killed two men during an altercation as the demonstrations descended into chaos. Another person was injured in the shooting. The 17-year-old had crossed state lines from Illinois and had allegedly used a semi-automatic weapon in the confrontation

The 17-year-old walks toward police with his hands raised after allegedly killing two men and shooting another. Lin Wood, an attorney representing Rittenhouse, called the suit 'nonsense'

Lin Wood, an attorney representing Rittenhouse, called the suit 'nonsense.'

'As to Kyle Rittenhouse, this lawsuit is errant nonsense but may provide a golden opportunity for obtaining documents and sworn testimony from Facebook to bolster Kyle's future defamation case against Facebook for falsely accusing him of mass murder,' Wood added. 'Thus, I view the lawsuit as a blessing in disguise.'

Two counts of the suit rely on Reconstruction era federal statutes designed to protect Black Americans from the Ku Klux Klan and other white supremacist groups. The 1871 'Ku Klux Klan Act' made it a criminal offense to violently prevent someone from exercising their constitutional rights if the attack was racially motivated and premeditated.

According to Mary McCord, a legal director of the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection at Georgetown Law, suits similar to this are in response to an increase of heavily armed citizen groups and racial violence at protests.

'If we continue to see militias and other sorts of white supremacist activity that results in injury to people of color and their allies, and that seems to be racially motivated, we could see a resurgence of civil lawsuits under these civil rights provisions,' she explained.

It is currently unclear whether Rittenhouse viewed the Kenosha Guard page or how he knew about the event, with Facebook previously stating that he had not RSVP'd to attend

Flores-Williams added: 'It's not that these laws are really innovative or unique; it's just that we didn't think that we would have to use them again in America. They are thankfully on the books for times like these.'

The August 25 event, called 'Armed Citizens to Protect our Lives and Property,' was created by the Kenosha Guard and not removed from Facebook despite the plethora of violent comments that filled the page.

'Facebook, where most of the conspiring took place, failed to act to prevent this harm,' the suit claims. 'Despite over 400 reports of the Kenosha Guard's event page and its call to arms, as well as the violent rhetoric throughout, Facebook failed to remove the page from its site until after several deaths, injuries, and extensive harassment occurred.'

It is currently unclear whether Rittenhouse viewed the page or how he knew about the event, with Facebook previously stating that he had not RSVP'd to attend.

Facebook violated federal law, the suit alleges, because it was aware of the planning of violence but failed to take action. Facebook is also accused of being negligent and failing to remove the Kenosha Guard page and its event.

'Facebook was [given notice] that something horrid was going to happen but failed to do anything,' said Flores-Williams. 'They failed to act, and because they failed to act, good people were murdered and others were denied their fundamental rights to express themselves. Facebook provided the tools and platform for the militias to organize and execute their plans.'
The exam is conducted for admission to M.Tech./ M.Pharm./ Pharm.D(PB) courses in University Engineering/ Pharmacy colleges and their affiliated colleges in Andhra Pradesh

The Andhra University, Vishakhapatnam, has on Wednesday released the admit card for Andhra Pradesh Postgraduate Engineering Common Entrance Test (AP PGECET) 2020 on its official website. Candidates who have registered for the common entrance exam can download the hall ticket from sche.ap.gov.in.

The examination is conducted by Andhra University on behalf of Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education (APSCHE). AP PGECET 2020 will conduct from 28 to 30 September. The test will be held in two shifts. The first shift will be from 10 am to 12 pm, while the second shift will start at 3 pm and will continue till 5 pm.

AP PGECET admit card 2020: Steps to download

Step 1: Candidates will have to visit the official website - sche.ap.gov.in.

Step 2: On the homepage, click on tab that reads, "Download Hallticket"

Step 3: Key in your AP PGECET 2020 registration number, date of birth and choose the exam paper for which you will be appearing

Step 4: Click the Download Hallticket key and the admit card will appear on your web page.

Step 5: Carefully check all the details before taking a printout.

Here is the direct link to download AP PGECET 2020 hall ticket: https://sche.ap.gov.in/PGECET/PGECET/PGECET_GetPrintHallTicket.aspx

A report by The Times of India said that the candidates appearing for the exam will have to carry their admit card at the exam centre. If they fail to do so, they will not be permitted to take the test.

The exam is conducted for admission to M.Tech./ M.Pharm./ Pharm.D(PB) courses in University Engineering/ Pharmacy colleges and their affiliated colleges approved by All India Council for Technical Education.
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The public offer of Chemcon Speciality Chemicals has been subscribed 149.3 times on September 23, the final day of bidding.

The IPO has received bids for 97.94 crore equity shares against offer size of 65.59 lakh equity shares (excluding the portion of anchor investors), the data available on the exchanges showed.

The demand from retail investors remained strong for Chemcon as the reserved portion for these investors saw 41.2 times subscription, while the portion set aside for qualified institutional buyers was subscribed 113.53 times and that of non-institutional investors 449.14 times.

"Due to over subscription in such a big number, most of the retail investors will be disappointed as they won't get a single lot. We believe a lot is left on the table for the investors by comparing its valuation with other speciality chemical companies. We are positive on the future outlook for the industry as well as the company, so we have recommended subscribing to the issue for long-term as well as for listing gains," Keshav Lahoti, Associate Equity Analyst at Angel Broking said.

Chemcon Speciality Chemicals IPO opens: Should you subscribe?

"Due to its position as a leading manufacturer of its products globally, it is getting strong traction among investors," he added.

The IPO consists of a fresh issue of Rs 165 crore and an offer for sale of Rs 153 crore by promoters. Promoters' stake will be reduced from 100 percent pre-IPO to 74.5 percent.

The funds raised from the issue will be utilised to fund capex, meet working capital requirements and for general corporate purpose.

Chemcon Speciality Chemicals IPO to open on Sept 21; 10 key things to know

Chemcon plans to set up two more plants for manufacturing pharma chemicals (capex of Rs 41 crore), which would increase its capacity from 375KL to 626KL (operational by FY22-end). This will help Chemcon expand its reach in India which is currently a net importer of HMDS/ CMIC. Chemcon also aims to expand its product portfolio and usage of its existing products to other industries.

Chemcon is the only manufacturer of HMDS in India and third largest globally. It is also the largest player of CMIC in India and the second largest worldwide. Additionally, Chemcon is the only manufacturer of zinc bromide and the largest of calcium bromide in India. 40 percent of the revenues come from export which has grown at a CAGR of 18 percent over FY18-20. Chemcon enjoys high entry barriers which lead to client stickiness and long standing relationships.

"At the higher end of the price band, the issue is valued at 25.5x FY20 P/E (fully diluted), which is reasonable compared to peers. We like Chemcon given its (1) leadership position in niche products, (2) high entry barriers and (3) healthy financials. Hence, investors can subscribe to the IPO," Motilal Oswal also said.

Further, considering the bright prospects of chemical companies due to shift of supply chain from China, the brokerage believes Chemcon could be a beneficiary with its planned capex.

Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders IPO to launch on September 29

Over FY18-20, Chemcon's revenue/EBITDA/PAT grew at a CAGR of 29/25/36 percent, led by volume and price growth. Its EBITDA margins were strong at 26.8 percent in FY20 given its leadership position.

Given continuous capex incurred over the last three years, the return ratios have tapered down, though healthy with ROE/ROCE at 40/33 percent in FY20, said Motilal Oswal.

The grey market premium of Chemcon has been stable at around Rs 250-280 range since the launch of public issue.
A systematic review of evidence being presented at this week's ESCMID Conference on Coronavirus Disease shows that air around patients with COVID-19, as well as patients toilets, and staff and public areas in hospitals are all show significant levels of contamination with SARS-CoV-2. The study is by Dr Gabriel Birgand, University Hosptial Centre Nantes, France, and colleagues.

Controversy remains worldwide regarding the transmission mode of SARS-CoV-2 virus in hospital settings. In this study, the authors reviewed the current evidence on the air contamination with SARS-CoV-2 in hospital settings, the viral load and the particle size, and the factors associated to the contamination.

The authors searched the MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science databases for original English-language articles detailing COVID-19 air contamination in hospital settings between 1 December 2019 and 21 July 2020.

The positivity rate of SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA and culture were described and compared according to the setting, clinical context, air ventilation system, and distance from patient. The SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations in copies per m3 of air were pooled and their distribution were described by hospital areas.

Among 2,034 records identified, 17 articles were deemed eligible and included in the review. Overall, 27.5% (68/247) of air sampled from close patients' environment were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA, with no difference between settings (ICU: 27/97, 27.8%; non-ICU: 41/150, 27.3%). Just 1/67 (1.5%) of samples in the air less than 1 metre from the patient tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, and just 4/67 (6%) of samples 1-5 metres away. (see results in abstract and poster)

In other areas, the positivity rate was 23.8% (5/21) in patient toilets, 9.5% (20/221) in clinical areas, 12.4% (15/121) in staff areas, and 34.1% (14/41) in public areas (see table in abstract). A total of 78 viral cultures were performed, and 3 (4%) were positives (meaning the virus was viable and capable of reproduction), all from close patients' environment (3/39, 7.7%) in non-ICU settings.

The median SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations were found to be 10 times higher in patient toilets than in the patients' rooms.

The authors conclude: "In hospital, the air near COVID-19 patients is frequently contaminated with SARS-CoV-2 RNA, with however, poor proof of its infectivity - meaning we detected the viral RNA, but when trying to culture (grow) these samples, there was little evidence of viable virus. High viral loads found in toilet/bathrooms, staff and public hallways means these areas require strong compliance with cleaning measures and personal protective equipment."

###
The pandemic has been devastating for the oil industry globally. Explorers suspended drilling, producers, idled wells, Big Oil majors put up assets for sale. But the world continues to need oil, albeit lower amounts of it than a year ago, and it will continue to need it. Exploration is not dead. It is especially not dead in Africaa hot spot in oil and gas before the pandemic.

The East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline

Earlier this month, French Total and the Uganda government signed an important deal, for the construction of a pipeline that will carry Ugandan oil to the Kenyan coast. Two weeks later, the presidents of the two countries signed their own deal about the $3.5-billion infrastructure.

The final investment decision on the pipeline is expected by the end of the year in a rare good sign about the future of oil demand. Uganda and Kenya are both newcomers on the oil scene with hopes to join the oil exporting community soon. If the construction of a $3.5-billion oil pipeline still makes economic sense for countries that are not among the wealthiest in the world, there may be some hope for oil demand.

The South African oil discovery

Africa Energy, a Canadian exploration company, said last week it expected to strike a lot of oil in an offshore block in South Africa with reserves that could exceed those of an earlier discovery made by Africa Energy and Total in the same block. Earlier this year, Africa Energy doubled its stake in the consortium exploring the block to 10 percent. Total is the operator. Africa Energy should announce the results of the drilling project by the end of next month.

The Luiperd prospect is the largest of five prospects in the offshore block 11B/12B in South African waters that have attracted explorers attention. Consortium members estimate the resources of Luiperd alone to be in excess of 500 million barrels.

Whats more important is that, according to Africa Energy, the Luiperd prospect offers as much as 80 percent of success"unheard of in frontier exploration today," the companys chief executive Garrett Soden told an industry conference. The entire offshore block has potential reserves of several billion barrels.

Drilling in Zimbabwe

An Australian company, Invictus, is meanwhile preparing to start drilling exploration wells in Zimbabwe, with the start date scheduled for October 2021. These would be the first oil and gas wells to be drilled in South Africas neighbour to the northanother country hopeful it will strike oil, which will boost its energy self-sufficiency. Related: Natural Gas Prices Explode On Stronger Demand

The drilling project is seen to cot some $15 million, Africa Oil and Power reported last week, adding that it builds on promising results from earlier exploration conducted by Exxon. In the 1990s, Exxon identified an area that was highly likely to contain hydrocarbons but dropped the project because it was after oil and the area was more likely to contain gas. The government of the country, which is currently 100-percent dependent on exports for its energy needs, seems fine with gas, too. It is currently putting the finishing touches to a production sharing agreement with Invictus in case oil and gas are found.

The Gambian license

UK-based explorer PetroNor earlier this month received a 30-year drilling license from the Gambian government after an arbitration process concerning two offshore blocks. After the successful completion of the arbitration, PetroNor will have rights to explore just one of the blocks, with the other passing to an unnamed major oil company.

The new license is based on a new production-sharing framework developed by the Gambian government, which, according to PetroNor, is more favourable for explorers and producers. The company now has a year to decide if it wants to proceed with drilling in the offshore block.

Pandemic delays

Despite all the positive news from frontier regions in Africa, the continent has not been spared the fallout of the pandemic that destroyed a lot of oil and gas demand. Kenyas government, for instance, said recently that Covid-19 had slowed down exploration in the Turkana region, which would delay Kenyas ambitions to become an oil exporter until 2024, from an earlier plan to start shipping oil abroad in 2022.

The pandemic has also delayed exploratory drilling in Mozambique following the distribution of new blocks in a government tender. It was supposed to begin this year but some adjustments the pandemic necessitated have pushed the schedule to 2021-2022.

One of the biggest producers on the continent, meanwhile, is working on a new exploration strategy to boost its oil and gas reserves. Angolas government earlier this month approved a plan, to take effect by 2025, that would see the country boost its exploration activities to increase recoverable reserves and make sure it produces at least 1 million bpd by 2040.

South Africa, on the other hand, has delayed a new oil and gas exploration and production bill that was supposed to be passed this year, again because of the pandemic. Now, the deadline for the approval of the bill has been moved to the end of the third quarter of 2021.

Overall, however, the picture appears to be better in Africas frontier oil regions than in legacy producing parts of the world.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Queues of up to 7,000 lorries will snake through Kent when the completion of Brexit brings border chaos, a leaked government document warns.

Exporters face two-day delays to reach France, with 70 per cent of trucks not ready for new checks to cross the Channel  including up to half on the busiest Dover-to-Calais route and in the Eurotunnel.

Hauliers believe the government is getting ready to blame them for the enormous disruption, on the basis of a letter sent by Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove.

The biggest potential cause of disruption are traders not being ready for controls implemented by EU member states, the letter reads.

It is essential that traders act now and get ready for the new formalities.

Yet the new Smart Freight IT system for hauliers is unlikely to be tested publicly until the end of November, far too late for the transition period ending on 31 December, the industry says.

The turmoil looms regardless of whether a trade deal is struck with Brussels, being the consequence of a hard Brexit  leaving the single market and customs union.

The EU is expected to impose full goods controls on the UK from 1 January, stopping all freight without the correct documentation as the reality of Brexit bites.

The disruption is assumed to build in the first two weeks of January, but could last for three months or longer should France rigorously apply Schengen passport checks on hauliers.

Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Show all 66 1 /66 Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A message projected onto the White Cliffs of Dover Sky News/AFP via Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Big Ben, shows the hands at eleven o'clock at night AFP via Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Nigel Farage speaks to pro-Brexit supporters PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-Brexit demonstrators celebrate on Parliament Square REUTERS Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU The Union flag is taken down outside the European Parliament in Brussels PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU campaigners outside the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A pro-Brexit supporter jumps on an EU flag in Parliament Square PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU EU Council staff removed the Union Jack-British flag from the European Council in Brussels, Belgium EPA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A pro-Brexit supporter pours beer onto an EU flag PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pedestrians pass in front of the Ministry of Defence Building on Whitehall, illuminated by red, white and blue lights in central London AFP via Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A Brexit supporter shouts during a rally in London AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU campaigners outside the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU campaigners take part in a 'Missing EU Already' rally outside the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A large pro-EU banner is projected onto Ramsgate cliff in Kent PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU supporters light candles in Smith Square in Westminster PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A man waves Union flags from a small car as he drives past Brexit supporters gathering in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU The five-year old Elisa Saemann, left, and her seven-year old sister Katie hold a placard during a rally by anti-Brexit protesters outside the Scottish parliament in Edinburgh AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro Europe supporters gather on Brexit day near the British embassy in Berlin, Germany EPA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Anti-Brexit protester hugs a man while holding a placard REUTERS Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A decorated, old fashioned fire pump in Parliament Square PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro Brexit Elvis impersonator performs at Parliament Square Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU An anti-Brexiteers stands with his dog in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Paddy from Bournemouth wears Union colours as he sits next to an EU flag decorated bag in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A pro-EU activist plays a guitar decorated with the EU flag during a protest organised by civil rights group New Europeans outside Europe House, central London AFP via Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU People celebrate Britain leaving the EU REUTERS Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A Pro Brexit supporter has a Union Jack painted onto his face at Parliament Square Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Men hold placards celebrating Britain leaving the EU REUTERS Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro Brexit supporters dance in the street draped with Union Jack flags at Parliament Square Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU An anti-Brexit demonstrator spreads his wings during a gathering near Downing Street AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro EU supporters display a banner ' Here to Stay, Here to Fight, Migrants In, Tories Out' from Westminster bridge EPA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-Brexit supporters burn European Union flags at Parliament Square Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A man poses for a picture on Parliament Square in a 'Brexit Day' t-shirt Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU People celebrate Britain leaving the EU Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU AFP via Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A man wears a pro-Brexit t-shirt Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Anti-Brexit demonstrators visit Europe House to give flowers to the staff on Brexit day Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro Brexit supporter wears a novelty Union Jack top hat outside the Houses of Parliament Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Customers Scott Jones and Laura Jones at the Sawmill Bar in South Elmsall, Yorkshire, where a Brexit party is being held throughout the day PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU activists protest Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A pro-Brexit demonstrator burns a European Union flag AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro Brexit supporters Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro Brexit supporters Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A Brexit supports holds a sign in Parliament Square AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A man carries an EU themed wreath Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Ann Widdecombe reacts with other members of the Brexit party as they leave en masse from the European Parliament PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Anti-Brexit demonstrators in Parliament Square PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro EU supporters let off flares from Westminster Bridge Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU British MEPs Jonathan Bullock, holding the Union Jack flag and Jake Pugh leave the European Parliament, in Brussels on the Brexit day AFP via Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Newspapers and other souvenirs at a store, near Parliament Square Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Brexit supporters hold signs in Parliament Square AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU protesters hold placards in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU French newspapers PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald with a Border Communities Against Brexit poster before its unveiling in Carrickcarnon on the Irish border PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU National growers organisation British Apples & Pears has renamed a British apple to EOS, the Greek goddess of dawn, to commemorate Brexit day AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU protesters hold placards in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Britain's departure from the European Union was set in law on January 29, amid emotional scenes, as the bloc's parliament voted to ratify the divorce papers. After half a century of membership and three years of tense withdrawal talks, the UK will leave the EU at midnight Brussels time (23.00 GMT) on January 31 Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A man poses with paintings on Parliament Square Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU People sporting Union Flags gather in Parliament Square Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A man walks with a St. George's flag at Westminster bridge on Brexit day Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A British bulldog toy and other souvenirs at a souvenir store Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU British pro-brexit Members of the European Parliament leave the EU Parliament for the last time Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Jonathan Bullock waves the Union Jack as he leaves the European Parliament EPA

This could lead to maximum queues of 7,000 port bound trucks in Kent and associated maximum delays of up to two days, the document said.

The letter also raises the prospect of further problems if a winter spike in Covid-19 leads to absences of port and border staff.

Mr Gove pledged to recruit 50,000 customs agents  in an enormous increase in bureaucracy, critics said  but only half, at best, are in place.

There are also huge doubts over the number of permits that will be allocated to UK hauliers, to allow them to operate freely on the continent.

Some in the industry have suggested the UK will have to sign up to EU rules limiting driver hours, in order to get access to its roads.

Richard Burnett, chief executive of the Road Haulage Association (RHA), said a meeting with Mr Gove last week had fallen far short of our expectations.

We've been consistently warning the government that there will be delays at ports, but they're just not engaging with industry on coming up with solutions, he said, responding to the leak.

Traders need 50,000 more customs intermediaries to handle the mountain of new paperwork after transition but government support to recruit and train those extra people is woefully inadequate.

A government spokesman said: We continue to make extensive preparations for a wide range of scenarios, including the reasonable worst case.

This is not a forecast or prediction of what will happen but rather a stretching scenario.
Nudged by the Supreme Court, the Delhi Assembly panel looking into the February riots undertook not to take any coercive step against Facebook and its vice president Ajit Mohan.

Before a bench headed by Justice Sanjay K Kaul, the Peace and Harmony Committee recorded its undertaking that the proceedings of the panel with respect to the social media networking platform will remain stayed. Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi made this statement after speaking with committee chairman Raghav Chadha.

The bench has now fixed the matter for October 13, asking the Committee to file its detailed reply to the joint petition by Mohan and Facebook. It has also issued notices to the central government, Delhi Police and secretaries of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to respond to various aspects relating to powers of the legislative committees.

Earlier, senior advocates Harish Salve and Mukul Rohatgi appeared for Mohan and Facebook respectively. After hearing them, the bench was persuaded to issue notices and sought to question Singhvi over a press conference by the committee on August 31 in which Facebooks alleged complicity in Delhi riots was mentioned.

The court also took exception to the September 18 notice by the deputy secretary of the committee threatening Mohan of breach of privilege.

On the back foot, Singhvi said the committee has itself decided to defer the meeting scheduled for today. He also submitted that it wants to clarify that Mohan was asked to appear only as a witness and there was no intent to take any coercive action against him.

At this, the bench retorted that the senior counsel needs to advise his client in a better way and that it also must be clarified if the statements cited from the press conference are true or not.

Despite resistance by Singhvi, the bench said it must record in its order his statement that proceedings with respect to Facebook shall remain stayed till the next date of hearing.

Mohan and Facebook, in their petition, disputed the authority of the panel in summoning them in connection with the Delhi riots. The plea said the committee has no constitutional powers to either summon Facebook or examine the issues that fall in the exclusive domain of the Centre, namely policing, public order and communications.

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 who have not impeded or obstructed legislative functioning," stated the petition, 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.
Bishop Michael Currys sermon at Prince Harry and Meghan Markles wedding was one of the most memorable parts of the ceremony and hes since reflected on the event. Curry, who delivered a stirring speech on the power of love, said that afterwards he could feel slaves around the place - calling it a sign of hope.

Curry, who has published a new book called Love is the Way, said of the experience to People, After I preached the sermon, I just remember it was like I could feel slaves around the place. I don't mean to be spooky, but it was like their voice was somehow heard that day. I included one of their songs, 'There is a Balm in Gilead.'

He continued, "It was like their voice, one of their songs, one of their descendants was there that day. The Queen was most gracious.

Getty Images

The fact that all happened, for me, it's a sign of hope. It's a sign of hope that one who descends from people who were captured in the slave trade, probably the British slave trade, is brought from the shores of West Africa, to the shores of America. That one of their descendants was in the presence of the Queen of England, and he quoted one of their songs. That's hope that we don't have to be the way we've always been," he said.

Curry delivered a stirring 14 minute speech in which he quoted Dr Martin Luther King Jr on the redemptive power of love during the 2018 Royal Wedding.

He also quoted lyrics from There is a Balm in Gilead and said, There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole, there is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul...Oh, thats the balm in Gilead! The way of love, it is the way of life.

Getty Images

Love is not selfish and self-centred. Love can be sacrificial, and in so doing, becomes redemptive. And that way of unselfish, sacrificial, redemptive love changes lives, and it can change this world, he continued.

The Sussexes Royal Wedding was hailed for being a marriage of both Prince Harry and Meghans cultures. While it of course had all the tradition and pomp of a British Royal Wedding, Black culture was celebrated throughout the ceremony - from spotlighting British cellist prodigy Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Bishop Michael Currys sermon and the presence of Black gospel choir The Kingdom Choir.

Prince Harry and Meghan, who currently live in Los Angeles, have more recently urged people to vote in the upcoming US election - which Meghan called the most important election of our lifetime.

Speaking in a recent interview for Time 100, Prince Harry urged people to reject hate speech as Meghan said, When we vote, our values are put into action and our voices are heard. Your voice is a reminder that you matter, because you do and you deserve to be heard.

It is against royal protocol for members of the Royal Family to get involved with politics, however the Sussexes stepped down as senior royals this year.
Authorities identified a 25-year-old Plymouth man as the suspect accused of flashing a knife at a security guard and acting threateningly toward police before being shot by an officer outside a Kingston mall Tuesday morning.

The suspect was identified as Alexander Bakutis of Plymouth, by the Kingston Police Department.

Police received a 911 call around 2:45 a.m. from the security guard at the Kingston Collection off Route 3 who reported the suspect brandished a large knife and told him to get out of his car, the departments statement said

Officers quickly arrived at the scene and located the suspect near the entrance of the former Sears parking lot, according to the department.

The man, police claimed, had the knife in a sheath on his hip and ignored orders given to him by officers, the department said.

During the encounter, police attempted to deescalate the situation with non-lethal tactics, as the suspect was allegedly acting aggressively and threateningly, according to authorities.

Authorities said the mans threatening behavior continued to escalate, and fearing for the safety of themselves and others, the officers drew their guns. The suspect was shot once in the shoulder.

He was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital and then flown by medical helicopter to Boston Medical Center. His injuries were not life-threatening, police said.

The officer involved in the shooting, who was uninjured, was also taken to an area hospital out of an abundance of caution but later released, according to police.

The Kingston Police Department said it would be placing the officer, a 15-year veteran of the department, on administrative leave during Massachusetts State Polices investigation into the shooting.

Those investigating the shooting seized the large knife Bakutis is accused of brandishing and other items as evidence from the suspect, according to law enforcement.

Bakutis, who is in police custody, has been charged with three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and is expected to be arraigned remotely by the Plymouth District Court on Wednesday, authorities said.

Related Content: 25-year-old man shot by police outside Kingston mall threatened officers, acted erratically before he was shot, DA says
Naas Roads Policing Unit have been urging Dublin-based drivers to turn around if they are stopped inside the Kildare border and they're not on essential journeys.

Due to Level 3 restrictions caused by the rise in Covid-19 cases, Dublin residents can only leave the city and county for work or education purposes.

The Garda's Operation Fanacht Garda is seeing high visibility patrols across Co Dublin but Garda personnel from the surrounding counties of Kildare, Wicklow, Meath and Louth are also involved.

This activity will consist of targeted patrols and checkpoints to check compliance with Public Health Regulations.

Speaking about Operation Fanacht duties, Naas Roads Policing said today: "Some motorists questioned were not on essential journeys outside of Dublin and were engaged and encouraged to turn around and go home.

"Compliance levels were excellent in this area."

Naas Roads Policing also seized four vehicles for No Insurance, Tax and a Learner Driver Unaccompanied.

One of these motorists broke a red light and was arrested for Drug Driving 'Cannabis'.

Another motorist was also arrested for Drug Driving - 'Cocaine'.

The Government on the advice of NPHET are requesting the people of county Dublin to adhere to increased public health measures that are being applied to stop the spread of COVID-19. Operation Fanacht is focused on supporting public compliance with public health measures following the announcement by An Taoiseach that Dublin is now at level 3 of the Governments Plan for Living with Covid-19.

Gardai said Operation Fanacht will see a high level of visibility of garda members in Dublin City and County on foot, in car and on bike, to support the public health guidelines, particularly in relation to social distancing and gathering in large groups at amenities and open spaces.

Gardai reminded everyone that people are being encouraged not to travel out of or into Dublin County unless absolutely necessary.

In supporting the COVID-19 public health guidelines and regulations, An Garda Siochana has and will continue to adopt, a graduated policing response based on its tradition of policing by consent. This has seen Garda members engage, educate, encourage and, as a last resort, enforce.

In respect of regulations, including travel restrictions, which are not declared to be Penal Regulations under the Health Act 1947 as amended, under Operation Fanacht An Garda Siochana will use the approach of the three Es which will see Gardai engage, educate and encourage, only, compliance with travel regulations.
New Delhi, Sep 23 : The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has pulled up the Rafale fighter jet's French manufacturer and its weapons producer for not fulfilling their offset commitment to transfer technology to India as part of the 2016 contract for 36 combat jets.

In an audit report on Management of Defence Offsets, tabled in Parliament on Wednesday, the government auditor flagged that foreign vendors made various offset commitments to qualify for the main supply contract but, later, were not earnest about fulfilling these commitments.

"..in the offset contract relating to 36 Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA), the vendors M/s Dassault Aviation and M/s MBDA initially proposed (September 2015) to discharge 30 per cent of their offset obligation by offering high technology to the DRDO," it said.

Noting that the Defence Research and Development Organisation wanted to obtain technical assistance for the indigenous development of the engine (Kaveri) for the Light Combat Aircraft, it said: "Till date, the vendor has not confirmed the transfer of this technology." India has procured 36 Rafale combat aircraft from Dassault Aviation in government to government contract. The Rafale is a 4.5 generation aircraft and has latest weapons, superior sensors and fully integrated architecture. It is an omni-role aircraft which means it can carry out at least four missions in one sortie.

The fighter aircraft have HAMMER missiles, and will also be armed with beyond visual range missiles like Meteor, SCALP and MICA, increasing their ability to take on incoming targets from a distance.

On September 10, five Rafale aircraft were inducted in the IAF's 17 Squadron at Ambala Air Base in Haryana amid fanfare. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was present during the induction ceremony, along with his French counterpart Florence Parly, who had stated that the deal was a stellar achievement for both countries.

"Rafale means gust of wind if you are poetic and can also means burst of fire in a battlefield," she had said.

More of these advanced combat aircraft are set to arrive in India in November.
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned the U.N. General Assembly in New York on Tuesday that the world has become increasingly defined by the "great fracture" between Washington and Beijing.

In a doom-laden speech, he said the United States and China are "moving in a very dangerous direction," with divisions based on trade and technology that could easily escalate into a military conflict.

"We must do everything to avoid a new Cold War. We are moving in a very dangerous direction," Guterres told the largely virtual summit. "Our world cannot afford a future where the two largest economies split the globe in a great fracture."

He added, "A technological and economic divide risks inevitably turning into a geo-strategic and military divide. We must avoid this at all costs."

Image: Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (U.N. / Getty Images)

The summit marked the U.N.'s 75th anniversary but there was little in the way of celebration.

Instead Guterres warned world leaders that the "four horsemen" he has previously warned of  geopolitical tensions, the climate crisis, "growing global mistrust" and "the dark side" of the internet  had been joined by a "fifth horseman": the coronavirus.

"Covid-19 has laid bare the world's fragilities: rising inequalities, climate catastrophe, widening societal divisions, rampant corruption," he said, evoking the spirit of the U.N.'s birth in 1945 by telling world leaders that they now faced their own "foundational moment."

Though President Donald Trump has at times praised Chinese President Xi Jinping, the coronavirus crisis has seen relations between the world's two most powerful economies crash to new lows.

Trump and his administration have clashed with China on trade, its expansion into the South China Sea, the crackdown of protesters in Hong Kong and accusations of human rights violations on its Muslim Uighur minority.

Appearing by video link, Xi told the assembly that his country had no intention of fighting "either a Cold War or a hot war with any country."

Story continues

Xi called for countries to "enhance solidarity and get through this together"  perhaps an implicit criticism of Trump's often adversarial, go-it-alone approach. "Any attempt of politicizing the issue, or stigmatization, must be rejected."

Image: Chinese President Xi Jinping (Mary Altaffer / AP)

Trump, meanwhile, used his taped speech to attack Beijing directly.

"We must hold accountable the nation which unleashed this plague onto the world, China," 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."

Zhang Jun, the country's ambassador to the U.N., rejected Trump's allegations as "baseless" and said that "lies repeated a thousand times are still lies."

Xi continued to distinguish himself from Trump by using his speech to announce that China will transition to carbon neutrality before 2060, and peak its emissions before the end of the decade.

Download the NBC News app for breaking news and politics

"We call on all countries to pursue innovative, coordinated, green and open development for all," Xi said, adding the world should commit to achieving "a green recovery" from Covid-19.

Xi also spoke of the importance of meeting the targets set in the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change, an accord from which Trump wants to withdraw.

The announcement "caught many of us by surprise," said Li Shuo, senior climate and energy policy officer at Greenpeace in Beijing. "It is clearly a carefully calculated move, just a few minutes after President Trumps speech to maximize the contrast of the climate resolve between China and the U.S."

China has previously been criticized for including coal power stations as part of its recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, whereas the Trump administration has relaxed some regulations on polluting industries.

China is the world's biggest polluter, accounting for 28 percent of global CO2 emissions. Americans, however, are responsible for 15 percent, over twice as much per capita.
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.
Job Title: Assistant

Environment Officer (Fresher UN Job Placements)

Organisation: United

Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

Duty Station: Uganda

Vacancy Notice: Internal/ External Vacancy notice no. 016/2020

Position Number: 10026739

Position Grade: NO-A

About US:

The Office of the

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was established on December 14,

1950 by the United Nations General Assembly. UNHCRs mandate under the Statute

of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is to lead

and co-ordinate action for international protection to refugees; seek permanent

solutions for the problems of refugees and safeguard refugee rights and

well-being. UNHCR has an additional mandate concerning issues of statelessness,

as it is given a designated role under Article 11 of the 1961 Convention on the

Reduction of Statelessness.

Job Summary: The Assistant Environment Officer will work

closely with colleagues responsible for water and sanitation, shelter,

nutrition, education, health, community services and livelihoods. The incumbent

will support the UNHCR Office on all issues related to environment,

self-reliance and shelter/infrastructures and will make sure that UNHCR

policies are in line with global and national strategies.

Regular and frequent

discussions between the incumbent and his/her supervisor(s), including at

headquarters, are necessary to ensure that the latest best practices and

procedures are shared and applied consistently on issues related to

environment. The incumbent will undertake missions to the camps and liaise with

Sub-Offices on the implementation of environment, self-reliance and

shelters/site planning programmes. In addition, the staff member will maintain

regular contact with UN technical agencies, and implementing and operational

partners as needed.

The incumbent should

be capable of working with minimum supervision in project submissions,

revisions and reallocations throughout the project lifecycle in the

environmental programme. S/he will be instrumental in contributing to the

development of specific inputs related to the sector and must meet reporting

requirements

Key Duties and Responsibilities:



in undertaking regular assessments on environmental conditions in refugee-hosting

areas and measure the extent those conditions are affected by the presence

of refugee camps; collect and update data on main areas of environment,

energy, livelihood and shelters and identify means to mitigate the impact

on natural resources. In collaboration with the relevant stakeholders, support the officein undertaking regular assessments on environmental conditions in refugee-hostingareas and measure the extent those conditions are affected by the presenceof refugee camps; collect and update data on main areas of environment,energy, livelihood and shelters and identify means to mitigate the impacton natural resources.



the refugee camps together with the concerned persons. Undertake an assessment of the current domestic energy situation inthe refugee camps together with the concerned persons.



stakeholders, identify effective interventions in the sector of energy both

from the demand and supply sides. On the basis of the assessment, and in consultation with relevantstakeholders, identify effective interventions in the sector of energy bothfrom the demand and supply sides.



environmental activities amongst different sectors within UNHCR and

outside Act as focal point and liaison officer for all matters related toenvironmental activities amongst different sectors within UNHCR andoutside



form of project submissions, revision and reallocations in the environment

sector throughout the project lifecycle, needs assessment, budgeting,

monitoring, implementation and evaluation. Assist in the management of UNHCRs assistance programmes in theform of project submissions, revision and reallocations in the environmentsector throughout the project lifecycle, needs assessment, budgeting,monitoring, implementation and evaluation.



and its implementing partners to address key areas of environmental

management, climate change and domestic energy issues to refugees and

other persons of concern. Assist the UNHCR Office in organizing training activities of UNHCRand its implementing partners to address key areas of environmentalmanagement, climate change and domestic energy issues to refugees andother persons of concern.



in the areas of natural resource management, forestry, sustainable

agriculture, domestic energy and environmental education sectors. Document best practices/lessons for dissemination and implementationin the areas of natural resource management, forestry, sustainableagriculture, domestic energy and environmental education sectors.



implementation arrangements to address environmental rehabilitation needs

within the framework of UNHCR policies, procedures and guidelines. Provide technical support in developing project proposals andimplementation arrangements to address environmental rehabilitation needswithin the framework of UNHCR policies, procedures and guidelines.

Provide technical input on reports related to environmental issues.

Undertake other duties as required.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:



job placement should hold an Undergraduate degree in Environmental

Studies/Management of Natural Resources, Agriculture, Forestry or other

related fields. Required. The ideal candidate for the United Nations Assistant Environment Officerjob placement should hold an Undergraduate degree in EnvironmentalStudies/Management of Natural Resources, Agriculture, Forestry or otherrelated fields. Required.



monitoring and evaluation of integrated environmental programmes/projects

in displacement and stable situations is required. One year of experience in environmental assessment, planning,monitoring and evaluation of integrated environmental programmes/projectsin displacement and stable situations is required.



environmental problems is required. Awareness of and practical experience with refugee-relatedenvironmental problems is required.



technologies, and renewable energy is required. Familiarity with emerging environmentally sustainable and appropriatetechnologies, and renewable energy is required.



qualitative data, and report writing is required. Solid skills in analysis, using and presenting quantitative andqualitative data, and report writing is required.



required. Familiarity with community-based and participatory approaches isrequired.

Excellent knowledge of English language is required

Analytical Thinking

Planning and Organizing

Stakeholder Management

Desirable



various (relevant) computer software is desirable Budgeting, planning and managerial skills, ability to work withvarious (relevant) computer software is desirable

How to Apply:

All interested

Ugandan nationals who wish to join the United Nations High Commissioner for

Refugees (UNHCR) in the aforementioned capacity are encouraged to click on the

link below and follow the application instructions after reviewing the job

details.

Click Here

Deadline: 24th 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








A group of drugs used to treat HIV and hepatitis B could be repurposed to prevent type 2 diabetes, a new study suggests.

Researchers found that patients taking the drugs had a 33% lower risk of developing diabetes. The scientists say that the risk reduction makes sense based on how the drugs are known to work, and noted that one of the drugs, lamivudine, improved insulin sensitivity significantly in human cell samples and in a mouse model of diabetes. (In type 2 diabetes, the body loses the ability to use insulin, a hormone, to control blood sugar effectively.)

"The fact that the protective effect against the development of diabetes was replicated in multiple databases in studies from multiple institutions enhances confidence in the results," said researcher Jayakrishna Ambati, MD, of the University of Virginia School of Medicine. "We are grateful to the UVA Strategic Investment Fund for enabling us to demonstrate the power of Big Data Archeology to rapidly identify existing, approved drugs to repurpose for diseases that have an enormous impact both globally and in Virginia." The Diabetes Pandemic

Nearly 500 million people worldwide have diabetes - primarily type 2 diabetes - and that number is expected to soar in the coming years. This carries a tremendous health burden, as diabetes is associated with many chronic medical conditions, including heart disease, atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), nerve damage, vision loss and impaired wound healing.

The urgency of the situation has scientists desperately hunting for better ways to prevent and manage diabetes. To determine if drugs known as nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) might help, Ambati and colleagues from multiple institutions analyzed five databases encompassing a diverse group of 128,861 patients with HIV-1 or hepatitis B. The primary database consisted of the Veterans Health Administration, the largest integrated health system in the United States, and was reviewed from 2000 to 2017.

The scientists found that patients taking NRTIs were more than 30% less likely to develop diabetes. Based on their analysis, the researchers predict there is a 95% chance that the drugs would reduce diabetes risk by 29% in a clinical trial.

To better understand the findings, the researchers examined the effect of lamivudine and two other drugs from the class in human cell samples. All three proved beneficial, prompting the scientists to conclude that the class as a whole is likely helpful in preventing diabetes. (Notably, the research identified a connection between diabetes and dysregulation of the inflammasome, previously linked to both Alzheimer's disease and macular degeneration.)

"The large scale of these clinical data and the size of the protective effect provide evidence that inflammasome inhibition in humans is beneficial," Ambati said. "We are hopeful that prospective clinical trials will establish that inflammasome inhibitors known as Kamuvudines, which are less-toxic derivatives of NRTIs, will be effective not only in diabetes but also in macular degeneration and Alzheimer's disease."

###

Findings Published

The researchers have published their findings in the scientific journal Nature Communications. The research team consisted of Ambati, Joseph Magagnoli, Hannah Leung, Shao-bin Wang, Chris A. Andrews, Dongxu Fu, Akshat Pandey, Srabani Sahu, Siddharth Narendran, Shuichiro Hirahara, Shinichi Fukuda, Jian Sun, Lekha Pandya, Meenakshi Ambati, Felipe Pereira, Akhil Varshney, Tammy Cummings, James W. Hardin, Babatunde Edun, Charles L. Bennett, Kameshwari Ambati, Benjamin J. Fowler, Nagaraj Kerur, Christian Rover, Norbert Leitinger, Brian C. Werner, Joshua D. Stein, S. Scott Sutton and Bradley D. Gelfand.

The researchers were supported by the UVA Strategic Investment Fund; National Institutes of Health, grants DP1GM114862, R01EY022238, R01EY024068, R01EY028027, R01EY029799, K99EY024336, R00EY024336, R01AI48741, R21EY030651, T32HL091812, UL1RR033173, R01EY028027, R01DK096076, P01HL120840 and R01CA165609; the John Templeton Foundation, grant 6076; the DuPont Guerry III Professorship; the Beckman Initiative for Macular Research; the American Heart Association; Doris Levkoff Meddin; the South Carolina SmartState Program; and the Japan Eye Bank Association.

To keep up with the latest medical research news from UVA, subscribe to the Making of Medicine blog at http://makingofmedicine.virginia.edu.
Abuja, September 23, 2020 Nigerian Authorities should investigate the recent attacks on journalists Samson Adenekan and Offem Nathaniel Ubanga, and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

On September 19, a group of at least 50 unidentified men attacked Adenekan, a journalist with the privately owned Premium Times online newspaper, and Ubanga, a cameraman with the privately owned online broadcaster GeeTV Africa, while they were separately covering a gubernatorial election in Iyamho town, in Nigerias southern Edo state, according to both journalists, who spoke to CPJ in phone interviews and via messaging app, and a report Adenekan co-authored in the Premium Times.

The attacks began after Adenekan and Ubanga filmed members of the group allegedly attempting to bribe people to vote for certain candidates, the journalists told CPJ.

CPJ documented similar violence and harassment of journalists covering gubernatorial and state assembly elections across Nigeria in March and November of last year.

The consistent attacks on journalists covering elections in Nigeria amount to direct attacks on democracy in the country. Freedom of the press plays a critical role for free and fair elections and should be treated as such by citizens and authorities alike, said Angela Quintal, CPJs Africa program coordinator, in New York. Those who attacked journalists Samson Adenekan and Offem Nathaniel Ubanga during the elections in Edo state must be held accountable as a step toward ensuring the media can work safely to keep the public informed about their government and how it is chosen.

The men whom Adenekan and Ubanga filmed allegedly bribing voters noticed the journalists filming them, and demanded they delete their footage, the journalists told CPJ.

When Adenekan refused to delete his footage, the men dragged him by his shirt, slapped him, and threatened him with death, he said. They coerced him into deleting the videos he had taken, Adenekan said, adding that he did not sustain serious injuries from the incident.

Ubanga told CPJ that dozens of men slapped him across his body and hit him on his back and neck with a chair. Ubanga told them he could not delete the photos he had taken because his camera battery had died, and said the phone he had also used to take photos with was not his own, and he could not unlock it. He said the men only stopped assaulting him after fellow journalists and about five police officers intervened.

Ubanga told CPJ that he did not delete any of his content. He said that he did not suffer any serious injuries, but said that he experienced aches and pains in the days following the attack.

Adenekan said he believed at least two of the attackers were members of the All Progressives Congress party, which is the ruling national party, but is the opposition party in Edo state. He said he had seen those men at the partys secretariat in Abuja, Nigerias capital, during previous reporting.

CPJ called Yekini Nabena, a spokesperson for the All Progressives Congress, but she declined to comment on the attacks.

When CPJ called Chidi Nwabuzor, a spokesperson for the Edo state police, he said that he was not authorized to speak on the matter, and referred CPJ to a local deputy inspector general of police, but refused to disclose that persons contact information; CPJ was unable to find such information.
WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump is planning to court Florida's crucial Latino population  specifically Cuban Americans  during a whirlwind tour to Miami this week, underscoring the importance of a demographic highly sought after by both campaigns.

After weeks of flooding TV and radio airtime in the state aimed at Cuban Americans, Trump plans to hold a Latino-focused roundtable in Miami on Friday, the campaign announced Wednesday. Similar events held recently in Arizona and Nevada have taken on the air of a trademark Trump campaign rally.

Others are watching to see if Trump will use the trip to meet with appeals court Judge Barbara Lagoa, considered a frontrunner for the Supreme Court vacancy created by the death Friday of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Trump has said he "may" meet with Lagoa, the daughter of Cuban exiles, during his two-day trip to Florida.

More: Biden is getting trounced with Cuban American voters in Florida,

More: A 'superhero' who 'never quit': Ginsburg returns to Supreme Court for final time

The event comes as Trump has leaned heavily on an unfounded message that the Democratic party, and by extension Democratic nominee Joe Biden, are running on a socialist platform. In fact, Biden has spent a career in politics largely within the party's center, and he won the Democratic primary this year by beating a more liberal field.

The events in Miami will be part of two-day trip that will also take Trump to Jacksonville, Florida and also to Charlotte, North Carolina, where he plans to discuss health care, and Atlanta, Georgia, where he will meet with a group of African-American voters. The president has said he will name his Supreme Court nominee at 5 p.m. on Saturday.

In another indication of Trump's desire to make Cuba an election year issue, the State Department announced Wednesday that Americans visiting Cuba will be prohibited from staying at 433 hotels believed to be owned or controlled by the government or "certain well-connected insiders."

Story continues

The order was taken as part of a broader effort announced by Trump to tighten restrictions on the Cuban government, a sharp reversal from the more open policies toward the island nation under President Barack Obama.

More: Trump bars Americans from staying at Cuban hotels

"We don't need socialists, and we don't need communists telling us how to run our country," Trump asserted during a campaign rally in Pittsburgh on Tuesday.

That message has been amplified in advertising in Florida, catering to groups of Americans who fled authoritative regimes.

Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden steps off a plane at Tampa International Airport in Tampa, Fla., on a visit for campaign events on Sept. 15, 2020.

Hispanics make up about a quarter of Florida's roughly 21.5 million population and 17% of its registered voters. As the single largest Hispanic ethnicity in the state, Cuban Americans in South Florida wield enormous influence on the political stage. They have generally leaned Republican, though younger generations are more liberal.

Polls show Trump and Biden are virtually tied in the Sunshine State, but also indicate that Biden has lost ground with Latinos when compared with Hillary Clinton in 2016. Biden is trailing Trump among Florida Latinos, 46%-50%, an NBC News/Marist poll earlier this month. Clinton won the demographic by nearly 30 points four years ago.

The RealClearPolitics average of recent polls in Florida puts Biden up 1.5 points.

A recent Wall Street Journal/NBC/Telemundo poll showed Biden leading Trump 62%-28% among Latinos nationally.

Biden, meanwhile, has pushed back on the socialist label  "I beat the socialist," he said this week, referring to Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.  and he focused on Puerto Rican voters during remarks in Kissimmee, Florida, last week.

"Even after being president for nearly four years, Donald Trump doesnt seem to grasp that the people of Puerto Rico are American citizens already, and they deserve to have leadership in government that understands that in America theres no room for the idea of second-class citizens," he said. "I am running to be a President for all Americans, including 3 million American citizens living in Puerto Rico."

Contributing: Rebecca Morin, Ledyard King, Alan Gomez

President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at the Minden-Tahoe Airport in Nevada on Sept. 12, 2020.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump to court Latino voters during Miami roundtable this week
China has long been accused of carrying out state-backed cyber attacks and cyber espionage activities against numerous nations, including India. After a recent Indian Express investigation found out about Chinas state-backed cyber surveillance act against thousands of Indians, a new report by an USA-based research institute focused on China has underlined numerous cyber attacks made by China on India spanning over a decade. Of all these cyber attacks, one of the most notable ones, the study notes, was an attack on Indias satellite communications networks in 2017.

Counter-space activities are not unheard of. However, the study, published by China Aerospace Studies Institute (CASI), affirmed that not only has China attempted to launch cyber attacks targeted to debilitate something as critical as satellite communications, its military division, Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), has also continued to acquire and commission newer technologies that are geared towards complete cyber warfare. These may include tools for cyber espionage, data manipulation, political interference and impact on critical sector infrastructure  such as defence, oil and gas, energy (including nuclear energy), space and more.

Indias space and satellite operations are handled by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). So far, ISRO chief K. Sivan has denied any instance of cyber attacks impacting ISRO data or operations. However, Sivan has consistently acknowledged that cyber attacks have consistently targeted ISRO over the past few years, albeit without success. A cyber attack of this nature, as has been mentioned in CASIs study, would prove to be particularly critical for any nation, as it can impact ground satellite and network stations, telemetry and command systems, all of which can in turn take out satellites placed in our geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO)  all without launching physical warfare.

According to a Times of India report on the matter, this study compounds on findings made by a Carnegie Endowment for International Peace report from 2019. According to the report, China already has sophisticated cyber infrastructure that is capable of intercepting and damaging spacecraft and satellite communication systems. This corroborates with recent reports of sophisticated cyber surveillance, which China is reportedly using to contribute to its hybrid warfare tactics.
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Linkedin News Desk (Reuters) Amsterdam, Netherlands  Wed, September 23, 2020 10:21 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46990bf 2 World Dutch,Netherlands,coronavirus,COVID-19,COVID-19-infection,pandemic,SARS-CoV-2,virus-corona,novel-coronavirus Free

The Netherlands reported on Tuesday its highest number of new coronavirus infections in any week since the pandemic began, following a 60% rise in new cases over the past seven days.

The 13,471 new infections reported by the National Institute for Health (RIVM) were part of a European surge that began shortly after summer vacations ended.

"We can now see the second wave," the agency's head, Jaap van Dissel, said in testimony before a parliamentary panel.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced modest new measures to slow the spread of the disease on Sunday, including closing bars after 1 a.m. and banning gatherings of more than 50 people.

But he said that only renewed public adherence to social distancing rules could change the path of the outbreak.

"We must get the feeling of urgency back," Rutte said.

The RIVM data on Tuesday showed that, in cases where the source of infection can be traced, people in the Netherlands are most often infected by family members or at work.

But few cases are successfully traced. Health workers say those infected are reluctant to disclose whom they may have been in contact with.

According to the RIVM data, people aged 15-30 were the group most likely to become infected in the past week, people over 50 were the most likely to be admitted to hospital, and people over 70 made up most deaths.

Schools in the Netherlands have been open since late August.

Last week, the Health Ministry acknowledged that testing capacity was at its limits and began giving preferential access to teachers.

Social distancing is the core of Dutch coronavirus policy, with masks required only on public transportation.

Justice Minister Ferd Grapperhaus was fined 390 euros ($458) on Sept. 18 after photos emerged of him failing to properly distance from guests at his wedding.
President Donald Trump slammed Meghan Markle from the White House podium after she and Prince Harry recorded a video message urging Americans to vote, hinting they support Democrat Joe Biden.

'I'm not a fan of hers,' Trump said Wednesday to a question posed by DailyMail.com. 'I would say this - and she has probably heard that - I wish a lot of luck to Harry because he's going to need it.'

Harry and Meghan, now ensconced in an L.A. mansion, made their remarks just weeks before the November 3 elections with Americans in some states already going to the polls.

The Duke of Sussex urged people to 'reject hate speech' while the Duchess called it the 'most important election of our lifetime' in remarks which made waves on both sides of the Atlantic.

Royal insiders voiced concern in Britain where the Queen and her family are expected to remain politically neutral at all times, with one saying that Harry and Meghan had 'crossed a line'.

Buckingham Palace also distanced itself from Harry's remarks by saying that 'the Duke is not a working member of the royal family' and describing his comments as 'made in a personal capacity'.

President Donald Trump slammed Meghan Markle from the White House podium Wednesday, telling DailyMail.com that he's 'not a fan of hers.' 'I wish a lot of luck to Harry because he's going to need it'

Meghan surprises America's Got Talent viewers with video message Meghan Markle made a surprise appearance on the season finale of America's Got Talent, to send a video message to singer Archie Williams, who was wrongly imprisoned for 36 years until his release last year. While Williams finished in the bottom half of the Top 10, his story touched the heart of the Duchess of Sussex, 39, who appeared in a surprise video from her home. Speaking to the singer, she said: Hi Archie! I just wanted to let you know that we have been so moved by your story, and we have been cheering you on every week'. Meghan joked that her support for Williams was 'not just because were partial to the name, making the connection between the singers name and that of her son Archie, 16 months. Meghan made a surprise appearance on the season finale of America's Got Talent 'So a very special message to you that I will probably be saying all of my life, but this night, it is specifically for you,' she added. 'Archie, we are proud of you and we are rooting for you, and we cant wait to see what you do. Were in your corner. Have a good night!' Markle said. Archie smiled in disbelief, one of the highlights of the star-studded AGT finale. Williams, 59, was wrongly convicted of raping a 31-year-old woman in 1982 on the basis of an unreliable selection from a photographic lineup, and spent decades in prison until an FBI fingerprint database finally proved his innocence in 2019. Advertisement

In the US, Trump aide Corey Lewandowski swiped at the couple before the president himself fired back at Meghan on Wednesday evening.

'They made Britain great again by leaving, I hope they do the same for us,' Lewandowski, now a senior 2020 advisor to the Trump campaign, told DailyMail.com Wednesday.

Trump campaign spokesman Jason Miller argued that Harry's warning about 'hate speech' could be seen as an attack on Biden, who leads in the polls.

'I'm assuming you're asking me because of Joe Biden's record of hateful and divisive language, particularly toward the African American community?' he responded when asked by DailyMail.com for comment.

He added: 'I read this as warranted criticism of Joe Biden's racist policies. He's the only person I know of who has spoken at a Klan member's funeral!'  a reference to Biden's eulogy for former the late Senate leader Robert C. Byrd, who was a Klan member in West Virginia in the 1940s but later apologized for what he called a 'sad mistake.'

Harry and Meghan made their comments in a Time 100 video to go with the publication of this year's list of the most influential people, which does not include the royal couple.

'As we approach this November, it's vital that we reject hate speech, misinformation and online negativity,' said Harry  in a line some observers in Britain and the U.S. immediately took to be a plug for Joe Biden and a slap at President Trump.

Said the California-born Markle, 39: 'We're six weeks out from the election, and today is Voter Registration Day.

'Every four years, we're told the same thing, 'This is the most important election of our lifetime. But this one is. When we vote, our values are put into action, and our voices are heard.'

While many viewers saw Harry and Meghan's comments as a thinly-veiled endorsement of Biden, a source close to Harry insisted the Duke was not referring to Trump or any other individual.

'The duke was talking about the tone of debate in the run-up to an election which is already quite febrile,' they said.

'He is not talking about any candidate or specific campaign. He is building on a lot of stuff that he's said before about online communities, how we engage with each other online, rather than specifically making any political points.'

Markle told Marie Claire in August that she intended to vote. 'I know what it's like to have a voice, and also what it's like to feel voiceless,' she said.

'I also know that so many men and women have put their lives on the line for us to be heard. And that opportunity, that fundamental right, is in our ability to exercise our right to vote and to make all of our voices heard.'

Before marrying Harry but after Trump's election, Markle called Trump 'misogynistic' and 'divisive' in a TV appearance.

Speaking in the video message, apparently filmed from their California home, Harry admitted he was not eligible to vote - adding that he had never voted in the UK either where convention dictates that royals keep well clear of politics.

Royal experts told DailyMail.com that the couple should give up their titles and sever their links to the monarchy for good if they wanted to comment on US politics, while insiders told The Times that palace aides would be concerned about their intervention.

'They made Britain great again by leaving, I hope they do the same for us,' Corey Lewandowski, now a senior 2020 advisor to the Trump campaign, told DailyMail.com

How British royals are expected to keep out of politics Under Britain's constitutional monarchy, powers which theoretically belong to the Queen - such as appointing ministers and approving legislation - are exercised in her name by political leaders. This system means that political decisions are taken by the elected government rather than unelected royals, while keeping the monarchy as a symbol of the British state and its traditions. The royals' political neutrality, which the Queen has scrupulously observed for 68 years, is key to maintaining this balance and to preserving the monarchy's popularity. A YouGov poll earlier this year found majority support among both Conservative and Labour voters as well as Brexiteers and Europhiles for maintaining the British monarchy. The Queen's uncle King Edward VIII had to abdicate in 1936 because the government refused to support his planned marriage to American divorcee Wallis Simpson - fatally compromising his neutrality. While there is no law explicitly preventing the royal family from voting in UK elections, doing so would be an unacceptable breach of protocol. The Queen holds weekly conversations with her prime ministers and she is entitled to 'advise and warn' them when necessary, but the nature of her advice is never made public. Even her guarded comment that voters should 'think very carefully about the future' ahead of the 2014 Scottish independence referendum was seen as an unusual intervention. Prince Charles is known for writing lengthy letters to ministers on policy subjects such as agriculture, some of which were made public in 2015. William and Kate have also spoken out on the environment, launching a prize to tackle climate issues last year. Princess Diana - who like Harry and Meghan became semi-detached from the monarchy - was known for her campaigning on land mines, once allegedly describing the UK government's policy as 'hopeless'. Her involvement sparked criticism from some Conservative MPs, but the Labour government that took office shortly before her death was more favourable to her campaign. Advertisement

While Meghan has encouraged people to vote before, the video released on Tuesday was the first time that Harry has commented publicly on the election.

'The political arena is very sensitive for all members of the royal family. You cannot have an apolitical institution, which is what a hereditary monarchy is, and have members of the royal family making even slightly political comments,' a source said.

'Courtiers would be extremely concerned that if they are going to continue to comment on what could be the most contentious US presidential election in living memory, how difficult could that get?'.

Another source in palace circles said the couple had 'crossed a line' with their intervention on Tuesday.

Royal aides pointed to the couple's commitment in January to 'continue to uphold the values of Her Majesty' after abandoning frontline royal duties.

Robert Oulds and Niall McCrae, of the Eurosceptic Bruges Group think tank, told the Express that the video was 'naked campaigning' for the Democratic nominee.

'These woke warriors have breached protocol by interfering in an election,' they said.

'The House of Windsor should act swiftly, stripping Harry and Meghan of their royal titles.'

DailyMail.com editor-at-large Piers Morgan said: 'Prince Harry poking his woke nose into the US election and effectively telling Americans to vote against President Trump is completely unacceptable behaviour for a member of the Royal Family.'

Former Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker, the author of the book And What Do You Do? What The Royal Family Don't Want You To Know, said Harry should not speak out about US politics while he is still a 'representative' of the UK.

'I think it's appropriate for any private citizen to comment on the US election. The problem is that Harry has retained his HRH status and is not a private citizen but still a representative of this country,' Mr Baker said.

'He needs to stop trying to have a foot in both camps - royal when it suits him and private when it doesn't.

'Or to turn on its head the old phrase, I agree with what he says but disagree with his right to say it.'

Royal biographer Robert Jobson told DailyMail.com that it 'may be easier' for Meghan and Harry to give up their royal titles altogether given the 'business and political agenda they appear to want to pursue'.

Mr Jobson, whose latest book is called The Royal Family Operations Manual, said the couple were now 'completely detached' from the British monarchy and would be best off abandoning their titles altogether.

'Frankly, I think it would be better for Harry to withdraw, along with his son, from the line of succession to avoid further confusion,' he said.

'By saying they are HRHs and the Duke and Duchess, but not allowed to use the titles, just confuses the situation.'

Harry also referenced the fact that, because he is not a U.S. citizen, he will not be able to vote in November.

He added that he had never been able to vote in the UK, despite being theoretically eligible in the last five general elections since he turned 18.

Although British law does not explicitly forbid members of the royal family from voting, the expectation that royals remain apolitical is considered sacrosanct, and in practice they never participate in elections, by voting or otherwise.

But since announcing plans to step down as senior royals in January and moving to North America, Meghan and Harry have quietly expanded their involvement in politics as they forge their own path.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have spoken out about the upcoming U.S. election, in a stark break with British tradition that prohibits royal involvement in politics

For his part, Harry said: 'As we approach this November, it's vital that we reject hate speech, misinformation and online negativity'

Markle has made her position on the 2020 election clear in a number of appearances in recent weeks, expressing enthusiasm for the Democratic ticket

Harry also appeared to open the door to taking up US citizenship in the future by saying that he was not eligible to vote at 'this' election.

His remark leaves open the possibility that he could seek to vote in a future election in the US, which would likely require him to obtain a 'green card' and stay in America for at least three years.

A source close to Harry declined to comment on whether his words suggested he would be applying for dual citizenship.

'They are not working royals. They are private citizens and it's understandable they want to keep those matters private,' the source said.

Meghan's involvement in the video follows a separate intervention last month in which she urged women to turn out at the election.

The Duchess addressed viewers at the When All Women Vote Couch Party - an online event organized by non-profit organization When We All Vote, which was founded by Michelle Obama.

Speaking directly to the volunteers and workers tuned into the summit, Meghan continued: 'It is fair to say that we are all very grateful for your work because we need it now really more than ever.

'When I think about voting and why this is so exceptionally important for all of us, I would frame it as: We vote to honor those who came before us and to protect those who will come after us because that's what community is all about and that's specifically what this election is all about,' she said.

This week, feminist activist Gloria Steinem revealed that Markle had joined her in cold-calling Americans and urging them to vote.

Steinem told Access Hollywood: '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 I'm Meg' and 'hello I'm Gloria' and 'are you going to vote?' That was her initiative.'

Meghan has also told Steinem she was 'so excited' to see fellow mixed-race woman Kamala Harris nominated for vice president, in another strong hint that she is backing the Democratic ticket.

Last month, Markle (left) joined Gloria Steinem for a 'backyard chat' in which she made it incredibly clear who she plans to vote for come November

Will Prince Harry take US citizenship? He says he won't vote in 'this' election Prince Harry appeared to leave the door open to taking up US citizenship in the future by saying that he would not vote in 'this' presidential election. 'This election, I'm not going to be able to vote here in the US,' the Duke of Sussex said, adding that he had never voted in the UK either. Harry's remark left the possibility open that he might seek to vote in a US election in the future, where royal partisanship would not cause a constitutional crisis as it would in the UK. Meghan and the couple's one-year-old son Archie are both US citizens, but Harry has not announced any plans to take up dual nationality. A source told the Sunday Times earlier this year that Harry had not applied for dual citizenship and was not expected to request a green card in the US. Green cards offer a route to citizenship because the spouse of a US national can apply for naturalisation after being a permanent resident for three years. Harry's current immigration status is unclear but a range of visas are available to UK nationals. Advertisement

Before marrying Prince Harry in 2018, Markle was no stranger to politics, ridiculing then-presidential candidate Donald Trump during a 2016 appearance on The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore.

She said Trump was 'misogynistic and divisive' and indicated her support for Hillary Clinton.

Harry is a friend of former president Barack Obama, interviewing him on a guest-edited episode of BBC Radio 4's Today Programme in 2017.

'Part of my role and part of my job is to shine a spotlight on issues that need that spotlight, whether it's people, whether it's causes, issues, whatever it is,' Harry said at the time.

'So I will continue to play my part in society and do my job to the best of my abilities so that I can wake up in the morning and feel energised.'

Despite the Obama friendship, the couple avoided a constitutional row by inviting neither the Obamas nor the Trumps to their 2018 wedding at Windsor Castle.

Earlier this year, two Russian pranksters said they had duped the Duke of Sussex into criticising Trump in a phone call where they posed as climate activist Greta Thunberg.

'I don't mind saying this to you guys, I think the mere fact that Donald Trump is pushing the coal industry so big in America, he has blood on his hands,' Harry allegedly said.

Buckingham Palace did not confirm or deny the authenticity of the call.

Over the past few weeks, Meghan has taken part in multiple interviews and summits - having reportedly grown 'frustrated' at her inability to get involved in politics while she was working as a senior royal.

Last month, she joined Gloria for a 'backyard chat' in which she made it incredibly clear who she plans to vote for come November, expressing her excitement at seeing a woman of color on the Democratic ticket - Joe Biden's running mate, Kamala Harris - and explaining that the nomination was particularly meaningful to her because she is biracial.

Over the past few months, Markle has moved to become more politically active and taken part in multiple interviews and summits - having reportedly grown 'frustrated' at her inability to get involved in politics while she was working as a senior royal

'I'm so excited to see that kind of representation,' she said. 'You know, for me, being biracial, growing up, whether it was a doll or a person in office, you need to see someone who looks like you in some capacity.

'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 we're starting to break-through in a different way.'

Meanwhile, she has also taken in voter appeals, at which she made a bold plea to women across the US to take part in the 2020 presidential election, speaking out about the need for 'change' at an online voter summit, while telling participants: 'If we aren't part of the solution, we are part of the problem.'

Meghan made her stance on the 2020 presidential race clear when she addressed viewers at the When All Women Vote Couch Party - an online event organized by non-profit organization When We All Vote, which was founded by 'her friend' Michelle Obama.

Appearing as the opening speaker at the summit, Meghan expressed her 'excitement' at taking part, before telling those involved with the organization: 'We need [your work] now more than ever.'

'I'm really thrilled that you asked me to be a part of this,' the mother-of-one began, adding: 'I think this is such an exceptional time [and I am] happy to be here for my friend Michelle Obama's When We All Vote, and to kick off the When All Women Vote Couch Party.'
China has carried out several cyber-attacks between 2007 to 2018, including computer attacks against Indian satellite communication in 2017, according to a US report. However, ISRO has maintained that none of the systems has been compromised while acknowledging the cyber attacks.

According to the report of the US-based China Aerospace Studies Institute (CASI), China has several counter-space technologies to threaten space systems from geosynchronous orbit (GEO). India had earlier demonstrated anti-satellite missile technology capabilities in 2019 which allows the country to "kill" rogue or enemy satellites.

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The report further said that China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) continues to develop technologies to "blind and deafen the enemy". The report asserted that China has the capability to conduct cyberattacks at ground stations with the intention to corrupt or hijack systems to control satellites including spacecraft.

The report comes at a time when India and China have been engaged in a standoff at the Line of Actual Control (LAC). In fact, newswire ANI had earlier quoted defence sources saying that Indian security officials want four to six "dedicated satellites" to keep a close eye on Chinese activities along the LAC. The Indian security officials reportedly want "high-resolution sensors and cameras", ANI had reported.

Amid the border tension, India and China have agreed to stop sending more troops to the frontline, according to a statement on

On September 22. 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.

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.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 15:52:22|Editor: huaxia

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FUZHOU, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Customs police in the city of Fuzhou, east China's Fujian Province, have arrested 43 suspects in relation to a refined oil smuggling case involving goods worth 1.7 billion yuan (about 250 million U.S. dollars).

The suspects were apprehended in a coordinated police raid across several cities in Fujian, Hubei and Sichuan provinces on Sept. 17. Eight oil-smuggling rings were hit and more than 600 tonnes of smuggled refined oil were seized from seven vessels and an oil depot, according to customs police in Fuzhou.

A preliminary investigation has shown the arrested suspects trafficked around 250,000 tonnes of refined oil by sea near the Taiwan Straits and Zhoushan Islands.

Further investigation is underway. Enditem
The first San Francisco students will head back to class for in-person learning Wednesday after health officials granted permission for two private schools to reopen with pandemic protocols in place.

Another 41 other sites are waiting for word after applying to reopen, a process parents and the public can now track through an online dashboard launched Tuesday, health officials said.

The Department of Public Health school reopening tracker offers families daily updates on which schools have applied to reopen and where they are in the review process.

This is one of the citys top priorities, to get children back into classrooms, said Ana Validzic, a COVID-19 command team leader at the citys Department of Public Health. We are trying to make sure it is as safe as possible to do so.

The dashboard includes all 81 schools that have submitted letters of interest in reopening, which is the first step in the process.

More for you Latest key S.F. dates to know: City further eases COVID restrictions in yellow tier

So far, only private and public charter schools have submitted a letter of interest.

San Francisco Unified has not applied for any schools to reopen in the district. The district has significant work to do to bring back even a small number of students, perhaps 500 to 1,000 initially, including students with special needs, said Superintendent Vincent Matthews.

The district is still working on testing of staff, getting classrooms ready with six feet of social distancing and adequate ventilation, he said. Some requirements are already in place, including three months of adequate health and safety supplies like soap and hand sanitizer and ongoing work to get classrooms ready.

But the district will also have to negotiate labor contracts with teachers and other staff, dictating working conditions related to reopening. Most private schools and charter schools do not have unions.

Board President Mark Sanchez said earlier this week that he believed district schools would likely not reopen before January.

Parent Ian Hart told the board he was frustrated by the districts lack of specifics on when the district might start reopening and the long to-do list that still remains.

This feels much less like a plan for reopening, but rather a recipe for keeping schools shut all year, Hart said. I would really like to see much more emphasis on getting our kids back to school.

Board member Gabriela Lopez, a teacher, said reopening is a life and death proposition.

The safety of our teachers and staff is No. 1 and I stand behind that, she said. People have to ultimately understand the risk in whats implied in asking them to come back.

Health officials, so far, authorized the San Francisco School and Red Bridge, both private schools, to reopen when ready since both schools met the required health and safety protocols.

Over the next several weeks, dozens of schools are expected to reopen, starting wtih Red Bridge, a new school with 12 students, which will open Wednesday. The San Francisco School, also approved for reopening, is expected to start bringing back students in early October.

It feels like a huge relief, said Orly Friedman, Red Bridge founder, adding 5-, 6- and 7-year-old students will attend the Dogpatch neighborhood school this year. We are really thankful we'll be able to go through this process and be the first ones back.

Once a school reopens, the county will not shut it down unless the state alters current guidelines, she said.

That means if cases spike in the community, the schools would stay open for in-person instruction.

Cases within a school community will be addressed on a case-by-case basis, with those connected to the case sent into quarantine for two weeks.

Theres no predicting, but it is likely there will be cases at schools, Validzic said. There is no such thing as zero risk with COVID.

The Department of Public Health is already gearing up to support schools when cases arise, to increase testing, isolate cases, trace contacts and manage outbreaks.

Schools must demonstrate they will follow health requirements that include social distancing, masks, adequate supplies of soap and hand sanitizer, as well as good ventilation and keeping students in small, isolated groups.

Schools allowed to reopen will be required to stagger the start date, with K-2 students coming back first, followed by third, fourth and fifth graders two weeks later and, in the case of K-8 schools, the middle school students two weeks after that.

Standalone middle schools will be assessed for reopening in October followed by high schools in November, Validzic said.

To see the Department of Public Health dashboard, go to https://data.sfgov.org/stories/s/School-Reopening/ccmh-3avz/.

Jill Tucker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jtucker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Jilltucker
Six more people in San Antonio and Bexar County have died of the novel coronavirus, the most in nearly two weeks, officials said Tuesday.

The local death toll from COVID-19 now stands at 1,068, according to the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District. Tuesdays deaths were the most since Sept. 10, when nine were reported.

The six deaths reported Tuesday occurred within the last two weeks, Mayor Ron Nirenberg said during the daily city-county coronavirus briefing. All six were women in their 30s, 40s, 60s and 70s. One was Hispanic.

Remember: each of these folks and all of those that weve reported in days past are loved ones, friends, neighbors, colleagues, people who are missed, Nirenberg said.

On ExpressNews.com: From Convention Center to skate parks, San Antonio begins to reopen as coronavirus surge tapers off

Health officials have closely watched the number of new cases and deaths in the event of a spike from the long Labor Day weekend. The summer surge in cases  when daily numbers often exceeded 1,000  began after Memorial Day and the reopening of businesses.

A steady decline in August and early September allowed Metro Health to lower the risk level to safe. The risk of infection was considered severe earlier in the summer.

New cases were up Tuesday after two days of falling numbers  196, an increase from the 102 reported Monday and 108 on Sunday.

Bexar County has now had 53,639 confirmed cases of the virus since the pandemic began in early March.

Assistant City Manager Colleen Bridger, also the interim Metro Health director, said the recent uptick in cases is probably tied to the Labor Day weekend.

Officials are monitoring the trends as schools reopen and Gov. Greg Abbott loosens restrictions on businesses, including restaurants. Metro Healths school risk level indicator was moderate Tuesday, unchanged over the last couple weeks.

The health department continues to recommend no more than six students per classroom and overall building capacity at 25 percent or less until the risk goes down.

This week is a critical week for us, Nirenberg said. It also is around the time schools begin to open up in earnest. We want to see things remain relatively stable. I think wed be fooling ourselves if we thought there wouldnt be some increase in transmission.

Bexar County Commissioner Kevin Wolff echoed that.

We need to stay vigilant, Wolff said. Were not out of the woods.

Also on the horizon is the holiday season. On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention laid out recommendations discouraging people from allowing in-person trick-or-treating and throwing costume parties on Halloween and having large family gatherings during Dia de los Muertos.

Bridger said health officials are beginning to figure out how to tell residents what behaviors are safe during the holidays, but that its still a little bit early for us to roll out anything at this point.

The number of people hospitalized with the deadly virus ticked up slightly Tuesday to 233 from 226 on Monday. Of those, 36 are new patients.

One more person is undergoing intensive treatment from the virus than on Monday. As of Tuesday, 86 patients were being treated in intensive care units.

Top hits: Get San Antonio Express-News stories sent directly to your inbox

Three fewer patients are hooked up to ventilators to help them breathe, officials said Tuesday. Metro Health reported 42 patients were on ventilators Tuesday  down from 45 Monday.

Though area hospitals remained under high stress Tuesday, Bridger noted that the overall stress level has been decreasing.

Joshua Fechter is a staff writer covering San Antonio government and politics. To read more from Joshua, become a subscriber. jfechter@express-news.net | Twitter: @JFreports
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Grand Rapids leaders issued a statement supporting peaceful gatherings in the wake of a Kentucky grand jury ruling in the shooting death of Grand Rapids native Breonna Taylor.

A call to action protest is planned for 7 p.m. Wednesday, just hours after the grand jury announcement about Louisville police officers in connection to Taylors death, at Rosa Park Circle in downtown Grand Rapids.

The ruling led to an indictment against one of three officers under investigation for firing weapons into Taylors Louisville apartment in March while executing a warrant. Charges were not authorized against the other two and and the one indictment, against Officer Brett Hankison, involved a charge of wanton endangerment for firing into an apartment adjoining Taylors.

Our hearts are with Breonna Taylors loved ones and all those who feel her loss, according to a Grand Rapids city statement. We see you, we hear you and we support you. We feel her loss, too. This is her hometown. She is one of us, and we are grieving with her family and our community. We are in this together.

In the statement, city officials seemed to acknowledge the ruling likely would touch off protests in Grand Rapids and around the nation.

As a community, we know gathering is a natural part of mourning and coping in times like this. Many community groups plan to hold peaceful gatherings throughout our city today and over the next several days  and we fully support these events. This includes this evenings event downtown, according to the statement.

A Facebook group called Call to Action: Justice for Breonna Taylor organized a 7 p.m. rally at Rosa Parks Circle. At 4:30 p.m., about 235 people indicated they planned to attend.

In the city statement, officials noted that several police reforms are already under way in Grand Rapids and that we continue to honor her life by reimagining policing in our city.

City officials said they want to work with any organizers of rallies or protests.

We support peaceful events and we want to work with event organizers and participants to ensure their safety as well as the safety of the public and those who are going about their daily lives, including drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians, while respecting everyones First Amendment rights, according to the statement.

City officials advised that if people do gather, they should be mindful of coronavirus precautions, including wearing masks and social distancing.

Multiple protests and marches focused on police brutality and racial injustice have been held in Grand Rapids in recent months. Some were specifically held in memory of Taylor.

Taylor, a 26-year-old emergency medical worker, was shot multiple times by officers who entered her home using a no-knock warrant during a narcotics investigation. The warrant used to search her home was connected to a suspect who did not live there, and no drugs were found inside.

Police fired after Taylors boyfriend, believing someone was breaking into the apartment, first fired toward the door.

The use of no-knock warrants has since been banned by Louisvilles Metro Council.

More from MLive

Breonna Taylor killing: 1 ex-police officer charged with endangerment for shooting into apartments

After $12 million settlement, Breonna Taylors mom pushes for criminal charges
Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf pushed back Tuesday against a recent report that she had trivialized the death of Joshua Pawlik, a homeless man who was fatally shot by police officers two years ago.

Your honor, I do feel compelled to set the record straight as to my personal involvement in the Pawlik matter, Schaaf said during a federal court hearing Tuesday afternoon before U.S. District Judge William H. Orrick.

I believe that the recently published report grossly mischaracterizes my involvement, the mayor continued, blaming the mischaracterization on former Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick, whom Schaaf assumed was a primary source of information for the report.

Kirkpatrick was fired in a joint decision by Schaaf and the citys Police Commission in February. The mayor appointed Interim Chief Susan Manheimer in March, and the city is still searching for a permanent replacement.

Anyone who has witnessed me in meetings with the chief at that time would testify that I was clear and unequivocal in expressing my belief that the killing of Mr. Pawlik was horrific, avoidable, and that we must do everything we can to ensure that such a tragedy does not happen again, Schaaf said.

Pawlik, 32, was shot dead in March 2018, after officers found him unresponsive with a gun between two houses in West Oakland. Police opened fire when Pawlik woke up, saying he aimed the gun at them, a point that immediately came under scrutiny when the city released video of the incident that November.

The footage shows police shouting from an armored vehicle while Pawlik slowly moves on the ground, not obeying commands to take his hands off a gun, police said. Roughly one minute into the encounter Pawlik starts to raise his head and the police discharge 22 rounds.

The video drew sharp criticism from Robert Warshaw, the court-appointed monitor overseeing Oaklands Police Department. Oakland has been under federal watch since 2003, the year it negotiated a settlement agreement in a landmark civil rights case accusing police officers of beatings and corruption.

Warshaws recent report, made public last month, scorched the police for failing to properly investigate the shooting, decried Schaaf for describing the shooting as awful but lawful, and chastised the mayor for what he characterized as a lapse of leadership.

The Mayor should have been more actively engaged and publicly vocal in expressing concern, Warshaw wrote, noting that Schaaf had not asked for regular briefings or pressured Kirkpatrick to put the officers on administrative leave.

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.

Schaaf objected to those comments on Tuesday, saying that she promptly directed the chief to create a new policy that would clearly require officers to attempt to disarm unconscious or otherwise unresponsive individuals without harming them.

The policy has not been formally released, Schaaf said, but it has required the department to collaborate with the Police Commission  a process that the mayor deemed important and encouraging.

Orrick, however, indicated that he has no desire to relitigate the past.

I do not plan to go into the past and try to work through what happened with respect to the Pawlik report, he said, commending the mayor for her current efforts to accelerate police reform in Oakland.

Rachel Swan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rswan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rachelswan
An anarchist identified as Brian Jordan Bartels was captured on video damaging a police car in Pittsburgh, Penn., on May 30, 2020. (Pittsburgh Bureau of Police)

Self-Identified Anarchist Pleads Guilty to Destroying Police Car During George Floyd Protests

A Pittsburgh man pleaded guilty on Sept. 21 to a charge of obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder for damaging then setting a police car on fire during protests over George Floyds death in May.

Brian Jordan Bartels, 20, surrendered to police in June after he was captured on video damaging a police car during protests in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on May 30. He had been accused of spray painting the marked police SUV with the letter A and smashing its windshield, federal prosecutors said.

Bartels was captured on videowearing black clothing and a black facial covering with an anarchist symbol emblazoned across itsmashing windows of a police van during a protest that had been peaceful. Prosecutors said some people in the crowd began cheering him on, and some people joined him in damaging the car. At one point, Bartels jumped off the hood and attempted to break the passenger-side window of the car.

As Bartels continued his destruction the crowd fought back against him less and more people began to join him in damaging the car, according to the criminal complaint obtained by The Epoch Times.

During an interview with investigators, Bartel admitted to his criminal acts and expressed remorse. He was charged with a federal offense and indicted by a grand jury, prosecutors said.

On May 30, 2020, Brian Bartels incited the largest and most destructive riot in Pittsburgh history since 1968, U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady said in a statement. Armed with his homemade agitator toolkit, this self-identified extreme left-wing anarchist came to the protest in downtown Pittsburgh that day with one goal: to incite violence.

Bartels succeededhe was the first to incite violence during the protest. While protesters yelled for him to stop, Bartels spray painted and then smashed and jumped on the windshield of a Pittsburgh Police cruiser. Others then joined in and the cruiser was set on fire and destroyed.

Brady said that Bartels actions represented the inflection point during the protests, which he said went from peaceful to lawless.

Ultimately, Pittsburgh police cars were burned. Mounted Pittsburgh Police Officers were attacked. Projectiles were thrown at Pittsburgh Police Officers. Reporters were attacked and their camera destroyed. What started as a peaceful demonstration, turned into a violent evening of destruction and looting throughout downtown Pittsburgh, Brady said.

Bartel is scheduled to be sentenced in January 2021. He could face up to a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both.

In the wake of Floyds death, people took to the streets across the nation to protest against police brutality and called for a reform in policing policies. Officials say that while many of the demonstrations were peaceful, some cities such as Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington, saw violent rioting and looting that caused widespread property damage and injuries, as well as deaths.

Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.
Breonna Taylor's sister posted a poignant message on her Instagram account on Wednesday just after a grand jury in Louisville declined to bring charges against the police officers charged with her killing.

'Sister, I am so sorry,' Taylor's sister, Juniyah Palmer, wrote on Instagram next to a photo of the two together.

She also posted a story on Instagram which included a graphic that read: 'sister, you was failed by a system you worked hard for and I am so sorry. I love you so so so so so much.'

Taylor's lawyer, Benjamin Crump, slammed the grand jury's decision on Wednesday as 'outrageous and offensive.'

'Sister, I am so sorry,' Breonna Taylor's sister, Juniyah Palmer, wrote on Instagram next to a photo of the two together (left) just after a Louisville grand jury announced on Wednesday that it would not indict any of the three police officers directly for killing Taylor (right)

The caption written by Palmer on her Instagram post is seen in the above image

Palmer also posted a graphic on Instagram which read: 'We was failed as a family'

She also posted a story on Instagram which included a graphic that read: 'sister, you was failed by a system you worked hard for and I am so sorry. I love you so so so so so much.'

Taylor's lawyer, Benjamin Crump, slammed the grand jury's decision on Wednesday as 'outrageous and offensive.'

'If Brett Hankison's behavior was wanton endangerment to people in neighboring apartments, then it should have been wanton endangerment in Breonna Taylor's apartment too,' Crump said in a statement. 'In fact, it should have been ruled wanton murder!'

Angry protesters demanded justice in Louisville on Wednesday after charges were filed against only one policeman involved in the controversial fatal shooting of Taylor, the 26-year-old black woman whose name has become a rallying cry of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Detective Brett Hankison, who was fired in June, was charged by a grand jury with three counts of 'wanton endangerment' over shots he fired into apartments adjoining Taylor's home.

But neither Hankison nor the two officers who fired the shots that killed Taylor were charged in direct connection with her death.

'If Brett Hankison's behavior was wanton endangerment to people in neighboring apartments, then it should have been wanton endangerment in Breonna Taylor's apartment too,' Crump said in a statement.

Fired Louisville detective Brett Hankison was charged with three counts of wanton endangerment in connection to the police raid on the night of March 13

'In fact, it should have been ruled wanton murder!'

In a follow-up statement, Crump's office said: 'Today's news falls far short of what constitutes justice.

'But by no means does it define this movement or this moment in our history.

'The Grand Jury may have denied Breonna justice, but this decision cannot take away her legacy as a loving, vibrant young Black woman who served on the front lines in the midst of a devastating pandemic.

'Make no mistake, we will keep fighting this fight in Breonna's memory, and we will never stop saying her name.'

Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Louisville, the largest city in Kentucky, following the announcement, and Ben Crump, a lawyer for the Taylor family, condemned the grand jury decision as 'outrageous and offensive.'

Police in riot gear were seen making several arrests in Louisville after the grand jury decision.

A state of emergency and a 9pm curfew has been declared by the mayor of the city, which has a population of 600,000, with much of downtown closed to traffic.

Some downtown business owners boarded up their shops in anticipation of unrest sparked by the grand jury decision.

Taylor, an emergency room technician, was shot dead after three plainclothes policemen turned up at her door in the middle of the night to execute a search warrant.

Taylor's boyfriend, who was in bed with her, grabbed a gun and exchanged fire with the officers. He later said he thought they were criminals.

The officers, who had not activated their body cameras as required, shot Taylor multiple times, killing her.

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)

A police sergeant was wounded.

Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron said Hankison had not fired the fatal shots and the two other officers who opened fire had done so in self-defense.

He said Hankison was charged with three counts of 'wanton endangerment' over shots he fired into adjoining apartments. He could face five years in prison for each count if convicted.

'This is a tragedy,' Cameron said.

'I know that not everyone will be satisfied with the charges reported today.

'Every person has an idea of what they think justice is.'

Taylor's sister, Juniyah, posted a graphic on Instagram denouncing Cameron as 'Mitch's b****.'

Mitch is a reference to Mitch McConnell, the Senate majority leader and Republican from Kentucky.

Officers Myles Cosgrove (left) and John Mattingly (right) who were present during the police raid on March 13, were not charged on Wednesday. Hankison was fired from the LMPD while the other two officers were placed on administrative assignment

The American Civil Liberties Union condemned the grand jury charges as 'not accountability and not close to justice.'

'This is the manifestation of what the millions of people who have taken to the streets to protest police violence already know: Modern policing and our criminal legal system are rotten to the core,' the ACLU said.

Cameron, the attorney general, also addressed reports that the police officers had executed a 'no-knock' search warrant on Taylor's home, bursting in without warning.

'They did knock and announce,' he said. 'That information was corroborated by another witness.'

The city of Louisville settled a wrongful death suit with Taylor's family for $12million last week.

The civil settlement reflected the public pressure and emotion surrounding her death, which came about two months before that of George Floyd, a black man who was killed by a white police officer in Minneapolis.

Floyd's death triggered protests across the United States against racial injustice and police brutality.

Cameron appealed for calm and Louisville police chief Robert Schroeder said the authorities would not tolerate any 'violence or destruction of property.'

'We are prepared to meet any challenge we may face,' Schroeder said, calling for demonstrators to protest 'peacefully and lawfully.'
To cover how Pennsylvania is shaping the 2020 election, The Philadelphia Inquirer has launched a new email newsletter. Every Wednesday, youll get reporting from counties across the state, insight into issues that impact you, fact checks on what candidates are saying, and more. You can sign up to get it in your inbox here. You can also view the web version of this email.

The 2020 twists and turns just keep coming.

A Supreme Court fight in an election year is one thing. One in October? Thats unprecedented in modern politics. But here we are: The flags werent even lowered to half-staff for the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg before focus turned to who President Donald Trump would pick to replace her (well find out soon), and whether Republicans would join him in rushing an October Surprise onto the high court (they will). How this plays out on the campaign trail remains to be seen.

Its another busy week on that trail in Pennsylvania, where Trump held a big rally last night at Pittsburgh International Airport  his second trip to the region and his fifth to the state in about a month.

Well take you through what we know  and still dont know  about the basic rules of an election now just weeks away, and what that uncertainty means.

Follow all our election coverage. And email us at election@inquirer.com.

 Julia Terruso, Andrew Seidman (@JuliaTerruso, @AndrewSeidman, election@inquirer.com)

Someone just tell us the rules

Election Day is 40 days away. And the rules are still up in the air.

For months, public officials in Pennsylvania  and across the country  have been trying to figure out the best way to hold an election during a pandemic, with millions of voters expected to cast ballots by mail. In Pennsylvania, theres been legislative wrangling, concerns about mail delays, and lawsuits galore.

The state Supreme Court seemed to deliver the final word late last week, when it extended the mail ballot deadline, approved the use of drop boxes, and ordered election officials to reject so-called naked ballots  those that dont include a second secrecy envelope within the mail envelope.

So now we know the rules, right? Maybe not.

Republicans are appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court  if the court takes up the appeal, it could be one of its first cases as an 8-person, post-Ginsburg body. And Philadelphias top elections official urged the state legislature to change the law so naked ballots can be counted, saying tens of thousands or even 100,000 votes could be thrown out  in a state Trump won by 44,000 votes last time. She warned that naked ballots could put the state at the center of significant postelection legal controversy, the likes of which we have not seen since Florida in 2000.

There isnt enough data to assess whether enough naked ballots could be thrown out to change the outcome in Pennsylvania, which is increasingly seen as the state most likely to determine the winner. But big voter turnout in Philadelphia is key to Joe Bidens prospects. Biden needs a show of force in the city and its suburbs  and in other metropolitan areas like Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, and Allentown  to offset Trumps strength just about everywhere else.

And in the June primary, Democrats voted by mail in far greater numbers than Republicans.

Now we just have to wait for the United States Supreme Court.

-With Jonathan Lai

Answering your questions about naked ballots

What are naked ballots?

When counting mail ballots, elections officials first check the information on the mailing envelope to confirm the validity of the vote. Then the outer envelope is opened and the secrecy envelope containing the ballot is set aside.

From that point forward, the vote is anonymous.

Naked ballots are ones without those secrecy envelopes. Nothing else is necessarily improper with the ballots themselves or the mailing envelopes.

What was the court ruling?

The Trump campaign and Republicans sued Pennsylvania in federal court over several election rules, including arguing that naked ballots should not be counted. The state Democratic Party filed a countersuit in state court.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled they should be thrown out under state law.

How many naked ballots will be thrown out in 2020?

Its hard to say.

The Pennsylvania Department of State advised counties to accept naked ballots as valid and count them in this years primary. Most counties did so without tracking them. So theres no statewide estimate for how many naked ballots there were.

Read more: How naked ballots could cost Joe Biden the election

 Jonathan Lai (@Elaijuh)

What were paying attention to

Overheard on the campaign trail

This whole year has been an unmitigated, rolling down the hill, sstorm.

 Vashti Bandy, a leader of Tuesdays with Toomey, a group that organizes against Republican Sen. Pat Toomey, on the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Voters weigh in on the court fight

Weve been talking to voters around the state about Ginsburgs passing and filling her seat. Few people said it would sway their vote. And that makes sense. People plugged in enough to know a lot about the Supreme Court are probably high-information voters who have likely made up their mind about November.

A new Politico/Morning Consult poll found that half of registered voters think the winner of the presidential election should pick the next justice, while 37% said Trump should do so regardless.

But conversations on the ground also reminded us that, as dug in politically as many people are this year, people are also nuanced and complex. Take one voter we spoke with in Rochester, northwest of Pittsburgh.

Laura Keys, 36, is a conservative gun owner who opposes abortion rights. She also has an 18-year-old daughter who is gay. A Trump flag flies beside a rainbow flag in front of her home in Beaver County.

As much as I want a Republican in there, as much as I want my party to make progress in the way that I want, I also worry about my kids and what their lives will be like if I get my way, Keys said.

Shes worried a more conservative court could threaten her daughters ability to get married or work, and hopes Trump picks a more moderate nominee.

Trump is gonna push to get someone who is very far right wing, Keys said. Hell push to get it done before election day. And that scares me.

Weve been talking to the members of our Election 2020 Roundtable about this, too. More on that soon.

-With Jessica Calefati
During the General Audience Pope Francis recalls his apostolic journey to Cuba 5 years ago and prays for the island that is hard-hit by the pandemic. He also greets Polish pilgrims and lauds their work to safeguard life.

By Vatican News

Pope Francis on Wednesday recalled his apostolic journey, exactly five years ago, to Cuba and expressed his closeness to the people of the island nation where Covid-19 is bringing great suffering.

In greetings to Spanish-speaking pilgrims at the weekly General Audience in the Vatican, the Pope said he is close to and is praying for his brother bishops and for all the sons and daughters of that beloved land.

I ask the Lord, through the intercession of Our Lady of Charity of Cobre, to free them and alleviate them in these difficult times they are going through because of the pandemic, he said.

Just a few days ago the bishops of Cuba published a statement in which they recalled Pope Francis visit with gratitude and highlighted the pastoral responsibility born from "the experiences of those days of grace".

"The mercy that he left with his visit continues to be an inspiration, they said, that renews their mission with permanent evangelical spirit.

Covid-19 in Cuba

In their statement, the bishops also spoke of the difficult situation that Covid-19 has created on the island, with prolonged closures and limitations that have put many in need of humanitarian aid.

Over 5,000 infections have been registered so far and about 120 deaths.

Pope Francis visited Cuba on 19 September 2015 on the first leg of his apostolic journey to the United States. He was the third Pontiff to set foot on the Caribbean island.

Pope Francis blesses the "Yes to Life" bell

Blessing of the Yes to Life bell

Another group of pilgrims Pope Francis had words of thanks and prayers for was formed by Polish faithful who carried with them a bell called The Voice of the Unborn commissioned by the Yes to Life Foundation.

The initiative provided the Pope with the occasion to issue an appeal to legislators.

The ringing of this bell, he said, will accompany events aimed at highlighting the value of human life from conception to natural death:

May its voice awaken the consciences of lawmakers and all men and women of goodwill in Poland and the world. May the Lord, the one and only true giver of life, bless you and your families.
The Bihar Police Subordinate Services Commission (BPSSC) on Wednesday released the admit card for the main examination for the post of Sub Inspector/Sergeant/Assistant Superintendent Jail (Direct recruitment)/Assistant Superintendent Jail (Ex-Serviceman) in Bihar Police (Advt. No. 01/2019) on its official website.

Candidates who have registered for the examination can download their admit card online at bpssc.bih.nic.in.

The main examination is re-scheduled to be conducted on October 11, 2020. Candidates are advised to bring a copy of their hall tickets to their respective examination centre or else they wont be entertained.

Direct link to download the BPSSC SI Mains admit card 2020.

How to download BPSSC SI Mains admit card 2020:

Visit the official website at bpssc.bih.nic.in

On the homepage, click on the link that reads, Download Admit Card of Main Examination for the post of Police Sub Inspector / Sergeant / Assistant Superintendent Jail (Direct Recruitment) / Assistant Superintendent Jail (Ex-Serviceman) in Bihar Police. (Advt. No. 01/2019)

A new page will appear on the display screen

Click on the Mains admit card link

Key in your credentials and login

The admit card will be displayed on the screen

Download the admit card and take its print out for future use.
Wednesday, September 23, 2020

Death Cafe skull cookies!

Albuquerque Death Cafes are being held online for the duration of the coronavirus pandemic.

The next online ABQ Death Cafe will take place on Zoom on Sunday, October 11 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time. To get the link to participate, send a note to Gail [at] AGoodGoodbye.com and let her know youd like to join in the conversation.

There will also be a series of Death Cafes held during the Before I Die New Mexico Virtual Festival, held online October 30 to November 2, 2020. Those events will be held on Friday, October 30 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. MDT, Saturday, October 31 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. MDT, Sunday, November 1 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. MST, and Monday, November 2, 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. MST. Register for all four Festival Death Cafes for $20.

Register for the Before I Die New Mexico Virtual Festival today!

About Death Cafes

The objective of the Death Cafe is To increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives. Its all about an interesting, unstructured conversation  open and free-flowing with no specific agenda.

Jon Underwood, founder of the Death Cafe movement

The Death Cafe concept was started in the United Kingdom by Jon Underwood. He was influenced by the ideas of Swiss sociologist Bernard Crettaz, who started holding Cafe Mortel events in France and Switzerland. At these events, people come together in a relaxed, confidential and safe setting to discuss death, drink tea (or your favorite beverage) and eat delicious cake or cookies.

Sadly, Jon Underwood died suddenly three years ago at the age of 44 from a brain hemorrhage. It was caused by undiagnosed acute promyelocytic leukemia, a cancer of the white blood cells.

Jons mother Sue Barsky Reid and Jons sister Jools Barsky have continued his Death Cafe work, as Jon requested. To date, the Death Cafe movement has grown to more than 11,305 events in 73 countries worldwide (as of August, 2020). For information on how to hold a Death Cafe in your community, review the information at www.DeathCafe.com.

Albuquerque was the site of the second Death Cafe held in the United States. Gail Rubin hosted this pioneering event in September of 2012. Lizzy Miles held the first Death Cafe outside the U.K. in Columbus, Ohio in August of 2012.

Join The Meetup Group

To keep in the loop on upcoming Death Cafes, join the Albuquerque Death Cafe Meetup group. Youll receive notice of upcoming events. Click here to go to the Meetup page.

Your ABQ Death Cafe Host

Gail Rubin, CT, The Doyenne of Death

Albuquerque Death Cafes are hosted by Gail Rubin, Certified Thanatologist, and a pioneering death educator. Rubin is a public speaker, a published author of three books, host of a TV interview series and podcast, a blogger, a funeral industry trade journalist, a Certified Funeral Celebrant, and an innovator in the funeral business.

She created a conversation-starting game called The Newly-Dead Game, introduced the Death Cafe movement in the United States, and held the first Before I Die Festival west of the Mississippi in 2017. Albuquerque Business First named her one of their 2019 Women of Influence.

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Governor Gavin Newsom has announced that California will phase out gasoline-powered cars by 2035, in order to reduce the states carbon emissions.

Mr Newsom issued an executive order on Wednesday that will require all new cars and trucks sold in California to be zero-emission vehicles by the 2035 deadline at the latest.

The governor said that transportation accounts for more than half of the states carbon emissions, and confirmed that this order will cut greenhouse gas emissions in the US most populous state by 35 per cent, according to ABC.

The Democrat said that the executive order will not make it illegal to own a gasoline-powered vehicle after the 2035 deadline, or to resell one in the state as used.

This commitment has already been made by 15 other countries around the world, including France and Germany.

The California Air Resources Board are also working towards creating regulations that would require the direct operation of medium and heavy-duty vehicles to be zero-emission by 2045, according to the Sacramento Bee.

This is the most impactful step our state can take to fight climate change, Mr Newsom said during a press conference in Sacramento on Wednesday.

He added: For too many decades, we have allowed cars to pollute the air that our children and families breathe. You deserve to have a car that doesnt give your kids asthma.

During the conference on Wednesday, Mr Newsom also directed officials to speed up the development of new electric car charging stations across California, and called for new fracking licenses to be eliminated by 2024.

Mr Newsom was asked about whether the cost of electric cars might make it harder for California residents to make the switch, but the governor said that the price of electric cars are falling, and that he expects a price parity with gasoline-powered vehicles in the next few years.

He added: The difference is you don't have to pay any money at the pump. The difference is within a zero-emission vehicle, you have lower maintenance costs, you have lower operating costs.

Mr Newsom is likely to face pushback against the policy from the White House, as president Donald Trump has previously attempted to ban California from setting its own emission targets that differ from the rest of the US.

The executive order has come after wildfires ravaged large areas of the state over the last month, destroying homes and wildlife.

In response to the wildfires across the west coast, the Associated Press reported that scientists, along with the governors of Oregon, California and Washington, have said that climate change is the reason for the widespread damage in recent weeks.

They reported that plants and trees dying out due to climate change are partly behind the unprecedented fires, and that the level of pollution needs to be tackled to prevent repeated incidents.

After Mr Trump blamed forest management for the wildfires last week, Mr Newsom angrily told him that climate change is real, and that is exacerbating this.

Please respect, and I know you do, the difference of opinion out here as it relates to this fundamental issue...of climate change.

Mr Newsom referenced the wildfires while announcing the executive order on Wednesday, and said: Our cars shouldnt make wildfires worse  and create more days filled with smoky air.

Cars shouldnt melt glaciers or raise sea levels threatening our cherished beaches and coastlines.
DENVER, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of their initiative to improve market connectivity across the insurance distribution channel, today Vertafore announced the successful first release of its Commercial Submissions platform to its carrier and agency design partners on the project.

Vertafore's Commercial Submissions is the industry's first InsurTech solution that truly connects the end-insured, agents and carriers for real-time quoting and binding on commercial policies across all sizes and business types. Through live collaboration capabilities and real-time data exchanges, Commercial Submissions solves one of the industry's most enduring pain points: the labor-intensive, repetitive and time-consuming process of quoting and securing coverage for commercial insurance needs.

"We are so excited to provide our customers with a smarter way to process their commercial submissions in a way that benefits the entire distribution channel," said Vertafore CEO Amy Zupon. "With Commercial Submissions, insureds can expect a better experience with faster, easier access to the right commercial coverage. Independent agents can close more business, increase profitability and free up bandwidth to advise their clients. And carriers can deliver more of their products and be a partner of choice to their agencies."

Carrier partner leads with real-time quoting and binding

Commercial Submissions carrier design partner, AmTrust Financial has been working with Vertafore to develop the solution and help build out the connectivity architecture that enables real-time connection between agents and underwriters. As a top writer in the market, AmTrust went live on Commercial Submissions in early September for workers' compensation. Agencies can use Commercial Submissions to submit and receive an AmTrust quote within seconds and use the carrier's site to quickly bind the policy.

"AmTrust's partnership with Vertafore is another exciting step in our commitment to innovation and our dedication to deliver a true digital experience to our agents," said Chris Foy, EVP & Head of North American Commercial for AmTrust.

Solution generates industry buzz

Vertafore's progress on the solution follows on the previews of Commercial Submissions it presented during the Summer of Accelerate, powered by NetVU. More than 15,000 session registrants from independent agencies and the carrier community participated in the virtual event and the news around Commercial Submissions was one of the hottest topics.

Vertafore carrier design partners will continue to add lines of business to the platform leading up to the general availability of Commercial Submissions later this year. In addition to Vertafore's design partners, dozens of agencies have asked to join on early adopters.

About Vertafore

For 50 years, Vertafore, the leader in modern insurance technology, has built and supported superior Insurtech solutions to connect every point of the distribution channel. Vertafore's agency management, ratings, regulation, compliance, data and analytics, and connectivity products streamline workflows, improve efficiency and drive productivity for more North American insurance professionals than any other provider  including more than 20,000 agencies, over 1,000 carriers and 23 state governments. Through a continual focus on operational excellence, development of innovative solutions, and alignment with key industry partners, Vertafore is leading the way for customers of all sizes by delivering results that make a difference. For more information about Vertafore, visit www.vertafore.com.

2020 Vertafore and the Vertafore logo are registered trademarks of Vertafore. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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Five students, including a foreigner, have been caught with 100 Jurassic tablets and 10-gram crystal MDMA worth Rs 5 lakh in their possession.

The arrested are Sudanese national Ahmed Omer Ahmed Saeed (27), from Chellikere near Kalyan Nagar, Taabsheer K (24), Lazim Nasir (23), Syed Shakir (24) and Mohammed Seeham (28), all of whom are residents of Kothanur, KG Halli and RT Nagar.

Police said Ahmed is an MCA student at a private college while the others are graduate students in different city colleges. On receiving information, police raided a flat of a serviced apartment in Chellikere and detained Ahmed. They arrested the other four based on the information provided by him.

Ahmed stocked up drugs in the apartment and supplied it to the four arrested and others. He told police that he was depressed since he stayed away from his family. He sourced the drugs from other Africans living in the city and both consumed and sold them. Wanting money to meet his expenses, he began selling drugs to other students.

The arrested local students were Ahmeds customers, but they became peddlers to make quick money, said an investigating officer. A case under NDPS Act has been filed and further investigations are on.
Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, the running mate of the Presidential Candidate of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), has described her nomination as a call to duty for all women to ensure she succeeded.

She has, therefore, implored Ghanaian women to rise above partisan politics and to consider her capabilities to pursue pragmatic policies to redeem the nation.

They should, therefore, rally behind her for victory for the NDC in the December polls.

Prof Opoku-Agyemang, who was interacting with identifiable women groups and traders at Efutu and Abura Market as part of her six-day tour to the Central Region, commended the NDC for the bold decision to settle on her as the running mate.

John Mahama and the NDC have given due recognition to women and show that we are very special and important, she added.

Prof Opoku-Agyemang said women had been elevated and accorded the rightful recognition in the political space with her nomination.

If you call a woman, you have called the whole family. This indeed is a call for all of us, children, young and old, everyone inclusive. It is a wake-up call for all of us to be united and help change the face of development in this Country, she said.

She reassured Ghanaians, particularly women, that their hopes would be translated into productive activities to the benefit of everyone if given the nod.

Prof Opoku-Agyemang called on political parties to be development driven and desist from the politics of insult, division and discrimination, which retard growth and development.

She said the NDC's People's Manifesto was very inclusive and recognised the challenges of every Ghanaian and had outlined solutions to them.

Prof Opoku-Ayemang also interacted with the Ewe community at Duakor, fishermen and fishmongers in Elmina and Brofoyedur in Cape Coast and traders and commercial drivers at Abura on the first day of her tour.

She received a rousing welcome at all the places visited amid singing, drumming and cheering from party sympathizers, who were full of optimism that Prof Opoku-Agyemang could help the party win the December 7 general elections.

---GNA
The Rev. Philip L. Boroughs said Tuesday he plans to step down as president of the College of the Holy Cross after nine years at the helm of the Worcester institution on June 30.

In a video address broadcast to the campus, Boroughs said serving as the colleges president has been a distinct honor and privilege and the highlight of my professional life," adding that the decision required much reflection.

When I began my term as president at the age of 62, I was older than most beginning presidents; and now nine years later, I feel that new energy and some different skills are needed to address the realities of the coming years, said Boroughs, 71. This time feels like a natural inflection and transition point for the institution: our seven year campaign just ended most successfully and we have just begun a strategic planning process that will set goals for the College for the next three to five years.

Before joining Holy Cross, Boroughs served as Georgetown Universitys vice president for mission and ministry for eight years. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities, the Board of Trustees of St. Josephs University, the Board of the Higher Education Consortium of Central Massachusetts and the Council of Presidents of the Patriot League, serving as its chair from 2015 to 2017.

Boroughs has been an inspirational, inclusive leader and a tireless champion for the college, said Rick Patterson, chairman of the Board of Trustees. Patterson said he will assemble a search committee in the next few weeks for Boroughs replacement.

The transformation that he drove atop Mount St. James, as well as the construction of the stunning Contemplative Center in West Boylston, will enhance the spiritual, intellectual and physical well being of countless generations of Holy Cross students," Patterson said.

Boroughs said he hopes to take a sabbatical after he leaves the college and receive another assignment from the Jesuit Order.

Before delivering the news of his imminent departure, Boroughs spoke about how the coronavirus pandemic has radically altered higher education, noting that Holy Cross administrators are doing everything they can to bring students back on campus in the spring as safely as possible.

While I doubt that our educational mission will radically change, I do think that how we teach, how students learn, and how we work with each other will now have many more effective modalities with which to choose, he said.

Boroughs led the college through the pandemic, tragedy and scandal. Earlier this year, 20-year-old Holy Cross student-athlete Grace Rett was killed in a car crash while riding with members of the womens rowing team. More recently, Christopher Dustin, a former philosophy professor accused of sexual misconduct, was released by the college after he was found responsible and sanctioned for violating policy.

Last year, students held a sit-in outside Boroughs' office to address the colleges handling of the investigation into Dustins conduct.

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Can Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani live up to the high expectations he has created in backing Iraqs reform-minded prime minister?

The parliamentary elections to be held next year are of paramount importance, and all necessary preparations should be made in order to give their results a high degree of credibility, said Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani, the highest-ranking Shia cleric in Iraq, from his seat in the Iraqi holy city of Najaf.

Therefore, it [the elections] should be carried out under a fair and equitable law away from the vested interests of some political factions and groups. In all circumstances, integrity and transparency should be considered in coordination with the ad hoc body and the UN mission, Al-Sistani said, referring to the UN body in Iraq.

The early elections are not a goal per se, but the right and peaceful track to end the current deadlock in the country as a result of an accumulation of political, economic, security and health crises, Al-Sistani said in a statement released by his office after a meeting with UN Envoy to Iraq Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert last week.

Al-Sistanis extraordinary remarks came in direct backing of Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, who has been grappling with the countrys ruling political factions. These have been trying to block his reform plans, including for early parliamentary elections.

In August, Al-Kadhimi announced that parliamentary elections would be held in June, nearly a year before they had originally been scheduled to take place, provided that the Iraqi parliament passed a new election law and the logistics were ready for the voting.

He has promised that the elections will be fair and inclusive, a key demand in a country that has seen several elections held amid accusations of fraud and manipulation.

Since mass protests erupted in Iraq in October last year against widespread corruption, popular demands for early elections have been mounting amid political manoeuvrings by the countrys entrenched ruling elite to torpedo such efforts.

During his 13 September meeting with the UN envoy, Al-Sistani also called on the government to probe cases of corruption in the country and for all weapons to be placed under state control. There should be a respect for state authority and armed groups should be prevented from creating their own fiefdoms, he declared.

In addition, Al-Sistani called for bringing to justice the culprits in violence against the protesters and to work seriously to reveal all those who have committed criminal acts that have killed or wounded protesters and members of the security forces.

Al-Kadhimi has pledged to introduce reforms to meet the demands of the protesters after months of demonstrations in the countrys largely Shia-dominated south. Former prime minister Adel Abdel-Mahdi resigned after Al-Sistani condemned the use of force against the protesters.

After he took office in May, Al-Kadhimi set up a special commission to identify those responsible for the violence during the demonstrations and decided to compensate the families of about 400 victims.

He also launched key changes to senior positions in governmental bodies, including the security and economic portfolios. He started a campaign to investigate major corruption cases and introduced new measures to control the countrys customs authorities, as millions of dollars have been being lost on untaxed imported goods.

Political infighting and corruption have been hampering Al-Kadhimis efforts to carry out the badly needed reforms, however, and Iraqs economy has been collapsing under the double blow of sinking oil prices and the Covid-19 pandemic.

As tensions between Iran and the United States persist, the ongoing political crisis and instability in Iraq is only getting worse. Irans political allies continue to cling to power, and pro-Iran militias step up their attacks on US interests in the country.

As a result of his criticisms and with passionate warnings against delays in much-needed reforms growing louder, Al-Sistanis latest intervention is, therefore, emerging as a kind of high-noon moment for Iraq.

Since the ouster of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in 2003, Al-Sistani has dominated the leadership of the Shia Marjiya, the spiritual reference for Shias in Najaf, and turned the city into the centre of the faiths political power in Iraq.

The Iranian-born cleric has been a powerful and decisive force in Iraqs troubled politics, serving as a stabiliser of the conflict-ridden country through his attempts to forge a common cause for all Iraqis.

Al-Sistanis views have been critical in calming tensions as the country has faced crisis after crisis, beginning with civil strife following the US-led invasion, through the war on the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group, and then the mass protests against the Shia political establishment.

Al-Sistani is believed to have been born in Mashhad, Iran, on 4 August 1930 of a father who was also a religious scholar. He moved to the holy city of Najaf in Iraq to study theology with prominent Shia clerics at the citys seminary.

However, Al-Sistani remained opposed to the controversial theory of the Wilayat Al-Faqih, the guardianship of the [Shia] jurist, advocated by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and exercised in Iran following the countrys Islamic Revolution in 1979.

Instead, Al-Sistani has advocated the notion that clerics should not play an executive or administrative role in state affairs, but should limit their non-religious role to giving advice on issues of public interest without being directly involved in government matters.

Al-Sistani has not only rejected the dogma of guardianship, but has even explicitly called for a civic state in Iraq rather than a religious one, distancing himself from the theocracy preached and practised by the Islamic Republic in Iran.

With his latest remarks making the headlines, Al-Sistani has showed that he is not only continuing in the same line, but that he has also raised the reform of Iraqs dysfunctional political system to the forefront of his mission.

Al-Kadhimis efforts to push for parliamentary elections under a new law in 2021, however, have produced no results so far, as Iraqs ruling factions remain vehemently opposed to key reforms in the electoral law.

Most of the opposition to such reforms comes from Irans Shia allies in the government, who have reasserted their power in the countrys parliament and are seeking to maintain their grip on the country.

After the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, Iran extended its influence in Iraq by forming successive Iraqi governments following inconclusive elections and virtually making Tehran the real kingmaker in Iraq.

Since then, Iran has gone a long way towards consolidating its huge political, economic and religious influence in Iraq due largely to the empowerment of its Shia allies, mostly Saddam opponents who lived in Iran before his overthrow.

Despite increasing resentment against its influence in the country, Iran has shown no sign of changing the dynamics of its engagement in Iraq, and it has continued to make inroads into the beleaguered nation.

Perhaps Irans most serious interference in Iraq has been the role it has played in the crackdown on the pro-reform protesters through rogue Shia militias that are believed to be directly answerable to Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Many Iraqis now believe that the fate of the countrys next elections may ultimately be decided in Tehran, as the pro-Iran Shia political elite in Iraq remains powerful and the Islamic Republic continues to exert its influence in Iraq.

The failure of Al-Kadhimi to introduce a new electoral law in order to bring in representatives from the protesters and other pro-reform groups will make Irans meddling in Iraqs government easier.

For such reasons, all eyes and hopes to save Iraq now rest on Al-Sistani, who has established himself as a powerful voice in Iraqs politics. He has put his weight behind Al-Kadhimi and given centre-stage to Iraqis hitherto marginalised by the Iran-backed political establishment.

Despite being healthy and active for his age, there are concerns over Al-Sistanis health. He turned 90 this year, and concerns have been growing since he underwent surgery on a fracture in January following an accident in his home in Najaf.

For many Iraqis, the personal authority and moral legacy of Al-Sistani will be hanging in the balance over the next few months if Al-Kadhimi fails to deliver on his promised reforms and pro-Iran groups continue to consolidate their gains in Iraqs fragile political system.

This reflects a conviction, reinforced repeatedly over the last 18 years, of Al-Sistanis passionate belief in a stable and sovereign Iraq, and there are fears that his death could prompt a stark turnaround in the Shia spiritual leadership in Iraq in challenging Irans influence in the country.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 24 September, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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An ex-police officer has revealed how she spent seven years moonlighting as a dominatrix after being inspired by sex workers and prostitutes she met on the job.

Former police commissioner Sarah Keller from Duisburg, Germany, was rising through the ranks when, in 2011, she attended a fetish party with a close friend and became instantly fascinated by the world of BDSM, bondage and domination.

Sarah is better known by her dominatrix name, Calea Toxic. Photo: MediaDrumWorld/Australscope (supplied).

I felt at home with the police and it certainly was a great job. But something was missing, she said.

I wanted to do the things in life that really give me joy. In my private life, Ive always had a passion for BDSM. It gives me a satisfying feeling to lead people and exercise power.

Police officer to dominatrix

For the next seven years, the 32-year-old led a double life, fighting crime during the day before swapping her traditional police uniform for a latex one and transforming into a femme fatale at night.

Investigating sex crimes and speaking regularly with prostitutes who would tell her about their lives and work only furthered Sarahs desire to pursue her X-rated career.

But her conflicting passions were difficult to keep secret and before long, racy pictures of Sarah began circulating the station, with colleagues even creating WhatsApp groups to share her images.

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Sarah was a police officer for 11 years before giving it up to become a dominatrix full-time. Photo: MediaDrumWorld/Australscope (supplied).

Her decision to upgrade from her natural D-cup breasts to a whopping 34F, paint her fingernails bright red and don heavy make-up, made her tenure in the police force an increasingly difficult one.

I noticed that my lifestyle was becoming more and more different from that of most colleagues. Values such as owning your own home or saving for retirement were much less important to me than the aspect of feeling good in your own body and enjoying freedom, she said.

In 2017, after 11 years as a cop, Sarah swapped her position of power as a commissioner for a very different type of authority figure as a full-time dominatrix.

Story continues

Meet Calea Toxic

Today, Sarah is better known by her dominatrix name, Calea Toxic, and has a growing Instagram following of over 26k users as well as several cover appearances on fetish magazines and an appearance in a TV doco under her belt.

Besides recurring guest appearances in the best dominatrix studios in Europe, she is available for exclusive photoshoots and also provides a bizarre escort service for the more solvent gentleman as well as catering for couples who want to push the boundaries of their sexual experimentation and explore their most taboo desires.

She juggled her roles as police commissioner and dominatrix for seven years. Photo: MediaDrumWorld/Australscope (supplied).

Playing games with latex, whips and bondage allows me to disappear into a completely different place, she said.

Since shifting her career, Sarah is earning more than she ever did as a police commissioner, a role that typically earns upwards of 100k (AUD$177k) in Germany.

But for Sarah, its not about the paycheque.

For me, money is not the most important part of why I do what I do. I want to pursue my job independently and out of my own motivation, she said.

She says shes just as professional while working as a dominatrix as she was as a police commissioner and doesnt see much difference between the two.

In some ways, the jobs are pretty similar. You have a lot of responsibility. You have to guide and direct people.

I guess the main difference is the uniform.

Additional reporting by MediaDrumWorld/Australscope.

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(Alliance News) - The latest measures imposed by the UK government to curb the spread of coronavirus do not go far enough to avoid a second peak, a major medical trade union has warned.

The British Medical Association said it was "encouraging" that the government is facing up to the accelerating transmission rate, but said more needs to be done.

It criticised ministers for hurrying staff back to offices as infection rates were rising and for failing to make it mandatory for retail and hospitality staff to wear face coverings.

Chair Chaand Nagpaul said: "The BMA has consistently argued that it was illogical for staff not to be required to wear facemasks in shops, pubs and restaurants as customers are, so we're pleased to see this belatedly coming into force.

"However, given that the infection is equally like to spread in all indoor settings, these rules should also apply to offices and other workplaces."

Nagpaul called on the government to do more to help employers make workplaces Covid-secure when home working is not possible, and to cut the number of people permitted to meet indoors.

"The prime minister missed an opportunity today to revise the 'rule of six' which, as currently interpreted, allows members of six different household to meet indoors whereas previously members of only two households could do so," he said.

"Data suggests that transmission between households is by far the biggest driver of infection and this should therefore be rectified at the earliest possible opportunity."

The BMA also wants to see the public given more information about infection rates in their areas, making it as easy to look up as the weather or pollen count.

"Members of the public want to do their bit to keep infection rates down a ministers must empower them with the information they need to take proactive action," Nagpaul said.

"Not only would these additional measures pose no risk to the economy in the immediate term, they could be key to preventing further lockdowns and significant disruption to business and economic activity."

He added: "Indeed, putting the right safeguards in place to minimise the risk of infection is crucial to providing people with the confidence they need to go out safely and boost the economy."

source: PA

Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
RCMP are investigating after an anti-racism event in Red Deer, Alta., on Sunday became violent when organizers say counter-protesters arrived.

Videos posted on social media show that at least one person was struck by an opposing protester at what was supposed to be a peaceful gathering.

"The whole purpose of this event was to centralize and raise racialized voices and to share experiences of these different ethnicities and different walks of life," said Cheryl-Jaime Baptise, creator of the group Red Deer Against Racism.

Before organizers had even started the event at the Rotary Recreation Park, counter-protesters showed up with megaphones.

The event's volunteer security team attempted to build a human wall so the counter-protesters wouldn't disturb the anti-racism gathering, but the wall was breached.

"Within the first five minutes, at least two fists were thrown from their side," said Baptise, who identifies as Cree, Blackfoot and Ojibway.

"When everybody showed up from the opposition, they were just very, very violent and there was no way of being able to host a peaceful event so, unfortunately, we had to cancel."

WATCH | Red Deer anti-racism demonstration turns violent:

Kisha Daniels, a co-founder of Black and Indigenous Alliance AB, said her group's protest was scheduled for 4 p.m. at Red Deer city hall, but was moved to the park after they received "threats for our event."

She said a person attending the anti-racism event had been serving a restraining order on a man who had arrived with the second group when he was hit in the head by a third person.

"As the gentleman decided to hand the papers, that's when the violence first started and that was when he was first attacked," Daniels said.

While the incident occurred before police arrived at the park to maintain order, a video of the confrontation was later shown to officers.

RCMP analysts had scanned social media before Sunday's event to "see what the chatter might be," said Supt. Gerald Grobmeier, the officer in charge of Red Deer's RCMP detachment. But police weren't expecting the event to turn out like it did.

Story continues

"We certainly didn't expect to see what we saw on Sunday. I don't think anybody did," Grobmeier said at a news conference Tuesday.

"We've had so many protests and rallies in the city since my arrival here. We've never seen anything like this. The city has always been really tolerant. I'd like to say that a lot of people that were here weren't necessarily from here."

He clarified by saying that many of those who were at Sunday's event were from out of town and don't have "any vested interest in the city so they can almost do what they feel like."

Struck by vehicle

The area is no stranger to protests. Earlier this month in nearby Ponoka, just 55 kilometres from Red Deer, an anti-racism protester was struck by a vehicle during a heated demonstration.

A 38-year-old man was taken to hospital with minor injuries. Police said at the time they were investigating the collision as a hit and run.

Members of the Black and Indigenous Alliance AB who staged the anti-racism demonstration alleged the collision was targeted.

Video shows counter-protesters chanting beside the highway with protest signs; some calling for a ban on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau or a prohibition on masks.

Other signs decried government corruption, Canada's COVID-19 response or declared that "all lives matter."

At the time, Ponoka RCMP Cpl. Mike Dillon told CBC News that advocates for the Black Lives Matter and Indigenous Lives Matter movements had been staging demonstrations in the community for weeks without incident.

"It's a weekly occurrence but it's the first time we've had the two groups at the same time, the two opposing viewpoints," Dillon said in an interview.

In 2017, RCMP officers were called to a high school in Red Deer as more than 40 demonstrators staged an anti-immigration protest in the parking lot across the street.

Red Deer Mayor Tara Veer said in an emailed statement that the city "unequivocally" denounces violence and racism in the community and that it was "highly concerning" to hear "travelling protests have incited division and violence in our city."

In the statement, Veer went on to say that "as a community it is imperative we pull together, and not apart, during adverse times. We cannot allow the actions of a few to characterize our city."

Larger investigation ongoing

Grobmeier said RCMP are investigating what happened on Sunday. Police are asking for witnesses and any victims to come forward.

Alberta's Minister of Justice and Solicitor General Kaycee Madu said he wants RCMP to "get to the bottom of this.

"Any time we have an incident like this, my hope is that the authorities get to the bottom of it. But more importantly, we must have the tools in place to ensure that peaceful protests do not become violent," Madu said at a news conference Tuesday.

Daniels and others hope the RCMP follows through on their promises to work with the community and that those who were violent on Sunday are charged.

She said the weekend's events haven't deterred organizers from moving forward. She said any future events organized by the group will not be posted on social media and will be held in private venues.

She said the group is actively seeking a civil rights lawyer and more security for future events.

"We are all severely traumatized by these events. A lot of our group are racialized and LGBTQ2S+ peoples so we are used to levels of discrimination and violence," Daniels said.

"It's just unfortunate that it's 2020 and this continues to happen."
A recent study found that a prior induced abortion did not negatively impact a woman's psychological well-being or her thoughts about her competence as a parent when she later became a mother.

In the Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica study, questionnaires were administered to 492 first-time mothers, 37 of whom had previously had an abortion, and their partners when their child was 18 months old.

A prior abortion was not predictive of maternal or paternal well-being or feelings of parental competence.

"Since induced abortion is the only type of pregnancy loss that women have influence over themselves, information about the consequences is crucial when the issue is under consideration," the authors wrote. They noted that Nordic countries are characterized by permissive abortion legislation, and an induced abortion is no longer considered a taboo in Finland.

###
The upcoming November general election has prompted Richmond officials to move their meeting from the normal first Monday of the month to Wednesday to allow for cleanup after voting at city hall.

The council previously approved moving Precinct 2 to the city offices to accommodate anticipated crowds and to follow the state guidelines for social distancing during the pandemic.

A Sept. 21 meeting of the city council had them approving the change in meeting date and Mayor Pro Tem Michael Misteravich asked if having a Zoom media instead of meeting live at city hall might help. Officials have been conducting their meetings at city hall with the council in one room and any spectators in an adjoining room.

Since were still under an emergency order we could still have a Zoom meeting  or has that time passed? Misteravich asked.

Several council members said that might be a good idea to give the city administration more time to tally votes and clean-up the meeting room.

Theres a lot of talk about the possibility of issues coming up at the county, (like) we may not know who has been elected for days, would that impact us here, Mayor Tim Rix said.

City Manager Jon Moore said the issue wouldnt affect the city portion of the election; the room would be cleared by Wednesday for the council meeting.

Im expecting that we should be done that evening; if it extends past eight at night its not going to extend into the following day, City Clerk Karen Stagl added.

A majority of the council said they prefer meeting in person.

Council member Robert Reindel asked when the city will go back to conducting meetings in the same room with an audience.

Right now, theres the executive order that were following for this building. Its 10 in a room. We cant have more than 10, so if we brought the audience over, wed be overt that 10, Moore replied.

Summer meeting times changed

The council also took some time to set meeting dates and times for the remainder of 2020 and into 2021. Members meet bi-monthly at 7 p.m. on the first and third Mondays of each month, except in the summer, specifically July and August, when they have been meeting at 6 p.m.

Rix said he wanted to question the 6 p.m. summer start times because he thinks perhaps its rushing people a bit and asked if the council would consider going back to the 7 p.m. start time.

I will say that sometimes its confusing for the audience, and I will say that often weve also wanted to have that quarterly roundtable prior to the 6 p.m. meeting and we dont have a lot of time, Moore said.

Council member Jamie Elizabeth Greene said it is difficult at times for her to make the 6 p.m. start time.

Being retired, the mayor said the time really doesnt matter to him but the council laughed when Misteravich suggested moving the meetings to 8 p.m.

Thats when he goes to bed, laughed Greene.

Rix said actually the original council meetings going back years were at 8 p.m. because so many men in town had to close their businesses and go home for dinner before attending the meetings.

The new start time of 7 p.m. was then unanimously approved by the council.

The final meeting item the council addressed was scheduling their final quarterly roundtable meeting for 2020.

A scheduling conflict prompted officials to set the meeting for 7 p.m. Oct. 26 at city hall. The quarterly meetings normally precede a regular council meeting.

Barb Pert Templeton is a freelance reporter. She can be contacted at barbperttempleton.reporter@yahoo.com.
Rhea Chakraborty, who is currently lodged in the Byculla Jail, has said that late actor Sushant Singh Rajput would take advantage of people "closest to him to sustain his drug habit". In her bail plea, she also alleged that the late actor used her, her brother Showik and members of his household staff to facilitate his drug habit and ensure that there was no electronic evidence left. Chakraborty is accused of procuring drugs for the Kai Po Che actor.

According to NDTV, Chakraborty's bail plea further states, "Sushant Singh Rajput was the only consumer of drugs and that he was directing his staff members to procure his drugs." She adds that had the late actor been alive today, he would have been arrested for consuming drugs in small quantities, a bailable offence that has a punishment of one year imprisonment.

Bombay High Court will hear bail pleas of the actress and her brother, Showik Chakraborty on Thursday due to heavy rains in Mumbai. The court was scheduled to hear her plea on Wednesday. Sushant Singh's family had also filed a complaint against Rhea Chakraborty under charges of abetment to suicide and misappropriating funds.

Rhea Chakraborty was arrested on September 9 under various sections of the NDPS Act by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and was described as "an active member of a drug syndicate" by the NCB. Her custody was extended till October 6 yesterday.

The drugs angle in the Sushant Singh case came into public domain when the Enforcement Directorate (ED) made WhatsApp chats between Rhea Chakraborty and the Kwan talent agency manager, Jaya Saha public. In these chats, both the women can be seen discussing drugs.

Also read: Sushant Singh Rajput case: Ordered CBD oil online for Shraddha Kapoor, Jaya Saha tells NCB
Dont want any hot or cold war: Xi Jinping amidst India-China LAC impasse

Chinese President Xi Jinping addressed the United Nations General Assembly amid escalating tensions with India at Ladakh. The Chinese President said that China will never seek hegemony or pursue expansionist policies. Xi added that China has no intention of fighting a hot or a cold war against any country in the world. He added that China is committed to peaceful, open and common development. Addressing the general debate of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly, he said, We will continue to narrow differences and resolve disputes with others through dialogue and negotiation. The statement comes as China is engaged in a tussle at the LAC in Ladakh with Indian forces. The tensions which started with China's efforts to unilaterally change the status quo had also led to a violent faceoff in Galwan valley leading to casualties on both sides. The Chinese President also spoke on the issue of Covid pandemic amid international criticism over China's alleged attempts to conceal details about the outbreak. Watch the full video for all the details. ...read more
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
The UK faces an "unquestionably difficult" winter, Boris Johnson admitted after announcing coronavirus restrictions which could last six months.

The British prime minister set out a package of measures for England, with office staff once again working from home, the wider use of face masks and a 10pm curfew on pubs and restaurants.

He said the new curbs could continue well beyond Christmas and the New Year unless there was progress in controlling the spread of the virus.

He also indicated tougher restrictions could be imposed if they failed.

Mr Johnson used a televised address to plead with the public to follow the new rules, claiming that breaches of previous restrictions by "freedom-loving" Britons had helped the virus return.

The new package of measures - and similar or tougher measures elsewhere in the UK - followed scientists' warnings that the number of cases was doubling every seven days.

Infections

"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 stated to spread again in an exponential way. Infections are up, hospital admissions are climbing," Mr Johnson said.

Businesses will face 10,000 (10,900) fines or closure for failing to comply with coronavirus rules, and people risk 200 penalties for failing to wear masks or breaching the "rule of six".

The military could be used to free up police officers to tackle coronavirus rulebreakers.

Mr Johnson said he was "deeply, spiritually reluctant" to infringe on people's freedoms, but unless action was taken now there would be a need for harsher measures later "when the deaths have already mounted".

If people do not follow the new rules we have set out then "we must reserve the right to go further".

But Mr Johnson finished his televised address with a plea for a "spirit of togetherness", to get the country though the months ahead. "If we follow these simple rules together we will get through this winter together," he said.

"There are unquestionably difficult months to come. The fight against Covid is by no means over. I have no doubt, however, that there are great days ahead."

Mr Johnson set out measures for England in the House of Commons earlier yesterday, but stressed all parts of the UK were united in the need for decisive action.

In Scotland, first minister Nicola Sturgeon went further, imposing a ban on household visits from today.

Mr Johnson said the UK had reached "a perilous turning point" in the face of a second wave of Covid-19 cases.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the UK passed 400,000, with a further 4,926 lab-confirmed cases as of 9am yesterday.

Crisis

The British government said a further 37 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Tuesday.

Labour leader Keir Starmer said families were worried that "the government doesn't have a strategy" and "this is a time of national crisis but we need clear leadership".

Paul Hunter, professor in medicine at the University of East Anglia, said there was a question over whether the measures announced by Mr Johnson would "be sufficient".
Navalnys online posts have charted his slow progress. On Saturday, he said he saw a clear path to recovery, although a long one. Alongside a photo of him walking down a flight of stairs, in the hospital, Navalny described how until recently he had not been able to speak or recognize people. He said the doctor would bring him a board to try to write a word.
Minnesota Democrat Ilhan Omar on Tuesday night issued a strong rebuttal against Donald Trump over comments the president made at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania where he taunted the lawmaker over her Somalian heritage and suggested she was not American.

Speaking to thousands of tightly packed together supporters at Pittsburgh International Airport, many of whom were not wearing face masks, the president suggested Ms Omar, 37, was telling Americans "how to run our country as he attempted to fire up his base in the key swing state ahead of November's election.

In a textbook example of dog-whistle racism, Mr Trump then asked Ms Omar: How is your country doing? Ms Omar, elected to the House of Representatives in 2019, was born in Somalia but was granted asylum in the US as a child. She later gained US citizenship.

Ms Omar, who has been a vocal critic of the Trump administration, was quick to hit back at the president. "Firstly, this is my country & I am a member of the House that impeached you," she wrote in a message posted on Twitter. "Secondly, I fled civil war when I was 8. An 8-year-old doesnt run a country even though you run our country like one."

Mr Trump has repeatedly attacked Ms Omar since her election to office and used inflammatory language to describe refugees and minorities throughout his reelection campaign. At a separate event in Ms Omar's home state of Minnesota on Friday, the president said that if his rival Joe Biden was elected in November he would set off a flood of Somali refugees and others from the worst places on Earth into the state.

In an exclusive interview with The Independent last week, Ms Omar said Trump had used her ethnicity as a lightning rod for his base. I happen to embody multiple marginal identities. Im a woman, Im black, Im a refugee, an immigrant, a Muslim and I wear a hijab," she said. "And all of those are identities that have been vilified by the right... and weaponised by Donald Trump".

Following Ms Omar's comments, the president appeared to endorse a campaign by Judicial Watch to have the congressman investigated by House authorities when he retweeted a link to a petition set up by the organisation.

According to Judicial Watch, "a conservative, non-partisan educational foundation, which promotes transparency, accountability and integrity in government, politics and the law," Ms Omar may have violated US law.

"Substantial and compelling evidence has been uncovered that Rep. Omar may have committed the following crimes: perjury, immigration fraud, marriage fraud, state and federal tax fraud, and federal student loan fraud," Judicial Watch wrote on its website.

Ms Omars team previously told Reuters that she is not under any formal investigation after false media reports claimed that she was facing up to 40 years in prison.

During Tuesday night's rally, the president also attacked his rival Joe Biden for wearing a face mask during the coronavirus pandemic, and praised his old foe, senator Mitt Romney, for voicing his support for moving ahead with replacing the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg before November's election.

The decision means Senate Republicans now have the numbers needed to ensure that the president's pick to succeed Ginsburg will face a confirmation vote.

Trump addresses crowd in Pittsburgh (Getty Images)

Mr Trump, backed by Republicans, said he plans to appoint a female conservative justice, which would decisively tilt the ideological balance of power in the Supreme Court in favour of conservatives.

It would reshape the highest court in the land for a generation and have implications for some of the most important and fiercely contested issues in US law such as reproductive rights, voting rights and tax rules.

The president's visit to Pennsylvania was his fourth in recent weeks. Mr Trump was the first Repiublican since George H.W. Bush in 1988 to carry its electoral votes, which put him in the White House.

Should Mr Biden fail to win the state back then it would narrow his chances of winning November's election; some analysts say the state is a must win for the former vice president.
The New South Wales premier said the state government will offer to pay for Sydney's New Year's Eve fireworks to make sure they go ahead.

The City of Sydney council, the event's organiser, has indicated it is concerned about hosting an event that would draw large crowds to the CBD amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gladys Berejiklian said the fireworks offer 'a glimmer of hope' for the new year.

'The fireworks won't be the same as every other year. The vast majority of us will be watching from home with family and friends,' she told 2GB radio on Thursday morning.

The New South Wales premier said the state government will offer to pay for Sydney's New Year's Eve fireworks to make sure they go ahead

Gladys Berejiklian said the fireworks represent 2021 being a sign of home amid the coronavirus pandemic

Ms Berejiklian said the state government is in talks with health experts, police, different Sydney councils and transport ministers about how to hold a COVID-safe fireworks display.

'We have to be very careful but at the same time I think we're keen to make sure there is some activity that evening although the night will be very different to how we normally celebrate,' she said.

State authorities reportedly accept that the fireworks display is likely to be scaled down.

NSW Tourism Minister Stuart Ayres is due to meet with Lord Mayor Clover Moore on Thursday to discuss the state government's proposal.

Treasurer Dominic Perrottet told the newspaper that the fireworks would send a strong signal that NSW was open for business.

'It's time for Sydney to rise and shine after a very dark year. The traditional fireworks display not only brings joy to so many people, but done well and safely, we will show the world COVID-19 can't extinguish our spirit and optimism.'

Ms Moore has repeatedly told state government officials it's too high a risk to put an event on like previous years.

The City of Sydney council, the event's organiser, has indicated it is concerned about hosting an event that would draw large crowds to the CBD amid the coronavirus pandemic

She suggested the city would still be able to accommodate some revellers, but not to the same degree.

Poll Should Sydney's NYE fireworks go ahead? Yes No Should Sydney's NYE fireworks go ahead? Yes 38 votes

No 54 votes Now share your opinion





'We hope that we have outdoor dining and even indoor dining, slightly more liberal than what we have now, by New Year's Eve,' the Lord Mayor said last week.

The event typically attracts more than one million people into the city to watch the display.

The Lord Mayor is particularly concerned about the logistics of managing massive crowds on the city's public transport during a pandemic.

She said the city could not handle another lockdown.
United Nations, Sep 23 : Beijing has firmly rejected baseless accusations heaped on by the US during the General Debate of the UN General Assembly, and China's UN envoy has said it will exercise its right of reply in accordance with the rules of the assembly to state its solemn position.

"The US noise is incompatible with the general atmosphere of the General Assembly," said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the UN, the Xinhua news agency reported.

"When the international community is going all out to fight Covid-19, the US is spreading political virus. When the international community needs solidarity and cooperation the most, the US is abusing the platform of the United Nations to provoke confrontation and create division.

"When the international community needs a strong UN, the US is weakening the United Nations, the World Health Organization (WHO) and other UN bodies, and undermining the authority and effectiveness of the UN," Zhang said on Tuesday.

"In the past two days, more than 120 leaders, president of the General Assembly, and secretary-general of the United Nations made statements in the august hall of the General Assembly. Overwhelming majority of countries called for efforts to uphold multilateralism, strengthen solidarity and cooperation, and jointly tackle global challenges," he said.

This is unequivocal rejection of unilateralism and bullying practices, which represents the consensus of the international community and the wish of people across the world, Zhang added.

"Lies repeated a thousand times are still lies. US accusations against China are completely baseless and cannot fool anyone," said the envoy.

"China was the first to be hit by the outbreak of Covid-19. China made great efforts and enormous sacrifice in response, and managed to bring the situation under control within a short period of time. China, with an open, transparent, and responsible attitude, has been giving updates and sharing experience with the WHO and other countries from the very beginning and providing active assistance to many countries, including the US," Zhang said.

Noting China's contribution to the fight against the pandemic is highly recognized and commended by the international community, Zhang said what is happening in the US is a "complete failure".

"The US, with the most advanced medical technology and medical system in the world, has more confirmed cases and lost lives than any other country. While other countries that were hit by Covid-19 the same time as the United States have effectively contained the virus, the situation in the US remains unabated. The reason is a thought-provoking one," said the envoy.

In terms of combating climate change and protecting the environment, Zhang said that "China's carbon dioxide emission in 2018 was 45.8 per cent lower than 2005, meeting the emission reduction target two years ahead of schedule." "President Xi announced during his speech that China aims to have CO2 emissions peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060, demonstrating China's strong resolve and commitment and setting a role model for others," Zhang said.

China has earnestly fulfilled its obligations under the Basel Convention, and made positive contributions to global environmental governance, the envoy said.

"In contrast, the US, as the country with the largest cumulative emissions of greenhouse gases in the world, hasn't ratified the Kyoto Protocol and has pulled out of the Paris Agreement. It has also dissociated itself from the global system and arrangement of carbon emissions, seriously hindered the global process of emission reduction and green development," said Zhang.

"At the same time, as the world's largest exporter of solid waste and a major country of per capita plastic consumption, the US refuses to ratify the Basel Convention and has transferred a lot of waste to developing countries. It is clear who wilfully disregards the global environment and the health of people around the world," said the envoy.

Unilateralism, Zhang said, runs against the common views and interests of the international community.

"It is a dead end and leading nowhere. The US provocation of confrontation at the United Nations for its own interests is unpopular and doomed to fail. For the US, the most urgent task is to contain the virus, save lives, and fix its own problems. Some US politicians' attempt of blame-shifting and scapegoating will not get back the time lost or solve any problem. It is time that they wake up from their self-created illusions and fictions," said the envoy.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Henry Cavill, Sam Claflin and Millie Bobby Brown as Sherlock, Mycroft and Enola in a still from Enola Holmes (Netflix)

In Enola Holmes, Netflixs new late-summer blockbuster, Peaky Blinders star Sam Claflin takes on the well-trod role of Mycroft Holmes, the stuffy elder brother of iconic sleuth Sherlock Holmes (Henry Cavill), despite being three years his junior IRL.

However he feels that the disparity in age helped with the on-screen family dynamic, with Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown rounding out the cerebral family as their younger sister.

I felt somewhat ashamed to be cast as Henry Cavills older brother! Claflin tells Yahoo Movies UK. Hes a very handsome man, isnt he? And its amazing working with somebody at the peak of their career. Having Superman and Eleven as my younger siblings made me feel slightly inferior, so that added to the flavour of the character, if anything.

Filmed on location across London in 2019, and launching on Netflix today, Enola Holmes sees the title character investigating the mysterious disappearance of her mother (Helena Bonham Carter). Claflin tells Yahoo it was a joyous set to be on, not least because it gave him plenty of time for Love Island banter with Brown, who took delight in schooling Cavill on the ITV2 reality show.

Sam Claflin attends the "Charlie's Angels" UK Premiere, 2019. (Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)

It was quite a sight to behold, watching Henry get his head around the ins and outs of the latest gossip from Love Island, Claflin says. Ive dabbled a little bit in Love Island  its a bit of a guilty pleasure  so I could keep up with Millie but Henry is so far removed from that world, it was quite funny to watch.

Based on Nancy Springers six-book series, theres plenty of scope for Enola Holmes to become a franchise for Netflix, and Claflin says hes 100% up for returning for more, if only to hang out with with Cavill and Brown again.

Read more: Historical inaccuracy spotted on Enola Holmes poster

The hope is definitely there for me and Ill keep my fingers firmly crossed, he adds.

Read on for our full Q&A with Sam Claflin to learn more about Mycrofts lustrous facial hair, and his approach to playing Mycroft Holmes.

Story continues

Yahoo Movies UK: Had you ever read any of the Arthur Conan Doyle stories, or watched the TV series or movies about Sherlock Holmes?

Sam Claflin: I have to confess, I have seen the Guy Ritchie versions and I have seen snippets of the BBC version, but Ive never ventured back as far as the source material. But I think thats why I loved being a part of this and what drew me to it. I knew it was very different to the other versions, which have been so well received in the main, so it didnt feel like we were re-hashing exactly the same story, the same set up or the same characters. It felt very fresh and I think thats why personally I was so drawn to the project.

With a character like Mycroft Holmes, people feel they know him reasonably well  although not as well as his younger brother. How did it feel to be playing a character like that?

I think you can easily feel quite pressured and anxious about stepping into the shoes filled by so many wonderful actors before me, but having not religiously researched the part or watched every performance of it before, it felt like I was doing my own thing. I never put myself under that much pressure, honestly. I just worked with what was given to me in our version of the story and what anyone else could throw my way.

Watch the Enola Holmes trailer below...

I always try not to copy or imitate, I just try to bring my own stamp to it. I think there was more pressure on Henry [Cavill] stepping into the shoes of Sherlock and hes done a great job. Because this is such a contrasting version of a classic story, it didnt feel like we were doing anything that had been done before.

Mycroft is always supposed to be more intelligent than Sherlock, but we dont see a lot of that in Enola Holmes - was it a deliberate decision to show him in a different light to what we would expect?

Its touched upon, but the truth is in our version of the storyline hes a traditionalist, a man who likes things to continue the way they have been. He doesnt have the foresight that his younger brother and his younger sister have or the progressive nature of their personalities, seeing the world moving forward. Its almost life experience versus intelligence and I think sometimes intelligence doesnt hold you in good stead.

Read more: Sam Claflin: 'I had kids and all of a sudden I started playing villains'

I think we wanted to touch more on the uniqueness of the family set up and how competitive, bitter and jealous Mycroft was of his younger brothers fame and fortune. We focussed more on other aspects of his personality, aside from the intelligence, although we all know the intelligence is there. So it was quite fun exploring that and myself and Henry had the chance to meet before we started filming and work out how and where we were going to be competitive with one another.

Typical brothers competing with each other, then?

A still from Enola Holmes (Netflix)

Exactly. Both Henry and I are from big families with plenty of brothers and a lot of rivalry so we were able to share experiences and bring that to the table, which was a lot of fun.

So what was it like having Henry Cavill as your younger brother, even if only for short time?

I felt somewhat ashamed to be cast as Henry Cavills older brother! Hes a very handsome man, isnt he, and its amazing working with somebody at the peak of their career. Having Superman and Eleven as my younger siblings made me feel slightly inferior, so that added to the flavour of the character, if anything.

Myself and Henry have nearly crossed paths a few times and came close to working together once or twice before, so when you know of someone and you have mutual friends, it feels like youre already friends and family before you get going. Id never worked with anybody who knew Millie so it was a pleasant surprise watching somebody who youve seen on television but heard nothing much about as a person. Seeing her is just amazing. Shes amazing to work with  and for  as a producer, and shes just a boundless ball of energy. Shes just incredible.

One of the Sherlock Holmes regulars that we dont see in Enola Holmes is Doctor Watson and there were times when it seemed that Mycroft was almost fulfilling part of that role as well. Did you feel the same?

Sherlock needs a sidekick, someone to keep him in line and, as the older brother, Mycroft would easily take that role. He is technically the one in charge, or left in charge, so I see what you mean by that, although I hadnt really thought of it in that way until now, but he does fill that void.

You obviously enjoyed working with Millie Bobby Brown. Shes had such a meteoric rise and she must have been the youngest person on the set. Did that mean she gave you a bit of an education in teen culture?

A still from Enola Holmes (Netflix)

She definitely was schooling Henry Cavill on Love Island in the trailer and it was quite a sight to behold, watching Henry get his head around the ins and outs of the latest gossip from Love Island. Ive dabbled a little bit in Love Island  its a bit of a guilty pleasure  so I could keep up with Millie but Henry is so far removed from that world, it was quite funny to watch.

So you were being the big brother and you were ahead of him again, werent you?

(Laughs) Yes, I did the research just so that I could chat to Millie! We shared stories and basically filled our days just trying to make each other laugh. It genuinely felt like we were family and wed known each other for years, and when youre coming in quite late to a project like this and feeling unprepared, its amazing to work with people who are very similar to yourself and approach the work very similarly.

You said you came to the project late. Does that mean somebody else was cast in the role and then it didnt happen?

An Enola Holmes character poster for Sam Claflin's Mycroft Holmes. (Netflix)

I wasnt too late. I was away, I was abroad finishing something else so for me it felt like I was coming to it very late because I didnt have a huge amount of time to prepare, like being able to sit with the script and do a bit of research into the time and the place and the people that I was rubbing shoulders with and learning about Mycrofts political leanings. That was quite eye opening.

You do sport a very splendid moustache in the film. Was it all your own work?

It didnt start as all my own, but by the end it definitely was. Because I was finishing something else, I had a bit of stubble and they wanted me to have a moustache because we knew that Sherlock was going to be clean and beautiful.

Read more: Sam Claflin praises Line of Duty

They decided to dress me up! I didnt have time to grow it fully before we started filming so they added some extra hair to begin with, but by the end of the shoot it was all me, all my growth.

Thats impressive, although there were times on Instagram this summer when you were sporting quite a lot of facial hair.

(Laughs) That was not my choice! It was for another job that I was about to start filming and the whole pandemic started and I came home and the production team told me they werent sure when we were going to start filming again, so if I could just grow my hair and my facial hair... That was when we thought we were going to come back at some point soon, but when things werent looking any clearer, they said they werent going to re-start until early next year, so I was free to shave my face, and I thought thank gosh! There was a huge sigh of relief. Id eaten more of my facial hair than I had food by the time I shaved it off.

The film is great fun to watch. Was is just as much fun for you to make it?

A still from Enola Holmes (Netflix)

Yes. You always look up to the people at the top, and we had Harry Bradbeer [director] and Millie Bobby Brown showing us the way and when youve got two very fun, energetic and happy faces staring you in the face every day, its hard not to have that same positive feeling. So it was a joyous set to be on and a great group of people who were very hard working but at the same time were able to have a lot of fun. One of the reasons why I love doing these types of films, even when youre having to portray a more villainous character, is that its always the more enjoyable knowing theres this positive atmosphere every day. It makes it easier to go to work.

So does that mean youd be up for doing a sequel  or maybe more than one, because theres six books in the series?

Yes. Its only something I learned about after I got involved, but Id 100% be up for taking this on to the next stage. It was such a joy to be part of and I loved working closely with Henry, I loved working with Harry, I loved working with Millie. The hope is definitely there for me and Ill keep my fingers firmly crossed.

Actor Sam Claflin poses for portraits for the film The Nightingale, at the 75th edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP)

As long as people enjoy it and I think that Netflix is an amazing home for it as a film because I think that usually it means that more eyes will get to it and thats whats important to me. I want people to enjoy the work that I make.

So you think a sequel could be on the cards?

Its hard to know. Its not my decision, unfortunately, although I wish it was sometimes. But its out of my hands. Id definitely be interested in rocking the moustache for a follow up.

When we last spoke, which was about a year ago, youd just heard that you were going to be starring alongside Casey Affleck in You Belong To Me. Thats all been filmed, so have you any idea when were likely to see that?

08 February 2019, Berlin: 69th Berlinale: Casey Affleck, US actor and director, waves during the photo call to the film "Light of My Life". The film starts in the Panorama section. Photo: Jens Kalaene/dpa (Photo by Jens Kalaene/picture alliance via Getty Images)

I have absolutely no idea when well see it  Id love to see it as well. We finished filming at the end of January and Im hugely proud of the piece. I loved working with Casey, whos a huge talent, and Michelle Monaghan... Im very excited for the project and I hope it will be as well received as it could be. Fingers crossed its soon. Im not sure how much I can tell you about it, but what I can say is that its almost a modern day Cape Fear type of thriller

Enola Holmes is streaming exclusively on Netflix now.
The Perspective

Atlanta, Georgia

September 22, 2020



No doubt, corruption remains a virulent enemy of the Liberian state. Lamentably, it is only getting worse with no end in sight. Thus, any effort to attack and possibly minimize corruption is a welcome gesture. However, to win, an attacker must fight on several grounds, not the least of which are cause, moral and ethical conviction/standing, integrity, and indefatigable determination. In the absence of any of these and similar ingredients for a just and fierce fight detracts from the cause and calls into question, the attackers motives. It is in this light that one wonders about the September 16, 2020, National Anti-Corruption Conference.



In brief, the conference and its organizers aptly called for not only minimizing or preferably eliminating corruption but also pursuing people who have robbed the country of its meager resources. It was said government needed to ensure that these peoples booties were returned in addition to prosecuting them. Indeed, this is a major step toward addressing corruption but how do people making these pronouncements respond to charges of corruption levied against them. Of course, denial is the usual trend in such action but were they to be found guilty, will they return their stolen assets? Will they return to the Liberian people their mighty edifices? Anything short of that will render the conference another evidence of mockery, deception, hypocrisy, and an exercise in futility.



The integrity and validity of the conference are further called to question in light of its chairman. In the same way, a hen does not ask a hawk to look after her chicks, an anti-corruption conference must not be chaired by a product of corruption, a man disgraced and debarred. Thus, the chairmanship of the conference implicitly and explicitly showed the governments unwillingness to tackle corruption seriously. In short, then, the conference was another display of outward show, an opportunity to waste taxpayers money, and a chance to fill the airwaves with muddle-headed sloganeering.




A guild of developers and real estate professionals have proposed to reclaim several islands lying in the sea between Lantau Island and Macau to augment the Hong Kong governments HK$624 billion (US$80 billion) Lantau Tomorrow reclamation project for alleviating the citys land shortage.

The proposal by the 229-member Hong Kong Real Property Federation (HKRPF), would reclaim 60 square kilometres of land on three sets of islands around Guishan, and free up the equivalent of 500 hectares of land in Hong Kong for housing 800,000 residents, according to a proposal unveiled on Monday. The plan may be handed over to city authorities, as well as the government in the Guangdong provincial city of Zhuhai, under which Guishan is administered.

The Guishan proposal, to be implemented in three phases until 2049, is the most ambitious plan to untie the Gordian knot of housing affordability in the worlds most expensive urban centre ever since Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor signed off on the Lantau Tomorrow Vision last year. Unlike the Lantau project that falls completely under Hong Kongs jurisdiction, the Guishan plan sets a more ambitious goal by combining land under the administrative authority of Zhuhai with the needs of Hong Kong.

Get the latest insights and analysis from our Global Impact newsletter on the big stories originating in China.

By reclaiming land and allocating it in a reasonable manner, the per-capita living area will be increased by 25 to 85 per cent compared to the current situation in Hong Kong, the HKRPFs vice-president Victor Sung said on Monday. A substantial improvement in living space would not lead to an increase in mortgage stress.

A map showing the location of Guishan Island relative to Hong Kong, Macau and Zhuhai

If the Guishan plan comes to fruition, it would also be an example of how joint projects can be undertaken under the auspices of the Greater Bay Area (GBA) master plan, giving a boost to the ambition to develop the cluster of 11 cities in southern China  including Hong Kong and Macau  into one of the worlds most important metropolises.

Story continues

The HKRPFs members include the Guangzhou developer Yuexiu Property (HK) Company, China Overseas Land & Investment, Hong Kong-based developer K. Wah International Holdings, Shun Tak Development and the accounting firms Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu and KPMG.

The first phase, to be carried out between 2021 and 2030, will comprise a neighbourhood for pensioners, correctional facilities and container terminals in an area covering 20 square kilometres on Guishan, according to the plan. The relocation of prisons including drug rehabilitation centres from Hong Kong is expected to free up 120 hectares of urban land, while that of the container terminal can free up 380 hectares, according to the projects vision.

The second phase from 2031 until 2040 will reclaim 20 square kilometres on Dazhuzhou and Xiaozhuzhou islands to accommodate up to 200,000 residents in the cultural, creative and education industries. The third phase from 2041 until 2049 will reclaim 30 square kilometres of land around Qingzhou, Sanjiaoshan Island west of Guishan to house 300,000 residents in future industries including green construction, and energy-saving technology, the plan said.

A 5-kilometre bridge or undersea tunnel will be built to connect southern Lantau Island with Guishan within five years, before the container terminal is relocated from Hong Kongs Kwai Chung area to the outer island, according to the HKRPFs vice-president and research centre chairman Hui Ching.

The reclamation can accommodate as many as 280,000 homes and generate 500,000 jobs in nine industries, where each resident can enjoy between 200 square feet and up to 300 square feet of living space, according to the plan.

That would be welcomed news for Hong Kong residents, where a 600-sq ft subsidised Green Form flat costs HK$3 million, while a same-size unit under the governments Home Ownership Scheme costs HK$4.5 million, and a Starter Home costs HK$6 million.

While the federation declined to estimate the total cost of the Guishan project, Hui said reclamation work in mainland China seldom exceeds 30 per cent of the cost in Hong Kong, where sky-high real estate prices have contributed to higher costs in everything from material to labour. The cities of the GBA could establish a Guishan Island Investment Fund to finance the construction and development of the project, taking a page out of the financing playbook of Singapores Temasek Holdings and the Norwegian governments sovereign wealth find, said Derrick Yip, vice-chairman of the HKRFPs executive board. As Guishan currently comes under Zhuhais jurisdiction, its government could invest in the fund with land.

The fund could be listed locally, domestically or overseas, as a long-term investment product for institutions, enterprises and individuals. It could be used to promote the diversification of the local financial and securities markets. By allowing local securities trading, the island could provide investors with more funds, bonds and various fixed-income products in addition to public offerings and stocks.

For now, Guishan remains a plan on paper. Myriad practical, administrative and legal questions, and bureaucratic hurdles have to be overcome before the 11 cities of the GBA  covering three different political, currency, regulatory and administrative systems between China, Hong Kong and Macau  can become united under one single jurisdiction.

It is not feasible, said Albert Luk, a city barrister. We cannot send [Hong Kongs] police officers to execute [Hong Kong law] in the GBA, which creates a problem on a daily basis, he said.

Hong Kong practises the common law, which is not compatible with continental law practised on the mainland, so if someone violates the law, how to bring him to justice is a practical and real issue, with no court in place, Luk said. I cannot see a concrete proposal now.

More from South China Morning Post:

This article Developers eye Guishan Islands reclamation to augment Lantau plan in easing Hong Kongs land woes in test for Greater Bay Area first appeared on South China Morning Post

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New research from UBC Okanagan shows that salvage logging on land damaged by wildfires has negative impacts on a variety of animals.

While post-fire salvage logging is used to mitigate economic losses following wildfire, Karen Hodges, a biology professor in the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science, says the compounded effects of wildfire and post-fire salvage logging are more severe than what wildlife experience from fire alone.

Wildfires have been increasing in prevalence and severity in recent decades, Hodges says, and salvaging trees after a fire is a common practice. However, the scale and intensity of post-fire logging removes important regenerating habitat for a variety of forest species.

"When trees are removed from a newly burned landscape, birds and mammals lose the last remnants of habitat," she adds. "Salvage logging decreases forest biodiversity and changes ecological processes of post-fire forest regeneration. Mosaics of regenerating forest are changed through the removal of standing and downed trees, which would naturally remain on the landscape following fire."

Hodges notes while BC's logging industry is heavily regulated, harvesting differs between normal harvests and post-fire logging. More frequent wildfires mean an increase in post-fire salvage logging.

"Salvage logging is often done urgently as harvesters attempt to get burned timber to market before the wood deteriorates," she says. "Salvage logging is also done at larger scales and intensities than a standard harvest. This post-fire harvest means wildlife species that can manage after a wildfire do not rebound as quickly from this second disturbance."

The research led by master's student Angelina Kelly studied populations of snowshoe hares and red squirrels in post-fire and salvage-logged areas of the Chilcotin--an area severely impacted by wildfires in 2010 and 2017. Hares and squirrels are important species because predators such as coyote, bobcats, marten, lynx, goshawks and great horned owls rely on them to survive.

"The main concern of a snowshoe hare is to avoid predators. Hares select stands with protective vegetation cover and avoid open areas like clearcuts--even if those areas provide food," says Kelly. "Because of their need for vegetative cover, snowshoe hare populations decrease immediately following fires, clearcut logging or salvage logging."

Their study area, about 32,000 hectares on the eastern edge of the Chilcotin Plateau, was ravaged by wildfire in 2017. While looking for evidence of hares and squirrels, the researchers also conducted vegetation surveys to quantify important habitat attributes in mature forests, burned forest and areas where salvage logging had taken place.

"Post-fire salvage logging greatly changed the habitat structure of post-fire stands, removing vegetative cover and rendering those sites unsuitable for hares and red squirrels," says Kelly. "The post-fire salvage-logged areas supported no hares or red squirrels for at least eight to nine years after the initial wildfire. Burn areas where no post-fire harvesting took place supported low densities of hares and red squirrels by that time."

This loss of prey species contributes to declines in forest predators such as lynx, marten and owls, as Hodges and her team have documented in this region and other studies.

Hodges and Kelly stress that any trees or vegetation left after a wildfire are critical for wildlife immediately after a fire, and promote a healthy mosaic of post-fire habitat. Residual trees facilitate regeneration of burned areas, while also supporting wildlife.

###

Their research was published recently in Forest Ecology and Management, and was funded by grants from the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.
We are thrilled to be able to bring our MUV line to Canada. Canadian consumers are sophisticated and well versed on whats available, and we know our products will stand out among the best.

Alternative Medical Enterprises, LLC is teaming up with Canadas premier medicinal cannabis producer, Atlas Growers Ltd. to bring AltMeds MUV product formats to Canadians under the Atlas Thrive banner. Atlas Growers has finalized a distribution deal with the largest pharmacy chain in Canada, Shoppers Drug Mart, which has more than 1,300 stores nationwide.

Atlas Thrive  Powered by MUV will roll out across Canada in Q4 with a variety of product formats including transdermal patches, transdermal gels, tinctures and capsules all using the patented EnCaps technology which delivers more effective, faster-acting and longer-lasting effects for patients.

According to Statistics Canada, as of July 2019, Canadas cannabis sector contributed $8.26 billion to the countrys gross domestic product. Two years ago, Canada became only the second country in the world to legalize adult use of cannabis.

We are thrilled to be able to bring our MUV line to Canada, said Mike Smullen, Chairman and CEO of AltMed Enterprises. Canada is a mature market with medical cannabis first legalized in 2001 and adult use recreational in 2018. Canadian consumers are sophisticated and well versed on whats available, and we know our products will stand out among the best.

Sheldon Croome, Atlas President & CEO, noted, We are proud to be partnering with a company like AltMed, a leading medical cannabis company in the US, whose values align with those of Atlas. As a medicinal cannabis producer, we are focused on providing patients with consistent, predictable and effective products and by introducing new smoke-free delivery methods our aim is to offer products that take all aspects of health into consideration to improve the lives of Canadian medical patients.

AltMeds MUV EnCaps products are for patients who prioritize a smoke-free delivery method that is both long-lasting and fast-acting. The EnCaps process makes cannabinoids water-soluble and therefore more readily absorbed within the body. This dramatically improves both onset time and overall bioavailability, creating a more effective product.

Atlas Thrive  Powered by MUV is expected to be rolled out in Shoppers Drug Mart and other cannabis stores across Canada starting in Q4, 2020.

About AltMed Enterprises - Alternative Medical Enterprises, LLC, headquartered in Sarasota, FL and doing business as AltMed Enterprises, is a fully integrated medical cannabis company that brings compassion, community engagement and pharmaceutical industry precision to the development, production and dispensing of medical cannabinoids.

About MUV - The MUV brand of medical cannabis infused products was launched in Arizona in 2016 and quickly gained international attention and recognition. MUV Dispensary by AltMed Florida was formed a year later through the partnership of AltMed Enterprises and Plants of Ruskin, a multi-generational Florida agricultural leader. Through continual research and development, MUV has received multiple patents for the award-winning MUV Products line that provides quality, consistent and reliable medical cannabis products to patients at all 26 locations (one in Arizona muv-az.com, 25 in Florida muvfl.com, and more added each month). Patients are encouraged to place reservations online at muvfl.com for in-store pickup, order for delivery, or visit any one of the 26 MUV Dispensaries for alternative medical cannabis medicine you can trust.

About Atlas Biotechnologies Inc. (Atlas) and Atlas Growers, LTD. - Atlas is based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Atlas Growers Ltd. & Atlas Thrive, is federally licensed for cultivation and production of cannabis products, with a focus on medical use markets. Atlas currently operates a purpose-built 38,000 square foot laboratory where it expects to produce 5,500 kg of dried cannabis annually and also has in-house capacity to refine cannabis into pure, isolated cannabinoid concentrates as well as specialized medical formulations in large volumes. Short-term plans include expanding extraction operations to 200,000 kg annual capacity.

Forward-Looking Statements - To the extent any statements made in this press release contain information that is not historical, these statements are forward-looking in nature and merely express our beliefs, expectations or opinions. For example, words such as may, should, estimates, predicts, continues, believes, anticipates, plans, expects, intends, potential, strategy and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on current expectations or estimates and involve a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to these differences include, but are not limited to, the following: (i) our ability to implement our business strategy of distributing high quality cannabis products where permissible under applicable law; (ii) availability and cost of additional capital; (iii) our ability to attract, retain and motivate qualified employees and management; (iv) the impact of federal, state or local government regulations; (v) competition in the cannabis industry; (vi) our ability to generate revenues; and (vii) litigation in connection with our business. All forward-looking statements included in this press release and attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are qualified by this cautionary statement. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and, except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, regardless of whether new information becomes available, future developments occur or otherwise.
As states nationwide prepare their polling places for a presidential election during a pandemic, many in Texas, including San Antonio, are left wondering: Will you have to risk your health to cast a ballot if you cant vote by mail?

With the continuing threat of COVID-19, there are new questions about how the 2020 elections will work. Who qualifies for mail-in ballots, if thats what you want to do? Is not wanting to catch the highly contagious virus a legitimate reason to vote by mail instead of in person?

And if youd rather vote in person because youre not sure a mail-in ballot is tamper-proof or that it will get to the elections office in time, are there safe options for voting in person?

Not to worry. We have answers to your questions.

Am I qualified to vote?

To vote in Texas, you need to be at least 18, a resident of Texas and a U.S. citizen. You also need to be registered by the deadline. The deadline for the November election is Oct. 5. You may have registered in the past; you can check the Texas Secretary of State website at votetexas.gov/register to see whether youre ready to vote. Youll need your name, street address and county.

The site also offers options to check by voter ID, if you still have the registration card mailed to your home when you first registered to vote.

If the information on the registration is wrong, or youve moved since you last voted, you can update the information on the same website. If youve never registered, you can register there, too. For any of those options, youll need your Texas drivers license and current street address.

You also can register with an official voter registrar at one of the many drives now underway.

Can I vote by mail?

Also known as an absentee ballot, the mail-in ballot is often preferred by many. You can request one by mail and the ballot is sent to you, where you can fill it out in the safety of your own home and drop it in your mailbox or even at the Bexar County Elections Administration Office, 1103 S. Frio St. if you want to put it directly in the hands of the vote counters.

Many people are looking at this way of voting, especially since Texas is the only state that exempts workers and voters in polling places from wearing masks, which has raised the fear level of catching the novel coronavirus at those often crowded places.

However, theres a catch.

Unlike other states, you cant just apply for a ballot by mail without a reason. In Texas, you have to be in one of these unique situations:

You are sick or disabled and unable to go to a polling place.

You are 65 or older on Election Day.

You are in jail, but have not been convicted of a crime yet.

You will be out of the county at the time of early voting AND Election Day; for example, youre a college student in another state or youre traveling for business.

Is fear of the virus a qualifying reason?

Earlier this year, the Texas Secretary of State clarified that the disability qualifications mean a sickness or physical condition that prevents the voter from appearing at the polling place on election day without a likelihood of needing personal assistance or of injuring the voters health.

And the Texas Supreme Court confirmed that elections workers do not have the legal authority to ask you to explain your disability when checking off that box on the form.

The reason theres a lot more people voting by mail now is not because there are more people with disabilities, said Grace Chimene, president of the League of Women Voters of Texas. Its that people with disabilities want to avoid getting COVID, and they would prefer not to stand in line with people who might have coronavirus.

Voting rights advocates are pushing to expand mail-in voting to a large swath of Texas population to mitigate the long lines seen in some states during the runoff and primary elections earlier this year.

How do I apply for mail-in voting?

Once youre registered to vote, you can get your application for a mail-in ballot from the Texas Secretary of State website, sos.texas.gov/elections/. Its also available as a form you can fill out on your computer at the Bexar County Elections Administration website, bexar.org/elections

You could also just print if from your computer and fill it out by hand. Either way, once its filled out, it needs to go to your local county clerks office; if you live in Bexar County, send it to: Early Voting Clerk; 1103 S. Frio, Suite 200; San Antonio, TX. 78207-6328.

If you dont have access to a computer, you can also get the application at the Elections Office, 1103 S. Frio.

And the county is mailing applications to all county residents who are 65 and older. The Texas Democratic Party has also sent out 815,000 mail-in ballot applications to voters this summer, including in Bexar County. Plus many candidates sent out the applications, too.

The deadline to return the application this year is Oct. 23, but the U.S. Post Office is encouraging everyone to send them in as early as possible because theyre anticipating a large number of people are going to vote by mail across the country.

What is the voting deadline?

To be counted, your filled-out ballot needs to be postmarked by 7 p.m. on Election Day and arrive by 5 p.m. the day after. Note that if someone helps you fill out the form, they have to sign an affirmation statement on the ballot.

Voters who are worried can contact their local election administrator to confirm where their application, or ballot, is in the pipeline.

Is stealing or faking mail-in ballots a problem?

Voter fraud is not as big a concern as some would think. Ballots are tied directly to each individual registered with the state of Texas to vote.

If youre worried about somebody tampering with a ballot in the mail, though, you can just drop it off at the Elections Office, 1103 S. Frio.

Or  you can just vote in person.

What are other voting options?

If youre registered to vote by mail but change your mind before you receive the ballot, you can switch to in-person voting by going to the Secretary of States website and changing your registration there.

If you already have your ballot or waited too long and are afraid it might not get to the Elections Office in time if you drop it in the mail, you can take it to the Bexar County Elections Administration Office at 1103 S. Frio and drop it off there.

But youre the only person allowed to drop off your sealed envelope with the ballot at the Elections Office  unless somebody helped you fill out the ballot. In that case, the person who signed off on it is the one who must drop it off. Thats so poll workers can confirm the ID matches the voter ballot.

What about early voting?

Many people will opt for early voting because there are likely to be fewer people waiting in line, reducing wait times and allowing for better social distancing, especially since early voting has been extended a week.

For the Nov. 3 election, early voting is Tuesday, Oct. 13, to Friday, Oct. 30. And for the last week, Monday, Oct. 26, to Friday, Oct. 30, most sites will be open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

There will be more than 40 places to cast ballots, including megacenters where there will be plenty of space for social distancing, including the AT&T Center.

For a list, go to the Bexar County Elections website, bexar.org/elections.
Shares in Whitbread slammed into reverse as the staycation boom and Eat Out to Help Out scheme failed to stop a slump in bookings during the pandemic.

Its chief executive Alison Brittain plans to lay off up to 6,000 staff from its 35,000-strong workforce as it battles to survive the crisis. Many employees will have their hours cut.

Six months of Covid hammered Whitbread during its first half, which runs from April to August.

Empty rooms: Premier Inn owner Whitbread plans to lay off up to 6,000 staff from its 35,000-strong workforce as it battles to survive the crisis. Many employees will have their hours cut

The shares fell 2.8 per cent, or 60p, to 2049p as hotel sales plunged 77 per cent compared with the same period in 2019, while food and drink sales at restaurants dived 76 per cent.

Things got better in August, with the Eat Out to Help Out scheme boosting takings.

And hotels near seaside and tourist hotspots were up to 80 per cent full.

Bookings are now running at about 40 per cent below last years levels but London and other cities are still behind the curve and could keep struggling because of the sharp drop in business travel.

The announcement on jobs comes ahead of the end of the Governments furlough, which is supporting around 27,000 Whitbread staff and ends next month.

Cuts are also looming at pub chain JD Wetherspoon, which said yesterday up to 450 people working at its pubs at airports, including Glasgow, Heathrow and Gatwick, could lose their jobs.

Stock Watch - Sigma Capital Property developer Sigma Capital was one of the top risers on AIM after it struck a 1billion deal to build 3,000 rental homes with EQT Real Estate. The build-to-rent homes will be based in London transport zones three to six, and will be completed in at least five years time. They are expected to be worth in excess of 1billion, Sigma said. Shares in the group, which has built 4,200 rental homes over the last five years, rose 16.8 per cent, or 16.5p, to 114.5p.

Its outspoken chairman Tim Martin slammed the 10pm closing time curfew for pubs as a PR stunt by the Government. Shares rose 1.4 per cent, or 11p, to 785p.

The FTSE 100 eked out a small gain  rising 0.4 per cent, or 25.17 points, to 5829.46  following its worst day in three months on Monday.

It was boosted by cigarette makers British American Tobacco and Imperial Brands, whose shares lit up after brokers at RBC Capital Markets upgraded the rivals from sector perform to outperform.

According to analysts, the pair should buy back shares because institutional investors are less likely to now, given the emphasis on ethical investing.

They reckon BAT, which rose 4.1 per cent, or 108p, to 2733p, could buy back its current market value within nine years and Imperial, which climbed 3.2 per cent, or 43p, to 1384p, in seven.

The FTSE 250, which is more exposed to events in the UK and has reacted more strongly to Britains new Covid restrictions, fell 0.3 per cent, or 49.12 points, to 16,821.66.

Investors in insurance companies headed for the exit after regulators pledged to ban them from offering better deals to new customers, thereby charging existing customers more for home and car cover.

The Financial Conduct Authoritys move, which interim boss Chris Woolard described as the most radical shake-up of the general insurance industry in years, could save customers up to 3.7billion over the next decade.

Direct Line fell 7.3 per cent, or 22.1p, to 279.3p, Admiral was down 2.7 per cent, or 75p, to 2700p, Aviva by 1.1 per cent, or 3p, to 279.3p and Go Compare comparison site owner GoCo dipped 3.6 per cent, or 4p, to 107p.

Sabre fell 1.2 per cent, or 3p, to 254p, despite Barclays saying it is not likely to be hit by the decision.

Beazley tumbled even further, closing 14.1 per cent lower, down 54.8p, to 335.2p, after it doubled the amount of cash it has earmarked for Covid-related claims from 133million to 266million. It said there had been a rise in claims on events cancellation cover.

Event cancellations also hit financial news publisher and conference organiser Euromoney (down 0.9 per cent, or 7p, to 794p).

The group, which has had to move many of its events online, believes annual profits will be above expectations.

But it is planning another round of cost-cutting.
Barack Obama's presidential memoir is wrapped in controversy two months before it even hits bookstores.

Photographer Anna Wilding is planning to sue publishers Penguin Random House, claiming the image they have chosen for the cover of 'A Promised Land' is a rip-off of her work.

Now New Zealand-born Wilding wants at least $50,000 for the picture  even though she didn't take it.

'Photo copyright is a complex issue and infringement includes derivative works,' Wilding told DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview from her adopted hometown of Los Angeles.

'My work of Obama is considered iconic and unique. Someone saw my work and said let's do it like that. No-one else has ever used this particular angle with Obama and shot it in black and white,' she said.

'Why did they not just do a forward-facing photo like they usually do of him?' she added. 'It's an infringement on my rights, my work, my style  my black and white style.'

Photographer Anna Wilding plans to sue publishers Penguin Random House, claiming the book cover of Barack Obama's memoir is a rip-off of her work

The New Zealand-born photographer is seeking at least $50,000 for the picture - even though she didn't actually take the photo

Wilding took the photo above and claims the book cover is a rip-off of her work. Wilding covered Obama from 2015 to 2017 and was one of a handful of photographers working full-time at the White House

Wilding went further in a post on her LinkedIn page, calling the book cover 'stolen, copied, manipulated, reproduced without permission.'

Penguin Random House deny they have done anything wrong with the cover picture.

'The portrait of President Obama on the cover of A Promised Land is an original photograph taken by Pari Dukovic,' executive publicist Carisa Hays told DailyMail.com.

'We are confident our cover photograph does not infringe any copyrights.'

Wilding worked for two years in the Obama White House as a photographer and correspondent and received critical acclaim for the way she photographed the first black president.

She published a coffee table book of Obama pictures called Celebrate Hope in 2019. That book was based on an exhibition of her work that ran for months in California.

Now though the exhibition has had to be canceled due to COVID restrictions. 'I am struggling, like many photographers and filmmakers to pay rent,' she told DailyMail.com. 'I need to be paid for my work and any infringements.

'I have a legitimate and provable claim and it is upsetting when photographers unique and original works are diminished. This is my iconic and published work from my well-known exhibit,' she added.

Wilding has been very vocal about her plight on social media. She told DailyMail.com, 'I am struggling, like many photographers and filmmakers to pay rent. I need to be paid for my work and any infringements'

Wilding said she would have been honored to provide a picture for the cover as she has nothing but respect for the 44th president. But instead, she claimed, the publishers took her style of work and ran with it

'The portrait of President Obama on the cover of A Promised Land is an original photograph taken by Pari Dukovic,' executive told DailyMail.com. Photographer Pari Dukovic is pictured

Obama's memoir is due to be published on November 17.

The blurb for the book, published by Crown, a subsidiary of Penguin Random House, says it is 'extraordinarily intimate and introspective.  the story of one man's bet with history, the faith of a community organizer tested on the world stage.'

Wilding covered Obama from 2015 to 2017. She was one of a handful of photographers working full-time at the White House.

She says her work is different to the others as they were mainly news photographers, while she considers her work more artistic.

And Wilding said she would have been honored to provide a picture for the cover as she has nothing but respect for the 44th president.

But instead, she claimed, the publishers took her style of work and ran with it  and now they should pay.

Photographer Pari Dukovic posted to Instagram to say that he is 'honored' to have photographed Obama for the cover

'I shoot the moments in between,' she said. 'We all put up a barrier and I like to strip that away and bring out the humanity of the subject.'

She likened her lawsuit to one brought against Netflix and the producers of the hit show Stranger Things.

Part of that lawsuit claimed the show used 'copyrighted concept art' from another screenplay. That case is currently before a federal court in California.

Wilding says she hopes Penguin will see the merit of her case and settle with her before she has to take it to court.

'Copyright covers derivative work,' said Wilding. 'I believe there is clear copyright infringement and I am working with a specialist lawyer on that goal.'
Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State has ordered the hunt for killers of Bulus Janka, the traditional ruler murdered in Barkin Ladi local government area of the state on Monday.

The community leader was killed by unknown gunmen at his residence at Rasat in Foron District.

While the killers are yet to be nabbed, residents have clamoured for the beef-up of security in the state with the growing cases of attacks.

Istifanus Gyang, the senator representing Plateau North, had earlier on Wednesday described the assassination of Mr Janka as inhuman, barbaric and devilish.

Mr Gyang called on the government and security agencies to fish out the perpetrators for prompt prosecution.

Meanwhile, in a statement signed by Makut Macham, his spokesperson, Governor Lalong assured that the killers of the traditional ruler will be apprehended and dealt with accordingly.

Governor Lalong expressed anger over the killing of the traditional ruler, saying the murderers will not be allowed to go unpunished as security agencies in collaboration with local intelligence have launched a thorough investigation to arrest the perpetrators and their collaborators.

He said, having been briefed by heads of security agencies he has repeatedly charged that the days of unknown gunmen are over in Plateau State.

Innocent people cannot be killed without anybody being apprehended and put to trial. We are using the concept of community policing to dig into this particular case and see to it that the criminals are arrested. If we do not do so, more criminals will be bold to attack and kill our citizens.

The governor urged the citizens to intensify vigilance against criminals who are bent on rupturing the peace of the state at all costs, assuring that they will not be allowed to succeed.

He, however, sympathised with the family of the royal father, the people of Barkin Ladi as well as the entire state over the unfortunate incident.
In its autumn forecast, the IFO said that Germanys annual average economic output will contract by 5.2% this year. Photo: Jens Buttner/picture alliance via Getty Images

The coronavirus pandemic plunged the global economy into a deep recession in the first half of 2020, and Europes largest economy was no exception. Germany experienced its worst recession in post-war history, with GDP sinking 2% in the first quarter and 9.7% in the second quarter.

The IFO Institute for Economic Research, one of Germanys leading economic think tanks, noted in its forecast on Tuesday that Germanys recession was milder than in other countries. It said this was due to the fact that Germany was able to get the spread of the pandemic under control with less restrictive measures than other countries. Industrial production, which is important for the economy, was less affected by lockdown measures, the IFO said.

Germanys annual average economic output will contract by 5.2% this year, a slight improvement on -6.7% predicted earlier, according to the forecast.

Watch: What is a recession?

The decline in the second quarter and the recovery are currently more favourable than we had expected, IFO economic director Timo Wollmershauser said in a statement.

Wollmershauser noted that there is a high level of uncertainty in the forecasts because nobody knows how the coronavirus pandemic will continue, whether there might not be a hard Brexit after all and whether the trade wars will be settled.

READ MORE: German industry warns of huge hit to car sector if UK and EU don't reach trade deal

The German economy contracted by 9.7% in the second quarter of 2020, compared with the same period in 2019, as coronavirus lockdowns drove economic activity to a record quarterly low.

Economy minister Peter Altmaier said on 1 September that the government expects a decline of 5.8% for this year, compared with its April forecast of a 6.3% contraction in 2020. That puts the 2020 economic output almost on par with the 5.7% GDP contraction in 2009, at the height of the financial crisis.

Watch: What is a V-shaped economic recovery?

READ MORE: German investor morale brightens in September

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For 2021, however, the IFO expects growth of 5.1% instead of the 6.4% predicted earlier. The recovery will continue in 2022, with GDP forecast to grow at a rate of 1.7%, IFO researchers said.

The institute expects unemployment levels in Germany to rise from around 2.3 million last year to 2.7 million this year. For 2021, it forecasts a slight decrease to 2.6 million and then to 2.5 million in 2022.

The 2019 state surplus will plunge to -170.6bn (-156bn, -$200bn) this year, due to the governments massive spending on stimulus measures, and a dramatic drop in revenues. The IFO notes that in 2021 the deficit will hit 86.9bn, and sit at about 68bn in 2022.
A senior spokesman for the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces says Iran plans to fortify Syria's air defense.

Speaking to the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC)-linked Fars news agency, Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi said on Tuesday, September 22 that Syria made the request during the recent visit of the Chief of General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, IRGC Major General Mohammad Baqeri, to Damascus, and as a result, "we have a contract with the Syrian government."

Shekarchi stopped short of going into the details of the contract.

Baqeri visited Syria on July 9, during which Tehran and Damascus signed a memorandum of understanding of "technical and military cooperation" at the time.

The plan to strengthen the air defenses of Syria, a war-torn country, comes as Israel has launched hundreds of airstrikes in recent years targeting Iranian forces, Syrian government positions, and their allied militias.

Over the past two years, the Syrian air defense has failed against most of these attacks.

According to Israeli government officials, the attacks show the country's "firm stance" against Iran's presence in Syria, and are aimed at exerting pressure to push out Iranian forces and its militia allies from Syria.

Israeli officials have repeatedly accused Tehran of seeking a military stronghold in Syria to threaten their country.

Meanwhile, Shekarchi claimed that Iran had provided Houthi Yemenis with the experience and know-how in the defense sector, including "technology in the defense sphere, as they have learned how to produce missiles, drones, and weapons in Yemen by themselves," he said, adding, "We have shared our experience and knowledge with the people of Yemen."

Shekarchi's remarks come a day after the U.S. government announced that it had activated the "trigger mechanism" to extend the International arms embargo against the clergy-dominated Iran.

The United States last week sanctioned more than two dozen people and entities involved in Iran's nuclear, missile, and conventional arms programs, a senior U.S. official said, the effects of U.N. sanctions on Tehran that Washington argues have resumed despite the opposition of allies and adversaries.

In an exclusive report, Reuters said on Monday, "The new sanctions fit into U.S. President Donald Trump's effort to limit Iran's regional influence and come a week after U.S.-brokered deals for the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain to normalize ties with Israel, pacts that may coalesce a wider coalition against Iran while appealing to pro-Israel U.S. voters ahead of the November 3 election."

Earlier, Iranian Defense Minister Amir Hatami said that with the lifting of the arms embargo, Iran could have a "stronger foothold" in the arms market and become more known for "exporting" than "importing" "defense products."

Based on the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231, tied to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, the international arms embargo against Iran will expire on October 18, 2020.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 02:04:32|Editor: huaxia

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Armenian President Armen Sarkissian (3rd L) visits the Chinese Embassy in Yerevan, Armenia, on Sept. 23, 2020. (Chinese Embassy in Armenia/Handout via Xinhua)

YEREVAN, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- There is much potential for deepening the Armenian-Chinese relations in the future, said Armenian President Armen Sarkissian on Wednesday in Yerevan.

Sarkissian visited the Chinese Embassy in Yerevan to congratulate China on the eve of its National Day.

"China should be proud of its achievements. The cooperation between our countries, despite their different sizes, have many commonalities," Sarkissian said, adding that there are numerous directions for the future bilateral cooperation, including agriculture, education and culture.

"Therefore I have a very positive attitude to our future cooperation," he said.

For his part, Tian Erlong, Chinese ambassador to Armenia, spoke highly of the current China-Armenia cooperative relations, stressing that high technology can be one of the most prospective fields for the cooperation between the two countries. Enditem
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi has concluded a three-day visit to the Syrian Arab Republic with an appeal for increased international assistance to relieve the plight of families still struggling to secure food, medicine and other basic provisions years after the end of fighting in some areas.

More than nine years into a crisis that has driven 5.5 million refugees to flee to neighbouring countries, a further 6.1 million people remain displaced from their homes inside Syria and a total of 11 million are in need of humanitarian assistance. A crippling economic crisis and the spread of COVID-19 have compounded the suffering for many.

During a visit to the town of Zamalka in Eastern Ghouta on the outskirts of the capital Damascus, which suffered extensive damage during six years of conflict, Grandi met with families who are still struggling to repair their homes, find jobs and secure food and medicine two-and-a-half years after the end of the fighting.

"These are tough conditions."

Two years after his last visit to the area, the High Commissioner said there were increasing signs of stability but much work remained to be done.

You can see some life starting again but these are tough conditions, these people have real, true, urgent humanitarian needs, Grandi said. Water is a problem, electricity is very scarce  if they have to buy medicine, they told me its very expensive and so is food, especially in the difficult economic situation of the country.

This is of course also made more serious from the humanitarian point of view by the presence of the coronavirus. It is very difficult in a place like this, Grandi added. Its very difficult to keep distances, its difficult to wash hands, its difficult to protect people from the virus, so this is an additional challenge for the people in this area.

Compared with a pre-crisis population of 180,000, only 4,000 inhabitants remained in Zamalka by the end of the fighting in March 2018. Since then a further 7,000 displaced people and refugees have come back, with 25,000 more predicted to return. But widespread damage to the towns infrastructure has made it hard for people living there to access basic services.

See also: Grandi concludes Syria visit with pledge to maintain assistance to the most vulnerable

During his visit Grandi spoke to 65-year-old Rida, who fled the town with his family in 2012 and remained displaced for nearly seven years before returning last year. He explained that while the security situation has improved, his family is still suffering because of the economic hardships they currently face.

Rida told the High Commissioner that with no source of income, he and his wife relied on support from relatives and neighbours to feed themselves. The food aid they were receiving from NGOs has dried up, and they have no access to electricity and rely on well water for washing and cleaning.

As in other parts of the country, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is doing what it can to help families that have chosen to return to their homes. It has funded the rehabilitation of partially damaged houses belonging to 51 of the most vulnerable families, and repaired sewage and rainwater systems serving thousands of people.

But with UNHCRs Syria operation funding requirements for 2020 only around 25 per cent financed, the High Commissioner urged donors to step up their efforts to help those struggling to rebuild their lives.

"The resources are very little and more is needed."

I really want to make an appeal, Grandi said. The situation in Syria is very complex but I think we should not forget that there are people who are in the country, there are people coming back to the country, or displaced within the country that are returning home that have very urgent humanitarian requirements  food, medicine, shelter, education.

UNHCR and other organizations are working and trying to help the most vulnerable, but the resources are very little and more is needed to really relieve the plight of the people in this situation.

Grandi was speaking during a four-day visit to Syria and Jordan from 14-17 September.
New Delhi, Sep 23 : The Delhi High Court was on Wednesday informed that PNB loan scam case accused diamentarian Mehul Choksi left India prior to the registration of a case against him and hence his not being in India should not be read against him.

"Mehul Choksi left India prior to the registration of the FIR by the CBI, and hence his not being in India cannot be read against him," advocate Vijay Aggarwal told a division bench of the high court presided over by Chief Justice D.N. Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan.

The arguments were made while the court was hearing an appeal filed by Choksi challenging a single bench order dismissing his plea seeking the postponement of the release of Netflix original webseries "Bad Boy Billionaires: India".

Aggarwal's submissions came in response to the arguments made by advocates Sanjay K. Kaul and Dayan Krishnan, who are appearing for Netflix. They submitted that Choksi is not entitled to any relief, as he is not a citizen of India since he had forsaken his citizenship, and therefore, he is not entitled to protection of any fundamental right.

The bench said, "The single judge has not closed your (Mehul Choksi) relief. You have the relief of a civil suit but you want to invoke a jurisdiction and for that your conduct and issues are also important." "You have changed citizenship... you are no more a citizen of India," Justice Jalan said.

Responding to the queries of the court, Aggarwal said that Article 21 of the Constitution did not require Choksi to be an Indian citizen.

Kaul argued that the entire writ petition filed by Choksi was based on a Netflix trailer which did not even mention or refer to him.

"He does not know what his grievance is because the trailer does not mention him at all," said Kaul.

"No writ can be issued in vacuum. There is a red corner notice issued against him... And here he makes an magnanimous offer to join investigation via video conferencing," said Kaul.

Kaul further said that he has watched the said series in question and can assure that it is nothing more than an amalgamation of various interviews of which most are already out in the public domain.

"I have had the privilege of watching the film and I can assure you as an officer of the court that this series is nothing but an amalgamation of interviews, snippets etc. and we have a source chart of the said interviews," Kaul told the division bench.

Meanwhile, Aggarwal argued that if today Netflix is permitted to violate an individual's fundamental rights, then tomorrow it can claim immunity from judicial scrutiny even if it violates the religion or telecasts shows propagating China's stand against India or show any documentary showing a wrong map of India.

"Such can never be the law," he argued.

Aggarwal asked whether even in such circumstance the courts will be without jurisdiction to pass any appropriate direction against unregulated OTT platforms such as Netflix.

The court will now hear the matter next on September 29.
Platinum Equity, one of the potential buyers for breakdown business AA, has withdrawn from the race three weeks after a deadline for bids was extended.

The private equity firm said that it had walked away from discussions with AA's board 'by mutual agreement.'

The news was unwelcome among AA shareholders with many hitting the sell button, sending the stock down 17 per cent to 28p.

Platinum Equity has withdrawn from the race to buy the AA by mutual agreement

It follows weeks of speculation over the future of the business after it announced talks with three potential bidders in early August.

However, finding a buyer from the trio has so far proved elusive, and earlier this month a deadline set by the Takeover Panel passed without any firm bids arriving.

This forced AA to ask for an extension, with the new deadline of 29 September.

In a statement on Tuesday, Platinum said: 'Platinum Equity announces today that discussions with the board of AA have been terminated by mutual agreement and it does not intend to make an offer for AA.'

But the US investor reserved its right to return to the negotiating table at a later point. However, this will be only with the agreement of the AA's board and if a rival bid is made.

Platinum's withdrawal potentially leaves only one consortium left in the race to buy the company.

Late last month reports emerged that rival bidder Warburg Pincus was talking to Centerbridge Partners and Towerbrook Capital Partners about combining forces rather than making competing bids for AA.

Last month AA said that its trading has been resilient during the pandemic and it expects only a small hit when it presents its results on 29 September.

Chairman John Leach said the businesses needed to pay down debts in order reach its 'full potential'.
My mother read The Chronicles of Narnia to my brother and me at night, while the four of usmy father half-listening while reading a novel of his ownlay on my parents enormous bed. I remember such strong emotion. When we got to The Last Battle, the final installment, I felt warm affection for the foolish donkey Puzzle, grief at the fall of Narnia, sharp frustration at the dwarves who couldnt see the truth of a remarkable feast set before them.

As a parent myself, now, and a teacher and an Anglican priest, Ive been revisiting the Lewis of my childhood. What did I learn in Narnia? Did the stories of the Pevensie children encourage me towards virtue? More importantly, through loving Aslan was I better prepared to love Jesus?

According to a new character curriculum, Narnian Virtues, the Narnia stories can powerfully move, mold, and direct young readers. Designed by education professors Mark Pike and Thomas Lickona, the curriculum teaches universal virtues to children ages 10 to 14 using The Chronicles of Narnia. It is supported in part by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation and has been taught at a variety of schools, both secular and Christian, as part of a pilot program designed to test the possibility of teaching virtue in Narnia.

This program is not aimed at mere behavior management, according to the educators. Rather, it is designed to teach students to know the good, to love the good, and to do the good based on the belief that the Narnia novels have the capacity to motivate a wide range of readers to make efforts to develop the will as well as the skill needed for good character.

The pilot programs qualitative results show the curriculum has a positive impact. Many students describe increased self-awareness of their actions and a desire to grow in virtue. The quantitative data is less clear. Lickona characterized the results as meaningful but ultimately modeststatistically significant but not necessarily educationally significant changes. Assessments show gains in knowledge of virtue. But the quantitative results are more ambiguous when it comes to doing good and loving good. The impact on the head is clear; on hand and heart, less so.

Perhaps the key word is capacity. As Pike and Lickona write, the head-heart-hand model of character education requires a curriculum that instructs, inspires, and guides students in virtue. While the novels surely have the capacity to motivate readers towards good character, whether they will or not is much more tenuous. It may depend less on curriculum and more on context: teachers and their classrooms and schools, students and their families and churches. Taken alone, no curriculumnot even one as thoughtful and faithful as Narnian Virtuescan create a virtue-forming school environment.

One of my colleagues at The Covenant School in Charlottesville, Virginia, recently demonstrated to me how powerful and transformative teaching literature can be. He had a class of ninth graders reading Charles Dickenss A Tale of Two Cities. A character in the story spends his long imprisonment making shoes. In the many hours at his shoe bench, he also fashions a false self, that allows him, my colleague told his students, to literally forget who he is. The character remains mentally imprisoned, even when he becomes physically free.

My colleague used the story as a tool for character formation, prompting students to see if we have any shoe benches of our own. Almost all identified some form of technology or social media as a personal shoe bench, a site of distraction that feels liberating but ultimately worsens their anxieties.

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The student response was remarkably fruitful. Students I interviewed described concrete steps they took to live in greater freedom from social mediadeleting accounts, giving up smartphones, and challenging others to do the same.

Stories invite self-reflectionbut indirectly. As we enter into the lives of literary characters, we may come to see our own struggles more clearly. Their stories bypass our self-exonerating justifications. Guided by a wise teacher, this can lead to character formation.

Narnian Virtues offers similar possibilities. The most compelling lesson plans prompt students to examine their own shortcomings in discussions of episodes in The Chronicles of Narnia.

One activity, titled Whats Your Turkish Delight? draws on Edmunds encounter with the White Witch and his subsequent addiction to her enchanted candy. Edmunds inability to see the witch for who she is and his vulnerability to manipulation are partly a result of his youth. The deeper cause, however, is his flawed character. His malformation led to trivial cruelty in England; in Narnia it leads to disaster.

Edmund pursues Turkish Delight single-mindedly, betraying his own family and nearly destroying himself in the process. The image is suggestive of drug addiction, and so it is both striking and unsurprising that students, when asked to identify their own Turkish Delight in the pilot programs, frequently pointed to the use of mobiles phones and the Internet. The curriculum then guides students to collaborate with their families to develop strategies for personal improvement.

Pike and Lickona insist that character formation is not necessarily religious. They note that the curriculum has been taught in American public schools, where the reigning interpretation of the First Amendment disallows religious education.

Perhaps Lewis, who did not think that moral law was an exclusively Christian affair, would agree with them. Michael Ward, author of Planet Narnia: The Seven Heavens in the Imagination of C.S. Lewis and a consultant on the character curriculum, told me that The Chronicles of Narnia are not explicitly Christiantheres nothing that requires a Christian reading of the books. Likewise, he said, Narnian Virtues is not a religious curriculum, but a project about ethics.

Pike agrees. Schools, he says, should distinguish between being good and being Christian, and the Narnian Virtues curriculum aims to make students good. The designers do recognize that the Narnia books are incomplete when read entirely apart from Lewiss Christian imagination. The curriculum points out textual links to Christian doctrines where relevant, and supplemental material for Christian education provides a Christian reading of each novel.

There are obvious theological resonances. Aslans substitutionary atonement in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, for example, follows Edmunds embrace of the White Witch's offer of kingshipa temptation which mirrors the serpents offer in the Garden of Eden that ye shall be as gods (Gen. 3:5, KJV).

These allusions reflect Lewiss deeper Christocentric theology. Just as Jesus drew a range of reactions throughout the gospels, so too does Aslan provoke not only love and devotion, but also fear, confusion, and even hate. According to Ward, Lewis was fascinated by the fact that identical phenomena could be perceived in diametrically opposite ways. Those obstinate dwarves drinking wine but tasting only brackish water, who so frustrated me as a child, are just one example. They cannot experience Aslans good feast because they will not submit to Aslan.

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In Narnia, you cannot love the good without loving he who is goodness. To rightly perceive the gifts of God is to rightly perceive God. Conversely, to reject his gifts is to reject him. At the end of the day, this is really what it means for Narnia to be, as the curriculum designers say, a morally serious universe.

In Narnia, character formation in and of itself is an incomplete good. Consider Eustaces narrative arc in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Of all the characters, Eustace alone experiences the voyage as misery rather than adventure. A liar, whiner, and thief, he is repugnantly selfish and resolutely self-righteous until he awakes to find himself transformed into a dragonthe result of his dragon-ish thoughts and behaviours, the Narnian Virtues curriculum notes. The transformation does not ultimately change him; rather, it reveals his true character. He has become externally what he already was internally, a monster cut off from the whole human race, as Lewis puts it.

Eustace faces up to the truth of who he is and so begins to change. He becomes less dragonish as a dragon than he was as a boy. As Ward says, Eustace is nicer as a sinner who knows hes a sinner than he was as a sinner who didnt know he was a sinner.

But being good does not save him. Eustace needs Aslans claws to tear away his scales, and he needs a baptismal immersion of sorts to be remade a boy. At the same time, though, his character transformation prepares him to accept Aslans aid. This is perhaps what our Lord meant in saying that the sown Word of God takes root only in fertile soilwhich is an honest and good heart (Lk. 8:15, KJV).

Loving the good prepares one to love Jesus, just as loving Jesus entails loving goodness. The forgiveness of sin that makes us right with God leads inextricably to our final endeternal delight in and worship of he who is. Character formation cant be neatly separated from religious reorientation. And The Chronicles of Narnia, inasmuch as they can be powerful educational tools, are also means of grace.

The Narnia stories endure primarily because they are delightful stories, but in hindsight I see that part of the delightpart of what made the characters so engaging and the adventures so rivetingflows from Lewis understanding of human character. The adventures rivet because they are so consequential for the adventurers: not only their physical lives but their moral character and indeed their eternal destinies hang in the balance. The characters engage most profoundly not when good characters battle evil ones, but when good and evil war within the persons themselves.

In Narnia we find embodied the baffling mystery of the human conditionthe gospel truth of our genuine freedom and desperate need. In Narnia we learn that we cannot save ourselves, but we can accept a savior. Above all, in Lewiss stories we find an image of a kingnot safe but good, not tame but beautiful. As our children come to love Aslan, may they thereby learn better to love the true King.

Mark Perkins is ordained in the Anglican Province of America and serves as a priest at St. Albans Anglican Cathedral in Oviedo, Florida. He taught at The Covenant School in Charlottesville, Virginia for nine years and is also executive editor of Earth & Altar.
By Trend

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.

--

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
India under successive governments failed to grasp the true nature of the Chinese communist state, strategic affairs expert Brahma Chellaney has said

Geostrategist, scholar, author and commentator Brahma Chellaney hardly needs an introduction. An avid China watcher, professor Chellaney took some questions from Firstpost on the current border tension in Ladakh and the dynamics of larger Sino-Indian bilateral ties. Known for his candid, incisive and nonpartisan opinion, Chellaney picks holes in Indias strategy vis-a-vis China and explains why it would be hard for India to achieve its goal of restoring status quo ante at the border. Read the interview for more.

In your latest column, you have asked why India has not repaid China with salami slicing. Dont you think the huge gap in national composite power interferes with Indias ability to take such action?

No, it doesnt. Pakistan, despite being weaker than India in every field  from economic power to military might  has been bleeding India since the 1980s. China is weaker than the United States, but does that stop Beijing from challenging the US when Chinese interests are at stake? Military and economic capabilities are important, but they do not constitute the sole factor in inter-country relations. If military and economic capabilities alone determined the outcome of wars, for example, then the stronger side would always win. But history is replete with examples of the weaker side triumphing over the more powerful opponent. In modern history, Vietnam separately defeated three great powers  France, the US and China. What is critical to any wars outcome is leadership, political will, resoluteness, strategy and tactics. Even in peacetime, the absence of strategic vision and resolve can turn the stronger side into the weaker side.

India has tied larger bilateral ties with China with disengagement, de-induction of troops, reduction of tension and restoration of status quo at the border. Do you think India has enough leverage to make this strategy work?

This approach assumes that China cares about the state of bilateral relations. China cares only about its own interests, which it is seeking to aggressively advance under President Xi Jinping. Chinas aggressive actions, in fact, bear no relation with the state of its bilateral ties with the country it targets. Simply put, establishing better relations with Beijing doesnt necessarily produce better Chinese behavior. For example, the current Chinese aggression in Ladakh began just six months after Xi declared during an India visit that China-India relations have entered a phase of sound and friendly development. Similarly, despite improving Sino-Japanese relations, Chinese incursions into the Senkaku territorial waters and airspace increased last year, as compared to the previous year. This shows that the Xi regimes expansionism is unaffected by bilateral considerations, including diplomatic progress.

Given the stalemate at the border where China seems to be engaging in talks only to buy time for greater consolidation of its position within Indias side of LAC, what, in your view, should be New Delhis approach?

India has narrowed its options by the way it has handled Chinas stealth encroachments, which began in April. India placed its faith in diplomacy, rather than in its armed forces, ever since it discovered Chinas intrusions in early May. It was not until late August that the government allowed the armed forces to undertake some counteractions, especially in the Pangong Lake region. The longer India has waited, the harder it has become to militarily push back the intruding Chinese forces and restore status quo ante. As long as China perceives strategic benefits as outweighing costs, its aggression against India will persist. Imposing substantive economic and diplomatic costs, coupled with application of coercive military pressure, holds the key. The costs India has sought to impose thus far seem woefully inadequate to make Beijing rethink its aggression.

Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Sanjay Dhotre has, in a written reply to MPs queries, informed the Parliament that the Centre has no plan to exclude Huawei, ZTE from 5G infra contracts. How do you read this statement given the fact that India has been hinting heavily at excluding Huawei?

Making Indias most critical infrastructure dependent on Chinese technology would mean opening the door to blackmail and sabotage. Theres already heavy reliance on Chinese equipment in the 4G networks in India, especially by Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea. Huawei is a private company only in name. In practice, it is an extension of the Chinese surveillance state. But today, even without an Indian government ban, Huawei or ZTE cannot secure any 5G contract in India. The reason is that most Indian telecom companies are in dire financial straits. Bharti, Vodafone Idea and BSNL continue to struggle to make their existing 3G and 4G networks profitable. The only company that is in good financial health, Jio, doesnt have any Chinese equipment in its 4G networks and is seeking to develop its own 5G technology. In this light, any Indian ban on Huawei would be largely symbolic.

Do you think that Indias post-Cold War foreign policy was centred too much around managing the relationship with the US at the cost overlooking the China challenge?

The number of India-China summit meetings in recent years indicates that China remained a priority issue for New Delhi. However, India under successive governments failed to grasp the true nature of the Chinese communist state. Good relations with Beijing do not yield good Chinese behavior. While India was courting Xi, Beijing was quietly preparing to launch major aggression in Ladakh. India failed to heed the warning even when Xis regime showed its true colors by using the 2017 disengagement agreement to capture almost the entire Doklam Plateau. India, in fact, ignored all warning signs, including China frenzied military-infrastructure buildup post-Doklam along the Himalayan frontier and its deployment of assault boats in Pangong Lake since October 2019 (when Xi visited India). So, when China made stealth encroachments on Ladakh territories, India was caught napping. Indias deeply rooted reactive culture has allowed China to keep the initiative, including when and how to needle India or infringe its sovereignty.

Communist China has long demonstrated an innate propensity to employ force in breach of international law. Xi hews to Mao Zedongs belief that political power grows out of the barrel of a gun. Accommodation with an expansionist and unyielding China is not possible. In fact, the word compromise is not part of the Chinese Communist Partys lexicon. China will not stop until India takes concrete steps to stop it.

(Brahma Chellaney, Professor of Strategic Studies at the New Delhi-based Center for Policy Research and Fellow at the Robert Bosch Academy in Berlin, is the author of nine books)
Anthony Bottom gets parole for 1971 killings of two NYPD officers ((Messiah Rhodes - YouTube))

A former member of the Black Liberation Army (BLA), who was convicted in the killing of two New York City police officers in 1971, has been granted parole.

On Wednesday, the New York state Board of Parole approved the release of Jalil Abdul Muntaqim, AKA Anthony Bottom, on or before 1 October 2020, following a hearing earlier this month.

His parole comes two years after his co-defendant Herman Bell was granted release in 2018 after parole guidelines were changed in the state, according to The Associated Press. Albert Washington, who was also convicted with the pair, died in prison.

Muntaqim and Bell were both sentenced to 25 years to life in prison in 1974, after they were convicted of killing New York officers Waverly Jones and Joseph Piagentini in 1971.

The officers were shot multiple times by the pair, after they responded to a report of a domestic dispute at a Harlem public housing complex.

During their trial, prosecutors said that Muntaqim and Bell set a trap for the officers and ambushed them when they arrived at the scene.

The two men were members of the BLA, an offshoot of the Black Panther Party, which sanctioned killings of police officers in New York and California, according to the AP.

Piagentinis widow Diane, who raised the couples two kids on her own, criticised the decision and said that it was made because New York has adopted a more lenient approach to parole in recent years.

Ms Piagentini said: Bottom and Bell should never have gotten out of prison until my husband comes down the driveway and says, Diane, Im home. Where are the kids? And that is never going to happen.

She added: We are heartbroken to see another of Joes killers set free by politics.

Others have argued that Muntaqim has changed during his time incarcerated, and Jose Saldana, who was in prison with him and now advocates for reformed convicts, told CBS News that he is beyond remorseful.

Mr Saldana added: He has completely changed, transformed his life and helped an entire generation transform their lives.

Story continues

The Release Aging People in Prisons Campaign, Parole Preparation Project, Brooklyn Defenders Office, and Legal Aid Society released a joint statement to CBS in support of Muntaqims release.

We support the Parole Boards decisions to release incarcerated older people who have served decades in prison and pose no risk to public safety, the statement read.

The groups added: The purpose of parole is to evaluate people for release based on who they are today, not to extend sentences into perpetuity.

This and other recent decisions the Parole Board has made based on those principles are the right ones.

Read more

Mark David Chapman: John Lennons killer denied parole in New York

Golden State killer Joseph DeAngelo says he is 'truly sorry' as he is jailed for life without parole
Apple orchards in the city of Linfen, north China's Shanxi province, have been making steady progress toward a model of sustainable farming, helping create important economic opportunities for local farmers.



The orchards are situated in Jixian county, an area well-known for its history of agriculture. The county has been developing apple farming since the 1980s due to its suitable natural conditions. Statistics from local authorities show that more than 200,000 metric tons of apples are produced here every year, bringing in a total of 1 billion yuan (about $147 million) annually.

Behind the statistics are the efforts of the local government to maintain the consistency of the yield, as well as the quality and stable price of the apples.



Last year, Jixian county invested over 3 million yuan to build five cloud-seeding and anti-hail sites, and install 15,000 mu (1,000 hectares) of anti-hail netting. These steps have effectively protected the apples against extreme weather events during the harvest season, thus ensuring yield stability.

The local government has also been holding a series of training sessions which allow orchard managers the opportunity to share their experience with their peers. A pilot project for apple farming has been established through the joint efforts of the county, Shanxi Agricultural University, and Northwest A&F University. The project, which includes a big data platform, is working to set up a traceability system for quality management. Soil fertility can also be adjusted through the use of various technologies such as the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence.



In order to maintain the stable price and sales of apples, Jixian county has built 39 warehouses which can store up 150,000 metric tons each year, and two companies have been established to create processed apple products. Together, these moves have helped protect the stability and long-term interests of local apple farmers.
Russia said on September 23 that it is expanding a list of barred European officials in response to what it called "hostile steps" against it and its citizens.

The announcement, by the Russian Foreign Ministry, did not specify what actions it was reciprocating.

But it said the number of EU officials who will be denied entry to Russia is now the same as the number of its officials on a similar EU list.

It described its own blacklist as "a reciprocal list of representatives of EU countries and institutions who are banned from entering Russian territory."

Russia said it could act further if Brussels continued its "confrontational" policies.

"The EU is continuing to expand its sanctions tools and apply them on the basis of groundless and sometimes absurd pretexts," it said, according to AFP.

"We have repeatedly warned the EU about the malignancy of such an approach."

Russia and the European Union have gaping differences over alleged Russian meddling in Western elections, Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, suspected Russian assassinations and attempted assassinations in Western Europe, and more recently the alleged poisoning of Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny.

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have demanded explanations from Russia since German and other tests showed the Kremlin critic was poisoned with a Soviet-designed Novichok chemical agent.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on September 23 repeated Moscow's accusations that Western states are carrying out "a massive disinformation campaign" over Navalny's hospitalization.

Based on reporting by AFP
Authorities arrested a man with tattooed eyelids who is accused of burning his victims' bodies inside a fire-engulfed car before carjacking a woman using a gun.

On Wednesday, 34-year-old Dakota "Outlaw" Briscoe was arrested by officials for an alleged double murder after he was stopped at a U.S. Border Patrol inspection checkpoint.

Double murder

According to The Sun, the suspect disguised himself as his younger brother, Austin Epp, and used his car and driver's license. However, police officers tracked him down and linked him to a description of a suspect of a double homicide.

Authorities placed a $10,000 bounty on Briscoe to anyone who could provide information that would lead to his arrest and conviction before officials found out his true identity.

On September 18, the Albuquerque Police Department announced that detectives filed murder charges against Briscoe. The alleged victims of the suspect were his two friends; 36-year-old Eric Carbajal and 39-year-old Nathan Garcia.

The two deceased were considered friends of Briscoe, and their bodies were discovered inside a burned car.

Authorities believe Briscoe shot the two victims on September 7 and later placed their bodies inside a vehicle and set it on fire.

Medical experts who performed the autopsies on the two dead individuals revealed that Garcia had two bullet wounds in the head, and Carbajal was shot three times before their bodies were set on fire.

Briscoe reportedly used a gun to threaten his neighbor after his September 7 double homicide incident.

Police officers believe he attempted to steal a car from two men and later tried to break into the home of another female individual.

Also Read: 7-Year-Old Girl Horribly Abused by Both Parents, Told Doctors She Wants to Die

Authorities charged the suspect with two open counts of murder, two counts of attempted armed robbery, and six aggravated assault cases with a deadly weapon.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said that Briscoe had the words "Dakota" and "Demize" tattooed on both of his eyelids and featured tattoos all over his body.

Similar incident

Authorities charged a man who is accused of killing two Muskogee brothers in 2018 with multiple felony counts and is now facing the death penalty.

The suspect, Ondriel Layson Smith, has been in custody since September 2018 for charges of murder to the shooting deaths of Keith Williams and Glynn Williams, who were in a parking lot in East Skelly Drive.

However, ever since Smith's arrest, he has become the subject of more than six more felony charges after officials received reports of misconduct while he was imprisoned, as reported by Tulsa World.

Last year, District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler announced they wanted to consider the death penalty for Smith's case, arguing the suspect had a history of violent criminal convictions and shot five people, two of whom died, within 33 days.

Kunzweiler added that Smith Glynn Williams hoped to avoid police arrest or prosecution because he was a witness when the killer murdered Keith Williams.

Authorities also charged Smith with two counts of shooting in a separate case, and was accused during a preliminary hearing of having shot an ex-partner in the leg during a heated argument.

Related Article: NYPD Police Officer Accused of Being Chinese Spy to Monitor and Observe US Citizens

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Whats the latest inexplicable screw up in Ohios unemployment system?

Were talking about the latest hiccup on This Week in the CLE.

Listen online here.

Editor Chris Quinn hosts our daily half-hour podcast, with editors Jane Kahoun, Kris Wernowsky and me, answering all sorts of questions from the news.

Youve been sending Chris lots of thoughts and suggestions on our from-the-newsroom account, in which he shares once or twice a day what were thinking about at cleveland.com. You can sign up for free by sending a text to 216-868-4802.

And youve been offering all sorts of great perspective in our coronavirus alert account, which has 13,000-plus subscribers. You can sign up for free by texting 216-279-7784.

Here are the questions were answering today:

What is the latest screw-up in Ohios unemployment system? Many Ohioans receiving unemployment benefits have had their latest payments delayed because of a coding error. All direct-deposit payments from the Ohio Job Insurance System sent to financial institutions between Saturday and Monday were initially rejected.

Have in-person schools since a coronavirus surge in the weeks since students returned to Ohio classrooms? Not hugely. Northeast Ohio school districts that already took an in-person or hybrid approach to learning are happy with the results. So far, outbreaks at K-12 schools are limited.

What are the topics for the presidential debate in Cleveland next week? Fox News anchor Chris Wallace, the moderator for the first presidential debate, will ask questions on Trump and Bidens records, the Supreme Court, COVID-10, economy, race and violence and integrity of the election.

Why is Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine worried about how you heat your house or business? Because winter is coming. DeWine said Ohioans need to start preparing now to minimize the spread of coronavirus in indoor spaces as temperatures get colder, and that may include working with an HVAC technician to maximize air flow and filtration within homes and businesses.

When might Cleveland school students go back to the classroom? Theyll consider it in the next few weeks, to maybe go back after the first quarter, schools CEO Eric Gordon said in his State of the Schools speech.

How long do voting rights advocates say it might take some people to deliver their ballots to the single drop off box in Cuyahoga County? Voting-rights advocates say it could take some Cuyahoga County residents as long as 90 minutes in travel time. Attorneys for the League of Women Voters and the NAACP of Ohio this week cited the difficulties of low-income residents as part of a filing in U.S. District Court.

Why does Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson say his overhaul of the city health department is more than an overhaul of the city health department? Jackson aims to refocus the department to address underlying health issues that are caused by racism and can lead to crime.

Is Sen. Rob Portman still defending his 100 percent about face on approving a Supreme Court justice this late in a presidents term, and is he arguing that he is not a hypocrite? Portman is arguing that the situation has changed since 2016 because the presidency and U.S. Senate are now controlled by the same political party.

Want more of This Week in the CLE? You can find all our past episodes here.

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And on PlayerFM, we are here.
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We are nearly four months into the restart of domestic aviation services. While the allowed capacity has increased from 33 percent to 60 percent and most rules  either around quarantine requirements or city pairs  are being relaxed, traffic hasnt returned anywhere near what it was pre-Covid.

But for passengers reeling from having their money tied up in shells with airlines, to be used within a year, there has been no respite from flight cancellations.

Data released by DGCA shows that the flight cancellation rate in August was 4 percent, while it was over 6 percent in July.

In January, before the Covid-19 crisis hit, the cancellation rate stood at 1.7 percent, when there were three times as many flights in Indian skies.

Reasons for cancellation

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

While the cancellation percentage only looks at half the story, the regulator also declares the reasons for cancellations. While traditionally they have been stacked towards weather, technical or reactionary reasons, the last few months have seen a high percentage of cancellations being attributed to Commercial reasons.

In August, 44.6 percent of all cancellations were attributed to commercial reasons, while it was nearly 50 percent in July. Interestingly, in January, the cancellations attributed to commercial reasons were only 2.5 percent, with the major reason for cancellation being weather, followed by technical.

What exactly is a commercial cancellation? More often than not it is a direct indication that the flight was cancelled due to lack of passengers on either the onward or return leg or both. While traditionally, airlines had very few commercial cancellations, the numbers have risen steadily, to around 50 percent of all cancellations.

Global consulting and digital services company ICF came up with an exclusive analysis on the flights scheduled and operated by each of the airlines in India. This analysis was based on published schedules in SRS Analyzer (an airline data analytics tool) and actual flights as reported by real-time flight tracker flightradar24.com.

How do major airlines stack up?

Amongst the major airlines in the country, market leader IndiGo flew 93 percent of its scheduled flights and was the topper, while Air India flew only 56 percent of the flights it intended to fly.

AirAsia India and Spicejet operated 81 percent and 80 percent of their planned flights in August.

Interestingly, Alliance Air, the wholly owned subsidiary and regional arm of national carrier Air India, had planned more flights than Vistara or Go Air and ended up operating 87 percent of those. Alliance Air is focussed on routes under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)-UDAN. Flights under RCS-UDAN have their own pricing structure and are currently out of the purview of the upper and lower fare bands, which will be in place until this November.

Predictability

Traditionally, the Mumbai-Delhi corridor has been the most sought after route in terms of traffic, and data shows that airlines were bullish about the route, with over 600 flights planned each way. However, only 65 percent were eventually operated, on average, by the domestic carriers.

By contrast, the second-most popular sector, Delhi-Hyderabad, saw most of the flights operated as planned, with a flown-to-scheduled ratio of 99 percent.

The top five sectors were Delhi-Mumbai-Delhi, Delhi-Hyderabad-Delhi, Delhi-Bengaluru-Delhi, Delhi-Patna-Delhi and Delhi-Srinagar-Delhi. Since the Covid-19 outbreak, Delhi has established itself as the centre of the aviation scene in India for both domestic and international services.

Where is the traffic?

The traffic flows captured by aviation consultancy ICF show that there were far more flights from Tier II cities such as Patna, Srinagar and Guwahati to Tier I cities. The number of such flights was over 2.5 times of those among Tier I cities.

This phenomenon is due to workers returning to big cities to resume their jobs, a trend opposite to that observed in June, when most workers left for their hometowns, said Piyush Bansal, Operations Lead at ICF Aviation in India. The Delhi-Patna route, for example, has been among the top three domestic routes since June. Pre-lockdown, this route did not feature in the top ten.

The traffic uptick has been unpredictable at best. Coupled with varying rules around quarantine, weekend lockdowns and more at different places across the country, aviation is not what it used to be. The ever-changing landscape has made planning difficult for airlines. Years of data and historical numbers are of little use as airlines have to be on their toes to adjust to the quick changing nature of the business and traffic.

Ameya Joshi runs the aviation analysis website Network Thoughts

But the larger percentage of cancellations shows that things are not going as planned and airlines are being more optimistic than they should be. With a cap on both capacity and fares, IndiGo seems to be making the most of the situation due to its larger network and ability to feed traffic across multiple points in the country.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  The return of students to classrooms in Northeast Ohio has not been followed by a surge of the coronavirus.

You can listen online here.

The low number of coronavirus cases in K-12 schools in Ohio is a pleasant development. The latest Ohio coronavirus dashboard shows a total of 157 new cases in students between Sept. 7 and Sept. 13, with 91 new staff cases. However, winter is coming, and state officials are urging residents to take actions to minimize the spread of the virus indoors. And we now know the topics of conversation for the first presidential debate next week in Cleveland.

Hear these stories and more in todays podcast.

The podcast is a summary of cleveland.coms morning newsletter The Wake Up. You can receive The Wake Up through email at 5:30 a.m. each weekday by subscribing here.

You can get our podcasts delivered directly to your phone, and we have an Apple podcasts channel exclusively for this podcast. Subscribe here.

Do you get your podcasts on Spotify? Find us here.

If you use Stitcher, we are here.

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On Google Podcasts, we are here.

On PodParadise, find us here.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

As the insurance industry increasingly relies on artificial intelligence, its state-based regulators are thinking about how to ensure that the technology treats policyholders fairly.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners last month unanimously adopted guiding principles that AI be fair, ethical, accountable and safe. But these are largely broad-brush notions for a technology that is just starting to be used.

Insurers and rating and advisory organizations "should be responsible for the creation, implementation and impacts of any AI system, even if the impacts are unintended," the NAIC's Innovation and Technology Task Force, part of its Executive Committee, wrote.

Jon Godfread, chairman of NAIC's Artificial Intelligence Working Group, described the principles in an interview as an "aspirational document" or "guidepost" for internal discussions among regulators. They don't carry the weight of law and aren't model regulations.

"This will be the starting point for the next steps of AI regulation," added Godfread, who is commissioner of the North Dakota Insurance Department.

Those next steps could be reporting requirements for insurance companies' usage of AI and a certification process. Certification may mean a third party or internal actuary would run checks to make sure the AI doesn't have implicit biases or commit "proxy discrimination," which occurs when computers make selections based on data that acts as a proxy for race or other traits.

Godfread said regulators need more information about whether AI has been a problem. He said the technology has been used to speed internal processes, but the industry hasn't reached the point of having "a lot of consumer-facing decisions being made using artificial intelligence."

Congress studies AI

Rep. Bill Foster, D-Ill., chairman of the House Financial Services Committee's Task Force on Artificial Intelligence, said in an interview that the NAIC is struggling with the same issues as everyone else: determining the details of what's "fair and ethical."

Foster described a scenario where auto insurers might use targeted advertising to maximize profitable customers. If an algorithm is designed to treat young men and young women fairly by charging them the same rates, then women would be more profitable customers because they tend to be less risky drivers. The algorithm would end up finding proxies for gender, such as which websites a person visits.

Foster's task force held a hearing in February that focused on ways to lessen AI bias in financial services, which explored the idea of auditing algorithm outputs.

Foster sponsored an amendment that would end a ban on unique patient identifiers, which was added to a bill that the House passed in July. He said a main concern with these identifiers was that insurers would discover patients' preexisting conditions, which could drive rates up or lead to canceled coverage.

But the identifiers have benefits, such as allowing easy transfer of medical histories to a new provider, which reduces errors and helps identify insurance fraud when a person doesn't supply a record, Foster added.

"We have to continue this discussion," Foster said. "I'm really happy that the NAIC has started to grapple with this."

Industry sees opportunity

Edin Imsirovic, an associate director at insurance rating firm AM Best, said the NAIC's artificial intelligence principles are "exactly what the industry needs." The fact that companies are gaining access to more data through AI doesn't mean their algorithms are acting fairlyor, as Imsirovic said, "Garbage in, garbage out."

He said companies are finding artificial intelligence, including machine learning, effective in areas such as fraud detection, customer service and claims processing, but not useful in others. Machine learning is the process by which an AI improves its performance through trial and error rather than specific programming.

"The takeaway, I would say, is that we haven't really seen anything yet compared to what's to come in coming decades, as we move towards more sophisticated" technology, Imsirovic said.

A new use is "computer vision" for claims handling, in which AI identifies objects, such as drones detecting roof damage after a storm instead of people risking injury to take photos.

Despite these growing uses, it's difficult to quantify the extent to which machine learning is used in insurance, Imsirovic said. Therefore, the burden of implementing principles to govern it is unclear.

"It's hard to quantify new work associated with the NAIC principles, but they fit well into life insurers' commitment to equality," said Susan Neely, president of the American Council of Life Insurers.

In a report on Aug. 12, reinsurance company Swiss Re said the use of machine learning in insurance is limited and data quality issues hold back many firms. The company's affiliate, Swiss Re Institute, found that 80 percent of companies lack sufficiently clean and curated data for implementing machine learning in the most productive way.

The main advantage of the technology is that it can bring larger profits through both revenue generation and cost savings. Insurance use of the technology yielded returns in areas including customer analytics and claims processing, according to Swiss Re.

With that kind of incentive, the importance of keeping the technology ethical and fair will rise.

America's Health Insurance Plans spokeswoman Kristine Grow expressed support for the NAIC's approach. Two other industry groups, however, said they are waiting for more information to fully understand the impact.

"As with other high-level regulatory guidance, the details are going to matter when the principles are applied in practice and will determine the relative burden of implementing them," said Jon Berger, vice president of public policy and federal affairs for the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies. The association has concerns about the interpretation of some of the terms and concepts in the document, he said.

Frank O'Brien, vice president of state government relations for the American Property Casualty Insurance Association, echoed that sentiment.

"It is too early to determine what the operational impact will be of the artificial intelligence guiding principles that were recently adopted by the NAIC," O'Brien said. "These principles are intended to serve as broad guideposts, and APCIA will continue to be involved with NAIC on this and other related issues as they develop."

Explore further Pentagon adopts new ethical principles for using AI in war

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Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh YS Jagan Mohan Reddy entered the Tirumala shrine (Lord Venkateswara Swamy) without signing the faith declaration form as demanded by the Opposition parties, mainly the BJP, TDP and Jana Sena. Despite protests, the Chief Minister entered Lord Venkateswara Temple and offered Silk Cloths on the behalf of the state government. He went to the temple in traditional silk dhoti with the Tirunamam (Tilak) applied to his forehead.

Opposition parties have demanded that the Chief Minister should respect the age-old practice of non-Hindus signing the declaration form before entering the Tirumala shrine. As per the TTD general rules, no 136 only Hindus are allowed for darshan, Non-Hindus who wish to have darshan of Lord Venkateswara Swamy have to disclose their faith and give a declaration form to the TTD. The opposition said Jagan Mohan Reddy is a Christian. in the morning BJP and TDP leaders were kept under house arrest but they protested in many parts of Andhra Pradesh. Some of the Swamyjis asked Jagan Mohan Reddy to visit the temple along with his wife.

On the other hand, Tension prevailed at Jagan Mohan Reddys Hyderabad Lotus pond residence since Bajrang Dal activists staged a protest nearby his home. They raised slogans outside the CMs residence demanding that the Andhra Pradesh government protect temples in AP. The activists raised slogans minister Kodali Nani should apologize and resign.

Also read: Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia admitted to LNJP hospital due to Covid-19

Also read: SC issues notice on Facebook India VPs plea against Delhi panels notice

The police beefed up security at the Lotus Pond. Despite there are widespread protests against Kodali Nani, He again made controversial remarks who came to Tirupati for Darshan. While he was asked about CM should come along with his wife to offer prayers to Lord Venkateswara.

He Said The Prime Minister goes alone to Ayodhya temple to lay the foundation stone and so does UP chief minister. Why should Jagan bring his wife to the temple? First, let them (BJP and Swamijis) ask Modi to go to Ram temple along with his wife to perform pujas; then ask Jagan to do so. If I go with some ten people and make a demand to the Prime Minister to sack Amit Shah or Kishan Reddy, will he sack them? It is better BJP leaders look after their own party affairs, rather than poking their nose into the activities of other parties,. BJP leader and Seepetham chief priest Swamy Paripoornananda countered Nani strongly by saying people like Nani are fanning the flames by making provocative statements and Nani has gone mad. He said Jagan would lose nothing by declaring his faith on Lord Venkateshwara at Tirumala.

Also read: Another feather in DRDOs cap: After Abhyas, DRDO successfully test fires laser guided anti tank missiles
President Donald Trump will go to the Supreme Court on Thursday to pay his respects to the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, according to the White House.

The president will pay his respects to the late justice at the US Supreme Court where she will be lying in repose, deputy president secretary Judd Deere told ABC News on Wednesday.

The announcement comes after Trump stoked public anger by denying reports from Justice Ginsburgs family that her dying wish was that her replacement is appointed by the next president.

When asked about the late-justices final wish that was dictated to her granddaughter and later reported by NPR, the president told Fox News on Monday morning: I dont know that she said that, or was that written out by Adam Schiff and [Chuck] Schumer and Pelosi?He added: I would be more inclined to the second.

Just days before she died of complications resulting from metastatic pancreatic cancer at the age of 87, justice Ginsburg said: My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed."

While the court is closed because of the coronavirus pandemic, a private memorial service was underway on Wednesday morning with the justices former colleagues, family, and close friends in attendance.

The public will then be able to pass by the casket of the leader of the courts liberal bloc and feminist icon who died last week.

When the casket arrived at the court on Wednesday morning, some of Justice Ginsburgs former clerks served as pall bearers, while almost 100 other people stood socially-distanced on the steps of the building.

Justice Ginsburg will lie in repose on Wednesday and Thursday at the court, before moving to the US Capitol to lie in state on Friday.

President Trump will announce his nominee for the Supreme Court vacancy on Saturday at 5pm.

in an Senate Republicans have corralled the necessary votes to approve the nomination, despite hopes from Democrats that some senators would abide by the 2016 McConnell rule of not moving ahead with Supreme Court appointments in an election year  let alone while people are voting in an election.
A majority of Supreme Court lawyers who participated in a survey on the virtual court hearings did not favour the Vidyo app used by the apex court for video conference hearings and suggested that the top court should migrate from Vidyo to a different software application.

227 lawyers participated in the survey which was carried out online by 5 Supreme Court lawyers. Out of the 227, 13 lawyers were senior advocates and 133 were Advocates-on-Record (AoRs). To be sure, the number of participants who took the survey was limited when compared to the total number of practicing lawyers in Supreme Court. There are more than 2,700 AoRs in the Supreme Court while the SCBA has nearly 2,000 members on its voters list.

An overwhelming majority of participants [155 of 218 (71.1 percent) who answered the question on Vidyo app] strongly felt that, owing to the technical issues with Vidyo, the Supreme Court should migrate to a different software application for conducting hearings through Video Conferencing, the survey report said.

Vidyo app has proved to be problematic in practice and needs a complete overhaul and technology/ bandwidth issues needs to be immediately improved, the report dated August 29 suggested. The top court could consider exploring the possibility of developing a separate software application which integrates the best practices across various applications, it added.

The report said that advocates were routinely either unable to log in or were automatically logged out during court proceedings, probably due to bandwidth/ capacity issues with the App. They also faced difficulties in re-joining the hearing if they were logged out for some reason.

Participants also complained that they were completely subject to the mercy of the Control Room and, on several occasions, were not unmuted in time, and hence were unable to present their arguments, it said.

These problems were more acute in batch matters involving large number of parties, the report added.

The survey was conducted by 5 AoRs - Bhabna Das, D Abhinav Rao, Harsh Parashar, Krishna Dev J and RV Yogesh.

The apex court started hearing cases through video conferencing on March 23, a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the national lockdown in view of the Coronavirus pandemic.

The hearing in Supreme Court is conducted through Vidyo app which can be downloaded on mobile phones and desktop. The platform is hosted on the servers of National Data Centre of National Informatics Centre. While the judges on the bench join the video conference from the residence of one of the judges, the lawyers join from their respective houses.

Another issue regarding video conference hearing which was highlighted by the survey report was that the lack of proper technical assistance from the court staff and a grievance redressal mechanism.

There is absolutely no clarity on who is to be contacted in case of any technical issue in connecting via the link shared, the report said.

A significant number of advocates experienced some stress owing to the link to the video conference being shared at the last minute, especially if they had to forward the link to a Senior Advocate / Arguing Counsel, it was pointed out.

Currently, links to the hearing are shared on Whatsapp groups specifically created each day for each court. It was suggested that the link for hearings for different virtual courts be published along with the cause list or sent to the concerned AoRs by automated e-mails sufficiently in advance.

This can, in the long run, eliminate the time and resources consumed in creating WhatsApp groups for different virtual courts every day for this purpose, and also reduce the anxiety caused due to receipt of links at the last minute.

94.7 percent of the participants (213 out of 225) also felt that the above issues can be best addressed by having separate designated officers for each virtual court, a demand which seems to have been accepted by the top court which on September 22 issued a circular giving contact details of dedicated court masters and court moderators for each court, who can be contacted for any assistance during video conference hearings.

The apex court has been frequently updating the standard operating procedure to address various issues faced by lawyers during video conference hearings. The court had on August 29 also invited sealed tenders for a comprehensive plan for video conference hearings including hardware and support.

The survey also covered other aspects like E-filing and listing of cases.

79.3 percent out of 213 advocates stated that they had used the E-filing Platform of the Supreme Court. 8 advocates (3.8 percent) stated that they had been unable to use it because of technical issues.

98 out of 166 (59 percent) advocates stated that they preferred E-filing to physical filing. However, a significant portion [41 percent] of advocates had faced some problems with the E-filing mechanism.

By and large, advocates feel that the interface is not user-friendly, unnecessarily requires filling in of too many details at the advocates end, and that the support from the Registry is inadequate. Advocates are also anxious about the diary numbers not being generated immediately on E-filing, unlike a physical filing. This leads to uncertainty for the advocate and the client about whether the filing has been acknowledged by the registry and whether this would cause further delay in the process, the report stated.

Only 4 participants actually expressed satisfaction with the existing E-filing system, it added.

68 out of 116 (58.6%) participants stated that they found the E-filing system of the Delhi High Court to be the most efficient.

The survey also pointed out shortcomings regarding listing of cases. 41.8 percent of the participants said they were able to get their matters listed only after filing a mentioning application indicating some urgency, the report said.

There was a significant delay of 10 days or more in listing of the cases of a large proportion of participants i.e. 34 percent. On some occasions, this delay was caused despite filing a mentioning application, which has remained pending for several days, it said.

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By Gwynne Dyer





The old calculation was simple and brutal: if you want to overthrow a tyrant, you must use violence. There was an occasional exception, like Gandhi's use of non-violent protest to gain India's independence, but people wrote that off as being due to the fact that the British Empire, being ruled by a democratic government, was too soft.



Tell that to the descendants of the tens of thousands of Irish, Kenyans, Malaysians, Yemenis, Iraqis, Egyptians, Afrikaners and sundry others who were killed for trying to leave the British Empire. It would be truer to say that Ghandian non-violence obliged the British to avoid massive violence in India (and Pakistan and what eventually became Bangladesh got a free ride out on the same ticket.)



And then, after bubbling underneath for four decades with a few partial successes like the American civil rights movement, non-violent tactics exploded into a kaleidoscopic range of peaceful revolutions in the later 1980s. From south and Southeast Asia (The Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, South Korea, Bangladesh) to Iran and the Communist-ruled countries in Eastern Europe, the technique seemed unstoppable.



Peaceful protest was drowned in blood in China in 1989, but it kept notching up victories elsewhere: the Soviet Union itself, most of France's sub-Saharan colonies, South Africa and Indonesia in the 1990s; Serbia, Philippines II, Georgia, Armenia, Ukraine and Lebanon in the 2000s; and Egypt, Tunisia, Syria, Ukraine II and Sudan in the 2010s.



But all the non-violent uprisings of the 2010-2011 "Arab Spring" except Tunisia's ended up being crushed by military coups or civil wars. And none of the current crop, in Belarus, Thailand and Algeria, are heading for a rapid or easy victory. Indeed, they might all fail. What is happening to this technique that once swept all before it?



It's more than three decades since this new technique startled the world, and dictators are not usually fools. They see what happened to their former colleagues who got overthrown, and start working out counter-strategies that weaken the determination and cohesiveness of the protesters.



For example, all but the stupidest dictators now know that while violence can scare individuals and small groups into silence, it is almost always a mistake to use it against very large groups. It just makes them angry, and they'll usually be back the next day in much larger numbers.



Your real objective, as a dictator, should be to trick the protesters into using violence themselves. Then the thugs who love a street-fight will rise to leadership positions in the protests while most other people withdraw, disgusted by the violence  and then you can use massive violence against the violent protesters who remain.



Dictators have also learned to block the internet and mobile phones at the first sign of protest, or to mine electronic communications between the protest organizers to stop small groups from uniting into an unstoppably big crowd. Keep that up long enough, and you may just wait them out.



Harvard politician scientist Erica Chenoweth is the go-to expert on this, and she has two very useful numbers for us. The first is that whereas non-violent movements to overthrow illegitimate regimes used to succeed half the time, now they win only one time in three. The other, more encouraging, is that if they can get 3.5% of the population out in the streets, they almost always win.



By this measure, the Belarus movement is still within reach of success. A total of 3.5 percent of Belarus's population is about 300,000 people, and the Sunday demonstrations since early August, including those in cities outside Minsk, probably come close to that figure most weekends. People are not yet bored, cowed, or in despair.



The protests in Thailand against former general and coup-leader Prayuth Chan-o-cha have not yet spread significantly beyond Bangkok, and the mostly student protesters are certainly not even 1 percent of the population. The movement continues to expand, but its long-term prospects are doubtful.



As for Algeria, the recent election of a new president closely linked to the last one (whom the protesters forced to resign last year) has brought the students back out into the streets in force. The Covid-19 lock-down robbed the movement of its momentum, however, and it is unlikely to regain it.



So maybe one success in three for regime change, just as Erica Chenoweth predicts. But her most important insight is that the 3.5 percent number probably applies to any popular protest movement, including those in democratic countries. The goals of those movements need not be limited to overthrowing dictators.



As she told the Harvard Gazette last year: "(3.5 percent) sounds like a really small number, but in absolute terms it's really an impressive number of people...Can you imagine if 11.5 million (Americans) were doing something like mass non-cooperation in a sustained way for nine to 18 months? Things would be totally different in this country."





Gwynne Dyer (gwynne763121476@aol.com) has worked as a freelance journalist, columnist, broadcaster and lecturer on international affairs for more than 20 years. He is the author of "Growing Pains: The Future of Democracy (and Work)."


High-profile City of Perth mayoral candidate Basil Zempilas, a Seven West Media broadcaster and commentator, has been warned by the WA Electoral Commission that his columns in Perth's daily newspaper are election material that must be authorised.

After complaints from other Lord Mayoral hopefuls about a column by Mr Zempilas in Friday's The West Australian, the WAEC returning officer told candidates she had discussed the issue with his campaign manager.

The returning officer said she had been assured there would be no repeat of the unauthorised material in the future.

Any further columns or media comment by the broadcaster would have to name who authorised it and opens the possibility Mr Zempilas and the newspaper will have to declare the financial value of the columns as a campaign donation.
GRAND HAVEN, MI  Shape, a Grand Haven-based automotive supplier, is looking to fill 150 openings.

The openings all for all shifts and pay a minimum of $13.50 per hour, the company says. Theres a $1 premium for second- and third-shift.

The majority of positions are entry to mid-level manufacturing roles, said Tim Wiseman, Talent Acquisition Manager for Shape Corp. All of our shifts are available for those individuals eager to jump back into the workforce and advance their career in the automotive industry.

The positions come with benefits, paid time-off and quarterly bonuses. The company also offers professional development and tuition reimbursement. To offer flexibility for workers with limited daytime availability during the week, the company is creating a weekend days position and nights position, the company said.

Those interested in applying for a job can do so at shapecorp.com/careers or text SHAPE to 97211. The company says its hosting virtual job fairs on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and that an appointment can be made to speak with a recruiter by phone.

Shape, a private company, was founded in 1974. It employs more than 4,000 people and has 17 facilities worldwide.

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Saudi Arabias King Salman made a rare address to the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday, using the moment to highlight the foundational notions of his regime  his steadfast commitment to the Palestinians, his stature as custodian of Islams holiest sites and his assertion that Iran is responsible for much of the regions instability.

The prerecorded speech to world leaders suggested that the 84-year-old king who delivers only a handful of public remarks each year, retains oversight of high-level policies despite the immense powers amassed by his son, the crown prince.

In delivering his remarks, he became only the second Saudi king to deliver a speech to the world assembly. The first was his late brother, King Saud, in 1957 at U.N. headquarters in New York. And like his brother's speech 63 years prior, King Salman noted the sacred role of Islam in Saudi Arabia and the importance that entails.

We in the kingdom, due to our position in the Muslim world, bear a special and historic responsibility to protect our tolerant Islamic faith from attempts by terrorist organizations and extremist groups to pervert it, Salman said.

He emphasized at the top of his speech that he was speaking from the birthplace of Islam, the home of its revelation  a reference to the Muslim belief that the word of God was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad some 1,400 years ago in the mountainous caves of Mecca.

Those words carry political undertones as well. Saudi rivals Turkey and Iran also profess to champion Muslim causes worldwide as part of a broader struggle for leadership of Muslims globally.

The king oversees a nation that is the Arab world's biggest economy and the planet's most prolific oil producer. Saudi Arabia has long been a close U.S. ally in the region and a strategic partner, though some in American politics worry where the relationship will go in coming years given the unpredictability of the brash Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman

Reading from a piece of paper and seated at a desk under a large portrait of his father, King Abdulaziz, the current monarch reiterated his support for Palestinian statehood as a prerequisite for recognition of Israel.

He said the Arab Peace Initiative, which offers Israel full ties with Arab states in exchange for concessions that lead to a Palestinian state, provides a basis for resolving the region's longest-running conflict. That 2002 initiative stands in stark contrast to the White House's Middle East Peace plan, which has been rejected outright by the Palestinians as one-sided in favor of Israel.

The king made no mention of recent deals struck by neighboring United Arab Emirates and Bahrain to formalize ties with Israel. The agreements were brokered by the Trump administration and branded by the Palestinians as acts of betrayal.

Despite the appearance Wednesday that Salman was in control of major policies, there are indications that change is already underway with Israel under the guidance of the crown prince. The divergent messages on the possibility of Saudi ties with Israel reflect what analysts call a generational divide between the world views of the prince and the king.

Salman hails from an era of leadership that holds with high regard the ideals of pan-Arab and pan-Islamic multilateralism. He was born just four years after his father founded the country by unifying tribes and establishing control over the western Hijaz region, where Mecca is located. He also witnessed the country's oil-fueled transformation, and as the governor of Riyadh helped to turn the desert capital into a city teeming with skyscrapers, highways, universities and malls. His reign marks the final chapter of power being passed from brother to brother from among the sons of King Abdelaziz as a new generation prepares for the throne.

The crown prince, on the other hand, reflects a cohort of younger Gulf Arab rulers whose policies prioritize national interests and greater self-reliance. He's pushed for localizing the production of defense equipment, transforming the economy to be less dependent on oil exports and overseen efforts to supplant a religiously conservative Saudi identity with one rooted in hyper-nationalism.

King Salman has backed his son by elevating him from near obscurity and handing him day-to-day decision making powers. He's stood by him amid the protracted Yemen war, international fallout from the killing of Saudi critic Jamal Khashoggi in 2018 and as Prince Mohammed moved to crackdown on dissidents, businessmen and sideline more experienced and senior royals in the line of succession.

It's unclear how much the king knows about controversies, such as the November 2017 debacle with then-Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, whom top Lebanese officials at the time said had been forced to resign and was being held in Saudi Arabia against his will before France's president personally intervened.

What was clear as Salman spoke Wednesday, though, was that his nation's views on nearby Iran remained unwavering. He blamed Iran for targeting Saudi oil facilities with missiles and drones last year, saying: It demonstrated that this regime has total disregard for the stability of the global economy or stability of oil supplies to international markets.

Yemeni rebel Houthis claimed responsibility for that attack and Iran has denied involvement. A U.N. probe concluded the missiles were of Iranian origin. The king said Iran interfered in Yemen by backing the Houthis when they ousted the internationally-backed government from the capital in late 2014, prompting the Saudi-led war there.

Salman said Saudi Arabia has tried to extend its hand over the years to Iran, but to no avail.

For observers of the kingdom with no access to the inner workings of the royal court, the U.N. speech was Salmans first public statement before cameras since he was discharged from the hospital for gall bladder surgery in late July.

___

Follow Dubai-based Associated Press journalist Aya Batrawy on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ayaelb.
New UK coronavirus cases hit 6,178 on Wednesday, according to the latest government data.

The number is the highest daily level since 1 May, when the UK was in full lockdown.

The government also said there had been 37 deaths of people within 28 days of a positive Covid-19 test, the same number as on Tuesday which itself was the most recorded since July 14.

The number of coronavirus cases has been rising rapidly in Britain, prompting the government on Tuesday to announce a series of new restrictions in a bid to curb a second wave of the outbreak.

The official statistics showed 409,729 people had tested positive for the virus with 41,862 deaths.

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, according to PA.

The surge in cases comes after Boris Johnsons government has introduced a raft of new measures designed to slow the spread of the deadly virus, with as little impact on the economy as possible.

These include a 10pm curfew for pubs, bars and restaurants, shop staff will have to wear face masks and maximum attendance at weddings will be reduced from 30 to 15 people.

Fines for breaking laws on gatherings and not wearing a mask will increase to 200 for a first offence.

But the prime minister warned significantly greater restrictions could be brought in if necessary.

The 10pm pub closures have also been introduced in Wales and Scotland.

But the government has said businesses, schools, colleges and universities will remain open.

As a result of the rise in coronavirus cases, on Wednesday chancellor Rishi Sunak called off plans for a Budget later this year, Treasury sources confirmed.

The chancellor had been expected to deliver his second budget of 2020 within the next few weeks, but this will not now go ahead. Mr Sunak is now weighing up plans for more support for businesses hit by the ongoing impacts of the pandemic.

Professor James Naismith, of the University of Oxford and director of the Rosalind Franklin Institute, said: Todays spike in positive Covid-19 cases is very unwelcome news. It is part of a trend and there is no doubt the virus is taking off again.

But he noted the sudden jump in cases could reflect issues in the testing system reporting.

It seems very unlikely we are back to a doubling of cases every three to four days. We will need to see a few more days of data to judge how fast case numbers are doubling.

Sadly, the increased numbers of positive cases will in time translate into serious illness and death. Medical and scientific advances will significantly reduce this toll compared to the height of the pandemic, provided that hospitals are not overwhelmed by excessive numbers of cases.

He added: We are not spectators, by isolating when ill, washing our hands, masking and distancing wherever possible we will all help reduce the toll. Whilst no one is absolutely safe from serious illness, the risk of Covid-19 is predominantly faced by the elderly and vulnerable.
Developer Avra Jain has lost a hearing against law firm Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney and former shareholder Richard Morgan, who had represented her in a former case involving a failed luxury condo project in Doral.

Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Michael Hanzman has ordered Jain to pay $2.4 million in attorney fees, according to the Daily Business Review.

The ruling marks the end of a decade-long dispute that began in 2009, when Jain hired the firm to represent her in a legal battle against her former business partner, Michael Cohen, over the Doral non-starter.

In 2015, a judge ruled in favor of Cohen and ordered Jain to pay $8.2 million in damages.

Buchanan continued to represent Jain during her appeal, which she lost. When the firm tried to collect its outstanding legal fees of $1.5 million in 2017, Jain sued the firm and Morgan, accusing them of legal malpractice.

In May, Judge Hanzman dismissed her lawsuit and Buchanan dropped its counterclaim against Jain. She has since appealed that decision.

After an Aug. 28 hearing, Jain was ordered to pay $2.4 million in fees incurred by Buchanan and Morgan to defend against her malpractice lawsuit. Jim Robinson, a partner of White & Case, represented Buchanan and Morgan during the lawsuit.
The government is extending the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy to next summer. In the early days of the pandemic Trudeau announced businesses would be eligible for a 75% wage subsidy for their employees for businesses that have seen a 30% decrease in revenue. The government says now is not the time for austerity.
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The last confirmation hearings for a Supreme Court nominee were a launching pad for Sen. Kamala Harris presidential campaign. Two years later, the looming confirmation battle for the nations highest court could help propel her into the White House.

In a year when the word unprecedented has been rendered basically meaningless, the California senators dual role as both a vice presidential nominee and one of the most prominent members of the Senate Judiciary Committee is a historical first. Progressives are hoping that Harris aggressive cross-examination of Brett Kavanaugh during the explosive 2018 hearings investigating allegations of sexual misconduct are a preview of a similar performance in the coming weeks as the panel considers President Donald Trumps potential third justice on the Supreme Courtthis time, under an even brighter spotlight.

Theres really only two political events that capture the attention of the whole country: Supreme Court hearings, and presidential and vice presidential debates, said Teddy Goff, co-founder and partner at Precision Strategies and former chief digital strategist for Hillary Clintons 2016 presidential campaign. Goff told The Daily Beast that no ones better in these kinds of settings than Harris.

No Democrat would have wished for it to play out this way, but its something of an opportunity that Senator Harris will have the chance to appear at one of each in quick succession, he said.

Harris performance during the Kavanaugh hearings was seen as a major boost for her presidential prospects, with donations for an anticipated run for the Democratic nomination pouring in in the weeks after Kavanaugh was confirmed to the Supreme Court. Harris aggressive questioningan exchange about reproductive rights that predated revelations that Kavanaugh had been accused of attempted sexual assault at a party decades before, in particularendeared her to progressives.

She really helped set the tone for the rest of the week, and its that kind of leadership that that we not only would expect to see from her again but really would hope then to see from the rest of the committee, said Chris Kang, chief counsel at Demand Justice, a progressive judicial advocacy organization.

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The Kavanaugh performance was even more indelible for Trump, who has publicly and repeatedly referenced Harris nasty questioning from the Kavanaugh hearings since she joined the Democratic ticket in August.

She treated Kavanaugh very badly, Trump told a North Carolina audience on Saturday, one day after the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a feminist icon and unofficial head of the Supreme Courts liberal wing. Nobody ever suffered like Justice Kavanaugh suffered in the hands and the mouths of those horrible people. The way he was tortured was disgraced... and the leader of the pack I would say was, Kamala was the worst.

Trump is weighing the electoral benefits of those on his shortlist to replace Ginsburg on the court, and has reportedly been counseled that whoever he nominates will effectively be your running mate in November, according to CNNwhich makes the potential face-off between Harris and the as-yet-unnamed nominee as high-stakes an engagement as the upcoming vice presidential debate.

Presidential campaign donations dont usually get measured in dollars per minute, said one Biden campaign bundler, but there is literally no greater showcase for how prepared the Biden-Harris ticket is to govern on Day One than to see a potential future vice president in action only weeks before the election. Were going to shatter fundraising records into a million pieces.

Harris performance could also broaden the scope of confirmation hearings from the qualifications of the as-yet-unnamed nominee to encompass the entire electionparticularly health care. A case determining the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act is set to be heard by the Supreme Court only days after the general election, and control of the chamber is increasingly a winning issue for Democrats, with 60 percent naming the court as one of their top priorities.

Pete Buttigieg Playing Mike Pence in Kamala Harris Debate Prep: Report

I think that shell have a much different approach to not just interrogate the particular nominee about specific statements they made, Kang said, but I think that that Senator Harris does a very good job at widening the lens overall, and thats what I would expect to see from her.

Harris has previewed that strategy in recent days as the Biden campaign has placed a particular focus on the future of the ACA in the context of the Supreme Court. During a virtual fundraiser with California donors on Monday, Harris called Ginsburgs death a gut punch, and pushed allies to focus on the bigger picture of what the general election could mean for all three branches of government.

Use your voice in your role of leadership in a bully pulpit that you have, each one to remind people of what is at stake in terms of their lives and the outcome of this election, Harris said.

Donors are listening, if recent fundraising numbers are any indication. Democratic coffers have flooded with donations following Ginsburgs death. Within three days, progressives had donated more than $160 million through progressive digital donation hub ActBlue, with a particular focus on backing candidates who could potentially flip the Senate back into the Democratic column.

Harris herself sought to capitalize on a similar financial boon in 2018, sending out a fundraising blast to her supporters highlighting the reproductive health care exchange during the Kavanaugh hearings.

I know youre standing with me in this fight, and I appreciate everything youve done so far, the email said at the time.

But strategists see a risk in Harrisor any Democratturning a confirmation hearing into a Biden campaign rally, particularly as the loose tally of likely Republican votes for the eventual nominee make confirmation a fait accompli.

I dont expect to see any showboating or presidential campaigning, Goff said. I think she will show up to do the job that her position on the committee demands, ask great questions, and help make the case that whichever partisan ideologue Donald Trump will have nominated doesnt deserve to be seated before the inauguration.

But Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who has demonstrated a remarkable facility for outmaneuvering Democrats on court nominations during his time as majority leader, has broad discretionary powers when it comes to scheduling the confirmation hearings.

As it is, the schedule will be extremely tight. Trump has vowed to name his nominee this Saturday, and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, vowed on Monday night to pass the nominee through committee to the Senate floor to confirm Justice Ginsburgs replacement before the election.

That leaves a mere 38 days from nomination to confirmation, made even shorter by a planned state work period allowing those senators up for re-election to spend the majority of October campaigning in their home states. With most senators released into the wild, the possibility remains that the vacancy may not be filled until shortly after the election.

Alternatively, the hearings could be scrapped entirely, with the nominee being moved straight to the floor by McConnell to avoid contentious hearings, a move that has the double-sided benefits of putting the nominee on the court even faster while denying the opposing partys vice presidential nominee a prominent spotlight.

The Biden campaign told The Daily Beast that until the schedule is announced sometime next week, they will continue with debate preparations and traditional campaigninginsofar as it still existsapace.

We dont actually have a nominee yet for the seat, cautioned a campaign spokesperson. Until we have a name, a hearing schedule, etc., we are continuing on with campaigning.

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$300 Unemployment Boost Ends in at Least 7 States

The Trump administrations Lost Wages Assistance program, which offered $300 a week for up to six weeks after the $600 boost to jobless benefits lapsed in July, is running out in a number of states.

At least seven statesincluding Arizona, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and Texashave ended payments for the weekly unemployment supplement, according to a Lost Wages Assistance tracker. Twenty-nine states are in various stages of disbursing the payments, while a handful are still in the processing phase.

The Lost Wages Assistance Program, which is funded by the Department of Homeland Securitys Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and was enacted by a presidential memorandum, provides up to $400 per week in additional benefits, with $300 coming from federal funds, while $100 is an optional top-up from state coffers.

President Trump has authorized FEMA to use Stafford Act disaster relief funds to provide supplemental payments for lost wages. Up to $44 billion in Disaster Relief Funding is available to support this initiative, FEMA says on the programs website.

As more states run out of funds under the program, jobless workers face the prospect of no more federal aid, as Congress and White House officials remain locked in a stalemate over more stimulus measures.

Meanwhile, tens of millions of American workers continue to collect unemployment in all programs nationwide, according to Labor Department figures.

The agencys most recent jobless claims report (pdf), released on Sept. 17, showed 29.8 million people claiming benefits in all programs in the week ending Aug. 29, an increase of nearly 100,000 from the previous week. In the comparable week in 2019, there were about 1.5 million people claiming unemployment benefits, which shows the colossal impact the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus crisis has had on the labor market.

Unemployment insurance claims indicate that job growth will be slower through the rest of 2020 and that full recovery in the labor market will take years, said Gus Faucher, chief economist at PNC Financial.

Top U.S. economic policymakers opened the door on Sept. 22 to further aid for small businesses hit by the virus-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 Chairman 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.

After a historic crash during March and April, when many stores were closed, the economic rebound has been surprisingly strong. The economy added 1.371 million jobs in August and has recouped 10.6 million of the 22.2 million jobs lost at the depth of the CCP virus crisis. In his testimony, Powell said there had been marked improvement in many other economic measures.

Still, Mnuchin and Powell said they were looking for ways to extend more help, with the Fed chairman saying that aid to small businesses would better come through a grant-type program such as the Paycheck Protection Program.

While the economic rebound has been strong, particularly in sectors like equities and housing, there remains a broad sense among economists, including at the Fed, that the recovery will lapse if further aid is not provided, especially to families and small businesses.

Reuters contributed to this report.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), (Front C), flanked by House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) (R), House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) (L), House Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) (2nd L), House Committee on Oversight and Reform Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) (C), and House Ways and Means Chairman Richard Neal (D-Mass.) (2nd R), speaks as Democrats announced articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump during a press conference at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, on Dec. 10, 2019. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Top Democrats Unveil an Anti-Corruption Reform Package

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Chairs of various House committees on Wednesday unveiled an anti-corruption package that updates the post-Watergate reforms, with most crafted in response to the actions taken by President Donald Trump and his administration.

The Protecting Our Democracy Act is a 158-page document that includes reforms, such as who the president can pardon. Pelosi said, Our chairs have crafted a robust reforms package that can stand up and prevent an assault on our democracy, including abuse of the pardon power.

The legislation was offered by critics of President Trump including, Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), Oversight Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), Budget Chairman John Yarmuth (D-Ky.), House Administration Chair Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), House Foreign Affairs Chairman Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.), and House Ways and Means Chairman Richard Neal (D-Mass.) and other top members of House committees.

Our democracy is not self-effectuatingit takes work and a commitment to guard it against those who would undermine it, whether foreign or domestic, the seven House committee chairs unveiling the bill said in a statement. It is time for Congress to strengthen the bedrock of our democracy and ensure our laws are strong enough to withstand a lawless president.

The Democrats referred to President Trumps pardon of Roger Stone, whom they say was a close associate to Trump and under the reform would be prohibited.

This package is future-focused, intended to ensure checks and balances, not only during this term but for any future president, said Pelosi at a press conference on Wednesday.

The White House did not immediately respond to The Epoch Times for comment.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) prepares for a markup hearing on a series of bills on Capitol Hill in Washington on Sept. 10, 2019. (Patrick Semansky/AP Photo)

The package also includes a provision that authorizes the House and Senate to be able to enforce subpoenas. Nadler criticized the Trump administration for not complying with past House subpoenas.

For example, the administration has defied congressional subpoenas time and again in investigations on topics ranging from manipulation of the census, to obstruction of justice, and even during the impeachment process, said Nadler. Congresswoman Madeline Deans bill, which provides an expedited streamlined process for the House and Senate to enforce the subpoenas in the courts, and to ensure that we can conduct proper oversight, Nadler added.

Another provision in the package is a bill that gives additional anonymity to whistleblowers and protection from retaliation. Chairwoman Maloney said, We are witnessing a president who retaliates against whistleblowers and inspectors general, obstructs investigations to root out waste, fraud, and abuse and openly mocks the law. It must stop.

(The bill) give[s] whistleblowers the opportunity to challenge retaliation in court and prohibit disclosing a whistleblower identity, Maloney continued.

The package includes another bill that would restrict who the president can appoint to a federal position and another that would punish officials for violating the Hatch Act by fining them $50,000 if they do not abide by the rule.

Chairman Yarmuth introduced a bill that would require the president get Congressional permission before withholding any funds, and require more transparency and oversight of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

I introduced a bill called the Congressional Power of the Purse Act, and that is Title V of the Protecting Our Democracy Act, has three major tenants it restores Congresss central role in funding decisions. It increases transparency and accountability on the behalf of the administration through OMB. And it strengthens existing budgetary law in a number of ways.

Chairwoman Lofgren said, An important aspect of these reforms is to protect our elections from foreign interference.

Lofgrens bill requires political campaigns to report any interference by foreign governments in the election process. It seeks to prohibit opposition research, and private polling.

Today is the latest step in our critical effort to hold this president and all presidents accountable. This bill is the culmination of many works many months of work by the Caucus to identify the most crucially needed reforms to our laws to constrain a lawless president, said Rep. Schiff.

The legislation has no chance of passing, although Schiff said, I think these reforms will have bipartisan support next year.
Britain has sent evidence on two alleged Islamic State militants to the United States after UK High Court rejected the request by the mother of one of the suspects to block its transfer. Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh are alleged to have been members of an infamous IS cell dubbed The Beatles, who were behind the killings of hostages in Iraq and Syria in 2014.

The suspected IS terrorists are currently in US military custody in Iraq and have denied the charges of involvement in the beheading of American journalists and British aid workers. The United States has been seeking cooperation from the UK but a legal fight over the use of death penalty hindered assistance.

Pleased to say that the further evidence to support the prosecution of Kotey & El Sheikh has now finally been transferred to the US. I sincerely hope that justice for the victims and their families will now be served, UK Home Secretary Priti Patel wrote in a tweet.

Read: US Vetoes UN Resolution Over Repatriation Of Islamic State Terrorists

Read: Bahrain Claims It Stopped terrorist Attack Backed By Iran In Early 2020

Assurance over no death penalty

Last month, the US Department of Justice gave assurance to the UK that it will not seek the death penalty in any possible prosecutions against Kotey and Elsheikh if Britain grants the mutual legal assistance request. In a letter to UK Home Secretary, Attorney General William Barr said that even if a death penalty is imposed against any of the suspects, it will not be carried out.

The US Attorney General had said that the suspects face charges of kidnappings, murders, and other violent crimes against the citizens of the UK, US, and other countries. Barr had stressed that the US prosecutors should have the important evidence requested from the UK to hold Kotey and Elsheikh responsible for their terrorist crimes.

Moreover, we will not transfer any evidence already or subsequently provided to us by the United Kingdom to third countries that might impose the death penalty upon Kotey or Elsheik, he wrote.

Read: MHA Reveals 'no J&K Politician Under House Arrest'; Dip In Terrorism Since Art 370 Removal

Read: Venezuela Announces Terrorism Charges Against US 'spy' Plotting To Blow Up Power Plants
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.
Below is the transcript of a CNBC Exclusive interview with Richard Levin, President Emeritus, Yale University. If you choose to use anything, please attribute to CNBC, Martin Soong, and Sri Jegarajah.

Sri Jegarajah (SJ): Let's talk more about this with Richard Levin, President Emeritus at Yale University, also a senior advisor at online learning platform Coursera. He's participating at this year's Singapore Summit and joins us from New Haven, Connecticut. So thank you very much for joining us. My experience as a parent: kids have been remarkably flexible and adapted very well to online learning, given this COVID environment, but it's not been the case, everywhere in the world. Just how has COVID affected the world of education?

Richard Levin (RL): It's a massive impact, as I think you know, about 1.6 billion students who are displaced from their schools. That's from all the way from kindergarten through university. And so the impacts have been huge. I think you're right to say that there's been quite a bit of resiliency that students are learning, although there's a tremendous gap opening up between students who are most capable of taking advantage of online resources and those who can't. You know, both the home environment being too crowded, too inhospitable to learning online has been a problem and so far. So we see many schools reopening in the United States - some of them you might argue prematurely given the incidence of the disease in the surrounding areas - but that experience is imperfect also. So we're struggling. It's not the greatest world we're living in right now. The student experiences reveal.

SJ: Richard, the lessons learned here are like education, health care, as well. It has been woefully under-invested and the upshot, at the end of the day is that more money needs to be deployed in education and in health care.

RL: Well, I think that's true, but I believe money is not is not the big issue right now for education. I think solving the health problem just like everything else. The economy won't get fixed till the health issues are resolved. And education won't get entirely fixed until the health crisis is resolved. So we really need a vaccine widely distributed, we need to accelerate that distribution as much as possible in order to have a life begin to return to normal. That money has helped ease the burden for schools and colleges and universities in the United States. But you know, learning is going online, students are getting educated, and the money is flowing enough to keep the schools alive. So I don't think that's the biggest issue at the moment. The biggest issue is solving the health crisis.

Martin Soong (MS): Yeah, Rich, this is Martin. Let me quickly jump in with a question here. You know, the efficacy of what you're into, Coursera's into, online learning is only beneficial if kids have access, can get online for parts of the world. And there's still a huge swathe here, which fall on the wrong side of the digital divide. What happens then? Do they just fall out of school? I mean, do they just drop out and not go back in it? And what do you do about that?

RL: We know, platforms like Coursera are fully accessible on mobile phones and the penetration of mobile phones in developing countries is getting to be pretty extensive. So there's a significant remaining problem, particularly in Africa, about access. But things are improving considerably. And the penetration of online platforms throughout the world is quite impressive. One of the things we've learned in this period where universities were forced to go online is that all of the lessons that platforms like Coursera have learned over the last eight years or so, have been incredibly useful for existing efforts by the current efforts by universities. We're seeing a tremendous increase in in utilization of online platforms over the past six months.

SJ: Richard, what do you consider the story from the university point of view and we know that this new guidance from Ice is proving to be quite a big challenge for foreign students. If I could get a visa I would definitely go, so says one quote in the Wall Street Journal. Is the US turning away the best minds potentially through its immigration policy?

RL: Absolutely, I think we're making a big mistake in restricting immigration of students who are admitted to our schools. They should be allowed to come even if instruction is fully online, and be in university communities where they can benefit from the learning from their colleagues and from the general environment of devotion to learning. America, you know, is the nation of immigrants. Our economic strength and our robustness as a democracy depends on a continuing flow of immigrants and we especially benefit from high-skilled, highly-talented immigrants of the sort that attend US universities.

SJ: Richard, I'm always telling my kids that you never stop learning and especially in this digital age when upskilling is such a big story. And it seems that the biggest challenge to job security is coming from AI, from automation. Do you believe that enough is being done from a policy point of view to transition the workforce, whether it's through upscaling etc., to the digital economy?

RL: Nowhere near enough. That is to say there's very little policy response in the US in terms of, you know, training people in throughout their careers in skills. The private market is stepping in, and a number of philanthropies are helping to give assistance to retraining, but by and large, the federal government has been pretty quiet. Now we have had, we've seen some good work by state governments in developing workforce training programs. And in fact, Coursera offered its entire learning platform for free to state governments for their use in workforce development. And we've seen considerable uptake on that, but it just takes time. And it does take resources and there are many government policies that should be changed to facilitate and ease the efforts at training people who are out of work and training people who are trying to transition from low-skill, low-income jobs, to higher-skill, higher-income jobs. I mean, there's excellent material for all kinds of professions and occupations that aren't getting increasingly high-quality and we could do much, much better.

MS: All right, and Rich, excellent talking to you as well, appreciate the time. Keep safe and we'll do it again very soon, I hope. Rich Levin - 20 years the President of Yale joining us live.

END

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 00:49:46|Editor: huaxia

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DAR ES SALAAM, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania's anti-corruption watchdog on Wednesday warned politicians and the general public to observe election laws saying anyone breaching the laws will face the music.

John Mbungo, the director general of the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB), said the anti-graft body was monitoring the conduct of politicians and the general public toward the Oct. 28 general election.

"Let me remind politicians and the public that PCCB is monitoring their conduct during the electoral process, including election campaigns, to ensure that election laws are not broken," he told a news conference in the capital Dodoma.

Over 29 million Tanzanians have registered to choose the president, members of parliament and councillors in the coming election. There are about 57 million people in the east African nation.

Incumbent President John Magufuli is seeking re-election as candidate of the ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi.

Fourteen opposition politicians are also battling for the country's top office. Enditem
The Department of Health has confirmed 234 new cases of Covid-19 in the country, 103 of which is in the capital.

The Department has also confirmed two further deaths.
WARSAW, Poland, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Over the last 1.5 years, the CIECH Group implemented a series of improvements in the production of soda ash in the Group's Polish plants, which account for the annual production of soda of nearly 1.5 million tons. The activities resulted in smoother production, a more efficient exploitation of raw materials in technological processes and a reduced rate of CO2 emissions per ton of soda ash produced. The Group will continue its activities aimed at reducing CO2 emissions by around 30 percent in the period of the next five years vs year 2019, which in the face of rising CO2 certificate prices remains the main challenge for soda manufacturers. Combined with the growing CAPEX aimed at reducing emissions, this may lead to pressure on increasing soda prices on the European market.

Soda ash production is energy-consuming - in both Polish plants of the Group there are dedicated heat and power plants supplying process steam necessary for soda ash production. Energy efficiency is one of the key determinants in terms of production expenses and the competitiveness of soda production.

"Coherently with our strategy, over the last 1.5 years we have been working intensively to improve the efficiency of soda production. The discernible reduction of unscheduled production outages, the increase of the actual levels of soda production and the decrease of CO2 per ton of soda ash produced are amongst the results of our work, which translate into real savings," says Dawid Jakubowicz, President of the Management Board of CIECH S.A.

Over the last year, the CO2 emission rate per ton of soda in the Polish plants has seen a reduction by approx. 2%, which enables savings of several million zlotys a year, while the effective production capacity[1] has already increased by approx. 1.5%. CIECH is taking advantage of the growing competitiveness achieved as a result of the activities in the Sales & Operations Planning area. This allowed CIECH to use the production capacity and simultaneously optimize the amount of raw materials in the soda production process. The result is a smooth production process and an appropriate level of stocks.

"This is just the beginning, as we are in the process of implementing a plan to increase the efficiency of soda production. We plan further initiatives, including significant ventures such as the partial transition to gas in our Inowroclaw plant, as well as the development of 150 initiatives related to increasing the efficiency of our heat and power plants. These efforts have an ample impact on the level of our competitiveness and reflect our determination to emphasize our position on the CEE soda ash market," says Dawid Jakubowicz.

After stopping the plant in Romania, which produced over 500,000 tonnes of soda per year, CIECH focuses on the maximum use of the potential of the plants in Poland and Germany and supplying customers in Europe with soda ash. The possible scenario of a further increases in the prices of CO2 certificates (which have tripled since the beginning of 2018), raw materials or capital expenditures for the "green energy transformation" may translate into an increase in soda prices on the European market.

"Theentire soda production industry based in Europe operates under the same conditions and everyone is aware of the obligation to meet the ambitious objectives defined by the European Union. However, higher CO2 certificates and raw material prices, combined with investments related with decarbonization, and a limited supply of soda, especially in Central and Eastern Europe, may be reflected in the prices this resource in Europe," emphasises Dawid Jakubowicz.

In order to reduce the level of CO2 emissions, the CIECH Group is implementing a multi-faceted decarbonisation strategy which assumes, among others, partial transition to gas, modernisation of combined heat and power plants in Poland, as well as the use of photovoltaics as a source of electricity and heat in the Group's plants. In total, in the next five years, CO2 emissions could be reduced by 30 per cent vs year 2019.

"Althoughthese initiatives differ in scale and implementation horizon, they have one common denominator - reducing CO2 emissions, and thus improving CIECH's competitiveness and implementing the idea of sustainable development of the entire Group as part of our strategy," sums up Dawid Jakubowicz.

Apart from issues related to the reduction of CO2 emissions, in the soda area, CIECH is intensively implementing solutions involving the optimization of the production process through digitization, in order to increase efficiency through Advanced Process Control solutions or the use of neural networks.

In terms of costs, the soda plants are implementing the so-called insourcing strategy (resigning from third-party subcontractors and relying on the Group's own resources) of repair and maintenance processes for production lines through CIECH Maintenance, a company operating since the beginning of the year.

The CIECH Group manufactures light and heavy soda in two plants - Inowroclaw and Janikowo. The production capacity of these factories stands at 1.5 million tons per year. In addition, the German soda factory located in Stassfurt produces approx. 610 thousand tons of soda annually. The total soda manufactured by the CIECH Group gives it the position of the second largest producer in the European Union.

CIECH is an international, expanding chemical group, with a strong standing on European and global markets and with a stable strategic investor (Kulczyk Investments). The company exports its products to over 100 countries around the world, including soda ash, purified soda, salt, plant protection agents, epoxy and polyester resins, polyurethane foams, silicates, and glass packaging. CIECH manufactures products of the highest, world-class quality, which are further used to produce articles which are essential in the everyday life of people all over the world. At the same time, it combines a modern approach to business with the tradition of production which dates back to 1882. Since 2005, the company has been listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange and, since 2016, on one of the largest stock exchanges in Europe: Borse Frankfurt.

More information is available at www.ciechgroup.com.

1. Effective production capacity reflects actual production vs. its nominal level resulting from the construction of a soda production line.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1278220/CIECH_Logo.jpg
LANSING, MI  Citing a dangerous reality created by global climate change, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive order aimed at making the states economy completely carbon neutral by 2050.

Theres no time to waste when it comes to fighting climate change, Whitmer said during a United States Climate Alliance online panel. Weve got to act now."

Whitmer signed the order on Sept. 23, laying out steps for the state Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to implement a plan for carbon neutrality within 30 years.

Michigan is the ninth U.S. state to aim for the 2050 target.

Under the order, a new Council on Climate Solutions within EGLE will create the MI Healthy Climate Plan with the task of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning toward carbon neutrality throughout the economy.

The council will include directors or representatives from nine state agencies and 14 state residents appointed by the governor from a range of sectors, experiences and expertise relevant to this issue.

Whitmer wants a draft climate plan from EGLE by next September and final plan by the end of 2021.

Her order includes an interim goal of 28 percent carbon reductions by 2025.

EGLE must also develop a comprehensive environmental justice analysis that the Michigan Public Service Commission will use for long-term energy planning. The Department of Treasury will also launch an internal initiative to help support communities and workers when fossil fuel facilities retire.

The science is clear," Whitmer said. "The earths climate is now changing faster than at any point in history. Were facing a global climate crisis that directly impacts our environment, our economy, our residents, communities of color and low income Michiganders are suffering disproportionately.

Republican leaders in Lansing greeted the plan with skepticism and criticized Whitmer for acting by executive order. The GOP-controlled Legislature has battled Whitmer over her use of such orders in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Majority Leader is not surprised by the Governor using an EO to attempt to control the climate as she has used EOs to try and control everything else in Michigan, said Amber McCann, spokesperson for state Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clark Lake. Furthermore, the industry and the marketplace are driving technological advancements in cleaner, more efficient energy  regardless of government mandates.

Michigans two largest utilities, Consumers Energy and DTE Energy, are already working on carbon reduction on a similar timeline. DTE wants to reach net zero emissions by 2050 and Consumers by 2040. Those efforts include moving away from old coal-fired power plants toward natural gas plans and expanding renewable generation.

The climate issue has risen in prominence in Michigan lately due to extreme weather; including major flooding and skies that have been filled with smoke thats traveled across the continent from California wildfires. The Great Lakes water levels have surged to record heights less than a decade after hitting historic low marks. Scientists attribute the shift  in years, not over decades as normal  as being driven in part by climate change.

Catastrophic dam failures that unleashed historic flooding on Midland in May are also seen by experts as being climate-related. The rainfall that preceded the flood dropped extreme amounts on areas with already saturated soils. The state has experienced several of its wettest periods on record over the past five years. Michigans wettest year on record was 2019. Five other states across the Midwest followed suit last year.

Whitmers announcement was greeted with wide acclaim from the state environmental and clean energy communities. Supportive statements were released by the Michigan Climate Action Network, Clean Water Action, Environment Michigan, Sierra Club and other groups.

The groups said climate mitigation work must move forward with urgency, citing climate scientist reports that call for a 40 percent reduction in greenhouse emissions this decade in order to stave off the worst expected climate impacts.

They urged elected leaders to support policies that accelerate adoption of electric vehicles, increase renewable solar and wind energy development and stop new fossil fuel infrastructure like the Line 5 tunnel under the Straits of Mackinac.

Kate Madigan of the Michigan Climate Action Network said investing in climate solutions will bring economic benefits.

It will reduce pollution, saving lives, and creating healthier communities for our families, and create thousands of good-paying jobs, she said.

The Michigan Chemistry Council also praised the effort, saying it was encouraged by an attention to energy-efficient building and noting that the business of chemistry plays a critical role in achieving a sustainable future by enabling innovations like solar panel materials, batteries for electric cars, and lightweight vehicle parts.

Attorney General Dana Nessel also issued supportive remarks in a video, saying the nation needs stronger environmental laws and criticized Trump administration regulatory rollbacks. Her office distributed a list of eight climate-related cases around the country Nessel is involved in that challenge federal efforts to weaken such environmental regulations.

With raging fires out west, tropical storms and hurricanes that are slamming the south, and major ice floes that are literally melting away in Alaska, its clear that climate change is a very real thing  not some smoke-and-mirrors voodoo, Nessel said.

Organizers with the youth-led Sunrise Movement, which wants to see more aggressive climate actions than what many centrist Democrats around the country support, praised Whitmers move as sending the right signal but said the plan should include a more ambitious target than 2050.

Knowing the situation with the Legislature she has to work with in Michigan, its not to see the signal shes sending, but its literally not enough, said Nicholas Jansen, regional organizer for Sunrise in Ohio and Michigan.

Jansen noted that Democrat presidential candidate Joe Bidens climate plan calls for nationwide carbon-free electricity by 2035.

Whitmer said Michigan plans to start increasing energy efficiency in state buildings and facilities, and reduce the government facility energy use by 40 percent by 2040.

When we combat climate change and we improve the health of almost every Michigander, were going to save millions, Whitmer said.

We owe it to our kids, we owe it to our grandchildren to leave them a cleaner, safer, and healthier world.

Related stories:

$15 million for Pure Michigan included in budget plan

Paper mill plans 221% boost in greenhouse emissions

Experts: Kalamazoo climate action plan worth challenges

Dam break shows need to plan for changing climate

Great Lakes surge to record levels

Michigan ready to tackle climate, says EGLE director
Bengaluru, Sep 23 : Karnataka is facing a financial crunch, evident from a record 255 per cent increase in its net debt for fiscal 2018-19, an official said on Wednesday while citing a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report.

"In its state finance audit report, the CAG red-flagged that Karnataka's net debt was Rs 17,766 crore in 2018-19 financial year, a whopping increase of 255 per cent over the 2017-18 fiscal," said the report, which was tabled in the state legislature on Tuesday.

A 6-day Monsoon Session of the legislature began on Monday after it was delayed due to the Covid-induced lockdown and surging virus cases across the southern state.

To meet the growing expenditure, the previous Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S)-Congress coalition government borrowed heavily -- 55 per cent of the debt from the open market, 27 per cent from public account, 6 per cent from national social security fund and 5 per cent from the central government.

A fractured verdict in the May 2018 Assembly elections forced the outgoing Congress to ally with the JD-S to form the coalition government, with HD Kumaraswamy appointed the Chief Minister on May 23, 2018.

The resignation by 17 rebel legislators, including 14 from the Congress and 3 from the JD-S in July 2019, however, led to the fall of the 14-month-old coalition government on July 26, 2019 after Kumaraswamy lost the trust vote in the Assembly for want of a simple majority.

Holding the finance portfolio, Kumaraswamy presented two Budgets in July 2018 for fiscal 2018-19 and February 2019 for fiscal 2019-20.

The CAG found that an expenditure of Rs 2,901 crore was wrongly classified by oversight, while the supplementary provision of Rs 1,319 crore was unwarranted.

"The total provision for the fiscal under review was Rs 2.45 lakh crore and expenditure Rs 2.2 lakh crore, while Rs 25,139 crore remained unspent," said the report.

Reappropriation of funds in 27 cases was not judicious, resulting in excess provision.

Noting that the Supplementary Budget was also not properly assessed to be fiscally neutral, the report said it failed to curtail expenditure.

The report advised the BJP government to ensure adjustment of abstract contingent bills in the stipulated time.

"The tax revenue growth rate decreased to 11.13 per cent in 2018-19 from 12.1 per cent in 2014-15," the report added.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 12:40:19|Editor: huaxia

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Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves 10 Downing Street to attend Prime Minister's Questions at the House of Commons, in London, Britain, on Sept. 23, 2020. Johnson's controversial Brexit-related Internal Market Bill completed the first stage on Tuesday of its journey to becoming law. The bill, which ministers have admitted will breach the international law of Brexit agreement with the European Union (EU), passed its crucial second reading stage ahead in the House of Commons before heading to the House of Lords where it is expected to be given a stormy reception. (Photo by Tim Ireland/Xinhua)



LONDON, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's controversial Brexit-related Internal Market Bill completed the first stage on Tuesday of its journey to becoming law.

The bill, which ministers have admitted will breach the international law of Brexit agreement with the European Union (EU), passed its crucial second reading stage ahead in the House of Commons before heading to the House of Lords where it is expected to be given a stormy reception.

Johnson's Internal Market Bill addresses part of the Withdrawal Agreement -- the Northern Ireland Protocol, which is intended to ensure Northern Ireland can continue to enjoy unfettered access to markets in the rest of Britain.

It was published after London brushed aside warnings from Brussels that breaching the treaty would prevent any trade deal from being struck.

Johnson said the legislation was necessary to prevent the EU taking an "extreme and unreasonable" interpretation of the provisions in the Withdrawal Agreement relating to Northern Ireland.

A critical vote Tuesday was averted when Johnson's government accepted an amendment put forward by a group of rebel politicians from Johnson's own Conservative Party.

The amendment, which offers the British Parliament a say before proposed ministerial powers to break international law are used went through the Commons Tuesday night without a vote being taken.

Johnson's predecessor at 10 Downing Street, Theresa May, has announced in the House of Commons that she will oppose the bill after accusing the government of acting "recklessly and irresponsibly" without thinking of the long-term consequences.

The compromise reached between 10 Downing Street and the rebel MPs did not go far enough, said May, warning lawmakers in the Commons that breaching international law will cause "untold damage" to the country.

"I cannot emphasise how concerned I am that a Conservative Government is willing to go back on its word, to break an international agreement signed in good faith and to break international law," she told MPs in a Commons debate on Monday.

An amendment Tuesday put forward by opposition MPs was heavily defeated by 350 votes to 63, with Conservatives rallying around the government.

The Times in London reported late Tuesday that ministers are to delay the final stages of the Internal Market Bill until just days before a potential no-deal Brexit.

The Times said in a move being seen as an attempt to assuage the EU, ministers have indicated that the internal markets bill may not be debated in the House of Lords until after a make or break summit with EU leaders in mid-October. It could mean the bill not returning to the Commons for a final vote until December.

Britain ended its membership of the EU on Jan. 31, but is following the bloc's trade rules during a transition period which runs out on Dec. 31.

Britain and Brussels are currently seeking a post-Brexit trade deal to run from Jan. 1, 2021, but so far there are still a number of sticking points. Enditem
In harmony, a sound mind and a healthy body breed success but this is dependent on the accessibility of the service, especially first aid, and basic healthcare knowledge. The foundation of success in life is good health: that is the substratum fortune; it is also the basis of happiness. A person cannot accumulate a fortune very well when he is sick. - P.T. Barnum

FIRST AID

First Aid refers to medical attention that is usually administered immediately after the injury occurs and at the location where it occurred. It often consists of a one-time, short-term treatment and requires little technology or training to administer according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

THE LACK OF PREVENTATIVE HEALTH EDUCATION

In Sub-Saharan Africa, the degree of healthcare education is practically on the low, resulting in loss of lives since there is no immediate access to healthcare when the unfortunate happens.

Mr Nyantakyi and wife Jennifer are the founders of Elijeko Foundation, a US-Ghana based not-for-profit charitable organization with the mission of promoting preventative health education and disaster management training programs.

The activities of the organization are tailored to support the UNs Sustainable Development Goal 3, which is to Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. The foundation has volunteer Medical Doctors, Physician Assistants, and Nurses who offer education and training on various healthcare issues that affect most people in communities around Ghana.

They also go to schools, churches, and other communities to provide basic preventive and detection techniques for illnesses like cervical cancer and prostate cancer, breast cancer examination, infection prevention education, CPR and first aid administration training, upper respiratory infection, and education about other communicable diseases among others.

ELIJEKO FOUNDATION  THE IMPACT

According to the information gathered by their staff, Elijeko Foundation has had a profound impact, reach and influence on the communities they have served so far. The Executive Director, Mrs Priscilla Pokuaah stated that Elijeko Foundation has reached over 30,000 people through its health promotion and education.

Several high lights include hosting programs at the Methodist Girls High School in the Eastern Region and Wesley Girls High School in Kumasi, where they provided preventive health education and discussed the need for self-examinations. The services offered are vital for the communities and the families of the students and staffs are the beneficiaries of the Elijeko Foundations activities.

Furthermore, the foundations also have a partnership with the Ghana Federation of Disability Organizations (GFD), and other religious groups such as the Methodist Church in Abuakwa, Oracle City Ministry, Koforidua, and Assemblies of God in Ejisu.

We look forward to expanding our health promotion, education, and prevention services to Sub-Saharan African countries a, and the world at large, said Mrs Pokuaah.

2021 PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES

The foundation is implementing a Kiosk Clinic Initiative in partnership with a US-Based preventive health organization. The Kiosk Clinic project is an initiative that the foundation is starting in 2021 by converting shipping containers to mobile clinics that will provide routine medical, dental, and vision care. The services rendered by the clinic will be free and open to the public. The clinics will be situated at different locations in Ghana

The foundation also hopes to commence a wide range of training programs targeted at educational institutions in Ghana and other sub-Saharan African countries. The programs will focus on emergency medical care, firefighting, vehicle extrication, and water rescue training.

Dr Frederick Amakye is a board member and a Medical Officer at Asamankese Government Hospital said the foundation works with a US-based emergency management training charity and has conducted training workshops for NADMO officers in Afigya Kwabre and Sekyere Afram Plains District Assemblies as well as Bosomtwe Constituency.

Ms Maame Esi Arhin, an Implementation Consultant for the foundation said she is meeting with stakeholders in both Ghana Health Services and the Education Ministry to deliberate on how to incorporate cardiopulmonary resuscitation/basic life support training into the curriculum of schools in Ghana. The idea is to train our children in this important life-saving skill so they can share the information with their families. We will hit the ground running in 2021 and have started gathering the mannequins and other teaching materials needed for this program, she added.

THE LOVE FOR HEALTHCARE

Born in Kumasi with his secondary education at the KNUST Senior High School, Mr. Andrews Kwabena Nyantakyi is co-founder of Elijeko Foundation along with his wife, Jenifer. He is a preventive health educator with an academic background in Computer Network Security from the University of Maryland.

Currently, he is an Active Duty service member in the United States Navy, which he joined in 2012, and has served in various capacities in the most decorated rate in the United States Navy. He is enrolled in a graduate program at Florida International University, pursuing a Master in Health Informatics and Analytics, and is starting a nursing degree from George Washington University in January 2021. He hopes to build on the skills gained from military medical training and become a Family Nurse Practitioner.

His vision for Elijeko Foundation is to offer complete holistic medical services support to the peoples of Ghana and the greater African continent.

According to Mr Nyantakyi, the foundation hopes to create awareness that will promote disease-free communities, and we focus our programs to educate people on the current health challenges. Furthermore, he states, Our approach is simple: We partner with various organizations and communities to render health-related service by way of education or free health screening. We go to schools; we use social medial to educate users on current health concerns and how to prevent them. We have a weekly health talk show that reaches out to a large audience. We have received various positive feedbacks with our airwaves, social media, and face-to-face approach to health education.

Also, Mr Nyantakyi has a profound love for health and wellness, as a Hospital Corpsman, he has had the opportunity to serve with some of the best astute health care professionals in providing excellent medical care to military personnel and their families; a job he takes much delight in.

The Volunteers role

Volunteers play a major role in the operations of the foundation. The organization has a group of highly trained volunteer medical professionals who take part in critical functions in the foundations ability to provide free medical services.

Mrs Priscilla A. Pokuaah, also known as Dr Amma Peterking, is a medical practitioner with the Ghana Health Service and licensed with the Medical and Dental Council of Ghana. The obtained her Physician Assistantship degree from Presbyterian University College. She believes medicine should be used to save lives and in doing so, must be in the highest ethical standard.

Associated with Elijeko Foundation, she spearheads all medical projects the Foundation undertakes, adding, My work at the foundation is so vital to me because I love educating people about their health and environment issues. People are not informed about their health, and educating them makes me love my work as I keep saving lives while promoting and preventing health-related issues.

Mrs Helen Adjei-Prempeh, a Pediatric Nurse at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital is the volunteer coordinator for Elijeko Foundation and expressed the organizations willingness to welcome volunteers from all regions of Ghana to join their work.

Mrs Angelica Romasko, an Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner who works at a Naval Hospital in the United States expressed delight in the opportunity to serve as part of the volunteer medical team for the foundation. She indicated it has been a long desire of hers to participate in an international medical mission and was overjoyed that this organization is providing her the opportunity to serve the medical needs of the less privileged.

THE INVITATION

The foundation is accepting invitations from organizations, groups, and communities interested in hosting a health education session or free medical screenings. You can contact them through [email protected] or visit their website www.ngo.elijeko.com

By: Joseph Kwaku Kpormegbey

Email: [email protected]
All tourists inside the monument were evacuated after an anonymous caller phoned police on Wednesday morning and said a bomb had been placed inside the tower, according to an official with the towers management company.

Police cars and tape had surrounded the streets below the tower and the bridge stretching across the Seine River to Trocadero Plaza.

An officer at the scene said police found no signs of the threatened bomb.

Some tourists were still walking in the area during the police operation, including a group speaking Russian and carrying a bottle of Champagne.

The 131-year-old tower usually gets about 25,000 tourists daily but visits are down this year because of coronavirus travel restrictions.

While the Eiffel Tower is scheduled to be open every day, it occasionally closes because of suicide threats, bomb threats or labour strikes.
23.09.2020 LISTEN

Former President John Dramani Mahama has called on the international community to as a matter of urgency intervene in the electoral processes in Ghana.

He says they must take a keen interest in current happenings which he described as chaotic.

It follows allegations of electoral irregularities recorded in the ongoing voters' exhibition exercise amidst reports of missing names of voters from the register.

John Mahama and his running mate, Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang have both cut off their regional campaigns as a result of the issues with the provisional register.

Addressing a rally in the Bono Region before the suspension, John Mahama said the Electoral Commission should be held accountable should the country be plunged into a state of turmoil.

As things are going, we are not comfortable with the way the processes leading to the election. We call on the international bodies. They should take an interest in what is happening in Ghana. We want international electoral observers should come long in advance to supervise the electoral process.

Mahama took on the EC over what he describes as the electoral management body's legendary incompetence in handling issues relating to voter registration cards ahead of the country's general elections in December 2020.

John Mahama said too many issues have characterized the voter registration and exhibition exercises due to the EC's poor management.

Among other things, Mahama expressed regret over the allegations of missing names of registered voters from the electoral roll.

We had our agents at all the polling stations, supervising the registration. If there was an issue with compiling the register where the codes of the various equipment were found to be duplicates and it was necessary to issue new voters' cards, why were political parties not informed? And the point even is, if you issue those new voters' cards at the district office, how will the people whose cards are affected know, so they can go for the new cards? There is so much wrong going on. The incompetence of this EC is legendary, John Mahama said.

 citinewsroom
H UNDREDS of thousands of workers whose jobs are under threat when furlough ends were today given hope that they will be saved by new targeted support from the Treasury.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said Chancellor Rishi Sunak, was not minded to wholesale extend the furlough scheme next month, fuelling speculation that a more targeted replacement is being drawn up by the Treasury.

He also stressed that the Government was aiming to help as many viable businesses as possible to safeguard jobs after new tighter restrictions were imposed which could last six months.

One option reportedly being considered by the Chancellor is German-style wage subsidies as part of an emergency package of new support to stop a jobs carnage in the autumn.

The German Kurzarbeit (short work) system could see the Treasury subsidising the wages of workers for so-called short-time working.

Support is expected to be targeted at sectors which continue to be hit hard by the pandemic restrictions, including possibly hospitality, aviation and the arts.

Speaking on Sky News, Raab said: We have saved 12 million jobs, we have got the job retention bonus, the kick start scheme but I dont think the Chancellor is minded to wholesale extend the furlough scheme. We are looking at targeted measures.

He later stressed on Times Radio: I know that the Chancellor, within the challenges of the public finances is looking very carefully at introducing the targeted measures that will help businesses and jobs, and preserve as many of those as we possibly can.

Asked about German-style wage subsidies, he added: Of course, we look at the international practice.

Mr Sunak is coming under pressure from Tory MPs and business chiefs to unveil a rescue package very soon or in the Budget, which had been expected in November but may be delayed.

Former Cabinet minister John Redwood tweeted: Time for the Treasury to tell us how they will compensate businesses prevented from trading by the new six months controls.

The Governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey, also suggested that Mr Sunak needs to rethink plans to support firms, having previously backed ending the furlough scheme next month. He said weve moved from a world of generalised employment protection but help was still needed in some sectors.

Hospitality chiefs have warned of the severe blow of the new 10pm curfew for pubs, restaurants and bars across the country, while the aviation industry and theatres have been crippled by quarantine measures and social distancing rules.


Compare Dartmouths promised three Covid tests the first week and subsequent random testing of students with my alma mater Yale Universitys decision to up its testing to twice a week after an embarrassing faculty letter from the head of Yales Silliman College warned students that residence halls will resemble a hospital unit this fall, including deaths.

Random testing sounds uncomfortably like the CDCs sudden change in policy (August 27) to a more relaxed asymptomatic people need not be tested policy.
U.S. Army North said Wednesday that the 740 military medical and support personnel from the Army, Navy and Air Force who deployed to Texas and California in July for the commands coronavirus operations have returned home.

The redeployment occurred over the past three weeks as they were no longer required. The first to return to home station were 100 Air Force medical providers and support staff at five California hospitals. They redeployed Aug. 30.

Another 480 Army and U.S. Navy medical providers and support staff who had been at 13 Texas hospitals returned to their units from Sept. 8-10, the command reported.

About 100 Army and Navy personnel were the last to leave, redeploying Wednesday from three Texas hospitals.

The medical and support personnel were called to Texas earlier in the summer as coronavirus cases began to rise and were dispatched to hospitals across the state from Houston and San Antonio to the lower Rio Grande Valley.

The decision to send those personnel home ends Army Norths role in the COVID-19 response in Texas, but a spokesman, Bruce Anderson, cautioned they could be called back if needed.

Army Norths commander, Lt. Gen. Laura J. Richardson, is overseeing the militarys response to wildfires in California and the Southwest border mission, as well as hurricane response preparedness. The command oversees the militarys role in homeland defense, defense support of civil authorities and security cooperation with Mexico and Canada.

Through our defense coordinating officers and defense coordinating elements, we remain in constant coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and have carefully monitored conditions as they relate to COVID-19 in both Texas and California, Richardson said.

Sig Christenson covers the military and its impact in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Sig, become a subscriber. sigc@express-news.net | Twitter: @saddamscribe
Tom Cruise to film movie in space in 2021

Syracuse-born actor Tom Cruise is headed to space next year. TMZ reports the Mission: Impossible star is set to ride a SpaceX Crew Dragon rocket to the International Space Station in October 2021, where he will begin filming a new movie with Edge of Tomorrow director Doug Liman, according to the 2020-2023 ISS official manifest. Deadline reports images from the Space Shuttle Almanac show Cruise listed as Tourist 1 on the rocket, along with SpaceX Pilot Lopez Alegria, Tourist 2 Doug Liman and an unnamed third visitor -- Cruises co-star? Additional details have not been announced, but Cruise is working with Elon Musks company for NASAs first narrative film on a $200 million budget for Universal.

With the arrival of the @MBRSpaceCentre Astronauts @astro_hazzaa and @Astro_Alneyadi at @NASA_Johnson this week, can we assume they are the two Emirati crew members who will make the 6 mth stay on the #ISS in Oct 2022? pic.twitter.com/b2Sdr06hUc  Space Shuttle Almanac (@ShuttleAlmanac) September 21, 2020

Supergirl ending

E! News reports "Supergirl is ending after its upcoming sixth season. The CW, Warner Bros. TV and Berlanti Productions announced Tuesday that production will begin later this month on the final 20 episodes, which will begin airing next year. The superhero series, starring Melissa Benoist, premiered on CBS in 2015 before joining the rest of the Arrowverse on The CW. Arrow itself ended in January 2020 after eight seasons.

MORE BUZZ:

Hallmark reveals Christmas movie lineup ( ET

Elton John reschedules tour dates for 2022 ( Stereogum

Charles Oakley is first sent home on DWTS ( E!

Over the Moon trailer: Netflixs animated musical reimagines Chinese legend ( SF

The Amazing Race season 32 contestants revealed ( ET

O Brother Where Art Thou? cast reuniting for 20th anniversary ( RS

Taxi Driver cinematographer Michael Chapman dies at 84 ( SF

Teddi Mellencamp leaving Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' ( E!

The West Wing reunion special set for Oct. 15 on HBO Max ( RS

Supernova trailer: Stanley Tucci tackles dementia with Colin Firth ( SF

Alec Baldwin urges Ellen DeGeneres to keep going ( ET

Matt James' season of The Bachelor begins filming ( E!

Haunting of Bly Manor trailer revamps The Turn of the Screw ( RS

Buzz is a daily roundup of entertainment news about movies, TV, music and celebrities.
The Defence Secretary triggered a row last night by suggesting British troops had taken part in 'illegal wars'.

Ben Wallace appeared to question the legality of the Iraq invasion while standing at the Commons despatch box.

In a heated exchange with his Labour counterpart, Mr Wallace said: 'What we should recognise is much of the mess we are having to come and clean up today is because of your [Labour's] illegal wars, your events in the past.'

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace triggered a row last night after he appeared to question the legality of the Iraq invasion while standing at the Commons despatch box

Labour defence spokesman John Healey replied: 'That is not worthy of the office of the Secretary of State for Defence. This is too important for party politics. It should be beneath the Secretary of State to reduce this to party politics.'

The row came as MPs debated legislation the Government has said will mean service personnel will be protected from 'vexatious claims and endless investigations'.

Mr Wallace said the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill, which received its second reading in the Commons last night, would provide 'certainty' for troops.

The Bill seeks to limit false and historical allegations arising from overseas operations by introducing a statutory presumption against prosecution, making it exceptional for personnel to be prosecuted five years or more after an incident.

To override the presumption, the consent of the attorney general will be required. The prosecutor must weigh up the 'adverse impact of overseas operations on service personnel' and, where there has been no compelling new evidence, the public interest in cases coming to a 'timely conclusion'.

But campaigners and some senior military figures have warned that the legislation will create a presumption against prosecution of torture and other serious crimes, except rape and sexual violence.

General Sir Nick Parker, former commander of land forces, last week said he was worried that the focus on prosecutions 'risks us being seen as setting double standards'.

Mr Wallace (pictured with Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick) suggested British troops had taken part in 'illegal wars'

Mr Wallace, a former soldier who served in Northern Ireland, rejected claims that the Bill could decriminalise torture and murder.

He said: 'We've been told that this Bill is controversial. Some have gone as far to have said it decriminalises torture or prevents veterans from receiving compensation. Both allegations are untrue.

'It is our intention should new or compelling evidence be brought forward to prosecute for those offences. It is not decriminalising torture, it is not decriminalising murder.'

Mr Wallace added: 'We want the ability if necessary to allow soldiers to focus on the danger and job in hand in operations, not on whether they will have a lawsuit slapped on them when they get home.'

Afghanistan and Iraq were the major military campaigns in which Tony Blair sent British troops into combat. The latter proved particularly controversial.

In 2010, Nick Clegg was forced to clarify the government's position on the Iraq war after he denounced the invasion as 'illegal'. The then deputy prime minister made the remarks while standing in for David Cameron at Prime Minister's Questions.

Mr Clegg later stressed his opinion was a 'long-held' personal one and Downing Street said he was not speaking for the government.

The Conservatives backed the then Labour government's decision to commit troops to Iraq in 2003, with current key figures including Boris Johnson all supporting the war.
I m sorry to break this news to the PM, but that act where he pretends anyone who criticises the testing shambles is guilty of traducing the angels of the NHS is well, wearing a bit thin.

This week the PM took it to new levels of nonsense by making out that it was somehow a terrible personal attack on Dido Harding, the so-so boss of NHS Test & Trace . I must say that the continual attacks by the opposition on Dido Harding are unseemly and unjustified, cried Boris Johnson after Sir Keir Starmer pointed out that she had said something different to the Health Secretary.

A quick reality check is needed here: Baroness Harding is not some shy ingenue dragged kicking into the political spotlight. She is a former mobile phone company chief who owes her seat in the House of Lords to being part of Daves chumocracy at Oxford. Neither is she a fingers-worked-to-the-bone professor of epidemiology nor a penniless-but-devoted NHS nurse, both of whom might deserves a break if they screw up.

No, shes a barons daughter, married to a Tory MP, a card-carrying member of the governing party who has a job for life as a lawmaker on the Conservative benches of the unelected Upper House. In other words, she is a politician - and it is hard to imagine any public servant more deserving of fair scrutiny and perhaps a gentle duffing over if she makes a mess.

Sir Keir wasnt after her, in any case. Only the PM was in his crosshairs when he stood up for his first question at PMQs.

Three months ago today, the prime minister said test and trace can be a real game changer for us, said Labours leader. Yesterday, the Prime Minister said the complete opposite. Both positions cannot be right. Which one is it Prime Minister? The apparent contradiction refers to a comment made by the PM in the chamber when he declared that testing and tracing has very little or nothing to do with the spread and transmission of coronavirus. Starmer was not the only observer to be utterly baffled by these words.

Johnson breezily responded. It is an obvious fact of biology and epidemiology that alas, this disease is transmitted by human contact or aerosol contact. While true in itself, the reply made no sense.

The PM continued: "But it is one of the great advantages of NHS Test and Trace, which we did not have working earlier in the pandemic, that we now have the ability to see in granular detail where the epidemic is breaking out, exactly which groups are being infected.

"That's why we've been able to deliver the local lockdowns and that's why we're able to tell at this stage that it is necessary to take the decisive action we are ... to drive the virus down, keep kids in school and keep our economy moving." In other words, test and trace has everything to do with beating coronavirus.

Sir Keir replied: "Pretending there isn't a problem is part of the problem, Prime Minister."

Sir Keir in the Commons / PA

Labours leader is at his most effective when in prosecutor mode. Jabbing his left hand for effect, he revealed to the squirming defendant that his witnesses had given contradictory evidence. "Is the explanation from the PM that we haven't got enough capacity because nobody could have expected the rise in demand? That's the Dido Harding defence. Or is it we've got all the capacity we need, it is just that people are being unreasonable in asking for tests? That's the Hancock defence. So which is it?"

There was no good answer to this, which is perhaps why the Prime Minister rose up to declare in his best Captain Renault impression that he was shocked to find Lady Hardings name being traduced in an unseemly manner.

Johnson waved his arms in despair that political discourse could sink to such depths. He reproached Sir Keir: What I frankly want to hear is more of the spirit of togetherness that we had yesterday." Yesterday was when the Opposition meekly nodded through the new anti-Covid measures, asking neither for Sturgeon-style lockdown nor for jobs-friendly exemptions.

Starmer hotly replied: My wife works for the NHS, my mother worked for the NHS, my sister works the NHS so I'm not going to take lectures from the Prime Minister on supporting the NHS.

He said one in eight schoolchildren were off because there werent enough tests to show if everyday coughs were colds or Covid-19. "How on earth did we get into this mess?"

The Prime Minister claimed 99.9 per cent of our schools are now back" and could not resist adding, in spite of all his attempts throughout the summer to sow doubt on the idea that schools are safe.

Boris Johnson

Starmer objected: That is such a poor defence. He argued at length that it didnt matter whether a child had Covid symptoms or symptoms of other diseases if they were off school as a result. Actually, it does matter. The Governments policy is that kids without Covid symptoms should not have tests, because tests are scarce. Labours position is to say nothing about whether kids should have those scarce tests, but to decry the fact that tests are scarce in the first place. The public ear is sharp enough to detect that Sir Keirs position is one of decrying rather than choosing. And this is why the PM continually accuses Starmer of carping from the sidelines. He has a point.

For his final tilts, Starmer protested that the ending of furloughing next month was coinciding with a new partial lockdown. Health measures and economic measures are now dangerously out of sync.

Johnson is on confident ground on supporting jobs  the Treasury having splurged 160 billion so far during the crisis. And we will go forward with further creative an imaginative schemes to keep our economy moving, said the PM, fuelling expectations that Furlough II is in the wings.

Starmer quoted business leaders and unions pleading for the Government not to withdraw furloughing (although even the shadow chancellor wants it replacing with something more targeted). When is the Prime Minister finally going to act?

Johnson ended by gloating again that for all his fury about testing, Sir Keir had actually backed the new measures. I hope he will in a spirit of togetherness and unity continue to give it his support, the PM purred.
People who have high levels of anxiety and stress do not sleep as well. Read more

Youre in a store, and suddenly you notice that no one is wearing a mask. Well, at least you have your mask on.

But then you reach up to your face, and youre not wearing a mask, either. Help! How do I get out of here?

And then you wake up. It was just a dream. Youre safe.

The pandemic has taken the realm of anxiety dreams  common occurrences  to a new level.

To understand more about anxiety, sleep, and dreams, we spoke with Dimitri Markov, a Thomas Jefferson University Hospital physician and assistant professor of psychiatry and human behavior who specializes in sleep medicine.

How does anxiety affect our sleep? Why do we have anxiety dreams?

People who have high levels of anxiety and stress do not sleep as well. Anxiety is linked to insomnia. When a person is anxious, all sorts of hormones and chemicals are activated in the brain, so the brain becomes more activated, making it more difficult to ease into sleep.

Honestly, we dont fully understand even why we sleep, let alone why we dream. There are a lot of theories about dreaming. But what is true is not known.

Freud was one of the original people to start dealing with dreams. He thought that dreams represented unconscious wishes. But right now, we are dealing with the reality of COVID-19. Its a real threat. Its not unconscious. Dreams do help us consolidate memories. But what that all means is hard to say. Some theories say that dreams help us process our emotions.

Everyones dreams could be seen as being a part of their personal experience. But you really have to know the person. Thats where analysts come in. They know the person. They listen to them talk for a while, and then they start to be able to explain the meaning, or suggest a possible meaning. That suggestion may become meaningful to the person.

What anxiety dreams are people experiencing relative to the pandemic?

Many different types. Its a very stressful time. People are dreaming of getting COVID-19 themselves. They are dreaming about passing it to their family members and loved ones. Some people have dreams about being attacked by bees or mosquitoes. After all, the coronavirus could be seen as a bug. People who are isolating themselves are dreaming of being stuck on an island or being in jail.

I know of a jeweler who dreamed that robbers entered his store without masks, shook his hand, and stole all his paper towels, not the jewelry.

A chef dreamed that his restaurant was full. Everyone loved his food, but no one was wearing a mask. Everyone wanted to shake his hand and hug him or have him join their table, and he was just trying to get away.

For health-care workers, it is a special situation because they are exposed to a lot of trauma now. They have really terrible dreams: patients dying of COVID-19, of not being able to help them, not being able to get ventilators, feeling guilty about not being able to save them. The family wants to see the patient, and Im in the way. The patient dies alone. These are scary, traumatic dreams.

Do COVID-19 dreams present any intriguing avenues of research?

There are researchers who collect dreams, and they will eventually try to sort these dreams out into different categories. In terms of a clinical setting, its not unknown that in a time of stress, people are going to sleep worse, and some of them are going to need help. So this is new and, in a way, not new.

One thing we know is that working from home, people have a little more time available for sleep. So, oddly enough, their sleep hygiene tends to suffer. People tend to spend more time in bed. Then, their sleep pattern becomes much less regular and less consistent. People need to understand that their brains need to know when its time to sleep and when its time to be awake. A sleep routine needs to be followed.

What does that entail?

The main thing is to keep a consistent routine. Go to bed at the same time and get up at the same time. If your wake-up times are variable, your brain doesnt know when its time to sleep and time to wake up. If you always wake up at the same time, you will train your brain.

Dont spend too much wakeful time in bed. If you spend a lot of time in bed in wakefulness, sleep becomes shallower. You dont get into a deeper sleep.

Dont read in bed. Dont do electronics in bed. Dont watch TV. If we do, then our minds start to associate the bed and bedroom with those activities, and not with sleep. Use the bed for sleep and intimacy only.

Some people check the time when they wake up at night. How much time do I have left? Its 3 a.m. Why am I still awake? There is no benefit to knowing the time when youre in bed. Plus, the clock is a light. Light stimulates you to wake up.

Sometimes its better to try to stay awake. Its called paradoxical intent. The more you try to go back to sleep, the harder it is. Its because of this pressure, this performance anxiety. If you tell the person to try to stay awake, it will be easier to fall asleep.

For the most part, its better to avoid naps. A person needs a certain amount of sleep in a 24-hour period. If you nap, it will take time away from sleep at night. For the elderly who need to nap, its OK, but limit it to 30 minutes or less.

Sleep is one of the most powerful forces in nature. Everything sleeps. Cockroaches sleep. Soldiers can march and sleep. It really cannot be stopped. Its like hunger. A reasonably healthy person with a reasonably good routine might have a bad night here and there, but for the most part, youre likely to do OK.

Are bad dreams ever a good thing?

Having a COVID-19 dream is a shot of reality. We live in a COVID-19 time. So its on your mind during wakefulness and during sleep. We cannot escape it. Its a real threat, and everyone is anxious. It is to be acknowledged. The fact that you dream about it is a reflection of your daytime. Its just reality. We can look for meaning, and for each person, it could have a different meaning. One could say it makes it easier for you to deal with the stresses of COVID-19.

In the end, anxiety dreams are a reflection of everyday concerns. Its a little safer to see them in your dreams, when youre actually not getting COVID-19, youre in bed. These dreams can help you process this emotion in the safe environment of your bed.

sandybauers10@gmail.com
Noble nurses, represented by the Massachusetts Nurses Association, circulated the survey digitally to Westfield area residents before and during ongoing contract negotiations with Baystate Health management. The survey, which received 464 total responses, helped inform nurses as they generated contract proposals. The results also prompted nurses to join with State Senator John Velis to host a virtual community forum.

Virtual Community Forum on the Future of Baystate Noble Hospital

When: 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 6

Where: A virtual forum hosted on Zoom and shared on social media. The public and media are welcome to participate. Sign up to receive an email invitation: www.massnurses.org/NobleForum.

Who: State Senator John Velis will host the forum with the RNs of Baystate Noble Hospital and it will include RN and community advocates as panelists.

Ninety-seven percent of survey respondents said they "stand with Noble RNs to improve conditions for staff and patients and protect Noble Hospital's future." More than 90% of survey respondents support preserving and expanding inpatient mental health services and medical-surgical services at Noble, 89% percent support re-opening the intensive care unit and nearly 97% say if the Department of Public Health deems a Noble Hospital service essential, the service should remain open.

"Our community joins with nurses in saying yes to improved patient care conditions and preserving and expanding healthcare services," said Paul Dubin, RN and Co-Chair of the Baystate Noble MNA Bargaining Committee. "This community survey and our upcoming public forum stand in stark contrast to the behind-closed-doors planning by Baystate Health executives. We urge Noble President Ron Bryant to participate in the forum and respond to the needs of our nurses, patients and community."

Nurses grew increasingly concerned last year as Baystate management unilaterally made or proposed significant changes to the Noble hospital services. Baystate closed the intensive care units at Noble and Baystate Wing Hospital in Palmer last August, and has announced a second for-profit partner to open a new mental health facility and close the Fowler Unit at Noble as well as all the mental health beds at Baystate Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield and at Wing Hospital. Last fall, Baystate also merged Baystate Noble's 2N medical-surgical unit with telemetry and cut the majority of 2N staff.

A Survey Monkey survey was circulated on social media, targeted to members of the Westfield area communities, between December 2019 and August 2020.

MassNurses.org  Facebook.com/MassNurses  Twitter.com/MassNurses  Instagram.com/MassNurses

Founded in 1903, the Massachusetts Nurses Association is the largest union of registered nurses in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Its 23,000 members advance the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the economic and general welfare of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by lobbying the Legislature and regulatory agencies on health care issues affecting nurses and the public.

SOURCE Massachusetts Nurses Association

Related Links

http://www.massnurses.org


Innocent Victorians could be arrested in the street or at work and detained indefinitely by power-crazed officials under a new law Daniel Andrews wants to pass, top lawyers have warned.

The proposed new law, which will be debated in the Victorian parliament next month, would allow the government to give anyone it chooses - such as public servants - the power to enforce coronavirus restrictions and make arrests.

The unprecedented plan would also allow officials to detain people they suspect may spread coronavirus even if they have done nothing wrong.

Innocent Victorians could be arrested in the street or at work by power-crazed officials under a new law Daniel Andrews wants to pass, top lawyers have warned. Pictured: A lockdown protester being arrested on Sunday in Melbourne

The unprecedented plan would also allow officials to detain people they suspect may spread coronavirus even if they have done nothing wrong. Pictured: A lockdown protester being arrested on Saturday in Melbourne

Officials would also be able to follow up on tip-offs that Covid rules have been breached at a home or a workplace without needing the police to accompany them.

Eighteen esteemed former judges and lawyers have written an open letter warning that the law is 'unprecedented, excessive and open to abuse'.

One of those lawyers, Ross Gillies QC, told Daily Mail Australia he fears power-hungry officials who enjoy exerting authority may abuse the powers given to them.

'I don't trust someone who is nominated by a public servant with the power to make arrests. I have real abiding concern that power is a very dangerous thing,' he said.

'Some people are excited by power and the ability to exert authority over someone else. There is the potential for enormous injustice.'

'Someone might grab someone and say "I have reason to believe you are a Covid carrier or know someone who has Covid and I apprehend you".

'There would be no remedy in that situation. That may be the worst-case scenario but we know that can happen.'

Mr Gillies described the law, which has passed the lower house, as 'draconian' and urged the upper house to vote it down or amend it next month.

The proposed new law would allow the government to give anyone they chose the power to enforce coronavirus restrictions and make arrests. Pictured: Protesters on Sunday

In a press briefing on Wednesday, Mr Andrews (pictured) suggested the power to make arrests would be given to WorkSafe officials and health department workers

James Peters QC, who also signed the letter, expressed similar concerns.

'Power is very intoxicating and only some people can exercise it carefully such as very well trained groups,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

Asked if the new law could see innocent Victorians being arrested in the street, he said: 'That's right, that's a very big risk.'

Mr Peters said normally when somebody is arrested they are brought before a bail justice but the proposed law does not say that would happen.

Asked if it allows officials to indefinitely detain people under state of emergency powers, he said: 'It could be read that way, yes.'

Some people are excited by power and the ability to exert authority over someone else Ross Gillies, QC

He also said it was unclear what redress people who are wrongfully arrested would have.

'We have a traditional understanding of police power and redress to the courts if you have concern about how powers are exercised,' he said.

'But how are you able to effectively test the belief upon which you were restrained?

'You might not find out about it [why you were arrested] until you get to court.'

He flagged that there could be a legal challenge if the law passes, saying: 'When excessive powers are legislated, there is often a legal challenge.'

Asked if all 18 signatories to the letter would launch legal action together, he said: 'I can't speak for everyone I can only speak for myself.'

The proposed law does not specify who will be authorised to make arrests.

'We just don't know, that's one of the vices. They could be anybody,' said Mr Peters.

'It's not enough to say the problem can be managed without specifying who could be given the powers.'

Ross Gillies QC, told Daily Mail Australia he fears power-hungry officials who enjoy exerting authority may abuse the powers given to them. Pictured: Police on Sunday

A group of 18 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

In a press briefing on Wednesday, Mr Andrews suggested the power to make arrests would be given to WorkSafe officials and health department workers.

At the moment police need to be present to make an arrest but Mr Andrews wants public servants to have that power on their own.

He said currently when a workplace is inspected to see if it is abiding by Covid-19 rules 'there's got to be someone from police, someone from WorkSafe, somebody from the Health Department, that doesn't make any sense.

'If we can essentially double or triple the resource available to you, it stands to reason that we'll have more people doing the right thing. '

Mr Andrews said he wants to make sure supermarkets, abattoirs and other workplaces are adhering to strict rules including social distancing and limits on the number of workers on the premises at once.

Asked why he needs to give powers to detain people before they do anything wrong, he said: 'They're based on a reasonable belief principle and proportionality principle about the risk of spreading Covid.

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

'There are some people who are not compliant, refuse to act in a responsible and safe way. Those powers would not be frequently used. They would be, I think, rare. But they are important.'

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.

They could be taken to a hotel for mandatory quarantine for as long as the authorised officer believes is necessary.

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 will meet resistance when read in the upper house next month.

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'.

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

'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.

'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.

Reason Party leader Fiona Patten and the Greens have expressed concerns and said they will try to amend the bill.

Ms Patten told The Australian: 'Extending the powers of authorised officers to detain people with no court oversight is extreme, and it's unclear why the government thinks they need these powers now.

'The coronavirus case numbers are going down, things are working, and I think most importantly this is a health pandemic and it should be treated as a health issue, not a law-and-order one.

'The authorised officers that we have now undertake significant training, they're health experts, and there appears to be no evidence that they need greater powers.'

'Excessive and open to abuse': The lawyers' letter in full Georgina Schoff QC (pictured) signed the letter with 17 other lawyers '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 ROSS GILLIES, QC JENNIFER BATROUNEY, QC JAMES PETERS AM QC PETER COLLINSON QC MARYANNE LOUGHNAN QC RACHEL DOYLE, QC MARY ANNE HARTLEY QC PHILIP CRUTCHFIELD QC GEORGINA SCHOFF QC PHILIP SOLOMON QC DAVID BATT QC STUART WOOD AM QC FELICITY GERRY QC PAUL HAYES, QC MICHAEL BORSKY QC Advertisement

The Victorian Bar on Wednesday released a statement urging major changes to the bill, including requiring the Chief Health Officer to review all detentions.

'The Victorian Bar's concerns about provisions of the Omnibus Bill, tabled in Parliament on 17 September 2020, refer principally to the broad and generic criteria on which 'authorised officer' appointments may be made under s. 30 of the Act,' the group said in a statement.

'The proposed criteria potentially open the door for those who are not trained as health professionals to be appointed as 'authorised officers'.

'This is of significant concern as it is imperative that the qualifications of these officers are relevant to the public health functions that they are intended to perform.

'The Victorian Bar is also concerned with the proposal that people may be detained by authorised officers for failure to abide by a public health direction on the basis of an authorised officer's 'reasonable belief'.

'This standard of validation is broad and subjective. The power to detain should be reviewed against an objective standard, for example, one of 'reasonable likelihood'.

'Furthermore, the public interest would best be served if decisions made by authorised officers were reviewed by the Chief Health Officer (or senior delegate) within a short, stipulated period (preferably not longer than 24 hours).

'In the Bar's view, the power of detention should be expressly based on a test of the least restrictive means reasonably available in the circumstances to achieve public health and safety.'
The Chief of Busunya in the Nkoranza North District, Nana Okofo Nyarko Gyabaah II, on Sunday showered praises on the NDC Presidential Candidate John Dramani Mahama, explaining that this is because of his good works and the impact on his community.



According to Nana Gyabaah II, the commendation and praises he and other chiefs in the Bono East Region continue to heap on the former President since he began his tour is because they have come to appreciate him more after having the chance to compare his work with that of the current government.



He made these remarks when he welcomed President Mahama to a mini durbar of chiefs, community leaders and the people of Busunya.



"For us when you do good, we will say it and when you do bad, we will say it too. It is because of the good things he did that we are praising him today", he explained.



On their roads, which were being constructed by the NDC but abandoned by the NPP, President Mahama assured the Busunya community that the NDC will surely complete the project when it returns to office.



He added that his government will build additional school blocks for their secondary school, establish a cashew processing factory as well as an agricultural mechanization centre in the district to support the work of farmers.



The NDC Presidential Candidate was later honoured by the Busunya community, installing him with the title Nana Kwame Dadieko Ababio I.

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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New Delhi: Calling for "urgency of reform" at the United Nations Security Council "to better reflect contemporary realities", the G4 countries have said that the top UN body is at risk of becoming "obsolete". The G4 countries--India, Japan, Germany and Brazil, are a group of nations who have been calling for reforms at the UNSC.

In a strongly-worded joint statement, the nations said, "As part of reforming the Security Council an expansion of the Security Council in both categories will be indispensable to make this body...representative, legitimate and effective....to deal with the complex challenges the world faces today on questions of international peace and security".

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It added, "Only if we manage to reform the Security Council will we stop it from becoming obsolete...which will allow it to preserve its credibility and create the political backing needed for the peaceful resolution of todays international crises." The G4 statement "expressed disappointment" and without taking China's name called out "attempts to derail.. this process".

So far over the decade-old Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) on Security Council reform has seen no movement forward. The statement said, "The recent session demonstrated yet again that the IGN lacks the necessary openness and transparency and is constrained by flawed working methods."

G4 countries have said that the IGN process should follow working methods laid out in United Nations Charter, UN General Assembly rules and time-bound text-based negotiations should happen. China has been dragging its feet on the issue and recently said starting text-based negotiation in a haste will not conducive to building a consensus.

The grouping also batted for Africa at the high table and the joint statement mentioned support for Common African Position enshrined in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration. Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte declaration call for at least two permanent and five to two non-permanent UNSC seats to be given to African countries at UNSC.

The statement said, "Africa needs to be represented in both the permanent and non-permanent categories of membership of a reformed and expanded Security Council to correct the historical injustice against this continent" with regard to its under-representation in the Security Council.

The G4 statement comes days after IBSA grouping-- India, Brazil, South Africa issued a similar statement on the reforms.
A man is reflected in a sign outside of the JPMorgan Chase headquarters in New York City.

JPMorgan Chase is close to paying almost $1 billion to resolve government investigations into the alleged manipulation of metal and Treasurys markets, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.

A settlement between New York-based JPMorgan and several U.S. agencies could come as soon as this week, according to Bloomberg, which first reported news of the fine. The deal would resolve probes from the Justice Department, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A penalty of that size would be a record for spoofing, which is when sophisticated traders flood markets with orders that they have no intention of actually executing. The practice was banned after the 2008 financial crisis and regulators have made it a priority to stamp out.

While JPMorgan may be forced to admit wrongdoing in the settlement, the deal isn't expected to result in business restrictions on other areas of the firm, said the person, who declined to be identified speaking about government probes. Spokespersons for the bank and the DOJ declined to comment.

The case was revealed in September 2019 when a 14-count criminal indictment against three current or former JPMorgan employees, including the global head of base and precious metals trading, was unsealed.

The indictment alleges the traders, along with eight unnamed co-conspirators who worked at JPMorgan offices in New York, London and Singapore, participated in a racketeering conspiracy in connection with a multiyear scheme to manipulate the precious metals markets and defraud customers.

Named in the indictment were Michael Nowak, a former managing director who also headed the firm's global precious metals desk, along with Gregg Smith and Christopher Jordan, who both held the title of executive director and were traders on the firm's precious metals desk.

They each were charged with one count of conspiracy under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO, which historically has been used in mafia prosecutions, as well as other federal crimes in connection with manipulating precious metals futures markets.

Nowak and several others in the case pleaded not guilty and seek dismissal of the charges, while others have cooperated with the authorities.
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


Mumbai: Film producer Madhu Mantena reached the NCB guest house here on Wednesday to record his statement in connection with the agencys probe into the alleged Bollywood-drugs nexus, an official said. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) had summoned Mantena for questioning in connection with the probe, he said.

He reached the NCB guest house in south Mumbai around 11.30 am, the official said. Mantena was the co-producer of 2016 Bollywood film Udta Punjab which dealt with the issue of drug menace.

His name allegedly cropped up during the questioning of late actor Sushant Singh Rajputs talent manager Jaya Saha, who was quizzed by the probe agency for last two days, the official said. Saha has been called again by the NCB on Wednesday.

During the NCBs probe into the drugs angle in Rajputs death case, a wider drugs nexus in Bollywood came to light. The NCB on Tuesday summoned actress Deepika Padukones manager Karishma Prakash and KWAN talent management agencys CEO Dhurv Chitgopekar, but the former could not appear before the agency due to ill-health.

NCB officials on Tuesday said they might summon Padukone if needed. Some WhatsApp conversations purportedly discussing drugs are on the radar of the agency, sources said.
Joe Biden received another prominent Republican endorsement in the race to the White House, as senator John McCains widow announced her support for the Democratic candidate.

In an announcement on Tuesday, Cindy McCain described her husband  the late Republican senator and Vietnam veteran  as someone who was country first, as she explained her decision.

"My husband John lived by a code: country first," wrote Ms McCain on Twitter. "We are Republicans, yes, but Americans foremost.

She added: Theres only one candidate in this race who stands up for our values as a nation, and that is Joe Biden.

Ms McCain made the announcement earlier on Tuesday during a virtual fundraiser for the Democratic presidential nominee, Mr Biden.

She told a virtual audience that she decided to endorse the Democrat after a report by The Atlantic detailed Donald Trumps derogatory comments about US soldiers, who were said to have been labelled losers and suckers.

Denying those comments, the US president also disputed having called McCain, a veteran of the Vietnam war, a loser.

I hardly know Cindy McCain other than having put her on a Committee at her husbands request, wrote Mr Trump in response to the endorsement, saying: Joe Biden was John McCains lapdog.

He added: Never a fan of John. Cindy can have Sleepy Joe!

The president and McCain had a difficult relationship, with Mr Trump having claimed before becoming president that the Republican lawmaker was not a war hero because he was captured in Vietnam.

Speaking in 2015, Mr Trump said of McCain: "Hes not a war hero. He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who werent captured.

Ms McCains endorsement of Mr Biden comes after more than 100 former McCain staffers announced their support for the Democratic nominee last month.

She was also among a handful of Republicans to appear in a video on Mr Bidens behalf at the Democratic National Convention in August.

McCain, who represented Arizona in the US Senate for more than three decades and was the 2008 Republican presidential nominee, died of brain cancer in 2018.

Additional reporting by Reuters
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 23)  After finally raising the Philippines' legal victory over the 2016 South China Sea ruling, President Rodrigo Duterte is now being called to continue implementing concrete actions that would solidify the country's claims in the disputed territory.

Public officials and foreign relations experts on Wednesday commended Duterte for asserting the country's rights over the West Philippine Sea in the 75th United Nations General Assembly, but noted that the administration has to get more support from other countries to further raise the issue.

"The next step is for our President and his administration to put in reality the invocation of the Arbitral Award: our Government should work earnestly to get the support of more countries so that the Arbitral Award will be raised more emphatically next year, for the UNGA 2021," former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario said in a statement. He also called on Filipinos not to waste such an opportunity.

This was the first time that Duterte appeared before the international body in his four-year presidency. He reiterated that the Philippines rejects any attempt to undermine the arbitral tribunal ruling that largely favored the country's claims over the West Philippine Sea.

Former Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio also commended Duterte's strong stance on the issue. He expressed hope that the administration "will implement across all levels" a policy that will protect the West Philippine Sea in the negotiations for the Code of Conduct, and gather more support from the international community.

In an interview with CNN Philippines' Balitaan, Maritime law expert Jay Batongbacal expressed a similar sentiment, and said that "words are still different from actions."

"Kailangan ipakita ito consistently, na pinanindigan natin iyong ruling at hindi ito salita lang para magpasikat sa UN."

[Translation: We should be able to show this stace consistently, that we stand by the ruling, and these are not just mere words to impress the UN.]

Meanwhile, former Philippine ambassador to the United Nations Lauro Baja Jr. said that while Duterte took a "significant step" in raising the arbitral tribunal ruling, the move came four years after the award, and the statement could have been more forceful.

"[Duterte] could have been more forceful in espousing our cause, in much the same vein as he was forceful in the question of drugs and human rights. But as a fresh step, it's a significant fresh step," he told CNN Philippines' New Day.

Baja said that Duterte could have also been more assertive in telling China "to adhere to a decision by the UN body, to respect the provisions of UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea), and to refrain from what they are doing in the area."

The UNCLOS is an international treaty established to define coastal and maritime boundaries and regulate seabed exploration outside territorial claims. The arbitral tribunal that ruled on the Philippines' case against China was created under a provision of UNCLOS, with the Permanent Court of Arbitration based in The Hague serving as registry.

Duterte also thanked nations which supported the tribunal's ruling, which he called "a triumph of reason over rashness, a law over disorder, of amity over ambition."

Meanwhile, Senator Panfilo Lacson said that Duterte's firm assertion can finally erase notions of being a "slave" due to the country's soft stance on China.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. responded to this by saying that Duterte was never a slave, but rather a "slave to the reality he inherited" when the Chinese authorities stayed in the disputed territory after a stand-off with the Philippine navy.

Philippine Ambassador to China Chito Sta. Romana also described Duterte's speech as an "excellent articulation of the administration's independent foreign policy," reflective of an approach that will support the UN at a time of escalating global tensions.

The tribunal ruled that there was no legal basis for China to claim historic rights over most of the South China Sea using its "nine-dash line" assertion. It also recognized Philippine sovereign rights in marine features within its exclusive economic zone and said Beijing violated those rights by interfering with fishing and petroleum exploration as well as constructing artificial islands.

China has repeatedly refused to recognize the tribunal ruling and continued to reclaim islands in the disputed areas for military and research purposes.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Sept. 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cypress Development Corp. (TSX-V: CYP ) (OTCQB: CYDVF ) (Frankfurt: C1Z1 ) ("Cypress" or "the Company"), developer of a world class lithium claystone deposit in Nevada, announced today, the Company, as an industrial partner with several high tech research entities, has been encouraged along with its partners in full project proposal submissions to the Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). This has culminated in the recent formal submittal of two lithium project proposals for research to be conducted over the next three years.



The first project is in collaboration with the University of Utah, Colorado School of Mines, and Cornell University, and is titled "Highly Selective Resource Independent Lithium Extraction Processes." This technology will demonstrate the use of Next Generation Lithium Ion Sieve Technology (NGLIST) as an innovative and low-impact processing method for recovering lithium including lithium contained in clay minerals.

The second project will be done in partnership with the University of Utah, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), and Cornell University, and is titled "Novel and Adaptive Amino Acid Looping Strategy for Directing Lithium Carbonate Synthesis by Using CO 2 (NASCENT)."

"We are pleased to have the EERE encourage these two research efforts in partnership with the University of Utah, Colorado School of Mines, PNNL, and Cornell University" said Todd S Fayram, Chief Metallurgist for Cypress. "Successful completion of either project will allow for more efficient utilization and lower cost recovery of lithium including from the claystone resources in Cypress' deposit in Clayton Valley, Nevada".

On May 19, 2020, Cypress announced positive results of a Prefeasibility Study for the Clayton Valley Lithium Project in Nevada) prepared by Continental Metallurgical Services, Cypress announced a 55% increase in the Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources at the Clayton Valley Project to 929.6 million tonnes averaging 1,062 ppm Li (5.2 Mt LCE) based on a cut-off grade of 900 ppm Li, utilizing the same economic and mining parameters found in the Company's May 2020 Prefeasibility Study.

About Cypress Development Corp.:

Cypress Development Corp. is a publicly traded exploration company focused on developing the Company's 100%-owned Clayton Valley Lithium Project in Nevada. Exploration and development by Cypress discovered a world-class resource of lithium-bearing claystone adjacent to the Albemarle Silver Peak mine, North America's only lithium brine operation. The size of the resource makes the Clayton Valley Project a premier source that has the potential to impact the supply of lithium for the fast-growing global energy storage battery market.

Cypress Development Corp. has approximately 94.7 million shares issued and outstanding.

To find out more about Cypress Development Corp.), visit our website at www.cypressdevelopmentcorp.com.

CYPRESS DEVELOPMENT CORP.

"Dr. Bill Willoughby"



WILLIAM WILLOUGHBY, PhD., PE

Chief Executive Officer

For further information contact myself or:

Don Myers

Cypress Development Corp.

Director, Corporate Communications

Telephone: 604-639-3851

Toll Free: 800-567-8181

Facsimile: 604-687-3119

Email: info@cypressdevelopmentcorp.com

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE CONTENT OF THIS NEWS RELEASE.

This release includes certain statements that may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that management of the Company expects, are forward-looking statements. Although management believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements, include market prices, exploration and development successes, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Please see the public filings of the Company at www.sedar.comfor further information.
In the midst of an unprecedented time in America, legal journalist and victims rights advocate Nancy Grace is using her crime-fighting expertise to help people ensure that they don't fall prey to criminals.

Nancy covers 'every aspect' of staying safe in her latest book, Don't Be a Victim: Fighting Back Against America's Crime Wave, and exclusively spoke about the project with DailyMailTV.

And, as part of her tireless mission to protect children, the New York Times best-selling author is giving all proceeds from the book to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Take control: Nancy Grace exclusively chatted with DailyMailTV about her new book Don't Be a Victim: Fighting Back Against America's Crime Wave, the proceeds of which she is donating to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

'I don't just report on cases, I try to solve cases,' Nancy said of her inspiration to pen the new book. 'Especially right now in a world full of uncertainly. A lot of people feel very powerless but you don't have to feel that way.'

Don't Be A Victim took two years to research during which Grace tapped into every single case that she's worked on throughout her career from a prosecutor all the way up to today.

Through those stories, Nancy offers hundreds of practical tips for readers to be empowered to get proactive in the face of whatever dangers may be out there.

'I don't want people to go through life unaware of what is happening around them which makes them a potential target,' she explained.

'I don't just report on cases, I try to solve cases,' Nancy said of her inspiration to pen the new book. 'Especially right now in a world full of uncertainly. A lot of people feel very powerless but you don't have to feel that way.'

The book is intended to shine a light on potential threats around people every singleday and help ensure that neither the readers or their families become victims.

Nancy summed her approach to the wide world of dangers: 'Every chapter in the book relates to true cases and then I decipher: What can we do about it?'

The true crime expert covers the gamut of dangers between COVID-19 scams, assaults, car-jacking, home invasions, online stalking, computer hackers, travel safety, cruise ship safety, elevator safety and even shopping - just to name a few.

Staying safe: Don't Be A Victim covers the gamut of dangers between COVID-19 scams, assaults, car-jacking, home invasions, online stalking, computer hackers, travel safety, cruise ship safety, elevator safety and even shopping

Her chapter on RV safety was born out of research she did on a recent family trip from Atlanta to Yellow Stone with husband David Linch and their twins, John David and Lucy.

'I used every safety tip possible,' she recalled. Adding that it makes her happier knowing she's doing everything in her power to keep her family safe.

Not only is the best-selling author calling on her own years of professional experience enmeshed in the world of crime, but she's also tragically seen it first hand from the victims perspective.

When Nancy was a college student her fiance Keith was murdered before their wedding.

'Everything went sideways when my fiance was murdered,' Nancy recalled. 'Up until that point I knew nothing about hate and violence.'

'When Keith was murdered all that changed and my world exploded,' she continued. 'I soon dedicated my life to being a crime fighter and hopefully protecting people from going through what Keith and his family went through.'

The Atlanta native said that through her work she would hear stories over and over and over again about people being victimized in dozens of ways and she started compiling 'literally hundreds of ideas and tips about how to stay safe.'

'Women would go missing in their cars,' she would think. 'Why is that?'

What's in store: Her chapter on RV safety was born out of research she did on a recent family trip from Atlanta to Yellow Stone with husband David Linch and their twins, John David and Lucy

'I used every safety tip possible,' she recalled. Adding that it makes her happier knowing she's doing everything in her power to keep her family safe.

To answer those questions Nancy dedicated a lot of time and research to figuring out what people do or don't do that leave them vulnerable. And, she didn't only use her own legal mine and experiences but sourced help from 'experts around the world.'

'My friends had been gunned down because a female sheriff had been overpowered in an elevator,' she said, illustrating one of those real life examples. The incident led Nancy to researching and putting together an entire chapter on elevator safety.

Among her hundreds of tips, the TV host says there are several small things people can do right at home, right now to protect themselves. Things that are simple but potentially life saving like changing the factory codes on garage door openers or nanny cams.

'Crime is evolving and we have to evolve along with it,' Grace said. 'There are people out there that spend their whole day trying to hack your computers.'

Nancy is careful to caution that protecting yourself and your family doesn't mean anyone should be living in a state of constant fear. Actually, she revealed that being aware of the dangers and the methods to thwart them should have the opposite effect.

'Don't Be a Victim is not to scare anyone - it's to empower you,' she said. 'It is a way of life where you're actually much less afraid of the world around you because you're taking the power. You're the one proactively fighting back.'

'Crime is evolving and we have to evolve along with it,' Grace said. 'Don't Be a Victim is not to scare anyone - it's to empower you. It is a way of life where you're actually much less afraid of the world around you because you're taking the power. You're the one proactively fighting back.'

In addition to helping the readers with real world tips to protect themselves, the proceeds from Don't Be a Victim: Fighting Back Against America's Crime Wave are being donated to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

The nonprofit organization, established in 1984 by the U.S. Congress, is the leading resource center for assisting in the finding of missing children, and works to raise awareness about how to prevent child abduction, abuse and exploitation.

'They've been a big part of my mission of protecting our children,' Nancy said. Back in 2011 when she was a contestant on season 13 of Dancing With the Stars, Nancy also donated that money to the NCMEC.

'They have so much hard work to do. They are protecting our most vulnerable and our weakest members of our society that have no voice,' Grace said. 'They're fighting the good fight and I do not believe I can stand by and do nothing to help them. If you stand by and do nothing you're part of the problem.'

Never one to stand by or be silent on an issue, Nancy is turning her signature brand of on-camera crime-fighting towards the upcoming season of her television series.

'I'm thrilled about season two of Injustice on Oxygen. We cover the cases that are happening now  cases to which I want answers,' she said.

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children: 'They've been a big part of my mission of protecting our children. They are protecting our most vulnerable and our weakest members of our society that have no voice.'

On her true crime show, Nancy demands answers in cases 'where judges or incompetent, where witnesses lied, where there were fumbling of justice that result in injustice.'

'I want justice,' she said switching her tone to the instantly recognizable, television's-Nancy-Grace-fervor. 'What is happening at Fort. Hood? Why are so many minorities going missing and turning up dead at Fort Hood?'

In the last year there have been 28 deaths at Fort Hood and Congress recently launched an investigation into Texas Army post.

'What these people have gone through and suffered is overwhelming and what makes it worse  to rub salt in the wound  is that Fort Hood is engaging in a cover-up. I know that for a fact,' Nancy said.

Nancy served as a Special Prosecutor working on felony cases in the Atlanta-Fulton County, Georgia District Attorney's for nearly a decade.

After leaving the prosecutor's office, Nancy pivoted to a wildly successful television career, first joining up with Johnnie Cochran and Court TV in 1996. In 2005 she launched her eponymous award-winning HLN series.

The legal mind has also authored several books.Her first, Objection!: How High-Priced Defense Attorneys, Celebrity Defendants, and a 24/7 Media Have Hijacked Our Criminal Justice System, is a New York Times bestseller.

Her fiction book, The Eleventh Victim, is also a bestseller and was turned in the Hallmark Channel's popular Hailey Dean Mysteries series. She also hosts the podcast Crime Stories with Nancy Grace on SiriusXM.

Season two of Injustice with Nancy Grace premieres October 8 at 9/8c on Oxygen and her new 20 episode true crime series Bloodline Detectives premieres October 3rd. Don't Be a Victim: Fighting Back Against America's Crime Wave is available now.
<p>MPs will on Wednesday debate the Overseas Operations Bill in the House of Commons, as the government seeks to meet its election promise to tackle "vexatious claims" against the Armed Forces.</p><p>Ministers have cited the problems of a previous probe into allegations made against Iraq war veterans as one example of the need to legislate.</p><p>In 2017, the 34m Iraq Historic Allegations Team (IHAT) was closed down after seven years without a successful prosecution.</p><p>It followed the striking off of Phil Shiner, a human rights lawyer who brought abuse claims against UK troops, for multiple charges of misconduct.</p><p>Around 70% of allegations received by IHAT were dismissed as there was no case to answer.</p><p>The government's aim is for the Overseas Operations Bill to provide protections for troops and veterans facing repeated investigations and potential prosecution from military operations abroad.</p><p>The proposed legislation would create a "triple lock" for troops and veterans, including a presumption against prosecution for alleged offences committed more than five years ago.</p><p>The bill also proposes to introduce time limits on bringing civil claims in connection with overseas operations; and would place a duty on the government to consider derogating from the European Convention on Human Rights in relation to significant overseas military operations.</p><p>Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: "This government made a promise to the nation to protect service personnel and veterans from vexatious claims and endless investigations.</p><p>"We have not shied away from the challenge and today are one step closer to fulfilling that commitment.</p><p>"We all remember Phil Shiner, and the scores of allegations that have amounted to nothing over the years.</p><p>"Our Armed Forces risk their lives to protect us and it is vital we continue to progress this legislation, providing certainty for the troops who find themselves on the front line in the future."</p> <p>Johnny Mercer, the minister for defence people and veterans, said the legislation would "put an end to lawfare" and help make the UK "the best place in the world to be a veteran".</p><p>"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," he added.</p><p>However, the government is facing opposition to its plans from human rights groups, Labour, and even from among its own MPs.</p><p>Senior Conservative MP David Davis, a former cabinet minister, has said he is "deeply troubled" by government plans to "decriminalise torture by British personnel if it took place more than five years ago".</p><p>Labour's shadow defence secretary, John Healey, said the government had got "important parts of this bill badly wrong" but promised to work with the government on "better" legislation.</p><p>"It is not too late for ministers to think again about the best way to protect service personnel from vexatious litigation while ensuring that those who commit serious crimes during operations are prosecuted and punished appropriately," he wrote in The Times on Tuesday.</p> <p><strong>:: Subscribe to Sophy Ridge on Sunday on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/sophy-ridge-on-sunday/id1201909139?mt=2" target="_blank">Apple podcasts</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hdWRpb2Jvb20uY29tL2NoYW5uZWxzLzQ5MDI2NzIucnNz" target="_blank">Google podcasts</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3XkMvSBWMps5qqDjTLbazo" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://www.spreaker.com/show/sophy-ridge-on-sunday" target="_blank">Spreaker</a></strong></p><p>The UK's human rights watchdog, the Equality and Human Rights Commission, has called for the government to withdraw its plans and argued a time limit would never be set for serious crimes if they were committed outside of the Armed Forces.</p><p>And Amnesty International UK has claimed the proposed legislation would cause "real and lasting damage to the reputation of the Armed Forces".</p><p>"It is in no one's interests for members of the Armed Forces to be given a free pass over alleged war crimes," said director Kate Allen.</p><p>The bill does not apply to operations in the United Kingdom, including events that occurred in Northern Ireland during The Troubles.</p><p>The government intends to introduce separate legislation to address the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland.</p>
Survivors have told the Tribune they have waited as long as 15 months for evidence in their case to be processed. Thousands of pieces of evidence are languishing in Illinois labs; the state has a decadeslong history of a large backlog in processing evidence. Even after a recent reduction in cases awaiting processing, rape victims still wait as long as a year or more before evidence is analyzed. Cases can be suspended while officers wait on evidence.
LANSDOWNE  Alexis Wood felt like she was living in two different worlds in 2018, after her then 2-year-old daughter Milan was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Wood was working as a painter and operating Base Painting, a company she owned with her partner Eric Mitchell. She suddenly found herself thrust into a new world of navigating support services, education and treatment options available for Milan.

It didnt take long for the hard-working, loving mother to find a way to combine her two worlds. On Saturday, Sept. 12, Wood held the grand opening and ribbon cutting of Autsome Brushes, LLC at 17 N. Lansdowne Ave. in the heart of Lansdowne.

With a mission to raise autism awareness and sell high-quality painting tools, Autsome Brushes began as an online venture in 2018, before moving to its brick-and-mortar storefront this month.

When Wood and Mitchell were painting, they noticed the inferiority of many brushes, and how the effectiveness of painting tools made a crucial impact on painters work. The couple adapted all of their favorite features from products they used themselves, into a high quality brush collection and trademarked Autsome Brushes. They made the brushes affordable to appeal, not only to painters, but to DIY crafters, as well. The brushes, stamped with the Autsome puzzle pieces on a paint brush logo, are also intended to raise ASD awareness within the contractor and painting community.

We like to think that we are spreading autism awareness, one brush stroke at a time, Wood remarked with a smile.

In addition to selling an assortment of brushes, painting poles, utility knives, paint pans, drop cloths and other painting equipment, Autsome Brushes carries a full line of merchandise to help raise autism awareness, including hoodies, shoes, mugs, keychains, water bottles, tote bags, hats, backpacks, jewelry, and other products. She explained that the autism awareness clothing and merchandise will especially appeal to individuals with autism, as well as their parents, family members, teachers and friends who want to support those with autism and raise awareness.

The store also sells autism sensory merchandise like noise-cancellation ear muffs, chew jewelry, and weighted blankets.

Wood says she coined the word Autsome to reflect the full scope of her painting with a purpose products and company. She says that she defines the word autsome as the ability to overachieve your goals while living with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Its a combination of the words autism and awesome.

Autsome Brushes was designed to bridge the gap between those who are unfamiliar with autism and those who are diagnosed with autism, The companys mission is to bring autism awareness to the entire community, as well as encourage and support other families and individuals with autism, Wood explained. Autsome Brushes donates a 5% portion of their revenue to various non-profit organizations that provide support to individuals diagnosed with autism. So far, seven nonprofit organizations, including the Maurice Rice Foundation and Autism Speaks, have received their donations.

In addition to in-store sales, the company continues to fill worldwide online requests for its products and merchandise, satisfying customers orders from over 25 different states and countries.

Autism Spectrum Disorder is defined by the national Autism Society as a complex, lifelong developmental disability that typically appears during early childhood and can impact a persons social skills, communication, relationships, and self-regulation. Autism is defined by a certain set of behaviors and is a spectrum condition that affects people differently and to varying degrees.

Milan, now 4 years old, is a happy child, said her mother, and enjoys attending pre-school at Todays Child and getting educational services from the Delaware County Intermediate Unit.

My advice to all mothers of children with autism is to realize that autism is not a death sentence, Wood stated. Its not a negative in your life  a child with autism should be embraced and nurtured, just like any other child. Get early intervention to get connected with others who can help and be a part of your childs success story. Always keep hope and surround yourself and your child with a good support team.

Wood, a resident of East Lansdowne, is also the mother of Amire, 15, a sophomore at Penn Wood High School. The business owner, who was born and raised in South Philadelphia, received her bachelors degree in criminal justice and her masters degree in psychology with a minor in applied behavior analysis, from Kaplan University, now Purdue University Global. Wood said her education has helped in designing and implementing the features of her store and figuring out ways that the business can help the community.

In addition to the painting supplies and autism merchandise on display, Autsome Brushes features an in-store Sensory Station, with various tactile toys, like marbles and Play-Doh, set up for those with autism to explore and enjoy. The store also features a book section, with books written by local authors, about autism or featuring characters who have autism. Additionally, the shop contains a special needs resource table, with information on community and other helpful resources.

On Sunday, Oct. 8, from 2- 5 p.m., Autsome Brushes will team up with Youre Beautifully Made Inc. of Philadelphia, to host the Autsome Community Family Fun Day and Resource Fair, in the parking lot behind Autsome Brushes. Admission is free and will include fun sensory activities, resources, refreshments and giveaways, as well as a presentation by guest speaker and autism advocate Samuel Huber. Everyone is welcome.

For more information about Autsome Brushes, Lansdowne, visit Autsomebrushes.com or Facebook.com/autsomebrushes or contact Alexis Wood at 484-466-4623 or Info@autsomebrushes.com.
Vietnam sources the vast majority of its cotton from the US and a ban on China would have little effect on it. Photo: Le Tien

The Asian apparel industry breathed a sigh of relief after the US last week decided to temporarily shelve a wholesale ban on products containing cotton from Chinas Xinjiang province. However, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency imposed restrictions through five separate Withhold Release Orders covering cotton, computer parts, and hair products made by a group of Xinjiang entities.

The move by the US government on import restrictions from Chinas autonomous Xinjiang Uygur region were made due to concerns over the alleged widespread use of forced labour.

The move is sensitive so we have yet to make any official comment, Vo Manh Hung, head representative of the Cotton Council International (CCI) told VIR. Each year China is the worlds largest or second-largest producer of cotton, alongside India. Local cotton output cant catch up with the rising demand for raw materials for the fibre industry.

Meanwhile, Vietnam has been increasingly sourcing cotton from the US over the last few years. In light of the growing fibre industry, many local and foreign companies have ramped up investment in the sector, including Chinese companies using US cotton for production. In addition, Vietnamese fibre manufacturers are increasingly looking for high-quality cotton that can retain its colour after dyeing. US cotton can meet this requirement, according to Hung.

According to data by the General Department of Vietnam Customs (GDVC), Vietnam imported about 900,000 tonnes of cotton from the US in 2019, accounting for 61 per cent of its total imported cotton.

It is predicted the demand of importing cotton from the US to Vietnam will increase in the upcoming years as foreign companies, especially those from China, boost investment in yarn-dyed fields, Hung said.

Meanwhile, Vu Duc Giang, chairman of the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (VITAS) told VIR that a potential import ban on all cotton from Chinas Xinjiang would have very little impact on Vietnams textile and garment industry. Only some Chinese fibre manufacturers in Dong Nai and Quang Ninh provinces will be affected if they source cotton from the region. At present, China is the largest consumption market of Vietnams fibres, accounting for 45 per cent of Vietnams total fibre exports.

Giang believed that the growing consumption of US cotton in Vietnam will help improve the stability of fibre quality, thereby contributing to the development of Vietnams industry and boosting textile and garment exports to the US.

We have proposed the government to encourage foreign-invested projects in the field of high-quality fibre production, weaving, and dyeing rather than sewing. We also warn companies to pay attention to any US ban on fibre and textiles to choose suitable material sources, he said.

Cotton from Africa is becoming an important source for Vietnams fibre production too, in addition to the supplies from the US and India. In 2019, Vietnam imported cotton from 17 African countries. In 2019, Vietnams total import of cotton from the continent reached $203.5 million, down 19 per cent compared to 2018, according to statistics from the GDVC.

Data from the Vietnam Trade Office in Algeria shows that African cotton has a competitive price and quality, which matches Vietnams requirements for fibre production. Most African cotton is harvested by hand with relatively low fibre and good maturity ratio. However, due to small output, the classification process of African cotton is not as sophisticated as that from the US or other regions.

In particular, African cotton has a higher impurity ratio and sugar content than other types of cotton, which impacts production and quality.

However, the pandemic has led to a decline in global raw material price and supply. The situation has worsened due to shrinking industrial production in the US, China, and the EU. In fact, international cotton prices are at their lowest level for 11 years.

The textile industry continues to slow down, especially in Asia. Cotton prices have been hit hard by low oil prices, making the synthetic fibres more competitive than natural fibres.

According to estimates from the International Cotton Advisory Committee, since the beginning of the year, global cotton prices have fallen by about 18 per cent due to the impact of the pandemic and the closure of textile factories.

The global health crisis is also negatively affecting prices of the product imported into Vietnam. In the last week of August, the prices of imported cotton from the US declined by 0.65 per cent, Macau down 2.02 per cent; and Hong Kong fell 3.77 per cent. However, the price of cotton imported from the Indian market increased by 11.65 per cent, according to the Vietnam Industry and Trade Information Centre under the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Vietnam has been a darling for US cotton producers. Data by the CCI shows that the US is home to 18,500 farms and over 550 grinding mills. US cotton is produced and tested under strict procedures, meeting the requirements of Vietnams textile industry in terms of quality and environment.

According to the CCI, around 28 Vietnamese textile and weaving factories are trusted partners of US cotton suppliers with a total registered cotton volume of about 400,000 tonnes per year. In particular, after just three years of cooperation, domestic fashion brands such as Canifa, John Henry, Ninomaxx, Onoff, and Sunfly have chosen US cotton suppliers as their partners, with 1.7 million products registered with Cotton USA labels last year.
The U.K. could see up to 50,000 coronavirus cases per day by mid-October if current growth continues, top scientific advisers warned in a televised address from Downing Street on Monday.

The big picture: The U.K. has upgraded its coronavirus alert level from three to four as infections appear to be "high or rising exponentially." Meanwhile, recent European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) data shows that over half of all European Union countries are seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases.

What they're saying: "At the moment, we think that the epidemic is doubling roughly every seven days" in the U.K., chief scientific adviser Patrick Vallance said.

England's chief medical officer Chris Whitty stressed that unemployment and poverty are risks of taking strong action against the virus  like enforcing stay-at-home orders  but that more deaths will occur if aggressive action is not taken.

Where it stands: ECDC data shows that Spain, France, the Czech Republic, Croatia and Romania have recorded more than 120 confirmed COVID-19 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the last 14 days, according to AP.

In Madrid, the rate of infection is nearly three times higher than the national average, at 683 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, per AP. Spain, one of the first epicenters of the virus in Europe, is faring the worst of countries tracked by the ECDC.

the rate of infection is nearly three times higher than the national average, at 683 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, per AP. Spain, one of the first epicenters of the virus in Europe, is faring the worst of countries tracked by the ECDC. France has seen 31,285 deaths since the start of the pandemic, one of the highest death tolls in Europe. This weekend, France reported a record 13,000 new infections in 24 hours.

has seen 31,285 deaths since the start of the pandemic, one of the highest death tolls in Europe. This weekend, France reported a record 13,000 new infections in 24 hours. The Czech Republic reported 3,000 new cases on Thursday, almost as many as the country saw in all of March.

reported 3,000 new cases on Thursday, almost as many as the country saw in all of March. Croatia has recorded over 14,000 new COVID-19 cases per day since Sept. 16, while Romania is seeing over 11,000 new infections per day, according to Johns Hopkins data.

What to watch: Analysts expect the British government to announce short-term restrictions after Prime Minister Boris Johnson met with ministers over the weekend, AP reports.
Mastercard has launched Fintech Express in the Middle East and Africa, a program designed to facilitate emerging fintechs launch and expansion as well as support digital payment innovators.



Leveraging the power of partnerships and Mastercards expertise, technology, and global network, startups will now be able to focus on innovation that drives the digital economy.



Mastercard Fintech Express is designed for all types of fintechs: established fintechs wanting a direct license from Mastercard; as well as fintechs with the ambition to innovate through collaborating with ready-to-go Mastercard Engage partners. As such, the program is split into three core modules: Access, Build, Connect.



 Access: Enabling regulated entities to obtain a Mastercard License and access Mastercards network through a streamlined onboarding process

 Build: Fintechs as Processors/Enablers can become an Express Partner by building unique tech alliances and benefitting from all the advantages that Mastercard provides

 Connect: Fintechs/Start-ups, looking to add payment solutions to their suite of products, can easily connect with qualified Express Partners available on the Mastercard Engage web portal, and go live with Mastercard in a matter of days



The program supports digital payment innovators by making it simple to collaborate with Mastercard and its partners to launch new fintech products. It is designed for fintechs looking to add payment solutions to their suite of products, tech-savvy startups looking at serving a new segment as well as established players with ambitions to innovate through partnerships.



Becoming an Express Partner helps brands simplify the launch of payment solutions, shortening the process from a few months to a matter of days. Express Partners will also enjoy all the benefits of becoming a Qualified Mastercard Engage Partner.



Startups are forming exciting and diverse new collaborations with traditional financial institutions, thereby enhancing competitiveness while also bringing a host of new services and products to market. Mastercard is playing a central role in making these fintech partnerships a reality as their technology provider of choice, said Gaurang Shah, Senior Vice President, Digital Payments & Labs, Middle East and Africa, Mastercard.



Technological advancement and innovation are steering the digital financial services industry as fintech players are becoming globally mainstream and an increasing influx of these players are competing with large traditional players. With todays announcement, we are taking the next step in further empowering them to fulfil their ambitions of scale and speed.

As an Express Partner, Network International, a leading enabler of digital commerce in MENA and long-term Mastercard partner, will act as exclusive payments processor for Middle East fintechs, thus enabling and accelerating participants regional market entry.

In the last decade fintechs have been pushing the boundaries of innovation and transforming our everyday lives. At Network, innovation is core to our ethos, and we believe that fostering a local culture of innovation is key to success. Were pleased to enter into this strategic collaboration with Mastercard, as part of our long-term commitment to support fintechs and strengthen the UAE payment infrastructure, said Samer Soliman, Managing Director, Middle East  Network International.

Mastercard Fintech Express falls under the umbrella of Mastercard Accelerate  Mastercards overarching fintech platform that gives start-ups and emerging brands support and assistance for every stage of their growth and transformation, from market entry to global expansion. Mastercard Accelerate is comprised of four main programmes: Fintech Express, Start Path, Engage and Developers together.  TradeArabia News Service
Like thousands of parents in the Toronto District School Board, Carlie Fuller woke up early Tuesday morning in preparation for what was supposed to be her daughters first day of virtual school.

Instead, she was met with an absolute nightmare  one shared with many other families who complained of technical problems, classes without teachers, and hours spent on hold trying to get help.

Chaos and confusion reigned on day one of virtual school in the countrys largest school board as it wrestled with the unprecedented task of setting up online learning for 78,000 students in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As of Tuesday, the board was still scrambling to hire up to 150 additional teachers for the virtual school. Students with no teacher were instructed to begin independent learning with the content made available on the online platform.

But for some families, simply logging in to the system proved to be an ask much easier said than done.

Fuller got an email Monday night with instructions for how to set up her daughter Sophias account, but when she tested it, she received an error saying it wasnt set up.

At 8 a.m. Tuesday, not a minute after the IT support system had opened up, she began attempting to reach someone for answers.

I couldnt even get into the chat queue until 8:30 a.m. and it times out after about an hour, she said. When she spoke to the Star at 1:30 p.m., she was taking a break from queueing  a task shed started more than five hours earlier.

Ive been in four separate chat queues. Ive been trying to call the number thats on the website for technical support, and I cant even get through to that.

Throughout the day, the TDSB Twitter account was flooded with similar concerns tweeted from equally confused and disappointed parents, all struggling to get their child online for their first day of classes.

Its great that its not just me experiencing this, but its also terrible that its not just me, she said of what was supposed to be her daughters first day in junior kindergarten.

Ryan Bird, the media relations manager for the TDSB, acknowledged Tuesday there were some glitches the IT department was actively looking into.

But we are aiming to try to get all virtual learners up and running this week, he said. The board announced on Monday night it would stagger the start of classes for some students.

It wasnt just the parents who were struggling to get online Tuesday morning. Randy Ray, a French immersion teacher with the virtual elementary school, still hadnt been able to connect with his students by 1:30 p.m.

He learned later, during a scheduled Zoom meeting with administrators, that in addition to French immersion, hed also be responsible for covering English but with no additional time in the day.

I think this is something they havent really considered, and hopefully it will change, he said.

James Frodyma, a parent to three young children enrolled in the TDSB virtual school, managed to only get one of his kids online Monday night. But when he logged on Tuesday morning, the only part of their first day of school routine they were able to complete was posing for a photo with their backpacks on.

Its a total mess, he said. My third-graders teacher sent a message at 8:30 a.m. that hes out sick today, my first-grader has no teacher assigned and my little guy is starting JK and TDSB didnt activate his account.

He was on hold with the IT support services Tuesday morning for an hour before his call finally went through. And then in the middle, it got disconnected.

Its just really frustrating, he said, adding he doesnt blame the board for the delays, but he cant help but be disappointed for what was supposed to be an exciting day for his kids.

Ive counted, and theyve been out of school for almost 200 days, he said. Public school students in Toronto have been out of school since March Break when restrictions around the pandemic forced their closure. They were really bummed out.

The TDSB provided a down-to-the-wire change Monday night when they said some virtual elementary students wouldnt be able to be part of the synchronous learning Tuesday morning, as there werent enough teachers.

Bird confirmed in a phone call that the board was short 500 teachers before the start of virtual school, but they had recently been able to hire 300 more at the last minute. While they still needed to fill up to 150 positions, he said they were hoping to get teachers online as fast as possible before the end of the week.

Keeping families informed about these changes though, Fuller points out, could have reduced some of the frustration being experienced by parents, especially for those who are working from home.

I took a vacation day from work today, she said. This is the third time shes had to reschedule it, but since her bosss children are also enrolled in the virtual school, theyve been understanding about her last-minute switches.

But theres a lot of parents that arent able to do that and thats not fair to them, she said. All were trying to do is keep our kids safe and educated ... were just being let down completely.
Coronavirus fears meant a historic travel corridor created last year to let Indian Sikhs visit a holy shrine in northeast Pakistan remained closed on September 22 on one of the faith's most sacred days.

Hundreds of Pakistani Sikhs visited the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, a huge temple in Kartarpur marking the grave of Sikhism's founder Guru Nanak, to commemorate the 481st anniversary of his death.

This year would have been the first time Indian Sikhs could have crossed visa-free into Pakistan to mark the anniversary at the site, located just four kilometers inside the country, after a special crossing was opened in November 2019.

The creation of the Kartarpur Corridor marked a rare example of cooperation between the nuclear-armed rivals, who have fought three wars since independence from Britain in 1947.

Worshippers sang holy hymns from Sikh scripture, prayed, and bowed before the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book.

Some lamented the closing of the new crossing. "This corridor is not only an opportunity of pilgrimage for our Indian cousins but also an opportunity to come and meet us, which otherwise is quite difficult," said 25-year-old science teacher Komal Mehra.

India, with about 89,000 coronavirus deaths, is the world's third-worst affected country after the United States and Brazil and has imposed a range of travel restrictions.

When Pakistan was carved out of colonial India at the end of British rule in 1947, Kartarpur ended up on the western side of the border, while most of the region's Sikhs remained on the other side.

The gurdwara at Kartarpur is so close to the India-Pakistan frontier that its magnificent white dome and four cupolas can be seen from across the border.

For up to 30 million Sikhs around the world, the shrine is one of their holiest sites.
A man was shot and killed by San Antonio police after officials say the man pointed a gun at officers, marking the second fatal shooting by SAPD in one week.

The Bexar County Medical Examiners Office identified the man as Victor Sanchez, 44.

Officials said the officers went to the apartment complex in the 5600 block of Culebra Road about 11 p.m. Tuesday after someone  its unclear who  called to report a burglary.

When police arrived, no one answered the door and the apartment was dark, San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said at the scene.

According to a preliminary police report, the officers repeatedly knocked on the door and contacted dispatchers, asking them to call back the person who reported the burglary. They also spoke to several residents to ask whether they had seen or heard anything.

Angelic Barron, who had a 1-year-old child with Sanchez, said Sanchez had some mental issues and that he had been struggling after his brother, Ricardo, was killed in 2017.

I loved him a lot, Barron said, speaking from her bullet-riddled apartment Wednesday afternoon. I cared about him. I knew he had some mental issues, but that never stopped me from wanting to be there for him and trying to comfort him.

Barron said she was inside her apartment Tuesday with Sanchez  whom she had known for about three years  when her daughter approached her. Her daughter said Sanchez had heard banging on the front door, and that he was encouraging the girl to call police.

Barron, 29, said she opened the door and looked outside, at which point she saw several police officers in the parking lot.

On ExpressNews.com: New details emerge about fatal shooting of West Side man by San Antonio police

Suddenly, Barron said, she heard a gunshot inside her apartment. She rushed back in and found Sanchez standing inside her childrens room holding a gun.

He said I needed to get out because the cops were going to come in here and probably wanted to shoot, Barron said.

Barron gathered her five children, from 1 to 12 years old. She picked up her youngest and told Sanchez that he should put down his gun and put his hands in the air.

Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News

Again, she said, he encouraged her to leave.

As Barron ran out of the apartment, she passed several police officers, all of whom were carrying shields and long guns. The officers, who had been in their patrol cars outside, returned to the apartment after hearing the shot inside.

According to police, after Barron left the apartment, the officers kept the door open and continued talking to Sanchez. They saw he was carrying a handgun and repeatedly asked him to put it down, the report states.

Sanchez retreated further into the apartment, the report states. He told officers he had a rifle and threatened to shoot, officers later said.

At that point, police said, Sanchez raised his right arm and pointed the gun directly at the officers. Six officers fired, striking Sanchez multiple times.

Barron, who was outside, heard 15 to 20 shots. She said she ran toward her apartment, at which point several officers tackled her and placed her on the ground.

Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News

I said, Leave me alone, Barron said. I need to make sure hes OK.

The officers immediately attempted to perform lifesaving first aid, the report states.

On ExpressNews.com: More details emerge from H-E-B incident where officer stabbed, suspect killed

A few minutes later, Barron said, she saw Sanchez being carried on a stretcher to an ambulance. Barron cried out to Sanchez. Officers told Barron that Sanchez was speaki, and she held out hope that he might be alright.

Several hours later, when Barron was giving a statement at police headquarters, she learned Sanchez had died after being transported to University Hospital.

When she arrived home about 7:15 a.m., the floor was covered in blood, she said. She spent the morning trying to clean it.

Sanchez, who had a lengthy criminal history, was out on bond for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. In that incident, on Nov. 19, 2019, he was accused of pointing a firearm at Barron and threatening her.

Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News

A Bexar County grand jury indicted Sanchez on June 1, and he was arrested on Aug. 21, according to court records.

A judge set his bond at $60,000. He released on bail six days later on Aug. 27 after paying a percentage of his bond through a bail bondsman, the records state.

Prior to that incident, Sanchez had been arrested about eight times since 1995 for a variety of charges, including possession of a controlled substance, aggravated robbery and assault bodily injury married.

He was convicted six times, the records state. Two charges were dismissed.

Sanchez is the ninth person to be fatally shot by SAPD this year, according to police reports filed with the Texas Office of the Attorney General. Two others have died while handcuffed in police custody.

Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News

The shooting Tuesday comes exactly a week after a detective shot and killed 55-year-old Darrell Zemault Sr. in his front yard. Three detectives and two patrol officers went to his house to execute a warrant. According to police, Zemault wrestled with a detective and grabbed his gun that had fallen from its holster onto the ground. The department is conducting separate criminal and administrative investigations, as is customary after a police shooting.

The same procedures are being followed in Tuesdays fatal shooting. All the officers involved were placed on administrative leave in the meantime.

Staff photographer Jerry Lara contributed to this report.

Emilie Eaton is a criminal justice reporter in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Emilie, become a subscriber. eeaton@express-news.net | Twitter: @emilieeaton

Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news and general assignment reporter for MySA.com | taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | Twitter: @TaylorPettaway
NK, international society should cooperate for peace



President Moon Jae-in called for a declaration to the end of the Korea War in a prerecorded speech for the annual United Nations General Assembly session, early Wednesday. He also proposed setting up a cooperative body to fight infection and promote health in Northeast Asia.



"This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Korean War and now is the time to terminate the tragic situation which remains on the peninsula," Moon said, asking international society and the U.N. to join forces in efforts toward reconciliation and prosperity through the declaration.



Moon noted adopting such declaration was the surest way to guarantee denuclearization and establish a permanent peace regime in the region. His statement can be taken as his unswerving resolve to start the peace process through dialogue among the relevant parties  especially North Korea and the United States.



Moon's peace initiative has lost steam since the failed summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump in Hanoi, Vietnam early last year. The President also cited the need to declare an end to the war in his speech at the 73rd session of the U.S. General Assembly in 2018.



Moon called for cooperation from the international community this time beyond the efforts of the relevant parties, meaning he is seeking to find a breakthrough to the stalled peace process with the backing of global society.



Moon has one and a half years left of his presidency and the recent proposal came in a desperate bid to make progress in inter-Korean relations. Timely enough, he called for cooperation in the medical, health and infection areas, beyond the international sanctions, in that reclusive North Korea has been suffering from the lingering COVID-19 pandemic and economic sanctions. Moon emphasized that cooperation in dealing with infections and in the medical sector will pave the way for dialogue toward peace on the peninsula.



We welcome Moon's proposal for a cooperative body comprising of both Koreas, China, Mongolia and Japan to boost exchanges for health and medical promotion. Once the participating nations build up trust through such a multinational organization, it will help advance the peace process.



In 2018, Moon visited Pyongyang for a summit with Kim and they came up with a joint statement for easing inter-Korean military tension. But since then the two Koreas have failed to make any progress in relations which turned to their worst when the North dismantled a liaison office in the border village of Gaeseong in June.



North Korea has remained mum on the South's move toward dialogue. The prevailing skeptical view is that Pyongyang is unlikely to attempt dialogue with Seoul and Washington before the November U.S. presidential election. We call on the North to proactively respond to Moon's proposal. International society including the U.S., China and Japan should also fully support Moon's call for peace.


Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Geneva will on 5 October be the venue for meetings of the political part of the inter-Libyan talks launched by the Berlin Conference process, which is devoted to choosing members of the new Presidential Council
Candidates can register for the recruitment online at airmenselection.cdac.in by 5 pm on 28 September

The India Air Force (IAF) has released a notification for holding recruitment rallies in Bihar, Haryana, and Rajasthan to select airmen for Group X (technical trades), except education instructor trade.

The online registration process will commence from 27 September at 11 am.

Cndidates can register for the recruitment online at airmenselection.cdac.in by 5 pm on 28 September.

The IAF will hold the recruitment rallies from 9 to 20 October.

The exam will be held in an offline mode.

In a tweet, IAF said, "#JoinIAF: IAF invites online applications for pre-registration from unmarried male citizens (Indian/Nepalese) from Rajasthan to appear in recruitment rally to join as an Airman in Group X Trades (except Education Instructor Trade)."

According to Hindustan Times, the recruitment rally will be conducted at 1 Airmen Selection Centre, Ambala Cantonment.

For Bihar, the rally will be held at 10 Airmen Selection Centre, Air Force Station Bihta, Patna.

In Rajasthan, the rally will be at 5 Airmen Selection Centre & Kendriya Vidyalaya-2 Air Force, Jodhpur.

As per NDTV, candidates applying for the IAF recruitment rally 2020 should have born between 17 January, 2000 and 30, December 2003. Only those who have passed 10+2 or diploma will be eligible to apply.

The IAF started holding rallies in Odisha, Karnataka and Gujarat on Wednesday.

Shortlisted candidates will be getting a stipend of Rs 14,600 per month. After the completion of training, the starting gross emoluments, including Military Service Pay (MSP), group X pay shall be Rs 33,100 per month, including Dearness Allowance.

This may increase in subsequent years as per the career progression of the candidate.

Click here to check the official notification here.
Some of the most iconic brands in the world have fascinating stories behind their genesis. Whether its Colonel Harland Sanders story on how he ended up founding KFC or how iconic Italian luxury fashion brand Versace got its name  there is a story behind every brand. And its these stories that make these brands admirable, humane and iconic, writes Piali Dasgupta, SVP Marketing, Columbia Pacific Communities.

The venerable Piyush Pandey once famously said, Products are made in factories. Brands are made in peoples hearts.

This is the fundamental truth of brand building. A marketer, who understands and acknowledges this, will understand the importance of storytelling in brand building. There is no brand without a captivating story.

American literary scholar Jonathan Gottschall, in his book, The Storytelling Animal, talks about how human beings are natural storytellers and they have a compulsion to turn everything into a story. As human beings, we crave a good story. So, when Google tells us the story of long-lost friends across the border trying to be reunited after decades, it is a timeless story with universal appeal that takes their brand purpose forward.

Storytelling is a very powerful tool, something more and more brands are realising and leveraging judiciously. It not only results in higher brand salience and top of mind but also forms a deep connect with end users  one which is not transactional in nature.

Think of the most memorable ad campaigns in India in the last two decades. The ones that we remember are the ones that told a great story. Whether it is Cadburys Pappu Paas Ho Gaya, or SBI Life Insurances Heere ko kya pataa tumhari umar kya hai or even the socially relevant Ariel ads in recent years  they are memorable because they told a tale.

Hence, the formula is quite simple.

Great storytelling = larger mindshare = higher brand equity.

Brand building is a long term game. And category building, even longer. Unfortunately, no shortcuts apply here. It needs patience, perseverance, strategic thinking, and of course, customer obsession, all geared towards achieving a set of unambiguous business objectives.

You remove any one of the four, and your brand/category building efforts will be adversely affected.

Customer centricity is the single most important factor that determines whether or not a brand will be a category leader. Brands that make customer centricity a part of their culture will not only have a larger market share and be more profitable, but will also see a higher customer lifecycle value, as it will earn customer loyalty  the most crucial business currency today.

And customer centricity really starts and ends with listening to a customers problems, and then inventing or innovating a product that solves that specific problem. New age brands are using digital tools such as social media listening to mine customer insight and get a strong hold on the pulse of the customer, and eventually addressing a need. Three years ago, when McDonalds brought back Szechuan sauce for just a day, and in the process ran out of the sauce, customers expressed their disappointment on social media. The fast food giant listened, admitted that they let their fans down, and promised to bring the sauce back that winter in much larger quantities. Its a great example of customer-centricity and quick reaction to customer sentiment.

I work in a nascent category such as senior living. The category is not only niche, but also attempts to solve very specific problems pertaining to a certain demographic  senior citizens.

At Columbia Pacific Communities, we put the customer at the centre of everything we do, and foster a culture of providing unconditional love, care and respect to our customers. This, we believe, is the only way to serve seniors. Our motto is to ensure a worry-free life for seniors by looking after their every need and letting them enjoy the best phase of their lives so that they live healthier and happier for longer.

Customer centricity is not only about studying customer data and customer behaviour and showing them an algorithm backed product recommendation. It is about a larger awareness about a customers life that goes beyond mapping his online behaviour. What makes Netflix such a customer centric company? Perhaps the fact that in May 2020, bang in the midst of the global pandemic when the whole world was spending a lot more time on Netflix than ever before, the OTT platform, in an unconventional move, announced that it will stop charging subscription fee to users that havent used the platform for 2 years and ask them if they would like to continue the subscription.

Its a radical move, but one that earned the brand tremendous goodwill and respect. And thats what customer centricity truly is about.
The Detroit Tigers return to Target Field for the second and final game of their two-game series. The team lost the first of the two games and look to leave Minnesota splitting the series.

Eric Haase will be behind the plate on Wednesday night following the typical rotation the Tigers have used this season with their catchers. Austin Romine typically plays two games in a row then gets a day of rest. So his absence on Wednesday is just his usual day off.

Heres Wednesday nights lineup:

Here's how we line up for the season series finale vs. the Twins.#DetroitRoots pic.twitter.com/3hsK52f4IC  Detroit Tigers (@tigers) September 23, 2020

Twins Lineup
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa will hold a bilateral summit on September 26.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed the development saying that the talks will be held via video conference.

The MEA in a statement said, "The virtual bilateral summit will give an opportunity to the two leaders to comprehensively review the broad framework of the bilateral relationship soon after the Parliamentary elections in Sri Lanka and in the context of the time-tested friendly ties between the two countries."

The meeting will be held two days after the SAARC foreign ministers forum on September 24 which will see the participation of the foreign ministers of the two countries.

The two leaders are expected to deliberate on a host of issues which include deepening anti-terror cooperation, boosting overall defence and trade ties as well as implementation of India's development projects in Sri Lanka.

India has been pitching for fulfilling the aspirations of the Tamil community in the island nation.

Last month, Rajapaksa was sworn in as Sri Lankan prime minister for a fresh term after his party, Sri Lanka People's Front, secured a two-thirds majority in the parliamentary polls.
By Aas Mohammad Kaif, TwoCircles.net

Renowned historian and author Rana Safvi has won this years Yamin Hazarika Award. The prestigious award is given in the memory of Yamin Hazarika, the first woman police officer from Assam. Safvi was presented with the award on Tuesday, September 22. The award was presented to her at a virtual ceremony in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. Well known journalist Suhasini Haider and Assam DGP Bhaskar Jyoti attended the ceremony and praised Safvi for her achievement.

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Yamin Hazarika, who had also served as the deputy commissioner of police (crime against women) in Delhi, died of cancer in 1999. She was just 43 years old. She was known as a bold officer with progressive views who challenged the male hegemony in the police force. She was a DANIPS officer of the 1977 batch. She was also the first woman police officer from the North East. The Yamin Hazarika Award has been instituted in her memory to annually honour women pursuing offbeat work.

Five talented women have received the award before Rana Safvi. Last year, the award was presented in Guwahati to social worker Hasina Kharbih from Meghalaya, who is associated with the Meghalaya Model against human trafficking. Previous winners include journalist Indrani Raimedhi, athlete Tayabun Nisha, actress Moloya Goswami and environmentalist Purnima Devi Barman.

Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta congratulated Safvi and said he was a fan of her work. Women journalists and writers have expressed pleasure at the announcement.

It is interesting to note that Rana Safvis father was an IPS officer himself and she has now won an award in the memory of the first woman police officer from the North East. Also worth mentioning is that Rana Safavi herself had cleared the preliminary civil service exam, but she did not attend the final exam. She is originally from Aligarh and is considered to be one of the most illustrious alumnae of Aligarh Muslim University.

Abbas Ali Khan of Jansath expressed his happiness at Safvi receiving the award. Rana Aapa has always made us proud. Yet again she has inspired girls to hold their head high and move ahead in the world. There is no doubt that she is a role model.

63-year-old Rana Safavi is popular on social media platforms. On Twitter, she is also known for the popular hashtag #shair. Her creativity and artistic streak fuel a variety of discussions on social media. Her drive for popularizing Ganga-Jamuni culture through her books set her apart from other historians. She has written several books on the history of Delhi which include Shahjahanabad, Where the Stones Speak and the Forgotten Cities of Delhi. The history of Delhi comes alive in these books.

Sources close to her claim that she had passed the preliminary UPSC exam but never appeared in the finals. She married Ghazanfar, an engineer from Bihar.

Her sister Farzana says that she has always taken life decisions quite fearlessly and hasnt cared for the labels attributed to her. She still considers her work as a public service.

For Safvi, the coincidence of winning an award named after a civil servant who died of cancer brings an emotional connection to this honour. Safvi lost her mother to cancer in 2004.

On winning the award, Rana Safavi expressed her happiness and described it as a great achievement and added that she continues to draw inspiration from Yamin Hazarika.
We often see insiders buying up shares in companies that perform well over the long term. On the other hand, we'd be remiss not to mention that insider sales have been known to precede tough periods for a business. So before you buy or sell Swift Media Limited (ASX:SW1), you may well want to know whether insiders have been buying or selling.

What Is Insider Buying?

It is perfectly legal for company insiders, including board members, to buy and sell stock in a company. However, most countries require that the company discloses such transactions to the market.

Insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing. But it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing. 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'.

View our latest analysis for Swift Media

Swift Media Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider purchase was by Non-Executive Director Robert Sofoulis for AU$432k worth of shares, at about AU$0.015 per share. Although we like to see insider buying, we note that this large purchase was at significantly below the recent price of AU$0.032. Because the shares were purchased at a lower price, this particular buy doesn't tell us much about how insiders feel about the current share price.

Swift Media insiders may have bought shares in the last year, but they didn't sell any. They paid about AU$0.042 on average. I'd consider this a positive as it suggests insiders see value at around the current price. 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!

Swift Media 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.

Story continues

Insider Ownership of Swift Media

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. Insiders own 27% of Swift Media shares, worth about AU$3.8m. We've certainly seen higher levels of insider ownership elsewhere, but these holdings are enough to suggest alignment between insiders and the other shareholders.

What Might The Insider Transactions At Swift Media Tell Us?

There haven't been any insider transactions in the last three months -- that doesn't mean much. On a brighter note, the transactions over the last year are encouraging. Insiders do have a stake in Swift Media and their transactions don't cause us concern. So while it's helpful to know what insiders are doing in terms of buying or selling, it's also helpful to know the risks that a particular company is facing. To that end, you should learn about the 5 warning signs we've spotted with Swift Media (including 4 which are a bit concerning).

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.



Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com.
On Tuesday, China responded in rebuke of United States President Donald Trump's speech at the United Nations General Assembly where the Republican leader is urging Beijing to take responsibility for the failed response to the coronavirus pandemic.

After the statements, China said Trump was spreading a political virus across the world. Chinese Ambassador Zhang Jun said that Beijing has outright denied the allegations and baseless accusations the U.S. president made during the September 22 General Debate.

Growing international tensions

According to Fox News, Zhang added that while China was doing its best in fighting the COVID-19 health crisis, the United States is spreading disinformation and that Trump is provoking Beijing and has been working to weaken the U.N.

During the assembly, Trump criticized China and how it handled the coronavirus pandemic, specifically how it responded in the initial stages of what he called the "China virus" and its origins from Wuhan.

President Trump also urged the U.N. to hold China responsible for their actions. He added that the Chinese government and the World Health Organization (WHO), who he said is being controlled by Beijing, spread disinformation about the threat of the coronavirus.

Earlier this year, Trump withdrew the U.S. from the WHO after the Republican said that the organization was in too close of a relationship with China. The U.S. president also called for an investigation looking into the outbreak of the virus.

Also Read: Donald Trump's Life in Danger? Woman Responsible For Sending Poisonous Ricin Letter to POTUS Arrested

The director of the Center on U.S.-China Relations at the Asia Society, Orville Schell, said that both President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping saw flexibility as a weakness and that concessions were the marks of diplomacy, as reported by The New York Times.

Trump also delivered a speech where he praised the United States' responses to the coronavirus pandemic and touted the quick advancements of a vaccine for the virus. The Republican leader added that the treatments would soon be available nationwide and that the era of the coronavirus would soon come to an end.

Global threat

According to the Wall Street Journal, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said during the annual U.N. General Assembly that officials must do everything in their power to avoid a new Cold War.

President Xi said that Beijing has no desire to fight in a new Cold War, but the growing tensions between the United States and China were on vibrant display during the assembly.

The U.S. and China have also had an argument over Beijing's territorial claims in the South China Sea.

After Trump's speech at the assembly, Xi responded by saying that world nations should focus on multilateralism and cooperate with the U.N. to safeguard the international system. He added that major countries should act how they should and live up to people's expectations.

The Chinese leader also promised that China, the world's largest carbon dioxide emitter, will become carbon neutral by 2060. Several environmental groups quickly gave their approval of the pledge that protects nature.

However, Trump vowed to break relations with China and has threatened to block companies that conduct outsourcing of jobs to China. The Republican leader also promised to provide jobs to the United States if he wins reelection this coming November.

Related Article: Trump Criticizes President Xi After Allegedly Hiding COVID-19 Information in Cooperation with WHO

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
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The Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development handed over three sluice gates to authorities of the Mekong Delta provinces of Tra Vinh and Vinh Long at an inauguration ceremony on Tuesday.

The three sluice gates, namely Bong Bot in Tra Vinh and Tan Dinh and Vung Liem in Vinh Long, are part of a greater project improving climate resilience and sustainable livelihoods in the Mekong Delta region, which costs an investment of VND746 billion (US$31.9 million).

The sluice gates were built to help control saltwater intrusion and flood tide, turn out clean water, avoid waterlogging, and improve soil quality for over 28,000 hectares of natural land in the two localities.

The three constructions apply advanced and complex operating technology, according to Le Hong Linh, director of the Irrigation Construction Investment and Management Board 10.

Linh suggested the agriculture ministry continue arranging investment to ensure proactive control over water supply for production and daily life of local people.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong requested the board to cooperate with relevant agencies in Tra Vinh and Vinh Long to operate the sluice gates in the best manner.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Press Release

23 September 2020

The hospitality world will come together virtually to discuss, reimagine and pave a new path towards the future, on 26-27 October at Future Hospitality Summit.

The hybrid summit is organised by the Ministry of Tourism Saudi Arabia and G20 Saudi Secretariat and is powered by Bench Digital.

Register now at https://www.event.benchevents.com/e/106592/2020-09-23/f77b88/566368029?h=zAHXoESiSoHorimaQoa89sM0PDRHM0RcHWC6LAULmh8 to receive the latest updates and take part in the event.

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Riyadh, KSA (23 September 2020): Future Hospitality Summit - this hybrid virtual conference is being developed to explore big ideas and tackle the challenges facing the hospitality industry - is set to take place live from Riyadh and around the world, on 26 and 27 of October. Organised by the Ministry of Tourism Saudi Arabia and G20 Saudi Secretariat, as part of The International Conferences Programme, honouring the G20 Saudi presidency year 2020, Future Hospitality Summit will be powered by Bench Digital.

The event, which promises to be one of the most impactful gatherings of the world's hospitality community, will be delivered on Bench Digital's tried-and-tested, cutting-edge, digital event platform - providing an immersive live experience, including a virtual exhibition, one-to-one video networking, and integrated chat features for all participants.

A comprehensive three-pillar programme has been developed in collaboration with industry creators, innovators and mentors, with particular focus on understanding the new landscape, collaborating and assessing opportunities, and innovating to recreate the industry's future. Arne Sorenson (President & CEO, Marriott International), Arnold Donald (CEO, Carnival Corporation), Gloria Guevara (CEO & President, WTTC), Jerry Inzerillo (CEO, Diriyah Gate Development Authority), and Anita Mendiratta (Special Advisory to the Secretary General, UNWTO) are lined up as featured speakers, along with over 100 other esteemed speakers and thousands of attendees.

"As a country that is at the forefront of the tourism sector's response and recovery plans through the G20 Presidency, Saudi Arabia is leading the conversation on the future of tourism and will provide an international platform to bring the industry together at the Future Hospitality Summit. Together, we will map out the rebuilding of the tourism and travel sector and strategically plan a sustainable future for stakeholders at every level," says Mr. Mahmoud Abdulhadi, Deputy Minister for Investment at the Saudi Ministry of Tourism.

Jonathan Worsley, Chairman & Founder of Bench Digital, adds, "During this difficult time, it is vital that hospitality professionals across the globe come together as a community to work towards the recovery of our industry. Future Hospitality Summit will not only provide a powerful platform to network virtually, showcase best practice and demonstrate thought leadership, but it will also prove invaluable in ensuring that the industry emerges stronger as a whole from these unprecedented challenges."

Future Hospitality Summit aims to gather the global industry for important conversations and create critical connections to build relationships, unity and actionable ways to support each other - to facilitate a stronger response for a stronger future. The event programme will dig deep into establishing the most effective ways to build a hospitality industry that is:

Relevant for a post-pandemic world

Attractive to tomorrow's international traveller and consumer

Supportive of entrepreneurs and innovation

Sustainable for the global economy and the environment

Attractive to tomorrow's workforce.

Empowering tomorrow's workforce and attracting talent into the hospitality sector - imperative factors in sustaining the industry - will be two of the key focus points of the hybrid summit. Developing a skilled workforce is paramount in order to quickly evolve and keep pace with the demand being created from the hospitality sector. In Saudi Arabia, for example, 253 new hotels are coming online by 2030. Consequently, Future Hospitality Summit is a forum to engage with the hospitality workforce of the future and promote the sector as an attractive career path.

To keep up with all the latest news and announcements, and to register to attend Future Hospitality Summit, visit www.FutureHospitalitySummit.com

End-

About Future Hospitality Summit

Organised by the Ministry of Tourism Saudi Arabia and G20 Saudi Secretariat, as part of The International Conferences Programme honouring the G20 Saudi presidency year 2020, and powered by Bench Digital - Future Hospitality Summit has been developed to tackle the big ideas and challenges facing the hospitality industry in both the Kingdom and the world. On 26 and 27 October 2020. This hybrid virtual conference will host over 100 leading industry speakers and more than 6,000 participants from around the world. The event is being delivered on a tried-and-tested, cutting-edge, digital event platform, managed by Bench Digital - providing an immersive live experience, including a virtual exhibition, one-to-one video networking and integrated chat features for all participants. The conference has been designed to dig deep into how we create a hospitality industry that is:
AS alcohol-only pubs return to business this week, a new addition to Limericks craft beer scene is set to appear.

The Crew Brewing Company is set to blaze a trail at the old fire station building in Upper Thomas Street.

It comes as two young entrepreneurs from Belfast, after more than two years of work, open a new microbrewery and bar this Friday, September 25.

The bar will have a focus on beer produced in house as well as independent Irish craft beer.

Four 300-litre serving tanks will see fresh beer produced on site in the heart of the centre.

With our opening day coming up our friend PJ put together a video for us showing a little of what we're about . pic.twitter.com/jBiFVJE3a8  Crew Brewing Company (@crewbrewco) September 16, 2020

The brains of the operation are Jonathan Crute and Gareth Cash, who already have years of experience in the hospitality trade.

Opening a new craft beer business with a pub as our main route to market during a world pandemic where businesses are closing may sound crazy to some. In fact now I say it out loud, it does sound crazy, Mr Crute laughs.

Mr Cash explained how the pairs business plan dates back to 2018 when they sought support from the Local Enterprise Office Limerick.

The name Crew is a tribute to the historic nature of the building, whose previous occupants were Limericks firefighters.

Beer is already busily brewing away in the pairs unit in Thomas Street.

Doors will open on the new venture this Friday, September 25, from 4pm.

For more information, or to book a table, please visit https://www.crewbrewing.ie/ or visit crewbrewco on Instagram.
Massachusetts School Sends 9-Year-Old Boy Home After He Sneezes in Class

A 9-year-old boy in Arlington, Massachusetts was sent home after he was caught sneezing by a concerned teacher. His parent was informed that the child wont be permitted into class unless he tested negative for COVID-19.

Thierno Keita told CBS Boston that his son, Lancinet, was sent home from Bishop Elementary School on Tuesday after a teacher directed him to visit the school nurse for sneezing in class.

Lancinet, a fourth-grader, said that after he sneezed two times, his teacher told him to go to the nurses office, where he had to wait until his father came and picked him up.

I was thinking I didnt have anything, just a couple sneezes, Lancinet told the news outlet, adding that he felt just fine at that time.

Keita said that he was upset with the way his son was treated, noting that when he was called to school, the boy didnt show any symptoms that would indicate a CCP virus infection.

He dont have any symptoms, no one, and hes OK, Keita told CBS Boston. And I checked his temperature. Everything was perfect.

Keita said he has no choice but to take his son for a COVID-19 test, with the hope of having the results as soon as possible so he can return to school.

A spokesperson for Bishop Elementary said in a statement that school administrators decided to send Lancinet home out of an abundance of caution.

A student at Bishop Elementary School was sent home early today after he displayed COVID-19 related symptoms, the statement read. This decision was made both out of an abundance of caution and in accordance with district protocols related to COVID-19.

This isolated incident is not indicative of any need for wider concern of COVID-19 exposure, the statement continued. Per district protocols, the student will either have to produce a negative COVID-19 test, written documentation from a health care provider stating it is an alternative illness or be symptom free for 10 days following the start of the symptoms.

The incident comes as Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker repeatedly urges school districts in areas that are considered low-risk for the CCP virus to bring children back to school.

Getting kids back to the classroom, obviously, is something that we believe is critically important to our success and to our kids success going forward, said the Republican governor at a Wednesday press conference. Its very important for people and communities to look at three weeks worth of data, which is four weeks worth of information before they make decisions about changing their plans with respect to schools.
by Stefano Caprio

After the end of communism, he was among the first to spread the texts of the great Russian philosophers and theologians. In Soviet times he adhered to the so-called "inner dissent". He was a member of the Biblical-Theological Commission of the Moscow Patriarchate. His "synergistic anthropology" is the inspiration for a true rebirth of faith and culture in an increasingly secularized world.

Rome (AsiaNews) - One of the most important contemporary Russian theologians, Sergej Khoruzij, died yesterday at the age of 78. Physicist, philosopher and theologian, he was also known to the general public as a translator of Ulysses and other books by James Joyce.

He graduated in physics in 1964 and in 1967 he specialized in theoretical physics at the Higher Institute of Mathematics in Moscow. At the same time, he cultivated his philosophical and literary interests, and after the end of communism he was one of the first to spread the texts of the great Russian philosophers and theologians again. He was a member of the Biblical-Theological Commission of the Moscow Patriarchate.

In 1994 Khoruzhij published a commentary anthology, with a very significant title: After the interruption: the paths of Russian philosophy, in which he once again familiarized readers and scholars with the texts of Pavel Florensky, Sergej Bulgakov, Lev Karsavin, Aleksej Losev and many others, that is, the great protagonists of Russian religious philosophy of the early 1900s, by which he himself was inspired. The year before, in 1993, he had been accepted into the philosophical section of the Academy of Sciences, after a life spent in research in mathematics and physics.

Like many other university professors of the Soviet times, Khoruzij had in fact preserved his intellectual ties with the Orthodox culture and the previous Russian traditions, without exposing himself to the movements of dissent, but adhering to the so-called "internal dissent", in which the difference with respect to dominant ideology was shared with only a few friends and followers. Some teachers even managed to publish some non-aligned work, or to gather semi-official seminars with students, and thanks to them Russian religious culture has flourished in times of freedom.

Sergej Khoruzhij also tried to propose his own original interpretation of Russian philosophy and theology, not limiting himself to republishing and commenting on pre-revolutionary texts. In 1999 in New York he published the essay Philosophy and Asceticism, trying to make religious philosophy dialogue with the tradition of the Hesychast monks, in a synthesis he defined as "synergistic anthropology". He saw in Hesychast practice, that is, the search for "inner peace", the principle of an entire vision of the world.

In 2005 he even founded an "Institute of Synergistic Anthropology" in Moscow, which for years has been the engine of a great philosophical-theological dialogue in Russia and at an international level. He saw in the great Eastern patristic tradition, patrimony of Orthodoxy, a treasure to be shared not only with other confessions, but also with secular and scientific culture, a dialogue in which he himself had been shaped during the long and hard Soviet years.

Khoruzij had many disciples, correspondents and friends in many countries, including Italy and had collaborated with many Catholic institutions. Certainly his thought and his works will still be able to inspire a true rebirth of faith and culture even in the face of the challenges of an increasingly secularized world, but in need of rediscovering the true "anthropological synergies" that allow man to encounter God in every dimension of life.
ATLANTA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / September 23, 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 PorterPartners Group to launch and maintain its website.

Findit is a social media content management platform that offers paid for marketing services to anyone who is looking to improve their overall online presence throughout search and social media. Through content creation, video production, social sharing, website design and development, SEO services, and more, Findit provides a full suite of services to individuals, businesses, artists, celebrities, schools, and more that are looking to elevate their online presence across multiple platforms. Anyone can join Findit for free and use the existing Findit App to post on the go and create the content that they want seen and shared.

Clark St. Amant of Findit stated, "What makes Findit services beneficial to PorterPartners Group for helping them improve their online presence is the ability to cater our marketing campaigns directly to their needs. From building and maintaining their new site, providing SEO services, and assisting them with their online marketing, we will help them improve their overall online presence across the platforms where their target audiences are spending their time.

In the future, Findit will be providing marketing services to PorterPartners Group to help drive traffic to their new website.

Peter Tosto of Findit stated, "We are excited to work with PorterPartners Group, helping launch their new website, and we look forward to working with them to develop a marketing plan in the future that addresses their needs."

Visit PorterPartners Group online at porterpartnersgroup.com and get in touch with them for private merchant banking services at 843-849-3191.

About PorterPartners Group PorterPartners Group Appointed Special Advisor We are delighted to announce the affiliation of PorterPartners Group as a Special Advisor for Cannabis Industry Matters for the Family Office Networks (FON). FON continues to add member benefits and dedicated resources to create additional value for its members in new and emerging industry sectors, and "cannabis" is certainly at the forefront. Cannabis covers a lot of territory and dates back less than two decades in the medical marijuana (and later recreational pot) sector in certain states in the U.S., although conflicts between state laws and federal laws still remain. Canada has recently legalized recreational marijuana, but it is anybody's guess as to "if" and "when" this will occur at the federal level in the U.S. Hemp, and cannabinoids derived from hemp (CBD, CBG, and the like), are new to the cannabis scene, with partial legalization in 2014, and full federal legalization only since 2018. However, there are still many gray areas involving hemp and CBD, while the USDA, FDA, and DEA finalize policy decisions. As a Special Advisor to the FON membership, we are available as a free resource for you to call for discussions on any aspect of the cannabis industry that may interest you. We will tell you what we know; give you our opinions; answer your questions to the best of our knowledge; and refer you to other trusted sources if we don't know the answer. A conversation is a two-way street, and we are keenly interested in hearing what you are doing in the cannabis sector and learning about where you think things are going. The more we can circulate factual knowledge amongst our FON members, the better investment decisions we will all make. There is never any cost to FON members for discussions with us. Porter Partners provides merchant banking services within the cannabis industry in the U.S. and Canada, and we are also looking ahead to certain European countries. We see a lot of "deal flow" and "vet" a lot of investment opportunities. We expect to circulate "abstracts" of private investment opportunities in cannabis that we feel should be brought to the attention of the FON members to augment the "deal flow" you are already seeing. The more good deals to consider and compare, the better the odds of making a good investment decision. We love nothing more than to share industry knowledge and opinions from a wide variety of sources, and we want to talk to and get to know the FON family office members already active in or prospectively interested in cannabis investments. 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.com

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/607426/PorterPartners-Group-Selects-Findit-To-Create-and-Maintain-Its-Website
A state appeals court reinstated a lawsuit Tuesday by current and former Google employees who accuse the Mountain View tech giant of illegally forbidding them to say anything to the news media or prospective employers about their jobs or working conditions.

The suit was filed in 2016 by a Google product manager, under the name of John Doe, and joined by two former employees. They alleged that the confidentiality agreements that all employees were required to sign prevented them from discussing unsafe or discriminatory working conditions  with regulatory officials, the press, members of the public or even one another  and also barred them from disclosing their wages when negotiating with a potential new employer.

A San Francisco Superior Court judge dismissed the suit, saying it concerned working conditions that were exclusively regulated by the National Labor Relations Board. Meanwhile, the NLRB filed its own suit against Google, which agreed to post a notice for 60 days assuring employees they had the right to discuss wages, hours, and working conditions with other employees, the press/media, and other third parties.

But even if Google keeps that promise, the First District Court of Appeal in San Francisco said Tuesday, employees can still seek damages against the company for allegedly violating California labor laws.

Federal law is intended to protect workers right to organize and form unions, while California law disapproves such policies for a different reason: because they interfere with every employees right to bring workplace issues to the attention of supervisors, state agencies, courts and the public, Justice Alison Tucher said in the 2-1 ruling.

She said federal labor law would not protect employees against a companys prohibition of disclosing its practices to a competitor while seeking new employment, or against its ban on telling government officials about the companys alleged violations of securities laws. The California law allowing employees to disclose their wages, Tucher said, was sponsored by womens groups to aid in enforcement of laws against sex discrimination.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

Presiding Justice Stuart Pollak joined Tuchers opinion. In dissent, Justice Tracie Brown said the state laws that the suit invoked had the same purpose as federal labor laws: to allow employees to take action to improve their wages and working conditions.

Reinstating the suit could allow plaintiffs to impose monetary penalties for practices the (National Labor Relations) Board decided to remedy via settlement, Brown said.

Google said it would appeal the ruling. When the suit was filed in 2016, a company spokesperson told Reuters that the employees complaints were baseless and the confidentiality pledges were aimed at protecting sensitive business information, not to prevent discussion of working conditions.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko
Worcester, Mass. - Sept. 23, 2020 - 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 I've 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, I've been able to verify a conjecture that is more than two centuries old."

Humi's 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 "editor's 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 confirmed--for what Humi believes is the first time--that, under proper conditions, Laplace's 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 Laplace's 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, WPI's 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 bachelor's, master's, 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, ajbaron@wpi.edu
Irish businesses remain resilient in their outlook for 2021 with almost two thirds of businesses forecasting a bounce back in recruitment in the sector next year, despite any impending threat of redundancies which is also looming large in the minds of business owners.

This was the sentiment revealed by the latest survey from the Association of Compliance Officers of Ireland (ACOI). The survey of over 300 ACOI member organisations, primarily compliance leaders employed in large financial organisations around the country, sought to gain insight into how businesses feel they will fare as they face into another difficult year, given the current economic climate and COVID landscape.

Most (64%) believe that firms in their sector will recruit in 2021, while more than half say they have not had to implement pay cuts and are not expecting to experience any in the near future.

A 2019 Department of Finance report illustrates the significant contribution the financial services and fintech sector makes to the economy - generating an estimated 11 billion in exports, 6.3% of GDP and 2 billion in tax receipts.

Commenting on the research, CEO of ACOI, Michael Kavanagh said, "The results are encouraging, particularly in light of the economic outlook for Ireland in 2021, and given what businesses have already been through over the last 4 or 5 months. That 64% of respondents believe firms in the financial services sector will recruit in 2021 shows signs of optimism and confidence."

He added, "Whats more just 23% of firms have had to cut pay or benefits so far  this demonstrated the resilience of sector. And we believe that most of these cuts were to benefits or bonuses rather than core salary."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
Johnson & Johnson, the worlds largest health care company, announced Wednesday it is the launching large-scale Phase 3 trials of its coronavirus vaccine, becoming the fourth company to do so.

The company anticipates the first batches of the vaccine to be available for emergency use authorization in early 2021, if proven to be safe and effective, according to a statement from the company.

The other three companies that have announced the start of Phase 3 trials of COVID-19 immunizations include Moderna, Inc., a biotechnology company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Pfizer and BioNTech as well as AstraZeneca, a biopharmaceutical company based in Cambridge, England.

Earlier this month however, AstraZeneca announced it would be pausing all COVID-19 vaccine trials due to one of its recipients developing an unexplained illness.

Safety concerns and skepticism surrounding the development of a vaccine have been thrust into the spotlight in recent months, with the Trump administration pushing for a vaccine to start being administered across the country later this year or in January.

On Sept. 8, the leaders of nine biopharmaceutical companies, including Johnson & Johnson, signed a safety pledge, assuring the public that high scientific and ethical standards will be followed when developing any COVID-19 immunization.

In its statement Wednesday, Johnson & Johnson repeated that it will develop and test its vaccine candidate in accordance with high ethical standards and sound scientific principles.

As COVID-19 continues to impact the daily lives of people around the world, our goal remains the same - leveraging the global reach and scientific innovation of our company to help bring an end to this pandemic, Johnson & Johnson CEO Alex Gorsky said in the statement. As the worlds largest health care company, we are bringing to bear our best scientific minds, and rigorous standards of safety, in collaboration with regulators, to accelerate the fight against this pandemic."

The kickoff of the third phase study comes after Johnson & Johnson reported that results from Phase 1 and 2 trials met safety requirements needed for further development, according to the companys statement. The results are expected to be published online shortly.

Based on the positive results and after discussions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Phase 3, which the company has named the ENSEMBLE phase, will enroll up to 60,000 adult volunteers across three continents, the statement said.

The randomized Phase 3 study aims to include a significant number of volunteers over the age 60 as well as individuals who are of demographics that have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, including Black, Hispanic/Latinx, American Indian and Alaskan Native participants.

The New Jersey-based company added that it hopes to enroll participants in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, South Africa and the United States.

The ENSEMBLE study is being run in collaboration with the U.S. federal governments Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).

The company has also agreed to collaborate with the United Kingdom on a separate Phase 3 clinical trial in multiple countries to explore a two-dose regimen of a vaccine candidate.

This pivotal milestone demonstrates our focused efforts toward a COVID-19 vaccine that are built on collaboration and deep commitment to a robust scientific process," Gorsky said of Wednesdays announcement. We are committed to clinical trial transparency and to sharing information related to our study, including details of our study protocol."

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The world's fastest supercomputer has found that plastic face shields are almost completely ineffective at trapping breath aerosols, raising questions over their ability to stem the transmission of coronavirus.

Modelling from Fugaku, a Japanese supercomputer, showed that visors failed to prevent almost 100pc of airborne droplets of less than five micrometres in size from escaping.

Even larger droplets, measuring 50 micrometres, found their way around the shields and into the air.

Only 50pc were blocked, according to the research seen by The Guardian.

Fugaku's simulation combined air flow with the reproduction of thousands of tiny water droplets, each of different sizes, to forecast how they would interact with the visors. Supercomputers such as Fugaku are used by experts to predict likely scenarios.

Tiny droplets released when people breathe or speak can contain thousands of viral particles, each of which has the potential to infect people nearby.

Because shields sit away from the face and have gaps at the bottom and sides, droplets can escape.

Yet as governments around the world move to revive their economies while preventing the spread of the virus, face shields have become a widely used alternative to traditional face masks.

First worn by medical professionals as part of their personal protective equipment, they have become commonplace in salons, shops and bars.

However, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advise people not to rely on shields, recommending that they should be worn alongside a mask. "There is currently not enough evidence to support the effectiveness of face shields for source control," its advice says.

Fugaku's findings come weeks after it raised concerns about the effectiveness of cotton face masks. In simulations of three types of masks, it found that airborne respiratory droplets were better contained by non-woven ones.

Non-woven masks are classed as the disposable medical masks commonly worn across Asia during the flu season. They are made from polypropylene and are relatively cheap to manufacture.

Makoto Tsubokura, a team leader at Riken's centre for computational science, encouraged people to cover up despite the limitations of certain masks. "What is most dangerous is not wearing a mask," he said. ( 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]
The World Food Program is calling for urgent help in staving off deadly hunger in Yemen, amid the world's worst humanitarian crisis in the nation.

They say a combination of conflict, rising prices and the coronavirus has meant more and more people need international aid to survive.

The WFP has claimed that Yemen is on the edge of slipping back into famine-like conditions, which aid workers say was largely averted after push by aid organisations in 2018.

The organisation's spokesperson for Yemen, Annabel Symington, said that famine could be prevented if the WFP is able to "get the assistance" to vulnerable residents and with additional funds.

The program says that 20 million residents in the country face food insecurity, and another 13 million require assistance from WFP to eat daily.

But the concern is that those numbers could soon rise, if more is not done.

The WFP says three million people are at risk of worsening hunger as coronavirus sweeps unchecked across Yemen.

Yemen's ongoing civil war erupted in 2014 and pits the internationally recognised government in the south, backed by the US and Saudi Arabia, against the Houthi rebels, who control the north.

Last year, infighting also broke out in southern Yemen between government forces and separatists backed by the United Arab Emirates, threatening the anti-Houthi camp.

(Representative Image)
Its a rare if unprecedented day at city hall when nobility calls in to make their case on local policy.

But thats what happened on Wednesday when Bobby Melville, 10th Viscount Melville, called in to Mayor John Torys executive committee from the U.K. to make the case for his ancestor Henry Dundas as advocates argue for renaming Dundas Street in deference to those who have been harmed in the Black, Indigenous and other marginalized communities.

Melville, who is the direct descendant of the Scottish lawyer and politician Dundas (1742-1811), argued that the city was proceeding in the wrong way in its consideration of renaming Dundas Street and other city assets. He urged local politicians to reconsider as protestors in Toronto and around the world raise concerns about colonial and racist legacies in their cities.

History must be viewed and examined with a full understanding of human civilization at that specific period in time. And yes, he was a controversial figure  who in politics isnt today or in any century? said Melville, a professional polo player and entrepreneur who lives in the U.K. with his family.

But I think any attempt to degrade his legacy and change towns, streets or statue names, giving people the idea he was in favour of slavery, would be really a profound injustice to a man who did his absolute utmost to ensure that progressive politics in that period were realistically promoted.

Melville said that his ancestor was, in his opinion, an abolitionist and urged the committee to not rewrite history.

Dundas was the home secretary in the U.K. government and later appointed Viscount Melville. (A viscount is a rank in the United Kingdom's peerage between an earl and a baron.)

A petition in Toronto to rename Dundas Street that garnered more than 14,000 signatures asked council to consider it a constructive step toward disavowing its historic associations with persons who have actively worked toward preserving systems of racial inequality and exploitation.

The petition sparked a review by city staff that led to recommendations approved by executive committee Wednesday to start a consultation on possible renaming and report back next year.

While staff concluded that determining Dundass legacy was complicated and that he had taken the case of a Black slave that effectively ended slavery in Scotland  as the 10th viscount and others raised Wednesday  he also moved a motion for the gradual abolition of the slave trade, which ultimately delayed the end of that forced and brutal mass migration.

While there is no evidence that Dundas personally owned slaves or profited directly from the slave trade, his gradualist motion was a rebuff to immediate abolition, the staff report said. As a powerful cabinet minister, he would have influenced decisions around the abolition question. Whether Dundas is viewed cynically or as a pragmatist, his actions from 1792 onward contributed to the perpetuation of the crime against humanity of enslaving human beings.

Bobby Melville said he began educating himself on his familys history when Edinburghs city council got in touch with him to be part of a committee that would choose words for a plaque at the bottom of a statue honouring Dundas in that city.

He said that council also went about the process the wrong way after it decided to dedicate the Melville Monument in St. Andrew Square to the memory of more than half a million Africans whose enslavement was a consequence of Henry Dundass actions, according to the Daily Mail.

The Toronto petitions creator, Andrew Lochhead, said the push is not to rewrite history, though he said the past makes a strong argument for renaming the street. Its important to also consider the present, he told the committee.

To view this concern as primarily about the actions of a person from over two centuries ago would be absolutely wrong, Lochhead said. It is about beginning a process that allows us to confront systemic racism and to begin dismantling colonial power structures that exist today in our citys environment. Black and Indigenous voices have been telling their fellow Torontonians and Canadians clearly through words and direct actions that these names re harmful.

It is my belief and that of over 14,000 other petition signatories that we have an obligation to listen to those voices and act decisively.

Council will vote next week on whether to proceed with the consultations on renaming.

Clarification  Sept. 24, 2020: This story was edited to clarify the rank of viscount in the United Kingdoms system of peerage.
Now China triggers a border row with Nepal with construction of 11 structures

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Sep 23: A border row has been triggered between Nepal and China after the latter constructed 11 buildings in a part of the remote border district of Humla, reports in the Nepalese media say.

The border district of Humla is claimed by Nepal as its own territory. The construction of the buildings by the Chinese security and border forces have been reported to the Home Ministry of Nepal.

Since Nepal built a road several years ago, a border pillar has been missing. There was only a hut in the area in 2005, according to officials who visited the disputed area recently. The Chinese side claimed that the area where the houses are built falls within their territory, according to Bishnu Bahadur Tamang, chair of the Namkha Rural Municipality.

Driven by shady political motives: China on Donald Trumps remarks

The reports said that during an inspection led by a team headed by district officer Chirinjbi Giri on Sunday, the Chinese officials claimed that their territory extended one kilometre further south from the area where the buildings are located.

After the Nepalese officials reached the site, the Chinese security personnel arrived and used a microphone and told the Nepali officials to go to the border for talks. Tamang said that they spent around one and half hours. After we reached, a team of the Chinese Army and security officials came and said talks cannot be held on their territory. We claimed that the area to be ours, but they showed us the map and said that it is theirs. We left the place after that, Tamang also said.

In 2015, both Nepal and China had agreed to ascertain the location of the missing pillar.

Only Sushant took drugs, Rhea claims in latest plea | Oneindia News

However no steps had been taken. According to Chakka Bahadur Lama, the pillar was damaged during the road construction on Nepali territory 12 years back. That area where the Chinese have built the concrete road buildings is an old yak caravan route which is used for trade between Nepal and Tibet. As long as both sides do not ascertain the location of the pillar, the dispute will continue, Lama also said.

In an email to The Post, Zhang Si, spokesperson of the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu said that the buildings that are mentioned by the media are on the Chinese side. Nepali side can check it again, he also said. China respects Nepal's sovereignty and any questions from the Nepalese side can be checked together, he also said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 21:56:50|Editor: huaxia

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COLOMBO, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka has recorded nearly 20 leopard deaths since January, the island's Wildlife Department said Wednesday adding strict measures were in place to protect the animal.

Dr. Tharaka Prasad with the Department of Wildlife Conservation Director (Health) told local media that the Sri Lankan leopard, more popularly known as "panthera pardus kotiya," was strictly protected under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance of Sri Lanka and they were regarded as an endangered species.

However, in recent months, several leopard deaths have been reported from some parts of the country, after the animals were caught in snares and sustained severe injuries.

"Accordingly, setting-up snares and killing these leopards are strictly prohibited. However, this continues to happen," Dr. Prasad said.

"The leopards become prey to the snares which are set up to hunt other animals," he added.

As a result Sri Lanka's Wildlife Department, with the support of the police, has launched a special program to curb the killing of native leopards which includes conducting awareness programs among the public.

In recent years, the survival of the Sri Lankan leopard is threatened because of habitat loss and poaching. Enditem
A 14-year-old Hindu schoolgirl was brutally stabbed to death by a Muslim man in Bangladesh after she rejected his advances.



According to media reports, Nila Roy, a tenth grade pupil and daughter of Narayan Roy, of Manikganj was being taken to a hospital by her brother Alok Roy when they were stopped by the accused Mizanur Rahman, 20. who had been stalking the minor for some time.



"On Sunday night, Nila was suffering from a breathing problem so I was taking her to a hospital. But on our way to the hospital, Mizan stopped our rickshaw, threatened us with two knives and took my sister hostage. We could not say a word and Mizan took my sister to a dark alley and later stabbed her indiscriminately and fled the scene, Alok said.







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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.

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A student scans a QR code to register her health information at the west gate of Wuhan University in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei province, on June 8, 2020. Photo: Xinhua

A total of 242 million students in China have returned to school as of Friday, accounting for 90 percent of the total number, which shows China's education system has withstood a major test amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Education said.

It also marked the beginning of a safe, normal and full fall semester, Xu Mei, spokesperson of the ministry, said at Tuesday's press conference. The last batch of students will resume classes after the National Day holiday next month, Xu said.

We will consolidate the hard-won achievements and continue to do a good job in education amid regular COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control measures, Xu said.

Chinese students have been returning to school in different batches eight months after the COVID-19 pandemic hit China, with control measures such as partial campus seal-offs, conducting large lectures online, and reducing group activities. Beijing universities requested that freshmen report their health situation 14 days ahead of classes, submit negative nucleic acid test results, and obtain a green code to enter the campus.

Chinese health experts believe that the safe and normal school resumption is proof of the success of China's epidemic prevention and control measures in the past months.

"Wuhan, the worst-hit region, lifted a lockdown only after no community infections. From the Wuhan outbreak in January to Beijing's Xinfadi outbreak in June, the Chinese government mobilized society to practice social distancing, quarantine and nucleic testing at the early stage of the epidemic, which is essential to curbing the spread of the virus," Jin Dongyan, a biomedical professor at the University of Hong Kong, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

It's necessary to maintain precise control measures in schools under a regular epidemic control management to prevent cluster infections, analysts said.

An official with the Beijing Municipal Education Commission said a campus epidemic transmission model showed that one infected person in campus, if not detected immediately, could result in cluster infections in one to two weeks.

However, experts noted that campus control measures should be flexible and adjusted based on local epidemic situations and practical situations of schools, to ensure food and delivery services for students under partially enclosed management.

Jin said that balancing virus prevention and people's daily lives and work is a challenge that countries around the world are trying to solve.

Chinese universities also tried to better respond to it by turning to flexible precaution management, after closing off some colleges sparked controversy.

Xi'an International Studies University lifted and simplified its coronavirus prevention measures on Monday, and extended service hours for meals and showers, although still asking students not to leave the city if not necessary, after videos emerged featuring students yelling from their dormitory rooms at midnight, asking the school to lift the strict closed-off campus rules.

Compared to Chinese schools, which welcomed the return of students, universities in the US have gone back to online courses and canceled their tests, after an increasing number of confirmed cases involving students were reported since schools reopened in mid-August.

Peng Zhiyong, director of the intensive care unit of the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University in Wuhan, told the Global Times that it's not surprising for the case spikes at US universities, as he learned by talking with his US counterparts that young people in the US usually do not practice social distancing, visiting clubs and bars a lot.

Jin believes there was almost no way for the US to curb community infections given the high number of patients, and frequent outbreaks of COVID-19 in the US are inevitable, he said.

What the US has been doing is to wait for vaccines or possible herd immunity, Jin said.
WASHINGTON  As they stare down the probable confirmation of a new conservative Supreme Court justice, Democrats are surging a new message to voters heading to the polls: a vote for Republicans is a vote against heath care.

The centerpiece of this message is a Supreme Court hearing on Nov. 10, just one week after the election, on the Affordable Care Act. The case brought by the Trump administrations Department of Justice and 20-GOP led states hinges on whether the Obamacare mandate that Americans obtain health insurance is constitutional.

U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., predicted Tuesday that if a new justice is appointed before the election in time to hear the case, the ACA is as good as dismantled and warned the court might rehear the case to allow the participation of the new justice, if he or she is confirmed after the election. He spoke in apocalyptic terms about the impact of a conservative court on health care coverage during an ongoing pandemic.

This is life or death, he said. That case calls for the entirety of the Affordable Care Act to be invalidated which means likely overnight 25 million people losing their health care.

Not all legal experts agree that the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg ascertains the end of the Affordable Care Act. Some scholars believe the ACAs mandate could be severed while keeping the rest of the law in tact. If the court hears the case with eight members, it could deadlock, leaving the law in place as litigation continues.

Republicans maintain that their push against the ACA is not about taking health care away from Americans but undoing a bad law.

Weve long believed that the individual mandate at the center of the Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional, Vice President Mike Pence said in an interview with CBS News Tuesday. But make no mistake about it, the President has been very clear that were going to make sure that any American with pre-existing conditions continues to have coverage. The President is going to take action in the weeks ahead to ensure that and were going to continue to take our case to Capitol Hill to pass a new health care reform that will lower the cost of health insurance without growing the size of government.

President Donald Trump has recently teased plans to announce new health care legislation before the election, but he has made such suggestions before and not revealed a bill.

The Democratic objective appears to be: protect the ACA and use the case and the confirmation battle to push Democratic and independent voters to the polls in the hopes of winning the White House and congressional majorities. That would allow them to advance a Democratic agenda and open the slimmest chance to delay the Supreme Court confirmation until a Democratic Senate takes over. That narrow possibility is eliminated if Trump wins a second term and Republicans win the Senate.

My focus is on these next days and weeks, stopping this absolutely hypocritical treacherous crush to confirm a nominee against the dying wishes of Justice Ginsburg and the will of the American people, because the American people should have their voices heard in the election, and there should be nothing done before they vote, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn, a Senate Judiciary member, said Monday. The election is going to determine a lot of the answers to all these questions. And that's my second focus  making sure that there's a Democratic president, and a Democratic majority of United States Senate.

Gayle Alberda, assistant professor of politics at Fairfield University and former GOP campaign strategist, said Democratic messaging was an attempt to put health care back in the limelight, after polling showed it fell behind the economy as a motivating issue  a stronger issue for Trump.

Unless we see another surge of the virus like we saw early spring, its not really in the minds of voters. That kind of messaging will help remind voters not only what was accomplished with the ACA, but what they could lose, she said. But I think its going to be hard.

Over the weekend, former Vice President Joe Biden, who is challenging Trump and helped implement the ACA, said health care hangs in the balance with this election.

On Capitol Hill, Democrats are hammering this talking point. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., said Monday: President Trump is pursuing a lawsuit which would eliminate protections for more than 130 million Americans with pre-existing conditions, send drug prices soaring for seniors on Medicare and take health insurance away from tens of millions of people. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said Tuesday whats at stake is millions and millions of lives.

In Connecticut, over 100,000 residents purchase their health care through the states ACA Health Care Exchange and over 250,000 other low-income adults get coverage from the ACAs expansion of Medicaid.

In 2016, Trump campaigned on repealing and placing the ACA. Republicans, holding both chambers in Trumps term, attempted several repeal efforts, but none of them secured enough Republican support to overturn to the Obama law.

The 2020 health care drumbeat is a resurgence of a key issue Democrats ran on in the 2018 mid-terms when they reclaimed a House majority. Alberda cautioned that the mid-terms should be viewed more as a referendum on Trump than the strength of Democrats health care message.

emilie.munson@hearstdc.com; Twitter: @emiliemunson
New Delhi, Sep 23 : After the completion of its legislative business, the Rajya Sabha was on Wednesday adjourned sine die even as the opposition continued to boycott the session on the third consecutive day after the suspension of eight lawmakers over Sunday's pandemonium.

In his concluding remarks, Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said that the House productivity was 96 per cent and it was its fourth consecutive session to have recorded so much work.

The session, originally scheduled to last 18 days till October 1, was curtailed to 10 days after more than a dozen lawmakers tested positive for coronavirus.

The House on Wednesday passed The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020; The Industrial Relations Code, 2020; The Code on Social Security, 2020; Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (Amendment) Bill; The Jammu and Kashmir Official Language Bill; The Appropriation Bills no 3 and 4; and The Bilateral Netting of Qualified Financial Contracts Bill, 2020.

Earlier in the day, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs V Muraleedharan informed the Upper House members about its adjournment.

"I have to inform the members that the government has decided to recommend adjournment of the House sine die today. But some important legislative business passed by the Lok Sabha has to be disposed before the adjournment of the Upper House."

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
A-listers: At an Eternals event were Keoghan, co-star Richard Madden, and Jolie. Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney

Disney has postponed the release of Eternals, which stars Barry Keoghan and Angelina Julie, to February of next year instead of its initial November 2020 release date.

The 26-year-old Dublin actor, celebrated for his roles in The Killing of a Sacred Deer and Dunkirk, plays the villainous character Druig.

He joins an A-list cast which includes Game of Thrones stars Kit Harington and Richard Madden, Angelina Jolie, Gemma Chan, Salma Hayek, Kumail Nanjiani and Bryan Tyree Henry.

Read More

The Walt Disney Co also decided to postpone the release of superhero movie Black Widow and Steven Spielberg's West Side Story until 2021, a setback to cinema operators hoping for a late-year surge in moviegoing.

"Marvel made the right & responsible decision," Eternals star Kumail Nanjiani wrote on Twitter.

"Theres a pandemic. Nothing is more important than health & lives. I cant tell (people) to go to a movie theater until I feel safe going to one."

"Yes brother," Keoghan wrote in response.

Disney also moved back Agatha Christie mystery Death on the Nile to December 2020 from October, and still plans to release animated Pixar movie Soul in theaters on November 20.

The films were among the biggest titles remaining on Hollywood's schedule for 2020.

Video of the Day

The changes follow disappointing efforts to get Americans back into movie theaters after the coronavirus pandemic shuttered cinemas worldwide in March.

The few blockbusters left on this year's include James Bond movie No Time to Die and Wonder Woman 1984.

Disney and others have shuffled their schedules several times as they try to gauge when the pandemic will fade enough to bring audiences back to multiplexes.
Tip of the iceberg: Doctors in PPE check on a Covid-19 patient in the intensive care unit at Saint Petros Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Photo: Amanuel Sileshi / AFP

Living with Covid-19 community transmission is like having a tiger in your house - it will come back and bite you, the special Oireachtas committee investigating the virus was told today.

Prof Sam McConkey infectious disease consultant said our strategy should be to completely stop all community transmission the virus in Ireland, and to prevent this in the future.

Otherwise we face multiple regular waves here, of infection, disease and death, and disability for possibly many years.

He was speaking as experts in infectious disease and immunology discussed what approach Ireland should take to tackling the virus.

Read More

Earlier, Dr Johann Giesecke, former Chief Epidemiologist in Sweden and former Chief Scientist, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said even a 'soft, voluntary lockdown may be quite effective.

Sweden has kept infections low despite being the only nation in Europe not to introduce tough lockdown measures last Spring but it had a high death rate among older people.

He said: Do not build your strategy on the imminent advent of a vaccine  we might have to wait for it and it may not be very effective in those who need it most.

Allow controlled spread among people below 60, but concentrate on the old and frail: frequent testing of staff and residents in care homes.

Mask wearing is not mandatory but there is a high level of compliance with anti-Covid measures from the Swedish public, he added.

There needs to be intensive contact tracing and testing of contacts.

Dont close your schools. The epidemic itself  as well as tough counter measures taken  hurt marginalised people most.

Watch out for authoritarian, un-democratic decisions by the authorities. Covid has surprised us many times  and may again.

Microbiologist Prof Kirsten Schaffer of UCDs School of Medicine said there would be better adherence to physical distancing measures if the public got more transparent information on the location of outbreaks of the virus.

The information would highlight the logic behind various interventions.

There should also be wider contact tracing of people linked to a positive case, she added.

Currently people who test positive are tracked back for the previous 48 hours and they may not be asked if they were at a house party or restaurant.
When it comes to male celebrities, there are a few actors who do not shy away from wearing makeup and have made it a part of their regular routine.

Here are some popular celebrities who wore makeup alright, but were caught with some glaring mishaps on cameras. However, they still pulled it off:

1. Ben Affleck

 Justjared

Firstly, we would like to appreciate Affleck for wearing eyeliner, something a lot of men would refrain from trying.



The actor, while shooting for Justice League in London, was caught wearing it. But the only thing that didn't sit well with us was just how tired he appeared.

With a bit of concealer under his eyes and some compact, this look would have become a real hit.

2. Bradley Cooper

 Instagram/BradleyCooper_FC

The Silver Linings Playbook actor had the right amount of tan on his face once but now, it looks like the actor forgot to even it out on his neck.



When the paparazzi pictures of him hit the world, all eyes went straight to the area which we can call a foundation mishap. Most of us forget to do this and we don't really blame Bradley.

3. John Travolta

 Instagram/John Travolta_Fanpage

John Travolta has experimented with his hairstyles in various movies. Eventually, the actor suffered from a receding hairline, which is a common problem that most men face.



The actor once tried to fix his hairline woes with makeup as he opted for the painted-on hairline. While his experimentation with makeup was on-point, this one was pretty obvious, which kind of had the opposite result for his look.

4. Hugh Grant

 Funny Blog

During red carpet events, most men wear makeup and so does Hugh Grant. But somehow, due to not blending it right, the cameras noticed Hugh Grant's compact on his face and he didn't realise it, till someone told him.



Say what you may, the rest of the make-up details were just on point.

5. Daniel Craig

 Instagram/DanielCraig_Fc

If you take a look at his natural pictures though, you would notice the actor with his oily skin texture, whereas on red carpets he is usually seen wearing foundation, which is what celebrities opt for these days.



It looks greats if blended properly, which is not the case here.

6. Tiger Shroff

 Twitter/Coolfunnytshirt

It's not just Hollywood, but our tinsel town actors as well who have tried doing makeup but might have overdone it - case in point, Tiger Shroff.



While the actor has undergone a massive transformation over the years, he has been noticed going a little overboard with the lip tints.

To be honest, we don't mind. He pulls it off, regardless.

7. Kellan Lutz

 Pinterest

Remember Emmet Cullen from Twilight? Yes, even he went a little overboard with his makeup routine and actually tried the pale vampire look, off the set, which was clearly a mishap.



The powder seems too much and if you compare it with his other pictures, he has tried to tone it down with a bronzer.

This is truly confusing but we have to applaud his makeup skills as he has tried several makeup products including bronzer, concealer and HD compact.
the states appear to have a different view of covid than europe. but the states have the worlds biggest problem with covid! plagues in the past have taken years to clear up, so even though science is better these days, it is still going to take a long time to get back at something near normal. yes, i am an optimist too, but i would not consider planning anything for 2021 at this stage. even though i have a property in austria, i just cannot plan any return in the near future. your best bet at this point in time, is to arrange something in the states , even though it is not as nice as austria, and then hope that you will be able to make it.

by the way, many people believed that a vaccine would be available by this august, and it isnt. NOBODY can say when it will be discovered , tested and released. "beliefs" should not decide your plans for you.
A statement without action may as well support racism, may as well keep it breathingwhen black lives beneath the knees of white police officers cannotas we recall that most institutions in the United States were built on the systematic abuse of people of color. It is time to recognize that simply talking about racism is not good enough.

Scenario: Your shop posts a statement of solidarity  a nice, forthright message regarding the credit unions commitment to equality and condemnation of racism, hatred, and violence. You feel good because you work for an organization that doesnt sit back idly while others stand up, nor does it allow the trepidation of offending membership to direct decency and industry allegiance to the credit union philosophy. A week goes by. Then another. Then a month. No change. No additional statements. No advocacy, volunteering, sponsorship, audits of practice, employee engagement  its almost as if the statement never happened. You take pause and ask yourself, Wait a minute, so, is my credit union actually combatting racism, or just talking about it?

Countless businesses and organizations have penned and shared blanket statements, inadvertently denying the taboo conversation of race deemed so uncomfortable by white society. As a financial cooperative, a stand should be made and that position announced and championed, for it shows others what we are for and what we are against. Albeit words, while powerful, hold space for action but do not replace it.

What does your organization value? Do you value compassion, social accountability, giving, love, community, and family? Do you embrace the opportunity to help members, staff, your communities, and your fellow human being at every available opportunity? Can you honestly say that the choices and decisions you make in the face of hate and violence, are decisions of merit that you can look back on and know that you were on the side of good?

The faulted enterprise of discrimination, privilege, and authority on the basis of race commands the history of humanity. A legacy of unfair banking practice and poor organizational education persists even today. Untold, unaccounted for, and unaudited racist policies continue to lead the enduring cycles of hatred, poverty, and social injustice, compounding the swathe of challenges faced in a less than equitable society.

If your credit union is indeed taking a stand against racism, share your progress, not just externally but also internally. Acknowledge the experiences and concerns of your team as some of the greatest stories come from who you are as a credit union. Each of us have been conditioned in some way shape or form to accept, ignore, and even condone racism. And be real. Tell us how youve failed or succeeded in your efforts to be more equitable, stewing not on what you havent done, but what are going to do. African-American Credit Union Coalition President/CEO Renee Sattiewhite once said to me, Its not about worrying over what we havent done, its about worrying over what we can be doing now.

Of course, these ideas arent spawned nor can they be nurtured by individualistic and selfish minds they require empathy and a true faith in your fellow human. These ideas require minds that recognize the need for change. These ideas require minds that acknowledge racism as a real, dangerous, and hateful thing. These require minds that want to listen, want to be innovative, and want to make a lasting difference. These ideas require minds that want and need to be part of the answer.

Come on, credit unions. WE are better than this. WE are one of the greatest, social financial movements in existence. And the time to defeat the myth of race and the anti-social-study of the white male as the hero of human history is no longer tomorrow, it is now. Let us unite, not just as credit unions, but as humans, and cooperatively end the supporting of myth and start supporting the truth.
College students moving at the University of Michigan. Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Insider spoke to students at the University of Alabama, University of Michigan, and the University of Missouri on why they made the decision to leave their campuses shortly after moving into dorms.

The students had hoped for a traditional college experience but felt they were at risk while on campus.

The students pointed to campus parties, a lack of rules, and inadequate testing as to why they decided to head back home.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Editor's note: Some of the students who spoke to Insider for this article asked to go by their first names only in order to speak frankly.

Before Chloe even moved into her dorm room at the University of Alabama, she was already searching for a way out.

The freshman had heard rumors of "COVID parties" in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. She was familiar with Alabama's hot and humid weather and figured it was unlikely everyone would wear masks. She knew having more than 38,000 students on campus in the middle of a pandemic was going to be a challenge.

Chloe was accepted into Alabama on a scholarship, and one stipulation was that she take in-person classes. Additionally, all freshmen are required to live on campus during their first year. The housing website does not outline any update to this rule for the 2020 school year, and the University of Alabama did not respond to Insider's request for comment on the housing requirements for incoming freshmen or its scholarship stipulations.

"It makes me feel like a prisoner," Chloe told Insider. "I feel like I'm imprisoned here, and I don't have a choice but to be here."

She showed up to campus, moved into her dorm room, and for a short while, everything was fine.

But within two days, she started noticing problems. She heard people partying in dorm rooms down the hall and watched groups gathering outside without masks. According to its COVID-19 dashboard, the University of Alabama has had 2,303 students test positive for the novel coronavirus since August 19.

Story continues

"Within the first two days that I was here, I already was like, 'No, I need to go home as soon as possible,'" Chloe said.

As college campuses across the country reopen, students have unloaded boxes, unpacked suitcases, and gotten situated in their new homes  but some have quickly regretted their decision.

Insider spoke to three students from different schools on why they packed up their belongings and left.

Chloe said gatherings like this were a common occurrence outside her dorm. Photo courtesy of Chloe

Students arrived on campuses hopeful that the semester would be 'normal'

Logan Deal, a freshman at the University of Missouri, received emails from the college over the summer that, in his opinion, painted a picture that campus was going to be "normal."

"They were pushing that they were going to try to uphold their whole experience as much as possible," the 18-year-old told Insider. "They didn't really mention the other side of it: that it wasn't going to be anything near the college experience I had wanted."

Deal said everything was well organized when he moved into his dorm on August 17; people were social distancing, items were sanitized, and everyone was wearing masks. The experience gave him confidence that the semester could be normal.

"But I feel like that's where it stopped," he said. "The day after I moved in, from that point on, it felt like the upholding of the rules was going downhill."

Deal said he started noticing students without masks, gatherings outside, and group hangouts in nearby dorm rooms. Since August 19, the University of Missouri has confirmed 1,418 positive coronavirus cases among students.

Christian Basi, a spokesperson for the University of Missouri, told Insider the institution made clear that students would be responsible for following its rules.

"We have been very clear from the beginning that we were going to hold students accountable," he said. "We have been doing that since the first day they arrived on campus."

Dylan, a freshman at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, said his move-in experience didn't go as smoothly. When he moved into his dorm on August 24, he said the hallways were flooded with students and family members.

"I realized what I had gotten myself into," the freshman told Insider.

Like Chloe and Deal, Dylan said he saw similar, crowded events taking place on campus. Dylan has asthma, so he said he was worried about himself and other students on campus who are immunocompromised.

A student from the University of Alabama shares why she moved back home this semester. Travel_with_me/Shutterstock

The students were spending the majority of their days inside their dorm room

Dylan wanted to spend his first semester of college joining clubs and making friends at the University of Michigan. But instead, he found himself rarely leaving his dorm.

"Living in the dorms this semester is a sorry excuse for the 'college experience,'" Dylan told Insider. He decided it didn't make sense to stay on campus.

Chloe moved into her dorm room and initially went to some in-person classes. Once she realized that the professors were allowing students to complete the classes fully online, she stopped going. Despite taking her classes online, Chloe said she is still technically registered for in-person classes and will get to keep her scholarship for the semester.

"My plan was and still is to isolate myself in my dorm constantly because I'm terrified of people," she said, adding that she'd only leave her room for her favorite class and to collect enough food from the dining halls to last her a few days.

She'd watch outside her dorm room, where she said strangers and friends would gather. A part of her was sad that she wasn't getting to have the traditional college experience, but the overwhelming feeling was frustration.

She said the final straw was when she left to take out trash and heard multiple parties happening in rooms across the building.

"A party school seemed fun until I realized that there's a pandemic going on," she said.

Deal said he watched similar parties springing up in places across the University of Missouri's campus. His first Friday night, he said he walked past a group of 20 students and only one person was wearing a mask.

However, Basi noted that the university has made it easy for students to report parties and gatherings through its reporting form.

"If we don't know about it and no one else saw it and no one else decided to report it to us, we certainly can't enforce anything that we didn't see," Basi said.

Deal started the semester going to in-person classes, but he felt that the professors were rushing through the lectures, and said he didn't see any benefit of going to class when it was also offered online.

"I felt like I was staying in my dorm more and more every day," he said.

The University of Michigan decided on a voluntary COVID-19 tracking and tracing program this semester. Wichai Cheva Photography/Shutterstock

The students felt the universities could have been better prepared

Dylan said many students were following the social-distancing guidelines and wearing masks while he was on campus, but he thinks the University of Michigan has an inadequate testing protocol.

The school has a testing and tracking program in place, but students are not required to opt in. Undergraduates who live on campus were required to test negative prior to their arrival on campus, and all students are also expected to use a daily symptom checker tool. The university did not respond to Insider's request for comment on its testing protocol.

According to its COVID-19 dashboard, 82 students at the University of Michigan have tested positive in the last two weeks.

Deal told Insider he didn't feel like the University of Missouri was acknowledging the problems on campus or addressing the situation in the emails he received.

"It kind of made Mizzou feel like a cash-grab school," he said.

Basi said that a majority of the campus is following social-distancing guidelines.

"I would argue that there hasn't been a lack of [rule following] on campus, and I would challenge anybody to come to campus and review it and see," he said.

Chloe said she also felt that the University of Alabama could address the situation better. She said she called campus police a few times when she spotted huge groups of students congregating. When officers arrived, she said she didn't see them talk to any of the students.

The University of Missouri. Karel Triska/Shutterstock

Some students will receive refunds, while others just wanted to 'get out'

The three students all moved back home with their families and acknowledged that they're grateful to have a place that they can learn and live in for the rest of the semester.

When Chloe decided she wanted to head home, she contacted her resident assistant to let her know she'd wouldn't be in her dorm for the next month or two. She said she didn't officially cancel her housing contract, so she'll pay for her dorm room for the entirety of the semester; however, she said paying for housing is worth keeping her scholarship that helps cover tuition.

Deal said he spent hours weighing the pros and cons before deciding to go home.

"There wasn't really a reason for me to stay in the dorms and pay the money," he said.

Deal said he moved out of his dorm at the University of Missouri on September 3 and submitted his cancellation form on September 14. He said he will get a prorated refund for his housing but will not get the $325 deposit fee back.

Basi told Insider that housing cancellations are evaluated on a case-by-case basis and that the university "would be looking at it from a reasonable standpoint."

Dylan submitted his cancellation request for his dorm at the University of Michigan on September 14, and said he's waiting to see if it gets approved and how much his refund would be.

Students are hopeful that spring or fall 2021 will bring a return to a traditional college experience

"I can see exactly what this would be like if this wasn't going on, and it's the ideal experience," Chloe said of life on campus.

She hopes to move back to campus by the end of the semester, and said she's aiming for October, but is still assessing the situation.

Deal said he'll finish this semester's classes online from home, and he's still deciding what to do for the spring semester.

"The reason I came to Mizzou was that I want the college experience," he said. "I really do want to see that through."

The University of Michigan and the University of Alabama did not respond to Insider's requests for comment on the options available to students who want to cancel their housing, any fees associated with cancellations, how refunds are awarded, and the claims about on-campus partying.

If you're a teacher, student, or parent who wants to share their story on what it's like to go back to school right now, get in touch at mhumphries@insider.com.

Read the original article on Insider
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.

WASHINGTONRepublican strategist Alex Conant told me this summer that there are two policies which are actually close to Donald Trumps heart: higher tariffs and lower immigration.

Canada feels the effects of both. The most recent go-around on the tariff Tilt-a-Whirl jolted Canada in obvious ways  and Ill discuss trade and the election in an upcoming piece. But his administration-spanning focus on tightening immigration eligibility and aggressive treatment towards asylum-seeking refugees also has impacts on Canada  ones that may be less obvious to most people, and might change depending the results of the election.

On one hand, Trumps famously tightened immigration policies  suspending permanent resident applications and heavily restricting skilled immigrant work visas  might actually help Canada attract new skilled immigrants and the businesses that employ them.

The part that we see the most, especially doing corporate practice, is companies struggling to get workers into the U.S., where Canada is more open. That is my guess to why we have so many offices for tech companies in Canada, said Meera Thakrar an immigration lawyer with Larlee Rosenberg in Vancouver.

I have corporate clients who have an operation in the U.S. and an operation in Canada, and for different reasons, they want to maintain their operation in the U.S., Thakrar said. But anyone whos not an American, theyre looking at Canada as a plan B.

She was discussing immigrant workers from other countries, but Thakrar says shes also seen a noticeable uptick in inquiries from Americans. I have clients who are calling, and I do mean in corporate immigration ... and theyll just tell you very bluntly, like, I cant take it anymore. This is crazy. Like, we have a maniac in charge, she said.

Thakrar noted that there was a similar uptick in interest among Americans about moving to Canada in 2016, but it didnt lead to any huge influx of immigrants. CNN reported in 2017, for instance, that Canadian permanent resident applications from U.S. citizens increased by 3.6 per cent in the year after Trump took office  a small number compared to the 16 per cent of Americans who told pollsters that year theyd like to move out of the country permanently.

But immigration by skilled workers from the United States to Canada through the express entry system is already up significantly  more than 10,000 skilled immigrants who were residents of the U.S. arrived in 2019, almost twice as many as arrived in 2017. A significant majority of them were not U.S. citizens, which may indicate skilled workers from other countries are moving to Canada from the U.S. as a result of more favourable permanent resident policies here, compared with Trumps tightening of rules and outright suspensions down south.

That isnt the main thing that most Canadians think of when they consider Trumps immigration policies, however. They think, instead, of asylum-seekers who have been detained, often in horrifying conditions. Those policies dont just offend Canadians sense of human decency  they also cause stress on our own refugee system.

Trumps policies have led to a massive surge in refugee claimants arriving to Canada. In 2018, for the first time, the number of refugees settling in Canada exceeded the number settling in the U.S., as the number of refugees accepted by the U.S. reached a historic low.

And the number of refugees arriving in Canada from the U.S. has surged. The Safe Third Country agreement Canada has had in place with the U.S. since 2003 means that most asylum applicants who arrive at a marked border crossing with the U.S. are turned back  which has led to more than 50,000 asylum-seekers crossing the border outside of official ports of entry, creating a massive backlog of cases.

In July, a Federal Court ruled that agreement was unconstitutional because it made Canada complicit in grave human rights violations in the American detention of asylum seekers. Implementation of that ruling is suspended while the Canadian government appeals, but its expected to lead to a much larger influx of refugees into Canada at the border if the decision stands.

As Queens University immigration law professor Sharry Aiken told the Star in July, Canada has an obligation to provide shelter to those seeking asylum  Constitutional rights are not about the numbers  but those numbers (and potential numbers) do provide logistical and possible political stress on the Canadian system.

That strain might be lessened if, as he is promising, Joe Biden wins and implements more humane policies. His critics point out that the Obama administration deported more people than Trumps has, and that policies of migrant detention were also carried out under Obama. Biden has said he regrets those policies, and his platform calls for a comprehensive overhaul of the immigration system, an increase in the number of refugees admitted from 18,000 to 125,000, the repeal of Trumps executive orders on immigration and asylum-seekers, and an overhaul refugee policy to make it more humane.

A re-embrace of immigration under a new administration might affect Canadas ability to attract the kind of elite skilled workers the government often favours. But an overhaul of the American refugee system might ease the strain on the Canadian system. It might also lead to a more humane system in the U.S.  one the Canadian courts wouldnt characterize as marked by grave human rights violations. It is a tradeoff I suspect many Canadians would likely be happy to accept.

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Linkedin Philip Pullella (Reuters) Vatican City, Vatican  Wed, September 23, 2020 10:31 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c4699d8e 2 World Vatican,China,Mike-Pompeo,bishop,Catholic-church Free

Vatican officials have defended their intention to renew an accord with Beijing that gives the pope say over the appointment of Chinese bishops, following a highly unusual public call from US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to abandon it.

In a series of Tweets and an editorial in a conservative US Catholic journal published on Saturday, Pompeo said the Vatican should not renew the agreement, which was signed two years ago and expires next month.

"The Vatican endangers its moral authority, should it renew the deal," Pompeo Tweeted.

Three senior Vatican officials who spoke to Reuters on the condition of anonymity said the Holy See was taken aback by the comments by Pompeo, who is due to visit the Vatican at the end of this month.

Pope Francis has signed off on a two-year extension of the agreement with Beijing, which allows the pope final say over the appointment of bishops in China and also permits Chinese Catholics to recognize him as leader of the universal Church.

Before the deal, the state-backed official Catholic Church in China was barred from recognizing the authority of Rome, while an underground, unofficial Church continued to do so.

Some conservative critics have condemned the deal as a sell-out to the communist government. President Donald Trump, who faces re-election in November, has campaigned on his willingness to take a tough line with China, and also has support among conservative Christians who have clashed with the pope.

In a Tweet, Archbishop Mark Coleridge of Brisbane, Australia, criticized Pompeo's comments as an "attempt to pressgang the Holy See into a questionable domestic political/electoral agenda playing itself out on the international stage."

Pompeo said that since the Vatican's deal with Beijing was reached, the conditions for Christians in China had worsened.

"Now, more than ever, the Chinese people need the Vatican's moral witness and authority in support of China's religious believers," he said in an editorial in First Things journal.

In a clear comparison between Francis and Pope John Paul II, a hero to conservatives, Pompeo said the Church had inspired movements in Communist Eastern Europe that helped bring down the Berlin Wall in 1989.

"That same power of moral witness should be deployed today with respect to the Chinese Communist Party."

Not normal diplomacy

One of the senior Vatican sources said the Holy See was "surprised" about Pompeo's intervention, given his coming visit.

"This is not a normal way to go about setting an agenda. Normally between ministries you have confidential exchanges to determine what is going to be on the agenda."

The Vatican had spoken to US officials about the comments but was not planning to make a public comment about it, one of the sources said.

The journal in which the editorial appeared has been highly critical of Pope Francis. Last year, its editor wrote a long commentary titled "A Failing Papacy".

The three Vatican officials said the China deal was not perfect but gives the Vatican a direct channel for dialogue with Beijing after a break of nearly 70 years.

"Maintaining dialogue is one of the few, if not the only, tool of maintaining direct relations with China," one said.

In response to Pompeo's suggestion that the Vatican should take a tougher line, another one of the officials said: "We can make grandiose statements, but there is no indication that it will have any effect, except possibly making the situation worse for our Catholics on the ground."
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 23)  Globe Telecom plans to tap more non-Chinese tools should tensions between the United States and China impact more products of Huawei, which provides 80 percent of its communications equipment.

Globe general counsel Froilan Castelo on Wednesday acknowledged issues that may arise from worsening tensions between the United States and China, with Huawei at the center of this trade and technology war.

"Because of these developments coming in from the US and Europe, we're coming up with a strategy for another network which is based on non-Chinese telco equipment providers," Castelo told the Senate Committee on Public Services, which discussed the bid of Globe's subsidiary Bayantel for franchise renewal.

"We have it in place but we are expanding it  an alternate network is what we call it  to provide for this."

Washington has been cracking down on Beijing through tech giant Huawei, having banned American developers like Google from providing services to China-made phones amid supposed national security threats. US President Donald Trump added pressure by requiring makers of semiconductors  an integral part of any gadget  to secure a license before they can sell their supply to Huawei.

READ: New sanctions deal 'lethal blow' to Huawei. China decries US bullying

Should the ban be enforced, Globe said it can demand compensation from Huawei. Equipment parts can also be replaced with microchips sourced from China or elsewhere.

About 20 percent of Globe's network hardware come from European brands Ericsson and Nokia, Castelo added. He explained that Globe preferred Huawei as a leader in 5G technology, with American counterparts still far from catching up. Despite this, Globe said network security is a priority and Huawei does not get involved as a mere equipment supplier.

Cell sites

Senators also questioned Globe's network reach, which it admitted to be insufficient in terms of demand. Castelo said the network provider has about 20,000 cell sites nationwide, but each is serving more subscribers than they are supposed to.

"It should be about 100-200 households per site... Currently, we have 4,000 users per tower," he explained. This is dwarfed by Vietnam's 70,000 cell sites, Castelo said, which services a smaller population compared to the Philippines.

Globe said it plans to build more cell towers to take advantage of relaxed permit processes through the Bayanihan 2 law. The Ayala-owned telco earlier set aside $1 billion (about 48.5 billion) to build towers, which is seen to cost 15 million each.

Meanwhile, Globe was asked about its deal with the Armed Forces to set up cell towers inside military camps. Castelo said they have sites in about 100 camps run by the AFP, which they pay for by providing bandwidth for the military's communication facilities instead of rent.

AFP has been under fire for allowing third player Dito Telecommunity, which is backed by state-run China Telecom, to also install cell towers inside camps for a fee.

Globe said they make sure that the communication channels they provide to the military are secure, given possible implications to national security.
A day after family members of Murugappa Group rejected a proposal to appoint Valli Arunachalam to the board of Ambadi Investments Ltd (AIL), the daughter of late executive chairman MV Murugappan has said she is ready to take the battle to courts.

The shareholders of Abadi Investments (AIL), which is the holding company of Rs 38,100 crore Murugappa Group, voted overwhelmingly against the induction of Arunachalam into its board.

The decision was taken at the AGM (annual general meeting) on Monday, September 21, not to allow her on the holding company's board that controls the conglomerate.

This has dealt a major blow to the 59-year-old New York-based scientist's efforts to enter the male-dominated board of the company.

Also Read: Murugappa group family feud: It's time for more women to join family businesses

Decrying sexist bias in the group, Arunachalam in a statement said, "It is evident that the family cannot tolerate women in their boardrooms, and they have showcased their considered view in this regard. It is very unfortunate that the AIL shareholders, the overwhelming majority of whom are also board members, are not able to understand what contributions women can make on the board. It is a clear indication that gender bias exists at the highest levels of the Murugappa group."

The AIL shareholders, mostly including Arunachalam's cousins and uncles, voted against the resolution with 91.36 per cent of votes cast against her, while only 8.64 per cent voted in her favour. Had the resolution been approved, Arunachalam would have been the first female director of AIL.

Charging the family of gender discrimination, she further stated in her statement, "in any event, we would definitely pursue justice and we will take all the steps needed for the same. It was always our wish that family issues remain within and are settled at the family level, but clearly, it seems the family is more concerned about protecting its draconian perspectives and practices, even if it means forcing us to take the battle to courts. We will not shy away this time."

Also Read: 'Unwritten rule of not allowing women': Murugappa scion Valli Arunachalam fights for rights in family business

Arunachalam, her sister Vellachi Murugappan and their mother MV Valli Murugappan together hold an 8.15 per cent stake in the holding entity.

The fifth generation Murugappa family controls the Rs 40,000-crore conglomerate, which has 10 listed companies, including the likes of EID Parry, Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company and Coromandel Fertilisers.

The group has 28 registered businesses and runs other businesses such as bicycles, engineering, fertilisers and finance and employs over 50,000 people.
Rotunda Rumblings

No promises: Democratic Ohio Supreme Court nominees Jennifer Brunner and John P. ODonnell have each declined to sign the Ohio State Bar Associations clean campaign pledge, on the grounds that they dont want to refrain from telling voters their Republican opponents will make conservative judicial rulings. As Jeremy Pelzer reports, only one other Supreme Court candidate in a competitive race during the past decade has refrained from signing the pledge: Democrat Bill ONeill, who was elected anyway in 2012.

Glitch fix: About 59,000 Ohioans got voter-registration forms from the state last week as officials tried to fix what they described as a glitch involving the states online benefits platform, Andrew Tobias reports. The forms went to people who tried to use the states public-benefits website to register to vote since August 2019. State IT officials noticed the platform was broken earlier this month, and the voters never got the forms. So, they sent them out last week in advance of the upcoming Oct. 5 voter-registration deadline.

Post-title registration: In recognition of National Voter Registration Day, the Cleveland Cavaliers posted a video on social media on Tuesday showing two high-profile players, Kevin Love and Larry Nance, Jr., vising their local BMV as they registered to vote for the November election. Nance, a Summit County native, recently got attention for his stance on voting access in Ohio after he criticized Ohio Secretary Frank LaRose for going to court to defend his order allowing only one absentee ballot drop box per county.

Long trip: In a federal court filing this week, lawyers representing a coalition of voter-rights activists said the single drop box limit in Cuyahoga County could mean it would take some county residents as long as 90 minutes to drop off a completed absentee ballot. Per John Caniglia, U.S. District Court Judge Dan Polster will hear testimony in Cleveland on Wednesday from the organizations, LaRose and President Donald Trumps campaign.

Mail time: County boards of election have received nearly 1.8 million absentee ballot requests, LaRose announced Tuesday, including 385,657 over the past week. The numbers could be inflated  county boards of election have reported receiving and rejecting many duplicate applications, with some voters reporting they were confused when they received an unsolicited application as part of the statewide universal mailing after theyd already applied for a ballot. But even taking that into account, Franklin County, for instance, has approved roughly 207,000 applications, 49,000 more than the number of ballots they mailed out for the entire November 2016 election.

The firm: Former state Sen. Nina Turner, a staunch ally of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, is heading to the private sector, Seth Richardson reports. Turner is opening an Ohio-based consulting firm  Amare Public Affairs - to focus on helping grassroots campaigns, candidates and businesses enact liberal policies and agendas.

Headed in the right direction: Ohio got some more positive coronavirus data on Tuesday, with 685 new cases reported by the Ohio Department of Health, per Tobias. The number was the lowest increase in daily new reported cases since Tuesday, Sept. 8, when health officials reported 656 new cases. The states COVID-19 positivity rate earlier this week also fell to a record-low 2.9%.

Air it out: Before winter arrives, Ohioans should act now to improve their air ventilation systems to protect against the spread of coronavirus, Ohio State University environmental engineer Mark Weir said during Gov. Mike DeWines briefing Tuesday. Weir recommended that businesses, especially, talk to a licensed HVAC professional about three specific factors, which Pelzer explains more about in his story.

Bottoms up: A bill that would make selling cocktails to go permanent for bars, restaurants and other retailers cleared a Senate committee Tuesday, writes Marc Bona. The next step for House Bill 669, which previously cleared the House, is to the full Senate for a vote.

Back to work: Ohio Sen. Bob Peterson, who recently was diagnosed with COVID-19, was back in the Statehouse on Tuesday, attending a committee hearing of the Senate Government Reform and Oversight Committee. John Fortney, an Ohio Senate GOP spokesman, said Peterson was cleared by his doctor and his local health department to return after enough days had passed since he showed his first symptom. News of Petersons diagnosis broke last Monday, but Fortney said he actually tested positive the week before.

First-person account: Another Republican lawmaker who tested positive for COVID-19, Jefferson County Sen. Frank Hoagland, shared his familys experience in an interview with the Steubenville Herald-Stars Shelley Hanson. Hogland said his mother-in-law first tested positive on Aug. 5, followed soon after by him and his wife. He said he had a fever for two days and aches and pains for three more. But his wife and mother-in-law had more serious cases, with both receiving IV fluids in the emergency room. His 81-year-old father-in-law, who lived in an assisted living facility, died with the virus, although Hoagland said he had underlying medical conditions.

Boehner unbound: Former House Speaker John Boehner, a Republican from West Chester Ohio, announced Tuesday that hell release a book titled On The House: A Washington Memoir, on April 13, which is being published by St. Martins Press," Sabrina Eaton reports. Its publisher promises the book is filled with fascinating anecdotes from a colorful career and written in his trademark style, and an honest reminder of the time when the adults were firmly in charge of Washington.

Portman doubles down: 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, writes Eaton. Portman also told reporters the U.S. Senate is likely to confirm whomever 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.

On topic: Fox News' Chris Wallace, the moderator for the first presidential debate Tuesday in Cleveland, announced the list of topics that would be included in the forum, Richardson reports. The list doesnt contain any surprises, with the subjects split up into 15-minute segments each. Cleveland officials also have begun sharing some of the security restrictions that will accompany the event, Bob Higgs reports, with police announcing a list of road closures around the events venue, the Cleveland Clinic.

Law and order campaign: Bainbridge Township GOP Rep. Dave Joyce unveils his second TV ad of the campaign season today, which features a Hudson father who lost his son to a heroin overdose touting Joyces efforts to fight opioid addiction. The ad is part of a part of a six-figure buy running on Cleveland area cable television stations. Joyces first ad, which featured Lake County Sheriff Frank Leonbruno discussing Joyces support for law enforcement and commitment to public safety, ran on Cleveland cable and broadcast stations.

Something to watch: Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has announced he will have a media availability today to discuss developments regarding House Bill 6. Yost previously has made moves to prepare a possible lawsuit, saying he could move to prevent the nuclear subsidies from HB6 from going into effect this January if the legislature fails to act.

Jobless benefits glitch: An unknown number of Ohioans receiving unemployment benefits via direct deposit had their latest payment delayed over the weekend because of a coding error. As Pelzer explains, most payments have gone through by now, though state officials are still contacting small banks to persuade them to process the payments.

Staffing up: The states unemployment department recently added 210 call center agents and case adjudicators to provide much-needed help, the agencys spokesman says. Meanwhile, as much as $1,800 in supplemental benefits was recently delivered to many people on unemployment - $300 a week retroactive to the weeks ending Aug. 1 through Sept. 5, Rich Exner reports in a Q&A covering many unemployment issues.

Full Disclosure

Five things we learned from the Feb. 19, 2020 financial disclosure of Pickaway County Commissioner Brian Stewart, a Republican running for Ohios 78th House District: 1. In addition to his work as a county commissioner, he also is an attorney with Farthing & Stewart LLP, a law firm in Circleville.

2. Stewart also does business under a company called Adena Properties.

3. He is a member of the board of directors for the Pickaway Senior Center, and is a grantor of the Stewart Family Trust.

4. At some point in 2019, he owed at least $1,000 to PenFed Credit Union, the federal credit union, as well as 5/3 Bank, Citibank and Chase Bank.

5. Besides his law license, he also is licensed as an Ohio title agent.

Birthdays

Mike Chadsey, director of public relations, Ohio Oil and Gas Association

Straight from the Source

Much to my own peril, I tried to encourage people to wear masks.

-Lt. Gov. Jon Husted during Tuesdays state coronavirus briefing, acknowledging with a chuckle the hostile reception he got the day before at a Trump campaign rally after he tried to encourage people there to wear face masks.

Capitol Letter is a daily briefing providing succinct, timely information for those who care deeply about the decisions made by state government. If you do not already subscribe, you can sign up here to get Capitol Letter in your email box each weekday for free.
(HealthDay)Women are more likely to experience anxiety and depression, and women and older children are more likely to receive mental health treatment, according to new statistics from four data briefs published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics.

Emily P. Terlizzi, M.P.H., and Maria A. Villarroel, Ph.D., from the National Center for Health Statistics in Hyattsville, Maryland, examined the percentage of adults with symptoms of anxiety using data from the National Health Interview Survey. The researchers found that 9.5, 3.4, and 2.7 percent of adults experienced mild, moderate, or severe symptoms of anxiety, respectively, in the previous two weeks during 2019. The percentage of those experiencing symptoms was highest for those aged 18 to 29 years; women were more likely than men to experience symptoms. In a second study, Villarroel and Terlizzi found that 2.8, 4.2, and 11.5 percent of adults experienced severe, moderate, and mild symptoms of depression, respectively, in the previous two weeks in 2019. The percentage experiencing symptoms was highest for adults aged 18 to 29 years; women were more likely to experience symptoms than men.

Terlizzi and Benjamin Zablotsky, Ph.D., also from the from the National Center for Health Statistics, examined mental health treatment among adults in the United States in 2019. The researchers found that in the previous 12 months, 19.2 percent of adults had received any mental health treatment, including 15.8 and 9.5 percent who had taken prescription medications and had received counseling or therapy, respectively. The likelihood of receiving treatment was increased for women versus men. In a fourth study, Zablotsky and Terlizzi found that children aged 12 to 17 years were more likely to have received any mental health treatment than those aged 5 to 11 years in the previous 12 months (16.8 versus 10.8 percent). Boys were more likely than girls to have taken medication for their mental health (9.8 versus 7.0 percent).

"The percentage of children who had taken medication for their mental health increased as the level of urbanization decreased, although the receipt of therapy and counseling did not differ by urbanization level," Zablotsky and Terlizzi write.

Copyright  2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned President Trump's "racist and xenophobic" national origin-based attack targeting Muslim Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-MN) in which he claimed that one of the first Muslim women elected to Congress is not part of "our country."

During a rally yesterday in Pennsylvania, Trump claimed, "How did you do where you came from? How is your country doing? She is telling us how to run our country." Omar, who emigrated to the U.S. from Somalia as a child, is an American citizen and an elected member of Congress.

Morning Joe: 'Rarely Do You See Bigotry as Explicit As' Trump's 'Fascist' and Autocratic Rally Last Night

https://www.mediaite.com/tv/joe-scarborough-rarely-do-you-see-bigotry-as-explicit-as-trumps-fascist-and-autocratic-rally-last-night/

In a statement, CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert S. McCaw said:



"No one should be surprised that President Trump has once again engaged in a racist and xenophobic attack on Representative Ilhan Omar, but everyone should continue to feel outraged by these disgusting remarks.

"Donald Trump's attacks on Representative Omar are particularly reprehensible given that she has shown far more respect for American ideals of justice and equality than the man who has spent four years trampling on the Constitution.

"All members of Congress must repudiate President Trump's latest hateful remarks, and the U.S. Capitol Police should take steps to protect Rep. Omar from people who may be radicalized by the President's persistent attacks on her."

He noted that earlier this year, Trump launched a similar racist attack on Rep. Omar by falsely claiming she would want "to make the government of our country just like the country from where she came, Somalia: no government, no safety, no police, no nothing  just anarchy" adding "and now she's telling us how to run our country." Trump concluded the racist diatribe with, "No, thank you."



SEE: CAIR Condemns Trump's Racist Attack on Muslim Congresswoman, Use of Anti-Asian 'Kung Flu' Term, Defense of Confederate 'Traitors'

https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-condemns-trumps-racist-attack-on-muslim-congresswoman-use-of-anti-asian-kung-flu-term-defense-of-confederate-traitors/

In September of last year, CAIR strongly condemned President Trump for sharing a false, Islamophobic smear targeting Rep. Omar on Twitter and called on that social media company to suspend the president's account for violating its terms of service.

SEE: CAIR, CAIR-Minnesota Call on Twitter to Suspend Trump's Account Over False '9/11' Smear of Rep. Ilhan Omar

https://www.cair.com/press_releases/action-alert-cair-cair-minnesota-call-on-twitter-to-suspend-trumps-account-over-false-9-11-smear-of-rep-ilhan-omar/

CAIR-Minnesota, Community Groups to Protest Trump's Tweet Endangering Rep. Ilhan Omar and Her Family

https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-minnesota-community-groups-to-protest-trumps-tweet-endangering-rep-ilhan-omar-and-her-family/

Washington, D.C., based CAIR has reported an unprecedented spike in bigotry targeting American Muslims, immigrants and members of other minority groups since the election of Donald Trump as president.

CAIR Condemns Racist 'White Power' Shouts During Pro-Trump Parade in North Carolina

https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-condemns-racist-white-power-shouts-during-pro-trump-parade-in-north-carolina/

The American Muslim community and CAIR are standing in solidarity with all those challenging anti-Black racism, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, and white supremacy.

SEE: CAIR-Pittsburgh Condemns Paintball Vandalism of BLM Mural by Neo-Confederate Trump Supporters

https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-pittsburgh-condemns-paintball-vandalism-of-blm-mural-by-neo-confederate-trump-supporters/

Video: CAIR Director Nihad Awad Speaks at Unveiling of Black Lives Matter Banner

https://youtu.be/-JqzmtVqORc

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.



La mision de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprension del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.

CONTACT: CAIR Government Affairs Department Director Robert S. McCaw, 202-742-6448, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected] ; CAIR-MN Executive Director Jaylani Hussein, 612-406-0070, [email protected]

SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)

Related Links

http://www.cair.com


Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 17:23:38|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

Photo taken on Sept. 22, 2020 shows the general debate of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York. (Rick Bajornas/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

- Countries should pursue open and inclusive development, remain committed to building an open world economy, say no to unilateralism and protectionism, and work to ensure the stable and smooth functioning of global industrial and supply chains, said Chinese President Xi Jinping.

- "We must together lay the foundations for a fairer, more balanced, more equitable, more sustainable globalization," said French President Emmanuel Macron.

- "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," said Chilean President Sebastian Pinera.

BEIJING, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- World leaders have urged efforts to champion multilateralism and strengthen international cooperation to tackle global challenges, as this year marks the 75th anniversary of the United Nations' founding.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday called on countries to uphold the multilateral trading regime with the World Trade Organization as the cornerstone.

Countries should pursue open and inclusive development, remain committed to building an open world economy, say no to unilateralism and protectionism, and work to ensure the stable and smooth functioning of global industrial and supply chains, Xi said at the general debate of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly, which was held mainly via video conference this year.

Calling for the removal of barriers to medical cooperation, Russian President Vladimir Putin said "as to healthcare, just like in economy, we now need to remove, as many as possible, obstacles to partner relations."

"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 Tuesday at the general debate.

Photo taken on Sept. 14, 2020 shows the outside view of the United Nations headquarters in New York, the United States. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

"We must together lay the foundations for a fairer, more balanced, more equitable, more sustainable globalization," French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday in his video remarks to the general debate.

Championing multilateralism, Macron said the reconstruction of the foundations of the international order requires the establishment of functional international cooperation based on clear rules, defined and respected by all.

"Multilateralism is not just an act of faith, it is an operational necessity," Macron said.

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera said Tuesday that the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the need to strengthen international cooperation and governance, and laid bare the sheer degree of interdependence within the international community, as the virus shows no respect of borders, nationalities or ethnicities.

"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.

"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," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Tuesday in his centerpiece address to the 75th session of the UN General Assembly.

United Nations 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. (Mark Garten/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

Guterres underscored the need for solidarity at this moment, particularly as countries least capable to address COVID-19 have received far too little assistance, and urged the UN's 193 member states to move forward in humility and unity in the face of the disease.

"We are confronted with a triple challenge: recovering from COVID-19, realizing the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) and avoiding the looming climate catastrophe," said Munir Akram, president of the UN Economic and Social Council.

The response to these challenges must be collective, Akram, who also serves as permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, said Monday at a high-level meeting to commemorate the UN's 75th anniversary.

Noting that "unprecedented" level of international cooperation is required, Akram said "such cooperation cannot be promoted anywhere except within the United Nations and its family of organizations." 
The CZU Lightning Complex Fires in San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties have been fully contained, Cal Fire said Tuesday night, but the agency added some words of caution.

"Remember, contained is not controlled. We will continue to monitor this fire for smoldering areas," Cal Fire said. "Re-population efforts continue to be complicated in portions of the fire area by closed roads, damaged utilities and compromised trees."
Lanzhou's health commission said Friday that sheep, cattle and pigs were most commonly involved in the spread of the bacteria. (Representationla Image: AFP)

Beijing: Thousands of people in northwest China have tested positive for a bacterial disease after a leak from a state-owned biopharmaceutical plant making animal vaccines last year.

Health officials in Lanzhou city said 3,245 people had contracted brucellosis, a disease often caused by close contact with infected animals or animal products that can bring about fevers, joint pain and headaches.

Another 1,401 people tested as an early positive for the disease, and health authorities said there was no evidence of person-to-person transmission so far.

Chinese authorities found a biopharmaceutical plant had used expired disinfectant in its production of Brucella vaccines for animals between July and August last year -- meaning the bacteria was not eradicated in its factory exhaust.

Contaminated gas from the China Animal Husbandry Lanzhou Biopharmaceutical Factory in Lanzhou formed aerosols containing the bacteria, and this was then carried by wind to the Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, infecting nearly 200 people there as of December last year.

More than 20 students and faculty members of Lanzhou University, some of whom had been to the institute, subsequently tested positive as well, according to Xinhua news agency.

Lanzhou's health commission said Friday that sheep, cattle and pigs were most commonly involved in the spread of the bacteria.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, person-to-person transmission of brucellosis is "extremely rare" but some symptoms may reoccur or never go away.

These include recurrent fevers, chronic fatigue, swelling of the heart or arthritis.

The factory -- which apologised earlier this year -- has had its brucellosis vaccine production licence revoked, Lanzhou authorities said.

Compensation for patients would start in batches from October, according to local authorities.
WELLSTON  A popular local grocery store is back in business more than a year after a devastating fire.

The Dublin General Store reopened to customers Wednesday morning following a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new and improved facility.

Renowned for its jerky and smoked meats, the general store had become a fixture in the Wellston, Dublin and Irons communities.

The Dublin General Store has been in operation since 1935, owned by Greg Fischer and his wife, Bonnie, since 2002. Greg is the store's third generation owner of the family business that was started by his grandparents.

The owners say theyre eager to welcome their customers back to the store.

Were finally going to be open and were excited, Greg Fischer said. After over a year working on this we said 'today is the day'."

Greg said the community had been supportive of the Fischers while they worked to reopen the store.

"Right after the fire we planned on rebuilding, so we went into the planning stages. Bonnie, and myself and our son Dean planned it out and it was just a matter of putting the plan together," Greg said. "We put a lot of effort into it, but a lot of other people did too. We didnt do it by ourselves.

Despite several setbacks, Bonnie Fischer said the time was right to reopen the store.

Weve been working so hard, just about around the clock to get this done, Bonnie said. "There's still a lot to do. It might not be the grand opening we wanted, but we said 'enough is enough'."

The Fischers were awarded a plaque from Deno Moore, in recognition of their familys service to the community. Inside the entryway, a sign made by local woodworker Dave McIntire greeted customers to the new store.

The owners say theyre looking forward to serving the community again.

Customer service has always been number one and that will begin all over today, Greg said.

People began lining up at the new Dublin General Store around 7:30 a.m. and packed the aisles that later that morning, with many taking home jerky and other smoked meats.

Angie Masunas, a former Irons-resident grew up with the Dublin General Store, and traveled from her new home in Niles, Michigan to witness the reopening.

I took the day off, drove up last night, slept in the woods in my van with my dog and decided to be one of the first to check out the new place, Masunas said.

Masunas wore a hooded sweatshirt with the words Dublin Strong emblazoned on the front. The "Dublin Strong" merchandise was created as a fundraiser to support first responders of the Dublin Store Fire.

I woke up in tears that morning when the place was on fire, it was heart wrenching, Masunas said.

The blaze broke out at the store after 2 a.m. on Aug. 31 in the front corner of the hardware section, leaving rubble in its place. No one was injured.

Stronach, South Branch, Dickson, Manistee, Bear Lake, Maple Grove and Sauble-Elk-Eden township fire departments assisted the Norman Township Fire Department at the scene.

Following the fire, then-Manistee County sheriff John O'Hagan said that investigators had evidence to suggest the fire was "intentionally set." At this time, there are no further updates on the case and the investigation remains open.

At roughly 43,000 square feet, the new store is significantly larger, and features a drive-thru pharmacy, hardware section, walk-in cooler and industrial-sized meat smokers.

The general store is a Spartan-Nash affiliate and the hardware department will be stocked by ACE hardware. The new facility was pre-engineered by Fed Corporation, a company which specializes in designing and erecting large commercial buildings. The building was delivered and assembled earlier this year.

The store will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays.

READ MORE:

Photos: An inside look at the new Dublin General Store

Dublin General Store reopening on the horizon

Photos: Dublin General Store aims for July 31 opening

Area artisan to build new Dublin General Store sign

Work begins on new Dublin General Store

Dublin General Store is making progress
Zukerberg has argued that the plazas creation resulted from an agreement between Perpetual Federal Savings, the owner at the time, and neighborhood leaders who believed that the banks mortgage lending practices were discriminatory and did not want it to build a new branch on the site.
You might hear a lot being said about supporting the local economy and the importance of that from the perspective of an increasingly globalized market. But what does that mean, in normal people speak? And more importantly, what are some easy ways to support your local economy here in Africa?



Dont worry, this article wont go deep into deep finance as you read it, but rather it will explore some tried and proven methods of supporting the local economy.



1. Choose small stores





While you might be used to buying from large chains that have their main offices in other countries, now is the time to shop at the small businesses nearby. By changing where your family buys clothes, for example, you can help a small operation pay their store rent next month.





For those businesses that do not have any cash reserves, they need your help more than anyone. Perhaps your purchase locally means more than you realize when you leave the place with an item in hand.





While it can be fun to go to the mall, bear in mind that you are likely supporting a big international business when you buy from a well-known brand there. They likely dont need your money as much as the small stores that only have one location here.





The quality of the products and services is typically high from businesses that are well-known locally. You can feel good about helping the economy by choosing to spend your money on what they produce or offer in the area you live in, whether it is kitchen accessories, corporate gifts, coffee, or something else.





On the other hand, each item you buy from an international brand takes a little from a local manufacturer. So, the next time you need a pair of shoes or basically anything else, consider your local options before going to the mall. The chances are good that there is a small merchant that offers it, perhaps even at a lower price.





2. Support cultural events nearby





Yes, its great fun to go out at night, whether to see a play or attend a music event or so on. But the sad truth is that a lot of folks would rather see a famous international artist rather than a local one, once again putting money in a foreigners pockets and starving the economy.



So, try to cheer on local performers when it is safe to do so. Africa is well-known for its cultural diversity, so lets celebrate it! Flower shows, music festivals, and more can be highlights to the day.





3. Buy things for your home from local businesses





Renting helps to support the economy as youre paying rent to a local person. If youre searching for rental properties in Nigeria, for example, you can find houses for rent in Abuja conveniently online.





When it comes to how you furnish the place, look first at local merchants for furniture and decorations. By choosing businesses close by where you live, you help them to stay open and can easily get them home, too, as its not a far distance away from you.



4. Leave a review



When you have a good experience eating out or doing another activity locally, do you leave a review on social media or let the business know about it? A few words to the business owner can help motivate them to keep going during a hard day.



Online reviews are great ways to support a local business too. Research shows that 40% of the South African population is active on social media in 2020; that is about 22 million people. If a place you bought from had great customer service, then share your feelings about it on social networks to help promote the business.



Concluding thoughts





To help Africa now and in the future, it is important to support local establishments whenever possible. Do a little research when you need or want a product or service and try to identify a local business that offers this service. Try to go to them rather than opting for a larger, international company.





This also goes for when youre shopping at the supermarket. Try to keep an eye out for products farmed or manufactured within the country, rather than outside of it. It might not seem like a lot, but think of it this way: If one person buys locally-produced milk, nothing happens. If 100 people buy locally-produced milk, then demand for said product increases, and the economy gets a little stronger. That is a positive result that benefits everyone within the country.









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| 2020-09-23 17:59:03|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on Wednesday conferred the title of "role model of the times" on 10 frontline medical assistance teams in recognition of their outstanding contributions in China's fight against COVID-19.

Huang Kunming, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, attended the ceremony and presented medals and certificates to the recipients.

The 10 medical teams include the national medical assistance team for Hubei Province, which consists of medical experts and workers from the Beijing Hospital and other five hospitals, a team of military medics dispatched to Hubei and a traditional Chinese medicine medical team dispatched to Hubei from the China Academy of Chinese Medical Science.

Over 42,000 medical workers from across China have been dispatched to aid Hubei in fighting COVID-19 since the virus outbreak. Enditem
- Some dogs have generated massive reactions on Twitter as they attended a birthday party of one of their own

- Many who reacted were amazed at the way the animals posed for a photo without making a fuss

- Jose Scott, the owner of one of the dogs, said that her pet, Esther, joined its buddies at the event

Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

A black woman with the name Jose Scott has shared a very funny picture of her dog, Esther, that went to party with friends.

Perhaps the picture she posted online well buttressed the statement that animals sometimes act like humans.

The photo she shared on Saturday, September 19, showed her dog in the company of others as they all stood together around a covered table that looked like they just indeed had a party.

What makes the photo even funnier was the fact that the dogs all stood calmly like they really knew they were being photographed.

READ ALSO: 15-year-old author and philanthropist from Ghana changes lives abroad

See her tweet below:

In a further explanation, she said that Esther went for a birthday that was organised for another dog called Rosemary.

This was her explanation:

Many who commented on the picture on Twitter spoke about the way the dogs struck a really good pose.

The post went viral with over 100,000 likes and about 18,000 retweets.

The person who organised the photo spoke much later, saying he found much of the comments the photo got very hilarious.

READ ALSO: 22-year-old Ghanaian breaks Adwoa Safo's record to become youngest lawyer ever in Ghana's history

Below are some of the reactions the photo generated on Twitter:

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Meanwhile, YEN.com.gh also reported that while it is the norm to see men (and even some women) go on their knees to propose to their partners, it isn't everyday one sees a woman go on both kneels to accept a proposal.

This was the case with a Nigerian lady identified as Adaeze Gift Okolie, whose actions have caused mixed reactions online.

Taking to her Facebook page to announce the good news, an excited Okolie described getting engaged as reaching the 'semi finals' and showered her man with accolades for choosing her above other ladies.

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
Theo Bertram, TikTok's director of government relations and public policy for Europe. UK Government

LONDON  Theo Bertram, TikTok's director of government relations and public policy in Europe, provided the world with a few insights into the wildly popular short video app as he was grilled by British politicians in Westminster. The former Google exec, who used to advise former Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, attempted to fend off questions on everything from political censorship to how TikTok goes about removing harmful content. Cool, calm, and collected, Bertram appeared to run rings around the "digitally literate" politicians at times as they asked basic questions about how TikTok works. One politician got confused between a MAC (media access control) address, which is used to determine a device on a network, and an Apple Mac at one point, while another said that TikTok's recommendation algorithm, which learns what you're interested in, was serving him "trashy" videos including "content where there's a mother and daughter pushing their tushy, if you know what I mean." Giving evidence to the Commons committee for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) via a video call that was broadcast online, Bertram revealed how his company struggled to deal with a graphic suicide video that went viral on TikTok in early September after it was broadcast live on Facebook a week earlier. "We learned that groups operating on the dark web made plans to raid social media platforms, including TikTok, in order to spread the video across the internet," Bertram said on Tuesday. "What we saw was a group of users who were repeatedly attempting to upload the video to our platform, and splicing it, editing it, cutting it in different ways," he added. "I don't want to say too much publicly in this forum about how we detect and manage that, but our emergency machine-learning services kicked in, and they detected the videos."

TikTok's interim head Vanessa Pappas wrote a letter to other tech companies on Monday proposing a "global coalition" to help protect users from harmful content. "Last night, we wrote to the CEOs of Facebook, Instagram, Google YouTube, Twitter, Twitch, Snapchat, Pinterest and Reddit," Bertram said. "What we are proposing is that, in the same way these companies already work together around [child sexual abuse imagery] and terrorist-related content, we should now establish a partnership around dealing with this type of content." If a partnership had been in place in early September then Facebook could have shared technical information on the suicide video with TikTok that may have prevented it from being uploaded to begin with.

Policing content

Content moderation is a big deal for social media companies and striking the right balance between deleting and allowing content isn't always easy. Like Facebook and YouTube, TikTok relies on algorithms and thousands of human moderators to spot and remove content that breaches its policies. In its second transparency report published Tuesday, TikTok said it removed over 104 million videos in the first six months of the year. It stressed that's less than 1% of all content uploaded to its platform. Videos containing "adult nudity and sexual activities" accounted for 30.9% of all videos removed, while "suicide, self-harm and dangerous acts" made up 13.4%. Content featuring drug use and hate speech was also taken down. Sometimes governments and law enforcement agencies ask TikTok to take down videos too. Between Jan. 1 and June. 30, TikTok removed over 500 pieces of content following government requests. Around half of those were removed in Russia, which has a reputation for discriminating against LGBTQ communities. "The Russian law is terrible... but unfortunately we have to comply with legal requests in the country we operate," said Bertram.

Growing business

Bertram said that TikTok now has more than 10,000 people working on trust and safety worldwide, with 363 moderators in the U.K., where users posted 1.6 million videos a day on average in the first half of the year. In total, TikTok now has more than 1,600 staff in Europe spread across offices in London, Dublin, Paris, and Berlin. London is the biggest hub, however, with around 800 people based there. "We're probably one of the fastest growing businesses in the country," Bertram said. Asked if TikTok would make London its international headquarters one day, as previous media reports had suggested it might, Bertram said: "We're focused on the challenge we have in the U.S. before we look at the international regime."

European user data

One member of the committee, Damian Green, accused TikTok of breaking the law by storing European user data on servers in the U.S. Bertram denied the company had done anything illegal and stressed that it's a complicated legal matter. "Your understanding of complexity of EU law is not quite right," said Bertram. TikTok declined to comment when CNBC asked who owns/operates the servers but a report from The Information in July said TikTok agreed to spend more than $800 million on Google Cloud. From 2022, European user data will be stored and processed in a new 420 million euro Irish data center, Bertram said.

Corporate structure
TRENTON  A corrections police officer is accused of smuggling drugs into New Jersey State Prison for an inmate serving life plus 15 years for leading a South Jersey drug trafficking organization, records show.

Jamaine Russell, 37, of Mullica Hill, is accused of accepting bribes to smuggle drugs in for notorious felon Gary Maddox, 44, of Washington Township.

Debra Rayner, 34, of Deptford, one of Maddoxs associates, provided the drugs to the allegedly corrupt CO and paid him off, according to criminal complaints.

Russell and accused accomplice Rayner were indicted Tuesday on counts of official misconduct and bribery, both second degree, and third-degree financial facilitation of criminal activity, the Mercer County Prosecutors Office said in a statement.

The charged drug-smuggling duo was initially charged by summons in November after investigators from the Department of Corrections special investigation unit conducted an investigation, the prosecutors office said.

The NJDOC didnt immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

Rayner does not work for NJDOC but was indicted as an accomplice because she promoted and facilitated the crimes the two are charged with.

Authorities contend that the CO Russell took advantage of his position at the prison and worked in tandem with Rayner to smuggle drugs and other contraband into the prison in exchange for bribes going as far back as October 2018.

Russell allegedly structured the financial transactions in a way that cloaked that they were illicit, according to court records.

Prosecutors did not say how much the CO, who has worked at the capital city prison since 2016, allegedly accepted in bribes.

Armed with search warrants, investigators tossed Russells and Rayners homes and found evidence such as drugs, inmate letters with details of the alleged conspiracy and drug-packaging materials, according to the criminal complaints.

Rayner admitted paying Russell bribes so that he would smuggle the contraband to Maddox, records show.

Assistant prosecutor Rachel Cook, the head of the economic crimes unit, presented the case to the grand jury leading to the indictment against the CO and the accomplice Rayner.

It was unclear whether Maddox has also been charged for his alleged role in the drug-smuggling scheme.

Maddox apparently hasnt curtailed his weight-pushing ways while serving time.

He has been locked up at New Jersey State Prison since he was convicted at trial of eight drug-related counts, including racketeering and being the leader of a narcotics trafficking network, both first-degree felonies.

Maddox inspired the name of the drug investigation  Operation Centerfield  for authorities who took down the drug ring in 2007, arresting 13 people, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Jailbird Maddox, unrelated, has almost the exact same name as former Phillies outfielder Garry Maddox, who played for the club from 1972 through 1986, the outlet reported.

Maddox and Jason E. McKinnon of Atco were convicted at trial of leading the drug trafficking network that had a supplier as far away as Tucson, Arizona, according to court records.

The traffickers peddled cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine and prescription pills, prosecutors said.

A couple years ago, the convicts pleaded for leniency in a Change.org petition to Gov. Phil Murphy that garnered more than 1,100 signatures.

WE NEED TO BE HEARD. NO ONE IS SPEAKING ON OUR BEHALF. WE TO HAVE FAMILIES THAT ARE GROWING OLD AND MISS US AND WE MORE FOR THEM. PLEASE HELP US, they said.

Maddox has sought post-conviction relief since hes ineligible for parole until January 2037, state records show.

While an appeals court called the evidence against Maddox overwhelming, it remanded his PCR for the limited purpose of conducting an evidentiary hearing to determine whether Maddoxs lawyer was ineffective for not calling three witnesses who would have claimed they did not work under Maddox but independently sold drugs.

The Associated Press contributed to this story
President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday night addressed the United Nations General Assembly on diverse issues ranging from COVID-19 to human rights and poverty eradication.

The text of the presidents speech was sent to PREMIUM TIMES by his office.

The president spoke on his administrations efforts to address poverty in Nigeria and to ensure respect for human rights in the country.

In order to mitigate its impact on Nigerians, our administration has commenced the disbursement of the sum of N10.9 Billion to households and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises as palliatives.

Read Mr Buharis full speech below.

HIS EXCELLENCY, MUHAMMADU BUHARI PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA AT THE GENERAL DEBATE OF THE 75TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

22ND SEPTEMBER 2020

 Mr. President,

 Heads of State and Government,

 Secretary-General,

 Distinguished Delegates,

 Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me on behalf of the Government and good people of Nigeria, congratulate you on your well-deserved election as President of the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). I would like to assure you of Nigerias readiness to avail the United Nations all necessary cooperation needed for the fulfillment of your mandate.

2. I wish to also thank the General Assembly for the support accorded His Excellency, Tijjani Muhammad-Bande during his tenure as President of the 74th Session of the General Assembly.

3. We acknowledge the accomplishments of the Assembly under his able leadership, particularly his efforts on attacking global poverty through the Global Coalition on Poverty Eradication.

4. We also commend the tremendous efforts of His Excellency, Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, in steering the affairs of the organization during this challenging period of the Coronavirus pandemic, as well as his strong commitment to making the UN more efficient and responsive in its international responsibility.

Your Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates,

5. It is my privilege to use this opportunity to congratulate Member States on the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations. Over the past seven decades, the United Nations, as the Peoples Assembly, has helped to stabilize the global community.

6. In addition to international peace and security, the UN has undertaken programmes on poverty eradication, womens empowerment, youth development and humanitarian emergencies.

7. The theme of this years General Assembly  The Future We Want, The United Nations We Need: Reaffirming Our Collective Commitment To Multilateralism  Confronting Coronavirus Through Effective Multilateral Action, is indeed most appropriate and timely, as it captures our common desire for a renewed and revitalized organization in need of multilateral approaches to the many challenges facing the world.

THE FUTURE WE WANT

8. As we reflect on the future we want and the United Nations we need, we must realize that the peoples of the world not only look up to us: they count on us. If the United Nations system cannot mobilize the world to marshal out a truly effective and inclusive response to the Coronavirus pandemic, then the United Nations would have failed in its core mission of giving expression, direction and solution to the yearnings of the international community.

Excellencies,

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9. The future we want must guarantee human rights, human dignity, human prospects and prosperity. The principles of Leaving No One Behind and Doing No Harm must be expressed through accountability, strategic growth initiatives and elimination of threats of all kinds.

10. In our quest to provide a future of hope and prosperity for Nigerians, our administration has embarked on measures to ensure enhanced national resilience. We intend to achieve this through the implementation of the Economic Sustainability Plan and the Medium Term National Development Plans for the period 2020-2025 and 2026-2030. We expect that these ambitious initiatives will deliver sustainable economic growth and development to Nigeria.

THE UNITED NATIONS WE NEED

11. Predicated on the values that inspired its creation, the United Nations we need has to remain an agent of progress, by giving expression to the tenets of multilateralism, solidarity and international cooperation. It is within the context of this rules-based multilateral order that the world can find solutions to its many problems.

CONFRONTING COVID-19 THROUGH EFFECTIVE MULTILATERAL ACTIONS

12. The world is currently in the grips of the Coronavirus pandemic. Regrettably, our communities and countries are losing lives. The Coronavirus pandemic has devastated the world economy and strained the capabilities of the health system of many countries, including our own country.

13. In the aftermath of Coronavirus outbreak in Nigeria, we prioritized vulnerable groups, including women, children, older persons and the unemployed, in our efforts to provide medical and social assistance to cushion the socio-economic effects of the disease.

14. Accordingly, we have expanded our National Social Register, to include an additional 1 million Nigerians. Our National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) has been the vehicle for reaching out to the poor and vulnerable members of the Nigerian population, as well as providing cover for over 22 million households.

15. I use this opportunity to commend the efforts of the United Nations and the World Health Organization in combating the Coronavirus pandemic.

16. I note, with appreciation, the $2 Billion United States Dollars Global Humanitarian Response Plan launched by the UN Secretary-General to fund the Coronavirus response in the poorest countries of the world.

17. I also commend his call for cease-fire in conflict areas, to enable humanitarian assistance reach groups vulnerable to Coronavirus .

Excellencies,

18. I should also state that Nigeria is committed to working with other Member States in the spirit of global cooperation and solidarity to promote human health and general well-being. Nigeria will continue to partner with the WHO and some countries to ensure accelerated development and manufacturing, as well as uninhibited supply of safe and effective Coronavirus vaccines to all.

POVERTY ERADICATION

19. In order to mitigate its impact on Nigerians, our administration has commenced the disbursement of the sum of N10.9 Billion to households and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises as palliatives.

20. In addition, we have established a five hundred billion (N500 billion) fiscal stimulus package and sustained delivery of humanitarian and social interventions to poor and vulnerable households, while our Central Bank has launched a N3.5 trillion-stimulus package to boost manufacturing and facilitate import substitution.

21. The international community will need to cooperate in addressing the scourge of poverty, particularly in developing countries. It is in this regard, that we commend the President of the 74th General Assembly for launching an Alliance for Poverty Eradication in June.

22. We encourage global leaders, particularly leaders from the global North, to support the Alliance at this time when the COVID-19 pandemic is reversing gains made in the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and is pushing an additional half a billion people into extreme poverty.

SUSTAINABLE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

Mr. President,

23. As we mark the beginning of the UN Decade of Action for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, Nigeria has made significant strides in domesticating the SDGs.

24. There is an ongoing re-alignment of the National Statistical System (NSS) with the requirements and indicators of the SDGs. This is expected to ensure effective tracking and monitoring of the SDGs and guide SDG interventions across the country.

25. Nigeria has also developed its home-grown Integrated Sustainable Development Goals model (iSDG Model)  an analytical framework for assessing how policy-making can better address the indivisible nature of the SDGs.

DISARMAMENT, INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY

Excellencies,

26. Nigeria remains deeply concerned over the illicit trade, transfer, and circulation of small arms and light weapons, particularly on the continent of Africa.

27. We urge the international community to renew efforts to stem this traffic and promote the Arms Trade Treaty in order to codify accountability in the on-going battle against trans-border crimes, including terrorism and acts of piracy.

TERRORISM/COUNTER-TERRORISM

Excellencies,

28. The litany of sophisticated terrorist attacks across the globe is a harsh reality of the challenges the world is facing today. We must therefore redouble our efforts to ensure collective security.

29. In Nigeria, we are still facing violent extremism from the insurgency of Boko Haram and bandits. We continue to count on our strong cooperation with UN Counter-Terrorism bodies and neighbouring countries to overcome the terrorists in the Lake Chad Basin and the wider Sahel Region.

30. We will vigorously sustain the rehabilitation, reconstruction and resettlement of victims of terrorism and insurgency in the North-East. The North-East Development Commission has been established for that purpose.

NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT

Mr. President,

31. Nigeria is committed to universal nuclear non-proliferation. In this connection, we recall the adoption of the landmark Treaty on The Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which opened for signature on 20 September 2017. Nigeria participated actively in the processes leading to its adoption and was an early signatory and ratifier.

32. With less than ten ratifications needed for the TPNWs entry into force, we urge other member states who have not done so to quickly ratify the Treaty for the actualization of its important objective.

CLIMATE CHANGE

Excellencies,

33. Climate Change is an environmental crisis which requires urgent action. Our Administration is conscious of the fact that the attainment of national development targets would be greatly impeded unless the consequences of climate change are addressed holistically in line with the Paris Agreement.

34. To this end, Nigeria has intensified climate action through the upward review of reduction in greenhouse gas emission under the Nationally Determined Contributions, which are climate change targets under the Paris Agreement.

35. Nigeria remains steadfast in our commitment to the revitalization of Lake Chad. We are convinced that recharging the Lake will improve the living conditions of our people in the area, promote inter-state cooperation, strengthen community resilience, and assist in addressing environmental and security challenges threatening the region and its resources.

36. Let me, therefore, reiterate the call for international support for the sub-regional efforts to raise the $50 billion USD required to actualize this initiative.

MIGRATION

Excellencies,

37. Nigeria experiences high internal and external migration due to the size of its population, economic situation and climate. We are therefore fully committed to migration management and prevention of irregular migration and human trafficking.

38. I enjoin the international community to also communicate the positive contributions of migrants, particularly in countries of destination, in order to combat racial discrimination and xenophobic attacks, and facilitate the social integration and protection of migrants.

ILLICIT FINANCIAL FLOWS

Mr. President,

39. The global aspiration to recover from the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic will not be fully met without addressing existing structures that make it more difficult for countries to generate and retain their financial resources.

40. It is in this regard that I thank the immediate past Presidents of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council, Ambassador Tijjani Muhammad-Bande and Ambassador Mona Jul, respectively, for jointly launching the High-Level Panel on International Financial Accountability, Transparency and Integrity for Achieving the 2030 Agenda.

HUMAN RIGHTS

Mr. President,

41. In the area of human rights, Nigeria has passed a number of human rights-related bills into law. The bills include: the Anti-Torture Act, the Comprehensive Treatment and Care for Victims of Gun-Shot Act, as well as the National Senior Citizens Centre Act. In addition, Nigeria has launched a National Action Plan for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism.

42. This measure is designed to strengthen institutions, coordinate the prevention of violent extremism, enhance the rule of law, access to justice and human rights as well as engaging communities and building resilience and integrated strategic communication.

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT/GENDER PARITY

Mr. President,

43. The United Nations has made progress in advancing gender equality and womens empowerment through initiatives such as the Beijing Declaration and Programme of Action and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. The creation of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women (UN-Women), in July 2010, was an important milestone.

44. Nigeria acknowledges the importance of gender equality and recognizes the critical role that women play in development. We also recognize that the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and other internationally-agreed Development Agenda depend largely on the empowerment of women. Nigeria will sustain its affirmative stance through women empowerment initiatives.

QUALITY EDUCATION

Mr. President,

45. Quality education for all is the cornerstone of sustainable development.

46. In this connection, I am happy to announce that the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will be hosting the 4th International Conference on Safe Schools in 2021.

47. I invite you all to Nigeria to participate in the Conference which aims to advocate for the protection of education from attack as we work together towards the future we want.

UNITED NATIONS REFORM

Mr. President,

48. As we urge and strive for inclusion within our societies, we must also ensure inclusion prevails in our collective action as members of the International Community. Nigeria supports the expansion of the UN Security Council to reflect the diversity and dynamics of the 21st Century. Africa deserves permanent seats in the United Nations Security Council.

CONCLUSION

Mr. President

49. I will conclude by reaffirming Nigerias commitment to promoting international peace and security and sustainable development, as well as strengthening partnerships and cooperation with international and regional organisations.

I thank you.
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Market Analysis

The global skin lightening products market is anticipated to grow at a favorable CAGR between 2019- 2023, as per the recent analysis by Market Research Future (MRFR). Skin lightening products comprise synthetic and natural products that lighten the skin tone as well as offer an even skin complexion via reducing the content of melanin in the skin. Scrubs, face masks, cleansers and toners, creams and lotions, and others are the different types of skin lightening products that are available in both organic and conventional types and used by both women and men.

Various factors are propelling the global Skin Lightening Products Industry growth. As per the latest MRFR report, such factors include increasing R&D in skin lightening products industry, wide availability of skin lightening creams and lotions, improving lifestyle, increasing purchasing power for rapidly increasing disposable income, demand for skin care range made of natural and organic ingredients and growing awareness about skincare and skin-health in developing and developed economies. Besides, the growing popularity of skin whitening products amid both genders worldwide is also adding market growth.

On the other hand, government regulations, coupled with the grave effect of the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, are factors that may limit the global skin lightening products market growth over the forecast period.

Market Segmentation

The MRFR report offers an inclusive segmental analysis of the global skin lightening products market based on product type, category, end user, and distribution channel.

By product type, the skin lightening products market is segmented into scrubs, face masks, cleansers and toners, creams and lotions, and others. Of these, creams and lotions are predicted to lead the market over the forecast period.

By category, the skin lightening products market is segmented into organic and conventional. Of these, the conventional segment will dominate the market over the forecast period. Easy availability and economic pricing are adding to the growth of the segment over the forecast period.

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By end user, the skin lightening products market is segmented into women and men. Of these, the women segment will have a major share in the market over the forecast period.

By distribution channel, the skin lightening products market is segmented into non-store based and store-based. The store-based segment is again segmented into specialty stores, supermarkets and hypermarkets, and others. Of these, the store-based segment (specialty stores) will spearhead the market over the forecast period.

Regional Analysis

Based on the region, the skin lightening products market report covers the growth opportunities and recent trends across North America, Europe, the Asia Pacific, & the Middle East and Africa. Of these, the APAC region is predicted to have lions share over the forecast period. Large population size, increase in disposable income, wide product availability, increased penetration of offline and online channel of cosmetics, and increasing cases of hyperpigmentation are adding to the global skin lightening products market growth in the region.

The global skin lightening products market in North America is predicted to have healthy growth over the forecast period. Increased inclination towards these products and demand for eco-friendly skin lightening products that have bioactive extracts are adding to the global skin lightening products market growth in the region.

The global skin lightening products in Europe is predicted to have favorable growth over the forecast period. France and Germany have a maximum share in the region.

The global skin lightening products in the MEA is predicted to have sound growth over the forecast period.

Key Players

Eminent players profiled in the global skin lightening products market report include Clarins Group (France), Lotus Herbals (India), Kao Corporation (Japan), Avon Products Inc.(UK), Estee Lauder Companies Inc.(US), Shiseido Company (Japan), Procter & Gamble Company (US), Unilever PLC (UK), Beiersdorf AG (Germany), and L'Oreal S.A.(France).

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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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A wrist slap for authorities in a controversial and deadly police shooting has once again inspired anger across the nation.

Here's the headline that has incited nationwide outrage:

Accordingly, local attorney Stacy Shaw is once again leading protesters against authorities and advisting demonstrators to wear all black in order to give voice to community outrage.

Let's remember that last time around, a similar rally featured protesters clashing with police and vandalizing KCMO property.

In fact, the devastation was so significant that it sparked Mayor Quinton Lucas to lash out at "fakeprimarily non-blackallies" who dominated the downtown dispute.

Nevertheless and as faith leaders call for peace at tonight's demonstration . . .



Kansas City attorney Stacy Shaw is a rising star African-American female attorney, she knows the law very well and she's at the forefront of tonight's continuation of local protest against police brutality.
The European Union's executive launched a contentious plan on Wednesday for overhauling broken migration rules to resolve years of bitterness and provide a better welcome for refugees fleeing the Middle East and Africa.

The most sensitive element would de facto oblige each state to host some refugees - something eastern nations Poland and Hungary are dead against - under "mandatory solidarity".

A country would receive 10,000 euros ($11,750) from the bloc's budget per adult taken in.

"We need these people because we are an ageing society," said the top EU migration official Ylva Johansson.

Endless feuds over where to locate people have caused bad blood between the Mediterranean-shore countries where they mainly come, the reluctant easterners, and the richer northern states where many of the new arrivals aspire to live.

In 2015, more than a million people made it to EU shores, overwhelming security and welfare networks, and fomenting far-right sentiment.

"Migration is complex, the old system to deal with it in Europe no longer works," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. "Moria is a stark reminder," she added, referring to a Greek migrant camp destroyed by fire this month.

The Commission plans would scratch a rule that the first country of arrival be responsible for asylum requests, which put too much burden on Mediterranean nations.

Under the new proposal, those arriving would be assigned to countries based on family links, history of education or work, or having a visa issued by a member state.

According to the Commission, the EU now receives up to 1.5 million net new foreigners coming legally to live and work per year, compared to only 140,000 asylum seekers arriving irregularly.

While the plan was sure to take flak from countries who would prefer to talk about tightening borders and asylum laws, it won early approval from Malta.

"Returning those with no right to asylum is crucial. Agree that solidarity must not be optional," said Prime Minister Robert Abela.

But it was also criticised by international Catholic charity Caritas, which said it could harm human rights, dilute legal safeguards and lead to more detentions.

'MANDATORY SOLIDARITY'

The 450-page proposals https://ec.europa.eu/info/publications/migration-and-asylum-package_en spanning five different pan-EU laws put emphasis on sending back those who fail to win asylum.

Intended to be in place from 2023, the plan also aims to open more legal routes for migrants, and work better with countries hosting and managing people before they reach Europe.

It would also put EU countries with external borders under closer monitoring to stop illegal pushing back of people after reports of such action by Hungary, Croatia, Greece and Malta.

People saved at sea would be relocated in the bloc - rather than sent back - with charities not criminalised for rescues.

At times of regular immigration, all EU states would be obliged to help under the new idea of "mandatory solidarity" by relocating or sponsoring the returns of people, or offering material assistance on the ground in arrival countries.

If, however, a country were falling under major pressure, it could seek to activate a crisis mechanism under which its EU peers would be obliged to take people in or send them back.

Returns commitments that fail to materialise in eight months - which national migration experts and some EU officials admit is tight - would transform into a relocation obligation, anathema to the reluctant easterners.

"Bottom line for us is that we might, and very probably will, end up with mandatory relocation," said a senior diplomat from one of the eastern EU countries. "That is a no go for us."

That means the proposal faces an uphill battle despite having German Chancellor Angela Merkel's backing.

Merkel suffered electoral setbacks after opening Germany to Syrian refugees back in 2015. But in a sign of changing mood, German mayors now offered to take in refugees from the Greek fire and protesters even chanted: "We have space!".

A Gallup poll, however, showed the world was becoming less tolerant of migrants, with EU states Hungary and Croatia near the top of the index of the least-accepting countries.

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HCM City  Vietnam and India boast huge potential for trade cooperation across spheres, particularly in technology, mechanics, machinery, and joining the global supply chains following the COVID-19 pandemic, heard a conference on September 22.

The conference was held online by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the Engineering Export Promotion Centre (EEPC) of India.



EEPC Chairman Mahesh Desai said Vietnam is one of the major markets in Indias Look East Policy, lauding Vietnams high economic growth rate and dynamic and perse development, which has helped the country become an attractive destination for investors.



Both Vietnam and India have paid attention to technologies and production, and aim to integrate more deeply into the global supply chains.



Notably, in the context of many connectivity chains disrupted by COVID-19, the two countries are seeking new partners and markets, he said, adding that India will step up trade promotion to establish ties with partners like Vietnam in order to optimise their potential, Desai stressed.



Vietnam and India have favourable conditions to enhance their cooperation as they are members of many economic forums in Asia-Pacific. The two governments have agreed to join hands in various spheres such as e-commerce, energy and production.



Indian Ambassador to Vietnam Pranay Verma pointed out that the two-way trade has yet to match the two countries potential, and suggested the two countries enhance their collaboration in mechanisation, machinery and agriculture, especially during the post-COVID-19 period.



VCCI Vice President Vo Tan Thanh said the bilateral trade exceeded 11.2 billion USD last year, with Vietnams exports to India worth over 6.6 billion USD. In the first seven months of this year, the trade value reached more than 5 billion USD, including nearly 2.6 billion USD worth of Vietnams exports to India.



In terms of investment, as of April 2020, India ranked 26th out of 136 countries and territories investing in Vietnam, with a total of 272 projects valued at 887 million USD, mostly in oil and gas, mining, IT and agriculture.



With its successes in containing COVID-19, Vietnam has been seen as a safe and trustworthy destination for foreign investors, he said, suggesting Indian investors expand their operations in Vietnam in the fields of garment-textile, footwear and cattle feed to make the best use of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement.
A black lawyer has said she was mistaken for the defendant three times in a single day in court.

Alexandra Wilson, 25, from Essex, later declared on Twitter 'there must be something about my face that says ''not a barrister''.'

The criminal and family law barrister said the shocking incident 'upset' her and social media users blasted it as 'unacceptable'.

She tweeted: 'Today I was assumed to be a defendant 3 times and a journalist once (lol).

'There MUST be something about my face that says 'not a barrister' because I am literally wearing a black suit like everyone else.'

Ms Wilson, from London barristers 5 St Andrew's Hill and founder of Black Women in Law, added: 'I don't get it. Today it actually upset me a bit but... we move x.'

Alexandra Wilson (pictured), 25, from Essex, later declared on Twitter 'there must be something about my face that says ''not a barrister'''

Twitter users piled in with support for the lawyer, including the author The Secret Barrister, who wrote: 'I'm so sorry, Alex. Have you reported it?

'Sounds like what we're supposed to now call ''a training need'' for the staff in question. Completely unacceptable.'

Another social media user posted: 'Not only unacceptable in every way... but also 100 per cent wrong as you are literally exactly what a barrister looks like.'

One woman user commented: 'It's always depressing to read this and similar accounts.

'Were the people who mistook you for anything other than a barrister other professional court users, court staff, or members of the public, or would you rather not say?'

Professor Jo Delahunty added: 'I was gonna post a ''head in hands/despair'' shot but won't as that changes nothing.

'You shouldn't have to put up with situations that your white colleagues are ashamed of.

'We can only change that if we celebrate,as well as support, our black and BAME colleagues. You rock Ms Wilson.'

It comes a day after Ms Wilson spotted Amazon was selling caps with the slogan 'Black Lives Don't Matter' - marketed as 'elegant' and a 'nice present'.

She tweeted: 'This is not ok. @Amazon why is this racist hat being sold on your site? Are there no checks in place? This is honestly embarrassing.'

The online retail giant later removed the 12.96 caps, which were sold by a third party seller.

A description, written by the seller, said the items were 'high quality' with a 'unique and fashionable' design that made them a 'nice present for family and friends'.

Ms Wilson tweeted after the caps were removed: 'The largest online company sold caps telling us that 'Black Lives Don't Matter'.

'We spoke up and it's finally gone. The power of social media. Imagine if the big companies and celebrities who posted a black square on social media used their platform to let activists speak?

'Thank you to everyone who contacted Amazon directly. These small actions make a big difference. No one should ever have to see anything like this.'

5 St Andrew's Hill said of the court incident: 'It is hugely disappointing to hear of Alexandras experience at court yesterday.

'Such incidents need to be confined to history. Alexandra is an outstanding young barrister and we are extremely proud of her commitment in raising awareness of the challenges that BAME professionals face.

'As with all those practicing in the courts she should be able to do so without barriers and prejudice.

'We welcome the intervention of Kevin Sadler, CEO of the HM Courts Service, including his comments against this sort of discrimination as well as his intention to investigate what happened on this occasion.'
Figures showed that another 393 people reached Britain on Tuesday - the second highest single day number on record - Luke Dray/Getty Images

More migrants have crossed the Channel and arrived in Britain so far this month than in the whole of last year as another 393 people reached the UK on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said it was tragic that people were coming across in rubber dinghies and children's paddling pools and that they were being cheated by smuggling gangs as he once again promised to change the law once Britain leaves the EU.

In September 1,880 people made the dangerous crossing, more than the 1,800 who travelled in the whole of 2019. And there is still a week to go.

And pressure is continuing to grow on the French Navy, after figures released on Wednesday that they stopped only 10 of the 32 boats that took to the water.

Home Secretary Priti Patel vowed to make the route unviable but nearly 7,000 people have successfully crossed this year.

Border Force agents examine some of the small boats that have successfully crossed from France to the UK - Gareth Fuller/PA

Millions of pounds have been invested into drones and surveillance technology but Tuesday marked the second highest total number of people on record to reach Britain in this way.

The legal position is currently very difficult because of the inflexible and rigid Dublin regulation for returns, said Boris Johnson in the House of Commons on Wednesday.

People think there is a way in which is legally difficult to resist.

Tragic for those who are coming across in rubber dinghies or childrens paddling pools, cheated by the gangs.

Once the UK is out of the EU, "I have no doubt we will find a way forward," he added.

In July, a group of migrants was fished out of the Channel after attempting to make the crossing in an inflatable paddling pool - using road signs to steer.

The men nearly made it out of French waters, around 14 miles off the coast, when they were stopped and returned to Calais.

Another similar incident was reported in August.

The newly appointed Clandestine Channel Threat Commander Dan OMahoney met with the French Ambassador in London on Tuesday where he reiterated the urgency to tackle the issue.

Story continues

In a statement, he said: We discussed how best the UK and France can use new tactics and operational activity to stop the boats leaving French shores in the first place.

Yesterday French law enforcement conducted nine operations across the Calais region, destroyed a number of boats so individuals could not attempt to cross, and prevented at least 98 migrants from crossing to the UK  but we acknowledge there is more to be done.

France is a safe country and asylum seekers already in France should claim asylum there.

Migrants photographed taking a boat to the water on a French beach in the early hours of Tuesday morning - Sameer Al-Doumy/AFP via Getty Images

Critics have said that France needs to do more.

Natalie Elphicke, MP for Dover and Deal said: The number of illegal entrants breaking into Britain is unacceptable. More action is needed to stop boats leaving French shores in the first place and turn them back to France.

Safety at sea starts with stopping small boats leaving French shores in the first place. When boats do launch, they must be turned around at the earliest opportunity, closer to land. Only then will we see an end of the small boat crossings.

Questions have also been asked about the way the Home Office counts the figures.

"I am deeply suspicious of these numbers," said Nigel Farage, Brexit Party leader.

"I have been out in the Channel, seen boats, asked the Home Office for a list of incidents, and that list bore no relation to what I saw.

"Yesterday, I was told that as many as 54 boats had crossed."

But a Home Office source hit back at the claims saying there was "no truth" in them.

"It is not in our or anyone's interest to put out incorrect numbers.

"It takes time to confirm the figures for everyone who passes through the port or who makes landfall. Sometimes we have to work with the police if people have been apprehended on land.

"It is also worth noting that we often receive multiple reports for the same vessel spotted in the Channel. That may be why some people think the number of vessels may be higher."

Last week, The Telegraph was in the Channel when a French navy patrol boat escorted a small inflatable carrying 16 Afghans into British waters and abandoned them. The boat was struggling in the water for more than 40 minutes until those aboard were rescued by Border Force.
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, and--most notably--the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Imported cases challenge the ability of nonendemic countries--countries where the disease in question does not occur regularly--to 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 prevalence--defined as the proportion of individuals in a population that are infected with a specific pathogen--in 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 patch--a group of people such as a community, city, or country--into 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 cold--the attributes of which are well-studied--Gao 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 situations -- such 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. There are numerous directions to improve and extend the current work." Daozhou Gao, Shanghai Normal University

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.
Hyderabad: SkyrootAerospace, a city- based startup has successfully test-fired its upper stage rocket engine named 'Raman, which can place multiple satellites into orbit, a top official of the firm said on Thursday.

Founded by former scientists of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Skyroot is into building India's first privately built space launch vehicles.

The company was tightlipped on when the rocket engine was test-fired.

"We demonstrated India's first 100 per cent 3D-printed Bi-Propellant Liquid Rocket Engine injector. Compared to traditional manufacturing this reduced the overall mass by 50 per cent, reduced total number of components and lead time by 80 per cent. The engine is capable of multiple restarts enabling them to insert various satellites into multiple orbits in a single mission," Pawan Kumar Chandana, Co-Founder and CEO, Skyroot Aerospace said.

Two of the firm's rocket stages are getting ready for test firing in six months, he added.

Skyroot has developed in-house software for launch vehicle guidance, navigation and control functions and testing for onboard avionics modules is in progress and the firm is targeting its first launch vehicle in December 2021, Naga Bharath Daka, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, Skyroot said.

"Our first launch vehicle 'Vikram-I' which is under manufacturing and targeting launch in Dec 2021, hosts an Orbit Adjustment Module (OAM) at the top which gives the final burn and inserts multiple satellites into space. In an 'Indias first', we successfully test-fired its liquid engine," he said.

Skyroot will highly benefit from the newly-created Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN- SPACe)which allows access to ISRO's testing and launch range facilities, Naga Bharath Daka said.

"We are already in active discussions with ISRO for testing activities. We look forward to utilizing ISROs launch ranges for our launch," he added.

The startup has so far raised Rs 31.5 crore till now and is in the process of raising another Rs 90 crore before 2021.

Mukesh Bansal, founder of Myntra, Solar Industries, Vedanshu Investments and few other angel investors participated in the early stage funding.

Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter.
The men were arrested as part of an investigation into the INLA

Three men have been arrested as part of a PSNI probe into the activities of the INLA.

The men, aged 27, 28 and 30 were arrested following searches at addresses in Strabane and Derry City. All three were arrested under the Terrorism Act and were taken to Musgrave serious crime suite in Belfast for interview.

The arrests are in connection with an incident in 2019 during which a number of individuals holding firearms posed for a photograph in front of INLA graffiti in the Galliagh area.

Detective Inspector Boyd said: This search and arrest operation is part of an ongoing investigation into the criminality of the INLA in the North West.

"Dismantling this group is a priority for police due to the threat, risk and harm they pose to our communities. The breadth and depth of their criminality has a major impact on our communities in Londonderry and Strabane.

"The INLA claim to be protecting their communities by shooting people they accuse of being involved in crime. In reality, it is they who use violence and intimidation to control and exploit their communities. I condemn the INLAS use of social media to spread the fear of violence they seek to instil in their communities. "

UPDATE: Police later released the men unconditionally.
Alyssa Milano found herself in yet another controversy after causing major police presence in her quiet neighborhood in California.

According to reports, the "Charmed" alum called 911 over the weekend to report an alleged gunman roaming around her Bell Canyon property. The police immediately responded and sent seven Ventura County sheriff vehicles, a K-9 unit, a police helicopter, a Los Angeles Fire Department unit at Milano's neighborhood.

Based on the photos obtained by the "Daily Mail," the cops were on full alert, thinking that they are responding to take control of an armed man. The police presence sparked alarm among Milano's neighbors.

"We first noticed the helicopter circling overhead very low and knew something was going on, it's usually such a quiet community," a neighbor told the news outlet.

"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," the neighbor added.

Apparently, another neighbor made the initial call to 911, while Milano's husband, Dave Bugliari, made a follow-up call. The couple allegedly reported a gunshot-like sound that scared their dogs. They also described the "armed man" to be a 40-year-old male carrying a long rifle.

The search lasted for almost three hours, and it turns out that the police are only chasing a teenage neighbor armed with an airgun and shooting squirrels.

The commotion leads the 47-year-old actress to get under fire, especially since she is known to be an outspoken activist, who once call to "Defund the Police."

Earlier this year, Milano was one of the celebrities and politicians who supported the "Defund the Police" movement after the Memorial Day on the death of George Floyd, who died under the custody of Minneapolis police.

Milano's Explanation

Based on a statement released by Milano's spokesperson, the actress disputed the version that she caused the police commotion.

The "Insatiable" actress recalled that while they are getting ready to watch the Giants game on a Sunday morning, a neighbor spotted a man dressed in all black while walking in the woods and carrying a gun.

"As that is a rare sight in our parts, the neighbor was understandably alarmed, and she called the police," Milano explained.

"We then received a call alerting us to the potential situation and that officers had been dispatched. My husband subsequently called 911 to check on when police would be arriving. While he was on the line, they arrived," she added.

In the end, Milano commended the police response and set the defended her position when it came to policing.

"The responding officers were amazing and made my family, and I feel safe and secure as we 'sheltered in place' until we knew exactly what was happening," Milano explained.

"These are exactly the type of situations that police officers are trained for and should be responding to, and we will always support police having the resources they need for appropriate policing action," she added.

Meanwhile, Ventura County Sherrif's Department confirmed no charges filed against the squirrel shooter nor to Alyssa Milano.

READ MORE: Vanessa Bryant Claps Back at Mother's 'Kicking Out' Claims After Kobe Bryant's Death
Lafayette, LA- The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is listed among the top 389 colleges and universities in the nation in U.S. News & World Reports 2021 edition of Best Colleges.

The annual guidebook assists prospective students and their parents in making decisions about which colleges to attend. The latest rankings assessed 1,452 four-year colleges and universities.

UL Lafayette was tied with a host of other schools at No. 154 in the public universities category, and No. 298 in the national universities category. National universities emphasize research and offer bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees.

U.S. News & World Reports best national universities are based on the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. UL Lafayette is designated a doctorate-granting institution with the second-highest level of research activity.

Rankings are compiled based on many factors, including academic reputation, graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, student/faculty ratio, social mobility, ACT/SAT scores of admitted students and alumni giving.

U.S. News & World Reports recognition is representative of our learning environment, which attracts academically gifted students who are stimulated by challenging coursework delivered by dedicated faculty members, said Dr. DeWayne Bowie, the Universitys vice president for enrollment management.

The 2021 edition of Best Colleges publishes school profiles that provide information on academic life, application requirements and financial aid and tuition.

The guide also includes rankings in a range of categories.

UL Lafayette received high marks in many of them, including the top performer in the social mobility category (tied for No. 224).

Among academic programs, the University was recognized for best computer science programs (tied for No. 171); undergraduate engineering programs (tied for No. 181) and best business programs (tied for No. 273).

UL Lafayette graduate programs were recognized in several categories as well: speech-language pathology (tied for No. 82); computer science (tied for No. 133); nursing schools: doctor of nursing practice (tied for No. 133); nursing schools: masters (tied for No. 175); engineering schools (tied for No. 152); biological sciences (tied for No. 175), and education (tied for No. 196).

The part-time MBA program was tied at No. 194. All University MBA curriculums are the same, however, whether students are enrolled part-time, full-time or online.

Two departments in the College of Engineering were ranked for graduate programs  industrial engineering (tied for No. 90) and computer engineering (tied for No. 127).

Other University graduate programs and schools cited by U.S. News & World Report were business, English and mathematics.

The strong showing isnt by chance, said Dr. Mary Farmer-Kaiser, dean of the Graduate School. Its a result of the Universitys ongoing commitment to graduate education. That commitment includes adding more graduate programs, and expanding existing programs.

The efforts are paying dividends.

Graduate school enrollment of 2,430 students for Fall 2020, in comparison to 1,521 students enrolled in Fall 2016, represents a 46% increase.

Enrollment continues to grow because of strong retention, new program offerings, and expanded delivery options for programs that have been available for years. Online, hybrid, and executive weekend formats, for example, are especially attractive to students seeking to balance graduate studies with work or family obligations, or for those who live away from Lafayette, Farmer-Kaiser explained.

U.S. News & World Report recognized several of the Universitys online programs: best online masters in nursing programs (tied for No. 45); best online masters in education programs (tied for No. 89); best online bachelors programs (tied for No. 106); and best online MBA programs (tied for No. 149).

Learn more about the Universitys undergraduate, graduate and online and hybrid course offerings.

Photo caption: The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is listed among the top 389 colleges and universities in the nation in U.S. News & World Reports 2021 edition of Best Colleges. Photo credit: Doug Dugas / University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Company marks next step in commitment to sustainable innovation by joining global organization focused on enabling digital sustainability on the occasion of Climate Week 2020

Dassault Systemes and other GeSI partners will use collective knowledge and experience to identify opportunities and develop effective solutions in critical areas

Since 2012, the 3DEXPERIENCE platform has been helping industry to understand and experience the impacts of their innovations on people and the environment

Dassault Systemes (Paris:DSY) (Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA) today announced it has joined the Global Enabling Sustainability Initiative (GeSI), a global organization focused on enabling digital sustainability. Becoming a member of GeSI means that Dassault Systemes is adding its name to a growing number of major information, communication, and technology (ICT) companies and organizations from around the world that are seeking to enable social and environmental sustainability through technology.

"An innovation can't be sustainable if its impacts on the environment and on people haven't been thought through. Modeling these impacts in virtual universes can dramatically accelerate a more sustainable future and our collective ability to deliver on the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals," said Alice Steenland, Chief Sustainability Officer, Dassault Systemes. "We are a purpose-driven company with the ambition to be the catalyst and enabler of a sustainable world, working constantly to improve people's lives by addressing major sustainability challenges with our customers. We look forward to driving solutions in collaboration with other sustainability leaders as a part of GeSI."

Luis Neves, Managing Director and CEO of GeSI, said that the organization welcomes a member like Dassault Systemes with its vast experience in 3D digital technology.

"GeSI's mission is to help create a smarter, more sustainable world with digital solutions at its core," Neves said. "We are thrilled to have a company like Dassault Systemes, a leader in its industry sector, join us as a Member. Their engagement reinforces GeSI's work to harness innovative digital solutions as a force for good as we commit to the 2030 Agenda. We look forward to a long partnership with Dassault Systemes."

Through its 3DEXPERIENCE platform and digital applications, Dassault Systemes provides business and people with collaborative 3D virtual environments to imagine sustainable innovations. Recognizing that sustainability is the primary driver of innovation in all sectors of the economy and progress in all domains of society, Dassault Systemes is focused on helping its customers achieve sustainable growth, on creating a better world for people, and on empowering the workforce of the future.

GeSI is a globally recognized thought leader, partner of choice and proactive driver of the ICT sustainability agenda as measured by the development and use of its tools, broad member base and contributions to relevant policies. Its vision is to create a sustainable world through responsible, ICT-enabled transformation. Its members and partners use their collective knowledge and experience to identify opportunities and develop effective solutions in a number of critical areas including: climate change, energy/resource efficiency, e-waste management, responsible supply chain practices, labor rights and public policy.

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For more information:

Dassault Systemes' environmental responsibility: https://www.3ds.com/environmental-responsibility/

Dassault Systemes' 3DEXPERIENCE platform, 3D design software, 3D Digital Mock Up and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions: http://www.3ds.com

About Dassault Systemes

Dassault Systemes, the 3DEXPERIENCE Company, is a catalyst for human progress. We provide business and people with collaborative 3D virtual environments to imagine sustainable innovations. By creating virtual experience twins of the real world with our 3DEXPERIENCE platform and applications, our customers push the boundaries of innovation, learning and production. Dassault Systemes brings value to more than 270,000 customers of all sizes, in all industries, in more than 140 countries. For more information, visit www.3ds.com

3DEXPERIENCE, the Compass icon, the 3DS logo, CATIA, BIOVIA, GEOVIA, SOLIDWORKS, 3DVIA, ENOVIA, EXALEAD, NETVIBES, MEDIDATA, CENTRIC PLM, 3DEXCITE, SIMULIA, DELMIA, and IFWE are commercial trademarks or registered trademarks of Dassault Systemes, a French "societe europeenne" (Versailles Commercial Register B 322 306 440), or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200923005069/en/

Contacts:

Dassault Systemes Press Contacts

Corporate France

Arnaud MALHERBE

arnaud.malherbe@3ds.com

+33 (0)1 61 62 87 73

North America

Suzanne MORAN

suzanne.moran@3ds.com

+1 (781) 810 3774

EMEAR

Virginie BLINDENBERG

virginie.blindenberg@3ds.com

+33 (0) 1 61 62 84 21

China

Grace MU

grace.mu@3ds.com

+86 10 6536 2288

India

Santanu BHATTACHARYA

santanu.bhattacharya@3ds.com

+91 124 457 7111

Japan

Yukiko SATO

yukiko.sato@3ds.com

+81 3 4321 3841

Korea

HeeSoo YOON

heesoo.yoon@3ds.com

+82 2 3270 7831

AP South

Pallavi MISRA

pallavi.misra@3ds.com

+65 90221874
The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) on Tuesday announced the arrest of Yaasiyn Brown, a 27-year old Philadelphia man wanted in a homicide that took place earlier this year.

Martin J. Pane, a member of the marshals, said that members of the fugitive task force around 2 p.m. Tuesday arrested Brown without incident at a home in the first block of Raspberry Hill Road, Shamokin, Northumberland County He was turned over to Northumberland county officials to await extradition to Philadelphia.

Brown was being sought in the April 14, 2020, fatal shooting of a man in the 700 block of East Locust Avenue, Philadelphia. Based on their investigation, city police detectives obtained an arrest warrant charging Brown with murder and lesser included offenses, according to a press release.

Attempts to find Brown in Philadelphia were unsuccessful and the U.S. marshals task force was asked to apprehend him, the release said.

Pane, in the release, said: Crimes of violence are of the highest priority for the Fugitive Task Force. The Marshals Service and our partners recognize the importance of bringing those charged with such crimes to justice. It is my sincere hope that the arrest of this fugitive brings some sense of relief to the community.

The fugitive task force in the Middle District of Pennsylvania is comprised of 22 state, county and local police agencies, including: the Williamsport Bureau of Police; the Lycoming County Probation Office; the Lycoming County Sheriffs Office; the Pennsylvania State Police; and, the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole  all of whom participated in this investigation.
Monday, November 9, 2020 @ 6:00 p.m.

Chef Nephi Craig: A Virtual Conversation



A chef from the White Mountain Apache nation featured in the film Gather for his work with Indigenous food sovereignty and revitalizing Indigenous food-ways.

The film is available at the Virginia Tech library. People with a VT PID can access it for free anytime at this link.

A free community showing will be held on Sunday, November 8th at 7:00 pm EST via this Zoom Webinar link.

Brought to you by The Center for Food Systems and Community Transformation, The American Indian and Indigenous Community Center, and Native at VT.

For more information or support, contact Katie Trozzo at ketrozzo@vt.edu.

To view the flyer, click here.
"The INTELITY platform is a key part of a guest's time on property, allowing them to enjoy both a higher level of safety and complete digital convenience."

INTELITY, the provider of the hospitality industrys broadest guest experience and staff management platform, has signed a deal with Gansevoort Meatpacking to provide mobile capabilities to both guests and staff. The Meatpacking Districts landmark hotel will implement the INTELITY platform, including a new, branded mobile app that delivers control to guests and GEMS, a back-office tool that streamlines operations.

Opened in 2004, Gansevoort Meatpacking helped establish the Meatpacking District as a destination as the neighborhoods first luxury hotel. Innovation has long been a core value of the property, which seeks to meld the best of technology, wellness, and design. Now, as part of a top-to-bottom property renovation, the hotel will embrace a new type of guest experience, providing high-touch service through mobile hospitality technology.

"At the Gansevoort Meatpacking, nothing is more important than an elevated guest experience, and technology not only speaks to who we are as a brand but also ensures that the experience is nothing short of seamless, remarked Anton Moore, General Manager of the Gansevoort Meatpacking. The INTELITY platform is a key part of a guest's time on property, allowing them to enjoy both a higher level of safety and complete digital convenience.

With the new app in place, contactless service will become a core piece of the guest experience. Before guests arrive, they can check-in and activate their digital room key, allowing them to bypass the front desk entirely when they reach the property. Throughout their stay, guests will be able to use the app to make reservations at the propertys numerous dining locations and rooftop. Contactless dining and service requests will also be available through the app, ensuring guests get exactly what they need without any unnecessary staff contact.

At the same time, the INTELITY suite of staff management tools will help manage new procedures and further improve the guest experience. Automation and deep business insights will save staff time and propel constant process improvements, giving employees what they need to deliver even better service to guests.

Gansevoort Meatpacking combines the best of what New York has to offerchic dining options, stunning views, and more, said Robert Stevenson, INTELITY CEO. With the INTELITY platform, every part of that experience will be connected through one easy-to-use app so guests are never more than a few clicks away from booking their next activity or requesting service.

Located on vibrant Ninth Avenue, Gansevoort Meatpacking offers stunning 360-degree river and city views, a beautiful rooftop space with indoor and outdoor areas and a 45-foot swimming pool, and elegant guest rooms designed to meet the needs of business and leisure travelers alike. Now, the property will expand their high-tech, high-touch guest experience with the award-winning INTELITY platform. For more information on this partnership, please visit http://www.intelity.com.

About INTELITY

INTELITY is the global provider of the most advanced hospitality technology platform for the hotel, casino, cruise, and luxury residential markets. INTELITY offers its customers comprehensive, fully integrated solutions to better connect and manage their guest experience and staff operations in a single platform. INTELITY has been named the Official Mobile and In-Room Technology Provider by the distinguished Forbes Travel Guide in 2018, 2019, and 2020, and is in use by major hotel groups, including Marriott, Fairmont, Four Seasons, Hard Rock, and more. For more information or to view current job openings, please visit http://www.intelity.com.

About Gansevoort Meatpacking

Gansevoort Meatpacking is an iconic hotel that has called New York Citys Meatpacking District home for more than 15 years. The 186-room hotel features a full service ground-floor restaurant, year-round rooftop bar and restaurant, a 45-foot heated outdoor pool, and indoor and outdoor space where guests can enjoy unobstructed, 360-degree views of the Manhattan skyline. Located on Ninth Ave and 13th Street, Gansevoort Meatpacking is an anchor in Manhattans vibrant Meatpacking District, which has transformed from an industrial district into a hub for fashion, design, culinary excellence and the arts. The property is just steps away from the Hudson River, the High Line, premium shopping and dining, the Whitney Museum of American Art, Chelsea Market and more. The property is completing a full renovation touching all floors, accommodations and public spaces in late 2020. For more information, please visit https://www.gansevoorthotelgroup.com/hotels/gansevoort-meatpacking-nyc.
Applications are open for US Eagle Credit Unions enrichEd program, which is making $10,000 available to support New Mexico public school teachers at $1,000 each for 10 schools.

As leaders in our community, we feel it is our obligation to step up and ensure New Mexico students can be as successful as possible as they adapt to the new learning environment, US Eagle President and CEO Marsha Majors said in a statement.

The grant program is designed to meet the need for enhanced safety protocols and unique instances that general funding may not cover, organizers said in a news release.

The money can be used for PPE, cleaning supplies, electronics, software and licensing and other items to ensure a safe learning environment.

Applications can be submitted online at http://useagle.org/westaystrong#enrichEd through Oct. 2.

US Eagles internal philanthropy committee will review applications and select 10 schools based on need, students served and geographic diversity.

Recipients will be announced on International Credit Union Day, Oct. 15, organizers said.

We welcome suggestions for the daily Bright Spot. Send to newsroom@abqjournal.com.
Its an uncommon sight to see Unifor President Jerry Dias telling reporters and his 6,300 unionized workers who build cars for Ford that its a great day for auto manufacturing in Ontario.

But thats what Dias did on Tuesday as he outlined some of the details that emerged from Unifors high-level contract talks with the Ford Motor Company of Canada.

Dias was clearly thrilled to be the first to speak publicly about the tentative $1.95-billion deal between Unifor, Ford and the federal and provincial governments to manufacture five electric car models at Fords Oakville plant, beginning in 2025.

The deal, to be ratified on Sunday, also involves production of 6.8-litre engines at a Ford plant in Windsor and the assembly of electric batteries at the Oakville plant, using lithium from Quebec, nickel from Sudbury and aluminum from Quebec and British Columbia.

On the face of it, theres a lot to like. Not that many years ago, Canada was one of the top car and truck manufacturers in the world but outsourcing production to countries with cheaper labour has shuttered plants and reduced shifts.

If were to believe Dias, Canadian auto manufacturing took a dramatic detour from the abyss to a suddenly prosperous future with this investment by industry and government. For now, though, we must take his word on it as the federal and provincial governments have yet to spell out details of their role.

Much depends on that  including what kind of value Canadian taxpayers will get for the hundreds of millions of dollars that governments are reportedly prepared to invest in the project. Until thats known, well offer only one cheer.

So far, Ottawa and Queens Park are keeping mum. Premier Doug Ford would say only that he deeply understands the importance the auto industry to Ontarios economy and that his government is committed to supporting the manufacturing of electric cars and batteries.

Thats more than a bit ironic, since the premier was decidedly not supportive of the industry when he took office in 2018. One of his first decisions was to cancel a Liberal government rebate program worth up to $14,000 for anyone who purchased an electric vehicles. EV sales promptly plummeted in Ontario, from 3 per cent of all sales to just 1 per cent (they recovered a bit last year when the federal government brought in a $5,000 rebate).

Now that Ford is apparently a convert to the value of electric vehicles, his government should revisit its decision on rebates. Encouraging sales makes sense for the environment, and if e-vehicles are going to be manufactured in Ontario it will make sense for the economy as well.

The Stars Heather Scoffield, in breaking the story of Ford Canadas decision to build e-vehicles in Oakville, reported that Ottawa is willing to invest $500 million in the project. Thats a big number, but many questions remain.

Is it enough of an investment and the right kind? Taxpayers deserve to know how their money going to be spent, and what guarantees Ford is making for long-term production in Ontario, in both Oakville and Windsor. In short, is this the best deal for the people of Ontario and Canada?

But a major commitment to manufacturing the vehicles of the future must surely be the right direction for Ontarios auto industry. Instead of lurching from crisis to crisis, fearing more plant closures, it offers the possibility of production and jobs for many years to come.

Indeed, Dias said he now sees a future for todays Oakville workforce, a third of whom have been there six years or less. Once the plant is retooled to build EVs, he said, our members should be able to retire with their pension from Ford Motor Company.

Thats an encouraging vision during a time of bleak economic news, particularly in Ontarios manufacturing heartland. Well be looking to Wednesdays Throne Speech for more details on investments in green technology and manufacturing that so many Canadians have been calling for.

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Michael Gove has warned of Brexit border chaos, with queues of up to 7,000 trucks in Kent and two-day trade delays in a 'worst case scanario' letter to the freight industry.

The Minister for the Cabinet Office, who is responsible for no-deal planning, has written to logistics groups with the Government's 'reasonable worst-case scenario' planning, which warns of possible two-day delays for cargo travelling to France in January.

Mr Gove is due to outline the scenario work, which the Cabinet Office stressed is not a forecast, in the Commons later today.

Michael Gove has warned hauliers that up to 7,000 lorries could be queuing from Channel ports such as Dover, pictured last Wednesday, at the end of the Brexit transition period

It comes as the European Union's chief negotiator Michel Barnier prepares to travel to London for further informal talks with his counterpart Lord Frost as efforts continue to strike a post-Brexit trade deal.

But in the document sent to logistics associations, which has been seen by PA news agency, Mr Gove warned that changes were coming with or without a deal.

The transition period, which kept the UK aligned to the EU's single market and customs union rules to allow trade to flow smoothly after Brexit, expires at the end of the year unless both sides agree to an extension - something Boris Johnson has ruled out.

The Cabinet Office document states that, in its reasonable worst-case scenario, between 30-50% of trucks crossing the Channel will not be ready for the new regulations coming into force on January 1 2021, while a 'lack of capacity to hold unready trucks at French ports' could reduce the flow of traffic across the strait to 60-80% of normal levels.

In a letter to the freight industry, Mr Gove, pictured on Tuesday, said: 'It is essential that traders act now and get ready for new formalities'

'This could lead to maximum queues of 7,000 port bound trucks in Kent and associated maximum delays of up to two days,' the documents said.

Such delays could be in place for at least three months, hauliers have been warned, as alternative routes are sought and supply chains get to grips with the new systems and requirements.

In his letter, Mr Gove said: 'Irrespective of the outcome of negotiations between the UK and EU, traders will face new customs controls and processes.

'Simply put, if traders, both in the UK and EU, have not completed the right paperwork, their goods will be stopped when entering the EU and disruption will occur.

'It is essential that traders act now and get ready for new formalities.'

But sector chiefs have accused the Government of failing to do enough in recent weeks over the threat of post-Brexit border delays.

Logistics UK, formerly the Freight Transport Association, was seething last week after being told the Government's Smart Freight system - designed to reduce the risk of cargo delays once Britain is outside of EU rules - would still be in testing mode in January when British exports face new border regulations.

The Road Haulage Association (RHA), meanwhile, said their meeting on Thursday with Mr Gove had fallen 'far short of our expectations'.

Responding to the worst-case scenario document, RHA chief executive Richard Burnett said: 'We've been consistently warning the Government that there will be delays at ports but they're just not engaging with industry on coming up with solutions.

Local measures such as Dover TAP and Operation Stack will likely be enforced to cope with a backlog of lorries post-Breixt

'Traders need 50,000 more customs intermediaries to handle the mountain of new paperwork after transition but Government support to recruit and train those extra people is woefully inadequate.

'The answers to the questions that we raised in our letter to Mr Gove and subsequent roundtable meeting last Thursday still remain unanswered - and our concern continues to grow.'

There has been reported action by Government to mitigate the impact around Dover and the south-east ports, however.

There was a suggestion this month a coronavirus testing centre in Ebbsfleet, Kent, was closed to make way for a post-Brexit lorry park to allow customs checks away to be carried out away from the Port of Dover.

A UK Government spokesman said: 'With just 100 days to go until the end of the transition period it's vital that businesses prepare now for new rules that will come into force at the end of the year, so that they can hit the ground running on January 1 2021 and seize new opportunities.

'As a responsible Government we continue to make extensive preparations for a wide range of scenarios, including the reasonable worst case.

'This is not a forecast or prediction of what will happen but rather a stretching scenario.'

The leaked letter comes as a think tank said failure to reach an agreement with the EU in post-Brexit trade talks could hit Britain's economy three times harder in the long term than coronavirus.

Queues at the border, shortages of fresh food and medicine as well as more 'hassle' travelling to the continent are also possible, according to the UK in a Changing Europe group.

A report by the organisation, based on modelling with the London School of Economics (LSE), said the impacts of coronavirus may mitigate or obscure the effect of a no-deal exit.

But it warned that not forming an agreement with Brussels would have a significant impact in the long term.

The authors wrote: 'Our modelling with LSE of the impact of a no-deal Brexit suggests that the total cost to the UK economy over the longer term will be two to three times as large as that implied by the Bank of England's forecast for the impact of Covid-19.'

Trade deal talks between the two sides are continuing, but the Prime Minister has set a deadline of October 15 for an agreement to be reached, otherwise he has said he will simply walk away from the negotiating table.
The Release Features Linux and ARM Platform Support and Significantly Enhanced User Interface

MALVERN, Pennsylvania, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Scala today announced the latest release of its flagship digital signage platform, Scala Enterprise version 12.00, featuring five major component upgrades with full support for Linux media players and more than 185 other key product enhancements. Scala, part of the STRATACACHE family of marketing technology companies, provides the tools to create, manage and deploy powerful digital experiences in any environment including retail, quick service restaurants, banking, transportation, gaming, out-of-home media and additional key digital signage markets.

Highlights of Scala Enterprise 12 include:

Linux Playback Engine for both X86 and ARM processors in support of ARM-based devices

Support for the new Scala Designer Cloud, an upcoming advanced web-based composition tool

Updated UI/UX for Content Manager such as new dashboard view for quick status of all digital signage devices

Improved interface for translations across all 17 supported languages

Several key operational improvements for plan generation, inventory building and Python 3 support

A preview of Scala Campaign Manager, an upcoming Scala Enterprise tool which enables digital display ad network monetization

Full support for upcoming new commercial-grade tablets and digital poster-based platforms

"Scala has held a long-term, strong position in delivering digital display messaging. The introduction of Scala Enterprise 12 allows our global clients to extend their delivery of digital experiences to embedded ARM devices such as kiosks, tablets and shelf edge displays. This opens up a wide variety of new opportunities to attract and engage audiences for even deeper, personalized consumer activation," said Joe Sullivan, COO of Scala.

Enterprise 12 is available at Scala.com/updates for customers under current Scala Maintenance.

About Scala

Scala solutions deliver engaging retail experiences by connecting networks of digital signs, kiosks, mobile devices, websites and Internet-connected devices. Scala, a STRATACACHE company, provides the platform for marketers, retailers and innovators to easily create and centrally manage deployment of shopping experiences while retaining the flexibility to rapidly adapt to local business conditions and preferences of customers in the store. With 30 years' experience, Scala is well-known for its innovation and leveraging best-of-breed technologies to create solutions that are easy-to-use, yet infinitely customizable. Scala has US-based headquarters near Philadelphia, PA and EMEA headquarters in the Netherlands, and has offices in 28 countries, clients in over 100 countries and support for 20+ languages in the platform.

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PENGHU, Taiwan (AP)  Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen visited a military base on one of Taiwans 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.

The Chinese air force flew 37 planes, including fighter jets and long-distance bombers, over the Taiwan Strait on Friday and Saturday in what Beijing called a deliberate warning during a visit by a high level U.S. State Department envoy to the island.

It was an unusually large display of force in response to the second such visit by a high-level U.S. official in two months. The American health secretary visited Taiwan in August.

China considers Taiwan part of its national territory and objects to all official contact between other countries and Taipei.

At a news conference Monday, Chinas Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin again condemned the visit, calling it a political provocation that emboldens Taiwan independence separatists and undermines China-U.S. relations as well as peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait."

China has increased its diplomatic and military pressure on Tsai's government over her refusal to agree to China's insistence that the island be considered a part of Chinese territory. The vast majority of Taiwanese reject the prospect of political union with China under the one country, two systems" framework in place in Hong Kong.

Story continues

Tsai has remained defiant in face of China's anger.

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 Taiwan's formal name.

While China's armed forces have an overwhelming numerical advantage over Taiwan, the island's small but well-trained high-tech force enjoys strong support from the U.S., the island's chief ally.
Shannen Doherty Reveals Stage 4 Cancer Diagnosis: 'I Don't Think I've Processed It'

The actress opened up about coming to terms with a return of her breast cancer after announcing that she was in remission in 2017

Jason Priestley is opening up about how his former Beverly Hills, 90210 costar Shannen Doherty has been doing in the months following her stage 4 cancer recurrence.

"I reach out to Shannen every few months, just to check in on her and say hi," Priestley, 51, said on Australia's Studio 10 show.

"Shannen's a real tough girl, and Shannen's a fighter, and she's always been a fighter," Priestley added. "And I know that she will continue to fight as hard as she can. Last time I heard from her, she was in pretty good spirits."

In March, Doherty, 49, gave an update on her health and opened up about how several of her friends have been by her side to help her embrace an active lifestyle amid her cancer battle.

Dave Kotinsky/Getty; Neilson Barnard/Getty Jason Priestley, Shannen Doherty

"After a year of dealing with cancer coming back and other stresses, Im back at it," Doherty wrote in a lengthy Instagram post. "Taking care of myself and embracing every day. Its not always easy. I have days Im depressed or just plain lazy. But I push thru with the help of friends."

RELATED: Shannen Doherty Says Its an Understatement to Say Shes Stressed After Stage 4 Cancer Diagnosis

Story continues

The actress credited her friend Anne Marie Kortright with being relentless in getting me to hike and learning new ways to cook that feed my soul as well as my tummy but in a very healthy way.

She along with @cheforen @maliburadkitchen have made cooking healthy fun and sustainable, Doherty said, adding that famous fitness trainer Kiara Stokes came in to kick my butt yesterday.

Its been a productive great week, Doherty said. I feel better. My skin is alive and so am I.

In February, Doherty revealed her breast cancer had returned after going into remission in 2017.

Its going to come out in a matter of days or a week that Im stage 4. So my cancer came back, and thats why Im here, Doherty said on Good Morning America. I dont think Ive processed it. Its a bitter pill to swallow in a lot of ways.

Milla Cochran/startraks

The Charmed star said in an interview with ABCs Amy Robach the following day that she has stopped posting on social media as often because she doesnt "want to be a bummer."

"And yes, I want to positive, and yes, I want to be a beacon light for other people  or at least somebody that people can relate to and [with whom they can] have an honest conversation and talk about how hard it is," Doherty said. "I do want to be raw and honest about it."

RELATED VIDEO: Scott Hamiltons Encouraging Message to Shannen Doherty: Be with the People You Love the Most

Scott Hamilton's Encouraging Message to Shannen Doherty: 'Be with the People You Love the Most'

The retired Olympic figure skater is a cancer survivor, and Doherty has announced that her cancer is back

The actress also thanked her fans on Instagram for their "love, prayers and support."

"Its an odd time right now and I find my feet not completely underneath me," she wrote. "To say I have stress is an understatement. To say that Im struggling is mild."

However, Doherty noted at the time that she was searching for her "inner strength."

"But I believe that I will find my footing, she added. Ill dig deep for the inner strength I need to face it all. I pray I do it all with dignity and grace. I have so much to say. So much to share. I will. For now please know how much you all help lift me."
Enola Holmes Is Set In 18th Century London

Mycroft and Sherlock Holmes head home when they find out their mother Eudoria Holmes, played by Helena Bonham Carter, has gone missing and hasn't returned for a week. Sherlock then suspects she left on her own account and does not want to return. Meanwhile, Mycroft is so disgusted by Enola not wearing gloves and hats that he decides its best to send her off to a boarding school, where she can learn to be a proper lady. Enola, who only wishes to find her mother, realises that the last gift her mother left for her has clues about her whereabouts. Taking on her mother's every bit of advice from the past 16 years, Enola takes upon herself to find her mother, because 'Our Future Is Up To Us'.

What makes the simple and joyous adventure a tad bit emotional and interesting is the historic moment it is set in. In 1884, England is about to embark on a new journey itself, one where women are ready to lead. A reform bill in the House of Lords in the making will ensure a platform and a right to fight for the suffragette - a member of an activist women's organisation.

Millie Bobby Brown Plays Enola Holmes

To incorporate the details, the makers had to sacrifice the usual Holmes traits like deduction and mystery, and yet the story makes a lasting impact. Millie Bobby Brown as Enola seems like the perfect choice for a quirky wild girl, who refuses to give in to the ways of society. Henry Cavill also makes for a fine second fiddle to his younger sister, and throughout the film, he doesn't just grow to care for her, but also begins to respect her and is proud of her achievements.

Enola Holmes Is Now Streaming On Netflix

Directed by Harry Bradbeer and written by Jack Thorne, the film attempts to comment on the social injustice in the 18th century not only against women but also their unjust regulations and blind faith in the old ways. But none of it taints the film's story or the characters. For every few seconds, the film seems to get serious, as we have Enola talking to the screen ensuring us she is in control and takes us on a ride filled with laughs.

The film's audience's age group on Netflix showed 13+, hopefully, Enola's character will give young girls the faith and hope that even though it seems like they are alone fighting for rights, they don't have to be lonely as there are other girls who are fighting to win their version of freedom.

Overall, Enola Holmes isn't just a delight to watch but also gives us the chance to root for all of the characters. Hopefully, the franchise will continue to explore the 18th century London with the same finesse as this one.
It has taken just eight months for illicit drug overdose deaths in 2020 to surpass the 983 fatalities in all of 2019.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/9/2020 (485 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It has taken just eight months for illicit drug overdose deaths in 2020 to surpass the 983 fatalities in all of 2019.

There were another 147 overdose deaths in August  the equivalent of about 4.7 people dying each day  bringing 2020s total so far to 1,068 deaths, the BC Coroners Service reported today. Since January 2016, at least 6,083 people have died of overdoses in the province.

While Augusts figure is a slight 16 per cent decrease compared to Julys 176 deaths, it marks a 71 per cent increase compared to August 2019s 86 deaths.

Emergency services also responded to nearly 7,500 non-fatal overdose calls this summer, making it the highest number of overdose calls in any three-month period.

These devastating milestones come on the heels of a massive push in B.C. to expand safer supply  prescribing pharmaceutical alternatives to the street drug supply  in an effort to separate people from the increasingly toxic illicit drug supply.

Illicit fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid, was present in 79 per cent of deaths this year. Fourteen per cent of cases between April and August involved extreme fentanyl concentrations, nearly double the rate in 2019 through to March 2020.

Death can be the consequence of any kind of drug use now, said Downtown Eastside community advocate Karen Ward. It doesnt matter if youre out with buddies or have been using for 20 years.

Pandemic-related supply chain disruptions and increased social isolation are driving factors in the surge of deaths, which led the province to enact guidelines to expand safer supply efforts for people at risk of both COVID-19 and overdose in March.

But after that, the province saw a record-breaking six consecutive months of more than 100 deaths reported. June was the deadliest month in the provinces history, with 181 deaths attributed to illicit drug overdoses.

Just last week, bolder measures were announced in recognition that simply accessing the illicit drug supply now is potentially fatal, regardless of COVID-19 exposure risk.

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Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry issued an order to expand prescribing powers to registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses, who join physicians and some pharmacists as eligible prescribers.

In view of the worsening situation of overdose deaths arising from the dual public health emergencies, it is necessary and in the public interest to increase access to health professionals who can prescribe pharmaceutical alternatives to the toxic drug supply, Henry wrote in the order.

A yet-to-be released policy directive from the province will also see eligibility expanded to nearly all who access the street drug supply even intermittently, and more community pharmacies will become access and dispensation sites.

But with the election looming and the legislature dissolved, when the policy will be finalized remains to be seen. And as the wait continues, people who use drugs across the province are still at great risk.

About 60 per cent of deaths took place in the Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health regions, but the Northern Health region had the highest rate of deaths at 40 per 100,000 residents.

Numbers in the north have increased the last few months, while rates in Vancouver and Interior regions declined in August.
A Kentucky grand jury indicted former Louisville police officer Brett Hankison on three counts of wanton endangerment in the first degree in a shooting that killed Breonna Taylor, but neither he nor the other two officers involved in the fatal encounter were charged in her death.

Louisville Metro Police Department officers Myles Cosgrove, Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly and Hankison unleashed a barrage of 32 shots into Taylor's apartment while serving a warrant in March.

The charges against Hankison, who fired 10 shots into Taylor's apartment, stem from the errant bullets that penetrated a wall of the residence and entered a neighboring apartment occupied by a child, a man and a pregnant woman, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron said at a news conference following the grand jury's announcement.

Cameron said that none of the shots fired by Hankison struck Taylor, a certified emergency medical technician.

PHOTO: People wait for the decision in the criminal case against police officers involved in the death of Breonna Taylor, who was shot dead by police in her apartment, in Louisville, Ky., Sept. 23, 2020. (Carlos Barria/Reuters)

The three charges against Hankison specifically state that "under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to human life, he wantonly shot a gun into the apartment" occupied by Taylor's neighbors, according to Jefferson County Circuit Judge Annie O'Connell, who read the indictment in court.

Cameron said that since there was no surveillance video or police body camera video available, the sequence of events on the fateful morning had to be pieced together through ballistic evidence, 911 calls, police radio traffic and interviews.

Cameron said Taylor was shot six times, contradicting statements from lawyers for Taylor's family that she was shot eight times. He said ballistic evidence examined by the FBI showed that only one shot that hit Taylor was fatal, a .40-caliber bullet that was fired by Cosgrove.

The attorney general said Cosgrove fired 16 times into Taylor's apartment and that Mattingly fired six shots after they were fired on by Taylor's boyfriend, Kenneth Walker.

"Our investigation found that Mattingly and Cosgrove were justified in their use of force after having been fired upon by Kenneth Walker," Cameron said. "This justification bars us from pursuing charges in Ms. Breonna Taylor's death."

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MORE: Breonna Taylor case: Public outraged after 1 officer indicted for endangering neighbors

Hankison was booked at the Shelby County Detention Center in the Louisville suburb of Shelbyville at 4:30 p.m. and released at about 5 p.m. after posting $15,000 cash bond, a sergeant at the jail told ABC News.

If convicted, Hankison faces up to five years in prison, Cameron said.

Cameron said he spoke with Taylor's mother, Tamika Palmer, on Wednesday prior to the announcement of the grand jury's decision.

"Every day this family wakes up to the realization that someone they loved is no longer with them. There's nothing I can offer today to take away the grief and heartache this family is experiencing as a result of losing a child, a niece, a sister and a friend," said Cameron, who was appointed as a special prosecutor to investigate the case by Gov. Andy Beshear.

"The decision before my office as the special prosecutor in this case was not to decide if the loss of Ms. Taylor's life was a tragedy. The answer to that question is unequivocally yes," Cameron said. "There's no doubt that this is a gut-wrenching emotional case and the pain that many people are feeling is understandable."

Lawyers for Taylor's family reacted to the grand jury's decision with disappointment that none of the officers were charged in Taylor's death.

PHOTO: Former Louisville Metro Police Officer Brett Hankison is pictured in a booking photo released by the Shelby County Detention Center in Kentucky on Sept. 23, 2020. (Shelby County Detention Center)

This is outrageous and offensive to Breonna Taylors memory. Its yet another example of no accountability for the genocide of persons of color by white police officers," the family's attorneys Benjamin Crump, Sam Aguiar and Lonita Baker said in a joint statement.

If Hankisons behavior constituted wanton endangerment of the people in the apartments next to hers, then it should also be considered wanton endangerment of Breonna. In fact, it should have been ruled wanton murder," the lawyers said.

The attorneys said the charges against Hankison were related to him firing into the apartment of a white family, but noted that no counts were filed in relation to the shots fired into the residence of a Black family that lived above Taylor.

"This amounts to the most egregious disrespect of Black people, especially Black women, killed by police in America, and its indefensible, regardless of how Attorney General Daniel Cameron seeks to justify it," the attorneys said.

MORE: Why the wanton endangerment charge in Breonna Taylor's case is about her neighbors and not her

During his news conference, Cameron did not mention shots being fired into the apartment above Taylor's residence and said he could only speak in "general teams about our independent investigation and findings."

Cameron said the investigation showed the officers were advised by their superiors to knock on Taylor's door in the early morning hours of March 13 and announce themselves. He said Cosgrove, Mattingly and Hankison had no involvement in the investigation nor in obtaining the warrant that led them to Taylor's apartment.

Cameron said an independent witness corroborated that the officers knocked on the door and announced themselves. "In other words, the warrant was not served as a 'no-knock' warrant," he said dispelling earlier reports that it was.

When no one answered, the officers breached the door.

"Sgt. Mattingly was the first and only officer to enter the residence. Sgt. Mattingly identified two individuals standing beside one another at the end of the hall, a male and a female," Cameron said. "In his statement, he said the male was holding a gun, arms extended in a shooting stance. Sgt. Mattingly saw the man's gun fire, heard a boom and immediately knew he was shot as a result of feeling heat in his upper thigh."

He said Taylor's boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, fired the shot that hit Mattingly.

PHOTO: Tamika Palmer, mother of Breonna Taylor, poses for a portrait in front of a mural of her daughter at Jefferson Square park, Sept. 21, 2020, in Louisville, Ky. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

"There is no evidence to support that Sgt. Mattingly was hit by friendly fire from other officers," Cameron said, refuting a claim made in a civil suit filed by Walker. "Mr. Walker admitted that he fired one shot and was the first to shoot."

He said all of the officers had .40-caliber handguns and Mattingly was struck by a 9mm bullet matching the gun Walker was armed with.

Cameron said that in a "matter of seconds" Mattingly and Cosgrove, still standing in the doorway, returned fire. He said Hankison was posted outside a patio sliding glass door and fired multiple times.

The announcement was made more than six months after 26-year-old Taylor's death prompted nationwide protests with demonstrators coast-to-coast repeating her name and celebrities and professional athletes wearing clothes bearing her likeness.

The grand jury's announcement followed a $12 million settlement Taylor's family reached last week with the City of Louisville in a wrongful-death lawsuit Palmer filed in April.

Taylor's family had called for criminal charges to be filed against the three officers involved in the shooting.

Palmer said at last week's news conference that while "significant," the settlement was "only the beginning of getting full justice for Breonna.''

"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," Palmer said. "Her beautiful spirit and personality is working with all of us on the ground, so please continue to say her name.''

The settlement, which lawyers for the Taylor family say is the largest ever paid out for a Black woman killed in an alleged police misconduct case, also includes an agreement from the city to implement major reforms in the police department in hopes of preventing a similar tragedy from occurring.

The reforms include requiring the police department to overhaul how search warrants are obtained, and to create an Office of Inspector General to oversee an "early-warning system" that tracks use-of-force incidents and citizens' complaints in an attempt to weed out bad officers.

PHOTO: People listen during a speech at Jefferson Square park, Sept.21, 2020 in Louisville, Ky., as demonstrators ahead of a possible Grand Jury decision regarding the officers involved in the killing of Breonna Taylor. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Det. Joshua Jaynes filed a request for a search warrant of Taylor's home on March 12 after investigating the activities of Taylor's ex-boyfriend, who police say was known to them as a drug trafficker, according to the warrant. Police alleged that Taylor's ex-boyfriend was using her address to mail drugs through the post office.

The warrant required the police to verify with postal inspectors that the ex-boyfriend was receiving packages at Taylor's address.

MORE: $12 million settlement reached in fatal Kentucky police shooting of Breonna Taylor

But lawyers for Taylor's family allege the affidavit used to secure the warrant contained lies and that the Louisville Postal Inspector denied that his office inspected packages sent to Taylor's home as part of a drug-trafficking investigation.

No drugs were found in Taylor's apartment, officials said.

Cameron said his investigation did not look into how the warrant was obtained. He said federal authorities are investigating that aspect of the probe.

Federal officials are also investigating if there were any civil rights violations stemming from the shooting.

Lawyers for Taylor's family said in their statement, "It is our hope that through the FBIs investigation, we will finally get the justice for Breonna that the Grand Jury refused her today."

Prior to the grand jury's announcement, many downtown Louisville business owners boarded up their windows and police beefed up their presence in the area. Police Chief Robert J. Schroeder issued a state of emergency for his department on Monday canceling time off and vacations for officers in anticipation of an update on the state investigation.

Protesters, dismayed by the grand jury's decision, took to the streets of Louisville, resulting in several arrests for failing to disperse.

Mayor Greg Fischer also signed two executive orders on Tuesday to prepare the city for Cameron's announcement, including a state of emergency order due to the potential of civil unrest that allows him to impose a curfew, ban on-street parking in the downtown area and restrict access to five downtown parking garages. The order also allows him to hire or contract services to boost security in and around Jefferson Square Park in the downtown area.

SLIDESHOW: Activists work to Breonna Taylor's name in the spotlight

"Our goal is ensuring space and opportunity for potential protesters to gather and express their First Amendment rights after the announcement," Fischer said in a statement. "At the same time, we are preparing for any eventuality to keep everyone safe."

Mattingly, Hankison, Cosgrove and Jaynes were placed on administrative reassignment pending the results of an investigation.

Hankison was later fired for his role in the incident. According to his termination letter that was shared with local reporters, Hankison violated police department procedure when he fired 10 rounds into Taylor's apartment while executing the warrant.

During a news conference Wednesday afternoon, Fischer said the grand jury's conclusions "confirmed our decision to terminate Hankison" on June 23.

"Hankison's actions displayed an extreme indifference to the values of human life," Fischer said. "His actions brought discredit upon himself and the department. His conduct demanded termination."

(Montinique Monroe/Getty Images)

Asked if the outcome of the grand jury justified settling the lawsuit with Taylor's family, Fischer said the settlement was necessary to "begin the healing" in Louisville and reform the police department from top to bottom.

"I know there are people in our community who feel that these charges fall short of achieving justice. So a few reminders: the case is far from over," Fischer said, referring to the FBI investigation and an internal affairs probe by the police department.

Louisville Metro Police Department told ABC News that the actions of a total of six officers involved in the Taylor case are being reviewed as part of an internal investigation.

The department's Professional Standards Unit has begun its probe into Cosgrove, Mattingly, and Jaynes, as well as detectives Tony James, Michael Campbell and Michael Nobles, according to Sgt. Lamont Washington, a spokesperson for the agency.

MORE: Breonna Taylor's mom hopes settlement with Louisville serves as national model for police reform

On Monday night, Mattingly sent an email to his police department colleagues expressing support for them having to work in these difficult times.

"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," Mattingly wrote in the email obtained by ABC affiliate WHAS-TV in Louisville and confirmed to ABC News by Mattingly's attorney, Kent Wicker.

Mattingly added, in part, that regardless the outcome of the grand jury hearing, "I know we did the legal, moral and ethical thing that night."

"It's 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. I'll be praying for your safety," Mattingly wrote. "Remember you are just a pawn in the Mayor's political game. I'm proof they do not care about you or your family and you are replaceable."

Breonna Taylor shooting case: Hankison indicted on wanton endangerment of neighbors originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Vaccines are a documented success story, one of the most successful public health interventions in history. Yet there is a vocal anti-vaccination movement, featuring celebrity activists (including actress Jenny McCarthy and British rapper M.I.A., who attracted attention for tweeting during the pandemic "If I have to choose the vaccine or chip I'm gonna choose death") and the propagation of anti-vax claims through books, documentaries, and social media.

In "Anti-vaxxers" (on sale this month from The MIT PRESS), Jonathan Berman explores the phenomenon of the anti-vaccination movement, recounting its history from its nineteenth-century antecedents to today's activism, examining its claims, and suggesting a strategy for countering them.

After providing background information on vaccines and how they work, Berman describes resistance to Britain's Vaccination Act of 1853, showing that the arguments anticipate those made by today's anti-vaxxers. He discusses the development of new vaccines in the twentieth century, including those protecting against polio and MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), and the debunked paper that linked the MMR vaccine to autism; the CDC conspiracy theory promoted in the documentary Vaxxed; recommendations for an alternative vaccination schedule; Kennedy's misinformed campaign against thimerosal; and the much-abused religious exemption to vaccination.

Anti-vaxxers have changed their minds, but rarely because someone has given them a list of facts. Berman argues that anti-vaccination activism is tied closely to how people see themselves as parents and community members. Effective pro-vaccination efforts should emphasize these cultural aspects rather than battling social media posts.

Jonathan M. Berman is Assistant Professor in the Department of Basic Sciences at NYITCOM-Arkansas. An active science communicator, he served as national cochair of the 2017 March for Science.

The book has received incredibly early praise and coverage including:

"Science professor Berman debuts with a useful guide for readers concerned about the opposition to vaccinations...The book's greatest value comes from its insights into how common cognitive errors can lead even the well-informed to see false correlations between vaccination and health problems. Berman also provides practical suggestions about how best to engage, and potentially convert, vaccine opponents, arguing that 'people change their own minds; we can't do it for them.' Given hopes for a Covid-19 vaccine, this accomplished exploration of a vexing topic couldn't be more timely."

-Publishers Weekly

"Recommended for those countering the anti-vaccination movement, as well as those with an interest in cultural and historical antecedents of the movement."

-Library Jounal

"Berman dispels anti-vax fears and subterfuges with straight, scientific evidence."

-Kirkus Reviews

"This accessible and informative book provides not only a rational analysis of the many sources of anti-vaccine thinking, but also practical ideas that can be used to overcome objections against vaccines."

-CHOICE

"Berman, an assistant professor of basic science at an osteopathic medical school, explores the history of anti-vaccine movements and how best to counter them. Such movements, he finds, share beliefs and features: wariness of government control, distrust of the medical establishment and its products, false claims about vaccines (often made by people with economic interests), and unfounded fears of harm, spread by misinformation and social media. Those most vulnerable to such claims are often parents trying to decide what is best for their children's health. Rather than learning from reliable sources why childhood vaccines are necessary to protect both individuals and the population as a whole from infections, they may receive unreliable information from others in their community who oppose vaccination...Berman's advice on how to talk with people who are uncertain about vaccinating their children is enlightening and practical."

-the Washington Post Book World

"A clear and insightful book."

-Financial Times

"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...By taking the story of vaccine opposition back to its earliest examples, Anti-vaxxers cautions against simplistic solutions. In tracing the movement across three centuries, Berman underlines that is unlikely to be ended by keyboard warriors or the repetition of even the best scientific evidence."

-Nature

"Written by one of the founders of the 'March for Science' movement, Anti-vaxxers is a tour-de-force examination of anti-vax arguments that is destined to become a classic in the field. Before you get into another argument with an anti-vaxxer, simply pull this book off the shelf, hand it to them, and say 'here.'"

- Lee McIntyre, Research Fellow, Center for Philosophy and History of Science, Boston University; author of Post-Truth and The Scientific Attitude

"In Anti-Vaxxers, Jonathan Berman reveals the strategies, influence, and psychology of a movement that the World Health Organization has called one of the top ten threats to global health. An urgent and engaging read."

- Paul A. Offit, Professor of Pediatrics, the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; author of Overkill: When Modern Medicine Goes Too Far

###
Parts of Ranauts Bandra office were razed on September 9, before the court stayed the demolition till further orders.

Mumbai: The Bombay High court on Tuesday allowed Shiv Sena chief spokesperson and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut to be added as a party to the proceedings in Kangana Ranauts petition challenging her office demolition.

While hearing the petition filed by Kangana Ranaut, a division bench of Justice Shahrukh J Kathawalla and Justice Riyaz I Chagla had observed that since the actor submitted a DVD of statements made by Raut, he should get an opportunity to be heard, and BMC officer too should respond to the allegations levelled by the petitioner.

Referring to the DVD of Rauts statement Justice Kathawalla sought to know whether she wanted to make Raut a party to the plea. You do not want to show the Ukhaad diya caption (from DVD)? You will have to implead Raut, Justice Kathawalla told the actor.

Her lawyer sought time and was reluctant to make Mr Raut a party to the case, saying he would instead argue on the aspect of malice in law by BMC. However, after the bench insisted that Raut should be given the opportunity to be heard, advocate Saraf accepted it.

Reacting to this Raut tweeted, Case by an actress in Hon. High Court is about demolition of illegal structure by BMC which is an independent body and Demand is to make RS MP Sanjay Raut a party! From Babri case to standing for Marathi pride, I have faced several cases! This wouldn't deter me from fighting for the pride of my city and my Maharashtra.

The court sought to know from the BMC as to how its 2012 policy circular was applicable in the demolition at the actors office. The circular prescribes demolition on expiry of notice period of 24 hours in case of any danger to life of the occupier or other persons. In light of this, the court sought to know whose life was in danger, which prompted the civic body to carry out partial demolition on September 9, after serving notice to Ranaut on September 8. Court also sought to know from the BMC if any action was taken on an adjacent bungalow occupied by fashion designer Manish Malhotra, after giving him seven days to respond to the notice.

Ranaut in her rejoinder had alleged BMCs action against her as bias because she was given only 24 hours to respond to the civic bodys demolition notice, while her neighbour was given seven days time.

Ranaut filed a rejoinder on Monday through Senior Counsel Birendra Saraf and advocate Rizwan Siddiquee. They submitted that the BMC had abused the process of law by initiating demolition work at her office when she was given mere 24 hours to respond to its notice, and her response was rejected in a hurried manner.

Parts of Ranauts Bandra office were razed on September 9, before the court stayed the demolition till further orders. The Court also directed the actor to make Bhagyavant Late, a designated officer of BMC H-West ward, who had filed the affidavit on behalf of BMC, as party to the case.
Criminal 'clans' challenge Sweden's law enforcement Swedish police have made it a priority to increase their presence in neighbourhoods affected by gang violence

Police in Sweden say they're struggling to control criminal "clans" exercising their own form of justice, amid an escalation of violent crime in what has long been a tranquil and safe country.

With close family loyalties and little regard for the authorities, a few dozen criminal gangs now wield considerable influence over some of Sweden's disadvantaged neighbourhoods, say experts.

Shootings, bombings and grenade attacks have become regular events in cities and towns across the country. Media outlets report on drug wars, blackmail, and witnesses too fearful of repercussions to testify.

"Have you seen the movie 'The Godfather'? Then you know what it's like," journalist Johanna Backstrom Lerneby, who wrote a book about one of Sweden's most infamous crime families, told AFP.

Gang members tied to the family Backstrom Lerneby wrote about recently made headlines in Sweden when, during a feud with a rival gang in August, they set up makeshift roadblocks, stopping cars and asking to see passengers' ID cards.

One young man interviewed by broadcaster SVT, who would not give his full name but claimed to be involved in the car checks, said the controls were set up to "protect residents and children in the area".

- Sidelined authorities -

The feud came to a halt in late August -- but not because police arrested any suspects.

Instead, members of several gangs met at a Gothenburg hotel and agreed to end hostilities, effectively ending the strife overnight.

"It's very frustrating, because it is a good solution in the short term... but it was resolved in the wrong way," local police officer Fredrik Terje told SVT, deploring that authorities had been sidelined as criminals set the agenda.

The problem of these "criminal clans" has made headlines since early September, when deputy police chief Mats Lofving told Swedish Radio there were at least 40 family-based criminal gangs in Sweden.

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"Far from everyone wants to be a part of Swedish society," Lofving said, adding these families had come to Sweden solely for the purpose of committing crime, bringing with them their own parallel systems of government.

Lofving said these families were making their way into business and politics in order to wield more formal influence, primarily in disadvantaged suburbs, many of which have a large proportion of residents with immigrant backgrounds.

Sweden has struggled to integrate many of its immigrants, with thousands failing to learn the language proficiently and find jobs in its highly skilled labour market.

"Those who live in these vulnerable areas are often relatively poor people who don't have a choice, even if they wanted to move away," Backstrom Lerneby said.

The violence has also harmed innocent bystanders. In early August, a 12-year-old girl was killed by a stray bullet in a drive-by shooting in Stockholm, sparking an outcry over the ruthless violence.

In early September, Prime Minister Stefan Lofven called the criminal gangs a "poison in our society that we need to get rid of".

Police have not disclosed which criminal groups have this family structure nor which countries they're from.

In recent decades however, gangs with roots in the Middle East, Africa and the Balkans have made headlines.

Lofven himself has nevertheless refused to "link crime to ethnicity", a sensitive subject in the public debate amid accusations of xenophobia.

- Dug in -

Overall, Sweden remains a country with low levels of violence. Its murder rate in 2018 was 1.07 per 100,000 inhabitants compared to the European average of 2.39, according to Eurostat, and compared to 5.0 in the United States according to the FBI.

But Sweden's Minister for Home Affairs Mikael Damberg expressed concern in an interview with AFP that the family-based gangs had gained a foothold.

"These family-based networks have existed for some time in Sweden. They have been able to dig in, especially in the vulnerable areas in Sweden, where the state hasn't been present enough," Damberg told AFP.

It was important for authorities to move back in, he added.

Police have made it a priority to increase their presence in these neighbourhoods, an important move "to show that Swedish law applies in Sweden", he said.

The government has, among other things, increased surveillance powers for police, toughened sentences for drugs- and weapons-related crimes and rolled back more lenient sentencing policies for young offenders.

But in a widely reported statement in late August, police officials admitted they were still struggling.

"We are working intensively, around the clock, and despite that the serious violence is continuing... We're not backing down and we're not giving up, but the situation right now is very stressful," national police chief Anders Thornberg said.

During the first six months of 2020, 20 people have been killed in 163 shootings in the country of 10.3 million, compared to 42 deaths in 334 reported shootings in all of 2019, according to police.

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Chandigarh, Sep 23 : Haryana Police on Wednesday used water cannons to disperse farmers from Punjab, led by two Lok Insaaf Party legislators, as they were heading to Delhi to protest against the three agriculture Bills.

The legislators -- Simarjeet Bains and his elder brother Balwinder Bains - were leading a bike rally from Punjab's Fatehgarh Sahib town to Delhi.

As a preventive measure, the Haryana government also sealed the inter-state border with Punjab at Shambhu village on the National Highway 44.

Slamming the Congress government in Punjab for not supporting the farmers, Simarjeet Bains said Chief Minister Amarinder Singh should lead a march to Delhi where all like-minded parties and farmer bodies would follow him.

He also slammed the Shiromani Akali Dal and former Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal for befooling farmers by resigning from the Union Cabinet.
The period was marked by the good resistance of the operating result, the gradual resumption of treatments and the prospect of a second generation of Sonovein

Regulatory News:

THERACLION (ISIN: FR0010120402; Mnemo: ALTHE, PEA-PME eligible) (Paris:ALTHE), an innovative company specializing in the development of medical equipment for echotherapy treatment, notably for varicose veins, today announces its half-year results 2020.

David Caumartin, CEO of Theraclion, commented: We are seeing a resumption of SONOVEIN treatments in most of the centres already installed since the lifting of containment in France and other countries. All our teams have continued to work for the CE marking of the second generation of SONOVEIN device expected this year. It optimizes our varicose vein treatment solution, integrating the suggestions of our experts and substantially enhancing capacities and speed. Six vein pathology treatment centres use our treatment solution. These centres, headed by Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs), confirm the breakthrough nature of our technology, and its ability to meet the unmet need of none invasive treatment. We are more determined than ever to become the leader of a market with nearly 5 million procedures for treatment of varicose veins1

Gradual resumption of treatments since the lifting of confinement

Since the end of the confinement period, Theraclion has observed a gradual resumption of treatments. The resumption was particularly strong in July and August.

In addition, echotherapy treatments for thyroid nodules carried out with the Echopulse treatment solution has also show a very strong recovery in this quarter.

Progress in the development of SONOVEIN

During this half-year, the Theraclion teams succeeded in continuing the technical and clinical development of the SONOVEIN treatment solution. The new optimized version, i.e. the second generation of machines to be released, has seen substantial technological improvements as well as total revamp of its design to enable "plug-and-play" capacity for continuous up-grading in the future.

The SONOVEIN solution which treats varicose veins by echotherapy is the only non-invasive option; without scar and without incision, which reduces the risk of nosocomial disease substantially. Furthermore, our treatment minimizes time spent in treatment centres. By not requiring sedation and invasive treatment, near-normal activity level may follow immediately after the procedure.

RESULTS JUNE 30, 2020

K 30/06/2020 30/06/2019 Var. % Sales 167 963 -83% Subsidies -3 338 -101% Other revenue 0 15 n.a. Total revenues 163 1 316 -88% Cost of Goods Sold 139 -527 -126% External charges -918 -1 146 -20% People costs -1 395 -1 667 -16% Other operating costs -100 -194 -48% Total operating costs -2 274 -3 535 -36% EBIT -2 111 -2 218 -5% Financial results -189 -87 117% Non current results -10 -47 -79% Tax Credit 438 680 -36% Net Result -1 872 -1 673 12% Average headcount (FTE) 25 25 0

Accounts closed by the Board of Directors on September 21, 2020. The audit procedures on the accounts for the first half of 2020 have been carried out

In a context of the COVID-19 crisis, Theraclion's operating income is resilient, the operating loss decreases by 5%, to  2,111K at June 30, 2020 compared to -2,218K at June 30, 2019. It benefits from the implementation, from the start of containment, of cost-saving measures.

After strong commercial dynamism in 2019, Theraclion's turnover was hampered by shutdown having led to cessation of non-emergency medical activities. As of June 30, 2020, Theraclion SA recorded sales of 169,000 compared to 963,000. Thanks to good performance before the health crisis and to the gradual resumption of post-containment treatments, recurring revenue, consisting of the sale of consumables and services, was resilient and amounts to 167K at the end of June 2020 against 199 K at the end of June 2019.

Operating expenses amounted to -2,274,000, down 36%. This decrease reflects the savings measures taken by Theraclion to limit the impact of the crisis on its activities and its cash flow. In order to preserve capacity to rebound, expenses for continued development of the technology were continued and remain a priority. Theraclion chose to preserve its workforce and relied on the partial unemployment scheme for certain activities that could not be carried out by teleworking.

The financial result stood at  190 K effected exchange rate variations and Research Tax Credit of 445 K. The net result was  1,872 K; down only 12%, despite the crisis.

As of December 31, 2019, Theraclion had cash of 1.4 million. During the first half of the year, the company obtained 1.4 million under a State Guaranteed Loan (PGE) and an innovation loan from Bpi France. Theraclion also received the 1M Research Tax Credit. These financing contributions, combined with cost savings, strengthen the finances of the company.

Given a cautious estimate of system sales in 2020 with a second half expected to be more dynamic than the first, as well as the issuance of tranche 2 of the financing contracted in early 2019; Theraclion considers that it will be able to cover its cash flow needs over the next 12 months. In addition, Theraclion obtained a 3.6 million credit line in the first half of 2020, which could be activated, if necessary.

About Theraclion

Theraclion is developing an innovative high-tech echotherapy solution using therapeutic ultrasound for the treatment of varicose veins, SONOVEIN. The solution, which obtained CE marking in April 2019, is based on the strong expertise developed by Theraclion in echotherapy for the treatment of non-invasive ablation of breast fibroadenomas and thyroid nodules with its Echopulse solution. Echopulse technology is adapted to SONOVEIN to provide the only non-invasive ablation therapy for varicose veins, now allowing treatment without a catheter, chemical injection or incision. An operating room is not necessary. Venous pathology is widespread worldwide and generates around 5 million treatment procedures per year, according to Millenium research Varicose Vein Device Market Study 2015. Theraclion's technological solutions are based on a high-tech ultrasound medical imaging tool precise, easy to use and handle for practitioners.

Located in Malakoff, near Paris, Theraclion brings together a team of 25 people, more than half of whom are dedicated to R&D and clinical trials.

For more information, please visit the Theraclion website: www.theraclion.com and the patient site: https://echotherapie.com/echotherapy/

Theraclion is listed on Euronext Growth Paris

Eligible for the PEA-PME scheme

Mnemonic: ALTHE ISIN code: FR0010120402

LEI: 9695007X7HA7A1GCYD29

1 Millenium research Varicose Vein Device Market Study 2015

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200923005786/en/

Contacts:

Theraclion

David Auregan

Chief Finance Officer

Tel: 33 (0)1 55 48 90 70

david.caumartin@theraclion.com

Anja Kleber

VP Marketing, Market Access Sales Francophonia

anja.kleber@theraclion.com
At the Democratic National Convention, presidential hopeful Joe Biden told the audience, This is a life-changing election. This will determine what America is going to look like for a long, long time. Based on the status of his beloved Delaware, we should all be wary.

Im a young Delawarean who didnt get to experience life with duPont, General Motors, or the banking boom, but I come from a multi-generation family of Delawareans who remember when this was the place to be. In my 24 years here, Ive seen enough to know that we dont want the rest of America to resemble the current First State.

The first concern is bringing the Delaware Way, where political pals make sure each others bills are moved and help to hand-pick who will follow them in major political offices, to the national level. The Delaware Way may be cherry-picking successors based on friends and deals, but isnt the friendly operation Biden makes it out to be. It is corrupt and exactly what is wrong with politics.

There is no hope left here. We grow up in a state that prides itself on being a place where everyones mated, dated, or related, but where jobs and dreams are no longer created. I grew up in a middle-class Delaware family and went to Bidens alma mater, but Ive never seen the Delaware Biden talks aboutbecause it is long gone. Now that I work for a pro-business organization here, I am certain Bidens Delaware and middle-class understanding are a facade.

Biden has positioned himself to be a voice for the middle class and the blue-collar worker despite being a career politician who does not understand that life. Bidens house is in the part of Wilmington where you find the bankers, doctors, and corporate lawyers, far from the desolate neighborhoods in the city proper that struggle for work, food, housing, and a decent education for their children.

He has publicly stated that for people to live a middle-class life, its more about their security and a standard of living than any particular number, but Delawares quality of life is ranked 47th in the nation and the state consistently ranks at or near the bottom nationally for unemployment, economy, cost of living, and housing affordability. These numbers matter to Delawareans, and to most Americans who live true middle-class (and lower-class) lives that are drastically impacted by the effects of those numbers.

Story continues

The states individual-income-tax burden is in the top half of the nation, with one of the highest individual income taxes. Delaware now has the highest real-estate transfer tax in the nation and is one of only seven states with a gross receipts tax, which tends to impact lower incomes the most.

Despite all of this taxation, Delawareans get very little bang for their buck. Our taxpayer return on investment (ROI) is near the bottom nationally, even with some of the highest taxes per capita. We spend more on education and health care than most other states, yet continue to see outcomes that put us in the bottom of national ranks.

Perhaps the most notable failure of tax-money management was a Biden-supported deal with Fisker Automotive, a California hybrid-electric-car company that received $21.5 million from Delaware and over $500 million in federal aid in 2009. The deal, announced by former governor Jack Markell and Vice President Biden, was intended to bring around 2,500 green jobs to the state.

Folks, were making a bet, said Biden regarding the deal with Fisker, which was already reporting continuous losses and anticipated higher costs at the time of the funding.

Fisker never made a single car in Delaware.

If this is the voice for the middle class well get, we should prefer to be mute. Biden cannot effectively lead his proposed effort to Build Back Better when his home states economy and business climate were crippled long before COVID and are recovering worse than most other states.

Delaware is failing, but you wont hear that from Joe Biden. His buddies have left the middle class, small businesses, and communities behind. Uncle Joe gets to spin a tale of Delaware that makes him more appealing to the demographics that have been left behind here. I get to step outside of my door and see the truth. I see and report on the reality of Biden leadership every day for a living.

I have lived in the aftermath of Biden politics and leadership for my whole life. I wouldnt want America to live in it for four years.

More from National Review
What financial metrics can indicate to us that a company is maturing or even in decline? More often than not, we'll see a declining return on capital employed (ROCE) and a declining amount of capital employed. Basically the company is earning less on its investments and it is also reducing its total assets. So after we looked into Molson Coors Canada (TSE:TPX.B), the trends above didn't look too great.

Understanding Return On Capital Employed (ROCE)

Just to clarify if you're unsure, ROCE is a metric for evaluating how much pre-tax income (in percentage terms) a company earns on the capital invested in its business. The formula for this calculation on Molson Coors Canada is:

Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT)  (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)

0.0022 = US$20m  (US$10b - US$1.4b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to June 2020).

So, Molson Coors Canada has an ROCE of 0.2%. Ultimately, that's a low return and it under-performs the Beverage industry average of 14%.

Check out our latest analysis for Molson Coors Canada

roce

While the past is not representative of the future, it can be helpful to know how a company has performed historically, which is why we have this chart above. If you'd like to look at how Molson Coors Canada has performed in the past in other metrics, you can view this free graph of past earnings, revenue and cash flow.

The Trend Of ROCE

We are a bit worried about the trend of returns on capital at Molson Coors Canada. Unfortunately the returns on capital have diminished from the 0.9% that they were earning five years ago. And on the capital employed front, the business is utilizing roughly the same amount of capital as it was back then. Companies that exhibit these attributes tend to not be shrinking, but they can be mature and facing pressure on their margins from competition. If these trends continue, we wouldn't expect Molson Coors Canada to turn into a multi-bagger.

Story continues

The Bottom Line

In the end, the trend of lower returns on the same amount of capital isn't typically an indication that we're looking at a growth stock. Long term shareholders who've owned the stock over the last five years have experienced a 55% depreciation in their investment, so it appears the market might not like these trends either. With underlying trends that aren't great in these areas, we'd consider looking elsewhere.

On a final note, we've found 1 warning sign for Molson Coors Canada that we think you should be aware of.

While Molson Coors Canada may not currently earn the highest returns, we've compiled a list of companies that currently earn more than 25% return on equity. Check out this free list 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.
A 19-year-old college student is sharing the bizarre, aggressive voicemail she received from a couple who called her multiple times and demanded that she vote for Donald Trump in the upcoming presidential election.

Megan Clifford, who attends Southeast Missouri State University, said when she first answered a call from a blocked number on August 30, the man on the line asked who she was voting for  and called her a 'domestic terrorist' when she said Joe Biden.

Megan hung up, and soon received a three-minute-long voicemail from the man and his wife, who told her they were 'just trying to make voting great again' while repeatedly calling her a domestic terrorist and demanding that she explain why she wasn't voting for Trump.

Viral: Megan Clifford, 19, shared an aggressive voicemail she received from a couple demanded that she vote for Donald Trump in the upcoming presidential election

Saved: The Southeast Missouri State University student, said when she first answered a call from a blocked number on August 30, the man on the line asked who she was voting for

Rude: The man called her a 'domestic terrorist' when she said Joe Biden, and she hung up. But he soon called back with his wife several times and left a voicemail

Megan ignored the first call she received from the blocked number, but worried it might be an emergency when they immediately called back.

Funny? Megan said she found the voicemail hilarious and 'wasn't necessarily scared or intimidated'

When she picked up, a man named Harold said he was a canvasser and asked who she was voting for in November. Megan said she was voting for Biden.

'And he just said, "No, you're not. You're voting for Donald Trump,"' she said.

After her called her a 'domestic terrorist, she hung up  but she soon received three more calls from the blocked caller.

After one of the calls, the caller left a voicemail, which Megan shared on TikTok.

'Now ma'am, me and my husband were just trying to make voting great again,' Harold's wife says at the beginning of the three-minute message.

'We do apologize if we rattled your socks up a little bit in any type of way. My husband Harold, he's been going around the community for collectism [sic], we've been collecting votes just then who everyone's voting for.

'Now ma'am, me and my husband were just trying to make voting great again,' Harold's wife says at the beginning of the three-minute message

Canvassing: They told her they'd been calling people asking about their votes, and she was the only person who hadn't said Trump

'Now, honey,' the wife says, laughing, 'why do you think this beautiful young lady would vote for Joe Biden?

Harassment: The couple go on to call her a domestic terrorist several times

'And so far, everyone except you has been voting for Donald J. Trump,' the voicemail goes on.

'You are the only one that has voted for Joe Biden. And I just think that's a little weird, don't you, honey?'

Here, Harold interjects: 'That's a little strange.'

'Now, honey,' the wife chimes back in, laughing, 'why do you think this beautiful young lady would vote for Joe Biden?

'She couldnt possibly be no domestic terrorist, could she?' Harold asks.

'I dont know, honey, she sure does sound like a domestic terrorist to me,' his wife says. 'You sound like a domestic terrorist, miss.

'Anyway, we are just trying to make voting great again. We want to know who you're voting for and why. And you couldn't even explain why you're voting for Joe BIden anymore.

'Anyway, we are just trying to make voting great again. We want to know who you're voting for and why. And you couldn't even explain why you're voting for Joe BIden anymore,' she says

Pay attention to us! They demand that she call them back, but don't leave their number. They complain that she 'couldn't even explain why' she is voting for Biden

Here, Harold says: 'It's OK to vote for Biden. I mean, that's OK. We understand this is America and you can do whatever you want. Land of the free, home of the brave'

'You just hung up like a sassy pants and got mad! Now that's just not acceptable! So you need to call me back on my cell phone and tell me why you are voting for him.

'My husband Harold is upset. You have upset him terribly,' she says.

Here, Harold says: 'It's OK to vote for Biden. I mean, that's OK. We understand this is America and you can do whatever you want. Land of the free, home of the brave.

'Now, if you want... if you feel threatened by the Chinese virus and the protesters and the rioters, you can actually let us go up there... we will check that mark for Biden for you,' the man says, apparently offering to vote on Megan's behalf.

'Of you are so good, honey,' his wife says. 'That is so good of you, that is so Christian of you, honey. Trump 2020 baby! Alright, we'll let you go miss. You have a good day!

'Now you think about our consideration for your thoughts and your presence in this election. My husband said he would do you a solid even though youre voting for the wrong party.

'Let's go ahead and make America great again,' says Harold.

Offering voter fraud: Harold then offers to vote for Megan if she is 'feeling threatened by the Chinese virus and the protesters and rioters'

Sure... His wife says he is 'so Christian' and 'so good' to offer. 'My husband said he would do you a solid even though youre voting for the wrong party,' she said

Campaigning strategy: They signed off by saying 'Trump 2020 baby'

Megan told BuzzFeed that she found the voicemail hilarious and 'wasn't necessarily scared or intimidated,' but 'someone else likely could be and that's not OK.'

After commenters told her it was 'voter intimation' and 'illegal,' Megan contacted the ACLU, the FCC, and the Kansas Secretary of State.

Meanwhile, 23-year-old Natalie O'Neall said she received a similar voicemail  just seven minutes after Megan.

The Missouri resident said she was 'floored' when she saw Megan's TikTok video.

In hers, the woman says her name is Mary JoAnn, and uses some of the same lines she used in Megan's voicemail.

'So far there have been 79 votes for Donald J. Trump and zero votes for Joe Biden,' the woman said. 'Donald Trump... he's going to lead us into the next four years. He is going to make our lives great again, honey.'

Natalie found the voicemail funny but 'unnerving,' and didn't understand how the couple had her name and phone number.
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Even in the face of an economic downturn set off by the coronavirus pandemic, the Indian campuses of Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani have been able to close final placement figures at 88.19 percent.

This year, 2,120 students of BITS Pilani  which is among the top engineering colleges in India - got campus placements, as against 2,194 students who got placed last year, reported Business Line. This reflects a mere drop of 3.37 percent when compared to last years figures.

The highest domestic compensation was offered by DE Shaw India at around Rs 45 lakh. Over 320 BITS Pilani students got CTCs above Rs 25 lakh.

During the BITS Pilani placements, some of the top brands that visited the campus for the first time were HUL, Micron, and OnePlus. In the electronics and semiconductor segment, offers came from companies like Qualcomm, Analog Devices, Intel, Maxim Integrated, Western Digital, and NXP Semiconductors, while in the core segment, offers came from several top industry players such as ISRO, General Electric, Whirlpool, Tata Motors, Tata Advanced Systems, Arup, Exxon Mobil, Cairn, and Visteon.

The 2019-20 academic year had also begun on a good note with top recruiters in the IT segment, such as Microsoft, Amazon, Uber, Samsung R&D, and Goldman Sachs, offering pre-placements to their interns.

The placements happened at a time India is witnessing mass layoffs in industries and offers are being revoked. BITS Pilani was among the educational institutions least affected by the economic downturn due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with only 42 of 2,120 selected candidates not getting campus placements.

G Balasubramanian, chief placement officer, India and Dubai, BITS Pilani, said some among them have already got absorbed at other organisations.
Poverty shock is looming for single parents who lost their jobs during the pandemic when the government starts winding back its coronavirus payments later this week.

Single parents account for one in eight Australian families and they are more likely to be out of work in this recession. For those who have lost work during the coronavirus pandemic, free childcare and the Coronavirus Supplement initially cushioned the blow.

But free childcare ended in July and the Coronavirus Supplement  an extra payment to recipients of unemployment benefits and pensions as part of the federal government's economic stimulus  is due to drop from $550 to $250 a fortnight from September 25.

"I dont know what I'm going to do when it ends," said single mother-of-two Fariha Masha. Credit:Steven Siewert

The single-parent pension, aka the Parenting Payment, is about $790 a fortnight without the supplement. A Gillard-era policy means single parents of children over the age of eight receive JobSeeker of $612 a fortnight rather than the pension. The Coronavirus Supplement is the same for both groups.
The moment the president of the US declares a national emergency, powers obscured to the public become available to them  a series of far-reaching authoritarian measures that legal analysts fear could justify mass arrests and federal troops patrolling American streets.

If invoked, so-called secret powers could supersede constitutional protections and set an authoritative precedent that legal scholars and analysts fear would effectively erase American democracy.

Adding the caveat that its unlikely or uncertain that a sitting president could wage such drastic threats against civil protections without protracted political battles, legal and constitutional scholars have issued worst-case scenario outlooks ahead of crucial 2020 elections, as Donald Trump and his allies lay the groundwork to undermine voting confidence and amplify misinformation targeting other Americans.

On 12 March, amid speculation that the president would invoke the Stafford Act to direct an emergency response to the coronavirus pandemic, Mr Trump told reporters: I have the right to do a lot of things that people dont even know about.

Hes right  the Brennan Centre for Justice at the New York University School of Law has sought to uncover an obscured series of presidential emergency action documents that remain largely out of the public eye.

Those authorities are intended to implement extraordinary presidential authority in response to extraordinary situations.

While those measures themselves remain secret, unclassified documents reveal that as many as 60 of them had been drafted, the Brennan Centre found.

When somebody is the president of the United States, the authority is total, and thats the way its got to be, the president said on 14 April. Its total  The authority of the president of the United States, having to do with the subject were talking about, is total.

On 23 June 2019, the president declared that the Constitution gives him the right to do whatever I want as president.

Legal analysts have feared that those documents could authorise censorship at news outlets, the detention of alien enemies within the US, the activation of martial law, warrantless searches, and the suspension of habeas corpus, among other measures.

One FBI memo from 1967, discussing the suspension of habeas corpus under those documents, called them a drastic program set up under the assumption that drastic steps will be necessary to protect the national security of this country so that efforts can be made to remove from circulation individuals determined to be potentially dangerous to the national defense and public safety of the United States by engaging in espionage, sabotage and/or subversion in the event an attack is launched against this country.

Elizabeth Goitein, who codirects the Brennan Centres Liberty and National Security program, wrote in The New York Times that, under the current president, it is not far-fetched to think that we might see the deployment of these documents for the first time and that they will assert presidential powers beyond those granted by Congress or recognized by the courts as flowing from the Constitution.

Gary Hart, a former Democratic presidential candidate and Colorado senator, described those executive powers as virtually dictatorial powers without congressional or judicial checks and balances.

No matter who occupies the office, the American people have a right to know what extraordinary powers presidents believe they have, Mr Hart wrote in a July op-ed in The New York Times. It is time for a new select committee to study these powers and their potential for abuse, and advise Congress on the ways in which it might, at a minimum, establish stringent oversight.

Advocacy groups, including Mr Harts Keep Our Republic, and several lawmakers have sought congressional oversight to make those powers public.

It is time to rethink whether our current legal framework for national emergencies is the right one, or whether changes are needed to preserve the balance of powers the Founders intended, Ms Goitein wrote.

The Brennan Centre has also identified 136 authorities encompassing the military, land use, public health, trade, federal pay schedules, agriculture, transportation, communications, and criminal law that are available to the executive branch under emergency declarations.

Emergency declaration laws include the Stafford Act, National Emergencies Act and Public Health Service Act, recently invoked in 2017 to combat the opioid crisis and H1N1 outbreak in 2009.

Dozens of statutory provisions are then available to the president upon declaration of an emergency. Of those, 96 merely require the presidents signature. Only 13 require congressional intervention.

Under an emergency declaration, the president could suspend provisions that prohibit testing chemical and biological weapons on humans, or shut down radio stations, as part of Communications Act. The International Emergency Economic Powers Act allows the government to freeze or block assets involving a foreign national, even if that asset belongs to or is only between Americans.

Ms Goitein described emergency powers in The Atlantic as a parallel legal regime giving the president wide latitude to sidestep constraints outlined by the Constitution and the courts.

Most have never been touched, and several have been rendered obsolete but remain on the books, like exempting World War II veterans from a military draft.

But several statutes have been used frequently; six have been used more than 10 times.

The International Emergency Economic Powers Act has been used nearly every year since its passage in 1977 under the National Emergencies Act.

An emergency declaration blocking Iranian government property was issued in 1979 amid the hostage crisis. It remains ongoing.

This level of reliance on an emergency power raises a different concern: that the actions being taken are not emergency actions at all, but the implementation of standard policy that should be bound by non-emergency law, the Brennan Centre said.

Ostensibly engineered for short-term use, half of the 62 states of emergency declared since the creation of the National Emergencies Act have lasted far beyond a temporary measure.

The average duration of declared emergencies is nearly 10 years, the Brennan Centre found, while 25 emergencies have been open for 10 years or more  13 of them were declared between 2001 and 2008.

The president has spent months undermining the legitimacy of vote-by-mail efforts and threatening to use federal troops against Americans protesting police brutality without having to invoke any emergency powers  all in the weeks leading up to what analysts believe will be a contested election, as his allies encourage the president to use autocratic powers to ensure he stays in office.

Even though, for example, under the Insurrection Act, the president issues a proclamation that doesnt even necessarily use the word emergency, its still very much a form of emergency power, Ms Goetein told The Independent.

Under that measure, active-duty troops could be deployed to enforce state or federal laws  it was famously used to enforce school desegregation efforts in Arkansas in 1957 and in Alabama in 1962 and 1963.

While there are no statutory emergency powers that allow the president to directly interfere with an election, the presidents unfounded claims of widespread voter fraud could be used as a pretext to deploy federal troops to enforce voting laws, Ms Goetein said.

At the federal level, my main concern with emergency powers would be the powers relating to military deployment, as weve seen with protests, Ms Goitein told The Independent. These arent technically emergency powers  the president doesnt have to declare an emergency to use them, but they are clearly what I think of as quasi emergency powers, because they contemplate really extraordinary action by the president in response to extraordinary circumstances.
Embattled leader Alexander Lukashenko has been sworn in for his sixth term as the President of Belarus at a secret ceremony held with no prior announcement, state-owned Belta news agency reported on September 24. As per the news agency, the inauguration ceremony took place in the Palace of Independence, Minsk which hosts landmark events in the country. Earlier this day, the majority of roads in the capital were blocked by forces to allow Lukashenkos motorcade to pass.

Two months of mass protests

Known as the last dictator of Europe, Lukashenko has been facing mass protests and numerous accusations since the results of Presidential vote were first announced. The elections, which were held on August 9, saw a competition between Alexander Lukashenko, who was contesting for a sixth term and Svetlana Tikhanouskaya, who joined the race after her husband was jailed.

Belarusians, who were already wary of the country's deteriorating economy and Lukashenko's repression of the opposition coalesced in and around the capital city of Minsk to show their opposition to the leader. The protests snowballed and hundreds of thousands of residents took to streets to oppose the draconian leader. However, Lukashenko engaged in a robust crackdown of the protests and deployed violent methods to curb the protests. Not only did he exiled and thwarted the opposition leaders but also asked his long time ally Vladimir Putin to interfere if protests escalated.

Read: Belarus: More Than 10 Detained At Minsk Opposition Rally

Read: Belarus: Thousands Of Women Protest Against Lukashenko Demanding His Resignation

What does opposition say?

Opposition in Belarus has rejected the result of the countrys presidential elections, accusing the vote to be rigged and calling for talks before 'peaceful' transfer of power. Tikhanouskaya, who called herself the real winner in the elections, accused her opponent of massively rigging the vote. Following which, the opposition has now called for a recounting of the votes at every problematic vote booth.

Read: Belarus Opposition Leader Tikhanovskaya Calls For Peaceful Rallies After Disputed Election

Read: Belarus Polls: Opposition Rejects Results After Lukashenko Secures Majority

(Image credits: Belarus_News/Twitter)
Four Seasons Resort Marrakech said it is ready to welcoming guests with the reopening on October 1, with the health and safety of guests, residents and employees remaining the top priority.



Four Seasons is introducing Lead With Care, an enhanced global health and safety program that is being implemented at Four Seasons properties worldwide. Combining public health expertise with access to leading technologies and tools, Lead With Care establishes clear procedures that educate and empower employees to take care of guests and each other.



While the Four Seasons experience may look different, it will feel the same. Our dedicated people are committed to delivering the same intuitive service and personalised care for which we are known and trusted for the world over, explained General Manager Thomas Krooswijk.



A key part of this service experience will continue to be the Four Seasons App and Chat. As one of the only industry platforms powered by employees on property, not chatbots, this award-winning service will further allow guests to control how they engage with employees.



While face-to-face interactions may be more limited, Four Seasons guests will remain as connected as ever. With the App and Chat, guests will have direct access to property teams in 100+ different languages. From the comfort of their own device, the App provides a contactless experience that does not compromise Four Seasons genuine care and signature service.



This reopening arrives just in time to enjoy the cooler Moroccan temperatures with plenty of sunshine. At the Resort, guests can treat themselves with the new seasonal creations of Executive Chef Thierry Papillier at the alfresco restaurant Azzera, enjoy a refreshing cocktail on the terrace of Inara, or travel around Italy for dinner at the iconic Quattro restaurant. Patrons staying at the property can also enjoy in-room dining in the comfort of their room and order in using the FS App.



Upon reopening, facilities such as the Fitness Center and the Spa will operate with adjusted hours and new procedures in place to comply with Lead With Care. Meetings and events offerings have similarly been updated, elevating social and corporate events to a new definition of ultimate care.



To celebrate the re-opening of the Resort, the team has created unique experiences for hotel guests and the local community, such as:



Day-Cation Offer

An invitation to spend the day relaxing by the pool and with comfortable access to a private room for MAD 1,500 ($160) (up to 2 adults and 2 children).



Pool Pass Offer

An easy getaway to escape the daily routine, MAD 650 per person. Enjoy the treat of a pool day and the menu crafted by Executive Chef Thierry Papillier at the outdoor Azzera restaurant.



Moroccan Resident Offer

Bring the family closer, reconnect with loved ones or simply take time for oneself with a relaxing stay at Four Seasons Resort Marrakech. With its dedicated teams, Four Seasons Resort Marrakech promises guests a beautiful stay in the heart of the Red City with exclusive services and personalised experiences.- TradeArabia News Service


My husband and I have mostly been staying home since the shutdowns began in March.

Hes retired and I work from home, making only occasional forays out. We no longer go to the gym. We dont go to restaurants. We rarely even do takeout. We use Instacart for food deliveries and stick to ourselves. Church is no go.

But then my 23-year-old niece invited me to her wedding in Greensboro, N.C.

She was the first of my parents' grandchildren to marry, and we all were excited to go. But that was before the pandemic struck and we started reading about gatherings and weddings that turned into super-spreaders of the coronavirus.

My niece and her fiance were planning a big shindig and were heartbroken at the thought of a one-year postponement, so they decided to host a micro-wedding instead. That meant trimming their guest list to 20 people and moving almost everything to their backyard. (The food, for instance, was inside.) I was proud of them for making this difficult decision. Outdoor events are safer because air is constantly moving, which lessens the likelihood of coronavirus infections.

Still, I was nervous about attending. Then, my niece asked me point-blank, Youre coming, arent you? Like aunties everywhere, I caved but with a caveat: We would not stay long and I would keep my distance from everyone.

Before leaving, I checked: North Carolina doesnt require a quarantine period for out-of-state visitors, and the rate of new infections has come down considerably in the Tar Heel State.

We drove our camper van, which meant we didnt have to rely on public restrooms, which can be risky.

 READ MORE: Public bathrooms are risky during the pandemic. These safety tips can help.

On the morning of the wedding, we showed up early to help with setup. We were pleased to see everyone using socially distant greetings: elbow bumps and virtual hugs. It felt good to be out in the world again, especially around family.

But I started to feel uneasy when some early arrivals began trickling in without masks. My husband and I both switched from our lightweight masks to medical-grade N95-style masks. Yes, it was uncomfortable, but we didnt care. We were more concerned about not contracting a virus that we know is transmitted more easily indoors when an infected person talks or laughs.

All of that aside, the wedding itself went smoothly. The bride was bubbly and beautiful in her gown; the groom, handsome and earnest. It was a simple but sweet ceremony. I got teary-eyed when the bride presented the groom with a shiny gold wedding band that had been melted down from my fathers Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity ring. It complemented her engagement ring that had once belonged to the grooms deceased mother.

I was happy to note that guests mostly stayed outside, with occasional forays inside for food or to use the restroom. I kept my mask on for almost the entire event, except when eating and posing for the obligatory family photo. I was disturbed, though, to see that most of the young people werent wearing masks, not following the example of the couples grandmothers, who kept theirs on.

COVID fatigue is real. I get that. But now is not the time to get lax about wearing face masks, washing our hands frequently, and staying at least six feet away from people who dont live in our household.

Soon, the sunlight was fading and it started getting chilly. The newly married couple were inside surrounded by friends. I could hear their laughter and conversation. Before COVID-19, this social butterfly would have been right in the mix, but these days I avoid socializing in confined spaces. Im a bit of germaphobe, and the pandemic feeds into that. Im more cautious, and frankly, scared. My husband and I calculate our risks.

As evening settled in, we decided to just get in our van and drive off. The couple know we werent being rude, just keeping our social distance.
The University of Texas at Austin on Wednesday named Jay Hartzell its new president.

The UT System board of regents voted unanimously to confirm Hartzell, who has served as the flagships interim president since June 2019 after former UT President Greg Fenves left to become president of Emory University in Atlanta. Hartzell, 50, previously served as dean of UTs McCombs School of Business and was the sole finalist for UT-Austins presidency.

Hartzell called the opportunity the honor of a lifetime

This is a dream come true for me because it means that I get the chance to go to work with students, faculty, staff and alumni and put all my energy into helping Longhorn Nation do what it does best  change the world, Hartzell said in a written statement.

UT System Chancellor James B. Milliken said he was was pleased with the boards vote and praised Hartzells dedication to the university as a student, professor and leader.

In the short time Jay has been interim president, he has led UT Austin with a steady hand and an eye on the future, Board Chairman Kevin P. Eltife said in a written statement. Jay continues to demonstrate that he is a leader who can manage enormous challenges and still maintain a focus on elevating the academic, research and clinical missions of a world-class institution.

On HoustonChronicle.com: UT-Austin names interim president Jay Hartzell sole finalist for presidency

Hartzell has already helped lead UT through several issues and initiatives this year, including the colleges strategies and response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as its diversity efforts and vow to increasingly support Black faculty and students following the death of George Floyd.

Hartzell, a UT alumnus, earned a doctorate in finance from the university in 1998 before returning as a faculty member in 2001. He has served in various capacities at UT over the past two decades, including as the senior associate dean for academic affairs, the executive director of the business schools Real Estate Finance and Investment Center, and as the chair of the UTs finance department before becoming dean in 2016.

He also established the business schools one-year masters of science in finance degree, the undergraduate real estate certificate program, and oversaw the fundraising construction and opening of graduate business facility Rowling Hall.

brittany.britto@chron.com
SINCE the entry of Covid-19 in the Philippines, insurance and investment company Manulife Philippines has found out that more Filipinos are keen on buying insurance.

The survey, Understanding Filipinos Sentiments Towards Health and Critical Illness, revealed that 77 percent of the 500 respondents from all over the country wanted to get insurance in the next 18 months. The survey was conducted between January to July 2020.

Over the past few months, we all know we have been presented by significant challenges and concerns. The global pandemic is really taking its toll economically, emotionally but most importantly, it has made everybody far more aware of taking care of our health, Richard Bates, Manulife Philippines president and chief executive officer, said during a Zoom meeting Wednesday, Sept. 23.

Bates said the pandemic prompted people to watch over their health, particularly their mental and physical strengths.

When we look at our customers, at the market, we realize that people are becoming more concerned whether they are prepared on the event that will potentially happen to them or their family or friends, or if they are prepared financially or in terms of their own ability to support themselves if something would happen, he said.

Financial worries

Results of the survey also showed financial worries have a greater impact on Filipinos sentiments toward protecting themselves from critical illness, especially during the pandemic.

These evolving times have opened our eyes to the importance of health and wellness, and importantly, made many Filipinos appreciate the value of insurance protection, Melissa Henson, senior vice president and chief marketing officer of Manulife Philippines, said.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, Filipino respondents have recognized the importance of prevention through different heath activities, with three out of the five formed habits they intend to keep in the next 18 months all related to health.

Story continues

These include finding ways to be more physically healthy (81 percent), monitoring key health indicators (76 percent); and keeping track of mental wellness (74 percent), along with using online services more (75 percent) for contactless needs in the age of social distancing; and reviewing and managing personal finance more often (78 percent).

Staying healthy and avoiding illness, having sufficient savings and assuring the familys well-being are the top three priorities of Filipinos. Savings for medical emergencies, emergency funds and healthcare are included in their short-term goals while healthcare, life insurance protection and retirement are their top long-term goals.

During the pandemic, Filipinos top worries around health and safety of their family have heightened, given the fear of acquiring the virus and the number of cases continuing to rise.

Increased appetite

Despite these challenges and behaviors, the study revealed that there is an increased appetite for insurance due to fear and concerns as a result of the pandemic. In fact, 60 percent believe that the local economy will take a longer time to recover, and 48 percent believe that it will be difficult to get healthcare.

These fears and concerns fuel the demand of insurance purchase overall, with 77 percent planning to buy insurance, mostly life and health-related products in the next 18 months.

The uncertainty brought by Covid-19 has created greater awareness and appreciation for insurance products, as it underscored the importance of being prepared for unexpected illness, Henson said.

This study reinforced the need to continue educating Filipinos on their physical and financial health so they can build better habits, make better financial decisions and live every day better, she added.

The Manulife Philippines health study was conducted in partnership with ABN Impact InSites Consulting, an independent market research agency. (JOB)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 17:03:57|Editor: huaxia

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TIANJIN, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland official has stressed the importance of strengthening exchanges and cooperation between people from both sides of the Taiwan Strait, saying it is the common aspiration of compatriots on both sides and accords with their shared interests.

Liu Jieyi, head of both the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks while addressing the opening ceremony of the Tianjin-Taiwan trade fair in Tianjin Municipality Tuesday.

A tiny number of separatist elements advocating "Taiwan independence" have been acting against the public will, conspiring with outside forces, instigating confrontation between the two sides, and impeding exchanges and cooperation between people on both sides of the Strait, Liu said.

"'Taiwan independence' is a path to nowhere," Liu said, calling on Taiwan compatriots to see through the separatists' pernicious nature and stop their separatist schemes seeking "Taiwan independence."

Liu said the mainland has always been the best choice for Taiwan compatriots and business people to invest in and start their businesses, and the greatest opportunity for their future development.

Taiwan compatriots have overcome obstacles from the island and actively participated in cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation activities such as the Tianjin-Taiwan trade fair. "It shows that deepening cross-Strait exchanges and forging closer ties between people from both sides are a prevailing trend and what the people desire. It cannot be suppressed or held back by any forces," he said. Enditem
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PORTLAND (AP)  Several Oregon businesses have threatened a class action lawsuit against the state over COVID-19 restrictions implemented by Gov. Kate Brown to slow the pandemic.

A lawyer representing the businesses argues that Oregon officials should draft a plan to compensate small business owners for financial hardship caused by those restrictions, The Oregonian/OregonianLive reported.





. . .
By PTI

CUTTACK: The Orissa High Court on Wednesday refused to allow the termination of the pregnancy of a physically-challenged woman.

Holding the state responsible for her plight, the high court directed the Odisha government to pay as an immediate measure a sum of Rs 5 lakh by way of ex gratia within seven days.

The court observed that the termination of the pregnancy, which is more than 24-week-old, would put the woman's life in danger.

The court directed that the state government would further grant a sum of Rs 3 lakh if the 22-year-old woman delivers a male child and Rs 5 lakh if she gives birth to a female child.

Additionally, she will be entitled to receive compensation awarded under the Victim Compensation Scheme, the court said.

"Considering the mental condition of the victim and financial condition of the family, utmost care of the victim is to be taken in continuation of her pregnancy. The best medical facility will be made available so as to ensure proper care and supervision during the period of pregnancy as well as postnatal care at the SCB Medical College and Hospital," the high court said.

"The entire transport, medical and medicinal expenses, including accommodation of the victim and her mother, if necessary, during treatment, shall be the responsibility of the Jagatsinghpur district administration," said justice Biswanath Rath.

The entire education of the yet-to-born child will be the responsibility of the state government, the court said.

The woman, also mentally challenged, is a resident of a village in the Kujanga police station area in Jagatsinghpur district.

She was raped by a local and the police complaint was filed only on August 13 after her family came to know about it.

By the time, her mother approached the high court, seeking permission to terminate the pregnancy, medical reports indicated that the woman was already pregnant for over 20 weeks.

The high court also issued an 11-point specific direction to the state government, and 14-point general directives to other authorities, including the district courts, State Legal Aid Services Authorities, police and doctors as to how to handle similar cases in the future.
[September 23, 2020] Plymouth Rock Assurance Introduces Motorcycle Insurance Plymouth Rock Assurance today announced the launch of its Motorcycle Insurance for riders across New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Introduced less than a year after the company acquired Rider Insurance Company, Plymouth Rock Motorcycle Insurance combines Rider's 50-year history of serving the motorcycle community with Plymouth Rock's innovative technology and industry-leading customer care. "Plymouth Rock is building its reputation as a leading full-package insurance provider throughout the Northeast," said Jeff Briglia, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Plymouth Rock Management Company of New Jersey. "The introduction of our new Motorcycle Insurance is another example of how we're meeting the needs of our customers and agents - and doing so with simple quoting, customizable coverages, and industry-leading claims and customer service. We're truly proud to insure the riding community in New Jersey and Pennsylvania today, and for many years to come." Plymouth Rock's Motocycle Insurance was built to give riders all the coverages they need, friendly and reliable service, all at a smart price; and includes a number of helpful standard coverages, including 24-hour roadside assistance, helmet coverage, trip interruption coverage and trailer coverage. Like its recently launched Umbrella insurance and digital @Home Property insurance products, Plymouth Rock's Motorcycle Insurance offers a fast, simple quoting process that is easy for both consumers and agents. Backed by the expertise and rock-solid financial strength of the Plymouth Rock Group of Companies, Plymouth Rock Motorcycle Insurance is available now to customers and agents in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and the company plans to introduce the new product in its other states in 2021. For more information about Plymouth Rock Motorcycle Insurance, Umbrella insurance or to get a home or auto insurance quote, contact a Plymouth Rock insurance agent or visit plymouthrock.com. About Plymouth Rock Plymouth Rock was established to offer its customers a higher level of service and a more innovative set of products and features than they would expect from an insurance company. Plymouth Rock's innovative approach puts customers' convenience and satisfaction first, giving them the choice to do business the way they want - online, using a mobile device, by phone or with one of Plymouth Rock's agents. Plymouth Rock Assurance and Plymouth Rock are brand names and service marks used by separate underwriting, managed insurance, and management companies that offer property and casualty insurance in multiple states. Taken together, the companies write and manage more than $1.6 billion in auto and home insurance premiums across Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. Motorcycle insurance in New Jersey and Pennsylvania is underwritten by Rider Insurance Company, Woodbridge, NJ. Umbrella insurance is underwritten in New Jersey and Pennsylvania by Palisades Property and Casualty Insurance Company, Woodbridge, NJ. Each underwriting and managed insurance company is a separate legal entity that is financially responsible only for its own insurance products. Actual coverage is subject to the language of the policies as issued by each separate company. Some discounts, coverages, payment plans, features and benefits are not available in all states and companies. Learn more about Plymouth Rock by visiting plymouthrock.com. PLYMOUTH ROCK RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REFUSE TO QUOTE ANY INDIVIDUAL A PREMIUM RATE FOR THE INSURANCE ADVERTISED HEREIN. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200923005151/en/

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Britain says it has turned over to US authorities evidence against two members of an alleged terror cell known as the Beatles, ending a drawn out legal battle to block the handover of the information.

The evidence against Shafee El Sheikh and Alexanda Kotey was given to US prosecutors after the High Court of Justice in London refused to allow El Sheikhs mother to appeal earlier rulings that paved the way for the move.

Home Secretary Priti Patel tweeted late Tuesday that the further evidence to support the prosecution of Kotey & El Sheikh has now finally been transferred to the US. I sincerely hope that justice for the victims and their families will now be served.

El Sheikhs mother had sought to block the evidence transfer for more that two years, arguing that turning over the information would violate data protection laws because it could lead to the execution of her son.

US Attorney General Robert Barr last month promised that the two suspects wouldnt face the death penalty if they were tried in American courts.

Kotey and El Sheikh are alleged to have beheaded 27 people, including three US and two British hostages, while fighting for the so-called Islamic State group in Syria. They are believed to have been part of a four-man cell that became known as the Beatles because all four spoke with British accents.

Both men were raised in London before traveling to Syria to join Islamic State. British authorities revoked their citizenship because of their actions in Syria.
Two people were seriously hurt late Tuesday in Northeast Portland after they fought and one shot the other, police say.

Portland police said the two people, who had attended a protest outside an east Portland law enforcement building before the altercation, were taken to a hospital with serious injuries. Both are expected to survive.

A business was also hit in the shooting, which happened in the 4400 block of Northeast Glisan Street, according to police. The incident was the fourth injury shooting in Portland on Tuesday.

Police didnt say what led to the altercation. They didnt publicly identify either person by name, age or gender.

The two people were part of a group that gathered at Laurelhurst Park and marched to the Penumbra Kelly Building, a law enforcement facility shared by the city and Multnomah County at East Burnside Street and 47th Avenue.

Police said protesters blocked Burnside Street traffic for several hours. Some protesters went onto Penumbra Kelly Building property early Wednesday, according to police.

Three demonstrators were arrested in the protest, which was the latest nightly assembly against racial injustice.

Demonstrators gathered in Portland for over 100 days, took a break when the city was choked by wildfire smoke and resumed protests Friday night.

Tuesdays first shooting happened that afternoon in the 1000 block of North Schmeer Road. A man suffered potentially life-threatening injuries, police said.

The second happened that evening at a home in the 14600 block of Southeast Center Street. A woman suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was seriously hurt, police said. The suspect was detained.

The third happened that night in the 12300 block of Southeast Kelly Street. A man suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Police ask anyone who has information about the fourth shooting and hasnt yet been contacted by investigators to call 503-823-3333.

-- Jim Ryan

jryan@oregonian.com; 503-221-8005; @Jimryan015
Pompeo said Roth was right to delete the email and treat it as a hoax. Pompeo cited it as part of a wide-ranging public relations campaign by Chinese officials. He said that what happened to Roth was happening in statehouses across the country. Pompeo said the Chinese government has a much more sinister vision of engagement than other foreign governments, with the goal of making Americans more receptive to its form of authoritarianism.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 23

By Elnur Baghishov  Trend:

As the head of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), Azerbaijan is fighting against occupation, which is one of the main tasks of this movement, Former Iranian Ambassador to Uzbekistan, Thailand, and Azerbaijan, Mohsen Pakayin told Trend.

According to Pakayin, at present, one of the most important issues for the NAM is the encountering of independent countries with occupation problem. Some parts of the territory of Azerbaijan are also occupied by Armenia.

The former ambassador added that the occupation is an obstacle to peace and justice in the whole world.

Pakayin noted that the NAMs member countries seek to restore peace and security in the world and prevent war and conflict based on the principles of cooperation.

"Given that Azerbaijan will head of the NAM until 2022, this is a great opportunity to achieve the goals of the movement. Because this movement is the second largest international political organization after the United Nations," he said.

The former ambassador stressed that this movement is one of the active organizations in the development of multilateral cooperation. Thus, the countries declare independently their priorities and their positions on problems and conflicts in the world and try to find a solution. After the collapse of the USSR, the economy was added to the goals of the Non-Aligned Movement. The development of economic cooperation between the NAMs member countries has become a priority.

"In the current context, the Non-Aligned Movement must develop multilateralism to achieve its main goals. Azerbaijan can become one of the successful heads of the Non-Aligned Movement in this direction," he said.

Pakayin emphasized today's most important issue is the coronavirus pandemic. Azerbaijan, together with the NAM member countries, is taking steps to combat the damages caused by the coronavirus and reduce the damage to people.

He added that the establishment of a committee in connection with the pandemic with the participation of talented experts from the NAM's member countries could be a step towards preventing the virus.

Iran and Azerbaijan are two active members of the Non-Aligned Movement. The two countries are united on many international issues. Both countries are united in the development of multilateralism and the fight against occupation. With this solidarity, Azerbaijan and Iran can assist the Non-Aligned Movement in fulfilling its core responsibilities and advancing its position, Pakayin noted.

The former ambassador said that the NAM member countries are trying to strengthen their economies and increase diversity. Azerbaijan can establish cooperation between member countries in the fields of energy, transit, trade, and tourism. This will benefit all member countries.
If I were her, Id be trying to create some space between (me) and Trump. It looks like shes going the other way, Coleman said. I feel like shes maybe trying to hug Trump too close. How much more of that base can she really consolidate now?

Any fallout might be worth the prize

Westerland disagrees. He said even if McSally wanted to wait to fill Ginsburgs seat until after inauguration next year  and there is no evidence to suggest that she does  she cant risk losing her core support among GOP voters.

Derailing an opportunity for your party to fill a seat on the Supreme Court is a guaranteed way to alienate your base, Westerland said. To do so in hopes of winning over an unknown number of independent voters is simply far too much of a risk for an uncertain reward, he said.

As for any potential political fallout from rushing the confirmation process now after what Republicans did in 2016 to stop President Obamas last high court nominee, Westerland said the prize is worth the price.

You take these hits, and you put someone on the Supreme Court, he said.
In this file image of the U.S. Supreme Court building in 2016, a sign is held up that reads "ACA Is Here To Stay" after a ruling was announced in favor of the Affordable Care Act. June 25, 2015, in Washington, D.C. Now down a justice since the passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the Supreme Court will review a case challenging the ACA this fall. Read more

Ruth Bader Ginsburgs career was undoubtedly a remarkable one, both in her ability to excel as the second woman appointed to the Supreme Court, and the poignance of the legal principles she championed. A fundamental principle that emerged over her career was the notion that every American deserves equal protection under the law. In supporting the Equal Rights Amendment, Ginsburg memorably argued for a legal system in which each person will be judged on individual merit and not on the basis of an unalterable trait of birth.

As medical students, we have always found the notion that we all deserve equal treatment to be deeply resonant. Medical school has repeatedly demonstrated that so much of our health is out of our control. We have witnessed patient lives fundamentally changed by sudden diagnoses that can alter quality of life in a moments notice. Most recently, the current COVID-19 pandemic has created disruptions including prolonged hospitalizations and long-term symptoms for Americans who have been infected without warning. The thin line between health and illness can be difficult to predict, let alone control. Equality of treatment regardless of background is therefore a foundational principle to ensure that all individuals can weather unpredictable and uncontrollable threats to their health.

 READ MORE: Toomey joins Trump and McConnell in backing push to fill Supreme Court seat, reversing 2016 stance

Our obligation to provide equal treatment motivates a bedrock of the 2010 Affordable Care Act (ACA): the protection of patients with preexisting conditions. This protection prevents insurance companies from denying coverage, or prohibitively increasing insurance costs, because a patient becomes ill. It is a policy supported by the majority of the American people in part due to its fairness in preventing patients from being punished by circumstances out of their control.

Sadly, the death of Ginsburg leaves the outcome of a Supreme Court battle over the ACA very much in doubt after previous decisions before the court narrowly upheld the law.

 READ MORE: Pennsylvania braces for a presidential election reshaped by a Supreme Court fight

While Republican legislative attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act in 2017 received a great deal of national attention, less focus has been placed on a challenge to the Affordable Care Act now facing the Supreme Court in an upcoming fall session. The case  the union of California v. Texas and U.S. House of Representatives v. Texas  features an argument supported by the Trump administration that the Affordable Care Act is untenable in the absence of the individual mandate to buy health insurance, which was eliminated with the Republican tax reform bill in 2017.

While the validity of the legal standing of the ACA challengers is dubious, it is undeniably true that the individual mandate was a key pillar of the Affordable Care Act, installed to make the preexisting condition protections financially feasible. A ruling by the Supreme Court against the ACA could eliminate preexisting condition protections, insurance access, and essential health benefits such as coverage of preventative primary care services like flu vaccinations that people need, especially during a pandemic.

 READ MORE: Trump administration urges Supreme Court to end Affordable Care Act as pandemic surges

As President Donald Trump prepares to nominate a justice to the Supreme Court, we as Pennsylvanians must demand our senators ensure that key protections of patients with preexisting conditions be safeguarded. Our two senators have vastly different records when it comes to the Affordable Care Act: Sen. Bob Casey has voted against ACA repeal, while Sen. Pat Toomey supported the Republican repeal effort in 2017.

Sen. Casey has already stated that he does not believe a Supreme Court nominee should be considered until after the election. Sen. Toomey clearly stated in 2016, when President Barack Obama nominated a replacement to fill Justice Antonin Scalias vacancy, that 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. Sen. Toomey has now reversed his position, stating that he supports proceeding with the nomination process. With the balance of power in the Supreme Court hanging in the balance, Sen. Toomeys words from 2016 have salience. Looking ahead, he must explain how the millions of Pennsylvanians with preexisting conditions will be protected.

 READ MORE: Honor Ruth Bader Ginsburgs legacy by waiting to replace her until after 2020 election | Editorial

The passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg was the loss of an American legal giant. But the notion that we are all equal under the law regardless of sex remains as a legacy of her work. The corollary that all Americans should be equally protected, regardless of their health, should not die with Ginsburg. Demand that our Pennsylvania senators ensure that this is the case now and vote for leaders who do so in November.

Anjali Bhatla is an MD/MBA candidate at the University of Pennsylvanias Wharton School and Perelman School of Medicine, where Vivek Nimgaonkar is an MD candidate.
The development of spiritual disciplines under the mentorship of Richard Foster and Dallas Willard, then captured in churches around the English-speaking/reading world, tended toward the individuals personal spiritual formation. Fine. We need that.

But Gods work is ecclesial shaped, that is, it is church centered. What then do spiritual disciplines look like when they are church-centered? Or when they become both personal and other-oriented?

Rich Villodas has done this for one and all in his new book The Deeply Formed Life: Five Transformative Values to Root Us in the Way of Jesus. Here is an excerpt for you to see if this book and its plan might be best for you and your church:

Contemplative rhythms for the exhausted life. Most of us live at a nonstop outward pace, which leaves no time to be with God and actually does violence against our souls. As one who has been shaped by the ancient desert and monastic traditions, I see the riches and resources available to root us in a way of life that is slow, vibrant, and transformative. I will offer a vision for a life that isnt consumed by the hurried and harried ways of the world.

Racial reconciliation for a divided world. Because the church I pastor has people from at least seventy-five nations, the hostility of our world has often come right into our community. We have journeyed more than three decades together, offering a way forward as a prophetic community in a deeply partisan and ideologically segregated culture. I will present a pathway of reconciliation for us to take together.

Interior examination for a world living on the surface. Many of us lack the tools to effectively navigate our interior worlds. Our unawareness cripples us with anxiety, and we miss opportunities to grow into mature people who love well. I will serve as a tour guide for helping us explore the notoriously uncharted waters of our inner

Sexual wholeness for a culture that splits bodies from souls. We often dont know what a healthy integration of our spiritual lives and our bodies looks like. We will explore the process of loving God with our whole selves and seeing our bodies as gifts to steward for the flourishing of our own lives and relationships.

Missional presence for a distracted and disengaged people. What does it mean to make space in our lives for others? How do we engage the troubling realities of injustice, poverty, and spiritually struggling people? Studying this theme will help us move out into the world to be a presence of healing and hope for others.

Image: Cover Photo

Villodas is aware that some think such practices notches them up into grandstanding about their own spiritual wholeness so he reminds us all of key ideas in developing practices as a way of life.
Chilean scientists have rediscovered a species of frog last seen more than 80 years ago, prompting new calls for the conservation of its habitat in the far-flung Chilean desert.

Scientists relocated the diminutive Hall's water frog, named for the American researcher and collector Frank Gregory Hall who discovered the species in 1935, in a tiny hot spring oasis near Ollague in Chile's Atacama desert.

The discovery, scientists told Reuters, prompted a mad rush to confirm that the so-called ghost species was indeed the same one Hall had discovered decades ago.

"We asked the museum where Hall's (discovery) is registered. ... They sent us photographs of the larvae, photographs, comparisons, drawings," said Cesar Cuevas, a researcher with the Catholic University of Temuco.

The journal Zootaxa published the tale of the rediscovery this year. Researchers continue to work to establish the frog's taxanomic ties to other species found in the region in order to determine how different, and therefore, how rare, it really is, Cuevas said.

Meanwhile, protecting its habitat is key, he said.

Mining, tourism development and expanding cities in Chile's north, home to the worlds largest copper industry, all compete for water with the tiny amphibian.

"These animals are strictly aquatic. In just five minutes out of the water, they die," Cuevas said, in a call to protect its habitat before it is too late.
Billionaire chicken farmer and horse racing entrepreneur Bob Ingham has died at the age of 88.

The Sydney-based businessman, philanthropist and racing industry stalwart was at his home, surrounded by family, when he passed away on Tuesday.

Bob Ingham, along with his brother Jack, built the Inghams company into the largest producer of chickens and turkeys in Australia.

He also co-founded the nation's largest thoroughbred horse racing and breeding operation.

He owned some of the greatest stars of the Australian turf in the 1990s such as Octagonal and his son Lonhro - all carrying the famous cerise silks - before selling his racing operation to the global Godolphin stable.

Chicken empire entrepreneur Bob Ingham (pictured) has died at the age of 88

'Bob always had a passion for horse racing. Along with Jack they turned this passion into the largest thoroughbred racing and breeding operation in Australia at the time,' the family said.

'He was a pioneer and visionary of his day whose work and legacy will live on for many years.

'His hard work, commitment and philosophy of 'doing the right things and doing things right' underpinned everything he did. He made us very proud. We will miss him greatly.'

Jocky Darren Beadman (right) and Lonhro owner Bob Ingham celebrate after winning the Australian Cup at Flemington race track in 2004

Billionaire heiress Jess Ingham, the granddaughter of businessman Jack Ingham, got engaged earlier this year

Inghams, which is headquartered in the southwestern Sydney suburb of Casula, was sold to private equity firm TPG for $880 million in 2013.

Mr Ingham sold the bloodstock operation in 2008 in the biggest deal ever recorded in the history of thoroughbred racing and breeding.

'Bob, along with his brother Jack, made a significant contribution over the past 60 plus years not just to the needs of Liverpool's local population but also the greater southwest Sydney community and ultimately, through one of Australia's home-grown business success of Inghams Enterprises, the wider Australian population,' the family said.

Australia's chicken and horse racing kings, Bob and Jack Ingham pictured outside their first head office at Casula southwest Sydney in 1960

Inghams, which is headquartered in the southwestern Sydney suburb of Casula, was sold to private equity firm TPG for $880 million in 2013

Mr Ingham's philanthropy was also well known and respected and his vision for an independent specialist centre for health and medical research facility in Liverpool was realised in 2012, when the Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research was opened.

He is outlived by his wife Norma and leaves behind children Lyn, Debbie, Robby, and John, as well as 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

The family says due to COVID-19, the funeral service will be by invitation only.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks people to make a donation to the Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research.

Bob Ingham, along with his brother Jack, built the Inghams company into the largest producer of chickens and turkeys in Australia
The Ashanti Regional Communication Officer of the NDC, Mr. Abass Nurudeen has stated that during the consultative process that preceded the writing of the NDC's peoples' manifesto, the coalition of Muslim youth made a special request for Islamic-oriented Mortuaries to serve the peculiar needs of the Muslim community in Ghana.



The need for this request was necessitated by the unislamic manner in which Muslim dead bodies are subjected to in the regular Mortuaries.



He said, "in Islam when a person dies, he/she must be buried as soon as possible. But a laborious process that Muslim family go through before bodies of their dead relatives is released to them causes so much stress to the bereaved family and sometimes too the cost involved is quite exorbitant".



"So the fact that NDC has put this major concern in their manifesto means their manifesto is indeed a people's manifesto.



"We in the Zongo communities are most grateful and will show our gratitude by overwhelmingly vote for John Mahama in the 2020 Elections," Abass Nurudeen added.



Over the weekend, the John Mahama campaign team had cause to deflate attempts by some online media outlets, that sought to create the impression that the former president has "promised to construct more mortuaries for the Zongo communities.



The Campaign Team described the claims as "mischievous, deliberately distorted and misleading".



A statement signed by campaign spokesman, James Agyenim Boateng said: the NDC's presidential candidate, while speaking during a live interview with TV XYZ and WoezorTV, only took the opportunity to highlight the partys proposed interventions in the Peoples Manifesto for Zongos and Deprived Urban Settlements.



"Reading from page 82 of the NDCs 2020 manifesto, Mr Mahama mentioned a number of interventions aimed at addressing the historical inequalities between Zongo, Deprived Urban Settlements and other communities, including the negative effects of the Alien Compliance Order implemented by the Danquah-Busia tradition on Zongos.



"Acknowledging the concerns of Muslims about how traditional mortuaries handle their beloved ones when they pass on, Mr Mahama quoted the specific section of the Peoples Manifesto which addresses the issue and aims at lessening the burden of bereaved Muslims by treating their deceased loved ones in line with accepted practices of the Islamic faith.



So a lot of the Muslim communities have not been happy. And so we say we will facilitate the establishment of mortuaries in accordance with Islamic custom and practices and collaborate with the Ministry of Health to set up focal teams responsible for procedures that are compliant with Islamic custom and practice at all public mortuaries, the statement quoted Mr Mahama as having said.



It therefore urged Muslims, in particular, and the general public to disregard the "offensive publication by treating it with the contempt it deserves" since it is only "calculated to whip up anti-Muslim sentiments against the NDC and the JOHN MAHAMA 2020 Campaign".

Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected]









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Featured Video
As new credit union directors settle into their roles and responsibilities, they can offer valuable views on several persistent challenges facing many boards, which may be informed by their own experiences being recruited and trained for board service.

Stagnation and Demographic Homogeneity

Credit unions have more long-tenured board members than other business sectors, which increases the likelihood of a default toward the status quo, suggests Matt Fullbrook, manager of the David & Sharon Johnston Centre for Corporate Governance Innovation at the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto. Fullbrook is also and faculty at CUES Governance Leadership Institute at Rotman. And especially for historically SEG-based credit unions, board membership may skew toward people from the same or similar professions.

People who are familiar with each other and used to interacting tend to be much less likely to challenge each other and to step outside what theyre used to in recruiting new directors, he says. Theres a huge amount of both scientific and anecdotal evidence suggesting that diverse perspectives dramatically enhance the ability of groups to make good decisions. Theyre more willing to challenge each other. They bring diverse perspectives to what might seem like a mundane question or decision, which may raise new opportunities.
FINE Gael TDs and Senators have called for a free vote on legislation to allow for assisted dying in Ireland.

A private parliamentary party meeting on Wednesday heard widespread calls for Fine Gael to allow their politicians a free vote on the 'Dying with Dignity' Bill with some speakers indicating their support for the intention of the legislation itself.

The private members bill tabled by Solidarity-People Before Profit TD Gino Kenny seeks to allow terminally ill people access services to help them die.

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Tanaiste Leo Varadkar told the meeting that there appeared to be consensus towards allowing the party a free vote on the issue and said he would discuss the matter with the leaders of Fianna Fail and the Green Party.

Sources who attended the online meeting said the vast majority of those who spoke were in favour of a free vote. However, ministers Heather Humphreys and Josepha Madigan are said to have expressed reservations about a free vote. Backbencher Kieran O'Donnell suggested that matters of conscience should be put before the people.

Higher Education Minister Simon Harris was among a number of speakers who called for an all-party Oireachtas committee to examine the issue. He said he was conflicted on the measure but that there should be a substantive government response.

Former housing minister Eoghan Murphy said he supported what the bill is trying to achieve, and that Fine Gael should be proactive on it. He said the Government should look for compromise by establishing a committee but if this cannot be done there must be a free vote.

Fine Gaels Seanad leader Regina Doherty said that consideration of the bill at second stage should be deferred for six months pending the establishment of a committee to tease through the legislation.

Her fellow Senators Barry Ward, Garret Ahearn, Sean Kyne and John McGahon broadly spoke in favour of a free vote. Backbench TDs Emer Higgins and Neale Richmond also backed a free vote.

Mr Richmond, Mr Ahearn and junior minister Colm Brophy suggested the matter be referred to a Citizens Assembly. However, Mr Varadkar said this may be difficult in the context of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

The legislation, originally proposed by former minister John Halligan, has been backed by Labour and Sinn Fein. As yet, it has no date for debate or consideration in the Dail. The Government has no formal position of the bill.

Meanwhile, Mr Varadkar pledged to bring forward new proposals to allow workers the right to disconnect before the end of the year. The right to disconnect would allow workers to avoid work emails and other correspondence outside of working hours. Mr Varadkar outlined to plans to bring measures in the coming weeks to allow workers the right to disconnect as well as a new remote working policy.

Mr Varadkar outlined a series of priorities for Fine Gael ministers between now and the end of the year in a presentation at the private meeting. A number of the measures relate to informing the insurance sector.

Mr Varadkar has tasked Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe with commencing a programme of insurance reform to reduce costs and increase competition. This will include setting up an office in Government tasked with encouraging greater competition in the insurance market.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee has been asked to conclude her consideration of changes to occupiers liability and civil liability legislation and enacting new laws that would make perjury a statutory offence before the end of the year.

The presentation also outlined plans to legislate to defer the increase in the pension age from 66 to 67 before the end of the year. The issue became a major sticking point in the coalition talks with Fine Gael having to drop its opposition to deferring the age increase.

Mr Varadkars presentation also outlined plans to enact the Judicial Appointments Bill, a controversial law to overhaul how judges are appointed, in December.

Meanwhile, a number of speakers at the meeting expressed reservations about a proposal from backbencher Colm Burke to set up a cross-border university in memory of John Hume.

Ministers Frank Feighan and Hildegarde Naughten, along with Senators Sean Kyne and Aisling Dolan expressed concern that it would harm applications by ITs in the northwest for technological university status.

Mr Burke agreed to reword his proposal to take account the party's views and to see if John Humes memory can be part of wider Government plans for cross-border cooperation on higher education policy.
Chandigarh:

Punjab Congress Chief Amarinder Singh on Thursday warned people claiming that voting for Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) would be equivalent to a mandate for the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) whose misrule they have been suffering for the past 10 years.

Alleging both AAP and SAD as organisations with radical ideologies, Amarinder exhorted the people to be wary of playing into the hands of either in the February 4 state assembly elections.

While the Akalis have been looting the people for the past 10 years through their mafia rule, the AAP has now brought in outsiders to destroy the very Punjabiyat of the state, he said addressing a pubic rally in Dera bassi.

Amarinder vowed to punish those Akalis who had allegedly victimized people all these years.

From Dera bassi, Congress has fielded Deepinder Singh Dhillon.

With five lakh false cases and FIRs, the innocent people of the state were suffering under the Badal-led Akali rule. Buddhey (Badal) nunh vi lamba pawanga (will teach a lesson to CM Badal as well), he asserted, adding that he had decided to contest from Parkash Singh Badals constituency of Lambi to teach him a lesson for looting and cheating the people.

In a separate rally at Khanna, the PPCC president said Asias biggest mandi was in a shambles, as was the industry.

He reiterated his promise to waive off farm loans to bring agricultural growth back on track and strongly urged the people to vote for Congress candidate Gurkirat Singh Kotli, grandson of former Punjab chief minister, late Beant Singh.

Pointing out that the entire southern Punjab would be rendered dry if the SYL canal was allowed to be constructed, the former Chief Minister said he would not allow a single drop of water to leave Punjab, once elected to power, even if it meant going to jail for defying the courts orders.

Amarinder told the crowds in his rallies that he would be campaigning with AICC Vice President Rahul Gandhi in the constituencies of Lambi and Jalalabad (Deputy CMs seat), as well as Cabinet Minister Bikram Singh Majithias constituency Majitha.

The Badals had done nothing but looted Punjab, alleged Amarinder, pointing out that the SAD-BJP government had put a stop to all development initiatives of the previous Congress government in the state.

Amarinder lashed out at the SAD-BJP government, alleging during their time there have been growing incidences of sacrilege in the state and reiterated his vow to punish all those found guilty.

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By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court Wednesday asked Mehul Choksi, an accused in the USD 2 billion PNB scam who went to the US for treatment and ended up taking citizenship of Antigua, whether his claims for a fair trial and investigation were consistent with his own conduct.

The query by a bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan was posed to Choksi's counsel during the hearing of his appeal against a single judge order which dismissed his plea for pre-screening of Netflix docuseries 'Bad Boy Billionaires'.

Advocate Vijay Aggarwal, appearing for Choksi, said there is a footage about his client in the series which allegedly shows him in a bad light and therefore, could affect the various proceedings against him in India.

Senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul, appearing for Netflix, told the bench that the trailer, based on which the initial plea was filed before the single judge, does not refer to Choksi or name him.

This claim of Netflix was opposed by Aggarwal who sought permission from the court to show the trailer of the series on the next date of hearing, September 29.

During the hearing, the bench said the "conduct of the petitioner is also of some relevance" when a constitutional court is deciding whether to exercise its writ jurisdiction.

The single judge had dismissed Choksi's plea on the ground that he had an alternative remedy available -- of filing a civil suit -- and that a writ petition for enforcement of a private right was not maintainable.

Aggarwal contended that his client's fundamental right to a fair trial and investigation would be affected by the airing of the series and therefore, a writ was maintainable.

He urged the bench that the matter be sent back to the single judge for being heard as a writ.

The court, however, asked, "Is your (Choksi) conduct consistent with what you desire? Your are not under trial now.

You claim fair trial and fair investigation, but is your conduct consistent with that claim?" It also noted that after going to the US for treatment, Choksi obtained citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda with "terrific alacrity".

The observation by the court came after Aggarwal said that Choksi left for New York for treatment on January 4, 2018 and then took the oath of allegiance in Antigua and Barbuda on January 15, 2018.

"It is terrific alacrity for someone with medical ailments," the bench observed.

Aggarwal responded to the comment by saying that it was only a four hour flight from New York to Antigua and Barbuda and his client went to the US as his doctor was there and he was being treated there for some time.

He also told the court that when his client applied for citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda he also got a NOC from Mumbai Police stating that no cases were pending against him.

It was on January 29, 2018 that a complaint was made aganist Choksi and a case was lodged by CBI on January 30, 2018, Aggarwal told the court.

Netflix, which has opposed the plea, would continue its arguments on the next date.

In its reply to the appeal, Netflix has contended that irreparable loss or injury would be caused to it if the episode relating to Nirav Modi, of which Choksi wants a pre-screening, was stayed.

It has contended that Choksi was aware of the subject matter of the docuseries since early January 2019 when he was contacted for an interview in relation to the program and he was also interviewed for the same in May 2019.

However, the interview was not utilized as it did not meet the objective of the episode, Netflix has said in its affidavit.

It has also said that the petition was not maintainable as the high court has in the past held that over the top (OTT) or internet video streaming platforms cannot be regulated and the only option was to file a civil suit.

It has further said that there can be no pre-censorship in the form of a preview or pre-screening of the docuseries as the same would be violative of the freedom of speech and expression.

B Ramalinga Raju and Subrata Roy Sahara -- who also find mention in the docuseries -- have obtained stays from courts in Andhra Pradesh and Araria in Bihar, respectively.

Choksi, the promoter of Gitanjali Gems, and his nephew, Nirav Modi, are accused in the Rs 13,500-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case.

The documentary, which was scheduled for release in India on September 2, was promoted by Netflix as: "This investigative docuseries explores the greed, fraud and corruption that built up - and ultimately brought down - India's most infamous tycoons".
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 06:47:20|Editor: huaxia

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Chinese medical team experts and Italian doctors pose for a photo during the COVID-19 pandemic in Padua, Italy, March 18, 2020. (Xinhua)

BEIJING, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Experts worldwide on Tuesday spoke highly of the proposals put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the general debate of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly via video, on global anti-pandemic cooperation and the role of the United Nations in the international system.

Donald Rushambwa, a researcher at the China-Africa Economic and Culture Exchange Research Center, said he fully agrees with the notion of a community with a shared future for mankind.

He said that only when countries around the world stand together as one, help each other, and jointly battle the pandemic, can the human race achieve the final victory in the fight against the virus, adding that China has played an exemplary role in this regard.

Rushambwa also noted that China has actively extended a helping hand to the international community, donated medical supplies to many developing countries, shared anti-epidemic experience, and made indelible contributions to the global anti-pandemic fight.

Members of a medical team assisting the Myanmar government's efforts in fight against COVID-19 board the plane before departure at the Kunming Changshui International Airport in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, April 8, 2020. (Photo by Chen Xinbo/Xinhua)

Mohammad Aqil Nadeem, a Pakistani political analyst, said that China, in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, has shouldered the responsibility as a responsible major country, provided assistance to many countries and international organizations, and played a vital role in the global pandemic fight, which is a vivid demonstration of China's vision of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Saeb Rawashdeh, a political and world news editor at the Jordan Press Foundation, said that President Xi's call for pursuing an innovative, coordinated, green, open, and shared development for all will help provide solutions to global challenges such as the pandemic and climate change, and promote a green recovery of the world economy in the post-COVID-19 era.

Medical supplies are loaded onto a plane heading for Zimbabwe at Huanghua International Airport in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, May 11, 2020.(Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai)

Nabil Shaath, an international relations advisor to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said China has, undoubtedly, always upheld multilateralism and safeguarded the right direction of human development.

He added that as the world's largest developing country and a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China is a staunch supporter of the cause of the UN and has always been committed to maintaining the international system with the UN at its core.

The China-proposed new mechanisms and initiatives, with an eye on the common interests of humanity, serve as a supplement and improvement to the current international system, and are aimed at achieving win-win cooperation and common development, said the Palestinian official. 
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.
MANZINI - Government is at it again.

This time, the administration is planning to dangle a carrot in the face of civil servants, in terms of handsome packages, that will be availed in the Enhanced Voluntary Early Retirement Scheme (EVERS).

This is aimed at enticing ageing civil servants to consider signing up for early retirement as government deals with the bloated wage bill and the fiscal crisis.

EVERS is a programme that was introduced by the ninth Parliament. This was at the pinnacle of dire financial straits the country faced after a global meltdown in 2010. It was a programme touted to help government curb its wage bill, in particular with salaries. It was under the Ministry of Public Service as it targeted at least 15 per cent of non-core staff within government.

Programme

The reinforcement of the programme comes at a time when government has found itself in a position where it had to pay civil servants, including politicians, an extra E57 million, which was not budgeted for, as a one per cent once-off payment. This payment was part of the cost-of-living-adjustment (CoLA) agreement which government had budgeted E227 million for.

The implementation of CoLA came at a time when government had been advised to cut the wage bill, which is expected to reach E8.617 billion this year.

In a bid to undo its deeds, government is working against the clock to reinforce EVERS. It has been established that the plans to reintroduce the programme are so advanced such that negotiations would soon begin.

Confirming the plans by government was the Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Public Service, Sipho Tsabedze. He said, among other things, the rebirth of the initiative was aimed at depreciating the wage bill.

Initially, government announced that it had targeted at least 7 000 civil servants to take the early retirement packages. However, the PS did not want to commit to this figure. Instead, he said consultations were about to be made with the relevant stakeholders before this was implemented.

Strategies

He said EVERS remained one of governments strategies aimed at decreasing and managing the wage bill. Tsabedze said at this stage, he was not in a position to talk much about the matter because they were still working on it.

In fact, he said they were looking at strategies of implementing it. The PS said once their strategy had been finalised, they would engage stakeholders in consultative meetings. He emphasised that he would not say much about the matter because the issues might end up being blown out of proportion.

However, Tsabedze mentioned that government was also considering having attractive packages that would tempt the ageing civil servants to take the voluntary early retirement. When probed on the nature of the packages, Tsabedze again volunteered not to disclose much about what exactly they considered as the matter was still on the table and nothing had been finalised. This envisaged reintroduction of the programme comes at a time when public sector associations (PSAs) relayed to government that it should consider permitting civil servants aged 55 and above to retire.

This, they said, was one of many strategies that the administration could use in dealing with the fatality rate of COVID-19. While advancing this request, past civil servants had rejected EVERS, stating that it was not appealing to them. Some of them demanded that government should, among other things, extend 70 per cent of their pension so that they could venture into income-generating businesses. They said the balance could be paid through monthly salaries awarded by their pension scheme.

Spender

Meanwhile, according to the global lender, Eswatini is ranked second highest spender on civil servants among the 53 captured countries. It is only beaten by Lesotho whose wage bill to GDP sits at 16 per cent. Coming after Eswatini are Cape Verde, Namibia, Burundi, Eritrea, Botswana, South Africa, Angola and Liberia to mention a few.

What is interesting is, Eswatinis GDP is smaller than that of South Africa (E5.5 trillion) and also smaller than that of Botswana, which stands at E226 billion. South Africa spends over E137 billion per year to pay salaries for all government departments, and it has over 400 000 civil servants. Botswana has over 100 000 public servants.

It is worth noting that this is not the first time government tries to implement EVERS as it happened after the financial global meltdown in 2010.






CHICAGO, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Marking a historic moment, America's egg farmers across the nation are donating more than 46 million eggs in 2020, the largest amount ever recorded, as food banks experience unparalleled demand due to COVID-19.

U.S. egg farmers have long supported families in need through egg and egg product donations, but these donations are even more important this year. Feeding America, one of the nation's largest networks of food banks, projects an additional 17.1 million people will experience food insecurity in the U.S., with an estimated $1.4 billion shortfall in food bank donations due to the pandemic. Egg farmers are responding by helping to meet the growing need at U.S. food banks.

Eggs are always in high demand at U.S. food banks because they are a popular source of high-quality protein and other important nutrients, like choline for brain health and development. However, the perishable nature of eggs can make donating them challenging. America's egg farmers are bridging this gap by donating directly from their farms.

"Compassion, generosity and hard work have always been the core values of our American egg farmers," said American Egg Board (AEB) President and CEO Emily Metz. "Now, when the mission to nourish America's families is more urgent than ever, egg farmers have risen to the occasion and are doing what they always do: feeding people. This milestone egg donation comes at a critical time and the AEB is proud to help extend this donation even further."

In support of egg farmers' significant donation and to provide even more nutritious meals to American families in need, the AEB will contribute 166,000 eggs to the Maryland Food Bank.

"COVID-19-related demand for food has reached unprecedented levels, so this donation of protein-rich eggs could not have come at a better time," said Maryland Food Bank Communications Director Joanna Warner. "We're grateful for partners like the American Egg Board, which made these eggs available for our network of community partners to distribute as part of our ever-expanding hunger relief efforts across Maryland."

AEB, on behalf of America's egg farmers, is encouraging Americans to contact their local food pantry and determine how they, too, can help join the fight against hunger today.

"Food insecurity is a growing issue that we can fight together," said Metz. "Please consider connecting with your local food pantry and asking them what type of support they need at this time. No one should have to worry about where their next meal will come from."

For more information on eggs, including egg recipe and nutrition information, please visit: IncredibleEgg.org/GoodEggs.

About the American Egg Board (AEB)

Home of The Incredible Egg, the American Egg Board (AEB) is the national marketing organization of America's egg farmers. AEB's mission is to increase demand for eggs and egg products through research, education and promotion. AEB is located in Chicago. For more, visit IncredibleEgg.org.

SOURCE American Egg Board


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After shutting down due to smoky conditions, Yosemite National Park officials announced Wednesday they will welcome back visitors on Friday at 9 a.m.

The park closed Sept. 17 when toxic air from the Creek Fire to the south choked the park and air-quality levels reached hazardous levels. Some roads reopened Sunday to through traffic, but the park remain closed to visitors.
Panipat, Sep 23 : The Indian Youth Congress (IYC) took out a tractor rally in Haryana's Panipat on Wednesday to protest against the Narendra Modi government over the Farm Bills passed by Parliament, describing it as anti-farmer and anti-worker.

Hundreds of Youth Congress activists led by its national President Srinivas B.V. started their tractor rally from Panipat and had intended to travel to the national capital.

However, the rally was stopped by the Haryana Police near Samalkha in Panipat. The police used water cannons to disperse the activists. Srinivas along with several other workers was detained by the Haryana Police.

Speaking to the media, Srinivas said, "The youth of the country and the farmers demand employment and proper price of their produce but the Modi government only gives speeches." He accused the Manohar Lal Khattar government in Haryana of ordering the lathicharge on the farmers sitting in protest in Haryana's Pipli. The IYC leader warned the government saying, "You are having numbers in Parliament, but the streets belong to the farmers and youths, and we will protest against the black laws brought by the government." On Tuesday, IYC workers were detained in Delhi when they tried to march towards Parliament to protest against the Agriculture Bills passed by the Rajya Sabha on Sunday.

The Congress has also planned a series of protests across the country over the Farm Bills from September 24. The party has decided to collect two crore signatures of farmers across the country by November 14, and then submit them to President Ram Nath Kovind. The Rajya Sabha on Sunday passed the Farm Bills, over which protests were being held in several parts of the country.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Experts called in to hunt for missing Phuket crocodile

PHUKET: Local officials have called in the Kraithong Lumnamtapi team of marine wildlife experts to help catch the crocodile spotted in mangroves near Saphan Hin, on the outskirts of Phuket Town, last week.

marineanimalsSafety

By Tanyaluk Sakoot

Wednesday 23 September 2020, 11:33AM

The Kraithong Lumnamtapi team of expert croc hunters was called in to set the trap to catch the crocodile. Photo: Phuket Fisheries Office

The Kraithong Lumnamtapi team of expert croc hunters was called in to set the trap to catch the crocodile. Photo: Phuket Fisheries Office

The Kraithong Lumnamtapi team of expert croc hunters was called in to set the trap to catch the crocodile. Photo: Phuket Fisheries Office

The Kraithong Lumnamtapi team of expert croc hunters was called in to set the trap to catch the crocodile. Photo: Phuket Fisheries Office

The Kraithong Lumnamtapi team of expert croc hunters was called in to set the trap to catch the crocodile. Photo: Phuket Fisheries Office

The Kraithong Lumnamtapi team of expert croc hunters was called in to set the trap to catch the crocodile. Photo: Phuket Fisheries Office

The Kraithong Lumnamtapi team of expert croc hunters was called in to set the trap to catch the crocodile. Photo: Phuket Fisheries Office

The Kraithong Lumnamtapi team was last called in to catch the female croc Yanui, which they trapped in nets near the rocks off Koh Kata, just offshore from Layan Beach, at about 5:30am on July 29, 2018.

Now they have been called in to help track down and catch the crocodile spotted near Saphan Hin last week.

We have not yet caught the crocodile. We are still looking in the same area where it was seen, but so far we have not been able to find any trace of it, Phuket Fisheries Chief Narin Meevong confirmed to The Phuket News.

The Kraithong Lumnamtapi team built the steel trap placed where the crocodile was spotted in the hope that it returns. Dead chickens are being used as bait to lure the crocodile into the cage, Mr Narin said.

Nets have been placed at three other locations in the hope of snaring the reptile, he added.

The team also scoured the mangroves in the surrounding area throughout the night last week in search of the crocodile, Mr Narin explained.

We are still searching the area around the mangroves, and we have expanded our search area to about 10 kilometres from where the crocodile was last seen, he said.

We have warned local residents to be careful if they enter the area to catch fish or crabs there, Mr Narin noted.

If anyone sees a crocodile in their area, please call the Phuket Fisheries Office at 076-212460, he added.
In this article INFO

A queue for Covid-19 tests outside a Laboratory in Paris on September 22, 2020 in Paris, France. Kiran Ridley | Getty Images News | Getty Images

Euro zone business activity has taken a hit in the month of September as countries face a second wave of coronavirus infections, initial data showed Wednesday. The flash euro zone PMI (purchasing managers' index) composite index  which measures both manufacturing and services  stood at 50.1, just marginally pushing into expansion territory. A reading below 50 indicates an economic contraction. This latest preliminary number points to a three-month low in economic activity for the region. The services sector is in a particularly dire state, the data showed, with activity contracting this month to a four-month low. Manufacturing in the euro zone remained in positive territory and hit a 31-month high. "A two-speed economy is evident, with factories reporting that production growth was buoyed by rising demand, notably from export markets and the reopening of retail in many countries, but the larger service sector has sunk back into decline as face to-face consumer businesses in particular have been hit by intensifying virus concerns," Chris Williamson, chief business economist at IHS Markit, said in a statement alongside the data.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said that as of Sep. 22, there had been 2.9 million confirmed infections in the region, with Spain and France now seeing daily cases rise above the 10,000 mark. Governments have announced new restrictions to prevent the spread of the virus and economists have started considering the economic ramifications of the new measures. Speaking to CNBC on Wednesday, Williamson said upcoming data is likely to show a further slowdown in overall activity, which poses a "big risk of a double dip" in the euro area.

France in recession territory

A sharp fall in activity in the French services industry was not fully offset by manufacturing output. This led the overall index for France to drop for the first time in four months, IHS Markit reported, dropping to 48.5 in September from 51.6 in August. In Germany, the pace of the economic rebound slowed but was somewhat offset by its manufacturing industry. The overall flash German PMI came in at 53.7, from 54.4 in August. "The main concern at present is therefore whether the weakness of the September data will intensify into the fourth quarter, and result in a slide back into recession after a frustratingly brief rebound in the third quarter," Williamson said.
A Madison woman paid an alleged killer she met on Facebook $30,000 to fatally shoot the Hartselle man who was the father of their child the day of a custody hearing, according to testimony during a preliminary hearing in Morgan County District Court on Tuesday afternoon.

After two hours of testimony, District Judge Shelly Waters said probable cause had been demonstrated and she was sending the cases of the three defendants to a grand jury.

Aaron Carter Howard, 39, of Toney, and Angela Marie Stolz, 33, of Huntsville, have been charged with capital murder and Jaclyn Elaine Skuce, 38, has been charged with solicitation for murder in the July 24 shooting death of Anthony Larry Sheppard, 41, of Dawson Street in Hartselle.

Two other suspects, Logan McKinley Delp and Lajuhn Keith Smart, also have been charged with capital murder in the slaying, but their cases werent considered at Tuesdays hearing. No dates for their hearings have been placed in court records.

Testimony by Hartselle police investigator Tania Burgess detailed statements by several witnesses that Skuce used a fake Facebook account to find Delp and then met with him to arrange the killing.

She gave him three payments totaling $30,000, according to testimony provided by Burgess.

A witness told Burgess during the investigation that Delp, 36, of Madison, and Stolz met in the Walmart parking lot on Drake Avenue in Huntsville with a woman driving a maroon vehicle, which met the description of Skuces vehicle.

Burgess said Delp and getaway driver Smart, 24, of Huntsville, provided key information to other witnesses who were interviewed. She said Sheppard had five bullet wounds when authorities arrived at the scene after a welfare check on him.

Burgess said video surveillance cameras at the victims home showed Delp knock on the door, fire 12 to 15 rounds and leave in a 2001 white Nissan Maxima with Smart driving. She said the car belonged to Delps girlfriend.

One witness said Smart, also known as KJ, called it a life-changing amount of money, Burgess testified.

Stolz and Howard were not seen in any of the videos but were implicated by witnesses interviewed during the investigation.

Morgan County District Attorney Scott Anderson said Stolz and Howard played clear roles as accomplices in Sheppards death.

Witnesses told Burgess Stolz encouraged Delp and said she would do it herself if he didnt, Anderson said near the end of the hearing. Howard went on surveillance trips (with Delp), and he received money. We have more than probable cause in this case.

Two defense attorneys said the states evidence lacked substance and they like their clients' chances in court.

As the court said it is a very, very low standard to keep somebody in custody, said Carl Cole, Howards attorney. I was pleased (Waters) appeared to give it serious consideration. What happened in court today is a good sign for Mr. Howard.

Stolzs attorney, Robert Tuten, said he wasnt totally disappointed the case will be sent to a grand jury.

Proving it beyond a reasonable doubt is a different animal all together, he said. If that is all the evidence they have, they dont have a capital murder case on my client at all.

Cole said multiple videos obtained by authorities dont show Howard at all.

Not one has put Aaron Howard at the scene of the shooting. Theres no evidence he was in the car or had a gun, Cole said during the hearing.

In an earlier affidavit, Burgess said Howard followed Delps vehicle on a motorcycle and he was a lookout.

Cole said Howard admits being in the area, but he didnt shoot anybody and he was arrested for capital murder.

Catherine Carter, attorney for Skuce, said, My client wanted protection from him.

Burgess said during an interview with Skuce that Skuce said she and Sheppard had a personal relationship between 2011 and 2015 but never married.

2020 The Decatur Daily (Decatur, Ala.)

Visit The Decatur Daily (Decatur, Ala.) at www.decaturdaily.com

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Users who have a Disney+ subscription can link their account in the Google Home or Assistant app and can play movies and shows from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic and more.

Those who have been using Google Assistant-enabled smart displays at their homes can now stream Disney Plus shows on it. The firm says all such devices will support this feature including Nest Hub, Nest Hub Max and those coming from OEMs like Lenovo or JBL.

Disney+ is a one-of-a-kind experience that transcends generations. Whether its a classic like Snow White or the new, live-action series The Mandalorian, Disney+ has something for everyone to love. And starting today, you can navigate Disney+ content on Google Assistant-enabled Smart Displays, like Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max, in select markets around the globejust by using your voice, said Nandi Byer, strategic partner development manager at Google.

Also read: Reliance Jio launches JioPostpaid Plus service: Here are all the details

Users who have a Disney+ subscription can link their account in the Google Home or Assistant app and can play movies and shows from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic and more. All they need to do is to say Hey Google, play The Mandalorian on Disney+ to start streaming on the smart display.

That said, streaming Disney Plus shows on a smart display was possible before as well using the Chromecast-enabled Disney Plus app on another device. However, it can be done directly from the smart display now.

This feature is coming to select region only including US, UK, Germany, Spain, Italy, Austria, Ireland, France, Switzerland, Netherlands, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It is not for sure when this will come to India. However, if it does, one can safely assume it will be the Disney+ Hotstar service.

Disney Plus is the second service after Netflix to get this support on Google Assistant smart displays. Netflix got this support back in July. Besides handling voice controls, Netflix also lets you browse through the content via touchscreen controls.
JEFFERSON CITY  As election authorities across Missouri begin mailing out early ballots this week for the Nov. 3 election, attorneys for the state are juggling three lawsuits that seek to make it easier to vote by mail.

Under current state law, Missouri voters this year in specific at-risk categories for contracting or transmitting COVID-19 or voters who have contracted the disease may vote via absentee ballot by mail.

The ballot envelope, however, would have to be notarized, unless someone is incapacitated or confined because of illness or disability, or if someone is a caregiver for a person in those circumstances.

People at risk for COVID-19 or who already have contracted the coronavirus that causes it also do not need to have their ballot notarized.

The groups say the notary requirement is cumbersome and should be eliminated.

During an appearance in the Kansas City area, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft called the lawsuits frivolous, telling KSHB-TV that his office has conducted three successful elections amid the pandemic.

Were gonna have a fourth one like that, he said.

Of the lawsuits, the closest to resolution appears to be a suit filed in Cole County on behalf of the NAACP and the League of Women Voters of Missouri. Circuit Judge Jon Beetem is reviewing evidence for and against the effort to end the notary requirement. He could issue a decision at any time.

A second case in Cole County is set to go to trial on Oct. 6 in Circuit Judge Daniel Greens courtroom. The lawsuit, filed by the Washington, D.C.-based American Women advocacy organization, seeks to eliminate the notary requirement and seeks to ensure that ballots are counted even if mail service delays cause them to be delivered after the polls close.

In defending the state law, state Solicitor General John Sauer of the Missouri attorney generals office said abolishing the standards set forth by lawmakers could open the door to potential election fraud.

The third case is pending in federal court, where a number of organizations also are calling for a judge to make the mail-in voting process easier.

The groups include the Organization for Black Struggle, Missouri Faith Voices, the St. Louis and Greater Kansas City Chapters of the A. Philip Randolph Institute, and the National Council of Jewish Women St. Louis Section.

Although there is a status hearing in the case Thursday, the state has until early October to respond to a request for a temporary restraining order sought by the organizations.

\ Kurt Erickson  573-556-6181 @KurtEricksonPD on Twitter kerickson@post-dispatch.com

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Heres whats happening Wednesday in Election 2020, 41 days until Election Day:

HOW TO VOTE: APs state-by-state interactive has details on how to vote in this election.

TODAYS TOP STORIES:

TRUMP VILIFIES SCIENCE: With the nations COVID-19 death toll at 200,000, President Donald Trump is engaged in an ongoing war against his administrations own scientists. Over the past six months, the Trump administration has prioritized politics over science at key moments, refusing to follow expert advice that might have contained the spread of the coronavirus and the disease it causes.

REPUBLICANS' BIDEN REPORT: Two Republican-led Senate committees have issued a politically charged report on the work Democratic presidential nominee Joe Bidens son did in Ukraine. Bidens campaign immediately panned the report, released six weeks before the election, as an effort by an ally of Trump to damage his election opponent.

BIDIN HIS TIME': Joe Biden was running late. Again. With their packed schedules, relish for meeting as many people as possible and natural tendency toward verbosity, most presidential candidates rarely get anywhere, or do anything, on time.

GINSBURG MEME DEFENDED: Republican U.S. Senate candidate Lauren Witzke of Delaware defended a meme posted on Facebook by her campaign after the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The post is accompanied by a photo that appears to show a small group of half-naked children in a developing country smiling and dancing. The photo caption reads: Black babies when Ruth Vader Ginsburg dies. Yes, my campaign posted a meme and I stand by it, the firebrand political newcomer said during an online candidate forum. Witzke added that the meme was removed because she had received death threats.

QUOTABLE: On public relations I give myself a D. On the job itself we take an A-plus.  Trump to Fox News Channel on his handling of the pandemic.

ICYMI:

Trump, Biden fight to define campaigns most pressing issues

In battleground states, Catholics are a pivotal swing vote

AP-NORC poll: Views of economy stabilize as election nears

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Poole lived alone, and his son, Raymond, took food to him every day. Romona Poole said she had planned to retire early from her job at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development so she could accompany her father on his daily walks. He started walking after he suffered a stroke many years ago, which led to doctors discovering a heart ailment that required surgery.
The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has not accepted cryptocurrencies as a currency and a legal means of payment, said Nghiem Thanh Son, Deputy Director of the SBV's Payment Department.

Nghiem Thanh Son, Deputy Director of the SBV's Payment Department (Photo: VNA)

In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) on September 22, Son pointed to the fact that many businesses have mobilised investment in cryptocurrencies over the past time.

The possession, trading and use of cryptocurrencies as assets would pose risks to people since they are not subject to legal protection, he said, adding that the SBV recommended that organisations and individuals should not invest, keep and conduct transactions relating to cryptocurrencies.

According to the official, under the instruction of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Justice has completed a project on the legal framework for managing cryptocurrencies.

The PM then assigned the Ministry of Finance to study and devise legal documents on virtual assets and cryptocurrencies.

The Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam on April 13, 2018 issued Directive No 02/CT-NHNN about measures to strengthen control over transactions related to cryptocurrencies in which credit institutions were asked not to supply some types of transactions related to cryptocurrencies to ensure compliance with established regulations about anti-money laundering and forex management.

The finance ministry has also decided to set up a research group which would be in charge of studying and proposing policies to manage virtual assets and cryptocurrencies.

The group had nine members, led by Vice Chairman of the State Securities Commission Pham Hong Son. Other members are from the State Securities Commission, General Department of Taxation, State Bank of Vietnam's Department of Banking and Financial Institutions and Legal Department, Vietnam Customs and National Institute for Vietnam Finance.

According to cryptocurrency market research company CrytoCompare, at the end of November 2017, about 80 percent of Bitcoin transactions were found to originate from Asia, mainly from China, Japan, the Republic of Korea and Vietnam. Access from Vietnam to cryptocurrency websites and trading platforms were in the top five highest in the world, beside the US, Russia and Japan./.VNA
Autonomous shuttles are upright, boxy, 8-20 person vehicles that are symmetrical so they never do a U-turn. Small footprint, all-round vision, large doors, quiet, zero-emission, they can go indoors and over piazzas and roads and are able to perform many different tasks even in one day. Primarily intended for intensive urban use, they are gated to never exceed a determined speed, typically in the range 50kmph - 60kmph.

It all adds up to a new form of transport backed by both huge companies like Toyota and Baidu and start-ups alike. Their trials explore many possible applications, from empowering the poor and disabled, to viably filling in gaps in the transportation network and replacing very underutilized vehicles such as school buses and private cars, reducing congestion and cost. In IDTechEx's new report "Electric, Hybrid and Fuel Cell Buses 2021-2040" the major players developing autonomous shuttles are profiled. We summarise a selection of these companies below. While true level 4 autonomy does not currently exist, most companies discussed are at 'level 4' in geofenced or controlled areas.

NAVYA

NAVYA is a French company founded in 2014 with over 270 employees in France and the US. The company filed for IPO in Euronext Paris in July 2018 with 80 million euro ($94 million) financing and the company achieved 19 million euro ($22 million) revenues in 2018. The AUTONOM SHUTTLE, launched in 2015, is designed for a low-speed environment where there is a high frequency of travel. Currently it is still operated at Level 3 autonomy where on-board safety operators are required. The shuttle is dedicated to the first and last-mile transportation and can carry up to 15 people. The shuttle is suitable for underserved areas where full-sized buses might not be justified from a ridership standpoint, or areas that are too tight to get around. The shuttles can operate on open roads in cities or private sites such as campuses, business parks, airports, industrial parks and hospitals  anywhere where people are taking lots of trips from half a mile up to two miles. NAVYA's strategy is to build small autonomous shuttles with a $300,000+ price that can be amortized over time by municipalities, campuses and large corporate parks working on smart city projects.

EasyMile

EasyMile is a French high-tech start-up founded in 2014 with over 180 employees. The main product, EZ10, was designed from the ground for autonomous driving (no steering wheel). The EZ10 was launched in 2015 and 110 units have been sold to date. The company is generating some revenues (relatively small) from selling the shuttles. Apart from selling the EZ10 shuttles, the company also licenses its in-house autonomous driving software to other companies.

2getthere

2getthere is a spin-off company of Frog Navigation Systems, which was founded in 1984 to deliver automated guided vehicles (AGVs) to factories. The company became an independent company focused on autonomous vehicles for passenger transport in 2007, with a HQ in the Netherlands and was acquired by ZF Group, a German auto parts maker, in March 2019, which is one of the largest automotive suppliers. Its business model is to sell the complete transportation system: vehicles and operation systems including a supervision system for fleet management, passenger interface, charging infrastructure and communication infrastructure.

Baidu

The Chinese tech giant Baidu was founded in 2000 and specializes in internet-related services and products, and AI. The company started development of autonomous vehicles in 2013. The company has negotiated 50 partners to sign up for the development and purchase of the new autonomous buses Apolong. The volume production of the autonomous minibus Apolong is in partnership with Chinese vehicle manufacturer King Long who designs and manufactures the vehicle. In July 2018, Baidu announced its 100th Apolong, marking its ability to commercialize its autonomous shuttle buses.

Yutong

Yutong is a Chinese manufacturer of commercial vehicles, especially electric buses, headquartered in Zhengzhou, Henan. As of 2016, it was the largest bus manufacturer in the world by sales volume. Yutong showcased their pure electric shuttle in March 2019 during a forum in Hainan, China, transporting attendees at the conference venue. The autonomous shuttle integrates the U-Drive AI platform developed by UISEE, which uses sensor fusion and deep learning algorithms as well as a cloud-based vehicle management system. The 5m-long shuttle has eight seats and can go up to 40km/h in a closed environment. The shuttle is equipped with a set of sensors, including three lidars, radars, cameras and ultrasonics. In May 2019, Yutong started a pilot project on 5G intelligent transportation, running five shuttles on an island district in Zhengzhou in collaboration with China Unicom and China Mobile. The tested district is covered with 5G and has a dedicated lane for autonomous shuttles.

For more detailed information on autonomous shuttle players and forecasts, please see IDTechEx's report "Robot Shuttles and Autonomous Buses 2020-2040" (www.IDTechEx.com/shuttle).

IDTechEx analyzes adoption of electric vehicles, battery trends and demand across land, sea and air. This is summarized in a master electric vehicle report, found at www.IDTechEx.com/EV. Further in-depth analysis can be found in the full portfolio of electric vehicle research available at www.IDTechEx.com/research/EV.



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 [email protected] or visit www.IDTechEx.com.

Media Contact:

Natalie Moreton

Digital Marketing Manager

[email protected]

+44(0)1223 812300

SOURCE IDTechEx
The flag-draped casket of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg arrives at the Supreme Court in Washington (Patrick Semansky/AP)

Chief Justice John Roberts has said the words that best describe the late judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg are tough, brave, a fighter, a winner but also thoughtful, careful, compassionate, honest.

He spoke during a private ceremony in the Great Hall of the Supreme Court on Wednesday.

Afterwards, Ms Ginsburgs flag-draped casket was placed at the top of the courts front steps so the public can pay their respects to the second woman to serve on the Supreme Court.

Expand Close Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg will lie in repose for two days (Carolyn Kaster/AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg will lie in repose for two days (Carolyn Kaster/AP)

Thousands of people are expected to pay tribute throughout the day to the womens rights champion, who died last week at 87.

Her voice in court and in our conference room was soft but when she spoke people listened, Mr Roberts said

Ms Ginsburgs casket arrived at the court at 9.30am local time and was carried into the courts Great Hall, past her former law clerks who lined the steps.

Inside, the courts remaining eight justices, all of them wearing masks, were together for the first time since the building was closed in March and they resorted to meetings by telephone.

Because of the pandemic, chairs for the justices were spaced apart.

Ms Ginsburg will lie in repose for two days at the court where she served for 27 years and, before that, argued six cases for gender equality in the 1970s.

Her casket will be on public view from 11am to 10pm on Wednesday and 9am to 10pm on Thursday.

Expand Close A hearse carrying the flag-draped casket of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg arrives at the Supreme Court in Washington (Patrick Semansky/AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp A hearse carrying the flag-draped casket of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg arrives at the Supreme Court in Washington (Patrick Semansky/AP)

Nearly 500 members of the public gathered to pay their respects on Wednesday morning.

Since her death on Friday evening, people have been leaving flowers, notes, placards and all manner of paraphernalia outside the court in tribute to the judge who became known in her final years as the Notorious RBG.

Court workers cleared away the items and cleaned the court plaza pavement in advance of Wednesdays ceremony.

Inside, the entrance to the courtroom, along with Ms Ginsburgs chair and place on the bench next to Mr Roberts, have been draped in black, a long-standing court custom.

On Friday, she will lie in state at the Capitol, the first woman to do so and only the second Supreme Court justice after William Howard Taft, who was also president.

Rosa Parks, a private citizen as opposed to a government official, is the only woman who has lain in honour at the Capitol.

Ms Ginsburg will be buried beside her husband Martin, who died in 2010, in a private ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery next week.

She is survived by a son and a daughter, four grandchildren, two step-grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

Only Chief Justice Roger Taney, who died in October 1864, died closer to a presidential election
WASHINGTON - A $1 billion fund Congress gave the Pentagon in March to build up the country's supplies of medical equipment has instead been mostly funneled to defense contractors and used to make 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 more than 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 intent.

The payments were made even though U.S. health officials think major funding gaps in pandemic response still remain. 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. Many U.S. hospitals still face a severe shortage of N95 masks. 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.

DOD officials contend that they have sought to strike a balance between boosting American medical production and supporting the defense industry, whose health they consider critical to national security. The Pentagon, which as of 2016 employed more than 156,000 people working in acquisitions alone, also has lent its expertise to the Department of Health and Human Services as it seeks to purchase billions of dollars in needed medical equipment.

"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," Ellen Lord, the Pentagon's undersecretary for acquisition and sustainment, 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."

This article is based on a review of public records, individual contract announcements, congressional testimony, and interviews with people involved in the spending decisions. After the Washington Post reported the funding changes in an online article Tuesday, two House Democrats called for an investigation and public hearings on the matter, questioning the legality of how the money was used and calling it "unacceptable."

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 received the Pentagon money even though they had already dipped into another pot of bailout funding, the Paycheck Protection Program.

Congress, at President Donald Trump's urging, is debating whether to pass another massive stimulus package, and the Pentagon and defense contractors have called for an additional $11 billion to be directed toward their programs.

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 money 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.

The Democratic-controlled House Committee on Appropriations has made clear that the Defense Department's 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 [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 about their plans for the money.

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.

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 2019 is comparable to a typical year during the Cold War or the period shortly after Sept. 11, 2001, 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 to pay 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.

More than a third of the awards were for less than $5 million and went to smaller firms such as the American Woolen Co. 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.

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 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.

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 received 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 co-founder of ModalAI, said the company's proposal was long-planned - it started applying for the Pentagon funding 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 funding 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.

Thomas Spoehr, director of the Heritage Foundation's Center for National Defense, said Pentagon officials contend that 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 midsize 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, chief executive Brad Clevenger said.

Around March, the company heard from Lord's office, which was contacting defense contractors to understand how the pandemic was affecting them. SolAero worked with the Pentagon to find out whether 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 two months.

In its news release announcing the deal, the Defense Department said the funding 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 money, only that it deliver on the agreed project, Clevenger said.

"How we do that, with what workforce, is up to us," he said.

- - -

The Washington Post's Neena Satija and Alice Crites contributed to this report.
Los Angeles Police Department released the footage in the hope of locating the driver (LAPD)

Los Angeles Police Department has released a harrowing video of a hit and run incident that left a 70-year-old woman in critical condition in an attempt to track down the driver accused of fleeing the scene.

The grandmother was using a pedestrian crossing on a green light when a driver made a left turn and hit her, catapulting her into the air, and causing her to land on the street, police said in a release.

The woman was left with a brain bleed, broken neck, and broken pelvis, among other injuries as a result of the incident, and was taken to a local hospital in critical condition.

The driver did stop, exited the vehicle, however, fled the scene without rendering aid or identifying himself, police said.

Investigators have released footage of the incident and announced a $25,000 reward for information regarding the identification of the driver.

The womans daughter made an emotional plea for the driver to turn himself in to authorities at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon.

I want to tell the driver to please turn himself in because my mother didnt deserve to be laying down on the ground without any assistance, she told reporters.

This person needs to turn themself in. Im begging you to please turn yourself in.

The vehicle involved was a Mercedes Benz sedan possible 2003-2006 model C 230 with dealer-issued paper plates, police said.

Shocking footage of the incident shows the woman being propelled into the air and landing on the ground. A man can then be seen approaching the scene briefly in the aftermath but then walks away.

You see the suspect, wearing a black tank top and black shorts, walk up to the victim after the collision, then walk away and flee the scene, the police department tweeted.

At the end, you hear the victim asking the suspect to turn himself in, they added.

The man was described by police as a 35 or 40-year-old black male who is six feet four inches tall and around 180 pounds with braided short blond hair. Investigators also noted that he has a tattoo of the number one on the left side of his face.

Story continues

Police are asking that anyone who has any information regarding the vehicle, driver, or collision contact Detective Jose De Leon of CTD, at (213) 833-3713.

Drivers are reminded to drive at a safe speed and if you become involved in a collision, you should pull over and stop as soon as it is safe to do so, notify emergency services, and remain at the scene to identify yourself, police said.

Read more

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The shares of companies of Mistry family owned Shapoorji Pallonji Group surged on Wednesday after it announced its separation plans from Tata Group. Shares of Sterling & Wilson Solar hit 20 per cent, its biggest single day gains since August last year. It currently trades at 235.70 apiece. Similarly, Forbes & Co hit 5 per cent upper circuit at Rs 1,484.15 apiece.

On September 22, Shapoorji Pallonji Group had said: "mutual co-existence of both groups at Tata Sons would be infeasible... and separation from the Tata group is necessary". Shapoorji Pallonji group owns 50.6 per cent stake in Sterling & Wilson and 72.6 per cent in Forbes, as of 30 June.

The Mistry family owns 18.37 per cent in Tata Sons and is its largest minority shareholder. It is expected that the proceeds that Shapoorji Pallonji Group receives after making an exit from Tata Group could be used to repay debt of Sterling & Wilson Solar. "The promoters have repaid only Rs 103 crore of the Rs 1,000 crore it owed to the company, the deadline for which ends this month," Sterling and Wilson had said in a regulatory filing.

On Tuesday, the lawyer of Tata Sons had informed the Supreme Court that the 150 year-old conglomerate is willing to buy the 18.37 per cent stake owned by 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. But Shapoorji Pallonji Group claimed that the 18.37 per cent is valued Rs 1.75 lakh crore.

Also read: Buy us out for Rs 1.75 lakh crore: Mistrys to Tata Group
(Newser)  Louisville is holding its breath, as is Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly, one of three officers involved in the Breonna Taylor shooting, who could face charges with a grand jury decision. His words, however, are flowing. On Tuesday, Mattingly penned an email to 1,000-plus colleagues in which he defended his actions on March 13. "Regardless of the outcome ... I know we did the legal, moral, and ethical thing that night," he wrote, per NBC News. "It's sad how the good guys are demonized, and criminals are canonized." Taylor, 26, was killed as police served a no-knock warrant at her home, which her ex-boyfriend, a convicted drug dealer, had identified as his own residence. Taylor's boyfriend claims officers didn't identify themselves. The licensed gun owner fired a shot, striking Mattingly in the thigh. Officer Brett Hankison "blindly" fired 10 of more than 20 shots, per the Washington Post.

story continues below

Hankinson was fired in June. Mattingly and another officer, Myles Cosgrove, are on administrative leave pending an internal investigation, per the Post. Protesters have been calling for the arrests of all three. "These next few days are going to be tough," wrote Mattingly, 47. He advised officers to de-escalate tensions if possible and "make sure you can justify your actions because everything ... is recorded" and the department will "go after you for civil rights violations." He added Mayor Greg 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," leaving officers in a position "that allows thugs to get in your face." "I'm proof they do not care about you or your family, and you are replaceable," he wrote. "I'll be praying for your safety." (A state of emergency has been declared.)
Toyota recently created a huge flutter by announcing it was being choked with excessive taxes, and that going forward, it might stop expansion and further investments in the country. Speaking to another media platform, Shekar Viswanathan, vice chairman of the local Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said: The message we are getting, after we have come here and invested money, is that we dont want you. The auto sector is taxed at 28%, and with other add-ons for big cars, a Toyota SUV may carry an unbearable 50% tax load for the consumer. Viswanathans case is that such punitive taxes leave investors with thin margins and discourages launch of new products.

Expectedly, there was a PR pushback from the government, and Toyota revised its statement to read it was in fact committed to India, and that it will be investing Rs 2,000 crore on electric vehicles (EVs). By then the damage had been done. The auto sector is not the only one complaining. Vodafone has been voicing its angst for quite some time.

Former Vodafone India chief Martin Pieters said last November: For most foreign investors, it has been like a bad dream. ... The Indian telecom market has developed in a very negative way. General Motors quit the country in 2017, while last year Ford Motor Co, after struggling for years, decided to exit after merging its assets with Mahindra & Mahindra.

High taxes give immediate returns to the government but the long-term effect on growth is crippling. Over-taxed goods are expensive and kill demand and consumption. With slow sales, companies shy away from expansion, hitting both jobs and purchasing power. Toyotas two units in Bidadi, Bengaluru, are designed to produce 3.10 lakh units a year; but the company sold barely 1.25 lakh cars last year.

A tax regime that changes its goalposts every two years, and inflicts retrospective and double taxation will not help the governments Make in India drive. Besides, permissions and compliance are a nightmare. If the government hopes to pull us out of the sub-zero slowdown, it should give some weight to the words of Toyotas Viswanathan.


A $15 million lawsuit involving the former GM plant may be coming to an end.

A trial scheduled to start on Sept. 28 between Attar Metals Inc. and Bayshore, which owns the partially demolished industrial property at 282-285 Ontario Street, has been called off.

The civil trial office in Torontos Superior Court of Justice said the trial is not proceeding due to a settlement and the lawyers are working on terms.

Mississauga-based Attar Metals Inc. launched a suit in May 2017 against Bayshore Groups, Bayshore International, 2390541 and 2202180 Ontario Ltd. and Bayshore principals Chiara and Robert Megna.

The metal recycler alleged in court documents that Bayshore didnt honour a contract made in October 2014 involving work at the 54.7-acre former GM property.

Attar claimed in its lawsuit that it was supposed to get 50 per cent of revenues generated from the sale of all metals at the plant, as well as proceeds of sale from all other assets and real estate on site.

It also said it acquired exclusive rights to market, sell and collect revenue from materials in exchange for a $2 million payment for property rights and $625,000 for marketing rights.

But it alleged that Bayshore secretly sold off assets and mortgaged the property, less than a month after the contract was executed, in the amount of $5 million and then mortgaged it again in March 2017 for $20 million.

Bayshore denied all allegations and launched a counter suit.

In early 2019, the Superior Court judge presiding over the matter in Torontos commercial court ordered the mortgagee 2496582 Ontario Inc. to become a defendant in the civil case.

A lawyer for Attar Metals would not comment Wednesday, other than to confirm the trial is not going forward as scheduled.

Lawyers for Bayshore Groups and the mortgagee did not respond to calls and emails.

The site of the former GM plant has been listed for sale since March 2019.

Its environmental impact has been a subject of concern by neighbours and the group Coalition for a Better St. Catharines, which has argued the city and upper levels of government need to stop toxic chemical runoff from the site from entering Twelve Mile Creek.

The Ontario Street property was sold by GM to Bayshore in June 2014 for $12.5 million.
A man went berserk in the precincts of the Eastern Regional Hospital in Koforidua over his dying father who has been abandoned due to the nationwide strike by Nurses and Midwives.

The furious man stormed out of the ward to the hospital compound to throw tantrums alleging that nobody was attending to his dying father.

The distraught man wondered if there is a President in Ghana.

Nurses and midwives across the country commenced strike action on Monday, September 21,2020 over poor conditions of service despite an Accra High Court granting an interlocutory injunction application on Friday by the National Labour Commission against the strike.

The Striking Nurses and Midwives have formed taskforce ensuring full compliance.

The Eastern Regional Hospital which is a referral facility is hardest hit as almost half of its over 900 staff are on strike.

The Regional Hospital records 927 average daily OPD attendance and 60 admissions.

The strike has forced Doctors in the hospital to assume multiple tasks day and night to hold the fort.

The Doctors say they are overstretched calling on government to address the concerns of the Striking Nurses and Midwives as soon as possible to avert crises in healthcare.

Meanwhile, the Medical Director of the Eastern Regional Hospital, Dr. Akoto Ampaw has called for an emergency meeting on Wednesday, September 23, 2020 for a contingency plan to address their situation.

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WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that U.S. travellers wont be allowed to bring home Cuban cigars and rum or stay in government-owned hotels there under new measures designed to help financially cripple the islands government. The action came as Trump is seeking to boost his appeal among Cuban Americans, a crucial Republican-leaning voting bloc in the all-important state of Florida.

Trump made the announcement at the White House as he considers choosing a Cuban American woman from Florida to fill a vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Trump said the new Treasury Department sanctions will ensure that U.S. dollars do not fund the Cuban government. He has been taking steps over the past four years to reinstate an economic blockade of Cuba and reverse the strategy of restoring diplomatic relations with the Caribbean island, the policy pursued by former President Barack Obama, a Democrat.

At a White House ceremony honouring 20 veterans of the failed 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba, Trump assailed the Obama policy as a weak, pathetic, one-sided deal with Cuban leaders Fidel and Raul Castro  and linked it to his presidential rival, Joe Biden, who was Obamas vice-president.

I cancelled the Obama-Biden sellout to the Castro regime, Trump said.

He said U.S. sanctions will remain until Cuba releases all political prisoners, rights to free assembly and expression are respected, political parties are legalized and free elections are scheduled.

Today we reaffirm our ironclad solidarity with the Cuban people and our eternal conviction that freedom will prevail over the sinister forces of communism and evil in many different forms, the president said. Today we declare Americas unwavering commitment to a free Cuba.

Lawrence Ward, a partner in the international law firm Dorsey & Whitney, said Trumps action will make it nearly impossible for Americans to visit Cuba since the government owns or controls nearly all hotels. Americans are allowed to visit Cuba to see family, for humanitarian visits and for several other reasons expressly outlined by the U.S. government.

Ward predicted that even those areas of travel will become more difficult as Americans basically will be out of options for lodging on the island.

Certainly these new sanctions will have some minor impact on the Cuban government and Cubas economy but theres a fair argument that the actions are more symbolic and political given that the United States stands nearly alone in its sanctions as to Cuba, Ward said in an email.

Democrats accused Trump of attempting to shape U.S. foreign policy for his political benefit.

This is a desperate and hypocritical attempt by Trump to pander to Cuban-American voters in Florida, Democratic Party spokesperson Enrique Gutierrez said in an email. Gutierrez noted that Cuba has already closed its borders to Americans because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Gutierrez noted that Trump had sought in his past life as a businessman to do business in Cuba and seek trademarks there during the economic blockade.

Cuban-Americans are a crucial voting bloc in Florida, a state critical to Trumps reelection prospects.

Republicans have long dominated with these voters, who are known for a collective dislike of President John F. Kennedy, a Democrat, over the Bay of Pigs invasion. The 1961 mission failed to meet its goal of toppling the communist government of Cubas Fidel Castro.

One in every 5 of Floridas 13.8 million voters is Hispanic and the Pew Research Center estimates that nearly a third, or more than 4.5 million of those, have roots in Cuba. Nearly 50,000 Cubans have become naturalized U.S. citizens between October 2016 and September 2018, according to the most recently available data from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Although researchers note that younger Cuban Americans and those who came to the U.S. in more recent decades favour restoring diplomatic relations with Cuba, those who are older may have hardened their views.

In 2017, Trump announced the first step to roll back Obamas Cuba thaw at a Miami theatre named after Manuel Artime, the influential exile who launched the Bay of Pigs uprising. The president was joined then, as he was Wednesday, by members of the Assault Brigade 2506.

Trump met with a group of the veterans as far back as 1999, when he had presidential aspirations and visited Miamis Little Havana.

Trump recognized the Bay of Pigs veterans at the White House in November 2019, but Wednesdays ceremony came as Trump deliberates over whether to choose Barbara Lagoa, a U.S. appeals court judge of Cuban descent, as a possible successor to the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Lagoa is among five women Trump is considering to fill the seat.

___

Associated Press writers Adriana Gomez Licon in Miami and Kevin Freking in Washington contributed to this report.
New Delhi:

Quami Ekta Dal (QED) founder Mukhtar Ansari, his brothers, Sibgatulla and Afzal, and son Abbas joined Bahujan Samaj Party on Thursday.

Announcing their induction into the BSP in Lucknow, party chief Mayawati defended the move saying that the allegations against the jailed leader have been not been proven so far.

Four-time MLA Mukhtar Ansari, who is currently lodged in Lucknow jail, will contest from the Mau assembly constituency on Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) ticket in next month's polls.

Ansari's son Abbas and brother Sibgatulla have also joined the party and they will be contesting the elections from Ghosi and Mohammadabad assembly constituencies respectively.

Mukhtar had earlier won a seat from Mau in 1996 on a BSP ticket.

Last year, Ansari's party had merged with the ruling SP, but the merger did not last long as Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav was unhappy with the move.

(With inputs from agencies)

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THREE brothers with a passion for magnet fishing have hauled out deadly catches  a gun each.

Reece Nixon, 14, was the first to come across a weapon when he found a World War One machine gun at the bottom of a canal.

That find a year ago was followed by a handgun fished out by younger brother Riley, five.

Then last Sunday four-year-old Leo found a BB gun on one of his first fishing expeditions.

Gun fishing: Leo Nixon, four, with BB weapon

Riley, five, with handgun and Reece Nixon, 14, with a World War One machine gun

The wartime weapon, a Vickers. is now in a museum, while investigations have found the German handgun was used in an armed robbery.

The brothers, from Leeds, regularly go magnet fishing  in which a magnet attached to a rope is dangled into water to locate metallic objects  in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.

The boys father William, 49, took the first two guns to the police.
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The Rs 2,244-crore IPO of Computer Age Management Services (CAMS) has seen strong response from investors on September 23, the last day of subscription.

The public issue is subscribed 46.98 times so far, as the bids of 60.27 crore equity shares have been received against the reduced IPO size of over 1.28 crore equity shares, the subscription data available on exchanges showed.

It had on September 18 raised Rs 667 crore from several anchor investors at higher end of price band of Rs 1,229-1,230 per share, as a result the issue size has been reduced to over 1.28 crore equity shares from 1.82 crore shares earlier.

The response from non-institutional investors looked strong on last day as their reserved portion was subscribed 111.84 times, while the portion set aside for retail investors witnessed 5.55 times subscription and that of qualified institutional buyers 73.17 times.

The reserved portion of employees is subscribed 1.16 times. Global private equity firm Warburg Pincus-backed CAMS reserved up to 1,82,500 equity shares for eligible employees.

CAMS IPO issue opens: Should you subscribe?

NSE Investments, the subsidiary of National Stock Exchange, will divest its entire equity stake in CAMS via this IPO.

CAMS is a technology-driven financial infrastructure and services provider to mutual funds and other financial institutions with over 2 decades of experience. It is India's largest registrar and transfer agent of mutual funds with an aggregate market share of 70 percent based on mutual fund average assets under management (AAUM) managed by its clients and serviced by them during November 2019.

Ajcon Global believes the issue is priced at a premium owing to its robust business model and major presence in Mutual Funds RTA space which has a big opportunity.

CAMS IPO opens on September 21: 10 key things you must know

"The recent fancy for companies with differentiated business model and their stellar listing also instills confidence in this issue. With due consideration to above factors we recommend subscribe the issue," said the brokerage.

Ajcon likes the company due to duopoly MF-RTA industry; diverse portfolio of technology-enabled services; PAN India physical network; scalable technology enabled ecosystem; strong promoter group and key shareholders like Great Terrain (an affiliate of Warburg Pincus), HDFC, HDFC Bank; strong EBITDA margins and balance sheet, consistent financial performance over the years; and ability to generate free cash and strong return ratios.

UTI AMC to launch Rs 3,000 crore-IPO on September 29; SBI, LIC, T Rowe to divest stake

CAMS' mutual fund clients include 4 of the 5 largest mutual funds as well as 9 of the 15 largest mutual funds based on AAUM during July 2020.

CAMS offers an integrated and customized portfolio of services through its pan-India physical network comprising 271 service centres spread over 25 states and 5 union territories as of June 2020, and which are supported by call centres in 4 major cities, 4 back offices.

It has developed in-house and own Investrak.NET, a mutual fund transfer agency platform, myCAMS, a mobile device investor interface application, GoCORP, a distributor focused application, and MFDEx a market intelligence product/information database, among many other services.

Jaikishan Parmar, Senior Equity Research Analyst at Angel Broking believes investors should hold this stock for the long term also.

"As its reinvestment requirement is very low because it is a technology-led company, it does not have to do heavy capex to run regular business. Hence, at the end of the year, the CAMS left with a strong cash flow which CAMS uses to pay a generous dividend to a shareholder. Historically it has maintained a dividend payout ratio of 65 percent. An investor can expect a similar dividend payout in the future also," said Parmar who has given subscribe rating to the issue.
Ya-Na Abukari II

23.09.2020 LISTEN

The King of Dagbon, Ndan Ya-Na Abukari II, has been elected as President of the Northern Regional House of Chiefs.

He was elected at an event held in Tamale to reconstitute the Northern Regional House of Chiefs after the separation of the Savannah and Northeast regional house of Chiefs.

The King of Dagbon is expected to serve a team of four years.

The newly constituted Northern regional house of Chiefs elected five other members as representatives of the house at the National House of Chiefs.

The members are the Sagnar-Naa Ambassador Yakubu Abdullia, Kumbun- Alhaji Abu Iddrisu, Sunson-Naa Shani Hamidu II, Nakpale-Bore Gariba Yankosor II, and Bakpaba-Naa Adam Naatogmah.

The King of Dagbon, Ndan Ya Na Abukari II in a speech assured that he would promote peaceful co-existence and harmony in the Northern region during his regime and called for the support of all members of the house.

It is my solemn pledge that I shall devote the period of my Presidency of this House to work diligently with all stakeholders, in conformity with our time-tested customs and traditions to promote peaceful co-existence and harmony in the Northern region.

The overlord of Dagbon indicated that respect for the laws of the land and the customs and traditions is the surest way for lasting peace and development in the region and called for the sustainability of the current peace in the region.

Ya Na appealed for a review of the quantum and frequency of resources allocated to the House of Chiefs to enable them fully and adequately carry out their duties.

delays in the release of funds are a frequent problem that we hope will be looked and remedied. We are fully aware of the enormous responsibilities and duties the 1992 constitution and the Chieftaincy Aact 2008, Act 759 places on us to regulate and manage traditional governance in Ghana

Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia who was the guest of honour at the inauguration of the reconstituted Northern regional house of Chiefs in Tamale lauded the contributions of the Houses of Chiefs to national development.

the chieftaincy institution will continue to be an indispensable part of our history and national development. You will continue to be the upholders of our National values and aspirations as a society

Dr. Bawumia said the government of President Akufo-Addo recognises the indispensable role of Chiefs in governance structure, and has increased various support for the Chieftaincy institution, including 100% increase in monthly allowance, the Ghs3.5m support for the construction of the National House of Chiefs Secretariat as well as the institution of capacity building programmes, among others.

He assured that the President Akufo-Addo government will continue to support and partner with the custodians of our cultures in the country to promote national cohesion and development.

The Minister for Chieftaincy and religious affairs Samuel Kofi Dzamesi, urged members of the house to abide by laws and to promote development within their jurisdictions and Ghana at large.

---Daily Guide
Mumbai: Actor Amol Parashar, who is being lauded for his performance in 'Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare', took to social media to share fun trivia with his fans. He said that he shot for the film and Tripling 2 simultaneously and it was challenging, yet fun to step into the shoes of his diametrically opposite characters Osman (Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare) and Chitvan (Tripling 2). While one is a crazy and funny guy, the other is an innocent and naive person.

He shares, There was quite a bit of overlap in the shoot schedules, especially in the first 8-10 days when I was shooting for either on almost alternate days, in different cities. What does that mean? Shooting for Chitvan through the day, taking a late-night flight into Delhi, driving to Noida, catching a couple of hours of sleep before turning up as Osman on the set. And repeating this cycle back and forth.

Amol was worried about the characters spilling into each other, hence he had to stay really focused. The actor felt content when he received numerous messages from his fans, applauding his versatility and acting skills. When you have solid directors and co-actors, it helps to feed off their energies. What a crazy but satisfying process. And going by the reactions of people to Osman, I could confidently say we succeeded in being true to these very disparate characters. It gives me strength and confidence, and hunger to do more, says the actor.
David Reeves did not realise he had a $75,000 student loan until it was pointed out to him while he was doing his tax return.

He tried to "blank it out" for nine months before reporting it this year to a legal aid solicitor who helped him get the debt cancelled.

David Reeves discovered he had a $75,000 student loan debt when he did his tax return. Credit:Wolter Peeters

Mr Reeves, 49, from Airds in Sydney's south-west, is among thousands of vulnerable people who were offered enticements including free laptops by unscrupulous vocational education providers.

But Legal Aid NSW has warned that the deadline is at the end of the year for those saddled with large debts to apply to get them waived.
NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- First State Investments, a leading global investment manager, announced it is operating worldwide under the new brand, First Sentier Investors, effective today.

The name change follows the acquisition of First State Investments in August 2019 by Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation (MUTB), a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. (MUFG), from Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA).

Headquartered in Sydney, Australia, First Sentier Investors operates as a standalone investment management business and manages more than US$148 billion on behalf of investors across Asia, Australasia, Europe and North America. First Sentier Investors offers a comprehensive suite of active investment capabilities across global and regional equities, cash and fixed income, infrastructure, and multi-asset solutions, all with a shared purpose to deliver sustainable investment success for clients.

There is no change in the investment teams or investment process as a result of the rebrand. First Sentier Investors is the home of investment teams Stewart Investors and FSSA Investment Managers and these teams will continue to operate under their current brand names.

"The name change reflects our desire to be a unified global business. Our new name, First Sentier Investors, reflects our heritage and ongoing purpose. 'First' references our strong and successful heritage as First State Investments, while the word 'Sentier' means pathwhich reflects our commitment to creating our own way forward, with a focus on investing responsibly over the long term for the benefit of our clients," said Mark Steinberg, Chief Executive Officer.

"In the United States and Canada, we are seeing growing interest from asset owners for our high-caliber, actively managed specialist investment capabilities," said Bachar Beaini, Managing Director of the Americas region. "In particular, there is heightened attention from investors in our direct and listed infrastructure strategies, U.S. high yield funds, and global and regional equity capabilities managed by our affiliate brands FSSA Investment Managers and Stewart Investors."

"Another area of strength for us is responsible investment," Beaini said. "We were an early adopter among global asset managers to integrate responsible investment into our investment processes across every asset class, and it remains core to our values and operating model."

The business has operated as First Sentier Investors since September 2019 in Australia, where it was earlier known as Colonial First State Global Asset Management. Today the name change becomes effective across all markets.

Media inquiries



Margaret Kirch Cohen

CL-Media Relations, LLC

E: [email protected]

T: +1 847 507 2229

Richard Chimberg

CL-Media Relations, LLC

E: [email protected]

T: + 1 617 312 4281

About First Sentier Investors

First Sentier Investors manages US$148 billion in assets (as of June 30, 2020) on behalf of institutional investors, pension funds, wholesale distributors, investment platforms, financial advisers and their clients worldwide.

The firm operates as a standalone global investment management business with offices across Europe, the Americas, and Asia Pacific. First Sentier Investors' expertise spans a range of asset classes and specialist investment sectors focused on delivering sustainable investment success based on responsible investment principles.

Formerly Colonial First State Global Asset Management, the firm was acquired from the Commonwealth Bank of Australia in August 2019 by Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.

SOURCE First State Investments
A Bexar County Sheriffs deputy was fired last week after officials discovered that an arrest warrant was issued for him in connection with a two-year-old domestic violence incident.

Andre Phillip Winston, 25, was arrested Thursday and charged with interference with an emergency telephone call following an audit of employees suspected of criminal misconduct, officials said. Winston posted a $1,000 bond and was released the same day.

The alleged offense, which is considered a misdemeanor, occurred on Sept. 25, 2018, BCSO said.

On that day, Winston went to his ex-girlfriends North Side apartment to deliver something to eat, according to a San Antonio police report.

The woman told police Winston became angry after she refused his attempts to kiss her because they were no longer in a relationship. After she told him to leave, he allegedly grabbed her and threw her down before slapping her and damaging her glasses, the report states.

She attempted to call 911 after yelling for help from a balcony door, but Winston allegedly grabbed the phone and threw it, the report states.

Winston then allegedly pulled her by the hair when she ran for the door, causing some strands to come out of her scalp, the report states. He then ran outside to his car and drove away, the woman said.

According to records, the woman filed a complaint with SAPD that day. A warrant for Winstons arrest was issued on Aug. 11. It is unclear why it took almost two years to obtain the warrant.

After discovering the warrant, Sheriff Javier Salazar took immediate action and presented Winston with termination papers, a spokesperson said.

Winston, who had been with the department since 2017, resigned in lieu of termination and received a dishonorable discharge.

After the incident, Winston, who was a detention deputy, was placed on administrative leave.

On Oct. 9, 2018, he was assigned to administrative duty and worked in fleet maintenance until his resignation. It is unclear why he was removed from administrative leave.

This former employee has to face his legal issues on his own, and wont be doing that as a member of this agency, Salazar said. This agency will continue to take a strong stance on domestic violence issues whether in the community or within our own ranks.

Under the departments civil service rules, adopted in 2018, Winston is not eligible for rehire.

The arrest came just days after another deputy was fired for posting an offensive Facebook comment that incited violence, the department said.

Officials fired former deputy Jackie Farmer on Sept. 15 after he allegedly made comments in a social media post that said people should lynch mob someone accused of stealing mail.

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
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 13:39:24|Editor: huaxia

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MUMBAI, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from a residential building collapse at Bhiwandi, 38 km west of Mumbai, rose to 35 as rescue operation continued on Wednesday 52 hours after the tragedy.

The casualties include 12 kids while 25 people with multiple injuries have been admitted to hospital after the three-storey building collapsed early on Monday when the residents were asleep.

As the debris was getting cleared from the structure that housed 40 flats with around 150 residents, the police have booked the owner of the collapsed building for culpable homicide, claiming "neither did he take efforts to repair the building's broken pillar, nor did he convince people to vacate the building."

Two officials were also suspended in connection with the incident, the spokesperson for the civic body said.

The monsoon season during June-September with torrential rains are often blamed for 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.

Most of the residents in the ill-fated building were autorickshaw drivers, vendors or laborers, who stayed at a monthly rent of 40.8-54.4 U.S. dollars.

Bhiwandi, a textile hub with largest power looms in Asia's third-largest economy, has turned into a logistics hub with e-commerce companies having their warehouses to cater to Mumbai's consumer demand.

"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," said Milind Palsule, public relation officer of the local civic body.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah had expressed their condolences on this unfortunate incident.

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
The Julie Rogers, the Jefferson Theatre and other Beaumont facilities that have been closed as a precaution against the spread of the novel coronavirus are set to reopen Oct. 1.

While the move gained the votes of Mayor Becky Ames and Councilman Randy Feldschau, who previously voted to keep the facilities closed, it still was not unanimous. Council members Robin Mouton and Audwin Samuel voted against.

Samuel said he sees that fewer coronavirus patients are hospitalized and there are fewer positive cases each day.

But I realize that theres not as much testing going on now as has been done in the past, he said. I do realize that now were opening schools. Were seeing young children contracting the virus and dying. I also know that with the additional opening of facilities, more people will contract it.

Related: Reopening Childrens Museum again prompts facilities debate

Ames acknowledged those points. But, she said, at some point the city has to move forward with reopening plans. Specifically, the growing comfort of medical professionals with reopening and Texas Gov. Greg Abbotts move last week to take the next step toward reopening informed her decision to support reopening city facilities.

She added that if coronavirus cases and hospitalizations substantially increase, she will work hard to have the facilities closed once again. Based on conversations with medical professionals, she said the time to begin closing facilities again would be if coronavirus patients across both Beaumont hospitals reach or exceed 75.

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I dont think this is over  . But if we continue to do what most of our citizens have been doing by social distancing and wearing masks, I think we will continue to be on the right road, she said during the meeting.

Even with majority support for reopening the still-closed city facilities, discussion regarding coronavirus was not smooth.

Notably, Ames expressed concern about some council members decision not to wear a mask. She specifically told Councilman W.L. Pate Jr., who sits next to her, that he didnt know if he had coronavirus despite not wearing a mask during the meeting.

Pate, coincidentally, said he had recently been tested for the virus and his results came back negative.

Related: In reversal, Beaumont will keep public venues closed

The two have repeatedly butted heads over the wording in Abbotts mandatory mask order.

Ames says Abbotts order is clear that face coverings shall be worn over the nose or mouth while inside. Pate, on the other hand, said he believes the order allows for a face covering to be removed if individuals can social distance.

The order reads: shall wear a face covering over the nose and mouth when inside a commercial entity or other building or space open to the public, or when in an outdoor public space, wherever it is not feasible to maintain six feet of social distancing from another person not in the same household.

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Europe has struggled to carry out deportations, despite numerous pledges to improve numbers. Only about a third of people who are given deportation orders are actually sent to their home countries. Countries in the Middle East and Africa, from where most migrants to Europe originate, have been reluctant to accept returns. In some cases, their economies rely on remittances from workers in wealthier countries. Countries also feel that Europe has not done enough to offer legal pathways for their citizens to come on student or work visas.
New Delhi:

Slamming the BJP in a hard-hitting speech, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray said on Thursday his party will go it alone in the February civic polls in Mumbai and at other places in Maharashtra.



Thackeray's announcement ended the suspense over whether the Sena and the BJP, the ruling alliance partners, would fight the election to Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM), the country's richest civic body, together.



Seat-sharing talks between the two parties had hit a deadlock amid bickering.



"I will not bend in front of anybody. If somebody thinks we are lesser than them, we will displace them," an aggressive Thackeray told a gathering of party workers without naming the BJP.



The Sena was all set to contest the polls without an alliance and he needed foot soldiers who had the "courage to launch a frontal attack, instead of indulging in back-stabbing", Thackeray said.



"Once I have taken the decision, I do not want anybody to question it. If you promise to stand by me, I have taken the decision to go it alone in Maharashtra. I will not go to anybody with a begging bowl for alliance and will not be at anybody's mercy. I have decided there will be no alliance for any of the coming municipal corporation or zilla parishad polls," the Sena chief said.



Referring to the recent protests in Tamil Nadu, he said the coming polls were no less than 'jallikattu' where "a bull needs to be tamed" once and for all. "When you talk of transparency, we expect a similar transparency in the state government and at the Centre," Thackeray said in an apparent reference to the BJP's demand of "transparency" in the functioning of the Sena-controlled MCGM.

(With inputs from PTI)

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Cazenovia, N.Y.  A large stash of weapons and ammunition have been seized from a Madison County man, troopers announced Wednesday.

Anthony J. Bair, 49, of Cazenovia, was arrested recently by the New York State Police and charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, police said. Officers arrested Bair at his home, police said.

Troopers said Bair, a convicted felon prohibited from having weapons, had:

Seven handguns

Seven long guns/shotguns

A large quantity of handgun, shotgun and rifle ammunition

Assault rifle-style parts

Semi-automatic pistol parts without serial numbers

Multiple 30-round, assault-rifle style magazines

Two sets of ballistic body armor with trauma plates

A ballistic helmet

Two smoke grenades

Bair was arraigned and is being held in the Madison 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.
Based on the main written exam, a merit list will be prepared of candidates who will be selected for the physical efficiency test

BPSSC SI Mains exam | The Bihar Police Subordinate Services Commission (BPSSC) has on Wednesday released the Admit Card of main written examination for the post of Sub Inspector/Sergeant/Assistant Superintendent Jail (Direct recruitment)/Assistant Superintendent Jail (Ex-Serviceman) in Bihar Police (Advt. No. 01/2019).

Candidates, who have applied for the examination, can download their admit card on the official website, bpssc.bih.nic.in.

The Combined Mains (Written) Examination for selection of candidates for the 2,446 vacant posts of Bihar Police Sub Inspector will be conducted on 11 October, The Times of India reported.

The exam will be held in two shifts across various exam centres and candidates have to carry their BPSSC SI Admit Card along with ID Proof. Candidates have to follow all the instructions and guidelines for COVID-19 prevention such as wearing of masks, gloves etc.

There will be two papers in the main examination. The first paper will be of two hours in general Hindi of 200 marks. The paper will have 100 questions and it will be mandatory for candidates to get minimum qualifying marks of 30 percent.

The second paper will be related to General Studies, General Science, Civics Indian History, Indian Geography, Mathemativs and Mental Aptitude Test. The second paper will be of 200 marks as well.

There will be deduction of 0.2 marks for each incorrect answer.

Based on the main written exam, a merit list will be prepared of candidates who will be selected for the physical efficiency test.

As per the official notification, there are 2,064 vacancies for the post of Police Sub Inspector with a pay scale between Rs 35,400 to Rs 1,12,400. There are 215 vacancies for Sergeant, with the same pay scale. For Assistant Superintendent Jail (Direct Recruitment), there are 125 vacancies, with a pay scale between Rs 29,200 to Rs 92,300. Finally, there are 42 vacancies for Assistant Superintendent Jail (Ex-Serviceman) with a pay scale between Rs 29,200 to Rs 92,300.

Steps to download the Bihar Police SI Mains Admit Card 2020:

Step 1: Visit the official website of BPSSC.

Step 2: Click on the Bihar Police SI admit card download 2020 link.

Step 3: Enter the login credentials (including registration number, date of birth and captcha).

Step 4: Download the admit card and take a print for future reference.
Carole Baskin, who became a pop culture sensation due to Netflixs docuseries Tiger King, is being sued for defamation by a former assistant. As part of the lawsuit, the daughters of Baskins former husband are seeking more information about what happened to their father, who disappeared mysteriously more than two decades ago.

The amended complaint to an earlier lawsuit was filed Tuesday in state court in Tampa by Don Lewis three daughters, Donna Pettis, Lynda Sanchez, and Gale Rathbone, as well as his former assistant, Anne McQueen. It also names Baskins current husband and her tiger rescue sanctuary as defendants.

The lawsuit said that Baskin defamed McQueen by posting a video diary entry on YouTube earlier this month in which she says McQueen played a role in Lewis disappearance. Those statements and embezzlement allegations also were made on Baskins website, bigcatrescue.org, the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit also is seeking what is known as a pure bill of discovery, which allows information in a case to be gathered before a civil complaint is filed.

Despite contentions to the contrary, the truth has never been explored in any court and there is a good faith basis to believe the truth will open up many viable remedies, the lawsuit said.

The pure bill of discovery will be useful to identify potential defendants and theories of liability and to obtain information necessary for meeting a condition precedent to filing suit, the lawsuit said.

Lewiss disappearance remains an open case. In March, Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister announced that his office was seeking new leads following the popularity of Netflixs Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness.

The documentary is about Joseph Maldonado-Passage, also known as Joe Exotic, a former Oklahoma zookeeper. He was convicted of trying to hire someone to kill Baskin, who had tried to shut him down, accusing the Oklahoma zoo of abusing animals and selling big cat cubs.

In retaliation, Maldonado-Passage raised questions about Lewis disappearance. The documentary extensively covered Maldonado-Passages repeated accusations that Baskin killed her husband and possibly fed him to her tigers. Baskin, who founded Big Cat Rescue, has never been charged with any crime and released a statement refuting the accusations made in the series.

Baskin, who is a contestant on the show, Dancing With The Stars this season, said nothing when judges of the TV dance competition made references in jest to the belief that Lewis was killed and fed to the tigers at her sanctuary, the lawsuit said.

Lawyers for Baskin said Wednesday they couldnt comment on pending litigation.

The Associated Press

Disney moves Black Widow and more big titles to 2021 amid coronavirus concerns

In another setback for cinemas, Walt Disney Co. has delayed the release of its highly anticipated Marvel Studios film Black Widow until next year, amid concerns about the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on moviegoing.

Disney on Wednesday said the Scarlett Johansson superhero blockbuster is now set to hit cinemas on May 7, 2021. It was previously set for Nov. 6, after an original release date of May 1 was delayed.

Disney also pushed back the launches for a host of other movies, including Kenneth Branaghs Death on the Nile, Marvels Eternals, the Ben Affleck thriller Deep Water and Steven Spielbergs West Side Story.

Of those titles only Death on the Nile is still scheduled to open this year, moving from October to Dec. 18. The lower-profile thriller The Empty Man actually moves up from a planned December opening to the Oct. 23 date vacated by Nile.

The studio has left three other films in place on the 2020 schedule: the Pixar animation title Soul on Nov. 20, Searchlights Nomadland on Dec. 4 and the Ryan Reynolds comedy Free Guy on Dec. 11.

The retreat of Black Widow marks the latest major shuffle on Hollywoods release calendar since Warner Bros. opened Christopher Nolans Tenet worldwide starting late last month. After the films disappointing start in the U.S., Warner Bros. moved the premiere of Wonder Woman 1984 from October to Christmas, leaving Black Widow as the next potential blockbuster.

Now that slot may be filled by United Artists James Bond outing No Time to Die, which remains scheduled to open Nov. 20.

Disneys decision was not surprising. Theatres remain closed in the two biggest U.S. markets, New York and Los Angeles. A rise in coronavirus cases in Europe has also given studios pause, and Latin America, another major region for Disney movies, remains hobbled by the pandemic.

In the U.S., about half of the moviegoing public is not ready to return to movie theatres right away, according to data firm NRG.
The Delhi Assembly told the Supreme Court on Wednesday that Facebook Indias vice president and managing director Ajit Mohan was not summoned as an accused and that no coercive action was intended against the company.

The court was hearing a petition filed by Facebook India and Mohan against the notice issued by the Delhi Assembly for deposing before it on Wednesday for the social media companys alleged role in the Delhi violence in February.

Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Delhi Assembly, said that Mohan was summoned as a witness to get the social media giants suggestions on devising mechanism to prevent misuse of Facebook.

He was called as a witness, not as an accused. No coercive steps were intended. During previous hearings, it came to light that Facebook was misused (in connection with communal riots). So, we want to get suggestions from them and devise mechanism so that Facebook is not misused, Singhvi said.

Justice Kaul, who is heading the three-judge bench hearing the case, said that the notice issued to Mohan by the Delhi assemblys Peace and Harmony Committee did not give such an impression.

That is not what you have said in the notice. Then you may recall the notice, justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul said.

Singhvi offered to will file a counter affidavit clarifying the stance of the Delhi Assembly.

The court then adjourned the hearing till October 15 and Singhvi submitted that no further meeting will be held on this subject matter till the petition is disposed. The court recorded Singhvis submissions and asked Delhi Assembly to file its response within a week.

During the hearing, senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for Mohan, said that right to free speech under Article 19(1)(a) includes right not to speak. Salve also told the court that if his client doesnt appear, he cant be compelled to face penalty.

Salve also said that Mohan works for a US-based company and doesnt want to comment on a politically sensitive issue in India.

The petitioners had moved the apex court challenging the two summons issued by the Delhi Assembly and others against them on September 10 and 18.

The committees insistence on compelling Ajit Mohan to speak, and its categorical threat to his non-appearance as a breach of privilege of the committee and [to take] necessary action as deemed fit, gives rise to a clear and present danger to the fundamental rights and liberties of petitioners in the ultra vires proceedings before the Committee, Mohan had claimed in his petition.
On Tuesday, Utah Senator and former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney announced that he would support a vote prior to the November 3 election on Trumps nominee to fill the seat on the US Supreme Court vacated by the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The announcement virtually assures the installation of a far-right justice, to be named by Trump on Saturday, who will shift the court even more decisively against abortion rights and democratic rights in general.

The Democratic Party, whose response from the outset has combined cowardice and dishonesty, sank to the level of farce. Even as the top Democrat in the Senate, Charles Schumer, was denouncing the Republicans for their hypocrisy and pleading for a change of heart, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was secretly negotiating with Trumps treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin, to extend funding for the federal government until after the election.

For all her talk of taking nothing off of the table to oppose Trumps antidemocratic court move, Pelosi was focused on preventing a plunge in the stock market by reaching a bipartisan deal with the Republicans on a continuing resolution before the September 30 deadline. The two announced a deal Tuesday afternoon and the Democratic-controlled House quickly passed it in a bipartisan 359-57 vote.

The supposed leader of the progressive Democrats in the House, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, could not even summon up the nerve to vote no and instead voted present on the bill.

United States Supreme Court Building at Dusk (Credit: Wikimedia Commons/Joe Ravi)

So much for going all-out to oppose a court appointment that will be used to attack not only abortion rights, but all that remains of the past gains in civil rights, voting rights and social rights, from the eight-hour day to child labor laws, and accelerate the drive toward dictatorship. Rather than use the threat of a government shutdown as leverage against Trumps Supreme Court coup, the Democrats rushed to demonstrate their fealty to Wall Street and pass the spending bill.

They have evinced no such urgency when it comes to restoring the $600 weekly unemployment benefit that expired at the end of July, leaving millions of laid-off workers and their families without the means to pay rent and put food on the table.

The contrast with Trump and the Republicans, who wage open war against the working class, could not be starker. Trump forced a government shutdown at the end of 2018 when Congress failed to give him the full amount he demanded to build his border wall with Mexico. After the end of the shutdown, he declared a national emergency at the border and illegally appropriated money from the Pentagon to build the wall, without any resistance from the Democrats, who soon after voted to fund his war on immigrants.

The same day as Romneys announcement and the passage of the continuing resolution in the House, the campaign of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden reiterated his opposition to passing legislation, should the Democrats win back the Senate and capture the White House in November, to expand the Supreme Court so as to break the stranglehold of the far-right. This was confirmed on Tuesday by a top Biden aide, who spoke anonymously to the Associated Press and called for de-escalation in the one-sided battle on Capitol Hill.

The one thing the Democrats never considered was appealing to the mass popular hatred for Trump in the working class and youth of the country. They could have called for all those opposed to Trumps attacks on abortion rights, his promotion of police and fascist violence, and his threats to declare martial law, defy an election defeat and impose a dictatorship to march on Washington. No doubt such a call would bring out hundreds of thousands, which is precisely why the Democrats rejected it out of hand.

They are fearful of the right, but even more hostile to and terrified by the growth of left-wing social opposition and anti-capitalist sentiment in the working class. They have spent the entire three-plus years of the fascistic Trump administration working to suppress popular opposition and channel it behind their reactionary anti-Russia campaign.

On this and other questions of US imperialist foreign policy, including what they deem Trumps hesitancy to militarily confront Russia in Syria and the broader Middle East, the Democrats act with ferocity. First, they championed the Mueller investigation and after that collapsed, they carried out the impeachment of Trump, entirely on the basis of his withholding of military aid in Ukraines war against Russian-backed forces in the eastern part of the country.

But when it comes to the basic democratic rights and social needs of the working class, they are utterly feckless. Their capitulation to Trump on the Supreme Court issue must be taken as a foretaste and warning of how they will react to an attempt by Trump to sabotage voting and steal the upcoming election.

The Democratic Party already ceded without a fight the 2000 election, handed to George W. Bush by a Republican majority on the Supreme Court. Al Gore, who won the popular vote, said at the time that he did not want the presidency if he lacked the support of the military.

Even when they had a lopsided majority in Congress and controlled the White House, the Democrats did nothing to defend the interests of working people. After Obamas landslide victory in 2008, the Democrats had large majorities in both the House and the Senate. They did nothing to reverse the looting of the economy by the super-rich or put a halt to the endless wars in the Middle East and Central Asia. Instead, Obama packed his cabinet with reactionaries like former New York Fed President Timothy Geithner and Bush administration Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

Obama expanded the bailout of Wall Street, imposed massive job and wage cuts on autoworkers, expanded the war in Afghanistan, continued the war in Iraq and launched new wars in Libya and Syria. His only major social measure, Obamacare, strengthened the grip of the hospital, drug and insurance corporations over health care and increased out-of-pocket costs for millions of workers.

The Obama administration allowed the Guantanamo concentration camp to remain open, expanded illegal NSA spying, shielded Bush administration torturers, and stepped up the drone assassination program, including the murder of US citizens. It persecuted Edward Snowden, Chelsea Manning and Julian Assange.

The very notion that workers should look to the institutions of the capitalist state, including the Supreme Court, to defend their democratic and social rights is a dangerous fallacy. The Supreme Court is a bastion of capitalist rule. For the vast bulk of its history, it has opposed any extension of democratic rights and ruthlessly protected the property and profits of big business.

The relatively brief periods when it supported democratic and social reform, such as the period of the post-World War II boom, were times of mass social struggle, including the civil rights movement, when the dominant factions of the ruling class felt they had no choice but to make temporary concessions to the working class.

Today, millions of workers and youth are moving to the left and entering into struggle. The protests against police violence, as significant as they are, represent only the heat lightning before the storm of social struggle that is coming.

Social anger and opposition are being intensified by the horrific death and suffering from the coronavirus pandemic, the result of the homicidal policies being carried out by the Trump administration with the de facto support of the Democratic Party. The policy of herd immunity expressed in the back-to-school and back-to-work drive has already claimed over 202,000 lives.

Yet despite that, the ruling class is able to shift the Supreme Court further to the right in order to intensify its attacks on the working class. Basic lessons and conclusions must be drawn.

The Democratic Party is a guardian of definite class interests: those of the capitalist ruling elite. It is not and never can be an instrument for progressive change.

Trumps packing of the Supreme Court with reactionaries is further proof that nothing can be defended on the basis of an acceptance of the existing economic and political framework, including the capitalist two-party system. Democratic rights are incompatible with the staggering and ever-growing levels of social inequality generated by capitalism and imposed by all of its political defenders.

There can be no defense of democratic rights outside of a struggle for socialism. The task is to bring to bear the immense social power of the working class in a conscious and unified struggle to put an end to capitalism and establish workers power and socialism.
Business

Students across the U.S. ran into computer glitches Tuesday as they began the school year with online instruction at home because of the coronavirus, adding to the list of problems that have thrust many a harried parent into the role of teachers aide and tech support person.



The online learning platform Blackboard, which provides technology for 70 of the nations 100 biggest districts and serves more than 20 million U.S. students from kindergarten through 12th grade, reported that websites for one of its learning products were failing to load or were loading slowly, and users were unable to register on the first day of school.



Blackboard, which hit four times its year-to-date user average by 8 a.m., wasnt the only tech company running into issues Tuesday. Websites that track internet outages like downdetector.com also recorded spikes in reported problems for services like Microsoft Teams and Google Drive, many spiking around 9 a.m. Three of Texas largest districts  Houston, Dallas and Fort Worth  were hit with technical problems, as were school systems in places such as Idaho and Kansas. A ransomware attack forced schools in Hartford, Connecticut, to postpone Tuesdays start of virtual and in-person classes.



A Blackboard spokesperson said the problems with the companys website content management system occurred because of a big morning surge in online traffic. DAnthony White said the system was restored by about 1:15 p.m. and the company was working on refining its approach to prevent further problems. He apologized for the disruption.



While we planned for a surge in traffic greater than a typical back-to-school period, the patterns of usage exceeded what we anticipated, White wrote in an email to The Associated Press.



Elsewhere across the country, Seattles system crashed last week. An online learning program used in Alabama and other places recently went down. And North Carolinas platform crashed on the first day of classes last month.



Amanda Mills 8-year-old son, Rowan, woke up excited to start his first day of third grade, even though it was online through Idahos largest school district, based in the town of Meridian, just outside Boise. But they ran into trouble even after practicing logging in smoothly on Monday.



Whatever happens, well figure it out and well make it work however we can, and rely on the patience of those teachers who are up against their own obstacles, Mills said. Its a weird, wild world right now.



Summer break gave school districts time to iron out kinks that cropped up when the virus forced them to switch to online classes in the spring. But the new school year already has been plagued by some of the same problems, with no end in sight to the outbreak that has infected more than 6.3 million people and killed 189,000 in the U.S.



Erik Rasmussen, a Falls Church, Virginia, resident who has three children taking online classes, said he regularly copes with computer glitches and short attention spans. The divorced dad has his children half the time.

You put your kids in front of the computer, and then I go to do my work, but kids are kids  theyre going to turn off the video function and start playing a game, he said.



In the Houston school system, with 209,000 students, a web hosting service went down, causing problems for families as they tried to sign into the districts main classwork portal. Families were given a different link to access the portal until the problems were resolved by about noon.



The Dallas and Fort Worth districts said they were working to fix problems with their phone lines and websites.



In this unprecedented school year, we must remain flexible and quickly adapt to changing conditions and circumstances like we noticed this morning, Houston interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan said.



Floridas largest school district, in Miami-Dade County, had assured parents that it had consolidated different programs into one platform that would be easier to navigate. But software glitches and cyberattacks disrupted the first week of the new school year that started Aug. 31.



A high school student was arrested and accused of orchestrating a series of network outages. School administrators believe other people may be doing the same.



Christy Rodriguez, 36, said her third- and fourth-grade boys classes struggled with connection problems during the first week of school.



Four full days were lost, she said. Either somebody is not able to go on, or the screen goes blank, or the teacher cant hear the kids, so the teacher then just logs off and then sends a message to the parents.



Rodriguez said she has been forced to work until late at night because her children need help fixing connection problems.



The teachers are frustrated. The kids are frustrated. I hope that they soon open up schools, she said.



Another parent, Alessandra Martinez, said her 7-year-old son has struggled with logins, passwords and connection problems. He had a meltdown Friday when he was moved to a smaller breakout group but didnt see the teacher and didnt know what he was supposed to be doing.



At their age, everything is amplified, and it feels like a big deal, Martinez said.

Martinez said she was against the school district using a product commonly employed by parents who home-school.



This is a home-schooling program, but for parents who are working from home and have multiple children, it is a bit overwhelming, she said. We have this set up as a one-size-fits-all, and it doesnt work for everybody.



In Hartford, where the start of the school year was pushed back to Wednesday, parents were upset at what they called the last-minute notice of the delay. They noted that officials knew about the problem since the weekend.



Kate Court said her 13-year-old son was already dressed and ready to go to the bus stop when she learned of the postponement. The shipping warehouse employee counted herself lucky that her mother could watch over the teen and his younger brother so she didnt have to miss work.



This is crazy, Court said. Were looking for normalcy again, whatever that may be.






By PTI

GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Wednesday ordered to cull nearly 12,000 pigs in the areas affected by the deadly African swine fever and asked officials to compensate the owners adequately.

So far, 18,000 pigs have died after contracting the virus across 14 districts of the state, a senior official of the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department said.

"Chairing a meeting with department officials, the chief minister said that in compliance with the guidelines of the Centre and the state government, and adhering to experts' opinion, culling of the infected swine population in all the affected districts should be completed before Durga Puja," according to an official statement.

ALSO READ | Amid COVID-19, India records 2721 swine flu cases till July this year

The total number of pigs to be killed in this exercise will be around 12,000, it added.

"As a result of the culling operation, the loss incurred by the farmers will be adequately compensated," Sonowal said.

The latest culling drive will be carried out within one kilometre radius of 30 epicentres across the 14 affected districts, the senior official said.

"We will start the exercise immediately," he added.

When asked about the compensation, the official said the owners of the 12,000 pigs will get the money deposited in their bank accounts, while a proposal has been sent to the government for giving financial support to the owners of the 18,000 pigs that have died already.
Theres a week to go before Unlock 5.0, which some believe will be the last phase of the restart of activities halted when the country went into a lockdown on March 25 to slow the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19). The lockdown lasted 68 days, till May 31; a few establishments and activities were allowed to restart even in this period. Since June 1, there have been four sets of guidelines issued by the home ministry, Unlock 1.0 through Unlock 4.0, each detailing a new dimension of opening up. Restaurants have opened up, Metro services have resumed in all but two of the Indian cities that have Metro services, the number of scheduled flights has increased, as has the number of people attending offices (although many still continue to work from home). The latest iteration of the Nomura India Business Resumption Index was at 82.3 for the week ended September 20 (where 100 reflects pre-pandemic level business activity). This is higher than 81.3 the previous week, so the index is clearly on an upswing. This is the highest the index (which was stuck in the 70s for months in between, after falling to the 40s during the hard lockdown) has ever been since the lockdown. Googles Mobility Trends for workplaces, according to the latest iteration, are 26% below baseline, again, an improvement (they were 30.4% below baseline in June).

Guidelines for Unlock 5.0 could come as early as the end of this week. They come against the backdrop of a high number of daily new cases (India continues to lead the world in the number of new cases, although Europe is in the midst of a very strong second wave of infections), but also at a time when most states have moved out of lockdown mode, at least for most establishments and activities. The big announcement everyone is either looking forward to, or not looking forward to, is about the reopening of schools. Lockdown 4.0 allowed high-schoolers to attend school for up to a few hours a day, on rotation (with the teachers too being rotated), with the permission of the parents  and only for guidance or counselling. The rationale was that these were important school-years and students needed some interaction with their teachers. This wasnt exactly a school reopening as some insisted on calling it. It is likely that Unlock 5.0 guidelines will allow more of this (perhaps for more classes, or for longer durations). With almost half the academic year over, it is also likely that the guidelines allow a more formal reopening of schools. After all, online classes put underprivileged students at a disadvantage although a recent Delhi high court ruling on schools in the Capital having to provide devices and connectivity, and be reimbursed by the state and central governments, could serve as a precedent in other parts of the country as well.

Id rather that governments focus on this (devices and connectivity for all students; and a proper online curriculum to boot) than rush into reopening schools. Cases are yet to peak in India, and experience from around the world suggests that school (and college) reopenings do cause flare-ups in infections.

On Tuesday, The Wall Street Journal, citing a study by researchers from the University of North Carolina, Indiana University, the University of Washington, and Davidson College, that it said would soon be posted on pre-print server medRxiv (it wasnt at the time of writing this column) reported that the US saw 3,200 more cases a day on account of college reopenings. The study covered the period between mid-July and mid-September and tracked GPS data of mobile phones to measure infection rates in and around colleges at two points in time  before students arrived, and after they did. The highest increase was in colleges with physical or in-person classes, and the lowest in those with online classes. The UK reopened schools in September but with a sharp increase in cases (a natural consequence of reopening, and not just schools); absenteeism and partial closures of schools have increased over the course of the month. The UK, like continental Europe, is in the midst of a second wave with the seven-day average of daily cases only a thousand below peak-levels last seen in May.

Policymakers in India have the case-study of how Covid-19 roiled (and eventually cut short) the monsoon session of Parliament before them  it would be unfortunate if they make students face the risks that lawmakers themselves want to avoid.

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Kosovar war veterans say that an unidentified man has again handed them files from a war crimes court in The Hague probing alleged crimes during and after the 1998-99 war, in what appears to be a security breach exposing protected witnesses.

It was the third such incident in two months that former rebel fighters reported receiving packages of court documents that include information on witnesses whose identities are meant to be protected to shield them from retribution.

A court spokesman warned that the veterans appeared to be trying to undermine the proper administration of justice.

Hysni Gucati, head of the association of former Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK) fighters, said that the masked man delivered the files -- copies of the originals -- to the group's office on September 22 in the capital, Pristina.

"It would be good if the local prosecutor's office and the international ones probe and find who is bringing them and from where," Gucati said.

The Hague-based Kosovo Specialist Chambers (KSC) for war crimes is mandated to look into allegations that UCK members committed war crimes and crimes against humanity during the conflict.

It operates under Kosovar law but is based in the Netherlands to shield witnesses from intimidation.

Christopher Bennett, spokesman for the Specialist Prosecutors Office (SPO) at the KSC, condemned the statements by the veterans group, which he said "has on a number of occasions engaged in activities which I believe are aimed at undermining the proper administration of justice."

Bennett also commended journalists who were offered a copy of the documents for not publishing the files and acknowledging that such action would amount to a criminal act.

"I want to take this opportunity to commend the ethical journalists throughout Kosovo who have refused to publish documents provided to them, as well as the multiple journalists who have voluntarily provided us with the documents they received from the KLA War Veterans Association and publicly acknowledged that participating in disseminating such information could be a crime under the Kosovo Criminal Code," Bennett said.

"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," he concluded.

Kosovar President Hashim Thaci, former parliament speaker Kadri Veseli, and others have been charged with crimes against humanity and war crimes, including murder, enforced disappearances, persecution, and torture.

A pretrial judge hasn't made a decision on whether to proceed with their cases. Both Thaci and Veseli have denied committing any crimes.

A statement from the embassies of France, Germany, Italy, Britain, and the United States last week urged people not to discredit the court's mission.

Kosovo's war of independence from Serbia left more than 10,000 people dead -- most of them ethnic Albanians from Kosovo. More than 1,600 people remain unaccounted for. The fighting ended after a 78-day NATO air campaign against Serbia.

Kosovo, which has a largely ethnic Albanian population, declared independence from Serbia in 2008, a move recognized by many Western states but not Serbia or its allies Russia and China.

With reporting by AP and AFP
The overview of news from Wednesday, September 23, 2020.

The new large-capacity sampling site in Kosice opened on September 23. (Source: TASR)

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This is the overview of news that happened in Slovakia on Wednesday, September 23, 2020.

The Slovak Spectator is bringing you the Today in Slovakia digests at the end of every workday. If you want to support our work, consider purchasing our online subscription. Thank you for being our readers.

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GDP growth prediction improved

A rise in demand and the improving situation of Slovakias key business partners may prevent the Slovak economy from falling as much as originally expected.

The Institute for Financial Policy (IFP), running under the Finance Ministry, has revised its macroeconomic prognosis, forecasting that the economy will drop by 6.7 percent this year. Back in June, it expected it to drop by 9.8 percent.

The GDP should return to its pre-crisis levels no sooner than in late 2021 or early 2022.

However, if our business partners introduced stricter measures to contain the second pandemic wave, the economy this year would drop by 8.4 percent, while the recovery next year would represent only 4.4 percent.

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Lukashenko not considered a legitimate president

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko should be put on the sanction list, said Slovak Foreign Affairs Minister Ivan Korcok (SaS nominee) when responding to the unannounced inauguration of Lukashenko on September 23.

He considers it the final straw following the manipulated and illegitimate presidential elections in August and stressed that Slovakia will not recognise him as president.

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Slovakia breaks daily record in new COVID-19 cases

Slovakia has broken a record in the daily increase in the number of coronavirus cases.

The September 22 testing revealed altogether 338 new positive cases, the most since the March outbreak.

The situation may continue worsening, with daily increases hitting 260-450 in mid-October, Health Minister Marek Krajci (OLaNO) suggested.

To contain the virus, the government representatives have not excluded adopting some stricter measures to contain the virus. This includes putting Austria and Hungary on the red list.

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Other coronavirus-related developments

A new large-capacity sampling site was opened in Kosice on September 23 , situated on the premises of the L. Pasteur University Hospital. As a result, every regional capital now has its own large-capacity sampling site.

, situated on the premises of the L. Pasteur University Hospital. As a result, every regional capital now has its own large-capacity sampling site. Altogether 18 schools were closed in Slovakia by September 23 , while 64 other schools have closed at least one of their classrooms . Currently, 226 classrooms are closed and 8,693 are staying home.

, while . Currently, 226 classrooms are closed and 8,693 are staying home. The government approved the proposal submitted by Labour Minister Milan Krajniak (Sme Rodina) to prolong the contributions to preserve employment for employers and the self-employed until the end of this year .

. The Interior Ministry has approved two national projects focused on the prevention and moderation of pandemic consequences in Roma communities , allocating 23.2 million in total.

, allocating 23.2 million in total. An employee of U.S. Steel Kosice tested positive for the coronavirus. The division he was working at has been disinfected, and other staff members continue working, said steelworks spokesperson Jan Baca.

 Only measures that are final and have the highest political support should be presented to the public.  President Zuzana Caputova after meeting with epidemiologists and chief hygienist on September 22

What else is happening in Slovakia

The National Criminal Agency (NAKA) has carried out operation Oko (Eye) in various places across Slovakia, in connection with the construction of road infrastructure. It also raided the Bonul company owned by the Bodor family (TV JOJ)

(Eye) in various places across Slovakia, in connection with the construction of road infrastructure. It also raided the (TV JOJ) The Supreme Court senate dismissed a complaint submitted by Alena Zsuzsova against a decision to take her into custody for planning the murders of two prosecutors and lawyer Daniel Lipsic.

against a decision to take her into custody for planning the murders of two prosecutors and lawyer Daniel Lipsic. Slovakia belongs to the countries that are the least accepting countries for migrants. It ranked ninth from the bottom in the Gallups Migrant Acceptance Index that surveyed 145 countries.

(Source: Gallup World Poll)

Slovakia still refuses mandatory migration quotas, said Foreign Affairs Minister Ivan Korcok (SaS) when commenting on the draft EU Pact on Migration and Asylum presented on September 23. In his opinion, the document he has seen creates a good base for a voluntary relocation of migrants coming to the EU.

said Foreign Affairs Minister Ivan Korcok (SaS) when commenting on the draft EU Pact on Migration and Asylum presented on September 23. In his opinion, the document he has seen creates a good base for a voluntary relocation of migrants coming to the EU. Slovakia officially codified its own sign language on September 23, which is also celebrated as the International Day of Sign Languages.

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AKRON, Ohio  A man was found fatally shot after he crashed a minivan into a tree on Akrons West Side, marking the citys third homicide death in less than 24 hours, according to police.

The victims name has not been publicly released, pending family notifications, according to the Summit County Medical Examiners Office.

Police responded around 2:15 a.m. Wednesday to a report of gunshots on the 900 block of Raymond Street in the Sherbondy Hill neighborhood, according to a police report.

Officers found a 2004 Ford Freestar crashed into a tree. The driver suffered apparent gunshot wounds, and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said the investigation is in the early stages. Anyone with information is asked to call Akron police detectives at 330-375-2490, Summit County Crimestoppers at 330-434-2677 or text tips to TIPSCO at 274637. Tipsters can remain anonymous.

The shooting is Akrons second fatal shooting in less than a day, and the third homicide death.

Darshawn Carr, 27, of Akron was fatally shot around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday at an apartment on the citys South Side. No one has been arrested in connection with the shooting, according to police.

Six-year-old MarViyah Jones died Tuesday evening from gunshot wounds she suffered 12 days prior while riding in a car on Copley Road. Police say MarViyah was shot when two men  Marqualle Clinkscales, 23, and Corey Jemison, 39, both of Akron  exchanged gunfire after an argument. Clinkscales and Jemison are both charged with murder in connection with MarViyahs death.

Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan released a statement Wednesday lamenting MarViyahs death and gun violence:

The news that six-year-old MarViyah Jones has succumbed to the injuries she suffered as the victim of crossfire is truly heartbreaking. My prayers and condolences go out to the family in this incredibly difficult time. While APD has arrested those believed to be responsible for her death, nothing will ever bring MarViyah back. I want to impress upon our entire community the toll this senseless violence is taking on our neighborhoods, and innocent lives. As Mayor, I am working to deploy new strategies to interrupt this cycle of shootings and build on the work of the Youth Violence Prevention Plan, with some key community partners. We hope to have more to announce on these developments in the coming weeks. Because the violence must stop. There is a role for everyone in this community to help end this cycle of violence that has claimed far too many of our precious children.
Attorneys for a man accused of killing an Appalachian Trail hiker in Southwest Virginia last year intend to assert an insanity defense, according to a court notice.

James Jordans attorneys filed the motion Monday in U.S. District Court in Abingdon. Hes been charged in the May 2019 death of Ronald S. Sanchez Jr., 43, of Oklahoma, and the stabbing of a Canadian woman near the Wythe and Smyth county line.

Attorneys are asking the court to direct any evaluation of 31-year-old Jordans mental state at the time to be conducted in the least restrictive manner possible.

In a motion, attorney Lisa Lorish notes that, after his arrest last year, the judge ordered a competency evaluation. In July 2019, forensic psychologists at the Institute of Law, Psychiatry and Public Policy at the University of Virginia submitted a report in which they concluded that Jordans psychotic symptoms were sufficiently severe to undermine his capacity to understand and participate in his legal proceedings.

After reviewing the initial report, the judge ordered that Jordan undergo a competency restoration and evaluation.

In another report, dated May 13, 2020, a physician opined that Jordan had been restored to competency. The court then scheduled a jury trial Jan. 25 to Feb. 5, 2021, according to court filings.

Jordan, of Massachusetts, remains in custody at the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail in Abingdon. His attorneys ask that he remain at the Abingdon facility and undergo any necessary evaluations and treatment in the region, rather than be transferred into federal custody.

Lorish also notes that Jordan should not be transferred into the federal prison system due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To avoid a delay, which could happen if he is transferred into the federal system, he should remain locally to maintain the stability of Jordans current medication regiment and mental state, Lorish said.

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Is it possible to promote revisions of the Cuban Constitution less than a year and a half after its entry into force?

As DIARIO DE CUBA has explained in previous publications, Article 227 of the Constitution recognizes citizens' right to request its modification by collecting the signatures of 50,000 voters, and states that "the law establishes the procedure, requirements and guarantees " in this regard. However, the Government has not included this law on the current legislative schedule.

The procedure to lodge the request exists, however, although it is buried in Castroism's legal morass; specifically in Articles 245 to 289 of Chapter XXI (on the Reform of the Constitution of the Republic) of Law 131, approved in 2019 and published in the Official Gazette on January 16, 2020.

Neither the entry into force of said Law 131 nor its contents have received the attention that their importance merits. Has this been intentional? The truth is that this clashes with the information that the official press has offered on other provisions approved by the Government.

Ignorance of the requirements of this law impedes the proper solicitation of constitutional reform.

According to Article 245, "if the initiative (to request constitutional reform) is exercised by citizens, they must include certification of their status as voters, validated by the National Electoral Council."

Not knowing this can lead to the erroneous belief that it is enough to collect the 50,000 signatures to, at least, file a petition with the National Assembly. However, the legislative body could reject the application based on the absence of the certification of voter status for each signatory of the petition.

There is no explicit way to obtain this certification, which each person signing would have to request. However, Law 127/19 (Electoral Law) establishes the public nature of the Electoral Registry and enables voters to request certification of their status as such.

Article 39 of the Electoral Law states that the secretary of the National Electoral Council's functions include the special task of overseeing the Secretariat's administrative processes. It is this official who certifies the valid voting status voter of each signer because, according to subsection b) of the aforementioned article, he is charged with certifying the official documents issued by the public information system that the National Electoral Council must provide so that they are valid vis-a-vis third parties; in this case, the National Assembly of Popular Power.

According to Articles 6, 7 and 8 of the Electoral Law "Cuban citizens, including members of the armed forces, who have reached the age of 16, have resided in the country for a period of not less than two years, are on file at the electoral registry, are not legally disqualified, and have full civil capacity" are qualified voters.

Therefore, those who live abroad (even if they have not lost their legal residence in Cuba) and have not been in the country for two consecutive years, are not classified as voters, and their signature would be invalid for legal purposes.

Too many obstacles? In any country a petition to reform the Constitution is an extraordinary situation and steps must be taken to ensure that fraud is not committed and that the petition is not "signed" by the deceased, or persons who are serving criminal sentences, for example.

Does the existence of this requirement render an effort to collect signatures to request constitutional reform futile? No, but it does oblige those who undertake it to ask the signatories to obtain the legally-required certification.

It also demands more commitment and effort by the signatories, since signing does not suffice. They must request the certification at the corresponding offices, and do so in person, because in Cuba it is not possible to do this by email. This step is currently hampered by the coronavirus, but it will not last forever.

In order to assist citizens, and aware that if the initiative does not comply with legal requirements it runs the risk of being rejected outright, the lawyer Julio Ferrer Tamayo has prepared a kind of proforma for the certification request, which includes the name, address and identity card number of the applicant, as well as the constitutional articles and the Electoral Law ensuring his right to obtain certification.

It is clear in advance that, even if the request meets all the requirements demanded by law, the current Constitution itself prevents anything related to "the irrevocability of socialism" from being reformed (Art. 229).

Nor would the National Assembly being forced to discuss the reform proposal entail its approval. Taking into account the history of Castroism, it is very likely that this will never happen.

However, in the opinion of opposition leader Manuel Cuesta Morua, a member of Cuba Plural, a platform that is currently gathering signatures to request constitutional reform, if the petition is presented and the Assembly has no alternative but to put it to a vote, there would pave the way to develop legitimately recognized blocks of political opposition in Cuba.
BAY CITY, MI  The mother of a Sterling teenager killed in an Independence Day crash in Bay County has filed a lawsuit against the man who allegedly drunkenly caused the wreck.

Attorneys April N. Nason and Geoffrey N. Fieger of Southfield-based Fieger, Fieger, Kenney, & Harrington PC on Wednesday, Sept. 16, filed the lawsuit in Bay County Circuit Court on behalf of Lisa Philopoulos. Philopoulos is the mother of AJ Andrew Jeffs and representative of his estate.

The suit names two Bay City men as defendants. The men have not yet been charged with any crimes so MLive is not naming them.

The suit states that the evening of July 4, 14-year-old Jeffs was a passenger in a 2010 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck driven by one of the men. The other man named in the lawsuit owned the truck.

The 26-year-old man drove the Silverado south on Interstate 75 in Kawkawlin Township when he unlawfully lost control of his vehicle and left the roadway, causing the vehicle he was operating to roll several times, the suit states.

Jeffs was ejected from the vehicle and suffered fatal injuries. The 26-year-old driver of the truck was under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol at the time, the suit alleges.

The suit contains three counts  gross negligence and willful and wanton misconduct, owner liability act violations, and negligent entrustment. The first count is against the driver, while the latter two are directed at the 35-year-old man who owned the truck.

Defendant (the driver) owed a duty with ordinary care for the safety of the public and specifically to [Jeffs], which duty includes but is not limited to, obeying all laws, statutes, and city ordinances while driving subject vehicle on public roads, the suit states.

The suit goes on to state the trucks owner gave the driver permission or implied consent to drive his Silverado at a time when he knew or should have known the driver was unqualified or incompetent to drive.

For each of the three counts, Philopoulos is seeking an amount deemed fair and just and in excess of $25,000.

Neither the owner nor the driver have been charged with a crime. Bay County Prosecutor Nancy E. Borushko told MLive the case is under review by her office, but did not elaborate.

Contacted by MLive-The Bay City Timers, the driver referred requests for comment to his attorney, Matthew L. Reyes.

Its absolutely expected, Reyes said, regarding the filing of the civil suit. Obviously, the standards in a civil case are different than those in a criminal case. Were just waiting for the complete investigation to conclude. We certainly feel sorry for the family of the deceased, but other than that, we dont have anything else.

Reyes is also representing the driver in any future criminal matters, while an attorney retained by the vehicles insurance company will likely handle the civil suit.

Bay County Sheriff Troy R. Cunningham previously told MLive the truck sustained a blown tire while the 26-year-old was driving it. A second passenger, age 15, was also injured and was taken to University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor for treatment.

The driver refused to submit to a preliminary Breathalyzer test at the scene, but police obtained a search warrant to obtain a blood sample from him. The sheriffs office has received the results of the samples analysis and have sent their reports to the Bay County Prosecutors Office for review.

Deputies lodged the driver on a charge of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated causing death. The 26-year-old man bonded out of jail by July 6.

Jeffs, the second teen passenger and the driver are relatives. They had been heading south after spending the day in Northern Michigan, Cunningham has said.

Jeffs was a beacon of light to his family and friends, his obituary states. AJ enjoyed life as a carefree and energetic teen. He was adventurous and curious about the world around him. Whether AJ was helping his siblings, parents or total strangers, his bubbly personality and contagious laughter brought joy to everyone around him. Kindness lived in his heart.

The suits next court date is pending.

Read more:

Teen dies in Fourth of July crash on I-75, driver faces drunken driving charge

2 motorcyclists crash into fallen tree in northern Michigan, leaving one dead

Group lifts pickup truck off man after he was struck while on moped in downtown Bay City
Russias alleged involvement in the political change on August 18 in Mali, a former French colony with the fractured economy and breeding field for armed Islamic jihadist groups (some of which are reportedly aligned with Al Qaeda and ISIS), demonstrates the first drastic step towards penetrating into the G5 Sahel in West Africa. The G5 Sahel are Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger.

Despite this widely published allegation, Moscow officially said it was seriously concerned about the developments in Bamako and further urged all Malian public and political forces to settle the situation peacefully at the negotiating table.

Russian Foreign Ministry said on its website that on August 21, at the invitation of the leaders of the military group who power in Mali, Russian Ambassador in Bamako Igor Gromyko met with the leader of the National Committee for the Salvation of the People, Colonel Assimi Goita, at the military base in the town of Kati located not far from the capital.

The statement said: At his own initiative, Assimi Goita informed the Russian Ambassador about the reasons that prompted the military to remove President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and the Malian Government from power, as well as about the committees priority steps to restore order in the country and set up the operation of government bodies. The leaders of the National Committee for the Salvation of the People held similar meetings with the ambassadors of several other countries, including China and France.

According to several reports, Ibrahim Keita was overthrown following mass protests against his rule over deep-rooted corruption, mismanagement of the economy and a dispute over legislative elections.

In addition to socio-economic problems, Mali is now facing the task of protecting its territorial integrity and combating the terrorist threat. Internal unrest there has greatly undermined Malians ability to contribute to the collective efforts of the Sahara-Sahel countries, including the G5 Sahel group of Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger, which is focused on combating terrorism.

While updating the implications of the recent coup, in Mali on the entire G5 Sahel region, it is important to know more about the leaders of the coup, and the foreign countries and players who might have aided the army to topple the democratic and legitimate government of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. The Economist article of August 19, titled What next for Mali?, which is enclosed here.

The narratives are that the coup led by Malick Diaw and Sadio Camara, two army colonels who hold top positions at the Kati military base, are reportedly very close friends. The two colonels spent most of this year training in Russia before returning to Mali and to topple the government, which could imply that most probably they might have hatched and organized the coup whilst in Russia (read), and this implied that the Russians might have known about their political plans in Mali.

Many experts say Russia has its own distinctive style and approach, set out to battle against exploitation of resources, or better still what is often phrased the scramble for resources in Africa. Besides dealing with the French, Russia is keenly interested in the uphill fight against neo-colonial tendencies exhibited by the US (read), EU (read), and Chinese (read) interests and influence in Africa. As already showcased in Mali, experts told IDN that as Russia looks for strategic allies in the continent, so working to remove African leaders loyal to former colonial masters fits squarely into Russias renewed interest and strategy in Africa.

Research Professor Irina Filatova at the Higher School of Economics in Moscow explains to IDN that media reports have linked the developments to Russia, that however people who are now in power will be friendlier with Russia than the previous government. The Russians are not seriously interested in democratic institutions, they are interested in people who are close to it.

In the short term or better still in the long term, it is hard to be optimistic for Mali, among the fragile countries in the Sahel, especially the importance of seeking stability, building the infrastructure and improving the economy. The region is experiencing the spread of Islamic extremist insurgency and rapidly-eroding state legitimacy.

On the other hand, Malis challenges are almost the same throughout Africa: deep-seated corruption, heightened nepotism, ethnic violence and economic malaise. The African leaders lust for power in spite of bad governance. Civil society platforms have meanwhile called for deep reforms, especially on electoral laws and the administrative machinery in Mali.

Mali, home to nearly 20 million people, is a landlocked country located on rivers Senegal and Niger in West Africa. As a former French colony, it persistently faces serious development challenges primarily due to its landlocked position and it is the eighth-largest country in Africa. Over the years, reform policies have had little impact on the living standards, majority highly impoverished in the country. As a developing country, it ranks at the bottom of the United Nations Development Index (2018 report).

Russia is broadening its geography of diplomacy covering poor African countries and especially fragile States that need Russias military assistance. Niger, for example, has been on its radar. Russia meanwhile sees some potential there  as a possible gateway into the Sahel. In order to realize this, Russia has been working on the official visit for Mahamadou Issoufou who has been the President of Niger since April 2011. Before that, Issoufou was the Prime Minister of Niger from 1993 to 1994.

Last year, on September 19, when Nigers Foreign Minister Kalla Ankourao paid a working visit to Moscow, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov pointed to two basic facts. The first was the Russian Federation looks forward to stepping up cooperation in all spheres, and international matters and crisis resolution on the African continent are also very much relevant for us. The second was that the meeting has special significance since in the next two years Niger is a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. Russia and Niger hope to work closely together within this important international body.

Since Niger holds a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council in 2020-2021, Sergey Lavrov and Kalla Ankourao have been focusing on in-depth discussions on matters relating to the fight against terrorism and extremism in the context of collective efforts to root out these threats, particularly within the G5 Sahel region in Africa.

As Russia pushes to strengthen its overall profile in the G5 Sahel region, in July 2019, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov held talks with the President of Burkina Faso, Christian Kabore and further discussed military-technical cooperation with the Minister of National Defense and Veteran Affairs, Moumina Sheriff Sy. He also had business talks with Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Burkina Faso, Alpha Barry, and Vice-President of the National Assembly of Burkina Faso, K. Traore.

Last year in August, Bogdanov attended the inauguration of Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani. The President of Mauritania was elected on Jun 22, 2019. Both discussed ways for strengthening the existing relations. Moscow and Nouakchott look for additional dynamics to the development of mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields. According to the official information posted to the ministrys website, Bogdanov described his meetings providing the impetus to explore opportunities for effective collaboration in the Sahel region.

Vedomosti, a Russian daily Financial and Business newspaper, reported that Russia is interested in offering Mali and the Sahel countries military equipment. The Malian government and Russian state-owned arms trader Rosoboronexport could soon sign contracts on the delivery of Russian-made combat and transport helicopters, armoured personnel carriers, small arms and ammunition to the African country, the Vedomosti newspaper reported.

The Russian weapons requested by Mali's government will be given to its soldiers in the north of the country, where the Malian Armed Forces, as well as soldiers from France and a number of African states, are fighting Islamist militants, a Rosoboronexport source told Vedomosti.

The French side is highly unlikely to object to equipping the Malian Army with Russian-made weapons because these weapons are more familiar to the Malian Army, where some 7,000 people serve in the Land Forces and another 400 in the Air Force, the source said. It also that the fight against international terrorist groups, whose growing activity is seen in the Sahara Sahel region.

Russian Foreign Ministry has explained in a statement released on its website, that Russias military-technical cooperation with African countries is primarily directed at settling regional conflicts and preventing the spread of terrorist threats and to fight the growing terrorism in the continent. Worth noting here that Russia, in its strategy on Africa is reported to be also looking into building military bases in the continent.

Over the past years, strengthening military-technical cooperation has been part of the foreign policy of the Russian Federation. Russia has signed bilateral military-technical cooperation agreement nearly with all African countries. Researchers say further that it plans to build military bases as this article explicitly reported, among others.

Edward Lozansky, President of the American University in Moscow and professor of World Politics at Moscow State University, told IDN in an email that there has not been too much information about Russias activities in Africa, but the Western media is saturated with the scary stories about Russias efforts to bolster its presence in at least 13 countries across Africa by building relations with existing rulers, striking military deals, and grooming a new generation of leaders and undercover agents.

Further to the narratives, Russia has now embarked on fighting neo-colonialism which it considers as a stumbling block on its way to regain a part of the Soviet-era multifaceted influence in Africa. Russia has sought to convince Africans over the past years of the likely dangers of neocolonial tendencies perpetrated by the former colonial countries and the scramble for resources on the continent. But all such warnings largely seem to fall on deaf ears as African leaders choose development partners with funds to invest in the economy.

Experts suspected that Russias plan to bring about regime change in Mali could see Russia-friendly new leaders taking over the country from the French-friendly President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and his government, thereby dealing a severe blow to French influence and interests not just in Mali but throughout the Sahel region.

Research Professor Irina Filatova at the Higher School of Economics in Moscow explains to IDN that Russias influence in the Sahel has been growing just as French influence and assistance has been dwindling, particularly in the military sphere. It is for the African countries to choose their friends, but it would be better to deal directly with the government, than with (mercenaries of the Russian) Wagner, which group, whose connection with the government was barely recognized.

In very particular cases, she unreservedly suggested: If they wanted the Russians to come and fight Islamist groups, it would be much better to ask the government to send regular troops. Wagners vigilantes are not responsible to anybody, and the Russian government may refuse to take any responsibility for whatever they do in case something goes wrong.

While the African Union (AU), regional blocs and African leaders remain indifferent, Russia has expressed concern and takes the task to fight neocolonialism in Africa. It has sought to convince Africans over the past years of the likely dangers of neocolonial tendencies perpetrated by the former colonial countries and the scramble for resources on the continent. But all such warnings largely seem to fall on deaf ears as African leaders choose development partners with funds to invest in the economy.

But these have different interpretations as African leaders still show loyalty to their former colonizers. Neocolonialism can be seen as a new form of domination, plunder and exploitation using clandestine and economic statecraft. Of course, there could be some hints or pointers to neocolonial tendencies, but such claims should be levelled on case by case basis, and there has to be concrete evidence to suggest that way, explains Dr. Frangton Chiyemura, a lecturer in International Development at the School of Social Sciences and Global Studies, Open University in the United Kingdom.

In his objective opinion, Chiyemura further believes as there is no free lunch in the world, African countries should enter into partnerships based on their strategic interests and an understanding of what the partners can provide or deliver.

Secondly, every African country should do a comprehensive evaluation of the structure and, the terms and conditions of their engagements with foreign powers. By so doing, this will eliminate the chances for the emergence of claims of neocolonialism. Instead of extending the blame to someone elsewhere, Africa needs to do its homework especially on the implementation and monitoring aspects of the deals. Africa has some of the best regulations and standards, but the problem lies in implementation and monitoring, the development expert suggested in an e-mailed discussion with IDN.

Interestingly Sochi hosted the first summit in October 2019 devoted to interaction between Russia and Africa. That event opened up a new page in the history of Russias relations with African countries, President Vladimir Putin told the gathering: We are ready to continue working together to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation. But we are also aware of the host of problems facing Africa that need to be settled.

In his view, this new stage and this new quality of our relations should be based on common values. We are at one in our support for the values of justice, equality and respect for the rights of African states to, independently choose their future. It is within this framework that we will continue to coordinate our positions at international platforms and joint efforts in the interests of stability on the African continent.

Russia-Africa relations is based on long-standing traditions of friendship and solidarity created when the Soviet Union supported the struggle of the peoples of Africa against colonialism, racism and apartheid, protected their independence and sovereignty, and helped establish statehood, and build the foundations of the national economy, according to historical documents available at the website of Kremlin.

The African Union, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and foreign organizations such as the European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN) have requested a quick transition to a civilian government. They further urged that efforts are taken to resolve outstanding issues relating to sustainable development and observing strictly principles of democracy.

All these organizations have utterly denounced the coup. What follows now will be negotiations over the transitional arrangements and the timetable for new elections. This will not be straightforward. Although the opposition was united in their demand for Keitas resignation there is little consensus on what to do next, while the UN Security Council and ECOWAS are divided on how to respond beyond initial condemnation.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, spoke out against the coup as well saying that the situation should be returned to normal under the elected civilian government in Mali. In addition, an official statement was issued by the AU Commission Chair on the situation in Mali. It says in part: The AU Chairperson calls on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the United Nations and the entire international community to combine collective efforts to oppose any use of force as a means to end the political crisis in Mali.

Beyond condemning developments in Mali, the African Union and the regional blocs have to consistently remindAfrican leaders to prioritize sustainable development goals and understand the basic principle through which they were elected: the electorate and the people. That makes it utterly necessary to engage them in development decision-making processes and use available resources to improve their communities  these are the drivers of the expected lasting change needed in Africa.

By Kester Kenn Klomegah

The author writes frequently about Russia, Africa and BRICS. This article was first and originally published by IndepthNews.
The 9th annual Great Lakes Bay Regional Chamber Summit will be held virtually this year, on Monday, Oct. 5.

The event is hosted by the Great Lakes Bay Region Chamber organizations, which include Bay Area, Mt. Pleasant Area and Saginaw County Chambers of Commerce as well as the Midland Business Alliance.

As the Great Lakes Bay Region works to reopen its economy after the coronavirus pandemic shutdown and mid-Michigan dam failures, there is still a need to implement safety precautions as organizations try to reestablish business connections. It may be some time before large in-person gatherings and events, a staple benefit of business associations, are advisable or even allowed.

Yet, the members of the Great Lakes Bay Region business community still rely on their local chambers of commerce to help facilitate connections. For this reason, the regional chambers made the decision to host the summit virtually this year.

The summit is a visible expression to legislators, thought leaders, and policy-makers that the Great Lakes Bay Regional business community is vital, collaborative, and united in their support of this regions growth and progress. Regional summit highlights include the presentation of four Regional Chamber Awards and a keynote address.

This years keynote speaker, just in time for the 2020 election, is nationally renowned political commentator Frank Luntz. Frank Luntz is one of the most honored communication professionals in America today. Time magazine named him one of 50 of Americas most promising leaders aged 40 and under, and Newsweek identified him as No. 24 on their Power Elite survey.

In addition to the keynote address, the chambers will present four Regional Chamber Awards.

The Partners in Growth awards highlight outstanding organizations and individuals with a strong regional commitment in four areas: a large corporate employer, a small corporation or organization, a corporation or organization that has worked to improve quality of life in its community, and an outstanding individual.

This years recipients will be acknowledged both as Partners in Growth and Regional Heroes for their efforts in helping the community through both the pandemic and an unprecedented flood.

The 2020 Regional Chamber Award recipients are:

Large Business  Consumers Energy

Small Business  Great Lakes Bay Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau

Quality of Life  Great Lakes Bay Region hospitals: Aleda E. Lutz VA Medical Center, Ascension St. Marys Hospital, Covenant HealthCare, McLaren Health Care (Bay Region and Central Michigan), and MidMichigan Health

Individual  Dave Dittenber, owner, Old City Hall, Tavern 101, American Kitchen (Bay City) and Molasses (Midland)

The Great Lakes Bay Regional Chamber Summit will be held virtually via Zoom from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 5. Cost is just $20 per person. Registration is required and can be completed online via the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce website at www.baycityarea.com.

Need more information? Contact the Bay Area (989-893-4567), Mt. Pleasant Area (989-772-2396) or Saginaw County (989-752-7161) Chambers of Commerce or the Midland Business Alliance (989-839-9901).

 Processed by Ashley Schafer, Ashley.Schafer@hearstnp.com
China has no intention to fight either a cold war or a hot war with any country and will continue to hold negotiations to resolve disputes, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday.We have no intention to fight either a cold war or a hot one with any country. We will continue to narrow differences and resolve disputes with others through dialogue and negotiation. We will now seek to develop only ourselves or engage in zero-sum game, Xi said in a pre-recorded statement played during the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The comments come in the backdrop of worsening tensions between the US and China, wherein Washington has stepped up its attack on Beijing over a host of issues including handling of COVID-19 outbreak, trade war and so on.

It also comes as China and India are locked in a standoff at several points in eastern Ladakh.During his address, Xi said that China spoke about the COVID-19 outbreak, saying that we should put people and life first and the spread of the virus must be contained.Facing the virus, we should put people and life first. We should mobilise 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, he said.The Chinese President asserted that the World Health Organisation (WHO) should be given a leading role and called for a global response to tackle the pandemic.

He also said that any attempt of politicising the issue or stigmatisation must be rejected, in an apparent rebuke to US President Donald Trump, who has accused WHO and China of covering up the severity of the outbreak in the initial stages.This year, the annual UN General Assembly is being held in a virtual format in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The General Debate will run from September 22 to 29.Xi said that China has developed several COVID-19 vaccines which are in Phase 3 clinical trials, adding that 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.

ALSO READ: FATP review meeting: Pakistan attempts to mislead FATF, protect terror perpetrators

The Chinese President said that we will not pursue development behind closed doors.

China should pursue open and inclusive development and remain committed to building an open world economy, he said.Xi asserted that the country should say no to unilateralism and protectionism and work to ensure the stable and smooth functioning of global industrial and supply chains.

ALSO READ: South China Sea Dispute: Pompeo welcomes rejection of Chinas maritime claims in South China Sea at UN
The Pitch is pretty desperate for content nowadays and so they're accepting submissions and donations from their last remaining readers. Accordingly, here's the word from (mostly white) BLM activists who are still mad that a march into an Overland Park neighborhood was met with neighborhood resistance and push back from residents . . . Read more:

KC Voices: What will you do, District Attorney Howe? Ms. Oborny chided an officer for not acting. // Photo courtesy of IJTV We've been asking members of the KC community to submit stories about life under quarantine, protests, politics, and other subjects that provide important opinions. If you've got a story you'd like to share, please send it to brock@thepitchkc.com for consideration.
Morgan McCaffery was found stabbed at SEPTA's Meadowbrook train station in July. Hours later, police arrested her ex-boyfriend, Gilbert Newton III at his home in Fox Chase. Read more

An 18-year-old Philadelphia man was held for trial on murder and weapon charges Wednesday in the fatal July stabbing of his ex-girlfriend at a SEPTA Regional Rail station in Abington Township.

Gilbert Newton III, of Fox Chase, allegedly killed Morgan McCaffery, also 18, of Abington, about a month after she ended their yearlong relationship.

During a hearing in Norristown before Magisterial District Court Judge John Kessler, Newtons attorney sought to cast doubt on the evidence presented by Assistant District Attorney Kathleen McLaughlin. But McLaughlin noted Newtons admission to detectives who arrested him at his familys home in the city, as well as the relationship he had with McCaffery.

This is not a whodunit, she said.

 READ MORE: A Montgomery County teens murder is just one tragic example of relationship violence among young people

The evidence showed that early on July 27, McCaffery, who had recently graduated from Nazareth Academy, an all-girls Catholic school in Northeast Philadelphia, agreed to meet Newton at the Meadowbrook station to talk.

There, police said, the discussion turned violent. Newton stabbed and slashed McCaffery more than 30 times in the head, chest and neck with a kitchen knife, and left her next to her idling Toyota RAV4 SUV in a secluded, wooded parking lot, authorities said.

Passersby found McCaffery about 8:15 a.m. She was pronounced dead at the scene by medics. Two knives were recovered there, county Detective Edward Schekel said during Wednesdays hearing, one of which was broken, its blade snapped off and found lying in a pool of blood near McCafferys vehicle. They matched a larger set of kitchen knives detectives said they later found in Newtons home.

A witness reported seeing a white man standing over McCaffery before fleeing from the scene in a white Jeep, the Montgomery County District Attorneys Office said. Newtons mother called 911 after he had returned home in bloodstained clothes, according to the affidavit of probable cause in his arrest.

Around 10 that morning, Philadelphia police went to Newtons home and found a white Jeep parked outside with blood on the outside of the drivers side door, and found Newton wearing bloody clothing. The teen confessed to the officers that he had stabbed his girlfriend at the train station, the affidavit said.

McCafferys current boyfriend later told detectives that Newton had been texting her the night before, and had asked to meet at the station to discuss their breakup, the affidavit said.

A friend of McCafferys separately told police that Newton had been abusive to her during their relationship, but had been recently attempting to patch things up, according to the affidavit.

Newtons lawyer, A. Charles Peruto Jr., called the death a sad case on both sides, but contended prosecutors hadnt proven Newtons involvement.

No [witness] ever said Yes, this is the vehicle,' and no one ever said Yes this is the murderer, Peruto said.

But the judge wasnt swayed and ordered him held for trial.

McCaffery had been planning to attend Manor College in the fall. A message posted by Nazareth Academy a day after her death described her as a light to those whom she encountered, noting that she always put others first and had recently organized, assembled and distributed care packages to Abington Hospital nurses.

After the hearing Wednesday, McCafferys family members said they were pleased with the outcome, and thanked the community for supporting them.

We just ask that everyone keeps us in their thoughts and prayers as we move toward the trial we were granted today, said Frank McCaffery, Morgans uncle and godfather. Morgan is a beautiful, special, incredible young woman, and we will honor her every single day.
The work from home culture has worked well and many companies will continue with the system even after the coronavirus pandemic ends, billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates said on September 23. Various parts of the world have been under strict lockdowns following the COVID-19 outbreak, forcing organisations to let their employees work from home.

"It is amazing to see how well the work from home (WFH) culture has worked and I hope will continue even after the pandemic is over," Gates told an online business summit organised by financial daily The Economic Times. "But once this pandemic ends, we will rethink on what percentage of time we spend in offices 20, 30, 50 percent. Lots of companies will expect their employees to spend well below 50 percent of their time in offices and may be the rest of the companies will go the normal way," he added.

Gates, who co-founded Microsoft and also the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, said he has not travelled for work this whole year. "Honestly I have got time to do much more. It's been.. eye opening for me," he said.

However, the world's biggest philanthropist said WFH has not been as engaging, for which software has to improve a lot. Software engineering has surprisingly worked well but when kids are home, homes are small and there are chores, it is difficult to work. For women, they have too many things to handle so WFH comes with its own drawbacks, he pointed out. Software engineering has surprisingly worked well but when kids are home, homes are small and there are chores, it is difficult to work.

On his outlook on the end of the pandemic, Gates said "the message from me and others resulted in very little Even the US, from which you would expect to have the best response with the great scientific research, did a very poor job in getting ready with this and now we are faced with incredible damage." "Hopefully we will learn our lessons and be better ready next time but in the meanwhile we have so much work to be done," he emphasised.

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

Stating that China did not do a perfect job in getting the data out initially about the virus, he said this led to wasting time. On whether the strict two-month lockdown has worked in India, he said the country did some "incredible things" like use of digital infrastructure to transfer money to households in need.

But the challenge for India is its population, he said, adding a lot of people live in slums and dense areas and they cannot be asked to maintain social distancing. Besides, many people have jobs where remote working is not possible, he said.

"India was always going to face much bigger problems compared to Europe and the US. We hope as we get into fall, things don't get worse although the cold temperature is not good for containing the virus. "Right now some great things are happening, the Premjis, Primals, the Tatas etc are stepping up efforts to minimise the damage," Gates added.
D onald Trump mocked Joe Biden for wearing face masks and claimed the Democratic candidate has had plastic surgery, a week before their first US presidential debate.

"What the hell did he spend all that money on the plastic surgery if hes going to cover it up?" the president told supporters at a campaign rally in Pittsburgh in the battleground state of Pennsylvania on Tuesday.

The first debate takes place next Tuesday, September 29, in Cleveland, Ohio. Questions will be asked by Fox News anchor Chris Wallace.

Mr Trump asked the crowd  many of whom appeared to be wearing masks themselves  if Mr Biden would be wearing a mask on stage.

Joe Biden / Getty Images

When this was met with a roar, the president said: "It makes Joe feel good. Whatever makes you feel good.

He added: I think hell come in with a mask. The question is: Will he leave it on during the debate?"

Both candidates have been seen wearing masks, although the Democrat Mr Biden appears to wear one more often.

Mr Trump calls the former vice-president "Sleepy Joe" and his campaign routinely questions the 77-year-old's mental fitness for office.

Supporters greet Donald Trump's plane Air Force One / Getty Images

But Mr Biden has also cast doubt on 74-year-old Mr Trump's health, telling CNN: "Thank God I am in good health."

Just look at us," he added. "Who seems to be in shape? Who seems to be able to move around.

Mr Trump played down the risk from coronavirus on Monday claiming that it affects virtually nobody under the age of 18. More than 200,000 people have died with the virus in the US, out of about 970,000 worldwide.

The election takes place on November 3.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 07:07:50|Editor: huaxia

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SANTIAGO, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Chilean President Sebastian Pinera announced on Wednesday that the Santiago Metro system is once again fully operational after dozens of stations were damaged during social unrest in October 2019.

"Today, with the reopening of the Trinidad and Protectora de la Infancia metro stations, and in less than a year, the 136 stations of the Metro are operating and the entire capacity of the Metro is at the service of the inhabitants of the city of Santiago," said the president at the reopening ceremony.

The president thanked Metro workers and others who contributed to the refurbishment of each of the 118 vandalized stations.

"This enormous effort was worth it, because the Metro is the backbone of our public transportation system, and because its full recovery and 100 percent operation means that millions and millions of our countrymen will be able to save time and dedicate it to their families, to travel with greater safety and comfort through the city, and improve their quality of life," he said.

Demonstrations initially broke out in last October against a hike in metro fares in the capital Santiago, then spread across the country as Chileans expressed their discontent with the high cost of living, lack of public services and growing inequality. Enditem
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, September 23, 2020 17:03 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46b5034 1 National Research-and-Technology-Ministry,bambang-brodjonegoro,BRIN,PCR-test,test-kits,swab-test,coronavirus,coronavirus-testing,COVID-19,COVID-19-test Free

Research and Technology Minister and National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) head Bambang Brodjonegoro has said the ministry is developing COVID-19 test kits to improve screening for the virus.

The ministry has launched 60 medical devices since May and is now developing a rapid antibody test kit and a rapid antigen, or swab test, kit.

Bambang said the test kits were being tested for validity and sensitivity. We hope to launch the test kits soon, probably next month because we want to ensure their accuracy through comparative or clinical trials, he said during a meeting on Wednesday with members of House of Representatives Commission VII overseeing energy, as quoted by kompas.com.

The rapid antibody test kit, according to Bambang, was the second generation of the test and was being examined by the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT).

The rapid swab test kit is being developed by the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI).

Bambang said he hoped that both test kits would be more accurate, more valid and more affordable than current tests. He also hoped they would provide faster results.

This is part of the governments 3T principle: testing, tracing and treatment. We are strengthening the testing aspect by launching the two products, he said. (aly)
CAIRO  Recent remarks by a well-known Egyptian TV presenter on womens Islamic headgear have stirred up a heated debate between secular and ultraconservative Egyptians.

Radwa el-Sherbiny, who is known for her controversial views, has come under fire because of her statements on women's Islamic veil during her show Heya w Bas ("Only Her") on the private CBC satellite channel on Sept. 13.

Commenting on a female viewer who called the show to say that she wanted to remove her hijab, Sherbiny said women who wear the hijab are 100,000 times better than those who do not. She claimed that there is a devil inside unveiled women that is more powerful than their faith.

The remarks of Sherbiny, who is unveiled herself, stirred up mixed reactions and provoked many who criticized her as someone promoting hate speech and segregation.

Nevertheless, ultraconservative Egyptians viewed her as a supporter of Muslim womens rights.

Sherbinys comments were fiercely criticized by womens rights advocates as well.

There is a difference between opinion and judgement. Voicing a judgement and stigmatizing unveiled women can open the door for exercising social guardianship  and inciting crimes, such as sexual harassment, under the pretext that those women were not wearing the hijab, said Nehad Aboul-Komsan, a womens rights defender.

There is a difference between a presenter and an analyst. A TV presenter should be unbiased. She could have brought the two sides of the argument  one for and another against the Islamic veil. What she said, indeed, was against the law as it was a form of bullying, which has been recently outlawed, Aboul-Komsan, also a lawyer, told Al-Monitor.

Such criticism has apparently paid off. On Sept. 13, the Supreme Council for Media Regulation (SCMR)  an independent entity loyal to the regime  decided to question Sherbiny.

The Complaints Committee at the  council [will open] an immediate investigation  into the complaints it has received over what she said  [about] unveiled women, the regulator said in a post on its official Facebook page.

Social media fiercely responded to Sherbiny's remarks. The conversations online were quickly divided in two camps: users denouncing her comments and others supporting her narrative on the hijab and denouncing the councils move; creating the hashtag #SupportRadwa.

Even though the TV station removed the clip in question from its online channel, it has since resurfaced on social media.

One day after her controversial comments, Sherbiny apologized during her show, admitting that she may have overreacted.

I meant  that women wearing the hijab have done their duty [toward God] better than myself and others who are not wearing it, she said, adding that this does not mean that unveiled women are not good.

Islamic preacher Abdullah Rushdy, who appears on TV regularly, released a video on his YouTube channel in support of Sherbiny.

She did not say anything wrong  she was talking about a specific subject  a persons commitment to obey God Almighty who loves the obedient person more, Rushdy argued.

There is a secular, enlightening bogeyman that attempts to frighten any person wishing to revive the right religious thoughts in society.  Be strong and righteous  and remind people of the right thing, he added sarcastically.

On the other hand, freedom of expression advocates considered the SCMRs move against Sherbiny an attack on media freedom, regardless of her comments that may have offended unveiled women.

Khaled el-Balshy, former head of the Freedoms Committee at the Journalists Syndicate, considered the situation a real dilemma.

At the same time, if we talk from the perspective of free speech, I dont think she should be investigated for what she said, Balshy argued.

I personally disapprove of what she said  as it encourages people to antagonize unveiled women, he told Al-Monitor. But the idea of having an authority that judges the media or the press for what they say is quite alarming.

This was not the first time that Sherbiny spoke highly of the hijab. She has frequently expressed her constant wish to put it on herself.

Oh, God  oh God  May I [put on] the veil, she said during an episode of the same show in November last year, while showing her viewers how to wear the headscarf in a stylish way.

However, she has never explained why she has not fulfilled her wish.

In July, Sherbiny criticized the management of tourist sites that do not allow veiled women in, including resorts banning burkinis.

SCMR officials eventually decided to take no action against her. We questioned Sherbiny, and she explained the situation. She said she meant no offense to unveiled women. Thats why we thought there was no ill-intent, especially since she apologized in her show for what she said, SCMR head Karam Gabr told Al-Monitor.

Sherbiny could not be reached for comment on the raised controversy.

Hijab as a principle in Islam has been subjected to several interpretations. Some intellectuals argue it is not obligatory in the first place.

Last year, a female writers life was threatened by fanatics after she published a book documenting the lives of women who took off their veils.

Dena Anwers book  Those Taking Off the Hijab: The Silent Revolution  was a bestseller at the latest Cairo International Book Fair.

In 2015, prominent journalist and writer Cherif Choubachy called on women to join a protest in Tahrir Square  which witnessed the 2011 uprising  and take off their veils there. His call was met with uproar from Islamic scholars and ultraconservative Egyptians.

The phenomenon of the hijab returned to Egypt after hundreds of thousands of Egyptians were influenced by Salafist ideologies when they worked in oil-rich Gulf countries during the 1970s and 1980s, especially Saudi Arabia, the home of extremist Wahhabism.

A hijab-wearing female was a rarity on the streets of the capital Cairo and Egypts main cities before that time. Even the wives and daughters of several high-profile Islamic scholars during the second half of the 20th century did not cover. Currently, it has turned into a social dress for some social segments, especially among the poor, rather than a religious duty.
We are pleased to announce the winners of the 2020 Excellence in Institutional Writing Awards, sponsored by the National Association of Science Writers:

The winner in each category will receive a cash prize of $2,000. Winners will be featured in a video showcase debuting on October 19 as part of ScienceWriters2020 core week.

Hatfield is a science writer in the heliophysics division at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD. Commenting on "A Shot in the Dark," the judges stated: "Rarely do blog posts leave you on the edge of your seat, but that's exactly what Miles Hatfield accomplishes in this eminently readable series. In riveting fashion, he describes the challenging data collection mission of an international group in the Svalbard archipelago, not only giving the reader a deep sense of the mission's high stakes, but also revealing an amazing natural phenomenon that plays out at the poles of our planet without notice to most of the world. Miles executes scenes with suspense; the research group's anticipation and pressure to succeed are palpable. It reads, at times, like science fiction, each section playing out like chapters in a book you don't want to put down. An audio version of the story feels like listening to an audiobook. The animations and video help readers visualize the equipment and the compelling natural landscapes, while also introducing us to the characters who have come to these islands to watch Earth's atmosphere literally drift into space."

Marshall is senior science editor in the Office of Strategic Relations and Communications, University of Colorado Boulder. The judges wrote: "The piece contextualized the findings within the larger 'hygiene hypothesis,' and moved quickly into a clear description of how the 'bacterium, Mycobacterium vaccae, quells stress-related disorders.' The author explained the mechanism behind the stress-busting fat with a vivid metaphor in a single sentence, and kept the reader engaged with a narrative throughline in which microbes are our 'old friends' still here to help us. The author did all that while making this fascinating research accessible to the non-scientific public. The piece was both entertaining and effective--masterfully done!"

Honorable mention in the long-form category went to:

"The Rapunzel Effect," by Paul Hond, Columbia University

"The Forgotten Female: How a Generation of Women Scientists Changed Our View of Evolution," by Kathi Borgmann, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

"A Green Idea to Power Rural Nepal," by Carol Jackson, Emily Hanford, Karen Kemp, and Alison Jones, for the Duke University Sanford School of Policy

In the short-form category, honorable mention went to:

"Cracking How 'Water Bears' Survive the Extremes," by Mario Aguilera, University of California, San Diego

"Earth's Last Magnetic Field Reversal Took Far Longer Than Once Thought," by Eric Hamilton, University of Wisconsin-Madison

###

The judging committee for the long-form entries consisted of Joseph Piergrossi (Technische Universitat Dresden/Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron), Kelly Quigley (Scripps Research), Kelly April Tyrrell (University of Wisconsin-Madison), and Karen McNulty Walsh (Brookhaven National Laboratory). For the short-form entries, the judging committee consisted of Laura Arenschield (The Ohio State University), Miles Hatfield (NASA), and Patricia Koning (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory). The Awards Committee was co-chaired by Alla Katsnelson (freelance) and Jyoti Madhusoodanan (freelance), and the Excellence in Institutional Writing Awards were coordinated by Awards Committee members Barbara Gastel (Texas A&M University) and Jill Sakai (freelance and University of Wisconsin-Madison).

First granted in 2018, the NASW Excellence in Institutional Writing Awards were established to recognize high-caliber publicly accessible science writing produced on behalf of an institution or other non-media organization.

Entries for next year's competition, for material published or broadcast in 2020, are due February 1, 2021. Entry forms will be available at http://www.nasw.org/excellence in December 2020.

The largest organization devoted to the professional interests of science writers, the National Association of Science Writers fosters the dissemination of accurate information regarding science through all media normally devoted to informing the public. Its 2,500 members include journalists, authors, editors, producers, public information officers, students and people who write and produce material intended to inform the public about science, health, engineering, and technology. For more information, visit http://www.nasw.org or write director@nasw.org.
(@fidahassanain)

The court has announced reserved verdict after eight-year of the tragic incident that claimed lives of more than 260 people in Karachi Baldia Town factory.

KARACHI: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-Sept 22nd, 2020) An Anti-Terrorism Court on Tuesday sentenced to death two accused, awarded life-imprisonment to four and acquitted four others in Baldia Town factory case.

The court announced the verdict after eight-year of the shocking incident at Baldia Town factory.

Rehman Bhola and Zubair Charya are being awarded death sentence while Raoof Siddique and three others are acquitted in this case, the court held.

The court also acquitted four people including Raoof Siddiqui, Abdul Stattar, Adeeb Khanum and Umar Hassan.

Hammad Siddiqui who is said to be the mastermind of Baldia Town Factory was declared as pro-claimed offender by the court for not appearing before the court.

At least 400 eye-witnesses recorded their statements during long the trial of 8-year at Anti-Terrorism Court in Karachi. According to Geo tv, the owner of the factory recorded his statement through a video link from UAE and said that he was demanded extortion by the MQM.

At least 262 people lost their lives and 50 others were injured after entire Baldia Town factory building was set ablaze on Sept 11, 2012 in Karachi.
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The Government's claim Britain could face 50,000 coronavirus infections a day was based on studies involving just hundreds of positive cases, it has been revealed, as debate rages over whether Number 10's restrictions go far enough in stemming the spread of coronavirus.

Sir Patrick Vallance and Chris Whitty made the stark forecast on Monday but it has since been decried by experts as 'implausible' and 'designed to scare us'. And even Boris Johnson U-turned from the prediction, admitting to the Commons yesterday that the number of infections may actually only be doubling every 20 days.

Advisers have now revealed the Chief Scientific Adviser and Chief Medical Officer' prediction was based on older studies claiming Covid-19 cases would double every week - a figure from the start of September that is no longer supported by the Government's own testing data.

Figures suggest the outbreak is doubling every two weeks, rising from an average of 1,022 infections a day on August 22 to 2,032 on September 7, to 3,929 yesterday. Neither Spain nor France, whose outbreaks the UK is thought to be on a par with, have got anywhere near the dreaded 50,000 cases a day mark.

It comes as scientists trade blows over whether Number 10 has imposed adequate measures to curb the spread of the virus. Professor Carl Heneghan, director of the University of Oxford's Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine, told BBC Radio 4 he thought the measures showed a shift from a suppress the virus model to a Sweden-leaning contain model.

'We are starting to understand that we are trying to control the spread of the infection as opposed to suppress it,' he said. 'What we are starting to see is a move towards Sweden. So for instance, when you look at bars and restaurants, that's the policy there - they have table service. I'm hoping we now start to see a more consistent policy, one that stays in place.' Professor Heneghan added: 'If at every point there is an uptick in cases and we panic with more measures, we will talk ourselves back into a lockdown, which as a whole society is hugely disruptive.'

His words were hot on the heels of Professor John Edmunds, an epidemiologist from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and SAGE member, who slammed the Government for 'not learning the lessons from March' and alleged there could be another damaging lockdown as in March unless more drastic measures are implemented.

Experts threw cold water on the dramatic graph presented by Sir Patrick and Professor Whitty, saying it was 'implausible' that case numbers would outstrip France and Spain by so much

Sir Patrick Vallance, Chief Scientific Adviser, and Professor Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer, made the prediction using studies that had detected more than a hundred positive cases of coronavirus to make the prediction

Professor Carl Heneghan, from Oxford University, said this morning that the UK is starting to look at a 'control' rather than 'suppress' strategy. His words were hot on the heels of Professor John Edmunds, a member of SAGE from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who said the Government had failed to learn the lessons from March

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

The revelation over the coronavirus figures comes as:

Dominic Raab warns the UK will be forced into a second national lockdown if people fail to follow the new restrictions;

Rishi Sunak draws up a German-style scheme for businesses and the Treasury to subsidise workers wages to avoid mass lay offs;

Japanese study reveals plastic face shields allow nearly 100 per cent of droplets released talking and breathing to escape;

Martin Hewitt, chairman of the National Police Chiefs' council, said the introduction of the rule of six had led to a surge in reports to police;

Nicola Sturgeon said a new Covid-19 'tipping point' had been reached requiring new restrictions;

Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford asked people in the country to 'think every time they make a journey and avoid unnecessary travel';

UK records 4,926 cases of coronavirus yesterday, the highest number since 7 May.

A spokesman for Sir Vallance confirmed yesterday that the seven-day estimate was 'heavily' based on findings of the weekly survey of the Office for National Statistics, and the React-1 survey by Imperial College London.

The studies test a random sample of 100,000 people but, as the virus remains at low levels, they have to base their predictions off only a few hundred positive cases.

In the last React-1 study on September 7, they identified 136 coronavirus cases out of 153,000 people sampled. The low number led them to predict that infections could double every seven days, a figure that was then used by the Government scientists.

The Government admitted it used these surveys as opposed to actual testing data because it was worried the figures lagged behind the spread of the disease.

Hugh Pennington, an emeritus microbiologist at Aberdeen University said their prediction 'wasn't scientifically accurate'.

'It was almost designed to scare us,' he said. 'It didn't take into account we are doing a lot. I was annoyed because they were naughty doing that.'

Professor Paul Hunter, a medical expert at the University of East Anglia, said the figures they presented were 'implausible' for mid-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.

Professor Anthony Brookes, an expert in genomics at the University of Leicester, said they had presented a 'distorted, unbalanced view of reality'.

'Modelling is using guestimates and trying to predict the future,' he said. 'But models are not data. There should be a way to try and replicate what has happened in the past and try and go forward (with this).'

The UK statistic regulator revealed yesterday it has had to step in seven times during the pandemic after Government departments quoted data that had not been made available to the public.

The head of the Office for Statistics Regulation, Ed Humpson, said such incidents were 'disappointing'.

On one occasion they stepped in to contact the Department of Health when a figure for the distance people were travelling to get a Covid-19 test was quoted 'quite widely in the public domain' but without the underlying data being made available.

NHS Scotland and the Scottish Government was also contacted after data on antibody testing had been quoted but was not publicly available.

The Prime Minister told the Commons yesterday: 'I'm sorry to say that as in Spain, France and many other countries we have reached a perilous turning point.

'A month ago, on average, around a thousand people across the UK were testing positive for coronavirus every day. The latest figure has almost quadrupled to 3,929.

'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.'

The 3,929 figure referred to by the Prime Minister is the average number of cases diagnosed each day in the week leading up to September 21. That has almost doubled from 2,032 on August 22, suggesting a doubling time of two weeks.

The Office for National Statistics, however, estimates that infection rates are higher at around 6,000 people per day, as it argues the testing system is not catching all positive cases. But this is expected to fall as restrictions stem the spread of the virus.

Boris Johnson told the nation last night that the virus cannot be allowed to rip through the country as it will eventually find its way to older and more vulnerable people

'Six months' of curbs at a glance All pubs, bars and restaurants in England will be subject to a 10pm curfew from Thursday, with the PM adamant that premises must kick out all of their customers by the cut off point.

The hospitality sector will also be restricted to table service only as the Government outlawed drinkers making a trip to the bar.

All retail workers and customers in indoor hospitality settings will be required to wear masks - except when they are seated to eat or drink.

All workers who can work from home are now being encouraged to do so from tomorrow.

Fines for breaking the rule of six and for failing to wear a face covering are increasing to 200 for a first offence.

The police will now have the option of asking the military for support with soldiers potentially being drafted in to fulfil office roles and guard protected sites in order to allow officers more time to crackdown on rule-breakers.

The number of people allowed to attend weddings in England is being slashed to 15 from Monday but the number of people allowed to attend a funeral will remain at 30.

Plans for the partial return of sports fans to stadiums on October 1 has been paused.

Rule of six exemptions are being tightened to ban indoor team sports like five-a-side-football matches. Advertisement

It comes as scientists trade blows on the Government's strategy for controlling coronavirus - after it was announced that pubs would be closed at 10pm every night, office workers should work from home again where possible, and the number of people allowed to attend weddings was slashed to 15.

Professor Heneghan said he thought the Government's new rules demonstrated a change in direction towards a more Sweden-leaning model.

'So I'm hoping we now start to see a more coherent consistent policy, one that stays in place,' he said this morning. 'So we don't keep seeing the almost daily changes which become utterly confusing for the public.

'There will be an inevitable rise in cases now as we go in to winter. The key is not to panic. You've got to let some of these measures work, and they will take a few weeks to come through, and you have to reinforce the messaging.

'If at every point there is an uptick in cases and we panic with more measures, we will talk ourselves back into a lockdown, which as a whole society is hugely disruptive.

'We have a mantra of fear, with enforcement and fines, but if you look at Sweden they are much more supportive, trying to bring people with them.'

Sweden never imposed a national lockdown, instead asking more vulnerable people to stay at home, and suffered an 8.6 per cent contraction in its economy between April and June, compared to 20.4 per cent shaved off the UK economy in the same period.

The country also has a clear system to support those in self-isolation, where they all get two weeks pay.

Other scientists, however, strongly disagreed. Professor Edmunds said their strategy did not go far enough and accused ministers of failing to learn the lessons from March.

Speaking in a personal capacity, he told the Today programme that authorities will let cases of coronavirus 'double and double and double again' before taking the right steps, but by then it will be 'too late'.

'And then we'll have the worst of both worlds, because then to slow the epidemic and bring it back down again, all the way down to somewhere close to where it is now or where it was in the summer, will mean putting the brakes on the epidemic for a very long time, very hard,' he said.

'(This) is what we had to do in March because we didn't react quickly enough in March, and so I think that we haven't learnt from our mistake back then and we're unfortunately about to repeat it.

'I suspect we will see very stringent measures coming in place throughout the UK at some point, but it will be too late again.'

Professor Peter Openshaw, a SAGE member and immunologist at Imperial College London, also said the restrictions were lagging behind said a ban on mixing in households in England would come 'sooner rather than later'.

He told BBC Radio 5 Live: 'I would think if we wait two or three weeks it will be too late. It ought to be introduced sooner rather than later.'

Asked whether this means people could still see other households outside, he said 'there are ways that you can do that', if you are able to keep distance from people, meet outside and put in place 'proper precautions', meeting outdoors can be 'quite safe'.

Dropping potential hints on the Government's thinking, Boris Johnson said in a statement to the country last night that the 'tragic reality' of coronavirus is that 'your mild cough can be someone else's 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.

'That's 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.'

Scotland has gone a step further than England in deciding to ban the mixing of households. Some scientists have warned the Government to wait several weeks, to see the impact its new measures have, before deciding on further steps. But others have called on them to take more action immediately, arguing that by waiting a few weeks they will be closing the door after the horse has bolted.
In yet another brazen attempt to raise the matter of Jammu and Kashmir at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday said that "Kashmir conflict is still a burning issue".

Hitting back at Erdogan for his remarks on Kashmir, India has said that the Turkish President's speech constitutes "gross interference" in New Delhi's internal affairs and is "completely unacceptable".

Taking to Twitter hours after Erdogan raked up the Kashmir issue in the UNGA, India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, TS Tirumurti, said Ankara should learn to respect the sovereignty of other nations and reflect on its policies more deeply.

We have seen remarks by President of Turkey on Indian UT of Jammu & Kashmir. They constitute gross interference in Indias internal affairs and are completely unacceptable. Turkey should learn to respect sovereignty of other nations and reflect on its own policies more deeply.  PR UN Tirumurti (@ambtstirumurti) September 22, 2020

On day two of the high-level UNGA, the Turkish President who is an ally of Pakistan said, "The Kashmir conflict, which is also key to the stability and peace of South Asia, is still a burning issue." In a pre-recorded statement, the leader said that it is imperative to solve the issue of Kashmir through dialogue.

"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," Erdogan added.

India slams Turkey's attempt to internationalize Kashmir

In the last one year, Pakistan-ally Turkey has used several platforms to raise the issue of Jammu and Kashmir. However, India, time and again, has told the west-Asian country that Kashmir issue is an internal matter of India.

READ | Aamir Khan, Turkey's 1st lady Emine Erdogan make waves; she's looking forward to the film

Last week, India had slammed Pakistan, Turkey and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) at the 46th session of the Human Rights Council for their remarks on India's internal affairs. Responding to reference made by Turkey on Jammu and Kashmir, India in its right to reply had advised Turkey to refrain from commenting on the internal affairs of India and develop a better understanding of democratic practices.

READ | Pakistan ally Turkey's Erdogan raises Kashmir issue at UN General Assembly once again

In August, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said Turkey should get a proper understanding of the ground situation. "It's factually incorrect, biased and unwarranted. Would urge Government of Turkey to get a proper understanding of the ground situation and refrain from interfering in matters internal to India," he said.

READ | Greek newspapers website hacked to 'insult' Turkish President Erdogan

Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman had said on August 5 that abrogation of the Article of 370 does not contribute to peace and stability in the region. The remarks were made on the first anniversary of abrogation of Article 370, which gave special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

READ | India pulls no punches against Turkey; tells Erdogan to 'understand democratic practices'

Erdogan has been a controversial figure in world affairs for a long time now, and generally regarded as an autocrat and dictator posing as a democratically elected leader. He has been subject to coup attempts which he nonetheless overcame with ease, after which he prosecuted his opponents and political rivals, cementing his rule.

(With agency inputs)
Pig Iron's "Zero Cost House" features, clockwise from top left: Dito Van Reigersberg, Alex Torra and puppets by Maiko Matsushima. (Mary McCool)

Zoom theater is an oxymoron, but substitutes for live performance will have to do until we can safely gather again as an audience.

The Old Vics In Camera program demonstrates what can be done with an actor on stage alone or physically distanced from a scene partner. The offerings, scratch productions with topnotch performers, recall Peter Brooks idea of theater as the empty space, the stage equivalent of a blank page, requiring nothing more than the imaginative interplay between artists and (implied) spectators.

But what about more adventurous digital performances? My encounters thus far dont persuade me that the future of theater lies in sophisticated tech.

When I tune into a play or a devised theater piece, Im not looking to be dazzled by computer graphics. Clever Zoom backdrops dont seize my imagination. I want what I always want from the stage: a confrontation with what it means to be human.

That was not at all my experience with Portaleza, a piece by David Israel Reynoso and the immersive theater company Optika Moderna in La Jolla Playhouses digital Without Walls series (available through Oct. 31). A package was mailed to my home with a hypnocular device that I had to fold together myself. (For someone who quakes in terror at the words "special assembly required," this was not an auspicious start.)

To access this mysterious portal, I had to scan a code with my phone, then (after some instructional confusion) email a message to a dead loved one that would be coded by an Optika Moderna optician for cosmic delivery. The message I scrolled wasnt to a dead loved one but to the artists behind this cumbersome exercise: This is manipulative and exploitative.

Theater artist David Israel Reynoso working on his interactive digital theater piece "Portaleza" for La Jolla Playhouse's 2020 all-digital Without Walls program. (La Jolla Playhouse )

Eventually my misshapen hypnocular device came into play so that I could experience a surreal vision of my messages passage through the hands of celestial and mortal beings. Part video game, part music video, the piece was surreal all right. But missing for me was anything resembling a theatrical vision.

Story continues

I was eager to see how Pig Iron, the inventive Philadelphia-based theater company, would translate its experimental sensibility on Zoom. But the lesson from Zero Cost House, a semi-autobiographical play written for Pig Iron by Japanese playwright Toshiki Okada, is that the digital space, while open to new configurations, can handle only so much dramatic complexity.

The play, which the company performed onstage in 2012, has been adapted to a new medium. The fit doesnt feel natural. Adapted and directed by Dan Rothenberg and translated by Aya Ogawa, this online incarnation of Zero Cost House is unwieldy, slow to take off and only intermittently arresting.

The characters include a Toshiki Okada from 15 years earlier when he fell under the spell of Henry David Thoreaus Walden and a Toshiki Okada who has grown disenchanted with the book and its classic American inquiry into nature and society and freedom and responsibility. The actors circulate parts, lending identity an even more slippery reality in a work that offers no more incentive to follow along than a stranger's dream.

Pig Irons unhurried performance style can be a source of delicious deadpan humor, but its not easy to duplicate the insider drollery online. The slowness felt tedious, especially when rabbit puppets, characters of a play within the play, were added to the mix.

Big questions, derived from Thoreau (who appears in a casual modern guise), about how to live as an artist and a politically conscious citizen are taken up. Bjorks music, an obsession for Okada, is playfully evoked. Disaster, in the form of the 2011 Fukushima meltdown, ratchets up the stakes of the artists soul-searching. But the overall effect of this talky, shapeshifting piece is numbing.

Staring into a computer screen for a protean two-hour performance work is testing. Attention spans that are already fractured by a global pandemic and a hot political war need perhaps a sturdier structure than the whimsical foundation on which Zero Cost House rests.

Bringing the blithe spirit of Pig Irons avant-gardism to Zoom is an admirable effort, but both the tumultuous nature of the times and the specificity of the technological platform must be more carefully considered. Resonance is not enough. And old aesthetic maps cant be mapped onto new aesthetic geographies.

The Fountain Theatre has brought Ifa Bayezas The Ballad of Emmett Till to the web (streaming through Dec. 1) in a reimagining of its 2010 production directed by Shirley Jo Finney. The timeliness of this tragic tale, about the 14-year-old Black boy from Chicago who was lynched in Mississippi in 1955 after being accused of flirting with a white woman in her grocery store, is painful.

Till's death gave force to the burgeoning civil rights movement. Bayeza tells his story as a lyrical collage, conjuring in spoken-word rhythms the irrepressible vibrancy of a carefree spirit who was cut down in his youth by racist violence.

Bernard K. Addison and Karen Malina White, top; Lorenz Arnell, center; and Adenrele Ojo and Rico E. Anderson in the Fountain Theatre's "The Ballad of Emmett Till." (Fountain Theatre)

This ensemble piece, a communal chorus of witnessing, had a capering quality in the theater as it summoned Till back to life. Language was the main form of illustration.

The focus is no longer on the actors relationship to the words that Bayeza finds to reanimate a crushing story. On Zoom, the performers are situated amid backgrounds (a train, a cotton field, a car, clouds) that shift in style between graphic novel and live animation. There's nothing inherently wrong with the sprightly design, except that it detracts from the poetry, competes with the performers and turns the play into an educational cartoon.

"The Ballad of Emmett Till" humanizes history that sadly hasn't lost its urgency. But technology renders the work less potent than it was on a simple stage.

Digital theater is offered as a consolation, but so much of the work inadvertently underscores the social isolation of the pandemic. Acting depends on listening, but Zoom seems to be all about speaking. Actors, stranded in their boxes, seem exclusively focused on their characterizations and cues. Other peoples lines barely seem to register.

There have been notable exceptions, such as the well-honed ensemble of Richard Nelson's Apple family Zoom trilogy. But an impersonal quality has dominated. The orgone box style of acting  hermetic, self-engrossed  is back with a vengeance.

Zealous mugging is in evidence early on in the online presentation of Madhuri Shekars In Love and Warcraft, a collaboration between San Franciscos American Conservatory Theater and Alaskas Perseverance Theatre, directed by Peter Kuo.

The supporting players are particularly guilty of overselling their characters. Trust isnt easy to achieve when working alone together.

The directors determination to make it seem as though two or more actors are in the same room by having them look sideways rather than straight ahead occasionally leads to some cutesy business. Oh look, theyre pretending to share potato chips. Ha, ha, ha, theyre supposed to be smooching now. I will admit, however, I was impressed by the daring when a gynecological exam was administered. (Surely this must be a first for Zoom theater.)

The play tells the story of Evie (Cassandra Hunter), a college senior who prefers to live her life virtually. She spends nearly all her free time in the online role-playing game World of Warcraft. For extra cash, she writes letters (a la Cyrano de Bergerac) to those needing to win back their lovers.

Cassandra Hunter as Evie and Hernan Angulo as Raul in A.C.T.'s presentation of "In Love and Warcraft." (American Conservatory Theater)

Romance terrifies her, until she meets Raul (Hernan Angulo), who requests her epistolary services for a faulty relationship hes not even sure he wants to salvage. A rambunctious rom-com for the screen generation that has an obvious destination in view, the play would have benefited in this digital format from some judicious pruning.

But something happens along the way that lifted this Zoom offering from its screen prison: intimacy between the leads. Im not speaking only about the love that develops between Evie and Raul, though that of course is the dramatic vehicle.

Im talking about the connection between Hunter and Angulo, who seem to be responding to each other in the moment, reacting to the emotions they're taking in. The feeling isn't freeze-dried. As their characters bridge their loneliness, the actors bridge ours with the genuineness of their performances.

This presentation of In Love and Warcraft (available on demand through Sept. 25) is remount of a spring production with A.C.T.'s MFA students. The play cleverly incorporates a version of the Warcraft game to bring the action to a happy close, but computer ingenuity is not what gives life to the production.

At a time when so much of our lives are lived on the internet, we dont need to spend elective hours admiring technological wallpaper. Art has a greater imperative: to restore the link to our humanity. Digital performance will be in a better place when it worries more about human contact than superficial spectacle.
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.
CAIRO  Egyptian member of parliament John Talaat submitted Sept. 5 a parliamentary question to Minister of Culture Inas Abdel Dayem in regard to the role of the Censorship of Works of Art (CACWA) in the content broadcast on Netflix.

Some of these works carry transgressions and abuses that the Egyptian society does not accept, and the censorship standards must be strictly applied to any artwork that is allowed to be broadcast in Egypt, Talaat said in a Sept. 5 statement.

In an Aug. 25 article in Al-Masry Al-Youm, journalist Suleiman Joudeh called on the Ministry of Culture and official bodies to review the works broadcast on Netflix.

Netflix's works have sparked controversy time and again, the latest of which was the film "Cuties" that topped Egypts Google search list on Sept. 13, after it arrived at the platform and was criticized for depicting children in a sexual and inappropriate way.

Talaat told Al-Monitor over the phone, It is our [the Egyptian authorities] right to monitor the content that is broadcast inside the country, especially if it affects the principles and values of Egyptian families. This further coincides with the controversy over Netflix broadcasting content embodying the Divine Entity, and that is why we need to stop and reconsider this.

Earlier in September, American actor Dennis Haysbert appeared as God in season five of the series "Lucifer," sparking controversy over this role.

Speaking about the possibility of the Egyptian authorities interfering to ban the Netflix application or some of its content, Talaat said, "I am waiting for a response from the Ministry of Culture to my parliamentary question. In general, any artwork broadcast in Egypt must be subject to censorship  no transgressions or abuses are allowed. Even if it is broadcast on an online application, it does not mean that the content is exempt from censorship. Insulting religious sanctities is a red line for the Egyptian people.

Art critic Nader Adly told Al-Monitor that it is difficult to censor Netflix content, saying, This matter [censoring Netflix content] is very difficult. It was easy to censor many artworks broadcast by Egyptian and sometimes Arab stations, but to censor an application of this importance is not easy at all and will not be allowed, especially since it is based on subscriptions with the full consent of the subscriber.

He added, Confronting what some describe as transgressions cannot be through blocking and banning [the application]. Those who do not want Netflix's work can simply choose not to subscribe and pay money for it, but it is illogical to impose censorship on global works that are not broadcast in Egypt alone. We suffer from such interventions in Egypt.

Adly noted that freedom of art is still a subject of debate in Egyptian society, adding, Some see freedom as an essential element, while others call for censorship. The authorities and society should be more understanding and refrain from banning artworks. This issue will always occupy a number of Egyptian parliamentarians who want complete control over culture, art and thought.

Art critic Mahmoud Qassem told Al-Monitor over the phone, Netflix always sparks controversy in its artwork, especially when it released the film "The Angel" [in September 2018], which tells the story of Ashraf Marwan. The film illustrated him as being a spy for the Israeli Mossad against his country, Egypt.

The trailer of "The Angel" promoted in August 2018 caused an angry reaction from Egyptians and Arabs who considered the film propaganda in favor of Israel. At the time, the Egyptian authorities did not take any action regarding broadcasting the film on Netflix.

Although Qassem criticizes some of the artwork on Netflix by describing them as pouring poison in honey, as they have very attractive works that may pass some anomalous ideas about Arab societies within them, such as sexual freedom, he does not stand with imposing government censorship on the networks content, but rather by competing with it through similar platforms.

Nora Hamed, a Netflix subscriber, told Al-Monitor that she was shocked by the demands to impose censorship on the artistic content displayed on the network, saying, "The freedom of creativity must be guaranteed and individuals who are bothered by certain content should simply refrain from watching. Content creators want to serve the goals of the message to be conveyed to the public. So imposing censorship will scatter this message and empty the artwork of its content.

Meanwhile, a source in the Egyptian Ministry of Culture told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, The ministry does not have the power to block or censor works broadcast on Netflix. The platform does not even submit a request to obtain our approval for the content it broadcasts in the first place.

The source added, Basically the Ministry of Culture does not have control over any work on the internet. Its role is only limited to monitoring shows in cinemas, theaters and on Egyptian satellite channels.
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has sought clarification from the state government regarding the admission of Covid-19 patients to private hospitals. The IMA points to the state notification dated September 18, which it claims discourages patients being admitted to private hospitals without an RT-PCR test, and only on the results of the rapid antigen test.

Dr Avinash Bhondwe, president, Indian Medical Association (IMA), Maharashtra chapter, said, There are several points in the same notification which need clarification. The notification says that a couple of patients are admitted in private hospitals without an RT-PCR test, but only on rapid antigen tests. Does this mean that if a rapid antigen test of a person comes positive, is it not sufficient reason to admit? Is there any notification by the state or ICMR regarding that? If a positive RT PCR is the only criterion to admit the patient, why is the government carrying out rapid antigen tests?

Point four of the notification says, It has been noticed that there are hospitals admitting patients who have not been tested as per RT-PCR and have been diagnosed based on rapid antigen tests or HRCT.

Dr Bhondwe said, This point criticises that some patients are being admitted with HRCT reports. If in the initial clinical examination of a suspected patient HRCT shows evidence of Severe Bilateral Viral Pneumonitis, which is internationally accepted as a positive sign of the Sars-Cov-2 infection, should the hospital not admit? The results of the RTPCR test take a minimum of 24 hours, to three days at times. Still, as per your instructions the patient is not to be admitted? There are a large number of such cases when the RTPCR test turns positive after four days or remains negative, since there is no Viral Flora in the throat.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) Maharashtra chapter had issued a strongly worded letter asking the state government to withdraw the notification, after which, the state government issued a clarification.

The notification also says that hospitals that are not on the list of designated Covid health care centres are treating Covid positive patients, but also consuming a large amount of oxygen.

This activity needs to be curbed immediately.

The IMA has objected to the same saying that the association that is the local authority is not taking action against such hospitals if they are consuming a lot of oxygen.

The IMA letter to the government dated September 22 said that these might be hospitals with ICU serving the community at large and must be supported with corrective measures to register them as Covid hospitals.

The IMA has been in an open disagreement with the state government since the beginning of the pandemic.
SDLP MP Claire Hanna has said her party will not be taking part in Northern Ireland centenary celebrations.

However, she left the door open to joining debates about partition and the foundation of the state.

Ms Hanna was speaking as the DUP said the centenary should be an occasion to look forward to building a "better Northern Ireland" in the next 100 years.

Today marks 100 days until the beginning of Northern Ireland's centenary year.

Ms Hanna said: "Regrettably, I don't think that there is much to celebrate in the decade of centenaries.

"The decade leading up to 1921 saw many thousands dead in World War One as well as the island divided, poorer and the gun firmly inserted in politics.

"Borders and partition are and were old-fashioned solutions. The challenges of the next century are global - issues like climate change, trade and humanitarian relief.

"No doubt there will be others in more celebratory mode, as is their right.

"In any commemorations, I hope we can find common ground in efforts to collectively do much, much better in terms of reconciliation and delivery for people here in the next 100 years."

Read More

DUP MP Gavin Robinson said: "In 100 days Northern Ireland will enter its centenary year. For me and many others it will be a year of celebration, but I recognise that for others, they may wish to appropriately reflect on events of the past century in their own way."

Mr Robinson said that Northern Ireland's centenary was "an event of UK-wide significance" which merited the Government funding national events.

He added: "It will be a year of much significance, but it should not just be about looking back to the foundation of Northern Ireland.

"It should also be a time we reflect on the achievements of people from our shores, but most importantly also look forward to our second century and how we can build a better Northern Ireland than the one we all enjoy."

Sinn Fein's junior Stormont minister Declan Kearney said: "The partition of Ireland is nothing to celebrate.

"Discrimination and state repression was the lived experience for successive generations.

"The bottom line is that partition did not have an upside. It created an exclusionary Orange state, the consequence of which was political conflict. We are all victims of partition."

Mr Kearney said 2021 must involve "an inclusive conversation" about the journey towards reconciliation and Irish unity.

"Sinn Fein is prepared to be challenged in that conversation and I particularly invite civic and community leaders within the wider unionist constituency to join us in having this dialogue," he added.

Alliance deputy leader Stephen Farry said the centenary should be marked "in a shared and inclusive" manner.

"This should include acknowledging a broad range of experiences and challenging conversations," he explained.

Mr Farry added that his party would take part in centenary events "and, if necessary, we will be the critical voice in room".

Ulster Unionist leader Steve Aiken said: "The last century has brought challenges, but that could be said with certainty of any European state or region.

"We were hardly helped by a 30-year terrorist campaign which deliberately targeted citizens and so-called economic targets, deliberately sabotaging community relations and our economy.

"We fully understand that for some people the centenary of Northern Ireland will not be a cause for celebration, and that is their right.

"However, in what has been called the decade of centenaries, we have shown respect for events which we too wish had happened differently or not at all, including the Easter Rising.

"All we ask of others is that they return the courtesy."
Rome fire brigade used winch to rescue tourist after he fell into archaeological site.

Rome firefighters have rescued a 37-year-old Polish tourist after he fell several metres into the archaeological site of the Forum of Augustus, according to local media.

The operation, involving a winch normally used in mountain rescues, took place at around 07.30 this morning after a passerby noticed the tourist lying injured on the ground but still conscious.

The man, who was apparently drunk at the time of his fall, has been taken to hospital with serious head injuries, reports Italian newspaper La Repubblica.

Police are attempting to reconstruct the dynamics of the incident which may have occurred last night.

Photo Vigili del Fuoco
Preparing for elections and the European warning

By Malkhaz Matsaberidze

With the elections approaching, the coronavirus epidemic in Georgia is becoming more and more widespread, the deployment of pre-election forces is becoming more pronounced, and against this background, the European Parliament reminds the Georgian government of the need to adhere to democratic standards.In recent days, the cases of Coronavirus disease have been increasing rapidly and the data for each new day exceeds the previous day and approaches two hundred a day. It was also said that Georgia lost the status of a green country in this regard and moved to the yellow countries category.However, the Minister of Economy Natia Turnava protested against this and noted that Georgia will not lose the status of a green zone. Georgia remains closed to Europe, but has registered more than 50 thousand tourists from Russia, coming from the Lars border with no particular control for the virus, which would have contributed to such rapid growth in the number of cases.The government's attitude towards the Coronavirus epidemic must first be considered in the context of elections. If before this Autumn, the government was proud of stopping the epidemic, why does it allow the disease rates to rise now, and testing thousands every day?According to the opposition, the government is encouraging panic in the population. Levan Koberidze, the representative of Lelo, believes that the government is pleased with the panic and fear of the population, because fewer people will go to the polls and fewer observers will arrive.The possible reduction of the disease rates at the end of October will let the government appear in the positive light. As for the postponement of the elections, it does not suit the government, because after the expected severe winter it will be very difficult to present itself positively.Last week, the main participants in the election campaign, the Georgian Dream and the National Movement, took important steps. On September 10, the Georgian Dream presented to the public the first platoon of its proportional list, which Natia Turnava called the Dream Team. It is headed by the current Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia. According to expert Gia Khukhashvili, Ivanishvili knows that Gakharia will bring the party the most votes.The list is followed by current and former parliamentary speakers - Talakvadze and Kobakhidze, as well as several parliamentarians. Only Tea Tsulukiani is in the platoon of ministers, who has held this post since 2012 and is the only unchanged minister of the Georgian Dream. There are 5 women in the platoon, but the representatives of national minorities could not be included in it. Of the new faces, two famous athletes are especially noteworthy.In addition to the proportional list platoon, all 30 majoritarian candidates of the Georgian Dream are known. According to a survey published by Transparency International Georgia on September 11th, 19 of them are involved in entrepreneurial activities.14 of these 30 were donors to the Georgian Dream in 2012-2020. During this period, the mentioned persons, together with their business partners and relatives, donated 3.7 million GEL to the Georgian Dream. Majoritarian MPs are not represented in the proportional list platoon.The Georgian Dream's proportional list platoon was immediately criticized by the opposition. Ivanishvili's obedient team, headed by the presence of well-known faces, indicates that the ruling team is not going to change anything.It seems that the Georgian Dream is not going to form a bloc for the elections, unlike the National Movement, which formed an election bloc on September 15th with 4 political entities. They will share majoritarian MPs. On September 15th, the United National Movement launched a new campaign Instruct Misha.As part of the campaign, the population should instruct UNM candidate for Prime Minister Mikheil Saakashvili to solve their problems. Majoritarian candidates of the National Movement will be engaged in collecting these tasks.The United National Movement and Saakashvili have been under constant criticism from the government; according to Gia Volski, Saakashvili went mad, adding that, recently, he has announced his return at least 11 times, with Volskys calculations.Elections in Georgia are traditionally held with facts of cursing and physical confrontation. Therefore, election participants, as in previous elections, were again offered to sign a Code of Ethics created with the support of Western friends.The Code of Conduct was signed by some opposition parties on September 14 and supported by the Georgian Dream. The document is offered to all subjects participating in the elections. The opposition does not believe that the government will adhere to the principles of the pre-election code of ethics. According to Tina Bokuchava, one of the leaders of the United National Movement, the government is violating absolutely all agreements and is already trying to falsify the election results.On September 15th, the European Parliament discussed the report on the implementation of the Association Agreement signed by Georgia with the European Union. The MEPs, along with expressing their support for Georgia, called on the government to take further steps towards the development of democracy.According to MEP Viola von Cramon, "in terms of domestic policy, billionaire Ivanishvili's shadow government threatens democracy, while in the foreign policy, Russia's ongoing hybrid war - military occupation, creeping annexation and cyber-attacks threatens the country."As Gigi Tsereteli noted, in the speeches of the MEPs, a red line was drawn clearly, the crossing of which is unforgivable. This red line essentially refers to the inadmissibility of violating democratic standards of elections.Criticism from the West has irritated government officials, who say it is untrue, and for the Western-oriented opposition, it means that Georgia will still be under Western scrutiny in the upcoming elections.
SAN DIEGO, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Realty Income Corporation (Realty Income,NYSE: O), The Monthly Dividend Company, today announced the pricing of a public offering of 400 million of 1.625% senior unsecured notes due December 15, 2030. The public offering price for the notes was 99.191% of the principal amount for an effective annual yield to maturity of 1.712%.

The notes represent Realty Income's debut public issuance of unsecured notes denominated in British Pound Sterling (GBP). The net proceeds from this offering will be used to repay GBP-denominated borrowings outstanding under the company's $3.0 billion revolving credit facility, to settle an outstanding GBP/USD foreign exchange swap arrangement, and, to the extent not used for those purposes, to fund potential investment opportunities and for other general corporate purposes. The net proceeds from the swap settlement will be used to repay outstanding commercial paper. This offering is expected to close on October 1, 2020, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

The active joint book-running managers for the offering are Barclays Bank PLC, Credit Suisse Securities (Europe) Limited, and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC.

A copy of the prospectus supplement and prospectus, when available, related to this offering may be obtained by contacting: Barclays, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, telephone: (888) 603-5847 or email: [email protected]; Credit Suisse, Attention: Prospectus Department, 6933 Louis Stephens Drive, Morrisville, NC 27560, telephone: (800) 221-1037 or email: [email protected]; or Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282, telephone: (866) 471-2526 or by emailing [email protected].

These securities are offered pursuant to a Registration Statement that has become effective under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These securities are only offered by means of the prospectus included in the Registration Statement and the prospectus supplement related to the offering. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any offer or sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction where, or to any person to whom, the offer, solicitation, or sale of these securities would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release that are not strictly historical are "forward-looking" statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, which may cause the company's actual future results to differ materially from expected results. These risks include, among others, general economic conditions, domestic and foreign real estate conditions, tenant financial health, the availability of capital to finance planned growth, volatility and uncertainty in the credit markets and broader financial markets, changes in foreign currency exchange rates, property acquisitions and the timing of these acquisitions, charges for property impairments, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the measures taken to limit its impact, the effects of pandemics or global outbreaks of contagious diseases or fear of such outbreaks, the company's tenants' ability to adequately manage their properties and fulfill their respective lease obligations to the company, and the outcome of any legal proceedings to which the company is a party, as described in the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus for this offering and the company's other filings with the U.S .Securities and Exchange Commission that are incorporated by reference in such prospectus supplement and prospectus. Consequently, forward-looking statements should be regarded solely as reflections of the company's current operating plans and estimates. Actual operating results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecast in this press release. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date these statements were made.

SOURCE Realty Income Corporation

Related Links

http://www.realtyincome.com


PLEASANT HILL  A traffic crash in Pike County left one person dead and another seriously injured Tuesday, according to the Pike County Sheriffs Department.

It was the third fatality in the county in less than a week.
DUBAI, U.A.E, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Future Market Insights (FMI) in its recent study indicates that the global casein market will be reflecting a CAGR of 5.8% throughout 2020-2030. Extensive use of casein in several applications across both non-food and food sectors is encouraging sales and will propel growth throughout the assessment period.

The report further states that the COVID-19 pandemic has exhibited a significant downturn in the consumption of caseins, as a result of decreasing industrial-grade operations across significant industries. The demand has endured all over the healthcare, beverage, and food sectors since they are held as essential services. FMI indicates a moderate retrieval during 2021-2022.

"Rising demand for nutrition boosting foods and clean label products is prompting vendors to launch organic casein products, generating substantial revenue pools over the assessment period.", says the FMI analyst.

For more insights into the Market, Request a Sample of this Report@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-12513

Key Takeaways

In terms of derivatives, sodium caseinate accounts for over 50% of the overall market share amid 2020-2030.

Based on end-use, the consumption of ready-to-eat foods is witnessing high ground for expansion.

Based on function types, heat stabilizing agents will be lucrative category amid others during the forecast period

Casein Market - Key Trends

Extensive use of casein in film coatings for tablets and capsules, protein-based drugs, hydrogels, and nanoformulations has emerged a growing trend, will drive the market.

Retroviral agents presence in casein boosts its implementation to treat diseases such as HIV/AIDS across the pharmaceutical sector

The growing adoption of the A2 beta-casein milk type encourages market growth as it is organic and is free of antibiotics, GMOs, and other chemicals.

Casein Market - Regional Analysis

North America will record impressive growth accounting for 20.7% of market share due to several end-use applications.

will record impressive growth accounting for 20.7% of market share due to several end-use applications. The presence of key market players such as Burt Lewis ingredients, Groupe Lactalis, and Arla Foods Ingredients Group, will make Europe dominant among other regions.

ingredients, Groupe Lactalis, and Arla Foods Ingredients Group, will make dominant among other regions. South Asia will record notable growth as Asia is the major contributor to the global milk production. The region is witnessing the growing application of casein in the pharmaceuticals sector.

Casein Market - Competitive Landscape

The global casein market competition is limited due to high product variety and quality. Introducing innovative products at reasonable costs is at the cornerstone of key players. Case in point

Arla Foods launched MicelPure, its first organic ingredient in order to address the escalating need for natural protein ingredients. The product has 87% native protein appropriate for functional ingredient-based health foods. Moreover, it carries lactose content & reduced fat, as well as is heat-stable.

ZERLAC launched for the functional food market its range of lactose-free high protein dairy ingredients.

Key companies identified in the global casein market are Fonterra Co-operative Group, Koninklijke FrieslandCampina N.V. (DFE Pharma), Hoogwegt Groep B.V., AMCO Proteins, Burt Lewis Ingredients, Glanbia, Plc, Charotar Casein Company, Arla Foods Ingredients Group P/S, The Milky Whey, Inc., Groupe Lactalis, Milk Specialties and Global Idaho Milk Products, Inc.

We Offer tailor-made Solutions to fit Your Requirements, Request Customization@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/customization-available/rep-gb-12513

Casein - Taxonomy

Derivatives Type

Sodium Caseinate

Calcium Caseinate

Potassium Caseinate

End-Use

Food

Yogurt

Cheese Processing

Ready-to-eat Meals

Dairy Products

Coffee Whiteners

Confectionary

Sauce & Seasoning

Meat Processing (Sausage)

Meat Products

Beverage

Pharmaceuticals

Infant Nutrition

Clinical Nutrition

Sports Nutrition

Personal Care

Skin Care

Hair Care

Cosmetics

Agriculture/Animal Feed/Poultry

Other Industries

Ointments

Paper

Coatings

Paints

Glues

Textiles

Varnishes

Plastics

Function Types

Texturizing Agent

Flavoring Agent

Coating Agent

Binding Agent

Emulsifying Agent

Heat Stabilizing Agent

Region:

North America

Latin America

Europe

South Asia

East Asia

Middle East & Africa

& Oceania

For any Queries Linked with the Report, Ask an Analyst@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ask-question/rep-gb-12513

Valuable Insights into the Casein Market

Future Market Insights, in its new offering, provides an unbiased analysis of the global casein market, presenting historical demand data and forecast statistics for the period from 2020-2030. The study divulges compelling insights on the casein 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 Food & Beverage Landscape

Coconut Water Market: The Coconut Water 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.

Lactose Market: FMI's compelling study on the lactose market sheds light on the prominent dynamics influencing the growth trajectory for the upcoming forecast period 2020-2030 through detailed segmental and regional analyses.

Lupin Protein Market: The lupin protein market report offers a 360-degree analysis, bringing to the fore insights that can help stakeholders identify key challenges and opportunities across the upcoming decade's growth trajectory.

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.

Contact

Mr. Abhishek Budholiya

Unit No: AU-01-H Gold Tower (AU), Plot No: JLT-PH1-I3A,

Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai,

United Arab Emirates

MARKET ACCESS DMCC Initiative

For Sales Enquiries: sales@futuremarketinsights.com

For Media Enquiries: press@futuremarketinsights.com

Report: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/casein-market

Press Release Source: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/press-release/casein-market

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1197648/FMI_Logo.jpg
She's the Irish rose who was left heartbroken after being rejected by Matt Agnew on The Bachelor in 2019.

And Emma Roche has certainly undergone a dramatic physical transformation since she starred on the Channel 10 dating show.

On Tuesday, the 33-year-old flaunted a much plumper pout and a very taut visage in her latest Instagram selfie, as she continues her physical transformation.

Is that you? On Tuesday, Emma Roche looked almost unrecognisable in her latest Instagram selfie (right). Pictured left: Emma on last year's season of The Bachelor

The former reality star wore glamorous makeup in the photo, including mascara, dewy foundation, blush and pale pink lip gloss.

She wore a black shirt and styled her curly brown locks away from her face and secured with a headscarf.

'Starring the big hair,' she captioned the snap.

New look: Emma Roche has certainly undergone a dramatic physical transformation since she starred on the Channel 10 dating show

It's unclear exactly what she has done to enhance her looks, but last year she admitted to getting some 'subtle filler' to create the perfect jawline.

'A pleasure welcoming @thebachelorau's @miss_emma_roche back to the clinic recently!' the Cosmos Clinic wrote on Instagram.

'A subtle treatment of dermal filler to the chin enhanced her profile, created a more defined jawline, and achieved a more balanced overall appearance. Looking forward to seeing you again soon, Emma!'

Changes: It's unclear what the reality star has done to enhance her looks, but last year she admitted to getting some 'subtle filler' to create the perfect jawline

The brunette beauty often tags the Cosmos Clinic in her Instagram selfies, along with her cosmetic nurse Benoite Boucoiran.

Emma made it to the top four on last year's season of The Bachelor, before she was eliminated by astrophysicist Matt.

She was known as a 'stage-five clinger' on the show after becoming the first contestant to use the L-word.
RS chairman Venkaiah Naidu breaks down over oppn ruckus, equates it to 'sacrilege'

Om Birla says it pained him that Lok Sabha did not run smoothly during Monsoon session

LS adjourned sine die; Monsoon Session concludes

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Sep 23: Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die on Wednesday evening, bringing the Monsoon Session of Parliament to an end eight days ahead of schedule amid concerns over the spread of coronavirus.

The session started on September 14 with numerous changes necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. For the first time, the two Houses met at different times in a day to ensure social distancing norms.

Speaker Om Birla adjourned the House sine die after the passage of the Major Port Authorities Bill.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was present when the House was adjourned. The House was otherwise scheduled to continue till October 1.

Rajya Sabha was adjourned sine die this afternoon.

In his concluding remarks before adjourning the House, Birla said the productivity of the session was a record high.

The productivity of the House was 167 per cent, which was much higher than the past session, he said while thanking all the members.

Parliament's Monsoon Session cut short over covid concerns

During the 10 working days of the session including Saturday and Sunday, a total of 25 bills were passed, he said, adding some of the important bills included those related to agriculture reforms and labour sector.

Besides, the House also passed the first batch of Supplementary Demands for Grants empowering the government for additional spending of Rs 2.35 lakh crore, the highest ever so far.

During the session, the House transacted 68 per cent legislative business and the remaining 32 per cent non-legislative business including discussions.

The House also took up a discussion on the coronavirus pandemic, which continued for over five hours, Birla observed.

During the session, private members'' business which is usually taken up on Friday evening was done away with to save time.

During private members'' business, Bills brought by individual members are introduced and debated.

The session also saw the House doing away with the Question Hour in which members ask supplementary questions from the government. However, written replies were tabled to 2,300 questions.

To maintain social distancing norms during the session, members of Lok Sabha were also seated in the Rajya Sabha chamber and the visitors'' gallery just above the Lok Sabha chamber.

Rajya Sabha also followed a similar practice. This is the first time in the Indian parliamentary history that such a practice was adopted to mitigate the health risk due to the pandemic.

It was mandatory for members to wear a mask and follow other health-related protocols during the 60 hours of proceeding against the allocated 37 hours.

Fibre glass shields were placed in front of each bench and on the side of the members who were not allowed to speak while standing up to avoid any possible spread of COVID-19 infection.

Several MPs including some ministers had tested positive for COVID-19.
Panaji, Sep 23 : The source of tar balls -- sticky blobs generated from waste oil spilled into the sea -- which mar Goa's beaches during and after the monsoons, is essentially oil discharged at Bombay High, a floating oil field off Mumbai, Goa's Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral said on Wednesday.

Cabral also said that his Ministry had written to the Union Ministry for Environment and Forests and urged the latter to examine ways and means to tackle the polluting phenomenon, which damages the state's beaches, which are a major tourism attraction.

"We have tracked down on the source of these tar balls after studying the phenomenon. We have written to the MoEF about the matter. The Central Ministry will now study our findings before taking measures to address the issue which we have raised," Cabral told reporters at the State Secretariat.

The emergence of tar balls on Goa's beaches is a seasonal phenomenon, which occurs when oil or the used oil discharged from ships mixes with the sea water and undergoes a weathering process, which leads to formation of tar balls.

On days when the tar balls surface on the beaches, the sand as well as the water in the shallows smells acrid like petroleum, putting off tourists and other beachgoers.

The tar-ball menace peaked in 2011, with the state government directing the Indian Coast Guard to crackdown on ships dumping their ballast off Goa, but it had not yielded the anticipated results.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
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A city hall in western Pennsylvania was evacuated Tuesday night after a council member opened an envelope containing white powder.

No injuries were reported, but two people came in contact with the substance, WTAE is reporting.

According to reports, the envelope was addressed to city council, and when it was opened just prior to a council meeting, a white powder fell out.

New Castle Fire Chief Mike Kobbe told WTAE Lawrence Countys Emergency Management Agency was called in to help identify the substance, which he said came in contact with two of the city council members and potentially exposed everyone who was in council chambers.

According to NewCastleNews.com, the letter was addressed to Council President Tom Smith and Councilwoman MaryAnne Gavrile.

Just before the building was evacuated, Smith told those attending the meeting, I received an envelope on my desk this evening. It had an address from Pennsylvania in Sharpsville, but then it was processed in Atlanta, Georgia. When I opened it up, a white substance came out, according to reports.

Police and fire crews rushed to the scene. First responders in Hazmat suits from New Castle and Lawrence County investigated, as well, reports indicate.

Police are investigating. Council chambers will be professionally decontaminated before anyone is allowed back in, according to reports.
Placed Intentionally to Cause Harm: Over 40 Razor Blades Found in Michigan Playgrounds

Discovery prompts authorities to temporarily close all public parks in Eaton Rapids

Authorities in the Michigan city of Eaton Rapids temporarily closed all public parks after more than 40 razor blades were discovered at multiple playgrounds, with police saying it looked as though some of the blades were purposely set so as to cause injury.

A group of people reported finding several razor blades on and around playground equipment at Howe Park at around 4:40 p.m. on Monday, according to the Eaton Rapids Police Department.

The citizens recovered approximately 39 blades prior to officers arrival. The officers and city staff recovered an additional two, the police said in a statement. noting also that some of the blades appeared to have been placed intentionally to cause harm.

Before the disturbing discovery was made, four teenagerstwo male and two femalebetween 17 and 18 years old were seen on the playground equipment, witnesses said.

Police described the four as persons of interest in the case, with the only description available being that one female had blond hair and one male had brown hair. The four teens were last seen walking north away from the playground, police said. Eaton Rapids is approximately 18 miles south of Lansing.

The police said other parks were checked out of an abundance of caution and more blades were found laying in the grass at Grand Army of the Republic Island Park.

City authorities closed all public parks to carry out inspections and, according to the Lansing State Journal, police requested help from members of the community, in particular seeking people who had access to large, construction-grade magnets that would help find more blades.

Resident Cody Orr, who lives near Howe Park, told the Lansing State Journal he was magnet fishing nearby when he saw uniformed officers in the park and lent them his gear to help search for blades.

He said a box of 100 razor blades was found on a picnic table at the park, with about 20 of the razor blades arranged in a circle pattern out in the open, while others were concealed elsewhere in the park.

According to an update from City Hall, by 3 p.m. on Tuesday all parks were reopened.

We are happy to announce that all parks have been canvased and we are confident that any hazardous objects have been removed from the parks. We are able to open the parks at this time, city authorities said in a statement.

Many thanks to the generosity of the community members that came forward to assist with loaning equipment and offering other resources to aide in these efforts. We appreciate you and your dedication to this great community, they added.
COLUMBUS, Ohio  A number of fights over Ohios voting procedures have been playing out this election season, and Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose has been in the middle of all of them as the states top elections official.

With Novembers heated presidential election on the horizon amid a coronavirus pandemic, all the major elections controversies this year have had to do with early voting. LaRose, a Republican, has caught criticism from Democrats, newspaper editorial boards, voting-rights activists and others for actions hes taken.

How the issues are resolved could have huge consequences for Ohio voters. Elections officials expect as many as half of voters could end up voting by mail for this presidential election, compared to the normal one-fifth. President Donald Trumps campaign has been involved in elections lawsuits across the country, pushing back against expansions of mail voting, arguing its susceptible to fraud, although documented cases of voter fraud are rare. Elections officials and voting-rights advocates say mail-in voting needs to be made easier in Ohio to make sure the postal system isnt overwhelmed and so voters arent disenfranchised.

LaRose, a Republican, has said hes taken steps to make sure early voting is trusted by Ohioans and secure. While saying he supports expanding early voting, hes described himself as being constrained by elements of state law, and Republican state lawmakers have been reluctant to make changes he supports.

Im a member of the Republican Party, but in this job, I wear the referees jersey, LaRose said in a recent interview with FiveThirtyEight, the national political website. So, Im just making sure the people of Ohio have the chance to have their voice heard.

But Democrats say LaRose has talked a big game while accomplishing little for or even fighting against greater access for voters. Theyve contended LaRose has more legal authority than he says. And they say hes consistently taken Trumps side in legal disputes.

I think time and time again, we see Frank LaRose saying one thing and doing another, said Michael McGovern, president of ProgressOhio, a liberal advocacy organization. Hes happy to tell people in private that hes a supporter of making voting more safe and accessible, but keeps taking actions that are going to make voting harder for Ohioans this fall.

Jen Miller, president of the nonpartisan Ohio League of Women Voters, said she thinks LaRose means well.

I definitely believe that Secretary LaRose cares about voters but we also have a lot of disagreements with him on the best ways to serve voters during this pandemic, she said.

As a reminder, voters can request mail-in absentee ballots now, but the actual ballots wont be going out until Oct. 6. Thats when in-person, early voting also begins in Ohio for the Nov. 3 election.

Heres a summary of what the big issues have been, where they stand and what LaRose has done about them.

Ballot drop boxes

LaRose in August took administrative action requiring all 88 county boards of election to offer a secure box outside their main offices for voters to drop off ballot applications and eventually, completed ballots. They were first added statewide for the primary election earlier this year, after the election was delayed and then converted to mostly all-mail due to the coronavirus pandemic.

After elections officials in urban areas requested multiple drop boxes, given their significantly larger number of voters, LaRose in July had asked Republican Attorney General Dave Yost for a legal opinion on A. Whether it was legal for him to require ballot drop boxes and B. whether counties could offer multiple drop boxes. He described it on multiple occasions as a gray area in state law, and said hed support a law change clearly allowing additional boxes.

After three weeks passed without an answer from Yost, LaRose announced instructions that counties could only offer one drop box.

The Ohio Democratic Party sued in Franklin County, while voter-rights activists filed a separate lawsuit in federal courts. LaRose has said his decision is consistent with state law, and appealed last week after a Franklin County judge said extra drop boxes were legal. The Trump campaign and the Ohio Republican Party have argued on the same side of the issue as LaRose.

After the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, both Republicans and Democrats, sought to circumvent the drop box issue by offering multiple staffed ballot collection sites, LaRose swiftly blocked them from doing so while the lawsuits are still pending. Dropbox proponents, including elections officials, say bigger counties need more boxes to help address whats expected to be a record-setting year for mail-in voting.

The issue even got Cleveland Cavaliers forward Larry Nance Jr.'s attention, leading to a back and forth on social media with LaRoses office.

Because its the law. And did you know 2020 is the first election where every Ohio county has a dropbox? Voting is easier than ever before in the Buckeye State!  Frank LaRose (@FrankLaRose) September 17, 2020

If its the law, why are you having to appeal the courts to defend your position?https://t.co/pe5HWBrufD https://t.co/HTGMelYpTR  Larry Nance Jr (@Larrydn22) September 17, 2020

Whether we like it or not, this question is still being resolved in the courts. Were concerned that the Cuyahoga board doing this before this issue is resolved in the courts would cause voter confusion, LaRose spokeswoman Maggie Sheehan said in a statement at the time. In light of that, we have ordered the board to cease implementation for now.

The federal lawsuit, brought by groups the League of Women Voters of Ohio, the ACLU of Ohio and the A. Phillip Randolph Institute, which sued on Aug. 26, has a hearing scheduled today. The state case has an appellate court hearing scheduled for Thursday.

Return postage on absentee envelopes

After Ohio provided voters with postage-paid envelopes with absentee ballots for this years primary election, LaRose called for doing the same for the November election.

But Republican Ohio state lawmakers refused to do so on multiple occasions, the first time in an elections bill that briefly contemplated blocking LaRose from mailing unsolicited absentee ballot applications, something Ohio has done for every even-year election since 2012. The final rejection occurred on Sept. 12, when Republicans lawmakers on the Ohio Controlling Board voted 4-2 to nix LaRoses request.

As part of a pressure campaign on Republican state lawmakers and Gov. Mike DeWine, who appoints one of the seven Controlling Board members, Democrats contended LaRose could have moved to pay for the postage without legislative approval.

"Ohio has a sound elections system, but today was another missed opportunity by the legislature to make a small change, without an impact on our state budget, that would yield a big improvement, LaRose said in a statement after his funding request was rejected.

With the failure at the Controlling Board, the issue has been settled for now, and Ohioans like in years past will have to provide their own postage on ballot envelopes.

Electronic absentee applications

LaRose for years has called on Ohio to allow voters to request absentee ballots online, instead of the current system, which requires them to get a paper form, fill it out and physically deliver it to their county elections office. The request hasnt gotten anywhere in the state legislature, including a LaRose-backed bill introduced last year by Sen. Theresa Gavarone, a Toledo area Republican.

At least 14 states allow for online absentee ballot requests, including neighboring Indiana, Michigan and Pennsylvania, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Eight additional states and Washington, D.C. allow voters to scan and email in copies of paper application forms.

The Ohio Democratic Party sued to allow emailed requests in Ohio, arguing state law doesnt say anything about them. They got an early court victory earlier this month in Franklin County, where a judge agreed with them. LaRose quickly appealed and successfully blocked the order from going into effect while the case is pending. He said allowing faxed and emailed ballot applications -- a different concept than setting up an online process to request an absentee ballot -- would pose a security risk. The Trump campaign also has gotten involved in the case, arguing allowing electronic applications would throw the elections integrity into question.

The case has an appellate court hearing scheduled Thursday, Sept. 24.

Absentee ballot signatures

This case hasnt played out as much publicly, but a coalition of voting-rights groups, including the League of Women Voters of Ohio, the ACLU of Ohio and the A. Phillip Randolph Institute sued on July 31, seeking to block the state from using signature verification on absentee-ballot applications as a basis to reject them. They argue the system is arbitrary and unreliable, since voters' signatures can change over time.

Without clear notification or an efficient way to address questions about their signatures, too many voters are disenfranchised by this process, especially those with disabilities, senior citizens, young people, and naturalized citizens," Miller, the president of the League of Women Voters, said at the time.

This lawsuit is a solution in search of a problem that would obliterate Ohios safeguards on providing secure, no fault absentee voting to every eligible voter, LaRoses office said in a statement after the lawsuit was filed.

The case is still pending. The Republican National Committee and Trump campaign have gotten involved after a judge granted them permission to intervene.
by Wang Zhicheng

At a routine press conference, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman praises the agreement's past, but says nothing about its renewal. Clipped tones on Taiwan. China's main aim is to get the Vatican to cut off relations with Taiwan.

Beijing (AsiaNews) - For the second time in recent weeks, the Chinese Foreign Ministry has praised the provisional agreement between China and the Vatican, but has said nothing about its renewal.

This is what has emerged from yesterdays routine Foreign Ministry press conference in Beijing, given by spokesman Wang Wenbin.

At one point, a Kyodo News reporter asked: China and the Vatican extended the agreement on the appointment of bishops. What significance does this have on relations between the two sides? With the Vatican having "diplomatic ties" with "the Republic of China" now, what effect will this extension have on the possible establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the Vatican?

Wang Wenbing's response was very general and the standard remarks rolled out on similar occasions to describe the relationship between Beijing and the Holy See.

"The provisional agreement between China and the Vatican on the appointment of bishops - he said - has been working smoothly since it was reached two years ago, thanks to the concerted efforts, and Catholicism in China has witnessed sound development. The two sides will maintain close communication and consultation to continuously improve bilateral relations. There is good communication between the two sides. China holds a sincere and positive attitude towards advancing relations with the Vatican side. We welcome exchanges between the two sides with an open attitude.

The response clearly lacks anything new, as if the pending need for renewal of the agreement did not exist.

Just two weeks ago another spokesman, Zhao Lijian, was similarly cautious in his statements, which again did not contain a firm "yes".

In contrast the constant expressions of hope in agreements renewal at the end of September expressed on the Vatican side  mainly through many anonymous personalities - is striking. More authoritative, the Secretary of State Card. Pietro Parolin, last September 14, declared: "Our intention is that [the agreement] be extended, I think it will continue to be adopted ad experimentum as has been done in these two years, in order to verify its efficacy".

Moreover, Card. Parolin spoke of "October" as the period for renewal, also because the agreement signed on September 22, 2018, entered into force a month later.

The fact remains that there is no "hope" for the renewal of the agreement in the declarations of the Chinese side. Whats more it is as if the provisional agreements extension were no longer what is most interesting to Beijing.

As several experts have pointed out, China's primary interest in relations with the Vatican is to have it cut relations with Taiwan. The Vatican is the only country in Europe that hosts an embassy of the Republic of China. Removing this support would create economic and diplomatic problems, given that at present the island is recognized only by 14 other nations.

In fact, the liveliest sentences in Wang Wenbin's response to the Kyodo News reporter were those on Taiwan: First I need to stress that the Taiwan region is an inalienable part of China's territory. Please remember to use its proper name "China's Taiwan region" in the future".
B oris Johnsons latest measures aimed at curbing the spread of Covid-19 do not go far enough to slow the rapid resurgence of the virus, experts have warned.

Closing pubs and restaurants at 10pm and reducing the size of wedding parties would not be sufficient, scientists said following the Prime Minister's announcement of new rules on Tuesday.

Paul Hunter, professor in medicine at the University of East Anglia, said it was "doubtful" that the measures would be effective enough to reduce the R rate of infection "much before this side of Christmas".

Under the new rules, businesses will face 10,000 fines or closure for failing to comply with coronavirus rules, and people risk 200 penalties for failing to wear masks or breaching the rule of six.

Andrew Parsons / No10 Downing Street

The British Medical Association (BMA) said it was "encouraging" that the Government is facing up to the accelerating transmission rate, but urged that more needed to be done to stop it.

BMA Chairman Dr Chaand Nagpaul said: "The BMA has consistently argued that it was illogical for staff not to be required to wear facemasks in shops, pubs and restaurants as customers are, so we're pleased to see this belatedly coming into force.

"However, given that the infection is equally like to spread in all indoor settings, these rules should also apply to offices and other workplaces.

The military could also be used to free up police officers to tackle coronavirus rule-breakers.

Mr Johnson told the country in his address that if people do not stick to the rules then the Government must reserve the right to impose even stricter measures.

Boris Johnson's address to the nation in full

He said he was deeply, spiritually reluctant to infringe on peoples freedoms, but unless action was taken now there would be a need for harsher measures later when the deaths have already mounted. If people do not follow the new rules, we must reserve the right to go further," Mr Johnson added.

Other measures being introduced in England over the coming days include:

- From Thursday, pubs, bars and restaurants will be table-service only and hospitality, leisure and entertainment venues will be subject to a 10pm closing time. Takeaways will also close from 10pm to 5am, although they will be allowed to deliver.

- Face coverings will be required for taxi passengers from Wednesday and for retail staff and hospitality customers, except when sitting down eating or drinking, from Thursday.

- 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.

- From Thursday, 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 crowds at sporting events from October 1 have been shelved.

The new rules - and similar or tougher controls elsewhere in the UK - followed scientists' warnings that the number of cases was doubling every seven days.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the UK passed 400,000, with a further 4,926 lab-confirmed cases as of 9am on Tuesday.

The Government said a further 37 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Tuesday.

The Government faced renewed calls to do more to support businesses, with the hospitality industry warning that the new restrictions would be a "crushing blow".

Dr Nagpaul called on the Government to do more to help employers make workplaces Covid-secure when home working is not possible, and to cut the number of people permitted to meet indoors.

"The Prime Minister missed an opportunity today to revise the 'rule of six' which, as currently interpreted, allows members of six different household to meet indoors whereas previously members of only two households could do so," he said.

"Data suggests that transmission between households is by far the biggest driver of infection and this should therefore be rectified at the earliest possible opportunity."

The BMA also wants to see the public given more information about infection rates in their areas, making it as easy to look up as the weather or pollen count.

"Members of the public want to do their bit to keep infection rates down - ministers must empower them with the information they need to take proactive action," Dr Nagpaul said.

"Not only would these additional measures pose no risk to the economy in the immediate term, they could be key to preventing further lockdowns and significant disruption to business and economic activity."

He added: "Indeed, putting the right safeguards in place to minimise the risk of infection is crucial to providing people with the confidence they need to go out safely and boost the economy."
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 00:21:05|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism on Wednesday issued a notice on COVID-19 prevention, calling on tourists to protect themselves during the upcoming National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday.

Tourists should learn about the epidemic prevention measures required by tourist attractions in advance, and make appointments before their visits, the ministry said.

The notice also asked tourists to maintain a safe distance while taking public transportation and eating at restaurants.

If tourists have symptoms, including fever, coughing and tiredness, they should report their conditions as soon as possible and go to the nearby medical institutions for treatment, the notice said.

China is due for an eight-day national holiday this year, starting on Oct. 1. Enditem
The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and Google on Wednesday hosted the first UNWTO & Google Tourism Acceleration Program which focused on insights from Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa.

The programme was put together ahead of World Tourism Day, Google said in a statement.

The organisations said they partnered to create and host an online Acceleration Program for UNWTO member states tourism ministers, top travel associations and tourism boards.

The initiative is put together to further develop innovation and digital transformation skills across the Africa and beyond.

The COVID-19 crisis has disproportionately affected tourism, a sector that accounts for millions of jobs around the globe, a statement by Google said Wednesday.

While no one can say with certainty when the sector will recover, people are starting to dream of getaways again  whether closer to home or to remote destinations.

As more and more people go online to search where and when they can travel, accelerating the digitisation of the tourism sector will be key to helping it adapt and recover.

The organisation added that tourism is the backbone of many economies around the world, adding that as data from UNWTO shows, tourism represents 9 per cent of global trade for Africa and one in 10 jobs directly and indirectly.

Moreover, the sector drives inclusive growth, as women make up 54 per cent of the workforce.

UNWTO is committed to helping Africa grow back stronger, says Natalia Bayona, UNWTO Director of Innovation, Digital Transformation and Investments.

With the right policies, training and management in place, innovation and technology have the potential to foster new and better jobs and business opportunities for tourism in Africa while improving the overall wellbeing and prosperity of the region.

Africa

Africa is home to 30 per cent of the worlds population, adding hundreds of millions of new online users every year. Google Search is one of the places Africans go when researching and booking travel.

Were here to help the tourism sector recover from this unprecedented crisis and emerge stronger.

Our travel data insights and tools can help tourism authorities identify and understand the barriers and drivers to visit travel destinations for better tourism planning, says Doron Avni, Googles Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy for Emerging Markets.

On its part, since Nigeria announced its intention to reopen its borders to international travel on August 29, search interest for travel has grown.

This presents an opportunity to rethink tourism, innovate and further develop the digital transformation of the sector so it can build the foundations for future sustainable growth, the organisations said.
Moshe Zonder likes to think of himself as a believer. Wherever the 54-year-old Israeli has focused his creative gaze, be it investigative journalism or a screenwriting, hes carried a measure of faith in his ability to illuminate a story. But even Zonder was surprised when he made it to the first morning of production on his new Apple TV+ espionage thriller Tehran. A herculean five-year journey of research and possibly reconciliation had been completed.

Whenever Im working on a project Im positive 300 per cent that it will be a show at the end, Zonder says. But I have to say that on the opening day of shooting I wanted to take everyones hands and say, Its a miracle that all of us are here making this.

Originally made for Israeli television, where it premiered in June just as Apple bought the exclusive international rights, Tehran is a ticking clock drama about a covert Israeli operation inside Iran. The implacable adversaries are represented by Tamar Rabinyan (Niv Sultan), a Mossad hacker smuggled into Iran to sabotage the countrys electricity grid before an air strike on its nuclear program, and Faraz Kamali (Shaun Toub), a Revolutionary Guard counter-intelligence officer who pursues the young woman when her mission goes awry.

With a plot based on geopolitical reality and grounded in tradecraft and betrayal, the eight-part series allows the characters to exist as people instead of symbols of their respective nations. Tehran places patriotism alongside self-doubt and never makes do with a heroes-and-villains outlook, which is no easy feat for an Israeli production since the two nations have long spoken of each other as a threat to be vanquished.
There were a lot of smiles and salmon in Whitehorse this week, as the Yukon First Nations Education Directorate gave away 30,000 pounds of free fish.

"We are very proud to give our First Nation families this donation," said Kim Harper, an advocate with the Yukon First Nations Education Directorate, which is a body announced in April to exert unified control over First Nation education.

Volunteers are distributing 10,000 pounds of frozen wild chum salmon and 20,000 pounds of B.C. canned salmon as part of the organization's rural nutrition program. The salmon is scheduled to be distributed all week at Takhini Arena until supplies run out.

People were particularly happy to receive the donation because salmon numbers on the Yukon River are well below historical average this year.

Mike Rudyk/CBC

Harper and her co-worker bagged some very large 15 to 20 pound whole frozen chum salmon.

"Some of them are really big," said Harper. "It is a lot of work but we are loving every minute of it."

The free fish brought a lot of excitement from appreciative parents and elders.

"'I'm going to dig right into it right away ... I just love salmon," said Darlene Scurvey, who was picking up the free fish.

Mike Rudyk/CBC

Yukon First Nations Education Directorate partnered with Second Harvest and Agriculture Canada Surplus Food Rescue Program to acquire the salmon.

It also worked with the Council of Yukon First Nations over the past year to create the Rural Nutritional Service Program through Jordan's Principle, which provides nutritional food programs as well as many other programs for First Nation children across Canada.

Melanie Bennett, executive director of the Yukon First Nation Education Directorate, says the program provides food for schools, as well.

"With our children if they are coming to school and they are well fed, their family is healthy and happy, then we are going to be producing successful learners," said Bennett.

All Whitehorse-based First Nation families with children are eligible to participate.
A Canadian woman allegedly mailed a letter addressed to President Trump containing the poison ricin and the threat "give up and remove your application for this election," court papers filed Tuesday show.

Driving the news: Pascale Cecile Veronique Ferrier, 53, was arrested trying to enter New York from Canada on Sunday. She appeared briefly in a Buffalo, New York, courtroom where a judge entered a not guilty plea on her behalf to the charge of threatening the president, per CBC.

"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. "

 Excerpt from letter Ferrier is accused of writing

Of note: Per an affidavit, the FBI alleges that Ferrier's fingerprints were on the poisoned letter and that she called it "a special gift."

"I found a new name for you: 'The Ugly Tyrant Clown'," the computer programmer from Quebec allegedly wrote, per FBI charging documents.

"I hope you like it. You ruin USA and lead them to disaster. I have U.S. cousins, then I don't want the next 4 years with you as president. Give up and remove your application for this election."

What's next: France-born Ferrier, who was returned to the custody of U.S. Marshals, is scheduled to next face court on Sept. 28.

Read the affidavit via DocumentCloud:
Bollywood actor Parineeti Chopra recently took to her Instagram handle to share her funda during photoshoots with fans. To do so, Parineeti Chopra posted two BTS videos from a photoshoot, which feature the actor posing stylishly for pictures in a red boss lady outfit. Take a look at the videos shared by Parineeti Chopra.

Also Read | COVID-19 Death Toll In UP's Gautam Buddh Nagar Rises To 50, Tally Now 11,663

Parineeti's post

With the video shared, Parineeti Chopra, in her caption, mentioned that she follows the Flow, dont pose mantra during her photoshoots. Soon after the video was shared, fans of the actor filled the comment section with emoticons and thanked her for giving them this tip. Some fans also lauded Parineetis look for the shoot. Take a look at how fans reacted to Parineetis post:

Also Read | West Bengal Reports 62 More COVID-19 Deaths; Discharge Rate 87.28%

Fans react:

Also Read | COVID-19 Death Toll In UP's Gautam Buddh Nagar Rises To 50, Tally Now 11,663

Parineeti on the work front:

Currently, Parineeti is gearing up for her upcoming release, Saina. The much-anticipated film chronicles the story of the ace badminton player, Saina Nehwal and her rise to fame. Parineeti Chopra will be seen in the Bollywood remake of the blockbuster Hollywood film, The Girl On The Train.

The movie is the Bollywood remake of a much-acclaimed Hollywood film of the same name, which stars actor Emily Blunt in the leading role. Helmed by Ribhu Dasgupta, the much-anticipated film also stars Kriti Kulhari and Aditi Rao Hydari in prominent roles. The actor will next be seen in Bhuj: The Pride of India along with Ajay Devgn and Sanjay Dutt. The movie is a story about 300 Gujarati women, who helped the Indian Airforce during Bangladesh and Pakistan War.

The actor also has Takadum in her kitty. Directed by Homi Adjainia, Takadum is expected to release in 2021. Meanwhile, the actor is currently gearing up for the release of Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar with Arjun Kapoor, which is a black comedy film directed and produced by Dibakar Banerjee. The movie tells the story of a man and woman, who are united by their mistrust, suspicion, and hate for each other.

Also Read | West Bengal Reports 62 More COVID-19 Deaths; Discharge Rate 87.28%

(Image credits: Parineeti Chopra Instagram)

Get the latest entertainment news from India & around the world. Now follow your favourite television celebs and telly updates. Republic World is your one-stop destination for trending Bollywood news. Tune in today to stay updated with all the latest news and headlines from the world of entertainment.
New York Public School virtual classrooms could see as many as 68 students signing onto Zoom classes, as per recently negotiated contracts from the city's Department of Education.

The contracts made with the teachers union allows for remote classes to be twice the 34 student maximum for in-person classes for high school, the Wall Street Journal reports.

'I can handle a class of 25 kids online, but as it starts pushing to more and more, it becomes less manageable,' said Kirk Schneider, a teacher at the Urban Assembly Gateway School for Technology in Manhattan.

Department of Education contracts made with the teachers union allows for remote classes to be twice the 34 student maximum for in-person classes

'But they're moving the goal posts every time we get within field goal range.'

Schneider is expecting only nine to 12 students in his classrooms when in-person high school classes resume on October 1.

He joins many other educators, parents and students who are worried that the large online class sizes will make it harder for students to learn.

Roughly 46 per cent of New York City students have decided not to return to school buildings, expressing support for fully remote learning. That figure is up from 26 per cent in August.

The DOE has encouraged teachers to offer smaller online breakout groups. The agency is also offering specialized materials to help them utilize the best teaching practices.

Included in the tools are a master Google classroom so that teacher 'that has dozens of resources about how to set up and improve live instruction,' said DOE spokeswoman Miranda Barbot.

Mayor de Blasio said on September 15 that the city wants 'to do the very best we can for kids who are all remote.'

'But the truth is, remote teaching just isn't in any way as good for kids as in-person teaching,' he said. 'And so, you can make it better, but you can't make it as good as in-person.'

Mayor de Blasio said on September 15 that the city wants 'to do the very best we can for kids who are all remote'

One million students in the nation's largest school district have been offered the option to have fully-remote learning or to have some hybrid form of in-person instruction and remote classes.

The in-person learning is happening in phases, with preschool children already starting along with special-needs students in programs known as District 75.

For grades K through five and K through eight, schools are expected to reopen on September 29. High schools and middle schools are expected to reopen on October 1.

According to Michael Frank, a history teacher at the High School for Environmental Studies in Manhattan, said that the number of students deciding to do fully remote learning shot up 55 per cent in early September to '65 or even 70%' in recent days.

'A lot of our job moving forward will be outreach to the kids, and we all teach five classes,' Frank said. 'So if classes end up being 50 or 60 kids, 50 to 60 times five is 250 people. Just the amount of phone calls hometo get the kids engaged and to keep them on track250 would be completely unmanageable.'

Leonie Haimson, executive director of Class Size Matters, said the large online class sizes could negatively impact learning. Class Size Matters is a nonprofit organization that advocates for smaller classes.

'If you want that online instruction to be meaningful, they have to keep class sizes to a reasonable level,' she said. 'It's going to be very disillusioning and alienating. And they may lose interest altogether in getting an education.'
Israel and Bahrain signed a normalization agreement in Washington on Sept. 15, and a delegation of Israeli officials arrived to Bahrain Sept. 23 to finalize the details. Israeli sources explained that Bahrain's decision to join the United Arab Emirates in establishing relations with Israel was made shortly before the White House ceremony, leaving little time for drafting a comprehensive normalization agreement.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Bahraini Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa spoke on the phone yesterday to arrange the trip.

Bahrains state news agency tweeted after the conversation, "During telephone call between HRH the CP #Salman bin Hamas and @Israeli MP, HRH underscored importance of securing regional and international stability and enhancing efforts to support peace in the region. Potential areas of bilateral cooperation also reviewed #Bahrain."

The Israir flight that carried the Israeli delegation to Manama was allowed to cross Saudi Arabia's airspace, as was the El Al flight that brought a Israeli delegation to the UAE last month. The Manama delegation is composed of senior officials from the office of the prime minister, the National Security Council and the Foreign Ministry, including director Alon Ushpiz. Israeli business leaders are also part of the delegation, which is expected to return tonight to Israel.

Yesterday evening, Netanyahu said a video message via Twitter, "I had an outstanding, very friendly conversation with Bahrain Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad. We reiterated the principles of the Abraham Accords and discussed how we might add content to the agreements between Bahrain & Israel and turn this peace into economic peace, technological peace, tourist peace  in all of these fields. You will hear about the practical steps soon."

Arab news outlets reported this morning that there has been progress in talks between the United States, the UAE and Sudan over Sudan establishing diplomatic relations with Israel. Leaders in Sudan have expressed conflicting stances on the possibility. Recent reports indicate that the administration of President Donald Trump is willing to take Sudan off its list of terror-supporting countries in exchange for Sudan establishing ties with Israel. Reports also claim that the United States and the UAE are offering Khartoum great financial benefits, including a huge gas and wheat deal with the United States.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has made it clear it will not forge ties with Israel before the Palestinian issue is resolved. Still, recent reports say that the Saudi regime is reaching out to Jews. School textbooks are being revised to eliminate disparaging depictions of Jews and the Saudi government has prohibited the disparagement of Jews and Christians in mosques.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has quickly begun to mutate since its outbreak in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. Mutations are common in coronaviruses, and SARS-CoV-2 has been found to have many different clades.

These clades can give scientists information on where certain strains of the virus are concentrated, and how these different clades may impact the virulence of SARS-CoV-2, the speed of the disease spread, and its resistance to antiviral medications.

Image Credit: Andrii Vodolazhskyi/Shutterstock.com

These clades can give scientists information on where certain strains of the virus are concentrated, and how these different clades may impact the virulence of SARS-CoV-2, the speed of the disease spread, and its resistance to antiviral medications.

What is a clade?

A clade is a term for a group of organisms that all originate from a common ancestor, and is widely used in biology. Using phylogeny, which is the evolutionary history of a group of organisms, the development of changes in a set of descendant organisms can be tracked.

In virology, a clade describes groups of similar viruses based on their genetic sequences, and changes in those viruses can also be tracked using phylogeny. Rapid genome sequencing is the method by which developments in a viruss genomic makeup can be tracked.

SARS-CoV-2 is itself a clade within the family coronaviridae and the genus betacoronavirus. Generally, the genetic variations of a virus are grouped into clades, which can also be called subtypes, genotypes, or groups.

Rapid genome sequencing can help to quickly work out where a person has become infected with a certain clade of SARS-CoV-2. For instance, the first four cases of COVID-19 in New South Wales, Australia, were found to be closely related to the dominant strain of SARS-CoV-2 found in Wuhan, and these first four cases were all in people who had recently returned from traveling in China. This meant that travel could then be restricted between China and Australia to limit the numbers of infected people traveling to and from the two countries.

As discussed in a Virus Evolution paper, published in April 2020, cases were also tracked from Australia to Iran, where it was found that the genomes were all from one monophyletic group characterized by three nucleotide substitutions in the SARS-CoV-2 genome, when compared to the prototype strain from Wuhan.

Evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 genome

An investigation published in June 2020 and carried out by the World Health Organization (WHO) showed how the SARS-CoV-2 genome has evolved as it has spread across the world. This investigation did not show how these evolutions changed the virulence of the virus, but it did show that the most common SARS-CoV-2 clade was the D614G variant within the six clades and 14 subclades it identified.

The investigation included 10,022 SARS-CoV-2 genomes from 68 different countries. In total, WHO detected 65,776 variants and 5,775 distinct variants, which comprised:

2,969 missense mutations

1,965 synonymous mutations

484 mutations in non-coding regions

142 non-coding deletions

100 in-frame deletions

66 non-coding insertions

36 stop-gained variants

11 frameshift deletions

Two in-frame insertions.

Since then, numbers will have increased.

The D614G variant is located in the B-cell epitope and has been found to have a very immunodominant region, which may affect how well a vaccine may work against it.

The largest clade found in the WHO study was D614G, which had five subclades associated with it. The non-coding variant 241C > T, along with 3037C > T, and ORF1ab P4715L were found in most of the samples in the D614G clade.

Additionally, almost every strain that had a D614G mutation featured mutations in proteins that control viral replication, which has implications for how quickly the virus can multiply. This particular protein is what anti-viral drugs remdesivir and favipiravir target. It could be possible that strains of SARS-CoV-2 quickly become resistant to drugs that target these proteins.

The second-largest clade identified by the WHO study was L84S, which comprises two subclades. L84S was a clade found in people traveling from Wuhan in the early phases of the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak.

What are the different SARS-CoV-2 clades?

There are multiple different nomenclatures for the SARS-CoV-2 clades. Each health organization may use its own identifier for different variants.

PANGOLIN nomenclature

The Phylogenetic Assignment of Named Global Outbreak Lineages (PANGOLIN) software team proposed nomenclature for the SARS-CoV-2 clades in a Rambaut et al. (2020) article. This contains the main lineages of A, B, B.1, B.1.1, B.1.177 and B.1.1.7. These lineages divide up further.

The generally used names of strains e.g. the B.1.1.7 (British originating) and B.1.351 (South African originating) strain derive from this.

A is the original strain used as a reference sequence.

The GISAID nomenclature

There are many thousands of complete and high-coverage genomes available on the Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data (GISAID).

GISAID separates the clades of SARS-CoV-2 into S, O, L, V, G, GH, GR, GV, and GRY.

The S and L clades were around at the beginning of the pandemic. S continued to be prevalent initially whilst L split into G and V. G further split into GR and GH, and then later GV. GR split into GRY after July 2020. The letters come from the mutations that caused them to branch.

The G clade is equivalent to PANGO B.1 lineage, with GR representing PANGO B.1.1 lineage. The S clade is equivalent to PANGO A lineage (the original virus, sequence zero, used as the reference), and the V strand is PANGO B.2 lineage. L is another eaerly lineage. O stands for others that do not match the genetic criteria of the other clades.

The G clade and its subsequent branches include the S-D614G strain.

Current GISAID data on the phylogenetic tree and geographical and temporal distribution of these clades can be viewed here.

At the beginning of the pandemic, in January 2020, the L, S and O clades had the majority. These all decreased as the G clade and its descendants increased in proportion over the next year. As of March 2021, the L, S and O clades constitute almost nothing, with the new GRY clade taking up the biggest proportion of the G clades.

The GRY clade represents the B.1.1.7 strain that originated in Britain and has since spread across the globe to over 90 countries.

Nextstrain nomenclature

Alternatively, Nextstrain divides the SARS-CoV-2 strains into 19A, 19B, 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D, 20E, 20F, 20G, 20H, 20I, 20 J. Phylogenetic trees and geographical/ temporal maps can be viewed for these classifications here.

Within these clades, 19B is the original reference strain. 20I/501Y.V1 refers to the B.1.1.7 variant that originated in Britain; 20H/501Y.V2 refers to the B.1.351 strain that originated in South Africa; and 20J/501Y.V3 refers to the P.1 strain that originated and spread from Brazil.

Schematic comparison of the GISAID, Nextstrain and cov-lineages.org nomenclatures for SARS-CoV-2 sequences of world-wide origin, FebruaryJuly 2020. Image Credit: Alm et al. 2020, Eurosurveillance

Variants of concern

There are currently selected variants of concern which have originated in some geographical locations and since spread globally due to mutations causing increased transmissibility. They are causing concern due to wide spread and reduced efficacy of some vaccines or antibody responses across some of the strains.

These include the B.1.1.7 strain, the B.1.351 strain and the P.1 strain (using PANGOLIN lineage terminology).

The WHO recently announceda new naming system for these variants in order to provide a more practical and easier way of referring to them, particularly in non-scientific contexts. This naming system uses Greek lettering.

Table 1. The Greek lettering system for naming SARS-CoV-2 variants and their PANGOLIN lineage equivalents.

Summary

SARS-CoV-2 has proven to be a genetically diverse virus that has now become endemic within humans. Identifying and tracking clades that become dominant in certain geographical regions may inform the development of effective vaccination, as certain anti-viral drugs or vaccines may not work or be as effective against mutated forms of the virus, or clades of the virus that have developed resistance through genomic mutation.

There are multiple different naming systems for the clades of SARS-CoV-2, but all of them are rooted in the same genetic analysis and allow tracking of different variants geographically and understanding of how they have evolved.

References

Alm, E. et al. Geographical and temporal distribution of SARS-CoV-2 clades in the WHO European Region, January to June 2020. Euro surveillance : bulletin Europeen sur les maladies transmissibles = European communicable disease bulletin. (2020). https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.32.2001410

Al-Omari, A. et al. A genetic barcode of SARS-CoV-2 for monitoring global distribution of different clades during the COVID-19 pandemic. International Journal of Infectious Diseases. (2020). https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971220306810

Basile, K. et al. An emergent clade of SARS-CoV-2 linked to returned travellers from Iran. Virus Evolution. (2020). https://academic.oup.com/ve/article/6/1/veaa027/5818738

Brufsky, A. Distinct viral clades of SARS-CoV-2: implications for modeling of viral spread. Journal of Medical Virology. (2020). https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jmv.25902

Hadfield et al. Bioinformatics. GISAID. (2021). Available from: https://www.gisaid.org/phylodynamics/global/nextstrain/

Hadfield et al. Bioinformatics. Nextstrain. (2021).Available from: https://nextstrain.org/ncov/global

Koyama, T. et al. Variant analysis of SARS-CoV-2 genomes. Bulletin of the World Health Organizaiton. (2020). https://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/98/7/20-253591/en/

Rambaut, A. et al. A dynamic nomenclature proposal for SARS-CoV-2 lineages to assist genomic epidemiology. Nature Microbiology. (2020). https://www.nature.com/articles/s41564-020-0770-5

Further Reading
The grand jury investigating the Breonna Taylor case in Louisville presented its report to Jefferson County Circuit Judge Annie OConnell on Wednesday afternoon, and none of the officers involved will face charges in Taylor's killing.

Former Detective Brett Hankison was indicted on 3 charges of wanton endangerment.

Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly and Detective Myles Cosgrove of Louisville Metro Police Department did not face any charges.

Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron said Wednesday the FBI is still investigating the case.

Taylor was killed in March during a raid on her apartment conducted by plainclothes narcotics officers. A no-knock warrant was approved to be used at her address, which became a controversial piece of the story.

A battering ram was used to enter her home after midnight and the officers were met with gunfire from her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker.

Police say three of the officers at the scene, Mattingly, Cosgrove and Hankison, returned fire, and Taylor was shot multiple times to her death in her hallway. Bullets were found throughout the apartment and some went into a neighboring home that had people inside.

Mattingly received a gunshot wound to the leg. A bullet hit his femoral artery.

Those officers were immediately put on administrative leave the day of the shooting and Hankison was later fired from the department for misconduct that night.

Right after the decision, protesters brought cases of water to Injustice Square, the Louisville park where people have gathered to demand justice for Taylor. Some began preparing food.



Later, police in the city cordoned off a street with yellow tape, and officers in protective gear could be seen handcuffing some people. Some scuffles broke out, and police ordered a group that broke off from the protests to disperse, warning that chemical agents might be used if they didn't.

Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, urged Cameron to post online all the evidence and facts that can be released without affecting the charges filed.

Those that are currently feeling frustration, feeling hurt, they deserve to know more, he said. They deserve to see the facts for themselves. And I believe that the ability to process those facts helps everybody.

As news of Taylor's death spread, calls for justice in her case joined those already happening for George Floyd and other Black people killed by police. Protests have continued for over 100 days in the streets of Louisville, with many demanding the trio of officers face murder charges.

The investigation has been complicated by the fact that there is allegedly no body camera footage available. At the time, plainclothes narcotics officers with LMPD were not required to wear them  a policy that has since changed, and later became a factor in the firing of former police chief Steve Conrad.

Both Walker and Mattingly said in interviews that while a no-knock warrant was issued, knocking did occur. However, they differ on whether police verbally identified themselves before entering the apartment.

Commonwealth's Attorney Tom Wine was asked back in May, after filing a motion to dismiss the case against Walker with prejudice, whether he thought it was possible no one would face charges in connection with Taylor's death.

Then, he said, "What separated these two parties was a door. And it's very possible that there was no criminal activity on either side of that door because people couldn't hear what the other party was saying."

On Tuesday, Mattingly sent an email to fellow officers saying that he and the others "did the legal, moral, ethical thing that night."

More on the investigation process

Cameron's office took the case in May after Wine recused himself due to his involvement in Walker's case.

Early on, Cameron said he would not provide a timeline for when he'd decide whether to pursue charges and staunchly maintained that position throughout.

Without video of what happened, Cameron said the ballistics report from the FBI, which is conducting its own investigation, was critical. About a month ago, on Aug. 30, he said the report had been received.

Sister station WLKY sought out the personnel files for the officers involved. Here's what they found:

Professionally, Mattingly joined LMPD in 2000 and was promoted to narcotics in 2016, according to his personnel file. He's earned 18 letters of commendation and was cited for violation of professional standards in 2017.

Cosgrove was promoted to narcotics in 2016 after joining the department in 2005. He has earned 10 letters of commendation. He was suspended twice without pay in 2010 and 2013 for failing to appear in court. In December 2006, Cosgrove was placed on paid administrative leave following an officer-involved shooting. He was cleared to return to duty in May 2007.

Hankison joined LMPD in January 2003 and was promoted to narcotics in 2016. He's earned 43 letters of commendation and was given the exceptional merit award in 2013. Hankison was in a car accident in 2009 while driving an LMPD vehicle off-duty.

Following his involvement in Taylor's shooting, previous sexual assault allegations came to light, prompting an investigation.

Video: Louisville Urban League president gives emotional reaction to Breonna Taylor indictment

Breonna Taylor was 26 years old when she was shot and killed at her Louisville apartment on March 13. Taylor, who was once employed as an EMT, was working as an ER technician at the time of her death.

After her death, a report compiled by LMPD alleged Taylor was still in contact with her ex-boyfriend, Jamarcus Glover, who was one of the main suspects of the drug raid.

No drugs or money were found in Taylors apartment.

Calls for justice for Taylor have reverberated nationwide. The phrase say her name became a call to action to bring awareness to her memory and the investigation into her death.

Taylor is survived by her mother and sister, Tamika and JuNiyah Palmer.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Jeffrey Carney has also been hired as an underwriter in Boston. He previously served as a senior vice president at Aon Risk Solutions. He has also held roles at Travelers, CNA and The Hartford.

Allison Keenan, meanwhile, has joined the executive risk underwriting team in San Francisco. She previously served as a senior underwriter at Chubb.

In addition, Mia Hennessey has been appointed to Beazleys New York underwriting team. Previously, she served as an assistant vice president in Zurich North Americas management solutions group. She has also held positions at Aon and Ace.

Greg Staron has also been appointed to the New York executive risk underwriting team. Staron joined Beazley in 2011 as an employment practices liability claims manager. He switched to underwriting in 2014, focusing primarily on healthcare management liability risks.

Finally, Melanie Saponara has been appointed to the New York executive risk claims team, and will primarily handle public-company directors and officers claims. She most recently served as a claims consultant at CNA. A member of the New York bar, Saponara has also worked at law firm Mendes & Mount, specializing in insurance and reinsurance law.

In an environment of rapidly evolving corporate risks, businesses are now also faced with managing the impact of a global pandemic, social movements, diversity and inclusion together with recessionary fears, which has ushered in new ways of working, employment practices, business operations and regulations, said Jeremie Saada, head of US executive risk at Beazley. This requires insurance solutions that provide flexible, 360-degree protection for when businesses need it most and to help reduce the risk of claims occurring. As we focus on building out our offering, continuing to attract and develop talent is critical to our success. Our executive risk practice has built considerable momentum over the past several years, and we are delighted to welcome Jeff, Elizabeth, Mia, Allison, Greg and Melanie to our growing team.
A man looks over a memorial dedicated to Breonna Taylor , who was killed during a police raid on her home (Getty Images)

Bernie Sanders has called a Kentucky grand jurys failure to indict police officers who fired the shots that killed Breonna Taylor a disgrace and an abdication of justice six months after her death.

Breonna Taylors life mattered, the Vermont senator said on Twitter. This result is a disgrace and an abdication of justice. Our criminal justice system is racist. The time for fundamental change is now.

Former Louisville Metro Police officer Brett Hankison was charged with three counts of wanton endangerment after firing 10 rounds into the 26-year-old black womans apartment building in the early morning hours on 13 March as police executed a search warrant, breaking down the apartments door.

Two other officers who fired into the apartment  Myles Cosgrove and Jonathan Mattingly  were not included in the indictment.

Mr Hankinson was fired three months after her death for "wantonly and blindly" firing 10 rounds into the building, according to then-interim Louisville Police Chief Robert Schroeder.

Ms Taylor, an emergency medical technician, was at home in bed with her boyfriend Kenneth Walker when officers used a ram to break the door to her apartment. Mr Walker, believing someone was breaking into her home, fired one shot towards the door.

Republican attorney general Daniel Cameron argued that officers Mattingly and Cosgrove were justified in their return of deadly fire" because Mr Walker had fired first, he said.

That justification bars the office from pursuing criminal charges against them, he said.

Ms Taylor was shot at least six times. Altogether, more than 20 rounds were fired into the building, striking neighbouring apartments.

Breonna Taylors life mattered. This result is a disgrace and an abdication of justice. Our criminal justice system is racist. The time for fundamental change is now. https://t.co/IPmO9upXbK  Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) September 23, 2020

Her killing has sparked a global call to arrest the cops involved, galvanising a movement condemning police brutality and demanding justice in police killings of black Americans, with support from high-profile celebrities, athletes and officials across the US.

Story continues

The familys attorney Ben Crump said in a statement that the indictment falls short of what constitutes justice.

The grand jury may have denied Breonna justice, but this decision cannot take away her legacy, he said.

Following the announcement, he called the charges outrageous and offensive".

If Brett Hankison's behavior was wanton endangerment to people in neighboring apartments, then it should have been wanton endangerment in Breonna Taylor's apartment too," he said. "In fact, it should have been ruled wanton murder!

Say her name now more than ever please, wrote attorney Sam Aguilar.

The former presidential candidate and senates leading progressive has demanded an urgent overhaul of US policing following the deaths of many black Americans by police.

We have to rethink the nature of policing in America and reform our broken and racist criminal justice system," he told the Senate this year.

The killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis on Memorial Day, which sparks international protests that have continued through 2020, was not just an isolated incidenet.

It is the latest in an endless series of police killings of African Americans, he said. The American people are rightly demanding justice and an end to police brutality and murder.  We have got to hear the cries for justice that are coming from streets of this country.

Read more

Anger follows offensive lack of charges for police officers who killed Breonna Taylor

Breonna Taylor: One police officer charged with 'wanton endangerment' and two cleared in shooting

Wanton endangerment in the first degree: The charge facing officer in Breonna Taylor case, explained

What happened the night police killed Breonna Taylor?
A look at the shareholders of Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. (NYSE:RGR) can tell us which group is most powerful. Insiders often own a large chunk of younger, smaller, companies while huge companies tend to have institutions as shareholders. Companies that have been privatized tend to have low insider ownership.

With a market capitalization of US$1.1b, Sturm Ruger is a decent size, so it is probably on the radar of institutional investors. In the chart below, we can see that institutional investors have bought into the company. We can zoom in on the different ownership groups, to learn more about Sturm Ruger.

View our latest analysis for Sturm Ruger

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Sturm Ruger?

Many institutions measure their performance against an index that approximates the local market. So they usually pay more attention to companies that are included in major indices.

Sturm Ruger already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see Sturm Ruger'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. It would appear that 9.4% of Sturm Ruger shares are controlled by hedge funds. That worth noting, since hedge funds are often quite active investors, who may try to influence management. Many want to see value creation (and a higher share price) in the short term or medium term. The company's largest shareholder is BlackRock, Inc., with ownership of 16%. Meanwhile, the second and third largest shareholders, hold 10% and 9.4%, of the shares outstanding, respectively.

Story continues

Looking at the shareholder registry, we can see that 51% of the ownership is controlled by the top 11 shareholders, meaning that no single shareholder has a majority interest in the ownership.

While studying institutional ownership for a company can add value to your research, it is also a good practice to research analyst recommendations to get a deeper understand of a stock's expected performance. There is some analyst coverage of the stock, but it could still become more well known, with time.

Insider Ownership Of Sturm Ruger

While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. The company management answer to the board and the latter should represent the interests of shareholders. Notably, sometimes top-level managers are on the board themselves.

Insider ownership is positive when it signals leadership are thinking like the true owners of the company. However, high insider ownership can also give immense power to a small group within the company. This can be negative in some circumstances.

Shareholders would probably be interested to learn that insiders own shares in Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc.. This is a big company, so it is good to see this level of alignment. Insiders own US$14m worth of shares (at current prices). It is good to see this level of investment by insiders. You can check here to see if those insiders have been buying recently.

General Public Ownership

With a 18% ownership, the general public have some degree of sway over Sturm Ruger. While this group can't necessarily call the shots, it can certainly have a real influence on how the company is run.

Next Steps:

It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Sturm Ruger better, we need to consider many other factors. To that end, you should learn about the 3 warning signs we've spotted with Sturm Ruger (including 1 which is shouldn't be ignored) .

But ultimately it is the future, not the past, that will determine how well the owners of this business will do. Therefore we think it advisable to take a look at this free report showing whether analysts are predicting a brighter future.

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.
Following recent altercations, Russia and the US have reinforced their numbers in northeastern Syria, to secure their positions and prevent further clashes writes Baladi News.

Russia and the US have strengthened their forces in northeastern Syria over the past few days. Russian military reinforcements arrived in Hassakeh via the Qamishli Airport, and US military reinforcements arrived through the al-Walid crossing from Iraq.

Most of northern and eastern Syria is under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which are mainly supported by the US-led International Coalition. The regime also shares control of Hassakeh with the SDF as well as two military sectors and the Qamishli airport. Last October, it began widening its spread over the areas facing the region under the control of the Turkish forces and the Syrian National Army in Ras al-Ayn and Tel Abyad.

The eastern region of Syria has witnessed a number of incidents and clashes between US and Russian forces, who have been patrolling eastern Syria as of late. Last month, four American soldiers were injured in a clash between Russian military vehicles near Derik in northeastern Syria.

Commenting on the reason for the reinforcements, spokesperson for the US Central Command, Bill Urban, said that the US does not seek to clash with any other country in Syria, but will defend the coalition forces if necessary, implicitly alluding to Russia.

Urban stressed that, these measures and military reinforcements are clear evidence of the determination of the US to defend the coalition forces in the eastern region of Syria.

Editor-in-Chief of Al-Sharq news website, writer Firas Allawi, said that there are multiple reasons behind the sending of reinforcements by the US and Russia to northeastern Syria, indicating that the frictions that recently occurred between the two parties prompted each of the superpowers to further reinforce their forces in the region in preparation for the possibility of any clash of any type between them.

Allawi explained to Baladi News that the reinforcements by the two parties are not significant. For the US, they only consist of six Bradley Fighting Vehicles and a 100 fighters, merely a precautionary increase in anticipation of any tension or friction with the Russians.

He pointed out that the Russians are trying to increase their forces in northeastern Syria, as part of Moscows policy to restore order in the region, which is also a part of a rapprochement attempt with SDF, all the while trying to gain power over areas under US control, pointing out that the statement by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, about the cessation of fighting between the regime and the opposition means that Russia will move to the eastern Euphrates region, which Lavrov said the regime does not control.

He pointed out that the US reinforcements aim to fill a void in the region, especially with the withdrawal of forces from Iraq, which means Washington may have plans to build a base in northeastern Syria and thus establish a long-term presence in the region. Add to that the security chaos in the region related to the Iranian presence, the role of the regime, as well as the increasing rejection of SDF forces, and the attempts to strategically secure western Iraq.

He stressed that northeastern Syria is a strategic region for Washington, as it is close to Iraq, Iran, Turkey, and the Mediterranean, in addition to the presence of oil fields. There are also political reasons that make the region of interest to the US, mainly related to the impending elections in the US and securing the latters position in the region in case of a possible emergency security situation in the elections.

Prior to Turkeys Operation Peace Spring, US forces had withdrawn from the east of the Euphrates. After the operation was halted by two agreements concluded by Ankara with both Washington and Moscow, Russia started, in October 2019, conducting both joint patrols with Turkish forces and solo patrols in the countryside of Raqqa, Hassakeh, and Aleppo, in accordance with the Sochi agreement that put an end to Operation Peace Spring in the eastern Euphrates.

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.
I'll never get tired of recognizing homegrown talent, and lucky for me, Texas is full of it.

Houstons very own Megan Thee Stallion and Grand Prairies Selena Gomez are both among TIME Magazines Most Influential People of 2020, and rightfully so.

H-TOWN STAND UP: Lina Hidalgo, Beyonce and Dan Crenshaw make Fortune's '40 Under 40' list

Megan, 25, has suffered some terrible losses in her lifetime. Shes lost her father, mother and grandmother, but she's used those hardships to propel her rise in the music industry.

There was something about this woman. Once you discover her, you become a fan, actress Taraji P. Henson wrote about Megan Thee Stallion in TIME Magazine. I dont like to put the stigma of the word strong on Black women because I think it dehumanizes us, but she has strengthstrength through vulnerability.

Despite the pandemic and her horrific encounter in Los Angeles in July, 2020 has beenagainst all oddsa good year for Meg. She released the Savage Remix with her idol and fellow Houstonian Beyonce, won two BET Awards and the MTV Video Music Award, spent weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard and Rolling Stone charts  for both "Savage Remix" and her WAP collaboration with Cardi B  and headlined her first virtual concert, among other things.

While Megan was praised for her music achievements, Gomez was celebrated for her philanthropic efforts.

"Selena Gomez is unabashedly spreading her wings and influence into whatever lane her passions lead her," fellow Latina actress American Ferrera wrote in honor of the actress and businesswoman in TIME. "Selena courageously uses her global platform in service of her full identity. She is emblematic of her powerful generation, which patently rejects the notion that they belong in any one lane as artists, activists or citizens of the world."

Gomez, 28, recently launched her Rare Beauty" cosmetics line, a name that coincides with the title of her third studio album that was released in January. She's the executive producer of her own cooking show on HBO Max, is set to star in an upcoming Hulu series with fellow Texan Steve Martin, and also served as an executive producer for Netflix's Living Undocumented, a series that follows eight families as they navigate the U.S.'s immigration policies.

Gomez is also set to receive the ARTS Award at the 33rd annual Hispanic Heritage Awards, one of the highest honors by and for Latinos. Her philanthropic efforts have included funding mental health initiatives, donating a portion of the proceeds from album and merchandise sales to various COVID-19 relief funds and encouraging voting and support for the Black Lives Matter movement  which is a big deal considering she's the first person to reach 100 million followers on Instagram.

It's true what they say: Our celebrities are better in Texas. (I'm making this a thing now.)
Dayton is a city of doors, according to Ife Olaore, of the Dayton-based economic development company Goshenburg Holdings Inc. Its a reference to the multitude of opportunities for progress, partnerships and growth he sees in abundance in the Dayton region.

Ife Olaore

One such opportunity is the Dayton Independent Film Festival developed by students in UDs Department of Communication scheduled for Sept. 25-28. Olaore and his business partner, Ben Taylor, made a gift to help make it an actual event and not just a virtual screening. And what a screen it will be.

Since COVID-19 has hampered movie theater capacity, the event will be held at the Dixie Twin Drive-In theatre, located at 6201 N. Dixie Dr. in north Dayton. Olaore, who was born in Nigeria and settled in Dayton by way of England in 2015, admits this will be his first drive-in experience. Ive seen a lot of movies in my life, but none like this, he said. I think the idea is so innovative and goes back to the resilience of Dayton and what were about as a city and a community.

Ive seen a lot of movies in my life, but none like this.

The first-time gift to the University could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship, as the saying goes, that could expose UD students to a wealth of experience in a number of areas. Goshenburgs business philosophy is to focus on the positive transformation of overlooked communities, and the two view UD as a symbiotic partner.

Ben Taylor, on set

Taylor, whos worked with Olaore for 10 years, recently moved from Los Angeles to head up the film production studio. Weve been blessed with a thriving business and had already planned to invest in the Dayton market from a film standpoint. What better way to signal we plan to be here for a long time than to invest in locally grown film professionals, starting at the college level, Taylor said.

The Goshenburg team also intends to remain supportive of the budding relationship by not only donating monetarily but also giving time and expertise and providing students with production space and opportunities. We hope to lend our expertise, our location and our equipment to make their film visions come true, Olaore said.

Mentoring will also be a crucial part of the partnership. Coming from Hollywood, or the belly of the beast according to Taylor, he was excited about moving to the Midwest and working with students. The film industry is mystical and based on luck and chance, and you wonder if youre talented enough to make it, he said. One of the biggest things Ive learned is that its a very accessible business. If youre able to learn and hone your craft you can break into the industry. Im excited to show people in Dayton how to be successful in film  its such a great expression of art.

The gift from Goshenburg originated when Olaore saw a LinkedIn post by a University development officer promoting the festival. He immediately reached out to see how he could become involved. His discussions with advancement and the professor involved with the project made it possible for the festival to expand to include the drive-in screenings. The full Dayton Independent Film Festival lineup is available on the festivals website. All students are able to attend the event at the Dixie Twin at no cost. Tickets to other online events and the drive-in can also be purchased through the website.
Narendra Modi

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has visited 58 countries since 2015. "The total expenditure on these visits was Rs. 517.82 Crore," Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.

Narendra Modi

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According to the details provided by Muraleedharan, the Prime Minister made five visits each to the US, Russia and China, and multiple trips to other countries including 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 last year where he attended a Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa (BRICS) summit.

Narendra ModiMuraleedharan claimed that Modi's visits to these countries have enhanced India's foreign relations in a wide range of sectors including trade, investment, technology, defence collaboration and people-to-people contact.

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"India is now increasingly contributing to shaping the global agenda at the multilateral level including on issues like climate change, trans-national crime and terrorism, cyber security and nuclear non-proliferation, he said.
A Middlesex County judge reduced the jail sentence for a former Long Branch police detective who was intoxicated when he hit and killed a 66-year-old woman with his Jeep as she crossed the street.

Jake Pascucci, 30, pleaded guilty in 2018 to strict liability vehicular homicide and DWI for his role in the death of Karen Borkowski, of Stanhope, who he struck as she crossed Ocean Boulevard at the intersection of Broadway in Long Branch on Sept. 22, 2017. He was sentenced last year to 364 days in jail, but his lawyer appealed the decision.

In handing down a new sentence of 240 days in county jail, Superior Court Judge Michael Toto said Wednesday that he considered a statement from a witness at the scene who said Borkowski sprinted across the street when the light was green for Pascucci. An accident reconstruction report also said Borkowskis actions were the main cause of the accident, Toto said.

Its a factor in this case that the actions of the victim contributed to causing of the accident... That doesnt excuse Mr. Pascucci from getting in that car and driving," Toto said.

Prosecutors previously said Pascucci, who was off-duty at the time, was drinking at a barbecue on the day of the accident before heading to two Jersey Shore bars for more drinks. He was heading to dinner with a friend when he hit Borkowski that night, and was then taken to a hospital where he blew a 0.08, the states legal limit for drivers, two hours after the crash, prosecutors said.

The defendant shouldve known better not to get in the car after drinking and drive. (Pascucci) became intoxicated in a social situation in which he couldve easily called a friend, family member, Uber or cab, whatever it be to make arrangements to protect himself and others," Toto said. "He failed to do so.

Pascucci was the first defendant in New Jersey to be sentenced for the strict liability vehicular homicide statute, a third-degree offense signed into law by Gov. Chris Christie two months prior to the crash. The offense carries a sentencing range from no jail time to up to five years in prison.

Prosecutor Keith Abrams argued imprisonment would be needed to send a message and deter the general public from drinking and driving. The state, in its plea deal, recommended 364 days in jail.

The whole point of this law is to deter... A message has to be sent because people need to think before they get behind the wheel, Abrams said.

He also argued against the report and eyewitness statement saying Borkowski caused the accident. In dashboard camera footage from responding officers, Pascucci can be heard telling his fellow coworkers that he had a green light and that Borkowski was jaywalking.

In arguing for probation instead of imprisonment, Pascuccis lawyer, Steven Altman, argued there was no way his client could have avoided the accident and was not driving carelessly or recklessly.

Pascucci, who joined the Long Branch Police Department in 2014, briefly addressed the judge asking for leniency.

Pascucci was forced to hand in his Long Branch Police Department badge as part of the sentencing and lost his driving privileges temporarily.

I always strive to do my work and always love being able to help people. Now that Im not a police officer, these traits have not left. I still always go above and beyond for anyone who needs it, Pascucci said.

Id like to take a moment to express my deepest condolences to the Borkowski family. As the years progress, Im sure it does not get any easier, as it does not for me. Theres not a day that has gone by the past three years that I do not think about Mrs. Borkowski, her family and the tragic accident that occurred September 22, 2017," he said.

Karen Borkowski and her husband Edward in 2017.Courtesy of the Borkowski family

At least a dozen friends and family of both Borkowski and Pascucci, many teary-eyed, read letters to the judge.

Borkowskis husband, Ed, described his wife as a good, strong woman who was his caregiver and his rock and anchor."

He said the two had recently renewed their wedding vows for their 45th anniversary and had gone to the Jersey Shore that weekend for a getaway. He previously told NJ Advance Media that the two were staying at the Ocean Place hotel, and Karen Borkowski was on her way to a nearby CVS store to buy bandages for him because he had blisters on his legs.

Since my lady was killed, my health has gone downhill. Shes not here to help me and do the everyday tasks. She gave me incentive to live. I miss her, I need her, I find it near impossible to go on without her, he said.

Borkowski worked as a caregiver for others too, including Kathie Taft, who read a letter to the court. Taft, who has cerebral palsy, called Borkowski her second mother who helped her while her husband was away for work.

My best friend, my chauffeur, my teacher, the person I thought of as a second mom was taken away, Borkowski said.

You were able to find a job right away, you have a girlfriend, you have a house. What have you really lost? Taft said of Pascucci. I understand you have gone to church, you have tried to heal and youve tried to make things better for yourself, but that will never be better for us.

Pascucci has 45 days to appeal Wednesdays decision, Toto said.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Avalon Zoppo may be reached at azoppo2@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AvalonZoppo.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 23:59:11|Editor: huaxia

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BERLIN, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Germany's official COVID-19 warning app, launched about 100 days ago, has been downloaded more than 18 million times which was "extraordinary," head of the Chancellery Helge Braun said at a press conference on Wednesday.

Including more than 400,000 downloads from abroad, it was by far the most used COVID-19 app in Europe, according to Braun.

According to the German government, the app was developed to inform citizens who had been in contact with an infected person to detect and break chains of infection. The app would protect the anonymity of users and after 14 days, the data would be deleted from phones.

More than 1.2 million test results were transferred via connected laboratories and almost 5,000 infected users warned their contacts via the app, according to German Health Minister Jens Spahn.

Spahn repeatedly stressed that the app was "not a panacea. It is an important tool, but one tool among many in this pandemic."

The app was developed on behalf of the German government by software company SAP and telecommunications company Deutsche Telekom for around 20 million euros (23.4 million U.S. dollars).

Deutsche Telekom chief executive officer (CEO) Timotheus Hoettges described the development of the app which had to deal with "major problems" in the interaction of Google's and Apple's operating systems as "anything but a normal IT project."

After several attempts, the major problems were fixed in cooperation with Google and Apple. However, Hoettges confirmed on Wednesday that the companies would not make the app compatible with some older mobile phone models. Enditem
Dennae Pierre Shares OBU Chapel Message Sept. 23 September 23, 2020

Dennae Pierre, executive director of The Surge Network, was the speaker for OBUs online chapel service Sept. 23. Pierre spoke on loving our enemies, teaching from Matthew 5:43-48.

Pierre discussed her love for OBUs chapel theme for the year, Christ the Wisdom of God, because there does not seem to be much wisdom in the world right now.

Pierre discussed her ministry in Phoenix and how there was a great deal of prejudice present in her city. She talked about a time when she and her family helped host asylum seekers from Guatemala in their home and how they were persecuted for it.

What is really challenging about Jesus and His life and what we are invited to in Him is that a lot of times our fear of one another or our pride as we protect ourselves is more comfortable than this radical call to love our enemies, she said.

Pierre then shared about various types of enemy relationships. She discussed enemies individually, as anyone with whom you have a hostile relationship. She admitted that there is competition all around us and everyone feels the need to be enemies with rivaling individuals or groups at some point in life. She also talked about communal enemies, when we become a part of a tribe and make enemies with another tribe.

Pierre went on to discuss the importance, as Christians, of knowing our heavenly father. God is faithful all the time, she pointed out. Seeing and knowing our father in heaven and knowing the father who is faithful to the righteous and the unrighteous, we will be able to see others with a purity of heart. Having a deep relationship with God will allow us to see our enemies in the way God sees them, she added.

She stressed the importance of finding our identity in God instead of the world and practicing enemy love. She then reminded us that it is necessary to grow and build bridges with our enemies. She closed her message by describing how we can mimic our father in heaven by being intentional in loving our enemies, as we remind them that our identity is found in God our father.

Dennae Pierre is executive director of The Surge Network, a movement of local churches partnered together to put Jesus on display in Arizona. She was born and raised in Phoenix. She earned a Master of Arts from Covenant Theological Seminary and serves as one of the co-directors for City to City North America. Her work is focused on supporting pastors as they equip their congregations to love the poor in their neighborhoods, desiring to see churches throughout Arizona cross cultures and boundaries to unite in love for Jesus, deepen their love for one another and walk with the poor and marginalized in our cities. She has been involved in church planting, community development and leading non-profits, all focused around economic and racial reconciliation. She is married to Vermon, the lead pastor at Roosevelt Community Church in downtown Phoenix, a church which the coupled helped plant. They have four children: Marcel, Mya, Judah and Jovanna. Their family enjoys spending their free time exploring the parks, restaurants and coffee shops of downtown Phoenix.

The Surge Network offers a variety of services including The Surge School, a nine-month, church-based leadership development program. They also offer seminary training, which infuses their Surge churches with rich theological education that trains pastors and leaders for the realities they face in equipping Gods people to be a faithful presence in todays world. Each month, they host a Surge Regional Gathering, monthly meal for pastors and local church ministry leaders.
Some Virginia voters who received absentee ballots by mail this week were left scratching their heads at the included instructions, which told them they didn't need witness signatures this year to make their ballots count - but, if they wanted their ballots to count, they needed witness signatures.

Virginia voters do not have to have a witness signature on their absentee ballots this fall.

State and local elections officials acknowledged the problem, but pointed to late changes to Virginia law eliminating the commonwealth's long-standing witness-signature requirement for absentee voting this year as a reason for the confusion.

This fall's election season, which comes during a pandemic and features an important presidential race, several tight congressionalraces in Virginia and uncertainty about the ability of the U.S. Postal Service to deliver ballots on time, has also prompted huge early-voting lines. And Northern Virginia communities are seeing an unprecedented number of requests for absentee ballots.

Voter Nan Alvord, 85, of Manassas Park, who voted by mail for 15 years in Oregon, called what she received from her local elections board this fall "nutty instructions." Another voter, Joel Ferris, 70, of Alexandria, noted that "despite my master's degree and a lifetime of voting, I had to read the entire letter a couple of times to sort out this information."

The state Department of Elections sent out multiple versions of its preferred language, local registrars said. As the General Assembly's special session progressed from its Aug. 18 start through September, the governor signed some bills on absentee voting into law, and the administration settled a lawsuit brought by the League of Women Voters over the signature matter.

Cities and counties print their own ballots and can create their own versions of voter instructions based on the state's ever-evolving guidance in the weeks before the election.

"It's not as clear as it should be, no question about that," said Bob Brink, chair of the state board of elections, said of the commonwealth's voter instructions. "We hope that [voters] will turn to a combination of the department's instructions on our website and instructions to call their local registrars. I hope that will alleviate any confusion."

The language instructing absentee voters how to cast their ballots varies between among cities and counties because some local registrars edited the commonwealth's wording, while others did not.

"To ensure your ballot is counted, read these instructions!" reads the form sent out by the cities of Manassas Park and Alexandria. "Except as provided below, the law requires a witness must be present for steps 1 through 3 listed below. Any person can serve as your witness. If you believe you may not safely have a witness present while completing the absentee ballot for the November 3, 2020 election, you are not required to have a witness present for steps 1 through 3 listed below. Accordingly, you may disregard the witness signature line on envelope B if you believe you may not safely have a witness present while completing your ballot."

But later on the page, the instructions say a witness is required.

Alexandria registrar Angie Maniglia Turner and Manassas Park registrar Patricia Brendel said they followed the state's guidelines. Turner said she has received more inquiries about whether voters need to add postage stamps to their return ballot (they don't). Brendel said that, in hindsight, the language of the instructions could be clearer.

Gary Scott, the Fairfax County registrar noted there was not only a lack of time to rewrite the instructions, but a lack of space - Fairfax prints the instructions in English, Spanish, Vietnamese and Korean. He acknowledged that confused voters have contacted his office about witnesses, although he removed references to a witness signature on everything but the return envelope.

Unless voters closely follow the news, or research the language in the ballot instructions, they still may not understand that the witness requirement has been dropped, he said, especially if they struggle with English.It's important, he said, that all voters understand how to cast a ballot.

"The person who is barely literate in their second language is just as important, and his vote counts as much, as someone with multiple PhDs," Scott said.

Gretchen Reinemeyer, Arlington County's registrar, said she provided that county's absentee voters - 50,000 so far - with a simpler set of instructions than what the state suggested, "because I thought it was confusing."

"There's been so much to do this year that I don't fault anyone at the [Virginia] Department of Elections for this," she said.

While Arlington's instructions don't say voters must have a witness for their ballot to count, the mailing, as in Fairfax, includes a line on the return envelope that erroneously said a witness signature was still required.

Joan Porte, vice president of the Virginia League of Women Voters and an Arlington resident, said she was furious when she saw the error on the envelope, which could have been solved, she said, by crossing it out with a marker.

"Why did we file a lawsuit? " she asked. "I was seeing orange when I got mine. I literally stood in the middle of the living room and screamed, 'I don't believe this!' "

Alvord, the former Oregonian who now lives in Manassas Park, said she figured out the rules after spending some time thinking about it.

"I'm quite sure we don't need a witness but I don't want to take a chance," Alvord said. "I think this whole business of a witness is craziness. . . . This whole process may have been adequate last century, but it just isn't anymore."
Gaborone, Botswana (PANA)  Botswana Telecommunications (BTC) Foundation has collaborated with Thapong Visual Arts Centre, an establishment based in the countrys capital, to develop artists
Face masks should be made compulsory inside offices to halt a devastating second wave of coronavirus, leading medics warned today.

Boris Johnson announced yesterday that all staff in retail and hospitality will have to wear face coverings, as part of the latest suite of lockdown restrictions.

But the British Medical Association (BMA) said today it was 'illogical' for this rule not to have been enforced over summer when shops, restaurants and pubs first reopened.

The doctors' union said the new rules were not tough enough to prevent a second wave and is now calling for all indoor work places to make face coverings mandatory.

It also blasted ministers for hurrying staff back to offices and actively encouraging workers to ditch working from home at a time when cases were rising  rhetoric which the Government has now U-turned on.

BMA chairman Dr Chaand Nagpaul said: 'The BMA has consistently argued that it was illogical for staff not to be required to wear face masks in shops, pubs and restaurants as customers are, so we're pleased to see this belatedly coming into force.

'However, given that the infection is equally like to spread in all indoor settings, these rules should also apply to offices and other workplaces.'

It comes as scientists trade blows over whether Number 10 has imposed adequate measures to curb the spread of the virus.

Two top scientists on SAGE criticised the latest lockdown guidelines for not going far enough. But another expert from Oxford University warned Britain 'will talk ourselves back into a lockdown' if it panics at every up-tick in cases.

Face masks should be made compulsory inside offices to halt a devastating second wave of coronavirus , leading medics warned today (file)

Professor John Edmunds, an infectious disease expert from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, warned action was not taken quickly enough back in March and that 'mistake' is about to be repeated because the new rules are too lax.

And Professor Robert West, a health psychologist at University College London and member of SAGE, added: 'Closing early will have some impact but I dont think it will be anything like enough, even with the other measures announced, to stop the increase.'

Dr Nagpaul called on the Government to do more to help employers make workplaces Covid-secure when home working is not possible, and to cut the number of people permitted to meet indoors.

Dr Chaand Nagpaul, chair of council at the British Medical Association (BMA), said the latest lockdown restrictions in England are not tough enough to prevent a devastating second wave

'The Prime Minister missed an opportunity today to revise the "rule of six" which, as currently interpreted, allows members of six different household to meet indoors whereas previously members of only two households could do so,' he said.

'Data suggests that transmission between households is by far the biggest driver of infection and this should therefore be rectified at the earliest possible opportunity.'

Yesterday Boris Johnson imposed a 10pm curfew on all restaurants, bars and pubs across England from Thursday with the hospitality sector also being restricted to table service only.

A requirement to wear face coverings will be extended to include retail workers and customers in indoor hospitality settings, except for when they are seated at a table to eat or drink.

He also announced the end of the Government's back to work drive as he said he is now 'asking office workers who can work from home to do so'.

The Government has been actively encouraging workers to ditch working from home and yesterday's U-turn represents a humiliating climbdown for the PM who earlier this month had told his Cabinet that 'people are going back to the office in huge numbers across our country and quite right too'.

The BMA also wants to see the public given more information about infection rates in their areas, making it as easy to look up as the weather or pollen count.

Professor John Edmunds, an epidemiologist from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, warned that the Government has not learnt the lessons from March

Scientists at war over new lockdown rules Britain's top scientists have traded blows over whether Number 10's latest coronavirus rules have gone far enough. Two SAGE advisers criticised the Government for not going far enough with their latest suite of lockdown rules. Professor John Edmunds, an infectious disease expert from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, warned action was not taken quickly enough back in March and that 'mistake' is about to be repeated because the new rules are too lax. And Professor Robert West, a health psychologist at University College London and member of SAGE, added: 'Closing early will have some impact but I dont think it will be anything like enough, even with the other measures announced, to stop the increase.' However, other experts have recommended the UK switches from a 'suppress the spread of coronavirus' strategy, to a more relaxed Sweden-based strategy aiming to contain it. Professor Carl Heneghan, director of the University of Oxford's Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine told BBC Radio 4 he thought there had been a shift after he had a meeting with the Prime Minister. 'We are starting to understand that we are trying to control the spread of the infection as opposed to suppress it,' he said. 'What we are starting to see is a move towards Sweden. So for instance, when you look at bars and restaurants, that's the policy there - they have table service. I'm hoping we now start to see a more consistent poluicy, one that stays in place.' Advertisement

'Members of the public want to do their bit to keep infection rates down  ministers must empower them with the information they need to take proactive action,' Dr Nagpaul said.

'Not only would these additional measures pose no risk to the economy in the immediate term, they could be key to preventing further lockdowns and significant disruption to business and economic activity.'

He added: 'Indeed, putting the right safeguards in place to minimise the risk of infection is crucial to providing people with the confidence they need to go out safely and boost the economy.'

Professor Edmunds accused the Government of failing to heed the warnings from March on BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

Speaking in a personal capacity, he said the authorities will let cases of coronavirus 'double and double and double again' before taking the right steps, but by then it will be 'too late'.

'And then we'll have the worst of both worlds, because then to slow the epidemic and bring it back down again, all the way down to somewhere close to where it is now or where it was in the summer, will mean putting the brakes on the epidemic for a very long time, very hard,' he said.

'(This) is what we had to do in March because we didn't react quickly enough in March, and so I think that we haven't learnt from our mistake back then and we're unfortunately about to repeat it.

'I suspect we will see very stringent measures coming in place throughout the UK at some point, but it will be too late again.'

Adding to the sense of alarm among epidemiologists, Professor West told The Times: 'Closing early will have some impact but I don't think it will be anything like enough, even with the other measures announced, to stop the increase.'

He said there is a 'drinking equilibrium' where people have the 'amount they want to drink', and that through an early closure 'you might have some decrease but it won't be proportionate to the reduction in hours'.

But scientists remain divided on the issue, with others arguing the restrictions will limit the spread of the virus.

Dr Jennifer Cole, biological anthropologist at Royal Holloway University, said yesterday 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.'

Professor Whitty is understood to support Scotland's move to limit social interactions in household, and believe that England should have followed in its tracks, reports The Times.

Jonathan Van Tam and Jenny Harries, Professor Whitty's deputies, are also understood to have expressed concerns that the measures did not go far enough.

Boris Johnson told the nation last night that unless his warnings were listened to and measures were followed there would be further restrictions on the cards.

'The virus is no less fatal than it was in Spring,' he told the public, 'and our best weapon against it is commonsense and community.'

It comes on top of the rule of six, which has been in force for more than a week, which has stopped people meeting in large groups.

In Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon went further by banning people from visiting others homes, unless they lived alone.

She claimed advice from Scotland's chief medical officer and national clinical director was that the Prime Minister's package 'on its own will not be sufficient to bring the R number down'.

She added: 'We must take account of the fact that household interaction is a key driver of transmission.'

The rules will be closely monitored for the next two weeks to see whether further action needs to be taken.

Local areas in England with larger outbreaks have imposed tighter restrictions, including stopping households from mixing.
One of the most popular Bible characters to study (especially for children) is the Old Testament king named David. His story has it all: Adventure, drama, scandal, crime, and action.

We get inspired by how God moved David from a lowly shepherd to the King of Israel (2 Samuel 7:8), by his impossible aim with a sling against Goliath (1 Samuel 17), and by his group of heroes known as Davids Mighty Men  that sound like the original Justice League or Avengers (1 Chronicles 11).

David is described as a man of faith (Hebrews 11), a man after Gods own heart (1 Samuel 13), and an ancestor of Jesus himself (Luke 1:32). David was one of the greatest men in Scripture.

Also, we cannot forget that his life was the story behind the musical in the Bible known as The Book of Psalms. For example, David wrote this song that worships God for his strength and intervention after he delivered him from the murderous hands of Saul:

The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold (Psalm 18:2, ESV).

David further describes Gods sovereign actions as reeling and rocking the earth, shooting out fire, and thundering in the heavens. Then in Psalm 18-19, he confidently confesses that he is blameless, pure, righteous, and perfect before God who has rewarded him for his cleanness, for keeping the ways of the Lord and not wickedly departing from God.

But something happened after these Psalms that caused him to penitently cry out:

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight (Psalm 51:1-5).

What happened to change Davids tone so drastically? The Bible translators help us here with a short subtitle for Psalm 51 that reads: A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.

This part of King Davids story is often left out of kids coloring books and downplayed in their stories (like in the Veggie Tales episode titled King George and the Ducky) because of how uncomfortable it is.

In short, we read in 2 Samuel 11 that David lusted after another mans wife, used his authority to bring her to him, essentially raped her, tried to hide his sin, and then took Bathsheba to be another one of his own wives after he arranged her husbands death. For a life that started off so honorably, Davids story turned into a sad tale.

But why? How did David, a man after Gods own heart, fall so far into sin? In my study, I discovered the following three factors that led to his sinful downfall.

1. David No Longer Had to Struggle

Up to this point, David struggled through many difficulties in life. As an undersized and overlooked young man, he worked with obstinate sheep, fought off wild animals, stood up to the giant Goliath, battled wicked Philistines, and regularly escaped from a jealous King Saul.

Even when David first became king, he still had to make tough decisions and fight in battles. But after God would not allow him to build his temple and many of his enemies were conquered, David seemed to settle into a life of success.

He had a kingdom, wives, servants, and the authority that came with it all. He was at the top, life was easy, and he could go anywhere and do anything he wanted (and he did).

My dad once told me that Alexander the Great employed an advisor to follow him around and whisper in his ear: You are Mortal. You are just a man. He did this to remind Alexander of his weakness and to keep him from thinking that he was a god among men. While this story is probably apocryphal, it illustrates how easy it is to relax in our successes and achievements, which leads to bad decisions.

The struggle keeps us strong.

2. David Chose to Be Alone

Not only was David living in the luxuries of his position  he was alone. There is an old adage that says, It gets lonely at the top. It doesnt have to be that way, but David chose to be by himself. Even though other kings were out at battle, he stayed back in Jerusalem. While his Mighty Men (including Uriah, Bathshebas husband, and Eliam, her father) were away fighting, David was in his palace near their vulnerable wives and daughters.

It was no accident that David had no one around to know what he was doing or keep him accountable. Why should he? He was the king! But alone in the shadows was where he made the decisions that destroyed his life. Of course, God saw what David did and sent Nathan to call him out, but that was not until great damage had already been done.

3. David Planned to Fail

While I doubt that David drew up an elaborate scheme for his sin like a battle plan, it is clear from the text that it was not just a fleeting moment of weakness or a crime of passion. He planned to fail. Or at least he did not plan to succeed  and a failure to plan is a plan to fail.

David was alone at a time and place that he should not have been, he was not seeking Gods will, and he lost focus on the battle at hand. Because of that, when he stepped out onto his roof and saw Bathsheba bathing, he ...sent and inquired about the woman (2 Samuel 11:2, ESV).

After he found out that she was the wife of one of his most trusted men, he made conscious choices to entertain impure thoughts, have her brought to his room, and follow through with his lusts.

This was not a complicit love affair, it was a king abusing his authority at a time that he would not get caught and consequences seemed unlikely to use a married woman for his sinful pleasure and then discard her in private. David knew what he was doing, and it was evil in the sight of the Lord (2 Samuel 11:27).

Thankfully, David recognized what he had done after the prophet Nathan slyly rebuked him (2 Samuel 12), which led to repentance for his pride, adultery, and murder (as we saw in Psalm 51). God even continued to use him and his descendants for his glory.

Nevertheless, David still had to deal with the repercussions of fear, fighting, disappointment, death, and more. If you think the events so far would be uncomfortable to talk about, it only gets worse!

But the scary reality is that the wickedness that David fell into could happen to anyone. You do not have to scroll too far in your news feed to find stories of politicians, leaders, and even pastors that have given in to destructive sin. And it happens today for the same reasons it did for David.

What Does This Mean?

Because of our sinful natures, holiness is not automatic, purity takes work, and victory never comes by accident. So, to guard our lives against sin, we must keep the right perspective about who we are, keep struggling against our fallen nature, and not get complacent in our successes. We must saturate our minds with Gods Word and invite people in to hold us accountable and encourage us to do good works.

We must put practical plans in place to keep our minds, hearts, and bodies pure with prayer and Bible reading, giving others access to our lives, using filters and software like Covenant Eyes on our devices, scheduling checkpoints with an accountability partner, and putting up barriers to limit our exposure to whatever tempts us the most.

We are in a battle for our souls, and God wants us to live victoriously. That is why we see helpful truths in Scripture like these words from Paul to young Timothy:

...if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart (2 Timothy 2:21-23, ESV).

May we take to heart the instructions that Paul gave to the Romans:

...present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God (Romans 6:13, ESV).

Photo Credit: iStock/Getty Images Plus/Maudib

Robert Hampshire is a pastor, teacher, writer, and leader. He has been married to Rebecca since 2008 and has three children, Brooklyn, Bryson, and Abram. Robert attended North Greenville University in South Carolina for his undergraduate and Liberty University in Virginia for his Masters. He has served in a variety of roles as a worship pastor, youth pastor, family pastor, church planter, and now Pastor of Worship and Discipleship at Cheraw First Baptist Church in South Carolina. He furthers his ministry through his blog site, Faithful Thinking. His life goal is to serve God and His Church by reaching the lost with the gospel, making devoted disciples, equipping and empowering others to go further in their faith and calling, and leading a culture of multiplication for the glory of God. Find out more about him here.
"This extraordinary gift from the Vogel family will have an enormous impact on the health and well-being of the communities served by Monmouth Medical Center," said Barry H. Ostrowsky, President and Chief Executive Officer of RWJBarnabas Health. "The new Vogel Medical Campus will advance medical innovation and expand access to the finest critical health care services. The Vogels' generosity ensures that Monmouth County residents will benefit for generations to come."

The state-of-the-art and environmentally-friendly Vogel Medical Campus will incorporate future-focused and innovative elements that will greatly improve both the practitioner and patient experience. The facilities are being designed alongside Monmouth's expert clinicians and will leverage the very latest advances in medical space planning and technology.

"We are pioneering the future of health care," said Bill Arnold, President of RWJBarnabas Health's Southern Region, which in addition to Monmouth Medical Center includes Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood and Community Medical Center in Toms River. "Advanced technologies, expansive diagnostic services and innovative research are the hallmarks of today's smart, future-ready health care delivery model. Our ultimate goal is to deliver an unparalleled patient experience."

The Vogels' connection to Long Branch spans generations. Growing up, Mr. Vogel's family owned a popular department store in town, and Mrs. Vogel's father served as Chief of Police. The couple, who were each born at Monmouth Medical Center, have maintained deep connections and entrust the hospital for all of their medical care.

"We know and love Monmouth Medical Center, from the administration and hospital leadership to the doctors and nurses leading the day-to-day charge," said Mrs. Vogel. "Sheldon and I have every confidence that the plans being made here will continue to advance exceptional care for this community's next generation."

As Chief Financial Officer at Atlantic Records, Mr. Vogel gained unique perspective on how the digitization of music dramatically changed the industry. He draws parallels between that experience and today's emerging trends in health care delivery, such as telemedicine and ambulatory care. His deep understanding that the future of health care is dependent on investment in infrastructure and technology is what drove the couple to invest in Monmouth Medical Center.

"The speed of health care innovation is astonishing," said Mr. Vogel. "Health care transformation requires investment. Our gift will ensure that Monmouth Medical Center will continue to meet the evolving health care needs of our neighbors and friends right here in Monmouth County."

"Fostering innovation in our hospitals and strengthening health care infrastructure is crucial to the health and well-being of our community," said Eric Carney, President and Chief Executive Officer of Monmouth Medical Center. "We are so thankful to Anne and Sheldon Vogel as our partners in recognizing this reality. Their gift is an incredible investment in our future."

To learn more about how you can support Monmouth Medical Center, contact the Monmouth Medical Center Foundation here: https://www.rwjbh.org/monmouth-medical-center/giving/.

About Monmouth Medical Center:

Monmouth Medical Center, an RWJBarnabas Health (RWJBH) facility, along with The Unterberg Children's Hospital, is a regional teaching campus for Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. As the first hospital in Monmouth and Ocean counties, Monmouth Medical Center offers the most experienced surgeons in robotics and other minimally invasive procedures as well as bariatric and joint and spine surgery. Monmouth Medical Center delivers more babies annually than all other hospitals in Monmouth and Ocean counties combined and the fourth most in the state and was recently one of nine New Jersey hospitals recognized by Newsweek magazine as a top maternity hospital. The hospital offers access to the region's top cardiologists and the award-winning, nationally recognized RWJBarnabas heart centers. The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) has conferred Magnet recognition for Monmouth Medical Center as a reflection of its nursing professionalism, teamwork and superiority in patient care. It is the only hospital in Monmouth and Ocean counties to consistently receive an "A" Hospital Safety Score by The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit organization. RWJBarnabas Health and Monmouth Medical Center, in partnership with Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey  the state's only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center  brings a world class team of researchers and specialists to fight alongside patients, providing close-to-home access to the latest treatment and clinical trials.

ABOUT RWJBARNABAS HEALTH

RWJBarnabas Health is the largest, most comprehensive academic health care system in New Jersey, with a service area covering nine counties with five million people. The system includes eleven acute care hospitals; three acute care children's hospitals and a leading pediatric rehabilitation hospital with a network of outpatient centers, a freestanding 100-bed behavioral health center, two trauma centers, a satellite emergency department, ambulatory care centers, geriatric centers, the state's largest behavioral health network, comprehensive home care and hospice programs, fitness and wellness centers, retail pharmacy services, a medical group, multi-site imaging centers and two accountable care organizations. In meeting its mission of creating healthier communities, RWJBarnabas Health seeks to address the clinical and social determinants of health, improve health outcomes, promote health equity, and eliminate health care disparities.

RWJBarnabas Health is in partnership with Rutgers University to create New Jersey's largest academic health care system. The collaboration will align RWJBarnabas Health with Rutgers' education, research and clinical activities, including those at the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey - the state's only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center - and Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care. To learn more, please visit www.rwjbh.org.

SOURCE RWJBarnabas Health

Related Links

http://www.rwjbh.org


The Louisiana Department of Health reported 440 more coronavirus cases and 7 more deaths in its daily noon update Wednesday.

The number of hospitalizations increased by 21, and the number of patients in need of ventilators decreased by two.

The daily data update was delayed by about an hour on Wednesday.

Here are a few key statewide statistics as of Wednesday:

Total cases: 162,645

Total deaths: 5,225

Currently hospitalized: 592

Currently on ventilators: 94

Presumed recovered: 149,640 as of Sept. 21 (updated weekly)

Probable cases: 1,224 as of Sept. 23 (updated weekly)

These parishes saw the biggest number of new cases:

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Caddo: 48

Bossier: 43

Jefferson: 42

Orleans: 29

East Baton Rouge: 23

Lafourche: 23

Note: The Advocate and The Times-Picayune staff calculates daily case count increases based on the difference between today's total and yesterday's total of confirmed coronavirus cases. The Louisiana Department of Health releases a daily case count on Twitter based on the deletion of duplicate cases. That case count can be different than the one listed here.

You can view more graphs and charts breaking down the data by clicking here.

Louisiana began reopening for Phase 1 on May 15-16 then moved to Phase 2 on June 5. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards extended Louisiana's Phase 2 restrictions twice in August before moving the state to Phase 3 on Sept. 11.

This is a developing story. More details and analysis to come.
Residents of housing association homes and local authority housing in Offaly are in for a warmer winter, thanks to funding streams welcomed by Minister for State, Senator and junior minister in the Department of Agriculture, Pippa Hackett.

Offaly County Council is set to receive 3.33m for retrofitting its houses.

The funding is coming from carbon tax and will be used to retrofit local authority homes, meaning warmer homes for those living in local authority housing, says Minister Hackett. It will also provide a local employment boost as these works are carried out.

Its part of a total spend of 20m allocated under the Midlands Retrofit Project and shared between eight local authorities. Offaly County Council is now commencing a survey.

This allocation will provide for energy efficiency renovations to approximately 750 local authority homes across the region, says Minister Hackett. The funding will also help provide an economic stimulus to the regions most affected by Bord na Mona and ESB closures.

Meanwhile, homes managed by Approved Housing Bodies, along within Offaly commercial and community buildings are receiving energy upgrades through the Community Energy Grant Scheme administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). 28m is to be spent on 39 projects nationwide, including the deep retrofitting of a number of homes, and an upgrade of the Tullamore Court Hotel.

Through this scheme, the Government is helping to deliver three important and very beneficial outcomes, says Minister Hackett.

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.

My colleague Eamon Ryan TD Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment intends 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.
REDWOOD SHORES (dpa-AFX) - Oracle Corp. (ORCL) said that the Department of Labor Administration Law Judge ruled in favor of the company and found no evidence whatsoever of discrimination at the company. 'Oracle is run with equality and opportunity for all of our employees,' said Joyce Westerdahl, Oracle's EVP for Human Resources. In a more than 200-page decision, Judge Clark found that Oracle did not engage in intentional compensation discrimination --wage-rate, salary, or total compensation-- at its headquarters facility during the relevant time period against female employees in the Product Development, Information Technology, and Support job functions; or against Asian and African American employees in the Product Development job function. The Judge ruled that Oracle did not have a policy or practice at its headquarters facility during the relevant time period of relying on prior pay in salary setting. The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs or OFCCP did not show a disparate impact attributable to such a policy on female employees in the Product Development, Information Technology, and Support job functions; or on Asian and African American employees in the Product Development job function. The Judge also ruled that Oracle did not engage in assignment, job classification, or steering discrimination at its headquarters facility during the relevant time period against female employees in the Product Development, Information Technology, and Support job functions; or against Asian and African American employees in the Product Development job function. 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.
Mossa elettorale di Donald Trump per conquistare l'elettorato ispanico in Florida, Stato considerato "in bilico" in vista delle presidenziali.

Il presidente, nel corso di una cerimonia alla Casa Bianca per ricordare l'invasione della baia dei Porci, a Cuba, del 1961, ovvero il fallito tentativo di rovesciare il governo di Fidel Castro con la regia della Cia, ha annunciato che gli Usa sono pronti a vietare l'importazione di sigari e rum cubani e - in aggiunta - proibiranno anche ai viaggiatori americani di soggiornare in strutture di proprieta del governo di L'Havana.

A proposito di Cuba, proprio ieri lo stesso Trump, parlando all'Assemblea generale delle Nazioni Unite, aveva sottolineato l'impegno di Washington a sostenere la lotta per la liberta della popolazione dell'isola caraibica, cosi come di quelle di Nicaragua e Venezuela.

"Siamo con i popoli di Cuba, Nicaragua e Venezuela nella loro legittima lotta per la liberta", ha dichiarato il presidente americano, ricordando che gli Usa hanno gia "stretto accordi storici con Messico, Guatemala, Honduras ed El Salvador per fermare il traffico di esseri umani".

 Riproduzione riservata

(Unioneonline/l.f.)
A 7-year old who claimed she was abused by both parents who brought her to the hospital, told the doctors not to treat her and let her die. There is even evidence that an uncle had assaulted her, and other injuries caused by her parents.

The young victim identified as Yaz has been subjected to years of abuse when she cryptically told doctors not to heal her. When was brought to Hospital de Las Margaritas, in Puebla located in East-Central Mexico.

She was checked for severe beating on the 21st of August which make her said that she wanted to die, begging not to be sent home. Her awful parents would hit her again, if she went home, reported Meaww. Her parents were Alejandra N and Rafael N, who tortured and abused Yaz.

According to a report by the Daily Mail, her neighbor took the victim to the hospital. Without the neighbor's intervention, the injuries and the mental anguish would have killed her in time.

When the girl was checked by doctors there was internal bleeding and a collapsed lung caused by her guardians who kept it a secret. The young girl was mentally and physically beaten who'd rather die from her injuries than go back home.

On September 3, authorities moved to arrest the perpetrators and brought in for family violence and child abandonment for the crimes. A search was on for the sick uncle who allegedly assaulted her. It was not the first time the victim was brought in for injuries caused by parents and others.

Also read: Couple Arrested for Neglecting 12-Year Old Boy While Locking Him Inside a Filthy Room

The young girl suffers trauma from blows and injuries all over her body. Chronologically, she was checked in 2019 and other occasions in February, May, and in August of 2020.

Other reports recounted in August when she was rushed to the hospital because of serious cigarette burns on her buttocks. A skin graft was needed to help the victim. In early 2020 she was treated for cuts on her legs. Her natural father claimed that she hurt herself but circumstances were doubtful, noted Whats New Today.

Many of her prior visits weren't questioned, but the September 3 visit to the hospital shows that her parent's previous claims about her injuries are not true.

Yaz and her ordeal drew the attention of Mayor Claudia Rivera Vivanco, with the help of Frida Guerrera. She said the abused and beaten victim should be taken by the municipal Development of the Family Integrity (DIF) program. It is building a case against the guardians who hurt the child. Yaz had a three-year-old sister who died in June 2020 by accidental asphyxiation as claimed, cited The World News.

Prosecutors said that Rafael wanted full custody of the children and said it was Alejandra who cut the girls. He was denied the request. Guerrera thinks the victim's father took her not letting the mother talk to her.

The mother was the one initially faulted for the abuse suffered by the victim by Guerrera. Two witnesses changed her opinion about the father's claim. It was not known that her father took Yaz to stay with him in July 2019.

Related article: Starving 9-Year-Old Who is Locked in Closet Dies Covered With Vomit Due to Stepmom's Abuse

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Boris Johnson has refused to apologise for the governments gross incompetence as the prime minister announced new restrictions to slow the spread of Covid-19.

Speaking in the Commons, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, Edward Davey, asked the prime minister to apologise for its failures in the Test & Trace system and its lack of clear communication.

He said: "There was one major omission from the prime ministers statement: an apology.

So will the government now apologise for gross incompetence over testing, over tracing, over clear communications that have led to these latest restrictions on peoples daily lives?

The prime minister avoided addressing Mr Daveys question by talking about the governments plan to keep the economy going while suppressing the spread of the virus.

After asking the prime minister to apologise, Mr Davey asked how the government would support those who could imminently lose their jobs and businesses.

Mr Johnson replied by saying the plan was to continue to keep the economy moving" while suppressing the R number, or rate of infection, through the governments newly announced restrictions.

He asked: That is our policy, does he support it?

In his address to the Commons, Mr Johnson warned the UK was at a perilous turning point in the battle against the coronavirus.

He said the government was abandoning efforts to get more workers back into officers, ordered wider use of face masks and imposed a 10pm curfew on pubs and restaurants.

He also warned the new curbs could last for six months, taking them well beyond Christmas and into next year, "unless we palpably make progress".

The prime minister also announced tougher enforcement measures, with businesses facing fines or closure for failing to comply with coronavirus rules and people facing 200 penalties for failing to wear masks where required or breaching the "rule of six".

More follows
A cult leader who claims he is the reincarnation of Jesus Christ has been detained for two months in pretrial custody by a Russian court.

Former traffic policeman Sergei Torop, 59, known as Vissarion, is suspected of using physical and psychological violence against a number of followers.

Two other leaders of his Church of the Last Testament, Vadim Redkin, a former rock star, and Vladimir Vedernikov, have also been placed in pre-trial detention.

The trio are accused of using 'psychological violence' causing some followers 'serious harm to their health'.

Torop is a former Red Army conscript who claimed he was reborn in 1990 as the literal reincarnation of the son of God.

Sergei Torop, 59, known as Vissarion, who claims he is the reincarnation of Jesus Christ, has been detained for two months in pretrial custody by a Russian court

Torop is a former Red Army conscript who claimed he was reborn in 1990 as the literal reincarnation of the son of God (pictured in 2009)

Two other leaders of his Church of the Last Testament, Vadim Redkin (pictured), a former rock star, and Vladimir Vedernikov, have also been placed in pre-trial detention

'Torop will be placed in custody for two months, until November 22,' said Judge Alla Veselykh at a court in Novosibirsk, Siberia's largest city.

The group's leaders are accused of using their followers' money to make profit.

They face up to 12 years in jail if convicted.

The wispy-haired 'Jesus', aged 59, was held on Tuesday in a military-style raid on his Sun City religious headquarters in a Siberian village 2,600 miles east of Moscow.

A picture emerged today showing a suicide note and a hangman's rope - seen as part of the evidence alleging his followers were harmed.

A picture emerged today showing a suicide note and a hangman's rope - seen as part of the evidence alleging his followers were harmed

Torop today rejected the accusations against him which were itemised by the Russian Investigative Committee, equivalent of the FSB.

He questioned the words of the alleged victims, claiming he had never seen some of them.

'I have never seen one of them and I saw another one 15 years ago. In the past three years, three of these people have been constantly creating some difficulties and lodging their complaints,' he said.

Redkin called for human rights organisations to help the sect.

The operation to arrest him (pictured) appeared to involve the Russian National Guard, a force under the command of Vladimir Putin, but also involved the FSB security service

He claimed the complainers had 'mental disorders' and should not be believed by law enforcement.

'I live in the taiga, on the land,' he said.

'There I have a wife and three small children, underaged children. It will now be very very hard for them.'

The operation to detain Torop involved four helicopters and dozens of heavily armed officers from the Russian National Guard, a force under the command of Vladimir Putin, the FSB security service and the Investigative Committee.

Redkin, Torop's main aide who was pictured being carried away by police, called for human rights organisations to help the sect

Videos released by sect members showed masked special forces Spetsnaz officers with combat machine guns at the group's territory in remote Kuraginsky district of Krasnoyarsk region in Siberia.

Other officers were in plain clothes.

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.

Armed troops are pictured during the raid in Siberia on Tuesday, with dog handlers also present

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.

Vladimir Vedernikov (pictured yesterday) was also arrested and escorted out by officers during the raid

'She has to understand not to rise above the man, not to be proud of her independence but to be shy, inconspicuous and weak.'

He is reported to have two wives with six children.

He rejected his first wife, marrying 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.

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

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.
American and British intel agencies, with the help of an Internet security firm, recently located what appears to be the largest ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) online library of material used by the Islamic terrorists for propaganda, recruiting and training. ISIL called it the Caliphate Cache and it contained documents and videos providing detailed descriptions of past attacks plus suggestions about which methods would be most effective for carrying out future attacks, especially in the West. This repository contained over 90,000 items and the website hosting it was getting over 10,000 unique visitors a month.

Unfortunately, the collection was not all in one place but scattered in several other servers and each location has to be confirmed and taken down with court orders or police action. That takes time and this particular setup required the help of people skilled in such matters. ISIL and other Islamic terrorist groups have long called for online volunteers possessing the needed skills to help out. Over the last decade many such Moslems, especially in the West have stepped up.

The existence of the Caliphate Cache was discovered as a side effect of the operation that led to finding and killing ISIL founder and leader Abu Bakr al Baghdadi in late 2019. Many documents were retrieved, and one of them led to the Caliphate Cache and several other well- hidden ISIL websites as well as the methods they were using to keep these assets hidden from counterterrorism efforts.

The core leadership of al Qaeda and its more radical offshoot ISIL have always contained some technically adept people who recognized how the media worked and appreciated how new technology was changing that. It should not be surprising that al Qaeda and ISIL are now heavy users of the Internet, and especially social media sites and encrypted messaging sites. Even though many of these sites do not welcome al Qaeda, the Islamic terrorists keep at it and maintain a presence in high-traffic areas. Much of this is made possible by Internet-savvy volunteers who dont want to blow themselves up but are willing to risk (and it is not a big risk) arrest by working from home to serve the cause and keep al Qaeda visible on the Internet and thus in the mass media.

These Internet savvy engineers are also constantly hunted and often arrested. These men go to prison, are declared heroes by ISIL and that is all it takes to obtain new engineers who are more careful about their Internet security. Over the last two decades these Islamic engineers have become a vital component of Islamic terrorist organizations and are as eagerly sought as other technical experts like bomb makers and financial experts who are able to clandestinely move money around.

This online presence is a key asset for the most powerful and dangerous Islamic terrorist organizations. When the media reveals the capture (preferably) or killing (usually) of one of these communications experts, it is usually the result of a complex online and on-the-ground effort.

American and other Western intelligence agencies have increased cooperation and information-sharing to degrade the Islamic terrorist online capabilities. This pays dividends because Islamic terrorists often depend on criminal organizations for supplies and special services, like people smuggling and information. Many criminal organizations avoid working with Islamic terrorists because it brings down more investigative attention. The Islamic terrorists get around this by providing special services, like security for drug and people smugglers as well as distribution of drugs or assassinations. All this is possible only because of secure (encrypted and well concealed) Internet communications.
ARCHIVED - Final total of irregular migrants reaching Murcia on Tuesday was 225



Five further boats reached Murcia in the early hours

This brings the total arrivals to 18 vessels and 225 irregular Algerian migrants



Five further boats containing 55 irregular migrants on board were intercepted on Tuesday bringing the total of those who reached the Murcian coast within the last 24 hours to 225.



Overnight on Tuesday 170 arrived in another 13 small boats.



The Government Delegation to the Region of Murcia is the official source for this information and says in a note to the press that these were the second batch of vessels to arrive during the day on Tuesday:

Vessel No. 1, Intercepted 10 miles south of Mount Cenizas with 10 male immigrants.



Vessel No. 2, Intercepted 15 nautical miles south of Monte Cenizas with 12 male immigrants on board



Vessel No. 3, Intercepted 17 miles south of Monte Cenizas with 10 immigrants, all males



Vessel No. 4, Intercepted 17 miles south of Monte Cenizas with 10 immigrants, all males



Vessel No. 5. Intercepted in Cabo Cope with 13 male immigrants



Total; 5 boats, 55 immigrants.



All were of Algerian nationality and all were in apparently good health.





These latest arrivals make the total for the last ten days 629:



130 arrived on the 11th in three boats and a fishing boat

225 arrived on the morning of the 17th

49 arrived on the evening of the 17th



This was the list from the first wave in the early hours of Tuesday morning:

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 principally 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
A Holocaust survivor places tefillin on his arm on his arm above a concentration camp's number tattoo, during a morning prayer at a synagogue that is limited to twenty people during Israel's second lockdown

Israel, the first major country to impose a second nationwide lockdown, is poised to make those restrictions even tougher after the number of coronavirus infections approached 7,000 per day.

Some 6,900 cases were recorded on Tuesday, according to Israels health ministry, while the total number of confirmed cases, including those who have recovered, stands at nearly 200,000 in a country of 8.8m people.

Ronni Gamzu, the coronavirus csar, has criticised Israelis for failing to follow the rules required by the second lockdown, which include the closure of schools, many shops and a ban on travelling 1,000 yards beyond the home, excluding essential reasons.

It should be noted that we do not currently see full cooperation from the public, neither the ultra-Orthodox public nor the secular public. We have also seen certain violations of the guidelines and this requires further tightening, Mr Gamzu warned, according to the Times of Israel.

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israel prime minister, has reportedly urged his Cabinet to pass a resolution on Wednesday that will impose tougher lockdown rules, such as a ban on communal prayer and the temporary closure of Ben Gurion airport.

Unlike during the initial phase of the first lockdown, open air markets have been allowed to continue trading, while there are no restrictions on exercising alone outdoors.

Synagogues have stayed open, following pressure from religious leaders, but Israeli officials say indoor communal prayer may have to be banned as infections rise.

Israelis protest against Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu outside his residence in Jerusalem - Shutterstock

Outdoor demonstrations against the Israeli government are allowed to continue, though Mr Netanyahu is said to be in favour of imposing stricter limits on them.

Thousands of protesters continue to gather outside Mr Netanyahus residence each week, and demonstrations do not appear to be subsiding in the face of a second wave of coronavirus.

It came as the Israel Defence Forces said it would set up a field hospital to treat seriously ill coronavirus patients, following warnings that the civil healthcare system could soon be overwhelmed.

There have already been reports of at least one Israeli hospital turning away coronavirus patients due to overcrowding, while the death toll in the country has risen to 1,285.

In Gaza and the West Bank there has also been a steady increase in infections, with a record 1,118 cases recorded on September 16 in the latter area.
Although Mr. Macrons office declined to comment on the report, which was published on Tuesday and based on unspecified sources, Mr. Navalny responded with a sarcastic comment on his social media account.

Its a good theory, he said. I think it is worth the closest study.

I boiled Novichok in the kitchen, quietly took a sip of it in the plane and fell into a coma, he continued. Before that, I agreed with my wife, friends and colleagues, that if the Health Ministry insisted on taking me to Germany that they would never permit that to happen. Dying in an Omsk hospital and ending up in an Omsk morgue where the cause of death would be listed as lived long enough was the ultimate goal of my cunning plan.

But Putin, he said, outplayed me.

Once Mr. Navalny arrived in Berlin, doctors at the Charite hospital placed him in a medically induced coma in the intensive care ward, where he spent 24 days, while also under constant police protection.

Suspecting that their patient was suffering from an agent more complex than what they could detect, they sent samples to their colleagues at the Military Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology in Munich, which found traces of a nerve agent from the Novichok family in Mr. Navalnys blood and urine.

It was also found on a water bottle that the opposition leaders team brought to Germany from his hotel room, leading them to believe that he was poisoned there, not at the airport as had originally been suspected.

Laboratories in France and Sweden have confirmed the German findings that Mr. Navalny was poisoned with a nerve agent from the Novichok family.

Russia has been insisting that it is willing to open an investigation of the Navalny poisoning but that it has been stymied by the refusal of France and Germany to share the results of their analyses, an assertion that Mr. Putin repeated in his conversation with Mr. Macron, Le Monde said. Both countries have insisted that Moscow had all the information it needed from the two days Mr. Navalny spent in Russia before he was evacuated to Germany.
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Linkedin Moch. Fiqih Prawira Adjie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, September 23 2020

Cai Changpan, a 53-year-old drug convict on death row who recently escaped from the Tangerang penitentiary in Banten, had 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 on 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.

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Mumbai, Sep 23 : Actress-politician Hema Malini lauded Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday, for announcing a film city in Greater Noida.

Hema Malini, who is the BJP MP from Mathura, expressed that she wished the film city was located in Mathura, but is happy with its current location because it will generate employment in her constituency as well, owing to its proximity to Greater Noida.

"At the outset I congratulate CM Yogi ji for announcing a mammoth project of building a Film city in 1000 acres in Gtr Noida sector 21. I had expressed my desire of constructing this in Mathura but in his vision, he has adopted the idea & turned it into a bigger & high end project," tweeted Hema Malini from her verified account.

"Being frm films, it was my dream & desire to make Mathura a vibrant place with a beautiful film city which would also make for plenty of job opportunities. The project as envisaged by Yogi ji can still benefit Mathura also as it will be close enuf to give employment to many," she wrote in a separate tweet.

"I am also very happy to note that I will be a part of this mega project that is soon to be launched by Yogi ji. With my background firmly rooted in the movie industry, I am sure I can be of help to him in taking this forward to its completion," she mentioned in another tweet.

Earlier this week, filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar met CM Yogi Adityanath at the latter's official residence to discuss the upcoming film city project.
Gladwin County Community Foundations Flood Relief Fund has been open for over three months and has amassed over $200,000 in contributions, with fund distribution taking place at the discretion of the Mid Michigan Community Action Agency, in conjunction with the Long-Term Recovery Group.

By collaborating with Mid Michigan Community Action Agency and the Long-Term Recovery Group, Gladwin County Community Foundation is being intentional on how we invest funds into the community, stated Terry Brokoff, Gladwin County Community Foundation chairman, in a news release. We are part of a long-term recovery plan that avoids duplication, maximizes resources, and provides equitable access for all.

The Long-Term Recovery Group is operating in a systematic manner to lay the bedrock for recovery in Gladwin County. Gladwin County Community Foundation staff members are serving on various subcommittees of the Long-Term Recovery Group alongside members from other community organizations, faith-based groups, corporations, and volunteers. Long-Term Recovery subcommittees include Financial Support, Volunteer Coordination, Housing Support, Rebuild and Construction, Public Relations, and Case Management. All subgroups hold specific responsibilities, collaborating to serve the singular goal of long-term recovery.

We understand that long-term-recovery cant take place without an organized approach paired with contributions from the community. Everyone plays a role to assist survivors of this unforeseen disaster, stated Brokoff. We are humbled by the support weve received locally, regionally, and nationally.

Theres currently one flood case manager directly serving Gladwin County as the FEMA deadline to apply for assistance nears the cutoff date of Sept. 30. Flood disaster survivors living within Gladwin, Arenac, Iosco, Midland and Saginaw counties are eligible to apply. Assistance for applicants can include rental assistance, essential home repairs, personal property losses, and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by conventional insurance. Residents who have had water access impacted through their private well, if the well was damaged, if the well has collapsed, or if the well is no longer producing potable water as a result of the disaster, could also be considered for assistance under FEMAs Individuals and Households Program. Eligible applicants are encouraged to apply at DisasterAssistance,gov, through the FEMA app, or by calling 800-621-3362. Those who are denied assistance or dont receive what they believe to be the correct benefit amount are encouraged to appeal.

Mid Michigan Community Action Agency has programs and initiatives in place to ensure proper distribution of donated funds, said Jill Sutton, executive director of Mid Michigan Community Action Agency. By collaborating with United Way of Clare and Gladwin Counties and Gladwin County Community Foundation, we are able to put a funding mechanism in place that reduces duplication and maximizes impact in the face of devastation.

Gladwin County Community Foundation is continuing to receive donations at ReliefGladwin.org. It can accept online VISA and Mastercard payments. If you would like to contribute via mail, you can mail checks to Gladwin County Community Foundation, P.O. Box 480, Gladwin, MI 48624. If you have any questions about Gladwin County Community Foundation's involvement in local flood relief, you can call the foundation at 989-839-9661.

 Processed by Kate Hessling, khessling@hearstnp.com
Armed gardai have raided the home of gang boss Owen Maguire as part of a massive money laundering investigation linked to the murder of gangland hitman Robbie Lawlor.

Two men, including a very close associate of Maguire, were in custody last night at Portlaoise garda station, being grilled about a 50,000 cash handover that happened on the afternoon of April 6 at a service station off the M7 motorway near Portarlington.

A large number of mobile phones and SIM cards were seized in the raid at the home of Maguire at Cement Road, Drogheda, Co Louth, and at another address in the town.

Officers from Co Laois, backed up by the Armed Support Unit, carried out the operation which started at 7.30am yesterday.

These are key members of the Maguire gang who have been identified as travelling to Co Laois to hand over the cash to two women two days after the murder of Robbie Lawlor, a senior source said.

Everything has been caught on CCTV, as well as other motorway cameras.

Violent

One of those arrested is a 21-year-old gofer for the mob who is currently on bail facing violent disorder charges, while the other suspect, who is older, is one of Maguires most trusted associates.

Gardai believe criminals linked to paralysed mob boss Maguire  who Lawlor is suspected of maiming in a gun attack in July 2018  are the chief suspects for the murder of the serial killer in Belfast on April 4.

Just two days after the gun murder, gardai arrested two women with close links to Limericks McCarthy-Dundon gang after members of the Maguire mob travelled from Drogheda to Co Laois to hand over the Lawlor blood money.

A massive investigation into the handover and cash seizure has continued for months, leading to yesterdays search and arrest operation.

This garda operation had been planned for weeks and it is hoped that mobile phone data from the seized SIM cards will provide more information as to the actual mechanics of the murder of Robbie Lawlor and the links to the Maguire gang, a senior source told the Herald.

Maguire is not one of the two men in custody last night being questioned about money laundering.

The Limerick women who were originally arrested about the cash seizure were released without charge after 24 hours in custody.

The seized 50,000, was paid to the Limerick mob by the Maguire crime faction in Limerick for their involvement in Lawlors murder.

Gardai previously told sources the women, aged in their 20s and 30s, could be prosecuted for murder if it can be proven to have come from the gang who ordered the fatal shooting.

The younger woman is well known to gardai for offences linked to intimidation and the older woman is known to officers for her involvement with serious criminals.

The investigation into the murder of Robbie Lawlor is being conducted by the PSNI and there have been five arrests in the case  including gangster Ger Dundon and a teenage associate of the currently jailed thug. Nobody has been charged.

Another of those arrested for the gangland hit is Warren Crossan (28), who was shot dead outside his mothers home in west Belfast less than three months later.

Crossan was accused of providing the killers getaway car  an allegation he strongly denied. However, the dad-of-ones pleas fell on deaf ears, and he was shot six times in a suspected revenge attack in June. It emerged earlier that month that Lawlor was murdered during an appointment arranged while exchanging cash in a supermarket car park. The details emerged as a man, on bail for the killing, failed in an attempt to have a curfew lifted at Belfast Magistrates Court.

Shot

The suspect (36) has not been charged with any offences connected to the murder, but a detective told the court the man was believed to have met Lawlor in a Tesco car park in Crumlin, Co Antrim, the day before the shooting.

Robert Lawlor did attend that appointment, and when he arrived he was met by a gunman who exited [the address] and shot him dead in broad daylight, a detective told the court.

This murder is directly linked to a feud between several organised crime gangs originating out of the Republic.

Its a comprehensive and complex investigation, with numerous links to organised crime gangs.

Meanwhile the situation in the Drogheda feud has remained relatively calm since the murder of Lawlor, who was the chief suspect in the feud-related murder of Keane Mulready Woods in January.

Last week the Herald revealed that a 32-year-old criminal who is heavily involved in the feud is one of a number of people in jail in the UK facing serious charges in relation to the kidnapping of two men.

It previously emerged that gang boss Cornelius Price and his dangerous sidekick Ger Dundon were arrested as part of the major investigation.

Mark Kavanagh (32), who is a close associate of the Maguire faction, is one of six people charged as part of the probe.
SACRAMENTO  Ronald Reagan used the California governor's office as a springboard to the White House. Jerry Brown and Pete Wilson tried to.

But now, the governor of the nations most populous state has to contend with massive wildfires, unhealthy air, rolling blackouts, unchecked homelessness, social unrest and the constant threat of earthquakes  not to mention ideological attacks by the president. New headaches arise every week, sometimes every day, all during a pandemic that has led to soaring unemployment.

State executive jobs anywhere come with their challenges to accompany ribbon cuttings and a chance to feed national political ambition. But the pitfalls in California seem enormous, and no more so than under the Gavin Newsom  the suave and stylish Democrat who manages one moment to be a leading liberal figure and at another an unwitting star in Donald Trump campaign ads.

Most governors will experience some form of crisis, former Gov. Gray Davis, who was recalled in 2003 following an energy market crisis, said in an interview. Either a substantial recession, wildfires, earthquakes  that comes with the territory. But I think Gov. Newsom clearly wins the prize for having to cope with the most crises at the same time.

Pundits have questioned for decades whether the state is governable at all. Here are seven reasons why Newsom finds himself with the worst job in state politics.

1. California is too big for its own good

California is a "nation-state," as Newsom and previous governors like to boast. But that vastness makes it hard to govern. Its sheer size, along with nearly 40 million residents, makes it perennially open to suggestions that it should be split into three or more states.

San Francisco is as culturally and economically different from agricultural towns as it is from anywhere in the Midwest. That's one reason rural residents still proudly wave "State of Jefferson" signs in honor of a 1941 idea to carve out a separate state covering vast swaths of southern Oregon and Northern California  a state that would have far greater allegiance to Republicans.

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Southern California could be a nation  perhaps multiple nations  in and of itself. The rugged North Coast bears no resemblance to the Mojave Desert.

"When the lines of latitude cover ten degrees and the topographical regions number eleven, what are a people to do?" asks Mark Arax, a Central Valley native and longtime California chronicler, in his latest book "The Dreamt Land."

As home to the largest number of immigrants  more than 2.3 million of them undocumented  California confronts yawning economic divides and language barriers that can be difficult to transcend. A prime example: Latinos, often on the front lines of essential workers like home health care, agriculture and retail, are suffering the most from Covid.

And despite its homegrown, world-leading tech industry, California has fumbled the distribution of unemployment benefits for hundreds of thousands and left thousands of rural students stranded during the pandemic without broadband internet access.

Within California's solid-blue facade lies a diverse political constituency, as well. Newsom's challenge during the pandemic has been to communicate the importance of mask-wearing to libertarian resisters in Orange County and more rural areas  and to tailor reopening rules so as not to trigger a revolt.

2. Climate change hits the state hardest

The dystopian future that climate scientists have predicted is fully coming to pass in California. Each new crisis subsumes the last; planned power shutoffs to prevent wildfires gave way to last month's rolling blackouts to prevent grid overload during a historic heat wave.

The blackouts were then quickly forgotten amid massive wildfires from dry lightning strikes. More than 3.5 million acres have been consumed so far this year  weeks before the typical peak of fire season.

In recent years, climate change exposed problems that forced its largest utility, Pacific Gas & Electric, to declare bankruptcy. The company's power lines stood for decades in the Sierra Nevada and hillsides across Northern California. But they sparked deadly fires in California's Wine Country in 2017 and then the state's deadliest conflagration  the Camp Fire, with 85 fatalities  in late 2018.

Newsom now faces hard decisions about land use, forest management and electricity supply, with no cheap or easy fixes in sight. And that's before facing the other threats posed by climate change: sea-level rise that threatens waterfront development and the potential for superstorms to cause disastrous floods.

"I do sympathize with the folks in the 'Horseshoe,'" said Michael Wara, director of Stanford University's climate and energy program, using the nickname for the governor's Capitol office. "They did not take the job thinking that this was the future they were inheriting."

A community volunteer checks for appointments and directs cars lining up for coronavirus tests in Los Angeles on Saturday, May 2, 2020.

3. Coronavirus has exposed fault lines

As the nations most populous and geographically diverse state by a wide margin, California has posed a number of unique challenges to Newsom and health officials attempting to combat the spread of the coronavirus. The states sheer size has made managing medical resources and coordinating testing and contact tracing logistically fraught endeavors, contributing to more than 770,000 coronavirus infections  the most in the nation  and nearly 15,000 deaths to date.

This geographic diversity has also brought political challenges as Newsom attempts to govern how 58 counties will balance demands to reopen a range of economic sectors while containing the spread of the virus. After winning early praise for their quick decisions to issue stay-at-home orders in March, Newsom and California health officials have spent much of the last few months recovering from a series of self-inflicted political wounds, most notably a botched June reopening that led to a surge of cases and deaths.

To come up with a single, statewide strategy on top of all that diversity was just extremely challenging, said Matt Willis, Marin Countys public health officer. Its hard to have a California- wide approach to any one issue no matter what it is.

Efforts to slow the pace of reopening and more strictly monitor the progress of individual counties have proven successful in recent weeks, with new cases dropping and the statewide positive test rate falling to 3.5 percent. But theyve also sparked anger in conservative regions such as Orange County and the Central Valley where lawmakers argue an economic jumpstart is desperately needed.

Newsom faces his toughest challenge heading into the fall as pressure to reopen increases, along with the potential risks of the coronavirus pandemic overlapping with flu season.

A man is seen at a homeless encampment in downtown Los Angeles during the coronavirus outbreak on Thursday, May 21, 2020.

4. The California Dream is out of reach

Despite all the wealth generated by Silicon Valley, Hollywood and massive agriculture and energy industries, California fares terribly on some basic measures of prosperity.

Soaring poverty and homelessness, exacerbated by rocketing rents and a dearth of affordable homes, offer grim counterpoints to the California portrayed by Newsom and other Democrats as Americas shining star. Images of desperate Californians living in the streets, at times under conditions reminiscent of refugee camps, underscore the complex and intractable crisis.

Newsom's campaign pledge to create millions of new housing units has run into the hard realities of regulations, local opposition and environmental restrictions. High-profile housing bills have faltered during the first two legislative years of Newsom's governorship.

This is a difficult, complex challenge that takes political will to prioritize these things, said Carol Galante, faculty director of the Terner Center for Housing Innovation at UC Berkeley. At its core, it really is the underbuilding in my view, and thats a huge political problem to fix.

The state has attempted to offset income inequality  California has the most billionaires of any U.S. state by far  with a progressive tax structure that relies heavily on the highest earners.

But the pandemic recession has still cut into state resources while threatening to push huge numbers of financially ailing Californians out of their homes  an eviction and foreclosure catastrophe that could deepen Californias existing housing crisis. Newsom signed a stopgap eviction halt, but no one sees it as a long-term solution.

His administration has used federal dollars to house more homeless people; advocates are closely watching to see if that progress is sustainable. Looking ahead, Galante warned that policymakers cannot take our foot off the gas on housing production, noting that after the Great Recession, rents spiked even as the economy recovered.

Demonstrators kneel in a moment of silence in Long Beach, Calif., on Sunday, May 31, 2020.

5. California hasn't solved racial inequality

California leaders are quick to highlight the states unique diversity as a driving force behind its status as an economic and cultural powerhouse. But state lawmakers and public officials have also struggled to reverse persistent racial inequalities in health, education and public safety.

Decades after historic protests in Los Angeles sparked conversations about racial injustice in policing  and in society as a whole  toward Black Californians, the law enforcement killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the disproportionate impact of the coronavirus pandemic on people of color has again pushed inequality to the forefront of conversations here. Major cities have seen demonstrations throughout the summer, and a handful of bills that would shift the dynamic passed the Legislature, including a November ballot measure that would reinstate affirmative action.

While African Americans comprise just 6 percent of Californias population, they represent nearly 16 percent of all arrests and constitute at least 25 percent of both the jail and prison populations. Blacks and Latinos in California also disproportionally suffer from chronic illnesses related to the quality of life, like asthma and diabetes, and are more likely to work in low wage jobs that are classified as essential, contributing factors to high coronavirus infection and death rates among these groups.

California leaders are still struggling to communicate with millions of residents, and more than 44 percent of Californians speak a language other than English at home. Such diversity is celebrated in the state, but language barriers also make it challenging to communicate public warnings during coronavirus and wildfires. They also hurt access to public and health services.

Nowhere is racial inequality more present than in homelessness. Nearly 40 percent of Californias more than 150,000 homeless are Black, a number expected to grow in the wake of an economic downturn.

Mark Ridley-Thomas, a Los Angeles County supervisor and former state legislator who has been a leading voice for the Black community, praised Newsom for making homelessness a top priority of his administration. But he warned that addressing systemic inequality will be no easy task.

It is not for the faint of heart, he said. If you lack resolve, don't show up because these issues will test everything you have.

President Donald Trump listens as California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a wildfire briefing at Sacramento McClellan Airport, in McClellan Park, Calif., Monday, Sept. 14, 2020.

6. Like it or not, California needs Trump

Shepherding California through a pandemic and catastrophic wildfires has forced Newsom to constantly walk a political tightrope. Newsoms Democratic base despises Trump and recoils from any positive words for the president. But California needs federal assistance to endure repeated catastrophes, and Newsom has clearly calculated that getting that help is worth strategically setting the enmity aside.

Particularly as California grapples with the coronavirus, Newsom has diligently avoided publicly criticizing Trump and has regularly offered up praise. That has led to the astonishing sight of resistance hero Newsom in Trump campaign spots, praising the president for delivering aid to California.

Even as he has tried to avoid antagonizing Trump, Newsom has tried to tend to those political imperatives. In the space of a few weeks, he used a Democratic National Convention speech to assail Trumps threats over wildfires and then gave the president the benefit of the doubt in remarks to reporters; he respectfully urged Trump to think about climate change during a wildlfire tour this week and then fundraised off of having confronted him.

Meanwhile, Newsom's ex-wife, Kimberly Guilfoyle, made headlines at the Republican National Convention with a booming speech blasting California as "a land of discarded heroin needles in parks, riots in streets and blackouts in homes." Since her split with Newsom, Guilfoyle became a conservative television personality and began dating Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr.

The State Capitol, in Sacramento, Calif.

7. Governors walk a narrow tightrope in a big tent

In liberal California, Democrats are the only game in town. They control every statewide office and wield Republican-proof supermajorities in the Legislature  and that adds up to big ambitions for progressive Democrats and their allies in organized labor.

Despite the national caricature of Newsom as a starry-eyed San Francisco liberal, in California hes always been seen as more of a business-friendly centrist. He also has deep ties to a technology industry that has increasingly clashed with unions. That means Newsom is constantly trying to balance those constituencies as he faces decisions that will inevitably frustrate someone.

"I think its fair to say that organized labor has done a very good job of becoming influential in California and that business has done a good job of becoming un-influential over time and you have to appreciate the position the governor is in," said Jim Wunderman, CEO of a business coalition called the Bay Area Council. This is a really important point were at now because the business position is not good," he added.

The shifting fortunes of Big Tech offer a prime example. Gig economy firms like Uber and Doordash are under intense pressure from organized labor, which championed a law that could upend their business models by forcing them to treat drivers as employees rather than independent contractors. Newsom has consistently advocated for a deal that could placate both sides by bridging the contractor-employee dichotomy, and he has stayed neutral on a tech-funded ballot initiative to get out from under the sweeping labor law.

A pandemic-induced recession has intensified those tensions. Democratic mayors, unions and liberal activists have pushed Newsom to raise taxes; business groups have warned that could derail a stuttering economy recovery. Newsom charted a middle course last week when he backed a labor-backed initiative to raise commercial property taxes, but Newsom also flatly rejected a union campaign to raise taxes on the most affluent Californians.

Theres this tremendous chasm and theres really no way to fit in between it without falling into it, Wunderman said. The tech industry has the benefit of knowing him and he understand the future is going to be different, but at the same time I do think he has a very focused concern on the plight of people and wants to be the governor who ensure the little guy isnt getting screwed over.

Carla Marinucci and Victoria Colliver contributed to this report.
Press Release

September 23, 2020 De Lima slams Duterte admin for depriving 91,000 senior citizens of social pension Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima is dismayed by the move of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to cut the budget of the Department of Social Welfare and Development's (DSWD) Social Pension (SocPen) program which may prevent 91,000 senior citizens from receiving their social pension for 2021. De Lima, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development, laments how the Duterte government is disregarding the needs and concerns of senior citizens instead of promoting their rights and welfare. "It pains me to learn that the DBM slashed P816.065 million from the budget of DSWD's Social Pension (SocPen) program thereby depriving 91,000 indigent senior citizens, under the DSWD's 'wait-listed' beneficiaries, of their monthly pension assistance," she said in her Dispatch from Crame No. 914. "Sa gitna ng pandemya at krisis, tila ba napakadali sa gobyernong Duterte na iwanan sa ere ang nasasantabi na nga, gaya ng mga senior citizens," she added. In a recent hearing of the House Committee on Appropriations, Assistant Secretary Glenda Relova reportedly claimed that they initially requested over P24 billion to cover more than 3.7 million indigent senior citizens for the said program but the DBM only granted P23.187 billion, a deficit of over P816 million. If the P816 million will not be given to them, Relova claimed that they cannot include for the 2021 budget the 91,000 waitlisted senior citizens. The lady Senator from Bicol then questioned how Mr. Duterte can continue to turn a blind eye to the helpless and hapless situation of our elderly. "Habang patuloy na tinatabas ang mga serbisyo para sa mga bulnerableng sektor, heto naman ang mga pet agencies ni Ginoong Duterte na patuloy ang paglobo ng budget, na ang iba naman ay nauuwi sa kupit, hindi sa COVID-19," she said. If Duterte has any concern for the elderly at all, De Lima said she believes that he can spare a portion of his billions of confidential and intelligence funds or any other of his discretionary funds for them. "Kung may tunay na malasakit, magagawan ito ng paraan. Ang problema, ang administrasyong ito, puro pasakit. Maawa naman kayo!," said De Lima. "In the words of Pope Francis, the elderly are a treasure of our society. Hindi matatawaran ang ambag nila sa ating lipunan. Kaya sana naman ay alagaan sila at hindi pabayaan, lalo na ngayong panahon ng pandemya. Wag lang "seen" nyo - kundi seryosohin nyo - ang mga seniors," she added. De Lima, a human rights and social justice champion, sponsored and co-authored Republic Act No. 11350 which creates the National Commission of Senior Citizens, a new agency dedicated to the promotion of the rights and welfare of senior citizens. She is also the author of a bill which sought to give additional cash gifts of P10,000 to senior citizens who reach the age of 80 and 90, aside from the P100,000 they receive when they turn 100 years old.
- Dr Shadrach Dare, a Ghanaian young man has recounted his journey to becoming both a doctor and a nurse

- According to him, it all started with a dilemma he faced in 2007 when he was granted admission to both UCC & UG

- In an interesting turn of events, he pursued Nursing at UCC & later got a doctorate degree in Public Health upon winning a Commonwealth Scholarship

Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

Shadrach Dare, a gentleman who was born and bred in Ghana, has revealed that he became both a doctor and a nurse from an interesting turn of events.

In a post sighted by YEN.com.gh on his personal Facebook handle, Shadrach indicated that his journey to becoming both started with a confusion in 2007.

According to Dr Dare, he got admission to both University of Ghana (UG) and the University of Cape Coast (UCC) in 2007 when he became unsure which way to turn to.

READ ALSO: Afi Antonio Foundation trains widows, dropouts & more to start own businesses

See post below:

UG offered Shadrach Biological Sciences which could have led him into Medicine depending on his performance after the first year whilst UCC gave him Nursing.

"So I 'settled' for Nursing at UCC. But in Nursing School I made a resolution: to be the best nurse possible" Shadrach recalls.

Subsequently, Shadrach graduated top of his class and won a Commonwealth Scholarship to pursue a Master of Public Health at Glasgow after his national service.

Right after the master's degree, the young man who graduated top of his class again won another Commonwealth Scholarship for a PhD Public Health and graduated at age 28.

READ ALSO: Australian High Commissioner drenched heavily in rain while cleaning dirty beach in Ghana in video

"Today I am a Nurse and a Doctor of Public Health. I did not have to choose to be a nurse or doctor. I became both," he adds.

Ghanaian who was confused whether to become a doctor or nurse ends up becoming both Source: Shadrach Dare

Source: UGC

In an equally exciting report by YEN.com.gh, Paris McKenzie, a beautiful Black girl who is only 16, has started her own enterprise in the fashion industry and it is already making history.

According to a report sighted by YEN.com.gh on Blackbusiness.com, Paris becomes the youngest Black owner of a beauty supply business.

Paris' business was met with great applause on social media as many Black-owned fashion businesses have reportedly folded in recent times.

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
The on Wednesday asked the Centre to take a decision within two weeks on the complaint against a media house for broadcasting shows related to the ' mob lynching' in Maharashtra on April 16.

Justice Navin Chawla directed the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to consider the petitioner's complaint of May 5 and take a decision on it within two weeks.

With the direction, the court disposed of the plea by a lawyer -- Amrish Ranjan Pandey -- who alleged that the shows aired on the incident by the media house "tried to promote communal attitudes in the country".

"The show's were offensive against good taste or decency. It was intended to encourage or incite violence," the petition claimed.

Pandey, represented by advocate K C Mittal, also alleged that migrant gatherings at Bandra in Mumbai were given the tag of a conspiracy in another programme by the same media house.

The petition, filed through advocate Joby P Varghese, contended that the shows/programs on these incidents were in absolute violation of the rules of Programme Code prescribed under the Cable Television Regulations and also the Uplinking and Downlinking guidelines issued by the ministry.

It further contended that despite the alleged violations, no action taken by the ministry.

The ministry also did not take any action till date on the May 5 complaint by Pandey seeking cancellation of license of the media house, the petition 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.)
SPOKANE, Wash., Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Spiceology, Inc., the privately held, fastest-growing spice company in America, today announced the closing of a $4.7 million round of financing, led by retail and grocery executive Ty Bennett, with participation by the Cowles Company, Kickstart Funds III & IV and a collection of angel investors. In addition, Roger Landrum has joined the company as senior vice president of Global Supply Chain & Operations, and Spiceology was named to the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in America for the second straight year.

"Spiceology's formula is focusing on quality and innovation at scale. By doing so, we're bringing life into a very tired category that's sorely in need of a fresh alternative," said Chip Overstreet, president & CEO of Spiceology. "There's nothing more core to our lives than eating, and we bring smiles to people's faces when they realize how much better every meal can be with a simple sprinkle of Spiceology goodness. This capital injection, and the addition of world-class talent like Roger, will help us continue to scale and get our products into the hands of more chefs and consumers in the US and around the world."

Spiceology will use the funds to bring process automation to its SpiceLab operations, and to further fuel its sales and marketing efforts. The SpiceLab is where innovative Spiceology blends get formulated and packaged into different types of containers with Spiceology's trademarked "Periodic Table of Flavor" packaging.

"I have been an investor in Spiceology since the early days and had the privilege of watching the company elevate above the thousands of small spice purveyors in the market," said Ty Bennett, founder and former CEO of Jacent, acquired by PE firm Gridiron in May of 2019. "I look forward to bringing my retail and grocery experience to the table to help Spiceology continue to delight customers and find new ways of meeting customers where they shop." Bennett has also joined Spiceology's Board of Directors.

With deeper focus on increasing production capacity, the company has also brought on Roger Landrum to drive operations. Landrum was formerly the senior director of supply chain, risk management & procurement at Litehouse Foods, a $300M food manufacturer known for its fresh salad dressings and fresh herbs. Prior, he spent 12 years at ConAgra as a founding member of ConAgra's strategic sourcing department. Landrum brings 10 years of operations and supply chain experience in consumer packaging at Weyerhaeuser and Temple-Inland corporations. Landrum served two tours of duty in Iraq and has received multiple medals for leadership that include a bronze star as an infantry invasion force commander. He holds a BS in Education, Macroeconomics and History from the University of Tennessee Knoxville, and a master's degree in business with a focus on business statistics and math from Troy University.

"Chefs and consumers have made it very clear that quality matters, and that they won't tolerate spices and blends with additives and fillers," said Landrum. "Spiceology's commitments to 'grind fresh, ship fresh' and 'no funky stuff' are key to our strategy, our brand and our success, and I couldn't be more excited to have the opportunity to scale our operations in support of these central pillars."

Spiceology continues to be the fastest-growing spice company in the United States. In August, Spiceology was named to Inc. Magazine's "Inc. 5000 Fastest-Growing Private Companies in America" for the second year in a row, climbing up to #1,081 on the list.

For more information on Spiceology, please visit Spiceology.com , or on Facebook and Instagram .

ABOUT SPICEOLOGY

Chef-owned and operated, Spiceology was named the fastest-growing private spice company in the US by Inc Magazine in both 2019 and 2020. Founded in 2013, the company established itself early with innovative blends like Black & Bleu, Greek Freak and Smoky Honey Habanero, but now offers more than 300 premium spices, herbs, salts, chilis, blends, confections, fruit & vegetable powders and modernist ingredients. Chefs and consumers fall in love with Spiceology because of the beauty and organization of the Periodic Table of Flavor packaging, but they buy because of the innovative blends and the incredible quality that comes from the company's "grind fresh, ship fresh" ethos. Spiceology is sold direct to consumers and chefs across the US & Canada, and has customers reaching from Australia to Dubai. Please check us out at www.spiceology.com .

Contact: Cassidy Levine, Havas Formula, (619) 234-0345, [email protected]

SOURCE Spiceology
Renewed Calls for Ottawa to End Arms Sales to Saudi Arabia

Complexity added by proxy war in Yemen between Iran-backed rebels and Saudi-led forces backing internationally recognized government

News Analysis

Ottawa has received new calls to suspend arms sales to Saudi Arabia after a U.N. report named Canada as one of the western powers that have enabled the armed conflict in Yemen.

But such a move would change little, as suppliers could just relocate to the United States, one expert says. The nuance of the situation in the war-torn country where a Saudi-led coalition is fighting a proxy war with Iran adds further complexity.

Yemen has been a location of intense fighting for the past six years. A Saudi-led coalition, which has the support of the United States and U.K., backs the internationally recognized government based in the south, while a Houthi-armed movement backed by Iran controls the capital Sanaa.

The U.N. report said that third states have helped to perpetuate the conflict by continuing to supply parties with weapons.

We are particularly concerned with the fact that third states continue to supply arms to the parties to the conflict in Yemen, Ardi Imseis, law professor at Queens University and a member of the three-person panel who issued the report, says in a video on the U.N.s website.

There are a few leading players in that: the United States, France, the United Kingdom, and this year we added Canada because there has been an uptick in arms sales by the Canadians in 2019.

Last year, Canada exported nearly $2.9 billion of military equipment to Saudi Arabia, almost entirely consisting of light armoured vehicles (LAVs) made in London, Ont., by a subsidiary of U.S. defence contractor General Dynamics Corporation. The shipments were part of a $14 billion contract brokered by the Harper Conservatives in 2014. Trudeaus Liberal government then gave final approval in 2016 when it issued export permits covering 70 percent of the deal.

After journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul in October 2018, the next month Canada suspended approvals of new arms export permits to Saudi Arabia pending a review. Then in December that year, Trudeau said his government was looking for a way out of the Saudi arms deal. However, he said conditions of the contract meant penalties for taxpayers of at least a billion dollars.

In April 2020 the Canadian government lifted the suspension after having renegotiated the contract.

Its a difficult position for the government, because the reality is youre not going to stop the sale of light armoured vehicles to Saudi Arabia, Craig Stone of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute told The Epoch Times.

If the government was to decide to cancel the sale, General Dynamics would just move the production to the States, shut down the plant in London, and sell the vehicles to Saudi Arabia.

General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada employs some 1,850 people in its London plant and thousands more indirectly.

The United States has faced its own calls to end its support of the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, given the civilian casualties of the war.

Appearing before a U.S. House Foreign Affairs committee last year, Dafna Rand, vice-president for policy and research from Mercy Corps, an international relief non-profit, said the coalition has been responsible for direct attacks on civilians, including the August 2018 coalition attack on a bus of schoolchildren and the numerous other attacks on weddings, markets, and food production, agriculture sites, and distribution sites.

Following Khashoggis murder, a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers passed a bill last year to end the countrys support for the coalition, which was vetoed by the White House.

James Phillips and Madyson Hutchinson Posey of the Heritage Foundation believe that cutting U.S. support would hurt the elected and internationally recognized government of Yemen.

The war in Yemen is complex. Those who rush to blame Saudi Arabia entirely for the suffering of the Yemeni people ignore the war crimes and heavy-handed treatment meted out by the Houthis to their opponents and the ruthless role that Iran plays in supporting the Houthi Ansar Allah  movement, a Shia Islamist extremist group, Phillips and Hutchinson Posey wrote in a paper.

The Saudis are rightly criticized for not doing more to prevent civilian casualties as they target Ansar Allah positions. But the Houthis should not be given a free pass for deliberately targeting civilian targets in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates with increasingly sophisticated Iranian ballistic missiles, they added.

The U.N. report, released on Sept. 9, insists there are no clean hands in the Yemen conflict, which is thought to have killed about 100,000 combat personnel and over 12,000 civilians. Verified abuses include the arbitrary deprivation of life, arbitrary detention, sexual violence, gender-based violence, torture and other degrading treatment, the recruitment and use of children in hostilities, and the denial of fair trials.

In 2019, Canada acceded to the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), which obligated it to agree not to authorize any transfer of conventional arms  if it has knowledge at the time of authorization that the arms or items would be used in the commission of genocide, crimes against humanity, grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions of 1949, attacks directed against civilian objects or civilians  or other war crimes.

Stone says revoking the arms deal is not high on the list of priorities for most Canadians and their government.

Its a significant number of jobs in the southern Ontario region with a significant number of votes and a significant number of seats in the House of Commons, he says.

He also notes that ethical considerations around the subject of war are murkier than ever, as the Geneva Convention doesnt cover issues such as artificial intelligence and cyber warfare.

Although theres international law that talks about just wars and the laws of armed conflict, Im not sure that there are many of those around just on the basis of the kinds of conflict that exist today: ethnic conflicts, race and religion, dictators wanting their own way, he says.
CDISC is pleased to announce Dr. Maria Im Hee Shin of Daegu Catholic University Medical Center in South Korea has been named Chair of the Korea CDISC Coordinating Committee (K3C).

CDISC Coordinating Committees (3Cs) support global CDISC initiatives within specific regions of the world and provide regional feedback to the central CDISC organization.

"3Cs help strengthen relationships with international and local entities as well as organizations in their respective regions," said David R. Bobbitt, CDISC President and CEO. "We are honored to have such a distinguished and experienced leader to represent CDISC in South Korea. Dr. Shin's counsel and expertise bring energy to the region and strengthen the CDISC mission of creation and adoption of data standards for our global community."

Dr. Shin received a BS/MS in Statistics and a Ph.D. in Applied Statistics from Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea. Special fields of interest include clinical trial, survival analysis and genetic analysis.

In addition to being active on the CDISC Advisory Council (CAC) and Asia Pacific CDISC Coordinating Committee (AP3C), Dr. Shin is a Professor and the Chair of the Department of Medical Statistics, School of Medicine, Daegu Catholic University, where she joined the faculty in 1997. She has served as the Director of Medical Statistics Informatics R&D Institute within Daegu Catholic University Medical Center (DCUMC) since its establishment in 2012. Dr. Shin is also IRB Chair (Panel) with responsibility for the Human Research Protection Program at DCUMC as WIRB Fellow, Site Visitor for the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Program, and Lead Surveyor for SIDCER-FERCAP.

Her achievements in clinical research and academia also include serving on: the Steering Committee of Multi-Regional Clinical Trials Center of Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard since 2013; the Research Expert Board of the Comprehensive and Integrative Medicine Institute (CIMI) and Central Pharmaceutical Council of South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety since 2008; and on the Executive Board of the Korean Epidemiology Society and the Korea Data and Information Society, Editorial Committee of Clinical Endoscopy and KAIRB.

The formation of the new K3C was announced at the inaugural 2019 Korea Summit, which was held by Korea's Ministry of Science and Technology and hosted by Daegu Metropolitan City. The event was co-hosted by Daegu Digital Industry Promotion Agency (DIP), the Medicity Daegu Council and Clupea Co., Ltd.

About CDISC

CDISC creates clarity in clinical research by convening a global community to develop and advance data standards of the highest quality. Required by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Japan's Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA), recommended by the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) and adopted by the world's leading research organizations, CDISC standards enable the accessibility, interoperability, and reusability of data. With the help of CDISC standards, the entire research community can maximize the value of data for more efficient and meaningful research that has invaluable impact on global health. CDISC is a 501(c)(3) global nonprofit charitable organization and is headquartered in Austin, Texas, with hundreds of employees, volunteers, and member organizations around the world. www.cdisc.org

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200923005804/en/

Contacts:

John Powell

+1.512.363.5826

jpowell@cdisc.org
The U.S. Treasury has announced sanctions against people and entities with links to the Kremlin-connected organizer and financier of the so-called Russian troll factory behind suspected assaults on U.S. and other foreign elections.

U.S. sanctions have long been in place against Yevgeny Prigozhin and his previously known companies, including the Internet Research Agency (IRA) and the Vagner Group, a Russian military contractor force active in Libya, Syria, and Africa.

"Yevgeny Prigozhin has an international network of supporters to spread his malign political and economic influence around the globe, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in announcing the new measures on September 23. The United States will continue to target the ability of Prigozhin to conduct operations globally.

Prigozhin's St. Petersburg-based IRA initially gained a reputation for its alleged efforts to influence the 2016 U.S. presidential election through online influence operations.

Former employees have given accounts of a workmanlike approach to producing and promoting misinformation through inauthentic online behavior and prodding Westerners into divisive debates online.

Vagner is one of the best-known of several Russian private paramilitary companies that have come into being over the past decade.

Vagner's operations have always been held in close secrecy, in part because mercenary activity is illegal under Russian law and in part because the group is widely believed to operate in close cooperation with Russian military intelligence.

"The IRA conducts operations to exacerbate political tensions and divisions in foreign countries, including the United States," the U.S. Treasury said. "Prigozhin is also believed to be the manager and financier of the Russian private military company (PMC) Wagner, an OFAC-designated Russian Ministry of Defense proxy force, which conducts or has conducted dangerous and destabilizing operations in foreign countries, such as Ukraine, Syria, Sudan, Libya, and Mozambique."

Tens of Vagner employees were recently picked up in Belarus in what was described by some as a suspected Russian plot to contribute to unrest and prompt a crackdown by embattled Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka.

Prigozhin, known as "Putin's chef" for having personally catered an event for Russian leader Vladimir Putin during his ascent to key Kremlin insider, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

Last month, he claimed he intended to collect a debt from Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny and his shuttered Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) as Navalny lay in a coma in Germany, recovering from what doctors say was poisoning with a Soviet-style nerve agent while in Russia.

The State Department in July announced sanctions against five companies with connections to Prigozhin in an effort to discourage his "destabilizing global activity."

It noted his use of "front companies and facilitators" to operate through.

U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller in 2018 bought an indictment against the agency, along with Prigozhin and two other firms controlled by the Russian, following its investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the 2018 U.S. elections.

A Washington Post report in 2019 asserted that the U.S. military's Cyber Command had blocked the Internet access of the Internet Research Agency amid reports that it had again meddled in U.S. elections in 2018.

Based on reporting by Reuters
Melbourne CBD and the Eureka Building (left), one of the tallest residential buildings in the world. There is presently an abundance of properties on the market in capital city areas, but there are very few people bidding at auctions. (Sean Garnsworthy/Getty Images)

Victoria Real Estate Peak Body Urges Easing of Blanket Lockdown to Enable Property Transaction

The Victorian governments harsh lockdown has invited strong criticism from the states real estate peak body for jeopardising livelihoods and assets of Victorians, pushing many families to the brink financially and emotionally.

Following the states announcement on Sept 5 of the reopening roadmap, the Real Estate Institute of Victoria (REIV) called on the Andrews government to reinstate one to one inspection on properties to save the nations second-largest property market from crashing.

The organisation also urged the federal government to initiate an independent review into the states roadmap out of COVID-19 restrictions.

In a public campaign launched on Sept 17, REIV pleaded with the state government to reconsider their decisions on the extension of the complete lockdown of the property market.

Currently in Victoria it is impossible to sell, purchase, or lease a property as physical inspections are not permitted until at least Oct 26.

It is critical that the Premier understands that the property lockdown is hurting Victorians from all walks of life, the campaign statement notes.

The real estate industry, on behalf of all impacted Victorians, asks that you allow real estate transactions to resume in a safe and measured way, the organisation said.

According to REIV, the real estate industry had implemented measures and protocols to ensure the safety of all involved before the introduction of stage 4 lockdown.

These measures included: only allowing one-to-one person inspection accompanied by an agent; disinfecting and cleaning before and after inspection; face coverings, no touching of surfaces during the inspection, as well as recording the contact details of every person inspecting the property.

REIV chief executive officer Gil King said the organisation had made multiple attempts to help government agencies understand that private one-on-one inspections can be conducted in a safe manner.

We are not asking for live auctions or open house inspections. We know these pose a risk, he emphasised.

The national peak body for the industry, the Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA), president Adrian Kelly has also written to Premier Daniel Andrews requesting a loosening of the restrictions on the real estate market.

A healthy property sector has been a crucial support to economic growth in Australia and can be expected to play a vital role in Australias recovery in these unprecedented times, said Kelly in a statement on Sep 15.

Victoria is critical to (economic growth in Australia) as our second-biggest residential property market with 30 per cent of Australian capital cities and 20 per cent of Australias rental market and nearly 80,000 dwelling sales annually, Kelly explained.

Kelly noted that the industry is committed to working with all Australian governments to manage the risks posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and said many jurisdictions had praised the industry for its collaborative approach.

Families With Nowhere To Go

Leah Calnan, REIV president, said the decisions compound the financial stress on Victorians and also have a severe impact on the mental well-being of the community.

We have cases being reported every day where people need to sell their property to get through these financially challenging times, and they cant do so because the government wont allow even a one-on-one inspection, she said on Sept 7.

Emma Nicholls, a mother of 2, is among those reporting to REIV about her familys predicament under the current Stage 4 restrictions.

Nicholls and her husband sold their house a few months ago and were expecting to hunt for their new home, but the extended restrictions make the inspection and purchase of a property impossible.

Our sale settlement is coming up soon, and we have nowhere to go, she told the REIV.

As a family of 4 with a houseful of furniture, I cant imagine how stressful and unsettling its going to be for everyone when we have nowhere appropriate to live.

In an attempt to get together m, Emma started an online petition, which has collected nearly 1500 signatures in two weeks.

The Heavy Toll On Business

Stephen Dullens, CEO of Ray White Victoria, echoed the concerns of REIV, saying the extension of stage 4 lockdown has made the situation very challenging.

Many of our clients had expected to restart their purchase after Sept. 13 when the initial stage 4 lockdown was scheduled to end, he told The Epoch Times on Sept. 21. But with the extension, many of them who need urgent accommodation are left stressed.

The restrictions have also taken a heavy toll on businesses, with Ray White Victoria seeing an 80 percent reduction in sales and a 90 percent drop in listings since the lockdown. The citys auction market has also ground to a halt.

We had over 200 transactions during the first week last year, but the number dropped to 22 this year, he revealed. The regional area is better, but the metropolitan area just stopped.

While REIV has criticised the lack of genuine consultation by the government with businesses in making the harsh decision, Dullen said there were signs of change.

We have had meetings with the state government over the last week, and feel they are listening and considering their suggestions seriously, he said. Hopefully we can see some ease of the lockdown very soon.
The coronavirus outbreak has not only caused thousands of deaths around the world but has caused untold damage to the economy: on 12 August it was confirmed that the UK economy had fallen into recession.

Many businesses have struggled to maintain revenue and relied on the government furlough scheme to pay staff, meaning they could keep employees on payroll but temporarily delegate payment of wages to the state.

Previously, the scheme paid employees paid 80 per cent of their salary (up to a maximum of 2,500 per month) but this has now gone down to 70 per cent, with the employer paying 10 per cent of the salary.

Next month the scheme will be wound down altogether. This made sense when employees were being encouraged back to the office and hospitality was reopening, and supported by Eat Out To Help Out, but on 22 September stricter measures were reintroduced, which have led to renewed concerns about unemployment rates once the scheme ends.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is expected to unveil a replacement for the furlough scheme on Thursday in an attempt to avoid mass redundancies.

But what happens to those on the furlough scheme when it is wound down? Will they be entitled to any compensation if their employer can still not have them back full time?

When will the scheme end?

When the furlough scheme was first announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak on 20 March it was only made available to businesses until 31 May.

It has since been extended to the end of October, but has been winding down since the start of August.

From 1 September, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will pay 70 per cent of the wages for workers placed on leave up to a cap of 2,187.50 a month, down from 80 per cent up to a maximum of 2,500 a month. Employers will also start paying 10 per cent of the furloughed employees' wages.

Then, the next stage will begin in October, when the government will pay 60 per cent of wages up to a cap of 1,875. The employers' share of the bill will then go up to 20 per cent.

Could the scheme be extended again?

So far, Rishi Sunak has ruled out extending the scheme past October.

However, on Thursday he is expected to unveil an emergency job protection plan to replace it, in a bid to protect millions of jobs in sectors hit by the latest Covid-19 restrictions.

Pressure has been mounting from a number of high-profile figures asking the government to reconsider ending the current furlough scheme.

Andrew Bailey, the governor of the Bank of England, has directly challenged Sunak to stop and rethink ending furlough in October, suggesting some sectors, such as hospitality, may need targeted help in the coming months.

"[Furlough] has helped manage the shock, to firms and to labour [but now] the use of it, as far as we can tell, is more concentrated," Bailey said at a British Chambers of Commerce webinar . "I think it is therefore sensible to stop and rethink the approach going forward.

Similarly, Kate Nicholls, of trade body UK Hospitality said the sector will see a ''steady stream of job losses'' if more support isn't given, following the implementation of a 10pm curfew across pubs and restaurants on 22 September.

The government must immediately announce an exhaustive package of financial support, otherwise our sector is facing ruin, she said. Employment support must be extended. The furlough scheme is already wining down and it comes to a complete halt at the end of October.

Unless it is extended for our sector, businesses are inevitably going to have to make staff redundant. We are looking at a steady stream of job losses for six months, otherwise.

Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Show all 30 1 /30 Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus 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 PA Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Staff inside Camberwell bus depot in London, during a minute's silence PA Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus NHS staff at the Mater hospital in Belfast, during a minute's silence to pay tribute to the NHS staff and key workers who have died during the coronavirus outbreak. PA Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Shoppers observe a minute's silence in Tescos in Shoreham Getty Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Firefighters outside Godstone fire station PA Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Salford Royal Hospital Getty Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Salford Royal Hospital PA Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Hospital workers take part in a protest calling on the British government to provide PPE across Britain for all workers in care, the NHS and other vital public services after a nationwide minute's silence at University College Hospital in London AP Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus A school children's poster hanging outside Glenfield Hospital during a minute's silence Getty Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus A man holds a placard that reads "People's health before profit" outside St Thomas hospital Getty Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Staff members applaud outside the Royal Derby Hospital, following a minute's silence PA Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Cabinet Secretary Mark Sedwill, Prime minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak, stand inside 10 Downing Street, London, to observe a minutes silence in tribute to the NHS staff and key workers who have died during the coronavirus outbreak PA Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus University College Hospital, London Hospital workers hold placards with the names of their colleagues who have died from coronavirus as they take part in a protest calling on the British government to provide PPE AP Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Staff at Waterloo Station in London, stand to observe a minute's silence, to pay tribute to NHS and key workers who have died with coronavirus AP Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Medical staff at the Louisa Jordan hospital stand during a UK wide minutes silence to commemorate the key workers who have died with coronavirus in Glasgow Getty Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus London An NHS worker observes a minute's silence at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Reuters Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London AFP via Getty Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Belfast, Northern Ireland NHS staff observe a minutes silence at Mater Infirmorum Hospital Reuters Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Plymouth NHS workers hold a minute's silence outside the main entrance of Derriford Hospital Getty Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus NHS Frimley Park Hospital staff at the A&E department observe a minute's silence Getty Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Mater Infirmorum Hospital People applaud after a minutes silence in honour of key workers Reuters Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Waterloo Station, London AP Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Wreaths laid outside Sheffield town hall PA Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus A group of trade unionists and supporters standing outside Sheffield town hall PA Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus First Minister Nicola Sturgeon stands outside St Andrew's House in Edinburgh to observe a minute's silence in tribute to the NHS staff and key workers who have died during the coronavirus outbreak PA Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Staff stand outside the Royal Derby Hospital, during a minutes silence PA Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus London Police officers observe a minutes silence at Guy's Hospital Reuters Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus A woman standing outside Sheffield town hall PA Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Royal Derby Hospital PA Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus Leicester, NHS workers during a minute's silence outside Glenfield Hospital Getty

While Sunak appears steadfast on ending the scheme, there have been reports that he is considering replacing furlough with German-style wage subsidies.

Government officials are examining whether the state can subsidise the wages of employees who can work at least 50 to 60 percent of their normal hours, the Financial Times states.

The Guardian has also shared similar reports, adding that Sunak has delayed an announcement on 23 September, saying that he would extend four government-backed loan guarantee schemes to November, because he now wants to draw up a wider support package.

What happens to furloughed employees when the scheme ends?

For the millions of people relying on the scheme to pay rent and bills, it is obviously concerning thinking about what will happen to your income when the scheme is wound down  whenever that might be.

Lucy Lewis, partner at HR law firm, Lewis Silkin, tells The Independent: The idea is that employees will be able to come back to work. The scheme is designed so that employers dont need to make redundancies and then recruit a new workforce once the crisis is over  their existing workforce will be ready and waiting to resume work.

But of course this relies on the business being in a stronger position than a few months ago, and for many this will not be the case.

CIPD says that when the scheme ends businesses will either be able to bring employees back full-time or choose one of three options: agreed reduced working hours with some or all staff, furlough staff for a further period (at the expense of the business not the government) or consider redundancies.

What do these options mean for me?

Lewis says of bringing employees back: This is easiest but most expensive option. It is likely to be used by employers who anticipate that they can get back to near-normal trading conditions in the relatively short-term.

There is no prescribed mechanism for bringing employees back to work, but we would anticipate giving no less than 48 hours written notice. CIPD says if employers are in a position to take staff back full-time employers will need to ensure that payroll staff are aware furlough has ended and they should return to full pay (taking into account the national minimum and living wage rates increases from April for any staff employed on those rates).

If your employer wants to reduce your hours, CIPD says this will need to be in writing. They should also be clear about the reasons for reducing your working hours.

Can I be made redundant?

If trading conditions have not improved and staff cannot be taken back, Lewis says the usual redundancy rules will apply including a formal giving of notice and reasons why you are being made redundant.

This is significant because other European countries that have similar schemes in place are imposing restrictions on employers making redundancies. No such conditions are being imposed in the UK, she adds.

On 30 July new laws were introduced that mean furloughed workers who lose their jobs will receive redundancy pay based on their normal wage.

Ministers said the move will ensure that furloughed employees receive statutory redundancy pay based on their normal wages rather than a reduced furlough rate.

The changes will mean those furloughed under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme are not short-changed if they are made redundant, the government said.

Ministers said the changes will also apply to statutory notice pay and other entitlements, providing some reassurance "during this difficult time".

If your business is making more than 20 people redundant (but fewer than 100 people) they must start collective consultation on the redundancies at least 30 days before giving notice to employees.

A number of businesses have already announced that job losses will occur when the furlough scheme ends, including former Pizza Express boss Luke Johnson, who told Newsnight: I would estimate of the three million [on the furlough scheme], at least a million  will be made redundant.

Similarly, the owner of the Premier Inn chain of hotels and Brewers Fayre restaurants, Whitbread, said it expected to lose 6,000 staff members.

Can I be made redundant before the scheme ends?

Citizens Advice says that employees should be aware they can also be made redundant during the period of furlough before the scheme is officially over.

When will I know what is happening?

Employment lawyer Gareth Price of Parklane Plowden Chambers says: A good employer will maintain good communication with their employees  so it is fair and reasonable for employees to want to know the likely status as soon as possible.
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.
OSLO, Norway, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- NEPTUNE SOFTWARE, who has quickly grown to become a preferred low-code application platform for many Fortune 500 customers and SMBs alike, announced that it has been recognized in the 2020 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Multiexperience Development Platforms.

Neptune Software has had a clear advantage as the most native rapid applications development platform for SAP customers, and within the last few years has matured its offering beyond SAP to address the challenges of today's complex, hybrid IT landscapes in a single holistic solution for SAP and non-SAP alike.

"We are proud of this placement and believe this quadrant placement acknowledges our niche origins and confirms a vision beyond," says Philip Gundersen, CMO at Neptune Software. "Starting with an honorable mention in 2019, Neptune Software has quickly established itself as a leading rapid app development platform by focusing heavily on mobile apps, web and PWAs, and offering the ability to develop conversational and immersive applications via building blocks. And this commitment to meet our customers' needsboth present and futureis paying off," continues Gundersen.

Andreas Sulejewski, CEO at Neptune Software further states, "Customer success is at the center of our mission, and we believe this latest recognition from Gartner further validates our goal to empower our customers to drive business results. It's a crowded marketplace with hundreds of vendors and our success lies in acknowledging that while low-code and MXDP is the future, scalable success in this digital era will come to those that can truly bridge Business and IT."

According to Gartner, "Some vendors in this Gartner Magic Quadrant have offerings that overlap with products in the low-code application (LCAP) market. But even a low-code-oriented MXDP must support professional development teams, have the ability to use high-control development tools and enable custom coding. Most MXDPs do support low-code application development in some fashion, to increase developers' productivity. However, the primary purpose of MXDPs is to enable the creation of apps that deliver sophisticated UXs across devices, touch points and interaction modalities."

Gartner further states that "great companies don't just build apps, they build experiences. To do this, they will increasingly need a multiexperience development platform (MXDP), which will enable them to deliver, efficiently and rapidly, distinctive user experiences (UXs) that span multiple devices, digital touch points and interaction modalities."

About Neptune Software

Neptune Software is a global company with more than 550 customers and over 2,000,000 end-users that is dedicated to empowering enterprise IT teams with a single digital experience toolset from which to drive business outcomes. Neptune Software helps accelerate your enterprise application development projects and realize your digitalization strategiesall to increase employee satisfaction, productivity, and business efficiencies. Neptune Software and its modern rapid application development platform (Neptune DX Platform) lets you overcome even the most daunting IT landscapes to quickly enable users with cutting-edge apps that change the way they do business.

For more information, contact:

Philip Gundersen, Chief Marketing Officer

[email protected]

www.neptune-software.com

Additional resources:

Gartner "Magic Quadrant for Multiexperience Development Platforms," Jason Wong, et al, 7 July 2020

Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

SOURCE Neptune Software

Related Links

https://www.neptune-software.com


Webinar

In six months, everything has changed. In this HEDNA President's Roundtable, we will discuss the key risks and drivers for a successful restart to our industry. Payments in hospitality mean so much more than credit card processing at the front desk. In the travel industry, we face some of the most tumultuous risks any industry has ever experienced. Risks of 'going concern' exist throughout our industry - from 100 year old airlines to small B&Bs on the Italian coast, you just can't be sure what will happen in the next six months. We will spend some time discussing how best to prepare for future growth while guarding against imminent calamity.

Panelists

Mike Carlo

Jayson Canady

Sebastien Leitner (moderator)



Webinar: HEDNA President's Payment Roundtable is organized by
Justice Minister Helen McEntee said she would consider giving gardai more enforcement powers to tackle Covid-19 parties.

However, Ms McEntee says she believes the current legislation underpinning the new rules on home visits and outdoor gatherings are "proportionate".

The minister said she has been "assured" the powers are available to gardai to deal with parties such as the rave that took place outside the Oliver Bonds flats complex in Dublin city centre on Saturday.

She said there are already laws in place that make it illegal to organise large parties either indoors and outdoors. The minister also said there is an "element of personal responsibility" on people who attend such events.

"We've made it very clear what is a penal provision and what's not, what is the law, what's not, what we expect from people and what they should be adhering to or not," she said.

Engage

"If there is a requirement for further legislation, if there's a requirement for further powers, we will always engage with the gardai on that, but I think we have to be proportionate here.

"We have to, I think, approach this in the way that we always have and that's working with people, encouraging people to adhere to the guidelines, educating them about the guidelines in the first place and, as a very last resort, enforcement."

The minister's comments came after it emerged a Garda investigation has been launched into a street party near the Oliver Bond Street flats complex.

Gardai are investigating whether the organisers of the event breached Covid-19 restrictions on outdoor gatherings.

An investigation is also underway into the possibility that drug dealing was taking place at the party on Saturday evening - the same day new restrictions came into place in Dublin.

Scenes from the party have sparked outrage among Dubliners who have to endure new restrictions for the next three weeks.

The video footage shows around 100 people dancing while music is played by a DJ performing under a marquee.

Residents in the flats complex have condemned the party and said they called gardai several times on the night.
CINNAMINSON, NJ  Cinnaminson voters who are concerned about the security of their mail-in ballots may find some solace via the local "drop box" that has been put up for the 2020 general election.

On Wednesday, the Burlington County Clerk's Office released a list of secure ballot box locations for the upcoming election in November.



The drop box in Cinnaminson is located at the municipal building, 1621 Riverton Road. Mail-in ballots can also be dropped off at the Burlington County Board of Elections office on Rancocas Road in Mount Holly.



Those ballots may be personally returned by the voter or delivered by an authorized ballot bearer who agrees to hand deliver it to the Election Board. Ballot bearers may deliver no more than three ballots and must provide identification to the Election Board and sign the bearer book recording that they transported the ballots to the office and delivered them.



While limited polling places will be open on Nov. 3, the election is taking place mostly via mail in New Jersey due to the coronavirus pandemic.



The Cinnaminson drop box is one of 13 that have been installed countywide. Thats eight more than the five drop boxes used in the July Primary for Burlington County.



They are all available 24 hours each day through the close of polls on election day. Each location is well-lit, secured and monitored by video surveillance cameras.



At nearly 820-square miles, Burlington County is by far the largest of New Jerseys 21 counties in terms of area, so were pleased that the county has received the additional drop boxes so our voters have more options to safely cast their ballots, Burlington County Election Board Chair Joseph Dugan said.



The implementation plan was approved by the County Board of Elections with input from both the County Clerk and Superintendent of Elections Office. It calls for Vote-by-Mail ballots to be sent to all registered voters no later than Oct. 5, and for the county to immediately begin accepting and processing returned ballots delivered to the Election Board or deposited in secure ballot boxes.



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Registered voters will automatically receive a Vote-by-Mail ballot by Oct. 13 and do not need to apply for one unless they need it sent to an address different than the address where they are registered.



Voters who dont receive their ballot by Oct. 13 or who wish to request a ballot be sent to an address different from the one listed on their voter registration should call the Clerks Office at 609-265-5229.



The coronavirus pandemic has created challenges, but were committed to doing whats required to ensure our countys citizens can safely participate in the upcoming election. Our biggest concern is making sure voters are aware of the changed format and that their ballot will be mailed to them, Burlington County Clerk Joanne Schwartz said. Voters should be on the lookout for their vote-by-mail ballot the first week of October and be careful not to discard or damage it. We also want them to be aware of all the options available to submit their ballots, including secure drop boxes and in-person delivery to the Board of Elections Office and delivering it to their polling location.



Voters should follow all the directions and make sure their completed ballot is signed and placed in the prepaid postage envelopes provided before submitting them via mail or with drop boxes.



Vote-by-mail ballots must be post marked on or before November 3 in order to be counted or delivered to drop boxes, the Election Board office or appropriate polling locations before 8 p.m. on Election Day.



Voters will also be able to track their ballots via the state Division of Elections new online voter information portal, nj.gov/state/election to ensure they were delivered to the county clerk and processed.



Voters may personally deliver their own sealed Vote-by-Mail ballot to polling locations that will open on Election Day in every Burlington County town. At least one location will be open in every municipality and several towns will have multiple locations.



A searchable polling location database is available online at voter.svrs.nj.gov/polling-place-search.



In addition to being open for ballot deliveries, voters will be permitted to vote in-person at the polling locations with provisional ballots. Accommodations will also be available for voters with disabilities, including machine voting for those who are unable to complete and sign a provisional ballot.



Voters coming to the polls on Election Day will be asked to wear masks or other face coverings and follow the appropriate social-distancing guidelines to protect their own health and the health of other voters and poll workers. All poll workers will be required to wear masks and gloves.



The pandemic has forced us all to adjust and make changes in our daily lives and activities. The election is no different, but Im proud of the steps were taking to ensure that voters can still cast their ballots easily and safely, Burlington County Superintendent of Elections George Kotch said.



The deadline for citizens to register to vote is Oct. 13. Residents can register or make changes to their voter registration information through the Superintendent of Elections Office at co.burlington.nj.us/301/Superintendent-of-Elections or through the state Elections website at nj.gov/state/elections.



Residents with questions regarding the drop boxes and voting by mail should call 856-401-VOTE.



Gov. Phil Murphy has made the decision every voter will be mailed a ballot weeks ahead of the Nov. 3 election. The step is being taken as New Jersey continues to deal with the effects of the coronavirus.



But voters who want to vote in-person will be allowed to as every municipality will have one polling location open and a minimum of 50 percent will be open per county. At least 10 drop boxes will be available per county. Read more here: NJ Vote-By-Mail Concerns? Patch Asked A County Clerk For Answers

This article originally appeared on the Cinnaminson Patch
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Electric car maker Tesla is planning to reduce battery production costs by more than half, which would result in a $25,000, fully-autonomous car in about three years' time. While talking at the Battery Day 2020 event, Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk outlined the technology that is expected to make Tesla batteries, the most important and most expensive part of an electric vehicle, cheaper and more powerful. With this, the company expects to speed up a global shift to renewable energy. Musk, along with other executives, detailed new larger cylindrical battery design, material and production innovations which together is expected to cut the cost per kilowatt hours by 56 percent. The new batteries will offer five times more energy, six times more power and 16 percent increase in driving range. During a presentation at the event, in front of 240 shareholders, Musk said that there is desperate need of new approaches for making lithium-ion batteries for vehicles due to the limited supply and cost. The three-hour event, a show-and-tell session following its annual meeting, was livecast from a site at Tesla's assembly plant in Fremont, California. A $25,000 model Tesla car will be much cheaper than current models that starts at a bit more than $35,000. The executives also revealed a number of new product programs that will be launched over the next many years. Tesla, which usually buy battery cells from partners Panasonic, LG and China-based CATL, is currently developing its own battery cells. On the previous day of the Battery day, Musk had tweeted that its own battery cells would not reach high-volume production until 2022, and that it intends to raise battery cell purchases from cell partners including Panasonic. 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. 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.
An Iranian cyber operations front organization thats a target of new U.S. sanctions was itself the victim of an attack that looted its own hacking tools and dumped them on the internet two years ago.

Driving the news: Last week, amid increasing tensions between Washington and Tehran, the Treasury Department announced major new Iran-related sanctions targeting cyber operators working for Iranian intelligence. The sanctions targeted 45 individuals affiliated with Irans Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS), Tehrans main civilian intelligence agency.

According to the FBI and Treasury, these individuals worked under the cover of a Tehran-based front organization known as the Rana Intelligence Computing Company, which was also sanctioned last week.

Rana employed a years-long malware campaign that targeted Iranian dissidents, journalists, and international companies in the travel sector, said the Treasury announcement.

The intrigue: The FBI and Treasury announcements didnt mention that, beginning in October 2018, Ranas own hacking tools  many of which were focused on domestic and international counterintelligence  were mysteriously dumped on the Internet, where they quietly began to seep through the threat intelligence community.

These leaks, which appear highly disruptive to the operations of Irans MOIS, surfaced on blogs, with opaque groups or activists purporting to be behind them.

The group or individuals responsible for the theft, and later public release, of Ranas hacking tools are still shrouded in mystery.

The big picture: The Rana leaks have occurred in parallel to two major evolving trends in 21st-century cyber espionage:

The increasing use of cutouts and other seemingly private entities to conduct traditional intelligence activities, including spy services core hacking and electronic surveillance work.

The intensifying and increasing use by spy services of covert action campaigns involving the hacking and anonymous leaking of data online.

Between the lines: Ranas own work acting as a front for Iranian intelligence exemplifies the first trend, and its very possible that the actions to disrupt MOISs hacking tools may exemplify the second.

Yes, but: Its possible, of course, that the Rana leaks may have originated from dissidents within the Iranian government.

Many of the MOIS tools exposed in the leaks were focused on tracking Iranians inside and outside of Iran, and Tehrans pervasive surveillance of its own people  down to the books Iranians checked out from local libraries  is shocking.

But the way in which these leaks occurred, and the way they apparently intended to inflict maximum damage on the MOIS, suggests that a very capable intelligence service may have been the ultimate architect. That could be the Israeli, U.K. or a handful of other Western intelligence services.

Context: The Rana leaks also occurred during a transformative moment for CIA offensive cyber operations.

In 2018, the Trump administration signed a secret covert action finding vastly expanding the CIAs ability to conduct covert operations in cyberspace.

According to the presidential order, the CIA no longer has to seek NSC review for many of its covert online activities, and the agency is specifically empowered to target cutout organizations secretly working for foreign intelligence services.

The CIA has already carried out hack and dump operations aimed at Iran under these new authorities.

Which hack and dump campaigns have been orchestrated by the CIA remains unknown. But Rana  a putatively private company that is in fact an MOIS front  is precisely the type of entity that the CIA was empowered by the finding to conduct more aggressive operations against.

Moreover, in addition to its focus on tracking internal dissidents, Ranas cyber spying was largely devoted to hacking into programs and databases  like airline reservation systems  that can be used to hunt down the assets of foreign intelligence agencies within a country and government, something that Iran has focused on vis-a-vis the CIA, with devastating results.

Finally, from a traditional intelligence collection perspective, Ranas hacking tools, including its travel intelligence capabilities, would be of acute interest to rival services like the CIA.

If the CIA were able to penetrate these electronic databases, it could then see what the Iranians knew about who was traveling where and when and adjust its own operations accordingly.

The bottom line: The exact hack-and-dump operations carried out by the CIA since 2018 are unknown. But there is a strong plausible case to be made that Treasurys recent sanctions against Rana and the FBIs concurrent release of some of its hacking tools mark the conclusive step in a years-long, multifaceted, highly successful U.S. intelligence operation. Under this scenario:
Indian Youth Congress (IYC) members, led by its national president Srinivas BV, took to the streets on Wednesday, a day ahead of the partys nationwide agitation against the passage of anti-farmers bills during the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament.

In the second phase of the Kisan Aakrosh rally, the IYC supporters had taken out a tractor march from Panipat in Haryana to Delhi on Wednesday.

Also read: Ghulam Nabi Azad to meet President over farm bills

However, Haryana Police prevented the IYC members from entering Delhi.

Thousands of farmers and youth had joined our protest rally. We were stopped by Haryana Police as they used water canons and force on us. But this will not deter us from raising our voice. Enough is enough. Nobody can stop us now, Srinivas said.

The IYC national president and other members were also detained by Delhi Police on Tuesday when they had tried to march towards the Parliament building in protest against the passage of the farm bills.

Srinivas claimed that the new laws would make farmers dependent on corporate houses. Prime Minister Narendra Modi talks about Atmnirbhar Bharat, or self-reliant India, but the farm bills of his government will make farmers dependent on corporate houses, he alleged.

In Amritsar, Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu joined the party protest in support of farmers.

Similar protests were also held in some other parts of the country, including Haryana and Odisha.
Amazon has moved to put clear distance between it and Echelon Fitness, a company that produces connected exercise equipment. Yesterday, the company announced that it was making the Prime Bike, a stripped-down version of its Peloton-esque Connect Sport spin bike. But, overnight, Amazon released a statement saying that Echelon, and the Prime Bike, have nothing to do with them.

This bike is not an Amazon product or related to Amazon Prime. Echelon does not have a formal partnership with Amazon. We are working with Echelon to clarify this in its communications, stop the sale of the product, and change the product branding. - Amazon

At the time of publication, the Echelon press release that spoke about the Prime Bike and Amazon partnership has been withdrawn. And the bike is marked as no longer available for sale -- and the retail listing has had the numerous references to Amazon scrubbed clean. We have not yet been able to get a response from Echelon, and have contacted both Echelon and Amazon to ask for more comment.
By PTI

SRINAGAR: A block development council member was shot dead by militants on Wednesday in Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam district, police said.

Bhupinder Singh, a member of the block development council of Khag block in Budgam district, was shot at by the ultras in his ancestral village Dalwash at 1945 hours, a police official said.

He died on the spot.

The police official said Singh, who was given two PSOs for personal security, had dropped the security personnel at Khag police station and proceeded towards his house at Aloochibagh here.

However, without informing the police he went to his ancestral village where he was attacked by the militants, the official added.

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah and the PDP condemned Singh's killing.

"Very sorry to hear about the assassination of BDC councillor Bhupinder Singh. Mainstream grassroot political workers are easy targets for militants and unfortunately in recent years the threat to them has only increased. My condolences to his family. May his soul rest in peace," Omar tweeted.

"Deeply anguished by the news of brutal assassination of BDC Chairman Khag Budgam Bhupinder Singh. Not a day goes by when Kashmiri blood is not spilt. Deaths of despair are a constant fixture in our daily lives," the PDP tweeted.
Urotronic's Drug Coated Balloon Provides Minimally-Invasive, Durable Alternative for Stricture Patients in Europe

MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Urotronic, Inc., a Minnesota-based medical device company announced today it has received Conformite Europeene (CE) Mark approval for its innovative Optilume catheter in Europe. European patients will now have access to this breakthrough technology.

Optilume combines balloon dilation of the urethral stricture with the delivery of an anti-proliferative drug to prevent recurrence of the blockage. Published two-year clinical follow up data1 highlighted that Optilume performed as intended in both opening blockages and preventing the formation of scar tissue which can develop quickly after any medical intervention. The minimally invasive technology is expected to have a significant impact in the urology community, offering a new treatment option for urethral strictures that traditionally would require major surgery or need frequent retreatment.

It is estimated that over a million men throughout Europe suffer with debilitating urethral strictures2. The condition blocks the pathway for urine to exit the body from the bladder and can result in a painful, frustrating slowing of the urinary system. Strictures can be caused by infections, trauma and other medical procedures that injure the lining of the urethra and can significantly impact patients' quality of life.

Peter Duffy, who has received the treatment in New Zealand where Optilume is currently available, explains, "I was exhausted from getting up all night to urinate, constantly on antibiotics, and it was uncomfortable to urinate; unfortunately, after a urethrotomy, I suffered from a recurring stricture. I'm grateful that I finally found Optilume and can now live a comfortable life that I'm able to enjoy."

Mr. Oliver Kayes, Consultant Urologist, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, United Kingdom, says "There has been a significant need for new and alternative treatments for urethral stricture disease. We continually need to challenge how to deliver the most cost-effective treatments for men with de novo or recurrent strictures. Novel therapies should match patient expectations regarding success alongside accelerated care pathways and recovery where possible. Exciting early data suggest that Optilume can significantly improve success rates including improved durability and potentially fewer side effects over conventional endoscopic dilatation or urethrotomy techniques in men."

David Perry, President and CEO of Urotronic, Inc. stated, "We are excited to introduce Optilume to European physicians and their patients who suffer from this debilitating disease. The technology has the potential to reduce burdens across the European healthcare landscape as a treatment that is easy to learn and can be performed in a short outpatient procedure."

About Urotronic, Inc.

Urotronic, Inc., headquartered in Plymouth, Minnesota, US, is an early stage medical device company currently conducting clinical trials to support global commercialization of their products. The Optilume Drug Coated Balloon technology provides a minimally invasive treatment option for men suffering from urinary tract conditions like urethral strictures and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). For more information on Urotronic Inc., and our products, please visit us at urotronic.com

Media Contact: Justin Hartlen | +1-902-412-5090 | hartlenj@urotronic.com

References:
(Newser)  The US government on Tuesday executed a former soldier who said an obsession with witchcraft led him to kill a Georgia nurse he believed had put a spell on him. William Emmett LeCroy, 50, was pronounced dead at 9:06pm EDT after receiving a lethal injection at the same US prison in Terre Haute, Indiana, where five others have been executed in 2020 following a 17-year period without a federal execution. LeCroy broke into the Cherrylog, Georgia, mountain home of Joann Lee Tiesler on Oct. 7, 2001, and waited for her to return from a shopping trip. When she walked through the door, LeCroy struck her with a shotgun, bound, and raped her. He then slashed her throat and repeatedly stabbed her in the back. The AP reports LeCroy had known Tiesler because she lived near a relatives home and would often wave to her as he drove by.

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He later told investigators hed come to believe she might have been his old babysitter he called Tinkerbell, who LeCroy claimed sexually molested him as a child. He had ruminated for days before the slaying about how Tiesler was Tinkerbell and that assaulting her would reverse a hex she put on him. After killing Tiesler, he realized that couldnt possibly be true. On Tuesday, LeCroy's spiritual adviser, Sister Barbara Battista, stood a few feet away from him inside the chamber. When a prison official asked if he had any last words, LeCroy responded matter-of-factly: Sister Battista is about to receive in the postal service my last statement." Lawyers had asked President Trump in a petition to commute LeCroys sentence to life in prison, saying that LeCroys brother, Georgia State Trooper Chad LeCroy, was killed during a routine traffic stop in 2010 and that another sons death would devastate their family.

(Read more execution stories.)
Mumbai is experiencing heavy rainfall since Tuesday evening. The city received 273.6mm rainfall, categorised as extreme rainfall, which led to waterlogging in areas like Goregaon and inundated railway tracks leading to disruption in normal train services.

Services between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus(CSMT) and Thane railway station are currently suspended due to the heavy rains. Passengers at Sion, Kurla and Chuna Bhatti railway stations faced difficulties in commuting due to waterlogged railway tracks.

India Meteorological Department has predicted that Mumbai will continue to receive heavy rainfall on Wednesday.
SINGAPORE, Sept 23, 2020 - (ACN Newswire) - ADERA AI Pte. Ltd. (ADERA), an innovative technology services group headquartered in Singapore with a track record of more than 35 years, and BreadTalk Group Pte Ltd (BreadTalk Group), an award-winning F&B Group with more than 1,000 retail stores spread across 17 territories, are pleased to announce the establishment of a technology joint venture to develop innovative fintech and digital solutions targeted at small and medium enterprises (SMEs).Highlights:- COVID-19 has accelerated the pace of technology adoption as initiatives to tap new growth opportunities amid the pandemic were largely reliant on digitalisation and technology- The technology joint venture aims to develop innovative fintech and digital solutions, such as data analytics, blockchain-based supply chain financing platform, digital payments, to accelerate SMEs' digitalisation strategy to enhance their business efficiency and unlock new growth opportunities- The first batch of fintech and digital solutions is targeted to be rolled-out by 1Q2021 and it will be deployed progressively across BreadTalk Group's F&B establishments as proof-of-concepts before adaption for mainstream adoption in other industriesSMEs are an important component of Singapore's economy, providing employment for two thirds of Singapore's workforce and contributing nearly half of Singapore's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on an annual basis.COVID-19 has accelerated the pace of technology adoption as initiatives to tap new growth opportunities amid the pandemic were largely reliant on digitalisation and technology. As such, the scale of technology adoption for business enterprises to transform their business models has never been more apparent than now.Leveraging on the combined expertise and resources of both ADERA and BreadTalk Group, the technology collaboration aims to:1. Develop digital tools that offer data analytics, enhance operational efficiency and data- driven decision methodology on issues such as inventory, payments, customer acquisitions and etc.2. Create a scalable omni-channel platform to enhance outreach to customers via new sales channels, integrating operations, incorporating digital payments, facial recognition and designing a cohesive user experience for end-customers.3. Establish a blockchain-based supply chain financing platform with digitalised processes and document automation so stakeholders can gain faster access to financing and potentially lower their costs of funding. With more accountability and transparency, it can foster greater trust and confidence between financing institutions and transacting parties, leading to lower financing and business risks.Under the joint venture, ADERA will provide its knowhow, capabilities and experience in key areas such as digital automation, facial recognition, digital identity, digital payments and artificial intelligence, while BreadTalk Group will contribute its technical and operational experience.Commenting on the technology joint venture, Mr. Lennon Tan, Chairman of ADERA, said: "Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, technology has become an essential tool to overcome operational challenges and enhance business agility.As we adapt and adjust to the new normal economy, both ADERA and BreadTalk Group recognise that our combined know-how and experience can lead to the development of cutting- edge fintech and digital tools that can be adapted for the digitalisation roadmap of other industry segments.With BreadTalk Group's established F&B business presence across 17 territories, it will provide significant opportunities for us to introduce and deploy our fintech and digital solutions to improve business operations and customers' engagement, leading to more proofs-of-concept and accelerating mainstream adoption of our technology innovations.Combining the resources and strengths of both ADERA and BreadTalk Group, we look forward to using our best talents and expertise together to unlock new opportunities in the digitalisation journey for stakeholders."Mr. Cheng William, Group COO of BreadTalk Group, added: "There are vast, untapped opportunities in the areas of digitalisation within the Group and the F&B industry. Our diverse multi-brand operating environment with international presence provides an ideal platform for proof-of-concepts.To this extent, we have identified 3 "pros" to guide our digitalisation efforts: pro-customers, pro-workforce, pro-business partnerships to create more value propositions for stakeholders.Leveraging on ADERA's expertise and capabilities of more than 35 years in technology services, we are confident that this joint venture will strengthen the core capabilities of our businesses and such technology innovations can be replicated to enable businesses in other industries to build sustainable growth in their digitalisation roadmap."About ADERA AI Pte Ltd (ADERA)Serving global banks, financial institutions, telecommunications, and government agencies around the world, ADERA is a technology services group headquartered in Singapore providing a platform of innovative fintech, digitalisation and data security solutions.With an established track record of more than 35 years, ADERA aims to enable our customers to digitalise and enhance their business and operating models to broaden access to new markets, improve end-user experience and develop greater business efficiency.For more information, please visit ADERA website: https://aderaglobal.comAbout BreadTalk Group Pte LtdFounded as a bakery brand in Singapore in 2000, BreadTalk has rapidly expanded to become an award-winning F&B Group that has established its mark on the world stage with its bakery, restaurant, and food atrium footprints. With over 1,000 retail stores spread across 17 markets in Asia, Middle East, and the United Kingdom, its brand portfolio comprises direct owned brands such as BreadTalk, Toast Box, Food Republic, Food Junction, Bread Society, So Ramen, Thye Moh Chan, The Icing Room and partner brands such as Din Tai Fung, Song Fa Bak Kut Teh, and Wu Pao Chun Bakery.The Group has a network of owned and franchised bakery outlets in markets across Asia and the Middle East. It also operates the world-renowned Din Tai Fung restaurants in Singapore, Thailand and London as well as the award-winning Food Republic food atrium in markets such as Singapore, Thailand, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Malaysia.Issued on behalf of ADERA AI Pte. Ltd. and BreadTalk Group Pte Ltd by 8PR Asia Pte Ltd.Media Contact:Mr. Alex TANMobile: +65 9451 5252Email: alex.tan@8prasia.comSource: ADERACopyright 2020 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
Respond to wake-up call thoroughly



The government's free influenza inoculation scheme for 19 million people was suddenly halted Tuesday, after 5 million doses for the target age group of 13-18 were found to have been exposed to temperatures outside the permissible storage range. Exposure of vaccines to room temperatures affects their efficacy as heat can alter the protein content, the health authorities said. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said a report on the incident had come from an external source rather than the pharmaceutical company involved, leading to the agency's decision to suspend vaccinations.



It's regrettable that the private company charged with delivering the vaccines was inattentive in the transit process, resulting in the unforeseeable delay in the free vaccination plan. The first round of inoculations already started Sept. 8 for children aged between six months and nine years old. With vaccines showing effects after two weeks, the health authorities said no problems have been found in that target group but they would make doubly sure. The KDCA said it will wait for the results, which will take two weeks. If found safe, the vaccines will be administered.



To avoid a possible "double pandemic" of flu and COVID-19, the government planned to provide free flu vaccines for 37 percent of the population. A vaccination against the flu could prevent overloading of the medical system amid the persisting coronavirus pandemic. Those 62 and older were scheduled to receive shots in early October. The temporary halt will slow this process down, but many may still receive it within November. One of the worst scenarios that could arise is that of having to manufacture more of the vaccine, which could take several months.



The KDCA should take this egregious mishap in vaccine management as a wake-up call to put safety first, in order to assuage public concerns and fears. It should thoroughly investigate the firm and meticulously ensure the safety of vaccines.


A mother who spent the past 18 years behind bars after killing her two young children has been released from jail.

Louise Anne Scotchmer, from Western Australia, was accused of using a blanket to smother her two-week-old baby Shane to death in 1994 and her 13-month-old daughter Melissa two years later.

She was sentenced to life in prison in 2003 with a minimum non-parole period of 16 years.

Scotchmer pleaded not guilty to both murders on grounds of insanity and earlier revealed she didn't know why she had harmed her children.

She was found guilty on two counts of wilful murder in the Supreme Court and was sent to the Bandyup Women's Prison in Perth's north-east.

Scotchmer was released on parole on Monday.

Louise Anne Scotchmer (pictured with husband and daughter Melissa) from Western Australia will walk free from jail after 18 years after she was convicted of murdering her two children

The WA Prisoners Review Board found Scotchmer had joined a re-socialisation program last year targeted at women facing long sentences to help them return to society, the West Australian reported.

The board sent a report to the Attorney General John Quigley recommending he be 'advised to release Ms Scotchmer to parole for a period of five years.'

'On 14 September, 2020 the board met and determined Ms Scotchmer's release date as 21 September, 2020,' the board said.

While on parole, Scotchmer is not allowed to be with children unsupervised under the age of 13.

She is also disallowed from drinking alcohol, attending any pubs and must undergo counselling.

The mother told the publication in 2010 she had photos of her children in her cell but struggled to look at them on 'bad days'.

'When in this state I will cry for many hours, wanting them to return. It is an especially hard time when their birthdays come around each year,' she earlier said.

'To this day I have no idea whether I was insane or not at the time of the babies' deaths. I have never known why I harmed the babies.'

Scotchmer had also been aquitted of trying to murder her third son in 2000 during a house fire.

He supported her through her time in prison, the board said.
FILE PHOTO: Women look at the giant Olympic rings, which are being temporarily removed for maintenance, at the waterfront area at Odaiba Marine Park in Tokyo

TOKYO (Reuters) - Organisers of next year's delayed Tokyo Olympics will require coronavirus tests of foreign athletes upon their arrival in Japan, but may not mandate a two-week quarantine period, according to draft measures released on Wednesday.

Japanese athletes and other participants living in Japan would face similar requirements when travelling to training camps and competition venues under the planned measures, which were released after a meeting between the Tokyo 2020 organising committee, the Japanese government and the Tokyo metropolitan authorities.

The pandemic, which has infected millions worldwide, has cast a shadow over the viability of next year's Games, even as Japan's new Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has emphasised their importance.

Earlier on Wednesday, Suga spoke to International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach by phone and had a discussion about holding a successful Games. Suga promised to cooperate closely on holding a safe event for athletes and spectators, his office said.

In the draft plan, Tokyo organisers also proposed to limit travel within Japan for athletes, who would register all domestic travel routes and would be transported to towns hosting national delegations and training sites in dedicated vehicles.

Details of the coronavirus measures for the Games were still under discussion, including the frequency of tests, Toshiro Muto, the CEO of the Tokyo 2020 organising committee told reporters.

Muto also said he hoped deliberations with the IOC and various international sports federations would be finalised by December.

Japan has avoided the kind of explosive outbreak suffered by nations such as the United States, India and Brazil, with roughly 80,000 infections and about 1,500 deaths to date. The virus has killed about 964,000 people worldwide.

(Reporting by Mari Saito, Kiyoshi Takenaka and Daniel Leussink; Editing by David Dolan, Clarence Fernandez and Alex Richardson)
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- New rules aimed at keeping homeless individuals out of New York Citys transit system have officially been codified.

On Wednesday, the MTA Board unanimously approved and adopted new amendments to the agencys Code of Conduct that seek to reduce the amount of homeless individuals sheltering within the citys buses and subways.

Generally, these amendments are designed to improve the safety and cleanliness throughout the system. This is especially important as we strive to keep the trains, buses, stations and terminals clean and sanitary throughout the pandemic, said MTA General Counsel Thomas Quigley.

The first rule disallows the use of wheeled carts greater than 30 inches in length or width, including shopping and grocery carts. Such carts are often used by homeless individuals to carry their belongings.

The second rule forbids any passenger from remaining in a station for more than an hours time, while the third rule states that during a public health emergency issued by the state, no person can remain on a train or platform once it is announced that the train is being taken out of service.

The MTA first enacted the rules in an emergency capacity in late-April amid calls to clean up the subways. The agency then renewed them during the month of July before officially finalizing and adopting the new rules at Wednesdays Board Meeting.

The changes came following numerous reports detailing issues associated with homelessness in the New York City subway system -- issues that had been exacerbated and highlighted by the steep drop in ridership amid the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Our customers should not have to board a car thats being used as a shelter. Our essential workers on the front lines of this pandemic should not have their commute adding to their stress during this difficult time, MTA New York City Transit Interim President Sarah Feinberg said in April.

NEED FOR FEDERAL FUNDING

As has been the case at all MTA Board Meetings since the start of the pandemic, the agency emphasized the need for additional federal funding to offset losses associated with the coronavirus and stave off potential service reductions, lay-offs and unplanned fare and toll increases.

MTA officials have said that the agency needs $12 billion of federal aid through 2021 to avoid massive cuts that would be felt throughout the transit system.

Our financial situation remains unchanged from our last meeting, said MTA Chairman and CEO Patrick Foye. The MTA faces an existential threat where enfeeblement is the short-term risk and extinction the worst case scenario.

Without an immediate injection of $12 billion in federal aid, we have limited options including drastic service cuts, lay-offs and borrowing. These are not only difficult options, but acting on them would be extremely damaging to the recent progress of the organization, Foye added.

During the August Board Meeting, MTA Chief Financial Officer Bob Foran said that service on the Staten Island Railway, the boroughs only train, could be reduced by up to 40% along with other subways and buses.

The service reductions could save nearly $880 million annually.

Off-peak frequency on the Staten Island Railway could increase by 30 minutes, Foran said, and bus frequency could increase by up to 15 minutes.

Another large money saver currently on the table would be to eliminate resident discounts, like the one Staten Island residents receive on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, which would save the agency over $65 million annually.
Le Serre Nuove dell'Ornellaia 2018 After a number of dry years, the conditions in 2018 gave a decidedly autumnal touch to the harvest, the perfect premise for a particularly balanced vintage of great aromatic complexity. - Axel Heinz, Estate Director

Ornellaia, one of the worlds most iconic wine estates, presents the 2018 vintage of Le Serre Nuove dell'Ornellaia, the second vin produced by the Bolgheri estate and an accomplished wine, appreciated by connoisseurs around the world.

The first vintage of this prized cuvee was in 1997 and, year after year, this wine has established itself as a leading expression of its appellation, Bolgheri Rosso DOC.

The character and personality, which vaunt the signature style and savoir-faire of Ornellaia, combine promising aging potential and inherent amiability. In this latest vintage, Le Serre Nuove dellOrnellaia exhibits aromatic complexity and beguiling tannins, reminding us of the Bolgheri wines from the 2013 and 2010 vintages.

2018 benefitted from balanced conditions with spring rainfall, abundantly restocking the water table that had been put to the test during the previously hot summer. After a wet spring, the mild and sunny summer escorted the grapes through to the harvesting weeks in almost perfect conditions. The sugar and acidity developed slowly and the grapes, aided by the well-hydrated soil, reached the right dimensions. September saw high temperatures during the day and cooler conditions at night, which enabled the grapes to preserve their aromas. After a number of dry years, the conditions in 2018 gave a decidedly autumnal touch to the harvest, the perfect premise for a particularly balanced vintage of great aromatic complexity, notes Axel Heinz, Estate Director.

Each individual parcel of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot was harvested and vinified separately. After the first 12 months of refinement in barriques, the wine was blended before aging for a further three months in wood and subsequently bottled as Le Serre Nuove dellOrnellaia.

Winemaker Olga Fusari describes it as a wine of great aromatic complexity, a distinguishing feature of the vintage. Amidst aromas of berries, blackberries, raspberries and red cherries, floral overtones of eglantine unfurl alongside spiced notes of pink pepper and licorice. This is a charming and well-balanced Le Serre Nuove dellOrnellaia, well-structured, with a crisp and flavorful finish.

As we wait for the debut of Ornellaia 2018 expected in the spring, Le Serre Nuove dellOrnellaia 2018 reveals the hallmarks of this vintage, while providing intense pleasure by the glass in a promise of joy and evolution over time. A classic wine from a classic vintage that fully expresses the Bolgheri DOC territory.

About Ornellaia - http://www.ornellaia.com

The name Ornellaia is synonymous with fine winemaking and an authentic expression of the beauty of Tuscany. The estate consists of 115 hectares under vine along the Tuscan coastline, a short distance from the medieval town of Bolgheri and the iconic cypress-lined avenue. Ornellaia Bolgheri DOC Superiore is the estates top wine, followed by Le Serre Nuove dellOrnellaia, Le Volte dellOrnellaia and the whites Ornellaia Bianco and Poggio alle Gazze dellOrnellaia. In little over thirty years (the first vintage of Ornellaia was in 1985), the teams dedication accompanied by optimal geological and microclimate has resulted in critical acclaim and public success within Italy and internationally.
The police in Jigawa on Wednesday confirmed the killing of two vigilante members in Gwiwa local government area of the State.

The police spokesperson, Audu Jinjiri, in a statement said the police subsequently raided the suspects hideout and recovered arms and ammunition.

However, he said no suspect was arrested.

During the raid, one of the prime suspects, named Bala Kama of Tinkishi village, took to his heels.

The suspect allegedly killed the vigilante members and is also responsible for motorcycle snatching and armed robbery in the area, the police official said.

Mr Jinjiri said the states police commissioner, Usman Gomna, has ordered a complete raid of the suspects blackspot to check the proliferation of arms.

He said following the raids at Kabaka Fulani settlement in the troubled Gwiwa LGA, the police recovered two AK 47 rifles, 149 rounds of ammunition, five magazines, one magazine jacket and two knives.

It was suspected that the colour and calibre of the recovered empty shells at the scene where the two vigilantes were shot dead are the same with the ones found at the settlement.

The case is under investigation at State CID as effort is being intensified to arrest the fleeing suspects, Mr Jinjiri said.
Cho Nam-joo's novel "Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982" has been nominated for the translated literature category of the National Book Awards, a prestigious U.S. literary prize. Korea Times file



By Do Je-hae



Korean novelist Cho Nam-joo has been nominated for the National Book Awards, one of the most prestigious literary prizes in the U.S.



Her 2016 novel "Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982" is among the nominees for the category of translated literature, according to an announcement this week from the website of the National Book Foundation, the presenter of the awards.



The novelist's debut work highlights the struggles women in their 30s face in contemporary Korean society, in which they still face gender inequality at home and in the workplace. The novel has been adapted into a Korean film as well.



"'Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982' by Cho Nam-Joo and translated from the Korean by Jamie Chang has sold over 1 million copies and has been translated into 12 languages, signaling the relatability of the everywoman main character, whose life of frustration and submission is recounted to the male psychiatrist her husband sends her to," the foundation said in a statement.



Founded in 1950, the annual award is given out in five categories  fiction, nonfiction, poetry, translated literature and young people's literature. The winners will be announced on Nov. 18.



Cho has said that the novel reflects her own experiences as a mother and wife. "I want to make a record of the lives and concerns of ordinary women," Cho said during a meeting in 2017 with the late Justice Party lawmaker Roh Hoe-chan. During a lunch at Cheong Wa Dae with floor leaders of five parties in May 2017, Roh gave her novel as a gift to President Moon Jae-in to encourage the President to renew his attention to the problems faced by Korean women like the main character of Cho's novel.



Cho is among the rare cases of Korean novelists capturing international media attention, following the international success of Shin Kyung-sook's "Please Look After Mom." Cho's quick rise to prominence as a novelist has captured the attention of foreign media, seeing the writer featured in outlets such as the Financial Times and the New York Times.


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Linkedin Ivany Atina Arbi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, September 23, 2020 17:04 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46b5f7f 1 National drug-convict,penitentiary,prison,prison-break,prison-escape,Nusakambangan,Nusakambangan-prison,death-row-inmate,Law-and-Human-Rights-Ministry Free

The Law and Human Rights Ministry transferred dozens of drug convicts from the Tangerang penitentiary in Banten to other super maximum security prisons on Tuesday, following the escape of Chinese drug convict Cai Changpan last week.

The spokesperson for the ministry's Corrections Directorate General, Rika Aprianti, said in a statement that the transferred inmates were those serving long prison terms and life imprisonment as well as prisoners on death row.

Thirty drug convicts were moved to the Batu penitentiary on Nusa Kambangan Island in Cilacap regency, Central Java. Meanwhile, some 30 other inmates, two of whom were convicted for violating general crimes, were transferred to Cilegon penitentiary in Banten.

This is the manifestation of our firm commitment to fighting drugs, said Rika.

Read also: Prison escapee dug tunnel for six months using stolen tools, police say

She added the ministry had previously transferred around 300 drug convicts to Nusakambangan prison island.

Cai, a Chinese national who also goes by the name of Cai Ji Fan, escaped from the Tangerang penitentiary on Sept. 14 at around 2:30 a.m. through a self-dug tunnel that was connected to a sewer outside the prison walls.

The police suspected that the inmate dug the tunnel using stolen construction tools from the prison kitchen.

Authorities formed a team to investigate the case and recapture the escaped convict, who was found guilty of drug trafficking and sentenced to death in 2017.
Facebook removed two networks of fake accounts spreading government propaganda on the platform Tuesday, one originating in China and one in the Philippines.

In its latest report on this kind of coordinated campaign, the company says it took down 155 Facebook accounts, 11 pages, nine groups and seven Instagram accounts connected to the Chinese activity and 57 accounts, 31 Pages and 20 Instagram accounts for the activity in the Philippines. Both operations broke Facebook's rules against "coordinated inauthentic behavior on behalf of a foreign or government entity."

The company released the report Thursday in coordination with Graphika, a social analytics company that specializes in disinformation. Graphika regularly analyzes this kind of activity in coordination with Facebook and its reports dive into more depth about techniques.

In a sign of the times, Graphika found that the Chinese network of fake accounts employed faces created through an AI technique known as GANs (Generative Adversarial Networks). Those fake faces are employed to elude detection, but because their visual signature often ends up with subtle quirks and anomalies, GANs can sometimes be easily detected. "This form of AI is readily available online, and its use (or abuse) by covert operations has exploded in the last year," according to Graphika's report, which identified a dozen GAN-generated images from the Chinese information operation.

"A year ago, this was a novelty," Graphika's Ben Nimmo wrote on Twitter. "Now it feels like every operation we analyse tries this at least once."

GANs examples

GANs examples via Graphika

The Chinese campaign, which Facebook traced to China's Fujian province, included a "small volume" of activity directed at the U.S. election. Those efforts, which began in April 2019 with a Facebook group called Go for Pete Buttigieg 2020, did not gain much traction. That account never added members beyond two accounts affiliated with the propaganda network. In 2020, the network of fake accounts created three U.S.-focused groups, one pro-Trump, one pro-Biden-Harris and one called "Quack Quack" that made anti-Trump posts. The Biden-Harris group found the most success, attracting 1,400 members.

Story continues

Most of the newly identified Chinese propaganda pushed China's interests in the Philippines and Southeast Asia. Unlike some campaigns, the people involved in this activity took steps to hide their identities using VPNs and other tactics. According to Graphika, the network of fake accounts "showed a particular interest in maritime security, especially in the South China Sea." This is the second set of Facebook takedowns for Chinese information operations, following a previous report in August 2019.

The main focus was the South China Sea. That's where this started back in early 2017, with posts about Taiwan. That focus stayed all the way through. pic.twitter.com/txcng0VBUd  Ben Nimmo (@benimmo) September 22, 2020

"In Southeast Asia where this network focused most of its activity, they posted in Chinese, Filipino and English about global news and current events including Chinas interests in the South China Sea; Hong Kong; content supportive of President Rodrigo Duterte and Sarah Dutertes potential run in the 2022 Presidential election; criticism of Rappler, an independent news organization in the Philippines; issues relevant to the overseas Filipino workers; and praise and some criticism of China," Facebook wrote in a blog post on the takedowns.

The other propaganda campaign originated in the Philippines, and an investigation identified ties to the country's national military and police. Two pages in the campaign boasted more than 40,000 followers but others had none or few. Those accounts shared content in Filipino and English about "local news and events including domestic politics, military activities against terrorism, [a] pending anti-terrorism bill, criticism of communism, youth activists and opposition, the Communist Party of the Philippines and its military wing the New Peoples Army, and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines," according to Facebook.
An effort to challenge a Michigan law that grants the governor emergency powers has reportedly surpassed its signature goal and will soon be submitted to the state for review.

The Unlock Michigan initiative needs 340,047 valid resident signatures to put the effort to repeal the Emergency Powers of Governor Act before the legislature. On Wednesday morning, Sept. 23, the group Stand Up Michigan announced it had collected 500,000 signatures.

We did it, said Ron Armstrong, a spokesperson for the group, during a Facebook Live video. Unbelievable .... Nobody believed we could do it and its done."

Armstrong said the signature petitions will be delivered to the state next week. From there, the state will review the petitions for duplicate and invalid signatures.

Were going to push them in this next 60 days, Armstrong said. We know theres an election coming up, we know that they can certainly use that as a reason not to be looking at signatures right now, theres a lot happening, but we believe in November, this has no reason not to get validated with the huge number beyond what we needed.

A spokesperson for the Secretary of States office did not immediately return a message from MLive seeking comment.

Michigan has two laws that give the governor emergency powers -- the 1976 Emergency Management Act, which allows Whitmer to declare a state of emergency and then renew that state of emergency with the consent of the legislature every four weeks, and the 1945 Emergency Powers of Governor Act, which allows a governor to declare a state of emergency and operate under the state of emergency until they deem it to be over.

As Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has continued to extend the coronavirus state of emergency, shes received pushback from Republicans who have challenged her authority to do so without the approval of the legislature.

Related: Whitmer extends coronavirus state of emergency until Oct. 1

The Unlock Michigan initiative petitions language was approved by the Board of State Canvassers at a July 6 meeting. From there, the group has 180 days to collect signatures.

If enough signatures are valid and the legislature takes up the initiative and approves it, the law can be repealed without the governors signature. If the legislature votes the initiative down, it would be left up to the voters during a future election.

The Michigan Democratic Party called the petitions attempt to remove Whitmers emergency powers reckless and irresponsible.

Governor Whitmers leadership during this crisis has saved lives, and as cases rise across the country, its now more important than ever to support the governor and fight back against these frivolous attacks, said Tim Carroll, Michigan Democratic Party spokesperson, in a July statement.

The petition is backed by the Michigan GOP, Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey and other Republicans in the legislature.

As of Tuesday, Sept. 22, Michigan had reported 117,910 confirmed coronavirus cases and 6,680 deaths linked to the infectious virus.

The state is averaging about 675 new cases per day over the last week, which is fewer than the week prior. Deaths and hospitalizations both remain steadily low compared to the early weeks of the pandemic.

COVID-19 PREVENTION TIPS:

In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus.

Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible.

Use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and carry hand sanitizer with you when you go into places like stores.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has also issued executive orders requiring people to wear face coverings over their mouth and nosewhile in public indoor and crowded outdoor spaces. See an explanation of what that means here.

Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

Read more on MLive:

Michigan lists 67 new coronavirus outbreaks and 127 ongoing clusters in Sept. 21 outbreak report

Trick-or-treating, costume parties, haunted houses are high-risk this Halloween, CDC says

Eastern Michigan University to test wastewater for early detection of coronavirus on campus

Michigan charities held strong early in the pandemic. Will they persist this winter?
By Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali and Steve Holland

WASHINGTON, Sept 23 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump picked retired generals for some of his most senior national security posts when he took office and boasts of heavy spending on the U.S. military that he asserts is unmatched in history.

He has made getting U.S. allies to increase their own military spending a cornerstone of foreign policy along with a commitment to walk away from "ridiculous endless wars" in the Middle East that have killed thousands of U.S. troops.

But the Republican president has also ridiculed his top generals, ignoring their advice on some key issues and questioning their intelligence, courage and commitment to their soldiers.

Critics say Trump has used the military as a prop and purposefully undermined Pentagon efforts to remain apolitical.

A businessman and former reality TV star, Trump in 2016 won the presidency, his first public office, while challenging the establishment, including even fellow Republicans. He often, even publicly, rejects advice, most recently that of his health experts on the coronavirus, without losing much ground among his supporters. It remains to be seen whether this dismissive approach, including with his generals, leads to victory in his November election bid for a second four-year term.

This month Trump, who never served in the military, had to battle a report in The Atlantic that on a 2018 visit to France he referred to American soldiers killed during World War One as "losers" and "suckers."

A review of Trumps speeches and tweets throughout his presidency and interviews with aides and military officials show a contradictory and steadily deteriorating relationship, with Trump sometimes gushing with praise for his generals and other times portraying them as incompetent.

Trump likes to say he pays more attention to the rank-and-file.

"I learn more sometimes from soldiers, whats going on, than I do from generals. I do. I hate to say it. I tell the generals all the time," Trump told a convention of conservatives in 2019.

When he was accused of disparaging service members this month, Trump returned to the same theme and denied any wrongdoing.

"I'm not saying the military's in love with me. The soldiers are," he told reporters. "The top people in the Pentagon probably arent because they want to do nothing but fight wars so all of those wonderful companies that make the bombs and make the planes and make everything else stay happy."

Some current and former military officials say that Trump started out with extravagant praise for his generals but grew irritated when their advice ran against his wishes, frustrated by the wars he inherited and uncomfortable with an apolitical military leadership he sometimes sees as disloyal.

They complain he flouts norms of behavior in his open pursuit of political support among U.S. troops, who are meant to be loyal to the U.S. Constitution - not any party or political movement.

"Our civil-military norms can only take so much pressure for so much time," one military official said, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity. "You're already seeing cracks. You're already seeing politicization of the uniform."

A former defense official who served under Trump and spoke on condition of anonymity said the problem boils down to Trump's views on loyalty. "He views it as: `Are they on my side or not? Are they with me or against me?"

Despite painting himself as a defender of the country's warriors, Trump has seen his support among military personnel fall, according to opinion polls by Military Times.

At the start of his presidency, 46% had a favorable view and 37% were unfavorable. The most recent survey in July and August showed those numbers flipping to 38% and 50%, respectively.

White House spokesman Judd Deere said Trump has demonstrated his commitment to the U.S. military and holds U.S. troops and their families in the highest regard.

"And he is awed by our soldiers bravery and courage to protect this country, our values, and our flag," Deere said.

CHURCH WALK

Military chiefs briefly stumbled into America's political divide in June, when senior Pentagon officials accompanied Trump as he walked to a church near the White House to lift a Bible for a photo. This was shortly after law enforcement officers backed by National Guard troops used tear-inducing chemicals and rubber bullets to clear the area of peaceful protesters.

Adam DeMarco, a major in the National Guard, took the rare step of appearing at a congressional hearing to voice concern over the crackdown.

"The events I witnessed at Lafayette Square on the evening of June 1 were deeply disturbing to me and to fellow National Guardsmen," DeMarco said.

Trump's threat to militarize the response to U.S. protests prompted some retired four-star generals to issue statements condemning it. The military is meant to protect Americans' right to peaceful protest, they said.

Retired Marine general James Mattis, who was Trumps defense secretary for the first two years of his presidency, was withering in his response.

"Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people - does not even pretend to try," he wrote. "Instead he tries to divide us. We are witnessing the consequences of three years of this deliberate effort."

U.S. Army General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, later acknowledged accompanying Trump that day had been a mistake, having created a "perception of the military involved in domestic politics."

MATTIS, FROM ADMIRATION TO INSULTS

Before taking office, Trump met with Mattis at Bedminster in December 2016 and brought him before the media, taking great delight in the generals "Mad Dog" nickname, and pronounced him right out of central casting.

But he soured on the general and others for not bending to his will on a range of issues, at home and abroad. Mattis disagreed with Trump's berating of U.S. allies, his disparagement of NATO and his abrupt pullout in Syria, which went against the advice of his military.

Trump has since branded Mattis "the world's most overrated general."

The first signs of troubled relationships with the generals came early in his presidency.

In the summer of 2017, Trump was in the Situation Room talking about U.S. troop levels in Afghanistan with Mattis, then-national security adviser H.R. McMaster - an Army general - and then-Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and others.

The generals had a troop increase request and "thought they were going to stick it up under Trumps nose and he was going to sign it," a former senior administration official told Reuters.

Trump raised all sorts of questions about the request. A meeting due to last 20 minutes went on for two hours.

"He just ripped them, the generals, everybody. `Why are we doing this, when can we get out, what does victory look like? It was really uncomfortable," the former official said.

After the meeting broke up, Trump asked them for "real options."

Although Trump initially reversed troop withdrawals in Afghanistan ordered by his White House predecessor, Barack Obama, he ends his term in office with plans to slash them to 4,000 this year and withdraw them completely next year, if a peace deal succeeds.

McMaster, who lasted just over a year as Trumps national security adviser before being ousted, has sharply criticized Trumps Afghanistan policy, accusing him of partnering with the Taliban against the U.S.-backed government in Kabul.

Pentagon leaders see alliances as essential both to U.S. influence overseas and security at home. They voice alarm at Trumps antagonistic approach to allies such as Germany and South Korea even as he boasts of his good relationships with the leaders of China, Russia and North Korea.

Risa Brooks, a professor at Marquette University, said military leaders felt Obama had micromanaged Pentagon issues and some were initially pleased to see Trumps approach.

"But now I think we're in a whole other level. I think what is going on is that you see some of the stuff Trump is doing is a challenge to the core organizational interests and integrity of the military," she said.

One clear example was Trump's intervention in the case of Special Operations Chief Edward Gallagher, who was convicted of posing with the corpse of an Islamic State detainee.

Trump, who saw himself as a champion of troops being mistreated by top brass, reversed the Navy's demotion of Gallagher, and the Navy secretary was later fired.

"I will always stick up for our great fighters," Trump told a Florida rally in November 2019.

(Reporting by Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali and Steve Holland; Editing by Kieran Murray and Howard Goller)
The endless, gushing comments on Nadia Bartel's Instagram account would have you believe she's the most beautiful and successful woman to have ever walked the face of the earth.

But it turns out the 35-year-old ex-wife of Geelong legend Jimmy Bartel is decidedly less popular on Twitter, where she is routinely trolled by AFL supporters.

Every time a glowing puff piece about Nadia is published in the Melbourne press, footy fans flock to Twitter to ironically call her 'stunning and brave'.

'So stunning. So brave': Nadia Bartel is being brutally trolled by AFL fans for her 'courage' after splitting from husband Jimmy - as Twitter users mock her cheerleaders in the Melbourne press

The 'stunning and brave' tweets are mostly from Victorians making fun of Nadia and her cheerleaders at the Herald Sun newspaper.

The meme routinely surfaces on Twitter whenever a certain gossip columnist, who is friends with Nadia, writes a flattering article about how brilliant and 'dignified' she is.

Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting Nadia has anything to do with the gushing praise, and it's understood the public commentary about her is beyond her control.

'She is brave and soon will have a statue outside the MCG for her bravery. Well deserved for everything she has done for you, me, the nation and the world. Well done Nadia Bartel you are an inspiration to us all,' one troll tweeted.

'So courageous': Whenever a glowing puff piece about Nadia is published in the Melbourne press, footy fans flock to Twitter to ironically call her 'stunning and brave'

Mockery: The meme routinely surfaces on Twitter whenever a certain gossip columnist, who is friends with Nadia, writes a flattering article about how brilliant and 'dignified' she is

Similar posts include: 'She is so, so, so brave', 'Stunning and brave, congratulations', 'Brave. And Stunning', and 'Photos of what "brave" Nadia Bartel wore to Juddchella.'

The joke derives from an episode of South Park in which everybody in the town agrees that Caitlyn Jenner is 'stunning and brave' because they're afraid they will be labelled transphobic otherwise.

The phrase has since become a popular meme used when someone is being conspicuously over the top in their praise for another person - with the implication being the praise isn't deserved.

Satirical: The joke derives from an episode of South Park in which everybody in the town agrees that Caitlyn Jenner is 'stunning and brave' because they're afraid they will be labelled transphobic otherwise

Not all heroes wear capes: Twitter users praised Nadia as 'courageous' for simply existing

Here they come! Excited AFL fans often brace themselves for a deluge of 'stunning and brave' comments whenever the Herald Sun tweets out an article about Nadia

'Braver than I ever imagined': The Herald Sun published a story on Saturday downplaying Nadia's new relationship with personal trainer Nathan Brodie - and it was soon met with an avalanche of trolling

Excited AFL fans often brace themselves for a deluge of 'stunning and brave' comments whenever the Herald Sun tweets out an article about Nadia.

'Here for the "brave" comments! Not disappointed!' one Twitter user wrote recently. Another added: 'Came for the stunning and brave comments. Laughing.'

The paper published a story on Saturday downplaying Nadia's new relationship with personal trainer Nathan Brodie - and it was soon met with an avalanche of trolling.

One reader tweeted in response: 'Nadia Bartel bravely jogged with a man who sadly isn't a new suitor but just an exercise buddy - sad for her. Braver than I ever imagined. So brave and who she runs with so important it's behind a paywall.'

Case of the ex: Nadia and Jimmy Bartel announced their separation on August 15 last year, but they are believed to have actually split two months prior. Pictured together in happier times

Co-parents: They share custody of two children, sons Aston, four, and Henley, one (pictured)

Nadia and Jimmy Bartel announced their separation on August 15 last year, but they are believed to have actually split two months prior.

They share custody of two children, sons Aston, four, and Henley, one.

The Brownlow Medal winner, 36, is now dating office worker Lauren Mand. Nadia has yet to publicly acknowledge her romance with Nathan.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention head Dr. Robert Redfield said at a hearing Wednesday he was 'disappointed' at 'offensive' criticism of his agency over its coronavirus response by an ally of President Donald Trump who went on leave following a Facebook rant about the 'deep state.'

Redfield's remarks at a Senate hearing represent some of his strongest public reaction against efforts by members of the Trump administration to undermine and sideline CDC's globally-esteemed scientists.

The hearing comes as Trump has repeatedly touted the possibility that a vaccine will receive approval before the November 3 election, raising fears that the approval decision could be influenced by politics.

'I want to add how disappointed I have been personally when people at HHS (Health and Human Services) made comments that they felt that there was a 'deep state' down at CDC,' Redfield said.

CDC director Robert Redfield's remarks at a Senate hearing represent some of his strongest public reaction against efforts by members of the Trump administration to undermine and sideline his agency's globally-esteemed scientists

'These are dedicated men and women that are confronting the greatest public health crisis of our time, working 24/7, over 6700 of them involved in the outbreak itself, 1200 deploying, and it's offensive to me when I hear this type of comment.'

He added that during his 20-year career in the military, he was never aware of his colleagues' political affiliations and the same was true of the CDC.

'People don't understand the ability to suck energy out of people that are working 24/7 when they get unfairly criticized or unfairly characterized and really that's the real harm in all of this,' he concluded.

HHS official Michael Caputo, who previously served on Trump's 2016 election campaign, told Politico earlier this month he saw his role as vital to stymying 'ulterior deep state motives in the bowels' of the CDC.

The Trump loyalist installed at the Health and Human Service Department also told followers to 'buy ammunition.' He took a 60-day leave of absence from his role Wednesday as he escaped being fired for attacking its scientists.

He stepped aside as the video of a bleak rant posted to his followers at the weekend emerged, with him claiming that 'deep state' scientists want Americans to get the deadly coronavirus.

The Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement that Caputo was taking the time 'to focus on his health and the well-being of his family.'

424 PRI*165922580 Anthony Fauci, director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at NIH, clashed with Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky at the hearing

Caputo had claimed he feared for his and his family's safety in the Facebook live video, and suggested that his own mental health was suffering.

Caputo has no medical or scientific qualifications but had worked on Trumps campaign, having previously been a media adviser to Vladimir Putin and an associate of Roger Stone.

Caputo had apologized in an emergency staff meeting Tuesday after the New York Times reported on his Facebook post, where Caputo lashed out at opponents, lamented the state of his own mental health, and told people: 'If you carry guns, buy ammunition, ladies and gentlemen, because it's going to be hard to get.'

Caputo, who delivered the video message from his home in upstate New York, tells his 5,000 followers: 'I'm under siege. It's been going on for a couple of weeks. And I don't care. BecauseI have the president's support. I know that because he's told me so.'

Communications official for the Department of Health and Human Services, Michael Caputo, lashes out at government scientists in a Facebook rant that has been revealed. Caputo took down the video and apologized to staff, then took a 60-day medical leave of absence

'Deep state' refers to the idea put forward by Trump that there are hidden powers within the government trying to undermine him.

In one of his most slashing attacks, he says: 'The partisan Democrats, the conjugal media and the scientists, the deep state scientists, want America sick through November. They cannot afford for us to have any good news through November, because they're already losing,' he said.

'There are scientists working for this government who do not want America to get better. Did you hear me? There are scientists who work for this government who do not want America to get well. Not until after Joe Biden is president. It's a fact.'

Caputo later went even further, accusing career government scientists of 'sedition' in his Facebook post.

Caputo said in a statement that his medical leave would allow him 'to pursue necessary screenings for a lymphatic issue discovered last week.'

An entry sign to the Johnson & Johnson campus shows their logo in Irvine, California

National health experts have expressed worry that the country's health institutions have become increasingly compromised by political pressure, which could end up costing lives.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and CDC are at the center of the storm.

Amid that backdrop, top officials down the line Wednesday said they would take a vaccine when it became available, as surveys showed national doubts mounting amid fears of politicization.

Top infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci said Wednesday when speaking about vaccine candidates: 'At some time by the end of this year, lets say November and December we will know whether or not these are safe and effective.' President Trump has repeatedly touted the possibility of one being approved by Election Day.

The two agencies, historically considered above the partisan fray, have earned the broad respect of the international scientific community.

But their decision-making independence has come under question after several controversial moves over the past few months.

The FDA was particularly criticized for its emergency approval of the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine against Covid-19, which was subsequently removed over safety fears.

Guidance on CDC's website meanwhile has been frequently altered for scientifically unclear reasons, such as when it stated that people who are exposed to the virus don't need a test if they do not have symptoms.

The advice was removed last week following an outcry by experts.

Politico found that Caputo had for months been demanding to revise scientific reports on the virus published in the CDC's 'Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports' -- for example on the level of contagiousness among children.

Health officials have recently been engaged in a public relations battle to assure the public that political considerations will play no part in when vaccines receive approval.

Stephen Hahn sought to reassure the Senate on Wednesday, telling lawmakers: 'In the end, FDA will not authorize, or approve a vaccine that we would not feel comfortable giving to our families.

'I will fight for science Mr Chairman, I will fight for the integrity of the agency, and I will put the interest of the American people before anything else.'

The FDA process also received the backing of Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who was not appointed by Trump and is widely-respected for his expertise.

On Wednesday, Johnson & Johnson announced it was entering the final Phase 3 stage of its Covid-19 vaccine clinical trial following positive results in earlier stages.

The trial will seek to enroll up to 60,000 volunteers across more than 200 sites in the US and around the world.

With the move, J&J becomes the tenth maker globally to conduct a Phase 3 trial against Covid-19, and the fourth in the US.
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 accords which the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain signed with Israel in Washington a week ago as 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 West Bank city of Ramallah that it no longer wanted the position.

Palestine has decided to concede its right to chair the League's 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 was informed of the Palestinian decision.

In a new move addressing internal Palestinian divisions, officials from West Bank-based Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah faction and the Islamist 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.

Reuters
Tax burden eased on first-time real estate buyers

19:20, 23.09.20 6765

The move also covers those waiting for the flat to be granted for free by an employer.
The Democrats' Daddy Warbucks is back and once again using his money to try to buy an election.

Michael Bloomberg is among a group of rich people hanging around Florida and offering free fine payoffs to released felons in a more-than-implied exchange for their votes for Democrats. Bloomberg isn't playing non-partisan in this, a frequent dodge of leftists, he's shoveling $100 million of his own cash to make sure Florida votes for Democrats, and this is part of his game. That would be the same Michael Bloomberg who was last seen blowing a billion on his own presidential campaign and then stiffing his campaign workers, by promising to employ through the election, and then dumping them and leaving them out on their ears when he left the race. Money for cons, see, but not the help.

It's otherwise known as bribery, the exchange of votes for something of value, and it's explicitly forbidden under Florida law.

Florida's Rep. Matt Gaetz has noticed and he's raising the alarm:

"[Under Florida law] its a third-degree felony for someone to either directly or indirectly provide something of value to impact whether or not someone votes," Gaetz explained. "So the question is whether or not paying off someones fines and legal obligations counts as something of value, and it clearly does. "If Michael Bloomberg was offering to pay off people's credit card debt," Gaetz added, "you would obviously see the value in that. "[W]hen you improve someones net worth by eliminating their financial liabilities, thats something of value," he went on. "Normally, it would be very difficult to prove that that was directly linked to impacting whether or not someone was going to vote. But they literally wrote their own admission."

[Update: This may be the relelvant Florida statute.]

It's little different from what Mexico's PRI used to do, which was secure votes by handing out bags of beans, or what Venezuela's Hugo Chavez would do, handing out the occasional apartment or washer dryer.

Like ballot-harvesting, it's another hideous corruption of democracy imported from Latin America's dictatorships in democracy's clothing, rendering the entire idea of representative democracy meaningless, and rigged systems for leftists replacing them.

As Gaetz says, the whole payoff scheme improves the net worth of ex-cons, which in turn gives them an advantage over non-felons who still have to pay fines and bills. Who needs to worry about fines and victim restitution for crimes committed when there's Mike to take care of it for a mere vote?

It's also racially discriminatory. Only black ex-cons are eligible for the payoffs, because of the data collected showing that 95% of them vote Democrat. Whites need not apply. According to Fox, Bloomberg knows what he's doing:

A Bloomberg memo first reported by the Washington Post read: 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. The data shows that in Florida, Black voters are a unique universe unlike any other voting bloc, where the Democratic support rate tends to be 90%-95%," the memo continued.

It's money for votes and Mike knows it.

And with fines paid off by Daddy Warbucks, there's plenty of money for Nikes or cars or whatever a released felon has his heart on that can't be obtained by looting.

His fellow billionaire George Soros rendered rule of law meaningless by shoveling cash into district attorneys' races to elect DAs who refuse to enforce the law, turning America's blue cities into crime pits where commiting a crime means no punishment.

Bloomie's idea is to render fines and victim restitution meaningless, too, by paying them off in exchange for votes. The purpose of fines is to make ex-cons exchange something of value to them to encourage them to buy into the system. That they haven't suggests this isn't something of value to them compared to other thing. But now that Bloomberg is offering to take care of them for a mere vote... who'd refuse?

This billionaire democracy-underming trend goes to show that billionaires control Democrats, and those who value rule of law, and laws meaning what they say, have got some big opposition in the activities of these leftist plutocrats, neither of whom can stand the little people -- the ones who obey laws and pay taxes that is.

So Bloomberg's cynical scheme is going through, with the billionaire convinced that the law can never touch him.

A guy in Michigan got the law bearing down on him for mocking the mail-in voting process by placing a toilet on his front lawn. But Bloomie, who's buying votes from felons wholesale, thus far, is fully confident that nothing will happen to him. Nothing ever has, so he continues to take it to new lows.

Gaetz says he's encouraged to see the state take an interest in this bid to add bribery into the electoral equation, but a lot of us will want to see it to believe it.

One thing is for sure, it's got to stop somewhere, and Florida would be smart to take it to the mat with him and make him join the felons he's trying to buy.

Photo illustration by Monica Showalter with use of photo by Gage Skidmore, via Flickr // CC BY-SA 2.0 and public domain image.
If the process for U.S. President Donald Trump to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court follows the standard procedure  a mighty assumption  the justice-to-be will have to endure a public and private gauntlet of scrutiny.

And the process this time might be completed before election day on Nov. 3.

It typically drags on for months, but these are not normal times. Republicans will most likely try to turbocharge the pace to lock in the pick before the election  42 days away as of Tuesday  while Democrats hope to delay the process as long as possible.

Because Republicans control the Senate and its judiciary committee, which holds confirmation hearings on the presidents judicial nominees, Democrats are largely helpless in delaying the vote, said Stephen Wermiel, a constitutional law professor at American University in Washington, D.C.

Theres not really much the Democrats can do once it goes to the floor, he said. There is no filibuster. There is no real way for them to stop the nomination.

Heres what to expect in the nomination process, and a few ways it could be sped up this time.

Extensive Scrutiny of the Nominees History

The nominee  who Trump has said will be a woman  must answer an elaborate questionnaire, which the Senate will examine. She will be asked to list every client she has ever represented as well as her sources of income, speaking fees, travel destinations, interviews with the news media, writings  everything short of her favourite ice cream flavour. The questionnaire is often hundreds of pages long.

The FBI will immediately begin a background check, and the judiciary committee will start its own background investigation.

Republicans want to move as fast as possible, and some of the likely candidates  including Judge Amy Coney Barrett, who is considered a front-runner  have the advantage of having been leading contenders when Trump was looking to replace Justice Anthony M. Kennedy in 2018. Much of their vetting might have already been done.

Private Meetings With Senators

Soon after the nominee is announced, she will begin calling and meeting with as many senators as possible. The closed-door meetings are typically 15 minutes to an hour, Wermiel said.

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

Joe Biden, the Democratic nominee for president, once called the hearings a Kabuki dance.

Justice Elena Kagan called them a vapid and hollow charade.

Nonetheless, the televised hearings will be conducted by the 22 members of the judiciary committee, which is led by Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a staunch Trump ally. Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California is the top Democrat on the committee, which also includes Kamala Harris, Californias junior senator and the Democratic vice-presidential nominee.

Theres an art to the questioning, since nominees must be careful not to take positions on issues that might come before the court. For example, if a nominee directly expressed a preference to overturn Roe v. Wade, the ruling that legalized abortion across the nation, that justice might have to be recused from a future case.

So committee members typically ask more roundabout questions, hoping to read the tea leaves about how the nominees judicial philosophies would apply to crucial issues.

The hearings have typically lasted for three or four days, but they can be shortened. For example, Republicans could group outside witnesses in panels instead of hearing from them individually, Wermiel said.

The Judiciary Committee Vote

After the hearings, the committee will vote to send the nomination to the full Senate. This is where Democrats could deploy one of the few delay tactics available to them by objecting to the vote, stalling it by one week, Wermiel said. But nothing would stop Republicans from going ahead with the vote after that, he said.

A simple majority is needed to move the nomination forward, but theres a twist: By tradition, a Supreme Court nomination is sent to the Senate even if the nominee is rejected by the committee.

Decision Time in the Senate

Then it will be in the hands of the full Senate, where Republicans hold a 53-47 advantage over Democrats (including two independents who caucus with the Democrats).

Although political winds can rapidly change, at the moment the Republicans appear to have the votes they need to confirm a nominee. Just two Republicans  senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine  have said they will not support seating a justice before the election. If a third Republican dissented, creating a 50-50 tie, Vice-President Mike Pence would cast the decisive vote in the nominees favour.

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Rishi Sunak has been working on contingency plans in parallel with the Budget, which has been scrapped - PA

The Treasury has cancelled this year's autumn Budget, saying it is not the right time to outline long-term plans.

Rishi Sunak was expected to give the latest fiscal event in late October or early November, however Government sources said this was being scrapped in favour of something with a more immediate focus.

Instead the Chancellor will "update the House of Commons on our plans to continue protecting jobs through the winter", he confirmed on Twitter this afternoon.

It is understood he has been working on contingency plans over the summer, in parallel with work for the Budget.

When it comes to replacing the furlough scheme, is thought that German-style subsidies could be adapted to the UK's needs, with sectors such as the creative and entertainment industries under particular pressure.

Mr Sunak is also expected to level with the public about the challenges ahead.

The Treasury source added: No-one wanted to be in this situation but we need to respond to it. The Chancellor has shown he has been creative in the past and we hope that people will trust us to continue in that vein. Giving people reassurance and businesses the help they need to get through this is uppermost in his mind.

Follow the latest updates below.

04:45 PM

Tory MPs back 'sensible' decision to scrap autumn Budget

Two further senior Conservatives have got in touch in support of the Chancellor's decision to scrap the autumn Budget.

Story continues

Stephen Hammond, Wimbledon MP and former transport minister, said: "I actually think this is very sensible, They will probably need to so some more temporary support measures, which can be done by a short statement as per March.

"But waiting to see the prospect of economic recovery, and the state of public finances, before implementing fiscal measures is a responsible and sensible course."

Simon Hoare, MP for North Dorset and chair of the Northern Ireland Committee added: "In the circumstances it seems eminently sensible."

04:29 PM

Senior Tory backs Budget delay

The Treasury's announcement cancelling the Budget does seem to have caught people off guard, but senior Tories appear to be in support of the move.

"I think it is better to do after we near the end of the pandemic, as it is impossible to know what is going to happen," Rob Halfon, chair of the Education Committee told me. "I would rather have measures planned for individual help for business like tomorrow."

He added: "Rishi is doing the right thing by setting out measures to help, which is much more valuable to busiensses than an overall early Budget."

04:26 PM

The understated tweet Rishi Sunak posted to cancel the Budget

The Chanceller posted a tweet this afternoon confirming he was making a statement to the House tomorrow - not hugely surprising, given the many calls for an extension to the furlough.

But what he didn't say was that the speech was instead of a an autumn Budget.

As our response to coronavirus adapts, tomorrow afternoon I will update the House of Commons on our plans to continue protecting jobs through the winter. pic.twitter.com/eP6aqcocxd  Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) September 23, 2020

04:22 PM

Budget cancelled - you read it here first

The news that the autumn Budget has been cancelled is clearly coming as a surprise to backbenchers, who have done the text version of a gulp and gone to check their Twitter feeds.

But they should have been paying closer attention, because my colleague Gordon Rayner raised the prospect here 10 days ago.

03:22 PM

And that's it for another day...

Boris Johnson and Sir Keir Starmer went toe-to-toe for the first PMQs in a fortnight, following the Labour leader's self-isolation last week, creeping over old issues and new.

The effectiveness of NHS Test and Trace and the pressing need for further financial support for those who can't work were top of the agenda, with SNP and Labour MPs often singing from the same hymn sheet.

But having spent the bulk of PMQs giving his usual lines about throwing his arms around the country, harking back to historic support and saying the Chancellor would continue to be "creative" in further measures, there was a change of tone that suggested he was actually listening.

When you've got the Bank of England telling you it's time to think again, it might be worth seeing what is left in kitty.

Downing Street was also forced to clarify it is not expecting McDonald's to start offering table service (shame) and that one-night stands remain legal, but it seems christenings will come under greater restrictions than weddings and funerals, which is likely to set the cat among the pigeons.

Particularly if, as appears to be the case, the baby will be included in the rule of six.

However, it seems you are bracing yourself for things to get worse than the rule of six by Christmas, with 45 per cent of respondents to our daily poll expecting to celebrate as a single household. A third of you are hopeful the rule of six will still be in place, while 22 per cent are optimistic of a loosening of restrictions for the special day.

I'll be back tomorrow from 8am for more from Westminster and beyond.

02:58 PM

Controversial bill will not decriminalise torture and murder, Defence Secretary insists

Ben Wallace has rejected claims that the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill could decriminalise torture and murder.

The Defence Secretary told the Commons: "We've been told that this Bill is controversial. Some have gone as far to have said it decriminalises torture or prevents veterans from receiving compensation.

"Both allegations are untrue. I have to question if those making those points have actually read the Bill in full."

He continued: "It is our intention should new or compelling evidence be brought forward to prosecute for those offences. It is not decriminalising torture, it is not decriminalising murder in any way at all."

Mr Wallace added: "We want in the future the ability if necessary to allow soldiers to focus on the danger and job in hand when in operations, not on whether they will have a lawsuit slapped on them when they get home."

02:53 PM

Minister chastised over row in which he blasted 'Labour's illegal wars'

Ben Wallace has been told off by the deputy speaker after a clash in which he told his counterpart the Government was "clearing up after your illegal wars".

John Healey claimed the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill would bring in a presumption "against prosecution for torture, for war crimes, for crimes against humanity".

But the Defence Secretary hit back against "straw men being put up time and time again by a Labour party that is half funded by these ambulance chasing lawyers, that is going to damage our reputation.

"No apology for the money they took from a number of them, no apology whatsoever," he said.

The Conservatives are cleaning up after "your illegal wars, your events in the past," he added, saying it was a "disservice to the troops".

But Mr Healey said this was "not worthy" of the minister. "This is too important for party politics - it should be beneath the Secretary of State to reduce this to party politics."

It then appeared that Mr Wallace muttered something under his breath, prompting deputy speaker Dame Elena Laing to spring to her feet, calling for MPs to "speak standing up, not sitting down".

She said: "We will have a drop in temperature while we consider the facts of this bill and let the emotions settle down somewhat."

02:36 PM

Ban on households mixing could come 'very soon', warns Government adviser

A ban on households mixing in England could be coming "very soon", an academic who advises the Government has said.

Waiting just two or three weeks to implement such a measure would be too late, Professor Peter Openshaw, professor of experimental medicine at Imperial College London warned.

Asked on The Emma Barnett Show about a ban on household mixing, Prof Openshaw said: "I think that may well be coming very soon.. If we wait two or three weeks, it will be too late. It ought to be instituted sooner rather than later.

This echoes comments by Sage scientist John Edmunds, who said England's restrictions don't go "anywhere near far enough" that the "mistake" from March was about to be repeated.

But the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "There are also scientists on the other side of the argument saying that we have gone too far.

"There will always be a range of scientific opinion. The Prime Minister has canvassed the full range of scientific opinion in the formulation of this package and we believe that it has a significant role to play in driving down the rate of infection."

02:21 PM

Lobby latest: Time is running out for Brexit deal, Downing Street warns

Time is running out to reach a post-Brexit trade deal which could be in place by January 1, Downing Street has said, ahead of a visit by Michel Barnier tomorrow.

The European Union's negotiator will arrive in London for informal discussions on Wednesday, ahead of the next round of talks in Brussels next week.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "We do still believe that it is possible to get a deal but we need to make progress because time is obviously running out."

Asked whether there could be further rounds of formal talks in early October, the spokesman said: "Let's see how the negotiations progress.

"There's an EU council that's due to take place in the middle of October.

"We do think that it's possible to reach a deal and we are committed to working hard to secure that."

02:12 PM

Michael Gove signals commitment to no implementation period, as he agrees on 'clean break'

Michael Gove has ruled out the idea of an implementation period after the transition period.

Earlier today, trade adviser Shanker Singham and Prof Catherine Barnard suggested that could be the case, giving time to ratify a last-minute Brexit deal (10:14am).

But Conservative Sir Edward Leigh, the MP for Gainsborough, said the electorate wanted a "clean break".

He said: "There's breaking news just now that if a deal is conducted late, there indeed may not be an extension to the transition period, but there may be a two-year implementation period.

"What I'd like to have now from the secretary of state is an absolute commitment, no extension to transition, no implementation period, we want a clean break as we promised the electorate at the end of this year."

Mr Gove replied: "Everything (he) said, I completely agreed with, apart from one thing. I can't believe that he went to university in 1968, he looks much younger than that."

01:52 PM

Lobby latest: Chauffeur-driven cars exempt from face masks rule, Downing Street says

Chauffeur-driven cars will be exempt from the laws enforcing passengers to wear masks in taxis, Downing Street has said.

No 10 said employers would have to ensure that the driver could work in a way that is safe from coronavirus but that the legislation would not apply.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "The employer of the chauffeur will have to make sure that their employees can work in a Covid-secure way."

But pressed if chauffeurs are covered by the new law, the spokesman said: "The important point to make is the driver of a licensed vehicle will be picking up a wide variety of customers throughout the day but it's important to protect the driver from being infected from a significant number of different people.

"The scenario that you're describing that person would only be a single individual around so I don't think they're comparable."

The spokesman said he would check whether the rule applies to ministers being driven around in ministerial cars.

01:50 PM

Lobby latest: Local lockdowns could be brought in to stop households mixing

Downing Street has said further households in England may be prevented from mixing indoors in areas of local lockdown but ministers were resisting bringing in a Scottish-style nationwide ban.

Asked why the Government rejected a nationwide ban on household visits, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "We introduced a week ago new restrictions on mixing between households, we brought in the rule of six which we think provides clarity for people as to how they can help to break the chain of transmission between households.

"Separately that's a policy we've adopted in the local lockdown areas. There are very significant parts of England where two households aren't able to meet indoors and it's a policy we may well decide we need to apply in other localised parts of England."

01:45 PM

Lobby latest: Downing Street rejects McDonald's table service suggestion

Downing Street has dismissed Dominic Raab's suggestion that customers at fast-food chains like McDonald's will need to be served at their tables .

The Foreign Secretary said it was his understanding that "you need to be able to order from the tables" (8:55am) this afternoon, No 10 said the rule only applies to premises selling alcohol.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "The rule regarding table service applies to licensed premises."

Pressed if a burger could be ordered at the counter and picked up before sitting down to eat, the spokesman said: "Correct. You would have to sit down in order to eat it in order for that to follow the rules."

He added that there are a "small number of exemptions" to the rule such as cinemas which serve alcohol.

01:37 PM

Snap PMQs result: 68 per cent back Boris Johnson

More than 500 of you have voted in our snap PMQs poll - with 68 per cent saying Boris Johnson had the better PMQs today, compared with 32 per cent of you who backed Sir Keir Starmer.

To put that into context, last week the Prime Minister got 75 per cent of the vote when he was up against deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner.

The 'full' poll today is about Christmas - if you haven't yet had your say, please do:

01:31 PM

Further 23 coronavirus deaths in England

A further 23 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 29,808.

Patients were aged between 69 and 96 years old. All had known underlying health conditions.

Date of death ranges from 14 August to 22 September 2020.

There were eight deaths recorded in the North East & Yorkshire, five in both London and the South East and three in the Midlands, while the East of England and North West registered one death each.

The South West once again recorded no new Covid-related deaths.

01:27 PM

Michael Gove fails to confirm when Smart Freight system will launch

Michael Gove has confirmed that the 'Kent Access Permit' is being readied for the end of transition, but did not confirm exactly when it would be up and running.

Former minister Damian Green asked for a guarantee that the Smart Freight system would be ready from January next year.

The Conservative MP for Ashford said: "The prospect of 7,000 trucks queuing to cross the Channel will send a chill through my constituents because we know what effect that has on all the roads in Kent and it's disastrous."

He added: "Can I ask about the Government's own preparations and specifically the Smart Freight system, which [Mr Gove] mentioned, which is essential for the smooth running of traffic across the Channel?

"Can he give a guarantee that that system will be fully up and running and operational from January?"

The Cabinet Office minister responded: "That system has been developed, it's being shared with business and we want to make sure that people use a relatively simple process in order to get what will become known as a 'Kent-access permit', which means that they can then proceed smoothly through Kent."

01:12 PM

Michael Gove: Spitting Image puppet 'one of the greatest honours paid to me'

Michael Gove has said having a Spitting Image puppet created of him was "one of the greatest honours that ever has been paid to me".

In was in response to SNP Cabinet Office spokesman Pete Wishart, who told the minister: "I remember the days of the 'easiest deal in history', 'having our cake and eating it' while observing the sunny uplands. But even the Duchy himself told us that we hold all the cards.

"Well, it seems the only card we hold at the moment is the joker with his Spitting Image mush all over the front of it."

Michael Gove in Commons says having a Spitting Image puppet made of him is "one of the greatest honours that ever has been paid to me" and that he hopes other MPs get the same privilege pic.twitter.com/dTKIRW2IBJ  John Stevens (@johnestevens) September 23, 2020

It is not what you'd call flattering - but it does mean he joins the likes of Margaret Thatcher and "the vegetables" in the Spitting Image hall of fame.

01:07 PM

Less than a quarter of businesses 'fully ready' for Brexit, Michael Gove warns

Fewer than one in four businesses believe they are "fully ready" for the post-Brexit arrangements, with many who have "not quite taken the steps they need to", Michael Gove has said.

The Cabinet Office minister who is in charge of no deal planning told the Commons: "Our survey evidence indicates while 78 per cent of businesses have taken steps, just 24 per cent believe they are fully ready.

"Indeed, 43 per cent of businesses actually believe the transition period will be extended even though the deadline for any extension has now long passed and the date we leave the single market and customs union is fixed in law and supported across this House."

The committee charged with making preparations for the end of the Brexit transition meets "almost daily" and has met a total of 136 times so far.

He added: "We also need businesses to prepare. The consequences of a lack of business preparedness will be not just economic opportunities missed for those companies that don't prepare, but potentially much wider disruption."

01:05 PM

Prepare for change, deal or no deal, Michael Gove says

The Government is "committed" to negotiating a new free trade agreement (FTA) with the EU before the end of the year, but insisted "things will change" for businesses and individuals whatever the outcome of the talks, Michael Gove has said.

He told the Commons: "It is important that we as parliamentarians all understand that and that we all take action to prepare.

"Whether we secure a good FTA before January or not, whether we get a Canada-style deal or exit on Australian terms, we will have left the single market and customs union - and that fact means adjustments for businesses trading with the EU, changes for citizens travelling to the EU and new responsibilities for Government in both scenarios."

12:58 PM

Demonising landlords will 'force them out of business', says minister

Demonising landlords will only result in fewer properties being available to rent, housing minister Christopher Pincher said.

Conservative MP Craig Mackinlay praised "good landlords", who "repair properties, they get them back into use and they provide millions of properties that would otherwise fall to the public and quasi-sectors".

Mr Pincher responded: "Landlords in our country provide a very valuable and important service to the many people who rent.

"Demonising landlords, forcing good landlords out of business, will only result in fewer properties available to rent, it may result in more of those properties being rented out for Airbnb or by less scrupulous landlords."

12:39 PM

Government pledges to 'honour promise to landlords and renters' on lifting eviction ban

The Government will continue to "honour its promise to landlords and to renters", by ending the moratorium on evictions, housing minister Christopher Pincher has said.

Homeowners had been banned from evicting their tenants for six months from the start of the lockdown in March. Opposition MPs called on the Government to reverse the move, saying it was "scandalous" to do so ahead of a second wave.

But Mr Pincher said there were sufficient alternative measures to protect renters through the coming winter, following the resumption of possession proceedings on Monday, adding: "We must strike a balance so that landlords are able to access justice alongside measures to protect the vulnerable.

"This is vital to the long-term health of the private-rented sector."

Mr Pincher said the judiciary will "look to prioritise the most serious cases, including anti-social behaviour, fraud and egregious rent arrears".

He said: "Our package strikes a fair balance supporting landlords to act in the most serious cases whilst keeping the public including renters safe... All these measures are to protect renters over this period, they are kept under constant review in the light of evidence on public health. We're prepared to take further measures as they're needed to protect landlords and tenants alike."

12:33 PM

Andy Burnham scraps press conference over 'Government confusion'

The weekly press conference from the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, scheduled for Wednesday afternoon has been postponed at short notice until Friday.

A statement from a spokesman for Greater Manchester Combined Authority said: "Following the Prime Minister's address to the nation last night, the Greater Manchester mayor and leaders are digesting what this means for nations and regions, particularly how national measures affect local restrictions currently in place.

"Rather than add to the confusion, we'll comment on this after the national Government decision-making meeting (Gold).

Greater Manchester is in discussion with the Government regarding their decision."

The north-west of England has consistently seen some of the highest rates of infection in England in recent months, with Bolton currently having most cases per head of population.

Andy Burnham - PA

12:21 PM

The furlough pointers Rishi can take from other nations

Rishi Sunak has a problem. His furlough scheme, which successfully protected millions of jobs through the first lockdown, closes at the end of October.

It has been winding down since August, encouraging people to go back to work and limiting the bill to the Treasury, which currently stands at 40bn. But a resurgence in the virus means new restrictions have been introduced, so the crisis is not over yet.

Pressure is mounting to extend the Job Retention Scheme (JRS) or replace it with a new system of support.

So what are the Chancellors options? Tim Wallace considers them here.

12:13 PM

Half of Britons believe Government is handling pandemic badly, poll finds

Half the public now believe the Government is handling the pandemic "very or fairly badly", a rise in 10 points, according to an Ipsos Mori poll.

Public opinion is now the lowest since the series began in March, when 35 per cent said the Government was handling it badly.

The September Political Monitor found that a third of people believe Boris Johnson and co are handling it very or fairly well, down 10 points. Fieldwork was carried out before Tuesdays latest announcements of new restrictions.

Predictably, this is largely split along party lines with 60 per cent of Conservative supporters saying they think the Government is handling it well, compared with just 15 per cent of Labour supporters.

Gideon Skinner, head of political research at Ipsos Mori, said: We have seen overall ratings of the government fall this month to their lowest this year, along with rising confusion about its communications over what to do in response to the coronavirus.

"This is mirrored by a fall in public approval for the governments handling of the pandemic  even though many Britons still support a range of restrictions to control the virus.

12:09 PM

Pubs in Wales get later finish than in England, First Minister confirms

Pubs in Wales will have to stop serving alcohol at 10pm from Thursday but people would not have to be "out on the pavement" at that time, the First Minister has said.

"It's no further alcohol and people who are there will be finishing up and when they've had a sensible interval to do that then they will be on their way home again," Mark Drakeford said.

That is different to the curfew in England, which Boris Johnson confirmed yesterday meant venues had to be fully closed at 10pm, further curtailing the period in which they can sell drinks.

Discussions are taking place with the wedding industry and public health officials about whether numbers should be restricted, he confirmed.

Mr Drakeford said he had asked for "any evidence" that having 30 people at a wedding or wedding breakfast had led to an identifiable spike in cases of coronavirus in Wales.

"If that evidence exists then we will have to act to reduce the number of people who can attend," he said.

11:56 AM

Coronavirus rate in Wales on 'clear and upwards curve'

The coronavirus rate in Wales is now 46.8 cases per 100,000 people and there is a "clear upward curve", the First Minister has said.

The UK currently has travel corridors with countries as long as they are below 20 cases per 100,000.

Mark Drakeford told a press conference in Cardiff that he was asking people in the country to "think carefully about where you go and who you are meeting".

He said the Welsh Government had considered whether to go back to 'stay local' regulations previously enforced but decided it was "not proportionate".

"If you can visit a pub or restaurant close to home, where you don't need to make a journey, that is preferable than getting in your car and going for the same experience further away from home," Mr Drakeford said.

"It is a common sense piece of advice."

11:46 AM

Snap poll: Who won PMQs today?

Sir Keir Starmer held Boris Johnson's feet to the fire today, challenging him over testing and the impact the lack of tests is having on child attendance at school, and their parents' ability to work.

He also challenged the Prime Minister over lack of financial support, despite the new restrictions being imposed in a bid to control the virus once again.

But Mr Johnson landed a blow by raising comments made by Kate Green, the shadow education secretary, earlier this week, when she suggested Labour should make political capital of the crisis.

So who had the better PMQs? I'll run this poll for an hour so have your say quickly

11:39 AM

PMQs: Boris Johnson shrugs off Sammy Wilson's 'scepticism'

Asked if Downing Street is taking control of a review into gambling, Boris Johnson says he is "not an enthusiast for encouraging the spread of gambling in this country".

Sammy Wilson then says "only time will tell" if the predictions about cases and deaths will be proven right, but he says the "scare tactics" being used now will certainly have a devastating impact on high streets and local econmies.

He asks about financial support for those affected.

Boris Johnson says he makes a "powerful case for sceptism" but urges him to look at "what has already happened... and in be in no doubt that such a thing could happen again".

It would be far worse for the economy if we failed to control the virus now "and we were obliged to put in seriously damaging lockdown measures," he says.

"I can certainly tell him the advantage of this approach will be not just to keep the virus down... but also enable education to continue and our economy to go forward."

And that's it, PMQs is over.

11:34 AM

PMQs: Building owners refusing to remove unsafe cladding 'disgraceful', says Boris Johnson

Flo Eshalomi asks about illegal cladding and "irresponsible building owners" who are not addressing it. She asks what steps the Prime Minsiter is taking now to address "this really dangerous situation".

Boris Johnson says it is "disgraceful" and unsafe cladding should come down "as fast as possible" and investing "massively" in getting it resolved.

He adds: "I sincerely appreciate the problem she raises."

11:31 AM

PMQs; Boris Johnson 'of course' Government will bring forward more support

Neil Gray, another SNP MP, says "doing the right thing" will have an economic impact, but the Government has still not "done the right thing" in providing support.

He asks for support for the self-employed who have to self-isolate, as well as an extension to the furlough scheme.

In a slight change of tone, Boris Johnson says "of course the Government is going to come forward with further measures, I don't think it would be sensible simply to extend the current furlough scheme in its present form simply beyond October but we will do everything in power to support those in jobs, and indeed the self-employed."

11:28 AM

PMQs: Boris Johnson dodges question about long-term cost of failing to support jobs now

Patrick Grady, SNP's MP for Glasgow North, asks if the Government is willing to pay "the long-term price" from damage to the economy without protection for jobs now.

Boris Johnson says the Government will "intensify our support for every part of the union".

He points to historical support and says it will continue.

11:26 AM

PMQs: 'Creative package' from Rishi Sunak coming, Boris Johnson promises

Grahame Morris, Labour's MP for Easington, picks up on his leader's lines, asking for protection from the "tsunami of job losses in the pipeline".

He asks for a yes or no answer to whether he will take urgent answer. He doesn't get one.

Boris Johnson says he is right about the gravity of the situation but many firms are "powering through".

He points to existing support, and says there is "a massive package of investment into jobs and growth in the short, medium and long-term".

And he says there will be a "creative package" from Rishi Sunak coming.

11:24 AM

PMQs: Boris Johnson pledges 'way forward' on migrant crossings

Gareth Bacon, the MP for Orpington, asks about the illegal Channel crossings, saying that "to 'save lives', they must be stopped" and calls for a bill to be brought forward after the next Queen's Speech.

Boris Johnson says the current position is "very difficult because of the inflexible and rigid Dublin legislation for returns".

He says it is "tragic" for people coming across "in dingies or children's paddling pools".

Once the UK is out of the EU, "I have no doubt we will find a way forward," he adds.

11:21 AM

PMQs: Ian Blackford and Boris Johnson clash over furlough

Ian Blackford, SNP's Westminster leader, warns about "other major threats" this October which are "of the Tory Government's making".

He says the Prime Minister is "leading us into another winter of discontent" over a Brexit no deal and without any furlough extension. He calls for an extension that is "not half-baked".

Boris Johnson says the SNP and Labour both support an "indefinite extension".

Mr Blackford hits back saying "that is so poor - we are talking about protecting jobs today and nobody, nobody has asked for that.

"Even the governor of the Bank of England is asking the Government to stop and think... time is running out, workers are facing the dole today."

Mr Johnson says: "Of course the furlough has already been extended until the end of October... new jobs are being created to get people into work while suppressing the virus."

11:18 AM

PMQs: Boris Johnson goes on front foot over 'political opportunity' comments from shadow minister

Sir Keir Starmer again picks up on the lack of financial support on offer, telling Boris Johnson it isn't "theoretical" and pointing to the many job losses announced yesterday.

He then lists the many groups who have called for support including the CBI and Bank of England.

"We've been saying it for months - when is the PM finally going to act?"

Mr Johnson says these are "tough times" and the Government will "do our level best to protect them throughout this period".

He stresses that the country will get through it by following the rules outlined yesterday.

He then says the "cat is out of the bag" pointing to comments made by shadow education secretary Kate Green "seeking to make political opportunity out of a crisis, while we are taking tough decisions".

11:15 AM

PMQs: Boris Johnson attacked over lack of economic support

Sir Keir Starmer continues to hammer Boris Johnson on testing, saying: "The reality is that losing control of testing is a major reason why the PM is losing control of this virus."

He says the new measures are being brought in because of this and will create "crushing" impact on businesses.

He asks where the financial support is for those affected.

The Prime Minister goes back over the historical support been on offered, saying Sir Keir should pay tribute to the Chancellor and adding there will be "further creative and imaginative schemes" being brought forward now.

Mr Johnson then stresses that "the essence" of what we are doing is keeping schools and the economy going while getting the virus back under control.

11:12 AM

PMQs: Starmer accuses Boris Johnson of being 'out of touch' over school absences

Sir Keir Starmer says many of his family members work for the NHS so he "won't take lectures" on supporting it.

He says there is no effective system for dealing with the fact that many children have illnesses at this time of year, which means children have to take time off school and parents have to take time off work.

Boris Johnson says the risk to children is "significantly lower" but the Government is "doing our level best" to get every child a test who has symptoms.

He says 99 per cent of schools are back despite Labour's efforts to "sew doubt". But Sir Keir says this is "such a bad defence", saying it is not about whether the children have Covid, but that they are off school, with one in eight off school this week. "If the Prime Minister doesn't see that he is really out of touch."

11:08 AM

PMQs: Boris Johnson attacks Starmer for 'unseemly' attacks on Test and Trace

Sir Keir Starmer says "everyone who was in the Chamber, everyone who reads Hansard" can see what he says.

He points to the fact that Boris Johnson admitted in the Liaison Committee there was a problem, and pretending now "is part of the problem".

Is the explanation that there isn't enough capacity because no one could expect the demand - as Dido Harding said - or that we have what we need, but people are being unreasonable in asking for tests they don't need - the Matt Hancock defence.

Boris Johnson blasts him for "unseemly and unjustified" attacks on the Test and Trace teams.

"Of course we would like much more capacity," he says. "We are going to go up to 500,000 by the end of October - that is the work of Dido Harding."

He calls for "more of a spirit of togetherness... instead he constantly knocks it from the sidelines".

11:05 AM

PMQs: Sir Keir Starmer challenges Boris Johnson over Test and Trace claims

Sir Keir Starmer kicks off by challenging the Prime Minister on Test and Trace, noting that three months ago he had said it was a game-changer in stopping the virus.

"Yesterday.. he said Test and Trace has very little or nothing to do with the spread of the disease", says the Labour leader. These are very different positions, so which is it?

Boris Johnson says it is "an obvious fact" that the disease is transmitted by human contact, but the improved testing system means "we can see in granular detail, where the virus is breaking out", which is why local lockdowns can be taken.

"That's the point, Mr Speaker".

Asked again why he said it had nothing to do with the spread of the disease, Mr Johnson says Sir Keir is "not listening to my answer", which he repeats.

11:00 AM

Autumn fails to slow tide of migrants crossing the Channel

It might be the first day of autumn, but that hasn't slowed the number of migrants travelling across the Channel on small boats.

Hundreds were intercepted as they headed towards Britain on the calm seas today, with PA reporting that "significantly more than 300" individuals made the crossing. The precise figure has yet to be confirmed by the Home Office.

Dozens of people thought to be migrants were seen arriving in Dover harbour wrapped in blankets and wearing lifejackets.

They included children, including one in a pink jacket who was too young to walk.

Many had to queue before they were allowed to disembark from Border Force boats because of the volume of arrivals.

10:54 AM

Do not adjust your set: Matt Lucas spoofs Boris Johnson's coronavirus briefings on his show debut

Matt Lucas made his debut on The Great British Bake Off in a skit mimicking Prime Minister Boris Johnson's coronavirus briefings.

The Little Britain star, 46, appeared ahead of the show's return to Channel 4 wearing a blonde wig and standing at a lectern featuring the slogan: "Stay Alert, Bake Cake, Save Loaves."

Bake Off's 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.

Matt Lucas made his debut on The Great British Bake Off in a skit mimicking Prime Minister Boris Johnson's coronavirus briefings. The Little Britain star, 46, appeared ahead of the show's return to Channel 4 wearing a blonde wig and standing at a lectern featuring the slogan: "Stay Alert, Bake Cake, Save Loaves." Bake Off's 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.

10:41 AM

Have your say: What will Christmas look like this year?

Michael Gove yesterday promised the Government was not going to cancel Christmas. Previously, the Prime Minister has said he wants to be "tough" now to "protect" the festive season.

But this morning Dominic Raab warned that unless everyone follows the rules, a second national lockdown would have to brought in to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Muslim and Jewish communities have already had important celebrations curtailed by coronavirus restrictions - so is Christmas next on the line?

Have your say in the poll below.

10:37 AM

Looming financial crisis will be 'conducive' for extremism to grow, MPs told

Just a few doors up the Committee Corridor, MPs have been given a stark warning that the pandemic-induced financial crisis will be "very conducive" to breeding extremism.

Sara Khan, who leads the Commission for Countering Extremism, said "huge unemployment rates" and councils having to make "massive cuts" coupled with "soaring" hate crime would provide an environment that could be exploited.

She told the Home Affairs Committee: "That condition and that kind of climate is going to be very conducive for extremists and for extremism...what we've seen throughout history is that type of climate will be very conducive and extremists will seek to exploit that.

"And the question we have to ask ourselves is, 'do we have the resource and the strategy to be able to deal with that?', because we know that is coming down the pipeline."

She said extremists have "professionalised" and "intellectualised their hate", and that the country was currently lacking an effective policy.

She said: "It's weak, it's disjointed, it's behind the curve, it's not operational and that has to fundamentally change if we are now going to deal with this huge growing problem of extremism."

10:32 AM

Catherine Barnard: Can the UK be trusted to stick to its word again after a no-deal Brexit?

While we are listening to the end of the Brexit Committee hearing with Shanker Singham and Catherine Barnard this morning, you might like to have a read of this comment piece by the Cambridge law professor.

As Prof Barnard argues, no deal sounds exciting, it sounds buccaneering. Weve been here before, we have weathered the storm and we have come out fighting, haven't we?

Well yes and no.

10:30 AM

Government did not need to threaten to break law via Internal Market Bill, trade expert says

A senior trade adviser who has helped shape Government policy on post-Brexit trade has told MPs there was no need formally threaten to break international law through the Internal Market Bill.

Shanker Singham, who played wa leading role in the campaign for an alternative to Theresa May's Chequers deal, told the Brexit Committee: "I am not sure there was any need to put on record their intention to breach international law.

"I suppose the Government would argue they succeeded in getting the EU to the table, but the clear language of the Internal Market Bill would have done that without [the clause breaching the law]."

He added: "There is nothing wrong with hardball language provided you understand the repercussions of them in different areas, and different contexts, and you make allowances for it."

10:20 AM

More than half of people thought pandemic would be over by six months, ONS survey finds

More than half of people thought life would be back to normal within six months when the UK first went into lockdown, a new report has found.

Boris Johnson announced the national lockdown on March 23, and by April 1, some 52 per cent of people surveyed by the ONS said they thought life would be back to normal in less than six months compared to nearly 11 per cent who said it would be more than a year.

But by August 28, the proportion who felt it would be less than six months had fallen to 14 per cent, while 37 per cent said it would be more than 12 months.

10:12 AM

Hauliers blame Government for trying to 'shift blame' over no-deal border chaos

Hauliers have accused Michael Gove of trying to "shift blame" for the possible impact at the borders of no trade deal being agreed with the EU.

The Cabinet Office minister has written to logistics associations, warning of a worst-case scenario in which between 30-50 per cent of trucks crossing the Channel will not be ready for new regulations coming into force on January 1.

Rob Hollyman, director of Essex-based haulage firm Young's Transportation and Logistics, told PA: "We can't possibly accommodate paperwork that we don't know we need, because we haven't been told.

"If the Government hasn't made clear what paperwork is required then it's not the 'idiot haulier', it's the 'idiot Government', and it won't be 50 per cent (of lorries not ready), it'll be nearly 100 per cent."

A UK Government spokesman said: "This is not a forecast or prediction of what will happen but rather a stretching scenario."

09:58 AM

EU has started to respect UK and recognise it will not 'cave into' demands, MPs told

The EU now recognises that the UK will not just "cave into" demands, and has started to respect it as a sizeable independent nation, MPs have been told.

Shanker Singham, a senior trade adviser, said there was a misalignment in the way the EU has viewed the UK until now, and the UK's own view of itself.

He added: "Actually a considerable amount of progress made in that areas because if you want to behave like a G5 economy you need to start acting like it, and because the UK has signalled that it is not going to cave into EU's opening bid, they are more respected now than they were before.

"It is reasonable to say previous the UK was not very respected by the EU, because the EU's view was that it would simply collapse and do whatever it said on its opening bid," he added.

09:46 AM

Targeted furlough scheme extension could be brought in, hints minister

Rishi Sunak is considering alternative forms of financial support that could replace the furlough scheme, to stave off the economic impact of the latest restrictions, Dominic Raab has hinted.

The Foreign Secretary this morning said the Chancellor wasn't "minded to wholesale extend the furlough scheme", but suggested there might be some wiggle room on support for particular sectors.

Hospitality and entertainment are particularly at risk under the new rules, with many culture and sports organisations having been unable to open at all this year.

Mr Raab told Sky News: "The Chancellor keeps all this under constant review, not just economy wide, but specific sectors. I don't think the Chancellor is minded to wholesale extend the furlough scheme [but] we are looking at targeted measures."

Mr Sunak is under growing pressure to deliver a fresh round of emergency state support for the economy. He has repeatedly said it must end in October, fending off political criticism for many weeks but yesterday business groups and critically the Bank of England boss Andrew Bailey calling on him to "stop and rethink plans to end the furlough scheme next month.

It is likely that rather than replace it outright, he will adopt a face-saving alternative, with reports this morning suggesting he is considering German-style wage subsidies.

09:42 AM

Northern Ireland protocol 'full of inconsistencies' that must be ironed out, MPs told

The Northern Ireland protocol is "full of inconsistencies" and must be clarified to avoid thorny problems over sovereignty and exports, Shanker Singham has warned.

The trade adviser told MPs of the Brexit committee that if there was no agreement "we are going to have a problem here", noting that while the protocol "provides that NI is in UK customs territory, and that has to mean something", it carried implications on state aid.

He explained: "It cannot have been the intention of parties that EU state aid rules would apply to whole of the UK through the backdrop or the NI protocol, which is the case here, therefore there needs to be clarification on that point.

"There are important clarifications that need to be made," he added, suggesting the "most important one" was on food exports from Britain to Northern Ireland.

The UK will argue that "a broad category of goods - as much as 70 per cent by value" should be pre-determined as the "not at risk" category, while the EU's position is that "everything is at risk".

09:25 AM

Internal Market Bill could reduce 'flexibility and compromise' from EU, MPs told

The Internal Market Bill could reduce "flexibility and compromise" from the EU on other areas, but is unlikely to see the Brexit deal be thrown out by the European Parliament, MPs have been told.

The Institute for Government's Georgina Wright said: "If EU member states are happy with the deal, I doubt very much the European Parliament would vote it down."

However the Withdrawal Agreement is very important and "if this bill goes through unamended, that will decrease flexibility and compromise in other areas, particularly in the future trade agreement, so I wouldn't take that threat likely."

She added: "It really makes Michel Barnier's task a lot harder, because he is having to go to the European Parliament and Commission and say 'let me move away from mandate, trust me on this,' and they say 'how can we trust you on this because UK is going ahead and trying to unpick the Withdrawal Agreement?"

09:14 AM

Last-minute Brexit deal could be followed by 'one or two year implementation period' MPs told

Two other experts have backed Shanker Singham's suggestion that a deal could be struck at the very last minute this year, but warned there could be a knock-on effect on businesses.

Georgina Wright, senior researcher for the Institute for Government, told MPs: "The only legal deadline is 31 December."

The October deadlines are just because you need to "factor in time to vote on that deal, and for businesses to prepare, and legal scrubbing, and on the EU side there needs to be a vote on it in the EU Parliament."

She said "negotiations could technically run as late as possible, but neither side want that because of technical diligence."

Prof Catherine Barnard warned there was "no obvious mechanism to extend transition... it's not at all obvious how you get there", suggesting the creation of a whole new period instead.

"It is likely there will be proper implementation period, most trade deals have an implementation period," she explained. "There may be a one or two year proper implementation period to steadily turn off the positions we are in."

09:06 AM

Brexit deal could be struck late and ratified next year, MPs told

A deal could be struck much closer to the end of transition than early October, and ratification pushed into next year through another "implementation period", Shanker Singham has suggested.

The trade adviser, who has helped shape policy, told Brexit Committee MPs that a deal on fishing rights could be struck because it was "ultimately about a number" but that both sides had to tell their voters "they got a win out of this".

But while the EU has insisted the deadline for a deal is next month, Mr Singham said: "Telling the UK if they don't get their act together in a week,... is certainly what I would be doing if I were the EU to leverage a better position.

"If a political deal is done by even the end of the year, no lawyer in the Commission , or no legal process, is going to get in the way of finding a solution

"The issue is can a political deal be done in the time, then there can be implementation periods and specific periods to cover ratification, but no one is going to talk about this right now because we are still in a negotiation."

Asked if the Internal Market Bill had damaged trust, he said it had actually made the EU realise the UK was not "about to cave in" and that they were dealing with a different kind of team now.

08:59 AM

Brexit talks 'sound and fury' is cover to present 'climb-down as a win', says Shanker Singham

Shanker Singham agreed there is "sound and fury" in this stage of talks, but suggested it is cover for both sides to "present your climb-down position as a win".

The trade adviser told MPs of the Brexit Committee the EU was moving towards a broader position about having no Government intervention, however, suggesting a compromise could be reached.

"I think the difficulty for the EU in the state aid area is to put... the EU's regime and whatever the UK's anti-subsidy regime is under a common dispute mechanism. That will be very difficult for the EU to accept, but it is also necessary," he added.

"That sort of mechanism... would be a significant contribution for both parties to the international trading system, which has been struggling with this area of market distortions since 1997.

"What is happening is people are moving off their original positions, this is necessary fro a deal to occur, and what both parties are looking to do... they have to be able to present that to their internal constituencies is a win.

"What you are seeing here is getting ready to present your climb-down position as a win."

08:55 AM

Negotiators 'up against it' to resolve Brexit deal in a fortnight, MPs told

There is a lot of "sound and fury" in this stage of talks, but negotiators are "really up against it" to hit the deadline for a deal, MPs have been told.

Prof Catherine Barnard told the Brexit Committee the Internal Market Bill was "dramatic" and had come "as a surprise" but there had been "some shift in negotiations".

Formal talks are due to resume next week, but she said both sides were now "working to an incredibly tight timetable", adding: "We really need an agreement in the first week of October so there is time for translation, so it can be looked at by the European Council on 15 October."

She said the "issues which are still proving difficult are complicated", pointing to state aid, fishing and some aspects on level playing field.

"It is not straight forward to get all this sorted out in a fortnight," Prof Barnard said.

08:49 AM

Shanker Singham: It would be 'quite extraordinary' for EU to block UK's third country listing

Shanker Singham has said it would be "quite extraordinary" for the EU to refuse UK third country listing, but said he could not rule it out.

Third country listing has been at the heart of the Internal Market Bill, with Boris Johnson saying the UK needs law-breaking powers included within the bill to be able to continue exporting food from Britain to Northern Ireland if the EU does not grant the formal status.

The trade adviser, who has been critical in shaping some of Downing Street's post-Brexit policy, told MPs of the Brexit Committee: "Given the number of countries that have third country listing, 100, and very different regimes in the area of SPS it is extremely unlikely

"But what have seen in this negotiations is that things unlikely sometimes get floated, so one can't rule it out," he added. "It would be quite an extraordinary thing to do."

He said that the EU would be given "clear notice if the UK were going to change in the SPS area", but added that "in a negotiation all things are possible".

Shanker Singham - AFP

08:43 AM

People should think before they make every journey, Welsh First Minister says

The First Minister of Wales has said people should "think every time they make a journey" and avoid unnecessary travel.

Mark Drakeford told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "If it's a necessary journey then of course you must make it.

"But if its a journey that can be avoided you will be safer and other people will be safer the fewer journeys you make and the fewer people you meet."

Mr Drakeford said he was not saying "no holidays", adding: "It's very possible to have a holiday in Wales without travelling very far at all."

Asked about people coming to Wales from England, he noted this was "an important part of our tourism economy".

"So it's a difficult balancing act. Unnecessary journeys should be avoided. Journeys for work and journeys for other important purposes can still go ahead in Wales."

08:34 AM

What's on the agenda today?

Today is shaping up to be another busy day, although perhaps without the fireworks of yesterday.

The Brexit Committee is currently questioning academics and experts on the state of play in talks, including trade adviser Shanker Singham, who is much beloved of Michael Gove and Boris Johnson. Meanwhile the Home Affairs Committee will be looking at counter terrorism.

The Lords constitution committee will take evidence on the Internal Market Bill including from three former Cabinet secretaries in Robin Butler, Gus ODonnell and Richard Wilson from 11:30am.

Then we have PMQs at midday, followed by an urgent question from housing minister Christopher Pincher regarding evictions and a statement from Michael Gove on what is being done to avoid border chaos as transition ends.

And this evening, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer will give a "right of reply" address to the nation, following the Prime Minister's address yesterday.

08:32 AM

ICYMI: Andrew Bailey calls for 'rethink' on furlough

Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey has, until yesterday, backed the Government's decision to end furlough in October.

However speaking in a webinar hosted by the British Chambers of Commerce, Mr Bailey said he would like to see urther intervention.

"[Furlough] has helped manage the shock, to firms and to labour [but now] the use of it, as far as we can tell, is more concentrated," he said.

"I think it is therefore sensible to stop and rethink the approach going forward, without any commitment to what that might be."

08:29 AM

John Redwood calls for Government to 'compensate' businesses following new restrictions

It's not just the usual suspects calling for the Government to change its stance on support for people whose jobs and businesses will be affected by the latest set of restrictions.

Labour have of course been banging this drum for some time, warning that the October end to furlough would come at a bad moment for businesses who have barely scraped through the last six months.

There is considerable concern on the backbenches that the opposition will be proved right once again, and that the Government will be force into another U-turn.

This morning John Redwood, MP for Wokingham and one-time leadership contestant, had this to say:

Time for the Treasury to tell us how they will compensate businesses prevented from trading by the new six months controls.  John Redwood (@johnredwood) September 23, 2020

08:12 AM

Treasury Committee chairman writes to ministers over FinCen papers

The chairman of the Treasury Committee has written to ministers over the FinCen papers, leaked documents showing how some of the world's biggest banks have allowed criminals to move dirty money around the world.

Hundreds of journalists have been sifting through the dense, technical papers which document the transfer of about $2tn.

Mel Stride, himself a former Treasury minister, has written to James Brokenshire, minister for security and Lord Callanan, minister for climate change, as well as Jim Harra, first permanent secretary and chief executive of the HMRC and Chris Woolard, interim chief executive of the FCA seeking more details about the UK's system, which has in the past been dubbed the world's laundromat.

He said: Some of the information coming from the release of the FinCEN papers is deeply troubling. The Treasury Committee wants to know whether ministers, HMRC and the FCA are on top of this.

With various roles to play in combatting economic crime, its vital that the appropriate parts of the system are ready to act, if required.

Mel Stride - Eddie Mulholland

08:04 AM

Scotland has reached 'tipping point' with Covid, says Nicola Sturgeon

Nicola Sturgeon said a new Covid-19 "tipping point" has been reached requiring new restrictions in Scotland.

The First Minister told Good Morning Britain: "I've made a judgment that we are again at a tipping point with Covid.

"I'm looking at data that alarms me, frankly, and if we don't act now, urgently and decisively, then we might find Covid running out of control again.

"The judgment I've made, and it's not an easy one, is that if we take tough action now we might actually manage to be under these restrictions for a shorter period of time than we will end up being if we delay that action."

Ms Sturgeon said "tough judgements" were being made, but it was important " to be prepared to do things even if they're unpopular, for the greater good."

08:02 AM

Have your say: What will Christmas look like this year?

Michael Gove yesterday promised the Government was not going to cancel Christmas. Previously, the Prime Minister has said he wants to be "tough" now to "protect" the festive season.

But this morning Dominic Raab warned that unless everyone follows the rules, a second national lockdown would have to brought in to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Muslims and Jews have already had important celebrations curtailed by coronavirus restrictions - so is Christmas next on the line?

Have your say in the poll below.

07:55 AM

McDonald's customers should order food from the table, says Dominic Raab

McDonald's customers will have to order their food from a table, Dominic Raab has suggested.

"In all of the restaurants and hospitality you can go in and order from the tables, but what you can't do without a mask is just sit around and mill around."

Asked if customers could queue to order food at a counter and then sit down, as is normal for fast food chains, Mr Raab said: "My understanding is that you need to be able to order from the tables."

He said Government guidance would make it clear for businesses.

McDonald's should offer table service, Raab suggests - Getty

07:37 AM

A 'small minority' could 'blow it for everyone', claims Dominic Raab

Dominic Raab warned that a "small minority" could "blow it for everyone else" if they do not obey the new coronavirus restrictions.

The Foreign Secretary was asked if scientific advice suggested the new measures would be sufficient, during an interview with BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

He said: "The scientific advice that we've had presented by the chief scientific adviser and the chief medical officer is that these measures can help us bear down again on the uptick we've seen in the virus if everyone complies with it.

"Overwhelmingly the public... have been fantastic in rallying behind the guidance and we've seen compliance at very high levels.

"But the risk is, of course, that that frays at the edges, that a small minority, if I can put it this way, blow it for everyone else, and that's why the measures that we've introduced are targeted along with increased fines and making sure we've got consistent enforcement and compliance."

07:31 AM

Government repeating mistake from March, Sage scientist warns

The Government's latest restrictions do not go far enough and could lead to a longer-term national lockdown, a Sage scientist has warned.

Professor John Edmunds, a member of the Government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), said action had not been taken quickly enough back in March and that "mistake" is about to be repeated.

Speaking in a personal capacity to BBC Radio Four's Today programme, he said: "I suspect we will see very stringent measures coming in place throughout the UK at some point, but it will be too late again...

"And then we'll have the worst of both worlds, because [it] will mean putting the brakes on the epidemic for a very long time, very hard - which is what we had to do in March because we didn't react quick enough in March, and so I think that we haven't learned from our mistake back then and we're unfortunately about to repeat it."

The curfew would have a "trival" impact on stopping the spread of the virus, he added. "Overall I don't think that the measures have gone anywhere near far enough. In fact I don't even think the measures in Scotland have gone far enough."

07:29 AM

Camilla Tominey: Why Boris Johnson is walking a tightrope as he plots a route through the Covid crisis

Un declaring his refusal "to listen to those who say let the virus rip, nor to those who urge a permanent lockdown", Boris Johnson on Tuesday laid bare the Covid-19 conflict splitting the country in two.

Yet the stark demarcation also characterises the Cabinet divide as the Government continues to grapple with the "lives versus livelihoods" debate.

The Prime Minister's ongoing desire to keep both factions happy was plain to see as he announced only limited new measures to tackle the spike in coronavirus cases.

07:26 AM

City of London warns about impact of latest restrictions

The fourth-quarter forecast is "looking very bad" and there are "job losses down the road", City of London Corporation has warned.

Catherine McGuinness, policy chair for the City of London Corporation, the local authority for the Square Mile, said it is "disappointed" over new coronavirus guidance for workplaces.

She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Clearly safety has to come first and we're at a moment when measures need to be taken.

"But we are disappointed at the blanket call for office workers to return to working from home where possible.

"Firms have taken huge steps to make sure that their offices are Covid-secure. It's clear that this virus isn't going to go away quickly so we need to find a way of living with it that doesn't cripple our economy."

She claimed other financial centres had people back in the office without apparent related increases in infection and called on the Government to look "really closely" at coronavirus evidence.

"We're not happy, we are disappointed and we feel that this will set back the recovery, but... we have to take steps at this difficult time," she added.

07:24 AM

Dominic Raab insists four nations are 'consistent' despite differences on household socialising

Dominic Raab has insisted the four nations had overwhelmingly taken a "consistent" approach, despite differences in rules on household visits.

Scotland and Wales have banned households meeting each other indoors, and restricted the rule of six further so that only two households can meet at any one time.

And unlike in England, children under 12 are excluded from the rule.

Despite this, Mr Raab told BBC Breakfast: "There's always an evidence basis which we all look at, it's slightly different in the four parts of the UK, although actually overwhelmingly we've taken a consistent and common approach.

"We recognise that the devolved administrations have the authority to decide things in a slightly different way."

Mr Raab said there would always be the "Goldilocks criticism - too much or too little" - but said the Government was taking a "balanced, targeted and proportionate approach".

07:15 AM

Play by the rules or face national lockdown over Christmas, Dominic Raab warns

The country could be under a second lockdown over Christmas if people do not follow the latest rules, Dominic Raab has warned.

The Foreign Secretary told Sky News: "We've always said we've got a sort of repository of measures in the arsenal to take. I don't think we would speculate about what further could be done.

"But the reality is they will be more intrusive or we could end up in a national lockdown. That is what we want to avoid."

If "everyone plays by the rules" then a national lockdown may not be needed at Christmas.

"Let's hope that we can get through the winter months if we take these measures and if everyone plays by the rules, and we go into Christmas not needing to go into that national lockdown with all the impact on society and families but also the damage it would do to businesses."

Dominic Raab: Christmas could still be cancelled - Reuters

07:11 AM

Dominic Raab hits out at Labour for 'scaremongering' over army

Dominic Raab has hit out at Labour's Jon Ashworth, who last night suggested the Government was going to have the army "patrolling the streets of Bolton and Leicester".

The Foreign Secretary said this was "frankly, scaremongering" and insisted they were just being brought in to backfill and "remove capacity".

Yesterday Boris Johnson said that the military would be used to support police as they increase on-the-streets presence to ensure people are following the new guidelines, with fines of up to 10,000 being brought in for non-compliance.

But Mr Raab insisted the army would not be joining police officers on the street, highlighting work they had done during the pandemic so far, including assisting the building of the Nightingale Hospitals and helping to deliver PPE.

06:56 AM

Richard Dannatt: Deploying the military to police civilians is not how our liberal democracy works

A former Chief of the General Staff has accused Boris Johnson of "breaking Britain's liberal principles" by drafting in the army to help enforce coronavirus rules.

The Prime Minister announced on Tuesday that the army may be brought in to help the police in a tough crackdown on the breaching of restrictions.

But writing in The Telegraph, Lord Dannatt said: We are getting quite a long way towards breaking our liberal principles when were encouraging our neighbours to snitch on their neighbours.

"I wouldnt want to see the military involved in that in any way, shape or form."
Former Northern Ireland Secretary Owen Paterson has paid tribute to his wife's achievements in horse racing and the arts after a coroner ruled she took her own life.

An inquest was told Rose Paterson, the chairwoman of Aintree racecourse, was found dead by a police officer during a search of woodland close to her home in the early hours of June 24.

The hearing was told the 63-year-old, who became a director at Aintree in 2005 and its chairwoman in 2014, had made internet searches related to suicide in the weeks before her death.

Mrs Paterson, the daughter of the fourth Viscount Ridley, also served as a member of The Jockey Club's main board of stewards, and as a Deputy Lieutenant of Shropshire.

Mr Paterson, the Conservative MP for North Shropshire, was Northern Ireland Secretary from May 2010 to September 2012.

He attended the hearing by video-link, and said his wife had been due to remotely chair an Aintree board meeting on June 24.

The inquest was told Mrs Paterson had not left any note at the family home near Ellesmere, Shropshire, and had made plans to travel overseas to see one of their three adult children.

After the hearing Mr Paterson said: "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."

Mr Paterson said he planned to become more involved in suicide prevention and thanked the coroner and West Mercia Police for "the very sensitive manner in which they have handled this tragedy."

The MP 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."

In a separate statement to the inquest, 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. Recording a conclusion of suicide, Mr Ellery said Mrs Paterson's intentions could be established from the fact she was found in a remote area, and internet searches made between May 27 and June 23.

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 added.

If you are in distress or despair contact Samaritans on 116 123.
Completed Phase 3 clinical study paves way for approval request

DUBAI, UAE, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Healthcare solutions provider Global Response Aid (GRA) and Dr. Reddy's Laboratories (NYSE: RDY) announced that the anti-viral drug Avigan produced promising results in a single-blinded, placebo-controlled Phase 3 clinical study conducted in Japan with the sponsorship of FujiFilm Toyama Chemical.

Patients who received Avigan recovered from COVID-19 symptoms 2.8 days earlier, on average, compared with the control group. Analysis showed patients had a statistically significant higher probability to recover when administered Avigan compared with the patients not receiving the drug.

The study involved 156 hospitalized patients showing COVID-19 induced pneumonia, and divided in two groups or "arms." Patients in the first arm received Avigan. Patients in the second arm received a placebo looking identical to the drug. A statistically significant percentage of the patients in the group receiving Avigan had a rapid reduction in viral loads.

The study aimed to measure recovery from pneumonia and COVID-19 symptoms. It monitored patients' temperature, oxygen saturation and CT scan imaging of the lungs. Time-to-alleviation of the symptoms was measured between the first administration of the drug (or placebo) and the moment when SARS-COV-2 induced symptoms became undetectable.

Shortening recovery time lowers the risk of complications in patients and, importantly, significantly reduces the risk that a patient will spread the virus. The latest results open the possibility of treating patients with mild or moderate cases of COVID-19 in outpatient settings, which also could help slow the spread of the pandemic.

Avigan, which contains the active ingredient Favipiravir, was developed by FujiFilm Toyama Chemical in the 1990s as an anti-influenza drug. GRA, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, and FujiFilm Toyama recently entered a global licensing agreement covering the production, marketing and distribution of Avigan.

Results of the Japan trial suggest the effectiveness of Avigan as a treatment to prevent COVID-19 patients from progressing from mild to more severe or critical clinical stages of the disease, and to accelerate recovery from COVID-19 symptoms.

GRA CEO Mitch Wilson said the FujiFilm Toyama study represents a breakthrough in the fight against COVID-19, and opens the way for approval of Avigan as a COVID-19 treatment in Japan. The drug is already approved in India, Russia, Indonesia and other countries around the world.

"The findings from this university-led study are the proof we all need to tackle this pandemic," Wilson said. "We are actively working with regulators in order to speed up the approval in major markets. Because Avigan is manufactured in pill form the drug can be self-administered from home, which reduces patient load in hospitals and on medical staff. Furthermore Avigan does not require refrigerated transport or storage making it much easier to quickly distribute the drug to countries and markets with limited cold storage infrastructure"

Avigan is the subject of clinical trials in COVID-19 patients in several countries. It was used to treat COVID-19 patients in studies in China'sHubei province, led by the China-Japan Friendship Hospital. It is undergoing testing in the United States in a multi-site Phase 2 study involving initially hospitalized patients, a trial sponsored by FujiFilm Toyama Chemical. It also is the subject of an investigator-initiated Phase 2 study in subjects with mild or asymptomatic COVID-19 being conducted by the Stanford University School of Medicine.

Avigan Tablet was approved for manufacture and sale in Japan in 2014 as an influenza anti-viral drug. The drug is to be considered for use only when there is an outbreak of novel or re-emerging influenza virus infections in which other influenza anti-viral drugs are either not effective or insufficiently effective, and the Japanese government decides to use the drug as a countermeasure against such influenza viruses.

GRA is a Dubai-based company established by global logistics leader Agility (KSE: AGLTY) and AiPHARMA a biotechnology company to procure and develop certified diagnostic, testing and protective products and services used in the detection, treatment and prevention of COVID-19 and other public health threats.

About Global Response Aid (GRA)

Global Response Aid, based in Dubai, provides solutions to public health challenges. GRA was established by global logistics leader Agility and AiPHARMA a biotechnology company to procure and develop certified diagnostic, testing and protective products and services used in the detection, treatment and prevention of COVID-19 and other public health threats. GRA works with trusted manufacturers to source safe, effective products for governments, health authorities and public institutions; frontline medical facilities; NGOs; and companies looking to safeguard workers and workplaces. GRA-sourced products include ventilators, thermal detection equipment, thermometers, masks, goggles, protective suits, nitrile gloves, cleaning and sanitation supplies, and point-of-care test kits. GRA's mobile phone app helps stop the spread of viruses through the use of community-driven contact tracing and alerts. GRA also deploys Mobile Diagnostic Testing Vehicles and trained teams that perform COVID-19 testing at schools and workplaces.

For more information, please visit https://globalresponseaid.com/

About FUJIFILM

FUJIFILM Toyama Chemical Co., Ltd. conducts the research, development, manufacture, and sales of radiopharmaceuticals and small molecule pharmaceutical products. Under close cooperation with FUJIFILM Corporation, it aims to develop innovative diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals, as well as therapeutic drugs having unique mechanisms of action in the fields of "oncology," "central nervous system diseases," and "infectious diseases" where significant unmet medical needs still exist. It also works to develop new medicines utilizing drug delivery system (DDS) technologies, designed to deliver the required amount of a drug in a timely manner to the specific body area. By exploring synergy with in vitro diagnostic devices and reagents owned by Fujifilm group companies, the company will expand its offering of comprehensive solutions from diagnosis to treatment. FUJIFILM Toyama Chemical have expanded its business areas to medical IoT solutions including a system to support pharmacists' drug dispensing auditing work, and a transportation device that enables strict temperature control suited for blood products, cells and tissue used for regenerative medicine. Through the development and supply of high-quality, high added-value new drugs and products that support the clinical settings, FUJIFILM Toyama Chemical strives to solve various social challenges, and contribute to improving medicine and enhancing the quality of life.

For more information, please visit http://fftc.fujifilm.co.jp/en/

About Dr. Reddy's

About Dr. Reddy's: Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd. (BSE: 500124, NSE: DRREDDY, NYSE: RDY) is an integrated pharmaceutical company, committed to providing affordable and innovative medicines for healthier lives. Through its three businesses - Pharmaceutical Services & Active Ingredients, Global Generics and Proprietary Products - Dr. Reddy's offers a portfolio of products and services including APIs, custom pharmaceutical services, generics, biosimilars and differentiated formulations. Our major therapeutic areas of focus are gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, diabetology, oncology, pain management and dermatology. Dr. Reddy's operates in markets across the globe. Our major markets include - USA, India, Russia & CIS countries, and Europe.

For more information, log on to: www.drreddys.com

About AiPharma

AiPHARMA is an early-stage biotechnology company with regional offices in Boston, Dubai, Tokyo, Singapore and Hong Kong. Aipharma take a highly interdisciplinary approach to science, with services building upon work from leading academic labs in biophysics and algorithmic design that enables the acceleration of life science research and development in the pursuit of improved human health. The company leverages machine learning and automation to build platforms for science at scale. With its foundations in engineering disciplines, the company's platform technologies vertically integrate proprietary hardware, software, bioinformatics, chemistries, and molecular biology to advance basic research, target validation, and clinical trials.

For more information, log on to: www.aipharmalab.com

About Agility

Agility is a global logistics company with $5.2 billion in annual revenue and 26,000+ employees in more than 100 countries. It is one of the world's top freight forwarding and contract logistics providers, and a leader and investor in technology to enhance supply chain efficiency. Agility is a pioneer in emerging markets and one of the largest private owners and developers of warehousing and light industrial parks in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Agility's subsidiary companies offer fuel logistics, airport services, commercial real estate and facilities management, customs digitization, and remote infrastructure services.

For more information about Agility, visit www.agility.com

Twitter: twitter.com/agility

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/agility

YouTube: youtube.com/user/agilitycorp

Forward Looking Statement -- This news release includes forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, including the possibility of unfavorable results from clinical trials involving Avigan and the possibility that we may be unable to complete one or more of such trials in the currently anticipated timelines or at all. Further, it is possible that GRA and Dr. Reddy's may make a strategic decision to discontinue development of Avigan. As a result, Avigan may never be successfully commercialized. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those referred to in the forward-looking statements. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward- looking statements. These and other risks are described in detail in Dr. Reddy's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to GRA, and GRA assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements.
A government shutdown has been averted after the House of Representatives passed a temporary funding bill, shortly after President Donald Trump prevailed in a fight over his farm bailout.

House members voted 359-57 to approve the bill on Tuesday night, which will keep federal agencies fully up and running into December.

The vote came after considerable behind-the-scenes battling over proposed add-ons, with the final agreement now giving the Trump Administration immediate authority to dole out Agriculture Department subsidies in the run-up to Election Day.

'It's a big deal. This is cash flow to mom and pop businesses all over rural America,' said Texas Rep. Michael Conaway, top Republican on the House Agriculture Committee. '

On Monday, Democrat House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sparked furor among Republicans and farm-state Democrats when she initially proposed a bill that excluded the financing for cash-stricken farmers.

A government shutdown has been averted after the House of Representatives passed a temporary government-wide funding bill, shortly after President Donald Trump prevailed in a fight over his farm bailout.. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (left) and President Trump (right)

It became apparent that Pelosi did not have the votes to pass it. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell dismissed it as a 'rough draft', and negotiations continued.

Democrats have that the Trump administration has favored southern states such as Georgia - a key swing state and home of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue.

However, farmers are suffering from low commodity prices and the effects of higher tariffs imposed by President Trump. The Commander-in-chief announced a new $13 billion allotment of bailout funding at a political rally in Wisconsin last week.

In talks Tuesday, Pelosi restored the farm aid funding patch sought by the Trump Administration.

In return, Pelosi won COVID-related food aid for the poor, including an extension of a higher food benefit for families whose children are unable to receive free or reduced lunches because schools are closed over the coronavirus.

Another add-on would permit states to remove hurdles to food stamps and nutrition aid to low-income mothers that are more difficult to clear during the pandemic.

The passing of the bill averts a possible government shutdown. The last government shutdown, which stretched 35 days from December 22, 2018 until January 25, 2019 was the longest in US history

The stopgap funding bill also extends many programs whose funding or authorizations lapse on September 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.

The underlying stopgap measure deals with the 30 percent of the federal government's day-to-day budget that goes to Cabinet agency operations funded by Congress each year.

The bill came after bipartisan negotiations on a huge COVID-19 relief package imploded and appear unlikely to be rekindled - especially since the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has upended U.S. politics.

'We need to keep the government open but we also need additional COVID relief for the American people,' Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz
New London police photo

NEW LONDON  A Connecticut College student has been arrested in a voyeurism incident on campus, police said.

Shortly after 10 p.m. Saturday, police said they responded to a dorm on the Mohegan Avenue campus for a reported incident of voyeurism in a bathroom.
Panaji, Sep 23 : Mumbai-based filmmaker Sam Ahmed Bombay (46), who was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly molesting and assaulting his wife actress Poonam Pandey (29) following a "personal dispute" was on Wednesday released on conditional bail by a trial court.

Sam Bombay, who was been booked under Sections 353 (causing hurt), 353 (insult) 506 (criminal intimidation) and 354 (outraging modesty) of the Indian Penal Code, has been directed by the court to report before the investigating officer at the Canacona police station in South Goa for four days and cooperate with the investigation.

Pandey is a social media influencer and has also acted in Bollywood films like 'Nasha', 'The Journey of Karma', and 'Malini and Co'. She had married Sam Bombay last month.

Bombay was arrested after the police conducted enquiries at the South Goa hotel, where the assault allegedly took place.

In a statement, Goa Police said that the investigating officer had also requisitioned for CCTV footage of the incident.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 14:23:56|Editor: huaxia

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BUENOS AIRES, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Argentina reported a record daily increase of 470 in COVID-19 deaths, taking the death toll to 13,952, the Health Ministry said Tuesday.

Up to 12,027 cases were registered over the past 24 hours, raising the national count to 652,174 cases, it said.

Currently, 3,362 patients are being hospitalized for the disease in intensive care units, while 517,228 people have so far recovered, it added.

Argentina is under quarantine by a presidential decree from March 20 to Oct. 11 to mitigate the spread of the pandemic. Enditem
(Newser)  People angered by the indictment of a sole police officer in the Breonna Taylor case are marching in downtown Louisvillewhere cops have formed a line and arrested a few protesters, USA Today reports. The group had assembled early in Jefferson Square Park, the nerve center of protests for nearly 18 weeks, and marched after the news broke: A Kentucky grand jury had indicted one of three officers who burst into Taylor's apartment in March and shot her dead in an apparent exchange of gunfire with boyfriend Kenneth Walker. Former officer Brett Hankison was indicted on three counts of wanton endangerment related to shots that hit other apartments, not those that killed Taylor. For more:

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Protesters responded to the news by yelling, "That's it?" Some cursed, others wept, and one urged the crowd to burn the city down. An activist told the New York Times, "It tells people, cops can kill you in the sanctity of your own home."

The protesters marched through the streets followed by a police caravan while some officers stood by with assault rifles. After more than two hours, the vocal but peaceful protest was stopped by cops in riot gearwho suddenly pushed into the protesters with batons, throwing people down and arresting them. A cop on a loudspeaker announced that the assembly was hereby unlawful. The smell of a police chemical agent hung in the air. See video of the riot police here.

The city is under a state of emergency with an area of more than 25 blocks closed to traffic, the Courier-Journal reports. Most business and city administrative buildings were boarded up before the decision came out.

Demonstrations are planned nationwide, from Los Angeles to Brooklyn to Minneapolis and St. Paul, the Washington Post reports. The Times notes that Chicago is preparing itself for protests. Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, and the Rev. Jesse Jackson have denounced the grand jury's decision but called on people to protest peacefully.

(Read more Breonna Taylor stories.)
David Cameron's period in office as Prime Minister will be defined primarily by his victory over the Scottish nationalists in the independence referendum of 2014, but also ironically by his subsequent failure to win the UK referendum on European Union membership in June 2016.

Cameron privately agonised over the vexed question of Scottish independence.

At the time he made clear to lobby correspondents that he dreaded going down as the British Prime Minister who was to be blamed for the success of the independence campaign and the break-up of the UK.

He had already conceded the controversial issue of a referendum to Alex Salmond and his Scottish National Party in 2012. He did so, cleverly, in order to diminish their growing campaign for an independent Scotland.

Cameron believed that in conceding a legally binding referendum he would seem to be more conciliatory and that would appeal to the good sense of the ordinary Scottish voter.

To have refused after the SNP had won the Scottish election in 2011 specifically on a pledge of a referendum, would have been seen as an extreme provocation by a high-handed English Tory Government at Westminster.

This rather benign approach was in total contrast to the bull-headed and inflexible attitude of the Spanish Government in dealing with the unilateral Catalan independence referendum.

Madrid's hardline approach was massively counter-productive and simply provoked greater support for the Catalan independence movement and much political sympathy from abroad.

Cameron was therefore a much-relieved man when the result came in favour of Scotland remaining within the UK.

The 55%/45% victory was a more than respectable win after a campaign that was effectively fought out over two years.

It should have put the notion of Scottish independence to bed for at least 10 years, if not a generation.

But that was not to happen, primarily because Cameron conceded yet another referendum to anti-European campaigners, especially fellow Tories like Boris Johnson and Michael Gove.

Although he was trying to outsmart the Brexiteers within his own party, Cameron was primarily concerned with defeating the surge in support for Ukip under Nigel Farage.

Its growing support posed an enormous threat to the Conservative Party throughout England, where the whole issue of immigration was unhealthily entangled with European Union membership.

This seriously threatened the chance of another Conservative win in the 2015 general election.

But the concession of a referendum on Europe seemed to do the trick with the electorate in defeating Ukip and the return of Cameron to Number 10 Downing Street.

The problem was that he had to deliver on the referendum promise, which unfortunately led to the Brexit victory of June 2016.

This came as a huge shock for Cameron. He had confidently calculated that he would win the referendum on Europe, as he had successfully done in Scotland. As a result he resigned as Prime Minister.

But an even greater consequence was the fact that Scotland and ourselves here in Northern Ireland had voted clearly in favour of remaining within the European Union.

The Scottish vote in favour of remaining was the highest in the UK at 62%.

This did much to refuel the-then badly deflated cause of independence and led to a progressive rise in support for the pro-European SNP and independence itself. Being pro-European and pro-independence had converged.

Although they narrowly missed out on winning an overall majority in the Scottish parliament in 2016, with the support of the pro-independence Greens they were able to form a majority government once again at Holyrood. Remarkably, they have been in power continuously since 2007.

An improved majority in Holyrood in the parliamentary election next May will mark an important consolidation of the SNP as the natural governing party in Scotland.

But that alone does not guarantee that a further referendum on independence would be successful, if permitted by the Prime Minister Johnson.

He has already declared his opposition to another independence vote, but it could eventually become politically impossible for him to refuse one if the Scottish nationalists win a landslide victory in next year's elections.

All the signs are that they will do very well indeed. Recent opinion polls also put the pro-independence vote consistently at over 50%-plus of the electorate.

If Johnson were to recklessly adopt the disastrous tactics of the Spanish Government in Madrid, he would simply be playing into the hands of the SNP.

The reality is that he will at some point have to concede a referendum to Nicola Sturgeon, just like his Tory predecessor Cameron did to Salmond.

But if Scotland does go independent - which now is quite probable - how much longer can Northern Ireland remain within the UK?
Property owners across Texas Gulf Coast insured by the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association will have to wait two months longer to find out if their rates will be going up.

Members of TWIAs Actuarial and Underwriting Committee, which has been tasked with coming up with a recommendation for how to handle projected shortfalls in commercial and residential rates, met Tuesday to review an independent report about how TWIA determines its risks and rate needs.

The committee brought actuary firm Willis Towers Watson on board earlier in the year to review the estimates from TWIA staff and come up with their own rate considerations based on best practices. The committee discussed the report that was released publicly last week but didnt make a rate filing recommendation as discussed in its last meeting in August.

Instead, the committee members voted unanimously to have TWIA provide more information that the firm said could make its report more accurate and decided to meet again the week of Nov. 30 so it might be able to submit a rate recommendation before the full board meets in December.

Jade Nguyen, a senior vice president with Willis Towers Watson, said the added data would bring more detail to portions of its loss analysis of TWIAs policies, but there was no guarantee it would lessen TWIAs need for higher rates in the future.

More detailed data doesnt necessarily mean it would lead to a decrease (of the rating consideration), Nguyen said.

Using slightly different methods to estimate the associations liability, the firm determined that current rates for TWIAs residential policies could fall 32% short of covering a maximum-loss scenario. Commercial policies were determined inadequate by 42%.

The latest internal review completed by TWIA staff in July indicated a 44% rate inadequacy for residential coverage and 49% for commercial.

State Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi, asked committee members during the public comment portion of the meeting to delay any kind of rate increase while the COVID-19 pandemic and economic recession is impacting coastal residents.

Let the Legislature look at some of your legislative proposals as well as rates, Hunter said. There is no guarantee we will all agree or disagree, but I think hitting everybody with a rate hike is terrible timing and I think a more constructive approach is to work together to see what goals can be achieved so we dont have a continuous situation of actuarial issues versus rates.

Hunter was appointed to the Windstorm Insurance Legislative Funding and Funding Structure Oversight Board in February.

Georgia Neblett, a committee member and member of the TWIA board of directors, made a motion similar to Hunters request near the end of the meeting aimed at having the committee make recommendations of 0% rate changes until the COVID-19 pandemic is over.

The motion was defeated four votes to three.

jacob.dick@beaumontenterprise.com

twitter.com/jd_journalism
HAMILTON, Bermuda, Sept. 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Teekay Corporation (Teekay) (NYSE:TK), Teekay LNG Partners L.P. (Teekay LNG) (NYSE:TGP) and Teekay Tankers Ltd. (Teekay Tankers) (NYSE:TNK) (collectively, the Teekay Group) today announced that they have joined the United Nations Global Compact, the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative.



The United Nations Global Compact calls for companies to align their operations and strategies with ten universal principles in the areas of human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption, and to take action in support of UN goals and issues embodied in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

We are proud to join the UN Global Compact, reinforcing our groups deep, long-standing commitment to responsible safety and environmental practices, commented Kenneth Hvid, Teekays President and CEO. We are fully committed to further advancing sustainability and responsible business practices in order to meet the growing expectations of our stakeholders and global society as a whole. We look forward to continue reporting on our annual progress to support the UN Global Compact principles.

Teekay is joining more than 11,000 companies in almost 160 countries worldwide that have committed to making the UN Global Compact and its principles part of their strategy, culture, and day-to-day operations. Earlier this year, the Teekay Group published its 2019 Sustainability Report . For more information about Teekays commitment to sustainability, visit www.teekay.com .

About Teekay

Teekay is a leading provider of international crude oil and gas marine transportation services and also provides offshore production. Teekay provides these services primarily through its directly-owned fleet and its controlling ownership interests in Teekay LNG Partners L.P. (NYSE:TGP), one of the worlds largest independent owners and operators of LNG carriers, and Teekay Tankers Ltd. (NYSE:TNK), one of the worlds largest owners and operators of mid-sized crude tankers. The consolidated Teekay entities manage and operate total assets under management of approximately $10 billion, comprised of approximately 140 liquefied gas, offshore, and conventional tanker assets. With offices in 10 countries and approximately 5,500 seagoing and shore-based employees, Teekay provides a comprehensive set of marine services to the worlds leading oil and gas companies.

Teekays common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange where it trades under the symbol TK.

About Teekay LNG

Teekay LNG is one of the worlds largest independent owners and operators of LNG carriers, providing LNG and LPG services primarily under long-term, fee-based charter contracts through its interests in 47 LNG carriers, 23 mid-size LPG carriers, and seven multi-gas carriers. Teekay LNGs ownership interests in these vessels range from 20 to 100 percent. In addition, Teekay LNG owns a 30 percent interest in a regasification terminal. Teekay LNG is a publicly-traded master limited partnership formed by Teekay Corporation (NYSE: TK) as part of its strategy to expand its operations in the LNG and LPG shipping sectors.

Teekay LNGs common units and preferred units trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols TGP, TGP PR A and TGP PR B, respectively.

About Teekay Tankers

Teekay Tankers currently has a fleet of 52 double-hull tankers (including 26 Suezmax tankers, 17 Aframax tankers and nine LR2 product tankers), and also has four time chartered-in tankers. Teekay Tankers vessels are typically employed through a mix of short- or medium-term fixed-rate time charter contracts and spot tanker market trading. Teekay Tankers also owns a Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) through a 50 percent-owned joint venture. In addition, Teekay Tankers owns a ship-to-ship transfer business that performs full service lightering and lightering support operations in the U.S. Gulf and Caribbean. Teekay Tankers was formed in December 2007 by Teekay Corporation as part of its strategy to expand its conventional oil tanker business.

Teekay Tankers Class A common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TNK.

For Investor Relations

enquiries contact:
On October 27, just over a month after this story was written, NXIVM founder Keith Raniere was sentenced to 120 years in federal prison.

In mid-October 2016, I'd been let go from a job as Digital Managing Editor with a prominent regional publisher. It was the third full-time, online position I'd held that decade, each one of them lasting less than half a year. This was hard to square with the long tenures I'd spent in three different print newsrooms throughout the aughts. I'd gotten stuck in the gears of a sea change in how content was manufactured and consumed. Even a website I'd created with a friend to critique contemporary media couldn't quite keep pace with contemporary media itself.

My goal at that point became the pursuit of something pure and essential  journalism that was truly in the public interest and animated by a kind of scrappy entrepreneurialism. That's when I saw a provocative ad on generally trustworthy job-postings site Mediabistro for something called The Knife, or The Knife of Aristotle. (Or, depending on whom I was eventually emailing and which of its web and social media touchpoints I consulted, The Knife Media.) The listing described a kind of fellowship opportunity with an independent journalism startup overseen by radical thinkers. Its Twitter bio proclaimed, "The Knife Media strips news of spin so its just the news. We rate sources so you know what to believe. Finally, we show media distortion so youre not misled."

The ad is no longer archived, nor is the Knife's landing page. Its social-media channels, which announced the Knife's abrupt closure in August 2018, are still viewable. Not coincidentally, they ceased posting a few weeks after news broke that an Albany, New York-based self-help organization named NXIVM  which has since been outed as a cult outfit engaged in all manner of fraud, conspiracy and even sex trafficking  halted its recruitment and membership activity. That's because the Knife was one of many NXIVM spinoffs funded by its wealthy benefactors and envisioned by founder Keith Raniere (who will be sentenced on racketeering and sex-trafficking convictions on October 27) as a way to round out its member retention. It was also a primary focus of a recent episode of HBO's docuseries The Vow, which tells the story of NXIVM from the perspective of those who escaped it, including Mark Vicente, who describes having spearheaded the Knife.

So if you're wondering whether I became a disciple of NXIVM and the Knife, the answer is no.

But I did respond to the Mediabistro ad, and was elevated to the next steps of the application process. I had email exchanges with individuals integral to the operation. However, I became very skeptical very fast. I began connecting the dots between the Knife and NXIVM. I spoke at length with a blogger named Frank Parlato who'd been trying to expose NXIVM for years and is cited often in The Vow. I even made a half-hearted attempt to ingratiate myself with them undercover.

Alas, my correspondence with the Knife concluded sharply when I started asking some tough questions before buying a train ticket up to Albany for its introductory seminar. My cover was effectively blown. In successive messages in late October '16 from "Knife Scholarship Coordinator" Analea Holland (nee Analea De La Fuente, whose Facebook profile and praise for NXIVM leaders like disgraced actress Allison Mack are still viewable), I was reprimanded as follows: "It appears that you believe what the internet reports on us is true. If that is the case, and you are not willing to question what the media reports in general, then yes, it's best that you not pursue this opportunity. We seek people who are able to sort through dishonorable information and distinguish that from ethical reporting." I was ultimately told: "It doesn't seem that you are serious about considering this as a career opportunity so, it's best we leave it at that."

As it turns out, and as Vicente details in The Vow, the Knife was specifically created to discredit media that were reporting factually on NXIVM's sordid dealings  and that was before more serious discoveries of enslaving, sexually assaulting and branding female subjects.

So what did I learn from all this about my career path and when to spot a bill of goods (or in NXIVM's case, something far more sinister)? A few things....

Location, location, location

I love Albany. I graduated from University at Albany. But it seemed unlikely that an insurgent news organization with the Knife's raison d'etre and subversive messaging would coalesce around New York's modest capital city, three hours north of Manhattan. As it turns out, Albany and its adjacent suburb, Clifton Park, were merely where Raniere  who grew up in Brooklyn and upstate Rockland County  settled so he could somewhat fly under the radar while he lured folks in from Hollywood and other metropolises to enrich his organization and embolden his messianiac fantasies. So the next time you're enticed by an entity or recruiter with a lofty mission statement but conspicuously unassuming base of operations, it might be worth considering whether you're about to get derailed.

Related: The 6 Scary Truths About Becoming an Entrepreneur

Beware gaslighting

Per Psychology Today, "gaslighting" is summed up as "a tactic in which a person or entity, in order to gain more power, makes a victim question their reality." In the past few years, the term has evolved from a relatively obscure shorthand for manipulation into quite the bipartisan buzzword. But when, as in my interaction with Ms. Holland, an affable recruiter snaps back questions about their organization by implying that you're intellectually inferior, there's no other term that fits. You are entitled to perform due diligence on any organization before doing business with or for them, no different than your right to vet a romantic partner before committing to more than casual flirtation. If the appointed representative for that organization strikes a defenisve, "It's not me, it's you" posture before you even get into formal negotiations, it's probably a sign that your counterpart isn't a match, and possibly unstable.

Related: It's Time to Talk About Startup Scam Artists

Google is your friend

The Knife's unstated purpose was to water down defamatory search results about NXIVM, but the internet is like an MRI of an organization's soul. While NXIVM had yet to be investigated by the New York Times, it had been the subject of concerned reporting by Albany Times-Union going back to the early 2000s. That, coupled with my efforts to contact Frank Parlato, required the bare minimum of my time before taking anything else Ms. Holland or her employer had to say at face value. We're all in search of innovators and leaders who can inspire us to engage in something meaningful, but you can't suspend diseblief, and there's no excuse for not digging beneath the topsoil of whatever seems too good to be true.

Don't follow Elon Musk's advice on everything

Guess who loved The Knife because it loved him first?

Save and record everything

If a strange new partnership feels funny in your gut, but curiosity still compels you to see where it leads, at least preserve all correspondence. You never know when you might need it in court, or to step back and assess a situation once you're in the weeds, or to write an article several years later about how you weighed the veracity of an ostensible startup that turned out to be the conspiratorial arm of a deluded psychopath's criminal cult.

Read the Bold Print

One of the Knife's undoings  and, ultimately, NXIVM's  was there was no "there" there. The Knife's earliest messaging was sensational enough to bring in what I assume was a wide range informational inquiries. But once I started seeking out any kind of nuance beyond broad sloganeering, it was clear that their rhetoric was a smokescreen. (Plus, Ms. Holland's persistence in putting off any further debriefing until I could make myself available on Skype video, and presumably be recorded, wasn't exactly discreet.) The moral? Don't be duped by slick presentation and fortune-teller misdirection. If an entity withers under the slightest cross-examination and your search for substance turns up pablum, then it's probably a front.

Get a second opinion

Two heads are emphatically better than one when it comes to any life decision, particularly if you're struggling to distinguish between justified reservations about an endeavor and a tendency toward timidness or reluctance. When I asked my wife for her thoughts on whether the Knife's original Mediabistro ad scanned as above board or bottom-feeding, her notion was it couldn't hurt to apply in the event that, worst case, their motives wound up being a story worth covering in itself. (Whoulda thunk?) You needn't twist yourself into knots, privately deliberating over something's surface virtues or second-guessing what you've discovered on the internet, when you can bounce all those questions and information off someone who understands what drives you. Hell, ask your therapist if necessary. Just don't ask me, because clearly I have terrible judgment.

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President Donald Trump refused on Wednesday to commit to a peaceful transition of power if he loses the 2020 election to Democratic nominee Joe Biden.

"Well, we'll have to see what happens. You know that. I've been complaining very strongly about the ballots. And the ballots are a disaster," Trump said at a White House news conference. It appeared Trump was referring to mail-in ballots, which he has repeatedly condemned, without evidence, as susceptible to massive fraud.

The president had been asked by a reporter if he would commit to a peaceful transfer of power, "win, lose or draw."

When the reporter noted that "people are rioting," Trump replied: "Get rid of the ballots, and you'll have a very  you'll have a very peaceful  there won't be a transfer, frankly, there'll be a continuation."

"The ballots are out of control," Trump said. "The Democrats know it better than anybody else."

The Biden campaign responded by saying: "The American people will decide this election. And the United States government is perfectly capable of escorting trespassers out of the White House."

The Trump campaign pushed back on criticism of the president's answer. "The premise of the question the president was asked assumed that he would lose, which he naturally disagrees with, meaning there will not be a change in administration," said spokesman Tim Murtaugh.

Minutes after Trump discussed the potential outcome of the election, the president abruptly left the briefing room, telling the press, "I have to leave to take an emergency phone call."

The White House did not respond to a request for details on Trump's departure.

Trump in his brief time at the rostrum also discussed his planned announcement of a nominee to fill the Supreme Court seat vacated by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

"I think it will be a great nominee, a brilliant nominee," Trump said, noting that he had already committed to selecting a female judge for the Supreme Court.

Ginsburg, the court's senior liberal associate justice, died Friday evening at age 87 due to complications from pancreatic cancer.

Trump and most Senate Republicans, especially Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, have signaled eagerness to have Ginsburg's seat filled before the Nov. 3 election.

Doing so would likely cement a conservative majority on the nine-member bench, which could alter the trajectory of U.S. law for decades to come.

It could also play a central role in the near term. With the coronavirus pandemic spurring massive changes to vote-by-mail rules in numerous states, the 2020 election has already become a battlefield of partisan litigation.

The president has already predicted that the high court will decide the winner.

"I think this well end up in the Supreme Court and I think it's very important that we have nine justices, and I think the system's going to go very quickly," Trump said at the White House earlier Wednesday.
NEW YORK: US President Donald Trump told the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday that China must be held accountable for having "unleashed" COVID-19 on the world, prompting Beijing to accuse him of "lies" and abusing the UN platform to provoke confrontation.

China`s President Xi Jinping struck a conciliatory tone in his pre-recorded virtual address to the General Assembly, calling for enhanced cooperation over the pandemic and stressing that China had no intention of fighting "either a Cold War or a hot war with any country."

But China`s UN ambassador Zhang Jun rejected Trump`s accusations against China as "baseless" and said "lies repeated a thousand times are still lies."

Trump and Xi, leaders of the world`s two largest economies, laid out competing visions at a time when relations have plunged to their worst level in decades, with coronavirus tensions aggravating trade and technology disputes.

Trump, facing a November re-election battle with the United States dealing with the world`s highest official number of deaths and infections from the coronavirus, focused his speech on attacking China.

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.

"We must hold accountable the nation which unleashed this plague onto the world, China," he said in remarks taped on Monday and delivered remotely to the General Assembly due to the pandemic.

"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," he said.

"Later, they falsely said people without symptoms would not spread the disease ... The United Nations must hold China accountable for their actions."

The president promised to distribute a vaccine and said: "We will defeat the virus, and we will end the pandemic."

`GET THROUGH THIS TOGETHER`

Xi`s address contained what appeared to be an implicit rebuke to Trump, calling for a global response to the coronavirus and a leading role for the WHO, which the US president has announced plans to leave.

"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 ... Any attempt of politicizing the issue, or stigmatization, must be rejected.

The WHO rejected Trump`s remarks.

"No one gov`t controls us," its communications director, Gabby Stern tweeted, adding: "On Jan. 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."

Russian President Vladimir Putin told the General Assembly the WHO should be strengthened to coordinate the global response to the pandemic and proposed a high-level conference on vaccine cooperation.

China has portrayed itself as the chief cheerleader for multilateralism at a time when Trump`s disregard for international cooperation has led him to quit global deals on climate and Iran, as well as the UN Human Rights Council and the WHO.

Xi took an apparent swipe at Trump`s "America First" policy in a statement on Monday to a meeting celebrating 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. 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 US coronavirus death toll surpassed 200,000 on Monday, by far the highest official number of any country.

Trump also attacked China`s record on the environment, but leveled no direct criticism at Beijing over human rights.

Trump, a frequent critic of the UN, said that if it was to be effective, it must focus on "the real problems of the world" like "terrorism, the oppression of women, forced labor, drug trafficking, human and sex trafficking, religious persecution, and the ethnic cleansing of religious minorities."

In his UN address, French President Emmanuel Macron called for an international mission under UN auspices to visit China`s Xinjiang region to look into concerns about alleged abuses of Muslims there.

China`s envoy Zhang Jun issued a statement in response to Trump`s remarks, accusing the United States of "abusing the platform of the United Nations to provoke confrontation and create division."

In his speech, Xi announced plans to boost China`s Paris climate accord target and called for a green revolution, just minutes after Trump blasted China for "rampant pollution."

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that the world was "moving in a very dangerous direction" with US-China tensions.

"We must do everything to avoid a new Cold War," he said. "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."
The CZU Lightning Complex, which burned 86,509 acres in San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties, was 100% contained on Tuesday evening, Cal Fire said.

The fires destroyed 925 residences, damaged 90 residences, killed one person and injured a person, Cal Fire said.

The complex was sparked by lightning on August 16. It was among other clusters of wildfires sparked by lightning in August across Northern California, including the LNU Lightning Complex and SCU Lightning Complex. The LNU is 98% contained while the SCU is also 98% contained.

Remember, contained is not controlled, Cal Fires San Mateo - Santa Cruz Unit urged residents on Twitter. We will continue to monitor this fire for smoldering areas.

Containing a fire refers to when the blaze is contained within control lines but has the potential to jump a boundary line, while controlling a fire refers to when there is no further threat of it jumping a containment line, according to Cal Fire.

Wildfires of this size can burn for several months before they are completely extinguished.

In a one minute and 18 second video posted to the units Twitter page, firefighters read handwritten cards penned by residents impacted by the fires.

Fire Tracker Follow wildfires across the state Latest updates on wildfires burning across Northern and Southern California

Firefighters read aloud portions of multiple cards, saying, Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, You and your team have done incredible work protecting our communities, I lived by your press briefings as I was evacuated, and Thank you for saving my humble abode.

Lauren Hernandez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: lauren.hernandez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ByLHernandez
PARIS: Frances president on Tuesday demanded an immediate explanation from Russia over the poisoning of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, warning that Paris would not allow its red lines on the use of chemical weapons to be crossed.

We will not tolerate the use of chemical weapons in Europe, in Russia or in Syria," Emmanuel Macron told the U.N. General Assembly.

This clarification must be swift and flawless because we will enforce our red lines," Macron said. The Kremlin has denied any involvement.

Macron did not elaborate on what would be done if Russia did not provide satisfactory explanations.

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 threat of civil unrest looms over the nation as the election approaches and partisan debate becomes more divisive. The fate of the high court hangs in the balance whilst racial avarice informs nearly every conversation.

And all of that is nearly as scary as pundits, keyboard warriors and trolls of all manner risking asphyxiation by way of gabbing about doom & gloom endlessly in order to manufacture some sort of meaning for lives of quiet desperation with little to no impact on the decisions that determine that fate of so many lives.



Check the links:



KCTV5 Covers Shop Talk: Local companies elevating conversations about diversity

C.J. Talks Tough On Partisan Hack Blog: Were so close to civil war, everyone can smell the smoke

Fox4 Bring Conversation Home: Johnson County group starts docuseries on race, police encounters to share personal stories

Developing . . .
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has signalled his government is willing to negotiate with crossbench MPs to get a controversial new law through parliament that would give state officials the power to detain people considered a high risk of spreading COVID-19.

Under the proposed law, health authorities could forcibly detain people they suspect would be likely to spread the virus. The rules could be applied to conspiracy theorists who refuse to self-isolate or severely drug-affected or mentally impaired people who do not have the capacity to quarantine.

The body representing Victoria's barristers has written to the Andrews government warning the proposed laws could breach the state's human rights charter and allow citizens to be placed in arbitrary detention.

The Omnibus (Emergency Measures) Bill, which passed the government-controlled lower house on Friday also allows the government to expand its ranks of authorised officers to include PSOs, WorkSafe inspectors and non-government workers.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 13:02:49|Editor: huaxia

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-Both COVID-19 cases and related deaths numbers in the United States account for roughly one fifth of the global totals, while the U.S. population is equivalent to less than 5 percent of the world's population.



-The White House has sought to deflect blame by engaging in wars of words with state officials and reshaping narratives of its response to the pandemic.

-Robert Redfield, director of the CDC, said that a vaccine probably wouldn't be widely available to the American public until "late second quarter, third quarter 2021."





WASHINGTON, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The United States hit another grim milestone on Tuesday, becoming the first in the world to have reported more than 200,000 COVID-19 deaths.

As people across the country are mourning the losses, health experts have criticized the federal government's handling of the pandemic and urged officials to reflect on the failures as new challenges are ahead in fall and winter and the timetable for a coronavirus vaccine remains unclear.

RESPONSE UNDER CRITICISM

There have been 200,005 coronavirus deaths as of Tuesday noon, while the number of infections has exceeded 6.8 million, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. Both numbers account for roughly one fifth of the global totals, while the U.S. population is equivalent to less than 5 percent of the world's population.

U.S. national flags representing the 200,000 lives lost to COVID-19 in the United States are placed on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Sept. 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

"The idea of 200,000 deaths is really very sobering and in some respects, stunning," Anthony Fauci, director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told a virtual conference hosted by CNN on Tuesday.

Fauci, the country's leading infectious diseases expert and a member of the White House coronavirus task force, refused to grade how the United States has handled the pandemic but said instead the numbers speak for themselves. "Take a look at the numbers and make up your own mind," he said. "We don't need a soundbite from me. Take a look at the numbers."

Now the largest epicenter of the public health crisis, the United States was not the first to have an outbreak. U.S. health authorities reported the first coronavirus case on Jan. 20 and the first death in late February.

However, for weeks and even months, top government officials had tried to play down the threat of the virus to the U.S. pubic and thus wasted valuable time for preparation and mobilization despite early and repeated warnings from the international community and health pundits.

"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 (CDC).

After a wider outbreak, the U.S. federal government took a series of measures against the spread of the coronavirus but met with criticism for being late or not strong enough. Its messaging on the pandemic had largely been dominated by politicians rather than scientists whom polls have showed Americans appear to trust more. For example, the White House didn't endorse the use of masks against coronavirus until July, a measure that experts have agreed could help reduce infections and save more lives.

At times, the White House had tried to sideline or undercut its officials and scientists inclined to talk bluntly about the pandemic, while putting political pressure on health agencies and even interfered with their work, creating confusion and damaging public trust.

"Unfortunately we've seen scientists, public health officials and our government science agencies can be badly undermined," tweeted Tom Inglesby, director of the Center for Health Security at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. "We've witnessed scientific recommendations get changed by a political process."

Meanwhile, the White House has sought to deflect blame by engaging in wars of words with state officials and reshaping narratives of its response to the pandemic. That blame-shifting game has even gone beyond the borders. In July, the United States officially notified the World Health Organization (WHO) of its withdrawal from the specialized UN agency, a roundly criticized move that has put the global fight against the pandemic in danger.

People walk in Times Square during the COVID-19 pandemic in New York, the United States, Sept. 13, 2020. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua)

According to a new 13-nation Pew Research Center survey, a median of just 15 percent say the United States has done a good job of dealing with the outbreak. In contrast, most have positive views on the WHO's response, and in nearly all nations, people give their own country positive marks for handling the crisis, with the United States being a notable exception.

NEW CHALLENGES AHEAD

After peaks in summer that saw daily coronavirus cases as high as more than 70,000 in the United States, the number of new infections a day has overall been on the decline, but in the past week there were still at least 33,000 diagnoses and hundreds of deaths in a single day. Several Midwestern states have recently reported record numbers of single day infections.

"We're all sick and tired of the pandemic, but unfortunately Covid is not tired of making us sick. It's still out there -- lots of people are infectious and the virus remains deadly," Frieden tweeted earlier. "We're not out of the woods. Another 100,000 people could die by the end of the year unless we improve our response."

Leana Wen, visiting professor of health policy and management at the George Washington University's Milken Institute School of Public Health, urged people not to let down their guard, tweeting that "the same public health measures we've discussed all along are still our best protection."

Students study online at a recreation center in Los Angeles, the United States, on Sept. 3, 2020. (Xinhua)

While most students are attending classes virtually this fall, others in some parts of the United States are returning to school. News of coronavirus clusters turning up on campuses has recently broken out one after another, frustrating local efforts to flatten the curve and dampening progress on reopening the economy and communities.

"The back-to-school season has brought new infections in colleges and universities nationwide. COVID-19 cases in students and children will continue to rise," Stanley Perlman, professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of Iowa, told Xinhua.

More than 150 colleges and universities in the United States have reported at least 100 coronavirus cases over the course of the pandemic, including dozens that have seen spikes in recent weeks, according to a survey conducted by The New York Times.

A total of 587,948 children in the country tested positive for the disease as of Sept. 17, the American Academy of Pediatrics and Children's Hospital Association said in a report released Monday, adding that 74,553 new child cases were reported from Sept. 3 through Sept. 17, a 15-percent increase over two weeks.

Experts also noted that the overlap of the coronavirus pandemic and the flu season, which started in fall, could strain health care capacity, making upcoming months very challenging.

"Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, reducing the spread of respiratory illnesses, like flu, this fall and winter is more important than ever," the U.S. CDC said on its website. "CDC recommends getting a flu vaccination in September or October but getting vaccinated anytime during the flu season can help protect you."

Ali Nouri, a molecular biologist and president of the Federation of American Scientists, a policy think tank dedicated to addressing pandemics and other global risks, tweeted that "everyone needs to have a plan and prepare for the winter months." "Without precautions, spending more time indoors, often in crowded and poorly ventilated spaces, will exacerbate the pandemic," he warned.

VACCINE TIMETABLE UNCLEAR

Perlman said he thinks "the numbers of cases may surge in fall and winter" in the United States but hopes that "with appropriate measures and perhaps a vaccine, the surge will be less than we fear." However, the timetable for a COVID-19 vaccine remains unclear and has been confusing.

An electronic screen shows an advertisement calling for plasma donation from patients recovered from COVID-19 on Times Square in New York, the United States, Aug. 19, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

U.S. President Donald Trump, who is seeking reelection this year, has been pushing for the distribution of vaccines before the Election Day in early November, as the pandemic is a key campaign topic and criticism of his administration's response has put a drag on the prospects of the Republican's second term.

Earlier this month, the U.S. CDC asked state officials to prepare for vaccine distribution for high-priority groups as early as Nov. 1. Moncef Slaoui, scientific head of Operation Warp Speed, a White House program designed to shorten the amount of time it takes to develop a coronavirus vaccine, has said that it is "possible but very unlikely" that a vaccine will be ready to distribute by then.

During a hearing with a Senate subcommittee last week, Robert Redfield, director of the CDC, said that a vaccine probably wouldn't be widely available to the American public until "late second quarter, third quarter 2021."

Several vaccines are currently in trials.

Trump has rejected Redfield's remarks, calling them "incorrect information." "I think he made a mistake when he said that," Trump told reporters last week. "I called him and he didn't tell me that. I think he got the message maybe confused, maybe it was stated incorrectly."

Fauci said on Tuesday that "people can have projections of what they think might happen" but no one really knows when a vaccine will be ready.

"The system is a double-blind, placebo controlled system -- which means that there's an independent data and safety monitoring board that has nothing to do with politics or politicians, that has nothing to do essentially with the company, or the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), or the people who are doing the trial," he explained. "Nobody knows what those data are because no one has looked at them. They are blinded."

Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Robert Redfield attends a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing on "Review of Coronavirus Response Efforts" on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Sept. 16, 2020. (Andrew Harnik/Pool via Xinhua)

It is also not sure how effective a COVID-19 vaccine will ultimately be. The U.S. FDA said in June that it would authorize a vaccine if it was safe and at least 50 percent effective in preventing the disease or decreasing the severity of infections. Fauci has previously acknowledged that chances of scientists creating a highly effective vaccine are "not great."

Lawrence Gostin, professor of global health law and director of the O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University, tweeted that "so much can go wrong" with COVID-19 vaccines, including the FDA approval, adequate supplies, equitable distribution, and vaccine hesitancy, as well as "concerns about liability and fair compensation for vaccine injuries." (Video reporters: Zhang Mocheng, Hu Yousong and Tan Yixiao; Video editors: Ma Ruxuan.)
By Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi

Tin House. 560 pp. $27.95

- - -

Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi sets her blazing new novel, "A Girl Is a Body of Water," in the conflicted nation of her adolescence: 1970s Uganda, under the brutal rule of dictator Idi Amin. Protagonist and heroine Kirabo is 12, growing up safely and happily in the village of Nattetta, raised by her paternal grandparents. She doesn't know who her mother is, and her father, Tom, flits in and out, busy with his position on the country's Coffee Marketing Board.

We meet Kirabo as she decides she must learn more about her mother. She asks the "village witch," Nsuuta, to help her. As we'll learn, Nsuuta is not only wise, she's also closely tied to Kirabo's family. Their first conversation reveals both Nsuuta's high hopes for her young friend and a running theme in the novel: a woman's hard-won wisdom.

Kirabo, spirited and smart, has desires and ambitions that she defines as a second self ready to fly out of her and misbehave; these feelings terrify her. Nsuuta explains that this "flying out" is a special ability, stemming from woman's "original state." Women, Nsuuta says, terrify men, which is why men keep them under such rigid control. In another time, "we were not squeezed inside, we were huge, strong, bold, loud, proud, brave, independent," Nsuuta explains. "But it was too much for the world and they got rid of it. However, occasionally that state is reborn in a girl like you."

The author brooks no sentimentality, especially once Kirabo goes to live with her father, his wife and their children in the city. There, her Aunt Abi instructs her on how to elongate her labia to enhance her sexual experience, but Kirabo's first great love, Sio, refers to the practice as genital mutilation. As Kirabo protests that this traditional practice is the opposite of female circumcision - "On the contrary, we enhance" - the hypocrisy is evident: Women cannot win, whether the system is set to deprive them of pleasure or to heighten it.

In fact, the system seems to be continuously working against the female characters. The older wives Kirabo knows, like Nsuuta and her grandmother Alikisa, are forced into polygamist marriages. Tom's wife Nnambi, despite her upscale city privileges, still fears the idea of Kirabo's mother, even Kirabo herself. One of the book's starkest scenes involves Nnambi telling the 16-year-old Kirabo to go sleep in her father's bed, saying Kirabo is his real wife. This cruelty, born of envy, is a reminder of the huge rifts that can develop between factions in unjust societies - including our own. But sometimes that inequality can also spark bonds.

In one affecting scene, Alikisa, who knows Nsuuta has been carrying on with her husband Miiro for decades, visits her old friend in the hospital. Kirabo marvels at this event, believing the two women are mortal enemies. What she won't understand for several years is that the relationships between women can have wide gaps and tight ties at the same time. In Makumbi's glorious telling, their connections are as complex as they are.

- - -

Patrick is the editor, most recently, of "The Books That Changed My Life: Reflections by 100 Authors, Actors, Musicians and Other Remarkable People."
Two men have been arrested after a man was stabbed to death during a chaotic night in Surfers Paradise.

Police were forced to shut down parts of the party district after the 27-year-old man was knifed on Cavill Avenue near Orchard Avenue at about 9pm on Wednesday.

The victim suffered a stab wound to his torso and was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital, where he died a short time later.

Police cars are seen near Orchard Avenue and Cavill Avenue after a man was fatally stabbed on Wednesday night

Footage captured on Wednesday night showed the chaos as police cars surrounded the area.

A Polair Helicopter flew around the vicinity and there were reports officers stopped and searched cars in the area.

Multiple police cars and a Polair Helicopter were seen in the area

Queensland Police said two men are assisting with the investigation.

A bystander who witnessed the incident claimed multiple men attacked someone from behind while they were crossing the road.

It's understood children witnessed the assault.

'It was rather traumatic seeing it unfold... There was a family with two children under five with their mum and dad,' one man wrote.

Another bystander came across the scene after finishing work.

'When I walked over at the end of my shift he was lying on the floor bleeding out, blood everywhere - the poor guy looked lifeless,' they wrote.

A local expressed concern about the safety of their neighbourhood.

Two alleged stabbings have occurred around Orchard Avenue (pictured) in Surfers Paradise in the past 24 hours

'I fear for mine and my partners life EVERY TIME we leave the house.... I cant wait to leave,' she wrote.

The incident is the second alleged stabbing on the Gold Coast in only 24 hours.

A 17-year-old woman was charged by police over the alleged stabbing of a 30-year-old man around Caville Mall at around 4am on Wednesday morning.

The man had been walking through the area when a fight allegedly broke out among a group of women.

Nightclubs only reopened across Queensland in the middle of June after the loosening of coronavirus restrictions.
One of the most famous animal sanctuaries in the Sahel faces a troubled future after suspected jihadists murdered eight people, six of them young French aid workers.

The Koure Giraffe Reserve, located 60 kilometres (35 miles) southeast of Niger's capital Niamey, is a rare success story for conservation on the vast hard-scrabble rim of the Sahara.

It is a haven for the West African giraffe, a species that once roamed from Lake Chad to Senegal but whose numbers catastrophically declined, surviving in pockets, as its habitat was destroyed.

According to Niger's environment ministry, the reserve had 50 giraffes in 1996 -- a tally that rose to 664 in 2019, thanks in large part to income from European tourists.

But that sunny picture has now been darkly clouded after the August 9 attack, in which six French humanitarian workers based in Niamey were slaughtered at the park along with their Nigerien guide and driver.

"What's the future for the park?" asked Aicha Ide, who lives in the adjoining village of Kanare.

"We are deeply saddened by the deaths... we are all brothers, because we live thanks to the giraffes," said Ousseini Idrissa, one 11 guides who are now out of work.

"If the white peoples stop coming to see the giraffes, our families will also suffer, because the giraffes are our only means of survival."

- Locals 'the big losers' -

One of the poorest countries in the world, Niger is facing a double jihadist threat -- from insurgents coming from Mali in the west and Nigeria in the south.

After the August 9 massacre, the government closed the park and France, Niger's former colonial power, placed the site in its so-called red zone -- a move that says it is not advised for French nationals.

The 842-square-kilometre (325-square-mile) park, traversed by a highway, lies in a semi-desert region where shrubs grow in stoney soil.

International NGOs have been financing projects to help local people diversify their income, making them less dependent on growing crops that can become a giraffe's lunch.

Story continues

"If the closure lasts for long, this presupposes that all activities in the park will be stopped, including development projects, which are costing millions in funding, to help villagers," said Omer Dovi, of the Association to Safeguard Giraffes in Niger.

The list of benefits for neighbouring villages is long, including pharmacies, schools, mills to grind grain, seeds and fertilisers, as well as no-interest loans to women to help them set up a small business.

"This water pump has been financed by an NGO which protects giraffes," said Assa Issa, a villager clustered among fellow women who had come to fetch water.

"If the park no longer operates we will be the big losers," she said.

The park has been a huge success in conservation terms. As giraffe numbers rose, the authorities in 2018 transferred seven females and three males to the Gadabedji park in central Niger, 600 kms away, to help prevent overpopulation.

- Extinction fears -

Sani Ayouba, of the Young Volunteers for the Environment, said he fears the attack will bring about "the end of all the activities which help keep the giraffes in this reserve".

He suggested that the park needed more trained rangers, "like parks in other countries".

Guides such as Idrissa rely on the presence of military and security forces in the area.

"There is no miracle to bring back the white people: drastic security measures must be imposed on the entire site," Idrissa said.

Prime Minister Brigi Rafini visited the park after the attack, vowing more security and that the government would "take all actions to help recreate hope in Koure".

Ramatou Issa, a fruit vendor near the entrance to the reserve, said "the government must set up a military base here immediately!"

"If the area is abandoned, it will become a den of bandits."

Heavily armed military patrols have combed the reserve since the attack, and residents have been told to report any suspicious activity to the authorities.

The giraffes are also at risk, according to an expert speaking on condition of anonymity.

"Everything must be done to keep the giraffes in Koure -- if they permanently migrate to conflict zones, the species will go extinct," the expert said.

Dovi meanwhile fears a rise in poaching.

"If the locals no longer benefit from the presence of giraffes, then they will attack one giraffe, then two, then three..."

bh/pgf/dl/ri
France backed on Wednesday a proposal made by Lebanon's leading Sunni Muslim politician to end a deadlock preventing the formation of a cabinet to lead the nation out of its worst crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war.

Paris has been pressing Lebanese politicians to form a government quickly but the process hit a logjam over a demand by Lebanon's two main Shi'ite parties that they name several ministers, including the finance minister.

Former Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri proposed in a statement on Tuesday that Prime Minister-designate Mustapha Adib, a Sunni under Lebanon's sectarian system of power sharing, name an "independent" Shi'ite candidate to the finance portfolio.

It was not immediately clear whether the two main Shi'ite groups, Iran-backed Hezbollah and its ally the Amal Movement, would back the idea. Pro-Hezbollah newspaper Al-Akhbar was critical of the proposal.

A Shi'ite picked by the Amal chief has run the finance ministry for years. Adib aimed to shake up ministerial posts.

The French Foreign Ministry welcomed the "courageous declaration" by Hariri. "This declaration represents an opening and all parties should understand its importance so that a government of mission can now be established," it said.

President Michel Aoun, a Christian allied to Hezbollah, said on Monday Lebanon was going "to hell" if it could not form a government to tackle a crisis that has paralysed the banks, sent Lebanon's pound into freefall and plunged many into poverty.

Lebanon's problems were compounded by a devastating explosion on Aug. 4 at Beirut port. Subsequent fires in and around the area and Tuesday's blast in south Lebanon have further rattled the nation.

Hariri, traditionally aligned to Sunni Gulf Arab states, said his idea was to name "a finance minister from the Shi'ite sect, who would be independent" but said this did not mean he accepted that the post should always be held by a Shi'ite.

France had said on Tuesday Lebanon risked collapse if politicians did not form a cabinet quickly, after they missed a mid-September deadline agreed with Paris.

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Even if it was an operation ordered at some lower level, the attack on Mr. Navalny breaks new ground. Ranking assassinations according to degrees of infamy may seem frivolous, and attacking two former Russian double agents residing in England, Sergei Skripal and Alexander Litvinenko, by nerve gas or radiation, is hard to exceed in brazenness.

But Mr. Navalny was not a former spy. He was by far the best known and most visible of Mr. Putins political opponents. His exposes of official corruption  most famously of the extravagant properties owned by the former president Dmitri Medvedev  were widely circulated, detailed and credible. Those who tried to kill him had to know, and not care, that the attack could be seen only as an attempt to silence a strong and effective political voice.

Even more appalling was their deployment of a banned chemical weapon on Russian soil against a Russian politician. The perpetrators knew that Novichok had been identified in the attack against Mr. Skripal and that its use was a violation of international law. Russia is a signatory to the Chemical Weapons Convention, and after Germany established that Mr. Navalny had been poisoned, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons issued a statement that under the convention, any poisoning of an individual through the use of a nerve agent is considered a use of chemical weapons. At the very least, that obligates Russia to establish how a known nerve agent came to be used in the center of Russia.

Mr. Putin must believe that there is not much the West can do that it hasnt already done by way of sanctions. President Trump, for reasons that remain one of the top mysteries of his administration, has largely closed his eyes to Mr. Putins serial transgressions, whether its meddling in American elections, annexing Crimea or stonewalling on the poisoning of dissidents.

The surest sign of European anger would be cancellation of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, a gas conduit from Russia to Germany under the Baltic Sea. But the project is nearly completed, and Angela Merkel, the chancellor of Germany, is reluctant to take a step that would be costly for Europe and that would look like bowing to threats from the Trump administration, which has demanded cancellation of the pipeline.
Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello's gated community was infiltrated by a stranger claiming to know her son Manolo, TMZ report.

The Modern Family star, 48, and the Magic Mike actor, 45, reportedly fell victim when the suspect broke into their gated community but was infiltrated by security.

When security in the exclusive area suspected the trespasser, he reportedly claimed he knew Sofia's son, 28, leading to suspicions and an eventual police call.

Tough times: Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello's gated community was infiltrated by a stranger claiming to know her son Manolo, TMZ report (the couple, pictured in February)

Law insiders told the site that Sofia and Joe were faced with the drama when the man made his way into the community at noon last week.

When he was approached by security, who were suspicious of his behaviour, he is said to have told his story about Monolo.

Security called for support from the police and after he refuses to leave quietly, he was arrested and charged with trespassing.

MailOnline has contacted Joe and Sofia's representatives for comment.

Not happy: The Modern Family star, 48, and the Magic Mike actor, 45, reportedly fell victim when the suspect broke into their gated community but was infiltrated by security

Allegations: Sofia pictured with her son Manolo in February

News of the break in comes after the Colombian-born actress joined America's Got Talent as a new judge following the conclusion of her hugely successful ABC sitcom Modern Family after 11 seasons.

It was her first high profile gig after Modern Family and she joined Simon Cowell, Howie Mandel and returning judge Heidi Klum on the panel.

Meanwhile, the couple will celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary later this year.

She's a star! News of the break in comes after the Colombian-born actress joined America's Got Talent as a new judge following the conclusion of her hugely successful ABC sitcom Modern Family after 11 seasons

The couple started dating in 2014 and tied the knot in a lavish ceremony in Florida in November 2015.

In a recent interview for People, Manganiello explained: 'I knew pretty quickly that I could trust her, and she knew pretty quickly that she could trust me.'

The True Blood actor added: 'I was capable of putting her wishes ahead of mine, whatever they were, and she was capable of doing the same. Once you have that, you don't let go of it.'
- Herman Kumbong Nyuykonge has been adjudged as the overrall best student of KNUST this year

- He studied B.Sc. Computer Engineering and graduated with a Cumulative Weighted Average of 88.45

- Kumbong is set to join world-renown company Goldman Sachs as an engineering analyst

Our manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

An extremely brilliant recent graduate of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumbong Herman Nyuykonge, emerged as the best student of 2020 after chalking a CWA of 88.45.

The B.Sc. Computer Engineering graduate of the popular university managed to brave the odds and ace all his class tests, assignments and exams to become the overall best graduating student.

Kumbong Herman Nyuykonge took to social media to express his thanks to all who impacted his life while he walked the halls of the tertiary institution.

Kumbong Herman. Source: Twitter/Kumbongherman

Source: Twitter

READ ALSO: Wagyimi anaa? - Mum descends on daughter who was Snapping instead of working (video)

According to him, the 4 years he spent in KNUST was nothing but a blessing and expressed special thanks to Mastercard for helping him live his dreams.

Kumbong Herman Nyuykonge stated in his recent social media post that he is Goldman Sachs-bound to start his career life as an engineering analyst.

Following the massive achievement which etched his name in the history books of KNUST, Kumbong wrote:

"Excited to have graduated this weekend with a B.Sc. Computer Engineering from Kwame Nkrumah' University of Science and Technology, Kumasi. I also was the overall best graduating student in the University with a CWA of 88.45.

I do recognize that what matters most, is how all of this translates to making the lives of others better and that this is just the beginning of a lifelong learning process.

My time at Kwame Nkrumah' University of Science and Technology, Kumasi has been nothing else but a blessing. I am sincerely grateful to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars program at KNUST for believing in me and allowing me to get this far.

READ ALSO: Photo of 2 female police officers flaunting their huge backsides causes stir online

Thanks to my lecturers Ing. Dr. Henry Nunoo-Mensah, PE-GhIE, Jephthah Yankey, Daniel Opoku, Ph.D. Andrew Selasi Agbemenu, Ing. Kommey, Eric Tutu Tchao and everyone else who have been mentors to me.

Looking forward to begin my new role as an Engineering analyst at Goldman Sachs and looking to transfer the skills I build to make the world a better place."

Meanwhile, Benjamin Sedem Ehlah also etched his name in the history books of the University of Winneba- Kumasi Campus after he was adjudged the best graduating student in his year group.

Benjamin Sedem Ehlah, who graduated in 2020, managed to defy all the odds and braved the storms of the rigorous education system in Ghana to achieve the feat.

READ ALSO: Side chick pushes man's wife into pool after they were caught chilling at hotel (video)

The 27-year-old young record-setter studied Information Technology and managed to top all students on his campus with a CGPA that was only a few decimal points short of distinction.

Have national and human interest issues to discuss? Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition? Your stories and photos are always welcome.

Get interactive via our Facebook page.

Source: YEN.com.gh
Meet Some Of TIME100's Most Influential Women of 2020

TIME magazine released their annual list of 100 most influential people last night during a live televised event in collaboration with ABC. Of the 100 listed, 54 are women and seven of them grace TIMEs iconic magazine covers that will hit newsstands in early October. In a last minute decision, TIME added the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg to their stack of eight covers to honor her lifelong influence and leadership.

Every person on this list wields power, whether they are an athlete, an author, an artist or even an astronaut. Here are just a few of these dynamic, instrumental women:

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Megan Thee Stallion, rapper and musician, lead the pack of what TIME calls 'Pioneers.' She donned a floor-length gold gown and long swinging braid in her cover and was wrapped in praise by actress Taraji P. Henson inside its pages. Shiori Ito, another 'Pioneer,' is a Japanese woman who fell into activism after publicly accusing her harasser and winning a civil suit against him in December. She has gone on to inspire legislative change in Japan including a three-year plan to curb sexual violence. Camilla Rothe documented the first case of asymptomatic Covid-19 in Munich and even though the greater scientific community tried to ignore her at first, her findings have saved thousands of lives.

In the 'Artists' section, Michaela Coel received adoration from fellow actor Lena Waithe who wrote, Michaela obviously has fear, because shes a human being. But shes not afraid to put that fear asideand to step out in front of those who are still waiting to be free. Julie Mehretu was honored for her dedication to painting landscapes that reflect our current fractured realities. Taylor Swift wrote about producer/actor Phoebe Waller-Bridge who creates and stars as complex female anti-heroes in a fresh and naturally feminist way.

One of the gifts of the TIME100 list is highlighting innovators that are often relegated to the back pages of a National Geographic. One such 'Leader,' as TIME calls them, is Nemonte Nenquimo, an Amazonian woman who is the president of the Waorani of Pastaza and a co-founder of the Ceibo Alliance. Last year, she brought forward a lawsuit to protect Waorani land in Ecuador, and won, providing assurance and hope for Indigenous peoples across South America. In her documentary-style TIME video she said, The world needs to listen to the voices of Amazonian women because we as women are the ones who go out to defend it. We are the ones who want our children to live well, and we are the ones fighting.

The 'Leaders' list also included Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo who has enacted plans in her city to combat the global climate crisis and Bonnie Castillo, the leader of National Nurses United and the California Nurses Association who has fought for nurses' rights throughout the pandemic.

The last two sections of the TIME100 list are less about concrete actions, like writing a novel or going to space, and more about cultural influence, including people who encourage societal and political change through their words and activism. In the 'Titans' section, Gabrielle Union shared a cover with her husband Dwayne Wade. Tarana Burke, the originator of the #MeToo movement, wrote that Unions visible support of the LGBTQ+ community has changed social discourse surrounding these identities.

Mackenzie Scott also made the list because of her massive amounts of wealth redistribution after divorcing billionaire Jeff Bezos. She has already redistributed $1.7 billion dollars to 116 organizations and she says, I will keep at it until the safe is empty. Lisa Nishimura brought Tiger King, Salt Fat Acid Heat and Making a Murderer to our screens by virtue of her role as the vice president of independent film and documentary features at Netflix. She has molded and produced most of the viral content of the past year.

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"> ">.@TaranaBurke on @itsgabrielleu: She is intentionally directing her attention, influence and resources to advance an agenda that deliberately celebrates the most marginalized among us, including Black women and girls and queer and trans folks #TIME100 https://t.co/yuh7h2qWr0 pic.twitter.com/FurfdTfQRy  TIME (@TIME) September 23, 2020

The final section entitled 'Icons' held the story of Bilkis, an 82-year-old Indian woman who sits in silent protest everyday in New Delhi to protest prime minister Narendra Modis Citizenship Amendment Act which discriminates against Muslim people trying for Indian citizenship. Bilkis promised, I will sit here till blood stops flowing in my veins so the children of this country and the world breathe the air of justice and equality.

The 'Icons' section also included the stunning cover of Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors and Opal Tometi (header photo) who are the founders of the Black Lives Matter movement. Trayvon Martins mother, Sybrina Fulton, wrote lovingly about the three women and how their activism made her feel less alone while experiencing her devastating loss. She wrote, We cant give up. Patrisse, Alicia and Opal wont.

Find the entire list of TIME100 most influential people here: 100-most-influential-people-2020

Photo Credit: Kayla Reefer for TIME

More from BUST

The "Silence Breakers" Are Time's Person Of The Year

Angela Merkel Is Time's Person Of The Year, Only The Fourth Woman

From Blasey Ford To Kavanaugh: The Highs And Lows Of TIMEs 100 List

Madeleine Janz is a journalism student at the New School. She lives in New York City and enjoys film, as long as film means rewatching the same five rom-com's from the 90's every week. You can follow her @madilonglegs24 on Instagram and Twitter.
Press Release

23 September 2020

The New World of Travel report explores the economics of travel, the changing psychology of travellers and what the future of travel should look like

Low cost carriers have fastest route to recovery, while business travel will require innovation

Travellers' appetite towards risk influencing travel decision-making process

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LONDON - Leading travel marketplace Skyscanner has today released a new report titled 'The New World of Travel'. Bringing together extensive global flight search data and expert opinion, the report explores some of the most important travel and aviation trends impacting the sector right now.

Moshe Rafiah, Skyscanner's CEO said of the reports publication; "Where they are able and willing, travellers are pioneering new ways to explore the world. Whether it's shortening the timeframe in which they plan and take a trip, tackling complex risk assessments before deciding to travel, or expecting previously unseen levels of clarity to ensure confidence in their booking, the new shape of travel is emerging. As an industry we have a unique opportunity to not only help travellers navigate this new world, but to work collaboratively to ensure a swift, safe and sustainable recovery."

Global travel trends

One-way. Domestic. Within a month. Analysis of Skyscanner's data reveals three seismic shifts in the way travellers are searching for flights in 2020. Global searches for one-way travel peaked in March but continue to trend upward, with the share of searches in August growing by 11 percent compared to 2019*. Last month, the share of searches for domestic travel has increased* (13%) globally against a backdrop of changing travel restrictions. And amid ongoing uncertainty, travellers are looking to get away in much shorter timeframes with booking windows of under one week more popular this year than ever before (12% increase in share of searches compared to 2019).*

Economics of travel

24% of Europeans believe it is safe to travel internationally now, compared to 21% of travellers in the Americas and just 10% in Asia-Pacific. Search patterns for domestic, regional and international flights reflect this sentiment and point towards a multispeed recovery, tied to the global economy and driven by low cost carriers. Skyscanner's executives predict that LCCs will have the fastest route to recovery, owing to their business operations and point to point models. At the same time, the decline in business travel revenues for full-service carriers points to an uncertain future for this fare class and a need for innovation.

John Strickland, aviation expert and director of JLS consulting said, "Low-cost carriers have a cost base that allows them to offer competitive pricing which, when combined with creative ancillary revenues, means they're able to attract customers profitably where other carriers can't. The strongest LCCs also have the liquidity to survive for an extensive period - a year or more - even if most or all of their capacity is grounded. They are ready to jump in with new routes rapidly, wherever they see an opportunity, when other airlines cut back or fail. They have the advantage of wide geographic arenas of operation and can move capacity around opportunistically."

New shape of travel

Research reveals that sustainable travel concerns are no longer top of mind for many travellers. But as destinations previously suffering from overtourism begin to re-open, the sector has a unique opportunity to redesign old travel patterns and rearchitect the tourism industry for the benefit of local communities, the environment and travellers alike. Skyscanner is pioneering new ways to encourage more sustainable and meaningful trips, as the new shape of travel emerges.

David Goodger, Managing Director EMEA of Tourism Economics division of Oxford Economics comments: "Overtourism was a growing concern for many destinations in the years to 2019, however, this year's sharp fall in travel activity highlights the economic benefits that this activity supported. Demand is expected to return in coming years and should surpass 2019 levels again by 2024 in most destinations, albeit without a full return to pre-coronavirus growth trends. All stakeholders need to carefully consider the sustainable level of trave l activity for their destination balancing the revenue and jobs supported by the sector against overcrowding and environmental concerns."

Psychology of travel

A new, complex decision-making process has emerged amongst those willing to travel and it relates to their individual appetite to risk. Factors across five categories - health, financial, social, ethical and recreational are now top of mind. This is shaping a new demographic of travellers - male travellers are more likely to book than female (54%) and those with children are more likely to book than those without (55%) according to Skyscanner's COVID-19 traveller sentiment data.

Travellers are reacting in real time to the latest information about border and movement restrictions. In August when the UK government added Portugal to the country's safe travel list, bookings spiked over 2000% immediately following the announcement. 85% of travellers surveyed said they would be more likely to travel internationally if airport testing was in place. With health factors currently one of the biggest barriers to booking, restoring trust and confidence through clarity is essential for the sector's recovery.

The New World of Travel report includes expert commentary from:

Moshe Rafiah, CEO, Skyscanner

Stuart Middleton, Chief Commercial Officer, Skyscanner

Piero Sierra, Chief Product Officer, Skyscanner

Hugh Aitken, VP Flights, Skyscanner

Jo McClintock, Global Brand Director, Skyscanner

Jane Sun, CEO, Trip.com Group

John Strickland, Director of JLS Consulting and Aviation Expert

The Duke of Sussex, Founder of Travalyst

The full report is available here.
The old calculation was simple and brutal: if you want to overthrow a tyrant, you must use violence. There was an occasional exception, like Gandhis use of non-violent protest to gain Indias independence, but people wrote that off as being due to the fact that the British Empire, being ruled by a democratic government, was too soft.

Tell that to the descendants of the tens of thousands of Irish, Kenyans, Malaysians, Yemenis, Iraqis, Egyptians, Afrikaners and sundry others who were killed for trying to leave the British Empire. It would be truer to say that Ghandian nonviolence obliged the British to avoid massive violence in India (and Pakistan and what eventually became Bangladesh got a free ride out on the same ticket).

And then, after bubbling underneath for four decades with a few partial successes like the American civil rights movement, non-violent tactics exploded into a kaleidoscopic range of peaceful revolutions in the later 1980s. From south and Southeast Asia (the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, South Korea, Bangladesh) to Iran and the Communist-ruled countries in Eastern Europe, the technique seemed unstoppable.

Peaceful protest was drowned in blood in China in 1989, but it kept notching up victories elsewhere: the Soviet Union itself, most of Frances sub-Saharan colonies, South Africa and Indonesia in the 1990s; Serbia, Philippines II, Georgia, Armenia, Ukraine and Lebanon in the 2000s; and Egypt, Tunisia, Syria, Ukraine II and Sudan in the 2010s.

But all the non-violent uprisings of the 2010-2011 Arab Spring except Tunisias ended up being crushed by military coups or civil wars. And none of the current crop, in Belarus, Thailand and Algeria, are heading for a rapid or easy victory. Indeed, they might all fail. What is happening to this technique that once swept all before it?

Its more than three decades since this new technique startled the world, and dictators are not usually fools. They see what happened to their former colleagues who got overthrown, and start working out counterstrategies that weaken the determination and cohesiveness of the protesters.

For example, all but the stupidest dictators now know that while violence can scare individuals and small groups into silence, it is almost always a mistake to use it against very large groups. It just makes them angry, and theyll usually be back the next day in much larger numbers.

Your real objective, as a dictator, should be to trick the protesters into using violence themselves. Then the thugs who love a street-fight will rise to leadership positions in the protests while most other people withdraw, disgusted by the violence  and then you can use massive violence against the violent protesters who remain.

Harvard politician scientist Erica Chenoweth is the go-to expert on this, and she has two very useful numbers for us. The first is that whereas non-violent movements to overthrow illegitimate regimes used to succeed half the time, now they win only one time in three. The other, more encouraging, is that if they can get 3.5 per cent of the population out in the streets, they almost always win.

By this measure, the Belarus movement is still within reach of success  3.5 per cent of Belaruss population is about 300,000 people, and the Sunday demonstrations since early August, including those in cities outside Minsk, probably come close to that figure most weekends. People are not yet bored, cowed, or in despair.

The protests in Thailand against former general and coup-leader Prayuth Chan-o-cha have not yet spread significantly beyond Bangkok, and the mostly student protesters are certainly not even one per cent of the population. The movement continues to expand, but its long-term prospects are doubtful.

As for Algeria, the recent election of a new president closely linked to the last one (whom the protesters forced to resign last year) has brought the students back out into the streets in force. The COVID-19 lockdown robbed the movement of its momentum, however, and it is unlikely to regain it.

So maybe one success in three for regime change, just as Erica Chenoweth predicts. But her most important insight is that the 3.5 per cent number probably applies to any popular protest movement, including those in democratic countries. The goals of those movements need not be limited to overthrowing dictators.

As she told the Harvard Gazette last year: (3.5 per cent) sounds like a really small number, but in absolute terms its really an impressive number of people ... Can you imagine if 11.5 million (Americans) were doing something like mass non-cooperation in a sustained way for nine to 18 months? Things would be totally different in this country.

Gwynne Dyer s new book is Growing Pains: The Future of Democracy (and Work).

Read more about:
India is in the process of finalising the proposed free trade agreement with Mauritius which is aimed at further strengthening economic ties between the countries, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Wednesday. The proposed India-Mauritius Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA) seeks to mutually benefit both the countries in the area of trade in goods and services, he was quoted as saying in a statement.

"At present, we have a number of different comprehensive partnership arrangements with countries around the world and we are in the process of finalising a CECPA with Mauritius," Goyal said at the CII-EXIM Bank Digital Conclave on India Africa project partnership. He also said that recently India and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) decided for early resumption of negotiations for a preferential trading agreement (PTA).

The SACU consists of Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, and Swaziland. A PTA is slightly different from a free trade agreement (FTA). In FTA, two sides reduce or eliminate duties on the maximum number of products they trade in, whereas in a PTA, the tariffs are eliminated or cut on certain number of items.

The minister said that in the near future, India will be happy to work more closely with the African free trade zone. Further, he said India will continue to support Africa through lines of credit in priority sectors such as agriculture, irrigation, health, digital technology, power plants, transmission lines, and rail infrastructure.

As of June 2020, India has committed USD 12.7 billion for 40 countries in Africa on highly favourable terms, he added. The bilateral trade, he said, grew from about USD 7 billion to nearly USD 67 billion in the last 20 years and "it has tremendous potential for further growth in the years to come".

India is the fifth largest investor in African continent with a cumulative investment of over USD 54 billion in the last few years in areas like oil and gas, mining, banking, and textile. "There is a huge scope for manifold increase in Indian investments in the wake of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AFCTA)," he said, adding "we can mutually benefit through establishment of India-Africa value chains in many areas such as textiles, pharma, auto, agro processing and information and communication technology".
Despite dwindling numbers, the archdiocese still has one of the countrys best-performing school systems. The Catholic school system has received more Blue Ribbon Awards, a distinction given by the U.S. Department of Education to schools for academic excellence, than any other school system in the country.
A day after India and Maldives jointly launched a Cargo Ferry Service between the two nations, a cargo ship M V MCP Linz made its maiden call here on Tuesday.

The inaugural India-Maldives service was accorded a formal reception at Cochin Port, a Port Trust spokesman said.

In a brief felicitation ceremony, Port Trust Chairman M Beenaexchanged a plaque with the Captain of the vessel to commemorate the maiden call.

PK Mohammed Yousaf, Commissioner of Customs, Cochin was the guest of honour at the function.

The event was attended by Deepak L Aswani, FICCI state co-chair Krishna Kumar, president, Cochin Steamer Agents Association, Alan Jose, president, Cochin Customs Brokers Association, representatives of vessel agents and other dignitaries, he said.

The vessel will sail for the Maldives after loading containers and breakbulk cargo from Cochin.

M V MCP Linz, operated by the Shipping Corporation of India, has a capacity to carry 3,000 TEUs and 3000 MT dry bulk/break-bulk.

The service will connect TuticorinCochinMaldives ports once in a fortnight.

Minister of State for Shipping Mansukh Mandaviya and Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, Republic of Maldives Aishath Nahula had jointly launched the Cargo Ferry Service from India to the Maldives through video conferencing on Monday.

This brings to fruition the commitment made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Maldives in June 2019 to start a direct shipping service between Maldives and India, connecting the ports of Tuticorin and Cochin, a Port Trust statement said.

It said the direct India-Maldives services offers tremendous opportunities to the members of the EXIM trade in Cochin/India to tap the potential of the Maldives market.

Marine products, construction material, tiles and ceramics, food grains, pulses, flour, vegetables, edible oil, meat products etc are some of the areas of huge potential for Indian exporters, the statement said.
There are no Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved treatments for COVID-19, the pandemic infection caused by a novel coronavirus. While several therapies are being tested in clinical trials, current standard of care involves providing patients with fluids and fever-reducing medications. To speed the search for new COVID-19 therapies, researchers are testing repurposed drugs -- medicines already known to be safe for human use because they are FDA-approved for other conditions -- for their abilities to mitigate the virus.

UC San Diego Health researchers recently reported that statins -- widely used cholesterol-lowering medications -- are associated with reduced risk of developing severe COVID-19 disease, as well as faster recovery times. A second research team at UC San Diego School of Medicine has uncovered evidence that helps explains why: In short, removing cholesterol from cell membranes prevents the coronavirus from getting in.

The clinical study, published September 15, 2020 in American Journal of Cardiology, was led by Lori Daniels, MD, professor and director of the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit at UC San Diego Health, and Karen Messer, PhD, professor and chief of the Division of Biostatics and Bioinformatics in the Department of Family Medicine and Public Health.

The mechanistic study, published September 18, 2020 in The EMBO Journal, was led by Tariq Rana, PhD, professor and chief of the Division of Genetics in the Department of Pediatrics at UC San Diego School of Medicine and Moores Cancer Center.

Patients with COVID-19 who took statins fared better

A molecule known as ACE2 sits like a doorknob on the outer surfaces of many human cells, where it helps regulate and lower blood pressure. ACE2 can be affected by prescription statins and other medications used for cardiovascular disease.

But, in January 2020, researchers discovered a new role for ACE2: SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, primarily uses the receptor to enter lung cells and establish respiratory infections.

"When faced with this novel virus at the beginning of the pandemic, there was a lot of speculation surrounding certain medications that affect ACE2, including statins, and if they may influence COVID-19 risk," Daniels said. "We needed to confirm whether or not the use of statins has an impact on a person's severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection and determine if it was safe for our patients to continue with their medications."

To do this, Daniels, Messer and team retrospectively analyzed the electronic medical records of 170 patients with COVID-19 and 5,281 COVID-negative control patients hospitalized at UC San Diego Health between February and June 2020. They collected anonymized data that included the patients' disease severity, length of hospital stay, outcome, and use of statins, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) within 30 days prior to hospital admission.

Among the patients with COVID-19, 27 percent were actively taking statins on admission, while 21 percent were on an ACE inhibitor and 12 percent on an ARB. The median length of hospital stay was 9.7 days for patients with COVID-19.

The researchers found that statin use prior to hospital admission for COVID-19 was associated with a more than 50 percent reduction in risk of developing severe COVID-19, compared to those with COVID-19 but not taking statins. Patients with COVID-19 who were taking statins prior to hospitalization also recovered faster than those not taking the cholesterol-lowering medication.

"We found that statins are not only safe but potentially protective against a severe COVID-19 infection," said Daniels. "Statins specifically may inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection through its known anti-inflammatory effects and binding capabilities as that could potentially stop progression of the virus."

This initial study was relatively small and focused on a single health system. Moving forward, Daniels is partnering with the American Heart Association to analyze thousands of patients all over the country to corroborate the data she's developed locally.

"I tell my patients who are on statins, ACE inhibitors or other ARBs to keep taking them," she said. "Fears of COVID-19 should not be a reason to stop, if anything our research findings should be incentive to continue with their medication."

Draining cholesterol from cell membranes blocks SARS-CoV-2 entry

Statins weren't yet on Rana's radar when they began their EMBO Journal study approximately six months ago. At first, his team was simply curious to see which genes are switched "on" in human lung cells in response to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

A gene called CH25H was "blazing hot," Rana said. CH25H encodes an enzyme that modifies cholesterol. "I got excited because with HIV, Zika, and a few others, we know that CH25H blocks the virus' ability to enter human cells."

Here's what's happening inside our cells: CH25H's enzymatic activity produces a modified form of cholesterol called 25-hydroxycholesterol (25HC). In turn, 25HC activates another enzyme called ACAT, found inside cells in the endoplasmic reticulum. ACAT then depletes accessible cholesterol on the cell's membrane. It's a normally occurring process that gets kicked into high gear during some viral infections.

The team quickly got to work examining 25HC in the context of SARS-CoV-2 from several angles. They explored what happens to human lung cells in the lab with and without 25HC treatment when they are exposed to first a noninfectious virus that carries the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (its key to cell entry) or to live SARS-CoV-2 virus itself.

No matter which way they came at it, added 25HC inhibited the ability of the virus to enter cells -- blocking infection almost completely.

"The difference between untreated cells and those treated with 25HC was like day and night," Rana said.

While SARS-CoV-2 uses the ACE2 receptor to initially dock on a cell, Rana's study suggests that the virus also needs cholesterol (normally found in cell membranes) in order to fuse with and enter the cell. 25HC takes away a lot of that membrane cholesterol, preventing viral entry.

In a similar way, statins are likely beneficial in preventing or reducing the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection because, while intended to remove cholesterol from blood vessels, they are also removing cholesterol from cell membranes. As a result, the coronavirus can't get in.

"This is already happening in our bodies on a regular basis, so perhaps we just need to give it a boost, with statins or by other means, to better resist some viruses," Rana said. "It's not unlike cancer immunotherapy -- the idea that sometimes instead of attacking a tumor directly, it's better to arm a patient's immune system to do a better job of clearing away tumors on its own."

If it can be developed into a therapeutic, 25HC might work even better as an antiviral than statins, Rana said. That's because it works specifically on cholesterol in cell membranes, rather than cholesterol throughout the body. Like all medications, statins can cause negative side effects, including digestive problems and muscle pains, and may not be an option for many people with COVID-19. What's more, while some previous studies suggested statins may also elevate ACE2 levels, which could allow more viral entry, Rana's team did not see an increase in the receptor in response to 25HC.

Statins are FDA-approved for human use, but 25HC is a natural product currently available only for laboratory work. Rana and team plan to continue optimizing 25HC as a potential antiviral agent. Many steps remain before it might be tested in human clinical trials.

###

Co-authors of the American Journal of Cardiology study also include: Christopher Longhurst, Amy Sitapati, Jing Zhang, Jingjing Zou, Quan Bui, Junting Ren, Michael Criqui, all at UC San Diego.

Funding for this research came, in part, from the University of California Office of the President (grant R00RG24990).

Co-authors of The EMBO Journal study also include: Shaobo Wang, Wanyu Li, Hui Hui, Shashi Kant Tiwari, Qiong Zhang, Ben A. Croker, Stephen Rawlings, Davey Smith and Aaron F. Carlin, all at UC San Diego. Funding for this research came, in part, from National Institutes of Health (grants CA177322, DA039562, DA049524 and AI125103), Burroughs Wellcome Fund and John and Mary Tu Foundation.

Disclosure: Tariq Rana is a founder of ViRx Pharmaceuticals and has an equity interest in the company. The terms of this arrangement have been reviewed and approved by the University of California San Diego in accordance with its conflict of interest policies.
Not for release to US wire services or distribution in the United States

SUBIACO, WESTERN AUSTRALIA / ACCESSWIRE / September 23, 2020 / The Board of RTG Mining Inc. ("RTG", the "Company") (TSX:RTG)(ASX:RTG) is pleased to announce that the Office of the Bougainville Electoral Commission has today declared a new President, Mr Ishmael Toroama. Mr Toroama was a Commander of the Bougainville Revolutionary Army and has a strong record of promoting Peace and Independence for Bougainville, with a stated focus on stamping out any corruption in the Autonomous Bougainville Government and its public service.

ABOUT RTG MINING INC

RTG Mining Inc. is a mining and exploration company listed on the main board of the Toronto Stock Exchange and the Australian Securities Exchange. RTG is currently focused primarily on progressing the Mabilo Project to start-up having recently received a mining permit for the Project, with a view to moving quickly and safely to a producing gold and copper company.

RTG also has a number of exciting new opportunities including the Panguna Project in Bougainville, which it remains committed to but during these uncertain times the primary focus is on advancing the Mabilo Project.

RTG has an experienced management team which has to date developed seven mines in five different countries, including being responsible for the development of the Masbate Gold Mine in the Philippines through CGA Mining Limited. RTG has some of the most respected international institutional investors as shareholders including Franklin Templeton, Equinox Partners and Sun Valley.

ENQUIRIES

Australian Contact

President & CEO - Justine Magee

Tel: +61 8 6489 2900 +1 970 640 0611

Fax: +61 8 6489 2920

Email: jmagee@rtgmining.com

US Contact

Investor Relations - Jaime Wells

+1 970 640 0611

jwells@rtgmining.com

COMPLIANCE STATEMENT

Date: 23 September 2020

Authorised for release by: By the Board of Directors

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

The Toronto Stock Exchange has not reviewed nor does it accept responsibility for the accuracy or adequacy of this press release, which has been prepared by management.

This announcement includes certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation including, among others, statements made or implied relating to the interpretation of exploration results, accuracy of mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates, parameters and assumptions used to estimate mineral reserves and mineral resources, realization of mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates, estimated economic results of the Mabilo Project, future operational and financial results, including estimated cashflow and the timing thereof, estimated expenditures, expansion, exploration and development activities and the timing thereof, including expectations regarding the DSO, plans for progressing Stage 2 development, completion of a debt funding package, the negotiation of contracts for start up works and offtake arrangements and the completion of merged documentation, RTG's objectives, strategies to achieve those objectives, RTG's beliefs, plans, estimates and intentions, and similar statements concerning anticipated future events, results, circumstances, performance or expectations. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, are forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements generally can be identified by words such as "objective", "may", "will", "expected", "likely", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "should", "plans", or similar expressions suggesting future outcomes or events. Forward-looking statements involve various risks and uncertainties and are based on certain factors and assumptions. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from RTG's expectations include uncertainties related to fluctuations in gold and other commodity prices and currency exchange rates; uncertainties relating to interpretation of drill results and the geology, continuity and grade of mineral deposits; uncertainty of estimates of capital and operating costs, recovery rates, production estimates and estimated economic return; the need for cooperation of government agencies in the development of RTG's mineral projects; the need to obtain additional financing to develop RTG's mineral projects; the possibility of delay in development programs or in construction projects and uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones for RTG's mineral projects and other risks and uncertainties as discussed in RTG's annual report for the year ended December 31, 2019 and detailed from time to time in our other filings with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities available at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking statements made in this announcement relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. RTG will not release publicly any revisions or updates to these forward-looking statements to reflect events, circumstances or unanticipated events occurring after the date of this announcement except as required by law or by any appropriate regulatory authority.

NOT FOR RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES

This announcement has been prepared for publication in Canada and Australia and may not be released to US wire services or distributed in the United States. This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, securities in the United States or any other jurisdiction. Any securities described in this announcement have not been, and will not be, registered under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "US Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States except in transactions exempt from, or not subject to, registration under the US Securities Act and applicable US state securities laws.

SOURCE: RTG Mining Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/607434/The-Autonomous-Region-of-Bougainville-Declare-New-President--Ishmael-Toroama
Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Joseph Prezioso/Getty Images

In a June memo, Wells Fargo CEO Charlie Scharf wrote that efforts to recruit minority talent were stymied by a "very limited pool of black talent to recruit from," Reuters reported Tuesday.

He made similar a remark during a Zoom call over the summer, which bothered some employees at the bank, according to Reuters.

"Wells Fargo is badly broken in multiple ways and that starts at the top," Sen. Elizabeth Warren said in a statement to Business Insider, calling it part of a system that "scams Black families disproportionately."

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also responded, tweeting, "Perhaps it's the CEO of Wells Fargo who lacks the talent to recruit Black workers."

In the months following the police killing of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter protests across the country, Wells Fargo and other banks have made commitments to increasing the racial and ethnic diversity of their employees.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Sen. Sherrod Brown all slammed the CEO of Wells Fargo for his repeated claims that the bank's difficulties in hiring diverse employees were because of a lack of Black talent.

"While it might sound like an excuse, the unfortunate reality is that there is a very limited pool of Black talent to recruit from," Charlie Scharf, Wells Fargo's CEO, wrote in a June memo to employees, according to Reuters. Scharf also repeated this claim in a Zoom meeting over the summer, exasperating Black employees, Reuters said.

"Wells Fargo is badly broken in multiple ways and that starts at the top," Warren said in a statement to Business Insider. "Its CEO has an unfathomable blind spot about how and why this giant bank fails to hire, promote, and fairly compensate Black talent  and continues to be a core part of a financial system that scams Black families disproportionately and fuels structural racism in our economy and our society."

Story continues

Other lawmakers chimed in to slam the bank executive.

Ocasio-Cortez tweeted on Tuesday: "Perhaps it's the CEO of Wells Fargo who lacks the talent to recruit Black workers."

And Sen. Sherrod Brown tweeted on Wednesday: "There's plenty of Black talent, @WellsFargo - they just don't have the talent for fraud and abuse you're looking for."

In recent months, companies like Wells Fargo, the fourth-largest bank in the US by assets, have faced calls to hire minority employees and address claims of discrimination. Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, and Wells Fargo have all released statements committing to change, but they have not released comprehensive data on the racial diversity of their employees to the public, Business Insider has previously reported.

On Wednesday, Scharf addressed the backlash.

"I apologize for making an insensitive comment reflecting my own unconscious bias," Scharf wrote in a companywide memo on Wednesday. "There are many talented diverse individuals working at Wells Fargo and throughout the financial services industry and I never meant to imply otherwise."

Scharf said Wells Fargo had made "early progress" in creating a more diverse and inclusive work environment, including a "returnship" program to help minority workers return to the workforce after an extended period out of the industry and a requirement for a diverse slate of candidates for roles with salaries of over $100,000.

Wells Fargo is also building relationships with historically Black universities and tying executives' compensation to their progress in improving diversity and inclusion, the memo said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
By PTI

KATHMANDU: A civil society group in Nepal has launched protests against China for allegedly constructing buildings on the country's territory in Humla district, according to media reports on Wednesday.

The activists chanted slogans such as "Return Nepal's land" and "stop Chinese expansionism," it said.

According to media reports here, China has allegedly constructed 11 buildings on the Nepalese territory in the Humla district bordering Tibet.

The disputed area lies in Lampcha village of Namkha Rural Municipality in Humla district.

Beijing has maintained that the constructions were carried out on the Chinese side of the border.

The reports also said that Pillar Number 11 that defined the Nepal-China boundary was missing from the area.

"There was just a hut in the area in 2005," Dattaraj Hamal, assistant chief district officer of Humla who visited the disputed area recently, was quoted as saying by The Kathmandu Post. "I talked to the people there and reported to the chief district officer," Hamal said.

"e in turn reported to the Home Ministry.

He now has gone to the area as per the Home Ministry's instructions.

" Chakka Bahadur Lama, a Member of Parliament from Humla, said that as long as both sides do not ascertain the location of the missing pillar, the dispute will continue.

On Tuesday, a Nepalese delegation led by Chief District Officer of Humla had reached the area to talk to Chinese officials, My Republica reported.

However, the Chinese security personnel had returned them saying that the land falls on the Chinese side of the border, the paper added.

During a meeting between the two sides in 2015, Nepal and China had agreed to ascertain the location of the missing pillar, but no steps were taken on the matter, the paper said, citing Paljor Tamang, chair of Ward No 6 of the rural municipality where the disputed area lies.

Meanwhile, the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu refuted the allegations and said the buildings were constructed on the Chinese side of the border.

"The government of China has conducted necessary investigation into the matter and the Nepal government can also do so if needed," said a statement issued by the embassy.

"China and Nepal have no territorial disputes.

The two sides have always maintained close communication on border affairs," the statement said.

"China and Nepal are friendly neighbours. China has always respected Nepal's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
A local business leader was among those honoured at the annual Institute of Directors Northern Ireland (IoDNI) awards.

David Henry, Managing Director of Henry Brothers in Magherafelt, was named Family Business Director of the Year at the virtually held ceremony last Friday.

David joined Henry brothers shortly after leaving school, took over the role of Managing Director in 2000 and is responsible for the overall performance of the construction and manufacturing company.

IoDNI Chairperson, Gordon Milligan, said the country has a huge amount of talented leaders.

Northern Ireland benefits from a wealth of leadership talent across the private and public sector, each of them performing to the very highest standards, he said.

On accepting the award, David paid tribute to the company's workforce.

I am very honoured to have been presented with this prestigious award by the Institute of Directors in Northern Ireland.

As Managing Director of Henry Brothers, a family business that has now spanned over forty years, I am grateful for the opportunities that this role has given me, in leading a great workforce that has delivered excellent construction projects right across the UK.

As our strapline states, we really are altogether stronger. I am particularly pleased that the Institute of Directors has recognised many Directors across Northern Ireland and I congratulate every category winner.
Since July, the intensity and volume of protests against police brutality in New York City have decreased and the protesters who occupied City Hall Park demanding cuts of at least $1 billion to the New York City Police Department budget have gone home. But both criminal justice advocates and sympathetic lawmakers are confident that the summers energy is merely hibernating and they are planning their next moves. Activists are educating the public about police reform and preparing for the 2021 New York City Council elections, while lawmakers refocus on reforms that have not yet passed.

The June protests in New York and nationwide outrage over George Floyds death at the hands of Minneapolis police caught the attention of lawmakers. The state Legislature reconvened to pass a landmark package of bills that included repealing the controversial 50-a law, which kept police disciplinary records secret, and enacting a statewide ban on the police use of chokeholds. New York City passed its own laws, including one criminalizing the use of chokeholds by police. Protesters even managed to influence the city budget, which shifted some funds away from the NYPD, although most police reform activists agreed the cuts did not go far enough and did not actually hit the minimal goal of $1 billion. Some left-wing activists urged Council members to vote no on the budget until it included greater and more substantive cuts, but only a handful voted no on those grounds.

The fight over defunding the NYPD is far from over, but with no budget to negotiate in the immediate future, noise around the issue has been more of a low drone than the loud roar it was over the summer. The weather is getting colder, kids are heading back to school and a variety of other issues  especially those related to the coronavirus pandemic  have begun to take precedence for now. Some of the momentum has died down, but it seems that its died down more so just because there has been an ever-changing response to COVID, London Arnold, an organizer with the anti-police violence community group Justice Committee, told City & State. But she considers this more of a pause than complete dissipation. Even if the momentum dies down, Im doubtful the movement will die down. Arnold added that New Yorkers struggles related to the pandemic illustrate the need to defund the police in order to better fund social services.

Abolition Park community members, who in part organized the City Hall Park occupation, have been working in the weeks since their encampment was disbanded to show what a shift in investments could look like. They have been continuing on-the-ground mutual aid work that evolved out of the original direct action prior to the budget vote, connecting New Yorkers in need with resources and housing. What we are more focused on is actually just providing the resources that we would have been able to (have) had the police been defunded, Tameer, an Abolition Park community member who only gave his first name, told City & State. We want to show the world that its possible to live in a society without cops by providing these resources. Abolition Park does not currently have any plans for their next direct action.

Public education work has also been a key part of what Communities United for Police Reform, a coalition of advocacy and community groups, has been doing both over the summer and more recently. The public is the people were really trying to influence, because we want Council members to listen to the public, Anthonine Pierre, deputy director of the community group Brooklyn Movement Center and a spokesperson for Communities United for Police Reform, told City & State. The coalition has been advocating for what it calls budget justice since well before the recent national calls to defund the police, and advocated for the repeal of 50-a and other police reform legislation that passed in June. Pierre said that Communities United for Police Reform has helped lay the groundwork for the kind of reform movement seen over the summer, and that its members are gearing up for the next phase of the campaign. Were quiet, but were not asleep, Pierre said.

The fiscal year 2022 budget is due June 30, 2021, which means negotiations would take place around the same time as the June 2021 Democratic primaries that will effectively determine who wins most of the seats in the City Council. With that convergence in mind, Pierre said that it would be hard for us to not engage in the election.

Pierre said that her group Brooklyn Movement Center, which is based in Central Brooklyn, would help community members organize in order to pressure Council candidates in that area to back police reform and cuts to the NYPD. I cant say that we have all of our plans laid out, but three Council members that represent Central Brooklyn voted yes for that budget despite our membership and our base being really energized to move money into social services, Pierre said, referring to Council Members Laurie Cumbo, Robert Cornegy and Alicka Ampry-Samuels. Only Ampry-Samuels is up for reelection. Cornegy is running for Brooklyn borough president.

The New York City Chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, which helped propel to victory its entire slate of state legislative candidates in June, plans on making defunding the NYPD their number one issue for the 2021 City Council elections. Sumathy Kumar, a co-chair of the DSA-NYC, called a commitment to defund the most important issue for the upcoming campaigns, and expects it to play a major factor in deciding who the group endorses.

The DSA is gearing up to have a serious impact on the makeup of the next City Council, the majority of which will consist of freshmen, thanks to term limits. Kumar said that its too early in the process to say whom the group might endorse, but issued something of a warning to lawmakers who voted to approve what DSA members considered insufficient cuts to the NYPD. I think anyone who voted yes on this budget should be nervous either about returning to the City Council, or the rest of their political careers, Kumar said.

But those elections are still a long way off, as is the next budget battle. A lot can change in nine months, and keeping control of the narrative can be difficult. A recent spike in gun violence has already given opponents ammunition to reshape the public conversation, sowing fear about public safety and the impacts of reducing police presence on the streets. Other parts of the country have seen similar spikes in crime, and progressives have attributed it in part to record unemployment and financial insecurity caused by the pandemic. But the surge has given Republicans a law-and-order platform to run on and police unions a justification for doubling down on their anti-defund and anti-reform rhetoric.

Arnold admitted that rising crime has made educating people about the benefits of divesting from police a little more challenging. (Police presence) may be making them feel safer, even though that may not be what in reality is bringing safety, Arnold said. The defund movement can be hard to understand for people, if they havent imagined a world without police.

Continued support from lawmakers, despite the spike in shootings potentially causing a shift in Key officeholders say they are still committed to continuing the work that started in June. City Council Member Donovan Richards, chair of the Committee on Public Safety and one of nine to vote down the 2021 budget on the grounds it didnt go far enough to cut police funding, said hes hoping he can continue steering the City Council towards greater reforms before he leaves the body. Hes all but assured to become the next Queens borough president next year  he won the Democratic nomination earlier this year and will presumably win the general election in the heavily Democratic borough in November  so he only has until January.

Richards has a package of legislation hes working on that he hopes the City Council will consider before he leaves. The top priority for him is reforming the NYPDs controversial DNA database, which he says has been used to unjustly collect the DNA from minors and people of color who have never even been accused of crimes. Richards acknowledged that the spike in shootings will create a tricky balance between public safety and reform for Council members as the data influences public opinion. But he said itll be up to leaders in the movement to continue pushing back against anti-reform narratives. Even as theres push back on reform, the public is still largely demanding safer and fairer policing, Richards said. And I dont think that will fizzle out.

Richards has received criticism from criminal justice reform advocates for what they see as his attempt to roll back the recent chokehold criminalization law. He introduced a bill softening the language in the portion of the law about compressing someones diaphragm by sitting or kneeling on someone's back, raising the threshold for criminality. Although in past interviews he referenced an alleged police slowdown in protest of the new law as his reason, Richards told City & State his amendment is not a rollback, but is instead meant to avoid potential legal challenges that could overturn the entire law.

State Sen. Jamaal Bailey also told City & State that hes continuing to push for reforms at the state level to continue to build on the historic legislation passed earlier this year. However historic the package was, its something we cant rest on our laurels with, Bailey said. Specifically, hes focused on bills to ensure that minors always have the right to counsel when they are interrogated, ending qualified immunity and making it harder for officers with misconduct complaints to simply be transferred to new agencies. Bailey said he feels confident that his fellow members will still have a drive for reform when a new session that will have many new members begins in January. The knee on the neck of George Floyd was a knee on the collective neck of Black and brown America, and it has woken people up who are not part of Black and brown America, Bailey said.

Pierre, Arnold, Tameer and Kumar did not offer any specific legislative goals for their respective groups for the immediate future in terms of bills they would like to see passed. Arnold added that Junes landmark achievements still resonate and that maintaining them in the face of potential challenges takes precedent. However, Communities United for Police Reform still lists other bills beyond those that passed as part of its overarching Safer NY Act, including legalizing marijuana and reducing arrests for ticketable offenses. Black Lives Matter of Greater New York, which did not return requests for comment, also has a long list of legislative demands, many of which have not been met yet. They include the establishment of an Elected Civilian Review Board in New York City to investigate police misconduct, disbanding police unions and ending qualified immunity, a legal doctrine that makes it difficult to hold police liable for misconduct in civil court.

But much of this is reliant on the reform movements continued energy. The work of activists between now and the next budget fight will be crucial to ensure that lawmakers remain committed to reform. I think folks have really hit a breaking point in this point in time, Arnold said. As long as people that are at the forefront of the movement continue to advocate on behalf of the things that we know are necessary and make these demands, there may be moments that the momentum fluctuates, but I am very skeptical (that) it would die down.
In many ways, corporate layering is even more important to the Chinese than the Koreans. While chaebol simply want to maximize control, mainland entities sometimes use this structure to hide ballooning debt. As part of its deleveraging campaign two years ago, Beijing pressed pause on costly public-private partnership projects. State-owned entities would insist on large minority interests on paper so they didnt have to consolidate these infrastructure build-outs and report the new debt that arose from them higher up the chain.
Little said that the mortgage is intended to provide support to Canadians amid the turmoil of the coronavirus outbreak.

In the shadow of the pandemic, borrowers are experiencing unprecedented uncertainty, Little said. Weve developed this product to help stabilize the industry, and simultaneously address long-standing industry feedback from brokers around the need to close the gap between the B-lenders and alternative lenders.

Aside from this, Neighbourhood Holdings is also offering some of the lowest alternative lending rates in several key markets like British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, Manitoba, and Nova Scotia.

Over the past few months, the alternative space has seen significantly increased traffic, with landlords and tenants alike rushing to the sector for assistance.
OTTAWA  A brand-new Canada  greener, healthier, more compassionate, fairer.

That was the vision that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau outlined on Wednesday when he revealed his much-anticipated legislative plan to a country grappling with rising coronavirus cases, fears of a second wave of the pandemic, and continuing economic woes because of shutdowns to fight the virus.

His plan, presented in the so-called throne speech to Parliament, included sweeping promises of new social programs to help working women and families; beefed-up financial support programs for businesses and workers hit by the economic downturn; and measures to combat climate change while leading the country to recovery.

This is not the time for austerity, the speech declared.

Mr. Trudeaus proposals, though, were short on details. Much of the package was a reworking of earlier promises from his Liberal Party, but with measures tailored to fight the coronavirus and the economic woes it has brought the country. The plan was immediately criticized by his main political rivals in the Conservative Party, who said it lacked fiscal restraint.

Theyre still talking that budgets balance themselves, Candice Bergen, the deputy Conservative leader, told reporters. It is another speech that is full of Liberal buzzwords and grand gestures.
LONDON, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Newmine, an innovative retail technology and consulting company, announced today the appointment of Guy Hipwell to their Advisory Board. Newmine expanded their reach into Europe in 2019, and the appointment of Hipwell represents their deep commitment to "ensuring retailers thrive," globally. The mission of the Advisory Board is to unite visionary retail leaders to educate the industry on best practices to advance their competitive advantage through reducing product returns as well as share their enormous domain expertise to focus and enrich Newmine's mission.

With e-commerce growth fueled by COVID-19, retailers are seeing an unprecedented volume of product returns. Newmine's Advisory Board will evangelize the benefits of returns reduction as well as the innovative solutions Newmine provides to solve what has become one of retail's most expensive problems. "With high street retailers struggling and the unique challenges the UK and Europe face when it comes to product returns, representation in this market is essential," says Newmine's Founder and CEO, Navjit Bhasin.

Hipwell, who has held senior board positions with retailers in Europe, says "I'm delighted to be working with Newmine to amplify the benefits of reducing product returns. Their AI-powered platform, Chief Returns Officer provides key intelligence that retailers need to transform their business."

The Newmine Advisory Board also includes former retail executives Graziano de Boni and Rich McMahon. "We are delighted at the caliber of talent our new Advisory Board attracted," says Bhasin, "and are looking forward to sharing the benefits of returns reduction across the globe."

About Newmine

Comprised of former retail and supply chain executives with deep experience in retail strategy, operations, and technology, Newmine's vision is to ensure retailers thrive in a transforming world. In addition to their operations and technology consulting practice, Newmine seeks to disrupt the returns management market with AI-driven returns reduction solutions. Newmine's Chief Returns Officer is an AI-powered platform that gives retailers a holistic view of integrated returns-related data from across the enterprise, prescribes corrective actions, and enables collaboration. For more information, visit www.newmine.com.

About Guy Hipwell

Guy Hipwell has held senior board level positions with retailers in the UK and Continental Europe and has run complex international omnichannel organisations operating simultaneously across countries with differing languages, currencies, legalities, and consumer behaviours. He is recognised in Europe as an expert in digital transformation.

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Lynch said the Board of Works approved Tuesday for the city to pay for a new website to become ADA complaint, but only under the condition that the project could be reimbursed with CARES Act funds. City officials will reach out to the state to find out, and if the answer is no then a new website will have to wait, she said.
This week it was announced that Mike Bloomberg donated $16 million to restore voting rights to over 30,000 felons in Florida. Florida deserves credit for changing this archaic and unacceptable law, as does Bloomberg for putting his money where his mouth is  a decade too late for some.

But lets talk about money.

In the months preceding Super Tuesday earlier this year, Bloomberg built an army of nearly 2,000 campaign organizers across the country, including me. He pulled talented staff away from other candidates, other jobs, their education, their careers, and even sometimes their families. But the offers made by the Bloomberg campaign were so enticing, it was impossible for most to turn down. For hundreds of organizers, the job meant we could pay down student loans, medical debts, and help their parents with overdue bills. Many could finally think about owning their own car or house, all because of a promise that was made to us repeatedly: We would have employment through November, no matter the winning presidential candidate.

Now, every time news breaks of a new Bloomberg donation, I see a running tally in my head of what campaign staffers collectively lost: $60 million in wages, healthcare coverage at the onset of a pandemic, unemployment eight months earlier than promised, classist tactics to pull organizing weight from other campaigns, an actual coup of the Democratic Party.

When it became clear that there was no path to victory, Mike Bloomberg and the other top candidates  Pete Buttigieg, Elizabeth Warren, and Amy Klobuchar  all dropped out of the presidential race within 48 hours of the Super Tuesday Primary, functionally guaranteeing a Biden candidacy.

I sat down at my kitchen table, opened my laptop and dialed in to the team call, expecting to get news on next steps, receive new assignments, get transferred to a battleground state  really, expecting anything other than what we were told.

It started innocuously enough, thank yous and congratulations all around, a special commendation to Colorado for outperforming the rest of the states. Then came the news: The campaign will not be continuing with the independent expenditure as planned, and is instead donating $18 million to the DNC to directly fund organizing in battleground states, of which you all have the option to have your resume entered into the candidate pool for consideration. All of your devices will be wiped by the end of the day.

My first thought was: What if Covid is a bigger deal that its being made out to be? Most of us just got healthcare for the first time.

I immediately contacted everyone on the campaign I knew to do what we do: organize.

Within hours of that call, there were two class action lawsuits brought against the campaign with over 500 former staff members on board and organizing together. Mike Bloomberg built the infrastructure to organize on an unprecedented scale and abandoned it. We decided to use it.

My proudest moment on the campaign was when we were able to use this nation-wide organizing infrastructure to apply pressure to the campaign and extend healthcare coverage through November for all former staff members. Getting healthcare for approximately 2,000 people was only the beginning.

Whether we have billionaire funding or not, we are committed to fighting for justice, and we applaud the recent move by Bloomberg to restore voting rights to felons. We also call on him to help fund our efforts to protect voting rights nation-wide, to amplify historically silenced voices, and to fight for and with the American working class to bring equitable justice and equality to all persons within our borders.

We built the Community Activist Network to continue the fight on a local level, in every corner of the nation, to ensure the people's voices are heard. This fight does not end in November; this fight does not end with an election. This fight continues ad infinitum.

Matthew Jeweler is the former regional organizing director, Colorado digital director and deputy data director for the Bloomberg presidential campaign
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-23 09:27:06|Editor: huaxia

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BERLIN, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- RB Leipzig have sealed the deal with Crystal Palace striker Alexander Sorloth from Norway, the Bundesliga club announced in an official statement via the club's homepage on Tuesday.

The 24-year-old striker has put to pen to paper on a five-year deal which binds him to the "Bulls" until June 2025.

"With Alexander Sorloth, we have signed our desired candidate for the vacant striker position," Leipzig's sporting director Markus Krosche said. "He is a physical and technically gifted player but also good in the air and a finisher in front of the target."

Sorloth proved last season what a prolific striker he is, as he scored 33 goals in 49 appearances during his loan spell at Turkish outfit Trabzonspor.

"Fairly quickly after the first talks, I already knew that I want to play for Leipzig. The offensively minded style of Julian Nagelsmann suits my playing style," said Sorloth.

The 24-time Norway international follows Josep Martinez, Hee-Chan Hwang, Benjamin Henrichs, Lazar Samardzic and Angelino as the sixth new arrival of the summer transfer period.

Leipzig started their 58th Bundesliga season with a win and will face Bayer Leverkusen in the second round on Saturday. Enditem
Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, Vice-Presidential candidate of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), has appealed to residents of Assin in the Central Region to vote massively for John Dramani Mahama in the upcoming December polls for rapid socio-economic development.

According to her, Mr. Mahama is a man of his word and will fulfil promises he made to Ghanaians when voted into power on December 7, 2020.

She said the former President is a man who promises and delivers thus should be given the chance to serve in the interest of the people.

Prof. Opoku-Algyemang made the appeal at a mini durbar at Assin Andoe, as part of her campaign tour of the Central Region.

John Mahama is a man of his word. When he makes a promise, he keeps it. He promised better roads and he delivered.

He promised schools and he delivered. He promised to improve healthcare infrastructure and he delivered. The facts are clear for all to see. John Mahama delivers, she stated.

The former Minister of Education expressed the commitment of the next NDC administration to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in the country and called for the support of all.

Ghanaian children are full of talent and potential. They deserve better access to education. The NDC has a plan to invest $10 billion into infrastructure and this would include more schools, she added.
Teachers in Hamiltons high schools are working overtime as they struggle to balance in-person classes with their duty to educate online learners, says a local teachers union.

Daryl Jerome, president of the local bargaining unit for the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation (OSSTF), says that many teachers are skipping their lunch breaks and logging extra hours in order to keep their online-only students up to date with everything theyve taught to the students who learn in-person.

Unlike elementary schools in the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB), teachers working in secondary schools are required to teach in-person classes in the morning and online classes in the afternoon.

Teachers design their online afternoon lessons with the assumption that their students  the majority of whom attend in-person morning lessons  are up to speed on their most recent classes.

But some students  namely, those who only attend afternoon online lessons  arent privy to in-person lessons and therefore require extra help to keep up, says Jerome.

Teachers are working at home to respond to remote-only student emails and to devise alternative work for them to do. This is during the time they should be spending with their family. Its completely unacceptable, Jerome told The Spectator.

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In a letter to its membership, obtained by The Spectator, representatives at OSSTF said teachers are feeling stressed and overwhelmed trying to provide two full periods of face-to-face instruction every day, as well as two classes of remote learning, and, on top of that, provide work for the students that are at home on alternating days and for students who are entirely remote.

The representatives also write that parents of online-only students are becoming angry with teachers and complaining that their children are not receiving the support they need.

There are not enough hours in the day (and, for many, the evening) to prepare different types of lessons for students that are fully doing remote learning, the letter reads.

The students who chose to follow a synchronous timetable from home are different from the students who chose the boards e-Learning option, offered just prior to school reopenings. The e-Learning program allows for remote learning with teachers but is completely asynchronous from the schools in-person timetable and instead lets students learn at their own pace and without classmates.

Many parents, sensing a need for their children to learn at a synchronous pace but apprehensive of sending them to classrooms, opted for synchronous learning that allows their children to attend afternoon remote-learning lessons along with the students who attend in-person classes.

Peter Sovran, associate director of learning at the HWDSB, says the board is working with the union to make adjustments where possible.

We know theres a bit of an adjustment period at the beginning of the semester, and thats why were providing lots of professional learning and development to teachers, Sovran said.

In August, as the HWDSB and Hamiltons Catholic board prepared for school reopenings, the boards opted to establish virtual schools for elementary students, complete with full-day learning and teachers assigned solely to online classes.

For secondary schools, the board decided that online classrooms would be organized and taught by teachers already assigned to in-person classes.

When teachers are instructing in the classroom, thats where their full attention is, said Sovran. At no time is a teacher being given more students than they would have if they werent in this situation, nor have they been given assignments that would have been any different.

According to one HWDSB teacher, who The Spectator agreed not to name so as not to jeopardize her job security, the hours spent teaching online-only students can often extend past schools typical end time because of all the students whove opted to learn entirely remotely.

My day is overfull without having the added layer of remote-only learners. The workload is untenable. I have been teaching for over 20 years and am overwhelmed after just one week of trying to provide a full, 2.5 hours of face-to-face instruction daily, as well as two afternoon classes of remote learning, on top of providing work for remote-only students, the teacher said.

I do not take my lunch break and I work through my preparation time on a daily basis. I multitask as much as possible  and I work in the evenings at home. Usually, I work right after school and again from approximately 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. once my son goes to bed.
WASHINGTON - Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. eulogized Ruth Bader Ginsburg as a "rock star" whose legal victories as a crusading lawyer for women's rights and her decisions over 27 years on the Supreme Court moved the nation closer to the goal of "equal justice under law."

"Among the words that describe Ruth: Tough. Brave. A fighter. A winner," a red-eyed Roberts said during a ceremony in the Supreme Court's Great Hall. "But also: Thoughtful. Careful. Compassionate. Honest."

Dozens of black-clad former clerks lined the steps of the marble building as Supreme Court police officers delivered Ginsburg's coffin to the Great Hall, where justices traditionally have been remembered.

The brief ceremony presented a snapshot of 2020 at the court. All eight justices - plus retired justice Anthony Kennedy and Maureen Scalia, the widow of Ginsburg's friend and fellow justice Antonin Scalia - wore masks. Justice Sonia Sotomayor added a clear plastic face shield; Justice Samuel Alito Jr. looked as if he has been skipping haircuts.

The justices dispersed to home offices in March when the coronavirus pandemic closed the court, and when they returned Wednesday they stood apart from one another. Justice Clarence Thomas was to Roberts's right, and Justice Stephen Breyer, 82 and now the second-longest-serving justice after Thomas, took Ginsburg's usual spot at the chief justice's left.

A few family members and close friends gathered for words from Rabbi Lauren Holtzblatt, whose husband, Ari, is among 159 former clerks who served Ginsburg in her more than 40 years as a justice and an appeals court judge.

Roberts said the loss of the 87-year-old jurist, who died Friday of complications from cancer, was most heavy on her family, which includes daughter Jane and son James.

Washington Post photo by Matt McClain.

"But the court was her family, too," Roberts said. "This building was her home, too. . . . Ruth is gone, and we grieve."

Roberts touched on the justice's famous love of opera.

"It has been said that Ruth wanted to be an opera virtuoso but became a rock star instead," Roberts said, adding, "She found her stage right behind me in our courtroom."

As a lawyer in the 1970s, Ginsburg argued six cases in the Supreme Court, helping to chip away and eventually topple the legal wall of gender inequality. Roberts noted that she wrote 483 opinions and dissents in her tenure, a legacy that will "steer the court for decades."

The chief justice, a man a generation younger than Ginsburg who attended Harvard Law School with her daughter, said the justice's life was "one of the versions of the American Dream."

Ginsburg's father was an immigrant, and she used to say her mother was conceived in the Old World and born in the New World. She had worked as a bookkeeper in Brooklyn.

"Ruth used to ask, 'What is the difference between a bookkeeper in Brooklyn and a Supreme Court justice?' " Roberts said. "Her answer: 'One generation.' "

After the ceremony inside the court, Ginsburg's flag-draped coffin was moved to the court's portico, where it will remain for two days of public viewing.

The White House said President Donald Trump will visit Thursday. On Friday, Ginsburg will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol, the first woman to receive the honor.

There, political maneuvering to replace Ginsburg is well underway; Trump has said he will nominate a woman to take her place, while Democrats call it unfair to make such a replacement when voting in the presidential election already has begun.

But it was somber and quiet in front of the Supreme Court, often the scene of loud demonstrations when the justices are hearing a particularly controversial issue.

While in the recent past, justices have lain in repose for one day, the extraordinary services planned for Ginsburg recognize the importance of only the second woman to serve on the high court and one who, in her 80s, became something of a cultural icon.

Her coffin was placed on the Lincoln catafalque, built for President Abraham Lincoln's coffin in 1865, and surrounded by an arrangement of the justice's favorite flowers, including white hydrangea, freesia and white tea roses.

By 11:30 a.m., hundreds of people - families and couples and groups of friends of all ages - stood in line, wearing hats and masks and RBG shirts, waiting for their chance at a brief stroll in front of the coffin.

The entire block of East Capitol Street between 1st and 2nd streets, which was cordoned off with metal gates for the winding line, was packed. The line of people spilled onto the sidewalk down 2nd Street, stretching all the way to the far corner of the back parking lot of the Library of Congress.

Some had been waiting for hours. By dawn Wednesday, a dozen people were already waiting. Four of them had spent the night outside the court, dozing on camping chairs.

"She's touched every aspect of our lives," said Mary Migues-Jordan, a 55-year-old attorney from Maryland who was the first in line beside her wife, Vicki. They arrived at 9:45 Tuesday night. "People keep asking me if I'm OK, because they know how much she means to me."

Behind them, the line grew as the sun rose, with lawyers, college students, a Coast Guard officer and a counselor settling in on the sidewalk. They came from as far as Vermont and Louisiana, flying and driving all night to be here for this moment.

"When I was a younger man, I waited out all night for concert tickets," said Doug Smith, 53, who had arrived from Pennsylvania at 10 p.m. with his daughter. "And this woman is a definition of a rock star. So yeah, waiting out all night for her? I can do that."

The viewing resumes Thursday at 8:30 a.m.
SMITHS FALLS, ON and NEW YORK, NY, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Canopy Growth Corporation ("Canopy Growth") (TSX: WEED) (NYSE: CGC) and Acreage Holdings, Inc. ("Acreage") (CSE:ACRG.A.U, ACRG.B.U) (together, the "Companies") are pleased to announce the implementation of Acreage's previously announced amended arrangement under section 288 of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) with Canopy Growth (the "Amended Arrangement").

Pursuant to the Amended Arrangement, Acreage's articles have been amended to create new Class E subordinate voting shares (the "Fixed Shares"), Class D subordinate voting shares (the "Floating Shares") and Class F multiple voting shares (the "Fixed Multiple Shares"). Each existing Class A subordinate voting share of Acreage (each, a "Subordinate Voting Share") has been exchanged for 0.7 of a Fixed Share and 0.3 of a Floating Share, each existing Class B proportionate voting share (each, a "Proportionate Voting Share") has been exchanged for 28 Fixed Shares and 12 Floating Shares and each existing Class C multiple share (each, a "Multiple Voting Share") has been exchanged for 0.7 of a Fixed Multiple Share and 0.3 of a Floating Share.

The Fixed Shares and Floating Shares will begin trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") under the ticker symbol ACRG.A.U and ACRG.B.U, respectively, as of the opening of markets today.

"Thank you to the Acreage shareholders for voting in favour of this amended arrangement and for believing in the potential Canopy Growth can bring to their investment," shared David Klein, Canopy Growth CEO. "We are encouraged by Acreage's recent actions to improve the focus and financial performance of its business and begin building our brands in the U.S., through the introduction of the Tweed brand in several U.S. states. The amended arrangement provides Canopy the most efficient entryway into the U.S., once federally permissible, and we believe will continue to benefit shareholders of both companies over the long-term."

"With today's announcement, we look forward to continuing to build on our momentum to accelerate our pathway to profitability," said Bill Van Faasen, Interim CEO of Acreage Holdings. "Canopy's Tweed branded flower has been a success since our launch late last year, and we will continue to expand to new markets and introduce new products and form factors. We are also excited to develop our hemp division to meet consumer needs in what is expected to be a $10 billion market opportunity."

In accordance with the Amended Arrangement, upon the occurrence (or waiver by Canopy Growth) of changes in federal laws in the United States to permit the general cultivation, distribution and possession of marijuana (as defined in the relevant legislation) or to remove the regulation of such activities from the federal laws of the United States (the "Triggering Event"), Canopy Growth will, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain closing conditions, acquire all of the issued and outstanding Fixed Shares on the basis of 0.3048 of a common share of Canopy Growth (each, a "Canopy Growth Share") per Fixed Share (following the automatic conversion of the Fixed Multiple Shares and subject to adjustment in accordance with the terms of the arrangement agreement entered into between Acreage and Canopy Growth on April 18, 2019, as amended on May 15, 2019 and on September 23, 2020 (the "Arrangement Agreement").

In addition, Canopy Growth holds an option, exercisable at the discretion of Canopy Growth, to acquire all of the issued and outstanding Floating Shares at the time that Canopy Growth acquires the Fixed Shares, for cash or Canopy Growth Shares, as Canopy Growth may determine, at a price per Floating Share based upon the 30-day volume-weighted average trading price of the Floating Shares on the CSE relative to the trading price of the Canopy Growth Shares at the time of the occurrence or waiver of the Triggering Event, subject to a minimum price of US$6.41 per Floating Share. 

Holders of Acreage shares and certain securities convertible or exchangeable into Subordinate Voting Shares as of the close of business on September 22, 2020 (the "Record Date"), are entitled to receive approximately US$0.30 per share, being their pro rata portion (on an as converted to Subordinate Voting Share basis) of US$37,500,024 (the "Upfront Payment") paid by Canopy Growth. It is expected that the Upfront Payment will be distributed to such holders of record within three business days. Shareholders of Acreage as of the Record Date with questions regarding the Upfront Payment should contact their broker for additional information.

In addition, in connection with the Amended Arrangement, a subsidiary of Canopy Growth has advanced US$50 million to Universal Hemp, LLC ("Hempco"), a subsidiary of Acreage, pursuant to the terms of a secured debenture (the "Debenture"). In accordance with the terms of the Debenture, the funds cannot be used, directly or indirectly, in connection with or for any cannabis or cannabis-related operations in the United States, unless and until such operations comply with all applicable laws of the United States. An additional US$50 million may be advanced pursuant to the Debenture subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions by Hempco. The Debenture bears interest at a rate of 6.1% per annum, matures 10 years from the date hereof or such earlier date in accordance with the terms of the Debenture and all interest payments made pursuant to the Debenture are payable in cash by Hempco. The Debenture is not convertible and is not guaranteed by Acreage.

Acreage will continue to operate as a stand-alone entity and to conduct its business independently, subject to compliance with certain covenants contained in the Arrangement Agreement.

Additional Details

For more information about the Amended Arrangement please see the Acreage proxy statement and management information circular dated August 17, 2020 (the "Circular") which was filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and is available on the EDGAR website at www.sec.gov and under Acreage's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

In order to receive Fixed Shares and Floating Shares in exchange for Subordinate Voting Shares, Proportionate Voting Shares or Multiple Voting Shares, Acreage registered shareholders must complete, sign, date and return the letter of transmittal that was previously mailed to each Acreage shareholder (the "Letter of Transmittal"). The Letter of Transmittal was filed with the SEC and is available on the EDGAR website at www.sec.gov and under Acreage's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. For those Acreage shareholders whose shares are registered in the name of a broker, investment dealer, bank, trust company, trust or other intermediary or nominee, they should contact such nominee for assistance in depositing their Subordinate Voting Shares, Proportionate Voting Shares or Multiple Voting Shares and should follow the instructions of such intermediary or nominee.

The Companies intend to update their respective shareholders by press release of the following key milestones: (i) the occurrence or waiver of the Triggering Event; (ii) the proposed effective date for the acquisition of the Fixed Shares and, if applicable, the Floating Shares; (iii) material developments relating to the Amended Arrangement; and (iv) material regulatory developments in the United States.

Advisors

Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP and Paul Hastings LLP acted as legal counsel to Canopy Growth. Ernst & Young LLP (EY) acted as tax advisors to Canopy Growth.

DLA Piper (Canada) LLP and Cozen O'Connor acted as legal counsel to Acreage. Foros acted as financial advisor to the Acreage board of directors and Eight Capital provided a fairness opinion to the Acreage special committee. Wildeboer Dellelce LLP acted as legal counsel to the Acreage special committee.

About Canopy Growth

Canopy Growth (TSX:WEED,NYSE:CGC) is a world-leading diversified cannabis, hemp and cannabis device company, offering distinct brands and curated cannabis varieties in dried, oil and Softgel capsule forms, as well as medical devices through Canopy Growth's subsidiary, Storz & Bickel GMbH & Co. KG. From product and process innovation to market execution, Canopy Growth is driven by a passion for leadership and a commitment to building a world-class cannabis company one product, site and country at a time.

Canopy Growth's medical division, Spectrum Therapeutics is proudly dedicated to educating healthcare practitioners, conducting robust clinical research, and furthering the public's understanding of cannabis, and has devoted millions of dollars toward cutting edge, commercializable research and IP development. Spectrum Therapeutics sells a range of full-spectrum products using its colour-coded classification Spectrum system as well as single cannabinoid Dronabinol under the brand Bionorica Ethics.

Canopy Growth operates retail stores across Canada under its award-winning Tweed and Tokyo Smoke banners. Tweed is a globally recognized cannabis brand which has built a large and loyal following by focusing on quality products and meaningful customer relationships.

From our historic public listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange to our international expansion, pride in advancing shareholder value through leadership is engrained in all we do at Canopy Growth. Canopy Growth has established partnerships with leading sector names including cannabis icons Snoop Dogg and Seth Rogen, breeding legends DNA Genetics and Green House Seeds, as well as lifestyle guru Martha Stewart and Fortune 500 alcohol leader Constellation Brands, to name but a few. For more information visit www.canopygrowth.com.

About Acreage

Headquartered in New York City, Acreage is a vertically integrated, multi-state operator of cannabis licenses and assets in the U.S. Acreage is dedicated to building and scaling operations to create a seamless, consumer-focused branded cannabis experience. Acreage debuted its national retail store brand, The Botanist in 2018 and its award-winning consumer brands, The Botanist and Live Resin Project in 2019.

On June 27, 2019, Acreage implemented an arrangement under section 288 of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) with Canopy Growth, which was subsequently amended on September 23, 2020. Pursuant to the Amended Arrangement, upon the occurrence (or waiver by Canopy Growth) of the Triggering Event, Canopy Growth will, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain closing conditions, acquire all of the issued and outstanding Fixed Shares on the basis of 0.3048 of a Canopy Growth Share per Fixed Share (following the automatic conversion of the Fixed Multiple Shares and subject to adjustment in accordance with the terms of the Arrangement Agreement.

In addition, Canopy Growth holds an option, exercisable at the discretion of Canopy Growth, to acquire all of the issued and outstanding Floating Shares at the time that Canopy Growth acquires the Fixed Shares, for cash or Canopy Growth Shares, as Canopy Growth may determine, at a price per Floating Share based upon the 30-day volume-weighted average trading price of the Floating Shares on the CSE relative to the trading price of the Canopy Growth Shares at the time of the occurrence or waiver of the Triggering Event, subject to a minimum price of US$6.41 per Floating Share.

For more information about the Amended Arrangement please see the Circular and the respective information circulars of each of Acreage and Canopy Growth dated May 17, 2019, which are available on Acreage's and Canopy Growth's respective profiles on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and filed with the SEC on the EDGAR website at www.sec.gov. For additional information regarding Canopy Growth, please see Canopy Growth's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Notice Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements or information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Companies or their respective subsidiaries to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release. Examples of such statements include statements with respect to the trading of the Fixed Shares and the Floating Shares on the CSE, the timing of receipt of the Upfront Payment, the occurrence or waiver of the Triggering Event, the satisfaction or waiver of the closing conditions set out in the Arrangement Agreement and the additional advance pursuant to the terms of the Debenture.

Risks, uncertainties and other factors involved with forward-looking statements or information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information, including the occurrence of changes in U.S. federal laws regarding the cultivation, distribution or possession of marijuana; the likelihood of the Triggering Event being satisfied or waived by the outside date; the ability of the Companies to satisfy, in a timely manner, the conditions to closing following the satisfaction or waiver of the Triggering Event; the likelihood of Canopy Growth completing the acquisition of the Fixed Shares and/or Floating Shares; other expectations and assumptions concerning the transactions contemplated between the Companies; the available funds of Acreage and the anticipated use of such funds; the availability of financing opportunities for Acreage and the risks associated with the completion thereof; regulatory and licensing risks; changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial and stock markets; risks related to infectious diseases, including the impacts of COVID-19; legal and regulatory risks inherent in the cannabis industry, including the global regulatory landscape and enforcement related to cannabis, political risks and risks relating to regulatory change; risks relating to anti-money laundering laws; compliance with extensive government regulation and the interpretation of various laws regulations and policies; risk associated with divesting certain assets; public opinion and perception of the cannabis industry; and such other risks contained in the public filings of Canopy Growth filed with the SEC and available on the EDGAR website at www.sec.gov and on Canopy Growth's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, including Canopy Growth's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2020 (as amended) and in the public filings of Acreage filed with the SEC and available on the EDGAR website at www.sec.gov and on Acreage's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, including the Circular and Acreage's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 (as amended).

In respect of the forward-looking statements and information, the Companies have provided such statements and information in reliance on certain assumptions that they believe are reasonable at this time. Although the Companies believe that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking statements and information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The forward-looking statements and information included in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Companies do not undertake any obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements or information to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise unless required by applicable securities laws.

There can be no assurance that the Triggering Event or the acquisition of the Fixed Shares and/or the Floating Shares will occur, or that such events will occur on the terms and conditions contemplated in this news release. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the Circular, any information released or received with respect to the Amended Arrangement may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon.

The CSE has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the content of this news release.

SOURCE Canopy Growth Corporation

Related Links

canopygrowth.com


States can dip further into their disaster relief funds, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a meeting with the chief ministers of the seven states hit hardest by the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, while also urging them to consider whether intermittent lockdowns help or are coming in the way of restarting economic activity.

The Prime Minister held a video conference with the CMs of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Punjab  regions that the Union health ministry said together account for at least 63% of active cases and 77% of fatalities due to the viral disease.

For Covid-19, all states can use up to 50% of their state disease relief fund (SDRF), up from a cap of 35% set in April. Because of this decision the states will get more money to fight Covid 19, the Prime Minister said, according to the text of his speech released by the government.

The Union government has in all allocated 11,902 crore as SDRF to all states, as per recommendations of the Finance Commission. Several states have of late flagged to the Union government shortage in funds, particularly due to delayed payments of the Goods and Services (GST) compensation due to a slump in tax collections.

At Wednesdays meeting, the Union health ministry made a presentation where it said Maharashtra, Punjab and Delhi have seen higher deaths with the case fatality rate (the proportion of deaths as per confirmed cases) above 2%, officials said.

The Prime Minister and the CMs discussed several issues and shared notes about their economic recovery. The leaders of Karnataka and Punjab flagged potential shortages of oxygen cylinders.

Uttar Pradesh chief minister said the states tax collections in August had climbed back to levels in the corresponding period last year.

Economic recovery was among the key areas of discussions, with the PM recommending the states follow a micro containment zones strategy. The nationwide lockdown in the initial phases yielded very positive results and our focus now should be on micro-containment zones, he said.

The PM also asked the states to take a relook at whether intermitted lockdowns help in controlling spread of Covid. Is it because of this reason that starting of economic activities in your state is facing problems? the PM asked.

Some states such as Punjab and Uttar Pradesh implemented weekend lockdowns and West Bengal shut down on two consecutive days in a week. Chhattisgarh has gone for a longer lockdown of 10 days in 14 districts.

Overall, the PM said states must further enhance their focus on effective testing, tracing, treatment, surveillance and clear messaging to curb the pandemic.

Some people even make the mistake of undermining the seriousness of the disease, Modi said, while pitching for the need of an effective messaging especially with regard to use of masks.

Prime Minister Modi said it has to be ensured that medicines move unhindered from one state to another and noted that India has also been able to supply medicines across the world during such hard times.

Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh sought adequate supplies of medical oxygen from other states and release of 200 crore of the next tranche of central aid for Covid management.

The chief minister said that with no manufacturers of medical oxygen, the state was dependent largely on three big manufacturers for liquid oxygen in Himachal and Haryana.

India has over 5.7 million coronavirus cases and more than 90,000 deaths, and is the nation second worst-hit in the world after the US.

Over the last 24 hours, 86,941 new cases were reported.
Judge Amy Coney Barrett is now seen as President Donald Trump's overwhelming favorite to take the seat left by late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

According to two sources familiar with the deliberations, Barrett has gone to the White House for the second day in a row. Sources also claim that Barrett has impressed Trump and other officials during her first White House meeting on Monday.

A Supreme Court pick still hasn't been announced, but Trump said it is going to happen at 5 p.m. on Saturday. Trump said the Supreme Court would need nine justices to decide on the legality of mail-in ballots for the coming elections.

Sources also told CNN that the White House is working on getting a schedule for Trump and Judge Barbara Lagoa's meeting. The plan is for the two to meet in the Miami area on Friday, as Trump visits the location.

There are five female candidates that the President is considering to take Ginsburg's seat. Sources believe that the chances of Lagoa taking the seat dimmed greatly since the weekend.

At present, Barrett is still a clear front-runner for Trump Supreme Court pick. She is viewed as the likely nominee inside the White House. Trump said the announcement for his pick would be made at the White House.

Who is Amy Coney Barrett?

Two years ago, after his nomination for Brett Kavanaugh to the high court, Trump strongly hinted that his next choice for an opening would be a former law profession.

He also said his next choice could be one he had named to a federal appeals court the year before. These all describe Barrett.

Barrett is currently sitting on the U.S. Court of Appeals, working for the Seventh Circuit in Chicago. She also clerked for conservative icon late justice Antonin Scalia.

If she's to be nominated and confirmed, Barrett would be the sitting justice with the least courtroom experience, said a New York Times report. She is, however, the best bet of conservative Christians and anti-abortion activists.

According to Associated Press, Barrett is a devout Catholic. Religious conservatives hail her as an ideological heir to Scalia.

Marjorie Dannenfelser of Susan B. Antony list said Barrett was a "brilliant jurist" and a woman whose arguments at court run contrary to the current female justices. Dannenfelser is the President of the Susan B. Anthony List, an anti-abortion political group.

Liberals believe Barrett's legal views were too heavily influenced by religion. They fear her ascent to the nation's scale back of hard-fought abortion rights.

She will be replacing the justice who was best known for fighting for these rights, among other cases, for women's rights and equality.

Barrett's Potential Role in Trump's Reelection

As a Midwestern Catholic, Barrett may help the President secure votes for his reelection, said her supporters.

Her influence will significantly affect vital states as the Rust Belt and Great Lakes states, said a Bloomberg report. Trump is currently trailing behind Democratic candidate Joe Biden in these locations.

On Monday, Trump told an audience in Ohio that he will be picking a woman to replace Ginsburg. He also told reporters that he had a list of candidates but has "one or two" of them in mind as the likely nominee.

When asked if he will be meeting all five candidates in person, Trump said: "I doubt it. We'll meet with a few, probably."

Check these out!

Ginsburg Makes History, First Woman to Lie in State at U.S. Capitol

Trump to Announce His Supreme Court Pick This Weekend

Trump's Supreme Court Nominee Will Be a Woman
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Oregonian/Oregonlive.com reports that in downtown Portland, Oregon, the site of months of demonstrations against police brutality, several hundred people held a rally in the rain Wednesday night in front of the Multnomah County Justice Center. A drum line played in rhythm with chants of Whose life mattered? Breonna Taylor! The newspaper reported several Black women addressed the crowd and encouraged people to vote and continue pressing for change,

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US President Donald Trump, in a campaign rally in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, mocked his Democratic presidential rival Joe Biden for wearing a face mask in public.

''I mean, honestly, what the hell did he spend all that money on the plastic surgery if he's going to cover it up with a mask, seriously,'' he said.

Trump and Biden have been at odds over the value of face masks as a defence against the coronavirus.

The President also accused the Democratic party of being ''against oil, God and religion.''

He hit out at the Democrats over climate change, and defended his decision in 2017 to withdraw the United States from agreements reached during the Paris climate talks.

''I withdrew from the (Paris Climate Agreement) catastrophe because I was elected to fight for Pittsburgh, not for Paris,'' Trump told the rally.

He also accused Biden of being too close to China.

"If Biden wins, China wins," he said. "When we win, Pennsylvania wins and America wins."
James Kelley, a longtime Tucson Republican activist, died unexpectedly this week. He was 59.

Kelley, a one-time candidate for Pima County supervisor, was a U.S. Navy veteran who became omnipresent at political events in Tucson and around Arizona.

Born in Tucson in 1961, his mother Marilyn Cresci said, Kelley spent a lot of time in his early years at the corner  the Adkins Steel property owned by his grandfather, at the corner of East Fort Lowell Road and North Craycroft Road.

The family moved around the midwest and west when he was growing up, and after graduating from high school in San Ramon, Calif., Kelley joined the Navy, Cresci said.

He spent 10 years in the Navy, serving in operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and later attended the Defense Language Institute, Cresci said

He was an Albanian linguist and a Persian/Farsi linguist, Cresci said.

Once out of the Navy, Kelley held jobs in numerous lines of work, from Holland America Cruise lines, to defense businesses, to real estate and insurance inspection.
By 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.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Prime Minister Scott Morrison takes a tour at the AstraZeneca laboratories in Macquarie Park, in Sydney, Australia, on Aug. 19, 2020. (Nick Moir/Pool/Getty Images)

Australia Signs Global Virus Vaccine Deal

Australia has signed onto a global COVID-19 agreement in the hope of gaining early access to dozens of potential vaccines.

The deal guarantees Australia access to enough vaccine doses for up to 50 percent of the population.

Australia has committed an initial $123 million to be part of the purchasing pool.

It means that well have access to any of potentially dozens and dozens of different vaccines that are being developed, federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said on Sept. 23.

Australia has contributed, along with over 80 other countries, to have that right.

The deal is in addition to agreements Australia has already struck with vaccine developers at Oxford University and the University of Queensland.

Its about making sure that we have additional protection, additional access, additional support, Hunt said.

Its also a facility which means that the developing nations, whether its in Africa or Asia or Latin America, will be guaranteed access.

And that protects Australia by protecting the world, as well as doing the right humanitarian thing.

The COVAX facility was established by the World Health Organisation and other international agencies.

It aims to ensure equitable access to safe and effective coronavirus vaccines.

This is Australias second commitment to the facility after donating $80 million in August to provide doses to developing countries.

As well as allocations for individual countries, 10 percent of manufactured doses will be retained to respond to sporadic outbreaks across the globe.

By Daniel McCulloch
Facing an economic meltdown and other crises, Lebanon's president on Wednesday asked for the world's help to rebuild the capital's main port and neighbourhoods that were blown away in last month's catastrophic explosion.

President Michel Aoun made the plea in a prerecorded speech to the UN General Assembly's virtual summit, telling world leaders that Lebanon's many challenges are posing an unprecedented threat to its very existence.

Most urgently, the country needs the community's support to rebuild its economy and its destroyed port. Aoun suggested breaking up the damaged parts of the city into separate areas and so that countries that wish to help can each commit to rebuilding one.

Beirut today is trying to rise from its rubble, and it is with the solidarity of all the Lebanese and your support that it will heal its wounds and rise as it has previously risen repeatedly throughout history, Aoun said. There is a great need for the community to support the reconstruction of destroyed neighbourhoods and facilities.

The massive August 4 explosion happened when about 3,000 tons of ammonium nitrates which had been rotting in a port warehouse for more than six years ignited. Nearly 200 people were killed, 6,500 injured and a quarter of a million people were left with homes that were not fit to live in.

The cause of the blaze that ignited the chemicals still isn't known, but the explosion is widely seen as the culmination of decades of corruption and mismanagement by Lebanon's ruling class.

It came on top of an unprecedented economic crisis which has seen the local currency lose up to 80 percent of its value and decimated people's savings, feeding despair among a population that has long ago given up on its leaders. Poverty and unemployment are soaring, made worse by the coronavirus pandemic.

A local investigation into the blast is underway, but no one has been held accountable so far.

Aroun said had requested technical assistance from certain countries, particularly soil samples and satellite images from the moment of the explosion.

Teams from several countries came for technical assistance and to carry out the necessary research and we are still waiting for their information... as well as the satellite images to clear the ambiguity in this part of the investigation, he added.

Earlier Wednesday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for swift formation of a government to be followed by tangible steps to implement economic, social and political reforms.

Lebanon's government resigned under pressure in the wake of the port explosion, and Prime Minister-designate Mustapha Adib has been unable to form a new government amid a political impasse over which faction gets to have the Finance Ministry, as well as other disputes.

Guterres said the disastrous port explosion must be a wake-up call. Without such action, the country's ability to recover and rebuild will be jeopardised, adding to the turmoil and hardship of the Lebanese people, Guterres added.

Guterres made his remarks during a meeting of the Support Group for held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meetings.

(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.)
CREOLE, La.  Mary Canik returned after Hurricane Laura to find her hometown destroyed again. The grocery store she owns with her husband had been ransacked by a wall of water, its contents a mangled mess blown onto the gravel parking lot. Her home, which had been rebuilt after an earlier hurricane and lifted 14 feet 9 inches off the ground, was nothing but posts and a cement slab.

On a recent sweltering afternoon, her thoughts drifted back 15 years. She remembered how wrecked she felt after Hurricane Rita, how excruciating it was to see how her community had been the battered target of storm surge and pulverizing winds. She remembered how easily the tears came.

This time, she was just tired.

We have this, said Ms. Canik, sitting in the shade outside the damaged feed store she and her husband, John, bought after Rita and turned into a market selling fresh meats, produce and soft-serve ice cream.

There was a time, Ms. Canik said, when leaving the parish had been inconceivable. Now it felt possible.
KYIV, Ukraine, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Ukraine's government has launched one of the most promising reforms to create a global IT hub in Ukraine. The project, called Diia City, provides for special digital residency with a particular taxation regime, intellectual property protection and simplified regulations.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy stands for keeping the tax rate for IT employees at the level of 5%

Ukrainian leadership intends to establish a comprehensive, liberal legal framework for the IT industry. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine to design the legislation for Diia City  the world's first virtual business country for the creative economy. Diia City implies a step change in current taxation, enforcement and judicial systems.

"The government and IT sector are now working together. We are drafting legislation to support the IT industry. And we assured the IT sector of sustained governmental support; for them, there would be no taxes above 5%. Cause we see Ukraine as a European intellectual hub for the most talented specialists," said Zelenskyy during an IT conference in Lviv on September 17.

Diia City's implementation is conducted by The Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine. The reform provides for replacing corporate tax by dividends taxation at a 10% rate. The tax model for employees implies a 5% personal income tax rate. Diia City management and governance is assumed by Diia City residents themselves.

"Diia City  a virtual digital country with no limits for new investments, jobs and cutting-edge technological development. This is a place where the state regulation is minimal and which will thrive with the creation of innovative products and multinational companies of any size, where Ukrainian and foreign entrepreneurs have the opportunity to bring to life the most ambitious and innovative business ideas," says Alexander Bornyakov, deputy minister of digital transformation of Ukraine.

Development and law adoption in Diia City, as well as the adaptation of tax and labor legislation amendments, are scheduled to be completed by the end of December 2020.

Media Contact:

Igor Symysenko

Phone: +380664860510

Email: [email protected]

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Zelenskyy's meeting with representatives of IT business

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy stands for keeping the tax rate for IT employees at the level of 5%

SOURCE Diia City
Washington: Pennsylvania Republicans will ask the US Supreme Court to decide the legality of allowing voters to return mail ballots up to three days after Election Day, potentially queuing up the first partisan election case for the court to consider since the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

The state's top four legislative Republicans indicated in a court filing that they plan to ask the Supreme Court for an emergency stay to block a state court's decision from taking effect in time for the November 3 election. The Republicans filed a stay request with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Tuesday, local time, writing that they planned to appeal to the country's highest court.

The American flag flies at half mast outside the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC. Credit:Bloomberg

It remains to be seen how the Supreme Court will handle the appeal. The death of Ginsburg, heralded by liberals as a powerful champion for voting rights, has brought new uncertainty to the battles over election rules playing out across the country.

Last week, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled in Democrats' favour on a number of mail-voting rules, permitting voters to turn in ballots to drop boxes in addition to using the US Postal Service; allowing ballots to be returned up to three days after Election Day; and blocking a Republican effort to allow partisan poll watchers to be stationed in counties where they do not live.


Speakers:

Maj. Gen. Luo Wei, director general of the Peacekeeping Affairs Center of the Ministry of National Defense

Senior Col. Ren Guoqiang, spokesperson of the Ministry of National Defense

Senior Col. Pan Qinghua, officer from the Bureau of Publicity of the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission

Chairperson:

Hu Kaihong, spokesperson of the State Council Information Office

Date:

Sept. 18, 2020

Hu Kaihong:

Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. Welcome to this press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO). The SCIO today released a white paper entitled "China's Armed Forces: 30 Years of UN Peacekeeping Operation," and we are holding this press conference to introduce and explain some of the details. We are joined by Maj. Gen. Luo Wei, director general of the Peacekeeping Affairs Center of the Ministry of National Defense; Senior Col. Ren Guoqiang, spokesperson of the Ministry of National Defense; and Senior Col. Pan Qinghua, officer from the Bureau of Publicity of the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission. I'm Hu Kaihong, spokesperson of the SCIO.

First, I will give you a brief introduction on the main content of the white paper.

Hu Kaihong:

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations (U.N.) and the fifth anniversary of President Xi Jinping's attendance at the U.N. Leaders' Summit on Peacekeeping. It is also the 30th year since China's armed forces first participated in the U.N. peacekeeping operations (UNPKOs). At this particular historic moment, the Chinese government decided to release a white paper entitled "China's Armed Forces: 30 Years of U.N. Peacekeeping Operations." As the first peacekeeping-themed white paper, it comprehensively reviews the journey and practice of China's armed force in UNPKO activities s over the past three decades, as well as the contributions made. It fully showcases key achievements as China's armed forces have implemented the pledges announced by President Xi Jinping during the U.N. Leaders' Summit on Peacekeeping. The white paper systematically explains the founding mission and propositions of China's armed forces in the UNPKOs. It elaborates on how China's armed forces have engaged in various operations for maintaining world peace, firmly contributing to building a community with a shared future for mankind. The full text of the white paper is about 14,000 Chinese characters. It consists of four parts including preface, main body, closing remarks, and annexes.
RICHMOND, Va. - A federal appeals court on Wednesday denied a request for a full-court review of a ruling that a Virginia school boards transgender bathroom ban is unconstitutional.

The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond rejected a request from the Gloucester County School Board for a rehearing to review a ruling that the boards policy discriminated against Gavin Grimm, a transgender student who was barred from using the boys bathrooms at Gloucester High School.

The boards policy required Grimm to use restrooms that corresponded with his sex assigned at birth  female  or to use private restrooms.

A federal judge in Norfolk ruled against the school board last year, a ruling that was upheld last month by a three-judge panel of the 4th Circuit.

The school board had argued that laws protect against discrimination based on sex, not gender identity. Because Grimm had not undergone sex-reassignment surgery and still had female genitalia, the boards position was that he remained anatomically a female.

An attorney for the school board did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

Grimm filed his lawsuit in 2015, saying he suffered from urinary tract infections from avoiding school bathrooms as well as suicidal thoughts that led to hospitalization.

The lawsuit became a federal test case when it was supported by the administration of then-President Barack Obama. It was scheduled to go before the U.S. Supreme Court in 2017, but the high court hearing was cancelled after President Donald Trump rescinded an Obama-era directive that students can choose bathrooms corresponding with their gender identity.

Grimm, now 21, graduated in 2017. He lives in California and is an activist for transgender rights.
The death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg gives President Donald Trump an opportunity to shift the ideological tenor of the court. If the Senate were to confirm a Trump nominee, the court would become more conservative than it has been since 1950 -- both more conservative than previous courts, and potentially as far away ideologically from the elected branches of government as it has been in a long time.

So just how conservative could the court become?

- - -

Here's how I did my research

I created a statistical model to estimate the ideological views of justices, presidents and members of Congress. For justices, I used information from their votes on cases and opinions, which tell us how their ideologies compare to those of the other justices. Their opinions on previous cases reveal how their ideological positions compared to those of members of the previous courts that decided those earlier cases.

For members of Congress, I used their floor roll call votes to estimate how each one's ideology compares to the ideologies of his or her colleagues. I also used the positions members of Congress take on Supreme Court cases to compare their ideologies to those of the justices. I estimated those positions based on statements they made in amicus briefs, on the floor of Congress and, increasingly, on Twitter.

Similarly, I estimated presidents' ideological positions as compared to those taken by both the court and Congress from their public positions on congressional roll call votes and statements and amicus filings on court cases.

Using these measures, I could compare the ideological tenor of each branch of the federal government with that of its counterparts from 1950 to the present.

Presidential ideologies tend to stake out either the liberal or the conservative extreme. I estimated House and Senate ideologies as the positions of the median member. Those bodies' ideologies are generally closer to the middle, shifting when a different party controls the chamber.

I measured the Supreme Court's ideology with the court's ideological median at any given time. While very liberal during the Warren Court from 1953 to 1969, the court median has hovered on the center right since the mid-1970s, except for a brief liberal interlude after Justice Antonin Scalia's death in February 2016 until Justice Neil Gorsuch filled that seat in early 2017.

- - -

A third Trump nominee would make the court more conservative

The expected court median that would result if, as expected, Trump's eventual nominee is confirmed to the court would be substantially more conservative than it is today, creating the most conservative court since 1950.

- - -

The court could also be further ideologically from the other branches than it has been before

The court could be more conservative than the elected branches to a degree not seen in 70 years. Given the high probability that Democrats will retain control of the House, the expected court median is likely to be vastly more conservative than the House median.

The expected court median would also be to the right of the current Senate. If the Democrats were to win control, the Senate median would shift at least to -0.29 (the estimated ideological position of Sen. Doug Jones, D-Ala.) and possibly even further in a liberal direction.

And, of course, if Democratic candidate Joe Biden wins the presidential election, the presidency's ideological leanings would shift dramatically toward the liberal end. I traced Biden's expected ideology as president using his estimated ideology as a senator in 2008, before he became vice president.

If Democrats win the presidency, the House and the Senate, the gap between the court median and these elected branches would be the largest since 1950, potentially setting up bruising battles over court expansion and other means by which the political branches may seek to offset court power.

- - -

5-to-4 decisions could become less likely

When conservatives have only a bare majority on the court, as they currently do, the liberal side can win by pulling only one conservative justice to their side. That happened in June Medical Services v. Russo, when Chief Justice John Roberts sided with the liberals in a case about a restrictive Louisiana abortion law, writing that he did so out of respect for court precedent. But if there are six conservative justices, liberals would have to win over two justices to prevail, a more remote possibility.

There would be a large gap in the ideological middle of the court if Trump's appointee had an ideology between Gorsuch and Samuel Alito, the second-most-conservative justice (Clarence Thomas is the furthest to the right). That gap would make it less likely that liberals could find a five-vote majority on a case contested between left and right, reinforcing the likelihood that the court will rule in a conservative direction.

These potential shifts in the court from Trump's third nominee would give the country a historically conservative court to grapple with such hotly contested issues as abortion, elections, labor law, health care, government regulation, the environment and more. If the Democrats were to gain control of the Senate and White House in the November elections, such a court would regularly clash with the other branches of government. The outcome of those battles may set policy for many years to come.

- - -

Bailey is a professor at Georgetown University, where he directs the McCourt School's Massive Data Institute and its Data Science for Public Policy program. For other analysis and commentary from The Monkey Cage, an independent blog anchored by political scientists from universities around the country, see www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/monkey-cage.
RED DEER, ALTA.RCMP are investigating after far-right protesters disrupted what was to be a peaceful anti-racism rally in central Alberta last weekend, but local advocacy groups say officers should have been better prepared to stop the violence.

Kisha Daniels, a co-founder of Black and Indigenous Alliance AB, said organizers were setting up the event in a park in Red Deer, Alta., Sunday when they heard honking, sirens and yelling from about 30 metres away.

She said there were threats of violence ahead of the event and, right before it started, people associated with the Yellow Vest movement, Soldiers of Odin and other far-right groups showed up.

It was very hard for us, very traumatic for us to have to deal with these white supremacist groups without any RCMP interaction or involvement, said Daniels, whose planned speech about education and anti-Blackness had to be called off.

A video posted by one rallygoer on Facebook shows a man in a sleeveless shirt yelling, swearing and calling them paid pieces of garbage.

A rally volunteer marked with red tape on his clothing is seen striding up to counterprotesters with a stack of paper. The man in the sleeveless shirt lunges at the volunteer, shoves him and tells him to get out.

The nearly 11-minute video captures further scuffles between the two sides. A police vehicle can be seen on the periphery, but no officers appear to intervene. The video ends with both groups trying to drown each other out with chants of Black lives matter and all lives matter.

Daniels said volunteers suffered injuries, including a broken tooth.

Supt. Gerald Grobmeier with the Red Deer RCMP said police were prepared for the event with 16 officers, but both groups arrived earlier than expected.

We did have our analysts monitoring social media and we did plan for it, he said.

We always do  just to see what the chatter might be.

Grobmeier said police arrived within minutes of the alleged assault, de-escalated the situation and spoke with a victim. They are asking witnesses to come forward to determine if charges are warranted.

Daniels said she has video, screenshots and photos to share with the RCMP.

But she said she has approached police in the past about threats she has received and was told there was nothing that can be done about it.

Alberta Justice Minister Kaycee Madu said he has urged Albertas commanding officer to get to the bottom of what happened.

Police have a difficult job keeping the peace, Madu said, calling the violence disturbing and unacceptable.

Its also critically important that the RCMP maintain public confidence by explaining their role in such situations.

Red Deer Mayor Tara Veer said she respects the right of peaceful assembly, but unequivocally denounces racism and violence.

It is highly concerning for our community that travelling protests have incited division and violence in our city, she said in a statement, noting how the pandemic, economy and other factors have added to social tensions.

We cannot let the actions of a few characterize our city.

Anti-racism marches and rallies have taken place in communities large and small since the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis in the spring. The Black man died after an officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes, sparking a worldwide outcry over systemic racism and police brutality.

Dieulita Datus and Sadia Khan, co-founders of the anti-discrimination not-for-profit Ubuntu  Mobilizing Central Alberta, said most rallies they have attended around central Alberta this summer have been peaceful.

They said they felt disheartened when they saw footage of the Red Deer event and bigoted comments about it posted on social media.

My heart sank. We are losing the message and the intent that needs to be heard right now, said Khan, who lives in Red Deer.

Datus said the RCMP should be talking to grassroots groups like Ubuntu so they can be more proactive.

Weve made calls repeatedly over the summer for the RCMP and other local police organizations to have the frank conversations, for them to recognize the dog whistles, for them to recognize hate groups for exactly what they are, for them to see threats for exactly what they are.

Read more about:
All it takes is a nationwide crisis to underline the most glaring equity issues our society faces. The one that has captured my attention during COVID-19 is the chronic lack of home internet access for people of color, low-income households, and rural residents.

That lack of access puts schools in an especially difficult position as they expand their use of technology during the pandemic, and beyond.

Its important to remember that this technology challenge has been staring us in the face for decades. It is not just a COVID-19 issueit is a civil rights issue of the utmost importance.

Three years ago, a congressional Joint Economic Committee report had already offered some numbers on just how pressing this problem was, ominously foreshadowing the obstacles K-12 schools would face during the pandemic: Roughly 30 percent of Black households, 26 percent of Hispanic households, and 35 percent of Native American households did not have a broadband connection at all, compared with 18 percent of white households. And in New York Citythe nations financial hubhalf a million households , including 38 percent of its low-income households, lack home internet access.

Smartphones can provide internet access to families that cant afford or access broadbandoften at the additional cost of a data plan or mobile hotspotbut nearly a quarter of Americans who earn less than $30,000 a year dont have one .

Clearly, connectivity is an issue of infrastructure and affordability. These numbers tell us, over and over, that the digital divide isnt an isolated problem. Its not only a rural problem or a pandemic problem. Its a hardware problem. An equity problem. An economic problem. And an even bigger education problem than ever before.

Yet it remains.

In the worlds wealthiest country, these disparities arent just unfortunate. Theyre alarming and unacceptable. The digital divide hinders far more than just virtual learning. It will outlive the pandemic without decisive action to eliminate ita particularly unnerving prospect given the scale of learning loss and economic upheaval that the public health crisis has already wrought.

Its time to start thinking about at-home internet access not as a troubling issue worth tackling incrementally, but as a civil rights emergency in need of a comprehensive solution.

All told, as many as 15 million of this countrys 50.7 million public school students lack adequate connectivity at home for virtual learning, a Common Sense Media survey found this spring. Stories of students doing schoolwork sitting in parking lots, struggling through slow connections, or simply forgoing school altogether werent uncommon. Students who couldnt access the internet from home beginning in March lost months of instruction time with their teachers and valuable social time with peers. And it wasnt just students10 percent of the nations public school teachers also lacked adequate home internet access this spring, according to the Common Sense survey.

The digital divide affects childrens education in ways that extend far beyond the classroom experience. Teenagers without home broadband cant easily research colleges and universities, apply for financial aid, find jobs, or locate volunteer opportunities. Parents in unconnected households lose crucial access to school districts reopening plans and student progress updates, as well as accurate public health information, opportunities to apply for crucial unemployment benefits, even virtual face-to-face health calls with doctorsno small issue as a deadly disease overwhelms hospitals nationwide.

Jobs that allow for remote work arent options for the millions of parents who cant connect to the internet from home, which puts them at a distinct disadvantage for employment, further imperils the already fragile economy, and forces impossible dilemmas over the infection risks of sending students to school buildings. And adults that cant register from home to vote may lose the option to elect their school board leaders, local and national representatives, and the president. In effect, theyre losing out on a constitutional right.

Large swaths of the population are absent from online discourse around the recent nationwide push for racial justice, which constitutes the largest social movement in American history, according to an analysis by the New York Times. For Black, Native American and Latinx people, being unconnected represents yet one more layer of oppression that became the focal point of ongoing protests. Federal, state, and local segregationist housing policies , discriminatory school funding formulas , limited access to generational wealth , and abusive law enforcement agencies have all contributed to shorter life expectancy , heightened anxiety , and generational trauma . Restricting access to the predominant tool for communication just adds insult to injury.

How did we get here?

Internet service providers often dont see a profit incentive to build networks in sparsely populated areas. Consolidation among broadband providers has led to higher rates and lower performance in urban and rural areas alike. Getting all Americans connected also requires educating people who might not know where to look for an internet access plan, have the money to pay for it, or understand how to take advantage of it once they have it.

Journalists like me have been writing about digital divide issues for years. While researching for this essay, I found an Education Week story titled Broadband Equity Targeted by Civil Rights Groups "from 11 years ago.

Its clear from my recent reporting that tools to permanently close the digital divide could be wielded immediately. Its exasperating to watch them languish.

In recent years, the federal E-rate program has given students of color and low-income students more access to Wi-Fi at their school buildings. More recently, the federal government offered 23 Native American tribes grants to study the feasibility of building local broadband networks. During the pandemic, though, the Republican chair of the Federal Communications Commission has disagreed with one Democratic commissioners proposal to use those targeted funds to give students internet access at home, arguing that the law allots those funds only for connecting physical classrooms.

Some signs of hope appear on the local level, even if they are limited. Several dozen cities and towns have established municipal broadband networks , which compete with existing internet-service providers and drive down rates while expanding access. The city-owned fiber-optic system in Chattanooga, Tenn., goes to every single house and every single business in our 600-square-mile area, said Andy Berke, the citys mayor since 2013.

"15 million U.S. public school students lack adequate at-home connectivity for virtual learning."

Here, too, obstacles stand in the way.

When city officials tried earlier this decade to extend broadband service at no cost to neighboring counties, the state went to court and blocked the FCCs approval, arguing the federal agency had overstepped its jurisdiction and cheering broadband companies like AT&T in the process. This decision wasnt an anomaly: Nearly half of U.S. states have laws like Tennessees that make establishing a municipal broadband network difficult or impossible.

Grassroots organizations across the country are already advocating on behalf of Americans without internet access, and they could use all the help they can get pressuring existing lawmakers and supporting candidates who prioritize broadband expansion.

State and local budgets are tightening, though, and they wont be able to solve these massive issues on their own. The federal response to the home-internet access crisis, so far, remains disappointing. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently offered $86 million in loans for rural internet service providers in several states to expand access. But a House bill that includes investments in broadband infrastructure has languished in the Republican-controlled Senate, and the digital divide isnt a fixture of either ongoing presidential campaign.

However, nearly all educators see this issue as a problem in need of an urgent solution. According to a nationally representative survey recently conducted by the EdWeek Research Center, 87 percent of educators say its very important for students to have good internet access at home.

To ignore the digital divide, and the generation of students suffering as a result, is to uphold the boundaries of race and class that keep American society hostile to tens of millions of its people. To tackle it head-on is to imagine how much better America could be if internet access were no longer a luxury afforded only to those who have inherited its privilege.

No longer would schools have to bend over backward for students who want to learn at home but dont have the means.

No longer would a persons ability to safely access learning opportunities, and the life circumstances they facilitate, be contingent on their means and the color of their skin.

Broadband access opens a gateway to generational progress that millions of Americans currently cant enter. If the mission of education is to provide all Americans with equal opportunities to thrive, closing the digital divide is about more than simply keeping students engaged in virtual instruction. Its about preserving the education that many students are struggling to receive right nowand affording all Americans the rights to which they are entitled, now and for decades to come.


As most Big Oil majors have recently made commitments to reduce their carbon footprint and help tackle climate change more actively. According to a new report from anti-oil advocacy Oil Change International, however, they are all falling short of Paris Agreement targets.

The report uses data from Rystad Energy, the International Energy Agency, the World Energy Council, and the Global carbon project to reveal that on a number of indicators related to climate change the supermajors are way off the mark.

Of course, these indicators are, from an industry perspective, questionable. One of them, for instance, is Stop exploration. BP is noted as the only major that has made a commitment in this area, after the company said it would stop exploration in new countries. The rest of the majorsChevron, Eni, Equinor, Exxon, Repsol, Shell, and Totalhave made no commitments to any suspension of new exploration.

On another indicator, however, all but the U.S. supermajors have made commitments that put two of them in the partial alignment category devised by Oil Change International. The indicator refers to absolute targets in emission reduction from Big Oils business. The European majors all have targets but most of them, according to the anti-oil advocacy, are insufficient to meet Paris Agreement targets. Eni is the only one who has done well on this, with OCI judging the Italian companys emission reduction target as close to alignment.

Each of them wants to remain a fossil fuel giant, only not look like one, said Mark van Baal from Dutch-based shareholder advocacy group Follow This. Apparently far more pressure from society and responsible investors is needed to make oil executives see the writing on the wall.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has recommended that global CO2 emissions are halved by 2030 from 1990 levels in order to prevent average global temperatures from rising by more than 1.5 degrees Celsius.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
A routine vehicle stop for speeding last week turned into a dangerous situation that could have ended much worse than it did. And a State Trooper on the scene has a pair of good Samaritans to thank for stepping in to help.

It was 11:38 a.m. on Sept. 16 when Virginia State Trooper Deus pulled over a vehicle traveling west on I-64 in Henrico County.

The driver of the vehicle, Jessy Jimenez Remigios, 23, of Richmond, got more than a simple speeding ticket when Deus detected the odor of cannabis coming from the vehicle.

Remigios was asked to wait by the guard rail on the side of the road as the police officer returned to his vehicle. On the officers return, the mans demeanor changed. He became volatile and allegedly threw a bag, suspected to contain cannabis, into the near-by woods.

The driver of the vehicle then assaulted the officer, attempting to reach for his firearm while wrestling him to the ground.

Then two male motorists passing by witnessed the conflict and bravely pulled over at the 192-mile marker to assist the Trooper by dragging Remigios off him.

Virginia State Police later stated that Deus was transported to VCU Medical Center for facial injuries, and as a precaution, Remigios was also brought to the hospital.

(Illustration  Sari ONeal/Shutterstock)

A statement released by Captain Ted E. Jones, commander of the Virginia State Police Richmond Division, said:

We are greatly appreciative of the valiant actions put forth by the two men who came to the aid of Trooper Deus. There is no telling how this situation may have ended had these men not arrived when they did and had the suspect taken possession of the troopers firearm.

Remigios faces charges for assault on a law enforcement officer, attempting to disarm a law enforcement officer, obstruction of justice, resisting arrest, possession of marijuana, damage to property, and speeding.

Trooper Deus has since been released from the hospital.

Despite the seriousness of assaulting a police officer, local law makers in Richmond in August passed a bill removing mandatory minimum 6-month sentences for the crime, while reducing the infraction from being a felony to a misdemeanorto the dismay of many local law enforcement officers and members of the judiciary, who consider the act to be a slap in the face.

The bill states:

It eliminates the mandatory minimum term of confinement for assault and battery committed against a judge; magistrate; law enforcement officer; correctional officer; person directly involved in the care, treatment, or supervision of inmates; firefighter; or volunteer firefighter or any emergency medical services personnel and provides that such crime can no longer be committed as a simple assault and must result in in a bodily injury.

Recently in the State of Virginia, there have been incidents of violence, comparable to more serious violence taking place in other parts of the United States. Some who are concerned fear this law will increase violence against law enforcement officers.
MOSCOW -- On the morning of August 20, Georgy Alburov was having breakfast at the Xander hotel in Tomsk. An employee of Aleksei Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), Alburov had stayed in the Siberian city with three colleagues after Navalny's departure for Moscow that morning, to gather material for the organization's latest investigation into official graft.

Around 10 a.m., news emerged that Navalny had been taken ill, and that the plane carrying him to the capital had made an emergency landing in Omsk, another Siberian city. Alburov and his FBK colleagues, who had for years worked under President Vladimir Putin's most outspoken critic, immediately concluded that Navalny had been targeted by the state, Alburov said.

"We began debating what we should do," he told the independent Russian TV channel Dozhd. "We're familiar with the history of political poisonings in recent years. This could not have been anything else."

Distrusting Russian investigators and law enforcement agencies, which have harried Navalny for years with frequent arrests and criminal accusations he contends have been fabricated by the Kremlin, they decided the best course of action was to gather all evidence from his room and deliver it to independent investigators.

They donned disposable gloves they had brought as a coronavirus precaution and took the elevator up to the hotel room Navalny had vacated that same morning, and which hotel staff had not yet managed to clean. "We were able to retrieve everything that, at the time, could have been linked to his poisoning," Alburov said.

Berlin says that tests by Germany, France, and Sweden have confirmed that Navalny was poisoned with a poison from the Novichok group of military-grade nerve agents, and Western leaders have pushed Moscow for an explanation. But since Russia's most prominent opposition activist fell ill, state media outlets have instead spun various theories about his incapacitation, advancing seemingly every idea short of the notion that he was targeted, as Alburov and his other supporters believe, by the Kremlin.

Claims peddled without evidence on TV talk shows and reports suggest he was poisoned by his own employees, or by Germany upon his arrival in the country, or that he wasn't poisoned at all -- an apparent replay of what critics say is a Kremlin tactic of sowing doubt that was honed as Moscow sought to deflect blame after 298 people were killed in 2014 when Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was shot down over territory held by Russian-backed militants in Ukraine.

On September 22, in conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron, Putin allegedly spoke "with contempt about Aleksei Navalny, considering him a simple Internet troublemaker who had simulated diseases in the past," France's Le Monde newspaper reported.

In the meantime, Russia has balked at mounting a full-scale investigation, arguing that until Berlin provides Moscow with details on the opposition activist's diagnosis, there is insufficient evidence of a crime. The Kremlin has denied any involvement.

So as Navalny recovers, Alburov and his colleagues have been working to piece together what happened. Part of the task is gathering any items that could provide clues as to the ways in which the poison was most likely administered, and the moment it happened.

On the morning of August 20, they documented their search of Navalny's hotel room by taking photos of the space and recording a video showing the evidence gathered, which was later posted to Navalny's Instagram account.



One item in particular proved to be decisive: an empty water bottle. It was on one of those bottles that German military investigators later found traces of Novichok, according to official reports.

It remains uncertain whether the bottle had been laced with the poison, or Navalny had come in contact with the chemical elsewhere first. Vladimir Uglev, one of the scientists credited with developing Novichok in the Soviet era, told RFE/RL's Russian Service the evidence suggested the poison had been put on something like a deodorant stick or electric toothbrush and was found on the bottle because Navalny then touched it before leaving the hotel room.

In comments to Dozhd, Navalny's spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh said the FBK waited until the opposition leader was conscious before sharing details about how they had retrieved the water bottle from the Xander hotel.

"We needed permission from Aleksei [Navalny], and when we got it, we decided to reveal it," she said. "Pretty much everything used by Navalny that could be taken from his hotel room was taken by our employees."

She said the bottle with Novichok on it was transferred by Navalny's aides, who traveled from Tomsk to Omsk upon hearing of his poisoning.

And while his aides worked to assemble incriminating evidence and urge an impartial investigation, Navalny himself, having only recently regained consciousness, chimed in to accuse Russia of secrecy and call on it to stop disseminating conspiracy theories and begin sharing what investigators knew.

In a blog post on September 21, he demanded the return of the clothes he wore on the day he was poisoned, which were taken away before he was flown to Germany. The post was published once 30 days had elapsed since his poisoning, the maximum period of time allowed for a criminal probe to begin.

"A month has passed and no investigation has been launched," Navalny wrote. "But fine, I expected as much. I am now interested in one thing: my clothes."

In later comments to Russian state news agency RIA Novosti, an unnamed administrator at the Xander hotel said that she had allowed Navalny's colleagues access to his hotel room because management feared he might have been poisoned by an item from its minibar.

"We decided to do them a favor and show them [the room]. Who knows, maybe it was food poisoning," she said. "Life brings surprises."
Aktia's funds are at the top when comparing the Morningstar ratings for the funds of different fund management companies in Finland. The average rating for Aktia's funds was 4.20 stars in August 2020, whereas the next best had an average of 3.77. The fund unit type of each fund that has received the most stars has been considered in the comparison based on Morningstar's ratings.



"We are very happy that our successful and persevering work can clearly be seen also in this comparison. It is only possible to be successful in Morningstar's ratings if the results have been especially good in the long term", says Jetro Siekkinen, portfolio manager in charge of Aktia's asset management. "Our success is a strong token that our active portfolio management is profitable, which is above all reflected in the development of our customers' investments."

Morningstar is an independent actor that analyses and compares investment markets and products. It categorises funds into groups according to their true contents, for example based on their geographical area, investment style and investment orientation. The funds that are categorised must have a return history of at least three years.

Morningstar ranks the funds group by group in order of preference and assigns them stars based on it. The fund's long-term risk-adjusted return determines the order of preference. The funds ranked among the top ten per cent get five stars and the funds among the weakest ten per cent get one star. The evaluation is carried out every month.

Fixed income and currency instruments in emerging areas, European corporate bonds and Nordic shares are emphasizes in Aktia's funds. All our funds are actively managed.

"Especially in times of high uncertainty, such as during the current corona crisis, active portfolio management tends to return to value", says Siekkinen. "According to latest studies, the best portfolio managers create clear added value particularly during recessions and in emerging markets."

Earlier this year, Aktia won the series Fixed Income Fund House of the year in Morningstar's Finland Awards 2020 for the sixth time. Aktia Asset Management has been regularly at the top of Morningstar's Fixed Income House of the year evaluations since 2013.

Aktia's Corporate Bond+ fund has also won the Lipper Fund Awards 2020 in the series "Bond EUR Global Corporates" in the category "Best Fund Over Past 10 years". The fund award was granted based on the best return development.

Average Morningstar rating for funds

Morningstar is a company that produces independent investment analysis and that e.g. publishes monthly fund ratings. Morningstar categorises funds into groups according to their true contents, for example based on their geographical area, investment style and investment orientation. The order of preference is based on the fund's long-term risk-adjusted return. In each group, the funds are ranked in order of preference and given 1-5 stars. The best 10% gets 5 stars and the weakest 10% gets 1 star. For all fund management companies, the fund unit type of each fund that has the most stars is used in the comparison. The fund must have a return history of 3 years. The evaluation is carried out every month. The historical return of the fund does not guarantee its future performance. The value of the funds can rise or fall, and customers can lose some or all of the capital they have invested. Aktia's funds are managed by Aktia Fund Management Company Ltd.

Further information:



Jetro Siekkinen, portfolio manager in charge of Aktia's asset management, tel. +358 10 247 6564

Aktia is a Finnish asset manager, bank and life insurer that has been creating wealth and wellbeing from one generation to the next already for 200 years. We serve our customers in digital channels everywhere and face-to-face in our offices in the Helsinki, Turku, Tampere, Vaasa and Oulu regions. Our award-winning asset management business sells investment funds internationally. We employ approximately 750 people around Finland. Aktia's assets under management (AuM) 31.12.2019 amounted to EUR 9.9 billion and the balance sheet total was EUR 9.7 billion. Aktia's share is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd (AKTIA). aktia.com
MWC Shanghai to Precede MWC Barcelona, MWC LA Remains as Planned

GSMA today announced a rescheduling of its world-class MWC series for 2021. MWC21 Shanghai will now take place from 23 25 February 2021, and MWC21 Barcelona will now take place between 28 June 1 July 2021.

Moving MWC21 Barcelona, initially scheduled for the first week of March 2021, allows the GSMA to contend with external circumstances related to Covid-19.

The GSMA is committed and investing so that MWC21 Barcelona can go ahead safely and offer the unique, unmissable experience that has made it the world's most important mobile ecosystem convening platform. MWC21 Barcelona will also have virtual elements to complement the overwhelming demand to convene physically.

Mats Granryd, Director General, GSMA said: "With a continuously changing global outlook and following consultation with our board and membership and our top exhibitors, we have taken the careful decision to reschedule MWC21 Shanghai in February, and MWC21 Barcelona in June. The health and safety of our exhibitors, attendees, staff and the people of Barcelona are of paramount importance."

John Hoffman, CEO GSMA Ltd., said: "We have been overwhelmed by the support of all our partners and clients who remain dedicated to ensuring MWC21 Barcelona is a success. MWC is more than just an event. It's an experience that brings the whole industry together and provides a platform to unlock the power of connectivity so that people, industry and society thrive."

The rescheduling respects the global circumstance surrounding Covid-19. It recognises that both events are catalysts in the mobile ecosystem; they are platforms for launching new products and innovations, bringing together decision and deal makers.

The GSMA continues to work closely with the Host City Parties, and the decision to change the date of MWC21 Barcelona follows a period of planning and consultation with all major stakeholders. The date changes also ensure that 2021 reverts to a full annual cycle of MWC events between Shanghai, Barcelona and LA. Both the Host City Parties and the GSMA board support the decision of the GSMA.

Pau Relat, President of Governing board of Fira de Barcelona, said: "We fully support the GSMA's decision to reschedule the dates for MWC Barcelona and are deeply committed to making the best possible 2021 edition with an extraordinary participation of companies and visitors. The long-standing partnership between the MWC, Fira and the city of Barcelona has been a very successful one for everyone, and I'm sure it will continue to be so in the future."

Over the balance of 2020, the GSMA remains excited about its virtual series, Thrive, with remaining events in Africa, North America, Asia Pacific, Eurasia and Latin America. For more information, please click here, https://www.gsmathrive.com/.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Host City Parties include: Barcelona City Council, Generalitat de Catalunya, the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism, Fira de Barcelona, Tourism de Barcelona

About GSMA

The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, uniting more than 750 operators with almost 400 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset and device makers, software companies, equipment providers and internet companies, as well as organisations in adjacent industry sectors. The GSMA also produces the industry-leading MWC events held annually in Barcelona, Los Angeles and Shanghai, as well as the Mobile 360 Series of regional conferences.

For more information, please visit the GSMA corporate website at www.gsma.com. Follow the GSMA on Twitter: @GSMA.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200923005487/en/

Contacts:

Media Contacts

For the GSMA

Lara Dewar

+44 (0)7971015086

ldewar@gsma.com



GSMA Press Office

pressoffice@gsma.com
Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili.

The luxury and premium segment of wines and spirits have been expanding at a brisk pace in recent years. Luxury wines & spirits experience heightened demand from the High Net Worth Individuals (HNWIs) and affluent consumers who are attracted by attributes such as good brand reputation, premium quality, and premium price which provide a sense of privilege and prestige to the buyer. North America and Europe recorded a sizeable HNWI population of 5.7 million and 4.8 million in the year 2017. A notable increase in the global HNWIs population is fueling the demand for luxury wines & spirits.

Tourism and luxury spending has become highly interwined. Consumption of luxury wines & spirits is a pervasive phenomenon in luxury aircrafts, ships, and hotels. The global Luxury Wine Industry is growing in line with the rise in extravagant spending on luxury travel. Also, China remains a luxury spot for the global luxury wines & spirits market. "Guanxi', a tradition of Chinese culture involves the exchange of gifts for establishing and maintaining relationships. Since luxury wines & spirits score high among gifts, millennials in China prefer gifting luxury wines & spirits in order to build prestige which generate demand for luxury wines & spirits.

The global luxury wines & spirits market is registering rapid growth due to the rise in per capita income of consumers on a global scale, especially in the emerging economies. Consumers are increasingly becoming sophisticated and shifting towards absolute quality products. The elevating standard of living has raised consumer aspiration to consume luxury food, wines, and spirits. Moreover, fine dine restaurants also play a key role in influencing consumer choice to indulge in premium beverages by offering such options in their menu.

Although luxury wines & spirits remain popular among niche consumers, shifting consumer preference towards non-alcoholic beverages is expected to restrain the growth of the market over the forecast period. With rising awareness regarding the adverse effects of alcoholic beverages and surging popularity of functional drinks, the sales of luxury wines & spirits can witness a decline. Additionally, inspection, production, and certification of luxury wines & spirits are subject to stringent regulations imposed by regulatory authorities which limits its availability to a mass consumer base, restricting the growth of the market in regions where wine laws are tight. Nevertheless, the market players are adopting various growth strategies such as product differentiation through packaging, digitization, and branding which is anticipated to reflect favorably on the growth of the global luxury wines & spirits market.

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Segmentation

The global luxury wines & spirits market has been segmented based on type and distribution channel.

By type, the global luxury wines & spirits market has been segmented into wine, whiskey, brandy, rum, vodka, gin, tequila, and others.

By distribution channel, the global luxury wines & spirits market has been segmented into food retail and food service.

Regional Analysis

By region, the global luxury wines & spirits market has been segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), and the Rest of the World (RoW).

APAC accounts for the lion's share of 39.07% of the global luxury wines & spirits market. China and India are the key contributors to the APAC luxury wines& spirits market. Increase in the number of small boutique wineries along with improving quality of wine in China is expected to boost market growth. India, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Australia are also exhibiting noteworthy growth. Rise in per capita income, exposure to western culture, and growing interest in luxury indulgences is influencing the growth of the APAC market.

Europe holds almost 26.50% share of the global luxury wines & spirits market, led by the U.K., Germany, and France. The growth of the Europe market can be attributed to the favorable economic conditions, increased affordability, and high demand for the product.

North America follows Europe closely and accounts for 23.67% share of the global market. The growth of the luxury wines & spirits market has witnessed a slowdown in recent years but is expected to exhibit steady growth over the forecast period. The trend of premiumization in Canada and other key regions such as Mexico, and the US has stimulated the growth of the market.

RoW market is spurred by the presence of major luxury wine and spirits producing countries such as Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil. To capitalize on the opportunity offered by untapped markets in the region, winemakers are launching various premium brands in these regions which will further accelerate the growth of the market.

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Competitive Landscape

The notable players in the global luxury wines & spirits market include Diageo PLC, Bacardi & Company Limited, LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton S.E, Thai Beverage PLC, Beam Suntory Inc., The Edrington Group Limited, William Grant & Sons Limited, Pernod Ricard SA, Brown-Forman Corporation, Hitejinro Co., Ltd., Campari-Milano S.p.A, and Bayadera Group.

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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WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Air Force Two, carrying Vice President Mike Pence, was forced to return to a New Hampshire airport after a bird hit the aircraft as it took off Tuesday. Pence was returning to the capital after attending an election campaign event at an airport hangar near the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport. The bird hit the engine of the plane, which returned to the airport out of 'an abundance of caution,' according to the White House. Pence and staff boarded a cargo plane to proceed their journey to Washington. The White House said Pence was not injured in the incident. Operations at the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport was not affected. 'Earlier this evening Air Force 2 experienced a possible bird strike shortly after departure. Flight crew contacted the tower & returned to MHT safely. MHT rescue/firefighting were at staging areas per our response protocols. No impact to the airfield, we remain in full operation,' the Airport authorities said on Twitter. 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.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Wed, September 23, 2020 13:06 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c46a3397 1 National PMI,blood-donation,blood-donors,pandemic,coronavirus,COVID-19 Free

The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) has seen a 50 percent decrease in its blood supply amid rising demand and fewer blood donations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization's head Jusuf Kalla said.

"The PMI's blood stock has decreased 50 percent, even though the demand for blood is rising," Kalla said on Tuesday as reported by kompas.com.

He further explained that some COVID-19 patients, especially those with comorbidities, needed blood transfusion.

"Some COVID-19 patients need blood [transfusion] due to their comorbidity, however, we have seen fewer people donating blood due to the pandemic," he said.

The COVID-19 pandemic has deterred potential blood donors, as people, institutions and communities canceled appointments for blood donations over fear of contagion.

Kalla reassured the public that donating blood amid the pandemic was safe as PMI had implemented strict health protocols to prevent COVID-19 transmission during the process.

"I urge the public not to be wary of donating blood amid the pandemic," he said.

Both the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) say the risk of COVID-19 transmission through the transfusion of blood and components is likely minimal, as the virus primarily targets the respiratory system. (nal)
A fashion statement from a leading local law enforcement official is garnering the attention of our blog community tonight as deaths and debate amid the pandemic worsen.

Whilst we may not totally agree with recent headlines over the death count, there's no arguing that at least half the nation views the current crisis in similar terms . . . Checkit:



Accordingly, the courthouse power player mostly earned approval from her mask endorsement and back handed criticism of American political priorities in this time of plague.



You decide . . .


Kochi: Popular Malayalam TV serial actor Sabari Nath passed away Thursday night after collapsing while playing badminton near his house at Aruvikkara. He was rushed to a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram but breathed his last due to cardiac arrest. He was 45 years old.

Sabari Nath was a popular figure on Malayalam TV channels starring in serials like Swami Ayyappan, Padatha Paingili, Sagaram Sakshi, and Pranayini.

He is survived by his wife Shanthi and two daughters. Many TV and film actors mourned his sudden demise.
Tanaiste Leo Varadkar has said hes concerned for the future of Shannon and Cork airports as the impact from the Covid pandemic takes a heavy toll on the aviation sector.

And he conceded that an EU traffic light system being designed to help open up air travel across the region is still a bit up in the air.

Mr Varadkar  who is currently self-isolating after a colleague tested positive for Covid - was speaking remotely this morning as aircraft maintenance firm Dublin Aerospace announced its hiring 29 apprentices. It currently employs about 350 people. The companys founder, chairman and CEO, Conor McCarthy, said there had been 2,000 expressions of interest in the roles.

Mr Varadkar said hes genuinely worried in relation to future air connectivity in and out of Ireland, especially for services to destinations such as the west coast of the United States and others that play a strategic role in Irelands globalised economy.

Airlines are culling and heavily pruning routes all over the world as global passenger travel slumps.

Read More

I think routes like Dublin to London Heathrow will come back very quickly. I would be worried about Shannon and Cork bouncing back, said Mr Varadkar.

The government has been consistently criticised by Ryanair for having too many travel restrictions that the carrier claims are too strict.

Willie Walsh, the former CEO of Aer Lingus owner IAG, yesterday claimed that the government has shut the island down.

Last week, the government said Ireland will join an EU traffic light system that will result in regions designated either red, yellow or green depending on their incidence of Covid-19.

Its hoped to have that system in place by the middle of next month.

Its been led by the [European] Commission, but very much grounded in science and data, said Mr Varadkar this morning.

Its planned to be agreed, if possible, at a meeting of the [EUs] General Affairs Council that will happen around the middle of October, he said.

That will be led by the foreign ministers as opposed to health ministers. I think in fairness, the foreign ministers will probably take a broader and more holistic view than health ministers, who take a more narrow view. Thats probably a positive in terms of getting a good outcome for aviation, added Mr Varadkar.

It is still a bit up in the air and there will be, certainly, flexibility as to how different countries treat amber and red, he said. Green will be green, theres no doubt about that, but amber and red may be treated differently by different countries, whether its testing or restricted movements.

Mr Varadkar said the new system will work on a regional rather than a country-wide basis.

Well be able to make the distinction  and there can often be a very big one  between, say, the Algarve and Lisbon and Porto.

But he said the reality is that all the numbers are going in the wrong direction.

The way things are heading, there might be just the Baltic states by next week, said Mr Varadkar in relation to countries with lower incidences of the virus.

That makes it trickier, he added, in terms of deciding whether a higher incidence should become the benchmark for travel, or to wait until the current wave of the virus peaks and declines again.
Coronavirus infections are spiking in Canada and the country is now at a 'crossroads' to avoid a deadly resurgence of the disease, health officials warned.

New models from the Public Health Agency of Canada show cases are rapidly rising across several provinces, including Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia, leading many to fear a second wave has already hit.

Over the last few days, infections have been reaching about 1,300 per day, which are daily totals not seen since late April and early May.

While the seven-day average is currently under 1,000 cases per day, infections could climb to more than 5,000 daily over the next two months, according to the model.

However, if the public continues to be stringent - such as washing hands frequently and social distancing - and health authorities can detect cases and trace contacts, infections could fall to fewer than 50 per day.

'Canada is at a crossroads and individual action to reduce contact rates will decide our path,' the Public Health Agency said in a statement.

Canada's top public health expert says coronavirus infections are spiking across the country and the public is now at a 'crossroads' to avoid a deadly resurgence

In a short-term forecast, officials warned infections could rise to more than 2,000 daily for a total count of 155,795 infections by October 2 (above)

The long-term forecast is much more grim with cases reaching up to 5,000 per day by November if Canadians continue to congregate in large groups (above)

At a news conference in the capital of Ottawa on Tuesday, Chief Public Health Officer Dr Theresa Tam outlined several scenarios for the spread of the virus between the present and January 2022.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Canada has reported a total of 146,663 confirmed cases and 9,234 deaths. More than 90 percent of fatalities are in people above age 60.

Projections show, with minimal control, cases could rise to more than 1,000 daily for a total count of 155,795 infections by October 2, with the death toll hitting 9,300.

Health experts say there have been multiple reports of people gathering in large groups that make virus spread likely.

In the long-range forecast, health officials noted if Canadians increase their current rate of contacts, cases could reach up to 5,000 per day by November.

'With minimal controls, the virus is capable of surging into a very sharp and intense peak because most Canadians don't have immunity to the virus,' Tam said.

'[This] could overwhelm our health system capacity and significantly impact our social and economic systems as well.'

The most favorable scenario showed a current slight uptick and then a 'slow burn' through next year with about 10 cases reported every day.

This requires health authorities to detect cases and trace contacts, monitor those in isolation or quarantine, and detect and respond to outbreaks.

Meanwhile, the public is recommend to wash hands frequently, maintain social distancing, wear a mask and stay home if experiencing any symptoms.

The most favorable scenario showed a current slight uptick and then a 'slow burn' through next year with about 10 cases reported every day (above) compared to minimal control scenarios

Tam recommended the public wash hands frequently, maintain social distancing, wear a mask and stay home if experiencing any symptoms. Pictured: A health-care worker talks with people outside a COVID-19 testing clinic in Montreal, September 7

Even with enhanced detection and tracing, people must take precautions or else cases could 'far' exceed the spring peak, Tam said. Picture: Hundreds of people wait in line in an alley way for hours at a COVID-19 assessment center at St Michael's Hospital in Toronto, September 22

'The only way to achieve strong control of COVID-19 and prevent the virus from surging into an uncontrollable growth trajectory is for public health authorities and the public to work together,' Tam said.

Even with enhanced detection and tracing, people must take precautions or else cases could 'far' exceed the spring peak, she said.

Tam added this surge is different from the first because young people, between ages 20 and 39, are behind the spread as opposed to elderly Canadians.

She cautioned that eventually that, at the current rate, cases will reach high-risk populations.

'People don't exist in age group cohorts from morning to night,' Tam said.

'In a community, that is going to spill over into high-risk populations. And how we protect those populations depends on all the lessons we learned that we had in the first instance in looking after long-term care facilities.'

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is appearing in a national evening broadcast to discuss 'the prospect of a second wave of the virus.' Pictured: Trudeau speaks to media following a cabinet retreat in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, September 16

Health officials say the recent surge of cases in Canada is due to people, between ages 20 and 39, as opposed to elderly Canadians

More than 90% of coronavirus fatalities in Canada, which are down from their peak, have occurred among people above age 60

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will appear in a rare evening national broadcast at 6.30pm ET on Wednesday to talk about 'the urgency of fighting COVID-19 as we face down the prospect of a second wave of the virus,' the prime minister's office said.

Meanwhile, Procurement Minister Anita Anand announced new agreements in obtaining eventual coronavirus vaccines for Canada, and a first purchase of 150,000 vials of remdesivir, the anti-viral medication produced by California-based Gilead Sciences.

Anand said Canada had signed a deal with Sanofi and GSK for up to 72 million doses of their potential adjuvanted COVID-19 vaccine, and had increased by up to 14 million doses a previous agreement for the Moderna vaccine candidate.

Separately, Doug Ford, premier of Canada's largest province Ontario, said he would begin implementing a six-point plan 'to tackle a potentially more challenging second wave of COVID-19.'

The first step is what Ford called the 'largest flu immunization campaign' in Ontario's history.

Getting a flu shot will help 'take the load and the burden off the backs of the hospitals and doctor's offices' during a surge in the coronavirus, Ford said
This directive comes a day after Mohan filed a plea in the apex court challenging a fresh summons to appear before a Delhi Assembly panel on peace and harmony probing allegations that the social media giant failed to take action against hate speech.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed a Delhi Assembly panel that no coercive action should be taken against Facebook India vice-president and managing director Ajit Mohan till 15 October when it will next hear the case, according to several media reports.

This directive comes a day after Mohan filed a plea in the apex court challenging a fresh summons to appear before a Delhi Assembly panel on peace and harmony probing allegations that the social media giant failed to take action against hate speech.

A bench comprising of justices Aniruddha Bose, Krishna Murari and SK Kaul also issued notices to the secretary of the Legislative Assembly; the ministries of Law and Justice, Home Affairs, Electronics and IT; Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, represented by the Secretary General, and Delhi Police, asking them to respond to the plea, reported news agency PTI.

The committee had, on 10, 18, and 20 September, issued notices demanding that Mohan depose before it. In the latest notice dated 20 September, the panel warned Mohan that failure to appear before it will be held as an act of "breach of the constitutionally-guaranteed privileges" of the committee.

In his apex court plea, Mohan had submitted that the panel was operating out of its jurisdiction and that the issue falls within the domain of the Union government.

Senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for Mohan, argued that to coerce a private citizen to appear before the Assembly panel with a threat of penalty amounted to a violation of fundamental rights.

According to LiveLaw, Salve also argued in the court that the Delhi Assembly committee lacked the legislative power to hold an enquiry, as under Article 239 (AA)(3)(a), police, and law and order do not lie within the domain of the Assembly.

According to Bar&Bench, Salve said that the summons issued by the panel stated that Mohan's failure to be appear before it would amount to breach of privilege. "Privilege is something to be decided by the Assembly. A committee cannot decide whether action on privilege can be taken or not. This is a serious threat," Salve argued.

Mohan, through his counsel, also argued that he has the right not to speak under Article 19 of the Constitution.

"As a House, you may decide whatever you want to, but if I do not want to participate and give my views before the committee then...please consider I work for a US-based company. I do not want to comment on this politically sensitive issue," Salve said.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Facebook, argued that the state legislature cannot act like a court of justice. "...they said that incriminating material was not taken down. If it was not taken down, then everyone has the right to move court for it. Everyday, Facebook is told to take down material that is in violation of the laws. They could have gone to court," Bar&Bench quoted him as saying.

Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the chairman of the panel and AAP MLA Raghav Chaddha, said that the Facebook India VP was not summoned as an accused and no coercive action was intended against the company.

Singhvi stated that there are reports that alleged that the social media platform was being misused and the panel wants to discuss way to fix the problem.

According to Scroll, Justice Kaul said the notice issued by the panel has a different tenor from the one being expressed by Singhvi. Singhvi responded by saying that appropriate rectifications would be made to the notice and added that the panel had deferred its meeting scheduled for Wednesday in light of the hearing

Singhvi, however, maintained that the Assembly has the power to conduct the inquiry and also argued that Article 19 does not apply to Mohan as he is not an Indian citizen.

The Delhi Assembly panel has been summoning senior Facebook employees over allegations that the social media giant ignored hate speech by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders on its platform.

The committee is also probing Facebook's "alleged role and complicity" in the Delhi riots in February which over 50 people were killed.

With inputs from PTI
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept.23

By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend:

Kazakhstans passenger cars export to Tajikistan amounted to $613,386 over the period from Jan. Through Jul. 2020, Trend reports with reference to the Eurasian Economic Commission.

During the reporting period cars of Kazakh manufacturing were exported to Azerbaijan, Latvia, UAE, the UK, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, and France.

Thus, Kazakhstans cars export to Azerbaijan and Latvia amounted to $12,908 and to $44,402 respectively.

During the reporting period, Kazakhstan has also exported passenger cars worth $468,639 to UAE, worth $18,607 to the UK, $108,576 to Turkmenistan, $100,000 to Turkey, and worth $48.6 million to Uzbekistan.

In turn, Kazakhstans passenger cars export to Ukraine amounted to $145,065, whereas to France  to $42,971.

A total of 37,436 passenger cars were manufactured in Kazakhstan over the first eight months of 2020, which is 46.3 percent more than during the same period of 2019.

In turn, passenger car production in Aug. alone amounted to 5,308 cars, which also is 60.6 percent more than in Aug. 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).

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Follow the author on twitter: @nargiz_sadikh
Jackson County, MO, which includes Kansas City, wants proposals to rebrand its Community Backed Anti-Drug Tax (COMBAT) Commission.
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Part one can be read here.



6. Some people may leave your church, but the question is, have you been faithful to God?

Just last week a pastor told me that when he gave a message on political issues, one couple became angry and left the church. I replied that that does not mean he was wrong. It may just mean that he was faithfully teaching the Word of God and they rejected its teachings. (Later he told me that he had had a good conversation with them and they decided to return.)

People walked out on Jesus when he began to preach unpopular truths (John 6:66), and the people in his hometown of Nazareth were so troubled by his teaching that they even tried to throw him off a cliff (Luke 4:29). Paul was a remarkably successful evangelist to the Gentiles, but opponents who disliked his message eventually drove him out of Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, Thessalonica, and Berea (Acts 13:50; 14 5-6, 19; 17:5, 13-14). Yet at the end of his life he had the joy of knowing that he had been faithful to God: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith (2 Tim. 4:7).

If you believe that God is calling you to speak on some political/moral issues, it is important to settle in your mind beforehand that a sense of Gods approval on your speaking will be more valuable to you than avoiding the (possible) loss of some friendships and supporters. That is a decision that only you can make. And who knows if God will bring more people to your church in response to your faithfulness?

7. Pastors today have an unusual opportunity to influence the direction of history

Will it make a difference whether you speak on politics or not? Yes, it will make a difference. I recently spoke at a local church about the issues at stake in this election, and what surprised me was the thoughtful, mature people who came up to me afterward and said, Thank you for that clear explanation. I was so confused. I didnt know what to think. In my opinion, most pastors would be amazed at how many people in their churches arent sure how to vote this year, and arent even sure if they will vote at all.

What if you persuaded just 10 people to vote who otherwise would not have voted? Then if only 1,000 pastors like you influenced just 10 people to vote, that would be 10,000 additional votes. (Remember, George W. Bush won the presidency in 2000 by just 537 votes in the state of Florida.) And you might persuade more than 10 people. In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good (Ecclesiastes 11:6). The nation is at a decision point, and you have a unique opportunity to influence the outcome.

Will you succeed? Will your preferred candidate win? No one knows. The question is whether you have done your part. In years to come, will you be able to look back on 2020 and know that you were faithful to Gods guidance in doing what you were able to do?

8. This election is about more than the next four years

The policies that Democrats and Republicans promise to enact have never in my lifetime been so different, perhaps never in American history (for the differences, see my Letter to an Anti-Trump Christian Friend, and also the platforms of Democratic and Republican parties  the Republicans kept their 2016 platform for 2020). America is truly at a turning point, and because of the immense power that judges now have, this election could set the direction of our nation not just for the next four years, but for the next 10 or 20 years or even more.

Let me explain why. If Joe Biden wins the election and if Democrats gain a majority in the Senate, the Democratic platform promises to make Washington DC the 51st state (p. 58-59), which would automatically add two more Democratic senators to the U.S. Senate, making it more difficult for Republicans to ever regain a majority. And their platform holds open the possibility of making Puerto Rico the 52nd state (p. 59), giving a potential of yet two more Democratic senators.

President Trump has appointed and the Senate has so far confirmed 212 judges who now serve in the 852 district and circuit judgeships in the United States. But that positive influence on the judicial system could be quickly diluted because the Democratic platform says they are committed to creating new federal district and circuit judgeships (p. 38).

Trump has also appointed two of the nine Supreme Court justices (Gorsuch and Kavanaugh), and, with the death of Justice Ginsburg, he may yet be able to appoint a third justice giving the court a 6-3 majority of conservative or originalist justices who will rule according to the original meaning of the Constitution and laws (but Chief Justice John Roberts is an unreliable originalist vote). Whoever wins this presidential election will likely be able to choose one or perhaps two justices (Breyer is 82, Thomas is 72, and Alito is 70).

Even if no one retires, several Democrats have raised the possibility of adding six new seats to the Supreme Court, which could give a 9-6 majority of young, living Constitution judges who do not consider themselves subject to the original meanings of the Constitution and laws, but think that they have the authority to rewrite these documents according to what they now think the Constitution or law should have said.

The result would be one politically far left policy after another imposed on the country, not by laws passed through Congress and signed by the president, but by judicial rulings that would find a way to claim that these rulings are constitutional and therefore impossible to change by any future president or Congress.

But if President Trump is reelected, the next four years will look very different from the Democratic vision. Trump will likely appoint one or two more Supreme Court justices and hundreds of additional district and circuit court judges who believe that no one is above the law, and therefore they will not consider themselves to be above the Constitution and the laws and able to give them new meanings, but rather will consider themselves to be subject to the law, understood according to the meaning of the words at the time the law or the Constitution itself were written. Therefore new laws will only be created, not by the novel ideas of powerful judges, but as they should be created, through the actions of state legislatures and governors and the actions of the US Congress and the president, all of whom are accountable to the people through the election process.

9. Genuine threats to religious freedom

In my view, probably the most troubling possibility is the threat of a significant loss of religious freedom that would likely follow a Biden-Harris victory. The Democratic platform promises, We will reject the Trump Administrations use of broad religious exemptions to allow businesses, medical providers, social service agencies, and others to discriminate (p. 48).

This sentence, if understood in the context of recent Democratic policy advocacy and judicial activism, predicts a whole series of lawsuits attempting to force Christians in businesses to violate their consciences by requiring that their insurance plans pay for abortifacient medicines, abortions, and sex-change surgeries. It predicts that doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals would be required to participate in abortions or lose their jobs. It predicts that professional counselors would be prohibited from attempting to help homosexual men and women who want to begin to live a heterosexual lifestyle. It predicts that Christian bakeries, photographers, and florists would face heavy fines for discrimination and be driven into bankruptcy if they refused to bake a cake, take wedding photographs, or provide flower arrangements for same-sex weddings. The 2020 Democratic platform says Democrats will reject the Trump administrations broad religious exemptions that today are still protecting Christians from such government oppression.

In addition, this platform statement predicts that Christian adoption agencies and foster care agencies would be put out of business because of discrimination unless they were willing to place children with homosexual, lesbian, and transgender couples. It predicts that Christian schools and colleges would be forced to close because of discrimination unless they allowed transgender students to use restrooms, locker rooms, showers, and on-campus housing that corresponds to their chosen gender identity rather than their biological sex. And, if Canada and some European countries provide a precedent, this statement predicts that even pastors and other Christian leaders might be prosecuted for hate speech if they dare to speak publicly against any aspect of the LGBT+ agenda.

10. What political issues could a pastor preach about today?

Here are some suggestions of topics on which Democrats and Republicans clearly differ, and on which I think the Bible does give helpful guidance:

(1) Religious freedom: the free exercise of religion includes life outside the walls of the church, which we should be able to live according to our consciences (Hebrews 13:18; 1 Peter 3:16; Acts 5:29; Daniel 3:13-20; 1 Corinthians 10:31)

(2) Obeying the law: The Bible requires that we obey the law (Romans 13:1-5; 1 Peter 2:13-14), except when it commands us to sin against God (Acts 5:29). Therefore:

- judges do not have a right to change the meaning of laws or of our highest human law, the American Constitution (the Constitution provides another means of changing laws)

- peaceful protests are lawful, but rioting, looting, arson, and assaulting police officers are not lawful or morally right

(2) Abortion: unborn children should be protected by law (Exodus 21:22-25; Psalm 51:5; Deuteronomy 30:19-20; Psalm 139:13)

(3) Sexual orientation and gender identity: governments should not require us to treat biological males like females and biological females like males. (Genesis 1:27; Leviticus 12:2-5; 18:22; Numbers 27:8-9; Deuteronomy 22:5; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Timothy 5:1-2; Titus 2:2-6)

(5) Marijuana: medical marijuana should be allowed by law, and regulated like other medicines, but recreational marijuana is highly destructive to a society and should be prohibited (Ephesians 5:18; 1 Peter 4:7; 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8; Galatians 5:19-21; Revelation 9:21; 21:8)

(6) Immigration and border security: how does God want us to wisely apply the command to love the sojourner (Deuteronomy 10:19) as well as the commands to be subject to the government and obey its laws (Romans 13:1-5). If we dislike current immigration laws, what is the best way to get those laws changed? Is it right for a nation to have a wall to protect its borders? ? (Exodus 22:21; 23:9; Deuteronomy 10:19; Psalm 122:7; Psalm 51:18; 2 Chronicles 36:19; Nehemiah 1:3; 2:17; Proverbs 25:28)

(7) Global warming/climate change: Did God create an earth with such beneficial energy sources as coal, oil, and natural gas, but also booby-trap them so that by using them we would destroy the earth? Or did he create an earth with self-correcting mechanisms and long-term cycles of gradual warming and cooling? (Genesis 1:28, 31; 1 Timothy 4:4-5; 6:17; Genesis 9:11; Psalm 104:9; Jeremiah 5:22; Isaiah 45:18)

[Note: I list the alleged threat of catastrophic global warming as an issue here because it is one of the primary rationales behind the push by Democrats for ever-increasing government control of our lives. For more information see the Cornwall Alliance or chapter 41of my Christian Ethics.]

(8) Military power: How strong should our military power be? Should we be committed to using it if necessary to defend a smaller ally (Taiwan, South Korea, Israel) against a powerful aggressor or to keep the worlds sea lanes free from modern-day pirates and attacks by rogue nations? (Deuteronomy 7:1-3; 10:1; Joshua 1:6-9; Romans 13:3-4)

(9) Other topics (where both parties agree): I have not included in this list some topics on which Republican and Democratic leaders agree, such as:

Racism is evil

We must continually defend against terrorist attacks, and

We must continue to pursue effective therapies and vaccines against the COVID-19 virus.

(10) Still other topics (where evangelical Christians might not agree): I have also not included in this list several other topics on which Republicans and Democrats generally differ, and about which there may be more differences among evangelical Christians. I myself have clear convictions on these issues (see my books Christian Ethics, Politics According to the Bible, and The Poverty of Nations), but I recognize that pastors might decide not to discuss these, or might want to address them in some other forum than the Sunday morning sermon:

Tax rates

Economic growth

The best way to help the poor and find effective solutions to poverty

Government regulation of businesses  more or less?

School choice

Israel

Firearms and self-defense

Foreign policy

(11) What about a write-in vote for president?

People will have different opinions about this. My own view is that the ability to vote is a stewardship given to us by God and essential to that stewardship is a responsibility to affect the outcome of an election. By placing us in a country that has a democratic form of government and not a dictatorship or monarchy, we each have a small role as part of the governing authority that God has placed over our nation. We the people are in fact the human rulers of our nation. By voting, we play a role in governing. By voting, we are acting as Gods servant for the good of the people as a whole (see Romans 13:4).

But voting for a write-in candidate or third-party candidate will not fulfill that stewardship because it will have no effect whatsoever on the outcome of this election. It has the same impact on the outcome as staying home and not voting. Therefore I consider it to be a misuse of our stewardship. It seems to me like putting an empty envelope in the offering plate when it passes you in church  it is going through the motions but accomplishing nothing. Another illustration that comes to mind is hiding your talent in the ground (Matthew 25:25).

The only choice available to us is a choice between two complete packages:

Package 1. Donald Trump and his policies

Package 2. Joe Biden and his policies

Both choices come as whole packages, and they are the only choices we have at the present time. Consider this teaching from Proverbs: Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it (Proverbs 3:27).

Conclusion:

If you believe that God is calling you to teach about some political issues, you also have an opportunity to model how Christians can respect each other even when we have political differences. You can model a respectful and thoughtful tone. You might even consider giving opportunity for a responsible spokesman to express views different from yours. And its up to you whether you mention the Democratic and Republican parties by name, or whether you speak in general about Party A and Party B, or whether you just speak purely about issues without mentioning any political party.

How many issues should you speak about? I cannot decide that for you. But I dont think the answer is zero.






Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 05:38:45|Editor: huaxia

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The casket of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg arrives at the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Sept. 23, 2020. Ruth Bader Ginsburg laid in repose at the country's highest court here on Wednesday. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua)



WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg laid in repose at the country's highest court here on Wednesday.

Ginsburg's casket, draped in the American flag and surrounded by bouquets of white flowers, was placed under the portico at the top of the front steps of the Supreme Court building.

Mourners lined up outside the court to pay their respects. Almost all of them wore masks and kept distance between each other.

Among them, some brought flowers, some came with banners with words in honor of the liberal icon, and others wore shirts imprinted with her images or quotes.

Earlier in the day, a memorial service for Ginsburg was held inside the Supreme Court and was attended by her family, friends, and fellow members on the court's bench.

"I offer our heartfelt condolences on the loss of Ruth Bader Ginsburg," Chief Justice John Roberts said in his remarks. "That loss is widely shared but we know that it falls most heavily on the family."

Ginsburg died last week at the age of 87 due to complications related to metastatic pancreas cancer.

A renowned champion of women's rights, Ginsburg was appointed to the Supreme Court by then President Bill Clinton in 1993. She was the second woman appointed to the highest court in the United States and served for more than 27 years.

Clinton and former U.S. first lady and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stopped by to pay their respects on Wednesday.

U.S. President Donald Trump will pay his respects to Ginsburg on Thursday, according to the White House. Ginsburg will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol on Friday, to become the first woman in history to be honored this way.

She will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery, which is across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., according to the Supreme Court.

Flags outside some federal buildings have been lowered to half staff to mark Ginsburg's death.

Trump has said he will name Ginsburg's replacement on Saturday.

Republicans, who have a majority in the Senate, appear to have enough votes to confirm the pick, which would cement a 6-3 conservative majority in the Supreme Court.

Democrats oppose moving forward with a vote on Trump's Supreme Court nominee, arguing that the November election is only several weeks away, all but ensuring a fierce confirmation battle on Capitol Hill. Enditem
Floods are not uncommon in the world. In Nepal, it is one of the serious disasters which affect human lives and cause a huge amount of property loss. Population growth and settlements of landless people on riverbanks have tremendous pressure on the encroachment of floodplains, making them vulnerable to flood damages.

Historical data manifest that the scale, intensity, and duration of floods have increased in Nepal, except for a few years. Regrettably, between 2013 and 2019, 4,058 deaths, 1,028 disappearances, 692 injuries, 178,833 displacement cases of families were reported. It is clearly demonstrated that the value of citizens seemed totally disregarded. Floods in 2017 affected 1.7 million people and caused damages amounting to USD 585 million, equivalent to three per cent of Nepals GDP. Further, data reveal that floods have occurred mostly in the Terai region of Nepal.

About one-third of the population in Nepal is living under the poverty line. Another factor contributing to peoples vulnerability is that housing infrastructures are of poor quality. A recent status report of UNDRR shows that more than 80% of the countrys population is exposed to the risk of natural hazards, among which the flood is a major one.

A flood has collapsed the Mauwakhola bridge between Dhading and Chitwan along the Prithvi Highway, on Monday, July 20, 2020.

Floods stifle development efforts at every level. They affect many sectors such as agriculture, environment, education, and often livelihood of marginalised community people.

But, to understand how floods become a disaster, we need to understand why local communities are so vulnerable in the first place. Floods, similar to other hazards, are often portrayed as natural disasters. However, there are no natural disasters; they are happening surely due to human activities. People are living with flood risks when their impact actually has a large amount to do with social and human vulnerability. For instance, high poverty levels mean people lack access to land and work and they are often driven to settle in a zone that is more exposed to natural hazards. Because the threat of floods cannot be eliminated, the best strategy is the one that improves the overall development of local communities.

While I was doing my research on community-based flood risk management (CB-FRM) in the flood-prone areas of the Terai region, I investigated CB-FRM strategies, which are not widely used in Nepal. The CB-FRM belongs to the wider family of community-based disaster risk reduction (CB-DRM) approaches that have evolved over the past 30 years. Such community-centred approaches keep local knowledge and perspectives into preparatory or anticipatory actions to help create solutions that are cost-effective, sustainable and generally more accepted by communities.

Furthermore, my findings revealed that although strategies are mostly focused on relief, more are starting to look at how to mitigate negative effects and how to prepare against floods. However, the community members themselves were using their local knowledge (LK) to live with the flood-prone areas. In addition, the community people have complex LK systems that serve during different stages of the flood risk management (FRM) cycle and develop a component of community resilience. The community possesses a creative set of strategies based on the LK that allows them to live in the flood-prone areas, accepting the paradigm shift from fighting with floods to living with floods as a novel way of life.

An NGO distributes relief support to flood survivors in Gaur of Rautahat district in October 2019.

Too vividly, the research findings revealed that there are a number of challenges in Nepals flood management system. There are enough funds at the local level, but a lack of planning and designing to risk management is totally bewildered. Community participation is limited before and after the projects. As a result, ownership, and responsibilities have major problems. Besides, it is due to the lack of exit strategies of programmes that are leading towards the unsustainability of the projects. Consequently, the knowledge given to the communities is always worthless.

Likewise, while the existing decentralised governance system is not effective, project planning, implementation, and maintenance are not smooth. Projects are also unsustainable; they rely heavily on aids, which undermine the impact of preparedness and mitigation.

A respondent to my research stated, A year back, there was one project related to construction works [], a contractor hired outsider labourers to complete the project, where we were ready to work as a volunteer, but the [contractor] denied that. Later, we saw that the contractor used substandard materials to complete the project for a huge profit. The structure was not stable and collapsed within a year. But, we could not do anything because the project was opaque.

Similarly, another participant stated about duplication of activities,In my community during relief and recovery phases, we have seen many times power games and politics. I am a single woman and I have three kids. In the 2017 flood, my house destroyed and lost livestock as well. I only got Rs 5,500 in cash in two phases, but the ward and local government officials did not look for my lost property. I was weeping and asking for tarpaulins and blankets to survive, but they overlooked me and distributed the relief goods to other powerful people because they are active in politics and they get double facilities without losing houses.

What is being done?

Before the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act was endorsed in 2017, the government of Nepal made around dozens of acts, policies, and plans at all levels to increase resiliency by reducing disaster damage. But, the level of delivery has been mixed. This is mainly because of a lack of design, planning, and approaches. Most of the acts follow the top-down approach, which has a number of challenges.

A flood in Biratnagar in August 2017.

The decentralised federalisation processes provide opportunities to clarify and strengthen the roles of local bodies in disaster management. The local government has been tasked with drafting their own disaster response plans and laws. Schedule 8 of the constitution lists disaster management as an exclusive jurisdiction of local governments.

Likewise, Section 11(2) of the Local Government Act (LGA) lists disaster management-related functions of the local governments. Under these functions, there are 12 specific authorities including those responsible for formulating plans and policies for disaster management.

The jurisdiction of different layers of governments involved in disaster management, however, is yet to be clearly defined. The lack of a standard communication protocol between the chairs of federal, provincial, and local governments has seemed very clear. This may negatively affect coordination for disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. The consequences of these shortcomings including the resettlement of people living in flood-prone areas are overlooked.

One of the local officials stated, Our hands are tied. We do not have any real power. We do not have sufficient skilled human resources. We have seen a people living at risks and they are highly prone to flood, but we have not been able to recognise them as an at-risk community.

Flood risk management (FRM)

A comprehensive FRM is not established yet. However, a few FRM projects are mostly delivered by I/NGOs who implement community-based approaches like EWS, search and rescue training, the formation of ward and community flood disaster management committee, and establish group saving schemes. These works have not been effectively evaluated yet.

Despite these efforts, the gaps in managing the risk of floods are significant. A network of early warning system information dissemination is crucial. However, my research revealed that the new advancement in technologies in the field of CB-EWS have not been adequately implemented in practice.

Further, the result revealed that the language barrier is also one of the prominent issues in the EWS. In a small community, people speak different languages, but the information arrives in one language. Consequently, people are confused once they receive a message. These problems often repeat, then, the community members begin ignoring such message. Instead, they get busy to use their own LK rather than the technical message. A community youth said, This is a very right time for the fusion of LK and new advanced technology. Meanwhile, an NGO representative emphasised, Both concepts need to improve.

Way forward

To manage flood risks more effectively in Nepal, we need to take some crucial steps.

A flooded river in Nepal on Saturday, August 12, 2017.

Firstly, short-term priorities must be identified and coupled with a comprehensive long-term adaptive plan. This should also take into account the possible effects of climate change. It must provide a fine balance between physical infrastructure and improved forecasting and warning systems, among other strategies. In addition, comprehensive risk assessments should make use of new technologies like remote sensing and crowed-sourcing.

Further, the CB-FRM concept has to be established with a new modality. This is a community-based approach that helps communities deal with their potential risks in their direct involvement.

Likewise, comprehensive technical guidelines are required for effective DRM actions. For example, Youth Innovation Lab is going to establish a Disaster Risk Reduction-Young Leaders Fellowship (DRR-YLF) programme for 14 municipalities with the aim to build technical capacities of local governments for further localisation of the National Disaster Information Management System (DIMS), locally known as Building Information Platform Against Disaster (BIPAD). The fellows will act as a connecting bridge to transfer the technical capacity to the local governments.

Finally, any proposed solution must be designed with the involvement of those most affected because they are the custodians of rich LK and can provide valuable insights. This must be accompanied by a well-planned agenda. Local governments have to take immediate action to identify the local risks because they know better than others to develop the plans.
Actor Kangana Ranaut, who has been vocally suggesting that there exists a drug mafia in Bollywood, has tweeted, presumably, in response to the summons served to actors Deepika Padukone, Shraddha Kapoor, Sara Ali Khan and Rakul Preet Singh, in connection to an escalating investigation by the Narcotics Control Bureau. The NCB, while investigating actor Rhea Chakrabortys alleged involvement in procuring drugs for Sushant Singh Rajput, discovered a larger connection to the film industry.

Kangana in her tweet wrote, Finally for the first time Bullywood mafia wishing that Sushant wasnt killed and Kangana wasnt pushed against the wall, for the first time they are regretting their cruelty, sadism and silence. For the first time they are wishing they could turn back time and bring us back. She added a smiley face emoji.

Finally for the first time Bullywood mafia wishing that Sushant wasnt killed and Kangana wasnt pushed against the wall, for the first time they are regretting their cruelty, sadism and silence. For the first time they are wishing they could turn back time and bring us back  Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) September 23, 2020

Previously, when Times Now flashed portions of a drugs-related WhatsApp conversation that it claimed was between actor Deepika Padukone and her manager, Kangana had 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?

Also Watch l Kanganas Bullywood jibe as NCB summons Deepika, others in Sushants case

This was seen as a dig at tweets posted by Deepika immediately after Sushants death in June, in which she had attempted to bust myths around mental health by using the refrain, repeat after me. Deepika has been vocal about her own struggles with depression.

Also read: Sushant Singh Rajput doubted sisters motives, felt they were only after his money: Rhea Chakraborty in bail plea

Deepika has been summoned on September 25, Shraddha Kapoor and Sara Ali Khan have been asked to appear on September 26, news agency ANI reported. The actors were named by Rhea Chakraborty while she was being interrogated between September 6 and September 8 before being arrested, according to NCB.

Follow @htshowbiz for more

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President Donald Trump has expanded his ban on racial sensitivity training to include federal contractors.

Earlier this month Trump ordered federal agencies to cancel taxpayer-funded seminars on 'critical race theory', calling them 'divisive' and 'anti-American propaganda'.

On Tuesday, the president announced that the ban will now apply not only to federal agencies, but also to contractors doing business with the federal government and the US military, as well as grant recipients.

'Americans should be taught to take PRIDE in our Great Country, and if you don't there's nothing in it for you!' he tweeted in an attack on 'efforts to indoctrinate government employees with divisive and harmful sex and race-based ideologies'.

President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced that he has expanded his ban on racial sensitivity training to include federal contractors along with federal agencies

Trump blasted racial sensitivity training as 'divisive and harmful' in a pair of tweets

Trump orchestrated the expansion by signing an executive order requiring contracts to include a provision that says contractors with the federal government will not have 'workplace training that inculcates in its employees any form of race or sex stereotyping or any form of race or sex scapegoating'.

'Instructors and materials teaching that men and members of certain races, as well as our most venerable institutions, are inherently sexist and racist are appearing in workplace diversity trainings across the country, even in components of the Federal Government and among Federal contractors,' the order states.

Contractors who violate the provision face cancellation of their contracts.

WHAT IS RACIAL SENSITIVITY TRAINING? Diversity and inclusion training is often a requirement for employees working for federal and state governments. The training sessions - which can take the form of open-dialogue workshops or expert-delivered lectures - aim to make workplaces more 'inclusive' by acknowledging and discussing the different racial and ethnic backgrounds of employees. The training - which is often expensive - is covered by taxpayer dollars. In recent years, experts in 'critical race theory' have commonly become called upon to host such training sessions. During lectures or discussions, the experts ask white employees to grapple with their own racism and pledge to become anti-racists. One such expert, Howard Ross, has allegedly 'billed the feds more than $5 million for training since 2006'. Meanwhile, critical race theorist Robin DiAngelo has also made thousands of dollars discussing 'white racism' and 'white fragility' in lectures given to state and city employees. Advertisement

The order follows a memo released by the White House Office of Management and Budget on September 4 which asked federal agencies to identify training programs centered around critical race theory so they could be purged.

Critical race theory asserts that 'institutions are inherently racist and that race itself... is a socially constructed concept that is used by white people to further their economic and political interests at the expense of people of color', according to Texas A&M University professor Tommy Curry.

The theory is currently in vogue in academia, and private companies and government agencies have hired specialists to teach their employees how to dismantle 'white privilege' and actively become anti-racist.

At the demand of President Trump, the Office of Management and Budget moved to stop such 'experts' from having any influence on those working in federal institutions.

OMB Director Russel Vought wrote in the memo: 'Employees across the Executive Branch have been required to attend training where they are told that "virtually all White people contribute to racism" or where they are required to say that they "benefit from racism."

'These types of "trainings" not only run counter to the fundamental beliefs for which our Nation has stood since its inception, but they also engender division and resentment within the Federal workforce.'

Vought continued: 'The President has directed me to ensure that federal agencies cease and desist from using taxpayer dollars to fund these divisive, un-American propaganda training sessions.'

The memo then asked agencies to 'identify all contracts or other agency spending related to any training on critical race theory/ "white privilege", or any other training or propaganda effort that teaches or suggests either (1) that the United States is an inherently racist or evil country or (2) that any race or ethnicity is inherently racist or evil. '

It concluded: 'The President has a proven track record of standing for those whose voice has long been ignored and who have failed to benefit from all our country has to offer, and he intends to continue to support all Americans, regardless of race, religion, or creed.'

The White House Office of Management and Budget released a memo (pictured) on September 4 which asked federal agencies to identify training programs centered around critical race theory so they could be purged

The move to cancel racial sensitivity training for federal employees was met with fierce backlash from proponents who said such programs are more important than ever given the heightened unrest plaguing the nation.

'If we are going to live up to this nation's promise - "we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal" - we have to see each other as human beings, and we have to do whatever it takes, including taking whatever classes make that possible,' M.E. Hart, an attorney who has run hundreds of diversity training sessions for businesses and the federal government, told The Washington Post.

'These classes have been very powerful in allowing people to do that, and we need them more than ever. There's danger here.'
Slate Plus members get more Care and Feeding from Jamilah Lemieux every week.

Dear Care and Feeding,

Recently, my 7-year-old called out to my husband right before falling asleep. He said: Daddy, can I tell you something I havent told anyone? The world is really hard, and sometimes I think it would be better off if I wasnt in it. He explained he first thought this when he got a challenging homework assignment in the first grade (hes now in second) and has thought it since. He said it was OK to tell other grown-ups but not his cousins, because he didnt want to be embarrassed.

He can be a really intense kid. His tantrums between the ages of 3 and 6 were the most explosive of any child we know. Hes also super bright, sweet, funny, and loving. He has friends and does well in school. He met with his schools child psychologist for general anxiety last year for a similar comment; in the middle of a meltdown, he said, I hate you, Mommy, and I wish I wasnt in this world.

How much of this is normal developmental behavior, and how much is something for which we need to pursue or seek out more help or treatment? We have some family history of depression, OCD, and Tourette syndrome. I think, with that in mind, I always assume the worst and jump to conclusions. I want to help my kid by any means necessary and would appreciate some advice.

Worried in Nebraska

Dear WiN,

Six- and 7-year-olds are known for saying shocking things, oftentimes because they dont fully grasp the meaning behind their words. However, considering your familys history, it would be unwise to decide that your son is simply repeating a sentiment he has heard somewhere without realizing that it would keep his parents awake at night. Hes not too young to be dealing with depression, anxiety, and/or some other such challenge. Get him into therapy and work with a professional to help him develop healthier responses to stress. Wishing you all the best during this time, and be glad that you are stepping up and addressing this now as opposed to waiting until hes older or until things have escalated.

Jamilah
New Delhi: In a rare development, both External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval were present at the Saudi National Day celebrations in Delhi. The development shows the growing closeness between India and Saudi Arabia.

The last time an Indian EAM was present at National Day celebration of any country was in 2018 when the then external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj was the chief guest at Russian National Day at the Russian embassy in Delhi.

Live TV

Speaking at the 90th National Day celebrations, Saudi Arabia's envoy to India Saud M Al Sati called India a "close friend and an important strategic partner", one with whom the country has "cultural, socioeconomic engagement and strategic partnership" based on "mutual respect and shared interests.".

Saudi Arabia is Indias fourth-largest trade partner and a major source of energy as India imports around 18 per cent of its crude oil requirement from the Kingdom. He added, "our investment in India is growing and our engagement is expanding" and "there is a huge untapped potential available in merchandise trade, particularly in non-oil trade and we are enhancing cooperation in commercial, investment, cultural and technological fields".

The trade between the two countries has increased significantly and the current bilateral trade stands at USD 34 billion. The country hosts 2.6 million-strong Indian community, with 200,000 Indians visiting it in 2019 for the Hajj pilgrimage.

Sati also highlighted the "bonds" both countries share which are "diverse and deeply rooted and will continue its importance as we pursue our mutual quest for prosperous future for all".

The ties between the two nations have been growing and 2019 saw the visit of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to India, followed by the visit of Indian PM Modi to the country in October. Saudi Arabia is the host of G20 grouping and later this year will host the summit.
UNITED NATIONS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th September, 2020) Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said in remarks to the UN General Assembly that his country is committed to finding a compromise solution on Kosovo.

"The Republic of Serbia remains committed to finding compromise solution for the issue of Kosovo and to building a common future with politics of peace and cooperation," Vucic said on Wednesday.

Vucic emphasized that the recently US-brokered agreement on economic normalization between Serbia and Kosovo is a "big step" toward finding a solution.

In mid-September, US President Donald Trump hosted talks between the Serbian leader and Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti who signed the deal to normalize economic ties.

Historically a province of Serbia, Kosovo was subjected to terrorist attacks and then an armed uprising led by the Albanian Kosovo Liberation Army terror group. The conflict triggered an unauthorized NATO military campaign against Serbia and Montenegro - then comprising SR Yugoslavia - paving the way for Albanians in Kosovo to declare independence in 2008.

Serbia has not recognized Kosovo's independence and launched a campaign to convince other countries not to recognize it either or recall their recognition.
PORTLAND, Ore., Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report titled, "Automotive Paint Additives Market by Type (Blending Solvents, Flow Enhancers, Fisheye Eliminator, and Other), Application (Automotive Decorative Paint, Automotive Antirust Paint, Automotive Fire-retardant Paint, and Other), and Vehicle Type (Passenger Cars and Commercial Vehicles): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20192026". According to the report, the global automotive paint additives industry was pegged at $3.29 billion in 2018, and is expected to reach $5.63 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 7.0% from 2019 to 2026.

Download Report Sample at https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/6357

Drivers, restraints, and opportunities-

Increase in automobile production, rise in demand for eco-friendly products, and innovative automotive paints additives have augmented the growth of the global automotive paint additives market. Whereas, increase in prices of raw materials restrains the market growth. On the other hand, production of eco-friendly and cost-effective automotive paints additives are expected to provide lucrative opportunities in the near future.

COVID-19 Scenarios:

The strict measures enacted by governments in various regions to control the spread of Coronavirus globally, have restricted the production of paints and additives.

Eventually, the demands for coatings effectively collapsed due to the restrictive stay-at-home policies.

Get detailed COVID-19 impact analysis on the Automotive Paint Additives Market Request Here!

The fisheye eliminator segment to maintain the lion's share by 2026-

Based on type, the fisheye eliminator segment dominated the market in 2018, accounted for nearly two-fifths of the total market share. Fisheye eliminator is used to prevent fisheye which is a small crater/hole on the surface that is surrounded by ring of paint and increase the gloss, which drives the growth of the market. On the other hand, the flow enhancers segment is anticipated to portray the fastest CAGR of 8.7% from 2019 to 2026. Flow enhancers is added to acrylic color to improve its flow, reduce viscosity, and are ideal for achieving smooth coverage, especially for covering large area of surface, which drives the growth of the market.

The automotive decorative paint segment to dominate the market in 2018-

Based on application, the automotive decorative paint segment dominated the global market in 2018, accounting for more than one-third of the market. As they are used for improving the aesthetics of the automobile, which drives the growth of the segment. On the other hand, the automotive fire-retardant paint segment is anticipated to register the highest CAGR of 7.5% during the forecast period. Fire-retardant paint are used for coating the surface of vehicle to avoid spread of fire in case of fire in the surrounding, and is one of the efficient measures to prevent fire spreading rapidly, which drives the growth of the segment.

Interested to Procure The Data? Inquire here at https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/6357

North-America contributed for largest market share in 2018-

Region-wise, the market across North America held the largest share in 2018, accounting for more than one-third of the market. Expansion of business by incorporating new manufacturing plants by leading automotive paint additives companies and initiatives taken by automobile companies to improve the quality of automotive paints additives so as to reduce the environmental impact, which drives the growth of the market in this region. On the other hand, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to manifest the fastest CAGR of 8.4% in between 2019 to 2026. Numerous paint additives have been introduced by players operating in the region due to the increased automobile production and rise in demand for long-lasting paints for vehicles, which augments the growth of the market.

Major market players

PPG

Akzo Nobel N.V

BASF SE

Eastman Chemical Company, LLC

Kansai Paint Co., Ltd

Nippon Paint Holdings Co., Ltd.

DuPont

Clariant

Solvay

The Sherwin-Williams

Schedule a Call with Our Analysts/Industry Experts to Find Solution for Your Business at https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/connect-to-analyst/6357

Similar Reports We Have on Automotive Paints, Additives, Coatings:

Paints and Coatings Market: Some of the main market players operating in the global paints and coatings market are BASF SE, Akzonobel N.V., PPG Industries, RPM International Inc., The Sherwin-Williams Company, The Valspar Corporation, Axalta Coating Systems LLC, Nippon Paint Co. Ltd., Kansai Paint Co. Ltd., Tikkurila OYJ, and Berger Paints India Ltd.

Automotive OEM Coatings Market: The other players in the automotive OEM coatings market value chain (profiles not included in the report) include Beckers Group, Cabot Corporation, Berger Paints, Eastman Chemical Company, Valspar Corporation, Clariant AG, Deft, Inc., Jotun A/S, Royal DSM, Lord Corporation, and Solvay S.A. among others.

Waterborne Coatings Market: The waterborne coatings application market is segmented into appliances, automotive, architectural, marine, packaging, wood, general industrial, and others.

Powder Coatings Market: Market size is expected to garner $15.0 billion by 2026, registering a CAGR of 5.4% during the forecast period 2019-2026.

Automotive Refinish Coatings Market: The market for automotive refinish coatings witnessed a significant growth due to various strategies adopted by the key market players.

About Allied Market Research

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HELSINKI, Finland, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Aibidia today announced the addition of several executives to support growth in its platform capabilities and geographic expansion. Transfer pricing is one of the most strategic finance functions for every multinational organization, and recent turbulence in tariffs, and trade policy has added new complexity to the work of tax departments, making the proposition of automation and advanced analytics even more significant. To address these challenges, Aibidia is rapidly adding capabilities to its already robust cloud transfer pricing platform and establishing a commercial team ready to scale across all time zones.

Aibidia Aibidia

Tapio Pitkaranta joins Aibidia to head up product development and serve as the Chief Technical Officer, bringing 20 years of experience in similar roles helping to build and scale cloud software platforms for a wide range of solutions and industries. Tapio's prior experience in Decision Automation, Machine Learning, and AI will further advance Aibidia's functionality in these critical areas, which already includes capabilities such as risk assessment and value chain analysis. Tapio has also introduced additional security audits and protocols since joining the company and will help grow the already accomplished engineering team.

Greg Saint James joins Aibidia as VP of Global Marketing, bringing more than 20 years of experience leading marketing on a global scale across more than 10 industries. Currently based in the US, Greg will help Aibidia grow its brand value and establish a commercial presence outside of the Europe. Greg will especially focus on helping transfer pricing professionals understand the transformational nature of the Aibidia platform since it is the first to provide an end-to-end offering in support of this critical finance function.

Miro Putkonen joins Aibidia as Head of Business Development, with extensive experience in helping SaaS companies build strong customer relationships. Miro has worked for significant technology brands in Europe and the US in sales and business development leadership roles, especially in early stages of developing sales processes and scaling sales teams. This new role is part of Aibidia's commitment to have both the leading software platform for transfer pricing and also a true partnership approach to supporting customers. Miro's new role with Aibidia is part of his return to Finland after living and working in the Silicon Slopes technology hub in the United States.

"When I founded Aibidia, I set out to disrupt archaic and burdensome processes for transfer pricing with revolutionary digital capabilities and deep expertise. From the start, I've been committed to developing an unequaled software platform and customer engagement approach that would be acknowledged as world class," said Hannu-Tapani Leppanen, CEO and Founder of Aibidia. "With these new hires joining our high performing team, I see us on an even faster path to deliver to our potential and to advance our position as the #1 transfer pricing solution."

Founded and headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, Aibidia has built its team by tapping into the very strong talent pool for cloud expertise in this global technology and startup hub. Its recruiting focus now extends beyond Helsinki to mirror its growing base of customers, and to leverage transfer pricing expertise from key locations for multi-national organizations across the globe. These recent hires follow the new availability of Aibidia's Transfer Pricing Accelerator, announced at the Transfer Pricing (TP) Minds International Conference earlier this month.

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. One of the fastest growing tax tech companies in Europe, Aibidia is funded by some of the world's most influential VC firms, including Global Founders Capital and Icebreaker.vc. The company is headed into the last quarter of 2020 riding a wave of growth, including these new leadership hires, moving offices to accommodate a doubling of the staff, and branching into additional geographies.

For more information:

Greg Saint James

VP of Global Marketing

[email protected]

+14156199017

All product names, logos, and brands are property of their respective owners

SOURCE Aibidia
ALBANY - A Buffalo firearms instructor accused of falsifying firearm training courses and skirting state training requirements was sentenced to four months in jail followed by three years of probation, according to the state Attorney Generals Office on Wednesday.

Dennis Brennan, 66, was sentenced this week to the split sentence after pleading guilty in July to first-degree offering a false instrument and first-degree scheme to defraud, both felonies, Attorney General Letitia James said in a news release.

Brennan defrauded New Yorkers by failing to provide proper security guard and peace offer training as required by law through the Peace Officer Training Academy in Buffalo, James said. The South Wales resident, who has owned the academy for several years, also submitted fraudulent documents to the state Division of Criminal Justice Services that falsely stated proper training requirements were met, she said.

Between 2016 and 2019, Brennan offered security guard training courses at the Buffalo academy and admitted to accepting payments from students for the courses and providing fraudulent completion certificates without actual training on safe and proper firearm use as required by the Division of Criminal Justice Services. Brennan then presented the fraudulent documents to the state.

New York requires security guard students to complete a 47-hour firearms training course and an eight hour training course annually to maintain their armed security guard license.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

The firearms instructor, who previously was ordered to surrender all weapons and had his firearms license revoked, also admitted to manipulating unknowing clients into paying tuition and enrolling in courses at the training academy with the promise they would become certified peace officers. The attorney general said this put the Erie County community at risk because armed security guards had not received proper firearm safety training.

James said Brennan also admitted to manipulating unknowing civilians into paying tuition and enrolling in courses at his training academy with the promise that the civilians would become certified peace officers, when Brennan knew that the courses did not meet the requirements necessary for the civilians to become certified peace officers. He kept the tuition money paid, which amounted to over $1,000 per student, she said.
By Akbar Mammadov

Azerbaijans Parliaments Chairperson Sahiba Gafarova has said that Bakus efforts to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict peacefully have been unsuccessful due to the destructive policy pursued by the Armenian authorities who prefer provocations and military rhetoric.

Gafarova made the remarks while addressing the plenary session of Federation Council of Russia's Federal Assembly on September 23 during her visit to Moscow.

Addressing the Assembly, Gafarova reminded Armenias recent military provocation on Azerbaijans Tovus region in July with the use of artillery that killed Azerbaijani servicemen and a civilian. How can threats to strike civilian targets of Azerbaijan be assessed? Gafarova questioned.

Furthermore, the chairperson touched upon the illegal settlement of Syrian and Lebanese refugees in occupied Nagorno-Karabakh.

She highlighted that the demographic situation in the occupied territories has been illegally changed in recent years after 700,000 Azerbaijanis were expelled from their permanent places of residence in Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding districts of Azerbaijan in the 1990s.

Gafarova described Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as the most painful problem of Azerbaijan. A fifth of the Azerbaijani territories - the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts are occupied, the chairperson stressed.

Reminding that Azerbaijan has never laid claim to foreign territories, and the Azerbaijani people will never allow a second Armenian state to be established on its historical lands, Gafarova stressed that the conflict must be resolved within Azerbaijans territorial integrity in line with the international law.

The chairperson underlined that Azerbaijan always demonstrates its commitment to peaceful diplomatic efforts in resolving the conflict following the norms and principles of international law, and, first of all, based on the inviolability of the territorial integrity and borders of states.

We hope that Russia, which is the co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group and has been working hard from the very beginning for a peaceful solution of the conflict, will use its authority in international politics and make its best to resolve the conflict," she noted.

Armenia's provocation was also discussed during the meeting between Gafarova and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on September 23. The meeting followed her speech at the plenary session of Federation Council of Russia's Federal Assembly.

Gafarova said that recent so-called "seven conditions" proposed by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan undermine all efforts of the world community to resolve the conflict peacefully as well as his statements about including the separatist regime in Nagorno-Karabakh to the negotiations process.

Gafarova also reminded Armenias military provocation in Azerbaijans border Tovuz region where Armenian forces targeted infrastructure facilities that have importance for the entire region and that are away from the Nagorno-Karabakhs territory.

All these are serious violation of international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Convention of August 12, 1949, and the Additional Protocol of June 8, 1977, and constitute a war crime.

Contrary to these conventions, the illegal settlement of Syrian and Lebanese refugees carried out by Armenia in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan today is of particular concern, Gafarova said.

In turn, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that views expressed by the Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan on Nagorno-Karabakh undermine the settlement of the conflict.

This is the position of official Moscow. Russia supports the return of the five occupied regions in the settlement process, the deployment of peacekeepers in the area and the restoration of the transport and communication system, Lavrov said.

Lavrov said that Russia, as a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, supports the solution of the problem and spares no effort in this area.

Bilateral relations

Moreover, Lavrov noted that Russia intends to further deepen relations with Azerbaijan in all spheres of life, including the diplomatic sphere.

Gafarova pointed out that said that the Azerbaijani-Russian relations have a centuries-old tradition and have always been distinguished by their characteristics.

A strong partnership has formed between Azerbaijan and Russia that is one of the first countries to recognize our independence, which has risen to the level of a strategic partnership over the years, Gafarova said.

Noting the rapid expansion of the geography of interregional cooperation between the two countries, Gafarova said that today Azerbaijan actively cooperates with the subjects of the Russian Federation - Dagestan and Tatarstan, Astrakhan, Saratov, Sverdlovsk, Ulyanovsk, Yekaterinburg, Vladimir, Volgograd and others.

She further noted that Azerbaijan has the largest number of ethnic Russians in the South Caucasus.

There is a strong legal framework between our countries, consisting of more than 200 bilateral documents. These include the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Security between the Russia and Azerbaijan, as well as the Baku Declaration of Friendship and Strategic Cooperation, Gafarova added.

Strategic partnership

Earlier, on September 22, the Azerbaijani delegation headed by Parliaments Chairperson Sahiba Gafarova also met with Chairperson of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Valentina Matviyenko.

During the meeting, Matviyenko said that 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.

---

Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Officials from Belgium's Ministry of Foreign Affairs made the announcement on Tuesday.

Belgium will no longer place travel bans on European countries and regions classified as at-risk zones for their high infection rates. Minister of Foreign Affairs Philippe Goffin explained that Belgium had been the only European country not only to discourage, but to actually prohibit travels to these zones. He noted that the change would come in effect on Friday 25 September and that it aimed at strengthening coordination between EU members.

Thus far, Belgium has employed a three-colour-system that designated countries as either safe, medium, or at-risk, which meant that travels to such regions could be accompanied with quarantine measures or even prohibited if not deemed essential. This caused a number of problems over the summer months, since many places fluctuated between safe and at-risk.
The governor  a frequent critic of President Trump who flirted with a primary challenge against him last year  said it would similarly be inappropriate to question the integrity of the court or even pack the court, a reference to some Democrats proposal to expand the number of justices if Trumps nominee is seated.
STRATFORD  A staff member at Stratford High School has tested positive for COVID-19 but officials say they believe no other staff or students were exposed while the person was contagious.

In a letter to parents, Superintendent Janet Robinson said the school district was notified about the positive test Tuesday.

The person who tested positive has been told to stay home in isolation for 10 days and has been provided with additional instructions to follow prior to returning to school, the superintendent wrote.

The last day this person was present with our school community was Sept. 17, Robinson said. Through contact tracing, it was determined that no other staff or students were exposed to this member during their infectious/contagious period.

The superintendent shared a list of preventative measures for students and staff and reminded anyone who is feeling ill to stay home and report their symptoms to a medical provider.

The superintendents letter included a link to an advisory from state officials about what to do if a student or family member has possible coronavirus symptoms.

We are working with the Stratford Public Health Department and will provide you with any necessary updates, Robinson said.

Last week, Second Hill Lane Elementary School went to all distance learning for two days after staff member there had a suspected case of COVID-19, but the school reopened after the staff member tested negative.

We shifted to distance learning for the beginning of this week out of an abundance of caution, and we appreciate your patience as we have worked to make an informed decision regarding our re-entry to school following this brief closure, Principal Daniel Hicks wrote in a letter to parents. As always, we are keeping the safety of our students and staff at the forefront of all decision-making.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-24 06:11:33|Editor: huaxia

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BRUSSELS, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Tourism industry in Europe and the world has suffered drastic losses this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, and all relevant parties need to learn to coexist with coronavirus and take coordinated measures to minimize the damage, it was concluded from a video meeting organized by the Committee on Transport and Tourism of the European Parliament.

"The crisis gave the opportunity to many people to realize that tourism had a far greater economical and social importance than what was subjectively perceived by many," Dominique Riquet, Chair of the Transport and Tourism Committee, said in his opening remarks on Wednesday.

Unilateral actions from member states of the European Union (EU) in the absence of uniformed criteria had "extremely negative consequences" for many of the actors of the tourism industry, Riquet noted. "We need a real European tourism policy with a real budget."

Alessandra Priante, director of Regional Department for Europe at the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), cited "scary" statistics on the suffering of tourism industry this year: About six million jobs in this sector have been lost in Europe, while bookings have suffered a 60 to 90 percent decline compared to last year.

Priante noted that tourism contributes ten percent of the EU's gross domestic products (GDP), and 2.4 million businesses are working in the industry -- 90 percent of which are small and medium-sized enterprises.

The United Nations is recognizing the importance of tourism for the building of a resilient society. We need to make sure we are following our two core values -- sustainability and innovation, said Priante.

Eurostat said earlier this month that tourism sector fell by 75 percent in the EU in June compared with February due to the pandemic. Among the detailed sectors within the sector, travel agencies and tour operators fell the most (minus 83.6 percent), followed by air transport (minus 73.8 percent), accommodation (minus 66.4 percent) and restaurants (minus 38.4 percent). However, a recovery was observed in June compared with April as restrictive public health measures started to be lifted and restaurants began to reopen.

In Italy, where tourism revenues account for around 15 percent of its GDP, analysts and observers expect tourists from China to play an over-sized role when the beleaguered sector starts to recover.

Gianfranco Lorenzo, the head of the research department for the Center for Touristic Studies, told Xinhua earlier this month that one reason for that is because, according to data from the Bank of Italy, Chinese travelers have a larger-than-average economic impact when measured on a per-capita basis.

He also noted that the number of Chinese travelers has increased at a faster rate than the sector as a whole and that the potential for growth was "almost unimaginable."

Globally, according to Lola Cardenas, Vice President in charge of government affairs at World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), 121.1 million tourism jobs have been lost this year. By the end of this year, the numbers can grow to 197 million jobs "if we don't get the right support and if we don't take the right decisions," Cardenas told the video conference.

Cardenas proposed a path to recovery, which includes international coordination, implementation of common measures upon departure to and from risk areas, adoption of global health, hygiene and safety protocols, as well as continued government support. Enditem
NEW DELHI, India, Sept. 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Marking the importance of energy storage as part of industrial progress and sustainable lives, the 4th World Energy Storage Day was celebrated today. On this occasion, India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA), Indias leading alliance on energy storage & e-mobility organized a unique virtual Global Conference & Expo with the aim to bring together industry leaders, policymakers, academia, researchers, and professionals and deliberate upon the need for nurturing a global ecosystem for energy storage. The participants engaged over insightful discussions on four critical aspects of the energy storage ecosystem, i.e., policy and government initiatives, stationary energy storage, e-mobility and latest innovations and developments in the sector.



The significance of energy storage as an integral part of the electrical grid has been acknowledged by several stakeholders, including large consumers, renewable developers, utilities, grid system operators and regulators. Moreover, the Government of India has set a target of installing 175 Gigawatt (GW) of renewable energy capacity by the year 2022 and 450 GW by 2030. A large proportion of this capacity will come from hybrid projects, where energy storage will play a very key role. IESA thus emphasized upon the importance of building a robust energy storage ecosystem, supported by the policy incentives, business leadership, skilled workforce, and inter-industry collaboration to achieve this vision and make India Atmanirbhar in the energy storage sector.

Advanced energy storage technologies are also critical for the upcoming e-mobility manufacturing sector. With the advances in various battery chemistries and reducing prices, experts predict that this decade will belong to the electric vehicles. India is a little late to invest in the R&D and manufacturing of these technologies, but with government support and commitment from Industry, we can still catch up within next 3-5 years. It is estimated that India needs to set up at least 50 GWh of annual manufacturing capacity.



NITI Aayog has taken leadership in drafting the Advanced Chemistry Cell Battery Manufacturing Mission as part of National Mission for Transformative Mobility and Battery Storage. As part of the already announced Phased Manufacturing Plan, the Government has charted out a roadmap for incentivizing the local players by imposing 10-12% import duties on cells. The Government will also provide up to US$ 30 per kWh as incentive for advanced chemistry cell manufacturing in the country. Therefore, the first movers in the country are certain to have an assured market opportunity.

At the conference, IESA also highlighted the huge employment opportunity presented by Indias energy storage space. However, to unlock this opportunity, there is a need for skill development, reskilling, and upskilling the existing workforce in the country to make them a strategic fit for the energy storage industry. As the energy storage sector evolves further, it will require interdisciplinary skill sets. To bring in the new skill sets and bridge the existing skill gap, there is a requirement for more intense industry-academic alliance. IESA, through its IESA Academy, is leading the crusade on this front.

Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, in his letter to IESA said, I am pleased to learn that India Energy Storage Alliances and its partners are holding a digital World Energy Storage Day Conclave and Expo. Energy security and sufficiency are pivotal for self-reliant India. We are constantly striving to ensure that electricity reaches everyone, there is sufficient electricity for everyone, and that our environment remains clean. We are also making sure that our resolve towards clean and renewable energy is taken care of in every aspect of life. For energy access and energy sustainability, we are focused towards building a robust storage capability in the country. Efforts like Global Conclave and Expo strengthen this vision. The presence of policy makers, technical experts and other participants from various countries reflects mankinds commitment to sustainable development.

Summing up the key discussions and insights at the event, Dr Rahul Walawalkar, President, India Energy Storage Alliance says, The world is at the cusp of a 21st century industrial revolution. Energy storage will be at the epicentre of this revolution. The discussions and insights here have set the tone for many strategic interventions across the world towards building a global ecosystem for energy storage in the power & transportation sector. The event emerged as catalyst towards highlighting the potential of energy storage for future businesses and sustainable living.

There is a lot of innovation taking place in the energy storage ecosystem. India presents a significant opportunity of stationary energy storage technologies. In next 5 years, we are entering into an unprecedented era, where thermal plants will have to pay down 30 percent which is not an ideal situation. At the same time, we do expect that the market for e-vehicles is set to pick up beyond 2022-24. We are coming up with a new report on e-mobility. Due to persistent efforts by various ministries in the last five years, energy storage has picked up rapidly and the technology advancements have also been accelerated. We must focus on building capacity for integrating existing projects and making India a global hub of innovation and R&D. We urge the Indian business leaders to take a lead in terms of investing towards the future. As the event highlighted, there is also a need for the right policy and regulatory support, beyond announcements. These initiatives will boost the local ecosystem, make India self-reliant economy for energy storage, and become the global benchmark. I am confident about the future.

Mr. Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog, said, NITI Aayog is working with the World Bank to pilot various energy storage points and projects across the power sector in India. Battery Storage is the undisputable leader in overall Energy Storage Portfolio. The potential demand for advance battery storage applications till 2030 in India is expected to reach 230 GW on a Year to Year basis while on cumulative basis, the domestic market demand of 1116 GWh has been estimated. With high priority accorded to Make in India, the government shall soon launch the incentive schemes to invite global companies through the transparent competitive process to set up Mega Manufacturing plants in advanced technologies areas such as Solar Photovoltaic Cell and Advanced Battery Storage in India. The Government stands by its renewable energy generation target as part of its Paris Agreement. The target is 200 GW by 2022 and 240 GW by 2050. Renewables can become dispatchable replacing fossil fuels.

Moreover, the next wave of job creation will come from energy storage in renewable energy. India has the potential for being the fastest-growing market for electric vehicles and the government is committed to the same with policy framework like FAME II for a smoother transition. The government is set to launch a tender to global companies for developing future solar. India is taking concrete steps to develop a favourable business environment for a greener economy. The coming age is the age of cutting-edge energy storage technology.

H.E. Upendra Tripathy, Director General, International Solar Alliance (ISA) stated, One of the most important aspects in energy storage are e-vehicles. In order to promote its adoption, Solar cost should be affordable for the masses. Talking about storage economy, the aim is to solarize the storage to generate employment. ISA is closely working with member countries to understand the kind of storage requirements they have. In a first, the World Solar bank is aimed at infusing around $10 billon toward addressing solar projects in the member countries. Storage will play an important role in realizing the ambitious goal of One World, One Sun, One Grid  a term coined by the Prime Minister of India.

Shri Ghanshyam Prasad, Jt. Secretary, Ministry of Power added, The day itself talks about the importance of energy storage. Any disruptions that take place in the electricity sector is an opportunity to grow. The renewable energy was introduced in the electricity sector ten years back along with its drawbacks. The very first goal was to achieve 175 GW by 2022. In terms of advantages of batteries, as Ministry of Power, we look at it as grid element ensuring electricity to every household without any interruptions. There are variations as seasonality to renewable sources of power generation. To maintain reliability of power supply, there has to be some source to take care of the variability and storage is the answer to the same. The plan is to integrate energy storage at the grid element level in the imminent future.

Prof. Stanley Whittingham, 2019 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry in a recorded message said, Lithium batteries are already changing the way we store our future energy. The future is bright for the storage and Li-ion batteries are raring to go. Clearly, the battery is not only the medium  hydrogen, pumped hydro and supercapacitors will also be some active contenders for future energy storage requirements. Lets make 2020 the decade of energy storage!

2019 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, Dr. Stanley Whittingham, who is currently working as a professor of Chemistry in Binghamton University, State University of New York, delivered the keynote at the event. He shared insights about advances in the technology and assured delegates that we are just at the cusp of the decade of energy storage. The event brought together 75+ global thought leaders and policy makers to share insights on latest developments and trends in the policy, technology, and business landscape. Delegates from over 60 countries keenly attended these sessions.

To celebrate the growing importance of energy storage, the Global Energy Storage Alliance started celebrating 22 September as World Energy Storage Day (WESD) in 2017. Over the past three years, the IESA and its partners celebrated WESD with various national-level events to spread the word within each region. This year, with COVID-19 limiting international travel, all the alliances had decided to opt for a virtual platform to jointly celebrate the WESD with this unique conference. For the first time a marathon online event dedicated to the energy storage and EV industry was organized on this scale.

WESD Global Conference was supported by over 30 partners including, International Solar Alliance and World Bank-ESMAP. Niti Aayog, Invest India and Department of Science and Technology, were the India partners and Government of Australia was the partner country. The event received support from global alliances and organisations, such as the Alliance for Rural Electrification; The Associated Chambers of Commerce of India (Assocham), The Australian Energy Storage Alliance; BVES the German Association of Energy Storage Systems; California Energy Storage Alliance; China Energy Storage Alliance; The US Clean Energy States Alliance; Dii Desert Energy; The US Energy Storage Association; European Alliance for Storage of Energy; European Battery Alliance (EBA250); Green Hydrogen Coalition; Indo German Energy Forum, Innovation Norway; Institute of Management Consultants of India; Irish Energy Storage Alliance, New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization, South Africa Energy Storage Association. Customized Energy Solutions was the presenting partner for the event and Amararaja, Exicom, Okaya, UL, BASF, Keysight Technologies, and Curtis have also joined as partners for this global event. For more details, please check ( https://energystorageday.org/event/partners/ )

Annexure:

The most eminent speakers at the event included Mr. Praveer Sinha- MD & CEO, Tata Power, Dr Sanjay Bajpai FNAE, Head (Technology Mission Division: Energy & Water), Department of Science & Technology (DST), Mr. Kaushik Burman, Vice President, New Business Development & Strategic Partnerships, Gogoro; H.E. Shri Upendra Tripathy Director General, International Solar Alliance, Shri Ghanshyam Prasad, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Power, Mr. Amitabh Kant, CEO, Niti Aayog, Mr. Saurabh Kumar, Executive Vice Chairperson, EESL Group of Companies, Mr. Vijayanand Samudrala, CEO, Amara Raja Batteries Ltd and Mr. Anshul Gupta, Director, Okaya Power group to name a few. Coming forward for contemplation are some of the most prominent global speakers such as Dr. Tudor Constantinescu, Principal Advisor, Directorate General for Energy, European Commission, Mr. Chris King, Senior VP, e-Mobility, Siemens, Mr. David Schlosberg, VP, Energy Market Operations, Global Energy Services, e-Mobility EnelX, Mr. John Zahurancik, COO, Fluence Energy, Mr. Steve Blume, President, Smart Energy Council, Mr David Morgado, Senior Energy Policy Specialist, Alliance for Rural Electrification, Mr. Austin R. Bryan, Senior Director, CLP Holdings Limited, Ms. Carla Peterman, Senior Vice President Regulatory Affairs, Southern California Edison, Mr. Brieux Boisdequin, Vice President, Automotive and Materials, BASF India, Mr. Yoshiro Kaku, Chief Representative, New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization, etc.

Refer to (  https://energystorageday.org/event/speakers/ ) for an entire list of speakers.

Why 22nd September?

The sun  the largest source of natural energy  has held much importance through the ages and people have gathered throughout time to worship the sun during the days of solstice and equinox with special rituals. The Autumnal equinox occurs on the 22nd of September and the day and night are of approximately equal duration i.e. the day is balanced. Energy storage has played a huge role in grid balancing, power supply demand management and frequency regulation and to acknowledge the balancing effects of Energy Storage, 22nd September was chosen as an apt date for the World Energy Storage Day.

About India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA)

The India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA) was launched in 2012 to assess the market potential of Energy Storage Technologies in India, through an active dialogue and subsequent analysis among the various stakeholders to make the Indian industry and power sector aware of the tremendous need for Energy Storage in the very near future. IESA aims to make India a Global Hub for research and manufacturing of advanced energy storage technologies by 2020. During the past 8 years IESA membership has grown from 5 to 100+ and covers verticals from Energy Storage Manufacturers, Research institutes & universities, Renewable Energy companies and Power electronics companies.

IESA website:  www.indiaesa.info

About Customized Energy Solutions

Established in 1998, Customized Energy Solutions is an energy advisory and service company that works closely with Clients to navigate the wholesale and retail electricity markets across the United States and globally. CES offers software solutions, back office operational support, and advisory and consulting services focused on asset optimization and energy market participation efficiency. CES is also a third-party asset manager of approximately 10,000 MWs of renewable and conventional generation resources across all ISOs in the United States and Ontario, Canada. CES empowers clients to achieve their goals by helping them navigate the evolving energy markets, complex market rules, and new energy technologies.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

A neighborhood's overall socioeconomic status, including income and education level, may influence its residents' risk of chronic kidney disease, according to a study recently published in SSM Population Health by researchers from Drexel University's Dornsife School of Public Health.

Although previous studies have shown an association between individual socioeconomic status and chronic kidney disease, less is known about how the characteristics of an individual's neighborhood, such as overall socioeconomic status, walkability, violent crime and availability of healthy food, may influence the risk of chronic kidney disease, poor blood sugar control (A1c over or equal to 6.5 percent) and uncontrolled high blood pressure (at least one instance of systolic blood pressure greater than 140 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure greater than 90 mm Hg), especially in urban areas.

In a study of 23,692 adult Philadelphians, all seen in a primary care practice in 2016 or 2017, the authors found that those living in low socioeconomic status neighborhoods (factoring in neighborhood income, educational attainment and occupation), were more likely to have kidney disease than those living in higher socioeconomic status neighborhoods. Also, poor neighborhood walkability, as measured by Walkscore, was associated with poor blood sugar control in chronic kidney disease patients and poor blood pressure control in those without chronic kidney disease. The authors adjusted for individual age, race, sex and insurance type.

"Our finding, that people who are living in neighborhoods with the fewest resources are at highest risk for kidney disease, should be a call to health providers to integrate knowledge about their patients' environments in their care processes, and to policymakers to allocate resources to at-risk communities that will promote health," said senior author Meera Harhay, MD, an associate professor of Medicine at Drexel's College of Medicine and Dornsife School of Public Health. "Our results also show that neighborhood environments that promote physical activity are protective when it comes to blood pressure and blood sugar management, whereas less walkable neighborhoods might exacerbate conditions that are risk factors for kidney disease."

Chronic kidney disease is characterized by damaged kidneys that are unable to adequately filter waste and excess fluids out of blood. Without early detection and management of blood pressure and blood glucose, this damage can lead to kidney failure and dialysis or a kidney transplant as the remaining options. An estimated 37 million15%of U.S. adults are estimated to suffer from chronic kidney disease, and nine out of 10 of those cases go undiagnosed. The findings of this research are valuable to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Advancing American Kidney Health Initiative, whose goals include reducing the number of Americans in end-stage renal disease by 25% by 2030.

"This study offers tools to help identify communities at higher risk of kidney disease at earlier stages so their condition can be managed to prevent end-stage kidney disease from developing," Harhay said. "Health providers should consider incorporating knowledge about neighborhood-level social determinants of health when they are assessing their patients."

The authors note that future studies should look at what neighborhood characteristics might contribute to progression of chronic kidney disease, and whether socioeconomic status might be a marker for lower access to health-promoting resources, such as information on self-care and chronic disease management, that might help prevent chronic kidney disease.

More information: Suzanne M. Boyle et al, Neighborhood context and kidney disease in Philadelphia, SSM - Population Health (2020). Suzanne M. Boyle et al, Neighborhood context and kidney disease in Philadelphia,(2020). DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2020.100646
54 Citation Laureates named by the Institute for Scientific Information have gone on to receive a Nobel Prize

24 new Citation Laureates named, from six countries (USA, Canada, Germany, Japan, South Korea and United Kingdom)

LONDON, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Clarivate Plc (NYSE:CCC), a global leader in providing trusted information and insights to accelerate the pace of innovation, today named 24 world-class researchers from six countries as Citation Laureates. These are researchers whose work is deemed to be 'of Nobel class', as demonstrated by analysis carried out by the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI).

Each year since 2002, ISI analysts have drawn on Web of Science publication and citation data to identify influential researchers in the research areas recognized by Nobel Prizes: Physiology or Medicine, Physics, Chemistry and Economics. Out of some 50 million articles and proceedings indexed in the Web of Science since 1970, only 5,700 (or .01%) have been cited 2,000 or more times. It is from the authors of this group of papers that Citation Laureates are identified and selected. They are individuals whose research reports are highly cited and whose contributions to science have been extremely influential, even transformative.

In early October 2020, the Nobel Assembly will vote to confer science's highest honor. Whilst this annual rite inspires worldwide speculation, Clarivate is the only organization to use quantitative data in addition to qualitative assessment to provide valuable insights about who may be chosen. To date, 54 Citation Laureates listed in the Hall of Citation Laureates have gone on to receive a Nobel Prize.

Joel Haspel SVP Strategy, Science, Clarivate said: "This year's Laureates have advanced humanity's understanding of topics as varied as the gender pay gap, nanocrystals and how galaxies are formed. They have pushed the boundaries of clinical care with advances in personalized medicine and vaccine development. We are delighted to recognize and celebrate their immense achievements, demonstrating that their citation tallies reflect their influence on their colleagues, disciplines and the wider world."

David Pendlebury, Senior Citation Analyst at the Institute for Scientific Information at Clarivate said: "To be cited 2,000 times or more is a rarity. Authors of very highly cited papers are usually members of national academies of sciences, hold senior appointments in universities and other research institutes, and have received many top international prizes in their fields. Indeed, some of them have helped to shape their fields of study. Some of these 'scientific elites' go on to receive Nobel honors, demonstrating each year the association between citations in the literature, influence through a research community, and peer judgement."

This year 19 of the 24 honorees are based at leading academic institutions in the United States; others hail from Canada, Germany, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom.

The 2020 Citation Laureates are:

Physiology or Medicine Pamela J. Bjorkman, David Baltimore Professor of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA USA, and Jack L. Strominger, Higgins Research Professor of Biochemistry, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA USA For determining the structure and function of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins, a landmark discovery in molecular immunology that has contributed to drug and vaccine development Yusuke Nakamura, Director, Cancer Precision Medicine Center, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo, JAPAN; Emeritus Professor, University of Tokyo, Tokyo JAPAN; and, Emeritus Professor, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL USA. For pioneering research developing and applying genetic polymorphic markers and for contributions to genome-wide association studies, both heralding personalized approaches to cancer treatment Huda Y. Zoghbi, Professor, Departments of Pediatrics, Molecular and Human Genetics, Neurology and Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA and Founding director, Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX USA; also, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator. For discoveries on the pathogenesis of neurological disorders including the genetic origins of Rett syndrome Physics Thomas L. Carroll, Research Physicist, Center for Computational Materials Science, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC USA, and Louis M. Pecora, Research Physicist, Magnetic Materials and Nonlinear Dynamics, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC USA For research in nonlinear dynamics including synchronization of chaotic systems Hongjie Dai, J.G. Jackson & C.J. Wood Professor of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA USA, and Alex Zettl, Professor of Physics at the University of California at Berkeley, and Senior Faculty Scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA USA For fabrication and novel applications of carbon and boron nitride nanotubes Carlos S. Frenk, Director of the Institute for Computational Cosmology, and Ogden Professor of Fundamental Physics, Durham University, Durham, UK, and Julio F. Navarro, Lansdowne Science Professor, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC CANADA, and Simon D.M. White, former Director, Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics, Garching, GERMANY For their fundamental studies of galaxy formation and evolution, cosmic structure, and dark matter halos Chemistry Moungi G. Bawendi, Lester Wolfe Professor of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA USA and Christopher B. Murray, Richard Perry University Professor of Chemistry and Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA USA and Taeghwan Hyeon, SNU Distinguished Professor, Seoul National University, Seoul SOUTH KOREA; also Director of Center for Nanoparticle Research of Institute for Basic Science For synthesis of nanocrystals with precise attributes for a wide range of applications in physical, biological, and medical systems Stephen L. Buchwald, Camille Dreyfus Professor of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA USA, And John F. Hartwig, Henry Rapoport Chair in Organic Chemistry, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA USA For contributions to organometallic chemistry, notably the Buchwald-Hartwig amination which forms carbon-nitrogen bonds through palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions of amines with aryl halides Makoto Fujita, Distinguished Professor, Division of Advanced Molecular Science, Institute for Molecular Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo JAPAN For advances in supramolecular chemistry through self-assembly strategies that take inspiration from nature itself Economics David A. Dickey, William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC USA, And Wayne A. Fuller, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Iowa State University, Ames, IA USA, And Pierre Perron, Professor of Economics, Boston University, Boston, MA USA Dickey and Fuller for statistical tests of a unit root in time-series analysis and Perron for the statistical analysis of non-stationary time series Claudia Goldin, Henry Lee Professor of Economics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA USA For contributions to labor economics, especially her analysis of women and the gender pay gap Steven T. Berry, David Swensen Professor of Economics and Jeffrey Talpins Faculty Director of the Tobin Center for Economic Policy, Yale University, New Haven, CT USA, and James A. Levinsohn, Director of the Jackson Institute for Global Affairs, Charles W. Goodyear Professor in Global Affairs, and Professor of Economics and Management, Yale University, New Haven, CT USA, and Ariel Pakes, Thomas Professor of Economics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA USA For their BLP random coefficients logit model for demand estimation

Commenting on his appointment as a Citation Laureate, Pierre Perron, Professor of Economics, Boston University said: "It is the best honor I could have hoped for. The reason I am so grateful is that it is based on facts: citations, impact on the profession... To me this is what is important as an econometrician, producing work that is useful for applications. Not publishing overly technical papers that appeal to only a few. I am a proletarian at heart! In that sense, it is much more rewarding than elections to elite societies. I decided early on that I would have my own research agenda, working mostly with PhD students. It worked well and I am proud of the work, its impact on the profession and on all the students I worked with."

To learn more about the methodology of the list and view our Hall of Citation Laureates, please visit our website here.

ENDS

David Pendlebury, Senior Citation Analyst at the Institute for Scientific Information at Clarivate is available for interview.

Media Contact

Rebecca Krahenbuhl

Rebecca.Krahenbuhl@clarivate.com

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.

About the Institute for Scientific Information

The Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) at Clarivate has pioneered the organization of the world's research information for more than half a century. Today it remains committed to promoting integrity in research whilst improving the retrieval, interpretation and utility of scientific information. It maintains the knowledge corpus upon which the Web of Science index and related information and analytical content and services are built and disseminates that knowledge externally through events, conferences and publications whilst conducting primary research to sustain, extend and improve the knowledge base. For more information, please visit https://clarivate.com/webofsciencegroup/solutions/isi-institute-for-scientific-information/

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Since Ginsburgs death on Friday sparked a battle over the future of the Supreme Court, Trump and Biden have fought to define the lens through which voters view the 2020 contest. Biden wants the election to be a referendum on Trump and his failure to control a pandemic that has killed 200,000 Americans or address the nations larger health care issues. Trump wants to focus on the court fight to unite the party and energize the GOPs base.
A grand jury in Kentucky has charged one of the officers involved in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor during a late-night raid on her apartment in Marchbut only for his role shooting into apartments neighboring Taylors during the raid. Former Louisville police Det. Brett Hankison was charged with three felony counts of wanton endangerment; none of the other officers involved in the raid have been charged, and no charges were brought directly relating to Taylors death.

Hankison faces a maximum of 5 years in prison, and is being held on a $15,000 bond.

In a tweet released shortly after the jurys decision was made public, Civil Rights attorney Benjamin Crump, who represents the Taylor family, called the charges outrageous and offensive.

If Brett Hankison's behavior was wanton endangerment to people in neighboring apartments, then it should have been wanton endangerment in Breonna Taylor's apartment too. In fact, it should have been ruled wanton murder!  Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) September 23, 2020

Kentuckys Attorney General Daniel Cameron, who has been leading an investigation into Taylors death, told reporters that this was an emotional, gut-wrenching case but that the officers who fired their weapons and killed Taylor were justified on self-defense grounds. Evidence showed that officers had knocked on Taylors door and announced their presence, Cameron said, in contrast with original reports of a no-knock warrant.

The shot that killed Taylor was fired by officer Myles Cosgrove, Cameron said.

Read more: Americas Long Overdue Awakening to Systemic Racism

I know that not everyone will be satisfied with the charges we reported today, Cameron said at the press conference. Every person has an idea of what they think justice is. My role as special prosecutor in this case is to set aside everything in pursuit of the truth.

Story continues

He added that he does not expect any additional prosecutions to follow, although the Associated Press notes that an FBI investigation is ongoing.

People gather in Jefferson Square in Louisville, Ky. awaiting word on charges against police officers, Sept. 23, 2020. Darron CummingsAP

Along with outrage over the police-involved deaths of George Floyd, Rayshard Brooks, and Daniel Prude among others, Taylors death has garnered global attention and sparked protests over racial injustice and police violence.

Joining the voices of many Louisville residents and racial justice activists, protesters, athletes, celebrities and politicians have over the past few months called for the officers involved in Taylors death to be arrested.

In anticipation of the grand jurys announcement, the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) set up barricades in the citys downtown area. They also canceled any requests for vacation and off days from department personnel.

We recognize that this is an inconvenience, and will cause difficulty for those that live, work and have business downtown, and we apologize 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, the LMPD said in a press statement released on Sept. 22.

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer had also declared a state of emergency ahead of the announcement in case of any unrest. The declaration would allow him to call for curfews or use other emergency restrictions, such as the activation of National Guard officers. On Wednesday, a curfew was announced, lasting from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. in Louisville for the next three nights.

Protesters in Louisville have already begun marching in response to the charges.

Lot of anger here right now. A march has begun. pic.twitter.com/oYNdZlkKOF  Hayes Gardner (@HayesGardner) September 23, 2020

Taylor was killed by Louisville police officers on March 13 as officers were executing a no-knock warrant on her apartment during a drug investigation. After he claimed they burst into the apartment without identifying themselves, Taylors boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, shot at the officers and hit onewhich prompted them to shoot back. Taylor was shot six times, according to Cameron.

The Louisville Metro Council has since banned the use of no-knock warrants; on Sept. 15, the city of Louisville also reached a settlement with the Taylor family for $12 millionand agreed to make reforms in their police department.

Ahead of the charges, LMPD Sergeant Jonathan Mattingly, one of the officers involved in the raid at Taylors apartment, sent an incendiary email to other officers criticizing the Mayor along with the former police chief and other city officials for what he described as a lack of support for the citys police officers.

Regardless of the outcome today or Wednesday, I know we did the legal, moral and ethical thing that night, Mattingly wrote. Its sad how the good guys are demonized, and the criminals are canonized.

Kent Wicker, an attorney for Mattingly, said that the purpose of the email was to support his colleagues during these difficult times. In an email sent to TIME, Wicker also pointed out that Mattingly was shot while serving the 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, Wicker wrote.
Photo: Lush

Continuing conflict between the U.K.-based owners of the Lush Cosmetics brand and their Vancouver-based partner, Mark Wolverton, has prompted the retailer to ask the BC Supreme Court to step in and settle the dispute.

If a judge does not grant the requested orders, Lush wants a court order that it is just and equitable to liquidate and dissolve Lush Canada  a profitable venture with declining but substantial sales.

Lush Canadas sales fell almost 10.9% to $278.7 million in 2019 from $312.7 million two years earlier, Lush said in its petition. Profit plunged more than 73.4% to $15.9 million in 2019, compared with $59.9 million in 2017, the petition states.

The dispute between Wolverton and Lush Canadas parent company comes nearly 25 years after Wolverton, wife Karen Delaney-Wolverton and a few other partners opened Lushs first store outside the U.K., on Vancouvers Denman Street.

The Wolvertons then, in partnership with Lush, and through a separate corporate entity, opened Lushs first American store, in San Francisco, in 2003. The Wolvertons then oversaw Lushs expansion to 53 stores in Canada, and 215 stores in the U.S.

The U.K.-based parent did well with other partners too, as it expanded the Lush brand to 48 countries and 900 stores.

Fractious relations between Lush and Mark Wolverton, however, came to light in a July 7 lawsuit Lush filed in Las Vegas. Lush alleged financial mismanagement by Wolverton while he oversaw Lushs American and Canadian operations, and accused him of funnelling money from Lushs U.S. operations into Lush Canada.

Lush also alleged that Wolverton would not let a U.S. director view the companys U.S. financial documents because operations were co-mingled with those in Canada, and she was not a director in Canada.

Wolverton denies Lushs assertions and says there had been a longstanding cost-sharing agreement between the U.S. and Canadian Lush companies.

In Canada, Mr. Wolverton has rejected Lushs brand decisions and input into corporate decisions. Mr. Wolvertons pattern of conduct and behaviour demonstrates his intent to exclude Lush from the business and to exclude Lush Canada from the benefits of Lushs global brand and expertise, Lush said in its petition to BC Supreme Court.

Lush wants the court to issue an order that Lush Canadas board of directors lacks its needed quorum, and that directors and shareholders are deadlocked, entitling Lush to relief under the provinces Business Corporations Act.

The boards paralysis is so severe that necessary tasks, such as appointing a new chief financial officer, is impossible because a shareholders agreement stipulates that board approval is required, the petition states.

Lush claims that Wolverton had board directors agree to grant him with wide-ranging authority to control Lush Canada operations. Lush essentially wants a judge to rescind that vote.

Lush claims that it tried multiple times to successfully nominate a qualified female director to the board, but each time Wolverton refused to accept the appointment.

Wolvertons suggestions for a director were White men, something that Lush did not want because it wanted the board to have a diverse composition, according to the petition.

If the court does not order a solution to the board stalemate, Lush said that it wants the court to either order that Wolverton be removed from the board, that Lush is able to buy all of Wolvertons shares in Lush Canada or that Lush Canada be dissolved.

I strenuously deny the allegations being made against me in the recently filed petition by Lush UK. The matters being raised in this filing relate to an internal and ongoing shareholder dispute, not to the health or viability of our business. I remain committed to the North American business, to our passionate employees and our loyal customers," said Wolverton.
Bengaluru: Food tech unicorn Swiggy has ventured into different hyperlocal categories in a bid to get dormant customers back and give them more reasons to use the app, as food delivery volumes continue to be impacted from the ongoing pandemic .

In sharp contrast, its rival Zomato, which entered the grocery delivery space earlier this year, scaled back its hyperlocal services by June, to focus strongly on its core food delivery business. It has continued its alcohol delivery service though in a few states.

E-commerce firms including Flipkart and Amazon in recent months too taken the same route aiming to bring customers closer by quicker delivery and address a range of needs.

In the last four months alone, Swiggy launched Instamart, its 45-minute grocery delivery service in Bengaluru and Gurugram; started alcohol delivery in non-metros; tied up with bookstores to provide academic books to students in Kerala and West Bengal; launched online stores focusing on pet food, gourmet groceries, wellness essentials, meat deliveries among other things.

Food delivery gross merchandise value (GMV) may have reached 85% of pre-covid levels, but volumes have still not returned to normal. Swiggy, through these micro-pivots and new services on its platform is pegging itself as a convenience solution for hyperlocal needs.

We want to be the king of convenience in the hyperlocal market, and want to eradicate unnecessary trips for consumers. On the merchant side, we believe India will leapfrog the web application era for offline brick and mortar businesses, leading them to come online on platforms like ours, which rely for logistics and convenience," Vivek Sunder, chief operating officer, Swiggy said in an interview.

Though not in the immediate future, Swiggy may provide logistics-as-a-service to offline businesses, if it chooses to open its APIs, with the strategy being a part of the companys long-term roadmap.

Swiggy is currently witnessing its GMV return to almost 80% of pre-covid levels in crowded geographies, while its volumes are still hanging at 65%. Though still small in value, its new lines of business can climb to 20% of the platforms total order volume in the coming months.

Zomato, which aims to go public next year, is betting almost entirely on the recovery of the food delivery business. In a blog post on Wednesday, founder and CEO Deepinder Goyal said the sector is witnessing shoots of recovery with metros like Delhi and Mumbai nearing full recovery.

Swiggy has also merged operations with its premium delivery startup Scootsy, which it acquired in 2018, to provide premium gourmet essentials to customers. With operations only in Mumbai, at present, Swiggy now plans to expand delivery of premium goods to all metros by March 2021.

Swiggy, which launched pan-India grocery delivery in March, will continue to operate Instamart and groceries stores, in tandem, said Sunder. It will also revamp its loyalty programme 'Super' in 2021, as it works to add newer constructs.

Instamart will offer limited SKUs (stock keeping units) owing to the 45-minute delivery convenience we want to provide customers. Hence, for other important items there are always stores and supermarkets on our platform. We look at groceries and essentials as a hybrid-model between Instamart and individual stores," adds Sunder.

Swiggy may also venture into non-prescription medicine delivery among others.

Among e-commerce firms, Flipkart Quick, a 90-minute hyperlocal delivery service was launched recently in Bengaluru, with Flipkart venturing into categories including fresh fruits, vegetables, meat and milk. Paytm Mall is planning to start same-day hyperlocal delivery in groceries, electronics (including smartphones) and wellness products.

Amazon India also recently entered the online medicine delivery segment and forayed food delivery with Amazon Food in Bengaluru.

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[Update: President Trump has selected Judge Amy Coney Barrett to fill Ruth Bader Ginsburgs seat on the Supreme Court.]

WASHINGTON  When news broke on Friday that Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg had died, President Trump was just five minutes into a campaign rally in Minnesota and aides opted not to pass word to him onstage. If he announced the death of the liberal justice from the lectern, they feared the crowd would cheer.

But cheers that would have looked unseemly one night were welcomed in another form a night later as the next rally crowd chanted, Fill that seat! To a president lagging in the polls, the chance to fill a Supreme Court vacancy has become a political lifeline, a chance to mobilize supporters and talk about something, anything, other than the coronavirus that has killed 200,000 Americans.

Whether it will ultimately change the outcome of the campaign is up for debate given that Democratic voters may be equally energized. But for Mr. Trump, nothing else has been working and so he has propelled himself, his Republican allies and the country into a breakneck race to confirm a successor to Justice Ginsburg before the Nov. 3 election, bulldozing past the precedent his own party set four years ago in a gamble that the political payoff will outweigh any political cost.
A successor has been named for the position of chief scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), according to reports.

Dr Ryan Maue, a meteorologist at a private weather forecasting and consulting company in Atlanta, Georgia, has been tipped to take the top federal position.

While Dr Maue acknowledges that human activities have contributed to climate change, on social media and in op-eds, he regularly criticizes climate alarmists" and tough policy measures to tackle the global crisis.

He earned his Ph.D in meteorology at Florida State University and was previously an adjunct scholar at the Cato Institute, a think-tank co-founded by billionaire Charles Koch, who made a fortune in the fossil fuel industry.

The NOAA posting was first reported by the Washington Post. Neither the agency nor the Department of Commerce, which oversees it, responded to a request for comment from The Independent.

The meterologist did not respond to an email seeking an interview from The Independent. If he is confirmed after security and ethics reviews, he will replace Craig McLean, who is acting chief scientist at NOAA.

The role is consequential, at one of the countrys leading government climate research agencies. The chief scientist oversees climate issues but also water, satellites and modeling. Weather is another issue on the agenda - where he brings expertise in tropical cyclones and hurricanes.

However climate scientists expressed concerns that the political appointment would advance the agenda of climate deniers in an administration which has been notoriously anti-science and rolled back dozens of climate and environmental rules.

Michael Mann, a distinguished professor of atmospheric sciences at Penn State and National Academy of Sciences member, told The Independent: "At a time when we are witnessing the devastating impacts of climate change-amplified extreme weather events, including wildfires out west and a record hurricane season here back east, it would have previously seemed unimaginable that an administration would appoint an individual with a record of denying and downplaying these impacts to a position of leadership at the very agency tasked with assessing the risks we face from extreme weather events.

"But this we have come to expect from the Trump administration. Science denial is deadly, whether its over COVID-19 or climate change. This is yet another stark reminder about why we must turn out to vote in this upcoming election and elect policymakers who embrace, rather than reject, the lessons of science."Andrew Dessler, professor of Atmospheric Sciences and climate scientist at Texas A&M, tweeted: "Normally, when people are chosen for high-profile positions relating to climate change, Ive heard of them.I have no idea who this person is.  I suspect that he has the one and only necessary qualification for the job: A willingness to advance the agenda of climate deniers.

Dr Maue penned an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal in 2018 with Patrick J. Michaels, a member of the CO2 Coalition, a pro-fossil fuel nonprofit with close ties to the Trump administration.

In the piece, they claimed that testimony given by NASA climate scientist James Hansen, who warned a Senate committee more than 30 years ago about the dangers of climate change, had not borne out in reality.

On the 30th anniversary of Mr. Hansens galvanizing testimony, its time to acknowledge that the rapid warming he predicted isnt happening. Climate researchers and policy makers should adopt the more modest forecasts that are consistent with observed temperatures, Maue and Michaels wrote in the WSJ.

That would be a lukewarm policy, consistent with a lukewarming planet.

However Dr Hansens projections, which have faced peer review, have stood up. And according to the 2018 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Changes (IPCC) Special Report, major policy shifts must be made this decade to curb global warming to 1.5C as beyond which, scientists believe, many changes to earth systems will be irreversible.

Dr Maue has also shown that hes not afraid to wade into politics on social media (although a number of tweets now appear to have been deleted from his Twitter feed but are still available in cache mode).

He tweeted last week: Biden hits Trump on climate: Western fires foreshadow 'unending barrage of tragedies' Shameless but it's their political strategy to blame Trump for all natural disasters past, present, and future.

But hes also shared critiques, albeit more measured, of President Trump. Last year, Mr Trump displayed a forecast map for Hurricane Dorian with what appeared to be a hand-drawn, half-circle that extended the cone of uncertainty over a swath of Alabama after Mr Trump erroneously tweeted that the storm would hit (much) harder than anticipated in the state.

Following the bizarre incident, now known as Sharpiegate, Dr Maue told AP that it was important for the presidents tweets to be accurate if he wants to provide helpful information to the public facing a potential emergency.

He said the problem with the presidents tweet came from sending out stale information.

If hes going to be a provider of up-to-date information, he needs to be up to date, he said.
By Akbar Mammadov

Missile-artillery formations of the Azerbaijani Army have conducted live-fire tactical exercises, the Defence Ministry said on September 23.

The military exercise was conducted in accordance with the combat training plan for 2020 approved by the Minister of Defense.

The ministry noted that the purpose of the exercises is to improve the artillery units management skills, increase professionalism, planning actions during combat operations and organize interoperability with other types of troops.

Artillery subunits withdrawn to the concentration areas took up firing positions to carry out combat firing. According to the training scenario, various units of the Missile-Artillery Troops redeployed to reserve positions performed combat firing and destroyed the targets of the imaginary enemy.

Earlier, on September 22, the Azerbaijani Army also held military training to improve combat vehicles and armoured carriers. The exercise was aimed at improving combat skills of the crews of infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs), armoured personnel carriers (APCs) and other combat vehicles.

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Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Jaipur, Sep 23 : As private schools are reportedly charging 70 per cent of total fees while flouting the High Court orders of charging 70 per cent of tuition fees in the current session, the All Rajasthan Parents Forum has filed an appeal in the Rajasthan High Court, requesting it to defer its earlier order and to direct schools to claim actual expenses while ignoring the additional expenses.

Advocate Rishikesh Maharishi told IANS that the hearing might be scheduled in a day or two. "A leave to appeal application has been filed in the court against its single-bench decision announced on September 7 ordering schools to collect 70 per cent of tuition fee from students. Surprisingly, the court announced its judgment without listening to the parents' side," he added.

"This fresh application has been filed by Forum chairperson Sunil Yadav on behalf of over 40,000 parents from 19 schools of the state," said Maharishi.

In its appeal, the Forum said that the private school operators are charging 70 per cent of the total fees against the court's order of collecting 70 per cent of tuition fees. Also, soon after the court's order, the school managements are forcing students to deposit the said amount soon and are debarring those students from attending online classes who have been unable to pay total fees.

The Rajasthan High Court on September 7 had ordered private schools to collect 70 per cent of the tuition fees during the pandemic period as the schools have been running online classes while remaining closed. The court ordered that 70 per cent of the tuition fees will be charged from the parents in three instalments. While the first instalment will have to be submitted by September 30, the second instalment will be submitted by November 30 and the third instalment by January 31.

Maharishi said that the Forum in its plea has requested the court to restrain schools from charging any kind of additional expenses.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 23

By Nargiz Sadikhova, Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend:

Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Baku-Supsa oil pipelines, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline has strongly contributed to pan-European energy security and beyond, Bulgarian MEP Ilhan Kyuchyuk told Trend.

Kyuchyuk noted that Azerbaijan contributes to the energy security of Europe as one of its reliable strategic partners in the field of energy.

It is important to see that this cooperation still in the stage of further development. Southern Gas Corridor which is one of the largest energy infrastructure projects in the world, will help increase European energy security by bringing Caspian gas resources to markets in Europe for the very first time. This project fits well within modern energy architecture of Europe with its potential to further extension towards Western Balkans, as well as support for the clean energy transition of the region, he said.

Talking overall relations between Azerbaijan and Bulgaria Kyuchyuk noted that countries have a long history of good cooperation and partnership, including on parliamentary level.

Your country is an important ally of Bulgaria and we have the potential to cooperate in many areas such as energy, tourism, agriculture, education and culture, which will be beneficial for both Bulgaria, Azerbaijan and the EU. This what I am trying to do as a member of the European Parliament. In recent years, I have been working to comprehensively improve and strengthen bilateral relations between the Parliament of Azerbaijan and the European Parliament because the cooperation between these two institutions will be crucial for future political association and economic integration, he said.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @nargiz_sadikh
One of the country's best places to live, Money says, is a locale half an hour from downtown San Antonio.

New Braunfels made the personal finance publication's 2020 list of the 50 Best Places to Live in America.

Money, a personal finance website, considered cities and towns with a population of at least 25,000 people, then narrowed the list by removing areas that had more than double the national crime risk, a median income of less than 85 percent of their states median, or little to no ethnic diversity.

READ ALSO: 'The Cenotaph Stands': Social media reacts to news the Alamo Cenotaph is staying put

The final 50 were picked using data points, including cost of living, employment opportunities and public education. Only one place per county and two places per state were allowed.

New Braunfels, San Antonio's neighbor to the northeast, came in at No. 25.

The publication pointed to the city's attractions  from the Comal River and Schlitterbahn waterpark to Gruene Hall and Wurstfest  and its job market, with employment projected to rise 17 percent by 2025.

"Thanks to booming tourist activity, local hotels, retail establishments and restaurants are the citys top employers, though healthcare, construction and manufacturing boast a good share of jobs as well," Money wrote. "Automotive company Continental just announced plans to build a factory in the city, which will add another 130 jobs to the area in the coming years."

"Nestled in the heart of Texas Hill Country, New Braunfels is just a 35- to 50-minute drive to either San Antonio or Austin. Fortunately, real estate prices pale in comparison to its larger neighbors. Home prices in the town sit in the mid-$200,000s. Over in Austin? Youll pay more like $360,000."

New Braunfels wasn't the only Texas city to crack the ranking. Rockwall, a Dallas suburb, earned the No. 4 spot because of its rapid growth, high median income and small-town vibe.

Evans, Georgia, which Money called "a fast-growing town with a welcoming atmosphere and southern charm," topped the list.
Bahrain's leading telecom services operator Batelco said its initiative to waive off the broadband bills of 500 small and medium enterprise (SME) units for a three-month period has won much appreciation from a number of business owners across the kingdom.

Batelco implemented this initiative to support its business customers operating in the sectors most affected by the pandemic, with an aim to lessen their financial burdens and provide them sufficient time to adapt to the new challenges resulting from the spread of the Coronavirus.

Batelco initiated the process by identifying companies eligible for support from its customer database and made the selection based on a set of criteria. The chosen companies were informed that the billed amounts were deposited into their accounts registered for Batelcos Fixed Broadband service.

They lauded Batelco for the financial support towards their fixed internet cost for 3 months in a media report that was broadcasted recently on social media.

This came following the latest initiative from Batelco to help the SME segment in overcoming the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

General Manager of Corporate Communications & CSR, Shaikh Bader Bin Rashid Al Khalifa, said: We are delighted with the success of our initiative in which we offered 500 SMEs in the business sector financial support towards their fixed internet costs for a period of 3 months. Launching this initiative reiterates Batelco's commitment to support SME customers to help them meet the challenges posed by the current circumstances.

"We are both pleased and proud to have received so much positive feedback from those who benefitted and this encourages us to continue launching new and innovative corporate social responsibility initiatives. We wish these organisations and all those who contribute to the development of the national economy and the Kingdoms business sector, the best of luck," he stated.

As an active member of Team Bahrain, we strive to contribute towards the tremendous efforts exerted by the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain under the guidance of the wise leadership, he added.

Khalid AlRashdan, the owner of Angham Beirut Cafe and Restaurant, who benefited from the Batelco initiative has expressed his gratitude, stating: We highly value the national role that Batelco plays in providing support to the Bahraini market throughout these difficult times, and we consider their active participation as one of the main encouraging motives for us to continue working and contributing towards reducing the impacts faced in light of the pandemic."

"Id like to take this opportunity to express my deep appreciation towards Batelco for their efforts and supportive initiatives that have served many Bahraini citizens during this crisis," he stated.
Patti Stanger from Bravos The Millionaire Matchmaker says Bravo would have aired actual proof of the affair between Brandi Glanville and Denise Richards from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills if it really occurred.

Garcelle Beauvais, Denise Richards, Lisa Rinna, Kyle Richards, Erika Girardi, Dorit Kemsley, Teddi Mellencamp Arroyave |John Tsiavis/Bravo

Stanger, who is a well-connected celebrity matchmaker shared her insight into Denise Richards and her romances. Look, if Bravo has real proof, theyre going to show it, she said on the Behind the Velvet Rope with David Yontef podcast. So were going to have to watch the storyline and see it.

But I know a lot about Denise and her love life with Charlie [Sheen], you know, and all her exes and its so opposite of which way she goes. I dont know, she said. But then again, I never know when someones a lesbian, you know, Im always the one that knows last.

Patti Stanger doesnt think a romance ever happened

Stanger said she just cant see the romance between Richards and Glanville. I cant imagine her with Brandi, she said. I just dont get it. Like everyone called me. Like what do you think? What do you think? What do you think? And Im like, is this real or is this a publicity stunt on Brandis part to get back on the show? Like, I dont know. I said the only way I can see it is if the three of them had a thing and it was onetime when she makes it more than it is.

Aaron [Phypers] was dating my friend for four years and he came over from Calgary to live with her, Stanger remarked. So she brought him from Canada. Look, I love Denise. Denise was on my show. I love her and her father.

RELATED: The Millionaire Matchmaker Patti Stanger Says She Misses Bravo and Would Love to Be a Housewife

Stanger thinks if Glanville is making the accusation, she needs to bring solid proof. Shed better have some serious proof, Stanger said. I want to see the video. Like thats what Im talking about. I just think this is wrong. You could, first of all, you could ruin someones marriage. Thats really serious. Theyre newlyweds. Number two, it could ruin her career. We dont know what could happen, the effects of the career part. Shes an actress. She is acting all the time. I just dont know.

Like in other words, they had to have some serious proof, but I cant imagine, it just doesnt compute in my brain, she added. And I was shocked when I saw that.

Other Housewives think Brandi Glanville leveraged the rumor to return to the show

Luann de Lesseps from The Real Housewives of New York City wondered if Glanville used an affair with Richards to return to the series. I mean, listen, Brandi has not been on the show for years, right? she told Heather McDonald.

I mean, and what a comeback, de Lesseps added. Lets talk about that. I guess that, obviously, Brandi needs a hook. This is a great hook to get back into the Housewives at Denises expenses.

RELATED: RHOBH: Brandi Glanville Says Denise Richards Asked Her To Delete Text Messages After They Had a Huge Fight

Camille Grammer from RHOBH tweeted that she agreed with de Lesseps. Glanville lashed out at Grammer on Twitter. One more thing @TheRealCamilleG get off twitter & go raise your kids. Better yet spend some of your unearned alimony instead of trying to ruin the other women on the show. Im off to help my son prep for a test.
A man at the centre of a mass brawl at a Sydney racecourse has been banned from alcohol for a year but avoided jail.

Brandon Locke-Walker, 22, pleaded guilty to affray on Tuesday after fighting with up to 30 people at the Rosehill Racecourse in Western Sydney in December.

The melee was dubbed 'War of the Roses' with photographers capturing Locke-Walker and several men hurling punches and ripping each other's clothes.

The brawl got its name after one woman tried to break up the scuffle by thumping Locke-Walker over the head with a bouquet of roses.

Hayley Luke (right) became the face of the incident for her desperate efforts in coming to the aid of her father Steve (centre) after he was knocked to the ground while trading blows with Brandon Locke-Walker (left) at Rosehill Racecourse in December

Hayley Luke, the woman with the roses, attempted to stop the fracas after Locke-Walker threw punches at her father

Brandon Locke-Walker (left) appears to throw a punch at Nathan Luke (right) as shocked patrons standing around watch on at the Rosehill racecourse in December

Locke-Walker faced Parramatta Local Court on Tuesday and was banned from drinking alcohol for a year.

He was also given a seven-month intensive correction order and will have to undergo 75 hours of community service, the Daily Telegraph reported.

The court heard the fight kicked off after one of Locke-Walker's friends made a comment about another reveller's girlfriend.

The apprentice metal fitter was then joined by his mates, Bailey Petrie and Matthew Samuel Becker, as they began brawling with Nathan Luke and his father Stephen.

Hayley Luke, the woman with the roses, attempted to stop the fracas after Locke-Walker threw punches at her father.

The court heard at the time of the Rosehill scuffle Locke-Walker was on a good behaviour bond for another fight at a pub two years ago in NSW's Lake Macquarie area.

Brandon Locke-Walker, 22, (left) was charged with affray after getting caught up in the brawl that involved up to 30 other people at the Western Sydney racecourse in December

His lawyer on Tuesday told the court Locke-Walker had since sought help for his depression and anxiety following the tussle.

'He has the support of his partner and family. One positive that has come out of it is that he has finally taken the steps to seek some mental health treatment,' he said.

Magistrate Jennifer Price said the 22-year-old played an active role in the brawl.

'The concern  is the use of alcohol and misuse of alcohol and responses to situations you find yourself in,' she said.

'You don't have a lengthy criminal history but you certainly have a history of a similar nature.'

Becker and Petrie were earlier each sentenced to 18 months of community service and an $800 fine.

Nathan Luke was also handed an $800 fine and an intensive corrections order.

Stephen Luke is yet to be sentenced but was charged with affray.
The voices of men have drowned out those of women in the coverage of COVID-19 related stories in Nigeria as they are likely to be quoted nearly five times more frequently in reports than women, a September report has found.

The report analysed 2,100 sampled quotes from 80 publications across six selected countries, including India, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, the U.K. and the U.S.

Like Nigeria, the report found that men were quoted nearly five times more frequently in the news about COVID-19 than women in each of South Africa and India; four times more frequently in Kenya and the U.S., and nearly three times more in the U.K.

The report  titled the missing perspectives of women in COVID-19 news  was commissioned by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and it examined womens representation in COVID-19 news gathering and coverage in those countries.

It said it discovered a substantial bias towards mens perspectives in both news gathering and news coverage of the pandemic, an attribution it gave to womens political underrepresentation in the COVID-19 response team in six sampled countries.

Authored by Luba Kassova, the director of AKAS, an international consultancy firm, the report analysed the news content of 11,913 publications and 1.9 million stories between March 1, 2020 and April 15, 2020 in a bid to measure gender equality coverage, and of 80 publications between the same dates for the protagonists and experts indicators.

It also detailed a portrayal analysis of 175 COVID-19 and coronavirus news stories within the said dates, published by the five most viewed online news platforms in each of the six countries of interest.

These stories, the report noted, were identified by AKAS using Googles news search engine as the three highest ranked COVID-19 and the three highest ranked coronavirus stories between the given dates.

Specifics

Women, it found, in five of the six analysed countries are largely locked out of COVID19 and coronavirus-related decision making at a national level.

100 per cent of the COVID-19 response decision making group in the UK are men; 93 per cent in the U.S.; 92 per cent in Nigeria; 86 per cent in India; 80 per cent in Kenya and 50 per cent in South Africa.

In times of crisis, journalists may be falling back on well established sources who tend to be men, the report read.

Women were four times less likely to feature as experts and commentators in the 175 most highly ranked COVID-19 and coronavirus stories from the top five providers in each of the six countries, identified using Googles news search engine.

Women constituted 19 per cent of experts vs. 77 per cent men (4 per cent were unidentified) in the 175 most highly ranked COVID-19 and coronavirus articles across the six countries, identified via Googles news search, the report noted.

The computational content analysis of 44,164 sampled stories across the six countries showed that women were nearly five times less likely to feature as protagonists in news coverage headlines than men in the US, nearly four times less likely to do so in South Africa and Nigeria, three times less likely in India and Kenya and nearly three times less likely in the UK.

The report also found that women were less likely to feature as protagonists in COVID-19-related news than in non-COVID-19 news coverage: 26% vs. 33% in the UK; 19% vs. 24% in India; 15% vs. 25% in Kenya; 15% vs. 24% in South Africa; 15% vs. 27% in Nigeria and 14% vs.21% in the U.S.

The absence of womens perspectives in COVID-19-related news coverage means that women have limited influence over the framing of the crisis in the news and consequently, limited influence over policy decisions, the International Womens Media Foundation (IWMF) wrote about the report in a brief on its website.

As a result, women are at ever-greater risk of being further marginalised amid the most significant global health crisis of our lifetimes.
The Peterborough County OPP street crime unit searched a property in Havelock-Belmont-Methuen on Tuesday, charging two people and seizing cannabis, cash and equipment.

The search warrant, issued under the Cannabis Act, was used to seize 3,787 marijuana plants, $4,845 in Canadian currency along with a 2019 Dodge Ram pickup truck, a Bobcat skid-steer, a John Deere lawn tractor, a utility trailer and a de-budding machine.

Weiliang Guan, 49, of Havelock-Belmont-Methuen Township was charged with cultivating, propagating or harvesting more than four plants at one time in dwelling-house and possession for purpose of distributing.

Quan Wu, 37, of Aurora was arrested charged with and cultivating, propagating or harvesting more than four plants at one time in dwelling-house and possession for purpose of distributing.

They are due to appear in court at a later date, police say.
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.
Rise Against Hunger, in partnership with non-profit organization Global Volunteers, has launched Journey to Serve: Tanzania, an interactive virtual impact trip that immerses participants in the humanitarian work Global Volunteers and Rise Against Hunger are doing in the country as well as teaching participants about Tanzanian culture and history.

Travel restrictions and safety measures resulted in the cancelation of many peoples international travel plans, and the global health crisis has led to an increased need for socially-distanced volunteer and donor engagement opportunities. Journey to Serve: Tanzania not only provides a solution to these changes, but also gives a detailed and personal look at the work Rise Against Hunger and Global Volunteers do through the Reaching Childrens Potential program, which supports children and families in Tanzania.

This virtual journey to Tanzania is an educational and accessible solution for those with a pent-up longing to express their personal commitment to service during this time, says Michele Gran, Global Volunteers Co-founder and Senior Vice President. Our work continues during the pandemic, and Rise Against Hunger gives participants a channel for impacting familys lives  at a time when they need it most.

While navigating through the interactive, multimedia site, individuals and groups have an immersive, educational experience similar to if the participants were physically traveling to the country. Participants hear from Reaching Childrens Potential members, previous program volunteers, and Rise Against Hunger and Global Volunteers staff. Videos provide clear visuals of Ipalamwa, Tanzania, and the Reaching Childrens Potential program, and hands-on activities, such as recipe cards, throughout the trip encourage participants to truly engage with the countrys culture. The trip is also very impactful, with the $99 Journey to Serve: Tanzania registration fee enabling participants to provide nourishing meals to a child for an entire school year during a time of critical need.

At Rise Against Hunger, we know hunger will not end without volunteers and advocates being engaged and driving awareness and change, says Barry Mattson, Rise Against Hunger CEO. Were excited to launch this opportunity for people to engage with our mission in a new, digital way! The number of people facing hunger worldwide is expected to drastically increase as a result of COVID-19, so volunteering and engagement must increase to meet the need around the world.

Rise Against Hunger and Global Volunteers have partnered together since 2017. Rise Against Hunger supports the Reaching Childrens Potential program, launched by Global Volunteers, through the supplying of nutritious meals for the programs children and families.

About Rise Against Hunger

Rise Against Hunger, an international humanitarian organization, is growing a global movement to end hunger by empowering communities, nourishing lives and responding to emergencies. With locations across the U.S. and five international offices, the organization provides immediate nourishment for those facing hunger today and implements sustainable solutions that will lift entire communities for years to come. Rise Against Hunger has facilitated volunteer meal packaging of more than 537 million meals to be distributed to countries around the world. To find out more about Rise Against Hungers efforts to end hunger worldwide, please visit http://www.riseagainsthunger.org.

About Global Volunteers

Global Volunteers, a US-based 501(c)(3) human and economic development organization, is dedicated to helping build a foundation for world peace through mutual international understanding. For more than 36 years, the organization has encouraged and enabled volunteers to spend short periods of time working with and learning from and about local people, in communities throughout the world. Global Volunteers continually strives to create, nurture and sustain the well-being of the worlds children and their community, so that they might realize the full promise of their human potential. To learn more, visit http://www.globalvolunteers.org.
Chromium steel may have first been created in ancient Persia during the 11th century  1,000 years before it was first made in Sheffield, the Steel City.

Sheffield has a proud history as a northern powerhouse and it is all based on a formidable metal industry, bolstered by its invention of stainless steel in 1913.

Chromium steel is similar to stainless steel, but for the metal to be classified as the latter it must have a chromium content of at least 10.5 per cent.

It was not believed chromium was deliberately added to the steel-making process before Sheffield churned out its first batch of stainless steel in 1913.

But a new study found evidence in modern-day Iran of steel deliberately forged with chromium, at approximately one per cent.

This picture shows slag adhering to the side of a piece of a crucible. It was found at the site of Chahak, in Fars province, southern Iran. Analysis of this revealed it contained chromium, the first known use of it to make a steel alloy

Although the medieval methods left the metal unable to reach the high standards of today, the addition of chromium would have been substantial, researchers believe.

Just like modern-day stainless steel, where the chromium provides an anti-corrosive layer, the Persian steel would have obtained a protective coat.

Researchers from UCL tracked down the archaeological site where the chromium steel was made with the help of historical manuscripts.

They speak of a once famous steel production centre called Chahak.

Stainless steel and Sheffield Sheffield was famous for its cutlery long before it became Steel City. By the early modern period Hallamshire cutlers were importing steel from the Continent. The earliest reference to steel making in South Yorkshire is from 1642. The Sheffield steelmaking district had little or no reputation outside the area before Benjamin Huntsman invented crucible steel in 1742. The early steelmakers simply supplied the cutlers, but by the mid nineteenth century nearly half the European output of steel was made in the Sheffield district. The population of Sheffield grew from 14,531 in 1736 to 135,310 in 1851. Yet the scale of the steel industry in the classic period of the Industrial Revolution was still small compared with that of Victorian times, and it depended on the handicraft skills of its workers. A new era began in 1837 with the giant steel works of the East End, which soon used Bessemer converters to manufacture railway rolling stock and then armaments. The cutlers were no longer the major customers of the steelmen. At the end of the nineteenth century Sheffield remained the leading world centre for special steels, and its population had risen to over 400,000. Source: David Hey Advertisement

However, the physical location of the site remained a mystery, hindered by the fact many current villages in Iran are called Chahak.

But researchers tracked down the most likely location as Chahak, in Fars province, a village only known for agriculture, not archaeology.

Here they found a number of charcoal pieces retrieved from within a crucible slag and a smithing slag.

Using scanning microscope analysis, the researchers were able to prove the existence of chromite ore.

One ancient manuscript, called 'al-Jamahir fi Marifah al-Jawahir' ('A Compendium to Know the Gems'), written by the Persian polymath Abu-Rayhan Biruni around the 11th century, describes this as a key ingredient.

Next, the researchers set out to find if the chromite ore, which is abundant in the area, was due to contamination or design.

In steel particles left over from the forging of the metal, the researchers discovered it was made up of between one and two per cent chromium.

This, they say, is evidence that it was added to the process on purpose to create the chromium alloy, which would make for a superior weapon or tool.

Dr Rahil Alipour, 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.'

Historical records say the steel made from Chakak had a stunning pattern, but was notoriously brittle.

Researchers also hope their method and findings will allow for previously discovered Persian weapons to be tested to see if they were made at Chakak.

The presence of chromium in the steel could also explain why many Persian blades are in such good condition when found by archaeologists.

The physical location of the site has long remained a mystery, hindered by the fact many current villages in Iran are called Chahak. Researchers tracked down the most likely location as Chahak, in Fars province (pictured), a village known for agriculture, not archaeology

Stainless steel may have first been created in ancient Persia in the 11th century  1,000 years before it was independently forged in Sheffield, the steel city. Pictured, a steel works in Sheffield in 1913, the same year Harry Brearley, a metallurgist, created a steel alloy with 12.8 per cent chromium - this was previously believed to be the first known batch of stainless steel

The earliest reference to steel making in South Yorkshire is from 1642. The city's steel reputation grew in 1742 when Benjamin Huntsman invented crucible steel. By the mid nineteenth century nearly half the European output of steel was made in the Sheffield district

It is unknown why the chromium steel fell out of use in the region after several centuries.

And after it vanished from existence, chromium was not used again to make steel until the 20th century.

On the 13th August 1913, Harry Brearley, a metallurgist, created a steel alloy with 12.8 per cent chromium and 0.24 per cent carbon.

Until the latest Persian finding, it was believed this was the first ever batch of what became known as 'stainless steel'.

He was focused on making metals that were resistant to rusting at high temperatures.

His invention is one of the most widely used of the 20th century, and is still utilised to this day.

A spokesperson for the British Stainless Steel Association told MailOnline: 'The steel used by the Persians in the 11th Century was not a stainless steel.

'Although stainless steel is defined as a steel with chromium, it needs to have a minimum content of 10.5% Chromium to be a stainless steel.

'Therefore the claim that Harry Brearley produced the first casting of a true stainless steel on 20th August 1913 in the city of Sheffield still stands firm. The melt contained 12.8 per cent Chromium.'

The full findings are published in the Journal of Archaeological Science.
Cindy McCain endorsed Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden on Tuesday night, saying that there is "only one candidate in this race who stands up for our values as a nation, and that is Joe Biden."

Earlier in the evening, Biden announced during a virtual fundraiser that McCain, the widow of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), decided to endorse him after it was reported by multiple news organizations that President Trump called U.S. soldiers who died in combat "losers" and "suckers;" Trump has denied making the comments. John McCain was a U.S. Navy officer and prisoner of war in Vietnam, and three of his children also served in the military.

Over a series of tweets, Cindy McCain explained why she is backing Biden. "My husband John lived by a code: Country first," she said. "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 Joe Biden."

McCain went on to say that they "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. 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." Biden's son Beau, who died of brain cancer in 2015, was a member of the Delaware Army National Guard who served in Iraq.

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Two contractors at the Evergreen Packaging paper mill located in Canton, North Carolina were killed Monday when a three-alarm fire broke out in a tank under repair in the processing wing of the facility. The fire reportedly started shortly after 5 a.m. EDT and was said to be under control around 8 a.m. EDT. A spokeswoman for the North Carolina Department of Commerce confirmed that the departments Occupational Safety and Health Division is investigating.

According to the plant manager, Wally McDonald, at approximately 5:15 a.m. EDT on September 21, 2020, a fire occurred in a process vessel at the Canton Mill. This tank was being repaired as part of a maintenance outage within the mill. McDonald said the families of the victims have been notified, but the names of the workers have not yet been made public.

According Haywood Countys Emergency Medical Services Department, the fire started in the Number 2 fiber line inside the tower. There was reportedly concern over a possible structural collapse. Fire units from across the region were mobilized to assist.

The plant began operations in 1908 and is located on 200 acres inside the town of Canton. It employs approximately 1,200 people, making the mill the largest industrial employer in Haywood County. Haywood Countys population is approximately 64,000, with a growth rate of 1.49 percent, according to the most recent United States census data.

A contract employee at the Canton plant told WYFF News 4 that he arrived only moments after the fire erupted. There [were] people evacuating, coming out, Cody Marquette said. Nobody really knew what was going on. It was kind of chaotic. Marquette further elaborated, saying that the company was undergoing maintenance and cleaning on Monday. Usually, this is when everyone gets their overtime and well work a lot. Everyone does repairs and whatever needs to be done to keep the plant going.

This is not the first time the Evergreen Packaging plant has experienced workplace injuries and attracted the attention of the states Occupational Safety and Health Division. (NCOSH)

In 2002, Blue Ridge Paper Products, the companys name up until 2010 when it came under the ownership of New Zealand-based Reynolds Group Holdings Limited, received 33 initial violations, later reduced to 30. The infractions ranged from employees being struck by falling objects to falls due to lack of preventative measures. On August 23, 2012, NCOSH reported an incident at the plant. The report stated, Employee #1 was standing in the basement under #19 paper machine installing new rope on the dryer cans when a dryer can cover (manhole cover) weighing approximately 35 lbs. fell approximately 20 feet and struck the employee on his head. The overwhelming majority of the 2002 violations ranked serious.

According to the North Carolina Department of Labor, the state had 59 workplace fatalities in the 2020 fiscal year, which ran from October 2019 to August 2020. Of those workplace deaths, 23 were in construction and 11 in manufacturing. The Asheville District office is located only 20 miles from Canton and covers the western half of the state. It recorded 5 fatalities during that time period. The Occupational Fatality Inspection Review listed 54 fatalities for the state in 2019, with 18 deaths in construction and nine in manufacturing. 2018 totaled 49 fatalities, with 24 in construction and seven in manufacturing.

Underscoring managements commitment to profits over health and safety the company has maintained production at its facilities in the midst of the global pandemic. Coronavirus cases in the state of North Carolina stand at over 195,000, with 3,282 deaths. Haywood County has reported a total of 580 cases and 31 deaths.

On its website, Evergreen Packaging speaks of a transparency commitment around the COVID-19 pandemic. It says Evergreen reports positive COVID-19 cases among employees in its facilities. According to their website, Canton and Waynesville facilities, both located in Haywood County, had eight confirmed cases on August 16.

Evergreen Packaging has conversion facilities and mills spanning the globe, with a presence in countries such as Korea, Taiwan and the United Arab Emirates. A mill located in Pine Bluff, Arkansas had reported 63 COVID cases just under two weeks ago, its most recent report to date. The website had reported five cases at Evergreens Athens, Georgia plant on September 3 and on August 26, 10 cases at its Plant City, Florida facility.

The city of Pine Bluff currently reports 2,928 coronavirus cases and 63 deaths. Athens reports 4,890 cases and 41 deaths, and Hillsborough County, where Plant City is located, reports 41,016 cases and 605 deaths.

North Carolina Democratic Governor Roy Cooper implemented Phase 2.5 of his COVID-19 reopening plan September 4. Adopting the murderous pseudo-scientific policy of herd immunity in a bipartisan campaign to force students and educators into schools and workers back onto jobsites, all in the midst of the deadliest wave of COVID-19, these loosened restrictions will exacerbate the rate at which workers, students, and educators get infected and die.

Coopers reopening plan now permits museums and aquariums to reopen at 50 percent capacity and gyms at 30 percent. Fifty percent capacity restrictions for restaurants remain in effect. The plan increases the number allowed at gatherings to 25 people indoors and 50 people outdoors from the current limit of 10 indoors and 25 outdoors. The easing of restriction comes despite the disastrous reopening of the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill that saw 130 new cases in just the first week of classes.

Moving forward doesnt mean letting up, said Dr. Mandy Cohen, head of the state Department of Health and Human Services. Cohen said fewer people in the state are getting tested, reminding people they should get a coronavirus test if they feel sick or were exposed to someone who tested positive.

At the time Phase 2.5 was going into effect, 170,000 people had tested positive for the coronavirus. As of this writing, nearly 196,000 are infected in North Carolina, amounting to a daily infection rate of 1,529 people.
(Natural News) Chinas mysterious space operations continue to baffle astronomers as an object left in space by a Chinese spacecraft has been observed exhibiting strange behavior.

Astronomers who tracked the object said that it was oddly luminous for a brief period before darkening again. It was also emitting radio signals, fueling speculations that it was more than just a piece of debris.

The object, tagged with the I.D. 2020-063G, was deployed in outer space by a highly secret spacecraft, which was launched by China on Sept. 4. The reusable test spacecraft is now back home after just two days in orbit around Earth, leaving the object in space.

American and Chinese space-tracking organizations have been mum about the unknown object. No details have been provided so far, including what it is and what it is for. Many astronomers believe that its a jettisoned support module or an inspection satellite deployed to inspect the spacecraft before it re-entered Earth.

China-owned object behaves oddly

China surprised astronomers when it launched a reusable test spacecraft early this month. The spacecraft was carried aboard a Long March-2F rocket launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Gobi desert. According to a brief press release by state-owned media outlet Xinhua, the missions objective was to test reusable technologies in space, providing technological support for the peaceful use of space.

Although the spacecraft didnt stay in space long, it left an unknown object during its flight. Marco Langbroek, a space situational awareness consultant at Leiden University in the Netherlands, estimated that the object was released two orbits before the spacecraft headed home. He kept a close watch on the object and, on the morning of Sept. 20, observed that it showed slow but marked brightness variations, fluctuating between being visible and invisible.

When I first picked it up (it had just come out of earth shadow), it initially was very bright and steady. But then it started to get fainter until I momentarily lost it, wrote Langbroek in a blog post.

The object shone brightest at magnitude +4; in comparison, the full moon has a visual magnitude of around -13 while the faintest stars visible to the naked eye have a visual magnitude of +6. Langbroek detected two brightness peaks and two major fading episodes. The two peaks were interspersed by an estimated 80-second fading period, which meant that the object was probably not tumbling around Earth, said Langbroek.

Mysterious fuels speculation

There were several speculations as to what the object was and what it was for. Langbroek initially believed that it was a cubesat, a type of miniaturized satellite for space research. But he dispelled that idea because the object was too big.

Astronomers also ruled out the possibility that it was just a piece of debris based on the fact that it was emitting radio signals. Amateur radio operator Scott Tilley picked up the signals at 2,280 megahertz and said that they were waxing and waning. Each surge was separated by an 80-second interval  akin to Langbroeks visual observations.

All told, most astronomers seemed to agree that the object was either an inspection satellite or a jettisoned support module. As an inspection satellite, the object was tasked to make sure the Chinese spaceplane was all good for landing. News website SpaceNews reported that Chinese crew capsules previously released small companion satellites to monitor spacecraft. For example, a spacecraft ejected an experimental re-entry and descent technology module during a mission in May. However, the spacecraft encountered problems during its re-entry to Earth. (Related: Solar power 24/7: China plans to build first solar power station in space and beam power to Earth.)

But whatever the object was, Langbroek was convinced that it served, or continues to serve, some purpose. For one, it could have had provided a radio data signal downlink, facilitating the exchange of information between a spacecraft in space and a receiver on Earth, according to Langbroek.

Space.news has more on Chinese space missions.

Sources include:

StrangeSounds.org

SatTrackCam.blogspot.com

SpaceNews.com
Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno on Wednesday praised the work of multilateral institutions in helping his country withstand the financial blow caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

He told the U.N. General Assembly that aid from organizations including the International Monetary Fund have been key for developing countries.

Ecuador and the IMF recently reached a staff-level agreement on a 27-month $6.5 billion fund to help the nation expand social assistance programs.

Ecuador has been hit harder financially than most Latin American countries, with its economy is projected to contract 9% this year.

The country has reported more than 11,100 deaths from the virus.

During his speech, Moreno called for any vaccine to be patent-free.

He also highlighted the need to protect vulnerable areas like the Galapagos Islands, the UNESCO World Heritage site that inspired Charles Darwin.

Alluding to a recent flotilla of 260 mostly Chinese fishing vessels near the archipelago, he called on countries to denounce illegal fishing.

The fleet was in international waters but close enough raise worries about sharks, manta rays and other vulnerable species nearby.

(Image Credit Pixabay)
A Denver doctor will spend 23 years in federal prison for creating and distributing child pornography, according to an announcement from the U
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
Union Minister Suresh Angadi dies of Covid-19; President, PM express grief

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Sep 23: Union Minister of State for Railways Suresh Angadi, who had tested positive for coronavirus passed away at AIIMS on Wednesday. He is the first sitting minister to have died after testing positive for the infection.

The national flag will be flown at half mast on Thursday in all government offices in Delhi due to the death of Union Minister of State for Railways Suresh Angadi, the Home Ministry announced.

"Due to the sad demise of Suresh Angadi, the minister of state for railways, it has been decided that the national flag will be flown half mast on September 24, 2020 in all government offices in Delhi where it is usually flown," a Home Ministry spokesperson said.

He had tested positive for the disease two weeks ago on September 11 and was initially asymptomatic.

The 65-year old Member of Lok Sabha from Belagavi constituency in Karnataka became seriously ill and was hospitalised a week ago. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences on Angadi's demise.

"Shri Suresh Angadi was an exceptional Karyakarta, who worked hard to make the Party strong in Karnataka. He was a dedicated MP and effective Minister, admired across the spectrum. His demise is saddening. My thoughts are with his family and friends in this sad hour. Om Shanti," Modi tweeted.

President Ram Nath Kovind tweeted,"Shocked to know the passing away of Shri Suresh Angadi, Union Minister of State of Railways. An amiable leader Shri Angadi worked tirelessly for the people of his constituency, Belagavi and Karnataka," Kovind tweeted.

"With his indomitable spirit, he carried out public service with humility and perseverance. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and the loved ones," the President said in another tweet.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday expressed grief over the demise of Angadi and said he will always be remembered for his selfless service to the nation and the BJP.

"Deeply pained to learn about the passing away of MoS Railways and senior BJP leader from Karnataka, Shri Suresh Angadi ji. He will always be remembered for his selfless service to the nation and party. My deepest condolences are with his family. Om Shanti Shanti Shanti," Shah tweeted.

Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said on the micro-blogging website, "Deeply anguished at the unfortunate demise of Suresh Angadi ji. He was like my brother. Words fall short to describe his commitment & dedication towards the people. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends in this hour of need. Om Shanti".

Manish Sisodia, who tested positive for coronavirus, admitted to hospital

Former Prime Minister and JDS chief HD Deve Gowda expressed his sadness over the demise and tweeted that Angadi was like a "younger brother".

NCB summons Deepika Padukone, Shraddha Kapoor and Sara Ali Khan summoned in Drugs case|Oneindia News

"I am shocked and deeply saddened by the demise of Union Minister of State for Railways and four-term MP from Belagavi Shri. Suresh Angadi. He was like a younger brother to me. I feel terrible losing him. This is an unbearable loss to our nation.

"May his soul rest in peace. May God give his family and well-wishers the strength to bear this pain," he tweeted.

Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar also termed the death as a "tragic, terrible, and sad news".

"Shocked & Saddened by news of my MoS colleague, Shri Suresh Angadi ji's passing away. It is an unfathomable loss to the Government, people of Karnataka & the Party. His selfless service during COVID19 is still vivid before our eyes. My condolences to his family," tweeted MoS, Home G Kishan Reddy.

At least six MLAs and three MPs have earlier succumbed to it. Former President Pranab Mukherjee, who died on August 31, was also diagnosed as COVID-19 positive.
WASHINGTON  President Trump nominated on Wednesday a onetime aide to one of his top congressional allies to serve as the inspector general of the intelligence community, succeeding a former official who played a role in revealing the Ukraine whistle-blower complaint that prompted impeachment proceedings and was later fired.

The nominee, Allen Robert Souza, who must be confirmed by the Senate, is a senior intelligence official on the National Security Council staff who previously served on the intelligence staff of Representative Devin Nunes, Republican of California and one of the presidents fiercest supporters on Capitol Hill.

The inspector general is traditionally meant to be an apolitical watchdog of the nations spy agencies. The official who previously held the job, Michael Atkinson, was swept up in the Ukraine affair when the whistle-blower, a C.I.A. officer who anonymously raised concerns about Mr. Trumps July 2019 call with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, filed his complaint to Mr. Atkinson. He then clashed with the Justice Department about whether he could legally forward the complaint to Congress.

Congress ultimately obtained the complaint, prompting the House inquiry into Mr. Trumps dealings with Ukraine and his impeachment.
Approximately 69,200 people, Romanian and foreign nationals, with over 29,300 vehicles (of which 14,400 freight box trucks) underwent border checks at all of Romania's crossing points in the last 24 hours, the General Border Police Inspectorate (IGPF) informs on Wednesday morning in a release sent to AGERPRES.

According to the quoted source, in the past 24 hours, entry into Romania was denied for 137 foreign nationals, who did not fulfill conditions provided by law, and at the same time denied the exit of 4 Romanian citizens for various legal reasons.

According to IGPF, there were approximately 32,700 people by 13,500 means of transport on the inbound, and 36,500 people by 15,800 means of transport on the outbound.

Roughly 24,600 people and 14,600 means of transport (7,100 freight box trucks) went through the crossing points at the border with Hungary, with about 10,200 travelers and 6,000 means of transport coming to Romania.

Regarding the specific activities at crossing points and the green border, the border police found 47 misdeeds (25 infractions and 22 contraventions) committed by both Romanian and foreign citizens.
Heads of the various government youth agencies and programmes under the Akufo-Addo administration have been touting achievements under their respective units particularly the support of more than 2.5million Ghanaian youth.



They have praised President Akufo-Addos commitment in the empowerment and growth of the youth.



Addressing the maiden edition of the Nation Building Updates in Accra on Tuesday 22nd September 2020 on the theme Leadership that delivers for the Youth, the six Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) from the National Youth Authority (NYA), Youth Employment Agency (YEA), Nation Builders Corps (NABCO), National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI), National Service Scheme (NSS) and the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Plan (NEIP) said the Akufo-Addo administration has made unprecedented strides by providing opportunities and hope for the Ghanaian youth.



The CEO of NABCO, Dr. Ibrahim Anyars, emphasized that government recognizes the challenging burden of unemployment at various levels of society and has adequately initiated measures through the NABCO programme to address it. He said after a successful implementation of the program, the NABCO is beginning transition to permanent employment as the scheme approaches its second anniversary.



This initiative is to assist address graduate unemployment through a work and learning programme by placing them into work to gain experience, value addition through training and human capital development so the trainees would be ready for opportunities of permanent employment and become innovative in establishing their enterprises. And an exit scheme for additional exposure for trainees to enter into the real world of exploring opportunities, he added.



Touching on government interventions through her outfit, the Executive Director of the NBSSI, Mrs. Kosi Afua Yankey-Ayeh said government has provided support to the youth in diverse ways. One of such ways she noted is the disbursement of funds through the Coronavirus Alleviation Programme (CAP) Business Support Scheme, an initiative meant to deal with the social and economic impact of the COVID-19 on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) predominantly owned by the youth. She explained that through key government interventions, the NBSSI has been able to substantially reduce the high unemployment rate in the country as well as maximize the contribution of small businesses to the countrys economic and social development.



The Chief Executive Officer of the YEA, Lawyer Justin Kodua Frimpong detailed numerous interventions and policy initiatives introduced by his administration which has created close to 145000 over the last 3 years. These include the YEA Jobcentre which connects Job seekers to Employers, the Artisan Directory, Youth in Elite Sports, School Support Program, and Flagship Program among many others. The CEO did not leave out the transformation agenda which has also seen the renovation of the Agency's offices and the construction of new regional offices especially for the newly created regions. He also disclosed the YEA has been saved of over GH 82 million since the coming on of a new administration from the year 2017. This is borne out of prudent management and the institution of an effective validation, verification, monitoring, and evaluation practices implemented by the Agency's management.



Speaking on the numerous government interventions through his unit, CEO of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Plan (NEIP), Lawyer John Kumah pointed out government has supported 9,350 businesses financially to make them competitive and viable. He also mentioned that government is embarking on a number of projects including the training of 10,000 students under the student entrepreneurship initiative and supporting 30 innovative entrepreneurs under the presidential pitch programme.





Highlighting the various youth-centered programmes government has embarked on through the NYA, CEO of the progarmme, Mr. Sylvester Mensah Tetteh said government has trained 3,000 young people in online digital marketing and entrepreneurship programme and a further 5,000 young people trained and given adequate skill development in youth entrepreneurship.



The NSS boss, Mr. Mustapha Ussif noted that his organization in the past years has been able to mobilize and deploy Ghanaian citizens who are 18 years and above for national development. He said the NSS in the current administration has become efficient and proactive undertaking projects to combat hunger, illiteracy, diseases, and unemployment in the country.



The Nation Building Updates is a weekly event designed by government through the Ministry of Information to provide stakeholders in Ghana's democracy with detailed updates on key interventions executed by Government.

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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Shenzhen turned 40 last month as a special economic zone. Fashioning itself after Silicon Valley, the mainland Chinese city is home to some of the world's biggest companies such as Huawei Technology, Tencent Holdings and Ping An Insurance.

Its financial sector has more to celebrate as the Shenzhen Stock Exchange approaches 30 in December. Some 670 billion yuan (US$98.9 billion) worth of stocks change hands on average every day this year, making it the busiest bourse in Asia.

Since its inception in December 1990, some 2,339 companies have raised US$93.4 billion from initial public offerings (IPOs), according to Refinitiv. ChiNext, its board of start-ups, has been on a tear as its capitalisation surged to a third of Shenzhen exchange's total.

Get the latest insights and analysis from our Global Impact newsletter on the big stories originating in China.

With Hong Kong's future clouded by political and economic crises, is the mainland city north of the border a worthy rival? Or does its future lie as a partner in the biggest scheme of things?

"The two exchanges are competitors if you look at listings as a zero-sum game," said Anthony Neoh, an adviser to the Shenzhen Stock Exchange on its strategic development. "However, there is much differentiation in the two markets because the Hong Kong market is not encumbered at all by currency restrictions and has a more friendly tax regime for investors."

Shenzhen's stock market turnover is about five to six times higher than the value of shares that changed hands in Tokyo, Seoul or Hong Kong, and about 30 per cent higher than in Shanghai. Its biggest company is Wuliangye Yibin, whose namesake baijiu made from five organic grains is the tonic behind its 890 billion yuan market value.

In ChiNext, Shenzhen has a venue for its deep pool of start-ups. More than 860 companies have raised US$70 billion since its formation in 2009. In contrast, Hong Kong's GEM board for growth and emerging companies only accounted for 0.3 per cent of its US$5.3 trillion capitalisation, despite having a 10-year head start.

Story continues

"When I went to Shenzhen in 1994 to help companies there to raise funds from international markets, the only choice was Hong Kong," Clement Chan, managing director of accounting firm BDO. On the flip side, foreign investors did not know much yet about Shenzhen."

Today, Shenzhen is the richest among nine cities in southern Guangdong province, which together with Hong Kong and Macau, make up a US$1.65 trillion economic cluster under China's Greater Bay Area initiative.

Despite its credentials, Shenzhen still lacks scale, BDO's Chan said. Its champion Wuliangye Yibin trails in size to those traded in Hong Kong, such as Alibaba Group Holding, Tencent, and Meituan Dianping. They have raised US$516 billion in IPO proceeds since 1990, about 5.5 times more than Shenzhen-listed firms, according to Refinitiv.

The impending IPO of Ant Group, China's largest digital payments provider whose impending IPO is expected to be the world's largest ever, is listing in Shanghai and Hong Kong. The gap between Shenzhen and Hong Kong will only widen when that happens.

"Hong Kong stock market plays host to the larger companies which have grown beyond mere start-ups," said Neoh, who was a former chief adviser of China Securities Regulatory Commission from 1998 to 2004. "Shenzhen has been willing to take on smaller brownfield companies."

Shenzhen and Hong Kong have about 4,700 listed companies with a combined market value of about US$10 trillion. The sum of the parts may be larger than the individual strength of each market, adviser Neoh said.

"HKEX and Shenzhen Stock Exchange are still leading markets for Chinese businesses," said Stephen Chan, a partner at law firm Dechert. "Therefore, we would expect both to continue to benefit from the growth of China's economy in the long run."

As China's economic recovery gains traction, the agenda looks promising. It syncs with some of the aims in Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX)'s strategic plan, to support portfolio diversification by mainland investors.

"This cooperation is supported by the currency restrictions in place," Neoh said. "I cannot see the People's Bank of China opening up the capital account in full for at least the next 10 to 15 years and although there will be some liberalisation."

This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright  2020 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

Copyright (c) 2020. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
Mumbai, Sep 23 : Actor Bhupesh Kumar Pandya, who featured in films like Vicky Donor and Parmanu, has lost his battle to cancer. The news of his demise was tweeted by the National School of Drama (NSD) on Wednesday.

"The news of Bhupesh Kumar Pandya's (alumnus NSD 2001 batch) death is extremely sad. The NSD family pays a heartfelt tribute. God bless the departed soul," the School announced on Twitter.

Actor Manoj Bajpayee paid a tribute to Pandya on Twitter.

Earlier, Manoj had tweeted a link regarding a fundraiser for Pandya, who was in need of money to pay for his treatment. Actors like Adil Hussain and Rajesh Tailang had also shared the link and asked their Twitter followers to help Pandya.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: India has reported large outbreaks of COVID-19 in certain districts and only 10 states are currently contributing to 75 per cent of the active cases in the country, which suggests that coronavirus is still limited in its spread, Parliament was informed on Wednesday.

In a written reply to a query in Lok Sabha on whether there is community transmission of COVID-19 in the country, Minister of State for Health Ashwini Choubey said the current phase of the pandemic in India is on multiple trajectories across urban and semi-urban areas of the country.

The epidemic curve of any pandemic goes through an ascending, peaking and descending phase, he said.

"India has reported large outbreaks in certain districts indicating the spread of infection in those districts. Only 10 states are currently contributing to 75 per cent of active cases in the country, which suggests that COVID is still limited in spread," the minister said.

India has one of the lowest cases and deaths per million population among similarly affected countries.

This is further corroborated by the fact that the nationwide sero-prevalence for COVID-19 conducted in May 2020, was found to be less than 1 per cent, Choubey said.

The top 10 states with most active cases as on September 20 are Maharashtra 2,97,866 (29.47 per cent), Karnataka 98,583 (9.75 pc), Andhra Pradesh 81,763 (8.09 pc), Uttar Pradesh 66,874 ( 6.62pc), Tamil Nadu 46,453 (4.60 pc), Kerala 37,535 (3.71pc), Chhattisgarh 37,489 (3.71 pc), Odisha 33,202 (3.28 pc, Delhi 32,064 (3.17 pc) and Telangana 30,573 (3.02 pc), the minister said.

The Government of India has adopted a containment strategy for containing the spread of COVID-19 by suppressing and breaking the cycle of transmission in the country, Choubey said.

Elaborating on that, he said containment plans envisage a strategy of breaking the chain of transmission by defining containment and buffer zones, applying strict perimeter control, intensive active house-to-house search for cases and contacts, isolation and testing of suspected cases and high-risk contacts and quarantine of high-risk contacts among others.

In all public health institutions under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health, COVID-19 tests such as RT-PCR, Truenat, CBNAAT and rapid-antigen are done free of cost.

the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has also provided COVID-19 testing reagents to all states and union territories free of cost.

"As health is a state subject, the Ministry of Health has also written to all states/UTs to negotiate with private laboratories and fix up mutually agreeable prices for samples being sent by the government and also for private individuals desirous of testing by these laboratories," the minister underlined.

India's current testing rate six times the WHO recommendation: Government

India is conducting COVID-19 tests at a rate of 875 per million population per day, which is more than six times the figure recommended by the WHO, Lok Sabha was informed on Wednesday.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended testing of 0.14 samples per day per 1,000 population or 140 tests per day per million population, Union Minister of State for Health Ashwini Choubey said in a written reply in Lok Sabha.

In response to another question, Choubey said that average test conducted by a district in a day is 1,053.

"Presently, the rate of COVID-19 test conducted per 1,000 persons in India is 0.875 test per day (as on September 19)," he said in response to a question on whether the rate of tests is commensurate with testing levels in countries with similar number of active COVID-19 cases.

On whether the government is tracking the testing numbers at the district level, the minister said that tests conducted for detection of COVID-19 are being reported to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) data portal by laboratories, including the details of district where the sample was collected and tested.

Indian manufacturers can produce 3.48-crores RT-PCR combo kits per month

Indian manufacturers can produce around 3.48 crore RT-PCR combo kits per month, which gives the country a capacity to conduct around 11.35 lakh RT-PCR COVID-19 tests daily, the government said on Wednesday.

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has granted manufacturing licenses for RT-PCR kits to 30 companies and import licenses to 119 firms, Minister of State for Health Ashwini Choubey said in a written reply.

Quoting an ICMR survey, he said Indian manufacturers can manufacture around 348.1 lakh RT-PCR test kits per month.

"During March to June 2020, around 60 per cent of RT-PCR kits procured were from foreign manufacturers and the remaining 40 per cent were from Indian manufacturers.

ALSO READ | Daily discharges exceed new COVID-19 cases in India for fifth day, recovery rate crosses 81 per cent

"However, currently, 100 per cent procurement of RT-PCR combo kits is from Indian manufacturers, whereas the COBAS, CBNAAT etc kits are still being imported," he said.

The minister was responding to a question on the percentage of kits that are being manufactured indigenously and imported.

In response to another question, Choubey said the ICMR has informed that based on the current manufacturing capacity of Indian manufacturer, around 11.35 lakh RT-PCR combo tests can be conducted per day.

The 30 companies which have been granted manufacturing licenses for COVID-19 RT-PCR kits by the CDSCO include Mylab, Molbio Diag.Pvt Ltd, Kilpest India Ltd, Cosara Diagnostics Pvt.Ltd, Huwel Lifesciences Pvt Ltd, Ubio Biotechnology System Pvt Ltd, Affigenix Biosolutions Pvt Ltd, Biosystems Diag.Pvt Ltd, Tata Medical and Diagnostic Ltd and Athenes Dx Pvt Ltd.

Pandemics caused by new virus infect humans in multiple waves: Government

Pandemics caused by a new virus have the propensity to infect human population in multiple waves and some countries which initially successfully contained the COVID-19 outbreak are now reporting a resurgence of cases, the Lok Sabha was told on Wednesday.

Government of India has accordingly advised states to upgrade health infrastructure based on the case growth trajectory in respective states and districts, besides taking stringent containment measures, Minister of State for Health Ashwini Choubey said in a written reply.

He was responding to a question on whether the government has anticipated and is ready for the second wave of COVID-19 during the winter months in India.

"Pandemics caused by a new virus have the propensity to infect human population in multiple waves, each time affecting a cohort of susceptible population.

"Some countries, which had initially successfully contained the COVID-19 outbreak earlier are now reporting a resurgence of cases," the minister said in his reply.

Giving details of the steps taken by the government to provide funds and medical equipment for COVID-19 care management, Choubey said states and UTs are being provided required technical and financial assistance to manage the public health challenge.

With public health and hospitals being a state subject, the primary responsibility of strengthening the healthcare system lies with respective state governments, the minister said.

All the states and UTs are provided with necessary financial support under India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package.

During FY 2020-21, Rs 4256.81 crore in funds were released to states and UTs.

In addition, states are being supported in terms of supply of logistics.

So far 1.42, crore PPE kits, 3.45 crore N-95 masks, 10.84 crore tablets of hydroxychloroquine, 30,841 ventilators and 1,02,400 oxygen cylinders have been supplied to states, UTs and central government hospitals (as reported on September, 20), the minister said.

For appropriate management of COVID-19 cases, Government of India has advised state governments to set up three-tier arrangement of health facilities exclusively for COVID-19.

ALSO READ | 14 states, UTs have higher COVID-19 tests per million, lower positivity than national average: Centre

These are COVID Care Centres with isolation beds for mild or pre-symptomatic cases; Dedicated COVID Health Centre (DCHC) with oxygen-supported isolation beds for moderate cases and Dedicated COVID Hospitals (DCH) with ICU beds for severe cases.

DCHCs or DCHs may be full hospitals or a separate block in a hospital with preferably separate entry/exit/zoning.

In addition, the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has set up large dedicated COVID-19 field hospitals with capacity ranging from 1,000 to 10,000 isolation beds, the minister said.

These temporary hospitals have been set up in Delhi, Bihar (Patna and Muzaffarpur).

All states, including Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, have accordingly taken action to create such infrastructure, Choubey said on whether the Union government has any plans to start exclusive COVID-19 treatment and care blocks in states like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu where a large number of people got infected.

Hospital infrastructure in the country for managing coronavirus cases is being continuously monitored by Government of India.

States have been advised to prepare for requisite surge capacities to manage cases in accordance with existing and projected growth rates, he said.
Conferentie

The third edition of the Bits&Chips; System Architecting Conference takes place on 24 September 2020. Through an inspiring program, this event brings together system architects to share successful and failed development cases.



System architecture is a distinguishing discipline in the development and commercialization of complex systems, products and machines. The system architects decisions can make or break a product. Experience is an important factor, but the system architect can also learn a lot from his peers.



The target audience consists of all involved in the development and commercialization of complex products and machines:



System architects

System engineers

Technical management

Decision makers of complex-system companies

Product managers



On 24 September 2020, Bits&Chips; organizes the third edition of its System Architecting Conference in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. The conference will feature presenters from a broad spectrum of companies and interesting product development cases from a system architecting perspective.



The keynote speech will be delivered by Ben Pronk (Eindhoven Medical Robotics). Other sessions include speakers from: Associate Value Specialist, INCOSE UK, Altran, Atom Free IT, 4SE Consult & Croonwolter&Dros;, NS, University of Twente and NTS. Make sure you sign up on time, as seating capacity is limited.



Sponsors: Technolution, Festo, High Tech Institute & NTS-Group

Partner: INCOSE

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SJP Collection CEO Sarah Jessica Parker squatted down to better help a customer safely try on shoes inside her boutique in Manhattan's Seaport District on Wednesday.

The Ohio-born 55-year-old made sure to rep her own six-year-old accessories brand by wearing the $485 'Minnie' booties in 'scintillate.'

Sarah protected herself and others from the coronavirus by wearing a $20 Masqd 'Noir' mask, which New York Governor Andrew Cuomo made mandatory for all public outings way back on April 15.

How did those work out? SJP Collection CEO Sarah Jessica Parker (L) squatted down to better help a customer safely try on shoes inside her boutique in Manhattan's Seaport District on Wednesday

As of Wednesday, there have reportedly been over 246K confirmed COVID-19 cases in New York City leading to over 23K deaths.

Manhattan officially entered Phase 3 of its reopening on July 6, and Mayor Bill de Blasio reopened in-store retail back on June 22 during Phase 2.

Parker finished off her boss lady look with a silver sparkly blazer over a black-striped long-sleeve top, and cuffed blue jeans.

The Divorce producer-star is known to make weekly visits to oversee operations at the 93 South Street store.

Walking billboard: The Ohio-born 55-year-old made sure to rep her own six-year-old accessories brand by wearing the $485 'Minnie' booties in 'scintillate'

Mandatory in New York: Sarah protected herself and others from the coronavirus by wearing a $20 Masqd 'Noir' mask

Pandemic precautions: As of Wednesday, there have reportedly been over 246K confirmed COVID-19 cases in New York City leading to over 23K deaths

The new normal: Manhattan officially entered Phase 3 of its reopening on July 6, and Mayor Bill de Blasio reopened in-store retail back on June 22 during Phase 2

'Hump day is the new Saturday,' Sarah declared on her company's Instagram account.

'Our Fall #SJPCollection has landed at @seaportdistrict.nyc boutique and we've opened our doors with special hours. Find us here this afternoon for a few hours only. See you soon?'

Ironically, Parker's new flagship boutique on West 54th Street in Midtown used to be Manolo Blahnik's boutique until closing in November.

'We were both thrilled and daunted by its history,' the four-time Golden Globe winner told Footwear News on Tuesday.

Petite: Parker finished off her boss lady look with a silver sparkly blazer over a black-striped long-sleeve top, and cuffed blue jeans

HBIC: The Divorce producer-star is known to make weekly visits to oversee operations at the 93 South Street store

Sarah declared on her company's Instagram account: 'Hump day is the new Saturday. Our Fall #SJPCollection has landed at @seaportdistrict.nyc boutique!'

On top of her business: Parker then hopped into a waiting black car to escort her back to her $2.99M West Village townhouse

'Yes, I have memories in this building, in this store. I have real, sincere memories of making those purchases, not making purchases, looking at stuff, and then its role in Sex and the City, and the way we got to be in this store.'

Sarah then hopped into a waiting black car to escort her back to her $2.99M West Village townhouse.

Parker's street sighting came two days after her Sex and the City castmate Kim Cattrall said she had 'no regrets' over publicly slamming her over expressing alleged faux concern over the 2018 death of her brother Chris.

'Everything is on Google, so I encourage you to Google it, about anything that I've said [about her],' the 64-year-old Golden Globe winner told the Los Angeles Times.

Drama: The four-time Golden Globe winner's street sighting came two days after her Sex and the City castmate Kim Cattrall said she had 'no regrets' over publicly slamming her over expressing alleged faux concern over the 2018 death of her brother Chris

The 64-year-old Golden Globe winner (L) told the LA Times: 'Everything is on Google, so I encourage you to Google it, about anything that I've said [about her]. I feel that that was then, and when I look at what's going on around me, I just don't have any regrets' (pictured in 2009)

'I feel that that was then, and when I look at what's going on around me, I just don't have any regrets.'

The two-time Emmy-winning actress and her husband Matthew Broderick will next celebrate the 18th birthday of their son James Wilke on October 28.

Sarah and the 58-year-old two-time Tony winner are also parents of 11-year-old fraternal twin daughters Marion and Tabitha.

Due to COVID, the married couple of 23 years were forced to postpone previews for their Broadway play Plaza Suite at the Hudson Theatre until March 19.

2017 family portrait: Sarah and her husband Matthew Broderick will next celebrate the 18th birthday of their son James Wilke on October 28
Scientists in Houston on Wednesday released a study of more than 5,000 genetic sequences of the coronavirus, which reveals the virus's continual accumulation of mutations, one of which may have made it more contagious.

That mutation is associated with a higher viral load among patients upon initial diagnosis, the researchers found.

The study, which has not been peer-reviewed, was posted Wednesday on the preprint server MedRxiv. It appears to be the largest single aggregation of genetic sequences of the virus in the United States. A larger batch of sequences was published this month by scientists in the United Kingdom, and, like the Houston study, concluded that a mutation that changes the structure of the "spike protein" on the surface of the virus may be driving the outsize spread of that strain.

The new report did not find that these mutations have made the virus deadlier. All viruses accumulate genetic mutations, and most are insignificant, scientists say. Coronaviruses such as SARS-CoV-2, which causes the illness covid-19, are relatively stable as viruses go, because they have a proofreading mechanism as they replicate.

But every mutation is a roll of the dice, and with transmission so widespread in the United States - which continues to see tens of thousands of new, confirmed infections daily - the virus has had abundant opportunities to change, potentially with troublesome consequences, said study author James Musser of Houston Methodist Hospital.

"We have given this virus a lot of chances," Musser told The Washington Post. "There is a huge population size out there right now."

Scientists from Weill Cornell Medicine, the University of Chicago, Argonne National Laboratory and the University of Texas at Austin also contributed to the study.

David Morens, a virologist at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), reviewed the new study and said the findings point to the likelihood that the virus, as it has moved through the population, has become more transmissible, and that this "may have implications for our ability to control it."

Morens noted that this is a single paper, and that "you don't want to over-interpret what this means." But the virus, he said, could potentially be responding - through random mutations - to such interventions as mask-wearing and social distancing, Morens said Wednesday.

"Wearing masks, washing our hands, all those things are barriers to transmissibility, or contagion, but as the virus becomes more contagious it statistically is better at getting around those barriers," said Morens, senior adviser to Anthony Fauci, the director of the NIAID.

This has implications for the formulation of vaccines, he said. As people gain immunity, either through infections or a vaccine, the virus could be under selective pressure to evade the human immune response.

"Although we don't know yet, it is well within the realm of possibility that this coronavirus, when our population-level immunity gets high enough, this coronavirus will find a way to get around our immunity," Morens said. "If that happened, we'd be in the same situation as with flu. We'll have to chase the virus and, as it mutates, we'll have to tinker with our vaccine."

At Houston Methodist, whose main hospital is part of the Texas Medical Center in central Houston and which includes hospitals in the area, scientists have been sequencing the 30,000-character genome of the coronavirus since early March, when the virus first appears to have arrived in the metropolitan area of 7 million people. The paper documents 5,085 sequences.

The research shows that the virus moved through Houston neighborhoods in two waves, first striking wealthier and older individuals but then spreading, in the second wave, to younger people and lower-income neighborhoods - affecting many Latino residents.

At the same time, as the virus spread Zip code by Zip code, it compiled mutations, many affecting the spike protein. That structure on the surface of the virus, which resembles a tree decked with curled ribbons, enables the virus to enter cells.

The genetic data shows that the virus arrived in Houston many times, presumably at first by air travel. Notably, 71% of the viruses that arrived initially were characterized by a now scientifically famous mutation, which appears to have originated in China, that scientists increasingly suspect may give the virus a biological advantage in how it spreads. It is called D614G, referring to the substitution of an amino acid called aspartic acid (D) for one called glycine (G) in a region of the genome that encodes for the spike protein.

By the second wave of the outbreak in Houston, the study found that this variant had leaped to 99.9% prevalence - completing its domination of the outbreak. The researchers found that people infected with the strain had higher loads of virus in their upper respiratory tracts, a potential factor in making the strain spread more effectively.

Kristian Andersen, an immunologist at the Scripps Research Institute in California, who was not involved in the new research, downplayed the significance of the new study. He said it "just confirms what has already been described - G increased in frequency over time." As for the numerous other mutations the study finds, "they just catalogue them, but we don't know if any of them have any functional relevance."

Musser said D614G has been increasingly dominant in Houston and other areas because it is better adapted to spreading among humans. He acknowledged that the scientific case is not closed on this matter.

"This isn't a murder trial," Musser said. "We're not looking for beyond a reasonable doubt. This is a civil trial, and clearly, it's the preponderance of the evidence that I think forces all of us into the same conclusion, which is there's something biologically different about that strain, that family of strains."

Recently, the even larger study of the spread of the coronavirus in the United Kingdom, based on about 25,000 genomes, also found evidence that this variant of the virus outdistances its competitors "in a manner consistent with a selective advantage."

In general, scientists would expect natural selection to favor mutations that help the virus spread more effectively - since that allows it to make more copies of itself - but not necessarily ones that make it more virulent. Killing or incapacitating the host would generally not help the virus spread to more people.

The study found 285 separate mutation sites that actually change a physical building block of the spike protein, which is the most important part of the coronavirus in the sense that it is what allows it to infect and harm humans. Forty-nine of the changes at these sites had not been seen before in other genomes sequenced around the world.

The study characterizes some of the spike protein mutations as "disconcerting." While the paper does not present strong proof that any additional evolution of the spike protein is occurring, it suggests that these repeated substitutions provide a hint that, as the virus interacts with our bodies and our immune systems, it may be learning new tricks that help it respond to its host.

"I think there's pretty good evidence that's consistent with immunologic selection acting on certain regions of the spike protein," Musser said.

The actual mutations in the virus occur randomly as it makes mistakes trying to copy its genome within our cells. But every new case gives a chance for more mutations to occur, which increases the chance that one of these mutations will be useful to the virus, just as D614G apparently already has been.

- - -

The Washington Post's Sarah Kaplan and Aaron Steckelberg contributed to this report.
ABC/Eric McCandlessLast week, Grammy-winning artist Nelly made his debut on the 29th season of Dancing with the Starswith a spicy salsa dance. On Tuesday, the "Ride With Me" rapper busted out a disco cha-cha routine to "Let's Groove" by Earth, Wind & Fire.

After judges previously expressed their disinterest in him dancing in sneakers, Mr. Yung Swivel hit up The Shoe Surgeon on Instagram to create probably the dopest dancing shoes you've ever seen on the show.

"So they told ya boy I needed dancing shoes," Nelly wrote. "Now Nelly and who Nelly is, he would tell them that he only rocking sneakers, but this ain't about Nelly; this about Yung Swivel. So Yung Swivel went out and got himself some dancing shoes! S/O @theshoesurgeon."

"HI PHOP 4 DA WIN!!!" Nelly continued, showing a video of his redesigned Air Jordans with traditional ballroom dancing soles.

During a prerecorded intro, Nelly shouted out to his hometown St. Louis, in hopes of bringing the trophy at the end of the dancing competition series.

"I love the city of St. Louis because it helped me become who I am," he said. "Hopefully, this is another trophy we get a chance to bring back to the Lou."

Nelly scored 18 out of 30 for his performance with his pro partner, Daniella Karagach. Meanwhile, NBA star Charles Oakley was the first contestant to be eliminated.

Dancing with the Stars will return next week to celebrate the wonderful world of Disney on Monday, September 28, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

By Rachel George

Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
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.
Leftists often claim to be religious. However, you quickly discover that it is not the Bible that informs their values. Instead, their core values come from leftist orthodoxy, which they then use to retrofit their religious doctrines. That's why it was to be expected that a Reform synagogue skipped the traditional New Year reading from the Bible in favor of reading Justice Ginsburg's words. For leftist Jews, the word of God is out; the word of Ginsburg is in.

We are in the midst of the most important religious cycle in the Jewish calendar, ten days often referred to as the High Holy Days. The first holy day is Rosh Hashanah, which welcomes the Jewish New Year (it's the Hebrew year 5781). The second is Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement.

During the first night of the Rosh Hashanah service, the "haftorah," or biblical reading, comes from 1 Samuel 1:1-2:10. This describes how Chanah, the mother of the prophet Samuel, prayed to God to bless her with a son, whom she later entrusted to Eli, the high priest. The haftorah ends with Chanah's prayer thanking God and prophesying a Messianic redemption.

The Jewish tradition holds that the Torah (i.e., the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) is a divine document Moses received while he was on Mt. Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments. Modern biblical scholarship attributes the Bible to multiple authors for centuries, but it is still viewed as a divinely inspired document. The bottom line for religious Jews is that, one way or another, the Torah is God's book.

That belief about the Torah's divine origin is what makes noteworthy the choice that Temple Ner Tamid in Bloomfield, New Jersey, made on the first night of Rosh Hashanah. Instead of reading from the Book of Samuel, the rabbi and cantor read from Ruth Bader Ginsburg's speeches and decisions. In this video, you can see the rabbi and his cantor, using the intonation associated with prayer, welcoming in the Jewish New Year with the words of Ruth Bader Ginsburg:

If you do not want to or cannot watch the video, here are the important bits:

The rabbi said that those people who wanted a traditional Haftorah  that is, those who want God's words to see in the New Year  could go and find it elsewhere. He believes it's more important to these allegedly religious people to advance Ruth Bader Ginsburg as a "modern-day prophet." Thus, the rabbi states:

The goal of the haftorah isn't just to add an extra section from the Bible in it. It is also, more than anything else, to acknowledge that there are people two thousand, three thousand years ago who were speaking out for justice. And we who are blessed to have prophets in our world today, prophets like Martin Luther King, prophets like Gandhi and, yes, prophets like Ruth Bader Ginsburg. I know many of you feel broken over her death for what she stood for, for what she did, and so the best way that we can honor her memory is to use her words. And so, in a moment we are going to chant the blessing before the haftorah . . . and then I'll invite you to listen as, in the traditional melody of the haftorah, we read a few key teachings in Ruth Bader Ginsburg's own words as a way to bring out her memory and to pay homage to her. I hope you'll take these into your heart and use them for inspiration as each of you seek to make this world a better place.

I'm not a devout person, but I find it both disturbing and offensive to hear the haftorah melody applies to Ginsburg's banalities about being a better person or about feminism  especially because the feminist language pretends the battle for equal rights and equality under the law wasn't won decades ago.

Ginsburg would probably have approved. If she were a religious Jew, having died on Friday, she should have been buried on Monday. Instead, her body will lie in state in the Capitol a week after her death. It is a rare honor and one she does not deserve.

The only reason for the left's slavish devotion to Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a government employee with a penchant for squirrely legal decisions, is that she was a bulwark against reversing Roe v. Wade. She was the court's abortion avatar. And so we have this spectacle: to honor Ginsburg's staunch defense of killing babies  the Baal practice that the Bible fought against  a rabbi and a cantor stood side by side and, in a grotesque mockery of an ancient religious service, recited, not the word of God, but the word of Ginsburg.

Image: Ner Tamid rabbi and cantor, reciting the word of Ginsburg. YouTube screen grab.
ST. LOUIS, MI - You can see the bridge from the highway. No, not I-75. Were talking about M-46. This Mackinac Bridge miniature version is a roadside oddity which has people coming from all over the state to take pictures of it and to cross it.

This bridge is located at Mini Mac Storage Center at 8200 N. Begole Road in St. Louis in Mid-Michigan near Alma.
Relying on the herd immunity strategy in Britain wouldn't work because the risk of overwhelming the NHS would be too great, a study suggests.

Researchers modelled how the controversial strategy, which was pondered by the UK government in March, would play out in different scenarios.

They found letting the virus run rampant with no preventative rules  the simplest way to achieve herd immunity without a vaccine  would lead to too many hospital admissions. Britain would need around 300,000 beds to cope  almost triple the current capacity in hospitals, the team estimated.

This would put too much strain on the health service and may lead to excess deaths among non-virus patients, such as those with cancer and heart issues.

The study found simultaneously achieving the strategy and protecting hospitals would require keeping the reproduction 'R' rate at around 1.2 for 'years'. This would be an 'impractical' balancing act because it would require constant tinkering with social distancing rules for long periods of time, researchers said.

And when the R is above the dreaded number of one  meaning infected patients pass the potentially life-threatening disease on to at least one person, on average  the epidemic still risks spiralling out of control.

The team's model also found it was 'possible' to suppress the virus 'with plausible levels of social distancing over a period of months'.

Writing in the paper, the University of California scientists warn: 'Our study finds that achieving herd immunity without overwhelming hospital capacity leaves little room for error.

'Intervention levels must be carefully manipulated in an adaptive manner for an extended period... Such fine-tuning of social distancing renders this strategy impractical.

'Various governments have entertained the idea of achieving herd immunity through natural infection as a means of ending the long-term threat of Covid-19. This has provoked alarm in sections of the public health community. Our work confirms that this alarm is well founded.'

But health chiefs in Sweden, one of the only countries to remain open throughout the pandemic and avoid using a crude lockdown, say the tactic has worked for them, which has allowed people to keep their freedoms.

Researchers modelled various lockdown scenarios and found that simultaneously achieving the strategy and protecting hospitals would require keeping the reproduction 'R' rate at around 1.2 for 'years'

Herd immunity wouldn't work because the risk of overwhelming the NHS would be too great, a study suggests (file)

Herd immunity is achieved when a disease runs out of room and is no longer able to spread because enough of the population have been exposed to it.

Experts say between 60 and 70 per cent of communities need to get infected, or be vaccinated against a disease, for the tactic to work.

Expert claims Sweden now has 'herd immunity' against coronavirus 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. 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. '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. Advertisement

The UK pondered herd immunity as its main strategy in March, but the tactic never became official policy.

News that ministers were looking into the strategy sparked a furore because it signalled they were prepared to allow millions people to get infected, and for hundreds of thousands to inevitably die, in order for it to work.

The new study was done by the University of California, Davis and published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States (PNAS).

Researchers used mathematical modelling to simulate the different scenarios needed to achieve herd immunity.

Using the first wave of the pandemic in the UK as a benchmark, they inputted data about how fast the coronavirus spreads when left unchecked and the virus's mortality and hospitalisation rates.

The team found that, in the absence of any intervention measures, the disease would spread rapidly through the UK and infect 77 per cent of people.

While this would likely lead to herd immunity, it would also cause about 410,000 deaths  including 350,000 over the age of 60  and cause hospitals to be completely overwhelmed.

They said social distancing by older individuals and the public adhering to self-isolation rules would also lead to a 'much smaller outbreak' among over-60s.

School closures also help to keep cases down and reopening them too soon may trigger a second wave, the researchers added.

They wrote: 'Our modeling indicates that, if sustained, such control measures can lead to the suppression of Covid-19 in the United Kingdom by reducing R to below one.'

The academics looked at various lockdown scenarios to see if herd immunity could be reached by tinkering with schools, workplaces or amenities.

They took into account different adherence rates to self-isolation, social distancing, among other factors that can change the course of an outbreak.

The model was based on old data analysing how quickly outbreaks grow in different settings, and how they contribute to the epidemic overall.

But the results showed that the NHS would be pushed to the brink in most instances where the R rate is above 1.2.

They wrote: 'Attempting to achieve herd immunity while simultaneously mitigating the impact of Covid-19 on hospital burden is an extremely challenging task.

'In order to ensure the hospital burden does not exceed levels comparable with that of the UK in April 2020, R needs to be reduced from its initial value (assumed to be 2.3) to about 1.2).

'Due to the fine margins (in terms of control effectiveness) between successful disease suppression and overwhelming hospitals, making herd immunity the primary objective (rather than applying maximal social distancing and aiming for suppression) is not supported by our modelling.'

Hospital capacity was modelled at the average burden in April, during the height of the pandemic, when around 18,000 infected patients were in beds.

Scientists insist models are not always accurate and are only designed to be helpful to guide policies.

It comes after emails released today showed Sir Patrick Vallance and Professor Chris Whitty asked for help to 'calm down' angry academics after facing backlash over the herd immunity approach discussed in March.

The top experts, who've been steering Britain through the Covid-19 crisis, were hounded by fellow scientists for comments they made about the controversial tactic at the start of the pandemic.

On at least three occasions, Sir Patrick Vallance, England's chief scientific adviser, said the aim is to 'build up some degree of herd immunity'  when a disease runs out of room and can no longer spread because enough of the population have been exposed to it.

Sir Patrick Vallance and Professor Chris Whitty faced backlash over the 'herd immunity' strategy in March and asked for help to 'calm down' angry academics, emails show

The comments sparked a furore because it signalled the Government was prepared to allow millions people to get infected and inevitably die in order to successfully achieve the strategy.

No 10 was even forced to deny herd immunity was the strategy after Boris Johnson's chief aide Dominic Cummings reportedly confirmed the plan at a private event back in February, allegedly saying it was 'too bad' if it meant 'some pensioners die'.

Emails obtained by the BBC reveal the panic among top advisers in reaction to the outpouring of criticism. In one email sent to a colleague in March, Sir Patrick said: 'Anything you can do to calm our academic friends down over herd immunity would be greatly appreciated.'

Professor Whitty, England's chief medical officer, also raged in emails that he was 'misinterpreted' after an unnamed senior politician claimed they had conversations in January that 'were absolutely focused on herd immunity'.

While the majority of scientists have shied away from publicly endorsing herd immunity as a viable strategy, some believe it is the only route out of the current crisis without a vaccine.
Stefano Domenicali looks set for a sensational return to Formula 1 - to replace F1 CEO Chase Carey.

The news was reported by multiple authoritative publications, including the major German newspaper Bild.

In mid-April, Sport Bild - another Alex Springer publication - claimed that Carey would "soon" be leaving Formula 1.

Bild correspondent Lennart Wermke now explains: "The American businessman never really warmed up with Formula 1 and now wants to go back to the USA."

Domenicali, who like FIA president Jean Todt is a former Ferrari team boss, is expected to commence his new role as head of Liberty Media's F1 operations prior to 2021.

The 55-year-old is currently Lamborghini CEO, but he also heads the FIA's single-seater commission.

Wermke said: "Domenicali has the necessary expertise, he knows the sport as a team boss and FIA official, and he also has enough commercial understanding.

"But it's hard to imagine that Mercedes, Red Bull or McLaren will accept a former Ferrari team boss as boss of Formula 1, so the coming days will be exciting."

(GMM)
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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) The Hague, Netherlands  Wed, September 23, 2020 07:15 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c468a32b 2 World dark-web,methamphetamine,drug-network,drug-related-crimes,Drugs-trafficking Free

A global police sting has netted 179 vendors involved in selling opioids, methamphetamine and other illegal goods on the internet underground, in what officials of Europol said Tuesday put an end to the "golden age" of dark web markets.

Over nine months Operation DisrupTor seized 500 kilograms of drugs including cocaine, heroin, oxycodone and methamphetamine, more than $6.5 million (5.5 million euros) in cash and online currencies, as well as well as 64 guns, Europe's police agency said.

Led by the German federal criminal police, the operation saw law agencies pounce in Austria, Britain, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United States, breaking up networks of buyers and sellers of narcotics and other illegal goods on the internet's premium anonymous bazaars including AlphaBay, Dream, WallStreet, Nightmare, Empire, White House and others.

"This takedown provided investigators with... data and materials to identify suspects behind dark web accounts used for illegal activity", Europol said in a statement.

Some 121 suspects were arrested in the US, followed by 42 in Germany, eight in the Netherlands, four in Britain, three in Austria, and one in Sweden.

A number of investigations were still ongoing, Europol said.

Operation DisrupTor followed a law agency shutdown in May 2019 of the Wall Street Market, the second largest dark web exchange, which had more than 1.1 million users and 5,400 vendors.

"Today's announcement sends a strong message to criminals buying and selling illicit goods on the dark web," said Edvardas Sileris, who heads Europol's EC3 cybercrime center.

"The hidden internet is no longer hidden and your anonymous activity is not anonymous," Sileris said, with Europol adding "the golden age of the dark web marketplace is over."

US Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen said the dark net fed an opioid addiction crisis that caused more than 1,000 overdose deaths a week in 2018 in the United States alone, and has grown worse with the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Criminals selling fentanyl on the Darknet should pay attention to Operation DisrupTor," Rosen said.

The operation "shows that there will be no safe haven for drug dealing in cyberspace."

The arrests counted by the US included two made in Canada, where one suspect allegedly procured highly dangerous fentanyl analogues from China to mail to US buyers.

Those drugs were traced to at least two overdoses, including one death.

US officials also arrested two men, including a pharmacist, who sold prescription opioids over the dark net and had plotted to firebomb a competitor pharmacy in Nebraska.

The men were arrested in April 2020 as they waited for an end to Covid-19 restrictions to carry out the attack, the US Justice Department said.

US officials made clear they were able to track individuals and virtual currency transactions despite the protections offered by the anonymous Tor software underpinning the dark net.

"Operation DisrupTor demonstrates the ability of DEA and our partners to outpace these digital criminals in this ever-changing domain, by implementing innovative ways to identify traffickers attempting to operate anonymously and disrupt these criminal enterprises," said Timothy Shea, acting administrator of the US Drug Enforcement Administration.
A waitress adjusts a canopy at a restaurant seating area in Glasgow as First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced the latest coronavirus restrictions - PA

Pubs, bars and restaurants are "staring into the abyss" after Nicola Sturgeon imposed a 10pm curfew by which they must close, industry leaders have warned.

The Scottish Hospitality Group (SHG) said the move will cut the turnover of some businesses by a quarter and 90,000 jobs are at risk.

The sector is "heading towards a cliff edge and time is running out", the group said, with many firms likely to fold by Christmas without further financial support.

Tourism chiefs also warned the curfew was a "significant blow" to hundreds of businesses who worked hard" to adhere to government guidance to protect staff and customers.

Marc Crothall, chief executive of the Scottish Tourism Alliance (STA), said the announcement would likely be "the last straw" for many firms who were "only just managing to break even."

The new rule will inflict particular damage on restaurants, he warned, as restricting a second seating in the evening will result in a "substantial loss of revenue."

Business leaders also questioned the science behind Ms Sturgeon's decision, claiming that hospitality settings are only responsible for a small proportion of Covid-19 cases.

They stepped up demands for more support from UK and Scottish ministers, with the furlough scheme scheduled to wind up at the end of next month.

They were reacting to Ms Sturgeon's decision to follow Boris Johnson in England by imposing the curfew on all hospitality settings, which from Friday will have to shut by 10pm.

Table service will continue to be required in all pubs and bars to prevent revellers milling around or queueing for a drink. Ms Sturgeon also announced environmental health teams will be beefed up to increase inspections and enforcement.

The First Minister said further restrictions, including possible closure of venues, will be "unavoidable" if hygiene and social distancing rules are not followed.

But the SHG's Stephen Montgomery said: "We are now staring into an abyss. A national curfew on Scotland's bars, restaurants and late night venues will have a critical impact on those crucial later trading hours.

Story continues

"Many of us are already trading at a loss and some members estimate that they will see their turnover plummet by more than 25 per cent with the new measures."

Mr Montgomery said it was "only a matter of months" before irreparable damage is done to the industry, meaning "many businesses" will not make it past Christmas without further support.

Barman George Alston in Sloans in Glasgow pours a pint - PA

Mr Crothall said: "The evidence we have seen to date shows that incidences of the virus in hospitality businesses account for only a very small percentage of overall cases and I would therefore be hopeful that the further evidence we will gather in the coming days and weeks will feed into the review of this particular measure."

Mike Grieve, chairman of the Night Time Association Industries Association Scotland, said the new measures "don't make sense" as most cases are transmitted in homes.

He added: "As the only country in the world with a complete ban on music, Scotland's worldwide reputation for atmosphere in our bars, restaurants and venues is already threatened with extinction."

The Scottish Beer and Pub Association also warned the curfew will "devastate" the hospitality industry at a time when businesses are already struggling.

Dr Liz Cameron, chief executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said: "Let's be in no doubt that stricter measures in Scotland are undeniably more dangerous for the survival of businesses. That's why both governments must support those employers who have worked hard to create safe working environments."
Paris: The Eiffel Tower was evacuated for several hours on Wednesday after police received a call suggesting a bomb had been placed there.

The Paris monument had been searched and no explosives found, a police spokeswoman said. It reopened at about 2.25pm local time.

French police officers secure the bridge leading to the Eiffel Tower after a phone-in bomb threat. Credit:AP

Several hundred people, including tourists, restaurant staff and workmen were led away from the tower in the late morning.

"It was an orderly evacuation, there was no panic," said Manuel, a tour guide on site when the evacuation order was given.
President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at the Dayton International Airport in Dayton, Ohio, on Monday, Sept. 21, 2020. (Doug Mills/The New York Times)

President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at the Dayton International Airport in Ohio, on Sept. 21, 2020. Credit - Doug MillsThe New York Times/Redux

Speaking to a packed airplane hangar in Dayton, Ohio on Monday, President Trump amped up the historic significance of his Supreme Court pick expected this weekend. When you become President they say this is the single most important thing a president does, Trump said to chants of Fill that seat!

It will be a brilliant person. It will be a woman, Trump continued. A man in the crowd shouted, Amy Barrett! Cheers went up.

Trump often turns to rally crowds to gut-check his political instincts, and the Ohio rally highlights the momentum behind Judge Amy Coney Barrett, who is considered by sources close to the process to be the favorite to be Trumps nominee to fill the seat of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died Sept. 18. As Trump prepares to announce his choice on Saturday, White House officials are weighing how a pick could provide a remedy to Trumps national poll deficit or give him a boost in key states. The political map may not be the top consideration in determining who Trump nominates to a lifetime position on the nations highest court, but his campaign is hoping the pick will assure wavering Republican voters to put doubts about the President aside. It takes the subject off of COVID, it got him talking about his prerogatives in power, and it also gets people focused on why they voted for him in the first place, says a former White House official.

The two top contenders are Barrett and Judge Barbara Lagoa, but Barrett is the current favorite, sources familiar with the White Houses deliberations tell TIME. Barretts electoral advantage for Trump may be less about helping him win key states or demographics and more about boosting enthusiasm and turnout among social-conservative supporters. If Trump wants to fire up his base, theyve definitely heard of Amy Barrett, says a person familiar with the selection process.

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Barrett clerked for the late conservative Justice Antonin Scalia and was a law professor at the University of Notre Dame. She has stated publicly her belief that life begins at conception, argued that justices should overturn Supreme Court precedent when they disagree with it, and wrote in a 1998 article that judges shouldnt need to rule in ways that contradict their religious beliefs. Barretts religious views came under scrutiny during her confirmation hearing in 2017 for her spot on the Seventh Circuit. The dogma lives loudly within you, Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein of California told Barrett in a dramatic exchange that went viral and made the judge a household name among Fox News viewers.

The pro-life community loves her, says Mike Davis, president of the Article III Project, an organization that works to support Trumps judicial nominees.

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When asked about the political considerations entwined in the nomination, Tim Murtaugh, communications director for the Trump campaign, replied with a statement that listed abortion first among the top issues at stake in the choice, followed by religious freedom. Some Republican senators are enthused by the prospect of Trump naming Barrett. Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri has said hed only support a nominee who believes the landmark abortion decision Roe v. Wade was wrongly decided, and he indicated this week he believes Barrett meets his standard.

But there may be political advantages to picking Lagoa too. The Eleventh Circuit judge is the daughter of immigrants, a Cuban-American woman born in Miami and boasting deep-rooted ties to the Cuban community in Florida. Twenty years ago she worked on the pro-bono legal team representing relatives of Elian Gonzalez, the Cuban boy who found himself at the center of a political maelstrom when he was returned to his father in Cuba after his mother drowned trying to escape with him to the United States. Lagoa was the first Hispanic woman to be a Justice on the Supreme Court of Florida. She has a significant contingent of support in Florida, both politically and legally, a source familiar with the process says. Her compelling personal story is a point of emphasis in discussions about whether to choose her for the Supreme Court, two sources familiar with the process say. People on the campaign like Lagoa more for what she does on the edge. Shes Florida, shes Hispanic, that could help beyond Florida in states that are critical, says the former White House official.

Trump won Florida in 2016, but is now trailing former Vice President Joe Biden there by about 1.5 points, according to a Real Clear Politics polling average. Trumps paths to the presidency shrink dramatically if he doesnt carry Floridas 29 electoral votes. The Trump campaign is undertaking a concerted effort to woo Latino voters in Florida and nationwide, and some allies think choosing Lagoa could help him with that coveted demographic in one of the nations most important states. It would be the biggest political event for folks in Little Havana since the Bay of Pigs, Brian Ballard, an influential Florida lobbyist with close ties to Trumps inner circle, says of a Lagoa nomination.

Lagoa doesnt have as fulsome a record as Barrett on hot-button political issues, which worries some Republicans. A conservative jurist, she explained to the Senate Judiciary Committee last year that her belief in originalism interpreting the Constitution based on the original meaning of the writers, an interpretive method championed by Scaliais closely tied to her Cuban heritage. If we are not bound by what the Constitution means and it is ever changing, then we are no different than the country that my parents fled from, she said. Because Cuba has a constitution and a bill of rights and it means nothing. In written answers during her confirmation process to the Eleventh Circuit, Lagoa said Roe v. Wade is binding precedent and that she would faithfully apply this precedent and all other precedents of the Supreme Court.

While this Supreme Court confirmation fight is set to be a bitterly partisan battle, Lagoa was confirmed to the Eleventh Circuit by a much wider bipartisan margin than Barrett was to the Seventh Circuit. (Barrett was confirmed in 2017 by a vote of 55-43; Lagoa was confirmed last year, 80-15.) But progressive groups are ready to seize on Lagoas record this time around. If shes the nominee, Floridians will be in a better position than anyone to understand how her partisan approach would threaten things like access to health care and protections for people with preexisting conditions, says Christopher Kang, chief counsel at progressive judicial advocacy group Demand Justice. Kang cites a recent instance in which Lagoa was in the majority of an Eleventh Circuit decision upholding a Florida law requiring former felons to pay court fees and fines before they can register to vote, which he calls a 21st Century poll tax.

The immediate political considerations aside, many of Trumps top advisers are most concerned with picking a stalwart conservative. Many conservatives believe former Justices David Souter and Anthony Kennedy and former Chief Justice Earl Warrenall nominated by Republican Presidentsdidnt stick to a hardline course during their lifetime appointments. And the knives are out for Chief Justice John Roberts, who was nominated by President George W. Bush. I dont think you pick a Supreme Court justice because youre worried about a percentage of politics in a swing state, says Ballard. You have to look at your legacy, and you have to look at, are you sure this person will be a conservative 20 years from now?
In mid-pandemic, an invisible virus is invading and degrading our democracy:

Political fundraising is contaminating the body politic.

Weve been through this before. We came close to finding a cure  transparent public funding  until Doug Ford crumpled the prescription on his path to power, allowing the virus of private money to worm its way back into our system.

Campaigning in 2018, imbued with misplaced populism, he took aim at newly enacted public subsidies for political parties. Ford vowed to revert to the old ways, no matter that it got politicians into so much trouble.

Despite his claims of political purity and transparency, the premier pointedly dismantled a relatively recent ban on cash-for-access events  whereby politicians in power (or on the cusp of power) hobnob with fat cats at fundraising dinners. Then the Tories promptly barred the media from looking in on their posh fundraising dinners that raise millions of dollars, lest reporters see the unseemly symbiosis.

But Fords pre-pandemic plan  cashing in on big donors, while banning public per-vote subsidies  has been turned upside down by COVID-19.

Now, those old-fashioned fundraising dinners  where supporters currying favour paid handsome four-figure sums for a table  are on hold until further notice, thanks to physical distancing. More modern techniques  endless email blasts and targeted direct mail appeals  are increasingly coming up empty.

Desperate for funds, the major parties keep hitting up people who are tapped out, while sucking up money from developers who are flush with cash. They are only digging themselves in deeper.

The overreach is inexcusable. The underfunding of our democratic system is unsustainable.

The COVID-19 crisis is forcing us to re-examine the way parties play politics, how they pay for it  and the price well all pay if they keep sullying themselves. All this was utterly avoidable.

In the dying days of the last Liberal dynasty, I documented how fundraising had reached a fever pitch  with frenzied ministers weighed down by donation quotas adding up to hundreds of thousands of dollars just to keep their seat at the cabinet table. Pressured into action, then-premier Kathleen Wynne imposed tough new rules to reform Ontarios wild west of fundraising.

In 2016, her government prohibited corporate and union contributions. It backed up the ban with a requirement that all donors sign a formal declaration that they werent getting around the ban by slyly funnelling big money through individual donations from various corporate officers of the same company.

Upon taking power, the Ford government bizarrely revoked the required declaration. Its still illegal to subvert the ban yet, strangely, the Tories no longer require you to pledge compliance in writing (lest you be held to it?).

Wynnes campaign finance reforms offered reasonable compensation for the ban on corporate and union donations by granting parties a per-vote public subsidy of $2.71 per ballot cast. Based on the results of the 2018 election, the victorious Tories were in line to receive $6.3 million annually while the NDP would get $5.2 million, the Liberals about $3 million, and the Greens around $700,000.

Under this formula, public donations would displace private distortions  and voter interests would prevail over vested interests. But the old Ford  who was new to provincial politics  would have none of it, decrying public funding as political party welfare.

Within months of taking power, the Tories announced triumphantly that voter allocations would be phased out entirely by 2022: The government believes that tax dollars are best left in the hands of taxpayers, not political parties.

The problem with that premise is that it ignores the truly massive subsidies paid to the most affluent donors, thanks to generous tax credits. A private donor to a political party is subsidized by 75 per cent credit on the first $423 of donations (and a further 50 per cent up to $1,410, and another 33 per cent up to $3,208).

Why does the premier justify costly tax credits for big donors yet demonize the idea of making every vote count through public funding? By repudiating per-vote allocations from the hoi polloi, and reimbursing donations from the high rollers, Ford is disenfranchising common folk.

Why not empower all voters equally instead of entrenching and enriching the elites? If Ford wants to be a truly populist premier, he should go back to first principles, because public funding is an idea whose time has come back.

In mid-pandemic, with political fundraising ailing again, we need to inoculate Ontario against the virus that sickens any democratic society. If we ignore the warning signs, if we refuse the recommended treatment, if we retreat into denial, the virus will only multiply.

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Brazil slammed critics of the EU-Mercosur deal on Tuesday, September 22. It claimed criticisms of the deal were motivated by protectionist interests. The Mercosur bloc comprises of Argentina, Brazil Paraguay and Uruguay, and the European Union is the first major partner to enter into a deal with the bloc despite opposition from France citing mass deforestation in the Amazon forests and failure to adequately protect environmental assets.

Read: Amazon Land Grabbers Assail Ecotourism Paradise In Brazil

'Brutal Disinformation Campaign': Bolsonaro

As per reports, France has strictly opposed the deal stating that it misses a golden opportunity for EU countries to hold South American nations accountable for failing to protect the environment. The French government has accused several groups of people such as ranchers and farmers of setting the forest on fire deliberately in order to profit from the Amazon rainforest.

On the other hand, Brazil has claimed the allegations are false and said that it has increased the production of soy and corn in the region while also reducing deforestation in the last couple of years. The EU-Mercosur deal that must still be ratified by EU member states will give companies and states in Europe a head start into the South American market which has enormous economic potential.

Read: Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro Calls Reports Of Increasing Amazon Fires A 'lie'

The trade agreement will remove tariffs on major EU exports to Mercosur nations and thereby make EU companies much more competitive. The deal is also believed to aid the EU agri-food sector and if passed, it will reduce existing Mercosur high tariffs on EU export products.

Last month Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro in a statement denied the very existence of fires in the Amazon rainforest despite data from his own government showing otherwise. Bolsonaro has denied the presence of large wildfires and a recent surge in fires that have resulted in global outcry and a movement to save the lungs of the world.

The Brazilian President has repeatedly claimed that "story of Amazon fires in a lie". Jair Bolsonaro's administration has also been criticised in the past for its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and eagerness to re-open the Brazilian economy despite the risks to its citizens.

Read: Brazilian Amazon Fires On Rise Amid Growing Deforestation

Read: Amazon Fires At An All-time High In Brazil Due To June Spike; 'Covid Laxity To Blame'
She recently attended a Cathedral concert with her husband King Philippe of Belgium.

But Queen Mathilde performed royal duties on her own on Wednesday as she visited the University of Antwerp's Center For Evaluation of Vaccines, where research is taking place into a coronavirus vaccine.

Mathilde, 47, put on a striking display in a burgundy dress which bore a standout leaf pattern.

Queen Mathilde of Belgium, put on a striking display in a bergundy dress which bore a standout leaf pattern as she visited the University of Antwerp's Center For Evaluation of Vaccines, where research is taking place into a coronavirus vaccine

The mother added to her look with a matching face mask and heels.

As she arrived, she was pictured meeting Antwerp 'Alderwoman' for education Jinnih Beels and also the province's governor, Cathy Berx.

Mathilde was then seen talking to a female patient as medics swabbed her arm after an injection.

She later signed what appeared to be a visitor's book in front of a University of Antwerp poster.

The mother added to her look with a matching face mask and heels. As she arrived, she was pictured meeting Antwerp 'Alderwoman' for education Jinnih Beels (left) and also the province's governor, Cathy Berx (centre)

She later signed what appeared to be a visitor's book in front of a University of Antwerp poster

Her solo outing comes just a day after the mother-of-four attended a concert in Ghent's Saint Bavo Cathedral with King Philippe.

The royal couple attended the world premiere of Arvo Parts 'Fur Jan van Eyck' performed by Belgian choir Collegium Vocale Gent.

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.

Mathilde once again put on a stylish display as she continued to perform her royal duties despite the ongoing coronavirus threat

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.

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.
Reliance Industries Limited and Reliance Retail Ventures Limited (RRVL) on Wednesday announced that global investment firm KKR will invest Rs 5,500 crore into RRVL, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries.

The investment by KKR values RRVL at a pre-money equity value of Rs 4.21 lakh crores and with this its investment will translate into a 1.28 per cent equity stake in RRVL on a fully diluted basis.

Notably, this is the second investment by KKR in a Reliance Industries subsidiary after the Rs 11,367 crore investment in Jio Platforms announced earlier this year.

Commenting on the investment by KKR, Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director, Reliance Industries, said, I am pleased to welcome KKR as an investor in Reliance Retail Ventures as we continue our onward march to growing and transforming the Indian Retail ecosystem for the benefit of all Indians.

KKR has a proven track record of being a valuable partner to industry-leading franchises and has been committed to India for many years. We look forward to working with KKRs global platform, industry knowledge and operational expertise across our digital services and retail businesses, he added.

Moreover, commenting on the investment, Henry Kravis, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of KKR, said, We are pleased to deepen our relationship with Reliance Industries through this investment in Reliance Retail Ventures, which is empowering merchants of all sizes and fundamentally changing the retail experience for Indian consumers.

Reliance Retails new commerce platform is filling an important need for both consumers and small businesses as more Indian consumers move to shopping online and the company offers tools for Kiranas to be a critical part of the value chain. We are thrilled to support Reliance Retail in its mission to become Indias leading omnichannel retailer and ultimately to build a more inclusive Indian retail economy, he added.

According to the release, KKR is making its investment from its Asia private equity funds.

Reliance Retail Limited, a subsidiary of RRVL, operates Indias largest, fastest-growing and most profitable retail business across its 12,000 stores nationwide.

Reliance Retail, through its new commerce strategy, has started a transformational digitalisation of small and unorganised merchants and is committed to expanding the network to over 20 million of these merchants, helping them benefit from the use of technology tools and efficient supply chain infrastructure to deliver a superior value proposition to their own customers.

It topped the list of 50 fastest-growing retailers globally between FY 2013-2018 in the Deloittes Global Powers of Retailing 2020 index. Reliance Retail secured the 56th spot this year against the 94th rank the previous year and is the only Indian company to be featured in this list.
ALBANY  With no new information from the state on how sweeping aid cuts will impact Albany City Schools, more than 200 teachers, administrators, and staff will lose their jobs on Friday.

The Albany school board last week sought clarity from the state on the dollar impact of anticipated school aid reductions, but without new developments on the stalled federal stimulus package, it's unlikely that school officials will hear back before the changes are finalized.

At its Sept. 17 meeting, the board voted to move forward with the staffing cuts but scheduled a tentative "special meeting" to discuss the impact of new information from the Division of Budget in response to the board's inquiry about recent public statements on withholdings for the 2020-21 school year.

The Division of Budget told news outlets last week that schools would receive September's aid amount in full following a public outcry and lawsuit from the state's largest teachers union over the across-the-board cuts which disproportionately fall on high need school districts.

But state officials have yet to communicate those intentions to school districts, according to Albany schools spokesman Ron Lesko.

"We would always wait for official confirmation from the state before taking any action. We've gotten absolutely no new information that would change what the board did last week," Lesko said.

A letter from the district emailed and mailed to the Division of Budget on Sept. 18 questions whether a 20 percent decrease in state aid will apply to expense-based aids and whether the reductions may be applied to tuition payments from the school district to the city's charter schools.

In the letter, Albany schools Superintendent Kaweeda Adams and Board President Anne Savage note that the charter school reduction would have no additional cost for the state but would make a meaningful difference in districts such as Albany.

"We appreciate your recent reaffirmation that the choices the state makes in the weeks and months ahead will be prioritized to minimize the impact on New Yorks most at-risk students and families. In order to continue to responsibly plan for our district, we would appreciate some clarification about how that commitment to equity will translate to dollars," Adams and Savage wrote. "The sooner that such clarification and commitment comes, the earlier we can plan and the less impact any reduction will have on our students and families."

According to the last official correspondence from the Division of Budget, dated Aug. 20, the Albany school district could still potentially lose 20 percent of its aid for the 2020-2021 fiscal year  even if the September payment remained whole.

The Albany district, which serves more than 10,000 students, is facing a budget gap between $18.8 million and $25.6 million for the 2020-21 school year if the reductions continue throughout the year. The state is grappling with its own fiscal crisis spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, projecting a $62 billion shortfall over four years.

Advocates and teachers unions note that flat cuts disproportionately hit high-need districts that rely more heavily on state aid. They are pressing state lawmakers to consider a wealth tax to help fund public schools.

With no new information forthcoming from the state, Wednesday night's board meeting has been canceled.

The district has eliminated nearly 220 full-time positions and restructured two specialized schools, Albany International Center (AIC), which enrolls middle and high school students who are refugees and immigrants, and the Tony Clement Center for Education, an alternative high school track for at-risk youth.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

At last week's meeting, teachers, administrators, parents, and students impacted by the cuts implored school leaders to hold off on approving the cuts.

"Taking away these ... individuals that have built and maintained relationships with our students and families through a global pandemic, as well as the social unrest and violence that has occurred in our city throughout the summer, is a disastrous plan," said Allison Brodie, the assistant principal of Pine Hills Elementary School, who is among those who will lose their jobs. "Please respect our community enough to get the full picture before making a decision that will impact us for years to come."

The staffing and program changes will save the district $16 million, significantly short of the reductions that will be necessary if the state ultimately reduces the district's state aid by 20 percent.

In a statement to the Times Union responding to the Albany school district letter, Division of Budget spokesman Freeman Kloppot reiterated that so far only 1 percent of school aid has been temporarily withheld from the state's more than 700 districts for the 2020-21 school year and just 0.3 percent  or $789,000  has been skimmed from the Albany district's annual state aid allotment.

Going forward, any actions would take district need into account, he said.

"Until we have clarity on the amount of federal assistance, it is premature to make any permanent spending reductions, at which point all options would be considered to limit the impacts of a federal failure to act. ... In the absence of federal funding, we will work with the Legislature to ensure that all public schools  district and charter  are treated fairly," he said.
Hunter Biden, son of former Vice President Joe Biden, waits for the start of his father's debate at Centre College in Danville, Ky., on Oct. 11, 2012. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP Photo)

Joe Bidens Son Connected With Russian, Chinese Nationals While Father Was Vice President: Congressional Report

The son of former Vice President Joe Biden engaged in millions of dollars in questionable financial transactions with associates and foreign individuals, including the wife of the former mayor of Moscow and people with ties to the Chinese Communist Party, according to a new congressional report.

Hunter Bidens dealings raise conflict of interest concerns as well as concerns about crimes, counterintelligence, and extortion, according to the joint report from the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and Finance Committees.

The records acquired by the committees show consistent, significant, and extensive financial connections among and between Hunter Biden, James Biden, Sara Biden, Devon Archer, and Chinese nationals connected to the communist regime and PLA [Peoples Liberation Army] as well as other foreign nationals with questionable backgrounds, according to the report, which was released Wednesday.

James Biden is Joe Bidens brother; Sara Biden is Jamess wife; and Archer is one of Hunter Bidens business partners.

Biden was vice president until 2016. He is now the Democratic presidential nominee.

Vice President Joe Biden (C) tours a Hutong alley with his son Hunter Biden (L) and granddaughter Finnegan Biden (R), during an official visit to Beijing on Dec. 5, 2013. (Andy Wong-Pool/Getty Images)

Finance Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Homeland Security Chairman Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) headed the investigation.

Key findings included learning that George Kent, a former deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, raised concerns to officials in Joe Bidens office in early 2015 about the perception of a conflict of interest in Hunter Biden being on the board of Burisma, a Ukrainian company.

The presence of Hunter Biden on the Burisma board was very awkward for all U.S. officials pushing an anticorruption agenda in Ukraine, Kent wrote in an email the next year to colleagues.

The concerns were not addressed, according to the report.

In October 2015, State Department official Amos Hochstein raised concerns with Vice President Biden and Hunter Biden that the Burisma position enabled Russian disinformation efforts and risked undermining U.S. policy in Ukraine, according to the report.

Hunter Biden was serving on Burismas board when the companys owner allegedly paid $7 million to officials working under Ukraines prosecutor general to shut the case against the owner. Kent said the bribe was paid in December 2014 and that he reported the allegation to the FBI when he learned about it.

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) on Capitol Hill in Washington on June 11, 2019. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Hunter Biden and Archer received $4 million for being on Burismas board. They and other Biden family members also received millions of dollars from foreign nationals with questionable backgrounds, the Senate committees said.

Archer, for instance, received $142,300 from a Kazakhstan national, purportedly for a car, the same day Vice President Biden addressed Ukrainian legislators in Kyiv.

Hunter Biden received $3.5 million from Elena Baturina, the widow of the former mayor of Moscow, and millions of dollars from business transactions with individuals linked to the Chinese Communist Party and the Peoples Liberation Army.

Hunter Biden also paid nonresident women who were nationals of Russia or other Eastern European countries and who appear to be linked to an Eastern European prostitution or human trafficking ring,' the report stated.

Biden campaign spokesman Andrew Bates said in a statement Wednesday that the investigation took time away from oversight of the federal governments response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Why? To subsidize a foreign attack against the sovereignty of our elections with taxpayer dollarsan attack founded on a long-disproven, hardcore right-wing conspiracy theory that hinges on Sen. Johnson himself being corrupt and that the senator has now explicitly stated he is attempting to exploit to bail out Donald Trumps reelection campaign, Bates said.

U.S. Sens. Ron Johnson, John Barrasso, and Chris Murphy attend a news briefing following their meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Kiev, Ukraine, on Feb. 14, 2020. (Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters)

The chairmen defended the investigation in recent weeks.

On Wednesday, they wrote that the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee is authorized to study or investigate the efficiency and economy of operations of all branches of the government, including the possible existence of corruption or unethical practices [and] conflicts of interest. The Senate Finance Committee has jurisdiction over the U.S. government and the Department of Treasury, which includes oversight jurisdiction over potential financial crimes, they added.

Hunter Biden in October 2019 defended his work with Burisma and in China.

I think that it was poor judgment on my part. I think that it was poor judgment because I dont believe now when I look back on itI know that there wasdid nothing wrong at all. However, was it poor judgment to be in the middle of something that is  a swamp in many ways? Yeah, he told ABC News.

I gave a hook to some very unethical people to act in illegal ways to try to do some harm to my father. Thats where I made the mistake. So I take full responsibility for that. Did I do anything improper? No, not in any way. Not in any way whatsoever.

During that interview, he changed his answer on whether he discussed his business dealings with his father.
Impacted by disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Indias economy is forecast to contract by 5.9 per cent in 2020, the UN has said in a report, warning that while growth will rebound next year, the contraction is likely to translate into a permanent income loss. The Trade and Development Report 2020 by UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) said on Tuesday that the world economy is experiencing a deep recession amid a still-unchecked pandemic.

It said the global economy will contract by an estimated 4.3 per cent this year, leaving global output by years end over USD 6 trillion short (in current US dollars) of what economists had expected it to be before the coronavirus began to spread. In short, the world is grappling with the equivalent of a complete wipeout of the Brazilian, Indian and Mexican economies. And as domestic activity contracts, so goes the international economy; 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," the UNCTAD report said, painting a grim picture of the global economic scenario.

UNCTAD expects South Asia to contract 4.8 per cent in 2020 and recover to 3.9 per cent in 2021. Indias GDP is forecast to contract 5.9 per cent in 2020 and recover to 3.9 per cent next year, the report said. In the case of India, the baseline scenario is a sharp recession in 2020 as strict lockdown measures to stem the virus spread brought many productive activities to a halt across the country," it said.

The report said that while UNCTAD expects a rebound in Indias GDP growth in 2021 in line with the growth rates of the Indian economy in recent years, the contraction registered in 2020 is likely to translate into a permanent income loss". In the US, UNCTAD expects GDP to fall 5.4 per cent in 2020 and recover 2.8 per cent in 2021. China is expected to register an economic growth of 1.3 per cent this year and a whopping 8.1 per cent in 2021, the report said, recording the highest economic growth rate in the world.

This year is shaping up to be a very difficult year for the global economy. With many countries unprepared to respond to a health pandemic, lockdown seemed to be the only plausible way to protect lives and preserve health systems. Doing so triggered an economic crisis that spread as quickly as the virus itself," the UN trade agency added. Data for the first two quarters of this year show output contracted more sharply than in 2008-2009, and in some cases registering the steepest drop on record.

Estimates for the year point to a generalised global recession matching the Great Depression of the 1930s, it said. While 2021 will likely see a rebound, it will be uneven within and across countries and uncertainty will persist, the report said, warning that 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.

Debt levels across the world, in both the public and private sectors, will have risen significantly from the historically high levels registered before the crisis. 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 report said. It said that the biggest absolute falls in output will be in the developed world, with some countries set to register a double-digit decline over the year.

But the greatest economic and social damage will be in the developing world, where levels of informality are high, commodities and tourism major sources of foreign exchange, and fiscal space has been squeezed under a mountain of debt," it said. Between 90 million and 120 million people will be pushed into extreme poverty in the developing world, with close to 300 million facing food insecurity, it said.

UNCTAD Secretary-General Mukhisa Kituyi said building a better world require smart actions. The lives of future generations, indeed of the planet itself, will depend on the choices we all take over the coming months, Kituyi said.

The report also said that even if economic activity continues to bounce back and advanced country governments continue with the current mix of fiscal and monetary measures, employment will not fully recover, and many countries will remain in debt distress and income gaps will widen. Forecasters talk of a V-shaped recovery can easily mislead. Such a recovery would require double-digit global growth next year, which is out of the question, said Richard Kozul-Wright, UNCTADs director of the division on globalisation and development strategies.

The report asserted that a global recovery plan must be both bold and comprehensive, built around a coordinated macroeconomic expansion focused on job creation and higher wages and supported by a big public investment push into cleaner energy, environmental protection, sustainable transport systems and the care economy.
Frustration is mounting inside the Trump administration as Russia gives little indication of whether it will agree to an arms control deal before Donald Trump faces reelection, according to senior US administration officials, who are trying to secure the deal.

US officials presented a proposal to the Russians two weeks ago in Vienna as part of negotiations that began in June. Under the deal, the United States and Russia would extend the soon-to-expire New START pact for a limited time while negotiating a replacement treaty. Mr Trump and Vladimir Putin would sign a political agreement outlining a framework for the replacement treaty and what it would cover.

The administration's scramble to cut a deal with Russia before the election comes as the president's top diplomats have been rushing to secure diplomatic achievements as US voters begin going to the polls.

Mr Trump has long sought to negotiate an arms control deal with Moscow, but so far his administration has only pulled out of pacts with the former Cold War foe, citing violations by Russia. In comments on 4 September, Mr Trump said arms control talks with Russia were a "very important thing" - more important than addressing global warming. Mr Trump and Mr Putin have been discussing a deal for months.

But the Russian government has given the US negotiators little direct feedback outside public commentary since they presented their proposal about two weeks ago, according to US officials. The result is US frustration, which boiled over into comments in a Russian media outlet by Mr Trump's top nuclear negotiator, Marshall Billingslea, and a response from his Russian counterpart.

The "price of admission" for Russia to secure the deal with the United States will go up if the Kremlin doesn't agree to terms before the US presidential election, Mr Billingslea warned in an interview on Monday with the Russian newspaper Kommersant. Mr Billingslea said the United States would insist on "a number of new conditions" if Russia waits until after the election to decide and Mr Trump wins.

Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov, Russia's main arms control negotiator, warned that such ultimatums wouldn't result in a deal.

"Either they can stop making their ultimatums and we can start to negotiate something, or there will be no agreement," Mr Ryabkov told the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti. Mr Ryabkov said the US demands don't correspond to Russia's idea of what must be done to ensure strategic stability.

In his own separate interview with Kommersant, Mr Ryabkov said "the offer made by the Americans does not look like a good deal" and rejected the US preconditions. Still, US officials didn't read Mr Ryabkov's comments as the final word on whether Russia would agree to some sort of deal before the election or thereafter.

At stake is the future of New START, a 2010 treaty that expires in February and restricts the number of deployed strategic nuclear warheads and certain launch platforms. If the treaty isn't extended or replaced, the world's two biggest nuclear powers will return to an era without substantive restraints on their arsenals for the first time in decades, potentially paving the way for a new nuclear arms race.

Because the Trump administration didn't begin substantive negotiations until this year, the arms control standoff is colliding with the American political calendar. Moscow is probably calculating whether Mr Trump or Democratic nominee Joe Biden would offer more favourable terms.

Russia has said it would like to extend the treaty, which includes a clause that can prolong the pact for five years without ratification if both presidents agree. In his online platform, Mr Biden has said he would pursue an extension of New START, which Barack Obama negotiated.

The Trump administration, however, has argued that New START is insufficient because it doesn't include China and regulates only a portion of Russia's nuclear arsenal. The administration is willing to extend the pact only if its replacement addresses those issues and others. China has rejected US calls to join the talks with Russia, citing its smaller nuclear arsenal.

The proposal offered by Mr Billingslea two weeks ago in Vienna goes beyond the parameters of New START to encompass all the nuclear warheads of both countries, a senior US official said. It would include a complex monitoring system allowing both nations to observe which nuclear weapons are coming into Russian or American facilities for refurbishment and which are coming out of the facilities for deployment.

The proposal also allows for an increased number of inspections and faster access to sites that inspectors request to visit, among other things, the senior official said.

US officials drafted the proposal in the form of a political agreement that would become a treaty once China agrees to join the accord - a goal that has eluded US negotiators.

The lack of response by Moscow to the proposal has led some US officials to conclude that Mr Putin has not empowered Mr Ryakbov to cut a deal. Mr Billingslea made his public comments to the Russian newspaper Kommersant in part to underscore the US offer to Mr Putin and seek clarity from the Russian side on its interest in an agreement, according to the US officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing diplomatic negotiations.

"So far the proposal stands in the form that we made it in. If and when Moscow expresses a desire to go down this path that, frankly speaking, President Putin has already discussed multiple times with President Trump, then we are ready," Mr Billingslea told Kommersant.

Promoting himself as a dealmaker, Mr Trump has sought to undertake nuclear arms control negotiations with Russia since the 1980s, when he expressed an interest in conducting talks with the Soviets on behalf of the Reagan administration. When asked about the recent poisoning of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny at a 4 September White House news conference, Mr Trump instead emphasised that arms control talks were underway.

"With Russia, we're right now negotiating a nuclear nonproliferation treaty, which is very important. It's a very important thing. To me, it's the most important thing," Mr Trump said. "Some people say 'global warming', I don't. I say this is far more important."

The Trump administration began substantive negotiations with Russia over New START in earnest only this year, leaving insufficient time to hammer out an entirely new treaty.

The result is an attempt to extend the current treaty, likely for a year or two, on the condition that Russia agrees to certain elements in a follow-on treaty. Such a deal would allow Mr Trump to tout a nuclear accord with Russia on the campaign trail, even if the specifics of a new treaty haven't actually been hashed out - and may not result in an actual follow-on pact.

The Trump administration has had little success securing arms control deals.

US officials have failed to reach a formal pact with North Korea, which has tested nuclear warheads and intercontinental ballistic missiles. The administration has also been unable to negotiate a new deal with Iran, which has exceeded the restrictions on its nuclear program set by a 2015 international nuclear agreement that Mr Trump abandoned.

The Washington Post
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Linkedin Avi Asher-Schapiro (Reuters) New York, United States  Wed, September 23, 2020 08:02 486 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c468b3d9 2 Science & Tech Twitter,racial-bias Free

Social media giant Twitter said on Monday it would investigate its image-cropping function that users complained favored 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.

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.

Twitter is one of the world's most popular social networks, with nearly 200 million daily users.

Other users shared similar experiments online they said showed Twitters cropping system favoring white people.

Twitter said in a statement: "Our team did test for bias before shipping the model and did not find evidence of racial or gender bias in our testing."

However it said it would look further into the issue.

"It's clear from these examples that we've got more analysis to do. We'll continue to share what we learn, what actions we take, and will open source our analysis so others can review and replicate," Twitter said in its statement.

Read also: Chadwick Boseman tweet is Twitter's most-liked post

In a 2018 blog post, Twitter had said the cropping system was based on a neural network that used artificial intelligence to predict what part of a photo would be interesting to a user and crop out the rest.

A representative of Twitter also pointed to an experiment by a Carnegie Mellon University scientist who analyzed 92 images and found the algorithm favored Black faces 52 times.

But Meredith Whittaker, co-founder of the AI Now Institute that studies the social implications of artificial intelligence, said she was not satisfied with Twitter's response.

"Systems like Twitter's image preview are everywhere, implemented in the name of standardization and convenience, she told Thomson Reuters Foundation.

"This is another in a long and weary litany of examples that show automated systems encoding racism, misogyny and histories of discrimination."
Work on the Chinese Embassys new building and adjacent facilities in Yerevan began three years ago. Officials said at the time that it will be Chinas second largest diplomatic mission in the former Soviet Union.

You are the first and most honorable guest of our new embassy, Chinese Ambassador Tian Erlong told Sarkissian before showing him around the 40,000-square-meter compound.

Sarkissian toured the compound ahead of Chinas National Day that will be marked on October 1. He congratulated Tian and other Yerevan-based Chinese diplomats on the upcoming holiday.

I think China can be proud of such presence, the president told the envoy at an ensuing meeting. We regard this [new embassy complex] as Chinas bid to deepen Chinese-Armenian relations and elevate them to a higher level.

Despite their different size, Armenia and China have many similarities: they both are global nations in a certain sense, he said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping praised bilateral ties when he congratulated Sarkissian on the 29th anniversary of Armenias declaration of independence on Monday. He said Beijing and Yerevan support each other in the international arena on issues which are vital for the interests of the two countries.

I attach great importance to the development of the Chinese-Armenia relations and I am ready to make, together with you, joint efforts to elevate our multifaceted cooperation to a new level, Xi wrote in a congratulatory message.

Xi reaffirmed Chinas desire to deepen political, economic and cultural ties with Armenia when he met with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian in Beijing in May 2019. Constructive and productive relations with China are very important for us, Pashinian said, for his part.

In August 2018, Pashinian attended the inauguration of a new school in Yerevan built by the Chinese government. He said that having many Chinese speakers is an economic necessity for Armenia.

China is Armenias second largest trading partner after Russia. According to official Armenian statistics, Chinese-Armenian trade totaled $405 million in the first half of this year.

Sarkissian called on Wednesday for closer commercial ties between Armenian and Chinese high-tech companies. I would be very happy to make my modest contribution to the development of Chinese-Armenian economic relations in the area of high technology, he said.
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.
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 Festvial 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."
may have to pull out of if the Irish Data Protection Commission enforces a ban on sharing data with the US after the European Court of Justice found that the bloc's measures to protect its data from US intelligence agencies were insufficient, Head of Data Protection and Associate General Counsel at Ireland Yvonne Cunnane said in a court filing.

In July, the European Court of Justice invalidated the 2016 Privacy Shield, saying that EU digital privacy laws were at risk of being violated under the agreement, which allows for data to be transferred, stored, and processed in the

"In the event that [Facebook] was subject to a complete prohibition on the transfer of user data to the United States, as appears to be what the DPC [Data Protection Commissioner] proposes, it is not clear to [Facebook] how, in such circumstances, it could continue to provide inter alia the and Instagram services in the EU," the document unveiled earlier this week said.

Facebook subsequently stated that the filing was not a threat but rather a simple reflection of the reality that the company along with other organizations and businesses rely on data transfers between the EU and the US in order to operate their services. According to Facebook's spokesperson, a lack of such safe data transfers would damage the economy and hamper the growth of data-driven businesses within the EU.

(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, United Arab Emirates - The first known direct commercial flight between Israel and Bahrain landed Wednesday in the island kingdom, just a week after it signed a deal alongside the United Arab Emirates to normalize relations.

Flight data showed an Israir Airlines Airbus A320 landed at Bahrain International Airport after a nearly three-hour flight from Tel Avivs Ben-Gurion International Airport. Hours later, Bahrain acknowledged the flight carried a delegation of Israeli officials.

A working team from the state of Israel visited Manama today to discuss areas of co-operation between the two countries, Bahrain said in a brief statement. These talks come after the signing of the Declaration of Peace.

Bahrain did not identify the officials taking part, nor say whom they spoke to while in Manama.

There was no acknowledgement of the flight from the Israeli government, though Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday spoke by telephone to Bahrains Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. Israels Foreign Ministry declined to comment.

The U.S. Embassy in Manama did not respond to a request for comment. The Israir Airbus took off back for Tel Aviv later on Wednesday.

Wednesdays flight was made without ceremony, in sharp contrast to the first El Al flight from Israel to the United Arab Emirates at the end of August. That plane carried U.S. and Israeli officials, including President Donald Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner, as well as the media.

The flight comes as Israel has gone back into a lockdown over the coronavirus pandemic. In Bahrain, civil society groups have criticized the move to normalize relations with Israel, saying that recognition should come only after Palestinians obtain their own independent state.

Bahrain, an island off the coast of Saudi Arabia home to the U.S. Navys 5th Fleet and a British naval base, has a predominantly Shiite population ruled by a Sunni royal family. Arab Spring protests there in 2011 ended with authorities cracking down with the help of Saudi and Emirati forces.

Bahrain and the UAE signed normalization agreements Sept. 15 with Israel at the White House, part of a U.S. diplomatic push as Trump seeks re-election.

The UAE and Israel have moved quickly to explore commercial ties after their normalization deal. Bahrains King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa previously had been quoted as saying he believed Arab countries should drop their boycott of Israel.

___

Associated Press writer Josef Federman in Jerusalem contributed to this report.
AAP likely to field Colonel Ajay Kothiyal as CM candidate in Uttarakhand

AAP leaders to visit Ram Lalla shrine before Ayodhya yatra, first list of UP candidates soon

Manish Sisodia urges Delhiites to use public vehicle at least 1 day every month to make Delhi pollution free

Manish Sisodia, who tested positive for coronavirus, admitted to hospital

India

oi-Deepika S

New Delhi, Sep 23: Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was hospitalised on Wednesday at the Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Hospital after complains of fever and low oxygen levels, said his Office.

"Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia has been admitted to the Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Hospital in Delhi after he complained of fever and low oxygen levels," said his office.

He had tested positive for the infection on September 14 and was in home isolation.

Sisodia is the second state cabinet minister after Satyendra Jain who has tested positive for Covid-19.

COVID-19 cases have shown a surge since the beginning of this month with September 16 recording 4,473 cases, the highest single-day spike here till date. The daily surge in cases in Delhi had breached the 4,000-mark for the first time on September 9 while the number of fatalities recorded that day was 20.

Most people infected with coronavirus do develop symptoms, won't remain asymptomatic

From September 9-19, fresh cases have been recorded more than 4,000 per day except on September 14 when the figure stood at 3,229 with 26 deaths being recorded that day, according to official data.

The Delhi government has significantly ramped up testing in the past few days.

The number of tests conducted and corresponding fresh cases reported, ranged from 24,198 and 2,312 respectively on September 1 to 61,973 and 4,071 on September 19.

Delhi recorded 3,816 fresh COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, as the tally in the city rose to over 2.53 lakh, while the death toll climbed to 5,051.

NCB summons Deepika Padukone, Shraddha Kapoor and Sara Ali Khan summoned in Drugs case|Oneindia News

On September 20, fresh cases and home quarantined cases stood at 3,812 and 18,910 respectively. On September 21 the city had 2,548 new case and 19,213 patients in home quarantine.

Delhi had seen a big surge in cases in June, but the spike had come down in July.

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Story first published: Wednesday, September 23, 2020, 18:41 [IST]
Regulatory News:

Press release 23 September 2020

Pernod Ricard (Paris:RI) filed its FY20 Universal Registration Document with the Autorite des Marches Financiers (AMF) on 23 September 2020 under number D.20-0821.

This document is available on the Company's website www.pernod-ricard.com and on the AMF website www.amf-france.org. It is also available at the Company's registered office 5, cours Paul Ricard CS 50180 75380 Paris cedex 08.

The Universal Registration Document includes, in particular:

- the Group's FY20 consolidated financial statements;

- the FY20 statutory financial statements of Pernod Ricard S.A.;

- the related auditors' reports on the consolidated and the statutory financial statements;

- the FY20 management report including notably, social, societal and environmental information;

- the Board of Directors' report on corporate governance;

- information regarding internal control and risk management;

- the presentation of resolutions as well as draft resolutions submitted to the Combined Shareholders' Meeting of 27 November 2020; and

- information concerning fees paid to the Statutory Auditors.

Shareholders' agenda:

Q1 FY21 sales Thursday 22 October 2020

About Pernod Ricard

Pernod Ricard is the No.2 worldwide producer of wines and spirits with consolidated sales of 8,448 million in FY20. Created in 1975 by the merger of Ricard and Pernod, the Group has developed through organic growth and acquisitions: Seagram (2001), Allied Domecq (2005) and Vin&Sprit (2008). Pernod Ricard, which owns 16 of the Top 100 Spirits Brands, holds one of the most prestigious and comprehensive brand portfolios in the industry, including: Absolut Vodka, Ricard pastis, Ballantine's, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute, and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater gin, Malibu liqueur, Mumm and Perrier-Jouet champagnes, as well Jacob's Creek, Brancott Estate, Campo Viejo, and Kenwood wines. Pernod Ricard's brands are distributed across 160+ markets and by its own salesforce in 73 markets. The Group's decentralised organisation empowers its 19,000 employees to be true on-the-ground ambassadors of its vision of "Createurs de Convivialite." As reaffirmed by the Group's strategic plan, "Transform and Accelerate," deployed in 2018, Pernod Ricard's strategy focuses on investing in long-term, profitable growth for all stakeholders. The Group remains true to its three founding values: entrepreneurial spirit, mutual trust, and a strong sense of ethics, as illustrated by the 2030 Sustainability and Responsibility roadmap supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), "Good Times from a Good Place." In recognition of Pernod Ricard's strong commitment to sustainable development and responsible consumption, it has received a Gold rating from Ecovadis. Pernod Ricard is also a United Nation's Global Compact LEAD company. Pernod Ricard is listed on Euronext (Ticker: RI; ISIN Code: FR0000120693) and is part of the CAC 40 and Eurostoxx 50 indices.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200923005630/en/

Contacts:

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Julia Massies VP, Financial Communications Investor Relations

+33(0)1 70 93 17 03

Charly Montet Investor Relations Manager

+33(0)1 70 93 17 13

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+33(0)1 70 93 16 23

Emmanuel Vouin Press Relations Manager

+33(0)1 70 93 16 34
San Diego, CA, Sept. 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Shield AI, the AI software company focused on operationalizing AI for maneuver by enabling systems that operate on the edge in denied environments, today announced that it has been awarded a $7.2M Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract by the United States Air Force through the AFWERX innovation program. The Phase II contract will allow Shield AI to partner with the Office of the Secretary of Defenses Strategic Capabilities Office to deliver artificial intelligence capabilities to reduce the risk and increase the effectiveness and lethality of US Army aviation units operating in contested and GPS-denied environments.





Shield AI is deeply grateful to SBIR for recognizing the technical merit of our AI capabilities through its highly rigorous award selection process. This contract will enable Shield AI to add to its already strong partnerships with forward-deployed military units said Ryan Tseng, Shield AIs co-founder and CEO.





The contract consists of a work plan to apply reinforcement learning (RL) to the development and advancement of fully autonomous behaviors for teams of fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), enabling those platforms to team with human warfighters to gain, maintain, and extend access to highly contested and complex environments through persistent airborne ISR. This effort will initially focus on reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition (RSTA) mission profiles in GPS-denied environments and will scale in complexity to support a variety of DoD operational concepts. The development of the RL architecture and application to UAVs will dramatically improve the velocity of AI algorithm development, which will, in turn, accelerate the maturation schedule of intelligent fixed-wing platforms from simulation to operationalized platforms.





Shield AI was recently recognized by Fast Company as one of the Worlds Most Innovative Companies for 2020 and by Forbes as one of Americas Most Promising Artificial Intelligence companies. Two of Shield AIs co-founders were also recently named by WIRED amongst 25 global leaders, including those from Apple and SpaceX, in using technology to provide a strong societal benefit.





Shield AI is a venture capital-backed firm backed by top-tier investors including Andreessen Horowitz, Breyer Capital, Homebrew, and Silicon Valley Bank.





About Shield AI

Shield AI was founded in 2015 by Brandon Tseng, a former Navy SEAL, Ryan Tseng, a successful tech entrepreneur, and autonomy expert Andrew Reiter. Today the team is more than 150-strong, with Chief Technology Officer Prof. Nathan Michael of Carnegie Mellon University's Resilient Intelligent Systems Lab leading the company's development of AI systems that operate on the edge in challenging, previously unknown, real-world environments.





Follow Shield AI on LinkedIn and on Twitter.





Want to join our mission at Shield AI? Access our careers page to learn of available opportunities.





For Inquiries

media@shield.ai
New COVID-19 restrictions will start this week. (Getty)

Nearly half of Britons think Boris Johnson should have gone further with new COVID-19 restrictions, according to a YouGov poll.

In total, 45% of people said the new rules do not go far enough, in a study released on Tuesday following the prime ministers announcement. Meanwhile, 32% said the new rules were about right, while 13% thought they went too far.

Johnson told people in England to work from home where possible and ordered restaurants and bars to close at 10pm to tackle a fast-spreading second wave of coronavirus.

Masks will be required in more settings, there will be tougher enforcement of rules, and the military could be brought in to help free up the police, Johnson told parliament following emergency meetings with ministers and leaders of the devolved governments.

In total, 45% of people said the lockdown rules 'do not go far enough'. (YouGov)

Johnson stopped short of imposing another full lockdown, as he did in March, but warned that further measures could come if the disease is not suppressed.

The PM added: We reserve the right to deploy greater firepower, with significantly greater restrictions.

Businesses breaking COVID-19 laws face penalties of up to 10,000 or even closure, while individuals may be fined 200 for not wearing a mask when required.

Read more: New rules wont stop pandemic spreading by Christmas, top scientists warn

Johnson said it was frustrating for the law-abiding majority to see a few people brazenly defying the rules.

The poll, which surveyed 3,436 British adults, also found that 78% of people supported the new measures and 53% would blame themselves if the UK was overwhelmed by a second wave of cases.

The UK already has the highest official COVID-19 death toll in Europe at 41,825, and is borrowing record amounts to pump emergency money through the damaged economy.

It was unclear if the new measures will be enough to curb a second wave of the virus, which government scientists have warned could reach 50,000 new cases per day by mid-October.

Labour leader Keir Starmer has urged the government not to end the furlough scheme in October, and accused it of losing control of the coronavirus crisis.

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This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

Twenty years ago you called geoengineering "deeply controversial." How has the controversy changed since then?

Back then it was something that a pretty small group of people who thought about climate knew about  and mostly agreed they wouldn't talk about. And that was it. Now it's much more widely discussed. I think the taboo is reduced, for sure. It's certainly still controversial, but my sense is that there has been a real shift. An increasing number of people who are in climate science or in public policy around climate or in environmental groups now agree that this is something we should talk about, even if many think it should never be implemented. There's even growing agreement that research should happen. It feels really different.

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Why was there a taboo against talking about geoengineering, and do you think was it valid?

I think it's well-intentioned; people are right to worry that talking about geoengineering might reduce the effort to cut emissions. I don't think this concern about moral hazard is a valid reason not to do research. There were people who argued that we shouldn't allow the AIDS triple-drug cocktail to be distributed in Africa because it would be misused, creating resistance. Others argued against implementation of airbags, because people would drive faster. There is a long history of arguing against all sorts of potentially risk-reducing technologies because of the potential for risk compensation  the possibility that people will change behavior by taking on more risks. I think it's an ethically confused argument.

For me, the most serious concern is some entities  like big fossil-fuel companies that have a political interest in blocking emissions cuts  will attempt to exploit the potential of geoengineering as an argument against emissions cuts. This concern has likely been the primary reason that some big civil-society groups want to block or contain discussion of this stuff so it doesn't enter more widely into the climate debate. For me the concern is entirely justified, but I think the right answer is to confront it head-on rather than avoiding debate. I don't want a world where decisions are made by elites talking behind closed doors.

" " Solar geoengineering would involve injecting reflective aerosols from high-altitude planes into the layer of the upper atmosphere known as the stratosphere, which stretches between 10 to 50 kilometers (6 to 31 miles) above Earths surface. The idea is that the aerosol particles would reflect a small amount of sunlight away from the planet, reducing the amount of heat trapped by greenhouse gases and mitigating some of the effects of climate change. SCoPEx/Knowable Magazine

Has the amount of geoengineering research increased in the past two decades?

Dramatically, even in the last couple of years. When I wrote that Annual Reviews paper in 2000, there was virtually zero organized research. There were a few researchers occasionally getting interested and putting in like 1 percent of their time.

Now there are little research programs almost everywhere you care to mention. There's a Chinese program that's pretty serious; there's an Australian one that's better funded than anything in the United States; there are several in Europe.

What has been the biggest surprise over the past 20 years in how solar geoengineering might work?

The big surprise has been recent results, including two studies I was involved in, showing that the effects of a global solar geoengineering program wouldn't be as geographically unequal as was feared. What matters for real public policy is who is made worse off.

For one paper published last year in Nature Climate Change, we used a very high-resolution computer model, and we compared, over all the land surface, two worlds: one world where we have two times preindustrial levels of carbon dioxide and the other world where we have enough solar geoengineering to reduce the temperature change by half. For each of the 33 geographical study regions designated by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, we tried to look at whether solar geoengineering would move a particular climate variable back toward preindustrial levels, which we call "moderated," or move it further away from preindustrial, which we call "exacerbated."

We focused on some of the most important climate variables: change in extreme temperature, change in average temperature, change in water availability and change in extreme precipitation. And what we found seems almost too good to be true: There wasnt a single variable in a single region that was exacerbated. That was a surprise.

In a paper published in March in Environmental Research Letters, we did the same analysis with another model, and we found that with solar geoengineering, everything is moderated in all regions except four. But all four of those are dry regions that get wetter. So my guess is many residents of those regions would actually prefer that outcome because in general people are more worried about getting drier than wetter.

Now, what the model shows may or may not be true in the real world. But if there is a single reason to really look at these technologies and evaluate them in experiments, its results like this that show you can reduce almost all or many of the major perturbations of climate without making any region significantly worse. Thats quite a thing.

How would your planned real-world experiment, known as the Stratospheric Controlled Perturbation Experiment (SCoPEx), work?

SCoPEx is a stratospheric balloon experiment to put aerosols in the stratosphere and measure their interaction over the first hours and the first kilometer or so after release in a plume. It involves a high-altitude balloon that will lift a gondola carrying a package of scientific instruments to an altitude of 20 kilometers. It will release a very small amount of materials such as ice, calcium carbonate (essentially powdered limestone) or sulfuric acid droplets known as sulfates. The gondola will be fitted with propellers that were originally made for airboats so that it can fly through the plume of released materials to take measurements.

The amount of released material will be on the order of 1 kilogram, which is far too small to have any direct health or environmental impact once released. The goal is not to change climate or even to see if you can reflect any sunlight. The goal is simply to improve our models of the way aerosols form in the stratosphere, especially in plumes, which is very relevant for understanding how solar geoengineering would work. We hope to launch the experiment soon. But when and where that will happen depends on balloon availability and recommendations from an advisory committee.

" " The planned Stratospheric Controlled Perturbation Experiment will send a balloon carrying scientific instruments in a gondola into the stratosphere. The instruments will release a small amount of material  likely ice or mineral dust  to form a kilometer-long plume of aerosol particles (left). Modified airboat propellers will allow the gondola to maneuver above the plume (middle) and lower instruments into the plume to take repeated measurements of how the particles spread through the stratosphere (right). ADAPTED FROM J.A. DYKEMA ET AL/PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY A 2014

We know there are health risks related to sulfuric acid pollution in the lower atmosphere. Are there potential health risks from injecting sulfate aerosols into the stratosphere?

Anything we put in the stratosphere will end up coming down to the surface, and that's one of the risks we must consider. A full-scale solar geoengineering program might involve injecting around 1.5 million tons of sulfur and sulfuric acid into the stratosphere per year. This could be done using a fleet of aircraft; roughly 100 aircraft would need to continuously fly payloads up to about 20 kilometers (12 miles) altitude. You would not be wrong to think this sounds crazy. We know that sulfuric acid pollution in the lower atmosphere kills many people every year, so putting sulfuric acid into the stratosphere is obviously a risk. But it's important to understand how much 1.5 million tons a year really is.

The 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo, in the Philippines, poured about 8 million tons of sulfur in one year into the stratosphere. It cooled the climate and had implications for all sorts of systems. Current global emissions of sulfur are about 50 million tons a year into the lower atmosphere, and that kills several million people every year from fine particulate air pollution. So the relative risk from solar geoengineering is fairly small, and it has to be weighed against the risk of not doing solar geoengineering.

How quickly could a full-scale solar geoengineering program get off the ground?

It could happen very fast, but all the ways it happens very fast are bad cases, basically where one country just jumps on it very quickly. It's obvious that what would be best is for countries not to just start doing it but to articulate clear plans and build in checks and balances and so on.

If there were much wider research over the next half-decade to decade  which is possible because attitudes really are changing  then it's plausible that some coalition of countries could begin to inch toward real implementation with serious, visible plans that can be critiqued by the scientific community starting by the end of this decade. I don't expect it will happen that fast, but I think it's possible.

How does geoengineering fit in with other efforts to combat climate change such as reducing fossil-fuel emissions and removing carbon from the air?

The first, and by far the most important, thing we do about climate change is decarbonizing the economy, which breaks the link between economic activity and carbon emissions. There's nothing I can say about solar geoengineering that changes the fact that we have to reduce emissions. If we do not do that, we're done.

Then carbon removal, which involves capturing and storing carbon that has already been emitted, could break the link between emissions and the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Large-scale carbon removal really makes sense when emissions are clearly heading toward zero, and we're getting toward the harder chunk of the economy to mitigate. And then solar geoengineering is a thing that might partially and imperfectly weaken, but not break, the link between the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and climate changes  changes in sea level, changes in extreme events, changes in temperature, etc.

So if you look at the curve of overall greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, you can think of emissions cuts as flattening the curve. Carbon removal takes you down the other side of the curve. And then solar geoengineering can cut off the top of the curve, which would reduce the risk of the carbon dioxide that is in the air already.

Some people think we should use it only as a get-out-of-jail card in an emergency. Some people think we should use it to quickly try to get back to a preindustrial climate. I'm arguing we use solar geoengineering to cut the top off the curve by gradually starting it and gradually ending it.

" " David Keith envisions using multiple approaches to combat climate change. The red line shows how the impacts of climate change would worsen with a business-as-usual scenario of unabated burning of fossil fuels and other greenhouse gas emissions. Aggressively cutting emissions bends that curve, and removing carbon from the atmosphere offers further cuts, but there are still consequences from the already high levels of carbon dioxide. In this scenario, solar geoengineering would lessen the impact from existing atmospheric carbon dioxide, effectively carving the top off the curve. David Keith/Knowable Magazine

Do you feel optimistic about the chances that solar geoengineering will happen and can make a difference in the climate crisis?

I'm not all that optimistic right now because we seem to be so much further away from an international environment that's going to allow sensible policy. And that's not just in the U.S. It's a whole bunch of European countries with more populist regimes. It's Brazil. It's the more authoritarian India and China. It's a more nationalistic world, right? It's a little hard to see a global, coordinated effort in the near term. But I hope those things will change.

This story originally appeared in Knowable Magazine and is republished here as part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalistic collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story.
I nitial investigations into the death of a diplomat have yet to establish how he died after his body was found in a Hampshire forest, an inquest has heard.

Former ambassador to Nepal, Richard Morris, was last seen running in an area near his home in Bentley on May 6.

After he was reported missing, weeks of searches led to the discovery of a body in Alice Holt Forest on August 31.

A post-mortem examination carried out on the body of the 52-year-old gave a medical cause of death as unascertained, senior coroner for Hampshire Christopher Wilkinson said on Wednesday.

During a four-minute remote hearing, Mr Wilkinson confirmed Mr Morris was found dead by a member of the public.

Mr Wilkinson said consultant forensic pathologist Dr Russell Delaney carried out the initial examination on the body, adding: The nature of his death is at this stage unascertained.

The inquest was adjourned until June 2021 for further evidence to be gathered.

A family statement released at the time of his death described Mr Morris as funny, kind and smart.

It added: Above all else, Richard was a family man. A loving and loyal husband, father, son and brother.

He showed us the world but he was our world and we are devastated by his loss.

Mr Morris was the ambassador to Nepal between 2015 and November 2019 and accompanied the Duke of Sussex during his tour of the country in 2016.

Before that he was head of the Pacific department in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and has held senior diplomatic posts including in Australia and Mexico during nearly 30 years service.

At the time of the discovery of his body, police said they were not treating the death as suspicious.

Additional reporting by PA Media.
By 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.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
CEO of Lockheed Martin to deliver keynote address at Global Aerospace Summit. Image Tarsus Group

The premier thought leadership forum, hosted by Mubadala Investment Company and EDGE, takes place in a virtual format on 28 and 29 September, 2020.

Taiclet, a former military pilot and Gulf War veteran, will focus on several critical areas, including the security threats faced by nations worldwide, his perspective on what the modern battlespace looks like today, and how he believes it will look in the years to come. He will also propose actions to aerospace and defense industry leaders to drive technological advancement, enable economic prosperity, and empower the next generation of talent.

Lockheed Martins relationships in the Middle East date back a half-century. We are proud of our longstanding partnership with Mubadala, and look forward to building upon our relationship with EDGE, Taiclet said.

At the Global Aerospace Summit this year, I look forward to sharing my views on how we can work together as an industry to increase security, economic growth, and industrial advancement in the region, while fulfilling a shared vision for peace and progress.

The Global Aerospace Summit virtual agenda focuses directly on topics that will enable the aerospace sector to thrive in the new economic and social environment. The international thought leadership forum is being organized by Streamline Marketing Group and Tarsus F&E.
The Rajya Sabha was adjourned with the Opposition still fuming over the events that led to suspension of eight MPs.

Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned sine die on Wednesday, bringing the Monsoon Session of Parliament to an end eight days ahead of schedule.

The session started on 14 September amid the coronavirus pandemic. In a first, the two Houses met at different times in a day to ensure social distancing norms against the backdrop of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Speaker Om Birla adjourned the Lower House sine die after the passage of the Major Port Authorities Bill. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was present when the House was adjourned.

The Rajya Sabha was adjourned with the Opposition still fuming over the events that led to suspension of eight MPs.

Major Port Authorities Bill, 2020 passed in LS

Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed a bill that seeks to provide greater autonomy in decision-making to 12 major ports in the country and professionalise their governance by setting up boards. The Major Port Authorities Bill, 2020, seeks to repeal the Major Port Trusts Act of 1963.

The bill aims to provide for regulation, operation and planning of major ports in India and to vest the administration, control and management of such ports upon the boards of major port authorities and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto, be taken into consideration.

"This would enable our ports to become world class and enable board to take decision on their own," shipping minister Mansukh Mandaviya said while relying to debate on the bill.

In terms of volume, 70 percent of cargo movement is through ports while 90 percent in value terms. Replying to concerns raised by opposition, the minister said interest of all employees and pensioners would be safeguarded.

Rajya Sabha passes key bills without Opposition

Rajya Sabha passed 15 bills in the last two sittings with Opposition parties boycotting the proceedings to protest the suspension of eight members on Monday for their "unruly" behaviour in the House during the passage of two key farm bills.

The Upper House today passed The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2020, The Bilateral Netting of Qualified Financial Contracts Bill, 2020, the three labour codes, and the Jammu and Kashmir Official Languages Bill.

Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu, expressing regret at the Opposition's absence, said while it is "extremely unpalatable" when bills are passed amid a boycott of proceedings by some sections of the House, not taking up legislative work in such a situation may legitimise their action as an "instrument of blocking legislation".

Naidu said the House had to hold 18 sittings but it held only 10.

"We have to conclude this session eight sittings ahead of the scheduled 18 sittings as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to challenge humankind across the globe even after nine months of its outbreak," he said.

The Chairman also said that for the first time in the history of Upper House, a notice of motion for removal of the Deputy Chairman has been given, which was rejected by him.

Meanwhile, various Opposition parties boycotted the proceedings and took out a silent protest march in the Parliament complex against the contentious farm Bills passed recently.

The protesting MPs carried placards with messages such as "Save Farmers, Save Workers, Save Democracy" during their march from the Mahatma Gandhi statue to the Ambedkar statue on the premises. They also stood before Gandhi's statue in a line.

Members of the Congress, Trinamool Congress, CPI, CPI-M, DMK, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Samajwadi Party and the NCP participated in the protest.

"All MPs of the Congress and like-minded parties are marching from Gandhi statue to Ambedkar statue in Parliament protesting the anti-farmers, anti-workers Bills that have been rubberstamped in Parliament in the most undemocratic manner by the Modi government," Congress chief whip in Rajya Sabha Jairam Ramesh said in a tweet.

Opposition members earlier held a meeting in the chamber of Ghulam Nabi Azad, the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, to formulate their further strategy against the farm Bills. Various Opposition parties have protested the passage of the Farm Bills in Parliament and have boycotted the proceedings of both Houses.

Parliament approves key labour bills

The Upper House on Wednesday approved three key labour reform bills that will remove impediments for winding up of companies and allow firing of staff without government permission in firms with up to 300 workers.

The three codes were passed by Lok Sabha on Tuesday and these will now be sent to President Ram Nath Kovind for his assent.

Replying to the debate on the three labour reforms bills, labour minister Santosh Gangwar said, "The purpose of labour reforms is to provide a transparent system to suit the changed business environment."

The minister also told the House that as many as 16 states have already increased the threshold for closure, lay off and retrenchment in firms with up to 300 workers without government permission.

He maintained that it is not good for employment generation to keep the threshold low at 100 because it discourages employers to recruit more workers than this and they deliberately keep their workers' strength below it.

The minister was of the view that the increase in the threshold would result in job creation and encourage employers to hire.

He said these bills would safeguard the interest of workers and provide universal social security to workers by expanding the ambit of Employees' Provident Fund Organisation and Employees' State Corporation of India.

He also said that there would a social security fund to cover around 40 crore unorganised sector workers.

Over 29 labour laws have been merged into four codes and one (Code on Wages Bill, 2019) of them has already been passed, according to the minister.

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 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.

The Code on Wages 2019 was passed by Parliament last year. The passage of the remaining three codes by Parliament completes government efforts to reform labour laws in the country.

RS passes 24 bills, introduces 6; total productivity at 57%

Chairman Venkaiah Naidu said the Rajya Sabha session is being concluded ahead of its planned session. In the 10 sittings, he noted that 25 Bills were passed and 6 bills introduced, with 3.15 hours lost due to disruptions in this session.

A total of 57 percent of the total functional time of the House was spent on government legislative business. He further said that the high productivity of the previous sessions continued this time too.

Though the session has been satisfactory in terms of productivity, there were some areas of concern. Naidu made an appeal to all members, "from the depth of his heart", to ensure that such unruly behaviour is not repeated.

"To protest is the right of the Opposition. Any member, for that matter. But how should it be done? The floor of the House is the most effective way, and not through boycott," says Naidu. He also called Sunday's incidents as "unfortunate."

With inputs from PTI
With his dog and cat by his side, Maksim Karaleuski stood in the square, the red-and-white flag of the first independent Belarusian republic draped over his shoulders, joining calls for Alyaksandr Lukashenka to step down.

Belarus has been rocked by protests since Lukashenka, in power for 26 years, was declared the winner of the August 9 presidential election, which critics charge was blatantly rigged.

Authorities have brutally suppressed many of the demonstrations in Minsk and elsewhere, detaining thousands and beating hundreds -- including Karaleuski, who was arrested as he bicycled home late on August 11, long after protests that day had ended.

But this time, Karaleuski did not fear arrest: He was in Kyiv, not Minsk, demonstrating alongside fellow Belarusians in Ukraine and other supporters of the protests against Lukashenka and his government.

Amid the current political turmoil, many firms in the IT sector, one of the few economic success stories in Belarus, have either moved or are contemplating it, taking their skilled employees with them. Other IT workers have decided on their own to leave, some after being swept up in the police crackdown on protests over the disputed election.

A survey in late August of 34 IT companies in Belarus by the tech news site Dev.by found that 167 of their employees had been detained by security forces over just four days, August 9-12.

Karaleuski arrived in the Ukrainian capital earlier this month after a horrific night in Minsk's notorious Akrestsina jail -- where "lawlessness and torture" reigned, he said.

"At the beginning of the night, they ordered us on our knees, and then put us in a different cell -- there were 127 people in there," he told RFE/RL's Belarus Service. "We didn't get any water, no food, it was very cold, but no one cared. We faced constant abuse. If you moved or asked for something, you could get slugged. If you asked for a lawyer, a fair trial, or disputed the police report, they could brutally beat you."

Karaleuski said he suffered beatings all over his body, his testimony echoing much of what others held there say they endured.

"I had bruises all over, on my back, legs, thighs, and face. When they detained me, they shaved a cross on the back of my head. I didn't know why or understand the reason because I have short hair. It was violence for the sake of violence," he explained. "They cut up my shorts and ordered me to unlock my phone. But they ended up doing it themselves, with my finger, because my phone has a fingerprint ID sensor."

Karaleuski was relatively fortunate: He was freed the next day, on August 12, along with some others. Their release seemed timed to a visit to the jail by Deputy Interior Minister Alyaksandr Barsukou -- who had himself been accused of beating detainees at Akrestsina -- that seemed aimed to quiet charges of alleged torture inside.

Freed, Karaleuski and his lawyer documented his injuries and hoped to file a complaint, in what would be a fruitless effort.

"I went to the Investigative Committee about the illegal detention and beatings. My lawyer and I were able to get confirmation of the beatings at the State Service of Medical Forensic Expertise, but [the Investigative Committee] did not respond. There was no movement at all on the matter," he said. "They never called me in to give testimony."

Lucky To Get Out

Shortly after that, Karaleuski, an orphan whose only relative in Minsk is his grandmother, decided it was time to take his pets and leave Belarus as the authorities began rounding up opposition leaders or forcing them to flee the country -- including presidential candidate Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, now in Lithuania, who claims she was the real winner of the election.

"When there was news that the Ukrainian government would facilitate the resettlement of Belarusians -- it was on September 3 -- I decided to move. I had an invitation to work, but at the border I wasn't asked about it. I only showed my passport and COVID-19 insurance. They did not ask for anything else," Karaleuski said. "It was good timing, because afterward I heard that at the border they began to ask for certain documents. But I was lucky."

He worried that his dog, Ostsin (Austin), and his cat, Palina (Pauline) wouldn't be so lucky  but they also made it to Ukraine.

"Of course, it wasn't easy, but I wouldn't abandon them at any cost and was ready to do whatever was necessary to make sure we all got across the border successfully. However, there were no problems at the border. I brought them in. They rode in the minibus quietly, resting the whole trip. We were able to cross the border because we had everything  [identity] chips, vaccines, passports, documents," Karaleuski said.

A Big Loss

The exodus of IT workers and businesses has dealt a further blow to the Belarusian economy, already negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. It has also been crippled by strike actions connected with the anti-Lukashenka protests and a run on the banks, as jittery Belarusians withdraw deposits as the Belarusian ruble tumbles.

An online survey found that at least 12 IT companies were completely relocating, 59 partially relocating, and 112 examining options for moving.

"The Belarusian IT sector makes up 6.2 percent of the country's GDP, and more than 13 percent of the service sector. More than 90 percent of IT services are used by foreign clients. So they bring in foreign-currency revenue. It's big money," Dzyanis Maroz, an IT consultant, recently told Current Time, a Russian-language channel led by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA.

The Minsk Hi-Tech Park is home to 750 companies, or was. It was founded by Valer Tsapkala, who sought to challenge Lukashenka but was barred from the ballot for reasons he contends were groundless and politically motivated and fled Belarus a few weeks before the disputed election. He said he'd been threatened by state prosecutors.

"The high-tech sector, it's all about trust, not about expensive hardware or equipment. How can you build anything if trust has been violated?" Tsapkala told RFE/RL in August. "There's no trust in the government, in Lukashenka's words anymore."

That sentiment is echoed by Karaleuski, who said he also didn't want to support a "usurper" -- a word many Belarusians who believe the election was stolen use to refer to Lukashenka.

"I came here so I could express my opinions openly and not pay taxes to the usurper of power," he explained, adding that he hadn't shut the door on his homeland.

"If the regime changes, I will gladly return to Belarus to work in a new country," he said.

Written by Tony Wesolowsky based on reporting by Alena Litvinava of RFE/RL's Belarus Service
MONTGOMERY, Ala., Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education is partnering with Teaching Strategies, one of the most widely recognized and trusted brands in early learning, to launch the Alabama Distance Learning Solution. The digital tool is being made available to all First Class Pre-K, Pre-K  3rd Grade Integrated Approach to Early Learning (P-3) sites, and participating Head Start classrooms statewide, providing access to more than 26,000 children and their families statewide

"Having a high quality distance learning solution is critical to a successful reopening should remote learning be needed for Alabama's youngest students, their families, and our educators," said Governor Kay Ivey. "When talking to families about the 2020-21 school year, we overwhelmingly heard that access to digital tools and resources to ensure the continuity of high quality learning both inside and outside of the classroom was of utmost priority."

The initiative was developed in response to feedback from Alabama First Class Pre-K teachers and families pre-registered to attend First Class Pre-K. The First Class Pre-K Distance Learning Solution, powered by Teaching Strategies, will put all the essential resources and tools at the fingertips of families, making school transitions throughout the fall far more seamless for learners. The offering enables efficient and secure communication between teachers and families, as well as 24/7 access to all curriculum resources and assessment data to facilitate informed, individualized instruction on any device.

"Our educators are going above and beyond in the midst of this pandemic to maintain the academic, developmental, and social-emotional well-being of the students they serve," said Dr. Barbara J. Cooper, Alabama Secretary of Early Childhood Education. "More than 90% of our educators have indicated having access to digital tools, including research-based developmentally appropriate resources, digital lesson plans, and ongoing professional development, will support their virtual instruction and family engagement. We are grateful to Governor Kay Ivey for approving federal CARES Act relief funds to make these resources a reality."

The First Class Pre-K Distance Learning Solution enables educators and families to remain focused on social-emotional learning while delivering academic rigor alongside cognitive skills, meaningful interactions, and physical well-being in a whole-child approach to high quality early learning. All First Class Pre-K and P-3 programs currently use the digital platform in their classrooms, and now all Department-funded programs will be able to continue to do so outside of the classroom to individualize instruction, facilitate communication between teachers and families, streamline weekly planning processes, and offer access to new family-facing resources to build consistency in early education experiences regardless of the learning setting.

"The Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education has demonstrated their deep commitment to supporting educators and families with developmentally appropriate learning experiences regardless of the setting  distance learning, traditional in-person classroom, or a blended hybrid environment," said John Olsen, CEO of Teaching Strategies. "We are proud to support this work and ensure that the state's youngest learners aren't missing out on a pivotal year of learning and growth."

To learn more about the Alabama Distance Learning Solution, visit https://children.alabama.gov/.

About Teaching Strategies:

For 40 years, Teaching Strategies has provided early childhood educators with innovative, research-proven, effective resources to help build a strong foundation for our youngest learners. With ground-breaking solutions and a strong belief that a child's first 8 years form a critical foundation for school success, Teaching Strategies provides the most innovative and effective curriculum, assessment, professional development, and family engagement resources to programs serving children from birth through third grade. Its products, including Tadpoles, the award-winning Creative Curriculum for Preschool, and widely-adopted assessment solutions like GOLD, reach over 2 million children each year. To learn why thousands of early childhood programs and many states choose to partner with Teaching Strategies to help ensure children's success in school and in life, visit www.teachingstrategies.com and follow us on Twitter @TeachStrategies.

SOURCE Teaching Strategies

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Im aware that some of thats been done, Republicans collecting signatures for Green Party ballot access, he said in an interview. I heard about it after the fact. Voters should look at the candidates. These operatives play their games. Myself, I didnt know they were doing this.

The efforts on Mr. Hawkinss behalf span several states. In the Pittsburgh area this summer, numerous signature collectors were brought in from Florida and California to get Mr. Hawkins on the ballot, nominating papers filed in Pennsylvania show. Mr. Hawkinss campaign manager, Andrea Merida Cuellar, said, We did not contract with any firm directly for petitioning work in the state, and when told that it appeared that an outside group brought the petitioners in, she did not offer another explanation.

Documents reviewed by The Times, and interviews with people involved in gathering signatures, indicate that the petitioners were brought in by L&R Political Consultants, a Florida-based company run by Larry Laws, who is well known in the ballot petitioning business, two people with knowledge of the effort said. Mr. Laws did not return calls and texts seeking comment.

One of the people said that a Republican consultant named Tim Mooney was also part of the effort. The Dallas Morning News reported in 2010 that Mr. Mooney had worked to get the Green Party access to the ballot in Texas. He and Mr. Laws have a history of working together, and were both reportedly involved in a 2004 effort to get Ralph Nader on the ballot as an independent candidate. Mr. Mooney has been linked more recently to state ballot measures supported by the president.

In a text message, Mr. Mooney denied any involvement.

Not working for the Greens, he wrote. Havent collected any candidate signatures for any party this cycle.

In Wisconsin, a number of Republican lawyers have been aiding attempts by Mr. Hawkins to get on the ballot, and a Republican member of the state elections commission informally advised the Green Party after the commission deadlocked along party lines on the question. Mr. Hawkinss bid was rejected last week by the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Jere Edmunds smiles following the pitch for his documentary series "Inside Look," during Good Pitch Local Philly 2020 at PhillyCAM Sept. 16. Read more

Meet Jere Edmunds, a documentary filmmaker and the man behind We Do It Distribution Services whos posted millions of fliers around Philly for cultural events.

 Surreal circulation: My biggest job was working for the Philadelphia Museum of Art doing the Salvador Dali campaign. That was 20,000 fliers and pamphlets I had to get out."

 Distribution method: It should always be about empowering and reaching out to neighborhoods that are less fortunate and showing them other possibilities. Thats basically what arts and culture is for.

To many in Philadelphias arts community, Jere Edmunds is known as The Flier Guy or the hardest working man in town.

Since 1983, hes been the one-man operation behind We Do It Distribution Services, traveling across the city on his bicycle to post fliers on bulletin boards, brochures in businesses, and pamphlets in public spaces. The paper trails he leaves advertise events for theaters, museums, and just about every arts, culture, and educational organization in the city, from the School District of Philadelphia to the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

People have a tendency to forget the digital because theyre bombarded with so much, Edmunds, who lives in Powelton, said. Theres nothing like having that old-fashioned paper trail you can tack onto your fridge or put in your wallet. Its not something you have to Google.

When COVID-19 and quarantine hit in March, shuttering events and institutions across the city, Edmunds' distribution service not only took a hit, but he lost his jobs as a server and bartender as well.

But instead of letting it get him down, Edmunds  a member of PhillyCAM (Philadelphias public access television network)  doubled down on a project close to his heart: The Inside Look, a series of short documentaries about Philadelphia artists like Leroy Johnson and Betty Leacraft who were part of the Black Arts Movement of the 60s and 70s.

These artists are not underrated, because they are excellent at what they do  they are under-recognized," Edmunds said. Philadelphia has a rich artistic heritage and culture, especially among African Americans, but a lot of these artists havent been documented like others have.

Last week in PhillyCAMs Center City studio, Edmunds pitched his series to local activists, educators, foundations, and nonprofits who virtually attended Good Pitch Local Philadelphia 2020, which connects media makers with people able to offer various kinds of support, from production assistance to funding.

I want to make sure African American artists are included in educational and cultural institutions, Edmunds told the potential supporters, who offered him equipment, promotional assistance, and screening opportunities.

For the lifelong Philadelphian, this project  like everything else he does  is a way to honor his father, who had a full scholarship to the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts but gave it up to be a husband and dad. In 1968, Edmunds' father was killed by a hit-and-run driver in Brewerytown.

He saved his mothers life. He pushed his own mom out of the way and the car hit him, Edmunds said. He was my hero so I try to achieve in his name.

Edmunds, who is in his 60s (he wont say exactly how old because hes old enough to remember when you werent supposed to trust anyone over 30), studied art at Hussian College and PAFA, but left for New York City before graduating. There, in the early 80s, he was a Club Kid and even got a role as a model in the 1982 punk sci-fi movie Liquid Skye (more recently, Edmunds has worked as an extra in Creed 2, 21 Bridges, and Dispatches from Elsewhere).

When he came back to Philly in 1983, Edmunds began working at the Hot Club at 21st and South Streets, a new-wave punk club owned by David Carroll.

Around the same time, he also worked in telemarketing for several theater companies selling subscriptions. While doing so, he learned that the theaters were looking for someone to go to neighborhoods and post fliers for upcoming shows.

I went to the library and looked at maps, rode my bike around town, and came up with a price scheme, Edmunds said.

Edmunds began building a rapport with business owners so theyd allow him to post his fliers in their store fronts (Sometimes Id offer to run the store for them so they could step out), and he learned as much as he could about the productions he advertised.

You should have knowledge of what youre putting out in case people ask you about the show, he said. And be truthful, because people can tell if youre lying.

Sometimes, Edmunds distributes fliers for as many as 50 organizations at a time, but hes purposeful about the placement of each.

Its not rocket science, not everything is going to go in every neighborhood, he said. But you dont want to think less of a possible audience member that may go. You always want to feel that people are enlightened, or can be."

After more than 37 years in the flier business, Edmunds now has his regular route, which includes hotels, libraries, apartment buildings, coffee shops, supermarkets, thrift stores, gyms, and other businesses across Philly.

 MORE WE THE PEOPLE: In a quest for the peculiar, they created Bella Vistas Narnia

He believes in this age of social media marketing, his old-school, real-world services are still important.

How we get information has progressed, but people are still going to walk around so there will always be a need for footwork," he said.
Description

The Global Service Institute at Long Island University announced Headliners of Service, a virtual speaker series which will feature special live conversations with international security expert and granddaughter of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Susan Eisenhower, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, and former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Moderated by Global Service Institute Chair and acclaimed journalist Rita Cosby, the virtual lectures will be held monthly through Zoom, beginning September 23rd, and will follow with a live Q&A period for viewers.

The virtual lecture series will feature:

Susan Eisenhower

Wednesday, September 23rd at 12 pm EST

International Security Expert Susan Eisenhower shares insightful and riveting stories about her extraordinary grandfather American President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Her new book, How Ike Led: The Principles Behind Eisenhowers Biggest Decisions, discusses the importance of President Eisenhowers deep-seated values that Susan Eisenhower saw firsthand and what we can all learn from him today. Free virtual event.

To register, please visit https://liu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_JVVCrh44TbWOU615K3o54g

Secretary Ben Carson

Thursday, October 1st at 11 am EST

Distinguished retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson joins us to talk about his current roles and latest developments as the 17th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and a member of the Trump Administrations Coronavirus Task Force. Free virtual event.

To register, please visit https://liu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_zBYRZ1-oQPCx9mdumtDTZg

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert

Thursday, November 12th at 12 pm EST

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert joins us to talk about the importance of the U.S. presidential election, the historic peace accords between Israel, the UAE and Bahrain, his time in the Israeli Defense Forces and in public office, as well as Israels mandatory national military service for its citizens.

To register, please visit https://liu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-QFGgnntT-yvPNKNVMiIvw

For more information visit the Global Service Institute website at globalserviceinstitute.org/headliners-of-service/

About the Global Service Institute at Long Island University

The Global Service Institutes mission is to become the preeminent service initiative in education. The nonpartisan institute will foster important dialogue of complex global issues, while preparing and inspiring students and others to improve and change our world with new models of collaboration, innovation and social entrepreneurship. The long term goals of the Institute are to touch the lives of 250 million people globally with service initiatives, perform 100 million hours of community service, support and highlight impactful research addressing global needs and develop 100,000 future leaders.

About Long Island University

Long Island University, founded in 1926, continues to redefine higher education, providing high quality academic instruction by world-class faculty. Recognized by Forbes for its emphasis on experiential learning and by the Brookings Institution for its value added to student outcomes, LIU offers close to 265 accredited programs, with a network of 267,000 alumni that includes industry leaders and entrepreneurs all across the globe. Visit liu.edu for more information.
The Philippine president got rare praises Wednesday from his key critics for invoking before the United Nations a 2016 arbitration ruling that invalidated Chinas vast territorial claims in the South China Sea, in a surprise move that will likely pique Beijing

President Rodrigo Duterte made one of his strongest defenses of the Philippine victory in the arbitration case in his first address before the annual U.N. General Assembly where world leaders spoke mostly in prerecorded videos due to the pandemic. China has long refused to bring the issue to any international arena.

Duterte, who has nurtured close ties with China since taking office in mid-2016, has long been criticized for refusing to immediately and forcefully demand Chinese compliance with the ruling by a U.N.-backed tribunal. It found Chinas claims on virtually the entire South China Sea on historical grounds inconsistent with international maritime law.

China refused to take part in the arbitration, which was initiated by Dutertes predecessor, and has dismissed the ruling as a sham. Beijing prefers direct negotiations with each of its rival claimant states and has vehemently refused to have the long-raging disputes internationalized for fears the United States and its allies would find a way to intervene.

Duterte welcomed the increasing number of countries that have expressed support for the ruling, which he said stood for the triumph of reason over rashness, of law over disorder, of amity over ambition.

The award is now part of international law, beyond compromise and beyond the reach of passing governments to dilute, diminish or abandon, Duterte said, without naming China. We firmly reject attempts to undermine it.

Chinese officials did not immediately issue any reaction.

Albert del Rosario, a former Philippine foreign secretary who brought the disputes with China to international arbitration, said he was heartened by Dutertes move. By underscoring the decision before the annual U.N. gathering of world leaders, Duterte has acted more faithfully to our constitution, which mandates him and our military to secure our countrys sovereignty and protect our lands and seas, del Rosario said.

He urged the Duterte administration to secure the backing of more countries so the ruling could be raised more emphatically in next years U.N. General Assembly.

Antonio Carpio, a retired Philippine Supreme Court justice who helped in the arbitration case, commended Duterte and hoped that this is the policy that the Duterte administration will implement across all levels in protecting Philippine maritime rights and seeking international support to enforce the ruling.

Mr. Rodrigo Dutertes 360-degree turn ... is a big victory for international law and Philippine sovereignty against his own defeatist policy on China, former human rights chief Etta Rosales said, adding the president succumbed to pressure for him to uphold international law.

Duterte also defended his deadly anti-drug crackdown and played down criticism from human rights advocates in his speech. He has previously harshly criticized the U.N. for raising alarm over his campaign against illegal drugs and threatened to withdraw the Philippines from the world body, which he says his government now values for its role in fighting the global coronavirus pandemic.
Animal lovers wanting a playful dog which will chase sticks and play tug-of-war may want to go for a specific breed.

Not all dogs are as playful as each other, a study suggests, with sheepdogs, retrievers and German shepherds among the most fun.

Owners of Yorkshire terriers and King Charles spaniels may find their pets cannot be bothered with rough-and-tumble play and would rather sit and be gently patted instead.

Not all dogs are as playful as each other, a study suggests, with collies (pictured), retrievers and German shepherds among the most fun

Researchers analysed the behaviour of almost 190,000 dogs of more than 138 breeds to judge playfulness. Small;er dogs, such as pugs and French bulldogs (pictured) were less fun overall

Researchers analysed the behaviour of almost 190,000 dogs of more than 138 breeds to judge their playfulness.

They found breeds created to work closely with their owners, like the collies which round up sheep, or foxhounds traditionally used for hunting, tend to be more playful.

Smaller, companion animals like chihuahuas and shih tzus, do not play as much.

Professor Niclas Kolm, first author of the study from Stockholm University, said: 'We found breeds that normally work closely with their owners, such as herding and sporting dogs, have the highest levels of play.

'In the past these animals may have been trained using playtime as a reward, which is why they prefer it.

'Or it may be the case that people working closely with dogs have used play to bond with them, and to practise efficient communication for other tasks.'

Breeds created to work closely with their owners, like German shepherds (right), foxhounds or retrievers (left), tend to be more playful. Smaller, companion animals like chihuahuas and shih tzus, do not play as much

Cavalier King Charles spaniels (left) and Yorkshire terriers (right) are among the least playful dog breeds, a study found, because they were bred for companionship and not for working closely with humans

Some breeds are more playful than others Playful dogs include: Cocker spaniels, English setters, border collies, German shepherds, old English sheepdogs, Pembroke Welsh corgis Less playful dogs include: Cavalier King Charles spaniels, pugs, Yorkshire terriers, poodles, chihuahuas, shih tzus Advertisement

The study, published in the journal Biology Letters, looked at breeds tested to see how playful they were.

Each dog's owner took a twisted rag used as a dog toy and threw it to a stranger, who then chucked it for the animal to fetch.

Then the stranger held the rag with both hands to see if the dog would play a tug-of-war game to wrestle it away.

The dogs were scored for their willingness to play, from those which showed no interest to those which jumped right in and played very actively.

Those dogs with intermediate scores may, for example, have been slow to start playing, played less actively or shown only interest in the rag without approaching it.

Dogs were split into seven groups, including sporting and hound breeds traditionally used for hunting, herding breeds like collies, non-sporting house dogs, such as dalmatians and bulldogs, and smaller-sized companion dogs in the 'toy' category which included Yorkshire terriers and chihuahuas.

The most playful dogs were the sporting and herding groups, including pointers and Malinois dogs.

The non-sporting and toy dogs were least likely to get involved in playtime.

As wolves are much less likely than pet dogs to play, experts believe humans selected and bred dogs which were playful over centuries.

Professor Kolm said: 'Playing with humans may have been an important trait during domestic dog evolution.'
Buddy Valastro, the celebrity baker known as the Cake Boss, is recuperating after sustaining a serious injury Sunday.

Valastro shared a photo on Instagram Wednesday showing himself in a hospital bed, his hand and arm bandaged and raised up.

I was involved in a terrible accident a few days ago, said Valastro, 43, using the hashtag #ironfist. What do you think of my new accessory?

Valastro had to undergo two rounds of surgery after hurting his right hand in a bowling accident at his home.

Buddy was spending some quality time on Sunday bowling with his family, Nikki Monan, spokeswoman for Carlos Bakery, tells NJ Advance Media. There was a malfunction with the bowling pinsetter, a common fix in the past, but (it) turned into a terrible accident. After trying to release the bowling pin from the cage mechanism, his right hand became lodged and compressed inside the unit.

Unable to remove his hand, she says Valastro watched a metal rod "slowly and repeatedly impale his hand three times between his ring finger and middle finger. "

More than five minutes passed before Valastros sons, Buddy Jr. and Marco, went to the garage for a reciprocating saw to cut through the metal rod and extricate their fathers hand from the machine.

Valastro underwent emergency surgery Sunday at Morristown Medical Center to remove the rod from his hand and stabilize the wound. He underwent further surgery at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan with orthopedic surgeon Dr. Michelle Carlson.

It will be an uphill battle as its Buddys dominant right hand and he will need prolonged recovery and therapy, Monan said.

Valastros reality show Cake Boss, filmed at his Hoboken bakery, premiered on TLC in 2009, launching the local baker to food fame (the show now airs on Discovery Family). He grew up in Hoboken and Little Ferry and lives in Montville.

Famous friends, like Ace of Cakes star Duff Goldman, his Food Network cake rival on Buddy vs. Duff, and celebrity chefs Emeril Lagasse, Rocco DiSpirito and Cat Cora, commented on Valastros post, offering their well wishes.

Get better homie," Goldman said. Youre gonna need that hand.

Get better quick my friend," Lagasse said.

Carlos Bake Shop has been in Hoboken since 1910. Valastro took over at the bakery after his father, Bartolo Valastro Sr., died in 1994. He expanded the business into a sprawling chain with the help of his reality TV fame, launching a bakeware line and other reality shows over the years. In showing the day-to-day workings of the bakery and his custom cake adventures, Cake Boss features Valastros family, including his sisters and his mother, Mary Valastro. She died in 2017.

Valastro recently added a PizzaCake pizzeria to his group of restaurants and bakeries, which include Carlos Bake Shops at casinos and malls across the country and Canada and Buddy Vs Ristorante Italian restaurants in Las Vegas, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and San Antonio, Texas. The pizzeria is at Harrahs Las Vegas Hotel & Casino.

You cant arrest me! Im the Cake Boss! the celebrity baker reportedly told police in 2014 before he was arrested on a misdemeanor drunken driving charge in New York. (Valastro later pleaded guilty to driving while impaired.) He was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame in 2018.

Valastro closed two of his Carlos Bake Shops in Ridgewood and Morristown in 2019 after shuttering Westfield and Red Bank locations in 2018.

The most recent Jersey location to close was the one at Willowbrook Mall in Wayne. There are currently two Carlos bakeries in New Jersey: the original in Hoboken and another in Marlton. The bakerys Times Square location is temporarily closed.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com.
DUBLIN, Sept. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Europe Starch Softgel Capsules Market Forecast to 2027 - Covid-19 Impact and Analysis - by Application (Pharmaceutical, Health Supplements, Others); Distribution Channel (Supermarket and Hypermarket, Pharmacy and Drugstore, Online Provider)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Europe starch softgel capsules market is expected to reach US$ 161.36 million by 2027 from US$ 114.85 million in 2019. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 4.5% from 2020 to 2027.

The growth of the Europe starch softgel capsules market is attributed to increasing availability of vegetarian softgel capsules and rising preference of pharmaceutical and nutraceutical companies toward softgel capsules. However, difficulties in optimizing cellulose/starch for API delivery hinders the growth of the market.

Germany in the largest market for starch softgel capsules owing to rising prevalence of chronic diseases and increasing investments by market players. For instance, in April 2019, Catalent expanded its integrated turnkey softgel capabilities at its facility in Eberbach, Germany. The company invested US$ 14 million in this expansion, which includes two new softgel encapsulation lines dedicated to the company's Vegicaps technology. This investment is driven by the increased demand for animal-free consumer health products.

Based on application, the Europe starch softgel capsules market is segmented into pharmaceutical, health supplements, and others. In 2019, the health supplements segment held a larger share of the market. Also, it is estimated to register a higher CAGR in the market during the forecast period. In terms of distribution channel, the Europe starch softgel capsules market is categorized into supermarket and hypermarket, pharmacy and drugstore, and online provider. In 2019, the pharmacy and drugstore segment held a larger share of the market; however, the online provider segment is expected to register a higher CAGR during the forecast period.

A few major primary and secondary sources referred to in the process of preparing the report on the starch softgel capsules market are the World Health Organization, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, and Council for Responsible Nutrition, among others.

Key Topics Covered:

1. Introduction

1.1 Study Scope

1.2 Research Report Guidance

1.3 Market Segmentation

1.3.1 Europe Starch Softgel Capsules Market- By Application

1.3.2 Europe Starch Softgel Capsules Market- By Distribution Channel

1.3.3 Europe Starch Softgel Capsules Market- By Region

2. Starch Softgel Capsules Market - Key Takeaways

2.1 Coverage

2.2 Secondary Research

2.3 Primary Research

3. Starch Softgel Capsules - Market Landscape

3.1 Overview

3.2 PEST Analysis

3.2.1 Europe

3.3 Expert Opinion

4. Europe Starch Softgel Capsules Market - Industry Dynamics

4.1 Key Drivers

4.1.1 Increasing Availability of Vegetarian Softgel Capsules

4.1.2 Rising Preference of Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Companies Toward Softgel Capsules

4.2 Key Market Restraints

4.2.1 Difficulties in Optimizing Cellulose/Starch for API Delivery

4.3 Key Market Opportunities

4.3.1 Developing Healthcare Industry

4.4 Future Trends

4.4.1 Increasing Online Distribution Platforms

4.5 Impact Analysis

5. Starch Softgel Capsules Market - Regional Analysis

5.1 Europe Starch Softgel Capsules Market Revenue Forecast And Analysis

6. Starch Softgel Capsules Market Analysis - By Application

6.1 Overview

6.2 Starch Softgel Capsules Market Revenue Share, by Application, 2019 and 2027 (%)

6.2.1 Europe: Starch Softgel Capsules Market, by Application - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (USD Million)

6.3 Pharmaceutical

6.3.1 Overview

6.3.2 Pharmaceutical: Starch Softgel Capsules Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

6.4 Health Supplements

6.4.1 Overview

6.4.2 Health Supplements: Starch Softgel Capsules Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

6.5 Other Applications

6.5.1 Overview

6.5.2 Health Supplements: Starch Softgel Capsules Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

7. Starch Softgel Capsules Market - By Distribution Channel

7.1 Overview

7.2 Starch Softgel Capsules Market, by Distribution Channel, 2019 and 2027 (%)

7.2.1 Europe: Starch Softgel Capsules Market, By Distribution Channel - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (USD Million)

7.3 Supermarket and Hypermarket

7.3.1 Overview

7.3.2 Supermarket and Hypermarket Market Revenue and Forecasts to 2027 (US$ Million)

7.4 Pharmacy and Drugstore

7.4.1 Overview

7.4.2 Pharmacy and Drugstore: Starch Softgel Capsules Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

7.5 Online Providers

7.5.1 Overview

7.5.2 Online Providers: Starch Softgel Capsules Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

8. Starch Softgel Capsules Market- Regional Analysis

8.1 Europe: Starch Softgel Capsules Market

8.1.1 Overview

8.1.2 Europe: Starch Softgel Capsules Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (USD Million)

8.1.3 Europe: Starch Softgel Capsules Market, by Application - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (USD Million)

8.1.4 Europe: Starch Softgel Capsules Market, Distribution Channel - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (USD Million)

8.1.5 Europe: Starch Softgel Capsules Market, by Country, 2019 & 2027 (%)

8.1.6 Germany: Starch Softgel Capsules Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (USD Million)

8.1.6.1 Germany: Starch Softgel Capsules Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (USD Million)

8.1.6.2 Germany: Starch Softgel Capsules Market, by Application - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (USD Million)

8.1.6.3 Germany: Starch Softgel Capsules Market, Distribution Channel - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (USD Million)

8.1.7 France: Starch Softgel Capsules Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (USD Million)

8.1.7.1 France: Starch Softgel Capsules Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (USD Million)

8.1.7.2 France: Starch Softgel Capsules Market, by Application - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (USD Million)

8.1.7.3 France: Starch Softgel Capsules Market, Distribution Channel - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (USD Million)

8.1.8 UK: Starch Softgel Capsules Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (USD Million)

8.1.8.1 UK: Starch Softgel Capsules Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (USD Million)

8.1.8.2 UK: Starch Softgel Capsules Market, by Application - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (USD Million)

8.1.8.3 UK: Starch Softgel Capsules Market, Distribution Channel - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (USD Million)

8.1.9 Italy: Starch Softgel Capsules Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (USD Million)

8.1.9.1 Italy: Starch Softgel Capsules Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (USD Million)

8.1.9.2 Italy: Starch Softgel Capsules Market, by Application - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (USD Million)

8.1.9.3 Italy: Starch Softgel Capsules Market, Distribution Channel - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (USD Million)

8.1.10 Spain: Starch Softgel Capsules Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (USD Million)

8.1.10.1 Spain: Starch Softgel Capsules Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (USD Million)

8.1.10.2 Spain: Starch Softgel Capsules Market, by Application - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (USD Million)

8.1.10.3 Spain: Starch Softgel Capsules Market, Distribution Channel - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (USD Million)

9. Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Europe Starch Softgel Capsules Market

9.1 Europe: Impact assessment of COVID-19 Pandemic

10. Company Profiles

10.1 Catalent Inc.

10.1.1 Key Facts

10.1.2 Business Description

10.1.3 Products and Services

10.1.4 Financial Overview

10.1.5 SWOT Analysis

10.1.6 Key Developments

10.2 Robinson Pharma, Inc.

10.2.1 Key Facts

10.2.2 Business Description

10.2.3 Products and Services

10.2.4 Financial Overview

10.2.5 SWOT Analysis

10.2.6 Key Developments

10.3 ProCaps

10.3.1 Key Facts

10.3.2 Business Description

10.3.3 Products and Services

10.3.4 Financial Overview

10.3.5 SWOT Analysis

10.3.6 Key Developments

10.4 CAPTEK Softgel International Inc.

10.4.1 Key Facts

10.4.2 Business Description

10.4.3 Products and Services

10.4.4 Financial Overview

10.4.5 SWOT Analysis

10.4.6 Key Developments

10.5 Sirio Pharma Co., Ltd.

10.5.1 Key Facts

10.5.2 Business Description

10.5.3 Products and Services

10.5.4 Financial Overview

10.5.5 SWOT Analysis

10.5.6 Key Developments

11. Appendix

11.1 About the Publisher

11.2 Glossary of Terms

For more information about this report visit

https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/o8gpgq

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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NEW YORK - Wells Fargo CEO Charles Scharf apologized Wednesday for comments he made suggesting it is difficult to find qualified Black executives in the financial industry.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/9/2020 (485 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Graffiti covers the exterior of a Wells Fargo bank on Wednesday, July 1, 2020, in a historically Black neighborhood in Portland, Ore., that has been the scene of violent clashes with police in recent days. Thousands of protesters in the liberal and predominantly white city have taken to the streets peacefully every day for more than five weeks to decry police brutality, but recent violence by smaller groups is creating a deep schism in the protest movement. As demonstrations enter their second month, they have shifted to a historically Black neighborhood in North Portland. (AP Photo/Gillian Flaccus)

NEW YORK - Wells Fargo CEO Charles Scharf apologized Wednesday for comments he made suggesting it is difficult to find qualified Black executives in the financial industry.

Scharf said in a memo to employees there is a very limited pool of Black talent to recruit from in corporate America. The memo was written in June, but became public only this week.

The comments and similar statements made in a Zoom meeting, reported by Reuters, led to an intense backlash in Washington and on social media.

FILE - In this March 10, 2020 file photo, Wells Fargo CEO and President Charles Scharf is seated before he testifies during a hearing of the House Financial Services Committee, on Capitol Hill, in Washington. Scharf apologized Wednesday, Sept. 23 for comments he made that dismissed concerns that the banking industry, which has a long history of racist behavior, wasnt doing enough to promote and retain diverse talent. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

Perhaps it is the CEO of Wells Fargo who lacks the talent to recruit Black workers, said Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez of New York, on Twitter.

Scharf on Wednesday said in a prepared statement that his comments reflected "my own unconscious bias.

There is no question Wells Fargo has to make meaningful progress to increase diverse representation, he wrote. San Francisco-based Wells has pledged to increase hiring of minority candidates, particularly through Black colleges and universities, as well as new anti-racism training programs at the bank.

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Like much of the political and corporate world, the banking industry has had to face a reckoning in the wake of the death of George Floyd for its role in the racial and economic inequality that Black and other minorities face. Banks have announced changes to how they lend, and created new programs to spur economic development in communities of colour.

On Wednesday, Citigroup announced that it would direct $1 billion of the firm's capital toward closing the racial wealth gap in the United States. It would include $550 million in homeownership programs for communities of colour, and hundreds of millions toward Black-owned businesses and suppliers.

American banking is dominated by leadership that is largely white and male. None of the six big Wall Street banks have ever had a Black or female CEO. Citigroup two weeks ago announced it would promote a woman to CEO next year, the first on Wall Street to do so. Banks large and small are still regularly cited for discriminatory practices, including allegations of redlining Black homebuyers. Redlining is a practice in which banks deny or avoid providing credit services to consumers because of racial demographics or the neighbourhood where they live.

About 13% of named executives at financial services companies are a racial or ethnic minority, according to Institutional Shareholder Services.

The last prominent African American to serve as CEO at a large financial services company was Kenneth Chenault, the former CEO of American Express. He retired in 2018. In an interview with The Associated Press at the time, Chenault called the lack of a pipeline to recruit and retain diverse talent embarrassing to the financial services industry.

Stanley O'Neal, the former CEO of Merrill Lynch while it was still an independent company, is also Black. He resigned in 2007 during the firm's collapse.